Knowing breakfast could last longer than she wanted, Mara sat herself outside this common room, putting herself to work polishing her shield. Working on the crest in the middle, she thinks of her home, her family, her friends, all of which are gone now. All that was left of Beregost were those refugees, those children who would miss her daily coin. She wanted so badly to pack up every bit of that food and take it back to them, to let them know that someone was looking out for them, that someone cared. She worried who would care for them when she was gone. Mara heard a commotion, and glanced over to see Pettilaen rushing out. She went back to focusing on her shield until the others joined.
Zina watched Pettilaen run out the door, not making any motions to leave her seat as she took another sip of coffee. "Thanks for the information," she nodded to the two men. "Try not to die in the future."
"I could have spent a lifetime studying here," she sighed under her breath, loud enough for only Kanon to hear. With that, she drained the last little bit of coffee from her mug, pocketed an apple, and followed Pettilaen.
In a moment reminiscent of this morning, the gnome very nearly ran into Mara on her way out the door. "I think it's shiny enough," the wizard glanced down at the shield. Since no one else seemed to be around, she took the opportunity to say some private words to their new fighter.
"I don't trust you, but then, I don't trust anyone," she said quietly. "Just know that if you turn on us, it will be my great pleasure to turn you into an icicle, blast said icicle to smithereens, and then burn every single piece to ash. Understood?"
Mara looked at Zina. They were nearly face to face while she was sitting, and looking into her eyes, she could tell the gnome was serious. "It's good to not trust people. It's how you stay alive. Just make sure when the time comes, you do your part on the battlefield. I'm not risking my ass for someone who can't defend themselves."
She turned her focus back to the shield. "If I wanted to kill you, I could do it right now, while nobody was looking. What exactly would that get me? Wouldn't bring my family back. Wouldn't rebuild my home. Wouldn't put food into the orphans bellies. I just want to go home, and if helping you and your friends helps me achieve that goal, then I am in it for the long haul. Regardless of what you may think of me."
Kanon slowly followed the others out of the mess hall after saying farewell to the two warriors. "My thanks for the information. It'll help us a great deal."
As he approaches the door he notes Mara and Zina's exchange. They'll have to come to terms with each other eventually, as we all do. He looks down at the bowl, filled to the brim with food, and thinks about these orphans that Mara mentioned. Orst is funding this expedition, rallying up everyone with a sword to battle these enemies, and plans on building a fort to fortify the future defense of Beregost. There's a plan in motion... does Mara see that?
"We'll make sure your home is safe again, Mara. Be sure of that." He smiles and walks by them, back towards their chamber.
Along the way he stops a young reader and instructs him to fetch a map of the local area, from the mountains to the south to the forest to the north. He specifically requests that it be a map with Beregost on it.
"We'll make sure your home is safe again, Mara," Kanon interrupted their staring match with a smile. "Be sure of that."
"Kanon threw up when I did this to him," Zina said as soon as the bard had walked out of earshot. She had been a bit taken aback by Mara's straightforwardness, but her words seemed to ring true for the mage. Well, all of them except for the bit about the fighter being able to kill her this instant. That was ridiculous. "I will always do what I have to take care of my family."
She offered a hand to help Mara to her feet, although with her stature it was more symbolic than anything else. "Come on," she smiled. "Let's see if you really are as good as you say."
Mara stood, putting the rag away and inspected the shield. Indeed, it was shiny enough. She hoisted it away, and adjusted her armor, making sure everything was in place, checking her tight braid for any stray hairs, and nodded to Zina. "Just point me at some hobgoblins that need killing."
Portia heard just enough of the last of the exchange before she reached the door and laughed as Pettilaen beat her out the door. She simply nodded to Mara on the way out following the excited gnome despite him not remembering where the stable was. It was time to find a way to put a dent into the enemy's abilities by getting some information.
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
PbP - Beregost Blues - Portia Starflower, Half Elf, Cleric, Life Domain PbP - Tome of Annhilation - Vistani Mocanu, Human, Bard
The group returns to their study room in the Inner Sanctum to collect the remainder of their belongings before leaving Candlekeep to hunt hobgoblins. Upon arrival, they find Orst engaged in conversation with a grizzled old warrior in Flaming Fist colors.
"Ah, welcome back," Orst says when you step into the room. "We were just discussing how we might secure the area and make Beregost safe without causing too much political ruckus. The Flaming Fist seems open to my idea of setting up a keep south of the city, but we're getting a little caught on who will govern from it."
Orst clears his throat and eyes the warrior with a sidelong glance.
