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Pointing at the picture Athene says in Common and then pauses and points at it again before repeating in elven
"Wolf
She then points to herself and thinking that at least one of these people has produced Flowery titles gives her full name and titles in elven
"Athene Telmeta Ranger and Paladin of Arshea"
She will also take a drink of the proffered liquid
To the others
"It looks like they want to talk, and have sent for someone either more important or more scholarly. So it looks like we wait "
She gets a piece of paper and sketches a human form and writes under it in common and elven Human, then a sketch of herself emphasising the height and pointed ears to differentiate from the human and writes under that Elf before passing it back to the guard
Although all she manages is stick figures
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Mina had not drawn any weapons, and peacefully follows the guards' implied instructions, sitting on a bench and returning their friendly smiles.
She accepts a drink from Frederic's jug before passing it along, nodding graciously at him, and opens up the coin purse to check the amount he seems to be offering in exchange for her jewelry...
When the sketch of the four-legged nasty critter is passed to Athene, and she calls it a wolf, Mina asks, "Are you sure he's not trying to draw those hunting dogs we almost faced back there?"
Finally, when the name exchanges occur, Mina pays close attention, then points at each of them to confirm she got it right, saying, "Mike. Kelly. Frederic. Nice to meet you! I was afraid we might never see friendly faces again. I'm Mina. Mina." She touches her own chest when repeating her name to get the point across. She knows they won't understand the rest of it, but figures a friendly voice couldn't hurt.
She then speaks to her allies, "Maybe we can make a series of sketches showing how we stepped into a magic portal or whatever and then got attacked by ghouls and dogs and such, and showing that we want to shake their hands and trade stuff with them and be peaceful. Anyone think they can manage drawing all that?"
EDIT: Adding an appraise check for whatever's in Frederic's pouch...
The swordsman, Frederic, fails to choke back a laugh at his companion's and Athene's drawings. Snickering to himself, he takes the stick and begins sketching. Surprisingly quickly, he makes a accurate sketch of the feral dogs following you. He tries repeating the word Mike used, but mangles the pronunciation badly. Thinking for a moment, he turns one of the ears into a ragged stump and eye near it into a mass of unseeing scars. Holding it up he shows it to everyone and seems to be asking a question. Ĉu vi vidas unu similan? Ĉu vi vidis tion?
Mike, the one in plate, carefully repeats the words Athene says while his companion is drawing. He nods as Athene shows the stick-figures of human and elf. He points at her eyes, and says something to Frederic, who makes two rough sketches. One is an elven face with solid monochrome eyes, like Athene, the other the pupil, iris, and white of a half-elf.
Pointing to the face like Athene, and then to her, he looks confused. Pointing to the half-elf face, he gestures to the valley and hills west of the castle, and shrugs like it isn't unusual.
Mina, looking inside the coin purse, you see there isn't much at the moment. A half dozen silver coins is all, marked with three interlocking letters on one side, and a picture of sweet-looking middle-aged woman on the other.
Having a sudden idea Athene draws a diagram on the top line the figures for an Elf and a Human, with a line down from each pointing to a third figure one for a Half elf
E H
\ /
HE
Trying to indicate the presumed descent
Mike looks at the drawing and shakes his head. Crossing out the elf figure, he darkens the line between human and half-elf and again points towards the valley and hills.
Staveon would ensure his weapons are away - he never actually drew them, as he has no need to.
Staveon sketches a surprisingly courtly bow for someone so rough-around-the-edges in return to 'Fredric Smith'. (He'd had to learn it the hard way while guarding that pom- ugh, he drops that line of thought. It comes in handy now.)
"Rystar Fredric Smith?" he asks, inquiringly. He gestures to the surrounding land. "Armiloj-viroj?" "Barono Napa?" "vasalo de?" He's not sure what the area itself is called, but he's guessing it's one of those. ()
"And... 'Sinjorino Protektanto' is the same as 'Mathilda Arminger'? Or is it 'el la Portland Asocio'?"
He grins wryly. "You've never heard of the 'River Kingdoms', I take it?" he asks, knowing (and intending humor) that they probably have no idea what he's saying. Getting an idea, he pulls out his map of the River Kingdoms, to help the others when they're talking about sudden transportation.
"River Kingdoms." he says. He gestures to everyone. "River Kingdoms." he explains again. "We all come from the 'River Kingdoms'."
"Do you-" he gestures to them, "-have a map-" gesturing to the map, "-of Napa?" he asks, gesturing to the surrounding area.
Presuming the dogs look anything like he'd seen before, he confirms it. "Waerg?" he confirms the name. He gestures to his own dogs, but then pantomimes a larger angrier creature with an ugly face, all snarling and weird-looking.
He grasps wrists in the way of warriors-as-equals with Mike and Kelly. "Mike." he says looking him in the eye. "Kelly." to the woman.
He thinks about it... slowly... before, "Ur-soh mur-di-n'tohjh?" he tries. "La kostumo de la Urso murdintoj?" gesturing to them, questioning. He has no idea what he just said, and he kind of hopes that he didn't just say that they're his mother or something.
He would also offer to share a cup of spiced khave. He'd gesture to any fire, and pantomime holding a pot, questioningly. If they produce anything of the sort, he'd brew a small pot (one dose) to share, drinking some and offering it around. He figures they might like it.
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Frederic looks critically at Staveon, but then shrugs. "Rystar?"
Pointing to the valley east of the castle "Barono Napa", to the castle and the area around it "Urso murdintoj", and to the valley and hills west of the castle "Mackenzies kaj vadőr". Pointing to the picture of the half-elf, "Vadőr" and again gestures to the west.
As the map is taken out, all three examine it, but shake their heads. No map of their own is produced, but they gesture to the castle.
Mike smiles and winks to Athene as Staveon says the word. Pointing to the drawing and back across the bridge. "Waerg" Pointing to Staveon's dogs, he shakes his head. "Hundo" He carefully points across the bridge and to the dog, clearly trying to draw a distinction between the two.
There's no fire for khave, but Kelly and Mike return the arm-clasp and nod encouragingly at his efforts to parrot what they said, repeating it slowly carefully.
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Mina points to Kelly's bear symbol, and then to Kelly herself. "Urso?"
She points to Mike's bear symbol, and then to Mike himself. "Urso Kostumo?"
