It is also nice for developing muscles useful for kicking! Aletha says
I still think you should wear a polearm, even if you cant use it. Anyone without a sizeable weapon on a battlefield gives away that he is likely a magic user. Once we get some money, you could grab an Aketon, and some fake chainshirt, and then you use a longspear or so as a walking stick. You will still be seen as a magic user once you cast spells but not before you do so. She says to Vasaam
Cyndane told me she ran around with a pointy purple hat that said "Sorcerror!1!", and she could use some magic, but few people bought it on account of the heavy plate armor.
her voice gets one octave lower
OI THERE, I AM A SORCEROR AND OI IS GONNA CAST FIST ON YOUR FOOKIN FISH-FACE! OR YOUR ASS OI CANT TELL BECAUSE THEY LOOK THE SAME! YOU GOT A LOICENSE FOR EXISTING? NAH? THOUGHT SO!
She pauses, her voice returning to her normal soprano
Or maybe its just that her attitude wasnt all that sorcerous
She turns to Coraline
I mean, Scrying is a thing right? Not that I would have an idea how to do it. And there are some myths about being able to see or communicate through mirrors? I can kind of get it, imagine you have like, a constant scrying device in your house. Wont you end up rarely leaving it because this would be super expensive? A wand of scrying would be what, 5 digit figure in gold? And if these screens are permanent, double that number? I think at this point you are shackled to your house by the wealth of your own possessions arent you?
"Honestly it was strange. And you are right, that would be expensive. I would much rather kill some nasty sea creatures, get my gold, see a play, and dream of the day a knight on seahorse sweeps me away. Not necessarily in that order, but still."
Hmm, its more the air that calls to me, I would love to dance in 3 dimensions. Although I guess dancing underwater is similar in a way, but I dont think I have the intuitive understanding of currents and fluids I would likely need.
Aletha seems to have a spring in her step, and moves with a reasonable degree of grace, but is not anywhere close to her actual dancing performance.
Leona thinks for a moment then asks
"Oh what is the name of the place we are heading to?,
Cause I want to ask Mina or Duke if they have any experience where we are going before we leave,
even though they kinda retired from adventuring about a decade ago....
As they might be able to recommend a few things, along with if I can sing for my supper at the local tavern....."
Leona thinks for a moment then asks
"Oh what is the name of the place we are heading to?,
Cause I want to ask Mina or Duke if they have any experience where we are going before we leave,
even though they kinda retired from adventuring about a decade ago....
As they might be able to recommend a few things, along with if I can sing for my supper at the local tavern....."
"It is a small village called, ironically, Cliffside."
"Oh it sounds like the place might have some nice beautiful scenic views."
"Hmm, Cliffside? I don't think I've ever been there."
"I still think you should wear a polearm, even if you cant use it. Anyone without a sizeable weapon on a battlefield gives away that he is likely a magic user"
"Well, that's not a bad idea. Maybe I could carry a monk-type weapon so I wouldn't need to have fake armor. Can't be too heavy though. I'm not a warrior and not very strong."
" I have a spare quarterstaff. Here, this prevents us from needing to pay for anything. Just give it back, or throw it too me if needed in battle! I have my spear and handaxe still." She offers for her new companion
I got a bunch of stabbing and slashing implements, anyone willing to bet the enemy are actually skellingtons?
Aletha happily assents
Please not the explosive ones, again.
Leona replies with a smile
"At least if a Skeleton explodes it is just bones, an exploding zombie, well that is just a mess.
as it is hard to get some of their corpse out of your hair...."
Vasaam accepts the quarterstaff from Coraline. It would make a good walking stick.
Hearing the discussion about exploding skeleton he just grins. "I'd give your staff back to you to face the skeletons, but I imagine your magic would be more effective against undead than any stick of wood...."
" If it is not, then we will have much larger issues to deal with I am afraid." With nothing left to stop them, Coraline would head out with the group towards Cliffside.
"Oh it sounds like the place might have some nice beautiful scenic views."
[dice=Know(Local)]1d20+6
The village is located near the cliffs, wherein the locals have discovered there are natural spaces from which they can fish within.
Said cliffs are a natural vantage point, but also clear of natural cover.
Though the system is natural, the fact that fish seem plenty there seems a little unconventional. The locals say this was a blessing from a spirit that resides within the cliff's cavern system. One by the name of Niress.
Leona thinks for a bit on Cliffside and says
"Ah Cliffside, it is a small village that focuses on fishing and farming.
