Well met, Friend! Hakon greets the graybeard with a friendly smile. Please, let us help you. As he speaks, Hakon's keen eyes peer over the man with his soul-blessed sight. Let's have a look at the horses, maybe there can be some clue about why they ran, or how?
and..let's throw in an at will detect evil
And because he's got the the vainglorious drawback, all of this is super obvious.. so..
Well met, Friend! Hakon greets the graybeard with a friendly smile. Please, let us help you. As he speaks, Hakon's keen eyes peer over the man with his soul-blessed sight. Let's have a look at the horses, maybe there can be some clue about why they ran, or how?
** spoiler omitted **
"If you can get close to them, you're welcome," the graybeard said. "I'm hight Othic, by the way."
Even from the distance, Hakon can see odd marks in the horse's brows. Calling on his Torm-granted senses, he feels a dark taint somewhere embracing the graybeard and his animals.
"Something must have spooked them, keep your eyes peeled folks." Marcus replied.
Marcus rummaged through his pack and found a couple of apples. Whistling the tune to an old song he slowly approached the horses and when within ten feet he made soft clicking noises. With the apples as a promise of his good intentions, he gently tried to get close enough to stroke their muzzles, "Easy now, it's OK, I'm not going to hurt you. Something's got you scared hasn't it?" If possible he lightly leads back them by their bridles to the old man.
All the while he was looking out the corner of his eye for any sign of what might have spooked the horses.
Aldon begins a lecture on everything he has learned related to the handling of a wild horse. All book learned as he never had to wrangle any himself, that he remembers at any rate...
"Something must have spooked them, keep your eyes peeled folks." Marcus replied.
Marcus rummaged through his pack and found a couple of apples. Whistling the tune to an old song he slowly approached the horses and when within ten feet he made soft clicking noises. With the apples as a promise of his good intentions, he gently tried to get close enough to stroke their muzzles, "Easy now, it's OK, I'm not going to hurt you. Something's got you scared hasn't it?" If possible he lightly leads back them by their bridles to the old man.
The horses watch Marcus closely once he draws near. They snort and turn, but don't bolt as he proffers the apple. With it in hand he drew up to within arm's reach of the animals.
Through all his approach, Marcus saw no signs of danger to the horses. He gently held up a rope and looped it around one's neck as it sampled his apple. The other bolted several yards.
Master Othic, what are those marks on the horses brows? I've not seen them before. They must be of a unique breed
at will detect evil
Master Othic, what are those marks on the horses brows? I've not seen them before. They must be of a unique breed
** spoiler omitted **
"That? Oh...I don't know. Imagine they hit their heads on a branch or something, sent them wander-wits. What else would keep them away so long?" Othic sounded honest enough.
As Hakon concentrates, his divine senses grow sharper. He feels two taints, both faint.
Ari realizes that she has no clue how to handle horses much less any animals. Her only experience with beasts was in hunting them for food. Trying to get them to cooperate was not part of her skill set.
Offering aid when I have no clue how to actually be helpful... sounds like an average day for me, Ari thinks. Her speech wasn't always congruent with her thoughts, which sometimes made it difficult to accurately reflect her capabilities.
As such, she is grateful when others offer to help the man gather the horses. Marcus seems to have the most success in containing the horses, though one of them does get skittish and moves away as the Tormtar ropes the other.
Ari hears Hakon mention the marks on the horses' brows and she frowns. Perhaps that was why they were so uneasy.
Maybe something attacked them? She speculates.
Looking around, Ari tries to find any evidence that other creatures have been in the area recently or any other sign that something was amiss.
At Othic's words, Ari also tries to determine if the man truly believes what he said. She wants to help the man, but she also wants to know if he's actually trustworthy.
Ari didn't see any suspicious tracks or other signs of menace. She believed Othic on the up and up.
"Could have been the snow too," Othic said. "Bump on the head, snow. Easy to get lost."
