laid back apocalypse

Xalkas has resumed his post in the back of the cart now that Ebele seems to be recovered ... or at least recovering ... and continues tinkering away at his designs for EMBK.

(My apologies for skimping that detail, they would have the insignia's of them for Crushing Wave Cultists for clear identification for Kerric.)

Reward: Click that inspiration everyone
There was great RP done by all, reacting properly to spells the DM brain farted, improvising and working together. Also, thank you for the reminders, keeping me on track and helping me learn. Huzzah!

Hearing Hawk's voice, Ebele would turn her head to face him. She'd give a tender nod and a small wave of her hand. "Yes, I'm good." She'd present a smile. Though, she'd still feel a warm hand pass on magic that mended her ribs. She could breathe a lot better now. "I can see I'm in good hands all around." A light chuckle would leave her lips at her own choice of words. "Thank you." 

Ebele was humbled by the care and check ins she's received by those around her. It was hard for her not to smile to herself. She was grateful to be on this journey with these adventurers.

Hearing Xalkas clamour back into the cart, Ebele could swear she hears him tinkering away. Leaning in, tilting her ear towards the sound, the halfelf would reach for one of his hands. "I meant to say thank you." She'd take his hands and place the two potions he insisted she take. "Thank you." She'd smile. "Hang on to them again. They're best in your hands, just in case." The monk had her own supplies to mend in a pinch and did believe Xalkas should hold onto them for distribution.

Hawke takes the reigns to a forgiving Bill, especially when the druid picks out the rock he kicked like it was special. The old horse would prance along proudly with his head held high. That's right, good ol' Bill did great, and he was promised apples. Mmm apples.

Survival Check!
Them boots are made for walkin', but where they goin'?
Roll Call: Hawke and Kerric
Decisions: You may each roll survival or one of you may help the other

Animal Handling check!
He's got his dancin' shoes on, who's leading who?
Roll Call: Hawke
Optional: T'chal'fronack'zcinicker can offer help

Perception Check
Roll call: All who's lookin' oot and aboot

Kerric:

Since he isn't trained in it, I don't think Kerric can aid with a Survival check, so here is his untrained roll:  2

...and of course he is primarily looking for trouble, so here is perception:  19

3 second wind. 

20 perception. 

Survival: 17
Animal handling: 11

Hawke trusts his compatriots to keep their eyes out while he focuses on the reigns and where they were going.

Practically an equestrian duo at this point, Hawke manages to work with Bill's extra days pep, keeping his pace and steering him on the best track. The druid's instincts were sharp and in sync today, so it provided a smooth ride for those in the cart. The sun was high in the sky, shining brightly. There was even a gentle breeze from the single horse speed.

Xalkas would be able to work away on adjusting his designs to the EMBK without worries of smudging the ink or threats of motion sickness. He was able to focus on his task at hand.

Short Rest
You're able to travel with ease, nothing strenuous, therefore you get to smash that short rest button!

Sensing the relaxed, yet very attentive atmosphere of the group, Ebele would sit back in the cart, allowing herself a rest as encouraged. Though she'd have to admit, now that she's been able to breath better, the monk was beginning to feel slightly restless. She felt as though she should be walking alongside the cart with Kerric, keeping an ear out for any more threats. Though, she still could from the cart...

Ebele Perception: 16

Kerric, T'chal'fronack'zcinicker and Ebele, your senses are sharp and alert after the battle. You're able to tell that the threats along the rest of the path have chosen to stay clear of the Argent Alliance today.

The group travels in peace for the course of the early afternoon in a perfect synergy. You're able to take in the sights and sounds of the scenery around you.

Hawke, as you travel along, eventually your instincts pick out an overgrown secondary road. That could have been missed. Without skipping a beat, and barely a wobble to the cart, you turn off of the Iron Road. Bill would bray at the feel of more natural ground beneath his hooves, continuing his steady pace down the path.

Kerric and T'chal'fronack'zcinicker, a little ways down the path a tiny village with a doc that was surrounded by local farms on the banks of the River Dessarin would emerge into view.

Wormford

History Check
What's in a name?
Roll Call: Anyone who's curious!

Xalkas takes the potions back from Ebele a bit begrudgingly after she finds his hand.

‘If you didn’t keep falling unconscious I wouldn’t feel the need to keep giving them to you.’ Though he keeps this thought to himself. What he does instead, is kiss the back of her hand, “Just wanting to make sure you are okay.” He then pats it sweetly and gazes at her for a few moments before turning around to resume his tinkering project. (What do I need to roll to make progress on it? I can’t remember)

Between tinkering on his project and reviewing his spell book Xalkas keeps quiet busy. (Using Arcane Recovery)

History check for womford: 9 (advantage if allowed from sage background 10)

Kerric:

Contentedly walking along, Kerric feels refreshed and considers what he has heard about the human town of Wormford.

History:  11

It was approaching mid to late afternoon when Hawke and Bill pull the cart into town.

Ebele's expression would almost be one of confusion when she'd feel Xalkas accept the potions a little reluctantly followed by a sweet gesture. Her expression would soften. She didn't intend any offense by returning the potions again.

History: 13

Womford History
DC10 You recall:

 DC15+ You remember hearing:

Crafting

Request: Xalkas
Roll: DC 8 - Roll 1d20 + proficiency

(Crafting an uncommon item is suggested to take 1 work week. To modify an existing crafted item we can cut that in half unless a 1 is rolled (a complication) or something. So that would be 25hrs to dedicate to crafting the item. You can roll when you begin the item to see if you will be successful. Then you’d have to spend/log crafting hours in order to complete it. If you fail the roll then you can’t try again until 5 short rests or 2-3 long rests.)

