The Exploits of Misfit Company

Rinn turns to follow Stella when she leaves, but stops short, realizing it appeared to be a personal matter. Instead, he leans against a wall, scuffing his boot along the floor. 

Once out of Stella's range of vision, Furlong will divert to his own room. He will spend the next twenty minutes there in silence and alone, tending to no tasks, but instead running his fingers along a jewel-encrusted broach he keeps in a footlocker under his bed. He will then join the others as they meet to discuss this mission.

Stella collects people, starting with Rinn. She gives the elf a slight smile. "I saw that. Thank you, I appreciate the thought...and the restraint."

Rinn nods. "As much as I enjoy getting on the old man's nerves, it seemed a private moment was needed." After a brief pause, he adds. "He reminds me a bit of someone I know...or knew, I guess." Another pause and some foot shuffling before, he smiles. "So, what does the day hold for us now?"

Stella sighs. "Unfortunately, probably more of Tristan. Apparently my mother's been captured by orcs...it's a long story, I'll explain once we're all together," she promises.

(Now we've met up)

Everyone: Vastra gathers you all up in the kitchen. "As some of you are aware of, Stella's father has come in and there's something that he needs us to do. Now out of respect for Stella, I'm not going to attempt go into Stella's personal history. So I will cede the floor to her, so that she can explain this for us."

Stella rubs her forehead, looking tired. "All right, so...basically, I grew up thinking I was a noble, but when I was fifteen or so, it turned out my parents were conmen who faked it all. They were both thrown in jail, but apparently they broke out. At which point my mother and some other villagers were kidnapped by northern orcs, and well...my father would like my help rescuing her. This is personal for me, none of you have to come, of course. But I'm going to go, to help the others who were captured if for no other reason."

Having been either asleep at the time, or lost in his thoughts while practicing on his instrument, Barnabus looked almost surprised at the news during the meeting. After a moment or two however, the half-orc casually goes back to his eggs with a thoughtful look on his face. "... We're just gonna kill'em, right? Da Orcs, I mean. Dat 'nd rescue whoever got captured? Or is there some unspoken history there too?" He calmly asked of Stella, but would look to all gathered to gauge their reactions. "Not that eitha' way I won't help. Jus... figured I'd know ahead of time what's the deal gonna be initially, iz all I'm say'n.... Beats bein' here." The last part he mutters to himself. 

Stella shakes her head. "No prior history with the orcs," she reassures Barnabus.

Kasha, mouth full of burrito, stands and says proudly, "You can count me*UrRrrP* in!" She turns to Obsidian, and gives the cat a very affirmative, single nod.

Furlong sits silently in the back of the room as the party discusses.

Rinn simply says, “My blades are yours.”

Yvan gives Stella a heavy pat on the shoulder, looking down to her with a soft gaze. He didn't speak, but she would know that he was willing to lend a hand to his friend in need.

Alys was out in the garden trimming some fresh ‘flower’ for her morning ‘wake and bake’ before she headed to the kitchen to put together munchies for what she assumed would be a day of researching. She swore she heard some shouting, banging, and perhaps some of the others looking for her. 

The wizard would walk into the kitchen to witness Kasha caressing and singing to her burrito. She’d smile, feeling like she’s in good company. Alys would pick a spot at the counter to begin trimming and busting her bud to pack her pipe. “Quite the excitement this morning...” She’d look around the room, “I’m willing to lend my help for a friend.” The Cleric would nod, “Though, we get dibs on any new literature found.” She’d add.

"Excellent. That makes all of us." Vastra says, smiling as she leaves the kitchen and heads towards the sitting room, where Tristan is sitting still while servants clean up the mess and watch him so that he doesn't get into any trouble. "We have agreed to take on your mission. You obviously possess a degree of skill as a tracker, having managed to locate Stella after all these years, so you'll accompany us, so long as Stella decides to keep you with us." Vastra doesn't say it, but it's fairly clear that she doesn't want him abiding here while they're out doing the job that he gave them. 

The cart is readied quickly and Vastra appoints whichever servant Furlong has given the most praise to (feel free to name the servants!) authority over the house until they return. She tells Kasha to direct the horse towards the village that Tristan and his wife were living in when the raid happened.

"BIBBLE!" Furlong shouts, followed by the fast footfalls of his second in command, the half-orc butler Bibble Arturo. "Bibble, my good man, we will be away for some time and so you will be in charge of overseeing maintenance and upkeep. Please keep the house in order during our absence. There is crab-grass in the yard that needs weeding; furniture in the study that needs painting and repair; a number of the windows could do with redressing; and the summer heat will make those door-frames bend and bow so be sure to have someone wiping them down regulary, lest they collect too much condensation. Should anyone come looking to offer us work, take detail notes and prepare them in a collated manner for our review upon our return. Keep the staff well fed, well rested, and well and truly busy. Understood?"

Stella is quiet as she packs her things up and gets in the cart, pointedly ignoring Tristan (although also keeping an eye on Furlong to make sure the old man doesn't attack Tristan). She is silent on the ride, hand slowly twisting around the hilt of her rapier and petting Obsidian occasionally, who keeps giving Tristan dirty looks for making his friend so upset.

You all take a stop in Cerellia to do some last minute shopping. Alys purchases some wizarding gear and cashews. Vastra buys a pair of healing potions, a spell scroll, and some magical ink. After that, you get in the cart and head northwest, towards the border village of Dwelrun. The journey takes a week, allowing you to see the entire country, which is quite beautiful in late summer. You arrive at the village, which even a few weeks after the attack, is still recovering from the raid. You ask them for any information they can provide about the raiders and it's hard for them. They're still very traumatized from the attack, some of them breaking down upon having to revisit the day where their friends and relatives were killed or captured. When you tell them what you're here to do, they plead with you to save the ones they love, offering what meager goods they have to offer.

The villagers describe the attacking orcs as having spiked armor with red scales, spikes, and the symbol of a black hand on their shoulders. A history check will tell you more about them.

Leaving the village, it's a short journey to the border separating Riisel from the Outer Wastes. It's easy to tell where Riisel ends and the Wastes begin, as the road also ends as you cross the border to the Wastes. Roll Survival to find and follow the tracks of the Orc raiders, you can pair up for advantage if you wish.

Continuing to flat-out ignore her father the entire trip, Stella continues to be unusually quiet. She pairs up with Rinn for the tracking.

Furlong will pair up with Bixby for survival.

"Come along, Barnabus."

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