Perception:
Sense Motive:
Heal:
Knowledges (untrained:
Local:
History:
Nobility:
"...interesting...," Viyko mutters to himself.
Ayla whispers to the group, keeping an eye on the two. "Watch out. Blond man be itching for a fight with the elf. He hunting for excuse to attack. The Elf has the mark of the dragons and two hidden blades. Might get ugly."
Viyko whispers back, "He ran off with Dalvan's daughter for a while, and then she disappeared."
Viyko takes a bite of his vegetables, and places his hand on his bow. "Everyone thinks he had a hand in it, but nothing could be proven," he whispers again.
Rabbit picks up on the whispering back and forth. While she is not sure what's going on, she discreetly pull out her holy symbol from her blouse and toy with it, having it ready should she need it.
Viyko stands at attention, bow held at angle in scout's salute, right hand with the first two fingers extended over heart. While respectful, he still keeps his eyes scanning all in the room, especially the newcomers.
Do I need to make any Knowledge checks to recognize the dwarf or his comrades? I made up the description of the salute, hope that's okay.
Ayla stands at attention watching as tears start to form in her eyes.
Lethe stands to attention. Tika as well after a moment or two.
Vrykkas rises respectfully, bowing his head in honor of the dead. He murmurs low, "May the Blood watch over your soul as you pass into the next life."
"May the Ancestral spirits guide you on your journey to the afterlife, old friend..." Ayla prays silently to herself.
Lethe not being much of the religious type simply remains silent.
Viyko sings, barely audible, along with the song, and slowly positions himself behind the rest of the party, out of line of sight from the room. Viyko is a terrible singer. While Viyko has little of the soldier's passion left, he know that this is needed for the rest and wants to play along without coming off as offensive.
Knowledge (local):
Knowledge (nobility):
Perform:
Stealth:
Pathfinder says, under the Skills section:
"Taking 10: When your character is not in immediate
danger or distracted, you may choose to take 10. Instead of
rolling 1d20 for the skill check, calculate your result as if
you had rolled a 10. For many routine tasks, taking 10 makes
them automatically successful. Distractions or threats (such
as combat) make it impossible for a character to take 10. In
most cases, taking 10 is purely a safety measure—you know
(or expect) that an average roll will succeed but fear that a
poor roll might fail, so you elect to settle for the average roll
(a 10). Taking 10 is especially useful in situations where a
particularly high roll wouldn’t help."
Does this mean Viyko can just take 10 on any given check when not being threatened? It would make better sense for him to do so from here onward. Pathfinder got rid of the 10x a s long bit.
Lethe attempts to sing along but seems to end up garbling most of it
Intimidate
Tika not knowing the song decides to remain silent.
Vrykkas does not sing. He does however stand for the song and sips his tea, listening to the obvious emotion in the singer's voice, but showing none of his own. This is not the place.
Ayla gives the dwarf a quick look, but he is quickly dismissed as she starts to quietly sing along with the song. Unlike the others she sings it perfectly, having over 20 years in the army.
Rabbit stands at the dwarf's entrance, but remains quite. An air of soberness falls over her that none of you have seen yet this evening. During the song she doesn't join in; her mouth is clamped tight as though she's afraid her voice may betray her.
Rabbit looks around at the others, a questioning look on her face.
Then she turns back to Rakad. I'm Tauni, though most people call me Rabbit. I don't think I was ever officially enlisted, but I spent years with Dalvan's scouts. I did have a couple chances to meet Dalvan... It changed my life.
Viyko beams at the offer. "As long as you buy my wine and share some tales of how Karrnath's been while I've been abroad, I'd love the company," Viyko says genuinely. He turns to the others, "You coming too, comrades?"
"Your reputation precedes you, sir. I'm former Lieutenant Viyko Kharde." Viyko offers a friendly handshake to Rakad, and leans in with a smile. Barely a whisper, Viyko tells him, "Not that you need the help, but if Drinn gets out of line at any point, I've got your back. Though, I have to ask... what's the story with the Valenar?" Viyko says the last word with such venom that he may as well have called him a horse-elf.
Viyko pulls away, smiling still, and says to Rakad, "Though this is a sad day filled with hard memories, it is also one that will be filled with the best of memories. I'd say it's a fair trade."
Turning to the others, he says, "This man is a veritable living legend himself, and few were more trusted by Dalvan."
Viyko's countenance eases noticeably at Rakad's endorsement of the Valenar. War makes strange bedfellows, Viyko thinks to himself.
Vrykkas nods at each person as they are introduced, but says no more until Rakad finishes. "I am Vrykkas, of the Blood. I have given thought to returning to the army. It affords me time to continue my studies. I will give your offer thought."
"Tell me, you probably have been summoned by the Sivis clerk, and therefore held a special place in Dalvan's heart. Are you interested in joining back the army someday? I could use good people!"
"........" Lethe looks between Rakad and Tika clearly having conflicting thoughts on the situation.
"Ayla, Mask Weaver of the Atlanti Talenta Tribe. Dalvan was like father to Ayla as well. She would be honored if you in need of her strength again." Ayla says with a smile as she greets everyone.
"...Would it be bad to ask how Dalvan's daughter die?" She adds, the smile tapering away.
"Pleased to meet you all."
He turns to Rakad and says, "I've given it serious consideration, especially in regard to intelligence and exploratory work, but I've got a number of personal matters to attend to first."
He frowns a little as Viyko goes further. With a similarly low voice, he replies: "I believe Drinn is responsible for Dalvan's daughter's death, but I can't prove it, yet. As for the Valenar, he's an old friend and I trust him with my life."
