Maks seems to be waiting on someone else to chime in with their thoughts, but winds up taking the reins again when no one does.
"So would I. I know he has a place that he would like to have protected from vandals of all sorts. And that it's going to be aquatic in nature... but he didn't really spare many details. I feel he's likely saving them for when I won't have to repeat them for everyone else's benefit." she shrugs. "I don't think they'll be undisturbed, though. They'll need guardians just as these lands do." she shakes her head, sadly. "But I'll let you know what we find out, if I can find a way to send a message."
"Keep an eye on the others, in our absence," Teniel adds, "Some of them can be all too quick-tempered. I don't know if we'll be able to help you where we're going, but we'll keep an eye out for anyone who cares about protecting forests."
Tavros looks sad at the all too likely prospect of leaving most of his family far behind. All he manages is a simple "I enjoyed participating in your Lake Ceremony. I hope I will be able to do so again in the future" before he becomes somewhat distracted as he mentally goes over what would need to be done before they left. At the very least, we should probably get a summary of what happened with the others' meeting. And tell them of our plans before we go.
Golden Ram nods at Teniel. "Your group is large and varied. The many personalities I see as a strength. Even amongst Tolhemia's group there were many opinions and voices. I know they will not stay long in our village. The urge to find your master is strong."
"Tavros it was a pleasure to have you join our dances. There will be talk for many years of your participation and intensity in the Battle Dance. Perhaps some day you will be able to join us again."
Nodding to the group, "I know that you may have plans to take a different course, but I will mention as I have to your other groups, that if you wish to stop by our village, we will give you basic supplies and equipment to make your survival somewhat easier. The journey would place us there at nightfall, and you could return on the morrow and meet the Water Spirit for your journey elsewhere."
"That would be a blessing. It wouldn't trouble your people too much to give so freely to us?" She inquires.
"It would be unforgivable to not offer basic survival supplies to those in need. We cannot offer much, simply bags, baskets and bedrolls. We can offer some bronze weapons like knives or axes, or shortspears. Some basic provisions and an herbal kit for each group. We do not have a trading post like the other races. That is not our way. We are willing to help in this small way though."
Maks nods. "I'll do my best to try to return this kindness later. I... don't really have anything else right now." She says, tails swishing, as she prepares to show herself out. "Actually, I can help you pack, if you'd like." She offers after a moment.
"I can repair some things." Lucina offered. "Nothing large or shattered but I know some minor magic that would let me patch things or the like."
"That might be useful where we're going—but I wouldn't want to deprive you of much, since we don't know where we're going or when we get back. We have the weapons we need, but one or two bags, a few blankets, and a single knife for woodcarving would be quite helpful."
Day 3 - Afternoon
The final group of goatlings makes there way from the lake side. The beach looks as though no one had been there. If you inspect closely, sure some stones look disturbed or some logs moved, but after wind, rain and a season passes, no one would be the wiser that over a hundred people had camped here.
The large group makes their way south along the river. They travel slowly as they are carrying the large drums, the huge horns, as well as many tents and the poles are long and unwieldy. The river is rushing quickly and as you reach the gap between the mountains and peer down below the sight is breathtaking. You look out over the rugged hills and wooded canyons. You can see for many many miles. The river sparkles and can be seen winding through the highlands below. The group continues and the elevation drops sharply. Near the river the forest is still rather thick and as the sun descends in the west the shadows kick up and the forest grows dim. The group talks and chats the trip which takes several hours. Soon, they veer off from the river following a smaller tributary to the east. You are told the village is not far now.
Maks looked over the scene as it played out. Everything outside of Goodwin's plane was still just as beautiful as she'd left it, yet she appreciated it more, now. Her tails swished along the way, even as she kept her magic working to keep herself cleaned off. She tried to take in the image, but knew it would gradually fade; perhaps she would return someday.
Lucina would find ways to keep herself distracted during the long trip toying with her gem or examining her nails."It will be interesting at our family reunion to say the least, I wonder what the others will set as their first goals."
