Rogram steps back and looks up for the source of the voice. "Come on, mate. We've been walking for days. All we want is a bed. And maybe an ale. Okay, definitely some ale, but most importantly a bed!"
He pulls his meager purse from his belt and holds it up, giving it a little shake. "We've got gold. Please?"
"Workers only, lad!" the gruff call rains back down at Rogram. "Ye wanna find some work, ye can talk to Bog Luck in the mornin'. Then ye'll have yer bed and yer ale."
Rogram considers stomping one foot, but finds the restraint within to just turn around and shrug at Akira and Karib. "I guess it's another night under the stars," he sighs.
OOC: Assuming there's nothing else from the players' side here and that the trio is setting camp.
While the convoy sleeps, the trio of Akira, Karib and Rogram set camp a short way from the structure. Solid ground is easier to find in this area where land from the surrounding swamp was borrowed to create a foundation for the large roadside building. The sounds of merriment from inside subside after a couple more hours, though the soft glow of firelight remains from within the structure.
Nothing disturbs the rest of either party, and as the sun rises in the morning, the noise of conversation awakes the party, and the large doors at the front of the roadhouse grind along tracks to slide open. Beyond the open doors lies a supply depot and a packed courtyard, open to the sky and crowded with food, lumber, and myriad other supplies in crates and barrels. Some workers depart through the doors with picks and other roadworking implements in hand, leaving to the north. Others remain inside the courtyard, retrieving and moving supplies.
A short ways to the south along the road, Merric walks alongside Carlon, Jamna, and Ardred Briferhew as the convoy rolls along for its final day of travel.
OOC: I'll give some more time for players to confirm an action, otherwise I will assume that Akira, Karib and Rogram are waiting outside the roadhouse.
The night before, after setting up camp, Rogram looks at Akira and Karib. "So, what are our plans for tomorrow? Do we continue north? Do we wait around for the caravan?" He throws a stick into the fire. "I suppose we can ask around — maybe find out which way the other caravan went."
Akira chimes in. “We could wait for the other caravan but we might also be able to examine the surrounding to see if there are any signs of which way the other caravan was headed.”
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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)
OOC: I haven't seen any confirmed actions and it's been a few days, so to keep us moving I'm going to assume that Akira, Karib and Rogram are waiting for Merric and the convoy to catch up.
Later that day, a half dozen wagons roll into view to the south. Looking no worse for wear than they did leaving Waterdeep, the convoy of the High Road Charter Company still bears its full retinue of guards, including the convoy's leader Ardred Briferhew, along with Merric, Jamna and Carlon taking up the rearguard. They pass by the campsite of their companions in the early evening. The sun still provides plenty of light as the first wagons reach the gates of the roadhouse and come to a halt. After Ardred spends a few moments talking with the gate guards, a burly half-orc man emerges from the courtyard beyond.
The half-orc's genetics clearly lean heavily on his orc side, with large tusks and dark grey skin, and though his hair is unkempt, it is kept on the shorter side. "Two at a time," he grumbles, letting the front pair of wagons in the convoy through to the courtyard.
Some workers depart through the doors with picks and other roadworking implements in hand, leaving to the north. Others remain inside the courtyard, retrieving and moving supplies.
OOC: There are none lingering outside the building, per se, but certainly plenty leaving the building and heading up the road that the party can speak to.
As workers file out of the building to head north along what could only loosely be called a road, Rogram tells the others, "I'm going to see if I can find out anything. It can't hurt."
He picks a worker (if there's a dwarf, he'll start with them; otherwise, he'll pick a human) and quickly catches up to walk beside them, but not too close. "Good morning. I'm Rogram. I'm trying to find my Pa. He was part of a caravan that came through here not too long ago. We believe they left the road at this point and perhaps headed northeast. Do you remember a caravan of wagons like that?"
Tonight ...
As the wagons arrive and begin entering the building, Rogram attempts to partially cover his face as he inspects the caravan. Seeing Merric, Jamna and Carlon, the half-dwarf breathes a sigh of relief, only now realizing he had been worried about them.
