The elf will study her spells as well as get ready for the meeting with the jarl [ooc[ can one of the spells she studies be presditigation and she can use that to make her clothes and herself look fancy? [/ooc]
Kit moves back a little, towards a dark unoccupied corner... she'll try to tug Tony to go with her, but if he's unmovable, she'll go alone. if there's truly no one in the corner, she'll stand on the table there to have a good view of what's going on,
He waved down the pretty dwarven barmaid to get the total for their bill.
He waited to see what Anchard did with the offered coin, moving to pay for their drinks.
"Are we to help this poor man or no my friend?"
He asked simply looking...thoughtful. his wife had been talking children when she... when she had disapeared. He still wanted answers about that, but the temple to Wee Jas in the city had been silent on the matter.
Sensing Kithariel's unease, Antonio says, "Go on, little lady. Get yourself some cover."
He rises purposefully from his table and approaches the potential combatants. He keeps his weapons sheathed as a sign of his peaceful intent. "Listen up! My name's Antonio. I'm new here, but the way I understand things, you're not supposed to be here. Tonight is Bearclaw night. Leave peacefully, and I will buy you a round of drinks tomorrow night."
The man grabs Anchards hand and says enthusiastically "thankyou thankyou!" and then he scurries out the door to lead you to his house in town. Cerian pays for their drinks and follows the cleric out. Anchard collects his heal bag and sees that the woman in question is indeed in labor although there are complications.
Antonio stands and tries to get in between the two hostile groups. But most ignore his words.
The center of the room begins to clear out as other patrons know what will happen and move out of the way without being told. The Dragon fangs and Bearclaws each take to one side and that is when Antonio and Kithariel notice each of the men have a club or sap on their waist with their hands upon them.
Insults are hurled back and forth until the doors of the tavern are swung open and a broad shouldered warrior in polished mail and armed to the teeth steps in and walks over to the Bearclaws side pushing them back, which they reluctantly do. Another warrior steps in from the outside, and is larger than the others and armed with a large spiked warhammer moves over to the Dragonfang side and laughs at the sight.
The new Bearclaw's man chides the others and scolds them for disobeying Oskar's orders. The tall Dragonfang man continues his laugh and pushes his men from him as if making room around himself for a fight. The two newcomers speak in a hushed voice in the middle of the and that is heard is that they will settle this later and then the new Bearclaw motions for the other Bearclaws to leave the establishment. The possible fight is over, much to the disdain of some patrons, but much to the ease of the tavern owner.
Listening to the crowd Kithariel and Antonio hear the broad Bearclaw is called Ostr and he is a recent arrival to the fort and is a northern duelist banished for killing the wrong person and the tall Dragonfang is Valkin, rumored to be a savage killer and boasting he was hired by a northern family to extract a bloodfued on a person at the fort. They have been circling around each other for a few weeks now.
After both parties have left the building, Antonio says, "Yeah, you'd better run!" Having taken an interest in the blood feud, he waves the waitress over, hands her two more silver pieces, and says to her, "Send a runner to Jarl Borg's camp and let me know the next time Ostr and Valkin are about to come to blows." He holds up a gold piece. "Do as I say, and this will be yours."
"Well, Kithariel, have you had enough excitement for one afternoon? Should we head back and meet up with the others before dinner?"
Kit jumps off the table, and walks over to Antonio, hearing only the last of his exchange with the waitress... "Yes, enough excitement, I think. I expected them to come to blows. Shall we join the others at the Mountain Hearth or just return?"
"Let's go to the Mountain Hearth and all walk back together."
With a cold yet efficient execution the delivering Berlin's child is carried out flawlessly. The one and only situation concerning birth of a child that Anchard had ever remotely even considered during his training was the exact situation he had needed, and recalling the information as easy as if he had been reading it from a text book. With Cerian's assistance, the service provided was nearly the best one could hope for.
He could only smile, with as much as Anchard had ... voice annoyance with the request he certainly quickly and efficiently was able to help birth the child.
