Tessandriel kept her head bowed the entire time. What she wanted to do she could not. She would not. Once they are through the gates she comes up next to Catcher and puts her arm around her in comfort.
Tess notes the locations of all the guards she can see for future reference. Never know when that will come in handy.
It is about mid-day, noon. The sun will set in about 6 hours.
As the township unfolds, you plainly see the elven influence in the architecture. There are many woodland stylized animals and leaves carved into the wooden structures you pass by. There are myriad tree varieties and well-kept gardens down every lane.
In contrast to the pretty atmosphere are several sites blackened and burned down to the foundation, many of them so destroyed that its impossible to determine what they once were. In several places you see more rotting soldiers atop pikes, left there to remind the townsfolk of their folly in trusting anyone but the minions of hell. One such location has the pikes formed into a semi-circle, where in the middle sleeps a muscular maroon-skinned devil. He snores loudly, greedily gasping at the rotten air around him. A serrated glaive rests by his side, made of a gleaming red steel. This creature looks humanoid, but its skin color and its animate whisker-tendrils in its large beard clearly indicate something not of this world.
Tessandriel takes note of guard posts here and there. She also notices most in-town patrols appear to be two humans walking side by side, similarly garbed, armed and armored to the gate guards.
Chez sees a small lane that leads to a quiet neighborhood with little foot traffic. It seems an ideal place to have some privacy.
Roland keeps a sharp lookout for the fiendish imp that was seen at the gate, but it appears to have remained there and out of sight. There is no indication that it is nearby or following you.
Chezarion drives the wagon over to the lane. When he gets there he looks around to try to ensure things are as private as he thinks they are.
Chezarion stops the wagon, gets down and walks over to Catcher. He says, "Thank you very much for your help back there. To say I really appreciate it would be a significant understatement. However, I need to ask for your help again. If there's any way you can confirm that we don't have an invisible imp too close by before I get Gromff out of the crate I would appreciate it."
Chezarion finishes talking and grins, then he says, "But for all that we don't always get along that well, you're not the lady I'm going to ditch tonight."
Chezarion, the coast looks clear.
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That was embarrassing…
Catcher do not resist or say anything when Tessa put a comforting arm around her shoulders.
She tries to stop her shaking hand, but it refused to obey.
Once they are inside the city, she see the Bearded Devil and curses silently.
”I don’t think we can win against that in a fair fight… inside this town, it is impossible. Try not the get its attention.” she whispers to the group.
Then, the party stops and Chez approach and start to talk.
Is he trying to flirt with me?
”No need to thank me. Next time, if you want to get someone killed, do it only with yourself. Do not drag us along. I advice you don’t let the lady waiting. Karaxa is not unjust.” she says, but she do as he asks, and silently conjures the cantrip her master taught her to detect other forms of magic.
There are no apparent magic auras anywhere within your detect magic area of effect.
On their way, Roland also keeps an eye open for any dwarves they see, and also for a weapon's shop, or an armory.
Roland tries to hide his grim at seeing the sleeping devil. Oh he wanted so so much to go there and finish his beauty sleep. With a well placed hammer to the head he really doubted the thing would survive, even being a devil and however resistant it was. He forced himself to resist the urge, and thought for a second if Thomas would mind trading a pinch of that dust for a devil's head, or maybe for the glaive. He would probably need a disguise if he wanted to get out of here alive if he tried that.
His mind stops drifting and he analyzes how clean and clear is the terrain where he would have to walk to get to the devil. Being inside such a noisy city and still being able to sleep meant the devil would not wake up easily, but it never hurt to be extra careful.
He wrote everything in his mind and moved along with the others to the empty alley. "Well done everyone. Several times better than I would expect. We need to hurry before the devil awakes."
Is the terrain favorable for a stealthy approach? Any other guards around the sleeping monster?
The lot where the bearded devil slept was on the side of Mainstreet. (the east/west road you entered the town on.) He was nearly surrounded by corpses on pikes, but they're about 6-8' apart, so there is room to approach. Not particularly stealthy, no. It is relatively out in the open.
That said, the creature has no guards and no other allies in sight.
Roland seeks a friendly merchant and asks directions on how to get to the Honeypot Inn. Then he asks Gromff if he is alright and if he wants to get out of there now. If he does the Barbarian helps. Last, he asks a tough question to the group. "I've already made my choice, but do you think I should kill that devil?"
