As one of the halflings goes over the latest comer to help her, Marik responds to the dwarf's question, "My brothers and I were traveling along one day when a big storm came up and forced us to seek shelter. What we found was a little cave that already had some occupants in it: A nice halfling family and a gnome by the campfire cooking up a delicious meal. Over the course of supper, we got to talking about our individual plans, and developed a strategy to make the halfling clan and myself, along with my brothers here, some needed coin, while also getting Boomer the experiences he sought to aid his application to the Pathfinder's Society. So far it has worked out quite well; we stop in a promising campsite for a few days, setup shop, and see what comes our way. Boomer's contacts have yet to disappoint us with providing good locations, and the experiences have truly been interesting. Another month or so and we'll be at the port where Boomer will take a ship to Absalom, and the rest of us will continue our travels to wherever we may end up."
"Well that sounds like a good plan for all if e're I heard one. I gotta be sayin though, I didn't realize we were so durned far from Absolom still.
I'm headin there me'self. Since you and yer troupe are goin that direction, would you all be in the market for another companion? I'm more'n willin to earn my keep, though by trade, I'm a dwarf of the clothe.
"Bear in mind that is how long we plan to take to get there, taking our time and making multiple extended stops along the way; if you care to join us, we could probably find some more space in one of the wagons. Plenty of folks on the road seeking the aid of the divine that would welcome your assistance in the evenings. If you wish to travel straight there, it will probably take a half to a third of that time." Marik examines Solomon quietly as he finishes, "Could use some help hunting as well, we trade for what meat we can, but we go through a lot of it, especially with my brothers around."
"Well it be Torag's will I be followin, so I'll do some prayin tonight, and have an answer for you in the mornin.
I ain't much of a hunter, but I'll be a bearded gnome if I wouldn't be willin to give it a shot...er, no offense meant to yer little friend."
Zalania looked up again, as Ash entered, but she recognized a silence-seeking soul when she saw one, so said nothing to distract her from her contemplations.
She spoke instead to the dwarf and half-orc. "You will find better hunting to the northeast. Most likely." After a brief pause she continues, "Be careful of the mossy stump though."
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Ash orders some hot soup and a small glass of the finest drink the bar and grill sells, and then rests for a little. Waiting for her soup to cool a little, she walks over to the group. "Excuse me, but I would request some help getting my wagon out of the ditch back up the road, once someone has free time. I can repay help with coin or prayer. And did I hear right, that you were traveling to Absalom?"
"Graal, Zar, help this fine young lady with her wagon." Marik immediately calls out to his siblings. When they hesitate, he adds, "The faster you do it, the faster you get your supper, so move it." To Ash, "My brothers would be more than happy to assist you with your wagon. Just keep the commands short and simple; the last time someone tried to gave them a complex order, they stood looking at each other for an hour trying to figure it out. And yes, we are headed to Absalom, though probably only Boomer will get on the ship and finish the trip; the halflings, my brothers, and I are more likely to find a living on the mainland." The two drunk half orcs finally obey their brother and come forward, awaiting further orders from Ash.
As Ash and the half orcs exit the tent, the flaps once again part, and a thin man draped in cloak of foreign design enters, followed by a massive humanoid elephant. Each have a softly glowing rune floating directly above their head. Although you cannot make out the man's features due to his large cowl, it is obvious from the bright purple and green patterns on his garb that he is not from this area.
Removing his hood and revealing the face of an attractive middle aged half-elf with tanned skin and closely cropped dark hair. The man doesn't smile, but his dark, almond shaped eyes do.
"I am Lokprakash the Enlightened, and this is my traveling companion, Harapan. We are most pleased to have stumbled upon this gathering."
He performs an Añjali Mudra (bow) to greet the other patrons. Moving to a table he asks to no one in particular,"Now, does this fine establishment have any vegetarian cuisine?"
"I though I was big for the tent," Marik laughs as one of the halflings disappears into the back of the tent upon hearing the request for a vegetarian dish. "We'll see what Boomer can create with our current stock of non meat product. I don't think we've had anyone make such a request as yet. Should be interesting to see the results." A young halfling sticks her head through the opening to the back, "Boomer needs to know just how vegetarian the vegetarian dish needs to be, as he has a very nice vegetable omelet recipe he said he could whip together if eggs are allowed. Otherwise, he could make a salad for our guest. For everyone else, he is almost ready, he is just cooking up the charcoal steaks for you and your brothers, Marik, and then he will be out to grill to order steaks for everyone else."
"No eggs, thank you. A salad will be most pleasing," Lokprakash says with a delightful Vudrani accented common. He smiles disarmingly. "My vows to the Gods are rather strict. But that is a rather boring subject. Now tell me my new found friends, where are you from?"
"Greetings Lokprackash and you, Harapan" Kneeling on her stool, she attempts to mimic Lokprackash's movements. "I am Betony and Thistledown here is my traveling companion" She indicates her white wolf, who glances up at Haradan then readjusts to continue gnawing his bone, perhaps a bit more defensively.
