I think it is a holdover from being raised by my mother and grandmother....old fashioned I suppose. In mixed company I was taught to have some modesty when around females that you are not...umm....attached to...for the lack of a better term.
With that, Therin removes the shorts from under the water and tosses them to the side of the bath....
Staveon grins at his friends, the tub, and the situation. He is... happy.
"Excellent!" Staveon declares once Therin follows Athene's adivce. "Well, now that we're comfortable, I declare it's time for a foot massage. Everyone, move your feet to the person who's on your left." he moves his feat toward Athene, and accepts Mina's.
"Oooooooooooohhh-kaaaaaaaaaayyyyyyyyy..." he adds "this... was... necessary..."
He waits for some time, enjoying and conversing. After a while, though, he'd say, "Rrrrrrright." with some difficulty. "Now to the shoulder massage: whoever massaged your feet gets your massage in turn!" he turns and begins working on Athene's back.
"So, Athene, what you make of all this stuff?" he asks during shared shoulder-rubbing, "The whole story and everything?"
Mina happily accepts a foot rub from Staveon, and would rub...
...Therin's feet, if he offers them.
Then, she would happily accept a shoulder rub from Therin if he offers one, while she rubs Staveon's shoulders.
Meanwhile, she would probably say,
"So, Athene, these guys seem legit to you? Like, we're not just walking into a big fancy trap, are we?"
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Though you don't detect any magic on the way here, once at the ranger's base you catch hints of magic almost any time someone who is armed comes within range. The constant movement prevents you from discerning number or strength of the auras though.
Once in the bath, you have the chance to examine thing properly. The bathhouse itself seems to be enchanted, but it is mostly on the bath itself, which radiates with very faint auras of abjuration, transmutation, and necromancy. The auras a bit strange though, faint and... blended almost. The enchantment doesn't seem to be a spell on something, more part of the thing itself.
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In the room, you notice similar auras on the new blonde-braid as her sister. Same for the man with her. There do seem to be a few differences, but your concentration is a bit off, and you can't quite tell what they are.
Staveon's streaking to the animals causes some raised eyebrows and shouts. Charging into the stable, he sees a black-haired, dusky-skinned woman with an artificial leg directing several adolescents in lathering up and washing the animals, dogs included, with a, from the smell, ferociously strong soap. As the helpers stop and stare, she snaps at them, and they resume their tasks. Stomping toward the intruder she angrily shouts and gesticulates towards the bathhouse. Though you cannot understand her, the message is a fairly clear.
As Staveon tries to take the bags, set to the side with a few attendants dutifully removing, sorting, and cleaning the objects in question, the woman takes down a coiled whip and, keeping it coiled, begins to use it as a strap against the fighter's more sensitive areas. Loudly continuing her chastisements and, from the sounds of it, denouncements of his family and their personal habits unto the umpteenth generation. She does not pursue, regardless of what he takes, once he leaves.
------------------------------------------
As the rangers come to take clothing and possessions, there is a bit of a stand-off. They clearly want to take everything. After a few minutes of pantomime negotiations, one of the them, a young man with horizontally slitted eyes, picks up a damaged and bloodstained piece of clothing, prestidigitation does a lot but it can't get everything, with a gloved hand. Looking to Athene, he says a few words while pointing to the blood. She translates for the rest of you. Pestilence. Disease. Must clean. We must clean all things. If there are objects people still refuse to surrender, he shrugs and hands you bars of potent soap, directing you to wash them over the wooden grate area around the bath rather than inside it.
His limited speech sounds like someone who is not fluent, rather than impaired. You notice none of the others try speaking with you, though they talk amongst themselves in a clearly elven, or very, very close too it, language that is completely incomprehensible to you. They also seems to communicate with their hands a lot.
When Staveon returns from his streaking/attempted-animal-grooming, obviously flustered, and bangs his leg on the side of the tub as he hops back in, Mina just rolls her eyes.
Mina makes sure to scrub the stuff she hung onto as directed. She doesn't want to spread pestilence or disease.
She's also glad to slip into the subtle ranger-style clothing. In a forested area like this, not only would it help them blend in against enemy attack, but it would also provide more protection against tree branch or brush scrapes than her usual less-covering attire.
Once they are seated at the table in the house, she tries again to figure out which group the blonde-braid women and their men are connected to. Are they Rangers? Bear Killers? Protection Association? McKenzies? Can she tell by what they're wearing?
Staveon would be only too glad to clean his own things. He works at it with diligence, knowing, from experience, exactly how badly disease can ruin a military operation. He could only imagine a civilian one. He would invite the rangers to stay, by pantomime, and show his intent and styles of cleaning. He would also carefully polish his metal goods thereafter.
To Mina
"They see, legitimate to me, also since we met them they have had more than enough warriors to overwhelm us"
To stave on
"I think, they believe what they have told us, and they certainly have learened elvish,from some long ago encounter with my people. I think we are a puzzling anomaly to them amd I am going to be less impressive than their legends, they expect one of the heroes of legend, not. A junior ranger on vacation"
Athens will keep with her a belt pouch with a few personal items like the vial, but will be happy to transfer them to a clean belt
Ooc
I have my flight in a few hours and will probably be offline until Tuesday depending on now tired I am when. I get home
"So... they've never seen a real elf? Ever? That's... well that's pretty strange. So, seriously, the half-elves come from straight-up humans? That's... ridiculous. What, are we somehow the Ur-race for all others? That doesn't make sense. Didn't your people come from somewhere else , Athene? I didn't think you guys sprouted from humans and formed Kyonin, right?"
He thinks about the implication of this for a while. "I mean, if that's true, where did the Satyrs come from? Are just born from humans too? Or did they arrive because someone (ugh - probably a creepy druid - yech) gets a goat preggers? No, I think these folk must me missing something kind of important."
Staveon asks the rangers as much, loudly and slowly. They can't understand a word he's saying, but he looks kind of like a dumb foreigner talking to children.
More side convo with Athene around the time of the tub:
"Hey, Athene, do you know if these guys have mages or spell-casters of any sort? Like, is that a normal thing here? They obviously have magic items that came from somewhere, but they also have half-elves that came from somewhere, and apparently it wasn't elves, so I don't want to assume. Do you have any really subtle way of inquiring? Cuz, you know, I don't want to be burned at the stake or something if I let them see me cast a spell."
"I am fairly certain that they have never met an Elf before, as to were half elves come from unions between half elves can maintain the bloodline for some time, but that does not seem to be the case here.
