Tyrgram leaned on his axe to catch his breath. Though he had struck the final blow, the ogre had gone down at last thanks to the collective efforts of everyone. He could not suppress a grin of satisfaction at what they had accomplished. Truly a fine story it would make. Riyphou going down would only serve to up the drama angle and... Tyrgram just realised that he had seen his comrade fall.

He spun around on his heels. 'Riyphou?!' He asked the air loudly. A grunt to his side alerted him of the elephant man's fate. He was on his feet, nasty bump on the back of his head not withstanding, and talking to Maxie as Ovrola finished up applying first aid.

Tyrgram ran as fast as his shorter and tired legs could carry him. He ran fast first into Riyphou's leg and grabbed it it a tight hug. It was almost like an elf hugging a tree. 'Riyphou, are you all right?' He asked. The top of his head barely reached to the elephant's man waist. 'Was there a second ogre, mighty of arm and strength that managed to strike a giant like you down?'

Riyphou chuckled softly as Tyrgram came rushing toward him, wrapping his arms around his leg in a tight embrace. The sight of the dwarf, barely reaching his waist, filled Riyphou with warmth, despite the soreness in his body. He gently patted Tyrgram on the back, his large hand covering most of the dwarf’s back in the hug. “Thank you for your concern, Tyrgram,” Riyphou said with a kind smile. “But no, it wasn’t a mighty ogre that brought me down.” He paused, still catching his breath. “It was a goblin—a small creature. But even the smallest beings can have the largest impact.” He looked down at Tyrgram and added, "It’s not always size that matters in a fight. Sometimes, it’s the tenacity and the moment that catches you off guard. Thankfully, no second ogre showed up." He chuckled again, grateful to have turned Tyrgram into a comrade and friend.

Ovrola gave a nod to Riyphou when he said he didn't need any more healing. She hesitated for a moment, before she scampered back toward the circled wagons as a whole to make sure the rest of the caravan members weren't injured.

Findal, meanwhile, scoffed quite loudly at Dugal before he turned on heel and marched up to the party the caravan had hired as protection on the road. There, he bowed deeply. "Thank you for stopping the goblins from taking my wagon and my Peppercorn."

Riyphou nodded in response to Findal’s gratitude. “I’m just glad we could help," he said. "Now, I’m eager to finally reach Grayhaven and see the temple of Myrrah. There’s much to learn there.”

Tyrgram let go of Riyphou and rubbed his nose. 'Yeah, let's get our move on to Grayhaven.'

He lifted his axe on his shoulder and took up his familiar spot next to Ovrola. 'That was some splendid spellcasting you did back there, Miss Ovrola. Do you think you could teach me some?'

Findal paused, then ducked his head again and stated his thanks once more, before he paused to add, "Ah. Tomorrow. Before we reach the Gates, if you don't mind if I take a moment of your time? Each of you? I would...appreciate it," Findal said, fidgeting slightly from foot to foot for the moment. "Before Dugal pays you for your services to the Caravan, if at all possible."

Ovrola nervously rubbed her arm, giving Tyrgram a twitching smile. "I am...unsure I can offer you any sort of training. My skills are more...or less in service to Bealdor, than actual....magic."

Riyphou gave Findal a nod, his expression warm and understanding. "Of course, Findal. I’ll make time tomorrow before we reach the gates. Whatever you need, I’ll be there." He glanced toward the horizon, already anticipating their arrival at Grayhaven.

Curious about what Findal wanted, Maxie also agreed, "Sure, any time!"

Dah’ren wipes rhe blood of the ogre on his blade and with reverence, put it back on its scabbard. He sighs as he stands over the carcass and heads to the rest of the caravan.

”To Grayhaven, then.” He says solemnly.

Quote from Terrakitten >>

Ovrola nervously rubbed her arm, giving Tyrgram a twitching smile. "I am...unsure I can offer you any sort of training. My skills are more...or less in service to Bealdor, than actual....magic."

'Bealdor?' Tyrgram stroked his beard in contemplation. 'I am not familiar. Would you care to tell me more?'

