Merric moves up next to Rogram and looks over the damaged wagon “Tough break, can you use any help?  Not that I am any good with wagons.”  He looks over at one of the cult’s guards “Maybe we should inspect the wheels of the other wagons while we wait, make sure this doesn’t happen again.” He looks around the immediate area, was there anything suspicious about the accident, or was it just a bad bounce against an unseen rock?

For Merric:

"'Course we do," the guard answers simply. Within the hour, Rogram is able to set the wagon aright - though the hasty roadside repair causes the wagon to roll with the slightest wobble, it rolls nonetheless when the caravan starts moving again. Despite the effort, the half-dwarf receives only a nod in thanks.

"Lucky that happened right as we were stopping to rest," Leda mentions to Rogram when he rejoins the wagon. "Another delay and I don't know if we'd ever make it to Waterdeep at this rate."

"Aye, well done lad," Lai adds in. "Yer earnin' yer keep, that's for sure."

The caravan plods on for the remainder of the day, seeing no further sign of delay. The wagons roll off of the roadside to circle up before night falls once more. As hunters bring in fresh game to cook, Losvius joins Rogram - along with any other characters nearby - at a fireside.

"You're handy with the tools there, fella. You can fight, you can make repairs, is there anything you can't do?" he remarks rather loudly. "Mind if I join you all for a bit? Anyone into jewelry?" he chuckles.

When Rogram is praised by Lai, he can't help but feel a sense of pride. He's lighter on his feet, and his earlier blunder is forgotten.

That night, Rogram joins Merric by the fire. He feels a little aimless now that he doesn't need to spend every night scheming how to make contact with his father. "So," he says apropos of nothing, "you have a king?"

When Losvius joins them around the fire, Rogram scowls at the halfling. "If you poke a snake, you're likely to get bit," the half-dwarf warns. "I'd stay away from them if I were you," he continues.

Losvius seems a bit taken aback by the remark. "Hey look, I get it. You break a wheel, spill your merchandise, your employer's upset with you, you're having a bad day, you snap," he says. "I took no offense."

The curious halfling looks to Merric as well. "Don't let me interrupt, now. I've met a lot of elves in my time but all city folk, and none of 'em ever talked about a king," he says, waiting for Merric's response.

Karib is relieved when the wagon is repaired without incident, nodding in approval as he returns. "Well done lad," he says as he passes by. His mind works slowly as he begins to wonder if they can use the disrepair of the wagon to their advantage. If the wagons truly just contain wealth, then perhaps depriving the cult of some of it may hurt their plans.

He tries to recall anything he might know of the road ahead that could aid in any accident that might be arranged...cliffs, bridges...anything that might see an already weakened wagon fail again.

OOC: Knowing that the remainder of the journey is overland and away from the coast, Karib doesn't know of anything like a cliff or bridge along the main trade road ahead, though that's no guarantee that there won't be.

Akira connects with the guards under her command to ensure they’re set for what they need. If they’re good, she joins the rest of the team for a beverage.

 As they gather around at the makeshift bar, Karib ponders the damaged wagon before saying to the others. "A lot of wealth in those wagons. What do you think they plan to buy with it?"

“A king?  Yes, doesn’t everyone?  At least of some type or another, if not in exact name? My lord rules the Misty Forest and its surroundings.”  Merric shrugs as if there is nothing else to it.  He takes a sharp look at Losvius “Not much of a jeweler myself, how about you?  What interest do you have in those wagons, or was it simply the gleam of jewels and coin that drew your attention?” He glances over at Karib “Maybe they will simply sell it off for more gold, another question is where did they get it all from?”

"Oh, well I've just made this trip so many times the mundane things all start to blend together. It's never really the cargo that draws my attention, it's the people," Losvius answers Merric. "Learning something new about someone, what makes 'em tick, how they came to be who they are, that's the kind of stuff that interests me. Speaking of..."

As Akira joins the group, Losvius motions to her. "I believe you all have met, but this is Akira. Right before that wagon wheel broke, I'd been asking her about Candlekeep. Mages fascinate me," he says, turning to the dragonborn. "So what sorts of magic can you use?" he asks.

"Where I come from, we have a governor," Rogram says, not really contradicting Merric, but adding to the conversation. "I guess that's kind of like a king, but not nearly as interesting."

Rogram can't help but find the halfling with the long nose interesting. "What wagon are you riding on?" the half-dwarf asks him.

"Nyerhite Verther's got me in charge of driving the horses," Losvius answers Rogram. "He's a silk merchant. Same wagon this one's a part of," he says, pointing a thumb toward Akira. "She's in charge of the guards, but a tough nut to crack. Been trying to get to know her all day but she has yet to answer a single question!" The halfling throws his hands up in exaggerated frustration, still grinning.

Rogram smiles. "So are you a groom?" he asks Losvius.