Crafting roll: 19

Eager to try again with the construction of EBMK Xalkas pulls out his tools and then thinks better of trying to build something on a moving cart and hastily puts them away. 

T'chal'fronack'zcinicker doesn't think too hard about the name Womford and simply relaxes as they head into the small town.  He's feeling a bit better from their previous encounter (Rolled 1 Bard HD)....and glances around, mostly scanning for shops.  As they roll through town he stops the first passerby he sees and says, "Hello there, I'm looking to purchase a book or two, do you know anyone in town who might sell such goods?"

The passerby gives a chipper "Gudday!" Before they pause and blink a few times at the interesting crew before doubling back. "Ahh... Books ya say?" They'd scritch their beard before pointing to a house at the end of the lane. "Ya lookin' fer Bubs prolly." They'd refocus their eyes on the tiefling. "Bubs' Books an' Baubles, ya is."

"Buncha books." They'd nod affirmatively. "'Bout a book, Breaking Brooks by Brooke Burke? Beastly Biddies Born Baddies by Bridget Bucklebee? Born a Bitey Batty by Buffy? Bethany's Big Bouncing Butt?" He'd offer bobbing his brows before making a facial expression like, 'no?'. "Blasphemy! Boys be boys." The man would chuckle. "Back to books." He'd smile. "Bold'uns, braille'uns, beafy'uns, big'uns? Billions born by book'orms!" He'd gesture dramatically with his hands back towards the shop. "Breathe, Benny." He'd self remind. "Buy books by Bub's Books an' Baubles, baby!" He'd wink and hiccup before continuing to sway away to a pub. "Bye!"

Kerric:

As they approach the sleepy town, Kerric mentions to his friends, "Back at the inn, I asked a few questions about the name of this town, as I had heard it both 'Womford' and 'Wormford', an one of the locals let me in on the history.  Apparently, a dragon was slain nearby, and the locals changed the village name from 'Ironford' to 'Wyrmford', though the accent here is pretty coarse and shortened the name to 'Womford'.  You'd think they probably called it 'Ionfod' or some such given the accent, but I have noticed a certain lack of self-awareness with some rural humans.  Perhaps if they rename the town again we could encourage them to use something without an 'r' in it for the name's clarity and longevity."

"More troubling, though, was the tale he had heard from a local farmer that there was supposedly some kind of beast abducting people outside after dark, the latest named Darreth not a tenday ago just outside his front door.  They call the creature the 'Womford Bat'.  We should be on our guard," he concludes.

OOC:  The book from the Dwarven Delegation Kerric bought back in Red Larch came from a merchant or trader from Womford, right?

It was like Bill and Hawke were a match made in heaven. Even if the horse got a little huffy with him earlier, and he had all the right to be, leading him afterwards still felt like a dream. And with no path mix ups and screw ups! The druid was on his game today it seemed.

Hawke would slow down Bill to a comfortable trot as they made their way through Womford, stopping for T'chal to make his inquiry to the swaying gentleman. As the man spoke with a million alliterations, the druid looked to be having a hard time following along with them, rubbing his temples to fight back an impending headache. Then Kerric came in with a history lesson of the town. As interesting as it was, mentally, Hawke was crying.

He clears his throat to compose himself before speaking up and saying, "We lookin' to head to, uh... Bubs' Books an' Baubles...?" His face sours as he says the establishments name. "Maybe we could find somethin' on that bat Kerric spoke about? Maaaybe take care of it ourselves?" The druid looks over the group to see how they felt on the idea.

Books... did someone mention books??? Xalkas ears perk up at their mention. “I should like to visit this most alliterative store to peruse their books.” He considers thoughtfully for a few moments. “And perhaps somewhere we might procure some more health potions.”

Reghys was tired after their fight, so tired in fact that they lacked the energies or the inspiration for a song of rest, but seeing as how they made the rest of their way to town safely, the lapse didn't cost them too dearly. When meeting the bookmerchant, the satyr would perk up too. "Xalkas, if you don't mind, I'd love to follow along. There's plenty to be learnt from books, about these lands and the histories therein. And sometimes there's just fun reads to be found." The last was said in a chipper and upbeat tone, clearly displaying the excitement they felt at the prospect of getting to grips with some of the local stories, and perhaps even some old tomes.

“The more the merrier... or so they say.” Xalkas says outwardly cheerful. Though internally he was hoping for some quite time to himself. Still... being alone in an unfamiliar area probably wasn’t the safest idea...

T'chal'fronack'zcinicker stares, bewildered at the babbling Benny, bamboozled by his bombardment of bedazzling blah-blah, but bereft of befitting back-talk. 

Instead he only sighs out loud and looks back, scratching his head, "I...uh..I think we broke him...or there's maybe a strange curse in this town...either way....books." 

Intentionally not thanking the man, or indeed, not responding to him in any way except to try and get the wagon moving...he departs the strange man.  He hops off the wagon when the reach Bubs, and...follows in the excited Reghys and Xalkas.  He heads straight to the proprietor.  

"Hi there, well met. I was wondering if you knew what braille was and had any books on the matter. Also have you sold our bought any Dwarven history books recently?" 

Xalkas begins to search the shop for anything that may be arcane in nature.

(edit) He also keeps his eyes peeled for any small trinkets and baubles his companions might be interested in as he wants to give them something as thanks for their company. 

Reghys is looking at books with extraordinary covers. They are searching for spectacular tales, be they true or fiction. That, and sheet music, or collections of local songs.