You said he said those things with a "similarly low voice."
Rakad tenses at the question, he seems to be off, in a distant land, for an instant. He looks at Ayla and says, in a silent and wrought voice, filled with regrets: "No one has seen here. She's disappeared while she was travelling with Drinn. There was an investigation, but the idiots couldn't come up with anything. Plus it happened on Thronehold Island."
He seems to catch himself a little, bringing to bear his military aura: "It is an honor to meet a Mask Weaver. The Talenta Halfling have often been of great help to my nation and we hope to keep good relations with them in the future."
"Disappeared? Maybe still hope then... Maybe she had calling, Maybe she still out there, fulfilling the spirits wishes..." Ayla says, trying to give the man some hope.
"What Thronehold Island? You mean it dangerous?"
Speaking to Rakad, but looking at the Valenar, Viyko states, "There are exceptions to every rule. Dalvan trusted you, and you trust this man. That is good enough for me. However," Viyko continues, speaking now to the Valenar, "if you were anyone else, then I may be uncomfortable with your company. How did you come to be our ally, if I may inquire?"
Viyko then turns to look at Rakad, and with raises the eyebrow furthest from the Valenar. This pause of a look carries more words than Viyko can convey. Is he a trained dog? Is there more? Are you sure? Give me the word...
Viyko shows no hostility in his words, but makes it clear that he trusts the Valenar elf as long as he has reason to trust him, and will act accordingly. Viyko will not trust blindly or completely, but with vigilance.
Rakad thinks for a moment on Ayla's words. Mmmh... Perhaps, but I doubt it. My heart tells me that he is guilty."
Perhaps what you see is guilt, true enough. I see that too. But perhaps it is not guilt for his actions toward her, but his inactions. I've seen many good men dragged down because they felt guilty for not being in the right place to help someone, or took the wrong course of action to help. Frankly, I've seen more men chewed up badly by this sort of guilt than those who committed actual crimes of passion; those men tend to convince themselves that they had cause.
Rabbit considers this for a minute, then stands. Excuse me for a few minutes, gentlefolk.
Rabbit will walk over to the bar and take a seat next to Drinn.
Naham, I am Tauni Desba. Everyone calls me Rabbit. You must have loved the Brigadier deeply to risk such scorn and threats to come here and honor him. I for one appreciate that, and I'm sure our departed leader does as well. But meeting you, seeing the weight you carry, I cannot help but believe the guilt you carry is not due to actions you took, but actions you wish you could have taken. I believe you were there when she disappeared. But I don't believe you caused it. In fact, I suspect you did all you could to try and save her. Is she really gone? Gone from this world? Or is her fate still unknown for certain?
Diplomacy
Sense Motive
"Blunted girl..." Viyko mutters. Viyko picks up his bow and waits for trouble.
Viyko looks at Rakad and whispers, "This is not the place or time, but I stand by what I said."
Who is this pretty little lady? She's a little young to become a soldier yet."
"Hey I'm not that young" Tika responds sounding somewhat indigent "I'm almost the same age sis was when she joined. Anyway I'm Tika Swiftclaw pleased to meet you."
He looks up to Lethe and mouths without a sound Orphan?
Lethe silently nods before she and Tika took a seat with Jeod and the others "I'm Lethe. Dalvan was my superior near the end of the war"
Well, here we are with three elves at the table, all of different origin. On top of that, one of them belongs to the infamous Valaes Taern, who have murdered many of our comrades, often in their sleep... I hope you are all comfortable with that. The Last War stands behind us and I hope we can all start to look to the future..."
You can tell something is wrong as Rakad says the words, as if he doesn't really mean them or was forced to say them..
Sense Motive
"War bring out the best and the worst in people. How many a comrade or loved one have we ourself murdered over the years? Let not accuse others of past wrongdoing. Time has changed. The war is over now, let us judge the actions of others in this era of peace. Lets hope for the best in this strange future of peace. Peace purchased with the blood of our comrades and loved ones." Ayla says bringing her mug up for a toast.
"Blunted girl..." Viyko mutters. Viyko picks up his bow and waits for trouble.
Ayla Chuckles. "Sometime, you cannot tell if a tree is hollow in the core unless you prod it with a blunt stick, and listen to the sound it makes. Sometimes doing the simplest thing as asking the questions and listening will bring forth the answers we seek. Has anyone truely listened to that man with unbiased ears?" Seeing Viyko pick up his bow, Ayla sighs. "Then again, you may be right. Peace, also, can bring out the best and the worst of people." She says. Although she doesn't expect the elf to do anything... she still keeps an eye on the elf and the "Rabbit".
Upon hearing Ayla's words, Viyko sighs. He looks at her, and calmly says, "She disappeared after the war. It doesn't matter whether Drinn had any part in her disappearance or not. He was an interloper in a world not his to meddle with. He has every reason to feel guilty, because he knows that she would still be around had he not turned her world upside down. He gambled, and we all lost."
Viyko tightens his grip on his bow until his knuckles turn white. He whispers again, "In this time of peace it is harder to deal with such matters the way we are all accustomed. There is too much talking, and too many gray areas. Too many rules and feelings. This is not Breland--men are not innocent by some legislative magic until proven of their guilt, and the man is a trained charlatan and performer, we have no reason to give him that luxury."
Viyko looks to Lethe and tilts his head toward Tika, "What it was her in a few years? Would you grant this man compassion and the benefit of doubt if she mysteriously disappeared on his watch, taking her from your life?" Feeling he's made his point, he goes back to watching Rabbit talk to Drinn.