Scarlet is fine taking the road path.
"Hey Numalar you wanna field this one and i'll shoot em if it goes bad? Plus you have a better idea of what we need."
Zokon says back to Numalar as he gets his bow ready.. but does not nock an arrow
"Hm, lets stick to the road, for now. Cross-country will be a more bumpy ride, and I think those berries are mushy enough as-is already."
"Greetings fellow travelers! I am Leishan and this is Kephac of Katheer. We are merchants out of Kerse in Druma, with a shipment of rare valuables and unusual armaments bound for Winterbreak on the shores of the Lake of Mists and Veils. What are you in the market for? We carry art items and jewels from Kephac's home Qadira, and the highest quality weapons and armor from around the whole Inner Sea!"
Leishan is human woman perhaps in her thirties, with brown hair, and tanned skin.
The feel of a flat road beneath the party makes for a pleasant change. The party arrives at the portion of the road bracketed by what was once a decorative stand of overhanging trees to either side, a decoration long gone to seed. Now the overhead canopy seems more like a high-vaulted, mile-long tomb. Even at it's outset the party can tell something is wrong. up ahead, a quarter mile in, a pair of carts sit to the side of the shaded road seemingly abandoned except by a flock of noisy crows.
"If it comes to that!" Illthir nods (ineffectually at Zokon's back) and then tries to get a good look at the pair of travellers. They didn't look that dangerous - though you never knew.
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"Woah - that's quite the trip!" Illthir grins in greeting. Also an very ambitious introduction. What if we were bandits Illthir thought. She knew she'd be awfully much more tempted to rob anyone carrying 'rare valuables' then some ordinary peasant. Oh well. That wasn't really important right now. "Picked up any interesting stories along the way?"
Zokon relaxes a little and concentrates on Leishan, picking the most vulnerable spot or method of attack, agaist her that he can find based on her movements, dress, apparent capabilities etc.
Zokon also gives a little wave but does not move, assuming the other move a bit closer to chat and see goods etc.
"Ooo! Qadrian relics!" Scarlet lights up and shakes Leishan and Kephac's hands. "I've always wanted to know about the region, and maybe...I've heard the days are scorching hot and the nights are freezing cold."
Scarlet digs through. "Do you have any souvenirs from the area? Maybe some rocks, or a sculpture?"
"I recommend caution... something isn't right up ahead." Celyne says, observing the crows and the wagons.
"Ooo! Qadrian relics!" Scarlet lights up and shakes Leishan and Kephac's hands.
"Ooo! Qadrian relics!" Scarlet lights up and shakes Leishan and Kephac's hands.
"If the crows are already feasting, chances are whatever happened happened a while ago. But you are right, we should be cautious."
Alia stops her horse, dismounts, and leads it to the side of the road, drawing her bow.
"Lets go ahead slowly, I'll stay with the trees to the side, and look for signs of an ambush."
After all, whoever was responsible for what happened to the carts might still have been around...
"Druma, eh? You're a long way from home."
"I doubt you'll find much of a market for art objects here in the Stolen Lands, but your 'unusual armaments' sounds intriguing. What have you got?"
"We travel throughout the region." Leishan undoes a few buckles on one of the horse's packs and pulls down a long section of tarp that covers an "inside pocket" of the pack's frame. Stowed inside in a way that nonetheless showcases the individual items is a small armory of weapons.
The Katapeshite does likewise on another pack animal revealing some rather unique bits of armor.
Armor
A plumed, grey, conical helm..........................3,150 gp
A brass and silver chain coat.........................1,125 gp
Leather armor stamped with golden runes.........30 gp
A suit of armor constructed of sea shells..........250 gp
A suit of black plate mail with skull designs....2,385 gp
A pair of small silver and gold colored shields.....50 gp (each)Weapons
A light mace marked with Sarenrae's symbol....16,475 gp
A shiny longsword.............................................2,085 gp
A dull gray scimitar.............................................3,897 gp
"We have more, but these are the 'unique' items."
The carts are parked haphazardly along the edge of the road. No horses are evident. Drawing closer there are a few bodies laying in the tall grass collecting crows.
Zokon sees and likes..straining his eyes to see the items and hopes that Numalar checks them out
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Numalar takes out his monocle and polishes it for a moment.
