Emalliandra stepped forward as the strix spoke and responded in Azlanti, "We've come in peace, we wish only to meet our neighbors in this area. We recently started a colony on the island," she gestured towards the bigger island, "and have already encountered a few of the inhabitants. We heard of your village and felt we should come introduce ourselves. We are open to trade and mutual aid if you are willing to consider such agreements."
The speaker, an older strix with weathered features, inclines her head. "Ah. We noticed your settlement several weeks ago but have not made the time to investigate yet. We know little of your people, but are eager to learn more." She spreads her arms in greeting. "I am Skalorah. We are the Akkiti-Skah, the People of the Sea and Sky. We greet you in the name of friendship and goodwill."
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Simon greets the Strix in their own tongue, then switches to Azlanti for the benefit of most of the party.
"Greetings, we are from a new settlement that is being founded on the main island. We call it Talmandor's Bounty.
We seek to make friendly contact with other peoples in the area and even to make some trade contacts."
"We also found this amulet on the remains of a young Strix apparently named Arkshul. We thought that we should return it and let you know of his fate, if he was from your settlement."
"Talmandor's Bounty? A strange name." Skalorah shrugs and clicks her tongue. "But we would be happy to trade with you. We are a peaceful people, seeking to master art, music, and poetry. We would welcome an exchange of crafts and cultural ideas."
She lets out a sad whistle when you hand over the amulet. "Poor Arkshul. He had been missing for weeks, and we had feared the worst. Thank you for telling us of his fate, so that we can have closure in this matter. We will sing songs of his glories to send his soul along to the next life."
The old strix spreads her painted wings. "You have journeyed far to get here. Will you join us for a meal and stay in Sheshkadrann tonight? I am sure my people will be eager to meet you and learn more about you."
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Simon translates the offer to Common for Victrix, then responds in Azlanti.
"We would be delighted to learn more about our new neighbors and to share what stories we have as well. Please let us know if there is any way that we can assist.
Most of our group speak Azlanti, with the exception of our protector." Simon motions to Victrix. "Are there any other languages that are common with your people? I believe she speaks the language of angels in addition to the Common trade tongue humans use."
Victrix's eyes light up at the offer of hospitality. "I'm all for it!"
"And I'm still learning the words for this one. We met some nice statues that can talk that are teaching me! We came from a place called Andoran, across the sea. Apparently Talmandor is someone important or something? I don't know that much about it, but I do know that our new home is pretty great, and we have the best barbecues. Gardening and cooking are my specialties. I'm Kip, and this is Gerald!"
"Most of the Akkiti-Skah speak only the language of our ancestral homeland. But I have learned the tongue of the ancient humans who once dwelled here, as well as that of the heavens. My apprentice, Oorka, can speak those languages, too."
Skalorah switches to Celestial and bows to Victrix. "Blessings be upon you, child of angels. Your arrival here is surely a good omen."
She changes back to Azlanti. "Greetings, Kip and Gerald. I have never seen one of your kind before. How did you come to live among humans?"
To put it bluntly, Victrix is quite surprised to hear someone speak to her in Celestial. And even more so to hear that this particular strix knows she's an aasimar.
"...Ξέρετε ότι μεταφέρω το αίμα των αγγέλων?" She replies, her use of the language a bit rusty.
Then she turns to the others. "Alright, be honest--is my being angelborn really that obvious?"
Skalorah replies to Victrix in Celestial.
Ema was relieved that these strix accepted them so readily, even if she was slightly annoyed at Simon for repeating most of her efforts, and listened as the gathering spoke. She noticed Kyp only introduced himself and Simon and said, "I'm Emalliandra and our angelkin protector is Victrix."
Turning her gaze to Victrix Ema giggled, "Teehee, Φυσικά ήξερα τι είσαι, αφού καλώ τα πλάσματα όλη την ώρα νομίζεις ότι δεν θα ήθελα;" She lay hand on Victrix' shoulder, "Απλώς σκέφτηκα ότι δεν θέλατε να μιλήσετε γι 'αυτό, αφού ποτέ δεν είπατε τίποτα και θα ήταν ακατανόητο να το αναδείξετε."
