Asta goes to ride next to the prospective acolyte during the trip and looks him up and down.
"So, young man. And what was it that drew you to the clergy?" she asks, making polite conversation.
"Manners," Asta says, as she casts a glacial stare at the boy mocking the one hoping to join the clergy. "Have you a passion for anything? Anything that just feels right? If not, keep your peace. If so, think of how you'd feel to be mocked."
Turning back to the one with aspirations, she smiles. "If your patron accepts you and grants you power, I hope you will consider the Circle of casters I hope to build in these lands to guide and protect the people."
The Witch's smile widens to a sly grin. "And if you find Erastil and you do not walk the same road after all, mayhap you would consider the Veils of Sivanah."
DC 15
Predict the weather up to 24 hours in advance. For every 5 points by which your Survival check result exceeds 15, you can predict the weather for one additional day in advance.
I am certain that he will not change, but we shall be ready if he does. you have no need to fear little one.
Seraph gives the sky a once over in the hopes of discerning what was to come before giving a low chuckle at Rod's response as she continues guiding Julius along the road they were on, she made sure that their pack mule was still with them as well. Lest they lose their gear...
She watches as Asta mentors the first with her her cold exterior, a chilling reminder that as beautiful as snowfall was it would soon bring the bitter experience of the remorseless cold as well. The moment was a reminder that she competed even with her own lady when it came to gathering more to the faith. Though what was more interesting to her now was their apparent embarrassment around women. She gives Rod a small smile. "It'll be nice having more men around. Besides the ones at the encampment are not as sturdy as you appear to be."
Her tail taps its way across the young acolyte's shoulders before tapping the one teasing him as well. "Think heavily on what Milady tells you, besides there no need to be shy..." She gives Asta a playful look, choosing not to add more to that statement as she withdraws her tail. "Besides, aside from matters of faith. We can teach you magic, how to fight or even both." She draws her massive blade then, one handed and gives the large blade some large flourishing swings as she adds. "Swordsmanship, horsemanship and scholarly knowledge. All these and more we can teach you." She makes her movements with the blade look like child's play, as they were to her.
When she sheathes the blade once more a small smile plays across her face. She was glad to be on the move again for sure. "Though perhaps we should start with names, I am Seraph the Ogre Killer, Personal attendant and knight to Milady Asta. There are others in our band who you will meet in good time I hope."
I am certain that he will not change, but we shall be ready if he does. you have no need to fear little one.
Sunset nods at Chief's reassuring words to her Niece as the group continues to amble along towards their destination.
Sunset gazes out over the rolling hills/terrain...
Asta glances away from the boys and spots a fair-sized bird on a branch. The Witch whistles a brief message to it -- upon which the bird takes wing and... relieves itself of some weight. While flying directly over the boy so fascinated with the contents of Asta's bodice.
"Pay attention to what I am saying, boy," she says, sweetly, while the bird flies off to take cover in the Woods. "I am not some tavern strumpet. I am one who rules here."
"Indeed," Asta says. "So do pay attention to your commanding officer. You may find yourselves joining the army yet... That or working a farm."
"Hail and greetings, the temple!" Croft calls out as he flies ahead of the group. "My lady master approaches! Is everyone awake?"
Both. Strawberry can do the hard work and Torod will clean up after.
Sunset is happy to left Torod, Strawberry and the Chief run off and have fun.
She stays with the horse, her Niece and the lad as they continue to walk towards the temple.
Chuckling a thte antics and rolling her eyes in mirth from being ignored she lets Asta take the lead in teaching these easily distracted acolytes some manners. Though looking at the clouds she grimaces and gets Asta's attention. "These clouds are worrisome Milady, I believe it best we shelter inside tonight if Jhod and Kressel allow it. I believe a storm could turn its ugly head." She wasn't as good as Torod in this regard but to not prepare would be unwise.
I'd like to get there sooner rather than later. Unless the others say otherwise, Torod will push to get there tonight.
Taking it upon herself she secured permission from Jhod and Kressel before finding more adequate shelter for their animals. Julius complained in a low whicker the entire way, at one point biting one of Seraph's horns and yanking her head to the side in impatience."Oi! Bad horse!" She gves her warhorse a punch and is reqarded with a show of teeth, like Julius was giving her a big toothy smile. "Smart Ass horse...."
