Past Meet Present - A Return to Civilization

We left off with the Karameikan Fist having left the caves they had traveled in for some time now, uncertain of where they would go but knowing that they would start by returning to Shadowdale to sell what they had found and then back to Bastion, but with little idea beyond that.  That is where we will pick up this week with the recap covering the events of last night.



Having made their way back to the horses the weary party was greeted by Howler, happy to again see them.  As they loaded the sizable treasure and random equipment they had gathered up on the horses, creating quite a load on those not being ridden (and even on those that were to be ridden), they discussed their options.  They were certain that they would return to the city to try to sell their collection of random items but beyond that they were undecided. 

However after a short while Atvan suggested that if Callaum was uneasy in cities he could remain behind and watch over the caves for the Zhentarim while they returned to the city, met with Bastion, and then returned.  While Callaum didn't appear thrilled with the suggested separation he agreed to do it if that is what the "brood" desired, and thus he sat at the entrance as the rest of them rode down the path.

The travel for the next day and a half was uneventful, though during Temeris's watch that first night Shadow awoke and went to sit and speak with Temeris.  Temeris was shocked by the new friendly attitude towards him and was even more shocked when the conversation ended with a kiss on the cheek from Shadow before she crawled back into bed.

The next day picked up from there with Shadow being eager and friendly followed by distant and angered.  The party asked if she was feeling well and she said she was as she rode out to keep watch ahead of the party.

Near midday Shadow saw a man walking through the woods, carrying a staff and dressed in worn earthy brown robes.  Hiding her horse and herself she warned the others of what was coming, and they hid as well as Atvan held the horses a ways off.  The figure seemed to take no notice of them and was passing them to the south when Temeris and Daisy decided that they should at least find out who this was and what they were doing.

They approached and announced themselves and the man stated his name was Zark.  He informed them that he came from the North and was following a small band of Orcs south trying to determine what was moving the orcs that direction.  In the discussion in which the party informed him they had seen a group as well in the area the man explained that he had seen evidence of a couple bands heading south.  Temeris immediately thought of his home country Cormyr being in their path and worried that an attack was being planned on his homeland. 

He offered a horse if the man would ride ahead to warn the country, however even while the man argued that it would be foolish to cause everyone fear before knowing what was going on Shadow emerged from hiding to declare that there was no way they were just giving him a horse.  After some argument and further talks among the party and with the man he announced that he would continue to follow them on foot and they parted company.

The remainder of the trip back to Shadowdale was uneventful and they reached the small village the evening of their 4th night of travels.  Worried about all they carried Atvan wanted to remain outside the city and seek out a merchant in the morning, however Shadow had no desire to sleep outside another night when a bed as so close.  With that Atvan and Daisy remained behind while Shadow and Temeris headed for the Old Skull Inn.

They found that the common room was busy upon their arrival with local people, traveling merchants and their guards, and the random adventuring type as well.  As Temeris looked over the room Shadow strode forward declaring she wanted the best room the place had.  The bartender looked at her disheveled form and huffed, asking how she would afford such a room.  With that she slapped a handful of coins on the bar and grinning the barkeep stated "that should do it" and took her money.  She then went so far as to announce that she would buy the bar drinks until the coin ran dry, which it turned out wasn't long as the place was pretty full.

As Temeris went forward to get his room Shadow approached a group of merchant guards and asked if they enjoyed games, particularly "Zhentarim" poker where the stakes were clothes and not money.  They agreed to take the party to their room and play with her, but she wanted to ask Temeris to join and excused herself for a moment.  Returning to deny the game after Temeris expressed concerns over the situation they ignored her request for a game for money as one of them loudly boasted "I told ya boys, all talk, no show!" and the table erupted in laughter even though she had announced loudly during her conversation with Temeris that they were traveling with a good amount of gold.

Shadow, now feeling her thrill burst decided that it was time to retreat to her room where she asked for a hot bath to be drawn.  As she left Temeris noted a number of people watch her go, some with more interest than others.  Fearing that things may get dicey he sent a local farmer off to find the others not knowing that they had moved off the road and the farmer wouldn't be able to find them.

After the servant had delivered the hot water for the bath, he was sent back down to ask Temeris to come up.  Upon reaching the room Temeris became nervous as he saw the bath drawn, however when she asked him to tell her more of the Royal Explorers Society for which he sought application, and then about his past, he eagerly stood with his back to her bath speaking with her.

