Extraordinarily Awful Orphan Adventures

Game Master Minister Pain

The day dawns, and with dawn come soaking rains. The morning of your departure is miserable — even with scraps of night-fog still clinging to low ground and tree branches, the rain pours down from the sky like the wrath of an angry god determined to dissuade you from your course of action.

The next several days prove uneventful, for the “road” to Coelum Town (SEE-lum) is not heavily traveled. You are fortunate enough to find inns and shelter along the way, through the mountain pass into the Yolbiac Vale, and after four days of hard travel you eventually reach the spot where the narrow and ill-maintained Quillande Road breaks off from the main road into the forested foothills known as the Quillande Ferosc.

-----

Aside from you poor orphans, other members of the expedition include the following:

A dedicated scholar, Sarrus Togren has spent the last 20 years intensely studying the ancient history of the Sinnar Coast region with special attention to the Yolbiac Vale and its most obscure inhabitants. He sincerely believes that it's earliest human inhabitants, the Ancient Ones, possessed significant knowledge that could benefit modern civilization, and dismisses tales that they consorted with demons and evil creatures as meaningless folklore or outright lies. Sarrus is tall and spare, with sparse grey hair, a wispy beard and a studious, thoughtful manner. A true friend to orphans everywhere Togren's kindness and generosity is legendary, as he has adopted several orphans purely out of the goodness of his heart. Because sarcasm is difficult to convey through text, I'd like to clarify that that last sentence was entirely untrue, other than the adopting orphans part. The professor's manic obsession with academia leaves little room for kindness and his primary goal of adoption would seem to be access to unpaid housecleaning, butlery, etc.

Quiet, intense, intelligent and even beautiful in a reserved, subtle way, Sarrus Togren’s half-elven academic assistant Nymea Goswynn. She dresses and behaves modestly, spending most of her time with books or assisting the professor in his researches. She endeavors to keep him insulated from worries or trouble and anyone who wishes to speak with Togren usually needs to go through her first. Thankfully, Nymea is unsarcastically kind and one of the few who don't point and whisper behind the academy orphans backs. If metaphors were still in fashion, one might describe her as a faint ray of hope in an otherwise dark, dark, dark...er...place?

Sigra Ironshoulders is a professor of engineering and geography who is along on the expedition to do some mapping and surveying. Like many dwarves, her manner is gruff but ultimately comradely. Physically she is solidly built with broad shoulders, strong arms and red braided hair shot with grey. She wears her chain shirt at all times without apparent fatigue, and carries a masterfully-crafted warhammer inscribed with the runic symbols of her clan, because every expedition needs a ridiculous dwarven stereotype.

Maiesse Tolivant is an athletic, resourceful young woman who has some experience in the wilderness, and has picked up a few survival skills. She jumped at the chance to go on this expedition, since she dreams of one day being a freelance adventurer. I sincerely hope for her own sake that she isn't too dead set on those dreams.

Gedney Foulkes is a gnomish student of arcane history, Gedney hopes to find new information about ancient spellcasting and magical procedures. Like most gnomes he is friendly and almost pathologically optimistic. He and his enthusiasm are about to learn the meaning of the phrase "sorely tested."

Sincere, bearded and ever so slightly overweight, Drew Connat is an enthusiastic if undistinguished history student, but he is totally unprepared for life on the road, frequently falling off his horse or losing the trail. There is absolutely no way that this can end well. Poor Drew.

Another of Professor Togren’s history students, Sylva Montrose is bright, bookish and friendly, with freckles and strawberry-blonde hair. She holds a great distrust of beautiful half-elves (cough, cough, Nymea, cough, cough), although between you and me I think it's safe to say that she's just jealous.

No one is really sure why Regis Tenebro is here. He’s dark, sallow and surly, constantly wrapped in a dark hooded cloak, usually complaining about conditions or grunting in monosyllables. The less said about him, the better.

Terry and Harry bear tents, blankets, rope, tools, and sufficient food for a week in the wilderness. Their interests include grain and long walks. They are mules.

A quiet girl, a stoic and cold look in her brilliant violet eye's, her skin pale as snow, her short hair an icy white, a long curved blade hanging comfortably under a dark purple cloak, in contrast a beautiful silver pendant hangs around her neck.

