A Deep and Creeping Darkness came to Candlekeep with another group of adventurers, given to them by a villager who found it among her grandfather's old possessions. Her grandfather—a traveling bard in his youth—claimed to have written it. Though appearing to be nothing more than a combination of diary and penny dreadful, the book satisfied the requirement of a unique work to grant that party entrance to Candlekeep. It chronicles the death of a mountain village called Vermeillon by slow, unknown means. Following a terrible accident in the platinum mine, survivors and other villagers began disappearing. Eventually Vermeillon's population all vanished or fled, leaving the village abandoned.
The book, bound in black leather with "A Deep and Creeping Darkness" embossed on the thin spine, shows minimal signs of wear and tear other than a few pages creased through carelessness and a spot here and there. The work is neat though not flawless, containing notable spelling errors and ink blotches.
The beginning of our adventure
Elliðaey Nygaar, a master scholar based in Neverwinter a part of a repository of knowledge known as the Scholars of Allsight. Elliðaey is charged to find out what happened to the mountain boomtown of Vermeillon. Through divination magic, the Scholars of Allsight learned that a book in Candlekeep holds clues to the mystery. Elliðaey has another book to use as a means of entrance into Candlekeep.
We find our party on the road from Baldur's Gate to Candlekeep on the Sword Coast via the Coast Way. The party has traveled for a few hours and at midday pause to rest outside the edges of the Cloakwood forest.
Elliðaey Nygaar rides a dapple gray horse in the late afternoon sun along the Coast Way. Her apprentice from the Allsight repository in Neverwinter, Millicent Shadbroke, also travels with her south to Candlekeep. The Scholars seek to retrieve a book from Candlekeep that will aid them solve with the riddle of the disappearance of the mountain town of Vermeillon. During their long journey south the two scholars stopped over at a temple of Ioun in Baldur's Gate. While there the woman met two more companions. A cleric of Ilmater Eila Forthall and a paladin from the Order of the Golden Cup named Jade Tanthalos also traveling to Candlekeep. As the new party travels together for safety Elliðaey hopes, even though their new companions are on their own quest, they will join her and Millicent in solving the mystery of Vermeillon located in the Cloudpeak Mountains even further south of Candlekeep.
The party has been moving south from Baldur's Gate skirting the Cloakwood Forest for the last several hours. Elliðaey has enjoyed the company of Millicent as well as their new companions. The scholarly monk doesn't often work with others but she welcomes the company moving south. Millicent Shadbroke has only just become her apprentice but Elliðaey is eager to impart whatever knowledge and wisdom she can to the young warlock!
"As I said before," Elliðaey calls out again to her companions with her often jovial tone, "the journey south to Candlekeep is much less daunting with good company," the half-orc/half-fire genasi says nodding to her companions as she readjusts her tall, muscular frame in the saddle of the gray mare. "Plenty of bandits will think twice about attacking me now thanks to the new company I am keeping and nights willbe restful with someone to watch our backs, " she adds with finally a smile pulling at her lips.
Her smile further reveals her white tusks protruding from her strong lower jaw. Elliðaey is a unique looking woman not only from her mixed heritage but also her tall and muscular frame reminiscent of a flyweight boxer. She wears casual and comfortable traveling clothes easy for her to defend herself in if needs must. Her leather boots are well worn but cared for and her only visible weapon is a spear affixed to a harness on her back specifically made for it. It's crafted from a fine dark wood and the spear head a brilliant black obsidian!
Jade shakes her head slightly at Elliðaey, always a bit bemused by her jovial and outspoken demeanor. A trace of a smile nearly crosses Jade's face in spite of herself.
Jade adjusts her baldric, it's shifted too close to her neck and the weight of her longsword is digging in uncomfortably. Sliding it back over onto the shoulder of her chainmail shirt helps to spread the burden.
Jade's appearance is one of contrasts. Her clothing is of a high quality suitable to a courtier but wearing through constant usage. She carries the bearing of a noble knight while driving a mule-drawn wagon. She wears the trappings of a seasoned warrior and the holy symbol of Ilmater. Her very face is a contrast of her Elvish and human heritages...
