Eldrog, Mercival and Willow - The Beginning

Well I suppose that's the difference between you and I, I watch every tree and rock as if there is a potential friend hiding behind them just waiting to jump out and buy me breakfast! The Lord of Peace provides for his mortal children, after all! Mercival picks up his tea and swishes it around while sniffing the aroma and ever-so-slightly wrinkling his nose.
So, Eldrog fifth born and third son of Akar, is it? I thought it was Eldrog second son of Akar from the North side of Haven Hill? Is your mother named Akar as well? Or perhaps second son of Akar from North of Haven Hill is merely an alias? I must say it's not a very imaginative one, you shall never escape your creditors that way. Mercival takes a thinly sliced bite of the pork on his plate and nods approvingly.
Perhaps that is why you are looking for enemies behind every bush and outhouse? If that's the case you should not be so quick to turn down paying work. One gold lion per day for bodyguard work once we reach Seaton, please consider it Master Eldrog, I shall not make the offer a third time.

Last edited June 28, 2019 5:13 pm

Jun 28, 2019 2:15 pm

OOC:

Sorry, I miss typed in a previous post. My notes do have me as the 3rd son, I must have hit entered 2nd son by mistake. Lovely mistake by myself. Do you want to restart the conversation, or I can go back one post and edit it to 2nd son like the previous mistake I made and change my notes? My apologies on the mistake

Jun 28, 2019 3:08 pm

OOC:

Whatever you prefer! Or we could just say Eldrog misspoke the first time and Mercival was rude enough to mock him for it. Though I must confess I'm a little sad the canon explanation isn't that Eldrog's mother is also named Akar and she had a son from a previous marriage.

Jun 28, 2019 4:19 pm

OOC:

LOL, No mother has another name sorry. Edited post before your mocking post.

Jun 29, 2019 12:59 pm

"I haven't turned down any paying work. All I have said is I do not accept work while I am currently employed. Now since you will not make this offer a third time, I would really hate to upset you."

Eldrog turns towards his plate and begins to eat his breakfast. The extra bacon that was ordered, he scarfs down quickly, before touching the rest.

Jul 1, 2019 10:07 pm

With an ever so slight Hmph! Mercival apparently loses all interest in Eldrog and returns his attention to his meal.

Jul 2, 2019 7:51 pm

The remainder of your meal passes in relative silence, with even the normally boisterous Bastion more intent on his food than conversation. The servers pass by a few times, delivering fresh foods to your and other nearby tables, but all in all it is a rather boring (if not very filling) affair.

When done, Bastion looks to you both. "Well, shall we be off my friends? The longer we sit the less money to be made, eh? And I mean to make as much money as I can!"

Ket_Onwall sent a note to Ferdy

Jul 2, 2019 8:46 pm

Yes, yes, I shall be along presently my friend. For now I should like to tarry a moment here. I will meet you at the caravan in a short while.
Mercival waits until Bastion leaves and then approaches the locals he had previously overheard. Peace and love, blessed spirits. Mercival makes a vaguely religious-seeming gesture with his hands. Forgive me, shining ones, I could not help but overhear your earlier conversation as I was sitting at a nearby table. I provide counsel to those who do battle with the demons of compulsion and dependency. Is there anything more you can tell me of these... vapors you mentioned? I should like to speak to these Seatonites making it and guide them toward a more righteous path.

Jul 3, 2019 12:10 pm

Eldrog Scarfs down the last bits of his meal and downs the rest of his coffee. He stands, stretches then turns and heads out of the Establishment. On the way out he notices the Half-Elf walk over to a table and start to converse. He pauses for a moment, then continues on his way.

After reaching the Wagon, Eldrog checks his equipment then goes over the wagon. Again, checking tiedowns, crates and the wagon itself to ensure nothing has been messed with. After that, he watches the people around him to see if the caravan is being watched a little more closely than normal.

Rolls

Perception for anyone watching - (1d20)

(8) = 8

Investigation to check the wagon and equipement - (1d20)

(3) = 3

Jul 3, 2019 12:55 pm

Eldrog
The wagons look as you left them, and you can see that the other wagoners are making ready to depart as well. Beyond that, it all appears as a normal morning, with fishermen and farmers making their way to the markets and shops of the city.

Mercival
The men at the table sit and blink at you, as if you had caught them red-handed doing some illicit deed. "Uh. Well. See, yer lordship. Well, don't fink they'll be needin' service o' the gods, nosir. Spect they're danglin' in th' noose by now. King's men don't take well t' those what brew poisons 'n' th' like, eh?"

The men at the table laugh at the thought of the criminals dangling on a rope, making gestures as if they were hanging, eyes bulging and tongues waggling before erupting into a raucous laughter and drinker their morning mead. When they calm down, they just look at Mercival as if their conversation were over.

Jul 3, 2019 2:43 pm

Mercival begins looking a little impatient and his facade of serenity begins to crack a bit. Mocking the dead tempts the ire of the gods. Careful lest ye find yourselves cursed, dear brothers.
With that, Mercival makes to leave and head back to the wagons.

