"No matter what option we take, it's all very risky", states Crady. "I can try to treat her now, but until she gets food and water, she's still too weak to go anywhere for long."
Shaking his head, the urban druid continues, "But that doesn't matter at all if we don't leave now!"
"Maybe hide somewhere for the night? A tavern or inn...let the heat die down. Get a room, let her rest. Go out and get food, water, bandages. We can move with her in the morning."
"If Have to, we can fight. But the best battles are the ones not fought" she said a bit absent mindedly
-Posted with Wayfinder
Pakuzzo shrugs his shoulders.
"For now, let's just follow Marillo's suggestion and locate a nearby inn. We'll hunker down for a night and give this one some time to recuperate, then we can figure out how to get back to the coffeehouse tomorrow."
Crady nods, "Well, it's as good a plan as any."
"I think I know a good place. Follow me."
"Yes. A rest will be a good idea for us" she nods and follows
-Posted with Wayfinder
Thinking a bit, Crady recalls an old tavern called the 'Tooth and Nail'. It's an older, run down tavern but should be sufficient for the night.
Leading you through the alleys of the city, trying to avoid attracting any attention, Crady expertly picks his way through the streets of Kintargo. The man stops so abruptly before exiting one alley, you barely manage to avoid toppling over the sage. In the light of the moon, you quietly watch a pair of demons lumber pass but a few feet away. The don't seem to notice you.
You make it the last couple blocks without incident. The single-story tavern is marked by nothing but a wooden post outside, four bent and rusty nails and six wolves’ teeth hammered into its weathered face. The tavern shares the building with a confectioner’s shop, identified by the words “Sweet Tooth” painted at its entrance on Tuce Alley.
As you arrive, the last of the patrons stumble out into the street and the lights go out inside.
As the rest of his posse stops abruptly behind him, Crady puts up a hand with the palm facing out in front, hoping his friends will take the cue to stop and be silent.
Marillo nods and stays silent as the creatures go by.
Pakuzzo grips his bow and tenses, but stays quiet at Crady's warning. He silently motions for Vinz to stay put.
From his perch nearby, the raven watches the demons curiously, but takes no action and makes no sound as they pass on by.
Staying low as possible, the four armed female keeps her eyes on the demons and her one hand on her pistol
-Posted with Wayfinder
The creatures move on, taking no notice of you.
You make it the last couple blocks without incident. The single-story tavern is marked by nothing but a wooden post outside, four bent and rusty nails and six wolves’ teeth hammered into its weathered face. The tavern shares the building with a confectioner’s shop, identified by the words “Sweet Tooth” painted at its entrance on Tuce Alley.
As you arrive, the last of the patrons stumble out into the street and the lights go out inside.
"Get her inside. I'll keep watch outside. If you hear me yell 'Martha, where are you' then it means we have to run."
Walking up to the counter, Crady greets the desk man with a warm smile and two large dogs in tow.
"Hello, good sir! We'd like a couple rooms.. no questions asked."
Cerenity will stay our side with Mar for now. Her figure would attract attention from inside. So once lodging is acquired she would take her room.
-Posted with Wayfinder
A woman clad in leather looks up to the sage. "Oh? Uh, I might have something, but it won't be glamorous." she replies. The dim lighting of this board up building shows it's diminished state. A knife board hangs on a wall in the corner. Save her and Crady, the room is vacant.
"Well, right now the only thing I have available is the cellar. Decent sized place, but you'd be left alone. There's no beds down there...Say, 1 silver for the night, long as you're party is still in the single digits."
Pakuzzo wasn't pleased with not having a bed, but he's slept in wose places.
"1 silver a night is fine, thank you."
Crady quickly fumbles at his coin purse to pull out 2 gp.
"There you go. 2 gold. From people you have never met nor seen", nodded the urban druid to the tavern matron.
Pocketting the coins, the woman shows Crady to the back of the bar. "Stairs are here. I'll lock up after you have gone down. Let me know if you need anything."
She then proceeds to busy herself cleaning one of the storerooms. Those she admittedly steals a few glances your way, the woman says nothing and locks the door after you've all disappeared down the steps.
The dank, dark basement is cluttered with crates of various liquors and ales. A rodent scurries down the hall into a corner, out of site.
Marillo looks about, his eyes piercing through the darkness. He looks around for any way out besides the stairs, should flight be needed.
Pakuzzo looks around disapprovingly.
"Lovely accommodations. Remind me to pen a glowing review for the city travel guide."
He finds a relatively clean spot near the wall and sits down, letting Vinz roost where he likes.
"Nothing for it, then. Might as well get some rest."
Metronicus does his best to clean an area for the injured tiefling, attempting to make the place comfortable.
"Lovely accommodations. Remind me to pen a glowing review for the city travel guide."
The urban druid shot a look at Pakuzzo.
"Clearly my experience with the tengu is more limited than I thought: who would have guessed the 'crow spirits' would be so particular about where they roost.""Besides the accommodations were not made with you in mind, but a stop for the night to get our injured lady here some proper care."
After getting his patient comfortable, Crasdy asked his fellow guests, "Could someone check the crates for food? Surely the 2 gold I put down for our stay would surely accommodate some pilfering"
"I'm on it."