It is also located near the cliffs and caves that they fish from.
I recall the cave system is natural, but is a bit weird that the fish are plentiful with.
I believe the locals say it is a blessing from a spirit named Niress.
Tactically the cliffs give a natural vantage point, but no cover."
Leona then thinks a bit more
"I don't know if they have any taverns or inns, so I might need to ask Mina or Duke on if they visited Cliffside before.
I don't want us arriving there with no place to sleep and or get a warm meal.
As I don't want to find out we need to sleep in some stables or camp outside when we are get there without preparing for it."
The fish may be more a Kn. Nature, but,
As far as is known to you, fish of the region like open spaces as rivers and the seas.
Them concentrating in cavern waters, is kinda against natural behavior.
Leona adds
"Could be, or it really could be a spirit's blessing."
Vasaam considers things as they stroll along toward the town. "Could be magic. Or, aren't fish pretty stupid? What if the area just has a lot more food than usual? Maybe they're baiting the area. Don't hunters sometimes bait an area with grain or a salt lick to make hunting better?"
Vasaam's suggestion sounds plausible, to a degree.
Yet, Lariel is aware that the fish of the region do indeed normally stay in the open waters. A simple bit of bat dropped into a cavern's submerged parts, wouldn't lure fish from the outside.
Or at least, it wouldn't depending on how close to the open waters the bait could be effectively dropped without washing away by the tides.
-----------------
Three hours of walking later....
A handful of fields, with folk tending them, come into view in the distance. A 5ft high pallisade wall encircles the village itself.
Entering Cliffside, you draw a few glances, as people pause to look at the visitors. A kid running after his dog, accidentally bumps into Aletha. "Ow...sorry miss."
Coraline thinks on their walk and as they enter she was speaking on her ideas. " I actually think it could be a water spirit, but the more I think, if people are going missing, it could be some kind of bait for the PEOPLE. Have they done proper sacrifices, that sorta thing. You do sacrifice to the rightful Goddess of the Sea right kid?"
Coraline thinks on their walk and as they enter she was speaking on her ideas. " I actually think it could be a water spirit, but the more I think, if people are going missing, it could be some kind of bait for the PEOPLE. Have they done proper sacrifices, that sorta thing. You do sacrifice to the rightful Goddess of the Sea right kid?"
The little kid looks up at the much taller woman.
"Sac if rice? I don' know what you mean.
But there is a shrine to the sea lady. And offerings too, for the lady living in the caves. I haven't seen her, but the men who fish bring foods, and a trinket too, after the last catch. One fish was thish big!"
He measures the length of his kid arm.
|
Lariel enjoys the walk to the town very much. He feels more comfortable outside the smelly streets of a city and inhaling the fresh air of the countryside. It reminds him of home. This thought makes him frown and refocus on the mission. He keeps thinking about the fish's strange behavior, even though he cannot fathom what it could be.
Arriving at the town, he notices the kid approaching, but is too late to stop him from bumping into Aletha. When he answers Coraline's question, Lariel follows up "Hey there, little guy? I'm Lariel, what's your name?" After the kid answers, he asks "That big huh? I hope it got you a nice dinner! Can you tell us more about the lady in the caves? And also, what trinket did they bring?"
Aletha pats the kid on the head with one hand, and checks if her money is still where it is with the other.
Dont worry about it. Whats your name?
Aletha turns on her charm as kids are often good if unreliable sources of information.
She regards the kid with the type of smile that may end up with him prefering black haired gals like her for the rest of his life as she squats, bringing her angelic looking face on a level with his, and being careful to not accidently boink him with her polearm.
And be careful with running, plenty of cliffs around. I heard there are missing people here? Can you tell me anything about them, it would be very important for us. Perhaps the nice spirit can help us too if we bring the right gifts? Does it like dancing?
Vasaam enjoys the open air, so nice after many hours working on creating paper from pulp and binding it in books, the stink of ink while scribing whatever notes were needed in the books. This was why he wanted to be in this guild!
But.... After the first hour or so his left foot was a bit sore. Maybe he hadn't fully broken in the boots like his father had mentioned was needed if one was going to walk a long way? If he had that spell to summon a horse he might have considered that about now. Another spell to buy once they successfully completed this mission!
