"Hee Hee!" Hozs nearly claps in his excitement to help.
"Uhmmm... OK Jaden, what do you need?"
Keegan- There are several ladies in the line, pick a type of woman and roll me a diplomacy check.
Keegan grabs a couple of vials on the way out of Laural's shop, whistling creepily.
Keegan- There are several ladies in the line, pick a type of woman and roll me a diplomacy check.
Keegan grabs a couple of vials on the way out of Laural's shop, whistling creepily.
Keegan spots a tattooed and prolifically pierced Varisian woman of about 19 that looks quite dark and dangerous despite being nearly unconscious from the Taint. Her tattoos tell a story of hard-fought freedom and several sport imagery of death and love intermingled. Her thrice-pierced eyelids snap open as he approaches and her lithe muscles go taunt, like a cornered animal preparing to rip the throat from a bigger predator. Her dark, full lips part and she speaks a word as a growl, "What?! Take care fiend for I am not undone yet." Her words hold a hard edge but there is some give in her eyes, a......question.....about the clean image of Chelaxian man standing before her.
Keegan- There are several ladies in the line, pick a type of woman and roll me a diplomacy check.
Keegan grabs a couple of vials on the way out of Laural's shop, whistling creepily.
Keegan spots a tattooed and prolifically pierced Varisian woman of about 19 that looks quite dark and dangerous despite being nearly unconscious from the Taint. Her tattoos tell a story of hard-fought freedom and several sport imagery of death and love intermingled. Her thrice-pierced eyelids snap open as he approaches and her lithe muscles go taunt, like a cornered animal preparing to rip the throat from a bigger predator. Her dark, full lips part and she speaks a word as a growl, "What?! Take care fiend for I am not undone yet." Her words hold a hard edge but there is some give in her eyes, a......question.....about the clean image of Chelaxian man standing before her.
"Need any o' this?" He doesn't know exactly whether the young woman is entirely awake or not, but it never hurts to ask.
Keegan raises one of the vials, swirling its murky contents.
Her eyes narrow at Keegan's offer...."What is it? Are you trying to drug me?" She doesn't seem to trust clean-cut men too much...ironic, huh?
Her eyes narrow at Keegan's offer...."What is it? Are you trying to drug me?" She doesn't seem to trust clean-cut men too much...ironic, huh?
"Hmmm..."
Keegan decides then and there that tact is indeed overrated, and attempts to force the potion down her throat.
She fights back admirably for a moment, then her strength fails her and she is forced to drink the potion. Gasping for air she looks up at Keegan, a look that seem to be shocked outrage and mild curiosity, and speak, " What the hell was that stuff! Is it some sort of medicine or a poison? Who, by Gorum's ballsack, are you?!"
She fights back admirably for a moment, then her strength fails her and she is forced to drink the potion. Gasping for air she looks up at Keegan, a look that seem to be shocked outrage and mild curiosity, and speak, " What the hell was that stuff! Is it some sort of medicine or a poison? Who, by Gorum's ballsack, are you?!"
"Name's Keegan f%~$in' Cawley, luv."
He gives an exaggerated bow.
"You aren't dead-like now, eh? What do ye savvy about that, now?"
The name is Misty. Misty f@~#ing Mae. You would save me? *She coughs and hacks for a moment, clearing a nice chunk of phlegm from her throat* Why? You don't know me or what I am. Are you trying get me to convert to your religion or something? All spiffy-looking as you are you could be one of them damn priests always extolling about the evils in people's heart....
Effan- after helping out for a bit you finally are seeing a lull and note that Laurel seems to be fine on her own with the reduced crowds so you take a couple vials and head off to the cobbler's home to tend to Mary, the cobbler's wife. When you arrive home you see no sign of her and just before panicking you see a note, posted a couple feet above your head (at human eye-level), on the back of the door.
Mary has taken a turn for the worse and we have
moved her to our home so we can care for her better.
Signed,
Drensin Bakersson
The Bakerssons live in a small residence above the family's bakery a block over and Mrs. Emily Bakersson has been a dear friend of Marys for many years. They were checking in on Mary regularly during your absence.
Mulling about, Faldor spreads a good deal of hope and hears a lot about what has transpired since the group left.
At one point a tiny dwarven girl sees you and begs in a cough-laced voice to hear a song "like de fun one you singed aboot de goats and de bridge!".A couple things Faldor has heard....
--The death toll is somewhere between 40 and 50 people currently with at least twice that many more showing signs of the illness.
--Most of those effected live with a certain section of town that is known to house most of the small, hard-working businesses trying to earn enough to stay in business and the residences of the poor, working-class citizens.
