Merric nods at Karib’s suggestion and adds “In the meantime, let’s find out how he got here and why. It could help your questioning tomorrow.” He turns back to the man, helping him stand up and giving him some more water. “Here, drink, but slowly. Bandits are just as likely to knife you and throw you into the woods, not take the time to dig out a hole. What happened to you, how did you end up buried up to your neck in the road?”
A few nearby chortle at Rogram's self-deprecation; it seems the story of the Innevar sisters has spread through the caravan. The weary man drinks deeply from Merric's waterskin before coming up for air, exhaling gruffly before taking another drink, wincing at the feeling of the liquid entering his dehydrated system.
"My fiancee..." he starts before his voice gets too scratchy. Clearing his throat a few times, he tries again. "I broke off my engagement when I discovered her father and brothers were little more than roadside bandits. She tricked me. I refused to join them, and...their expectations obviously didn't match mine," he answers.
Karib can't help himself and laughs along with Akira, "Family are always a problem, eh? One way or another. Sounds like you dodged and arrow with this one."
He looks the man up and down, trying to assess what he might have been before being buried alive -- scars, burns (Karib has a lot of those), arcane symbols. His eyes pass over the Harper symbol without comment. Eventually he says, "I'm thinking you'll be in need of clothes some time soon. And what shall we call you?"
(( If the man gives a name ))
"I'm Karib" he says, holding out his hand. "You'll have to forgive us if we seem un-trusting; we just had a run-in with some shape-shifters and will need to watch you closely. We will put a watch on you and shackle you at least for tonight. If you agree to those terms then, for my part, you are welcome to ride with us." He looks around to make sure everyone agrees before continuing. "Perhaps stay in a covered wagon so your wife is unlikely to see you."
Again, he spends a few moment thinking slowly, before frowning. "Bandits, you said...should we be expecting a visit from them?"
"I'm thinking you'll be in need of clothes some time soon. And what shall we call you?"
"Carlon Amoffel..." the man answers. "I'm grateful. I know this must look weird. And, uh...yes, some clothes would be great." He scratches his head, turning red as he seems to finally recognize that he is standing around an entire caravan of people wearing only a loincloth.
"You'll have to forgive us if we seem un-trusting; we just had a run-in with some shape-shifters and will need to watch you closely. We will put a watch on you and shackle you at least for tonight. If you agree to those terms then, for my part, you are welcome to ride with us."
Carlon grunts in irritation. "If you run into them again, let me know. They can trade places with me," he says. Beyd chuckles and claps Karib on the shoulder. "A fine compromise I think. Edhelri, Lai, does that suffice?" he asks. Edhelri says nothing, but Lai grunts and waves Beyd away, walking back to his wagon. "That sounds like a yes to me," Beyd says. "Welcome aboard. You can ride in the back of my wagon. Plenty of liquid in there to keep you hydrated."
"Perhaps stay in a covered wagon so your wife is unlikely to see you."
Again, he spends a few moment thinking slowly, before frowning. "Bandits, you said...should we be expecting a visit from them?"
Carlon takes a good look around the caravan and shakes his head. "No, those cowards wouldn't pick a fight unless their opponent is defenseless and unsuspecting," he spits.
This post has potentially manipulated dice roll results.
Merric shares a small chuckle at Karib’s assessment of the situation. “Yes, I would say you were lucky not to be part of that family if we didn’t just dig you out of that hole. May have been a different story if we didn’t come along when we did.” He gestures to the man’s forehead. “Your engagement, is that the oath you broke, or just the one you would have us assume?” He carefully considers the man’s story for any sign of deception. Insight: 18.
Carlon's eyes peer upward as if trying to see the words. He sighs, "That's the only one I'm aware of." He clears his throat a few times, but his voice remains harsh and dry.
For Merric:
It seems to you that Carlon isn't telling the full story, but that strikes you as more untrusting than malicious.
Carlon heads back with some guards and merchants as the others work to continue filling the hole in the road. It takes nearly an hour for the road to be patched, enough time for Carlon to receive some spare clothing and more water, then take his place in the back of Beyd's wagon.
