"Uh huh..." Knowing Garesh is obviously kidding, he still does his absolute best to not make a face at the idea of Koya talking about him in an inappropriate way. "Yeah... Well," he puts his legs down and stands, stretching his arms out, "I suppose I should head to my room, then. See you two in the morning," he waves over his shoulder as he heads to his room for the night, awaiting morning.
Zhao will focus his will on swaying awake and protecting the entrance to Ameiko's room. One day in the distant past, such vigils were commonplace for him, and he intends to prove himself he's still capable of such.
Garesh starts to head to bed and as he moves past Zhao he stops, "Sleep young one, trust me you missing a ambush due to tired eyes won't honor the barkeep. Plus it would save me on some extra work if you not what I mean, either way your choice is yours and only yours. Good night 2nd odd boy." He gives a slight bow and heads off to bed.
Turning away from Notic with a mutter of "provincials" Alfonso looks in of Koya, bringing her some tea before turning in.
"Do you want for anything? The sheriff is sending some of us on a wild goose chase through the swamp in the morning. So tonight for once I am abed early. We leave at some foolish time called 'dawn' so as you will be sensably sleeping then I make my goodbyes now. Sleep well great one."
note: great one = master in the teacher context. I assume part of the reason Alfonso is here it to learn to control the abyssal blood. Koya has been very helpful in that reguard.
As Garesh wakes up a little before dawn, he sighs knowing that infernal sun will be coming up soon. He spends his time getting his wraps all straighten out, and checks his gear as he packs it up.
He limps downstairs looking for a barkeep, "Excuse me barkeep, can I have a tea and whatever breakfast you can make fast?" He looks around seeing the Samurai sleeping at the door, he snickers to himself and enjoys his few moments of peace and darkness before the evil sun comes out.
Notick, unsurprisingly, leaves his room dragging his fancy backpack along with him, it scraping against the floor slightly with the random panks and clanks from his gear. He seems to be humming a tune - under his breath some may hear, "Adventure, Adventure... Thrilling chilling..." with his words stopping at the hum continues.
"AH! Barmaiden - I could also use some of your fantastic breakfast cuisine! And, of course, do add it to the sheriff's tab!"
"And good morning, again, Garesh! Are you ready for our thrilling, chilling, and bloodspilling events of the day? His smile is larger than normal today.
Alfonso walks own the stairs into the common area. His hair is tied back with a black ribbon and his clothes are perfect. He wears a mix of blue and brown fitting for a rural expidition.
"Good morning. I see the sheriff has not called off this folly so let us begin it properly."
To the barlord: "Some of the deep red of my homeland if you please."
Alfonso takes the large mug he is handed and mutters a word or two. Th wine steams for a moment as the cantrip heats and spices the liquor.
"So," Alfonso begins as he takes a seat. "shall we seek this swamp-profit and see what we can learn?"
He looks at Notick and says,"I see your excitement isn't dulled by the early hour, and where did you learn that song it kind of reminds of my old home, especially the blood spilling."
He then looks over to Alfonso, "Interesting way to start the morning, as I said last night I believe we should talk with the Warden of the swamp and ask around about strange fires in the swamp. Where's our honor bound friend?" He then nudges Notick, "You know your competition."
He snorts and chokes on a bitefull of food, a large laugh following. "Competition? Oh please - now I understand your wraps. You're a jester!" He smirks at Garesh.
"So, whom is this 'swamp-profit'? He picks his utensils back up and goes back to eating.
He snorts and chokes on a bitefull of food, a large laugh following. "Competition? Oh please - now I understand your wraps. You're a jester!" He smirks at Garesh.
"So, whom is this 'swamp-profit'? He picks his utensils back up and goes back to eating.
To Notick "Walthus Proudstump, mysterious outsider living in the marsh. Might know something, might be an unending font of comedic rural banter. Worth a visit in either case.
To Garesh.
"I agree, his knowledge of the terrain will be helpful and since he's the Warden of the swamp he might give us a few tricks on surviving the swamps natural traps."
"I am no jester my odd boy, but could of been one in a previous life. Though I am happy I made a good joke even if I don't know what it was." As he responds to Notick, you can see a smile on the wrapped up face, and as he finishes his tea and breakfast he looks to the other two, letting them know he's ready to go when they are.
"Ah, well... Oddities aside, I do believe this 'Warden' may be a good place to start. Perhaps we could even bother Ms. Ameiko quickly before our departure for any last minute information?" He rubs his chin, leaning back into his chair in thought. He looks over his shoulder at the snoozing Samurai, "Or, perhaps we leave... quickly... To avoid any unneeded shows of masculinity" his eyes filled with an obvious rivalry.
"If everyone battle-ready? We need to be leaving if we are to face these creatures in daylight."
He abruptly turns to the others, offering up his introductions:
"My name is Zhao, from the Taijuro clan, honored in meeting you."
He, as nonchalantly as possible, moves his fingers to pinch his nose shut as the drunk falls all over the table, spouting his drunken speech towards them. "Yes, well... Ah, as she said, get home to your wife" he says in a nasally voice as he holds his nose, his face grimacing with distaste as the nasty smell of body odor and beer reek off of the man.