She's off to the side, not saying much if anything at all. seemingly ignoring the people and things around her

Ren Cooper, dressed out in refurbished Hide armor, only slightly rusty flail hanging on belt loop. He looked the typical young Chelaxian boy, crudely cut black hair and tanned from the streets skin. Walked with a cockiness and a smile, yet his eyes always watched the adults. Always made time to speak with the other orphans, more so than adults.

Ren is constantly amazed at his good fortune, picking at his new gear. The Professor paid upfront, not "loaned", him 75 gold. Told to pick out whatever equipment he thought he needed as a real hired guard. Professor would take care of food, lodging and whatever incidentals happened as all he needed was an escort to some valley. He was very confident in my proven abilities thus far having survived the streets for the last four years. High praise. Professor made quite the generous offer. How could I refuse?

Indeed. How could I refuse...

The man could (and would) sell a newborn baby back to his own mother. You could only trust a snake to bite, just a matter of when.

Leera Atmos sighed as Professor Togren indicated their path now took them off the main road. She wearily turned her aching feet to keep up with the others. She could see Ren ahead while she walked along quietly near the semi-oblivious Aisling Frost-Wing.

Leera preferred walking near the other girl since people often assumed they were related since their hair and skin were so similar. The fact that they looked nothing alike didn't deter the assumption. Leera's habit of frequently hiding the lower half of her face with her hands or lace cuffs often unintentionally aided the illusion. Unlike Aisling, Leera's white hair was not the snow white of an icy heritage, but something almost more ethereal. Leera's hair seemed to have blue highlights in low light which vanished when exposed to direct rays of the sun or firelight.

Leera liked thinking that the other orphans were her family in fact rather than unfortunates who just happened to live together. It sometimes made her feel everything was going to be alright...

Her dress was dirty. The unbidden thought startled her and irritated her at the same time. The dust of travel seemed to coat everything, her boots, cloak, stockings...well, there was nothing that could be done. The long-sleeved black dress with lace trim was mostly covered by her cloak and the leather armor she'd been given, but her petticoats were definitely soiled with travel. She shifted her simple pack on her shoulder still feeling odd in the protective gear. The L-shaped hand sickle bounced against the side of her leg, but she had gotten used to that and barely noticed it.

She glanced over at where Agana trudged along and felt nervous. The girl's powers were very dangerous to Leera, and Agana always seemed to want to help and heal every scrape the other orphans acquired. Leera just hoped the Agana didn't forget that wouldn't help her.

Maybe that wouldn't be such a bad thing...

Leera shook her head, no. Don't think like that. Life would get better, surely. It had to.

Right?

Leera sighed.

Fezont eyes the other children nervously as the expedition breaks from the main road. He watches as Ren admires his own armor, and feels jealousy welling up inside him. The young gnome hadn't been allowed to purchase armor; Professor Torgen said it would interfere with his abilities. So Fezont was stuck with his second hand clothing: tattered shirt, tattered pants, shoes with the soles so worn out he might as well be barefoot. Drab clothing that contrasts harshly with the bright green of his hair and blood red of his eyes. To compensate for the lack of protection, he had decided to buy the coolest looking weapons he could find: a Morningstar and a crossbow.

And at least he knew how to make his own bolts for the crossbow. He remembered reading a book on it that his parents had owned before... before...

He shakes his head violently as if to eject the thought from his brain, and he sidles up next to Gedney Foulkes. A gnome just like me! All the other kids were seemed to be humans (except for maybe that weird looking girl? Fezont can't tell what Leera is, but she looks different from all the other kids) so Fezont feels drawn to the only other one like himself.

"Mr. Foulkes?" he asks quietly. "Do you know how much longer it is to where we're goin'?"

Agana Besken was a mousy little thing, and she was well aware that the other children didn't trust her. Professor Togren had called her a liar since the first day she had met him, and it seemed nothing could shake that reputation. To her credit, she never spoke out against the professor or her adopted siblings about this, and in fact, rarely spoke at all.

There were so many things she would have said if she had the courage, but none of them ever came out. She would have said that she hates to lie, and that she had been unfairly maligned after only a single incident. She would have said that the sound of running water made her nervous, as if her powers were running wild again. She would have said that she actually preferred to be called Aggie, and that Agana felt too formal of a name for casual use, but the only people who had ever called her that had died of Unruly Blood Disorder.

Instead, she said nothing.

Gedney smiles brightly at his fellow gnomish traveller. Well, my boy, I'm not quite involved in the "technical details" side of the expedition, but I assume it should be no more than a quick jaunt from here. A few many hundred paces. A pleasant saunter through the wilderness." After giving such a disappointingly vague answer, he begins happily humming to himself.

Note to self: Never have another character smile brightly or hum happily again.

A giggle-snort escapes and Ren covers it up with a sidearm rock toss at a hole in a tree, maybe he'll get lucky and disturb a squirrel. Unable to help himself, his eyes return to the two gnomes to see if they noticed before gravitating to Professor Torgren as always.

He resumes picking up choice throwing stones for his sling and general entertainment. His formerly empty bandolier filling with a collection of stones. The 75gp hiring fee not nearly going as far as he had hoped. He still bore resentment over the confiscation of his personal belongings by his minder at the Uni.

So far, 4:3 Loss of personal effects, adopted by Prof, end up his personal Go-For, obligated to follow him on wild goose chase but starting new elsewhere, have actual armor and weapons, full belly every day so far.

He is passed up and left behind, staring into the wilds, as he does a mental tally of grudges and favors.
"Crapola!"
Loping to catch up, he tosses rocks at imaginary foes and targets until once again with the group.

The relative safety of the Yolbiac Vale’s main road vanishes quickly behind you, and soon you find that the Quillande Road runs through a dark, threatening forest. You are deep in gloom, with only wan grey light and fat droplets of icy rainwater filtering down from a grim sky. The trees are old, with black bark and heavy branches sprouting thick needles. The only living things you see are black crows that roost among the boughs and stare coldly down on you, flying off only when Regis Tenebro wings pinecones at them.

The track ahead of you is narrow and in places overgrown, or blocked by fallen trees, requiring frustrating delays to clear. From time to time you ride past weathered waystones, thick with moss, their inscriptions barely legible, referring to settlements long lost to time — Timberval 120 leagues. There are a few newer stones as well — Avauntz Inn 20 leagues.

Just checking in to see if Venthrus is all set before getting into the adventure proper.

"This whole place is filthy. The countryside is disgusting!" Ven growled, shaking his hands at the sky. "Curse the gods for putting me in such a situation. May they strike me down now as a kindness!" He tossed his head back, causing his dark waist length dreadlocks to thud heavily against his cured hide armour.

As the boisterous young Fighter runs by him Ven pulls back with a shouted, "OI DON'T SPLASH ME WITH THAT MUCK"

'This isn't for me. Why did I agree to come here? Why did I do what that bloody vile man asked?" He glared around him, staying to the back of the group.

As he walked along there came a rustling in the underbrush beside him. He stared at the bush for a long time, tense, sure he was about to be attacked, before out of the bush bursts a small blue dinosaur, who launches himself on to the young boy and scurries up his body to perch upon his shoulder. "By the nine hells Vector, you scared me. Bloody reptile, you probably have me covered in mud now too. No more wandering!"

He gripped the spear he had been instructed to buy and hurried after the others, hoping to get to their destination quicker if at all possible.

Leera's head swiveled in alarm as something leaped out at Venthrus! She started to raise a hand, and a spark of gravity energy flared to life.

Oh.

It was just his lizard friend. A friend who loved him no matter what.

She quickly dismissed the tiny spark of power before anyone noticed it. It made a small crackle like the snapping of a twig. Hopefully, that's all anyone thought it was.

Leera watched as the blue reptile climbed on Venthrus' shoulder. That must be nice. Leera started to daydream about having a pet. Most animals seemed a tad leery of her, but came around eventually. Pets weren't something usually allowed at the institution, but Venthrus had something special, so the Professor seemed to turn a blind eye. Well, as blind as his eyes ever were. Which was barely ever, in case that wasn't clear.

Leera returned to trudging along. Maybe where they were going will be better than living at the University. Yeah, perhaps this was all a ruse to take the orphans to new homes with loving parents and wonderful brothers and sisters!

Leera let the lie live in her daydream for a time until she tripped on a rock. She was able to catch her balance, but it brought her happy thoughts back to the trail, her aching legs, and sore back.

That's not likely if I know Professor Togren.

Leera sighed.

Aisling glares at the yelling young man, Ventrus yes continue making such noise, that will really help. The first words she's said all day irritated by the boisterous yelling.

