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Niklos still views the weathervane with a jaundiced eye, and only distractedly nods when introduced. The talk of needing to share the space makes him frown as well. "Who is this fircyk then?"
Curiosity finally overcoming him, Mikel lays down his fiddle to mark his spot and walks to the door of the barn, peeking out to see who has arrived...You can never be to cautious.
Anna again shrugs at Niklos' question;
"Nem Nem. Mikel is his name and his coin is good..."
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Seleste moves to the barn and goes to pull on the door. "Oh!"
She steps back when Mikel is revealed on the other side. She has the thought of moving her hand to her sword, but decorum would dictate that she wait until given provocation. So she stands there eying him up and down, "You must be the fircyk everyone is talking about." She points behind her, "Meet everyone. Hope you ain't too spread out in there, we are a bit of a crowd."
She moves to go past him and stops with a sigh, "Yes, yes alright, apparently I am Seleste and I am to apologize for the fircyk comment....damn decorum..." She shoulders off her pack and shield and tosses them into the nearby hay. She looks about while stretching her shoulders from the day's travels.
Seleste appears as a pale young girl with elven physical characteristics mixed with a hardy farm girl frame. She wears an ornate leather cuirass slightly too large for her and a thick broadsword. Armor, sword, and shield a decorated in a mix of ivy and animals that seem out of place in this day and age and on implements of war. A wide brimmed hat keeps the sun off her milky skin and white hair trails down her back to her waist, tied off with a leather cord.
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Mikel takes a step back at the ladies brashness, then seems to firm himself up. With a bow and a flourish..."Ah yes". "Um". "Sir Mikel Jaggare, at your service". He then clumsily reaches for her hand to bestow a kiss upon it.
He then turns to the others, and making sure his fine sword is displayed... "Welcome". "I'm sure you, like I am used to finer surroundings, but at least it's safe and dry".
A bit warily at first, Keara slowly approaches Mikel, the lightest frown on her face when she notices his sword is so blatantly displayed...
But that comes and goes in a second, after which Keara flashes Mikel one of her characteristic bright, pearl-white smiles, and once again she makes sure to greet him politely (offering a few words of apology for her companions' less-than-tactful remarks), and to patiently introduce every member of their little group, just as she did for Anna's sake.
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Seleste pulls her hand free as he is kissing it and quickly steps aside for Keara. She scoffs a little laugh and blushes slightly, "I think you meant for Keara here, to receive that. Less calluses that way." She sets to unbuckling her sword over by her discarded pack, but keeps an eye on your Keara and how she seems equally playful and at ease with th stranger.
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With a twinkling eye Mikel winks at Seleste as she steps away..."Ah". "Fortunately the creator has blessed me with more than one kiss". "And calluses don't distract from your beauty".
Then bowing just as lowly and with a sly smile, Mikel also takes Seleste's hand and kisses it just as suggestively". "It is a pleasure to meet you all". "Since we seem to be sharing an abode we shall become quick friends". "I don't suppose any of you have any wine to celebrate the occasion". "The variety here is not to my liking, and I'm fresh out".
Niklos just narrows his eyes at Mikel as though trying to figure out if the man intends to kiss his hand as well... before summoning "Niklos... and you're no more at my service than I am at yours."
MIkel turns and reaches for Niklos's hand for a firm handshake. "Ah my good man Niklos". "A pleasure to meet you". "And as a member of the noble class I am indeed at your service". Mikel finishes with a sweeping bow.
Handshake offered is returned, but Niklos looks embarrassed when Mikel offers a bow. He looks to the others to speak as he instead settles with returning to his horse to brush it down.
As you settle into the barn, your introductions and activities are interupted by Anna who enters carrying a wooden tray of steaming bowls.
With a smile the farmwife sets the tray down, revealing brimming bowls of hot soup containing meat, noodles and potatoes;
"Gulyás... we folk of Levoča are know for it... Élvez! Enjoy!"
As she bends down you notice an unusual number of thin scratches upon her forearms and hands. Several look fresh...
