[IC] Trouble in Red Larch

Nov 28, 2018 5:19 am
Far from the large cities of Karrnath, away from the bustling stops of the Lightning Rails and removed from the paths of airships lies a small town named Red Larch. The town sits in a grassy valley lightly crossed by two dirt roads. Both stretch off to the horizon without meeting any other settlements. Red Larch sits alone.

The residents like it that way. The secluded country feel bolsters the independence and pride all Karrnathi feel for their nation. These hardy people have a rough life, but that's how they want to live.

Your group has traveled far to arrive at this town, a central point in this empty area on the map of Karrnath. No economic powerhouses lie within 100 miles of here. You'll be lucky if any of the merchants and services are affiliated with the Dragonmarked houses at all.

It is likely you have mixed feelings about coming to this place, but you've chosen the life of an adventurer and adventure has been promised to you in and around this town. For, as hardy and independent as these folk are, such a secluded area can attract evil men and monsters.

You approach the town on the dusty road, coming in from the West by way of Vedykar. The sun has begun its journey down to the Western horizon and your shadows begin to stretch before you, towards the small town of Red Larch.
OOC:
Let's get a quick introductory post for your character. What do they look like? What gear are they carrying openly? You can banter between yourselves a bit, as well. Once that's done, I'll move us closer to the town and you'll start seeing what's there.

I'm excited for this game, all!
Nov 28, 2018 3:42 pm
Xander walks at the front of the group, morningstar swinging at his hip. His white clothing, embroidered with the emblem of the Silver Flame, is slightly dusty from the long trek. He carries himself with an air of simplistic serenity, blue eyes twinkling with joy as he views the nature that they are passing.

"Ah, Red Larch is just ahead, friends," he says, smiling widely as he turns to speak to his companions.
Nov 28, 2018 7:45 pm
Paris stands to Xander's left and two steps behind. His bow is strung but hung from his back. The quiver over his right shoulder is full. A long sword swings from his left hip in its sheath. His eyes scan the horizon from beneath longish blond hair. You try not to stare at the burn scars on his face but focus instead on his large, agile hands.

"We've made good time. Our entry into the town before dark will be appreciated by the locals. I doubt they care for strangers sneaking past their homes after dark. This is not the kind of place that lights its streets."
Nov 28, 2018 9:35 pm
Near Paris, Avron kneels in the dirt road to secure his spellbook within his travel pack, then adjusts the various items lashed to its frame: a length of rope, some torches, a scroll case, and a light crossbow. As he stands, he dusts off the pack and straps it to his back, then brushes away the dirt that has collected on the bottom of his simple scholar's robes with his hands.

Tall, thin, and pale, and with no other discernible features, Avron seems out of place among the other more rugged adventurers.

After wiping his hands together, he rubs at his eyes and then at the scruff on his chin. "I hope they at least have a good inn in this village," he says, looking towards the small town while stretching, "and something that passes as food," he adds, resting his hands on the spell component pouch tied to his belt.

Squinting as if to scan the buildings in the distance, he mutters to himself, "It may be too much to expect there to be a decent magic shop in this little backwater town as well..."
OOC:
quick edit to add some additional details and fix typos.
what season is it, and is it relatively warm or cold out?
Last edited November 29, 2018 4:44 am
Nov 29, 2018 8:45 pm
Ara (the only name she typically gives) is face-down in a book, which is her usual state of affairs. Her raven hair is untethered and blows randomly in the breeze, and she occasionally has to pull it back behind an ear when it flies into her azure eyes. She's dressed in simple enough attire, but it looks like she pulled out of the back of someone else's closet with her eyes closed, if how it fits her is any indication. There's only one thing that looks expensive on her person at all - the clasp that holds her cape on is a House Cannith bull's head made of pewter.

Her current reading material is Summer Summoners: The Short Guide to Summoning Elementals With Efficiency and Safety: Volume IV. It's full of bookmarks and margin scribbles.

On her back is a pack full of what appear to be random bulges. One claw of a grappling hook sticks out of a small pocket, and two pieces of chalk stick out of the top, along with what could eventually be a tent, but not without a lot of help. She reaches in a pocket, seemingly at random, and comes out with a half-eaten oatmeal trail cookie, which at least one of her travelling companions knows she put in there about eight hours ago. Chomp. She stuffs it back into a different pocket and turns a page. "I just hope Flitterbend doesn't discount my entire shop while we're gone. I don't want to know where they send people who fail at being in Karrnath."
Last edited November 29, 2018 8:48 pm
Nov 30, 2018 11:22 pm
As Avron's posture sags slightly under the weight of the backpack on his back, he wondered why he had not waited until arriving in Red Larch to purchase the majority of the adventuring supplies he was told he might need. Avron then recalled that it was a rather attractive saleslady at the general store in Vedykar who had convinced him to purchase a majority of these items, and that she had been not only been very persuasive but seemed equally skilled in separating him from his money...

