Quoth the Crow: "Ravenmoor!" (AKA Feast of Ravenmoor, another feather-brained campaign from GM Hmm) (Inactive)

Game Master Hmm

Stali readies an attack, wondering: what the heck is that thing?

Andrietta, Gallako and Vralk are up!

Previously
In town, the grandmother will eat healthily but not overstuffing herself, giving her compliments to the cook who made the meal and offering to help with the breakfast dishes if it is needed.

On the Road
Andrietta will go to the other side of the road, taking her clanky metal armor well and away from the sneaky Stali while 'investigating' the area.
Perception: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (6) + 8 = 14

As she sees Chak grab the bug bat thing she cants her head a bit. Starting Detect Evil in that arc, taking whole turn to work at it.

[knowledge Arcana: 1d2 + 5 ⇒ (2) + 5 = 7

"I don't think its trying to attack us. Its just confused. Don't kill it!!!

Vralk, see if you can get its attention. Don't hurt it either"

knowledge arcana: 1d20 - 1 ⇒ (3) - 1 = 2

"Don't worry Sarano. I, Vralk the Mighty, will save you because you are my friend. It is good to be friends of Vralk the Mighty"

With that, he leaps into the air and does a mighty dance in front of the thing, trying to get it to follow him into the air.

The bug thing has to make a Will Save DC 15 or be fascinated by the Crow.

Only in D&D does one get to make a statement like that :-) :-)

Did you notice you rolled a d2 on that check, Gallako? You might have wanted to use a d20...

In response to Gallako's instructions, Stali backs away and lowers his sword. He does not sheath it yet, since he still isn't sure what happened.

Will Save: 1d20 + 1 ⇒ (6) + 1 = 7

The bug thing stops struggling in Chak's arms, staring at the little crow.

-- COMBAT OVER --

A little boy runs out of the reeds, looking frantic. “No! Don't hurt him! He's just a-scairt!” The child is small, about eight years old, with a ragged mop of black hair, filthy home-spun clothes, and mud caking his hands and feet. Then he stares at you, open-mouthed. "I never seen ravens your size a-fore." He stares up at all of you, then looks to the bug again. "Please, don't eat him! I can dig you up some nice worms. Fat round ones. Just let him go!"

"Is this 'Applesauce', then?"

The grandmother will inquire with gentle tone, the learned wisdom of generations in her voice.

When was the last time you had a bath, child? Filth rot will eat you up if you don't get home and get a good one!

"He's not going to hurt any of us if we let him go, is he?"

"Raven? Raven?? I am Vralk The Mighty, a great CROW, not some measly stupid little Raven. Silly boy, to not be able to tell the difference.
And CROWS do not eat worms. We eat PIE! And Bacon. And Clams.

But as you are a fledging and don't know better I'll let him go"

Vralk stops fascinating the bug.

"Its ok lad. None of us are going to hurt your pet. Vralk means well. Just call him to you please.

My name is Gallako. My friends and I are called Tengu."

diplomacy: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (6) + 8 = 14

Stali looks at the creature again, then hesitantly puts his sword away.

"What is that creature?" he asks the boy, gesturing towards the bug.

Hikaru looks at the child quizzically, then affirms that indeed "We aren't giant crows, child... though we share some features. Are you sure it's not edible? it looks like a giant mosquito, and they do make tasty treats." He waggles an eyebrow comically to show he's really just kidding...

"Applesauce won't hurt no one! He's my buddy." The boy pulls out a worn leash and a collar out of a muddy pocket. "Heeeeere Applesauce! Here, boy!"

The bug thing rushes to the small child, flying straight into the boy's arms and nuzzling the child's neck with his proboscis and a high pitched whining and buzzing noise. The child pets the quivering bug while looking up distrustfully at all of you. "He's no 'squito. He's a stirge, best one I ever had!"

Although his arms are full, the boy strokes the stirge and starts struggling with getting the stirges's collar on him. "Aaargh. Applesauce, stay still!"

"So he is Applesause. What is your name"

You are aware of what stirges do, are you not young lad?

