"As Ganit says, children are very easy to identify."
"Then why didn't you say that Telias? You tell us creating a nation here is a waste of time and then return when you need our help? I will gladly gather the troops and help clean your...den, but maybe you should lead with that next time?"
Voice dripping wiht no small amount of carcasm and venom Telias responds. "Well my f*$*ing apologies Grand Marshall Jameson I thought mebbe ah didn't need ta rush in here screaming about magical, intelligent, evil wolves ta get all of yer high and mighty attentions. Ahm certain ah can git a better response from the glorious spymaster once I fand mah home made hooch."
"You don't need to scream Telias, we'd have helped you regardless, but even a curmudgeonly stick in the mud has to agree that the method in which you ask for help dictates the speed of our response?"
"True enough. I'd rather that than pulling some fool's spear out a lizard's arse," Ganit replies to the druid in a dead tone.
Carina listens to the men disguss whatever it is that is being discussed.
Ok, so it it decided. We search and rescue the child, then we hunt down Telias' pet wolves. Next we move onto getting a nice turtle shell for Jhod and helping Ganit pull a spear out of a lizard's a$$.
Carina stares around at the group of men. A cold stare with one eye ice cold and the other burning like fire.
Any questions? . . . No? Good. We set out in the morning. Make sure you all are rested, prepared, and sober.
"If we are quite done with this repartee interspersed with moments of vulgarity, then we are all set to proceed. However at present, it has not been made clear to me if I should be taking my coach or not!"
"The winter wolves are a far greater threat. We should deal with them first. The child will be no more lost, but many will die while we search if we don't handle the wolves first."
I understand the concern about the wolves, but they have not yet attacked any citizens, other than scarring our disheveled druid. The child on the other hand may be dead before we find the wolves. I think that we head west along the river. That is the unexplored area closest to where we have farmers and towns. It is also the place that we are most likely to find the missing lad. If we do not find anything along the river, then we move south and return back to Evergreen.
"I understand the concern about the wolves, but they have not yet attacked any citizens, other than scarring our disheveled druid. The child on the other hand may be dead before we find the wolves. I think that we head west along the river. That is the unexplored area closest to where we have farmers and towns. It is also the place that we are most likely to find the missing lad. If we do not find anything along the river, then we move south and return back to Evergreen."
"Naturally you have my agreement, but as of yet, I am unclear on the status of the roads and pathways of which we are to travel. Could anybody here clarify whether my carriage will be possible to bring, or will I be bound to walk and carry all of my gear all by myself, like some pack animal?"
"I understand the concern about the wolves, but they have not yet attacked any citizens, other than scarring our disheveled druid. The child on the other hand may be dead before we find the wolves. I think that we head west along the river. That is the unexplored area closest to where we have farmers and towns. It is also the place that we are most likely to find the missing lad. If we do not find anything along the river, then we move south and return back to Evergreen.""Naturally you have my agreement, but as of yet, I am unclear on the status of the roads and pathways of which we are to travel. Could anybody here clarify whether my carriage will be possible to bring, or will I be bound to walk and carry all of my gear all by myself, like some pack animal?"
"Travel on the road would be easy with your carriage, however like before if you enter unknown and untreated areas you'll be a burden upon the group with your speed. Especially through the trees." Jhod explains, giving in his own opinion.
Carina looks at Zorestar. The fields of hay are to the north. To the south, any roads that remain are likely overgrown with decades of brush. We may have to ford rivers and climb mountains. I believe there are swamps and many hills to the south as well. If it were all plains, then the Swordlords or some other power would have long since taken control of it. People do not let good cropland be overrun by monsters and bandits. They let hills and swamps and scrub be overrun.
You carriage will in all likelihood slow us down, and may well be destroyed if we meet any powerful monsters.
"Aw, is the wizard gonna have ta carry his own dang luggage?"
"Your carriage will in all likelihood slow us down, and may well be destroyed if we meet any powerful monsters."
"So what exactly are your expectations? Am I going to have to actually walk, or worse yet, ride one of those horses?"
