Tassira watches the little mite flee with a look that is equally confused and grateful.
"Well, the little guy came through for us." She turns to the others and smiles. "I think we're ready to resolve the matter of Tartuk's hold on the tribe."
"Why was he so nervous and why did he run? I don't like this."
Rowena glanced around nervously to see what the mite was running from (any sign of threat?).
Alexander answers Ro's amd Markov's concerns with his own. That was a little to easy. but stops a moment to measure those concerns against the logic of the situation. At this point it seems unlikely to be a trap it would seem more likely the mite does not wish to be found colluding with an enemy by stealing the tribes war trophy. Either way we should be away before the tribe can react to the theft.
Once the group is on the move and has made a little distance from the mite's tree Alexander rides close enough to speak privately to Rowena
Markov nods in agreement with Alexander. "Yeah, as my old friends sometimes said; "Best goin' when the gettin' is good." As they said." Markov walks over to Nedyr to check out the statue. "Well, what ever you worship, it can mean something to ya... Mikmek;" Markov gestures to the statue. "Is this the statue?"
"I was wondering the same thing, if this isn't the right one, I'm going to be more than a bit embarrassed at being conned," Nedyr says, parting the wrap long enough for their kobold ally to take a look.
As the group are riding back to the Sootscales, Tassira notices Alex riding alongside Rowena. He leans over to whisper something to her.
...right. That's how it is, then?
Her magic buzzes at her fingertips as she holds Percival's reins. She squeezes her eyes shut and wills it away.
He's my cousin. And I need to talk with Rowena once we're done with this.
At the insistence of Alexander that the mite's behaviour was nothing more than desperation to distance himself from their association, Rowena pushed aside her pressing concern and followed the others away from the Sycamore Tree.
She listened as Markov and Nedyr queried the authenticity of the statue in their possession with Mikmek. Good, he should know the real thing from a copy.
As they rode, she noticed Alexander pushing his mount closer to her own and drew his head nearer so he could speak to her privately.
At his revelation that he valued her more precious than gold, Rowena blushed and looked to her hands holding the reins. He believed Tassira felt similarly, although not in the same manner.
Her voice caught a little at the words but she managed to quietly relay to him her true feelings, "You honour me, Alexander. And humble me in the same breath. I do not want you to feel that I have aligned myself, my feelings with yours, for the position of your family, or their wealth. I am a village priestess, and, as such we do not see nor expect too many gold coins to fill our coffers. I felt ashamed when I could not give as much as the rest, for it was only fair that I should. I want to repay Tassira's generosity ... and I will once I can earn some coin." She stopped and she looked upon the nobleman with shy crystal-green eyes. In a smaller voice, she added, "I do not want you to feel ashamed of me for my lack of fortune. Your good opinion and Tassira's means a great deal to me."
"If I tried to sell this at market, they'd laugh at me."
"Well, it looks like this is it after all," Nedyr says adding, "Thank you, Mikmek."
He rides back with the others, noting some of them talking, but deciding not to eavesdrop. While sometimes fun, and often enlightening, it just didn't feel right to pry on the private conversations of a priestess.
Oh dear, it appears I may have qualms. How decidedly uncomfortable.
Alexander reaches to the hand that fits his Signet Ring and pulls it from his finger and lays it in Rowena's hand.
"Alright, now we just have to "meet" Tartuk. With all of us, he shouldn't be much of a problem to deal with! Markov finishes with a grin. Taking note of what Nedyr said, Markov turns to look at the statue. "Yeah, I don't think anyone would want something that looks like that, except maybe the parent of the child that made it."
Markov noticed that Rowena and Alexander were talking to each other quite a bit.
Markov raises an eyebrow at the situation those two were having. And possibly a third if Tassira had anything to say about it. Markov turns to Nedyr before he speaks in a clear tone.
"You know, there were quite a few creatures out there in pairs, huh? Birds and all that, must be the season or something, right Nedyr. But might be another, who knows.~" As Markov finishes speaking, he laughs out loud and then whistles a little tune.
Markov notes that Alexander and Rowena are being rather close. And that Tassira may be getting jealous.
Edit:
"You know, there were quite a few creatures out there in pairs, huh? Birds and all that, must be the season or something, right Nedyr. But might be another, who knows.~" As Markov finishes speaking, he laughs out loud and then whistles a little tune.
Nedyr chuckles at that, and looks skyward with some admiration, "I imagine its the season for some, not for others. I don't know the wild life very well, but the birds here seem resplendent."
Tassira blinks in confusion. "Huh? What about the birds?"
She starts looking around in the sky for birds.
Nedyr answers her (mostly) honestly, "Markov mentioned their grouping pattern, and I mentioned, that some of the ones we've seen so far seemed quite lovely. What do you think, Tassira? of the area and its wild life I mean? I'm no outdoorsman myself so I feel a bit lost in how to get around."
