Master Ysm is something of a walking contradiction. He's a Sleeva, which you've observed to be the sleek fast type, not the burly warrior type. Yet Master Ysm's arms are thick and heavily muscled, as his legs, his abdomen, and even his neck bulges with muscles. Yet, at the same time, he moves with a fluid grace you'd normally associate with a dancer, not a bull-necked fighter. Also, Sleeva are usually tall and lean, whereas Master Ysm is shorter even than Sammark, but nearly twice as wide.
In response to Connor's introduction, the cat nods and looks thoughtful.
He finally nods. "I'm afraid a foolish old cat like me has no knowledge of where your homeland lies, if it even lies in on spot. But I have heard of your kind before. We have occasional visits from Taksis, which I believe you have trade with. They tell tales of massive wooden boats that fly through the air."
In response to Sammark's question, the spotted feline drinks a cup of his spiced blood, which is not alcoholic, but it does have a spicy kick that burns the throat much like alcohol does, likely some sort of spicy vegetable such as a horse-radish or perhaps even a ground up pepper. His pink tongue flashes over his muzzle, cleaning the blood from it, and what passes for a feline grin takes over his face.
"I am afraid you have asked the wrong being for enlightenment, oh wingless of the winged. I am but a foolish cat who delights in fighting and tea breeding. But if you are as unenlightened as you claim, I will attempt to answer whatever I can, as long as you remember I am but a foolish old cat."
Several of the younger monks give off purring titters when they overhear this, but when Ysm's head flashes toward them, they are all very still and busy chewing meat.
"No, no it shouldn't." Selvan confirms sipping his ice water and eating his roasted meat in quiet contemplation. "I don't think you could keep up with us either if we seriously stretched our wings"
"I'm not saying who, I'm just saying let's get a high-altitude look before we hitch up the wagons." Connor retorted. "I can do a spiral up and down if nothing else."
Connor sliced off some more meat for a second helping.
"If we do then it should be at earliest dawn or by moonlight. We'll be too easily spotted by day."
"I'll stick down here, I'd like to see some of the fighting."
"Sir, you can take on both Gaje and Jorge and are smart enough to know that you don't know everything. You've got a bunch of fellows capable of leaping buildings in a single bound calling you 'master.' I ain't asking to skip some steps on the Manifold Path or anything. I just want some help regaining my old discipline."
"Dawn sounds good." Connor agreed, finishing his iced water, then getting up for another glass.
Alys, who seemed very involved in her own thoughts breaks her silence for a brief moment: "Fine with me"
The meat is good but she'd have to complement it with some of her trail rations later. She tries to take an amount that showsrespect to the cook but at the same time not too much that she couldn't fill the rest up with something to balance it out.
Master Ysm considers Sammark, and nods. "I see, so you've lost your center. That's a shame. Well, you join the practice bouts in the morning, the tea at lunch, and meditation in the afternoon tomorrow, and we'll have a talk during tea, and during dinner. See if we can figure out how to find your center." The cat says, much more seriously.
To the rest of the party, after dinner, he shows them all places they can bed down inside the Monastery. Each is given a small stone cell with a reed curtain, and a blanket on the dirt floor. "It will take at least two days to unpack all our purchases, and confirm the orders. Usually it's one day, but our orders have been delayed for 3 months. Grimjowl can't take us on face to face, so he tries to starve us. Foolish lizard. We can be self sufficient if we need to be. You are all welcome to join the training in the mornings, if you wish. Or, you may simply lounge. Afternoons are meditation training, to which you are also welcome, but many find it too taxing. If you join either, you may join any level group you like, but I suggest the White Belts, or at most the Yellow Belts. They are the recruits, and junior monks. If you insist on going higher, the ranks are then green, brown, red, purple, and finally black. Those with gold on their belt." He motions to his own black belt, which has 4 bars of gold sewn into it. "Are Senior Monks. You must not refuse the order of a black and gold monk. If you do not understand the order, cover your ears with both hands and bow your head. It indicates you lack understanding."
Apart from the morning "recon flight", which is under Selvan's direction, Connor has the following ideas:
Day 1
- no monk training
- use Astral Construct (Utility - max DC 14 skills) to help out those doing the chores around the monastery (sweeping, cooking, carrying, etc.) Use Energy Splash if needed for heating/cooling food and drink.