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Seleste's healer eye takes in the numerous wounds on Anna's arms and hands as she holds the tray forward before her. Used to seeing the occasional cut earned on a farm, these seem a bit too numerous and fresh. She mutters lowly to her self out of the corner of her mouth, "I see them, my mother taught me, not you or you so pipe down."
She opens her pack and pulls out her mother's healing kit. She takes on a physician demeaner, much different than her farmgirl persona. "Miss Anna. You should let me look at those scratches. I am a healer and herbalist. Is there a feral barn cat that we should be wary of?"
Niklos warily takes a bowl of soup as he awaits the lady's response to Seleste.
Anna looks slightly embarrassed that her guests have noted the scratches, but with a bemused smile she rolls a sleeve up;
”Aye… our farm cat “Đumbir“, has been especially cantankerous of late! Last few days neither me nor the children can get close without him wounding us... best avoid him eh?“
She shrugs her broad shoulders;
“What with our ginger devil, the Chrobák’s dogs snapping and a growling and of course Old Yurt’s beloved nagrađen bull killing the old boy… tssk… tssk... what is it with these animals!?”
At the mention of Old Yurt, she kisses her palm and extends her thumb, index, and middle finger in what you presume is a faith gesture.
The gesture is a one honouring the dead and used by those who follow Old Deadeye and his related faiths such as Podaga – god of harvests, farms and hunting.
As he is replacing his fiddle in it's case, his performance superseded by the meal, Mikel stops at the crone's words. "Wait". "Is that the farm I passed on the way in, with all the funeral signs about"? "And you're saying that all the animals are acting strange"?
Anna nods at Mike's question;
"It is sir... Neit čudan, well perhaps a little... Out of sorts that is all... Old Yurt's son plan's to nadvladati the beast when he's finished mourning..."
The farmwife shrugs, at a loss.
Seleste smiles to herself that she was able to diagnose the scratches but then quickly frowns on the words of animal attacks.
She listens to the exchanges and solemnly nods her head as if in agreement to unspoken advise, "On the morrow, I would like to see the bull. Herbs are more my training, but I have helped on the farm enough with the animals. I have a way with them when I set my mind to it.
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Niklos focuses upon his spoon and bowl, moving the stew from bowl to mouth in a methodical fashion.
"That bull sounds dangerous". "It's already killed a man". "I'll go with you if you don't mind in case things get ugly".
Anna once again shrugs her shoulders at your interest and plans;
"The bull was ne'er veszélyes... well for a bull... Old Yurt hand sired it from a calf, so he did... tssk, tssk... szomorú..."
She shakes her head sadly then collects any finished bowls, before bidding you good evening and safe rest.
Having picked at his own child-sized portion Anando sets his own bowl down for Anna to collect, before once again tending to his journal.
His spectacles sitting midway down his sharp nose, the Halfling scrivener eyes your group like a disapproving school teacher;
"Whilst I am indenturing events for time and memorial, I shall continue to keep a close eye on our Company... can we perhaps keep any noise and jocularity to a civilized level mmmm?"
Niklos moves outside to tend to his horse when the lady leaves, spending some time in Jacobi's presence... though not exchanging words unless prompted. He spends the late evening sitting outside the barn, cradling his cudgel across his lap and looking as though his mind is a hundred miles away.
As the night draws in, Niklos' stoic vigil and the eerie tranquility of Levoča are disturbed by the mournful howls of wolves carried from the nearby woodland...
...before the village dogs counter with their own scattered yowls and livestock react with fearful cries.
The howls, though initially distant, are becoming louder and more frequent as they draw closer to the village...
Az/K WS:
Your mind is suddenly filled with pain and panic being emitted from Azlan;
Pain! The Song! The Song! Bites inside... hurts! A Song of Death! Of Tooth! Of Claw! Make it stop!
At Mikel's offer to accompany her, "Well, Ser Mikel, you are welcome to come. You will see I am a good hand around animals and would be sure to come to no harm, but I will ensure that you come to no harm as well" She delivers this in a matter of fact manner tone and contines to enjoy the soup.
Seleste raise up from the hay with a start and mumbles, "I hear them Pa, I'll get your bow...oh" She stops as her senses take in the unfamiliar barn, this is not her old homestead.