I am fairly certain that Elves are not descended from humans, we have been around for a long time, it is possible that elves were here and left a long time ago , certainly we have been able to move between planets for millenia, when we left Kyonin after the earthfall we moved to Sovyrian.
I have not seen any spellcasters nor do they seem to mention them, I will ask directly if they have wizards like those of Kyonin , without mentioning your own abilities that way I can find out if there is an issue.
I will also ask more of their history so I can try and work out how it may fit in with ours.
I think I should also start trying to teach you elven , or I am sure we will be able to persuade them to teach us all their common language it depends if you want to try and learn two new languages"
Mina asked about relations , Athene will explain what she had learned about the relationships of the people we have spoken with all the people we are currently dealing with are Dunedain Rangers , however they have ties beyond that so. (I have known this for a while but not managed to explain it)
Mike Havel was the founder of the Bear killers he was married to Signe Larson and had several children. Mike (Lord Bear) died in single combat against the leader of the Portland protective association ending a war.
Mike Junior (Current leader of the Bear killers guided by his mother Signe and Uncle Eric Ironhand)
Ritva and Mary Havel twins who left the Bear killers and joined the Rangers
Before he married Signe Mike Havel had one child by Juniper Mackenzie founder of the Mackenzie clan, that child was Rudi High King of Montival. Juniper Mackenzie had 3 daughters by other husbands as well one of whom was the cofounder of the Dunedain rangers, the next is the current chief of the Mackanzies and the last a famous bard/
He became high king after going on a long quest to bring back a magic sword to defeat the servants of Morgoth. On this quest his half sisters Ritva and Mary travelled with him on the quest on that quest they both met their husbands Ingvar the Wonderer and Ian. Rudi also married the daughter of the Portland protective association and had several children one of whom Orlaith is now the high queen , although her mother may rule as regent for some years.
Ingvar, and Ritva are two of the rangers we have met Mary is the one eyed piratical woman, Ingvar is the other male rannger Leader.
Ritva is a half brother to the dead king.
Signe Larson had a sister Astrid who was one of the co founders of the Rangers and the driving force behind them, she may also have been an elf or half elf that is unclear , she married Alleyne Loring a brave knight from a strange place called England. Diorn is one of their sons and a senior commander of the Rangers
All of these groups Bear Killers, Portland Protective Association Clan Mackenzie and others are members of the High Kingdom of Montival. The Dunedain rangers are oathsworn to the service of the High Kingdom and hold small patches of land through out it , they scout , hunt bandits and ghouls , protect trade and serve as the Kingdom special forces in times of war.
"Cool. Thanks. Good to know. And, sure, I'd be game to learn two more languages."
After completely failing to communicate anything to anyone for the past day, Staveon stops his massage of her shoulders, looks at Athene's face, and nods. "Yeah. I need to learn how to talk to these people." he nods once, firmly, then resumes the shoulder rub. "Druids are still creepy-weird, though." he mutters, softly to himself.
"What about you, Therin? What's your take on all of this?" he asks his friend.
It does seem odd that there is a definite elven-related population here, even though there are no elves. Perhaps there were some others that came through the same way we did? Hard to say. And sure, teaching us some basics to allow for communication is a good thing I think.
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In the manor house
As you sit, Diorn converses briefly with the others in the nearly Elvish language that seems to be popular among the rangers. It isn't hard to see the intense curiosity the four regard you with, though Mary and Ritva's gazes do seem a bit hungrier then their husbands, eyes eagerly scanning each of you looking for... something. Everyone has sheets of paper and wooden pens that leave trails of ink, though no ink wells are in sight. Dark bottles of wine, some with labels weathered almost to nothing, others well preserved sit on the table alongside plates of preserved meats, cheese wedges, and olives.
Speaking to Athene, but making eye contact with each of you, Diorn does his best to translate for the others. The initial questions are fairly straightforward. Who are you? Where did you come from? How did you get here? Why are you here? Are you sure? Please tell me again so I know I understand.
Later questions are more specific, and often result in shouts that summon other rangers to fetch books, maps, drawings, or other things that help clarify the subject in question. Do you recognize the stars in our sky? Can you draw your night sky? Do you have map of your world? Can you draw one? Where is your home there? What races live there? Who do you worship? What is the magic like? Have you heard of our world?
Some of the questions, often those which seem to be of most interest to your hosts, are difficult even to understand, or sometimes seem like utter nonsense. Did the rules of how materials worked suddenly changed fourty-six years ago? Has it ever happen? Did things suddenly stop working? If you heat a container of liquid, will it explode? How much pressure does it take? Does it work with all liquids and containers? Is lightning drawn to copper? Do you shock yourself touching a metal doorknob? Is the Enemy or dark powers active in your world? Has evil recently threatened to consume the world? Have you met or heard tales of men, probably holy men or magicians, who are all but impossible to kill, who keep moving after limbs are severed and skulls are crushed? Have you felt as though the world/universe/reality was being stretched by a great weight? Have you heard something say I. See. You. and wanted to weep like a child?
It isn't all one way however, nor are these cold inquisitors searching for some misstep or possible contradiction.
While asking about Golarion, they bring a globe to the table. A planet in miniature, it has painted seas and river, even raised places for the great mountain ranges. Every detail of the world is there, as though a god had sculpted it while sitting amongst the starts. No uncertain lines or 'here be dragons' where unknown lands are rumored to exist. They show you two landmasses joined together by a narrow bridge, pointing to the western side of the upper continent, they show you where you are, and where the heart of their kingdom is to the north. The husband of one-eyed Mary, Ingolf, becomes very animated pointing to places on the globe, moving his finger from sea to sea.
Other places, islands across the seas, lands on the other side of the world are named and described.
They also tell you more of themselves, the other lands of their kingdom, their constant war with those that dwell across the bay, of the evil they thought defeated only to learn it had triumphed in a nation across the great western ocean.
They also tell of a calamity that took place fourty-six years ago. Apparently the people who lived here then had a great civilization. Cities of millions and tens of millions dotted the planet. The great ruins you see at the bay do not even approach the size of the great cities, through which one could walk for days in a straight line and never leave. League after league of fruit-trees, fields of wheat so vast you could travel a week and not be through them. More than seven billion people filled the earth. The sky was filled with flying machines that in a single night could take hundreds of people to the other side of the world. Through machines that tamed lightning and carried sounds silently through the air, and were smaller than a man’s heart, any person to speak to another and see their face. It did not matter if they were in the same room, or across the world. They could see and speak to them as though looking through a mirror.
