Sanimar will shake her head and say to Twinkleblossom "No I rather not travel with these goblins as they are untrustworthy. Just let them be on their own way" 

Seeing Trikgard show interest in acquiring more gold Twinkleblossum will check with the others, "I think some of the kobolds want to accompany us, would that be ok with everyone?"

 

 

Quote from Weathervision >>

Sanimar will shake her head and say to Twinkleblossom "No I rather not travel with these goblins as they are untrustworthy. Just let them be on their own way" 

The kobold, even though out of earshot, seemed to sense the disagreement and backed away. He continues to fiddle with his gold nonchalantly. 

@Sarűmir

((Rolled Constitution check and you got a 6 + 3 = 9 lol))

The mead turns out to be a pretty strong one. Hmmm is it cinnamon flavored?

Even for your hybrid self, you seem to drank a lot of it (especially given that you straight up pried off the top) and it hits you hard. Now you are in a dead bandit's basement with too much to drink that you likely will have to dragged on out of there. 

@Sanimar 

Eren raises an eyebrow at you in the caravan when everyone else seemed to have gone away (Mildred is working on repairing the cart and burying Brodan and so is Mudface. Sanna is still sleeping). "So hows was the raiding? Did yalls get somes good loot? Let me know when its time to ride." They extend a chess piece to you to see if you want to take it and play a round. "I'ves been wanting to ask. What brings you to the dark city? Ya don't seem the type." 

"Everyones here seems to be on mission of some kind. To become heroes or to win back whats theirs. But yous. Yous seem different? What's your story. Only if you wanted to share... that's is."

Sarűmir stumbles drunkenly out of the cellar and attempts to make his way back to the cart.

"That's some *hic* strong mead... *hic*"

He makes it to the cart and flops onto it, then begins to hiccup at semi-irregular intervals while lying down.

Sanimar turns to Eren "I seek to heal this realm by neutralizing this contamination. The only way I can do that is see the crystals for myself and to determine what makes them emanate such a sickly haze." 

 Seeing Serumir, she shakes her head " Found some ales have you. We just finished a fight and more may come. Ah it's too late now just get some rest and sober up. I am going to check on those treasure chests upstairs" 

She heads to the 2nd floor and checks to the chest to see if they are open and if there are any traps. If they are not locked, she will open them.

Investigation Check

15

@Sanimar

Eren nods as you say this. "That's a noble thing to do. I ain'ts seens the likes of yous in a while. Everyone seem to be out here for themselves." They lean back on the wall some more. "You'ves got a good head on your shoulders, don'tcha."

Making your way upstairs you pass by some cobwebs and other things of the dusty sort. Looking around there doesn't seem to be any traps. Neither are the chests locked. You go to open it. In it you find, 2 slings and 1 dagger. The rest of the things are clunky and old and broken. You aren't sure why they're there, but they are. They've kept it. Inside on the bottom you also spot a diary left behind by someone unnamed. Although most of the pages are torn out, the words are very coherent and do not look to be from the kobolds. On that last page it has written:

4 September 1,123 (13 years after the meteor had fallen)

I have found that the Queen's Men have started vicious fighting pits beneath Buckledown Row. As to where that is, I am still uncertain. I believe their secret stronghold is in the sewers. I will have to go find it out myself tomorrow. Last night have been too plagued with fires to put anything other. Today is my last stay at the Red Lion. Tomorrow I will contact him if he knows more. 

 

Soon after, Eren rallies you all up. "There's looks to be a big storms a heading. We can goes abouts 5 miles today, but then we'ves got to camp, if that's all alright."

You lot all set off onto another bumpy road trail. The kobolds stay behind and do not even wave. They have begun burying their fallen comrades.

Some time in the journey, Mildred announces that him and Sanna are going to set up shop in Emberwood. They want to sell wood carvings. 

"Sure, um that's an interesting choice alright. I mean, if you can you can sure do it. It's alright. What if I teaches yalls all how to cook? I thinks that the ol Bark and Buzzard be needing some new cooks as of late."

"Oh." says Mildred a bit dishearteningly, "Yeah okay."

