New Friends, No Axes IC

[Athedia]

The shock of the disappearance of their friends, shook Braxton and Terrach. But now Braxton could not escort Eyvind it was clear what their new job should be. Terrach complained about the idea of spending one second longer with Daisy, but he followed Braxton all the same. After a month of travel, Braxton and Terrach escorted Daisy and River through the gates of the communal village the two had grown up in. The young children ran up to Daisy, attempting to climb all over to now somber half-orc. Her parents approached and quickly folded the two siblings into a large hug. Their father looked up, smiling at Braxton. "Thank you for bringing them home. We want to support them, but we worried." That night was filled with food and company.

The next morning, Braxton and Terrach set off to attempt to find and rejoin with the split off group. A week into their journey they were exiting a small wood when they saw signs of a fight. Feathers and scales lay scattered across the ground and the marks of bedrolls showed that the skirmish had happened recently, maybe even while some of the people slept. But other than the feathers and scales, nothing remained. Following the road some more they found themselves walking toward what looked like a small farming village. About half a mile outside of the village they spotted a circle of six large mounds of dirt with wooden poles driven through the center. In the center of these six mounds was a seventh, looking newer than the others.

The town was small, hosting a wooden church, a tavern and a blacksmiths as well as the local farmers houses. The townspeople glared at the new arrivals and retreated indoors. The tavern was similarly unfriendly, with the only customer a young looking Tengu, a creature that Braxton and Terrach had never seen in person. She (if it was a she, the biological similarities of Tengu had not been included in the descriptions) sat at the bar nursing a cold beer and poking at a bowl of moldy peanuts that looked like it had been there since the bar was built. In front of her sat a bowl of porridge, mostly untouched.

Spoiler: Coffee

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Zinnia had tried to eat the porridge but had found it tasting of the remains of what must have been the previous nights stew. It was rubbery and clammy, the way that gelatinous food left out all day tends to be. Something in her felt that all the spells in the world couldn't make this appetizing.

[CoffeeIncluded]

The young tengu looks exhausted--her blue-black feathers are ruffled, torn, and even missing in places. She also looks extremely annoyed, an expression which itself seems somewhat foreign on her face. She quaffs the beer and gingerly pokes at the oatmeal again, dark talons curling out from under the feathers that cover her arms and fingers. It springs under her touch.

With a scowl she shoves the bowl away from her (the porridge doesn't even wobble) and gets to her feet. She stomps out of the inn, muttering, "To hell with this, I'm going hunting. Carrion would be better than this slop."

Because she's looking at her feet she doesn't even notice the two young men until she nearly walks into them. "Oh!" She stumbles back but easily catches herself. "Excuse me."

[SirCatBeard]

"Excuse yourself." Terrach says almost instinctively, as if he had done the same in many other situations. Realizing the exotic nature of this creature, he catches himself before being too rude, and manages an exclamation: "Mother of Pearl! Fascinating. A beautiful creature. Tell me: What's it like to fly in the night sky?!?"

[Table Flipper]

Admittedly, Braxton was also curious to learn more about Tengu, since he had never met one before. Still, it was rude to ask personal questions, and he was more concerned about what was happening with the town anyway. "Sorry to bother you, but do you know what's going on here? We saw signs of battle not too far from here, and the atmosphere in this town seems tense."

[CoffeeIncluded]

"Excuse yourself." Terrach says almost instinctively, as if he had done the same in many other situations. Realizing the exotic nature of this creature, he catches himself before being too rude, and manages an exclamation: "Mother of Pearl! Fascinating. A beautiful creature. Tell me: What's it like to fly in the night sky?!?"

Zinnia draws back in surprise at the man's abrupt question, tilting her head as she observes him and eyes his beard. She then lets out a strange cawing sound that might be a chuckle. "Ask me that again in a few months, or maybe years. We're not able to fly on our own."

Admittedly, Braxton was also curious to learn more about Tengu, since he had never met one before. Still, it was rude to ask personal questions, and he was more concerned about what was happening with the town anyway. "Sorry to bother you, but do you know what's going on here? We saw signs of battle not too far from here, and the atmosphere in this town seems tense."