Their weapons were apparently equally impossible. Their grandparents and the books tell of weapons any person could possess that would kill from miles away, and the sound would not reach until after the weapon had struck. The leaders of nations had weapons of fire so powerful they destroyed islands and would turn an entire city of tens of millions to ash before one could blink.
Also, though there is much debate about this, it seems there was no magic, or if there was it was almost unknown. Magic was in legends and myths, and very few believed it was real. Apparently, many thought the gods themselves were not real. Ian mentions
Then, for a reason none understand or can explain, all the things powered by fire and lightning, which was almost everything, ceased to work. The machines of fire and metal that moved food from the improbable fields to the impossible cities stopped. The machines that planted and harvest the fields stopped, and the people, in their thousands, then millions, and finally billions died. Of hunger, of thirst, of disease, and from the knives and teeth of their neighbors.
As they relay this tale, all grow solemn, face the ruins across the water, and make ritual gestures.
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"I am Athene a ranger and Paladin of Arshea , travelling from Kyonin to learn of human lands and see the world, or as it turns out worlds. I am 134 years old a youngster by the standards of my people. I was travelling with these companions when we investigated some ancient ruins there we found an artefact which when we touched it transported us across to your world. On our arrival we found humans and ghouls engaged in some form of meeting or conflict they attacked and we had to kill both the humans and ghouls I do not know if their presence was connected to why we appeared there , they had nothing terribly unnusual on them except for this strange vial.
I have not noticed the laws of nature changing during my lifetime, and I have heard of no such changes in the history of the elves. We have had great catastrophes but nothing of the scale you describe since the Earthfall when an asteroid devastated the planet, and the elves avoided that catastrophe by moving to another planet.
The horror of such a mass death is beyond my capability to understand, it seems a miracle that any civilisation endures.
We have always had magic, there are many Elven wizards and our priests can also manifest the magic of the gods, as with practice I may be able to do.
Evil does threaten our world , near Kyonin we face two great evils the world wound where the barriers between the planes are weak and demons invade the land, a crusade of humans with some elven help fights these demons and on our own border the great Balor Treerazer a demon of Fire and Shadow tries to destroy our forests."
She stops to translate some of the others comments
Staveon would enjoy the food, and, to start out, enjoy the questioning.
Who are you? Where did you come from? How did you get here? Why are you here? Are you sure? Please tell me again so I know I understand.
Staveon would, at length, again, explain via crude drawings of hierarchy who and what he was. He'd show off his tattoos and explain that he and Therin are both part of the Bloodstone Swords - sworn brothers-in-arms. He would describe the River Kingdoms as best as he could, the various cities and locales that he's seen his whole life and, most importantly, the River Freedoms.
He would try to find several ways to communicate this idea.
And, yeah, he's pretty daggum sure.
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Later questions are more specific, and often result in shouts that summon other rangers to fetch books, maps, drawings, or other things that help clarify the subject in question. Do you recognize the stars in our sky? Can you draw your night sky? Do you have map of your world? Can you draw one? Where is your home there? What races live there? Who do you worship? What is the magic like? Have you heard of our world?
Actually, not only does he have a map, but he - and the others - have coinage, and he hasn't had a solid enough sky to look at to know if he's ever seen your stars. Not that he'd necessarily know, but he could at least verify or deny the "kiddy" constellations his ma taught him way back when.
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Some of the questions, often those which seem to be of most interest to your hosts, are difficult even to understand, or sometimes seem like utter nonsense. Did the rules of how materials worked suddenly changed fourty-six years ago? Has it ever happen? Did things suddenly stop working? If you heat a container of liquid, will it explode? How much pressure does it take? Does it work with all liquids and containers? Is lightning drawn to copper? Do you shock yourself touching a metal doorknob? Is the Enemy or dark powers active in your world? Has evil recently threatened to consume the world? Have you met or heard tales of men, probably holy men or magicians, who are all but impossible to kill, who keep moving after limbs are severed and skulls are crushed? Have you felt as though the world/universe/reality was being stretched by a great weight? Have you heard something say I. See. You. and wanted to weep like a child?
These would be the most interesting to Staveon, or, rather, the most comprehensible. While he wasn't around forty-six years ago, he's pretty sure nothing major like that occurred, otherwise the technical manuals he'd studied at various points throughout his life wouldn't have functioned. He puts the full weight of his engineering into this, working with them, fascinated by their seeming ignorance and intelligence at the same time.
- On heated containers: "Heated containers, if not possessing some relief mechanism, will explode, if enough heat is applied and the container can withstand it." he explains, briskly, but clearly as possible.
- On pressure: "The amount of pressure depends on the materials used: the container, the contents, and the heat; pressure, however, is hard to measure (though he's heard of people in far southern 'Al-ken-star' who may be able to do such things)." he tells them.
- On copper rods: "Well, he's never actually run around with a copper rod in a lightning storm because that's kind of stupid, but, yeah, some folk have copper rods on their houses to protect from Gozreh's stray bolts." he explains the local superstitions.
- On shocking doorknobs: "I rarely shock myself when touching a metal doorknob - depends on how much static I've built up, and usually that's only around exceedingly plush locations, like certain Calistrian temples, few of which have door knobs; but touching metal, now there's a different story. I've always got some of my things with me, as you may have realized from the interactions at the bathhouse. The priestess refer to it (every, daggum time) as a "sweet sting" - annoying, but hardly harmful."
- On the Enemy: "'The' Enemy? What, you mean like an army or something?" he tries to clarify. Upon receiving some, "The devil? Oh, yeah, sure, 'the'-" he adds air-quotes, "devil exists - he runs Cheliax, or so I've heard. I mean, I don't think he's there, personally, or anything, but I know the whole stinkin' country's devoted to his worship. Ma told me they have been ever since some human god or another got himself offed." he shrugs, "I never understood the significance, to be honest. Also, I think that there are lots of devils, but only one, the big A-hole, is in charge of them all. I don't know 'bout that, though, it's just how my ma always talked of 'em."
- On other dark powers: "There are plenty o' other dark powers 'round the world, though, let me tell you. There's Razmir (a poser, but a powerful jerk and dangerous would-be petty tyrant all the same), the World Wound (Athene's already mentioned that one), those creepy freak-shows from Nidal (belch), Ustalav (at least, if you believe the rumors), the elves (no offense, Athene - with your peoples' weird secret society-thing), Galt with its stupendously idiotic eternal revolution, and the nobility in general. That last one was a joke. It was just a joke! (Sometimes.)" he smiles, amused.
