[OOC: A short rest does seem to be in order. Go ahead and make the necessary adjustments on the character sheets. Don't forget to add some custom valuables as well for the list of bits you'll end up taking from your dead friend Mexurekataax.]
Zanoth snaps one of the dragons long sharp teeth off for a keepsake and helps Lucky with a few more; you never know, might make good daggers, arrow heads etc. A vial of holy water is then emptied for some dragon blood.
After resting up a little, Zanoth motions to see if the others are ready to get back on the road.
After taking keepsakes as well as anything they thought they could sell and carry without adding too much weight, the group took some time to rest, and bandage up wounds. As soon as they mounted up again, a light snowfall began to dance down out of the clouds, which was good from the perspective that it would help to cover their tracks, but it also meant continued slow going. Mills destination for the day was out of reach already just for having been waylaid by the dragon, so as the afternoon waned on he and Gor kept their eyes peeled for any sort of hidden and defensible resting spot to make camp out of the weather.
(OOC: Let's get some Survival rolls. You can roll separately and see what happens, or one can Help the other so that he can roll with advantage.)
[OOC: Not sure what happened with that dice parser there, but it went wildly off whack. Looking at individual rolls, the high first and highest roll was 14, so that would lead to a total of 16. Which is already high enough. :)]
Apparently all that was required to find a suitable camp spot for the night was to have less restricted by constant years of training. Lucky was able to spot a perfect spot where two tall thick trees had fallen over onto a third creating a sort of natural lean to, and one side of the lean to had become fully covered by a massive snow drift, no doubt blown there by the blizzard force winds of the previous night's storm. Gor and Mills gathered up some loose pine boughs to make the roof a bit more waterproof as well as to fashion a makeshift door. The quarters were a bit cramped, and the horses had to stay outside to stomp through the snow in search of whatever pre-spring greenery they could find, but it did in a pinch. By the time everything was set up, dusk had fully settled onto the mountains, and the light snow had stopped. After the fight with the dragon, Mills was loathe to allow a campfire, not wanting to draw any more unwanted attention their way. Their shelter did a good job of trapping in their body heat, and nobody else felt up to fighting another foe that night, so all agreed.
It was a chill night, and having to weather such cold after having felt the icy breath of a white dragon was entirely unpleasant for Lucky, but he dealt with it heroically. In the morning, everyone realized that the temperature had dropped overnight after the clouds were pushed through. Even so, Amryn's sun had come up with blazing brightness, and there was zero wind to speak of. After breaking their fast the Outlanders again followed Mill's lead in a southeasterly direction toward the village of Cold Bend, which Mills thought they should be able to reach no later than dusk, if the weather held and their horses were sure footed.
Thankfully, Mill's estimation was wrong, but in a favorable direction. Just after the sun had passed its zenith and started its descending arc in the sky, the Outlanders topped the ridge of a hill and looked down into the beautiful river valley of the River Amryn. Not too far down the river's winding shore, thatched roofs and tendrils of cook-fire smoke were easily discerned between the treetop canopy. Mills breathed a fairly hefty sigh of relief. "There it is fellers. Cold Bend. Now, y'all remember, this is a backwater town of clanless Highlanders. They are a law of their own, and don't take too kindly to strangers. Let's all mind our manners, don't make trouble, and there won't be trouble. Understand?"
[OOC: Go ahead and apply a long rest, and make sure to prepare spells as desired. Then go ahead and discuss any short term goals you all have while in the hamlet of Cold Bend.]
Short term.. stay grey, find a quiet inn, one unlikely to attract any attention. Bribe anyone necessary to “forget” we are here, like stable-boy and inn-keeper. Pay exorbitantly for the best room and unlimited food, but keep sober(ish!) for now.
Mills sighs. "It just means they aren't used to lots of people. Not a lot of people.come through. Towns like this get set in their ways, and don't like it being pointed out, neither." Mills will head in to town, looking for someplace that offers care for the horses first, then to look for beds.
Gor nods "I will keep to myself and not anger the locals. What do you mean by backwater towns? Are they behind a body of water that I do not see?"
