Jespar lays his hand on the table spreading his fingers out to leave gaps in between each of them You put your hand on the table like so. Then you take the knife he says grabbing the knife from the table and stabbing it down just behind the thumb of his outstretched hand. Then you stab in between your fingers going back and forth trying not to stab your fingers. If you stab your finger you have to start back at the start of your hand. We place a little wage down and whoever is able to do the most amount of circuits wins the money.
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Nalia points out with a somewhat dry smile, We only have 10 charges left on the cure wand so lets try and keep this under control....
Turngut, what's your poison? Assuming she got a quizzical look she explains what he likes to drink and then encourages him to try a few of this or that. With each drink she mentions to him she tells a quick story about when she first had it. It seems she is not new to a bar!
Kind of like having all my fingers? What's the wager? Poppo is not too sure he was to do that, but he's tempted if the reward is enough.
Five gold? Jespar asks.
Um, maybe, Jespar, let me see your dagger for a moment? Poppo asks.
Sure thing! Jespar retrieves the dagger stabbed into the table, expertly flips it in the air and hands it to Poppo. The blade appears to be finely crafted, perfectly balanced with an ornate golden handle.
From your sense motive you can tell Jespar is just trying to have a fun time. You can tell his body language has changed since you first met and that he is more relaxed.
Poppo checks to see if the blade is sharp, if it is, Okay let's do this! You first, show us how it's done. Poppo tosses the blade back to Jespar.
The blade is indeed very sharp, Jespar catches the blade.Watch and learn my little friend. Jespar takes the blade putting it just behind his thumb and then begins.
Jespar is able to stab the blade very expertly and quickly in between his fingers not once stabbing his hand and completing a total of eight circuits. He stabs the blade in front of Poppo and quite confidently leans back in his chair.
Poppo grabs the dagger and gives it a go...
Poppo attempts to go very quickly to try to get more circuits than Jespar but ends up slicing up his fingers instead barely completing one circuit. But thankfully not getting to hurt from the game. Well my friend I believe you owe me five gold.
Poppo looks in disbelief at his ineptitude. Guess I need some practice. He flips the lost coins to the dagger master, Jespar.
Thank you my friend, I've been playing this game for years it takes lots of practice. Jespar says placing the coins in his pouch.
The rest of the night goes by with lots of drinking and merriment had by all and after a while you all settle down for a good nights rest.
You all wake up at various points in the morning what is everyone doing today? If you want you can go with Jespar to try to find horses, check on Pearson and MacGuire at the farm house not far from town, or just chill in Riverville for the day.
In case you want to use any of your healing the next day here is a list of the parties current health before resting.
Current HP of Party
Poppo: 13 Damage
Nalia: 19 Damage
Bobie: 11 Damage
Beatrip: 25 Damage
Turngut: 5 Damage
Bobie would know that here in Enderal their are no cemeteries as all funerals are done by burning bodies, and that burials are illegal here in Enderal.
Poppo sleeps in letting Nalia medicinals do there work, he stumbles downstairs and eats a breakfast of sausages and ale (a little hair of the dog). Then makes his way to the Old Lemon. Assuming the young woman is attending the shop, Will you give me an orange for free if I do a standing backflip for ya? If I fall I'll pay you double? Poppo gives the woman a cheesy grin.
Unfortunately for Bobie they town doesn't need help with digging a ditch or a well right now. Bobie spends the majority of his day stabbing a straw man with his long spear.
The young woman at the Old Lemon fruit stand laughs at Poppo's proposition Well go on then.
Turngut and Nalia what are you guys doing today?
Poppo smiles Here goes!
He leaps into the air.
He backflips with a tuck and lands solidly on his feet, and ends it with a bow.
Entertainment just for you milady!
Turngut is barely involved with the evening festivities and doesn't even seem upset when Poppo cuts himself. His eyes remain dull. He turns in way before everyone else, even Bobie!
The next morning, he is up early and again staring defiantly into the rising sun, forcing himself to not bear the sun-curse of his people. After this daily ritual, he wanders out of town and you don't see him again until late in the evening. His spirits seem slightly better and he sits with everyone, picks at his food, but barely cracks a smile.
Turngut smiles just a bit as Bobie hands him the drink. Turngut make new friends now. New memories. Turngut will not be bad man someday if he keep helping new friends.
The vendor at the old lemon chuckles at Poppo's little show and hands him a well earned orange.
The old priestess in the temple is very happy to have Nalia help with a few ceremonies and other things throughout the day. Nalia finds that for the most part the temple of Malphas here is similar to the temple of Malphas she stayed throughout her early life. She learns that the priestess, Marina was raised here in Riverville her whole life but grew up a Pathless. So despite her magical power she was never allowed the join the Holy Order. She has remained as priestess here for many years.
Bobie comforts Turngut as he stares into the sun.
The rest of the day goes by uneventful.
Again Jespar comes back to town with no horses, and even keeping his ear to the ground he hasn't heard of any caravans headed to Ark either. Assuming you all rest that night and its the next day
In Enderal people are born into castes called Paths, there are three paths, the sublime path, the workers path, and the pathless. Paths are granted by the Light Born when someone is born however it is likely that you will receive the same Path as your father. If you are from a different continent you are considered Pathless since no other land practices Path's, unless your father or mother were from Enderal. The Members of the sublime path are often skilled in the art of magic and usually ascend to become members of the Holy Order, the ruling government of Enderal. People of the workers path are usually everyday people shopkeepers, alchemist, or even adventurers. Members of the Pathless usually consist of the homeless and other lowly professions. While some in the worker's path have ascended to become members of the order a pathless has never risen to become apart of The Order.
