Not wanting to tempt fate you head following Aric's directions. With the rain still drizzling the group only stops momentarily even opting to eat your dry rations while traveling instead of setting up a full camp.
For the first couple of hours you can't help but continue looking over your shoulder hoping that the bandits don't catch you. The group is quiet not wanting to alert anyone to your location. Eventually you feel a little more comfortable but you do push on as long as you can before breaking for camp.
Thankful for Penance's ability with fire you are able to create a low fire to keep you warm in the cool, wet night. Still as you all turn in for the night it is tense. Every sound causes you to grip your weapon that much tighter, but when the morning comes nothing has disturbed you and you all feel a little more energized.
That night Valghaz sat in meditation. It had been a trying time, to put it simply. And he prayed to the Forge-Father for guidance. It felt as if though he never had time to really sit down and work his craft the way it was meant to be done.
As he prayed, a small bat flew out of the darkness and landed on his shoulder.
ᛃᛟᚢ᛫ᚨᚱᛖ᛫ᚾᛟᛏ᛫ᚨᛚᛟᚾᛖ
He heard in his mind. ”Did ye...did ye say that?” He whispered to the creature. He looked around to see if anyone else heard it, but the others seemed oblivious.
ᛖᚡᛖᚱᛃᚦᛜ᛫ᛁᛋ᛫ᚠᛟᚱᚷᛖᛞ᛫ᚠᛟᚱ᛫ᚨ᛫ᛈᚢᚱᛈᛟᛋᛖ
He heard it again, in his head. Valghaz nodded. ”I think I understand.” The small creature flapped it’s wings and landed on his shoulder. It felt right to have it there, as if though it was always supposed to be there and he just didn’t know it had been missing.
Ok rolling for HP
Will update character as soon as I can
Four days have passed since you escaped the bandits and while travel in the Forest of Hope seemed to be a lost cause by the second afternoon you finally were able to reach the river that would lead you to Zelkor's Ferry.
Following the river upstream you finally reach after another two days travel. Early in the morning on the fourth day you feel eyes upon your group but nothing comes of it. Aric searches about and is able to find a set of wolf prints. The prints go on for about a hundred yards then completely disappear.
Unsure what to take of this you pack up your camp quickly and continue on your travels.
Mid morning on the fifth day you see the trees begin to get thinner until you see clearing ahead. There you see a settlement protected by a wooden palisade built around a crumbling stone wall. Two guard towers with men armed with bows stand atop looking in your direction and you see the gate is closed.
Stirring forward, Valghaz waved a gauntleted hand to the guards.
”Oi! Ye lot! We’re road weary travelers. Open up, aye?”
Al keeps a close eye on the wall. The last thing they need is to have gone through that ordeal and be killed by a nervous archer at the gates to a town.
"Easy friend Valghaz. We do not want them to mistake us for bandits!"
Mistra edges away from the dwarf, moving closer to Aladair. What he said, exactly. We've had enough troubles because of bandits. Being mistaken for them after what we went through to get away from them? No thank you!
As you draw closer, you get a better view and see each platform is occupied by a single man wearing chainmail. They eye your group warily holding a crossbow at the ready. While they seem alert, they do not seem alarmed by your approach. As you get within 25 yards or so, the fellow on the left calls out “Before entering state your business in the Ferry.”
Penance does not speak to the guardsman, double-checking that her cloak is fully covering her as she whispers: "W-Which one of u-us wishes to s-speak? I-I shall bless y-you..."
Looking around to see if anyone might step forward (other than the dwarf), Aladair calls out to the guards.
"A good morning to you. We are travellers here to catch the ferry but were unfortunately waylaid during our trip here by bandits. We are looking for a room at the local Inn for an evening or two, a warm meal and passage on the ferry."
The same guard shouts down to Aladair, "Alright. Well if you are wise you'll keep your weapons sheathed and not damage any property or steal from any persons. Maintain the peace and we'll not have any reason to throw you out or worse."
"A ferry should be in the next few days. Only place to stay is Bristleback's. Large building to the right when you pass through the gate." he turns around and calls down to someone behind the gate. "Open the gate we got some travelers outside."
The gates slowly open beckoning you to enter. Walking in you see that Zelkor's Ferry consists an old, crumbling stone wall encompassing a small cluster of buildings.
To the south of entering you see an old building not in the best of repair. A cracked and peeling wooden sign creaks from its iron bracket by the door, showing a picture of a wild boar in badly-faded paint.
Just behind that building you can see a stable with two horses eating from their trough.
