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"Fascinating how the land has ways of corralling and containing those who would seek to tame it, isn't it? I wonder how many times this bridge has been rebuilt by would-be conquerers before us -- and how many more made plans to but never made it so far?" muses Vera. "We should be able to make the next crossing, and the confluence with the Shrike, before dark, no? Perhaps that will make a good site to make camp and assess the crossing before we investigate the fort tomorrow?"
... only the sight of the owlbear itself barreling out from the brush could shake their morale.
After having the chance to examine the feather more closely and explain its origins, Vera sends Sava up again, but asks him to remain below the canopy to watch for signs of the owl bear. Sava, elven:
"So much scout! When lunch?!"
"Orlog, I think you've just invented our pike corps - we'll have to acquire a flag to fly over them! And pikes, obviously."
"Hmmmm," Vera frowns at the feather, trying to place it. "Mr. Pink - it limits our visibility a bit, but to be on the safe side we may want to recall our flying friends." she calls, sending worry-longing to her own familiar.
As the caravan proceeds, Vera comments to Bydar, "Just so we're on the same page -- if anything bursts out of the brush at us, I'm planning to let you stand in front of me! Unless that armor and glaive are just for show, it's a safe bet you can handle a charge. My style of fight is more about clouding their minds and then hitting them while they're weak." She smiles, "I've stayed alive out here for enough years, there's no reason to change a winning formula now, right?" She tries to keep her tone light and breezy, to keep the travelers within earshot from stressing overmuch about the threat of wildlife. Though it's been enough years since I've had to worry about folks' feelings that I'll be lucky to simply keep my foot out of my mouth...
"Hmmm...imagine a wolf, a cougar, and a crocodile crossbred into an ill-tempered mess," Vera tries to explain. "We're definitely a larger group than at least two of those would try to attack -- can't say I have much experience with crocodiles -- but a thylacine might try it, especially in a pack, if they thought they could pick off a straggler. "As long as we don't let one catch us by surprise, though, I don't think we should have too much difficulty dispatching it. We should keep close ranks, not let folks get too spread out."
Vera thinks on the others' counsel before weighing in - "I respect Mr. Pink's concern that the dangers of the forest are more than we might want to risk, given a known choice -- but as Christian and Brand point out, our other choices are speculative until we get there, a danger in and of itself. "I'd prefer -- let see if I can do this -- the current clear crossing, with caution, over pushing to a possibly prohibited passage?" She pauses, "That is, let's cross now."
"Hoping this sluggishness means they got some good deep sleep," Vera observes to Orlog, as she surveys the campsite while he armors up. "Half of our new caravan was suffering from exhaustion -- no doubt stress-induced, from their tales. Good that our desire is not to sprint to the fort with maximum haste." "There are plants in these woods that have a stimulant effect when chewed or steeped; join me for a stroll around the perimeter and see if we can find some?"
"...As for this Kavken, I've heard of him. Folk like to gossip out here -- on the occasion they actually find somebody to share gossip with! He's struck folk with his sadness, it seems; whether that's cause of or caused by his pilgrimage to this lost temple I can't say, but they're likely connected. Granted, plenty of folk come out to the stolen lands because they're getting away from something at home, but usually that doesn't lend them quite so much clarity of purpose once they're here as this priest's quest. "Dedicating additional sites to the Hunter wouldn't strike anyone as inappropriate -- but if we've already a priest moping around in search of existing sacred places, supporting his efforts might take priority."
Apologies for going missing for some days -- my family came down with something that took a lot of energy out of us. Should be back in action.
He looks to Vera and Mr. Pink for their opinions, "Do you two think your helpers could stop us short of the fort, out of clear sight where our smoke wouldn't alert anyone occupying the fort? That lets us keep these folk from danger, and we can be the fools to go knocking upon their door." He finishes with a grin. "We are the fools who signed up for this, indeed - Sava can fly overhead and alert us when we're approaching the fort's horizon, a sound idea." To the ranger's question about wandering priests, she offers, "These wild lands and those who live off them are certainly Erastil's favored, and I've heard rumor of lost holy sites. As for this Kavken--"
Taking advantage of the distraction that Pink's challenge offers, Vera responds quietly to Brand and the others. "I agree that we do these folk and ourselves a favor in taking them under our wing - so to speak - and should not dally overlong in making our way to the place we intend to settle. Let us remain aware, though, that the power vacuum left by the Stag Lord's demise has probably left plenty of room for new challenges at the fort: we lead them into likely danger even as we offer them a new home. "Not a reason to not do it, but a logistical challenge to be aware of. Lord Christian, from what I saw of the Argent Dracos camp, I imagine you've some experience in organizing and defending non-combatants. Have you confidence we can offer a measure of safety if these folk accompany us? ...Relative as such a term is in these lands, of course."
