Bein was pulled back towards the river along with the others, he had little time now to scold Arundel and decided to put all his might into the last pull. As his muscles strained he felt like he was on fire, every muscle burned from the strain being placed on them. "RAH!" He gave a guttural shout as he pulled one last time...
Xarafine takes a deep breath and pulls with all her remaining strength.
Regaining his footing, Finnabar has just the time to grab the rope again and lend strength to Bein mighty pull.
With a last gasp of effort you manage to pull the wagon into the shallows before it's shell finally gives way, almost drenching its contents. From the opposite bank the assembled crowd of gnomes release a huge cheer!
Hands on his knees, Finnabar gets his break back. Looking at the ruined wagon, he quicky dismisses the idea of getting it on the other side of the river.
"Thanks, every one, that was a great effort.", he says to his companions before cupping his hands around his mouth and yelling to the assembled gnomes on the other side of the river: "This wagon is not going anywhere. Can you ford the river nearby and join us?"
Dropping the rope, Xarafine takes a few steps away from the river and gently moves into a slow version of her martial drill, taking long, deep breaths as she moves.
Bein placeed chalks under the tires lest the wagon roll backinto the river before nodding to Finn and the others. "Glad to be of service milord."
He looked to Arundel and the warhorse rolled its lips back revealing its teeth at it whickered with laughter at him. "Won't be laughing next time we are back in Staghold..."
Hands on his knees, Finnabar gets his break back. Looking at the ruined wagon, he quicky dismisses the idea of getting it on the other side of the river.
"Thanks, every one, that was a great effort.", he says to his companions before cupping his hands around his mouth and yelling to the assembled gnomes on the other side of the river: "This wagon is not going anywhere. Can you ford the river nearby and join us?"
One of the Gnomes cups his hands and yells back over the sound of the rushing water. "Thank-you sir! Why I was sure that the wagon was going to tip, but my! The gods' are jesters are they not sir! Why, first they send the birds to frighten the horses, but then they send a group of fine, noble people to help. Why, if I didn't know better I would think they were having sport with me!... Yes, yes. There's a ford not one-half hour's travel upriver. Stay there sir and we will be there in less time than it takes to eat a hearty meal or to get lost in a woman's eyes!
With that the gnome turns and begins gesturing to the rest of his small party. Soon they have their possessions gathered together and disappear upriver, forcing you to wait for a little over an hour and a half. Finally, the sound of jaunty whistling and discordant flute-playing echoes through the branches, soon accompanied by the strange sight of brightly-dressed and brightly-haired forms pushing through the undergrowth. One of the party, the same that shouted across earlier, steps forward and thrusts his hand forward to grasp Finnabar's which he pumps furiously up and down, refusing to let go... "Well met good sir! Well met, and my thanks for your help! Why I'm sure we would have freed it soon enough, but your help was most welcome. Most welcome! I sir, am Jubilost Narthropple, intrepid explorer and adventurer of these, The so-often storied Stolen Lands! Why the tails I could tell you sir! Tales of danger, of excitement! of strange creatures and stranger people! Why I alone, well we, have found such things that only the stories tell! And here, here in the midst of the deepest darkest direst jungle we find firm friends! And here your companions! Hah what heroes! A knight, a knave and a knowledgeable teacher no less! And such a beauty! Why milady, the sun shines through you like as through a stain-glass window, like dawn on a spring day! Like a warm fire at night! And you sir knight. So brave! so bold! so... big! and baring such mighty horns on your helm! And not least! No! Why you sir swim like a very salmon, so brave and so welcome why thank you sir for saving my poor pretty pony! Well met! Well met indeed!"
Xarafine stops her slow drill as the gnome begins to address them, hoping the exercise allowed her to sufficiently catch her breath so as not to be foolishly panting during the conversation.
"Well met, Master Narthropple. I am Teacher Xarafine, Magistrix of Stag Reach. You are in the presence of the Lord Finnabar of House Orlovsky, first lord of this new nation. The knight is Sir Bein'Meleth Ramaloce, General of the Army, and the salmon, as you called him, is the Lord's High Counseler, Jack Ciarathan. Welcome to Stag Reach."
