Victrix pats a spot next to her. "'Ave a seat, Thrand. And come on--yeh gotta try this."
She chugs from her ale some more. "This is real sweet--remoinds me o' the mead back 'ome."
Thrand sits next to Victrix. "I will try some," he says, "but not too much. I want to keep a clear head until we set the halflings safely on their way." He examines the golden hue of the honey ale, takes a slow, deep whiff of the aroma, then takes a swig which he holds in his mouth for a good half a minute before swallowing. "Delicious!"
The elf will look to see if there is any wine to be had though she will try the halfling's brew. She will sit by Thrand.
Rolfe will help Thrand settle the horses, noting the man's gentle manner with the animals and starting to reevaluate him. He's quick to join in the halfling's merriment, chatting easily with the simple folk and partaking a little of the honey ale. He watches in amazement at Tanariel's singing, jaw dropping. "... gosh. Ain't ever heard nothing like that before. No question."
The halflings do like her singing. It is different than their style. Some were unhappy at the theme of the song, love did not win in the end, so different to their happy song endings.
The party dies down as Tanariel takes the first shift. The air is cool and crisp and not much is heard except the snoring of little folk. She wakes Rolfe who wakes Victrix. Their shift also passes with no major issue. Victrix calmed Rolfe down after he thought he heard something, but it was an owl gobbling a mouse. They in turn wake Garl who pulls his shift with his wolf. He mostly spends his time watching his wolf sniff around the campsite for bits of food left over from the party. Garl goes over to wake Thrand but the wolf licks Thrands face first to wake him up. Thrand yawns and goes to pull his shift. Then he sees the sun come over the horizon as the halflings begin to stir, their leader the first one up still clutching his money box as they gets the little folk to begin packing up for movement.
Thrand wakes the rest of the party at the end of his shift. He is sickeningly cheerful so early in the morning. "Good morning. Good morning. The sun is rising in the East. A new day has dawned. Time for breakfast and breaking camp."
Taking his cue from the halflings, Thrand sets to work right away. He gnaws on a piece of venison jerky as he makes his way to the horses and starts preparing them for the day's journey.
She will bathe giving the cavalier just enough of a tease to leave enough to the imagination and then study her spellbook.
As the party is finishing up breaking down the camp and getting ready for the next leg of the journey Magistar Tulley Whiskerfoot is skillfully directing the halfling efforts.
Victrix:
Thrand:
Rolf:
Garl:
Tanariel:
One of the halfling wagons near the edge of the tree line starts to creak as the wheels on the tree line side give way and the wagon crashes on one side, narrowly hitting some halfling children. Tulley runs over and places his money box on a barrel to assist in calming the children down when he cries out "OH NO! THE CHEST IS GONE! WHERE IS MY CHEST! WE MUST FIND IT!" in exasperation. Tanariel catches a fleeting glimpse of a small animal figure, possibly a monkey fleeing through the forest with the box in its hands...the chase begins...
"Well, now I've definitely seen everything." Rolfe says, having roused himself after a sleepy start with a bucket of riverwater over the head. Sopping wet and still groggy from the honey ale, Rolfe shoulders his shortbow and gives chase.
"Pelor's Fiery Beard!" exclaims Thrand. He leaps into the saddle and attempts to spur his horse forward with even greater speed than usual, but can only convince Valor to gallop normally. He rides after the monkey, or whatever it is, determined to skewer the beast.
(leap into saddle)
(spur mount - DC 15)
The creature barely scampers over a large amount of deadfall tree trunks that piled up possibly after some old storm...
Rolfe gives chase, tripping and stumbling through the thick foliage.
Thrand contemplates staying behind to guard the halflings - after all, chasing monkeys is peasants' work - but the halflings seem desperate and he must at least try.
Victrix gives chase as best she can, trying to get over the fallen tree trunks and continue chasing after the monkey.
