It is summer in the sleepy village of Heldren, and an uncommon, pleasantly cool wind is chasing away the oppressive, sticky heat that would be the norm at this time of year. The streets are relatively lively, with food vendors lining the town square offering all manner of summer treats. As expected, the children of the village are out in force: a group of boys are roughhousing in front of Vivialla Steranus' General Store, and Vivialla herself is reaching for a broom to chase them away; but we are more interested in another group of children, making their way towards the town square, and making their own plans for the day's mischief...
"I say, we get a bucket of fire ants..." she nudges Issi that was walking next to her
Yume was a Kitsune, but when she was with her friends, she usually was in her human guise. Having two tails usually attracted a lot of attention, not just from the grown-ups, but from other kids too. She had almost snowy white hair, long, too long. So it had to be braided, at least twice. Her mom warned her she may eventually have many braids. But at this point, it was fine. It didnt really bother her much. Her eyes were odd though. One green, one blue. And Unless she used her magic, no matter what shape she took, be it kitsune, human, or her small snowy white arctic fox shape, her eyes always stayed blue and green. Well, at least this way her friends could tell who she was
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"I can't mum says spicy food gives me gas."he says rubbing his stomach."But some buttered snails might be good."
Raggnor was always big for his age, and with two large teeth poking out his bottom jaw most kid's were scared of him. But he's always has big smile on his face, mostly because he was thinking about food.
"Not to eat Grub! We use it on the fancy pants adults. Make the squirm. They have way too much clothing. Besides. They always talk about their fancy dances" she chuckles at their large friend.
A grin spreads over her face, she then begins to make kissing noises at Grub
"Come on, im sure its fun!"
Donovan is leaning against his pops cart, the 'Old Man' said to wait ans watch the cart and old Bill the mule, he had some business to discuss in the tavern.
he watched the girls and the bug green kid with a certain amount of jealousy.
'Pop's business is going to take a few hours, and he will be to drunk to drive the cart, what would it harm to go enjoy town.'
She starts to chase him, all the while making kissing noises, her arms held wide
"Come and give me a big old smooch!"
Still part of her stride, before he could do anything, she leans over and gives Don a quick peck on the cheek
"uh, ah, pardon ma'am. I didn't mean to get in your way"
The red burns through the soot on his cheeks.
She looks around, a very confused look on her face. She looks at Issi, then to Grub
"Do I look like a ma'am to you two?"
She gives a laugh and pats his head
"Cute"
She knew how to tease boys. Her mom taught her well
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"Maybe half way?" Issi says, her red-gold hair rippling in the breeze as she makes comparative gestures with her hands. Her acolytes robe is clean, a sure sign that the day is young. "You're getting old though Yume. I think you'll be boring soon! Spending too much time looking at boys!"
She ducks away instinctively from her playmates certain retaliation before turning her attention to the polite boy with the red face.
"Is your face always that colour? I have red hair, but I've never seen a red face! Or are you ill? I can help if you are! I'm going to be an adventurer, fight monsters and ride a mighty steed!" She shoots Raggnor a pleading look, hoping the larger boy will let her ride on his shoulders as her 'steed'.
"We're going on an adventure for fire ants! You should come!"
"Hold it right there, my dashing adventurers!"
The unmistakable voice of Kale Garimos, who runs the Silver Stoat tavern with her husband, Menander rings out behind the group. She is dressed in her usual clothes (a white blouse, brown trousers, and a dark bar apron) and carrying a basket filled with vegetables. This is a bit unusual, as she's not known to be much of a cook and Menador runs the kitchen at the Silver Stoat.
"We're running a little behind today at the Stoat and Menador sent me out to grab ingredients...that man is far too particular about his produce, if you ask me! Anyway, the whole market is out of mushrooms, and I need as many as I can get. I've got a sack of coppers for the lot of ya if you can bring me a basket full before sundown. What do you say?"
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Issi pretends to think about it for a second, before breaking into a wide grin and nodding enthusiastically. "Ok Kale! We'll get you all the best mushrooms!" She nudges Raggnor over to the woman so that Issi can lean over to take the basket and then gestures dramatically to the woods.
"Onwards! To glory, fame and riches!"
As Raggnor and Yume head off Issi twists round to wave at Donovan,
"Well? Are you coming or not?"
She chuckles at her remark
"Well, I do have a few talents the boys like. So why not? Also. Me? Boring? You're much sooner to cut your hair and pick up baking than me become boring"
At the request and the enthusiasm her friends showed, she nods and gives a flourish of her hands and a bow as she skipped behind her friends
"Come on you, dont tell me that little peck on the cheek made you lame?" she calls at the new boy, that seemed a bit too stunned. Not that his face was not pleasing. A bit of water and soap, and she could see him make a few girls swoon. Not her. Nope. She did the teasing and making people blush. Just like she did to the new kid. Mom will be proud
"But."
