"That is a good idea," says Palag to Rsss'Tak as he suggests buying torches. "So, torches... or maybe a lamp? More rope would be good too, one can never have enough rope."
Palag watches as one of the traulls rises suddenly and expresses interest in them. "Nice to meet you. I'm Palag Torufo. And now that you mentioned it, donkeys would do. I could even buy a few!" He observes the traull a little warily after Shaygen's comment and wonders if he does have a drinking problem, but doesn't ask anything yet.
"So, we spend the rest of today preparing and leave tomorrow, is that it?" asks Palag and then mutters more to himself but audibly enough for the others to hear. "Hmm, maybe noting down what needs to be bought and who buys it would be good..."
Lolfi and Carther both let you know that there are plenty of places to pick up supplies, but Garrow's Tack and Tackle is the best for convenience. Everything you need in one place, and everything Ezendre Garrow stocks is of good quality (She should have mules and donkeys, too). Lolfi can sell you all potions, alchemicals, luck charms, and miscellanea, but his stock is mostly relics, artifacts, herbs, and the odd ancient weapon.
Yochtanl is really embarrassed now, as he doesn't have enough coin to even buy a donkey, even though the rest talk as though they are so cheap. He laughs nervously, and says, "Ah, I'm afraid I haven't enough coin to buy a donkey. Hehe..." He wonders if the alchemical concoctions he threw together so long ago even work, and if they are worth anything to proper merchants. He's too embarrassed by them to offer them to Lolfi, who might scoff at his handiwork. He thus keeps quiet about them and hopes he doesn't have to take a loan.
He later asks about the cost of a room at the Wicker Warrior.
Again, Benjamin could care less about what the talk was about. It didn't seem to interest him. He liked what he heard about the creatures however. The creatures the merchant described didn't seem too powerful in the least, and with a group their size shouldn't be too much trouble. At least he was getting one step closer. One step closer to his hatred, revenge and perhaps ultimate doom.
Benjamin was already quite confident in what he had prepared item wise. He was already carrying a large load and anymore than that would make it difficult to carry much more. He settled for what he had and if he needed things he probably need only ask the other men for something. They all seemed nice enough to help one another. Benjamin couldn't help but think he was getting a free ride to the Rift, and the others were merely there to help him get his way.
Deciding to stay with the group for now, he will follow the group to wherever they go for the night.
Shaygen informs everyone that it's 1 gold a night for a room with a single meal, 2 gold for a whole day with 3 meals and ale, or 3 silver for the luxury of rolling out a bedroll in the common room for the night, with bread and water provided.
Yochtanl doesn't need anything more than what he has, except maybe extra rations. He doesn't have any cash to contribute toward a mount fund as of yet. Once figuring out what the party needs is done, Yochtanl curls up in his bedroll on the common room floor and gets some sleep, his snake coiling up against the warmth of his body.
Rsss'tak is also fine with the common room considering they sleep on reed mats in the village on the floor anyways.
He does talk to Shaygen about boarding his drake, using the left over room money to take care of her lodging and then spending a little quality time with VISSSILA before settling down for the night.
The next morning he makes a quick journey to this supply place and purchases 50' more rope, 6 more torches, and 2 sunrods for an additional 3.06gp, plus 18lbs.
He is ready to start our trip.
Palag decides to go shopping once it's clear that they would leave tomorrow morning. "Hey Yochtanl, if there's something you really need, I can buy it for you," he says in Vesh to Yochtanl.
After Yochtanl tells what he wants (if anything), Palag leaves and takes a small tour around the town but doesn't yet explore any places in detail or go to strange dark alleys. He takes up Lolfi's suggestion and goes to buy stuff from Ezendre Garrow.
Palag decides to buy the mule and saddle only tomorrow morning so he doesn't need to worry about getting the animal a place to stay. He is also quite fine with sleeping on the floor, so he'll just unroll his bedroll next to Yochtanl's.
Cauldron = 5lbs.
8 (small sized) trail rations = 2 lbs.
Tharrek gladly shwos them where he bought all his stuff (Garrows shop) and helps them pack their mules and stuff since he is used to that sort of thing
When you all head to Garrow's Tack and Tackle, a young human woman with raven hair and a solid build is tending to the shop. An older human man is rummaging through cartons of square-head nails near the counter.
"Welcome to the Tack and Tackle. You boys treasure-hunters or mercenaries? We've got plenty of stuff for both lines of work. My name is Sal." She spits a gob of black into a brass pot about 5 feet away, and the high ring lingers in the air for a moment before she says, "Weapons, armor, tonics, boots, and digging gear are in the back. Oil, lanterns, candles, beeswax, canned goods, rations, grain, soap, sundries, cloth, and miscellaneous home wares are to the right there, and tools, building supplies, tinwares, hatchets, novelties, and odds and ends are to the left. Everything you'll want for mounts are in the stable's store in the back of the building."
