Help me put out the fire Thervold points at Alric and Casvian and goes to get a barrel of water.
Casvian grabs or helps Thervold grab a barrel.
Casvian and Thervold lift from opposite sides of the barrel, but their strength alone is not enough to lift it.
Alric lends his strength as well
I attempt to move the barrel towards the fire then tip it over the fire.
Through your combined efforts
Over the course of the next hour you are each pulled aside by Roughrider for a short interrogation.
"I have a working relationship with the hands here, they happened to be short on space so in exchange for a little help we're given places to stay and food to eat."
"Well before the encounter they had just wrapped up one of those rodeo things and I was out and about. Immediately after....well here I am aren't I?" Teriwyth says with a smile.
"I do believe we met one of these agents of Chaos, though we parted on terms that were far from friendly."
"Don't know a whole lot about the end days. If I had to choose how to spend the last of my days it would probably be in the arms of a pretty elf maid. I have dedicated my life to the pursuit of the arcane and have had little time for anything else..." Teriwyth sounds wistful by the end of it, eyes staring off into space as he trails off.
He walked off.
Casvian refuses to answer the man who walked away and did not help us.
Can you tell me more about the 'end times'?
Alric stares silently at the Dwarf. Keep silent and they got nothing on you.
Just like the guild days. They'll poke their nose in everything but won't stoop to actually protectin' anybody. He didn't even care about the fire.
To RR:
I'm quiet concerned about the End Times, I've heard some tid-bits about various shadowy figures around these parts trying to control/create/profit from them. I'm hoping to soften the impact for people as much as possible.
Roughrider addresses the two silent men similarly
"We did not start it, even though I don't know how it happened. What I do know is that the other men walked off as if they did not care."
Thervold sounds more than a little annoyed at being focused upon for helping his companions. He silently starts reciting to himself an invisibility spell, keeping it at ready.
Roughrider thanks you for your input and then waves you away.
After the interrogations, you have a short time before the evening ceremonial feast held in the arena. The stage is already set up and cooks are working hard in the mainhouse preparing foods. Most people are in their tents, donning ornate garb and preparing for the feast. From the atmosphere in the area, this is not an event to go to underdressed.
Edelle is led to her seat, and an array of dishes are placed before her to choose from. Salads, various meats, desserts, and sides, anything she likes can be found here. Roughrider places himself down next to her, but he is much less talkative than before. His ornate robe of green and his ornately tied and knotted beard show a high level of sophistication.
The rest of the group is seated around the arena. Food for this meal is handed off cheaply, and there are many free samples going around. The large stage where Edelle and the other contestants are seated is clearly visible and well lit. In fact, there are two gnomes flitting back and forth along the table. They are projecting larger than life images of the contestants and their dishes through their magics for other people to see.
Privately to RR: So Roughrider, you look like a pretty serious guy with important duties, why do you come here to compete in the rodeo every year?
Roughrider responds, " Well Miss Edelle, I have always been fascinated by animals. There are ways that they seem to be people more than most people. On top of this, although I have commited my life to my work, we recognize that rest is an important part of quality work, and that it is healthy to have other hobbies. "
As Roughrider speaks, the barn door opens and the crowd begins to cheer louder. They begin chanting "Dragon! Dragon! Dragon!!!" Finally, a roar can be heard over the crowd and a behemoth creature emerges from the barn. It's long cruel fangs twisting out of its mouth, and it's blue sheen scales glistening in the sun. This is the Wyvern spoken of previously, and you recognize it as the same Wyvern from the night of the storm. It has numerous gold dragon coins encrusted onto its underbelly, giving it a golden shadow of sorts. The beast approaches the table. and begins sniffing at the foods and at the contestants...
The wyvern, ironically named Buttercup you have learned, begins to precisely stab through the food on the table with its barbed tail and then tosses the meats and foods into its mouth. There is a severe tension in some contestants who begin to sweat and sit stiff as a board as the Wyvern comes nearby. The boys can't help but be entertained the the festivities, as each of them considers themselves a brave man. They begin bantering about how they would each handle a dragon fight, stories getting more grandious and exaggerated as time passes. Finally, Casvian points out. "Where's Troy? I haven't seen him most of the day. "
Will Save:
Edelle supresses the urge to panic as the beast comes next to her, It's heavy breath dampening her face as it looks her over. Finally the beast moves on and Edelle relaxes. The Wyvern scares off a few of the contestants who flee the table and are immediately disqualified. Mama D steps in each time to prevent the Wyvern chasing them, as would be its natural tendency, one of the announcers explains. After the meal, Edelle rejoins the rest of the group and they are able to rest for the night. The next event in the morning will be steer wrestling.
