[LPF] Expansion

[Artur Hawkwing]

OOC: 2nd time posting this. Having issues getting to Enworld today.

Audra listens carefully as her stomach digests the meal. Though no growls or moans of upset from her stomach interrupt, she squashes her eyebrows down as Adolfo relays his story. She listens to Megan's question, absorbs the reply, then looks to Ariel when she speaks.

It might serve us better if we approached the more difficult part of this problem first. If there is very little concern in being able to talk sense with Samuel, then we should concentrate on getting through to the one who has come down with Wanderlust. And from the sound of it, you suspect lust of other sorts as well. Which introduces another point both against us and for us.

Audra shifts, both feet now up on opposite knees as she sits crosslegged.

The difficulty could be any woman with whom he has had, shall we say, illicit relations? If those relations also concluded in conception and birth of a child, or children, then there is the added difficulty of any claim that they might feel they can lay forth upon his inheritance, rather or not he chooses to accept his responsibility to it. However, that could also give us an advantage. If a bastard heir, or heirs, do indeed exist, then perhaps he might prefer to liquidate anything they could lay claim upon. If he is indeed in such dire straights, if anything he might listen to, it might be the language of cold, hard coin, as it were.

 

[sunshadow21]

"I suspect he has other lusts, yes, but alcohol appears to be the biggest one of all. I doubt he's been able to consummate many other lusts in the recent past due to being bitter, broke, and a hypochondriac to boot from what I've heard. I haven't heard of any bastard children, but that doesn't mean much. It probably just means that he has bought any such children off already, which may be why he's in such dire straits now. At any rate, we shall just have to see what he is like in person in a few days. I am off to bed for a good night's sleep."

The evening and night passes uneventfully. After a good breakfast, you head out once more north. You stop briefly in Hillsborough to collect the bounty and supplies at lunch time. Everyone seems pleased to see the critter killed, but not overly concerned about others in the area. It seems that this is on the edge of the wilder section of road, so such minor incursions are not uncommon. Traffic on the road north of thins out considerably, with far fewer noble estates this far north, and the farms have minor defenses around them. The locals told you that until Benton, the village just before Tritower, that you would be in the less traveled portion of the road. It is here that the decayed past is most visible, the villages, bridges, and roads all look more careworn, the wild portions are wilder. The weather continues to be hot and muggy, making travel slightly slower so as not to wear out the horses. About a day and a half beyond Hillsborough, the party starts to hear periodic rustling from the forest on either side of the road behind them. You don't think anything of it at first, but after about 15 minutes, you start to wonder if something may be following you.

 

[VVilhem]

Megan dismounts from Cotton and, with crossbow in hand, takes a hard look at the forest behind the party.
"I don't see anything, but that doesn't mean something isn't out there. We should organize ourselves in a more defensive order." With that, Megan slips behind Guardian, her eyes darting here and there.

OOC: What rotten luck! I blame this on all the crits I got against the maggots. And I think Megan has healed up to 2 DEX dmg at this point?

[sblock=Mini Stats]Megan
Initiative: +10
AC: 17 (14 touch, 13 flatfooted)
HP: 16 Current: 16
CMB: +2 CMD: 16
Fort: +2 Reflex: +7 Will: +5
Resistance: None

Current Weapon in Hand: Crossbow, Heavy
[/sblock]

 

[sunshadow21]

OOC: Yes, any DEX damage has been healed by this point.

 

[Walking Dad]

Alarmed by Megan, the Guardian gets of his horse ready for trouble, displaying both sword and shield.

[sblock=OOC]

draw sword, full defense.

AC: 19, Touch: 12, FF: 16
CMB: +4 - CMD: 16
Fort +3, Refl +4, Will +1

Bardic Performance Rounds Remaining:
5/5

Spells remaining:
1: 2/2

Spells Known:
0: Detect Magic, Dancing Lights, Flare, Lullaby
1: Cure Light Wounds, Hideous Laughter

HP: 19/19

[/sblock]

 

[perrinmiller]

Ariel Esimae, Female Aasimar Cleric

Ariel contemplates what Audra has said, wondering if she means that someone should use their femininity on purpose to deal with Thomas Johnson. She has never done that before and is not sure Helena would approve. The Aasimar cleric attends the last of her companion's minor cuts before bed.

At Hillsborough, Ariel takes advantage of the opportunity to pick up a few things that will be useful in the outdoors. She buys a leeching kit, a heeling kit, and 2 vials of anti-toxin.
_____________________

Later on, Ariel is riding Ajax with her longspear in hand. As Megan is reacting to something, she too slides off her mount and looks around, "What is it?"

The cleric doesn't see anything either.

OOC: Updated sheet for purchases. Perception (1d20+5=9)

[sblock=Mini Stats]Initiative: +2
AC: 18 (20 with shield, 16 flat-footed, 12 Touch)
HP: 16 Current: 16
CMB: +2 CMD: 14 Fort: +5 Reflex: +3 Will: +7 (+8 vs. Fear)
+1 for all with Resistance
Resistance: 5 Cold, 5 Acid, 5 Electricity

Current Weapon in Hand: MWK Longspear

Fire Bolt: 6/6 Remaining Channel Energy: 5/5 remaining
Deflection Aura: 1/1 remaining
Spells Remaining: Orisons: (Light, Resistance, Guidance, Detect Magic)
1st Level 4/4 (Bless, Doom, Shield of Faith, Burning Hands) [/sblock]___________________________________________

Ariel Esimae

 

[Artur Hawkwing]

Audra quirks an eyebrow at the somewhat offhanded dismissal of what she perceives could be a problem. After a bit, when it seems none of her companions are as concerned, she settles in to take first watch while the others get their rest.

(morning)

Morning brings the ride through. During the stop to collect the bounty, Audra volunteers to tend to the purchasing of any supplies, such as food or water, that might be required, trying to make the stop efficient. Once the provisions, if any, are stowed and everyone is assembled, she hops back on Shafty's back, giving a comforting pat to the gelding's neck, and shambles along near the back of the line until everyone pulls up. Sure, the rustling had been annoying her a little, but it isn't until Megan takes up alarm that she begins to consider the noise more than just the effect of wild life in an overgrown and not heavily traveled area. She then recalls some of what was spoken of back in Venza, when she first met the other brother. She remains mounted, collecting reigns of the others horses and after tying them off on the horn of her saddle, pulls out her nunchucks and looks not just toward the general direction of the sound, but does a quick 360 degree sweep as well as she can.

 

[Artur Hawkwing]

OOC: Audra notices a hangnail. Oh, tragedy!

 

[perrinmiller]

OOC: I have heard from TSS (Naria). RL has him swamped for about a week more yet. Go ahead and NPC him to follow along until he can get back to gaming.

 

[sunshadow21]

Everybody (yes, everybody, I rolled an 8 stealth) manages to spot on the left side of the road about 30 feet back just off the road a giant spider with a small blue humanoid bearing an oversized head riding it. His posture is relaxed as he watches the party.

[sblock=Knowledge (nature) DC 12]Mites are short, squat fey.[/sblock]