While doing so he mutters a few words and holds his symbol between his fingers. Then he pops the monocle back in, squints for a moment, and looks at the display of wares.
"Well, let's see what we have here. Quite a collection! Can you tell me anything about them?"
Illthir gets off Zokon's horse and quickly makes her way over to look at all the interesting goods. These were certainly not things you'd see very day! "Oh! Seashell-armour? Now that one *must* have an interesting story right?" Illthir tries again to extract some juicy details from the travellers.
The carts are parked haphazardly along the edge of the road. No horses are evident. Drawing closer there are a few bodies laying in the tall grass collecting crows.
"Huh? What the..."
"What's going on over here?" Scarlet draws her blades. "I was hopin' to see merchants, not carnage."
The scene is pretty bleak. Four arrow-pierced bodies, and another couple seemingly stabbed next to an empty cart with a broken axle and a once fine carriage tipped up on its side. The heraldry on the roof has been painted over with a chalk-white stag's head emblem.
"Ah you like the seashell armor? It was once owned by the Merqueen of Outsea in the River Kingdoms."
Numalar takes out his monocle and polishes it for a moment.
While doing so he mutters a few words and holds his symbol between his fingers. Then he pops the monocle back in, squints for a moment, and looks at the display of wares.
"Well, let's see what we have here. Quite a collection! Can you tell me anything about them?"
"Of course friend have a look!"
A plumed, grey, conical helm..........................3,150 gp
A brass and silver chain coat.........................1,125 gp
A suit of black plate mail with skull designs....2,385 gp
A light mace marked with Sarenrae's symbol....16,475 gp
A shiny longsword.............................................2,085 gp
A dull gray scimitar.............................................3,897 gp
"The mace? I see you looking at the mace. That is the famous St. Cuthbert's Mace of Disruption! Why with one swing of this you could end the unnatural unlife of any lich or borrow wight. Even the Whispering Tyrant would quake at the coming of that weapon. Here get a good grip on it." Kephac hands the heavy implement to Numalar. Then he places a halfling-sized full-length mirror in front of the gnome sorcerer. "There. Look at that! I can just imagine you now, riding across the land, smiting things!"
The scene is pretty bleak. Four arrow-pierced bodies, and another couple seemingly stabbed next to an empty cart with a broken axle and a once fine carriage tipped up on its side. The heraldry on the roof has been painted over with a chalk-white stag's head emblem.
"Damn, that's the Stag Lord's sign, isn't it?" Scarlet keeps herself ready for any bandits or survivors. "We should at least bury them, yeah?"
"Yes ... It's an interesting curiosity. Reminds me a bit of the scrimshaw pieces you see from the north. Not that I ever seen a scrimshaw armour!" Illthir grins and runs her hand over the strange piece. Outsea sounded sorta right. Not that they'd have queen, but it would certainly make a better story. It was certainly a good story piece. But armour? Ehhhhh ... Seashells weren't really known to be harder then steel. Maybe a ceremonial suit? Or they simply didn't want to bother with the upkeep - or weight - of steel underwater. "Hey guys - we aren't really planning any underwater adventures anytime soon are we?" Gee I'm not sure what instrument I'd even try and use underwater! "I'll have to think a bit on it, but I'm not sure about this armour ..."
Zokon who is curious but wary in this land controlled by the stag lord calls out "Anything Mithril?"
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A shiny longsword.............................................2,085 gp
"Would you accept something in trade? My friend here has a magical rapier, but I believe he would prefer to be using a longsword like this one."
"I suppose that the seashell armor would be good if someone wanted to jump in the river, but I'm not sure anyone has any plans to do that."
"Do you have any enchanted arrows?"
"Yeah, no I didn't think so." Illthir chuckles and then sighs. She was so bad at these things - if she had any money it rapidly mutated into interesting (and somewhat useful*) objects. To distract herself she took her flute and played a few merry tunes. "*pffo* *pfweee* *pfweeerp*"
*inspiration for songs count as useful. Practical use not guaranteed.
"Aye, Stag Lords sign. Lets see what we find out, then deliver the Fangberries for now. We can decide what to do, then. Just burying them would allow them to return as restless dead. Either we bring them back to Olegs and give them a proper burial with the Shepherd, or we turn that wagon into a pyre and help them into the afterlife with fire.", Alia responds, still wary as she approaches the scene, even though it seems to have taken place a while ago, "Celyne, do you have any idea how long they've been dead?"
celyne examines the bodies trying to determine exact cod and tod.