- join in the white-belt meditation training once, just to see what it is like (ultra-long psionic focus?)
- meet any cheetah-people younger than Master Ysm who look like they will be there a long time (for Correspond power, years later)
- view the outside from the top of the walls, to remember later
- write monastery visit in journal
Day 2
- morning: helping out with chores
- afternoon: help out any of our group with target practice with Astral Constructs
Connor doesn't have a problem showing monks who are interested how psionic powers work (Astral Construct, Energy Splash, Ectoplasmic Creation, Ectoplasmic Trinket), considering it education.
Using Hero the psicrystal to map/spy out the place: probably not a good idea if our hosts found out. So Connor won't do it.
Sam bows to Master Ysm after he accepts Sam's request, "Thank you, Master."
Sam takes to his cell like a duck to water, it being certainly no worse than his old prison cell. Better, even. This cell had privacy and the dirt floor was certainly warmer than stone.
At some point, Sam calls over to Connor, "Oi, boyo, a word if you please."
"What?" Connor asked. "And before you start into 'don't show everybody everything about us', this place is isolated, and I don't want a repeat of the 'barbarian elves' reaction. After that ambush I really want to surround us with constructs, for protection."
He waves a hand in in front of his face as if to clear the air and started toward his cell, "Regardless, I've got something to show you."
When dawn comes Selvan wakes up connor and gets flick(assuming that Selvan and Elrohir are quite refreshed after their four hour trances)but leaves everyone else.
We fly on our proposed route for about 4 hours taking notes on important landmarks, getting familiar with this part of the route so next we travel it we note changes and act accordingly. We'll note anything unusual so we can inquire the gnoll brothers or monks later. We'll return 4 hours later after a brief break to take some lunch.
Selvan will fly lowest at about 40-50ft. from the ground.
Above him will be conor another 40-50ft. up and to the right.
Up and to the right of conor another 30-40ft. up is Flick with his bow to cover the both of us.
If we get shot at we're not to engage, we'll just fly out of effective range of their bows. They had shortbows before but both selvan and Flick have big boy bows so range favors us if we make it a fight. On top of this connor can summon aerial things to harass.
Anything I missed?
"We're looking at about two thousand, eight hundred and fifty in gold here. I want you to put it to good use. I'd like to keep about a thousand for emergencies and expenses."
"Well," Connor started, "there's not much we can spend it on here. Unless you want furs or timber from the frontier town. We'd be better off waiting until we get back to Kalliert."
The recon people get a nasty surprise about an hour into the recon. On the horizon, they see a dragon. A big one considering how far away it is when they see it. Dropping down out of sight, they see several more in the distance, all to the north east. The dragons look to be on patrol in the distance.
Those who get up to work out find themselves going through a very strenuous workout. First there's an hour of exercise to get the bloof flowing. Not all the monks are in the workout, as some are tasked to cleaning or preparing things around the Monastery. About 3/4 are exercising though. After that, most are doing katas, although the masters pull some out to do sparing. A half dozen are off to the side using bows, the acolytes learning to shoot their bows, while the masters demonstrate. This is not normal shooting. The monks leap up to a 3 foot high wooden pole, then they leap 10 ft sideways to another 3 foot high wooden pole, firing during the leap, after the leap, before.
Sammark is placed with some white belted acolytes, and given a white belt to wear. He is taught the basics of the katas. The point is not to move fast, but to move correctly. Master Ysm takes over and explains to him in Tradespeak that the point is to learn the motions. Slow and steady, speed will come with experience. Patience is required. Compared to the advanced classes, the Acolytes appear to be dancing in slow motion. Three hours of activity leave Sammark shaking and sweating, thoroughly drained.
An hour before lunch, the monks break up into groups for sparring, and Master Ysm, Jage, and Gaje square off. It's a relatively short fight, as the heavily muscled sleeva throws the two gnolls (who appear twice his size) around like ragdolls. When he's done, they're covered in dirt, panting hard, and moving painfully from bruises. He bows to the two gnolls, who painfully pull themselves up, staggered, and bow drunkenly.