When Catcher tells him that the coast is clear he jumps up onto the wagon and opens the crate with Gromff in it. Getting out the dust of illusion he pictures an image in his mind and sprinkles the dust on Gromff. Chezarion says:
"Now you look like an elderly human male with a beard. He's a little on the short side for a human but not uncommonly so. He walks somewhat bent over because he's got back problems and he moves kind of slow. That should keep the illusion close enough to your size and movement speed that it shouldn't stand out as odd."
Chezarion replies to Roland, "Not here and not now. First priority has to be getting Tylz and Walker out of here. Everything else is secondary. Besides, there's too much that could go wrong leaving us too deep in town with too many enemies against us to fight our way out. Later if we get more favorable conditions we can go devil hunting, but not here and not now. Let's get to that Inn and see if we're going to be taking people or a book out of here."
Chezarion will make sure Gromff has a comfortable seat and that everyone else is ready. Then he drives the wagon off to the inn.
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Seeing the new appearance on the dwarf, Catcher smiles and offers a helping hand.
”Can you walk Grandpa? Here, lean on me a bit. We don’t want to force your already bad back."
"Gramps, I hadn't noticed, but you are almost shorty as me.” but she is grinning.
Then Roland asks about devil killing things.
They have a death wish. That’s the only explanation! She gives him a censoring stare, but says nothing.
As Roland tries to help Gromff out of the crate the surely dwarf says, "I can do it me self. Just give me some water and I'll be fine. Farmer needs to wash the crates. Bit dusty."
When Chezarion sprinkles the dust over him and tells him what he looks like he nods. "Sounds good." But when Catcher offers her arm to help he swats it away and jumps right into character. "Don't you coddle me whelp I could still bend you over my knee and tan your backside like I did your father. Now help me get back in the darn wagon." He even manages to cover up his accent well enough.
He was clearly expecting Chezarion's answer, but now it's easier for him to agree with his own reasoning. "Got it. You don't want to miss you date, I get that." A hint of a rare smile comes out of the barbarian mouth, but it swiftly vanish as they get back to the road.
He asks his ring back from the dwarf, but just that for now.
Chezarion,
I was hoping you would turn the old codger dwarf into a dainty elf maiden!! hahaha.... Good call on the old man illusion.
The first merchants you come across are simple farmers like yourselves. *wink wink* Roland calls out for directions to the inn, they reply, "Just stay here on Mainstreet 'til the middle o' town. It's at the intersection of Mainstreet and Torian Road."
Keeping the mule going at a steady fast pace it takes you 30 minutes to reach the center of town. You pass Fletcher Road, the one Meldara told you about; its the road that she believed the children were caged on, all the way south, near the perimeter wall.
From Fletcher Road to Torian Road (both north/south roads), there are many more merchants to be found along Mainstreet. You smell delectable lemon tarts, fresh baked breads, and roast chickens. There are many more farmer carts here with produce on display. You do notice a number of closed shops and cold outdoor forges, silent anvils nearby.
After your 30 minutes of travel is up you reach the largest intersection you've seen in town so far, and on the northwest corner stands the largest building yet seen; it is a three story square-ish building with a long porch that wraps around the building front, and extends along each wall adjacent to the roads. You see people on this porch sitting on rocking chairs enjoying the day's weather; you see both commoners and town guardsmen in their red/black tabards. There is pleasant music--stringed instruments and soft percussion-- pouring out of the open doors, welcoming in patrons. You see wooden sign gently swinging in the breeze, with a relief-carved pot with golden fluid spilling out, with a bee flying above it. You have found the Honeypot Inn. A little ways north on Torian behind this inn, nearly out of sight, you see what looks like a stable.
Like you have to come to expect, in contrast to the pleasant inn's atmosphere, a ways south down Torian Road there are several burned down shells of buildings. More to the point, there is a fairly large pit that looks to be about 40' in diameter, if you had to hazard a guess.
There are no townsfolk walking down that direction. The breeze takes a turn northward and brings a powerful stench of rotten flesh, From your position in the street, you cannot see into this pit just yet.
"Thanks." He thanks the farmers and also ask if there would be anyone interested in buying his whole production, since he need to hurry back to care for his business.
A highway to hell - is all the barbarian can think of when seeing the pit. "Keep your eyes open for a dwarf". He will try to find a position to sell their stuff and will take care of the cart while the party search the place. It's a nice opportunity to keep an eye out for the two figures they are looking for, but also at the guards, imps and common folk that walk around the place.
