NOW LIVE! Today's the day you meet your new best friend. You don’t have to leave Wolfy behind... In 'Pets & Sidekicks' your companions level up with you!

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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Knightfall" data-source="post: 8659326" data-attributes="member: 2012">"I will go to Old City and check on him myself," she replies. "It has been too long since I checked in with the citizens of that district."Custodio senses the others desire to move on. No sense risking more spiders. "Time to go."The Mother Superior heads back into the Temple District to gather the aid she will need to safely travel to Old City. The guards move to clean up the dead spiders that they and the PCs killed.You all move down the road to where the carriage is supposed to be waiting for you. Hopefully, it didn't come under attack from spiders. You reach the spot and the carriage is not where it is supposed to be. Tuck easily finds signs that the horse-drawn coach rushed away down the road, but he finds no sign of more spiders. But, looking back towards the Temple District, it becomes clear that the driver likely saw the spider attack and didn't want to risk his horses.Tuck notes not only the driver's footprints, but also the footprints of someone much smaller. The boots are oddly-shaped, so not a human foot, but the two are together and there is no sign of a struggle. Tuck's scales do not itch. Farther down the roader, Tuck finds an arrow drawn into the dirt road, which leads the Exemplars to a short path up onto a small hill. At the top is a makeshift fort made of spiked, wooden logs dug into the earth that point out and up. You can see the carriage and the horses in the center of the small fort, which is no more that three dozen feet across. The driver is trying to calm the horses down. They obviously smelled the spiders. Several Elites and Bluffside Mountain Rangers guard the hilltop fort and one of them waves to you as you come up the hill."Glad to see the spiders didn't get you," the guard says. "Your driver had to get his horses away from those blasted things and brought them here. Did the spiders get anyone.""One man perished, but the Mother Superior brought him back. Several others were poisoned but they'll live. We encountered more spiders on the road, so keep a sharp eye out," Custodio replies.The guard nods."Get those horses under control," Nathaniel barks at the driver. "We need to go. Now!""I'm tryin', sir, but they are frightful," the man replies. "Those beasties scared them nearly to death.""Let me try," Custodio offers. The Vanquisher cleric moves to the two horses and takes the reins from the driver. He uses a firm hand without being cruel. He pats the horses on the the side of their heads and speaks quietly to them in hushed tones. "It's all right. You're safe now."The horses settle and the driver thanks Custodio.Young Mr. Aceron doesn't wait for the others. He snaps his fingers and orders the driver to open the carriage door. The man startles and nods. He bows to Nathaniel and does as the nobleman insists. The young miscreant is falling back into his normal habits."Miles, is it safe to come down now?" A feminine voice rasps from on top of the carriage."Yes, get down here," the driver says. "This is your job."A head pops up from on top of the covered coach and peers down at Miles and the gathered Exemplars. Her eyes settle on Tuck and Mutt and a toothy grin pops onto her face. "Unca Tuck Tuck!"Tuck knows that face. It is a young kobold lass named Sobla that grew up in the Undercity. She is a dozen years younger than the urban ranger and isn't truly his 'niece', as humans would say. She is one of the clan, however. It seems she's found a profession.The kobold girl bounds down from the top of the carriage and gives Tuck a big hug. She's grown since the last time Tuck saw her. Sobla is big for her age and some in the clan think her father might have been one of the lizardfolk living near the city. Mutt barks happily at her and she gives the big dog a hug."Sobla!" The driver snaps. "Worky first, catch up later!"Sobla gives the man a pouty glare but nods. She helps Akos and the others into the carriage. There isn't room for Big Tim or Mutt and even Tuck won't fit inside the carriage once the others are inside."You can ride on top with me," Sobla whispers to Tuck. "Or ride on Mutt here. He should be able to keep. Right boy?"Mutt barks.She looks at Miles. "Can I ride with Tuck Tuck?""Yes, yes, let's go," Miles relents. "There isn't room for anyone else." He turns to Tim. "I hope you can keep up sir. My horses are quite fast.""Move!" Nathaniel shouts from within the carriag. "Now!""Hey, you need to back off and let them do their work!" Custodio snaps at the young nobleman."Servants must know their place," Mr. Aceron replies coldly."Maybe you'd prefer to ride on... or in a spider," Falen mocks the young noble.Nathaniel goes quiet.Miles climbs up on the carriage and snaps the reins to set the horses in motion. Tuck and Sobla get onto Mutt while Tim prepares to run beside the coach. Falen is forced to get up and sit next to the driver, as there isn't enough room in the carriage and he doesn't want to be crowded in with Nathaniel.The group is soon on its way down the other side of the hill. One of the Bluffside Mountain Rangers, a woman named Romi, rides as escort for half a mile until you are well out of sight of the chasm. She leaves you to continue on your way and nods to Tim as she returns to her post. The carriage stops so Tim and Mutt can catch their breaths."I'm too heavy" Sobla says.The big kobold girl climbs onto the top of the carriage in her usual spot and hangs on as the driver sets the horses moving again. Mutt has an easier time of it without her weight. Miles drives the horses as fast as he can and Tim is forced to run well beyond what is normal. Only when the other Exemplars insist that the driver stops to let Tim and Mutt rest, does the man relent. It takes several hours of stopping and starting to reach the countryside estate of the Aceron Family.Everyone is glad when the journey is over. The road was nearly empty the whole way to the estate. All there was were farmers and a small patrol of Elites that stopped them to ask their business.The estate is nearly twice the size of Stormgrove Manor. The Acerons, it seems, have a significant amount of money. However, there are only a handful of servants there to great you as you arrive. A tall, distinguished pale man moves to the carriage to open the door after it stops."Master Nathaniel, it is good to see you're safe," the man says politely with a graceful bow. "We'd heard that you might have been killed or abducted.""Evered," Nathaniel says mockingly. "I'm sure father is beside himself with worry.""Lord Aceron is in Ambris," Evered replies."Of course he is," Nathaniel says. "Still seeing that... woman... behind my mother's back.""Not at all," Evered says uncomfortably. "He is there on business. You should not speak ill of him.""If I want you opinion, Evered, I'll tell you what it should be," Nathaniel snaps. "Now have the servants unload my things!""Yes sir, I will have them taken to your rooms," the man bows and waves the young noble forward. "I will inform Lady Aceron that you have arrived safely."Nathaniel marches off towards the estate without another word."Are you staying for dinner?" Evered asks the Exemplars. He holds open the door of the carriage."Does anyone else have a bad feeling about this?" Custodio whispers to the others in the carriage.[OOC]<a href="http://roll.coyotecode.net/lookup.php?rollid=262261" target="_blank">Custodio - Handle Animal check (work?):</a><a href="http://roll.coyotecode.net/lookup.php?rollid=262261" target="_blank">1D20+6 = [11]+6 = 17</a> (success)[/OOC]</blockquote>

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