Eying the giant bug evily, whispering more to herself than anyone else, "If this is the pets around here. . .I'm not sure I'm like it here. . "

Then looking around, realizing she is covered in mud she'll cast a prestidigitation to clean herself off. ”Ah All better,"

Mounting the horse once more, she’ll look around at her companions.

"Um... I'm Ornigaard. Know all 'bout stirges. Raised Applesauce from a larvae, I did! But I'm not 'sposed to be talking to strange folks." He finally gets the leash on Applesauce, his muddy fingers closing the collar with some effort. "I'm not sure, but you're folks, right?"

That is good to know, understand, and be aware of Ornigaard... So what do they do? I'm really curious, intrigued and eager to know.

"We're folks but we're not strange"

Says the bird man with a flag and a crow flying overhead dressed in a scarf and tiara :-)

"Good to meet you, Ornigaard!" Stali says with confidence. With a bit of hesitation, he adds "...and Applesauce?" He still isn't quite sure what to make of the huge flying bug. I'll have to ask Gallako later if that is some sort of familiar or something.

"If you feel uncomfortable talking with us, you could always go get an adult." he suggests.

If he is like many children, this is where he will insist he is old enough to decide things. If not, at least we will quickly find someone to talk to.

Diplomacy: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (10) + 5 = 15

Ornigaard lights up at Chak's question. "You can raise 'em to race, and to guard your home! No burglar gonna mess with you when you got stirges! Three or four o' them could suck one dry! They do tricks, too, like fancy flying and stuff." Then he pauses. “I gotta get Applesauce back to his cage. You should talk to my pa... he knows everything, and once he meets you, maybe you won't be strange folks no more.”

"Applesauce, I challenge you to a flying dance contest"

When Applesauce (presumably :)) fails to reply

"Ha. He concedes. I WIN. Crows better than sturgess"

Burglars? I wouldn't expect there to be many of those in this area.

"Yes, please take us to see your father." Stali replies. When Vralk challenges the bug to a competition, Stali waits to see if it will reply.

Well, if it is a familiar it isn't as smart as Vralk.

He will lead his horse as he follows Ornigaard.

my bad, I don't know Prestidigitation, so I guess I'm still muddy :(

retcon

Looking at the boy, "Does your dad have a wash basin or bathtub, hotspring even, I hate my feathers being all muddy, and if it dries, just the worse. Hurts so bad," spreading her arms out to better view her feathers and try and wipe off some of the mud.

"Thats ok, friend Sarano. You nice. I clean you up"

With that, and with a great flourish, Vralk uses his prestidigitation to clean Sarano up.

Its a spell that lasts an hour that he can cast once an hour. Its essentially ALWAYS up

Seeing the situation sort itself out, the grandmother nods quietly and leans against her darkwood staff once more.

"Be nice to share some tea with your family, child, if that's acceptable. I'll even provide the tea set for it."

Aside from that, she has blessed little to offer either in terms of knowledge or admonishment, the team worked well and everything seems to be working out so far.

Applesauce tries to chase Vralk, slowed down only by Ornigaard being dragged behind him. "Applesauce! Heel, boy!" If heel is one of the stirge's tricks, he sure doesn't seem to know it.

(I could totally see a verminous hunter coming out of this town.)

You follow Ornigaard down a muddy path leading towards a farmhouse. In the distance, you can hear a man's voice call, "Ornigaard! Where have you got to this time?"

At the sound of the voice, both Ornigaard and the stirge take off towards the farmhouse, the boy calling, "Pa! Pa! Some strange folks helped me find Applesauce!"

"What did I tell you 'bout talkin' to..." The man stops as he comes around the corner, and stares at you open-mouthed for a moment. "...strange folks?"

He pauses, recovers, then offers his hand. "Where are my manners? Thanks for helping my boy. I'm Viorec. This is my farm, and you are...?"

"...Andrietta Ebonfeather, and several others...." The grandmother will state with bemusement as she watches. Brings back memories of home, that does...

"As far as the 'reaction', Viorec? We get that a *lot*, so don't feel bad about it."

The paladin will then take the offered hand and shake it firmly.

