"Thanks Talon. That helps get us started."
"I say, we stick together wherever we go. Someone may throw another healing wolf at us again or worse."
"What about getting a couple of scrolls and potions from the wizard's place in the darkspire? We've got 250 in gold. Does anyone need anything else? We could swing by Talon's first."
Tuon mulls over what Creed said. "Is Regdar getting us grub? Or Talon? I forget."
"Then we head out to the Balon traders and on into the wilderness. Maybe a map of the local area would help?"
"I ain't no organiser but as a bodyguard I have always lived by this motto."
The warrior stands up and places his hand palm down on the table before everyone else. "I fight for money and my brother, but I also fight for you guys now. No one else knows the things you know about me. I swear to protect you with my life, Roderick, Scarrd, Bri, Skiddifig, and you Creed."
He waits to see how the others respond to his out-of-place overly dramatic gesture.
"Thanks Talon. That helps get us started."
Talon looks at the scared warrior, "Fine I will leave you to it. Return with our goods or the leaders head and you will get your bounty." Talon grabs another piece of bread and throws down a gold piece. With a small wave he walks out the door.
"I fight for money and my brother, but I also fight for you guys now. No one else knows the things you know about me. I swear to protect you with my life, Roderick, Scarrd, Bri, Skiddifig, and you Creed."
Creed stands and smiles. He says simply, "That's what I meant by 'I'm in.'"
"I'm in", Skidd chuckles, "No way I'm missing out on a chance to get back some of my gold."
"You know Skidd we could try another game of who can throw the daggers farther and maybe I will be nice and let you win a few pieces back" :) Bri looks at the rest of the group, "OF course I an in, I am not good with too much time on my hands."
"I reckon we should pay a visit to that there Wizard's Cupboard first, unless anyone needs basic stuff from Talon's. A few potions or scrolls must help us."
Tuon prepares to leave as soon as this is decided. He fetches all his belongings from the room.
Creed gears-up and meets everyone in the common room. "I'll leave the decision to get scrolls and such to those that use them, yeah? Otherwise, I'm ready."
"Tuon, and everyone elze for zat matter, vy owe zu all very much. We find theeeeze brigandzzzz and ztop theeze attackzz. Yezzz, zuppliezz and a map makezzz zenze. Zhall we alzo go to ze Bizzarre, Tuon?"
"Maybe zo, ve zhould go out of town and zee theeze Balon Brotherzzz firzt zo. If zey tell uzzz vhat we faze, zen we buy suppliezzz vith a better knowledge of vhat we might need, no?"
"What's at the Bizarre?" asks the mercenary.
"Information regarding zat table we zaw lazt night," Scardd answers trying to be cryptic.
"Oh yes. Scarrd I have taken Talon's gold so that is all that matters until the brigands head lies in front of the merchant. I was going to deal with that when we got back."
Tuon face looks briefly uncertain then his eyes fix. "Scarrd, Can you wait until we get back?"
After several seconds of quiet thought, Scardd nods his head slightly, "Yezzz, I can vait. My pazzzt iizz a blank. I guezz it doezz not matter if it catchezzz up to me in ze prezent or ze future. Zhall we zee theeeeze Balon merchantzzz firzt zen and find out more about vhat we are up againzzzt?"
"I think so. What about the rest of you? Yu happy to get some more information before we sort equipment and leave?"
"I'm just here to cause trouble, yeah?" Creed says, some of the warmth returning to his personality as breakfast hits his belly. "I'm game to follow; you lead the way, Tuon."
After everyone gathers their gear you head towards the door and step outside.
Off to your right you hear a load voice "I have caught you now you little urchin! I will have my money back or I will take it out on your hide." A small voice that you find familiar fearlessly shouts back, "I finished the task for you and I am keeping my money, touch me and you will die!" As you look over two men have Tarra, the girl you ran into early yesterday, backed up against the wall of the Giants Skull. She glares back at the two men as she inches her hand behind her back.
Scardd stops and stares for a moment at the situation and allows himself to process the whole occurrence. He tosses around what he knows about the girl for a little bit. He feels bad that he scared her, but he is also angry that she almost got him arrested. Eventually though, he comes to the conclusion that her whole life is built on survival, and she does what she has to do to survive. She is still just a girl and she needs help.
