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Nightflier** spoiler omitted **** spoiler omitted **Solvistania, after finishing her tea, (it was quite delicious), wanders over to where Sky'tor and Chops are, and starts to examine the carvings on the stone, also the rune underneath. Murmering under her breath, she brings forth an incantation.
tinent of Eredane. Myth holds that they were the children of
the Lost Gods, blessed in their creation and favored by the
celestial realm. The elder fey lived in unified majesty across
Eredane, and settled many other lands beyond. Their civiliza-
tion was the culmination of countless centuries of peace and
high learning. They built spectacular cities that were won-
drous feats of engineering and architecture. They sailed vast
trade fleets and exchanged goods and knowledge with other
ancient races across Aryth. They reveled in music, art, sport,
and the spirits of nature. They were master historians,
philosophers, and storytellers. The fey were faithful and wor-
shiped their attentive gods and were granted great boons in
return. Their priests were touched with divine magic and their
powers were near absolute. Their devotion, prayers, and
offerings pleased the gods and for eons the fey wanted for
nothing in an idyllic world.
Sadly, even the blessings of the gods do not last forev-
er—not when the gods are betrayed by one of their own. A
shadow crept out of the darkest reach of heaven to challenge
the lords of light. Agreat celestial war raged as the gods did
battle with this dark lord and his kin. The terrible contest
cracked open the sky and Aryth itself was shaken. In the end,
the gods of the elthedar vanquished the Shadow and banished
it to the mortal world, but at a horrible cost. The dark lord’s
fall tore Aryth from the grasp of heaven, separating it forever
from the celestial realm and its gods. Not only could the gods
no longer serve their mortal children, their victory had con-
demned those children to the wrath of a merciless and evil
lord. This was the time of the Sundering.
As is the nature of life, the elthedar that survived grew
accustomed to their new world, and in time the fear and dis-
asters of the years of the Sundering faded from memory. Each
scattered group adapted in its way, and civilization was
reestablished in new forms and new traditions. In time these
new races of the alethar, or younger fey, would rise to domi-
nate the lands of Eredane.
Solvistania studies the ancient runes and as comprehension dawns on her face, she whispers, This is an Elder Fey ruin!
Solvistania studies the ancient runes and as comprehension dawns on her face, she whispers, This is an Elder Fey ruin!
Curious about what Solvistania and Chops are looking out, Eyvindr wanders over and peers over their shoulders. "Elder fey?" he says with a furrowed brow, not grasping the full implication of the red-eyed elf''s discovery. "You mean dwarven?"
She turns to the Dorn Fell and replies "The Elder Fey are the ancestor race that all the elvish races descended from. It is said they were bleesed by the gods, before the Sundering led to their passing."
"Weird. It looks similar old dwarven. I wonder if we are all related in some way."
"Weird. It looks similar old dwarven. I wonder if we are all related in some way."
"Of course you are." The big dorn says from some ways behind them. "All the younger fey are." He walks in slow steps near where the group is gathered and looks at the faded runes.
"Hmm. I guess that makes sense. I mean, look at me and Solvis...Salvi..no." Chops gets flustered trying to pronounce Solvistania's name. Finally, he just cocks a thumb towards her. "Her.
Solvistania replies to Chops "Its Sol-vis-TAHN-ee-a"
"Solvistahnia. Sorry," Chops repeats sheepishly.
"Weird. It looks similar old dwarven. I wonder if we are all related in some way.""Of course you are." The big dorn says from some ways behind them. "All the younger fey are." He walks in slow steps near where the group is gathered and looks at the faded runes.
"The elves and dwarves are younger fey? What makes you believe this, brother? Were the elves and the dwarves not here when the world was new? And how could they possibly be related... they look so... different..." The grizzled Dorn's frown only deepens as he ponders the revelations made by his brother and Solvistania.
"And the orcs too I imagine. Could a dwarf and an elf...I wonder."
"The elves and dwarves are younger fey? What makes you believe this, brother? Were the elves and the dwarves not here when the world was new? And how could they possibly be related... they look so... different..."
Ragnar's hands continue their work scrathing away lines of pale powder from the object in his hands. "The legends speak of the Elthedar as the Elder Fey. As I understand all the races save men are the younger. The legends, of course, may be wrong."
"And the orcs too I imagine. Could a dwarf and an elf...I wonder."
"Unlikely." Ragnar says. "Wolves cannot breed with ship-dogs. Though they are quite different in appearance, none who understand such things would deny their common ancestry. Dwarves can breed with Orcs-" he says gesturing toward Chops with a sharp carving tool. "-as well as gnomes. Elves breed with the small folk. It is unlikely the Orcs or Dwarves could breed with elves, gnomes or small folk simply due to differences in size, much like wolves and ship-dogs, but such mixes may be possible under the right circumstances."
Solvistania, upon hearing the last part of Ragnar's speech, turns to look at him. She replied in an almost inaudible voice, "You are quite...knowledgeable about this."
Chops nods his head, "Ah, like horses and donkeys don't, unless they are made to....by artificial means?"
