Misha gives a broad smile to Guillaume as she hands him the reins of her mule's harness and thanks him in advance for a job well done.
She turns to Dale before he parts ways with them. "I've got a letter to send too, if you don't mind taking it back with you and handing it to a courier. I'll give you money for the service fee.
"And thank you for all your help. We might have been bored from how uneventful the trip was, but I'm sure we have you to thank for the uneventfulness, and I mean that in every way a compliment. Do join us for dinner when you come back down."
Misha along with the rest of the party arranges room, board, and bath, and is willing to share a room with whomever.
Dale's description of Uncle Tarlough sounds intriguing to Misha, so if he is still there after dinner, she introduces herself, telling him Dale told them about him. Do you have a minute or few to tell me about Meadowvale?"
She also keeps her ears out for what the adventurers are chatting about, although if they don't seem open to company she leaves them alone. She knows how competitive different groups can get--she could be competitive herself--but didn't want to invite trouble just yet.
Dain would hurry back to the inn, trying to engage in conversation either with captain of the guard Harrough or the minstrel Seallan.
His approach is rather straightforward (some would say simple): "Dain Harladorn, of the Pathfinder Society, at your service. My colleagues and me are here to explore Moru country and investigate the real stories behind some of it's more interesting legends"
The man that Dale pointed out as Harrough, is talking with one of the barmaids, and as you approach and start to speak he holds up a hand to stop you for a moment. In a few seconds he finishes the conversation with her, and then lets you introduce yourself. He stands and replies, Harrough, Captain of the Guard. Welcome to Meadowvale and Moru Country. We have many shops and services for adventurers. If you are looking for tales and legends, wait until Seallan is finished playing and I am sure he can tell you many stories and legends about this country.
She turns to Dale before he parts ways with them. "I've got a letter to send too, if you don't mind taking it back with you and handing it to a courier. I'll give you money for the service fee.
"And thank you for all your help. We might have been bored from how uneventful the trip was, but I'm sure we have you to thank for the uneventfulness, and I mean that in every way a compliment. Do join us for dinner when you come back down."
No money needed. Captain Thorn has hired me for just such things. I will be coming back here every few months for a year just to do this, as well as bring you what you have to buy in Kaer Maga because you can not get it here in Meadowvale Dale replies to Misha, blushing at the compliment. As far as dinner, I will spend the night in my room, but thank you
Dale's description of Uncle Tarlough sounds intriguing to Misha, so if he is still there after dinner, she introduces herself, telling him Dale told them about him. Do you have a minute or few to tell me about Meadowvale?"
As you approach, the two men with Uncle Tarlough move to intercept you, but Tarlough notices, that you notice his signal to the men, and says to the men, leave her be. She has sharp eyes, a pleasing face, and more manners than most of the folks here, and he waves you to a seat next to him, whilst he continues to eat his dinner.
You want to know about Meadowvale. Not much to tell, other than it is a village on the edge of some of the most inhospitable land in Varisia. But I think you really want to know about adventure, so I'll give you some of the better rumors..... All of them true, he winks.
The priests over at the Last Shrine are looking for volunteers for a dangerous assignment. Something related to Mount Moru, it seems.
Goblins and orcs have been multiplying near the mountain lately ~ nothing good can come out of that.
Them dwarves at the Stonehold fortress are looking for hired hands... must be delicate business if they would descend to dealing with us humans, ay?
Rikar arranges for a simple room and a hearty meal, which he enjoys in the common room with the rest of his travelling companions. As the evening wears on, he notices Misha approaching the man Tarlough, and thinks to himself, She's a clever one, and like to learn more from him than any of these other folk. Perhaps I'll join her and see what I can learn about this place.
Rikar walks up and says, a bit more gruffly than intended, "Well, you won't get a pleasing face or city manners from me, but I'm keen to hear a bit more about this place."
Rikar walks up and says, a bit more gruffly than intended, "Well, you won't get a pleasing face or city manners from me, but I'm keen to hear a bit more about this place."
The two thugs, with a quick glance back at Tarlough, move to intercept you. The boss don't wanna talk to you. He's busy, and you sure ain't purty enough/
Sezira takes Dale's advice and follows him to organise a room. Once she had a room and left her backpack and gear she went back down to get dinner. Introducing herself to the other adventurers there she gives her name and asks what brings them to meadowvale.
