OL! Gameplay thread here fellas. If you want to work out how you met, you may post here for starters.
It's a bright and early morning in the town of Windsheer. It's also a fall day, and one of the moons is ascendant. The deciduous trees are all showing their color today, and people are out and about preparing for winter. The sun is brightly shining.
You are on the frontier of Aundair and the Eldeen Reaches. It's promising work, and the farmers are harvesting their grapes to turn into wine. It rained last night, and this is the day to harvest the grapes before more rain comes.
Despite the sun shining, Sona sits on the very back of a wagon cart as it jostles back and forth down the road. The creak and whine of the tires as they sloshingly fall into the ribs of mud tracks have lulled her into a sleep most of the morning. Having woke not an hour earlier, now she just stares blankly out the back of the wagon with her hood up. It was not fun sitting there through the rain last night and she is still somewhat damp from the experience; even with her hood up. As it is, her back is sore from sitting in an awkward position and so she quickly hops up and moves toward the front seat where a Aundairian driver is seated pressing the wagon on.
"Smells nice, hmm? I doubt that sun will dry up all this mud though before evening. What do you think?" she asks the burly man. His pot belly showing just how many of the eggs they've spared for the trip he's likely eaten, not to mention every other trip he's carted people back and forth. "And how far are we from Windsheer?"
"Just over the next ridge," he replies. Patiently, the Sarlonian waits for the sign of the town to rise up. With not much distance from the bend, they find themselves amid the mud of the city.
It's Windsheer.
Chantal walks alongside the wagon, green eyes alert for trouble. She wears plain tan hide armor and carries a wicked-looking scythe with the air of someone who knows how to use it. A sprig of holly and mistletoe tied into the leather cord holding her ponytail shows her to be a druid for those familiar with the servants of nature. Despite the mud, the half-elf is humming a cheerful tune as she walks.
"Indeed it does! Nothing quite like the air after a good rain." Chantal smiles up at the dark-haired woman on the wagon.
Chantal walks alongside the wagon, green eyes alert for trouble. She wears plain tan hide armor and carries a wicked-looking scythe with the air of someone who knows how to use it. A sprig of holly and mistletoe tied into the leather cord holding her ponytail shows her to be a druid for those familiar with the servants of nature. Despite the mud, the half-elf is humming a cheerful tune as she walks.
"Indeed it does! Nothing quite like the air after a good rain." Chantal smiles up at the dark-haired woman on the wagon.
Jacen is glad to be up and about ... also pretty glad that conjured horses don't need to be cleaned. He walks out to meet the wagon, very very excited to see his friend again.
With a screech, a beautiful golden eagle descends from the sky, as if right on cue with Jacen's path towards the cart. "Jeron, you have watched them approach for miles ... I know how you are."
Having inspected the wagon wheels overnight, Ale walked quietly along
with the group while surveying the surrounding scenery, the wood material that composed the majority of his small form glistening under the morning dew.
This was a new area to Ale, he had been near prior during the war on rare occasion, but not since and it seemed very different.
Watching the eagle fly down, Ale feels something.
What is it, what is that feeling? A symbiotic relationship between two beings, each serving the other to become something better?
After a moment, it occurs to him that what he feels is likely familiarity. He came from a place where many had companions out of the animal kingdom.
What species of avian is that, I wonder?
"Eagle!" He blurts his thought out, breaking the quiet vigil he had maintained for several hours, loud enough for anyone close to hear.
Nevitash finishes his morning routine and moves up in the wagon to join Sona. His routine did not do much, but it did ease his mind some as he returned home.
An eagle screeched overhead and Nevitash watches it fly down towards a figure that was walking to meet the wagons. Nevitash stretches a little and says, "It looks like we have reached our destination."
Unfortunately for Sona, she had not seen Jeron far above, at least, if she did notice an eagle, she hadn't thought it would be Jeron and put it out of mind. The druid humming along comments, and Sona grins, already liking the kinder woman.
"I...I've noticed you're a druid, maybe? Sorry if that's out of the blue hah...it's your, um, your hairband," she comments, pointing to the holly and mistletoe. Having not met this half-elf and had a long chat with her so far on the journey, she is hesitant still around new people and half-conceals her face from the girl. Yet there is no concealing the illuminated scars. The fact the druid even wishes to speak to her is a wonder, as most avoid her. She will wait for the druid's response.