--Bossman Teedum of the Lumber Consortium is having trouble making quota because of all the sick workers in town and is livid about it. His concerns seem to be oriented in the lack of production rather than the sick workers' health.
The name is Misty. Misty f*%%ing Mae. You would save me? *She coughs and hacks for a moment, clearing a nice chunk of phlegm from her throat* Why? You don't know me or what I am. Are you trying get me to convert to your religion or something? All spiffy-looking as you are you could be one of them damn priests always extolling about the evils in people's heart....
Keegan throws up his hands in mock devensiveness.
"See, now, eh? I's not in th' business of pretending to think on like dealings of a sweet young devotchka such as yourself."
He runs his hand through his hair, leaving a portion of it mussed and muddy.
"Besideways, ev'ryone's got room for evil in their hearts, doesn't you say?"
Effan hustles over to the Bakerssons. He knocks on the door and pulls off the wreck of his hat. "Hello? Anyone there?" He shifts his weight from foot to foot.
When the door opens, he doesn't bother with pleasantries. "How's Mary? I've got the medicine."
With the happiness that comes with being tired after a hard days work, Hozs smiles as he follows Jaden. Or maybe he is just smiling at the blue sky. Or that butterfly, that might make Hozs smile tiredly.
Effan hustles over to the Bakerssons. He knocks on the door and pulls off the wreck of his hat. "Hello? Anyone there?" He shifts his weight from foot to foot.
When the door opens, he doesn't bother with pleasantries. "How's Mary? I've got the medicine."
Mrs. Bakersson opens the door, "Effan! Do you have a cure?! Hurry, there's not much time! She has collapsed into an almost coma-like state and we can't seem to do anything except keep her on her side to drain fluid, but even with that she is slowly drowning on her own liquids." Effan is hurriedly rushed into a dark room and hears the liquid gurgling of hard-drawn breaths coming from a simple cot set up here. He quickly administers the antidote and waits several anxious moments for a response.
Suddenly Mary sits bolt upright with wide surprised eyes, and hacks up a huge amount of phlegm, bile and blood. She then collapses onto the cot, her breathing much more at ease and sound asleep, as Mrs. Bakersson efficiently rolls up the soiled cover, replaces it with a clean blanket, and hurries out with the vile load to wash it.Looks like you made it in time but she seems to need her rest.
The name is Misty. Misty f*%%ing Mae. You would save me? *She coughs and hacks for a moment, clearing a nice chunk of phlegm from her throat* Why? You don't know me or what I am. Are you trying get me to convert to your religion or something? All spiffy-looking as you are you could be one of them damn priests always extolling about the evils in people's heart....Keegan throws up his hands in mock devensiveness.
"See, now, eh? I's not in th' business of pretending to think on like dealings of a sweet young devotchka such as yourself."
He runs his hand through his hair, leaving a portion of it mussed and muddy.
"Besideways, ev'ryone's got room for evil in their hearts, doesn't you say?"
She smiles slightly at the 'evil' comment as she tries to stand and nearly collapses from the toll the sickness has taken on her. "I guess I could use some help.....could you help me home? I think I need some sleep before I can...ummm....thank you properly and get back to work. You look better with that mud in your hair. Not so conformist and straight-laced, and I like your teeth. Did you do that yourself?......" she trails off into light conversations and such.
She smiles slightly at the 'evil' comment as she tries to stand and nearly collapses from the toll the sickness has taken on her. "I guess I could use some help.....could you help me home?
"Yes ma'am."
You look better with that mud in your hair. Not so conformist and straight-laced, and I like your teeth. Did you do that yourself?
"All natural, that." As if to prove his point, Keegan lets loose a small cloud of smoke end embers from his nose and mouth.
He bows once more. "After you, eh?"
Mary ... hacks up a huge amount of phlegm, bile and blood. She then collapses onto the cot, her breathing much more at ease and sound asleep, as Mrs. Bakersson efficiently rolls up the soiled cover, replaces it with a clean blanket, and hurries out with the vile load to wash it.
Looks like you made it in time but she seems to need her rest.
Effan watches a while anxiously, while Mary sleeps. Then he gets up, and hands the second vial to Mrs. Bakersson. "Laurel says she'll need to take this one tomorrow morning. I'm going back to the shoe shop. Thank you Mrs. Bakersson, for all you've done for her."
She smiles slightly at the 'evil' comment as she tries to stand and nearly collapses from the toll the sickness has taken on her. "I guess I could use some help.....could you help me home?"Yes ma'am."
