Yashin chuckles at the others “Aren’t we all just instruments of our gods, the arrows from the bow guided by their hands, as you put it?”
Turning back to Kallandra “We were just tasked to prevent the others from obtaining the items, whatever they are. The Lords of Waterdeep asked us to return the artifact to them for additional study.” he looks over at Ssej “But perhaps you are right and it would be better for us to use it if we can, or destroy it.”
The thunder of your horse's hooves, along with the grinding of wagon wheels, accompanies you as you race Southward. The wind has grown throughout the day, as if the gods you serve are pushing you onward, shoving you as fast as possible towards your destination.
The Way Inn comes into sight as the sun is setting. It is a large walled compound on the western side of the Trade Way atop a grassy plateau. Cart paths lead up to three bridges capable of pivoting and dumping intruders into spiked pits below. The bridges lead to three large gates with gatehouses. Each gatehouse is the size of a small keep and armed with a catapult on the roof capable of firing flaming missiles. The inn itself is made of stone with a tile roof and topped with a lookout tower armed with crossbow devices dubbed airhurlers. The windows of the inn look out over the road.
A Stable for mounts is located in a corner of the compound with more airhurlers on the roof and fenced in paddocks around them. There are many stone houses along the western wall where the inn's staff live. Also in these western buildings are shops that take advantage of the inn's clients for their own profit, such as an apothecary, a trading post, a trailwares shop, a smith, and a wagon repair shop. A small orchard and gardens are also located within the compound.
The gates are all open, and you ride up one of the bridges, passing through the keep-sized gatehouse without issue.
In the main courtyard of the compound you reign in, hostlers stepping out of the stables to greet you and take your horses away to be tended.
Yashin chuckles at the others “Aren’t we all just instruments of our gods, the arrows from the bow guided by their hands, as you put it?”
Turning back to Kallandra “We were just tasked to prevent the others from obtaining the items, whatever they are. The Lords of Waterdeep asked us to return the artifact to them for additional study.” he looks over at Ssej “But perhaps you are right and it would be better for us to use it if we can, or destroy it.”
"Did they?" Kallandra muses. "Well, I'm not overly fond of government and, well, I'm a little skeptical of their motives. I think I agree with Ssej on this one."
As they move towards the compound, Kallandra studies the complex and keeps an especially keen eye out for hidden archers or anyone looking ready to loose those crossbow contraptions on them. She keeps one hand on her staff.
Perception 11+1
Once inside the compound, she studies the people coming to take their horses with equal intensity, even as she removes her saddlebags, looking for even the minutest indication of treachery or deceit or even fear. Anything which could indicate things were not as they seemed.
Nothing seems amiss. The guards pay no more attention to any of you than anyone else entering the place, and there are others doing so. The hostlers are courteous, and as far as you can tell anyway, without any alternative motivations. They seem to just wish to start your visit to the Inn out on a good note.
Yashin looks over at the trading post and other shops, then nods to Brock “Looks to be a good place to sell some of this equipment we are hauling around. We left the last place in such a hurry we didn’t get the chance. Then maybe we can finally get to that game of drinks.”
He looks around the busy courtyard. “We shouldn’t stay long, but it would be nice to get a good meal and a drink, and maybe find out more about the road ahead. How much longer until we get to this place anyway, and how will we know when we find it?”
Nodding his agreement with Yashin Brock gets all the gear they have gathered over the trip and begins bargaining with the merchants to see what he can get for what they have gathered.
Brock looks around the inn at the different patrons and listening to the music play. Feeling in a cheery mood he says to Ichigo. "So kid, you mostly been a warriors for your life. HAs there been anything else you wanted to do," asks the Dwarf at the table.
Kallandra joins the others at the table, ordering a bottle of fine wine for the table and a meal for herself. She also takes a small, leather-bound book from her pack and, from time to time, reads it and makes the occasional note in it. The others can see her sometimes wave her hands or her fingers or both in various gestures and sometimes mouth words and then make more notes.