She finishes rising and moves to her pack, "Sword and shield. No time for the armor." Buckling on her sword she looks about to see who needs a kick to get going.
Perception:
Slipping his cudgel back onto a belt loop, Niklos stands and strings his bow. Seeing that Seleste is moving and seeking to make the others do so he focuses instead on the noise. Kenning the direction that the noises are coming from he begins to stalk in that direction.
Perception
Mikel sets up in his bed. He had been snoozing fitfully around these new strangers anyway.
"What is it"? "Did I hear something"?
Mikel rises to his feet, reaching for his sword.
Keara accepts the bowl of soup with gratitude, then starts eating slowly and thoughtfully, listening with half an ear to the exchange between the others, till Anna collects the finished bowls and bids them all good rest.
Noticing that Niklos seems intent on taking first watch, Keara thanks him briefly, then goes back in the barn to try and catch some sleep...
Suddenly Keara lets out a cry of pain and bolts up from her bed, her forehead beaded with sweat. She quickly looks around, noticing the others are awake too and seem concerned.
"W-Wha... Why are you all awake? What's happening!?... I-I think there is something in the woods... Something's about to happen, I don't know what it is, but we need to get ready!"
Standing up and quickly checking her gear, Keara joins the others, ready for trouble.
Yeah I knew that, but wanted to convey the feelings of Azlan to you - sorry came out as more of a telepathic link!? My bad - was struggling to get that across without being too cliché and WAY too wordy :S
Going forward we'll keep it less like a direct communication and more a feeling/emotion that conveys what the words say (if that makes sense)
For instance Keara empathically calls to Azlan, attempting to both calm him and call him hither would cover you action above?
Regardless I'll be spoilering it so we can work out the nuts and bolts as we go :)
As your group moves out of the barn and into the night air, the sound of the wolves echo from the surrounding forest, only to be joined by a cacophony of animal calls from Levoča’s domestic beasts.
It is clear by the intermittent howls, that the wolves are circulating the village…
In response the villagers have roused to this threat… Folk clatter from their homes as they grab for sickles, clubs or staves whilst tending bairns or lighting torches. Some more versed cradle bows or the odd boar spear, although one old hunter overzealously discharges his equally weathered crossbow into his own foot, leaving a floppy half donned boot pinned to the turf. Several other villagers stumble in the dark sending torches rolling dangerously close to bales and homes!
Soon a score of torch lights flicker and bob as Levoča’s folk make for the edges of the village in small armed groups, their shouts and the banging of pots and pans by children and the housebound only adding to the maddening discord engulfing the village…
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Eyes to the dark and the howls Niklos feels a stirring... not fear, but from the same dark corner of the soul that craven thoughts hide. Climbing unbidden from his throat, dark words of arcane origin born in a past age burrow their way from his mouth... timbre thick and gravel-like they resonate "Ved'ma svet, nazyval i skoval" As the words linger and die upon the air, four misshapen and stunted wisps of light swell from Niklos' cudgel before sloughing off like the skin of a man being burnt at stake.
The lights begin to lazily circle the krčilac, as his jaw remains grim set and resolute, with a hint of nascent sardonic smirk forming among the flecks of saliva that mark his lips. He still bears his bow as he begins to stalk slowly but with purpose... away... and into the dark towards the howls.
Muttered in the same grim tunga that birthed the deadlights, he calls "Ovtsy smert' , pridi ko mne ..."
"Sheep death, come to me.."
Without an immediate threat of attack, Seleste takes the minute to don her leather armor over rough flannels.
She then ventures out into the courtyard, and in a strange light she sees Niklos stalking out of the farmyard. She stoops to one knee and touches a clump of grass by the barn door. The grass blades ripple and begin to radiate a vibrant greenish light. Between her light and his, she does not see anything. In a loud hiss, "Hey. You got something out there?"
She turns to the others in the barn. "Quickly. Whatever it is I don't see it, but Niklos is moving away from the farm."
Seeing the preparations being made, Mikel takes the time to don his fancy armor, humming nervously to himself as he does so.