[OOC: In this case, actually yes, they are on a bend of the River Amryn, which divides the Highland Kingdom into halves. :D]
Descending the snowy hill into the valley was slow due to the hill's steepness. Traveling in the river valley, though, was easy and smooth. As the group of riders approached the outskirts of the village, they passed a few thatched hovels where rugged men and women sat outside tending to chores like mending nets, fixing boats, or cleaning and gutting the day's catch of fish. Moving towards the village's center, the number of buildings increased in number as well as in size and construction methods. There were a few wood and plaster buildings that flanked the market square, one was a trader of general goods as indicated by his painted sign. The other was most likely the town's only inn, the painted sign for which had a black haired mermaid, topless, carrying a spiraled narwhal bone as a spear. The words under the sign read: "The Spiteful Wench."
"Mmm sounds cozy." Lucky remarked, dripping with sarcasm.
After tying up the horses the four gentlemen pushed through the oak and iron door of The Spiteful Wench and were immediately bathed in the rank smell of fish, body odor, and pungent tobacco smoke. A haze of the latter sat over the room, a room that was sparsely populated at the moment by weather beaten old timers with grey beards nursing stone tankards of some steaming drink. Behind the counter the Outlanders were surprised to see a woman who very clearly resembled the mermaid on the inn's painted sign. Behind her, above the bar resting in decorative brass hooks, was a spiraled narwhal bone. As some of the smoke haze flew out the door with the woosh of warm air chasing the cold, the woman got a good look at the group, and her eyes turned back to Zanoth. "Well, there's a tall drink of water, if I do say so myself. What can Fanny get you lot today? Hot chowder? Mulled wine? Rooms for the night? If'n you want to save a bit o' coin, that big feller can just bunk with me tonight." She said, and then moved her ragged fist in and out of the mug she was cleaning in an entirely crass and suggestive manner.
"Yup." Lucky said under his breath. "I'm gonna like this place." Then louder, "Hot chowder and mulled wine sound like just the ticket! Aye, and I've no doubt this 'big feller' will have just the trick to clean your tankard." Lucky pinched Zanoth's arse-cheek when he said it causing the man to start and bounce forward.
Gor covers his mouth upon entering the tavern being smacked in the face by the stench. He coughs and acts as if he had a sneeze remembering what Mills had said about the "backwater" town. Gor asks the the woman in a serious tone not understanding the lingo "I will have the chowder and the tall drink of water you offered"
Gor covers his mouth upon entering the tavern being smacked in the face by the stench. He coughs and acts as if he had a sneeze remembering what Mills had said about the "backwater" town. Gor asks the the woman in a serious tone not understanding the lingo "I will have the chowder and the tall drink of water you offered"
[OOC: Hilarious! Gor, you made me laugh. You have earned Inspiration. :D]
As Zanoth stepped through the door of The Spiteful Wench he was assaulted with familiar smells from his previous life in Thgol’d’rak; sweat, beer and baccy, but thankfully not blood. He guessed bar fights were not common here, especially ones involving sharp weapons.
<He’d never been called a “tall drink of water” before, but he knew his good looks and domineering presence often ended up with jealous boyfriends or goggling women, and now might not be the best time to attract such attention. He was about to decline Fanny’s offer after the warning from Mills, but Lucky’s pinch reminded him this may be his last chance at some ”comfort” for a while to come, and he didn’t want to upset the landlady; obviously declining the offer may be taken as an insult, and he didn’t want that!>
As Gor asks for water, Zanoth swings his head sideways at the misunderstanding from his rustic friend… obviously a virgin.
“My dear lady, your establishment is most welcome after the cold road we have just travelled, so your offer is most appreciated. Chowder and Wine all around…” <then smiling at Gor> “and I guess a glass of water for my friend. And I insist we pay our fair way for services rendered.”
He carefully and surreptitiously pulls four gold from his pouch, one gold for each of them, and leans forward to Fanny to hand the money over, knowing it was an exceedingly fine price for the room and foot, but wanted to make sure there was no questions asked.