She scowls, the feathers on the back of her head rising and puffing out as the ones covering her arms and talons also bristle. "I don't know about the town, but my runny guano of a teammate tried to kill us in the middle of the night! Ran off with my stuff too!" Her words come out hoarse, and she's practically hopping back and forth as she speaks.

[SirCatBeard]

Zinnia draws back in surprise at the man's abrupt question, tilting her head as she observes him and eyes his beard. She then lets out a strange cawing sound that might be a chuckle. "Ask me that again in a few months, or maybe years. We're not able to fly on our own."

"Blast. Thought someone like you would know. 'We'? There more of you around?"

She scowls, the feathers on the back of her head rising and puffing out as the ones covering her arms and talons also bristle. "I don't know about the town, but my runny guano of a teammate tried to kill us in the middle of the night! Ran off with my stuff too!" Her words come out hoarse, and she's practically hopping back and forth as she speaks.

"Hah. Know what that's like. Just got rid of a 'partner'. You'd swear she was trying to kill us when she was awake." Thinking it might give him more time to get to know this creature, and sympathizing with the betrayal-of-adventuring-partner plight, Terrach decides: "Gah! You protect your adventuring partners; you watch their backs. Everybody knows that! Your partner is a right bastard if he can't follow that. I'm pretty good at tracking, might be we can find 'im."

[Table Flipper]

"I'm sorry to hear that! That is an awful thing, to turn on one's friends like that!" Braxton frowns and shakes his head. "I'm with Terrach. We can help you find him... if you want. My name's Braxton, by the way."

[Athedia]

A gruff looking, balding man came out from the back of the tavern. Zinnia recognized him as the man who had served her the "oatmeal" earlier. He looked annoyed to see more people in his building. "Brought some friends Birdie? Rates the same, 5 coppers for the room per head. Figure out who shares, I only put two beds up there. You said you had no ticks, so be sure of it. I find any bugs and yer gettin' charged double." He held a hand out to Braxton and Terrach, looking at them expectantly. His other hand swiftly scooped up the remaining porridge and dumped it in a bin behind the counter. It squelched out of the bowl and landed loudly with a rather squishy sound. "And Birdie, no refunds if yer headed out. Doors close in 1 hour so whatever yer about be fast."

[CoffeeIncluded]

"Blast. Thought someone like you would know. 'We'? There more of you around?"

"Yeah, though not around here."

"Hah. Know what that's like. Just got rid of a 'partner'. You'd swear she was trying to kill us when she was awake." Thinking it might give him more time to get to know this creature, and sympathizing with the betrayal-of-adventuring-partner plight, Terrach decides: "Gah! You protect your adventuring partners; you watch their backs. Everybody knows that! Your partner is a right bastard if he can't follow that. I'm pretty good at tracking, might be we can find 'im."[/QUOTE]

"I'm sorry to hear that! That is an awful thing, to turn on one's friends like that!" Braxton frowns and shakes his head. "I'm with Terrach. We can help you find him... if you want. My name's Braxton, by the way."

"And stealing my stuff too, the damned cuckoo!" she squawks. At their request she pauses and shakes out her feathers, letting them settle. "Are you seriously offering? Because if you are, I've definitely got a score to settle and some treasures of mine to take back. Name's Zinnia by the way." She holds out a hand--there are four fingers--each one very thin, with scales on the back and papillae on the palm in place of fingerprints. The nails themselves are black talons, not as long or sharp as a raptor's but still capable of scratching. Feathers the color of midnight cover each of those fingers and talons. "Of course if you're lying, there's a reason I was the only one who survived his betrayal."

A gruff looking, balding man came out from the back of the tavern. Zinnia recognized him as the man who had served her the "oatmeal" earlier. He looked annoyed to see more people in his building. "Brought some friends Birdie? Rates the same, 5 coppers for the room per head. Figure out who shares, I only put two beds up there. You said you had no ticks, so be sure of it. I find any bugs and yer gettin' charged double." He held a hand out to Braxton and Terrach, looking at them expectantly. His other hand swiftly scooped up the remaining porridge and dumped it in a bin behind the counter. It squelched out of the bowl and landed loudly with a rather squishy sound. "And Birdie, no refunds if yer headed out. Doors close in 1 hour so whatever yer about be fast."

