Finnegan laughs "Well said Bill!" Then, to the rest of the group, "It seems that the fine owner of this establishment wishes us to depart. At least we haven't made a mess for her, no thanks to the grumpy old man. Shall we gather the mules, get some shelter, and then start this little walk of ours?"
Seeing the few people he knows making preparations to leave, Anatoly stands as well and retrieves his cloak and hat, preparing to step back out into the night.
Aye, I think we should make for the inn...something doesn't sit right with me about that guy.
"Inn sounds good. One last shot at civilization, such as it is."
"I'm not doing that," Isabella says. "Some trapper might take it into his head to crawl into my tent and try to share my blanket. I'm not having that!"
"I am a trapper..."
"I'm not doing that," Isabella says. "Some trapper might take it into his head to crawl into my tent and try to share my blanket. I'm not having that!""I am a trapper..."
With mornings dawn comes a bright new day. The sun rises over the horizon and pushes away the clouds, allowing its heat to bathe the land with warmth. Along with this warmth comes a southerly breeze, one that fills your noses with the smells of spring, and a renewal of energy.
this is a good omen to start a journey you think to yourself as you finish gathering your belongings.
Finnegan stretches as he steps out from the inn and feels the sun on his face. He says with a yawn, "If we go the way of the river, we will have fresh water and plenty of game for hunting. But, we are also more likely to run into those who also use the water rout."
Anatoly steps out of the inn munching on the remnants of breakfast and hoisting his pack. He stretches to try and loosen the kinks of sleeping in a too-small bed and grins squinting at the rising sun before tipping the brim of his hat to shade his eyes, "I will miss soft beds, but I will not miss little beds."
He glances at Finnegan, "Da. You are right, if we follow river, is longer route but more chance of help if need."
the river is a sound idea....until we find a more passable route that is. The land might dictate where we travel
"Oui, je pense que la rivière... eh, that is I think the river is best." the frenchman votes hefting his large wooden framed backpack onto his shoulders.
"I have one errand to complete this morning, then I am prepared to leave. It is permitted that I place some of my traps on the mule?" He belatedly asks.
that said, this shouldnt stop you from doing some RPing. Feel free to flesh out your characters these next few days, work on internal thoughts, internal and external goals, make the character come alive.
For the one that is most impressive, i will reward with 3 free rerolls.
Well, shucks. Sorry about that James. 4 of 7 party members can pay their share (6.8g) of the party expenses - Finnegan, James, Will, and Saul.
That gives us 13.8gp left. Antoly, you pay your remaining 5gp. That gives us 8.8gp left. I'll use my gold to pay for the remainder, since this was my idea in the first place.
Final party gold tally is:
Finnegan = 0.7g
James = 8.2g
Will = 7.1g
Saul = 3g
Antoly = 0g
Thierry = 0g
Isabella = 0g
Is this correct now? Let me know if I forgot something/anyone else.
With pack horse in tow, you all head down to the small docks that dot this stretch of the Missouri river. Down stream float canoes and large river rafts weighted with trade goods. Crates and barrels bound to the decks of the rafts and massive mounds of furs and pelts set onto the large canoes. The current of the river helps push these river boats down stream to Fort Louis.
Heading up stream are more of the same boats, empty, with men paddling or poling along the sides.
Going up or heading down? a voice asks you with a french accent. Turning, you see a Silvanesti french elf, a female, with a long feather sticking out of a large hat set upon her head.
names launquee maies, from Bayonne. Did my fair share of river boating in the old world, but now looking to do more of the same here in the new. Been on this stretch now for near on a year, and while most others around this parts would gouge you for going up river, ill make it the same cost if you offer to help pole up river. If you plan to go down river, then sit back and enjoy the ride.
As she finishes, she does the sign of the cross and mummers a prayer in french.
Finnegan inspects Lauquee and then looks to compare the other riverboats. "And how much would that be, mam? Mind that we have an orc and several other strong men who can well beat the strength of any river."
I reckon we're heading westward...ain't that right Finnegan?
I reckon we're heading westward...ain't that right Finnegan?
"so, mam, how much for the use of your craft?
The sun rose early to find Saul already stepping out of the inn. Truly clean-shaven for what was likely the first time since leaving on the pre-journey trip from Virginia to his current location, he swept his hat atop his head and paused on the porch of the establishment to watch the golden orb for a moment, a slight grin splitting his face. After a moment, he squared his shoulders and hurried down the steps, nodding to another early riser as he went to make ready for the journey.
*****
He came to a stop with the others as a woman called out in a lilting accent to his little group of explorers. Saul set his musket down, butt first, leaning on it as he watched her, appraising the woman curiously and listening as the little journalist started up the negotiations with her. Seeing movement from the corner of his eye, he nodded to one of the polemen as one of the several craft they had already seen traveling downstream, this one laden with mink, fox, and otter pelts, slinks past their position on the bank. His attention returned to the conversation...
Anatoly stops by the boat with the rest of the group, and smiles a toothy, and hopefully disarming, smile when Finnegan mentions him.
well, itll cost off of you 3 silver, plus an extra 5 for your horses. the lady says in a matter of fact tone.
"Thank you Mam, just a moment please." Finnegan politely says while tipping his hat to the barge mistress.
Finnegan turns to the rest of the group. "well, she seems trustworthy and she offers fair price. Shall we take her offer?"
Anatoly looks at the woman for a few moments, then nods once, "Da. I think we take her offer."
The price seems acceptable to me. Agreed."
