Ihon nods, I'm sure they won't mind, as he looks around at the bodies in the road. He rises to his feat and shrugs his backpack higher on to his shoulders. Scratching his neck he stretches. Best to be moving. Something might be coming. He frowns as he looks around again.
As they pull up to the post he follows the others quietly. Ihon doesn't seem interested in talking, but doesn't seem all that tired. His small companion, in fact, seems to be more awake than he's been all day. The creature's head bobbing in time with Ihon's tapping walking stick. It chirps as it looks around at the camp of tents curiously.
Phaedra nods at Rona. "I do have another use of my healing song."
As they managed to reach the post, Baolus looks at his new companions.
"I do not know if you agree with me but I could use a few mugs of ale and a good meal right now... also, it would be nice to know how the things are around here."
He then looked at their prisoner and remember they have things to do before. He sighed.
Wait here a moment... I'll look for the one in charge of this post... and watch this dwarf, he is using my only pair of manacles.
Baolus then walked into the tavern.
Baolus, when you walk inside there is a middle-aged man tending the bar and te tavern itself is a rather small affair. There are only three patrons at the moment and everyone is fairly quiet and appears tired from a day of travel. There are no visible waiters, but the middle-aged man looks up at you as you enter and speaks with a gravely voice.
What can I get ya?
"Good night my good man... me and my friends will need a couple of mugs of ale and a good portions of what meal you have, but before this I need to talk to the man in charge of this post... we have been attacked on the road by a couple bandits and I need a place to tie the sole survivor..."
Baolus looks around as he speaks, trying to measure every other patron, seeing how they response to the mention of the attacks... you could never know when plain customers are actually bandits.
You don't notice anything hidden and the man seems forthright, if not a bit bored.
The man shrugs slightly and speaks, Well I'm in charge insofar as that matters. And I appreciate the report, but we don't have a standing guard here. You can either wait for the next military patrol, which tends to come by about once a week, or you can tend to the man yourself. If you want to tie him up, you can use one of the hitching posts out back, but we don't really deal with prisoners much.
As for the food, that is the easy part.
Ihon pulls down his hood as he enters the Inn and looks around, letting the others lead the way.
As long as you aren't worried about a large cat guarding a tied up dwarf, I think we'll be fine. He taps the bar with two silver pieces, I'll have some of that soup you've got there and some ale. He pulls out a stool and sits, leaning his walking stick against the wall and claiming a small table for the group. The reptilian creature hops down from his shoulder and curls up around his leg.
I look to Phaedra with a tired smile, "Thank you kindly, I feel much better now. Why don't you head in too? I shall stay out here with the prisoner."
I stand behind the captive, with my sword drawn, the tip resting gently on the ground and both hands securely clasped to the handle. I remain there standing almost like a statue.
The man behind the bar serves up anything you order, placing it on the bar and leaving you all to grab it and take seats as you see fit. The dwarf currently remains unconscious.
Speaking to Rona: "You are quite welcome. Can I bring you anything out or would rather someone just come back out to take turn in a little while?"
Phaedra will go in, make her way to the bar and order up some hot stew and a mug of ale.
I nod to Phaedra, "If you could get me some warm to eat and something to drink as well as a tankard of water, then I shall be much obliged." I reach into my pouch and produce a golden sail and hand it her, "This should cover the meal for us both, my way of thanking you for removing my wounds."
Once she returns I keep an eye on the Dwarf and eat my meal silently, washing it down with the drink. Still standing guard the whole time.
Rona, assuming you take the suggestion to tie the dwarf to a hitching post, you notice that the place seems quiet. The one thing you do see as you watch and wait, however, is that people in the tents move to wake another group up. It would seem that in lieu of a standing guard, that the travellers are trading watches.
Aeliana follows Phaedra inside, embarrassingly failing at several attempts to thank her for her previous aid. Her pride as a protector of others has surely been damaged being dropped so quickly in their first encounter. She seeks out a fresh determination to grow stronger for the sake of her new friends as she joins them in a meal. This time, however, without the alcoholic beverage.
