"Ah, you are a scout! Perhaps the Chief will select you to become your Nation's Ambassador, come the time."
"Tartuk was... twisted in mind and body both," Asta says, shaking her head sadly. "He has destroyed Kobold tribes before yours, by leading them into senseless conflicts. It was all caused by an abject self-loathing and a rather miserable accident of rebirth..."
"Rebirth? As in he died and came back?" Elaina asks before she drinks some water from her waterskin.
"I know that kobolds don't have it easy, but I don't go around trying to destroy other people's lives and livelihoods because I was born demon-spawn. Why would he do that to tribes of kobolds?"
Asta shoots Elaine a warning glance when she mentions rebirth...
"As I said, he was twisted."
Elaina takes the hint, and makes a point to not mention it again until they were away from the mines. She raises an eyebrow at the witch when she gives her "explanation."
"People say the same about me when they figure out I'm not human. I still don't understand why he did what he did."
"He was twisted in his mind. You simply are as you are, through no fault of your own. Tartuk hated himself utterly, and so he tried to drag everyone and everything around him down into death and destruction."
"Oh."
Elaina, turns back to the half-empty skin, silent and unmoving for a moment. She puts it away and looks up at the sky, her thoughts wandering through the well worn paths in her memories. She thought about how things might had been if it hadn't been for chance.
Where her thoughts lead sent a shiver down her spine.
"Self-loathing is something I know all too well. Now, I understand."
She closes her eyes as she takes a deep breath. When she opens them, the shadow that was there before, there before she arrived was gone.
"What else are we doing here?" She asks Asta, "I don't mean here at the mine, but here in the Stolen Lands. I was told to help you in anyway I can, but not much beyond that."
"I think that is a subject best broached when we are not in the company of our new neighbors."
"Alright then, What about yourselves? You can't just tell me you sprang fully formed from the earth right before you came to Oleg's"
Seraph listened to the conversations around her with interest her smile fading until her lips were a thin line. Her tail coiled around her waist as she was deep in thought. In response to Elaina's simple question she shrugs her shoulders. "I was born in New Stetven, that is where my mother resides and I am blessed to have her. I am an unofficial member of the Pathfinders, well until now. I strive to follow the tenets of my god and do good in the time I have to roam this world."
"I was raised in the wood by the Old Hermit. Now he is gone and me and Strawberry are here."
Seraph looks at Torod before realizing who Strawberry was. She refrained from smiling as Torod seemed very... Cold to her already. Best not to make more waves. She turned to Mikmek, delighted to see another friendly kobold. She watched him with her violet colored eyes as she waited for his response to Asta.
"I guess it is ok. At least for the time being. It may always be changed in the future."
Marten turns to Elaina "I grew up in a town in Ustalav. Never met my parents. I was working as an investigator mainly in the south until... Until an unfortunate event led to a long journey all accross Avistan. I ended up here more or less by accident."
Seraph nods at Mikmek's explination before leaning towards him and asking. "Other then your nation. What else have you seen? Interesting places or other creatures perhaps? You sound very talented~" She compliments Mikmek in the hopes he will divulge something that could be useful, she was especially new to this area and information made the difference between survival or death.
After a bit of testing and using Strawberry to experiment, Torod dives into the feast like the uncouth wild man that he is.
Marten feasts as if he had been starving for a week.
After speaking with the interesting, yet simple, Mikmek Seraph turns to the feast as well. Politely thanking their hosts in draconic before digging in with everyone else.
Asta dines along with the others, toasts the new Nation's health, and when the time comes, she signs the treaty with the stark runes that make up her name.
"Peace between us," she intones as she rolls up the scroll. "I shall make you a copy of your own." The young Witch does just that, and signs the copy as well before handing it to Chief Sootscale with a half-bow.
Elaina enjoys the food and company, taking in the chatter and the joviality of the occasion. She is more meticulous in her manners than the wild half-elf, though.
"Humans, and tieflings, and Elves, and whoever else comes to live with us," Asta says with a subtle smile, inclining her head to Chief Sootscale. "So it is written, so let it be Law."
"What!? You want me to sign? Torod does a double take between Asta and the Chief. "But I don't agree with this plan remember? I thought we were only being nice until they turned on us anyway."
"Ha. Ha. Such a kidder," Asta says. It would take rather close scrutiny to see the clenched teeth, which is quite the feat. "Ignore him," she tells the Kobolds. "We are all in favour of peace."
The Ulfen girl's eyes briefly flash stark crimson at Torod.
"Well that's new. OK, but you're going to owe me for this." He signs the paper.
"Yes, we are."
Elaina gives Torod a glare that should have reduced him to bloody strips of flesh for a second before turning her attention back to the kobolds. When her turn comes, she signs in a rough, barely legible script.
"It is my hope that we'll be able to enjoy this peace for generations to come."
When Torod announces that he is owed a debt, she leans close to his ear.
Seraph chuckles, then laughs outright at the antics of these people. She wipes the starting of a tear from her eyes as she speaks in draconic hoping to distract the Kobolds some. "Astahii re zi suing. Tir ti wux iaco?" She adds her signature in a sign of agreement with this treaty. Then she turns to Chief Sootscale as she asked. "Svanoa drong tepoha wux lead dout xiekivi sgos rimem?"
1st thing~ They are very silly. Do not you agree?
