The many-legged beast seems to ignore Naki and the others, staying focused on the flying thing that had first got near it. The creature advances several steps and glares up at it, its eyes flashing with greenish energy. Fortunately for Adrien, he was keeping his eyes averted while going through the complex mechanics for his spell.
The unearthly choirs of the Thistlefeather echo on the wind as Adrien completes the incantation, slowly making the beast drowsy.
"Heehee, you look tired, beast... perhaps a nap in the sun would do you some good."
Adrien unleashes his spell, but when he glances back to see where to target the spell he catches sight of the creature's powerful gaze.
Again he throws off the magic that threatened to petrify him. He hears a crackling and a fine bit of dust rises from his rapidly beating wings.
Adrien's magic, however, similarly is ineffective against the creature. He gets the sense that his spell simply isn't potent enough to affect it.
"Okay, looks like it's time for plan B... Flee!"
Adrien flies away as quickly as his wings can carry him, looking to catch up with the rest of the party.
"The sleep spell didn't do anything! Run!"
Jazzai would keep moving. "If it gets close take Sunflower and get her away." She would tell them. As she made her way through the terrain. "It is possible since it wasn't moving we woke it up. Does anyone know what it was?"
The group hustles away from the dangerous beast, spreading out to confuse it and once a sizable distance is put between them and it, they meet back up and continue on, sometimes sparing glances back to make sure it's not following.
After they get some distance away she would pet Sunflower. "That's a good girl. I am sorry you got scared." She said and would hug her gently. Jazzai took a few moments to get herself reoriented and would point out which way was north. She would also feel the sunlight to see if she could gauge time of day as they continued to travel.
The sun had been just a hand's width away from the horizon when the party had stumbled upon the strange lizard-creature. After regrouping and hustling away from it, the sun is now touching the horizon and the sky is streaked with reds in the west and purples in the east. Using the night-eyes of Adrien and Kane, and the sure-footedness of Naki, and Jazzai's own enhanced senses, the party pushes on after night descends to further discourage pursuit. Once they feel relatively safe, they stop for the night.
As a new day dawns, the party prepares to head out again. When Peacock takes to the sky to search, he notices what might be a road running north-south ahead of them. It should take them roughly another day to cross the road.
The map, with the party's progress so far.
Naki stretches and moans a little, "I do miss beds. While all this excitement and travel is making for most interesting notes I do miss the comforts of hearth and home. Ruefully I doubly my old idea of a bed will hold me comfortably. Hmmm perhaps I should study the ways in which an arachnid sleeps?" Seemingly filled with energy Naki can't seem to stand still as he muses.
The group makes its usual progress across the hot, rocky terrain. As the road approaches, the ones with sight are able to make out a plume of dust rising from the north. It soon becomes apparent that a caravan is making its way south along the road that the party is about to cross. The caravan is much smaller than the one in which Kane and Jazzai traveled several weeks ago, but it still seems to number three or four wagons and about twice that in other pack animals.
It is easy to estimate that the caravan will cross in front of the group if both continue their present speed and direction.
"Do we wish to say hello or avoid them? I am not sure if I look near normal any more." Jazzai would think back on their supplies making sure they had enough. If not she would say. "We need supplies. I know Dr. Naki will cause a stir if they see him. But I can see if they will trade coin for more food and water."
Straightening his jacket Naki looks slightly offended. "I might look slightly odd but I still look civilized. I'm sure they have seen plenty of unusual things if they travel." He sets out to ensure the interception.
Jazzai sighs softly and plods along after fully expecting them to be attacked. "Dr. Naki, what do you look like? Do you look human? Or do you look like something normal humans would call a monster? I just ask from the reaction my own town had about me and I look mostly normal." She asked as they went.
"It's probably better if I hide at first; a lot of people aren't too fond of the fey..."
Peacock camouflages into the roadside wilderness, waiting until it seems safe to show himself.
Waving dismissively, "Bah, I am certain such travelers will not be as ignorant as peasant villagers."
He has seemingly made up his mind that his dress and manner will prove his civility despite his... Condition.
Jazzai would try to follow but obviously at a slower rate than Naki. "I hope you are right." She muttered softly to herself. The hunger was aching a little but not bad so it should be safe hopefully.
Shifting she stroked Sunflower. "Hopefully they have carrots or apples for you.
As both groups close upon each other, the caravan soon resolves itself into three large covered wagons and two rows of beasts of burden. There is one additional rider, a heavily armored figure astride a great black horse. As it nears, the sighted members of the group can see two of the three wagons look like large cages on wheels, and each has numerous figures within. The third wagon is fully enclosed, black and trimmed in what looks like lengths of chain. All three wagons are hitched to a team of four horses and have two drivers. The drivers on the enclosed wagon are also wearing heavy armor. The two rows of pack horses are each led by another handler.
The rider on the warhorse, upon seeing those of you visible, spurs his mount to meet you before the wagons reach you. When he reaches about 15 feet away from those of you who are visible, he stops, even though the caravan continues rumbling along about a hundred feet behind him. Stand aside! he shouts in an imperious tone. Interference with our lawful task bears the punishment of death!
He looks over you once more, and seemingly noticing your inhuman features for the first time, he lifts his visor and squints against the sun. By the Five, what are you creatures?
Jazzai would hear and feel the horse get near and would lift her head looking up to the voice.
"Well, my name is Jazzai. What is yours? I had no intention of interfering. I thought you might have rations that we could purchase off of you. Our supplies are running low and my friend here believed you wouldn't attack at first sight despite our appearances. Now, as for what we are, I was born human. Circumstances has seen fit to change that."
She looks up at him with blind eyes her feet feeling the horses presence as her nose and ears picked up smell and sound.
