The remains are united with the doll, Tiffana’s coins, and Angalia’s supplies. As Res says a few words of blessing, the faint crying turns into a strain of light laughter, which recedes as if on a breeze into silence.
Erfan smiles at the sight, jingling the copper charms along his spear as windchimes to celebrate the spirit's release.
"We have done some small bit of good in a land thusfar claimed by wickedness. I can only hope that this snowball of hope becomes an avalanche of good fortune."
Nathaniel nods, tired from the digging but glad that they have given the poor child’s soul some peace. “We did a good thing,” he says. “Now … let’s head inside, have something to eat and try to get a good night’s sleep.”
Inside the house he takes out some rations to share, then clears a space to lay down his bedroll, asking to be waken to take the third watch.
"I'll take third watch as well, if no one minds."
begins to search area for spiders before settling down on new bedroll
Eliva sighs and smiles a little at the ghostly laughter. Maybe now they could rest easier - having righted a small wrong. "I can take watch in the depths of the night, if you wish. I can see well in the darkness, and we only have the door and windows to watch now, rather than the entire perimeter."
The party sets up watches and makes camp within their newfound shelter. The ruined cottage isn't the most hospitable dwelling - it is draughty and heavy with the memories of many lifetimes that have passed beneath its sagging roof. But the party is able to rest soundly and without any further interruption. In this benighted place, the pale light of dawn is a welcome sight.
Eliva's hunting eyes are sharp, but the pickings seem slim. While looking for rabbit tracks, she instead stumbles upon a lone pheasant and takes it out with a sharp shot. The small bird may not feed a party of seven, but should provide some extra protein to sustain you in addition to your other rations.
Angalia looks at the cottage consideringly.
"I might just be able to rig something up to discourage visitors. Or at least give us some warning."
Angalia looks at the cottage consideringly.
"I might just be able to rig something up to discourage visitors. Or at least give us some warning."
Eliva spent the rest of her watch plucking and cleaning the bird, then hung it up to keep until morning, and returned gratefully to her bed as the watch changed again.
The next morning, after prayers, Eliva was happy for the addition of a little meat to their morning repast. "I know we're heading into town, and I hope they'll have some more food available in town, but I'm glad for a little taste of something fresh and hot to eat. I'll try to keep my eyes open for other food," she added. "I'll be happy for any help if we end up travelling some more. And maybe," she added ruefully, "I'll bring better supplies with me next time as well!"
In a shocking display of bad manners she only managed to feel a little guilty about, Eliva licked the last of the bird off her fingers, then said, "Are we ready to head into town? I hope we can find out more about where we are, and how we can get back home."
Devouring her share of the bird Tiff seems to brighten considerably, maybe a goon night sleep and some good food were what she needed. "I think maybe we should get into town early, if we're to hunt our prey we'll need fuel for our fires.", she gives Eliva a thank you kiss on the cheek and a short hug, "Many thanks, I never had a more welcome meal."
“Sorry Eliva, I should have helped you hunt … I was so tired,” says Nathaniel, shame-faced.
Once everyone is finished eating breakfast and ready to move, he checks his weapons, shoulders his pack and gets ready to walk down to the village, nodding a silent goodbye to the small grave as he passes it.
when handed the fresh food, reaches into his coat, drawing out a monogrammed silver flask
A toast to the new day. I'm sure things will be looking up.
drinks, and passes around (it's the good stuff)
Angalia too seems happier in the morning - a combination of a decent night's sleep, relief at helping do some minor good and pleasure in the frest meat.
She takes a swig from Belanos' flask and grins at him.
"Thanks to you and Eliva. That's a good start to the day. Are we ready to go and find some living people?"
Res awakens, meditates for about an hour to prepare his spells for the day and then joins the other. He eats his trail ration and adds a little of Eliva's bird. "Thank you Eliva, this bird is delicious. Trail rations only is getting very old quickly."
He gathers his things and is ready to head off into town.
Tiff slips off to the side before changing from her travel clothes and into her priestess garb. "I assume these rubes have some reverence for the divine."
