"Prepared as I can be Ameiko, let's be off."
Two men Gundar recognizes enter the Rusty Dragon. Sandru drains his mug as they enter and introduces them. "Ah, just on time, our meal is finished. Everyone allow me to introduce the drivers for the two other wagons: Brothers Bevelek and Vankor." After a few whispers between the three men, he adds "They inform me that the caravan is ready to depart and the wagons are just outside the front door. Please gather your things and embark when ready."
Sandru and the other drivers leave the tavern and position themselves in the driver seats of the three wagons. They are followed by Koya, Shalelu and Ameiko.
"I've made a deal with the Cathedral. They will get partial ownership of the Rusty Dragon in exchange for the wand. They will also oversee its running and I've discussed this with the staff - who have all agreed to it. I don't have to worry about it, so we can leave now."
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The caravan heads out of Sandpoint and continues on the road to Galduria. The first day is peaceful, relatively quiet and your spirits are high.
The second day is similar to the first. Koya spends time telling everyone's fortune which appears to be good for everyone in the party.
"Travel is going as expected. We should be in Galduria in two days time."
Caine enjoys the roadtrip! He mostly rides with Koya.
On the first day, he decides to take up the rear with Shalelu to make sure nothing was sneaking up on him. Thankfully, that wasn't the case. A nice, safe journey was exactly what he was hoping things would be like.
As for cards, he waited with anticipation. Not that he was a firm believer of the tarot cards... but it couldn't hurt to get some good luck on their side. It was this reason that this time around he decided to go up front with Sandru and Ameiko. Once the time was right, he decided to start a conversation with the bard, slightly scooting closer before talking.
"So... what do you think of the card Miss Mvashti gave us?"
"I'm trying not to think about it, focusing on the road ahead and not fortunes that do not bode well." Ameiko sighs and adds [/b]"I love Koya and I think she is very talented but she doesn't always get things correct - right?"[/b]
"I'm trying not to think about it, focusing on the road ahead and not fortunes that do not bode well." Ameiko sighs and adds [/b]"I love Koya and I think she is very talented but she doesn't always get things correct - right?"[/b]
** spoiler omitted **
And just like that she saw through his ruse. And though he admits that she has a better poker face than his, he has known her long enough to know when she's afraid.
He looked down on his lap before turning towards her. "I want to say yes... but you already know I'm a terrible liar."
He laughed nervously... and stopped realizing that it probably wasn't helping. Instead, he proceeded to cup her right hand with both of his own.
"You know how I feel about this, but I'm here to see you through this and that nothing bad will happen to you. All of us are."
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Day 4:
You continue on the road to Galduria and your travels are indeed blessed. There have been no signs of any trouble as you pass other caravans traveling south towards Sandpoint. The third and fourth days drift by with the pleasant smells of the fields in the breeze.
You arrive at Galduria, it is the evening of Toilday 21 in the month of Erastus. The guards inquire about your caravan and they recognize Sandru. They let you pass with little bother and you are able to find a place to stable the horses and situate your wagons.
Caine smiles at the site of his second home.
Caine is actually still in school at the Academy. He was in the middle of his senior year when he received the mournful letter from Koya, concerning his great grandmother. He immediately return home to Sandpoint for the funeral. Now, the soon to be graduated magus is once again at home for Spring Break....
Galduria's true claim to fame is its arcane college, the Twilight Academy. The Twilight Academy has a reputation for undertaking many experimental and unconventional practices. You know that you can purchase minor magical items here, some stores are legit, others exist to avoid the local taxes.
The Magus smiles.
"It would at least be a good place to find some items if we still need any," Adrian nodded. "How far are we from the place now?
"Unless we run into some kind of trouble, we should be in Brinewall in 10 days."
Aiko sticks close to Ameiko for the trip.
"We're fortunate that the weather is fair," she notes as the team leaves Sandpoint. "It would certainly be annoying to be stuck pulling wagons out of mud early in the trip! Though I suppose we may see that later. Brinewall is in a marsh, too, isn't it?"
The slight woman tilts her head and taps her chin with one finger.
"We sure seem to spend a lot of time in marshes."
"Regardless..."
She makes sure to look back as the caravan leaves Sandpoint behind, watching the coastal town disappear over the horizon while the wagons make their way upland.
"I feel... like I'm finally doing something, making the first steps out of my life... I mean, I loved working at the Rusty Dragon, and I enjoy all that Sandpoint has to offer, but... now is a chance to finally see more?" she says a bit hesitantly. Brushing her dark hair aside she says, "I think I understand a bit more about how... you felt, Ameiko, when you went away for a bit. Seeing a world bigger than just the one we usually live in. Experiencing life on your own terms and nobody else's... with all the risk that entails."
"Only two weeks to Brinewall, but it's like the two weeks leading up to the Swallowtail Festival. Will there be goblins? Will there be prizes? Will there be those amazing honey confections that the one Vudrani caravaneer brings every few years?"
She loses her sight off into the horizon. "I'm excited but I'm sure all the traveling will leave us so tired that at least I'll be able to sleep..."
