"I am going to stay here and start preparing the meat and the new campsite. Tell my wife and my assistants to meet me there."
While the others are at the beach, Garrak goes about removing the edible bits from the ants, then the elk. He saves the chitin and the elk pelt for later use and sets aside the meat for his wife to cook, as he is a poor one.
In the remaining time he will more closely scout the area immediately around the campsite and start gathering wood for campfires.
Gair lowers his axe as the second ant falls, moving forward to examine the bodies.
He nods at Vallen's mention of armor, holding his arm in relation to the thorax, "Indeed, durable shields as well. We'll set the chitin aside and properly clean it later."
The kellid looks at Ben with slight confusion, "Surely these people would not be so foolish as to taint our source of fresh water? Such things are to be treated with respect."
Trusting to the others to bring the settlers to this far superior camp site, Gair elects to stay with Garrak, calling to Ben as he he departs, "Be sure to send my son to me once you arrive. Return swiftly, there is much to do."
While the half-orc begins butchering the three kills, Gair harvests a collection of branches from nearby trees, fashioning them into racks from which to hang the meat.
He sniffs at the somewhat slimy ant meat tentatively, "Not the best we could hope for but it should keep hunger at bay. We would be best to smoke some for the trip to the Harpy."
Once the butchering is done and the hide and chitin mostly cleaned, Gair assists with scouting the nearby area, looking for sign of other game that frequent the spring?
Cueta slaps Vallen on the back and lets out her best Ijo war whoop. "That was glorious, good priest! You were favored on the hunt today!"
She then takes the rope from her backpack, ties one end around the pack, throws the other end around a tree branch, and winches her pack ten feet into the air, before tying the rope to the base of the tree. I'll need to leave the pack to carry Deeshka. She then hides her bill and bow in the brush nearby.
Commanding Watcher to "stay", the Mwangi woman then makes her way back to the beach with Vallen, Kal'Tos and Ben, talking with Vallen about Deeshka on the way.
Arriving at the camp, Cueta calls out, "safety and good food awaits up the river! Come feast and hear the tale of the exploding ant!"
Next, Cueta makes her way to the Lillend, and speaks with the captain. Good captain, as you know I was part of the crew on the Pegasus, and had hoped to sail back with you, but I don't think my friend can make it on the journey, as she's been injured and sick since the kraken attack. I'm afraid I need to stay here and shepard her back to health. I'd like to extend an invitation to you and the crew on behalf of my new friends to join us for a feast of elk and foraged goods - fill your bellies tonight and celebrate the luck and skill and that have seen us all still alive on this journey.
Cueta then heads over to the halfling encampment and thanks Ben's family for their help. "But I must ask you for assistance once again - we have a great feast to prepare and we couldn't do it without the help of the best cooks in this strange land."
Cueta promises a group of colonists free use of her carpentry tools when she doesn't need them if they will help carry her chest and supplies to the feast.
Hunching over and draping Deeshka over her back, she then makes her way back up the river, making sure to end up near Ingwe on the walk. She starts off regaling him of the tale of the exploding ant, and then segues into some questions that have been on her mind.
"Mwangi like you and I are rare to find on northern ships, not in chains. How did you make your way onto the Lillend?"
"What were your hopes for the colony, and for yourself, when this journey started?"
"I notice that you wear the gris-gris of a houngan. Do you worship the southern spirits? Can you tend to the spiritual needs of these people?"
As Garrak and Gair begin butchering the kills and preparing them, the others set off.
Ben, Vallen, Kal'Tos and Cueta find the group at the beach somewhat dispirited. The halfling children (as well as a couple of human kids that they have joined up with) seem to be the only ones immune to the general depression, running up and down the beach, excitedly, chasing the small waves that lap the shore, and skipping stones on the ponds.
The Thayers seem content, having set up a rather large tent with the help of a handful of young men who have a lean and hungry look.
Ingwe is making quite a fuss about nursing Deeshka, and though she does seem somewhat improved, fresh air and clean water could also be the culprits.
In general, people seem quite cheered by the idea of fresh meat, and at least half are ready to set off immediately. The other half seem eager to eat, but have to be persuaded to leave the beach, and the sailors, also happy to be fed, don't wish to move the ship, and plan to return after the feast. Aside from a few very rough shelters made of driftwood and sailcloth, nothing much seems to have gotten done except by the Thayers.
Cueta keeps an eye out at the Thayers' tent hoping to catch a moment when they are either not at the tent or inside it. If such an opportunity presents itself, she saunters over to the young man who looks the most physically imposing. "Greetings. Obviously, this tent belongs to a powerful and wealthy individual. What did you do back home to amass such a reputation?"
Cueta then heads over to the halfling encampment and thanks Ben's family for their help. "But I must ask you for assistance once again - we have a great feast to prepare and we couldn't do it without the help of the best cooks in this strange land.
Ben Grimaces when Cueta asks them to help cook. You are not turning Gwenydd and Shalla into the settlement cooks. We will help and direct things but you have to make sure some of those bigguns do the heavy lifting.
Ben lets Cueta, Vallen, and Kal'Tos deal with the listless colonist. He stays with his family and helps them pack up their belongings. Gwenydd my love, i can't wait to see what you do with the giant ants we killed He says as they are packing. He laughs at the disbelieving looks on their faces and tells them the whole story.