'Bealdor?' Tyrgram stroked his beard in contemplation. 'I am not familiar. Would you care to tell me more?'

 Ovrola gestured with her hands and tried to explain. "I am an Acolyte to Bealdor the High, God of the Sun. I...pray, and he offers his guidance or his gifts. In this case of h-healing." She dropped her hands and fiddled her fingers nervously. "I'm n-not very good at it."

Everyone began to settle back in for the night, Findal curling up into his caravan wagon with Peppercorn, and the other caravan members finally began to settle in. Truthfully to them it was an unsettling night. No one rested easy, and when morning dawned members of the caravan were tired and weary. The road to Grayhaven itself was peaceful, now that they trail of the Long Road escaped the edges of the Tanglebrier Forest.

Soon enough the walls and gates began to grow in the distance. Grayhaven must be the largest city any of you have truly seen, even coming from Slew and Thile. There is a large amount of traffic passing through the gates, evident even from the distance you still have to go. The sky itself is busy as trios of hippogryff's soar overhead. Perhaps a patrol by the air, perhaps members of the Knight's of the Spire, who could tell? The massive barred doors to the city are thrown open by the time the wagons settle in a dirt lot some distance away, directed there by Dugal himself. You can see merchants and travelers of all types passing through the gates, going through vague inspections under the watchful eyes of the city guard.

"You've gotten us safely here, and none can say you didn't do that. Twenty five gold a-peice, as promised," Dugal said gruffly after the wagons had finally come to a halt. He offers each of you a sack of coin, twenty five gold in each one. "The gates aren't too far off now, and it's merely just getting inside the rest of us need to worry about. You are free to go about your business." There was a pause, and then softly Dugal added, "I hear that the guards are on the lookout for a gnome wizard. Don't know why...but they're bringing every one they find in for questioning." He glanced to Findal, then to the party again, before with a rough nod Dugal finally shuffled off.

The other caravan members appeared to be preparing papers for goods and transports of their wagons, except for Findal who shuffled nervously beside his, petting at Peppercorn with anxious energy. He kept glancing toward the gates, and then back toward the party, and then over toward Dugal, then back to the party again.

Riyphou glanced toward Findal, noticing the gnome’s anxious glances between the gates, the party, and Dugal’s retreating form. The news about the guards searching for a gnome wizard clearly had him on edge. Riyphou’s brow furrowed, concern growing as he returned Findal's worried look. After a moment, he decided to approach. He walked over to Findal and placed a steadying hand on his shoulder. “Findal,” Riyphou said gently, “you seem troubled. Is there something I can help with?” His voice was calm and reassuring. “If there’s anything I can do to make entering the city easier for you, just let me know.”

After many days of riding it was time for Maxie to carry herself again. Creating an Unseen Servant, she had it carry her human sized backpack, then used Mage Hand to carry herself to the top of the backpack. This lifted her to eye level of the humans around her, where they can easily see her and avoid her. For her this was the easiest way to move around in a city of creatures so much larger than herself. Creatures that could easily step on her without even realizing it if she were on the ground. 

So she once again appeared as when she first joined the group. an apparently floating backpack with a tiny humanoid mouse riding it. 

She floated over to Riyphou, who she had formed a bond with.

Tyrgram listened with great interest to what Miss Ovrola said. He was not much of a religious person but he always found the myths, legends and stories that went along with it fascinating. It almost was a shame that their time travelling together had come to an end. Tyrgram took the little satchel of gold coin and securely stashed it away. At the very least he ought to say proper goodbyes to the ones he had the fortune of spending the past couple of days. He walked over to Riyphou, who easily stood out amongst the crowd, and saw that Maxie had the same idea. Both were in conversation with Findal so Tyrgram joined in with a listening ear to hear what Findal had to say before he would say his farewells.

Findal shifted, and then sighed explosively and massaged at the bridge of his nose. "Of course he wouldn't bother to wait..." he said half under his breath before he straightened and looked to the gathered group that had so far defended the caravan successfully. "If I could have a moment..." he trailed off, then started again, "Well that is to say. I. Hm." Findal shifted, then slumped over. "...it is quite obvious they are looking for me," he finally said with a pinched expression that became more lively a second later. "I can explain, though!"