For the most part, Gromff won't be talking much. His accent might give him away and bumping into people might cause them to see through the disguise so he will just be keeping an eye out and sticking next to Catcher, pretending to be a feeble but grumpy old man. He will be watching for any signs of the two people they are looking for and trouble. He will also be counting in his head trying to keep track of the time.
When he sees the stable he remarks quietly, "Dinnae the elf say the two we be lookin for used the stable? Might want to stable the mule and give the place a once over."
As the group heads towards the inn Chezarion talks to Gromff, "How much money do we have again? If we have a reasonable amount both Catcher and I need to get cold weather outfits. There may be other people in our group who need them as well. The way the weather has been lately it's going to be important."
When the group eventually does get to the inn Chezarion says after Gromff had his say:"That sounds like a plan to me."
Chezarion goes to get the mule stabled and looks around.
"If you are short I have some to spare." she says to Chezarion.
Once at the stables.
"I'll go with you. Second set of eyes never hurt." Tessandriel helps with stabling the animal and the looking around.
"How are you holding up?" she says when out of earshot of the others.
@ Chez "Enough to cover ye both but not in coin. Use yer own for now. Don't want to be payin in gems. Doubt a farmer would be carryin that around"
"If you are short I have some to spare." she says to Chezarion.
Once at the stables.
"I'll go with you. Second set of eyes never hurt." Tessandriel helps with stabling the animal and the looking around.
[dice=Perception]1d20+10
"How are you holding up?" she says when out of earshot of the others.
Chezarion replies, "Right now I'm fine. I'm worried about conditions we might encounter down the road though. The night before last was real obnoxious and there's going to be more of that to come."
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”Here gramps, lemme help ya!” says the girl, walking the old man to the inn.
Once inside, he asks for a brew and that is when Catcher meddled again
”No, no, no no! No way gramps! You know ma gets really mad when you drink. And you know you can’t drink something tha’ strong.” then she turns to the innkeeper ”Water it down, please. Also, bring me some hot milk, bread, cheese and smoked meat.” she says smiling.
Once the innkeeper is gone, she turns to gramps and say.
”That is your punishment for being stubborn earlier. Swatting a young girl helping arm is a very, very bad crime gramps. You’ll suffer for it! ”
When the innkeeper gets back, Catcher will talk to him again ”A friend of ma, told me of a mad old geezer, accompanied by this old dorf staying around the inn. Are they near? Ma always told me not get near mad people, you can’t ever know when they will become violent, and do something bad to you. ”
Timeline so far: It is 30 minutes from the west gate to the Inn. I'll assume you relieved Gromff from the crate at about half that distance. We'll say that 15 minutes of the illusion's 2 hours has been used so far.
Roland sets up shop near the intersection, trying to get your farm goods sold. You get lucky with a few offers for purchase, you can manage to sell 5 gold worth of veggies and that side of pig, with most of that money coming from that pig.
Gromff and Catcher head into the Honeypot for a look around and an ale. The inn seems like a very pleasant place to hang out. The food smells great, there are many varieties of ale, beer, wine and spirits behind the bar. There are a few musicians in the corner on a small stage making soothing sounds on their fiddles and drums. A half-elf woman greets you, Welcome! We have tables all around, feel free to pick any one. We just tapped a keg of our signature honey-mead, and it is going fast! 2 silver for a mug, but worth every copper!! We have lambchops, raisin-corn bread, and mixed greens if its hunger that brought ya in here. See the bartender if you need a room for the night."
Chezarion and Tessandriel move to the stables for a look around. There is a stable boy there filling feedbags with oats from a large bag. He looks up at you as you approach. He says he'll stable your mule for 4 silver pieces. You have a look around the place and everything seems in order. Not much out of the ordinary. Lots of footprints, hoofprints, manure, hay, etc. Tessandriel however catches a glint of metal. She bends down and sees a silvery ring with a Griffon emblem.
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"Ye stuff me in a box for o'er an hour with nothin but spiders to keep me company and now ye say I can't have a pint. I'll not stand for that, don't ye doubt. Ye never stand between a dwarf and his ale," he practically yells, slamming his fist on the table. "I want three honeymeads and I ain't leavin till I get them."
Chezarion walks over to the stable boy and says, "We probably won't be that long. Only a few hours. If we do stable the mule would there be a discount for only being stabled a short time? Also, one of my people back at the farm asked a favor of me. His great grandfather has gone a little soft in the head and has wandered away from home. There was a rumor that he might have linked up with a dwarf and be somewhere in this town. I know it's a long shot but you wouldn't have heard anything about that would you?"
