The adventure begins in the village of Heldren, a small village in Taldor just north of the Border Wood near Qadira.
The sleepy village of Heldren has rarely seen so much excitement or concern. Hunters from the nearby Border Wood speak of unnaturally cold weather at the height of summer that descended on the forest just days ago. Heavy snow followed, and those who returned spoke of an uneasy presence in the woods, as well as new, dangerous predators. No one knows what this event means, but the town’s soothsayer, Old Mother Theodora, claims dark times lie ahead. As if in proof of that dire prophecy, a badly wounded mercenary arrived in town yesterday, claiming to be a bodyguard of Lady Argentea Malassene. He told the village council that the noblewoman’s escort came under attack by bandits and strange, wintry creatures near the edge of the Border Wood. He alone escaped, and Lady Argentea was dragged away into the forest. Now the townsfolk cast fearful eyes toward the snowy forest, worried what else might emerge to threaten their peaceful village.
Arriving at what he expected to be a mostly quiet village, Brynjar was surprised to see its people entrapped in the coils of the serpents of fear. The half-chelaxian looked around, his eyes scanning for an inn he could rest at; as he was still weary from the road and did not wish to spend this night outdoors where the coldness of the area could easily claim him. He noted a few people around him and approached one of them, while he hated being ignorant of the area he was in, he outright despised having to ask someone for directions, as that could lead him off his intended path and could possibly make him the target of con-men.
"Do you know where I can find the nearest inn?" Asked Brynjar his voice mangled by a disgruntled tone, while his eye studied the man, looking for any suspicious movements or signs of deceit.
Elen walks casually through the snow, her black cat on her shoulder. Those looking closely may notice she is walking in the snow barefoot, without apparently feeling any discomfort.
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Krystae was extremely interested in venturing out to the words to investigate the unnatural weather in the Border Wood; however, when the mercenary returned to Heldren with his report of the attack she withheld... She assumed a group would be gathered in an attempt to rescue the noblewoman.
She was in her small home, restringing her bow and sharpening her spear. Something very strange was at work and for some reason her thoughts drew back to the day her father had gone missing. She absently stroked the crow feather she now wore around her neck. It was all coming back around...
Krystae looked over her equipment one last time to ensure she had everything she would require. She then gathered all her weapons, and locked the door to her home behind her as she made her way to the center of town.
Like he had done four times already, Havelock scooted his chair a little closer to the hearth at the local in.
No matter how hard he tried, he just couldn't shake the feeling of being frozen to the bone.
It had been two miserable weeks for the Tengu traveler, ever since he arrived in Heldren.
What money he had made plying his craft had been eaten up paying for room and board, and the little remaing had been spent on mulled wine, trying to keep his hands and insides warm.
The last cup was held in a tight grip in both hands at the moment, as if he was unsure if he preferred to warm his hands on the mug or his inside with the wine.
Despite sitting dangerously close to the fire, he was still so wrapped in fur that had it not been for the prominent beak extending out from the hood, it would have been impossible to tell what he was.
Yet again he slid one hand inside his coat to feel the reassuring presence of his glass phials, especially the one that contained an extract to protect from the cold.
The fact that he had not used it yet was born from stubborn pride, the people living here had no such help, and he was damned if he would use it and appear weak before these folk.
Despite not being much of an adventurer, the Tengu was by now desperate enough to try almost ANYTHING to escape the misery of his situation.
Why did I ever leave the cushy tutoring job at the acadamae? No, hang on...that's one of the stories...
I've told so many now it is becoming hard to sort fact from fiction.
Bardic Performances (standard action) (7/7 per day)
Bardic Performance: countersong
Bardic Performance: distraction, bardic performance: fascinate (1 targets) (dc 13)
Bardic Performance: inspire courage +1
Bard Spells Known (CL 1):
Level 1 (2/day)
Vanish
Ear-Piercing Scream (DC 14)
Level 0 (at will)
Resistance
Detect Magic
Know Direction
Unwitting Ally (DC 13)
Helios now moves from small town to village, working within a network of Taldorans who seek relief from the yolk of those who think themselves the betters of others. The half-elf bard works with the Cayden Cailean church and even some of his father’s old contacts in the Society, playing a part (however small) in keeping the people’s spirits up. Whether it’s with a song, a speech or just a friendly discussion, Helios seeks the betterment of the people.
So that’s why the half-elf finds himself in Heldren. Nearly swept from the road by a freak snowstorm, Helios Sunstreaker seeks shelter in a local sundries shop to acquire winter clothing from the owner. Then he moves on to the local inn, eager to see what news is available on local goings on...and this strange weather.
Helios finishes up his business with at the sundries shop, glad to have some winter clothing on his back. The shop owner, normally loquacious and cheerful has a dour manner about him. Even the bard’s best joke didn’t have an impact on the man’s overall attitude above a smirk.
”Mind yourself, Helios…” the shop owner offers, eyes cast in shadow. ”Something’s afoot. Strange weather, strange animals...other things.”
When he presses the shopkeep further, he goes quiet and suggests Helios heads to the local tavern for answers.
