Hands on her hips, Shreya furiously shouts, "Calē jā'ō!"
Vudrani:
Get OUT!
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Sheyra glares at Lilly, although when Lilly starts the kata her eyes grow round mesmerized by the flaming trails left by the sword...
irritation creeps into Shreya's voice and her eyes narrow as she replies primly, "Maiṁ apanē svara javāna aurata nāpasanda karatē haiṁ. Hama āpakō āmantrita kiyā hai aura āpa kē sātha hamārē mānsa aura rōṭī sājhā kiyā hai. Yadi āpa kucha kahanā hai, tō khulē mēṁ karatē haiṁ yā bāhara nikalatē haiṁ." There is a murmur of agreement from the villagers within earshot and everyone stops to see what will happen. Vudrani: I dislike your tone young woman. We invited you in and have shared our meat and bread with you. If you have something to say, do so in the open or get out.
She gives Pratavh a wintry smile, "Hama alaga alaga ḍālē haiṁ, yaha anucita hōgā. Kyā āpa carcā karanā cāhatē haiṁ kucha bhī nahīṁ, agara hama anaucitya kā kō'ī savāla nahīṁ kiyā jā sakatā hai, jahāṁ janatā mēṁ yaha kāma karēṅgē." Vudrani:
We are of different casts, it would be unseemly. No if you have anything you wish to discuss, we shall do it in public where there can be no question of impropriety. Sense Motive DC 15:
She strongly objects to a private meeting and you doubt you'll be able to change her mind. Sense Motive DC 25: Your're certain there's more than cultural taboos behind that refusal. You think the idea of a private meeting scares her.
Sheyra nods, with new understanding when Pratavh explains. She then tells you, "Brāhmaṇa aura dēvatā kō chu'ā. Bahuta acchā. Āpa śāma rahanā hōgā yadi hama kisī bhī aba niścita rūpa sē āpa kucha mahāna uddēśya kē bārē mēṁ kara rahē haiṁ kē li'ē āpa nahīṁ rōkēṅgē, hālāṅki hama sam'mānita kiyā jā'ēgā. Svābhāvika rūpa sē hama āpa raiṅka kē anusāra āvāsa pradāna karēgā. Vaha mērī bēṭī kī jhōpaṛī mēṁ hō sakatā hai, āpa befits vaiśya kē rūpa mēṁ śāmiyānā nīcē sō sakatā hai befits kē ēka kṣatriya aura an'ya dō kē rūpa mēṁ mērī jhōpaṛī hō sakatā hai."
Vudrani:
Brahmin and god touched. Very good. We would be honored if you would stay the evening, although we will not detain you any longer for surely you are about some great purpose. Naturally we shall provide accommodation according to you rank. She may have my daughter's hut, you may have my hut as befits a Kshatriya and the other two may sleep under the awning as befits Vaishyas. Sense Motive DC 15:
Shreya seems very firm in her determination that you sleep as befits your caste. This IS the tradition, although it's not always adhered to in tows and cities. Sense Motive DC 25:
You're not sure but Shreya seems to have some kind of agenda, although you don't know what that might be. Lilly: The girl you healed tugs your sleeve and whispers (in Vudrani) "Please kind mistress, my parents would like a word."
Shreya however seems taken a back that Lilly apparently doesn't know what she means by 'caste'. She frowns slightly and mutters, "Lēkina hara kō'ī ēka jāti hai. Kaisē ēka an'yathā samāja mēṁ apanī jagaha patā kara sakatē haiṁ?" Vudrani: But everyone has a caste. How can one know your place in society otherwise?
