Gestalt Carrion Crown

Game Master bigrig107

When Kendra mentions not taking some of the "larger valuable collectibles" Park agrees with Rajuna. "All of our stuff fits in the packs that we carry. A good sized wagon can carry a lot of stuff. It's your choice of course. There's also the consideration of where you will live in Lepidstadt. The University has visitor's rooms, as does Gravecharge, so we won't have any trouble. Surely one of the Professor's friends will have room for you until you find more permanent accommodations?"

Park is impressed with Rajuna's industriousness and physical training regimen. That said he does not join the man. He does practice with his new bow and work with Birdie on new music when there is free time. He also spends time helping Kendra packing any fragile things that she plans to take, and with any arrangements for a wagon and animals to pull it.

We'll need a driver for the wagon. It needs Handle Animal or Profession(driver). Park has handle animal +10 so he could do one vehicle. We might want a second vehicle or horses to ride so we aren't walking. ??

Park also goes with Mila to help with the harvest, enjoying the basic labor and the time to get to know Mila better. He is quite impressed with her working nets to help the fisher folk. He hadn't ever watched fishermen using the nets before. While it looked simple, he decides to stay out of the way rather than try to help and end up 'in the nets'....

"The lady... um... Miss Zhandar. She's... she IS devil-kin, right? And you all... you've worked okay with her? She seems..."

Park hears the question, and the rather timid tone of voice and thinks a moment. He answers with a steady, low voice, "Zhandar is what some would call a tiefling. That would apply to devil-kin, demon-kin, or others. Tieflings are born from humans, or other races, but have an extra-planar creature in the 'family tree'. Sometimes the creature is invited. Sometimes not. I think the main thing to keep in mind is that Zhandar is no more a devil than you are an elf." He considers commenting that he thinks her ears are cute, but decides to stay serious.... "You can also think of it like a sorcerer. They have magical powers to cast arcane spells, supposedly because they have a magical creature in their heritage. My mother was a sorceress, and I probably have my bardic power from whatever gave her magical power. Before you ask, I don't know much about her, or any of my family tree. She died as I was born."

"I don't really know the details of Zhandar's family, but I've learned some about her from having spent time together in as well as out of the prison. She's a druid, an herbalist, a fighter, and she has some arcane power as well. More importantly, she is a very nice woman that has had to deal with people that have issues with how she looks. I don't remember the name of the bard that said, 'beauty is only skin deep', but it is absolutely true with Zhandar. I'm certain that when this life span is over and her soul travels the river to be judged by Pharasma, she will shine with a glorious, beautiful light and she will be sent to the reward that she has earned."

About a week and a half after Mila sends the letter, she receives a response.

Over the next few weeks, the group focuses on helping Kendra pack the things she is taking to Lepidstadt. With every passing day, her house looks less and less lived in. It's obvious that this is taking a toll on Kendra's health, and she spends more and more time locked in her fathers' room going through their stuff on her own. She actually becomes a bit protective about his room, leaving it locked and keeping the key on her person at all times. Grief is affecting her heavily, but with each box packed and bookshelf cleaned, she seems to be handling things well.

"I spent a lot of time here, with him." she says, if asked about how she's doing. "It's going to take me some time to get through this, I didn't think it'd be this bad."

Before you know it, that time has come and gone. You found enough things to keep you busy, between helping Kendra pack and assisting the townspeople with odd jobs such. The time to actually take the first step to leaving is here.

The house has been sold, the wagon loaded with everything that Kendra is taking, and the goodbyes have been said. All that's left

"I never could've guessed I would find this so hard, you know. I knew I'd have to leave eventually, but you're never prepared for something so sudden, I suppose." she says, looking around at the assembled group and their wagon.

"I guess there's no better time like the present, eh?"

"Ms. Lorrimor, a place is just a place. Parting with people is the real sadness. I think Doc would say you are taking the best parts of him with you. All you are leaving is this place." The rogue turns his back to the town and starts walking down the road.

In the final days before they depart, Zhandar thinks often about Kendra and the Lorrimor estate. Kendra's feelings are not entirely alien to her, because she felt much the same way when she decided to leave her home and seek out the Professor about two months ago. But where Kendra does not seem to have any friends or other ties to her neighbors in Ravengro, Zhandar was always treated as an outcast and pariah among the people of nearby Tamrivena, and even among most of the members of her own family. As if they were afraid my stink would rub off on them, she remembers with a wistful grimace.