While a wyvern was not, strictly speaking, a dragon, it was the closest thing Alric had ever seen! How could he not at least try to talk, especially after last time?
Best to talk from a distance, at least at first.
You confront the Wyvern after the feast nearby to the barn. You are no longer permitted inside as the barn is strictly for participants in the rodeo, but Buttercup sits in the loft with her head out, looking into the night. The Wyvern turns its head quickly around to the direction your voice comes from and breathes a sigh.
Thervold stretches, tired of the events of the day.
A restless night for all. Edelle is concerned about her coming events. She has visions of diving off a horse to grapple a large cow into submission. She wonders what strange events lie ahead and if the prize for this tournament is worth the effort. She looks about her in the barn at the other contestants. One day through and already there are many beds empty.
The men of the team are restless for a very different reason. As they stretch and yawn in the dark trying to get comfortable, they can hear a hissing in one of the nearby bunks. The workhouse is still shared with the men who had previously fought with you. Now rather than intermingling, they have moved your group to the back of the cabin. Half asleep, you feel a force trying to affect you.
A restless night for all. Edelle is concerned about her coming events. She has visions of diving off a horse to grapple a large cow into submission. She wonders what strange events lie ahead and if the prize for this tournament is worth the effort. She looks about her in the barn at the other contestants. One day through and already there are many beds empty.
The men of the team are restless for a very different reason. As they stretch and yawn in the dark trying to get comfortable, they can hear a hissing in one of the nearby bunks. The workhouse is still shared with the men who had previously fought with you. Now rather than intermingling, they have moved your group to the back of the cabin. Half asleep, you feel a force trying to affect you. ** spoiler omitted **
Alric asks about what it's like to be a wyvern, especially about flying. But eventually he turns to the night they met previously.
The wyvern pauses for a moment when you apologize, thinking. It then slinks back into the barn and does not return.
Thervold addresses the group:
What relation is the child to you all?
The morning comes. Many of you contemplating what to do about your current situation. Finally, after a breakfast meal, the next event begins. Edelle watches as the remaining contestants use different strategies to down the steer. One man uses a simple spell to stop the cow in its tracks. Roughrider follows the more traditional route: spur the horse to catch up, quick dismount, grapple the cow at the end of a diving charge, then pin it with the rope provided. Another contestant refuses a horse entirely and breaks a magic tile before beginning, he runs right up to the steer at twice speed on foot.
The rest of the group discusses what to do about the child as they are put to work again in the morning. Some goods have been brought in by a tribe of savages led by a half-elf interestingly enough. The mixed-race chieftain is eyeing up your group oddly, as though he has seen you before.
Quietly speaking Alric seems a bit agitated.
Look, we either put steel to 'em, or just forget it. We got bigger concerns than that brat.
The half-elf dismounts and says something to one of the members of his tribes, who appear to be a combination of orcs, half-orcs, and humans mostly. He appears to be about 6'5 or 6'6, and not lacking of muscle going by his arms and legs, while his torso is hidden by clothing made of fur. He heads over to the group...
"Hello, I know you don't know who I am, but I have seen all of you before in strange visions. I was just telling Oregial, the young man still mounted on his horse that you are the people I saw. To put it bluntly I wish to join your quest. My tribe is not happy about this, but I am leaving them in capable hands. I don't expect for you to trust me fully just yet, but I am willing to prove myself."
After a short pause he then says. "Oh by the way, my name is Guthar."
Quietly speaking Alric seems a bit agitated.
Look, we either put steel to 'em, or just forget it. We got bigger concerns than that brat.
"That's a little callous don't you think? Every life is a life worth saving."
We are pretty sure they aren't directly involved in our business. So frankly, I care a little more about the destiny of existence than a single unneeded rescue. While i would like some payback, I don't care about them cheating their way through the rodeo. They let the kid go at the end, and if they don't then tough. We should follow that lead you mentioned. If Roughrider sees smoke, we can guess who started the fire.
Guthar stands by listening to the conversation before he interjects.
"Would you like for me to talk to them for you? I am pretty good at negoiating. What do they want anyway?"
i could care less about any child. Callous it may be, but he is not my concern.
Grapple:
Pin: