Zareth hurriedly goes to the cart, keeping his crossbow aimed in the general direction of the rustling grass.
As he goes, he mutters to himself "We're all doomed. Something will come out of the grass and devour me whole in retribution for the grig. I just know it. We're all going to die"
After tossing his armour and other gear into the cart Orion slings the shield on his back and takes up his hammer. Looking around to make sure everything is packed away the young man will ask aloud. "Are we all ready to go?"
Before saddling the horse, lua will toss her stuff into the cart and cast entangle on the area where the noise is coming from.
As Lua motions towards the grassy area the plants begin to flail about. The music playing from the area abruptly stops and is replaced by a string of what is most likely profanity in the fairy tongue. Then the sound of at least two things hissing/growling can be heard as well.
The party can get away before the fairy or whatever it awoke can get themselves out of the entangled area.
Bart has nothing else to do. When everyone is ready he will get the donkey in gear and continue up the road.
"I regret that things had to play out that way. We were the trespassers after all. We gave them a chance to back down though."
"Lua, thank you for the distraction. Without it, things could have been much worse as we made our escape."
Before I forget, did anyone grab the bits of jewelry or the tiny jug you found? Or did anyone quickly loot the body of the grig? Just trying to see what "loot" you might have.
The party travels on the muddy main road for a few hours when they see a small village up ahead. The main part of the village is off to the right of the road but a large inn sits just off the left-hand side. The windows are all dark at this time of night (getting to be about 1 am). A stable sits behind the large building.
" I need to get a solid 4 hrs rest and 4 hrs meditation to retrieve the spells I have used this night. Think it too late to get a room at the Inn?"
As they are traveling along the road Orion smiles toward Lua.
"That was a much needed aid you performed back there Lady Lua. Nothing like anything Alwin ever did in Moradin's name." A deep sigh escapes the young man shortly after mentioning his friend's name. After a brief silence he continues with another thought.
"I wonder what those creatures were doing, we did nothing to provoke them in such a manner. Did we?" Orion glances toward his companions obviously looking for reassurances.
"Either way I think I see something ahead and," A deep yawn overtakes young Orion about now as he sees the building in the distance. "Oh, pardon me. I must be more tired than I had thought. Hopefully this place is more hospitable to weary travelers."
Oh, thank Fharlanghn, we've finally reached civilization! Yes, lets go get some sleep. Thanks to those grigs, may they see his eyes, I still haven't gotten enough rest to prepare more spells."
Zareth and Lua slept for 5 hours.
Bart and Johnathan got 4 hours.
Bel and Orion only got 1 hour.
"I'll keep watch while the rest of you catch up on you rest,if we must camp out.Not sure we need a watch if we can get into the inn."
Driving the cart along the trail, Bart curses as his sunrod finally fades out.
"Try and have a clear conscious Orion. I don't feel great about what happened either, but we were given little choice in the matter. I believe most everyone at least attempted to be somewhat diplomatic."
Bart sighs into his mustache and his eyes blink several times with weariness as he attempts to pierce the gloom.
"Hopefully someone will be about in that inn. Of course, I'm not against sleeping in a stable if we have to."
Bart will start to steer the cart towards the inn and stable.
"I'm not sure if it's the best idea, but maybe we should at least ask the people that own the inn before intruding. I'm sure they'll let us in if we sweet talk them." Bel will tell the rest of the team.
"If push comes to shove, I may be able to help our cause." Rubbing her eyes a bit, Bel continues on. "I think that sweet talking may require a female to do so."
Bel knocks on the door. After a moment, something can be heard being dragged to just behind the door. This is followed by several "umph!" sounds and then a small eye hole is open. The only thing visible is a pair of red eyes.
"Yeah, what do you want?" Says a grumpy voice.
"I'm sorry to interrupt your sleep..." Bel will begin, "But we could really use a place to stay for the night."
"You see, my friends and I have been traveling all night and we were attacked by some very mean creatures. They drove us out of where we were, especially when we did nothing to them. So we've traveled to here, looking for anywhere to stay. I'd be really REALLY nice if you'd let us stay." At this point, Bel will look downward at her feet with her hands behind her back, looking as cute as possible.
"We'll take anything you have for six people, a cart and horses. We'll even pay extra if need be. Pretty please?"
"Hummph! Wait there." The eye hole slams shut again. Some grumbling is heard as the voice gets farther away.
Zareth:
"Well, it seems as though our mysterious innkeeper is a goblin. Also, he mentioned something about sending someone named Creeper to talk with us."
Bart furrows his brow at that.
"A goblin you say? There was something peculiar about his eyes. Hmmm....civilized goblinoids are all but unheard of in the borderlands. Is this a common occurence around here?"
"Goblins? That doesn't bode well, does it?"
Talking more to herself than anything, Bel mumbles a few words to herself. "I hope I didn't say anything wrong to them..."
Bart smiles slyly and looks at Bel.
"Perhaps he'll take a liking to you after that little performance."
"Very charming Bel. I hope that everything is okay, my experience with goblinoids is generally over the expanse of my rapier...."Lua will look around, nervous about something/one named the Creeper possibly living up to it's namesake.spot check (1d20+5=24)
Noticing the elven cleric glancing around Orion approaches her and gently places a hand on her shoulder. "What is wrong Lua?" Followed shortly by another big yawn.