"One down, one to go." thought Marcus. "Woah, easy there." he said to the horse that bolted back. He patted the one he bridled and said to the other, "See your friend is alright." He slowly approached once more trying to slip the rope over.
Snow? That didn't make any sense to Ari. But then, she was used to sand, so perhaps animals reacted strangely to snow. The man seemed genuine enough.
Ari isn't certain she can actually help corral the remaining horse, but she's determined to try. She walks around the free horse in a wide arc till she's opposite to Marcus.
She doesn't think she can control the horse herself, but perhaps if it gets skittish again and runs away from Marcus she can try to redirect it toward him.
While the others chase after the animals, Barra stands idle and keeps the old man company.
"I commiserate. Horrible animals. Are you from Auvandell, or some other nearby settlement? We all hail from Sundabar, most recently at least."
Ranek idly studies the horses and the graybeard. He knows absolutely nothing about horses nor wrangling them, and he leaves the horses to the others to gather up as he keeps an eye out, looking for any threats to the area.
"One down, one to go." thought Marcus. "Woah, easy there." he said to the horse that bolted back. He patted the one he bridled and said to the other, "See your friend is alright." He slowly approached once more trying to slip the rope over.
[dice=Handle Animal]1d20+8
Marcus got the second horse in hand, roped and minding, and started back with them.
"Thankee, kind sir," Othic said. "Don't know what's into them. Never used to run at all."
While the others chase after the animals, Barra stands idle and keeps the old man company.
"I commiserate. Horrible animals. Are you from Auvandell, or some other nearby settlement? We all hail from Sundabar, most recently at least."
"All my winters. Born here, like as not to die here," Othic said. "Tempus Foehammer willing."
As he spoke, Hakon's god-granted senses located the unholy taints he had felt. They clung to the horses like second shadows.
There is an evil aura about the horses. It's faint, but like second shadows... Hakon stands, holding his sword and shield at the ready. These are no mere horses!
Ari frowns at Hakon's mention of an evil aura.
Second shadows? That's a strange expression.
The archer draws her bow and says, "Perhaps they are under the effects of an evil spell."
There is an evil aura about the horses. It's faint, but like second shadows... Hakon stands, holding his sword and shield at the ready. These are no mere horses!
Hearing this, Thurvek reflexively gets between the horses and Bolkvar, shield raised.
Ranek is broken from his reverie at Hakon's words, his head turning to study the horses. Speaking quick words of magic, his eyes begin to glow as his spell takes effect, allowing him to see magical auras. He does not yet draw his sword, although his hand rests on it.
What Hakon says makes Barra arch his eyebrows (he'd never been able to raise just one eyebrow, it was a constant source of disappointment). "A trap, to draw folk out of the town?"
If the horses are evil Aldon considers whether the man handling them is a part of their plan despite what he has stated. He utilizes his powers to read minds to know exactly what this "farmer" is thinking.
There is an evil aura about the horses. It's faint, but like second shadows... Hakon stands, holding his sword and shield at the ready. These are no mere horses!
"Happy dancing hobgoblins, man. What else would they be?" Othic said, giving Hakon an incredulous look.
'An evil shadow, really? They let me approach.' thought Marcus. He was hardly going to gainsay Hakon and gave the old timer an appraising look, did he have malicious intent? No surely not!
Realising the company was likely to scare the living daylights out of the old man he tried to reassure him, "Uh Othic is it? It seems that by the grace of Torm, Brother Hakon has seen something disturbing. Don't be alarmed, they're going to try and find out what it is and hopefully fix it for you. There's probably a good reason your horses have been acting strangely."
The moment Ari and Ranek began their incantations Othic turned white.
"Hey, none of that. Just take 'em and be gone!" he took several hurried steps back from the company, glancing furtively toward Auvandell's walls. "No trouble, my lords. No trouble! They're yours!"
Aldon's mind sensed outright panic, barely controlled and complete with desperate prayers to Tempus Foehammer, Torm Truesayer, Bane Blackhand, Chauntea Greatmother, and more all tangled together with images of Ariyana and Ranek shattering mountains and hunting men from dragonback.
