Divine Rise of the Runelords

Game Master nate lange

"Kaelaah!" Roakkad rushes into Kaelaah's quarters, gently grasping him by the shoulder.

"Kua rongo ahau i etahi korero," he whispers urgently, glancing toward the door. "Pea te reira i tetahi mea , engari kia waiho te reira te tahi mea , rawa . Kua korerotia e ahau e whai wāhi te whakaeke Taniwha iwi maha e haere mai tahi . E mohio koutou , ki te he whanonga noa mō tupua tenei ? Ki te kore , tautoko reira ariā o Kaede e ārahi ana etahi whakaaro pouri ratou mahi , e kore koe whakaaro?"

"Slow down... Take a moment friend... It shames me to say that my mastery of our people's language is academic at best... The spoken word, brother, it still escapes me". When Roakkad reiterates what he has heard, Kaelaah is full of worry, "I know little of goblins but I do know that they are disorganised, selfish creatures... the jdea of multiple tribes cooperating on anything is, I should think, unheard of".

Kaelaah clasps Roakkad's shoulders, "This was an important thing to learn brother, come... we should share this with the others... Kaede may be right"

Oh haha sorry Kaelaah I thought you speak Shoanti.

The next day passes rather uneventfully. After all the excitement and unsettling revelations of the previous days there is something comforting about getting back into a routine: morning prayers, breakfast, chores, some sparring for Salomae and Kaede as Kaelaah and Roakkad lie on a roof above basking in the warmth of the sun and the vastness of the sky, midday prayers, lunch, lessons, chores, dinner, evening worship, and some quiet time to contemplate the designs of the gods... Strangely, Tera is nowhere to be seen through any of this.

The rising sun drives away any quiet as Lord Foxglove and his caravan arrive. On the way to morning prayers, the marked (and everyone else who cuts through the courtyard to the gathering hall) see Aldern in a very fancy breastplate, standing beside a dozen horses, two wagons, and several unfamiliar men while Father Zantus patiently explains that nobody is to leave until after morning prayers. The nobleman turns and quietly speaks with one of his retainers as the High Priest walks purposefully inside. The matter seems settled until Aldern strides in behind him.

Some murmurs run through the gathered clergy as Lord Foxglove walks to back of the room and sits in the back pew. He is not at all disruptive--sitting and standing and kneeling as appropriate--but there is clearly a curious, maybe even anxious, feeling in the air throughout the service.

When morning prayers end he quickly heads back into the courtyard and all who follow him discover that he has sent a man and bought out all of the pastries at Sandpoint Savories to offer them as breakfast at the church. However any of the attendants or priests may have felt about the hunt before, everyone is thrilled with Aldern's impromptu sending off party. Everyone, that is, but Brother Faustwick who seems quite out of sorts in the midst of this chaos and can be occasionally heard grumbling about disruptions to the schedule.

Amidst the laughing and eating, Father Zantus gathers Kaede, Kael, Roakkad, Sal, and Zache. "Well," he starts with a smile full of hope and worry, "this is it, I suppose. There will be nobody there to watch over you... We entrust you to the gods, may they bring you safely back to us. But don't make there job any more difficult- keep you wits about you, and take care not to do anything rash... Is there anything else I can do for you before the five of you set out?"

I'm not fishing here (so don't feel like you have to ask if it seems out of character), but nobody has said anything yet about why Tera hasn't been around...

I'd thought about having Sal make an observation about it but figured she wouldn't have worried about it too much...at least not until now, as she's been absent for at least a couple of days.

Though she'd at first felt a bit self-conscious at all the pomp and hullabaloo surrounding Aldern's arrival, Sal had to admit that the man certainly knew how to win support from others.

And I'm sure the folks over at Savories appreciated the business! she thinks, absently munching on a small cinnamon pastry as Father Zantus beckons them over. Brother Faustwick shouldn't fuss so much...isn't it men like Lord Foxglove that help foster commerce anyway?