She gives a little salute then bow to Mike as a gesture of respect, then shrugs as if to ask, "Did I get it right? Are you the bear boss?"
To Athene, when she fails to get the heredity thing across with her simple genealogy chart, Mina suggests amusedly, "You might need to make your drawings more pornographic to get the point across!"
Mina points to the lady on the coin and, on a hunch, asks, "Mathilda Arminger?"
Looking at Frederic's small offering of 6 (exotic to her) silver pieces, Mina taps his pouch, then taps her earrings and bracelets, then shakes her head no. Mina taps her earrings and bracelets, and then holds up the pouch and makes her cupped hands grow much larger to indicate that he would need a much bigger sack of coins to buy them. However, she then holds up a single finger to indicate interest. She holds his 6 local silver pieces in one hand and pulls out 8 silver pieces of her own in her other hand. She moves her two hands back and forth between them to indicate a trade and shrugs hopefully, offering her palm with her 8 silver pieces to Frederic for his inspection. She figures, in terms of pure value, he's getting a better deal here, but she also figures it couldn't hurt to have some local currency handy.
Mike and Kelly shake their heads. Each pointing to their symbol and themselves "Urso murdintoj", then indicating themselves, the castle, and surrounding area, La kostumo de la Urso murdintoj.
Frederic taps the entwined letters, "Portland Protektaj Asocio" before flipping it over to the portrait. "Reĝino patrino Sandra Arminger." After saying something to Kelly and Mike, Kelly flips him a pair of silver coins. Both silver, one has the bear's head symbol on one side and the portrait of a stern man with a wicked scar across his forehead. "La kostumo de la Urso murdintoj." "Sinjoro Urso Mike Havel." The other coin has the same letters as the other six, but the image is of a younger woman with a familial resemblance to the other. "Sinjorino Protektanto Mathilda Arminger"
Kelly joins in, pointing to the bear coin, "Sinjoro Urso Mike Havel. Estro de la Urso Murdintoj." Tapping the coin with the younger woman. "Sinjorino Protektanto Mathilda Arminger. Alta Reĝino de Montival."
Frederic takes one of the coins Mina offers, weighting it and gently biting the edge. Nodding, he accepts the trade, but asks Kelly something before adding her two coins so that the exchange is equal. Tossing two back to Kelly, he taps the sides of one Mina's, now his, coins and cocks his head. "Kio estas tio?"
Mina nods in a friendly manner at Frederick and Kelly to thank them for accepting the trade.
Mina points to Mike and inquires with a smile, "Sinjoro Urso Mike Havel?"
The coins Mina offered were:
4 Brevic silvers with the Crest of Choral the Conqueror (a double-headed dragon with one mouth breathing fire and the other holding a sword) on one side and a portrait of King Noleski Surtova on the other.
4 Daggermark silvers with the symbols of the assassin's guild and the poisoner's guild on one side (a hawk and a snake, intertwined around a dagger), and the symbol of the military on the other side (a horse head with a spear and a chaff of wheat crossed beneath it).
When Frederic inquires, Mina points out and names the symbols,
"Choral the Conqueror - dragon. King Noleski Surtova of Brevoy. This coin is from Brevoy. This is Brevoy."
She points to Brevoy on Staveon's map.
"Assasin's Guild and Poisoner's Guild - hawk and snake, around a dagger. Daggermark Military - horse, spear, wheat. This coin is from Daggermark. I'm from Daggermark. Daggermark is in the River Kingdoms. This is Daggermark."
She gestures to herself when she says she's from Daggermark, and then points out Daggermark on Staveon's map.
Staveon would politely accept the drink - and be shocked on how cold it is! He wonders where they imported the ice - that has to be difficult or expensive or both. "This is... good luxury." he tells them. "Thank you."
He'd accept the correction on the differentiation between waerg and hundo - and, privately, he'd already felt the same, in general, but was glad they were communicating.
He looks at the coin exchange with some interest.
"I'm a 'Bey-Rystar' from here." he indicates Brevoy on the map and coin, though he does so with more self-depreciating humor than anything else. He would carefully repeat 'Sinjoro Urso Mike Havel' and 'Sinjorino Protektanto Mathilda Arminger' in the same, slow, attempting-to-get-it way as he did before, while pointing to the royal crest of Brevoy. "Sinjorino?" he asks about the title.
"Bey." he says, pointing to the picture. Then, barely above that, "Rystar." he smiles. "Hence the title, 'Bey-Rystar', though let me tell you, it was far more trouble than it's worth!" he grins at them, jovially.
"I'm a 'Bloostone Sword' from here." he says with a great deal more pride as he gives the general area of the River Kingdoms, "As is he!" he says, gesturing to Therin. He'd grasp Therin's hand to show that they were brothers of the Bloodstone Swords. "Sergeant." gestures to himself, and then, he starts to say, but stops, "And-, ... wait. Hey, Therin, how high did you go? Did you let them promote you, or did you do the sensible thing, avoid responsibility, and stick to being a Corporal after you got out of Private?"
"Oh, and I was an assassin-guard from here." he points to Daggermark, the coin, and displays his arm tattoo from his time there.
He'd graciously accept what Fredric was attempting to say, nodding and getting the idea, and then, with Therin's aid (if he's willing) try to actually build a quasi-map of where they'd come from. The straight-lined streets and notable starting locations should help.
He'd then work on naming each of these places - and he'd give rough (not-to-scale) images that sketched their journey here.
He'd indicate near the Sevenarches, and then, "*swirsh-swirsh-swirlsh - pop!*" he say, spinning his head and fingers a little, "... and then we were here." he'd point to the cylinder they'd appeared on.
He would gesture and repeat the basic gist several times - they were here, in the River Kingdoms, then - suddenly - here on the concrete thing near the dike.
"Also," Staveon says, turning grim, "we ran into some... people." he gestures to the drawing, but indicates an angry frown-face on it. He gestures to his recently-acquired machete, taking care not to pull it out, but then back to people. He pantomimes people fighting, getting Pavo to help. "And with them," he draws a stick figure of a person, but puts X-marks over their eyes, and draws sharp teeth. "These guys." he says. He shakes his head in disgust. "We," he gestures to his group, "killed-" he draws a line over his neck, "-these guys-" he gestures to the stick figures, "-when they attacked us when we arrived." he finishes pantomiming and gestures to the maps.