Do you think you could get a hold of several large peices of that sail cloth? He asks Walton as they are preparing to leave It would make building a shelter at the new campsite a lot easier.
After getting their hands on a couple good sized peices of sail cloth. The halflings set out for the new campsite. They walk along the edge of the woods and keep an eye out for any wild herbs that can be used to season the venison.
When they get the new campsite Gwenydd, and Shalla go to take charge of cooking. Ben works on building a shelter for the family while Walton watches the children.
Ben uses the rope in his pack, the sailcloth, and sticks whittled into stakes to build a shelter at the base of one of the trees not far from the spring. He puts down a bed of leaves to cushion the ground in the shelter and spreads the families bedding ontop.
Ben Grimaces when Cueta asks them to help cook. You are not turning Gwenydd and Shalla into the settlement cooks. We will help and direct things but you have to make sure some of those bigguns do the heavy lifting.
Cueta looks quizzically at Ben, tilts her head and squints."Mi bedaŭras, se mi ofendis vin, Ben. Mi aŭdis la rakontojn de la Sandlock familio prenante sur la sxipo de la Lillend. Ke via familio prenus sur la sxipo sur la Lillend kaj nun ofendigxos pro la penso de la preparado de okazigo festeno estas konfuza al mi. Mi supozis, ke via familio ĝuis fari la laboron, kiun ili faras. Mi neniam intencis "devigi" al iu ajn fari ion. Ĉiuj devus esti liberaj por fari kion ili volas en ĉi mondo, kaj neniu devus esti devigita sklavigas. Mi certigas vin, ke mi volis diri sen ofendo."
"I'm sorry if I offended you, Ben. I heard the stories of the Sandlock family taking over the galley of the Lillend. That your family would take over the galley on the Lillend and now be offended at the thought of preparing a celebratory feast is confusing to me. I assumed that your family enjoyed doing the work that they do. I never intended to "turn" anyone to do anything. Everyone should be free to do what they want in this world, and no one should be forced into bondage. I assure you that I meant no offense."
Cueta bows to Ben and goes to find Deeshka.
Ben follows Cueta. Cueta. You miss understand me. We were gone for hours and few of them did anything to deal with to improve their situation. I don't want these people coming to assume that we will always do this for them. We took over the galley on the Lillend because we like good food and the only way to make sure the food on the ship was good was to make it ourselves. Do you know how much work cooking for over a hundred people is? Do you think my Gwen and Shalla could do it on their own? They can't but halflings are easily forced to try. I can't let these people see halfings as servants. If I do my freinds that died with the Golden Pegasus died for nothing.
Cueta's demeanor is a bit different as she speaks - a little more informal and less stiff, with longer sentences and pauses.
"Tio ... faras multajn senco, Ben. Kiam mi estis ... diru kontraktitaj laboristoj, en Cheliax, mi laboris en la kuirejo sur la okazo se helpo estis necesa por partioj, kaj vi estas tiel ĝuste, ĝi estas multe da laboro! Mia fratino estis kuiristo - Mi deziras al vi povis renkonti ŝin ..."
Cueta looks at Ben, her eyes a little teary, and her usually friendly demeanor is gone. "This is an oath I make for all of us that have taken the journey north in chains: no one will force anyone into servitude here, especially my halfling friends. My name will go into the dead-scrolls before that happens."
When Cueta approaches Ingwe, he gives her a wide, hungry-looking grin. As he listens to her story, his smile widens, and he laughs a deep, booming laugh that turns the heads of the people nearby when she tells of the exploding head.
"You should keep such a story to yourself if you wish to persuade these people to move. Many will be afraid if they believe that ants are a threat."
"Yes," he says, in answer to her question. "The loa have given me much guidance. They told me of this land, and they set my path to Absalom that I might join this expedition." He holds up his hands and grins. "They have made no chains yet to fit these wrists."
*
Edmund Thayer is walking around with a few of the men who seem to have turned to him. They are busy discussing things, and occasionally one will dig in the dirt with a stick or his hands at his direction. His sister remains inside the tent, with a pair of men standing outside. It is easy enough for Cueta to approach these two and draw one aside.
"Me? Oh, I'm nobody. Worked on my da's farm til I heard about this, and thought maybe I could make my own way," the big man says, looking proudly at the tent. "Edmund Thayer, he's the great man. He and his sister lost so much on the crossing, but it hasn't slowed him down, has it?" He points towards the young Lord. "You wait. Thayerport'll be one of the great cities, and we'll all have him to thank. You know there's a feast on tonight? After everything we've been through, we're living the good life now, eh?"
*
Gwenydd and Shalla are puzzled as Ben chastises the Mwangi woman for asking for their help cooking, and then asks them to help cooking. Walton returns with a few square yards of sailcloth, and shrugs his shoulders. "Was all they'd give me," he shrugs.
*
Slowly, people make their way to the spring. A few more are persuaded that the place seems like a better camp than the original landing spot. While the ship stays at anchor where it was, one of the sailors was injured badly on the crossing, and his mates row him to the new site in the longboat. They offer to carry Deeshka as well.
Edmund Thayer arrives late, with his sister and their small entourage. They make a big entrance, and approach the fire where Sorala and a few of the other bigguns have taken on the task of cooking.
