"What, no way he gets to ride the pony first. I'm not waiting in line after him. Last time I stepped in it, and in case you didn't notice, we halflings don't wear shoes. Why don't we just let him out and take him with us? That'll give everyone else a chance at pony rides while we're gone. Sound good? Good. Wait, you gotta leash for that thing? Eh, I guess if you don't need one than neither does he. He better not eat me or I'm gonna get real mad"
Gurcich nods and smiles.
The mayor lets out a hearty chuckle.
"Do you think Kessan ventured into battle with leisure? No young ones you do not get to take Miranda with you, I am sorry but she has to stay here." The mayor would pat the pony and then give a serious look to the brave adventurers.
"But. You do get some basic supplies that should aid you along the way. First of all here is something that will help you get to the crypt itself. And something so we can make sure that you survive along the way"
The mayor would hand every single one of them a piece of map and with it drop a big backpack that is at least half full into their laps.
He would then give them a look of empathy.
"Carry what you have with caution. And be careful as even the journey itself to the crypt already should prove to be challenging so be weary as the crypt is could be far more dangerous then the journey. Now go forth young heroes! Make your way onwards and bring us the flame that shall keep the city warm trough the winter!"
With that he pushes a silver lantern into the hands of the heroes and the town folk start cheering at their heroes.
Qina immediately begins going through the pack taking stock of the contents inside. Satisfied with the gear, she slings the pack over her shoulder. She turns to face the crowd " fear not, good people. We will return with Fire! When next we meet, be ready to salute the new champions of Kassan!" She turns back to the group "everyone ready? Any last minute packing to do? Has everyone used the outhouse? It's going to be a long trip so I guess we better get going." She waves to the crowd with a big smile on her face, feeling a bit like a celebrity for the first time in her life.
Gurcich waves, happy in his newfound popularity, while telling the others not to forget his wolf companion.
"Karvili! Karvili!"
Staci smiles, enjoying Qina's theatricality. She is more than happy to have the halfling steal the show.
For her own part, Staci accepts the map and backpack solemnly. She can't help standing straighter than usual as she unconsciously feeds on her role as town hero.
Gurcich waves, happy in his newfound popularity, while telling the others not to forget his wolf companion.
"Karvili! Karvili!"
Although she doubts she'll match Qina's standard, Staci tries a reply in a heroic vein. "Go, Gurcich, and free your friend for we may need his help this day."
Gurcich screams with glee, and goes ahead, running and jumping.
When the others reach the border of the town you find him, tumbling and rolling, gleefully playing with Karvili, the she wolf happy with his recovered freedom.
Qina quickly takes mind notes of the items in her backpack as she goes over them. A small tent, a winter blanket to keep her warm, a waterskin that is pleasantly cold on touch, a box that contains tinder and three tindertwigs, a grappling hook without any rope attached to it and cheese and brown bread that could probably account for 5 days of travel.
-------------------------------------------------------------------
OTHER BACKPACKS:
As you go trough the contents of the supplies given to you you are able to find the following items that were also contained in the backpacks of your companions;
- Small tent
- 5 days’ worth of rations (brown bread and cheese
- a small tent
- a winter blanket
- a full waterskin
but there are some exclusive for you!
- A potion labelled: "Cure light wounds"
- Three torches
- 50 feet of hempen rope
- a small bottle of local brandy conveniently named - "Everflame's extinguisher
---------------------------------------------------------------
After talking to the townsfolk and her party the mayor places his palm on Qina's shoulder and looks towards the city gates.
"Just head south and use the map. It should take you two days at most to get to the crypt. He puts his palm off Qina's shoulder and fixes the collar on his dark red ceremonial dress as he looks back to the townsfolk.
"Now then Kessan's people! Our heroes shall leave so let us prepare a glorious feast for when they return!
He would raise his hands and the crowd would erupt in cheers once more clapping and giving the heroes their best wishes.
[OOC] For some reason I was not able to get the spoilers to work in other backpacks so it will be separated from the rp with the lines.
Staci smiles and shrugs her pack onto one shoulder. She raises her pitchfork to acknowledge the cheers and an embarrassed smile drifts across her face.