"Since I'm the one financing this entire venture, using my own personal assets, I've proposed the Flaming Fist lease it from me. But they don't seem to like my very reasonable terms. So it seems I'm needed here for a time yet. Honestly, ye'll travel better without me anyway. Ye can't take a wagon and I pity the horse that tries to carry a fat old dwarf like me."
He laughs.
"Go on and be heroes. I'll be waiting for ye here when ye return. Well, not here, I hope. I should be able to get a proper room by that time."
Kanon hands Orst the meal he prepared for him, "My thanks Orst. You've gone far beyond what anyone would have expected in the defense of Beregost. We'll get that information you're looking for."
A few moments later as the group is gathering their things, there's a soft knock on the door. Kanon answers it and returns with a map of the immediate area. He unfurls it on the floor and points at the forest where Serjeant Bernam indicated the camp was located. "So according to the suggestion by Serjeant Bernam, we should loop around south to catch them from an angle where they're least expecting it. Does this mean there's no reason to actually travel into Beregost?"
Mara stands at attention by the door, keeping an eye on everyone, but remaining silent. She glances briefly at the map, watching Kanon point out locations, and frowns at the mention of not traveling to Beregost.
Pettilaen shakes his head, pointing to various points on the map as he explains his rational. "No, I think you misunderstood him. I think he implied we should head south along the mountain and catch them unaware near Beregost. Their position along the forest's edge will make them too fortified for us to make an attempt during the day, since they'll probably be banded together while they rest. They can only cover a small area surrounding the forest within a half-night's ride on horseback, since they would return by morning to sleep."
"I think continuing with our original plan would be best." He admits.
"Very well," Kanon agrees. "I admit I'm not very well versed in the art of war. I'd rather talk things through to be honest, but these creatures have gone well beyond that point."
He looks up at the unexpected guest, "Apologies for missing the introduction. I'm Kanon, and this is Zina, Pettilaen, Portia, and Mara. We're going out to gather intel on the forces that have gathered around Beregost. As you're wearing the Flaming Fist regalia, is there any assistance you might be able to offer in that endeavor?" He stands and offers his hand in a shake. "Please excuse the intrusion, Orst. We'll be departing shortly."
"We need to be cautious," Zina tried to stand on her tiptoes, but was still too short to be able to see the map. "Use Gaia to gather more information, and come up with a more detailed plan as soon as we know exactly what we're facing."
She turned to Orst, realizing it was time to say their farewells. The illusionist launched herself at him and gave him a tight hug. "It's been a pleasure," she said. "Thank you for the songs and drink. We'll miss you."
The Flaming Fist warrior accepts Kanon's hand stiffly with a curt, formal bow and a flat expression.
"I'm only here to negotiate with the dwarf. Good fortunes with the hobgoblins. From what I hear, you'll need more than this rabble to challenge them..."
He nods at Orst, turns, and leaves the room, pushing past the messenger who delivered the map in the process.
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
PBP "Beregost Blues" - Dungeon Master of Gnome Slaying +5
"Hahaha, Old Orst truly got that man's goat!" He snorts as he chortles his way through half-intelligible words. "He's a... I mean... He's... I suppose..." More laughter, before he composes himself enough to finish his thought. "A perfect arse. That's it. A suitable fit for the Flaming Fist, or vice versa, if ye know what I mean."
After collecting their goods and saying their farewells to Orst, Malark, and other friends, the group travels forth from Candlekeep with the intent of heading toward the south of Beregost and outflanking the patrolling hobgoblins. The route will take a full day's travel, so the group travels by day in the hopes they will not be spotted by their foe until they so desire. The plan seems to be effective as they encounter little but eerie silence by the time night falls and they're forced to hunker down and rest as they watch for roving foes.
The night is a slightly different matter. Gaia remains restless, indicating several times that she has caught a glimpse of movement on the horizon. For a brief moment, in the wee hours of the morning, a large humanoid shape could clearly be seen on a ridgeline in the distance, silhouetted by moonlight.
As the next day dawns, it is clear the group is passing into enemy territory...
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
PBP "Beregost Blues" - Dungeon Master of Gnome Slaying +5
Gaia's restlessness woke Pettilaen multiple times throughout the night, as if he could feel her anxiety and fear. He woke up groggily, rubbing his eyes and stretching, trying to relieve himself of the multiple kinks he had from sleeping on the hard ground. That soft bed on Candlekeep was a boon, and he'd take it any day over this.
Rubbing his face, he says inbetween his hands, "It's alrerdy murnin' in't it? Braeg...." He sighs, moving his hands to massage his temples. The grogginess came with a headache. "Gaia's anxiety kept me up, so I didn't get to sleep very well. We saw something," he points at a ridgeline in the distance, "up on that ridgeline. Judging by the size, I'd say a giant... probably six, maybe seven times my height."