Vera follows Bydar and Orlog on their rounds, offering the occasional comment on the likely source of some rash, or offering a tincture or poultice for various complaints.
Primarily, though, she'll focus on listening to what the refugees have to say, and asking the occasional question to keep them talking, trying to get a feel for where rapid changes might be happening in the current power vacuum. ("Troll tracks along the river? How frightening! ...Was that the Skunk, or the Murque?")
Calming as the others explain, Vera says ruefully -- "And well he should be cautious in his approval: you two have been here long enough to see how rarely the warlord-of-the-month works out for those of us just trying to make a life here. "This lot seems to be decent so far, and I can offer you at least my own promise to follow right intention with right action--" smirking a little, she adds, "I trust you'll let me know, Oleg, if I fall off that path!" She looks to Pink and Bydar, "Attending to those outside is likely worth our time; it sounds as though plenty awaits us on the trek south, and they can hopefully offer us some information on what to expect."
Vera winks at Svetlana over Brandt's overly-formal greeting, before harumphing back at Oleg. "Heroes, says you?! Burned my house to the ground they did, those Whitehollows. Least, somebody did while they were passing through: if it wasn't them directly, it was somebody they 'cleared out'." She wrinkles her nose in distaste, "You don't think I went into Brevoy for the pleasure of it, do you? I had to register my outrage at their agents crashing about and making a mess of things out here! I expect 'heroes' to show a little courtesy to the locals, not act like baby bull elk drunk on their first pair of antlers. ...not sure yet that I'm thrilled with where my complaining has gotten me, but the short of it is that the Whitehollows, Garess, and the folk outside are all something of our problem to deal with now."
"like rabbits deprived of the fox," agrees Vera. "...not that we intend to eat anyone, but if the void left by the Stag Lord is propagating out as further suffering, perhaps beginning to advertise our presence would start in motion setting relations back to right - offer at least the promise of future stabilization?"
I'm away from home and with spottier connectivity than I'd expected this week. Sorry for slow posts, will try to mitigate.
Vera finally snaps her attention from the crowd outside to the conversation at hand. "I'm sorry, where are my manners?! I'm not used to traveling with companions, and it shows. Oleg, it seems we have much to discuss - perhaps away from-" she nods her head at the vagabonds lurking in her peripheral vision. She indicates those who haven't spoken, "This is Mr. Pink and Orlog, Mr. Black is winging above with Sava. Is there anything we can help you with before we settle in?"
Easing only slightly at the lack of apparent "sharp shinies", Vera agrees with Brand. "whatever this is, we might as well get any confrontation over with." unemployed bandits aren't much better than regular bandits - possibly worse, if nobody's setting strategic direction. ....or are these folk coming out of Brevoy? Regardless, it's trouble; the stolen lands don't give folk time to loiter around if they're to care for themselves and their kin.
Nodding at Christian's suggestion, Vera murmurs to the bird, Vera elven:
"Be a dove and take a loop? Spiral out from Oleg's building; find weapons or angry folk. I double Svetlana's treats for good report." Sava elven:
"Dove?! No dove! Need good treats." As the bird flies off to fly a search pattern, she pulls her cloak closer around herself and observes, "I've never been great with crowds - and this doesn't seem like Oleg's style, either? Our predecessors certainly seem to have thrown things out of balance."
"Oleg? Of course! I've stopped through his post from time to time -- there are things you simply can't find or make yourself, so need a good shop for. And even the most solitary of us find value in occasional conversation, so most everyone in the area stops in from time to time. Oleg and Svetlana - his wife - are a hub for both supplies and the bit of gossip." Sava elven:
"Svetlana! Snacks!" Vera laughs, [b]"Yes, and Svetlana is also a fine source of tasty treats, if you're a shameless little beggar of a bird. "As the saying goes, though, you can't truly know a guest until they've left, and I've never tried to find the limits of the Levetons' hospitality. Knowing my own life in the Stolen Lands, I assume anyone else making their way out there similarly likes their space. As long as we treat the Levetons, and their space, with respect, I expect we'll find them perfectly pleasant neighbors." Vera considers the young man for a moment. "I know some of the others in our party have traveled the River Kingdoms before," with a nod at Orlog, "but this is your first excursion? What is it you expect - or hope - to find here?"
