Quote from Crimson4 >>

"if we plan on seeing those sorts of creatures around here... This place needs my help more then I thought"

*Xaiver fist clenches harder and eyes light up with fire within as he thinks of all the corruption which plagues this place which must be burned out

"let's make our way, many things to do"

*xaiver helps anyone who needs it up and loads anything that fell out of the wagon back on

'Briston calls down at Xavier as he sees the aasimar looking for someone to assist,' "I can't hear anything from the brush where your half-orc friend, the halfling and the other demonbird dissapeared. Maybe you can go see if there's any sign of them?"

Quote from mejas >>

Aramis studies the body of the creature looking for any valuable items or body parts, then hauls the body on to the wagon.

"lets get out of the open. the sooner im behind walls the better! anyone seen that axe ****er?"

Aramis also retrieves his crossbow bolt, but after realising that it missed, decides to discard it, believing that had bad luck.

'Finding nothing of interest on the bloody bird creatures body apart from one of Pyro's arrows, shaft bent and partially splintered, Aramis never-the-less manages to drag the body onto the wagon bed. Briston turns to bard after speaking to Xavier,' "I don't know, but feel free to look for him. I hate the idea of leaving anyone out here alone, but I really need to get to Ambersilt, so I'll only wait a moment before pressing on. Besides, your big friend can probably look after himself almost as well as the rest of us put together. That old halfling on the other hand..."

Quote from Larger_Ooze_Of_Charisma >>

"I agree, we should start moving before any other monsters try to prey on us, not that they stand a chance."

Pyro keeps her crossbow in her hand and looks to the others to see what they are doing.

 

 
'Pyro hears Xavier, Aramis and Briston discussing the fate of your barbarian companion and Skerckrit. Thain stands silently behind the wagon, eyes scanning the tops of the trees and the afternoon sky. The genasi notices that he has an arrow notched on his bow, ready to draw at a moment's notice.'

"He can handle himself, now i believe we should all go the the town with this fine man Briston before he leaves us all behind, unless you want that of course. I'm not sure about all of you but i won't be acomplishing anything by just standing out in the open."

As Pyro finishes her sentence she's going to pat Briston on the back and head back to the Wagon.

Xavier glares at Pyro but for a second then turns towards where the del and skit went

"Ill go look for them, Anyone else who wants to help, please, if not, it was nice knowing you"

Xavier begins to go look for the other two

Investigation 3

8

[OOC] Investigation check for Xavier with advantage due to the assist from Thain

'Most of the party seems reluctant to leave Briston and the wagon, but Thain pipes up,'

"I'll help with the search. At the very least we should try to find out where Del went. And the halfling was beginning to grow on me... a little."

'At first there is no sign of anyone or anything, as the two men search the thick bush in the area in which Del and Skerckrit were last seen. But then Xavier's boot hits what he thinks is a tree root... until he glances down to see part of the round stone edge of what appears to be a much larger circular object.

Calling for Thain to assist, the two men clear away the grass, leaves, soil and creeping tree roots which cover much of the object, to reveal a large round stone panel, easily 25 feet in diameter, engraved with crawling snake-like sigils and strange characters in a language that you cannot decipher. A shallow and much smaller 10 foot wide depression sits in the exact centre of this mysterious object. Looking for any further sign of Del or the halfling reveals no additional clues, and Briston calls out over the sound of cracking reigns and creaking of wagon wheels,'

"I'm getting us underway again. Stay or come, it's your choice, but it's only another hour or so to town, so if your friends are wandering around out here somewhere, they should be able to find their way to Ambersilt. I'll be heading back this way myself this evening, after giving my report and picking up some supplies from The Chest. As she'll be getting darker then, I'll have a lantern lit in front of the wagon. If I see either of those two wanderers, I'll send them your ways, you have my word on that!"

"im coming. chances are Skerckrit got killed by that Del person. we'll probably be next. Xavier, Pyra, you guys coming?"

Aramis climbs back and on to the wagon, getting comfy and pulls out his Bagpipes and begins to play a tune.

performance roll: 12

'As the wagon pulls ahead, Aramis jumps up to take Skerckrit's spot on the driver's bench next to Briston. The bard pulls out his bagpipes and begins to play a pleasantly upbeat tune, though it is occassionally punctuated with off-notes as the wagon hits one of the many potholes in the rough dirt road. Pyro walks at the side of the wagon looking for more berries to eat, while Thain walks to the rear, an arrow still notched on his bow, ready to be drawn and released at the first sign of danger. With a heavy heart at not finding Del and Skerckrit, but hopefull that they'll meet up again in the future, Xavier runs to take point out in front of the wagon, javelin in hand and eyes scanning the brush either side of the road.

