Romon whirls and he looks for ....
To the Halfling"My ancestors were not burried in those halls of stone we found, so no I found nothing there."
In Shoanti
Inikai responds to Muchorak in Shoanti:
I still suspect that others besides the girl's father are behind the campaign against us.
In Shoanti
A second clod of earth hits Romon then a third, a fourth, a fifth as a gang of youths begin to pelt him..."get out of here Outsider..we don't need your kind here" comes the yell from one off them.
A crowd begins to gather and there's an angry muttering...
Sheriff Hemlock begins pushing his way through the crowd the other watchmen at the fair hanging back waiting to see what their commander will do.
"Lovely how people turn on you after your done saving there behinds isn't it?" Naria comments as she watches things unfold
Muchorak see's the situation unfolding, but being used to tribal matters he knows it is something that Romon must deal with it...though if his companions choose a different course...
Sensing the mounting tension and smelling the fear and anger of the villagers Ali grows uneasy. It some ways it smells like a challange for leadership and in others like how the pack will drive out a diseased member. Yet she knows neither of these situations applies to her Sneaky Friend so the Wild Druid finds herself being mostly just confused again by the endlessly strange ways of these two-legs. For now she waits on the word of her pack leader Big Bear, but should any of the villagers attack Sneaky, she will certainly move to defend her packmate. For now, the small Gnome's big eyes merely take everything in.
Inikai moves close to Romon and faces the crowd. He addresses them harshly. "Has this man been charged by anyone? Do you now take gossip and accusations on their face, without proof? Has the girl made any accusation, herself? No, you have only her father's version. And how many of you have seen similar events where a father walks in on a daliance? Has a ship made port here or a caravan entered the city without the same thing happening?"
"We have been entrusted to escort a prisoner to Magnimar for trial. It seems we should make our leave before you all decide that trials are no longer necessary." Inikai considers making a sarcastic remark about that saving them a trip but decides that it is wiser that they make their exit as soon as possible.
The Sherrif raises his voice.."If there's going to be a riot then you'll have me to deal with..if all you are here to do is cause trouble then go home now"
He turns to the rest off you.."I think it perhaps best if you stay out off the way till tomorrow..I'll have Tsuto ready for transport just after dawn..take a few days in Magnimar if you wish, it might let tempers cool down here a bit."
He walks closer to Romon and lowers his voice "..and the next time you want to play hide the spear with a pretty lass make sure her father is properly drunk first"
"Let's stay together; people are less likely to try anything when we are in numbers." Inikai then looks at Muchorak's bear companion and thinks he should be enough to deter aggression.
Romon stands and thinks over what happened. He's been caught by surprise and outmanouvered by a bunch of young punks. He knew that game having been on the other side of it himself many times. Dodge the target and let your friends keep pelting him from behind until he was too beat or mad to even chase you. And even if he caught you, all you would get would be a beating. The reaction of the crowd was something different though. He was used to them remaining indifferent or taking the target's side. This was quite new. All in all he hadn't come out of it looking good at all.
On the plus side, his new friends had shown themselves to be of the first water. No one had stepped up like that for him since his mother died. This might work out very well indeed.
"..and the next time you want to play hide the spear with a pretty lass make sure her father is properly drunk first"
Romon smiles disarmingly. "If it was my idea, we wouldn't have been where her father could walk in on us."
"Let's stay together; people are less likely to try anything when we are in numbers."
Romon stares at his usually more reticent friend for a moment. Inikai normally seemed more retiring. Now he was large and in charge.
"Thanks, Inikai. I could have handled those kids, but the crowd would have been messy."
"Thanks, Inikai. I could have handled those kids, but the crowd would have been messy."
"My pleasure."
Muchorak moves over to Inikai, "When shall we leave these lands?" He then looks to Wolfspirit, "If need be i'm sure we can provide a safe place to rest for the evening in the local wood." At the mention of the wooded areas Ursus nestles Muchorak moving him slightly, Muchorak returns the brush with a playfull push which almost excalates before Muchorak remembers their surroundings; the minor wrestling match stops and the big Shoanti smiles at Inikai, "Yes perhaps out in the wood is a better place for us?"
