| 1 person marked this as a favorite. |
It's hard to let this one go. It was a lot of fun when it was running at full speed. I've really enjoyed campaigning with you all.
Search Posts
OUCH! Hope you are mending well. I imagine pain meds are your friend right about now.
So, how are things? Are we ready to get rolling again?
I'm still here. Next week is fine with me!
Works for me. Here's to hoping that the game will go on...eventually!
I'm still here, always checking for new posts. I'm doing well. Hope you (and everyone else) is also.
Xarafine considers Jack's question:
"Yes, my Lord. I agree that examining the beast would be a wise precaution," Xarafine replies, nodding her assent.
Yikes! Sorry to hear about your accident, but it's good to know that you are recovering.
"I will accompany you, Sir Bein," Xarafine replies, as she moves to follow.
"In lieu of slaughtering every unusual creature we encounter, or attempting to relocate them to the far reaches of the kingdom, perhaps we could establish a menagerie in Stagwatch, where the creatures could be observed and studied in captivity," Xarafine muses.
"I can certainly look at them. I may have come across some useful information about them in my studies." Xarafine accompanies Bein back to where Jack waits with the creatures. She takes several moments to quietly study them.
Xarafine lays a gentle hand on the knight's arm and begins to intone a soothing tone. In Canari:
"Bind these wounds earned in courageous defense of your children."
"It is a relief to hear, Sir Bein. Is there anything I can do to assist with the animals' relocation?"
Finn-Botting: "Greetings to you, Teacher Saerin, and to all of you, children," Finnabar replies with a smile. "I am pleased to see you about your lessons. Take the Teacher's words to heart, and do him, myself, and your new country proud." He tousles the head of a young boy standing near him. "Now, if you children will run off and play for a little while, I must speak with your wise Teacher about an important matter." Once the children have left, Finnabar begins. "Teacher Saerin, I have been made aware by Teacher Xarafine that you and she are both concerned at the lack of a permanent Shrine. I wanted you to know that it is on my agenda. I must, however, make securing the safety of the people my first priority. These lands are still wild. The surrounding lands teem with beasts, as well as men little better than beasts. They must be quelled. The land must be tilled. The roads must be secured. Once this is done, the people will be thankful for their prosperity, they will have no fear of travel, and they will desire to show their gratitude to the Nine for their benevolence."
Bot Rolls for Jack:
As she does her rounds, Xarafine finds the younger of the two sisters working with the horses. She stands and watches her for a few minutes. She's a strong and capable child, with the potential to be a great lady.
Yep. Xarafine's just doing generic management stuff unless someone engages her in some way or something unusual happens.
Xarafine returns Finnabar's bow. "You now bear the weight and responsibility of the crown, my lord. Those around you will either help you bear that burden or add to it. It is my hope to be one of the former. May the Nine go with you in your endeavors." She bows again, then gives him a familial smile before departing to resume her work.
"If I come with you, he will try to leverage me against you. He knows that I will have an obligation to the furthering of the faith and expect that I use our kinship to pressure you to acquiesce. Are you certain that is what you wish? If you go alone, you can tell him the truth, that I presented an argument for the new Shrine, and in weighing the circumstances, you found that it could not be the immediate priority."
Xarafine bows and excuses herself from Lord Finnabar's office. She decides to use the time to catch-up on all the goings on in the hold. She makes polite inquiries about the status of provisions and equipment, as well as the general health and well-being of the inhabitants.
Xarafine nods in assent at Finnabar's statement. "I understand, My Lord," she replies. "I cannot guarantee that Teacher Saerin will be so swayed by your reasoning."
Sorry to hear that. I hope it's nothing too serious. Best wishes for a speedy recovery!
Xarafine spends a couple hours resting in her room, then changes into fresh robes, and goes to find Finnabar. "Lord Finnabar, I thought it important you know that Teacher Saerin is most anxious to see a proper Shrine built. He is concerned that the people will turn to fanciful notions and beliefs if they do not have a physical, foundational point of reference for their faith in the Nine."