Rogram asks the question of a dwarf exiting the roadhouse courtyard with a pick slung over his shoulder. He runs his fingers through his deep black beard as he answers, "Eh, lad, nothin' leaves the road at this juncture. The wagons bring supplies for the road, we take 'em and build it, then the wagons go back. If ye're wantin' any particulars ye'd best be askin' Bog Luck, he runs the place and handles the inventory. We're just here doin' our work and collectin' our pay. Maybe yer Pa's workin' the road with us? I can't imagine any other reason to come here on a caravan."
Rogram returns and tells Akira and Karib what he learned, which isn't much. "I suppose we'll need to hang around and see what the caravan does after it arrives."
Merric trudges along in the rearguard with the others, face partially covered by a wrapping to avoid the dust kicked up by the last set of wagons. He looks over at the campsite of his companions as they pass, but is careful not to make eye contact with the group. “Well, glad to see the others made it this far safely.” he whispers to Jamna and Carlon.
As they approach the gate, Merric moves up the side of the column of wagons, trying to remain on the opposite side from the cultists, and approaches Ardred. He cranes his next, trying to look into the compound to see what awaits them. “What now?” he asks Ardred “Does the road continue north? Or does the caravan rest up here before heading back on a return trip?”
“Well, glad to see the others made it this far safely.” he whispers to Jamna and Carlon.
“What now?” he asks Ardred “Does the road continue north? Or does the caravan rest up here before heading back on a return trip?”
"The road goes north but the wagons don't," Ardred replies. "The supplies we brought will stock Carnath Roadhouse here and be used to continue rebuilding and reinforcing the road north to Neverwinter. Once they're emptied and inventoried, I'll head back with the empty wagons and a few folks and we'll repeat the process. In the meantime, we'll get us all some rooms and a few comfortable nights at the roadhouse. There's a tavern here, and we've all earned some rest."
Looking past the wagons into the courtyard, Merric sees the first pair of wagons being unloaded, overseen by the burly half-orc who directs cargo and crates to various locations. Carlon raps Merric's side to get his attention and mumbles, "the half-orc's belt." Merric quickly spots the scabbard of the shortsword sheathed at the half-orc's hip, decorated with a dragon.
Jamna, whose eyes have mainly been on the trio camped to the side of the roadhouse to this point, saunters over to join the pair on the side of the wagons opposite the familiar faces of the presumed cultists. "We have a limited window here. We need to get regrouped and into that roadhouse. If we lose where they're taking that cargo, we lose the trail," she says sternly, looking back to Akira, Karib and Rogram and nodding her head toward the wagons.
Merric stretches his arms high and looks toward the roadhouse. “Some rest, and a drink, sounds good right about now. We’ll let these fellows unload the wagons, no need for guards at this point, eh?” Merric moves toward the roadhouse, but lingers outside, watching the teamsters unload the wagons, trying to determine if the goods from the cultists wagons are being moved or stored somewhere separate from the others.
"Well, aren't you looking dusty," Jamna remarks when Rogram (and presumably Akira and Karib with him) approaches. She nods her head to the opposite side of the wagons, where some familiar faces from the caravan stand. "We might want to think about sticking together from here. They definitely know we're onto them, but we don't think they can't do much about it while we're still working with Briferhew."
“Some rest, and a drink, sounds good right about now. We’ll let these fellows unload the wagons, no need for guards at this point, eh?”
Briferhew laughs and claps Merric's shoulder. "Aye, you don't have to wait around out here. Head on in and get yourselves situated if you'd like. Whether you want to hang around here and find work or just stay off your feet for a few days is up to you. Come find me if you want to travel back to Waterdeep with the wagons, you did well," he says.
Merric can only see small portions of the courtyard beyond; from outside, he cannot see exactly where goods are being moved, but it seems obvious that the half-orc is fully in charge of directing the traffic and informing the workers where to unload the cargo.
Merric turns back from the courtyard and connects with Rogram, Karib and Akira, placing his arms around Rogram’s and Karib’s shoulders and steering everyone toward the tavern. “It is good to see you all hale and hearty! I trust you didn’t run into any trouble along the road? Other than one group of bandits we saw nary a peep of trouble.”
He jerks a nod toward the group unloading wagons. “We need to find an out of the way table and regroup. I think the cult’s guards are starting to get suspicious. The half-orc out there is wearing a dragon marked shortsword, not exactly subtle. We need to figure out where the goods are going next. But finding a drink first would be a good start I think.”
