"Lead the way little brother".
"Yahirma, this gift is 'of incalculable value', I thank you again for your thoughtfulness. It seems delicate and I would hate to have it ruined in our fight. Is it best kept in my pouch? How does one use it?"
The small group makes haste to the stables, gets their horses, and move out of the city. The city gate is in the process of closing when the group reaches it, but is allowed out with a warning. "This gate does not open again until morning, and noone gets in or out while it's closed unless on official business."
The road north is even lonelier than for Appario and Yahirma, and the group doesn't meet anyone on their way. At one point, a beautiful and captivating singing voice can be heard in the distance to the left of the road.
Derek can't help but stop at that, listening intently for a few moments, before answering the song with a strum of his lute, accompanying the song with music.
Shortly after Derek begins playing the lute, the sound of the singing starts to move closer to the road.
"Oh my, I didn't think that one through...but you know, music to a bard is a bit like candy to a baby...or more aptly, like fire to a dragonfly. Let us hope whatever it was is not...COMPLETLY unfriendly."
Somewhere, about 4 hours away, Appario breaks out in laughter recalling earlier in the day when Derek calling him 'Apario Lind, the walking trouble magnet.' Appario chuckles to himself then turns over in his hay to get a few hours rest before waking early for the morning.
The singing comes yet closer, creating a breathtaking harmony with Derek's lute. The song starts sounding very insistent; as if wanting to draw its listeners closer.
All four members of the party find themselves unable to resist the lure of the song, and start wading slowly through the swamp towards whoever is singing.
As you move through the swamp, you notice other creatures also moving in the same direction; there's a couple of frogs converging on your path to the right, and to your left a crocodile is swimming alongside you.
Once you have moved through the swamp for about half a minute, you emerge onto a patch of dry land. Hovering in the air before you is a wild-looking feral woman with tattered wings and taloned feet, still singing the same captivating song. As you come close to her, you find yourselves unable to do anything except stand and offer no resistance.
The Harpy stops singing, and attempts to turn the surely-delicious-tasting Derek into a meal.
One attack hits, for 9 damage.
The Harpy attempts to finish the job, as the effects of the song vanish.
Derek takes another 20 damage from one strike of the morningstar and one claw, for a total of 29. The bard is visibly staggered from the flurry of attacks.
The good news is that now you're all surrounding her, and its your turns :)
Initiative order:
22 - Semenya
20 - Derek
10 - Granor
6 - Harpy
5 - Maddok
"Ouch! No respect for a fellow artiste? Then allow my to sing a dirge for you, YOUR dirge. Uh...one second though..."
Derek takes a 5' step back, retrieves one of his new shiny potions of Cure moderate wounds and gulps it down.
The dazed look in the Shoanti's eyes fades as the harpy's power over him wanes. Seeing Derek shredded and bleeding a roar rises in the big man's throat as he hefts his smithing hammer in both hands and takes a whistling swing at the witch.
Derek snickers a little. "Have you met my big brother? more importantly, have you met my big brothers hammer? Let me introduce you, face, meet hammer, hammer, meet FACE!"
Appario sleeps fitfully, tormented by ugly dreams.
In the first, Appario leads an army as they march to meet a seemingly beatable faceless foe. Looking over his shoulder, he sees his generals in a line, walking with him. General Derek, High Generaless Semenya, the new Generals Granor, Maddok, and Yahirma look ready for battle.
As the enemy comes closer, Appario signals the attack, charging on his horse, yelling for his troops to follow him into to battle.
"For Abadar. For trade. For civilization!" Appario screams in savage exultation for the battles commencement.
And as he charges, the sees the opposing army not slowing, but laughing.
Laughing? We are a might army! Why do they laugh?
Turning behind him, he sees only Yahirma following him into battle, the rest of his army has disappeared from the field.
My army and allies!? WHERE ARE THEY!?
Appario awakes to unfamiliar surroundings before realizing where he is, that he is safe, and turns over to go to sleep again.
Maddok's hammer crunches into the feathery woman's body, but she's apparently tougher than she looks as she's still moving effortlessly.
Appario and Yahirma wake up and brush stray strands of hay out of clothes and hair, maybe a little uneasy about some strange dreams through the night, the details of which rapidly become fuzzy and unclear.
The sounds of a city in the process of awakening make their way to you through the large stable-door. Going outside, you see farmers and fishermen beginning to set up stalls to hawk their morning produce and catch.
"Yahirma, let us make haste for the gates. I would want to be there before the caravan leaves for Westcrown."
* * *
If Appario seeks the likely caravan leaving for Westcrown, he will approach the leader (or ask to speak with the caravan master).