”As you wish,” Helios responds. The half-elf bard bids a farewell to the shopkeep and opens the door into the blowing wind outside.
The thoroughfares outside hold few people, those outside are moving quickly about their business. Helios plunges through the wind and the driving snow and heads to the tavern. Once inside, thankful for the warmth of the fire and the press of people, he heads over to the barkeep, nodding greeting to the locals he remembers.
It’d been at least a year since he’d set foot in Heldren. The last time had been to see to a local blacksmith and his family. The blacksmith, a Dorian Stone, had been good enough to offer assistance to Helios and his father at the time. But that had come with reprisals from others in support of the nobility. There a few people in the town who chafed at the oppression of the “bearded” caste, the blacksmith among them. So, Helios’ return to town was to check in on old Dorian, but to also reacquaint himself with the locals and to raise the spirits as he was able. By the judge of things, the town was under a pall. They could use a bit of cheer.
Helios makes his way to the barkeep, hopeful to garner more information on the goings on in Helden and perhaps see if they were in need of entertainment for the evening.
”Evening, kind sir.” Helios smiles broadly and grabs a stool. ”It’s been awhile, not sure if you remember me or not, I’m Helios Sunstreaker.”
The barkeep’s memory is somewhat fuzzy, but he recalls the last time Helios and his father had arrived into town.
”I’ve just arrived,” He touches his the new winter cloak next to him on the bar. ”Wasn’t expecting the weather though. I was nearly blown off the road!”
”Weather’s unnatural, that’s for sure.” the barkeep responds. ”Hunters have been running across dangerous animals out in the Wood too. New predators...Old Mother Theodora…” He shakes his head. ”...she’s claiming dark times are coming.”
Helios requests a cup of hot tea and listens attentively. He overhears others in the tavern speaking of a wounded man...no, a wounded guard attached to a noblewoman...something about an attack and the woman being kidnapped. When the barkeep returns with this tea, he confirms as much to the bard. A Lady Argentea was dragged into the forest. Bandits along with strange winter creatures.
”Well, listen, sir, if there’s anything I can do to help, please don’t hesitate to ask.” he offers to the barkeep with a reassuring smile.. ”I’ll be in town for a while, looking in on the Stones and getting reacquainted. In the meantime, if you need any entertainment, perhaps a story or two to lighten the mood, my services are at your disposal, free of charge.”
With that, he requests a room if one is available along with a warm bowl of porridge. Helios sits back and takes in the crowd and begins asking questions of the others in the tavern in order to ferret out more information.
Most of the other people in the tavern were busy drinking or speaking in low tones, the arrival if the garrulous half-elf was hard to avoid as he commanded the room fairly easily.
Havelook looked up from his cup to regard him with his large bird eyes, glowing faintly blue in the reflected light of the fire.
But eventually he just heaved a sigh and turned back to the difficult job of trying to avoid a death of cold.
Elen opens the door to the tavern and steps inside. She lifts a shawl from her shoulders, revealing a thin-strapped, calf-length dress of light linen, not at all what one would normally expect a lady to be wearing in this cold weather. Her blonde hair is long and flowing, and the long, pointed ear pinnae that stick from her locks, along with her almond-shaped, ice-blue eyes, mark her as an elf. However, her reddened, full cheeks, broad shoulders and hips, and buxom chest are not typical of elves, looking almost more like the body of a tall human woman. The bottom hem of her dress is soaked from the snow, and her bare feet seem to have survived a walk through the cold without any harm. A black cat peeks out from between her ankles.
She meekly hangs her shawl on a coatrack, and gracefully makes her way to the bar. "M-m-m-m-mead please," she manages to say, and takes a tankard gladly, moving near the fire and taking a seat across from Havelock.
A Tengu! Here? she blinks in surprise. She gets up her courage to speak, then leans forward and speaks in Tien, assuming most Tengu are from the east, "Wǎnshàng hǎo, wǒ méi xiǎngdào zài zhèlǐ kàn dào nǐ de rén zhī yī."
When Havelock stares at her blankly, she realizes the fault in her assumption, and stutters, "M-m-m-my ap-p-p-pologies, I assumed you were from T-t-tian Xia like most of your race... I had no idea there were Tengu here in Avistan. G-g-g-good evening." The stutter might be taken as chattering teeth from the cold, but she shows no signs of shivering; apparently she is shy among strangers.
Havelock looks at Elen in some surprise, eventually he manages to piece together what she was saying and he chuckles.
"Shall we start over? since you started the conversation, it is only polite to introduce yourself."
Being a bird, he doesn't blink often, which means his steady gaze takes on an intensity that is unusual in most other of the common humanoid races.
"Oh, oh m-m-my. I'm so sorry!" Elen's rosy cheeks turn even redder as she blushes, with the pink tint reaching up to her pointy ears.
"My n-n-name is Elen. Elen Emerwen. I g-guess I'm a bit of a w-world traveler, so I've seen t-tengu before on the other side of G-Golarion, but n-never in Avistan." She considers the tengu, looking into his eyes, and curiously enough her eyes and his are almost the same shade of blue.
