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 Recent Posts
Mitnal happily hammers hateful goblins attacking one goblin with both his klar and his hammer in a spinning motion.
Not feeling any particular danger -- they're only goblins, right? -- Mitnal begins to whistle while he works. He attacks with both Warhammer and Klar but to little effect.
Mitnal, frustrated that the others are taking up all the fun, enters the room and attacks the nearest goblin. He attempts to clear the doorway if possible so as not to block others.
"Goblins!" Mitnal repeats joyfully. Mitnal tightens his grip on his warhammer.
"Pssst," whispers Mitnal. "Open the doors. Oh, and, pssst, why are we whispering?" "If it is watching us, then wouldn't it just be watching us whisper?" Mitnal says before remembering Jessa is smarter than him. "Never mind. I'll be quiet now."
'Somebody's never skinned an auroch,' Mitnal thinks as he continues onward.
Mitnal will go where he's told but assumes he's up front unless someone tells him otherwise.
Mitnal takes the enlightened stone out of his pouch again and looks at it fascination and then puts it back into his pouch. Then he hears his name somewhere in the endless stream of speech that seems to pour out of Jeslara and perks up his ears. "Dagger. Got it. Hit Whatzit with the dagger." 'Was that so hard? I am so much more succinct,' he thinks to himself.
Mitnal is on his best behaviour and glowers at anyone who might behave otherwise, including Blackwing. He orders baked fish for himself and Blackwing and pays for it with whatever silver he earned from working on the docks the past few weeks. "So," he says to the others, "When do we go beat up the Whatzit?".
"So, have you seen Eugen or Magazin?" she asks, "I'd imagine Magazin will report what we found to Father Zantus. And if I know Eugen, he's off to buy that sword he wanted. Let's see if we can find him down at Savah's. I'm sure you'll like him, Mitnal. And maybe you can help us catch this quasit?" She looks at Gyorgy and Kenzo for acceptance of the idea. "Mitnal's a lot stronger than the rest of us. He ought to be able to pin that... "A whatzit? I've never fought with a whatzit but if you think I can be of service ..." He thumps his chest dramatically and winks to Blackwing. With that he proudly heads off away from the Rusty Dragon, does a 180 degree turn and only a little less proudly heads off towards the Rusty Dragon.
Mitnal takes the thin man's hand gently. "I am Mitnal."
"Welcome to Raven Company. I'm sure we'll put your blade to good use, Kenzo," says the delusional Shoanti raising his right hand over his heart and extending the left to grab Kenzo's elbow."Oh, Kenzo does much more than fight with a weapon," Jessa conveys, "He's a monk. You know, a martial artist...the kind of fighting practiced by Vudran worshippers of Irori and in faraway Tian Xia." Her eyes get all dreamy and distant as she imagines those things and recalls what she's read about them. It doesn't seem to occur to Jessa that Mitnal may have never heard of such religions or distant realms. "The Shoanti have warriors who fight without sword or hammer. Perhaps your people have learnt their arts from us?" says Mitnal. "Jeslara, I promised some fishcakes to Raven-fa ... to Blackwing. Where are the others gathering?"
Mitnal glances at the raven and whispers, "You're apprentice is coming, Raven-father." "Jeslara, Blackwing came for me. Is there something to be done? Are you getting Raven Company back together?"
"Food!" answers Mitnal happily, "That's a good thought." He looks around at the piles of fish guts that will soon get whisked away to make soup at some of the nearby shacks that serve the sailors. "You don't want this slop. How about a trip to the Rusty Dragon?" He extends his palm full of silver to the bird, "Is this enough to buy us some delicious baked fish?" Mitnal begins to head towards the Rusty Dragon with Blackwing.
Yes. Yes I do. For every "basketweaver" in my party who should have had skill points in "Hide" or "Move Silently"! Damn you!When I wrote that, I was thinking specifically of a Paizo statblock in Pathfinder 16 (except the basketweaving thing, I just threw that in there) versus a WOTC statblock in Keep on the Shadowfell. "But ... but ... but look at these lovely baskets! Where do you keep your treasure? Surely, you could use a hand-crafted authentic Shoanti basket!?"
A large cheerful barbarian collects a few silver pieces from a scowling fishing boat captain. "I carried twice as much as the others but you pay me the same. You should not be unhappy with that," Mitnal cautions. Before the man can respond, a black bird catches Mitnal's eye. "Raven-father?" "Raven-father! I've been waiting for you," he calls out to the bird oblivious to the strange looks he's getting.
