Glen was somewhat releived that the consensus was to stay at the inn, although there was some possibility of danger at the inn he was even more apprehensive about venturing off elsewhere in the middle of the night.
Thankfully there are no more interruptions in the night, and he woke in the morning with Miyari and Arielle coming to tell him it was time to go to the charter office. The young girl was now under their care, and even if they weren't heading out for the charter, he and Miyari weren't at all prepared to take care of a young child, so this could be more of an adventure than they'd expected.
With the charter now underway Glen standing with Arielle and Miyari offers a somewhat crooked toothed smile to the others "Glen is pleased to be together with everyone."
The ugly little runt shakes his head "Don't worry Ali we intend to keep quite close to Arielle." Looking towards the girl Glen says "Are you feeling shy Arielle?" Considering she was fairly well hidden behind Miyari's legs "Even if it is just shyness you may have some talent in hiding, Glen could possibly teach you, it is quite a useful skill to avoid unpleasant situations."
"Roswitha, good to see you again that was certainly an experience last night... Glen like Miyari is of Issia."
Despite the drink she had consumed the night before Emilon looks none the worse for wear.
"Welcome to The Crossroads Income and Commerce Division, how can I help you?" she asks pleasantly.
Kneeling down next to Arielle, Ali squints slightly at the young girl a puzzled look appears at her altered appearance. He then smiles and gives her a little wave; "Your teddy is fine today?"
After listening to the response he turns to the desk. "So reet, where do we sign? What's our responsibilities & any cash or travel allowances?" Ali asks softly of the clerks as he looks at the ledger.
The clerks behind the counters chuckle for a moment until the one currently at the window (a middle-aged woman) blinks at Ali and says with a shocked expression,
"You're...actually serious!" At which point she rolls her eyes at Ali's clear provincialism. The other two clerks working behind her drawing up the charters laugh even harder.
"Look, sweet boy, these charters are optional. You get the right to go out and do justice in the name of the kingdom and clear the way for settlers of a new state which Brevoy will be happy to support. You're on your own for money, equipment, travel, and any of that."
She leans forward and her voice softens kindly, "Though to be honest, dearie, if you didn't even know that, you may want to consider a different occupation." Her eyes travel over Ali's unkempt and bedraggled appearance. "There are a couple initiatives the clergy of Abadar are spearheading which will help poor boys like you find work. Maybe you should head on over to the office handling that? I'd be happy to help you with the application."
The woman begins rifling through some papers in a drawer.
Arielle nods her head at Ali. "Of course, Bubbles is always okay. He's a bear."
First, Miyari responds to Armin: "Who is Aroden?" And then to Arielle, "Are bears... always okay?" wonders Miyari idly. She shrugs, though, since it is easy enough to accept the reasoning. She's never heard a bear complain.
Miyari listens to the clerks who seem to be speaking so condescendingly to poor Ali, and she huffs to the woman, "It is a clerk's duty to be courteous, helpful and patient! Not to laugh at those who come to their desk, shame on you! Ali is prepared as any of us to embark on this charter, so please continue working on preparing it and focus on that. And not on these jobs for 'poor boys'."
Ali looks at his feet & scuffs his worn shoes softly on the floor at the clerks words. His ears going redder as what the charter is about is explained to him. At Miyari's interjection he smiles softly for the investigators kindness, but holds up his hand with trepidation; "Tis fine. I were just wondering what's to stop a mapper from grabbing mine and passing it off as his own? Or is it meant that we all have to go as one team, an' only us can do t' survey of the area?"
Kalica swings the door open to the charter house again and leans in the doorway. Addressing Ali, "Will you...PLEASE...hurry up! The sooner we get moving the better I'll probably feel!" She then reaches for the doorknob and slams the door shut.
She then takes two steps forward and tries her best to not hurl up her breakfast, all over the cobblestone road. Swearing under her breath in elvish "Traako" Kalica sways a bit and then straightens up to pull herself together. Never again. She grumbles to herself. I feel sicker than a tick that just feasted on a rabid dog. She does her best to keep her composure as she eyes the people passing by.
"A dead god," Armin answers Miyari on his way out, without looking. "If you can believe such a thing."
"Greetings. Is Relzand in? I believe I have an appointment with him."
Glen wrinkles his nose listening to the condescending woman speak to Ali, he gives a slight smile when Miyari chastises and talks about proper clerk duty. His ears flatten and the smile fades hearing Kalica's outburst at the door however. When the elven warrior is gone once more he gives a smirk towards the clerk "Well do not worry my good woman, Ali is quite fearless, he travels with something much more dangerous than Glen supposes we'll find out there... and she appears to be especially irritable today." Not that he could really blame her considering the night they had or... re-had?
The little gnomelike man leans in closer to the woman, though he does not even reach the counter, and speaks softly as if just for her, but not soft enough the others can't hear "Just between Glen and yourself he believes she might not be entirely stable... Glen would suggest hurrying with the paperwork, he would prefer to depart before someone is stabbed." He says very matter of factly as if it's really just a matter of time.