Tassira shrugs. "It's green, forested and with no towns to be found for miles. I feel more at home out here than anywhere else, I guess."
"As to the birds..."
"...you'll find a few birds of prey here and there. They mostly range from the woods around the Thorn River to snatch up prey to eat out here on the plains." Tassira starts talking, giving a few glances in Rowena's direction. "Sometimes, you'll see a falcon try to steal prey from another bird, but more often than not they'll strike out to get food of their own."
...
...
...
...she really is talking about birds.
Her thoughts and attention were entirely centred on Alexander.
Inside her palm lay Alexander's signet ring and for a moment she was unable to speak. The sentiments he had shared with her -- of her nobility through deeds and his admiration and respect for her brought a shimmer of tears to her crystalline eyes.
She dared look into his eyes, even as her own swam with collected tears. Her voice was so soft as she gave her reply,
"You bestow this family ring unto me as a promise? Your words alone gladdened my heart and restored my spirits. This ring honours me and I earnestly accept it and will wear it upon my hand. I will keep it safe for you." This formal show of their courtship was unexpected, yet quickened her pulse, made her heart hammer in her chest.
The signet ring looked too big for her ring fingers, so she placed it upon the thumb of her right hand, where it lay more securely, and looked upon the Medyved insignia and then into Alexander's sea blue eyes. A soft, incredulous smile spread across her lips and brightened her face. Alexander had made a formal promise to her and she suddenly wished she could reach across the distance between their horses and kiss his lips. Yet, practicality and decorum (and inexperience) held her in her saddle. There would be time for affection -- much time -- she was certain of it.
Tassira shrugs. "It's green, forested and with no towns to be found for miles. I feel more at home out here than anywhere else, I guess."
"As to the birds..."
[dice=Knowledge (Nature)]1d20+6
"...you'll find a few birds of prey here and there. They mostly range from the woods around the Thorn River to snatch up prey to eat out here on the plains." Tassira starts talking, giving a few glances in Rowena's direction. "Sometimes, you'll see a falcon try to steal prey from another bird, but more often than not they'll strike out to get food of their own."
"You feel more at home, I feel overwhelmed," Nedyr admits, allowing himself to be a bit thoughtful, "Oh, there's noise, but I'm used to hustle and bustle of towns or thriving villages. I like the beauty, but I think I'd feel rather lonely after a time if it weren't for working with you good folk. Even talk of birds of prey makes me think of the Black Eagle of my father's house... I wonder how my half siblings are doing? that sort of thing."
"Really?" Tassira arches an eyebrow. "Mind if I ask how your family took your insistence on going on this trip?"
"You may ask anything you like," He smiles a bit wistfully, "And while I do enjoy bending the truth now and then, I'll give it to you straight this time. They were rather stunned. I suspect if I'd grown an extra head, my father could not be more surprised than to hear me volunteering for anything. Still, I'm the better choice than either of my half siblings. I have talents they don't and... I have this delightful trait called expendability." He chuckles at the last, "Though to say it makes my father sound harsh. He's actually been nothing but kind to me. Too kind some might say."
"And yourself?" He says after a pause so she might have gotten a word in edgewise, "You must have family, reasons for being here beyond just needing to be done?"
Tassira winces and looks down at Percival's head as she rides. "...I do."
"I have three brothers, and my mother and father." She blinks, feeling herself tense up. "I didn't tell any of them I left--I just left them a note and ran off into the night. I wanted to honour the family name in my own way, but if I told Father he wouldn't have allowed it."
She straightens herself up as Percival rides through a particularly tall patch of grass. "And... there's another reason for it. How familiar are you with the fey?"
"taking your fate into your own hands ? Brave." Nedyr says, though at the mention of fey, he admits, "Only the things one hears from tipsy revelers with a good and inaccurate stories. I knew one fellow who claimed he was used by a dryad to be her lover for over a year before he found himself in a mushroom ring near an old oak nude. It was a good story, but having seen the fellow's face, I can only think the Dryad had to be pretty drunk herself if he was her choice," he smiles at memory of old Poldurk's stories, "I've heard they're capricious and powerful and beautiful and dangerous and wonderful and so on. And I now know mites are fey related, but only because you folks told me."
Tassira blushes and cringes. "Ah. Well..."
She focuses inward, past the jostling of Percival as he moves, and conjures up a stick figure of herself in the palm of her hand. "...I'm the only person in my family who can use magic naturally. Mother can do magic, but she needs to study for hours on end to be able to cast a cantrip, whereas I can do it as soon as I wake up in the morning."
She closes her hand, turning the figure of her into dust. "My family is related to the Medvyeds--you're familiar with their reverence for Nature and the First World, yes? Well, the Vantyevs take it a bit further than that in my case--apparently, I'm descended from one of the fey."