As the drunk is shoo'd, he responds to the barmaid, "Ah, well... Guess'ya can't blame me for trying hmm?" He winks suggestively towards her. Turning his attention to Zhao, "OH. You're awake... Grand. How abouts you slow down, sit, and have a meal first. Not only are you practically worthless right now because of your beseeched dedication for Ms. Ameiko, you've got to be starving. No offense, dear friend, we all need you at your best if we're to do this!"
He rapidly begins gratefully eating his meal.
"hold on the sot may know something."
To the stinking drunk. Speaking quickly. "You sir are a personal disgrace and your breath would rust the chains binding the world-eater, but you might know something useful. There is a large mug of whisky laced coffee in for you if you can convince me you are worth it."
Garesh looks over to Zhao, "Why are the late ones always wanting to rush." Garesh chuckles to himself, "I would do as Notick suggests, and enjoy a meal from your beloved's tavern in honor of her. I'm sure she would be delighted to hear, that the one who avenged her gained the energy from her food or something like that. Sorry, I'm not good at speeches."
Garesh thanks the barmaid, and begins to eat and drink heavly just incase it will be a long trip.
As the drunk man finishes his rant, Garesh ignores him but sees Notick turn his nose to the man's odor. As well as Alfonso trying to get his attention, then suddenly a idea strikes! "I think he can solve this!" Garesh answers to a question that wasn't asked. He suddenly casts Create water (only 1/2 gallon) to drop on the drunks head.
As Garesh finishes the orsion, a half gallon of cold rainwater drops on the man's head splashes onto those close by. The wrapped up elf, hits his hands together like he's knocking of dirt and says with a smile, "Your both welcome......(he looks at the drunk)I mean your all welcome." He then goes back to eating and drinking his breakfast, giving the barmaiden 2 silver for the good breakfast.
Glaring at Garesh as the nasty water splashes upon him, he raises his hands and swirls them in a quick motion. His clothing, body, and the poor man whom was Garesh's target quickly begin slowly cleaning and drying themselves.
Alfonso stares directly at Garesh as the water drips from his hair.
The sorcerer speaks a single word. You feel soiled to hear it. The water now collects into blobs on his body. Flowing together like quicksilver. The now seemingly living water flows down his chair like a clear amoeba before vanishing into the floor.
"Target your magic with care my friend. Lest others learn from your maladroit example."
He fights away the burning, blushing, sensation from his cheek as she hugs him. He returns it gently, taking notice of her weakness, and replies quietly to her, "Ms. Ameiko, you really shouldn't be out of bed."
After they back out of the hug, he runs a hand through his hair, shaking his head at her as she continues to speak towards Zhao. "We were getting ready to depart anyways - so it's best you return to let your body heal itself. The fool-hearty one, myself, and my two friends here will all get to the bottom of this. You've nothing to worry about, other than getting yourself healthy again."
Garesh looks confused at Alfonso, "That was precise for me, your method looked more sound though. What took you so long to use it?"
After asking he goes back to finishing his breakfast.
As he see's Ameiko come out, he smiles to her and says "Glad to see Koya still does good work, sorry to bring this up though so soon but the burns you got do you know what caused them?"
She chuckles to her self as Notick starts to blush. At Garesh's question she thinks for a moment. I know this will sound weird, but...it looked like they were using fireworks. You know like the one's we shot off at the Swallowtail festival a few months ago.
Alfonso look bensive for a moment. "Not that wierd. Goblins are attracted to" glances at Amiko "bright showey things. They would be very attracted to fireworks. I suspect someone is trading with them."
He rubs the back of his head, a look of concentration on his face. "Why on earth would they have fireworks in the first place?... Even more, why would they be using them to attack a caravan?"
He rubs the back of his head, a look of concentration on his face. "Why on earth would they have fireworks in the first place?... Even more, why would they be using them to attack a caravan?"
"Fireworks would be an excellent weapon to use against a caravan. The sudden noise and bright light could easily panic horses or oxen. The flash and bangs might disorient defenders long enough for the goblins to get close. If nothing else the smoke would conceal the number of attackers and limit the effectiveness of bows. If I were to plan a way for an unruly and none too bright force to take a well defended caravan, fireworks, while not my first choice would make a good plan b."
He smirks, slightly laughing in response, "I guess you missed the point of my question... What would goblins be doing with fireworks. When or where did they get smart enough to figure their use out in such a tactical way."
He smirks, slightly laughing in response, "I guess you missed the point of my question... What would goblins be doing with fireworks. When or where did they get smart enough to figure their use out in such a tactical way."
"Well they are unlikely to have made them themselves. This means they are either trading for them or they found a cashe. If the latter then we can simply wait out the supply and things will return to normal. But if they are trading or have a renewaable source then they will pose a problem. I wonder if any spent wireworks were recovered from their raids? Many makers will include identifing marks, if nothing else we could determine if the fireworks are imported or goblin made."
"I do not think the goblins are using them tactically, after all there have been survivors. I suspect their innate love of fire and noise overwealms any tactical considerations."
