Pious calls the server over again
"Do you have rooms available girl? Even those with the one God's vigor must lay their heads sometime."
"Do you have rooms available girl? Even those with the one God's vigor must lay their heads sometime."
"I'm sure we do, sir. I'll have Abelia come to your table with some keys. How many rooms will you be needing?"
Although Rocko would appreciate the offer for a room, he's much more content with wandering and staying outside or in the occasional stable. He hasn't truly been a nomad in years but too much of the lifestyle is just deeply ingrained in him
Although Rocko would appreciate the offer for a room, he's much more content with wandering and staying outside or in the occasional stable. He hasn't truly been a nomad in years but too much of the lifestyle is just deeply ingrained in him
I think we had previously determined Rocko, being a resident of Albarra, probably has a small house.
"I'm sure we do, sir. I'll have Abelia come to your table with some keys. How many rooms will you be needing?""Do you have rooms available girl? Even those with the one God's vigor must lay their heads sometime."
"Two for now I think, we may need them for a few days."
Pious hands over enough gold pieces to have two rooms for a week. and hands one of the keys to Spizz.
"A roof over our head for now at least. The lord said Rest while ye may, for tomorrow may come all too soon Today has given me much to contemplate, I'll retire for the night now."
With that he heads off to his room.
Adventure 2: The Stronghold of the 4th Legion
Octum 21, early morning
Pious and Spizz awaken and meet up with Rocko in the lobby. Rocko's new equipment was finished just this morning, and he was excited to pick it up.
A stranger lurks in the lobby of the Friendly Mesa, making eye contact with the adventurers as they prepare to walk out the doors.
The stranger approaches. The confidence he exudes as he walks doesn't seem to stem from bravado but from true relaxed comfort. He's using a broad knife to clean his fingernails, this doesn't feel like a threat, just a habit.
He smiles as he makes lazy eye contact with each in turn.
"Mr Pious right? My name is Elias, Elias Quince. Though I doubt that means much to you yet."
The bar-staff begin to surreptitiously move some of the more expensive bottles out of harms way. Elias smiles.
"No drama today friends. Mr Pious was out last night, after some information, I'm just a middle man passing on a message."
A slip of paper appears in Elias' left hand and he slides it across the table to Pious. Before Pious can take the note, Elias' knife comes slamming down and pins the note.
"you mentioned gold... it's worth it"
the smile broadens as Pious slides two coins across to Elias that swiftly disappear.
Pious snatches up the note and hungrily reads.
...Is this true?! Elias nods.
Pious nearly knocks his stool over in his rush "I... I have to go. This is... this changes everything. I have to go.
Without another word he ups and leaves, the key to his room lying on the table the only sign that he was ever there.
Elias scoops up the key and pockets it as he assumes Pious' seat.
"Mind if I jump in friends. Word is you might be headed to the old fort, and you seem a man short. In case you missed it, I'm Elias Quince. I think we're going to have a lot of fun together."
Spizz and Rocko say their goodbyes to this man they have known but for a short time, who stood with them in battle against the unusual insectoid creatures on the ranch. Lexxan seems to have gone her own separate way as well. At least this Elias Quince seems interested in accompanying them. Perhaps the heroes would find more companions along the road.
As you prepare to leave town, you note a strange figure mulling about outside of Jules' General Store. If you're not mistaken, this could be one of the mysterious Wild Elves of whom you've heard legend.
Enter Yoltzin
The figure was easily a head and shoulder above most human woman and has garnered some small amount of attention from passers by. All of her focus however was placed squarely on the quiver in hand, carefully counting out each arrow with slender fingers tipped with black with polish. When she spoke, her melodic voice filled the air with odd consonants and vowels. "Xitlachiua nikpia ikimeh mimeh? Uelia onik tlakoua okachi...?"
Stowing the quiver she replaced it with a leather-bound pouch, which which she removed several golden coins. She tilted her head to the side as she scrutinized the sizable amount, earrings swaying as she did. From the pile she plucked enough coins to purchase over five dozen bundles of arrows. Far more than her little quiver could hold. It didn't take an expect to notice of her naiveté, any merchant could easily take advantage and make a tidy profit off this woman.
