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Leaving the cabin behind unmolested, the heroes return to the caravan to report what they've found. A few of the caravaners suggest that it would be a good idea to take what they can - the caravan will definitely need it, they reason - but Sandru and Ameiko eventually overrule them.
Thus, the caravan moves forwards, trudging through the thick snow that the blizzard left behind. "Depending on how big the blizzard was, we should be out of this in the next few days." Ulf declares. "Until then, we'll be moving slower than usual."
As ever, the guide's words prove true, and for the next three days the caravan makes very little progress compared to what they'd been doing in the mountains.
A careful exploration of the cabin does reveal that there are some things that probably aren't absolutely necessary for whomever owns the building but might be useful for the caravan. Mostly, it's things like furniture - while it wouldn't be comfortable to eat without a chair or table, it's possible. Still, to take that away would be discourteous, at least.
However, there may be a dearth of firewood that can easily be gathered on the route ahead...
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Not wanting to slow the caravan further with their short legs and slow gait, Torra stays on the path, eyes and nose alert for anything edible. it's not easy, but they do manage to find a few frozen tubers and berries under the snow.
When the dwarf is not foraging, they're trying to persuade Lone-Pillar to ride together ahead of the caravan and set traps for rabbits; Torra is not good with horses, so the only way they'd get on one is if someone else was already riding it and helping them with the whole not-falling-off business.
This is all for the good of the group, of course, and not from any selfish desire to spend time with the taciturn Shoanti. Besides, they can scout together!
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Over the next three days, Yuto is constantly on alert, ensuring that the supplies are evenly distributed and well protected. The blizzard's harsh conditions are a threat to the caravan's survival.
Yuto starts by double-checking the supply distribution. He ensures that each wagon has a balanced load, containing enough food, firewood, and other essential supplies. This way, if they lose a wagon, it won't cripple their entire operation. He also takes inventory of their food and firewood to make a proper plan for rationing.
Yuto joins Torra and the others in foraging but stays closer to the trail. His efforts yield some results, though not as fruitful as he'd hoped "I-I truly miss the Rusty Dragron's rabbit with mashed p-potatoes. I-I wonder if Ameiko Sama can cook some i-if we find it"
On the second day, Yuto takes a different approach. He focuses on reinforcing the wagons and ensuring that they are well-protected against the cold. Using his weaving knowledge, he helps with repairs and reinforcing the wagon's cover to survive the harsh conditions.
Yuto wakes early on the third day, feeling the weight of the caravan's survival pressing on. He decides to scout ahead with Torra and Lone-Pillar, hoping to find more resources or signs of any potential threats.
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"I'm sorry, little ones. But I fear we have to eat, and our mission is too important to fail." Andochtuir says on the first day, flying in the air as he takes sight of the unsuspecting deer, then swooping down to swiftly crush the skull of the mother first and calf second.
He grimaced as he collected the bodies and began the treck back to the caravan. He didn't like to kill this way, but his duties to the caravan came first. He would say an elven prayer to the animals later, and make sure Losk as the cook did their sacrifice justice.
Realizing he'd put it off long enough, Andochtuir approaches the heiress at some point during the journey onward. He wasn't sure if the perfume he'd made on the way was necessary or appropriate but Riftun had advised he could never be too "extra" and he'd taken the bard's words to heart. "Ameiko, can I... ask you something?" Okay now to follow through? "I've... been told that there might be something bothering you; Sandru implied it had to do with a former adventuring group the two of you were a part of. Something relating to his younger brother? Is that true, and is it something you'd like to talk about? As our leader, I think we'd all benefit from you being at your best."
Was he sticking his nose somewhere it didn't belong? Maybe... but then again this seemed like the most natural way to breach whatever Sandru had vaguely implied, and according to Yuto - indirectly - it was supposedly important. He knew Ameiko much better than he and he'd noticed something was off about her, at least when interacting with Sandru, who considered her a sister. So... regret? Lingering feelings of loss? Melancholy? It was hard to imagine on the normally cheerful woman, but maybe it was true?