With what sounds like a deep sigh coming from deep inside his chest and leaving through his throat and mouth, the Half-Orc says with a shake of his head, “Two men, leeetle girl. Not right.” Scardd approaches the altercation, stops twenty feet away with his spear leveled and shouts, “Hey, zu there. Leave ze leeetle girl alone. Zhe iizz much more trouble than zhe iizz worth. Bezides,” he says with a growl and a show of his teeth, “Vy owe her one.”
For Skidd, the decision is easiest (considering that the girl had done no wrong to him). "Listen to the half-orc. His power is that which I dobn't even understand. power, then I doubt you wish to mess with it. Just a warning. Leave the girl alone. Last chance."
"Agreed." Says Creed to the men holding the girl. "You won't like the odds you're stepping into if you don't let her go."
Tuon approaches to stand beside Scarrd.
He watches each man carefully keeping his hand on his longsword.
"Hey Hey now lets not get in over our heads." Bri says as she watches the rest of the group encounters the girl. She too walks up towards the girl to see if there is anything that she can do. [occ] Spot check: 7+5=12 [/ooc]
At the half-orcs words the two men wheel around ready to silence anyone that would interfer. Their eyes settle on the impressive group behind them and quickly back down. "O.. aaaa sorry." With panic in their eyes they quickly shuffle off down the street.
Terra watches the two men run off and turns to Scardd, "I could have handled them my self. But I am glad you didn't get arrested." You get the feeling that is as close to a thank you as your going to get. Terra looks around and hands Scardd a sealed note. "I was on my way to deliver this, I almost burnt it when I knew who it was for." Terra's face looks more childish when she smiles, "Glad I didn't, ask around for me if you need a set of Eyes."
H.G.
Scardd gives a nod and a slight smile, “Vy am glad zu are not hurt. Thank zu for thiizz,” he says raising the sealed note slightly in reference. “Zu are tough, leetle girl. If I need help, vy will zeek zu out. Vhat wazzz zat all about anyway?” Scardd nods his head toward the retreating men.
After Terra leaves, Scardd unseals the note. After reading it, he looks to his companions, “I muzzzt be at ze Fat Friar at noon today. Zhall we be off to zee theeze merchantzzz until zen.” As Scardd starts to walk, he turns to his companions, “Thiizz plaze iizz very interezzting. No?”
"Is it Terra? Right. Thanks for the note. Could you tell me who gave it you and a bit about them? I'm new to the city and trying to find out who is worth my trust."
“Vhat wazzz zat all about anyway?” Scardd nods his head toward the retreating men.
Terra turns back to Scardd, "One of them hired me and didn't like what I found, he thinks I made it up. He wanted his money back but there are no refunds."
"Is it Terra? Right. Thanks for the note. Could you tell me who gave it you and a bit about them? I'm new to the city and trying to find out who is worth my trust."
Terra smiles at Tuons question, "Sorry can't, perk of my services, confidentiality. See you around."
Shops open and merchant start setting up their booths and carts as you walk through the streets. When you reach Gilead's Run, the main road leading through Keepers Dale, a large caravan is already heading in to Dragon's Divide. Some merchants walk along with the wagons selling items as the train move through the city and children and dogs run along shouting and raise hell.
You exit the city through the west gate and move to the wagons to the north. After asking around a man tells you to follow him and he leads to to a red haired dwarf women screaming at a human dressed in flowing blue robes. "Giral and probably Keith are dead, two of my wagons are missing and several of my men are hurt and I am holding you responsible. I told you that we should stop, but no you had to be a horses ass and push us on through the night." The dwarven women slams a fist into the mans stomach and stomps off as the man falls to the ground gasping for air.
Your guide points to the red faced dwarf, "Thats Carri, she is the one you want to talk to."
“Great … an angry Dwarf,” Scardd shakes his head. He shrugs his shoulders then and says with a half-smile, “Vell, at leazzt zhe vill be upfront with uzzz.” Scardd takes a step forward but then stops, “Oi, vy don’t know if thiizz Dwarf vill take too kindly too me. At leazzt half of me anyway. Tuon, zu uzed to dealing vith merchantzz, right? Maybe zu zhould do ze talking. Zkiddifig, zu have a way vith wordzzz alzo. And Creed … Vell who could not like zu Beeeg guy. Bri, zu on ze other hand alwayzz look like zu are up to zomething and zat iizz uzually true. No?”