At dinner one night, she decides to share some of her history with her new companions, reasoning that they have earned at least that much of her trust. "We will be traveling through Tamrivena," she says without preamble, "which is very near to the homestead where I lived for all of my life until recently. If we aim to go into town, it is possible we will see people who know me, and that may harm the impression you make on the townsfolk. I think it would be better if I stayed hidden in the wagon."

"My mother was always wild, and when she came home with a newborn babe with horns and hoofs and scales, she was shunned and scorned by everyone, for she had clearly offended the gods and done something very evil. I am told that many of the aldermen, including her own father, advised her to destroy me for the safety of the household. Her mother, my grandmother, disagreed, and her word was law as far as the family and house went. She raised me as much or more than my mother did-- just seeing me was hard for Murmur, because it reminded her of the terrifying ordeal she experienced when she gave birth to me. But Grangee always was equally harsh to everyone, and I loved and admired her for that."

She sighs heavily. "My grandmother is still alive, but she had a bad fall earlier this year and has been bedridden ever since. With her less involved in the running of the household, I began to see what life would be like once she was no longer there. I must admit that I found the thought hateful. I did not want to continue without her, nor did I want to resent her for leaving me, so I decided it was time to make my own way somewhere other than there. Fortunately Professor Lorrimor had offered to teach me, and I decided he was my best chance for establishing a life elsewhere. So I packed up and went." She gnashes her teeth, dwelling on something. "She said she was proud of me when I said goodbye. But still I think of her lying in bed, looking wan and pale, and I do not want to see her again for fear her condition has gotten worse. I do not think she has much time remaining to her."

She wipes her nose on her sleeve, her red eyes welling up slightly. "All this is to say, I do not want to visit my former home as we pass through town, and I do not want to risk anyone recognizing me." She looks at Kendra. "And perhaps to say that I might understand some of what you are feeling."

Park listens to the others but focuses on checking that everything is tied down proper. Years ago he had wondered whether or not he had any family, and after a long discussion with Sister Theresa had decided that not knowing was probably better. He had few friends and the team here was more family than just friends.

Once he was convinced that the items in the wagon would safely make the trip he climbs onto the driver's seat. "There are a few people that I'll miss here, certainly less than you Kendra. I can thank Mila for introducing me to some of the farmers.... But you can stay in touch by post, and returning here for an occasional visit is an option. We should get rolling while the morning hours are still with us."

On reading her letter, Mila exhales with a certain relief, and perhaps even happiness. She'd thought Mama might be mad (or worse, sad and worried) but... if so, it's not in the words of the letter. And Papa's there with her. She briefly wishes he'd gotten there before she left, but... it's good he's there now, anyway. Then Mama won't be alone.

She resolves to write back from somewhere along the journey, and carefully folds the letter and puts it away with her things....

****

The time flies. The time flies, and in what seems like a blink they are ready to travel. Mila is restless and walks around everything a dozen times trying to make sure all her stuff is packed, as well as the things the others have been setting aside. She supposes it's nerves and anticipation and excitement and a little dread all together. There might be dangers on the road... there might be dangers once they get to where they're going. There probably will be. And she's traveling among new people-- yes, she's gotten to know them better over the past few weeks, but that's a thin slice of time compared to how long she knew everyone in Morcei. She's never worked with anyone but her mother before when it came to handling undead. This... is.... exciting, honestly. A little scary, but mostly exciting.

She tamps down on her eagerness in order to be appropriately somber as they depart Ravengro. "We'll be too busy movin' to be too sad, I think. And Mister Park can do us songs when we camp, and M-- Rajuna can make the meals, and Miss Zhandar can tell us all she knows about all the things we see on the road... the trip will be grand."

Zhandar's explanation of her hometown's reaction to her makes Milovica put a hand over her mouth. That's... just not right, people wanting to kill a little baby, even if it DOES have horns. Devil-kin or not.... tiefling, that's what Park had said. Tiefling, tiefling, tiefling, Mila reminds herself.

"....'m sorry about your Grangee's health," she offers awkwardly. "You're sure you don't want to see her? It's important to... to get to say goodbye to folk we care about."

****

When they are actually on the road, Mila walks with her bow in hand, less out of a direct fear of danger than for the chance to bring down a rabbit or other game that might scamper away from their progress. Plus, she wants to test out the new arrows that Zhandar had promised her are much hardier than the normal sort.

