Urdrsk follows Maqan out of curiosity.
Looking at the small courtyard, the rickety door, and the four foot high stone wall, you don't see any signs of dragging of the logs through that door or from the inn itself.
"How could I of lived here all my life and never known..." Maqan muttered as she ran a hand through her hair. "This... doesn't make sense..." She added before she moved back inside. "Normally I'd say we should take it with up but I think this is the inn's magic and not the items... I wouldn't risk removing it... However, maybe we could use this place as a base? If it always has food and logs for warmth, it is invaluable."
The dwarf looks up at the inn, scratching his head in confusion. "Do you mean this little inn moves around?"
"No, I mean it will always provide." Maqan answered. "It will restock itself slowly over time."
Scam waits for the others to finish discussing whatever they're discussing.
Maqan you are drawn to a small door you never noticed before. Stepping up to the door it opens on its own and a clockwork mouse steps out holding a key in its hands.
The group collects what they can including the rest of the food within the pantry, two loads of fire wood, and a few odds and ends. Assuming that is fine then the group heads out. Now five horses strong, in the stables another horse was found. Then the baker's dozen head out.
Most of you walking as others are riding. The saddlebags accomodate most of the food and firewood you collected. Leaving room for one or two riders on each horse.
Then you enter the mist...
Sticking to the dirt road you are able to see that trees rise in the distance. Then they stop only seeing grass. Then that stops leaving sand. Then that stops and you find yourself in a strange forest. The mist continues to stop your sight but the forest is thicker than even the mist. You have been traveling most the day and looking around you don't think there is any mist around you anymore.
"How far until your town, the headquarters for your bandit friends?" He asks your guide with a bit of intimidation.
"I think we should have the cleric take care of that non-lethal damage with a channel or two. Then we can walk down to that town. What were the slaver's called? I think we should go give them a visit, at least to see what kind of strength they have. Stick with us and we will get you home or get you a way home from here."
The teenager is already a bit skittish and the elf's statement spooks him. After the yell and collecting his nerves he states, "It should be another hour walk maybe two? We are in the right terrain and I sure hope out of the mist." Pulling on his long hair and twirling it nervously.
Most of those traveling with you nod and seem willing to push onwards even though it would be a forced march.
for the first hour, DC 10, then DC 12:
After the two hours of extra forced walking, 6 of your allies are fatigued. Likely those who become fatigued first you let ride on the horses.
The guide just shrugs his shoulders at the glares he gets from the group but finally he points out, "Look there, that rock says we are likely within sight of the town." It is a massive rock with a glowing golden bell attached to it half way up its 60 foot height. True to his words you see that down in a valley another 20 minute walk and there is a town.
Dusk is upon you and within an hour it will be dark. The guide offers up, "The bandits, slavers, and worse call this town theirs but there are many good people that call it home. It once was called Alder's Home but they changed it to Sawbill. My folks are there too. They are slaves. I was given the chance of freedom with this mission. I will guide you the best I can but if any one recognizes me they will likely try to chain me up and take me back to my previous masters." He says almost ready to cry at the thought of it again.
A slightly confused look came over Maqan's face before she knelt down and held her hand out to the mechanical mouse. "Hello little one."
"Saronis... We aren't soldiers... Most of us won't do well if we keep going. Without knowing for sure I think we should make camp and get some sleep before pressing on." Maqan advised, but she would go with the group's choice.
"You will never wear chains again." Maqan promised with a soft smile. "How many call this place home? Would the slaves rise up if they see there are those who will free them?" She asked.
"Some might rise up, but they don't use most of the slaves for heavy lifting more so for chores and whoring. Most don't have the strength to fight but would welcome freedom once the slavers are gone. There are probably 500 slaves, maybe more. Depending on which crew is stationed it could have anywhere from 100 to 500 bandits and slavers. There are five gangs that run the town. The Saws stay in the town and have mostly cronies but there is a dozen Sawers. Then there is the Jokers, the Hexites, the Slavering Slavers, and the Blues. There is about 20 main guys in each gang which have at least 3 cronies each. The Sawers are all lunitics except for their leader Sawbill, he is a sadist and lets them saw anyone not chained, or tattooed." The boy offers as pain grows over his face thinking back about it.
"By thé Góds", exclaimed Urdrsk. "Whèrè dìd àll thèsè slávérs còmè fróm? Òr wèrè wè jùst.. hìddèn fròm thè hórrórs óùtsìde by thè Wárd Stóné?!"
"They're bad guys." Scram nods her head. Having all the confirmation she needs..