"If I may have your attention," he says loudly. "First, I'd like to thank those of you who spent the day hunting for providing us with this bounty. We've all had a difficult journey, but we're here now, and it is up to us to make this venture a success. I know there is a little confusion now as to where we should build our new homes, but I intend to spend tonight, at least, near the Lillend. In the morning, I will confer with the captain to see where he thinks the best anchorage is, and I propose that we establish ourselves there. May the Gods bless our venture. Let's eat!"
Thayer! What in the nine hells do you think you are doing? You don't rule here, and you haven't done a damned thing for these people. You were content to let them sit on the beach and starve. Ben's good humor is wearing thin. The difficult crossing, the loss of his friends and family with the Golden Pegasus, and the stress of maintaining a positive front for his family. Thayer's self aggrandizement is too much. Ben's eyes are dark and angry.
You haven't even offered to share that huge tent of yours with the sick or injured have you? You left your privilege in Taldor Thayer. Your birth doesn't mean anything here.
"Why should the captain of a ship about to sail away decide where we will build our settlement. And who declared you to be the leader of these people, surely not the gods and definitely not the people who put the expedition together. Your title means nothing in these new lands, Edmund. You were content to sit on the beach while others are doing work. "
Gair is fairly quiet as he and Garrak work to clean the kills, lost on the work. As they are finishing and setting to exploring the area however he begins to chat with the other man, "What has brought you so far from home? Looking to for a new beginning as many of the others are or has a greater purpose driven you to cross the cruel waters?"
Leaving the prepared meat, Gair makes his way towards his son. Inquiring as to the progress at the landing site and the state of their supplies. He frowns at the answer, "Having little and less in all the more reason to set to work quickly. These southerners have never known hardship. They will need motivation. We will have to organize hunting parties in the morning. I'm sure you've found a few among these with the skills to lead such?"
His gaze drifts slowly over the trail of newcomers slowly coming upon the new site with broken expressions, "We may need to lead ourselves tomorrow. By the following sunrise I mean to take proper measure of this wilderness. I'll want you with me."
He gestures back to where the ant chitin is set aside, "You should look upon the creatures we found in just a few hours. Enormous things, were they less injured, ants like this would make a hint to be proud of..."
Gair and Bern are talking with some of the more wilderness oriented settlers and ensuring everyone gets settled when the taldan arrives, he listens to the man talk impassively, seeing trouble on the horizon.
He winces slightly at Ben's outburst, Just as young warriors back home...
Attempting to make eye contact with the others he went scouting with earlier, he begins to make his way over to the pair of them as the southern noble responds to Ben and Kal'Tos.
To Gair: I was sent here to explore the new continent. I am a scholar of the Arcanamirium, as is my wife. What about you?
Thayer turns and smiles coldly at Ben and Kal'Tos. Before he can open his mouth, his sister speaks.
"What my brother was doing was thanking you for this feast you've provided," she says. She steps between you and Edmund, holding her hands up. Her voice is soft, gentle. "Thanks to your good efforts, nobody will starve tonight."
"I'm telling people what I plan to do," Edmund says. "I am afraid I did not see the danger in making plans, or speaking of them. If my speaking or planning offends you, I apologize."
"Speaking to the captain was my idea," Sandra says. "It was he who brought us here through so many dangers, and he who promised to return to us with aid when he could. I only thought that his expertise could be of benefit to us in choosing a place more likely to make a good harbor. I, too, apologize if my thoughts have offended you."
"I think we are unwelcome at this feast, sister," Edmund says. "It seems we should, perhaps, retire."
"A moment, brother," Sandra says. She turns to you. "Is my brother correct? Is it your wish that we should not share this food?"
"I'd have not guessed you to be a scholar...still I'm sure you have knowledge that will prove useful. I come to this new land to find uncontested lands to hunt and water to drink for my people. The Worldwound has taken much from us but it is time we accept that nothing can bring it back now, we must look elsewhere for our future. I have come with my wife and..."
Gair bites down on his words for a moment before continuing, "With my son Bern so take measure of this new expanse and see if there is room for the red wolves?"
Bern is quite excited at the prospect of going out to explore. At the same time, he nods his head.
"There are some who have skills, but most are simply farmers. The seed and livestock was jettisoned to bring more people aboard the Lillend." He points to his black eye.
"There's even one that can fight," he adds, and grins at another young man who might be smiling back, though his lip is too swollen to be sure.
Gair steps up beside the others, spreading his hands, "All are welcome at this feast. The hours this day have stretched long for all of us, no offense was meant. Find a place by the fire, a warm meal will do much to cool tempers."
"There is wisdom in speaking with the Lillend's captain. Though this site is still near enough to speak with him in the morning regardless. The others and I suggest making camp here for the time being as the elevation gives us dryer ground to sleep on and with the wounded among our number, the nearer we are to fresh water the better off we all are. I have lived the wild much of my life, these are simply the observances of experience."
"Whatever the decision, I would caution staying together. There are more than elk in these woods. We would do well to be cautious, wouldn't you agree?"
No one does.Garrak says grimly.The falchion certainly doesn't help. If it wasn't the dry and dark manner of the delivery, you would almost think he was making a joke.
He looks up at the canopy and gestures.
There may yet be claimants other than us here. Indigenous peoples and such. So far, however, it seems promising.
_________________________
At the feast:
Garrak helps his wife cook, following her directions and going about gathering herbs. He listens in on the conversation with Edmund, speaking after Sandra asks whether they are welcome.
