Tib and Cyrus score strikes on the wolves, while Aris’ta and Henry try, but don’t have any luck.  Andalon gets his horse under control and goes charging in towards the combat, and is now close enough to join in the melee.  Valoria decides to dismount from her horse, and Zorah pleads with Puck to carry her closer to the conflict.    While Keston and his men start beating their swords onto their shields and making a hell of a racket.

And it seems that the battle could have been won already.  The arrival of more enemies combined with the clattering of swords on shields has been enough to scare the animals away.  For a moment they snarl at you, then they turn tail and run, leaving three of their number behind – dead on the floor around the body of Moto.

A little further way lies the body of the horse the sorcerer had been riding.

In reply to DM (msg # 222):

"This one is hurt pretty badly, Johan, can you help?" Cyrus asks standing over the fallen Moto and the wolves. He is glad the others took off as he isn't so sure he wouldn't be on the ground next to this Moto if another wolf took a bite out of him.

Lowering her bow in frustration and snarling a bit, she made her way towards the fallen wolves and man as quickly as she could. It seemed a hopeless endeavor as he didn't appear to be moving, but she was not going to simply leave him there unchecked. " I fear we are too late. " she calls, as she trots over.

Zorah shakes her head at Puck in disappointment. After reaching the others she dismounts and scans the area for any herbs or plants that may be of help to the fallen man or her injured allies.  Zorah had never been taught much in the way of first aid for people, only animals.  The plants used for both were pretty similar though.  Out of the corner of her eye she thought she spotted something useful.



08:11, Today: Zorah rolled 29 using 1d20+9.  survival, searching for medical plants.

Andalon was closer than Johan so he dismounted and hurried over to help with Moto, if he still lives. If he is still alive Andalon will chant the words of a spell to cure some of Moto's wounds and at least stabilise his condition.

Valoria began to walked up to the body, but stopped when she caught good sight of it. She had to turn her head. The body of this, poor Moto was badly torn. She looked off into the distance and waited to see what was to happen next.
This message was last edited by the player at 06:25, Wed 27 Apr 2016.

Before long everyone is gathered around the fallen Moto, but Andalon’s initial inspection  soon confirms Aris’ta's fears, the Sorcerer is dead and beyond healing, as is his horse.

Zorah scans the area looking for herbs that might help promote natural healing and catches sight of a Flayleaf plant that might help suppress pain, but even that won’t help Moto – although it might bring some relief to either Henry or Cyrus. 

A quick investigation  of the body and the horse shows that Moto wasn't a rich man.  There are the normal accoutrements of a travelling sorcerer, backpack, bedroll, water-skin a few days rations, a dagger, pipe and tobacco.  But then a couple of unusual items for a sorcerer , a bastard sword bearing the cypher of House Rogarvia and a whetstone to maintain it.  The horse has little more than a saddle and bridle.

Andalon stood up from his inspection of Moto's body and turned to speak to their employer.

"What do you want us to do with him, Henry? Bury him here or take his body with us for a more formal service when we reach the trading post?" he asked. "I would recommend the latter as it would avoid the delay of digging a grave here and would provide a more easily defined location to tell his next of kin, if he has one."

"Who was this sorcerer who carries such a noble sword?

Andalon, would you mind sharing your curative words with this wound?" Cyrus points to the gash torn in his skin by the wolves.

"He was Moto Trema, a sorcerer in my employment, who should not have been out here alone." Henry says with some concern in his voice.  Then he becomes business like a gain.  "Wrap him in his bedroll and share the pony's load out between us, then it should be able to carry him along to Oleg's for us.  I will be interested to hear from the others  just why one of their number is travelling North alone."

Then, as the adrenalin dies down, Henry leans against the rock, and his voice takes a slightly less commanding tone.  "Keep an eye out for those wolves coming back." He says as he starts to inspect his own wounds.
This message was last edited by the player at 13:38, Wed 27 Apr 2016.

Andalon turns to Cyrus and bows, touching his Golden Key holy symbol to his lips.

"I would not mind at all. First though, there would need to be some agreement on the matter of a donation to the Church of Abadar for such a service. The tenets of our faith, you see, discourage Abadaran clergy from donating healing services free of charge — except those that help overall community and public health, of course. In the heat of battle or to stave off the imminent death of one of you would be a different matter, naturally." He frowns in thought before continuing. "Perhaps now would be a good time to agree on an appropriate arrangement. Might I suggest that it be agreed that a donation of one silver piece per point of healing will be allocated as a donation to the Church of Abadar from whatever valuables we collectively accumulate during the course of our mission? That is a much, much lower rate than you would pay for such a service in any temple in the city and is really just a token of respect for the divine source of that healing."

In reply to Andalon de Lebeda (msg # 232):

Looking down at his wounds and hearing Andalon quibble over a fee for his healing prayers, Cyrus thinks about telling Andalon that a god who charges a fee for healing is no god at all, but an extortionist, but thinks better of it...