- On rumors of hard-to-kill: "All-but-impossible-to-kill... what you mean like me?" Staveon grins, amused. "No, nothing like what you're describing. I'm just a tough nut to crack is all." he laughs. "But what you're talking about... nope, nothing like that, at least not directly. No, the closest thing I've ever heard of is a 'liks' or something like that - a dead guy who just keeps getting better 'til you do something to end him forever. I don't know what - ma was the only one who knew about that kind of stuff, and the only time she ever talked about it was one time when I was smaller and she said she might not be coming back 'cause she had to go 'destroy a 'liksbocks', as she'd discovered the filter's location' whatever that means. I think they're only casters of some sort that can do that. That's about all I know, though."
- On the stretching universe: "Uh, only while we were being transported here." he explains with a shrug.
- On the Tolkien reference: "Mmmmmmmmmmmmmm... nope. Not since I was actually a child, and ma whipped those bullies' backsides hard enough that they never bothered me again. Nothing magical, though. Though that one weird cultist did mess with my head and make me lose control of myself briefly. I hate that guy."
-------------------------------------------
While asking about Golarion, they bring a globe to the table. A planet in miniature, it has painted seas and river, even raised places for the great mountain ranges. Every detail of the world is there, as though a god had sculpted it while sitting amongst the starts. No uncertain lines or 'here be dragons' where unknown lands are rumored to exist. They show you two landmasses joined together by a narrow bridge, pointing to the western side of the upper continent, they show you where you are, and where the heart of their kingdom is to the north. The husband of one-eyed Mary, Ingolf, becomes very animated pointing to places on the globe, moving his finger from sea to sea.
Other places, islands across the seas, lands on the other side of the world are named and described.
"Holy ****, **** **** ****in' ****-****." Staveon exclaims looking at the map. After examining it again, "Holy ****, **** **** ****in' ****-****." he repeats. He finds no sign of the River Kingdoms... and breaks out into a cold, cold sweat again.
He would enthusiastically engage in a question of locations, places, and similar, and ask for maps of the local area.
-------------------------------------------
Staveon would listen, enraptured, to their story. He would grimly nod at evil resurging from destruction - evil always seems to do that - while be exceedingly confused about the even forty-six years ago.
He'd have his mouth hang agape - he doesn't care - at the description of the size of the cities. He'd explain that the only place he knows like that is Absalom - the city at the center of the world. And he's never been there.
He finds the leagues of fruit-trees and vast fields dubious, not to mention the size of people. It's hard for him to wrap his mind around, until they start explaining seven-thousand-thousand-thousand. Not nine thousand folk, not twenty-one thousand folk, but seven thousand sets of a thousand-thousand folk. Then he sweats again.
Such a number of people! They'd flood the earth! They'd cover the land like locusts! Nothing - nothing - could hold that many!
It's... it's ridiculous. And... can't be... true...
The idea of flying machines... machines that tamed Gozreh's lightning... machines that acted like the magic mirrors his mother had once spoken of. "Machines did these things?" he demands clarified. "Not magic - not spells - but machines? Like printing presses or water pumps?" The disbelief is clear on his face.
Though inwardly he knew it was true. No mage could have done what he saw out there. Only the unrelenting power of engineering. Where magic faded, relied on individuals, or was bound up in small items, engineering was not, did not, and could not be.
Staveon stands and paces. His mind whirling. Boggling. Trying to grasp what they were saying. It was true. It couldn't be true. It was true.
On their weapons, he had no reason to understand or believe anything like what they were saying, only that things didn't make sense. As he slowly asks for more information about their weapons, however, cold, cold dread begins to fill him. His mouth becomes a grim line.
"Alkenstar." he explains, grimly.
Asking for paper and charcoal sticks, he pulls out his map, and makes a tiny representation of the River Kingdoms. He's no cartographer, and he's not exceptionally bright, but he understands the concept of scale quite well, and has discovered the importance of clear drawings in his time as an engineer. He makes several guesstimates, and takes feedback from his friends and erases clearly incorrect things, and re-sizes the map a few times, until he's got a quasi-decent representation of the Inner Sea.
"Here." he points to the mana wastes. "This is Alkenstar. They have guns." he says the foreign, dwarvish word carefully. "These do what you describe, but are smaller range - much smaller. But the basic idea is the same. Powder projects a bullet like a sling, but much faster, much harder." he nods, grimly, at the thought, and the realization. In his mind's eye, he watches Golarion slowly come into its own, as this world apparently did, with city-killing weapons. And then the gods taking away all of it. His mind churns and churns. He's stunned.
"No." he says aloud as they're describing the sudden cessation of the machines - before it's even translated. He's slowly coming to the inevitable conclusion. "No." he denies Athene's translation of the event.
"No!" he calls as he runs to the window, looking out. There was death there. All of those innocents. All those dead. All those bodies. All that disease.
The sweat comes again. A slow disquiet growing inside him. Terror. An enemy he couldn't fight, but was always lurking.
"I don't think we should stay here anymore." he whispers.
As Athene begins to relay the slow fall of the world, Staveon's face streams with tears as well.
"Holy ****, **** **** ****in' ****-****." he says. "Athene, we're in grave danger. These people are in danger... from us. I'm no doctor, but I'm a farmer. My ma always said, 'You don't take cattle or chicken from too far away.' It's because they've got diseases that your cows and chicks don't, and your cows and chicks've got diseases they don't, even if they're perfectly healthy. Just imagine this, Athene: seven billion-" he tries the new foreign word, an odd concept, and impossible to truly grasp at present. "-people. Dead. All of them. All those bodies. All those corpses. Rotting. Festering. The bloated fly herself couldn't come up with a better way to devastate a folk."
He turns to the people. "We need to see your clerics. You holy folk. They need to remove disease from us and our things. If nothing else, we need to see the Calistrians. They'll be able to do this." he explains, pointing to his pin to show who he meant. "We may be dangerous, infecting you as you infect us. We come from very, very far away." he explains, hurriedly.
Therin explains his lack of familiarity with the inner workings of science, but does know a bit about magic. Just enough that he has a healthy respect for spellcasters. While not the most pious of men, he does revere the god of Nature, Gozreh. He explains that he has heard of nigh unkillable monstrosities, but has yet to cross sword with one.
Therin then tries to make a crude star map using his survival skill
Re-posting previous rolls for this conversation...