At the mention of spending the night in the wood Ali beams and says brightly "Yes Yes! Ali say we stay in wood home, and then Ali'sw friends can all meet my den-brother Lunas! Yes yes!"
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Marak fails to disguise his dislike of the idea of sleeping in the woods, but does not voice his displeasure.
"Is Lunas like you, able to be two-legs as well, or does he always run on four legs?" he asks Alisebett, already somewhat bemused by the bear accompanying the Shoanti, who he has generally regarded as some sort of berserker, in his generally clueless and self-absorbed manner.
Tomorrow at dawn then " the sherrif grunts..he nods to Muchorak and walks off. The crowd are already dispersing the youths giving Romon a sullen look as they go.
"In the woods we would be more open to attacks from straggling goblins or foes who followed us. Of course, here in Sadpoint, our enemies know where we reside. Yes, I think it would be best for us to be outside the walls for the night, at least."
"I will need to return home for a few things before we depart."
Ali turns her head sideways for a moment, trying to understand Marak's question, when suddenly she understands and giggles her answer "Hee hee, no no Healy man, Lunas be four legs always. He no like Ali"
pausing for a moment she considers deeply for a before continuing "Ali no know no one like Ali. How come Ali be like Ali?" gazing up at her priestly companion in complete trust that he shall be able to provide the answer for her.
Romon smiles, "Why should Ali be like anyone else? Is Muchorak like anyone else you know?" The throws an arm around Inikai. "Or Inikai here, or Marak?" Big affected leer as he looms over the gnome, "And I know you've never met anyone like me." Pushing off from Inkai the half-elf springs a back flip.
"Now, if we're going to Magnimar tomorrow, I've got to see a man about a horse."
"Soooo I don't suppose any of the rest of you know of any ruins In the area?" Naria asks the others
To the Halfling, "No but there maybe some near Magnimar."
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"You are hear to study the local ruins?" Marak asks of the newcomer. "I also was drawn here to study the Thassilonian monuments, and the magic that empowered their society."
His enthusiasm for the topic is unmistakable.
In the tongue of old Thassilon, he asks,
"I...have no idea what you just said but it was something in Thassilon if I had to guess. I normally use spells to understand most of the things I'm reading or listening to"
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"Indeed it was." Marak says. "I had a great fascination with the culture and mysteries of my Thassilonian ancestors, although, I must admit, the glamor has faded as I have seen increasing evidence of their terrible practices..."
"Still, their magic and architecture remains a source of interest to me."
Ali again turns her head to the side as she considers Roman's reply to her question. Finally deciding that she likes it, a lot, she laughs and says "Yes yes! Ali be just like Ali!" and when Roman tops off his performance with the backflip she laughs again and claps delightedly. She then runs over to him, grabs him in a big hug and kisses him on the check saying "You be Good Good Sneaky man!"
At least two things become quite clear to Romon as Ali hugs him-one, she is a fair bit stronger than she looks, and two, despite her acting and seeming like a little girl at times, she is all woman.
Using Ali's incoming momentum, Romon sweeps the gnome up and the hug turns into a spin. The spin stops and he lets her down after the kiss. He laughs, "Not good good. I'm the best sneaky man!"
He can't help if his mind flits appreciatively back to the dress shop and he wonders what she'd feel like if she were bigger. Maybe Muchorak's onto something with the little women.
He shakes his head. "I really do have to see a man about a horse. I'm not walking back to Magnimar."
As he heads for the stables, Romon is thinking, Am I going back? I haven't heard from Cearnis. I should just stay here. Or maybe ride on. Callie ....
Muchorak looks back to Inikai, "Shall we be off to gather your things then?" He looks to the sky, "It is best to find a good resting ground while we have light."
"Yes, we should be off while the light holds. I will need a few minutes at my home before I leave." Just then Inikai's jaw drops. "Wait, are we walking or riding? Because, I don't own a horse."
"Well I wasn't planning on going to Magnimar... but how about this I help you out with this task of yours and then later you all help me out with mine?"
When he reaches his home Inikai tells the others "I will only be few minutes" as he enters another room. Some of you get the suggestion that you hear him speaking behind the door but it is too faint to be certain. Shortly thereafter, Inikai emerges holding a small sack in his hand."I had to feed my fish before we leave" he says, with a touch of embarassment.