On days we expect to travel, my prepped spells are probably:
1) ant haul, deadeye's lore, hidden spring, and read weather
2) lay of the land, make whole, marching chant

Parting with people is the real sadness...And perhaps to say that I might understand some of what you are feeling...There are a few people that I'll miss here, certainly less than you Kendra...We'll be too busy movin' to be too sad, I think.

Kendra looks around at the group before smiling widely.

And so the hundred mile trip begins. With a bright sun overhead, for once. A good sign, surely!

So I'll detail a few of the places you'll be passing on the road, and we can do a little bit of roleplay for each one (a paragraph or two, not too much). Will also take some Knowledge (history) for some info about both Tamrivena (alot of history to give) and Courtaud (not as much). Gathering info on Lepidstadt won't be as useful since it's so far away, though Petyr and Park can recall some smaller details

No journey in Ustalav is without risk, but the old Mountain Road is generally regarded as the best route. This road heads west out of Ravengro around the edge of Lake Lias before following the southeastern foothills of the Tusk Mountains, passing through the towns of Tamrivena and Courtaud before following the Lesser Moutray River up to Lepidstadt.

Map of Tamrivena

No map provided of Courtaud, if it becomes important I can steal one of a city from somewhere and mark it up. But I doubt it will.

The road north is easy going to begin with, the land flat and easily traveled. You encounter some rougher areas as you get closer to the Tusk Mountains, but nothing serious as you aren't actually entering them. Mostly hills and bumpy roads. You do notice that there are fewer and fewer people on the roads, and more and more ruins, bogs, and marshes. Seems as if the farther north you go, the less inhabited the county becomes.

You reach Tamrivena at the end of the first day, thanks to the good weather, and now have to decide what to do with the camping situation.

Can detail a bit about your plans to visit the town, or avoid it entirely and camp outside the walls. Read the next part if there's nothing you want to do in Tamrivena.

The next day begins with a light bit of rain showers, nothing too big. Not much happens this day either, luckily, although you again notice the land becoming more and more sparse in terms of both people and buildings.

It's almost evening before you finally have Courtaud in sight, but a curious landmark catches your attention: a large stone obelisk with strange markings on it. But the obelisk isn't the most interesting part: the raven gliding down from the top of it with two scrolls in its mouth is.

It calmly approaches you after it lands, before dropping the two scrolls on the ground in front of you. The bird then flies away into the forest without a word or sound.

The letter has an official seal stamped on the inside of the scroll, of what looks to be Daramid's personal judge seal. The other scroll is exactly as it seems, a scroll of sending.

Knowledge: History (Tamrivena): 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (3) + 6 = 9

Rajuna knows very little about Tamrivena, as it isn't a city he's 'worked'. Given the hostility of the locals... "I'm thinking we camp outside the city wall. It will be easier to guard the wagon." It's a better excuse than the welcome Zhandar is likely to receive.

As they pass through the town the next day, Raj considers the inconvenience of the local attitude a fair price to pay as he locates the purveyors of magical goods and finds a sought-after treasure!

Knowledge: History (Courtaud): 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (19) + 6 = 25

In contrast, the thief is very familiar with the small settlement of Courtaud.

Knowledge-History Tamrivena: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (11) + 4 = 15

Although Park knows a bit about the large town he agrees with Raj. Even though he looks human Park knows the town isn't friendly. Off hand he wonders if the people have some issue like the residents of Ravengro before they had a chance to win them over? Regardless, they won't be staying around that long!

He does accompany Raj for some shopping, deciding that a special light-weight chain shirt would protect him better and be easier to move in. However, while Raj finds what he is seeking, Park fails in his search.

Knowledge-History Courtaud: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (15) + 4 = 19

The lack of the Bard Knowledge class skill bites!

"I've no issue with staying outside the town walls," Milovica says with attempted casualness, though she is gazing at the town walls a bit wide-eyed. On her journey to Ravengro, she had passed through Chastel-- home to two thousand souls or so-- and it had been a little overwhelming to her, as well as being the largest settlement she'd ever been in. (She may have some idea that Chastel is a 'big city' as opposed to what most would consider it, a town.) And Tamrivena looks even bigger. Gosh.