"We will just have to present ourselves as well as possible, I suppose. I...can hang out in the back, if you think that better for our chances of reception from these people. I generally can ingratiate myself with people, if they can accept my heritage, but as we have no idea about this place, except for its general inhospitality, I can't guess what their reaction will be to me." Eliva's eyes flicked over to Erfan, then back to the group as a whole. "I will say their community looked as if it could use some help. I didn't see much evidence of pride in their land or the work of their hands. But I suppose I'm judging too early, there." Erastil would frown on those that didn't work hard help their family and community thrive. But this seemed a harsh land, she should have more charity and a kind outlook before meeting these people for the first time.
"Eliva, you have to stop thinking of yourself as a half-orc and start thinking of yourself as Eliva. It doesn't suit you to cower. Most villagers are frightened of any sort of strangers, so I think we just tell the truth about why we're here. We have no reason not to, after all. Maybe one of them knows something about the child's spirit. They may be happy to have news of that, at least."
She looks across at Erfan.
"You really might want to give some thought to clothing at this point. We're a big enough group to be a threat, so let's not add a nude gnome to the list of reasons to run us out of town."
“You need to stop thinking of him as a nude gnome and start thinking of him as Erfan,” Nathaniel teases Angalia gently with a wink. For once the ranger seems in a good mood, whether as a result of putting the child’s spirit to rest, a good night’s sleep or the rather large swig he took from Belanos’s flask it is hard to tell. Perhaps a combination of the three.
Out of the gnome’s earshot he says more seriously, “Actually I think having Erfan put some clothes on is a fine idea, and I’ll repeat your request to him if you like … but I’m not sure how much good it’ll do. I’ve known him for five years, as well as any in the village knew him I would guess, and I’ve never known him to wear anything more than the weather demands. I think he’s a lot older than he looks, and probably hasn’t worn clothes for a long time … but I’ll try.”
As Nathaniel is packing, he offers Erfan his spare shirt. “You know how people are,” he says. “Best not to shock them too much till we find out where we are and how to get home, don’t you think?”
Nathaniel will have all his weapons with him but holstered / slung, sheathed when he heads into town. He’ll let others do the talking initially. He suggests they look for an inn or tavern (daylight might reveal one) or town hall or market square or something.
Taking a meager share of the morning meal compared to his much larger companions, Erfan eats like a king for the first time in days. As camp is broken and more talk of clothing is bandied about, the gnome lets out an exasperated sigh.
"Your shirt may as well be a gown at my size, but if it will abate whatever unease you seem to fear then I shall wear it. I make no promises that I will keep it on, however, especially if the excess fabric becomes troublesome to my movements in an emergency!"
With a huff, the gnome dons Nathaniel's shirt, the hem of it coming just to his knees and the sleeves long enough to touch the ground. Erfan's expression wilts as he rolls the sleeves up to his elbows and takes his spear in hand once more.
"Let us be on then."
Hoist on her own petard, Angalia grins back at Nat.
When Erfan reappears draped in fabric she nods.
"I don't care myself, Erfan, but as Nat says, you know what people are like - and if these villagers have been tormented day and night by some of the horrors we've seen, it won't take much for them to turn on us. Anyway, thank you for doing that."
"I can lead the group into town, perhaps they will feel more comfortable with a priest" Res leads the group toward town but keeps his eyes open for trouble.
As the group heads into the village, they see ahead some signs of life. People are up, attending to their daily business. Some are tending to fields and gardens, while others carry baskets and bins of foodstuffs for sale. While the activities are perfectly normal, there is an air of malaise about the village, as if everyone is merely going through the motions. The subdued expressions of the townspeople give the village a cheerless feel.
As the party approaches the outermost dwellings, villages turn to stare, silent and wary, at the newcomers. No one approaches you or says so much as a word of greeting.
Res looks for one of the villagers selling their wares and approaches. "Excuse me, my compatriots and I seem to have lost our way. We are in need of some food and perhaps somewhere to stay for a short while. May I ask what village this and if there are other villages nearby?"
"Eliva, you have to stop thinking of yourself as a half-orc and start thinking of yourself as Eliva. It doesn't suit you to cower. Most villagers are frightened of any sort of strangers, so I think we just tell the truth about why we're here..."
