Teiuc stands up with a bit of difficulty before saying, "Seven others and I were sent by the Mexica government in Tenochtitlan to find the Sons of Mexica. You may have encountered them. In any case, we stopped at an outpost in Chihuahua, intending to go to the Western Gulf, but we found that the Sons of Mexica were on the move. We tracked them to the canyon, but were ambushed and seperated."
"They were. We were sent to track them down so a larger detachment of soldiers could handle them."
That could have sounded a bit ominous. A request that couldn't be refused
"While you are very welcome to join us, I should also point out that you're also very welcome to go your own way in safety. It is up to you!"
Teiuc smiles and says, "I would be delighted to. The only problem is I no longer have a horse. I am fairly certain the beast or the rebels scared it off."
Welcome to our group.
When they get back to camp, Zaranna moves things from her pack animal, making room for their guest.
The party sets out once more across the great deserts. The days are long and hard, but the map provided by the giants proves invaluable on more than one occasion, hidden springs and remote oases giving much-needed water in the brutal heat. The journey seems endless until late in the day, after a difficult crossing through a large range of mountains, the party sees below them a great forest, and about a days ride, a river. The group's steeds drink deep upon arrival at the river, but the party presses on until days later they come across a large, open valley and in it, a village.
Zaranna examines the village, trying to note anything unusual.
She tells the party what she knows of the area.
Talking to the priestess, Angus learns a few things about her. She is a priestess of Tlaloc, god of storms and fertility. She is a member of a progressive faction in the Mexica Federation, trying to leave behind sacrifice and reduce the influence of the nobility. She joined the priesthood to change the government, but was dispatched shortly after the war to find the Mexica. She gladly takes some equipment, but isn't tremendously good at combat.
Looking at the village through the spyglass, Angus notices that the villagers are not humans, but gold elves, going peacefully about their business.
Zaranna doesn't know much about the area, but she does remember the map from the giants and that there is small mountain range beyond the forest before giving way to a large valley.
In case Guujaw knows anything more of interest
All above at +2 if is anything in his books
"Well, they look very peaceful to me. I suggest that we go down openly and peacefully and talk to them. Sound good to everybody?"
John Thomas enjoys the trip and listening to the others talk. He does however feel a little out of his depth and so limits himself to small talk with the priestess when the moments arise.
Finding out that gold elves populate the village brings a smile to his face. Well boy'o looks like were going to learn something new here as well.
Once she knows they are gold elves, as she is, Zaranna just walks up to the village without any thought of defense. These are her people.
Zaranna walks boldly into the village and the elves turn to her and the rest of the group, most with somewhat puzzled expressions. A young man runs into a large hut and after a few seconds, an older elven woman walks out, supporting herself with a long, gnarled staff. She nods at the group and says in an odd dialect of Elven, one that Zaranna has never heard before, ”Who are you all? Has the council sent you here, and why, if that is true? If not, state your business or we must send you away.”
Zaranna smiles and says Why would you have to send us away? Surely we are kin.
She tells the woman of the village that she is from, but doesn't initially talk about the group's origin or goals.
Guujaw just watches Zaranna. They are her people, after all. Better to let her do the talking
If she isn't engaged in conversation with the matriarch when Angus asks, Zaranna translates for him.
John Thomas stands back, hands visible, smiling.
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”We have no great love for the Coucil of Branches here. Why else would we live so far. So I must ask again, why are you here?”
I'm sorry, matriarch, I am not familiar with the "Council of Branches" you speak of. Does that refer to our form of government? Please have patience with me. I would like to learn of your ways. We are sisters as elves, are we not? I am the unlearned little sister, of course.
Our group is mapping and exploring in anticipation of the many settlers that are moving this way. We want to be sure that all tribes reserve their lands so that we can avoid conflicts between people who share the land.
The matriarch raises her eyebrows, clearly surprised by Zaranna’s lack of knowledge. She says with a confused tone, ”You mean to tell me that you do not come from the Five Branches? Come then wayward child, you may stay with us, it is your right. I suppose your companions should stay as well, as the coming of settlers may cause great change.”
