"Even if it is difficult, we should leave this place immediately." Kinshara states. "We were warned not to wake the evils here, and we still do not know what caused the wolf to die and become an undead monstrosity. Corindus, do you think you could find us a place to camp nearby?"
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"Oh crap baskets..
I dislike haunted places, can't believe Mr Summers called it earlier..."
"Even if that tower didn't seem so accursed as well, now," he says looking to that corner of the courtyard, "I doubt that cramped place could accommodate our larger group. I think I could easily scout out a better campsite, away from these crumbling walls.
"If Darion is set on plundering that wolf's rank lair, though, I'm also willing to escort him so that some new horror doesn't gobble him up."
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Corindus finds a good camping spot for the rest of the night.
With the light of the Full moon allowing those who keep watch a better view of the surrounding area.
Tucked behind the pillar are
a few things of value hidden by Graypelt,
including a bag with 354 gp, a masterwork
light crossbow, a potion of bull’s strength,
and a wand of light (CL 1st, 28 charges).
In the dark corner of the room grows a small
patch of ironbloom mushrooms, six in all.
Darion accompanies Corindus... since it was my idea ... he says to himself. ”Anything we find can be useful after all. Even if it is another monster that wants to kill us. At least it won’t kill us in our sleep. However we should be sensitive to what Kinshara mentions about disturbing what may lie beneath”
Same results as Corindus.
and you can feel the chill in the air that what attacks left behind.
"By the stars..." Corindus murmurs, amazed. "I've never seen so much gold in one place."
He turns sharply to Darion, a serious look on his face.
"Quickly, let's gather this up and rejoin the others. Such a trove can do a lot of good, but I trust this place even less with each passing heartbeat."
Corindus and Darion pack up the loot and book it out of there to the camp site.
Everyone takes a shift for night watch, sans Mr Summers who is still in trauma state about the spider.
The Day breaks and you all get breakfast before departing.
Kinshara is nervous about looting the old monastery any further, but doesn't berate Corindus or Darion when they return (and the gold really is helpful). She's just glad to be gone from the area.
Grateful for a peaceful rest, in spite of the imagined spooks haunting his mind, Corindus helps strike camp and waits for his companions to ready themselves before leading the way to the river.
Corindus finds the path to the agreed old camp where you find Mary waiting, and she is surprised that the number of folks is double what was expected, and that all the unexpected are ladies...
Mary's 6 foot 9 height is intimidating and her muscularity and few scars just adds to it.
Mary waves at Corindus and when in talking range adds
"This is more folks then expected, you find a lot of lost sheep?"
Mary then introduces herself to the new comers.
"I'm Mary Captain of this ferry, the Amazon."
The newcomers all introduce themselves to Mary
"Greetings, Mary. I am Kinshara. It's good to be heading back to Falcon's Hollow. We have the herbs that Laurel requested. Not to cut introductions short, but should we depart? There will be time to talk on the way back and Falcon's Hollow needs us."
Nice to meet you, Kinshara.
Heard a bit about you from Lady Cirthana.
After a few moments
"Oh I do have some good news for you all, the spring is being purified and cleaned and it should be usable in a few days.
And I also got word that Mr Kraft and Holo will be in town in a day or two, and I'm hoping some of the folks traveling with him want to settle down in town with some of us town folk who are bachelorettes or bachelors."
Mina:
Mina smiles and jokingly adds towards Mary
"If even one takes me on a date, and marries me, I'll owe you a gold piece."
Mary jokingly replies
"I'll take that bet, and If even one takes me on a date, and marries me, I'll owe you a gold piece."
Mina:
Mina jokingly finshes with
"It's a Deal."
Then adds
"I think the only person who'll have some trouble is Noya, as she tends to get pestered by men at times."
Noya:
Noya replies a little upset
"Oh and you know annoying it can be with drunken idiots hitting on you while your trying to have a meal in peace.
It's not fun."
Eve then adds
"Oh, but if can be fun to string them along.
Though it is wise to do so carefully."
The Girls continue talking amongst themselves with a few quick looks at Corindus and Darion.
Corindus thought being aboard a boat again would restore some semblance of familiarity and calm, but it was not to be.
To begin with, his introduction to Mary left him impressed, intimidated, and intrigued in equal measures. When talk among the ferry passengers turned to matrimony, his mind returned to the winged woman from his vision and her prophecies about his lineage.
