"We're looking for an inn to stable our horses and stay a night or two, can you point us to a decent one? And can I ask you what's the news in Pallaxus?"
(Once Dog is out of hearing from the halfling, he will suggest to the group that they lay low for a day to get a sense of the place and see who might already be expecting them, and let them come to the group. Also, how has Nev been?)
"We have a small inn in the village here but you might want the old Festal estate, which some folks turned into a fancy inn some...10 years ago now? They have stables out that way. Here we have only a fenced pasture.
"Not much news here in Pallaxus, though, especially after a good snowfall."
"Hello!" Gash waves, "I expected this town to be more extravagant. We are here to see King Haddian. He is expecting us. Oh also, I dont know if this is something you have here, but a magic shop? or some sort of armory that might have magically enhanced items?"
"Oh, plenty of extravagant people out here, that's for sure. But they pay good coin to make sure it maintains its...rustic allure. Vineyards, hunting grounds, and estates for rich folks as far as you can see. In fact, you passed a few of them comin' in the way you come. Our village makes up most of the estate staff when those rich folks are around.
"King Haddian you say? Yes, he's been at his estate for some months now. He'll be up the road yonder, like you're going to Delphendria, then another 10 miles down an offshoot to the east. I believe it's the third right along this road here. Well guarded, though, so your business ought to be legitimate, friend.
"As for fancy shops, you won't find that here. Blacksmith does horseshoes and wrought iron. We have a general store. Not much else here. Those fancy folk come to get away from all that, usually."
When they move away, Tock suggest to Gash, "I think it's time to send another message to the King and tell him to expect us, otherwise the we'll be stopped on the way."
Dog moves over to Althus while they are still within sight of the halfling and says “your ability to see the true essence of people and fiends may come in handy in this town, if you take my meaning.”
The party stands at the edge of the quaint village ankle-deep in snow. One of the mules brays impatiently as a light flurry of snow begins to fall through the bright morning air. Thousands of miles traveled, seemingly upstream against forces that only wished them to be dead or simply gone, and they are but a few dozen miles from their goal.
The old halfling that greeted them turns as a muffled voice calls to him. He returns his attention to the adventurers. "Good luck to you, friends," he says and shuts the door to keep the winter chill a little further at bay.
One of the black riding horses stamps in the snow, blowing puffs of white steam through his nostrils. Neventi sticks her head out of the carriage window. "Let's get this over with," she says.
She has been tense the last few days as they draw closer to her chosen destination. She looks tired, her nails chewed to the fingertips, her raven hair wild around her pale face. It is clearly not easy for her to arrive at the place where she will give up her only daughter.
This little village is much like Marctenus where Tock and Dog first found Gentoa and her mother. There is a stillness here that makes it difficult to draw any further comparison to the town they say torn apart by fiends. Realizing there is nothing else to do, the party takes their first steps towards the country estate of the Mage King.
(This is your final chance to do anything other than move on to the climax of the story!)
Dog ducks his head close to Nev. "Remember. You have the power here. We are just shopping. There are other options. We will protect you from any of them."
He makes a silly face at Genny and then turns away, looking closely at everyone, really hoping Althus is looking around for fiends!
"and remember you will be her mother still. you will raise her. and we wont let anything bad happen. your choice could be to make no choice. I will stand with you. I will fight the hells off for 100 lifetimes for the two of you."
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Gash- Lvl14 Goblin Wizard - The High Court of the Aasimar Queen
"Don't coddle me," Neventi says, perhaps a little more sharply than she means. "I know what the options are and I've made my choice."
As the party crosses the seemingly empty village, the snow begins to fall harder. Ahead, 6 silhouettes emerge in the flurry. The front two are women, walking forward holding hands.
"Hello, my loves," one of the women says. She is poised, wearing elegant robes. A silver streak runs through her dark hair. Her narrow eyes examine each of the party with a keen intensity. "Thank you so much for delivering young Gentoa to me. I will naturally accept the honor of being her steward."