He digs through his rations after straightening himself up with a few casts of Prestidigitation. Unsatisfied with the taste, he washes it down with his flask of water. Everything seemed more dull since his encounter with the angel and her visions. Merging his senses with Gaia, she takes flight, flying high into the air to scan their surroundings [Perception of 15].
Kanon traveled in silence for the past day, thinking hard about what use he could be in this coming battle. He grabbed a hand crossbow from a kobold in the last encounter, but even with that ranged weapon he didn't feel he could fight nearly as well as Petti or Portia. They were so good at charging head-first into battle. The last battle Kanon spent most of the time hiding behind a cart, useless. This was all just too new for him.
At least the group had Mara now. Her glistening armor and shiny shield had to mean she had experience. Maybe she would teach him something sometime. Like... how to properly not run away.
Kanon was up when Petti awoke in the morning, preparing a morning tea by a tiny fire. When Petti mentioned a giant in the distance, he stood, knocking over the kettle, and raised his hand to his brow to see if he could spot it. If anyone else were sleeping, the sizzling sound of the fire and the clank of the kettle was sure to wake them.
"Where? I don't see anything." Kanon asked, still trying to spot it.
"Calm down, kid," said a quiet voice from the other side of camp. Mara had been up for a while, listening, watching, and sharpening her sword. "You slept through it all." She stood, inspected the blade one last time, then slid it into place at her hip. She walked over to Kanon and handed him the apple she had taken yesterday. "Eat, you'll need your strength today."
Mara made her way back to her bedroll, and started packing her things. She glanced at the sky, deep in thought. "We are close. If we aren't careful, we will run into opposition today."
Knowing breakfast could last longer than she wanted, Mara sat herself outside this common room, putting herself to work polishing her shield. Working on the crest in the middle, she thinks of her home, her family, her friends, all of which are gone now. All that was left of Beregost were those refugees, those children who would miss her daily coin. She wanted so badly to pack up every bit of that food and take it back to them, to let them know that someone was looking out for them, that someone cared. She worried who would care for them when she was gone. Mara heard a commotion, and glanced over to see Pettilaen rushing out. She went back to focusing on her shield until the others joined.
A dwarf with a canoe on his back? What could go wrong?
Zina watched Pettilaen run out the door, not making any motions to leave her seat as she took another sip of coffee. "Thanks for the information," she nodded to the two men. "Try not to die in the future."
"I could have spent a lifetime studying here," she sighed under her breath, loud enough for only Kanon to hear. With that, she drained the last little bit of coffee from her mug, pocketed an apple, and followed Pettilaen.
In a moment reminiscent of this morning, the gnome very nearly ran into Mara on her way out the door. "I think it's shiny enough," the wizard glanced down at the shield. Since no one else seemed to be around, she took the opportunity to say some private words to their new fighter.
"I don't trust you, but then, I don't trust anyone," she said quietly. "Just know that if you turn on us, it will be my great pleasure to turn you into an icicle, blast said icicle to smithereens, and then burn every single piece to ash. Understood?"
PBP: DM of Titans of Tomorrow
PBP: Lera Zahuv in Whispers of Dissent
PBP: Evaine Brae in Innistrad: Dark Ascension
PBP: Cor'avin in Tomb of Annihilation
Mara looked at Zina. They were nearly face to face while she was sitting, and looking into her eyes, she could tell the gnome was serious. "It's good to not trust people. It's how you stay alive. Just make sure when the time comes, you do your part on the battlefield. I'm not risking my ass for someone who can't defend themselves."
She turned her focus back to the shield. "If I wanted to kill you, I could do it right now, while nobody was looking. What exactly would that get me? Wouldn't bring my family back. Wouldn't rebuild my home. Wouldn't put food into the orphans bellies. I just want to go home, and if helping you and your friends helps me achieve that goal, then I am in it for the long haul. Regardless of what you may think of me."
A dwarf with a canoe on his back? What could go wrong?
Kanon slowly followed the others out of the mess hall after saying farewell to the two warriors. "My thanks for the information. It'll help us a great deal."
As he approaches the door he notes Mara and Zina's exchange. They'll have to come to terms with each other eventually, as we all do. He looks down at the bowl, filled to the brim with food, and thinks about these orphans that Mara mentioned. Orst is funding this expedition, rallying up everyone with a sword to battle these enemies, and plans on building a fort to fortify the future defense of Beregost. There's a plan in motion... does Mara see that?
"We'll make sure your home is safe again, Mara. Be sure of that." He smiles and walks by them, back towards their chamber.