You look better with that mud in your hair. Not so conformist and straight-laced, and I like your teeth. Did you do that yourself?"All natural, that." As if to prove his point, Keegan lets loose a small cloud of smoke end embers from his nose and mouth.
He bows once more. "After you, eh?"
As she turns to walk before Keegan, he notices two small spikes growing from the back of her calves, too small to do more than a scratch but definite evidence of a strong Chelaxian background and from what was once a powerful line. "Dear, I need to lean on you. I am too spent to manage without you beside me."
What follows is slow walk to the alleys and slums near the seedier bars and speak-easys in town and ends in a small second-floor condo with nice if slightly soiled furnishing and a smell of burnt skunkweed pods and decay.
Effan watches a while anxiously, while Mary sleeps. Then he gets up, and hands the second vial to Mrs. Bakersson. "Laurel says she'll need to take this one tomorrow morning. I'm going back to the shoe shop. Thank you Mrs. Bakersson, for all you've done for her."Mary ... hacks up a huge amount of phlegm, bile and blood. She then collapses onto the cot, her breathing much more at ease and sound asleep, as Mrs. Bakersson efficiently rolls up the soiled cover, replaces it with a clean blanket, and hurries out with the vile load to wash it.
Looks like you made it in time but she seems to need her rest.
The shop seems lonely and cold, but the idea of a warm bed after such a hard road saps your strength.
Waking in the morning you smell the smell of bread baking and the noises of a person working in the kitchen section of the house. Coming around the corner, Effan spies a familiar face, still slightly sunken and pale but looking a world better than last night, and Mary notices Effan's form in the doorway."You saved me. I *cough* borrowed a bit of dough and some honey to make you a good breakfast. After all you done for the town and me, it's the least I can do for you. Me and my husband took you in all those years ago and ye were like kin to....no. You were like the son we couldn't have. Dear old Dern loved you as his own and he was right proud of your skill. I feel him smilin' above you proud as a Fireplume bird showin' his crest! Desna's own up there with him will be gettin' an earful of bragging about you for quite a bit I reckon if Dern Cobblesole has a word to say about it! Thank you, son. You will always be our pride and joy." Her slightly plump arms enfold you with less strength than usual but the feelings come through just fine."
Faldor happy to finally do something easy begins the story of the goats and begins his casting to make a small shadow puppet scene to play out using his magics.
When the day is finally over he heads to the tavern and asks the owner to be pardoned tonights entertainment for a nice slumber in a soft (or somewhat lumpy, as it stands) bed.
She smiles slightly at the 'evil' comment as she tries to stand and nearly collapses from the toll the sickness has taken on her. "I guess I could use some help.....could you help me home?"Yes ma'am."
You look better with that mud in your hair. Not so conformist and straight-laced, and I like your teeth. Did you do that yourself?"All natural, that." As if to prove his point, Keegan lets loose a small cloud of smoke end embers from his nose and mouth.
He bows once more. "After you, eh?"
As she turns to walk before Keegan, he notices two small spikes growing from the back of her calves, too small to do more than a scratch but definite evidence of a strong Chelaxian background and from what was once a powerful line. "Dear, I need to lean on you. I am too spent to manage without you beside me."
What follows is slow walk to the alleys and slums near the seedier bars and speak-easys in town and ends in a small second-floor condo with nice if slightly soiled furnishing and a smell of burnt skunkweed pods and decay.
The shop seems lonely and cold, but the idea of a warm bed after such a hard road saps your strength ....
After some embarrassed mumbling, "quite all right... You'd have done the same... " Effan makes sure Mary has the medicine he left with Mrs. Bakersson for her. If not he runs back to the Bakerssons to retreive it. In any event, he makes sure she takes the second dose right away.
After breakfast, he goes out to the shop and picks up on some of the unfinished orders. He's distracted and works slowly. Finally he gets up and measures out a pattern of his own feet.
Jaden does not leave his loves side till late in the 2nd day when she is able to hold food, and stops bringing up the bile. He leaves Dennick to care for her, and Jaden and Hors meet up at the tavern with the rest of the group, seeing if there is anything else to help the people.
Hozs will make some more nature secrets.
And practice his katas with Miss Squeek.
And tend to Laural and the sick.
And make an updated map of the forest, including the stupid caulderon, the tree stuck with pixies, an old keep, and uhmmm... the otter and lizard villages.
Jaden-
After returning to the mill and administering the remedy to Vicki, you settle into a chair for the evening beside her bed, watching and waiting as she sleeps the sleep of one who needs it to heal.
