"Nay Ynyr. Tes not his fault he's gone soft int' head after sixty year. Can't all be practical like."
He peers into the gloom of the temple. In the bleak daylight it is hard to remember the events of the previous night.
"Still seems wrong leaving place like this, even if our Brigid be going to destruct it tonight." Healaugh's voice takes on a new fervour as he remembers the goddess.
"Ifn't I were a praying halfling, she'd be the lass for me. Might just say odd prayer to her. Reckon she'm a lass who knows about tricksy fish."
Then he returns to more immediate matters.
"Now then Coinneach, what can ye' be telling us about this place? We'll be needing to know about ways into Manor to find boat I reckon. But m'thinking would be good to look round here a mite first."
Brand is the last to awaken, he sits bolt upright, eyes wide and appears about to cry out, but stifles it at the last second. His lids drop to normal and his shoulders slump a bit as he rubs the foul wounds of the dead-thing. He then levers himself to an upright position and taking his axe he stretches in manner suggesting he's at home with axe in hand.
"Nasty wounds Bran. Best be talking to our Siobhan - don't want them festering. Thing din't poison ye did it?"
Whilst Siobhan and Bran are hand in hand with a ghul in tow, Tresmeer takes the opportunity to help out on the healing front.
"Let me see that dere woun', Brand." Tresmeer scratches at the cut and shakes his beard, tutting. "Tain't natrul."
"Siobhan, cun yum 'elp dis chap. 'Eee be 'urt summat fierce and festerin' mebbe."
The farmer watches and waits hoping to learn a bit from the girl. He grins at Brand, "Bledy glad it got you un' not me! Course Siobhan will see you be roight, doan 'eee worry none."
At Tresmeer's words Siobhán settles herself beside both men. "It's a nasty wound alright. I'll bandage it to help you carry on Brand, but let me know if it gets too painful. I can focus the gifts of the goddess again, but if getting off of this island is going to be a challenge then perhaps I should conserve my energies for emergencies"
She comments to both men but mostly to herself as she sets to bandaging the warrior with whatever clean fabric she can get her hands on.
"This armor will be some protection, and I agree there may be a better time to call on the godess again." not trying to appear short, but shrugging off the idea of calling on the godess. " An annoyance, nothing more" he starts, then continues "...I did have some very disturbing dreams tho..." before trailing off. He seems to be staring at a point in the distance. "I really need some fresh air and a good meal..at least with all that rain we should have no trouble finding fresh water"
Siobhán smiles sadly at the news Brand had a bad dream and lightly squeezes his hand in her own. "If you need to talk at all, let me know. Alright?" She declares quietly before politely moving away.
"It looks like we're ready to get going, we don't have time to waste.."
"So, servant of a pirate king, I reckun yum not told 'ealaugh 'bout good ways into the Manor an' such. Proper toime is 'ere cus we be goin' dere."
Tresmeer grins at Ynyr. Same thoughts in every word - he be up to summat.
Then the farmer walks back to the statue and bows his head.
You be fair and we have a day to live or die. Out on the moors in a wild, windy storm can be just the same for a sheep I reckon.
"You're in right of it there Tresmeer. He's said nowt. Happen he's taking time to collect thoughts. Been here a while and not been with folks for a long time."
Healaugh plonks himself down on the floor.
"Brought us in from storm and let us honour Brigid-lass. Don't reckon he's traitrous, just a mite soft in't head." he adds quietly.
Coinneach's eyes bulge and he looks like he might strangle Tresmeer, "How dare yoo! A pirate king! Pirate! Yoo're only alive todae 'cos ah himself! He beat back the pirates and saved these isles, ye young wastrel! Pirate! He hadnae love fer them nor they fer he! Thas why the attacked this place! Have ye no listened to a word ah said?!" he shouts before collapsing into a fit of wheezing.
