The Forgotten Wish

"If we go with a trader, hopefully they are more trustworthy than the fellow we traveled with, who made up tales to earn the Captain's favor.", Breldo mutters sourly.

En route, Pallen seems actively interested in Slick's rambling, inane as it might be, if only because it's pushing his mind away from other things. The occasional "Uh huh", "Really?" or "I see..." The mess around Vanstrom for sure one of the things currently on his mind, but it's obviously not everything that is bothering him, even if he puts on a brave facade. A facade that grows weaker and weaker with each step of their journey.

"We're not exactly going to pass by a major hub," Pallen admits as if the sight ahead of them was not already indicative enough of the fact. "It's just a small farming village we pass through before we'll be heading into the forest. It's...  Still reasonably early, so we can decide if we'd rather try to sleep somewhere in the village and finish the journey tomorrow, or if we'd want to risk camping in the forest," he states, clearly in the moment thinking about how much further they'd have to travel once past Mossley, and trying to estimate how far they could get.

The group, of course, very much realizes they took a job at Mossley they haven't quite told Pallen about yet.

"I'm not sure if they'll even have a proper inn, so we'd probably have to hire a barn or something if we want to stay. We can probably pay one of the villagers to take all this with them next time they head to Passley, though."

"I'm quite used to sleeping in barns, stables, and even outdoors.  So, I'll abstain from my vote on what we choose to do here."

((Well, half of the group...))

Breldo clears his throat. "There's a couple of us that heard tell back in Mezzra that Mossley put out a call... kids been going missing for a day or so, then showing back up in town, with no clear memory of where they'd been. Folks are spooked and worried it's something nefarious. I know you're on a timetable, sir, but if we're thinking of stopping early, might be we could see if anything can be done to help the folks. A bit of goodwill among the villagers could get a message back to Passley with a fair assurance they'll see things to where they are addressed."

Sylvera had tuned out the conversation shortly after they'd decided to write a letter rather than staying in town. All she wanted was to make sure she kept her word, so once that decision was made she tried to appear like she didn't care about the rest... even though she would very much like to see that fool of a captain topple to the lowest reaches of society and maybe kick him around in the mud once he's down there. 

"I'm sure we can find a courier for the right price," she says abruptly, jumping back into the conversation after a long while of silence. "Anyone heading that way would be willing to carry the letter if the price is right. And perhaps..." Her eyes go wide at the notion of spending the night in a barn, "No. Not a chance...." Her eyes go wider when Breldo mentions the idea of stopping early in this town that may or may not have a 'proper inn'. "Wha... How..." Her face slowly turns a bright shade of red as she suddenly loses her cool, "You can't seriously consider taking on another job while you are currently working on one already! Have you no sense of...." She lets out a long breath, forcing herself to regain her composure, "Why would you take on a second job before you've completed this one? Not to mention the fact that we are on a time limit." She says the last bit through her teeth, eyes flicking towards Pallen as if hoping he didn't hear in spite of the fact that it would have been difficult not to. 

"Merely providing options, Lady Lark. I'm fine pushing on and camping in the forest. Slept under a roof of trees more often than a roof of an inn anyway. Perhaps there's a family of badgers you can evict to secure accommodations for yourself?", Breldo says sweetly.

"Sir, if you wish to continue on, we'll make you as comfortable as possible whenever we camp.", he says to Pallen.

Oren moves closer to Pallen to speak a bit more privately to him during the trek to the next town.

"Sir, should we be concerned about the progress of your ailment?  Is it progressing faster that expected?"  he frowns in worry.  "Do we really need to speed up our trek to make it in time?  If so, we can surely do that, you just need to let me know."

"Rick is an excellent maker of beds under the stars boss Pallen!"

As Breldo is the first one to speak up and admit to the fact that at least some of them were aware of another... Issue, as Breldo tries to put it diplomatically, reactions are mixed. Sylvera is obviously outraged, while their current employer...

Well, he doesn't look mad. If anything, he looks mostly worried hearing about this situation, strange as it is.