After almost an hour of further travel through a somewhat dense wood, your troupe emerges at the lip of a shallow rise, the road winding down roughly two hundred feet to a small stream and a narrow stone bridge. Across the bridge is a 8 foot tall wooden gate and guard post, situated in the middle of a 10 foot high palisade of sharpened wooden logs that  streches for hundreds of feet in both directions before curling around to encircle what looks to be a small but industrious town. Most of the buildings in town look to be made of wooden logs and stone daub, with only a handful of two storey or stone block dwellings. Even at this distance, the sounds of industry carry to your group - saws cutting large logs into timbre, axes felling trees outside the palisade and merchants and traders calling out offers to one another. 

With a crack of the reins, Briston drives the wagon down the slope and towards the waiting gate guards.'

"Welcome to Ambersilt, folks. She doesn't have much, but what she does have is readily available to all for fair coin or trade."

"Wow those buildings look similar to those where im from"

Thain places his bow and arrow away seeing no threat close by.

"Briston would you need our assistance in anyway while were here?" He says with a smile.

Quote from kavarojk >>

"Wow those buildings look similar to those where im from"

Thain places his bow and arrow away seeing no threat close by.

"Briston would you need our assistance in anyway while were here?" He says with a smile.

 
"Well, if you want to accompany me to the Alcalde's house, I'm sure Reevis would like as full an accounting as possible on the watch tower attack. After that, I'll need to drop by the Magistrate's tower, though Arneu may be with the Alcade, seeing as the two pretty much run the town together.

Then, once I've taken poor Thom there to the Doom Guide and broken the sad news to his young wife, i'll be dropping by Lormis's store, The Smiling Chest, to grab some supplies to restock the watch tower. Then i'll probably be heading back to the tower, though I might have to drop by the Marsh Oak for a pint and a chat with Myran before hitting the road."

'The gate guards, noticing Briston atop the wagon, call out in greeting, though they look to each other and clutch their spears at the approach of strangers and the sight of the bodies piled in the back of wagon. The 4 guards are young men, 3 humans and a halfling, dressed uniformly in brown leathers. Each is armed with a spear, while two of them have javelins and two have shortbows slung across their backs. One of the humans, sporting a light blondish beard and standing slightly taller than the others, steps forward alongside the wagon as it nears the gate,'

"Hey Briston. Wasn't expecting you back for a few more days. Leetha was here only an hour ago, with more bad news. Looks like another... Well, anyways, guess you'll here about it when you see the Alcalde. So what happened here and who're this lot? You know the Magistrate's rules - no one gets admitted without giving their name and purpose in Ambersilt."

'The guards eyes warily move back-and-forth from the wagon-laden bodies to your faces, then back to the bodies. The taller human who spoke is clearly awaiting a response from each of you.'

Aramis steps up, speaking for the group.

"the names Aramis, and these are my merry men. helped out Briston here with an orc problem and he offered us a ride"

Aramis gives a wide grin, trying to seem friendly towards the guards, though is always on edge around guards in case there are any wanted posters of him.

deception:  14

and uses luck: 8

'The senior guard looks Aramis and the rest of you up and down at the bard's words, glancing at Briston as he responds,'  insight check 21

"Really? You're their leader, huh?  They don't look exactly look like soldiers, and you look familiar for some reason... You been through these parts before?


'Briston gives Aramis a puzzled look, but nods in support of the bard's words to the guard... who eventually shrugs and motions to the rest of his men, who proceed to open the gate to allow your party in to the town proper.

As the wagon and your group move beyond the gate guards, Briston mutters to Aramis out of the corner of his mouth,'

"I thought you'd all just met in the tower's cells last night when we'd rounded you all up? Not entirely sure why you felt the need to lie back there, and I owed ye' one for helping us out back at the tower, but a word of advice friend - don't tell a lie round these parts when the truth will suffice. We're a simple bunch down this way and not giving to trusting folk who prove themselves dishonest. Something to keep in mind.'

"If we had a leader I would say the paliden Xaiver is who I recomend."

Thains looks about then town and then turns to Aramis.

"Is something wrong Aramis? Have you been troubled by guards before somewhere?" Thain looks with concern for Aramis.

Meta: the concern of thain is more concern for a friend or family rather than concern for safety for himself.

"something like that. smuggling isnt something you do for the fame. besides, wasnt too keen on telling the guards we'd  all been prisoners before planning a breakout only a few hours ago, know what i mean?"

Aramis smiles again and lets out a sigh.

" thanks for the cover Briston"

Quote from mejas >>

"something like that. smuggling isnt something you do for the fame. besides, wasnt too keen on telling the guards we'd  all been prisoners before planning a breakout only a few hours ago, know what i mean?"

Aramis smiles again and lets out a sigh.

