"What sort of personal effect did you have in mind that is so oddly shaped?"
BTW, before going to sleep, Alexis figured out a solution to the pesky task of changing clothes. Ain't magic great? ;D
No Elorin muses, it is not....
Hramama-Rhaara Rababraba izzi boooby flin-flon and a big fat fart! 'you talking to me, little bugger? 'Cause I can't understand a bleedin' word o'yer gobble-gobble!
The goblin eyes snap to Grease-Beard's face, anger mixing with confusion. I know he's making fun of me; I just don't understand the words…
All at once, the weight of Biter's sizable meal hits him , and a jaw-rending yawn engulfs him. Shaking it off, Biter scans the room for a suitable place to bed down. Spotting a suitable lair in a corner opposite Grease-Beard's pile of gear, Biter wanders to where he dropped his pack earlier, then wearily drags it to his intended destination, each foot heavy with food-induced lethargy. The powerful goblin releases his gear next to an ale-barrel resting against the corner, then, like a dog squeezing under a fence (when you swore there wasn't enough room), the little hunter squeezes in underneath the wooden container.
You hear some shuffling and slight bumping, and almost immediately the sounds of cat-pur-like-snoring emit from under the ale-barrel.
"Well I suppose I shall retire as well dawn prayers and the boarding of the ship will come early." Abbas rises and gives a short bow "And my the dawn bring new light gentleman." and with that he gathers his pack and walks up the stairs to his quarters.
Falcon smirks. "Should we tell him he has a room upstairs, or just not bother? Mr. Darknugget and Mr. Ravarath will probably sleep much better without him there. Speaking of sleep, I believe the mulled wine is getting to me, and I shall retire upstairs. Hopefully our last two will arrive before our pre-dawn departure."
An older man walks and looks at the man chatting with the bald monk,"You Falcon Gray?" the old man says, showing little concern for interupting. "If so, how soon do we leave this damned city?"
The grey-haired man slowly turns to regard the newest arrival. "Ah, you must be Gregor Trevian. Very good that you have arrived and found this inn successfully. We leave this 'damned city', as you call it, in just over 7 hours, which is why we should all get some sleep. Good night all."
And with that comment, Gregor goes upstairs and goes to sleep.
The door to the tavern pushes open, and a man who looks to have not seen more than thirty-five summers steps in slowly.
"Master Gray, I presume? May the eyes of Erastil look well upon you this night, and always." he rumbles in a deep baritone, stepping up to the man with the graying hair and pulling out a chair. He sits slowly, removing the bound greatsword from his back and leaning it agains the weathered wood of the table.
"I apologize for my tardiness. I'm afraid the directions I had to find this...fine establishment were lacking in accuracy. I'm here now, though. It is my understanding that we will be disembarking on the morrow?"
Falcon Gray stops his procession to the stairs for the third time and smiles at the newcomer. "Before dawn, ship weighs anchor in about 7 hours. Feel free to get to know some of your companions; others are already asleep, as I need to be soon too. Good night, all."
"What sort of personal effect did you have in mind that is so oddly shaped?"
"It is a prashikrun ka murtri. I do not know the words in common, maybe a... training's device for my art."
"What sort of personal effect did you have in mind that is so oddly shaped?""It is a prashikrun ka murtri. I do not know the words in common, maybe a... training's device for my art."
** spoiler omitted **
"Hmmm...I think I have an idea of what you're talking about. It's too big to bring along, but go get it, we'll shrink it in size and then when we get to Arcadia, we'll make it big again for you to have there."
"Hmmm...I think I have an idea of what you're talking about. It's too big to bring along, but go get it, we'll shrink it in size and then when we get to Arcadia, we'll make it big again for you to have there.""What sort of personal effect did you have in mind that is so oddly shaped?""It is a prashikrun ka murtri. I do not know the words in common, maybe a... training's device for my art."
** spoiler omitted **
Rath nods his thanks, dashes upstairs, returns bearing a handaxe, and vaults a table on his bee-line course out the door.
Falcon Gray will cast a spell on the contraption the next morning that reduces it to 1/16 of its original size. He tells Rath that it's permanent, but that it can be ended whenever he wants (ideally, when you arrive in Arcadia).
"Then sleep as well shall I," says Gram. "Rest well, Master Gray."