Solvistania, upon hearing the last part of Ragnar's speech, turns to look at him. She replied in an almost inaudible voice, "You are quite...knowledgeable about this."
The big man grunts dissuasively. "Pure conjecture. Even if Dwarves and Elves could breed, it is irrelevant to us. We will never see such a creature."
"True." The half-dwarf shrugs his shoulders. "Besides we have our little dilemma of unknowns heading towards us. Solvistania said she would like to greet them. We should probably have a physical presence that is not me. And what's up with this tree, sword and crown carvings? Is there a hidden entrance around here?" Chops begins searching the ground around the black stone mound.
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"True." The half-dwarf shrugs his shoulders. "Besides we have our little dilemma of unknowns heading towards us. Solvistania said she would like to greet them. We should probably have a physical presence that is not me. And what's up with this tree, sword and crown carvings? Is there a hidden entrance?" Chops begins searching the ground around the black stone mound.
1d20+5
During his search, Chops inadvertently passes through the crumbled doorway of the tower.
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During his search, Chops inadvertently passes through the crumbled doorway of the tower.
1d20+7
"I found something....and it's going to take all of us to get it open."
After hearing his reply, she does not respond verbally , but there is a flashing of her eyes which escapes his notice.
Solvistania takes note of the Dworgs discovery and says "So it would seem our path is laid out before us. It is clear, we should start to excavate this as soon as we have greeted our 'guests'"
Never afraid of work Sky heads towards the area and begins to clear debris.
"By guests would you happen to mean l'il old me?" comes a sultry voice from behind the assembled group in Erenlander.
Those reacting to the voice turn to see a young Sarcosan woman of unusual beauty. With flawless skin unusually pale for a Sarcosan, long lustrous black hair and scintillating hazel eyes, she is mind numbingly beautiful, a fact that is paradoxiclly enhanced, rather than hindered by the scar dominating the space below her right eye and traveling to across her cheek. The scar seems to add a certain warrior fierceness to her countenance that would otherwise be too perfect.
In reverse of normal Sarcosan fashion, intricate flowing patterns are artfully stained along the entirety of her face, limbs and body, serving only to further entice the eye.
Her physique itself is equally eye catching, well toned muscles stretching along a supple yet amply curvacious torso fit yet possessing just the right amount of feminine softness, clad in black leather armor that seems to be designed to be equally functional and enticing, revealing patterned skin in nov vital areas. It is a warrior's body, and as she steps forward you see that moves with a predator's lope enhanced by a confident swagger, at once alluring and intimidating.
The smile on her face is more of a smirk of amusement, one that broadens as the assemble group's eyes take in the massive black verdatch strapped across her back.
Solvistania turns to the voice and is momentarily struck speechless by this Sarcosan's captivating beauty. Seeing her face in her dreans could not have prepared her for this meeting. She recovers somewhat, and bareely manages to whisper back to her in a cool tone, in Erenlander "Welcome to our fellowship, lady." Only her eyes, now burning with a mixture of shame and embarrassment at the show of weakness betray her true feelings.
Chops pauses from the labor of removing debris as the newcomer speaks, not understanding a word she says. In the Trader's Tongue, he asks Sovistania, "Does she come with a bone object like the rest of us bear?" He glances at the woman, but his alien sense of asthetics doesn't register her appearance as more or less attractive than any other human woman (except for his lost love).
She whispers in reply to Chops in the Traders Tongue: "Yes Chops, her torc shows her connection to the rest of us."
Ragnar turns slowly toward the newcomer and stands still as the ruins around them upon seeing her. His face is an unreadable mask beneath his hood, but it is clear she is not what he expected. Near him a small tree branch breaks, seemingly without cause, and the dusty dirt around the ruin picks up in a sudden crosswind.
A black shape twists down out of the sky and alights on the bear's-head pauldron and squawks. "Heh. Wouldda come down sooner, but I wanted to see the expressions on your faces. What is it about a pair of big chest bags that makes humans stumble around like hatchlings?" The birds feathers ruffle up in amusement. "Close your mouth, big guy. You'd think she was one of the Valkyr."
Ragnar reaches up dissuasively and brushes the bird off his shoulder, still saying nothing. It squawks in protest as it struggles to orient itself in the air. "Well that's gratitude for ya!" It banks and settles on a branch near the beautiful Sarcosan and looks at her with an ebon eye.
"Hey lady. Care to feed a starving bird?"
As most of the group join in discussion near the ruined tower, Gilian searches the tower surrounding for herbs that could be helpful for making oils or saves.
Survival DC20 to find herbs giving a fort bonus to illness.
She gather the herbs and dips them in oil for conservation and further use.
Concentrated on her work, she does not hear the newcomer. Startled by her sudden appearance, she nearly spills her oil flask but manages to catch it before it shatters on the ground.
Repacking her belongings, she approaches the group. "Can you tell us about what made you come here ? By the way, I'm Gilian" says the diminutive woman to the newcomer."
Solvistania, seeing the other members of the group satrting to clear the rubble, hesitates momentarily, dreading the physical labor that was to come. She was never that strong physically and her strengths didn't run to that area. Then she remembered an old teaching, doing mindless labor, can help sharpen the mind and clear the thoughts. Especially of the Sarcosan lady.