Milovica scouts a good place a bit back from the road to set up their camp, surveying the ground to be sure they're not in the middle of any animal's habitual route, and then settles into an industrious flurry of activity of tent staking and getting a fire going, with an enthusiasm that suggests she might get the entire camp set up on her own if others aren't quick enough to lend a hand (though no doubt they are).

Once some initial wood is gathered and the fire is going, Mila stands and brushes her hands off. "I'll see what game is nearby," she offers, and armed with only her bow sidles away from the road and into the marshlands nearby. A half hour later she returns with two ducks hanging from one hand, and a pouch full of mushrooms, cattail spikes, and wild watercress from the nearby wetland. She turns these over to Rajuna with a tentative, "I dunno if you've ever cooked with these before? I can pluck the ducks..."

After her own contributions to dinner are sorted, she twists handfuls of marsh grass into thick bundles to then be set to smolder, between the camp and the marshland. The smoke should keep the worst of the mosquitos and midges off of them, she hopes.

"It'll rain come morning," she tells the others. "Make sure your stuff is good and covered. I've got an oiled canvas with me we can use to cover the wagon."

Mila crouches by the fire, feeding a few more small sticks in while being careful not to disrupt Rajuna's cooking. She gazes at Tamrivena's walls, and the lights of many, many, many homes and businesses beyond them, and the rising smoke of hearth fires.

"...Is Lepidstadt bigger than Tamrivena?"

Knowledge (local): 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (7) + 6 = 13 Just seeing if Zhandar has any specific knowledge about the town, like where to advise the others go while she is guarding the wagon.

"Lepidstadt is much bigger than Tamrivena, Mila," Zhandar says quickly, trying (and failing) to hide the sense of superiority in her voice. "I myself am uncomfortable in places with lots of people and buildings and so on. I suspect I share that trait with you."

Spellcraft: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (8) + 10 = 18

She turns her attention to the scroll and the letter that accompanies it. She gnashes her teeth as she realizes what it is. "I cannot cast that spell, though I could easily cast the spell that the judge probably used to send the scrolls to us. Does the message have a return address? If so I might be able to instruct my own bird to return with our reply if we have difficulty casting the sending. Unless I miss my guess, Mila should be able to cast it from the scroll, though I do not know if the details provided by the sender are enough to make a connection. Presumably they are, or she would not have included them in her letter."

Smurf

It's higher level but on the Cleric list. Does that require any roll?

Found the answer

It's a 5th level spell on the alchemist list and a 4th level spell on the cleric list, and both Mila and Zhandar have a high enough casting ability score to try to cast it. It requires a caster level check with a DC of the scrolls' caster level +1. In this case the caster level is 7, so a DC of 8.

If whoever tries fails, she must make a DC 5 Wisdom check to avoid a scroll mishap.

It's a 5th level spell on the alchemist list and a 4th level spell on the cleric list, and both Mila and Zhandar have a high enough casting ability score to try to cast it.

It's not on either the druid or magus spell list, though. I don't think she can cast alchemist spells without a Use Magic Device check, right?

Let's see how I do!

Caster level: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (3) + 4 = 7 ....Ooof.

Wisdom check: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (4) + 4 = 8 Why couldn't those low numbers just have been reversed! But okay, no mishap, so it looks like I can try again.

C'mon Mila: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (20) + 4 = 24 Loooooooooool.

****

"Lepidstadt is much bigger than Tamrivena, Mila..."

"Oh."

Much bigger. Gosh. Mila bites her lower lip, then offers a tentative smile at Zhandar's words of preferring less in the way of people and buildings.

"I mean... I don't dislike people, or anything. It's just-- I never figured there'd be so many in one place. And it's so loud. And there's stuff happening all around you and you don't even know where to look," she admits, rubbing the back of her neck with one hand in a sheepish gesture.

The fire's warmth is welcome against the moist chill from the bogs, almost as welcome as the pleasing dinner that Rajuna manages to put together from their supplies and Mila's supplements.

That first night out, Mila takes a turn standing a watch and keeping the fire from burning out. She hunkers with her cloak, stirring the fire every so often, and looking up at the occasional stars visible through patchy clouds. They're beautiful, and they're still the same stars she can see at home, which is a comfort, since she's further away from her little village than she's ever been...

***

The next day's travel is uneventful other than the rain Mila had forecast. When they come within view of Courtaud, Mila is comforted enough by the smaller town that she considers she might well go inside it and look around-- but the raven pushes such thoughts out of her mind.