Her musings on Brother Faustwick's stuffiness then lead her to the realization that she's not seen Tera at all since the other day when they'd returned from having lunch with the nobleman. "We'll do our best to stay out of trouble Father," she responds. "But I have to ask - where's Tera? She's marked like the rest of us but I haven't seen her once since our lunch with Lord Foxglove. There's not anything wrong is there?"

Kaelaah had been so lost in his doubts and worries that he had nearly completely forgotten that Tera had not been with them when the ‘Marked’ had gone into the crypt… and, now that Salomae mentions it, he starts to worry about that as well…

…what has happened to her? What has she been called to do? Is she okay?

…and when Father Zantus, rather pointedly, states that no-one will be there to watch out for the ‘Marked’ when they are at the hunt, a shiver runs up Kaelaah’s spine…

…Sarenrae, watch over us…

Roakkad sits peacefully beneath a palm on the edge of the cathedral grounds, grateful for the break in chores. The morning sun glitters in the sky as she ascends toward her mid-day throne. He has accepted one of the proffered pastries, tearing it into pieces and tossing it out into the grass for Tsharat to "hunt". As he spies Father Faustwick hurrying across the lawn, waving his hands in apparent distress, his thoughts turn momentarily to Tera, whom he has not seen for over a day now.

At Father Zantus's beckon, he gathers himself and joins the others in a final prayer before departing for the hunt. Salomae's question about Tera justifies his concerns, and he looks expectantly toward the priest.

The high priest frowns and fidgets at Salomae's question. "Tera is alright..." he answers uncomfortably, "there are some questions about... well, there are questions that Brother Faustwick and myself are looking into- questions that we need her here for."

He tries to muster a smile but it is clear that there is more that he's not saying. "Don't worry yourselves about any of that right now, you must focus on the hunt and on coming home safely." To finish changing the subject he gestures to Aldern who quickly joins them. "They are all yours, Lord Foxglove, do take care to bring them back in one piece," he says before quietly walking away.

"Very well," the nobleman answers with a smile. As Father Zantus wonders off Lord Foxglove addresses the marked, "Perhaps nobody informed your high priest that it was you who aided me- you're all supposed to be bringing me back safely!" he jokes. "Now," he continues, "I've taken the liberty of bringing a few of my men along to set camp and cook and perform other menial tasks. I've also taken the liberty of bringing along horses for everyone... Can all of you ride or should I have the men clear some room in one of the wagons?"

Although she doesn't buy the entirety of Father Zantus' story, Sal bites down on the urge to pry further and simply nods. The priest had that look in his eyes and she'd lived at the cathedral long enough to learn to recognize it - the sort of look that promised nothing but trouble, usually in the form of extra chores, if she didn't let it go. "Okay Father, as long as she's alright," she shrugs before turning her attention to Aldern.

"Usually I've moved around on foot when I've been out on patrol with Shalelu, but riding shouldn't be too difficult. Just don't ask me to perform any stunts and we should be good," she replies, expression brightening. Although she was still worried about Tera, she knew that there wasn't much she could do about it at the moment so she might as well focus her attention on the task at hand. It also didn't hurt that she was rather excited about the prospect of getting away from town for a short time.

Even if we don't manage to kill a boar, this should be a good way to take our minds off everything that's happened for a little while.

Life in a Varisian caravan had taught Kaelaah a great many things, a love of the open road, the joy of new places, how to set up camps, how to entertain... but it had never taught him how to handle a horse. Slightly embarassed, he stares at his feet, "Um... I'm happy to ride in a wagon?"

I had a feeling that this morning would be odd.... Kaede thinks as the minor hubbub that Lord Foxglove causes sends murmurs though the Cathedral. The pastries, however, are a welcome change for Kaede. She deftly snags one before hurrying back to her room to change into her armor. Upon returning, she hears the conversation about Tera and begins to look worried. Did Tera's family in Magnimar call her back there? Is Brother Faustwick punishing her for something we don't know about? Where is she?

Upon being asked about riding, she winces as she looks at the horses and wagons. "Where I'm from, Riding horses are for samurai and nobles. While there was lodging for horses at the temple, I'm not at all familiar with how to ride. May I please ride in the wagon?"