Perception: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (9) + 8 = 17 Is he REALLY a farmer, with the callouses and the like, or someone PRETENDING to be a farmer?

Stali moves up and takes his turn shaking Viorec's hand. "Stali Onepenny. Pleased to meet you."

Viorec's got real callouses, a tan and a lightly muscled build all consistent with a life spent working outdoors. "Have you folks come from far away? I don't rightly recall ever seeing birdfolk afore."

Hikaru slips forward with an extended hand... "K'kei Hikaru, but just Hikaru is fine... Honored to make your acquaintance." he says with a bow.

With a slight chuckle, Stali says "This size a group of Tengu is unusual, even in Magnimar. That would be where we most recently came from. We tend to travel a lot."

"Greetings. My name is Gallako and this is my good friend Vralk."

"Vralk the MIGHTY. I am bestest dancer you have ever seen. Better than Applesauce!!"

"Be nice, Vralk!" Stali admonishes him. "Applesauce was probably never trained to dance, so that isn't really fair."

Greetings, salutations and hello! Do not be alarmed, concerned or afraid but rather amazed, astonished and astounded. For you find yourself in the company of the legendary, renowned and celebrated... GENERAL CHAK, scribe, scrivener and notary public!

Gallako just shakes his head at his friends antics :-).

"Really far away, even, but with a bit of a stop-over in Magnimar, like Stali said. Been around in the area a bit by Sanos Woods a few months back, and before that the bunch of us was over in Ilsurian visitin' a Carnival, even. No, we're not one of the attractions, honest."

"You sound like quite the travelers." He scratches his head. "But what brings you to Ravenmoor? Are you here for the bird watching, our upcoming festival or somewhat else?"

"Someone wants to watch us?" he asks, cluelessly.

"No, them." He points overhead at the conspiracy of ravens flying overhead. "Sometimes city folks trudge up here just to watch 'em and take notes. The birds have lots to feed on, 'cause of all the 'squitos round here."

He pauses. "Though truth to tell, if you all walk through town, there'll be plenty o t'other kind of bird watching too." He give you all a rueful look.

Hikaru looks up at the ravens... sighs and nods. "I see... well, we've gotten a bit used to that around here. The staring, that is."

"I believe you asked the purpose of our visit." Stali interjects. "We are looking for a fellow by the name of Elias Kyle. Short Ulfen fellow, has a shock of red hair. Have you by any chance seen or heard of him?"

---

"You had mentioned a festival. What sort of festival is it -- what is it celebrating?"

Shuffling her feet and feathers a bit at the uncomfortable notion of being watched. "I-I-I hope they don't watch us too much,"

"Festival? PAaaaaarrrrrrrttttyyyyyy!!!! They'll have PIE. And Bacon. Probably no clams, though. What kind of Pie do you make here?

Oh, and Ravens stupid. Not smart like Crow."

conspiracy of ravens

I admit that I've always preferred Unkindness of Ravens myself. Conspiracy is also cool. Constable is right out :-)

"Short, funny-looking redhead? Smashed nose?" Viorec asks. He frowns. "Saw him wandering around town few weeks ago at the last Founders Festival. Didn't get to talk to him much. Spent most of his time talkin' to the Mayor, but I heard from Ilya, who heard from Harac who heard from the Zevens brothers that he was some sort of tax collector."

Ornigaard grins up at Vralk. "We got all kinds a great food at the Festival! Better than pie!"

Viorec smiles. "We have our Founder's Festival once a month. At the full moon. You're welcome to join us tonight."

"We be there. Won't we? We can go, right? Right?"

"Yes Vralk, we'll go to the party. Even if we conclude our business before then we all need a night of relaxation"

Turning to Viorec:
"We'd be very happy to join you. Is there anything we should know about the Founder's Festival? We wouldn't like to accidentally insult people by wearing the wrong clothing, saying the wrong thing, etc"

Nodding his head, Stali replies "Yes, that sounds like him. No sight of him since the last festival?" Stali asks, sounding concerned.

"Could you perhaps direct us where we might find the mayor? What is their name?"