Siobhán's eyes widen in suprise at the outburst, rushing forward she gently wraps her arms around the old man. "Shh.. arguing won't help any of us, especially you. Just breath deeply Coinneach, keep yoursen calm, I'm sure Tres meant no insult.. right?" At her last word she looks up and at Tresmeer with a small hopeful smile.
"Eh well, lass, I will nae have the memry o' himself slandered so, ye ken?" the old man says quietly and sadly to the half-elf.
"Coinneach, is there anything more hereabouts that could be useful? Weapons or rope? Surely with all these filthy Phooka about even a chapel must have 'ad arms." Brand stands in the dorrway inhaling the moist morning air. "Or something for a lever..." I could move Highport with a big enough lever " We may need to get into locked doors, and an axe is good for trees but not iron bound castle doors"
Lightly stroking Coinneach's hair in a comforting manner Siobhán nods slowly with an understanding little smile. "Of course I understand. I'd never hear any ill spoken of the woman who taught me. Sometimes if you don't have many happy memories you have to cling to the few you have and not let anyone sully them"
Brand goes round the temple, checking each room; downstairs has several small rooms with scraps of cloth in them. You surmise these might have been servants' quarters. You find what must have been a storeroom, rats scurry fearfully away from you as you go in. There are yet more rooms with rotting cloth in, this time perhaps female clothing. Also you find a kitchen.
Out the back there is a small jungle of overgrown flowering plants with a path leading to a well. This was once a garden.
Upstairs are what were once sumptuous bedrooms, now trashed (presumably by the Fhoi Myore raiders who unleashed the power of the goddess.
Tresmeer goes through the kitchen area with a fine nose for food. He is getting desperate.
He will spend all ten minutes at it.
"Get me on the way out, Brand. Ta!"
"Seascum taints all they touch seemingly." says Healaugh, almost apologetically as he takes in Coinneach's distress. "Likely your King'll be glad to see them drowned by Brigid-lass. Might rest his heart."
His explorations take him to the garden. "Siobhan, can tha' seen any goodness here? Herbs or such. Could be doing with a bite and some o'em might have virtue."
He scours the plants, hoping his keen halfling senses will help him.
Ynyr looks sorrowfully at his axe. Wouldn't there be a way to better meselfat the use of this thing? Now where can I go the won't cause danger to anyone?
"Would you please not mind if I try to work out how to use this? You'll call me if we are about to leave will you not?" He says to Tresmeer and Healaugh.
He finds his way to the back yard and practises chopping at the undergrowth. Seeing if he can clear the path, attacking the undergrowth as if it were a hideous monster. He will probably do this for about ten minutes or until called by the others.
When Healaugh joins him in the garden, Ynyr guiltily stops hacking at the growth and looks around the garden too. He will use his knowledge(nature) to see what we have here and perhaps there will be things he can make useful twine out of or whatever.
He will also take a look down the well to see if there is anything interesting down there.
Siobhán smiles reassuringly at Coinneach before standing and following the halfling at his request for aid in finding edible plants. More than used to foraging and growing her own food she scans the plantlife with an expert eye.
Healaugh watches Ynyr's efforts with the axe for a moment.
"Ye know lad, that's not your weapon." he comments, not unkindly.
"Mebbe ye should be talking to Brand bout using tha' sword o' his'n. Seemingly he's handy wi' an axe. Can't see sword being any worse for ye."
"Our Tresmeer needs sling. Needs thinking on, ifn't we're heading to pucha lair. Best be mite better than we were wi' ghul beast I'm thinking."
Brand pays special attention to the "servants" quarters where he feels tools might be found, but not above the 10 or so minutes, before returning to the main hall to report his findings to the others.
The garden party don't find anything particularly useful or remarkable in the weeds and overgrown bushes, unfortunately.
Brand realises that there are enough scraps of cloth to fashion some cloaks, and he also uncovers some very low quality brooches, pins, and other such items for securing garments.
