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Ali mutters softly to themselves; "Ain't my fault I don't see far away too good." Then the youth goes over to Roswitha and makes sure the packs are distributed between the animals before saying quietly to her; "If t' goods don't make a profit, I'll take some of the burden." Tapping the money pouch in a corner of Ali's pack. Then Ali calms the animals and leads them down towards the big house by following the path.
Ali goes over and helps Roswitha load the goods onto the various pack-animals and leans in saying; "If the goods don't make a profit, I've got 5 gold to recompense you with. It ain't right you taking all the risk." Then he turns to the merchant; "So where is this Barleton? Down south?"
Moving from behind the animals, glad that Miyari has taken the lead and talked to the man. Ali looks towards the merchant, trying to assess if he's a decent sort or a flim-flam artist; "Sounds like a bargain, mister. Who'd we hafta deliver the goods to? A butler or the like? And how far away is the Windhorn estate, we're not the most local group." Ali leans over to Glen and whispers; "I've got like 5 gold, but not much more."
Ali pushes their cloak off their shoulders as the sun burns away the remnants of the sharp weather; "This looks promising, seems their might be a homestead at least out this way, or a really old settlement. I ain't no farmer but seems someone's using the fields, what do you think?" Ali throws the question out there as the continue down the 'road'.
Ali looks around sheepishly having not seen tracks, or any evidence of a cart or wagon just a few bushes. "Good work, Glen. So time to see where they were heading? Maybe there's a bandit hideout, or a secret cache, or a ancient shrine...." Ali is soon lost in thought of other weird and wonderful places, that a wagon may visit in the middle of nowhere.
"Wagon? Well what'd they be doing drivin' thro' a blackberry patch?" Ali wonders, as Ciri makes a decision. "Yep best be off after them." The youth follows behind rushing.
Looking away from the deer carcass with a pale face, Ali shakes his close cropped locks in disgust and tries to move off qucikly muttering; "If that's the case then t' sacrifice could surely have been last night as Miyari guessed."
Taking out the notebook as they pass the briar patch, Ali scribbles something in it for this area. "Brambles, that usually means blackberries. Tho' not sure if they be in season at the moment, but if they are - they're good eating." "Should we check and maybe pick some or just carry on?" he asks.
Moving quickly down the dale, but never really turning his vision away from the stones. Ali's gone quite pale; "Well t' magic menhirs ain't wanting us around. And as you say Glen, we don't want any accidents." Pausing for a second and looking towards Ciri; "Do anyone know what 'Rost-i-night Maso' means?"
A shiver runs up Ali's spine as the feeling of being observed intensifies. Gently running fingertips across the rough stone, Ali nods to Glen; "Aye, I can see what I can do. There's summat wyrd here, whether or not it's magical..." The youth then starts a low chant to summon the vision of the magical aura's to the eyes. Looking around the area, specifically focussing on the statues and where the 'offering' has been placed. With deep slow breaths, the oracle tries to concentrate on the energy of the place and what that means for the surroundings. Then getting out his map journal, less artistic than Miyari's but focussing on the cartographical and botanical nature, Ali starts doing a few quick sketches and notes. "Jus' finish this quickly, then like Ciri says we'd best be off. Maybe do a bit of huntin' for t' fresh food, before dark."
"So guys, shall we approach and take a quick look around?" Ali says softly as the scene seems not to have changed. Before striding forwards to the statue and the 'offering' left there. "T' meat don't look too fresh." voice low with a slight queasy tone.
"Aye, it's a bit nippy owt, but it'll get warmer as the day grows on." Ali adds softly as they walk towards the figure and the dead animal. "Well best be finding what this is so as I can write it down on my map. " Moving with a certain trepidation through the damp morning dew, Ali squints carefully at the shadows and mist of the oracle's vision.
"Why don't we have a quick look." Ali cocks an eyebrow at Ciri; "Since Glen thought it'd probably be safe. And it ain't like we'd been taking any of t' meat - we can always go hunting for our supper." "I'm quite good with snares." the youth adds proudly.
Ali's feet scuffs the ground; "Well it's t' last of the milk from Olegs. Tomorrow's oats will use water, I did hear you can get milk from ground seeds or nuts - but tha' just seems a trifle daft." There's a wry note to the reply. "Do you need a hand with that Ms. Ciri?"