And I think I'm the only one in my family who is...
He observes the magic with interest, eyes lighting up in wonder at it, "nice." As she goes on, he considers, "Descended from one of the fey? So this is a homecoming for you of sorts, or might be. Well, I'm half an elf, not quite as exotic, but I can assure you that odd blood can have quite a few perks. In my case, low light vision, some magical resistances, oh, and slight ear points that really accent my high cheek bones, see?" He gestured at his profile, "Exotic yet still quite masculine." Trying to make her smile a bit, he then adds more seriously, "Our blood starts us on the path of who we are, but our choices allow us to grow into who we want to be. I don't know you well enough to say, but from what I've seen so far, whatever your blood, you're a good person who is making a very brave choice."
Tassira giggles and scratches her head. "Thanks."
She glances over at Rowena & Alex, and her laughter stops. Her throat constricts and she swallows before turning back to Nedyr.
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Tassira giggles and scratches her head. "Thanks."
"You're most welcome," Nedyr enjoys bringing a smile to folks now and then.
She glances over at Rowena & Alex, and her laughter stops. Her throat constricts and she swallows before turning back to Nedyr.
Nedyr tilts his head, and tries to betray no surprise, nor does he laugh, not even though it would be directed more at himself than anything, she might take it wrong and he wouldn't want to hurt any lady.
Nedyr simply nods at that Somewhere, some god or goddess is laughing at me. And damn it, it's funny. Still, hopefully said divinity will also help things sort out for the best for all involved.
While he doesn't speak common, Nedyr follows, trying to keep his eyes alert.
But his thoughts are distracted.
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Alexander takes Rowena's near hand brings it to his lips as he bends down to gently kiss its back. Alexanders face shows relief as his head tips back up as he allows Ro's hand to naturally slip from his as they ride back.
Alexander slips into silence as he prepares for the possible fight offering his attention to Ro as they ride but commits little else to the conversation.
After reaching the caves, Markov dismounts Snow and walks with everyone to the Sootscale caves. When they get there and meet the kobold guard, Markov translates what the guard said in a whisper to the group. "It said basically we head inside to show the statue to the chief. And that mites are stupid... Well, lets head in to say hello." Markov will follow the kobold guard in with the group.
Alexander mentally reviews the spells he has prepared as they move through the tunnels his hand resting on the pommel of his rapier as they proceed. His thoughts focused on one thing No one from our company will die tonight!
Tassira sucks in a breath of air as she dismounts and follows the others in. She gives Rowena another look, and feels her magic welling up to her fingertips again.
"Ready for this?"
Rowena's euphoria as she rode beside Alexander was soon replaced with a little trepidation at their impending confrontation with Tartuk. When Tassira asked her if she was ready, Rowena simply gave a nod, not trusting her voice, and followed behind the others into the dark tunnel. She hoped they could sway the kobold tribe to turn against Tartuk -- They had the statue now and even though the priestess did not believe in Old Sharptooth or recognised him as a true god, she knew the significance of the statue to the tribe and that was enough for now.
"Of course, Chieftain," Nedyr puts it in Sootscale's clawed hands, hoping this doesn't go very badly but at this stage, they have to take a few gambles, even on trust.
Tassira watches the spectacle with a wary expression. Her magic won't stop buzzing at her fingertips.
"Let us go. Tartuk's time grows short."
"Certainly, Chief. That's what allies do," A slight stress on the word allies is made, as he hopes to make sure this isn't a one sided relationship.
"Alright then! Lets go get us a liar!" Markov smirks slightly as he readies his gear for the battle.
Markov follows the kobolds along to Tartuk's lair. He pulls out his sword when they get into the room and see the purple kobold. Markov raises an eyebrow when he sees Tartuk. "I did not think Kobolds came in Purple. When Tartuk summons Sharptooth, Markov rushes up front to defend the group.
Markov snarls as he looks forward towards the creature and Tartuk. "No, I think you shall be defeated! Markov Challenges the otherworldly creature and then charges it.
Suffice to say, Tassira wasn't anticipating seeing the kobold summon something.
With the warning given Alexander summons power to his blade and barks out a quick spell of shielding before carefully advancing on Tartuk
"Well," The half elf admits, "I did not expect that."
Unsure what's just happened, instead of using his rapier, when he take action he'll fire an arrow at Tartuk
Hearing Alexander speak in the tongue of the Kobolds, Rowena related what she knew to the rest of her companions. "Tartuk is a Summoner and he has summoned a beast to fight for him. Old Sharptooth is no god! May Erastil guide us!"
Rowena cast Shield of Faith on herself , taking a 5 ft step back away from the Eidolon.
Tassira's magic roars to her fingers and causes her hands to glow green. "Right--here goes nothing..."
She points a finger at Tartuk and launches a missile of magic!
She then takes a step back away from Old Sharptooth.