"Well I am glad ya ask Jhod..." Seraph says as she wrestles her horn from Julius Teeth, the hore putting on a wily fight before Seraph finally puts the brute in a headlock. Prying his jaw open sheextracts her chewed upon horn and commands Julius off to the side with the mule in tow. Once she was sure she wasn't going to be ambushed again by her horse she waves to Rod Walker and the two young Acolytes that they had brought. "Jhod and Kressel may I introduce Rod Walker and these two young men of the cloth. Rod Walker and company, this is Jhod the resident cleric of the Temple of the Elk and Kressel, Master tracker of the Narlmarches and right nasty with a Hatchet."
She looks to Jhod again then. "Rod Walker is bringing the first migration of settlers south and so we thought it prudent to bring those interested in the divine word to the temple of the Elk. It also allows us to further set the ground rules for this first group so as to avoid any unpleasant disputes." She explains what they had already talked to Rod and company about back at Olegs Trading Post about the areas that were allowed for farming at the moment.
"Last but not least, this here is Crackjaw a knowledgable druid from among his people the Mites. He is accompanied by his jumping spider companion and trap door spiders as well." Seraph was performing introduction as best she could, not intending any insult as she did so. "He soughtto seek out the temple as well."
"Mind you keep a tight rein on these boys," Asta says. "Their eyes wander. I shouldn't wonder their minds and hands might try to follow."
For Crackjaw, the Witch has a smile. "A good step forward, for our fellowship to grow in such ways, is it not, good priest Jhod?"
"Ack! Predator!" Croft screeches as he barrels down to earth and tries to hide in Asta's hair.
Elangomat circles around screeching then perches in a nearby tree.
I sense that Elangomat has discovered something.
White Eagle make haste to where Elangomat encountered the Raven.
Sunset picks up her pace to match that of Chief, though she also tries to make sure the horse and her Niece can keep up as well.
"That is because we are here." Torod adds. Strawberry bounds off through the forest and the bushes. "Only through there."
"A big predator with more muscle than brains upsets my familiar; I should have known you were here, Elf-ears," Asta calls when she sees Torod approach. Her merry grin takes the sting out of her words, fortunately.
Torod returns her smile. "And here I thought the chill in the air was winter coming early, but it's just you. We were supposed to meet at the Stagfort. What brings you here?" Torod greets Seraph with an over friendly hug. "Which reminds me, here are the maps I worked on. The northern part of the forest is finished." He gives them to Asta.
Strawberry goes over to Kressle to be petted and fed. She rubs against her friend and purrs happily.
"Delivering either acolytes for Jhod or apprentices for Kressel," Asta says, jerking her thumb at the boys. "And also accompanying Druid Crackjaw on a friendly visit to the Temple." A far more civil hand gesture to indicate the Mites' Druid. "How about you?"
He points to a young barbarian. "That one got himself infected with lycanthropy. We came here to keep him to determine if he needs to die or if he's been cured."
Only then does he seem to remember the others that came with him. "Chief White Eagle, Sunset, Seraph,Asta." He says by way of introduction.
Sunset stops and stands a while as Torod and Chief make their introductions. Having herself indicated to the other two women she nods politely before first moving to help the young lad off the horse, thence looking to seeing about the animal being stabled and taken care of.
With such mundane business out of the way she saunters up to Astra and Seraph. Standing slightly, protectively, in front of her Niece she removes her hat and nods.
"Hello ladies." Is her first greeting before she indicates the young girl behind her.
"As Torod says, m'name be Sunset. This young scamp 'hind me be Imiria. M'slef and family come out this way too... see about settlin' some." Sunset glances over her shoulder at Imiria.
"Young Imiria? Me Niece be quite the precocious one. Seein' tha' plight of yon young feller there, back at tha' fort? Well, she thought she could offer him helpin', some." Sunset ruffles her Niece's hair lightly, quickly and affectionately. "Her knowin' of things about certain things be quite a treat, ye might say."