"Good sir, blessings of the Master of the First Vault upon you. My companion and I are traveling to Westcrown. I have heard rumors of bandits on the road here. Mind if we travel together for protection?" Appario will have his holy symbol of Abadar clearly visible upon his breastplate.
Close to the gates, there's one small caravan (only two wagons) preparing to leave, while some distance away there's a bit of ruckus in a decently-sized staging area as a larger caravan (four wagons and two carriages, just as advertised) is beginning to stir from its sleep. One rotund man oversees the cooking of the morning meal for the members of the larger caravan, and looks up as Appario addresses him.
"Good day to you, master knight, and thank you for the blessing. If it is as you say, we will be happy to have you as company for the journey. We will be making a few sales and purchases here before leaving, but we should be ready to go within two bells. Does that suit you?"
If Appario agrees, the man extends a fat hand to shake Appario's. "My name is Davik Ockerton. Please, join us for breakfast!"
As the cook calls out "The stew is ready!", a varied crew of drivers, merchants, and passengers emerge from wagons, carriages, and from blankets on the ground. The six drivers take their bowls and take up positions near one of the wagons, while the cook, three merchants and two passengers join you and Davik at the table that has been set up. David introduces the merchants. "This is Erik Two-Finger, Amar Silvertongue, and Jorek Greybeard. Our two passengers are Vahnwynne Malkistra and Lady Chammady Drovenge. The fine lady who created this wonderful meal is my wife, Nona."
Erik Two-Finger is a heavily-muscled and tattooed man who is missing three fingers on his right hand, and has several scars criss-crossing his naked upper body. The other two merchants are far more nondescript; Amar Silvertongue is a thin, slick man with a smile plastered to his face virtually at all times, while Jorek Greybeard is a jovial dwarf with a long grey beard who talks almost as much as he drinks.
Vahnwynne Malkistra is a female elf who moves fluidly, obviously combat-trained. She wears red-and-black leather armor, with several weapons that look like simple wooden stakes attached to her belt. Lady Chammady Drovenge is a beautiful young woman with long crimson hair. Her silk dress would be more fitting for a dinner party than travelling, and she seems out of place among the rest of the group.
Semenya backs up 30' and casts Magic Missile at the Harpy; growling something fierce and gutteral, like "I hope this works..."
Force damage
The Harpy lashes out with her morningstar as Semenya backs away.
The blunt weapon misses, and then the Harpy is struck by Semenya's two unerring missiles.
Granor moves As close as he can to derek and casts a healing spell, sacrificing another one he prepared to do so. Healing energies wash over Derek making him feel better.
The amount of healing was 9
"The talisman can survive any trials you undergo, but it must be worn on the body - ideally about the neck - to be of benefit. If you are concerned about appearances, it can be hidden under your armor while maintaining its full benefits. Among those who would recognize it for what it is, such is actually the standard practice; one cannot let the hunted recognize the hunter before the spear is thrown."
Yahirma brushes herself off and performs a quick check of the horses as Appario flags down the caravan of choice. She will join him shortly after performing the finishing touches on her crafting project.
for the final spellcraft check, using her Natural Divination bonus from yesterday (DC 13).
She rejoins Appario after saddling the horses. As he speaks, she will observe the winged fauna of the settlement to recharge her Natural Divination. For the time she will defer to Appario's expertise in getting to know people and arranging passage with a caravan.
Most of Derek's and about half of the Harpy's wounds close up as Granor channels the power of Torag.
The frogs that had been lured alongside you 'ribbit' and jump into the water to swim away. The crocodile attempts to take a bite out of the Harpy.
The crocodile's jaws sink into the Harpy's skin, and it seems to consider trying its death roll for a moment before ultimately deciding to get away from the monster.
The Harpy shifts its attention to the raging Maddok and attacks him with everything she's got.
Both talons hit, for a total of 9 damage.
She rejoins Appario after saddling the horses. As he speaks, she will observe the winged fauna of the settlement to recharge her Natural Divination. For the time she will defer to Appario's expertise in getting to know people and arranging passage with a caravan.
Maddok grunts in pain and bats the harpy's tearing grasp away. Undeterred, he shifts position and then rears back bringing his hammer down on her feathered skull.
Maddok smashes the skull of the Harpy into a feathery pulp. Her body twiches for a few moments, talons opening and closing, before falling completely still.
The night is again silent. You find yourselves 280 feet from the road, with shallow bogs and small streams in your path.
Maddok's broad shoulders slump as his blood-rage fades and takes its toll . He touches the wounds where the harpy's talons rent his tanned flash.
