"Bless you Andrej, willing to labour after grand feats is a true sign of a humble man. My the Father watch over you." Jhod will bless Andrej and the group before you begin your nights tasks.
No Priest... just a sign and habit of one who knows his only place is in service and that he is merely a tool of his betters, Andrej thinks in lieu of the blessing.
Over a simple supper Jhod will chat about his plans to clear some woodland to build a community near the temple, hoping some of the woodsmen will move their families into the area. He will bring up the issue of the kobold nuisance again mentioning that they are stealing more things from travellers but are not directly attacking them.
After a restful night in the safety of the temple you break your fast with Jhod before he bids you farewell. Your ride north is uneventful though the weather remains overcast and cool for the time of year, as you leave the northern reaches of the forest in the early afternoon you come across a few common folk travelling south in search of the temple.
Maksim make a warm greeting says little to Father Jhod, he is still thinking about how he can better contribute to the endevor. On the way to Oleg's they come across travler's. "Hail Goodmen, What brings you to these uncertain lands?" Upon their declaration that they are pilgrims Maksim says, "Blessing of the Father upon you, I'm Brother Maksim. I've just come from the temple, follow our trail and you can't miss it, otherwise it's a bit hard to find. Leave small gifts for the fey along the way, please, then they'll not play pranks with you." Maksim, if it's timely, invites them to a small meal and some prayers, before continuing the journey.
What news of the lands and the roads?, Andrej asks. If you go not towards the temple, we head for Olegs trading post and would be happy to escort you
The travellers will pray with Maksim and one of the older women will speak to Andrej at length about the poor quality of the trails and the numerous common folk heading south to the temple.
By the afternoon Oleg's is in view and you can already smell Svetlana's cooking, arriving into the fort you find the towers and catapults in good repair with Kesten's guardsman standing watch. Oleg is haggling with a trapper over some furs at the market tables while the captured bandits are chopping fire wood. Svetlana is busy baking bread with Todd, seeing you arrive she breaks off and welcomes you. "Welcome back! Your beds are fresh and i'll get Todd to build up a fire. Your all filthy, get cleaned up before supper."
"Yes ma'am."
Arielle will use Prestidigitation a few times to both clean up with and then to leave a nice, light perfumey floral scent on her clothes. She'll then find some fresh flowers to braid up in her and makes herself look all nice for dinner. Maybe for someone else as well...
Andrej sees to the horses and to his trophy head before stripping off in the barn and liberally dousing himself with buckets of water and changing to fresh clothes.
As he does so his thoughts turn to his station in life and his lifetime of service to date. He resolves to better understand the nobility and their ways... and for that he'll need books. Books will be expensive he notes with a mental wince.
It will cost me some pretty coin but I hope it will help me.
.
You know where the tatzylwyrms are so you could deal with that quickly for some cash, Anza can preserve the owlbear head for you free of charge now you have ready access to time and tools.
A sudden thought of the Captain comes to him... and the captains name while unfamiliar to him was undeniably of the Garess Family, whom he'd served under. A bottle or two of something decent and some shared experiences may help. He'd ask for that bottle while he put in an order for a Cold Iron Masterwork Dueling blade and a breastplate.
"Greeting Svetlana, Blessings of Forest and Hearth upon you. I'll be presentable for your fine meals but I should check if there is any work Oleg needs done first." Maksim checks with Oleg for any tasks that need doing before the meal and then cleans up.
Maksim inquires of Oleg, at a mutually good time, "It may be a bit soon but by chance did my order of a master's heavy backpack arrive? And I'd like to inquire of the clergy of Erastil in Restov, if I may order a wand with the minor power of curing small injuries. I know I have not all the coin I'd need for that but I believe I left over 500 crowns with you. I'll pledge that and hopefully I'll have the rest when we return again. If not, you should have little trouble selling it at a big discount with two-thirds of the cost already covered."
Maksim will assist Svetlana at meal if he can, and blesses the meal, giving time for Egan to do so as well, then eats heartilty of the good food provided.