"Remember when we were kids, and we'd stay up really late before the Festival?" she says wistfully to Ameiko. "So excited for what was coming the next day. I'd sneak over to your house and sneak in the window and we'd talk about everything we hoped we'd see and do and eat and just get ourselves all worked up... right up until my father decided that he didn't want me out late like that, worried that your dad would get mad too. But I still remember the one year that we were talking about setting off fireworks and eating confections until we were sick and running all across the town hither and yon. And we did!"
With a wry smile she says, "Still making dreams come true, I guess."
"You're right, the festival is coming soon. With all that has happened I totally forgot about it. I do remember it though," she sighs as her mind roams through the happiness of her childhood "those were some of the best times I had as a child." Ameiko breathes in deeply and takes in the sights of the town. "Our dads did try and control our lives, but now we are free to go wherever we want! We will follow our dreams together Aiko, and we will make them come true."
You spend the day enjoying the benefits of the town while Sandru purchases some additional stores for your journey. The following morning you are ready to continue your journey north. "The caravan is ready to go, any reason why we need to spend more time here?"
He elects to stay with Koya this time around, shaking his head at Sandru's response. "Not really. We have what we need right now."
To Infinity; and beyond!
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The next day begins and you continue your journey towards Brinewall.
Day 6:
Day 7:
The road to Wolf's Ear is well traveled as you spot fisherman on the Ember Lake. There are many other caravans on this road as the trade between Galduria and Wolf's Ear is substantial. Day 5 on the road passes peaceably and another caravan joins yours for the night.
You start Day 6 refreshed and ready for the day. The lake has narrowed and you see a large forest on the horizon. The town is ahead but you don't stop needing to press on. The road narrows as you follow the Lampblack River to your right with the Churlwood Forest on your left. The narrow strip of land is rough and your wagon improvements have been a great help.
During the night you hear strange sounds coming from the forest. They are disconcerting and your sleep is restless.
Day 7 comes with rain and your speed is slowed as the horses struggle to move through the deepening mud forming from the rain flowing from the forest into the river. Finally you decide to stop for the night as the road forks with one path heading to Ravenmoor and the other going into the forest towards Roderic's Cove.
The Magus scratches his chin at the road sigh to Roderic's Cove.
Caine will take first watch for an hour; while the dim light from the Stars and Moon allows him some vision.
He patrols the outer area around the wagons during his watch.
In the morning, the Magus studies his spellbook for another hour.
Second watch, near the horses, since they are easy prey for monsters, but walking around, staying alert.
Caine nods to Koya. The Magus then picks up a rock, cast Light on it, steps forward 5', and tosses it out toward the noises.
Caine then waits to see what enters the Light area.
Adrian wakes up with arms flaying... only to stop when he saw who it was. He sees her concerned face and realizes what needs to be done. He picks up his sword before silently getting off the cart and follows Caine behind. "Who's after us?"
Sandru hears Adrian's voice and sits up to see Caine's light. He hops down from the wagon grabbing his scimitar.
"What's going on? Is there someone out there?"
"Caine! You're hurt, but it doesn't look too bad. Everyone! We are under attack! Wake up!"
Koya shakes both Koya and Shalelu.
Ameiko awakens and climbs out of the wagon to see Koya waking Zaraleva and Shalelu.
"What's happening Koya?" she asks with her rapier in hand.
Aiko is up quickly, pushing her hair aside and drawing her blade. She is unarmored, in a simple chemise.
"We need to get eyes on our attackers!" she says. "Can someone get the light out to where we can spot them?"
Zaraleva, still in her studded leather, wakes up startled and looks around, slowly getting to her feet and looking for trouble.
"Oh Caine! That one looks bad. Here, let me help."
Koya pulls a wand from a pocket in her robe and after a spoken word taps Caine on the shoulder.
"There, much better the wound has closed entirely."
The wound in Caine's belly closes entirely, the bolts lodged in his body fall to the ground without any need to extract them.
Knowing that it risks putting her into the sights of the foes, Aiko picks up her lantern and works on lighting it.
Son of a b~+%%! To arms! We are under attack!
The pincushion magus decides to take Cover from more possible target practice by whatever is out there!
He sighs in relief, as Koya heals him.
Thanks, Grandmother. Stay behind Cover.
The Magus then lifts some firewood before casting Shield.
Zaraleva stays behind cover and casts Light on a crossbow bolt.
This was going nowhere fast.
He breathed a sigh of relief that Koya was around for healing, but he knew that won't last for long. They needed to find the attackers and fast. He scanned the night to see if he could spot anyone in the distance.
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Caine shrugs....
Sandru pulls his bow from the wagon along with his quiver as he hops down and rushes in front of Koya. "What are these things? Anyone know?"
He fires his bow at the blue creature.
for
The arrow strikes the creature dead in the chest - it doesn't seem to flinch at all.
"Oh! This is not good!"
Shalelu awakens quickly and moves along side of Sandru. Looking ahead into the forest she cries out "They are werewolves! We need silver! Does anyone have any silver?"
Hoping to contribute a light source, if nothing else, Zaraleva fires the lit crossbow bolt at the "blue" werewolf.
"I only have cold iron, milady!"
Camp Round 1
Caine looks at the semi-burning log in his hands.
We will need to make due with what we have.
The Magus looks out behind cover to keep the Werewolves in sight.
We may need to go out there and confront them.
"But I have no silver in any of our supplies. They haven't engaged, should we try and flee?"