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Rogram steps back and looks up for the source of the voice. "Come on, mate. We've been walking for days. All we want is a bed. And maybe an ale. Okay, definitely some ale, but most importantly a bed!"
He pulls his meager purse from his belt and holds it up, giving it a little shake. "We've got gold. Please?"
"Workers only, lad!" the gruff call rains back down at Rogram. "Ye wanna find some work, ye can talk to Bog Luck in the mornin'. Then ye'll have yer bed and yer ale."
See my profile for all my PbP threads!
Rogram considers stomping one foot, but finds the restraint within to just turn around and shrug at Akira and Karib. "I guess it's another night under the stars," he sighs.
OOC: Assuming there's nothing else from the players' side here and that the trio is setting camp.
While the convoy sleeps, the trio of Akira, Karib and Rogram set camp a short way from the structure. Solid ground is easier to find in this area where land from the surrounding swamp was borrowed to create a foundation for the large roadside building. The sounds of merriment from inside subside after a couple more hours, though the soft glow of firelight remains from within the structure.
Nothing disturbs the rest of either party, and as the sun rises in the morning, the noise of conversation awakes the party, and the large doors at the front of the roadhouse grind along tracks to slide open. Beyond the open doors lies a supply depot and a packed courtyard, open to the sky and crowded with food, lumber, and myriad other supplies in crates and barrels. Some workers depart through the doors with picks and other roadworking implements in hand, leaving to the north. Others remain inside the courtyard, retrieving and moving supplies.
A short ways to the south along the road, Merric walks alongside Carlon, Jamna, and Ardred Briferhew as the convoy rolls along for its final day of travel.
See my profile for all my PbP threads!
OOC: I'll give some more time for players to confirm an action, otherwise I will assume that Akira, Karib and Rogram are waiting outside the roadhouse.
See my profile for all my PbP threads!
The night before, after setting up camp, Rogram looks at Akira and Karib. "So, what are our plans for tomorrow? Do we continue north? Do we wait around for the caravan?" He throws a stick into the fire. "I suppose we can ask around — maybe find out which way the other caravan went."
Akira chimes in. “We could wait for the other caravan but we might also be able to examine the surrounding to see if there are any signs of which way the other caravan was headed.”
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)
OOC: I haven't seen any confirmed actions and it's been a few days, so to keep us moving I'm going to assume that Akira, Karib and Rogram are waiting for Merric and the convoy to catch up.
Later that day, a half dozen wagons roll into view to the south. Looking no worse for wear than they did leaving Waterdeep, the convoy of the High Road Charter Company still bears its full retinue of guards, including the convoy's leader Ardred Briferhew, along with Merric, Jamna and Carlon taking up the rearguard. They pass by the campsite of their companions in the early evening. The sun still provides plenty of light as the first wagons reach the gates of the roadhouse and come to a halt. After Ardred spends a few moments talking with the gate guards, a burly half-orc man emerges from the courtyard beyond.
The half-orc's genetics clearly lean heavily on his orc side, with large tusks and dark grey skin, and though his hair is unkempt, it is kept on the shorter side. "Two at a time," he grumbles, letting the front pair of wagons in the convoy through to the courtyard.
See my profile for all my PbP threads!
DM, are any workers outside the building during the day that we could question about previous caravans?
OOC: There are none lingering outside the building, per se, but certainly plenty leaving the building and heading up the road that the party can speak to.
See my profile for all my PbP threads!
Earlier in the day ...
As workers file out of the building to head north along what could only loosely be called a road, Rogram tells the others, "I'm going to see if I can find out anything. It can't hurt."
He picks a worker (if there's a dwarf, he'll start with them; otherwise, he'll pick a human) and quickly catches up to walk beside them, but not too close. "Good morning. I'm Rogram. I'm trying to find my Pa. He was part of a caravan that came through here not too long ago. We believe they left the road at this point and perhaps headed northeast. Do you remember a caravan of wagons like that?"
Tonight ...
As the wagons arrive and begin entering the building, Rogram attempts to partially cover his face as he inspects the caravan. Seeing Merric, Jamna and Carlon, the half-dwarf breathes a sigh of relief, only now realizing he had been worried about them.
Earlier...