"Obvious? No, I wouldn't say so. I mean, I suspected the possibility. Something about how Ema's summons react to your presence. Plus, that hair is just not a normal shade of red."
Victrix takes a lock of her hair in her hand and gives its colour a critical look.
(Celestial) "Of course I knew what you are, since I summon creatures all the time did you think I wouldn't?; I just figured you didn't want to talk about it since you never said anything and it would've been rude to bring it up."
Then the berserker purses her lips and scratches her head, her cheeks heating up a bit. "Thanks."
"It is well! Follow me," Skalorah says.
The strix lower rope ladders so that you can ascend to the numerous arboreal structures that make up their village. Bridges of rope connect a few of them, allowing you to move around a bit, though navigation would be much easier if you could fly.
At the heart of Sheshkadrann stands an octagonal crystal tower 170 feet tall, with a jagged top that is clearly indicative of a fracture. Crystal fragments lie scattered throughout the forest to the north of the settlement. The tower is solid all the way through, but fine silver circuitry runs through its interior, reminiscent of the other Azlanti ruin you recently explored.
Over a hundred strix dwell here, all of them friendly and curious about the four of you. They speak in a musical language full of chirps, warbles, and guttural stops. All have gone to great lengths to decorate their bodies with art, from colorful tattoos to painted wings. Others practice more extreme body modifications, such as head binding, lip gauging, and scarification as forms of personal art and expression.
As night falls, the Akkiti-Skah treat you to a fine feast of fish and fruits harvested from the larger island. The food is laid out on the floor of a large hall, and the strix eat seated cross-legged on cushions. Several of the strix perform songs and intricate dances for your enjoyment, none more than impressive than Skalorah herself, who favors deep chants and multivocal harmanoies. The elder is keen to listen to your stories and share information with you.
Among the Akkiti-Skah, none are more curious about you than a young female with milky, clouded eyes. She seems to be the only one besides Skalorah that speaks Azlanti, and she scoots closer to you as you eat. "Greetings, strangers. I am Oorka. We've never had people like you in our homes before. Skalorah says you have traveled across the sea to live here. What is your homeland like? Is it so bad that you wanted to flee so far away? How did you manage to make it here without wings? It must be very tiring to swim across an entire ocean."
Ascending into the strix treetop town is quite an experience for Victrix. Part of her is quietly thankful she isn't afraid of heights--and the rest of her is entranced by the sheer colour & wonder surrounding her.
She looks over Oorka as the young strix bombards the party with questions at the feast. Unfortunately, having no idea what she's saying, she looks to Simon & Ema to translate while she helps herself to some more fish.
"To be honest, not many of my kind leave our homes. The elders say that our swamp is the best place there is, so why leave? I just had to see what else there was though, so I started exploring and meeting new people and going further and further and eventually I met up with these fine people who were going to cross the sea to start a whole new town. It was a great opportunity for adventure!"
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"Nice to meet you Oorka. We actually each come from different places, though we all left one location together to come here. Originally, I'm from a small swamp... hm.... Well, look out to the sea. Imagine as if all of that water was land, and all of the land on this island was water instead. My old home is kind of like that, and my people live on the edge of the water. And it's not bad, it's great! But I love to explore and travel to new places to see what's out in the world. Otherwise I never get to meet new people like you.
"As to how we arrived, it's true that we don't have wings (though I am learning how to fly, and trying to build some wings), and it would be very far to swim, we came here on a ship. It's kind of like a house that floats on the water, and we use sails that catch the wind to push us along. It's actually not that different from wings, just not strong enough to get off the water. Actually... Ema, would it be possible to build a ship with really really big sails that could fly?"
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As the evening progresses, Simon attempts to speak with Skalorah as much as possible, attempting to learn about their history.
"Skalorah, let me apologize in advance if anything I say comes across as offensive. I am a student of history and would like to learn as much as I can, but please stop me if I say something that is culturally insensitive.
You call your people Akkiti-Skah and mentioned an ancestral homeland. Can you tell me more about this ancestral homeland and when you moved away from it?"
