You have recently come to Haven, a town in the tropical land of Dunaris. After you arrived you learn that the Castellan of the Duke Albert's castle is looking for individuals with unusual skill to accomplish a dangerous task for him. It will apparently involve retrieving an item in a local dungeon. It also instructs you to set up an interview with the Castellan, where he will be meeting with you and other candidates to establish you're qualifications and give further information.
You arrange the interview and then a few days later are called to the castle. The guards verify that you are here for the interview and then send you to the meeting place, a servant guides you there. You arrive in the Castellan's office and the servant says, “the Castellan will be here in a few minutes. He suggests that you use this time to introduce yourselves with each other.”
A tall lean young woman stalks into the room, her eyes taking in everything in the room. Dressed in leathers dyed and cut to blend into a forest environment, her strong slender build and ears prodtuding from a mane of hair mark her as being partially of elven decent.
Thorn tilts he head to the side as she looks at the man with his hand extended. She breathes in deeply catching the scent of horses on the man, and her posture seems to become somewhat more welcoming.
"Thorn is my name. It is good to meet you.", she takes the man's hand and shakes it somewhat mechanically.
The door creaks open, and a pretty woman pokes her head in. Her beauty is haunting and bizarre, with strange pale skin and even stranger red hair tied up in a messy bun. After a brief glance, she opens the door all the way and makes her way in. Her tight, grey dress would be quite flattering on her rail-thin figure, if it didn't show such obvious signs of wear and use. Rips and smudges spatter the once-fine fabric. She cracks a smile at the two adventurers and dusts herself off, before sitting down in one of the ornate armchairs, placing her hefty bag and black staff at her side. A quiet sigh of relief escapes her lungs as she sets the weight down.
"I assume you both are here about the Castellan's business opportunity,"she says with a light smile, holding her hand out to the half-elf woman. "I am Satou Mita, wizard, explorer, and I assume one of your competitors."
The door to the room opens and a butler steps in. The man looks behind him, grimaces, and steps out of the room just as quickly. A few moments later he returns, pushing a tall brown skinned Elf into the room. Though holding the woman bye the shoulders, an obvious look of distaste upon his cultured features.
The first striking thing about the Elf are her large, pale blue eyes, contrasting sharply with her sun browned complexion. On her back is a large pack, currently seeming to carry every thing she owns, from a beautifully curved x-bow to her bed rolls and other sundries.
Her attire is probably that which has the fleeing man servant so out of sorts. At first glance the Elven woman appears to be wearing little more than a tattered shirt and similarly worn and tattered 'sarong' of a skirt. It is upon a closer inspection that you realize her 'skirt' is actually just a larger person's shirt, probably a mans, wrapped about her waist and simply tied in place as a functional form of 'modesty'.
She looks first around the room, then notices those already sitting and standing within. Upon noticing the other 'Elf', her face lights up in a beaming smile and she skips forward.
She stands before Thorn Silverleaf, shifting her weight to stand on one foot, her other leg tucked up and resting on her knee, her hands flipping up to cross over her sun bleached mop of hair. She grins happily awaiting a reply.
One of Thorn's eyebrows risea in a mix of surprise and confusion and the group can almost hear the wheels turn in her head as she translates the elven woman's statement to herself.
Elven
"It is a pleasure to meet you as well. My name is Thorn. You'll have to speak a bit slower or give me a moment."
Though her pronunciation is perfect, there is a slightly human meter to the rhythm of her elvish words.
Suny grins wider,
.
She continues to smile at Thorn then blinks and giggles,
Then looks around the room at her fellow 'companions'.
The gum-nut brown Elf waves a hand around the room, smiling cheerfully to every one present. Her eyes fall upon the seated figure of Satou Mita and she skips over to her, bare feet scudding across the rich carpet.
"San agamat chay bet apipoulai, seno akta gamat. Minai lekarariba laminai, tchai ekbat de sebat." She grins, presenting a hand forwards. ^_^
.
.
.
Thorn Silverleaf watches the fey creature skip across towards Satou Mita. Then her face becomes even more puzzled, as do most of those around the room at the words that issue from her mouth.
"That's not Elven?" Satou Mita asks, puzzled. Suny looks first from the woman before her to every one else now staring at her. Suny blinks,
"Y' mean that ain't th' way folks speak proper t' each other here 'bouts?" The brown skinned Elf now also looks puzzled, as well as a little disappointed.
"Awe geez! An' I practiced so hard t' learn all them words an' all." She sighs, folding down in a heap with her head hanging forward. Her arms and legs 'akimbo'.
.
.
.