You are welcome here. Everyone is. As for where we set up camp, we should discuss and deliberate on it. There is no reason at this point to settle down in the first suitable place. Tomorrow, we will scout this other location. Having a good place for harbor will be useful later, but depending on how the area is, we may be better off close to fresh water or in a defensible position.
Gair chuckles, putting a hand on the young man's shoulder, "I've no doubt. I'm sure you will both prove yourselves useful provided you can fight hunger as eagerly as each other."
"Come dawn we will organize those we can into foraging parties. For now let the comfort of a good meal wash away the bleakness of the past weeks."
Perhaps my words came across wrong. Every one is welcome to stay and eat. Certainly the captain could provide advice on possible locations for the permanent site but this is a decision that should not be taken by any one individual."
Before the feast:
Vallen and Jarla slog upland, thankfully making it in one trip thanks to Torag's blessing of Ant Haul. They secure a spot near the river to stack their belongings, under the shade of a large tree. Vallen was going to make sure the meat for the night was purified, but sees they're already cooking it up. Instead, he tries to put together a shelter for him and Jarla to stay in.
At the feast:
Wiping a bit of sweat from his brow, Vallen stands back and admires their shelter. "It'll... ah.. keep the rain out? Be nice to have some actual planks to worth with, or better yet, some freshly cut limestone..." He muses in Dwarvern to Jarla.
As Edmund Thayer calls everyone to attention, the priest stays in place, putting his hands on his hips. He scoffs as Thayer mentions talking to the captain to find a better place to settle, given all the hard work it took to find this place.
Vallen watches from a distance as Ben snaps at Edmund Thayer, followed by Kal'tos, and Gair all swooping in to offer their opinions. The dwarf strokes his beard before deciding they had the affair well in hand. Instead, he looks to Jarla. "Sister, when I left this morning you were in conversation with the Thayers, what do you make of them? Can we trust them, or are they going to use our backs as steppladders to greater ambitions?" His brow furrows in thought, glancing back over at the confrontation taking place.
I shouldn't have done that. I shouldn't have challenged him. Ben thinks. He can feel the people's eyes on him. You've put your foot in it now Ben. You can't back down now boyo. You should have kept a better hold on your temper, but now you have to walk the road to the end.
Miss,Ben says in a calm voice I didn't win this meat. Those that did invited you and your brother to share in it with all the rest. I make no objection to that. Nor do I object to you and your brother making plans. You are your own people, but I am also my own person just like everyone else here. What I object to is your brother marching in here like the great lord. Presuming to speak for these people, offering thanks to the hunters for providing the food like he was bestowing a gift. I say again birth means nothing here. having said his piece Ben walks out of the fire light. He goes back to the lean-to he built for his family and sits down on his bedroll. He sits watching the people by the main fire.
The Thayers thank Garrak and Gair for their words, but they wait until Kal'Tos has invited them to stay before they seem to make up their minds to stay. The confrontation has dampened the mood of the whole gathering.
Bern chuckles softly and nods. "We've already planned to go hunting tomorrow. Maybe we'll bring down another elk, eh?"
Jarla turns from the confrontation to her brother and shrugs.
"They're good people, it seems, but certainly ambitious," she says. "They have a vision for this place, though, and they're trying to build it. He is the younger son of a poor family, and his sister was going to be married to some old pig. They came here, thinking to establish themselves as merchants, but when none of the leaders of the expedition made it, they began making plans."
Vallen bobs his head, fiddling with the rings at the end of his beard while she speaks. "I see... It wouldn't hurt having some good people run the show. Perhaps we can work with them. A potential trading partner in the future?"
The dwarf sets out three clay jugs that survived the journey, sitting in front of them cross-legged. He clasps his hands together and bows his head, offering a prayer to Torag. Forge-father, our thanks for this day, for in this uncivilized land you have blessed us with food and shelter. You have blessed me with the strength to stand against the chaos and smite the creatures that impede the march towards order and good. I will lend these people my skills and ensure they have strong walls and homes to protect themselves with.
Opening his eyes, he extends his hand to a jug, and whispers a small prayer for water, spilling from his fingertips into the clay. "Jarla... Mother and father, and the rest of the Silverclasp are going to send reinforcements when the Lillend makes it back, right? Surely they wouldn't abandon us here. We have a moutainhome to build." He tries to speak in outwardly calm Dwarven, but the water spilling from his fingers tremors slightly. He fills each in turn before thoroughly washing his hands in one basin.
Gair sighs as the halfling walks away to join his family. He joins the Thayers where they choose to settle and partake of the meal, "As I have said, tempers run high. I believe Ben came across the sea with a good many more of his kin than have made it here today. Grief weighs heavily upon him...as it does us all."
He looks at the brother and sister with interest, "What has brought you two so far from home on this ill fated voyage?"
Jarla looks at Vallen with a sad look on her face.
"If you heard the tale of our voyage here, would you gamble any more of your people?" she sighs. "They will do what they can, but they will not waste dwarves. You know this."
Sandra smiles at you as you sit.
"I think your friends may be more concerned about our former rank than we are," she says, as you speak of Ben. She shrugs. "They both proclaim loudly that we are not what we once were, but they seem to hate us for what we once were just the same."
"I see he has his brother, their wives and children," Edmund chimes in. "He has more than most. I don't know who he lost, but I do know that he is not the only one who has suffered. If he had spoken to any of the others, he might have learned that already. Or maybe he's just disappoint more 'bigguns' didn't die on the way over."