@Chief Sootscale~ How long have you lead your people brave chieftain?
"Oh, half-elf boy, why don't you just keep your mouth shut for once. It is only a piece of paper after all."
Marten signs the document without comment.
Then, after hearing chief's speech, he says "So, the disappearence of the bad goblin tribe is in our mutual best interest, right?"
"It would definitely seem so," Asta says after signing in her own spot and rolling up the party's copy of the will. "Already, the Sootscale Nation is proving an asset to life in this region."
Seraph listen with interest as the Chief talkative. Glad that the possibility of tension appeared past. Seeing the others wish to move on ahead nodded politely to the chieftain and rose slowly to her feet. "It looks to be time for us to move forward on this Mite business. It was very interesting meet you Sootscales, the radishes were delicious and I will see you again." She turns and walks back to her weapons, strapping on her sword and taking up her bow before retrieving Julias.
"Until we meet again. Thank you for the food. It was delicious!"
Elaina gives the Kobolds a big smile and a wave before getting on her horse and riding off with the others.
Elaina appears even paler than normal as the world swims about her in a dizzying dance. The feast from earlier makes the queasiness from the trip to the mines a pleasant memory by comparison.
"Tell me again why we're riding horses?"
She gives Seraph an envious glare that should have summoned hellfire and brimstone.
"How do you do it? Doesn't matter what I try, horses do not like me riding them, and I have to say that the feeling's mutual."
Seraph chuckles at Elaine's envious look before patting Julias on his flank. "We may not look it but we've been doing this for a long time. Eh Julias?" The horse tosses his head in response. "They are crafty beasts but you just need to show them who's boss. Besides I hate to date myself but i have been doing this for nearly twenty winters. Mind you this pathfinder business is new but I was on my own for awhile before Mother found me."
*Groan*"You mean I gotta do this for 20 years before I don't feel like losing my lunch."
Elania buries her head in the back of her horse's neck with another groan.
"Why did the gods make horses again?"
Seraph gives a bark of laughter at Elaina's response. "You'll get it sooner then that cutie. Especially if you fix your posture, thats essential." She lets go of the rein's guiding Julias with her knees as she maintains her posture.
"Takes a bit of training and I am glad to help if'n you want more advice~" She never loses her smile as she rests her hands lightly on the horn of her saddle.
Seeing Mikmek trailing behind them Seraph slows down Julias and wheels him around to look back at the traveling Kobold. She focuses her abilities on him, searching his aura momentarily.
She notes what she discovers and gives the small kobold a warm, friendly smile before speaking in Draconic as he approached. "Ho ho! Svabol ui nomeno? Douhvya ekess ossalur mrith udoka va Mikmek? Algbo svern wux confn hak!"
She leans over and offers him a hand to lift him into the saddle, settling him on her saddlebags for now so that he could ride a little more comfortably.
Despite common tales Seraph is willing to give any creature the benefit of the doubt and even attempt to guide them to a better path if the one they tread on borders or is steeped in darkness. Being a Tiefling of the Pitborn variety and being cursed as she is, she has a soft spot for creatures born in unfortunate or brutal circumstances. Like her she will try and help them by first of all becoming a friend they can trust, even on first meeting.
"Oh no! I didn't agree to this. He can't travel with us. He needs to stay here with his people."
"I think this matter's out of our hands Torod. Seraph looks like she could take you, your cat, and any other person you care to name."
Despite being miserable on the horse, she manages to crack a weak smile.
"Deadeye give me strength. This is a bad idea. You'll see. Torod the sole dissenting voice, trudges on. "You'll all see soon enough."
"What a motley crew we are," Marten smiles.
"Pleased to have you, Mikmek. I hope you like riding better than I do. "
"Well said!" Seraph smiles more broadly at the electrical display running across Mikmek's teeth. "Well now. Another surprise, it does answer how you've survived on your own. So are you riding or walking Explorer?" she liked creatures with attitude and Mikmek seemed to stand out in her mind. A kobold that was a cut above the rest and very interesting indeed. She wanted to see what he was capable of and hoped it would happen soon.
"Ok, Asta, we're here. Now what?" Torod's feelings on the situation show on his face and in his bearing, but he chooses not to speak them out loud this time.
"Mikmek," Asta says, turning to the Kobold. "This will not sound pleasant, but we need you to make yourself scarce. If you show up near the Mites' lair or they spot you, we'll be in the middle of a battle before we can get anyone to talk to us. Would you mind waiting at a safe spot a little bit away?"
Elaina dismounts from her borrowed horse and goes to her knees.
"Oh sweet blessed ground, how I've missed."
Once that important bit of business is dealt with, she stands and turns to the others.
"If you trust me, I can scout ahead and see what is happening. If they hate kobolds, it might be a good idea to have Mikmek watch my back and come get you if I run into trouble."
Asta considers. "I do trust you. In fact... I have a dangerous mission for you. We need a Mite. A live one, to pass a message to their chieftain. But I do not wish to endanger Mikmek when we have just become allies."
Asta looks at Torod. "Do you think you can restrain your violent impulses long enough to assist Elaina in bringing us a live Mite, gagged and bound but otherwise unharmed? We might be able to talk them into signing a peace agreement; I have an idea that could make them quite, quite wealthy, if they can be made to listen."