Straightening again he gives and ugly jaggy toothed smile "Please let Glen and Miyari know if there is anything they can do to assist and speed up the process." Looking back at the girl with the bear considering a moment he adds "Err Arielle is somewhat a dependant of ours, will she be needing her own charter, or is she ok with ours?"
The woman shakes her head as the expeditionaries admonish her.
"Quite frankly, I don't care what you think. I get paid exactly what I get paid without having to tell you what you should already know. If you don't want to hear what I have to say, then you won't."
The woman wearily eyes Glen as he warns her about the catfolk. Glancing at Miyari, the woman returns Glen's whisper. "You both look pretty scary, but I can promise this little office isn't really worth your time destroying."
As Glen indicates the young girl, the woman frowns. "It really isn't customary to issue charters in the name of children, but it really doesn't matter to me. As long as one of you signs the records form upon picking up the charter with her name, we can draw it up." She shrugs. "All that will do is permanently add her name to the files as a person heading out to the Greenbelt. That way if none of you report in, we'll add her name to the list of the lost. Merchants and other settlers may try to find you all out there. Most people are really hoping something will come of all this, so anyone will have access to the records, and will know for whom to look if your name is on the roll."
The pretty woman stands and gestures for Armin to follow her down a hallway a short distance. She opens a door and waves her hand inside.
"Please wait here, and I will ask Relzand to come meet you. Non-government employees aren't allowed in the office area, I'm afraid."
Inside are some functional pieces of furniture, a sturdy table and chairs, clearly meant for the clerks to meet and do business with those with interests requiring service with The Crossroads Income and Commerce Division.
"He should be down shortly," Emilon says cheerily and turns to walk further down the hallway.
Ali looks towards Kalica as she storms in and then out impatiently, the outburst clearly startles and embarrasses the youngster. Rubbing a shock of hair from across the brow and behind blushing ears, Ali looks to the clerk a trifle abashed.
"Reet, thank you for all you've done Miss." Ali says to the woman whilst signing the register. With a bit of a stoop he turns to Miyari, Glen & Roswitha; "Well guess if we stick together - it'd be safer and easier to man and 'old."
Miyari seems a bit hurt that the woman says that she's scary, "I'm... not frightening, am I? I've never thought of myself as anything but pleasant. I just meant that I used to be an office clerk too, before I came out here, and I think it's a good profession worthy of pride and care like any other."
At Kalica's re-appearance, she seems a little bit nervous and says of the elf, "That one is a bit intimidating, though."
She pauses a moment, looking to Arielle as she considers, "As for the girl, no worries... anyone looking for us will know to look for her as well..." The catfolk approaches to sign as well, as Miyari Jati.
"I see. Thank you, Emilon," he says with a nod, before staring off into some nondescript corner of the room.
"Well then, let's get right down to it, shall we?" the scarred clerk says with a dangerous smile.
He shuts the door quietly and moves to a chair. Without preamble, he sits down, leans back, and places one booted foot atop the other right atop the table.
"Don't be surprised I'm here," he says whether Armin shows surprise or not. "Relzand is one of the few people I like in this office. I'm not certain just what your arrangement is with him, but let me be clear, if you are with any organization which may wish him harm, I guarantee you won't leave this city alive."
His toothy smile widens, but it never reaches his eyes. His eyes remain cold and hard—the eyes of one used to dastardly deeds.
Time passes and the clerks work to write up the proper documents for the charter. They pay pretty much no attention to those waiting inside if they remain.
"I am familiar with their hospitality. Enough to not wish it on anyone," Armin finally replies with an even tone. He leans back in his chair and narrows his gaze. "And while I am certain that I will leave this city alive, I trust that I won't cross paths with any unwanted acquaintances on the frontier."
"Good, good. I knew I liked you, you and that dwarf." Imes chuckles. "But as far acquaintances go, you may encounter some, but they won't be mine. If you recall that uppity swordsman that gave me a hairy eyeball in the Dragon's Rest, he doesn't like me much, and by now, he's heard we were chummy. I'd expect some of his friends might trouble you for information down the road."
Imes takes his feet off of the table and leans forward. "Truth is this. I myself may come out to the wilderness to check up on ya. If I like what I find, I just might stick around." He waves a hand at their surroundings.
"You can probably imagine, for a man like me, this life...only appeals for so long."
"Well look at that. It's that mouthy treelicker b%@%$. And all alone this time."
Standing in the road are the two dueling academy students, the cocky blond young man and his stout female comrade. His eyes glint viciously while the woman seems to eye him and Kalica warily.
"You did not strike me as the sort to deal with paperwork," he admits, eyeing the clerk's scars. He had met warriors that would be put to shame by them. Once more, he nods. "Perhaps the wilderness would better suit you."
"As for these friends... if it comes down to it, then they will be dealt with."
Meanwhile - Outside
And here I thought my day couldn't get any worse. Sigh
"Well if isn't a cock all dressed up like a human being ...standing before me. Please, tell me, do you dress yourself or does your mother? I bet she wipes your ass for you as well. You are nothing more than a child playing in an adult world with a toad sticker." She retorts at the blond boy with venom in her voice.
