As Jenkin relents, Penelope does so too, her eyes dropping all their irritation, since he is once again not looking at her, she nudges him but gives him a thank you smile instead of terse words.
As Elowen talks about the monastery, Penelope remembers a bit of useless information "All the kids would dare each other to go and spend the night in that place. Grince and Taller even claimed they did, several times, but they were ten and trying to puff up. Didn't believe them then and really don't now with you telling me it's a few days away. Both were apprentices, no way they wouldn't have been boxed to heck and back if they were gone that long."
”I know where to find the oldest tree in the forest, we could get there in a little less than two days.. provided Odelai here has a ride or some other means of covering ground at the same pace.” Elowen advises.
Some pigment flushes the grey gnome's cheeks. She stands to her full height - all 3' 3" of it - and makes her admission sheepishly. "Unfortunately, I will slow you down... unless someone doesn't mind carrying me pig-a-back, or if that charming tiger wouldn't be offended by a passenger."
"I was planning on getting a room at the boarding house. I can leave much of my goods there... lessening the burden. I'd be no more than 45 lbs, I should think."
She offers a final idea along with something of a plea. "Or I can buy a mount of some sort. I'm not a skilled rider but I can make do. I'd rather not be a burden or left behind."
Bribe him with sweets or booze. The oracle offers.
The gnome smiles brightly, relieved, then looks at Laurel, saying innocently. "Do you have any large bags of candies?"
Laurel nods and walks into a back room with her book. You can hear her moving things around but she does walk out with a few sugar candies in her hands. Smiling, "Can also bribe Sir with some drinks later. I have some wine we can share if he is helpful."
*Wags tail happily and purrs*
Yes, offer tribute
"Okay, I'll go home and change out of my skirts and gather my stuff." Penelope is already thinking about what to bring and what to leave behind. Before she bolts back home, she offers " Odielai, you are welcome to leave your stuff in my room until we get back, to save you a few days of rent."
Odelai takes the sweets with thanks and feeds Sir Pounce a few individual candies. "Now, be a gorgeous cat and don't eat Auntie Ode's hand. She'll need that later to pour your drinks and scratch your belly."
Before she bolts back home, she offers "Odelai, you are welcome to leave your stuff in my room until we get back, to save you a few days of rent."
The gnome blinks at the offer, absentmindedly popping one of Pounce's candies in her own mouth. "Thank you, yes. Unanticipated kindnesses are the best sort." Odelai hustles along after Penelope.
While having a drinking buddy on this trip might normally bring a smile to Jenkin's face, the realization that the tiger is the boozehound (boozecat?) in question is a bit... strange. "That... can't be healthy..." he murmurs. Then he shakes his head, as if to dispel the sight. Not my cat, not my problem... "Alright, I'll go home and pack a bag too. I have armor, now! Just bought some a few weeks back, figured I'd try adventurin' for a living. I mean, I pictured searching throuhg lost crypts for gold, not gathering up plants, but... it's a start. Let me get that, my hatchets, some food, I'm good to go..."
The medium sized tiger pat Odelai on the head.
Oh, lets get through with this
Svetlana repeats the Irriseni word "Друг" for "friend" while having the big cat snifle at the hands of the party.
Done, you see, in contrast to small cats, Sir Pounce here does absolutely not have any size bazed inferiority complexes, he kind of regards me as a lesser tiger, and now regards you as vasalls to his vasall or something. He will not attack you, and even try to save you without orders if he feels like it. I have a rangers kit so I should be ok travel wise, ill buy some extra rations though, Sir Pounce eats quite a bit.
As they all agree to take on the task of finding Laurel's ingredients, Elowen watches as those living in town head off to gather thier traveling gear.
"I travel light, and have most of what I would need with me." she says, leaning on her gnarled wooden staff, the leafy vines wrapped around her right arm rustling lightly. "But if you happen to have a tub or container I can fill with water, I can water my armor while the others take care of their preparations." she says, reaching unto her back and producing supple leather armor wrapped in rose vines, the long thorns adding a myriad of dangerous spikes.
Laurel smiles and nods, "Of course. Come on." Snagging a large basin on the way.
She leads you into the back room and into her fenced in garden. There is a large barrel that stores rainwater, "Have at it."
She takes the time while you are watering your armor to prune a few plants.