Roakkad admires the horses from a distance. They are lean and muscular, and no doubt would make fine mounts for seasoned riders and hunters. He pictures himself as a fabled Burn Rider, shrouded in smoke, ash, and glory.

But, he has no idea how to ride.

"I would be glad to accompany the others in the wagon." he says simply.

Aldern chuckles softly as most of the marked confess one after another to needing room in the wagon. Always the gracious host, however, he quickly steels his face and replies, "very well, I'll have some room prepared in both wagons then."

He speaks briefly with one of his hired men (a young Varisian with bright purple eyes) who trots over to the wagons. As preparations are completed, Lord Foxglove begins his farewells. He makes a grand show of saying goodbye to the priests but makes it a point to shake the hands of as many initiates and visitors as he can.

Sister Amet'ra slips gracefully through the crowd during Aldern's hobnobbing and prays the Dawnflower's blessing on the marked, "May Sarenrae watch over you as she crosses the sky, may her fire keep you safe and burn away that which threatens you."

She finishes shortly before Aldern returns, and she gives each of the marked a quick hug before slipping back into the crowd. The nobleman leads the marked over to the wagons where several seats have been cleared and a few horses are standing by. As he mounts his horse he calls out, "Have no fear, people of the Cathedral, your marked shall return victorious!" As cheers and applause go up, he gives his horse a little kick and rides off leading the small caravan south into and across the church square and through the streets of Sandpoint towards the south bridge...

I never heard from Zache about horse or wagon... each of the two wagons has one seat open next to the driver and a second seat in back with the supplies... where is everyone positioning themselves? Also, if anyone wants to talk to Aldern or his men while traveling now is the time (otherwise my next post will bring us up to actual hunting).

"I've never ridden a horse before," Zache shrugs, a twinkle in his dark eyes. "No time to learn like the present!"

Posts might be short until I get back into the swing of things.

Roakkad claims a seat next to a driver, preferring to have a good view of the forest. This also allows Tsharat to keep her eyes on him as she flies above, eager to spread her wings for a new journey. In Truth, he is also eager to get out of the cathedral. Living in Sandpoint has been markedly different from his previous life in Kaer Maga, and he has been itching for a change of pace.

He holds his staff between his knees, closing his eyes and basking in the warmth of the sun as the wagon rocks unsteadily. Autumn is upon them, he realizes, and winter not far behind. How many sunny days are left to them, before the summer warmth begins to fade, and sun is eclipsed by the winter's moon?

"I'm glad I wasn't the only one that accepted..." Sal whispers to Zache. Though she wasn't too surprised that Kaede opted to ride in one of the wagons, she hadn't expected both of her Shoanti companions to do the same as well. "Otherwise I would've felt a little silly," she admits.

I stand out enough as it is being 'marked'...don't need any other help on that front.

As most of the others situate themselves in the wagons, Sal studies the horses for a moment before selecting a chestnut gelding. "You're a handsome fellow aren't you?" she smiles, giving him a friendly pat as she hops up into the saddle. "I don't actually have much real experience riding," she whispers, "so take it easy on me, alright?"

With the caravan setting off, Sal guides her horse alongside the wagons so she'll be able to easily chat with the other marked as they travel. "Remind me again, how far out are we going?" she calls to one of the wagon-drivers.

Kaelaah's mind drifts back to long days on the roads... the rocking of the wagon as it tumbles along the rough trail bringing back memories of his adoptive parents... of days when the sun in the sky was nothing more than warmth, a compass in the heavens and a respite from the darkness of the night...

...before my awakening...

Snapping out of it, he tries to get the attention of one of Aldern's retainers, "So... are these hunts normally successful? What does Lord Foxglove need from us?"

Tera darts through the thinning crowd, almost bowling over an elderly man with a cane in her rush to catch up. She was late, for the first time in her life, she was undeniably late, and she almost failed to apologize to the old gentleman as she blew past him. Her feet pound out a furious tempo on the road leading out of town. She was not the most athletic, nor did she possess the long-legged stride that many of the northmen were blessed with. She was, however blessed with a dauntless energy and a pace that was almost frightening to behold when she was truly in a hurry.

