"Amn!" Cinder says, delighted.  "So we're near the city of coin!  It's like your Sir Tristan just read my mind," she coos.  "I might choose to stay here after all.  Athkatla has some of the best shopping this side of Faerun!"

She quiets down and listens intently to the captain of the guard when he relays his experiences.  "Acid, huh?" Cinder says, rubbing her chin.  "Everyone, make sure you have a backup weapon.  Well, except you, Leon.  I'm sure that Dark Bite could laugh at any acid that got thrown onto it.  Still, acid can ruin most everything that isn't enchanted when it hits," she complains.  "No regard to expense or finery.  It's a pain in the ass.  In that case, I'll take a spare dagger and a longsword too, then."

OOC: Minor correction - Amn is a state (a country) with the capital city Athkatla. The rest is still correct to this day.

slight edits to make that make sense XD  thanks!

OOC: NP :) I am not that keen in Faerun geography, so have keep the link to the map ready https://loremaps.azurewebsites.net/Maps/Faerun

"Your trackers have not been able to follow it then?"  Leon asks as they get their extra supplies. "Would you happen to have any full plate, or such that would fit me?" he would ask, though not really expecting that to be the case.

Alyssa would smile encouragingly to Ramious. She was delighted to see the effort being made to read something new. And when the food came along, she would not be far behind the others.

The elf would help herself to her fair share of snacks and feeding some to Hue. She would even start packing some up for later; little lunch kits for everyone if they'd let her; some handfuls of this and that for bundles of trail mix; and even grab a jar of their famous jam.

Cheeks full, Alyssa's eyes would go wide in glee at Sir Tristan's generosity. "Ou. Shinies." Coos Hue while she helps herself the wand and a bag of holding, as per Cinder's suggestion, and she immediately begins storing the new 'rations' in it. The elf happily accepts her potion and ring. "I would second a healing kit if it were possible." She'd smile sheepishly, not really wanting to ask for more when she's already just received a wizards dream starting kit.

As Leon asked an important question about the Hydra, Alyssa would whip open her notebook to begin jotting down the information and description shared by Roderick. She'd make her best attempt to sketch the creature and its defining features based off of what was told. Other than taking notes, she couldn't think of anything more she could possibly ask for right now.

Portent rolls: 17 | 13

After a little review in her spellbook, she believed she was ready for their adventure. "I'm ready!" Pause. "When you all are..."

"Squawk! I'm ready! I'm ready! I'm ready!"

Ramious frowns as the exchange takes place. He continues to glance at each of his new party members, which questioning looks. He has no further questions for the captain of the guard aside from, once the conversation calms down, he says, "Soooo, we can just head out of this castle then, and go search for this Hydra?  We'll just...go...by ourselves....then...?"  It's almost as if he feels he's being tricked somehow. 

His new magical ring is on his finger, and he now fidgets with it constantly....twisting it back and forth as if trying to find the right combination of moves to remove it. 

There was no full plate armour - Roderic apologized, explaining there was no need ever for such a serious equipment, the monsters of the Cloud Peaks never really bothered Crabapple Valley, one of the reason too why that magical sword did not find it's owner here. Healing kit, though, was granted to Alyssa without questions.

The question from Ramious puzzled Captain: "Is not it why you are here?" carefully asked he in return. "The beast is coming from the mountain side always, but too fast - and way too dangerous for us to follow all the way back. When you leave the castle, keep to the main road, then turn towards the mountains at first opportunity. It's about three miles walk from here. There you might find tracks."

"You might come across some lesser beasties... Though I do not think it will be anyhow dangerous. You see, there is a troglodite tribe living near by, but they know better than to attack people of the Valley, and when they do - we push them back by our forces."  

"Thank you for the information."  Leon says.  He adjusts his weapons a bit, now with two great swords criss-crossed on his back, a hilt up above each shoulder.  He double-checks the ease of drawing one of his hand axes, in sheathes on his chest, as well as tests the ability to pull out his warhammer from his belt.  Everything appearing easy to get to, he nods to the others.  "Ready for a bit of hunting?" He asks as his calm gray eyes look between each member of the group.