"Well now, we are not as uncommon on this side of the continent as you might think, but we tend to form small colonies in larger cities. "Rooks" as we call them.
I am at least third generation Avistan, possibly fourth."
Warming to the subject, Havelock leans back in the chair and takes a sip of his wine before continuing.
"Most of my kind, and we have been debating if we should chose a new name for ourselves here in Avista, some fool suggested we should simply change the first syllable, as the "T" could stand for Tian so we could choose "A" for Avista..."Aengu"? Ridiculous.
As would "G" for Garund be mind you."
"But I digress, most of my mind seldom leaves the cities, and if you forgive ME making an assumption about YOU this time, may be like many of your kind, that being elf, and have little interest in large mainly human dominated cities."
"Why don't you get yourself something to drink and a chair by the fire, it is nice to converse with someone capable of stringing more than three words together, especially since the majority of those three words tends to be either "ale" or "fornication".
Helios watches as the elven woman enters the room, curiosity piqued as he notes the lack of winter clothing and what appears to be a cat pawing about the her bare feet.
Hmm...I wonder if this is part of all the strangeness the locals have been going on about? He thinks to himself. But he sits back on his stool, leaning against the bar as he observes the woman enter. She heads towards the bar, weaving her way through the throngs like the snowflakes outside buffeted along the wind.
The half-elf grins to himself and spins on his barstool, taking out a his inkpen and jotting the line down in his personal journal he keeps near to hand. ..."weaving through the throngs like the..." He blows on the ink and scatters a bit of dust to dry it, then stuffs the journal back into his pouch.
By the time he's done, the elven woman had ordered and moved back towards one of the fire places. Interestingly enough she seated herself across from what could only be a Tengu, judging by the beak coming from his cowl. Ahh...an even bigger mystery...
Helios stands and grabs up his cup of tea and makes his way through the gathered denizens to the fireplace and the two enigmas.
"I hope I'm not being too bold, but would it be alright if I joined you by the fire?" The half-elf gestures to a nearby empty chair he could drag over. "The name's Helios. Just arrived in town to find an out of season winter awaiting me." He grins broadly with cheer in his soft-brown eyes. "Frankly, I've had cold receptions in the past but this is ridiculous!"
Havelock looks up as the garrulous half-elf he had observed before wanders over to strike up a conversation.
"Well, as for me, I am quite used to getting the cold shoulder; frankly, it is enough to freeze the soul.
Old man winters icy breath down your spine, sending shivers all over your skin."
"Caw! I think that is quite enough of that don't you? Winter puns and artistic licences aside, I am hoping to ESCAPE cold by sitting this close to the fire.
But by all means, pull up a chair, the more the merrier they say.
Besides, I haven't had a chance to brush up on my oratorical skills since the acadamae."
"Excellent riposte, good sir." Helios pulls the chair over and plants himself, bowing first to the elven woman with a flourish. "Acadamae you say? What manner of study?"
"Oh! Hrrm, I was not a student, I was a tutor, applied alchemy. I was Promoting the theory that the old adage of "Transmuting lead to gold" was actually never meant to be taken literally, but rather just a parable for a transmutation of the soul to a golden form."
The Tengus squirms a little, perhaps it is not a good memory, or perhaps he is just trying to get a little more comfortable.
it is hard to tell in a face that lacks several of the normal tells a more humanlike face might reveal.
"Hmm, impressive. The crossroads of magic and science and philosophy, eh?" Helios sits back in his chair and sips at his tea. He gestures towards the outdoors, the windows of the bar doing their best to keep the cold out but frost is evident. "I'm sure a keen mind such as yours would be of good service to the locals. Perhaps find an answer to what has turned this place into an offshoot of the northlands. Next thing you know there'll be Linnorm prowling the forests."
The half-elf shivers at the thought and focuses his attention on the Tengu. He offers a hand in greeting. "I'm sorry, I didn't catch your name?"
Havelock looks at the hand in some surprise at first, then grasp it in his own, but declining to take of the glove, partially because he doesn't want to lose the extra heat, partially to avoid accidentally scratching the bard with his claws.
"Professor Iacton, but I think you can call me Havelock.
As for the crossroad you mentioned, no, you are wrong.
The principle of the thing is that it is not in fact a question of science or magic at all, rather it is a question of INTERNAL alchemy, the ability of mortal man to transcend his natural limitations due to conviction."
"As for the locals...not as much as you might imagine, it is not a place most welcoming for my kind, and by that I refer to both my race and my particular field of expertise."
Belatedly, Havelock realizes that he never properly introduced himself to Elen, so he holds out his hand to her as well.
"Forgive me; you may call me Havelock as well."
"Fascinating," Helios took another sip of his tea, a small smile slipping across his features. Of course, the same could be said for science.
The half-elf turns and looks to the elf woman. "And you, my lady? What is your name?" he pauses and looks to the cat curling near her. "And you friend?"