For most of the third day, Andochtuir resumes his former duties as a physician and assists Koya in taking care of the odd injury, the vast majority of which were shaping up to be frostbite. It seemed like more of Losk's admittedly excellent vegetable soup was in order.
Well, that, or throwing them into the wagon magically warmed by Ritti's flag. That worked too.
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Ritti who is unskilled at foraging, tries to assist Yuto by sitting on the top of a wagon and pointing out strange patches of color in the snow. Other than that, she keeps an eye open for trouble.
Ritti makes the rounds of the camp, chatting with folks, and trying to determine if she’s managed to thaw any cold opinions of her. While she is a skilled acrobat, no one likes walking on eggshells all the time.
Ritti continues her “hey, I’m not sczarni and I’m not so bad” campaign. She may have come on a little too strong with one or two people. It would just be nice if she could let her guard down a little bit on this trip.
Overall, foraging goes well - the groups are able to scavenge some game, as well the odd edible plant. Still, it's slim pickings, as the thick layer of snow means that they have to dig for the latter and that the former are mostly hidden away.
Ameiko looks sharply at Andochtuir when he approaches her with his questions. "Sandru's been talking out of turn, then." Her voice is tightly controlled, but definitely angry. "It's none of your business, Andochtuir." The heiress' hand drifts up to one of her shoulders, where the half-elf recalls that he's seen a serpentine tattoo.
The day drags on as the draft animals tug the carts through the snow. Soon enough, they approach a small cliff, along which a stream of icy water runs.
As she scouts ahead, Torra notices that the cliffside has an unusually large number of boulders atop it... this would be a good place for an ambush.
"The terrain ahead looks difficult, b-but we might be able to use the water to our advantage. We can refill our supplies if needed, but we must be careful about falling into the stream" he then turns to Sandru and Ameiko "Should we consider setting up camp near the cliff for a short rest? It might give us a chance to gather our strength and make any necessary repairs. I-I can help scout the area to ensure it's safe"
Yuto will scout the surrounding area if agreed, looking for any signs of danger or a suitable place to rest.
He also keeps an eye out for any resources that might be useful for the caravan, like firewood or game trails.
Day 1. Atsuko spends th eday finishing up any work the wagons might need in the wake of the blizzard and travel through deep snow.
Day 2. Atsuko helps with scouting ahead since she has the magical boots of toasty feet.
Day 3. After a day of snowplowing along ahead of the caravan the day before, Atsuko takes it easier, helping with the draft animals some. She also thinks about any flora and fauna she saw the previous day, racking her memory for any associations between what she saw and other plants or animals that might be edible. There maybe things out there that can eat except for lack of familiarity with their value.
Livia is appreciative of Atsuko's help - given how difficult the terrain is, it's been hitting the wheels hard.
The scouting is less helpful - the snow partially blinds Atusko as she scouts ahead, despite her best efforts. She still doesn't notice anything amiss, but she can't help but feel like she might've done a bit better.
There's only a few edible plants out here, and most of those aren't particularly tasty, but Atsuko's heard of a few old recipes that remove the worst of the ill taste from the roots and mosses that the foragers gather.
"Well, water's always welcome..." Ulf says. "'course, we can always boil snow if we really need to, but for now gathering water's a good plan. Get some barrels out and fill 'em up." He thinks. "I don't think there're any big water sources near here for awhile. Let's not get too settled, though. It'd be best if we keep moving sooner rather than later." He glances at the sky meaningfully - the sun is already drifting towards the horizon.
Shalelu shifts suddenly, glancing up at the top of the cliff.
Ritti keeps her eyes glued to the cliff as she slides over to where Ulf and the leaders are. She asks pointedly but calmly, eyes still trained on the cliff, "Ulf, uh, what's got greyish-whitish fur, floppy ears, and maybe likes to pounce from cliff-tops?" We're standing here like deer at a watering hole. Of course, there's a predator.