"Although I can't say I'm looking forward to the long march down this road into town, I suppose we might as well start walking?" Avron says to the others.
Dec 1, 2018 4:13 am
The sun is warm but the air is chilly as you continue on the road into Red Larch. It only takes another half hour to get into the town. You pass several farm houses. Small children in simple, but thick and well made clothes play in yards or herd chicken and pigs. They all stop and stare at you as you pass, but soon return to their activities.

Upon arriving at the crossroad in town, you find a large shrine on the Northwestern corner to The Host. Directly across from is is a building that smells of raw meat. The sign hanging above the door says Drouth Fine Poultry, and a sporadic stream of people are going in and out. All of those leaving have paper wrapped packages.

Across the crossing of the roads, you see two other buildings, one a wagonworks and the other a clothier.

Before you can go much farther, a human woman steps out of the poultry shop, pulling the door shut behind her and locking it with a key. She turns around and starts when she sees you.

"Goodness, me!" she cries, putting her hand to her chest and smiling at the group. "I certainly didn't expect to see your kind here!" She steps forward with a chuckle, holding out a hand. "My name's Nahaeliya Drouth. Welcome to Red Larch! What brings you here?"
Dec 1, 2018 4:51 pm
"Good evening, madam. We heard there was some trouble here and decided to come and offer our services. Is there an Inn here that we may rest from our travels?"
Dec 1, 2018 5:51 pm
The woman looks confused and shakes her head, "No, there're no problems here!" She chuckles and continues, "Not that everyone will tell you the same. Some people worry more than others."

Turning, she waves farther into town and say, "Red Larch has the Swinging Sword Inn and Mother Yalatha's boarding house. I wouldn't stay at either one, but then I do have a house here, don't I?" She smiles at the group and turns to go. "I really must be off, I have things to attend to, but I do hope you enjoy your stay!" She tries to hurry off before anyone else can stop her.
Dec 1, 2018 6:36 pm
Ara looks up just in time to see the woman try to rush off, but doesn't try to stop her. She probably couldn't help her with her studies anyway; she's not going to summon chickens.

"She's in a big hurry for someone without problems. Do you think everyone here will be that odd?"
Dec 1, 2018 7:38 pm
Avron simply waves good-bye to the woman.
"Peculiar, yes... but she seems friendly enough," he says quietly to the group. "I'm sure she's probably just eager to go home to her family after a long day's work."

"But, I find it hard to believe there's no problems to be solved around this town," he adds, "otherwise, we would not have been sent on such a long journey in the first place."

Glancing up and down the crossroads, Avron notes: "The 'Swinging Sword Inn' has an interesting ring to it, however she didn't really tell us where to find either... Might I suggest we try finding one or the other while we still have some daylight remaining? Perhaps we can find another local to speak to there."
OOC:
I'm going to roll a casual spot check for what shop signs I can see from where we're standing, Spot[0] + Wis[1] + d20

Rolls

spot - (1d20)

(10) = 10

Dec 1, 2018 8:28 pm
"While you're looking, I will walk up the street a hundred paces while you look around from here. If you spot something in another direction, give me a yell." Paris quickly begins walking on up the street.
Dec 1, 2018 8:31 pm
Aldrusian sent a note to Shark_Bone
Last edited December 1, 2018 8:31 pm
Dec 1, 2018 9:31 pm
"You think she was odd? I don't think so. She seemed nice to me," Xander says, waving at the woman as she leaves, then turns in the direction she indicated to look for the inn.

Rolls

Spot - (1d20+3)

(17) + 3 = 20

Dec 2, 2018 8:53 pm
Your search of the town finds that the businesses are mainly along the main North-South road that the road you're on intersects. There's another poulterer, a wagoneer, a bathhouse, a dirty tavern, a tack store, clothing, a bakery, a smithy, a butcher, a weapon shop, a wagonworks, a barber/tavern, stoneworks, a tannery, storage warehouses, a market and general store. All in all, this small town has shops for just about everything a small town could need.
Dec 2, 2018 11:27 pm
"Does a town as small as this really need more than one poulterer?" Avron muses out loud to no one in particular.

While reading the storefront signs, something of interest eventually catches his eye: "There appears to be a bathhouse in that direction... it wouldn't hurt to stop in after such a long journey, and surely someone there would be able to direct us to the better of either inn afterwards."
Last edited December 2, 2018 11:51 pm
Dec 3, 2018 2:36 am
Seeing nothing of interest along the road they had been walking. As he turns to head back he notices that his mates show some interest in something along the intersecting road. He returns at a trot.
Dec 3, 2018 4:19 pm
Ara shoves her hair behind her ear before it can reach her face. "A bath would be nice. As would dinner. Someplace with enough light so I can finish reading."
Dec 3, 2018 4:27 pm
"It's too late to smite evil, so we may as well refresh ourselves while we can," Xander agrees.
Dec 3, 2018 9:17 pm
It's not that Ara isn't observant. It's just that she has a very narrow scope of what she chooses to observe. "Too late to smite evil? What are you, a pala--" She looks up, gets blinded by the sunset's reflection off of Xander, and realises just who said that. "Neeeevermind."
Last edited December 3, 2018 9:19 pm
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