As things settle in, Josef looks around a bit more. "So, anyone want to tell me how I ended up spread out on the ground over there? I don't remember it happening, but I know I woke up there."
He looks sheepish as he turns to Lisl. "I assume I owe you some thanks. I do appreciate your efforts. I really do prefer standing to pushing daisies."
-----
He nods as everyone talks about trying to find the child. "Good call. Looking for the boy, I mean. I hope we can find him. If we got his parents to provide a scent source, could Fenrir track him that way?"
Back in your city and seeking any information you can gather on the missing boy you soon find it's a fairly common tale. The boy had a habit of wandering off into the wilds looking for 'pets'. This time no one has seen him for several days and his parents are frantic with worry.
The last anyone saw of the boy he was heading for the SW banks of the Tuskwater.
What are you doing now?
With that bit of information, Darian rides out with the group to area the boy was last seen. He then begins looking for the child’s trail as best he can, all the while pushing his magic out to his companions to help them as well. ”Alright guys, lets find this boy and get him back to his family!”
"I'm not so good at tracking. I can follow someone and stay hidden well enough."
Johanna does he best looking for a trail or some clues.
(inspire competence)
(free use of inspiration, aid from Fenrir, inspire competence)
Freya glances back toward Johanna, "No worries, everyone has their strengths and weaknesses." With a grin she adds, "Fortunately, tracking is one of my strengths."
Freya and Fenrir look closely at the ground looking and sniffing for a trail respectively.
"Well, when I was a young boy, I would have gone into that tavern over there and seen how many skirts I could get away with lifting. I think they would know if he was that close, though. Anybody got a better idea where he might have gone?"
|
Isabel is too distracted by thoughts of what might be happening to the boy, and worried imaginings of 'what if that were Magnus' to be of much use, and she's just about self aware enough to realise it.
Luckily Freya and Fenrir are on hand and Isabel just has to follow and not panic too much - although that's easier said than done!
With Freya & Fenrir leading the way the trail leads you to the west side of the Tuskwater. The boy clearly knew his way in the wilds and made good distance, crossing the Skunk river and heading south.
Several miles south of the river though things turn nasty, studying the tracks Freya can see that Tyg was walking when he was attacked by several barefoot humanoids, humanoids with clawed toes.
Lizard folk.
There are no signs of blood, but the footprints head to the banks where indentations show several canoes were landed for some time. Canoes which are now gone.
What are you doing now?
Darian kneels down and looks at the tracks Freya has located.
I should know this. It’s on the tip of my tongue!
He remains kneeling, looking intently at the track while he waits for anyone else to make a comment as to who or what they belong to...
"No blood is a good sign I think. I'm not familiar with what it could be. Let's just keep hope he will still be alive."
Johanna looks around eagerly fearing the worse but hoping for the best.
Lizardfolk, of course!
Darian nods, ”Exactly what I was thinking...just trying to think of where they could be. Has anyone heard of any reports?”
Pondering the situation a moment, Freya says, "Lizardfolk? Alright...we know downstream flows into the Tuskwater, and we haven't seen any sign of lizardfolk around there before. I would suggest we follow along upstream and see if we can find these lizardfolk."
You travel southwards looking for any sign of Lizard Folk.
As things settle in, Josef looks around a bit more. "So, anyone want to tell me how I ended up spread out on the ground over there? I don't remember it happening, but I know I woke up there."
He looks sheepish as he turns to Lisl. "I assume I owe you some thanks. I do appreciate your efforts. I really do prefer standing to pushing daisies."
"It is my pleasure," says Lisl with an inclination of her head as she rides. "The ettins proved to be quite dangerous. I am simply gratified that you are still with us." She offers him a slight smile, a tiny crack in her usually icy veneer.
Survival w/ Darian's bonus - Aid Freya?: 1d20 + 0 + 2 ⇒ (1) + 0 + 2 = 3
Oh, it is to laugh.
"Well, when I was a young boy, I would have gone into that tavern over there and seen how many skirts I could get away with lifting. I think they would know if he was that close, though. Anybody got a better idea where he might have gone?"
Most certainly NOT what Josef has trained to do . . ..
Lisl says nothing at this, but while riding she subtly brushes her skirts down to cover her legs and prevent them from riding up.
As is so often the case with young men, Josef is completely oblivious to the fact there was a reaction to his comments, let alone what it was . . ..
As they ride, Josef will try to entertain himself by talking about the things around them. Making up stories about what the birds are doing, that sort of thing. His stories about the birds seem to contain a great deal of posturing. Which, honestly, is a lot of what male birds do as they try to pair off . . ..
After another days travel you see ahead of you a village on a muddy island. The muddy island is in the middle of a particularly swampy stretch of the Murque River, about two miles west of Candlemere. You can see canoes pulled up on the banks beside the palisade.
What are you doing now?
"Pallisade? I don't remember there being anything built up on the river over here. Should we go introduce ourselves? Seems only neighborly." As his voice trails off, he starts looking for a ford, or maybe a boat on this side of the water . . ..