With that, the paladin finds a bed for a few well-deserved hours of rest.
Falcon Gray will cast a spell on the contraption the next morning that reduces it to 1/16 of its original size. He tells Rath that it's permanent, but that it can be ended whenever he wants (ideally, when you arrive in Arcadia).
Perfect. Thanks.
Arcadia - for the adventurous spirit, the very name takes your breath away, raises your heart-rate and makes your palms sweat all at the same time. What great hidden discoveries are there, just waiting for someone to find them?
You are awakened in your rooms at the Anchor's Away by a rude pounding on your doors. The sky outside your tiny, grimy windows is still pitch black and the air is chilled by unseasonably-cool temperatures. Sleepily (except perhaps for the elf and elf-kin), you pack up your belongings in the dim light of a candle and make your way down to the common room. Your kobold chef has prepared a masterful sending-off breakfast of bacon, eggs, toast, fresh fruit and coffee. Despite your early awakening, Falcon Gray apparently has already been up, eaten, and out. One of the serving wenches hands Rath his training device, carefully wrapped in silk and shrunk to minute proportions, and a slip of paper with a note from Gray.
Good morning, team. Sorry about missing breakfast, but I had another urgent summons in the night. Honestly, we can't be underway fast enough at this point. I have included directions on finding the ship, and let people know to expect you. Please be there within the hour after you get this note; the Lady Iona departs before dawn. See you soon. Falcon Gray
You quickly eat your delicious breakfast, gather your belongings and head out (I assume somebody wakes up Biter). The air, as promised when you awoke, has a distinct chill to it - could have been refreshing if not for the typical smells of a port city's docks district. As it is, rotting seaweed, ripe fish, salt air, and humanoid sweat mingle with the savoury scents of freshly-baked meat pies from the street vendors who are just now starting to setup shop for the day.
It's not difficult at all to follow Gray's directions and locate the Lady Iona. She's a two-masted carrack with a full aft deck and half fo'c'sle; even to the untrained eye, she seems built for speed, not cargo capacity. Quarters are likely to be tight. Near the foot of the gangplank, a rickety table has been set up, staffed by two men with the look of soldiers, who stand guard over a thick ledger, hunkering down in their cloaks slightly against the chill. Despite the early hour, there is a small line of people waiting to get on board - the two soldiers take their names and other information, writing it in the book. It takes a few minutes before your group is at the front.
"Good morning," one of the soldiers says in greeting, "names, please."
Now that you are up close, you notice a coat of arms on the shoulders of their uniforms. Knowledge (Nobility) DC 15:
As you begin writing your names, ages, and occupations into the ledger, a horse-drawn wagon clops up next to the ship.
Biter, having been awakened by the kitchen activity, but somehow having missed Falcon as he departed, has been excitable all morning. Mercilessly laughing and joking with anyone who will listen (well, all except Grease-Beard), it is obvious he's excited to see the "Big Boat" and get their adventure started. Once again ravenously hungry, he devours a meal nearly twice the size of any human's for breakfast, and paces like a caged mountain cat while waiting for the other's to gather their belongings.
As the group undergoes the laborious task of giving all their requisite credentials, Biter finds his way up onto an upturned wooden cask and sits idly eating two pieces of bacon he seems to have swiped for the road.
His red eyes, catching even the lowest light in an eery manner, turn to the sounds of the approaching wagon. A tiny fist darts out to strike Rath, and when Rath turns, Biter nods to the slowing vehicle, an eye-brow ridge quirking in askance.
As you begin writing your names, ages, and occupations into the ledger, a horse-drawn wagon clops up next to the ship.
While filling out the paper work Gregor asks the soldier, "So, who's the big muckety-muck pulling up? And more importantly, should I care?"
Stinky signs his name on the register with a precise and expertly drawn rune.
Otherwise he lingers around casually in the shadows of the buildings. He keeps his eyes open for any unusual goings on. He observes the gluttonous little goblin warily. One of his barrels is on his shoulder - wrapped in canvas. He is rolling the other one along with his feet.
"Muckety-muck?" the soldier asks. He shakes his head. "That should be the prisoner transfer arriving." The other soldier leaves the table to head up the gangplank.
As men in armour leap down from the wagon and begin escorting men and women in chains over towards the ship, you hear what sound like horse hooves on the gangplank. A quick look reveals a stern-faced centaur with an impressive beard carefully making his way down the ramp.