As Celyne draws near the crows take to air in a sudden flurry of caws and wings. The dead stir and rise to their feet. Their almost certain fatal wounds still in evidence.
Round 1! (Theme ♬)
The Bold May Act!
_________________
__ Celyne
__ the living dead!
__ Alia
__ Scarlet
__ Luna
Zokon who is curious but wary in this land controlled by the stag lord calls out "Anything Mithril?"
"Do you have any enchanted arrows?"
"Alas, not at this time. However we are visiting Brevoy and who knows what treasures we might find there for our return!"
"Would you accept something in trade? My friend here has a magical rapier, but I believe he would prefer to be using a longsword like this one."
"Perhaps. Might we see the article in question?"
Celyne steps back and casts bless on the party.
She orders Luna to attack the closest zombie (red)
Luna lays into the red zombie with claws and teeth.
The living dead attack! Celyne jumps back, but other members of the party are not so quick to evade the rush of fresh shambling corpses.
Round 1ish! (Theme ♬)
The Bold May Act!
_________________
__ the living dead!
__ Alia
__ Scarlet -6 hp
__ Luna (about to lay into Red) -12 hp
__ Celyne
So when they announce their verdict Illthir picks up the pace and plays a quick little melody while winking at her companions.
Scarlet Sense tingles...just in time for her to get slammed. "Undead burn easily. Step back!"
Scarlet turns her back from the yellow undead and stands atop the pillar.
Feeling the heat buildup within her, Scarlet prepares to rage. But instead, the heat channel through her hands. Her swords get blazing hot, and she criss-crosses them together as flames spread across, burning most of the zombies.
Scarlet Sense tingles...just in time for her to get slammed. "Undead burn easily. Step back!"
Scarlet turns her back from the yellow undead and stands atop the pillar.
Scarlet gets battered trying to navigate the logs but makes it to the top.
Feeling the heat buildup within her, Scarlet prepares to rage. But instead, the heat channel through her hands. Her swords get blazing hot, and she criss-crosses them together as flames spread across, burning most of the zombies.
The zombies go up like dry kindling. Only one smoldering zombie remains moving within Scarlet's field of fire.
Luna lashes out at the uncharred zombie raking its chest and mauling its leg.
Round 1ish! (Theme ♬)
The Bold May Act!
_________________
__ the living dead! red -10 hp, green -6 hp
__ Alia
__ Scarlet -26 hp
__ Luna -12 hp
__ Celyne
"Bah! And I was worried about burying ya!" Scarlet grunts as the zombies smash into her, one of them in particular nailing her right below the shoulder. "We'll jump straight to cremation."
FWOOSH
"I'll dump yer ashes in a river." Scarlet grins as the zombies are roasted.
Celyne moves up to Luna and casts cure light wounds on her.
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"Worn?" Numalar looks at the rapier and smiles.
"It should be worn! That once belonged to Rolaf the River Pirate. When he got caught by a Daggermark flotilla and his ship was set afire, he boarded the Daggermark Rampant and drove this very rapier in to the heart of Captain Boylaniuk himself. His crew took the Rampant as a prize and he escaped. They changed the boat's name to Daggermark's Ransom after that, and continued to plague the rivers for a time. But he died of poisoning about six months later, so I hear, and the rapier has passed through a few hands since then. But it is just as sharp and strong as ever."
"That might have been before your time, though."
"In any case, since we would be taking the longsword rather than taking your coin, perhaps you can give us a better offer."
Numalar smiles.
Round 1ish! (Theme ♬)
The Bold May Act!
_________________
__ the living dead! red -10 hp, green -6 hp
__ Alia
__ Scarlet -26 hp
__ Luna -7 hp
__ Celyne
"Excuse us."
The two merchants confer... ... ... ... ... ... ... ..!
"Tell you what, since this is obviously a historical artifact of no small note, we'll make you a one time deal 1,160 in gold sovereigns worth of store credit toward the longsword plus we will throw in the seashell armor your lady friend likes so much for free as an added bonus! What do you say, friends?"