Charzark goes through the objects and picks a great quality armor, probably made for a halfling but with some work... he also picks enough materials to prepare the tools for his trade and asks one of the survivors to help him carry it Yous! Yous helps me I gives yous coin yes? We friends now after much searching and envious looks at Xakroo he finds another backpack of similar quality I have backbag like you, the famous Xakroo Bridgkiller!
Yewleaf rummages through the objects from the town and pulls out a set of armor made from leaves, he slips into it and chuckles, "I look like a walking tree with this on," he remarks. He continues his search and pulls out a small set of finely crafted tools.
Jarvak's mood is muted as he looks through the objects. Looks like there's another one as he retrieves another Masterwork Studded Leather. This will come in handy.
He also finds a .
The bard sings a song for Phaendar.
Oh tiny village of Phaendar
Where everyone is so kind
would even take in goblins
no better place you'll find...
Though you might have fallen
You will not be forgotten
One day you'll rise from the ashes
and your taverns will be full... again!
You and your followers spend the first few days building tent shelters, gathering food, and collecting some of the escaped livestock from Phaendar. Your followers take and make use of the rest of the gear in your 'stash.' As everyone starts to settle in, it takes a little less effort to keep everyone fed and with shelter, so some of your followers who have the ability make specific items to give you as thanks for rescuing and taking care of them. Yewleaf is handed a magic wand that looks like a slender willow twig. Jynnjun gets a wand of burning hands. Morgryn gets a wand of cure light wounds. Kwiazy is handed a little bag full of vials of liquid Xakroo finds a small bundle of special arrows pushed into his hands. Charzark is given three small gourds on a string.
Can you guys please describe for me what you do during these first few days, and what you plan to make your routine for days you're in camp?
Kwiazy will help some with setting up the camp, but he's a bit scatter-brained and does tend to get in the way more than help. He does try though. He'll end up helping to take care of the children if there are any... the attention spans are about equal and he is playful enough to keep them out of the way and engaged. Then, he practices his moves when the routine settles in, sword-practicing against the nearest sapling, using it like a pell and handing sticks to the children, teaching them his signature sword and dance moves. "You need do this... grow up and kill many hobbogobbos with me, yes?"
Jarvak will comfort the refugees, distribute food, amuse children with sleight of hand/prestidigation/mage hand, and tell stories of heroes facing similar predicaments as they are.
He'll try to look through any scrolls or materials with information about the Legion. Perhaps there might be more information about them somewhere...
"Burning hands ... it'll be useful if I get attacked by bees I guess. Thanks."
Jynnjun will spend most of her time at first around the camp. There's too many people here for serious traps to be a good move, but setting up alarms is still possible. Getting to know people and hopefully training them not to walk into tripwires can take up plenty of time, but if she has more then setting snares to catch small animals is something she can likely do.
Her routine is likely to run late rather than early due to light sensitivity. Probably more dealing with people in the day (afternoon), more traps at night.
Xakroo inspects the arrows, and has a wicked glint in his eyes as he realizes what they're for. Hehe, let's see those hobgoblins act so confident with me firing these... he snickered.
Xakroo will mainly be the sentry of the group, tracking and keeping an eye on any dangers, as well as tracking some herbs for medical use. Whenever anyone gets an injury of any sort, he will tend to their needs, being the group's official doctor.
Jarvak, the refugees give you a ring that helps you be better at something.
After the first few days, Aubrin asks to meet with you to discuss what to do next. She is still recovering from her wounds, so she should not leave camp, but she is now well enough to supervise the refugees while you go explore, if needed.
When you sit down with Aubrin, she begins, "Most of these people would never have made it out of town if not for you, thank you. Now, we need to make sure that they have everything they need while we wait to see what the hobgoblins do. We need to make sure everyone has food, shelter, and things to do to keep them from moping. We also should find out more about the area. This temporary camp will work for a little while, but when cold weather comes, we will need something better. Also, we are very vulnerable here to attack."
Morgryn spent most of his time helping those who were wounded, tending to them, overseeing their care. And he prayed with any who were interested, but mostly he prayed over people and for everyone to have the strength to go on and fight.
He waved off the thanks. "It's not necessary t'thank us. People were in need. Tha's enough fer me."
He pondered her words and looked to Xakroo. "Think ye can lead us t'find somethin' a bit better for these people, there, Xakroo?"
Jarvak thanks the villagers for the ring. It looks like a head of a wolf with intense eyes. "Thank you for this pretty bauble!" he says.
"Aye. We'll need to be cautious and to study the area. There be dangers aplenty in these woods. And we can't wait for the hobgoblins to act; that might be too late," he says.
Charzark has spent the days tending to the wounded and testing (and tasting) the local flora and fauna for alchemical properties.
Yep! Morgryn right, we heros no need to thank heros, you just build big statue when things better that says Charzark "bigbooomer" or Xakroo "bridgekiller" he looks at his dirty feet trying to hide the fact he is blushing We heros now need to find better place to camp. Maybe cave or tree city like sissy elves? he pauses to look at Morgryn, You duregarers can smell caves like dwarves?