"We came seeking a new beginning," Sandra says. "Like many of our fellows, the future we faced in Avistan was not what we wanted for ourselves, so we seized this opportunity to try to make something better."
"Do you think they can learn to accept us?" she asks, looking nervously towards Ben and the halflings. "Can we work together? Or does their hatred run too deep?"
Gair raises an eyebrow at Edmund's last statement but quickly returns his attention to Sandra, "A sound goal, I hope to find not only a new beginning for my family but all my people on these shores. The cost has already been high for all of us as your brother points out..."
He gestures to his son nearby, "I think we will all remember to cherish what remains to us soon enough. But be patient, grief can be long in dying."
Looking across the fire to where Ben and his family sit eating he sighs, "I'd say there are prejudices on both sides but I don't believe they will bury us. Our situation leaves us no alternative but to work together. With time we will understand we all serve common purpose."
He looks back at the siblings, "Might I convince you to join us here for the night? I fear we would have trouble moving the others to return to the beach tonight and as I have said, I do not advise splitting our number in these unknown woods. I know there are others here who mean to go with you to speak with the captain of the ship in the morning, it is not far to travel. My son and I can help you strike your tent."
Swallows hard as Jarla speaks, attempting to rid himself of the knot that had formed in his throat. His dream of a mountainhome dedicated to Torag was getting dim. His joviality from their victory over the ants had worn off by now, and his feet were rooted to the forge-father's earth again. "Aye... I know..." In his mind flashes an image of his brother Azak, and the few times throughout his life they spoke. His bravery against the Kraken will not be wasted.
Inhaling deeply through his nose, the dwarf licks his lips. "I'm going to get some elk. Wish we had some whiskey to celebrate with. Hopefully one of these settlers is a professional brewer or everyone might go mad..."
Vallen walks by Gair as he sits with the Thayers, giving him a clap on the shoulder. "Make sure you get some meat Gair, we all earned it!" He bows his head to Edmund and Sandra before continuing.
After the more public discussion Kal'Tos checks on his brother. "Brother, I believe that establishing a simple forge will be among our first priorities. Your craft will be in much demand in the coming days I think. It is good that we brought some of the key equipment you will need."/
Then he goes around to various groups chatting with people and offering prayers for any family or friends they lost on the journey. He tries to pay particular attention to any who seem to be more than simple farmers. Looking for weapons or equipment that could indicate their skills.
perception
Kal'Tos:
Horn'Tos nods to his brother. "It would be good to have a place to hammer metal again. As long as there's no trouble."
You notice the four elves have shortbows, and roughly two dozen of the men and women have armed themselves with makeshift cudgels, staves and spears. Other than you (and Edmund Thayer) the only properly forged weapon you see is a scimitar belonging to a middle-aged Qadiran.
As far as tools go, there are saws and axes, hammers and wedges. Few of the passengers made it with anything that would suggest a specialty, aside from one of the gnomes, who has a small box with a startling array of scissors, knives, needles, awls, etc.
Gair:
"Thank you for your offer," Sandra says. "But it will be dark soon, and we have already announced our intentions to return the night. We keep our word, and neither of us wish to risk speaking to the group again tonight."
Cueta pitches in cooking the feast, and tells stories of the meals that her sister cooked, foodstuffs discretely pilfered from her masters' pantry, and late night pot-scrubbings turned into impromptu story-telling sessions. "We took our victories where we could get them, small but sweet - a little crowroot in the missus's sauce, to bind her up for days. Pokebread and stewed pumpkin made late at night while the masters slept, and then, cleaning up before they woke, we'd tell the most glorious stories, in Polyglot of course - the master especially hated, just hated the sounds of our native tongue, so it was always so wonderful to our ears!"
"Sailors, thank you for bringing my friend. Please make sure to bring your mates some elk and foraged goods. Please let me know if there is anything that you need."
The Mwangi uses nearby brush and branches to weave a shelter for Deeshka and the sick sailor, and sits near her friend, checking her temperature, and feeding her and the sailor sips of water. I'll have to ask Vallen to look at this one as well. Hopefully there isn't a sickness going around.
Cueta hears the voices rising and other conversations dying as heads turn and eyes widen. She creeps along the line of the firelight, inching closer to the underbrush where her polearm is hidden, trying to see the actions of her scouting companions. She briefly makes eye-contact with Gair but cannot make out what his intentions are, so she positions herself to quickly grab the polearm. If things go north, Thayerport may die on this riverbank.
Cueta goes and sits near her new friend from the Thayer faction, and chewing on ant kabob, watches the group of Thayer's men, trying to listen in to hear if they are discussing the confrontation. After a while, she smiles at her new friend and waves him over. "Friend, how are you? Are you enjoying the elk? I'm afraid I forgot to ask your name? I'm Cueta." Cueta makes small talk for a bit, discussing the weather here, if any fish have been caught at the beach, and so on. After a bit of a pause, "Tell me of this Thayerport. I have no doubt that the Thayers are great people, but how do they plan to build a city here? Even great people need manpower, means, and vision to create a city. What makes you think they can do it? When Thayerport is built, will you be a farmer like your father, or do you have other plans?"
Eventually, the feast dies down. Some, including the Thayers, leave for the beach, and others curl up around the fire, now just little more than embers. Cueta goes and visits her scouting companions from the night before, and tells them what she has learned about Thayerport. "Also, we need to watch over these people tonight, and we need to discuss our plans for tomorrow. Those of us with bad eyes should take the shoulder watches."