OOC: Pausing to make sure everyone has done everything they want to here. Anything else to be done/said before the caravan starts rolling again?
As they finish filling the hole, Rogram wipes sweat from his forehead with his leather beanie before replacing it atop his head. He scratches through the covering at the stubble beneath. It's time to shave again to continue his "disguise". Walking back to Lai's wagon, the half-dwarf can't help but feel good about the physical labor he'd just participated in. It's been a while since he's worked his muscles for such an extended period. His mind harkens back to the hours spent working the forge. "I'm coming, Pa," he whispers.
Akira speaks up, “I feel like you are leaving something out. The term ‘oath breaker’ doesn’t seem like it would be common knowledge to bandits. Between your markings and what appears to be a gap in what is likely, is there anything you might be failing to tell us?”
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
Halsen - Human Monk - Winter Splendor Aradurk - Half-Orc Fighter - Barty's Blade Bizarre Aradurk - Half-Orc Fighter - Betrayal at Devilsfall Aradurk - Half-Orc Fighter - Barty's "The Hidden War" (Doom Portals Part 4A) Aradurk - Half-Orc Fighter -Barty's "The Whispered Word (Doom Portals Part 5) Garu - Tabaxi Paladin - Barty's "Beyond Twilight" (Rikirta Part 3)
Carlon looks confused for a moment, then sighs, the exhaustion still quite evident on his features. "Look, if you want to dig that hole back up and put me back in it, you're welcome to, but I've told you what happened. I know you're not exactly catching me in my finest moment, but I'm no bandit and no woman is worth becoming one," he says.
OOC: Assuming from the silence that we're all wrapped up here and moving on.
Despite the delay in the morning, the caravan makes mighty progress throughout the day as it rambles along the wide and well-traveled road. The rain of the previous tenday is all but forgotten as the sun beats down on your heads, baking your skin but also hardening the road and allowing for faster travel.
A cautious cheer arises as the caravan rolls up to a roadside inn in the evening. The anxiety provided by the lack of hospitality the last time shelter was in sight proves unfounded, however. You find this inn to be warm and welcoming, with plenty of room for any who wish to pay for it. The merchants provide rooms for each of their guards, and more than a few travelers are more than willing to provide the coin for a soft bed themselves.
The merchants in particular seem to be in very good spirits at the sight of the inn. While Beyd deals with the proprietor to reload his wagon, Lai laughs along with a group of adventurers at a table in the common room. Judging by their well-polished and colorful armor, they are quite prosperous, and each adventurer wears a set of splint mail of a different color. The armor has been very well crafted, painted, and sealed in a dazzling red, yellow, blue, pink, and black. After the horses have been housed in the stables for the night, you are greeted by the sound of conversation in the stuffy by spacious common room, the loudest of which are Lai's hearty guffaws at his table with the adventurers.
OOC: Each character has earned 300 XP for not leaving Carlon to his fate.
Merric pulls Karib and the others aside “Keep an eye on Carlon, I get the feeling he is holding something back, but he doesn’t appear to be up to trouble.”
At the inn that evening, Merric takes extra time to ensure his employer’s horses are stabled and well cared for before heading inside and joining the others in the common room. Immediately spotting the loudest table, he pulls up a chair and sits it backwards next to Lai and straddles it, leaning forward over the backrest. “Who are your friends, Lai? Colorful folk.” He orders a mead and glances over the adventurers at the table. “I’m Merric, what are we drinking to today?”
Rogram is all smiles as he enters the inn. His head swivels and his eyes dart about as he takes it all in. It feels like forever since he's been able to enjoy creature comforts such as this. He's elated when Leda tells him that Lai has paid for them to have rooms. He approaches the dwarf and offers to buy him a mug as thanks, then remembers that he had been robbed of all of his gold by the gray creatures disguised as the sisters. This puts a damper on his excitement, and he has to apologize and rescind his offer.
“Who are your friends, Lai? Colorful folk.” He orders a mead and glances over the adventurers at the table. “I’m Merric, what are we drinking to today?”