Well, just like any other day. Today is a good day to die. She thinks to herself. Kalica then pulls out her elegant two handed elven sword and then sizes up the human with a vicious glare.
Ali smiles to try and reassure the clerk, hoping that they haven't been to much bother. Then chucking his bindle over a thin shoulder he moves out of the office door; taking a halting step as he crosses the threshold and peruses the sight before him.
"Ay-up there." the voice is slightly faltering as he puts up a placating hand. "So a pair of duelling students, or maybe masters? Good to see the nobility of the town acting with grace." He adds trying to subtly remind them of their responsibilities and the consequences of any trouble.
Glen grins towards Ali "Yes sticking together would be best though Glen did not want to force anyone."
Shaking his head at Miyari's question Glen says "No Glen didn't mean you of course Miyari, he was referring to Kalica, and he did not intend to threaten the establishment rather that she seems quick to draw her blade and rather irate today, but if there is no hurrying the charter seal let us hope she manages to keep her sword sheathed until it is ready. And if not Glen hopes he is not on the receiving end."
The ugly lumpy little man nods to his catfolk companion "Yes of course she will always be with Glen and Miyari, though he does not expect someone to ask about us either." He clambers up to attempt to sign the ledger simply putting Glen with no offer of family or clan name, it's legible, but his penmanship is honestly rather poor. With a short bow to the clerk he says "Thank you ma'am Glen and his companions will return when the preparations are complete." He turns to follow after Ali.
Once outside and finding Kalica with her sword already drawn Glen lets out an exaggerated sigh "This is what Glen had hoped to avoid." He quickly comes over to hopefully assist Ali in talking them, and Kalica, down. He waves a hand at Kalica "Put that thing away, last night was rough on the lot of us, but you ought not take that out on our friends here."
Addressing the students Glen attempts a friendly smile "Yes, as Ali said always a pleasure to see our nobility so poised keeping their calm even when steel is drawn. Forgive her she is on edge a difficult night matched wth drawn out paperwork this morning... Glen understand how she feels if he were the swordplay type he might be looking for something to swing at as well. But no need for a lesson here, would you not rather have a nice chat with Glen? Crossing steel in the street over such a thing seems rather crass."
Looking down at her green companion, Ali is pleased to hear his reassuring words - or at least the words are taken as such by the naive youth.
"Aye, doesn't tha find paperwork such a chore. 'opefully we'll git it done & be out o' town by morrow." The words come out in a tumble, hoping to distract and diffuse the duellists temper.
Standing, Imes offers his hand out to Armin. If Armin responds, Imes will clasp his forearm.
"Nice chatting. I'd say godspeed out there, but we both know we're better off avoiding such attention especially in the Stolen Land."
He leaves with deft movements. A moment later Relzand steps in with a perfunctory greeting and produces a small rectangular box, one end rounded and housing some kind of flat black crystalline material circular in shape. Below that is a protrusion that spins and a couple of squares which are depressible. Relzand advises Armin this is called a chipfinder. Pointing to a slightly faded red stripe on it, Relzand indicates this item will locate the signal desired if it is within approximately ten miles. Others with different colors might track it from farther away while some would not even have that range. Relzand shows the basic operation and the importance of the silverdisk hidden in a removable cover. He also shows Armin a small strip on the same cover and advises that it will slowly restore the charge in the silverdisk if exposed to direct sunlight. Otherwise only powering the chipfinder on periodically and for a second or two should allow for it to be used fairly indefinitely.
After that he seems to stumble over wishing Armin luck. Relzand appears confused, and Armin can tell it is due to the other android's unfamiliarity with emotions. Clearly, hope and a nervousness to hand over this treasure upset the logic with which Relzand was comfortable. After anything Armin has to say or ask, Relzand walks Armin to the office door and sees him out.
Miyari sighs again and puts her hands behind her head. It cannot be helped. It's not like home, they are not used to me yet. The catfolk starts outside after Glen, but pauses a moment in order to make sure that Arielle is still following, nodding to the girl encouragingly before heading outside.
As she realizes that Kalica has her sword drawn, and seems to be having some sort of a disagreement. She blinks a couple of times slowly, ears moving to the backwards position and betraying how she feels about what she's seeing.
"What happened?" she asks, keeping her hands on the back of her head and taking a neutral tone and trying not to assume. She looks up towards the sky as she consider what could have led to this moment.
She speaks some words to Kalica in elven, though her accent in the language is much thicker than in common, giving away that she likely learned the language more from one of her parents than anyone. Her tribal origins are apparent to anyone fluent in the language.
"Until next time, then."
Of course, it is the meeting that follows that interests him more.
The android watches Relzand's reactions quietly, recognizing them somehow. It was strange how not so long ago, he had been in a very similar state of mind. It had taken a good friend and some time in a small community for him to grasp the world of emotion he had awoken to. He wondered if his fellow android could grow to realize such feelings as well, as he had.