Although he had very long ago developed a resistance to the motion sickness propagated by a ship's rocking, every time his eyes caught with those of the other women, he felt a bewildering blush and a nervous roiling in his stomach.
He spends much of the trip back downriver quietly pondering his future - and whether one of his fellow passengers could possibly be a part of that future.
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During the trip back the boys listen in on the girls at times and learn a few things about them.
Data Link
Height: 6'9"
Race: Human (Dual talent)
Age: 20
Alignment: CG
Class: Barbarian 2
Stats: 18,12,16,10,12,12
Backstory: Kidnapped as a child and forced to fight in underground arenas until she escaped and made her way to the Hollow, quickly got a job working the river boats and now runs her own boat on the river.
Kreed and Co don't mess with her.
Personality Fragments: Tough, Confident, yet Gentle
Combat: Favor's Full Blade, uses unarmed strikes if needed
Height: 6'6"
Race: Changeling(Hulking)(Modded)
Age: 20
Alignment: NG
Class: Skald 1
Stats: 16,14,10,10,12,18
Backstory: Raised in an orphanage and learned she had a talent for singing and helped the orphanage by singing in the streets.
But her teens year caused problems, as her nails grew sharp, she was developing dense muscle faster then boys her own age, and her was casting spells. This later lead to an incident that caused her to run from the town get lost and heard "The Call."
Personality Fragments: Shy, Reserved, Honest, does not like fighting, Confident in her singing
Combat: Prefers to buff and help allies
Height: 5'9"
Race: Changeling(Object of Desire)(Modded)
Age: 20
Alignment: NG-CN
Class: Sorcerer(Cross:Celestial+Lust) 1
Stats: 12,14,12,11,12,20
Backstory: Raised in a Varisian caravan, she learned a lot about entertaining folks along with some other basic chores like cooking.
One day the caravan was attacked by wolves and got lost in the Darkmoon forest.
Personality Fragments: Brazen, Likely Flirty, Likes attention, is Caring
Combat: Spells, uses claws in emergency
Data Link
Height: 7'6"
Race: 1/2 Minotuar(?Elven?)
Age: 33
Alignment: CG
Class: Barbarian 2
Stats: 22,18,16,14,14,14
Backstory: Raised in the same orphanage as Noya after being found by some Adventurers in an underground lab. The Adventurers took pity on the few babies found in the Lab and took them to an orphanage the cleric knew well.
They thought Mina was a tiefling, but soon learned she was a half-minotaur, and she did have bit of a minotaur's temper, but she learned to control it early on.
Personality Fragments: Tough, confident, though not confident in her looks, Honest, seems to hide her gentle and motherly side.
Combat: Favor's Full blade in one hand, though will use it two handed if needed, also uses hooves if needed.
Data Link
Height: 6'0"
Race: Friendish (?Elven?)
Age: 33
Alignment: NG
Class: Monk 2
Stats: 16,18,14,17,17,22
Backstory: Raised in the same orphanage as Mina after being found by some Adventurers in an underground lab. The Adventurers took pity on the few babies found in the Lab and took them to an orphanage the cleric knew well.
They though Noya was a normal half-elf child, but soon learned of her abyssal blood after a few incidents revealed it, and after a few purification rituals her abyssal blood lost it's evil and gained some good.
Personality Fragments: Confident, Thoughtful, Observant, Motherly
Combat: Likes Unarmed strikes, mostly Kicks.
Height: 5'10"
Race: Human
Age: 21
Alignment: NG
Class: Cleric 2
Stats: 13,13,12,12,16,14
Backstory: Was a promising acolyte until an event occurred where her reputation was ruined and she was then sent to Falcon's Hollow to minister there as punishment.
Personality Fragments: Thoughtful, Observant, Faithful, Responsible.
Combat: Longsword
Darion spends most of the trip back upon the boat contemplating new strategies in combat and new spell possibilities. After their various adventures he realized that others rely upon him and he needs to be better at what he can contribute to an adventuring party.
Every once-in-a-while he breaks his stupor and notices the women eyeing him and Corindus. He is a little uneasy about being “weighed and measured”. He gives a friendly wave when the women make eye contact with him.