Along the way he stops a young reader and instructs him to fetch a map of the local area, from the mountains to the south to the forest to the north. He specifically requests that it be a map with Beregost on it.
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"We'll make sure your home is safe again, Mara," Kanon interrupted their staring match with a smile. "Be sure of that."
"Kanon threw up when I did this to him," Zina said as soon as the bard had walked out of earshot. She had been a bit taken aback by Mara's straightforwardness, but her words seemed to ring true for the mage. Well, all of them except for the bit about the fighter being able to kill her this instant. That was ridiculous. "I will always do what I have to take care of my family."
She offered a hand to help Mara to her feet, although with her stature it was more symbolic than anything else. "Come on," she smiled. "Let's see if you really are as good as you say."
PBP: DM of Titans of Tomorrow
PBP: Lera Zahuv in Whispers of Dissent
PBP: Evaine Brae in Innistrad: Dark Ascension
PBP: Cor'avin in Tomb of Annihilation
Mara stood, putting the rag away and inspected the shield. Indeed, it was shiny enough. She hoisted it away, and adjusted her armor, making sure everything was in place, checking her tight braid for any stray hairs, and nodded to Zina. "Just point me at some hobgoblins that need killing."
A dwarf with a canoe on his back? What could go wrong?
Portia heard just enough of the last of the exchange before she reached the door and laughed as Pettilaen beat her out the door. She simply nodded to Mara on the way out following the excited gnome despite him not remembering where the stable was. It was time to find a way to put a dent into the enemy's abilities by getting some information.
PbP - Beregost Blues - Portia Starflower, Half Elf, Cleric, Life Domain
PbP - Tome of Annhilation - Vistani Mocanu, Human, Bard
The group returns to their study room in the Inner Sanctum to collect the remainder of their belongings before leaving Candlekeep to hunt hobgoblins. Upon arrival, they find Orst engaged in conversation with a grizzled old warrior in Flaming Fist colors.
"Ah, welcome back," Orst says when you step into the room. "We were just discussing how we might secure the area and make Beregost safe without causing too much political ruckus. The Flaming Fist seems open to my idea of setting up a keep south of the city, but we're getting a little caught on who will govern from it."
Orst clears his throat and eyes the warrior with a sidelong glance.
"Since I'm the one financing this entire venture, using my own personal assets, I've proposed the Flaming Fist lease it from me. But they don't seem to like my very reasonable terms. So it seems I'm needed here for a time yet. Honestly, ye'll travel better without me anyway. Ye can't take a wagon and I pity the horse that tries to carry a fat old dwarf like me."
He laughs.
"Go on and be heroes. I'll be waiting for ye here when ye return. Well, not here, I hope. I should be able to get a proper room by that time."
Kanon hands Orst the meal he prepared for him, "My thanks Orst. You've gone far beyond what anyone would have expected in the defense of Beregost. We'll get that information you're looking for."
A few moments later as the group is gathering their things, there's a soft knock on the door. Kanon answers it and returns with a map of the immediate area. He unfurls it on the floor and points at the forest where Serjeant Bernam indicated the camp was located. "So according to the suggestion by Serjeant Bernam, we should loop around south to catch them from an angle where they're least expecting it. Does this mean there's no reason to actually travel into Beregost?"
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Mara stands at attention by the door, keeping an eye on everyone, but remaining silent. She glances briefly at the map, watching Kanon point out locations, and frowns at the mention of not traveling to Beregost.
A dwarf with a canoe on his back? What could go wrong?
Pettilaen shakes his head, pointing to various points on the map as he explains his rational. "No, I think you misunderstood him. I think he implied we should head south along the mountain and catch them unaware near Beregost. Their position along the forest's edge will make them too fortified for us to make an attempt during the day, since they'll probably be banded together while they rest. They can only cover a small area surrounding the forest within a half-night's ride on horseback, since they would return by morning to sleep."
"I think continuing with our original plan would be best." He admits.
"Very well," Kanon agrees. "I admit I'm not very well versed in the art of war. I'd rather talk things through to be honest, but these creatures have gone well beyond that point."
He looks up at the unexpected guest, "Apologies for missing the introduction. I'm Kanon, and this is Zina, Pettilaen, Portia, and Mara. We're going out to gather intel on the forces that have gathered around Beregost. As you're wearing the Flaming Fist regalia, is there any assistance you might be able to offer in that endeavor?" He stands and offers his hand in a shake. "Please excuse the intrusion, Orst. We'll be departing shortly."
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"We need to be cautious," Zina tried to stand on her tiptoes, but was still too short to be able to see the map. "Use Gaia to gather more information, and come up with a more detailed plan as soon as we know exactly what we're facing."