"OI DON'T SPLASH ME WITH THAT MUCK"

By the time, Ren heard this he was past and only garnered a smirk and an prompted him to squish through a not quite legitimate puddle in a gleeful stop. Saying nothing, but a snide salute as he trudged along idly shaking off the mud having caught up to "His" spot in the trail of woe. Sure it was spooky and the crows maintaining vigiliance learned to keep a pinecone toss away but Cooper's happiness in pettiness kept him distracted.

Yet even he was reluctant to break the somber silence of the forest.

Nodding glumly to Gedney, Fezont turns his attention back to the road, trying to ignore the laugh from Ren, when he suddenly hears screaming from one of the other kids. Terrified, he begins to reach for his morningstar before he realizes it's just one of the boy's pets. He quickly drops his hand to the side, relieved.

Fezont reads the signs with feigned interest, trying to distract himself from the pains beginning to creep up through his legs from all the walking. A pleasant saunter through the wilderness? Mr. Foulkes seemed to mean well, definitely moreso than some of the other adults, but Fezont didn't see how anyone could view this as pleasant.

Aggie tenses up as they pass the puddle. She's learned to control herself better, but it's still all she can do not to be scared of every unexpected body of water. She slows down, takes a deep breath, and walks by. She tries her hardest not to think about all the blood inside her fellow travelers.

She lets herself fall ever so slightly behind, just in case.

As the young solemn female passes comment at him shouting he glared, "Oh to hells with it helping or not, this place is filthy, we are all unwanted rats and we work for the worst man in the world. We all may as well be dead!" He sighed and seemed to deflate slightly, much of the anger leaving his face. "Ahm, I didn't mean that... not the unwanted rats part or the horrible place or Professor part. Just the dead part. Ah to hells with it all..." He lapses in to a sullen silence as he carefully treads his way around the puddle, making sure to keep as clean as possible.

going from a glare back to a stoic demeanor as she speaks more plainly, Everything has it's place, including death... i think introductions are in order. She goes quiet for a brief moment, My name is Aisling Frostwing...you can call me Ash if you'd rather...i'm an assassin or hunter if you prefer, i've been killing since i could hold a blade...

Frowning, Ven turns to stare out in to the trees as they walk. "Well that is dark. I appreciate dark. I'm Venthrus. My parents called me Ven. Call me anything you f!#%ing like, it doesn't matter to me."

Pretty sure we already know each other...

Leera looks at the other strangely as they introduce themselves. Have they never met? Then Leera remembers she had been asked to use her night sight to watch the others on occasion. Maybe none of them have met me, either?

Not wanting to seem out of place despite the feeling it being unnecessary, Leera says, "I'm Leera...still just Leera."

As usual, her hands hide her mouth so that her dhampir fangs are hidden from view.

do we? im not sure

A dedicated scholar, Sarrus Togren...A true friend to orphans everywhere Togren's kindness and generosity is legendary, as he has adopted several orphans purely out of the goodness of his heart. Because sarcasm is difficult to convey through text, I'd like to clarify that that last sentence was entirely untrue, other than the adopting orphans part. The professor's manic obsession with academia leaves little room for kindness and his primary goal of adoption would seem to be access to unpaid housecleaning, butlery, etc.

Unless Aisling and the rest were just adopted yesterday, we've been cleaning house and being slave labor for sometime. Of course, there could just be that many orphans that we may not be super familiar with one another, I suppose.

I'd like to think Ven doesn't know everybody personally, Girls are confusing and he is a loner anyway so he keeps to himself. He probably knows Ren and hates him a little, in the way that you hate someone who is loud and obnoxious. Buthe also in the way you hate someone you know can kick your ass with anything they have to hand...

"The question is not whether you know eachother," Professor Togren calls out from the group of adults of horseback, "But why you bickering children would want to know eachother in the first place. I've brought you all along to keep us safe, not find to make friends and meet new Wizard Chess partners." Wizard Chess (not to be confused with Wizard's Chess, part of another intellectual property entirely) is a game of Togren's own devising, which he has painstakingly and unsuccessfully tried to teach all of you. It's nothing like chess and only thinly related to any sort of wizardry, rather relying on an absurdly complicated set of rules which always seem to conveniently serve the Professor.