Lai leans back, motioning to the adventurers to allow them to introduce themselves. "Javier," the man in red armor says. "And this is Barron, Talika, Kylee, and Zencheanra." The others over small waves or salutes to Merric. "Around these parts, we're known as the Rangers," Barron says, at which the others raise their glasses in a cheer.
"The lads and lasses were just gettin' to the good part," Lai says. "Not that you missed much," Kylee says with a chuckle. "It's the death of a hydra we're celebrating," Zencheanra says to another cheer from the others and onlookers. "It was Javier's idea for us each to take on one of its heads. A bold strategy, because if one of us fell, that surely would have been the end of it. But, the same logic applied to the hydra's heads. Once Talika took hers down, the thing was outnumbered."
"And it was impressive as all nine hells, let me tell you. She scaled its back and drove her rapier through its eye. The thing thrashed around like you wouldn't believe, but she held on and rode the blade straight into its brain."Javier continues. A small crowd has gathered by this point, travelers quickly becoming enraptured by the adventurers' abilities as they filter into the inn. When Rogram offers and rescinds Lai's mug, Lai recounts a story of his own in turn. Eyes turn to Rogram as his employer details the beautiful twins who stole his heart and then his coin. Laughter builds throughout the room at the well-told tale, and Barron puts a hand on the half-dwarf's shoulder. "Not to worry friend, that mug's on me," he says, obtaining ale for both Rogram and Lai.
Tyjit sidles into the seat next to Akira, the gruff dwarven woman looking over at the others in apparent distaste. "Can I get ye a drink, boss?" She asks Akira.
As Karib assists Beyd with some restocking, Akira's familiar flies into the back of the wagon where Carlon is shackled. As he and Beyd close up the wagon, Carlon speaks to the owl. "So...you like ale? Or crowds not your thing?"
Rogram puts his hand on the back of his neck in embarrassment as Lai relays the story, but as the others seem to appreciate his predicament, and Barron offers to fill both his and Lai's mugs, the bard grins and thanks him, feeling more comfortable. After getting his drink, Rogram stands by the table near Lai's chair and soaks in the comradery of the Rangers. He had spied a few adventurers traveling through Greenest in his day. His father was occasionally employed to fix armor, weapons and wagons. But Rogram had never had occasion to share a drink with any of them. Their stories were very interesting. Their bravery was commendable.
Rogram looks around the room to see if any of the cult members had joined them inside.
Rogram notes that the guards most often seen with the cult wagons have not joined the rest of the caravan inside, but there are a few faces that have interacted with them that are interspersed throughout the common room. He notices though, that none of those faces are seated together or interacting with one another. To an untrained eye, that may seem entirely innocuous, but with Rogram's attention to the wagons the party believes to be associated with the Cult over the last two tendays, that fact strikes his as deliberate and intentional; this is the strategy of a group of people trying to pretend they are not associated with one another.
Rogram furrows his brow. He had considered asking the Rangers if they've heard of any Cult activity in the area, but (uncharacteristically) wisely decides to not. He does become quite interested in what these individuals might be up to, and so only appears to be paying attention to Lai's table when in fact he's trying to keep tabs on those scattered throughout the room who may be associated with the Cult.
Merric nods at Karib’s suggestion and adds “In the meantime, let’s find out how he got here and why. It could help your questioning tomorrow.” He turns back to the man, helping him stand up and giving him some more water. “Here, drink, but slowly. Bandits are just as likely to knife you and throw you into the woods, not take the time to dig out a hole. What happened to you, how did you end up buried up to your neck in the road?”
A few nearby chortle at Rogram's self-deprecation; it seems the story of the Innevar sisters has spread through the caravan. The weary man drinks deeply from Merric's waterskin before coming up for air, exhaling gruffly before taking another drink, wincing at the feeling of the liquid entering his dehydrated system.
"My fiancee..." he starts before his voice gets too scratchy. Clearing his throat a few times, he tries again. "I broke off my engagement when I discovered her father and brothers were little more than roadside bandits. She tricked me. I refused to join them, and...their expectations obviously didn't match mine," he answers.
