“I am your humble servant, my lady”Merric gives Edhelri a small nod of his head and another smile “and I am thankful for the opportunity. I will do what I can to keep your wagons and cargo safe. Are all of these under your supervision?” he points to all of the wagons in the caravan.
Merric turns to Akira “Think nothing of it. My skills in healing are limited, but I do what I can. Perytons are known to hunt elves and humans too, though they will often strike anything they can.” He looks up at the sky “But you are right, we shouldn’t remain here and wait for them to come back.”
OOC: Rogram wouldn't notice any overt signs of Merric being associated with a faction.
"Are all of these under your supervision?”
Edhelri shakes her head. "I carry only this one wagon of exotic wood. The others you see all belong to various other merchants. Eldkin here is the only other on my payroll, as my personal bodyguard. Keep my profits and my animals protected and you'll have your payment every ten days," she says.
As Akira and Merric alike mention moving onward, the other wagons seem to be in agreement, getting their animals in line and ready to move down the road again. Within minutes, the reins of the lead wagon whip, and the others fall in line.
For a few hours, a tense silence hangs over the caravan as travelers and guards alike quietly wonder if more mornings like this are in store for the journey, but by the evening the mood seems to be lifting. Trills of pleasant conversation are carried forward by a pleasant breeze, and the wagons cover fifteen miles or more from the city gates by the time the sun sets. When twilight dims visibility, and tired horses and mules begin complaining, the wagons pull off of the road to form an impromptu encampment. Several travelers seem well equipped for the journey, establishing campfires and pitching tents while others simply crowd around Beyd Sechepol's wagon. "Time to earn your paycheck," the half-elf merchant winks to Karib, opening the back of the wagon and unloading kegs of ale. "Alright, four copper for a mug and an extra two if you ain't got your own tankard. If you start pushing and shoving I'll add a couple more, so don't test it," he calls out.
Some travelers bring out salted beef and dried rations, but a few saunter into the nearby trees, in search of fresher meat. Orvustia eyes the hunters wistfully, obvious enough to catch Nyerhite's eye. "Orvustia my dear, didn't you tell me you hunt elk back home? By all means go join them, there are plenty of eyes to watch the wagon," he says. She sighs, "No, that's okay. Thank you though," and sits near Akira, staring into a freshly started campfire.
OOC: Sections like this will be very open for player RP - your characters are not expected to guard your employers or wagons at all hours of the day, and there are plenty of opportunities throughout each day to speak with one another or any of the NPCs on the caravan. I'll be pausing like this from time to time to make sure we're getting in all of those discussions, and then when RP winds down I'll move us forward.
As the wagons circle up, Rogram decides to take advantage of the somewhat disorganized encampment. Trying to act as casual as possible, he wanders toward the cult's wagons with the hopes of starting a conversation with one of the cultists or perhaps overhearing something useful.
Merric hoists his bow and joins the hunters as the caravan stops for the evening, hoping to forage some nuts, berries and perhaps small game to supplement their rations. As he returns, he circles around the wagons, looking for anything that stands out and can help him identify their owners.
After dinner, he stops to check in on Akira. “How are you holding up, are those wounds healing? Any pain?” As he checks the bandages he tries to learn more about his new companions. “How long have you been a caravan guard? Do you travel with this group often? I hope your other trips are not this exciting.”
Akira smiles warmly, her pain lessened but still healing, "I am certainly improved thanks to you and time helps heal most wounds if allowed. I have not long been on this detail but love wandering. Invariably, I do however always come back to where there are books. I fear I haven't immersed myself in the company of others in the caravan beyond Orvustia and Tyjit, the guards on my wagon. And even so, not as much as I would like. How did the wheels of fate bring you into this place and time?"
With intent ears to listen, Akira also looks around periodically to see if anyone's body language seems out of sync with the environment.
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
Halsen - Human Monk - Winter Splendor Aradurk - Half-Orc Fighter - Barty's Blade Bizarre Aradurk - Half-Orc Fighter - Betrayal at Devilsfall Aradurk - Half-Orc Fighter - Barty's "The Hidden War" (Doom Portals Part 4A) Aradurk - Half-Orc Fighter -Barty's "The Whispered Word (Doom Portals Part 5) Garu - Tabaxi Paladin - Barty's "Beyond Twilight" (Rikirta Part 3)
“Books? They seem to be in short supply around here.” Merry replied. “I never took to book learning myself, too many of my lessons were learned in the world around me.” He looks around at the small caravan camp and leans in to talk to Akira without being overhead. “In truth, I was looking for a caravan heading this way. I am the eyes and ears of my King, sent to find out information behind rumors coming from the north.” He shrugs “It is better to travel these parts as a group. So, which of these wagons should I watch out for?” He smiles an impish grin.