That sounds good. I believe my initial idea was go around to the south of Bokkens & explore those 2 hexes - before returning to his place & then back to Olegs.... however the more hexes we can explore (before our rations/equipment runs out) the better.
Agreed. :D
Ali lets out a soft squeak as Glen pops up out of the shadows, then coughs deeply to cover the embarrassment. However the investigators words pique the curiosity; "I ain't never heard of this place. A shrine? I wonder if it's to the forest spirits or a God." "Of course seems like the hunter was very skilled. Almost as skilled at hunting as you are at investigating, Mr Glen." Ali adds with a smile and doles out some of the porridge. "That's some grand assessment of the situation."
"Should we move a bit towards them? Maybe give Glen a chance to get closer." Ali replies; "Or should we just wait here? I don't really like doing nowt, but then I don't want t' be too Kalica."
Turning from next to the low embers of the fire, Ali asks; "So what did Glen go t' see?" The you prepares the morning meal, with a glance to the journal and maps that show their progress. "Do you think he'll need any help?"
Ali squints into the cursed mist at the edge of vision; "Over where? Oh Glen's gone, hope he's safe." Ali looks back to Miyari hopefully. "Well I can get some porridge, with lots of milk, honey and apples? How's that sound?" Whilst rummaging around in the pack for the raw materials for breakfast.
Ali is dead to the world, in his blankets and soon morning arrives. Thanks to the lack of cheese the night before, there were no troubling dreams. "Reet so who's turn is it t' cook breakfast?" he asks mussing up his hair.
Ali squints into the mist, cupping a hand around the eyes; "Aye, we don't t' want t' meet any more bandits. However they might be tha' kobolds, out scouting around. We could meet 'em peaceably & run if it's wrong 'uns."
Ali looks around the group, then raising an arm to his head ruffles the newly trimmed short hair; "Where's tha' little lass gone? Ain't it past her bedtime?"
Ali's smile brightens at the information; "Aye, that we do. Thanks for the information, Oleg." the youth adds gently slapping him on the shoulder in a friendly manner, before turning to the rest of the group. Shiny eyed, ali looks to them - the words coming out in a jumble; "How about we explore to the south of Bokkens and then cut north. We can start first thing.... or whenever Ms. Ciri wants."
"Aye, sounds good. Though unless we know exactly where t' kobolds are - we could end up doing summat else. But agreed Miss Miyari, that talkin' to kobolds should be our first priority." Ali agrees.
"...well when I say sharpish, I mean in the morning." Ali says looking out of the window at the rainy evening. "Did we want to see if Ciri wants to come along - or I could see if I could learn a few words in Draconic?"
Gathering everyone together Ali addresses the group; "Alright, I don't really fancy hanging about here with drunk soldiers." the tone is very wry. "We've got some stuff to be looking out for and a charter to get this place all mapped up. So we should head out sharpish...?!" GM Queries: Ali will try to get a description of the Moon Radishes, and can I roll to see if there's any peculiar properties of them (IE. Poison or warding off spirits (ala garlic) etc.
Make sure we've also a description of Svetlana's Ring & Falgrim Sneeg.
Unfortunately no ranks in Know (Local), Ali was too isolated growing up it seems.
"Aye, that Grubs a character. Now I guess we'd best try and get resupplied, tell t' guard about t' bandits we stopped and get t' properly mapping the area." Ali says with a small smile; "What does you think t' weather will be like?" Knowing that most locals like to talk about the weather and how vital it can be for those who are caught out of doors after dark.
Approaching Oleg, Ali smiles; "Aye, we had a bit of trouble after we talked to Bokken. Tho' t' bandits won't be troubling anyone again." the levity of tone belies the worry. "Now my mate Kalica 'ere, well she were wondering if tha' knew where to find that there Tatzelwyrm! T' bounty looks a might grand."
"Aye, that and get t' dragon stuff fer 'im. Maybe yonder Tatzelwyrm counts as a dragon - it has Wyrm in it's name...." Ali says hopefully to Roswitha, whilst cajoling Kalica's elbow.