When Ale voices his shock and wonder at an eagle descending, she figures it must be more than just a truly normal sight, so she peers up. At that moment, excitement and the most brilliant smile flashes over her face and quickly she rushes out of the wagon, plants into the mud so thick it covers the tops of her feet, and then with a slippery run, makes her way toward where Jacen now stands. A cheery laugh comes out of her as she flings herself into a hug and then gives the man space, knowing his eagle will soon descend. She gives it love too.
"Oh how I've missed you two."
Chantal beams up at the other woman. She's a bit curious about the scars, but it's a rare person who came back from the Last War without them. There was all manner of experimental arcane weaponry deployed by the Five Nations; no doubt that's why the scars glow. Wouldn't be the strangest wound Chantal ever treated. "Yes indeed! I'm Chantal Pinegrove, druid and healer. I plan to open a combination medical clinic and apothecary shop in Windsheer. Medicinal herbs are my specialty, you see. How about yourself? What brings you to Windsheer?"
The druid nods to their oddly metal-free warforged companion. "Definitely an eagle. Looks like one of our traveling companions is a falconer. Or perhaps a ranger." A normal eagle wouldn't tolerate being fussed over like that, so the man is most likely a ranger. Those aren't the weapons of a druid.
"Right you are Lady Pinegrove. Falconer is appropriate, and I am blessed to have worked with more eagles than most ... and yet, 'eagler' never quite became popular."
Handsome to be sure, his smile was so genuine when he saw his friend, it clearly came from a place in nature. No one entered bird-space, it simply wasn't done, yet this young woman seemed to know it was hers to share. Trained avians didn't preen for their master's friends either.
"Sona," she replies, "Sona Tanaka." Hearing her accent it is clear she is not a native, but grew up here and speaks very well. "Umm, well, I am surveying some land for my uncle. He has purchased some of it and seeks to build. I..."
She realizes she's giving away too much information to a stranger about her uncle's business, and so she just smiles and continues in a different path.
"I am looking forward to seeing the area."
Chantal will hear Ale voice his shock, as does Sona. The next thing Chantal hears is Sona calling out from the inside of the wagon, "If you'll excuse me Miss Pinegrove! I see a friend!" There is clear excitement in Sona's voice as she hops off the cart and rushes to meet Jacen.
"Oh, you've gotten so old!" she jests with Jacen, despite it only having been a short amount of time. It still felt like ages. "And you," she directs to the eagle, "So regal hmm?" Her touch for the eagle isn't one of hugging but of careful petting.
"So this is Windsheer hmm?" she asks as she looks around at what is to see.
Nevitash approaches the group to see what is happening and recognizes Chanteel from his time before he left Windsheer. "Hello, Chanteel...right? It has been sometime since I left town. I hope things in Windsheer are going well."
Okay, you see a procession go through the streets. At the head is the Count, a few monks, and a few pikemen lead the procession.
(You are all right, its Windshire)
Okay, you see a procession go through the streets. At the head is the Count, a few monks, and a few pikemen lead the procession.
(You are all right, its Windshire)
Chantal turns toward the leather-clad man, bemused. "Ah, you must have me mixed up with someone else. I'm Chantal, and this will be my first time in Windshire. It's nice to meet you though!" She smiles at him.
"Oh, a procession! We should probably get out of the way." The druid moves off the road onto the grassy verge. She isn't sure where the wagon will go, but presumably this has happened before and the wagoneer knows what to do.
Ale watches Sonya go running forward, alarmed that he should have kept his voice down. After a moment, he realizes that he had nothing to do with the events.
He nods in agreement with Chantal at the ranger observation, this was sensible. .
Ale decides the druid had a good idea and moves towards the edge of the road. Better to be prepared.
He looks back at Nevitash"You mentioned being from here, do you know what this is about?"
A pause and then a thought occurs.
"Oh and I am Ale... sorry."
Nevitash looks over at Ale and shakes his head. "No...I have not been home in a few years. It seems odd that it is led by the Count. He tends to be quite busy." Nevitash will move with the others to get out of the way.
Jacen looks decidedly bemused: why would a person of any prestige process in this way, much less an actual Count ... maybe he's UnMarked? That can be hard for some of them.
While her attentions is far more on catching up with Jacen in the moment, such processions are important to pay attention to as they were likely officials. She wondered if she had seen the count before?
While her attentions is far more on catching up with Jacen in the moment, such processions are important to pay attention to as they were likely officials. She wondered if she had seen the count before?
[dice=Knowledge Local (Untrained)]1d20+4
Yep, you have seen the Count. But that was about sixteen to twenty years ago.