Akira studies him, not inclined to be mistrusting but trying to gauge by his seam or, the veracity of his words. If she is assured, she quietly replies in Elvish:
“The front 3, if I am told correctly.”
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
Halsen - Human Monk - Winter Splendor Aradurk - Half-Orc Fighter - Barty's Blade Bizarre Aradurk - Half-Orc Fighter - Betrayal at Devilsfall Aradurk - Half-Orc Fighter - Barty's "The Hidden War" (Doom Portals Part 4A) Aradurk - Half-Orc Fighter -Barty's "The Whispered Word (Doom Portals Part 5) Garu - Tabaxi Paladin - Barty's "Beyond Twilight" (Rikirta Part 3)
Something Rogram notices as he wanders through the caravan is a couple of agreements being made for the next day's travel. Lai Angesstun, Rogram's crafty dwarven employer, is overheard discussing an arrangement with a rock gnome man. The gnome pays Lai for the ability to ride in the back of his wagon while Leda lays out some ground rules for him. Near the assumed wagons of the Cult, a similar arrangement is being attempted by a wiry human man, but it becomes quickly apparent that he is being declined. "Are you saying my money isn't good enough for you?" the man voices loudly as he is rebuffed by the guards of one of the wagons.
Akira notes the body language of the travelers around her, but only one person stands out to her shrouded by the flickering shadows of nearby shadows. A human woman sits by herself away from the campfires, covered by a hooded cloak; the cloak covers her well, but her facial features are momentary lit by a passing lantern. The woman's skin appears to be green.
Rogram pauses to watch how the altercation between the guards and the wiry human man progresses. He's more watching the guards and trying to discern if one of them seems approachable.
Akira, keeping her eyes trained on the green skinned female (but trying to not look like she’s got her eyes trained on her), gestures for Merry to lean in. She whispers in Elvish, “My sweet Merry, while not one to stare at those with beautiful skin, there is a cloaked woman across the room whose tone is quite a verdant color - perhaps we keep eyes open?”
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
Halsen - Human Monk - Winter Splendor Aradurk - Half-Orc Fighter - Barty's Blade Bizarre Aradurk - Half-Orc Fighter - Betrayal at Devilsfall Aradurk - Half-Orc Fighter - Barty's "The Hidden War" (Doom Portals Part 4A) Aradurk - Half-Orc Fighter -Barty's "The Whispered Word (Doom Portals Part 5) Garu - Tabaxi Paladin - Barty's "Beyond Twilight" (Rikirta Part 3)
After Akira shares this, she will rack her brain to figure out from lore and studies if she can recall if any particular people in the lands have green skin with her proficiency in History.
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
Halsen - Human Monk - Winter Splendor Aradurk - Half-Orc Fighter - Barty's Blade Bizarre Aradurk - Half-Orc Fighter - Betrayal at Devilsfall Aradurk - Half-Orc Fighter - Barty's "The Hidden War" (Doom Portals Part 4A) Aradurk - Half-Orc Fighter -Barty's "The Whispered Word (Doom Portals Part 5) Garu - Tabaxi Paladin - Barty's "Beyond Twilight" (Rikirta Part 3)
"Do you not realize who I am!? Unbelievable!" The angry man eventually storms away from the wagon, rejected. The teamster he had been speaking with turns away brusquely and returns to his wagon. Unlike the other merchants, the guards of these wagons remain with the wagons themselves, not joining the other campfires and not socializing with any of the other travelers. Rogram's thoughts are interrupted by Leda as she joins him. "You should know we have a gnome paying us to ride on the wagon for the rest of the trip. I couldn't get much out of him, other than his name's Radecere Perethun and he's realized he's too short to keep up with the caravan all the way to Waterdeep. It won't change your duties, much; I'd rather have your eyes on dangers along the road," she explains.