"Yes, soon, passing Cloakwood. No trouble. I will return to you with it swiftly, by Ilmater's grace. Be safe, Revered Sister, I long to be-," The mental connection severs abruptly and she curses the necessary brevity of replying to Sendings.
Her focus shifts in time to catch Elliðaey repeating herself, and she stands up in the back of the mule-drawn wagon. Painbearer Eila Forthall's height hardly changes from sitting to standing - she may be considered tall by the standards of dwarves, but not by those of the full-blooded human she is. The gaunt hollow of her cheekbones and the hang of her attire betray a cadaverous build granted the mere illusion of size through the layers of thick gambeson and chainmail, shrouded in a surcoat emblazoned with the entwined white hands of Ilmater's symbol. The kite shield strapped to her right arm evokes the image of a toothpick holding a dinnerplate. One might suspect it is only through divine intervention that someone so slight can move themself so deftly under all that steel.
Eila's black-gloved hand holds her warhammer steady at her hip as she moves over to the edge of the wagon. Heavy scarring licking up the left side of her face leaves her returning smile lopsided, but her good cheer is unmistakable nonetheless. "Travelling with you has been an absolute pleasure, it's no small blessing we met you when we did!"
Mindful of the reminder about the threats along the way, Eila turns to keep a vigilant eye on the road behind them, but not before wordlessly reaching over to straighten the twist of leather that had been digging into Jade's shoulder.
During the warm afternoon, the edge of the Cloakwood forest was teaming with life. Insects buzzing, squirrels running around the old oaks while looking for acorns for the winter. While the group was passing an old tree trunk downed by one of the recent storms, one of the squirrels stood up looking at them with her rodent curiosity. When one of the riders turned her head towards the creature, it took a few steps back as if running away.
Just a few more steps... She thought, but something was not right.
Few seconds after the last of the riders has passed, a loud whistle was heard. "Those are not the people we are hunting for!" Li-Anne has shouted.
The green haired gnome girl was sitting on an edge of the mule-drawn wagon, dangling her feet over it's edge and cleaning one of her nails. She was dressed in a green dyed leather outfit with leaf patterns. She jumped off and casually walked towards one of the riders.
"Are you a poacher?" she asked looking up at the rider and without even waiting for a reply she turned towards the forest. "They do not look like poachers!" she shouted in the direction of an innocent looking bush. "I don't think we should kill them..." she looked at the bush "...or should we?" she turned towards the group.
Out of a sudden she says "Hi, I'm Li-Anne. Sorry for trying to kill you."
"As I said before," Elliðaey calls out again to her companions with her often jovial tone, "the journey south to Candlekeep is much less daunting with good company," the half-orc/half-fire genasi says nodding to her companions as she readjusts her tall, muscular frame in the saddle of the gray mare. "Plenty of bandits will think twice about attacking me now thanks to the new company I am keeping and nights willbe restful with someone to watch our backs, " she adds with finally a smile pulling at her lips.
Millicent was perched rather precariously on her hinny....well the Scholars hinny....Millicent had named her Particable. Currently Millicent had a bound penny-dreadful open in her left hand and the reins clutch across in her right though she didn't seem to be using them in any appreciable sense, truth be told Particable just followed Elliðaeys mount out of habit which left more time for reading.
Hearing the end of Elliðaeys statement and extrapolating the rest she hurriedly closed the cheap novel and said breezily, " Yes, quite the fearsome twosome. They put me in mind of The Tigeresses of Teshyll the protagonists of Kieren Grayspines latest work."
She smiled and nodded to her two newer companions aboard the cart.
Jade shakes her head slightly at Elliðaey, always a bit bemused by her jovial and outspoken demeanor. A trace of a smile nearly crosses Jade's face in spite of herself.
Jade adjusts her baldric, it's shifted too close to her neck and the weight of her longsword is digging in uncomfortably. Sliding it back over onto the shoulder of her chainmail shirt helps to spread the burden.
