Before they can run away Kevan bursts through the door. "Hellooo people. I'm Kevan, who are you? Ahh, I see you have the luck of the people with you. Well met friend." Kevan says waving at Rabbit. "It's been so long since I saw other people I had almost forgotten how you looked." then he turns back to the door, "Hey guys! Come meet the new people." Turning back he walks toward the strangers to shake hands.
Kevan has hands with a mind of their own. While greeting he will definitely try to pilfer something. Typically small things.
Hearing the door 'burst' open and the unfamiliar voice Jaxom spins around expecting an attack. Seeing the, perhaps overly friendly, halfling approaching he watches for anyone else in the doorway. "I am Jaxom Buhr. I'll let the others introduce themselves. Have you explored your shard to the extent of the available land before this merge? Are there any areas of danger that you know of?"
He remains cautious as Kevan approaches, still watching the doorway (and the halfling) for any attack.
"Pleased to meet you, Kevan," Alden replies, extending his hand to the halfling. "I am Alden Cooperson." He gestures to the holy symbol of Erastil around his neck, "defender of Old-Dead Eye's faith. My friends and I are trying to reunite the shards of this world, and have only just managed to connect our shard with this one."
"No danger here. Just boring upon boring." Kevan says to Jaxom. "What's a shard? I mean in particular. I'm assuming you don't mean a standard shard of glass or something. Sounds particular. I remember when me and Bryce Wainwright used to investigate various mysteries. Why we had this Marquis hire us to find some jewel, similar to a shard, right? We looked all over the man's house only to find out his son had it. He was getting it remounted in its setting for his dad's birthday but ole daddy boy was so concerned about the missing thing he didn't want the news to get out so he never even asked. Craziness. Anyway, so about this shard?"
Jaxom studies the strange halfling. He didn't understand what a shard is? "By shard we mean this little bit of the world. Apparently the sundering broke the world into little areas, in some cases barely enough to support the creatures living in them. We had a little farmland and a very few animals, and a goblin tribe that thought that they should kill us to take charge of the area. They're gone now. Your 'shard' would be all the meadow area around your building here, and the garden. You can see the edges of it in the distance around here."
He points back to 'our' shard, "We found a magic that let us join our shard to yours. Now we want to reclaim the magic and use it again to link to more."
A tall human wearing lamellar armor and carrying a heavy wooden shield in one hand walks out to meet the new arrivals.
"Greetings, I am Eochaidh Roidal. The biggest 'danger' here is that, for some reason, there's a stunning lack of animals in this 'shard', as you call it. So I hope you don't mind a very small all vegetable diet."
Seeing the Paladin present the holy symbol of Erastil the druid nods to one of the Old Faith.
”I would have called it a piece but as you will. And as Roidal points out, next to the possibility of dying of boredom is the boring fare, namely, no meat.” kevan has worked his way to his fellow halfling at this point and extends a hand in greeting. ”You don’t talk much, do you? Big people treating you ok?”
None of the newcomers really have anything loose to pocket. Their gear is practical and secure against idle hands. Mostly. Your fellow halfling does have a few collected tidbits, as one might. You spot a lucky chicken's foot hanging by a strap you could try for. You are, however, being actively observed and they are all looking directly at you. Jaxom, in particular, would likely spot anything but the deftest of attempts to snatch something.
I will get posting up in the morning. Loving this interaction.
Very well. Mind my p's and q's
Early in the conversation someone else exited behind Kevan and Eochaidh. A relatively slim human with short, swept back auburn hair and green eyes. He was handsome, with smooth features and a well defined jaw. He wore simple pants and a tunic but both had bronze thread embroidery, were of fine make, and colored to compliment each other. The pants a light green like newly sprouted buds, and the tunic a darker moss green. It was accompanied by a leather belt and pauldron one one shoulder that supported a dark shoulder cape.
He favored the newcomers with a thin smile, looking each over as the conversation continued. Waiting for a proper pause to speak. "Greetings then, shard bearers." he welcomed them, "My name is Norian Abronze. Retired adventurer and tailor. This is my shop. You're welcome to browse my wares. I would also be happy to make garments for you or anyone else from your shard. Is there anyone else?"
"Greetings, Norian. I am Alden Cooperson, of Erastil," he adds, again gesturing to the holy symbol around his neck.