Despite this, however, she was beyond the town gates when she finally closed into shouting distance.

"WAIT! WAIT FOR ME!"

Despite the burning in her lungs and the pain in her legs, she was able to get some rather impressive volume behind her voice.

"WAIT! WAIT FOR ME!"

Kaede looks back at the town in slight surprise at the bellow. Tera? Now what's happening? As Tera bolts for the wagon, Kaede smiles, then extends her hand to pull her friend up into the back of the wagon. And after doing so, she grins at her with a twinkle in her eye. "I do believe you owe us a story, Tera, because I know we're all going to get an earful from Brother Faustwick for this."

Aldern not only halts the caravan but dismounts to meet Tera. Taking her hand he smiles and bows to kiss it. "What a truly pleasant surprise it is to have you with us." As he helps her up into the seat of the closer wagon he adds, "The scenery will be even more beautiful with you here."

Once the missing member of their band is seated the caravan begins to roll forward again. Sal and Kealaah are informed that the hunt will be in Tickwood Forest (about half an hour ride away) and that Lord Foxglove has never returned empty-handed yet; but really all ears are on Tera, waiting for an answer to Kaede's question...

I'm going to wait to post getting to the woods in order to allow for some RPing, since clearly this situation calls for some RP.

Tera stumbles to a stop as she catches up with the caravan. The young woman gulps air down trying to catch her breath enough to actually be able to reply, but all she can do is flush even more darkly and mutter, "Th-thank you," when he kisses her hand.

After Aldern helps her, or more accurately, lifts her up by her waist, to the seat, she manages to somewhat recover from her mad sprint, though her mind insists on replaying the kiss over and over again, leaving her cheeks a little pinker than normal.

At Kaede's question, Tera thinks for a moment, before deciding that the truth was better than trying to lie.

Besides, she was the worst liar in Sandpoint.

"A banker from Taldor, Cassomir, I think he said, came here. Apparently there was another marked by Abadar, and now everyone's wondering if his mark or mine is fake, or if both of them are genuine," she says far more calmly than she felt, "Father Zantus, Brother Faustwick, and Banker Haynes needed to do some research and it's easier to do that if you have what you're researching on hand," she finished with a shrug.

The truth was, the past two days had been-- unpleasant. It wasn't because of anything that Father Zantus, Brother Faustwisk, or even Banker Haynes had done or said. True, her mark's placement between her shoulder blades had made things awkward. She had to slide her tunic off her shoulders to even partially reveal it, and she was grateful that she never had to disrobe completely from the waist up, but standing in a room with three older men with just her underwear on from the waist up was not a situation that a modest young woman wanted to be in, ever. Even if she trusted, or at least had no reason to distrust, the men in question.

No, that would have probably been bearable, or she thought so anyway. It was the doubts that she harbored had come to the fore and swirled in her head like a brewing rainstorm. To make things worse, she still hadn't told Faustwick about the end of her apprenticeship, and now there was a young noble named Aldern Foxglove that had taken a fancy to her, apparently.

She'd come along because she'd been asked to, or ordered to, if there was any difference, by Father Zantus through Sister Calinova. It all sounded reasonable. If she was one of the chosen, she had obviously had been brought to Sandpoint for some reason, and it would like be tied to the others that bore their deities' marks.

So why was it she couldn't shake the feeling that she hadn't been so much blessed as cursed. Maybe it was a mistake. She had failed time and time again to even have a partial success with divine magic, beyond what she'd been gifted with anyway, and there was always that doubt that whispered in the back of her mind.

Best not tell them that, though. Hopefully I don't look as worried as I feel! That would only make this whole situation more humiliating.

Sal's happy (and a bit relieved) smile at seeing Tera barreling down the road after the hunting party broadens into a grin as Aldern greets their wayward friend and bodily lifts her into a seat on the nearest wagon.

Heh! Now we're all here, like it should be. Lord Foxglove seems to think so too.

As their friend shares her story of where she'd been for the past two days, Sal looks rather thoughtful. "Huh. Well, apparently it's pretty rare for any of the gods to directly intervene in things beyond what powers they give their priests...and people like us. So maybe it's possible that there are more marked out there; in case one falls then maybe another can do whatever job they're meant to do."

