DreamLyrics™ Play-by-Post Forums Fantasy SKT: The Storm King's Thunder 3X-Leaving Calling Horns

Zindra

She coughs up the gold and pays the man. It was not her place to speak for the party so she kept quiet. Still, there was so much she felt was not learned and she wondered what danger they were risking so that Arus could deliver his package.

Jaliera

She listens to Aubric, thinking he sounded wise and hoping that he was right. She had little experience of life and some of it unsavoury so she tended more towards suspicion. Still she keeps her thoughts to herself and pays the innkeeper.

Sindar

He paid the required amount. He wanted to ask but didn't know how to do so without being offensive.

Pavel

Pavel reaches into his bag and finds the money to pay for his lodging for the night. As he hands his coins over he gets a quizzical look on his face and the inkling of a sardonic smile.

"Just curious. Do you offer survivor discounts if customers manage to stay several evenings?"

Arus

He pays and is keen to secure the slippers for a fair price too. Despite his misgivings they really bring a feel of luxury to the frontier!

Arus had hopefully made a strong first impression on the visiting huntsmen, but if his gambit paid off, not an entirely accurate one. Preferably they'll see him and his party as thuggish mercenaries, bravos bereft of subtlety. And if they do, they'll be wrong... possibly dead wrong.

DM
Breakfast done, what is the party doing? Arus has a delivery to make.

Aubric

With payments settled and breakfast concluded, Aubric helps gather the party to meet Arus in the yard at the appointed time. His earlier unease has only grown; the hunters' coordinated departure and Pavel's pointed question about "survivor discounts" suggest this peaceful morning might be the calm before a storm.

As they prepare to depart, he positions himself in the middle of the group - close enough to provide healing to anyone who might need it, but protected enough to maintain concentration on his spells if trouble finds them. He whispers another quick prayer, feeling the familiar surge of divine guidance flow through him once more. [OOC: Casting Guidance on himself again before departing, positioning himself mid-group for tactical advantage]

Jaliera

She heads out with the others, giving Meadow an apple she had scavenged from breakfast.

"You are a clever horse. You did well to survive yesterday."

She tells Meadow, affectionately patting her neck. She still cannot quell her apprehension and wants to be well away from this area. But for now they should stick together for safety.

<Bern>

He left with the others, heading to the the horses.

Sindar

He understood Arus need to do his business privately, but at the moment, the half-elf had other concerns on his mind. Any one of them being alone was not the best fit in his mind, but what did he know? Instead he concentrated on getting the wagon ready so that they could meet at the appointed time.

Kriv

At some point, they were going to need to recoup their losses lest they be forced to the speed of the slowest walker. But that did not seem an issue with a solution here.

Davroar

Being without a horse is not a concern since he can keep up with the group using his wild-shape. Davroar will offer to help Sindar with the wagon if he needs it, otherwise he will keep Jaliera company.

Aubric

The cleric ponders the imminent availability of lots of horses at a discount if the "hunt" turns out to be bad for their riders.

But probably not worth waiting around to find out.

[Iirc the harnesses that Arus are delivering are for coach-horses, so big, heavy bundles needing a wagon to deliver.

It's also no secret, so anyone can accompany Arus. Please!! ]

Arus

The triton obtains directions from the locals, though it shouldn't be too difficult to identify Amrath Mulnobar's keep. Although if Mulnobar is castellan that implies he's holding the keep on behalf of a greater dominion. Or not. The Savage Coast's structures of goverment are chaotic, based almost solely on who has the power to rule rather than who has the right. Maybe Mulnobar calls himself 'castellan' because he does't want his relatives getting any ideas that the position is hereditary.

Regardless, Arus tries to stay on mission. It isn't that there's no mystery here in Noanar's Hold---it's one big mystery---but it's also isolated, out of way and as far as Arus can tell, no bearing on the giant troubles that demand all the party's attention.

So he's determined to politely make the drop and be back on the road before tea-time.

"A few strong backs and horse-minders would be much appreciated." he says to his companions with a charming smile.

Sindar

"Since the wagon is needed, I am happy to help." He would have been happy to help either way, but that didn't sound quite right to him.

Zhu

She nods agreement that she will go as well.

Aubric

"I see zero value in splitting up," he notes, preparing to mount Conundrum to ride along, but alert for any need to lend his mount to someone and volunteer to walk or ride in the wagon if needed.

Pavel

"With the nature of this place, I see little value in splitting up. Curious how heavy are these harnesses?"

Jaliera

"I said before we should stick together until we are safely away from the area. Safety in numbers."

She nods and mounts Meadow.

Kriv

The Dragonborn noble broke his silence with a curt, “Agreed. Any who wrong us will face all our steel.”

DM

The party gathers it's belongings and heads outside as a team... like the other teams.

They made their way around the back of the White Hart Inn towards the stables. The rain had stopped over night but the ground was still tender and slick. Small puddles formed in the indentations made by many years of hooves trapsing along the path. An occasional drop from a wet leaf fell onto the party. Rays of morning sunlight peeked through breaks in the clouds above and a light mist blanketed the short path.

The half-elf lad that had stabled them the night before was here again. He was brushing down Bertha when you first see him. All five horses were already tied to a hitching post and were feeding from grain pans and drinking water from a trough. Their wounds had clearly been tended to. The wagons were all covered and the tarps had kept them dry.

"G'mornin sirs and missuses. Yer horses be ready for yer," he greeted the team.

Arus

He's glad for the company and the aid. To Pavel, Arus answers:

"They're indecently heavy, around 25 pounds each I'd wager and awkward too."

That's fine for one man with one harness to offload and carry to the door... assuming you've pulled up outside the door and not at some outer gate.

With a telepathic command, Arus sends his own steed off to graze along the road out of town.

"Nice work, young man." he offers the half-elf youth and flicks him a gold coin, "Now, if you could point us to Mulnobar's Keep."

[OOC: how many were there? Remember Pavel has his floating disc than can carry quite a few of them

[Not sure actually, Miales. Neptune? ]