He also sensed deep amusement.
Aldon turns to his allies, "Othic is an innocent in whatever is transpiring here, take no actions against the man, his tales ring true as his thoughts do not lie".
The horses were likely the old man's livelihood, "Uh... We should get his horses back to him somehow." Marcus said a little unsure of how to proceed. In all likelihood he was going to have to do it alone, the man near filled his breeches when some of the company invoked the art. Likely he'd run a mile if they all followed.
Turning back to the others he asked, "What's all this about a second shadow? Did you find any enchantment on them?"
Aldo turns to Marcus, "Agreed Marcus, we should let Othic go, no need to follow him. Once the horses are cleansed, if that is the right word, we can return them to authorities here to return to him".
Barra sighed angrily. "Subtlety is lost on you foreigners, isn't it? Folk 'round here don't like magic, don't trust it - e'en Urethaunt wasn't exactly well-liked. Now he's gonna be tellin' tales of foul warlocks from here to Waterdeep and we're likely to be met at Auvandell's gates by a mob. Gather the beasts if you must, but do it quickly - we're going to have to travel straight through if we want any hope of beating the bad news to town."
Ari frowns as the man steps back and tells them to take the horses. She has no intention of robbing the man. To try to calm his fears, she stops casting her spell.
"We meant no harm, sir. We just wanted to determine the cause of the horses' ill temperament. I don't plan on taking your horses.
"I believe they're yours by right. We only want to help you by cleansing them, like Aldon said.
"Will you let us help you?"
Silly well-meaning humans, Thurvek thought. If the horses are evil, just push them over the cliffs and be done with them.
Aldon turns to his allies, "Othic is an innocent in whatever is transpiring here, take no actions against the man, his tales ring true as his thoughts do not lie".
"You wh- Y'see into my- Mind-reaming!" Othic went start white and fell on his knees, in a small bank of snow. "Oh Lords, please spare me. I'm yours to do with in all things, but leave my thoughts my own. I'll swear it on every ring you have. Take me to a mound of the savages and I'll do it there. Blood on an altar, gods watching, every oath you can ever want, Bane Blackhand and Torm Truesayer strike me down if I lie!"
Tears ran freely from his eyes and he wrung his hands in desperation.
Aldo turns to Marcus, "Agreed Marcus, we should let Othic go, no need to follow him. Once the horses are cleansed, if that is the right word, we can return them to authorities here to return to him".
"I'll remember your names in all my prayers. The gods will hear of your kindness until my dying day!" Othic babbled.
Barra sighed angrily. "Subtlety is lost on you foreigners, isn't it? Folk 'round here don't like magic, don't trust it - e'en Urethaunt wasn't exactly well-liked. Now he's gonna be tellin' tales of foul warlocks from here to Waterdeep and we're likely to be met at Auvandell's gates by a mob. Gather the beasts if you must, but do it quickly - we're going to have to travel straight through if we want any hope of beating the bad news to town."
"It's no harm to me, my lords," Othic continued. "Ye're all great folk! I'll tell no tales but that until my dying day. I'll bend the ear of every minstrel and caravan guard comes through. No dark tidings from Othic!"
He listened to Ariyana in continued desperation.
"They're your horses, my Lady. Whatever you want done to them is your will."
Bolkvar had remained passive through all of this, instead reveling in the fact that he had finally returned to his ancestral home. But this escapade was getting out of hand.
"Calm down. Me kinsman 'ere be a priest an' these armored men be Paladins. Nay anyone 'ere be gonna hurt ye. We also will nay take yer livlihood."
Aldon shakes his head and approaches the man on his knees, "No mind reaming friend Othic, did you see a spell cast upon you? No, tis a simple item that allows for the reading of emotions. Your fear and dread were apparent to me, you see we had to know if you were in league with the dark forces unsettling your horses.
If you would forsake the horses then I insist you take gold for them, how much is it you will need? I fear I am a simple Monk and have not much but will offer you what I have. Like you, we are God fearing and God Worshipping folk who seek to aid those in need, such as yourself". Aldon jingles his belt pouch.
