Marcus follows Raven and the others deep into the forest, their laboured breathing and the crump crump crump of their feet the only sounds.
"What brought you all the way out here Raven?", said Marcus realising he was whispering.
When Raven shows them the tree Marcus's heart sinks, thinking 'Finding tracks on a bed of frost encrusted pine needles is going to be hard...'
Aerflae looks for signs as well. With the winds howling, tracks will likely be difficult to find. As he moves through the forest, he keeps his bow ready, despite no obvious signs of danger yet.
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Marcus follows Raven and the others deep into the forest, their laboured breathing and the crump crump crump of their feet the only sounds.
"What brought you all the way out here Raven?", said Marcus realising he was whispering.
When Raven shows them the tree Marcus's heart sinks, thinking 'Finding tracks on a bed of frost encrusted pine needles is going to be hard...'
[dice=Survival]1d20-1
Faerin drops into a crouch, studying the tracks intently.
For long minutes, Marcus straines to see any prints or marks on the pine needle strewn floor, but to no avail
Feeling the need to get a pebble out of his boot, he leans on the tree and calls out in surprise, "Oh! Look at this, I may have found something." He points out the scrape marks so everyone can see.
Hearing a few heading out, and really preferring being outside in the wild, she quickly joins the group at the back.
When Raven points out the barely visible tracks, she looks at the tracks and surroundings for any other signs.
"Based on the size I would guess more goblins" Faerin says looking at the path, "Armored, so probably armed as well."
"That's not good." Aerflae frowns. "We need to get a visual confirmation simply to ensure we're not attacking some hapless group of gnomes or other less hostile creatures."
"Well we are just going to have to climb up there and take a look see." laughs Marcus nervously. 'Oh gosh, I'm afraid of nights, this will end badly...
'
Marcus gulps and shakes his head thinking, 'I have to do this, I have to do this!'
He starts climbing, and at first he's clearly terrified and clinging on too tightly but low and behold he doesn't fall - the tree has many easy hand holds and branches. Little by little he relaxes and remembers there's a job to do and he starts searching for clues.
He calls down, "This is a sturdy tree, room for more up here!"
While Kitao can hold his own, he is not a man of the wilderness like the others he was a noble and he would see that their newly "acquired" place of operations was decent as he finds himself busy trying to order things in some way or another, then again this is all foreign and while he can make sense of most things, the layout of gaijin homes is different and this forsaken place he has landed made it no easier, yet he would not give up on this endeavor, the fire most be up and the food made.
Seeing Marcus being nervous and terrified, Ihar'ryathlas decides to follow him up the tree. She has no issue in climbing up trees, often she would be up trees to rest and to survey her surroundings. Enjoying the sounds of birds and other tree creatures going about their daily business. Being able to mutate slightly to be able to climb up and down structures safer and faster than normal elves and humanoids gave her advantages in locating safe resting and scouting spots in more risky areas. Though this tree they were climbing was rather easy without needing to alter form from her current hybrid form.
Where needed she gave Marcus a helpful push.
Once near the top of tree she looks around.
Aerflae keeps an eye on the ground, so to speak, making sure nothing sneaks up on the tree while the others climb upwards.
The trees didn't help my family...perhaps we can find a fire or something to identify where they are.
As she surveys the terrains concern appears as she spots the village. "Marcus, let us get down quickly."
She climbs down the tree, and once at the bottom turns to face the rest, speaking, "This tree provides excellent vantage to viewing the village."
Pausing briefly as the looks at the barely visible foot prints and scruff mark, "I could try to pick up a scent to see where they were heading or came from. Perhaps we regroup before following the scent if one exists."
"That would be a good idea, Ihar'ryathlas. Any idea who lives in the village?"
Aerflae looks very unhappy about the idea of a village being burned to the ground simply by being unaware.
After climbing down with a minimum of bumps and splinters, Marcus dusts himself off and says, "Well we'll have to go and warn them, whoever they are."
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[dice=Knowledge Geography (LocalVillages/Civilization)]1d20+8
You realize that it's the same small town you came from. By whatever quirks of the terrain, the tree provides an excellent view of the village and all the roads leading to it from both the forest and the mountains. If anybody wanted to invade the town, this view would give them a supreme tactical advantage.
Marcus nods at Raven saying, "Seems we are in agreement. Lets get going while the light and the weather holds out."