"Aw, is the wizard gonna have ta carry his own dang luggage?"
"Hey, just you listen, Mister Telias, I cannot help it if I choose to go prepared when I go exploring! I mean, we need lots of parchment, ink, and quills to map the land, not to mention a library of books to catalog the resources, the botany, and the zoology of the region. Besides, I loathe the thought of having to go back to sleeping on the ground!"
"Yer breakin my hart."
Bronwyn tries approaching the reclusive druid, knowing it must've cost him dearly to come to the heart of civilization to air a grievance.
We will take care of the wolves, Telias, but we might need your expertise on this issue. Can you provide a starting point for us to track the animals? We will keep an eye open for the lost boy in the process.
"Hey, just you listen, Mister Telias, I cannot help it if I choose to go prepared when I go exploring! I mean, we need lots of parchment, ink, and quills to map the land, not to mention a library of books to catalog the resources, the botany, and the zoology of the region. Besides, I loathe the thought of having to go back to sleeping on the ground!"
It should not be difficult to find a suitable saddlebag to carry most of your tools, magister Lebeda, but your carriage will be unsuitable for the travel. We'll ride on our horses to make the best time possible for there are too many issues that require our attention.
Carina smiles at her husband's advice to the mage, nonetheless, she feels the need to add her two cents.
The do make special saddles that will allow you to ride in your robes without worrying about your modesty.
Quietly under her breath: Young ladies use them.
"It should not be difficult to find a suitable saddlebag to carry most of your tools, magister Lebeda, but your carriage will be unsuitable for the travel. We'll ride on our horses to make the best time possible for there are too many issues that require our attention."
"Are you sure that a single saddlebag will be sufficient? I wonder if that will even be large enough to hold my spellbooks, never mind my research collection. I imagine that I will not even be able to bring along my light reading. I was hoping to relax each night reading up on various third order differential equations. In particular, I have been fascinated by a series of homogeneous linear differential equations for which the space of solutions is a linear subspace where naturally the sum of any set of solutions or multiples of solutions is also a solution. Now what I am suppose to do?!"
"The do make special saddles that will allow you to ride in your robes without worrying about your modesty."
"With all due respect, m' lady, I am not concerned about my modesty. I was more concerned with comfort. There is nothing worse than the sores that you get from riding in a saddle too long. I just have not found the correct design to provide the optimum level of comfort. Hmm? Let me consider. Perhaps I will need to consider supplementing it with the use of a pillow."
"I hear halfling warriors ride dogs, and that barbarian tribes from the north ride in sleighs pulled by dogs (somehow), why don't you build yourself one of those Zorestar?"
What kind of man can't ride?
Bronwyn tries approaching the reclusive druid, knowing it must've cost him dearly to come to the heart of civilization to air a grievance.
We will take care of the wolves, Telias, but we might need your expertise on this issue. Can you provide a starting point for us to track the animals? We will keep an eye open for the lost boy in the process.
"MAh house. Where there godsdamned livin. Ain't even asked politely and kicking up ma leshy garden ta boot."
"I hear halfling warriors ride dogs, and that barbarian tribes from the north ride in sleighs pulled by dogs (somehow), why don't you build yourself one of those Zorestar?"
"That is preposterous! Do you think that I could ride upon the back of a canis lupus familiaris?! Not only would the ride be rather uncomfortable, I believe the canine would be trying to mark its scent everywhere we went not to mention digging up bones at every opportunity. As for a sled, have you not noticed the sparse supply of the substance known as snow?!"
Jameson smiles.
"Well, now that we know you're not mad I think you'll agree taking a cart into the wilderness is just as crazy? Good, then you can ride. I'll have the groomsmen saddle a mare for you."
Carina calls to James.
Have them saddle a fast packhorse as well. If one of ours is injured, it will make a good backup. And if we perchance find something of value, it will give us more carrying capacity.
"Well, now that we know you're not mad I think you'll agree taking a cart into the wilderness is just as crazy? Good, then you can ride. I'll have the groomsmen saddle a mare for you."
