Winning votes:
[w] Quickly get some supplies before heading out (1 shop option)
[w] Armour
"I think we should get some proper armour, this...isn't very helpful," you say while looking down at your robes.
"Very well," Liam replies, "Follow me, I've been there frequently."
The knight leads you through a winding path through the village that goes past several shops, eventually ending at one with a little hanging sign with a shield on it. It seems to be doing well for itself judging by the number of bright colourful banners adorning the outer walls. Inside the shop however is another matter, there are stacks of armor along the walls in what seems to be no particular order leading up to a desk at the end where a burly man stood. The barrel chested merchant stood as you all entered the shop.
He wore dusty grey overalls that blended well with his mauve shirt. His midnight back hair was slicked back into a short pompadour, that, along with his slightly scruffy beard, gave him the appearance of a person who wanted to look cool, which contrasted greatly with his typical work clothes, and even more so with the way he spoke.
"Ah, hello the-Liam!" he cheerfully greets the other man as he sees him, "Bringing me some new customers are you?"
"Why of course Warren, anything to help the business of my favourite armour seller."
"Haha. You sly fox, you leave out the fact that I'm the only armour seller in this town." He and Liam chuckle for a minute before he turns to you, Tobias and Mira and quickly sobers up, "Anyway, what is it you guys are here for? I mostly stock knightly armour, you know, things like plate mail, heavy things. Judging from your appearance you don't seem to need that sort of stuff. But I should have something in the way of mage armour, follow me." He steps out from behind the desk and heads over to one of the piles on the left side of the building. After wading through what can only be described as a sea of armour, you finally catch up to him.
"Ah, here you are. Welcome to the mage's armour section, we have multiple sizes, they won't fit perfectly, but they'll fit well enough," that said, he wanders back to his desk, leaving the four of you staring at a selection of armours.
"He isn't much for customer service, but his stock is pretty good," Liam attempts to defend the man. Though you can tell he doesn't really believe that the man's stock defends his less than helpful attitude.
What'll you get? Pick up to one clothing armour and one shield armour.
Clothing
[] Mana Crystal Robes: increase mana capacity by 500
[] Bubble Vest: Can create a bubble that absorbs one health category of damage once per battle, bubble lasts 1 round
[] Metal Mage Armour: +15 armour, -10 dodge, net +5 to defence rolls
[] Red Cloak: +5 to spell success chance
Shield
[] Buckler: +5 to armour
[] Kite shield: +15 to armour, -5 to speed, net +10
After some discussion with Warren over the size of the armour you buy, you let out a huff and buy the Small sized version. Neither Tobias nor Mira bought new armour...which you considered strange seeing as the only advantage her current robes seemed to give was the fact that they covered her entire body.
Having bought what you needed you decided not to dally any longer, the dog could be in danger at any moment! Heading back through the winding shops you quickly arrive back in the town square, a quick check confirms you have your rapier and new armour, you give the others a thumbs up. As soon they give similar gestures you all head out through the northern gates.
The trip is surprisingly short, the Northern Woods are only a few dozen meters away from the town. Though in retrospect it makes sense seeing as your client was walking his dog near the woods. It's kinda surprising they don't have a wall though, seeing how close they are to monster territory, though Mira did say monsters being near the edge of the forest was rare.
As you walk the few steps to the woods night begins its typical swift descent, you don't have long before you'd get to check the rumor of monsters getting stronger at night first hand. Mira preemptively creates a small hovering flame to light the way when it gets darker.
You hear a howling in the distance. You were starting to get nervous. Were the trees always that loom-y or is it just you…?
"So, how do we want to take this?" Liam asks, "I say we stick in a group while we search so we're safest."
"That'll make this take a long time if we're stepping over each other while we look for the dog. I say we split into pairs, you two go one way and we'll go another. That way we cover more ground and find this dog faster," Tobias posits.
"I think I'll abstain," says Mira, "no use getting us in a tie of two and two if she votes for the option I don't. And it just feels rude to not give her a say."
"Well," Liam looks at you, "I guess you're the deciding vote."
How do you approach this?
[] Go together as a group
[] Go in pairs to cover more group
-[] Go with Tobias
-[] Go with Liam
-[] Go with Mira
(Best to be in practise for when/if you do decide to pull one on us due to loose wording...) ...