A ringing of metal and a plume of smoke rises from the building to the north of the gate signaling that it is likely a smithy of some sort.
"Well friends...we made it! I don't know about the rest of you lot, but I am heading to the Inn for a nice meal and getting a room. Who's with me?"
The elf heads off towards the Bristleback.
"Oh, and the first drink is on me!", he calls back over his shoulder.
Mistra starts off after the elf. I'll take you up on that offer! Mistra worries what the prices at the inn will be... This whole adventure wrangled her in because she did not have enough coin to stay the night at an inn, after all.
”Ah, such wonderful things to hear. I think our luck is finally turning around!”
This hunched two-story stone building with a thatched roof has certainly seen better days. An old wooden sign above the door creaks gently in the breeze. The cracked sign with peeling paint depicts a charging wild boar above the title, “The Bristleback Inn.”
As you enter the Inn, you take in a dimly lit common room with five or so round tables, only one of which is occupied at the moment by a trio of what appear to be guards of some sort. They glance up at you with mild interest as you enter but immediately return to their conversation.
To the right you see a short five stool bar. Behind it you cannot help but notice a burly and black-haired man of middle years with outrageous lambchop side burns who is nearly half as wide as he is tall. You see that he had apparently been in conversation with a younger sandy haired woman wearing an apron.
As your party assembles inside the common room, he calls out in a friendly and rich voice, “Welcome to Zelkor’s Ferry and the Bristleback Inn. I am Odo Bristleback, proprietor of this fine establishment. What can we do for you today?”
Conner follows the others in, and he scans the Inn, waiting patiently to slack his thirst.
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Drinks my good fellow. We are parched after our harrowing journey and seek a little rest and relaxation. I will have whatever cider you might have and the others...well I am sure they will tell you what they desire. What have you on the menu for today? We will probably eat as well and finally, we will need rooms for all of us. Well, I think that takes care of everything for the moment."
While talking the elf wanders the room and chooses the table with the best views of the exits from the bar and sits down.
He also uses some keywords from the hidden language of his trade (thieves cant) to see if anyone in the room might have connections to the local guild.
Ale for me, Odo.
Conner collects his drink and joins Aladair at the table he selected, putting his back to the wall.
"Good to see some new faces. Tallie grab some ale for our guests here. A flagon is 5 copper shields. Be 5 silver nobles each for the roasted pheasant I got cooking right now. It's a gold monarch per night for each of you. I got four rooms if you need. Could fit the five of you if two of you don't mind sharing." Odo pours the ale from a cask and you watch as the sandy-haired woman server brings you your drinks.
Tallie drops the drinks off at the table you select and adds, "What brings you to the Ferry? Looking for adventure I bet!"
Mistra looks over at Penance at the Innkeeper's words. I don't mind bunking with you if you don't mind. It would certainly be nice to have a chance to sleep under a roof. Turning to Odo, she directs her next request to him. I would like cider as well, sir. Does your inn have any provision for washing? We've been through a bit, and I at least would appreciate cleaning up.
Penance's grim expression is hidden in the voluminous folds of her cloak. "U-U-Um, I-I-I...o-o-okay, yes, we w-w-will share a r-r-room..." She pauses, then taps Aladair on the shoulder. "U-Um, Sir Aladair? C-Could I please a-ask you to a-ask the innkeeper f-for some cheese? Ch-Cheddar, if you c-can..."
”Oi! Keeper o’ all that is good in this benighted world. Cheese n’ cider n’ ale! Danced with dead nay long ago. Now we wish to enjoy life.”
Aladair smiles fondly at the Tiefling.
"Your wish is my command!", he says with a slight flourish.
"Some good cheddar as well Innkeeper."
Aladair takes out 15 gold monarchs and places them on the bar.
"There that should take care of meals and rooms for the day. I also have a large number of copper shields that I would like to exchange...is there a moneylender in the town?"
Turning to Odo, she directs her next request to him. I would like cider as well, sir. Does your inn have any provision for washing? We've been through a bit, and I at least would appreciate cleaning up.
"I can have a basin brought to your room with a bucket of hot and cold water along a brush and some soap. If you need more cleaning than that bathe in the river."
"I also have a large number of copper shields that I would like to exchange...is there a moneylender in the town?"
Odo gathers the coins from Aladair while Tallie heads into the kitchen to look about getting the additional drink and food you have ordered. Dropping the coins into a purse hanging about his waist he gives Aladair his full attention
"No moneylender at the fort, but you can ask Rasmus. He runs a shop here, 'Rasmus Pye’s Trading Post.' Located in the building beside the stables."