Torra notices Shalelu's reaction, which reinforces the dwarf's own assessment. Without pointing at the hill, she turns to the others and tilts her head towards it. "A lot of big boulders at the top. Good place for an ambush."
Then Ritti actually spots something and Torra whirls to take a better look, her hands flexing reflexively. "Did you see how big it was?"
Ritti doesn't even glance over at Torra. Her tone is measured as she scans the cliff's edge. "Don't know, I only saw it for a second... But maybe those big rocks ain't all rocks."
Taken back by the intensity of Ameiko's reaction, the half-elf eventually nods. "Of course. I apologize for bringing this up." He says, quickly excusing himself and wondering what the connection was between the apparent death of Sandru's brother and Ameiko's Sepentine Tattoo.
"Then it sounds like it's time for an aerial view. Give me a moment," Andochtuir says, reaching for his extracts.
Electing to use his standard ones, he drinks his Mutagen, an Extract of Shield and tastes his potion of heroism before spitting it back out into a seperate flask . Then, he takes to the sky and attemps to get a closer look at the potential ambush site, looking at the potential predator(s)? From above.
Yuto is already setting up things to go pick up some water when he notices the ruckus going around. He looks up to the cliffs "W-w-what's it?" but he notices nothing in particular "Let's take the water fast and resume our trip"
Shalelu's lips peel back and she speaks in a low growl. "Wikawakks. Bugbears of the north." She draws her bow rapidly, glaring up the cliff at the stones.
"What, really?" Ulf's eyes widen, then narrow. "The Splintered Bone? No, that's too far south... then who?"
"Not important." Shalelu says darkly. "Prepare to defend yourselves."
Realizing someone's spotted her, a goblinoid bigger than most humans steps out from behind a boulder. She wears a sword on one hip, and looks down at the caravan. She speaks in thickly-accented Skald. "We make deal, yes? You give us food, and we don't block your way."
Ulf frowns, stepping out to look up at her. "How much food?"
"How much you have?" She asks, a cunning note in her voice.
"She wants us to hand over food." Ulf says in quiet Taldane to Sandru, who looks up with his own frown.
Ritti mutters quietly, ”They picked this spot, better to not fight them here. I don’t fancy them rolling those boulders down onto our wagons. How about we give them something else to worry about and get the wagons moving quick. Torra, could you blast her with one of those rocks?”
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Torra frowns. "They have not attacked us. They only want food, they must be hungry." All this was a little odd. Were there that many caravans passing by that these wikawakks could survive only through raiding or extorting them?
Raising her voice a little, she addresses the bigger one. "Are you not good hunters? Why do you need our food? We do not have much."
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To Torra and the others, she responds quietly, "My bet? They're only 'asking' because we're a large caravan and they don't know if they can take us. If we was a single wagon, I think this would have been an ambush, not a chin-wag."
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"They might just be taking food from us because they want to." Shalelu says, her gaze pure venom as she glares up at the winter bugbears. "They might not need it - and just want to see us suffer starvation."
Shalelu's grip on her bow is white-knuckled, and there's a bright hatred in her expression that is rare for the usually calm elf - even in the face of the goblins of Sandpoint's hinterlands the heroes have never seen her with such ferocity.
Ameiko looks concernedly at her elf friend. "It's true that goblinoids tend towards evil." She says. "Ulf?"
"I could believe it." The guide says grimly.
The wikkawak chuckles at Torra's question. "We want your food. Little ones hungry. Need plenty of food." She's quite obviously lying through her teeth - while some part of it may be true, she's definitely misrepresenting her motives.
She was clearly lying, but about which part? "We want your food" - probably not that one. The little ones? Maybe. Torra is beginning to find the whole situation upsetting.
"Well, we cannot spare much food. We can give you a little, if the caravan master agrees. But that's it."
