the servant? Of who?
"Servant?" - Aldiran asks, adding - "How are you feeling?"
With a million questions burning in her head, still the woman decides to take things easy, after what these fey have been through.
"Take the ice into your hearts . . .. Very evocative. What manner of things are trying to get you to become cold and closed to your world?"
"Why would they try so hard to get you to defy your courts? And what is this taking the ice into your hearts?"
The look on his face says he's unsure if that's a literal or figurative form of speech.
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The witches take a shard of ice and slip it into your heart to take away your ability to be loyal to any but them. The Queens know but because of a promise can not touch the witches. They grow angier by the hour. Queens wrath is a bad thing. And because the white queen is in the process of breaking the covenant with The Queens. If she succeeds they will likely destroy this world. She is just to stupid to know this. The little figure has gotten up and is hobbling around as he speaks. Imagine a garden gnome..
We asked the Shadow Man for help and he gave it. We are grateful.
Aldiran shakes her head at the whole affair - "Ok, let me wrap my head around this... Who are these witches you are talking about? And is this something they usually do, enslave free wills?" - behind her hood, the womans' eyes seem to flash for a moment - "The Queen of the Fey are aware of this, but cannot do anything - why is that? Why can't they react?"
Pushing back her cowl, Aldiran shakes her hair, a somber look on her face - "Look, we came here to find a woman who has been kidnapped but... Please explain this to us with detail - maybe you can help us, and we can offer our assistance to you?"
There seems to be sincerity in Aldirans' words, but there isn't a single hint of a smile in her face, hard as always she continues - "The Queesn grow angrier by the hour - is this because they cannot do anything against the Witches or for some other reason? You tell us the White Queen is breaking the Covenant with the other Queens - this White Queen, is she a fey that has somehow turned hostile towards the other queens? Is she in league with the Witches? Please explain again, I am listening"
Then before the little creature can continue, she interjects - "And who is the Shadow Man? Is he a human or fey? Why and what assistance did you request from him?"
The woman stares with intensity at the fey, in expectation.
Dorvren watches the storm waiting for it to lessen enough to venture back and collect the breastplate, if not enough to move forward. As they wait he puts on his cold weather gear.
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The fey shakes his head. The Winter Touched. The Shadow Man was with you.... and Queens plural. They made a pact with some one.... With the queen witch. Others under her are abusing it. But because they don't touch court Fey the Queens can do nothing. The White queen is the Witch queens scion. He speaks very slowly as if amazed you don't know this to him common knowledge.
"So, simply put, our man saved you; a pact was made with someone more powerful and those that serve that powerful entity are abusing the agreement and putting you all in danger. Your queens are trying to abide by this agreement and thus can offer you no aid without breaking the agreement. So you're having to fend for yourselves basically?"
He waits for confirmation that he correctly understands before continuing. "The fey wouldn't be responsible for an accident that befell that carriage back a ways, would they?"
"It would match the handprints frozen in some of the victims' flesh. It seems it is just so."
Dorvren gives up with the storm and sees to his wounds
yippee
me!
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When you guys wake the storm has finally blown over. The fey are starting to get restless. After a few moments of work you manage to dig your way out of the shelter there in the clearing is the hanging tree frozen in a block of ice in midexplosion. Laying on the ground at the bottom of the mostly exploded tree is a shapeless white hat, a razor, a mw chainshirt, and a pair of hobnailed boots. Other than these items there is no sign of Mier.one of the fey walks over and carefully skirting around the steel and iron items picks up the hat and walks back.
This was our gift to Shadow Man his payment he never bonded it perhaps one of you might.... I suggest it go to one who favors close combat.... With that he hands Grim the shapeless snow white hat.
Aldiran shakes her head, confused by the outcome of this whole ordeal - "We are not off for a good start on this one..." - she comments.
Turning to the fey, she inquires - "I imagine we would not be allowed an audience with your Queen, correct? We are interested in what is so dramatically affecting the weather in the region, as it is harming the nearby human population... And, as we said before, we are interested in finding any survivors from that carriage wreck back there... Do you know anything about it?"
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We do not serve the Queens we are Wild Fey not court Fey ahould the Queens go to war on this world then we will serve according to our natures but for now we are free. And no we lilived near the town and on the outlying farms mostly before we were taken. The only thing we know is this looks like the work of the witch queen.
Well that is what happens when you are foolish. Dorvren gathers up the gear. Grimglsi Do you have use for this armor?
Out of the snow comes a figure dressed in furs, though her shoulders are left bare. Her facial structure and hair mark her as one of Qadiran descent though somehow she looks like something more than human.
"Good, I see that you are well. The town sent me after the storm had passed, hoping you would be ok." Those that had been in Heldren for at least a few weeks would have probably seen her around the temple of Erastil where she assisted both the priest and his wife in return for the lodging they had offered her. She never carried the polearm she used to help thread the snow while in town though.
