"You've been spendin' too much time 'round the 'obgoblins. Yer overthinkin' everything... And yer sayin' booyagh wrong." Brutrumukk said in goblin. "I've run into quite a few enemies 'round 'ere. Snakes the size o' giants. Rabbits an' frogs the size o' people. Cats an' ugly mermaids the size of ogres. I'm sure there'll be more where that came from... An' if there ain't..." Brutrumukk inclined his head towards Zavakri. "...That one's been nothin' but trouble ever since she decided to drag us 'ere before we were ready." Brutrumukk said, still speaking in goblin. "If all else fails, I can think o' one way she could make 'erself actually useful fer once. Heh heh heh heh heh."
Maxwell rolled a 12. One short of the required 13. Now I shall be forever tormented by a treasure I cannot possess.
Later that evening...
"Ooh, that's good." Eren said as he stirred the stew.
"Indeed." Maxwell agreed. "How much lon-"
One of the horses nickered, its dark ears perking up. Many Colors took flight from Maxwell's shoulder and perched on the hay loft doors. And then...
**Thud Thud Thud**
Maxwell unslung his longbow and nocked an arrow in preparation.
"More bandits?" Eren mouthed.
"...I am not sure." Maxwell said as Many Colors sent an image of who was outside along their telepathic link. "There's three of them. All armed, but their weapons are stowed. One is certainly a man. Another is possibly a woman. I cannot make out the third, but that one seems to be having trouble standing."
"Open up! Please, it's bloody cold out here!" The man's voice called from outside.
"We've encountered bandits today, so forgive us if we're a little cautious about strangers!" Maxwell called back. "Who are you?"
It took a moment for Maxwell to realize that Eren had started moving again. The half-elf had been caught ever so slightly off guard by the fact that Eren had only just realized he was traveling with a pagan. Maxwell looked down at the amulet of the Old Gods that hung openly about his neck. He was aware that the old symbols had become somewhat obscure to the common folk since the Sacred Flame rose to prominence, but still Maxwell had been under the impression that his amulet bore one of the more easily recognized insignias.
When at last he noticed that the wagon was moving, Maxwell walked at a quick pace to catch up, and slowed down as he drew level with Eren.
"Old Bess and Hogan will be glad for a roof over their heads tonight." Eren said. "No more than I though. Maybe we'll find some soft hay in that there loft ahead for them to bed down in? Me thinks we'll reach Emberwood tomorrow so long as the mud don't slow us down."
"New and Old alike be willing, it should be smooth sailing from here on out as the coastal folk would say." Maxwell mused. "I'll search the loft while you see to your own companions." With that said, Maxwell made for the loft in search of hay for the horses. He felt the need, as he often did, to reassure Eren that he was in no danger by traveling with this particular pagan. But the elders of Maxwell's sect had always said that actions spoke louder than words among suspicious outsiders. So the half-elf resolved to show that he was no danger as best he could on this last leg of the journey.
Out of curiosity, what would a Natural 20 on an Insight check tell Maxwell about what might be going through Eren's head as he comments on the mention of the Old Gods, falls silent, and begins properly paying attention to Maxwell?