Thorn shares a look with the seated redheaded woman and shrugs her confusion as well. Obviously there was more to Elven culture than her mother had taught her. But this was just.....weird
Linguistics check to identify dialect (unless it is entirely due to poor instruction on the part of Suny's teacher) (9+8=17)
Satou furrows her brow and shoots a puzzled look towards the half-elf and the young nobleman, before mumbling a light curse in Draconic to herself. She bends down to remove something from her bag, when her hair seems to let out a small squeak. A tiny bat flops out of her matted red locks and places itself on her shoulder, hanging from her dress as if it were a cave wall.
Suny looks up at the small bat that appears on Satou Mita's shoulder,
"Hee! Ent you just th' cutest lil' dickens!" Dexterously slipping out of her pack straps she hops up onto her knees, though she has the good sense not to offer a limb to a strange animal.
"I'm Hector,"
To which Suny rises and accepts his hand in both of hers, shaking it up an down with much enthusiasm, gripping it warmly and firmly.
"G'day t'ye!" ^_^ "Sorry 'bout that lil' mis-un'erstandin' there. I were assured I'd be gettin' th' proper value fer price on them speakin' lessons." She grins and blushes, "Guess there's one bloke whut's nabbed his self a right bargain, hey?" She laughs, turning again to Satou Mita and bowing, bending fluidly at the waist, blond hair flopping,
"Agin' right sorry fer any confusion t' ye." Suny bounces back upright and again offers a hand again towards the flame haired woman. ^_^
Then a man comes into the room. He's tall, well-built and wears a fancy set of clothing. He wears a rapier at his side and has other items on his person, including a set of bracers. He speaks with a deep, booming voice, "You're here for the interview. Well, tell me some things about you're selves. Do you know how to fight? Use magic? The mission I have is dangerous, but with a few useful skills you ought to manage to succeed."
Satou Mita rises from her seat as she offers her familiar a finger to nibble on, curtsying with her other hand.
"A pleasure to meet you, Castellan. I am Satou Mita, wizard and explorer. I have extensive training in the arcane arts, and enough knowledge to lead an expedition on my own. If you require a translator, or someone with expertise on history and ruins, I am fully qualified."
She smiles nervously, shooting a glance at the door.
"My companion should arrive soon, I expect. He is my bodyguard and a fellow traveller. I have not heard from him since we arrived, but if you are to hire me, I would urge you to leave a spot for him as well. He is a fine warrior, and quite trustworthy."
"I am Thorn Silverleaf. I am a skilled hunter and tracker. My mother was in your service, and taught me everything she could. She sends her regards."
Suny blinks, wide eyed , at the man who has entered the room and elicited the comments from those within the room.
"I c'n shoot things." Is her simple reply.
As she lifts the elegantly wrought x-bow from her pack.
"This here is an Iron Wood stock, molded with Walnut furnishings" Her hands caress the warm butter-brown coloured timber of the weapon's frame.
"Laminated wood'n arms fer strength and power, while keeping their flexibility." She indicates the 'bow' part of the weapon.
"While also bein' fitted with this naffy attached forw'd blade whut's also an integral part o' th' mountin' fer the bow's arms." She gestures with the almost three foot long sword that is the 'front' part of the bow.
"These jim-dandy attachments here." She rolls the weapon over to highlight the brass cylinders that sit mounted atop the x-bow, "Their idea be taken from a Captain's spy glass. They'll let me hit somat at a range of about a hun'ed and fifty feet nine times out'ta ten." She finishes confidently. At no time has the x-bow ever wavered to point in any one's direction through out the entire demonstration, even though the weapon is obviously unloaded. She finishes and puts the x-bow away, again with care.
As she straightens, absently brushing down her 'skirt', she blushes,
"Oh, um, m' name's 'Suny' an' I got's some armor an' some other stickers fer when things get a mite close an' personal, like." She now seems shy and slightly uncomfortable a the attention directed at her.
"Well, that's quite an impressive weapon," says the Castellan, looking at the crossbow with a bit of distaste. "Any way, you seem to be capable enough to accomplish this mission. In fact I am confident that you will prove able, Thorn Silverleaf as I do know you're mother. As for what this mission is, I want you to travel into the ruins to the east and retrieve a signet ring from the kobolds dwelling there. Also, we want the kobold chieftain brought in, dead or alive. These kobolds attacked my master's youngest son, an alcolyte of the church, stole his signet ring and other possessions when he was traveling to Haven. So we want you to retrieve his signet ring and bring the chieftain of these kobolds back here, or at least his head. You may keep any valuables you find except the ring and we will pay you twenty gold for the signet ring, and one hundred gold for the chieftain."
"I will gladly bring you the head of this kobold scum."