With his head close to Fanny in a quiet voice;
“And also if your bunk is as welcoming as your inn and demeanour, I would love to share your company later as you wish…”
<Then turning to Lucky he winks, to Mills he shrugs, and to Gor he smirks.>
/OOC
See DM, I blame you for this.. If Lucky hadn’t of pinched Zanoth, none of this would have happened !
Assuming she takes Zanoth up on the reciprocation, he’ll be sure to make sure she knows we’re travelling on the down-low so to keep quiet, and also to see if she has any useful information on… anything.
The Outlanders found a suitable booth by the front wall, one that even had a little window of opaque glass letting in some sunlight. Shortly thereafter Fanny, who had popped back into the kitchen, came out with a serving tray of four big wooden bowls full of a viscous soup that smelled of fish, garlic and herbs, as well as a stone carafe of some steaming liquid and four tall tankards. After setting a bowl of fish chowder and a tankard in front of each man, Fanny poured some of the steaming mulled wine from the carafe into each tankard with expert agility. In a rather forward move, as she bent over to pour the wine in the tankards across the table, she, quite purposefully, put her ample breasts right in Zanoth's view. Across the booth Mills gave him a wicked smile and a wink. Lucky just chuckled. Gor sat seemingly oblivious looking at the consistency of the fish chowder, lifting his spoon out of it, and letting the thick liquid plop back off into the bowl. Fanny noticed him doing so and said, "day old bread. I use it as a thickener, gives it a certain hardiness." Gor just nodded.
"Well then," Fanny said, "you lot need anything else just let me know. Here's the keys to your room. Yes, you heard me right, room, singular, I've only got the one left for the night, another group headed to Rydwyrna beat you here by about an hour, and they claimed three of my four." Then the dark haired mistress of the inn and tavern, ran her fingers up and down Zanoth's muscly arm and said, "whenever you're ready to turn in, big boy, you just let Fanny know, and we'll head on up to my room where Fanny'll take real good care of you." Before she walked away she gave Zanoth's arm a soft squeeze.
Gor continues to dip his spoon in and out of the soup wondering what else gives it its hardiness. He looks at the others to see if they eat it and survive "She forgot my tall drink of water. Do I chase her down or shout over the commotion of this place?"
Mills raises an eyebrow at the word of three other rooms of travelers.
Anybody else here that we can see?
[ooc: Was this a question for the DM: "Anybody else here that we can see?" If it was a question for me, then I'm not sure how to answer. I mean, as I said in the original scene setter, there's a few folk scattered about the common room. Do you mean anybody you recognize? If so that's a "no."]
”I think it’s just “water” you should ask for, and you would probably be better going to the horse trough outside for it… doesn't seem the type of place that you would get the stuff inside, or check your waterskin.”
Not shy of hard work Zanoth makes sure to help with the Inn clean-up, both dishes and drunken hangers-on to get a “good” nights sleep… and also to keep an eye out for the inn’s patrons.
<Quietly to Lucky> ”If I don’t show up in the morning DO come looking for me.”
/OOC No need to go to the shared room, but as stated, keep an eye out for the new patrons and any “interesting info”.
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[OOC: A short rest does seem to be in order. Go ahead and make the necessary adjustments on the character sheets. Don't forget to add some custom valuables as well for the list of bits you'll end up taking from your dead friend Mexurekataax.]
Got took a few things from the dragon for remedies and a single tooth to remember the dragon by. He nods at Zanoth ready to move out
After taking keepsakes as well as anything they thought they could sell and carry without adding too much weight, the group took some time to rest, and bandage up wounds. As soon as they mounted up again, a light snowfall began to dance down out of the clouds, which was good from the perspective that it would help to cover their tracks, but it also meant continued slow going. Mills destination for the day was out of reach already just for having been waylaid by the dragon, so as the afternoon waned on he and Gor kept their eyes peeled for any sort of hidden and defensible resting spot to make camp out of the weather.