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It finally occurs to Athene to do something obvious she should have done ages ago and she takes a few seconds to concentrate on each of the three people they are talking to and detect evil upon them.
The last thing Pavo wanted to do was raise the ire of these heavily armed guards, so his daggers stayed well and hidden up his sleeves. He takes his turn with the metal jug, drinking deep enough to sate his thirst, but not too deep to seem selfish. The long pull caused the frigid temperature of the wine to send a shock through his sensitive teeth, "Ahh," his hand shooting up to his face, massaging his jaw, "that sure is cold! It's good, but next time I might go a bit easier on it, hah!" He hands the jug over to whomever is next in line.
Addressing the woman, he almost seems embarrassed, shrugging sheepishly and nods, his ever present lop-sided grin almost splitting his face. Pointing to himself, then at each of his companions individually, he then points to the south, indicating the way they had come.
When the subject of the wolf-dog comes up, Pavo agrees with Mina, "Yes, I think she is indicating the muscled brutes that were stalking us through the mists." He then turns to Mina, "Maybe we should show them the vial that the two psychos from before seemed to be fighting over?"
When the party introductions begin Pavo takes his turn accordingly, pointing to himself, "Pavo. Pavo Dent." When Staveon tells them that they're all from the River Kingdoms, he shakes his head, pointing to himself then to the map, "Not from the River Kingdoms, I'm from Ilsurian. In Varisia. Varisia," as he indicates the empty space to the left of the map, drawing a circle in the air, trying to convey that Varisia is to the west of the area depicted on the map.
Pavo takes another pull from the jug, snorting to the point where the liquid almost shoots out of his nose as Mina suggests drawing more graphic imagery to get Athene's point across. "Now that reaction I would pay to see, hah!"
After helping Staveon act out their fight from the previous day, Pavo takes a back seat to the conversation. Talk had turned to attempts at parsing out the names of places and nobility and these things simply didn't keep Pavo's attention, knowing that his companions would fill him in on the relevant bits. The problem was that his feet kept trying to walk away from the group. After multiple scoldings , a stern gaze, and finally a sneer and a shaken fist, his wandering legs got the better of him. As the rest of the group busied themselves with conversation, Pavo takes the opportunity to slip away from the meeting to take a peek at the rest of the camp.
"Those other guys and those creatures were fighting pretty fiercely over that vial. I don't know if we should show anyone we have it until we've earned their trust more or figured out what it might be. We wouldn't want it to be just taken from us."
If she notices Pavo leaving, she would say to Staveon (not directly drawing attention to Pavo, but warning him nonetheless), "You know, these guys DID make it pretty clear they want us to wait here at the guard post, and I don't think we want to cause any trouble, right?"
to notice Pavo leaving...
"Right. Hey, Mike!" he says, "You-" he gestures, "wanna show-" he gestures hands-to-eyes in a classic 'look' gesture, "-a couple of us-" he holds up one, then two, then three fingers shrugging, "-around for a sec?" he gestures to the nearby area.
"I agree best not to show them the vial until we have some sort of clue about what is going on. We do not know the relationship between those men who attacked us and these men here, it would be foolish to assume that they are not friendly with each other until we know better. I also agree that we should be patient for a while"
She settles down to rest on then bench and then remembers another point from earlier in the conversation and then also to Mina
"Do I understand you correctly in that you think more detailed drawings may help them understand my question about how they seem to have half elves without elves? I have always thought that your human cultures were fairly prudish about bodily functions and I did not want to offend, or at least that is what I think you imply with the word Pornography it is not really a word which translates well into elven. If you think it would help it would seem I have even more to learn about human culture than I thought"
Mina laughs heartily, enjoying Athene's refreshing ... naïveté? Not quite naïveté, but a refreshing perspective nonetheless. The idea of Athene as an elven tourist to human lands has been intriguing and amusing Mina all along.
"More graphic drawings certainly might offend some, and perhaps we don't know enough about this culture to risk it, but these guys are hardened soldiers. I bet they could take it. Besides ... stick figures with an extra little stick might just be funny enough and yet clear enough to get your point across, if you really want to try to explain where half elves come from." :)
If they seem to be remaining seated, Mina would probably ask someone for pencil and paper to try to draw it herself, just for fun and to pass the time.
If, however, Mike goes along with Staveon's suggestion to show them around, she would gladly join the group for a look.
In response to Athene's suggestion that they might be allies, "They're different." Staveon says confidently. "These guys are too well-fed, too well-kempt. The others were hungry, lean, and crazed. If there's a relationship between them, it's one based on the fact that those guys out there," he gestured, "-want to take what they've got in here." he gestures. "I'm guessing they're okay with us because we look healthy. We're not starving or obviously diseased, and we're clearly travelers."
He takes the opportunity to feed his creatures at this point.
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If she has the time while seated, and if she is handed paper and a writing implement by one of the guards or by someone in her own group, Mina would attempt to draw the following:
On one side of the paper, across the top, she would draw three faces: a basic circle with two oval and dot eyes and a line smile (labeled "human), a slightly more elongated face shape with big pointy ears, shaded-in oval eyes, and a smaller line smile (labeled "elf"), and a medium-round face with smaller-than-elf-but-still-quite-pointy ears, human-like oval-and-dot eyes, and a medium-wide smile (labeled "half-elf, half-human").
She would point to herself and the human face and Mike and the human face and say,
"Human. Mina human. Mike human. Kelly and Frederic and Staveon and Pavo and Therin human."
Then she would point to the elf face drawing and to Athene saying,
"Elf. Athene elf. Elf."
Then she would point to the third face and say,
"Half-elf, half-human."
Then, she would divide the rest of the page into little boxes, like a comic strip.
In the first box, she draws a stick figure human with *ahem* an extra little stick, standing next to a stick figure elf. They are holding hands. (Their stick arms overlap.)
She points to the picture. "Human. Elf."
In the second box, she draws the two figures much closer together, their stick arms curved around each other, the tiny stick connecting them.
In the third box, she draws the two figures standing next to each other again, only this time the elf stick figure has a big round belly.
In the fourth box, she draws the two figures standing next to each other again, back to normal-looking, but with a very short half-elf stick figure standing between them.