At the temple, Penelope calls out to Lady Cirthanahas "Laurel needs some people to fetch ingredients for a cure. We volunteered." she smiled brightly, obviously conflicted between wanting to bounce around in excitement and buried under the weight of the task. "This is Odelai, she's coming with us. And Odelai, this is Lady Cirthanahas, priestess of Iomedae. I offered to let her leave some things in my room and I need to change into something better suited to travelling."
There is a brief look of horror on Lady Cirthanahas face but she quickly schools it to a more welcoming smile, "Of course you did, you sweet girl."
Nodding at the shorter gnome, "Well met. Your things will be safe here."
She follows after you both like a duckling behind its mother. Not saying anything just nervously foloowing. Watching you start to get ready then shaking her head, "I'll be right back."
She isn't gone for long before returning to a small sack, "Something to snack on. Be caeful with it. And with yourself."
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Skirts and vest were replaced with breeches and a hide coat, both still tinged purple, but at least her garb also included a more sensibly colored green cloak. She was just shouldering her second quiver of arrows, when Cirthanahas came back in with the sack. Penelope hugs her guardian, a woman she should call mother, if she ever had the courage and sense to do so. She hugs her for a long time. "I will... and thank you." for so many things.
Then to keep to the sudden desire to tear up to a minimum, she pulls on her pack and looks into the snack sack
Scale mail check, leather barding check, cold weather clothing check
Svetlana goes through her list
Claws She grows 2 pairs of claws check
Fangs Her fangs grow check
Jumpyness Her claws retract as she does a quick jump, easily reaching a jump height of about 4 feet from the stand while wearing armor check
Darkvision Her incisors retract as she starts having cat eyes.
Check.
Absolutely not obese cat in studded leather barding
Sir Pounce semi angrily flares at her
No Sir Pounce I dont want to know why you even know what a mithril chainshirt is, we cant afford one... Check
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Nodding at the shorter gnome, "Well met. Your things will be safe here."
Odelai offers her a respectful bow. "Well met, and thank you for your hospitality, Ma'am. Nothing I have is of particular value. It's just heavy and it seems we need to travel light." While Penelope is changing, the little gnome pulls out a cauldron from her ingeniously packed backpack and shoves it into a corner of the room out of the way. Then she pulls more items from her pack and sets them into the cauldron - rope, a crossbow, a quill, a bottle of ink, and a sheath of bolts. She holds onto a journal and considers it before shoving it back into her pack.
Finally, she pulls 5 gold pieces from her purse and offers them to the priestess, "For the upkeep of your temple and your kindness."
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Laurel watches you watering your armor, "Sorry to have flung a bunch of people at you like that. Can't vouch for the gnome but the others are alright. Jenkin is trying so.. eh."
Shrugging, "You encounter many gnomes? I think they are supposed to be really colorful" Moving around the small space aimlessly, "Shouldn't cling to stereotypes like i do."
Cirthanahas hangs on a moment after you start to pull away then lets go. Looking you over before backing away. She visibly jumps when Odelai speaks to her, clearly lost in thought. Smiling and offering a quick bow, "Thank you."
While bowed down, "Please keep an eye on my girl?"
"Thanks. It was...a lot, but having more people involved gives us a better chance of getting everything we need in time. I can deal with a few more people than I'm used to if it's saving lives." Elowen says with a shrug and a wry grin.
" I don't know if I'd call it a stereotype if it's practically true. I haven't met too many gnomes, but every one that I have met was pretty colorful...vibrant...there's something fey about them, I feel." she says, trailing her fingers in the bucket, as the vine wrapped around her right arm extends tiny roots into the water, to have a drink.
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While bowed down, "Please keep an eye on my girl?"
Even if this was just a quick jaunt to pick up some roots, the import of the request was not lost on Odelai. Vows were never given lightly, and she couldn't guarantee Penelope's safety. She regards Cirthanahas with her golden eyes, then pitches her voice just as quietly and deadly earnest. "Nothing will hurt your girl, that hasn't struck me down first."
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The cabin he'd lived in with his parents was nothing much to look at, and even less to live in. It had been nicer when Ma and Da were around to keep up with it, but ever since... well, Jenkin could undoubtedly have taken on the duties of keeping the place tidied and in repair, if he'd been willing. But that would involve spending a lot more time in it, and whenever he walked in the door and saw Ma at the fireplace, boiling potatoes, and then blinked and she was gone...
