'You might be the ally the mayor said we needed. Even if he didn't know it. Tukhirk here.' he steps out of the tavern and the panther stands up and moves next to him. "And this is Trepa."

Idris brushes a lock of his deep red hair out of his eyes before reaching for the Oread's hand. "Pleasure to meet you Ralgar. I am Idris. While I appreciate the compliment, I know some who may disagree with your assessment." He chuckles slightly, "But I will say I have been enjoying my time on the surface."

He turns his head up to look the panther in the eye, "Tukhirk, this Trepa is well trained I hope?" His tone makes it clear he isn't immediately comfortable with the beast. "But this mayor sounds like a very wise man. I too was told there would be allies, and here you are. Though, there was less about exactly what we are to accomplish...?"

Ralgar lets out a low chuckle. "Oh, Trepa ain't cause no problems. As for the town, the mayor tells us some flying creatures have been causing a problem for them."

He then goes on to explain what the mayor told them:
- Humanoid-type creatures swoop down at night and steal away women and girls and fly off towards a castle no villager has dared approach
- There's another creature that emerges from the woods that is extremely dangerous and tears apart any that dare face it
- The inn keeper's daughter has been taken

Ralgar takes a deep breath and lets out a heavy sigh. "We've decided to get set up in our rooms before asking around town about the castle and the flying what-nots." He gives a head tilt towards the barkeep. "You should double check with him that you'll have a room and a bite to eat."

While Ralgar speaks Trepa approaches Tukhirk and the druid pets her. The panther looks like a regular cat in that situation (if you ignore the difference in size).
"As Ralgar says, get something to eat and find a room for you in the tavern. We can wait here, but then we should check in the folks in town about what they now... The more I think of it the more I believe we should check the beats in the forest. Maybe we can track them down to their lair."
He pets Trepa and smiles at her as he says so.

"I must say, I don't think being torn apart sounds like a good use of our time. The castle seems a bit more likely to have what we are looking for. Either way, a place to hang my bag sounds great."

Idris quickly secures a room, leaving his outdoor gear behind to lighted the load. After getting a large piece of bread from the innkeep, he returns to the group. "Let's go."
This message was last edited by the player at 13:50, Fri 26 Mar 2021.

Ralgar grunts as he stands up from the table and makes his way to an empty room and places most of his belongings in it. He meets back up with the rest of the group at the doors to the tavern. "Let's stick together going around town in case one of them flying nasties shows up."

OOC: I think the party is ready to go around town and ask about the flying creatures and the wood beast. Then we'll make an educated decision about which one to tackle first.

"Agreed"
The druid looks down the street, checking for anyone they could ask about the creatures attacking the town.

OOC: I think we can all stay moving. Let's ask around and decide afterwards where to go.

Once everything is settled, the group goes out of the inn and proceeds towards the center of town. As they start to head down, they spot several people moving around selling their wares but as they stop they spot oddly a halfling off in the woods sitting with its back to the group slightly hidden, its back to the group.

Ralgar turns to the group, specifically the new addition, after seeing what he assumes to be Riki at the woods' edge. "Idris, that is our friend Riki. She's a bit hot-headed but a valuable ally." Addressing the rest of them, "We know she has a tendency for these outbursts. Should we give her some time to cool off while we ask about town? Then, maybe, welcome her back again?"

"If she is your friend, you would know best."

His short legs moved quickly to keep up with the group as they walked. Thinking back to his upbringing amongst the dwarves, he offers "Perhaps the local forge would be a good place to start. It was always a central place back at the hold."
This message was last edited by the GM at 01:59, Wed 31 Mar 2021.

The rogue seems to have been left behind in the inn. Sniffing, the panther starts to head into the wilderness towards the halfling and stops about 30' away. It then stares at it then moves back to the druid. And the halfling doesn't move, remaining with its back to the group through the trees about 60' away from the road barely visible. Like some unmoving statue.

People further in the main square pay little head to the group. If they saw them, no one moves towards them. Shopkeepers move about talking. Some villagers peruse the trinqits and other bits of food. Occasionally, theres a guard looking up at the sky as it starts to get cloudy but its mid-day.

OOC
Everyone can make a Perception check.

OOC: Oswyn's last post said he's ready to go into town and ask around. If he's still in the game, I would assume he came with us.

22:49, Today: Ralgar Vandadin rolled 6 using 1d20+2.  Perception

Ralgar is obviously distracted by Idris' suggestion to be very perceptive. "Aye. And perhaps they'd have some weaponry that would be of use to us against these creatures."

Idris nods and taps his forehead with one finger, "Good thinking."

14:56, Today: Idris Bodaway rolled 11 using 1d20.  Perception.

Oswyn moves along with the group, quieter now, but seemingly focused on the matter at hand as they take a look around the village.


23:05, Today: Oswyn Fitzwarren rolled 25 using 1d20+7.  Perception.