She moves over to Gilean, and asks in Erenlander "Would you like some assistance with this? I also have some minor training in the herbalism field, may I ask you some questions about it?"
Ilona smirk turns into a slow, warm smile as she absorbs the reactions of the others. Looking into the pale elven woman's red eyes she replies.
In Erenlander "Thanks for the welcome, are you alright, you look tired. All these big strong men sitting around and they expect you to push?" <sighs>
She grins tilting her head as the bird alights near her, the laughter evident in her voice, "'Chest bags?' I don't usually hear complaints about these," she chuckles looking down at herslef while fishing in a pouch at her belt.
Producing a piece of fruit she tosses it to the bird just as the small woman speaks out.
"Nice to meet you Gillian, I'm Ilona. What brought me here? A dream,a tower, a pale elf, my own two feet....lots of things really."
Shrugging her shoulders she strides forward a flowing graceful movement, making eye contact with each member of the group as she makes her way to the rubble. Each momentary connection seeming personal, almost intimate.
"Besides, it looks like you all need another warm body right about now."
Dropping her pack she braces both hands against the stone, glancing up over her shoulder at the massive Dorn standing perfectly still.
"Well, you gonna help a girl out or just enjoy the view while you stand there looking scary?"
Catching the pale elven woman's eye she winks conspiritorily
"Whew! I forgot how tough manual labor was." Chops exclaims as he hauls a massive boulder to the side. He stands up, leans back letting a series of cavitations release from his spine, and wipes the sweat out of his eyes. He then removes his jacket, padded armor, and tunic, and tosses it on to his pack before bending over to pick up another stone. Although with his clothes on, he appeared to be overweight, without the padding, he is actually just overly stocky and well muscled. The others notice that he has a series of dwarven tattoos, barely noticeable on his charcoal colored skin covering his neck down to the tops of his shoulders, sleeving down his left upper arm. What is very noticeable, however, is the series of scars which have healed into heavy, light reddish-grey keloids dominating the landscape of his back.
"Whew", Sky'tor raises up from his labor for a moment wiping sweat from his brow. "We should have kept that horse around for a while". "This is his kind of work". He then bends over and resumes work tugging at a stubborn root.
Producing a piece of fruit she tosses it to the bird just as the small woman speaks out.
The bird snatches the morsel out of the air. "Heeeeey. Yer alright lady."
"Well, you gonna help a girl out or just enjoy the view while you stand there looking scary?"
Ragnar pauses a moment longer, then nods his head with a grunt. Reaching over his shoulder, he draws his massive bastard sword and plants it in the ground before lowering his hood and shrugging out of the heavy coat and bear-skin sark.
His body is pale and heavily muscled. Scars looking like they came from large claws of some kind rake across his shoulders and down his back. His body is lined with pale blue markings, tracing his form in strange runic symbols and script. which run up the sides of his neck, over his shaved scalp and down across his forehead and past his crystal blue eyes. He is young. Much younger than his stature and the length and thickness of his beard would suggest. It is unlikely he has reaches 25 summers.
He runs a hand across his scalp, and then moves forward to aid chops in moving a particularly large piece of rubble.
As if on cue, the pair of wolves wander back into the midst of the group, licking their chops. One of them stares impassively at the new member of the group. The other looks to Ragnar.
"Keep watch while we work, and tell my brother we could use an extra hand."
"You got it boss." the raven says, taking to the air once more, flying towards where the other dorn was last seen. The wolves fan out in opposite directions, just outside the main camp.
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Some time after Ragnar joins the excavations, one raven returns madly flapping it's wings and crowing loudly.
Ilona smirk turns into a slow, warm smile as she absorbs the reactions of the others. Looking into the pale elven woman's red eyes she replies.
In Erenlander "Thanks for the welcome, are you alright, you look tired. All these big strong men sitting around and they expect you to push?" <sighs>
Catching the pale elven woman's eye she winks conspiritorily
Solvistania pauses while trying to move a particularly stubborn piece of rubble jammed between the cracks. Replying in Erenlander "Forgive me Ilona, it was a very tiring journey for me, I am not in the best of health, but sometimes physical labor helps me to focus my thoughts better."
In Erenlander
"Makes sense I suppose, just don't push too hard. I've got a feeling this is only the beggining of something big."
Zafina helps to clear the rubble as well.
When Ilona arrives, like most of the others, she seems slightly taken-ababck by her appearance. But other than keeping an eye on the newcomer, she continues to work at helping clear the rubble.
Solvistania smiles wanly at Ilona, and says in Erenlander "Yes, this will be something the bards will sing about for generations to pass, assuming we succeed.
Some time after Ragnar joins the excavations, one raven returns madly flapping it's wings and crowing loudly.
** spoiler omitted **
The only real question is if the other raven can talk. I'd like it if it could, then I could have them bicker. I was thinking about taking a feat or a trait or something to allow Ragnar to have 2 familiars anyway.
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** spoiler omitted **Some time after Ragnar joins the excavations, one raven returns madly flapping it's wings and crowing loudly.
** spoiler omitted **