Armin accepts the device, treating it with more reverence than he ever has with an object. Before leaving, he ultimately settles for smiling reassuringly at Relzand, even if the meaning of the gesture would be lost on him. It was the very least he could do.
"Save it for the Stolen Lands," Armin says simply as he arrives on the scene, nodding toward Kalica's drawn blade. He does not spare the dueling students a second glance. After what he witnessed the previous night, his current opinion of their sort could be summed up with unkind words. It took very little in the way of guesswork to determine what this was about. He leans against the wall by the office's entryway, waiting on the others, though his mind was elsewhere.
The blond man Hyrile's hand goes to the hilt of his blade as Kalica draws aggressively. His mouth twists in a cruel smile, and he bares the first two inches of steel. The stout woman next to him reaches out and places her hand on his arm.
"We do not have time for this, Hyrile," Veronisa says quietly. "Master Broge will not tolerate a delay."
As the other expeditionary members begin to emerge or arrive, Hyrile eyes them and sneers at their words. His gaze snaps back to the angry elf. He opens his mouth to speak, but then the towering Armin arrives, and Hyrile swallows and his expression turns sour.
"Despite your bad attitude, you're one lucky elf." His eyes narrow as he allows the dueling sword to fall back into his sheath with a click. "Don't worry. I'm sure one day fate will allow our paths to cross again. As well as our swords." He turns and begins to quickly walk down the paved stones.
Veronisa pauses for a second and looks at Kalica darkly. Then she, too, turns away in a swirl of her sturdy cloak. Her long strides catch her up to the smaller Hyrile easily, and they are soon far down the lane.
Kalica looks wryly at Hyrile and smirks then sheathes her sword. She nods to Armin then looks over to Miyari and says something in elven to her.
Shen then gentle pats Miyari on the head and winks at her.
"So are we all ready to move onto the road?" She says to everyone as she throws her arms up in the air with a big gesture to move along. "I am sure hungry for some adventure!" She shouts cheerfully as she plants her fists on her hips standing in a wonder woman like fashion while smiling to everyone.
Roswitha frowns and steps forward. "Not precisely. I wanted to lay in some supplies, but my funds are rather sparse right now. If we are all to go civilize the Greenbelt, perhaps we can pool some resources and get common goods to benefit us all -- a pack mule, extra ammunition, perhaps a tent or axes or some such hardware. I have five gold to contribute. Not much, but if all of us can contribute in kind, it will add up."
She looks appealingly to her companions.
The next day dawns, and the new expeditionaries gather outside the Dragon's Rest. The charters freshly written the day before have been carefully rolled up and stored in weatherproof scroll cases provided by the charter office. Having spent the prior afternoon and evening talking and feeling the bonds of camaraderie grow over their shared experiences so far and the long journey to come, they take one last moment to look over their gear and decide if they are ready to depart.
As the newly formed party begins to pick their way from the cobblestoned streets of the governmental districts to the dirt paths of the outer city, they pass any type of shop they could need for mundane items. Upon reaching the gates and the city outskirts, some ranchers have animals stabled and ready for purchase as well.
The sun peeks out from intermittent clouds left over from the two previous nights and day of showers. Spring this far north is never without precipitation, but for now a slightly chilly wind is all that worries at the travelers' cloaks this day.
And now the road awaits...
"Reet good idea, us sticking together. There's some reet nasty sorts out there..." he pauses; "As well as some reet nice 'uns too." The you smiles at his comrades as he walks with them down the street glad to be returning to the wilds - even though the civility of the town was nice upon occasion.
Brushing his finger length hair out of his clean but delicate face, which gives the impression of a younger man. Ali pulls his newly laundered cold weather cloak about himself, as the group sets out of town - but not before they grab the last supplies they need.
Kalica manages to pick up some wine, cheese and bread for 3s to share with her comrades for the first dinner on the road. She also finds a shop along the cobblestones to pick up 3 whetstones for 6p.
As she makes her way down the cobblestone road on her horse Blossom she takes in one final look and smell of the city. When she clears the gates of the town a huge weight lifts off of her as she makes her way to the main road. She breathes in the fresh crisp air.
Yes, Spring is definately in the air. How nice it is to be free of that horrible city, crammed full of humans. She lets out a heavy sigh and then looks around for her companions. Why must they always doddle? She thinks to herself as she restlessly adjusts Blossom's mane.
Glen shakes his head when Roswitha asks about money "Sorry Glen has less than a single gold to his name... he does have a small amount of equipment if anyone thinks they can make better use of it than he they're welcome to what he has." He opens up his backpack to show what gear he has with him.
Once they set out he trucks along on his short stubby legs setting a quick pace to keep up with the others nearly twice his height, not that it really bothered him, he seems to move pretty quickly for a little guy, though his eyes travel over to Arielle with her similarly short legs, though maybe not as stubby, and he looks up towards the towering elven woman on her horse "Kalica Glen wonders if you would be opposed to letting Arielle ride? It may be more difficult for her to keep up with our pace."
The little girl looks timidly around when the question about gear and stuff is made.
"I have this..." she says so softly it's almost lost in the bustle of passersby on the road before the charter house.
