Thorn bows, " T-Thorn Dulani, Chosen of Damerrich. We humble r-request cooperation " The man devolves more and more into a timid nature
" If you would have us. "
A flock of birds fly over, as the crowd returns to their shopping.
Arriving at Mary's, you find her in good spirits.
An elderly lady sits at the bar, talking to her and the both of them laugh.
Old woman. "....never seen a more surprised look on a guy's face, heehee."
Grint looks at Thorn and tessa, judging them them on their attire and then looks back at Elsa.
"Well what would you say about that? Some companions might be nice if we go travelling again. Any thoughts Burdock?"
I wonder if they will punch first and ask questions later? Elsa muses
"They can't be as bad as her. Certainly not Thorn here. I guess you guys are welcome to join us. I'm Grint by the way, nice to meet you two."
They can't be as bad as her.
One of the patrons at Mary's is Gurin Copperbeard, who laughs heartily at your arrival.
"By my grandfather's beard, look who walks in, good to see you my friends. Mary, a drink for them on me!" She nods and serves you what you want.
Gurin:"I have to say, the sturdiness of this city doesn't match the Sky Citadel, but this inn's mead and ale are pretty good for non-dwarven drinks." He takes a gulp from his tankard. "I have good news. I have contacted our representative in the city, he has arranged a coach to take me as far as possible towards Janderhoff. Of course, a coach has enough space for more than 1 person. I'd like to invite you to join me, as a thank you for gettin' me out of that dreadful place. I leave in the mornin'."
Thorn looks at the Dwarf.. then to the rest..confused.
Well I'm not adverse to a coach ride, but why are we visiting the dwarves when the pumpkins are a short ride north?
Gurin looks at the two newcomers.
"These two be new friends of yours?"
Shrugging at the absence of two of previous party members;
"Ah well, we all have places to be, if ever you see those two give them my thanks."
Mary smiles as she cleans the bar.
"I think the two newcomers are after the pumpkin rumor.
Surely you can take those two along, you'll get two meads on the house if you do."
The dwarf's eyes widen and he strokes his beard with a smile.
"Now THAT sounds like a mighty fine idea."
Mary turns to the party again.
"What can i say, i'm good with people.
Matter of fact, i've got a new girl working and living here, since one the last two moved away to Almas. Ah, there she is."
Coming from a corner in the back with a tray, there's the new girl.
It takes some time, but three of you recognize Jenny, though she looks freshened up and properly taken care of, opposed to the state she was in at her cell.
"H-hi guys, h-h-how are you?
C-c-could you b-belie-ve it, i've g-got cl-cl-clothes and a h-home of s-so-rts." She's much more cheerful.
Mary smiles.
"She's a sweetheart, until she finds her family she's got a place to stay here. The cat likes her too, that's a big plus."
Gurin told you he'd be at the city stables in morning the next day.
Night comes and thankfully you feel rested when you get up, someone was after your life the day before after all.
Gurin: "Ah, good mornin', i hope you're all suited up."
Once you've all taken a seat, the coach takes off.
Coach driver: "We'll be on the plains near the mountains in somewhat less than a day and a half, given some of the roads are not much more than dirt tracks. Hyah girls, move out." *Whip*, the coach leaves.
The ride goes well for several hours, the coastal scenery changing to plains with only the few trees now and then. Eventually the coach driver holds the reigns. "Whoah....by Abadar, what happened here?"
On the side of the road is a scene of disorder, a mobile home stands abandoned, its interior ravaged as well as a campfire scene that shows signs of struggle.
Thorn gets out worried he examines the scene solemnly
Grint jumps out of the wagon and surveys the surroundings, then moves over to the abandoned mobile home and checks to see if there's something inside. He draws his greatsword before he opens any door.
"Hello? Anybody still in there?"
If he doesn't get a reply he opens the door and looks inside.
The campfire is arranged with some small wooden stools and a small cauldron. The footprints suggest 4 people, 3 adults and a kid.
There's also signs of dragging at least 1 body having been dragged off.
Grint opens the half-open door, it creaking in its damaged hinges.
All is quiet, but Grint sees 2 beady eyes belonging to what appeared to be a small ferret looking back.
"No mr. Ferry, comeback."
A small boy was hiding under a sheet underneath the bed.
"You...are not with them. They took my parents, my granny and big sister. Evil people."
"Evil people? Can you come out so we can talk? This is not a place for you to stay alone, even with a trusted friend and companion like your ferret here."
When the boy comes out, Grint takes him under his wing, putting an arm around his shoulders.
"Well now, can you tell us your name? And what those Evil people looked like? We might be able to free your family if you point us in the right direction."
The boy, no more than 7 or 8 years old, crawls out of hiding.
A tanned varisian boy with black hair.
"My name's Tim sir. The five of us were camped up last night, we were on our way to the ferry at Harse. I was looking for mr. Ferry here, when i heard the screams coming from the campfire. A band of men....8 maybe, were kidnapping my family and dragged them off. I was too scared to go out, so i hid. I heard the screams go that way."
Tim points east, where in the distance, is a large field of high wheat.
You can make out a small gathering of houses and farms.
Harse is a small town of approx 800 inhabitants at a 3 way intersection at the Falcon River. It has a ferry.
Burdock is pleased to meet Gurin again and happily accepts his offer. "You'd be some fine company on this journey."