After her response, "On the continent of Avistan, in the country of Cheliax, there live a group of winged people who appear to be the same race as the Akkiti-Skah. .They call themselves Strix, and when I heard about your people I spent time learning their language. I was quite surprised to learn you spoke a different language, though it makes sense from an archeological perspective. Do you have any knowledge of these Strix? Did they also come from your ancestral homeland?"
"Oh! A ship!" Oorka ponders the unfamiliar word. "It must be nice to be able to travel to new places all the time. I have never left Sheshkadrann. When I was little, I got very sick and nearly lost all of my sight. But ever since then, I sometimes see things that haven't happened yet. Skalorah says that I have a second sight, and that I glimpse the divine. But she says the world outside our village is too dangerous for me to explore."
The young strix looks sad.
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Skalorah tells Simon more of her people's history. They originated in lands much further to the west, on the continent most people refer to as Arcadia, where a mysterious avian race lorded over them. The stories say that they left their home in a great exodus. Several of their number crossed the Arcadian Ocean, eventually arriving on the shores of Cheliax to settle the region now known as Devil's Perch. But the Akkiti-Skah settled in the shattered ruins of Azlant in small, isolated pockets. Some of the old songs and stories indicate that the strix traveled to Azlant from Arcadia prior to Earthfall and may have had limited trading arrangements with the Azlanti.
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"Fascinating! So, you tell your history through song? I shall have to learn your language so that I can better understand your people."
Simon considers this statement for a moment. "As a matter of fact, I think sharing of language should be the first order of business. Very few in Talmandor's Bounty speak Azlanti, which will prove a barrier for forming trade and cultural exchanges.
We shall have to find a way to teach each other our languages as we experience each other's cultures."
As the evening progresses, Simon will eventually address the elephant in the room.
"Skalorah, do you know anything about this crystal tower that you live around? Does it have entrances of any kind?"
Skalorah shakes her head. "It is solid crystal all the way through. There are no entrances, and other than the fact that it is no doubt Azlanti in origin, we have not been able to determine much about it. Who can say what purpose it might have served the ancients? We appreciate it for its artistic beauty."
Ema enjoyed the view as they were led up into the city of these strix, she'd never seen a treetop city like this before, but she had read of similar, and she enjoyed the view. The crystalline spire of the Azlanti tower kept drawing her gaze though as she wondered what was inside of it and very much wanted to see. Too bad it was unlikely to happen any time soon.
As they sat to eat Ema enjoyed the songs and dances the people performed and was entranced by their songs. They were a beautiful people and she was pleased they allowed their group to join them. When the new arrival appeared Ema looked at the young strix woman with interest. As Oorka began to bombard them Ema kept a running translation up for Victrix and found the strix rather delightful. She let Kip answer first and enjoyed the two asking questions and explaining.
When Kip asked her about flying ship Ema was caught off guard by the thought. After a moment she said slowly, "I...I don't know..." She tried to remember anything similar and said, "Well, there are flying carpets, I think I also read about some 'sky cities' at one time that purportedly flew..." She thought a bit harder and said, "There are various ways to approach it I guess, you could use some sort of flight spell, a very advanced one, or possibly bind some air elementals..." she contemplated a bit more and then continued, "or maybe a spell to reverse gravity? I've heard of something like that I think, if you could control the repulsion effects and make them stronger or weaker as needed that might do it." She shrugged, "There are many other ways I'm sure and I imagine I could come up with something if I tried hard enough."
She had noticed Oorka's sadness as she talked of her illness and lack of vision and said, "I've heard of such things before, people who somehow were cursed but had access to divine power. I believe they are called oracles. As far as lack of vision it could be worse, I've heard of some who can't hear at all, are crippled physically, rot away and decay, things far worse than having little sight." She smiled and continued, "Of course that's just what I've heard of teehee, I've never met one until now after all and it isn't my type of magic."