"I think we can wade and swim through a bit. If the boy ended up hear I'm not sure time is on our side to go and fetch a boat."
”Agreed, the boy doesn’t have time for a trek like that,” Darian replies before turning to Isabel, then says with a playful grin and wink to his wife before adding ”We’ll make sure to get it properly cleaned, darling.”
”Even so...they have him, and if we go in ready for a fight they may just kill him. We need to try and talk...” He then works some magic to be able to communicate with the creatures.
He then moves across the water, purposely picking the safest and driest path. Once across he calls out ”Hello in there! We come to talk peacefully with your leader!”
A low, muddy hummock protrudes from the middle of the widening river, surrounded by a palisade of outward-facing, sharpened wooden stakes. Inside, tendrils of smoke rise from a handful of mounds clustered around a single larger mound. A simple wooden gate on the eastern side of the hummock seems to be the only entrance to the fortified island.
Approximately 150 feet in diameter, the island sits only about 10 feet above the level of the surrounding waters. The palisade is 10 feet high, with a narrow walkway along the top. The mud mounds are the lizardfolk’s “huts”— each has a single entrance covered with a leather flap to keep warmth in and the weather out and a chimney hole at the top.
There are two Lizardfolk on watch at the gate, they blink in reptilian surprise and the party coming towards them, and at being politely addressed.
"What do you wish to speak to our chief about warmblood?"
While one is speaking to you the other is running to the largest mound.
What are you doing now?
The Lizard folk male gets a strange expression on his face.
He looks guilty about something?
"The Chief must be consulted before we can allow you to enter. Wait where you are and keep your weapons sheathed."
What are you doing now?
The young man scratches the side of his nose, watching the exchange. When the lizard retreats, he looks at Darian. "Can you put any of that in Taldane for the rest of us?"
Darian nods to the lizardfolk warrior, then turns to Josef. ”They went to get their Chief to talk with us. The warrior seems to feel bad about the situation. Hopefully this is a misunderstanding and can be resolved with words. Just the way you like it, Lord Orlovsky,” he says with a smile to his companion.
You hear a loud yelling taking place inside the palisade, it soon becomes easy to make out. "Kill them! The God says they bring evil down on us! Kill them all!"
You can hear feet rushing towards the walls now as the village comes to life.
What are you doing now?
”Well that’s not good. Someone inside is trying to rally them to fight. Don’t make any sudden movements just yet, but be prepared to defend yourselves. Josef, you and I must hold the gate at all costs. If they get through and surround us we are in trouble, but let me try to smooth this out,” Darian says as he looks to the lizardfolk on the wall who seemed somewhat sympathetic to him.
Hearing the closing of potential enemies, Freya reaches for her wand and casting a protective spell on herself.
Johanna will listen and follow not drawing her swords yet, but she will draw and use a charge of her wand in preparation for things going sideways.
Josef starts chewing on the inside of his right cheek, moving to the left side of the gate, so that he's not in the direct path should they open it, and a backswing arc of his sword should naturally intersect anyone anyone coming out of the gate should he need to draw it. "An ettin was more than I wanted. How much of a village equals an ettin?"
Lisl whispers to Josef, "It takes an ettin to raze a village."
The Lizard folk warrior on the gate gives a worried look over his shoulder.
"Best you leave now Warmbloods! The Chief speaks to the Gods and the Gods want your pain."
You can easily hear what seem to be a lot of Lizard folk coming hurriedly towards the gates.
What are you doing now?
Johanna stands ready not yet drawing her swords waiting to see what happens.
"It sounds like a good number are coming this way."
Darian shakes his head.
Darian draws his own sword. ”If pressed, try and take down their leader. He seems to be the one whipping them into a frenzy. Maybe if he falls they will listen to reason.”
He then takes up position beside Josef at the gate, and wills his magic out to his friends the moment the gate starts to open and gulps down a potion.
Lisl gives a heavy sigh as it looks like this is going to fall into the usual violence, and says, "I had hoped we could settle this peacefully, but if we must fight to protect our own, Abadar will surely grace us with favor."
While giving Lisl the stink-eye, Josef pulls one of his potions, the Shield of Faith, and holds it ready to consume if things do go that poorly. He also pulls his blade, though he holds it point down.
He might actually be starting to trust that Darian and Isabel can make peace happen.
The gate flies open and you see a Lizard folk male, more finally dressed than the others. He's backed up by four warriors and his two prized pets. Two Blood caiman.
You note that many of the other Lizard folk are not advancing, in fact they look unhappy with the whole situation.
The Chief hisses something loudly as he advances on you.
"More warm bloods to suffer and die for the god!"
He's a loony!
The party may act. Remember you are in a swamp so it's difficult footing.
Darian looks sternly at the apparent chieftain.
He then looks past the chief to the gathered tribe and adds,
Not knowing what is being said Johanna can sense this guy is unstable and angry. She advances hoping things will calm but being ready if they don't.