"Thank you. I was just doing my part. And yes, I'm a halfling." He eats the bit of soupy bread. He waves a hand at Spot, who is on the floor happily gnawing at a large bone, oblivious to whatever is going on around her. "And this is Spot." Mitnal barely glances at 'Spot' but seems fixated on Ruano's chest. He stares for quite sometime at the halfling's chest as if sizing him up and then finally says "Sorry. I've never seen a halfling before but I remember my father telling me about your people when I was a child. He said that although they were half our size, their hearts were as big or bigger. ... I could see that in the way you fought but I don't see how you fit that big heart in and all the food you're eating too." "What is your line of work?"
"Maybe we should see the sheriff?""Perhaps we should.", replies Ruano, sopping some soup out of his bowl with a wad of bread. He pauses. "I'm Ruano Hallif, by the way. I don't believe I'd been properly introduced. Though I suppose I could gather your names from that lovely song." "You fought bravely. ... You're a halfling, aren't you?" asks Mitnal.
"So you can smoke Smokegrass, huh? Not sure about that, but how about some Riddleroot - straight from the pirates of Riddleport?" He offers the pouch to Mitnal. Mitnal, obviously lying, says "I don't smoke. Never have. Neither smokegrass or riddleroot."
"Maybe we should see the sheriff?"
"Also, can you help me find some smokegrass when you are not busy?" "I mean for making baskets from. I like the colour they add. ... I know there are other uses for Smokegrass but ...," Mitnal says changing the subject with some embarrassment "Anyhow, did you see any kind of grasses or sign on the goblins that might tell us where they hide?"
Mitnal bounds over to Shantare and sits down in the nearest chair. "I was thinking about grass. Like the kind I use for my baskets. I was thinking you would know a lot about grass. Some grass does not grow near here. Smokegrass is hard to find here," Mitnal pauses. He's obviously had an intelligent thought and, as that is a rather unusual event, he is quite excited by it "Did the goblins have any grasses on them that didn't grow around here? Can we find their clothes or bodies and look for something that would tell us where they came from? ... Also, can you help me find some smokegrass when you are not busy?"
Shantare looks around in surprise at the new outbreak of song. Such undignified behavior. She thinks moodily, and sinks into her chair, hoping to go unnoticed. Mitnal sees Shantare slumping in her chair and thinks 'Oh no! She's feeling left out.' "Ta-la-ta-la...
Mitnal is surprised by the variation on the song but delighted to have a turn again. "Ta-la-ta-la ...
Mitnal's voice comes booming from across the room. Whatever shyness and reserve kept this man in check has completely disappeared but there is no indication he has been drinking. "Let's do the teasing song!" he shouts then before anyone can ask 'What's the teasing song?' he begins: "Ta-la-ta-la ...
Ruano chuckles. The fox is clever, and the gecko stupid, but neither can truly speak. "You tell a great tale, Shoanti. Did you catch the deceitful fox, or is the lining made from his brothers?" "I may have ... what is the word ... embellished the story a little but I caught the fox and the gecko. The klar is made from a different lizard though. It was one of my father's many klar," says Mitnal still fairly pleased with himself. "Yesterday, we saved many lives but look," Mitnal says waving to the glum and scared patrons of The Rusty Dragon. "It seems the battle is not over." With that Mitnal jumps from his seat again barely having sat down and begins to circulate and make small talk with various patrons. While he thinks of himself as appropriately quiet, he now acts like a soldier trying to boost morale. Whether he realizes it or not, he is acting very much like his late father would at a warcamp. He goes from table to table asking about the health of each family and cheerfully recounting stories of the battle with goblins flying further and further from his hammer blows with each retelling.
"That is quite a tale." Shantare says to Mitnal. "Whether or not it is true is not for me to decide, but it is a fine tale nonetheless." She raises an eyebrow and smiles slyly, obviously not believing him. "The tail? Yes, it is quite a tail," he says as he turns and reveals that a foxes tail hangs off of the leather straps used to tighten the shirt at the lower back. He waggles his tail suggestively at Shantare before returning to his seat with a wolfish grin.