In the last box, she draws the three figures again, except now the half-elf is the same height as the other two.
"Half-elf, half-human!" Mina proclaims triumphantly, pointing to the middle stick figure in the final picture. She looks around, quite proud of herself, to see if the others followed.
to craft a comprehensible stick figure sequence
to tell how much they understood
Therin taps his chest and says his name, before offering his hand to the others gathered.
Therin casually looks around just in case...
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During the coin exchange, Mike vehemently shakes his head at Mina's question. Pointing to himself, then the coin, "Mike Garcia. Urso murdintoj." "Mike Havel. Sinjoro Urso Mike Havel"
Frederic tosses one coin of each to Kelly, who shakes her head in response to whatever he said. Mike also takes a look, but shakes his head in turn, throwing out a couple of words with a questioning tone.
The guards follow Staveon and Pavo's reenactment, map, and drawings of the fight with interest. Frederic taps the blade and holds out a hand questioningly. If given a chance to examine it, he looks it over carefully, seeming to be looking for something. Apparently satisfied, he returns it handle first. Near Staveon's figures, Frederic draws a thin figure gnawing on an arm, a pair of jagged lightning like symbols, a clover leaf, a half sunburst, three letters: CUT, two stylized equine figures chasing one another forming a circle, and a five-pointed star without straight lines and an eye in the center. Pointing first to the 'dead' stick figure, Frederic then points to each symbol in turn, looking for confirmation or negation.
Once Mina begins her biology lesson, Frederic turns red and Mike and Kelly both laugh. Smiling, Mike once again crosses out the elf figure. Drawing another human figure next to the first, he redoes the figures so that each step is the same, except with two humans this time. In the fourth and fifth boxes, he keeps the half-elf. If anyone looks skeptical, he nods firmly and points from the two humans to the half-elf.
Pavo's exploration doesn't provoke any reaction until it looks like he may be straying beyond the post, at this points Kelly calls out to him swiftly and gestures back to one of the benches. If he doesn't seem inclined to comply, she sighs, picks up her unloaded crossbow, and points at him and the bench.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------- -
As you continue your communication in stick-figurese, you notice a group coming towards you along the tracks. A few dozen humans in their mid to upper-teens jog in a solid block, wearing a uniform of breast-plate and chain, round-shield, longsword, recurved bow and quiver, all done in a combination of brown and red. Boys outnumber the girls about three to two.
A middle-aged man runs in front, wearing similar, though higher quality, gear. His features a mix of Mwangi and Ulfan. Blue eyes sparkle from skin the color of wheat toast, and his crinkly blond hair is cut very short.
Your guards rise to their feet. Mike smiles at you encouraging. Pointing to the bear symbol and the runners, he makes a shrinking symbol with his hands. "Eta urso." Pointing to the man in front, "Urso murdintoj. A-listo."
Three people ride along-side him. Two are of similar age. A weathered, dark-haired man whose crooked nose and scarred face argue for a interesting life. Alongside him is a rather piratical looking woman, her blond braids, azure eyes, and eye-patch make you think she should be on the deck of dragon-ship rather than a horse. Both are dressed in mottled green and grey and carry horse-bows on their backs. Their weapons are a bit different though, the woman wears a long, slightly curved saber, while the man seems to have one of the machete-like weapons.
The third rider is perhaps the most interesting. A young man, twenties or thirties perhaps, dressed in a black tunic. Embroidered in silver across the breast are seven stars surrounding a crowned tree. Serious grey eyes are set in a delicately handsome face, and two pointed ears sweep our from his blue-black hair.
As the party approaches, Mike, Kelly and Frederic all make steadying and placating gestures.
A dozen yards or so from the post, the Mwangi man calls them to a halt. Facing the youngsters, he begins to speak rapidly in loud, barking voice. At various points one will step forward, speak to the man in a similar voice, then return to his or her place. Occasionally, the instructor will gesture towards you or speak to Mike or Kelly, who reply in a firm respectful voice.
As this is taking place, the half-elf and his companions dismount and approach. After a brief conversation with the guards, he turns to Athene and begins to speak in Elvish.
You can understand him, mostly, but he is using a very old, archaic form of High Elvish, the language you hear in the Queen court or read on the Aiudara, the elf gates. "The Empyreal Lords and Celestials look upon us beloved sister-kindred. It has been said you come from beyond the Grey Harbor or from a different Age. How did your light come to us in such a forsaken place where the spirit of the Bound One holds sway and the breath of humans lingers where it ought not?
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Mina stands, smiles, and nods, respectful but friendly, at each of the new arrivals, amused at being the show-and-tell training exhibit for the little bear warriors.
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Therin tries to determine the make/quality of the gear on the new arrivals, ie weapons and armor. I'm aiming for origin and such.
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You sense no evil in the guards or in the new arrivals.
You detect several magical auras on the three riders. Faint transmutation auras from their boots, bracers, and belts. There are also faint illusion and abjuration auras from their cloaks, though those are bit harder to get a fix on. The belts look like they enhance endurance, and the boots increase speed and nimbleness. You're not sure about the braces or cloaks though.
You both recognize what this is, recruit training. It's a bit unusual though. There aren't many nations who start training professional soldiers in their teens in this manner. Really, this is mostly a Cheliaxian peculiarity found in Andoran, Molthune, or Cheliax, for the sons of noblemen, or wealthy merchants in Andoran's case, preparing to be officers.
The trainee's equipment isn't particularly high quality. It looks to be decent materials and construction, but more intended for training purposes than serious fighting. Their instructor's are high quality and meant to be used. There isn't a lot you can tell from it in regards to where they might be from. Their bows are heavily recurved, meant to be used on horseback, despite the bearers current ground-pounding. Their shields are also slightly concave, with a metal boss in the center, meant to shed blows rather than just stop them. The swords look like backswords, a straight, single-edged type of longsword. It's easy to make and doesn't require as high quality metal as other longsword designs, which makes it a kind of odd choice see as it, and everything else they have is made from excellent steel.
Overall, it's not like quite like anything you've seen. It actually most resembles stories you've heard about centaur and horse nomad tribes that live in the vast grassland steppes of Casmaron, the continuation of the landmass Avistan is part of, beyond the eastern borders of Brevoy and Taldor and north of the Kelish empire.