Voltaire, too bored with the site of another inn, remains outside and deems to bless Rona with his company. He posts himself beside the elf and keeping a watchful eye on the dwarf and other various passersby.
The thoughts of asking some of the other groups to keep an eye on the prisoner, but luckily just as I am thinking that the large cat comes back out and sits beside me. We both remain perfectly still watching the man and surroundings, making sure that no-one can get too close. "What was I thinking, any of these people could be allies of his or underestimate him and let him escape. That was close!"
I quickly turn my attention to Voltaire, "Thank you." I then return my attention back to the prisoner.
Baolus eats and drinks with his new companions and soon after moves outside to help Rona watch the prisoner.
We were lucky until now... something that could change in a heartbeat.
Baolus uses their looted armor as an improvised seat and puts his greataxe on his knees, just in case. He then searches for his pipe and starts again to smoke a mixture of herbs, for relaxing purpose.
"So... nothing yet?" He asks Rona, even without looking at him.
I follow Baolus with my eyes as he approaches and sets up a small seat, then turn my attention back to the Dwarf. "Nothing yet, hopefully none of these guests are friends of his."
Once finished with the food, Ihon joins the others outside and sits with the others. Eventually he pulls out his blanket and lays down to rest without a word, using his backpack as a pillow.
Baolus finished smoking his herbs and looks to his companions.
"I'll take the first watch... follow the wizard's example and rest, I'll wake you up in a couple hours."
As Baolus takes over the watch, I resheath my blade and head into the inn for a meal and drink, I sit with the remaining companions who are still awake before heading to bed myself. I sleep with my blades within arms reach.
Voltaire nudges Baolus gently out of gratitude. Aeliana was in much need of rest. Too weak to even finish her meal, she forces herself up and heads to sleep without another word.
Aeliana and Voltaire take turns sleeping and taking watch the rest of the night. Out of no disrespect to their comrades of course, simply habit.
Phaedra makes sure to take Rona a meal out before taking the time to savor her own. Preferably at a table near the fireplace.
When done, she will head off to sleep, but will be willing to take her turn at watch if anyone wakes her.
The other people at the tent camp don't seem to bother you all and they seem to go about their business as if it is a well practiced routine. Just prior to dawn the majority of people start to awaken. The stalls start to fill quickly and at the same time, others start to secure their belongings and get on the road.
You are all able to execute your watches without incident and can sleep through the night and early morning.
Ihon wakes early and takes the last watch. Pulling some rations out of his pack he waves his hand over them and whispers, warming them slightly. He eats lightly as he looks around at the other groups.
Now that we're here, what shall we do? Ihon says as he feeds crumbs of his meal to his small companion. The little creature chirps like a bird and bobs its head, looking around at the people waking up.
Esken finds time to walk around and gather any kind of intelligence from the locals.
Asking around the trading post nets you only a small amount of information. You are able to determine that the followers of Erastil who normally reside in the forest have increased their consumption of supplies lately. You also find out that there seems to be a new group that is residing in or near the forest that is also trading for supplies. The people here don't know who they are only suggesting that they are a rough looking bunch and that the traders figured it was better not to ask too many questions.
Baolus wakes up and orders a strong breakfast on the inn. He eats as much as he can before leaving to the yard. After years traveling from pocket to pocket of civilization, one learns to enjoy a little comfort whenever it is possible.
"Morning..." He then moves towards the dwarf and tries to awake him it he is not up yet. "Come on beardy! Time for some answers."
Ihon relaxes in the morning, leaning back and reading his book. He seems entirely uninterested in the dwarf or walking around meeting people.
Baolus, the dwarf pretends to be asleep but it is quite apparent that he is faking it. Once you discover his ruse, he gives it up, but still remains silent and seems to be refusing to speak.
After my watch I fall asleep again by the Dwarf. Once Baolus approaches the Dwarf and starts talking to him I wake up, a little groggy I stand up and observe the situation with the Dwarf carefully.
Baolus stands besides the dwarf and looks him in the eyes.
"Hum, I'd start speaking if I were you... you attacked us last night, without being provoked and tried to rob us. Unfortunately for you, we are under the service of the Law of House Thrune and you know how thieves are punished..."