Yewleaf grunts in agreement, Jarvak is right, studying the area is a definite priority, we may be able to find a better place to hole up. Yewleaf thanks whoever handed him the wand. He spends his early days sparring with Kwiazy, practicing stroke after stroke so he can be prepared for the future battles ahead of him.
Kwiazy will start training youths and adults in basic swordplay, so that they are better able to defend themselves should the need apply... All this in their spare time, of course... "You do good, you live! That all that be important... they live or die, no matter... you live! that what matters! Fight to live!"
When he's not drilling the survivors in how to attack and defend themselves, he'll spar with Yewleaf, and anyone else who wants or needs to hone their skills.
There is a cave complex nearby. There is also a cabin and a hideout of the Chernasardo rangers. You know roughly where each of these is located.
Kwiazy is excited when he hears about the cave... "Cave mebbe has danger. Or mebbe make good hidey place. We find out?"
Xakroo nodded, Yes, I'll volunteer to help find a better home for the people. Perhaps we should explore the cave complex first? Or somewhere else?
Jynnjun shakes her head, "Caves are good, but allies are better. To the rangers! Anyway, the cave will still be there later."
Yewleaf ponders whats being said and then speaks, "Allies may be good, but I feel like the cave might offer a better location to make camp for now. We need to get these people into an easily defensible position that is sheltered from the weather. The Cave complex if explored and made safe could shelter us and the villagers for a while." Yewleaf sharpens his kukri as everyone is talking.
Jarvak nods. "Me think caves better. Move people from danger first. Else hobgobbos come and smash kill eat. Rangers later?"
Morgryn looked dumb-founded as he turned to look at the little goblin. He opened his mouth but nothing came out and then he frowned deeply. "SMELL caves?? Don't be DAFT!" He shook his head. "Just 'cause we live underground doesn't mean we have some sort of...of..." He floundered for the right words for a moment and then finally got it. "some sort of cave sense or somethin'!" He threw up his arms and turned away from the goblin, hiding the smile threatening to bloom on his face.
He listened to the others and finally he nodded. "A cabin sounds more comfortable fer the townsfolk, though if the cave itself isn't inhabited or dang'rous, it would be more defensible likely."
We have far too many people to fit in a cabin, we need more space. Yewleaf remarks.
Me no daft! says an offended Charzark Me clever saientestist making hypotothesis! Anyways, caves have monsters, me prefer allies just yet!
Xakroo inspected one of his arrows as he pondered. So, either we find allies in the rangers first, or go to the caves to find shelter first. Both are excellent choices, yet both can carry risks as well as rewards...
"Mebbe rangers still be there after caves, yes?"
"Everywhere we travel we will have to bring these villagers as well as protect them, if we journey to the Ranger station we will have to protect them the entire way there as well as move slowly, we then will have to go to the caves. Why not establish a safe location in the caves first so we can travel unburdened." Yewleaf stops sharpening his blade and sheathes it as he talks.
As you talk, one of the refugees interrupts your meeting. "A man just showed up at our camp. He was running, and he is very scared."
"We can discuss this latter, lead us to him." Yewleaf states with authority.
"Maybe he has new information," Jarvak says.
Morgryn nodded his agreement and turned to stride purposefully towards where this 'new arrival' had come running in. He was more concerned to see if anything was following them and would let the others interrogate him for the moment to see how he found their band of refugees...though he stays close enough to hear the conversation.
Xakroo immediately heads over to check on the newcomer, checking to see if there is anything suspicious about him.
The man is so scared that all he can do is scream. He keeps looking back behind him.
Jynnjun bustles over to try and get some sense out of him. "Hey, hey now, there's nothing so dangerous as that here... let's try and keep it that way, so a bit less screaming, mmm?"
"Please halt your screaming, you are safe now with us."
"Human, calm down. We on the same side," Jarvak says.
(Assisting Yewleaf)
"You stop now... shhh, you not mewling pup... you safe here."
Charzark watches as the rest crowd around the man trying to calm him and shakes his head If I was a hugeman surrounded by them I'd scream too
"I... I... I'm Edran. I'm a traveler from Taldor. I was staying at the Taproot in Phaendar when those monsters attacked. I was so scared when I saw the invaders in the streets, but I managed to flee before
being spotted. I even saw a ferocious bugbear with a scarred head tearing a townsperson apart. I can't get his screams out of my head."
Yewleaf leaves his companions to talk to the man and seeks out Jet, You were the innkeeper correct, do you remember that man staying in the inn before the assault. I want to make sure his story checks out, who knows what a man would be willing to do to escape those monsters."
Jet confirms that the stranger was staying in her inn just before the Ironfang attack. She had never met him before that visit to her inn.
Yewleaf returns quickly to the man to hear the rest of his story.
When you press Edran for more details, he is very vague and only repeats what he already said, together with complaining that he was too scared to notice or remember any more. He can't remember his run to you because of how scared he was.