Marcus starts walking but suddenly he stops, "Wait. What's that?"
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[dice=Perception]1d20+4
Marcus nods at Raven saying, "Seems we are in agreement. Lets get going while the light and the weather holds out."
Marcus starts walking but suddenly he stops, "Wait. What's that?"
"We've got incoming goblins, a full squad!", Marcus hisses as he snatches up his bow.
Marcus's eyes narrow as he spies their apparent leader, some kind of shaman judging by the crude fetishes. Without realizing it, he lets slip his control over the sight and gazes into the shaman's soul...
"Where?
Aerflae sees nothing but turns the direction Marcus indicates, taking a step back and knocking an arrow. The sun in his eyes through the treetops, he has difficulty seeing anything at the moment.
Being the healer of the group, Ihar'ryathlas will fall in behind the paladin readying her scimitar.
Faerin puts an arrow to her bowstring as the group makes it's way back to the tree, eyes alert for the first goblin to enter her field of sight.
After finishing her exercises, Anwyn moves to help the strange man prepare the common area for arrival. Not aware of the fact he knew the Sylvan tongue (as in her own experience only elves and other nature races knew the language), she communicated via simple pantomimes.
More than once, the warrior notes the elvish woman eying him with a speculative look in her eyes.
Kitao seems to ignore the oni-like woman even when he notices her looking at him, as he has certain things to do first, like this new holdings maintenance "Do gaijin not come with their heimin to serve them, this must be a someone undeveloped place as strange and wild as it is" Kitao thinks to himself.
Once done with the cleaning and satisfied with the results he makes sure the fire is bright and the food is being made decently enough, but he is more worried over other things "I must cleanse myself through contemplation" as he goes to his backpack and begins a methodical but ceremoniously procession of placing first a tatami mat, then finds himself some sort of table or something low enough to be one. then proceeds to place his folding stool on the other side of the table as if expecting company that required no invitation but just to sit, once done he begins to brew some tea and gather some food for two plates which he places in front of the stool and tatami mat, taking a moment to look at the oni-like woman and stare at her as if waiting for her to sit before continuing this ceremony like procession.
While she was not familiar with this strange man's customs, she knew an invitation when she saw one. Nodding in acceptance, she gracefully sat down on the mat provided to her mimicking his sitting style as best she could. Still not sure what the ceremony consisted of, she paused for a moment waiting for the man to continue.
Kitao nods and goes and sets the tea cups in front of their seats and puts some water to boil for the tea.
Kitao speaks in the Trade Tongue "Thank you for assisting me in such a menial task more befitting of heimin than ourselves" as he pauses to bring the boiling water and add the tea "I must educate someone at least of these miserable gaijin" as he smiles at her and purs her the cup first "normally we exchange some for of nice commentaries during a tea ceremony, for which I don't know if you are familiar with" as he is patient with the ignorant gaijin, but it was to be expected.
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Though he uses a broken form of language, she is able to pick up the gist of his words though some of them escaped meaning. Still, his mannerisms were comforting in a way. It reminded her of some of the times she had spent with her mother Solvistania and her father on those rare occasions the three had dined together. How she wanted to see them again!
"You are welcome my...Lord." She replies in a steady voice also in the Traders tongue. "You are one of great honor and you do me honor by sharing your culture with me." She then sips the tea. She found surprisingly delicious. This one has many talents, I can see that now.
"You mistake me for something bigger, I am son to the Boar Clan daimyo, but I am no lord. I am a bushi in the service of the Emperor and my Daimyo." as Kitao can't help notice she doesn't speak the common gaijin tongue "Maybe if I speak to her in the tongue of the wood kami or the tongue of the acenstors." so Kitao proceeds to repeat himself in celestial and sylvan, to see what's the result.
"Wait stop Raven! That's a follower of Bane... Ah the crazy fool!", bellows Marcus. Faster than thought his bow is nooked, arrow drawn to the ear. Ruefully he muses, 'Being outmatched I had thought to run, but now that would be dishonorable.'
Taking careful aim at the Baneite shaman, Marcus mutters a prayer, "Lord Torm, Help me make Raven's sacrifice mean something! Lend me your judgement!"
A look of surprise shows on Anwyn's face as she realized he knew the Sylvan tongue. Very talented indeed...