... "While, since you asked," Mitnal smiled "I will tell you the story of my coming of age." "In my tribe, it is tradition for a boy of around thirteen suns to be sent out to hunt, naked and alone. The success of this hunt is the proof of his manhood and he wears the furs, teeth, or feathers of the animals he catches for many years. Most return with a rabbit fur, few with anything more. There was a boy in my village who returned with an enormous buck ...," Mitnal pauses as, for some inexplicable reason, Vinder's face the 'night of the coins' springs to his mind. "He wore the antlers and a vest made from its hide and had his choice of any girl in the village. ... I envied him and waited for my turn. I swore that I would return with nothing less impressive than what he wore." "When my turn came at the early age of twelve, my father and mother wished me well and a good hunt and they, with all the other villagers turned their backs on me refusing to look at me again until I was a man. I travelled for many days and nights and ignored smaller game. I wanted a great prize for my first hunt. I saw nothing but rabbits and foxes. Refusing smaller game, I waited too long and became hungry and thirsty. Soon I grew weak. ... What a fool I had been. If I waited much longer, I would be too weak to hunt at all." "On the fourth day of my hunt, I spied a skinny, raggedy little fox that seemed almost as starved as I was. A fox was not a great kill, but it was the best I could hope for now as weak as I was. I waited behind a rock and when the fox passed by, I sprung like a cat and tumbled in the dirt with the fox in my arms. Pinning him against the ground, I had to catch my breath before I could reach up to snap his neck. Just as I was about to take his life and thank the Brother Fox for this gift, the fox spoke in a voice as clear as the one I am using now." "'Are you so hungry, Shoanti, that you would eat a skinny little fox like me? Surely you could catch bigger game,' he said." "'In fact, no, Mr. Fox, I can not,' I replied, 'I am not yet a man and this is my first hunt alone. I am hungry and you will feed me. I am cold and you will clothe me. Do not fear, I will thank Brother Fox for your gift to me. You can die in peace.'" "'Yes, yes, that's fine,' replied the fox coyly 'But I think you will not be fed enough. I have a better idea. I know how you could kill a giant gecko. Wouldn't that feed you better?'" "Actually, the idea of eating a lizard did not appeal to me but to come home with such a beast over my shoulders would make me a legend amongst my tribes. And to do this at the age of eleven and alone!! The fox had my full attention." "'First, you must get some round white stones from the river bank. Let go of me and I will show you the ones I mean,' said the fox. I was not so easily fooled however. Instead, as tired as I was, I carried the fox. For his part, the fox enjoyed the ride and eventually curled up around my shoulders but I kept ahold of his tail so he could not leap off." "It took half the day before we got to the river. Once we got there, I soon found the round white stones that the fox told me about. But before I could take them, the fox said 'But you will need something to hold them in and you are hungry. Let me call to my friend the turtle.'" "The fox then spoke words I could not understand but soon a large turtle poked his head above the water and angrily hissed 'Why fox! What scheme have you cooked up now?'" "'Great turtle, Lord of the Rivers and the Water Paths, we have need of your shell. This poor boy is on a great hunt and will honour you all of his days if you lend him your shell to carry these stones in'." "After much flattery, the turtle proudly agreed that his shell made not only a beautiful bowl, but that it was an appropriate bowl to use on a hunt as important as a boy's first hunt, and he squirmed out of his shell. As soon as he had, the fox leapt off of my shoulders and snapped his sharp teeth on the turtle's neck. I was furious with the fox but such is the way of the animals and it is not my place to judge. The fox and I roasted the turtle in his own shell and enjoyed a hearty soup. Once it was done, the fox was about to escape but I grabbed him by his tail again 'You are not leaving until I have my giant gecko!' I said angrily. 'The turtle has done his part for my hunt and we have thanked the Spirit of the Rivers and Water Paths, now we must do ours.'" "'Fine, fine, I was just stretching my legs after such a hearty lunch,' lied the fox. 'Let's continue. Fill up that shell with the whitest and roundest stones you can find. Be careful, they must all be about the size of your fist.' I did as the fox commanded and then he hopped back up on my shoulders and told me to head to the Cliffs of the Mighty Hawks. I carried the very heavy bowl of white stones and the lazy red fox for miles across the burning sands still not sure what the fox had in mind." "When we got to the cliff, the fox got very excited and started licking his lips and prancing on my shoulder. 