"Truly magnificent! I'm surprised that I didn't notice anything before, I'm at the height that I should've seen it straight away. I'd love to have something like that, but it'd get in the way of my riding and armour." I tear my gaze away from Bran's tail and realise something important, I gesture towards my feet at the wolf sleeping there, "This is Rufus, my closest friend. He'll be joining us in the fight and exploration of the lands, he carries me into battle. So my little legs won't slow us down."
I'm glad to see I am not the only one with some...gifts from my heritage, but better not to bring that up just yet, I think
"Is the green natural? or is it a sort of dye?"
Bran looks used to the questions as he answers them, as though this usually happens. "This cloak is pretty good at hiding the tail as long as I remember to keep it from moving around. My ears naturally move as I hear things, so the hood is the hard part.
"As for my tail, it's only green in the spring, actually. My tail changes color with the season, though I don't know why or what it means. The end of my hair does as well, no matter the length."
Taking Theodore's change of subject, Bran motions down to the wolf at his side. "This is my friend, Greypelt. He and I are a pair, and he's usually right by my side. He really only gets aggressive if he thinks I'm being threatened. He's pretty quiet most of the time, though." Greypelt's eyes shift with the conversation, but he doesn't otherwise move.
I look at the other wolf in the group, "No armour, eh? Well at least everyone else will be able to tell them apart!" I let out a merry laugh, "I'm sure they'll be good friends soon enough ... I wonder who the Alpha will be?"
"His hair changes colour with the seasons? That's so cool! Maybe it's some magic he's unaware he's using?"
In relatively short order Erinna brings out your drinks and meals, making idle chit-chat with you as she places the plates on the table, but is quick to leave you to your business.
"A fine pair, Rufus and Greypelt! And Staunch the goat, right Torsten?" Tove enquires.
"Truely we are blessed to be surrounded by so many fine animals. I've yet to introduce you to Ros, I'll have to fetch her from the stables shortly. Tell me, Ivo, who was that fine pony I saw you ride up on?"
I smile as the food and drink is brought over, "Thank ye kindly." I start to eat my food before I see the size of the mug, "A big folk mug, all for little old me? I love this place!" I grasp the mug with both hands and eagerly take a big gulp from it, "Ahhh, so nice!" I place the mug down carefully and wipe my mouth with my hand before starting to eat the food while it is still warm.
"Uhhhh... just a pony I bought for the trip? I, er, didn't give him... him? I don't know... a name," says Ivo uncertainly.
"Ahh, well I guess we'll all get a chance to know him together then!" exclaims Tove.
"That would be Strauch," Torsten replies to Tove, "He's learned enough of the Taldane to understand you when he chooses, but I don't know that he's ever going to talk back, as my teacher's cat would to her. He has other strengths."
"You act as if you've never seen a pint, Theodore!"
"eh? A talking cat? I've seen a deal many weird things living near the Gronzi forest, what with all the fey, but never a talking cat...now that would be a sight!
The party spends the next hour or so getting to know one another and enjoying what by most accounts is an excellent breakfast.
"It's just arcane magic. Not weird like the fey are supposed to be. What sort of weird things have you seen, good Razarak?"
"well this one time I saw a pair of tiny little glowing people with wings flying around this pond a little ways into the woods behind my house, but as soon as they saw me they darted off deeper into the woods and I didn't get to see them very long... My mother always told me to not wander that far in as there is more sinister things lurking in the forest than a couple sprites."
Tove can't be sure if the mood of the whole table shifts at the mention of more sinister fey lurking in the forests of the Stolen Lands or if it is just her own.
She pushes back the flashbacks of the day her parents disappeared, mysteries still unsolved and questions yet unanswered.
Idly picking at the now-cold leftovers of her meal she looks around at the others.
"Shall we set off then?"
Noticing the sudden quiet Razarak shifts in his seat and glances around. At Tove's suggestion he nearly jumps out of his seat and agrees. "Ah, yes, um well that sounds like a great idea! I think it's about time we hit the road, daylights wasting, and the unrepentant bandits aren't going to punish themselves!" Razarak says in what was surely a falsely chipper tone.
"I wonder what that was about... It seemed like that was a sour subject."
"My stuff is here at the inn and packed, so I'm ready to head off," Bran says, seeming not to notice the mood whatsoever. "Oleg's Trading Post is our first destination, right?"
"So I hear. There's a road leading south I think?" Disappointing that he saw no closer... but then soon I will be in lands with fey and might see them for myself! And from the looks of him maybe the fey have an interest and will come to speak with Bran!
The party gathers up their possessions and heads out on the South Rostland Road along the banks of the Shrike River , heading toward Oleg's trading post. The air is crisp and cool, but fortunately for the travelers, dry.
