Tempe reads the manual as long as he can then puts it away sleeps and awakes ready for what the day brings.

You guys are behind enemy lines right now. The Goblin Horde lays siege to the city of Laurentiis. Remember you never passed through enemy lines on the way out here, you sort of went around the coast in a small boat.

Early in the morning, shortly after you all rise and are beginning breakfast you notice a figure approaching from the East (enemy lines), a lone figure.

Zenodor points to the figure. "Any ideas who that is or what this could be about?"

He sends Irraxan ahead to have a look at the approaching figure. 

Z Perception 14

Irraxan Perception 14

It appears to be a man carrying something small slung over his shoulder.

As he gets closer you see it is 2 brace of rabbit (4 rabbits in total, 2 to a brace).

(You all have a round or two to do something, prepare etc. before he gets to the front door of the temple (or wherever you are having breakfast, inside or out.))

Breakfast will be served outside, even though this temple is abandoned, it still is a temple and thus as respect for the gods food will not be made cooked inside.

Quote from Brian_Avery >>

 

(You all have a round or two to do something, prepare etc. before he gets to the front door of the temple (or wherever you are having breakfast, inside or out.))

 Zenodor will get a cup and one of the waterskins, to be able to offer the stranger a drink of water upon his arrival. As the figure gets close enough, he call out "Well met, traveller. Pray tell us who you are, and be welcome around our fire if you come in friendship."

Petcan does the cooking (outside), and is in process of handing out the extraordinary products of his labor (4 people take 4 temp hp, courtesy of chef feat). 

He simply eyes the newcomer, suspiciously. "Haven't seen any signs of ordinary folks left out here..." 

As the stranger approaches you notice he is lacking weapons, not even a dagger or knife, and yet he has caught rabbits.

"Hail and well met! I am Vernon Stryder out of Laurentiis. I am just hunting a few rabbit and small game to smuggle past the goblins and back to the good folk in the city."

Randall:

Randall regards the newcomer carefully, wary of treachery but not prejudging this man.  Does he seems to be as he presents himself, or is he hiding something?

Insight:  16

Pepin is wondering how the rabbits where acquired when not using weapons and decides to, hopefully without the stranger noticing, casts detect magic.

"Vernon, I am Petcan. We are surprised to see anyone here."

@Randall

He looks like an outdoors man, wears traveling clothes, just has no weapons on him.

@Pepin

There is no magic around the man or emanating from him.

"Oh there are a few stragglers about. The goblins don't patrol this far from the tunnels."

Noticing the water held out to him. "Is that for me?" And he reaches to take the drink you offered him.

"If you're hungry I don't mind sharing my rabbit, it aways makes for a hearty meal when you've got some meat. I've never been one of them vegetable lovers." He half snorts with a laugh that dies quickly on his lips.

Randall:

”You are most kind,” says Randall, dismissing the Guardian of Faith blocking the way into the temple (from this direction only).  “Come, sit with us at our morning campfire and let us share breakfast; we may be able to help each other out, especially if you know a good way through the enemy lines back to Laurentis.  Tell me, what deity do you follow?” he asks.

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Noticing the water held out to him. "Is that for me?" And he reaches to take the drink you offered him.

 "Indeed. Let us offer you our hospitality, such as it is out in this wilderness." replies Zenodor 

Quote from Brian_Avery >>

@Randall

He looks like an outdoors man, wears traveling clothes, just has no weapons on him.

"If you're hungry I don't mind sharing my rabbit, it aways makes for a hearty meal when you've got some meat. I've never been one of them vegetable lovers." He half snorts with a laugh that dies quickly on his lips.

 "That would be most kind." Z looks at the man and the rabbits. "But pray tell me: how did you catch these rabbits? I see no bow or knife, yet you have four of them. This is surely a skill worth knowing if you are willing to share?"

Pepin relaxes a bit, although still not sure what to think about this.

Zenodor shares Pepin's apprehension and will keep at a reasonable distance (out of arm's reach) and keep an eye on the stranger and on their possessions. The stranger may not be a warrior or assassin, but he could still be a pickpocket or thief. 

He pulls out a small coil of wire.

"I make slips and place them strategically along the lays or runs that the rabbit make and follow. They do the rest, there are so many on the go it's easy to catch them."

Tempe looks at the man, "How did you know we're here? And how did you get past the goblins?"

15 Insight on answer.

"I didn't, not until I got close enough to see your camp."

"The tunnels. They don't patrol all that much even though they're the ones that made them."

"That sounds like perhaps it's a nice method for us to get back into the city. Although ... thinking about it ... do we even need to return to the city - or should we try to further investigate their camps and supply lines?"

(Honestly, I forgot what the plan was after this side-quest)