"Good riddance t' th' keep, Ah think. Ah was beginnin' t' think 't 'as cursed 'n we were all goin' t' pay fer messin' 'n 't. 'ere d'ye want t' be fer 'eadin' now, though?"
"I hope tha rats all drowned in tha sea pinned undera rock."
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The door to the Inn opens, a large man of about 7-foot walks in, broad shoulders and rusty chain armor. He smiles as he sees you, though you still find it hard to recognize him as the man Canvy with whom you entered the Citadel by the Sea. His voice has the same inflections, just deeper and darker in tone, he holds his hand up waving across the bar, and out booms "Well met, glad to see you two here already. I'm really not going back to that place, look how it changed me!!" Then he laughs with a deep rasping chuckle. Funnily, his eyes are still that same shade of blue they always were, though you could swear fighting the ouze they were a purple color, probably just a quirk of the light.
His large hand stretches forward to greet you, "Time for some foaming ale and take on the world eh!!!" His arms envelope you, as he pulls you both to him, in a hug of friendship and shared adventures.
Erine watches impassively. Goat has been silent for a while and remains that way.
When the hug is over, she says, "So, glad to see you're on your feet once more." She turns to Goat. "What spells do you think I need to prepare?" Goat shrugs.
(Broccan joins the group, having acquired a full tankard. When he sees the large stranger moving, talking, and dressed just like Canvy, he goes a bit pale and shudders.)
"Hey, Boy-o...Mast'r Edrukk...and...uh..mm...(he nods quickly to Canvy, not making eye contact). It seems th'keep wasn'ta tick'ta fame'n'fortune. So where d'we go fr'm ere?"
"Has anyone seen Tiana?"
"I hope she did not venture into the Citadel when it fell intah tha ocean!"
Most of you recall at least hearing about the Lucky Monkey as being much larger than the Feral Dog and along the trade route to Cauldron...
The monkey even has a stage, baths, and luxery rooms.....
The two travelers continue to talk about how much money 2,500 gold would be to anyone who was willing to claim the prize........
"Two thousand gold coins..." Erine murmurs to Goat. "Perhaps we could try that? Putting troubled spirits to rest isn't too hard."
(Broccan leans in and speaks in a whisper to the group)
"Twnet'five hundred'za fortune! We cou'live s'well as th'mine managers'round 'ere! Maybe we shou' go fer'it?"
"I could buya club tha was not jus good per poundin intah tha ground!"
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For Canvy the drink does not seem to effect him like it used to, he drinks the same amount of ale, but stands up and talks lucidly. When he hear's Broccan's words, he looks startled, "What are you talking about, is there really a way to make a fortune, come tell me how? We must do it, if we can?" His eyes begin to cloud and purple colour seems to take over from the blue.
(Still not looking directly at Canvy.)
"Uhh...well'isz like they're sayin' o'er there. We can go t'the Luck'Monkey n' do wha'needs doin' n' claim th' reward."
"Broccan ye told me o tha Lucky Monkey it is two days from here and then another two days on tah Cauldron."
"Ye said ye'd take me tah tha lucky Monkey when I was old enough."
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Canvy, his mind caught by this adventure and treasures to come, downs his drink in one, ale seeping round his mouth and falling down onto his tunic.. His eyes shine purple as he looks at the assembled group of friends, a huge smile shows his large pearl white canine teeth. "Come now, not a moment to waste, there's good money to be made, let's away to the Monkey's whatnot? If there's money out there we should be making it mi...ours." As an after thought he adds, "And maybe we'll rescue those kids to."
Sanstree comes in decked out in his new armor...leather armor with plates of fire-treated wood sewn over vital areas....
"I also bought an area map of Cauldron and around, thought it might help!"
"I am ready to get on the road to the Lucky Monkey!"
"Broccan I wanted to show you something...."
Sanstree pulls Broccan close and opens his backpack
Inside a greensting scorpion the size of a house cat sits very still, small but fierce having claws and a stingered tail arching easily over its back.
"It is a familiar like goat."
(Broccan's eyes bug at the sight of the pack's contents.)
"Like goat? Y'mean y' talk to't? Wha' doesit say t' ye?"
Perception (for map):
"It jus elps me tah study magic like tha ale elps yah tah study fighten!"
"Tis a different path we are on even though we go tha same places..."
"I think he is very interestin as creatures go an more potable than a goat......"
"Least it was not a dire rat tha answered my call, an I like tha green bein a druid, so tah me it all fits together."
"Whadaya think o tha map?"
(Broccan scans the map)
"It dinna have Wolfstone or th' cita'dl on it, so where'r we then? I thought' map need'd t' have th' place ye start t'be useful."