He spits on the ground before continuing, finally picking a meat piece from his teeth that was annoying him.
"You have two options... number one, you remain silent as a rock and you'll soon be also dead as a tombstone... number two, you speak and we arrest you... I'm sincerely hoping you choose the first option..."
Baolus draws his greataxe and looks at the dwarf again. "So?"
Aeliana awakens to the beginning of the interrogation of the dwarf. She is eager to assist and rushes to the scene, not even considering what she might have to say to the dwarf. Voltaire is usually all she needs for such an instance. Conveniently, he was already outside to greet her.
"Baolus, what you have there is a warrior who has been trained not to fear threats such as your ax. However, do you think he has been prepared for the nightmare that is being slowly ripped to pieces by a wild animal?"
Aeliana turned to face the dwarf as Voltaire crept forward with a vicious snarl. He brought his face close to the dwarf's and paused to take a sniff of his new plaything. The scent appalled him, feeding his ferocity toward the source and a strong urge to begin.
Tilting his head to the side, Ihon watches the interaction impassively. Within moments he seems to lose interest and lets his gaze wander idly over the people in the distance, setting up stalls and going about their day. His companion, soundly sleeping, suddenly bounces to its feet when Voltaire snarls. With sharp unblinking eyes it peeks out from behind Ihon's boot, watching the large cat carefully.
Phaedra wanders out as the interrorgation has started with food for herself and Rona (and anyone else that was stuck out on guard duty). She pass off the food and then be sure to sit somewhere to the back of the dwarf, that way he can't see her if she starts to laugh and her comrades attempts at being intimidating.
The dwarf spits at Baolus but seems successfully cowed by Aeliana. The other travelers and shop tenders around don't seem to pay any attention to what you are all doing unless you approach them.
Baolus cleans the spit from his clothes and then punches the dwarf.
"I'm getting old for this..."
I graciously accept the food that Phaedra brings out, nod to her in thanks and eat it in silence as I watch Baolus and Voltaire begin the interrogation. "I am glad not to be that cats enemy, would it really rip him limb from limb?"
As the Dwarf spits at Baolus I hold my breath and shudder, at the retaliation from Baolus I release my breath in a deep sigh and shake my head. Luckily the Dwarf is unable to see me shake my head, but can hear the sigh.
The dwarf still seems badly injured and cringes from the attack. It seems clear that attacking him again may not be prudent if the group wishes him still conscious.
The small creature skitters back behind Ihon's leg in a blink of an eye as Baolus strikes the dwarf. Its head bobs around as it slowly peeks out again. Ihon doesn't even seem to notice what's going on.
"So, I'll need you to answer just a couple questions... what is your name?... where are you from? And I mean from around here, not your bloody mountain... where is your base?... do you work for someone else?"
Baolus lifts finger after finger while he asks questions.
"I suggest that you answer the questions given to you; although I do not wish it, I cannot guarantee that my companion will not become violent again. I would prefer this done diplomatically and within the confines of the law, if you answer our questions truthfully we should be able to put in a good word to the people who would judge you."
The dwarf seems a bit confused by the questions but starts to answer regardless.
My name...is Jonrec. I'm from Kintargo. I don't...know what you mean by a base and no we didn't work for anyone else.
Rona, your attempts at diplomacy seem to fall on deaf ears. The dwarf doesn't seem swayed, especially under threat of death from your allies.
Baolus directs himself to his new companions, far from the ears of the dwarf. "I believe he is just a common brigand... We should not spend our time with him, yet we must make a decision... We can not keep him locked here nor release him... So we must choose between bringing him with us, return him to Kintargo to be judged or kill him right now..."
I look to the Dwarf and then to Baolus, "I would rather we didn't kill him. Going back would be too much of a detour, so maybe we should try to take with us to answer for his crimes in Kintargo ... I leave his fate in everyone's hands though. I do not know how effective the law is out here."
Ihon barely seems to be listening, Even here, they must have laws. And if they do not, perhaps it is time some were brought to the area.