Spizz is quite sad to see Pious go. After all, he was one of the first people he had met who hadn't immediately tried to kill him, or drive him off.
"Friend-Pious not want to be around Spizz anymore?" he asks Rocko. For a second, the little kobold looks very sad, but then shoves it back down. "Spizz and Rocko go to fortress? We are hero(s?), we do more good things for softskins?" He seems to be mostly oblivious to, or ignoring Elias, and cannot really tell the difference between elves and humans. Or men and women. In fact, most non-kobold races were a mystery to Spizz, but one that he was eager to learn more about.
Rocko is sad to see Pious go as well. He gives Spizz a reassuring pat to the shoulder. "I reckon he's just riled up about whatever was on that note. I get a feelin' we'll meet up again some day, and he'll be happy to see us both."
Rocko looks at the pair of new companions and shrugs. Two new flat-faces are as good as any in his mind, as long as they're hard working and honest.
"And let's dig up more word about this fortress 'afore we find a right mess like we did with them cattle rustlin' bug things"
Rocko looks at the pair of new companions and shrugs. Two new flat-faces are as good as any in his mind, as long as they're hard working and honest.
Rocko still needs to pick up his new gear and some supplies. Although some of it was being made at the smithies, he'd arranged it all to be sent to the general store. He sees the woman lingering outside the shop and nods.
Although some people still treat gnolls with suspicion, Rocko is always willing to meet a potential new friend.
"Morning." Rocko begins cheerfully. "Good day for a hunt."
The woman turned, looking at the being with uncontrolled curiosity. Of course she'd heard the rumors of beasts upon two legs that moved among humans, but she'd yet to see one so close. How it was able to form their language would surely have been of some interest to the more scholarly sorts.
She deigned to smile, "Yes. A good time for hunting." looking back down at her quiver and her retrieved coinage, "I am however in need of ah... Restocking. I am using familiar with your... Exchange rates. How many arrows can I purchase?"
Rocko chuckles slightly to himself at the memory of having to pay far above the standard rate before being accepted by the townsfolk.
"One gold crown will getcha twenty regular flight arrows. Neddie is pretty good at taking foreign coin, but he don't like stuff too far out there. He's good fer' buying stuff like pelts if'n you were wanting to trade."
Rocko thinks about it for a moment.
"If you need coin and yer up to some honest work of the scoutin' and fightin' type, yer welcome to join the three of us for a job."
"Oh, I see. Thank you." The woman spoke, grateful. She looked down at the golden disks with a renewed sense of their worth. Obtaining more of them wouldn't be remiss, and she had left the canopies out of desire for adventure did she not?
Ducking her head to the manbeast, "If you would be willing to have me. I am well versed in the calling of spirits. I am Yoltzin, by birth."
Elias lets out a quiet whistle Well hello Yoltzin, a Wild One no less[/smaller]
"Good morning to you Miss Yoltzin. It's a real pleasure to make your acquaintance. My names Elias Quince and I say it as I see it, and I see it as being that you're one of them Wild Ones. You'll have to forgive my forwardness, it's not everyday that you meet somebody out of a legend standing right there in all its beauty. Have you eaten Yoltzin, care to join us for a walk this morning?"
Her brow knits a the mention of 'Wild One', her dark eyes focused on the speaker. Is this how the humans referred to them? The rounded were certainly strange. "I have already partaken of my rations. Yet I am willing to join you for a time."
"Sure, one breakfast was good, but I'm always up for a second."
Rocko's stomach makes a loud rumble in agreement, causing him to give an open toothy grin that's a gnoll's way of showing embarrassment.
"Sorry bout that. Yeah, who's up for a trip back to the inn? We can show Lady Yoltzin the job board while we're getting a snack."
The tendency of them to pre-empt her name with an unfamiliar prefix continues. Perhaps after she spent enough time amongst them she'd learn what it meant. Looking to both beasts-which-walked, "Do you also have names?"
Rocko will nod politely and point to himself, "I am Rocko"
Spizz pops up, no longer moping about Pious's departure. Now he seems excited once more, although it's a little unclear if it has to do with meeting new people, or the prospect of another breakfast. "Spizz is Spizz!" His shiny gold scales glitter in the sunlight. "Master Scorcherer!" He looks to Ellas, and then back to Yoltzin, "Yoltzin ByBirth is a famous softskin? Tell me (Spizz) what makes you(?) softskin famous!" There is no malice in that question, only an overeager curiosity.