Althus uses his Divine Sense, "I thought we were heading to meet a king? Can kings be women?"
"A King?" she says with a scoff and a wave of her hand. "Who wants all those royal trappings? Wealth, privilege, power, I offer everything without the responsibility. Besides, the girl's mother has decided and it is to be me. So off with you. I will take it from here."
Althus ponders this for a few long moments, "Hmmm... Well, I was taught that responsibility is a good thing, but if Neventi decided then I guess we should go with her decision. Or Gentoa's. Neventi?!"
"Aucasia, who are your friends? And how do you know she has decided?" He looks at her group, and then quickly at Nev to see what she's doing, and then again at Althus to see if he's learned anything.
This post has potentially manipulated dice roll results.
Tocktries to disappear into the snow and between nearby buildings (stealth check: 14). And then observe the back 4 of the approaching party, trying to determine their weapons and armor and if they are trying to be in some kind of a formation.
Althus shakes his head to indicate no sign of fiends or undead.
The warlock smiles, "See, you knew I would be here waiting for you. Come, Neventi. My entourage and I will protect you now."
Neventi, looking from the window in the carriage, sets her mouth in a tight line and her nostrils flare. "I choose anyone but you, Aucasia."
Aucasia's light mood darkens very quickly. "You'll change your mind before too long." She turns to the woman whose hand she holds, pulling her close into a sensual kiss. "Change her mind, would you my dear?"
And Aucasia departs into the snow storm.
Initiative:
Tock: 11
Doggear: 3
Stitches: 5
Gash: 18
Friend: 2
Bulwark: 12
Althus: 16
Martin: 22
BW: 6
WB1: 19
WB2: 12
WB3: 16
TL: 5
Tock:
Three of the figures behind Aucasia hold hammers...and have a distinctly animal appearance to them. The woman left in the lead appears to be a magic user of some kind. The fifth figure, alone in the back, is a horror to behold.
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"We have a small inn in the village here but you might want the old Festal estate, which some folks turned into a fancy inn some...10 years ago now? They have stables out that way. Here we have only a fenced pasture.
"Not much news here in Pallaxus, though, especially after a good snowfall."
"Oh, plenty of extravagant people out here, that's for sure. But they pay good coin to make sure it maintains its...rustic allure. Vineyards, hunting grounds, and estates for rich folks as far as you can see. In fact, you passed a few of them comin' in the way you come. Our village makes up most of the estate staff when those rich folks are around.
"King Haddian you say? Yes, he's been at his estate for some months now. He'll be up the road yonder, like you're going to Delphendria, then another 10 miles down an offshoot to the east. I believe it's the third right along this road here. Well guarded, though, so your business ought to be legitimate, friend.
"As for fancy shops, you won't find that here. Blacksmith does horseshoes and wrought iron. We have a general store. Not much else here. Those fancy folk come to get away from all that, usually."
When they move away, Tock suggest to Gash, "I think it's time to send another message to the King and tell him to expect us, otherwise the we'll be stopped on the way."
Dog moves over to Althus while they are still within sight of the halfling and says “your ability to see the true essence of people and fiends may come in handy in this town, if you take my meaning.”
"I think you're right, Tock." Gash pulls out his copper wire from his pouch and sits to compose a message. He starts to cast sending and says,
"Hello Mr. King sir, The Protectors are in Pallaxus with the mother and child. See you soon. Is this okay? Please allow passage."
Gash - Lvl14 Goblin Wizard - The High Court of the Aasimar Queen
Gash:
"Welcome to Pallaxus. I will alert the guards of your impending arrival. I look forward to meeting you all."
"Alright, he is alerting his guards about our arrival. Should be good to go."
Gash - Lvl14 Goblin Wizard - The High Court of the Aasimar Queen
Chapter 9: Stewardship
The party stands at the edge of the quaint village ankle-deep in snow. One of the mules brays impatiently as a light flurry of snow begins to fall through the bright morning air. Thousands of miles traveled, seemingly upstream against forces that only wished them to be dead or simply gone, and they are but a few dozen miles from their goal.