The smile becomes more natural when she scoops Gurcich's pack up. She knows that he just doesn't get 'stuff'. I bet that he'll be happy for the food tonight when we're hungry.
She looks to Stefan and Qina, waiting for one of them to take the lead out of town. Once they start, she falls in line, waving to the crowd and marching, marching, to the gate.
Coming abreast of Gurcich and Karvili, she stops to watch them play for a moment. Then she holds the pack out to her wild friend.
"Gurcich, put this on. It holds food for the journey."
Gurcich smiles at Stacy.
"Food? Food!"
He wears the backpack and prepares for the journey.
Karvili goes to Qina and starts licking the halfling's face.
Qina quickly takes mind notes of the items in her backpack as she goes over them. A small tent, a winter blanket to keep her warm, a waterskin that is pleasantly cold on touch, a box that contains tinder and three tindertwigs, a grappling hook without any rope attached to it and cheese and brown bread that could probably account for 5 days of travel.
-------------------------------------------------------------------
OTHER BACKPACKS:
As you go trough the contents of the supplies given to you you are able to find the following items that were also contained in the backpacks of your companions;
- Small tent
- 5 days’ worth of rations (brown bread and cheese
- a small tent
- a winter blanket
- a full waterskin
Qina quickly takes mind notes of the items in her backpack as she goes over them. A small tent, a winter blanket to keep her warm, a waterskin that is pleasantly cold on touch, a box that contains tinder and three tindertwigs, a grappling hook without any rope attached to it and cheese and brown bread that could probably account for 5 days of travel.
-------------------------------------------------------------------
OTHER BACKPACKS:
As you go trough the contents of the supplies given to you you are able to find the following items that were also contained in the backpacks of your companions;
- Small tent
- 5 days’ worth of rations (brown bread and cheese
- a small tent
- a winter blanket
- a full waterskin
"Thank you your honor. It is our pleasure to be of service to Kassen, and to the hardworking people that live here. We are off, and when we return, we will all celebrate. And just remember, you can never prepare too much food." With her remarks completed she checks the straps on her pack. That should be snug enough she thinks to herself as she turns to head south.
At the edge of the town she spots Gurcich and Karvili playing like they always do. Upon noticing the party, they take a break and approach the group of friends. Staci hands the pack to Gurcich while Karvili jumps up and licks Qina's face. Qina almost falls to the ground at the wolf's playful embrace, but manages to stay on her feet. She wrestles with Karvili for a moment before speaking: "Now, now, that's a good wolf. Going to keep us company are you? Well that's good, but you remember to keep your eyes and ears open, and if you smell something unusal, you be sure to tell us, ok? That's a good girl." she fishes out a small hunk of cheese for Karvili and pats the wolf's head one last time before continuing on.
Karvili playfully bites gently on the halfling's hand, and then goes running around the group.
Stefan slings the backpack to his shoulders (thinking That brandy could come in handy!) and sets off south with Qina.
"So, according to the map, the crypt is past Serpent Gorge, just before the Serpent Hills. Well those are terrible names. I mean, really, who uses the same word twice, totally unoriginal. It's as if they're not even trying to be creative. Hmm, I wonder why they're called that. Hey Gurcich, do you know why they're called serpent stuff? Are they full of snakes or something? I mean serpent could really refer to any number of numerous lizard or snake like creatures...or both." She shrugs. "Oh well, not much to be done about it now, just gotta be quiet and keep our eyes and ears open. Yup...mums the word."
Staci lays her pitchfork across a shoulder, and stares down at her friend. "Never thought about the names. That's funny."
She hitches up her pack. "We've got miles to go before we sleep. Let's get a move on."
Karvilli enjoys the walk more than anyone, being free at last...
Qina continues the long hike south towards their destination. Although she struggles with remaining quiet, it seems to come easier once she is lost in thought.
Karvili seems to be enjoying herself. I guess she should be what with being caged up all the time. Hmm, I bet Karvili doesn't really like the village all that much. She would probably like to come with me when I leave. Although she probably won't come without Gurcich, and I don't think he'll come without Staci. Staci would probably love to come along. Hmm, maybe after we return the flame, we should all just keep going together...but where would we go...