The warhorse stamps and paws the ground as the armored figure urges it forward a step. He looms over the group, again taking a look at each of you. Very well, he states, seemingly allowing the answer to satisfy for the moment. I am Maralictor Koven Grange, of the Hellknight Order of the Chain. We have no supplies to barter with, so stand aside as we pass.
Jazzai can pick up the smells of animal and human sweat from the caravan even before it gets within her usual range. Those with sight can see a number of haggard and weary faces looking out through the bars of the two cage-wagons.
"Ah yes well sir, I am Doctor Nanaki Oru, I'm sure you've heard of me! I am curious what makes these specimens so unique!"
Eyeing the caged people Naki begins to get nervous, unsure as to why sentient beings might be caged.
"Do they hold some foul illness? Something contagious?" The prospect almost seems to cheer him up.
Adrien approaches as silently as he can, hoping to get a look at the caged individuals himself.
Maralictor Grange scowls at Dr. Oru and shakes his head curtly. Nothing of the sort! They are escaped slaves, being returned to the bondage and the lawful order of things. Now back away! All of you!
Are these... slaves? Those poor people! We can't just leave them there!
Looking somewhat affronted Naki takes a step back but clearly what has been said does not sit well with him.
At the word 'slaves' Kane went still.
Kane stepped forward to further block the road, planting his polearm in the dust.
"Maralictor Grange, I am Sir Kane Ravencourt, Knight of Lastwall and Ustalav, Sworn Seeker of the Order of the Shield, Acolyte of of the Spiral Path. This is not Cheliax. Your order has no authority here. Release your prisoners and go on your way. Failure to comply will result in a conflict neither of us want."
The smell, that all to familiar smell that brought back memories of when she was young. She didn't even hear the word's coming from the man on horseback her body paralyzed as she remembered that dreadful feeling of being captured. Their fates not their own...the girls nightly....
Jazzai shuddered her mind only coming back hearing Sir Kane's voice as he started to speak. Her grip tightened on Sunflower's lead. She expected trouble and her body and mind were for once, in a type of accordance. This....could not...stand. She didn't want anyone to have to suffer this but she couldn't see what was coming, only what was right in front of them. Her hand gripped her walking stick/spear.
Maralictor Grange seems unimpressed, and rests his hand on a large flail at his side. Sir Ravencourt, your grasp of geography is self-serving. This is not Lastwall or Ustalav either. We bear authority to transport these slaves through Taldor and into Qadira. Your demands have no authority here.
"I am not using the authority of either of my provinces to chain those who should be free. You will release your prisoners, or I will. Choose."
Naki surreptitiously tries to drink one of his extracts as he readies himself for a confrontation.
Maralictor catches Naki's attempt to surreptitiously quaff his infusion. Hold you!
Seeing that combat is nigh, his steed rears up and he issues his challenge. I will not relinquish my holy duty! And I will see death or enslavement for all who would stand in my way!
Seizing the opportunity in the confusion, Peacock attempts to open the cage he's been observing, hoping to earn the party some allies in the battle sure to ensue.
(Or 17 for a Dexterity check, I'm not sure what I need to roll.)
"Very well." Kane said surging forward.
Kane rushed in just past the horse's head before it could react and leapt at the last moment, slamming his stoney body into the Chellish slaver, barreling them both over the horse.
Letting go of Sunflower's reins she would take her spear in both her hands as she heard Sir Kane move.
Following his movements she would follow to where the big thud was. (if there is one) and would strike.
Grange's instincts are good; even though he clearly didn't expect to be slammed out of his saddle and onto the arid ground, he still reacted with the skill of someone who has evidently spent a lifetime in the saddle. Somehow he manages to roll up from the fall out of the saddle and avoid ending up on his back.
Jazzai rushes forward and jabs at the spot where she though he would be, but unfortunately even though she knew the location of where he stood, her guess was off as to the location of his vulnerable spots.
By my honor, I will see you in chains! Grange yells as he unleashes his flail upon Kane with a two-handed grip.
Clearly still woozy from his fall, the armored man does not come close to striking the paladin.
Peacock flits over to the nearest cage and begins the task of unlatching the gate. He can see it is not a difficult task, but it will take him a few precious seconds. The guards on the adjacent wagon and the lone guard on the cage all cry out at your sudden appearance and action. The two on the black coach draw crossbows and send bolts Adrien's way, then the other guard on the same wagon draws a sword and climbs over the cage toward you.
One bolt misses entirely, but the other strikes Peacock square in the chest, but the mundane metal fails to penetrate his fey skin. He then easily ducks the errant swing by the third guard.
Naki moves forward, heading to the rear wagon to free those people.
Peacock finishes undoing the lock and then pushes off the cage with a strong flap of his wings, hovering in the air, letting the door open so the slaves can escape and, hopefully, come to the party's aid.
Chuckling, Peacock utters a few magic words, and waves his hand towards the guard standing atop the cage, who finds that he is suddenly standing on a rather slippery surface.
"You are a slaver. You lost any claim of honor the first time you locked chains around a free creature." Kane rumbled with surprising calm. He adjusted back to bring his polearm to bear and struck down powerfully.
Jazzai would try to strike at him again after shifting 5ft slightly to the side getting in a near flank position.
Jazzai's movement and attack is enough to distract the hellknight, allowing Kane to find an opening in the man's armor.
The grimace is hidden beneath his helm, but you can hear it in his voice. My honor is in law and discipline. Your rejection of order is made manifest in your twisted flesh. He steps forward and swings his flail hard at your midsection.
The guard slips and falls, tumbling from the carriage satisfyingly.
The other guards on the black coach reload and send more bolts Peacock's way.
One well-placed shot caromes off Peacock's forehead, but doesn't even leave a mark.
The fourth guard takes aim at the half-spider creature racing towards him.