Stepnik has (1) Lessor Elixor of Life ready, and can "Quick Alchemy" up to two more to bring people back up to conciousness or to help those really damaged.
EofL 1
EofL 2
EofL 3
Also any who have yet to be Medicine checked Stepnik has a Plus 7 to Medicine.
Ascaede’s mien runs from slightly abashed to indignation.
”My apologies, all. I rushed into this, blithely forgoing adept circumspection. This outcome may have been improved if I had but taken a…little time to approach the unfolding tragedy. Shemar, again, my apologies. I feel this Lumber Consortium will be a thorn to us or us to them no matter what we do, but if I have expedited the friction…well…again…my apologies.”
Still hovering over the young couple, Ascaede watches as Ustemir and Stepnik provide succour.
”Stepnik - I cannot for the life of me utilize mine own kit. Might you, once the young couple are helped, provide medicinal aid?”
Sébastien pouts because there was 6 seconds left to his Lingering Composition...
Lumber Consortium? Who's dat?
With Ustemir’s first aid and Stepnik’s elixirs, the young woman and man are back on their feet, although shaken and worse for the wear.
Langivar scouts about and reports an all clear.
"The Consortium?" the young woman shakes her head as she helps the young man to his feet, "No, I’m afraid these men aren’t officially the Consortium. They are the Redrock Guild, Bloodeye’s men. We were just returning from the Rouge Lady, Bloodeye’s joint in the Lumberyards. My brother here," she gives the young man a nudge, who then winces in pain, "…had decided to sneak off an celebrate his birthday with some games, drinking, and sleazy women. By the time I found him there, he had racked up a gambling debt. Bloodeye’s said he was gonna take me as collateral, so I had to get us out of there. These men caught up to us. I thought we were done for before you showed up! I can’t ever thank you enough!"
"Where’s my manners? My name is Athen Bailey, and this idiot here is my brother, Artis. Our father is the blacksmith in Honey Alley. If I were you folks, I’d stay clear of the Rouge Lady and the Redrock Guild."
"Hah!" Ustemir lets out a hearthy laugh. "Lady, do I look like I was gifted with enoigh common sense to not go into places like that? My pet's a bear!" he jokes for a moment before his expression turns to a stern one.
"But seriously. We need to do something about the bodies... Ugh." he grunts as the adrenalin is no longer spiking. "And I might need a few stitches. Could take some time. Three people disappear and I walk anywhere like this... Well that's just prime suspect material."
Meanwhile, Kolek sneaks up on the dromaar and starts cleaning the man with a series of slobbering licks.
"Ow... yes, boy, I love you too. But- OW! We'll cleanup when I'm not hurting this much, okay?” Ustemir alternates between laughing and grunting. After a few low growls, Kolek stops. At least for now.
"Right. Find a quiet secluded spot, lick our wounds for a bit?"
Kolek inches closer to Ustemir. "No, not literally. Dooon't..."
Waedin takes stock of the situation and sighs. I think you two need an escort back into town, then we'll be on our way.
She moves over to prod the last living ruffian with her boot.
Maybe we drop this last one off at the Rouge Lady and make introductions? Might not end well but trying to keep them from being hostile makes sense. What else are we going to do with this ruffian anyhow? Can't leave him here.
Nice Kick by the way Ustemir, man's eyes rolled up so far he was seeing heaven for a second. Closest he'll come to it.
"Yeah... Thanks for the patch up." Ustemir struggles to keep Kolek's snout away from his own face. "Everybody has a plan until they get a nice kick in the dibgleberries. Kolek, stop! Down!" Ustemir does not raise his voice, but his voice suddenly has an authoritative tone to it. "We're not playing now. Sit."
Ustemir pauses while the bear backs off, lies down on his belly, and huffs loudly.
"Right. Good boy. Stay." Ustemir looks back at the rest of the group. "Speaking of plans, I can't go back to town like this." he points to the crimson stains on his clothing. "And I am not sure whether taking an unconscious person to their, uh, headquarters, I guess... is a good idea. Especially if they can identify us. Price for meddling, I suppose."
"Well, uh... I think Kolek is hungry, and we have some..." he clears his throat and glances over at the ruffians for a few seconds "250 kilograms of meat? If that's an avenue we want to explore."
