Dues for the Dead (DM Lerus)

CRAP reunites just as Utar is confirming the agreement with Sagin. Neya and Graxx are properly introduced to the kobold, and the barbarian's newfound calm is not lost in Doozey. The interrogation and agreement are summarized to the new arrivals who, in turn, briefly recount the latest conversation they had with the Doomguide. (OOC: I'm assuming this is alright. Let me know if any of you have any reservations in sharing the information in front of the kobold.)

Once they are all caught up, the stoutling proposes next steps. They are to march to meet their dragon acquaintance, but not before the group has a chance to resupply and share some of the information they acquired with allies.

Sagin speaks up hesitantly: "Hmm... What happened in the tunnels?" The kobold asks his question while raising his cuffed wrists, hopping Doozey meant what he requested of Graxx.

(OOC: So, what is the first stop in the resupplying to-do list?)

Graxx nods and leans down to uncuff Sagin.

"Hello Sagin... Good to hear you'll be joining us."

Graxx looks to Doozey.

"No problem here Doozey.  I am a new Graxx.  Tempus has shown me my past grudges have clouded my judgement."

Graxx shows [Tooltip Not Found].

"I had to give up something as important to me as this weapon.  I gave up my past hatred.  I still seek to be Chief of my Tribe but the Drow will only be harmed if they get in the way of the path of Glory."

Graxx holds the leather bound axe.

"I need to spend some more time with it before using it in battle but when I do... Well it's best to stay a few good steps away from me when I start swinging."

Graxx looks at the others.

"We are all present.  There is no time like now to get moving."

"We chased the woman in red away," Neya answers Sagin's question.

"I feel I don't need anything. We should go fulfill our promise." Neya says.

"Mn. And succinct as always, Ms. Neya." Doozey said, before looking back to Sagin. "Unfortunately, your kin there weren't of a mind to talk. Nor were we at that point once that giant bone creature got released from its pin."  Turning back on to the others, Doozey puts his hands at his hips. "Good to hear you two are at least all set. Still, first back to town, and then the road. By the way, did you two pick up the reward from Brother Yovir?" Doozey said, though the question would be something spoken once the group our well on their way.

He also hadn't shied away from prying into Sagin's combat skills, citing that the road may be a dangerous one, and that he may have to be prepared to defend himself. Which to that end as well, and following some weighing in from the others, Doozey offers to pay for some small arms and other basic survival gear to help Sagin out.

@Lerus: It's been a while~ And because of that, I cannot recall if the below would conveniently be in one section of the city or elsewhere. But, assume he'd head to whatever shops remembered would likely supply most of what he needed below.

To Purchase:

 (Armor based purchase are subject to change if Sagin confess some interest towards magic, even if not capable of casting anything atm)

Also forgot to roll Wand of Secrets Recharge: 2.

Assuming the others are fine with arming our Kobold companion, Doozey will give Sagin the following from his personal belongings(including those currently in the bag of holding):

Neya offers no more than a seven-word answer to Sagin, who looks downward as if yelled at. Doozey expands on it just a tad more and then insists that the group should make some quick stops in the city, at least so he can get some gear for their newest recruit. When cued, Sagin explains that he is much more of a worker than a fighter. When needed, his preferred weapon is the sling, but he can wield short blades like knifes and daggers in a pinch. "Just not under the light of the nasty ball of fire above... it hurts my eyes."

On their way to town, Graxx elaborates on his newfound motivation and how Tempus has helped him clear his mind.

(@Ori: Between the apothecary, general goods stores, and a mundane armorer, Doozey should be able to buy all requested items without any issue. Go ahead and add them to your inventory, deduct the appropriate gold amount, and then separate the items you are giving to Sagin in a different "container" --I added a new one called "Sagin's Inventory" to your sheet. If buying the explorer pack whole, feel free to then resell the torches and rope at half-price to save some coin. By the way, is the explorer pack for Doozey or Sagin? I don't see it listed in the part where you detail the items you are handing over to the kobold.)

(OOC: Pausing here to see if anyone else wants to pick up anything or if they strongly object arming Sagin.)