Jacen makes a series of gestures with his right hand, lifting his left arm to boost his brother into flight
This has to be part of why he was sent here, this just wasn't right ...
Info & Background on the Count
Chantal has very little knowledge of the local nobility. She leans over toward Nevitash. "Is this the local lord? And what's your name, by the way?"
"I am Nevitash. It looks like it from his attire, but I don't really remember him and never met him." Nevitash replies to Chanteel as he watches the procession to see what they will do.
The procession heads to the castle. It isn't where they make the wine, but it is a place where the Count lives with his wife. The procession stops at Jacen d'Orien's place. Where the count looks at a girl by his side. The count moves his hand to hold the girl's chin. "Enchanting," was what he said.
She hears the local comments of those who have traveled with her and who are gathering now. Nevitash introduces himself to the druid and her eyes look at him. "A Kalashtar...for some reason...I don't think I know him, but I feel like I did. Or someone who looks a lot like him...but that was a while ago." She answers to everyone's curiosity:
"He is the local Count. It's been ... gosh...since I was a little girl fresh off the boat that I saw him. He looks similar." She eyes his attentions as his procession slows. With curious and cautious eyes, she observes how he stops to reach out.
He's not reaching out to you, Sona, but to a different girl. A girl with blonde hair and blue eyes. He's attracted to her.
Even though the gesture is rude in the extreme, Jacen knows he cannot directly confront the Count ... yet.
Chantal scowls darkly at the Count, fingers tightening around her scythe. But she doesn't dare confront him... yet. She mutters under her breath in Elven.
Nevitash does not recognize Chantel's words so he asks her, "Do you have any idea who she is?"
Chantal scowls darkly at the Count, fingers tightening around her scythe. But she doesn't dare confront him... yet. She mutters under her breath in Elven.
** spoiler omitted **
Jacen smirks and is clearly trying not to laugh out loud
"I'd rather not make waves, and nothing obscene is happening. Besides it being a little unsettling, he's just given the girl a compliment. That look in his eye though. Let's see what he does."
Her eyes look in a disturbed manner as both Jacen and Chantel speak in the violent language of the elves. It brings back some memories to her of battles with halflings and the elves of those far lands. In any case, she doesn't understand, but can see tension and laughter.
"Jacen, how long have you been waiting?"
Jacen turned and smiled again at his friend
"Not quite as long as we waited all those years ago ... when you so gently eased me back to civilization"
He winked at Sona as he said, "but I think if we asked Jeron he would say weeks. In truth I think you made excellent time, my compliments to the team."
The procession then continues on. It looks like the Count would have another servant.
Ale silently watches the procession unfold. He watches the conversation between Chantel and Jacen with mild interest but is unclear of events. Speaking to no one in particular.
"May I ask, what just happened? Are such proceedings part of the standard protocols?"
Ale silently watches the procession unfold. He watches the conversation between Chantel and Jacen with mild interest but is unclear of events. Speaking to no one in particular.
"May I ask, what just happened? Are such proceedings part of the standard protocols?"
Jacen turns to Ale, smiles, and extends his hand ...
"Please forgive my rudeness sir; I know that my brother's landing surprised you somewhat, but your observation was correct: he is an eagle.""My name is Jacen d'Orien, and it is very much my pleasure to meet you."
Jacen smirks, more than a little
"and no sir, such proceedings are in no way a standard protocol amongst the well-born, dragonmarked or not. Were I, or any of my kin really, to act in a manner such as this, we would be speaking to the Head of House Orien very quickly, under, unpleasant circumstances."
"It's quite curious really."
"We know none of the particulars. I am going to inquire of the girl's family. Perhaps it was all arranged? Perhaps it is beneficial in their eyes?" She will then move to where the girl had come from and looks for anyone who knew her, inquiring after her if this was an alright event.
"That did not seem planned. I think she just caught his eye for the first time here. Which may or may not fit her or her families plans." Nevitash says.
Chantal sniffs disapprovingly at the Count’s retreating back. ”What a pig. Actually, no, that’s an insult to pigs. They’re very intelligent animals, after all.” The druid nods to Sona. ”An excellent idea. I’ll come with you, if that’s all right.”
Ale nods his thanks to the explanations revolving around the count. "I hope that the case will be favorable to the girl."
"My name is Jacen d'Orien, and it is very much my pleasure to meet you."Jacen smirks, more than a little
"and no sir, such proceedings are in no way a standard protocol amongst the well-born, dragonmarked or not. Were I, or any of my kin really, to act in a manner such as this, we would be speaking to the Head of House Orien very quickly, under, unpleasant circumstances."
