Tales out of Arthenhal: A Journey's First Steps

[Chirp]

The boy looks utterly shocked and awed by the appearance of a pixie and he stares, dumbfounded through her little speech, not seeming to comprehend what Rinala is saying. With some difficulty he tears his eyes away from the tiny woman to look at Ilsevel, "Oh...um...They...they had frogs with'em. Really big ones..." he stammers, "I...I can take you. To the farm...I mean..." he points vaguely toward the east end of the city, "It's that way. Three days outside the city."

[Man on Fire]

"Do you have any relatives or family friends you could stay with?" Ilsevel asks the boy. She certainly is not willing to drag the boy with them to a place that will still bear traces of traumatic event for him. They could always ask locals for directions to the farm if they know how it's called. "what is your family name?" She asks.

[bored_acel]

Orry glances up from the ground to Amber and speaks. The act was fine- a little concerning though. In the tale, a seasoned hero with empowered arrows and magic bows got lost hunting his quarry in the north... I can only think of how upset that hunter must be; his legacy in song is that he got lost. He smirks at the irony of a master huntsment being remembered for getting lost; however, the spark of joy leaves Orry's face quickly: If the real heroes aren't surviving in their adventures, how will a ferryman fare?

Spoiler: Character Sheet Show Orry Ferjason - v.Human Barbarian Ability Scores & Modifiers | Skill Proficiencies STR 14 +2 | Athletics +4 DEX 16 +3 | Acrobatics +5 CON 16 +3 | Perception +2 INT 8 -1 | Persuasion +1 WIS 10 0 | Survival +2 CHA 8 -1 ^—-—-—-—-—-—-—-—- HP: 15 / AC: 18 / Feats: Shieldmaster / Rages Remaining ♦♦

[Chirp]

The boy shakes his head, "No Ma'am, I don't have no other family," he explains, "It's just me and Angie since mum and da died when I was little," he has to pause for a moment and think, "Farm''s called Willow Farm. But don't no one call us that. We're just Angie and Henry."

[Man on Fire]

"You are very brave." Illsevel says after a pause longer than it should be, like if she struggled to find reassuring words before foregoing this idea entirely. She rises up and turns towards the others. "I do not suppose we can afford to find a place for him to stay. He'll have to come with us?" She asks.

[Glitchy]

Rinala raises her hand up to get Ilsevel's attention, "Oh! I can set him up in an inn for a few days, as long as he doesn't want the royal suite or anything fancy," the pixie jingles her coin purse full of ill gotten gold, "What do you think a common room costs around here? A few silver a night? Can't be much more than that right," She opens the purse and counts out five gold, "There, this should be good for a week right?" she looks around at the others to see if anyone knows how much the boy might need.

[Kallor]

"Aye, setting him up in an inn for a few days sounds best. With luck, we'll have this all sorted by then," Irden agreed.

[Ramsus]

Amber Kane Human Brute Fighter AC: 18 HP: 13/13 PP: 11 PIv: 9 PIs: 11 Conditions: -- Amber frowns at this because it doesn't sound like a particularly good solution and because she doubts they're going to actually get there, deal with the goblins, and come back within five days. But she doesn't say anything because she guesses that if they stop to try and house every wayward person they meet they'll probably never manage to get anything done given the state of this land.

[Man on Fire]

"I'm so grateful for your mischievousness." Ilsevel comments on Rinala's offer. "How soon can we take off to the farm?" She turns to Plumeria with this question.

[Awful]

Plumeria frowned thoughtfully.
"A s-small one should be able to live f-for some days on five gold. But p-perhaps we can take h-him some of the way? Surely there must be some c-coaching inn closer to his farm he could stay, where we c-could return to ask him questions if need be or b-bring his sister to him sooner?"

As Ilsevel turned to the tiefling, she met her gaze. The holy maiden blinked, glanced towards Amber and back, then shook her head.
"W-well, I feel like time may be important in s-saving this poor soul's sister... or at least n-not leaving him in the agony of ignorance. I-I think we should leave immediately, w-while there is still sun. We will have the chance to ask about this bandit on the road, perhaps, if we cross any wayfarer's inns." A little less enthusiastically, she added, "I am becoming used to camping, besides."

As a Holy Maiden who had found a relic, Plumeria had received not insignificant favoured treatment from the Church, including a proper bed (including lacking a headboard to scrape against her horns). Sleeping in a tent had become an unpleasant throwback to her early years, and the constant noises of night animals had often given her uneasy sleep.

[Man on Fire]

Ilsevel nods at the Holy Maiden's words, clearly seeing them as their leader's decision. "We need to find a means of transport. Maybe a wagon or horses?" She thinks to herself out loud, calculating that this would be more effective than just going on foot. She looks to Plumeria and Idren again, as if awaiting either opinion or instructions.