Zinnia scowls at the man and his casual racist remarks. It's hard to tell that it's a scowl from her beak though, the the look in her eyes is much the same. Still, best not to show too much. She turns around and strides out of the inn, one hand in her pocket and the other giving a casual wave as she exits the front door. "Yeah yeah, an hour, got it. I'd be more concerned about your bedbugs by the way."

[SirCatBeard]

A gruff looking, balding man came out from the back of the tavern. Zinnia recognized him as the man who had served her the "oatmeal" earlier. He looked annoyed to see more people in his building. "Brought some friends Birdie? Rates the same, 5 coppers for the room per head. Figure out who shares, I only put two beds up there. You said you had no ticks, so be sure of it. I find any bugs and yer gettin' charged double." He held a hand out to Braxton and Terrach, looking at them expectantly. His other hand swiftly scooped up the remaining porridge and dumped it in a bin behind the counter. It squelched out of the bowl and landed loudly with a rather squishy sound. "And Birdie, no refunds if yer headed out. Doors close in 1 hour so whatever yer about be fast."

"Hhmmpf, well you're a character. Lord of a dump. A sad little king on a sad little hill. I've slept in better swamps and seen better food in the gutters."

"And stealing my stuff too, the damned cuckoo!" she squawks. At their request she pauses and shakes out her feathers, letting them settle. "Are you seriously offering? Because if you are, I've definitely got a score to settle and some treasures of mine to take back. Name's Zinnia by the way." She holds out a hand--there are four fingers--each one very thin, with scales on the back and papillae on the palm in place of fingerprints. The nails themselves are black talons, not as long or sharp as a raptor's but still capable of scratching. Feathers the color of midnight cover each of those fingers and talons. "Of course if you're lying, there's a reason I was the only one who survived his betrayal."

Zinnia scowls at the man and his casual racist remarks. It's hard to tell that it's a scowl from her beak though, the the look in her eyes is much the same. Still, best not to show too much. She turns around and strides out of the inn, one hand in her pocket and the other giving a casual wave as she exits the front door. "Yeah yeah, an hour, got it. I'd be more concerned about your bedbugs by the way."

With a last glare towards the 'inn'-keeper, Terrach turns to follow the angry bird-girl. "C'mon Braxt'. We've got evils to fix." Setting down Freya, he taps his leg twice to ask her to follow. "Let's go fix them, my gem", he says to Freya. After a hiss at the smells in the 'inn', she follows.

[CoffeeIncluded]

Zinnia turns to the two men following her. "Hey, thanks. Although...I already paid. I'm just going hunting."

[Athedia]

"Still costs same for her. But I can give you a group discount. Say 8 coppers for the both. And only 3 for that cat." He looked out the window at the setting sun. "You can't keep watch with just the two of you anyway. No matter how much an ass your servant is, sir. The wolves come out at night round here and we have had some passing clerics go missing. If their gods can't protect them, no way you two are surviving."

[Table Flipper]

"Still costs same for her. But I can give you a group discount. Say 8 coppers for the both. And only 3 for that cat." He looked out the window at the setting sun. "You can't keep watch with just the two of you anyway. No matter how much an ass your servant is, sir. The wolves come out at night round here and we have had some passing clerics go missing. If their gods can't protect them, no way you two are surviving."

On his way out, Braxton goes ahead and leaves 11 coppers on the table. "Sure, whatever. Here." The innkeeper was undoubtedly rude, but having the option to stay in the inn with such a small party was probably good.

[CoffeeIncluded]

"Still costs same for her. But I can give you a group discount. Say 8 coppers for the both. And only 3 for that cat." He looked out the window at the setting sun. "You can't keep watch with just the two of you anyway. No matter how much an ass your servant is, sir. The wolves come out at night round here and we have had some passing clerics go missing. If their gods can't protect them, no way you two are surviving."

Really, it's only the mention of wolves that keeps her from taking back the very shiny coppers right here and now. Instead she hisses, "And if the upstairs is as much of a nightmare as your cooking then I'll demand a refund. I'll rather take my chances with the wolves than aspergillosis."

On his way out, Braxton goes ahead and leaves 11 coppers on the table. "Sure, whatever. Here." The innkeeper was undoubtedly rude, but having the option to stay in the inn with such a small party was probably good.