The riders' weapons tell a different story. They don't seem to be wearing any armor, except for padding on their tunics perhaps. Their have the same horsebows as the trainees, but they aren't carrying a shield, and the woman's sabre looks like a one-handed version of Staveon's dueling sword. She could be from Brevoy, though from the north part of Issia.
The half-elf's gear looks very traditionally Elven. A slightly curved longbow on his back, and a narrow, light-weight longsword better suited for thrusting and slashing than hacking.
You think you have an idea of their ranking system.
You're friend Frederic is at the bottom. "Armiloj-viroj"
Above him is something else, you think that might be when you're allowed to use your own colors and heraldry. "kavaliro"
Then there is his liege's rank. "Barono'
Above that is, "Grafo"
then "Duko"
and finally "Sinjorino Protektanto" which he draws a crown above. Connected with a line above and to the side of this is "Alta Reĝino".
Frederic draws a line straight out from Sinjorino Protektanto and points to the image of the sweet-faced woman, "Reĝino patrino" but does not put a crown above her. With an exaggerated sad face, he crosses out Reĝino patrino, then crosses his arms and closes his eyes.
Athene smiles glad that there is someone hear they can talk to, she says to the others "I am going to tell them where we are from and I will translate what he says, so far it is hello and how did you get her"
She then replies in elven trying to keep to the same ancient dialect
"Welcome to you in the light of the Celestials and Empyreal Lords. It is good to meet one who speaks the noble tongue. To Commence let I am Athene Telmeta from Kyonin on Golarion. We do not know how we came to here or exactly where here is we disturbed an artefact from a distant age and were transported to a place near here as it was an Aiudara. It seems that there are none of kind here despite there being those like yourself who clearly are of are kin, this is unusual could you tell me where we are ?
I must also tell you that I will need to translate for my colleagues as they do not speak this dialect of the noble speech"
She is aware that Mina can speak at least some elvish but is uncertain if she can follow the archaic dialect.
Actually, Mina speaks Draconic, Aquan, Hallit and Varisian, but not Elvish, so it's all Athene here!
Mina does however quietly inform her allies, including Athene,
"The guards didn't have any magical equipment, but these three ... boots, bracers, belts, cloaks... all magic. They're probably pretty important and powerful people."
they have high quality equipment. It might be in our best interest to not provoke any enmity,
You have a more difficult time understanding him this time, and think you may have misunderstood some parts.
"I am Knight-Commander Diorn Loring. We sojourn in the westernmost of the Sun Lands of Marred Arda. What was called by men the United States of America in the last age and called Montival in this age. You are strangers in the Wine Land den of the Bear Killers. Gesturing to those with the bear head insignia.
Giving a perfect courtly bow signifying respect and friendship."Forgiveness for the cold welcome, and wish that you had come to us in happier times, for much has been forgotten since the first-born were seen in middle-earth of the first ages. We know nothing of Kyonin of Golarion and the Aiudara were lost long ago. The blood of the west has just begun to quicken, and the Sword has only returned the languages, not what the Histories left unsaid. "You come amid days of tears and blood. The high king* of these lands was treacherously murdered by a foreign prisoner possessed by Morgoth**. His daughter carries him north to her mother that they may grieve. We soon follow, but first prepare our people for war."
Gesturing to the hills westward, "Will you guest with us and tell us more of the Blessed Realm***? The Bear Killers are goodly people, but like dwarves they are grim at the best of times, and now their rage is like the bear they emulate, for the high king was their founder's son."
You don't know what was being said, but you recognize a friendly invitation when you see one. One of the VIPs likes you, well one of you at least.
You can only catch about one word in three. The half-elf's dialect is worse than the old Taldan they use in Chelish operas. If Athene gave you a bit of brushing up you could probably get by though.
Something you are sure about is this guy is both important, and doing something important. The thread on his tabard is actual silver, which doesn't stand up to rough use. It's mostly for ceremonial or special occasion use.
As Athene and the half-elf converse, he suddenly bows to her and then continues.
The one-eyed woman seems to be following the conversation, but the man next to her keeps his attention focused on the rest of you.
Athene quickly replies returning the bow
and then translates for her fellows
"It seems we have arrived at a bad time. Their High King was killed by a possessed foreigner and the locals are angry. It seems that their High King was the Half Brother of the Lord of the Bear Killers, these locals and as a result they are very grim, they were compared to dwarves although I have not met enough to form a comparison.
The Half elf Diorn is the Son of the Foster father of the dead king , the one eyed lady is the half sister of the High King and also the aunt of the current Lord of the Bear Killers, the man with her is her husband and both were 'Companions of the Quest' and friends to the King.
We are in the 'Wine Land den of the Bear killers', but he has asked if we will guest with them. Presumably nearby they seem very interested in the elves but there are some translation issues with some of their concepts.
I think we should agree as it would be an insult not too and we can communicate with them better than anyone else. The important folk among them will be going North very soon as that is the center of their realm and were the dead High King is being taken.
The killer of their High king was possessed by a Spirit of Morgoth which I don't recognize but is linguistically similar to Asmodeus or Rovagog.
Unless you object I will accept their offer.
Mina smiles and nods graciously at the three riders.
"Sure! she responds to Athene.
"Being their guests sounds good to me! Much better than fending for ourselves out there."
Pavo listens intently as Diorn speaks, struggling to understand most of what has been said.
After Athene's translation he responds with a shrug, "I'm glad you got most of that because apparently I need to brush up on my Elvish. Maybe if we get a spare moment you give me a quick refresher? Having two of us who can speak somewhat fluently with these folk doesn't sound like a bad idea." Glancing back at Diorn, but addressing Athene, "I would love to guest with them, it would give us the chance to see a bit more of the camp, sans crossbow." He says with his usual sheepish grin.
Nonchalantly crossing his arms across his chest, he checks to ensure his daggers are secure up his sleeves. That being done, gives a quick nod, signaling he is ready to go.
"Hm," says Staveon, "do I want to be here with friendly people, society I recognize - sans language - and strong fortifications; or do I want to stay outside with the weird mutant dogs, undead, and feral people. By golly, that's a tough choice, but I think I'll pick being the guest." he finishes with a grin.
---previously---
"I believe the elven speaking people live somewhere near here but not here. However I do take your point about the alternatives"
I agree that we should stay here for a bit.....let me get back to full hp. also, maybe we can get a rough map of the area.
