Aso, looking at Holdrus and Shenker: "What's a p... p... pimp?"Declaration: This one would also like to know what this thing is. Query:Is like crodlu or kank?
Query: What this city dweller clutch, with soldier and workers? Large large? Scary? Great strong?
"Hrrmmm.....well, sometimes, ya see.....us fellers, we well um....."
Schenker explains a thing or three about the oldest perfession..."Hey, Aso...., take a walk on the wild side...."
Aye...this clutch of dwellers, too strongee strong us for to take down and take water off from. We go back to scurrying the rats we do. A while yet, keep our guts unventilated, and our skins unleaky. Keep our bones wet that way.
Oh, you want to know WHAT they are? They're merchants, that clutch. They sell wares, they sell men, they sell souls. Stupid boojie bastards is what they are, festering pocky bastards. Worse than honest thieves is, I reckon.
After the bit about pimps and whores:
"aaaaAAAAAaaah" Aso intones.
"Aso has no j... j... jingle. Can I, with th... th... these?" Aso points to the ivory bracelets and necklace he plundered from the dead elf.
Aye downow. Not as good am I as appraisining as I am as stealing these things. He hee! It's my curse, but I'm good at stealing!
Hrrrmmmm....we'll find ye a nice lady, we will, and not some painted scrogglesies. I don't what yet to the details, nope. Details always whips up straight though, for goodly fellers. For straight shooters.
After all, this is the best of all possible worlds. The philosophers all say so.
Aso, bored, thirsty, and hungry, his flea supply nearly exhausted from over-harvesting, begins digging for grubs and tubers.
Survival, looking for tubers and grubs. (1d20+1=8)
Guess he didn't find nothin.
"Aye. let's renday vooze withee rest the fellers. Head for town-like."
Faindriac rolls his eyes at Radik's belated outburst.
"Not at all sir. They were merely practicing in case one of THEM fell into a creature's trap." He looks at Radik directly.
"Consider this. I am not your friend. Neither, I suspect, do you wish to be mine. Or anyone else's it seems. But NOT being your friend is NOT the same as being your enemy." He starts to say more, then closes his mouth and, seeing that radik is concious and seems his old delf, moves off to join Zuko in watching for the others return.
Can town be seen from our position; the caravan doesnt seem a good bet to trade for items; not sure we have very much to trade; go up a little higher in the air; do i see anyone else shadowing the caravan or any ambushes?
take my time; like to take a 20 on spot for a 29; I never thought to attack the caravan, but trade in our condition is too risky as they all appear to be one group rather than several merchant groups with individual guards banded together for safety.
MalaKi has a crazy idea. Here it is in a nut shell. We could try to join the caravan. He has a pretty solid plan. Two things that bother him:
1. Can an empath read thoughts as well as emotions?
2. It is insanely dangerous. If he has any idea of another plan that would be less dangerous he will not even mention this plan.
mwbeeler will have to give me some guidance here.
MalaKi’s Crazy Plan:
MalaKi believes that if we can join this caravan not only will the group get protection, food, and water, but also the group may get a “free pass” into the city.
MalaKi knows of a slave catcher in Raam know as Rockwrath. He believes that he can convince the caravan master that he is taking escaped slaves to Raam. The party of slave catchers was ambushed by elves. They managed to escape but lost most of there provisions. The caravan will be repaid all reasonable expenses upon safe arrival in Raam.
All true.
This is the rough plan. More details can be added if needed.
... hiking through the desolate region on what is now the evening of their third day of newfound freedom. The heat dissipates from the stony ground in visible waves of distortion, but the distant glow of a city on the horizon begins to come into focus now, keeping your path true.
...
Midway through the evening, the party makes two discoveries: A long line of flickering lights travels the road in a direction away from Raam, and a shallow depression in the rock-strewn earth contains a shallow puddle of muddy water, ringed by several thorny brown bushes.
do i see anyone else shadowing the caravan or any ambushes?
1. Can an empath read thoughts as well as emotions?
MalaKi believes that if we can join this caravan not only will the group get protection, food, and water, but also the group may get a “free pass” into the city.
Query: Trade kank honey or eat kank honey? Eat eat could let clutch holy one and aarakocra wise one know other....
Assuming that the party lets the caravan move off; I will land and tell them of the city just in view and that the coast appears clear of any other threats. I suggest that we are rested and recovered before we go into the city if that is the plan; as cities are dangerous; I will then go back to meet with the two who stayed behind and tell them of the caravan and the city.
After Issiki's characteristically cheerful statement, Radik debates as to whether or not he should add the halfling to the party's gear in the form of foodstuffs. Judging by the current attitude of his fellow escaped slaves, he decides that doing so would be a quote/unquote "bad idea".
Standing, the fighter rotates his head, producing a sound not unlike the crack of a bullwhip. Club in hand, he walks slowly to the crest of the ridge to see what exactly everyone else is staring at.
"Aye, sshhhhh.....lowcrawl it, bigguun! Ere, ere....it's moren 20 of em out there....(winks)"
"Ar, crixe! I got a tick on my...."
"D... d... dibs"
Things we know about the caravan courtesy of G’mork:
“Consisting of numerous wagons accompanied by Crodlu mounted guards and the occasional coach, each member of the convoy sports corresponding colors and heraldry.”
“The procession appears both wealthy and well protected, and it is doubtful things would end well for you if hostilities commence.”
“Oh, and the caravan ranks are tight. They're very professional.”
Plus they have an empath.
MalaKi’s suggestion: Approach and trade the kank for gear or let them pass. Or, on second thought, just let them pass.
I don't want to approach them. I don't think the best probable result is worth it.
I don't think we can handle more than 5 or 6 well-rested, well armed veterans on crodback in our current state.
I gotta crash in real life...
The trailing edge of the caravan rolls by at last, and you feel a second chilling sweep of the Way; indicating at least another psion at the rear of the train and reaffirming the validity of your choice not to attack hastily. You wonder if they might not have traded peaceably with you, but still it is better to wonder than to risk being mistaken for bandits and left for dead, body riddled with stone bolts.
The group reassembles and treads wearily on through the evening, giving Radik and his coating of slow-drying, fetid muck a wide berth. The city, though still remote, can be seen plainly now, and the stony badlands begin to give over grudgingly to a sandy scrub plain. Barring complications, you will reach Raam at the very end of tomorrow, possibly just as dawn breaks and the gates open for commerce on the following day.
As you decide on where (or even if) to camp for the day, you spot a small, lean creature covered in golden fur watching you from about twenty feet away. It stands on its hind legs and sniffs the air, then scratches the air with sharp looking claws and darts into a cylindrical six-inch hole in the ground.
Knowledge Nature DC15:
Spot DC 15:
What is that and where did it come from?
Looks tasty to me.....
SPOT 13+8=21
KNOW NAT 11+3=14
"Hrrmmm....whatever it is, there's holes everywhere. We've found the ratty little bastards' capital city." Schenker points out the prairie dogs'(?) holes.
"Aye, dareyou, you more rustic types, dareyou say we eat these wee pockers, one or three? Or is it going to shock my brain somehow's?"
Knowledge: Nature=1d20+4=19, Spot=1d20+4=8
Declaration: Jankx good eat, skin good thin-shell second-skin. Lots could dwell hole home.
Suggestion: Clutch hunt, eat, trade skins or use hide thin-shell skin swatters.
Aso takes position over one of the holes with his club, readied action.
"Flush 'em out, Z... Z... Zuko."