She turned to Orst, realizing it was time to say their farewells. The illusionist launched herself at him and gave him a tight hug. "It's been a pleasure," she said. "Thank you for the songs and drink. We'll miss you."
PBP: DM of Titans of Tomorrow
PBP: Lera Zahuv in Whispers of Dissent
PBP: Evaine Brae in Innistrad: Dark Ascension
PBP: Cor'avin in Tomb of Annihilation
Orst giggles and blushes as he returns the hug, though her tiny body is difficult for him to reach around his own girth.
"I've never known a gnome I liked so well!"
He smiles at Zina, turns his eyes toward Pettilaen, shrugs, and bursts out laughing.
"I'll be here waiting for ye all. When my keep is built, there'll be kingly rooms in it for each of you!"
The Flaming Fist warrior accepts Kanon's hand stiffly with a curt, formal bow and a flat expression.
"I'm only here to negotiate with the dwarf. Good fortunes with the hobgoblins. From what I hear, you'll need more than this rabble to challenge them..."
He nods at Orst, turns, and leaves the room, pushing past the messenger who delivered the map in the process.
Orst bursts out laughing again.
"Hahaha, Old Orst truly got that man's goat!" He snorts as he chortles his way through half-intelligible words. "He's a... I mean... He's... I suppose..." More laughter, before he composes himself enough to finish his thought. "A perfect arse. That's it. A suitable fit for the Flaming Fist, or vice versa, if ye know what I mean."
After collecting their goods and saying their farewells to Orst, Malark, and other friends, the group travels forth from Candlekeep with the intent of heading toward the south of Beregost and outflanking the patrolling hobgoblins. The route will take a full day's travel, so the group travels by day in the hopes they will not be spotted by their foe until they so desire. The plan seems to be effective as they encounter little but eerie silence by the time night falls and they're forced to hunker down and rest as they watch for roving foes.
The night is a slightly different matter. Gaia remains restless, indicating several times that she has caught a glimpse of movement on the horizon. For a brief moment, in the wee hours of the morning, a large humanoid shape could clearly be seen on a ridgeline in the distance, silhouetted by moonlight.
As the next day dawns, it is clear the group is passing into enemy territory...
Gaia's restlessness woke Pettilaen multiple times throughout the night, as if he could feel her anxiety and fear. He woke up groggily, rubbing his eyes and stretching, trying to relieve himself of the multiple kinks he had from sleeping on the hard ground. That soft bed on Candlekeep was a boon, and he'd take it any day over this.
Rubbing his face, he says inbetween his hands, "It's alrerdy murnin' in't it? Braeg...." He sighs, moving his hands to massage his temples. The grogginess came with a headache. "Gaia's anxiety kept me up, so I didn't get to sleep very well. We saw something," he points at a ridgeline in the distance, "up on that ridgeline. Judging by the size, I'd say a giant... probably six, maybe seven times my height."
He digs through his rations after straightening himself up with a few casts of Prestidigitation. Unsatisfied with the taste, he washes it down with his flask of water. Everything seemed more dull since his encounter with the angel and her visions. Merging his senses with Gaia, she takes flight, flying high into the air to scan their surroundings [Perception of 15].
Kanon traveled in silence for the past day, thinking hard about what use he could be in this coming battle. He grabbed a hand crossbow from a kobold in the last encounter, but even with that ranged weapon he didn't feel he could fight nearly as well as Petti or Portia. They were so good at charging head-first into battle. The last battle Kanon spent most of the time hiding behind a cart, useless. This was all just too new for him.
At least the group had Mara now. Her glistening armor and shiny shield had to mean she had experience. Maybe she would teach him something sometime. Like... how to properly not run away.
Kanon was up when Petti awoke in the morning, preparing a morning tea by a tiny fire. When Petti mentioned a giant in the distance, he stood, knocking over the kettle, and raised his hand to his brow to see if he could spot it. If anyone else were sleeping, the sizzling sound of the fire and the clank of the kettle was sure to wake them.
"Where? I don't see anything." Kanon asked, still trying to spot it.
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"Calm down, kid," said a quiet voice from the other side of camp. Mara had been up for a while, listening, watching, and sharpening her sword. "You slept through it all." She stood, inspected the blade one last time, then slid it into place at her hip. She walked over to Kanon and handed him the apple she had taken yesterday. "Eat, you'll need your strength today."
Mara made her way back to her bedroll, and started packing her things. She glanced at the sky, deep in thought. "We are close. If we aren't careful, we will run into opposition today."
A dwarf with a canoe on his back? What could go wrong?