Diplomacy
Bluff
The archer looks at Othic with concern. They weren't her horses. Him being afraid didn't change that fact. Nor did Aldon's indication that the man might forsake his horses. Aldon probably was on the right track, though, by mentioning the Gods.
"Good sir, I worship Ilmater, so I wouldn't harm an innocent like yourself. We want to help settle these beasts, if you'll let us. What's more, these aren't my horses. They're yours by right. You have a will of your own, so please exercise it to let us help you.
"Like my dwarven friend Bolkvar indicated, we're not going to hurt you. We've been sent by the temple to Torm and Tyr in Sundabar, so it wouldn't reflect very well on the Tormtar and Tyrrans if nothing else."
Ranek stays back as the others attempt to calm the man. He has no way with words, and by the man's fear, any of his abilities would only make the situation worse. Going over to Marcus, he says in a low voice, "People react differently to magic use here than in Waterdeep. Once we settle at an inn, would you mind going over the local customs and superstitions with me?"
Marcus shakes his head whistfuly, replying "It's different up here... The only magic they grudgingly accept comes from the gods. Yes I know the weave does too but that argument cuts no ice. We can probably expect the locals to give us a hard time for not being local and doubly so now."
Bewildered by the shock and the sudden shift of things, Othic sat down heavy in the snow.
"You're not- They're them- If you're right holy noses*... Always paid my respects to Grimjaws and Truesayer... And it's an enchanted..." he shook his head and let it go. "The lot of you seem honest enough for outlanders, anyhail. You want Blaze and Broadsword for truth? I'd part with 'em for a fair price."
"Friend Othic, if you are in no great rush can we merely inspect them? We want to ensure that they harbor nothing that will bring you or yours to harm. If we can ascertain the source of the menace we may well be able to track and vanquish it. Such is the work of a Holynose, you would not want to interfere in such sacred work no?"
Echoing Aldon's words, Ari says, "Indeed. We want to remove any evil they harbor and in so doing give you an easier time of handling them. I'm sure Blaze and Broadsword are good horses, we just want to purge the evil that hangs upon them like a second shadow. Will you let us?"
"Evil, enchanted horses. Now I've seen it all." Barra mutters. "We're just traveling to Auvandell - I've no need for horses, at least. Best to just let the priests bless them so we can be on our way, and you on yours."
"Evil, enchanted horses. Now I've seen it all." Barra mutters. "We're just traveling to Auvandell - I've no need for horses, at least. Best to just let the priests bless them so we can be on our way, and you on yours."
"I suppose as long as no harm comes to them," Othic said. "Just...next time tell a man before you use spells on him."
My apologies for escalating this situation. But, the horses hold the taint of evil. Othic, for his safety, needed to be warned.
Marcus nodded and added simply, "Brother Hackon has your best interest heart, he was granted this vision by Torm Truesayer for a reason, although as yet that purpose is unknown. Othic if you would allow me, I'll ask Torm for his wisdom and hopefully determine if they have been enchanted."
Before doing anything further, Marcus tries to reassure the man, "In a moment I'll say something in an other language. It will probably sound like nonsense but a blue aura will surround my eyes. Do not worry all this does is reveal enchantments to my sight."
Marcus then whispers several peculiar words and he concentrates, if there were any enchantments present he would see them.
"I apologize as well, Othic. It was likely I who instigated the disturbance, so I beg your forgiveness."
To Marcus, Ari will say, "Please let me know if you need assistance in examining the horses. I have a bit of skill in uncovering enchantments as well."
If a painter wished to capture the expression of true boredom, all they would do is gaze into Thurvek's face.
As the human talked, the dwarven cleric looked around his surrounding, wondered what his shield must taste like, and tapped the mud from under his boots. Finally, an idea popped in Thurvek's brain.
"I will scout a hundred paces out, make sure the way is clear", announced the dwarf as he walked away from the group down the path.