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I figured we would be returning to the huts as a starting point to rescue the father, so there is no point taking heavy stuff that isn't valuable - plates, tankards, etc. Anyone who plays Skyrim learns that quickly! I think we should take the easily transportable valuables: magic sword, cash, jewelry, journals, compass, caltrops for sure. If anybody needs a bow or crossbow, we should take those, too. Lanterns and oil as well, since we do not want to be caught in the dark. Leave the rest at the huts for when we return, unless you want to take the weapons so nobody can snag them to use against us.
Nicci of course allows Belgeon to assist Mephise, taking a place next to Pol in the long trek back to the ferry. She pays for Pol's fare across to Zelkor's Ferry and gives Mephise the cash and jewelry so the family can pay for their lodging there. "Stay safe and we will try to rescue your husband and the father of your children. Do not despair," Nicci tells Mephise before they cast off to return to town. "Now - do we camp here for the night or journey through the dark forest back to the huts? Either has risks," she muses aloud to her friends after the family has gone.
"If we're going to go back, let's do it quick and get back here to find their father. We've wasted enough time debating. Who knows what the captives are going through? I say we put them on the ferry to town and return here tonight so we can be off at first light to find them." Nicci packs up her supplies quickly and heads back down the path to the Ferry staying near the youngesters, tears of frustration in her eyes.
"We should go outside and look around, let this poor woman rest." Mai suggests, nodding her head meaningfully at the entrance to the hut. Once outside, she gathers everyone to speak quietly, away from the children and hopefully out of earshot. "I don't know how to track spiders, and it's been two days since he was taken. Do you even think there's a point in chasing after them?" Nicci says quietly, "Bandits are a little easier to deal with, but their father..." She grimaces. "I hate abandoning him if there's a chance."
"I have some leechcraft. Some." Nicci replies. "What I don't have is supplies. Does anybody have healer's equipment or supplies? Kids, did you have anything like that in the house?" Mai shakes her head silently and kneels to regard the ill woman. "I will help if I can. I've no training but I have seen a few things and may be able to assist you."
"I can't cure her, but I may be able to help her fight off the poison herself, if she has rest and time." Nicci examines the bitten woman and tries to aid her.
"Hello," Nicci calls as cheerfully as she can, "We have stopped, as you asked. We come seeking knowledge of this area, and perhaps safe rest for the night, as the afternoon deepens. I am Nicci of Cheliax. Who are you folks, and what place is this?" She halts as soon as the command to do so is given, but does not put away her weapon.
Nicci is distracted by all the chatting and the thought of ucky spiders. She tries to make the spiders more friendly, like her mother taught her to do to other things that scared her. She wanders down the path, a tiny smile on her face as rows of spiders in fancy dress dance to the music of lute and fiddle in her brain, utterly oblivious to the real world.
"Desna blesses the journey, not the destination," Nicci says seriously, "To honor her, I should keep moving. No, I'm here on a pilgrimage, more or less. It may be useless. But this is where my father said he was going when he left for the last time. Who knows, maybe he ran off elsewhere. But enough people come here that never return that it's plausible. So, I hope to either find something of his fate, or conquer this place myself, to do the family proud." She shrugs as they trudge down the path. "Pretty simple, really."
"I can barely swim without armor," Nicci's voice echoes hollowly inside her oversized helmet. She pulls off the overlarge ironmongery, looks up at Gutmark, and laughs. "No, I'm fine with taking the scenic route for once. It will give us the lay of the land. But if we have to do this much more, I may end up helping you fish, Ferryman."
"Two gold!?" Nicci snorts. "Is that your standard rate or special 'adventurer's discount'? I can't imagine the average person being able to cross the river!" She grumbles as she digs out a couple of gold and hands it to the man with ill grace. "Wish I was better at swimming," she mutters, sotto voce, as she plops down into the boat, helmet slipping over her eyes again.
Nicci raises her eyebrows, then rolls her eyes again. "Let's go look around a bit before the sun sets, shall we?" She rises from the table and pushes the sleeves of her chain shirt back off her hands, then slings on her pack and checks that the symbol of Desna is hanging around her neck where it should be. "Ready?"
"I don't like his story. Sounds like they lost their religious first. It's an evil omen." Nicci looks around darkly, the effect somewhat ruined by her helmet slipping over one eye. "Dammit! I need to get this refitted before we go anywhere!" She pulls it off and sets it on the floor next to the chair where she's seated. "Who's buying the next round?"
Nicci fumbles with her gear and drags off the keelboat last, pushing her chainshirt's helmet back from where it has slipped over her eyes. "Wish the guy I took this off of had been a little smaller," the Chel grumbles, "Hey, wait for me! Where do we start?" She looks around the little town with some dismay. "Not many choices, are there?"
I use a similar set up at my home game, (other VTT of course, seeing as how you won't let me use your's... yet. :-P ) How I got around the 'keyboard / mouse' thing was 3 Wireless Mice and a wireless Keyboard that can get passed about. The players all use those input devices on one 'account' to move their tokens, on the map etc. I am logged into my 'GM' account and run the game, the 'player account' is the client that displays up on the big TV. It works pretty good. and would allow for a remote player to participate in the game as well. Wireless fixes everything... (I exaggerate, but it certainly works for our needs.) |