Gair sighs, "I fail to see the risk in speaking. Though it is your decision to make. I hope come tomorrow we are able to agree on a place to set ourselves up. Anything will likely be temporary regardless. There is still much of even the nearby area to explore before we know what this land has to offer."
Once they have finished with the elk, Gair bids the pair a safe trip back to their site, "We are not so far, if you encounter trouble, call out and wave your torches. Those on watch here should be able to spot you."
Leaving the Thayers, he finds Bern and goes to talk to the more martially capable settlers the boy has made note of and that are staying at this site.
Condition
HP= 14/14
Status= Normal
XP- 100/2000
Prepared spells
0th - create water, light, purify food and drink
1st - animate rope(1), ant haul(0), ant haul (0)
Special Abilities
Acid Dart(5/6)
Artificer’s Touch (6/6)
Channel Positive Energy (3/3)
Consumables
Ammunition: 19 crossbow bolts
Trail rations: 10
Eventually, the feast dies down. Some, including the Thayers, leave for the beach, and others curl up around the fire, now just little more than embers. Cueta goes and visits her scouting companions from the night before, and tells them what she has learned about Thayerport. "Also, we need to watch over these people tonight, and we need to discuss our plans for tomorrow. Those of us with bad eyes should take the shoulder watches."
Vallen is in the middle of getting mud off of his boot as Cueta stops by. "Ah, Cueta! How did you like that elk? Haven't tasted something that delicious since I was back home. Now if we just had some whiskey... After waffling on for a while about needing a stiff drink, he listens to her silently about the Thayers, setting the boot on the ground and folding arms across his chest. "Thayerport? Huh... The dwarf tilts his head to Jarla, nodding. "You were certainly right about them being ambitious, sister.
Icey blue eyes turn back to Cueta, contemplating. "Thanks for keeping tabs on what's going on around here. We need people like yourself making sure no one is trying to stick each other... Truth be told though, I'm not really sure what to do with this information. They seem nice enough folk, though that Edmund is too prideful for not having anything to back it up with. I think they're just trying to get everything organized.
The priest shrugs, looking down at his boot. I suppose you're right, we don't know what else lives here. Well how about this, I'll take first watch, there's mud all over my robes and it's going to take a while to clean out.
Ben spends most of the rest of the night thinking about the voyage, all the plans the halflings had made, all those lost, and the events of the day. His family finds him distracted. His cheerful behavior is force and fraying. It makes for a somber evening around their little fire. Ben sits up long after the rest of his family has gone to sleep looking into the flames.
shortly before dawn Ben puts on his cloak and slips out of the camp. He walks down the beach to the place where the Thayer's tent is set up. He sits on a rock not far from the tent door and waits there until they emerge. If any of their people are on watch he makes it clear he is just there to talk and is content to wait. He shares with them some of the food from his trail rations.
When the Thayer's emerge he invites the to walk take a walk with him. He offers them some of the hard baked oatcakes from his rations. The oatcakes are hard and dry but they are made with honey and dried fruit so they taste good.
My parents were aboard the Golden Pegasus along with several of my friends. I know the Harpy rescued some halflings from the water after the Pegasus went down but I don't know who. Not that is matters now. There were more than two dozen halflings on this expedition and all but the five with me are dead. I knew everyone of them, I convinced most of them to come on this journey. Ben says as he stands looking out across the water.
I am sorry. he says turning to look at the Thayers. I should not have spoken to you the way I did. I was angry and afraid. I still am afraid. I am afraid this place will end up just like Taldor, or Absalom, or Cheliax for halflings. My wife was a slave before I managed to free her. Ben reaches up and touches the three chain links braided into his hair. These were part of the chain that bound her to her loom.
Ben goes on and tells the Thayers about rescuing his wife from slavery and spend a year in prison for it. He tells them about what he had hoped to build on the new continent. All about why they had come and what being there ment to them. When he finishes he says Now you know who I am and Why I am here. Why are you here?
In all, 80 of the passengers of the Laughing Lillend end up spending the night by the spring. Most of the rest return with the Thayers, and do so in a group, carrying torches. The four elves slip away into the forest, apparently wishing to spend a quiet night away from others.
@ Cueta:
The sailors are happy to help. Though one or two show a bit of resentment towards you for 'abandoning ship,' most understand that you won't leave Deeshka alone in her condition.
When you find your friend, he's laying on his back on the rocks near the shore, looking up at the stars with a dreamy expression on his face. He grins when he sees you, apparently noticing that you've sought him out. Being a strapping young man, he's able to figure out why easily enough, and looks at you like dessert. Despite his evident interest, though, he doesn't make a move towards you, but seems content to talk.
"The name's Eli, Miss," he says. "I thought for sure we met on the Lillend, but I'd remember a name like Cueta."
"Ah, Thayerport," he says, looking off into the distance. "Seems simple enough, to hear him tell it. First things we need are safety and shelter. And food. He's already paced off a place for a palisade, and a square where we can build a hall to house everyone. The next thing is to get something planted. He's talked to a bunch of the farmers with families about what they need, and they're trying to work out how to get it. Then he wants to start on the harbor, so we can start trading with Absalom and ... you know ... Cheliax and all."