Charisma: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (8) + 4 = 12 to be friendly
Bluff: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (2) + 11 = 13 for subtle magic use
Intimidate: 1d20 + 10 ⇒ (14) + 10 = 24 not to demoralize, but just to show competency
Intelligence: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (13) + 2 = 15 to pick up some general knowledge about things
Appraise: 1d20 + 9 ⇒ (18) + 9 = 27 to notice the quality of things
Linguistics: 1d20 + 3 ⇒ (2) + 3 = 5 to maybe follow some conversation or learn some words
Spellcraft: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (9) + 8 = 17 to figure out any magic auras she sees
Wisdom: 1d20 ⇒ 14 to get a sense of things in general
Sense Motive: 1d20 ⇒ 11 to get a sense of people
Perception: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (18) + 1 = 19 to notice stuff
.............
It would probably take a while for Mina to understand the concept that they're on a whole new planet. When she finally does, I imagine she'd be pretty dumbstruck.
She would ask Athene if these people have any magical or mechanical ways of traveling to other planets.
She would hesitate to show them the vial, but would agree if Athene was pretty certain they should.
She would be kind of spooked by Staveon's sudden freak-out, and would say,
"Staveon, get a grip. Panicking won't help anyone. We're already here and we've bathed and scrubbed and stuff."
She would try to get the names of these five people straight, which is proving harder than it should. Diorn is the only half-elf, right? Mary is the one-eyed blonde braids, and Ingolf is her husband who rode with us, right? What is the other blonde twin named, and what is her husband named?
Then she would try to clarify with Athene,
"Athene, so, before this great change there was no magic here... But there is magic now? They do have spell casters?"
She would try to help Athene explain how magic works to them, and would ask Athene if she thinks they should know that Mina can use magic.
[dice=Perception]d20 EDIT: Perception: 1d20 ⇒ 17 So close!
[dice=Charisma]d20 EDIT: Charisma: 1d20 ⇒ 16 to make new friends
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"I'm not panicking, Mina, I'm being serious. Emphatic. We've bathed. That's great. What if we have something else - something inside us. We need to see the priestesses." he sighs. "Look: corpses rot. You leave the corpses around on a field of battle and hang out nearby and bad things happen. I can't fathom how much disease that would leave behind. I don't know - maybe there's nothing to be concerned about, but then again, maybe there is. We don't know. We're like foreign cows brought to field. We've bathed, but not been religiously purified yet. I don't know enough about disease to make the call that we're safe." he states.
He looks out the window again. "Those people died. Too many to contemplate. Too many to understand. These people have survived... but I don't want to undo them by accident."
He looks, "Your idea is a good one, though. Do they have any way of getting off-... plah-net?" the last is clearly a foreign word that he's having trouble pronouncing right.
The stuff in here, and all the ranger's things, are high quality but relatively unadorned. The table is a good example. Quality oak that's been expertly worked and stained, but there isn't any of the inlaying or carving that you usually see.
Same thing with their jerkins. They do have the crowned tree and stars symbol that Diorn's outfit has, and it's just was well done, but you have to be close and paying attention to notice it tooled into the leather.
You could probably double, even triple, the value of their things just by adding a bit of bling. At least that's how it'd work most places.
Athena's mention of Treerazer prompts a bit of discussion among the five, though they don't ask anymore about it at the moment.
Though crude, Therin is able to sketch the most recognizable constellations for this time of year. Compared to their star charts, which are very detailed, you can't find anything in common. The stars are completely different.
Opening one of the somewhat worn books, more a tome really, Ritva shows you a picture of suns and planets. Pointing to the sun in the book and then the sun in the sky, she counts down the line of planets to number three and indicates that is where you currently are. There are nine planets in the picture, four smaller ones, a line of what looks like dust and pebbles, then four large ones, and finally a very small one at the edge.
Handing a pen and paper to Therin, Diorn asks him to draw the same for your world.
At Staveon's reaction, none of your host's seem particularly surprised or upset. Mary and Ritva's eyes go soft and Ian slides a flask of amber liquor towards him, motioning to drink.
Diorn speaks urgently, Calm him. He is in no danger here, nor are we. The water cleansed you. If he becomes ill, he will be healed. Looking at Staveon thoughtfully, Many of those who lived through the Change become so at times. Their thoughts will go to places and people they once knew, and, as you say, it is something mortals were not meant to understand. Dwelling on it over long will shatter his mind.
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In response to Mina's questions, There are magicians and others who work spells. Some rangers are such, but it is more common among the Mackenzies and Portland. For us, magic is a thing of doing and being. It is a part of what we make rather than something forced upon it.
As for the stars, we are not able to travel there now, but in the past machines like great arrows pushed by fire brought men to the moon and the space between. Aparently machines traveled to all the planets.
As Athene draws out the vial, your hosts grimace and instinctively lean back, not quite recoiling. After a shouted command, your odd-eyed launderer enter the room. Working the cap free, he examines it carefully, sniffing it experimentally before using a pair of fine tweezers to remove a single grain.
Placing it carefully on his tongue, he shudders briefly before opening his eyes, pupils dilated so that almost the entire eye is black. He speaks to the others in a respectful, but sharp tone, his movements tense and abrupt.
Diorn fills you in, You spoke of demons threatening your home. This is from one such that threatens ours. A terrible being, it rips the spirits from the living and captures those of the dead who have not journeyed to the halls of the Judge. The spirits are mixed with a poison from before the change. They become or are trapped in these crystals.
It is greatly coveted by those who serve the enemy, for it fills them with a burning strength and banishes all fear. With it a man will run until his heart stops and fight until he cannot move. His servants in the ruins are strong already, with this they are almost as deadly as those possessed. Please tell us everything about those who had this.
This should be entertaining....
Therin takes the pen and paper and tries his best to draw the picture they are asking....although he doesn't really know what other planets actually are in his world.
" You are worrying too much Staveon, bodies do indeed rot and after nearly 50 years they are little more than skeletons, the conditions you fear would have been just after the die off , not now a human lifetime away. You are also concerning them, it seems people who worry too much about this sort of thing have been known to go mad. Although with one as placid and calm as you that would be difficult to notice.