A bar wench brings you a couple plates with bread, cheese, and lamb chops. She sets down warmed milk and a watered down ale.
"Wanna run a tab, or pay now? Three honeymeads?! Thirsty much?" She giggles and walks toward the bar for the "old man's" drink request.
After 15 minutes or so, Catcher has chatted up several patrons and learned that there was indeed a dwarf and an old man here recently. They were staying here at the inn when the city was taken. One person says "They're both surely dead, as they were seen being dragged away by guards."
Another person describes rumors of children and adult slaves being loaded in to cage-wagons and are never seen again.
Yet another person, being the most detailed, says "Yeah, I remember em'. Not too many dwarfs 'round these parts. They was captured just outside the stables out back, in a sweep made by devils and their soldiers. The dwarf turned irate and began to cast magic spells at the soldiers when he seen his old companion got dragged away! The whole marketplace saw him get killed by that horrible bearded devil--took his dwarfy head clean off with a swing of that polearm he carries around. He up and threw the dwarf's body to the ogre's pet hellhound, just down the road there." They point south, down Torian Road. "I don't know about the old man, but many folk who was captured is being taken up to the north gate. No one knows where they're goin'. Maybe to help build that new temple?"
Chezarion,
The stable boy gets very nervous when you ask him your questions. He looks around nervously. "I don't know nothin' 'bout no dwarf, I think ye'd better take yer mule somewhere else mister."
He puts down his oats and walks into the stables and out of your sight.
Tessandriel looks with some alarm at the boy's reaction to the questioning. Once he is gone she turns to Chezarion.
"I think we might be leaving soon. That doesn't bode well for us."
She looks around suddenly to see if they were noticed.
Gromff downs the honeymeads as fast as any dwarf and slams the mugs down when done. When the more detailed person mentions the fall of Tylz he jumps, or as the illusion shows, waddles into action. "What? That devil creature out there kilt a fellow dwarf?" yells the obviously human old man. "Ahhhhhh, I'll show the bearded gnome the strength of us elves." He then hobbles his way out of the inn leaving Catcher to pick up the tab.
When she exits he is standing near the door but out of the way, waiting for her to exit. His arms are crossed and he has a stern look on his face. "Ye never stand between a dwarf and his ale. Now lets find the others and tell them what we heard."
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Catcher pays the tab, and leaves running after gramps.
Once outside, his sermon just fuel her rage.
”You big fat idiot!” she yells ”What are you thinking? You know that ma will be really pissed with you sprouting nonsense. If ye can’t keep that trap shut, don’t ruin everything ordering that disgusting beer!” she then leaves, looking for the others, muttering to herself.
”I’m surrounded by fools! First an elf that dares to joke our disguise away, then a dammed barbarian wanting to have a macho match against a devil, in a devil infested town and a dwarf that can’t pretend to be a human for 10 minutes! Gods!”
Roland, from some distance, eyes the two out of the Inn with curiosity, but keeps selling their stuff until everyone is back.
Chezarion turns to Tessandriel and says, "I'm afraid you may be right. I might have to end up trying to search that large corpse pit near here. But let's leave the stable now. We'll take the mule and cart with us and link up with Roland. If Catcher and Gromff haven't come back by then I'll go fetch them."
Chezarion turns to Tessandriel and says, "I'm afraid you may be right. I might have to end up trying to search that large corpse pit near here. But let's leave the stable now. We'll take the mule and cart with us and link up with Roland. If Catcher and Gromff haven't come back by then I'll go fetch them."
Ye didn't even try it. It's got honey," Gromff retorts at Catcher's retreating back. "Bah," he says as she continue's to walk away. He eventually catches up as they approach Chez and Tess to tell them about what happened to Watcher and Tylz.
"Well, the dwarf's body may be there, but he certainly wasn't carrying all his equipment, was he? Don't you think that boy is hiding something?"
Roland, Yes I think we can assume that you all meet up again.
Noticing a ring, Tessandriel quickly picks it up and pockets it. She also takes note of the footprints and the scuffle that obviously took place.
As they take the wagon to meet the others.
"Hey, I found this near the stable. It looked important. The town guardsmen were here and they had a scuffle with someone. They were dragged off in that direction." she says quietly while motioning slightly with her head to where she was referring to.
The ring was found in the stables.
"Then take a proper look at that place man. We have some time, for now. And please double check that boy there, he certainly know something and may be an ally."