Day 3 - Evening
The large procession arrives at the village with fanfare. Its arrival was announced by the drums and horns that you are familiar with, goatlings come running to see the return of their leader. For the first time you see female and young goatlings. The small village can't decide whether to be a permanent fixture or not. Most of the 'homes' are the tee-pee style tents made from skins, that you are already familiar with. Several larger lodge styles permanent structures have been erected with stone and some wood, with thatched roofs. As you can see the goatlings have begun a slow switch to agrarian from hunter gatherer lifestyle. fields of oats are sown and managed. Regular mountain goats wander freely in the village in small flocks. A stream flows past the edge of the village nearby. It seems somewhat idyllic, but it is noisy. Also greeting the procession are your other brothers and sisters, the large group led by Tolhemia Brass who arrived yesterday. A temporary guest area has been set up to house the new guests until they press on to other goals. Though it is late, people are awake and excited to talk. The goatlings go about their duties in returning to their homes and families or taking the various gear used for travel and doing whatever is appropriate for it. Many goatlings quickly move to erect another half dozen teepees for the new comers in the guest area. Golden Ram and his Elders move off to meet with those who had stayed behind. You are advised that in the morning you will be supplied with some equipment as needed, and for the night you can turn in or chat with your friends. You are given a tee-pee to sleep in and there is food and water therein. Tolhemia and many of your brothers and sisters greet you, and Tolhemia mentions she would like to meet and discuss in the morning when you are freshly rested.
Whether you turn in or stay up to explore and chat, the village itself quickly calms down and everyone returns to their tents for the night.
Miyu has paid careful attention to the path that they follow once they leave the waterside, to ensure that they know a safe, passable way back to the lake.
Makoto continues to pick flowers and plants as she goes to try to develop new pigments. She's far from quiet as they travel. Her spear, at the very least, hums as they move forth. When it isn't, she is... or she's trying to call back to birds as they cry. She's fairly fidgety as well, touching tree bark, examining rocks and the like.
When they arrive in town, she takes the time to inform the others of her plans to go with the turtle... then heads off to bed. No point in staying up when everyone else would be at rest.
Day 4 - Morning
The village awakens early, and the sound of goatlings going about their morning business quietly and dilligently fills your ears. Life in the village appears simple but full of work. Most of the effort revolves around food gathering, preparation and storage. There is also leather crafting and pottery work to be done.
Your group rises and partakes in breakfast, and goes about its morning routines. In time the various children of Goodwin mingle and chat. After breakfast, some goatlings arrive with supplies to distribute. Each group is given the following:
1 waterskin per person
1 personal hide tent per person
leather for clothes (the goatlings do not wear clothing, so you are expected to craft it yourselves)
large belt pouch per person
1 healer kit per group
1 bronze handaxe per group
1 bronze knife per group
oat cakes/leaves/goat cheese - 3 days worth of food per person
wicker ware - baskets or containers for carrying items - 1 large item or 2 small per person
ceramic ware - pottery, flasks, vials, mugs, bowls - a small set per person
minor tools, scrapers, needles, awls, punches, leather working - 1 set per group to work leather
After the goatlings give you your goods, they move on to the next group.
Maks thanks the goats, giving them a doggy grin and a wagging tail, along with a few promises of returning the favor down the line; always remember where you came from!
They will let you keep the mortar and pestle. The three days of food will last a bit, the oat cakes and hard cheese are fairly durable. The leaves are something you would eat sooner than later.
Tolhemia stops by shortly thereafter to greet you and to help answer any questions you may have.
"I have sent two messengers to the Dwarven Thain who runs the Cliffside Fort town downriver. It is the nearest civilization with a chance to provide us with information. I have not heard back from my messengers yet, although familiars we sent to spy have returned with proof that the messengers made it safely to the fort. If the meeting goes well, I had requested an audience for our people and a chance to move into their society. The tension between the goat people and the dwarves and their human allies makes this a diplomatically awkward situation, but we must remain focused on finding Master Goodwin. I have assured Golden Ram of our intents to win greater security for his people. I also seek to secure safe passage for our own people if not a chance to provide services for the dwarves. As we have no resources to afford food or goods, I fear the Thain may look distastefully on us as refugees and vagabonds who will stir up trouble and disrupt order. None of this even addresses the racial issues sure to spark problems. I seek your input should you have any. I would also learn of your plans so that I may keep informed of our people's whereabouts."
