Once Ameiko has a free moment Friday will approach her. "Sorry to bother you Miss Ameiko, but I was wondering if you had any of that coffee Miss Valeria liked for sale?"
"Sorry to bother you Miss Ameiko, but I was wondering if you had any of that coffee Miss Valeria liked for sale?"
Ameiko nods. "Should have a few bags of coffee beans left. How much are you looking for?"
"I don't know? I guess as much as I can carry? Mister Xel said Miss Valeria keeps forgetting to get some so I figured I'd get her this since she seemed to like it." he responds.
Ameiko nods. "Alright then--5 bags of coffee beans, coming right up. Hope you don't mind grinding them yourself."
She retrieves the coffee beans and the exchange is made.
Friday bows in gratitude before handing over the specified coinage. "I don't believe I should..." he says in response to her last statement.
I hope Miss Valeria has a grinder... or do you just use a mortar and pestle? Some stones?
Grabbing up the coffee he bows one last time before setting off in search of Sandpoint's Tiefling.
After shopping, and locating the Rivers brothers and giving them their shares, Haru and Valeria head back to the Rusty dragon, meeting Friday on the way. "Ah, Friday, we were just coming to see you. Here's your share of the proceeds," Haru greets him, handing him a purse heavy with coin.
"Try not to spend it all in one place," Valeria joked.
"Thank you, Haru... would paying rent be okay?" Friday responds aloofly before turning to Valeria and holding out his arms holding the five bags of coffee. "Um, I figured you liked this kind and Senir Xel said you keep forgetting to get more so, um..." While trying to explain himself it was obvious he was a tad bit uncomfortable.
"Oh, wow," Valeria remarked, rather taken back by the gesture, "uh, thanks! I was actually going to get some but then the Sherrif came in with the goblin bounty and we all met up... kinda fell by the wayside. But yeah, thanks."
A slight smile starts to creep onto Friday's face before he quickly but respectfully bows at the thanks given.
The preparations for the journey continue well into the day and night...
-------------------
10th of Gozran, 4715 AR
The sun rises over the sleepy town, breaking through the early morning fog rolling in from the harbour. The Rusty Dragon is already serving breakfast to many hungry customers.
Ameiko brings the party dishes of their requested meals (and another cup of coffee for Valeria) before sitting down with the other gathered caravan members. "Alright, Sandru, how much progress have you made in getting your caravan ready?"
"We're just about ready to leave, as a matter of fact." The sunburnt Varisian says before tucking into his salmon & scrambled eggs. "Getting the supplies I needed from Ven turned out to be a bit of a hassle, but..." He clears his throat. "...well, we came to an agreement."
"And how are our prospective caravaneers doing this morning, anyway?" He asks the party.
Kavell for the most part was quiet, answering spoken, too, avoiding any sort of direct question. He was very curious as to what they had been up to, something about goblin bounties it sounded like. He was very curious about the teifling either, but had good sense enough to know that he ... sometimes got unintended reactions from them. So he let her be. Better to let her judge him by his actions as it were.
At the breakfast he could only just blush a tiny amount at the mention of Ven. he uh... gets that was sometimes, Goodness knows I seem to have problems often enough in his shop. He said doing his best to hide his... embaressment at that. (it lead him to think of other issues that had come up in the past, ones he did not remember fondly.)
I for am well, and eager to begin the journey.I look forward to seeing the beauty of the journey taken, and with luck perhaps get some carving done along the way.
He said to Sandru with a slight smile. He really really was looking forward to this.
Gergo was like a ravenous wolf at the breakfast table. His hands and jaws moved with alarming speed as he proceeded to devour any food that was on his plates. Boiled eggs were placed in his mouth whole and chewed quickly, the soup was guzzled down as if it were water, what meat there was was quickly gone after a few bites along with a loaf of bread coming along with it. Greedy was the only calm thing in the storm of consumption that personified the wild man. The bird happily ate the nuts that were given to it and on occasion it would squawk softly before resuming its meal.
