The Coast Way

Aiwe, Wirrow, Rift, and Ossein creep forward. Or, in Ossein's case, forces Archer to creep forward. They each approach a different mound, fortunately with none of the buried gibberlings stirring.

The latter three each find a merchant, similar to the one found earlier, except these three are alive. As the companions clear dirt away from their faces, each merchant begins to stir, eyes widening with mixtures of horror and hope.

Aiwe finds Jaheira. The woman's armor immediately sets her apart, and her half-elven features complement Khalid's. She manages to stifle a groan, and with Aiwe's help she gets to her feet and takes in her surroundings.

Khalid nearly leaps for joy at seeing his wife alive, but at Jaheira's meaningful glare he quiets down, not wanting to wake the gibberlings.

With Jaheira and the merchants standing, released from their ropes, and hushed, they look to their rescuers to see how to proceed. Each captive looks pale and sickly.

Stella finds that the three merchants are carrying some sort of disease. One of the merchants complains about his stomach hurting, and when Stella takes a closer look, she sees something bulge beneath the skin. Putting two and two together, the scholar realizes that if these people are not taken care of, the party is likely going to have corpses on their hands, and possibly gibberling spawn as well.

Morning’s rays warm the stone walls of the Friendly Arm Inn, a haven from the road’s hazards. The party finds itself rested and ready to continue their journey. Where they go next and what they do, however, is up to them.

As the heroes take breakfast in the Inn's commonroom, they take note of the things they saw here before. The Flaming Fist guards, the noticeboard for adventuring work, and the many patrons eating and drinking.