Utar asks whether Sagin has ever considered wearing a hat to keep the sun out of his eyes? If the kobold is amenable, Utar offers to look for and purchase one in town, maybe in a child's size?

(OOC Don't think there's much else for Utar to do in town, maybe buy assume spell components? Graxx checked on the house earlier so that's ok.)

OOC:  No objections to arming the Kobold.

"I prefer darkness," Sagin tells Utar. "A hat is not the same."

It is late morning when the group decides to start shopping and retrieving items. It is simple but time-consuming work. At least a couple of hours pass before the task is completed and, by then, the group feels the need to eat a late lunch before any traveling can commence. Not knowing the specifics of the kobold's condition, Utar finds a haberdashery and purchases a simple hat for Sagin, hoping that it will help at least a little.

(@MB: Please deduct some 8cp from your wallet to account for the simple hat. I added it to Sagin's inventory.)

Fast forwarding to the point where everyone is ready to depart: it is now mid afternoon and CRAP is aware the trip to the general area where the they can find the lair of Derannos, the Bronzen Wave Crest of the Stormy Bay will take a full day. That meant that, should they depart now and plan to camp by the side of the road overnight, CRAP should arrive at the destination by about lunch time tomorrow. This would also put them not very far away from the ferry point leading to the unnamed islet where they fought Ixas and her vast crew. 

(OOC: At this point, I feel like it is only fair that I remind you that you last spoke with Derannos during the previous two-tenday long downtime period, and not necessarily right at the end of it. That means that the "one day late" you have been referencing is more like "several days late," or "a few days late" at best.)

(OOC: Also, to account for random encounters during the travel, may I kindly ask for a d100 roll from each of you?)

Graxx would like to finally attune with the axe during the camping overnight.

Random Encounter:  89

Passing the hat to Sagin, Utar shrugs off the kobold's complaints and looks up to the midday sun, shielding his eyes with his hand.

"We won't always travel in darkness and if you're sensitive to sunlight, this might be all you get. Take it or leave it."

2

(@Lerus: I must've misinterpeted it then. My bad. Even so, kinda works out, as Doozey would likely be very much chomping at the bit to leave as soon as possible upon hearing the news. So his day late comments would be more in reference to his breaking point having been reached the previous day, and wanting to head out -immediately-. Heck, he might've been eager to leave as soon as the group woke up if not for Sagin and being so low on supplies. :S)

"Mn... Been to long." Doozey mutters as the party readies to depart. Then a thought hits him that has the stoutling face plaming, and grumbling to himself. But if anyone asks, he brushes off  any concern with an "It's Nothing", before hoping onto Biscuit ready to take off prior to anything else/one needing more them. And while not much one for small talk, once the group rested for the night, Doozey would try to get Sagin open up a bit. Initially it was only really out idle curiosity. But being the awkward socialite, he'd move on to helping the Kobold get used to his new gear and even teach the kobold a few tricks and techniques if up for it.

Rando Roll: 30.

 While Neya doesn't fully trust him yet, she tries to reassure him.

"If you're worried that you're holding us back. Don't. While we are quite capable, we are far from perfect. It's one of the reasons we're together, to pick up each other's slack. There's no hierarchy among us."

(OOC: We'll take this short trip by stages, so hold on to your "while resting" requests.)

Sagin takes the hat offered by Utar and looks attentively at Neya while she reassures him. He quietly thanks Doozey for the help with the gear and then nods to indicate he is ready to follow.

TRAVELING DURING THE AFTERNOON

This is the second time CRAP is traveling down the Iron Route. The skies are cloudy but much of the view starts to look familiar. The farming land just outside of Phlan soon gives way to grassy and then wooded areas. The Moonsea itself is always within sight to the party's left, and the noises of wildlife constantly emerge from inland, to their right.

At some point in the late afternoon, perhaps a full hour before the sun goes down, the group passes through an area that feels somewhat familiar. Doozey begins looking around inland, sure that he is about to find it. A moment later, he gasps with his discovery: a simple wooden door, its paint now all flaked off by time, stands behind some trees and bushes. It is the same door CRAP found here during their first trip up and down the Iron Route. It would be just the door frame and the closed door itself, like before, but this time there is something else too. A table to the side holds a large basket of fresh vegetables. A sign reads “1 copper a bunch: honesty is a virtue!”

