"While I am sure this would be deeply appreciated, Sir Mikmek," Asta tells the Kobold, "you are here as a guest and as an ambassador. I am not at all certain that it is necessary to pay for your stay."
The next day, Asta comes out of her bedroom looking cool and refreshed; her clothes are neat and unwrinkled, and even Croft looks clean and glossy as he rides her shoulder.
"Very well, let us go find a temple," the Witch says to the others as she gets on her horse. "Or bandits; whichever comes across our path first."
Torod wakes early to help prepare, to practice archery, and to pray.
For the rolls during our exploration I'll Take 10 and get Aid from Strawberry Deathstrike (I'll add it assuming she can also Take 10). If Elaina's skills are better than mine, we will both Aid her instead.
Knowledge (Geography) +6
Knowledge (Nature) +8
Perception +11
Survival +10
Seraph wakes early and praises Arshea as she was taught to do so every morning. She got dressed and geared up quickly, ready to join her companions and start their quest anew. Seeing some already gathered outside she couldn't help but smile and admire their forms.
"You look magnificent today Asta." With that she climbs into the saddle and gets Julius a light tap to indicate their departure. "Finding Temples, fighting bandits and mysterious Fey, what possible could be better?"
Asta seems to seriously consider the question before replying: "Doing it all while there is snow falling from the sky and covering the earth while the rivers freeze and trees explode from the cold, all in the certainty that a warm, safe hearth waits at home."
"I'd prefer a clear night sky to snow, but the hearth sounds nice." Elaina chimes in.
Asta glances at Elaina and -- smiles, her eyes sparkling icy blue.
"The full moon," she says in a singsong voice, "reflecting off the frozen snow for miles. The stars burning in the night sky like diamonds inside a hollow sphere of onyx. Your breath, steaming in the air, illuminated by the moon overhead... Your footsteps and those of either predator or prey, crunching in the snow. And all around, the chill, perfect silence of Winter Night. Yes. There are perfect moments in such. Well spotted. Elaina."
Seraph imagines what brings her the most pleasure but doesn't speak of it, just smiles broadly. She chuckles at Asta's answer before considering what she spoke of after Elaina spoke up.
Asta's description though made her tilt her head, she a difficult time imagining it as the last time she stood in snow it was bathed in the blood of her opponent. She nodded to Asta as she spoke. "I would enjoy seeing that vision you describe at least once..."
"Yes. Sharing a warm hearth after a long day, surrounded by a good woman, children, and friends." Torod soaks up this image for a bit before continuing. "So how about it, Asta? Should we get started on that image right away?"
"I'd want a good man at my hearth, not a woman," Asta says, her voice and expression unruffled. "If you're able to find me one, go right ahead."
Seraph was leaned back, her tail stuck though the chair she was casually sitting in as she watched them talk, every now and again the tip of her tail would jump upward reflecting her amusement. She laughed at the dynamic relationship between their leader and the strange half-elf.
"That was ice cold Asta." She laughs again before wiping away a merry tear. She stretches then, enjoying the feel of her stiff muscles screaming in protest, before standing up.
The talk of hearths though reminds her of memories that didn't sit well with her. "In decades I have never found a hearth worth settling, but adventuring. There lies greatness! Traveling, seeing new places and hopefully in the company of someone..." She was at a loss for words then her tail stock still and her smile all but erased. "Well... Gah." She smiled and shook her head.
She picked up her gear, intent on remaining busy rather than being dragged down by old memories. "Enough old maid talk outta me. If'n you two lovebirds will excuse me, I have some training to get done. See ya tonight!" She strides out, gear slung over her shoulder to go train outside the fort.
"But of course," Asta says, smiling a bit at Seraph's "ice cold"-remark.
"I understand your feelings regarding adventure, Seraph," she calls out to the tiefling as she is about to leave the room, "but in the end, all adventurers must return home. Whether that is to a house or the embrace of Pharasma makes no nevermind, but it is good to be able to take a breather in this mortal realm before our eternal fate begins, no? When I have a house here, you will be welcomed there. No arguing."
Seraph looks at Asta sidelong and her smile remains. Her tail wags appreciatively at Asta's words and she gives Asta a nod before disappearing out of the common room they were gathered in.
Torod took Asta's retort in stride. He expected nothing less from his friend.
"I echo Asta's words Seraph. Same for you Elaina. And even you Mikmek. You would all be welcome in my home."
Elaina was normally pretty good at keeping her emotions from changing her expressions. This time, however, she can't. Her jaw drops and her cheeks flush crimson as she closes it again.
Did they just...
"Tha-thank you. I..." her voice soft and a slight quiver in her lip and a gleam in her eyes reveals more about how much that meant to her than her words ever could.
Torod actually laughs at Mikmek's comment.
Marten laughes loudly. "That is a good one, Mikmek."
As the group heads into -- as yet -- unknown territory, Asta brings out her map and starts making notes while the group proceeds.