"Skiddifig? Creed? well what about sweet talking this here Carri." Tuon looks more than happy to let someone else deal with the angry woman.
Creed screws up his mouth as if deep in thought--like he's weighing his options.
"What the hell?" He shrugs. "I have a way with women of...below average height." He turns to follow this Carri woman and adds over his shoulder, "Right Bri?" He ducks as he walks as if expecting Bri to throw something at him.
As he catches up to the Dwarf he says, "Hold a moment. Excuse me? My name is Creed, a word please."
"Yes. We heard that you wanted to talk to Scarrd."
Creed turns to Skidd. "I don't think this woman is Scardd's contact. He meeting his contact later. We're asking her questions about the caravan attack. You know, to get more information."
"Oops. Sorry.", he says, turning back to Carri, "You have information on the caravan attacks? Talon hired us.
Fair Tuon steps forward.
"I am sorry to hear of the grievous losses you have faced. Skiddifig and Creed, as you can see, are keen to deal with the foul murderers.
We apologise for troubling you at this time but... well to put it bluntly we have been tasked to stop the attacks."
Tuon waits to see if Carri is going to go ballistic, if not he continues.
"Would you mind telling us what happened when you lost people?"
As he catches up to the Dwarf he says, "Hold a moment. Excuse me? My name is Creed, a word please."
Carri stops but doesn't turn "What do you want?"
She slowly turns as Creed and Skidd fumble over their less then stellar introductions. He jaw clenches and she looks close to exploding again.
Fair Tuon steps forward.
"I am sorry to hear of the grievous losses you have faced. Skiddifig and Creed, as you can see, are keen to deal with the foul murderers.
We apologise for troubling you at this time but... well to put it bluntly we have been tasked to stop the attacks."
After Tuon steps forward her hands unclench and she visible gets ahold of herself. "Thanks for you condolences, they were good men but unfortunately not the only ones. Their deaths were just a little out of the ordinary. I am glade someone is willing to put a stop to these attacks. Even it some of them are a little dense." Carri finishes as she looks at the odd part Creed and Skidd make.
Carri turns and continues on her way, "Follow me, I would prefer to talk some place more comfortable."
Carri leads you to a large tent in the center of a dozen circled wagons.
She sits down inside in a strange looking chair made of thin sticks and canvas and motion everyone to a similar chair.
"Would you mind telling us what happened when you lost people?"
"Well normally we would have stopped at a common overnight spot and waited out the night. Unfortunetly the jackass that was put in charge of the overall caravan insisted that we push on and we would make it to the city just after midnight. Me and several of the other leaders argued the point but he has a lot of influence with several guilds in Keepers Dale and Narath-Dur so no one wanted to put it too much."
Carri pauses for a minute lost in thought and then continues. "I was at the front of my train when the fire first broke out. A wagon in the middle of our line was set ablaze in seconds it seems. We rush to try to save the horses and driver but it the fire spread quickly. As we tried to put out the flames I noticed Giral running up from the back yelling something and I started towards him. Suddenly he seemed to jerk like he was hit with something and he collapsed. When I got there he was alive but convulsing and he couldn't breath."
Carri's face darkens and she speaks through clenched teeth, "I held him as he died. I was powerless to help him."
Carri rubs her face with her hands and pauses as she calms down again. "One of my rear guards reported that the last two wagons were gone and all the drivers and guards were killed. I haven't talked to everyone yet but apparently there was a lot of fire and most were killed with arrows."
Carri stands, "I will tells my men to answer any of your questions, I hold to stop these bandits."
Before Carri lead you out of the tent she hands you a rough map showing where that attack took place.
From a driver of one of the near by wagons: “I saw figures shrouded in darkness come from the trees and attack the wagon drivers with arrows and some must have had fire because it was thrown on the guards from somewhere.”
Fair Tuon asks Carri a bit about the leader before he leaves.
He chats with the guards but soon gives up.
Yes Bri does seem to always be up to something and yes Creed I would have thrown a small rock at you in a friendly gesture.