Later, Glen seems to request Arielle ride a horse. She looks up at Blossom with big eyes and then her eyes swing over to the large horse carrying the towering Armin. She reaches out a small hand to touch one of their coats all the while clutching Bubbles tightly with the other.
Before
Miyari's ears splay at being patted on the head by Kalica. Fortunately, the elf scares her enough that she dare not protest the treatment. She nods to Roswitha, offering her own gold to the offering of communal good. "I'm sure we'll become good enough friends that we won't be counting down to the silvers of our debts to one another..." The words of a true sucker.
Miyari's possessions seem to include very little personality, just an assembly of items she probably read that she ought to have. Only her sword seems to possess any real noteworthiness and she does not seem inclined to share it.
After
Miyari looks down towards Arielle, offering her a hand if she wishes to hold it until this horse situation is sorted out. She looks up towards Kalica and says, "I do not think that she would add too much burden to the horse if she rides with you. I'm not much of a rider, though, but horses seem rather strong."
Arielle looks at Miyari's hand for a moment and then places her own into it. Her grip is tight and strong in the catfolk's grasp.
Kalica looks down at the little girl and smiles. "Sure thing little one." She then dismounts from her horse and helps Miyari lift Arielle onto Blossom. "She is a very sweet horse and her name is Blossom. She will treat you right." She then winks at the little girl. Once Arielle is comfortable she turns to Miyari and Glen. "I think you are right Glen. I will lead Blossom and walk with all of you. I think riding my horse could cause some difficulties for those of short legs." She then laughs and grabs Blossom's harness. She then turns to the group.
"Is everyone here? Does anyone need anything else? Are we ready to head off?" She waits eagerly because she is seriously itching to leave.
"I see another with short legs," Roswitha says, looking meaningfully at Glen.
Roswitha emerges from the general store with a big smile. "I checked for messages before we left. Sure enough, an old friend from back home sent a package. We won't have much use for my old jewelry, so I converted it to gold and store credit. Let's go shopping!"
Proposed purchases: Roswitha has 108.8 gp, this gear totals to 107.26 and 306.5 lbs. This will put the donkey at heavy load and speed of 30', which is our walking speed anyway.
Party:
Medium tent 30
Mule 8
Pack 5
Bridle and bit 2
Cooking kit 3
Firewood 0.01
Fishing net 4
Compass 10
Hammer 0.5
Shovel 2
oil 1 (10 pts)
Trade goods/emergency supplies:
Potatoes 2 (10#)
Wheat 0.1 (10#)
Cheese 1 (5#)
Beans 2 (10#)
Salt 5 (1#)
Tarp 2
Feed 0.25 (5 days)
Coffee 0.5 (10#)
Sugar 0.5 (10#)
Personal:
Cards 0.1
Dominos 0.1
scrivener's kit 2
Scroll box 5
Parchment, 20 sheets 4
Grooming kit 1
Explorer's outfit 10
Lamp 0.1
Waterskin 1
Waterproof bag 0.1
Cot 1
Folding chair 2
Folding table 2
The package is from Brevet the family barrister, long a favorite retainer of Roswitha's. With ties in to all the family legal matters, Brevet also has lots of good gossip. Besides being genuinely fond of Roswitha, he feels bound to keep up with the second offspring of the family to keep all the legal matters straight.
She would post a reply informing him of the successful charter and her plans to venture into the howling wilderness. He must let her know if anything terrible happens so she can come back and help (or say farewell). Though upset with the situation, she still loves her family.
Ali pats his purse softly, glad that despite it's parsity that the group are properly attired. Though he had hoped to get some money from the council to enable them to survey and check the greenbelt, such a rebuttal had caused Veliars' request to slip from his mind completely. Although as he's about to leave town, he reddens slightly in embarrassment at the thought of his rudeness. 'I hope I'll see him, or his elven patron at some point - but now it's too late. They'd just think that I was after something. However if the fates decree it, we will meet again.' he pledges silently.
With a sigh Glen makes his way towards the front of the store, there he finds the manager struggling with some kind of contraption. "Argh I give up, I just can't get it to work... I thought this was a great find especially when that noble said he'd give me 100 gold if I got it working... but maybe it's beyond repair."
"Glen is rather good with machines, perhaps he can be of assistance." The small man says looking up at the manager.
"Huh? Oh sorry I didn't see you there... umm who's Glen?"
"Glen is Glen." The goblinoid explains indicating himself with a thumb jutted towards his own chest. "He can take a look if you like."
Understanding flashes before the man's eyes "Oh you mean you. Well..." the manager hesitates not really wanting to let this strange little man at the expensive merchandise, though he did look sort of gnome-like, maybe a sick gnome, gnomes are stereotypically good at this kind of thing. "Alright Mr. Glen, I guess it can't hurt, not like you can make it worse."
Peering at the contraption the little investigator determine's it appears to be a time telling device similar to the one in the first case he solved with Miyari. This one however is smaller and more compliciated, it seems to have a mechanism to allow something to pop out at a specific time, probably to mark the hour.