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[ooc]Plan is to get it up and running this weekend - my priority was with my older game (Iobarian Saga) but my Kingmaker has not been forgotten my friends - bear with me :)
As Niklos stalks past heralded by his balelights, the assembled villagers scatter, then reform, like flies disturbed upon a carcass.
The eyes of the pack catch, and reflect the fell illumination before two of the more brazen of the wolves charge. Eyes wild, ears flattened and teeth beared they come forth...
:
:
But the snapping jaws find no purchase upon his armour, nor the flesh beneath...
The wolves appear as much scared and confused as angered... a strange combination... the attack is not hunger or prey driven but something else beyond your ken...
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Bathed ins the sickly light of his wisps, Niklos lets the wolves come. Rather than meet the charge, he draws back as the lead beast lunges dropping his bow as he fades back. Right hand threads the loop on which his cudgel hangs, as he brings it up. Left meets right in high guard - blackened wood in both hands, Niklos then brings it down in a brutal overhead smash, aiming for the wolf's spine...
Two Hand Club: for
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A lonely track through a dark, forbidding forest.
Damn! Damn! Damn! I cannot believe they left without me! Gods, but had I even stopped to apologize on my way out the door, they would have been on me. He actually sent Pavel and Rawan after me. He will never understand... I had to spend hours shaking them before I could circle back to the rendezvous. And then they are gone when I arrive. Gone! Probably at the insistence of the sniveling halfling bookkeeper. Now I am walking for hours more trying to catch up and I am so tired that I dare not stop even to rest. That woodsman assured me that the only settlement in the area was down this track... What does he kn-
The young man checks his mental tirade at the sounds of screams in the night. He draws his sword as he tries to pinpoint the direction of the voices. Realizing it comes from farther down the track, he moves quickly, his fatigue forgotten, as he reaches a break in the trees which opens into a small village.
The crowds of people running for shelter in the dilapidated buildings causes him to follow their path back to the scene of a pack of wolves stalking through the center of the buildings. It being too dark to know what they hunt, he advances on them from behind and to their left.
Wolves...I hate wolves...weird that they would attack a village though. Must be really hungry...or mad.
"Ah". "This reminds me of a song I once heard". Mikel then begins belting out a chorus of "Wolf in Sheeps Clothing", as he draws his shortbow, picking out a target by the flickering light.
Selected has seen wolves aback her flocks before and had them prowl the farm at night, but this was not right. They would not charge so many people.
She runs up to get closer and can see, the wolves fight as if scared and cornered, yet they are the aggressors. "Something drives them to this, like the mad cow, these wolves are not here for food."
As Leith watches the wolves, he realizes that they are acting out of character and begins to look for anything that may be prodding them to this dangerous behaviour.
With a sickening thud, punctuated by a piercing yelp, Niklos puts down the wolf.
The remaining of the brazen wolves wheels toward the magus, afore two misfired arrows from villages bury themselves in the dirt next to it (and Niklos' booted foot).
Growling it charges the new threat of the mob, who scatter yelling and uttering oaths of protection. One fat oaf falling in his panic...
Behind in the undergrowth, lupine eyes glittering in the balelight; as the pack snarl and howl their way slowly forward.
You innately know something is wrong, yet your senses cannot reveal a source
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Taking the downed wolf by the scruff of it's neck with his left hand, Niklos heaves it up to have it's dead eyes facing outwards towards the dark. Cudgel held to the side and ready, Niklos picks out what he thinks is the pack's leader and walks slowly and with purpose towards it...
Leith takes the opportunity to charge the pack drawing his dueling sword as he moves, heading for the closest wolf.
DM
You can guess why he is choosing this time to sing...
Taking aim at one of the fast moving wolves, Mikel aims and looses.
Shortbow
Short arrow.
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Seleste locks eyes with the Alpha, and slowly starts walking toward her, "You don't have to do this, whatever it is, take your family a go, this is not your fight..."
With each step she seeming grows several inches taller, her sword and shiled grow in a similar fashion until she looms over the Wolfpack and points her sword at the Alpha and yells, "Go! Go while you can! There is nothing but death here." She completes her threat with a clash of sword on shield and awaits the Wolf's decision. She opens her senses to take in what else might be here to drive the wolves on so.