"We go Break their legs and everything in between." she holds up her fist as a point.
He laughs at Scrams suggestion and nods in agreement with her. "Yes, the Ward Stone likely protected you from a lot." he offers.
The cleric Andrei channels and a second time. Likely removing the nonlethal damage and fatigue brought on by it.
Scram blinks at Saronis's words.
"Wardstone? Scram not know Wardstone. Scram always being outside and outside outside far." she tries to explain how far she was from the rest of them but fails.
"Thè Wárd Stóné ìs whèrè àll thìs bègàn", Urdrsk began, turning to Scram so she could see his face as he over-enunciates his words. "Sàrònìs's sìstèr fòund thè Wàrd Stòne wìth àll òf ùs, bùt shé stólé ìt fròm thè mòùntàìn; áppáréntly cáusìng èvèry prótéctìón Sànctùàry èvèr hàd tò vànìsh!"
Scram ponders over the words and her incredible bright mind comes to a simple conclusion.
"So Sardonis is bad guy trying to be good guy because sister is a good guy who's now a bad guy!" she reasons it out.
"So we find wardstone and everything normal yes?"
Urdrsk ponders Scram's conclusion and shrugs, "Nò. Sàrdònìs ìs à góód gùy, bùt hè's án élf, sò...", the dwarf let the sentence drift, half-jokingly. "Às fòr thè Wàrd Stòne, thàt ìs thè hópé òf ìt, Scràm."
"Thank you Andrei for the healing, I know I am a bit tired and the rest of you are likely there too. Though sleeping at an inn would likely be better than under these trees. Come on. Let's get there, one last push." He thanks and then encourages the group.
The night is just upon you as you get to the city gates. No one stands guard and the doors are chained up loosely. Anyone could slip between the doors. The doors seem rather sturdy and only two inches thick. Beyond them to either side you see a 5 foot stone wall that has wooden spikes pointing out over the top of it and other spikes on the wall. Many blood stains are on the wooden spikes. It looks like the corpses have been removed but that is about it.
The guide goes in first and waves the group in. Beyond the door you see one man sleeping in a rocking chair with only a little hammer in his hand for a weapon. The boy motions the group to follow.
Urdrsk pushes along with the rest of the large group. Kat eventually rest on the dwarf's shoulder. If Scram shows signs of fatigue, Ursrsk offers to carry the halfling on his back.
I follow closely behind the guide and squeeze through the doorway. Seeing the sleeping man I ignore him and continue on. At this point I draw my sword and watch for any threats.
Scram is almost nowhere to be seen as she weaves among the group, her small size allowing her to hide herself.
Urdrsk, unsure of what to do to make the least amount of noise, draws his waraxe.
Passing the gate without any troubles the town is set before you. The streets are made of cobblestone and many of the buildings seem well built and in good shape. You can see lights coming from most buildings, some more than others. It would seem that if you follow the path to the left more buildings have lights on and they seem a bit larger. If you go down the right path you see hovels and smaller buildings.
He shrugs to the group and leads you to the left.
"Shouldn't there be people out and about?" Maqan asked with a curious look on her face. "Doing daily tasks and what not?"
The guide looks back and shakes his head, offering quietly, "There is a curfew. It is dangerous to be out at night."
Scram keeps herself hidden even as she observes the town they're entering. She notes that they're evenly divided with one side side being more affluent then the other.
The boy leads the group past the first two inns or taverns to one that is rather quiet. He opens the door and then indicates for the group to enter.
You find a rather unkept inn. The common room is barely lit with a lantern on the desk and a fire in the hearth with only coals. The land lady perks up and smiles a toothy grin though missing a few teeth. She coughs a few times before rasping out, "Ah welcome guests. Please come in, quietly quickly. I could go get a log of... for the fire. I have three rooms open. Two of them have two full beds, the other has two bunk beds. Then for the rest of you, you could stay here in the commons. Since you bring me such guests I will give you a discount 4 silvers for the lot of you with a simple breakfast in the morning."
Maqan paused and opened her bag a bit to look inside.
Urdrsk looks over to see Maqan fumbling with her coin purse. The dwarf discreetly puts down a gold piece. "Thàt's my làst còìn. Thè èxtrà's fòr prìvàcy."
The land lady takes the coin and winks, slyly saying, "Of course, of course. You were never here. Is there anything I could get your group, extra bedrolls for the common room and pillows?"
"Yès, plèàsè", Urdrsk answered.