Akira knows of a number of humanoid creature that have green skin (or scales, in the case of dragonborn and lizardfolk), but not of such a vibrant hue and not to this degree. Before she is able to consider whether it was simply a trick of the dim light of the night, Tyjit joins her and Merric for some food. "Ah, ye noticed too, eh? Not sure what she's about, but she's an odd one. Heard someone call her Green Imsa, I think," she says.
Rogram blinks at Leda, feeling "caught", even though he hadn't really been doing anything. He reaches up and cups his covered dome with one big hand. "Oh, OK. As long as Lai is OK with it, I guess I don't have any reason to complain." He shrugs and gives the human a sheepish smile. Maintaining eye contact, he waits for his sergeant to leave his side.
Once she does ...
Rogram squares his shoulders and approaches the teamster. He looks over toward where the angry man had stormed off to and shakes his head. Stopping about 10 feet away from the guard, Rogram puts his thumbs in his belt and comments, "What's that guy's deal? He's going to find himself impaled on a sword if he isn't careful." Before the guard can respond, the half-dwarf continues, "I've noticed you haven't been able to leave your post. Would you like me to fetch you some ale?" He grins and leans in a little. "I know the big bloke helping. He'll make sure I get the good stuff."
"Time to earn your paycheck," the half-elf merchant winks to Karib, opening the back of the wagon and unloading kegs of ale. "Alright, four copper for a mug and an extra two if you ain't got your own tankard. If you start pushing and shoving I'll add a couple more, so don't test it," he calls out.
Other than the fight earlier, Karib has had an easy day, and if the price is doling out ale then he can certainly live with that. Tugging a non-existing forelock he nods and smiles to the merchant, attempting a bad northern accent, "Aye m''lord, it shall be done."
He does his best to look the part of a guard-turned-barkeep, while serving beer to any who ask. As he does this he tries to keep tabs on any new faces, and on any of the conversation that happens between those in the queue. He is happy to engage with anyone in the process.
The teamster shrugs back to Rogram, any forthcoming answer stopped by the query for ale. "I'm good," is all the man brusquely offers as he walks to the back of his wagon.
Beyd handles the sales of ale while Karib distributes for a short while before the half-elf opportunist waves everyone off. "Alright alright, last call for the night. Don't want to exhaust our supply on the first night," he jests. Interestingly, Karib notices a few of the familiar faces from the Cult's camp partaking in the drinks and revelry of the evening, remaining with the travelers rather than assisting the Cult's wagons with their checks and repairs.
As night falls, the festive atmosphere shifts to a sleepy quiet. Watches are posted throughout the camp, and the snores of snoozing travelers soon accompany the chirping bugs of the night.
Rogram's face falls as his attempt at ingratiating himself with the guard fails. But then he hears Beyd's warning and hurries back to the wagon to get a flagon for himself. His mind replays the encounter as he tries to figure out if he did something wrong. He wonders if letting the fact that he's a smith slip might result in his own capture and a resulting reunion with his pa. He's so lost in thought that he's already sipping on his ale back at Lei's wagon before he realizes that he hadn't even acknowledged Karib. He looks for the cleric to see if he's perhaps wanting to talk before turning in for the night.
Merry raises his eyebrows at Akira’s use of elvish and answers his thanks in the same language. He casts a curious glance at the wagons identified, but before he can ask more, he is interrupted by the arrival of Tyjit. Glancing over at the strange women both Akira and Tyjit pointed out. “I think I will go introduce myself.” Merry excuses himself and saunters over to the cloaked figure. “Good evening! A bit far from the fire and company tonight aren’t you? I am Merric Greenleaf, at your service. Just joined the caravan with Edhelri, and what wagon are you traveling with?”
Akira smiles, watching Merric taken to action, and sits, observing. While observing the interaction, she calls over Tyjit, “Tyjit - you seem to have a broad swath of experience. Tell me about yourself.”
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
Halsen - Human Monk - Winter Splendor Aradurk - Half-Orc Fighter - Barty's Blade Bizarre Aradurk - Half-Orc Fighter - Betrayal at Devilsfall Aradurk - Half-Orc Fighter - Barty's "The Hidden War" (Doom Portals Part 4A) Aradurk - Half-Orc Fighter -Barty's "The Whispered Word (Doom Portals Part 5) Garu - Tabaxi Paladin - Barty's "Beyond Twilight" (Rikirta Part 3)
The cloaked figure sighs, but reaches up and drops the hood of her cloak. Merric sees immediately that this isn't just a human with green skin; her hair, eyes, nails, teeth - everything about her is green. She extends a hand in greeting.
