Noticing Kailute took the first watch, Fyrnlocke deliberately awakens late that night to relieve the half-orc.

Bringing his new longsword and rags to clean it, he gazes on the clear spring night sky.  “Beautiful views out here, anyway.  I am rested.  You could use some sleep.  I will keep watch until morn.”  Fyrnlocke sits down on a rock and begins to wipe his new blade with oil.

“Unsure how these drow weapons will hold up in the light of day.  May want to keep them out of suns light until we could get a sage or weapon master to take a look.”

The smell of seasoned meat cooking on an open fire rouses everyone awake late the following morning.  Fyrnlocke has felled several hare, and is roasting them on a spit as the group shakes off the soreness of the past several days.  Two cycles of darkness have come and gone since the party entered the fell chapel of Aerdrie Faenya, but the properties of the wagon have restored all who slept the full night to their complete health.

“Well met, and enjoy!  Used the last of tea from Suzail!”  Fyrnlocke proclaims, pointing to a teapot boiling next to the roasting hare.

In reply to Harticus (msg # 1):

Relieved from his watch, Kailute thanks Fyrnlocke, sends Shuos to sleep near the horsesre and turns to his pallet on the floor of the wagon.  After a full nights sleep, he approaches Faerenal.

"I know not what business you had with the Zhents in a merchant caravan from Darkhold, and I know not what yer plans are now, but I have one request.  If you must consort with the Zhents, do not serve in their military.  A man must make a living, so if you must be a butcher, baker, or candlestick maker or whatever for the Zhents, then so be it.  They've done me and mine wrong, and if I were to discover that I had brought another warrior into their fold I would be quite cross.  And if I were to ever see you in a Zhent uniform, I swear that my honor could only be relieved by splitting you in twain with my axe."

"That being said, we could talk to Don Brapp and Quilro about taking you on as a traveling companion.  Have to see what adventuring profession best suits you, but we have a varied set of abilities between us!"

Beyond terrorizing/recruiting the emotionally scarred prisoner, Kailute spends some time focusing on what he learned in the depths of the demon hole by practicing maneuvers with his axe while wearing a blindfold.  (Spending non-weapon profs to get blindfighting).  He also continues training his horse/familiarizing it with Shuos.

Garbed in what extra clothes could be scrounged among the human sized group, Faerenal remains a mix of grateful and withdrawn the following morning.  His scars belie a significant amount of abuse at the hands of the drow.

"I hear you, Greenskin.  I think I will find something less likely to cross the paths of dark elves, if able.  You can rest assured I will not return to Teshwave, nor the Keep.  I do not know where I should head, but I will offer my sword arm once I am strong enough again to lift it."   He thanks Fyrnlocke for the tea and hare, and takes a seat on a rock surrounding the fire.

[OOC]  Blindfighting is yours;  Shuos and the mount are growing more comfortable traveling in each other's company, but coordinating attacks will take more time on the road.

"Well, mates.  Next move?  Still got a lot of weapons under the ground to hock.  If we can get them to Hillsfar, I think I can find us a buyer.  Lot of gold to be gleaned off those crates, if I read it right.  Gonna have to find a way to obscure these, though."  He points to his wiggling ears.

Taking cue from Kailute, Fyrnlocke moves through a series of repeated sword exercises, stretching his muscles.  He has stowed the longsword captured from the drow inside the wagon, wrapped in oiled canvas.

The party gathers supplies in Waymeet.  Quilro woos Barla, and Belgar immediately comps drink and meals.  The party is feted as the heroes of Waymeet.  Gondal continues to reminisce about a time he was called king and fought to hold his own with the Elf Sanamus beside him.

Responding to a compliment, he states “Honor me not until I have done something worth honoring!”

Everyone gets top notch rooms;  Quilro distributes gold liberally around the tavern.  Rather than take a room,  Faerenal joins Kailute to rest beneath the stars.

Barla shares that Zhents and another more sly group has been around asking questions about an elf, dwarf, and wagon.  Group very positively regarded by Waymeet locals.

In order to avoid detection, the party executes a double back to ensure they are not being followed out of town,  before recovering the goods.

Kimmo is the lead Sgt for the group of wagoneers and men at arms.  “May Torm look over you.” The wheelwright offers before the party departs Waymeet.

