Lissendra awakens, somewhat disoriented. She expresses her thanks to you all for saving her but is stricken with grief over the loss of her feline companion. Nevertheless she is in your debt for risking your lives for her. As a small token of appreciation, she gives you each her leaf token, which should help you make a favorable impression with woodland elves and non-evil fey. She also sings over the carriage, toughening the wood and giving it the strength of iron [ironwood, hardness 10].
Shorga seems to be in a daze. He can ride and respond to commands, but shows no emotion at all. Lissendra is unable to cure him, but she says there is an elven sage called Chyrion in the River Kingdoms who can lift the curse. She sends a message ahead to him by means of a bird.
Do we tie this one up? She indicated the remaining creature...
Prior to going up to meet Lissendra
I begin poking at the warloghe examining her closely
Perception
After examining the warloghe I begin circling the dagger examining it from different angles and looking for distinctive markings.
Knowledge Arcana
Spellcraft
The dagger has a bone handle and is of masterwork quality, but does not seem to be magical. Among her other possessions you find an amulet of natural armor (+1), a wand of cure light wounds, and an expertly crafted blowgun with a set of feathered darts.
Lissendra bids you free the argopelter, saying he was only an innocent (though mischievous) creature.
"Oh, another wand of cure light, this could come in handy. Do you want to hold this one since I already have one Kalum?"
"This could also come in handy." I say under my breath, picking up the dagger and amulet.
"Anyone know how to use a blowgun??" I yell back to the rest of the group.
Lissendra arranges for some gifts to be waiting for you at your next destination, courtesy of some elven contacts. Darkwood cloth studded leather barding for the horses. Also everyone has 1000 gp to spend (plus whatever you have already...oh let's just say everyone has 1500 gp total.)
Just add 250 each for delivery (minus the 15% cut) and then 1000 each as a reward (no cut).
Report in if you are ready to continue.
Shorga remains in a stupor, under the lingering foul influence of the warloghe. Lissendra is unable to treat him, but she contacts a reclusive elven sage named Chyrion who lives on the northern edge of the (Verduran) Forest, within the nation of Galt. Near the tower the group is met but some elven emissaries from Kyonin, who outfit your horses with the promised barding (darkwood cloth studded leather). The sage Chyrion puts Shorga into an enchanted slumber, and says that he should awaken recovered, but it could be several weeks.
Though they want to stay with the cavalier, the party gets an urgent mission request in the logbook. They are asked to come to a certain house in the nearby town of Woodsedge in Galt, known for its revolutionary fervor, and pick up a "passenger".
The party stops for the night at an inn called the Blood of Tyrants, outside of Woodsedge. Here they are to meet up with some new recruit(s). The signboard depicts a spreading oak with red roots. Inside, men and women gather in clusters of animated but hushed discussion.
Traveling this week so I probably won't get us moving until next week.
Sarah enters the Blood of Tyrants Inn and looks over the different clusters of people, looking for a human, a halfling and an elf. After finding them she walks over. "Are You the Vaylen Trade Guild people I am supposed to meet?"
Sarah finds the party at the Blood of Tyrants, hunched over a small book, which has given the location of their next pickup. It reads: Meet Adramelech Thrune at 226 Rue de Sangre, to convey one individual to Gralton, River Kingdoms. Use discretion.
You have noticed signs of political unrest, from posted broadsheets, streetcorner speakers, and a well armed populace. But from what you have heard of Galt, perhaps this is typical of the nation. Tables in the tavern feature clusters of citizens whispering together. A matronly woman in one corner knits furiously.
"Well, we are of the Vaylen Trade Guild. As to whether we are the ones you are supposed to meet?" I look around at my associates and then I look the newcomer up and down. I shrug, "Welcome to the group I guess." I look back to our notebook. "What do you suppose it means by use discretion?"
"Well, part of it. I am Kalum, Navigator. Who are you?"
"I'm good at discretion. Remember that time with that thing we said we weren't going to talk about?"
" I am Sarah, your new Guard"
" Great, my first assignment is one of those things that never happend"
"Hum, this name is important people. I recognize it."
"Does that mean we can't put them in a box?"