In total, there are 8 prisoners. In the lead of the chain of chained people is a hulking half-orc with a murderous look about him, a voluptuous human woman with striking red hair, a battle-scarred human woman of no great beauty, a young human boy of no more than 12 years, a male halfling with no distinguishing features, a lithe half-elven woman that stalks the ground like a cat even though chained, a huge hulking human man with a dumb expression on his face, and a human woman wearing tattered seaman's clothing and a wild look about her.
As the prisoners make their way across the docks toward the gangplank, the young boy breaks away from the line, not to escape apparently, but he runs towards a shadowy figure, hidden and cloaked a short distance away. "Mama!" he calls as he runs.
He only gets about forty feet before two guards tackle him and pull him roughly to the ground. "Wat!!" the woman screams, slightly hysterically. "I love you, boy! Be brave, my little lamb!"
The woman continues to cry out and sob as the soldiers drag the weeping boy back to the line.
Elorin, with Alexis in tow, makes sure they sign in and Elorin boards the ship with their gear to try and secure a private room for his employer, I mean lady, as well as see what the ship looks like. He turn a little pale as the ship bobs for its first time.
He will wonder around the ship and start to introduce himself to the other passengers and make sure they know that Lady Alexis will be boarding shortly, like they are really interested...
With a concerned look on his face he looks over at Alexis and then to the nearest sailor on board, Diplomacy 1d20+5=1+5=6! Nice start!
"Ho there, what is the meaning of these prisoners being brought aboard this ship, I thought this was an expedition, not a prisoner barge?"
Rath had a sleepless night. Following his 'wild hair', he was up until the earliest hours of the morning, locating a sizable tree trunk of the proper wood, then hewing it into a crude but serviceable practice dummy. Unfortunately, he didn't have the time to be gentle about it and the handaxe he 'borrowed' from the sleeping dwarf paid the price. It would need a good whetting to return it to sharpness. Rath chuckled to himself. Perhaps the dwarf would think twice about calling him 'Pipes' after this. Job done, he hefted the 300lbs of wood onto his shoulder and trudged back to the Inn.
He thanked Falcon again, left the dummy in his charge, and went to bed. It seemed like only minutes later when he was awakened for breakfast. Improving his appetite immensely, he returned the handaxe to Pete over the hurried meal. The sturdy dwarf's quick eyes noted the damage to his weapon. His glare was impressive.
At the dock, Biter's punch wakes him from his reverie - the smell of the sea and the sound of seabirds. He gives his tiny comrade a nod of acknowledgment - I see it - and then uses one of the few code-signs they used when they worked together before - Flanking. Rath, casually strolls to the other side of their party making sure that he or Biter is in a position to act, if needed.
Darknugget hauls his gear on board and looks for a place to stow it for now. Keeping his sack handy, he strolls along the deck and back down to the dock. He's looking around for anything unusual. Who is the shadowy figure who the boy runs to? Pete casually slips to the side behind the cover of whatever he can find and tries to get a closer look at the person.
Rather than just standing there looking suspiciously nosy, he makes himself look busy by sharpening his axe...and just remembers the reason for his foul mood . grr! ee's got arms like a tree bole but the brain of a bat turd...I'll larn 'im to use an axe! That idiot! spit
Rath watches the prisoners arrival with professional interest - assessing them as potential threats and looking for anything out of the ordinary, particularly when the guards are distracted by the running child.
Abbas awakens and dons his leather armor, clips his sheathed scimitar to his belt, and affixes his shield to his back before grabbing his pack pack and leaving.
upon seeing the prisoners
"Prisoners?" Abbas turns to one of the soldiers "I thought this was to be an expedition not a prisoner transfer?
[ooc] upon seeing the young boy
Abbas asks the a soldier "May I inquire as to what these prisoners were convicted of particularly the child there.
Abbas studies each of the prisoners carefully.
perception
While Elorin is getting dressed, he hears Alexis' voice whispering in his ears, "Elorin, I'm getting into my corset, could you please come here?"
Upon knocking on his lady's door, she calls out, "Come in!" and he enters to find that Alexis has gotten into her dress and her corset is still loose. With a big grin on face, the young mage holds the corset close to herself, takes a deep breath and says, "Close sesame!"