"Thank you for your offer. I'm not needing anything at the moment, but there is a small village back that way," he gestures in the direction of the Tooms' farm, and Passbog beyond. "The people are honorable, fair-minded, and resourceful. They would welcome free and honest trade with visitors."
Jaxom glances at the man. His clothes appear simple at first, but he frowns at the bronze thread embroidery. It looks like the kind of garments that a lesser noble might wear. Jaxom's clothing was simple, sturdy, practical....
"So, as Kevan and... Eochaidh say that there is nothing other than boredom to fear here? I think perhaps we should go and locate the shard then. It flew across while it joined our shards together and landed, " He points. "over there. It is.... a magical gem with some basic intelligence. And I think it caused the goblins that were in our shard to commit to suicidal attacks against us. They are all dead, along with a few of our neighbors and friends. We wanted peace, but...."
"Goblins aren't known for being sensible or peaceful so such self-destructive behavior is their nature rather than the effect of magic. A sentient magic item? Those are rare indeed."
”I would have called it a piece but as you will. And as Roidal points out, next to the possibility of dying of boredom is the boring fare, namely, no meat.” kevan has worked his way to his fellow halfling at this point and extends a hand in greeting. ”You don’t talk much, do you? Big people treating you ok?”
Rabbit does in fact seem slightly overwhelmed by the burst of talking that erupts from all those gathered. Not surprising, really-- new faces are seeing new faces for the first time in a very long time, for everyone-- and there's just... a lot to absorb.
The question aimed at him gets a blink and then another blink and then a hesitant smile. This halfling is so confident, so bold and cheerful... he reminds Rabbit of the Bellflower Tillers he had briefly known. He wonders if the other halfling WAS one, but supposes it's not relevant anymore if he was. "Oh! Yes, yes, they've been very kind, they're really good people, um-- gosh, there's so much to try and tell you all--"
Fingers go through his messy hair once again, along with several bobbing nods at the mentions of the gem.
"Garnet," he blurts. "Her name is Garnet. I mean, Garnet feels like a she to me. It's a lot more than basic intelligence, I mean, Garnet has a name and a personality and a..." Rabbit trails off as it penetrates to him that he sort-of-kind-of just contradicted Mr. Buhr, a bigfolk. That's a big no-no in the book of Rabbit.
"...um- anyway! I think it was Garnet that first used the word 'shard' to describe our little chunk of the world. We just kind of started using it. Mr. Cooperson mentioned the village and we do have some animals yes-- um, not a whole lot though so please don't immediately try to butcher them-- but eggs, we can definitely get you eggs-- Ohmygoodnessgosh a tailor."
Rabbit blinks again, several times, then hurriedly pushes towards the well-dressed man. "Mister Abronze! Sir! Do you need an apprentice? I'm called Rabbit sir and I can sew some and mend and darn and--"
Sure, there's a talking gem to go chase, but Rabbit just got distracted.
"That's ok, we can talk about it later." Kevan says to Rabbit. Then he turns back to Jaxom. "Sir, your story telling is quite confusing. So there was a shard in your shard that linked you to our shard and then shot off to find a shard. A storyteller you are not. And I am sorry about the people who passed. So, when do we leave?" Kevan finishes smiling at everyone.
"Well, you are welcome to leave this place, and go visit our neighbors in Passbog. As I said, they are peaceable and fair-minded. If, however, you wish to join us, leaving will entail joining these shards of the world with another. We are attempting to mend Golarion the way a tailor might mend a torn garment," Alden replies, glancing towards Norian and giving him a respectful nod.
"I am all in for tailoring up Golarion, it'll make a great story." Kevan adds.
"--oh, you know, I never thought of it like that," Rabbit says with a blink when Mr. Cooperson deploys the tailoring analogy. After a few mulling seconds, he smiles. "That's actually really lovely! Fixing things! Stitching them up! Like-- like the world is a big... a big quilt!"
He flicks a sidelong glance at Kevan. "...are you a storyteller?"
Jaxom ignores the additional discussion and leads the way to where they'd seen the gem land. He doubted that it would be as simple as just finding it and repeating the sequence to detect other shards.
"I'd very much like to return home; it's been so long I wonder how it has changed."