"Did you gather any such useful information in your encounter Amiko? Did the goblins seem more effective or organized than normal?"
"Maybe we should be asking ourselves another question, how many places around the area sell or even trade in fireworks since I believe them to be rare. So we can hunt down that limited list and find another lead. But the warden would probably help us better. So many choices hhhmmmm." Garesh looks up in the air with a look of concentration.
"Alfonso-sir, I may have not understood your point. The goblins do have these weapons, and even if they only found a cache, they may use them to great disaster! A couple of those is all it would take to get started a town fire and with that they could raid the city exactly as they did many years ago!
As Zhao starts talking, his voice is toneless and direct, but by now it's tinged deep with feeling.
"When they realize what they have in their hands, we'll be facing surely a mass attack, and when that happens the ones who suffer are always the ones who can't defend themselves!"
He takes a moment to gather himself and tone down his voice, offering his advice:
"We could go to the swamps, and try to eliminate this menace before it runs out of control and innocent people die. As pointed out before, the swamp warden could provide important advice and maybe some help into our quest. That being said, I defer to your decisions, good-sirs, though I wish to emphasize haste in our decisions."
"Milady Kaijitsu, I've brought shame upon myself and misery upon your family before, but I truly intend to compensate for that and clean my soiled name and honor. In my teachings, this sword represents our personal honor and all that encompasses it. I offer it freely for you, for since my honor and my fate are forever tied to yours, so should their physical manifestation. If I die in these swamps you should keep it and use it to remember me. If someday I repay you and your family for my failure, I'll gladly accept it back and offer you something else for it."
Saying that, he offers his sheated wakizashi blade to Ameiko.
He blinks a few times, a hand slowly moving to the top of his head to scratch at his scalp in obvious confusion. "Uh... Yeah... Whatever Mr. Dishonored over there said. Maybe we should... Ah... Get 'hastened'?"
"So you all wish to take on the swamp first? and not the investigation on the fireworks? Probably best, we can get moving whenever you two are finished with your meal. But just remember speed hurts those who don't know the tree line." He sips his juice waiting on the rest of the party.
Alfonso watches the crowds and notices the signs. While passing through the square he takes a pinch of snuff and speaks.
Under his breath, "The sheriff is a fool, the goblins will eat well."
"Well, this should make things easier. We simply need to follow the trail of bodies. With any luck the critters will have burned through their more serious munitions and we will face sparklers and holiday crackers."
"Well, gentlemen, it would appear we may have competition to worry about as we're out and about. Lets be on our toes to not hurt anyone by mistake, especially those of you who're more brash than others," he eyes towards Zhao afterwards. "Especially others who aren't as experienced and try to mistake us for Gobbies."
As they proceed and hearing Alfonso's comments, "You almost sound as if you want a row of bodies," he shivers slightly. "Lets hope everyone's fine, and we're ahead of them all... Otherwise, lets make sure everyone ends up alright."
Garesh scratches his head in annoyance, "I hope these villagers don't think they are heroes like......(He looks around the group)us, I guess? Since I wish not to waste all my healing on others, before we fight our threat."
As they get closer to there destination the drow will ready his light crossbow just in case, since he usually worries more about ill informed people then goblins.
"Eyes open, sharp mind. These creatures only fight using underhanded techniques, and ambush is one of their favorite tools."
Zhao takes point on the group, walking/riding in front of them protectively.
Zhao, although riding at the front, has many issues on his mind, making him a little distracted.
Notick's Following behind Zhao a bit, hands on his head and humming his earlier song from the Tavern to himself, mentally plotting Zhao's social demise with Ameiko and paying little mind to passer by's. His backpack upon his back and sword tucked in it's back scabbard underneath the pack, hilt close to his hands if needed in a moments notice.
Garesh carefully watches over each villager that passes, thinking in his mind, Why so many I don't want to waste my healing on all of them. Idiots think they are fighting a local trout or a corn stalk, these goblins messed up Ameiko they don't stand a chance. Why will I have to waste my power on them. *Sigh*
As each one passes Garesh comments to them, "If you seek out goblin ears, By Desna's starry sky I will charge double for my healing to any foolish enough to get hurt. Charges will be paid at time of healing or through other arrangements. The free heals if you are part of my group or other circumstances that help me and my group. Understand?"
That is repeating to every group that passes by the healer.
Alfonso walks at the rear of the group wondering if 'requisitioning' a horse from one of these peasants would be abusing the borrowed authority. It probably would.
sigh.
As they walk Alfonso amuses himself by cataloging the would-be heroes as they pass by. Most are arrow-fodder, unlikely to effect their efforts one way or the other. Still they might be useful in depleting the Goblins resources. Since they are going to die anyway, perhaps....
To the others
"We should think about gathering some of these stout yeomen about us. They would prove very useful in our coming fight."
"We should think about gathering some of these stout yeomen about us. They would prove very useful in our coming fight."
Garesh looks to Alfonso and responds a little loud so those passing by can hear him, "Well I did offer them free healing for those who aid us, and will charge double my normal rate for those who are not with us." He gives a smile at the end of his comment, since he heals for free so double that is still free. Though not every one knows that.