Scarlet squints down at the tracks...
Scarlet begins to look around for a clean patch of earth to make camp at and sets down her gear.
Usually somewhere flat. Somewhere high in case of rain. Maria was never one for smalltalk or the like. She'll begin unloading her meager equipment.
Brand looks around. "Tremor mm is ah right high and dry. Levelish if we can."
I can stay up a little longer and keep watch. Cant see too well at night thou
Brand nods, "I can hmmm watch as Ahh well I will umm relieve you. My vision is fine. Ahh maybe we should take shifts."
Baylin first watch, Brand second, Maria third, and I will take fourth.
Scarlet then gestures to the tracks...
Perhaps we follow them in the morning?
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Brand talks loudly as if he wants to be heard beyond the camp conversation, eyes looking around, "Huh umm who are you talking about BLAZE, I know umm I only see TREMOR and THUNDERBEARD here Ahh I." He motions to himself, "I am Sleek . . . and that's Ahh umm our names." Brand whispers, "remember code names."
Anyway, camp get's set up in a spot right next to the trail, anyone gonna try to set up a campfire?
Will gather some wood and rocks to make a small fire.
Gets a little frustrated on the fire not taking. But an idea pops in his head snaps his fingers and a few sparks come from them and directs them to the twigs.
Casts Spark on the twigs
Yes Blaze, Ugh, why didn't she say no to that that sounds like a great idea. Does anyone know any good ghost stories?
Having powers better suited to putting out fires than starting them, Maria doesn't have much to add to help at the moment.
The fire bursts to life, with camp set up . the long night begins. Those who choose to sleep do,
need a perception from who ever is first
You hear a howling or roaring noise in the distance, in the sky you see a large shadowy creature blot out the moon temporarily. the sound of it's wings flapping in the sky.
that passes rather quickly, time goes slowly eventually you hear a creepy laughter it sounds close by
sitting in the light from the fire THUNDERBEARD will use his weapon stone to hone his weapons and clean his armor.
also if others stay up they may make the check as well thought of that last night. so this is more of a jut in case since it seems maria is staying up as well
Maria gives the area a look-over before turning in as well.
At least, she was going to before she heard that.
Thunderbeard, company. Something is very nearby.
She directs her next sentence outward.
Come out. I'm not wasting time with your game.
If so,
Scarlet gets up while drawing her wand and looking around for the threat Maria perceived.
Will stand up and grab my shield while slowly drawing my hammer out
Where did you hear it?
You look around but see nothing, the laughter is there and echoing .
the noise seems to be coming from all around you, any of you with darkvision can take note that your darkvision cant see through this surrounding the camp any longer. I should also add that nothing seems to be happening other than the laughter.
Alright then. Unfortunately, I like doing things the simple way. You. She looks at Baylin. Do you want to try talking to them?
Nods at Maria, Then moves towards the woodline.
Hello. My name is Flame beard. If you are there and wish to talk peacefully. Then please join me by the fire.
You get no responses but more laughter
Scarlet with her wand at her side begins to speak to the unknown audience. She nudges Brand with her foot in an attempt to wake him up.
Come by the fire and talk. Release this darkness you have brought down.
Brand hops up instantly to his feet and hops again to face the other way. "What is it?"
Looks around
the darkness fades, you see an old woman walking down the road followed by an odd traveling band.
you see several blood-red creatures resemble horrid, emaciated humans without skin, their yellowish eyes and teeth suggesting malnourishment or disease running away down the road as the old woman approaches with a large golem in tow, pulling a small wagon with a door at the front
That was awfully close dearies, what are a bunch of young children like yourselves doing this close to the Fey Lands? The woman hobbles hunched over, a toothy smile. You almost got your skins stolen, poor things
"They are ahh a creepy bunch." Brand watches the red creatures flee. He notices the golem and the wagon. She almost reminds me of Drenda. "umm Skin Stolen? I ahh like my skin where it is." Brand chuckles. "If those things flee you . . . we thank you." Brand looks back at the old woman. "We might ah wonder what brings you this close to the Fey Lands?"
The old woman laughs, Those creatures stalking you are fey known as Skin stealers, they do as named and steal the skins of weak humanoids. as for my band and i we travel from place to place, the others are in the caravan. you will be safe among us if you wish to travel with us to the Feylands.
Scarlet scans the old woman's caravan, looking for any sign of weapons or magical items that she might recognize.
Turning toward the woman...
How come you are traveling at night, and why do the Skin stealers run from you?
Everything around her, the caravan included is highly magical. Other than that there are no weapons or anything o n the outside of the caravan.
They aren't that strong dearie, to many things in the general area for them to be comfortable. lucky you i guess. and Traveling at night just happens to be better for some of the market. The old woman waves her hand, several plants weave together growing quickly out of the ground into the shape of a chair beside the fire. She sits, the caravan stops, So tell me why are you here?