Also what elven secret society, I don't know of any we tend to be most open in our culture and relations amongst each other. Though I admit we don't let many humans in, I think that is because of the lifespan, it upsets many elves to realize that a friend they have made will die of old age before the elf really gets to know them, it is something I normally avoid thinking about when relating to humans, it is hard to remember that you were born after my first century and will probably be gone before my second. I am hurt that you would think ill of my people "
To Mina
they say
There are magicians and others who work spells. Some rangers are such, but it is more common among the Mackenzies and Portland. For us, magic is a thing of doing and being. It is a part of what we make rather than something forced upon it.
As for the stars, we are not able to travel there now, but in the past machines like great arrows pushed by fire brought men to the moon and the space between. Aparently machines traveled to all the planets.
Then in response to Diorn
"
When we arrived in this world 2 humans and 2 ghouls had met atop a great circular building , we appeared next to them. One of the humans tried something magical I had not seen before to probe several of our minds, the other human and the ghoul attacked us, there was fighting and we killed all 4 , when searching their bodies we found this vial. I was concerned we may have killed the humans due to a misunderstanding it seems that they were in fact evil. We could show you were this happened, we also took a couple of weapons off the humans we could show you. I am a Paladin sworn to defend against evil so I will be happy to provide what aid I can.
As to travelling between world we elves us powerful magics , although few can create them today many of the gates were created by great wizards in the past. I have heard that others fly in metal craft possibly like those you described but I have no knowledge of that.
The guns Staveon spoke of are something I have heard of and sound like they may be similar to those that no longer work here, but they are not common among elves and I had not yet seen one.
On a second matter of curiosity to us , you seem to have elven blood to be what would be known on Golarion as a half elf, this seems unusual to us as it appears that I am the first elf to be here for some generations and it would be difficult for a half elf community to breed true for so long, I mean no insult by this question but it is a matter of interest, but I will understand if it is something you do not wish to talk of."
Athene will also help Therin with drawing the other planets, she knows of at least one other
Also, Mina would let Athene say something about Mina being a spellcaster if she wants to.
Also, Mina would let Athene say something about Mina being a spellcaster if she wants to.
Invar appears to be a random name I typed in by accident while meaning Ingolf . Sorry for adding to the confusion with typing the wrong name
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Your hosts pay close attention as Diorn translates Athene's description of your arrival and initial fight, and are interested in any additions others are willing to provide.
Once the details of the fight are covered, Mary and Ritva examine the map of the planets Therin and Athene have sketched. They aren't identical by any means, but do seem quite similar. If you switched out Verces and Eox for their belt of pebbles, the first six planets would be identical, Liavara's rings and all.
The slightly awkward four-way conversation continues for a while longer, but as the shadows lengthen Ingolf indicates the it is time to bring things to a close for now.
Diorn leads you down one wing of the building to a set of richly furnished bedrooms. There are enough beds of everyone, and the embroidered quilts and shimmery sheets indicate a night of luxurious decadence waits. Diorn informs you that the rest of your gear will be brought here once it's finished being cleaned.
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Dinner is a communal affair. Family and friends sit on chairs or the ground together. Mary, Ingolf, Ritva, Ian, and Diorn likewise wander from group to friend and back again, with little to distinguish them from the rest. The atmosphere being generally relaxed and amiable. The conversations themselves are curiously animated, with gestures and hand signals seeming to play as large a role as voices. Platters of bread and bowls of raw vegetables and fruits cover long tables, along with pitchers of cool water, wine, and milk.
The centerpiece of the meal is a large boar who was probably a few hundreds pounds before the cooking started. Apparently the favored method of here is to stuff it with vegetables and fruits, cover in herbs and salt, then bake slowly in a pit over the course of the day. It is delicious.
Throughout the meal you all get plenty of long glances and outright stares, though Athene continues to be main focus. Occasionally someone, usually younger, will approach and attempt a stilted conversation in the archaic elvish, but most seem to content to call Diorn over and leave the speaking to him.
After everyone has had time to eat and chat, Ingolf moves to the center and get's everyone's attention. Individuals stand a give reports, questions, or whatever else seems to be their concern or purview.
Once this is finished Ingolf gestures for you to come forward. After a short speech he sits back down. Diorn tells you that it is customary for new arrivals or guests to give a short introduction or demonstration. It isn't mandatory, but appreciated. Apparently Diorn's mother, one of the founders of the group had a penchant for drama and showmanship.
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Once dinner is over, the night ends. Most of your gear is waiting for you in the rooms, and the only thing left is to rest and face the new day.
Do not be concerned over those you slew. They were servants of the enemy, or at least friendly to those who are. There are those who, while they have not changed as much as the bringers-of-fear, have still been twisted. Many of these are given strange powers to tear and peer into the minds of others. If would show us anything else you took from them, and where you were on a map, it would be most helpful.
We have heard of the pathways through and between the world, but the stories say they were all closed long before the third age.
Your question does not offend me. Indeed, as best we know you are the first elf to be seen in several ages, many, many centuries at the least. Nor were there any half-elves, as you have called me. What blood of the eldest and the west remained lay dormant, perhaps a hint of eye or body in those who it was particularly strong, but nothing more.
Since the Change, it has begun to quicken, and call those who share it together. Every year more children are born who bear a physical symbol of our ancestry. We know not why. The common thought is that as the enemy wakens and struggles to break free, he calls and wakes the blood of his servants. And so the Lord of the West and Lady of Stars calls to what remains of the firstborn that we may contend with him as we have always done.
This end point can be anything you want, including nothing. Sing/dance/magic/swordsmanship/etc. People are entertainment, and new faces are a plus when you live in a small community.
Something for people to be thinking about. Our five leaders you've gotten to know will be leaving tomorrow, heading north towards the center of the kingdom. Will you go with them, or stay here? Either way there should be some action, i.e. killing and dying, soon.
One-eyed blonde is Mary. Her husband, the man with her when you met at the bridge, is Ingolf. Ritva is the other blonde. Her husband is Ian.
At the arrival of the beds, Staveon hesitates a moment, before making the gesture of the Savored Sting. "This is a temple of Calistria?" he asks, in surprise (though pleasant). "I thought you did not know that name of hers here? She is also called the Savored Sting?"
Regardless, he is suddenly excited about the prospects for the night...
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They arrive at the feast, and Staveon is overjoyed!
He is, after all, thoroughly about the entertainment. While he might not be very good at dancing (which he enjoys), singing (which he enjoys), or storytelling (which he enjoys - especially for the kids, though a few details are designed as information for adults only), he's certainly good at the swordplay.
He takes the opportunity to show off a bit, reveling in the ability to use his blades freely and for show once again. He uses a few acrobatic maneuvers, and, while focusing on his dueling sword, he also shows off some techniques (though less flashy, naturally) with his halberd, his hammer, and his flail.