.
Oleg will talk at length about his plans to extend the trading post with more room for travellers to stay and a larger stable, Svetlana has been nagging him to provide the captured bandits with jobs as well so hopefully some increased traffic will let him set them on as stable hands and assistants. "I heard you speaking of the wand last time you were her Maksim so i ordered one, you can take it now if you wish and pay when you return. I'm sure i can trust Lord Silva and yourself. I have a light breastplate as well Andrej, one of the guards traded me a spare for a bar tab."
.
After exiting the barn, he heads in for dinner and to talk business with Oleg... and on hearing Maksim was ordering part of the wand on credit, frowns thoughtfully.
I'd be happy for you to take 100 coin of my credit and apply it to that wand, in addition to that breastplate and blade... oh and 10 gold for two bottles of good booze.
Silva dismounts and walks his horse to the stable. Easy boy. You have done well. It is time for rest. He makes sure his horse has plenty of water and food. After stabling his horse, he kneels in the stable and says a prayer to Erastil thanking him for safe travel. ...May I be worthy of your name stag father and may I protect those which you have placed under my care...
After a few moments of meditation, he heads into the common yard waving to Oleg. How is the trading friend? He continues into the kitchen. Good day Lady Svetlana! It smells wonderful as usual. He reaches over and messes Todd's hair up. And how has this young man faired? Has he kept his word and been helpful?
Upon seeing the bow rewarded to the group: What a fine bow! Maksim, Erastil's favor has fallen on you this day. This shall make a fine weapon for you in our battle against evil!
Over dinner Svetlana asks about your plans, "Will you be staying for a while or are you heading straight back out? I need to know how many to cook for."
I've some business here and want to help preserve and mount that beasts head. I figure about a week or so for my part unless others have some preference. We may also want to talk to those who left the Stag Lord's service who are here as well and see if we can get some information on his camp.
Silva dips his bread in the mead and agrees with Andrej. I for one would be happy to stay for a week. He slaps Oleg on the back. Finest homemade bread in all the land. You are a lucky man Oleg!
Maksim agrees to a extended stay, "We were long in the woods, making the maps and dealing with some of the problems here, taking some time in a place with a hearth can strength the heart. We still have much to do. I wasn't doing much with the mapping of the places we went to, how is that coming along? And when do we send reports to our patrons in this venture?"
Maksim accepts the help with the cost of goods greatfully, "Thank you Andrej and Lord Silva, I do dislike debt but we need this to take on the ever increasing challenges of this wild land."
Maksim takes the masterfully made composite long bow in hand. He runs his hand along the smooth curves, feeling the slight wear of a bow that has seen use but is still sound for many more years of service. "Thank you, Lord Silva, it's a mighty bow indeed. I'll use it ever to serve Ol' Deadeye in this land. Master Oleg, this bow appears to to be made for sinew string, given all the hunters in the area, I presume you have some in stock. I see it has been deeply oiled with Tung, and it appears intact, so no oil will be needed right now, if you have it though, I'll take a small vial and a number of small clean cloths." Maksim unwraps the handle, and checks the arrow rest and sight marks for excessive wear gunting in satisfaction. "You've stored it well, Master Oleg, you serve the Master of All Archers well. I'll string it when you have the correct strings, mine are too long for this bow." Maksim turns to the others men saying, "Do either of you wish to use the bow I had been carrying? It was presented to me by my pastor that guided my early path, and should stay in service as any other useful tool."
As the evening meal draws to a close, Maksim remarks, "We need to discuss what and how we will continue our efforts in this land. After meeting with Father Jhod, it became clear that the favor from Erastil that I can draw has grown. I can call his presence more strongly now, and with much greater effect. I believe this is true, in your own way, for most or all of you. Let begin, when we leave, by looking into the matter of the reports of Kobolds. That seems a good place to start."