Another glance over at everyone, and then Findal began to quietly explain the situation as he saw it. "My good friend Tykus sent me a letter some weeks back about a discovery he had made, and how he needed my help." Findal let out a derisive sort of laugh, something at clear odds with the normally jovial gnome. "I told him to be cautious! To not make waves until I could arrive! But, well, Tykus isn't known for his patience. Or his forethought. Honestly that old Sage will readily throw hands with the nobles over a cup of tea...if it is not obvious despite his rather lofty position as Grayhaven's resident Sage he tends to...clash with the nobility sometimes."

A Sage was serious business in the realms of wizards and magic. Each City had their own, either well-known by name or rumored about in whispers. Each major city had a Tower situated somewhere that reportedly housed a Sage, who advised on matters of magic and coordinated with Alabaster Academy, the foremost center for magical learning. Tykus of Grayhaven was known to all in the city of Grayhaven, although not perhaps as well known outside if it beyond those who had ties to the Alabaster Academy.

"Considering he supposedly found some artifact or another from the time of the Dragon Wars...I am worried," Findal finished with a grimace. "I will pay you five gold per day if you accompany in Grayhaven, including a bonus if you can...somehow get me through the doors. My...friendship with Tykus is well known, in these parts."

Riyphou listened intently as Findal spoke, his curiosity piqued. A Sage? The thought of meeting someone with that level of magical knowledge stirred something deep within him. This Tykus could be the perfect person to shed light on the mysteries of magic—perhaps even the origins that Riyphou himself sought to understand. The idea of discussing the foundation of magic with a Sage was too tempting to pass up.

Nodding, Riyphou placed a reassuring hand on Findal’s shoulder. “I’ll gladly accompany you, Findal,” he said, his voice calm but eager. “If Tykus has knowledge of ancient artifacts and history, I’d be honored to help you reach him. Perhaps his insights could help answer questions I’ve carried with me for a long time.”

He glanced at the wagon thoughtfully. “Could we perhaps disguise you inside the wagon as we go through the gates? It might help avoid unwanted attention while we enter the city.” Riyphou offered a small smile, hoping his idea might make Findal feel a bit more at ease.

 If nothing else, this Tykus fellow sounded like a good connection to have. Tyrgram was a stranger in this new city so a friend, especially one in such a high place if the stuff about sages were true, would be quite useful. And it gave Tyrgram something to do other than start from the bottom of the barrel. And that artifact sounded interesting to boot. The Dragon Wars were old history but fascinating nonetheless.

'We wouldn't have anything to pile on top of that? Some magic maybe, else getting stuffed in a barrel or chest is always a classic.' He weighted in on Riyphou's proposal.

 "I don't know how well hiding me in my own wagon might work," Findal hummed as he rocked on his heels, nervously biting his lip. "I suppose...you could pretend the wagon is the little mouse's?" He glanced to Maxie, then back to Riyphou and Tyrgram. "You'd have to forge the paperwork, however. Everything is...in my name."

For a moment Findal shuffled, but then nodded in overall agreement with the plan. He grabbed his paperwork from within the wagon and quickly shuffled the pages to show where things would need to be temporarily adjusted to reflect a different owner, in this case Maxie. He was ready to assist in forging the paperwork as necessary to, hopefully, convince the guards there was no gnome aboard.

Findal will provide the Help Action to creating a forgery, granting advantage on a roll for this. To create a Forgery either use a Forgery Kit or a Deception Check if you do not have one.

Maxine studies the documents and the changes that need to be made to them. The honest mouse has no experience with deception, but her small size makes it the writing appear larger and easier to see. 

[Is this a case where using a different stat than normal since charisma is not particularly relevant to a written document? Perhaps DEX (hand-eye coordination to duplicate the paper work), INT (since this involves writing), or WIS (to notice the fine details to be copied)?  If the deception is CHR based, then Tyrgram would have the best chance at it.]

Maxie works carefully to duplicate the documents, but with her name on them. She doesn't have forgery tools, so has to use wha's available. Deception (DEX) 15