Before his eyes, the laces on Alexis corset pull tight like the drawstrings on a pouch. Looking over her shoulder via a small mirror in her hands, she then says, "Shazam!"
Instantly, the ends of the laces tie themselves in a neat little bow. Clearly excited by her arcane ingenuity, Alexis skips over to her intrepid elvish knight and twirls around looking up at him with a smile. "Pretty handy, isn't it? And people say we noble women can't do anything without a whole retinue of helpers..."
Meeting Elorin's eyes with her own, Alexis realizes that he's not nearly excited as he is and quickly adds, "Although it is true that we enjoy having strong, capable protectors by our sides, never fear that, brave Elorin!"
Hefting her 20-pound backpack with some strain, she is relieved when Elorin effortlessly helps her with it. Resting her left hand upon his right arm, the two make their way downstairs to enjoy a hearty breakfast — the princess clearly famished after last night's drinking.
By the time the two make it to the docks, about half of the other party members have started to board along with two new faces that she had not yet seen. Alexis approaches the guards and notices the heraldic badge they bear. House Tristane, hmm? Well, no matter.
Just as she is about to give the guards her and Elorin's names, she hears a familiar voice shout her name. Looking up at Elorin, she hands him her pack and says, "Please take care of things here, I'll be back in just a moment."
A few moments later and Alexis is nearly tackled by her more athletic twin sister, Alis. Enchanging hugs and laughing, Alexis chides, "Well it took you long enough to get here, we've already started boarding! Please, tell me you brought my blue nightgown from the hotel..."
Alis rolls her eyes. "Please, Miss Nell and I have been here for nearly half an hour. We just saw you walk up, don't give me that. And yes," she teases, "I remembered your nightie..." With a flick of her wrist, Alis tosses it over Alexis' head.
"Ahem..." Miss Nell clears her throat and steps out of a carriage parked in the shadows. She is carrying a large box with the words, Aernelóth Fashion Studios silk-screened onto the dark, satin-finished box it in silver ink, golden ribbons binding it.
Alexis gasps and covers her mouth with her hands, her eyes growing wide.
Miss Nell continues, "After helping her highness pack, it occurred to me that they lacked garments suitable to the more rugged environs reported by the last expedition our people made to Arcadia. Princess Alis and I thought you might be able to make good use of this..."
With that, Nelliel holds forth the box while Alexis carefully unwraps it and gazes fondly at the brand new explorer's outfit the bought for her. [b]"Boots, a pants-skirt, a warm blouse, front-laced corset and bolero, gloves, cloak, scarf, and of course a new hat." Nelliel gives a satisfied smile as she announces each item and sees the approval in her charge's indigo eyes. She continues, "All custom fit and tailored in your favorite colors, sea-blue and silver, Iadara's most distinguised tailor."
Alexis eyes grow huge and she looks at Alis who says with her in unison, "Lord Aernelóth?!"
Nearly knocking Miss Nell over as she gives her a big hug, she glances back to the long line still boarding the Lady Iona and runs over to the carriage saying, "I learned a new trick, I'll show you!"
Only a minute or two later, the three emerge again with Alexis clad in her new gear.
"Nice trick, sis!" Alis says, clearly impressed. "I guess I'll have to reconsider my opinion of arcanery. Clearly it's not just academic!"
Alexis looks back at the ship again seeing Elorin gazing about wondering where his lady has gotten to.
"Go make us proud sis!" Alis says as she gives her another hug. "Mom and Dad would be proud!"
"And you on your upcoming adventure too! Be safe and remember... cause all the trouble you like, just try not to get into any!"
"Be well, Miss Nell," she says as she embraces their retainer, "Only a couple more months and you'll get to enjoy some well-deserved rest!"
Trying not to get teary-eyed, the three women embrace once again before Alexis returns to board the ship.
"Ho there, what is the meaning of these prisoners being brought aboard this ship, I thought this was an expedition, not a prisoner barge?"
The excitement of her new outfit and the melancholy of her farewells is soon replaced by shock at the sight of the prison transfer.
As the prisoners make their way across the docks toward the gangplank, the young boy breaks away from the line, not to escape apparently, but he runs towards a shadowy figure, hidden and cloaked a short distance away. "Mama!" he calls as he runs.