"I appreciate your commitment to the tenets of your faith, but had the wolves not fled or had you arrived sooner would you have prayed for my and Henry's healing in the heat of the battle as you say? What difference is there between a prayer then and now? Regarding your fee, would this be in addition to your share of any valuables recovered or in its place? I only ask as I have not demanded a fee for every slash made with my sword nor has Aris'ta for every arrow she looses."

OOC: maybe you should rephrase your fee number to be one based on severity or prayers required as I don't think we would speak of points of damage. Also, I get that your church would ask for someone visiting asking for healing to pay a fee, but I don't think that applies here, if you are going to insist that it does, it should come out of your share of any group treasure.
This message was last edited by the player at 16:39, Wed 27 Apr 2016.

Zorah returns to the others, after a short trek into the overgrowth, holding some narrow rust-colored leaves.  She hands a few to those who have been injured.  "Flayleaf, it will ease pain when the smoke is inhaled, but is probably better left for an evening remedy to help get to sleep.  The side effects may make travel and combat a bit more difficult."

After doing what she can to help with the injured Zorah looks around for any animals.  Maybe one of them saw what happened and could be of help.

Aris'ta leans down, holding a hand before her mouth before moving it out before her, almost as one might blow a kiss without touching of lips and speaks softly "Xal dosst yah y'teni dos ulu l'zik'den'vever d'obokur nelgetha lu'kampi'unin. " then she rises to her feet and looks around her, troubled by the state of current affairs.

Valoria heard the talk of Cyrus and Andalon and tried her best not to look at the body of Moto. “Cousin, Cyrus, if I may be so bold I would like to offer a compromise. I understand the faith my cousin so righteously holds. However, Cyrus also makes a good point about the services that he and all of us give to the group as a whole.”

“Cousin, I will pay for the group as a whole. However, I want a flat rate of one gold piece per battle, which will include healing for every member of our party. This contract is for one month. After one month, we can renegotiate price. Are we agreed?” Valoria smiled and did not mind the cost. She considered it an investment for some good favor among this group and more importantly, from Henry himself. Plus, it stopped Cyrus and Andalon from fighting about something so simple.
This message was last edited by the player at 07:21, Thu 28 Apr 2016.

In reply to Valoria der lin Lebeda (msg # 236):

Cyrus smiles at Valoria's offer and her attempt at keeping the peace, but he isn't entirely satisfied with the suggested outcome as it still reeks of undue compensation. Healing was a valuable service no doubt and he didn't take it lightly, but the way this was approached felt unjust to Cyrus, like the wheeling and dealings of the court he had just left behind.

"That is rather generous of you Valoria, but it doesn't address the broader question I have about reconciling the nature of his service to the group here and the demands of the temple. I will defer to Henry and whatever the group decides but I don't think it is a just demand. Henry, was there any mention of this when you hired our friend here?"

Henry is currently busy, deep in conversation with Brother Bart, who is examining the severe wounds that Henry received.


OOC-   Lots of lovely PC Role Play interaction  possibilities for you guys there.  I would not want to wheel Henry out to resolve every issue that comes up between you guys and take away any RP opportunities from you *evil DM grin*  Any way, most of the time you will be in smaller groups without Henry around -  so you might as well practice now  :)

"Thank you, cousin," Andalon is pleased to accept Valoria's compromise solution. "I believe that would satisfy my religious obligations. But I will endeavour to answer the questions that trouble Cyrus, too."

First, though, Andalon positions himself between Henry and Cyrus (and anyone else who is wounded), making sure there are no wounded-but-not-dead wolves nearby, then holds up his Golden Key holy symbol and channels positive energy, twice, to help to relieve their wounds. (Cures 6hp on both of them and any other living creature within 30 feet who is wounded.) Then he inspects them both to see if more healing is required.

He takes the opportunity to explain in much more detail to Cyrus as well.

"Cyrus, if I had been close enough to cure your wounds or Henry's during the fight, and if that seemed the most productive use of the resources Abadar has granted me today, for example if it looked like that would make a difference to you surviving the fight or not, then it would certainly be in everyone's interest for me to do so and such action would be viewed favourably by the church of Abadar. As it stands now, however, there is no immediate threat and every reason to suppose that you would have ample opportunity to rest and recuperate when we reach the trading post without any divine intervention at all.

"The suggestion that a donation should be made for that service would indeed have involved deduction of that donation from communal funds before profits are shared out among us all but it would certainly not have just gone into my own pocket. It would go to the church of Abadar as part of the tithe that I am required to make as a cleric of that faith. We are expected to earn the money for that tithe ourselves, you see, by our investments or services such as these. But, to be honest, the rate I proposed was really only a token gesture and would not come close to covering the tithe I would be expected to make, so most of that will probably come from my own share of any treasure we might find anyway. Perhaps you have some similar obligation?