She looks you all up and down, obviously wondering whether you are big spenders or just making small purchases.
When the old man sees you all, he is startled, and drops a whole box of nails. He fumbles with them as he tries to clean them off the floor, while keeping his eyes in your direction, obviously nervous, if not afraid of you all.
Djatrix follows the others to the store after also agreeing to sleep on the common room with the others. Having an actual roof over his head is a luxury already.
Having very little actual coins, he does not purchase anything yet.
During the night, as everyone else settles down to sleep, Djatrix once again brings out a parchment, inkpot and feather and tries to listen to the spirits in hope of gaining some insight about his decision to join these strangers.
Result: Weal and Woe
Once you go to sleep you have dreams about a skeletal figure in armor, a cloak, and wearing a crown. Before this figure marches an endless army of soldiers. The sky is red, the air is thick and choked with ash, and you wake in a cold sweat. You notice something hard digging into your hip bone on the floor... between the floorboards are two gold coins that have been wedged between the floorboards, covered in floor dust that you can pry out with your claw.
(Augury only works for a half hour into the future, so I figured I could play with the environment a bit.)
"I'll say treasure hunter fits best at this point!" replies Palag to Sal. "I have quite a list of things I would like..." He then goes on to list the items. He looks curiously at the startled man but doesn't want to bother him further.
Attending the party to the shop, Vess'sothek catches the woman's name from his understanding of her tongue. Assuming by her demeanor the rest of the jabber was a greeting or sales pitch, he began to search through the store for his travel needs. Through his perusal, he notices the man's fear, though he attributes it to one of the others in his group he did not yet know well; perhaps those Vesh had done something to frighten him. When browsing the wares, he gets Djatrix alone and asks him: What was the man there scared of? It's as if we were thieves!
He finds a sturdy belt, 2 heavy sacks, and a weeks' worth of rations, bringing them to the counter.
As for a mount, seeing as others were riding, he would have to do the same to keep pace! walking to the back, he views the stables, hoping - against odds - there would be a beast of brawn enough to carry him. At the sight of all the mammals, he sighed in disappointment, though it was rather expected he would have to make do with a warmblood if he were to have a chance at riding anything at all.
He'd made up his mind on a slumber location for later; sleeping on the floor in a room was no problem for the hunter - it was more comfortable, albeit more claustrophobic, than the soil.
Yochtanl goes with the group to the store, but doesn't purchase anything. He takes the opportunity to chat with Djatrix about his powers, as he is very interested in this particular lizardman. Yochtanl finds his odd actions and demeanor to be very intriguing.
==EQUIPMENT==
Gear
light crossbow (2 lb.),
bolts (30) (1,5 lb.),
sling,
leather armor (7,5 lb.);
backpack (0,5 lb.):
bedroll (1,25 lb.),
chalk (10),
flint and steel,
ink vial (2),
inkpen,
parchment (10),
rations (6) (1,5 lb.),
sewing needle,
signal whistle,
waterskin (1 lb.),
thieves' tools (1 lb.);
explorer's outfit + vesh mask (2 lb.);
32 gp, 4 sp (0,5 lb.)
Encumbrance 18,75 lb. (light)
CC Light 19,5 lb.; Medium 39,75 lb.; Heavy 60 lb.
==EQUIPMENT==
Gear
carried: light crossbow (2 lb.), bolts (20) (1 lb.), sling, leather armor (7,5 lb.), explorer's outfit + vesh mask (2 lb.) (total 12,5 lb.);
backpack (0,5 lb.): bell, common lamp (1 lb.), oil flask (1 lb.) (total 2,5 lb.);
belt pouch (0,125 lb.): candle (5), chalk (10), flint and steel, sewing needle, signal whistle, 3 vials, thieves' tools (1 lb.), 5 gp (0 lb.) (total 1,125 lb.);
Encumbrance 16,125 lb. (light)
CC Light 19,5 lb.; Medium 39,75 lb.; Heavy 60 lb.
==MULE==
Gear: pack saddle (15 lb.): waterproof bag (0,5 lb.): blanket (0,25 lb.), inkpen, ink vial (2), parchment (10), rations (10) (2,5 lb.) (total 2,75 lb.);
bedroll (1,25 lb.), bullets (20) (10 lb.), bolts (40) (2 lb.), candle (5), crowbar (5 lb.), flasks (water) (10) (15 lb.), grappling hook (4 lb.), oil flask (4) (4 lb.), 50-ft. hemp rope (2) (20 lbs.), sack (2) (0,25 lb.) waterskin (1 lb.) (total 64 lb.);
Yochtanl's: Artisan's Tools (5 lbs.), Cauldron (5 lbs.), 8 rations (2 lbs.) (total 12 lb.)