A suffix added to her name this time? The oddities of these people only continue to mount. Still, this Spizz's introduction sparksed interest. "I do not think myself famous. Am I?" She looks to the human, curious.
Having completed "second breakfast" and Yoltzin making her purchases, the quartet heads out following the path described to them, looking for the ancient Stronghold of the 4th Legion. The stronghold was abandoned at some point during the Great Migration, between 100 and 150 years ago. After the collapse of regional governance, the secrets of its exact location were lost, and few have sought it out. However, it is vaguely known to be "over that way somewhere," and every generation has its tales of spunky teens who actually found and set foot inside the Stronghold, before fleeing from some sort of terror that seems to vary every time the story is told.
You are almost to the area where you will begin to look more closely for the entrance, the temperature is increasing as the sun gets high, when you spot a spot a large, insect-like monster scuttling about on six legs, engaged in battle with a dismounted horseman.
Enter Djack Nymball
Djack has initiative over the creature.
Only Djack/Djill and the creature may act in this round, though the rest of you may prepare an action and roll initiative.
The elf's keen ears hear the insectoid screeches long before it was seen, and pulls her bow to knock an arrow.
"Ugh, not more bugs."
With his heavier armor and shield still stowed for travel, Rocko will have to make do with his old hide gear and new battleaxe for now.
"That feller's holdin' his own for now, but I reckon he won't say no to some help."
"Hmm... You're probably right. But a man can get into trouble making assumptions these days... Hypothetically."
Elias draws his matched blades and prepares to enter the fray
"Well met stranger. This isn't some ornate courtship is it? You're not just playing? If me and my colleagues here were to leap in and dismember your foe...? friend...? lover...? Mother? That would accounted a noble and heroic deed and not a crime, right?"
It is not immediately obvious whether he is addressing the man or the bug
Hey! Stay away from my Djill ya big roach! The young man brandishes a rapier and hazards a strike... and misses.
I bet you all hiss and vinegar and proud of yourself, now.
Creature Attack:
Horse Attack Creature (flanking):
Spizz Initiative:
Misses all around as the combatants dance on the field of battle.
Top of Round 1
Initiative Order:
Elias (19)
Spizz (18)
Yoltzin (16)
Djack, Djill, and Rocko (11)
Creature (9)
"Which thing is the bad thing?" Spizz asks curiously, "Softskin, bug, or hooved one?"
"The bug is bad. Tussled with enough of 'em when I was wandering the wastes," Rocko replies as he readies his axe. "They're mean, ya can't talk to 'em, they won't leave you alone, and they taste awful, so you can't even eat 'em."
Rocko does pause as he considers, "Their shells do make decent pots and tools and stuff. And the claws are great toothpicks and backscratchers."
Still, better safe than sorry...
Elias sprints over to the bug and goes to work with his knives, looking for ways to incapacitate the bug without killing it, just in case.
"Oh, and watch out. These things spit."
Rocko tries to shout off a warning as he works at pulling out his new shield. So much for his new gear staying nice and clean.
The creature recoils from Quince's blade slap, obviously feeling the pain.
Spizz, Yoltzin, Djack (and Djill) may still act before the creature.
Come on, leave us alone! Djill whinnies and huffs in apparent agreement.
Once more the bronze rapier tries to find an opening in the creatures chitinous shell and hooves flail.
"Hm, I will be aware." The elf comments, taking a potshot with her arrow.
Even if her aim marks true, the arrow skids just off the top of the beetle's carapace. The elf frowns at the ineffective result. Much harder to hunt than a vole or fox.
The creature is definitely injured by Djack's well-placed sword cut, but opts to make one last raging attempt to kill his prey.
Spizz may still act in round 1, if he chooses.
Noting that his friends seem to be doing an excellent job, Spizz decides that a large blast of fire is unneeded. He moves up to within 30ft of the creature, and fires at it.
At that, the creature turns to run, but sadly, has breathed its last, and falls to the ground.
combat over.
The young man takes a defensive stance by his mount. Thanks for the help but, I don't know you.