When she hears Brock's question, though, she closes the book and looks at Ichigo expectantly, clearly keenly interested in the answer.
There is a fairly large number of customers around the inn's common room. At one table you see a group of mercinaries, playing dice as they drink ale. At another a wizard is sitting with a couple of her apprentices, while some commoners sit at their table with them. at one table a blond human, very pretty, sits with a couple of men, one, looking to be a human, is clearly a cleric of some sort, while the other, also wearing the symbol of a god, is a hill dwarf. At another table a curvy tabaxi sits, speaking quietly with a powerfully-built human. A variety of others move freely around the chamber. A tiefling woman walks to the bar, orders a drink, then settles down at a table. A half-elf with white-blond hair, is standing at the bar, talking pleasantly with one of the bartenders. A goliath male, wearing a massive greatsword, stomps between two tables, walking out of the room and out of sight.
This post has potentially manipulated dice roll results.
Kallandra keeps an eye on the other patrons, ever ready to defend herself or her companions. She may not like them yet...OK, Ssej was a great cook even if she didn't care for his methods, though she loved his honesty...but they were hers. She tried to assess the mood and intentions of the patrons, keeping her mind open so not focusing on people who might with them harm.
Kallandra keeps an eye on the other patrons, ever ready to defend herself or her companions. She may not like them yet...OK, Ssej was a great cook even if she didn't care for his methods, though she loved his honesty...but they were hers. She tried to assess the mood and intentions of the patrons, keeping her mind open so not focusing on people who might with them harm.
Insight 8+1
ooc: OMG...she sucks at this!
You have no clue how those about you are regarding you and your companions. The most innocent looks seem to be filled with hidden meaning to you, while more intentional ones are shrugged off as nothing of importance.
Realizing her efforts to read the room are fruitless...I used to be better at this...Kallandra returns her attention to the conversation but also keeps thinking about the spell she's working on, occasionally opening the book and making more notes.
"What was it like for you, growing up, Brock?"
ooc: I figure at some point in the last 10 days she would have learned wherever that was.
“Oh, a lot traveling, sitting in taverns, songs, good times, good food, and a little bit a booze as I got older. My life has always been on the road. Comes with being the son of an adventurer. We’re them some scary moments sure, but that is the lot of this life,” says Brock taking a sip of his drink.
“He is being modest”Yashin nods to Brock, remembering the story of the abyssal bunny “he weaves a fine song and even finer tales. I even bet some of them are true.”
Yashin turns to Kallandra “How about you, what is your story? How did you come to join our little band and what do you know of the artifacts we seek?”
Brock looks around the inn at the different patrons and listening to the music play. Feeling in a cheery mood he says to Ichigo. "So kid, you mostly been a warriors for your life. HAs there been anything else you wanted to do," asks the Dwarf at the table.
"I wasn't always a warrior." Ichika explains. "Back home, my father was a general, but he was also the leader of the town shrine. I was expected to become a shrine priestess when I grew up. I never knew a time when my father wasn't assisting with the war, and I only saw him sparingly when he was attending some civic and temple affairs. He's never cared much about me, so when the news of conscription came, I thought it was my opportunity to make him proud. Chan Cheng is the god of battle and bravery, he guides my hands and my sword."
“Oh, a lot traveling, sitting in taverns, songs, good times, good food, and a little bit a booze as I got older. My life has always been on the road. Comes with being the son of an adventurer. We’re them some scary moments sure, but that is the lot of this life,” says Brock taking a sip of his drink.
"I always enjoy song and dance too." Ichika cocks her head at Brock. "I've never gotten the chance to learn, though they share a lot of its elements in martial arts as well. The balance of strength, acrobatics and rhythm. To fight is another form of dance. I've always loved the beauty of it."
Yashin turns to Kallandra “How about you, what is your story? How did you come to join our little band and what do you know of the artifacts we seek?”