See my profile for all my PbP threads!
Rogram leans on his shovel handle and listens to the man. Wow. This piece of road is tough on relationships.
Akira stifles a laugh at Rogram’a remark then turns, her face back to a reserved demeanor. “Did we get his name?”
Halsen - Human Monk - Winter Splendor
Aradurk - Half-Orc Fighter - Barty's Blade Bizarre
Aradurk - Half-Orc Fighter - Betrayal at Devilsfall
Aradurk - Half-Orc Fighter - Barty's "The Hidden War" (Doom Portals Part 4A)
Aradurk - Half-Orc Fighter - Barty's "The Whispered Word (Doom Portals Part 5)
Garu - Tabaxi Paladin - Barty's "Beyond Twilight" (Rikirta Part 3)
Karib can't help himself and laughs along with Akira, "Family are always a problem, eh? One way or another. Sounds like you dodged and arrow with this one."
He looks the man up and down, trying to assess what he might have been before being buried alive -- scars, burns (Karib has a lot of those), arcane symbols. His eyes pass over the Harper symbol without comment. Eventually he says, "I'm thinking you'll be in need of clothes some time soon. And what shall we call you?"
(( If the man gives a name ))
"I'm Karib" he says, holding out his hand. "You'll have to forgive us if we seem un-trusting; we just had a run-in with some shape-shifters and will need to watch you closely. We will put a watch on you and shackle you at least for tonight. If you agree to those terms then, for my part, you are welcome to ride with us." He looks around to make sure everyone agrees before continuing. "Perhaps stay in a covered wagon so your wife is unlikely to see you."
Again, he spends a few moment thinking slowly, before frowning. "Bandits, you said...should we be expecting a visit from them?"
"Carlon Amoffel..." the man answers. "I'm grateful. I know this must look weird. And, uh...yes, some clothes would be great." He scratches his head, turning red as he seems to finally recognize that he is standing around an entire caravan of people wearing only a loincloth.
Carlon grunts in irritation. "If you run into them again, let me know. They can trade places with me," he says. Beyd chuckles and claps Karib on the shoulder. "A fine compromise I think. Edhelri, Lai, does that suffice?" he asks. Edhelri says nothing, but Lai grunts and waves Beyd away, walking back to his wagon. "That sounds like a yes to me," Beyd says. "Welcome aboard. You can ride in the back of my wagon. Plenty of liquid in there to keep you hydrated."
Carlon takes a good look around the caravan and shakes his head. "No, those cowards wouldn't pick a fight unless their opponent is defenseless and unsuspecting," he spits.
See my profile for all my PbP threads!
Merric shares a small chuckle at Karib’s assessment of the situation. “Yes, I would say you were lucky not to be part of that family if we didn’t just dig you out of that hole. May have been a different story if we didn’t come along when we did.” He gestures to the man’s forehead. “Your engagement, is that the oath you broke, or just the one you would have us assume?” He carefully considers the man’s story for any sign of deception. Insight: 18.
.
Carlon's eyes peer upward as if trying to see the words. He sighs, "That's the only one I'm aware of." He clears his throat a few times, but his voice remains harsh and dry.
For Merric:
It seems to you that Carlon isn't telling the full story, but that strikes you as more untrusting than malicious.
Carlon heads back with some guards and merchants as the others work to continue filling the hole in the road. It takes nearly an hour for the road to be patched, enough time for Carlon to receive some spare clothing and more water, then take his place in the back of Beyd's wagon.
OOC: Pausing to make sure everyone has done everything they want to here. Anything else to be done/said before the caravan starts rolling again?
See my profile for all my PbP threads!
As they finish filling the hole, Rogram wipes sweat from his forehead with his leather beanie before replacing it atop his head. He scratches through the covering at the stubble beneath. It's time to shave again to continue his "disguise". Walking back to Lai's wagon, the half-dwarf can't help but feel good about the physical labor he'd just participated in. It's been a while since he's worked his muscles for such an extended period. His mind harkens back to the hours spent working the forge. "I'm coming, Pa," he whispers.
