K'Tzhang looks at Sunny as she jumps in the puddles and silently moves away, ceasing his conversatons with her for a while. he looks around the group of travellers and cann't help but notice what a strange bunch of friends they make. Who would have thought dark skinned elves, a water elf, a human, a strange man with with horns, a large mite and a kobold would have been thrown together like this. K'Tzhang wistfully walks along, he talks to the human known as Sulna, "You know, this is really my first big adventure away from the tribe, so what's it like being an adventurer? how did you become an adventurer? I'm having great fun, you all seem so very much friends, if a little strange sometimes. So how did you all join together on the expedition? " He talks excitedly with Sulna, asking questions and telling hi about the ancient great dragon god Apsu. How the dragon was there before even the gods arrived on the earth and was once the greatest of all the gods, before the time of the dwarfs and elfs even.
"I only just encountered these folk a couple of days ahead of you encountering us.
I've been wondering around since I left my temple with no clear goals besides trying to make a mark on the world somehow. I did appreciate all the temple did for me and Master Tosho was really good to me but I really wanted to see what else is out here.
It's been an interesting time for sure these last few days."
Sulna continues to stay close to Milosh while traveling.
19 Pharast - Late morning...
The party reaches the top of a small, grassy hill and get their first look at Oleg's in over a week.
"Such a nice view" as he looks at the scenery completely ignoring anything else
K'Tzhang looks down on the area, Doesn't look so comfortable or safe to me, maybe they have an entrance to the cave home in there somewhere.
Perception
As the group moves closer, it becomes easy to see there are armed and armored people patrolling the walls of the trading post.
Nobody in the group recognizes any of those patrolling the walls.
"Is that where were headed?"
"I don't know, but those men look formidable foes and will have the advantage. Maybe someone can sneak in and find out what we are up against? Does anyone know if they are friendly or not?"
Polson holds up a hand to stop the group. "Think stealth is the order of the days friends. Who will join me in a silent approach?"
As Polson brings the group to the halt, you notice two of the figures on the walls do what looks to be a double take in your direction. It could just be the collective imagination, but you think you hear a yelled out warning from the direction of the trading post.
Within seconds, one of the three on the walls disappears from sight.
"Looks like stealth is out...so shall we leave? though we don't have what we came for, Horses!"
"Bugger an' dang it!" Sunny looks to "You're from here, open yer yaps an' let 'em know we's friends comin' in! She says, though she herself doesn't really slow down on/in her advance upon Oleg's.
"Um......K'tzhang? Mayhap ye be wantin' t' be standin' a'hind m'self? Humans can get a-right titchy sometimes when they gets surprised..." She says quietly to her Kobold freind.
"No, we don't leave. If Oleg is in trouble then we help. Besides, it may be he has just put on some added security!" Polson says with a wry smile...
"Well, if you're sure Polson, must say I don't trust Humans that much, 'cepting Sulna that is, but you know these folks better than I. So on we go then, best keep behind you then Sunny." says K'Tzang a little apprehensively.
"I agree. We don't run unless we are attacked."
As the party stands around, waiting for....something, a trio of riders make speed out of the open double doors and race towards you.
They stop 500 ft. away, talk amongst themselves for a moment, and then two of them move to 100 ft. from the group.
One of the riders says, "State your business!"
Sulna looks at the riders and then looks at Emerys to see for the answer. Since he had the Oleg Vision.
Sunny skips forwards a tad,
"Hey-YA, there! We's been explorin' a-ways down South an' been havin' a spot o' trouble wi' some o' th' na-er do-wells. So's we's come here t' see abouts gettin' a few more provisions an' some other thing-ys t'boot." To which Sunny highlights her explanation with a general waving of arms in various directions to highlight her end of the conversation.
"Who might yourselfs be, then?" She calls back.
K'Tzhang inquisitively pokes his head around Sunny looking at the horsemen, he sees the man speaking and remarks to the group, "Oooo look, he's got a really nice signet ring on the third finger of his left hand, isn't it a pretty piece of metal, looks like it might have an interesting design on it. Can we all get one of those?" His head then hides behind Sunny once more as he looks those who have been this way before to speak up. "Polson, did you say you'd been here before?"
Perception
Polson clearly recognises one of the riders and a dark mood seems to descend on the already surly half elf.
"Caelen, my old friend. We wish to visit our friend Oleg. We are weary having lost our rides..."
Polson is visibly loosening his fingers as he speaks and steps softly forward to take Sunny by the tunic, dragging the elf back before she steps to far from him.
Sunny continues to grin at these new strangers, even as she spreads her arms to make sure she doesn't walk backwards over K'tzhang as Polson pulls her back into line with the others.
She does manage not to step her wet and muddy feet over either Polson nor K'tzhang as she is pulled back into place.
Gaelen says, "Gaelen, not Caelin. He was the large ulfen fellow with you when we parted ways. Where is he by the way?"
The other guy cuts in quickly, "Nevermind if you know eachother. I'm here as an official representative of the Swordlords, tasked with protecting Oleg's. I cannot in good conscience allow a group composed to two drow, a kobold, and...whatever those two things are.." He indicates Donk and Nerik, "to enter the trading post. Feel free to try, and fail, to convince me otherwise."
"Well then, I really don't enjoy doing this kind of things" as he starts speaking with his companions "Well I have nothing on e to show for my noble bearing and I'm not well know for my social grace"
Sunny grins and walks forwards, "That's okeys then!" She replies and twirls to face her companions. "Why dun't I go on in an' collect th' new horse-ys, hey? Then, we's c'n all be after th' ones whut done got run off on us. This whole..." And here the lanky Elf tucks in her chin and scowls as she tries to deepen her voice,
"I cannot allow a group o' whatever those things are..."
