"Ruby, infernal weaponry is excedingly rare, to have a weapon like that would allow you to cut down monsters and villains with ease." Wyll said while standing behind her. "We should trust him."
"Alright... but I have to help you." Ruby stated holding out her hand
"I agree." He agreed with a hand shake. "Ruby in that box there is a set of magical Half plate armor, it's yours. A bit of forward payment."
"Why?" Ruby asked.
"Simple, with those blade segment's were going to revolutionize blade smithing across the sword coast."
Chapter 2: Attack at the Grove
Ruby pulled the worn blanket over her lap as she rummaged through her sack. Food, a couple cases of dust and ammunition. Enough to last two maybe three weeks if she is careful about her consumption of ammo. "I'm going to need a secondary weapon... my supplies won't last long..." Ruby said as she pulled her knees up to her chest.
"Well, we could always buy another blade off Dammon, perhaps a scimitar or short sword if you get in a pinch. Though we could probably find something outside of the grove as well. We'll ask Aaron if he has any smoke powder bombs, that should buy us a bit of time. Though we'll need potions the most." Wyll said polishing his rapier. "Though getting a magical weapon of my own wouldn't hurt."
Ruby glanced up again at the mention of magic. Like this was something common place here.
"We need to find a cure for our parasites, our best chance is the first druid of the grove if not that we'll make our way with the refugees towards Baldrs gate, though we should have started experiencing symptoms." Wyll stated. "Something about out passengers is abnormal, perhaps a wizard or cleric would be able to help..."
"Please... Wyll I'm gonna have enough nightmares tonight as is..." Ruby said. "We'll take this one day at a time." She set the bag to the side curling up under her blanket. her cloak wrapped tight around her.
Ruby woke up early before Wyll had and slipped out of the tent with her new set of armor. Finding a niche hidden behind the tent The metal plates seemed to fit rather nicely, wearing her combat skirt under neath let the blacks and reds of her clothes compliment the armor. Tying up her boots and hooking her belt over the armored skirt. Giving a couple of twists to see how it all fit. Smiling as she felt she could still effectively move in the armor. Pinning her hooded cloak over top. Stepping out as will woke up."I see you're ready to go. We should talk with the refugees and get an understanding of the situation." Wyll said as he sheathed his rapier.
Walking through the encampment in front of Dammons atoll was a community cooking area and an old human woman selling potions. "I'll get us some breakfast. Take this coin purse and buy us some healing potions."
Ruby nodded as she approached the old lady. "Hello. I'm looking for some healing potions."
"Of course, petal... oh my, you seem quite heavy around the eyes, dearie. Tell dear old Auntie Ethal what the bother is?" The old Grey haird woman gestured for Ruby to sit across from her. Her green dress was stained and tattered with time.
Ruby looked around nervously. "Well..."
"It's okay, dearie. I've seen this affliction before. You got a little wriggling tadpole behind your eye, cured a case a few years ago, girl came to me begging that I save her husband. Of course I don't have what I need here petal, you and your friend come visit me at my house, down past the old village on the old river's shore line you can't miss it." Auntie Ethal offered.
"Oh really, you can help us?" Ruby perked up.
"Of course I can, Petal. I can more than say that, say the way you project your soul is interesting too... and those silver eyes of yours..." Ethal scooted her stool closer. "Hmmm, yes, I'd be to help you cure you little problem. We'll discuss the price at my cabin Petal."
Ruby felt somewhat uncomfortable with how the old woman peered into her eyes. not looking at her, but rather assessing her value. Like a beowulf sizing up a hunter in the forest. "The potions ma'am..."
"No need to be so formal, call me Auntie " She said ass she put four red bottles in a bag. "Come back tomorrow and I'll have some more dearie. Aaron has a few so I suggest you run along now." She patted Ruby's head.
Ruby got up off the stool as Wyll walked up to her. "It's not much but a couple apples and warm sausages for breakfast should be nice even git a bit of neverwinter cheese." He handed her a wooden bowl. "We'll go meet up with Zevlor after we speak with Aaron. My you look like you've seen a ghost."
"That old woman, she said she could tell about of parasite. Said she could cure it." Ruby said dryly.
"Well that's a good thing." Wyll said.
"No, it felt like she wanted to cook and eat me. Something isn't right with that woman." Ruby said letting out a breath she didn't know she had been holding.
"Hmmm... alright I'll trust you, we'll keep an eye out for anything out of the ordinary. Let's go talk to Aaron." Tbe two made their way up to the entrance to the cave.
"Here some odds and ends?" Aaron asked.
"Potions mostly. Can't afford much else at the moment." Wyll admitted handing over what coin he had left for 3 more health potions and a few food supplies. "There should bee a village down the road right? might goo looking for some old wine bottles and forgotten coin caches over there."
"Well there's also the old crypt by the river. bound to be at least a couple magic items in those dusty old halls. Might scare up a sword or two as well. The refugees could do with any supplies you manage to find." Aaron suggested.
"We'll speak with Zevlor to see if the first druid has returned yet." Wyll smiled.
The pair walked down towards the gate then up the side on a dirt path to the upper wall.
A man could be heard yelling as they approached. "Open this gate!" A few dozen paces back they could see Kanon by the winch. "No one come in! Zevlors orders!"
"That pack of goblins will be here any second!" The man at the gate pleaded.
Zevlor jogged up to the gate to look over. "What's going on? Where's the druid?"
"Zevlor open the gate! Goblins got him!" Ruby and Wyll ran up the embankment.
"Goblins!? You led them here!" Zevlor let panic creep into his voice.
"There's no time!" Ruby looked down at the three adventures covered in scrapes and blood.
"Shit, open the gate!" Zevlor ordered as Kanon cranked the winch raising the gate before a flurry of arrows fell upon the battlement. One hit Kanon in the shoulder and a second clean through his stomach as he doubled over.