Despite herself, Milovica can't help but grin a bit. An animal! Bringing them a message! It's all like something out of a story-- her father's stories. She listens intently to Zhandar's words about the spell, wondering why it seems to anger her so much, then tentatively takes the scroll, turning it over in her hands.

"I can try to figure it out," she says cautiously. "Are we- doin' this? Goin' off to look for this Kyle fellow? ... two hundred platinum is... is a lot. Gosh. I don't know if there was that much money in all of Morcei."

After some discussion of what their response will BE, and perhaps a night's rest, Milovica takes a breath and unrolls the scroll Zhandar calls 'sending.' She bites her lip, reading through the unfamiliar symbols and words-- suffice to say that while divine magic certainly CAN be written down, it's not how she's traditionally interacted with it. With brows knit, she slowly stumbles through the incantation...

...only to get an emphatic migraine as the letters start to swim before her eyes. "Oww... Oof... gimme a second..."

She puts the scroll down and gets up for a walk, trying to clear her head of the unusual throb. Mila's hand seeks out the silver staghead that hangs around her neck.

Erastil.... I'm off the trail here. This is new ground. I don't know what I'm doing, and I don't want to shame you any. And I don't want to let down these new folk. If I can't even read a scroll for them how can I be any use against the whisperers? Please. Show me the path...

The half-elven woman closes her eyes as she thinks this humble but earnest prayer. When she opens them, nothing seems changed-- the sky overhead is still gray, the wind a bit chilly, a lone hawk navigating an updraft... but the air seems sweeter, somehow. Or maybe it's just her imagination, or her inherently optimistic streak. Mila gives a firm little nod to the universe, walks back to the scroll--

--and reads it in one go, nary a stumble this time.

After the group reads the letter there is little discussion. This was a friend of the Professor after all. The money was secondary really....

Knowledge-Local for Shadowbrook?: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (4) + 4 = 8 Is the road capable of handling the wagon? If Kendra wanted to stay with us?

"The Judge was a friend of the Professor. Of course we'll check this out. It'll delay us getting to Lepidstadt though. Kendra? What do you think? Stay with us? Stay in Courtaud?" By the tone of his voice he is obviously concerned but trying not to influence her decision.

He watches as Mila struggles the first time, but then breezes through the spell after a short prayer to prepare. He wonders what he would do if the spell had been one he was capable of at a higher level. He didn't really pray.... He wonders about that, and what would happen to his soul once he had to face Pharasma. "Good work Mila! None of us could have done that!"

Ain't going to know anything with numbers like that!

Rajuna reads the letter twice, frowning on the second reading. ”Yeah, I don’t like this fella - at all. That being said, having a judge in our corner could be useful. I’m thinkin' ‘yes’ on this sidetrip.”

Mila looks between them all at their input, then nods once and reads the scroll through... which takes a while, honestly. Finally she feels the tugs and prompting of magic at her mind saying speak now....

"Um, hello, Judge Daramid. I am traveling with the professor's other friends. We got your letter. We would be happy to go to Shadowbrook and--"

The magic abruptly ceases, though Mila has a sense of her words being whisked away from her in a rush of air. She blinks, staring in confusion which becomes stricken comprehension after a few seconds.

"Oh!! I didn't know there was a word limit!" she says with a wince. "Oh, horse-shit."

(This is followed by reflexively clapping a hand over her mouth as if expecting somoene to scold her. Oh, right, Mama's not here--)

"Um-- I mean," throat clearing, "I didn't say all I meant to but I guess I got the point across. That we're going to Shadowbrook. Ugh. Sorry if I messed it up."

Park's reassuring words cause her to offer a shy, thankful smile at the man. "Well.... thanks. Guess it coulda gone worse."

Park chuckles at Mila's reply. "Yes, I can 'hear' it now. 'Hello Judge, uh that's right, Judge Daramid. I'm Milovic Draznoi. I got your message and my friends said I should reply. So I wanted to....' HaHaHa! But at least then he'd know your name, just not what the answer was to the question he asked! So be happy that you answered the question. And, we'll see him in a couple of days, and then we can all introduce ourselves and collect a nice reward!"

Sense motive 5 to know he's just having fun!

Within a few moments, Mila receives her reply.

"Appreciate your assistance. Elias last seen in bright blue cloak. Suspect he fled with money. Update me with your findings. Safe journey and stay alert."