The wikkawak guffaws. "We make deal, yes? Not bargain. You give food, we don't block your way." She pats the boulder beside her. "Maybe you give us furs and blankets, too. It's so cold..." She mock-shivers.
It's very unlikely they need the warmth.
Ulf translates this new demand for the rest of the caravan's benefit.
"Whatever they're claiming," Shalelu says, "they're not bargaining. They're extorting."
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Yuto's eyes narrow at the wikkawak's words, his mind racing with the implications of giving in to their demands. He quietly speaks to the others nearby, keeping his voice low to avoid alarming the rest of the caravan "If we give in to their demands, nothing grants we are spared. However, if we fight here, we risk damage to our caravan and potential loss of life"
He glances at Shalelu, noting her barely-contained fury, and then back at the wikkawak "Perhaps a show of force, combined with an attempt to negotiate, could work. We need to make them understand we are not an easy target, but also show we are reasonable if they back down"
Yuto takes a deep breath, then steps forward slightly, raising his voice so the wikkawak can hear "We are willing to share a small amount of food with you, as a gesture of goodwill. But we cannot afford to give you more than that. Our journey is long and perilous, and we must ensure the survival of everyone in our caravan"
He pauses, his hand resting on the hilt of his katana, ready for any sudden movements "However, if you insist on taking more than we can spare, we will defend ourselves. Think carefully before making your decision. We are not defenseless, and we will not be extorted"
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Ritti slides over to stand next to Shalelu, fairly certain they were of a similar opinion about the wikawakks. She says quietly, ”This is going to end badly.”
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As the discussion went on, Andochtuir placed himself someone on top of the rockly ledge, keeping a sharp eye on each of the... hobgoblins? He wasn't sure. He was, however, quite sure of one thing.
They were lying through their teeth.
Repeatedly.
It was time for the 'extra' potions.
The first one grew him to double height. The second one even further enhanced his muscles.
"You say you are cold? We can help with that. Catch."
An adult pine tree is swiftly torn up from the roots and, in one fluent motion, flung in front of the spokesperson from up high.
"You want my advice? Reconsider and run. NOW ," He growls. "You think we haven't faced worse than you? I could kill each and every one of you by myself ! And there's twenty more of us. Find some easier prey before we tire of bartering for your lives out of pity."
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The wikkawaks screech as Andochtuir displays his strength and sends a (relatively small) tree at them. They rapidly flee, scattering into the snow without hesitation. It seems that the oversized half-elf has more than terrified them away from this clash at least.
Shalelu glances up at Andochtuir with a slight frown, but the expression fades swiftly enough that it's hard to know whether it was there at all. Ameiko chuckles quietly. "Well, that should put the fear of the gods into them." She says.
Ulf simply stares, awed by the feat of strength that the alchemist displayed.
Sandru coughs. "Ahem. Yes, well done, Andochtuir. But next time you're planning on doing something like that, could you let us know?! It's not good for my heart." He pats himself on the chest, shaking his head.
"We'll want to keep a keen eye out for their return." Shalelu says. "If they're anything like their southern kin, they'll be very keen on ambushing us."
"I'll take rear-guard for awhile... in case they decide to stalk us."
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Torra breathes in relief as the wikkawaks seem to reconsider their life choices when faced with Andochtuir's awe-inspiring stature and might. "I hope they know better than to return, but if they do we'll try to be ready."
They also help keep an eye for a potential ambush, but at the front of the caravan while Ritti is the rearguard.
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Yuto watches in awe as Andochtuir’s towering form sends the tree hurtling towards the wikkawaks, scattering them in a panicked retreat. A shy smile spreads across his face, and he lets out a soft, nervous laugh "S-sir A-Andochtuir, your strength is truly amazing! I-It's a relief that we didn't have to fight or give up our food."
He exhales slowly, the tension in his shoulders easing "I'll keep an eye on our back, just in case they try to return while we're distracted. We shouldn't let our guard down."
With that, Yuto positions himself towards the rear of the caravan, his senses on high alert, ready to warn the group at the first sign of trouble.