Waedin sighs. No desecration of the dead thank you very much Ustemir. Garena don't appreciate that. Look, the cleanest thing would have been if they were all dead. But we can't let this one die and he knows us. Better to just be up front about it and try and come to a live and let live sort of arrangement with this Bloodeye rather'n have them try to backstab us the whole time we're here.
"A pyre is too visible. Graves are visible until they grow over again. What do you propose we do with these bodies?" Ustemir raises an eyebrow towards Waedin. "You're the cloth person here. I'll defer to you in that. But I don't agree with bringing him back to the Redrock Guild. They don't know us now, and they will if you go return one of their wounded to them. They won't be backstabbing us if they don't know it was us who stepped on their toes. For all they know now, this guy" he points to Artis "is on the run with his sister and the three guildmen are chasing them down."
"Why can't we let him die, exactly? It's probably him or us all. Just like with these two." Ustemir gestures towards the two dead ruffians splayed across the floor. "It's unfortunate, but with how things are going around here, it's the way it is. Do you really want to turn yourself in?"
Sébastien begins to cast Prestidigitation and the smiling bard begins7 cleaning Ustemir.
Ascaede watches with some interest as Ustemir and Waedin trade concepts.
"It appears to me that in no way are two groups - ours and the Redrock Guild going to see eye to eye. From their point of view, we successfully interrupted the justified carrying out of the closure of a contract - the collection of a debt owed by the idiot Artis." Ascaede indicates Artis, without any apparent insult meant.
"From our point of view we rescued two unarmed innocents being unfairly accosted in the woods by armed ruffians. We initially attempted reason, and then guile. Ultimately the only options they hoped to succeed with were poor language and violence. Now two are dead, and one lies...injured. So. It is inevitable, that even if the dead one lives, we shall incur some kind of wrath. Either deific, or more mundane."
Ascaede shrugs.
"I say we move on, let the man lie where he lies. Such is the price of violence. And if, at a later juncture, recompense is sought by his associates, so be it. I don't wish to murder a man, yet nor do I wish to advertise our success to his friends."
Sébastien continues his work, although the halfling seems to be in agreement with Ascaede.
This is an unfortunate string of events that has been resolved in the only manner presented. Kick some dirt on the asshats and let's continue.
Sébastien looks at the bear and shrugs.
Stepnik attempts to patch up his own wounds.
Medicine (Treat Wounds)
"We'll have to wait a bit before I can tend to everyone else, but I'll be glad to do so then. We could take a couple of hours to maximize my work. Perhaps in the meantime we could haul these bodies off. As far as I'm concerned, a big cliff or cave is fitting place for them".
Perhaps Ascaede and Ustemir can take the last two elixirs rolled above?
Shemar also watches the pair, Ustemar and Waedin, offer up their readings from their moral compasses.
Ustemar had a very good point from a utilitarian perspective, but just eating these guys... That one's not even dead! Showing up at their bosses doorstep seems like a death sentence, or at least jail time. We did just murder an individual. Hmm.
"That one will not die of his wounds if we just leave him, will he? He will wake up? If he'll live on his own, I also vote 'kick some dirt.'. I'm okay with that "ass hat" dieing while we were fighting to save this girl and her brother. I'm not ready to become a murderer... Of people, anyway."
Did I just say that? I'm pretty sure my opinion before becoming an adventurer would have been to dispose of the trash and protect myself. Am I becoming soft?. Shemar looks to his familiar who simply returns his gaze.
There's no justice in paying a brother's debt by abducting a sister so we did right to prevent what they were upto, but it also ain't right to not pay a debt but I'll leave that for Atris and his family to figure out.
Ustemir sighs. "You sure? Someone once told me that a lack of decision on your part eventually becomes a decision of someone else. We'll see what happens, I suppose, though I prefer to carve my own path."
He looks at the halfling. "Sebastien, can you write something for me? We'll leave a letter for when sleeping beauty over here wakes up. Something among the lines of..." he thinks for a moment.
"Let's see,.. You were bringing the siblings back when a pack of hungry wolves attacked you all. They used the moment to fight back and slip away. This is the story you will tell your superior. We know your face... If you want to keep the jaw, make sure it doesn't clap too much, yadda yadda..." he waves his hand in circles.
He looks around the group. "Thoughts?"
Ascaede shrugs.
"I am not against further guile."