Narthropple smiles with a gins that seems to almost split his head in two. "The lord of Stagwatch? " he asks, why we've heard so much of you. Your city's growth proceeds with speed and the farms around it grow like mushrooms. People flood into the stolen lands and it is up those such as myself to find, to name, to discover before all is known and naught is left unseen. My thanks my lord, my lady. Why! I will name a hill for you! Yes, or a pond? Or perhaps a cliff? A spring? A road? Why sirs. Come! sit with us let us eat and talk and sing!"
Bein smiles from behind his helm at Narthropple, nodding when the Teacher named him before the small gnome. However he was very interested to learn from this group of intrepid explorers, as they may have learned something that they hadn't found yet. "That is excellent to hear Master Narthopple. Please forgive me but would you be willing to trade information on what you've discovered then? It would greatly aid our efforts in expanding Thornmarch"
Jack of course pings to what might be a sign of trouble. "A bird spooked them? What kind of bird?"
Laughing at the gnome's wit, Finnabar listen closely to Jack concern and nods at his question. "This information is critical to us, master Narthropple, as is any knowledge you may have of dangers or creatures that could endanger our colons. And I would clearly be grateful to anyone who could warn us about those, so that we can deal with them before anything happens."
Narthropple hesitates for a moment - clearly a little reluctant to give up his information. Almost immediately, however, the gnome woman who earlier identified herself to Jack as Jubilost's wife, bustles over "Of course we'll tell you about what we've found," she says, elbowing Jubilost in the stomach "After you saved Trixy and Binwhipple and our maps it's the least we could do. The least!"
Narthropple himself sighs a little but then nods in agreement Why, yes. Of course we will share what we have found. Now, come and join us. We are going to camp here in the silvan glades, amongst the mighty trees of the Narlmarches (such a horrible name. when you read our maps you'll see it marked as the "Natrhropple Forest" - a conceit maybe, but not I think an undeserved one. As for the "birds", good sir, they were strange beasts with eyes the size of saucers and the ears of a bat! With wings sir, but not as of a bird, more like a flap of skin 'twixt their arms and legs that let them fly!
The description sounds like the "Pterans" you fought in the Stag Temple!
Bein looked to King Finnabar. "Milord, perhaps he would be more at ease if we shared some of our findings with him as well?" An easy suggestion in the spirit of cooperation, that was until the Wife appeared and bowled her husband over for them.
At the entrance of the Narthropple wife Bein removes his helm and bows to her. "Reward or not, Jack and I couldn't allow such fine ponies to suffer such a cruel fate. A wagon and supplies can be replaced but trusted steeds are not so common these days."
"The bat-people... that sounds like the Pterans. Where did you see them exactly?"
Xarafine says nothing about his reference to bat-people, but watches the gnomes as Jack prompts them to identify their location on the map.
"The Pteran's..." Bein frowns for a moment at the mention of the bat people, they would have to deal with them again eventually. However he was sure the conflict would end peacefully however...
Other then his short utterance he waited patiently as well as Jack worked on locating the Pteran's. He did however look to the Teacher. "Should we seek them out and finishes this?"
"The Pterans...", wonders Finnabar at Jack's conclusion. "That would make sense. We will have to get back to them sooner than I thought."
Turning to Xarafine, he adds "By the way, Cousin, did you manage to get a better idea of their language?"
"Their language will not be a concern. My growing connection to the Nine now permits me to understand them, and speak their language for short periods of time. Sir Bein'meleth is correct, in that we need to resolve our differences with the pterans soon. It is only a matter of time before our people stumble into their territory unannounced and unwelcome."
Bein closes his eyes, rubbing his helmed forehead with his fingers as if deep in thought. When he spoke it was with a heavy resignation, tactics were key to him and Pterans had the greatest advantage despite their simple culture. It was hard to predict the movements of an enemy who could fly and it didn't help that they were accustomed to building large towns and castles that were easily seen for miles. It was only a matter to time before the Pteran's came.
The Teachers speech brought him back to the present. "I hope we can find a way to make peace Teacher, an ally that can fly would be beneficial. An enemy though would be destructive, walls would be useless..."
He found it hard to speak about an enemy he had faced only once and even then they had surrounded them swiftly from the air. Remembering that they had newcomers among them he refocused and regained his composure, thankful to have the staghelm to shield his face and eyes. "Apologies perhaps this is thought for another time."