Once they're outside Zinnia relaxes slightly, her feathers flattening against her head as her tail stops twitching. "Phew, Feels good to get away from the stench of that jerk! Thanks for that, by the way."

[Athedia]

As the sky darkens from the rich reds of sunset into the deeper grey of night, Zinnia manages to catch an unsuspecting rabbit for her dinner. She eats it by the remains of an old campfire that has been abandoned for what appears to be at least one week by that point. Terrach and Braxton watched the townspeople enter their homes and settle in for the night. Freya is busy stalking mice hidden in the green, breaking their necks and tossing them into the air to eat them. She drops a few dead ones at Braxton's feet and presents an uninjured live one to Terrach.

Zinnia sees this as she comes back from her hunt, just as the innkeeper looks outside. "I lock up in a couple minutes. Fresh blankets are on the beds, put two more on the floor if one of you isn't up for sharing."

[CoffeeIncluded]

As the sky darkens from the rich reds of sunset into the deeper grey of night, Zinnia manages to catch an unsuspecting rabbit for her dinner. She eats it by the remains of an old campfire that has been abandoned for what appears to be at least one week by that point. Terrach and Braxton watched the townspeople enter their homes and settle in for the night. Freya is busy stalking mice hidden in the green, breaking their necks and tossing them into the air to eat them. She drops a few dead ones at Braxton's feet and presents an uninjured live one to Terrach.

Zinnia sees this as she comes back from her hunt, just as the innkeeper looks outside. "I lock up in a couple minutes. Fresh blankets are on the beds, put two more on the floor if one of you isn't up for sharing."

A bit of rabbit fur and sinew, stained blue from the berries she also found, falls from Zinnia's beak as the...not a mere house cat stalks through the grass, hunting mice and voles. The old instinctual alarm prickles down her spine, and though the tengu doesn't panic, she doesn't take her eyes off the animal as she eats.

She doesn't say anything to the innkeeper once they're back in their rooms, but she does say to Braxton and Terrach, "You can both take the bed; I'll be fine with the chair." And in fact, she climbs onto the chair and perches, wrapping a blanket around herself. It's not idea, but she's done it before and she can do it again. Besides, it's easier and faster to spring awake and into action from this position.

[Table Flipper]

A bit of rabbit fur and sinew, stained blue from the berries she also found, falls from Zinnia's beak as the...not a mere house cat stalks through the grass, hunting mice and voles. The old instinctual alarm prickles down her spine, and though the tengu doesn't panic, she doesn't take her eyes off the animal as she eats.

She doesn't say anything to the innkeeper once they're back in their rooms, but she does say to Braxton and Terrach, "You can both take the bed; I'll be fine with the chair." And in fact, she climbs onto the chair and perches, wrapping a blanket around herself. It's not idea, but she's done it before and she can do it again. Besides, it's easier and faster to spring awake and into action from this position.

"Well... if you insist, thank you." The chair didn't look the most comfortable, and Braxton really wouldn't mind sleeping on the floor, but he guessed that Zinnia had already decided that that was what she was going to do, and that she was going to stick with it.

[SirCatBeard]

"Fine." Terrach mutters, a bit tired now and still skeptical of the inn, and so a little grumpier than usual. Turning to Freya, his tone and behavior change: "Come on, Freya." He says patting the bed. Once he settles in, she crawls up to sleep on his beard and chest.

[Athedia]

As the group settles down, they quickly fall asleep. Zinnia's talons automatically lock onto the edge of the chair, assisting in keeping her upright. Terrach manages to fall asleep as Freya settles down with one paw placed firmly on the bridge of his nose. Braxton falls asleep as little kitten snores start to waft through the air.

Spoiler: Braxton and Zinnia

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After you have been asleep for a bit you are woken up by footsteps in the hall outside. The pause outside the door and then a minute later go back down the steps to the lower part of the inn.

Spoiler: Zinnia

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You hear a keyring jangle and a soft squeaking before the footsteps leave.

[CoffeeIncluded]

"No problem. I used to sleep this way all the time as a kid!"

The sounds of footsteps makes Zinnia crack one eye open, but it's the jangling of the keys and the squeak that makes her snap awake. She hops off the chair and carefully creeps to the door, tilting her head as she inspect the lock and listens for what might be beyond it.