Master Ysm then takes the two Gnolls along with Sammark, and while bandaging them, gives Sammark a lesson in binding the wounds and bruises of Gnolls, imparting information on the physiology of Gnolls.
Lunch is a light affair, a small amount of ground meat, easy to digest, and water. Gaje, Jorge, Sammark, and Master Ysm, on the other hand, drink a light green tea that Master Ysm prepares. It's a hot liquid tea, with no sweetening, but it's very refreshing, with a light subtle taste. The two gnolls seem to be in heaven as they drink it.
The afternoon is taken up by meditation, but it's not meditation like the party is used to. The advanced monks meditate by standing upside down on one arm, or on their head. The acolytes attempt to stand on one foot. Either way, the meditation must be done while making the body stress itself to maintain balance. The masters balance on 40 ft high poles as they meditate.
As Sam goes through the motions he takes considerable pains to memorize the stances and movements of the more adept monks. Even if his body did not want to learn, he could at least commit the katas to memory for further consideration and study later. At every turn he bites back his pride and sharp tongue when dealing with the monks.
When it comes time for the meditations, he chooses the least difficult looking position to join the monks in and turns his mind inward. He ruminates on the words he was told back in the city about the kind of man he was and just what he should make peace with but his mind is still a cold place and he knew that his actions while justified were not excused until he could understand himself.
"Hey, didn't Captain Selena say they were continuing north on that river past Kalliert?" Connor asked Selvan and Elrohir.
(recon)
Selvan nodded in confirmation. "Unless we have a means to relay this information quickly to the ships this information is all but useless. Let's make a note of it and keep going. Not much we can do now."
Reaghar will watch the monks sparring and performing kata. He will remember what he can for the future.
"I agree, not much we can do about it. Though, we should inform Master Ysm, out of respect if nothing else. Perhaps he could shed some insight." Flick says as he swoops through the air with ease.
"Let's keep going."
Connor made a mental note, adding to his list. A long-range telepath power. A telepath power, period. A translation power. Some more defense, something to help with how firearms could bypass psychokinetic shields. Invisibility. A way to view at far distances.
He sighed. Weren't wizards and spellcasters supposed to have books and books of spells they could cast freely from? Yet mindpowers took months and years to develop. It was unbalanced. Still, he didn't have to worry about Detect Psionics or Ectoplasmic Trinket blowing him to smithereens here on the Surface.
Connor looked at the psicrystal hanging on his necklace. I need about 6 more of you. he grumbled. Hero remained indifferent.
"I always thought dragons were supposed to be a rare sight. Not only is this the second time we see some in a couple of weeks, but also it's a whole flock of them again."
Alys flies a couple of yards behind the rest of the group.
"I would like to know if the locals find this as remarkable as I do."
The recon flight get's back in time for lunch, and can join in on meditation if they like.
That night, dinner is more reserved, dried meat, water, and some vegetables that were harvested during the day from the savannah made for the winged folk. Mostly it's a yellow tuber that's roasted over open flames, and some yellow carrots that have a mild flavor that are also roasted.
The next day, they group gets settled on the wagons, and begin to move out. The two gnolls have directed the remaining cargo be split between the wagons, so that both sets of animals are doing the same work.
Despite Connor's and Flicks best efforts to find ambushes before they occur, the group makes it to Vuomik without incident.
The outpost is actually a fairly big outpost, although a lot of that is the fact the buildings are all one or two stories tall at most. Unlike most of the cities they've dealt with so far, this city seems to be taking flying creatures into account. The large wall around it is 60 ft high, which keeps out everything but fliers. Along the wall are mounted ballistas, which look like they can rotate to fire both on the forest, and on the outpost itself. Within the outpost, there are roofed firing posts on each building, and more firing posts on the insides of the walls, creating a deadly killing field for anything that flies. Also inside the area are strung strings, ropes and cords that make flying hazardous.
The gates are open, but look like they could be closed quickly, as there are suspended stones that look like they weigh several hundred pounds attached to them. One sword stroke could likely send those stones crashing down, the cables attached jerking the gates closed by gravity.