"Then I will accept on all our behalf's. Also I will be glad to help with your elven Pavo , its not bad for a human but conversational elven is not what we are speaking here it is an ancient dialect so I am not surprised you need a bit of help with it, I have after all been learning Elvish for over a century longer than you have been alive and I am having issues with this dialect"[b]
She turns back to the half elf Diorn
This is Mina a human Spellsinger with a great affinity for the magics of Water.
This the 'Bey-Rystar'Staveon Takehiko a braver warrior.
Pavo Dent is a skilled explorer and scout of the cities.
Therin Baldaril is an expert woodsman and tracker
She points out each of you and gives your names and a few other words apparently introducing you .
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A fairly lengthy discussion ensues between Diorn, the two with him, the three guards, and the commander of the trainees. Once things are decided, Kelly and Mike raise a series of flags up a pole attached to the bridge. Shortly a pair of riders arrive with enough horses for all of you. The riders are equipped much like the trainees, though of higher quality and showing a bit more personalization.
Once everyone is saddled, you head west along the rails. The bay and its wetlands along your left and the cultivated hills to the right. Unless it has been planted with something else, the hills are covered in grapevines, some cultivated and others running wild. Every ravine and streambed seems to have been dammed, creating small ponds amid the vines. The people working the fields all seem to be human, wearing practical trousers and loose shirts. Reds and purples, or undyed cloth, with the occasional black arm band, seem to be the order of the day. Weapons are in abundance, crossbows and polearms kept within arm's reach.
A few miles on the road bends around a low ridge, heading north into another valley. A small town with stuccoed walls lies on the flatland before you. Its evenly spaced towers flying two flags at half mast. The snarling bear and a green, snow-capped mountain with downward sword beneath a crown. Three wood-walled villages occupy the other side of the valley.
Leaving the railroad near the town, you take a gravel road west across the small river before turning north again. The villagers are noticeably different from the those across the valley. Everyone, men and women alike, seem to wear a pleated skirt of red and green plaid. Tattoos are common and many are armed, though with longbow and dirk, or spear.
After reaching the north end of the valley, you head up into the forested hills. The shadows have gotten long when you arrive at your destination. A great manor house made of stones cemented together lies at the center of what isn't some much a hamlet as a permanent camp. Several dozen people move quickly about their business, all similarly clothed with tunics and pants in muted olives and browns designed to make them disappear if they stop moving. Most adults seem equipped for battle, recurred bows, axes, shields, and reinforced jerkins.
Diorn and his companion's return causes a fair bit of excitement, some, though not all, seems to be a result of your presence. A few teens come forward to take your horses as you dismount, and it isn't hard to tell they are fascinated by Athene. Leading you to an addition of the house, Diorn opens the door to a bath suitable to fit a dozen. Steam rises from the pool, while buckets and stools are set around it. By his gesture, Diorn clearly intends for you to make of it, and indicates your clothing and equipment is to go in the baskets near the door.
As you pass the villages, you noticed some of the looks your group is getting range from unfriendly to down-right hostile, though it seems to be more directed to your hosts than yourselves. The Bearkillers seemed curious, but nothing more.
It looks as though there's been more excitement here than elsewhere. Quite a few of those at the stone house sport bandages, splints, or freshly stitched wounds.
You doubt anyone else saw it, but as you were passing the middle village you saw a satyr and a woman being very... friendly amongst the vines. Something never change.
Staveon carefully looks around, assessing the situation.
He waives amicably, making friendly gestures at everyone, and smiling openly, calling out greetings and pointing at people, like a friend. He keeps a wary eye out for any sort of ambush, however.
... but instead, he just gets an eyeful of fun that, with a massive and wolfish grin, he keeps... leaning... over... to... see... just... a... bit... mooooorrrreee...
... and just barely manages to avoid falling out of his saddle. Totally dignified, of course. Well, or maybe just funny. He's good with funny.
As they arrive at the massive manor house, he, in his very best imitation of Elven, says, "Warm and many greetings all! I hope we can all be close friends, soon!" he grins warmly.
It's kind of charming...
... even as he fairly butchers the language, and probably sounds substantially more like something not repeatable in polite company, if he can be understood at all.
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There isn't a great deal more you can learn about their farming ways just riding by. Everything seems to have been planted with grape vines, but that was a while ago. Otherwise things don't seem too dissimiliar, wheat and other grains, young orchards with a variety of trees, and bits of pasture, mostly close to the rivers, with cows.
The rails are old, from the rust and general condition you'd say they've been here for a few decades. At one point along the way your company steps off to allow a ox drawn wagon, with metal rimmed wheels that fit on the rails, piled high with crates to pass. The wagon and its load are much heavier than what the oxen would have been able to pull along a normal road.
You can't discern the quarrel between your hosts and the villagers, our how everyone relates. However, you are quite sure there are four distinct groups here along the bay, as seemingly different from each other as Issians to Taldans, which is more than a little peculiar.
Not surprisingly, what you are able to pick up the most about is their weapons and fighting style. Of course, these are just guesses at this point, but you feel pretty confident in your guesses.
First, the Bearkillers. These look and act like professional soldiers, almost like Druma's Mercenary League, though civilians seem associated with them as well. The uniform weapons and armor, their choice of equipment, and the training class all argue for group that trains to fight in disciplined units. They also lean more to the heavy side of the fighting, at least on the ground. Polearms are generally favored by heavily armored people fighting other heavily armored people, and Mike's armor was as solid as a hellknight's. That those in the fields had them as well is odd. Militias don't use heavy weapons and armor. Maybe the soldier also grow their own food? The cavalry seemed to be a comprise chosen for maximum flexibility, capable of mounted archer skirmish tactics or heavy charges, but not as good at either as say a Kellid steppe nomad or a Taldan knight. You'd guess their heavy infantry forms a solid position for the cavalry to operate from.
The guys with heraldry, you can't tell much, as you've only seen Frederic.
The villagers look pretty much like lightly armored militia from anywhere around Lake Encarthan, leaning toward Nirmathas style of skirmishing archers.
Your hosts take the Nirmathas connection further, they seem very similar to the semi-professional ranger companies that patrol the border with Molthune. Massed battles, no. Strike and vanish attacks that bleed the enemy the whole way through the forest, yes. Their weapons are best suited to fighting other lightly armored fighters singly or in small groups, though their bows would probably be a threat to anyone.