Sense motive
Diplomacy
The two thugs, with a quick glance back at Tarlough, move to intercept you. The boss don't wanna talk to you. He's busy, and you sure ain't purty enough/
Not being one to (ever) let an opportunity for a good hassle go to waste, Dain walks slowly until he stands next to Rikar. The fact that he is significantly lower than the huge Shoanti ranger does not bother him at all. He blurts rather openly to the thugs blocking Rikar: "Well, you two have to be the ugliest hidebound beard-shaving dangling nose-picking sewer-rats I've seen this side of Varisia, and we still do not mind. Now, if you would step aside to let the man pass..."
Rikar chuckles at Dain's description of the two thugs and says "Master dwarf, I will grant you these two are ugly. But if they are the ugliest sewer rats you've seen in your travels, you clearly need to get out more.". Placing a firm hand on the dwarf's shoulder and steering him toward the bar, and away from Tarlough's toughs, he begins to walk Dain away, saying, "Buy me a pint of dwarven stout and I'll tell you about my cousin - so ugly you couldn't tell if he was coming or going, looked like he fell right out of the ugly tree, and didn't miss a branch."
Redona had once again become quiet when they arrived at their destination. The new people seeming to press her back into the shell she had begun to creep out of with her new friends. She allows the others to talk and speaks only when required, saying goodbye to Dale.
She then goes up to her room to pray and to get cleaned up before coming down to dinner. "Dawnflower, thank you for bringing us safely to this place." she tells the goddess, among more standard things she says in her prayer. She also thanks her for having such interesting traveling companions, and prays for their safety. Finally, she goes down to dinner. She once again again sits quietly, though looking reasonably happy, if very nervous.
She watches Misha socialize, admiring her bravery and social grace. She also watches with a combination of fear and amusement when Dain attempts to pick a fight with the thugs who intercept Rikar. She readies herself for trouble, tensing in case the thugs try to hurt her friends.
As Tarlough shares with her his pick of local rumors, Misha waves to the barkeep for a drink for both of them, discreetly putting coin down for both. She recalls back from the notes she took on the journal, which she read over several times on their way here. "These priests... priests of Iri, if I am not mistaken, yes? And the Last Shrine... in the mountains outside the village... is there a road that leads there? How far is it from Mount Moru that they'd be concerned about it?"
Misha looks up from the conversation as she sees Rikar and then Dain approach Tarlough's guards. "Don't worry about them," she says to Tarlough, "Rather rough, but they're good men. Even if Rikar keeps calling me a 'city girl.'" She chuckles. "They shouldn't cause your men much trouble save any they want to get into." She grins and winks, taking a swig of the local brew.
Both thugs put hands to sword, but before they are able to draw them, Rikar steers Dain over to the bar, and the thugs back down, after looking at Tarlough.
After Sezira introduces herself to the small group of adventures, the gnome in the group stands and bows low and in one big breath blurts out, almost faster than you can understand, Greetings. I am Apichai Nakalasin Tasakorn, but you can call me Api. I was sooooo bored at home and heard that adventure abounds here, so I came. My newly found companions are Aurelia, and her owl friend Mooney, and this lanky fellow is Cormac. They will have to give their own reasons for being here, but I suspect that we are all here for adventure. We were thinking of going to the Temple of Iri, since we have heard that the priests are looking for folks to help with something important. And what brings you here, elven lass?
Tarlough replies to Misha;
Then hoisting the drink up, he smiles and winks back, And what else can I do for a pretty young city girl like you?
Perception
Sezira doesn't pay attention or notice what her friends in the room are upto at the moment. "adventure brings me here also. Some strange things are happening I hear. I intend to check out the temple and see what troubles them and help if I can. Perhaps we shall meet again." She also asks the other two the same as Api. "I have come here with several others also. This land can be a dangerous place. Have any of you been around here long?" She has her meal with them and offers to buy them all a drink. If they accept, buys 4 drinks and smiles, saying, "To adventure."
Borris awakens from his tubb the water already cold he dries himself and gets to the bar.
An ale for me barkeep! and give one to rikar and dain for me aswell!he looks over to redona. cutiepie do you want one too?
Misha laughs. "I'll keep an eye on him. In fairness to him, I said something earlier that put him out of sorts, I think he's trying to find a way to bounce back. We'll have to look for some orcs or gobbos so the men can work their frustrations out on. From what you said, it sounds like there's plenty of opportunity there."
Misha herself enjoys the game more than anything, and easily recognizes a kindred spirit. So she flashes him a charming smile for his efforts. "Before we go off and get ourselves killed, eh? What does one do around here for entertainment? Besides the obvious." She chuckles at her own joke. "The minstrel's quite good. So... dancing? Or something less active... storytelling?
|
Perception.
Staying back on the periphery of the room to start, Josef moves up to the bar once he realizes his party mates have engaged the locals quite handily.
