The land surrounding you is lush and green, which is normal for the Earth Kingdom. The sun sets behind a mountain to the south. Before you sit several people, not too different from yourself, around a blazing fire. One person at the end wears a strange mask that looks similar to a Seagull-Sparrow, short and stubby with a wide base. His head is tilted so that he is not looking directly at anyone. His hair is parted in the center, and reaches down to his chin. You cannot see his ears, but you can see his neck. His Kempo-Gi is a dark brown, and covers his chest and legs. The Kempo-Gi is adorned with metal rings and bangles. The man is wearing a necklace with large, round beads that hang down to his belly. The man is also holding a staff made of metal that has several metal rings of varying length at one end. He is a quiet man, who has yet to introduce himself.
"I apologize for making you wait. Some of you have dealt with waiting for as long as a year, and I sincerly apologize. But you have not come here to listen to a stranger say he is sorry." His head moves to another position where he is still not looking directly at anyone, when suddenly, his arm drapes over his head as he says "Poor, poor Omi, why have you not introduced yourself yet? They will not wish to work for you!" His arms hang at his side while he looks directly at each of you. "My name is Omi, and I wish to make you stronger. That is why you are here, yes? You must forgive me, it has been a long, long while since I have seen most of you. I have been kind and have introduced myself, would you do the same?" His head drifts back to not looking at anyone.
Dion sits staring into the fire. Contemplating what he has just done.
Hearing the strange mans words he turns to the others. I am Dionoclese, Dion for short. I am an Earthbender, I don't know about the rest of you but I came here because...Life was too boring. I need to learn more.
Quin Jee stares deeply into the fire, seemingly lost in though. He looks up as Dion finishes speaking and his eyes take in everyone sitting around the fire.
I'm lieutenant Quin Jee. Its a pleasure to finally meet the team I will be working with.
The other girl doesn't look much more conventional; her saffron and ochre robes and the elaborate staff she leans on indicate an Air Nomad, even though the nearest Air Temple is far to the north. She gives the bird-masked man an odd look as he speaks, then tilts her head and leans forward to peer at the mask. "Hello have we met before because I don't think I remember seeing you there but this is the first time I've been away from the temple and I don't know how you knew to call me here maybe we met in a previous life or something because I'm sure I'd have remembered..."
She trails off as she realizes she's getting some odd looks, then stands straight, breathes, and bows formally. "Hello, I'm Xianhue, formerly of the Northern Air Temple. I was going to travel to see the world when I received your message. How did you know where to find me?" she asks.
"Oh, I have friends! Many, many friends! I will test you to see if you want to be my friend." His voice is excited, and obviously ready to move on. His head slowly goes back to not looking at anyone.
"I like having competent friends. Sure I'll be your friend, What's the test?"
"I am Kamiko, hunter of the Northern Water Tribe. Pleasure to meet you all!
Jee lifts an eyebrow slightly and looks at Omi.
What have I gotten myself into? This is the man my superiors were so eager to please?
Anything you ask sir, I'm here to serve.
"Yes, yes, I remember now. It’s so nice to meet all of you, once again. Now, you wish to be strong, yes? Good, Good. There is a cave to the south some day or so from here. Would you be so kind as to clear it of its inhabitants? They have stolen from me and my companions. And you all agree that stealing is wrong, yes?"
His arms suddenly drape his already covered face, slightly muffling what he says. "Woe unto them, for they have commited a crime! Dire it is, ever so dire."
His gaze meets back at you all and he quickly says "One of my companions will meet you there, and if you hurry, he might reward you… South is that way!" as he points directly in front of him. Looking in that direction, you see a mountain with what looks like antennas up on the top. After seeing what he had pointed at, you hear a jingling noise. When you look back at Omi, he is no longer there. In his place is a large duffle bag with the emblem of a bird on the side.
"Well I think we can agree that he left this bag here for us. Let's see what we have here." Kamiko starts to open the bag.
Interesting.
Well Kamiko, what are the contents of that mysterious bag?
Inside the bag are 30 Earthbender gold coins, food for 3 days for 5 people, and a note. The note is labeled "Give to Zhaar" and is sealed with the emblem of the bird.
Quin, you know that there are some people in the mountain. You don't know what they're doing, but apparently Omi says they stole from them. You also know that the mountain is a cursed place and that many people don't want to tread there, in case they are spirited away.
You also know that there is a town between here and the mountain.
"We ought to get moving as soon as possible. So let's rest for now and wake early, we have a long day tomorrow and I'm not the fastest traveler. Sorry."
Supplies shouldn't be a problem, there is a town between us and our destination. I suggest we make a brief stop anyway to gather as much information we can before continuing on.
There is another sack, this time it holds but one giant blue tent. Enough for two people to sleep in. The outside has another bird emblem, and a note tied to it.
-Omi"
Quin empties out the second bag and begins setting up the tent.
"I'd rather not set out into the night. Lets get a good nights rest and set out at dawn." he says to the whole group.
Turning to Su he says "So you're a healer? From your Fire Nation garb I wouldn't have picked you out as one."
Quin looks a little uncomfortable."Well you're a bender aren't you? I've not known any fire benders to be healers."
"A camping tent for two? I can make shelter for anyone else who needs it. And promptly erects himself a lean to from the earth.
We'll have plenty of time to discuss who we are on the road yes?
Xianhue blinks again as Omi vanishes. "... How'd he do that?" she asks aloud, then looks back at the others. "I suppose we could at least check it out - if there are bandits in those caves, someone should go there and stop them."
She smiles brightly at Dionoclese. "That's okay, I'm used to sleeping in the trees and the Fire Nation people can use the tent so you can make another shelter for Kamiko and we should be okay for the night!" With that, she crouches, then leaps upward on a puff of bent air, alighting on a sturdy-looking branch where she quickly makes herself comfortable.
"You said there's a town to the north?" She calls downward at Quin Jee. "What kind of town? Is it a big one? Do you think they'll have a good inn with soft beds and hot baths?"
"Well I guess it's time we sleep. We have a long day tomorrow. See you in the morning, friends." And with that, I sleep.
Seeing he's the first one awake, Dion begins clearing the campsite and disperses his lean to. He softly sings to himself as he works, and as he passes each sleeping person he says good morning, whether they awake or not is up to them. He does not however, poke his head into the tent. He is content to say good morning from the outside.
Quin seems to be the second one awake. He goes about his morning business and then sets out making something edible for breakfast for everyone.
I'll go get some water from the stream
"Do you need any help, uh Quin right?"
"True enough, let's be off as soon as we have some food. Wakey, Wakey Xianhue!"
"No thank you Dion, I keep a small supply of assorted spices with me for just such an occasion." Quin glances at Su and then back to what he is doing.Edible doesn't imply slow. I take pride in what I prepare.
Breakfast is served and enjoyed. Quin disassembles the tent and the party heads off into the unknown.
"We're heading to the village first right? See what we can find out about the mountains?"
Xianhue jerks awake when Dionoclese yells her name. "Those fruit pies were like that when I found them!" she yells back instinctively, then blinks, looks around, and blushes. "Er... Okay, I'm awake."
She hops down from the branch, another puff of wind cushioning her landing. "So are we going to check out that town today?"
Xianhue nods brightly, then straightens and snaps out her glider. "I'll go and scout ahead just keep following the road and I'll keep you updated!"
With that, she crouches and leaps upward, a blast of air catching the glider and pushing her up above the treetops.