Elen blushes deeply at being addressed by the handsome half-elf, and is a bit tongue-tied for a bit as he and Havelock converse. She manages to give her name to him, and then thinks about the question of the cold. "W-well, the c-cold is pleasant for me, but I am f-from the n-northlands m-myself..." she gets a detached look on her face, and her stutter seems to slip away as she starts thinking about the question. "Snows in summer, and the whisper of ice magic on the wind... My Crone, Estrid, told me of the great witches of Irrisen, where from she fled to escape cruelty, whose magic keeps the land in an eternal winter. "
Elen props her bare feet up on an ottoman, letting them feel the warmth of the fire. Her comfort in the cold doesn't seem to lead to antipathy to heat, at least.
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Krystae smiled as she watches her breath fog in the crisp, brisk air; this was her favorite type of weather. Cold never bothered the young woman, if anything she found it invigorating. It was the stifling heat of the Taldor summers she found nearly unbearable. Her green eyes took in several new faces as they moved around the town, most of them heading towards the Silver Stoat. One in particular caught her eye; a lightly clothed, barefooted woman. Krystae's eyes narrowed when she caught sight of the black cat flitting around the woman's ankles. The inquisitor knew a magic user when she saw one...
'Trouble always comes in threes.' Her father used to say. First was the reports of the snow in the Border Wood and the sudden shift in the weather. Two was the attack and apparent kidnapping of Lady Malassene. And three Krystae believed may involve this woman. She could not dismiss the signs. She thumped the butt of her spear three times against the hard ground.
"Do you know where I can find the nearest inn?" Asked Brynjar his voice mangled by a disgruntled tone, while his eye studied the man, looking for any suspicious movements or signs of deceit.
Yet another passerby. Krystae frowned, she was not a believer in coincidence. She approached the two men, stopping just short. "You'll be wanting the Silver Stoat, just over there." She pointed towards one of the largest buildings in the village with her spear. "I'm headed that way myself if you need a guide." Her voice was deadpan and no hint of smile, but yet... there seemed to be subtle humor behind her words.
It seemed to Brynjar that the man in front of him was a cautious and mistrustful as he was, which meant that this conversation was going no where fast. The ex-shoanti tribesman snorted, the air that exited his nose was clear to his eyes, as the growing feeling of cold the cool wind plunged into his skin. When he first arrived he thought it strange that the warmness of summer has not yet taken this land, and with every minute that passed he regretted not packing any kinds of cloths that could protect him from the cold; if only his armor could shield him from the cold blades of the weather like it helped shield him from the cold steel of his enemies.
She approached the two men, stopping just short. "You'll be wanting the Silver Stoat, just over there." She pointed towards one of the largest buildings in the village with her spear. "I'm headed that way myself if you need a guide." Her voice was deadpan and no hint of smile, but yet... there seemed to be subtle humor behind her words.
Brynjar turned towards the sound of footsteps that slowly grew louder with each moment, and his eyes caught the sight of a tall blond woman in a black winter cloak, carrying a spear in one of her hands. Before he could react or ask what her business is she moved her spear, and instinctively his right hand grasped the hilt of his two handed weapon that was holstered to his back. It was only a moment later, when she began talking of an inn and her spear pointed somewhere away from the general vicinity of his body did he force his hand to release its vice grip on his sword. Her voice was serious enough, and her face betrayed no emotion, but he could not shake the feeling that there was more to her words than plain seriousness.
"If you are headed there, I'll follow" Replied the half-chelaxian, the scowl on his face not as deep as it had been before "Just watch where you point your weapon" He continued, the hint of annoyance and subtle anger in his voice.
The Tengu performs the equivalent of raising an eyebrow as Elen mentions her love of the cold.
"Well, to each his own as the elders used to say, and I imagine some people are more comfortable in cold weather if they are accustomed to it.
I however am not, and I daresay that fur would be more useful compared to feathers to ward against it."
The Tengu takes another sip of his wine and winces as he notices it has grown cold during the conversation.
In mild irritation he snatches up the fireplace poker and let holds it over the flames.
As soon as it looks heated he dips it into the wine to get some warmth back into the cup.
"This is the only luxury I can afford these days, normally I would be drinking Schnapps or have a snifter of brandy, but my fund do not allow that anymore."
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Krystae shifted her stance slightly as the taller man's hand suddenly went to the hilt of his blade; she was prepared to impale him upon the tip of her spear if he moved to attack. She relaxed when she saw the hand come away from his weapon. 'A might jumpy, this one.' she thought.
"If you are headed there, I'll follow" Replied the half-chelaxian, the scowl on his face not as deep as it had been before "Just watch where you point your weapon" He continued, the hint of annoyance and subtle anger in his voice.
A bemused smile lit up her face at his words. "Relax stranger. Heldren is a friendly place; you'll find no enemies here, save the ones that you bring with you..." Her tone was friendly, gentle. But then her eyes took a hard set to them. "Or the ones you make."
When Krystae felt she have sufficiently made her point to the man, she offered her right hand to Brynjar. "Krystae Stormcrow. The quiet one there is Eric... don't mind him, he's not much for talking or thinking for that matter..." She smiled innocently at Eric's scowl.
After he shakes her hand, or not, Krystae jerks her head towards the Silver Stoat. "Come, you look like you need a fire and a hot drink. Drinks on me, and then we can talk about why you're here." Krystae turns and makes her way towards the Silver Stoat, not waiting to see if Brynjar follows.