Arriving in town the group had their first encounter, with a kid that wasn't paying attention? Or maybe he was paying attention and wanted to run into Aletha? She was pretty, if you looked up high enough.... Vasaam decided to keep that thought to himself! He settled the end of the staff on the ground and leaned on it while looking around the town. It seemed, quaint. And the sea breeze was nice. Knowing that his 'people skills' were lacking he let the others do the talking.
He moves over by Coraline and quietly mentions, "Just a thought. I might have it backwards. What if something is baiting the fish as 'bait' for fishermen? If they bring big fish in closer than normal that could get the men fishing off of a dangerous place on the cliff. Then they tie in to a really big one and are distracted, attacked and killed. ?? We should also ask if they fish with lines or nets."
"Hey there, little guy? I'm Lariel, what's your name?" After the kid answers, he asks "That big huh? I hope it got you a nice dinner! Can you tell us more about the lady in the caves? And also, what trinket did they bring?"
"Hullo mr Lariel. I'm Tommy. And you bet we had a good meal!"
Asking him about the lady in the caves, he frowns in surprise, seemingly suspicious of you, as kids can be.But that is eased, or at least he's not as suspicious, when Aletha starts speaking to little Tommy. Something in her way of speaking makes the little boy trust this lady.
"The missing grown ups? They go fishing almost every day, four of them. They go out and get back the same day, always, sometimes the day after if the catch was very good. But they haven't come back since three days ago. Dad says the village head and others had collected money to hire monster hunters."
"How do you people know about the village's spirit? I dunno if she likes dancing.", he scratches his chin, the question wholly unexpected.
There are some rumors, I thought you would maybe know more. Spirits come in all varieties, some are a!**#*@s, some are nice, most are in between just like with us mortals.
She gives a pretty beaming smile.
A lot of the nicer spirits like gifts of dance or song more then material things, only if you actually dance or sing well of course.
Guessing Aletha would ask about the lady in the caves as well,
"I heard the grownups say they leave the gifts in the caves, supposedly there is a 'special' place, where plants can grow."
Something like that would require sunlight to be able to get through.
That should easily be noticable down there.
Most likely it would grow moss.
"I once asked 'uncle' Martin not my real uncle, but he is a nice man, and one of the disappeared.", a moment he seems quite troubled, "I asked him what she looked like, and he said she isn't around every time. He said she has fins where her ears would be, and a sort of fish-like scales. That she is nice and pretty, but she doesn't speak."
Not native to these waters, but this sounds like a siren, a half woman,half aquatic creature. Not to be confused with the rarely seen mermaids, they are said to be capable of enchanting the minds of others through song and word.
Leona comments on the child's words
"Sounds like a fishy tale, and I Kinda wish I knew more subjects at the moment."
"As for plants growing in the caves, it sounds like Moss."
Eh, men give women gifts, always has been like that. Particularly if they are pretty, exotic and have unknown capabilities. While I dont mean to presume other peoples ancestries, me, Nausicaa and Coraline all prove, by existing, that love finds a way.
Aletha gives a kind smile
I mean, if its extraplanar hmmm what could fit...
Definitly not a Succubus-Demon. Or a lot more people would be dead. Description doesnt sound like a Dapsara-Angel either, no wings so probably not an Azata. Mabye something much less exoctic as an Undine? But perhaps one with a greater degree of extraplanar ancestry then our Coraline, or me or Nausicaa for that matter? Just speculation of course.
Leona comments on Aletha's words
"Well, I don't know if I do have any extraplanar ancestry, maybe fey, as all I know is I inherited these Elven ears from my mother along with some other features from her,"
Leona briefly looks down with her eyes before continuing
"even some troublesome ones...."
Do you know why they bring gifts? I mean, does she give anything in return?"
"Why? Umm, uncle Martin said they're happy if she's happy.
People give presents to other people they are friends with too, don't they? Mum says so.""I haven't seen what they took into the caves, but i heard someone say they brought a pretty handcrafted necklace? Maybe it was good luck charm?"
Your mom is very smart! Giving each other presents is a great idea!
Aletha compliments the kids family, typically a good ploy at that age.
The Caves are clearly the first thing we should investigate, after collecting some more rumors.
She says to the party
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"fins where her ears would be, and a sort of fish-like scales? And 'nice and pretty but doesn't speak'? Possibly a siren. Not a mermaid. Hmm.... But if she's been around for a long time, and not here now? That is possibly related to whatever has happened. I think we should speak with the village.... head? and then check out the cave. We can go from there to figure out our next steps."