Shreya bows to Pratavh and bids you sit. The mood turns to party and there are smiles all round. The meal turns out to be a spit roast calf marinated in a variety of potent spices with copious rice served up on giant banana leaves* on top of a wooden board. In addition to a healthy portion of curry there is rice, flat breads, two chutneys (one amber colored and sweet, one green and spicy), and four smaller curried vegetable dishes cooked with all manner of unfamiliar jungle spices. The smell is wonderful although you'd have probably used rather less chili... Everyone eats together and for the most part there's a good sense of community. During the meal Shreya asks in a most formal way, "Sam'mānita yātriyōṁ, maiṁ apamāna karanē kē li'ē sabasē kṣamā cāhatā hūm̐ , lēkina maiṁ āpa kē li'ē sambandhita jāti jō vicāra nahīṁ kara sakatē. Hama cījōṁ kō khaṛā hōnā cāhi'ē ki kaisē jānatē haiṁ tō āpa hamēṁ batā sakatē haiṁ?" Vudrani:
Honoured travelers, I am most sorry to offend but I can not discern which caste you belong to. Would you please tell us so we know how things should stand? Perception DC 20 or Sense Motive DC 20: You get the impression there's two factions among the village. Those who stand with Shreya seem like they're tight together. The handful of others seem a little downtrodden.
Shreya nods politely when you tell her of those events, but you get the impression she was looking for some other event. Still the mood is congenial and soon there are smells of cooking. The jungle has a great variety of plants and spices and many curious things go into the curry. Judging by the number of chills you get the feeling it's going to be rather hot, but it sure smells good! Morning turns by degrees into mid day, and finally the first feast of the day is prepared... Sheyra invites you to join as guess of honor, "Hamārī vinamra gānva kē jaṅgala kē ināma Celibrate karanē kē li'ē hamārē sātha juṛanē kā sam'māna karatē haiṁ." All eyes turn to you. Vudrani: Please do our humble village the honor of joining us to celibrate the bounty of the forest.
The villagers watch Alywn and Hirati with rapt attention. One of the village girls in particular seems taken with the antics of the Pseudo gragon. She's a sweet thing of about six seasons known as Shoanti with platted hair, a quick smile and a weeping sore on her left arm. Kn:Healing DC 12:
A simple cure light wounds spells would likely heal the sore. It doesn't look like it would be a problem but out here in the jungle cuts can often get infected. Shoanti bows formally to each of you in turn when introduced, and replies to Alywn using a formal dialect, "Hām̐, hamēṁ rājadhānī sē khabara batā dīji'ē. Cāya bāgānōṁ kē li'ē na'ē lā'isēnsa kī bāta ka'ī satrōṁ vāpasa nahīṁ thī. Hama tō śāyada hī kabhī yātriyōṁ kē li'ē milatā hai, isē banā'ē rakhanē kē li'ē muśkila hai." Vudrani:
Yes, please tell us news from the capital. There was talk of new licences for tea plantations several seasons back. We so rarely get travelers, it's hard to keep up. Kn:Local DC 18:
Eighteen months ago there was a petition from the rural enclaves to open up the tea trade for smaller concerns. It got mired in bureaucracy with a conversation report which should be due early next year. Rumor has it the major tea costas are desperately trying to bury the reforms and report may get shelved. Sense Motive DC 25: You get the impression that Shreya isn't really the type to care for court tattletale. She would only care for major events.
The headwomen of the Village, suddenly makes herself known, "Āgantukōṁ! Acchā acchā! Hamēṁ khabara batānē kē li'ē ātē haiṁ. Hama apanē bachaṛē aura hamārē penj, aura hama Celibrate āja rāta kā his'sā!" Vudrani:
Visitors! Good good! Come tell us the news. We share our calf and our penj, and tonight we celibrate! There is a sudden nodding and enthusiasm from the majority of the towns folk and preparations for the feast begin. Kn:Local DC 18:
Penj is fermented Xanian berry. It's potent and hallucinogenic. Shaman use it in rituals to visit the spirit world, and it's often used by remote tribes in celebrations. Perception DC 18: Several of the children are suffering from minor childhood poxes, and one boy has a badly healed bite from a wild animal. In most towns such things would be easily cured with minor divine magic, but out here such boons are in short supply. |