It wasn't somewhere he wanted to be.
The hut was a bed with walls around it, nothing more, and if that meant he had to find excuses to spend his days and nights elsewhere, then elsewhere he would be. Other people could think what they wanted, they weren't the ones who had to make the choice between looking like one of the town drunks and spending the night looking at an empty rocking chair. Even now, coming to the house with a purpose, he studiously avoided looking at the chair, or the hearth, or the table, or anywhere else that his mind might go putting people in. Nope, straight to his foot locker to gather up his (til now, untested) scale armor. It fit well enough, maybe a little bit snugger than when he'd bought it, but a few days living on the rough should help with that. His provisions were... not extensive, but the ones that looked still edible filled up a knapsack well enough. Waterskin to wash down the rations. Rope? Couldn't hurt. Weapons? Hm, could never tell, sure, they were just going to pick some plants, but still, Darkmoon Vale was Darkmoon Vale. Maybe just a few things... bow and arrow, always useful. Quarterstaff to bop things with if they got closer. And... well, why not. He hefted up his pair of hatchets and gave himself a moment of pretending he was hacking through a log. Yeah, he still had the lumberjacking moves. Only question was, whether he'd have the nerve to go hacking anything that wasn't made of wood. Well, maybe he wouldn't have to find out. He hung one on each hip, then set out for the town hall.
He didn't bother to lock up behind him; what was anyone going to steal, bad memories? Or good memories, even; all the better to get rid of.
Penelope nearly tears up again at the contents of the sack, so quickly kisses Cirthanahas on the cheek and hurries out before she embarrasses herself before her 'quest'.
As she waits outside for Odelai to finish, she'll adjust her pack. She's done plenty of camping in her life, even had taken the sword Cirthanahas had gifted her before. But this time her pack seems twice as heavy, and it wasn't the cast iron skillet strapped to the back either.
Penelope knows its all in her mind, but her mind usually gets her into trouble, so it is worrisome none the less.
When Odelai comes out, the half elf smiles and asks "Ready?]"
Eh, not as cold as in Irrisen. And I wont get.... F%!*ing Iadwigas, too vicious for their own f*~+ing good... Oh well, I got my claws, my fangs, supplies, my cat, and the crew seems friendly enough! Lets see what they can do!
You risk getting a stomach Ulcer whenever you think the term "Iadwiga", little honorary-4-leg Sir Pounce state with a flick of his tail. Somehow.
When Odelai comes out, the half elf smiles and asks "Ready?"
The gnome nods and replies with a chuckle, "The wind need not ask the sail's permission."
As they walk back to Roots & Remedies, Odelai scans the town meticulously - finding everything curious. For half a minute she stops to stare at an orange tabby crossing a roof. As they close on the shop, a thought pours from her, "Your mistress is kind-hearted and loving. The town's distrust seems undeserved."
She did me a favor, and on account of this I listen to her sermons, but the inheritor, while I respect her martial prowress, is simply too lawful for me. I had some highly unpleseant run ins with "lawful authorities" in my homeland, and prefer to chose those who are allowed to make requests of me myself.
She pauses
I and Sir Pounce you see, there was a sizeable Orc raiding force invading from the Hold of Belkzen. Our armed forces were out on an exercise, and nowwhere near, and Orcs arent as easily repelled by cold as others.
I spotted them because I was out hunting, I send my fellow hunter to raise the alarm, and then I improvised. You see, we succesfully hunted some dire bats and thus...
She smiles
It appears I can do a reasonable Succubus impersonation, although my gnomish buddy Javril did the disguising and made up the script on the fly, also using mage hand to make it look like my tail and wings were moving. Good thing I had innate claws and cat eyes. No idea what I said because I dont speak Abyssal, but the leading Orcs saw the performance and hightailed the hell out of there.
She chuckles
Then we both got accused of consorting with Demons and were exiled. Actual crime of course was being competent while not being Iadwiga. Ah well, bugger them! Lets save our town!
