An expedition with the "Seagull"

[Jenara]

"Its quite simple Master Searos, I took a bag when were routing through the treasure, I placed it here." She points to her chest. "And simply forgot about it, it is not much, but more than 5 gold pieces, if the others wish a share then that is fine, I am alive, that is good enough for me." Patting his shoulder gently she smiles.

[The_Muffin_Man]

Searos is about to share more harsh words with Brax but ends up staring at where her finger was pointing for a moment too long and then visibly tries to keep himself from flinching when she gets up on her toes to pat him on the shoulder.

"Well... we'll divvy it up but next time leave the thieving to me and I'll leave the praying to you."

[Jenara]

"I did not see it as thieving, rather... re appropriating the Sea Hags spoils." She says with a grin towards Gunter.

"Come shall we go inland? We can avoid the sea for a while." She pauses, "I would like to learn to swim though, perhaps Shearsea will teach me. Can you see me gliding through the water?" She asks as she checks her mace and adjusts her armor, making sure it was comfortable.

[Breila]

So you plan to spend the day exploring the countyside? Please confirm, everybody.

[Jenara]

(Brax is exploring yes, she wants to stay dry for a while.)

[The_Muffin_Man]

Searos grudgingly follows after Brax to explore the countryside.

[Robbo]

Gunter finishes readying his equipment and follows behind Searos, "Well at least it beats swimming, eh?"

[LittleLuna]

Vee also gets on her armor and follows Brax, Searos and Gunter. "Well, I don't know why you went into the water" she grinns "I hope the over-water experience at least beats the under-water experience"

[Breila]

Coren and Kim join the group as well, and together, they explore the hills, valleys and bays of the coast south of Dunreese. It is a country of wild beauty, sparsely populated and as a consequence mostly wooded, with some fens and marshland. Searos's keen eye and experience have told him that the bay where they said goodbye to Shearsea would be ideal to bring ashore goods that are not meant to be seen by Dunreese's tax officers, and, judging by the wideness of the path leading down to the beach, large enough for small carts, it is used for that purpose.

When the group goes back to their campsite, they see a movement in the bushes as they round the last bend, and a figure quickly runs towards the camp, too far away and too quick for a shot. When they arrive at the site, they find it changed: A caravan has arrived and is making camp, their tents have been taken down and tossed aside, their belongings picked over. The camp leader is waiting for the party. He's a big man in studded leather, with an impressive brown beard. With his arms crossed, he calls out to them. "Well, well, what do we have here. An explanation for the strange disappearances of the last months, perhaps? A group of vagrants, led by... a drow?" he eyes Brax suspiciously.

[Jenara]

Brax pauses, she was about to raise her hood but she pauses, realizing it would be useless to hide hear features now. "Yes, and in the daylight too.." Brax says with a wink.

Raising her arms she smiles, "We are but humble travelers, nothing more. Aren't we my friends?" She glances to Searos hopefully, these looked like his kind of people.

[The_Muffin_Man]

Searos sees all their stuff tossed aside. "Great. I'm sure this will result in nothing but useful conversation..."

[Robbo]

(Gunter already wants to arm wrestle this other bearded guy)

"Something like that, sir. Can I ask what land you hail from that teaches so little manners when it comes to other's belongings?"

He gestures to their tents and things that have been tossed around.

[Breila]

"Belongings..." the man says derisively. "How much do belongings count compared to lives! And it was good I searched through your stuff. Here" he gestures to a young boy who obediently brings him something. "This is the belt buckle that belonged to my youngest brother, who disappeared from this very trail a month ago. And from what I hear, he was not the only victim. Now I found this among your »belongings«." The last word is said with a sneer. "Now doesn't that prove that you are behind the disappearances?"

The people manning the caravan have by now formed a circle around the party, and they nod menacingly.

[Robbo]

Gunter eyes the group and his hand rests on the hilt of his battle axe.

"Ahh if life were always so cut and dry! I'm sorry to hear about your brother but if you would please think for a second; Let's say that my companions and I were actually the ones who made your brother disappear...do you really think that we would make our camp right next to the main road and then just leave it unguarded while we walked the countryside?

"We happened to find that belt buckle washed up on the beach. Our best guess says your brother was the victim of a trap laid by a sea hag and her beasts. You can thank us for killing them when you pull your head out of your own ass. It's been a long day and I, for one, am in no mood to hear any more stupidity. If it's a fight you wish then you can have one, but don't be a fool and end up like your dear brother."

[The_Muffin_Man]

Searos peers at the belt buckle, suspiciously. "You're going to condemn us based on a belt buckle? Really? Is everyone is this region as breathtakingly stupid as you are? I got news for you, a week ago, we were in Saltmarsh dealing with some haunted house or something. Before that, we and the HALF-drow were galivanting around the outside of the city solving other people's problems and barely getting paid for it. Now, we're hired to come here and solve your stupid problem, which you seemed completely incapable of doing, for you. I mean, seriously, your brother gets killed and you barely investigate? Nobody thought to do something like 'walk down to the coastline?'"

Searos shakes his head and makes an exasperated gesture with his hands. "You know what? Screw this. Keep the damn belt, I don't care, give us the back the rest of our stuff, I want to get out of here. I'm afraid that if I breathe in the same air as you, I might become as stupid as you."

He also points a finger accusingly at the merchant "Also, your brother must not have been all that important to you if you're still running this little... 'caravan'" Searos intentionally puts a sneer of derision into the word caravan. "Personally, I would have been out trying to find out who killed him, ate him, and decided to keep his belt for a little trophy. But hey, thats me. I don't have a brother, that I know of, so maybe I'm wrong, ya feel me?"