"Me, I'm an explorer, a tomb-raider by trade. I've spent my youth in danger, I've faced the deadly and lived to tell the tale."
...
"Perhaps to inspire you all with tales of the fantastic, perhaps something of Sharzaaen's thousand nights? will be significant."
"A well-told tale is always welcome around a watch-fire. If you're brave as well, so much the better." Jon glances at Gulgiak, "Gorum will be pleased."
"Andrea? What about you?"
"We know she's a shifter. We saw her change into many different women. While I'm sure it provides her a steady income while she's flat on her back, it's even more useful now."
Rose begins to circle around Andrea. She gives her a little sniff.
"Tell me. Could you turn into a man as well? Perhaps a man that also happened to be the Baron?"
"I told you" Andrea tells the barbarian "I'm not a killer like you...but I can look after myself if I have to..two years in trhe camps of the army taught me that much at least"
To Rose she gives a more congenial answer
"I could probably make myself look like him but the spell doesn't last longer than a few minutes and anyone who knows him well won't be fooled by it..the likeness isn't exact, that requires a level of magical control I have yet to attain.Nor would I sound like him"
"Other than that I can function as a healer and I can read thoughts if the subject is off guard. I can charm people into doing our bidding too if necessary"
"More importantly I can probably go places that most of you can't get to easily...even the most loyal guard has baser needs. I'm thinking about perhaps something in the guards stew..nothing lethal off course just something to make them sick as dogs for a day or so"
...
"More importantly I can probably go places that most of you can't get to easily...even the most loyal guard has baser needs. I'm thinking about perhaps something in the guards stew..nothing lethal off course just something to make them sick as dogs for a day or so"
"Well, lass, that thought had occurred to me, but I wouldn't ask any woman to do it. If we can do it another way we will. Let's have everyone's hand on it, and we're partners all." Jon shoves out his right hand to shake.
Guligak gives Jon his most crushing grip and is pleased to note that the warrior gives just as good as he gets.
"Likewise."
Winter places her hand in the pile; an icy chill is felt by all.
"Aye little Man I'm in...for good or ill" she adds her hand to the others and suddenly feels an urge to sleep which she throws off.
She gives the halfling a sharp glance
"Well I guess I'll find a corner for the night...I quit the inn so I'm no longer welcome there"
Jon wants to wince at Gulgiak's vice-like grip, but carefully controls his face and applies as much pressure as he can in return. He's not competitive. He'll be good in a fight.
At Rose's chill touch, Jon wants to withdraw in surprise, but again controls his immediate reaction. More than a simple scout, then. We'll have to see about her.
Paellat's flowery speech makes Jon smile, and rub his eye with his free hand. ~Big yawn~ "You're right, little man. We've an early get-up tomorrow."
Jon's not so sleepy that Andrea's words don't register. "You need a place? Come back to my room, it's better than the street."
Andrea looks suspiciously at the swordsman...then makes a pragmatic decision.
"Very well... I'll sleep in your room...and I do mean sleep. If you want anything else..well that's business"
She picks up her pathetic amount of luggage.
"Lead on soldier"
Guligak grunts and returns to his room full of wives and sons (and maybe some daughters, but who cares about those?).
"Sleep calls to me as well. I'll see you all in the morning."
Dawn comes early; with the sun, you rise as well, scampering around town to gather the supplies you'll need for the travel and the job ahead.
Pae
"Ooh! a customer! This early, too," says a man, jumping up from a cup of strong smelling tea. It mingles with the other smells of the shop; incense, spice, and dust. The place seems to be a collection of odds and ends. It is at the same time a store and a museum.
"Is there something I can help you find? A love potion, perhaps?" he says, winking. With a snap of his fingers, he sends a number of multi-coloured lights swirling slowly near Paellat, illuminating the more distant and dusty corners of the place as he looks around. The garish colours of the lights match the proprietors outfit perfectly.
Guligak looks uncomfortable astride his light horse, but the horse doesn't look too happy about carrying the heavily armoured warrior-priest, either.
"Let's begone. If I take too long in returning, my wives will think I'm dead and I'll have to kill their new husband. Not that I mind killing, but they're my wives dammit! That bastard should keep his damn hands off of them!!"
"Either way, I see you've found a new friend," says a man affixing the rest of the bundles on his cart. "Treat him well, and he'll carry you far. At least as far as Piren's Bluff, I hope. I just don't think you can take it for your wife. You know, legally."
He turns and waves to Guligak with a chuckle. "I'm Gasker, and I guess you're one of my guards. I hope the others arrive soon, I'd like to get moving."
Andrea wakes after the soundest sleep she has had in ages. She looks over at the warrior on his pallet and smiles to herself.
She grabs her kit and wakes him
"We'd best be moving"
just before they leave the room she says
"Look...I'd just like to say thank you..Most men..well most men would have wanted payment in kind for giving me a bed. So thank you for being a gentleman."
She reaches up and gives him an almost chaste kiss then hurries away to the rendevous.
When they arrive she introduces herself to the merchant then adresses the others
"Well..theres no point in me pretending to be a guard..so I'll just be what I am..a harlot looking for work.
just before they leave the room she says"Look...I'd just like to say thank you..Most men..well most men would have wanted payment in kind for giving me a bed. So thank you for being a gentleman."
She reaches up and gives him an almost chaste kiss then hurries away to the rendevous.
"Anytime, lass. Never know when I might need a place myself. I've got some business to square away before we go. Tell the other's I'll be along."