Tallie returns and places the cider along with a head of cheese and some bread down on your table before returning to the bar to gather some glasses then into the kitchen.
Aladair finishes his meal and stretches as he rises from the table.
"A fine meal Master Odo. I am going to go and talk to this Rasmus fellow at the trading post and see if I can't get some of this coin switch to something easier to carry! Who wants to come?"
Al waits until those who are going to join him gather and then heads over to the Trading Post.
Mistra looks down at herself at Aladair's words. I suppose I am presentable enough for the trading post. Practical needs should be met before luxuries. Making sure to catch the innkeeper's attention, she waves towards the door. Master Odo, I will be returning shortly and will gladly take the offer of a wash basin. She heads towards the door, accompanying the elf and anyone else going to the trading post.
Odo nods at Mistra and hands out four keys for the rooms you have rented. "I'll have it brought up in half a bell so it will be waiting for you."
Heading outside you head to the building beside the stables. The building before you is one of the smallest in the hamlet. It bears the signs of some attempts at upkeep as there are sections of reasonably well-maintained paint that stand in defiance to the rot and decay of the rest of the structures in town.
A cheery wooden signboard proclaims this to be “Rasmus Pye’s Trading Post” in bright clear letters. Two steps up take you to the short front porch and another few through the glass-paned front door.
Once inside the small shop, the first thing you notice are the smells of oiled leather, cedar chips, and some unidentifiable floral scent. You are next confronted with store isles crammed with a wide variety of goods hanging and stacked everywhere. You see everything from foodstuffs, basic household goods, clothing, adventuring supplies, and even a couple suits of
armor.
As you are taking all this in, you see a tabby house cat stroll down an isle towards you acting in a proprietary manner as if it owned the store, before turning off in a side isle heading who knows where. At the very back of the shop, behind several stacked crates, you see a counter and peering around the stacked goods is a smiling fellow in well-worn but serviceable robes who smiles at you and engagingly proclaims, “Welcome to Rasmus Pye’s Trading Post. I am Rasmus and I can assure you that we have just about everything you could possibly be looking for. How can I help you today?”
"Greetings Master Pye...I am hoping that you can assist me in a small matter. My friends and I had a harrowing trip here to the ferry and on the way, we came across a bit of treasure. The largest portion turned out to be copper shields. I was hoping to trade them for a more manageable denomination, if possible. I also have a couple of small gems that we also discovered and was hoping that you might have some knowledge with valuing them."
Again Al is slipping in keywords and certain phrases that are part of the Thieves Cant. Just wondering if this fellow picks up on them or not.
"A bit of treasure and you survived?! Well done I dare say. Well done! Did you come into anything that you might be willing to trade? As for converting you coins into a manageable denomination. If your ask is to buy or trade goods for your coin I can oblige you. Lightening your load of copper would be a little more difficult task. We do have a gemcutter in the Ferry a dwarf by the name of Kalgor. He could likely be of better assistance and could assist you with the evaluating the gems."
”A gem cutter with stone in the blood? A fortunate town ye have here. I’d like to meet him, see his trade.”
As well respected as clan crafters are among outsiders, no one esteems them quite so highly as dwarves do. You always have free room and board in any place where shield dwarves or gold dwarves dwell, and the individuals in such a settlement might vie among themselves to determine who can offer you (and possibly your compatriots) the finest accommodations and assistance.
"Before you go Valghaz take these stones and see if you can figure out what they are worth."
Turning back to Rasmus, Al places his hand on his chin as if in thought.
"Hmmm...now let's see. What goods do you have here? Anything that would assist up-and-coming adventures like ourselves?"
"I have a variety of items but it seems you are requesting something that is not easily acquired. Let me check my ledger. With that Rasmus grabs an old leather book from his desk and starts leafing through the delicate parchment pages.
For the most part, Penance busies herself with a portion of the cheese, using a small knife to cut the cheddar into nearly perfect half-inch cubes. Most of these she tucks into the folds of her cloak, but one she gingerly places in a deep pocket. "There we are now...yes, all for you..."
As the others barter with the shopkeep, she again tugs on Aladair's shoulder. "S-Sir Aladair, if y-you could please p-purchase some candles...? A-And, we should b-buy food, for th-the journey..."
Mistra walks up and down the shelves, perusing the contents. There isn't a whole lot that fits into "immediate needs', by her judgement, but... Aladair, if you could add some rope to the list? It came in handy getting here; another coil or two wouldn't hurt.