"No. No, don't be too hard on yourselves. it's just that. I dunno I haven't seen the arts really flourish since the meteor fell. Eveyones been gear this adventuring that... Hmm but it would be nice to see a good ol' wood carving here now and then."

"Yeah. You know I'd actually like that. I can help yalls set up your bearings and start up. It's a booming business out there."

From this encounter...

+  450 XP for the Bandit Captain

+ 100 XP for the Bandits (4 x 25 XP )

+ 1 dagger

+ 2 slings

+ 75 gold coins

+ 2 potions of healing

At the Campsite

Around 8 in the evening Eren suggests you all set up camp. They park the caravan on the side of the road and you hear some crows cawing. "Ominous." They point out. "It's like that everyday."

Eren unhooks the horses and they go galloping free. They take to eating at the dried scrubgrasses along the side of the road. The two warhorses and single riding horse seem content with their new companions. Eren helps you guys set up makeshift tents (as you do every night) which are just extra wagon tarps and various pieces of wood. A nice campfire is managed to be set up despite the damp earth. Right now its just reduced to a quiet drizzle.

Mildred, Mudface, and Sanna go off looking for wood for the fire. Eren quietly sits there roasting a stew. 

From about 100 ft away towards the dried and aching trees, the crunches of fallen branches and the hushing of whispers can be heard. It looks to be about 3 figures huddling forward. They see you guys and wave you down. "Help! Please. We need a place to stay."

Standing to my feet, holding my spear at my side and cast Devine Sense.

Sarűmir, still ridiculously drunk, struggles into a sitting position in the wagon.

"Who's *hic* there?"

Sanimar will immediately load her crossbow and uses a tent for cover. "Come out slowly and you lot best behave unless you like a bolt in your necks" 

Perception

14

Hearing the stranger's call for help Twinkleblossum will take flight and try to get a better view of their approach from above. For now she will fly 30 feet up.

"Step out and announce yourselves! It is getting dark but we have a fire and some stew waiting!"

Perception: 13 

(if the light drizzle and/or late hour impose disadvantage let me know and I can roll again?)

@Lara

((spidey-sense))

You channel your Divine Sense (or Lara Sense). Focusing it onto the strangers with your paladin's oath flowing in your veins as you feel your senses tingling and you find... nothing. Just a bunch of humans. They seem alright, but you still can't shake the feeling that something seems off. Maybe it's the smoke from the fire. It's a bit too choking. Eren immediately coughs. "Sorry. I think I put too much wood."

 @Sarűmir

Because you are in the wagon and our voice is a bit slurred, they can't really hear you. Instead, as you struggle to sit up, the bowl of coleslaw that you were handed earlier sort of rocks from the movement and spills on your lap. At least it's not hot.

@Twinkleblossum

You see a group of three huddled human figures. Each man on the sides are holding up the guy in the middle who is covered over with a cloak. They seem to be struggling bringing him forward as one leans against a tree for added support. One is dragging behind him a backpack that seems to be overflowing with stuff.

"Whoa!" The guy wearing blue and yellow armor yelps in surprise. "No way?! A fairy? Hey!" He sort of lightly jabs the other guy who he is holding up, who just lightly moans. In fact, this one looks pretty sluggish. "This must be our sign of good luck!" 

"Thank you so much, kind stranger!" The other one in orange and green replies. You can tell he is trying so hard to be formal. "What's with that accent?" The first guy whispers. "I don't know! ... I thought it would make me sound cool!" "Well it didn't."

They start shuffling forward.

"Come on! Get up, we're almost there."  "I'm trying! He's just so heavy!"

 @Sanimar

At the sound of your voice, they stop. From your vantage point, out of the three huddle humans you can clearly tell even from far away that the middle guy looks sick. His face is sullen and even way too pale for a man of his skin tone. He is taking deeply raspy breathes as he staggers forward with the aid of his two companions. The one guy on the right, with the blue and yellow armor, puts his hands up, which nearly causes the middle guy to fall and the left guy (the one in green and yellow clothing) to shoot an angry glare. He then attempts to help pick him up. "Oh! So- I'm sorry. Oof" They manage to stabilize the middle man once again.

