Dastrun smiles and presses a gold coin into the child's palm, "Use this to get stronger. So instead of us, you can do the saving" he says ruffling the child's head. "Now then" he says standing up and rubbing his hands together​, "Now Mr. Mayor, I'd like to have a discussion over the selling of this loot and what to do with this star"

"For that, you'd best head to Dragontail or Whaelrdrake. We certainly don't have the coffers for the things you've pillaged. As for the star, I've heard that there are blacksmiths and scholars in the towns and cities who would be able to shape and purchase parts of it."

The child refuses the coin. "I don't want it. I want to thank you for saving my mummy, so it is no sense for you to give me money." He turns to the others, to introduce himself. "My name is Amaud."

Listening to the exchange between Dastrun and the Mayor, John intervenes:  Lord Gulan, I agree that Armunster does not, please don't take it as an offence, the coffers or the utility in acquiring all the loot we gathered from the Kobold den and we should take it to a bigger city. You mentioned Dragontail or Whaelrdrake, is there a caravan leaving Arkmunster in the direction of any of this places? We could offer some protection on the road in exchange for a cart to carry our heavy load.

Valen bent down to address the child. "Well, Amaud, you're pretty insistent on not taking our coin. Perhaps I could teach you something in exchange instead?" Swiping the coin from Dastrun, Valen waved his hands over it, making it flash colors using Prestidigitation. "Pretty cool, huh? If we're in town for a few days, I might be able to teach you this." Tossing the coin to Amaud again, Valen straightened up and smiled at him.

The journey back to Arkmunster was one of solace for Soolaire. He had many questions, and he hoped that someone in Arkmunster would have answers. Why were the stars falling? Why couldn't he see this second sun? And the moon has been changing... He shook his head. Answers will come as you continue forward. He trusted in the guidance of the Father-Dragon to bring them through this ordeal safely.

Returning to Arkmunster, Soolaire takes the gold coins, not really sure what to do with them. He'd never purchased anything before, and the small child coming up to them with the five copper pieces only confused him more. He takes the copper pieces, thanking him. "It is rude to not accept a gift, Amaud." The flames on his head dimmed in an attempt to note frighten the child with his bizarre appearance as he got onto one knee to look at the child on an equal level. "We were happy to save your mother and the rest of the villagers. But it's your turn to protect them now, okay?"

Telepathically, he speaks to the party as a whole, "Once the villagers have finished constructing a more viable means to transport the star's core, we need to search for answers, and it would seem that either Whaelrdrake or Dragontail would work fine. Does anyone have connections that can be reached in either of those cities? Ones that might provide answers?"

Amaud looks up at Valen in awe. "You're gonna teach me magic? Cool!" He then runs off, presumably to tell his mother.

The work for the new transport for the Star will take at least a week and a half, so you guys can have two weeks of downtime, using the UA downtime rules or the DMG ones (up to you as individuals).

During the time the group stays in Armunster, John attends the Keeper of Justice shrine in the town at dawn and dusk to pay respect to his God and during the day he can be found at Lady Merella's abode, the pristess of Airmed, Goddess of Healing and Cure, who was refereed to him by Mayor Gulan.

Merella is not a trained physician or a divine vessel as John is, but she is a healer in the best way of the word, a dedicated herbalist, knowledgeable  of the native flora and its healing properties.

While waiting for the star to be moved Gideon takes the time to reflect on his actions as well as his own failings. He usually spends most of his time near the town but in a forest. From dawn til dusk Gideon can be found practicing his swordart or in meditation. At night Gideon makes his way back to town and usually goes back to his room. 

Valen spends most of his time teaching Amaud (and soon, Soolaire) how to cast some basic spells. Beginning first with Prestidigitation, he manages to unlock their potential abilities, gauging where the children will have their difficulties and where their strengths lie. He then taught them a second cantrip, based off their strengths, and to round it off, taught them each Find Familiar as a capstone for his two-week magic curriculum.

During the party's downtime, Valen purchases a second rapier and a component pouch (-50 GP). When he isn't with the children and Soolaire, he is training with his two rapiers, mastering his dual-wielding bladesong style that he wants to put a name on. After thinking on it for a while, Valen gave up for the time being. In the process of teaching the children how to cast spells, he gained his own familiar; a raven with a fey aura (-10 GP). On occassion, Valen would go to seek out Gideon and watch him train, attempting to analyze the monk's movements and create counters as a mental exercise.

At night, after his trance, Valen continued to work on a variety of wizardly activities, be it an attempt at a magic item or a new spell. About three days into the downtime, Valen wrote a letter to his old wizard mentor in Eldryd, asking if he knew anything about the Star. He awaits a response. (-1 GP, -2 SP)

While he knew the Father-Dragon approved of his actions, Soolaire felt that there was something deeper which connected him to the Father-Dragon... as if the blood of the dragons ran through his veins as well. Consulting with Valen, he paid him one hundred gold pieces to help him unlock and harness his inner dragon.