Encumbrance 93,75 lb. (light)
CC Light 129 lb.; Medium 259,5 lb.; Heavy 390 lb.
I ask Sal if she knows of any ruins worth exploring within a few miles of Riftview, or safe places to make camp along the way to the coast. Then, while perusing wares for future needs I talk to the rest of the aprty to get to know them.
So why are you three this far from home? You don't look quite like a war party. he says to the lizardfolk. Did you all really meet by chance?
to Benjamin, he says, What about you? You look a bit like those naturey-types that I've run into from time to time traveling. Why do you all use scythes, anyway?
Yochtanl, right? I like yer mask. Why a snake and not a bird or giant lizard?
Yochtanl replies in a matter-of-fact tone: "Quetzalcoatl was a gift for me from the Feathered Serpent himself. He is proof of my bonds with him." He strokes his rainbow snake lovingly. "So what about you? What bring you to a human settlement such as this?"
Sal says to Tharrek and the party (in common), "Well, Ezendre used to take me to the Stone Fields about a day north of here to train. Eventually the ogre tribe in the area became too much of a nuisance, so she moved her training south a bit. That place is full of enormous stone statues, half buried, unfinished stoneworks, and numerous boulders. Seems the place used to be a quarry where finished statues on-site. Ezendre said it was part of a small nation that was part of the Yrathi empire, but there isn't much else to go on other than the art styles. The weird thing is that the statues are carved in many different cultural styles, although the Yrathi style is definitely the most prominent."
She pulls out a small stone relic from her belt pouch, about the size of a small potato. It is carved in whorls and dots, and is mostly smooth. "I used to collect these things when I was a child, and they seem to have some magic to them, but Fuhrel can't figure out what. The whole place feels magical and ancient, but no one's bothered to explore it much other than to strip it of portable stone relics."
Rsss'tak snorts at the mention of Ogres, Then that is likely a place we should avoid. I have heard Ogres are small giants, nothing that a group such as ours should be seaking out.
Turns to Tharrek, You are correct we are no war party. We left the tribe due to a conflict of belief. We have decided to expore the rift whereas our kin don't agree. You may call it chance, but Djat would call it destiny. The spirits brought us together.
Vess'sothek nods in assent to Rsss'tak, then chimes in with the response to Tharrek. We did not know each other well, but we all had our reasons for leaving the tribe. There's safety in numbers, and this rift sounds to be a very curious place. If that seems to be by chance to you, then it is. The reptile sets his coin-pouch on Sal's counter, turning to her briefly, gesturing towards her with an open palm: Pay for this.
After thinking for a moment, he adds to his earlier statement to Tharrek. I am no war party part unless you are talking about hunting game. He flashes Duerforge a toothy grin.
Djatrix eyes the starled human when Vess speaks with him, but only smiles, shaking his head. "May be that your fearsome size has an effect of softskins."
The oracle peruses the store without taking anything at first, listening to the traull speak with his companions. He turns to watch the newcomer after the others has spoken. "It is destiny. Or maybe more than that. They have been calling me and whispering truths our elders have kept from us for decades. It was time to learn from ourselves."
Djatrix sighs, either because of the subject or the delay inside the store. Finally, he takes five days worth of rations, in case he is not able to supply his sustenance with foraging and hunting while on the road. He fetches two gold pieces and five silver pieces from his many hanging bags and pays the human saying only a polite "Thank you."
After purchasing his rations, Djatrix returns to the Wicker Man and readies himself to sleep. As everyone else is asleep, he works on his gift, spending several minutes seated crosslegged with a parchment, a crude inkpot and a colorful feather pen neatly placed before him.
It is nearly an hour in which he remains motionless before he letargically reaches out of the pen, dips it on the ink and begins to write.
When Djatrix comes out of his trance, he stares at the parchement and sighs, shaking his head. His talons trace the words he has written, as if trying to understand their meaning. Finally, Djatrix rolls the parchement, stores his belongings and lays down to sleep.
It is late at night when Djatrix wakes up starled, hissing in alert. He blinks sleeply, watching his environment, placing himself. He turns back to his bedroll, lifting it up.
Djatrix leans his head to the side, curious at what he found. With his talons, he pulls the two gold coins free of the floor board and examines them, wondering where did they come from. He was pretty sure they were not there when he put down his bedroll.
