Above & Below

Pip throws his head back, closing his eyes tightly and gulping down the potion with everyone's encouragement. His eyes open widely as it takes effect, and he looks down at his hands as if they would somehow show signs of his advanced abilities. Confidently, he nods and thanks you, and goes about packing up his things. 

„We‘re not done with Antlers yet,“ Effort says, looking at the others.  „Whatever Orochi and his boys did, it weakened the gang in town.  Orochi is gone, but we, the Sister, the final shard, and the Dark Forest are all still here.  I think we should finish what we started.  Though we can rest in town with the monks if we need before then.“

(Mobile)

“A rest of some sort might be beneficial…” Kurama began as unconsciously touched the part of his body where Orochi had temporarily stunned him, “…but I agree, we still have more work to do here first.”

(OOC: I’d be good with short rest.  A long rest wouldn’t add to much for Kurama at the moment (but fine to take one if the group needs it)) 

So, what are we doing?  Resting?  I'm up for that.  Especially if there's drinks too.  Brask grabs his stuff, gives all the money to Pip and follows Kurama and Effort to wherever they're going...

(Agreed - a short rest, somewhere in town.  Like a tavern.)

Effort leads the others back to the tavern for some food, a short rest, and to collect the local gossip.

(I think it was an inn or tavern we passed up the first time to go to the church instead.  That's where she's taking people.  Persuasion to gossip with the locals and dig up any rumors: 17)

You head back to the main thoroughfare and easily spot the tavern. There's no name on the door or any sign, but the smoke continues to billow out of the chimney, indicating they're open for business. Inside, you find a moderately sized crowd, mostly drinking. They seem to serve some food as well - a brown stew, bread, that kind of thing. 

"A round of ales and stews for me and my friends," Pip digs into his coin purse as the barmaid walks away to grab your drinks. He looks up at all of you. "I insist. It's the least I could do for my friends."

The ale is mediocre at best, but cold. The stew is a bit better, and you all feel more like yourselves after being able to sit for a few minutes and refuel. Everyone, take a short rest.

Effort, you're able to find that a few of the fisherman at the next table are rather talkative. They exchange pleasantries. "You folk new in town? Best ale, right here!" He raises his glass in a toast and takes a big swig, as does his companion. 

Effort slides into the appropriate persona for the conversation easily.  Channeling her inner Brask, she grabs her mug of ale and raises it companionably.  "I've got to hand it to you, this ale really is something else!" she says with a wide grin.  "Company's pretty good too, if you ask me."  She gives the men a wink and takes a deep draught from her mug.   Sighing in contentment, she wipes her mouth with the back of her hand.  "Now this is the life, if you ask me.  Not like how it is running errands for those stuffy higher-ups.  Those town council types are always too busy with their nonsense to pay attention to what the real world's like down here!  They don't know what they're missing out on, huh?"  She leaves the rhetorical question hanging as she takes another drink from her mug, listening to see if any of the volunteer fishermen fill in some blanks.

Brask nods in agreement but lets Effort do the talking.  He's looking around the tavern to see if there's anyone interesting worth talking to, or worth fighting, or maybe some jerk who's spying on them for their enemies and needs killing, the usual kind of thing:  Insight 19

Hit die:  1  10  

Brask, you look around the tavern, surveying the crowd. You do see a pair of Dark Forest members sitting across the room, although they don't seem to be paying attention to you at all. Just drinking ale. The rest of the patrons look fairly innocuous - fishermen, a man with a blackened leather apron that you're guessing is a blacksmith, and so on. The bartender is a hulking, bearded man that seems friendly enough for this kind of place. 

Effort, the fishermen are at least a few beers deep, and are happy to have someone else to pontificate to - they both laugh as you mention the higher-ups. "Ha, you can say that again! Council folk don't have a clue what actually goes on in this town. They collect their taxes and sit on their fat arses all day eating and drinking and wasting away."

"I don't think I've seen one at the docks in ten years," the other chimes in. "They don't care what comes in and out of here. As long as their little underlings bring them a slice - meaning no offense if you're doing that kind of work."

Effort: short rest 5 hp

"None taken.  What sorts of things come in and out of here, anyway?" Effort asks, curious.  "We're just passing through, but it seems like this town's got something cooking by those docks."

"Those antler wearers bring in all manner of strange things. Not that I ever seen most of it, but you hear rumors. Magical elixirs from across the sea, strange artifacts from deep within the mountains, that kind of thing. Think their big ship leaves tomorrow morn...ain't that, right?" He looks over at his companion.

The other fisherman squints in thought for a moment. "Yup. Neap tide in the morning. They've been packin' it up for two or three days now, heading off to who-knows-where."

Brask leans in and whispers to Pip and Kurama:  We should kill the Dark Forest idiots and take their ship.  Two problems solved at a stroke.  He manages (hopefully) to say this quietly, so no-one else hears.

(Mobile)

"I think you might be right Brask, though we may need to only incapacitate them or take it while they're unaware.  Besides leaving them alive may allow us to question them and help us uncover some truths that we're currently lacking..."

Speaking up for a moment to reply to one of the locals, Kurama asked, "What does their ship look like?  And do you know where it might be docked?"

Hit Die (3): 18Hp (back to max)

"Oh, I don't think you would miss it. Big ship. Always docks right in the middle of everything, so they can unload quickly and get their things on the road. Insignia is some kind of tree with antlers." The old fisherman finishes his ale and holds up his empty glass to the barmaid. 

Your stews arrive piping hot, and Pip hastily starts to spoon some into his mouth. Contorting his face and sucking in air to cool off his mouth, he leans in. "I bet they keep a lot of men on that boat. Lookouts up top. Others waiting for their shift down below. At least that's how we did things."

"Well.  I bet it makes quite a sight," Effort says to the fishermen with a nod of thanks, sipping more demurely at her drink, even as her mind wanders to Cadmael:  Go look for it.  Let me know what you find.

She hears Cadmael's trill of affirmation and smiles silently to herself.  To her companions, she speaks in a lowered voice for their ears only:  "We could hire on as help, if you liked.  Or, if you're impatient, we could seek them out before they leave, tonight."

"I think it would be best to deal with them one way or another while the ship is still docked"  Kurama whispered back quietly.  "I feel like there is still more Truths to be gained from Rastel before we depart this place.  And, if we were to run into serious trouble, I would rather not have that happen in the open sea."  

Good to scout first, get an idea of their strength.  I doubt we'll need help, he adds modestly, but it can't hurt to know our options.  

Brask will go around the tavern, introduce himself to various worthless peasants and ask about whether there's anywhere in town where mercenaries or other muscle can be hired.  He'll avoid the Dark Forest jerks, obviously.

Effort, roll an investigation check for Cadmael.

Brask, give me a persuasion (or intimidation, if that's how you're getting info) check.

Intimidation all the way.  And not even intentional.  He thinks he's making nice by going up to people and saying:  Hey, peasant.  Tell me where I can find mercs in this worthless town.

Intimidation:  20

Cadmael is actually a birdbrain, investigation: -2