"Had tha' rest of tha' family worried a stitch when she lit out after tha' feller ta' help save him from his... mallady..." Sunset then nods and smiles to Torod and Chief.
"These fine Gentlemen did lend their aid an' skills at findin' th'a pair an' startin' whut t'is yon young feller might need to see his affliction through to him bein' back hale and hearty." Sunset's gaze returns to Astra and Seraph.
Seraph returns the hug quite fondly, her tail doing a small dance at the sudden embrace. She smiles as her and Torod part and watches quietly for a moment at the newcomers coming in. Her eyes widen at the sheer size of Chief White Eagle, though his body was above average it was his eyes that caught her attention most. There was a depth to them that made her wonder, however something about his build struck Seraph as being off. She nodded to him as Torod spoke er name.
When she looked at Sunset she immediately recognized signs of her being different like herself. She nods to her as well a warm smile on her face for the new pair of friends joining them. Though she looked a little askance at the sound of the man who was still possibly afflicted. Unconsciously stepping somewhat between Asta and him.
She looks to Sunsets niece momentarily as well, worried that the girl would do something so reckless.
[b]"A pleasure to meet you all, it has been an interesting time as of late with encountering new friends. So are we planning on restraining the man for now until we are certain or?"[/b
At the...larger... protective woman's words Sunset shrugs and indicates Torod and Chief.
"Them's tha' fellers what're learned with tha' healin' of said lad's affliction." She indicates that they have thr right of way about how the young man is currently etc. Sunset just shifts a little bit more in front of her Niece even as she smiles calmly to Asta and Seraph.
"M'self? I be more a 'Home-steader' type a person. Lookin' ta' put up fences. Raise me some live stock, kind of thing." She drawls as she replaces her hat and again looks around nonchalantly.
"Yes, he is infected, I gathered enough wolfsbane and took him out of town. I was making him a nice tea, but he got riled up by approaching riders and I never had time to tell him of neither the infection, nor that he had already slaughtered a young lady....Torod and them subdued him and so here we are."
"We've met," Asta says when Sunset introduces Imiria, and she levels a glacial stare at the little Witch.
"I'm fairly sure we left you at Greenheart to continue your studies," she says, her voice ominously even. "I applaud your initiative in helping this young man, apprentice, but did it not occur to you to alert the guard? And I do not applaud you swanning about with illegal copies of the new charter and making false claims."
Turning to Torod, she nods once and says: "Our deeds have been rewarded. We now have the stewardship of these lands -- formally as well as in fact. We rule here now."
There is a thrill to those last four words, a tone of excitement and some small hint of possessiveness, but mostly triumph.
"We have much to do and threats to overcome. The green-haired Fey who sponsored the Staglord is riling up Trolls against Greenheart... But these our lands will grow, prosper and be magnificent. By Winter, I vow!"
Asta holds out a hand to Seraph and Torod, each.
At some part of Imiria's words Sunset blinks and stiffens slightly. When Astra mentions 'Apprentice' Sunset gives a pleasant smile and friendly nod. Turning to her Niece Sunset's gaze turns cool.
"Well.. Young'un... why don't we see about where we're settin' up fer tha' night, hey?" She asks Imiria pleasantly, though there's nothing in Sunset's vice that indicates she's asking a question or giving the young girl any options about what the pair are going to be doing, "Then perhaps we wash tha' trail dust off'n ourselves an' see about tydin' up fer vittles." So saying Sunset marches Imiria off.
"Now listen I told the watch captain and asked for help with the man."
Point to him
"but they are useless and ignorant and unwilling to listen."
"Luv... whut t'is it I've been tellin' ye about that diggin'? Really, there in't gon'a be a shovel big enough fer ye ta' keep makin' tha' hole yer mouth be openin' up fer ye..." Sunset tries to get her Niece away from folks a little more quickly as the young girl's attitude carries her voice further and further off into danger.
"Why don't we just focus on the matters at hand?" Suggests Torod, trying to keep the two ladies from arguing. "We have a land to manage and we have to determine if this fellow is still a lycanthrope."
"Did you finish the cage? I think that will be the best place for him until we can get him sorted out."
"Jhod, when the time comes, will you preside over the crowning of the ruler of this land?"