"Gah, how long have we been walking? It feels like days, and look, I'm starting to sweat. Are we there yet? I could use a break. How 'bout we stop for a bit and have a snack. I bet Karvili and Gurcich would like a snack. Am I right?"
Gurcich smiles and nods.
Karvili goes to Qina and licks her face again.
"There's a nice copse of alder up ahead. That might be a nice place to stop."
The party is approaching their place they chose to rest. There is a big alder along with a few bushes with the forest expanding behind them. There is also a tree trunk lying on the ground. It seems as travellers or someone else frequents this as a resting place as it is clearly visible that the ground is as hard as the one on the trail.
You hear some odd grunting coming from a batch of bushes that are located a few meters away from the the area where you wanted to rest.
"Watch out! Something is in those bushes," says Stefan, as he gets his rapier ready.
Karvili starts barking at the bushes, while Gurcich grabs his quarterstaff.
Qina moves within 25 ft of the noise, but no closer.
Her pitchfork laid over one shoulder, Staci walks beside Qina.
When the Halfling stops, Traci continues forward, dropping the pitchfork into a waist high two-handed grip with the prongs extended in front of her.
Staci's pitchfork glides toward the bushes....
Qina's pulse races and she can hear the sound of her heart beating. It's as if time slowed to a crawl. Hundreds of possibilities rushed through her head. Whats making that noise? It could be a rabbit, or a badger, or a snake, or a squirrel, or a turtle...wait, a turtle? Really Qina? A turtle? Why would a turtle be hiding in a bush? I don't know, I'm not a ranger. Ask the turtle. Maybe it's a bear cub, or a fox. Oooh maybe it's a wolf pup, Kavilla could be a mommy. Focus Qina, you've got to be ready for anything. You don't see the others thinking to themselves.
Gurchich sees Staci advance towards the bushes, and he is not willing to let her put in danger, so he advances a little more, his quarterstaff extended towards the bush, and starts growling, like a wolf would do.
As Staci pushes the pitchfork into a push something as green as a turtle Qina was thinking of yet far larger jumps out a bush. It appears to be an orc that is not very pleased by the pointy pitchfork that appeared out of nowhere.
Confused he is looking around around at the party members not sure what is going on.
His torso is covered in a worn leather armour (clearly visible form the scratches all over it) and one could assume that the armour continues downwards to the legs that are hidden in the brush as we speak. He does not have any weapons in his hands at the moment but you can clearly see a few daggers strapped on the chest of his armour. And it would be safe to assume that little daggers isn't everything a creature of his stature would be armed with.
Gurcich readies an attack... if the orc makes a sudden move, or reach for his weapons, it's pummeling time!
Karvili growls, waiting for Gurcich to attack before she does too...
"Why hello there friend. What's your name? My name is Qina, and my friends here are...nervous, twitchy, anxious, and ...furry. Please keep your hands where we can see them. It's too early in the day for bloodshed."
Staci staggers back a step. She'd been expecting a boar, or two. She keeps her pitch fork low, ready for a thrust.
.......
Stefan moves behind it with his rapier out, but does not make any particularly threatening motions.
The green creature growls at Quina and then growls some more this time at the sky. He scuffs at the party and opens his mouth pointing at it and then points at his right hand that that is on top of one of the daggers. He proceeds to look at the party with an angry gaze.
When the orc was gesturing you something you clearly focused on the important things. The sound! It seemed like there was a sound of growling when he looked into the sky. But opposed to the others you identify that the sound is coming from the belly of the creature and not from his mouth.
Gurcich smiles, and drops his quaterstaff.
"Food!" - he says while pointing into his his open mouth.
He sits, and gets some rations out.
He extends one to the Orc, smiling.
Karvili sees Gurcich relax, and also drops the threatening posture. As soon as the rations are out she starts munching on one.
"I do believe our friend here is hungry..."
Staci eases back on the pitchfork, but remains standing. "I'm not sure that meant food. Or at least I don't think he's asking nicely."
Qina looks at Gurcich "Hey twitchy, can you see if there are any other sets of tracks around the area besides this guys? Let's see if he's alone, and have Karvili keep her nose in the air. If there are more about, they'll be close."
The orc is looking at the party as it converse and then points to the rations. And then to the wild boy with it. He growls again and gives the boy a stern look.