Fyrnlocke and Kailute recon ahead of the party, and lay in wait.  While a prudent move, they only watch two couriers and a Zhent six wagon caravan.

Recovering the weapons, the men at arms bitch at Kimmo, but work through the evening to recover the weapons and armor.  Kailute and Fyrnlocke also turn to assisting, while Quilro further studies the items recovered from the sundered chapel.

Putting to bed under the stars, the party observes the natural lights.

Just before dawn, Kailute observes movement to the south.  Waking DonBrapp and some teamsters, he readies the wagons while Kailute and Shuos move south to detect what they have discovered.  On the horizon, they see several campfires indicating 30-50 humanoids heading on a divergent path.

Leaving the humanoids to whatever their intent, the group skirts south of Waymeet to avoid further interest or scrutiny.  Passing several farms, those who recognize the heroes offer their thanks, and Quilro gathers some covering items;  manure, apples, legumes, and hay to conceal the chests of military equipment.

The party discusses and agrees their story for heading East to start a farm, perhaps seeking the wisdom of Elventree for how better to eke a living from the ground.

Taking refuge from a driving spring storm, Gondal takes up the generosity of the wagon, and pulls a fresh wineskin from the shelves.  Quilro marks the perimeter of the wagon.

That morning, dawn is heralded by an oppressive dread marked by three dots on the horizon.  Almost overcome by a driving fear, Quilro sounds the alarm, and the party rises.  What appear to be three dragons flying far off to the southwest.  Gondal advises to move as quickly and far away from the flying wyrms as time and space allow.  “In sixty summers, I’ve never seen three awing.”

Moving hard east, Quilro notices a shining pool off the road.  Notifying the party, the group approaches a bowl shaped dell, surrounded by a cairn of rocks protecting a spring.  A variety of coins sparkle from below the water’s edge.  “Do as you will, but I recommend against taking any of those coins, Friend Dwarf.”  Gondal advises.  Each of the group flips a coin into the brook, and DonBrapp states “May fortune favor bearded ones.”

Before sunset, the party approaches a masonry bridge rising over a brook.  Quilro sneaks to the bridge silently, observes the shallow brook.  The stone bridge is made of few pieces of stone, expertly carved by dwarven hands.  A plaque in auld Thorass is the only indicator of the bridge’s history.

Quilro gathers round the fires.  “You’ll be wanting to keep yer ears covered;” and another recalls the Arena of Hillsfar as the entertaining end of convicts and spies in years past.

Faerenal and Quilro continue to train after dinners, before bed.

The party discusses the plan for Hillsfar.

The docks is a place where Fyrnlocke will connect with Rowan, his contact with the thieves guild.  We’re going to need to negotiate for large sums to move these weapons.  Gondal reminisces about death in the arena.

The next day, the party is ambushed while crossing a swampy depression crossed by a raised roadbed,  Kailute rides ahead.  Gondal and Fyrnlocke draw their weapons.  Shuos can smell a scent on the air.  The road ahead looks well kept.  Shuos, the Half orc, and his mount, five hideously deformed stunted monstrosities jump from the water and attack with their horned heads.  Appearing about a foot and a half of one eyed, one footed, and one arm protruding from its chest, these creatures reek of fetid swampwater.  Small crossbow bolts also pelt the party from unseen foes.

Kailute and Shuos begin attacking with his battle axe, felling one.  One leaps from the ground for a disgusting bite attack against the barbarian.  Seeing the ambush unfold, the rest of the party advances to join the fight.

DonBrapp directs half the men at arms into the melee, while tasking Kimmo to sweep around to the right attempt to flank the banks of the swamp.  The blessings and prayers of DonBrapp are crucial additions to the swings and saves of the party.

Quilro launches magical missiles into the fray, alerting the ambushers to the presence of an offensive spellcaster.  A group of small sylvan creatures are blinking in and out, and are likely responsible for the crossbow onslaught.

The first man at arms falls from unseen crossbow assailants.  The remaining engage directly in the fray, landing some blows against the rotten, spritely enemies. Quilro launches a web, as Gondal yells “Fay creatures!”  Clouds of biting insects are drawn to several of the party members, and two of the men-at-arms fall.

The fey creatures, atomie and whlocks (fachans) attempt to get in between the party and their wagons.  Quilro launches another lightning bolt from the wand.  Kailute cuts another one in half with a swing of his battleaxe.  Quilro fells another of the smaller sylvan creatures with another blast of lightning.  Shuos and Kailute press the attack while DonBrapp scans for the blinking atomies.