Once they roll into town, the Gnolls laugh and do a little impromptu dance. Jorge gathers the Atalantian's together. "Hah, you do good. We be here a week, gotta buy stuff and make profit. We pay for inn if you want. You good to work other jobs if you want, but be ready to go in 7 days." The gnoll tells them, handing them a small bag of gold with 500 gp in it. The group finds that the Gnoll's have a small warehouse with attached sleeping area that they'll use, but it's too small for more than just the two of them.
The inn turns out to be a sprawling one story thing with a common room and 20 small rooms, each about 10 foot square. Each of the group get's a single room.
"Interesting air defence system."[b] Alys says more to herself than anyone in particular, before turning to the rest of the Atlantians [b]"I need to get away from the carriages for a bit, and honestly I don't feel good in here... perhaps someone here has a job for an adventurer."
Getting back from the recon flight without further incident was agreeable to Connor. He quickly informed the others about the red and blue dragons spotted.
"We saw some dragons to the northwest." Connor said to Master Ysm when the feline was near him at dinner that night. "Have you encountered these? Are they a threat to the monastery?"
Connor kept all of this in his journal, taking the time with the map maker's kit to ink in small maps of the surrounding area. He put any suspicious parts in Auran.
--------------
The next morning Connor helped pack the wagons, keeping his backpack and things on the first one. As part of the hotly debated new security plan, Connor also manifested two Astral Constructs (Utility, 4 hrs) continuously throughout the day (6 pp). Using limbs off of a nearby fallen tree, the constructs prodded the ground ahead of the lead wagon every dozen yards or so. Connor himself glided and flew above the wagons, ready to dive at a moment's notice of trouble.
---------------
"Somebody doesn't like flyers." Connor muttered as they passed the counterweighted gates of Vuomik and he absorbed the implications of the rooftop ballistas and spider's web of ropes throughout the outpost. Connor also looked around at the town guards and town's people as they walked on the ground behind the wagons.
After being dismissed for the next week by the gnoll brothers, Connor pondered. Any job that lasted 6 or 7 days would take them outside the city. Connor listened to Alys' want for another adventuring job. They had entered hilly country as they approached Vuomik. Hills meant the possibility of stone, and gems. All the gemstones Connor had were tiny, rounded things. He needed more substantial amounts, if his knowledge of psionic crafting was correct.
"I wouldn't be objecting to a short-time job outside." Connor added with Alys. "But we also need information about this part of the Surface world."
Master Ysm looks to the Northwest. "Ah, yes, that would be the Wyrms of Falgrinshith. They took over the ancient Emperial Capital after the hoo'mans were slaughtered. They rarely bother with us, although their slave creatures sometimes try to raid us. Their Hobgoblin Raiders are more dangerous than they are. They usually war with the Ogres and Ogrekin of the Hill Country, where you are bound next." The feline explains to Connor.
"yeah, a good place to stretch your leg muscles."
"Dunno, I suddenly feel a bit more comfortable," Sam says, wandering a short distance away. He liked how these land-dwellers thought, and might have to steal a few ideas himself.
"I'll meet up with you guys this evening, gonna walk the town a bit first," He walks slowly enough that any of the others can join him on the sojourn but does not explicitly invite any of them along.
"Wonder how comfortable you'd feel if you suddenly lost your ability to use your legs Sam" Flick retorts.
"Maybe these defenses are for those dragons? I mean, I don't think the lines and stuff inside the city would help much against them, but maybe they have smaller allies?"
Alys shoots a glare at Flick: "As much as I dislike this place, I understand him. I don't think you're one to talk that way to somebody who has had to live wingless on Atalantia for his whole life," she catches up to Sammark. "Since we have to scout this place anyway, might as well look around for a bit."
"Perhaps, but why must he take out his bitterness on us? Did you or I cause him to be born without wings?" He flexes his wings, which are hummingbird like in appearance, and runs a hair through his purple hair. "Not sure if you've noticed, but I'm pretty much a freak myself. Nobody in Clan Resalia has ever had wings like mine. Not only that, but I have this rather bright hair, and have you seen my eyes? Not exactly normal. I was bullied, and made fun of quite a lot growing up, and it got worse when my wings sprouted. Way worst. Yet, I don't walk around with some chip on my shoulder, angry at all those who are 'normal' in comparison."