"Sure, sure," Isabella says. "Money's only good s'long as it's moving, isn't it?"
Sounds good to me...let's be off then.
Loading up your supplies into the flat river raft, the lady of the boat hands each of you a long pole, measuring 12 feet in length. One end looks cracked and splintered, while the other end looks smooth and worn.
hold it up here, to prevent yourself from getting splinters. Shove the pole into the water, brace it against your side, and then walk towards the back of the boat. once there, lift it up and bring it to the front. Repeat. she finishes with a cackle.
Looking amongst yourselves, you count an odd number.
yes, one of you will have the chance to relax with me here at the till. I can fill your heads full of stories of them savages, especially the men. Course, they dont compare to your man there. she nods and throws a wink at Anatoly.
The lady casts off and the boat begins to float down river, into the center lane. Alright you wanderers, put your backs into it and Pole! she shouts to all of you, which causes you to jump in surprise from the sudden noise.
At first, the pace and coordination is slow to take hold. Some cursing and some kind words of encouragement from Launquee, and with her quick mind and quicker tongue, within an hour you have a rhythym to your march, which Saul helps by singing a jaunty tune that helps get you all in step.
The rest of the day is much like that, pole and step. pole and step. As night begins to fall upon the open native land, Launquee guides you all to a large bonfire set upon the shoreline. 4 other rafts, similar in nature to the one you travel on are moored to the shoreline, and the 4 crews and travelers all gather round the fire. While you are only 14 miles away from the last sign of civilization in these parts, you begin to feel that this may be your true chance at intermingling with others who are innately friendly towards you.
Music and laughter form an envelope around the blaze, with men and women sneaking off into the darkness and filling the black of night with the sounds of those who know it is their last night.
Off to one side, about 100 yards away from the big fire, you see a smaller fire. there, you see dark humanoids huddled around the fire. there is no laughing, no riotous behavior, only solitary somberness. Even though you cannot truly see it, you recognize the sight of slaves this far away. To emphasize the fact, you see a man leading another while holding a chain connected to an iron collar around his neck. A long moment passes as the man connects the slave to the rest of the group before joining the large party.
Spitting, Launquee speaks up.
slavers. Disreputable lot. sees humanoids as stock than a person of intelligence. There's talk of a colony of tieflings that made it further north, the survivors of a ship that crashed 15 years ago upon the mighty mississippi. Back when you could take an ocean ship up to San louis. These slavers must have found what was left of that party. Miserable lot. Wont be spreading myself for any in that lot.
Turning, Launquee walks up to a man holding a jug of brandy, blows him a kiss, and takes the jug from him. Before he can say anything, she chugs a hefty pull from it before tossing it back to him.
Go, have fun. its your last chance at it till oregono, or death.
"I aint been on a river since a fight on Vidalia Sandbar back in Natchez. My cousin, Jim, got us invited to a little scuffel there. I ain't been on a river since." William keeps poling and spits into the river and pauses before continuing.
"Ol Jim was always gettin in to trouble and I was always followin. I guess that's what little cousins are for. Anyway, Jim decided to run off to Tejas, sayin it was goin to be all senoritas and tequila, but I think the the way we are a headed is goin to be the better of it. Time for me to go my own way I guess. Jim did give me these knives afore he went, ain't no body better with one than Jimmy."
We should keep an eye on those slavers....don't trust any of them.
to keep an eye on them
"No one should go alone into darkness. Stay in pairs, perhaps more than two."
Isabella lowers her voice and gently elbows James in the side, glancing sideways at the slavers.
"I wonder... Are you feeling at all... adventurous this day?"
Anatoly responds in a quiet bass rumble, "What you have in mind?"
"There's us," Isabella whispers, "and some of us can see in the dark. S'long as it's human slavers, they've got a bit of a disadvantage after dark. So there's us, like I said, and most of us aren't that keen on slavery, right? And then there's a bunch of folks enslaved for no good reason... and a bunch of slavers who might not be able to see so clearly in the dark. A bit of muck on our faces, a few collars hitched high... Bit of stealth, a bit of the old fist and boot put in... Y'know?"
"The last thing these fellows want to see is a Yank reporter ruining their revelry." the in a softer voice Finnegan says while making the sign of the cross "I've heard more than one story about one of our reporters sent to interview a plantation owner and never seen again."
"I do not like slavers. If we have good plan, I am in."
Isabella grins - and quietly bumps fists with Anatoly.
"What about the rest of you fellows?" she asks the other members of the group.
"Yes. A little payback may be advantageous."
I' m always ready for a fight.
Walking up to the bonfire, you are able to look a little longer upon the slave group. They appear to be chained together, with a final loop driven into the ground through a stake.
Wilhelm, how much you think we will get for those ungrateful tools? one man, a brit by the sound of him, asks loudly, and sounding much into the drink.
Vell, Jahson, ve vill git et moust 10 gold a head. Uf Courze, de real prize is in der revard money. 10,000 gps to split up. Und dink, dey vas up de river dis hole time. HA HA the german, a large muscular Half-orc, bellows loudly into the nightime air.
A sharp whistle from someone hidden behind the flames brings the revelers attention. The music and laughter stops, and moments later heads turn your way.
Vell Vell, Travellerrs! Greetungs! Ich bin Wilhelm. Und der ust Jahson, uwe, scarrlon, und de vest. Bitte, kommen to die fire and make merry wid us!
"Merry sounds good," Isabella says, as she steps into the circle of firelight. "What's the booze, gents?"
Let's further assess their state before doing anything....but I am in if we go....