"It's quite curious really."
Ale looks at Jacen confused at first, before finally understanding. It all made sense. "It is no harm to my feelings. It is nice to meet you both.
If you will forgive my curiosity, and if it is rude to ask please disregard my question. Was your brother transformed into an eagle, or you a human?"
"I will never forgive curiosity good sir, as in this case, I find myself receiving the blessing of your interest in my family, and I am honored."
"I think you think you are confused, and yet you are so very close to our truth: when we met, the spirits of my family & myself were changed forever. So I think it is safer to say that all 4 of us were transformed; I, who had been lost, my brother who had been hatched, and our parents, who found the legs of one son and the wings of another, seemed to allow all of us to soar."
"also new friend, it would seem I am now in your debt; as a family, I think we all knew I wanted to fly, and yet I am wakened by your curiosity as well ..."
"I have never thought to ask my brother if he might want to walk."
Interestingly enough, there is a building across from you, although some may say it's nearby. It is the building of the Adventuring Cow Company, ltd.
"Of course," she answers the druid. Seeing that there was a group of adventurers there, and she was an ex-world explorer with a bit of concern for this girl's well-being, she offered the option of following to them. "I mean...we are not a team, but you are welcome to come along. I too am concerned for her well-being. There was just something in his smile..."
With that, she will move over across the street to the Adventuring Cow Company, ltd (whatever that means).
"I would walk with you dear friend, if it's no trouble."
Nevitash stays silent and listens to the concern in the voices of those around him. He decides that it would be wise to see how Windshire has changed since he was away and follows along behind the others as they move to talk to the girl.
"We may not be a team now, but we could be in the future! Or at least friends." Chantal smiles at the group, then does a double take at Ale. "Wait a minute... don't I know you from somewhere?"
"I will never forgive curiosity good sir, as in this case, I find myself receiving the blessing of your interest in my family, and I am honored."
"I think you think you are confused, and yet you are so very close to our truth: when we met, the spirits of my family & myself were changed forever. So I think it is safer to say that all 4 of us were transformed; I, who had been lost, my brother who had been hatched, and our parents, who found the legs of one son and the wings of another, seemed to allow all of us to soar."
"also new friend, it would seem I am now in your debt; as a family, I think we all knew I wanted to fly, and yet I am wakened by your curiosity as well ..."
"I have never thought to ask my brother if he might want to walk."
Ale looks and feels profoundly confused. But it seems that things were in a good spot so he acceppted that confusion. "... Yes I think I am a bit confused. But if was of service then that is good to hear. Perhaps they would like to walk, of it were storming then flight would be inconvenient.
I'm not sure I understand everything you say, but I appreciate your explanation. I find that I need time to reflect on this information you have provided.Perhaps, if you would allow it we could speak more later."
Ale nods follows in response to Sona's request. "Thank you."
"We may not be a team now, but we could be in the future! Or at least friends." Chantal smiles at the group, then does a double take at Ale. "Wait a minute... don't I know you from somewhere?"
Ale pauses and looks at Chantal, the Warforged face creases in thought.
"You studied under those I served, I believe?I do not recall us speaking much, perhaps at my loss. The druids teach many wonderful things, much I never learned. Not that I am unhappy with what they gave me,rhe knowledge they offered me is of the utmost importance to my purpose.
I hope you ave you been well?"
Ale pauses and looks at Chantal, the Warforged face creases in thought.
"You studied under those I served, I believe?
I do not recall us speaking much, perhaps at my loss. The druids teach many wonderful things, much I never learned. Not that I am unhappy with what they gave me,rhe knowledge they offered me is of the utmost importance to my purpose.I hope you ave you been well?"
Chantal snaps her fingers, beaming. "Yes! I studied in Greenheart for a couple years after the War. You're the warforged who was so interested in potions and herbalism. It's so nice to meet you again, maybe we can talk more later on! I'm doing well, thank you. The trees told me I was needed here, so here I am." She tilts her head slightly. "How are you doing? Any new discoveries?"
"I am well, though I've never quite understood how a tree tells anyone anything, I still have much to learn."
Ale gives what passes for a smile. "Some, I have obtained competency in potion crafting and magical scrolls. I left because I found my learning becoming stagnated, and decided some time on the frontier might help drive me to excellence. Thank you for asking, it is very kind; and it is nice to see a familiar face."
Ale decides that wherever Sona is going is the thing to be doing, and so follows.