Valghaz made his way to the shop of his kinsman. In addition to the gems that they had found, he had one of his own. It was gem worth ten gold coins .
Making his way in, he offered a genuine smile. ”Forge Father’s Blessing! By his mighty beard it’s good to see a child of stone. Name is Valghaz, Clan Ironhammer. Priest of the Forge. I’ve got some gems here I’m looking to appraise and I hear tell that yer the dwarf to talk to.”
"Well now we will need some candles...about a dozen should do, and some rope...2 50' coils if you please and some rations...what do you say Penance...3 days each?"
Penance releases a small sound as Aladair draws the shopkeeper’s attention to her. ”U-U-Um....y-y-yes, three days i-i-is fine...!” She less than subtly shrinks into her cloak, gently tugging on her hood to draw it lower.
Mistra moves to stand beside Alastair, subtly placing Penance behind her and attempting to divert the attention of the shopkeeper. Please, answer a question for me. How often do visitors come through town? Are there ever any groups of men who might be... shall we say, of interest to the law?
Conner checks the shelves for any kind of charm that may increase his defensive approach in combat, or healing selves. He also inquires.
who is the smithy in town?
"Apologies I can't see anything in the ledger that would pique your interest. As to the other items. We can definitely supply you with those items." Going through the store Aladair along with Mistra grabs a bundle of candles, 2 coils of rope and then some rations for the group. "Excellent that comes up to...eleven gold monarchs and one silver noble." Taking the coins from Aladair he looks at Mistra.
"New faces pass through sporadically hard to say but there is usually a group of new people each week. Some come to search the Dungeon of Graves, others come looking for work as guards with the caravans, few even come to trade gems with Kalgor. Some of these might of interest to the law but Ferry governs itself. Odo sees to that. He runs the Ferry and is the landlord of the shops you see here."
Conner looks at the shelves but does not see any healing aids or magical charms. Hearing his question Rasmus quickly answers "The Ferry's smithy is near the gate. His name is Big Morgan."
Excusing himself Valghaz heads for the shop finding it relatively easily. The shop is a small and well-maintained stone cottage. A wooden sign mounted on dark iron brackets bears the image of a multifaceted gemstone.
Entering the shop Valghaz finds a robust dwarf sitting behind a counter. The dwarf wears a set of spectacles that rests perfectly on his nose. In his hands you see him with several tools working dull blue stone. Setting his tools down he turns to Valghaz.
"Greetings to ye. I can definitely help ye with that ask. Normally I charge ten percent of the stone's value to appraise it. Let's see what ye have to show. Ahh those be lapis lazuli. A common enough stone those slivers should be worth 6 gold coins each. If ye wanted to sell it I would buy it for 33 gold monarchs. Anything else ye need help with?"
It is as you are talking to the shopkeepers when your conversation is pierced by some sudden yelling followed by the trilling sound of some sort of
horn being blown.
The Rasmus immediately looks to the door, "The alarm is being sounded! Quickly now outside!"
In Kalgor's shop, the dwarf starts to put away his tools and whatever gems are out almost forgetting about Valghaz. "What are ye still doing in here? Git out there that is the alarm horn."
Valghaz had been debating whether or not he wanted to haggle when the horn sounded. Cursing, he pulled out his hammer. ”Forge-Father’s sparks! What now?” He thought for a moment about grabbing the gems, but decided that they’d likely be safest in the hands of a Dwarven Merchant. ”I’ll be back.” He muttered.
Racing out of the shop you leave the gems with confidence that they will be there when you return.
You see guards running to the town's lone gate most not even wearing any armor. The others join up with you having come from left Rasmus' shop.
Nearing the gate a few more people are pouring out of the Inn. One of these include Odo Bristleback, the proprietor of the inn and the leader of this town. In his hands he bears a huge and wicked looking double-bladed axe.
Odo is about about 20 paces or so ahead of you and your eyes are drawn to him as something is obviously happening to him as he rushes forward to the town gates. His flesh seems to writhe and expand right before your eyes. You watch as he transforms into something more squat, muscular, and feral.
As you are trying to make sense of what you are seeing, a shout from the gates brings you away from Odo “Gnolls! We are being attacked by gnolls!”
”Gnolls? Furry bastards.” Valghaz growled, as he prepared to move towards his comrades so he could bless them.
Aladair rushes out of the shop and looks over to see Valghaz exiting what must be the gem-cutter's shop.
"Come, let's get to the wall and see what we can see!"
Aladair rushes off towards the main gate.