Thorfinn isn't doing that bad a job keeping seated, his native agility and rapport with animals serving him well. "Rumors. See, I'd heard that there were giants hereabouts, and that's what I've been trained to fight." He snorts. "Haven't seen any yet. Goblins don't count. It was the fight with the goblins drew us together, though."
|
Ioxeia nods, adding, "We're all very much strangers yet. For my part, I came to Sandpoint as part of a tour through the country, though I haven't yet decided where I mean to travel next. I thought perhaps the libraries and schools further south, since I've just visited my own people in the Mierani on the way down, though I'm also tempted to return there soon."
Her voice trails off as she reflects privately on the vagaries that have brought her to her current situation. There's no need to mention that; you'll just have to be more careful from now on.
Aldern nods to the responses "Ah, well very good for you all to chance upon the town in it's hour of need I suppose." At Ioxeia's mentions of libraries he adds "Ah I have a wonderful library at my manor outside Magnimar. Perhaps you should visit sometime and I can give you a tour?" He smiles and looks back briefly to Ioxeia before turning back to his horse and the road ahead.
|
|
Despite her apprehensions, Ioxeia's mind whirls at the possibilities. There's no guarantee that the aristocrat's library contains any arcana, but there would be no harm in visiting that as well as the magic schools in Magnimar and its holdings. She keeps her remarks general as she tries to think of a discreet way of determining what she might expect, "That's marvellously generous of you, ... Aldern. Clearly, after we've made sure that we're not just leaving Sandpoint to fend for itself while it's still vulnerable, I shall have to prepare an expedition to the Stone of the Seers, and perhaps the Twilight Academy thereafter."
The dwarf concentrates on paying attention to his surroundings, watching for marauding goblins, wayward giants, or aggressive animals.
|
Aldern nods "Ah of course, I would expect no less. Of course, while in Magnimar you must not forget to stop by the Founder’s Archive and Museum of Ages as well, as it seems to fit your interests." As he is about to start up another question one of his men points out a game trail, likely of a boar. You dismount to track the beast on foot. After some time you come to a clearing with some bush on the other side, where you hear the sounds of an animal, you assume your prey in the bushes. Aldern looks to you all "After you, what sort of host would I be were I not to let you take the glory of the kill."
Gabriel will check over his crossbow to make sure it's still in good shape before loading a bolt and cranking it to a cocked position.
"Ready."
Thorfinn merely grunts as he advances towards the brush, weapon ready. Hmph. Things like this, the hunt is more fun than the kill.
Gabriel stalks forward, carefully staying with the group.
The dwarf advances with Gabriel, listening and looking for any sign of the boar.
Ioxeia moves up to the boar and tries to jab at it through the bush, it notices her approach though, and already cornered moves to fight back. It is a rather large boar, most definitely it will make a good feast.
Gabriel will inspire courage in his companions before moving around to the south to help cut the boar off.
Round 1:
Buoyed by Gabriel's song, the dwarf advances on the boar. "We'll make this quick, pig. You'll be the guest of honor at our next feast!" His axe comes crashing down on the porcine prey.
|
|
Realizing that the undergrowth is thicker than it looks, Ioxeia quickly loops around to where there's a gap in the brush, and lines up a throw along the forest trail.
As soon as the weapon leaves her hand, she gets ready in case the boar decides to charge, speaking a word that lights her shield up with flickering force.
"Oh boy, does this pig look tasty!"
Before anyone has a chance to react, Chim throws out his hand unleashing a missle of force at the boar. It flies smahing into the boars skull, where it stagers a moment before dropping to the ground unmoving.
Aldern rushes over seeing the event "Ah wonderful!" He looks back to his two companions and slaps one on the shoulder "See, what did I tell you, mighty heroes if I ever saw one!" He starts to clap and his companions, grudgingly follow suit. Even with Chim killing the beast Aldern moves over to Ioxeia "A wonderful job ineed. We shall feast well tonight and have marvelous stories to tell!"
Gallus watches as the boar falls to the ground.
Nice work Chim.
"Well done, we won't even have to worry about finding arrow fragments later."
|
|
"Indeed. Thank you, Chimaeryus,' Ioxeia says, before turning to retrieve her spear. As she removes it from the boar's flank, she stoops and presses her fingers into the wound, tilting her mask up for a moment to taste the blood and observe the niceties. As she fastidiously cleans her hand, glad that's over, she thanks the boar for submitting tamely. "Brave spirit," she murmurs.
Rising, she silently adds a prayer to Ketephys, grateful for a good hunt. She returns from behind the tangle of undergrowth to give Aldern's taciturn companions a meaningful look, obviously not intending to clean the boar herself, and addresses Aldern, "We certainly have found good fare for the evening. Shall we?"
While everyone's bustling about, Ioxeia will take the opportunity to find a fallen branch that will serve as a staff, or better yet, a club, her ribs remembering the group's run-in with the skeletons yesterday.
That seemed too easy.... Despite his misgivings, Thorfinn claps the sorcerer on the shoulder. "Well done, lad!" Then he leaves the dressing of the meat to the others and takes a wide circle around the area, looking for other tracks.
The two men with Aldern go to collect the boar, binding it and throwing it over one of their horses for the trip back.