"Look um, we don't mean any harm. I'm Endra Jansen and this is my friend here, Ludwig." "Of the Von Graff noble house. At your service." "Yes, and this is our buddy, Rikard. Sorry he's uh more normally more awake, but I think since last night, we uh might have partied a bit too much and uh he's been like that ever since."

They are coming from the the direction of Drakkenheim. Its still a long ways out, probably miles and about a day no doubt by walking. "We lost our horse halfway through." Confesses Ludwig. His breathe is shaky and he takes a deep inhale. "Mind if we... crash here for a bit?"  

Sarűmir wipes the coleslaw off himself then shuffles out of the cart as carefully as he can. While swaying precariously, he walks over to the newcomers and growls at them.

Upon seeing the sickly fellow and the direction they are coming from Sanimar is skeptical of what they said and wonders if they are lying. She takes a moment to examine each of them and their body language. 

Insight Check

11

It looks like she is a bit distracted and can't get a read on them. So, Sanimar asks "Where did you party and what was the reason for the celebration as where we are is easily a day's walk from Drakkenheim?"

Your friend looks to have a little contamination about him, you three spend any time in the haze?  Being naturally suspicious of strangers I'll keep my distance and spear in hand...

"Your friend must of drank quite a lot to still be sick this late on the next day." After hearing them think it is their lucky day to meet a fairy Twinkleblossum will point to the fire and stew and show them the way by flying ahead. Once she circles the campfire once she will await them from the other side of the campfire. "Where were you heading before losing your horse?" 

 

"Yep... this guy's a partier. Whoo hoo!" Endra helps raise Rik's hand up almost in like a air pump, but the hand limps down and it looks more like a sad cry. Endra tries to chuckle but it comes out stilted. "Thank you." Him and Ludwig both crack a smile and follow the fairy's guidance further towards the fire bringing their wasted partner with them. Upon seeing the werewolf, they stop. Again. 

The gleam in Endra's eyes grows bright as he leans down a bit, "Ohh~ Who's a good boy! Who's a good boy!" He coos. He rummages into his pockets and pulls out a piece of beef jerky which he tosses over to Sarűmir's way. Now, noticing Sarűmir stumble and sway off center a bit makes him frown. Oh. This... animal was not in fact a big dog, dire wolf, or something, but instead a person-person.

"Oh sorry. I thought- um." He hesitantly looks away. He catches Sanimar's stare instead.

"Yes, um." Endra looks over at Ludwig for help. "We did have a horse. We lost it a few miles back. Got robbed." Ludwig nods over at Twinkleblossum. "Then we rode-"

"I'm a druid. I turned into a horse. I was THE horse for a couple of miles." "Thanks for that." Endra gives him an inquisitive glare. "I was just saying. Thanks."

"And now we're just looking for a place to crash, man."

The middle man opens his mouth wide in what looks to be a yawn. A few of his teeth are missing. Some drool dribbles out. Endra and Ludwig pull the mismatched hood down upon his face even more.

At Lara's statements, "Con- No! No no no no no no no." Endra shakes his head vigorously. "We um, we were sharing a victory yeah, um yesterday. We found so much delirium-"

"-But then she stole it."

"Yes, but then she stole it. Our 'friend'. However we didn't know it until the end of the party." "Hehe oh no yeah the Skull and Sword is crazy, man." "And so we were partying- you know- with I guess a bit too many drinks. And then this one passed out."

"Or it could be the rabies."

"The what?"

"The rabies. We did run into all those rats."

"Oh yes... the rats."

"YEAH! Huge people-sized rats! We fought 'em off like that!" Ludwig does a few kicking and punching gestures, but with each movement Rikard becomes unstable and Endra has to reach over and lift him up more. Ludwig doesn't seem to notice. Eventually Endra decides to just lean him on a log as he sits down. 

"We were messing with them the other day. He did get bit. We all did." He winces. Then he pulls up his sleeve to reveal multiple bite marks and abnormally large rat scratches. "It's all good, though. I always bring some aloe." His gaze falls solemnly on his dazed friend.

Sarűmir looks down at the beef jerky with distaste and back up at Endra. He growls some more.

"Did you *hic* just ask if I was *hic* a good boy?"

