The goblin runs away to the north. As it runs, Shalelu draws back her bow and takes a final shot.
The goblin falls to the ground to lie face down in the grass.
Pip nods, "Alright then, I guess I picked the right caravan to travel with. Good work, anyone injured?"
Oren quickly makes his way over to the human that laid the trap for them, checking his vitals, and calls for Pip or Koya to stabilize him if possible, getting a rope ready to tie him up. "Someone check that wagon! It may have belonged to someone before they did this!"
Madir checks the wagon.
Madir takes a look in the wagon and sees a bit of a cache of random items...no doubt what these bandits had taken from other "marks."
1 Jasper
1 Moonstone pendant
1 Jade necklace
1 Aquamarine ring
2 polished darkwood chalices
1 porcelain doll with silk clothing
2 potions (magical)
1 scroll (magical)
1 MW light flail
1 heavy steel shield (magical)
Pip stabilizes anyone if it is requested of him, though he doesn't go out of his way to help out murderous bandits.
"Live by the sword, die by the... getting ripped in half by a really big guy."
He moves around and tends any wounds, then inspects the haul of items for value.
He also uses Read Magic to identify the scroll.
Oren looks over the cache to try and get a value on it.
1 Jasper - 50 gp
1 Moonstone pendant - 105 gp
1 Jade necklace - 65 gp
1 Aquamarine ring - 50 gp
2 polished darkwood chalices - 50 gp ea
1 porcelain doll with silk clothing - 40 gp
2 potions (magical) - CMW and dunno...
1 scroll (magical)
1 MW light flail
1 heavy steel shield (magical) - +1
Trig looks over the pile and is happy they have the expert eye of Oren there for most of it, "Oh that is a nice pile of shineys. One potion here heals and should be taken by someone who can't heal themselves. Anyone need and can use that nice flail? What about the heavy magic shield?"
As you gather around the goods, Sandru looks down with wide eyes. They must have been here for a while and robbed quite a few wandering 'vans. Bandits...pah! He spits in the grass. I've no use for the disreputable sort...hope we run into that fellow again.
Ameiko!
You glance over to see that Ameiko has collapsed to the ground...she looks asleep, and her skin is a shade more pale than it was before. Koya is rushing to her side.
Oren runs over with Koya and drops down to Ameiko, careful not to touch her until Koya has had a look. "Ameiko? What's wrong with her, Koya?"
Pip rushes over, "NO! Did she get hit? Maybe poisoned? Anyone know what happened?" He raises his holy symbol high, "Gozreh, bless us with healing rains!"
The healing energy courses through Ameiko, but she still doesn't seem to stir. Koya frowns in concern. She's not in physical distress, but seems terribly, terribly tired. Let's get her to the wagons so that she may rest.
Pip wonders, "Maybe a disease or magical affliction? I've heard of nightmare spells before. I'll do a check once we get her in a cooler place, if you all don't mind. I've learned a lot about medicine and magic since I left Sandpoint."
Oren nods at Pip, seeing the concern in the halfling's face. "Alright. Work with Koya. See what you can do for her. The rest of us will get things moving again. We'll need to find a good spot to make camp where we can make Ameiko comfortable." With those words, Oren looks to Shalelu, a silent transaction going on between them. We need that campsite, sis.
Within moments, Oren has Sandru getting the wagons ready and shouting orders to the others to get on the road, then helps to get Ameiko settled comfortably in a wagon.
Arren rushes to Ameiko, assuming the worst as he drops to his knees next to her, but he calms down slightly as he hears Koya's words.
"I don't know if this is related, but she was unusually tired a few days back... it's not like her. Might be magic... I'll help get her back to the wagons."
After making sure that she's comfortable, he stays close to her side with Pip and offers his own knowledge of magic to help figure out the cause of her condition.
Collapsing in a heap as the rage leaves him, Gruhx crawls towards his companions. "All es ok, yes?"
"She jess needens *YAWN* sweepy nap nap?"
Pip can tell that she is in some sort of magically induced coma. There is also a faint magical aura within her, though it's hard to discern any more about it.
Gruhx, though surprisingly knowledgeable about this subject, can't seem to suss out what the issue may be.
"Gruhx a'ready tells ya. She needsa nap nap. Is gun bee ok." he assures his companions...though his face betrays his own self doubts.
Spotting the small one eyeing the arcane page, he smiles. "Iffen ya wants it, es yours. Too much wordy fer Gruhx."
Pip nods but takes the big man's comments with a grain of salt.
Just being tired doesn't generally cause a collapse like this.
He turns to Arren, "Any thoughts? You seem to be able to use a bit of magic here or there or is this outside your expertise?"