Eliva forced a smile and a nod. She would not stop thinking of herself as a half orc. She was a half orc. Accepting that and all the things that came with it - many humans' prejudices and the chance to prove those prejudices wrong being among them - was a hard fought battle in her youth. But Angalia meant well. Their community was small and needed unity; giving into a desire to dwell on the situation would not help them work together in harmony. In fact, her desire to continue the conversation may indicate she was not as sanguine with these frustrating facets of her existence as she thought...
Eliva followed the rest of the group toward the little town with a thoughtful inward focus. She snapped out of her reverie as they entered the sad little village. If ever a community needed the focus and drive Erastil called for in wresting a living out of the wilderness, this one did!
"And I would be happy to lend a strong arm and back and some knowledge of the land to repay you for any assistance you are able to offer," Eliva added to Res' introduction.
Erfan does his best to look as normal as a pointy-eared child in an oversized shirt holding an eight-foot spear covered in charms possibly can.
smiles winningly,
"Let your village elders know we're here. I'm sure they will want to assist us."
Aside to Eliva
Aware that she's managed to put her foot in it with Eliva, Angalia stays silent, but looks as non-menacing as she can.
Res approaches a farmer walking along the road in filthy working clothes and raises his question. The farmer sneers at the party, but considers Res’s question harmless enough.
“This here village is Tamoire, and you folk are well off your path to come here. Ain’t on the way to nothin. Ye’ll find food here, but naught place to stay, ‘n that’ll suit us just fine.”
“As for you,” he addresses Eliva, “the problem with strong arms is they can just as easily be used against ye as for ye.”
“Ye kin find your way into the square. Constable Renot is usually roundabout, ‘n he’ll sort you folk out, sure enough.”
The farmer turns away with a sneer. Clearly he is not interested in continuing the conversation.
"A Constable, huh? Excellent."
Erfan continues to awkwardly follow the others, fighting with his over-sized clothing every few steps. "I assume a constable is an authority figure of some kind? These people seem... terse."
"They do a bit. But at least they'll feed us."
"They do a bit. But at least they'll feed us."
"Hopefully not ergot." The gnome muses.
"Thank you for that happy thought."
The party makes its way towards the center of the village. As they pass by a few more hovels, villagers stop to stare distrustfully at the travellers. A dour woman urges her children indoors hastily and closes the door behind her, but most of the adult population does nothing but stand and stare.
The center of the village lies only a short distance from the rickety wooden docks and fish vendors that mark the hamlet's chief occupation. The town square, if you can call it that, is little more than a dirt tract with a well in the middle. Less than a dozen villagers mill around the area, going about their business, but they, too, pause when they notice the newcomers.
To your right as you enter the square, you see a small workshop with a wrought iron sign hanging in front that reads: "August Renot, Blacksmith/Constable." The front of the workshop is open to the outside air, and inside you can see a bulky middle-aged man hammering at an anvil.
Having no real place to store or stash his weapon, Erfan opts to shoulder it much like a traveling stick and sticks close to Nathaniel while staying well away from the leering villagers.
"Hello, Constable Renot?" Nathaniel calls.
[ooc]Perception:
"Thank-you for your assistance." Res turns and walks along with Nathaniel toward the center of the village.
Angalia follows silently with Erfan, feeling distinctly uneasy about this village.
When Nathaniel calls out, the blacksmith looks up, evidently somewhat startled; engrossed as he was in his work, he did not see you approach. He regains his composure and gives the party an appraising look and his eyes narrow skeptically. “Morning, travelers,” he says warily. “What brings you to our village?”
Angalia gently nudges Erfan and gestures very slightly towards the hooded woman.
"Someone is interested in our arrival at least," she murmurs.
The gnome nods at Angalia's mention. "So I see... but what is she trying to hide?"
Erfan waves to the hooded woman with a enthusiastic smile, completely shattering any hope of subtlety.
Angalia stares at Erfan for one startled second and then bursts out laughing.
"That's one way of finding out I suppose."
When Erfan makes his obvious gesture, the woman quickly turns and hurries out of the square, away from the party.
Erfan shrugs. "Guess she's shy."
Eliva shrugs as Erfan's gesture chases off the strange woman. Everyone was strange here - it took effort to be stranger than most. Eliva tries as much as possibe to look friendly and nonthreatening - something of a challenge given the large amounts of weaponry on her.