"Imsa. It's nice to meet you, Merric," she says quietly. "I'm not traveling with any wagon in particular. I thought about paying to ride in one but I think I'd rather save all my coin until Waterdeep."
Tyjit casts a glance over to her fellow dwarven guardsman speaking with Edhelri at her wagon and shrugs. "Don't let Eldkin hear ye say that or ye'll get a lecture on how much more experienced she is that ever'body on this caravan," she chuckles. "Not much to say, really. I find the road more excitin' than stayin' cooped up 'neath the mountains, much as my folk like it. I prefer the city and the road. Not much for people but...good as I am with a spear, it's much harder to fight perytons without company."
In the morning, Nyerhite's lighthearted bellows contrast with Edhelri's rapt calls to awaken like a klaxon. Before even the full light of day, the wagons of the caravan are brought back into line on the road. "We're getting back on schedule this morning, anyone who's not ready to go in thirty minutes is walking back to Baldur's Gate alone!" A halfling teamster from one of the Cult's assumed wagons calls.
Most of the travelers are ready in half the time, but a few struggle to pack up their tents or get animals in line. A curious trio of young human men stand over a horse near the back of the caravan; one, a knight in plate armor, stands next to another in plain clothes as their companion shouts down at the animal. "Come on, you useless nag!" The man, wearing a gilded breastplate that reeks of nobility, smacks the horse's legs with a whip a few times until the animal finally stands and allows him to mount. Near Edhelri's wagon, the moon elf remarks to Merric and Eldkin, "I truly hope it is understood that if I catch either of you treating my horses like anything remotely resembling that cur, you will be pulling the wagon to Waterdeep yourself."
The caravan soon falls back into a familiar lull of chatting travelers, rumbling wheels and plodding hooves. The morning and afternoon carry a pleasant warmth, but Eldkin is quick to caution anyone not to feel too optimistic. "The hardest part o' this route is comin' up. Few days in we'll be rollin' through the Fields o' the Dead."
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“I am your humble servant, my lady” Merric gives Edhelri a small nod of his head and another smile “and I am thankful for the opportunity. I will do what I can to keep your wagons and cargo safe. Are all of these under your supervision?” he points to all of the wagons in the caravan.
Merric turns to Akira “Think nothing of it. My skills in healing are limited, but I do what I can. Perytons are known to hunt elves and humans too, though they will often strike anything they can.” He looks up at the sky “But you are right, we shouldn’t remain here and wait for them to come back.”
OOC: Rogram wouldn't notice any overt signs of Merric being associated with a faction.
Edhelri shakes her head. "I carry only this one wagon of exotic wood. The others you see all belong to various other merchants. Eldkin here is the only other on my payroll, as my personal bodyguard. Keep my profits and my animals protected and you'll have your payment every ten days," she says.
As Akira and Merric alike mention moving onward, the other wagons seem to be in agreement, getting their animals in line and ready to move down the road again. Within minutes, the reins of the lead wagon whip, and the others fall in line.
For a few hours, a tense silence hangs over the caravan as travelers and guards alike quietly wonder if more mornings like this are in store for the journey, but by the evening the mood seems to be lifting. Trills of pleasant conversation are carried forward by a pleasant breeze, and the wagons cover fifteen miles or more from the city gates by the time the sun sets. When twilight dims visibility, and tired horses and mules begin complaining, the wagons pull off of the road to form an impromptu encampment. Several travelers seem well equipped for the journey, establishing campfires and pitching tents while others simply crowd around Beyd Sechepol's wagon. "Time to earn your paycheck," the half-elf merchant winks to Karib, opening the back of the wagon and unloading kegs of ale. "Alright, four copper for a mug and an extra two if you ain't got your own tankard. If you start pushing and shoving I'll add a couple more, so don't test it," he calls out.
Some travelers bring out salted beef and dried rations, but a few saunter into the nearby trees, in search of fresher meat. Orvustia eyes the hunters wistfully, obvious enough to catch Nyerhite's eye. "Orvustia my dear, didn't you tell me you hunt elk back home? By all means go join them, there are plenty of eyes to watch the wagon," he says. She sighs, "No, that's okay. Thank you though," and sits near Akira, staring into a freshly started campfire.