Having suffered several deaths from magical lightning, the atomies turn their attention to the elf in the wagon.  As their attention shifts, five more whlocks jump from the scumwater to attack.  Gondal makes a spinning attack beheading two of the whlocks.  DonBrapp wheels with two caravan guards to assist Quilro.  DonBrapp calls out to the Brapp, but his calls go unheard as the fey atomie press their attack on the elf.  He blasts one of them clear to oblivion.  The remaining whlock continues to attack, but the sylvans begin to reconsider their position, screaming for mercy in elvish.

Seeking parlay, the atomies offer “We have a human, you can take him and his things to cease this battle.”  Gondal splits the remaining festering whlock with his sword and flings it off the roadbed into the swamp.

The atomie produce a bald and bedraggled human is pulled from one of the supposed beaver lodges.

Kimmo ensures his three fallen caravan guards, and Pelvis Genman introduces himself.  “I have a shipment of incredibly expensive components.  They will be sought in Hillsfar.  I can only assure you that my items are extremely profitable.  The Red Wizards need these items, could make it worth your while.”

Kailute and Fyrnlocke recover four chests, and pile them on the party’s wagons.  The party secures the cargo, and continues to move east toward Hillsfar.

At twilight, the party sees Hillsfar below.  They observe the guards inspecting travelers, and several ships at dock and swinging at anchor.  Gondal again reminds, “don’t interfere with trade in this city.”

The party observes the squat stone tower serving as a Red Plumes custom location, and Fyrnlocke directs the party toward the Rusty Nail.  Faerenal and Kimmo remain with the wagons.  Entering the squat tudor structure, Quilro pulls his cloak over his head.  The Red Plumes eye the party with suspicion, while a bard sings of pirates outsmarting dolting Red Plumes.

Pelvis offers the party 500gp, in four days time.  The dark haired female at the bar saunters over, “Hey Fyrn, who’s group did you intrude upon now.  How’d you find your way to a place more unwelcome than me at my sister’s wedding?”  Indicating Pelvis, she signals who is this?

“Who’s this hussy?” Pelvis asks, angering Fyrnlocke.  “Perhaps my contacts with the Red Wizards can assist your entrance to the city.”
Rowan counters, “But perhaps there is another way.  The guild has some issues that some problems that adventurers may be able to solve.”

Indicating to a waitress to bring more drinks, “I can facilitate ways into the city.”  Pelvis chooses to remain at the Rusty Nail while Rowen joins the party returning to the wagon assembly area.  Rowan appears to pair off with Quilro, who shows her the Zhent weapons.  “We’re talking a large amount of coin.”

Roan and Fyrnlocke bicker about the amount of coin the Zhent weapons can pull, while still affording means to access the city.

Factions within the guild may be at odds; some of these locations are more advantageous than others.
The raucous activities last through the night;  Gondal shambles back into camp after a long night of debauchery.

Rowan greets Quilro to Fyrnlocke’s dismay, and orders two bottles of Arabel Dry.  Rowan offers potions can be offered at cost;  made contact with Titys and Laris.  If you agree to clear the guild interested locations, the potions.  The sewers are monsters in a previous underground temple.

Pelvis walks downstairs and offers to purchase breakfast.  He indicates the value of the components, and hints at his ability to set up a meeting with Red Wizards to discuss change in the town.  Pelvis agrees to meet in a week with a reward.  He negotiates with the dwarf to back the financials of the potential meeting.

Rowan sets midnight at the western part of the city to gain access.  DonBrapp awards 2gp to the men-at-arms for the danger of the trip, and the men’s morale soars.

Quilro inquires what scrolls Rowan might be able to acquire.  Specifically angling for a teleport scroll;  After haggling over the worth of rubies;  fireball, invisibility, and teleport.

Gondal doesn’t return from the Rusty Nail.  Kailute and Quilro return to recover Gondal.  Drinking and carousing with pirates.  “This is Hillsfar elf;  if you don’t end up in the Arena…”

Gondal introduces them to Polyard.  Captain of the Vespeer.  “I’m not serving drinks, I am buying them.”   Gondal passes out under the wagon.  Rendezvous with Rowan is established.
This message was last edited by the GM at 02:12, Wed 20 May 2020.