Maks swaps to her human form so that she can chew on her cheek; something that would be unwise with fox teeth. "I'm... not entirely certain how to handle any of that. I'd only intended to utilize our human-like presence to put their minds at ease while we spoke to them and moved among them. I hadn't planned at all for moving our entire families into their lands... and that seems like a significant ordeal. I stopped thinking about building a home after we suggested not to build on the plateau." she says, her brow furrowing. "Ideally, perhaps, we could position ourselves at the edge of both lands, if Golden Ram's people will have us; they mentioned that trade is not their way, if I heard right. Perhaps the majority of us could form a small home between the two and act as an intermediary for now? That will keep us from squatting on the dwarven lands, assuming the goatlings will have us."
She swapped back to her fox form, tails tucked slightly. "But we do need to find a place that is our own before we wear out our welcomes or grow too reliant on the blessings of other peoples. As for us, we intend to travel with Akluzzar. I presume we'll not move too far, but we're hopeful to bring honor to Goodwin and find solutions to the problem of a lack of resources."
Akluzzar? Is this the turtle that I have heard of? What does he intend for you?"
"He has a distant land that needs protecting from various miscreants... not unlike this land. I don't believe it is inhabited, and if it is, we'll attempt to send word. Do you know of any form of magic we could use to help Jovar stay in touch with us directly?" she tilts her head. "It'd be much easier if we at least knew where everyone was. Oh, and have you heard from Grobly's group?" Her tails swished in time, before she swapped back to the topic at hand, "I'm not entirely sure of what he has planned for us, but exploring a distant land will surely lead to many discoveries about the world. With luck, we'll succeed in the endeavor he's set out for us, and we'll actually benefit ourselves and everyone else as well."
Tavros takes what is offered to him, admittedly rather uneasily. He didn't like being given things from a people he barely knew with nothing to offer in return. A part of him urged to turn down the gifts, but another part told him that'd be foolish; all it would do is put a burden on the part of his family he traveled with.
It was also beginning to sound more and more like leaving with Mr. Turtle would be a good idea, although he somehow doubted the removal of five people would make much of a difference on the strain his family would have, both on the land and most likely on its current inhabitants.
"See what you can do to help the goatlings. They have been kind beyond need to use." It wasn't that he was trying to pass off his debt to someone. It was just that they would more likely be in a position to immediately help. Other than look out for a land they could relocate to, which seemed a paltry recompense, he wasn't sure he could do much for the goatlings remotely.
"Instead of vagabonds we can try to appear as traveling works down on their luck? It might be similar enough to them but if we prove we have skills they need they are more likely to help us and the goatlings I'd think." Lucina didn't have many ideas but she offered whatever came to mind.
"Interesting. How does the turtle get to these distant lands? I know Jovar has access to some magic that Master Goodwin infused him with, but I do know it has some limits. If you are far enough away it may be a challenge for him to keep up more frequent contact until we all grow enough in power to be able to manage remote communication via magic."
"We have not heard from the group Grobly was a part of. As I understand they were also heading to the fort area. We can ask if they have made contact if we are granted an audience."
"Tavros, I agree we owe the goatlings much, for their generosity. I believe they feel they owe us for mistakenly attacking us. In addition I think they feel we have the ability to help their cause. We do and I intend to help them as I can, but I cannot lose sight of our primary goal, to rescue Master Goodwin. I know he would want to us to help others, but I need to weigh and balance everyone's needs."
"Lucina, it makes sense, I think we can all prove that we would ultimately not be a burden to any society we join, we have much to offer, but there will be mountains of prejudice from the commonfolk, and probably many of the leadership. Also, once we reveal our power, we will become pawns for powerbrokers. I would not see my kin manipulated for greed or furthering someone's machinations."
"I'd assume some kind of water-based teleportation," Teniel suggests. "And we all had professions once. I don't think it would be hard to explain ourselves as a company of bards or a traveling circus. The challenge may lie in the local language, and if we're lucky, Akluzzar may be able to teach us something of that before we arrive—if this land is full of 'vagabonds,' I cannot say how they might treat foreigners or outsiders who cannot communicate."
"Indeed, well I wish you the best. It may be that a far ranging team may also learn much of the world from a different perspective. I suspect a bunch of dwarves holed up in a fort on the fringe of civilization may not have an overly worldly view of things, or will certainly be skewed. We shall see."
"If he has some sort of water teleportation abilities, that will work out well, perhaps some day you can return to the lake with ease."
Makoto nods. "I know he intends to travel the waterways, and now that I've seen the waterfall, I recognize that the likelihood of him having traveled upstream is significantly lower than I first believed. Farewell, Tolheimia." Maks swishes her tails slowly.