Kendra? What do you think? Stay with us? Stay in Courtaud?

Kendra listens to the conversation without poking in up until Park asks her a direct question.

She hesitates, looking around the group.
"Do you think it'll be particularly dangerous?"

Rajuna chuckles at either Mila’s amateur curse or that she was appalled by her own cursing.

To Kendra’s question, he can only shrug. ”Hard to say. Could be the tax collector is just laid up with a broken leg. But a decade’s worth of taxes is like to be a goodly sum. Somebody might be real salty about that loss… possibly saltier than Mila’s language.”

I believe this event happened in the evening as we approach Courtaud?

Park considers Kendra's question, and Rajuna's answer. "Dangerous? Any traveling around Ustalav can be dangerous. But as long as we are alert and working together, I don't think we'll encounter anything we can't handle." Glancing around at the whole team, and focusing on Zhandar he asks, "Before we drive this into town, are we staying in town tonight? Or camping outside again? I don't think we should leave the wagon untended, even in a small town. Too many people might be curious what's under the tarp that they might want to own...."

I believe this event happened in the evening as we approach Courtaud?

Correct, as you reached the edge of Courtaud!

Mila doesn't quite know what to say to Kendra's query, as she knows nothing at all about Shadowbrook and, indeed, not even very much about tax collectors. She has a vague awareness that someone comes by every few years and everyone grumbles about it, but.... would it get people riled enough to hurt or kill? She just shrugs a little. She does relay the information from the spell-- Elias in a blue cloak, the judge's suspicions he might have taken the money and run...

As for the question of town tonight:

"Oh, yeah, we don't wanna leave our stuff unminded. Animals could smell any food we got on the wagon or even stuff you don't think of as food. A bunch of raccoons got into our tanning stuff one summer, the oils and all that."

Mila eyes the town, then the wagon, then worries her lower lip a bit with her teeth. Camping is known and familiar, but the town is... new! Exciting! A little tempting!

"We could go in tonight, maybe... if it's okay with you, Miss Zhandar?"

The road to Shadowbrook meanders through the rugged Ustalavian countryside, a narrow track of worn cobblestones that speak of years of use and little maintenance. As you travel, the landscape unfolds in a mix of cultivated land and encroaching wilderness. Fields of wheat and barley, interspersed with fallow patches and the occasional abandoned farmhouse, stretch towards the horizon, a reminder of better days gone by.

The air is fresh but carries a hint of damp earth and the subtle, pervasive scent of decay that comes from untended corners of the land. Birdsong is sparse, replaced by the occasional caw of a crow or the rustling of unseen creatures in the underbrush. The road dips and rises gently, weaving around small hills and crossing over narrow, murky streams on creaky wooden bridges.

The trees along the road, once likely part of well-maintained orchards or groves, now grow wild and untamed. Their branches, heavy with age and neglect, form a dense canopy that filters the sunlight, casting long, shifting shadows on the path below. The play of light and shadow lends an eerie quality to your journey, though not overtly sinister.

As you get closer to your destination, the road becomes rougher, the cobblestones giving way to dirt and gravel, with patches of overgrown grass encroaching from the sides. The surrounding fields are increasingly wild, and the trees thicker and more foreboding, their trunks twisted and roots exposed.

Finally, about an hour or two before noon, Shadowbrook comes into view. As you approach, you hear an unseen voice call out in front of you.

"“Aaaaaaplesaaaauce! Here boy! C’meer boy!” the words are followed by some whistling before the sound of something rustling can be heard coming from your left, among the tall grass surrounding the road.

You are approaching from the bottom left corner of the map, area A.

Zhandar shrugs as if it is no concern of hers what the others do. "I am happy to stay with the wagon if you want to explore in town." She looks at Kendra. "It might be that my appearance is frightening enough that animals and townsfolk alike leave us alone, although sadly in my experience it is usually the opposite. Something about my presence angers and upsets animals. It's only when I want them to do something that they take no notice of me." She considers. "Perhaps there is some sort of magical solution? If you were to purchase a hound of some sort in town, I could enchant it so that it wouldn't object to me being nearby. Such a beast might also come in handy when we are searching for the judge's missing agent."

I like Zhandar's idea. Any chance we could have found a trained guard dog in Courtaud? Otherwise we can wait 'til later.