" thanks for the cover Briston"

 
[OOC] Briston's perception check 16

'The watch sergeant shrugs and nods at Aramis's thanks, bringing the two horses and wagon to a stop near the middle of town, infront of one of the town's few two storey buildings. Wearily jumping down from the bench, he looks back up at the bard and says,'


"Well, like I said, I owed you all one for your aid against those orcs back at the tower. That being said, I didn't realise at the time that I was bringing a self-admitted smuggler into town. Again, you lot did right by me and mine when it mattered, so I'm going to pretend as I didn't hear that last exchange between you and the your green archer friend, but most others round here wont be so accomodating. Best watch what you say and where, if you catch my drift.

You've done nothing against Alliance laws HERE, least not that I know of, so I'm fine with still introducing you to the Alcalde... but if you were to do something illegal like, well i'd have to do my job, no matter how much I might dislike having to do it."

'Dusting his hands off, the burly fighter nods towards the two story building and then walks casually over to the front door, knocks and waits for a moment, then enters leaving the door intentionally open behind him.'

Pyro steps in the room and notions for everyone to follow her.

Aramis cautiously follows her in, keeping his head low and hat down, trying to hide his face as a force of habit. 

*Xavier will follow 

'Thain follows Briston, Pyro, Aramis and Xavier into a pleasant well-kept home. A small foyer with a single stair leading up to the second floor lies past the front door, but the Sergeant leads you past it into a larger welcome hall, lined with paintings of brightly coloured geometric shapes composed to vaguely resemble figures and landscapes. A single hearth (disused in these Summer months) sits in the North wall, flanked by amateurish stained glass windows. Looking further into the house, you see an assortment of home made furniture, half of it made for human sized individuals, half of it made for smaller beings. 

Briston stops near the hearth and indicates that you should all do likewise. With a wink at you all, he proceeds to stomp hard three times on the rainbow coloured rug that covers the polished wooden floorboards below. After a few moments, you hear a door opening somewhere in the next room before a kindly faced gnomish man of later years with a short squared-off grey beard and spectacles on his nose appears with chuckle, saying,'


"Briston, Briston, Briston - for a guard segeant one might think that you'd have more respect for the legally recognised sanctity of person's private abode! If not a man's privacy, an officially appointed Alcalde, no less, then at least some respect shown for an old gnome's peaceful twilight years!"

'The guard sergeant merely laughs gruffly and with a nod at the old gnome and a gesture taking in your group, responds,'

"Of course, I COULD try to be that fool person, Reevis, but then I'd be left banging on your door like a fool for an age while you're downstairs making whatever gods knows what unlikely-to-ever-work contraption it is that you happen to be working on at the time... and I'm using the word 'working' very loosely, to be frank.

Reevis, Alcalde of Ambersilt and general creator of useless trinkets uncounted, may I introduce Aramis, Pyro, Thain and Xavier - four comparatively useful individuals who proved their worth this very day TWICE in battles against fierce orcs and some flying elk-bird-things. We picked them up in routine 'suspicious persons' sweeps over the last few days, as directed by Arneu, but thankfully they... were freed just in time to assist against an attack that the orcs mounted on the South Tower. I probably wouldn't be here if not for their timely intervention... though I'm afraid that i'll have to pay a visit Vinella to pass on some poor news about young Thom..."

'Reevis takes a moment to study you all with an astute but not unfriendly gaze, before smiling, apparently satisfied with whatever he noticed or did not notice, and walking up to each of you to shake your hands in a welcoming fashion, says,'   insight check 18

"Well, it's a pleasure to make your aquaintance, it surely is. Sounds like you've done our small town a service, for which you have my thanks and our welcome. While it would likely have led to an improvement in security and manners around here, it would have been mildly inconvenient to have had to find a replacement for this lummox."

I'm sorry to hear about Thom, Briston, truly I am. Please pass on my condolences to Vinella and tell her that I'll take care of the funeral arrangements and drop by to see the poor thing tomorrow after she's had some time to process the dreadful news.

'Turning back to your group,'

"So, you now have the run of the town, such as it is. We've only two inns, but I'm sure either Myran at the Oak or Boris at the Pixie will have rooms to let... even with the influx of interesting visitors we currently have in town.' Should you need to pick up some gear for the road, Lormis over at the Chest will be happy to take your coin and if it's weapons, armour or anything else made of metal you need, our good smith, Thurk, will likely be able to look after you.'

If it's work that you're after, Fangstalker Broom will likely have some contracts on hand, or if you're after less dangerous employment, you could always do some work in the peat fields, just head out an hour East of the town and speak to the overseer O'blodd."

"where can we find this fangstalker? danger seems to follow me anywhere really so i might as well go looking for it this time"

"how about you guys?"  he looks towards the rest of the group

Aramis takes out his flute and begins to spin it through his fingers to pass time.

"I'd like to see both, and decide from there, I my self plan on helping as many people as possible "

"As do i Xavier. We should weigh all our options first."