Ramious seems in a hurry to leave the castle, rushing outside before eventually stopping and looking around the group with a puzzled expression.  He examines the ring on his finger.  "Think they're really magical?"   He shrugs.  "I don't know what sorta game these folks are playing.  I think they must have us confused with other people."  He looks at the group, seemingly assessing each one, before nodding to himself.  "So...you all want to go hunt some magical multi-headed monster then?"  He looks around with a shrewd look on his face as if trying to figure out what the 'trick' is.  After the group seems to agree...he shakes his head, "Ok, ok, fine, I'll go along with this...."   He turns and stomps down the main road, watching for his first opportunity to turn towards the mountain. 

He sidles up to the Gith as they travel along, "This ring is worth more than I've ever owned, if it's real. Which it can't be. Because who just hands out rings to random people like that. I've fought in wars, fought in bars, fought in the sewers and back alleys....never just been given a free trip, free food, and free magical rings before....is this what a life of adventuring is really like?"

Cinder's eye twitches.  "Walk?  Three miles?  Not even a set of horses for us?"  With an upset sigh that makes her hair flame up, she grumbles and flounces out after the others.  "Fine, fine.  The horses can come after we've finished the job, I guess.  They'd only make hydra fodder otherwise."

As they begin their journey down the road, Cinder scratches behind one ear, then steps closer to Alyssa.  "Hey... what's the name of your raven?  I've never seen a white one before," she says, peering at the bird.  "He's a real looker.  Just like you, cutie pie."  Cinder winks at the elf.  "Oh don't look so shocked.  A merchant has to have an eye for quality goods, and that includes people.  I can tell by the lack of equipment that you're not hauling around that you're not a soldier like the rest of us, though.  This is probably going to be a dangerous job.  Why'd you want to do it?"

She eavesdrops on the conversation between Ramious and Leon as they continue down the road.  Her forehead furrows at Ramious' words.  A life of poverty, she thinks, wondering what that would be like.  Financial hardship definitely wasn't something Cinder had ever had to face before, and likely would never have to face so long as she kept in touch with the Spice Trading group.  Peering at her own ring, she frowns.  The piece itself was nothing fancy; as a statement piece, Cinder was sure she'd seen worse.  The enchantment on it, however, was another thing entirely... Cinder lets out a low whistle.  "This Tristan guy must have one hell of a court mage, if he's giving these things out like candy.  Not that I'm complaining about it. Still... with a mage able to produce things like this, it's a wonder he didn't just contract out to the best of the best locally.  I wonder if there's some hidden catch to this hydra-hunting mission that we don't know about."

Leon glances over to Ramious.  "The ring?" He asks, glancing to the one on his finger.  "No, these sorts of things don't happen very often." he agrees with a shrug.  "Not unheard of, but normally not to you, but someone you know, some lucky son of a..." He shrugs.  "well, let's hope that there are no strings attached, and see how it goes."

Alyssa would practically skip outside after the others. “Ah! Fresh air! A walk would be good after all those snacks.” The elf would stretch her arms up and out as far as they could go before resting her hands behind her head.

As the group moseyed on, Lyssa would take in their surroundings in silence until Cinder stepped over to start conversation. “This is Hue.” She’d smile a genuine smile and simply return the genasi’s sly wink. The elf would gesture for the albino Raven to walk down her shoulder onto her forearm. It would cock its head from side to side.

”Is it hot out here or is it just Hue? Squawk!” And Hue would take off soaring to the skies.

Alyssa would clear her throat to break the silence after, “To put it simple, I’m a researcher who’s looking for some excitement. I love books and all, but there’s nothing like hands on learning when given the opportunity.”

