Aien pauses... then shrugs.
Must be an after effect of the plane switching.
Something's nagging at me. I'm going after him.
Aien walks inside the Temple.
Hey, Garret, I think we're suffering from a side effect of the plane-switching.... Oh!
Aien says as he sees Garrets kiss.
Ise joins the group at the square. "Good morning everyone! Sorry I'm late, I had some business to look into."
Ise presently you see Board and Jellena.
The one who just kissed Garret asks, "How much time will you devote?" If he says at least 10 minutes she leads him into a side room, otherwise she says, "Come back when you have time".
Aien hums this song as he waits for Garret to finish.
Looking at Board and Jellena, "Where is everyone? Are they late too?"
Turning to Board, "So, the plan for catching a spider matron... I was planning on trying to make a net and some rope from the brambles that make up the pheromone glove. You distract the matron, I get the matron caught in the web and then you grapple it and beat it into submission and tie it up with the rope. Then everyone helps drag it back to town. What do yah think?!"
He follows his Mistress obediently, almost like a puppy.
When the woman enters, he stands, offers a handshake and says, "H-howdy, I'm Garret."
At'let looks at you a bit before saying anything, "Such youth don't know what you want, or perhaps how to ask? I am here to serve a chosen."
Aien thinks for a moment, before adding:
Though both Garret and I had this strange feeling to come here.
At'let takes off her veil, revealing an older middle aged woman who has kept her beauty.
Fade out/in
She still has her under garments still on but lays next to you under the blankets. She moves her finger over your bare chest and sighs, "Off with you then, we can play more when you have more time."
He gets up, throws his clothes back on, and heads back to the square where the others are waiting.
At the square, "Morning, Ise. Sorry about the wait y'all."
Garret clears his throat, "Uh, turns out I wasn't being called. Did have to take care of something though."
Well....
I've never been religious..
I'm not sure. I'll think about it.
I can shoot it.
"Right, where's Baris? And I completely forgot about Delman. We still need to decide who's gettin' these silk collectin' spikes.", Garret says rubbing the back of his neck.
Board lets the group know that Baris is at his monastery and he can get him or lead the group to the building.
How did she know I was thinking about that religious thing. Wait, did she read that thought?
Aien smiles.
Thanks for understanding. I'll come back later with an answer
Lets get Baris, then.
"Yea, let's do that. Then, we'll head for the Forest."
Garret looks down at the gathering spikes, "I suppose I'll hang onto one. Which of y'all want the last one?"
As the group is heading to pick up Baris, Garret turns to Aien, "What happened in the Temple, Aien? Didn't see ya when I came out."
Ise follows the others as they head to get Baris.
"I'll take one of the spikes, I can probably collect webs as I scout ahead of the group."
The group follows Board, down Metal street until you find a dojo of sorts. Through the archway you see a small spring separating the courtyard. Baris sees the group and gets up to meet you near the entrance.
Baris greets you with a big smile and says, "Welcome to my little slice of paradise. I spoke to the town hall and helped them figure out a better system. We just need to ask for packages to a specific outpost."
"Mornin' Lord Baris. Yea, that oughta smooth the process some. I believe we're about ready to head for the Shadow Forest. Are you joinin' us?", Garret asks while looking around at the courtyard.
"Yup, I can help with activities outside of the tower." He says with enthusiasm.
The group heads out to the town hall. Baris scampers in ahead of the group, once in you see the clerk putting packages on the counter and the halfling taking some into his bag.
"Eh? Which outposts are those packages s'pose to go, Lord Baris?", Garret asks with a puzzled look.
"Anyone need to do anything else before we get this show on the road?", directed at the rest of the group.
[b]"I'm ready to go."[b] Ise says with a smile and slight bounce in his step.
"Delman of course, the only outpost on the way to the forest." Baris says in happiness.
"Ah, fair enough.", Garret says plainly.
With the packages passed out, one to each of you and a few more to Baris, you set out. To the North East gate. Down the switchbacks and out on the trail.
Heading NE from Sanctuary it takes several hours until you see a large stone building on the side of the road, a dwarven inn. Outside is a traveling merchant with his wares out on a blanket and on a crate. He appears to be selling mostly red crystals, a golden rod with a blue sapphire on its top, tribal jewelry focusing on bones and claws, finally a few idols.
The merchant greets you pleasantly, "Hello, here I have crystals of growth. For 20 gp you may have one. If you deposit it over in the dispenser you can grow. The golden rod with a blue sapphire on its top is an artifact that will help you gain more crystals as you defeat monsters, a mere 2,500 gp. The tribal jewelry focusing on bones and claws are from the catfolk in the plains, wear them and they won't attack on sight, give them as a gift and you might find a new friend, 15 gp each. Finally a few idols which could grant you extra favor, one is to Death herself, one to Sol the sun giver, and this little beauty of points is to Gorum; 200 gp each."
"If only I weren't broke.", Garret says, looking at the crystals and idol in particular.
"As long as you are still here good sir, respectfully bows at the merchant we can stop back in on our way back to town and possibly spend money." said towards the others.
Sorry. Dead broke. I might have money when I get back though.
Aien takes a look at the staff, then the crystals.
Are these permanent? Can you get two and grow even bigger?
The merchant understands and chuckles, "I should be here for a couple of weeks. Yes when you turn a crystal in at a vending machine it is a permanent increase. You can trade the crystals in to a merchant for a better crystal. You may use as many crystals as you get. Since you are broke I would suggest keep moving, the dwarves are not too kind to free loaders."
"Yeah. We oughta keep movin'. Gotta drop by that outpost on our way.", Garret says reluctantly.
"By the way, Aien, what happened back at the Temple? I heard you come in behind me."
The trip to Delman takes about 5 hours. Once you get to the closed gates each of you are tired but not fatigued yet. The outpost has a crude 4 foot tall dirt wall with wooden stakes poking over from the other side making the wall effectively 10 feet tall. The gate is a 10 foot by 10 foot wooden base of a wagon tipped up on two wheels. Off to the right of the gate is the top of a wooden ladder.
I had that weird feeling you talked about. After I went in, a woman asked me if would like to join. I said I'd think about it.
Aien whistles.
They oughta have a engineer come here.
To Aien, Garret says, "Well, if you did join, seems you wouldn't have to worry about findin' a place to sleep for a bit."
At the gate, he looks about, "Agreed. Looks pretty ramshackle to me."
Garret calls out, "Hail! Anyone here? Have a delivery to make!"
Ise looks around for any guards or ways of entry other than the closed gate.
Aien looks at the wall while he is waiting, looking for weaknesses, for no other reason than boredom.
They're taking forever!
Aien looks at the wall.
Well, it's better than city hall.
It takes a few minutes for someone to show up, he climbs up the ladder a few rungs before his helmeted head appears and states, "Ha, wasitcha wantin'?"
"We have supplies for this outpost to deliver, sir.", Garret says plainly.
Aien moves to Garret.
Wonder if its an NPC or a PC who wants to earn a few bucks?
If within 30 ft. of the helmeted man Ise moves behind Garret and Aien and activates his Solipsism Hypnotic Stare.