Vera makes a disgusted noise at Cavan's trials, "Pfff, Abadarans - you have to negotiate terms and render payment just to have them say 'hello' to you! No, we're headed into the Stolen Lands, and I've seen what happens when folk spend their time looking for an advantage over each other out here -- it's why I've spent so many years on my own. "You can take it as a kindness if you like, but Brand here is right: a skilled carpenter isn't something you throw out just because he's got a spot of rust on him. You sand it out, or oil him up, or...I don't know, you're the carpenter here, not me. Point is, a good craftsman isn't something you leave sitting idle by the side of the road when you've got work to be done." Awkward much, Veronika? You've done more talking in the last day than in most months -- going to have to get used to spending time around people, because you've apparently committed yourself to this project beyond just hitching a ride home!
"I can see it on your face, yes -- you were run out from raw fear?" Vera clucks her tongue in disapproval. "I suppose once they're afraid, they stop giving you work, makes it hard to save up to see a healer." "I've little experience with this disease, I'm afraid. Bydar, perhaps you have some skill in treating it? I imagine Shelyn would rather not see people afflicted with a marring disease."
By the way, what time of year is it, in-game?
Vera glances up at her circling companion, and flicks a finger towards the roof of one of the vacant longhouses. Catching pangs of irritation, she wills soothing patience back at the bird. You know the drill, my dear. We don't both walk into possible danger at the same time. Any threat from Cavan should be manageable with this crew, but that doesn't mean I want to be caught in a trap. Following the rest of the party, she looks around and observes, "I like it. It's honest, homey. Much more my style than stuffy Restov -- and likely as much 'civilization' as we can expect for some time to come." Blowing some dust off the surviving bench, she mutters a quick mending cantrip over a cracked board before sitting down, leaning back against the table behind her to kibbitz on the meal.
"Hare, you said? Place like this has good disturbed soil, I could probably find some nettle or plantain in the yard, add a bit of texture? And so far it appears you're a perfectly serviceable hunter and cook -- if those aren't your true strengths, what are?" "...Vera, from the Narlmarches," she finishes, after realizing she's neglected the basic formalities.
Sava elven:
"I do flying, you do planning! All is good!" Vera rolls her eyes theatrically as the bird preens at Christian's thanks. Vera elven:
"Careful, my dear bird, don't want head too big to fly. Now kindly watch above?" The bird mimics her with a head roll of his own before alighting again to circle above the group. "I can still feel him up there," she explains to the others. "If I taste panic, it could give us a few extra seconds warning of an ambush. Overall, sounds like a fine plan; I'll defer to you to do the talking?"
I made a couple character posts of Sava/Vera speaking common, but since decided to retcon that Sava speaks Elven. By this point, Lord Christian (and any others fluent) will have noticed that Vera and Sava chat in Elven, if a simplified and slangy version. Since Christian speaks Elven himself, I'm assuming his impeccable etiquette here will have him address Sava directly in the current, not-time-sensitive discussion outside the fort!
Sava fluffs up his feathers as Vera puts the question to him, then chirps a response elven: . The small bird dives off Vera's shoulder and flaps off to one side of the road before circling around to approach and fly over the fort.
Fine. I scout. Black? "He pretends to be surly, but he's really quite a helpful soul," Vera notes to Christian. "Mister Pink, Sava wondered whether Mister Black might accompany him?" "What is our legal standing relative to this stronghold?" she muses. "If it is part of Brevoy, rather than our charter, are we in good stead to remove any inappropriate occupants? Or would that constitute a hostile action by an outside party? Perhaps reading the charter would have been the wiser course of action - ah, well."
As the angry angler turns away, Vera laughs lightly and comments to another villager, "Aye, and usually the worst news of all is for those soldiers, considering how few of them you ever see come marching back! Wish us better luck? She offers a gold coin to the nearest villager, adding, "I don't imagine Kerrel is in town right now - the trapper? Next time she comes in, ask her to look for Miss Ravenholdt on the north shore of the Tuskwater, I expect to have work for her." "An old acquaintance, we cross paths in the forest every year or so," she explains to Orlog as they continue down the road. "Someone I expect can carry good words of our work back to the village. Doesn't hurt to be building bridges even before we've built a road."
Vera nods cheerfully at the raven, "good morning, mister black! Indeed, Sava here has been with me for the better part of my life, and has taught me that feathered folk may make fine companions, with qualities overflowing their physical size."