The gears are a total mess, it is not surprising the man was unable to fix it"Glen has seen similar devices" He says and pulls out his small toolkit "It is not in very good shape, could take some time to repair. Glen has time waiting for the charter, he will do what he can."
The managers eyes brighten, he hadn't thought this little guy might actually be able to fix this. "You can really fix it?"
Glen shrugs his shoulders and response without letting his focus leave the clock "Glen does not promise, but he will do what he can."
Nodding and smiling the man says "Yes yes, of course, I won't blame you if it doesn't work. Oh sorry I have customers" He hurries off to assist customers leaving Glen to work on the clock.
Tiny investigator hands work tirelessly for a couple hours carefully placing gears and arranging the clock mechanism, his thieves tools are more suited for disabling, but they make due for repair. Finally he closes the face of the clock, and turns the crank in the back to wind it up. After a moment the soft whirr of the gears is heard, shortly followed by a steady ticking as the clock counts the seconds. As a final test Glen adjusts the hands to the hour mark, and a tiny platform pops out of small double doors in the clock face, everything seems to be working fine so Glen sets the time, and goes to find the manager.
"Wow you really fixed it, incredible! I thought that thing was done for." The manager is grinning towards the clock as it ticks away.
"Glen was unsure as well, not all parts were in the best condition, the platform is empty as well, Glen supposed something should be mounted on it."
With a chuckle the man says "Ahh yes, I'll make up a little green gnome and put him on there. Well you really helped me out... and you put in a lot of work, I really must repay you somehow."
Glen starts to shake his head then runs off to get the kit he had his eye on. "Glen is interested in this if you are willing to part with it."
The manager blinks at the kit "That old thing? Some alchemist ordered it then disappeared... Alright, I don't mind, hardly seems enough this clock's worth a lot to me. I'll give you a bit of gold as well."
Glen accepts the crafting kit and gold from the manager "Ahh thank you, Glen cannot think of anything else he needs at the time, but his companions may make good use of the gold. Glen had best be going, the charter should be ready soon."
"Oh yes of course" The manager agrees "I won't hold you up, thanks again Mr. Glen, be sure to come back some time."
"Oh," he says, "Er. Hello, there, would you like a treat? Are you lost, dear?" The publisher adjusts his glasses slightly in surprise.
"We exchanged letters," says Miyari, ears turning back at being talked down to, but it's a tone that she's become familiar with, "I'm Miyari. You said you were interested in publishing my manuscript in a letter, and I told you I would be in the town to embark on... research for my next book."
"Oh. Oh, my, I apologize. You're so literate for a beastfolk!" says the man, smiling, "I had no idea, I just thought you were human based on the quality of your writing. Very impressive for one of your kind. Good for you."
Miyari blinks her eyes slowly and says uncomfortably at the backhanded praise, "Yes... well... just remember the terms that we agreed on. I'll be paid out in royalties, correct? And you'll send the proceeds to my mother, she'll distribute accordingly. I was just wondering if, perhaps, I could get an advance? This seems like something you could sell, yes? And I'm about to embark on quite a journey."
With a clicking of his tongue, the man shakes his head and says, "Oh, no. I mean, yes, it seems like something you could sell. You're just an untested author and we cannot give you an advance, not until you actually have some recognition. Especially given that you're... unconventional, to say the least."
Miyari slouches a bit, defeated, but she signs her name (Miyari Jati) onto the contract that they had previously agreed upon in their letter exchanges. She hoped that at least someday something will come of it and her name will get out there.
She heads back outside with her hands behind her head to rejoin Glen and collect Arielle. When she finds out that her friend had more luck getting gold on his excursion, however, Miyari was quite pleased! With Glen's suggestion that they pool their resources, Miyari quickly went to the general store in order to pick up some extra supplies to make sure they'd be prepared on their journey out into the wilderness.
Glen and Miyari pool gold to get 46 gold pieces.
They purchase:
-A large tent. (-30gp)
-A mule (Arielle may name it whatever she wants) (-8gp)
-A pack saddle (-5gp)
-10 days feed (-.5gp)
Remaining gp: 2.5gp, which Glen will hold onto.
Miyari looks up to Arielle as she is lifted onto Blossom, "So, have you decided on a name for the mule?"
She then nods to Kalica. "I think I am ready at least."
The young girl blinks.
Her eyes seem to widen at Miyari's question both before and after the oddly deliberate action.
"Name..?" Arielle responds. Miyari had mentioned earlier the girl should come up with one. Had she even given it any thought.
She clutches Bubbles to her scrawny chest and stares at Miyari, her mouth neutral and very little expression on her face. She looks down and pats Kalica's mare.
"Blossom," she says for no reason.
Then Arielle twists slightly to regard the mule whose big brown eyes docilely regard the small human. Her little hand reaches towards the animal, and she pronounces simply:
"Flower."
He pauses at the doorway to inspect the shop's wares; dozens of swords, spears, and axes were grouped together, meticulously arranged on the walls. Each and everyone of them were unmarred and untouched by blood.
"Well? Are you going to just stand there?" a deep, irritated-sounding voice says from behind the counter, "Or are we going to do business?"