"The letter is fine. It might get messy, but it's going to get messy anyway. The worst that could happen is that he takes the letter back to his boss and they take it as a threat to them. Now, what to do next. I imagine that no matter how we handle this situation, word of our heavy handedness will spread quickly. Perhaps it would be best to continue directly to the lumberyard, and then get out of town for a day or two, so to speak." Shemar says trying, unsuccessfully, to run all of the possible scenarios though his head.
"And what of the brother and sister here? I'm sure that their trouble has only just begun. They will possibly be in even more danger if they return home as if nothing happened."
I'm fine with this but I don't think we should avoid the town. We've made enemies of the thieves maybe, but we've made friends with the blacksmith I reckon. Fair trade.
Sébastien grimacing takes out his writing set.
Letters allow for proof. Right now this asshat has 3 choices after waking up.
The Bard displays a finger with each one.
One. He runs far away to start a new life. Two. He returns and tells his boss that he got Wayland by us and failed. His story may or may not be believed. Three. He returns with a letter written by us and proves his story.
Sébastien kicks dirt on him.
Let's get to the Lumber yard before the last two options happen.
Fine Waedin mutters. We'll just get these kids back to their homes and then go back to what we were doin'.
After the dust settles and everyone considers their moral consequences and best next steps, it's decided to return Athen and Artis to their father in Honey Alley.
Thony Bailey is a muscular man with thick beard, busy at work hammering a spade into shape as you approach his smithy. He eyes you all as you approach with his can and daughter. Suspicion turns to shock as he sees Artis looking bruised and battered. "What's the meaning of this!?" He shouts as he plunges the red hot spade into a pale of water.
"Father! These folk saved us from the Redrock Guild!" pipes in Athen, then she continues to explain what happened.
"We should report this the Sherrif Baleson," states Bailey as he embraces his son and daughter, "In the mean time, I owe you folks dearly. Anything I can do for you, consider it done."
I don't hold with not paying debts Astrid. Waedin rounds on the boy, somehow towering over him even though she's glaring up at him. You'll settle your debts somehow, you mark me? And then you'll never gamble again for the rest of your life! Happy Birthday you lunk of misshapen metal!
Upon hearing of the Sherrif Weaedin asks What's the worth of this Baleson? We've been hearing a lot of things about how things work around here, what with Consrtium's and Guilds and all the rest of it. Does he try to do right despite all this nonsense?
Oh yeah and I have to report this to Lady Dagmara. No records, no justice as Gerana says.
"If this 'Sherriff Baleson' is decent enough, and not in someone's pocket, I suppose we should stop by to see him next. The Consortium can wait. I feel like we need to begin putting together a dossier for this town and it's different groups."
Guards turned into zombies to attack us was not what I was expecting as an adventurer, but political intrigue? I might prefer zombies!
Ascaede looks with great interest at the blacksmith’s tools and equipment. Staring into the forgefire she feels a great sense of…contentment? Fulfillment? Her reverie is interrupted by the appatent need for vagaries of the physical world to be met with consideration.
”Yes. A visit to a possible source of authority would enable us to gauge the level of possible resources we could draw upon to inhibit further local instances of malfeasance.”
Thony Bailey nods and offers "Feel free to recover your strength here."
"Sherrif Baleson is an upright man, one of the few willing to stand up to the Consortium. Hells, he earned his position by breaking Payday Teedum's nose over unfair taxes. He'll help mop up this mess with the Redrock Guild. However, I must agree with the cleric here, we will need to settle our debts with Bloodeye, without offering up my daughter, of course."
Sébastien just smiles at Ascaede.
Exactly what I was about to say.
"How much do you owe, exactly?" Ustemir gives Atris a sympathetic glance.
Stepnik rests after bandaging up all the wounds, and waits for a decision to be made.
Stepnik rests after bandaging up all the wounds, and waits for a decision to be made.
Artis blushes and shamefully replies to Ustemir, "Well, I was ten gold in the hole when Bloodeye said I had to pay up."
"TEN GOLD!" interjects his father, "That'll take weeks of work to pay off! Let's hope there's a sudden need for pitons and ten foot poles and grappling hooks and hammers and caltrops and crowbars and... and..."
It is getting into late afternoon by the time you leave the Bailey's home and head off to report your skirmish with the Redrock Guild to Sheriff Baleson.
The Sheriff's office is back at the Civic House, so you pay your gate tax, and make your way there.
You find Sheriff Deldrin Baleson a robust and proud half-elven man, who carries a wood-axe on his shoulder at all times. He welcomes you into his office, "I heard word there were some new adventurer's about town, what can I do for you today?"