The lady helps your group get settled into your rooms. Those who take rooms find out that there are only three rooms on the second story building. The room with the two bunk beds is on the ground story. The women take the bunkbeds. Urdrsk takes one room. Maqan and Saronis take one room. Leaving the last room open for the most part.
Discretely, Urdrsk offers to share his room with Kat.
The night is just upon you as you get to the city gates. No one stands guard and the doors are chained up loosely. Anyone could slip between the doors. The doors seem rather sturdy and only two inches thick. Beyond them to either side you see a 5 foot stone wall that has wooden spikes pointing out over the top of it and other spikes on the wall. Many blood stains are on the wooden spikes. It looks like the corpses have been removed but that is about it.
The guide goes in first and waves the group in. Beyond the door you see one man sleeping in a rocking chair with only a little hammer in his hand for a weapon. The boy motions the group to follow.
Maqan:As you walk past the town gate you feel a bit of music come from your pack. Looking in you would collect your key ring. Assuming you added your newest key to it: The bronze key is lightly tapping your newest key. Each time they collide they make a few notes of music and the new key shimmers showing it to be golden and jeweled. Then the image fades before they chime together again.
The next morning the land lady is busy making breakfast and gives you each a bowl of mush, a hard tack muffin roll thing, and a pint of watered down ale.
She wound nod to Urdrsk's offer and ride his shoulder up to their room.
As you close the door she launches upon you, helping you to get your armor and clothes off. As she works she tugs on your beard, sneaks a few kisses and even rubs the outside of your pants to get you good and hard.
He makes sure the door is well secure and any other spots that someone might get into the inn. He then makes sure the horses are put away in the poor excuse for stables behind the inn. Just a lean-to with hay to keep the rain off the horses. He brushes down his two horses making sure their hooves and bodies are in prime condition.
Coming in from taking care of the horses he would find most of the men bunked down in the common room. He walks by knowing that Maqan likely played hostess but still looks to see if anyone needs anything or has questions. With most of them well tucked in he walks carefully up the stairs. He would see the room Amris is in and nods to him, "You need anything?"
Next he would walk by Urdrsk's room as the door and walls were not the most solid he could hear their sounds in there and walk by. Snickering to himself.
The next morning he is up early and checks on the horses. After exercising and working through some of his fighting stances with his sword he goes into the inn for breakfast.
In the morning she lazyily lays in the bed and tells Urdrsk, "You go get breakfast and bring me back a plate."
At Kat's request, Urdrsk smiled and got dressed, but not before planting a long, sensual kiss on the naked fey. "Àftèr làst nìght's pèrfòrmàncè, Ì'd bè mórè thàn háppy tó!"
Urdrsk greets the others down at the common room, and grabs a tray to care both breakfasts back to his and Kat's room.
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She enjoyed the kiss and the strange feeling of your beard on her face when you do.
She sits up in the bed as you walk back into the room ready to get something else into her body. She would lightly tug on your beard in thanks.
"Fàìr wàrnìng: bèàrds tìcklè!" Urdrsk looked wickedly at Kat's prone form and into her eyes. The dwarf's head disappears into Kat's fairy cauldron. Urdrsk delightfully pleases the fairy with his tongue and lips, kissing and licking with delicate furocity, occasionally adding a nibble here and there.
Urdrsk sits on the opposite side of the bed, breaking his fast with the most beautiful woman he's ever known.
Maqan also handed over a few gold coins with a small wink and soft smile, knowing this place must be hard. Then she made sure to check on everyone to see if they needed anything. It was odd to her to be in a place that wasn't her own, but that was her new life.
Once he is in the room and the door is closed he looks around, a bit disappointed at the sorry state of the hay with a blanket and a pillow. He states, "This place is a wreck, hopefully the land lady doesn't sell us out." You can tell he is a bit out of the mood looking at the state of the room. The keys chine even louder now, they had been silent once entering the inn, but after his audible complain they started again. He looks at you and asks, "What is that?!"
Scram yawns from her perch having chosen the rafters to take her rest. Somehow she's tied her hammock securely to the beams supporting the roof and a series of rope knots to ensure easy access though one would have to climb up.
It's clear that Scram has being living out in the wilds for some time. Waving to Amris as she climbs down and refreshes herself, she proceeds to take down her setup and pack her pack methodically paying attention to each piece of equipment she owns.
"It's the best they have to offer." Maqan said as she wrapped her arms around him, only to pause when she too heard the sound. "My keys." She answered as she let go of him and moved to get them out. "They've been acting strange since we got here." She explained as she looked them over. "I wonder..." Maqan muttered to herself before she held the key out like you would do if you where going to place it in the lock of a door.