The android looks to the one speaking to him, a muscular fellow with little hair on his head but the beard hanging from his chin. One that would put Brokk's to shame... not that Armin would ever tell him such a thing. The shopkeeper does not speak again right away, but the man's annoyance was as clear as day. Armin wordlessly approaches the counter and pulls his weapon off his back. He sets the planson down with a thud, dominating most of the space on the counter.
"A plançon à picot. Not a weapon I see too often, even in the hands of a soldier," the weaponsmith says, answering an unspoken question. He looks back to Armin, furrowing his brows. "And you're no soldier."
"You are right about that," the barbarian agrees, unable to argue. He quickly gets to the point. "I have been less than pleased with this weapon's performance."
The smith grunts. "Of course you have. It's little more than a glorified, over-sized club. A waste of steel and wood."
Armin frowns, wondering if this man spoke to all of his customers in this manner. After what happened the previous night however, he was not very interested in letting anyone get under his skin again. Not before getting out of the city, at least. Above that, the man's attitude suggested that he knew a thing or two about weapons.
"So what would you recommend replacing it with, then?"
The weaponsmith lets out a harsh laugh, finding this question terribly amusing for some reason.
"Boy, anything in this whole damned shop would be better than this piece of scrap."
"Oh?" Armin lets his eyes wander once more, scanning the walls. They come to a stop once they see a particularly lonely specimen, one that stood out for one, very particular reason. He walks over to it, unable to resist raising a brow. It was easily the largest sword he had ever seen in his life. The Kellid warriors he had trained with briefly favored their clubs and axes. But this... "How about this one?" he asks, gesturing at the blade.
"That old monstrosity?" The blacksmith chuckles again, shaking his head. "Nobody around here wants a sword that large. They favor their dueling swords and their rapiers. Only allowed to let one of their hands get dirty. And so I've been leaving it there to collect rust. Maybe I'll drop it on their feet the next time they come in here to complain about my wares. Bah!"
Grabbing the greatsword by its hilt, Armin gives it a sharp tug, pulling it off its rack. As it so happened, the weapon was lighter than it looked. Lighter than the planson even, though its weight was distributed differently. Holding the blade in a swordsman's grip, Armin pulls it back, tempted to give it an experimental swing. He hesitates however, remembering himself.
"Well?" the older man says expectantly, his arms crossed, "Are you going to do it or not? It's not like there is anyone else in here."
Giving the man a nod, Armin takes the swing. The heavy blade slices through the air, far more quickly than the other weapon ever could. Simply because he could, he follows through with the swing, following through with a backswing, slaying some invisible foe. Feeling rather satisfied with himself, he lowers the blade.
"Hmph. It suits you," the sword's creator admits, looking rather amused.
"Indeed," Armin replies, moving to return the sword to the place it had been hanging, "I will have to look into acquiring a similar sword some day."
"What?" The protest is delivered sharply enough to make the android freeze on the spot.
"Well... I do not have the coin." An unfamiliar feeling comes over Armin. To admit such a thing in this to someone under these circumstances felt... something.
The blacksmith groans in disbelief and runs a hand over his bald head. For a moment the barbarian expects to be asked to leave, but instead the man grips both ends of the weapon he had left on the counter.
"I'll tell you what, boy. I'll take this" - he turns the planson over in his hands - "for that. In exchange, you take it wherever you plan on going and cut down anything you have to swing it at. And in the act, you will remember the name Boldwin. You hear me?"
It takes a moment for Boldwin's words to sink in. When they do, Armin smiles and gives him a single nod. "I hear you."
Then Arielle twists slightly to regard the mule whose big brown eyes docilely regard the small human. Her little hand reaches towards the animal, and she pronounces simply:
"Flower."
Roswitha wryly regards her mule, who stares back dispassionately. "We've got a Blossom and an Flower now. I guess that makes you Leaf. Or Stem. Maybe Pollen." She ponders a bit.
The mule doesn't seem to care.
, all the those with new charters not even a day old choose to set out together. For the first time since the morning before they arrived, they see the sun break through the clouds as they head out of town. After some light banter and the naming of their pack animals, the expedition begins.
The South Rostland Road runs just north of the Shrike River which is the border of Brevoy and the River Kingdom region known as the Stolen Lands. It is not uncommon to see some farmlands north off the road, and while close to Restov, the party encounters many travellers and caravans going to and from the trading city. Also, many barges and river boats pass both upriver and down making one wonder if such travel options may have been available to the party on foot...
As the party moves down the road, random talk among the travellers advises the Greenbelt expedition that the town of Nivakta's Crossing is a decent twenty mile jaunt from Restov's gates. It may be just short of a full day's journey, but the locals suggest the town may be a good place to bed down as even though the border road is still within Brevoy, bandits and sometimes worse prey on parties who looked to be easy pickings. While none say it aloud, many of the travelers eye the party in askance seeing only the towering Armin as anything like a functional deterrent to such predations. As it is only early spring, most bandits have not yet begun to be too active, but there are sure to be some out and around.
is an alert town of tradesmen, hunters, fishermen, and
trappers. The village itself is surrounded by a wooden
palisade and is set on the northeastern bank of the Shrike
River. A low bridge allows access over the river here to the
wilderness to the south—the southwestern side of the
bridge being fortified by well-manned guard towers.