She gives a gruff imitation of Gaelen, then she coughs to clear her throat even as she waves a hand dismissively, "...Attitude an' type o' talkin' things surely be fer sortin' out some time later, hey?" She winks, "We's got's t' be off an' seein' t' Milos' steadin', after all."
1d20
Wanders back to Donk, and pats the big guy on the back.
Diplomacy
The entire party begins talking at once after Sunny finishes. Whatever everyone is saying, it seems to work, as the unknown guy begins smiling, relaxes the pull on his bow, and holds up his hands, trying to silence the group.
After everyone is quiet, he says, "Okay, okay. I believe you. Oleg did mention a few travelers in the area recently, I just assumed those present when my men and I arrived were those he talked about. Come on." He waves the group to follow as he rides back to the post.
Gaelen gives Donk and K'tzhang both questioning looks before turning to follow the other guy.
Sunny giggles, spinning and twirling after the horses.
Polson heads towards the gates of Olegs, hungry, tired and in a dark mood.
K'Tzhang smiles at Gaelen "Thank you kind lord, you do honor to my friends by your good grace to let us approach this settlement. With Aspu's beneficence, may his breath grant you wisdom in your dealings." He bows and follows the rest, quietly asking Sunny, "Did I do right, I hope I didn't insult that man?"
Quietly asking Sunny, "Did I do right, I hope I didn't insult that man?"
Sunny stops, crouches before her smaller freind and replies quietly,
"Aye, ye done th' speakin' of th' words right proper." She reaches out and give K'tzhang a freindly and reassuing squeeze of his shoulder, before standing and skipping off to look over Oleg's outpost.
"K'Tzhang, you did pretty amazing there. Much better than I could have done.
You too Sunny.
I'm not much of talker."
As the group enters Oleg's, most for the first time, they see far more people than expected.
Nerik and Sunny recognize their former traveling companion, the shoanti warrior Dra.
Polson recognizes Angus, Constance, Erian, and a deep gnome whose name escapes him at the moment. He also recognizes the human couple coming towards them with smiles on their faces.
Everyone in the group notices the armed warrior on either side of the gate, with arrows notched and ready, should they be needed.
The obvious leader of the warriors says, "Welcome to Oleg's. I'm Kesten Garess, a soldier loyal to the Swordlord's of Restov. My men and I were sent here at Oleg's request. Please, join me at the tables."
K'Tzhang hangs back behind the party as he listens to words of greeting from the head warrior, shifting his weight from one foot to the other uneasy in the presence of these human warriors. He waits for his new found friends and adventurers to respond to the invitation.
Sunny nods, waves and pretty much ignores the warrior. She is far more interested in the bathing facilities.
She will also keep an eye out for people's reactions in regards to K'tzhang.
Polson takes time to shake hands with each of his former traveling companions and to ask after their welfare.
"Hi Kesten. I'm Sulna. Good to meet you."
Sulna offers his hand to Kesten.
"What's going on with all the guards?"
Angus says, "Good to see ya lad! Where be Caelin? He didn't fall on the road after we left ye, did he?"
Dra says with a smile, "Good to see you haven't lost the pep in your step Sunny. Washroom is over there." He points to one of the building, then turns to Nerik. "Good to see you as well my odd friend."
Kesten returns a firm handshake with Sulna, and says, "Well met as well. As I said, my men and I are here to protect this trade post. It's not much, but it is a waystation between Restov and other cities of interest."
Oleg and Svetlana reach the newcomers. Oleg says "Welcome back Polson, come back to help out around here?" He smiles and winks. "So who're your new friends? I'm not sure I like the look of some of them, especially the blue....thing and the kobold. It's not one of those Sootscales, is it?"
Approaches the group also after listening for a moment"My name is Belros and it's a pleasure to be your acquaintance, never would have guessed you had other companions Polson"
Seeing most of her new friends relax in the company of these humans, K'Tzhang's grip on her bow relaxes. She looks at the one they called Oleg, watching him directly eye to eye as he replies, "My clan was as you speak, though I hope that ones decendants and relations are not more important than ones own actions and deeds, or those that might vouch for you as friend. I am called K'Tzhang, and now my clan are those who would accept me as their travelling companion and friend." Spreading his little arms, he indicates his companions, "This is my clan now, Sunny, Sulna, Belros and the others. Their friends are my friends, their enermies are my enemies. I have travelled with them for many miles to arrive at your caverns, as they seek your hospitality, shelter and safety, saying you are a true friend of theirs. With their commendation, I seek the same in the name of the exiled wyrm who hears all." He bows to Oleg as he finishes, yet his eyes never leave the man.
Sunny is already scampering about making ready her washing and bathing. If and when others take a peek in to see how/what she's doing they find the hearth fire roaring, pots and large pans of water boiling and the Gum-nut brown Elf already skipping about in nothing but her large, woollen blanket draped about her shoulders as a make shift poncho.
Sunny's bare legs and feet are clean and her cloths have already been scrubbed and rinsed. Placed now to hang beside the fire. Sunny seeming to be getting the most use out of everything at her disposal.
Polson watches as everyone goes about their greetings and shakes Oleg by the hand. "Good to be back my friend, I don't suppose there is any hot food awaiting some weary travelers?"