Sandru coughs. "Ahem. Yes, well done, Andochtuir. But next time you're planning on doing something like that, could you let us know?! It's not good for my heart."
Gliding back down from the cliff, the enlarged alchemist looks down at Sandru with a wry grin. "Noted. However, it was clear to me that they were lying and that an honest deal was never in the cards. No matter where I go, no matter what manner of creature they are, a bully remains a bully. The only language they understand is that of strength and violence."
"S-sir A-Andochtuir, your strength is truly amazing! I-It's a relief that we didn't have to fight or give up our food."
"Ah, well, thank you, Yuto. But I'm sure you could have done something similar. Couldn't you just walk through the air to them with your katana? Chances are that would have awed them too," He reponds, a bit shy over all the attention. "Regardless, I'd best make use of these potions while they last. Maybe I can push the wagons along a bit? The faster we're out of this canyon, the better."
With the threat no longer present, the caravan gathers a few casks of water and continues to make its slow way through the thick snow of the previous day's blizzard. Eventually, it comes to a stop next to a tall rounded hill, which Ulf indicates should keep the worst of the wind from causing too much trouble.
The night passes quickly, with no alarm - it seems that the wikkawaks haven't bothered pursuing the caravan - or at least aren't attempting to attack by night.
The next morning, as the caravan prepares to head out, the scouts and guards look to see whether any wikkawaks have left any signs of pursuit, though none are evident.
"Trouble on the horizon," Andochtuir reports as he returns from his scouting with a brisk pace. "A really large human of sorts. Probably a giant. At present, lying in wait and watching the caravan," He catches some of the stares and feels the need to clarify. "Yes, I think it is bigger even than I am when I use all my potions. It could be a serious threat."
Glancing over his colleagues and the caravan's leadership, he asks the obvious question. "What should we do? Try and talk to them? Or take a wide berth of its location? Something else?"
"A-avoiding actual confrontation with a g-giant would be wise" Yuto stammers "M-maybe s-some of us can advance to talk with him. Th-that way if combat breaks out, we are far for him to cause harm to the caravan"
The young man looks around looking at Andochtuir, Ritti, Torra and Atsuko "W-what do you think? A-any of you s-speaks giant? S-sandru, A-Ameiko, Riftun, Teruko, Seishin and the others can r-remain here, in c-case it is a trap and other fell upon the caravan w-while we are away..."
Assuming the group agrees, Yuto will mount a horse and advance himself, blade sheathed to address the giant, with one hand up in a sign of peace.
Ulf grunts. "Andochtuir's right. That's a giant alright." The guide grimaces. "I've never seen one this far north. Most of 'em stay south of the Rimethirst Mountains."
Sandru scans the horizon for the giant, but shakes his head, unable to spy the giant. "Keep your weapons ready, guards, but let's not go seeking it out if it's not going to come after us. Leaving it well enough alone will be better for everyone involved, including the giant." He offers the party a half-smile. "Not that I think you wouldn't be able to handle a giant, I just don't really want to risk a fight when we could avoid it."
Lone-Pillar grunts, but nods his acceptance of the order.
Ameiko looks out in the giant's direction, then at Yuto, her brow slightly furrowed. "Sandru's right - if he's only watching, we should just be careful. If he comes closer, then we can talk - or fight, as the case may be."
"What, uh, kind of giant could it be? Are we talking 'shy but friendly' or the 'grind your bones to make bread' sort?"
Torra is also in the camp of 'let's not fight if we can avoid it', so she's happy to follow Sandru's lead, standing up in the saddle every now and then to try and get a glimpse of the giant.
Yuto looks worried while looking at the giant, but he cannot avoid following a direct petition by his liege. He lowers his katana and stirs the horse to move forward "U-understood, let's get m-moving then"
He does turn from time to time to see what the giant is doing.
"This part of the world? Probably the nastier kind." Ulf grumbles. "Let's get moving."