Wellard:
Inikai bound Astaroth for and made a successful binding roll. Therefore, he is not under the influence of the vestige; he can act normally. He uses the pact augmentation class feature to increase his BAB by 1 and to increase his HP by 5 for the time that he is bound to Astaroth.
Here are the stats for what Astaroth grants:
Angelic Lore: Astaroth constantly whispers the secrets of reality in the back of the binder's mind, allowing him to draw on his own nigh-infinite knowledge. This functions like the bardic knowledge ability (PH 28), based on the binder's effective level. You add half your effective binder level (minimum 1) to all Knowledge skill checks and may make all Knowledge skill checks untrained.
Astaroth's Breath: Once every 5 rounds, the binder can exhale a 60-foot cone of foul-smelling gas. Creatures within the cone must make a Fortitude save or be nauseated for 1 round and sickened for an additional 1d4 rounds. Those who make the save are merely sickened for 1 round. Creatures immune to poison or disease are immune to this effect.
Honeyed Tongue: The binder gains a +4 competence bonus on Bluff, Diplomacy, and Intimidate checks.
Master Craftsman: While bound to Astaroth, the binder gains a +4 competence bonus on all Craft checks. In addition, each time he is bound with Astaroth, the binder can select one item creation feat as a temporary bonus feat. So long as the binder continues to bind with Astaroth, he can use that feat as though he possessed it normally; he must still spend all standard gold and XP for any item he creates, and must still provide all necessary spells for a given item.
If the binder's effective level is not at least as high as the necessary caster level to take a specific item creation feat, he cannot choose that feat. For instance, a 4th-level binder could not choose any item creation feat with a prerequisite of caster level 5th or higher.
Word of Astaroth: The binder can make a Suggestion, as the spell, with a caster level equal to his effective binder level. The binder must wait 5 rounds before attempting another Suggestion, and at any given time, he can only have a total number of people under the effects of this ability equal to his Charisma bonus.
Romon hustles to the stables. He tries to quickly negotiate the purchase of the horse he hired earlier along with tack, saddle, bags, feed, and anything else the livery owner wants to push on him.
After the stable Romon hustles to the inn. He quickly loads his pack or saddlebags and hurries to meet the others.
He arrives somewhat out of breath. Trotting and leading the horse.
Ali follows along with her packmates, her step is quickened as she is eagar to leave the city and introduce them all to Lunas.
"I am ready"
"It would be a good idea to tie Tsuto's feet together, if Sheriff Hemlock has not done so already. This way, if he runs, he won't get far. Also, one of us should sit in the wagon with him at all times to watch over him. We can take turns."
Romon turns up at the livery to negotiate purchase of a horse..The liveryman gives him a strange look.
"I thought that was your one over there" he says pointing at the massive black stallion in a far stall. "By the way you owe me 5 silvers for stabling and fodder.
He will sell you tack for standard price.(unfortunately Romons little escapade has wiped out your local discount for the moment)
"Have more children chased you out of breath?" A smile creases the Shoantis' face, "Let us be out of town then, find our rest, and gather Tsuto in the morning."
Muchorak looks to Wolfspirit, "Is there somewhere near you know of that will suit our needs?"
Knowledge Geography:
"Yes yes, Ali think she know place that be good, but maybe not Good Good?"
First she will lead them to where Lunas waits, then to the spot she has in mind.
Romon flips the liveryman two clean gold pieces. "Have him ready tomorrow morning. I'll collect him early. We'll need provisions for the journey to Magnimar."
*** Arriving, not leading the horse, but still out of breath. ***
"Have more children chased you out of breath?" A smile creases the Shoantis' face, "Let us be out of town then, find our rest, and gather Tsuto in the morning."
Romon flushes and scowls. "Don't yo -- " Then he sees the Shoanti's smile. He barks a short laugh, then shakes his head. "You don't want to piss off the urchins. They'll run you ragged." Mucho is teasing me? When did he get a sense of humor?
"Yes yes, Ali think she know place that be good, but maybe not Good Good?"
"I'm sure it will be fine, little mama. Lead on." Romon sweeps a low bow with his right arm outstretched offering the little druid to go ahead of him.