"I had forgotten how dangerous the wilds outside Westcrown were", he says looking at his own blood. "City walls have made me soft".
"Do you need aid little brother?"
"Whoa! Did anyone else picture a ripe melon just then? You sure know your way around a hammer, big brother." Derek crows with delight.
After a few moments, he composes himself and even looks a little shamefaced. "That was my fault, such a voice on such a beast; I just could not help myself but accompany that song. And no, minor wounds only big brother, you're worse of than I am. Say, let's fix that."
Derek casts Cure light wounds on Maddok
After a few moments, his smile returns in full. "But nobody else seems hurt, and you have to admit, it is better that we fought this beast than some poor wanderer that could have been killed. At least we know what we are doing, hey, I even know which end of my rapier to hold, and which to stick into the enemy."
He grins and assumes the mien of an over-the-top fencing instructor. "The point end goes into the squishy bits."
Derek looks around for a moment. "Let's get back on the road eh? Oh...and watch out for that reptile we saw on the way back."
Maddok brings himself back to his full erect height as the bard's healing magic mends his wounds.
"Ahee'hwa, little brother".
"You speak true. The road is a little safer now at least. We should resume our travel, Appario and Yamira are counting on us.
"Right you are, there is now time like the present as they say, besides, I want to get there in time for some sleep. We want to be fresh and rested when we put our lives on the line for the greater good."
Having said that, Derek heads back towards the road, mindful to avoid any...unpleasant creatures in the water.
The rest of the journey passes with no further incident, and the small party arrives at the expected ambush location at about 2 in the morning. It's still going to be dark for several more hours.
Arriving at the ambush site Maddok looks around for the way up the cliff face to the west while unpacking his camping supplies.
"Tell me little brother: First Jalki and now that harpy. Do you have this effect on all women?"
The easiest route Maddok can spot in the moonlight goes from K11 to K9, then to M7. That's still a pretty steep route, so you expect there would be an easier way up.
Maddok pulls something heavy hanging from a chain underneath his tunic and armor. It's a silver compass covered in intricate engravings. He holds it up, concentrates a moment, and a second later it emits glowing light.
After asking the spirits for guidance he walks around the base of the cliff looking for a better route.
Creating a light for himself and taking time to walk around the entire hill, Maddok returns to the others with no better route found. His boots, which had just gotten dry from the previous trip into the swamp, are wet again.
As soon as it is convenient - and blinds have been set up - Semenya will take a short nap. She will ask to be woken by Granor in two hours, so that there's always one person up who has the ability to see in the dark. She'll wake him up when she can tell a black thread from a white thread by the dawn's light, or when she spots someone coming down the road.
Maddok will look around for someplace within sight that is high and/or dry enough to setup camp.
Yahirma will join Appario and listen with some interest as he reintroduces everyone. She nods with each name.
"A most distinguished group. I see that my friend was right when he assured me that Westcrown is a burgeoning destination for the industrious and important alike. I suppose that will teach me to doubt the word of a Trade Warden such as he. More, he seems to have a keen senses for picking out most interesting travelers."
Yahirma wanders in and out of conversation in settling the mounts - ideally giving her a chance to cast a quick enhanced diplomacy spell out of direct line of sight. She will try to make polite inquiries regarding the curious clothing and professions of the two ladies of mystery: Vahnwynne and Lady Drovenge.
for diplomacy to keep things light and pleasant while making friends.
Maddok finds a suitable place, still within sight of the ambush area, about 100 yards down the road. Setting up camp there, nothing of note happens during the remains of the night and the early morning.
When the sun wakes up, a bend in the road near another, larger hill a couple of hundred yards further north can be seen. This hill effectively makes the ambush area invisible to anyone who might be watching from guard towers or the like in Westpool.
"Ah, yes. When running caravans, you can't help but pick of interesting companions now and then." Davik gives a hearty laugh, takes a sip of mead, and continues. "This lot is more interesting than most, though!"
"Vahnwynne is a vampire hunter, would you believe it? Stakes and all, you see. Hah! Where would she find vampires around here?" Leaning conspiratorially towards Yahirma, Davik whispers "I think she lost her way somewhere, was probably supposed to go to Nidal. Poor lass!"
"The Lady Drovenge is the granddaughter of the Drovenge family patriarch. On her way back home to Westcrown from some sort of mysterious mission. Or maybe she has just been partying in Egorian. Who knows the ways of nobles, eh? I've always found it best to keep my distance."
As she's moving back and forth between the conversation and tending to the horses, Yahirma hears some unusual animal noises from one of the closed wagons.