Kalum explains confidentially to Sarah
"Boxes are discrete"
A drunken patron, a middle aged man in need of a shave, with a poor grasp of personal space comes up to Icarus. "Who do you support? The current regime? The Red Scarves? Or the White Hats? Or perhaps you want to bring back the Glorious Republic?" A couple of nearby customers, clad in red scarves you notice, eye you to see your reaction.
Sarah sends a glare, that usualy has people rethink their curent course of action, at the man.
"Oh I see!" pipes at Kalum, fronting up to the drunk man
"Ask the Human. Don't think a Halfling's opinion matters, hey? Too common for you, are they? Believe in the divine right of humans to rule? I bet you loved the Nobility. All that 'some people are born better' propaganda."
Kalum's voice rises as he talks, ending in an impromptu speech
"I'll tell you what I support: All people are equal! Regardless of Parentage, Race, or Religion!"
Kalum waves a hand for silence
"Well? Do you agree?"
At Kalum's pronouncement, the crowd gives a cheer. The drunk man slaps Kalum on the back. "Did not mean to offend, good sir. You've got the idea. Everyone should be equal. No special treatment. Except for the bleedin' nobles. Good riddance to them." He seems mollified without you having declared for a particular faction.
After the two Red Scarves leave, he attempts to whisper (but too loudly) "You best watch out, if you're passing through. Those Red Scarves don't like foreigners and they've been roving the streets looking for people to accuse."
Kalum: Gear & Expenses
Kalum slaps his change purse, with coinage totalling nearly on the counter. More gold than he used to earn in a week!
"Yay!" he cheers with the crowd "Drinks for my friends till this runs out!" "Yay! Yay! Ia!"
Another friendly town. Maybe we'd look good in red scarves...
Seeing how Kalum had already chased away the questioners, or placated them, I rack my brain for any useful knowledge.
Icarus learns that there are several revolutionary factions dissatisfied with the current regime. The most violent is the Red Scarves, and they are particularly suspicious of foreigners. Most of the customers at the moment are from more moderate factions.
"Nice town, isn't it. I was a bit worried about that guy, but he seems nice enough. Bit obsessed with fashion though. Maybe I should get one of those scarves. I could send it to my mum. She feels the cold something terrible!" Kalum happily talks to his companions once the crowd starts to disperse.
"Are you staying the night here? I'll sleep on the roof of the wagon. Beautiful night! The Stars are almost Right."
"Are we going into Woodsedge in the morning? If we are I could ask the Stars for some help... if there's something that would help."
The group eats a hearty dinner while making introductions. As their new friends are teaching them some revolutionary songs, the stableboy comes in hurriedly and tugs on Kalum's sleeve. "Mister, you folks need to get movin' quickly. A big gang of those Red Scarves are coming down the street with torches, lookin' to beat up any foreigners they find." The bartender looks up. "You'd best be moving on then, I don't want any trouble in here."
MAP now linked here and at top of page under motto.
Would you have a backdoor?
There is a backdoor leading to a courtyard/stables area where the carriage is waiting.
"So, do we take the carriage through the town, or do we send it round the town and go through on foot?"
"The carriage would be too conspicuous. The red scarves probably don't know it is ours. Let us travel on foot, that way it will be easier to dodge them as well."
"And if they split up to search for us, we have better chances if we encounter some. How many red scarves are we talking about anyway?"
A peek out the front door reveals a group of Red Scarves approaching down one of the broad avenues. You have a couple of minutes before they arrive, enough time to get in the carriage and try to outrace them, or to slip out the back and be less conspicuous.
Kalum notices a stack of printed maps from a local merchant group, featuring taverns and shops, near the door.
"Hmmm - then we might need to hire someone to drive the carriage around, or one of us does it."
"Out the back seems like a good plan of action to me." I say moving toward the door.
That carriage is our livelihood and responsibility.
"True... I suppose one of us should stay with it... Probably the driver." Kalum looks a little downcast as he works through the logic.
"Okay. Best of luck, then. I'll take the back road, meet you a mile out of town. You're not here in two days and I'll head back to that village we passed yesterday, park the carriage, and come looking for you."
Rena laughs, You're not going anywhere alone. Let's go!
"We can't leave the carriage here though, can we?"
We're taking it!
The carriage has been readied by the stableboy and is waiting in the back courtyard
Kalum rushes to the driver's seat
"Okay! What's the plan?"