OOC: Sections like this will be very open for player RP - your characters are not expected to guard your employers or wagons at all hours of the day, and there are plenty of opportunities throughout each day to speak with one another or any of the NPCs on the caravan. I'll be pausing like this from time to time to make sure we're getting in all of those discussions, and then when RP winds down I'll move us forward.
See my profile for all my PbP threads!
As the wagons circle up, Rogram decides to take advantage of the somewhat disorganized encampment. Trying to act as casual as possible, he wanders toward the cult's wagons with the hopes of starting a conversation with one of the cultists or perhaps overhearing something useful.
Merric hoists his bow and joins the hunters as the caravan stops for the evening, hoping to forage some nuts, berries and perhaps small game to supplement their rations. As he returns, he circles around the wagons, looking for anything that stands out and can help him identify their owners.
After dinner, he stops to check in on Akira. “How are you holding up, are those wounds healing? Any pain?” As he checks the bandages he tries to learn more about his new companions. “How long have you been a caravan guard? Do you travel with this group often? I hope your other trips are not this exciting.”
Akira smiles warmly, her pain lessened but still healing, "I am certainly improved thanks to you and time helps heal most wounds if allowed. I have not long been on this detail but love wandering. Invariably, I do however always come back to where there are books. I fear I haven't immersed myself in the company of others in the caravan beyond Orvustia and Tyjit, the guards on my wagon. And even so, not as much as I would like. How did the wheels of fate bring you into this place and time?"
With intent ears to listen, Akira also looks around periodically to see if anyone's body language seems out of sync with the environment.
Halsen - Human Monk - Winter Splendor
Aradurk - Half-Orc Fighter - Barty's Blade Bizarre
Aradurk - Half-Orc Fighter - Betrayal at Devilsfall
Aradurk - Half-Orc Fighter - Barty's "The Hidden War" (Doom Portals Part 4A)
Aradurk - Half-Orc Fighter - Barty's "The Whispered Word (Doom Portals Part 5)
Garu - Tabaxi Paladin - Barty's "Beyond Twilight" (Rikirta Part 3)
“Books? They seem to be in short supply around here.” Merry replied. “I never took to book learning myself, too many of my lessons were learned in the world around me.” He looks around at the small caravan camp and leans in to talk to Akira without being overhead. “In truth, I was looking for a caravan heading this way. I am the eyes and ears of my King, sent to find out information behind rumors coming from the north.” He shrugs “It is better to travel these parts as a group. So, which of these wagons should I watch out for?” He smiles an impish grin.
Akira studies him, not inclined to be mistrusting but trying to gauge by his seam or, the veracity of his words. If she is assured, she quietly replies in Elvish:
“The front 3, if I am told correctly.”
Halsen - Human Monk - Winter Splendor
Aradurk - Half-Orc Fighter - Barty's Blade Bizarre
Aradurk - Half-Orc Fighter - Betrayal at Devilsfall
Aradurk - Half-Orc Fighter - Barty's "The Hidden War" (Doom Portals Part 4A)
Aradurk - Half-Orc Fighter - Barty's "The Whispered Word (Doom Portals Part 5)
Garu - Tabaxi Paladin - Barty's "Beyond Twilight" (Rikirta Part 3)
Something Rogram notices as he wanders through the caravan is a couple of agreements being made for the next day's travel. Lai Angesstun, Rogram's crafty dwarven employer, is overheard discussing an arrangement with a rock gnome man. The gnome pays Lai for the ability to ride in the back of his wagon while Leda lays out some ground rules for him. Near the assumed wagons of the Cult, a similar arrangement is being attempted by a wiry human man, but it becomes quickly apparent that he is being declined. "Are you saying my money isn't good enough for you?" the man voices loudly as he is rebuffed by the guards of one of the wagons.
Akira notes the body language of the travelers around her, but only one person stands out to her shrouded by the flickering shadows of nearby shadows. A human woman sits by herself away from the campfires, covered by a hooded cloak; the cloak covers her well, but her facial features are momentary lit by a passing lantern. The woman's skin appears to be green.
See my profile for all my PbP threads!
Rogram pauses to watch how the altercation between the guards and the wiry human man progresses. He's more watching the guards and trying to discern if one of them seems approachable.
