After all the healing is said and done, you load up the wagons and pull away for a while, if only to get away from the disenlived highwaymen.
Samuel drives his cart with Proteus, now much lighter as everyone else is in the larger cart with the two horses.
Eventually you decide to stop.
You set up camp between the two wagons and you're all sitting around the fire eating trail rations.
Samuel sits on his trunk with Proteus curled around him, idly being scratched.
"We'll be into town tomorrow, get a decent meal and a real bed. If you have anything to cover your city mark, you'd be good to. The people outside the walls don't like us too much, but not enough to do without our buisness. They'll take Martell coin, though. Gold is gold."
Malwoa takes whatever shift she can and goes to bed.
I would prefer either the early or late shift when it is partially light.
Assuming all the shifts are done and you sleep through the night with no interruptions.
Tomorrow you eat and leave early, you make it to the town just before noon.
As you drive in, people look at Proteus with surprise, and then notice Samuel on the cart, they calm down almost immediately, some even wave.
They remain looking sceptical of the other cart.
As you drive into town side by side, Sam relays advice.
"Try to keep your mark covered. They'll take your coin, but you might not get s great price. I'm going to stock up on supplies. Meet me at the Red Owl inn on the other side of town when you're finished. They have blacksmith, general store and an alchemist. He's not great, but he has some basic potions and things. They keep plenty of weapons being this close to Gnoll territory. Don't get yourself into trouble. Come with me if you think you can't do that."
He drives Proteus through the center of town to the other end.
Imagine a western town. The plant life is starting to pick up now, with noticeable amount of greenery here and there.
The people seem sedate and studious, but you get an uncomfortable amount of weird looks.
Payet tries to use arcane mark to disguise his mark as something else,but covers it anyway, then goes with the group who are selling that witch they found and intends to meet up afterwards.
Znierca looks to Samuel:
There is little I need. I have not the funds for better armor and I doubt this town has anything magical that I could use, or afford. I shall stay with you as a guard, not that you need one. If you have a means to hide this mark, I would appreciate your help as I have never been skilled at deception.
Samuel flips his collar up over the mark.
He rummages through his cart and offers the scarf he wears during sand storms to Zneirica.
"Hop in."
He takes them to the other edge of town with anyone else who wants to.
Lulu is very well rested.
checking on Pix, you feeling better? I hope so we are going into a new town today
later after arriving Samual barely starts off with his "stay out of trouble" warning when Lulu is off and running checking all the sights like a kid in a new place, everything small is sooooo amazing and new.
Lulu and Pix make thier way through allyways and dirt roads, Pix stops and dives into a horse trough for a little bath.
Lulu almost joins in but just dunks her head in the water pulling it out laughing. then with a tap of her staff on the ground, a warm breeze blows around her to dry her off.
Lulu finds that there's very little water anywhere in the town, being so close to the desert.
The rest of you sell your weaponry to the merchant for 74 GP for everyone.
Samuel takes Znierica and he haggles with another merchant and secures food supplies for them all to last until the next town.
After the days events, you all meet back up at the Inn Samuel talked about.
Znierica, with your heightened perception, you may have noticed people talking about odd goings on in the inn. People checking in and not back out, odd amounts of personal items showing up in the market.
after lulu's antics, Malwoa casts create water to fix the problem.
"Sorry. She's a bit eccentric."
malwoa tore a bit of cloth to pose as a tattered scarf over her mark.
The man on the porch pulls a dried up and angry face and waves the three of them away with an 'OK, just leave me be', look.
While the others are negotiating and bathing in the local water troughs, Znierca quietly listens to the locals to learn what she can.
Perception:
The man on the porch pulls a dried up and angry face and waves the three of them away with an 'OK, just leave me be', look.
Lulu looks at the dry faced man. You don't look very happy, I bet I could make you laugh. she says in a playful and fey like voice.
The man coughs a dry weeze.
"I don't need ta laugh. I need ta not have younguns n their bugs dippin emselfs in muh water. Now git!"
He waves them away with his cane.
lulu bows her head and starts to walk away but just as she walks past the old man she spins around and tries to touch him
she then runs off as fast as she can to get to the Inn where they are supposed to meet.
Malwoa leaves right before, and starts running when the man laughs. She doesn't want any part of that.
The old man immediately bursts out into wheezing laughter for a few seconds.
After she runs away, Lulu hears the sound of heavy breathing as the laughter subsides until it fades out of her range of hearing.
"So yous say that ya seen a bunch've things in the garbage here?"
"Yer, I was out back n saw some clothes n stuff n the trash. M'not sure why, but it di'n jus look like they was getting rid a ther own stuff. Too much a it fer that... N that girly feller with the yella hair ner left town either. His horse is still in the stables..."
Znierca picks up bits of a hushed conversation between two locals having a pint.
When the group gathers back together:
There is something strange in this town. The locals seem to be talking about abandoned clothes and people missing, who supposedly did not leave town.
Lulu listens to what seems to be troubling the folks.
maybe they were taken by someone, or something. maybe to another dimension. what if they got turned invisible, then they wouldn't need clothes.
Are we going to try and find them? maybe we should bring thier clothes with us, just in case they are naked.
"Do we want to be do gooders? Not like we have a schedule to keep. Bigger thing is, do we want to stay here tonight? There's no other Inn's in town. We could set a watch in the room. And when I say room, I mean room. There's only the one."
Znierca shrugs:
I am fine with one room. Why wouldn't I be?
Pix flutters around making music with her wings as Lulu watches looking like she understands what it all means.
Pix seems to think we should help out. it makes for good Karma,or was that shawarma, besides how will we ever work to change people's attitude about the city folk if wee don't at least try.
Pix flies around alooking a little flustered. Lulu watches a bit again. and just shrugs her shoulders. I'm trying to understand you Pix, its isn't like the Glade where we could talk to each other.
"either way suits me fine" payet says rather non committally
"Sounds like we're all in agreement, then."
"Our next step is to just wait. Regular watch schedule, but in the room."
I am good, I was waiting to see if anyone had any comments for Lulu and her innocent interpretation of the events.
when you all go to "bed" a man walks into your room, carrying more gear then anyone really should.
the man looks at the people with suspicion, and draws out a net.
payet looks up from where he was sitting on the bed, weapon across his lap "well then, can I help you?" If he attacks Payet will say "guess not" and attacks back
Samuel grabs his whip from his belt.
Expecting trouble, he slept in his armor, but Proteus isn't here, as he had slept.
Znierca is sleeping her worries away.
Zzzzzz . . . until woken up.
Znierca wakes up and shakes her head trying to figure what is happening.
She will stand up and ready an action to attack if anything should threaten her.
Init:
The man draws and throws bolas from his side at znierca.
non leathal.
Payet swiftly shoots up using the momentum of standing up to hit the intruder with his weapon
Attack-unarmed:
Damage:
the man staggers from payet's hit, but still manages to strike the monk, who had her unarmed strike dodged by the man. (Using the same attack, just with a sap.) Malwoa move in to attack, hitting the man successfully.
Samuel's whip arcs out towards the man as he moves position.
His whip either lands and does some hefty damage or could leave a large welt should the man's armor block it.