"Tea, or small-beer, please." he orders at the bar, before attempting to arrange a room (shared?) and a hot bath.
"So, more adventurers, eh? Any word on what these priests want done?" he directs his question to the talkative gnome.
Borris awakens from his tubb the water already cold he dries himself and gets to the bar.
An ale for me barkeep! and give one to rikar and dain for me aswell!he looks over to redona. cutiepie do you want one too?
Hearing Borris, Redona turns quite red when he calls her "cutiepie." "Oh, um... okay." she replies with a nod. She stares at the table for a long moment while Borris gets her a drink. Stop blushing so much! she thinks to herself Why do I have to blush so easily? Misha wouldn't blush over a compliment...
I am Aurelia, and I have only been here a few days. I am looking for my father, Andwar Bacchi. You may have heard of him, he was a Pathfinder of some note, but he went missing inside Mount Moru six months ago she responds. She looks carefully at you and around the room, you came in with a group, including those two that almost started a fight. Are you with them?
At you offer to buy a drink, she accepts and when you toast, she answers to my father
Cormac Drake the man responds gruffly. I have been here all my life, as I grew up in these lands. He goes back to his meal, but will accept the drink with a gruff thanks.
The barmaid drops drinks off with Dain and Rikar, then comes over to you with a drink in her hand, hi sweetie. I am Lianne. Something else I can get for you
Oh, are you with her and he points to Sezira. No, no. We have not heard what he is look. But anything is better than being soooo bored. We have to do something, like maybe go to the mountain and explore that? What do you think? Is it something that you are going to do? spews forth from Api's mouth.
Borris smiles to Leanne oh no thanks I’m just enjoying a well-deserved evening. I’m hoping the others point me in the right direction tomorrow so i can smack some evil around!
"Yes, we all travelled from Absalom to Kaer Maga and then here. A long journey, mostly quite boring and uneventful you might say, though we almost got caught in an Orc ambush. I regret to say that I have not heard of your father for I have only recently joined the pathfinder ranks, as have we all." She looks over to 'those two' and sees that everything is ok for now. "I doubt they meant to, doubtless they just need to relax a night or two to recover from the long journey." She passes off a 'fight' with a wave of her hand. Hearing about her father, Sezira thinks of her own so dear to her. If he was lost or something happened to him she would leave instantly so she understands what Aurelia is feeling. "Investigating the mountain is one of the main reasons the society sent us here. If you would like to accompany us or need help in any way, let me know, I vow to help you find your father, though I can't speak for the rest of us."
"Greetings to you Cormac. May I ask, have you ever been near the mountain? Is it true that there might be a city inside it?" Taking note again of the man's armour another thought comes to her mind. "Is this your hometown? Do you own a business here?"
"We will be checking out the temple soon also. We could work together if their problem warrants it, what say you all to that?
Aurelia looks at both Api and Cormac wistfully, then replies to Sezira, we have an agreement, the three of us. We are going to the Temple of Iri in the morning and hopefully find out what the Priest wants, and if it involves Mount Moru we leave for that in two days.
Cormac, still gruffly, I am a hunter and trapper, as he goes back to his dinner and drink.
Api grins as he hears Aurelia's response, but says to Sezira and Josef, well, working together would be ok, but that means a smaller division of loot. Perhaps it would be best if we all go alone.
Lianne giggles well I can be a little bit evil if you will smack me a little and then bounces off, wiggling her hips, to fill other orders that are being called out.
"We don't intend to intrude upon you. If our paths cross again I hope we meet as allies, but my offer still stands about your father." Sezira acknowledges Api and says, "Of course Api. I hope we have the chance to meet again after today."
To Tarlough, Misha says, "Perhaps I'll give him a listen. Thanks for taking the time to speak with me, but I'd better check on my friends." She waves to the barkeep to fill his mug again, and leaves her seat.
She then sits down by Redona, wondering how the shy priestess was holding up in the crowd. "I was thinking of going closer to the stage to hear the minstrel, care to join me?"
Redona blinked, coming out of her internalizing of her own awkwardness. "Oh... um... sure." she answered Misha hesitantly but still with a small amount of enthusiasm. She does enjoy the way the minstrel sounds.
She moves with Misha closer to the stage, looking less distracted than she had been.
We have not heard any rumors, other than the priest are looking for adventurers for a mission. He stands and bows to Sezira, Yes, I hope we can meet again.