Elen sips her mead slowly. "I take it you two are wanderers, just as I am?" She finds herself becoming more comfortable with these two strangers. Her cat pads around the chair on its soft paws, finally curling up next to her feet near the heat of the fire.
she offered her right hand to Brynjar. "Krystae Stormcrow. The quiet one there is Eric... don't mind him, he's not much for talking or thinking for that matter..." She smiled innocently at Eric's scowl.
Taking her hand in a firm shake, the former mercenary kept his eyes on her even when she introduced the other man next to them "Brynjar Kilaanti" Said the two-handed sword wielder, keeping his answer short and concise.
After he shakes her hand, or not, Krystae jerks her head towards the Silver Stoat. "Come, you look like you need a fire and a hot drink. Drinks on me, and then we can talk about why you're here." Krystae turns and makes her way towards the Silver Stoat, not waiting to see if Brynjar follows.
Talk about why I am here? Is she with local guards? He wondered as he followed Krystae, but then another question inhabited his mind, why was she being kind to him? As she said he was a stranger here...his paranoia was telling him to be wary, but his survival instincts were screaming at him to accept her offer and get out of the cold. Brynjar's eyes darted around himself and caught notice of several heavily dressed villagers, which only seemed to make him feel even colder.
"Why the friendly offer? As you said I am a stranger here" Asked the red haired man, as he followed behind the blond woman.
"I take it you two are wanderers, just as I am?"
Helios leans a bit towards Elen, smiling with a genuine earnestness. Best to put her fully at ease, I don't want her thinking I'm a threat or a ruffian...
...to aid in putting Elen at her ease."For myself, yes. I've been traveling the region of southern Taldor for the past few months, popping in on old friends and offering my services such that they are. I'm a storyteller by trade."
Crone? Did she say crone...?
...how truly interesting. Is it possible she is a druid? Maybe even a witch of some sort?
The half-elf waves a hand gently in Elen's direction with a broad smile. "Your history, I'd wager, would cause the moon to peek around the clouds in curiosity and fascination."
Then he nods to Havelock. "And you, learned Havelock. Yours must be a story of great import to see you stepping forward from the halls of university to seek your fortunes." He pauses and sips at his tea again, finding with disappointment that the cup is empty. Helios frowns down at the emptiness but shrugs and continues. "As for your heritage, Heldren is normally a friendly environment...these troubles they're experiencing between the weather and strange goings on in the woods...I think that may cause anyone's welcome to be cool if you're new to the area."
After a thought races through his head regarding the natural friendliness of those not bearded in a rural area such as Heldren, Helios puts down his cup and smiles again. "So, gentle Elen, what brings your wandering feet to Heldren?"
Helios' eyebrows raise towards Havelock as if to say; "you're next, buddy."
"Quite the flatterer are you not Helios? I imagine you must be quite a popular fellow, especially with the ladies.
As for me being a wandered Elen, you could say as much, as you can probably tell, this is NOT my favoured environment.
...
I doubt they even HAVE a passable brandy here in...Heldren did you say?
To think I've spent the best part of two weeks here and yet only now do I learn the name of the place.
I would have named it "Icicle" because I suspect most males of this town would rightly have such instead of normal male genitalia due to the cold."
Elen has a bit of a smile on her face, growing as the charming half-elf flatters her, with a blush rising again to her cheeks and ears.
"Y-your words are poetic, and would fit right in the City of Mists, where more is said with a raised eyebrow than in long speeches among the cities of Men." She lets Helios ponder exactly what she means by that.
"I left Iadara at a scandalously young age -- at a mere 6 decades, a noblewoman should not be running off to Greengold to take passage to Goka on a human merchant ship! In truth I had insatiable wanderlust, and stayed with the human merchants throughought their travels through Tian Xia, over the crown of the world, and only finally left them in the Thanelands, one of the lands of the Linnorm Kings. It was a journey of many years, and I left them because they had returned to their home, from where they did not plan on leaving again. In the northlands I found my... teacher, Estrid, and her partner, Freyid, and stayed with them for years, learning their ways, which included the way I am able to endure the cold as you have seen. When Estrid died I continued my wandering, and journeyed to Absalom, then here to Taldor, and I was considering returning to Kyonin, or possibly heading south into Qadira."
Everyone says the weather is unseasonably cold for
midsummer—it even snowed in the Border Wood!
Most suspect magic is involved, and some fear
Qadiran agents played a role in it.
Old Man Dansby claims that someone keeps
stealing from his fields. His farm lies closest to the
Border Wood, where half his crops have died from
an icy frost and the rest have been carried off.
A farmer’s son took ill a few days ago after falling
through the ice over Wishbone Creek. The boy said
he spotted a white stag in the forest—and heard it
talking—then tried to follow it.
A group of rangers in the Border Wood called the
High Sentinels usually keep bandit activity curbed.
They’re doing a poor job if brigands could attack a
well-armed caravan and abduct Lady Argentea.
Locals say a hunter named Dryden Kepp claimed he
saw a giant white weasel on the High Ridge in the
forest. No one believed him so he went back to trap
it and prove them wrong.