(OOC: Let's get some Survival rolls. You can roll separately and see what happens, or one can Help the other so that he can roll with advantage.)
/OOC I am going to Help Lucky, so I’ll roll with his +2 Survival & at Adv; Survival check : 26
[OOC: Not sure what happened with that dice parser there, but it went wildly off whack. Looking at individual rolls, the high first and highest roll was 14, so that would lead to a total of 16. Which is already high enough. :)]
Apparently all that was required to find a suitable camp spot for the night was to have less restricted by constant years of training. Lucky was able to spot a perfect spot where two tall thick trees had fallen over onto a third creating a sort of natural lean to, and one side of the lean to had become fully covered by a massive snow drift, no doubt blown there by the blizzard force winds of the previous night's storm. Gor and Mills gathered up some loose pine boughs to make the roof a bit more waterproof as well as to fashion a makeshift door. The quarters were a bit cramped, and the horses had to stay outside to stomp through the snow in search of whatever pre-spring greenery they could find, but it did in a pinch. By the time everything was set up, dusk had fully settled onto the mountains, and the light snow had stopped. After the fight with the dragon, Mills was loathe to allow a campfire, not wanting to draw any more unwanted attention their way. Their shelter did a good job of trapping in their body heat, and nobody else felt up to fighting another foe that night, so all agreed.
It was a chill night, and having to weather such cold after having felt the icy breath of a white dragon was entirely unpleasant for Lucky, but he dealt with it heroically. In the morning, everyone realized that the temperature had dropped overnight after the clouds were pushed through. Even so, Amryn's sun had come up with blazing brightness, and there was zero wind to speak of. After breaking their fast the Outlanders again followed Mill's lead in a southeasterly direction toward the village of Cold Bend, which Mills thought they should be able to reach no later than dusk, if the weather held and their horses were sure footed.
Thankfully, Mill's estimation was wrong, but in a favorable direction. Just after the sun had passed its zenith and started its descending arc in the sky, the Outlanders topped the ridge of a hill and looked down into the beautiful river valley of the River Amryn. Not too far down the river's winding shore, thatched roofs and tendrils of cook-fire smoke were easily discerned between the treetop canopy. Mills breathed a fairly hefty sigh of relief. "There it is fellers. Cold Bend. Now, y'all remember, this is a backwater town of clanless Highlanders. They are a law of their own, and don't take too kindly to strangers. Let's all mind our manners, don't make trouble, and there won't be trouble. Understand?"
[OOC: Go ahead and apply a long rest, and make sure to prepare spells as desired. Then go ahead and discuss any short term goals you all have while in the hamlet of Cold Bend.]
/OOC
Gor nods "I will keep to myself and not anger the locals. What do you mean by backwater towns? Are they behind a body of water that I do not see?"
Mills sighs. "It just means they aren't used to lots of people. Not a lot of people.come through. Towns like this get set in their ways, and don't like it being pointed out, neither." Mills will head in to town, looking for someplace that offers care for the horses first, then to look for beds.
Paladin - warforged - orange
Gor nods as if he understands "So don't mention bathing should be a normal reoccurrence throughout their week"
[OOC: In this case, actually yes, they are on a bend of the River Amryn, which divides the Highland Kingdom into halves. :D]
Descending the snowy hill into the valley was slow due to the hill's steepness. Traveling in the river valley, though, was easy and smooth. As the group of riders approached the outskirts of the village, they passed a few thatched hovels where rugged men and women sat outside tending to chores like mending nets, fixing boats, or cleaning and gutting the day's catch of fish. Moving towards the village's center, the number of buildings increased in number as well as in size and construction methods. There were a few wood and plaster buildings that flanked the market square, one was a trader of general goods as indicated by his painted sign. The other was most likely the town's only inn, the painted sign for which had a black haired mermaid, topless, carrying a spiraled narwhal bone as a spear. The words under the sign read: "The Spiteful Wench."
"Mmm sounds cozy." Lucky remarked, dripping with sarcasm.