Jade's appearance is one of contrasts. Her clothing is of a high quality suitable to a courtier but wearing through constant usage. She carries the bearing of a noble knight while driving a mule-drawn wagon. She wears the trappings of a seasoned warrior and the holy symbol of Ilmater. Her very face is a contrast of her Elvish and human heritages...
"Yes, soon, passing Cloakwood. No trouble. I will return to you with it swiftly, by Ilmater's grace. Be safe, Revered Sister, I long to be-," The mental connection severs abruptly and she curses the necessary brevity of replying to Sendings.
Her focus shifts in time to catch Elliðaey repeating herself, and she stands up in the back of the mule-drawn wagon. Painbearer Eila Forthall's height hardly changes from sitting to standing - she may be considered tall by the standards of dwarves, but not by those of the full-blooded human she is. The gaunt hollow of her cheekbones and the hang of her attire betray a cadaverous build granted the mere illusion of size through the layers of thick gambeson and chainmail, shrouded in a surcoat emblazoned with the entwined white hands of Ilmater's symbol. The kite shield strapped to her right arm evokes the image of a toothpick holding a dinnerplate. One might suspect it is only through divine intervention that someone so slight can move themself so deftly under all that steel.
Eila's black-gloved hand holds her warhammer steady at her hip as she moves over to the edge of the wagon. Heavy scarring licking up the left side of her face leaves her returning smile lopsided, but her good cheer is unmistakable nonetheless. "Travelling with you has been an absolute pleasure, it's no small blessing we met you when we did!"
Mindful of the reminder about the threats along the way, Eila turns to keep a vigilant eye on the road behind them, but not before wordlessly reaching over to straighten the twist of leather that had been digging into Jade's shoulder.
Millicent smiled back gently, blossoming into absolute beaming as she noted the simple but burgeoning with meaning bit of care Eila showed for her companion. She tucked that bit of information away for later as she had many others she had gathered from observing them and enjoying their company on the road.
The green haired gnome girl was sitting on an edge of the mule-drawn wagon, dangling her feet over it's edge and cleaning one of her nails. She was dressed in a green dyed leather outfit with leaf patterns. She jumped off and casually walked towards one of the riders.
"Are you a poacher?" she asked looking up at the rider and without even waiting for a reply she turned towards the forest. "They do not look like poachers!" she shouted in the direction of an innocent looking bush. "I don't think we should kill them..." she looked at the bush "...or should we?" she turned towards the group.
Out of a sudden she says "Hi, I'm Li-Anne. Sorry for trying to kill you."
Millicent looked up suddenly at the sound of an unfamiliar voice, the novel snapped shut again and she allowed the power to crackle up along her spine and stir the wind about her braids somewhat. Dressed as she was in a somewhat inkstained but in good repair dress and vest in olive and tan, her large round glasses covered a large area of her dark-skinned face she found it rather incongruous that she...or parhaps Elliðaey were being asked if they were poachers.
She tried to sit up higher on the hinny but with the cart and Elliðaeys solid frame she couldn't quite see who was speaking....
"No, not poachers. Seekers of knowledge if we are one thing together," Elliðaey replies to the little green haired gnomes coming from the treeline. "Pleased to see someone is looking out for the creatures in Cloakwood however," she adds with tusky smile. "I'm Elliðaey Nygaar of the Scholars of Allsight. My companions can avail you of their names should they wish to," the monk explains pulling up on the reigns of her dapple gray mare to pause alongside the road. "Interesting isn't she," Elliðaey then says in a lower tone to Millicent.
Millicent knows Elliðaey's tone and expression Millicen well. As Elliðaey apprentice for some time now Millicent knows that a journal and quill will come out in moments if she doesn't interrupt this exchange!
"Yeap, down here, lady" Li-Anne stood by the wheel of the cart looking at the dark skinned woman. Her hands were at her hips and she was tapping the ground with her right foot toes impatiently. "You know, we were supposed to kill you all for a bounty if you were poachers but you hardly look like any I have seen and you definelty do not act like one because you have missed quite a big buck with beautiful antlers... He was over there" she points a medow on the edge of the forest behind them. "No poacher would let it slip his hands. What are you doing here? Where are you going?" She says these words almost on one breath but without any troubles or needing to make a pause to take a breath.