Ruby dashed and caught him in a flurry of rose petals but he was dead before she had caught him.
A howl cut through the forest as small orange skinned things rushed the gate, a massive wolf like brute of an animal leading the charge. The gate dropped back down as the three humans tried to catch and hold in a hope to slip under.
"Shit form a line!" The lead shouted as he held his great club.
Wyll threw out a hand launching a blast of green energy before lept down the rocks next to the gate landing infront of a goblin. "Provoke the Blade!" He shouted deflecting it's crude blade pulling the pommel to his chest he stabbed out piercing it's chest killing it instantly. Spinning and throwing the corpse aside. "And suffer it's sting!"
Ruby lept over the gate it's self in a flurry of rose petals landing infront of the human adventures. Her scythe in her hands as a larger goblinoid creature rushed her with a morning star mace. Pulling the trigger Crescent roses roared as Ruby dashed past the thing a spray of blood and guts as it was cut clean through shoulder to hip. Skidding across the dirt she stopped next a goblins with a spiked sheild in one hand. Only for an arrow to pierce it's skull from behind falling in heap as it bleed out through its mouth.
Looking up and a hill were there people. a black haired woman in ornate armor sheild in one hand, mace in the other, a brown haired man with a staff and purple robe. And a pale white haired man in fine purple attire Armed with a short bown.
The Woman swung her mace connecting with the skull of an goblin archer sending brains and skull fragments down below. The robe man made a sweeping gesture with his staff and a second goblin archer was hit with a condensed orb of flames.
The two male adventures took on the beast. the leader struck it across the face as his companion shoved it with his sheild before plunging his blade into it's flank. I roared and tried to bite the leader when the woman fire her bow, her arrow striking it in the eye.
Zevlor ran to a large horn to blow it sending the alarm through the grove. Raising his crossbow he fire a bolt taking the life of another goblin.
Wyll parried a strike from another creature as dark energy pooled around him before exploding out killing the last two as their flesh turned necrotic and rotted away. Sheathing his blade he walked over to Ruby. "Well done, to slay a bugbear in a single hit is a fine feat." He patted her on the back as the three newcomers approached. The black haired woman and pale man had pointed ears... like elves.
"HI, I'm Gale of Waterdeep." Gale held out his hand. Then all of them staggered as flashes of each hit their minds. "Ughh... guess you two also survived that crash. This is ShadowHeart and Astarion. We met a gith Warrior who was also infect though she was less then..."
"She was a threat." Shadowheart interjected. "Though it's good to see we have more potential allies."
"Yes, a threat." Gale said dryly.
"I think we could have made it work, shame we'll never know." Astartion stated. His sharp smile, a piercing red eyes seemingly following Ruby.
"Wyll, Blade of Frontiers." Wyll said with a kind smile.
"Ah, I've heard of you. A legend from the Dale to Chult I hear." Gale said with a laugh. What appeared to be a tattoo on his neck and chest peaking out from under his robe.
"Can't say I've been to Chult, but it seems my reputation precedes me." Wyll said.
"I'm Ruby Rose. I'm still not fully certain what's going on..." Ruby admitted.
"Well, that makes sense we we're snatch up by a nautiloid. A ship that can traverse dimensions and universes. It sails the Astral sea, so a little disorienting experience is to be expected." Gale said with a smile one that seemed sincere.
As there were discussing Astarion pulled his arrow free from the goblin body and pulled the gloves from the corpse. "Hmm magic. I'm gonna grab what I can from the bodies. Some coin to help establish ourselves."
As Astarion looted the bodies the others headed to the gate. "There are children here you fool!"
"We were running for our lives." The leader of the adventures snarled fists balled.
"Enough, we're lucky to have not lost any more!" Ruby stepped between the two pushing them apart. "Go cool your heads before you do something stupid!"
"And who asked you pipsqueak?" The man demanded.
"Arradin, she risked her life for you, show some respect." Zevlor growled the old soldier clenching his fists.
"Enough, more fighting will bring us more issues, I suggest we meet back up again at night over a proper dinner." Gale suggested. " We're only going to survive together."
"Like I'd share a meal with a foulblood freak." Arradin spat out before walking past Zevlor.
Ruby grabbed the fighter's wrist. "Appologize. Now." She ordered.
"Let go you damn brat." Arradin raised his fist but Wyll and Zevlor stepped between her and the adventurer. Looking at them then to Shadow heart and Gale then back to Ruby. He yanked his hand free. "I'm sorry." He mumbled before walking of with his team.
"Sorry about that, if you'll excuse me, I'll be going to inform the druids that Halsin is missing. If you lot could take some tome to scour the area for supplies I would appreciate it." Zevlor said with a sigh before heading up to the cave as Astarion walked up handing Wyll a large bag of money.
"You seem like a people person. I'll leave the shopping to you." The pale elf remarked.
"First we need to figure out a plan of action." Gale said.
"Well Wyll and I were going to go investigate the crypt nearby. See if any weapons or magic items were left behind."
"I can get us in there easily." Astartion smiled. "Though I'd rather not go mucking about with a bunch of dusty old bones."
"We don't have much choice." Shadowheart reminded him. "We're short on everything. Food, coin, magic."
"Indeed it feel like my powers been cut down, I used to be able to tussle with hill giants and yet now an owl bear would be all that it takes to kill any of us. We need to get rid of the parasites." Wyll responded.
"So it's set then, we raid the crypt and rob the graves within." Gale stated.
"Can you not put it that way." Ruby cringed at the thought. Looking down at her hands she wiped the blood off on her thigh.
"Alright, lets go." Astarion said impatiently.
Chapter two completed. leave reviews and tell me what you thought of it.