Vera finishes packing her things and loading her mount, carrying on a murmured conversation with the bird on her shoulder as she does and chuckling at the bird's chirped responses. The bird seems to be getting agitated, as if it's being mocked, hopping from one foot to the other until Vera throws up her hands and exclaims, "Have it your way, I'll let it rest!" but continues to giggle to herself. Riding up to the others with a sparkle in her eye, she shrugs, "I suppose we're ready - shall we set off and see how far we get in bucking the trend of failed settlement? ...good to see you this morning, Bydar, Mr. Pink, I trust your nights were pleasant -- and who is your glossy companion, Pink?" For travel, she has her long hair tied back and tucked under a wide-brimmed hat. Under her cloak, she wears a distinctly out of place formal gown, faded teal silk and visibly threadbare, patched, and tattered at the edges, in contrast to the rest of kit, which appears well taken care of.
Appearing at Lord Christian's camp that evening, Vera accepts a mug of the recommended Vargdrinka. "Tasty indeed -- we'll have to offer Liam a commission as baronial brewer," Vera winks. "Does he use pitched yeast, or wild ferment? I think he'd find the local strains quite interesting to work with." Surveying the camp, she notes, "You have an impressive cohort -- from where have you collected the Dracos?" In the morning, she will look up from her meditation as Christian and Brand leave camp, and again with a smile as they return with the groaning soldiers, rising only at Orlog's inquiries about a mount to accompany him to the mentioned ranch. "The beast looks well-fed, at least," she offers to the dwarf, somewhat skeptically. "Can't say I'm impressed at the idea of paying both for its 'training', and also for the damage its ill-training has caused, though. Will it only eat peacock, or does it take other feed as well?" she asks the ranch-master.
In contrast to Christian, Vera gives but a quick skim of the charter before signing her name under his. "I should procure a few minor things if we expect to be on the road for a while, and -- are you all mounted? My last horse was eaten by a tatzylworm, and trekking here by foot reminded me that the creatures have good uses."
Accepting the toasts with a smile, Vera pauses for the smallest moment before drinking to take a discrete sniff of the water for anything untoward. Never know what the Lord Mayor might have been put up to, in the name of getting me away permanently.. After the others' toasts she adds, "And may we find partnership with the land in this endeavor, that it may embrace us, and we it."
Vera smiles somewhat hungrily at the Lord Mayor's tone. Apparently bringing the Abadarite's head back on a pike would not be unwelcome -- Unnecessary, perhaps, we shall see. I do relish the idea of marching one of theirs through the streets in chains, even if that humiliation is but mild punishment for their rapacious exploitation of the wilds. "It seems you've made thorough arrangements for our success and are ...eager to see us underway. I appreciate your trust in our ability to clean up the mess Volkclev and his cohort have made. I admit I am myself quite ready to return to more open spaces; what remains for us to know or take care of before the expedition is ready to commence?"
Despite her overall skepticism of this endeavor, Vera finds herself warming somewhat to the apparently inevitable idea of spending time with these people. There is humility among them that will serve well in learning the ways of the river -- to follow the flow, as the tengu puts it. Boldness too, though, in the young lord. She reads the notes on the map over Lord Christian's shoulder as he outlines his plan. "Your proposal seems as sound as any can be -- we are prudent to plan for but tenuous connection to Brevoy for at least some time, and to rely on what resources we can locally in the meantime. "The exploration party appears to have been thorough. I hope they didn't pester dear Bokken overmuch -- the dear man does not do well with commotion. And I've never known the kobolds or mites to be more than a nuisance. I shall be curious to see if anything remains of them for us to engage; I agree that we must deal with them one way or another to keep them from becoming our nuisance."
"Ah, that explains a few things! Well, I suppose no better way to start an already doomed endeavor than with powerful enemies arrayed against us! "It sounds as though Sir Keston will be your agent in this new land, shall we expect him to relay messages of trade and diplomacy as well, or is he to be dedicated to the hunt of Taldor's agents?" She looks to her companions and shrugs. "I'm headed back regardless - the Narlmarches are home anymore - and I'm up for seeing how this plays out."
"There is definitely beauty to be found in the Narlmarches," Vera says fondly. "I don't know the shrine in question, but the forest is filled with a certain wild majesty that I hope you will appreciate. "We will have other neighbors as well, but - like the Levetons - most of the Narlmarches' residents will prefer to interact on their own terms. ...Not all friendly terms, as it sounds like our Smith friend's experience can attest to."
Should we assume that the expedition ahead of us hit most of the Book 1 set piece encounters? You've mentioned the Temple of the Elk and bandit fortress -- just wondering if the rest of the named/marked locations have similarly been explored & documented by the prior party.