"Hard to feel anything but great after a meal like this" He replied to Ameiko as he placed a bowl of soup down "We passing by any interesting places before we get to Brinewall and the treasure?" His tone lowered in volume considerably as he said the last few words.
"Iunno." Valeria mumbled groggily around a mouthful of bacon. Ameiko's impeccable timing was proven as the tiefling pushed her empty coffee mug away just as a fresh one slid to a stop right in front of her.
"It's probably going to be another mug or two before she's in a state to talk like a sentient being," Xel remarked from his perch over the bar.
"We passing by any interesting places before we get to Brinewall and the treasure?"
"Depends on how interesting you find small towns." Sandru shrugs as he lays a map out on the table. "We'll be passing through a few of them on the way--we'll have a chance to resupply on food and the like. The last town before the REAL sticks is Roderic's Cove, which is close to..." He grimaces. "...Riddleport. I think we can expect all manner of lowlifes and cutthroats to be prowling the roads the closer we get to that place."
Happily content with his egg and tea Friday quietly ate his breakfast while the others talked.
"Oh any place can be interesting!" Gergo let a piece of bare bone drop to the plate below him "You just have to keep your eyes and ears open" His right hand went for a close by mug and he took a large swig.
With the map before him Gergo's eyes followed the road their experienced carvaneer was pointing out "Never been to Riddleport" He took a bite from one of the last loafs of bread remaining "But I don't think lowlifes and cutthroats would be different no matter where you went" When nothing but crumbs remained in his hand the blond sighed "Their lives must be boring and annoying" His cheek rested on the raised fist of his left arm. His grey eyes still on the map "Picking on those who won't put up a fight, hiding whenever they hear armored men riding by and listening to a leader who'll take all the root and run when things go bad" Gergo raised his head from the fist it rested on and craned his neck to the right, then the left and shrugged his right shoulder several times "Their are much easier and fun ways to live than that"
Are you always so cavalier with danger?
He asked the grizzled fighter curious. He normally tended to avoid his type, well at least when he wasnt healing them. He knew their kind was needed... as long as they stayed away from the role of the despot. He eyed the tieflings familiar he supposed for a moment.
Is he always so... polite? He remarked referring of course to the noisy thing perched above the bar
"Danger is part of life!" A surge of energy went through Gergo. His face turned in Kavell's direction and his lips formed a toothy grin "You are likely to face it sometime or another" The wild man took another swig of his mug "It might as well be when you are doing something that isn't tedious or irritating" Gergo brought his right hand close to Greedy and the parrot hopped on to it after but a moment.
"Like looking for treasure! That's something worth facing danger for...unlike ambushing a merchant who didn't have money to pay for proper guards and then hiding for a month from any passing lawmen" Gergo's finger pet the bird's head "Oh they'll probably think we are that type...I think it will be fun to see the look on their faces when they find out they were wrong"
"More or less," Valeria mumbled to answer Kavell.
"Sounds like she's nearly there," Xel piped up, "be glad you didn't see her walking over here - like watching a zombie with an inner-ear infection, really. Don't think she was ever entirely upright-"
"Thank you, Xel." She was, at least, now sounding more awake.
Sandru slaps the table and stands up once he's finished breakfast. "Right--once you guys are done, meet me at the north gates. The caravan's all loaded up and ready to go!"
With that, he gets up from the table and walks out the doors of the Rusty Dragon...
Once everyone has had a chance to finish their breakfast, the party is led by Ameiko, Koya & Shalelu to the north edge of town, where three wagons await--two covered wagons with oxen are sitting before the entrance to town, flanking an elaborate vardo wagon, decorated with carvings of birds and stars. The wheels are expertly carved and evenly spaced, and the oxen at the front are eating patches of grass while looking on disinterestedly.
"Here we are--our caravan. It took some work, but I managed to get all the supplies we need delivered on time." Sandru jogs up to the lead covered wagon and whistles. "HEY! You guys ready yet?"
Two Varisian men step out of the wagon, their brows and clothes sweaty from labour. They look at the gathered group with surprise. "Huh. Didn't think we were taking this many people with us. Not sure there's enough room in the wagons for them all."