"Well done my friend, I dont think that could have went any smoother."
He removed his coin purse and counted out ten gold coins and handed them over to the new father.
"Accept this as the new childs birthing gift, I hope work returns to you swiftly."
He said handing the man 10 gold coins.
Antonio whistles a tune as he and Kithariel stroll to Mountain Hearth.
Anchard and Cerian make their way to the wheelwrights modest home and find a crowd of locals gathered around the home. Cries of a woman inside the home ring out. The group step in and see a pale looking women clutching the hand of a little girl as another women cools her forehead with a wet rag. Massive amounts of blood stain the sheets she is on. Anchard quickly goes to work with his heal kit and after a long and painful experience he manages to change the location of the baby inside the mother and bring the baby out while using some divine healing spells to ensure the mother and the baby make it through the ordeal. Wiping the sweat from his brow Anchard knows that without his assistance the mother and baby boy most likely would have perished.
Cerian gives the man his gift and the two of them walk out of the house to a throng of locals shaking their hands and endlessly thanking them.
Antonio and Kitherial find the Mountain Hearth but do not see their friends there. They do see a mob of people near the east gate of town and then see their friends surrounded by the crowd as the crowd cheers them on.
"Seems they found something different to do other than hang around an inn.. shall we go see what they've been up to?"
"Oh yeah! I hope this is interesting." Antonio walks with Kithariel toward the mob.
Kitherial and Antonio find Anchard and Cerian in good hands as the elf and priest leave the Ratik section back to the barn/hostel to meet the others.
The time to meet the Jarl of Highfrost comes and Jarl Borg gathers you all. He walks with you to the center compound in the fort and gets you past the guards standing watch at one of the gates. An elder man greets you outside of the main longhouse and says "My name is Jorrin. I run the estate for Jarl Ulfesson. Please leave all weapons out of the house. You may take a dagger in with you to use for supper if need be. There is no arguing this request." Jarl Borg looks at you all and nods in agreement. He hands over his sword, hand axe, and scramsax. A servant next to Jorrin takes the Jarls weapons and gently places them in a basket outside the house. He stands there and you believe he will stand there until the weapons are collected once you leave.
Kit reluctantly hands over her bow and quiver,having no other weapons to surrender. She gives a little wistful smile as her bow is stashed away and her fingers curl as if she was still holding it... she sighs... "I'm ready."
Anchard delivers his mace with no hesitancy. With a concerned curiosity he asks, Normal custom or is there a known threat to the Jarl's life?
Jorrin thinks for a brief second and then says "A bit of both I suppose."
The grey elf hands over her weapons.
He frowned only slightly at the thought of handing over his weapons, from what he had seen of this place fights happened all the time and he wasnt effectively with his fists at all... But he removed them, first his bow and then the arrows, then the falchion, and his hand axe and battle axe... and then he started to pull the dagger out of its sheath then paused.
"For dinner then?"
He asked as nonchelauntly as possible following the others.
Antonio shrugs and begins to disarm. He hands over a well-crafted earth breaker, then a handaxe. He keeps his dagger, but hands over ten chakrams, a crowbar, a folding chair, and a masterwork set of armor-smithing tools. He considers the rest of his inventory to be somewhat benign. "That's all of it, apart from myself and a dagger."
Jorrin leads you from the gate through the small courtyard. "The Ulfenssons have been in these lands for many years. They protect the people in the area and their success as a family is an indication of their favor from the gods. The local people respect that. They open their temple up to the fort if folks need a place to pray. I heard one among you is a priest. There is a need for a family priest if you decide to stay. All of the people around here are devout but guide-less right now. This is the temple of Kord and Lendor, gods of the family and most of the town. Some in town follow Jascar because of the mountainous regions or Phaulkon, even a few follow Llerg.... but we try to limit that sort of nonsense." Jorrin says pointing to the temple area to your left. "Even Lady Ulfensson follows Lydia. If you are lucky she may play the harp for you if dinner goes well and the Jarl is happy with you." he says leading you to the door.