Rikar chuckles at Dain's description of the two thugs and says "Master dwarf, I will grant you these two are ugly. But if they are the ugliest sewer rats you've seen in your travels, you clearly need to get out more.". Placing a firm hand on the dwarf's shoulder and steering him toward the bar, and away from Tarlough's toughs, he begins to walk Dain away, saying, "Buy me a pint of dwarven stout and I'll tell you about my cousin - so ugly you couldn't tell if he was coming or going, looked like he fell right out of the ugly tree, and didn't miss a branch."
Being very impulsive, Dain's first instinct is to shake off Rikar's hand off his shoulder and hit one of the thugs across the mouth before he has a chance to draw his weapon. But rangers firm grip coupled with a "last minute" drop of wisdom helps Dain to realize his situation in a different light. Here they were, newcomers to the city and Misha seemed to have already established some kind of connection with that shifty fellow. Captain of the local guard/militia was also there, and it would probably piss both him and the tavern owners if they started trouble. Still deciding what to do, Dain hears Rikar's joke about the ugly tree and not missing a branch. He chuckles involuntarily and with the situation suddenly defused, he simply turns his back to the two thugs (a calculated gamble) and walks to the bar with the ranger. He spends rest of the evening sipping (and later drinking) brandy and ale, and generally trying not to "get in the way" of his more civilized friends.
The bard is adequate. He keeps the place entertained, and some of the patrons even leave a few coppers, or even a silver piece in a hat at the edge of the stage.
Around 9pm, he finishes playing and goes to a table near the stage, orders a drink and sits down, looking over the crowd. A little bit later, he heads upstairs to his room, and the Inn starts to clear out with folks heading home to get a good nights sleep.
Api, Aurelia and Cormac also finish dinner, the drink that Sezira bought them and then head upstairs to their respective rooms.
Misha follows the crowd and puts a few coppers in the bard's hat.
After dinner Sezira requests a bath then goes to bed, wanting as much sleep in a bed that she can possibly get before traveling again. ZZZzzz...
when Borris notices most of the people go to bed he doese the same.
well honestly lad i think you are paranoid Borris chuckles this might be the last night we can have a peaceful nights rest and it’s been a while so I am going to sleep! clearly a bit intoxicated Borris puts his head down in his pillow and starts snoring.
The night passes without incident, probably the only such night that you will have in a long while. Morning comes, Redona and Josef prepare their spells for the day.
You all head downstairs and have breakfast. Dale is there, and he looks at the group, and asks Where are you off to today? I will be staying at the Inn and doing a little hunting and trapping on the side to earn my keep here. He goes back to his breakfast, then after a moment he says to Sezira and Josef, those three adventurers you were talking to last night. They have left already. They asked Old Jobe for directions to the Temple of Iri.
Misha of course is always eager to speak up. She has her journal out and is checking notes she had scribbled in it last night. "I'd heard from Uncle Tarlough that the priests of Iri are hiring adventurers... AND it is to do with Mount Moru in some way, so it is something to bear in mind. BUUUT also the dwarves of Stonehold are looking to hire as well... and that is interesting, as Fiall's journal made it clear they weren't interested in dealing with outsiders at all. Something's happened to make them change their minds, and if something's changed a dwarf's mind about something, it's got to be pretty big--I hope no offense is taken, Dain," she pauses to nod to the warrior. "So we could follow the others toward the Last Shrine, but we might also pluck some interesting fruit heading toward the dwarves."
She taps her fingers against the pages of her journal. "We should also be wary of orcs and goblins. We all knew first hand that they were active, but apparently it's in bigger numbers than before, so we need to stay alert. This might also have to do with the call for adventurers as well, of course."
She pauses. "Of course, we also need to take care of selling off the orcs' gear if we can. And make sure we've got whatever supplies we need before we go trundling off to our dooms." She ends the last sentence cheerily, with a typically broad grin.
|
|
"Well summarized, Misha."
Josef eats his breakfast with some tea (or coffee if it's available) and studies his own notebook.
"Let's get rid of the weapons and gear we found on the orcs, see if there's anything of interest to find in town, then head out. Did you say the dwarves were on the way to the temple of Iri? If so, let's try to hit them all today."
"Just so everyone knows, I can enlarge someone from a close distance, as well as cast some protective spells on myself or another. Well, one of each, really. So if you think any of that would be particularly helpful, just call out for some assistance. As a last resort, I could create a cloud of mist around myself as well."
"No, if I've got it right, the dwarves are further west, toward Mount Moru itself. So if we want to do both, we should go to the Last Shrine first, which is just about an hour from here, then follow the mountains later toward Stonehold."