"I hope they see us as someone that is here to help, and not as another threat."
The half orc looks intimidating with the panther by his side, but he tries to walk in a submissive position to mitigate that. He knows very well that his breed is not always appreciated.
Anyway, his senses are alert looking for anything that may be worth his attention.

16:51, Today: Tukhirk rolled 23 using 1d20+9.  Perception

Tukhirk stops and points to the woods. His eyes narrow. "What is Rikki doing there...?"
He looks suspicious so with a sign of his head the panther jumps and starts moving perpendicular to the direction the druid is pointing at. Trepa is clearly going to go around so she can attack from behind if something odd happens.
"Let's have a closer look at Rikki."
He tells the rest.

21:54, Today: Tukhirk rolled 12 using 1d20+8.  Stealth Trepa.
This message was last edited by the player at 21:01, Thu 01 Apr 2021.

Oswyn nods at Tukhirk's words. "Yeah, I see her too...not sure what she's doing."

He moves alongside Tukhirk, a step or two behind. "Maybe you do the talking, eh? Me and her didn't part on such good terms."

Concerned with Tukhirk and Oswyn's sudden trepidation, Ralgar instinctively draws his guisarme and joins by Oswyn's side. "Y'all think something happened to Riki? That's why she's out here actin' strange?" Looking back to their new Gnome companion, says in a somewhat hushed tone, "I 'pose you should stay back a little bit. Sometimes, 'er temper gets the best of 'er, and if something else is goin' on, you might not want to be near it."

As they approach, he's looking more towards the woods and not at Riki directly, trying to see if there's anyone or anything else around.

Slowly the group approaches somewhat scattered with the sorceror lagging behind. Closer, The group realize from behind she's naked. Her eyes seem fixated on something in front of her upon the ground. Her entire body is covered in old scars. Riki leans forwards, and looks like she has a bowl full of different color paints and has a brush. Tukhirk is the first to approach with his panther coming at her from a different angle. She seems calm but with the barbarian could be something before the storm. The brush comes up to her neck and upper body slowly and she mutters something as a line is form. Then another. Her clothes are pulled up and she stands, gathering up the paint. She turns towards the half-orc and walks up to hin, grabbing her sword. Her eyes stop on him and she stares at him, kneeling down in front of him. She takes the paint and watches him. If he leans down, his face is covered now in different greens and browns. Once everyone is gathered, she moves away not locking eyes on anyone and then she keeps her distance from everyone else.

Nothing creeps out. The forest looms around the group. Typical sounds come from within.

Tukhirk sees the naked halfling leaving in silence. "I think she wants to be alone for a while. Maybe reconnecting with Nature..."
The druid does not know the barbarian well enough to know if what just happened is something Rikki would do. She seems unharmed and he'll let her be.

Ralgar pauses for a moment, watching the silent Riki step away from the group. He leans over to Idris and whispers. "Well, she ain't done that before." He then turns to Tukhirk. "She didn't say nothin'," he asks in a hushed tone. "I don't know how the townsfolk'll take to a naked Riki, 'specially if we're tryn'a get information from 'em. Maybe we ask if she'll hang out at the edge of town or put her clothes back on?"

"You go and tell her. But as long as she's in the woods I don't think she'll bother the townsfolk."
He points at the direction she left.

"Riki," he croaks out, still keeping a bit of distance from her. "Uh, I know we had a bit of a tussle back there. If you wanna come back with us in to town, that would be just fine with us. If you wanna stay out here in these woods, well that's your choice, too."

The barbarian sits down fully clothed and watches the group. Her eyes seem intense, and she focuses on the rogue the longest with hier eyes slowly narrowing. She stands back up, putting the sword over her shoulder. For a moment she looks out further into the forest but then turns and starts to walk towards the groupp and stops on the road.

Several people move around the area, shopping and talking to eachother. No one pays the group any attention for perhaps they haven't been seen yet. A little girl spots the barbarian and seems hesitant but slowly walks up to Riki, holding some flowers. Riki watches this odd girl approach and tilts her head.

One of the shopkeepers walks out of a open shop and spots the group, wiping his hands on its apron covered in probably some sort of baking flour.

Tukhirk nods as the barbarian rejoins. "We all feel safer with you by our side."
The druid looks at the shopkeeper, then at Ralgan "If we wanted to speak to some town folks, this can be a good start. I'm not the best making friends. Do you want to give it a try?"
The black panther stays by his side. The half orc can feel the chest of the animal against his legs as it breathes.

Chuckling, Ralgar responds to Tukhirk. "I mean, you remember what happened with the blacksmith." Tukhirk will know he's referring to when Ralgar got into an altercation with a blacksmith a few towns back over a simple matter of making some breastplate. "But hell, I'll give it a try." Ralgar spots the baker. Thinking that food should be the center of the town, he approaches. "Well, uh, hello there," he says with a small wave. "We were called here by Mayor Hawkin to deal with whatever's been pesterin' the town. You got any info," Ralgar leans to the side to look into the bakery, "or any pastries to help get us going in the right direction?"

OOC: Ralgar has a Charisma of 8 and a -1 to Diplomacy.