After examining it for a short while, he places them inside his coins bag with the others and tries to return to sleep.
Apologies friend, I did not mean to insult destiny. My personal philospohy is that luck is just fate without warning or sign. Same thing to me. Tharekk smiles at the party.
Yochtanl looks pensive when the stoneworks are described, and says to the group, "Very interesting, these stone structures sound like they may be from similar origins as the ruins. Perhaps we should investigate them at a later date."
Palag follows the exchange between Tharrek and Yochtanl before focusing more on Sal's story. "Interesting. What would one do with a magical stone?" he asks rhetorically, in Common. A stone, even if magical, seems rather boring.
Djatrix's statements and strange manners still intrigue him and he follows the lizardman's doings with some curiosity.
Sal says to Palag, "I'm not sure their original purpose, but Fuhrel and other mages frequently purchase them to drain their energies to craft magic items and cast spells more efficiently. That's what they say anyway." She puts her relic in her pocket and adds, "I keep this one for sentimental reasons. It reminds me of an important time in my life." She smiles lightly, and finishes tallying your purchases and giving back change.
Lolfi then speaks, in common, "Yes, there was quite a market for them over the last decade, but now they're becoming harder to find in the area. One of my buyers thought they were originally intended to be magical reservoirs for those who cast spells, but no one has figured out the secret to using them in this way, so it's likely poppycock."
Making his purchases, on the way to his bedding on the floor for the night, Vess'sothek pauses to consider the journey ahead. Landrith would bother him no more, and the uncharted wilds almost seemed to call to him. Yet the dangers beyond seemed rather ominous as well. The days to come would be densely packed with trails and trials, he guessed.
Glancing up to the twilight sky, the ranger did his best to discern the mercy or mayhem nature would wreak upon them the following day:
then retires to his sleeping place.
You all have a a pleasant evening's sleep, and in the morning Shagen offers a free meal for you, saying, "I figured I'd give you a last meal before you die in the Rift." He is quiet a moment, then chuckles. You're not actually sure if he's joking with you.
Djagu approaches you all as you are heading out the door and says, in Draconic, "I made some rations to help you all out, brothers. Dried rabbit and fish mixed with tallow. The Jyph call it pemmican. It is good, and keeps a long time. I also have flatbreads and dried apples."
The food Djagu gives you is enough to feed all of you for 4 days.
In their tribe's culture, the gift of food is much appreciated and well-received. Seeing as Djagu barely knew them, Vess'sothek humbled his towering figure with a diminishing bow, grateful for the kindness shown them. Great chef, we thank you for your generous treatment. Should I return, I will see your kindness is returned and then some. His eyes rest for a moment - though not disrespectfully long - on the cook's curious marking and jewelry, and then he takes his rest.
The weather being perfect for his kind, he does not think to say anything of it; Vess'sothek awakes with the dawn, suggesting the group depart then if they are awake.
"It is no trouble. We Khaass’solek without tribes have to look out for one another from time to time, as few others will." Djagu pats Vess'Sothek on the back.
Rsss'tak takes up a position at the rear of the group, knowing his mount can get him quickly into combat.
In Draconic, Vess'Sothek do you want to take the front and I will take the rear? I know your skills as a hunter will help us to not become prey as we cross these strange lands.
Benjamin turns toward Tharrek. "We don't all use scythes. I suppose mine is used to help me harvest fruits and vegetables while I am out. It does a fine job of killing hunt as well."
The stone seemed odd to him. Even though he had lived most of his life outside of the city, he had not seen any stones such as that. Keeping that in his mind, he would have to be on the look out for them as they adventured.
----------------------------------------
The morning's wake made Benjamin rethink things from yesterday's meeting. Was it really destiny that entwined the group? Or was it really just dumb luck? How much did this merchant know of the Rift? If so, did he obtain it from eye witness or was it babbled to him? As the Lizardfolk readied their new supplies, Benjamin stood patiently for their departure. He had been waiting for a long time to get to the Rift.
Yochtanl takes the offered food and offers a small bow with the food still in his outstretched hands. He packs the rations in a section of his backpack and thanks Djagu, then leaves the inn. He agrees with Vess'Sothek's suggestion to head out immediately, and suggests they go immediately northeast instead of following the road, skirting around the mountains. The group could go that way until hitting the coast, then follow the coast northwest until finding these ruins.
The reptile considers the request for a moment, then nods to Rsss'tak.We are not tracking any prey - for now - but my eyes and ears are plenty good for keeping alert. It will be a nice, warm day, so we needn't even seek shelter before dark.