Ema decided that it was her turn to answer Oorka and said, "Like Kip we all came here by ship, though we came from different places before that." She sighed sadly, "i don't really remember where I am from, I don't remember anything really before a few years ago. I remember being found by gypsies, people who live in wagon caravans and travel with no set home, who taught me a language other than azlanti, and then moving to a city. I began to study magic and eventually heard of the colony effort." Her gaze drifted in the direction of the ocean where Azlant lay and said, "Recently we've discovered I may actually be from Azlant, before the impact destroyed it. If so I don't remember any of it, more than a single memory I recovered recently, and I would like to know what happened to me." She sighed sadly, "Who am I really? How did I live this long? Did I have loved ones? Husband? Children? Family?"
Simon is able to tell that the remains of the tower are just a fragment of its previous grandeur. Though the broken structure is still 170 feet tall, the half-orc estimates that it once soared to an awe-inspiring height of a thousand feet into the air! The silver circuitry suggests it once likely served as a focus for some sort of powerful magic, though its exact purpose remains a mystery.
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"That must be really sad, not knowing who you really are," Oorka says sympathetically. "I hope you can find the answers you're looking for. Maybe Skalorah can help you? She is very wise and knows a lot of things! I'd help too, if I could. My orr-a-cull powers aren't very strong. I can't control them, really. They just happen sometimes."
While Victrix is visibly appreciative of Ema providing her with a running translation of what the young strix is saying, she doesn't appear to be that focused on the conversation at hand.
Her hand keeps moving back to where the faceless stalker drank from her, and there's a faint blush on her cheeks. "Er... I hope so, too."
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Simon returns from his examination of the spire and informs the others of his theories.
"I suppose that without some form of written documentation, we may never know what its purpose was.
Magical theorists might be able to find a way to harness some effect from it if they studied it enough, but would the effect be anything like what the Azlanti used it for"
Realizing that his return interrupted a conversation, he blushes.
"I am sorry for interrupting, Oorka, I am always a little too excited to share new things that I learn.
You are an oracle? How fascinating. Are these types of powers common among your people?
Maybe I can help you to learn to read our language. I could order some books from Avistan about Oracles that could help you to learn more."
A religious study wing of the library? Not a bad idea, especially with the ancient temple here on the island. Still, I need to finish the magical wing first.
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Later on, after the party starts to wind down, Simon will approach Skalorah.
"Skalorah, I apologize for asking serious questions, but there is a threat on the main island that worries us.
In the center of the island lives a hag named Helekhterie. She has sent assassins into our town and has abducted many settlers."
Simon will describe the faceless stalkers.
"It is apparent that we will not be able to maintain a peaceful settlement here unless we confront her.
Do you know anything of this hag or her abilities?"
Victrix sticks with Simon when he looks for Skalorah and begins filling her in on the faceless stalkers on the island. "Anything you can offer would be appreciated."
She touches her neck and fidgets a bit.
"I am the only one with these abilities here," Oorka says. "I would very much like to learn your language, but I do not think I will be able to read it." She points to her milky, clouded eyes.
---
Skalorah shakes her head. "We have not scouted that far inland. We have not heard of this hag or her faceless minions. If she is as dangerous as you claim, I am unwilling to risk my people by provoking her ire. I am sorry, but I hope you can understand."
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"I can understand your fear, for I share it. I fear though, that simply staying away will not be enough.
The hag has been sending minions to enslave and murder other peaceful inhabitants of the island."
Simon will describe the Locathah and their plight with the Sahuagin.
"She may leave your people alone forever, or she may simply not have turned her eyes this way yet. Are you content to simply wait, with this fearsome spectre waiting so closely?"
Simon will turn to Victrix and speak in Common, relating the gist of what he said.
To Victrix: "I think that we could use some troops from other people on the island to engage her minions while we go to directly deal with the hag.
You have a way with people. Maybe you can help to convince her."
Victrix nods in agreement with Simon. "Odds are, if this hag manages to drive our people out, she'll want to make sure that no other possible rivals can challenge her. You're in no less danger than we are from her--and I believe that our two peoples can help each other in driving her back."
"Any assistance you can lend us in dealing with this hag--before she has a chance to attack anyone else--would go a long way towards allowing both our peoples to prosper. I mean, we clearly crossed paths for a reason--perhaps this is it."