Two hours after mid-day, you reach the wooden pallisades of the village of Nivakta's Crossing, the southern most village in Brevoy. Rumor has it that one of the other scouting parties Restov has sent into the Stolen Lands, led by Maegar Varn, turned south here and headed into the Nomen Heights.
Knowledge (Local) #3 DC 17
"We should stop here to pick up what word we can. My knowledge of the land about here is... thin? Slim, that's it."
Tove speaks up, somewhat bluntly. "If we keep moving we should be able to reach Fort Serenko by nightfall, we can get some rest there and then press on to the trading post at first light tomorrow."
"Nivakta's Crossing isn't a very friendly place," pipes up Ivo. "Unfortunately, Fort Serenko was abandoned when the troops were pulled back to Restov recently. This is the last place we'll be able to get supplies between here and Oleg's, I think. They'll probably mark up the prices. I suppose we could buy more food, carry on and sleep at Fort Serenko, now that it's unmanned, but it's likely that for a few coins more we could at least sleep on straw mattresses here."
"If we press on, we can reach Oleg's Trading Post with only a day and a half of more travel," Bran adds, leading his donkey along the path. "I'm used to camping out, though, so I don't mind where we stay."
"A ... pint? I like it!" Realising that everyone is ready to leave, I rush to eat the rest of my food and catch up with them. I place my payment on the table next to my crockery and wake Rufus up.
Once outside I climb up onto Rufus' back, where I look a lot more at home and comfortable, despite the fact that there is no saddle. Even with my weight and the weight of his armour, Rufus is able to keep up with the group easily. When people start discussing where to spend the night I speak up, "I think we should go to this Fort, it'll be a lot easier to defend if we get attacked during the night. Also we should already have all the supplies we need for the trip to the trading post. Isn't that what the last few hours was for before we head out?"
Shifting his gaze between his companions, and trying fruitlessly to flatten his hair, Razarak says"I too say we push to the fort, not only will it put us closer to Oleg's but it's also not surrounded by people who seem to not like outsiders. I dont need supplies and could care less about the straw bed if we can avoid wasting the rest of the day here."
Plus we are more likely to get robbed here and the fort is probably more easy to defend, what with it being a fort...
I notice Razarak trying to flatten his hair, with difficulty. "I wonder why he's having trouble with that?" I look over the group again, trying to gauge them all.
"If we're about to travel together and make the area safe for travel, we shall be doing plenty of fighting. I think we should explain what our strengths and weaknesses in combat are, so we know what to avoid and how to overcome them." I place my hand on my chest, "I'm a warrior, I fight in close quarters with sword and shield. However I am honour bound to offer any intelligent foe the option to surrender to us, if any decide to accept surrender during the fight at anytime, they shall fall under my protection. You may see that as a weakness, but I consider it to be a strength. I have no magical affinities, but I work well in a team and may be able to help us out in combat with some battle tricks."
"I am a mage, but don't think I won't be wading into battle. I mostly use my magic to supplement my own...talents...and to weigh the battle in our favor. I have a proclivity towards electrical magic, which may explain a few things. As far as offering surrender, I don't have an issue with that, but if we are attacked, I will be retaliating, as I put my safety over that of some brigands who decided it was a good idea to attack us."
"And I plan to make them realize it was indeed, a very bad idea to attack us."
"While my strong arm can hold a staff well enough, I would rather call down magic on my enemies than fight warriors staff-to-blade. Much of my magic is less destructive than Razarak's, but if some brigand lying bleeding from a conjured spear surrenders it might be well not to delay too long before lending them healing. The end could be nearer than it looks. He coughs. "To the fort you say? Well, those of you who know something of these places know better than I."
And I'm fast running out of silver.
"As a priestess of Erastil I will endeavour to serve all of your divine needs, be it in the form of a blessing or my healing hands. Old Deadeye has also granted me skill with a longbow, and so I will hang back and provide cover to you in combat when you need it too."
"I have no qualm with avoiding bloodshed if it is at all possible. I joined this expedition to help those living on the fringe of society, and if any should welcome that help then they will have my blessing. However if they pursue only their own greed and prove to cause more trouble than good to the Greenbelt's communities then Old Deadeye's justice will be swift."
"I'm just a toymaker," says Ivo. "Well, I traveled with a carnival for a while, selling toys in many towns, so I can take care of myself on the road. But I'm not a soldier or sorcerer or anything."
Bran stays silent for a moment before finally seaking up. "I can shoot a bow pretty well, and I can control some magic, though it is more wild in nature. I do not know the source, but what little I can control has served us well on the fringe of the Stolen Lands.
"As for bandits," Bran adds, pausing here, "I...I don't think many will surrender easily. I've faced a lot of bandits from the Stolen Lands, and even when attacking a small farmstead with no true gain, they didn't give up until most were dead or seriously injured. Most have been bandits a while, and surrending to them is like giving up their freedom, which few in this land will ever give up willingly."