"You see? Most of us got off that boat yesterday with no thought than just being glad to set our feet on soil again. Thayer, he's got vision. I figure, once things start happening, he'll remember who was with him at the beginning. I'll be an important man and all. The kind of man who can take proper care of a woman, if you know what I mean...."
@ Gair:
"You're very generous," Sandra says carefully. "We will certainly do our best to alert you if there is trouble. You should do the same. She leans a bit closer, smiling and whispers. "My brother may not lack a certain amount of charm, but he does know how to use his blade."
Edmund, hearing this, rolls his eyes. "We'll set a watch tonight. We'll make our fire where we can see yours, if we can." It's a mile off, mostly through forest, so it doesn't seem terribly likely.
As you make the rounds, you find that most of the armed folk are young men of an impulsive sort, more eager than experienced. Of these, a good number seem to have placed their hopes on the Thayers. An equal number seem enthralled by Bern and Kyle, and a few just want to be ready to protect them and theirs from whatever dangers they may find in this place. These tend to be men and women with families.
The elves seem aloof, but agree that hunting and foraging is a priority.
The Qadiran, Hassan, came as a bodyguard to one of the leaders on the Golden Pegasus. When the ship went down, he was pulled out, but to the best of his knowledge, she fed the kraken. He seems to be taking it extraordinarily hard.
@ Ben:
When you reach their camp, you find two of their contingent sitting by a small fire, keeping a drowsy watch. They spot you, eventually, and are on their feet in a moment, ready to fight, but when they see you are alone and not threatening, they have a quick discussion among themselves, and one of them approaches you, holding her sharp stick in a two handed grip.
When she understands your message, she returns and slips into the tent. A short time later, Edmund Thayer emerges, wearing a red silk robe and his high leather boots. He seems to be unarmed, and he walks over to you. The young woman follows, keeping a distance, but clearly ready to come to his aid if needed.
"We are all angry and afraid," he says, after hearing your story. He takes a deep breath and looks up at the sky, turning a wonderful orange over the bay to the east. "Sandra is better at this sort of thing than I am, but let me try to make our position clear. We came here seeking opportunity, I make no apologies for that. We also lost friends, who were among the leaders on the Pegasus, and we saw a small fortune thrown over the side to provide space for those who were saved from the Pegasus. We do not begrudge the loss of our goods, but now we're in the position of being merchants with nothing to trade. There are farmers with nothing to plant, and when the Lillend leaves, we'll have nothing but what we can provide for ourselves. My sister and I did what we could to organize people"
"I have no desire to make an enemy or a slave of anyone. I forgive the ugly accusations you made, this time. The next time you insult me in front of every single person here, though, do not think to skulk in and whisper an apology where nobody can hear. You despise us for our birth, I can live with that, but surely even you can see that we are too few to survive if we fight among ourselves. A modicum of simple courtesy is all I ask."
Gair speaks to all those mentioned about setting watch for the night before moving on to the coming day.
Speaking with the armed men, Gair does his best to impress upon them the need to aid and guard the foraging parties. Spending extra time with the more eager young men to cool their tempers and promises greater glories to come.
The elves he deals with carefully, nodding in appreciation of their bows, "Your weapons put you at an advantage over most of us, I can only assume you have the skills to match. Perhaps you would find your best results hunting on your own, free of those less used to the wilderness? That said, I mean to scout the surrounding forest over the next few days with some of the others. I would be glad to have one of your number travel with us and offer your wisdom?"
Hassan he implores to help provide guidance to the other armed settlers, "We have all lost much only to find ourselves cast into an unfamiliar land. Your experience can serve all of us well. I know what I ask, but we would all be in your debt. Show them the meaning of responsibility, work them to exhaustion when tempers flare. If we cannot maintain peace amongst ourselves, this land will swallow us all..."
"The name's Eli, Miss," he says. "I thought for sure we met on the Lillend, but I'd remember a name like Cueta."
"Eli, that's a nice name. What does it mean? Cueta means Girl Who Makes Shell Jewelry. It was my second name, my girl's name. I never got my woman's name. I came of age in the distant lands.
"so we can start trading with Absalom and ... you know ... Cheliax and all."
Cueta tries to hide a grimace. The only Chelaxian goods that will come into this land will be on the decks of privateers, if I have anything to say about it.
"I figure, once things start happening, he'll remember who was with him at the beginning. I'll be an important man and all. The kind of man who can take proper care of a woman, if you know what I mean...."
Cueta wilts a little on the inside. This boy has turned out to be much nicer than she had anticipated when she first approached him. She tries to strike a joking tone. "Hah! A woman taken care of means a woman with babies in her belly. I don't think we need more mouths to feed right now. Perhaps when we're all safe and the food and rum are plentiful, we can begin to think about courtship?"
Just as the sky in the east is turning grey, shortly before Ben wakes to go and talk to the Thayers, Cueta makes a perception roll....
Cueta:
Eli chuckles and looks back up at the stars.
"Aye, you're right about that," he says. It seems that he thinks you've reached an understanding. "So Mwangi names mean things like that? Odd. I was named for my grandpa."
Gair:
The elves murmur agreement at the suggestion that they hunt alone, but there is frowning when you suggest that one of them join your scouting expedition. An exchange of glances that almost becomes absurd follows before one of them speaks.
"We would prefer to stay together," one of them, a youngish woman, says at last. "But I will join you in the morning. You may call me Istiel."