Occasionally he finds Corindus and asks him about which if any of the women he finds attractive. Darion confides in Corindus that ever since he met Lady Cirthana that he can’t stop thinking about her. He then says that a relationship with someone of the cloth is ridiculous though and just joins Corindus in thought without saying much else
The Boat arrives in town at sunset with two of the sheriff's deputies ready to help you get to the Roots and Remedies with the ingredients with out incident.
Laurel quickly gets to work to making the medicine with the ingredients.
and gives the each party member 10 gold pieces each.
The newcomer ladies head to the Jak n Napes to book rooms for the night.
With Vona and even getting some new clothes in the morning from the local Tailor's David and Mina.
By morning Laurel's made more then enough medicine for those whom are sick, and the black scour taint is reduced and everyone recovers
The river trip back to town made for a quick trip and return with the ingredients which lead to only 7 deaths in town, out of the 78 that were sick.
The Next day Mr Kraft's Caravan arrives into town.
After Mr Kraft hears of what you did he decides to let those whom returned with the cure the first look at his wares in the Sitting Duck's overlooking second floor.
With those that traveled with him go about booking lodgings at the Jak n Napes.
, Ghoulette wheel, 2 Silversheen, Bandages of rapid recovery, 2 Ioun torch
Corindus
Mina
The party and newcomers gather to see Mr Kraft's better wares, the Ghoulette wheel, comes to life and sees Corindus in the middle of the bunch and says
"Who's this pretty boy, the Harem King."
It quickly looks over the rest sees Mina then replies
"Never expected a Holstein in a tavern, unless it was a prank."
Mina controls herself really well.
Mr Kraft:
He quickly puts the ghoulette wheel lid back on
"Sorry about that, I should of mentioned the ghoulette wheel is an odd gambling game of insults before I opened the box to display it.
I got it in Riddle port from another merchant and it is a rare game with only a few copies existing, with the original somewhere in one of Riddle port's gambling dens."
"I do have some adventurer's equipment, but it's not much.
Though I do have two exotic weapons; a Fullblade and a Katana.
But I can imagine only a few could use a Fullblade, though I can see two ladies whom have the build for it."
Mina:
Mina hearing there is another fullblade around asks
"Mind if I look at that Fullblade, as I'm looking for another one."
Eve then adds
"I'd like to look over what you have for clothes."
4 of the nine men get there rooms and ready them.
Luk heads to the Kirk to talk to Lady Cirthana about the Man in Blue.
Kojima-San and Wu Chen order food at the Jak n Napes,
since it was a long trip and wants then to enjoy something better the previous weeks' meals.
Duke and Hu head for the Sitting Duck to see the town's Bar.
Hu Wang:
Hu remarks at the space in the Sitting Duck
"Woah, nice place for a small town."
Duke:
Duke adds with a laugh
"heh heh, I wonder if the space is to stop some bar fights."
Kojima looks around, notices the women here are much bigger and stronger than the men, but none appear hostile. He approaches the barkeep.
"You have any sake? My companion highly recommends I loosen up, and what loosens up a man more than a good sake? Am I right?"
Wu Chen looks up at her father.
"How barman can know you are right or wrong, Father? He is westerner, only have wine come from grape. If he have anything like sake, you say rice wine. Maybe he know what you are talking about. Or maybe nobody in west use rice to make wine, only grape."
The girl smiles sweetly at the barkeep.
"I am dancer. Am skinny, but can eat like fatty calf. This give me energy to dance night away. Please sir, tell me what meal is available. I am interest to know."
Grachius:
Grachius the barkeep replies
"Sake, I've heard of it, don't have much in stock, I'm hoping Mr Kraft might have some then he'd be willing to sell me.
Though if you'll looking for a drink with a kick that's not made with wine, I got some moonshine."
"As for you, little lady, right now it's not much, since we're the tavern, the Jak n Naps is more a restaurant.
But we have a few food items here, I could have some eggs and bacon made."
3 more of the men have gotten their rooms and readied them.
Locksly heads to the Kirk to meet with Lady Cirthana.
Wiliam goes for food in the Jak n Naps
Jack heads out to check the town.
Noya asks
"Do you have any cestus made of cold iron?"