But it would be undeniable to say that he doesn't look somewhat disappointed as well.

"...Given how you presumably knew about this for a while, I would have liked to be informed," he states, rather blunt, but soon concedes his thoughts. "We'll try to find lodging arrangements in Mossley, and that will give you time to investigate this matter slightly. We needn't worry for time yet," he continues, briefly glancing at Sylvera, and at Oren's worries elaborates.

"We needn't panic yet, really. I refuse to be taken before we get there. And... Well, it's not at my elbows yet. They say that's the point it gets dire," he nods, clearly not quite wanting to elaborate too much more on that particular subject as he adds on.

"It's probably the best option regardless. Do we carry enough tents to even house everyone if we were to camp? There is... Some rudimentary shelter where we're heading, but no luxury of civilazation. And I don't think we'd make it before night. I did it last time I came here, with dear Isabelle..." he says, falling silent for a moment, before finishing.

"...But that was peak of summer then, and we only just made it. Days are shorter right now."

"But we shouldn't tempt fate. We leave in morning to finish our journey. You'd have to finish up whatever you arrange on the way back."

"I'd considered it a job for...well... after we completed your journey. But I felt I should at least mention it if we are passing through. They may look to strangers with some amount of suspicion, given their troubles."

Rick joins Pallen in looking at Breldo in disapproval.

When it is settled,

"Boss Pallen has decided! Onward friend Khond!"

Pallen's expression softens ever so slightly, even if there is a hint of something else as Breldo tries to explain.

"No, I suppose that makes sense. Still... One should care for the living more than the dead, if it can be helped. I think this is the best outcome overall."

(Perception checks from everyone as you approach Mossley.)

Breldo Perception: 22

Perception: 6

"...and Rick saw the moose! Rick still wonders how they managed to get the moose to the roof wearing a dress."

He shakes his head sadly,

"Rick will never forget that night. Rick now knows why moose should never be on roofs, with or without dresses."

He notices nothing beyond the normal.

((Passive perception of 13))

Perception: 9

Perception: 6 (Passive 11)

"If you think that's tricky, try being the moose and getting into a dress on your own."

Rick gives Khond and appraising look, front to back and asks,

"Khond wears dresses? Rick guesses that would be easier than pants."

Rick shrugs,

"Khond should ask Rick for help. Rick guesses it would be easier to put a dress on a willing Khond compared to an unwilling moose."

A bit of eagerness leaks out of feigned nonchalance.

The group continues, most letting their guard down at the tranquil surroundings to pay too much attention... Or, at the very least, end up distracted by Slick's story.

"Well, at least the sheep were okay..." Pallen idly remarks throughout some point within the crazy tale, throughout which said comment is, of course, a poignant statement.

Some at least pay enough attention to their surroundings to notice that the group's arrival has not gone unnoticed by the village, distant travelers coming in enough to get some eyes upon them. Though not hostile or careful as much as curious, an older farmer with a scraggy grey beard stopping his work from tilling the field to come and lean over the fencing, watching them pass by. Both Breldo and Khond also notice some kids playing in the village center, until a woman notices the travelers approaching and ushers them all inside. The youngest still the kind that would be left mostly to their own devices in most cases, the oldest two practical teenagers, taking the worst brunt of life in that they're likely expected to help on the farm while at the same time still considered a kid. Although Breldo notices that two teens, clearly not done playing, slipped away when the call to get back in came out...

Overall, the place is far from impressive. Most people wear dirty or disheveled pieces of clothing, and the whole place is the kind of filthy one would expect from a village made on hard labor. But the people themselves look healthy, and while all the buildings in the village are made of wood and vary in age, none of them look dilapidated. As the group eventually starts rolling into the village proper, a man comes out to meet them. Dressed in simple leather working armor, the man with a dark bushy beard and a strong, muscular physique, he puts a chopping axe to the side and approaches aloof, as if just happening to be there- Though a single bead on sweat on his head suggests he may have rushed there.

"Greetings there! What brings you over to our little place? We don't usually get visitors over."