Aldern nods "Yes let us depart and recount our great adventure while we feast this afternoon!" He begins walking back to his horse, and looks back to make sure the others follow, noticing Ioxeia having a hard time of it he walks back to her "Are you injured, it seemed like you all made quick work of the boar, may I be of some assistance?" He holds out his hand to help her along if she takes it.
Gabriel will accompany the group back to the horses and head out when appropriate.
|
|
Ioxeia reappears idly swinging a short ash-wood branch, light enough to fly fairly well, if she should need to throw it, but with enough heft to feel comfortably solid in her hand. As Aldern hurries up, she takes his hand, but only for a lift up into the saddle. Looking down from her perch, she answers, "Thanks. I'm healing, but we disturbed some unquiet dead yesterday in our investigations for the sheriff, and one had better luck than I would have liked. A point or edge is, as I have been reminded, not the best means of parting bones."
She stops there, realizing she's on the verge of beginning a schoolmistress-y lecture. As Aldern moves on to see to his own horse, Ioxeia takes up her reins and shakes her head to enjoy a last bit of the cool air under the trees before the group takes to the road again.
Heading back to town Aldern the ride is rather quiet. When you reach the town Aldern excuses himself, taking his companions with him leaving you the boar. "Enjoy the feast. I must make ready to head back to Magnimar. It was a pleasure to meet you all and if you should ever find yourself in the city please look me up."
|
|
That was certainly odd, Ioxeia thinks, he seems to be a most peculiarly enthusiastic man. On again, off again... At least I shan't have to disappoint him, and it was a delightful ride, to say nothing of a good hunt.
She is quietly relieved that she won't have to fend him off tonight, but does hope that she'll eventually be able to accept his offer of a peek in his library without any awkwardness.
"Well, uhhh... does anybody know anything about roasting boar? Also what a strange man."
|
Damn.... I should have asked him for passage to Magnimar, Torch and Sheila will not be happy with me.
"It looks fine to me."
With that, Ayaki lets out his claws and cuts a front quarter off of the boar. As he bites into it, his orc instincts take over and any rule of etiquette he had ever learned flies out the window.
Paying no attention to the others he talks to himself
"cooking ruins all the flavor."
|
|
Fascinating. Revolting, but fascinating.
Ioxeia darts a glance towards Gabriel, and deciding it's probably best not to reply to Chimaeryus' mutterings, offers, "I'm sure the kitchens at the Rusty Dragon would be able to manage, or wouldn't mind if we took it elsewhere if all their space is spoken for. Could I trouble you to help me carry the beast?"
Turning to the sorcerer, she adds, "You're welcome to join us, of course, whenever you please."
Taking the boar tot he Rusty Dragon Ameiko gladely offers to roast up the boar, saving any for Chimaeryus that he might request. Aldern left note to Ameiko to pay for a few rounds of drinks on his behalf and everyone takes advantage of the mini-party going on at the tavern as Ameiko sings songs of her adventures. As the night winds down and other tavern goes depart or head off to bed Ameiko and her halfling assistance see to tiding up the place before closing for the night.
Gabriel thoroughly enjoys the roast boar and the beverages and stays up late listening to and telling stories through the night before eventually finding at least a few hours of sleep.
Thorfinn happily quaffs ale on Aldern's dime, singing enthusiastically (but not very well) in Dwarvish. A fair amount of roast boar also makes its way to the dwarf. With the last bones gnawed and the last mug emptied, he helps a bit with the cleanup before thumping off to bed.
After the night of festivites and going to rest you are abruptly woken in the morning as a series of concerned knocks wake you. You find the halfling assistant, Bahni who waits at the door, she wakes each of you and asks that you join her downstairs for something very important. It is early morning before most of the town has awaken.
Thorfinn yawns prodigiously, belches, scratches himself, and heads downstairs.
Gabriel puts his boots on and stumbles downstairs in his nightshirt.
"'Morning, Gabriel. You too, huh?"
|
|
Upon hearing the knocks
Sigh... now what?
Chimaeryus, wipes the white crust from the side of his mouth, and clears his throat. He spits some brownish phlegm into his chamber pot, its colorization a result of the raw swine he ate the previous night.
confused, Chimaeryus looks around, his eyes squinting in anticipation for a sun that is not there, he scans the the room until he finds his "new" Robe of Bones. He hastily dons it and proceeds down the stairs, out of blind habit he takes each step as carefully as possible.
As he glances both Thorfinn, and Gabriel he diverts his gaze to the floor, and lifts a hand in a subtle greeting.
|
|
Woken by the unexpected knock at her door, Ioxeia pads across the room to answer it, hand clutching her nightdress against the chill of the early morning. Opening the door just enough to peer through the crack, she is momentarily puzzled until her gaze deflects down to spot Bahni. The halfling’s whispered urgency is not reassuring, and Ioxeia hurries through her morning ablutions and dressing.
She emerges downstairs with mask in place but hair an unruly tangle tumbling below her shoulders. As she descends, she stretches discreetly, bobbing up on tiptoe and tensing her arms along her sides. Looking around the others for Bahni again, she quietly asks, “Hello, what’s the matter?”
Gabriel turns vaguely in the direction and tries to mumble a greeting to Thorfinn and Chimaeryus, but is stopped short by his dry mouth.