"Yeah, maybe," Tera replies softly, her voice full of worry. The doubts she feels, though, are no match for the pleasant morning.

"Maybe," she says again with more confidence after a moment, "but I'm not going to worry about it. It's too nice a day and life's too short to be worried about everything!"

Tera smiles, but it is soon replaced by a thoughtful frown.

"Sal, you've been on hunts before, haven't you? Do you think it'd hurt to pre-roast our quarry a bit when we find him," she asks, her expression solemn, but there's a twinkle of mischief in her eyes.

Roakkad is glad to see Tera again, though he notes with interest Lord Foxglove's physical intimacy with her. He wonders if that is part of the reason she has been in hiding for the past couple of days. Not that he minds, but the cathedral priests are rather strict...

These hunts are always successful? Where is the fun in seeking a quarry that you always catch? Surely the euphoria of triumph is meaningless if there can never be failure...

Kaelaah mulls this over... and, already feeling uneasy about the pomp and circumstance of the hunt's departure, wonders whether he really likes this Lord Foxglove...

...what are his motives? Is this sport? Is this entertainment for him? Or, is it all for show? Furthermore, exactly what would he have us do?

The Shoanti musters a smile for Tera though, "It is good to see you again Sister Flinders".

Aldern cocks an eyebrow at Tera's frank talk about another marked of Abadar. Sensing her unease he offers, "a bush might yield a thousand roses but that doesn't make a single one of them any less magnificent."

I'll give Zache and Kaede a little more time to respond to Tera's tale if they'd like... hunt will start tomorrow...

Kaede slips out of the wagon, and walks up to Tera with a gentle smile on her face. "Whatever the reason, It's good to have one of my friends back with us. Marked or not, this other person isn't you, and that's what matters." And with that, she gives Tera a platonic hug to welcome her back.

After a couple moments, she releases her, and turns to the others, "I believe our goal was the Tickwood, yes?

Tera stiffens for a second when Kaede hugs her. It's only for a moment and as she recovers from the surprise, she hugs the Shelynite priestess back.

"True, though I don't think Brother Faustwick or Banker Haynes sees it that way," she says, "it doesn't make it any less true."

Turning her attention to Aldern, Tera smiles and tells him, "I'm not sure if I'd say I'm like a rose, but I am flattered that you think I am."

It takes Sal a moment to understand Tera's meaning about pre-roasting.

Oh! She's talking about her fire magic.

"Sorta? It was mainly patrolling and watching for signs of trouble, not signs of game," she responds, unable to keep from grinning. "Buuuut...it would certainly save time if we bring back our quarry already half-cooked!"

Yes, it was definitely good to have Tera back with them again. Between her and Zache, there'd likely never be a dull moment!

"Well, I guess it's fortunate for all those starving souls at the Rusty Dragon that I prepared a little surprise for any boars we find," Tera says with a smirk as she lets a spark dances on her fingertips for a moment. "Actually, now that I think about it, maybe I shouldn't be the one trying to get a headstart on cooking it considering the last time I tried to cook," she adds as her smirk disappears into a slightly abashed expression on her face, "I'd probably wind up overcooking it."

"Yes, let's leave this canvas when we bring it in to it's artist."Kaede replies, with a smile. "I'm sure that Amieko would appreciate that."

Kaelaah smiles to himself as Tera and Salomae joke about 'pre-roasting' their quarry.... as his 'sisters' talk amongst themselves, the most delicate of flames dances across Kaelah's fingertips as well...

...the flames of the sun burn within me Sister Flinders - from where does your fire come?

"Hah! You've both got a good point," Sal responds with a laugh. "Probably best that we leave the roasting to the professionals. We'll have already done our job by bringing back something to roast in the first place anyway."

"It'll take some getting used to," Zache mutters to Salomae, grinning awkwardly as he attempts to find the right position in the saddle. "Just tell me, how do you steer them?" He chuckles, taking the reins in hand with a wink.