Akira speaks up, “I feel like you are leaving something out. The term ‘oath breaker’ doesn’t seem like it would be common knowledge to bandits. Between your markings and what appears to be a gap in what is likely, is there anything you might be failing to tell us?”
Halsen - Human Monk - Winter Splendor
Aradurk - Half-Orc Fighter - Barty's Blade Bizarre
Aradurk - Half-Orc Fighter - Betrayal at Devilsfall
Aradurk - Half-Orc Fighter - Barty's "The Hidden War" (Doom Portals Part 4A)
Aradurk - Half-Orc Fighter - Barty's "The Whispered Word (Doom Portals Part 5)
Garu - Tabaxi Paladin - Barty's "Beyond Twilight" (Rikirta Part 3)
Carlon looks confused for a moment, then sighs, the exhaustion still quite evident on his features. "Look, if you want to dig that hole back up and put me back in it, you're welcome to, but I've told you what happened. I know you're not exactly catching me in my finest moment, but I'm no bandit and no woman is worth becoming one," he says.
See my profile for all my PbP threads!
OOC: Assuming from the silence that we're all wrapped up here and moving on.
Despite the delay in the morning, the caravan makes mighty progress throughout the day as it rambles along the wide and well-traveled road. The rain of the previous tenday is all but forgotten as the sun beats down on your heads, baking your skin but also hardening the road and allowing for faster travel.
A cautious cheer arises as the caravan rolls up to a roadside inn in the evening. The anxiety provided by the lack of hospitality the last time shelter was in sight proves unfounded, however. You find this inn to be warm and welcoming, with plenty of room for any who wish to pay for it. The merchants provide rooms for each of their guards, and more than a few travelers are more than willing to provide the coin for a soft bed themselves.
The merchants in particular seem to be in very good spirits at the sight of the inn. While Beyd deals with the proprietor to reload his wagon, Lai laughs along with a group of adventurers at a table in the common room. Judging by their well-polished and colorful armor, they are quite prosperous, and each adventurer wears a set of splint mail of a different color. The armor has been very well crafted, painted, and sealed in a dazzling red, yellow, blue, pink, and black. After the horses have been housed in the stables for the night, you are greeted by the sound of conversation in the stuffy by spacious common room, the loudest of which are Lai's hearty guffaws at his table with the adventurers.
OOC: Each character has earned 300 XP for not leaving Carlon to his fate.
See my profile for all my PbP threads!
Merric pulls Karib and the others aside “Keep an eye on Carlon, I get the feeling he is holding something back, but he doesn’t appear to be up to trouble.”
At the inn that evening, Merric takes extra time to ensure his employer’s horses are stabled and well cared for before heading inside and joining the others in the common room. Immediately spotting the loudest table, he pulls up a chair and sits it backwards next to Lai and straddles it, leaning forward over the backrest. “Who are your friends, Lai? Colorful folk.” He orders a mead and glances over the adventurers at the table. “I’m Merric, what are we drinking to today?”
Akira leaves her owl to keep an eye on Carlon with instructions to contact her if any trouble befalls him.
She will then join the rest of the group at the Inn. Ordering a mead, she will observe the group quietly, listening intently.
Halsen - Human Monk - Winter Splendor
Aradurk - Half-Orc Fighter - Barty's Blade Bizarre
Aradurk - Half-Orc Fighter - Betrayal at Devilsfall
Aradurk - Half-Orc Fighter - Barty's "The Hidden War" (Doom Portals Part 4A)
Aradurk - Half-Orc Fighter - Barty's "The Whispered Word (Doom Portals Part 5)
Garu - Tabaxi Paladin - Barty's "Beyond Twilight" (Rikirta Part 3)
Rogram is all smiles as he enters the inn. His head swivels and his eyes dart about as he takes it all in. It feels like forever since he's been able to enjoy creature comforts such as this. He's elated when Leda tells him that Lai has paid for them to have rooms. He approaches the dwarf and offers to buy him a mug as thanks, then remembers that he had been robbed of all of his gold by the gray creatures disguised as the sisters. This puts a damper on his excitement, and he has to apologize and rescind his offer.