You recall that it is about two weeks walk to Ark.
Poppo accepts the orange, Thank you! What's your name and how'd you come to become the seller of these most delicious oranges? He asks as he begins to peal the citrus and nibble at the sweet fruit.
My name is Vexin, my father ran this shop for years but retired and left the business to me.
Pleased to know you Vexin, I will surely miss your oranges and pretty smile when I leave here tomorrow. I better stock up on the oranges. Poppo politely hands Vexin a gold piece and then opens his orange pouch and stuffs it full of oranges, with a toothy grin.
Yeah you are able to fill up your whole pouch with oranges. Anyone doing anything specific today? If not we will move on to the next day and you guys will begin your trip to Ark.
By walking it takes two weeks to get to Ark. You know that you have to cross some mountains to get the Heartland where Ark is. Their is one town on the way a small mining town know as Crowhall.
Jespar will also inform you that it is very cold in the mountains that you will be crossing and that you should all get some winter clothing. Nalia has boots of the winterlands so she doesn't have to worry about having winter clothing. So put together a list of everything that you guys will be purchasing before you leave.
Large Tent - 30GP
Campsite Kit - 12GP
Fishing Kit - 5SP
Trail Rations - 5SP
Cold-Weather Clothes - 8GP
MacGuire and Pearson get back the night of the eighteenth day having defended a farm from a large number of goblins the previous night.
The next morning you all wake up early and pack whatever gear you bought the previous day on your new donkey George, Jespar also puts some gear that he purchased onto the donkey as well. Poppo goes and picks up his brand new finely crafted axe from the smithy. Let me know if you wish to anything else before you embark, taking The Long Road to Ark. The mayor approaches you before you leave handing Nalia a sealed envelope Here is your letter of introduction, take it to the post office in the Noble Quarter. Its addressed to Belis Ormaris, another prominent member of the council and one whom I trust more than any of the others. He will put in a good word for all of you to the council as well as The Holy Order. The mayor extends his hand and shakes everyone's hands before you depart Walk blessed he says walking back to his manor.
You recall that the Mayor has a wand of Endure Elements in his magical collection if you want to try to purchase that.
The wand has 35 charges on it so Mayor Featherwill will sell it to you for 500GP.
Let me correct myself, it would only take you guys eight days to walk there. But the journey may vary based on weather and other things. It takes about four days to make it to the mountains, a day to travel through them, and then three days traveling the Heartland to get to Ark.
The mayor will tell you that its pretty common place for goblins to do small raids on farms like that. Goblins are pretty much the same they just look like the goblins from Labyrinth. Bobie is able to make about five copper doing some odd jobs on the eighteenth day.
Turngut waits outside with Bobie while Nalia and Poppo do the shopping. Once the transaction is complete, he hauls all of the gear to George and straps it onto the beast.
Turngut ready to go. Tired of sitting around.. With that (and once the party is ready), Turngut scoops Poppo up and sets the little halfling on his shoulders. With Riverville receding behind them, Turngut's mood seems to improve with every step.
[ooc]Edit: I can't update the sheet! :-0
Poppo enjoys the perspective from up on Turngut's shoulder and is a willing participant in Nalia attempts to pass the time with song and games. As they go he occasionally peeks behind and watches Riverville recede into the distance.
Assuming no one wants to do anything more in town you all set off! A sweeping shot flies over Castle Croft, the banner of a feather now flying over the castle. It follows the large rivers that flow across the Sun Coast like veins before soaring over Riverville. Many people walk about the market showing less fear than they did just a few days ago. The shot then lands on a band of seven figures, and a donkey as they walk toward the looming mountains ahead. Despite it being just late summer a howling chill freezes the air and sends a shiver up the groups spines. The shot speeds past the group flying the path that winds through the mountains passing over a small village connected to a fort before continuing. It passes a massive ancient castle nestled on the peaks of a mountain before descending into a bright sunny land, the Heartland. Beyond a wide river a city, the city of Ark. The shot quickly flies backwards passing all the notable landmarks before landing back on the group of seven and a title card appears Shards of an Order Chapter 2: The Road to Ark
The first day goes by uneventfully, no goblins, no bandits, no trouble. You pitch your tents and you sleep with nothing happening during your rest. The next day as you are walking the path you see ahead three dogs that appear the be devouring something. As you draw closer to what you once thought were maybe just wild dogs you notice that the dogs are emaciated and hairless. The dogs have a strange air of menace and cruelty about them as they monch on what you now realize is the corpse of some unlucky traveler. The dogs turn and look at you with glowing red eyes and growl, then they go to attack you!
Initiative Order Round 1
Yeth Hounds
Nalia
Poppo
Turngut
Bobie
As the yeth hounds go to engage you a fourth one merges from behind Pearson look after the donkey! Me and Mac will get this one behind! Jespar yells as him and MacGuire go to engage the fourth yeth hound. Two of the yeth hounds bolt to either side of the group while one runs straight forward and lets out a howl I'm gonna need a will save from everyone, including Beatrip or become panicked.
Panicked is a more extreme state of fear than shaken or frightened.
Everyone can go!