"Right. We'll stay alert, and creative. If we're close enough to send word—is there a spot you'd like us to leave messages at? The goatling village, or a distinctive pile of rocks by the river?"
"The goatling village for now. If it changes, we will try to communicate it."
Tavros nods his farewell to Tolheimia. "Safe journeys."
"Tolheimia if you hear anyone still talking about building a new home here please advise them against it, the goats have lost too much already and been kind taking their land could make matters much worse for them."
"I think that would an unwise strategy in any event. Why build some sort of home out here at the reaches of civilization? Well, I guess I don't know everyone's mind set, but I will try to dissuade that from happening."
"If the land weren't already claimed... it would be the ideal place to build. Simply because it isn't claimed." Maks shrugs. "It's not as though we could just walk up to a city and add our own district."
"Eh," Teniel replies, "That one is possible, with enough money. This forest—nothing interesting around, no resources, no way to get any of the technology you're probably used to."
"Hopefully we'll be able to send word if we find unclaimed land. Then any who wish will be able to build a home."
Tavros doesn't seem to have too much more to say.
Day 4 - Late Morning
The group prepares to head out, planning to rendezvous with Akluzzar at the lake. Travelling back up the river and arriving at the lake should only take half the day or so, and you would arrive by mid to late afternoon.
Many of your brothers and sisters come to wish you farewell, many are planning their own adventures in the next few days pending the information from the messengers and any audience granted. Many are excited to be close to civilization now and the chance to uncover knowledge is enticing.
A few wish they were coming with you, but you only bring one along.
After some waves, and cheers, and farewells from the goatlings, you head out from the village and back to the river and upstream.
The day goes quickly, and the river sparkles and crashes as you get higher in elevation reaching the rapids again and finally proceeding back through the gap. You push forward thorugh the heavily forested plateau and finally reach the lakefront again. It seems eerie and calm now, with no campsites or revelers on its western shores. Placid and cold, today little wind, so the lake seems mirror like at its center, away from the cascading inlets from the mountains, depositing their snowmelt into the lake, before it is carried downstream.
You stand on the shore and ponder Akluzzar.
Upon arriving at where they had previously camped, Maks sets about looking for a particularly large rock; one that is unlikely to be moved under any circumstance, and then takes the time to place her Arcane Mark upon the stone. She, for some strange reason, spends quite a bit of time studying this stone, its shape and size, and Miyu seems interested as well for a time... but then he loses interest, as he doesn't seem to understand what Maks is doing, and isn't willing to ask for fear of appearing less intelligent. While she does this, she snacks on a charred fish, and walks around barefoot in the grass, swapping back to her human form as she does so.
"Did he give you a way to contact or summon him when you were ready?"
Teniel shrugs, and drops 10-foot illusionary smiling turtles into six points spread out across the lake, hoping to catch the great turtle's attention.
"No. Only that he would seek us out." she said, as she continued whatever 'work' she was doing.
Shrugging, Tavros neatly puts down the various gear he had accumulated. He then strips down to the bare minimum needed to remain decent and jumps into the lake with a whoop. He then starts happily paddling about, attempting to play tag with the illusionary turtles.
Some time after arrival, and even after Teniel's illusionary turtle tricks, you hear a voice reaching out to your minds.
"Greeting travellers."
Teniel silently salutes. ::Right, we've got food and tools, and we're ready to go. Anything you can tell us on the language where we're going, or what the locals might look like? It wouldn't hurt to worry about the impression we'll make.::
"They are mostly human. Many of the people live as fisherfolk and sea traders. The most dangerous are the sea scourges, pirates and buccaneers who prey on the fisherfolk and passing ships. I will place you somewhere near them. First impressions may be a challenge. Their language is a form of the common tongue shared by most lands for trade purposes."
"Someone else mentioned that you were a dragon turtle, not just a regular turtle. Is that why you can talk in our heads or is there something else going on there..?" she said, and thought, not looking in his direction as she continued studying the stone, and then started paying attention to its surroundings. "And what sort of people exactly are you hoping we can defend your other lands from?"
"There are raiders who come by ship to attack the fisherfolk. Pirates and ne'er do wells. They also plunder the islands of their trees, and kill the hatchlings, taking eggs, or killing hatchlings. These people have no respect."
"You do not share much about yourself, do you?" Makoto asked, as for perhaps the fifth time, the dragon had ignored a question about himself, in favor of speaking about business.