Jack:
"They came from the sky! Their black wings beating noisily! Why, most of my companions here were much afraid but we managed to fight off the unfeathered flying fiends! To the west they flew, with great screeches and guttural cries! Why, good sir Jack, it drove the ponies into a panic and they plunged into the river in their flight. I know not what they were after good sir!
Narthropple agrees to share information on his maps with you, trading your knowledge of the gold mine (hex 24), the pteran's lair (hex 26), the spring (hex 12), and the elven barrow (Hex 24) , the birdsongs lair (hex 30) none of which appear on his maps for an equal amount of information about hexes he has explored. (5 locations - if you don't want to share one or more of these you will be shown less in turn). He is willing to share additional information but wants payment of 500GP per location (up to 3 extra locations), and is even willing to sell copies of areas he has mapped (you can count them as explored and surveyed) for 1500GP per hex. (up to 4 hexes).
Jack very willingly shares the maps he as made of the requested hexes, as well as his notes on the areas, and in turn jots down the hexes the party requests. ()
"It sounds like they were moving rapidly, as if on a mission. To the west... I am not sure what they were going to, although ultimately Oleg's is in that direction." Looking at the maps they have spread out between them, Jack tries to determine the pterans' most likely route.
Jack tries to determine the pterans' most likely route. [dice=Knowledge Geography]1d20+8
The direction Narthropple indicated was roughly the direction of the temple where you initially encountered the creatures.
When Jack shares the information with the gnomes about the mine areas, he also is clear about the agreements made with the kalds to ensure that neither the gnomes nor the kalds end up accidentally antagonizing the others should they travel through there.
They both came from, and left, from the direction of the Stag Temple.
They can sell you complete maps of 44, 52, 53, and 54 (those are the only hexes they have surveyed thoroughly). (at 1500GP ea.)
And to confirm, you're willing to swap information on all of the 5 locations? Do you want to buy information on any more? (at 500GP ea.)
Bein thinks for a long moment at Narthopple's offer before adding a counter offer. "To carry such large sums of gold on hand would be problematic for our exploration. However I can offer you something worth its weight in gold."
"Observe."
Bein calls their horses to quick attention, each of the parties steeds react well looking to him for direction. He walks them around and leads them without reins as he sees fit. Among other skills he spends a few minutes on the demonstration in all. "In exchange for free training of your ponies and other steeds of your choosing. I promise to help breed and rear the first ten animals of your choosing, provided you can obtain them as well, if you will but lower your prices to a third of your original offer." He looks to Narthopples current ponies before looking back to him. "My companions can atest to the fact that I also train mounts far more quickly as well. You can expect them back in days instead of weeks Master Narthopple."
Bein was good on his word, he would do this without fail or else his honor would be tarnished and makes no bluff in his claim.
[dice=Sense Motive - Incase Narthopple is just trying to haggle the price higher for funding his expedition]1d20+5
If you're asking if he has more areas mapped,.. the answer is no (or at least you don't think so). He's unwilling to lower his prices further, as he considers the maps to be extremely valuable and sees them as the route to eventual fame and glory as a great explorer (he reluctant to sell them even at the price he's offered). He will however consider accepting the payment as a debt to be paid when he next returns to Staghold.
They both came from, and left, from the direction of the Stag Temple.
They can sell you complete maps of 44, 52, 53, and 54 (those are the only hexes they have surveyed thoroughly). (at 1500GP ea.)
And to confirm, you're willing to swap information on all of the 5 locations? Do you want to buy information on any more? (at 500GP ea.)
Hex 53: Swamp Witch
There's a place here where an old woman who has become known as the "Swamp Witch" has crafted a small hut. She hates intruders but is sometimes willing to help if they're hurt. Just make sure you announce yourselves before you open her gate!
Hex 54: Mad Hermit
Watch out! This crazed old man has a pet puma and attacked the expedition. They only got away by abandoning their wagon and returning later to collect the maps they had already made. - Some were missing but many were ripped up. The wagon itself was destroyed and they had to buy a new one in Staghold.
Hex 61: Lizard King
The party was going to explore this area, but was driven off by strange reptile-men like walking lizards before they could see much.