Brandlaik returns to the main chamber brows furrowed. "Garn! not so much as a butterknife! I did find these, for those that don't ken to phooka-stink". He grumbles on about food and poosibly cleaning the armor at an all but inaudible tone for a minute as he shows the cloth and brooch pins to the others.
"We'll be warm at least. Pins can be weapons in need. Ye done good Brand. Better nor us. Nowt int' garden. Reckon our Tresmeer fared better?"
Siobhán looks over the material and the pins with an appreciative smile. "You've done really well" She tells Brand softly "I can't help but feel we're going to need every bit of help we can get today.."
Biting her lower lip to stop herself continuing down a negative pattern of speech she looks in the direction Tresmeer went. "I'll go check" she replies lightly to Healaugh's words before heading off to find the shepherd.
"How's it going Tres?" She asks as she catches up with him.
He is staring into an empty cupboard.
"Bledy food! not got none an' me starvin'."
Healaugh grunts in sympathy.
"Happen pooka-scum got food int' Manor we're going to."
"We'll find something to eat, don't worry" Siobhán assures the two men with a little smile, trying to remain as optimistic as possible.
"Way it be goin' I be chewin' on a pooka. Dey better stay out me way in dat manor, I be fit to break every damn neck in there I tell 'eee."
Tresmeer looks murderous at Siobhan and Healaugh for a moment. Then it passes.
"Sorry, not at me best now."
He wanders back to the centre with the rest.
"Hey Healaugh, you got man's dagger, cun us make a sling out of the cloth and Oi'll grab some rocks. I got a man's axe but Oim missin' a barn door when I swing this thing."
Siobhán takes a quick step back at Tresmeer's murderous look, obviously a little disturbed by it. As the shepherd apologises she puts on a weak, brave smile and bows her head a little to him. "It's alright" she murmurs before heading away to find something to do that keeps her out of his way.
"Tresmeer, perhaps you can use this sword? I'm more comfortable with the axe" says Brand gesturing at the blade at his side. "And I'm afraid I'm better at taking things apart than putting them together but maybe the scholar has some insight."
Sure missin' the morning smell o' the pines and bacon cooking about now, but there's nothing for it.
"Halfling stomach's smaller. M'not minding so much. Nets now. Can make them. Ifn' cloth's not rotted, can make ye a sling easy. Can use one mesel come to that. Better nor dagger for me anyroad."
Healaugh rootles through the bits of cloth Brand found to try and construct a couple of slings for himself and Tresmeer.
"P'haps I be a swordsman!" Tresmeer swings the long blade and laughs.
"P'haps not. Still think a sling by fur the best. Let yum un Conall gets up close an' me hit um fum a bit aways." He grins again. "Healaugh, yum wantin' a big axe to go with dat dagger?"
All thoughts of food has gone temporarily, as the party's new swordsman play acts about a bit. Then he strikes a guardsmen pose, copying the Dennik town militia at the castle he saw once.
"What do 'Eee all think?"
"Aye - axes should suit me."
Healaugh grins up a the tall farmer and jokingly tries to pick up two of the axes. His attempts to swing them land him face down on the floor.
"Hmm. As well I din't have dagger or I'd be headless halfling by now. Only had teeth left to hold it in."
"Right lad. Slings it is for thee and me."
craft(netmaking)[9,6] = (15)
As people were talking, well you could say complaining but there was reason, Conall took simple stock of how he was feeling and the gazed out on the surroundings. It seemed like it could be a nice island in some ways.
"If we had longer i'd set some snares and see if I could catch us anything... Still if someone would be so kind as to lend me something bladed I can try seeing if I can find some game for us to eat. I'm a hunter by trade."
Knowledge Nature (1d20+2=20)
Profession Hunter (1d20+5=6)
Spot (1d20+5=13)
Survival (1d20+7=14)
Trying to find a place to hunt or find food for people. Hopefully he can do something for the guys :)
The day has begun with a grey sky and a light drizzle. Conall has a hunt around the outskirts of the temple but doesn't uncover anything edible. His experience tells him that plant life on an island like this is unlikely to be palatable. The best things to eat would be the aforementioned rats and sea birds.