The training was hard. He wasn't accustomed to formulating spells and studying. He could meditate for days, communing with his inner self. But looking outward for knowledge was different to him. Yet, the Father-Dragon opened his eyes, and helped him see how such raw potential could be drawn upon to further augment his sunfangs, as well as further augment his defensive capabilities too. In the end, he laughed, feeling the dragon's blood flow through his veins and augmenting his sunfangs, as they radiated true heat from pure fire, as if from the mouth of a dragon itself.

OOC: Trained for a feat, grabbed Magic Initiate, choosing Booming Blade, Green-Flame Blade, and Shield as my spells.

During the time John was with Merella he tried to learn all there is about the dogma of the Mistress of Renewal and acquired her knowledge of the flora, what was edible, what was medicinal and what was deadly.

(learned the skill Nature)

And the rest of the time John was found at the shrine of the Lord of Light, every dusk and down.

Chance felt the necessity to learn plant lore and discover more about the world and nature. In his downtime, he joined John in attending the healer Lady Merella.

Chance is fascinated by the lore of plants and the genuine compassion of Lady Merella. (OOC Learnt 1/9th Nature, cost 100GP)

This he did by day, at night Chance would offer his services as a Seer to help those in need.

While everyone​ else was cleaning shrines or meditating, Dastrun went to have some fun. He went to the nearby tavern for some drinks. After a few drinks some gentleman decided that it would be a good idea to insult him, and try to intimidate him into giving them gold and drinks. After a night of loud noises, screaming, and laughter. All that could be seen in the morning was Dastrun sleeping on a table, surrounded by empty tankards and unconscious men. Funny thing was, they kept coming back, hoping to beat him. After two weeks of drinking and fighting, Dastrun left the tavern, looking for his friends. (OOC: -40 gp.)

The transport for the star has been completed, and after two weeks of recuperation, the group is ready to take it to Whaelrdrake.

As you are about to leave, you see a merchant's wagon approaching from the way that you are about to head. You wait for them to arrive in the village before you leave, so that you might buy any wares they might have that interest you. The merchant is a tall woman, who looks normal, except for two small horns protruding from her skull - she must have tiefling blood - and she claims that some of there wares are from a clan of minotaurs that she has traded with. If asked about them, she tells you that they claim to be the Bregan clan, and they seemed like pirates.

Most of her wares are rather common, though she does stock a few rarer weapons - a barbed sword, a pair of claws, an incredibly large sword, and some crossbows with a strange attachment, which she claims allows you to fire it multiple times before having to reload. She also has a couple of pistols for sale, and some revolvers (pistols with magazines).

Dastrun feels his heart stop, weather it's from the fine woman with weapons, or that she has spoken with those of the Bregan clan. Dastrun shuffles his hooves a little, "Uh... Madam, could I ask to receive any information those of the Bregan told you of their home." Dastrun asks, his face slowly goes red, "I'd also like to have some information in your wares".

Soolaire watches the proceeding conversation between the travelling merchant and Dastrun, seeing his face slowly grow more and more red as his voice and actions become more and more timid. By the holy Father-Dragon, I think she is a female minotaur! 

Not wanting to pass up on the opportunity to see what the opposite sex to Dastrun is like, he moves forward with a big grin in his face. Firmly clasping Dastrun on the back, he whispers into his ear, making sure to place the tone if his voice within range of her hearing, "Dastrun! Is this what a female minotaur looks like? I must say, they are considerably more blessed in appearance than the males of your species. I can see why you are attracted to her!" He laughs, and smiles at her. "Hail! I am Shashidiswara, of the Ishahru tribe. A pleasure to finally meet a female minotaur! I have learned much of your species from Dastrun."

The merchant tells Dastrun about how the Bregan clan are doing, before she picks up the barbed longsword, and shows its metal teeth.

"This sword is designed for use against unarmoured targets. The barbs rip into their flesh."

As Soolaire introduces himself, she is surprised to hear that he thinks she it a minotaur.

"That pleasure will have to wait another day, for I am not a minotaur. I'm surprised that was your first conclusion, rather than a human. I'm actually a tiefling, though my bloodline is rather diluted with human blood."

John could not hold a smile watching the exchange between Soolaire, the merchant and Dastrun in the middle of it all, it is rather amusing. Looking at the merchant's products, John quickly takes stock of how much gold he has left (about 15 gold) and looks for some light weapon that could benefit from his agility.

Excuse me madam, would you have a lighter weapon than this military standard issued mace? I would like to purchase one, and wouldn't mind trading in my mace as part of the transaction.

Valen absentmindedly browsed the merchant's wares. What really caught his eye was the set of claws. "Hello..." he murmered as he ran a finger over them. Master craftmanship. Turning to the merchant, he stepped forward. "I'm personally interested in those claws. Could you tell me who made them? And how much they might be?" Shashidiswara, you may have bought me some new toys.

[OOC: Investigation: 20 (non-natural)]

"Those claws? I obtained them from the Bregan clan, but I doubt they are minotaur originals. 14 gold for the pair."

The merchant seems somewhat dismissive of the claws.