Vera nods at Christian's reasoning, pleased that he voiced her own thoughts. A light hand and respect to those who precede this party, yes -- let us focus on that part of the Greenbelt already bloodied by the bandits. "Wisely said, Lord D'Elagante. I agree that the shrine to Erastil should be left to Erastil's own to lay claim to, and that the Levetons' be left to, well, the Levetons. "Besides the which, if our desire is to carve out a new state, and not merely a border garrison of Rostland, I expect the more southerly location would more clearly communicate that intent?" She quirks an eyebrow at the Lord Mayor with this last.
When have the Abadarites turned down a chance to inflict order on the wilds? Vera wonders. This expedition must be even more ill-fated than my own presence would indicate, for them to pass up such an opportunity! ...Come to think of it, none here appear to be obvious choices for this task -- with the possible exception of the smartly dressed young man? -- perhaps the backers of this mission hope it to fail. Curious indeed. With a small bow in return, she accepts the offered glass from the Tengu. "Thank you, Mister Pink. I am Miss Ravenholdt, of -- the Stolen Lands," she decides, with a glance at the Lord Mayor. "You may call me Vera, as we are to work together. Hopefully for some time, though I've seen enough expeditions to those lands suffer an untimely end that it shall take not just work, but substantial luck, if we are to succeed." At the bird's sharp chirp from her shoulder, she adds, "And the constant voice in my ear is Sava. You'll find him ...opinionated." "And you, sir?" she looks to Orlog. "What leads you to this company?"
So many buildings...like a tractless forest, but cut down and re-erected into a more sterile version of itself. Vera gazes distractedly out the window at the city below while the Lord Mayor speaks, still generally overwhelmed by the human bustle of the city. "Lissin!" trills a small, mottled bird perched on her shoulder, giving her a brief poke with its beak. Wincing slightly, the woman reaches up and tucks her hair behind her pointed ear, casually brushing the bird off her shoulder. As it flutters to land on the other shoulder of her stained and patched cloak, she turns her piercing gaze to regard the Mayor, and attempts to keep her tone light. "A new nation? To what end does Rostland make this investment? Was that silly self-styled bandit king so effective a gnat that it stirred a dragon to action?"
Hello everyone! I saw the note on background skills, so have to make some tweaks there, as well as a bit more attention to equipment. Beyond that, happy to be on board!
This is Murph; planning to rebuild this witch alias for the submission. The campaign trait of "Bastard" requires human characters only -- would you allow a half-elf? (Born to Brevoy's human nobility, but it was really immediately obvious that something was fishy with her parentage!)
I've been a little slow on posting, and apologize. Overlapping crunch time on a couple projects and on the road a lot the past few weeks -- normally I'm able to look in multiple times a day, but have been struggling to make it once a day. On recruitment, up to you on how big a party you want; it does seem a little bold to proceed with such limited healing, considering the genre / source material. (THough it maybe leads to an genre appropriate fear of death...)
At least someone knows what to do here, thinks Vera, watching her twin prepare to kick down the door. She joins Ivan in readying her crossbow and steels herself for whatever is to come.
Vera smiles wistfully at Servius' recounting. "Those were more innocent times, for all of us. When we were young, we ran these streets without a care, us and your father--and yours, Ivan, toddling along behind us." Turning serious at Cyrus' comments, "I agree -- let us check the village for danger before we put it at our backs."
Three cheers for imminent attempted murder!Heh, that's funny. Add calculated and premeditated to it. Murder in the Future Tense of the First Degree?
Very well, the fort it is. I suppose a defensible location would be a valuable asset if the enemy comes for the villagers while we're away. "A reasonable point -- shall we make preparations? "Do we have maps of the fort? Or, perhaps, memory of its layout?" here Vera looks to Cyrus and Arthorius, expecting they'd had the most opportunity to get to know teh fort.
Vera nods thoughtfully, "We've already had a taste for the dangers of the woods, though, and it sounds as though the lack of supplies is becoming desperate. Perhaps an attempt to open up the roads first?"
As her father lays out the troubling tale, Vera glances to the bird on her shoulder, double-taking when she finds Sava glaring back at her. Now I know why They ordered me to honor my father's request to return home. Now if only They would tell me the connection? The owl's gaze burns into her silently and motionlessly. No, of course not--that would be too easy, and They have never chosen the easy path. But if Ravenholdts are being stalked, we must contain this here, now. "Whatever hunts us has demonstrated its power--let us do what we can with the people, as Cyrus says, but if what we're told is true, militia drills will do little beyond providing some morale. "Meanwhile, Father, why did you summon us, and no others, of all within the family? Or were we simply the only ones to answer your letter?" |