In the end, he wraps his blade in leather, and invites any one warrior to a light-hearted sparring match. He's entirely comfortable with losing: this is simply a match for fun instead of competition.
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Staveon would linger for a time with the leaders, attempting to ascertain exactly what's going to be happening. That they are going to the capital, he works out, but what that means, socially, and how it impacts his newly minted family is less clear.
"Are you going because of us?" he asks. "Because, if so, it may be good to have a representative along, or even all of us." he hints.
A little later, "So, uh, Calistria, you see, is the Savored Sting, you know, the Beautiful Wasp, the Lady in the Room, the Surprising Strike, the Mistress of All Elves (well, that's what they say, Athene), or the Unquenchable Fire. No? Nothing?" he says the titles slowly and carefully, attempting (poorly) to get the point across (and heavily relying on Athene to translate for him). "Priestesses? Black and yellow? Whips? This thing?" he shows off the holy symbol. Served by Velvet Wing, and Menotherian? No? Yes? Maybe?[/b]" Staveon hopes a little.
Still, he'd question his group. "Do we all want to go, one or more of us go and one or more stay, or all stay?" he asks. "Me, I could go either way. I can see value one way or the other." he nods, thinking.
He'd continue to discuss things until they were generally satisfied and had some sort of plan.
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Diorn, through Athene, tries to answer as best he can. "No. This house is not dedicated to any of the powers. Collecting his thoughts for a moment, "I will tell you the names by which we know the powers. Perhaps you will recognize who you worship by a different name. However, this Calistria does not sound like a form of the Powers I know."
The Queens of the Empyreal Lords are seven. Greatest is the Sublime. Who we call Star-Queen, Star-Kindler and the Ever-White. From the beginning she saw the darkness of the Enemy and hated him. She hold dominion over the stars and light, and so the servants of the Dark cannot stand her name or presence.
The Giver of Fruits is Queen of the Earth. She created all green things which grow in the earth, and gave life to the trees.
She Who Weeps is the source of grief and hope, for they are twins who never part. She offers solace when none other will, and teaches compassion and pity.
Rest heals the wounds and weariness of the world. She gives us the night that in her sleep our souls may be renewed.
The Weaver's storied webs cover the halls of the Judge, recording the story of all that has come to pass.
Beauty dwells in the forests of the Hunter. At her passing flowers bloom and birds sing. It was her love that caused the Sun to blossom from the golden tree.
Young forever dances over the fields of the blesssed realm with The Valient. She watches over deer and all other things which run upon the earth.
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The audience looks on and whistle appreciatively at Staveon's performance, particularly his display with the dueling sword, but it is the offering of a friendly duel that really perks their interest. After some good-natured jostling and cat calling, a tough-looking woman steps forward. Perhaps a few years older than Staveon, her scarred arms indicate she's used to the clash of melee.
Nonetheless, this is Staveon's dance. One-on-one, especially in front of a crowd, is what the Aldori style is meant for, and it shows. The first round is clearly in Staveon's favor, but the second see him nearly dropping his sword after trying a particularly fancy maneuver. His opponent begins to laugh at the spectacle, but it was all a clever ruse. In the blink of an eye, her sword is gone and the swordlord ends with a flourish.
The performance earns wild applause from the rangers. Mary and Ritva roll their eyes and mock shudder, but clap with the rest.
Pavo grins as he comes forward. Thanks for setting the bar so low.
Though he doesn't challenge anyone, he puts on an impressive display of tumbling and juggling with his daggers, seemingly making them appear and disappear from improbable places.
This is also greeted with enthusiastic applause and offers of wine. These are martial people, and skill earns their respect.
===================================================================
Discussing travel plans makes it clear that the five leaders and those who will be accompanying them had planned to leave before the met you. Mary tells you, via Diorn. It was by chance that we were finishing some matters with the Bearkillers when you arrived. We have only stayed this long to ensure matters are settled and preparing here. Now we must head north for the funeral and war councils, though we would not object to your presence. Perhaps I should not say chance. There doesn't seem to be such a thing where Powers are concerned. Your arrival at this time could not be anything but fate.
Nevertheless, you are not part of this kingdom, and so we have no authority over you. If you feel it would be best to stay and investigate what brought you here, we understand.
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As you are discussing the matter Pavo offers his opinion. I think maybe we should split up for a bit. With a wide grin, Not that I don't like you guys, but right now there are a lot of fish we need to catch, and all of our lines are in the same spot. And it's not as though it'll be hard to find each other again. We just ask where the aliens are.
Mulling things over, I'm with Staveon, I could go either way. Here and there both seem good.
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Athene will attempt to match the descriptions of the Empyrial lords of these people to those she is familiar with back home, but she is aware that there are many empyrial lords and gods of good and it would be easy for the local ones here to be unknown to her
including Mystery cultist trait bonus used once day
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At the feast Athene will tend to favour the more vegetarian dishes but males sure to show appreciation of the hospitality.
She will happily try to speak with those young people who wish to talk, after all she left home to try and meet and speak with more people. As to providing some demonstration of skill she wished she had practiced more of the music of her people as she thinks that would have been appreciated here so she will make an attempt expalining that sadly she is not a great performer
+4 if she can count her breadth of experience feat
She will also try to show her archery skills, rather hoping that her demonstrated skill will somewhat reduce the awe in which she is held as she is not an Archer of Legend (yet) merely a passable amateur
And achieving that average goal.
After the feast she will retire peacefully to bed alone , as while the thought is tempting charming one of the young rangers here would seem like taking advantage of a false reputation.
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As to there future actions
"I favour sticking together at least until we all speak some language which the locals do , and that probably means travelling with Diorn so that we have someone we can talk to while we try to learn a language of the locals.
I am not a great believer in fate or destiny but our arrival here at the same time as the death of the king does not seem like a coincidence I think we would best served travelling to the center of this realm to observe events. I must also admit I would like to see more of this kingdom and its people and such a journey would indulge my interests."
Though you aren't likely to brag, religion is a bit of a specialty, and you're more familiar with obscure beings than most. Still, there isn't a lot to work with. It might not be a bad idea to have a solid discussion about the faiths, among the many other things, of this place as you, hopefully, travel north.
The first, the Star-Kindler, is obviously Desna, if a bit more focused on good and evil, and less on luck and travel than is typical.