"Eh, that won't be a problem, I think." Sandru shrugs before turning to the others. "These two men are Varrick and Darius." Varrick, a middle-aged fellow in plain brown & black clothes waves politely while Darius, the younger of the two dressed in more elaborate greens, smiles and stretches. "They'll be driving the other two wagons."
"Now, are there any more questions, or should we just get going now?" Sandru asks as Koya totters over to the vardo and begins to climb the stairs leading to its door.
Haru returns from saying her goodbyes to her parents, eager to set off onto the road.
Kavell had no other place to be or go to, so he gladly followed Koya to make sure she was ready, and like a good young man, He made sure to help Koya to the Vardo.
Gergo found a place at the back of the caravan and sat down. His left hand instinctively went to Greedy's head and started petting it "Plenty of room here, I've been to smaller houses" He smirked then turned to the party "I never thought about any place as home for very long but Sandpoint grows on you...but I am sure I'll get over it, given a day or two and a dozen meals"
After waking up properly, Valeria had been getting some of her extra stuff loaded onto the wagons. "Thanks for the help, Mikul, couldn't have gotten all of this loaded without you." she said to the cheery half-orc as he secured the last of the chests Valeria wanted to take with her. Mikul wished her goodbye before heading off.
"I think you're milking that favour you did him a bit much," Xel commented from his perch on the edge of the wagon.
"It was a pretty big favour," Valeria replied as she watched Mikul link arms with one of the most attractive Ulfen women she'd ever seen, the two clearly smitten with each other.
She hopped down from the wagon and headed over to the others. "Well; got all my research materials and sundry reading loaded up. Took up less space than I thought it would, too."
Other than purchasing rations, which mostly consisted of what the others bought, Friday showed up on embarking day with what he always had, the only things he had. Clothes, a sturdy case for carrying his art supplies, and a spear and a new sword.
Once the party has had a chance to get themselves settled in, Sandru heads to the front of the caravan and saddles up.
"Right--time to get this show on the road!"
----------------------
Several days pass after the caravan departs the small town of Sandpoint. The Lost Coast Road is well-traveled, and the sea breeze mixes nicely with the sunlight shining down on the party. Along the way, the caravan stops at several villages, and Sandru is able to make a tidy profit exchanging his trade goods for supplies vital to the caravan.
Ameiko makes a point of putting on performances in each village the caravan stops in, bringing in more funds with her exotic music and charm. The meals she cooks on the roads are quite filling too, and she makes sure that Valeria's coffee needs are met ("How strong do you want it this time, Valeria? As strong as possible? Maybe you should start going to bed earlier, it'd make it easier to get out of bed in the morning...")
Shalelu serves as the caravan's scout, ranging out ahead of the caravan to blaze a safe trail north. Haru is never far from her side, and Gergo is always on hand to lend a strong sword-arm should she need it ("Another safe path. Haru, I swear you're getting better every day. And Gergo... could you perhaps tell your bird to keep it down? Seriously, I'm afraid his squawking might give away our position...")
Kavell and Koya help the caravan out with their skills in healing & fortunetelling respectively--there's no shortage of people on the roads with scratches, or folks interested in what their future holds. Koya is quite appreciative of Kavell's help ("Ya know, ya definitely learned a lot. Just make sure to take care of yourself now and then, ya hear?...")
And what of Friday, the ever-stoic swordsman? His presence, though unspoken, can be felt everywhere in the caravan--from watching over Ameiko as she performs ("Thank you ladies & gentlemen, you've been a wonderful audience! Don't worry about the tall, dark fellow here--Friday's quite nice once you get to know him..."), to being fussed over by Koya ("Friday, really, gettin' some healing ain't gonna kill ya. You're lookin' more ragged by the day..."), and even finding new, lovely vistas on the road for him to capture in pencil drawings.
Until one day, on the road...
15th of Gozran, 4715 AR
It's mid-morning when Shalelu comes back from scouting ahead of the caravan. She has a grim look on her face.