You are fairly confident that Elen must be a witch, given her talk of crones and her ability to withstand the cold.
for Arcana, Nature, and History, and +1 more for Local.
"I stopped and stayed because it sounded like some people were having trouble here, and I hoped I might be able to bring them some good Luck." She makes the sign of Desna at her breast.
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Why the friendly offer? As you said I am a stranger here" Asked the red haired man, as he followed behind the blond woman.
'Very suspicious. That's a good sign.' Krystae looked back over her shoulder at him. "As I said, Heldren is a friendly place. We don't typically let folks freeze and starve without good reason. That being said, this unnatural weather has made us... cautious."
She pulled open the door to the Silver Stoat, gesturing for Brynjar to enter quickly. She follows behind and pulls the door shut behind her, locking out the cold. "This sudden influx of strangers into my town just somehow seems to coincide with the odd weather. I want to know why." She leans her spear against the wall in a corner behind the door.
Krystae catches the barkeeps eye. "Two spiced wines and bread." She turns to offer Brynjar a spot at one of the tables and spots the three next to the fire; the Tengu, an already odd sight in Heldren, another man she seemed to recognize, and the strange elf from earlier. 'Interesting...' She catches the barkeep's eye once more and holds up five fingers with a nod towards the fireplace. He nods wordlessly and goes about his business.
"How about a seat near the fireplace?"
Krystae looked back over her shoulder at him. "As I said, Heldren is a friendly place. We don't typically let folks freeze and starve without good reason. That being said, this unnatural weather has made us... cautious."
Kindness from small communities was not uncommon to Brynjar, the memory of how he was nursed back to health in a nearby village after killing his treacherous leader was still fresh in his mind, but even back then he did not let his guard down or push aside his wariness and caution, and he was not about to do so now. Dark blue eyes looked away from the face of Krystae and turned to the left and right, but in their paranoia induced search they only found houses and a few people going about their business in the cold gripped streets.
She pulled open the door to the Silver Stoat, gesturing for Brynjar to enter quickly. She follows behind and pulls the door shut behind her, locking out the cold. "This sudden influx of strangers into my town just somehow seems to coincide with the odd weather. I want to know why." She leans her spear against the wall in a corner behind the door.
Brynjar did not hesitate one bit to step inside, and almost immediately he felt the cold slowly losing its grip on his unprotected body "I don't see how they could be related" He replied to her offhandedly, as he watched her place her weapon in a corner If she wants to be unarmed that's her business Brynjar's eyes began taking in the place he has entered and was glad to find a healthy and active fireplace.
Krystae catches the barkeeps eye. "Two spiced wines and bread." She turns to offer Brynjar a spot at one of the tables and spots the three next to the fire; the Tengu, an already odd sight in Heldren, another man she seemed to recognize, and the strange elf from earlier. 'Interesting...' She catches the barkeep's eye once more and holds up five fingers with a nod towards the fireplace. He nods wordlessly and goes about his business.
"How about a seat near the fireplace?"
Brynjar nodded once before he began walking towards the fireplace, doing his best to hide any signs of discomfort the cold had left him with prior to entering. It was then that his eyes caught sight of what appeared to be a man with a beak? A half-elf and an elven girl who was clearly not dressed for this kind of weather but somehow she seemed unaffected by it Even with the fire she shouldn't be that comfortable He thought to himself before he sat a few footsteps away from the strange group and let his hands feel the warmth of the flame before him.
Havelock notices the new arrivals with a modicum of interest.
They certainly don't look related, and they don't appear to be lovers. In fact, there is a certain distance between them, yet they arrived together...they might bear closer scrutiny...
Casually, Havelock catches Helios eyes and jerks his head a little towards Brynjar and Krystae.
Let's see if you can ply that oiled tongue on them as well.
"A good and noble endeavor, Elen. And a storied past. I would so much enjoy to learn more of my mother's homeland from another of the elder-kin's perspective. If for anything, I can take pleasure in hearing you tell of your experiences in the north. I myself visited for a short time, only long enough to learn the language and a bit of the culture. Not long enough to truly get a feel for the people." Helios responds. "For myself, a friendly smile, an embrace, both can carry volumes of affection, but I find that my stories and kind words can have similar effect. While I'm a bit long-winded at times, I only seek to lift the people up in a land so set in positions...and caste."
Havelock catches Helios' attention and jerks a head towards two people being ushered in by the cold winds outside. The bard follows his gaze to see a familiar face waving a new stranger into the establishment. As they stamp their feet of the snow and move into the tavern, Helios searches his memory for the name of the woman. Had she not entered the place with a spear in hand, he might not have recognized her.
The woman signals the barkeep and then diverts, heading in their direction. Krys...Kirastyl... Helios sifts through his memory in search of her name.
When she arrives near their seats, he stands out of instinct and bows greeting. "Krystae!" The name hits like a thunderbolt in his mind when he sees the feather about her neck. He places a hand to his chest. "Helios Sunstreaker, at your service." The half-elf grins and holds out his hands as if to take in the warrior-woman. "When last I was here I was in the company of my father...you were a lot smaller then, already in service of the temple."