He sighs "Am I saying my life is anything like Sam's? No, not at all. But being bitter and resentful to people who have done nothing wrong to you is, in my opinion, stupid"
"hah!" Reaghar laughs as Flick lists his deformities. He starts to explain, but figured his appearance would preclude the necessity.
Connor kept quiet, Sammark's retorts aside. Joining the Wingless and Alys to view the town seemed the best course of action.
"I ain't bitter. I don't get bitter about things I can't change. It's like yelling at rainclouds, yeah?" Sam said with an easy smile. ""sides, if I hated your kind I wouldn't have married one." With that he picked up the pace heading away from Flick with Connor and Alys in tow. If the Elfavian really wanted to continue airing grievances, he would have to chase after Sam.
Selvan takes a look around. "Frankly looking at this place I wouldn't feel comfortable unless it was several feet underground. This is a fort. That means it has had to regularly defend itself against an opponent that required this preparation. Dragons? Doubtful. This place could not stand up to cannon-fire much less dragon breath. Soemthign else is at work here. In any case have your pity party or whatever. I'm sick of wallowing in my own misery. I think perhaps I'll have my own look around. A bunch of armed men and women walking around together looks a bit too much like something to be suspicious of." With that he hoists his pack and head another direction.
Diplomacy
Diplomacy
Diplomacy
Know Engineering: Was Selvans original surmise about dragons, cannons, and the fort correct?
Reaghar will head out to a pub, if anything of the sort is around. Not much coin in his pocket, so he isn't worried overmuch about being robbed. He isn't making an effort to gather information, figuring the others'll handle it.
The group meanders around the outpost (it's sort of a cross between a fortified large town and a military structure). The townsfolk seem to find the group odd, but nobody obviously bristles or shows open hostility as they wander around.
In addition to the felines and gnolls the group is used to, they encounter two new races here, one is a serpentine type humanoid with a face like a cobra, including flared back hoods. The second race is a humanoid race with ruddy gray to red skin, tusks, and muscles. Asking around politely they find out they are Serpentfolk (Hiss'tha in their own language) and Hobgoblins.
Selvan is rapidly proven wrong about the whole dragon thing as there is some excitement as two or three young green dragonlings come sweeping in over a wall and begin strafing buildings. One is caught up in the (surprisingly) strong yet stretchy rope and hopelessly tangled until he's filled with arrows. Another is pinned to a wall by a ballista bolt, while the third manages to flip up and over the opposite wall with only an arrow or two in his hide. Upon inspecting the wall, he finds it's a good 5 feet thick with timber, and that a cannon would likely have trouble penetrating it, unless it was one of the Dragon Bane cannons. However, he is correct that the fort would be mince meat to a flying ship with any normal cannon, due to it's open top construction. Assuming there were no heavy duty magic users around, of course.
Asking around after the excitement, they find out the younger dragons attack semi-regularly, to prove themselves to the elder dragons in the Emperial Capitol, is the theory. Plus, the local Ogres and Ogre Mages attack on a semi regular basis, when they aren't busy warring with the dragons to the north. Currently, the ogres and dragons are at war, so things are more quiet around the fort lately.
You do find out also that there is a Guide Hall, which has notices about jobs. It'll be open in the morning if you want to look around for work.
Reaghar finds the equivalent of a pub, which sells everything from spiked blood to mead to a vile but potent concoction made from sugar beets.
Reaghar will grab a good meal and some drinks, not trying to get too drunk. After couple of weeks on the road, shouldn't take much for him to relax.
Selvan nods to himself as he sees the dragons get driven off. Mere hatchlings, but a fair demonstration. If nothing else it was assurance that no one was preparing to war with Atalantia.
Sooner or later he makes his way back to the mentioned tavern.
Connor spots what looks like a magic shop, but turns out to be an alchemy shop. However, the alchemist (a female serpentfolk with green eyes) says she can identify the potion. The runes are for healing, she says it's a minor healing potion (CLW). As to who made it, that's almost impossible to tell. It's a bog standard bottle, and the runes are painted on.