Pakuzzo shrugs at Crady's comment, the corners of mouth surrounding his beak curling up into a smirk.
"'Crow spirit' nothing, my friend. I'm a citizen of Kintargo first and foremost, same as you; everything else is window dressing. But don't take it personally, hard floors beat a dottari stockade any day of the week. I just like the sound of my own voice, is all."
Searching the crates, Marillo manages to find a box marked 'Ale' but is clearly filled with water pouches. In another marked "Bread", "Firewater", "Darts" he finds a smoke-roasted slab of meat.
Taking a glance into an oddly shaped box labeled "Children's Toys", the man discovers a case of firebelly dwarven liquor and a couple loaves of stale bread.
The only entrance/exit you find is the stairs leading up to the next level.
"Indeed. A simple place to rest. Catch some well deserved sleep and refresh our minds so we can focus better" she nods and begins to get herself some comfortable "bedding"
-Posted with Wayfinder
As tempting as the alcohol was, Marillo returns with the water and food. Offering it to the rescued tiefling he said "Water. Stale bread. Roasted meat. It isn't gourmet, but it'll have to do."
"Thank you, Marillo", says the urban druid.
Crady looks over the injured tiefling's body for any wounds that need immediate attention.
Pakuzzo accepts Marillo's find with aplomb.
"'Better than nothing' beats 'nothing,' I always say."
He takes his portion and divides the meat between himself and Vinz.
The giant raven catches the gobbet of smoked meat that Pakuzzo tosses him in his beak. It was hardly a mouthful, and not nearly far gone enough for his taste, but it was still edible.
You find the wounds all seem superficial. This woman is exhausted and malnourished, but will live with proper care and rest.
You also found a crate marked
As the man gently inspects the unconscious woman, she lets out a soft moan. As if sensing Marillo's offering, she meekly swipes at him; clutching the air between them. Her blind grasping manages to snag one of the loaves and she lays in next to her on the ground. Gingerly gnawing at it, her eyes remain closed. She says nothing. Moments later, a soft Zzzt zz comes from her.
Taking the time to fully inspect her now, you clearly recognize the rags she wore in your last encounter...though now the the jagged tears leave little to the imagination.
Pleased to find the tiefling girl in relative good health, Crady takes off his cloak to offer the exhausted woman a level of modesty and warmth, casting mending on her ripped clothes.
After thoroughly looting the place, Marillo says "Let's get some sleep. But let's set a watch first. Unpleasant surprises are best faced when we are awake."
"Fine by me. I'll volunteer for first watch if no one minds."
Pakuzzo finds a spot that gives him the widest vantage point to the door and makes himself comfortable, signalling Vinz to do likewise. Before he setlles in, he makes sure to cast a healing spell on the bird.
[dice=CLW]1d8+2[/dice]
"Fine by me. I'm ready to collapse. Wake me when it's my turn."
The night passes uneventfully, each of you taking a watch in turn. As morning comes, the tiefling stirs. Sitting up suddenly, she shouts "NO! I..." looking around, confusion apparent on her face. Leaping to her feet, she starts for the stairs.
Stopping suddenly, recognizing who and what you are, she whispers, "Where am I? What happened?"
"You've had a horrible ordeal, but those gathered around assisted in your rescue", Crady spoke assuredly. "We are currently laying low in a tavern basement, and if you are feeling well enough, are going to return you back home sometime later today."
"No need to be alarmed, miss. The guards that were holding you won't be bothering you or anyone else in this lifetime, we can guarantee that much."
"Indeed. They were a disgrace to the country they served. Best to dispatch them from their false service." she nods her head in agreement
"I believe you are safe. And also. My friend here fretted over you, and made sure your clothing andwounds were tended to"
-Posted with Wayfinder
"Thank you." she replies, blushing. "I'm sorry for being so careless. It won't happen again. I'm ok now. I know you have much more important tasks to take care of than walking me home."
With a smile, she whispers "Long live the ravens! I'm certain our paths will cross again. Keep up your good works and I'll make sure the Devil's Nursery will support you!" she proceeds to bound up the stairs and out into the street.
Passing through a line of shop vendors on your way back to regroup, Pakuzzo spies a fetching shop claiming to sell "Extravagant Arrows of the Best Styles".
Ducking inside, he spies a number of arrows of all shapes and sizes. Most of them appear to be purely oriental and decorative in nature. Towards the back, covered in dust 10 cold-iron arrows set on one of the shelves. Next to them is a sign that reads 'Alchemical Silver Arrows', but the shelf is empty.
Crady smiles at the others, as they had successfully rescued the tiefling's life.
"Job well done, I suppose." Then the urban druid pauses for a moment and thinks allows. "Guess I'm one of those 'good guys" I keep hearing about."
Marillo slapped Crady on the back.
-Posted with Wayfinder
"Wait here a minute, ladies and gents, and mind my bird," Pakuzzo says, sidling up to the shop entrance. "I shan't be long."
*****
Picking up the set of all ten cold iron arrows and taking them to the counter, Pakuzzo rings for the shopkeep.
"How much do you want for these, my good man? If the price is right, I'd also like a quiver of 20 standard shafts. Make it quick if you can, I've got some important business to attend to for the type of people too good to be kept waiting."