Coinneach pipes up after a while, once you are all gathered back together, "I think I might know aboot some o' them 'objects o' power that the goddess mentioned to ye. Oh aye, I heard, I just pretended to still be asleep, ye ken." he adds with a wink, "It doesnae do to be too bold wi' the divine."
Still feeling highly out of place with an axe...
"Would there be any more daggers around now? Do I know that the axe could do great harm to a foe? But how do I ever hit with it? Do you think this is all we have, maybe? Will I have to stick with this thing now, and if that's so then so be it, but should we fight would it be safer if I did not try to use this when others were around?"
After making this announcement, we turns to Coinneach. "Well, I suppose I shuold be sorry for how I said earlier yes? It is this thing" indicating the axe, "You slash and slosh with it but isn't it all for nothing? But you were going to say about what the goddess said to us?"
"Best take dagger Ynyr." - handing it over.
"Now then Coinneach. Happen it's time ye told us what ye know."
The old man turns to Ynyr, "Aye, I know aboot some odd bits an' pieces hereaboots. The Sea King had many treasures from his years of adventuring before settlin' down ere. The pirates ran off wi' most of 'em, but they didn't recognise all of 'em. Nor would I."
He waxes lyrical and reminisces, "But one of 'em that gave the queen was this little stick of wood that she could use to to tell when one o' them funny treasures was near. I never bothered wi' it, these 60 years. Not my place to be meddlin' with the Sea King's treasures and those of the family. not yours either, if it weren't life-and-death. I'll show you where it is, if you want."
"I believe there's some Phoo..ahem Fhoi Myore" he seems to spit the words out as one would venom sucked from a snake-bite "spears 'round here somewhere, perhaps one'd be less ungainly, but keep the axe with you, as plenty's a thing can be broke with an axe but not so easily with a spear." Apparently the furrow in his brow has become permanent for even as he turns from Ynyr to the old man and his voice softens, it remains. "Tell on" he states simply.
"Reckon you'd best be saying bit more Coinneach. Time be wasting."
"Well, what more do ye want to know?" the old man asks testily.
Melisana hefts the crossbow and says, "Yes, what should we ask about? I don't really know..."
To Healaugh: "And, you know you are a most generous friend do you not? Be sure I will repay you when I can now, will you be?"
Ynyr looks approvingly at Coinneach. The teacher in him coming out.
"Now then, and haven't you gone and said something useful you know? A wand is it? Do you say it is here or elsewhere?" Then to himself, Now, would I have heard of this in my wanderings back home?
"Whereabouts of stick of treasure finding'd be favourite. That an bit more about this boat we'll be needing right soon. Grave robbing's not right, but don't reckon this is grave robbing, seeins tis done at Brigid-lass's will. She'll not be guiding us wrong."
To Bran: "And you would be right if I could control the thing isn't that so? But, well, I'll keep your advice and take it won't I? But if we get into a fight together, you will be sure to be a long way from me won't you?"
"An axe and a dagger, well I know which I would use best. At least I could use a dagger to make something useful perhaps." He stows the dagger about his person and hefts the axe trying to somehow get the feel of it.
Exhaling slowly at the blunt questioning of the old man Siobhán takes a step forward and lightly takes one of Coinneach's hands in her own. "You would be doing us a great honour by showing us where it is. I'm sure the Sea King and his kin would be glad the treasure was being to good use, especially by you. You've remained faithful over all of these years, you truly deserve to keep on living Coinneach."
She looks around the group with a weak smile "You all do, as curious as I am over the history of this place, this isn't the time for questions, we should just move on and follow Coinneach to this stick so we can find the items that will help us get off of the island."
"Would you be able to give us a description somehow?" asks Melisana kindly, "I would say a map, but I don't suppose we could-"
"Aye, aye... a map, aye" the old man says and shuffles off back into the temple.