"Ég vona að þú hafir verið að halda upp á hjarta tungu, þinn barn af norðri." Helios says to Krystae.
Then the rest of his memory of Krystae caught up with his enthusiasm. For the first time in a few hours, the half-elf is crestfallen. The half-elf didn't say anything aloud, but he knew some small slivers of background regarding the disappearance of her father, very little. But it was enough that he feels saddened. There would be no pain akin to the loss of my parents. Nothing...
But he quickly shifts his face and returns to his jovial self, not wanting to play the sad man in their company. "Come, come, join us. We've only been recently introduced." Helios waves a sweeping hand towards Havelock and Elen. "Please, please, don't let us keep the fire to ourselves."
Helios moves to gather chairs and situates them in a comfortable semi-circle about the fire. "If I may be so bold, this is Elen," he sweeps a bow towards the elf. "And this is Professor Havelock."
Then he nods to Krystae to make her introductions.
Elen is surprised out of her comfortable mood by the sudden arrival of the two others. She sinks down in her chair, moving it back a bit out of the way so that others can use the fire. She adjusts her dress so that the wet lower hem can dry in the heat.
"Mirrow!" complains her cat as she shifts.
The words and introductions the half-elf made were not of his concern as they seemed directed toward Krystae and not him, but even if he was the intended target of the greeting, he would still elect to not leave the company of the calmness that came with the flame that burned in the fireplace. Suddenly a peculiar sound filled his ears; Brynjar turned and his dark blue eyes fell upon a black cat What's a cat doing here? He wondered before he turned away and leaned back in his chair, his eyes remained open if a little unfocused.
Havelock snorts a little at Helios.
"Elen previously assumed I would know the common tongue of Tian as my race is more common there, I hope you did not make a simillar assumption about my lack of knowledge when it comes to the common tongue here.
You old smooth talker you..."
Helios gives Havelock a curious glance. "I speak in Skald, to a person I've not seen in a while. It is not the common tongue here. In this region, Taldane, Kellish and the merchant's common are primarily spoken." The half-elf maintained a smile. "I simply inquired if Krystae was keeping up on her languages. I do not waste my time with assumptions, Professor. Nor do I intend deceit as a way of life."
He sits back in his chair glad to have the circle a bit larger. But he is curious of the man who came in with Krystae. Not wanting to press, he simply awaits for Krystae's introduction.
Havelock merely chuckles, a soft birdlike sound and give Helios an exaggerated wink.
As it is more mimicry than natural to a Tengu, it looks fundamentally wrong but still gets the point across.
"Whatever you say smooth operator...I guess you never run out of honey for your tea."
"Be that as it may, our little circle grows, yet I would claim to be the most strange amongst us.
If anybody want to sate their curiosity now, please do so while I still have wine left to "wet my whistle" after a lengthy explanation."
"Märkligt är relativ," mutters Elen.
"Everything is relative depending on whom you ask my dear, most of my kindred would find you strange simply due to your lack of feathers, not to mention you associating with a cat, a creature who is not adverse to eating the odd bird or two."
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When she arrives near their seats, he stands out of instinct and bows greeting. "Krystae!" The name hits like a thunderbolt in his mind when he sees the feather about her neck. He places a hand to his chest. "Helios Sunstreaker, at your service." The half-elf grins and holds out his hands as if to take in the warrior-woman. "When last I was here I was in the company of my father...you were a lot smaller then, already in service of the temple."
So that's where she knew him from... he was the traveling bard who had come through Heldren some time ago. She had enjoyed listening to his stories while sitting beside the fire in this very room. She returns his smile.
"Ég vona að þú hafir verið að halda upp á hjarta tungu, þinn barn af norðri." Helios says to Krystae.
"Jag är Ulfen, var jag upp med detta språk, Helios kära. Jag kommer att tala det tills den dag jag återvänder till frost täckt grunderna." Krystae replies in perfect Skald... even her dialect puts her as a native speaker from the northern lands. "It is good to see you back here, Helios. There has not been any good storytellers come through here in some time."
Krystae nods as Helios introduces his two companions. She offers her hand to Havelock first. "I have seen you around the past two weeks, Havelock. I trust you have been enjoying your stay in Heldren?" She then turns to Elen, offers her a hand in greeting as well; however, her gaze takes in the woman perceptively. "Pleasure to meet you, Elen. Tell me, what brings you both to Heldren?"
Any replies are interrupted by the appearance of the barkeep with five mugs of steaming, spiced wine and a loaf of dark bread with apple butter. Krystae thanks the man and pays him in silver. "Pardon my terrible manners, I am Krystae Stormcrow, and Heldren is my home. This sudden change has made us all very cautious."
'Especially when two of these recently arrived strangers happen to speak the tongue of the north...'
Krystae begins to slice the bread, picks up her mug, and gestures for the others to partake. "Please, the bread and wine are on me. Welcome to our town." Her green eyes constantly move back and forth between everyone as she speaks; however, she always maintains constant vigil on Elen through her peripheral vision. She waits until the others have taken up their drinks. "To new acquaintances."