"But if the idea of making a donation to my church for such a service offends you too deeply for you to accept the current arrangement I would be quite happy to scribe a scroll of Cure Light Wounds and sell it to you for the normal market price of 25 gold pieces, which you will no doubt realise is only half the price that you would pay for a potion of the same effect. I would even be more than happy to read it for you to bestow that healing upon you at any time after that at no additional cost."

Rubbing his wound that feels completely better, Cyrus says, "Thank you Anadalon. And thank you for the explanation." He takes a breath as if he's trying to decide whether to keep the discussion going, it is clear he is torn, this is not about money to Cyrus, the amount being discussed is trivial in light of the benefit being offered and he sees that, but something about it still seems not quite right.

"Andalon, your healing is a gift, a gift from Abadar and it is your choice and Abadar's how you distribute it. It would have likely taken me a week to recover from the wolves bite, maybe longer if it had not been properly treated and I am in your debt for the healing to say the least, a debt I had thought to pay with my blade and my shield protecting you and the others in our party as long as we are together. Please forgive my ignorance and the questions that it has caused. Valoria, you need not bear the cost on your own. Here, Andalon, take this gold as a token of my appreciation for your healing gift." He hands Andalon a gold piece and then continues speaking.

"I can't help but wonder what would have happened if you hadn't healed me and we'd been set upon by another ambush a few hundred yards down the road, what choice would you have made with regards to healing the two of us and how that would that be weighed by Abadar? Or had your horse not spooked and you had been able to keep up with us, were our wounds severe enough and the danger present enough to justify our healing?" He asks the last question with a bit of a smirk trying to bring some levity to a very serious conversation.

As Andalon the group discuss the blessing of Abadar, and how they should be apportioned, Tib wraps the body in the bedroll while the horses and pony are collected.  Before long the pony’s load is redistributed and the body of Moto and his few meagre belongings are loaded onto the pony.

Then, not long after Andalon and Valoria have made their contract, and the priest is finally able to call down the blessing of Abadar on the party, everyone is fit to continue.

Once back on the road, Henry speaks.

"I have no call on any of you, apart from a contract to help explore and map the lands around Oleg's trading post.  How you manage your skills, blessings and gifts in that service is between you, your gods and your consciences.  I trust that you will all find a suitable compromise that will allow you to work together, for once we have settled into Oleg's you will be working in small groups, without immediate support from myself or my staff.  You will have to find your own ways to work together."

---

OOC:  Please use this thread to continue that conversation as you ride towards Oleg's, if you wish.  However, I am also going to open up the next thread to you all, so we can move the game on at the same time.

I am comfortable with you posting in both threads consecutively.

Unable to find any animal friends to converse with, Zorah returns to the group to help load the horses up.  "I'll contribute my share Andalon.  The gods can be as fickle and varied as nature herself.  I'd rather keep in as many good graces as possible.  I'm sure Hedgewig can make enough for my share if we reach some more populated areas.  Folks seem to love his little dance."  Zorah does a quick impersonation of her hedgehog standing on two legs and dancing.  Her hands curled up in front of her and hopping around in a circle.

Aris'ta listens to the conversation with a scowl on her face. It is evident by the look, were anyone paying attention to her closely, that the whole conversation in general is displeasing to her. Though, to be fair, Aris has always had a problem with religion as a matter of principle. "Hard to consider it a "donation" when it is demanded in order to receive anything in return. " she commented mildly to herself, watching as Henry spoke privately with another and turning her head away from the others. "Really more a profession with a fee. "

Still, she rather liked Andalon despite what she considered his twisted views and since she was unsure of the depth of those who were religious, she generally kept her opinions to herself. Having muttered to herself, she was quite capable of now keeping her mouth shut firmly and her demeanor pleasant.

"Thank you Cyrus. Your donation is gratefully received. Although Valoria was the one who proposed the agreement the church would certainly have no objection if someone else, or everyone else, makes that donation instead of her in any particular instance. As for your other questions, perhaps we will never know, but I would be happy to debate them at length with you over a mug of ale or glass of wine sometime."

Aris'ta's quiet comment doesn't upset Andalon at all. He comes from a family of merchants, after all.  He just smiles benignly at her and checks on Henry to make sure his wounds are sufficiently healed so that he should heal completely overnight.

In reply to Aris'ta (msg # 244):

"Perhaps we never will." The evasion of questions struck him as typical for a man of "faith." He walks away from the group and helps gather the wolves bodies. Their fur might make a warm cloak for the winter.

He heard Aris'ta's comments and agreed completely. He waited until they were back underway with the ponies loads distributed and made a point of riding near her and thanking her for saying something. He'd almost grown to believe he was the only one troubled by the nature of Andalon's proposal. It made sense for his cousin to take his side but he'd hoped others might agree with him.