"When you enter, men sit to the Jarls side while the women sit to the Lady's side. Higher ranking sit closer to the head table. I will let you all figure that out. Dont walk behind them. Announce your names and a greeting after I present you."
Jorrin then opens the door and announces you to the Jarl "My Lord I present to you Jarl Borg and his new companions." You see Jarl Borg bow just slightly to Jarl Ulfensson. The room you enter is a great dining hall with three dinging tables shaped in an upside down U. Jarl Ulfensson sits in the middle seat at the top of the U while his wife sits to his right and an older bearded man sits to his left.
"Thank you Borg my friend, you may take your leave." Jarl Ulfensson says and Jarl Borg turns and leaves.
Seraph of Jeromy, Anchard Wulfphear. Anchard announced and obliged the formality with a courteous bow and quickly followed the directions to his place at the table.
"Kithariel of clan Eldravin" Kit says, avoiding offering her nickname and courtesies as well as she can without benefit of proper skirts and such. She walks to the lady's side of the table, and takes a seat not too far, but not too close to the lady, indicating, she hopes, that she has some rank, but not a high one.
I am the Lady Tanariel Lantherian, of Celene and apprentice to Her Fey Majesty, Queen Yolande, Perfect Flower of Celene, Lady Rhalta of All Elvenkind she says with a nod.
"My place at the table?" muses Antonio. "What is that? I am the strongest, but this is not my quest."
He bows awkwardly to the jarl and his lady. "My name is Antonio Albrecht Armiger. May your, uh, strength never fail you, Jarl Ulfensson."
He finds himself a seat furthest from the jarl on the men's side of the table.
He frowned watching the others place themselves about the table. He had expected of course the high lady to sit very close to the head of the table, but truthfully for the large armored man's boasting he had expected Antonio to sit close to the Jarl. It put him in an awkward spot. How did these people view elves? Did they understand the difference between a high elf and a grey elf, or even more so a wood elf like himself? He moved and sat immediately beside Anchard, just to put him closer to the Jarl. After all one who had the favor of any god was liable to be seen as more worthy than a humble thief catcher and woodland ranger.
"Greetings Jarl, I am Cerian Screamingtrees, Wood elven tracker and ranger of the Phostwoods. You do me great honor to have a place at your table."
He began clenching his hand into a fist and tapping his chest near his heart twice. He then took his seat.
"Well met and sit, I am Jarl Worrik Ulfensson and this is my wife Lady Tessa. I have only heard what I can believe to be rumors of your coming here. People say that you intend to overthrow my authority here... or that you are in league with demons... or my personal favorite that you are an invading force from the Great Kingdom... now you cant be all those things at once so please tell me, who are you all and why are you here in my lands? Who speaks for you all?"
Jarl Ulfensson, being of northern barbarian stock, is clean shaven much like the Ratik men do to show they are civilized. Lady Tessa, being a Ratik woman has her hair braided in the northern barbarian fashion. It appears this was not a marriage of convenience as both have chosen fashions of the others culture.
KIth notices the fashions of the lord and lady, and lofts a brow as their significance comes clear to her. Not sitting near anyone she knows, she turns to the lady next to her and remarks, "They make a fine couple don't they, your lord and lady, that is. Very handsome indeed. I love their modes of dress and customs! But I wonder why he thinks we are here to bring harm.. that is so not true!"
Antonio sits casually in his seat and listens to what the jarl has to say, then he looks to Tanariel, expecting her to speak for the party.
perception
diplomacy
No Jarl, those rumors are not true. We are not in league with the tana'ri nor are we here to take your throne. Nor are we here to invade or conquer your lands. she says with a friendly smile.
"I did not think so since Borg is a good judge of character." he says and you notice he does not say Jarl Borg when he refers to the man.
"So how did you all come to be in these lands. The Iron Boars swear you all flew in on the wings of angels, or what was the other thing that man said?" he says turning to his wife.