Xarafine rises at Teacher Saerin's behest. "Thank you Teacher. I am tired from our recent journey. With your permission, I will retire to my room and rest."
Do we need to declare our treaty with the Scootscales?
As a player, I am fine with skipping the Shrine this turn. Just so y'all know, Xarafine will put up an argument (at least token resistance) in the presence of Teacher Saerin. Xarafine's devout, but she's also practical. No point in having a large Shrine in a country that cannot be properly defended.
Xarafine would probably feel obliged to get the temple built. If it makes up the difference, she will kick-in as well.
"My apologies, Teacher, for not being present to greet you properly upon our arrival. Many of the necessary tasks for taming these wild lands have fallen directly to Lord Finnabar, myself, and his chief advisors and officers. You are correct that a proper Shrine needs building, and I am certain that Lord Finnabar would like your counsel on its ideal location within the new kingdom." She pauses a moment, stands, then kneels before Saerin, head bowed, and holding out the Speaking Staff to him with both hands. "The Speaking Staff is rightfully yours by your office, Teacher Saerin. It was placed in my trust and now I am obliged to return it."
"Main (or Military) Base of Operations"?
"If you will excuse me, Lord Finnabar. Teacher Saerin will doubtlessly be requesting my presence once he has been informed of our arrival. It would be fitting of me to present myself without a layer of sweat and trail dust."
Thanks! Just trying my best to keep up with a great group of role-players.
Xarafine sighs. "I did not see it for long, and I was hoping one of you had a longer view of it. That it was large, and flying is all I could tell without more details. I apologize for not noticing it sooner, my lord."
"Did any of you see that large, winged creature pass over?"
Xarafine nods. "As you will, Lord Finnabar."
"It seems we have numerous matters to address, Lord Finnabar," Xarafine says, perusing the map. "The pterans are known, but these lizard man may also pose a threat. We will need to make contact with them and assess their attitude towards our people. The keep may be a good short term goal, as it could be converted into another staging area for military support. We should eventually confront the hermit and the witch, as well, but I would not consider them priorities."
"Their language will not be a concern. My growing connection to the Nine now permits me to understand them, and speak their language for short periods of time. Sir Bein'meleth is correct, in that we need to resolve our differences with the pterans soon. It is only a matter of time before our people stumble into their territory unannounced and unwelcome."
Xarafine says nothing about his reference to bat-people, but watches the gnomes as Jack prompts them to identify their location on the map.
Xarafine stops her slow drill as the gnome begins to address them, hoping the exercise allowed her to sufficiently catch her breath so as not to be foolishly panting during the conversation. "Well met, Master Narthropple. I am Teacher Xarafine, Magistrix of Stag Reach. You are in the presence of the Lord Finnabar of House Orlovsky, first lord of this new nation. The knight is Sir Bein'Meleth Ramaloce, General of the Army, and the salmon, as you called him, is the Lord's High Counseler, Jack Ciarathan. Welcome to Stag Reach."
Dropping the rope, Xarafine takes a few steps away from the river and gently moves into a slow version of her martial drill, taking long, deep breaths as she moves.
Xarafine takes a deep breath and pulls with all her remaining strength.
Gasping from the strain of pulling, Xarafine offers little assistance in actually moving the wagon.
Xarafine, again, tries to contribute to the task.
Xarafine dismounts, and moves to grab the rope. "Pull together," she says, timing her actions with Finnabar's.
Xarafine continues to pray until everyone is out of the water and safe.
Xarafine continues to pray, hoping that it is heard and answered.
Seeing Bein and Jack dismount and move into the river, Xarafine begins to sing a prayer to the Nine to be with them as they work to rescue the small folk and their ponies.
Xarafine quickly assesses the situation: How deep is the water? How fast is the current? Could a member of the party - on foot or horseback - venture out to the wagon?
"Greetings, friends! Can we be of assistance?" she calls out to the group of small people.
Xarafine nods in assent, then takes a moment to thank the Kalds for their hospitality.
|