Hearing the voice Park pulls the reins to call the horses and wagon to a halt. Once it stops he stands to look around, gathering his bow and arrows in case he spots anything dangerous. "Sounds like a boy.... And not a likely ambush point, but be ready."

Looking over in the tall grass he raises his voice to call, "Who's out there? The grass is too tall so I can't see you yet."

Raj somewhat enjoys this bucolic (if a bit decayed) scene. He stands casually, though on the balls of feet, finding it hard to believe this is an elaborate ambush. Better to simply strike without announcing yourself.

"I think the boy is in front of us. That would make the rustling in the grass 'Applesauce'." Raj imagines a dog bounding out of the high grass with a tongue-lolling grin on his face.

Rajuna is disappointed, unfortunately, as no dog comes running lazily out of the field. Instead, a large buzzing red mosquito-like creature launches out from the weeds and moves closer to the group. It seems somewhat...disoriented? The boy quickly comes out from the other field, chasing after the thing that Rajuna and Park can identify as a stirge.

"Applesauce, you stop that! Get away from them!" the boy cries out, yelling at the stirge.

Init, Rajuna: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (7) + 5 = 12
Init, Park: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (8) + 5 = 13
Init, Mila: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (14) + 1 = 15
Init, Zhandar: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (3) + 6 = 9
Init, Stirge and Boy: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (7) + 4 = 11

Init:
15- Mila
13- Park
12- Rajuna
11- Stirge/Boy
9- Zhandar

Mila, Park, and Rajuna are up! Map is up on Roll20, I'll assign your token when you join Mila. Just say which name you are, there's a lot in there.

Mila immediately reaches for an arrow when something bursts from the high grasses, her instincts responding to what seems to be some sort of vermin.

"The hell's that?" she gawps, and, if not for the boy's calling out, she'd do her best to skewer the thing with an arrow.

"Lad! Can you control that-- that-- bug?"

Ready to try to non-lethally smack it with an unarmed strike if it moves adjacent to her

So, not a dog... but 'a boy and his bloodsucking stirge' just doesn't sounds as good.

Raj hesitates and makes a cautious shoo-ing away motion as he prepares to smack the stirge if it attempts to latch onto him. "You, uh, wanna collect your pet, now."

STAND: READY Smack!

HIT Non-Lethal: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (1) + 9 = 10 | DAM: 1d8 + 5 ⇒ (4) + 5 = 9

Park readies and arrow and draws back, ready to fire. "Stirge. Blood suckers like we fought in Harrowstone. Kid. Call it back or it dies!"

He waits, watching the 'bug'. If it gets ten feet closer he fires his arrow at it.

The stirge does move farther away from the boy, which inadvertently means it moves towards you. Park lets an arrow fly and it strikes true: the stirge takes the arrow directly and falls to the ground.

The little boy instantly switches from panicked and chasing to distressed immediately, and begins to sob loudly, cradling the injured stirge. Looking up to you, tears streaming down his face, he calls out angrily.
”What’d you shoot Applesauce for? He wasn’t going to hurt you!”

In an unsurprising turn of events, combat over!

A quick look at the stirge shows that it’s still alive, just unconscious.

Rajuna looks on grimly. "Mila, any way you can help... Applesauce?"

Healing... a monster. Some sort of big bug that... drinks blood, according to Park, anyhow.

Yeah, this ain't how she figured she'd be doing the will of Erastil out in the world. Mila looks from Rajuna, to Park, to the distraught boy who is clearly desolated.

"Uh....." Sure looked like it was comin' at us to hurt us...

"Um, kid, if you'll let me, I can heal it... I mean... him...."

She deliberately puts her bow down and walks towards the boy, hands raised in attempted placation.

If the boy allows it, I'll approach and turn 'hidden spring' into a CLW.

CLW: 1d8 + 4 ⇒ (3) + 4 = 7

Totally surprised, and confused at the turn of events Park also puts his bow away. "He wasn't.... I'm sorry son, but the last time we saw stirges they were attacking us. Well, Rajuna and me at least. They're dangerous. They sting you and suck blood, making you weak. If yours doesn't do that then we can heal the wound."

Once the stirge is healed Park tries to make introductions. "Sorry for hurting your friend. I'm Park. The lovely lady that healed your friend is Mila. And the others with us are Rajuna, Zhandar, and Kendra." pointing to each "What is your name, and the name of your friend? And I assume that live live in Shadowbrook?"