"Thank you for coming to our aid." Ichika says to Kallandra, her eyes sincere. She remembers how Kallandra flew down in the darkness, when she looked up she saw the lightning striking behind her. "That was a beautiful moment. I shall never forget it."
As you speak among yourself, the blond, who had been speaking with the dwarf and human, both of whom wear holy symbols, leaves their table and heads up to the bar. Those watching see her order a drink, then, instead of returning to her original table, she moves over and looks to Yashin. "Hey there, do you mind if I sit with you?" She nods back to her original table. "Can't stand pushy men you know..." She is an athletic-looking woman with long blond hair, tied back in a braid, brilliant blue eyes, and with a slight accent that makes you think of the South. She wears a long tunic, with a belt sinching it tight at her waist. A dagger and mony pouch hang from the belt. The two men look a bit unhappy about the blond's leaving of them, but don't appear likely to make a big deal of it.
“He is being modest”Yashin nods to Brock, remembering the story of the abyssal bunny “he weaves a fine song and even finer tales. I even bet some of them are true.”
Yashin turns to Kallandra “How about you, what is your story? How did you come to join our little band and what do you know of the artifacts we seek?”
"Well, I'll answer the last bit, first. Nothing, other than what's in the vision. Do either of you know more? My story is simple. When I was a girl, oh, 50-60 years ago, I nearly died, I'm told. When I recovered, my magical aptitude had...grown. I could barely control it and often didn't. My parents sent me off to a cousin, deep in the High Forest, a powerful sorcerer himself. He taught me control and then refinement. About 30 years later my goddess appeared to me and sent me into the world. She said I needed to grow and learn things my cousin Vallin couldn't teach me. Told me to follow my heart. So I did. I spent the last 20 years or so traveling around Faerun, finding one cause after another, one group to help or stop, depending. I think the goddess always intended me to be part of this group, or at least be ready to join if needed." She pauses then, a smile on her lips. "Just before I arrived at the inn, I was putting the smack down on some frost giants trying to batter a group of refugees. That was fun," she says with a chuckle. "When I'm not doing that, I like to read and create maps, mess around with herbs, practice with my bow." She pats the faintly glowing bow you've never seen her without. "And work on this spell I'm trying to develop." She glances at the journal on the table. "I can cast Flame Arrows now but I want to make a better spell, one I can cast on my bow that will do the same thing, but better, so that every arrow I launch from my bow will be flaming. Not casting the spell on quiver."
Yashin chuckles at the others “Aren’t we all just instruments of our gods, the arrows from the bow guided by their hands, as you put it?”
Turning back to Kallandra “We were just tasked to prevent the others from obtaining the items, whatever they are. The Lords of Waterdeep asked us to return the artifact to them for additional study.” he looks over at Ssej “But perhaps you are right and it would be better for us to use it if we can, or destroy it.”
The thunder of your horse's hooves, along with the grinding of wagon wheels, accompanies you as you race Southward. The wind has grown throughout the day, as if the gods you serve are pushing you onward, shoving you as fast as possible towards your destination.
The Way Inn comes into sight as the sun is setting. It is a large walled compound on the western side of the Trade Way atop a grassy plateau. Cart paths lead up to three bridges capable of pivoting and dumping intruders into spiked pits below. The bridges lead to three large gates with gatehouses. Each gatehouse is the size of a small keep and armed with a catapult on the roof capable of firing flaming missiles. The inn itself is made of stone with a tile roof and topped with a lookout tower armed with crossbow devices dubbed airhurlers. The windows of the inn look out over the road.
A Stable for mounts is located in a corner of the compound with more airhurlers on the roof and fenced in paddocks around them. There are many stone houses along the western wall where the inn's staff live. Also in these western buildings are shops that take advantage of the inn's clients for their own profit, such as an apothecary, a trading post, a trailwares shop, a smith, and a wagon repair shop. A small orchard and gardens are also located within the compound.