We need to speak with a Nixie. Named Narine. Maria speaks up.
Young little Narine The old woman pauses for a minute, few if any Know any of the market by name, she's in the back of the cart. You seek to break the curse given to the blood drinker and so in turn were sent out to find the Narine the Curse breaker...it is possible to break the curse though you will need to start by getting permission from the one of the three fey courts The old woman holds up three crooked bony fingers as she explains.
Please continue. Where are these courts? Maria sits down by the fire.
The Winter court is in the eastern fey lands, the Spring court in the west and The court of the Ageless in the deep forests to the north She continues The Ageless lead by Aria the Scarlet a young nearly immortal warrior , The Winter lead by Sola a manipulative child adept at mind control, The Spring by Ciro the Sky Archer.
Brand looks excited thinking that their arduous quest was nearly over. He then facepalms when he hears the fey bureaucracy that they must face.
"So Ahh Nadine is um here. But she can't help ah yet."
"How does mm one go about ah petitioning these er courts? Is ah your caravan heading er to any of these um places in your caravan route?" I wonder if all these Fey will object to us carrying weapons that are made to hurt them? Well we aren't giving them up.
You only really need to petition one, getting them all to agree would be like telling a person not to breathe. petitioning them is as simple as talking to them and getting permission, though thing's are never that easy. you know how people can be, always wanting something in return.
Scarlet turns to the rest of the group.
I am not sure about heading toward a mind controlling fey... Perhaps we head to whichever one is closest other than Sola?
She turns to the woman.
By what name are you known to most? When you talk about the market, what are you referring to?
Such curious children, for now you may call me Agatha. I run The traveling fey market, the Market of Dreams. where one can get anything they want at a price.The old womans laughs a bit before continuing I would not be so quick to make decisions, Each of the court leaders have something to offer. Ciro though kind and will most certainly help is lazy and unmotivated, he is also the closest. Personally i would go find Aria, she has a kindness in her heart for young heroes. Now enough questioning this old woman, off to bed with you. we can continuing talking in the morning you may sleep in the caravan if you wish, there's plenty of room. she seems to legitimately care as she get's up the chair disappears. she walks over to the caravan opening the door. You briefly see the inside is huge, though can make out few other details.
Brand nods as the old woman talks A warrior seems the easiest to relate to I have never met a child mind warlock or a sky archer. Brand smiles in amazement when the caravan opens, "Ah Thunderhead um your studies er of different cultures ah just . . . got . . . interesting."
Brand looks up at the old woman, "I ah am called Sleek, the er giant with a beard is the ah aptly named Thunderhead, the red um heads are Blaze and Tremor." He points everyone. "Perhaps there are those in your caravan who have knowledge of Aria and can help us in our meeting."
Mmm she seemed to know an awful lot of about our mission, almost too good to be true
Thank you for the information. It was informative.
Thinks about something
Would getting permission of the same court as the one that put the curse on the Blood drinker give us more pull on said fey?
And do you know as to WHY said curse was put on him?
The same court would make the curse removal more effective to be sure child, that said most fey know of the event. The curse was put on the young man, Tristan Frostwing. He drank the blood of a dying fey, poor thing was the previous ruler of the winter court. She was young had just ascended. She turns Are you four coming?
Yes. Maria hops into the caravan, showing a significant degree of grace.
Are you saying he brought this on himself?
in a way, poor thing was being tormented by evil spirits. His condition drove him to seek blood which would silence the voice. It was an act of desperation. Hence why i am helping, i feel bad for the poor thing.
She seem to be sincere, though you notice she might be hiding something
or might know more than she is letting on
You enter the Caravan the inside is amazing large. Several stalls set up, a variety of odd creatures, not just fey. Odd bottles and writings on the wall. odd magic items and blades lined on shelves .
a confused look shows on his face
Wait let me see if I got this right. He was originally drinking blood to silence some voice, and then curse turned it into a type of hunger?
Correct, the curse caused the man to do that which he despised. it cut off all those he once cherished. including turning his beloved younger sister into an emotionless killer. the curse was done out of anger and desire for revenge...
Must we speak these horror stories before we fall asleep? I do intend to sleep after all...
She looks around the caravan and then addresses the rest of the group...
Where shall we go tomorrow?
Brand looks at his companions, "We ah are er going into the um magic wagon right."
There should be a free room in the back, should be large enough for the four of you. we haven't had to use in some time now The old woman points to a wooden door in the farthest reaches of the room.
Maria will check out some of the stalls.
I haven't seen wares like these in a while. The last time I saw anything like these I was with Master Nirman. Thank you for your hospitality.