"There is no set time for this mission to be completed. However I would suggest you not daily. The more time that goes by, the more likely that these creatures will attack others. You should now make any preparations you need to. When you're ready Silverleaf should be able to guide you to the dungeon."
"Well, that's quite an impressive weapon," says the Castellan, looking at the crossbow with a bit of distaste. "Any way, you seem to be capable enough to accomplish this mission. In fact I am confident that you will prove able, Thorn Silverleaf as I do know you're mother. As for what this mission is, I want you to travel into the ruins to the east and retrieve a signet ring from the kobolds dwelling there. Also, we want the kobold chieftain brought in, dead or alive. These kobolds attacked my master's youngest son, an alcolyte of the church, stole his signet ring and other possessions when he was traveling to Haven. So we want you to retrieve his signet ring and bring the chieftain of these kobolds back here, or at least his head. You may keep any valuables you find except the ring and we will pay you twenty gold for the signet ring, and one hundred gold for the chieftain."
"Sounds good to me," he says to the Castellan. "Any particular amount of time in which you'd like this finished?"
"I will gladly bring you the head of this kobold scum."
"There is no set time for this mission to be completed. However I would suggest you not daily. The more time that goes by, the more likely that these creatures will attack others. You should now make any preparations you need to. When you're ready Silverleaf should be able to guide you to the dungeon."
Suny blinks as peoples words fly passed her. She smiles and gives a wink of encouragement to Thorn at the fancily dressed, tall, well-built man's words to her. Suny coughs,
"Um, I've a question?" She looks wide eyed at the man who's presence now seems to control the room,
"The young-un who wus attacked, they're all okay now? We're not expectin' t' find them in this place, no?" She blinks again,
"Agin, t'is just a simple 'Sconk bouncin' we're t'do, right?"
"The young master is quite alright. He was able to escape death and call upon his holy powers to heal himself. Several of his retainers were not so lucky, and were slain."
"At sounds like a bugger." Suny mumbles.
"Ye sure they's dead?' She looks to the fellow and asks seriously.
"It'd be right nice t' know if'n there's any chance fer a rescue an' helps us plannin' on whut things we'll be likely t' be takin' int' th' place. It'd be no good at all throwin' kegs o' burnin' stuff about if'n there's a chance we'll be roastin' some o' our own, like." She finishes neutrally, though looking to those around her to see what more they have to add.
"Yes, I'm quite certain."
"Well, it might be an idea to be careful anyway; there could always be abducted travellers that we don't yet know about," Hector points out. "I certainly wouldn't be comfortable with the thought of roasting innocent victims alive just to get at Kobolds. Anyway, I think we know about as much as we're going for now, so might I suggest we adjourn and prepare, then meet up again in the morning?"
Suny looks to Hector and smiles,
"Ooo, 'at sounds like a right idea!" She scoots back, bends over and retrieves her back-pack.
"I in't had a descent bite t' eat since I got off'n th' boat!" She moves over to him, though looking towards Thorn and Satou as well,
"Tell ye whut, I'll even shout th' first round o' vittles an' stouts!" ^_^ She grins happily to the three of them, the fancily dressed man she has seemingly forgotten.
The best tavern in town is the Trounced Troll tavern. That would probably be the best tasting food and drink, but there are cheaper places in town.
"If we are done here, may I kindly ask you to leave?" asks the castellan.
Satou Mita nods as her bat familiar scampers back into her hair, before rising and curtsying again at the Castellan.
"I am sure you are a busy man, and I would not like to take any more of your time. Thank you for the opportunity you have afforded us, I will make sure this task is completed to your specifications."
She turns to her now-companions.
"I have other business I must attend to, but I shall meet you at the Trounced Troll later this evening to discuss our plans. Good day."
With that she nods once more and departs, a look of worry on her face.
Where could Dolgrimm be? I hope nothing has become of him...
"Thank you for your time; we'll see you again when the job is done," Hector says politely to the castellan. He leaves with the others.
Suny simply nods absently as she pads barefoot after Hector, her pack draped over one shoulder, causing her ratty old shirt to 'scrunch' to one side and slip down her other bare, brown skinned arm.
"Sure, if you want to pay for the first round, that's fine with me. I didn't have a huge amount of money with me anyway; that's why I'm here..."
She looks between Hector and Thorn uncertainly,
"Um, well, I dun't know how much is 'much'." She swings her pack forward into both her arms and juggles it around as she fishes inside, allowing her new companions to steer her through the corridors of the building in which the meeting took place.
"How much is this, relative like?" She asks holding out cupped hands full of coins, maybe 25 to 30 Gp worth. As she continues to hold her pack in her arms and ferry coins back into it, her face has a look that is a cross between intrigue and hope.