She says with a large beaming pearl white smile
Penelope listened rather intently as Svetlana spoke, though her eyes look uncertain about how to respond. After a moment, she hesitantly tries "I was raised by Lady Cirthanahas, so have been practically dipped in the sea of all things Iomedae since I could understand anything. So... at least in her view of the faith, justice and honor are not about being a lawful authority, or even truly about following the land's laws, but are firm edicts of right and wrong in your heart. While I always wondered about that, how those edicts could be different between hearts and all... but what I mean, is I don't think Lady Cirthanahas would have condemned you for that in any way." she looks to Odelai "And thank you, I agree completely of course. Our village, once it has made its mind up about someone, doesn't feel the need to ever give them another chance." there is a residual anger that in her voice.
Right or wrong hmm? I do not take lives, liberties or possessions lightly, and my word, if given freely, is steel. I think thats a practical enough code to live by. She pauses
I dont quite get why she is that unpopular either, compared to some I know from Irrisen she is practically a saint. She adds
I have told exactly no one that, when I did the performance, I heard a female voice in my head, saying in common: Your pronounciation is suprisingly good for someone who doesnt speak our language of longing at all, let me give you some assistance in light of the desireability of preserving your potential. I do like myself some sanguinity. The small favor thus owed shall be collected at a later time. and that the Orcs started to run at that point. I guess that voice told them something scarier then me.
"A good code" Penelope says honestly. She might still be young but she already has plenty of opinions. And she smiles brightly at the praise for her guardian
There is still a few hours till sunset and you all could make it to the forests edge with some time to spare before the sun sets. The town is quiet, eerily so. But the late spring weather is pleasant.
Odelai regards the assembled adventurers. ”Shall we go? Traipsing on the edge of a haunted wood at nightfall seems delightful.”
Jenkin comes trotting back up to the group, breathing heavily a little at having to hustle with all this stuff on him. "Sorry if I kept y'all... waiting..." he says between huffs. "Bedroll... wouldn't... roll up nicely... had to squish it." He triumphantly holds up his knapsack, which looks distinctly pregnant from a lackluster packing job. "Um. We are camping out, right? I didn't wrestle with this lump of feathers for nothing?"
Now dressed in her armor, wrapped in rose thorns, Elowen looks even more a part of the wilderness they're about to venture into. Seeming as much dryad as human, the shamaness greets the others as they gather at the agreed on meeting point. Smiling at Odelai’s comment she nods. “We will likely spend a few nights outdoors, yes. Everyone ready?”
Now dressed in her armor, wrapped in rose thorns, Elowen looks even more a part of the wilderness they're about to venture into. Seeming as much dryad as human, the shamaness greets the others as they gather at the agreed on meeting point. Smiling at Odelai’s comment she nods. “We will likely spend a few nights outdoors, yes. Everyone ready?”
Yep, and what could possibly go wrong? Svetlana says with a beaming smile while she scratches her tiger behind his ears.
Elowen considers the best path, whether to head first to obtain the Elder moss before heading to the mines on the far side of the forest, to gather the mushrooms.
Penelope is an orderly person and ITCHES to repack Jenkin's pack for him, but restrains herself somehow. "All ready" she says.
Many things can go wrong, which is why it is much better to POUNCE! But I cant actually do that yet, egads! The eponymous big cat indicates with a particularly articulate combination of tailflip of purr.
Leaving the town of Falcons Hollow Elowen leads you all in a straight path. Not a directly to the forests edge, slightly angled. No need to walk directly to the river when you can easily go around it.
With Odelai seated on the most magnanimous Sir Pounce's back you all make a decent pace. The space between the the small town and the looming forest filled with tall grass and gently sloping hills. Though there are well worn paths, largely made by the lumberjacks, that wind their way to the woods.
After some time and practice - and complimenting Pounce frequently - the pale gnome grows more comfortable riding the swaying cat. She speaks little, content it seems to observe the country-side and periodically turns a curious eye on her companions.
Burning Hands (1):
Mage Armor (1):
Dancing Lights (1):
Flare (1):
Prestidigitation (1):
Produce Flame (1):
Effects:
xxx = None
The weight of armor, weapons, and a fully loaded backpack proves much less tiresome when just walking at a fair pace than when running madly through town. Jenkin soon finds himself quite enjoying the simple exercise and whistles a bit as he goes along. He does give the path leading to the work camp a bit of a side eye, though. "Uh. Just so you all know, if we happen to come across a work crew that has Emmit Varton running it, it... might be awkward. He's kinda had it in for me since I laid him out flat in a brawl. For, y'know. Stuff."