Skalorah considers your words, then nods in assent. She spreads her painted wings and whistles, and a lean warrior answers her call. "This is Kalikk, our greatest hunter. She will accompany you to fight against this sea hag. She only speaks our native tongue, however, so it may be slightly difficult to communicate."
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Simon greets the warrior, then bows to Skalorah.
"We thank you, greatly. Both for your friendship and for this great boon. We have a couple of things to do before we dare to take on the hag.
Kalikk is welcome to journey with us, or we can return when we are ready. We can also introduce you to the human settlement. With luck, we will have time to learn a means of communicating with Kalikk, either magically or through learning."
Victrix bows to Kalikk. "A pleasure to meet you."
Kalikk mimics Victrix's bow and says something in a musical warble.
"She is pleased to meet you as well," Skalorah translates. "Kalikk will be happy to serve as an envoy of the Akkiti-Skah in Talmandor's Bounty. She has explored much of the coast of the island you call Ancorato, and can guide you to points of interest you have yet to discover."
Speaking with Kalikk, you learn of a small settlement on the northern coast called Bonetown. It was formerly occupied by a small group of gillmen whalers who traded with the strix, but they disappeared several years ago and has been abandoned since. It may be worth checking out.
Victrix can't help but snicker when she hears the word Bonetown. Apparently, there's still a part of her that's thirteen winters old.
"Sounds like a place to investigate."
"Oorka, maybe if you practice a lot you can learn to control your powers. I've heard of magic that can let you see far off places. Maybe that would let you explore without needing to use your eyes at all. And with your special abilities maybe you could even see things that happened long ago, or are yet to come, as well as the stuff happening right now."
"We should definitely head over to Bonetown. With what the hag's been up to I wouldn't be surprised if she was behind the sudden disappearance of the gillmen."
"I will try to practice, but there is not much more I can learn here in Sheshkadrann," Oorka says to Kip. "Maybe... Maybe I could travel with you? I would love to discover the world beyond this tiny island. I could put my abilities to practical use and gain more experience with them. Maybe I could even reach a new level of power!"
She looks at you with pleading eyes. "Can I come along? Can I? Can I?"
Ema was finding herself enjoying the company of Oorka, the young strix woman was entertaining and cheerful and did much to bring up Ema's spirits after some of the recent events. That she wanted to join them in their journeys with such enthusiasm was something that said much about her. Ema considered the request carefully, it was a big thing for her to accompany them, a big step, and she was going to consider it seriously. She finally came to a decision and said, "If Skalorah will agree to it I think we could at least take you to our town." She smiled then and continued, "Adventuring seems to be a good way to start becoming more powerful quickly but it is very risky. Where we are going I don't know that you are prepared to go yet but I bet you'll be ready before long."
Oorka speaks to Skalorah in their native tongue. The conversation is full of excited hoots and whistles, and eventually the older strix comes to speak to you.
"Oorka tells me you have offered to mentor her and guide her outside the village. I think exposure to the world and your culture will be good for her development, but there are many dangers on these islands and she is still a child. I will allow her to accompany you if you promise to let no harm to come to her."
The young strix nearly bounces with excitement. "This is going to be amazing! I can't wait!"
"Neither can I! Remember though that exploring new places can sometimes be dangerous. We'll need to be careful, and if something tries to attack us, try to keep safely away. We should probably also see about getting you something more protective to wear..."
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"Well, that's decided, then. Oorka, I suggest that if battle begins, you should stay near Ema. She usually stays out of direct danger and she can help protect you in a pinch.
We will need you to translate for Kalikk until we are able to learn your tongue.
If your powers can help us, we will appreciate it. Now, tell us some more about yourself.
What are you trained to do? What type of magics can you utilize? Just how poor is your eyesight? I am not very familiar with Oracles, but I thought most with cursed sight usually could see the area close to themselves until they got quite powerful."
"Well, sometimes, I get premonitions of things that are about to happen before they actually happen," Oorka says. "And I can use a little bit of magic, too. Making food and water pure, giving people some guidance, that sort of thing. Oh, and I can heal people if they get hurt. I can kind of see things that are really close by, but they're still blurry, and beyond thirty feet or so it's all just muddled."