For the next week, the caravan continues onward, trekking through the wind-carved badlands. There aren't many more snowstorms, and the caravan is able to continue moving onwards at its usual pace.
Worried about their food supplies, Torra takes advantage of the relatively good weather to hunt and forage away from the caravan, often waking up very early to get a head start. That does not live much time - or energy - for socializing, so aside from those accompanying the dwarf in their forays the rest don't see much of Torra this week.
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As the caravan presses forward through the wind-sculpted landscape, Yuto maintains a vigilant watch over the group's rear, his mind still lingering on the sight of the giant from earlier.
During the week, Yuto spends most of his time near the back of the caravan, his senses sharp for any sign of pursuit or ambush. He checks in regularly with Ameiko and Sandru, always ready to carry out any orders, and making sure the caravan is well fed and protected against the cold. However, his thoughts often drift to the giant, and he wonders if it was truly hostile or merely curious.
He spends a few mornings with Lorsk the cook, assisting with meal preparations and learning more about the different ways to stretch their rations. The samurai also joins the guards for a few sparring sessions, honing his skills and offering pointers on swordplay and defensive techniques.
In the evenings, Yuto updates his journal, meticulously recording their route, the encounters they have faced, and his reflections on the journey thus far.
He seeks out Torra on one such evening, curious about her foraging expeditions and eager to learn more about surviving in these harsh conditions "You and Shalelu m-move through the wilds with such ease Torra San... Y-you really m-make it seem easy. Though I-I do not think f-following the tall e-elf ranger sh-should be easy... y-you a-are nature's twin souls!!"
Another evening, after the campfire has dimmed, Yuto takes out his small sewing kit and begins to work on a special project. He carefully stitches together a wool cap, selecting white wool to match the snow-covered terrain. The cap is intended for Ritti, to help her blend into the snowy landscape while keeping warm in the harsh winter conditions. After finishing the cap, Yuto presents it to Ritti with a shy smile. "Ritti San, I made this for you. I hope it helps you stay warm and hidden when you're out scouting."
"I tried talking to Ameiko... she seemed very upset when I mentioned your brother and didn't wish to discuss it. I don't think I've ever seen her as such. Part of me worries, part of me wonders if pressing is just opening an old wound and best left alone. All I really got from it was that she touched a certain tatoo before dismissing me," Andochtuir mentions to Sandru over the coming days. He was, after all, probably one of his best friends next to Yuto and Losk. "What do you believe I should do? If this concerns your brother, surely you have some stake in this as well? What sort of person was he and how did he affect Ameiko?"
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Since approaching people hadn’t changed many (if any) opinions of her for the better, Ritti switches tactics. She spends the week focusing on her job and helping out where she can. She doesn’t approach anyone, curious to see if anyone seeks her out.
After finishing the cap, Yuto presents it to Ritti with a shy smile. "Ritti San, I made this for you. I hope it helps you stay warm and hidden when you're out scouting."
Ritti fingers the woolen cap and stares at it for a moment. ”You made this? For me?” She puts it on her head and pulls it down low, bits of red hair peeking out. She says brightly, ”I’m gonna be like a snow ninja. This is great! Thanks, Yuto. No one has ever made me something to wear before… well, except my Mum, and those were resized hand-me-downs.” Ritti can’t help but wonder if this was just a very kind gesture or if it maybe meant something more. Was this the frozen equivalent of handing her flowers?
Yuto observes Ritti's reaction blushing and stammers slightly as he answers back "I-I am glad y-you like it. It is nothing too special, bu-but I... I thought it could he-help." he looks down at his hands, which are still a little sore from the needlework "If you ever need a-anything else, do-don't hesitate to ask, Ritti San. We... we all have to look out for each other out here."
"I will. You too... if there's anything you need that I can do. I mean, I don't have skills to make things but, you know."
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Still, the voice continues. "Why have you violated these sacred lands? Turn back now, or face the wrath of the valiant dead."