"Hey, Kalica... how about we talk to Oleg. Let's see if he can remember that bandit bloke dying. Or maybe he knows where tha' Wyrm's lair is." Ali says trying to cautiously put an arm around the elf's shoulders and lead her to the proprietor of the outpost.
For Kindral: Story so far:
Lizzie asks for treasure from Dragon-friend, Percephalis, he turns up & drop a note saying IRON GRIFFIN. Which is a treasure ship, in the Freeport of Tempest Point in Ehlissa (that Lizzie has contacts in). Then 4 Gods turn up: - Old Lady (Istus ? / Fate) - Robed Lady (Wee Jas / Q?) - Axe Wielding Knight (Heironyus / Huberts God) - Dwarf (Dumathoin / Secrets) They teleport us to an Inn: In the evil country of Ehlissa, ravaged by the Great War & controlled from the shadows by vampires. We find ourselves in The Broken Buckler Inn, 2 figures are pinned to the wall by distinctive knives. Gendarmes burst in & try to arrest us, corroborated by the dying breath of 1 of the figures. We subdue the policemen, although at least 1 is a werewolf! Exploring the Inn; we find a blood-stained man who tries to assassinate Yarness. Thus he dies, he is a merchant fence, Bloodhound the Pirate,56. from Tempest Point. Famed for using the bodies of his victims as figureheads, he hated Lizzie. In his bedroom, is 2 females bound & beaten. A priestess of Wee Jas & one of Istus, the latter having been bitten by a vampire – she’s now cured. The werewolf guard recognises the knives in the victims as belonging to Bloodhound. Upon orders of the Baron’s son, Bloodhound had raided their shrine looking for a Holy Book. Margrave Trill, the town magistrate is complicit, thus we kill him & grab his seal of office. Find notes on his desk from vampire, Victor Harranu. Baron of Thrash, has a house in Warrenby. Thus we go there. Warrenby: Rampant Ogre – Giant pub, don’t like “smalls”
Find note from ∞ or Dumathoin: his says that he wants his Rod (of Rulership) before it’s used by the thieves of given to the Underdark. …. [this could be to either control the city Relinna (drow) fled from, or to control the Black Council (vamps)]… The Rod having been found in our South Seas adventure, last seen in possession of a Githyanki riding a dracoliche is in possession of The Baron Thrash.
After learning about town: 2 Drow visit the Barons keep. Tax collector’s guards are vampire bitten. Thus we break into the keep. We kill 3 ‘master vampires’ asleep under it. Rescue 3 merchants, including lady the Baron took a shine to. There’s a torture chamber & portal to demi-plane containing a lot of coffins. We leave, do a favour for a Merchant lady – ‘Toni’. Her wayward brother went missing tomb robbing. Heading down into the tomb of Cedric the Strong – we find brother dead. Toadflaxx, a Kyuss demon lord, is trying to be freed by his wereboar allies. We stop them, though free a beholder. There’s links that the Baron may want something here! So we head out with Toni, to Verbosh – the capital of the area. Where the Baron was rumoured to be, along the way we pass Bolshoi Manor – where his son Rodrigo uses it as a hunting lodge. During the evening, we nip out to the manor, passing a cart where 3 villagers have their throats ripped out. At Bolshoi manor we invite ourselves in, seems the Baron’s son is out – but his 3rd wife is in. We explore the manor – the Baron is obsessed with some strange necromancy, including sacrificing ‘his’ babies to M (the vampire God). Toni’s brothers head is mounted on a wall. The Baron is also obsessed with the genealogy of 3 noble families – his wives, Toni’s & one other. The Baron also makes the Vampires special coffins.
Carrying a sack full of the fruit, Ali adds to Miyari's comment; "Tho' we did meet that Happs bandit guy." with a slight edge to his voice with an attempt to see what Ciri makes of it - or if the tiefling remembers any of the earlier attack on Olegs.
Ali climbs up the tree with a sack and plucks off some of the fruit - placing them carefully in the bag before returning to the ground. "So off to Olegs we go?"
"Grand, then we should get t' picking some then - since it's ripe." Ali says, 'and if Armin gets ill, we can always throw it away.' the sly thought comes in unbidden.