Deep in thought, Arren furrows his brows as he looks over Ameiko. "I'm afraid my expertise is mostly limited to spells of combat, but... let me think on it for a moment."
Arren looks deeply at Ameiko, but also can't seem to figure out what is causing this. Koya grits her teeth in anger and frustration, seemingly at her own lack of knowledge. She leads Gruhx into lifting her up and onto the wagons.
Shalelu looks on in concern, but is unable to offer any more than that. I will go and scout ahead; make sure there are no more surprises.
You set Ameiko to rest and at Koya's direction get some moderately cold cloths dipped in the river water to cover her forehead...as she seems to be feverish.
When caring for her, you hear her blurt out.
Koya frowns again. I don't know this language...
"Thanks Shale," Oren replies.
"Can't say that I know it either," Oren says as he gets on board the caravan, "but I think I've heard her speak it before. Let's get moving!"
Pip nods, "Aye. Hopefully when we find a spot to rest she can break the fever."
Koya seems a bit unhappy with that lack of resolution, but she nods, and boards the wagon. With Ameiko under her care, you move on towards the last leg of your journey.
Madir and Shalelu keeps watch, with the former speaking in hushed tones to Black, his bird. He seems a bit withdrawn when approached by anyone else, even Shalelu, who tries to urge him to be more attentive.
Towards the end of the day, as the sun dips low and the moon glimmers through the leafy canopy beside the road, you see a woman walking towards you...in the night.
By the time you see her, you note that Shalelu has already marked her from a distance and has arrow knocked and ready. Sandru mutters under his breath as he squints at the distant figure. Think I know her...Marilis?
*ZZzzz* "HUh?"
Rousing from his nap, Gruhx leaps up. Rummaging through his pack, he pulls out a trusty cauldron and shoves his hand inside. Standing tall next to the wagon, he calls out.
"Ya be friend o ya be dead?!"
Marilis stops at the sight of the massive Trox, a safe distance away from the caravans.
"If those are the only choices, is 'friend' alright? Hey there! I was just on the road when I ran into someone, seemed like bad news, mumbled something about a caravan taking down all his goblin bandit buddies. Figured you'd might want him to face some sort of justice, so, uh, here he is!"
She then eyes the other people a little. "Wait, Sandru, is that you?"
You see the form of the arcanist who had gotten away...or at least thought he had...at the feet of this woman.
Sandru stands up at the front of the wagon. Ha! Marilis, it's been ages! How the hell'd you get out of Riddle- He suddenly glances around from side to side and clears his throat. Well, no matter, you're here, what luck!
Shalelu looks at him with a raised eyebrow, and he waves for her to stand down. She's a friend. Then he looks over to the massive form of Gruhx. Confirmed...friend, big guy!
Pip eyes the stranger warily.
Could be a Doppleganger...
But then again, they accepted me on mostly just my word and appearance, better not push anyone too far.
"Oh yeah, welcome to our little caravan. Honestly, I was fine letting that guy go. If he was able to survive in the woods then Gozreh would have seen his value. If not, well there are plenty of hungry animals out there that would have been fed. Do you happen to know anything about magical mystical diseases?"
Oren's attention is mostly on the arcanist as he hops off the wagon. "Thought that you'd get away that easily, huh?" he mocks the beaten man, but then turns away from him again. "Appreciate the help, friend. Name's Oren. If Sandru vouches for you, then you're welcome to join us. We're in the middle of a journey. Might be dangerous, but you surely seem able to take care of yourself."
"Oh, y'know, the usual, got into some disagreements, decided I'd be best off trying my luck elsewhere, been on the road for a little while now, doing alright! What are you up to? Can't remember ever seeing you travel with a wild bunch as this!"
She turns to the others. "Hi! name's Marilis."
When Oren offers an invitation, she doesn't take very long to consider it. "If you'll have me, gladly! I don't have anywhere I need to be, and maybe some actual purpose for a little bit will be good on me. Where we going?"
Sandru winks and pauses before delivering his answer, as if enjoying the buildup of drama. We're headed...to Brinewall. You know, haunted 'ol castle up north. Almost there too...whaddya' say Marilis...been curious what's still in that place? I know I have.
Pip's mauve eyebrow raises, "Haunted Castle? I was not aware that was this caravan's destination. But sure, I'm intrigued enough to hang around. Plus, I'm not going to leave Ameiko's side right now. But shouldn't we try to find someone who can diagnose whatever Ameiko has instead?"
Oren nods in agreement with Pip, "Ameiko's health and safety is our primary concern. This whole trip was for her benefit, and we need to know what's going on with her. We need to find a good campsite for the night. And someone get this idiot in shackles!" The Ouat points at the arcanist as he barks out the order.