Victrix takes off into the woods and scampers over deadfall trunks passing Rolfe who was unable to get a good grip the first time trying.
Thrand follows the trail and hopes for the best.
(track)
Knowing that she won't be able to catch the little monkey the elf will go and see to the halfling children [would they be a quarterling?]
Magistar Tulley Whiskerfoot begs those that remain with the halflings to run after the thief. "That is our whole livelihood in that box. It is not just the coins. You all need to catch the robber. Please!" he seems quite distraught.
Realizing that his fabulous riding will not help him catch a monkey in the brush, and perhaps hearing the foolish halfling leader's earnest plea for help, Thrand dismounts and gives chase.
Victrix and Thrand get past the first obstacle and run after the target who scampers quickly through the woods and they see it easily jump over a flowing stream and continue off into the woods...
Victrix, grumbling at how a simple monkey just decided to make off with her caravan boss' cargo, charges through the stream without letting it hinder her.
"Hmph. I've bathed in colder waters back up north!"
She looks back at Thrand, quietly surprised that the knight has been able to keep up with her so far.
Thrand attempts to swim across the stream, but the current proves too much for him.
Thrand tries to cross the stream but goes under for a quick moment and loses momentum...he resurfaces and can try again next round...
Rolfe, remembering himself, leaps over the deadful, and makes for the stream, clearing it in a single leap but still lagging behind their quarry and unable to find a clear shot.
Still on the pursuit of the monkey the team chases him. The monkey is recklessly running through the woods... and he suddenly comes up to a mud pit... and does not see it and falls in slowing him down...
chase summary- 3 rounds
quarry (3)- jumped over dead fall and jumped over a stream and fell in a mud pit...
rolfe (3)- stumbled at dead fall, climbed over deadfall ran to stream and saw thrand fall in and easily jumps over the stream.
thrand (2)- climbed over deadfall, fell in stream
victrix (2)- jumped over dead-fall and swam through the stream and chasing monkey
Tanariel- assuaging the halflings.
Thrand coughs and sputters and wonders if this could be the end, but then he rallies himself, swims the rest of the way across the river, and spots the mud pit.
Victrix looks around to see where the monkey fell...
"Well, got yehrself in a spot of trouble now, eh?" She smirks as she sees the monkey struggling to escape from the mud pit.
Victrix chases after the monkey and at the last second she sees the mud pit and does not fall into it. The monkey is struggling to get to one side to escape holding the coin case in one hand out of the mud. Soon Victrix hears clanking coming behind her as Rolfe and Thrand arrive at the same time.
Rolfe nocks an arrow and points it at the creature. "These folk need that coin more than you. 'mafraid I don't take too kindly from those that take from the needy."
With the monkey flailing about frantically in the mud, Rolfe manages to swipe the money box out of the hands of the monkey but due to the box covered in mud it falls from his grip and cracks open against a rock. Bags of money fall out of the box revealing a false bottom from which another smaller bag falls out.
Thrand helps Rolfe gather bags of money from the mud before they sink. Overcome with curiosity, he picks up the smaller bag and looks inside.
The smaller bag does not hold coins like the other bags, but when the cavalier opens the bag up and looks inside, he sees a glowing ruby gem the size of a small persons palm.
"Oh my!" exclaims Thrand. "No wonder Magistar Whiskerfoot was so distraught. I have never seen anything so precious." He holds the pouch open for Rolfe and Victrix to see, then cinches the pouch and ties it to his belt saying, "What is to be done with the monkey? It seems strange that a wild animal would be interested in this box when there is food to steal. Can one of you catch it?"
Victrix tries to grab the monkey.
Emphasis on 'tries'.
With the monkey trying to get out of the mud Victrix easily grabs the critter. It is not happy though and tries to squirm away yet she holds it fast.
"Got yeh." Victrix holds the muddy monkey aloft.
"Can't say I'd know why a monkey would want a chest. What do ya reckon we oughta do with 'em?"