The second is harder, but either Gozreh or the Green Mother seems most likely. Halcamora is another possibility, though more from the name than anything. There aren't too many divinities with a focus on trees or fruits. If you had to pin it down, probably Gozreh. Not many beings are interested in worlds where trees are new.
Andoletta seems the best fit She Who Weeps. Though usually considered quite stern, Grandmother Crow is always ready to point out the proper path to someone who has strayed, which usually involves both hope for the future and grief for past mistakes.
Rest is tough. Desna is typically regarded as the goddess of dreams and sleep. They could be worshiping different aspect as separate beings, though that doesn't seem likely. Perhaps a differently gendered Lalaci?
The Weaver sounds like one of Pharasma's Ushers. Alas, you don't know much about them aside from being roughly equivalent to empyrial lords and tending to have a particular focus or interest. Not many mortals understand the psychopomps or their hierarchy.
Beauty is usually associated closely with Shelyn, and the bit about birds, flowers, and love certainly fits. Though the reference to the hunter and forests is unusual, and the sun is almost always with Sarenrae.
Young doesn't sound like any being you are familiar with. Rowdrosh has lordship over herd animals, but isn't a young frolicking dancer. Ashava is the dancer, but isn't associated with animals.
Overall, it seems likely that the rangers worship a mix of full deities and various outsider lords. Also interestingly, it seems that several of the female divinities are paired with another entity. The judge, hunter, and valiant. Paired worship is relatively uncommon.
During the feast you get the feeling that every action you take, or don't take in the case of the pig, is being watch, analyzed, and debated. You're pretty sure someone lost a beat because of which drink you chose first.
As the evening, and impromptu language sessions continue, you think there may be something to what Diorn said. No one middle-aged seems to have have any elvish traits, but as age decreases, you notice eyes that are most slanted than most humans, eyes with uncommon hues, ear that start to point. The reverse of what happens to the descendants of half-elves that mate with humans.
Though it is clear singing isn't Athene's strongest talent, the rangers are appreciative.
The archery demonstration goes over less well. No throwing fruit by any means, but you can tell they are a bit disappointed.
Well, I am up for wherever...insofar as we do so with the goal to maybe one day get back home. The language barrier is a difficult obstacle for now.
"Therin, I agree we need to learn the local language which is why I think we travel to the capital we will be travelling with someone who can translate and hopefully we can then learn the language"
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Athene will also ask Dione if they have any books written in Elvish and if she can view them to see if the written language is the same, and if they have the same books written in English as that may help with learning the languages.
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Your company departs early the next morning. As you load your relatively meager belongings onto the ranger's packhorses, the rising sun illuminates a sea of fog covering the bay and surrounding valleys. The higher hills, such as the one the ranger's camp is on, rise from the mist like islands. Diorn warns to keep a favorite weapon or two handy. The way we take is usually safe, but things have become unsettled since the king's death. Keep your eyes open for ambushes. There are some who would welcome a chance to strike down those who keep the peace.
Diorn provides Athene with three simple, but well made, copies of a book. One in archaic elvish, the ranger's language, and the common tongue of the kingdom. Though there aren't enough to provide copies for all of you, one or two additional books could be loaned to anyone interested in either the ranger's language or common.
==================================================================
You descend into the misty valley, and follow a twisting trail through the hills to your east. You descend to the valley floor around noon. The morning fog has burned away, giving you clear view of an area much more populated than any you've seen yet. A simple stone keep stands watch on a small mound just below the where the trail enters.
Patchwork fields cover the valley with similar keeps dotting the edges. A league or so to the north a true castle with curtain walls anchors a bustling town near the middle of the valley.
As your horses pass the keep a youth watching from the battlement waves and shouts greeting, which the rangers return.
A low wall surrounds the town, which looks to hold a couple thousand, and carts and wagons make a steady stream in and out. The townsfolk and those in the field surrounding look much like those you've seen before. A melting pot of the northern inner sea. The men mostly wear loose trousers and shirts, sometimes with a tunic or vest over. Unlike what you've seen before, the women are all clothed in long bodiced-dresses with a white underdress beneath and cap or hat. Almost everyone wears an armband or other piece of black clothe.
Your group receives plenty of attention, mostly positive, with many offering bows or curtsies. A, relatively, brief lunch is taken within the great hall of the castle, which flies the grapes quartered with the red eye at half mast. The lord of the castle is well into his middle-age, well-dressed in somber black. Though he greets you courteously, his attention is focused on Mary, Ritva, Ian, and Ingolf. Apparently there is a great deal to discuss. Several small packages and packets of letters are exchanged, mostly added to your saddlebags.
With no more than an hour or so spent, you once again head west. Climbing out of the valley, you pass a earthen dam, a hundred feet high or a little more holding back a medium sized lake. Another keep watches over the dam and the valley below.
Once more traveling through winding hills, you spend the night camped in the pasture of a fortified manor/keep resting in a small valley tucked between the folds of the earth. The minor lord provides dinner and breakfast and suggests making your way quickly to the outpost that is your next day's destination.
You make good time the next morning. The road gently winding south through a valley that shows signs of once being inhabited before turning sharply north into a maze of narrow valleys. Abruptly the valley you are following jinks and as you round the bend becomes a narrow lake.
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The valleys are now all shadowed as you round another bend from where a bone of the valley juts out into the water. The road has been sliced into the hillside and the grade slopes steeply up both above and below you.
In the evening quite of birds and insects, you hear several sharp cracks, followed by the crashing, crunching rumble of stones sliding down the mountainside. It's a landslide, and it's heading straight for you!
A small something, a dislodged stone or flicker of movement, catches your attention and you suddenly notice several humanoids concealed in the brush above you.
Perception
Athene is blithely ignorant of anything beyond the obvious and does nothing more than make a hasty attempt to get clear of the landslide
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At the feast, Mina's fears got the better of her, and she chose not to show off her spell casting abilities.
Mina is happy to ride with the others, and, being something of a linguist herself, works at learning the common tongue here.
In typical Mina fashion, she is completely oblivious as she rides, not noticing the rock slide until it is almost upon her.
She tries to shield herself and/or move out of the way, probably casting mage armor on herself if it seems like that could be helpful.
As they travel, Staveon generally enjoys the attention, and grins and greets people right back. I like these people. he decides with a nod of his head.
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At the castle itself, he's fine, too, with being mostly ignored, and would enjoy what is given, nodding politely, and eating enough to be comfortable, but not full - they have more riding to do, after all, and he'd rather not get sick to his stomach.
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