You awake to a hand upon your shoulder and just before launching into an attack routine you notice that the hand belongs to Denick, Vicki's father. He beckons to you quietly to follow him outside the room. It appears to be sometime in the late morning. He turns after getting you outside of her room and looks dead in your eyes. "You did good by her, Jaden. You know she is the love of my life, especially during the 10 long years since her mother passed. I don't think I coulda went on without her. You did good by her and you did good by me. Ya been livin' with me and my daughter for quite a spell now and I took you in not because she loved you, but because I loved her and I saw good in you." His eyes seem to be collecting moisture and his voice is a bit shaky as he continues. "I never had a son. Never thought I would want one either with Vicki about, you see how she helps out about here. She can work a day as hard as any without barely a complaint! But you, Jaden. You are a son to me. If ever you feel like askin' for Vicki's hand, I want you to know that you have my blessing and her mother's, May the gods grant her peace, and that I will throw you both a wedding not to be forgotten soon, maybe even git that fancy singing fellow from the bar to sing at it." He looks like he wants to give a good, solid hug but settles for a hearty pat on the shoulder and quickly turns towards the door. He says, in a voice tight with strain and giving away the tears that are most likely running down his face, "You did more than any other could for her and you're a good man for it, Jaden. I....I gotta get this grain milled...." He quickly heads out the door and towards the granery to grab a few bags of wheat for milling.
Vicki's recovery is quick and thorough. Two days of rest and she is back on her feet and working as hard as ever, despite Jaden's insistence on her resting up.
Jaden sits and takes all of what Denick said, and thinks about all that has happened in the past few weeks. The past few year of traveling from lumber camps and learning of war and combat from Gabrak, an old war vet and the captain of the guards. It all comes back to Jaden of the last night and following days of fleeing from his home and all he knew.
Jaden hopes he has done right. He hopes he had made friends that will stand with him again, and not let anything happen to his new home. He leaves when Vicki is working away, no matter what Jaden says about it. He meets up with Faldor and Effin, and finds out how they are doing.
Hozs will make some more nature secrets.
And practice his katas with Miss Squeek.
And tend to Laural and the sick.
And make an updated map of the forest, including the stupid caulderon, the tree stuck with pixies, an old keep, and uhmmm... the otter and lizard villages.
Hozs' father seems to look at his slightly challenged son in a new light, at once proud and impressed by the self-less bravery and sense of right displayed by his son. His attitude seems to have shifted from someone who is giving orders to a worker when addressing Hozs, to someone who asks opinions and requests assistance from his son.
Townfolk who hear of Hozs' involvement in the journey all seem to be very proud of his accomplishments, almost as if they knew he had it in him all along. Hozs is being treated more as a peer than as a grown-child in general.
Faldor's next couple days after his rest-up are spent listening to all manner of stories in the bar. Stories of woe and grief and stories of the miraculous cure and those who made it possible.
One of the worst stories is about a man who committed suicide after the Blackscour Taint took his wife and young daughter from him.
Rumors abound about how that section of town was infected by the water-borne disease with more than a few suspicious folk tossing around an idea that the lizardfolk in the woods may have tainted the local well. Some other rumors place Bossman Teedum in the sinister role of the saboteur, his and the Lumber Consortium's motives seem to always be suspect in town....
Faldor's performances seem to relieve much of the tension and raises the spirits of the damaged populace who come into the tavern looking for some form of resolution.
Raphael reports back to Bossman Teedum about bringing back the cure and that it seem to be localized in just the one section of town. "At least I'll be able to get my damn workers back in the wood soon. Production had almost halted due to all the sick and dying workers and their kin. A lot of revenue was lost and it will be good to get their lazy asses back working, extra hours too to make up for the lost time." He picks a piece of partially digested jerked beef from between his front teeth with a wickedly curved stiletto. "You see anythin' in that wood that needs my attention? Don't hold back any info or I'll make you regret it! And where the hell is Keegan?!? I want my f*&king map!"
After the first night back Faldor is able to get back in the niche that he had made for himself in the town and is wisely keeping the new ballad that he has constructed until later when the wounds are not so fresh in the small towns minds.
Beginning to wonder what made this disease actually start other then contaminated water Faldor begins looking for his companions during the day when the tavern is closed and tries finding a buyer for the gem that they found on the journey.
After the first night back Faldor is able to get back in the niche that he had made for himself in the town and is wisely keeping the new ballad that he has constructed until later when the wounds are not so fresh in the small towns minds.
Beginning to wonder what made this disease actually start other then contaminated water Faldor begins looking for his companions during the day when the tavern is closed and tries finding a buyer for the gem that they found on the journey.