Jul 3, 2019 4:40 pm

Mercival
As you reach the exit, you hear the group erupt into laughter yet again.

Jul 3, 2019 9:53 pm

Ket_Onwall says:

Mercival
As you reach the exit, you hear the group erupt into laughter yet again.

On his way out, Mercival will furtively cast Minor Illusion to create a ghostly transparent image of an angel floating above the laughing group's table, looking down on them with the expression of a disappointed father. Once at least one person in the group notices and reacts to the image, he'll dismiss the illusion and continue on his way, leaving the rest to think the first guy is crazy.

Jul 3, 2019 11:41 pm

Mercival
You hear screams from inside, as one of the men at the table apparently see your ghostly apparition, and you walk away to the sounds of more raucous laughter from those around him. Making it back to the wagon train, you see everyone is ready to get underway, and take your place (I assume) among the goods in the back of Bastion's wagon. Seated up front is Eldrog, ever ready to engage any naer-do-wells that might seek to assault the wagons.

Moonday, 3 Planting 591CY
With a lurch, the train begins again and within a short period of time the samll town of Sanduchar is behind you and the Coast Road to Seaton before. The day remains cloudy, the breezes light, and the ocean to your left brings the smell of salty brine as you make your way south.

Conversation is light and sporadic, with the scenery changing little save for the occasional opening of the trees to give spectacular views of forested glens or islands on the ocean's horizon. In front is Gaines, alone in his wagon, and behind is Herford and his. The three wagons creak loudly as they rock lightly back and forth, almost hypnotic in its nature. It is a true relief of boredom when you all finally stop for the night in a tiny hamlet called Rawnis.

There is not even an inn here, though the tavern provides decent fare, made even better as Bastion agrees to pay the tab for dinner a few drinks. Sleep comes quickly, and Bastion and Gaines agree that by the following evening you should reach Angler as long as you leave early enough.

Godsday, 4 Planting 591CY
An uneventful night sleeping in a makeshift camp outside of town leads to an uneventful breakfast, and then into yet another uneventful day. This day is cloudy, the sky giving signs that it might be a day of rain, but for the first half it holds with just a light breeze with occasional gusts of a stronger variety.

Midday brings the first respite of boredom, when up ahead you see that Gaines is pulling his wagon to a stop. A tree partially blocks the road ahead. When the wagon stops, you see him suddenly throw his hands up, as a pair of men come out from behind some shrubs, one of them leveling a crossbow!

OOC:

Roll Initiative, just in case. :)

[ +- ] Encounter - 1

Jul 3, 2019 11:56 pm

OOC:

Initiative

Rolls

Thieves' Initiative - (1d20+1)

(2) + 1 = 3

William Gaines Initiative - (1d20-1)

(12) - 1 = 11

Herford Mellon Initiative - (1d20)

(19) = 19

Bastion Sales - (1d20+3)

(2) + 3 = 5

Jul 4, 2019 2:37 am

Mercival curses under his breath before turning to Eldrog, Be ready to earn all that gold I'm not paying you, Keg Belly!
Mercival removes the belt his rapier in its sheath and lays it down on the floor of Bastion's wagon. And then raises his hands so the bandits can see he's not holding a weapon.
I'm unarmed, gentlemen! May I step down from the wagon so that we may parlay? You wouldn't harm a man of the cloth, would you?

Rolls

Initiative - (1d20+3)

(12) + 3 = 15

Jul 4, 2019 12:01 pm

OOC:

Deception or Persuasion, Mercival

Jul 4, 2019 12:52 pm

Oh this ought to be good. Man of cloth gets killed by bandits as he step ahead of soldier. Eldrog sits still on his seat, both hands on his knees and ready to grab his Crossbow.

Whispering to Bastion Well Sir, depending on what this fool and Mr. Gaines does, you may have two wagons of goods come end of this day.

Rolls

Initiative - (1d20+1)

(17) + 1 = 18

Jul 4, 2019 1:44 pm

As he approaches the armed bandits, Mercival starts reasoning with them.
Look, gentlemen, I'm afraid you've made a terrible mistake, but luckily for you I'm going to give you a chance to unmake it. I'm not really a priest, I represent a very powerful player in the criminal underworld. He has sent this wagon train disguised as rather dull looking commoners with a religious leader guiding them to pick up a quantity of Dream Mist from Seaton that he's arranged for. If you continue with this ill advised plan of yours, you'll make enemies of two very powerful groups. There will be no place safe for you, I'm afraid. We've had a bit of a setback lately with a small number of our local contacts getting themselves caught, but rest assured gentlemen, what remains here is more than enough to deal with the likes of you two. And if not, my boss will send some very powerful and very skilled people to investigate. Now, if you'll permit us to be on our way, we can let you get to waylaying the next wagon.

Last edited July 4, 2019 2:19 pm

Rolls

Persuasion check - (1d20+5)

(12) + 5 = 17

Jul 8, 2019 6:46 pm