With Lou still in earshot, Vi responds.
"I'll let you know shortly!"
His voice fades as distance greatens.
[+ maybe survival bonus if someone gives one out^)
Desnold takes his bow in hand. "Let me hail him once he's near."
Once he thinks the other man is close enough to hear him he raises his voice "Greetings Wanderer, what brings you out into the cold alone? Please slow slightly down, some of my group feel threatened by your hurried pace towards us."
I look around at everyone, "Why does he insist on fighting so? As Rogar said, he could have been spoken to. I feel we are going to be fighting a lot of people that we needn't fight if he stays with us."
"He told me his vision involved him surrounded by enemies in a hopeless battle. I wonder if that is his fault...."
Rogar waits for his companions to completely catch up before resuming his slow advance. "Whatever results from his actions, know that I will protect you all."
"Brrr, I'm not used to this kind of weather anymore, I almost wish I was back in the the dessert right now. And I just hope that fool doesn't get himself and maybe us all killed. Or worse yet, attacks an innocent as I don't really want to have to take him down." He nocks one of his blunt arrows.
As the traveller stops, Vironus slows himself to a stop.
Depending on how close they both are , Vi says or shouts the following:
Traveller, those who are behind me need warmth and shelter. Tell me, are you friend or foe?
"Would he attack an innocent ..." Flashes of the tavern brawl, flood back to me, "... Never mind."
Then we fight on the same side. What is your name and how did you know to find us here?
Vi follows the human figure, moving his hands away from his sword hilts.
The two figures hurry back to the rest of the group.
Noticing we still have some time to chat, Vironus asks two last questions.
Where are we exactly? I'm from the desert plains of Katapesh. The ground we now tread is unfamiliar to us.
The pair gets close to the group, and everyone can hear the rest of his answer, "A desert plain, still. The frozen wastes around Ecland."
The frozen wastes around Ecland? Even the name Ecland is unfamiliar to me. What is the month, year and day?
Ahh can we worry about that later, Like when we are warm!
Lou seems impatent as he dances about in the cold trying to keep from freezing in one place.
"He seems friendly enough. At least, I'm assuming that's why Vironus hasn't attacked him yet." Rogar mutters quietly to his companions.
As the stranger draws near, Rogar addresses him. "Well met, fellow traveler! What brings you to this place?"
Diplomacy
This man beside me is named Urtar, and he has come to aid us.
Looking at Lou, Vi smiles and says It looks as though you've got your wish Lou!
Vi looks up at the sky.
How about we find a good tavern with fine ale? Hopefully in a more welcoming climate...
yeah warm tavern and any ale, fine or not, is good by me lets go
Quieting his voice, Vi speaks to Lou once more; Then let us head for the City. Those behind are welcome to follow, but I didn't get any bad vibes around our new friend. I feel we're okay to march ahead, without worry of our new found allies being attacked.
Concentrating for a moment, the man waves his hand in the air, and while the snow and ice is still laying around, you feel like it is definitely warmer. "The day is Moonday, the twentieth day of Calistril." He walks over to Desnold, waves his hand, and restores the bloodflow to his fingers.
He seems to brighten slightly seeing Rogar,
"My home, the wilderness. I sensed people besieged by cold. Come to Ecland, tell your tale there. Late, already."
You can definitely tell the sun only has a few more hours left in the sky.
We have lost no time in transit then.
In response to Urtar; You say you do not know of Katapesh? Are you familiar with what a desert is, and have you ever been to one? I feel we're a very long way from home if not.
"The desert that way." He points off a little to the right of where you came. "Much colder"
Vi looks in the direction Urtar points, then looks at Lou with confusion.
Colder? The desert? At night sure, but if he means in general, then I'm lost.
Thank you for answering my questions Urtar.
Looking back at Lou, Vi states I'm off to the city. You coming?
Lou was already ahead of you when you mentioned ale
...before realising Lou had started walking moments ago.
Guess I better get going then.
Vironus marches off with Lou, in search of ale, warmth and women.
Desnold flexes his fingers "Ah yes, that's far better. You have my thanks. My name is Desnold by the way."
He then follows the rest of his group.
You walk along the street, and while it's busy, everyone seems to be just a little fearful.
You do arrive at the temple without mishap, and find that it pays homage to many gods and goddesses. Peeking into the rooms, you see many more in the gods of Healing, than in any of the others.