Rogram asks the question of a dwarf exiting the roadhouse courtyard with a pick slung over his shoulder. He runs his fingers through his deep black beard as he answers, "Eh, lad, nothin' leaves the road at this juncture. The wagons bring supplies for the road, we take 'em and build it, then the wagons go back. If ye're wantin' any particulars ye'd best be askin' Bog Luck, he runs the place and handles the inventory. We're just here doin' our work and collectin' our pay. Maybe yer Pa's workin' the road with us? I can't imagine any other reason to come here on a caravan."
See my profile for all my PbP threads!
Earlier ...
Rogram returns and tells Akira and Karib what he learned, which isn't much. "I suppose we'll need to hang around and see what the caravan does after it arrives."
Merric trudges along in the rearguard with the others, face partially covered by a wrapping to avoid the dust kicked up by the last set of wagons. He looks over at the campsite of his companions as they pass, but is careful not to make eye contact with the group. “Well, glad to see the others made it this far safely.” he whispers to Jamna and Carlon.
As they approach the gate, Merric moves up the side of the column of wagons, trying to remain on the opposite side from the cultists, and approaches Ardred. He cranes his next, trying to look into the compound to see what awaits them. “What now?” he asks Ardred “Does the road continue north? Or does the caravan rest up here before heading back on a return trip?”
"The road goes north but the wagons don't," Ardred replies. "The supplies we brought will stock Carnath Roadhouse here and be used to continue rebuilding and reinforcing the road north to Neverwinter. Once they're emptied and inventoried, I'll head back with the empty wagons and a few folks and we'll repeat the process. In the meantime, we'll get us all some rooms and a few comfortable nights at the roadhouse. There's a tavern here, and we've all earned some rest."
Looking past the wagons into the courtyard, Merric sees the first pair of wagons being unloaded, overseen by the burly half-orc who directs cargo and crates to various locations. Carlon raps Merric's side to get his attention and mumbles, "the half-orc's belt." Merric quickly spots the scabbard of the shortsword sheathed at the half-orc's hip, decorated with a dragon.
Jamna, whose eyes have mainly been on the trio camped to the side of the roadhouse to this point, saunters over to join the pair on the side of the wagons opposite the familiar faces of the presumed cultists. "We have a limited window here. We need to get regrouped and into that roadhouse. If we lose where they're taking that cargo, we lose the trail," she says sternly, looking back to Akira, Karib and Rogram and nodding her head toward the wagons.
See my profile for all my PbP threads!
Rogram elbows Karib. "Jamna is trying to get our attention." He gets up and approaches the gnome.
Merric stretches his arms high and looks toward the roadhouse. “Some rest, and a drink, sounds good right about now. We’ll let these fellows unload the wagons, no need for guards at this point, eh?” Merric moves toward the roadhouse, but lingers outside, watching the teamsters unload the wagons, trying to determine if the goods from the cultists wagons are being moved or stored somewhere separate from the others.
"Well, aren't you looking dusty," Jamna remarks when Rogram (and presumably Akira and Karib with him) approaches. She nods her head to the opposite side of the wagons, where some familiar faces from the caravan stand. "We might want to think about sticking together from here. They definitely know we're onto them, but we don't think they can't do much about it while we're still working with Briferhew."
Briferhew laughs and claps Merric's shoulder. "Aye, you don't have to wait around out here. Head on in and get yourselves situated if you'd like. Whether you want to hang around here and find work or just stay off your feet for a few days is up to you. Come find me if you want to travel back to Waterdeep with the wagons, you did well," he says.
Merric can only see small portions of the courtyard beyond; from outside, he cannot see exactly where goods are being moved, but it seems obvious that the half-orc is fully in charge of directing the traffic and informing the workers where to unload the cargo.
See my profile for all my PbP threads!
OOC: Ready to advance upon the next round of posts!
See my profile for all my PbP threads!
Merric turns back from the courtyard and connects with Rogram, Karib and Akira, placing his arms around Rogram’s and Karib’s shoulders and steering everyone toward the tavern. “It is good to see you all hale and hearty! I trust you didn’t run into any trouble along the road? Other than one group of bandits we saw nary a peep of trouble.”
He jerks a nod toward the group unloading wagons. “We need to find an out of the way table and regroup. I think the cult’s guards are starting to get suspicious. The half-orc out there is wearing a dragon marked shortsword, not exactly subtle. We need to figure out where the goods are going next. But finding a drink first would be a good start I think.”