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After a few moments of silent reading, Echane rolls the scroll up and hands it back."These are.. orders. For the orcs, I think. It says 'Make sure that the pass to Farihill is empty of men and wagon. We do not want men keeping us from our plans. N.'"
"I suppose it's a good thing we have no wagon and we are not men in the plural sense. I wonder who this 'N' is... Anyone you may know?" Selene asks, glancing over at Corian.
"I've never met an orc up close before. And I'm pretty sure that I do not know anyone that can speak, or write, Orc."
"This has been my first exposure to orcs, as well. So far, I am not impressed." Glornug says, with a croak-laugh. "Still, I might try to learn their language. The more you know about something the easier it becomes to hunt."
At Glornugs words, Felicity looks down at the frog. Why would we wish to hunt them. Would it not be be efficient to avoid confrontation?
We should hurry. It would be wisest to pass before their patrols are alerted to our presence.
Glornug looks up at Felicity. "It is not my intent to hunt the orcs that fled. I was speaking generally. I doubt that we have seen our last orcs. "If you wish to hunt well, know your prey better than it knows itself." is what I was always taught." With a shrug, he nocks an arrow. "I am ready to depart."
Between burying the body and the day itself, you are able to make your way towards Fairhill. You reach the outermost part of the village a little after the high sun. On either side of the road, you can see plowed fields, with little sprouts of what you guess to be wheat begins to rise up to meet the cycle of life. You can easily see the village itself, perhaps a few hundred yards ahead.
Before that, however, you can see a guardhouse maybe a couple hundred feet before you. As you approach, you see a sentry coming out and waiting for you to meet him.
Shi'Vatha would wave at the sentry, and proceed on forward. Sentries are not to be avoided unless you are scouting an evil villain's lair. This is a law abiding town, so he'd just approach openly with a friendly wave, and with his holy symbol on display. "Hale and well met, Sir. I hope the day finds your job and town peaceful."
"Hail and well met, um...sir?" The guard looks flummoxed by your appearance and seems frozen for a moment. Another guard comes out, pike in hand, and stares at you as well.
Neither one seems to know what to do with you. A talking...horse? So far, they are completely not seeing the party behind you.
Shi'Vatha bows by dipping his front legs and bending at the abdomen. "Greetings, I am a member of the Muir Clergy. Is there a chapel or shrine within the village?" He taps his holy symbol with one finger as he straightens back up again. If they think I am strange, perhaps they won't notice the ranan and artificial constructs.
"Um...there is a small shrine to Muir here, stranger. That being said, this village worships Freya primarily. Are you here on a pilgrimage?"
"Master Corian?" You can hear the voice, barely, being carried over the wind. You see someone running up the road towards the guards and you. It's hard to make out her features from this vantage point, but it is clear that someone is trying to get Corian's attention,
Shi'vatha shakes his head. "No, I am travelling with someone, and providing escort and protection for them. It appears the young lady knows the person I am escorting." He nods toward the woman behind the guards. "Also, it should be reported that we have had run-ins with Orcs on our way here, six total, four of which were killed. One human magus and a demon imp were working with them. They killed a small family on a farm two days south of here." He describes the farm. "We buried the family, killed the demon, and the orcs and human magus. Then south of here, near the road fork, 3 more orcs were setting up an ambush, looking for people in a wagon, and any other humans around. We chased two off and left the third hanging from a tree as a warning. It appears Orcs are intent on causing trouble locally."
Echane stays back a bit and simply observes, trying to figure the connections between people, if there are any at all.
A family member Corian?
Glornug still has an arrow nocked, but is pointing his bow at the ground as he scans the area.
Shi'vatha shakes his head. "No, I am travelling with someone, and providing escort and protection for them. It appears the young lady knows the person I am escorting." He nods toward the woman behind the guards. "Also, it should be reported that we have had run-ins with Orcs on our way here, six total, four of which were killed. One human magus and a demon imp were working with them. They killed a small family on a farm two days south of here." He describes the farm. "We buried the family, killed the demon, and the orcs and human magus. Then south of here, near the road fork, 3 more orcs were setting up an ambush, looking for people in a wagon, and any other humans around. We chased two off and left the third hanging from a tree as a warning. It appears Orcs are intent on causing trouble locally."
The guards listen as Shi'Vatha makes his report, and then they shake their heads. The first guard says, "It is such as shame to hear that. I knew the elder, Mr. Mills. Him and his family were fine people, but preferred the closeness of the woods to being so close to the village." His eyes are a bit wet as he walks up to Shi'Vatha, says "Thank you and your friends for taking care of their killers." He then gives the 'taur a great hug. The second guard drops his head in remembrance. By now, both guards are facing the 'taur from less than five feet, the pike planted into the ground as the second guard puts out his hand to shake.