The gates are all open, and you ride up one of the bridges, passing through the keep-sized gatehouse without issue.
In the main courtyard of the compound you reign in, hostlers stepping out of the stables to greet you and take your horses away to be tended.
"Did they?" Kallandra muses. "Well, I'm not overly fond of government and, well, I'm a little skeptical of their motives. I think I agree with Ssej on this one."
Tandor the White, Human Life Cleric
As they move towards the compound, Kallandra studies the complex and keeps an especially keen eye out for hidden archers or anyone looking ready to loose those crossbow contraptions on them. She keeps one hand on her staff.
Perception 11+1
Once inside the compound, she studies the people coming to take their horses with equal intensity, even as she removes her saddlebags, looking for even the minutest indication of treachery or deceit or even fear. Anything which could indicate things were not as they seemed.
Insight 9+1
ooc: Terrible rolls LOL
Tandor the White, Human Life Cleric
Nothing seems amiss. The guards pay no more attention to any of you than anyone else entering the place, and there are others doing so. The hostlers are courteous, and as far as you can tell anyway, without any alternative motivations. They seem to just wish to start your visit to the Inn out on a good note.
Yashin looks over at the trading post and other shops, then nods to Brock “Looks to be a good place to sell some of this equipment we are hauling around. We left the last place in such a hurry we didn’t get the chance. Then maybe we can finally get to that game of drinks.”
He looks around the busy courtyard. “We shouldn’t stay long, but it would be nice to get a good meal and a drink, and maybe find out more about the road ahead. How much longer until we get to this place anyway, and how will we know when we find it?”
Nodding his agreement with Yashin Brock gets all the gear they have gathered over the trip and begins bargaining with the merchants to see what he can get for what they have gathered.
Dormark Calling of Strahd (warforged cleric) 4
(All gear can be sold for GP cost divided by 2.)
What is everyone doing now that we are at an inn? It is late evening, closing on true night.
Brock looks around the inn at the different patrons and listening to the music play. Feeling in a cheery mood he says to Ichigo. "So kid, you mostly been a warriors for your life. HAs there been anything else you wanted to do," asks the Dwarf at the table.
Dormark Calling of Strahd (warforged cleric) 4
Kallandra joins the others at the table, ordering a bottle of fine wine for the table and a meal for herself. She also takes a small, leather-bound book from her pack and, from time to time, reads it and makes the occasional note in it. The others can see her sometimes wave her hands or her fingers or both in various gestures and sometimes mouth words and then make more notes.
When she hears Brock's question, though, she closes the book and looks at Ichigo expectantly, clearly keenly interested in the answer.
Tandor the White, Human Life Cleric
There is a fairly large number of customers around the inn's common room. At one table you see a group of mercinaries, playing dice as they drink ale. At another a wizard is sitting with a couple of her apprentices, while some commoners sit at their table with them. at one table a blond human, very pretty, sits with a couple of men, one, looking to be a human, is clearly a cleric of some sort, while the other, also wearing the symbol of a god, is a hill dwarf. At another table a curvy tabaxi sits, speaking quietly with a powerfully-built human. A variety of others move freely around the chamber. A tiefling woman walks to the bar, orders a drink, then settles down at a table. A half-elf with white-blond hair, is standing at the bar, talking pleasantly with one of the bartenders. A goliath male, wearing a massive greatsword, stomps between two tables, walking out of the room and out of sight.
Kallandra keeps an eye on the other patrons, ever ready to defend herself or her companions. She may not like them yet...OK, Ssej was a great cook even if she didn't care for his methods, though she loved his honesty...but they were hers. She tried to assess the mood and intentions of the patrons, keeping her mind open so not focusing on people who might with them harm.
Insight 24+3
ooc: OMG...she sucks at this!
Tandor the White, Human Life Cleric
You have no clue how those about you are regarding you and your companions. The most innocent looks seem to be filled with hidden meaning to you, while more intentional ones are shrugged off as nothing of importance.