When Tera catches up to the group, he twists around in the saddle to see, nearly falling sideways and catching himself on the saddle-horn at the last moment. "How lovely of you to join us!" he calls, his white grin widening by a couple of molars. "And that's quite a story. However," he adds mischievously, turning to Aldern, "The rose bush you speak of yields many blooms at once. Some wither and die on the stalk, and others are only budding when the majority are at their full bloom. Yet it is they that are most beautiful, full of promise and life, unaware of their own potential." He winks once, clearly pleased with his own poetic waxing, an effect which is somewhat ruined as a low-hanging branch rakes his hair with its twigs.

Tera looks at Zache for a moment before trying, unsuccessfully, to stifle the giggles that come bubbling to the surface as he is almost pulled off the horse by a low-hanging branch.

I wonder if he did that on purpose. Am I really that easy to read? Or did I think he was too flighty to notice when others are feeling down?

She sobers at that last thought. Had she really been so unfair to Zache?

Not sure if that was supposed to cheer Tera up or not, but it had that effect.

Even with several inexperienced riders, the trip out to the Tickwood forest takes less than an hour. When the wagons and horses draw to a halt Aldern looks to the sky and smiles. "It looks like we have more than two hours before midday still. Excellent. The best time to hunt boar is midday because they get hot and move towards water. So we have an hour or so to find a watering hole with big tracks near it and position ourselves around it."

Dismounting, he offers assistance to Tera and anyone else who would like it. Meanwhile his men begin unloading one of the wagons. "Most of this we won't need," he says gesturing at the boxes and tarps, "tents and provisions just in case things go poorly and we have to spend the night in the wilderness..."

"But this one," he says dramatically, pulling back a tarp to reveal a bundle of longspears, "will be helpful! Boar aren't like deer- when they hear you they won't get spooked and run off, they'll charge you. Now you're each welcome to use whatever weapon you want but I brought enough spears for everyone to use one if you want. They can be braced against your foot or a root and if a boar charges into it the wound will be significant." The nobleman takes one and demonstrates the technique to everyone.

After anyone who wants one has had a chance to grab one, Aldern gathers himself up and says, "Very well, if there aren't any questions we can head out. If there's anything you don't wish to carry with you you can leave it with my men and they will take care of it. Now, do any of you have any experience tracking?"

Roakkad's eyes go wide with wonder at the display of handsomely-crafted longspears. As Lord Foxglove offers them, he secures his own staff to his back and accepts the weapon gingerly. He twirls it around in his hands, getting a feel for its weight, before attempting a clumsy parody of the Lord's more experienced maneuvering. The tip of the spear intimidates him, however, for he has no experience with such things. He suddenly pictures the tip of the spear impaling an animal, and trembles at the thought.

Would Sky Father approve such actions? He knows that hunting is a necessary way of life for many in the wilderness, but they are here for sport, are they not? The fact that the boars will feed the villagers is a comfort to him, but he resolves, nonetheless, that he will not draw an animal's blood unless it becomes absolutely necessary. The weapon, for him, is more symbolic than anything.

To Foxglove's question about tracking, he pipes up. "I know a little of such things, yes," he says, recalling his readings with Tsharat, and the long, lonely journey from Kaer Maga on the main roads. "Though much of my learning comes from books, and not from living in the wilds."

Survival: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (14) + 4 = 18

Roakkad is also constantly under the effect of know direction, should navigation become an issue.

Hunting is sport and entertainment to the nobility,Kaede reminds herself as they prepare. ,and they are more lax about it here then they are in Minkai. The stories from the traveling priests aren't going to happen here.... Still, Kaede shivers faintly, as she thinks about one of the horrors that she was told of.

As the servants set up the base camp, Kaede leaves her backpack behind. Hopefully, all I need is my glaive, though holding onto a spear might be wise too. As such, she pulls the harness that she uses for her glaive off and jury-rigs a loop to cry along a spear as well.

When Lord Foxglove asks about seeking their pray, Kaede adds"Like Roakkad, I have a little knowledge about how things such as this, but I've never had a time to use it."

Survival: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (10) + 6 = 16

For a moment, Kaelaah has a little admiration for Lord Foxglove...