"It seems evil must be brought right once again.", Burdock looking to the dirt for comfort first. He then looks for any tracks possibly aid their search.
Elsa's eyes narrow... I will teach these ruffians not to molest small boy's families!
Elsa says Grint. We will destroy these brigands. Lead us to them..and we will show them the fury of the North Wind. Elsa lapses into using the "royal" we...something she does when angered.
Elsa grabs her Wand and protects herself (Mage Armor) and then grabs her newest Wand...(True Strike)
Gurin, this might take a moment. Are you and the driver going to be all right here with the boy or will you accompany us? Kidnappers aren't the most pleasant sort.
Tessa pulls her shield from the floor and steps down. Then stops a moment to concentrate, turning slowly and looking over the wheat field. Finally, reassured this is merely as awful as it seems she begins walking along side the drag marks being careful not to obscure them.
Well put, Elsa.
Thorn sighed, though the timid man clearly showed anger. " W-We don't have much time either. Likely t-thy would be doing terrible t-things. L-Let's not make this one an O-Orphan. "
Thorn goes with the front rank, tracking the pathway through the heat.
The tracks lead into the wheat field, where it becomes difficult to follow.
Tessa can't make it.
While everyone sees a scarecrow, supported by a stick in the back, with some birds sitting on it nearby, Grint notices something feels off. The birds fly off as the group comes closer. Thorn is quite taken with the marvel of the scarecrow.
Scarecrow (on hold for Grint's action.)
Elsa & Tessa
Grint
Father Burdock
Thorn (fascinated until snapped out)
"Careful! That scarecrow isn't just a mere puppet of straw!"
Grint raises his bow and fires a single shot at it.
The scarecrow, a construct made of cloth and various stuffings.
It has two slam attacks which can cause people to feel afraid.
Grint takes out his bow and nodges an arrow.
The scarecrow shambles forward on its stuffings.
Elsa & Tessa
Grint (at least 1 sure hit)
Father Burdock
Thorn (fascinated)
Burdock is surprised by the scarecrow's strike, but his newly enchanted dwarven steel holds true. "So I guess this is a field test...", the Toragite tapping his armor.
Elsa knows nothing of silly straw men.
Elsa uses the power of her wand to make her next attack especially accurate.
Tessa shifts through the wheat like waves, drawing her greatsword in silence, and comes at the scarecrow from behind.
Die, foul lich!
The encounter is swift.
As Grint nodges an arrow, the scarecrow attempts to Father Burdock, to no effect.
Elsa fortifies her chance to strike on her next action, while Tessa makes a detour and slashes into the straw boogieman for 7.
Grint's turn.
Father Burdock
Thorn is admiring the straw man.
Grint moves south, then shoots the scarecrow for 16.
Father Burdock's turn.
Burdock takes his hand, channeling the power of Torag and disrupts the scarecrow's magical bindings.
Father Burdock hits the torso of the straw man, its head turning eerily in response.
Thorn admires the straw man.
---------------------------------
Scarecrow slams twice.
It hits Father Burdock on the head.
Father Burdock is unaffected.
It makes a quick 5ft hop NW.
Elsa & Tessa
Grint
Thorn (Fascinated)
Father Burdock
Scare crows are immune to cold.
They can cripple people with fear via their attacks.
Scarecrow slams twice, it hits Father Burdock on the head.
Will DC 14: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (20) + 7 = 27 Father Burdock is unaffected.
It makes a quick 5ft hop NW.
Elsa throws a rimed cold attack. It hits the scarecrow.....to no effect, save for it tilting its head left and right.
Tessa's turn.
Grint
Thorn (Fascinated)
Father Burdock
Tessa follows the automaton, but her second swing goes wide.
Face me, oh bane of birds.
Bloodied by the lucky strike, Burdock battles unfazed, touching the creature again. "It'll take more than straw to batter dwarven steel!"
Tessa's attack misses.
Grint 5 ft steps east and goes rapid.
Both misses, but Father Burdock's anti-construct touch deals another 6 dmg.
---------------------------------------------
The straw man swings its arms around, before 5 stepping to more victims.
Tessa is struck with terror and is cowering in fear.
Elsa
Tessa (cowering)
Grint
Thorn (fascinated)
Father Burdock
Elsa, seeing her spell had no effect, draws her wand of pew pewing and levels it at the Scarecrow
The straw man swings its arms around, before 5 stepping to more victims.
Tessa is struck with terror and is cowering in fear.
Elsa uses the wand of MM and shoots an arcane projectile into the straw head.
Tessa (cowering)
Grint steps 5ft south to shoot more arrows.
The strawman falls down after two arrows make a big impact. It's glowy eyes fading as it falls over.
Combat over.
Thorn comes to his senses.
His new armor battered, Burdock heals himself and buffs out a dent.
It takes a few taps, but the dwarf is back to full vitality. "Let us continue our search if everyone is ready."
Tessa pulls herself together, then says a small prayer to Tanagaar while easing the tension out of her shoulders.
I'm sorry friends. I have no idea what afflicted me. Let me examine this construct now that it is inanimate.
She then stops to poke the thing, pulling bits of it apart looking for magical sigils or signs of a reliquary.
Whatever magics were on the straw man, they sure weren't pleasant, is what Tessa can determine.
With the brief encounter over, you can resume trying to pick up the trail.