Realizing her efforts to read the room are fruitless...I used to be better at this...Kallandra returns her attention to the conversation but also keeps thinking about the spell she's working on, occasionally opening the book and making more notes.
"What was it like for you, growing up, Brock?"
ooc: I figure at some point in the last 10 days she would have learned wherever that was.
Tandor the White, Human Life Cleric
“Oh, a lot traveling, sitting in taverns, songs, good times, good food, and a little bit a booze as I got older. My life has always been on the road. Comes with being the son of an adventurer. We’re them some scary moments sure, but that is the lot of this life,” says Brock taking a sip of his drink.
Dormark Calling of Strahd (warforged cleric) 4
“He is being modest” Yashin nods to Brock, remembering the story of the abyssal bunny “he weaves a fine song and even finer tales. I even bet some of them are true.”
Yashin turns to Kallandra “How about you, what is your story? How did you come to join our little band and what do you know of the artifacts we seek?”
"I wasn't always a warrior." Ichika explains. "Back home, my father was a general, but he was also the leader of the town shrine. I was expected to become a shrine priestess when I grew up. I never knew a time when my father wasn't assisting with the war, and I only saw him sparingly when he was attending some civic and temple affairs. He's never cared much about me, so when the news of conscription came, I thought it was my opportunity to make him proud. Chan Cheng is the god of battle and bravery, he guides my hands and my sword."
"I always enjoy song and dance too." Ichika cocks her head at Brock. "I've never gotten the chance to learn, though they share a lot of its elements in martial arts as well. The balance of strength, acrobatics and rhythm. To fight is another form of dance. I've always loved the beauty of it."
"Thank you for coming to our aid." Ichika says to Kallandra, her eyes sincere. She remembers how Kallandra flew down in the darkness, when she looked up she saw the lightning striking behind her. "That was a beautiful moment. I shall never forget it."
As you speak among yourself, the blond, who had been speaking with the dwarf and human, both of whom wear holy symbols, leaves their table and heads up to the bar. Those watching see her order a drink, then, instead of returning to her original table, she moves over and looks to Yashin. "Hey there, do you mind if I sit with you?" She nods back to her original table. "Can't stand pushy men you know..." She is an athletic-looking woman with long blond hair, tied back in a braid, brilliant blue eyes, and with a slight accent that makes you think of the South. She wears a long tunic, with a belt sinching it tight at her waist. A dagger and mony pouch hang from the belt. The two men look a bit unhappy about the blond's leaving of them, but don't appear likely to make a big deal of it.
"Well, I'll answer the last bit, first. Nothing, other than what's in the vision. Do either of you know more? My story is simple. When I was a girl, oh, 50-60 years ago, I nearly died, I'm told. When I recovered, my magical aptitude had...grown. I could barely control it and often didn't. My parents sent me off to a cousin, deep in the High Forest, a powerful sorcerer himself. He taught me control and then refinement. About 30 years later my goddess appeared to me and sent me into the world. She said I needed to grow and learn things my cousin Vallin couldn't teach me. Told me to follow my heart. So I did. I spent the last 20 years or so traveling around Faerun, finding one cause after another, one group to help or stop, depending. I think the goddess always intended me to be part of this group, or at least be ready to join if needed." She pauses then, a smile on her lips. "Just before I arrived at the inn, I was putting the smack down on some frost giants trying to batter a group of refugees. That was fun," she says with a chuckle. "When I'm not doing that, I like to read and create maps, mess around with herbs, practice with my bow." She pats the faintly glowing bow you've never seen her without. "And work on this spell I'm trying to develop." She glances at the journal on the table. "I can cast Flame Arrows now but I want to make a better spell, one I can cast on my bow that will do the same thing, but better, so that every arrow I launch from my bow will be flaming. Not casting the spell on quiver."
Tandor the White, Human Life Cleric