Spoiler: Stealth and perception

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Stealth: (d20+13)[17]
Perception (is the door locked? Anything tampered with? Can she tell anything about who or what just walked by or the source of the squeak?): (d20+11)[27]

[CoffeeIncluded]

For a brief moment Zinnia goes very, very still. "Someone locked us in," she whispers as she pulls a set of lockpicks from somewhere on her person and immediately sets to opening the door.

Spoiler: Disable device

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Assuming this opens locks: (d20+13)[31]
If that doesn't work, take 10 for 23. If that STILL doesn't work, take 20 for 33. If it doesn't work after that someone get a battering ram and fire ready.

Wish me luck tomorrow! I'm gonna need it...

[Athedia]

It doesn't take much work before Zinnia hears the click of the lock falling into place. She might have been out of practice from the time spent travelling, but the years of visiting the neighbors to "borrow" their cookware hadn't quite left her yet. There was no response from the other side of the door, the person who had been there had apparently gone.

Spoiler: Everyone

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Good Luck tomorrow Coffee! Hopefully you roll a natural 20 on Knowledge (Nature) and Profession (Vet Student)

Table: Is Braxton awake at the moment? He heard the footsteps outside. At that point he probably heard Zinnia getting up unless he went straight back to sleep.

Also is anyone planning to wake up Terrach?

[CoffeeIncluded]

Zinnia allows herself a moment of satisfaction as the lock quietly pops open under her talons. She turns around, making sure that Braxton at least is awake, then quietly opens the door and creeps down the hallway in the direction of the retreating footsteps. She carefully pulls a dagger as she walks, doing her best to keep the darkened blades from catching any moonlight that filters in through the windows.

Spoiler: rolls

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stealth and perception, right? If not please ignore.

Stealth: (d20+13)[26]
Perception: (d20+11)[26]

[Athedia]

Zinnia allows herself a moment of satisfaction as the lock quietly pops open under her talons. She turns around, making sure that Braxton at least is awake, then quietly opens the door and creeps down the hallway in the direction of the retreating footsteps. She carefully pulls a dagger as she walks, doing her best to keep the darkened blades from catching any moonlight that filters in through the windows.

Spoiler: rolls

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stealth and perception, right? If not please ignore.

Stealth: [roll0]
Perception: [roll1]

No-one is in the hallway as Zinnia examines the area. Whoever had locked the door was long gone now. Moving lights glinted out the window at the end of the hall, moving past the inn on their way out of the town.

[Table Flipper]

Braxton goes over to Terrach and nudges him. He whispers: "Wake up, someone tried to lock us into the room." He then peaks out into the hallway, but does not step out, knowing that he is unable to be as stealthy as Zinnia.

[CoffeeIncluded]

No-one is in the hallway as Zinnia examines the area. Whoever had locked the door was long gone now. Moving lights glinted out the window at the end of the hall, moving past the inn on their way out of the town.

Braxton goes over to Terrach and nudges him. He whispers: "Wake up, someone tried to lock us into the room." He then peaks out into the hallway, but does not step out, knowing that he is unable to be as stealthy as Zinnia.

Zinnia's already raised her dagger to hurl into the wall above the sleeping Terrach and grab his attention, but she lowers it as she sees Braxton shake him awake.

"It's not just that--there's weird lights outside leaving town. They might have something to do with the missing clerics we heard about, but I can't find who locked us in."

[SirCatBeard]

As Terrach starts to move, Freya jumps off to the floor, causing him to let out a soft grunt as she pushes off of his chest. Quietly grabbing his hand axe he heads into the hallway to look out the window at these "weird lights".

Spoiler

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Stealth: (1d20+8)[19]
Perception: (1d20+8)[18]

[Athedia]

As the group slowly and carefully approaches the window, they can see that the departing lights are in fact torches. And a size-able group of people is carrying them. Terrach can tell from the direction they are traveling in that they are headed to the dirt mounds outside of town.

[SirCatBeard]

"People out. Going to those grave mounds. Odd time for a funeral.?." Terrach whispers to the group.

[Table Flipper]

"Quite and odd time," Braxton whispers back. "I'm guessing whoever locked the door doesn't want us to see what's going on for... some reason. I figure that means we should investigate further."