Donovan looks to the empty cart and the doors behind wish his father is drinking and telling stories.
'Dad does say that I should help others, and...
Wait, wait for me.
Donovan stops to grabs one of the woodsman's axes that he and his father keep in the cart. He runs off a smile growing on his face.
The crow had been watching this boy for grandmother for a very long time. as the boy moves to follow the others she nods.
'Finally'
Henyan comes riding up to the group of his friends on his new ram, as he gets closer the ram bucks a bit and Henyan falls off very ungracefully for a dwarf with a thud. "Dang nabbit, I thought we talked about this, you are to not do that anymore so I don't fall."
Henyan fixes his "beard" the brown locks just about 3" at this point but Henyan is beaming with pride about them.
"What are you guys doing? Can I come? I have to train this ram to let me ride it."
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Kryas sits by on a roof of a building, wild haired, tan and surprisingly cute for a street rat orphan . watching the event's with a smile, being rather entertained. He climbs down, and runs over I can help. Grew up in there.
No telling where he got his gear, but he's dressed in rather decent clothes and even has his own armor on. He has a bat perched on his shoulder, it's sizable, but seems somewhat unruly and stubborn, You guys can keep the coin, i don't need any
Horvan joins his friends looking like a cat that ate the canary. The stout 12 year old is wearing lamellar leather armor at least a size too big for him and has a full sized black log sword without a scabbard stuck in his belt. Whatcha about ta do? he asks. And can I come? The folks are entertaining the mayor and send me to my room ta play. I grabbed my brother's rig and slipped out the window. I'm ready for some 'ventures.
Donovan looks over the ram, and the saddle. "Looks like you got him to stop eating the lether, it is a start. he chides his friend the dwarf.
Once Horvatn arrives Don looks at the sword with barely masked jealousy. "I hope we don't get caught with that."
Older kids were so preoccupied with all their stuff that they didnt know how to have fun. Unlike these kids, this is why she still stuck around with them
"Off to have an adventure, slay trolls, kill dragons and befriend the good fey of the forest... oh, and get some mushrooms!" she added with a laugh
She goes over and puts her hand on the half orc boy
"Uhhhh, Grub? I dont think this one here is for food"
She gives the ram's owner an apologetic smile
"Sure thing Grub, all yours!" she patted him the back while she gives Henyan a wink
She looks about, for sure a few new faces
"Well, Introduction time! My name is Yume, I think the term you folks would use is Dream. I am what people here call a Kitsune. " she gives them all a big smile
I seen you around Yume. I'm Horvan, the merchant's younger. Horvan looks like he has not spelt well in a few days. He seems to be carrying full adventuring gear and pretending like its not too heavy for him.
Yume nods at Horvan
"Same. Seen a lot of people around. Dont always get a chance to chat. Especially merchant children"
"Ya he didn't like the bit, just wanted to eat the bridle." Henyan says back, Henyan stares at Grub who wants to eat his ram. "You can't just eat everything you see, there would be no one left in the town if you did." Hanyan gives Grub a dirty look but knows that Grub isn't like the other Orcs that his parents tell him about
Ma is fine Issa. Her arm is mostly mended after that fall in the barn. I still think it was a nasty fey what caused it. Thanks for askin. So, can anyone tell the the good shrooms from the bad ones? I got a book at home about plants an such but my ma says its too hard for me yet. I think I can handle it but havn't tried. Besides who wants ta read about plants when they can practice with swords! He draws the dangerous weapon and holds it for all to see.
Your folks were druids, for real? That is sooo cool. I bet they could turn into tiger and bears and maybe even dragons, and call down lightnin from the sky and speak to trees and, well my folks just sell stuff. Horvan finishes somewhat mopey.
The path out of town is well-worn and quite familiar to the children of Heldren, as the neighboring woods are a common refuge from overwhelmed parents and surly shopkeepers who just can't seem to take a joke. Southern Taldor is lush with plant and wildlife for most of the year, though as your group moves further away from town (you are moving South), the air grows cooler and you feel as though you're moving towards the source of the cool breeze that you were enjoying earlier.
Your passage is relatively peaceful, and you begin to spread out in search of mushrooms. Please give me Survival or Perception rolls, whichever you prefer.
Horvan, usually quite busy with chores, has come this way less that most of the others. And then there were the dreams since he picked up that strange dagger the dark man traded in at the store. Bad dreams. He is alert and quiet.
Even though she is very cheerful, and chatting away about the adventures they will be going on, she still has her eyes in all direction, never safe in the woods, and one needs to be careful
Henyan begins to look around for some mushroom, "Rammy... that won't do for a name. Help me look."