Nymea breaks the awkward silence that follows. "Why not leave the children to their games just this once? Surely they all must be excited at the prospect of being in the wilderness for the first time. Besides, my faint elven senses tell me that something lies ahead." In spite of her ominous words, the only thing looming in the distance is a brief travel montage which saves everyone a lot of hassle.

===

Now, in the depths of the forest, morning and afternoon are scarcely distinguishable, but your body tells you that it is late in the day when the road turns west, revealing a venerable wooden building with a gabled roof and a stable. Smoke rises from its chimney, and a moss-covered sign outside announces that you have arrived at the Avauntz Inn.

The Inn is a welcome change from the deprivation of the past few days, although it quickly becomes apparent that due to lack of rooms, you six will be consigned to the barn tonight.

Before going to sleep the Professor and the other scholars stop by the dining hall where they grab a table and have their orders taken by a young girl, presumably the innkeeper's daughter. Although none of you were invited, you notice a group of colorful looking adventurer types sitting at the bar.

"Um, my name is Fezont. Fezont Br..."

"The question is not whether you know eachother," Professor Togren calls out from the group of adults of horseback, "But why you bickering children would want to know eachother in the first place. I've brought you all along to keep us safe, not find to make friends and meet new Wizard Chess partners."

Fezont quickly shuts his mouth at Professor Torgen's harsh words, and trudges along quietly. He is extremely grateful when they finally arrive at the inn, marred only slightly by the fact that they have to stay in the barn. He looks into the dining hall, afraid to go in, but the adventurers have caught his eye. "Who do you think they are?" he whispers to anyone willing to answer.

Mercenaries of some kind most likely, The young girl seems to be readying herself for something. Going for a quick hunt, see if there's any game around i won't be too long. Either way i should be back with food of some kind.

survival check: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (11) + 6 = 17 Just in case. The dc to provide food and water for 1 is 10.For every 2 beyond that i suceed by i can provide for 1 more person

As Aisling sets out, she's stopped by a pipe-smoking man relaxing just outside the inn. "Going out for a hunt are we? I'm not sure what surprises me more, the fact that a girl so young is out so late or the fact that you look like you actually know what you're doing. So here's a hunting tip: don't. I ventured out just west of these parts the other day and there wasn't a single bit of game to be found. What I did find was that someone," with a lean in for emphasis, "or something stole all my gear and spoiled all my food while I was away from my camp."

Thank you for the warning, and the compliment. It saves me much wasted time Aisling gives a polite bow, before returning inside only briefly mentioning to the other kids Nevermind, hunting is inadvisable. She tries to find a seat at the bar to order food, pulling out a few gold pieces as pay.

"The question is not whether you know eachother," Professor Togren calls out from the group of adults of horseback, "But why you bickering children would want to know eachother in the first place. I've brought you all along to keep us safe, not find to make friends and meet new Wizard Chess partners."

As this remark goes into a long familiar rant of the professor, Ren grabs some crab grass along the trail and walks backwards. The crabgrass as a makeshift mockery of of the professor's beard, and mimicking the mannerisms of the esteemed one with a stern idiot face. Then he drops the grass except one for hang in mouth as he turns around all innocent and attentive.

At the Inn: Barn hospitality, Ren is although not surprised since it is the second cheapest option but actually happy with it as out of sight/out of mind.
Ren pipes up with his order (same as the Professor's) with five more of the same, "Excellent choice Professor. Sounds yummy! We are starved walking all that distance."

"Inadvisable..?" Asked the scared girl. It was the only word she'd said the entire evening, and frankly, several of the other orphans had likely forgotten the sound of her voice.

Venthrus glared at the back of the Professors head, cursing the man in every language he knew, planning every cruel and evil removal of the man from life itself. He growled and followed on silently, choosing to bide his time.

The Inn

Venthrus sighed and shook his head, putting his hand in to his pocket and moving over to a table in a dark corner. He pulled out his small purse and began to count, setting the coinage in to small stacks. Small being one, and coins being two, both silver and both practically useless. He shrugged and scooped the coins off of the tabletop and slipped them in to his pocket, before pulling a lump of hard tack from his pack and beginning to gnaw on it, as he stared around.

'When I grow up I'm gonna own a place like this.' he thought, as he frowned, rubbing dust off of the table distastefully. 'And burn it to the ground!' His eyes flicked to the Professor and his friends. "With the place packed to the f#&%in rafters..."