The old halfling that greeted them turns as a muffled voice calls to him. He returns his attention to the adventurers. "Good luck to you, friends," he says and shuts the door to keep the winter chill a little further at bay.
One of the black riding horses stamps in the snow, blowing puffs of white steam through his nostrils. Neventi sticks her head out of the carriage window. "Let's get this over with," she says.
She has been tense the last few days as they draw closer to her chosen destination. She looks tired, her nails chewed to the fingertips, her raven hair wild around her pale face. It is clearly not easy for her to arrive at the place where she will give up her only daughter.
This little village is much like Marctenus where Tock and Dog first found Gentoa and her mother. There is a stillness here that makes it difficult to draw any further comparison to the town they say torn apart by fiends. Realizing there is nothing else to do, the party takes their first steps towards the country estate of the Mage King.
(This is your final chance to do anything other than move on to the climax of the story!)
Dog ducks his head close to Nev. "Remember. You have the power here. We are just shopping. There are other options. We will protect you from any of them."
He makes a silly face at Genny and then turns away, looking closely at everyone, really hoping Althus is looking around for fiends!
"and remember you will be her mother still. you will raise her. and we wont let anything bad happen. your choice could be to make no choice. I will stand with you. I will fight the hells off for 100 lifetimes for the two of you."
Gash - Lvl14 Goblin Wizard - The High Court of the Aasimar Queen
Bulwark is keeping a very watchful eye out on everyone they come across.
"Don't coddle me," Neventi says, perhaps a little more sharply than she means. "I know what the options are and I've made my choice."
As the party crosses the seemingly empty village, the snow begins to fall harder. Ahead, 6 silhouettes emerge in the flurry. The front two are women, walking forward holding hands.
"Hello, my loves," one of the women says. She is poised, wearing elegant robes. A silver streak runs through her dark hair. Her narrow eyes examine each of the party with a keen intensity. "Thank you so much for delivering young Gentoa to me. I will naturally accept the honor of being her steward."
“Uh... no offense, lady, but you don’t look like our man we’re here to meet.” Martin gives a shooing gesture
Paladin - warforged - orange
"Surely you must be mistaken," she says with a smirk. "I have been expecting you for some time. Come, I have carriages waiting to take us to Vallas."
Althus uses his Divine Sense, "I thought we were heading to meet a king? Can kings be women?"
"A King?" she says with a scoff and a wave of her hand. "Who wants all those royal trappings? Wealth, privilege, power, I offer everything without the responsibility. Besides, the girl's mother has decided and it is to be me. So off with you. I will take it from here."
Althus ponders this for a few long moments, "Hmmm... Well, I was taught that responsibility is a good thing, but if Neventi decided then I guess we should go with her decision. Or Gentoa's. Neventi?!"
Bulwark steps forward, hand on his weapon. "Logic Error: You are not the party we are to be negotiating with. Clear our path."
"Aucasia, who are your friends? And how do you know she has decided?" He looks at her group, and then quickly at Nev to see what she's doing, and then again at Althus to see if he's learned anything.
Tock tries to disappear into the snow and between nearby buildings (stealth check: 14). And then observe the back 4 of the approaching party, trying to determine their weapons and armor and if they are trying to be in some kind of a formation.
Althus shakes his head to indicate no sign of fiends or undead.
The warlock smiles, "See, you knew I would be here waiting for you. Come, Neventi. My entourage and I will protect you now."
Neventi, looking from the window in the carriage, sets her mouth in a tight line and her nostrils flare. "I choose anyone but you, Aucasia."
Aucasia's light mood darkens very quickly. "You'll change your mind before too long." She turns to the woman whose hand she holds, pulling her close into a sensual kiss. "Change her mind, would you my dear?"
And Aucasia departs into the snow storm.
Initiative:
Tock:
Three of the figures behind Aucasia hold hammers...and have a distinctly animal appearance to them. The woman left in the lead appears to be a magic user of some kind. The fifth figure, alone in the back, is a horror to behold.