After tying up the horses the four gentlemen pushed through the oak and iron door of The Spiteful Wench and were immediately bathed in the rank smell of fish, body odor, and pungent tobacco smoke. A haze of the latter sat over the room, a room that was sparsely populated at the moment by weather beaten old timers with grey beards nursing stone tankards of some steaming drink. Behind the counter the Outlanders were surprised to see a woman who very clearly resembled the mermaid on the inn's painted sign. Behind her, above the bar resting in decorative brass hooks, was a spiraled narwhal bone. As some of the smoke haze flew out the door with the woosh of warm air chasing the cold, the woman got a good look at the group, and her eyes turned back to Zanoth. "Well, there's a tall drink of water, if I do say so myself. What can Fanny get you lot today? Hot chowder? Mulled wine? Rooms for the night? If'n you want to save a bit o' coin, that big feller can just bunk with me tonight." She said, and then moved her ragged fist in and out of the mug she was cleaning in an entirely crass and suggestive manner.
"Yup." Lucky said under his breath. "I'm gonna like this place." Then louder, "Hot chowder and mulled wine sound like just the ticket! Aye, and I've no doubt this 'big feller' will have just the trick to clean your tankard." Lucky pinched Zanoth's arse-cheek when he said it causing the man to start and bounce forward.
Gor covers his mouth upon entering the tavern being smacked in the face by the stench. He coughs and acts as if he had a sneeze remembering what Mills had said about the "backwater" town. Gor asks the the woman in a serious tone not understanding the lingo "I will have the chowder and the tall drink of water you offered"
[OOC: Hilarious! Gor, you made me laugh. You have earned Inspiration. :D]
/OOC
Mills stomps on Lucky's foot, then Gor's comment after makes him realize he doesn't have the wherewithal to stomp everyone as needed.
He simply sighs and sits. "Yeah, thanks. We'll need it."
Paladin - warforged - orange
The Outlanders found a suitable booth by the front wall, one that even had a little window of opaque glass letting in some sunlight. Shortly thereafter Fanny, who had popped back into the kitchen, came out with a serving tray of four big wooden bowls full of a viscous soup that smelled of fish, garlic and herbs, as well as a stone carafe of some steaming liquid and four tall tankards. After setting a bowl of fish chowder and a tankard in front of each man, Fanny poured some of the steaming mulled wine from the carafe into each tankard with expert agility. In a rather forward move, as she bent over to pour the wine in the tankards across the table, she, quite purposefully, put her ample breasts right in Zanoth's view. Across the booth Mills gave him a wicked smile and a wink. Lucky just chuckled. Gor sat seemingly oblivious looking at the consistency of the fish chowder, lifting his spoon out of it, and letting the thick liquid plop back off into the bowl. Fanny noticed him doing so and said, "day old bread. I use it as a thickener, gives it a certain hardiness." Gor just nodded.
"Well then," Fanny said, "you lot need anything else just let me know. Here's the keys to your room. Yes, you heard me right, room, singular, I've only got the one left for the night, another group headed to Rydwyrna beat you here by about an hour, and they claimed three of my four." Then the dark haired mistress of the inn and tavern, ran her fingers up and down Zanoth's muscly arm and said, "whenever you're ready to turn in, big boy, you just let Fanny know, and we'll head on up to my room where Fanny'll take real good care of you." Before she walked away she gave Zanoth's arm a soft squeeze.
Gor continues to dip his spoon in and out of the soup wondering what else gives it its hardiness. He looks at the others to see if they eat it and survive "She forgot my tall drink of water. Do I chase her down or shout over the commotion of this place?"
Mills raises an eyebrow at the word of three other rooms of travelers.
Anybody else here that we can see?
Paladin - warforged - orange
[ooc: Was this a question for the DM: "Anybody else here that we can see?" If it was a question for me, then I'm not sure how to answer. I mean, as I said in the original scene setter, there's a few folk scattered about the common room. Do you mean anybody you recognize? If so that's a "no."]
/OOC No need to go to the shared room, but as stated, keep an eye out for the new patrons and any “interesting info”.