She responds to him in Sylvan, "You are a bushi? Is that similar to a protector to your Emperor? What are you doing so far away from your Lord's lands?"
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"Wait stop Raven! That's a follower of Bane... Ah the crazy fool!", bellows Marcus. Faster than thought his bow is nooked, arrow drawn to the ear. Ruefully he muses, 'Being outmatched I had thought to run, but now that would be dishonorable.'
Taking careful aim at the Baneite shaman, Marcus mutters a prayer, "Lord Torm, Help me make Raven's sacrifice mean something! Lend me your judgement!"
[dice=Standard Attack, Smite]1d20+3+1 [dice=Damage]1d8+1
Kitao takes a deep breath and responds in sylvan A bushi is a social caste as dictated by the mandates of heaven, and a bushi is a warrior dedicated to perfect every pursuit in life, like sword fighting, archery, horsemanship, painting, poetry, or anything we choose. For not everything is war, we must also know how to make peace and perfect our pursuits for this will purify our selves and our souls by bringing beauty in to our lives and that of others, for war tarnishes it. Yet that is the path of the bushi and my clan way to serve the emperor, the path of war, and we take pleasure in this kind of moments as they are the few that bring peace and calm to our tattered souls" as he waits for her to sip first before he does "Normally during a tea ceremony the host drinks after the guest" which he looks at her with a small grin "I am quite thirsty by the way"
Anwyn nods, "The bushi sound a lot like the Shadarim, who are a caste unto themselves. We are sent to perform our duties as instructed by...those we serve. Quite a burden it must be to serve your Lord in all forms of battle. True war does tarnish things, where I am from war has been the constant state since long before my birth. I do not see it changing anytime soon." She takes another sip of the tea. "This is quite delicious. My thanks to you again."
Continuing the conversation in sylvan "You misunderstand, war is an art and form of life that you must perfect, what tarnishes you is the defilement of your sword and your art when taking a life, but it is a necessity. Some of us chose our path of war rather than the arts. While I do serve the Emperor, there are many steps within the bushi, even tho we are still equal, a bushi of a great clan is more respected then one of a minor clan as my self for his family, not that he could be actually a better man." as he stands proudly We war against all form of dark creatures to keep our Empire pure, but clans do go to war over insults and slights, I would rather fight a thousand battles then a week in the courts, those are more dangerous and sinister" as he shudders for a second "So you are here to further your... lord's goals?" as Kitao nods in approval "That is very honorable, for any creature, even a rat can have courage, but honor is that what you have to do what you must even when no one is guiding you, amongst other things, of course honor has many ways and paths everyone different and all the same" as he continues to sip his tea "I am grateful for your company ehmm..." as he looks at her inquisitive "I apologize as he bows deeply I do not recall your name, it is a serious breach of etiquette forgive me" refusing to raise again until forgiven.
Aerflae, seeing the Goblins as Marcus fires, Aerflae takes up his bow as well, firing at the one appearing to be the shaman Marcus speaks about.
Following that, he begins moving further away, towards the village, intending for a 'fighting retreat.'
"Marcus! Let Raven Be! If we die here, the village will be caught unaware and more will die!"
Aerflae's words speak heavily, as the Wizard's normally worn face is genuinely angry and sad at the same time.
Picking the same target, Faerin lets fly with an arrow of her own, already moving with the group as she fits another to the bowstring.
"Yes. Keep moving!"
Anwyn motions for him to rise. "There is no need to beg forgiveness from me. We just have not been formally introduced yet. Need I remind you, you were knocked out cold before we had the chance." She offers her hand to him, "I do not stand on formality with my friends. Call me Anwyn."
Kitao raises and nods to her "I am Kitao of the Heichi of the Empire of Wa, and I am honored to meet you Anwyn" as he probably has garbled her name and pronounced somewhat of and wrong "I will practice" says a bit ashamed but resolute in perfecting his pronunciation "What brings you here?"
As the others begin moving back she moves back with them, preparing herself to unleash a lightning discharge if the goblins get too close to them. Primary taking aim at the shaman.
If Anwyn is upset about the mispronunciation of her name, she gives no indication of such. "To be honest Kitao, I am not sure how I arrived here. I do remember running from the Dark One's forces, and through a strange arch...but little else. I believe Mother told me of such places. Gates or Portals she called them." She shakes her head. I can tell you little more than that."