Hassan doesn't quite crack a smile, but his lip twitches up for a moment and his eyes cut to Bern when you mention tempers.
"Many roads have brought us all to this place," he says. "If we are to survive, I will do what I can to help."
I forgive the ugly accusations you made, this time. The next time you insult me in front of every single person here, though, do not think to skulk in and whisper an apology where nobody can hear.
He still see's himself as having power.Ben think's as the Taldan speaks. He still thinks his pride and birth is worth something here.
Now that I know you will accept my apology I will give a public one if you wish it. I want to set this behind us and begin again. I will apologies publicly. When do you want me to give it? Ben replies Damn your pride Thayer, and damn my own for getting me into this mess
"It isn't necessary," Thayer sighs softly. "I've accepted your apology already and said you're forgiven. I spoke of the next time you insult me. If there is no next time, there will be no need to make a public apology, will there? If you wish to begin again, we'll begin again. If you wish to set this behind us, simply accept your own argument that birth means nothing here."
Gair nods to Istiel, "You have my thanks. It need not be for more than a few days should you wish it."
Gair does smile lightly at Hassan as his eyes flick to Bern, "I am glad we are in agreement. I wish you peace this night."
Garrak wakes up early in the morning, just before dawn. He leaves his tent and sits on a stump until the others wake, ready to start exploring or salvaging. He prepares his spells, leafing through his spellbook, watching the others start their day.
This conversation is subject to change, depending who survives the night.
In the morning, Cueta makes her way to the Lillend, where she presents herself to the captain, bending one knee to the ground and placing her weapon across the other, in the manner that sailors of the Shackles address their superiors. "Greetings, Captain. I trust that some elk found you and filled your belly. You may have heard from some of your men, but I intend to stay in these strange lands. My friend, my mother, Deeshka - I fear she cannot survive the voyage east, and I must see her through to good health. I hope that you understand my situation and bear me no ill will - it would truly be an honor to serve on the Lillend under you, and I have no doubt that you will attain great fame and wealth upon your return to Absalom.
Captain, I have a favor to ask you. We need supplies and salvage from the Harpy, and we need to see if there are survivors that need our aid. To reach the Harpy without a boat would take too long, I fear, for anyone who needs our help. Could we borrow a longboat for this mission? The longboat is not so different from the crafts of people, and I'm a fairly adept pilot - I can get the boat there and back safely before you leave without any worse for the wear. If you'll grant us this favor, I'm sure that the people here will tell tales in your honor."
When Cueta reaches the Lillend, the sailors are already hard at work, repairing sails, ropes, replacing broken timbers and bracing what can't be replaced. The captain is busy overseeing the work, and lends half an ear to Cueta as she makes her pitch.
He frowns when she finishes and barks an order before he turns his attention to her.
"There are no hard feelings, lass, and I know you can handle the boat" he says. "But I'm afraid we'll need it to...." He looks over the shore, seeing the situation of the people who will be staying behind. He kicks the deck and sighs in frustration. "Aye, aye," he says, and then points a finger at her, nearly clipping her nose. "But we set sail in six days, and if the boat's not back by then...." He seems unable to come up with a suitable threat, so he turns to a couple of crew men.
"Quit lazing about, you," he barks. "The stinkin' shellhead's taking the boat, so we'll need a raft to get back and forth. NOW!"
The sailors have the sense not to ask any questions, but lower the boat and row Cueta to shore, leaving her with the boat and setting about gathering wood to make a raft.
As she passes, she sees the Thayer's tent high on the dune overlooking the bay. Edmund and a half dozen other men and women are digging, mostly with bits of wood. Maybe two dozen others are heading into the forest in four small groups, one or two clubs or spears in each group.
After his morning prayers, Kal'Tos checks in with Vallen asking him to watch out for his brother while on the salvage operation. He also talks briefly with Horn'Tos, Brother, I have to go away for a few days to aid others in attempting to salvage some material from one of the ships thst wrecked along the coast. They need a cleric in case there are survivors in need of assistance. Vallen will be working to establish a better campsite, I trust you will be able to work with him. If the forge has not been started by the time I get back we can work on setting it up together. "
Kal'Tos then heads down towards the ship bringing his gear with him, along with the block and tackle which he removes from his chest.
He will look for Cueta and ask her to talk to Edmund about joining them on their trip, and asks her if she spoke to the other potential member of the mission.
Cueta makes her way over to the Thayers' tent, looking out for Eli, and saying hello to him if she sees him, and then approaches Edmund.
"Edmund - if I may - we don't know each other, and I thought I should introduce myself. I'm Cueta Guiding Star, a former mariner on the Pegasus. We're putting together a salvage operation of the Harpy wreck and I was hoping that you'd join us. There should be a lot that we can gain from the wreck - foodstuffs, supplies, even construction materials and perhaps tools from the ship..." Cueta pauses before getting into the next part.
"You know the other two people currently going on this mission - the halfling and the dwarf you had words with last night. I know that your relationship with them is off to a rocky start, but bridges have been built from less. There's a saying on the Freecaptains' ships that goes like this: A ship divided invites a trip to Besmara's Treasure Chest. We may be on land, but I fear the end result will be the same, if we can't begin to work together."
"What a shame," the Mwangi says, giving her finest Chelaxian curtsy and turning away. Before leaving, she pauses a second and says, over her shoulder, "Anyone returning with food and supplies will surely gain a lot of influence among our people."