Havleock takes the offered hand, momentarily wondering if he should attempt to kiss it, but under the circumstances it would probably look more like he was trying to peck a piece of meat from it, which MIGHT just be a bad thing to do socially.
In the end he gives Krystae a firm handshake instead.
"Well my lady Krystae, I fear my visit has not been entirely fruitful, the people of this town have little use for my particular talent.
Poison, Alchemist fire, acid and the like are not in high demand here, so I've barely managed to scrape by.
As for my being here, well, i have been wandering since I left the Acadamae, I ended up here mostly by change I believe."
Taking a slice of bread and smelling it he chuckles.
"Caw! In many cultures, sharing bread and salt is a sign of friendship and/or hospitality.
The wise traveller makes sure that he is offered some bread and salt as soon as he enters another person home, since many people hold guest right sacred."
He begins to gently peck his slice, mindful of the difference in his eating habit compared to the other more humanoid people.
Broken out of his minor state of reverie by the voice of Krystae This is the part where she tells the strangers in town to stay out of trouble He thought to himself as he fixed her with a neutral glance and his usual scowl. She began speaking in a language that he could not understand, and her conversation seemed to be focused on the half-elf Helios Brynjar recalled the name as he tried to guess at what their conversation was about, it seemed to be a happy one, but he could not tell anything beyond that fact, and that was enough motivation for his distrustful nature to begin spinning webs of deceitful plots and backstabbing schemes in his head, but he quickly shook away those cobwebs; why would she need to plan or scheme anything when she could simply have him arrested for any minor charge? The only response he gave to this conversation was a deep scowl, but it lightened considerably when he saw the food approaching them.
Brynjar took a slice of the bread and began wolfing it down, he had not had anything resembling a meal for the better of today's journey to this village, so this was not only a welcome respite, it was a much needed one. His ears had picked up the next conversation the green eyed woman engaged herself in prior to the arrival of the food, the questions she asked them was closer to his expectations of what guard or law-keeper would discuss with strangers.
Taking a slice of bread and smelling it he chuckles.
"Caw! In many cultures, sharing bread and salt is a sign of friendship and/or hospitality.
The wise traveller makes sure that he is offered some bread and salt as soon as he enters another person home, since many people hold guest right sacred."
"The wise traveler should leave his trust at the gate of the village he enters" Commented the red haired marred man, his voice gruff and slightly soaked with an unexplained discontent.
"One could argue that trust is something you don't NEED until you enter a village, after all, in the wilderness between villages, one often have no one but themselves to trust in the first place.
Of course, perception is key, for example, my own race is often considered deceitful by its very nature, as we are in many ways a good resemblance to crows.
And the crow is black as night and covetous by nature."
"But they are also trusted messengers with keen minds and sharper wits." Helios dips his bread in the wine and relishes the flavors. Then a thought stirs in him. "I'm reminded of Artemis' Tale. A wonderful legend of a Tengu monk who sacrificed mind and body to aid his best friend to the afterlife. His craftiness and skill were important, but his bravery and compassion were instrumental."
Helios takes a sip of wine and smiles. "A tale of heroism and of the trust earned by the hero."
Elen takes Krystae's hand delicately, clearly still a little uncomfortable with the new arrivals. "P-p-p-p-pleasure is m-mine," she manages. Her cat stands up, pads over and lays down in her lap, and she begins to stroke its fur, perhaps taking comfort in the feeling.
"I.. I arrived here in T-t-taldor recently, j-just, um... w-wandering? But when I got to this t-t-town there were p-p-people having severe d-d-difficulties with the w-w-weather, and I thought m-maybe I c-could bring them a b-bit of Luck." She makes the sign of Desna again as she did before the others entered.
"One could argue that trust is something you don't NEED until you enter a village, after all, in the wilderness between villages, one often have no one but themselves to trust in the first place.
Of course, perception is key, for example, my own race is often considered deceitful by its very nature, as we are in many ways a good resemblance to crows.
And the crow is black as night and covetous by nature."
"You a philosopher?" Asked Brynjar, the scowl on his face morphing into a minor frown "Either way your words are a welcome change to what I am used to hearing, so philosopher let me share with you a wisdom that has been proven to me over the years Trust is like gold, the more you give, the poorer you'll become" He continued the jaded tone of his voice was as cold as the weather that awaited them outside of this inn.
"A tale of heroism and of the trust earned by the hero."
The red haired man sliced another piece of the bread offered to him "People always wish for such heroes...but are quick to betray them if it would benefit them" Said Brynjar before devouring his slice of bread. His eyes, moved away from the group and stared once more into the fire, the signs of deep thought clear on his face.
"Not a philosopher by trade, but I did teach rudimentary philosophy at the Acadame, it is hard to teach about the golden soul of alchemy without including some philosophy...
and no, I do NOT mean the philosophers stone either...
Caw! But at the same time, the best way to make money is to spend money, a miser never prospers, but he who knows when to spend and when to save is a rich man before his time."
"As for the tale of Artemis, I know it well, but I suspect I know a different version to the one you know friend Helios. After all, We Tengu tells one version to ourselves and another to outsiders."