[Glitchy]

Rinala smirks at Ilsevel's comment, "Mischievous? Me? I have no idea what you're talking about," The pixie drops the coins into the boys hand then spins a little mid-air pirouette to face the group, "Alright! Enough dallying around. We have a job to do, and this city stinks," without waiting any further she flies off east, hopefully toward the eastern gate of the city where the boy had pointed. She'll keep an eye open for stables selling horses or carts, and also a sweets shop because she could really go for some toffee right about now!

[Kallor]

”Horses for everyone would be expensive, a wagon though... perhaps we have the gold for it?” Irden said, “If not, well, our own two legs have gotten us this far, eh? Oh, and she’s flown off...”

[Awful]

Plumeria nodded.

"We s-should be able to afford a cart and a mule to p-pull it, at least, if Rinala spends the money she... liberated."

[Chirp]

Heading out to the farm following the boy's directions, the group has the option of buying a cart and mule for twenty five gold if they wish.

Leaving the city by the east gate, the group heads into the rolling countryside of Arthenhal proper. The land surrounding the city is mostly fields for the first few miles, with scattered copses of trees here and there and hedge rows of wild brambles. The road is hard packed earth, dry and dusty beneath their feet, and it winds around the hills in a lazy serpentine making for a relatively easy trek. It takes three full days of traveling to reach the farm, but the trip is largely uneventful. The days are quiet, but the nights are filled with the sounds of hunting animals. It's as if the wildlife in the region has grown more nocturnal, becoming more active after the sun sets.

It is noon on the third day when the group finally reaches Willow Farm. What they find appears much worse than what the boy had described. The farm has indeed been raided, but it also looks like the buildings were put to the torch and torn apart until almost no two stones stand on top of one another. The entire place seems utterly abandoned now, and only the foundation of the main house, a stone well, and what was either a large shed or small barn remain standing. The ground around the ruins is heavily disturbed by countless tracks and drag marks, and a handful of dark, almost black stains remain in the dirt and on the grass.

Spoiler: Map

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[Ramsus]

Amber Kane Human Brute Fighter AC: 18 HP: 13/13 PP: 11 PIv: 9 PIs: 11 Conditions: -- Amber holds a hand up to stop the group and then looks around, trying to find the freshest tracks (other than their own of course). Spoiler Show (1d20+3)[22]

[Man on Fire]

Seeing Amber immediately starting to focus on tracking, Ilsevel decides to focus on keeping a watch for any potential dangers or suspicious things. While she doubts Goblins are still here, there is a possibility of something else, like bandits or potential survivors.

Spoiler: Perception roll

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(1d20+4)[16]

[Glitchy]

Rinala spends most of the trip from Gatecross to the farm buzzing along the sides of the road and haring off into the bushes in search of wild berries and fruit. With the metabolism of a hummingbird she was always on the look out for something to snack on. When she isn't on one of her little hunts, she sitting on Ilsevel's shoulder and complaining about how bored she is, likely annoying the half-elf with bad jokes, worse riddles and trying to get her to sing a song with the pixie. Rinala has decided to claim Ilsevel not only as her favorite place to sit, but also taken it upon herself to make the rogue come out of her shell more.

When the group reaches the farm, the little pixie glides along a few inches above the ground, examining the tracks and looking for any indication of which way the goblins came from and where they went. She's also watching for anything they might have left behind that could give them more information. Broken weapons, scraps of hide or cloth, or any food from their pockets that might point to where they are lairing. She also looks for signs of the giant frogs they are supposed to have, those actually sounded kind of neat.

Spoiler: Roll

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Perception: (1d20+4)[11]

[Kallor]

”Well, they certainly did quite a number on this place,” Irden said sadly as they looked around.

Spoiler: Perception

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(1d20+3)[17]

[Awful]

Plumeria whispered a prayer as they came across the burnt-out farm. It was as if the notion of the building remaining was offensive to the monsters, and they're striven to tear down every stone and timber. The air still had the faint tinge of ash in the breeze.
"H-how terrible."
She paused for a moment, as she looked around the scene from where she stood.
"The young boy mentioned t-the goblins had slain a victim, but w-where is the body? Should it be undevoured by beasts, he would at least deserve a b-burial, and a prayer to s-soothe his spirit's journey."

Spoiler: OOC

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Plumeria offers the use of the guidance cantrip to anyone who needs it.

[Man on Fire]

If Ilsevel ensured she does not see any threat, she nods to Plumeria and moves forward, trying to look for any remains of the dead servant or traces of it.

Spoiler: OOC

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Don't know if it will fall for previous check or not. If it would fall under a new one, then (1d20)[18] and +4 if it's perception or +2 if Survival. In latter case I wouldn't mind the Guidance Cantrip and immediately use it (1d4)[2]