"It is no trouble. We Khaass’solek without tribes have to look out for one another from time to time, as few others will." Djagu pats Vess'Sothek on the back.
** spoiler omitted **
Retcon in Draconic, You have been kind to us brother. I feel that this will be rare in these strange lands.
You will see us again, we are strong, now stronger with meeting these creatures of our destiny. When we see you again we will feast and talk of the rift and what we have seen. He nods to the big Lizard folk and walks out into the fresh air.VISSSILA is out front, ready to go. She is calm as several horses nervously twitch near her. He walks up and nuzzles the great lizard, pulling a nice orange from his bag for her to munch on.
Whispers to her, These are new friends VISSSILA, protect them as you would your own.
Upon waking, Palag plans to have breakfast before departing, but otherwise he is ready to go at dawn.
Not quite sure how to react to Shaygen's possible joke, Palag nevertheless thanks the man for the meal. He ponders that it would probably do them good to be extra cautious once they reach the ruins. He is positively surprised when Djagu gives them some rations and also thanks him courteously. He places the foodstuffs in the waterproof bag.
Palag leaves with the rest and agrees with Vess'Sothek and Yochtanl. "Circling the Dragonwall via north sounds good. Let's try to avoid places where goblins particularly like to move. And suspicious-looking pits!" he says, remembering what Lolfi told them yesterday. "I doubt the weather could get as bad as in Thunder Plains, though who knows what the Rift could cause... But it's good to hear today ought to be pleasant." He nods to Vess'Sothek.
Palag goes get his mule and is curious about Rsss'tak's mount. He freely lets her examine and sniff him if she wishes.
"Now then, are we ready to leave the city?"
When you wake, Carther gives you all a note from Lolfi. It reads (in common):
Dear fellows,
By destiny or luck, I am pleased with our meeting and hope it becomes a mutually beneficial partnership. I look forward to hearing of your travels and seeing what treasures you find. You may find me at Cardwallo's for the season if you have need of me.
Good Journey,
~Lolfi
You all pass through some scrubby fields and rocky terrain near the base of the plateau, watching the native jumping lizards leap and catch birds mid-air, and the odd field mouse dart into a hole at your approach. After about an hour you start to come to the outskirts of of barley and root fields, with small copses of trees dividing off various plots.
The fields are already alive with activity, as the numerous little kobolds are finishing up their night shift duties tilling, weeding, and hunting rabbits. A number of human and traull farmers are in the fields, along with oxen and draft horses, doing what they do. A small dirt path eventually comes into view and heads north and east, making the trip a bit easier for you.
Along the path are small huts and timber cabins, small one-room affairs, and there are markers along the road every mile or so; the markers appear to be pieces of old statues and Duergar stone buildings. A few human and traull children playing with each other, an old dog trying to keep up with them. One of the traull girls, no more than 8 summers, shoots a peach pit toward your group with a sling, and dashes off giggling. Most of the children run to hide at your approach.
A few farmhands ask your business, and timidly try to talk about the weather. Others keep a wary eye on you all. Having Benjamin with the party helps ease the tension, as the farmers tend to trust druidfolk a bit more than other mages, though they are noticeably in awe and fear of him.
There are a number of Duergar-crafted stone ruins dotted here and there, mostly weather worn, and likely remnants of the fort atop Riftview. A few low stone walls, stone wells, and stone foundations are found among the local architecture, but most everything else is wood and thatch.
Toward evening, the farms and orchards peter out into more and more grasslands, with wild, rolling plains ahead of you. The sky is vast, and filled with enormous, white clouds, towering majestically, dwarfing the Dragonwall to the east. Far to the north looms the reddish-black gloom of the Rift on the horizon, not nearly as noticeable from ground level as it was from Riftview's lofty heights.
Yochtanl lets his snake go at the sight of mice, allowing him to hunt them and eat. Quetzalcoatl returns to the group on his own, and Yochtanl lets him up onto his shoulders, where the snake coils and lazily rests. The vesh makes small talk with the farmers as they pass, asking about how good the crops are growing and whether they think it will rain tomorrow.
Yochtanl munches on some of the rations provided by Djagu as he walks later in the day, commenting on how good a cook that lizardfolk is. He stops a moment when the group comes across the Duergar ruins, admiring their craftsmanship and wondering about what purpose each structure served in its time. However, he doesn't linger too long, as their destination is a much more promising set of ruins.
At night, Yochtanl sits nearby the campfire (assuming someone makes one) and plays his snake charmer's flute. The cool melodies drift through the quiet air as the group relaxes their tired feet. His snake, however, does not make an appearance, despite what one might guess from the instrument's name.