Shifting his gaze toward bran, his ears seem perk up at the mention of wild magic. "You wouldn't happen to know any spells that at could sharpen, say, some claws or the like, would you?
If he does that would definitely come in handy, of course I would probably be competing with his wolf for such spells...
"I have one that can infuse magical power into someone's fists," Bran says. "I've used it on Greypelt's fangs before, but I know it doesn't work on man-made weapons. It might work on claws. A lot of this magic's limits seem to vary with nature itself. It's hard to describe."
"An interesting group, to be sure. It'll take a while for us to get used to each others abilities, but once we do, we'll be unstoppable in our pursuit for peace." I turn to face Tove and bow my head, "Family is the first gift we ever receive."
Razarak's eyes seem to gleam a little bit, "I think I could put such a spell to use..."
One of the gate guards at Nivakta's Crossing eyes you suspiciously, but nods in acknowledgement of you none-the-less as you pass by, continuing down the South Rostland Road.
The wind picks up a bit and the skies grow overcast as the temperatures noticably cool during your afternoon travels, but such things are not terribly uncommon for late Calistril in this region. The journey to Fort Serenko is largely uneventful, save for taking a tad bit longer than you thought it would have, as you arrive at the gates of the abandoned fort about an hour after sunset.
A light snow flurry begins to fall just as you arrive at the wood and stone structure known as Fort Serenko. The snow and increasing cold are more than just a bit of disappointing to some of you as you reach the gates to find them bound with heavy iron chains and what appears to be a substantial lock.
I look at the lock on the gates, shivering a little in the wind. "I don't suppose any of you can do anything about this lock, or shall we just knock? Maybe it isn't abandoned still?"
"Let me have a look - I have some tools," says Ivo. He struggles once more to get down from his pony, then hits the ground hard on his hands and knees. Undaunted, he brushes himself off and goes through his saddlebags before taking out some tinkering tools.
"Locks like this are expensive," he says as he peers at the device. "Someone really wanted to keep people out." He handles the heavy lock dubiously, peering at the interior of the tumbler.
He carefully inserts a probe with one hand and a tension bar with the other and twists with a sort of strange stroking motion - like writing calligraphy with a pen.
"If there's someone here, likely they left tracks - it wasn't snowing this morning" Torsten kneels down before the gates to examine the ground. He seems largely unaffected by the cold wind but Strauch huddles close.
Can't let these Southerners think a Claw Point man is weak.
Bran rubs the side of Borne, knowing the donkey never has enjoyed the cold. Another flurry, yet spring is certainly here, Bran thinks to himself. My tail has never been wrong before.
"Usually locks are meant to keep people out," Bran points out. "Why were the troops pulled away again?"
As Ivo is working Razarak turns out and keeps watch, swinging his gaze from the tops of the walls, to the edges and on the outside of the walls, making sure wethe group isn't being snuck up on by whoever locked the gate. Anyone happening to glance at him may notice Razarak flexing his hands, with his arms slightly held away from his body, as if preparing for something
Satisfied that no traps await him, Ivo goes to work on the lock. It takes the industrius gnome a few minutes but he eventually manages to pick the lock.
With the lock removed, the party goes about the business of removing the heavy iron chains from the gates, which is not a particularly easy task given the weight of the chains and cold of the metal. Finally the gates to the fort are pulled open, revealing the small courtyard beyond, and more importantly the keep.
Looking around the courtyard it does not appear anyone or anything has been here in a number of months.
You proceed to the keep, only to find the main door locked. Ivo once again checks the door for traps and once satisfied goes about the business of picking the lock. Another few minutes later the door is open and you have access to the keep.
"Supposedly they drew back because Restov is worried about internal tensions with Issia," says Ivo as he works on the lock. "There we go! Got it." He starts looping off the chains.
Turning to Ivo "As you seem to have the most knowledge on locks, is there a way to lock the door from the inside, so that it would be harder for anyone to wander into our camp? I also propose we set a guard for the night, swapping every hour, or whenever you feel you cannot keep your eyes open, whichever comes first. I can take first watch"
As Bran enters the keep, Greypelt slinks away into the forest. Pulling out supplies from Borne's saddlebags, Bran asks, "Is there a place to set a fire inside?"
He glances at the doorway, wondering if he should let Borne inside. They wouldn't mind if they abadoned it, right?
"I can keep watch for a while. Greypelt won't be back for a few hours, so I can take first watch with you to wait for him."
There is a large fireplace in the main hall of the keep.
Torsten and Strauch head in and look around curiously. "Even this far from the Icewall winters will be cold. There will be a fireplace somewhere. Maybe even fuel if the soldiers didn't care to take it with them."
Turning to the sorcerer, "Every hour, Razarak? I am less well rested when I wake up often. My elder sister's baby taught me that! Can you not hold your eyes open another two hours tonight? I can! Though it would be as well that I wake early to prepare my spells, perhaps I should take last watch."