"We are from this forest, but we have seen neither the likes of you nor your companion traveling its roads before."
The two half orcs decide that they are going to go wait for supper a little closer to the source, and disappear into the back of the tent, their mission of mercy completed. Marik makes sure that everyone as well as possible while let's the guests mingle with each other until the steaks show up.
"Well met, Lokprackash, Harapan. I hight Samisel Donarion. Do you also travel to Absalom?"
Lokprakash smiles at his new found company.
"I indeed am not from this land. I am only passing through on business. And as a matter of fact, Sir Donarion, I do plan on making my way to Absalom in the coming weeks. What business do you have in the City of Buried Treasures?"
Solomon addresses Lokprakash, "M'name's Solomon Wiseaxe, o' the church o' Torag, and I hail from far off Osiria. I, too, travel to Absalom, though my god has left the reason for my travels unknown to me.
Adressing Marik and Boomer, if present, "Truly, friend Marik, your venture is blessed by the gods themselves, for helping so many traveler's all heading to the same destination."
"Huh, what is this about our venture?" Boomer replies as he reenters the room carrying a heaping platter full of steaks ready to be grilled. The young halfling from before is following with a good sized salad for Lokprakash. "Ah, so we have some people going to Absalom with us tonight? Magnificent, that means we are getting close." Boomer sets down the platter by the grill, and fires it up. "Marik, your steak is ready in back, and I would suggest you don't dally much in getting it; your brothers were eyeballing it with hungry eyes. As for everyone else, I shall start with Solomon as his was the first request, and proceed to the others. If Thistle would like his raw, I can go ahead and give it to him now." As Marik departs for supper, Boomer takes note of some of the latest guests, "See Zalania, I told you that there would be more big people arriving shortly. And as for big, I see we have someone who puts even Marik to shame. For those who have just come in, I am Boomer. If you need dressing for that salad, my vegetarian friend, please just let the halfling lass know, and she can help you." With that, he starts to take orders, and a gentle smell of steak starts to fill the tent.
The tent flap is pushed aside and a tall, armoured figure stands in the entry way waiting for a moment before stepping fully into the space.
At 6'1" tall the tall, lithe woman's pale complexion, elongated ears and fine features speak of and ancestry akin to the fairer folk. It is only when she stands next to an actual Elf that the shape of her ears is noticeably different, the angles of her face shaped to slightly different aesthetics.
She looks about the tents large inner room.
And moves to find an unoccupied seat. The presence of the large animal like humanoid seeming to her to be the most natural thing in the world, as is the rest of the room's company. Setting her back-pack down, she smiles at any who look her way then herself looks towards the bar and the person standing their-in.
"I declare! The road is long and dusty. Good sir? Might I enquire as to the amenities available?" She asks in a clear voice which easily carries about the room.
The young halfling lass actually manages to beat Boomer to the standard pitch and explains the menu of stew, bread, various ales, and venison steak quickly as she serves some of the other guests near the newcomer.
Crystal smiles at the lass and listens intently to her comments, nodding at the end.
"Oh, yes. That does sound good. A large plat of the venison, the side order of vegetables and hopefully some wine to help wash away the dust of the roads once travelled." She replies.
The smell of grilling steaks draws a young Halfling to the tent. She slips inside the opening and sniffs deeply. She licks her lips and smiles and quickly finds an empty chair at a table and hops up.
"Mmm...steak," she croons in a petite voice. "Hey barkeep! Can you bring a girl something to wash the road dust from her throat while she waits on her steak?"
"Make my steak medium-rare, if you would, Master Boomer. I travel to Absalom on orders from the Master of my order but there is no urgency to my mission. I would be honored to travel with the caravan and help provide provisions. Oronakh and I are quite accomplished hunters."
Samisel takes his drink and approaches the table where the newcomer sat. "I hight Samisel Donarion, cavalier. May I join you, sister?"
Crystal smiles at the new halfing arrivals attitude. She looks up as Samisel talks, transferring her smile to him.
As the tent fills up, and Boomer serves up the steaks, another one of the halfling children come in to help serve the customers, and the two half orcs return and take the spot by their mugs of ale again, watching the crowd with a look that suggests that their few remaining brain cells are working hard to take it all in.
Feona claps her hand when the Halfling children come in to help and chats with them, asking, "What are your names, children? I'm Feona. Where are you from?"
While the children seem hesitant to give out too much information to strangers, the mother is kind enough to reply as she goes about her work, "We are of the road, where the wind takes us, we go and pray that fortune smiles upon us."
"Then we are kindred spirits," Feona beams. "My family are traveling nomads and the night before I struck out on my own, I promised my Da I would seek all the great sites of Varisia. Tell me, mother, where are you bound?"
"For now, to the port that will take our good gnome friend here to Absalom, after that, we shall once again cast our fate to the wind, and pray that it is as kind as it was when we met Boomer." She replies, as she says a quick prayer of thanks to the wind spirits.