Eochaidh joins the group in walking towards the intelligent gem.
"Glad to have you both with us," Alden replies. He moves with the group in the direction of the 'gemfall.'
"Am I a storyteller? I'm shocked you haven't heard of me. Why, I was know as Kevan the sevenfold bard. I entertained those at Korvosa and even the Governor of Magnimar. My specialty was bedtime stories for which I was hired by many a noble to get their children to go to bed. Ahh, yes, with me telling a story to ease them into bed no one asked for a cup of water nor sought the refuge of their parents' bed. But, I guess I just traveled a very elite circle and my name never really went too public." Kevan responds to Rabbit as they head off to find the shard pairs.
"Am I a storyteller? I'm shocked you haven't heard of me. Why, I was know as Kevan the sevenfold bard. I entertained those at Korvosa and even the Governor of Magnimar. My specialty was bedtime stories for which I was hired by many a noble to get their children to go to bed. Ahh, yes, with me telling a story to ease them into bed no one asked for a cup of water nor sought the refuge of their parents' bed. But, I guess I just traveled a very elite circle and my name never really went too public." Kevan responds to Rabbit as they head off to find the shard pairs.
"It's true, no one's ever had trouble falling asleep listening to Kevan speak."
The normally reserved Eochaidh just might be trying to hide a grin...
"Don't listen to him, he talks to rocks. But it is true, I am the king of the lullaby." Kevan says waving at Eochaidh dismissively.
”Where is your home, if it isn’t here…if you don’t mind my asking,” Alden asks Eochaidh.
Norian seems very pleased with the conversation. "Well, it seems I might have more customers in the future if you lot are going to mend the world. Very strange, pulling together pieces out of the ether. It reminds me of something... I would request you not join with a shard bearing any lizard folk. Terrible people those." he noted, looking off into the distance for a moment.
"Yes. Very much so." came a new voice. It was deeper and flat, missing the kind of inflection the sorcerer put on his words. Before the group could trace the source of the comment a stone skipped off the hanging sign of the tailoring shop, and as it did a form was slowly revealed behind the gathered party. A tall Keleshite man. His head was shaven, and he wore a half-open tunic that left his torso and opposite shoulder exposed. It was white linen and trimmed with some kind of thin ebony colored fabric or hide. His pants were also white linen cinched at the ankle, with no boots covering his feet. He wore a thick wrap of a belt with a bronze chain tucked into the top that looped down and across to his hip. "I am Bartholemeu." he simply stated as means of introduction, "I am Norian's... friend. It is good to see you are not a threat."
The sorcerer frowned. "Ever cautious." he remarked dryly before turning his attention to Rabbit and took a knee to bring himself more to the halfing's height, "My shop is open to you, and you are welcome to ask me anything." he remarked as he put a hand on his shoulder. "Just don't go putting me out of business." he added with a smile, "If your business isn't too pressing I could show you the shop...? I have a loom inside."
Those that choose to go along with finding the shard...
It was not hard to make their way back down the road and locate the spot where the gem had seemingly fallen. Though the faint wisp of smoke was gone the group had marked a half fallen tree in the treeline to orient on. After a bit of travel the group was able to spot a scorched spot of grass. In the center gleamed an odd shape. An emerald shaped loosely like a fist sized heart and sporting the same uneven facets that Garnet had. Although the gem was also covered in an odd layer of material as well. It was colored like black silver, or mercury. Parts of it wrapped around the gem like a metallic facet, only to blend into bubbles of silvery looking glass. There were even rough, jagged pieces of the stuff that caught the light like crystal shards. As the group neared an inner glow started to emanate from the gem, and they heard a somewhat nasal and refined voice enter their minds.
"Three years without being spotted in the grass, and now I am found within the day." noted the gem, "Well done! I can see why you merged the two shards so well."
"I would love to see your shop," Alden says to Norian with a respectful nod, "but finding what has become of the gemstone is of the utmost importance, if we are to mend the world. Perhaps when we return?" He offers a respectful nod to Bartholemu as well.
Aldren travels with the group to the location of the emerald. When he sees the stone and hears it speak, it is clearly not Garnet. He reaches down and picks up the stone.
"Greetings friend. I am Alden Cooperson," he says to the stone. "By what name do you wish to be called?"