Lai leans back, motioning to the adventurers to allow them to introduce themselves. "Javier," the man in red armor says. "And this is Barron, Talika, Kylee, and Zencheanra." The others over small waves or salutes to Merric. "Around these parts, we're known as the Rangers," Barron says, at which the others raise their glasses in a cheer.
"The lads and lasses were just gettin' to the good part," Lai says. "Not that you missed much," Kylee says with a chuckle. "It's the death of a hydra we're celebrating," Zencheanra says to another cheer from the others and onlookers. "It was Javier's idea for us each to take on one of its heads. A bold strategy, because if one of us fell, that surely would have been the end of it. But, the same logic applied to the hydra's heads. Once Talika took hers down, the thing was outnumbered."
"And it was impressive as all nine hells, let me tell you. She scaled its back and drove her rapier through its eye. The thing thrashed around like you wouldn't believe, but she held on and rode the blade straight into its brain." Javier continues. A small crowd has gathered by this point, travelers quickly becoming enraptured by the adventurers' abilities as they filter into the inn. When Rogram offers and rescinds Lai's mug, Lai recounts a story of his own in turn. Eyes turn to Rogram as his employer details the beautiful twins who stole his heart and then his coin. Laughter builds throughout the room at the well-told tale, and Barron puts a hand on the half-dwarf's shoulder. "Not to worry friend, that mug's on me," he says, obtaining ale for both Rogram and Lai.
Tyjit sidles into the seat next to Akira, the gruff dwarven woman looking over at the others in apparent distaste. "Can I get ye a drink, boss?" She asks Akira.
As Karib assists Beyd with some restocking, Akira's familiar flies into the back of the wagon where Carlon is shackled. As he and Beyd close up the wagon, Carlon speaks to the owl. "So...you like ale? Or crowds not your thing?"
See my profile for all my PbP threads!
Rogram puts his hand on the back of his neck in embarrassment as Lai relays the story, but as the others seem to appreciate his predicament, and Barron offers to fill both his and Lai's mugs, the bard grins and thanks him, feeling more comfortable. After getting his drink, Rogram stands by the table near Lai's chair and soaks in the comradery of the Rangers. He had spied a few adventurers traveling through Greenest in his day. His father was occasionally employed to fix armor, weapons and wagons. But Rogram had never had occasion to share a drink with any of them. Their stories were very interesting. Their bravery was commendable.
Rogram looks around the room to see if any of the cult members had joined them inside.
Rogram notes that the guards most often seen with the cult wagons have not joined the rest of the caravan inside, but there are a few faces that have interacted with them that are interspersed throughout the common room. He notices though, that none of those faces are seated together or interacting with one another. To an untrained eye, that may seem entirely innocuous, but with Rogram's attention to the wagons the party believes to be associated with the Cult over the last two tendays, that fact strikes his as deliberate and intentional; this is the strategy of a group of people trying to pretend they are not associated with one another.
See my profile for all my PbP threads!
Rogram furrows his brow. He had considered asking the Rangers if they've heard of any Cult activity in the area, but (uncharacteristically) wisely decides to not. He does become quite interested in what these individuals might be up to, and so only appears to be paying attention to Lai's table when in fact he's trying to keep tabs on those scattered throughout the room who may be associated with the Cult.
Akira replies to Tyjit, “Gracious offer - thank you.”
Noticing her distaste for crowd, she asks, “Anything catching your keen senses that we feel she should be concerned about?”
Halsen - Human Monk - Winter Splendor
Aradurk - Half-Orc Fighter - Barty's Blade Bizarre
Aradurk - Half-Orc Fighter - Betrayal at Devilsfall
Aradurk - Half-Orc Fighter - Barty's "The Hidden War" (Doom Portals Part 4A)
Aradurk - Half-Orc Fighter - Barty's "The Whispered Word (Doom Portals Part 5)
Garu - Tabaxi Paladin - Barty's "Beyond Twilight" (Rikirta Part 3)