"How in the world did we miss seeing you? were you hiding? Who are you and what happened here?"
Bishop will move towards the individual and render assistance.
It's not too difficult to disentangle the man (as there is a body attached to the legs) and haul him up over the wall. A single wound oozes blood along his side, but he seems otherwise unharmed. From his dress he's a traveler rather than a guard.
"Thank you, thank you, thank you! I'm Brennan Quall. I was just passing through here when those gnoll raiders attacked! It's very strange, usually only rob lone travellers. Attacking something like this isn't like them--too likely to get them killed for not enough reward, probably. Though now that I think about it, there was a voice that didn't sound like a gnoll that I heard while hanging here..."
"Speaking of hanging here, I'm a stronger swimmer than fighter, so when things started looking bad, I thought I'd have a better chance to live swimming than fighting. But..."
He gestures at the ironwork with an embarrassed look.
"To whither were you bound? And what cargo were you carrying?"
Iskender looks to Bishop to tend to the man's injuries.
Dakkar regarded the traveler.
"Something about this does seem a little odd. Guardhouses aren't exactly prime raiding targets. Oh well, I'm a better fighter than swimmer, so if they come after us I'll just tear them apart."
I am a better drinker than I am a fighter! Kit adds.
"Cargo? I'm not that sort of traveler," Brennan replies to Iskender. "I was just on my way to Trebelbet--that's the main city of the Barony of Merebec, in case you didn't know that--when all this happened."
"It is pretty strange," He agrees with Dakkar. "I did think I heard someone that wasn't a gnoll while I was hanging there, though. More of a... high-pitched screechy voice, instead of the gnolls' rough barky ones, if that makes sense. I'm afraid I didn't understand the language though. Seemed like they were unhappy with something is the best I could guess."
Dakkar shrugged.
"Eh, I'm sure we'll find out what's going on later when it catches up to us, probably with swords and arrows. So in the meantime, why don't we get back on the road?"
"So, we'll just press on then?"
"If you're headed to Trebelbet, I'd like to stick with you. It seems like being a lone traveler right now... well, I'd rather not get shot at again! And for you, you've probably noticed that off-worlders like you aren't very popular. Having me along, I can at least vouch for you. It might smooth things over a bit for you. What do you say?"
Iskender looks to his companions before responding, ”tell us again why your vouching for us will be to our advantage?”
This guy is funny! Who else would try to hide by hanging half-way off a wall. I say he can come! Kit says with a bemused smile.
"Because I'm not an off-worlder and you are," Brennan responds to Iskender's question, as if it's the most obvious thing in the world.
Dakkar shrugged.
"Eh, whatever. I don't really know much about local prejudices or diplomacy or whatnot. Just don't double-cross us or I'll eat you."
”Fair enough!” Iskender introduces the party to our new friend.
After introductions are made. Well! Lead on good sir!
Brennan is a fairly chatty traveling companion, talking about the area and what he's seen. Apparently he goes back and forth between Trebelbet and Buckle fairly often, sometimes taking messages or small deliveries to help make ends meet, though this time he was returning empty-handed from Fort Buckle.
You camp overnight without much issue, and after a few more hours' travel the next day the causeway ends, turning into a dirt road. The landscape turns more vibrant as well, with small, scraggly trees here and there and a great deal of deep green moss covering much of the ground. After a little travel through this terrain you see a few simple structures ahead and a single tengu who seems to be examining some of the moss.
"You there! Hail and well met. What seems to be interesting about the green covering the ground?"
The tengu looks up with a wary glint in his eye. "You're not going to make fun of good, honest moss-farming, are you?"
"no no. far be it from me to make fun, but I'm not used to the customs in each land I travel to. So it is a genuine question of: what is interesting? if you are a moss-farmer, then that answers the question. Although a previous innocent question with an presuming innocent responder turned out to be an ambush. you aren't doing something like that are you?"
Dakkar snorted and eyed the moss suspiciously.
"We've been attacked by lightning-shooting rocks on this journey, so I'm not trusting the moss until it's proven innocent."
I have the highest respect for farmers, especially those that grow barley!
Your answers seem a bit surprising to the tengu--particularly Dakkar's, which bring a bit of a chuckle from him. Dakkar does note that there are actually several different types of moss here, carefully separated in different areas.
"Well, that type of moss over there," he points at one patch on the other side of the road, "Is what we use to brew Mossbeard Ale. It's not barley, but it's the closest that grows in these parts. I take it you lot must be pretty new to Rythes, then?"
Oh! Mossbeard Ale? Sounds delicious! do you have any? Kit says liking his lips in anticipation.