Zaranna thanks the woman for her hospitality, and then translates for the others.
Zaranna addresses the matriarch.
Pardon, matriarch. My friend asks if you know the common tongue, since he cannot understand you.
"What commmon tongue do you speak? In these lands, ours is the common tongue. I believe though, that Halun, my nephew, speaks one of the eastern tongues. He traveled somewhere in the east for a time. You might ask him."
Zaranna addresses Angus.
Nope, they don't, although she has a nephew called Halun that might be able to interpret for you as well.
She thanks the matriarch and then goes as asked, to arrange to stay with them and learn more.
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Zaranna arranges their lodgings and the party is shown to where they’ll be staying, a large rounded hole with a bark roof above it, the woven bark vambraced with several small logs.
Zaranna unpacks and combs her horse, and sends Vala off to hunt. Then she looks for the matriarch and asks her if she would share the story of the five branches with her.
Zaranna finds the matriarch near a large wooden rack, strips of meat and hide stretched out to dry, this time talking to a young elven man revealed to be Halun. When asked to tell of the Five Branches, the old elven woman smiles and says, ”You do not know this tale? I suppose the wayward shaman did leave long ago. It is a long and ancient tale, one that should not be told under these circumstances. Tonight, at the village gathering, I will tell it so that your friends and the children may hear it as well.” The day passes uneventfully, the village is a calm and peaceful place. The sky grows dark, and elves start to make their way toward the center of the village where a bonfire can be seen. A group of young men drag several deer to the fire, which are set to cook along with root vegetables and small fowl. Several bowls of pine nuts are passed around as well. The party sits near the matriarch, accompanied by a gaggle of elven children. The old woman begins to speak, Halun interpreting for the rest of the party, ”We came to this land long ago, so long that none who live can claim to have known the crossing. Our people came to being across the great ocean, in a land filled with mountains and snow. War came to those lands, the reason has been forgotten. In any case, our ancestors saw a need to leave those lands, find a new home for their children. So they built seven boats of wood made strong as metal by their shamans and set out to follow the rising sun.”
The old woman pauses for a moment, taking a drink of water from a wooden bowl before continuing, ”They sailed for days and days, beset by wind and waves and beasts of the deep ocean that did not take kindly to those of the land until they struck land on what seemed like paradise. White sands led to lush green forests with great mountains towering above. They thought they had found our home, but the first night brought tragedy. Men charged from the jungles with spears of black glass, beasts of fire and stone at their side, all chanting one word, ”Pele.” They were forced to flee, though two boats of our people were lost, burned alive in front of their eyes as the boats sailed away. The survivors sailed on until they found land once more, great cliffs broken by beaches of black sand. It was there they settled, but not before a storm began and our ancestors took shelter under a great tree and its five largest braches. The storm lasted for many days, and in that time each of the groups of the branches became different from each other. When the storm cleared, the groups began wandering the land, each branch settling different region of our lands. However, a shaman believed more land lay towards the rising sun, taking members of each branch with him to see what lay beyond the deserts.”
Zaranna is totally into the story around the bonfire, interested to hear how she is related to these people.
How were the groups made different from each other? Did they appear different?
Several higher for particular skills
THe matriarch nods and begins speaking, pausing every so often so Halun can interpret"We have heard of them, and that they seek to expand into our lands. They have made a large encampment to the south near the Dry Sea. You may want to speak to the Council of Five, across the valley at the great bay."
Angus is fairly certain that the valley referred to is not the one they’re currently in. Rather, there is a small mountain range before a much larger valley. The Great Bay is not on any maps but you could quite easily get directions from elves as you go.
Zaranna asks about the boundaries of the elven tribal lands so that they can be sure to alert the settlers and government about who already has territory out here. She takes extensive notes so that there will be no misunderstandings.
Angus has no knowledge of the geography of the coastline. When asked, Teiuc says, ”I would come with you if the elves will let me.” She seems completely genuine.
Agreed.