Alex nods, giving a slight smirk, as he shrugs in agreement. It seems like a silent way of saying the fey have a good point.
almost as foolish as being hung in a trwe to die then not beong appreciative of the one who saved you. But as for him he should have come indide.
there is no emotion in his voice...as if he is stating facts
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The little feys voice rises. We were appreciative til you accused us of being foolish. We are what our natures make us a brownie can no more avoid helping his fsrm than the sun can help rise. A nooker will help with shoes and such sure as the tide. As he speaks the brownie's face grows more and more skull like as he gives into his anger he also grows larger by the time he begins yelling their are cries of Boggart arising from the rest of the fey who tackle him and yell at him to keep calm. He is borne under the tide of smaller fey as he finishes his speech. There are also cries for the "stupid lunker to apologize before they lose him." He is now about the size of a halfling.
Say what you will. I made no accusation of you being foolish. My former companion was foolish. Do what you wish now, if you insist on raging and wish to fight then so be it, though in that case I will have to consider you foolish.
Dorvren moves away a bit and prepares himself to fight if it comes to that.
It would seem a shame to battle, but if that is what you wish then that is what we shall do.
Again no emotion, just the facts as he sees them.
Dorvren inclines his head to the newcomer. We are alright. Though one of our company got himself blown to bits. We rescued these fey, though they seem to be upset and a bit irrational. Though they have suffered a trauma so perhaps it is to be expected.
i will not be bullied. If he kills me so be it. That will teach me to help one of the fey. I have no desire to fight so let my death or his be on your souls, if fey have them I am not familair with your kind.
Dorvren pops in the cold iron clip and readies a shot.
Alex clears his throat after a moment. "Whether there was foolishness or not, my traveling companion meant no harm, and certainly doesn't wish to cause any additional harm. We're quite sorry how the comment came across and hope that we can begin again fresh, on neutral footing. This time in a more cordial way, as you fine individuals are likely much more experienced in the ways of this land than we are?"
His smile seems genuine, and his words seem to come out just quick enough to try and calm matters down. "Maybe a song would be in order, to calm our moods?"
Alex puts himself between the pair of individuals.
Alex speaks wisely. If your friend wishes to relax and speak I am sure we can hash out where insults were given. But as I said, bowing to threat of violence is not a rational thing to do.
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The Nooker looks at you agog. Yer a dam fool. And yer death would only be on yer head. And as for The Shadow Man who ye think dead he isn't he was taken and knew he would be he stayed out to save yer sorry skin from her. And yet ye go around calling people and little people fools with no evidence. I have half a mind to curse ye myself. You think yer fancy toy means something well it don't. Not even with the bitter iron ye have init. At this juncture the rest of the fey have managed to club the brownie into unconsciousness. And another one that looks like a tiny old woman speaks up. Ta think you insulted the one who was for rewardin the lot of ya with more than jus answerin your questions. She shakes her head and continues. And all the rest of us too. Because you think you can judge what you don't know or understand. That is the path of a true fool and I hope ya don't wander to far down it. Daughter's lets be about our business then back to the farms. The mortals need us to survive the damage done to their homes and crops. Brownies you will work all the farms on the frozen side not jus yers. Nookers se to the roofs and walls before ye head back to the town. And daughters bless the babes and animals. But first these mortals reward....
The Old woman and several more who she has apparently claimed as daughters though they look just as old go and circle round Alex chanting then touch him. What do you do?
Alex just stands there, weapon at his side, sheathed. "I mean no harm, nor to judge in any way. I simply spoke that we all are under a great deal of stress and that our group has not helped this situation. I am sure there is some necessary restitution?"
The bard seems fairly calm.
You may speak how ever you wish. A rusty gear does not work with force. It must be oiled, not beaten. Curse me if you wish. Ignore your companion's actions if you wish. That is your right and your decision. But at least two of you live today due to my actions in healing them and how ever many more due to the shelter that I assisted in constructing. But my companions had little to do with this argument. I have no desire for a reward from an ungrateful creature. Curse me if you wish, threaten me if you wish. Attack me if you wish. But I am through listening to your lack of logic. If one of you wishes to speak with me in a rational way I will be making my way back to recover our other gear, which we were foolish to leave behind.
Dorvren leaves the spat behind and makes his way back see if the breastplate remains.
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Sush unlike you I'm not a fool nor will I keep an argument going. Your in the wrong and you know it but refuse to admit it not that Sullivan was much more right. But we are fey we move according to our natures unlike you mortals with your fancy free will. I'll not let the nookers cruse you that every tool will turn in your hand and break unless you fail to keep your mouth shut. A fiting curse for a servant of a tool maker no? But we shall not reward you without you apologizing for your foolishness. We are fey and while limited we might be mortal we are proud. No keep your mouth shut and let us get on with our work. They repeat their dance around each person even Bayira in a display of generosity. With the execption of Dorvren who they dutifully keep the nookers away from. They then gather together bow to each party member execpt again Dorvren and depart.
Each who received the dance may reroll one die once per day and take the better results.
leave it mini you can get it when you take the noble woman from the woods...
Morrigan sat in the structure after the others had begun to pile out of it. She was locked in a near-trance with her raven, the two staring unblinkingly at each other as they sat motionless. The sounds of arguing intruded and after a few more minutes the woman broke the connection with a sigh. "Now what." she growled, gathered her furs about her and ducked out of the shelter to find the fey dancing about, Dorvren stalking away, and Bayira standing nearby. She nodded to the other woman from the town as the fey gathered around.