"Aye, I think I've heard of it before. Tho' if it's ripe, best be picked - I'd say. It'd only go to the birds otherwise, but I'm sure someone could make some good jam from it." Ali pauses getting a bag to try & retrieve the fruit. "'Ere Kalica give us a hand." He asks trying to work out if the tree'll need to be climbed to get at the fruit.
After Bokken goes to the hut, Ali at least drags the bodies of the fallen bandits & lays them in it's shade whilst saying a few words over the bodies. 'Hopefully their spirits reside in a better place now, free from worries, free from material concerns, free from the pressures of the world, free from their sins.' During the return to Olegs, Ali is quite thoughtful - preferring to continue exploring than answering difficult questions. The mood getting a trifle deeper as the rain continues it's steady fall. Ali's frowns slightly at the mention of Corrie as if trying to picture the face and failing. "Not sure if Oleg'll remember owt & Ciri weren't hardly that co-operative."
"He just turned up.... laughed & then...." Ali pauses putting a hand over his mouth lost in thought; "After that I don't remember anything. Olegs were free and I thought it best t' get thysenth out of there."
"Aye, seems like. Though I know nowt about how they're doing it...." Ali pauses; "There were a dark druid, maybe he knows. For the moment, we need to work out what to do with these bandits & now we've announced our presence."
"Aye, it's reet weird... it 'appened, or did it?" Ali finishes looking around at the dead robbers, not being able to keep the confused out of his voice.
Addressing Bokkens' invoice for payment first, Ali gets to his feet and brushes the dirt from the worn trouser knees; "Reet, dragon guts - can do... soon as we find one... know where there's one? And Golem Keystone - is tha' the centre part of a bridge or arch. Or is it t' be found in a Numenorian smithy?" He says marking the items off on a mental list, that he's sure they may run across at some point. Then turning to Miayri rubbing his roughly cut hair, Ali replies softly; "Aye, local brigand. T' rogue captured me, tho' I were lucky Ciri, Grub and some others at t' Trading Post rescued me. Last I saw Happs were killed me weird druid guy."
Glad to be laying down in the long grass, it's cooling foliage against his face. Ali fights the nausea of the sudden combat, which threatens to coerce the morning breakfast into making a return. Pulling himself together, he focuses on the life-force and pain around and calls upon the ancestors spirits to help everyone. Getting up and nodding to those injured around; "Everyone will be fine soon..."
"Aye, we'll get you your berries...." Ali replies hurriedly, but with sincerity. "That and your brother, anything else you'd want? If we can scare off these goons, we'll get it."
"Aye, I said tha' all should give up. But running is grand too, tell your boss - No more shakedowns." Ali calls after the fleeing woman, then steps forwards and sees the stuffing that seeps from the bears seams. 'Now to see if I can do sewing...' Ali thinks whilst focusing on the strange essence of the creature - different from Armin, whom himself is different from most others the yokel has met. Then trying to get cover from the arrows, Ali drops down into the grass.
"'Ere, don't hurt me mate. Now, I gave you chance to give up...." Ali says with a low growl, stepping into the bandits blind spot and swiping with the rusty dagger inexpertly.
Wow, so our rolls without re-rolls have been 4,1,12,1,3! Go us!
Ali looks at trifle startled at the approaching woman and her threat; "Not again love. How about you back off and we done tell anyone that bandits usually get hung." Ashen faced Ali uncertainly draws his dagger to try and protect in the ensuing knife-fight. He then calls out in a reedy voice; "Hey Bokken, I'll pay ya to use a Thunderstone!
"Does tha' protect from flowers & hooded figures?" Ali adds enigmatically perhaps proving that Bokken isn't the only crazy one, or one with secrets. The oblique reference is delivered in a low tone directly to Happs. Whilst Ali's eyes flick around the bandits and back to their cadre, before landing on Armin. With a moment of focus, Ali tries to establish a Life Link with the androids strange essence.
'Of course, that's how the bandits work around here. I wonder why there's so many of them? Sure Bokken isn't that dangerous - crazy certainly. If there was less maybe we could send a message... but maybe we could tail them find out where they come from, rather than endangering Bokken.' Ali thinks trying a keep focused on the situation at hand but hidden amongst the group.
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