”Where is your home, if it isn’t here…if you don’t mind my asking,” Alden asks Eochaidh.
"I'm originally from what's called Andoran."
"Oh, my apologies sir." the emerald chimes, "My name is Deshrit.
I apologize for my manners. I haven't really had any good conversation these last three years. I'm afraid my manners are lacking."
Conversation while walking:
"Ah yes, Andoran, the Birthplace of Freedom. The Erastlian Faith thrives there," Alden replies.
**********
"A pleasure to meet you, Deshrit. Do you happen to know where Garnet has gotten to, or if she is even here at all?" he asks.
Conversation while walking:
[dice=Untrained Knowledge, Geography]1d20-1
"Ah yes, Andoran, the Birthplace of Freedom. The Erastlian Faith thrives there," Alden replies.
Eochaidh snorts, "'Birthplace of freedom' my arse. Rather the continuation of tyranny - just under a corporate guise. They're no better than the Taldan scum that invaded my homeland or the Cheliaxian scum who came to power after them."
Jaxom looks at the stone. It clearly isn't 'Garnet' but seemed just as self-interested, and possibly dangerous to touch? Weren't liquid metals dangerous? He couldn't remember, and then Alden reaches down and scoops it up?
"Wait! It might...." His voice stops as he is too late.
Seeing Alden conversing with the rock, rather than screaming in pain.... he just shrugs, watches and listens.
Eochaidh snorts, "'Birthplace of freedom' my arse. Rather the continuation of tyranny - just under a corporate guise. They're no better than the Taldan scum that invaded my homeland or the Cheliaxian scum who came to power after them."
Alden sighs in disappointment. "It's sad to hear that a place with such a fine reputation in other parts of the world does not live up to that image in the eyes of its citizenry. Perhaps, when the world is once again whole, the Andorans, and Golarion as a whole will come to some better understanding on how to live peacefully and cooperatively with one another."
*********
Meanwhile in the present moment, Alden waits to hear from Deshrit of the whereabouts of Garnet.
"A talking gemstone. That is amazing. I know you mentioned it but I just figured you were a little bit addled. Can I hold it?" Kevan asks.
"Am I a storyteller? I'm shocked you haven't heard of me. Why, I was know as Kevan the sevenfold bard. I entertained those at Korvosa and even the Governor of Magnimar. My specialty was bedtime stories for which I was hired by many a noble to get their children to go to bed. Ahh, yes, with me telling a story to ease them into bed no one asked for a cup of water nor sought the refuge of their parents' bed. But, I guess I just traveled a very elite circle and my name never really went too public."
"Oh my goodness," Rabbit says with wide eyes, gazing at Kevan with, it would appear, complete trust in his claims of fame. "I'm sorry-- I was sort of-- I didn't-- I don't know who any of the famous people are, really, except I guess Her Majestrix Abrigail Thrune? And some other people in Cheliax. But my-- where I came from, they didn't talk about bards and heroes and all like that. I thought they would all be, you know, bigfolk. Wow. You must have seen so much! That sounds so-- so nice, getting to tell stories to children to help them sleep!"
Kevan, you may have found the most gullible halfing in the world, but he's looking at you with respect bordering on awe....
When he is invited to the shop, Rabbit throws a deeply longing glance within, especially at the promise of the loom, but his companions likely wouldn't wait, he supposes. "I'll look at it as soon as I can, Mr. Abronze..."
Reluctantly, he trots off after the others, hiking up his pack and checking to be sure Mr. Whisper is secured...
"I think Andoran's very nice," Rabbit mutters a bit later, nearly under his breath. He's happy for the distraction of the New Gem.
"Oh! Hello, um, Deshrit. I'm Rabbit. Like Mr. Cooperson said, we are looking for Garnet, but it's very nice to meet you, sir, or, um, ma'am, or whatever you prefer!"
Jaxom looks at the stone. It clearly isn't 'Garnet' but seemed just as self-interested, and possibly dangerous to touch? Weren't liquid metals dangerous? He couldn't remember, and then Alden reaches down and scoops it up?
"Wait! It might...." His voice stops as he is too late.
Seeing Alden conversing with the rock, rather than screaming in pain.... he just shrugs, watches and listens.
"Ah so you have a 'fearless, ready to grab anything individuals in your group too eh? And here we all thought Kevan was one of a kind...