Namdrin Quinn, owner of the Quinn's Carnival just outside the town's palisade offers you 300gp for the gem, citing that he plans on retiring in a few years and will need easily potable items of worth for the journey.
|
Mostly towards Keegan, but I have been kinda DMPCing Raph by proxy with the group's input so I would love some input here. Before we start the next adventure I will either ask if someone in party wants to fill a trap/lock working PC or I will post for a new player to join in such a role of you all don't mind adding a new player or two. I have been considering adding two to replace the one and add another person into the mix. Let me know what you guys think on the discussion thread.
"If you would please be kind enough to keep the location of the elder tree from the woodcutters. I'm not sure what the repercussions would be but I don't think it would be good for anyone if such a tree were killed."
"When do you want to go and lay the dead fey to rest?"
Give me 2 rolls, I'll let you know what happens.
"If you would please be kind enough to keep the location of the elder tree from the woodcutters. I'm not sure what the repercussions would be but I don't think it would be good for anyone if such a tree were killed."
"Aye, droogy."
"When do you want to go and lay the dead fey to rest?"
"Give me another day or two, to finish up some boots and find out anything I can about this head. Then I shall join you willingly. Oh, and it would be a good idea if we could learn anything about proper rites for the passing of fey."
Hozs will make some more nature secrets.
And practice his katas with Miss Squeek.
And tend to Laural and the sick.
And make an updated map of the forest, including the stupid caulderon, the tree stuck with pixies, an old keep, and uhmmm... the otter and lizard villages.Hozs' father seems to look at his slightly challenged son in a new light, at once proud and impressed by the self-less bravery and sense of right displayed by his son. His attitude seems to have shifted from someone who is giving orders to a worker when addressing Hozs, to someone who asks opinions and requests assistance from his son.
Townfolk who hear of Hozs' involvement in the journey all seem to be very proud of his accomplishments, almost as if they knew he had it in him all along. Hozs is being treated more as a peer than as a grown-child in general.
"When do you want to go and lay the dead fey to rest?"
"Uhmm... I have to help my Da catch up with the horses. He has so many questions these days. I swear, he needs sooo much looking after" Hozs rolls his eyes in his best Summer Glau impression.
Feeling happy to be alive and even happier for his part in rescuing the town, Faldor plays his instrument like never before.
Faldor earns a good 21 gold, good meals and room, and a hand carved 6" statue of himself by a local artist(the resemblance is uncanny!) during two inspired performances.
Keegan gets 4 gold pieces from Bossman Teedum "I guess you can call that hazard pay! Har!!", and a threat that he better have told all he knows of the wood to Teedum. Or else!
A day or two passes with the each individual rapping up various things before the party comes together again at the tavern. After exchanging amenities and sitting down the food is brought out and drinks are served. Laural shows up looking better than she did when you last saw her. She asks about anyone who was ill and how they are doing and proceeds to get down to business....
"Here is a little something for each of you" She hands out small linen packages, each containing 25 gp and a thin packet of semi-solid cream(healing cream, heals 2d4 damage, 1 shot item). "The cream is a distillation of some healing herbs and tonics, if injured you can slap that lightly against your skin to break the packet and rub it into the wound for some minor healing. I had that brewing for some time now and I felt you would put it to good use. The townsfolk were generous also in their thanks for the healing so I split the money up for each of you also." She pauses...then "I have heard some speak of who might have done this but none with any real information or proof. The town is accusing anyone they have issue with from the lizardfolk of the wood to the Lumber Consortium. I just hope.....Bah, it'll all die down soon. Folk will move on to their daily woes and forget this trauma soon enough. Thank you for your help and also feel free to come by and ask me anything you may need to."
With that she exits the tavern after answering any questions the party may have.
[
... 6" statue of himself by a local artist(the resemblance is uncanny!)...
Not sure if he or the townspeople are more impressed with his latest performances Faldor non-the-less enjoys every moment of it. After all this is the reason he wanted to become an entertainer to begin with.
As the group is finally able to meet and Laural gives them her thanks and the towns Faldor sits among them in his finest attire enjoying a night off. Sitting forward after Laural leaves however the smile turns to a grimmer look. "How many of you think that these deaths and accusations will just be forgotten or forgiven?"
"I for one don't want a war against our new friends," Pulling out his medallion the lizard folk gave them. "All I'm saying is we should all do what we can to keep this from escalating towards a bad ending."
Keegan gets 4 gold pieces from Bossman Teedum "I guess you can call that hazard pay! Har!!", and a threat that he better have told all he knows of the wood to Teedum. Or else!
"That's hazard alright, eh? This'll see what he can Tea Leaf, I reckon."
Keegan's banking on the assumption that Teedum hasn't got a clue what he's talking about.