Vekkel left this kit with his old bow when he put the poster up, it should have everything you need and more besides. I'll get Todd to run the head over to him as soon as i can spare him, he'll be sending some cheese back from it shortly i have no doubt." Oleg will respond as he hands over the bow.
Smiling at Silva's comment and sharing a look with Svetlana he turns to Andrej, "Did i hear you mention an owlbear nest? I know a wizard in the city who would pay well for a live chick."
Dangerous target but yes, you did.
He thinks for a moment chewing.
A wizard eh? Interesting
"Aye, a wizard. He's a strange one but his coin is the right colour, he used to check over items people brought in for me when i worked in the city. Always interested in anything unusual, an owlbear cub would be right up his street." Oleg's eyes gleam at the thought.
Egan gives warm greetings to Oleg and Svetlana as he rides in. He is pleased to see Todd helping out and says so. I'll not be late for dinner he says with a smile when Svetlana tells them to clean up. He sees to his and Arielle's mounts and then catches back up with the little sorcerer.
[b]"Yes ma'am."
Arielle will use Prestidigitation a few times to both clean up with and then to leave a nice, light perfumey floral scent on her clothes. She'll then find some fresh flowers to braid up in her and makes herself look all nice for dinner. Maybe for someone else as well...
Seeing Arielle cleaning up Egan asks for her help. Me next? Hew slowly rotates if Arielle is willing to clean him up with her spell, making it a game with fully and then slightly playful poses. What I really need is a dinner jacket. I'll have to get one if this place keeps civilizing up. he comments with a smile.
After too much dinner Egan compliments both Svetlana and Todd and goes to make sure the dogs have food and are comfortable. After returning he settles by the fireplace, adding a bit too much wood and basks in the heat. Ahh, a full belly, a warm fire, and fine company. He glances over at Arielle. What more could a gnome want after a long day of riding?
After a week spent helping out around the trading post and preserving Andrej's owlbear head Anza is poring over her maps at the end of the evening. "If you wish to meet with the kobolds we should explore the eastern edges on the way there, the plains and then the hills to the south. What do you think?"
During the course of the week Egan spends more time in prayer each morning and night than you have seen him do while traveling. He prays in different locations; sometimes in front the fire in the hearth, sometimes our in a field of tilled earth, and once you think you caught him praying to Oleg's set of tools in the shed. While not praying he spends his time being generally helpful and in good cheer.
A visible effect from this increased prayer has taken the form of whelping red flesh visible on his neck and left cheek. At first there is no form but the redness is worse the second day and by the third day it begins to scab over like an old burn. Egan waves off any concern, explaining that it is a blessing of Brigh. By the end of the week the scabs are healing and all can see a a perfect figure of a phoenix in flight seemingly burned into the skin of his cheek and neck, presumably continuing down onto his chest. As the newness of the burn fades it is evident that these scars are of fine detail. Egan seems quite proud his new marking.
Egan nods at Anza's sensible recommendation. A good plan Anza. You have yet to steer us wrong.
Agreed, says Andrej back to his laconic self but pleased with his new breastplate.
Maksim spends the week on helping Oleg, and in prayer as well. He also take advantage of not being on the road to have Egan help him master the odd language of fire that he sputters from time to time, in order to bring everybody together in harmony. Aided by his devotions, Maksim makes unusual progress in Ignan.
As the days go on, Maksim asks of Oleg, Svetlana, and any traders about the mood of the people of the land, not just news but how they feel about the changes that are occuring, is hope returning to the area, or fading or does other matter occupy the people's thoughts?
They gather toward the end of the week. Anza gives her advice, "A good plan, covering much that we have to do here. How is the map of all area's explored going? How much mapping is done compared to the total of our charge? I do not wish to disappoint the Swordlords their friendship will be needed in the days ahead."