The one-eyed woman and the man beside her follow your antics to the scene in the vines. Leading to the man wiggling his eyebrows outrageously at the women, who returns it with a snort and half-hearted punch.
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Therin scans the people as he rides by them, as though assessing their training. He also tried to identify any crops they are growing.
It seems that everything in this area was grapevines, far too many for the people you see now, but perhaps when the ruined areas were full of people they could have drank all the wine. It certainly seems to have been a favorite drink.
Most of the crops are familiar to you. Wheat, barley, beans, root crops, fruit trees. Pretty similar to areas along the Inner Sea. The dairy cattle here have over-sized udders that border on ridiculous, some hang down to the cow's knees!
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[Ooc] apologies for even worse than normal spelling and. Gramer on third line device it hates me, also in Denver USA until Monday so may not reply until Tuesday . in particular it is hard t o make formatting work smo roll dice for me or asumen I take. 10[\ooc]
Athens is delighted to find civilisation and a bath. On the ride she will ask the hosts about the different groups they seem to be passing through, but not press for too many details yet, she expects serious conversation to come after reaching the destination.
To her their hosts seem most sensible in their military approach although apparently short on wizards, otherwise very elven.
On arrival she will smile st the curios teenagers before eagerly stripping off for her first good hot bath in days.
Therin strips down to his shorts and heads into the bath....gladly taking the opportunity to scrub away the grime and dirt.
Well, at least they are a civil people....not unwashed barbarians....
As you ride Diorn explains the area, and asks about your own history.
At the core of the high kingdom are six powers, three greater, three lesser. The three great powers are the Portland Protective Association, ruled by the High Queen as queen in her own right. The largest and most powerful, the other powers united against the High Queen's father in the War of the Eye. It was ended when the dark lord Arminger and the Bear Lord slew each other in a duel before the armies. The doom of bear is that none shall leave this world peacefully. So it was with the Bear Lord, so it was with the High King, and so it shall be with our Golden Princess.
It is a land of castles and knights, courtiers and intrigue. The warrior Frederic belongs to them. Many of the founding nobles were the most brutal of criminals before the Change. Norman Arminger was a scholar of past ages, with others who looked to the past, he forged the criminals into armies and built a kingdom of oppression, fear, and death. It has changed under the rule of the High Queen, but for some the change is only a facade.
They worship The One* directly, and are called Followers of the Anointed One, though look to the Empyreal Lords for guidance in daily things. It is a worship of ceremony and ritual, with churches and priests in every manor and village. The holy father leads their faith from across the sunrise ocean.
The Bearkillers are one of the lesser powers, as are we the Men of the West. Mike Havel founded them. He was a soldier of the nation that once ruled this land from the sunrise ocean to the sunset ocean. He was leading my mother's family into the wilderness as a guide when the Change happened. Their machine fell from the sky in fire, but by skill and the blessings of the Lord of the Winds he saved them.
He found others of skill and will and became the leader of an army for hire. They fought eaters of flesh and servants of the dark lord for those who could not in exchange for food and what supplies they needed. As they neared the home of my mother's family, he took her older sister Signe as wife. She leads them still, though her son is Lord now.
They are a stoic people, devoting themselves to the arts of war where they are without equal. They are lesser only for being far fewer in number than the greater powers. Their companies travel throughout the High Kingdom and beyond to test themselves and gain wealth and glory.
They are split between Followers of the Anointed One, of whom my uncle Eric is one, and those who worship the Empyreal Lords alone, called the Old Religion, which includes Lady Signe.
The villages are part of the Clan Mackenzie, second of the great powers. They are the Old Religion, founded by their goddess-on-earth Juniper Mackenzie. She fled to a secret place in the hills and gathered those who would plant and grow together, until they filled much of the valley at the heart of the kingdom.
They have no knights or lords, mostly living in villages, and a few towns, led by their priests and priestess. Archery is their passion, and in war they simply gather all whose arm is strong enough and bury their foe in arrows.
We the rangers were formed from the alliance between Bearkillers and Clan during their war against the dark lord. The Mackenzie's daughter Eilier and my mother were soul-bound. They, but especially my mother, loved the Histories of the first ages, which spoke to her elder blood. Together they gathered others who loved the wild places and modeled themselves after the manner of the men of the west near the end of the third age.
That is who we are, those in who the blood of the west flows strong. We patrol the wilderness against the servants of darkness and common bandits, and guard the roads which are the life of the kingdom. Here especially we guard against the bringers of fear who live among the ruins of the last age. The enemy is quickening once again, and his servants grow more bold each passing day.
What of your people, and where is Kyonin of Golarion? The histories do not mention any such place, but they only record a very little of the ages past and those land which where lost during the fourth age. In your land did the age of man never come, and the firstborn have always danced beneath the stars?
In the bath you notice the scent of herbs meant to soothe mind and body, most are familiar to you, but one in particular, a pungent one that almost burns nose and lungs clear, is totally unfamiliar to you. Aside from just being relaxing scents, the soaps have a powerful 'green' aroma. You are quite sure that by the time you are done here you will smell like forests and meadows to anything trying to track you.
Athene will share with the others what she has learned.
To answer questions about her own land. Kyonin is the main elven realm on Golarion, there are other smaller elven realms either allied or of a different culture. Golarion itself is I believe a different planet to this one seperated by space, time or the planes. The elves of kyonin also live on another planet (name forgotten) linked by magical gates, there are other gates linking elsewhere, but I am no expert on the gates. Humans dominate most of golarion as we elves grow in numbers much more slowly, but they are divided and have no great empires, there was a great human empire but an asteroid strike destroyed it millenias ago and for a time our people abandoned golarion, since we have returned we have warred with a great demon on our border. I do not know how we connect with your legends and histories but it will be interesting to try and find out. I would not say that there has been an age of man, and elves are still a power in the world, many of us do dance beneath the stars indeed one of our more popular goddesses Is a wanderer of the stars
To therin
"Such modesty, It seems most improbable you have anything I have not seen before beneath those trunks unless human males are much stranger than my cousin told me. Surely you are not shy?" She herself shows little regard for modesty.