(@Drache: I still need a d100 from you, please.)

d100: 28

"That is curious..." Neya says, looking at the door with a confused expression.

She looks around the vicinity of the door. She is sure nothing was around it last time they saw it.

Perception: 11

As the group leave the city and enter the countryside, Utar begins counting out a 25 word long message to the Bronze Dragon, Derannos. Did it have a more formal title? Can't remember. Never mind.

In casting sending Utar hopes that their adventuring group have their name to the dragon. Otherwise the sign off might not make total sense. Still, it can be explained later of needs be.

Coming to the door, Utar does contemplate taking a bunch of two of vegetables. They might be a nice gift for Elisande, or a tasty dinner for tonight. Taking without paying never crosses his mind. 

Taking a couple of copper into his hand, Utar rolls the coins while he ponders making a purchase. 

"A roadside stall selling produce is normally a welcome sight, but this is a little unsettling."

With Neya peering around the area, Utar casts detect magic, examining both the door and the produce.

Doozey pats his chest and mentally chides himself for being so taken by surprise. "I.... eh... I wouldn't bother with it, if I were ye. More than likely some fey fellow or lass is having a goof at the expense of others again." The stoutling would say upon regaining his composure. "At least at best. And at worse... mmm.... Best not ta chance it, all the same.Let's just keep going for a bit more, and find ourselves a campsite." He urges the rest.

And yet despite such leanings, no attempt is made to stop any, so long as they at least have or present a copper. It's only with Sagin that he more readily intervenes, offering him a copper piece and a word of advice in draconic: "Not sure how much experience you've had with the feyfolk back in the forest. But they are not to be trifled with. Even the seeming innocent offerings can lead to bad ends for those that don't respect 'da rules'."

Graxx is at first tempted to pay and collect food but heeds Doozey's warning.

"Fey hmmm.  I wonder if this will work."

Graxx closes his eyes.

"Tempus be my sight."

Graxx will use Divine Sense.

BEFORE LEAVING THE CITY

Utar sends a magical message to Derannos, the Bronzen Wave Crest of the Stormy Bay (a.k.a. DtBWCotSB, 😁.) To much of his dismay, Utar does not receive a reply.

AT THE STRANGE DOOR

Even though the group seems cautious overall about the produce offering, some seem more inclined to pay a copper for a bunch than others.

@Neya: Your instincts tell you to have a thorough look around and you waste no time in doing so. While your companions discuss whether they should buy a bunch of vegetables, you take in your surroundings and conclude that there is no other individual within your immediate field of vision. No birds are singing, no twigs are being snapped, no fish are flopping out of the water in the distance, no deer is grazing nearby.

@Graxx: Putting your newfound connection to Tempus to good use, you spiritually browse your surroundings to confirm that there are no celestials, fiends, or undead within 60 feet of you. You sense an evil essence coming from the door, but not the vegetables. The area has not been affected by the hallow spell.

@MB: With your companions covering the physical and the spiritual searches, you take the responsibility for the magical search. Both the door and the bunch of vegetables are magical (conjuration school.) The basket, sign, and table are quite mundane. There are no other unexpected sources of magic within 30 feet of you.

@Doozey: The details of your piece of advice to Sagin go a bit over his head, but he seems to understand that it is probably in his best interest to not accept the copper piece you are showing him. He shakes his head from side to side quite quickly, and opts to grunt instead of saying any words of refusal.

Utar puts the coppers back in his pocket. Magical vegetables don't sound like they would fill a hole in a stomach and probably wouldn't make a great gift...

Filling in the others on his findings, he also let's them know that there's been no response from DtBWCotSB.

He can't help but smile at the thought of whoever conjured the door and vegetables having to heft a table about afterwards though.

Graxx growls.

”The door is evil.  I can sense it.”

Graxx turns to the others.

“Should we destroy it so some child or other innocent does not fall to its dangers?”