"See, normally whut we'd do is just go an' grab somat from whut ever's local an' bring it int' th' cookin' place, y'know?" ^_^.
"So it'd be a mite different here abouts, then?" She queries, as the trio step out into the light of day and the bustle of the city.
Thorn smiles quietly.
"You definitely aren't what expected for an elf, Suny."
Thorn smiles quietly.
"You definitely aren't what expected for an elf, Suny."
Suny seems initially completely distracted by Hector's mount. Even going so far as to press her face against the beast's warm neck and inhale its scent. She turns and blinks innocently at Thorn as they walk off towards their next stop, Suny wiggling around to put her pack on as they travel.
"Um, well whut 'ave ye been told, then?" She looks puzzled by Thorn's quiet statement, "I know there in't a lot of folks gets to where I call home. Mainly they's all beaten up an' stragglin' after gettin' blowed off course by a storm." Suny explains, then chimeric-ally changes the topic.
"Oh! whut's this critter called?" She inclines her head towards Hector's ride. She also seems impressed by the other large animals moving about the place. Needing a 'helping' hand to not get into an accident when she inadvertently skips towards an Oxen and its loaded wagon.
"I mean, some o' our more adventurous folk have made friends with somat similar, but this 'un's got a few more legs on it." Suny looks towards the rear of Hector's horse.
She grins cheerily to Thorn
"Angaalad," Hector replies; the name translating from Elvish as 'west wind'. He quickly sticks out a guiding hand to pull Suny out of the path of one of the oxen. "Them things are heavy and not too bright," he warns her.
Suny nods, as Hector pulls on a length of shirt and steers her out of harms way. She watches the oxen trudge on, comparing Hectors' mounts fluid grace to the stolid strength of the other cart haulers. Then she frowns, looking 'askance' towards Hector,
"Um, thank'e fer th' warnin'." ^_^ She sidles up, closer to Thorn,
She indicates towards Hector's mount with a sweep of her blond head.
She blinks at Thorn, confusion and suspicion warring upon her features. Her apparel, from Hectors good matured ministrations, has lost a button. It appears Suny's shirt is now down to three.
Thorn smiles.
Elvish
She tilts her head in realization.
Elvish
"Ah," Suny exclaims, "Horse." She grins to both of them, very happy seeming to have a new word in her repertoire.
"I s'ppose I look bit o' a right burk, then?" She blushes and hangs her head, blond hair falling over her eyes.
"Sorry an' I am fer not gatherin' yer ken. T'is just th' folk whut I been learnin' me speakin' from obviously weren't th' local types whut you're used to, p'rhaps?" She sighs,
"Goddess help me t' think o' whut I sound like t' your ears then, Hector. Me pratellin' n in'a language I don't rightly know." She smiles,
"Though I must admit ye both sound right nice enough t' me in yer Elvish." ^_^ She looks to Thorn,
"So, they in't a lot o' Elves here 'bouts, then?" Surprise seems evident upon her features.
"At home, t'is th' folk who're common an' t'is a cause fer lolly-gagin' a plenty when a new, strange boat load of, um, folk?..." Suny searches for the right word, seemingly embarrassed about some aspect of what she might be saying, "Do show up."
She walks along with the pair, still obviously looking at a vista that is strange and new to her.
"Don't worry about it; it's how you learn," Hector replies with a shrug. "In my experience, the elves around these parts tend to stick to the forests. Besides, Elvish is a nice sounding language; perfect for picking names for pets from."
Suny nods at Hector's words then smiles. Her smile spreads into a grin and then a giggle before she bursts out with a silvery peal of laughter. After a few moments she composes herself and looks to her companions. Seeing their curious expressions she explains,
"Well, I'm kinda in'a same boat, in I?" She giggles some more.
"Well, y'see my folk use th' same kind'a thinkin'. Suny be just me nick-name, y'ken?" ^_^ She explains, still grinning from ear to ear, obviously very amused by the reversing twist of their two cultures use of each others language.
"Though, sure enough I be lookin' forw'd t' seein' th' forest." She adds wistfully. "Our scrub be a load different from whut you lot have, I reckon."
You arrive at the tavern. It's fairly busy, with primarily humans, but also a few dwarves.
"Well Hector, I'm sure this is more you're element than mine."
Suny shuffels over to stand beside Thorn and looks expectantly to Hector. Back-pack held protectivly before her in both arms, ratty shirt hanging loosly off one bare brown shoulder. Bare brown feet splayed upon the cobble stones.
"Um, so's th' amount o' shiney I showed afore is goin' t' tide us over fer a few days an' such?" She asks, now visibly showing how out of touch she is with the culture that surrounds her.
She glances to Thorn beside her seemigly for support.