"Please be attentive to our surroundings," she asks the others, sounding a bit absentminded. "I'm a bit occupied, as you can see... Sorry about that."
"I'll be keeping lookout from above," Croft says in his croak of a voice. "I'm sure you all don't mind." The raven sets off, swerving between trees with the arrogant ease of a creature that has been flying for most of its life.
For the rolls during our exploration I'll Take 10 and get Aid from Strawberry Deathstrike (I'll add it assuming she can also Take 10). If Elaina's skills are better than mine, we will both Aid her instead.
Knowledge (Geography) +6 16 total
Knowledge (Nature) +8 18 total
Perception +11 23 total with Aid from Strawberry
Survival +10 22 total with Aid from Strawberry
Croft flies back to the group and lands on Asta's shoulder, addressing the group in general but Mikmek in particular.
"Caw! Rrrememberrr you said those Mites like to play prrranks? Caw! Unless they can make illusions of pots of gold appearrr and disappearrr, therrre'rrre otherrr faerrreeeesss nearrr heeerrre. Ca-ca-ca!"
Clearly, the strain of not divebombing a big cauldron full of shiny and having it disappear into thin air has upset the raven enough that it's temporarily affected his pronunciation of the Common tongue.
Seraph rode with her longbow drawn and at the ready as the performed their exploration. She stuck close to Asta as she was the most distracted of the group. Hearing about the pot of gold and other fairies made her narrow her eyes suspiciously.
"More Fey, grrrrrreat." She says sarcastically, despite the fact she was still smiling before putting away her bow and tries to look more... Friendly.
"we have to go through it sooner or later. Why not now?
"Because I would rather not deal with faeries if I don't have to."
Seraph shrugs easily swayed to do what was more expedient and without fussing over details. "Alrighty then. We will just deal with them later then. Besides I am eager to find a lost temple." Her tail wags at the exciting thought and she continues to smile as they ride on in the direction indicated by Torod.
She makes sure to draw her bow again and nocks an arrow, ready to defend the distracted Asta.
"So let's move like we got a purpose" Marten continues exploring in the direction Torod indicated.
Croft puffs himself up, a derisive glint in his dark eyes.
"I don't eat rotting plants!" he caws. "Only rotted meat! And fresh meat and cheese before that. And maybe some fresh fruit. But not radishes!"
Asta does not comment at first, but she stops drawing her map and mutters the Word to a cantrip and looks around.
"If there are Fey here," she says out loud, "then they must already know we are here. They wouldn't make a pot of gold appear and disappear for no good reason."
"Barghest's bowels!" Asta curses when the trap springs, catching Strawberry Deathstrike. "Quick, cut her loose! I'll heal her!"
Torod does gather a few of the moon radishes to add to their meals for the next day.
Before leaving the area, he takes a small square of cloth and lays some hard bread on it. He covers the bread in honey. "Does anyone have any alcohol?" He finds a leaf or some bark with a lot of curve and pours in some alcohol if someone has some or some of his tea if not. He looks at his handiwork and nods.
STRAWBERRY!" Torod runs over to her and holds her. "Hold still, girl. We'll get you out of here and patched up. Don't worry." He looks around for a stick to help wedge the bear trap open.
Str
"Back up, I'll try making it brittle by freezing it," Asta says. If Mikmek gets out of the way, Asta blasts the joint with a Ray of Frost.
"Chain around the tre...!"
She grimaces as the trap snaps...
Seraph dismounts as the others struggle to open it and, with her large hands, she grabs the trap with her powerful grip after Asta freezes it some. She gives a loud grunt of effort as she tries to force the jaws open....
Marten dismounts and helps Seraph to force the trap open.
Seraph grunts as the trap opens with a sizzling grind. She looks to Marten and hisses "Grab the cat, I got this." Her previous mirth is gone and she barely bites back a curse as her more violent nature surfaces.
Elaina begins to look for a way to undo the chain as the others take care of Strawberry. Her face is grim and hellfire burns in her eyes.
"Was this left by a hunter or was this a trap for any traveler unlucky enough to spring it?"
Following Seraph advice, Marten changes his grips and helps Strawberry out of the trap. He hopes the cat will not bite him.
Cradling his friend, Torod soothingly purrs. He thanks the others for their help, especially Asta and Seraph for their healing. Once she is out of the trap and healed, he checks her leg, "Looks good. Won't even be a scar. Now walk on it a bit -carefully- to see if there will be a limp."
"Let's keep extra alert. Where there's one of those, there's bound to be others close by." If the others don't say anything, Torod will amend his plan to spend more time in the area to look for more traps, err thoroughly map the area.
"Check the wretched thing for rust," Asta suggests to Elaina. "If it has been badly neglected, it was left willy-nilly. If it is new... someone expected to catch something and return for it later. Preferably once the prey was weakened by pain, hunger and thirst. Bear-hunting is not for the faint of heart..."