“Ah, I doubt you will learn something new from that lot”  Merric jerks his head back at the cultist’s wagons. “Looks like they keep to themselves.  You mentioned you made the trip a few times, so you are a repeat offender, eh?  What can you tell us about the road ahead?  Or any of the other wagon crews? This is my first time with the caravan.” Merric settles down by the fire to hear from the halfling.

Akira smiles at his question. “I have studied for years, most of my focus on the school of evocation. But I am always open to learning about a variety of magics. On what topic might I try to educate you?”, she coyly grins.

Rogram smiles. "So are you a groom?" he asks Losvius.

"I prefer teamster since I have to drive the animals as well as take care of them. Plus it just sounds better," Losvius winks.

“Looks like they keep to themselves.  You mentioned you made the trip a few times, so you are a repeat offender, eh?  What can you tell us about the road ahead?  Or any of the other wagon crews? This is my first time with the caravan.”

"Well, I don't know much about the other wagons. It's common for merchants to travel this route together but I haven't made the trip with any of the others that are with us this time. I can tell you all about Nyerhite's gang though. I've already mentioned Akira here; the other guards with us are Tyjit and Orvustia. Tyjit's the grumpy dwarf and Orvustia's the girl that seems like she's away from home for the first time. Mostly on account of I think she actually is," Losvius answers. "As far as the road ahead...well, the worst part is over with, to be honest. Before long here we'll reach the Trade Way and the road will be much easier. There's not much along the way though, until we get to Daggerford, and from there it's less than a tenday to Waterdeep itself."

Losvius glances up to the sky as he ruminates on the city. "It's a beautiful place, if you've never been. Much less crowded than Baldur's Gate, with a bigger market, massive parks, and the splendor of Castle Waterdeep overlooking it all."

“I have studied for years, most of my focus on the school of evocation. But I am always open to learning about a variety of magics. On what topic might I try to educate you?

"Now remind me, is evocation the blowy uppy magic, or the shieldy protecty magic? I always get the two confused."

After quizzing Akira some more and partaking in some ale, the halfling stands and gives a joking salute. "Well, I'm off to bed. Gotta be up bright and early to get the horses goin'. It was a pleasure to meet you all, truly," he says.

Rogram smiles as he bids goodnight to the halfling with the big nose. Still smiling, the half-dwarf looks into the fire. "Waterdeep sounds nice," he comments to no one in particular. His mind starts to wander, and he suddently finds himself replaying their encounter with Ontharr and Leosin. His smile drops, and his brow furrows. He looks at Karib. "We were told to join the caravan north," he says quietly. "What else are we supposed to be doing? Should we be trying to get rid of the treasure?"

“Glad to hear the worst is behind us.  Never been to Waterdeep myself, but I have yet to see a place that rivals the beauty and splendor of the high forest with the spreading canopy of majestic oaks and the sparkling clear water of musical brooks.  In this realm at least.”  Merric smiles at a lost memory and bids the halfling good night.  He turns to Rogram and the others. “Wait, you were told to join the caravan?  By who and to do what, exactly?  My own instructions were to try and find out more about this so called cult we heard rumors about.  Try to find out where they were going and what they had planned.  How did you get involved with them?”

Rogram does a quick look around to make sure the coast is clear before addressing Merric. "The cult attacked my home — Greenest — and took prisoners. A few of us tracked them to their camp and rescued some of the captives. When we went back to find the rest, including my Pa, we discovered almost everyone had left. That's when we found Karib. We traveled to Elturel and met with ... " Rogram stops, clearly conflicted. "Maybe I shouldn't say. Just in case. No offense," he says to Merric. "Anyway, they arranged for us to get to Baldur's Gate to join the caravan."

He looks at Karib. "We were told to join the caravan north," he says quietly. "What else are we supposed to be doing? Should we be trying to get rid of the treasure?"

OOC: For an OOC answer, Ontharr and Leosin's instructions were in #2369:

Then, when the question arises regarding the cult's caravan, he says, "It would be best if the wagons are allowed to complete their journey. Our goal is information, and right now this is the only lead we have. If we never learn where the Cult is headed to with all this treasure, then all of our work to date is moot."

OOC: Please feel free to finish any conversation left to have, even though I'm advancing us past the night.

Night falls and fires are quenched, travelers returning to tents or open air bedrolls to enjoy a chilly, but dry, night. With the wagon patched, the ale flowing, and the Fields of the Dead behind you, spirits are high - until morning dawns.

A cry of anguish from the wagon of Nyerhite Verther greets you with the sunrise. Rushing with Orvustia and Tyjit to assist her employer, Akira finds him thankfully to be unharmed. The same cannot be said for the halfling that drives his wagon. Losvius Longnose lies on the wagon bench, still in his bedroll, and still in death.

Nyerhite gazes helplessly at Akira and the crowd drawing in around the scene. "How could-- what could have--" he stumbles over his words. "I spoke with him just last night! He didn't seem..." his thoughts trail off as he stares still in shock.