Chapter 3 - The Missing Delegation

One of the other knights, whose name you have learned to be Varudd, says, "A toast to Balak whose axe is equal to his valor!" The other knights (including Savra and Thurl) lift their mugs, echoing, "To Balak!" before drinking.

Balak, abashed with welling pride, smiles very big, and yells out, ...and my cock is as big!

He takes a brief look at the female knight that he saw earlier (trying to impress her with his prowess and with his supposed size), then he grabs his tankard and upends it, pouring the contents into his open mouth. When he chugs its contents, he takes his forearm and wipes the froth from his face, then slams the mug onto the table.

The knights are taken aback briefly, before one of them mutters something like, "...when in the country...", and the others laugh. Whether they're laughing with Balak, or with the mutterer, isn't clear, but no animosity seems obvious. Savra raises an eyebrow at Balak's glance and pointedly looks down, smirking.

Thurl raises his mug, gesturing for a servant to top Balak's tankard back up. "A difficult boast to top, the bar is well set."

Balak tugs on two braids of his beard, thanks the servant for bringing more to drink. He is smiling and laughing and enjoying the company.

The meal continues in uncomfortable silence. The knights hospitality fading with the quiet.

GM Prompt: Let me know if anyone else is going to share a story. Weekends can be slow here, so I'll wait until Monday to move things along if it is quiet.

During the momentum of the ruckus from his boisterous statements, Balak would say, Esteemed knights, Ladybug Belabranta, may I sit next to you and enjoy my meal in your breathtaking presence, m’lady?

Sorgrimm shakes his head before interrupting Balak in mid sentence, whishpering Sit down and be quiet, you are making a fool of yourself.

Sorgrimm looks apologetically at their hosts, Please excuse my brethren, he means no disrespect, he is simply not used to more civilized gatherings such as these

The knights nod and smile, but it grows uncomfortably quiet once more, as if the knights believe their hospitality has been rebuffed in some manner.

As dinner proceeds to dessert, the doors to the great hall fly open and a sentry from the pinnacle shouts, "Manticore! It’s on the move!" At this announcement the Feathergale Knights rise as one, the feast before them unfinished.

"We should take this opportunity to slay the monster," Thurl says. From his finger he removes a feather-patterned golden ring set with a garnet and holds it aloft, saying, "A prize for the one who brings me the beast’s head!"

Merosska asks the characters to join four of his knights in the manticore hunt. He offers to lend them hippogriffs for the task.

Sorgrimm turns again to his Mountain Dwarf ally, Looks like your night is not a loss after all. The cleric rises and gladly accepts the invitation to slay the beast.

Balak excitedly asks, M’lady? Would you join me?

He holds his hand out for the female knight, He places his battleaxe on his back, straps it, and then hefts his warhammer in one hand.

Felicia quirks a smile. Oh, this will be fun won't it! she says standing up smoothly.

"Excellent," says Thurl. "Savra, lead then to the pinnacle, please."

Four Feathergale Knights assemble at the pinnacle, each mounted upon a giant vulture. The moon illuminates the misty canyon below Feathergale Spire. In the far distance, a single shard of darkness moves, flitting in and out of the mist. Then the shadow sinks beneath the bank of clouds, lost again from sight.Five hippogriffs are brought to the pinnacle, and introduced to you. Suspicious creatures, they do accept you as riders after a quick gander at you (helps to think loudly, "I am not a worm".)

RETCON: Another person, obviously not a Feathergale Knight is brought up as well. She looks to be a capable wilderness adventurer, and they introduce her as Yillia Slywalker, a hunter who was also convalescing in the spire.The knights show you how to strap into the saddles, (Savra let's a different one assist Balak) and then you're airborne!

The powerful leonine bodies of the hippogriffs radiate heat and strength, and easily bear your weight.

The four knights group together into a formation, and suggest you did the same, but it is only a suggestion.

I need to know how your grouping up: your five as one group, or two groups? Also I need a single d20 roll from each group.

Perhaps two groups so we don’t bump into each other.

Agreed! Balak juts his mount away from Grimm. Competition of which group gets the killing blow?

Yilla strokes the hippogriff's feathered coat, feeling its heavy breath. "Ssh" she coos, "We'll be in action soon enough" - Perhaps more to soften her own excitement at the beginning of another hunt, than to calm the beast.

She looks to the others as they announce the split, "Sounds good to me" she agrees and sidles her mount closer towards Sorgrimm's, giving him a brief nod.

Sorgrimm politely nods to the newcomer but offers little else in the way of greeting.

A split group contest sounds inter - ahhh - interesting! Felicia says as she has a little bit of surprise as the mount moves under her unexpectedly. Though I really just hope that I'll not end up as flat as a piece of parchment on the ground at the end of this.