The tengu caws a laugh. "I grow the moss, not brew the ale. You'll have to go into town for that."
Having determined that the moss did indeed appear cultivated and non-threatening, Dakkar returned to his usual level of alertness.
"Still can't help but wonder what's with this world if the food crop is moss, and yet there are beetle-things that manage to grow to be fifteen feet long. What do they eat? Eh, whatever, so long as there's beasts of some sort around, that tends to be what I eat."
Kit looks saddened at the prospect of no ale nearby or free ale at that!
What can you tell us of this town? He asks.
"Trebelbet? It's the only sign of civilization around, just about. Nothing but wastes for dozens of miles, full of beasts and raiders. You're not far at all from it, should see the walls soon. Baron Yacob rules there. He's a reasonable sort, does his best for the people, keeps the watch organized and fends off syaandi raiders, gnolls and the like."
Great to hear it! There have seen so many examples of inhospitality on this world, it will be nice to see some civilization. Are there places in this Trebelbet where one can get a meal, some moss ale and maybe a bed for the night?
"There's the Mossbeard Alehouse. One guess what they serve there." The tengu caws a raucous laugh at his own joke.
"Hmmm, yes, good one!" Iskender chuckles to himself. "Does the Alehouse also have rooms for let?"
"I believe so." The tengu shrugs a bit. "Not like I've ever needed to ask."
"Well, then that's the plan then. Be nice to have a solid bunk under my arse for a night, not to mention a barstool, eh Kit?"
Dakkar shrugged.
"Eh, rooms are fine, I guess, but I'm more comfortable in the wilds. Not stupid enough to go out alone someplace I don't know, though."
I agree! I am really curious to try this moss ale!
You bid farewell to the tengu and continue on. After perhaps an hour you reach the walls of Trebelbet. The high, thick walls suggest a considerable concern for safety, in spite of the fact that the moss you've seen since the farm grows even on the walls.
As you near, a red-haired woman yells out from one of the watchtowers flanking the gate, "Hold, travelers! Keep your weapons sheathed and your hands in sight. What business do you have in Trebelbet?"
Well met! We're looking for a place to stay and some moss ale - and not necessarily in that order! Kit says with a smile.
Dakkar just, as usual when asked to stow his weapons, shrugs. He wasn't holding any weapons, and his (claw tipped) hands were in plain view.
"Road weary travelers, seeking a bit of comfort for the night, or maybe a few days." Iskender summons a lyre, and strums a few notes, "maybe even a chance to sing some tunes you know!"
Brennan steps forward. "They may be off-worlders, but they helped me out. They're good sorts."
The guard considers you for a while, then signals, and the gate opens.
"If I hear of one bit of trouble from you, you'll all be out the gates so fast your boots will catch fire. But as long as you're quiet, Trebelbet is open to you."
Err..Thanks! Kit says not sure if he has ever been to a tavern and not been in trouble.
Dakkar nodded. "Yeah, yeah standard deal. But what if trouble comes after us? That seems to be happening a lot lately."
"Then you call us and we'll help take care of it," The guard replies to Dakkar's question. "And we'll ask around and make sure you didn't start it."
Beyond the gate, Trebelbet is a small town. More of a village, really. The Mossbeard Alehouse lies straight ahead from the gate, based on the sign hanging in front of it. The other buildings you see look mostly like homes, though one has a sign indicating it is a general store. A bit further back you see the higher walls of the only two-story building in town, which looks to be a fortified keep of some kind.
Shall we go try some of this mossbeard ale? Kit asks as he leads the way to the tavern. He will try to find a table all to themselves and when the barmaid..or..whatever passes for one on this world comes over he will say, Some mossbeard ale for me and my friends. We are new to town. Is there any news you can tell us?
"Yes, news, and ale please!"
You walk into the tavern, finding it fairly busy, with a number of customers vieing for the attention of the gnomish barkeeper and barmaid. The tables and benches are fashioned from stone, much like the walls of both the tavern and the city itself, and the mugs on the gnome's tray are filled with a foamy green liquid.
"Find a seat, I'll be there shortly!" the gnome shouts to you as she hands out the mugs.
Looking over the customers, in addition to those you're coming to recognize as natives of Rythes, you also see a white-feathered tengu sitting with a wayang, a large black-skinned fellow with a pair of thick, short horns... and a group of Syaandi who look exactly like the ones you fought outside of Fort Buckle. They see you also, and their leader raises a mug to you with a smug grin.
Kit, not having a mug yet, offers the leader a salute. He whispers to his friends, Hopefully these fellows won't give us any trouble. Remember we were warned! he says as he smiles at the group.
"True that, but if they start it, what choice do we have?"