Jon takes awhile carefully packing up his gear. He makes sure to put the yellow ribbon in a pocket of his cloak.
On his way out he tells his farmer host, "Fortune smiles on us both. I found some work as a caravan guard. Keep the rest of my advance. Have your boy load and saddle my beasts, and if you'd put up a bit of lunch I'd be obliged. I'll be back to pick them up shortly."
The soldier hurries down to a shop where he had seen some decent weapons a few days ago. The owner drives a hard bargain, but Jon still comes away satisfied with his purchases."Good steel is hard to find."
Jon also takes advantage of this opportunity to turn 1200 gp into 900 in gems. He is much less satisfied with this deal, owing largely to the fact he doesn't know enough about gems to fairly evaluate them himself. He is worried he's been cheated, but values the small size and weight of te stones.
Finally Jon returns to the farm to collect his goods. He repacks his gear, showing the farmboy how it should have been done. "Loop the rope this way and it will tighten under the load." He checks the girth on the saddle and nods approvingly. "You got that right." Once in the saddle he tosses the boy a silver. "Listen to your folks and be good, son."
Then he rides at a walking pace to the rendevous.
Your gear properly saddled, mounts excited, and with all the ceremony of a nod from Gasker, you set off beyond the small town and it's surrounding farms.
Your travel is quiet, and it's not until you stop to give the mounts some water at a nearby spring do you sense any movement around you.
Did you guys hear something?
"Maybe. Shh!"
Jon looks up combing his horse's mane."What is it?" He reaches casually for his crossbow.
Perception (1d20=12) +1 =13
"Huh?"
Andrea looks askance at the horsee that is provided for her.
"I'm a city girl I never learnt anything about horses..I'd ride behind one of you but that might hamper us in a fight so I'll just ride on the wagon"
She spends the journey talking to Jon if he is nearby. though she does not tell him her story just yet, otherwise she just dozes until they stop to water.
She's not at her most alert when the whispered warning comes
"Huh what?"
|
readies his wand rifle, and moves to the opposite side of the wagon from the sound while trying to slink into the shadows.
"Over there. Something's moving in the bushes.", Gasker points, but you are way ahead of him, nerves at the ready. You study the surrounding trees
Something is moving, fast, around you. It's about 400 feet away from you, but it seems to be circling you guys at the spring.
Something that sounds like a low rumbling seems to come from the obscured figure.
It doesn't seem to be getting any closer, and it's certainly not making any effort to conceal itself. At this distance, however, all you can make out is that it is large, and it is fast.
"What do you think it is? What's that rumbling sound? Maybe we should get on the horses and get on our way. I think I'd rather not find out what it is."
|
|
OOC:
Wand of flame blade with 10 charges 900gp
# of charges
Oh, what's this? a Hat of Disguise you say?interesting, I think I'll buy it, along with the Wand of Flame, how does 270 platinum sound? Oh dear, I only have 255 platinum and some change, I suppose I'll have to get something else...unless perhaps you'd accept the 255 platinum and the word of a Pathfinder that I'll repay you the rest, once I am paid for this escort caravan mission Diplomacy
Andrea looks up in alarm at the sounds and pulls a shortsword from her bag. The bright blade looks totally incongruous in the girls hand and her white knuckles show her to be gripping it much to tightly for efficient use.
"What is that thing?..is it dangerous?..shouldn't we do something about it?"
Her voice is stressed and it's obvious to the trained fighters in the party that she's a combat novice.
"Whatever it is, we should face it like men!"
Guligak slides awkwardly off of his (tired) horse and cries out: "Gorum! Give me great size to crush this foe!!" raising his greatsword to the sky.
"Leave it, proud warrior, it may just be the trees playing tricks with us. We should leave this place. We have a responsibility to get to Piren's Bluff. Bigger fish to fry."
"Oh, let him get it out of his system. I don't want his pent up rage.cleaving a bloody path through the marketplace when we get there. Let him tire himself out."
Guligak glares at the man he's supposed to protect.
"Nothing happens without a reason. If this beast has crossed our path, Gorum has meant for us to confront it head on!!"
He draws his tower shield and starts trotting towards the creature cautiously.
"Fine then. Meet your God in whichever manner you prefer." he says, with a wave of his hand. Gasker then begins to secure the mounts. He'll wait for Guligak to return, but if they need to make a run for it, they'll be able to.
The figure is stationary for some time; it is almost as if it is anticipating you. It watches your transformation into large warrior, and it watches your careful approach, and begins to back away slowly itself.
The distance still makes it difficult to see it clearly; its long arms sway like tree trunks, and end in sharp claws. That much is clear. The creature emits a kind of growl, as it backs away, keeping a few hundred feet between you and it.
The creature is a Troll; tenacious combatants that have little fear of death due to their regenerative capabilities. This one seems to be trying to communicate with you as it slowly retreats.
Do you follow it?
"IT'S A TROLL," Guligak hollers at his companions. "AND IT'S TRYING TO SAY SOMETHING. LET'S FOLLOW IT."
It allows you to gain some ground, and get a little closer to it. It may be snarling, or smiling at you; a sentiment Guligak understands far too well.
It eventually slows, and approaches a cave entrance. Understanding that you understand it, it beckons you just inside the entrance with it.
Guligak waits to see if the others are following: he may be foolhardy, but he's not crazy.
In the meantime, he casts a Light spell inside the cave mouth to illuminate matters.