[dice=Know-Arcana]1d20 +7
"fins where her ears would be, and a sort of fish-like scales? And 'nice and pretty but doesn't speak'? Possibly a siren. Not a mermaid. Hmm.... But if she's been around for a long time, and not here now? That is possibly related to whatever has happened. I think we should speak with the village.... head? and then check out the cave. We can go from there to figure out our next steps."
Getting the idea you've found out all young Tommy is able to tell you, you resume navigating the village to a house indicated as the village elder's house, where you see a middleaged man with brown-grey-ish hair and a thick walrus mustache.
He has just finished speaking with two others, who politely take their leave.
When he notices you, he nods in greeting.
"Welcome. I take it you are the party the guild sent us? So glad you 've come. I'm sure you have questions before investigating, so please ask."
It is almost comical how that mustache moves as he speaks.
Upon noting the mustache, Aletha suddenly sees an arena, its sands already bloody. An almost peacock like man faces a 4 armed demon, while ferociously trashtalking his foe. Getting the better of his enemy on account of his incredibly insane insults, Aletha has no idea which demonlord if anyone is the "Demonlord of real estate fraud, intellectual property theft and motherf@#%ing" and apparently "your dick is actually an oddly shaped Lemure", was a fresh insult back then, which Aletha knows isnt the case now. A shockingly beautifull demoness starts the duel, by dropping a beating heart to the ground, and suddenly the mans mustache elongates, forming 4 tresses and slicing into his very surprised enemy. MUSTACHE MASSACRE! This ladies and demon a**@&%~s, is how you use fey form! Now who is up for some CHEST-HAIR-CARNAGE? the immensely cocky man announces to the jeering crowd, performing a strip dance while fighting, using his mustache to parry and riposte his demonic foe.
The crowd goes absolutely wild.
Looking vacantly for a moment, Aletha quickly regathers her charms.
Yes we are, who exactly are the missing fishermen, since when are they missing, did they went missing together, when and where were they last seen, did anything change before or after they went missing.
She pauses
Our current hypothesis is to investigate the cave first, do you know of any particular hazards in that area?
"Good. Well four men, our regular fishermen. One lad and three adults.They went away together like usual, but it was a day they took some extra food with them. They do so every 4 days or so.
They were last seen heading for the cavern system."
"I wouldn't say anything was different in their behavior. They were spirited, sure. One so much he said "we are special to her". Now it wouldn't be unusual to return the next day, if a catch was particularly well. But we had sent some others to check where they were, they found the nets torn, and a bridge we had constructed inside, was also cut loose on one side. We couldn't cross to check the other side."
"The caverns are slippery, there has been an occasional large crab, and of course steep elevations. So you'd very much want to watch your footing."
Leona hearing "steep elevations" and "large crabs" adds with some sarcasim
"Sound like we might end up doing some climbing, oh joy.....
and I'll take fighting large crabs over giant frogs...."
Leona hearing "steep elevations" and "large crabs" adds with some sarcasim
"Sound like we might end up doing some climbing, oh joy.....
and I'll take fighting large crabs over giant frogs...."
Noted. We may need some additional rope or poles to aid in crossing the chasm.
She notes down the information, copies the location onto a makeshift map and addresses the party
Shall we be off then? Time may be of great importance.
Leona replies
"Time might be of importance, but going in recklessly means we might need the rescuing.....
Before we go in, we should make a bit of a plan based one everyone's skills.
As I doubt everyone here can see in the darkness of a cavern system without a light source."
"Good point Leona. If I had known we would be spelunking I would have prepared my light cantrip. Coraline? Do you have a light orison prepared today?"
Looking to the village elder he adds, "You mention that your bridge had been cut down on the far side. Should we take rope, and any tools to try and fix it?"
"Good point Leona. If I had known we would be spelunking I would have prepared my light cantrip. Coraline? Do you have a light orison prepared today?"
Looking to the village elder he adds, "You mention that your bridge had been cut down on the far side. Should we take rope, and any tools to try and fix it?"
"If you could repair it, or make it so we can get across and start fixing it ourselves, it would be much appreciated. Of course, we will find some way to repay this favor."
" So we have a bridge to fix, fisherman to save from a siren possibly... and whatever other dangers there are? What can you tell us about the siren exactly? How long has she been here, and has anyone else went missing?"
After Coraline checks for a moment, she answers Vasaam "I do have it today, so we shall be good for now. We should make way there."