Crystal smiles at the new halfing arrivals attitude. She looks up as Samisel talks, transferring her smile to him.
Forsooth but are you addressing Crystal, good sir?
"Aye, my lady, if you are Crystal, then I was indeed addressing Crystal, although, on closer inspection, I see my assumption of a familial connection to be obviously incorrect. I apologize for my presumption, but, if I have not totally repulsed you, I would still like to join you for dinner," replies Samisel, with a low,sweeping bow.
"Aye, my lady, if you are Crystal, then I was indeed addressing Crystal, although, on closer inspection, I see my assumption of a familial connection to be obviously incorrect. I apologise for my presumption, but, if I have not totally repulsed you, I would still like to join you for dinner," replies Samisel, with a low,sweeping bow.
Crystal smiles warmly at the debonair Elven gentleman before her,
"Of course, please sit and we shall talk." she replies, though keeping 'half an ear' on what Ash Jathal is asking/saying to the Gnome.
"My name is Crystal D'glaese, a simple troubadour wandering about the world learning of things with which to spread to other peoples to enlighten and entertain." She offers a small half-bow of her own as she introduces herself to the warrior settling in at her table.
"I had thought to setup here for a few days before moving on, just to give Marik and my kind halfling hosts a good bit of coin that they can use to take care of their respective families. Any who care to join us are indeed welcome, though if it gets to be too many, some may have to walk alongside the wagons when we take to the road again."
Lokprakash smiles knowingly at the dwarf.
"The Gods guide us all in mysterious ways. I too, am unsure of what exactly my travels will lead me to. But is as the Gods have planned."
Turning from the dwarf, the foreign half-elf waves a dismissive hand at his traveling companion, and the giant elephant-headed man begins to fade from the gathering in a veil of green light. At this instance the rune above Lokprakash's head also winks out.
He next turns to dine on the large salad placed in front of him, first offering a quick prayer to some obscure Vudrani diety with an elaborate hand gesture. He then begins to dine. Between bites Lokprakash thanks his host for such a generous meal.
When his steak is placed in front of him, Solomon immediately puts down the stones he still polishes and begins quickly eating. "This, Boomer, might be the best steak I've ever had. What did you put on it?"
He turns to Ash, "I, too might be able to help in a fight, and if we're needin funds, I can work on gettin this set o' pieces done. I've sold many o' these things in the past", indicating the stones he has been polishing, "And I'll gladly donate what I get for it to the cause."
To Laprakash, "Very true. I wonder, though, where did your large friend just disapear to?"
"I personally need naught in the way of money as I have what I need to secure passage, and have little need for more than that. If you would like to help Marik or the halflings out in that area, I would suggest talking to them and seeing what they need. I personally am helping them by providing meals to travelers while I collect their stories and experiences."
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"My name is Crystal D'glaese, a simple troubadour wandering about the world learning of things with which to spread to other peoples to enlighten and entertain." She offers a small half-bow of her own as she introduces herself to the warrior settling in at her table.
"Can I bring you something to eat, Lady Crystal?" asks Samisel.
"Can I bring you something to eat, Lady Crystal?" asks Samisel.
Crystal smiles at this other gentleman. "Most certainly sir, what upon the menu is for desert?" She asks.
At the mention of desert, the gnome chimes in, "Was there anything in particular you had in mind? I have limited resources, but if you have any cultural preferences, I can certainly try to stay as true to them as possible. Otherwise, once everyone has gotten their steak, I will see what I can put together with my current stock." Belatedly realizing he had only half answered Solomon's comments from earlier, "I use a special blend of spices I developed a while ago; it seems to work well with most game, but I still need to find a way to make it work for boar and bear."
Crystal glances over to where Feona is sitting,
"Everything all right, luv?" She asks.
Feona turns and looks the tall pretty lady up and down and smiles. "Everything's fine...or soon will be when I get my steak. You bound for Absalom too? I'm Feona...what's your name?"
The halfling mother chuckles at Feona's impatience, "You're as bad as our children. As much as I admire Boomer's cooking, I am a little afraid the children will get spoiled if they get to enjoy it too long. I suppose I shall have to try to learn some of his recipes just to get them to eat once we part ways."
Crystal smiles,
"My name is Crystal D'glaese." She indicates the Elf who has moved over to her side and introduces him to Feona as well, "This is Samisel Donarion. Absalom does sound like a large enough place for one to make one's way." "[/b]
"Tis a pleasure to meet you, Lady Feona. would you care to join us for dinner?" asks Samisel. "It would be an honor."
"Tis a pleasure to meet you, Lady Feona. would you care to join us for dinner?" asks Samisel. "It would be an honor."
"Really?" Feona squeaks. "Why sure, I'd love to!" She hops down from the chair and scoots toward your table, hopping up into another chair. She kicks her legs and says, "This is a nice place - how did you two find it?"
Crystal smiles, but also blushes slightly.
"Truth be told, I have a terrible sense of direction, so perhaps is was a gentle nudge from The lady of luck which set me to stumbling in here?" She replies.