...he has some skill with the weapons that he hunts with, just maybe it is not all for show after all...

Nodding a silent appreciation to his host as he takes one of the spears, Kaelaah stands near his Shoanti companion. The 'Marked of Sarenrae' has no tracking skill to speak of but he would rather Lord Foxglove believed him to be true Shoanti...

Kaelaah is not actively bluffing right now... Just hoping for the illusion of 'competency by proximity'!!!

Tera graciously accepts Aldern's assistance down. She knows herself well enough to know that clumsy was an all too accurate word to describe her at times. After being shown the spears, she almost passes them up, but the memory of the pain as a goblin blade cut into her changes her mind. She just hoped she would not need the heavy polearm. She studies Aldern's stance, picking it apart in her mind before attempting it herself.

"Like this," she asks as she sets her spear.

Sal watches Aldern's spear demonstration with care; though she'd had some basic training with a variety of weapons, she'd never actually carried one against foe or prey before. Once the short exercise is done she takes one of the spears and carefully works to imitate what she'd just seen, going through the motions a few times until she feels that she can remember them.

Lord Foxglove may be a noble, but he's not a fool like some of them seem to be. The man knows how to prepare.

"I've also got some experience with tracking," she volunteers. "Between all of us we should be able to find our way without too much trouble. And there's also this," she continues as she reaches into her belt pouch and pulls out a small compass. "The sun and the stars make for fine markers to follow but a little extra help never hurts either."

Survival: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (14) + 6 = 20

Aldern watches with a smile as Tera and Salomae practice with their spears. When Tera asks if she's doing properly he says, "Almost..." then steps up very close behind her and wraps his arms around her, taking her hands inside his and re-positioning them. Once her grip is right he twists his hips just enough that it nudges hers into the right position and says, "There, now you've got it!"

She can feel the warmth of his body for a moment as he lingers behind her, but he steps away before anyone has time to comment on his tarrying.

"Well, with this many trackers this may be a short hunt!" he beams, "look for boar tracks, or pools of water larger enough for multiple boar to drink at- those will have tracks around them. We'll cover more ground if we fan out, but we don't want to spread too thin in case someone gets charged unexpectedly. Roakkad and Kaelaah, why don't you two head sixty feet north and track due east. Salomae you can take Zache and go sixty feet south and head due east from there. I'll start here with Kaede and Tera and we'll stay in between you."

In the excitement of the hunt it takes some time to notice but the autumn forest is spectacular. The leaves are an explosion of reds, oranges, and yellows counterpointed by splashes of deep green where copses of pine jut up. This wood is not dense, at least not where the hunt is going on, and the sun is shining warmly down as it approaches its apex.

Aldern's choices of partners doesn't go unnoticed by Kaede, nor does his 'practice' with Tera. This man is far too Calistrian for my tastes, she thinks, as she follows Tera and Aldern in the search for their quarry,And his flights of lust flit around far too easily. I hope that he leaves town soon, before things progress much farther. Otherwise, I'll have to warn Father Zantus about him.

However, continuing that line of thought becomes a mite diffecult with the raw beauty of the Tickwood in autumn finally becomes obvious to her. "Wow..."she utters, lost in the moment before remembering what they were here for.

It takes a while for the pink in her cheeks to fade after Aldern's... tutoring. By the time it does, the unease and embarrassment she had felt is wicked away by the warmth of the late morning sun and the riot of color about her.

"Makes me wish I knew how to paint," Tera says with a chuckle at Kaede's utterance, "I could spend hours just soaking this in."

Roakkad cocks his eyebrow at Foxglove's open display of seduction. He had seen more and worse in the city streets, but this hardly seemed behavior befitting nobility. He coughs gently, making eye contact with Kaelaah but only shrugging.

He was glad to be coupled with Kaelaah. He hoped that the peace and solitude of the woods might put his restless heart at ease. Of course, he might also start a forest fire...

He elects to shift the subject away from the Lord. "Do you enjoy these woods, Kaelaah? The colors are beautiful, are they not? Have you ever lived in the wilderness? ". As he talks, he scans the ground for signs of boar.

