Vaalu
Lvl 3|Goliath|Ranger/Hunter

"I am ready, and will do honors if noone else wishes to." Vaalu declared as she looks over her gathered companion. Once a decision was made, she either stands by the carriage to watch the initial blaze start, or she breaks out her tinder and starts from the top with her fire spree. Other than these things she spends her time fidgeting and occasionally looking back into the carriage. Almost as if she couldn't stand to be away from the girl for too long.  

You help make the children comfortable and get set to go, are you setting the windmill on fire?

(Whoops! Yes. Yes she is, if noone else beats her to the punch. Namely Nylin. Afterwards, they can continue on their way.)

Nylin waves vaalu over to burn the place to the ground, and jumps up on the cart ready to move. 

While the rest of you all load up and get ready to set out Vaalu takes a torch and sets the lower section of the windmill ablaze.  Nylin and Brom roll me a Perception check

Perception: 19

Perception: 20

You all hitch up the wagon and continue on to Vallaki, watching the old windmill become consumed by the flames as you go. 

The road meanders into a valley watched over by dark, brooding mountains to the north and south. The woods recede, revealing a sullen mountain burg surrounded by a wooden palisade. Thick fog presses up against this wall, as though looking for a way inside, hoping to catch the town aslumber.

The dirt road ends at a set of sturdy iron gates with a pair of shadowy figures standing behind them. Planted in the ground and flanking the road outside the gates are a half-dozen pikes with wolves’ heads impaled on them.

"I see they have been having troubles with wolves. I wonder how frequent the attacks are." Brom questions as they make their way up to the gates.

Vaalu
Lvl 3|Goliath|Ranger/Hunter

"Far too often for comfort. But, at least they are no pushovers." Vaalu mentions as she glares at the piked heads. "It is either miracle, or that monster responsible for all of this finds amusement in this defiance." She grimaces and glances over to her companions. "I am not certain which is worse. But either way-" She looks to Nylin. "We probably won't want to step on folks toes." Grinning slightly, she brushes a hand along the little girl's head, then calls out to Ismark. "Should I step out as we get close, and join you in talk with guard?"

Ismark looks back to Vaalu, "Maybe I'll just stay here in the wagon, and some of you all could go talk to them for me?"

Vaalu
Lvl 3|Goliath|Ranger/Hunter

Vaalu rolls her eyes, then gave a small but good natured smile. "Guess it is you and me then Brom." She states before hoping out of the carriage and making her way to the gate. She was content upon arrival at the gate for the guards to make the next move with her arms folded across her chest, and pretend being bored. But she was anything but. "How much you want bet that guard is arsehole?" She would quietly whisper to Brom if he went with her. 

"By the looks of this place i would say the guards are definitely arseholes." Brom whispers back to Vaalu. "We may want to be wary afore our heads are on a pike"

Vaalu
Lvl 3|Goliath|Ranger/Hunter

Aside from a grim face nod, Vaalu continues to hold her position a few paces away from the gate. If after a minute or so no one calls out for the duo to address themselves, Vaalu gives Brom one last awkward glance. "I am Vaalu. This is Brom. We along with several other travelers from far off seeking haven for the night." She calls out to the guards. 

Brom shifts nervously. He wants to reach for his weapon but knows that would be a bad idea. "This is not starting off well."

As you get closer you see the two guards are a male and female human, wearing chain shirts and carrying pikes. The woman steps up to the gate to speak with you better, "Good evening, we were just about to lock up the gates for the night, but I suppose we could let you through. Did you have business in Vallaki or are you just passing through?"

Vaalu
Lvl 3|Goliath|Ranger/Hunter

Vaalu nodded silent, but would add nothing more to Brom's assessment. "Some business, yes. But, mostly passing through. If-mmm... If you could direct us to an Inn that might have some room, we'd like that very much." Vaalu looks back over to wolf heads again. "I take it you have very, very good hunters here? Or have wolves been out of hand here of late?" She asks curiously before considering heading back to the cart.   

"Oh those, that was from the Wolf Head Jamboree that we had a few days ago, the Mayor organized it. We had a few wolf attacks recently so he organized all the hunters and they took out as many as they could." she turns and points into town, " See that two story building right there? That's the Blue Water Inn, they should have room for you." and she unlatches the gate and opens it up for all of you, "Come on in, if you stick around a few days you can catch the Blazing Sun Festival while you're here.

Vaalu
Lvl 3|Goliath|Ranger/Hunter

"Blazing Sun Festival?" She asks, sounding genuinely surprised. "And we can learn more of this at the Inn, I presume?" After she gets an answer, she motions for Ismark to bring the carriage forward to pick them up. In the meantime, she  carries on by saying, "Thank you for everything, Lady guardswoman." She starts to turn away to meet the carriage partway, but stops and looks back to the woman. "What is name?" 

"Korina," she says with a nod, "Please to meet you all. I don't know exactly whats supposed to happen at this festival, its the first one."  The other guard lets out a small chuckle at that.