"Well, I am not sure that being mad is a useful emotion to have, but let us not get carried and think that I am pleased about this situation. Clearly I will need to work on some arcane magic to provide the comforts that I have grown accustomed to. I think I may know how to deal with the weight issue, but I still need to consider how to get my comfy featherbed on this trip."
I would prefer heading west along the two hexes of river that direction first to look for the child. If we do not find him, then we return to the capitol for a night and then head east to search the waterways on that side.
You are all watched by your people who cheer you on, knowing that your jurney will surely take you to the trolls and save this kingdom. So on you march, making sure to survey the area as you go near the river, making sure to catch any movement or sign of the child.
After a few hours you do instead find a wagon that has become stuck in the river and nearby a group of Gnomes. It appears as if there was a fight here not long ago with dead Kobolds and a few Gnomes.
The Gnomes are all trying to pull the wagon out of the river, however there are two ponies pitched to it that are panicing. The gnomes then turn to the explorers.
"Hurry up and come to our aid!" they plead, fighting against the ponies and the weight of the wagon which is slowly sinking into the mud, soon to be lost forever.
Carina looks to the gnomes: Pray tell, how did you come to a fight with these kobolds?
And how did you manage to get your wagon so stuck?
She then looks over at her husband before turning to the other side to look up to James on his tall stallion. Before quietly offering:
I can make both of you quite large to help push or pull the wagon from the mud.
"We were attacked. Stupid Kobolds!" one of them groans as they continue to pull futilely attempting to stop it sinking further.
The Kobolds appear to have different markings than Sootscales' tribe had. Possibly some other kobolds from another group west or south of here.
"This indicates why we will also need to invest some gold in our infrastructure. How can we expect anyone to travel without decent roads?"
"Somebody take care of the ponies, and I will try to lift up the wagon." Once the ponies are unhitched, Zorestar takes out a a leather loop and folds it into a cup shape. He then begins moving his hands in mysterious somatic gestures. Finally he declares boldly "Havaya!" which completes his casting of the spell casts Levitate.
Carina watches the wizard. If/When the cart proves to be too heavy, she will help to hitch two horses to the wagon with some lengths of rope, and see if that helps. If it does not, she will cast Enlarge Person on Bron and anyone else willing (James/Ganit) so that they can help to push/pull the wagon out of the mud.
"Roads are fer those who think the ground is just dirt beneath the feetnnf!" TElias says as he helps pull the wagon out.
Jameson dismounts and moves to the cart.
"More to the point we need to send a message to Sootscale and learn where these kobolds came from. It could be an issue."
Carina hears James and nods.
Yes, the Sootscales have been very good allies and citizens of Vertaria. We do not want other groups of kobolds such as these to ruin the good work that has been done.
Atop Felicity, the ranger takes his time to survey the surrounding area before dismounting as the others had.
Instead of gathering behind the wagon, Ganit meanders to the nearest kobold carcass and carefully inspects it for tribal markings and signs of where it came from.
”Jus rolled into an ambush, did ya?” he asks the lead gnome as he pokes at the dragonkin with his knife. ”What’s in the cart?”
Jameson will move to the ponies and carefully attempt to calm them.
"Easy now, easy there."
Although untrained in the finer points of working with animals, Carina attempts to help calm the frightened ponies.
I won't tell them that my summoner in Way of the Wicked just summoned 5 ponies which he sent charging down a hallway and into the path of a 30 ton boulder to help slow the boulder. Much glue was made.
Handle Animal(untrained-aid another):
Both Jameson and Carina manage to calm the ponies down before releasing the two and then Zorestar uses her power to lift up the carriage and manage to bring it back to land. The Gnomes all hoot in joy at the group. The most beat up one walks towards you with a smile on his face and one of his eyes closed with a black eye.