He then notices the bite marks on Endra's arm and stops growling.

"Wait... *hic* ...are those *hic* wererat bites?"

"I- um. I thought-" Endra gulps, squirming a bit in his log chair. He was just about to reach over to touch him with his hand, but the once Sarűmir stops growling, he stops. 

"What? Wererats?!" pipes up Ludwig. Then his eyes get wide. "Wait- no those weren't wererats, were they?" His eyes and attention are all on Endra.

"What- no? I... didn't think." He inches towards itching some of the bites, then suddenly a bit more rapidly. "Geez- um no. No. Of course not. I would have known. I- I think they were um called "ratlings" as the locals called them or whatever, but not wererats... They're bigger, right?" He curses a bit under his breath and takes a journal which he starts to flip through. "No. No. No. If I'm not mistaken, wererats only come out on the full moon, right? Mostly in the sewers."

"But we were in the sewers... at night."

"**** you're right." Endra frantically starts to flip through the pages, "But- but no you're wrong. They weren't people-sized rats. They were um people-like rats. With little clothings on them. Yeah no. They weren't huge. And. And they fought us. With little like weapons type things. Right? ... oh my dear stars." He just keeps flipping through that dang book for answers. Ludwig pulls up his sleeve to look at his own scars.

Sarűmir facepalms and looks at the pair.

"Tell me *hic* what exactly those rats looked like."

"We just dealt with some bandits earlier so you must understand our guard and suspicions are up and on high alert. Leave your friend resting by that log you have propped him up against and take a moment to rest by our fire. If you act peacefully you will be treated in kind. This will give us an opportunity to examine your friend closer and see if there is anything we can do for him. This is the best offer you will get as there is no one and nothing on the road for miles in any direction."

Twinkleblossum will fly up to a height of 15 feet and zig-zag around the fire in an acrobatic dance with her playful pixies waiting to see if the strangers comply with her instructions.

She will cast Mage Hand which results in the several of the playful pixies contorted themselves into the vague resemblance of a disembodied hand, and she will have the 'hand' serve a bowl of stew to each of them if they comply and leave their friend to warm themselves by the fire.

"No that's okay we understand. Hell, if I saw someone waltzing into my camp I'd be pretty suspicious too." Shrugs Ludwig. Endra just continues to flip frantically through that book.

"Whoa! Bravo! Bravo!" Ludwig claps, nudging Endra and pointing up at the dancing fairy. And he goes over by the fire, taking the time to drop off his backpack next to the log. "Oh man I haven't seen a show like that in ages. Back when I was little me and my parents we used to go to the opera. It was just singing and music and blah blah blah but it was nothing like that! That was really spectacular!" He then takes a second to think.

"I mean- sorry we can't pay you for your hospitality- oh wow! Thank you!" He takes the stew from the pixie hand in awe. "My stupid parents cut me off! Said I wasn't smart with my money! That's why we went traversing into the good old city." He rolls his eyes. "And yet we're still broke."

"Hey what's your story, why don't you go tell her?" Endra scrunches his face at that, "What why? ... I dunno. Grew up in Altberg. Was a farmer's boy. Lost a bet. And- and you know the rest!" He squints at Ludwig. "No I don't. I want to hear it again."

"Ugh."

It takes him a second to register the facepalm. "Oh right, um the rats. Yeah."

"They look like - um how do I put this-"

"Evil."

"Yeah... no! They're not 'evil'. But just-" He eyes sort of go wide at this point. "Beady-eyed little monstrous rat thing with long tails and biting faces. With little itty bitty clothes and they smell like garbage."

"And they yell things like: 'Kill! Kill! Kill!' 'I'm gonna eat your face off ahhhhhh!"

"If they *hic* could speak and were wearing clothes, that's a good sign of *hic* lycanthropy. How *hic* big was they?"

(Just so you know, Sarűmir's been speaking with a drunkard's accent this whole time. I just didn't know how to convey it through text though.)

You mentioned that you had a load of delirium, did your friend there happen to get his hands on a piece? Even a small sliver? The Skull and Sword? A tavern? And who is this woman that made off with your haul of delirium?