"Misha, thank you for all your inquiries last night. I would have joined you, but I guess I'm not quite as charming.", Rikar adds with a wry smile. "Anyway, it seems that we should start with the temple first, as you say, then head to the mountains. Maybe we can get work from them and the dwarves?"
Looking at Josef, he says, "But let's do as Josef says and unload the orc gear first. Also, Josef, I'd like to try being made huge by your magic, especially in a fight. I'll trust you to pick the best moment, but I may ask for it if things look like it'll be helpful."
To the party in general, he says "If we're worried about goblins, I've been fighting them for years - I know their ways, their language, how to find them and where to hit them hardest. And I hate 'em. So I hope we run into them sooner rather than later."
"I bet you'll be a big help with goblins then." Redona smiled pleasantly. She is actively ignoring anyone not in the group so that she will be able to talk with her friends. "Do you need help carrying the orcs' gear to sell it?" she asks the group. When they start talking about their helpful abilities, Redona didn't feel nearly as helpful due to inexperience. But there was one good thing she could do, at least. "Oh, and of course I can heal anyone if they get hurt. But try not to get hurt... okay?"
Sezira wakes up, carefully dons her armour once again, while humming an elven tune to a song called "The half way road". That was a rough translation, it sounded far more elegent in Elvish. It spoke of a meeting of two to decide the fate of a nation, though the two were only beggars and had no idea of their effect, what people would call the butterfly effect now. She wasn't sure why that tune came to her mind, perhaps missing home again.
After she was ready she brought all her gear with her downstairs for breakfast before she expected to head out. "Thank you for letting me know," she says to Dale. "We should head there as soon as we can, hopefully they haven't taken all the adventure from us for today." She agrees about getting rid of the orc gear first. "I can bargain for the best price, I have some skill in that area, but help is always appreciated. I suggest we do not delay."
When Borris comes down he is clearly very happy he got a good night’s rest happy helping himself to his breakfast. So who is pointing me in the right direction! Oh and joseph if you make anyone large I could use a little reach and more Strength! Borris smiles, when his breakfast is done and he can see everyone is ready to go he says Lets move out!
Misha nods to Sezira. "Well, why don't we all head to market to see what we can do with this stuff--and get any more supplies as needed. I'll go get Sunshine from the stable boy now. Once we're done, sounds like we're off to the Last Shrine."
Misha shoves her journal back into her pouch made of treated sailcloth, and heads off for the stable to get the mule.
She stops once and backtracks. "Oh!" She reaches into the same pouch and pulls out a carefully and intricately folded piece of paper, with an address to what looks like some kind of seminary to the southwest, and hands it to Dale. The addressee is Magda Keroun. "Here's the letter I wanted you to send. Thanks again."
Then she's off.
(The content of the letter is simply "I have arrived safely in the next area I am studying and all is well. Expedition crew is brilliant. Stay safe, I love you, your big sister.")
The dwarf is rather quiet this morning. He did not have too much to drink last night (at least according to fine dwarven standards), but he did manage to almost loose his temper, and he was upset about that.
Nice work Dain, you oaf! Were it not for Rikar, you would have made it into a barfight on your first night in the village. And probably I would have spent this morning in jail then...
"Right you are folk. Let us sell what little extra luggage we have from that encounter with orcs, buy some food and then let us be off. Temple and then Dwarven Stronghold sounds fine to me. But I'm fine with other suggestions, if any."
lets move out then ! Eager to get moving Borris is trying to get the others to form up and get moving.
You are given directions to the bazaar in town, where all sorts of equipment can be bought and sold. It is a riotous conglomeration of multi-colored tents, and some semi-permanent structures.
You quickly find "Alonso's Adventurers Equipment" that is willing to pay you 50 percent of the buying price for used armor and weapons, even though they are of orc manufacture. Even Misha's skills at appraisal and bargaining skills are not enough to get the man to part with more coin than that.
After conducting your business there, you form up and take the trail, north and then east out of town to the Temple of Iri. While keeping a sharp eye out for orcs and other creatures, you find the walk fairly pleasant if up hill and nothing interrupts you two hour walk.
Arriving at the end of the road, you see a serene mesa, with nothing disturbing the scenery. From here, you clearly see the vast expanse of the Morudhain Lands stretching north and westward, a silent gray sea of desolation. Mount Moru is in the distance towards the northwest, a shadowy shape. Only a short distance from the end of the road is a simple building made of white stone. From here you can see a garden to the side, and a modest courtyard that leads to the building. The front walls are adorned with various symbols representing the spiraled horn of a unicorn. Some white robed men work or walk in the courtyard; a couple of them look at you calmly as you finish the trek.