"Thanks for you help. We ran into trouble with those Kobolds and the pnies were paniced" he smiles putting out his hand as he introduces himself. "Jubilost Narthropple is my name. We are here to explore these great lands just like those great heroes who set up the nearby city, but we're going further and so far we've already uncovered many things in this area." he says waving his map around in his hand "I assume you are fellow treasure hunters? I could share my findings with you."
He doesn't seem to give anything away. He puts kobolds down, but it's no secret there's tension between those two races.
With the wagon out of the mud, Carina looks down at the small gnome:
And what findings would you have that would be of value to treasure hunters? The only exploring skills I have seen appear to have almost gotten you killed by a few kobolds and almost lost your wagon and ponies to some mud.
Diplomacy:
"Jubilost Narthropple is my name.
"Well met, Jubilost Narthropple. I am Zorestar Lebada at your service. I am delighted that we were able to get your wagon out of the mud, and naturally, I would be very interested in anything you've uncovered."
Zorestar thinks for a moment longer and then as his curiosity gets the best of him, continues the conversation as follows. "Narthropple. Now that is an interesting name. I understand that a thropple is a windpipe or throat of a horse. Furthermore the derivation of Narth is likely to have come from a profession of sorts. I also deduce from a name such as Jubilost that the person who named you has lost his jubilation and therefore is no longer happy about something. Tell me, by any chance did your father lose his job working on horse throats and then perhaps name you after he couldn't find any work?"
The Gnome tilts his head at Zorestar but then jumps as he makes a connection.
"You are the settlers?! Wow, we're big fans." he smiles shaking Zorestar's hand heavily and excitedly. "We're looking for a dwarven outpost that's meant to be here. Great treasure is hidden inside, but we've had no luck. Please, come a sit with us and we can show you what we've found so far."
Over the meal he shows you many areas you have not discovered yet. Their camp is made for smaller people as they are all Gnomes, but you all manage to find some comfortable chairs.
He reveals many landmarks you've already discovers, however to the far East and nearly off the map is a burrow. They refused to enter as the night they camped nearby they spotted skeleton marching around the thing and decided to move on. Especially as the skeletons appeared closer to human than Dwarf.
He also pointed out a old crossing that's still sturdy after all these years south of Telias' home, though quite far south. However he remembers of a nearby threat. To the South-West of here, to the Morgue River is a muddy island where a tribe of Lizardfolk appear to be. They look really mean and well armed. He doesn't know why they're there, but they certainly could pose a threat in the future if they decide to travel up north and attack your people.
To the far south there is a large body of river like the Tuskwater where sits a errie tower. It's known as Candlemare tower and it is said that at nights it is haunted for strange lights have been seen as well as the sound of blood curdling screams of terror. Narthropple never actually saw any of this, but he didn't care for camping near the structure.
Very far to the south they came across a disused ferry station. Possibly from the Taldan or Elven Period, but he wasn't certain. It certainly wasn't what he was interested so left it at that.
Over the river there are two other things of important. One is a part of the forest that appears to be dying, but they didn't come across what might have been causing it for there could be foul magic. Speaking of foul magic, to the east is a old hag who lives in a hut and has been there for unknown years. The Gnomes dared not disturb the old woman over fears of being eaten.
West of the blighted area is a old Elven keep whose gate was shut. the Gnomes avoided it as they swore they saw something from far away moving in the shadows and decided not to give whatever was living there a excuse to eat them.
Beyond that he has not seen much else of interest. He'll gladly sell the map to you for only 500gp per location. He's also up for trading info on places he doesn't know for locations too.
"You are the settlers?! Wow, we're big fans." he smiles shaking Zorestar's hand heavily and excitedly. "We're looking for a dwarven outpost that's meant to be here. Great treasure is hidden inside, but we've had no luck. Please, come a sit with us and we can show you what we've found so far."
"Well, if you insist, Zorestar replies as he blushes slightly at the attention he is getting. "I had no idea that we were this famous. So where exactly are you from? Are you hoping to reside in Vertaria, or are you simply passing through to see some of the sights?"
He sighs and gives a small smile.
"We are searching for a dwarven outpoost, but have not yet found such a place." he smiles up to the wizard.