The cart goes for an hour northward before leaving the road. The other people in it are sullen or in shock. They are dirty, like everyone in the Nentir Vale, and hopeless, but it's like the take over by the Iron Circle has taken what little motivation they had. There is no talking between them, although a child wails and is comforted by her parents. Just this small act reaffirms that humanity is still present, just beaten down for the moment. Other than Marvin and a couple of party members, no one appears to be injured.
Old Kellar takes the cart onto an old track into a copse of trees before stopping.
"We need rest", the ancient dwarf says, talking to the party. "We don't know what we're heading into. It's likely the Iron Circle have moved on the other towns but only if they have enough troops. Albridge will be a focal point for the resistance and there could be a battle there. It will be tough for the Iron Circle I think as the White River can only be crossed at certain points. They will be vulnerable while crossing. In the meantime could you scout ahead? We don't want to run into any blockades on the road in the dark."
Esa gives a side eye to Augustin, before flying over and landing on Stryke, as though mounting him to ride. "This one seems interesting," she quips, running her hands over the fur and inspecting the wolf form.
Yes the dog came with you on the cart. The speak with animals revealed that it is mostly confused about its treatment in the past. It's a bit anxious while riding in the cart but a few calm words help. When you go to pat it, the dog bares its teeth, never actually having been patted before. Hands are for hurting, not for anything positive.
Stryke in wolf form and Grimbald in dwarf form (warily eying Stryke as a squirrel would a predator) scout ahead and discover there is a checkpoint on the road about a mile away, with a few human Iron Circle soldiers huddled around a fire, and a couple on watch. The fire gives the scouting pair plenty of warning and they stay far away and remain undetected. They don't seem to be doing anything other than waiting for people to come along the road to either arrest or exploit them.
Unless they want to do anything else, they can report back to Old Kellar to decide what to do.
Grimbald seeks reassurance from Old Kellar, partly because he is uncertain what the iron circle are, partly because he wants acceptance from a dwarf again. Old Kellar cannot ignore Grimbald only vaguely looks dwarven, noting Grimbald's face is hairy beyond the beard, with fine hair on his forehead, cheeks and ears. His nose is unusually stumpy, with unusual nostrils.
"so these iron rings , theyre like a gang...a bad gang. I mean theyre goblins, hobgoblins, evil frogs?" "why do they call em iron rings? "
Gnasher goes into a barking fit on spying the wolf, then wags his stump of a tail as the scent tells him that it's Stryke. He doesn't understand but accepts that this being can be a wolf and a person. When Stryke as a wolf entices him to play, Gnasher is slow to respond, as if he has forgotten about play. But a long dormant spark ignites and he bounds off after the wolf with Esa trailing fairy dust behind as she flies to catch up.
Grimbald reports the scouting group's observations of the Iron Circle checkpoint. Old Kellar nods and talks to Grimbald and the others.
"I feared as much. We'll leave the cart here and head across the country before it gets light, we can bypass the check point and be at Albridge by first light."
The old dwarf looks around at the people gathered together, not talking much. The little girl is asleep on her father's shoulder.
"We'll give them a bit more time. Then we'll head off."
Old Kellar moves among the people, exchanging a word here and there.
Attack: 17 Damage: 8
Grimbald is satisfied he has corrected the mechanism.
Grimbald asks the party if anyone has mistletoe on them that he could have please.
Stryke could do a nature check to find some while we are going through a forest if you like?
Grimbald explains he thinks he could conjure up some healing berries with it, but he's never done it before.
on the trip if we come across some trees Stryke will try and find some mistletoe, guidance and nature check. 4 + 4
The cart goes for an hour northward before leaving the road. The other people in it are sullen or in shock. They are dirty, like everyone in the Nentir Vale, and hopeless, but it's like the take over by the Iron Circle has taken what little motivation they had. There is no talking between them, although a child wails and is comforted by her parents. Just this small act reaffirms that humanity is still present, just beaten down for the moment. Other than Marvin and a couple of party members, no one appears to be injured.
Old Kellar takes the cart onto an old track into a copse of trees before stopping.
"We need rest", the ancient dwarf says, talking to the party. "We don't know what we're heading into. It's likely the Iron Circle have moved on the other towns but only if they have enough troops. Albridge will be a focal point for the resistance and there could be a battle there. It will be tough for the Iron Circle I think as the White River can only be crossed at certain points. They will be vulnerable while crossing. In the meantime could you scout ahead? We don't want to run into any blockades on the road in the dark."
what ever happened with the dog, has he come with us, did he respond to the speak with animals?
Grimbald will scout ahead, stealthily if time allows, 7 and perception 9
Stryke will come with if you like? Wild shape into a wolf, advantage on perception checks. stealth 4. perception 12
Unless Grimbald is alerted to wild shape, he will have some serious anxieties !
Esa gives a side eye to Augustin, before flying over and landing on Stryke, as though mounting him to ride. "This one seems interesting," she quips, running her hands over the fur and inspecting the wolf form.
Yes the dog came with you on the cart. The speak with animals revealed that it is mostly confused about its treatment in the past. It's a bit anxious while riding in the cart but a few calm words help. When you go to pat it, the dog bares its teeth, never actually having been patted before. Hands are for hurting, not for anything positive.
Stryke in wolf form and Grimbald in dwarf form (warily eying Stryke as a squirrel would a predator) scout ahead and discover there is a checkpoint on the road about a mile away, with a few human Iron Circle soldiers huddled around a fire, and a couple on watch. The fire gives the scouting pair plenty of warning and they stay far away and remain undetected. They don't seem to be doing anything other than waiting for people to come along the road to either arrest or exploit them.
Unless they want to do anything else, they can report back to Old Kellar to decide what to do.
Report back would be my preference and then Stryke will take Gnasher for a run and play in a field while still in wolf form.
If Esa wants to come along then she will have to hold on, no rolling over I promise.
Esa will come along. She's going to save her note taking for later
Grimbald seeks reassurance from Old Kellar, partly because he is uncertain what the iron circle are, partly because he wants acceptance from a dwarf again. Old Kellar cannot ignore Grimbald only vaguely looks dwarven, noting Grimbald's face is hairy beyond the beard, with fine hair on his forehead, cheeks and ears. His nose is unusually stumpy, with unusual nostrils.
"so these iron rings , theyre like a gang...a bad gang. I mean theyre goblins, hobgoblins, evil frogs?" "why do they call em iron rings? "
Gnasher goes into a barking fit on spying the wolf, then wags his stump of a tail as the scent tells him that it's Stryke. He doesn't understand but accepts that this being can be a wolf and a person. When Stryke as a wolf entices him to play, Gnasher is slow to respond, as if he has forgotten about play. But a long dormant spark ignites and he bounds off after the wolf with Esa trailing fairy dust behind as she flies to catch up.
Grimbald reports the scouting group's observations of the Iron Circle checkpoint. Old Kellar nods and talks to Grimbald and the others.
"I feared as much. We'll leave the cart here and head across the country before it gets light, we can bypass the check point and be at Albridge by first light."
The old dwarf looks around at the people gathered together, not talking much. The little girl is asleep on her father's shoulder.
"We'll give them a bit more time. Then we'll head off."
Old Kellar moves among the people, exchanging a word here and there.
Augustin works to help make some food and comfort the villagers, trying to lift their spirits.
Grimbald is literally sniffing the surrounds and refugees for mistletoe