Akira, keeping her eyes trained on the green skinned female (but trying to not look like she’s got her eyes trained on her), gestures for Merry to lean in. She whispers in Elvish, “My sweet Merry, while not one to stare at those with beautiful skin, there is a cloaked woman across the room whose tone is quite a verdant color - perhaps we keep eyes open?”
Halsen - Human Monk - Winter Splendor
Aradurk - Half-Orc Fighter - Barty's Blade Bizarre
Aradurk - Half-Orc Fighter - Betrayal at Devilsfall
Aradurk - Half-Orc Fighter - Barty's "The Hidden War" (Doom Portals Part 4A)
Aradurk - Half-Orc Fighter - Barty's "The Whispered Word (Doom Portals Part 5)
Garu - Tabaxi Paladin - Barty's "Beyond Twilight" (Rikirta Part 3)
After Akira shares this, she will rack her brain to figure out from lore and studies if she can recall if any particular people in the lands have green skin with her proficiency in History.
Halsen - Human Monk - Winter Splendor
Aradurk - Half-Orc Fighter - Barty's Blade Bizarre
Aradurk - Half-Orc Fighter - Betrayal at Devilsfall
Aradurk - Half-Orc Fighter - Barty's "The Hidden War" (Doom Portals Part 4A)
Aradurk - Half-Orc Fighter - Barty's "The Whispered Word (Doom Portals Part 5)
Garu - Tabaxi Paladin - Barty's "Beyond Twilight" (Rikirta Part 3)
"Do you not realize who I am!? Unbelievable!" The angry man eventually storms away from the wagon, rejected. The teamster he had been speaking with turns away brusquely and returns to his wagon. Unlike the other merchants, the guards of these wagons remain with the wagons themselves, not joining the other campfires and not socializing with any of the other travelers. Rogram's thoughts are interrupted by Leda as she joins him. "You should know we have a gnome paying us to ride on the wagon for the rest of the trip. I couldn't get much out of him, other than his name's Radecere Perethun and he's realized he's too short to keep up with the caravan all the way to Waterdeep. It won't change your duties, much; I'd rather have your eyes on dangers along the road," she explains.
Akira knows of a number of humanoid creature that have green skin (or scales, in the case of dragonborn and lizardfolk), but not of such a vibrant hue and not to this degree. Before she is able to consider whether it was simply a trick of the dim light of the night, Tyjit joins her and Merric for some food. "Ah, ye noticed too, eh? Not sure what she's about, but she's an odd one. Heard someone call her Green Imsa, I think," she says.
See my profile for all my PbP threads!
Rogram blinks at Leda, feeling "caught", even though he hadn't really been doing anything. He reaches up and cups his covered dome with one big hand. "Oh, OK. As long as Lai is OK with it, I guess I don't have any reason to complain." He shrugs and gives the human a sheepish smile. Maintaining eye contact, he waits for his sergeant to leave his side.
Once she does ...
Rogram squares his shoulders and approaches the teamster. He looks over toward where the angry man had stormed off to and shakes his head. Stopping about 10 feet away from the guard, Rogram puts his thumbs in his belt and comments, "What's that guy's deal? He's going to find himself impaled on a sword if he isn't careful." Before the guard can respond, the half-dwarf continues, "I've noticed you haven't been able to leave your post. Would you like me to fetch you some ale?" He grins and leans in a little. "I know the big bloke helping. He'll make sure I get the good stuff."
Other than the fight earlier, Karib has had an easy day, and if the price is doling out ale then he can certainly live with that. Tugging a non-existing forelock he nods and smiles to the merchant, attempting a bad northern accent, "Aye m''lord, it shall be done."
He does his best to look the part of a guard-turned-barkeep, while serving beer to any who ask. As he does this he tries to keep tabs on any new faces, and on any of the conversation that happens between those in the queue. He is happy to engage with anyone in the process.
The teamster shrugs back to Rogram, any forthcoming answer stopped by the query for ale. "I'm good," is all the man brusquely offers as he walks to the back of his wagon.
Beyd handles the sales of ale while Karib distributes for a short while before the half-elf opportunist waves everyone off. "Alright alright, last call for the night. Don't want to exhaust our supply on the first night," he jests. Interestingly, Karib notices a few of the familiar faces from the Cult's camp partaking in the drinks and revelry of the evening, remaining with the travelers rather than assisting the Cult's wagons with their checks and repairs.