The window to the entry room lights up, apparently someone is carrying a lamp. The door is opened by a middle aged human in his sleepwear holding a lamp. "Well greetings there my friends! Late night it seems." Standing behind the man is a goblin, not in sleepwear.
"Creeper, see to their mounts." The goblin's eyes roll and he mumbles some more.
"Now what kind of accomodations would you be interested in? The master suite perhaps?" The innkeeper asks.
Creeper will take the reins if you allow him and lead the mounts to the stable.
In a whisper to Orion,"Nothing is wrong my friend, just a distrust of goblinoids." Lua will then remove her saddle bags and gather her gear from the cart. " Please take good care of her Creeper.She is my friend and tells me of mistreatment."With that she will hand over the reins, and look to the rest to see what they will say.
Johnathan walks up to the man at the door and in a quite tone not quite whispering "I require a private suite, one with a locking door if possible" he will then offer 3 gold pieces to the man (enough for a good room, one day of good meals, and a tip of 5 silver in the hopes of speedy service as he would much like to make familiar company with a soft bed about now)
"Of course my good man." The innkeeper walks to a counter and gets a ledger from behind it. Writes some information down and puts the coins in a lock box. "Have the rest of you decided or would you like to wait until I've taken care of Mr. ..." Looking at Johnathan questioningly.
"Mr Snow" Replies Johnathan to the Innkeeper, he walks closer to the innkeeper again and makes a gesture like he is expecting him to hand him something "Keys"
"Ah, yes Mr. Snow." He reaches behind the counter and brings out a single brass key and hands it to Johnathan. "I guess you can find it on your own. Go up those stairs to the second floor. It is the third door on the left."
"I will take a room as well Innkeeper, unless you wish to share one Bel?"Lua will pay the gold as well then look to Bel for an answer...
"I'll also take a room."
Zareth then hands over the gold to the innkeeper.
Bart will rummage through his pack for a bit and produce 3 gold as well.
Looking over at Lua, Bel replies. "I don't see a problem with that. Shall we split the cost then?"
"In the interest of simplicity, I'll pay this time if you'll get the next one." Lua replies with a smile. She will then shoulder her gear and if the innkeeper will hand her a key,she will go on up to the room.
"I too will require a room. Nothing special though, if it has a bed it is enough for me."
The innkeeper collects the money from the various party members (3 gp a piece it looks like) and his mood visibily brightens, "Stabling and feed for your mounts are on the house for you weary travelers". He gives out keys to the various party members (one key to be shared between Lua and Bel). And will offer to show them to their rooms. "Is there any time you wish to be woken up and served breakfast?"
The night otherwise passes uneventfully.
"Thank you, good night."Lua will go to bed. She wakes at sunrise and goes outside to do her morning prayers.
"I'd like to get up in about 6 hours if that's not too much trouble. We've had some rest but not nearly enough and I would like to sleep in a little given the chance."
Bart will accept his key, bid goodnight to the rest of the party, and head off to bed. If he wakes up with enough time in the morning, he will eat a hearty breakfast and try and get some exercising in.
In the morning, those that do not wake up on their own are woken by a chambermaid seeing if they would like breakfast. Eggs, bacon, bread, and oatmeal are served along with fresh water. The staff will also pack some food for later in the day for the party (jug of ale, loaf of bread, cheese).
"Please stop by again." The innkeeper says as you start on the road again.
The day is fairly uneventful. Occasionally you pass merchants and travelers on the road. A rare messenger rides past you rushing along. At the end of the day you see another small village and inn whose sign has a picture of a dog on its hind legs.
Bart smiles as the inn comes into view.
"It looks to be a better evening than the last. Anymore inns and I may start to get soft. Perhaps someone would be willing to run drills with me before we sleep tonight? I feel I may start getting paunchy."
With that, Bart chuckles and moves the cart onward, enjoying the day and the company of his fellow Warders.
Zareth spends the trip scribing arcane symbols on a scroll, barely ever looking up.
"Oh, good, another inn. At least we won't be attacked again."
He then rolls up the scroll and puts it in his pack.
"If you don't mind Bart I would like to practice my rapier skills with you. Must keep my hand in." Lua nods to him." But after we check in."
Hearing Bart's offer, Bel perks up from her notes and looks over. "I wouldn't mind a bit of practice, but if you two are busy, I'll just watch."
Orion serenely watches as different scenes pass by him and his companions. He appears quite content to just be sitting there among new friends and watches each person with some interest.
"Well it appears all our friends are making arrangements, what do you say we get to know one another Sir Johnathan?" Orion says warmly to the pale man. "We may be traveling together quite often and it's always good to know one's friends and allies."
"I am not the not verbose person but if you will to talk I won't interupt you Orion, but I must ask that you drop the 'Sir Johnathan" Johnathan or Snow would do just fine"
Johnathan's eyes will meet Orion's inviting him to talk freely
"I am not the not verbose person but if you will to talk I won't interupt you Orion, but I must ask that you drop the 'Sir Johnathan" Johnathan or Snow would do just fine"
Johnathan's eyes will meet Orion's inviting him to talk freely
Bart chuckles again.
"I've already tried that Johnathan...I've already tried. Sometimes he gets it right, but he slips on occasion."
Bart smiles at Orion and elbows his armor in jest.
"I think it's kind of cute, if not proper." pipes up Bel.
"Well, maybe that's just me..." Bel continues as she looks down again, towards her paper, almost if she's embarrassed about what she just said.