He only gets about forty feet before two guards tackle him and pull him roughly to the ground. "Wat!!" the woman screams, slightly hysterically. "I love you, boy! Be brave, my little lamb!"
"Guards, what's all this about?" she demands. "It's just the boy's mother, let them say their farewells!"
Straining with the surprising amount of effort needed to restain such a gangly lad, one of the guards grunts out, "Sorry ma'am, but it's a security risk to you and everyone else aboard if someone slips them a shiv, lockpick or file. If your ladyship will excuse us—"
With that, the guard holds the boy still just long enough for another guard to knock him out with a sap and hoist him up onto his shoulders.
Alexis turns to the boy's hysterical mother who collapses to her knees in grief. Dropping her fancy dress on the street, the princess catches the woman by the shoulder and holds her head until she finishes crying. At last the woman looks up. "Your ladyship..." she begins, "I saw how you tried to help and it means a lot to an old mother. Lugs like them though..." She wipes her eyes as Alexis helps her back to her feet.
"Please," she implores, "I can see you aren't like the other nobles. Please just look out for my little boy, he ain't never meant to hurt nobody." She clasps Alexis' hands and presses a small object into the princess' gloved palms, "If it's not too much to ask, just let him have this keepsake to remember us by." With than the woman bows deeply and runs off trying not to start sobbing again.
Alexis looks down to examine what it is the woman gave her and finds it to be a small brass locket with what appears to be pictures of what must be the boy's mother and father inside. Frowning slightly, she glances about and tucks in down the cleavage of her corset to avoid notice. Behind her, Elorin has already picked up and dusted off her garments and holds out his right hand to escort his lady onto the ship.
"Certainly an interesting start to our journey, isn't it?" she comments as they board the vessel.
diplomacy
Rath watches the Kirmoons' parting, trying to recall what it felt like when he saw his own family for the last time. More like the boy and his mother, but I was younger... and there were no guards or beatings.
With rising concern, he watches Alexis console the woman. If this were a plot, that 'grieving mother' could easily be her death. Where is Elorin? Rath shifts closer, just in case. He doesn't know the young Miss' situation, but perhaps her family has enemies. He watches the women like a hawk.
When, Alexis approaches the gangway, Rath nods politely and says with a note of seriousness, "Miss. Please forgive but you and me need to talk about your security and... hm.. circumstances before too long goes by. That" indicating the crying mother, "was risk. Whatever she gave you that was put in your... hm.. bodices could have been a dagger in your heart instead. I think Master Elorin would maybe have same words as well."
Alexis looks up at Ravarath and just blinks, before looking back down at her bodice and frowning slightly. "I—" she sighs, "I suppose you have a good point... It was just a locket though," she steps closer to block anyone else's view as she fishes the locket free, blushing slightly as she does. "See?"
She hands Rath the locket looking about like a young girl who was just told her she'd have to give up her puppy.
"I guess we can cast detect magic on it later and Mr. Pete and I could dismantle it to ensure it's safe, but it certainly doesn't look dangerous."
"Miss. Please forgive but you and me need to talk about your security and... hm.. circumstances before too long goes by. That" indicating the crying mother, "was risk. Whatever she gave you that was put in your... hm.. bodices could have been a dagger in your heart instead. I think Master Elorin would maybe have same words as well."
Elorin walk up..."Rath, I thank you for the concern but I have the ladies security well in hand"drawing you over the bow now strapped over his back. You are not sure where it came from or when it appeared but it is quite a sight. You are not sure you have ever seen a bow like this before, it is by far the most impressive thing that Elorin appears to own.
The wood is dark brown, with green streaks in it and appears to be finely made. Carvings and symbols (In Elvish if you speak it) snake down its limbs. It is tipped with some sort of metal at either end as well. In all it looks like it would be very difficult to draw and fire."There is not much that can withstand the assault of werithal sutal!
"Rath, I know you meant no insult, but I don't necessarily have to be in front of Lady Alexis in order to protect her, escepcially with this." in a calmer voice.
He puts his arm out for Alexis in order to escort her up onto the ship, after the prisoners seem to be secure of course.
Upon hearing Elorin's stern words, you suddenly see understanding dawn on Alexis' innocent face. "Oh so you don't mean the locket—"
The young mage rubs her hand on her forehead, eyes closed and sighs, "It never even occurred to me that the situation could have been a ruse. Miss Nell and Alis were not even gone but two minutes yet..." Her voice trails off and she looks again at the locket realizing now that Rath wasn't implying the trinket itself was the danger.