Bri watches and listens as Skidd and Tuon ask a few questions. Bri wanders around a bit and ask as few of her own questions and looks for something that maybe the others have missed. Bri finds a guard and a wagon driver standing alone and wanders up to them. "I am with a group of friends and we are looking into the attack on you folks, do you mind if I ask you a few questions?" Bri assumes they says yes. "So what do you remember or what did you see?" Bri listens to what the guard and driver have to say, thanks them for their help and then heads back to the group. Bri waits for a break in the discussion and then tells the group what she knows. " So while you were talking to Carri I went wondering a found some information out. I talked to a guard and driver and this is what they told me.
From a guard: "I saw several dog track around the area of the attack and even some around the one wagon that was burnt up. “As the guards were cut down from the arrows I saw a dog chased down Keith and drug him into the trees. That was the last we saw of him.”From a driver of one of the near by wagons: “I saw figures shrouded in darkness come from the trees and attack the wagon drivers with arrows and some must have had fire because it was thrown on the guards from somewhere.”
So from what I gather I think maybe we should check where the guard was dragged into the trees to see if there is anything we can pickup on and then maybe we should check the perimeter of the attack to see what else we can find out. What do you all think?"
"Bri, what would we do without you. Thanks. The rest of us couldn't talk our way out of a wet paper bag."
Tuon kneels before the halfling and puts one hand on her shoulder as he says this.
"I am glade someone is willing to put a stop to these attacks. Even it some of them are a little dense." Carri finishes as she looks at the odd part Creed and Skidd make.
As Carri turns to walk away, Creed leans over to Skidd and whispers, "I think that she just called you dense."
"The rest of us couldn't talk our way out of a wet paper bag."
Creed again leans over Skidd and whispers, "You're really taking some knocks there, my friend."
"I am glade someone is willing to put a stop to these attacks. Even it some of them are a little dense." Carri finishes as she looks at the odd part Creed and Skidd make.As Carri turns to walk away, Creed leans over to Skidd and whispers, "I think that she just called you dense."
"You fool, she called you dense too. I'm certain of it."
"Now Now boys there is no reason to call each other names, lets just get this solved" Bri says to the guys with yet again another one of her shi**y grins :) "Maybe we should head back and get any supplies that we think we might need for this little adventure of ours before we get into the nit and gritty of this mess. What do you all think or have you named me your queen for the day and are now worshiping the ground that I walk on?" Bri says as she stands on her tippy toes and puffs out her chest. "Ha Ha I had you all going there for a second now didn't I?"
"Hmm," Says Creed to Bri, "you should know by now that I only worship the ground I walk on!" He grins back.
Bri smiles up at Creed, "Well a girl can try now can't she!"
"So the attackers used fire and arrows to cause havoc, could kill people with invisible magic and .. that's about it."
"I still think we should get ourselves a wagon as a disguise. Maybe set up an ambush near where the attackers attacked on the map and then grab them when they go for us." Tuon levels his gaze,
"This could get dangerous. All I can think of is for us to get stuff to protect against fire and magic and arrows from the wizard's place. Well anyone got any good ideas, because I'm probably missing the obvious."
Tuon gives the map to Roderick, "brother, you know the woods, any ideas?"
Creed listens intently.
Tuon gives the map to Roderick, "brother, you know the woods, any ideas?"
Roderick takes the map from Tuon and looks it over, "It looks like they were attacked about a mile east of the camp we stayed at on the way in. If we want to use a wagon as a decoy it would take use about six to eight hours to get there." Roderick folds up the map and hands it back. "I would guess the raiders are hiding in the forest to the north so using the decoy would supply us with fresh track to follow if they take the bait."
"So the attackers used fire and arrows to cause havoc, could kill people with invisible magic and .. that's about it."
"I still think we should get ourselves a wagon as a disguise. Maybe set up an ambush near where the attackers attacked on the map and then grab them when they go for us." Tuon levels his gaze,
"This could get dangerous. All I can think of is for us to get stuff to protect against fire and magic and arrows from the wizard's place. Well anyone got any good ideas, because I'm probably missing the obvious."
Tuon gives the map to Roderick, "brother, you know the woods, any ideas?"
"I agree with your "evil" plan Tuon, lets go back to town get supplies and setup a disguise and get back so that we can be Ambushes! After all what else do we really have going on right now?" Bri says that as she starts to head back towards town.
Tuon tries to grab another moment with Carri or the caravan leader and explain about borrowing a wagon.
If not possible then he will try to find out where to buy a cheap cart or wagon and a mule.
Then back into town for those supplies.