Waedin looks around with interest. I'm a bit low on funds at the moment, but could you shorten this fine maul into being a warhammer like the one I have? I'll pay you back when I can. In fact maybe you'll take my old warhammer for a trade to do the work?
Waedin is also very interested in looking at the armor but balks at the price.
Just wanted to make our introductions. We've already met Lady Dagmara. Also wanted to let you know we've already gotten into trouble with the Redrock Guild. They were putting hands on the blacksmith's daughter and we very much put a stop to that just today.
Ascaede somewhat uncharacteristically doesn't add any circumlocutary or extra locquacious exposition to the conversation, opting to merely nod serenely.
Also wanted to let you know we've already gotten into trouble with the Redrock Guild. They were putting hands on the blacksmith's daughter and we very much put a stop to that just today.
Shemar dusts some non-existent dust off of one shoulder and then petting his little dragon as it lands on his other shoulder.
Ustemir stands aside as others talk, pondering the entire situation and wondering whether it was a good idea to leave loose ends hanging. Kolek walks up to him and rubs his head against Ustemir's arms, asking for scritches. Ustemir obliges.
Sébastien bows to the sherif.
We had a time traveling here. We ran across those thugs accosting a lady, so we spanked them.
The halfling smiles.
"Hmm," the Sheriff holds a serious countenance, "So you folks already tangled with the Red Rock Guild? You sure do work fast. The Red Rocks are bad news… Is the Bailey girl alright?" a look of genuine concern crosses his face.
"For now." Ustemir shrugs.
"We left a man alive." as he says that, he scratches his temples, as if ashamed. "He saw us, he was unconscious when we left the scene. We'll see what they do when they wake up."
Sheriff Baleson stands and slings his trademark woodaxe over his shoulder, "Whatever business you folks got going on, I hear Dagmara's got you looking for a missing person, I suggest you clear out of town for a few. I'll try and clean up what mess you've made, but if the Red Rocks catch wind of this they'll be after you. Now, where'd exactly did this all take place?"
Thony looks over the magical maul taken from the undead smithy at Silverpine Watch, "Seems an easy enough job. I can just shorten the handle here, add some reinforcement here... Now, saving my son and daughter is payment enough, in fact, let this be MY payment to YOU."
While everyonenrest up, Thony the blacksmith is able to augment the maul into a magical warhammer!
"We were on the footpath that goes around the western wall of town. We were cutting through the pine woods to head out of town for a few, like you said. I think that we shall just continue on with our plans and let you do what you need to do then." Shemar says with a nod to the sheriff.
"So off to the Lumberyard then"?
Stepnik starts to gather his stuff rising from a nearby bench.
"Off to the Lumberyard..." Ascaede intones quietly, thankful that the interview with the sheriff necessitated no further inconvenience.
"Hmm,"[b] starts Baleson, [b]"If you're going to the Lumberyard, stay clear of the Rouge Lady, that's Bloodeye's joint, and the Red Rock's headquarters."
Sébastien seems to think just paying a visit to the base of the Red Rocks would save them tro<ble later at an inopportune moment....
Leaving the Civic House, the group heads north toward the Lumberyards district.
They find the Lumberyards a relatively noisy and odorous place. The roads are a mixture of trampled mud and sawdust, and actually a layer of sawdust seems to cover every surfce. The district is dominated by the Lumber Consortium's Mill, known colloquially as The Cutyard. Heavy wagons burdened with timber and lumber come and go from the mill. The rest of the district is mostly dilapidated tenements and shacks, with the boisterous Rouge Lady nestled among some other shops.
Asking around for Teedum, you are pointed to the offices of the Cutyard. Inside a pinewood building you find a burly man with a pronounced scarrd.and crooked nose angrily barking out orders to.his interiors. Upon your entrance into his office, he snaps "Yeah? Who are you and whadoyou want?"
Sébastien clears his throat.
We have come to vanquish the fabled Darkmoon Beast!
The halfling tries to look taller....
Ascaede looks at the scarred man as one might consider a lone tree in the forest. No different than any other.
”Boss Teedum. Can you supply us with any….reliable….and exact intelligence on where your employees might have met canine aggression? The clearer you can be, the quicker we will bring a desirable end to this regrettable inertia affecting your…profits. And your employees safety.”
Ascaede blinks brightly, and offers a small, firm smile with a nod.