As if on cue Kevan asks to be the next to perhaps too eagerly touch/hold the 'new' sentient item.
"I think Andoran's very nice," Rabbit mutters a bit later, nearly under his breath. He's happy for the distraction of the New Gem.
Hearing Rabbit's assessment of Andoran, Eochaidh tells him "They might seem nice to people whose ancestors they didn't exterminate. You'll have to forgive me for holding that against them."
Deshrit didn't respond immediately, the emerald light emanating from him reflecting onto those present. "I apologize sir, but the young lady is gone. She had displeased one of her shard bearers you see, and so she was destroyed." he explained, "Trust me when I say, I will endeavor to serve you faithfully and without incident."
Alden’s expression becomes suddenly somber and marred with a mixture of concern and confusion. He asks Deshrit, ”Is shard-bearer the name you use for the person who makes use of your power? If so, I was Garnet’s shard-bearer when she merged our shard with yours. I wasn’t displeased with her at all. Did I somehow…kill her?”
While some of the discussion is lost on him the phrase "the young lady is gone" and "she was destroyed" leave no doubt something bad has happened.
Jaxom hears the discussion and interrupts. "It said shard bearers. You were the one that Garnet finally allowed to use the power. But the goblins had.... her first. Garnet manipulated them to fight us. Caused their deaths. Could have been one of them."
"And I was certainly displeased by the thing's actions, or the actions that it caused. But I never touched the stone so I wasn't a 'bearer'!"
"I'm afraid I do not know the exact details sir." Deshrit explained, "I only know that she came into conflict with one of her shard bearers. To elaborate on the term, however, a shard bearer is one who is directly allied with whoever uses the shard. I hope this clarifies things for you. If you have any other questions, please know I will do my utmost to be helpful to you."
There certainly didn't seem to be fear in the gem's tone, nor was it being a sycophant. At least at first blush. It's demeanor seemed very much the picture of a butler or maid.
"Are your existences so fragile, that mere disagreement with a shard-bearer could destroy you?" Alden asks. "Is it possible for this destruction to occur before a joining with another shard occurs? What I want to know is could one of us conflicting with you in a similar fashion cause your destruction, and leave us stranded in this shard of Golarion?"
"Very strange but there's so much we do not understand."
"I really don't know sir." Deshrit admitted, "Most of what I know of shards and my purpose I am simply aware of. How I know it is beyond me. I did not know destruction of a gem was even possible until I witnessed it."
Jaxom glares at the green stone, then shrugs. "So it could've been the goblins, or me. I don't like wizards, or any mage that causes people to fight and kill each other, or that uses magic too powerful to control and destroys things when it gets loose. A wizard lost control of magic that he was trying to use and caused the disaster of this world. Now there's gems that can pull the world back together? Great! But if those gems are adding to the problems, making the survivors fight each other? That isn't an acceptable solution! If that's a conflict that could destroy one of the gems? I say good riddance."
"Deshrit, when we found Garnet, she told us that in order to merge our shard of the world with another, we had to conquer and control it. She was originally in the possession of a tribe of goblins who were trying to wipe out our entire community. We had to destroy them, both to save ourselves, and to merge with another shard. Are the conditions for merging this shard with another the same? If so, by allying ourselves with our new friends here, have we already met those conditions?" Alden asks.
Jaxom glares at the green stone, then shrugs. "So it could've been the goblins, or me. I don't like wizards, or any mage that causes people to fight and kill each other, or that uses magic too powerful to control and destroys things when it gets loose. A wizard lost control of magic that he was trying to use and caused the disaster of this world. Now there's gems that can pull the world back together? Great! But if those gems are adding to the problems, making the survivors fight each other? That isn't an acceptable solution! If that's a conflict that could destroy one of the gems? I say good riddance."
"Defying the natural order is what caused the Splintering. Now we need to rely on magic in an attempt to 'repair' the world but is it working? Odd doings indeed."
"That seems very strange." Deshrit muses, "If this gem forced anyone to fight, and did not explain to it's shard bearers that peace was an option then it must have been very different than I. As I understand it you need only achieve dominion over the shard. Be it by diplomacy or peace. Did it really not tell you as much? Very strange. Very strange indeed."