"See here is tha Lucky Monkey an this road that leads to the coast goes to wolfstone and tha citadel."
"I got tha map fer where were tah be goin stead o where we have been!"
"Then you spend your money fer a map o yer own liken!"
Perception
"Hmm, we'll be fer needin' t' get 'r bearings, fer sure. 'at's a fine map, I guess, but 'til we know if'n we're 'at way," he gestures to one side of the map, "'r 'at way," he gestures to the opposite side, "any trip we're takin' could be much longer 'an necessary."
"'course, if'n we know 'is 'bout 't' th' sea' is referrin' t' where we 'r now, we c'n make a pretty good stab at 't, Ah s'pose."
"Canvy do you feel any different?" "Could you feel the magic?"
"Maybe time tah be gettin on, if everyone has finished getting everything they need."
recruitment thread up for skill monkey likely will be at the Lucky Monkey or Cauldron depending on things
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Canvy, bored with all this map reading, leaves the group engrossed in looking at the contours, the key and features of the map. "I'll be back soon, just gonna see a man about a dog."
I little while later, he reappears, wearing what looks like a more substantial armor, this too looks like its been used before, but not cleaned properly, in fact if you looked closely blood and gore are discolored and attached to the armor. In his hand a polearm with a nasty looking hammer with spike, those trained would know it as a Bec de Corbin.
Perception
The dwarf is obviously out of his element as the humidity increases, but the only sign he gives is the occasional adjustment of a strap or a drawn-out sigh as he looks ahead down the road.
(Broccan takes the point; javelin in hand, and scanning the area for potential danger.)
Perception:
"Ey, Boy-o. Are th' big monkeys o'er there dangr'ous?"
(Broccan points with his javelin in the direction of the clearing.)
"Shou' we try to go 'round them'r jus' walk on by...'r we gonna need t'kill 'em?"
Erine points ahead in the open fields. "Baboons!" she exclaims, with a mixture of excitement and uneasiness. "At least ten of them, too."
She looks irritated as Broccan speaks. "I saw them first," she snaps. "And we needn't kill them, they're just apes. Or monkeys, technically."
Knowledge nature
"These apes usually ignore people as they have other things tah attend to an is very rare fer normal apes tah attack people..."
"They are several 100 feet away an do not seem tah be comin any closer..."
"Probably bes tah be movin outta any place they think is theres, I do not want tah fightem fer that grassland!"
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Canvy hearing the others looks in the general direction of the monkeys, squints a bit, "Com'n then, quick march past these flea ridden apes." The salty sweat on his brow drips into his eyes, as he uses his gauntlet to wipe his brow. He marches near the front of the group, by the side of Sanstree, resting his polearm on his shoulder, at last he feels like the soldier he once was. The smile on his face is the pride he has in 'finding himself' again, although he is still a little confused about the body. there's just something not quite right about it.
(Broccan scouts the potential campsites for defensibility, while also collecting kindling for the evening fire.)
Survival:
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Canvy surveys the area Broccan has found to camp, "Good man Broccan, it looks defensible to me. Lets get this camp set out nicely now, not all together in a huddle spread a little bit. Yes we can have the fire here, yes lets get ourselves organised and ready." He strolls around, occasionally stopping for no apparent reason, gazing at some part of his anatomy, before continuing on. Almost as if he had done this often before and knew what he was doing.
Profession soldier to set up a defensible encampment, organise defensive perimeter and a watch.
Fort Save:
(Broccan shows complete indifference to the temperature change and rainfall. He continues the process of setting up camp for the night.)
Fort save
You notice that Sanstree after the hard days march looks a little green around the gills!
Erine doesn't seem affected by the heat, but Goat does, panting and rolling in the cooler dust.
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Canvy shouts to the party through the pelting rain, "See these areas here, here and there, walk through those areas and you're sure to need treatment for injuries, so keep out those areas. With luck, the areas will give us due warning of any intruders and keep out vermin especially rats." As he emphasises the word 'Rats' he looks around involuntarily, but on his face is puzzlement, "Why did I call out the rats, what are rats to me?" He continues after this momentary pause, "Enter through this way and you will be all right, everyone clear? Right let's get this camp set."
Fortitude Save
The effort of organising the camp and not being used to wearing heavy armor has an effect, Canvy's sweat drips off him and he feels somewhat dehydrated, strange that after all that rain.
"Strange that this camp is so well defended and hidden off the road. Seems like alot of trouble to go through for a camp this near to town."
"Rest, friends, th' watch's mine tonight."
(Broccan will stay awake until the others are fully rested, or someone offers to relieve him.)
Fort
Edrukk will take a turn at the watch in the darkest part of the night and then return to sleep.
Perception