The woman runs straight past both the guards and Shi'Vatha and straight to Corian. You see a radiant beauty about her, with her reddish-blonde hair, and her almost chiseled features. She wears the simple robes of a cleric, but you can tell that she is wearing something underneath that at least goes up to her neck, overlaying the top of the robe.
"By Thyr's helm! It is so great to finally meet the person from my visions!"
At this, Corian's mouth seems to hang down, and this blank expression comes over him. His eyes are not quite straight ahead as he looks at the cleric's ample figure. "I,um...it's good to see you as well?"
"Oh, I'm so sorry," the lady responds. She starts a deep, throaty laugh, not unlike a bear's stomach as it walks up to the river to look for fish. The sound does not connect with the woman, for as she speaks, it sounds lilting and somewhat high-pitched. "My name is Nijena, and until recently, I was an oracle for the temple of Thyr in Bard's Gate. About a fortnight or so ago, I received a vision, from Thyr himself! I was told to find a magician and scholar, somewhere in or around Fairhill, and to help him and his traveling companions on their journey. And so, here I am, although it took you awhile to get here. Are you alright?"
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"Um...da...um."
Glornug croakles at Corian's befuddlement.
Shi'Vatha blinks as the guard gives him a hug. He shakes his head. "I did only what any good person would do when confronted by child killers." He says, throwing off any praise. He does give the second guard his hand however, careful to keep his claws retracted, still getting used to them. "I only wish I had arrived sooner, I might have been able to save the girl. If I might suggest, it would be good to warn any other outlying farmers with the same outlook about the attack? And to send pairs? It is of course, a village matter, but it is not safe to travel the woods in small or unarmed groups."
Shi'Vatha glances over his shoulder at Corian and the Cleric. His long blue tongue drops out of his mouth in amusement, and he cocks his head an angle impossible for a human as he rolls his eyes for the guard's benefit. "And yet, even when there is tragedy, humans somehow manage to find the humor and interest in life. I do believe my companion has been poleaxed by the fair cleric of Thyr. Shall we put a copper on whether he drools or passes out?" He asks the two guards in a very soft voice, trying to lighten their mood.
Carefully watching the excited young woman, Felicity answers, We have ensure Master Corian has remained unharmed to date. The orc patrols are, however, unsettling. I would advise against traveling with us. I could not guarantee your safety.
Shi'Vatha blinks as the guard gives him a hug. He shakes his head. "I did only what any good person would do when confronted by child killers." He says, throwing off any praise. He does give the second guard his hand however, careful to keep his claws retracted, still getting used to them. "I only wish I had arrived sooner, I might have been able to save the girl. If I might suggest, it would be good to warn any other outlying farmers with the same outlook about the attack? And to send pairs? It is of course, a village matter, but it is not safe to travel the woods in small or unarmed groups."
Shi'Vatha glances over his shoulder at Corian and the Cleric. His long blue tongue drops out of his mouth in amusement, and he cocks his head an angle impossible for a human as he rolls his eyes for the guard's benefit. "And yet, even when there is tragedy, humans somehow manage to find the humor and interest in life. I do believe my companion has been poleaxed by the fair cleric of Thyr. Shall we put a copper on whether he drools or passes out?" He asks the two guards in a very soft voice, trying to lighten their mood.
"No, we understand," says the second guard. "We can certainly send out A couple of people at a time and let them know. Thank you again, sir." The first guard, still tearing, backs away and is only able to nod his head in agreement.
Looking over at the fawning cleric, the second guard snorts and says, "That priest has been here for two days now, bugging everyone she saw about this 'magician' that she was supposed to find. It looks like Thyr got her man at last."
Carefully watching the excited young woman, Felicity answers, We have ensure Master Corian has remained unharmed to date. The orc patrols are, however, unsettling. I would advise against traveling with us. I could not guarantee your safety.
Continuing to smile broadly at Corian, Nijena turns her head towards Felicity and says, "But you don't understand. My visions told me that I must come with you. You'll need a healing hand and guidance as Corian and the rest of you go no your journey. I would be breaking my vow if I didn't do so."
Selene raised an eyebrow at Nijena insistance of having a place by their side in the journey. Strange...
She then shrugs. "You never made such a vow to us, nor have we accepted. Nonetheless, as we are effectively hirelings of Corian, it is his decision to allow or bar you from our journey."