After another fine meal, Maksim, "Excellant as usual Svetlana, it will be very hard to tear ourselves from your table to venture out again." Maksim turns to the others, "With prayer, I feel as if my favor has grown and I prepared more of and stronger blessings of Ol'Deadeye. With the wand it'll be easier to heal in a fight, may they be few. I feel as if I have made some progress in understand that fire tongue of yours, Egan. In battle it seems that either, Arielle or myself could transalate for he others, who do you think should concentrate on that and in general how should we approach future battles? I do fear that the time we can all work on our own in battle has passed we need to be a team with some expected duties. We must fight as one, not as a bunch of ones." Maksim sets down, seemingly a bit embarrassed at telling fell warriors what to do.
Arielle spends the week trying to be helpful and offering to help Svetlana in the kitchen and such. She also spends quite a bit of time with Egan, practicing her Ignan. Though Egan may suspect she fumbles her words a bit just so he will spend more time practicing with her. Arielle's rather concerned about the burns/welts that appear on him, but will accept his explanation of it being from his goddess.
At the end of the week, when Anza give her opinion of what to do next:
"That sounds like a decent plan to me Anza. We need to map out those areas and doing it while on the way to meet the kobolds is a good idea."
Egan is happy to teach Ignan to both Arielle and Maksim and is pleased with their progress. He has to set up separate tutoring sessions for Arielle who seems to have trouble with verb pronunciation. Some of these sessions go late into the night.
I believe Erastil has granted you wisdom this week Maksim. I like this talk of tactics, and your willingness to help me overcome my curse by learning Ignan is appreciated. Let me remind the group of my abilities so that we may better plan. This brand I now bear is a sign of favor from my goddess. It empowers my magic to be more destructive and harder to resist. And I now have the ability to help free us all from grapples or entangling conditions through the spell Liberating Command. My small size and stout armor makes me relatively hard to hit and I can bolster that armor with Shield of Faith. And in a tough fight I can create mist that I alone can see through. Within this mist I can heal and cast spells of fire and our enemies cannot easily target me.
"Probably a third of the area allocated to us has been mapped, we have the southern reaches of forest where it joins the Narlmarches to explore, the plains to the north east and west of the area and the hills where the kobolds make their home will need to be dealt with as well." Even Anza looks surprised at how much you still have to do after two months in the area and the miles you have already rode.
Arielle looks a bit awed as she also realizes how much is still left to do. "Well, I guess that means we have quite a bit more traveling left to do together."
She glances at Egan as she speaks and doesn't really seem dismayed at all about having to spend so much more time traveling with you guys.
Maksim seems impressed with the size of it all himself. "I thought I heard that the Swordlords sent at least four groups out to various areas of the lands claimed south of the traditioanl boarder. These lands are vast indeed, to call our travels 'exploration' is grand indeed, we would've seen a city, but we could miss a hundred villages, we are too few." Maksim shakes his head, "A gigantic task, but we cannot do it all; if we can make a small part safer, more should come."
Maksim leans a bit forward over the table as it is cleared. "Be along in a bit to help clean those, Good Hosts. As I was saying, to the above ends we need to work better together. I'll certainly heal, and as Erastil wills it, give out blessings to our party. With that very fine bow, I'll be better in fighting as well. Perhaps the warriors amoungst us can give suggestions as to how to we should use what we have better?" Maksim throws the conversation towards the more martial members at the table.
After a week of relaxation and excellent home cooking your gear orders have arrived and you are mounting up to travel once again, Anza leads you out early in the morning to get a good start and intends to spend two days mapping the plains before moving onto the distant hills.
You have an uneventful days ride through the plains and make camp for the evening setting your watches as normal.
Arielle nudges Egan in the ribs and whispers to him. "Looks like we got some watchers our size. I'm going to casually edge that way a bit and speak out in sylvan in case it's one of us or a fae."
Trying to casually maker her way to the side of the campsite the eyes are at, Arielle speaks aloud without directly looking in the direction of the eyes so that she doesn't spook them off.
After a week of relaxation and excellent home cooking your gear orders have arrived
Perception:
Maksim looks over at Arielle as she speaks in a strange language.