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Fights are inevitable for any party looking for adventure; even the most peace-loving, smooth-talking, pacifistic parties will find themselves in hot waters from time to time. Some parties will find themselves in a scuffle more than others, Carnival Lecroux belonged to this particular subset of adventurers. Misfortune just seemed to sniff them out, like a bloodhound on the trail of his prey. On more than one occasion they found themselves limping, bruised, and broken, to the nearest inn. No matter the trouble they got into, they always had each other and they knew they would always put each other together again.
Such an occasion was this, they had gotten into a fight with a particularly territorial pack of displacer beasts. The fight didn’t last long, the displacer beasts decided that this rowdy group of trespassers was more trouble than they were worth and they teleported away. Not before leaving the group with scratches, cuts, and bruises.
They made their way back to the inn at the end of the road together. Frost led the way, he had managed to stay out of the thick of the fight, launching powerful psionic spells from a distance. Following close in his footsteps was Kremy, his pristine suit torn with blood staining the usually bright purple fabric a deep dark red. Notably absent was his cane, which he had lent to Gricko. Gricko was leaning on both Kremy’s cane and Hootsie’s shoulder, keeping the weight off his right foot. Torbek and Gideon made up the rear of the exhausted travelers; Torbek was crouched underneath Gideon’s shoulder, his witchlight canisters slowly coming to a halt as he supported the genasi. Gideon leaned heavily on the bugbear as he clutched his side, gritting his teeth.
The smoke billowing from the familiar chimney of the inn at the end of the road was a sight for sore eyes. The inn had become their home away from home, a place where they could take a break from the unending barrage of dangers and fey madness. Frost opened the wooden door for his injured friends and they stumbled inside where Twig was already waiting for them with a first aid kit. The first time her new family had fallen into her inn, bloody and hurt, she freaked out but after months of knowing the Carnivale she was more surprised when they walked in unscathed.
Twig started cooking as her friends got to work, wanting to make sure they had a comforting meal when all was said and done.
The group fell into an easy rhythm once they had settled inside, they had done this dance time and time again and knew it by heart. Gricko, as their healer, had already summoned an armful of bananas and was handing them out, taking one himself as well. Gideon needed the most attention, as their muscle and protector, he took the heavy hits. Torbek lowered Gideon onto the couch where Kremy gently pried his hands from his side, despite Frost’s protests, Gricko hobbled over to inspect the wound. He advised Torbek and Kremy on how to wrap it as he handed them the rolls of bandages. The druid inspected his friends as they got to work on helping Gideon, Kremy wrapped the bandage around Gideon’s torso dextrously as Torbek helped him sit up. The way Kremy winced when he raised his arms a bit too high wasn’t lost on Gricko but his companions' wounds seemed superficial so he decided to ask Frost to help him.
Gricko’s knee was throbbing from the fight and if he wanted to be able to walk the next day, he needed to have it looked at right away. Frost was happy to do so, guiding his best friend to one of the plush armchairs and helping him take off his pants to inspect the rapidly swelling joint. He found some more elastic bandages and began wrapping Gricko’s knee tightly to support it. Gricko inspected the bandages and nodded with approval, he quickly got out of the chair to help his friends, much to Frost’s disapproval. Gricko helped Kremy clean up his wounds and Frost handed Torbek a cool compress for his blackening eye.
They settled onto the many couches and chairs in the sitting area of the inn. Kremy sat down as close to Gideon as he possibly could. Gricko laid down on one of the couches and Frost gently pulled his legs onto his lap, Hootsie curling up on the ground near Gricko’s head. Torbek nestled himself on the floor, stretching out his long limbs. Twig appeared and draped a quilt over each of them, handing them a plate with roasted veggies, potatoes, and some meat. They all had a lovely dinner after a rough day, chatting and joking with each other while Twig flitted around with pillows and blankets. Torbek joined her as they built a pillow fortress, nay, a pillow stronghold.
After everyone had cleaned their plates, they all crawled into the pillow stronghold, finding comfort in each others presence. Piling together to share in each other’s warmth and company, they soon fell asleep.