Hex 56: Abandoned Keep
A trapper the group encountered warned them away from the ruins of an ancient keep built by who-knows-whom. Obviously they went to investigate, but on the first night, when they were camped outside the building, They heard strange moaning from inside. In the morning Narthropple's own prize pony was missing - only a pool of blood remaining where it had been. The lookouts saw nothing. Narthropple thinks they must have fallen asleep, but they left the keep after that without going inside.
Hex 41: Tatzleford
There's a small village growing up here, at the site where several sandy islands allowed the Skunk River to be forded. The town is named for the monsters that were living there when the settlers first found it - Tatzlewyrms.
"It seems we have numerous matters to address, Lord Finnabar," Xarafine says, perusing the map. "The pterans are known, but these lizard man may also pose a threat. We will need to make contact with them and assess their attitude towards our people. The keep may be a good short term goal, as it could be converted into another staging area for military support. We should eventually confront the hermit and the witch, as well, but I would not consider them priorities."
"Based on what they said, the lizard-people sound more territorial. They kept others out, but they did not pursue--as indeed, many isolated peoples would do. The pterans on the other hand are flying out of their home and assaulting travelers. It is obvious which is the bigger threat," Jack observes. "We can just inform the people coming to the keep where it is dangerous to yet travel."
He turns to the gnomes again and thanks them, adding. "Do you have any caravan guards or scouts? This area is dangerous. I would suggest hiring someone if you find them trustworthy enough."
First taking the time to thank Narthropple and his wife, Finnabar insists that they will always be welcome in Stagwatch should they need time to rest and recover between their expeditions.
Then, he replies to Jack and Xarafine proposal:
"I agree with you Jack, the immediate threat is the Pterans. The lizard men are further away and not in the places where we plan to expand first. However it may be wise to settle advanced scout to warn Stagwatch of their movements."
"So our next move should be first to go back to Stagwatch via hex 39. Then I propose we go and deal with the Pterans first, going there through hexes 40, 41 and 33 because the new village there may know more about the Pterans behavior and motivations."
Jack nods. "Agreed"
Bein, having his offer turned down didn't bother him a bit. He had tried and that was what counted.
Listening to Finnabar's plan he nods in agreement as well. "A sound plan milord."
Xarafine nods. "As you will, Lord Finnabar."
Bidding the Gnomes goodbye the next morning, you head North-West out of the dense shade of the Narlmarches, emerging once again into the treeless rolling hills of the Kamelands. Trekking slowly west then north, crisscrossing your way through the gentle valleys and hills, the exploration seems to go well, you mark several ravines, small streams and hillocks on your maps, but, other than land itself, the rich soil of which promises to one day become productive farmland, you find no significant sites. At about midday a large winged form can be seen flying from north to south, some distance to your west. . You camp the night in a sheltered copse of trees next to a small stream and the night, which is lit by a spectacular display of stars, passes uneventfully.
The next day you once again break camp and finish exploring the area, adding the final touches to your map of the area. Your job done, you head East, soon coming to the newly-built road that has started to stretch its way to the west from Staghold, allowing the passage of new settlers. As you move closer to your new capital the farms grow in number until, when you finally site the smoke rising above the new town, they surround it on all sides and you are joined on the road by occasional carts and travellers on foot.
Finally, after having being away for several days, you make your way back into the fort itself, Minara running up to take your horses as you dismount....
The flying shape was some kind of small draconic creature - possibly a youngish dragon of some sort, but more likely a drake or wyvern.
"Did any of you see that large, winged creature pass over?"
[dice=Bardic Knowledge (nature)]1d20+4
"Did any of you see that large, winged creature pass over?"
"Yes, any idea what it is?"
Bein had been disturbed by the large flying creature, he had been formulating a plan to lead a patrol to investigate it.
Seing Minara lightened his mood considerably, bringing a smile to his face at how easily she took care of the horses.
"Give the word and I will personally lead a patrol to ensure it isn't a threat to the outlying farms Milord."
Xarafine sighs. "I did not see it for long, and I was hoping one of you had a longer view of it. That it was large, and flying is all I could tell without more details. I apologize for not noticing it sooner, my lord."