Also eavesdropping on the conversation, Alyssa would add in a couple thoughts, “Perhaps there was no one locally skilled or willing enough to perform the task. That is why a posting is put up at adventurer guilds to begin with right? Items like these could be added enticement or bargainingships. Or, he could simply believe in entrusting items to those who appreciate its true value and have good favour in return...” She’d trail off on the last thought. Sometime’s it only takes one act of kindness.

Ramious looks over at the girl. As she finishes talking a wide smile creeps across his face, and he bursts out laughing a loud raucous laugh. He actually slaps his knee with his big hands, as he laughs uproariously. 

His laugh slowly fades, and finally he wipes away a tear, and lets out a sigh, as if he’s remembering the good times that happened a long time ago but that actually happened literally moments before. 

Still smiling he turns away from the group and continues plodding down the road looking for the turn off towards the mountain. 

To be fair, the group could be called a "complete strangers" no more than a carpenter or a smith someone hires to do a specific job. There was a reason Sir Tristan did not hire first group of ragtags from nearby Athkatla, but bothered to contact a guild all the way to Waterdeep. Paper rules the world - signed contracts and all the information the guild had about it's employees guaranteed safety of client's investments. 

The "turn to the mountains" was not that far away - half a mile, may be - and the scenery was so beautiful, even Cinder should have stop to regret the need for a walk. Anyone, dreaming about pastoral lifestyle or simply appreciative of peace and quiet would think himself to be in a paradise: late morning of the late spring, when sun is not too hot yet, birds singing loudly, the trees are covered with flowers of all shades of red - from pink to deep purpure, the light sweet smell of those flowers, the mountains against the clear blue sky, that looked like they were drown... People along the road were smiley and friendly - clearly this was the place where no one ever locked his door or expected anything malicious from a neighbour. It was difficult to believe anything evil could originate anywhere near the place. And yet, it was.

Closer to the mountains you came across the broken trees. The trail here is cold - attack happened days ago, but the sight is unpleasant. A couple farmers were still clearing out the place and someone who looked like a priest was talking with workers. Far ahead you could see where gardens were ending and ground slowly rising up forming the base of the mountains.

Ramious seemed to look around at the pastoral land around him almost as if opening his eyes for the first time.  His doubts about their mission temporarily forgotten as he absorbed the care free country lifestyle and the beautiful scenery. He stopped to remove his cloak revealing a sleeveless chain shirt. His thick muscular neck and shoulders were bare, muscles bound to his thick frame, rippling with each movement and sending the scars across his leathery skin dancing. He crouched for a moment to carefully fold the cloak and stuff it into his backpack before continuing. 

As the group reached the scene, Ramious walked forward to the broken trees and examined the ground around them, as well as the broken trees themselves looking for clues about what could have broken a thick wooden trunk.  To Leon he says, “Come help me take a look around.”  Were they torn, cut, chopped, and were there multiple strike marks from claws, or just a single impact. He examined the area for other clues regarding the attack.  Investigation (with help) : 19. 

Once done examining the scene he turns to the group, “Someone should probably ask the priest some questions…”   He shows the way to Cinder and Alyssa with his hand, “Well…go on, find out what they know.” 

Ramious turned out to be quite an investigator. Despite the time past from that particular attack, he could say clearly see several things: tree trunks were broken by something huge moving through the area - could be 15 ft tall and appropriately heavy, judging by the destruction left. Some branches were bitten of and chewed. Interestingly enough, it looked like at least two different sets of teeth did it. The smell of acid is long gone, still if someone ever saw a chemical burn, he would never take it for anything else - and plants around clearly got their share of acid spill. There are no claw marks, though, if creature does have claws - it is not the main weapon.

Once he has helped Ramious check out the broken trees, Leon steps back and calls forth his familiar.  A white-feathered owl appears on his shoulder, cocking its head as it glances around.  The bird then launches into the air, circling overhead as it scouts around.

Striker perception: 13

"Anyone good at tracking?"  Leon asks the group as he nods to the path the large creature might have taken.

May be it's a bight sun affecting owl's perception, but the bird could not report anything out of order around.

(How do you get a nat one when rolling with advantage!  Too funny...)