Staveon strips and, carefully segregating his equipment, rolls himself flawlessly and impressively over the side of the tub and into it to join the others, though he makes a bit of a splash while doing so, taking in some overly-hot water through the nose.
Still, he gets his feet soon enough, grinning, after he coughs and sputters laughingly for a round or so.
"By all my gods, does this feel amazing! It's exactly what we needed!" he says. "Okay, all, I'm beginning to like this place..."
Diorn is intrigued by what you say, and nods in agreement. The Star Queen is most beloved among our people was well, though I feel myself drawn, especially here, to She Who Weeps and the Judge. Shaking his head and smiling, My heart-brother says I am too grim. That there will be plenty of time for such thoughts when I am in the Judge's hall. Perhaps he is right. Him, he looks like the The Valiant and like him enters battle with a laugh to banish the darkness. Leaving that, I too would converse about out homes. It is not clear from the writings whether places were truly lands, other worlds, or places between them.
Once everyone has gotten in and soaked for a bit, the door opens for a couple of the rangers who quickly carry off the baskets of clothes and equipment, leaving behind sets of clothing much like those you'd seen the others wear.
After a bit more than half an hour, if you haven't left already, Diorn returns to escort into the house. In a large room with one wall made entirely of glass panes, four middle-aged adults it on one side of a long wooden table. You recognize the one-eyed woman and the man who was with her. Next to them is a woman who is identical to her one-eyed sisters save for having both eyes, and a few unique scars of her own. The man next to her nods his head in greeting and gestures to the chairs across the table.
You notice one of the rangers who took your clothes looked different from the others. Something is off about him, but you can't tell what.
You caught what seemed odd, his eyes. The color was a bit unusual, but mainly it was his slip pupils, his horizontal slit pupils.
10: You don't recognize eyes like that from any humanoid.
15: Tieflings sometimes have slit eyes, though you've never heard of horizontal ones.
"My donkeys!" Staveon's eyes pop open as yelps about his forgotten creatures.
says Mina.
"My donkeys and dogs!" Staveon explains, leaping out of the bath, with a slap to his forehead.
It's impressive how much height he can get when he's in a hurry.
replies Mina.
"Gotta brush and clean 'em!" Staveon calls as he hurries out.
she asks.
she adds casually at the fleeing Staveon, though he's already out of easy ear-shot.
With no further words, Staveon hurries over to his creatures, and grooms them, quickly, but thoroughly. If others are already at the task he frets over it a bit, checking to make sure they do it "right", but let's them do so. He would carefully remove his things (the goods and bags and the like) and drag them over to the bathhouse to sit with the rest of the stuff.
A less impressive roll this time, but a smaller splash as well.
When the rangers come in, Staveon greets them mildly, but when they start to take his stuff, he leaps out of the tub. "Woah, woah, woah, woah, woah!" he says.
Again, being in a rush makes his height-gain impressive.
He tries to say, "No, leave this stuff here." he explains in every language he knows, and a few he doesn't; he's especially protective of his weapon and brooch.
As they communicate, those two items are the non-negotiables, though he'd try to keep his armor, too. Eventually, he'd let go of the other things, seeing their sincerity.
After that, he returns to the bath, keeping his stuff in reach, and otherwise enjoying/relaxing.
"Exciting day." he says. He just slides in this time attempts to hop back in once more, but just kind of ends up banging his knee and splashing face-first. Jumping in and out of a tub repeatedly is kind of exhausting.
He purposefully makes himself tough it out, though, relaxing and looking "cool" - or trying to, though it's fairly obvious that he banged his knee pretty hard.
When the Diorn returns, Staveon would reluctantly get dressed and go with him, but would happily greet those seated at the table.
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Mina rode along with the others throughout the day, appreciating seeing new places, detecting magic at lots of things that probably weren't magical, occasionally prestidigitating herself and her known allies (but not the new strangers), and generally enjoying the calm countryside ride in the sun.
She occasionally listened in to Athene and Diorn's conversation, trying to learn the Elvish, but mostly it was way beyond her. Even when Athene explained the whole history of the place and the different groups in Mina's own language, she got a bit confused.
"Wait, so... Mike and Kelly are Bear Killer people, Frederick is a Protection Association person, Diorn is a Ranger person, and the kilt people are McKenzie people? And...everyone is more or less allies now, but sometimes uneasy allies? Is that right? And, what about Ms. Blonde-Braids and Mr. Crooked Nose here? Who are they with?"
When they arrived at Diorn's manner house and were led to the bath house, Mina grinned.
She loves the water, she likes the heat (although the cold never bothered her anyway), and despite her prestidigitation, she had been wanting a nice warm bath. These people knew how to treat guests. She would, however, check the bath for magic, just in case.
Interpreting Diorn's gesture and following Athene and Staveon's lead, Mina stripped, rolling her clothing (freshly prestidigitated) into her satchel, and putting her boots, belt, satchel and rapier into a bucket, but, being ever over-protective of her stuff, carrying the bucket right next to the tub and setting it on a stool so it could stay within arm's reach.
She grinned, slipping into the warm scented water, and letting herself slide completely under for a couple minutes, before surfacing with a smile.
"Aaaaaah. Yes. These people definitely know how to treat guests. I think I'm going to like it here."
When Staveon remembers his donkeys, she has a short conversation with him and is happy to chat a bit with anyone else as well.
When the rangers come to try to take their things away, she would definitely try to stop them. She wouldn't draw a weapon or anything, but she would verbally and physically, if necessary, try to hang onto her satchel/bandoleer especially. (If they insist on taking her rapier and daggers, she would grudgingly allow this, but the satchel/bandoleer isn't going anywhere without her.)
After more enjoying the bath and chit chit, when Diorn comes to fetch them, Mina would climb out of the bath reluctantly, but having thoroughly enjoyed herself. She would slip into whatever clothes were brought for them , put her bandoleer/satchel back on over it, and follow the group into the manor house.
When they get to the room with the people and dining table, Mina would check this place and these people for magic , nod and smile pleasantly, and take a seat as indicated, curious about what's to come.
to be friendly
for subtle magic use
not to demoralize, but just to show competency
to pick up some general knowledge about things
to notice the quality of things
to maybe follow some conversation or learn some words
to figure out any magic auras she sees
to get a sense of things in general
to get a sense of people
to notice stuff