She responds with "I believe he said the newcomers came down from Kords beard." in a sweet voice and smiles while looking over Tanariel and Kithariel.
"Ah yes, Kords beard... Indeed... as if elves would associate with Kord... but Kord would with some of them...HA! HA!" he says laughing at his own joke like a northern barbarian until his wife jabs him with her elbow. He then recomposes himself and calls for wine and mead to be served followed by meat and potatoes.
The grey elf will eat only the vegetables that are offered.
Antonio gorges himself on meat and potatoes and swills mead as if he were a ravenous reveler partying with the gods in Valhalla.
Mogwag is just Mogwag. says the half orc
What we do in your land is rather simple.We are looking for a man named Ragmas the scholar. As to the manner of our transportation Mogwag can tell you that magic allowed us to travel the great distance
"Most of us have some degree of experience in slaying orcs and their kind, In my case my last mission for our employer saw me leading a team in the haressment of a large orc warparty. Helping those men with the orcs they battled was a matter of course we are no angels."
He began letting Mogwag explain their reasoning to be here. He had a feeling that at somepoint and soon perhaps this Jarl was going to ask something of them, and while he wasnt against the idea of helping anyone... they did have a mission to get to.
The bearded man sitting to the left of the Jarl picks his head up at the mention of Ragmas the Scholar. He quickly turns to call for a servant and asks for more wine trying to hide his reaction, but rather badly.
Jarl Ulfensson eats and listens to Cerian and Mogwag expain their purpose in the lands. "Sounds like quite a battle. We hear open warfare is starting across the lands. Why news reached us that the lands of Tenh had been invaded. Not that that bothers us any them being Tenhs and all but it does give us pause for our borders. Ragmas you say... why I believe there was a funny fellow named that that past through here a while ago. Conrad, you would know better- was that sneezing man named Ragmas?" the Jarl asks the bearded man.
"I believe it was Lord. Nice man. So please tell me of what is happening in the lands from where you came?" Conrad asks.
The flames of war have been lit. War in the Pomarj, war in the frozen waist of the north, War soon in Tenh and Ratik. War in the Stonefist land. he replied with a stone face
The elf agrees with Mogwag and will relate the experience of the other group.
"You sound like brave and hardy souls no doubt." the Jarl says to the group. "Who are your employers? And why do they seek this book-reader?"
Other book readermogwag smiles While mogwag doesn't know for sure mogwag thinks that they wish certain things do not disappear in the flames of war
As the dinner progresses the Jarl asks Antonio "You seem like a fine warrior. What is your method of fighting? Where did you train? Have you fought in any wars?" asking as a professional would ask another out of general curiosity.
Conrad asks Tanariel "I hear you are skilled in the arcane arts. Where did you study? What is your specialty? I have learned most fey-kin like yourself favor the enchantment arts of magic."
Lady Tessa asks Anchard and Mogwag "Your trappings bear religious influence. If I may ask, to what gods do you pray? What areas do they cover? I heard you helped the wheelwright family. You have my thanks."
After speaking with Antonio the Jarl says to the two archers "I have been told elves are skilled with the bow. I see you two carry those weapons as well. We northmen up here use the bow mainly for hunting purposes but sometimes we see them on the battlefield. Very useful for fighting giants when coupled with spears. Do you have skill with blade?"
" I have training with axe and dagger and some skill with a greatblade.... but I would prefer the bow. Perhaps a demonstration later Jarl?"
He asked and responded politely. He had a feeling that the culture here still preferred melee over ranged combat no matter how much skill he might show.
The grey elf responds to Conrad. I studied the arcane arts, as befits my station at home, at the foot of Her Fey Majesty and her court. We elven wizards are known for our ability to study any of the schools of magic and we have specialists among all of the various disciplines of magic. Myself, I have studied the schools of enchantment and illusion as well. It can be a much more passive use of the arcane arts, but that does not mean that i do not have access to spells which can inflict bodily harm