Shalelu's eyes narrow, and she draws her bow. "Reveal yourself." She says sharply.
Sandru grimaces. "I can't say more than I already have, I'm really sorry. It's between you and her. I..." He hesitates. "I wish you the best of luck, though. Ameiko deserves being happy with someone."
He rubs his mustache. "But Alder was a good kid. I managed to keep him out of Sczarni hands with Koya's help. She can tell you a bit more about him, too." He laughs, but it sounds a tad forced. "Probably some things I'd rather not say, given some of the mischief he and I got up to when we were young."
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"I see... well, thank you for telling me that much at least, and for your best wishes. You're a... good friend, Sandru." The warrior alchemist extends a hand. "If there's ever something I can do for you in return, let me know." He grins slightly. "If nothing else, I know a lot of interesting potions for a multitude of problems. Strictly confidential, of course."
"By the way, you must have made some interesting journeys of your own, to be chosen as the caravan master. Care to share a few?" He asks as they continue on their way...
It takes the good part of a day to perfect the recipe, but fortunately he himself was the perfect guinea pig. He had plenty of scars himself, too. And it wasn't like they'd get much uglier if he messed up - he hoped. "No, no. Don't worry. I am NOT going to grow a second pair of wings, or arms, or legs," He told his Beardhog familiar as it peered into the cauldron from his shoulder, merrily eating some breadcrumbs. "If I just slightly tune the concentrations and get the stirring *just* right..."
The first experiment turned the scar a luminescent green. He hoped that was temporary and that no one had seen that - or ever would. The second one turned the patch straight up necrotic. He sighed and applied a charge from his Cure Wand. The third one, however, turned the target scar bright pink. He straightened, knowing that was close. And the forth one...
A suspiciously de-scarred Andochtuir shares the result to Riftun later that day, expecting to find the Bard somewhere near Zaiobe. He'd made a promise and kept it - so long as there were no long-term side-effects. But on this dangerous trip, was waiting wise? The choice was to his friend.
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Since covering distance is the priority, Atsuko sticks with the caravan where she can help the most. Most of her time is spent with Livia, Sandru, the caravan drivers, and Ulf when he's around rather than out with the others.
Mostly her conversations with them are about practical things regarding the caravan and its wagons. But, when there are slower, more relaxed periods in a day, she does ask Sandru questions here and there about his adventuring days, trying to get him to open up some about that period of his life.
She also takes a couple of opportunities to spend some time chatting with Ameiko. Atsuko isn't sure why she's been so reluctant to go straight to the source, trying to find out more about her by going to her friends first. Perhaps it's because of the importance and deference everyone gives Ameiko rubbing off ad making her feel the same. But if she really wants to know her story she's going to have to start getting it at some point, which might as well be now.
Atsuko starts by asking her about Varisia and Sandpoint. Following up Ameiko's answers with more questions whenever Ameiko makes references to her own life there. She takes it slowly so more personal questions feel nature rather than rushed over time.
Of course there isn't a lot of free time, but Atsuko still keeps up her daily journal entries recording the events of each day.
"Let me tell you about this one time I was in Korvosa. The king had levied a new tax, you see, and the Varisians were objecting..."
When speaking with Sandru, it takes a bit to get him to open up, but soon enough the caravan master confesses that he's a little worried. "It's been five years since I was an adventurer." He says. "While I'm not doing anything quite so dangerous as you and the others, this journey's been... a reminder of when I was. I lost my youngest brother back then, as well as my best friends. We weren't prepared enough." He smiles a little sadly. "But while we were together, things were grand. Exciting, charming, adventurous... well, this journey has reminded me of why I left in the first place."
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"Hello, Kjaerrulff. We have violated nothing, we are a caravan passing through and foraging for food." Shalelu's hostile reaction puzzles Torra a little, but this unseen spirit hasn't attacked them yet.
"Er, what is the exact extent of these sacred lands, precisely? So that we know where not to go."