Walking by the room devoted to Pharasma, one of the worshipers begins screaming. Immediately, all of the other people in the room rush away from him, and huddle on the outside of the room, trying to get out.
His screaming is cut off abruptly, as he slumps over. A white spectre seems to rise out of his body, turns the deepest black, and vanishes.
Urtar nods. The blocky man stretches out, and begins walking back to the city, at a much more sedate pace.
Seeing that there is no threat or unnecessary fight here, I put my spear back behind me again, put a hand into my chest where I stroke a head and it pops out to see what is going on.
I look down at Arirai and whisper to him, "Urtar." Seeing that Vironus has walked off ahead with Lou, I walk between both Rogar and Marcus, feeling completely safe.
Urtar glances back,
I don't look surprised at Urtar's reply, I actually look somewhat relieved, "Ah, well that is something I can understand. But what else did the Mountain tell you about us? Also has the Mountain ever showed itself as a glowing figure with the ability to send vision?"
"There are Dwarfs living in the city up ahead? What else can you tell us of this place? We come from a land far away. Much warmer too."
Rogar seems more relaxed - especially since the stranger is speaking Dwarven. The fact that his beardless face isn't resulting in questions/scorn/avoidance is helping as well.
Urtar stops a moment, as he looks at River in shock. He quickly recovers, saying "No."
He continues walking along, and answers Rogar, "Many dwarves in Ecland. Very cold."
** spoiler omitted **
Urtar nods. The blocky man stretches out, and begins walking back to the city, at a much more sedate pace.
Ulrik walks towards where he slumped over and stops to ask one of the people running by."What is going on?"
One of the fleeing pauses for a moment, "It's the curse. He's been taken by the curse."
While you have seen many people die, and every once in a while you see a glimmer of a soul fly away, you have never seen one so clearly, turn dark, nor vanish like that.
"By Gorum... Wait a curse didn't I hear of that before?"Ulrik Stops and thinks for a bit trying to remember if he remembered a mention of a Curse. He then wispers to himself."Bah I will think on it later. Time to go find the Shrine of Gorum then to find my employers to get my inn room and get cleaned up."
You walk around the temple, and come to a shrine of the Lord in Iron. As you meditate, you remember that Yangrit had mentioned something about a curse. You start meandering through the city, and after asking around, come to the Burning Tavern. A fairly drab place with a sign saying "Not for the faint of heart." The back room of the tavern seems to be filled with books, while above is where the rooms are.
** spoiler omitted **
Marcus went silent all the way to the town (a.k.a, Ecland) studying the weird man who pick them up in the snow...
This is keeping stranger for every step we make... but at least I hope that upon arriving to the town, we could get some answers...
"Hmmm ... so it wasn't the Mountain that brought us here and you to us? Did the Mountain tell you of anyone else, other than us? Or of our goals?"
Lou is anxious and once he reaches town he immediately searches about for an open atvern that looks warm and inviting and smells like it has good food.
If he finds one he will signal everyone to go with him.
After realizing that man (?) won't pose a threat, Marcus looks puzzled to River.
And then, he talks to Urtar:
"So tell me, are we far from the town... from Ecland? Who's the town ruler? To whom they owe allegiance?"
I look up to Marcus,
As Vironus reaches the large town, he looks for a good place offering warmth and rest.
Food isn't on his agenda, having eaten Lou's chicken not long ago.
With the first tavern he sees , he asks the bartender where he can stay for the night.
You arrive at a fairly bustling town, that for being in the frigid cold, is rather warm, and lacking snow. Meeting you at the gate, a burly female dwarf stands with her hammer resting on the wall. "Urtar! I see ye finally made it back, was beginning to wonder. These the foolhardy people traveling in the wastes?"
Urtar nods and walks off. The dwarf looks to you all, "Ma name is Yangrit. I be the one in charge of keepin the peace, so I'd appreciate it if ya dont go swinging at everything around, damagin property or people. Other than that, I not be havin issue wit ya. As late as it is, ye probably wantin to be going to food and rest, and ye'll find none better than the Burning Tavern, just down the way."
Grinning, Vironus tilts his head to the side whilst still looking at the Dwarf, raising his hands together in an expressive manner (an amused shrug basically).
To the Burning Tavern then!
Tell me Yangrit, did someone take a disliking to this tavern, as the name sake suggests?
Vi walks to the tavern laughing, and as he reaches the entrance, he bursts the door open.
Your warmest drink, if you please! he says loudly with joy, as he then proceeds to walk in, before finding a bar stool to perch on.