She continues thinking out-loud in elvish, "Ja Kerroin Alis ei joutua vaikeuksiin. Ainakin hän tietää, milloin hän ottaa riskejä vaikka."
Composing herself, she pauses a moment and says, "Thank you both for your concern. I shall endeavor to be more cautious..." She frowns. "Particularly with a ship full of prisoners."
With that, she allows Elorin to escort her aboard the Lady Iona.
As Alexis and Elorin depart, Biter (who only the most perceptive of individuals would have known was present) mutters to Rath, "Biter is'ing agreeing with Friend Rath." He speaks without looking up at Rath, "There was'ing a flower back near Biter's tribe-home. Beautiful to be looking at, softest on'ing the fingers, and wonderful in the nose, but the stalk needles was'ing to have the most deadly of poisons. Most deceptive," Biter looks meaningfully up at Rath, "… most deadly."
The tiny warrior turns to watch the Longears and SnowHair board the ship, "Biter and Friend Rath is'ing to be very careful with those two. Lik'ing a pup with no danger-sense, SnowHair is'ing to get into trouble without guard, and arrogant Longears notting taking the responsibility of protection serious enough."
Once again he looks up at Friend Rath, "Biter and Friend Rath should notting let SnowHair to talk to these prisoners - even pup prisoner - with notting any protection. It notting be a bad idea for one to inspect that shiny thing in her dress, too."
When Rath turns to look back down at his tiny companion, he is gone, his bare feet having carried him silently back into the pre-morning darkness.
***
Biter silently stalks through the morning preparation, eyes and ears straining for any indicators of danger. Not even on the Big Boat and already we could have lost a group-member. The Pathfinder Hunt-Master would be pissed.
Biter will do his best to keep his eyes and ears open for anything suspicious, paying special attention to the prison exchange, the soldiers doing the sign-ins, and the interesting Horse-Man he had seen earlier.
After Elorin escorts Alexis to the cramped cabin provisioned to her, she locks the door (at his urging) and sits on her bunk feeling rather dejected. After a few minutes lost in though, she takes out her tinkering tools and beings dismantling the locket to inspect it for anything unusual...
Taking a deep breath, she tries again.
Biter also takes the time before the boarding to seek out and introduce himself to the members of the team he hasn't met yet.
A tug on your pants draws your eyes to the ground, and they are met by the eerily glowing red night-eyes of a goblin giving you a toothy grin. The grin is set in a torn and scarred goblin face, and from his ear hangs a black raven feather. Surprisingly powerful arms cross a puffed-up chest, and his body exudes confidence that you find uniquely un-like what you have heard is common to the craven goblin race. He is garbed like a hunter or warrior with a almost-comicly proportioned human bastard sword lashed across his back.
He taps his chest, "Name is'ing being Pathfinder Biter. Biter notting to get to meet you before now, but Biter is'ing to make that right. Biter is'ing being responsible for protection, biting, and survival of the team in Far-Arcadia."
He looks at you expectantly.
A tug on your pants draws your eyes to the ground, and they are met by the eerily glowing red night-eyes of a goblin giving you a toothy grin. The grin is set in a torn and scarred goblin face, and from his ear hangs a black raven feather. Surprisingly powerful arms cross a puffed-up chest, and his body exudes confidence that you find uniquely un-like what you have heard is common to the craven goblin race. He is garbed like a hunter or warrior with a almost-comicly proportioned human bastard sword lashed across his back.
He taps his chest, "Name is'ing being Pathfinder Biter. Biter notting to get to meet you before now, but Biter is'ing to make that right. Biter is'ing being responsible for protection, biting, and survival of the team in Far-Arcadia."
He looks at you expectantly.
The scowl on the old man's face quickly changes to a look of surprise, then just as quick back to scowl, as Gregor fights off the instinct to grab his cudgel.
"Biter eh? I didn't know the Pathfinder's let goblins join their ranks."
Gregor's expression softens somewhat, almost even smiling briefly at the nearly comical appearance of the goblin.
"Can you even swing that big damned sword you got there? The name's Gregor, by the way. I suppose I'm here for my connection to the wilds, given the fortunate lack of cities in Arcadia."