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Quain follows the tracks east, toward the mountains. There was no effort to conceal the tracks. There is a gravelly road so the party can follow on the wagon, but Quain is on foot, so you travel at his speed. About 2 hours later, the tracks leave the road and head downhill toward more difficult terrain, where the wagon and horses cannot follow. Zarael speaks, "I can stay with the wagon and give you my defensive buffs () or I can accompany you and use them on myself. Let me know your choice."
When you go look for the elf, you do not find him in the wagon or anywhere else. As you continue conversing, a voice from the ether speaks, "My, oh my. You do surprise me. I thought a bunch of murderous convicts like you all had no moral codes, living by "kill or be be killed" mantra, but it seems I may have been mistaken. Though this is not my desired course of action, I will assist as best I can if you choose to save those souls, though the magics I have prepared are more defensive in nature." Zarael appears.
As watches are discussed openly it reminds Justified of something. Zarael, could you share with us what we should expect from your magic should ambushers attack? Do you need clear paths to the enemy for blasts of lightning? Will you dominate their minds and have them attach each other? Do you summon creatures from another realm to fight for you? Will you open great pit in the earth to swallow our foes? Justified is genuinely interested and desires to make sure the mage's tactics meld well with his own. "I am a diviner, so I will most likely react to danger before any of you. My main concern will be to protect myself from dangers, while eliminating the enemy from afar with destructive spells. I have enough experience to not kill my allies with friendly fire."
As you travel, you see very little road traffic as you travel east to Korvosa. At a road stop for bathroom breaks, Zarael tells you, "As we get closer to Korvosa, be wary of road ambushes. Initially, after the black wall came up, families of the inhabitants of the city used to make a pilgrimage to await outside for news on the fates of their loved ones. Unfortunately, those sympathetic souls were seen as easy prey for highwaymen and the incidents of ambushes and murders on the road tripled. What scoundrels! None of the surrounding cities cared as much to send guards to patrol the roads, so out here it's travel at your own risk. Don't ever forget that."
He pauses for a few bumps in the road, allowing the view of the Baron's impressive estate to grow before finishing. And when we are successful, and deliver this wayward daughter back into the arms of his loving father, where will you stand? Do you want to be part of the rewarded team, winning the Baron's gratitude? Or do you want to be the hired hand who did only what he was paid to do? "My debt, unlike yours, is paid in full simply by accompanying you, regardless of whether you succeed or not. So I have no need to win the Baron's gratitude or favor. I am free simply by coming here. As for the threats I mentioned earlier, I just needed you to know that I can handle myself quite capably and that I'm nobody's bi*ch! So screw with me at your peril."
Settling into the wagon and getting comfortable, Justified looks past the mage back at the Baron's estate. Addressing the mage still but speaking to the entire wagon he continues. Imagine what treasures we might find in this city. He is quite for a moment to let his point sink in. We will work hard to find the Baron's daughter, but we will not pass up treasures we find along the way. And you could have a share for simply supporting us from the safety of the camp. What do you have to lose? "You all really are some cold-hearted bastards! Well, perhaps once you show me these alleged wonderful treasures, I will be inclined to help you. Till then, it's all talk."
"I've never accompanied any of the other parties and I know none of your backgrounds other than you're murderers. Let's get this straight, I am not here out of my the kindness of my heart. I owe some people in Kaer Maga some money and the Baron knows people and he worked some things out. So I'm paying off a debt, 'cause who in their right mind would go visit a city filled with undeadnin a wagon full of killers! I'm the wagon babysitter and long distance messenger is what I was told. Anything beyond that and we're gonna have to negotiate. You try and attack me and you will see my power first hand. We clear?"
After answering your questions, the Baron bids you luck and best tidings and hopes you bring news of his daughter to him soon. As you walk outside the estate, you see a silver-haired elf, sitting on the back of the wagon. He looks at the lot of you and says, "Congratulations on surviving the Trials, I hope you meet with more success than the other parties who have gone before you, for all of our sakes. I am Zarael, pleased to meet you."
DM: I don't see Zarael, half-elf ranger on the list.
DM, if you're still accepting applications, I present Zarael, half-elven ranger. |