"So I think we might be better off avoiding the camp altogether." Elowen replies. "For one thing, time is vital. WEe can work our way into the forest at daylight going around the lake that the river ends in to get to the Elder Tree. From there we can cut deeper into the forest to get to Ulizmila's hut, then head to the base of the mountains to find the mushrooms."
Penelope got on fine with some of the lumberjacks, and wanted to throttle others. She didn't know which of the two categories would be out here, so thought the avoidance was a great idea. "Time, with fewer brawls, is important." then after a second "Elowen, I know you probably don't need it, since you know the forest better than any of us, but..." the young woman unhooks her compass from her belt and hands it to the other "... it might save us some time here or there." then Penelope will move back to her rear position.
That guy? He was hitting on me, so I told him me and Sir Pounce are a package deal at all times. While referencesing that Sir Pounce enjoys Sausages. He stopped hitting on me then. Svetalana chuckles
Couple of the other ones are pretty ok in my book.
"Emmitt Varton... brawl... throttling lumberjacks... he was hitting on me..."
Odelai observes drily, "He sounds like a prince. I'll expect a bouquet of flowers from him in the next few days."
The lumber camp is easily avoided. Going into the forest well before any of the lumberjacks might spot you. It's getting dark so they won't be out and about until morning.
Elowen leads the group into the woods and within half an hour has found a space to set up camp. Though the trees you all can see the sky turn from blues to pinks and purples that give way to a star filled sky.
Camp is set up relatively easily. Its the first night out so there are no dwindling rations or frustrations from missing a familiar bed. The sky is clear and filled with stars and the half moons light helps with the first and last watches. Owls are the loudest disruption in the night.
Morning arrives with yellows and oranges. Rations are the quickest breakfast for a group with a want for speed. The quickest route will lead you close to the lake with the possibility of getting food that is a bit more fresh.
So, whats the dumbest thing you girls an guy have done? Dressing up as a Succubus with some dire bat parts in order to scare off orc raiders is probably my top contribution to extremely weird ideas by mortals with no better ideas. She pauses
So far at least!
Svetlana says with a massive smile.
Sir Pounce once got overzealous with a booze destillery, things are difficult to operate without opposable thumbs I guess! She continues, resulting in Sir Pounce playfully pouncing her.
Quickest route sounds good otherwise!
She quips as she wrestles a bit with her animal companion
Yes, I know, 2 legs also blow up destilleries.
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Penelope was chewing on her dried rations, taking a sip of water from her skin to make it go down easier. "When I was six, I pelted a man with old eggs until he chased after me, so much bigger and faster, anger boiling off him, but I had prepared the path which he was blind to at that point, so he tripped over the rope I had set up and he went straight into a pile of cow dung." she smiled in the memory. "It was rather fresh." it was obvious she was more proud than shameful about it. A slight frown etched into her face though for her last sentence "Chirta had to apologize to him, which stunk even worse than the poo."
Penelope shrugged "It isn't nearly as exciting as costuming as a Succubus, but it is all I really have..." well, her mind jabbed her a little at the lie, her DUMBEST moment was telling a boy she liked him in her awkward teen years, only for him to laugh and tell everyone about her pathetic crush, but she isn't about to tell that here.
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Jenkin's somewhat embarrassed grim pops out of the top of his beard. "If you're from around town, and you've spent some time at the Jak'a'Napes, you might have noticed this big gouge in the floor next to the bar? Like, half a foot long, like someone tried to cut through the wood? Yeah, so last year I'd had a few too many Eagle Ales, and one of my buddies talked me into showing off some of my fancier axe move- like, when I'm in the cutyard, sometimes to spice it up I'll do some fancy twirling or flipping the axe while I'm chopping wood- and I thought it sounded like a great idea. So started juggling an axe. Worked for about thirty seconds, then missed, and it was a choice of letting it cut my fingers off or getting out of the way, so... I was sober enough to move. And it went down. And landed blade first. And really sunk in there. Like a good six inches, took some work to pry it back up, someone joked that if I got it out I should become king of the bar. Well, Jak himself didn't appreciate any of that and showed me the door, hasn't let me back in since. And that's how I actually became a regular at the Purple Duck. He takes a long swig from his waterskin, maybe a bit sad that it's actually water.