As night falls, the festive atmosphere shifts to a sleepy quiet. Watches are posted throughout the camp, and the snores of snoozing travelers soon accompany the chirping bugs of the night.
See my profile for all my PbP threads!
Rogram's face falls as his attempt at ingratiating himself with the guard fails. But then he hears Beyd's warning and hurries back to the wagon to get a flagon for himself. His mind replays the encounter as he tries to figure out if he did something wrong. He wonders if letting the fact that he's a smith slip might result in his own capture and a resulting reunion with his pa. He's so lost in thought that he's already sipping on his ale back at Lei's wagon before he realizes that he hadn't even acknowledged Karib. He looks for the cleric to see if he's perhaps wanting to talk before turning in for the night.
@DM: I subtracted 6 cp.
Merry raises his eyebrows at Akira’s use of elvish and answers his thanks in the same language. He casts a curious glance at the wagons identified, but before he can ask more, he is interrupted by the arrival of Tyjit. Glancing over at the strange women both Akira and Tyjit pointed out. “I think I will go introduce myself.” Merry excuses himself and saunters over to the cloaked figure. “Good evening! A bit far from the fire and company tonight aren’t you? I am Merric Greenleaf, at your service. Just joined the caravan with Edhelri, and what wagon are you traveling with?”
Akira smiles, watching Merric taken to action, and sits, observing. While observing the interaction, she calls over Tyjit, “Tyjit - you seem to have a broad swath of experience. Tell me about yourself.”
Halsen - Human Monk - Winter Splendor
Aradurk - Half-Orc Fighter - Barty's Blade Bizarre
Aradurk - Half-Orc Fighter - Betrayal at Devilsfall
Aradurk - Half-Orc Fighter - Barty's "The Hidden War" (Doom Portals Part 4A)
Aradurk - Half-Orc Fighter - Barty's "The Whispered Word (Doom Portals Part 5)
Garu - Tabaxi Paladin - Barty's "Beyond Twilight" (Rikirta Part 3)
The cloaked figure sighs, but reaches up and drops the hood of her cloak. Merric sees immediately that this isn't just a human with green skin; her hair, eyes, nails, teeth - everything about her is green. She extends a hand in greeting.
"Imsa. It's nice to meet you, Merric," she says quietly. "I'm not traveling with any wagon in particular. I thought about paying to ride in one but I think I'd rather save all my coin until Waterdeep."
Tyjit casts a glance over to her fellow dwarven guardsman speaking with Edhelri at her wagon and shrugs. "Don't let Eldkin hear ye say that or ye'll get a lecture on how much more experienced she is that ever'body on this caravan," she chuckles. "Not much to say, really. I find the road more excitin' than stayin' cooped up 'neath the mountains, much as my folk like it. I prefer the city and the road. Not much for people but...good as I am with a spear, it's much harder to fight perytons without company."
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In the morning, Nyerhite's lighthearted bellows contrast with Edhelri's rapt calls to awaken like a klaxon. Before even the full light of day, the wagons of the caravan are brought back into line on the road. "We're getting back on schedule this morning, anyone who's not ready to go in thirty minutes is walking back to Baldur's Gate alone!" A halfling teamster from one of the Cult's assumed wagons calls.
Most of the travelers are ready in half the time, but a few struggle to pack up their tents or get animals in line. A curious trio of young human men stand over a horse near the back of the caravan; one, a knight in plate armor, stands next to another in plain clothes as their companion shouts down at the animal. "Come on, you useless nag!" The man, wearing a gilded breastplate that reeks of nobility, smacks the horse's legs with a whip a few times until the animal finally stands and allows him to mount. Near Edhelri's wagon, the moon elf remarks to Merric and Eldkin, "I truly hope it is understood that if I catch either of you treating my horses like anything remotely resembling that cur, you will be pulling the wagon to Waterdeep yourself."
The caravan soon falls back into a familiar lull of chatting travelers, rumbling wheels and plodding hooves. The morning and afternoon carry a pleasant warmth, but Eldkin is quick to caution anyone not to feel too optimistic. "The hardest part o' this route is comin' up. Few days in we'll be rollin' through the Fields o' the Dead."
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