After the bath she suggested that he stay in her room in case something should happen, and Temeris thought the logic was good given that she had drawn a lot of attention downstairs to them.  He offered to get his bedroll but she suggested the bed was big enough for them both.  Temeris however, worried about her reputation and doing things the "right" way, insisted that he would just sleep before the door on his bedroll.

Sometime after he drifted off to sleep Shadow awoke and went to lay next to him.  They awoke that way the next morning, with Temeris jumping up when he saw her there.  After looking around to ensure no one had seen he woke here and she asked how she had got there and claimed she must have sleep walked.  Temeris suggested in his noticable un-ease that they hurry in getting their belongings and head below for breakfast and get their day going.

Meanwhile Daisy and Atvan had already woke and came into town, with Atvan seeking out someone to exchange coin for him and Daisy seeking out a blacksmith.  Atvan was able to find a merchant willing to exchange coin but wasn't interested in the price to do so and thus went to the inn to find the others.  Daisy meanwhile struck up a conversation with a blacksmith who seemed genuinely struck by her interest in metals, a rust monster and why someone would take one as a pet, and with her innocence.  After not being able to help her in determining where she might be able to find a rust monster, but offering to keep his ears open, he sharpened her axe for her and she was off as well.

As Temeris and Shadow were finishing their meals Atvan walked in and joined them.  As he asked to be going they noticed that a group of guards were watching them.  Using magics Atvan made his staff glow and the men turned their attention inward on their own table.  The burly man behind the counter however yelled out "There will be no magics in here.  I don't need trouble nor do I need to replace what you'll break" and with that the party excused themselves and left.

As Temeris went off to get the banner he had commissioned Atvan and Shadow went to sell the items that they could, and after getting a decent price for the lot of it, they sought out a messanger.  After the exchange, Atvan and Shadow on the advice of Jamble went to the message board to find a messenger.  Seeing plenty about local workers needed, guards for merchants needed, and a few messages about those with specific skills such as farmers they saw a post asking for random odd jobs.  Given that this was as close as they could see, they took it and Atvan asked Shadow to find the "Will" that had posted it at the Old Skull Inn.

She returned a short time later with a young lad, perhaps 16 or 17, who appeared eager and had a grin on his face.  They told him they wanted him to deliver a message to Cormyr about a potential orc army, and he agreed eagerly, however he had no horse and had honestly expected no more than local jobs.  Annoyed but feeling the message was of importance Atvan offered to pay the boy with a horse, though he would get no further gold as a horse was more than enough payment.  During the negotiation Daisy appeared and joined them, and as Atvan instructed the boy that "he had best keep his word" as Daisy brandished her axe the boy looked hurt and stated he woud do as he said and there was no need of threats.  With that they prepared to leave while waiting on Temeris.

Temeris, having left the tailors, was also seeking a messenger and as he walked back toward the center of town happened across Will as well.  He eagerly added the package from Temeris to his list of deliveries and was again quickly off.

Temeris quickly found the rest of the group, and learning that they had taken care of what needed done at the traders they headed out of town.  It was only a few hundred yards out however that four armored men rode up behind them.  Atvan stopped and greeted them and they announced that they sought employment, and that they would like to escort the group to Ashabenford.

"We heard the lady there speak of the gold you carry, and so did a lot of others.  We would like to be hired on as guards to earn part of that coin honestly.  I assure you that not all the attention she brought is likely to be honest, and there is strength in numbers."  The lead guard seemed confident as he spoke with Atvan.

Atvan showed his annoyance with Shadow for her lose tongue again and asked for their price, to which they asked for an amount just a bit higher than normal.  When Atvan argued as much the guard simply stated that the gold isn't much if the lady was right about their riches and extra protection after such a foolish declaration is a good idea.  Atvan couldn't argue but wasn't pleased with it and agreed.

The men fell into formation around them and they rode for a while before the man who seemed to lead them rode closer and struck up a conversation, and while doing so the other guard seemed to naturally adjust their formation to have an eqaul distance between them around the party.

The man spoke for an hour or better asking about the past of the party as a whole and individual, never pressing when a question wasn't welcome, and asking about their future as well.  After some time he dropped back and the formation naturally changed again without worded command to include him.

They all rode out the day until night fell, at which time the new guard set up a camp and began cooking food which they offered to the party, and then they set up watches as did the party as they fell asleep.

So the party is nearly back to Ashabenford and their employer Bastion, whom they haven't seen in some time, and they are near the Chitine city once again as well.  What does their future hold?  Will they return to discover the earth blood?  Will Bastion be home, and will he have anything new for the party?  What of this guard?  Plenty to come yet for the Royal Karameikan Fist Adventuring Company.