Diplomacy, Park: 1d20 + 15 ⇒ (7) + 15 = 22

Park's smooth words and reassurances manage to calm the crying boy down enough to let Mila step in and heal Applesauce. The little bug wakes up from unconsciousness and immediately cuddles up against the boy.

"I-I'm Ornigaard." he says, his voice struggling to get the words out for a bit before taking a bit to pet the stirge in his lap before calming down. "And this is Applesauce. I've had him for almost a year now!" he brags proudly.

[b}"Yeah we live in Shadowbrook, why you askin'?"[/b] he says, looking up at the group.

Zhandar is surprised that someone would keep a stirge as a pet, especially since one of the ghosts did the same according to her companions' stories. However, apart from raising her eyebrows, she refrains from commenting and tries to keep a low profile.

"Nice to meetcha, Ornigaard. I'm Raj. We're here looking for a fella who maybe came through here, name of Elias Kyle. Wears a bright blue cloak. You seen anybody like that?"

Park watches and waits. Maybe the young lad will be impressed by Raj's scars instead of repulsed like others....

Gosh, Park called her 'a a lovely lady!' Mila flushes just a bit as she heals the stirge.

"Hullo, Ornigaard," she says with a hopefully reassuring smile. "Looks like, um, Applesauce is fine."

And I need to wash my hands after touchin' it, too.

"Do a lotta folk own pets like him, hereabouts?"

"We're here looking for a fella who maybe came through here, name of Elias Kyle. Wears a bright blue cloak. You seen anybody like that?"

The boy looks up from Mila's work to answer Rajuna.

"I think we had someone visit a few weeks ago, but I don't really pay attention to visitors much. You should talk to my pa, he knows everything!" the kid says enthusiastically. "I can take you to him, if you want? Since you helped my friend."

"Do a lotta folk own pets like him, hereabouts?"

"Lotsa folks here keep ’em as pets, yeah. They’re really kinda friendly once you give them a chance.”

"We'd be happy to meet your pa. Lead on."

"Why do you call the stirge Applesauce?" asks Zhandar curiously, as the group begins to head towards Shadowbrook.

"Ah, alright. Let's get going then." the boy says, picking Applesauce up and starting the walk down the road towards Shadowbrook.

"Well, he likes applesauce, it's his favorite food. So I guess that's why." he replies simply, as if that explains everything. And perhaps it does.

The road continues until you reach the water, which your 'guide' informs you is named the Lampblack River. Two ramshackle shacks flank the Lampblack here, sheds to house a flat-bottom ferry. Tightly drawn ropes cross the river, part of a cranked pulley system that draws the barge across the black water.

"Oh, uh, do you have the silver to cross? People he knows get across free, but it's one silver for each."

Park looks at the ferry, wondering if it will hold everything.... "Sure. And how much for the horses and wagon?" He opens one of the pouches on his adventurer's sash and digs for some coin.

"Oh...I don't know. We'll have to ask Mr. Cardzi."

The man Ornigaard mentions operates the ferry, and you need to ring a bell for him to come over to this side of the river. As he gets closer you see he's a crooked-backed, thin-haired man with an abrasive personality that quickly reveals itself.

"I don't know you." the old man says after he pulls the ferry up to the other side. "I'd ask what business you have in our little village but I don't rightly care. ! silver for each of you, and 1 gold each for the two horses. They have to go separately, so we'll be making two trips." he says without leaving any room for arguments.

Park digs out 3 gold and hands them to the man. "Certainly sir. Quite a load for your ferry and so glad that it can handle it. Does that include the wagon? And I can stay here to drive it on, and let the others go first, just so you don't have to fight with the nags...."

Diplomacy to smooth out the request: 1d20 + 15 ⇒ (11) + 15 = 26

Milovica gazes admiringly at Park as he deploys charm and manners. He's just so good with people! She hangs near Ornigaard as the payment is negotiated, privately resolving to pay Park back her share of the coins, and still looking over the stirge with a sort of fascinated revulsion (attempting to hide said revulsion). She's just never been so close to one of them.

"What else does he eat?" she asks the boy quietly as they ready to cross.

Raj makes pro forma grumbles about the price that the bargeman would expect from anyone who didn't have a pocket full of coins. Raj didn't want them rolling into town with the reputation of having deep pockets.