A smirk comes over Marilis face. "Sandru, you almost know me too well. Happy to be on board!"
Not one to immediately get to freeloading, Marilis looks to see how she can make herself useful.
Pip looks at Oren, "Wait, we are heading there for her? Could that be related somehow? Tell me everything you know, please." The last bit comes out almost desperately.
Slowly lowering his cauldron'd hand, Gruhx looks from his companions to the newcomer to the villain.
"'E tella ya what 'e did ta Meeko? She bit too sleepy..."
Marilis finds a fine spot for them to camp, and Shalelu nods in appreciation as if she'd been testing her. The group sets up for the night, with Koya never leaving Ameiko's side. Shalelu ranges out in a patrol around the camp, keeping watch. The brothers and Sandru set up camp, and Sandru sets up his well-used grill while the brothers head to the stream to see if there's anything they can supplement the evening's meal with.
Sandru talks while he works, though he remains turned towards the fire pit. Yeah...so, Ameiko got a letter...or I guess these fine fellows here got it for her. Turns out it came from an old Tien skeleton that may have been this fella' named Tsutama, who was a bodyguard of her grandfather, Rokuro Kaijitsu. This letter was from said father to his son...Ameiko's late father, telling him that he was leaving this thing called the "warding box" in Brinewall - and that this thing contained their family secrets.
Well, if you know Ameiko, you know that promise of adventure with the bonus of information on her legacy, whatever that may be, was more than enough for her to set up this trip. The rest of us, well...for our own reasons, we've been swept up along with it. So, now we head to this Brinewall to find her warding box and figure out what mysteries there are from Ameiko's past.
As for Brinewall, well...all I really know is that an unkown scourge destroyed the colony there years ago...actually a few days after the date on that letter.
Pip frowns and rubs his beard, "Maybe the letter was cursed or something? Does she still have it with her? I'm not like... saying we need to search her stuff, but this is a bit of a dire situation."
"Is that a thing?" Oren asks, stepping into the conversation. "I mean, I know that some people can cast spells from pieces of paper, but do you really think the paper did it all on it's own?" The bald dwarf, who looks like he's showing signs of stubble growing back, shakes his head. "No. I don't think that the paper is cursed, but you do make a good point. This whole thing is tied to her family. Maybe there's something in this Brinewall that's also tied to blood. Possibly deeper than a mere hidden box. If only someone knew that language that she speaks. Might give us some idea of what's going on with her. Speakin' of which...." Oren walks away from the group and heads over to check on Koya.
"How's she doing, Koya?" He asks the old healer. "Is there anything that we can do that might help her?"
"Ya no shud taken 'er stuff without askin." declares Gruhx indignantly. "Ya wudden like otters taken yous stuff."
Glancing towards the snoozing woman, he frowns. "Hope she be ok. Why she no wake up? Dis paper ting make her sleepy?"
Pondering the thought, he nods. "Papers wit words make Gruhx sleepy too...but not dis long. Maybe wes go ta dis place and take find sumtin ta wake her?"
Pip’s tone rises, ”Of course there are magical curses. There are also contact poisons and diseases and fungi. Any number of things, which is why we need to investigate. People don’t just ‘pass out’ for no reason. Was she bit by anything on your travels? Even insects can pass diseases. We just need more information, I’m not going to TAKE anything!”
For crap’s sake, I just actually got to hang out and freaking actually sing with my hero and then this happens!
”And what if this paper she had mentions something about the castle she has to do when we get there and we don’t do it!”
Squinting his eyes in an attempt to digest the logic posed by the tiny man, Gruhx turns to Koya.
"I...uh...dunno... Mom? Is ok 'cause o situation?"
Arren interjects. "While I can't speak for Ameiko, I do think that given the circumstances, she'd understand us having a closer look at that letter. I'm not sure if I believe that the letter itself was cursed, but it might hold some clues about her condition or how to reverse it, or Pip could be right about it mentioning some kind of instructions for Brinewall. It's probably a good idea to investigate it.
Koya shakes her head in despair. Son, I...I've never seen an affliction like this before. It's as if she's just in a deep sleep. There's really...nothing else wrong with her.
Pip will do a quick scan with detect magic to see if there are any traces of anything of that sort. Then he'll take a really close look to see if there are traces of poison or disease or whatever. Once that is done, he'll read through it.
"Hmmm. So I can guess that we are currently on a quest to get that item in the keep and try to figure out what all can be done about it?"
He carefully puts the letter back where it was found.
There don't appear to be any magical auras on the letter