After hearing that the cure was successfully given to everyone Darion goes to the Kirk to pray and thank Iomedae for their success in obtaining the ingredients
He also hopes to see Lady Cirthana again, but he is a little worried about what he might say to her. He doesn’t want to look foolish, but it would be nice to be in her company again too
Wu Chen replies, "Oh, bacon is best in west! I am learning to appreciate different kind of food in my many travel!"
Dad pays for his daughter's meal. And for himself, "Bacon and eggs will do, and this moonshine is worth a shot. So a shot's worth of that. And something with less kick for my Hanako."
Darion enters the Kirk and goes to the alter to pray.
As Darion is praying a newcomer enters the Kirk and he looks to be from Mwangi, and wears clerical clothes.
A few seconds later Lady Cirthana enters from her office.
Wu Chen blushes at the sound of her given name.
"Father, please. We discuss this day I complete initial training at monastery. To continue as Warrior Nun, must only go by name of nun." She says to the barkeep, "I am Wu Chen. This mean...
"No Dust."
She ponders a moment.
"This lose some thing in translation. Maybe after I eat, can think of better way to explain in Western Tongue." She adds with a shrug, "Or not. Explaining name is not interesting topic of conversation. Is hunger talking, perhap."
Lady Cirthana is surpirsed that folks are here at this hour, she sees Darion and the new comer.
"I see your still faithful Darion, and am happy that you brought back the cure that was needed."
She them greets the new comer
"I am Lady Cirthana, and how may I help you."
Luk:
Luk replies
"I am Luk one of the churches archivists and wish to learn what you know of the man in blue you mentioned in one of your reports."
Lady Cirthana answers the archivist
"Ah yes, it'll be a bit to fill you completely in."
She fills the archivist in on what few encounters with the Man in Blue she had.
Noting that Kinshara did see and hear his cryptic words from him the last time he was here.
During the trip downriver, Corindus tries to learn more about Mary. He's heard several "tall tales" about her from Ludwig, and he's keen to sort fact from the peg-legged halfling's fiction.
He finds it hard to distract her from her work, but their shared experiences on the river keep Mary from shrugging the shorter man off entirely. At times, Corindus seemed close to shrinking away from her. After all, it is rather daunting to talk to a woman who stood a full foot taller than him.
However, talk miraculously turns to their pasts, and this seems to forge a bond. As she was forced to fight in the arena, and he was forced to serve aboard the slave galley, they find commonality in their strength and survival.
.....
As the boat pulls up along the town docks, Corindus is tempted to leap down and sprint for Roots and Remedies, but responsibility keeps him planted and he helps moor the boat securely before disembarking.
He delivers medicinal plants to Laurel, who shoos him out of her shop so she can focus on brewing the Blackscour cure.
Back out in the sawdust-strewn street, Corindus wonders where to go next. Ludwig's boat was long gone, and he doubts Mary trusts him enough yet to take him on as crew. Then he thinks about the lesson he learned from Ludwig, speaking about his own family's past as escaped slaves from Cheliax - a lesson reaffirmed by talking with Mary.
"I don't have to be broken," Corindus thinks to himself as he starts to look for Sheriff Baleson, to ask if he still needed another deputy.
Grachius:
Grachius the barkeep replies to Kojima-San
"Here you go, a shot of moonshine
For the young one, we have something very light, a wine cooler."
Grachius adds
"No Dust, sounds clean...."
Deldrin replies to Corindus' question in his office
"I can always use the help, you know that.
Though I'll admit it is not always easy due to trouble certain folks cause.
You join as a deputy of your own free will, you have to take the good and the bad that come with the job.
But you know there will always be folks who'll support you no matter the choice taken."
"Oh yes," Wu Chen says. "I serve Shelyn, she is Eternal Maiden, so to emulate goddess successfully, must be SUPER clean!"
Her father brushes some dried dirt off the shoulder of Wu Chen's colorful dancing outfit.
She lets out a playful grunt of mock frustration. "What you expect? I tumble about while I practice dance move. Some Dust is inevitable. Cannot achieve perfection, so No Dust is goal to work toward, not expectation to meet." Smugly, she adds, "Master Rubi tell me this in Draconic, but I think I translate to Western quite nicely!"
She remains silent as her father confirms the drink order, secretly fist-pumping at the wine cooler approval.
She then goes on, "Speak of expectation to MEET, what kind of ceremony is I am dancing at? I hear talk of man meet lady. This is true?"