The people of Nivakta’s Crossing are sturdy, down
As the day of travel stretches on, the sun begins to peek-a-boo once more behind the clouds before fully hiding away in early afternoon. Other than the chance to chat with random travellers as the party makes its way, not much happens that is out of the ordinary. A mist begins to rise in the chill of spring without the sun, and as the day wanes, it begins to transform into full blown fog. Visibility begins to recede, and while no strange thing for Ali, the rest of the party will certainly notice the enclosure of the world around them.
Any other travellers the party encounters have lit lanterns and torches (a few perhaps using magical means), but as the afternoon fades to evening, the lights of others becomes fewer and fewer until only one lonely quartet on horseback up ahead is left on the road, but even they begin vanishing into the fog and quickly become difficult to see.
Just as they fade from view, their forms melting into the mist, a sign appears in the gloom indicating the town of Nivakta's Crossing is just ahead and to the left. Most likely the other travellers have just stepped off the road to make their way to the gate.
For the duration of the day's journey, Arielle says little unless spoken to by the party or by other travelers. It is an eerie thing that many of the travelers seem to know her name, but one would swear it's always as if they just remembered it and if they had been asked a moment before, they would not have known it or been able to recall. In fact, most seem surprised themselves when they use the name Arielle for the first time to address the girl.
The rare times she does speak unbidden, it is usually to her teddy bear or the donkey she named Flower. Arielle seems to be withdrawing into herself, but she perks up a bit when the party tries to engage her. Her smiles are usually very small and slight—just the barest hint of an upturning on the corners of her lips. They are rarer than her words, a sign of a shier side than what the expedition members have witnessed. Perhaps it is the road and the travel. There is sadness in her which is difficult to overlook.
Arielle does not speak of...that woman with the...scars? Wait, was there a woman? Surely, Arielle wasn't alone in the Dragon's Rest. The details of the woman begin to fade, and other than a certainty that Arielle had a companion and a memory of a dream that this companion saved them from some evil, Corinne is all but forgotten.
One blessing that may have come from this timidity, however, is that no sign of the crystalline twinkle her eyes exhibited surfaces at any point. They remain large, brown, and sad for the duration of the journey. Also, probably fortunately, her summoner sigil does not recur on her forehead or on Bubbles the Bear's tummy.
The pocket watch Corinne gave Miyari has not operated to any degree that Miyari can determine. She can feel the time magic in it, but it seems dormant or inert for some reason.
Each morning you will need to make a Will Save DC 12 or for the duration of that day, you will be distracted as occasionally you will hear sinister whistling. It will always seem to be coming from somewhere you can't see. Behind you, around the side of that boulder, from inside Armin's tankard, etc. A slight feeling of paranoia itches at your shoulder blades and being jumpy and irritable wouldn't be unexpected.
Mechanically, any Cha based rolls suffer a -1 as well as any rolls that could be conceivably related to an effort requiring extreme concentration such as magic concentration rolls or a called shot with a ranged weapon.
On the plus side, you get +1 to any Perception checks against ambush, +1 to Reflex saves v. traps, +1 to Initiative, and you can always act in the surprise round as long as any other party member is able to act.
Remember: These effects only occur if you fail the Will Save DC 12.
In addition, you have a special opportunity to pursue these dreams and their waking effects in posts to obtain RCs. They do not have to be lengthy descriptions, but I will provide 1 RC for any decent attempt to make a dream interesting. I will allow 1 RC for every 5 days that pass for a possible total of 6 RCs. And don't worry! the 30 days will pass quicker than you think. This campaign is all about time passing.
The rich odours of the pine fills the nostrils almost threatening to overwhelm the senses, the autumnal needles form a soft bed over which Ali moves.
The mist seems to cling to thin legs as the presence pads softy towards the youth. Thus his pace quickens and the needles become more disturbed, Spinning around Ali cannot see them, but feels them there. As his motion increases, despite seemingly getting nowhere, the smell strengthens becoming mingled with the unseen stalker. The sour tang that you can just taste at the back of your throat, just the hint of old ale and woodsmoke.
"Father...?" Ali's voice quavers lightly as it's lost in the encroaching hoary fog; "Brok?" Though the words betray a creeping terror and despair as he starts to run through the trees...
No longer wearing boots, the needles prick his soles... there's a whistling of the north wind through the trees quickly chased by a faint translucent light. The pace quickens, the tingling sensation migrates to his fingers. Looking down at his fingers they elongate into trigs and start to bud.
A scream starts to leave Ali's lips as he continues running without looking to see the blasted oak before him. THUD.
Waking up tied up in the blankets on the bed, that hadn't protected him from 'tapping' his head on the bedpost during his dream. The 'pins & needes' in his fingers remain from where he'd reduced the circulation as he rubs some life back into them.