"Who do you think they are?"

Leera turns to eye the small gnomish boy. She raises her hands up, her lace cuffs covering her mouth. Leera speaks to him, saying, "I don't know, but they are much better outfitted for fighting and such then we are. That means they are probably dangerous folk. We definitely shouldn't bother them." She shakes her head.

As usual, Leera's voice is barely audible and many probably have trouble hearing her.

I will try to remind everyone from time to time, but due to her drawback Anxious, Leera rarely speaks loudly or even at normal tone.

When Aisling starts to pull gold out of her pouch, Leera's eyes widen, and she quickly rushes over and tries to push the girl's hand down before it can be seen.

"Are you crazy?" she whispers. "A place like this isn't going to expect to see gold coins. Start with your copper then silver if you must get flashy." She throw an anxious glance at the adventurers and the inn staff worried someone saw and was already plotting to steal the orphans' small purses.

When Ren suddenly starts to order food loudly mirroring the Professor, Leera once again thinks to intervene, but Agana suddenly speaks, and Leera's head swivels toward her in surprise. Now too late to try and stop the cocky boy, the dhampir suddenly wishes Aisling's hunting hadn't been stifled.

Well, maybe we'll get good meals with meat...

Her mouth starts to water a bit at the thought of a bit of venison...thick and bloody. Very bloody.

Aisling sighs, Inadvisable means not a good idea, apparently there's something causing trouble in the area. If it shows up to bother us, i'll take care of it otherwise it's not my problem. She looks back away from the counter seeing a few of the other kids , You all should calm down, find a place to rest and eat something. As Leera pushes her Aisling's hand down she quickly pulls her hand back seemingly afraid, I can handle myself. Besides i'm getting a decent meal... She say's very little else though she pulls her hood over herself turning back to the counter.

Fezont quietly nods to Leera. "I think you're right." The men do look very dangerous. Of course, so did she, but Fezont wasn't about to say that in front of her. He suddenly becomes very aware of just how hungry he is. Holding his stomach, he glances over at Ren. Is he trying to get food for us? It was hard to tell with him sometimes. Fezont knows he only had a few gold coins to his name, so if there are any "free" meals coming their way he wants to hold onto them.

Aggie knew what inadvisable meant, but she didn't want to be confrontational about it. "Why is it inadvisable?"

Aisling responds after a few minutes, Like i said, there's some creature causing trouble in the area, it's making game scarce and causing issues for hunters and travelers. Normally i'd going hunting for it, just for the fun of it. However, my priority is the current mission at hand. So i'll have to settle for the chance we are confronted by it on the road. It'd end up being a waste of time, when i can just spend a few pieces on food here. She pauses turning around, quietly pondering before speaking. If any of you want to take the risk we can go looking, i could care less about the professor...i'd just rather not leave any of you unprotected in case something happens. She explains now fiddling with the silvery locket around her neck.

"O-oh." Aggie pondered for a moment.

"You really want to hurt the creature?"

It's causing trouble and hurting people of it's own will...i'm an assassin and a hunter, i kill it's that simple. But i don't torture, clean and quick deaths. She explains, no hint of remorse and every bit of it serious, I pick and choose my targets carefully. Only those that deserve it, those who need to die . It gets easier after the first time.

Unfortunately, it turned out that "it gets easier after the first time" was exactly the wrong thing to say. Aggie's fists clenched tightly, and tears welled up in her eyes. She wanted to scream, to cry out and let the heartless girl know exactly what the first time meant for her. She wanted to force her to understand, or at least find the words to explain why that wasn't okay. At least one word. Anything.

Instead, she said nothing.

"Of course Father will feed us. He adopted us and family takes of each other. I heard that during our proceedings and a couple of those soirees held honoring our dear Father. Sure am hungry, aren't you guys too after all that hiking and nothing but hard tack?"

He looks longingly at the food in front of the other adventurers in the tavern.
Bluff1d20 + 1 ⇒ (13) + 1 = 14

A Lore Warden describing herself as an assassin and a hunter...

I guess there are weirder things.

Leera listens to the exchange between Aisling and Agana with an odd expression. She simply shakes her head when Aisling boasts about being a proficient hunter and "assassin" of all things. Like she's ever had time for any of that while cleaning Professor Togren's laundry.