Survival: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (11) + 4 = 15

Though Sal wasn't surprised in the least that Aldern had opted to pair himself with Tera, she did raise an eyebrow when he suggested that Kaede come along with them as well. Although she hadn't seen anything from the nobleman that she'd consider truly inappropriate, it was a reminder that he'd seemed perfectly content to turn his attentions to Kaede when Tera had been slow to respond.

The both of them? He's either brave, greedy, or foolish...or maybe a bit of all three.

"Okay, sounds like a plan," she nods. "I guess we'll just backpack to find the others if anyone finds something, right?" Once the details are settled, she turns and waves at Zache to follow. "Looks like you're with me. I know you can move quietly enough when you've a mind to so I don't think we'll have any problems getting around. Just watch for those low-hanging branches, alright?" she smirks.

*****************************************

As she and Zache proceed south and then east as directed, Sal somehow manages to keep her focus mostly on the task at hand though it's harder than usual with the breathtaking scenery all around and the sun shining brightly.

"There's something to be said about the thrill of the hunt and all, but it would be nice if we're able to find something fairly quickly," she murmurs quietly as they move. "This wound be a grand day for an outdoor meal, enjoying the cool air and basking in the sun..."

"Ah!" she exclaims as her eyes suddenly spot something promising. Dropping to one knee, she beckons Zache to have a look as well. "See there? Boar tracks! They're more rounded than deer tracks and there's no dewclaw imprints like you'd see with plenty of other animals. It looks like two of them passed this way maybe a day or so ago."

She looks back up at her companion with a pleased smile. "It'd be nice if they were a little fresher, but it's a start! When we meet back up with the others we can let them know what we've found."

Leaving it a bit open-ended so Zache can respond if he likes.

Walking in the center with Kaede and Tera, Aldern is mindful of Shelyn's chosen as she looks for tracks but is continually looking off to the north and south, apparently keeping track of the other parties as well.

After a little more than twenty quiet minutes have passed he softly mutters, "they've slowed down... probably found something..." He continues walking for another couple minutes until they enter into a clearing large enough to easily see where the others should be. When he confirms that Salomae and Zache have not kept up he signals to Roakkad and Kaelaah to come met him and the girls.

Once the five of them are together he says, "I think the others have fallen behind because they found tracks. We should head for where they're supposed to be and see it we can find... "

Aldern mentioning the others may have found something brings Tera back the reason they are really here. Her eyes fall from the brilliant canopy to the forest floor. She's not nervous perse, though wary would be very close to how she was feeling.

"Um, Aldern? How big can these boars get," she asks as they begin backtrack to find the others. She silently prays, however little she feels it might help, that Abadar would guard Sal and Zache, but the god of cities and civilizations isn't known for guarding individuals. Tera just had to hope he'd pass it along to someone who did.

"The colours are wonderful brother, the ways they change through the seasons is a divine gift... I have, as far as I know, never truly lived in the wild - my family travelled widely, that much is true - but it was always along the roads between the towns and cities of Varisia. The further we were away from civilisation, the more difficult it became to earn a living...", Kaelaah looks into the trees for signs of wildlife... it is clear, from his distracted demeanour, that he has little interest in hunting boar, "and you brother? You have lived from the land?"

When Lord Foxglove calls, he follows Roakkad back to listen to the noble's latest pronouncement...

"and you brother? You have lived from the land?"

"I..." The question gives him pause. As a Shriikirri, the answer should be yes. This he knows, for he has learned much of the old ways through the stories of his people--their songs, their dances, their tears. Shoanti were born from the land, eat and drink the soil, breathe the earth. And yet...

Old hurts begin to ache. Shoanti voices spring, unbidden, from the depths of buried memory, singing a mournful hymn in antiphony; Roakkad's own voice, small and meek, buried among that of the others as it calls in response. A remembrance of the journey from the north.

He blinks, realizing he has not answered Kaelaah's question. He smiles, a wistful expression. "We all live from the land, do we not? Come, let us see what Lord Foxglove has to show us."

Together, they traverse the autumn wood.