"Found something on the road ahead. Looked like an overturned wagon of some description. It looked to have recently been attacked."
With a simple hop Gergo left his seat at the back of the caravan and walked to Shalelu "We could try to find them. Attack them before they attack us?" He stretched both arms backwards "Or we just find a safer road...I won't lose sleep on which choice you all make" His arms fell by his side as he looked over the group.
"Sounds suspicious, hmm, Shae? Just like that ambush you told me about, where the bandits leave a wagon in the middle of the road and attack when you stop to check it out?"
Haru winks at her mentor, having formed an even closer bond with her in recent days, feeling more like a valued partner than a protege, lately.
You saw no sign of survivors or wounded?
He sounded ... worried though more for the idea of innocent lives suffering than any sort of ambush. He gripped his glaive and frowned.
"It's okay, Miss Koya, other people might need it."
"I wouldn't put it past people." Friday agreed with Haru
Haru frowns, and leans over to whisper in Friday's ear. "Fri, if you're hurt when a fight begins, and you go down because you've been refusing to let anyone heal you, that's not going to help other people avoid being hurt, either. So let someone heal you, or I'll pour a potion down your throat while you're sleeping."
"My apologies, Miss Haru... I'm just not used to having people look out for me... I'll try better." he says with a frown, looking defeated.
Valeria had been trying to follow Ameiko's advice about getting to bed earlier, with mixed results - usually failure thanks to getting wrapped up in her research.
Either way; she was alert when Shalelu found the wagon. "Xel, can you do a fly-over, see if you can spot anything from the air?"
"Well, normally I would love to volunteer for the vanguard, but you see I've got this terrible crick in my neck and... Oh fine! But the first sign of an arrow or bolt or anything and I'm coming back.". With that, the bird took off with a flutter.
In an over relaxed manner Gergo grabbed his two handed axe and held it lazily with one hand. His eyes looked about the area "Maybe they've got their own scouts watching for easy marks?" The wild man began walking around the caravan, his vision focused on the area around them, searching for any irregularities or out of place movement.
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Everything seems fine around the caravan for now...
Flying over the hill, a curious sight appears before you. There is an overturned wagon cart in a ditch, its contents spilled out onto the road. Bags of flour, loads of cabbages and other assorted produce lie scattered about, some of them lying next to the slaughtered carcass of a horse, still attached to the cart's reins. Under the wagon is a fair-haired man dressed in typical farmer's clothes.
The farmer is looking around, appearing to be in a great deal of distress.
Xel quickly returned and landed on part of the wagon next to Valeria.
"Looks clear from what I could see, either that or we're dealing with some very wasteful bandits; good bit of food and such spilled across the road."
"Shae, should we go out to try to outflank anyone who might be in the woods?" Haru whispers to her mentor, as she draws her bow.
Shalelu fingers her bow and thinks. "It would be a good way to gain the advantage."
She then looks to the rest of the team. "Are any of you skilled in stealth?"
Friday slowly raises his hand.
I am... not. Growing up I always seemed to draw attention no matter what I did, I could but try.
He said figiting, he didnt like the idea that something up ahead bad had happened, and that people might have been hurt.
"Was always bad at scouting" Gergo massaged his neck with his left while his right still held his axe "When you find them I'll help you lop off their heads" Continued the wild man in a casual manner. Gergo stood against one of the walls of the wagon and let the blade of his weapon lay on the ground.
"Any thing you need us heavy stepping folk to do while you go hide behind bushes and trees? Standing around means I am not earning my keep and I wouldn't want you all thinking I am a laggard" Said Gergo in clear jest as he looked in Shalelu's direction
"LAGGARD. LAGGARD" Mimicked Greedy from his spot on Gergo's shoulder.
Shalelu says nothing, only looking the others over.
"Alright then--Haru, Friday, I want both of you to come with me." She points to Valeria, Gergo & Kavell. "Do you think you three can investigate the wreck while we check the surrounding wilderness?"
Friday promptly nods to the senior ranger, at the ready.