'Up! Up! Up, my boy! Climb the cliff! Climb the cliff!' which I did without question for I had grown used to obeying the sneaky little beast. I climbed the cliff but it was a great struggle with the fox on my shoulders and a turtle shell full of white stones in one hand. I climbed and I climbed until finally we reached the recess where the mighty hawk nested. When we got there, the hawk flapped it's wings furiously and said 'FOX! I have told you never to come here!! It is not enough that those reptiles try to steal my eggs but you come as well'." "The fox replied 'Oh, Mighty Hawk, Lord of the Skies. This boy is Shriikirri-Quah, one of the Hawk Clan, and is on his hunt. He will not hurt you or your eggs for his people honour you and wear with pride each feather that you drop from your glorious wings' and the hawk believed him because it was true 'And I have already eaten a delicious turtle soup today as you can see from the shell the boy is carrying. No, we are here to help you in fact.'" "'Me?' asked the hawk 'How would you help me?'" "'Tell him, boy, tell the hawk what you intend to do,' the fox urged." "'I will kill the giant gecko who dares to hunt your eggs Red-feathered Hawk,' I said, though I barely believed that myself 'The fox will tell you how.'" "Soon the fox explained his plan to the hawk and we all agreed it was a clever plan. It involved the hawk leaving and flying high in the sky so that the gecko would come to eat the hawk's eggs but we would trick him instead." "'But,' asked the hawk 'How will I keep my eggs warm if I am high in the sky? Someone must sit on my eggs.'" "'Welllll,' smiled the fox 'It would be my honour to keep the eggs warm for you Mighty Hawk'" Mitnal glanced at Blackwing as he said: "An old Shoanti saying goes 'Though none should, all believe The Fox who is as cunning but less kind than The Raven.'" "Soon, the hawk was flying high above us making sure that all the geckos knew that his nest was empty. The fox used his nose to roll the five eggs out of the nest and behind a rock and then had me put my round white stones in the nest in place of the eggs." "We waited for so long, hiding behind the rock while the fox kept the real eggs warm with his furry body. Soon, a giant blue and yellow gecko slithered and crawled over the lip of the rock and into the nest. Seeing this from high above, the hawk cried out and began to plunge back to the earth. Perhaps he had forgotten the plan or did not fully trust the fox. The gecko, hearing the hawk, swallowed the round white stones without pausing and soon had a belly heavy with rock. Leaving only one white stone behind in his hurry, he ran to the cliff intended to descend but found himself suddenly grown so heavy with his belly of rock that he fell to the ground below, snapping his back. I turned to thank the fox for his ingenious plan, and saw five broken eggshells and the fox licking his lips as he fled the cave before the hawk could return. Furious now, I grabbed the last white stone and threw it after the fox. The hawk never forgave me and he swore never to trust the fox again." "I returned to my tribe with the body of a giant blue gecko around my shoulders and became a hero to all the girls in my tribe who had not yet chosen a mate. At my manhood ceremony, I wore this hide armour and I have worn it ever since. Look at it! Isn't it beautiful?" asked Mitnal opening it to show the lining. "And look at the inside. It's lined with fox fur." Mitnal turns away to hide his smile, sure that all assembled believed his tale.
Her eyes wander until they come back around to Mitnal and the barbarian's eagerness to talk about his armor. "Okay...I'll bite," she answers him, "What about your armor?" Mitnal is about to respond when he feels as if a shadow has fallen across the room. The lightness he has felt since releasing himself to the rage and joy of battle -- the battlebliss as some call it -- is gone. "I feel like someone ... or something ... has died," he says. "No. I know people died. I just mean ..." He looks around the room and sees for the first time that people are grieving, that their lives have been shattered, that loved ones were lost, and that the illusion of safety townsfolk had carefully crafted had been dispelled. Suddenly,he doesn't feel like sharing the story of how he got his hide shirt. He feels like allowing the shadow to swallow him as it seems to have swallowed many in this room. It takes a minute for Mitnal to steel himself. When he leaps up to the space from which stories are told this time, he does so with confidence ... feigned confidence ... but more than he showed just a couple of nights ago. "Townsfolk and visitors!" he says gesturing towards a blue-scaled hide shirt upon which had been embossed images of fox, a turtle, and a hawk. "Ask me how I got this beautiful armour!"
As the low gray clouds have been threatening to do all day, a late afternoon drizzle begins to fall. "The Rusty Dragon? Good. Very good." says Mitnal with a wide smile.
Mitnal listens intently but is unsure if he understands what he hears. After Ruano is done, he turns to Shantare and says "So, he means we kill goblins, right?"
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