After the rest and regaining your composure you head out on foot. The mules are laden with all of your supplies including Starker's reference section and Chadwick's hardware store. The journey is not as pleasant being the boots on the ground. By the end of the afternoon you are in Hartstone land. All seems normal. The field workers are coming in from the fields. The herd tenders are bringing the animals close to home and in barns. Harthall is about 30 minutes away. No sign of siege can be seen.
Starker:”Perhaps our intelligence was faulty? Or we were lied to to induce us to hurry along the road? Gaius, Trokarl: how would you like us to proceed? Perhaps we should rest.”
Gaius did you have a moment to speak with your cousin after his report to the Duke? With the hat of disguise in the drow’s possession Staker’s concern seems possible
perhaps we should ask some of these farmers of news
Did we see the cousin and the purple knight together at the same time back at the Duke’s?
if so, then Starker will say: “I think we should establish a secret challenge/response in case we should get separated. Let’s say the challenger says “Cyrus Magnus” and the reponder says “Murder Monkey”?
if not, Starker will have that exchange with everyone except purple knight secretly one on one and add “careful of the purple knight”
Starker:”Finally: I urge that no one goes off alone, and that we use the buddy system until Alamnal is looking up at the brown side of the sod. Assuming he only has the one disguise hat, that and the challenge/response should keep us safe from infiltration.
”Remember, even paranoiacs occassionally have cause for caution and concern.”
You stand in the road now, about 1/2 hour from Harthall. The sun is low on the horizon and will be setting not long after your arrival if you continue onwards.
Chadwick strikes up a conversation with the inn keeper after food and drink have arrived. "We heard some rumors about some kind of conflict going on around Harthall. Are these just rumors, or should we give it a wide berth? We've already been set upon once during our travels and would like to further trouble."
The fish looks at Starker intently as he asks the question. It turns to swim away, then looks back. With a flick of its tail sediment rises from the bottom. The fish rolls over, belly up. The sediment forms a fish shaped cloud in the water that rises from the inverted fish and then dissipates. The fish rights itself, looks at Starker directly with an unwavering gaze then goes about swimming amongst the fronds.
Starker:”Still getting the hang of this. I probably should have asked “what actions can he take that would most endanger us?” Sorry. We will have another shot at dawn unless we give up the ghost before then.”
Puts the Oracle Orb of Aqualith away. Looks to Trokarl for instructions.
If we don’t hear anything from the farmers or anyone else, I think we should keep going. Something about this whole situation feels off, but I don’t think we can waste any time if there’s a chance of people getting hurt. We have tried the fish and have no means to scry - we must move on
Those are my thoughts . I’m open to any other ideas you have. If there aren’t any, we move on and hope to find a peaceful solution at the Hartstone’s.
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No mounts are for sale here.
Kragen readies himself by fitting into the Splint Mail that Hoid has loaned him. Nods for Gaius and Trolkarl to lead on.
he will walk if we are short on mounts or double up with on of the wee folk.
Hoid can move faster than the mule while walking, so someone can ride his mule.
If you are to keep all of your worldly possessions, the miles become pack animals. You will all be on foot.
Gneuman is ready.
What if we leave Chadwick’s arsenal behind?
After the rest and regaining your composure you head out on foot. The mules are laden with all of your supplies including Starker's reference section and Chadwick's hardware store. The journey is not as pleasant being the boots on the ground. By the end of the afternoon you are in Hartstone land. All seems normal. The field workers are coming in from the fields. The herd tenders are bringing the animals close to home and in barns. Harthall is about 30 minutes away. No sign of siege can be seen.
Starker:”Perhaps our intelligence was faulty? Or we were lied to to induce us to hurry along the road? Gaius, Trokarl: how would you like us to proceed? Perhaps we should rest.”
Gaius did you have a moment to speak with your cousin after his report to the Duke?
With the hat of disguise in the drow’s possession Staker’s concern seems possible
perhaps we should ask some of these farmers of news
Did we see the cousin and the purple knight together at the same time back at the Duke’s?
if so, then Starker will say: “I think we should establish a secret challenge/response in case we should get separated. Let’s say the challenger says “Cyrus Magnus” and the reponder says “Murder Monkey”?
if not, Starker will have that exchange with everyone except purple knight secretly one on one and add “careful of the purple knight”
Secret phrase established.
Starker:”Finally: I urge that no one goes off alone, and that we use the buddy system until Alamnal is looking up at the brown side of the sod. Assuming he only has the one disguise hat, that and the challenge/response should keep us safe from infiltration.
”Remember, even paranoiacs occassionally have cause for caution and concern.”
You stand in the road now, about 1/2 hour from Harthall. The sun is low on the horizon and will be setting not long after your arrival if you continue onwards.
/Plans?
“Master Hartstone, you know these lands better than us all. How would you approach Harthall if it were under siege?”
”Given that we are not seeing any signs of the purported siege, as Master Starker suggested, we should approach with caution.”
To the group “assuming this is subterfuge by Alamnal, luring us into a trap on the road to Harthall. What do we believe his next play would be?”
”if we find Harthall unharmed, should we return and attempt to follow the trail of the ambush party?”
”we should make haste.” Rises to go.
Chadwick strikes up a conversation with the inn keeper after food and drink have arrived. "We heard some rumors about some kind of conflict going on around Harthall. Are these just rumors, or should we give it a wide berth? We've already been set upon once during our travels and would like to further trouble."
Starker brings out the Oracle Orb of Aquilith and asks it “During the next week what is the most dangerous thing Alamnal can do to us?”
The fish looks at Starker intently as he asks the question. It turns to swim away, then looks back. With a flick of its tail sediment rises from the bottom. The fish rolls over, belly up. The sediment forms a fish shaped cloud in the water that rises from the inverted fish and then dissipates. The fish rights itself, looks at Starker directly with an unwavering gaze then goes about swimming amongst the fronds.
(Not a surprise, Alamnal has the ability to kill us in the next week. It may or may not be with his own hands.)
Starker:”Still getting the hang of this. I probably should have asked “what actions can he take that would most endanger us?” Sorry. We will have another shot at dawn unless we give up the ghost before then.”
Puts the Oracle Orb of Aqualith away. Looks to Trokarl for instructions.
If we don’t hear anything from the farmers or anyone else, I think we should keep going. Something about this whole situation feels off, but I don’t think we can waste any time if there’s a chance of people getting hurt. We have tried the fish and have no means to scry - we must move on
Those are my thoughts . I’m open to any other ideas you have. If there aren’t any, we move on and hope to find a peaceful solution at the Hartstone’s.