"Da...um...you, um. I'm sorry, did you say something about a vision?"
"Yes, it was a vision, from my goddess, Thyr. She told me that you would need guidance and help, especially in the early days of your destiny."
Glornug nods at Selene, then goes back to scanning the area. "I agree, it should be Corian's decision. That said, I have no problem with it. She seems like she could be another interesting person to talk with."
"Um, my...destiny? I'm just trying to recover the remains of a friend of the family. And these people," Corian says, waving his hand at the rest of the group, "are simply trying to help. I don't think there is any grand destiny that awaits us, except perhaps, as a wizard's tower somewhere in my future." Corian beams at the woman, as if he just exclaimed that he has discovered water. The girl's eyes sparkle in that way that suggests a little too much of the moonshine or something in return.
"Well of course you have a great destiny! Why else would the goddess grant me her wisdom?"
His smile faltering, Corian replies, "And what great destiny might I have?"
"To banish the Demon God from this realm, of course!"
Felicity looks around at her companions. Demon God? Please explain. Is it a demon or a god? Why would Corian be the one to oppose such being?
Selene raised an eyebrow at Nijena insistance of having a place by their side in the journey. Strange...
[dice=Sense Motive]1d20+1
She then shrugs. "You never made such a vow to us, nor have we accepted. Nonetheless, as we are effectively hirelings of Corian, it is his decision to allow or bar you from our journey."
You're right, I suppose. It is, after all, his decision on whether to accept his destiny, or not. It's just that I would feel really bad if he denied his destiny, proscribed by the gods themselves!" She seems to be very excited, as if on the verge of some important moment.
Corian, for his part, can't stop staring at her. While her robes do not show any hint of impropriety, one gets the impression that women do not interact with Corian, based on his expressions, very often.
"Far be it from me to interrupt a messenger of the gods on her appointed duty, however, I suggest we continue discussions in the town, rather than on the road in the middle of the forest where Orcs could attack?" Shi'Vatha offers, ears back to avoid them wriggling in amusement. He turns back to the guards. "Is there an inn or tavern Magister Corian could use to decide if he's going to be the savior of the world?"
"Yes. This seems like a decision best made over ale."
"The gods seem most.. interested in our group, do they not? Is this normal for varied groups?"
My creator taught me, very little in the universe is coincidence. The only questions are, who are we the pawns of and what is the nature of the contest.
Shi'Vatha waves one hand as they walk toward the village. "Oh, our stake is fairly easy to determine. It's life and death. All the pieces, be they pawns or bishops or knights or even the kings and queens, all the stakes they have are life and death. The stakes for the gods, that's a bit more complicated. It could be anything from life and death to the win itself." Shi'Vatha shakes his head. "Gods can be somewhat silly when it comes to their games. I don't remember which one it was, but one of the gods started a thousand year war and destroyed four kingdoms because he became enamoured of a small blue stone his brother found in a stream bed. That's why I work for Muir, she usually doesn't get quite that silly."
"Far be it from me to interrupt a messenger of the gods on her appointed duty, however, I suggest we continue discussions in the town, rather than on the road in the middle of the forest where Orcs could attack?" Shi'Vatha offers, ears back to avoid them wriggling in amusement. He turns back to the guards. "Is there an inn or tavern Magister Corian could use to decide if he's going to be the savior of the world?"
The second guard whispers something to the other, and the first guard runs off. "I would suggest that, as you have been very good to this town so far, that you and your friends retire to the Drunken Cockatrice Inn. If you'll head up the road towards the commons, then look almost behind you to your left when you get there, you'll see the sign. I've sent Thomas ahead to let them know your coming. As a way of saying thanks, I'm asking them to do me a favor and offer you a discount on your rooms, at least for one night anyway.. Thank you again, sir." With that, the guard grabs his pike, does a smart turn on his heels, and walks back to the guardhouse.
Shi'Vatha bows from his waist, the front one. "My thanks to you, sir."
Glornug clears his throat. "Shall we proceed, then? I wish to learn more about these demon gods. They sound like a challenge."
Felicity looks around at her companions. Demon God? Please explain. Is it a demon or a god? Why would Corian be the one to oppose such being?
"The demon god, Orcus! His followers created the temple city of Tsar to the north. It was placed under siege over a century ago, but now there are rumors that someone, or something, is trying to re-start the city! The visions told me that Corian and his followers, um I mean friends (no offense), are the ones to stop this from happening. Why would the visions lie?"