"I think leaving the inn to search for some unknown creature is pure folly. If you think it's that important, we should tell these dangerous looking adventurers at the bar. They're much more likely to succeed than a group of children like us."

Leera would much rather wait to see if the order Ren placed gets filled. She was very hungry.

Hunter is simple enough to explain away, there's a trait specially for humans explaining. The assassin part is a personal touch, Aisling in my mind anyway hasn't been in professor's ″care ″for very long i'd like to think she's the new girl. Also we're lvl 2, we technically have more combat experience than most commoners.

Eventually, the Professor reluctantly calls the innkeeper back so that the orphans may be fed, and the six of you settle in at a separate table to tuck into some barely tolerable scraps.

You overhear the adventurers discussing some alarming news about a group of traders that left the Avauntz Inn a few weeks ago but never arrived at their destination on the southern edge of the forest. A single survivor of the group of traders was found, hopelessly mad. Apparently he was kept at the inn for a few days, but disappeared in the night and hasn’t been heard from since.

Shortly after the meal is finished and you are whisked away to the barn for (hopefully) a night of peaceful slumber.

===

After a night of decidedly un-peaceful slumber in the barn, the expedition sets off once more. Within a few minutes, the safe haven of the Avauntz Inn vanishes among the trees and you begin to feel truly alone. The party moves slowly westward along a narrow, overgrown track that leads straight toward the foothills in the Quillande Ferosc. The rain continues with steady intensity, the land rises slowly, and as you go the trees grow thicker and even more ancient.

"...and I'll have you know that most of these trees haven't been felled in centuries! Legend has it that the Ancient Ones drew power from their wild spirits. As to the veracity of these claims, we can merely speculate, but in my professional opinion..." Sarrus is taking the opportunity to give a long-winded and impromptu history lesson with none of the other academics seem too interested in. Indeed, the adults seem to have slept even worse than the children.

At one point Sylva interjects, "I'm almost inclined to believe it, last night I had the queerest dream in which we were all marching through the forest just as we are now. For some reason I felt quite nervous, as if I knew we were being watched, but when I looked around I saw nothing. Then my point of view shifted, and I saw us, as if I was the observer, as if I was one of the trees."

I was told by one of the other bar patrons last night that has been bothering local hunter's, traveler's, and wild life...For that matter i dreamt as well, i was in the forest as well tracking something...It could have something to do with those spirits, it seems to fit. Aisling states calmly barely able to focus and noticably more paranoid looking around the tree's

Fezont nods hesitantly, still very disturbed by his dream and still feeling hungry after the pitiful dinner of last night. "I had a scary dream too," he offers. "I was all by myself, and it was so dark I couldn't see anything. Except for these strange, black figures that I could only just barely see before they disappeared."

Fezont was used to nightmares at this point, but this one felt more vivid, more real. He shudders at the memory.

Leera seems lost in her head and barely pays attention to anyone during this next section of travel. The dream last night...it had reminded her so much of what happened to her mother. She was very rattled. She had awoken sweating and unable to return to sleep after the terrible nightmare. Very tired and upset, she found herself jumping at every snap of twig underfoot or sudden sound from the woods heard above the rain.

Leera looks at Fezont sharply when he mentions dreaming of shadowy black figures. She appears to say something, but the sound of the rain drowns out her perpetually soft whisper.

"Shoulda bought myself a rain slicker, a cloak... Wide-brimmed hat at the very least." He trudges along leading the other orphans keeping pace with the adults. "Well I appreciate the these dark and foreboding trees keeping the worst of the rain away, also useful as firewood and the occasional toothpick."
He seems oblivious to the mood, still mumbling about dry clothes, big hats and as he stomps purposefully through another puddle,"water-proof boots be nice too"

splish splash slosh

For whatever reason, Aggie doesn't seem to mind the rain. She usually had a tendency to shut down around large bodies of water, as if it helped her to control her powers better, but something about the sound of rain was comforting. It had used to rain very often in the summers at her family home, and somehow, it seemed to cheer her up, just the tiniest bit.

"I don't think my dreams mean anything. There were birds, though. That much I remember."

My brother used to tell me that dreams have meaning, if we all had some kind of dream i doubt it's coincidence. Generally birds symbolize freedom, though it can change with details. Her hood drawn over to protect from the falling rain.

"They were crows, I think. They could talk, but I don't remember anything they said. Does that mean anything?"