As soon as she asked the last sentence, she goes quiet looking at the traveling women.
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
DM in Tyranny of Dragons
"I don't care, I'm still free. You can't take the sky from me..."
The familiarity of Eila's unspoken touch is a welcome comfort to Jade...they've come so far since that first, tense meeting in Hightower Castle. And yet, for an instant, it's someone else...and Jade's heart breaks just a little bit more.
Only a slight clenching of her jaw betrays the pain within...
At the sound of Li-Anne's voice, Jade reins the mule and turns, right hand flying to the hilt of her sword.
Millicent hefted herself off of her mount so she was closer to the gnomes level and marched over to her thrusting out her hand, " Pleased to meet you, my name is Millicent. You've already met the Boss.", she grinned thrusting a thumb back toward Elliðaey.
" These two lethal looking ladies are our escorts."
Her eyes flicked up to the branches, not overly surprised as the gnome had indicated she wasn't alone.
" And Good Day to you as well."
She wasn't sure if she should say where they were headed to two random strangers so left that up to Elliðaey to reveal...
“ Well there’s a surprise. I didn’t expect to run into you Elliðaey, what must it be? 5-6 years since that time with the ogre? “
taking out her long sword, she cut loose the tripwire and an explosion of dandelion heads soon followed in a cloud of white fluffy plant heads...
Jade, not entirely sure of the past relationship between Elliðaey and Fay, decides that it's safer to assume Lay is triggering a distraction than disarming a trap. As Fay clears the cloud, she finds the Half-Elf moving to interpose herself between Lay and the others.
...striding through it she swiftly put her sword away and her smile faded
“ allow me to introduce myself, I am Fay Stareg. Friends like your travelling scholar call me Fay, while others have a range of colourful nicknames for me. “
"Fay," Elliðaey exclaims with excitement! "Please, comrades this is my friend," the monk calls to Jade slipping easily off the mare to defuse the situation! "I am glad to see you're protecting the Cloakwood as well," Elliðaey nods still smiling. "Jade," she places a hand on her shoulder, "we are among friends," she adds with a soft tone.
OOC Everyone feel free to post at will!
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
Sometimes a Nat 1 tells a better story than a Nat 20 ever could.
Eila had immediately begun the verse of the Blessing of the Vigilant immediately upon hearing the shrill whistle, her eyes immediately training themselves on the perceived threat. However, at the sound of the gnome speaking a mile a minute, followed shortly by her companions recognition of Elliðaey, she relaxes into a wary calm. Bandits are not, in her experience, typically this talkative.
With no apparent need to maintain the slightly higher ground granted by standing in the cart, she hops down and approaches the gnome. "I am Painbearer Eila Forthall, this is my companion," she gestures over, "Jade Tanthalos. We are travelling with Elliðaey and Millicent. We mean no harm to you or the animals in the woods, the weapons are just for our protection."
Jade's body visibly relaxes, almost sags, at Elliðaey and Eila's words. She lowers her hands from her still sheathed sword...and then appears to be at a total loss as to what to do with them. Hanging her head slightly, the chastened Half-Elf speaks shyly with a strikingly low-born accent for one so well dressed.
"My apologies, ma'am."
It's not entirely clear if she's addressing Fay or Elliðaey.
Jade takes Fay's hand reluctantly, though it seems her discomfort is more with herself than the Elf. She gives the kind of falsely firm handshake born more of practice than confidence, and glances back at Elliðaey as if hoping she will answer Fay's question for her.
Millicent seems calm and relaxed trusting in Elliðaeys judgement, she headed back towards Particable and checked over her pack to make sure nothing had spilt or come loose on the ride. She also found her book and slid her fingers around its spine holding it for a few moments.
See...Not all people are bad....I mean they were going to kill us but that was a misunderstanding.
Do not take chances.....you are precious to me....
Millicent felt heat come to her cheeks and she glanced around quickly before tucking everything away again and opening her novel while the others chatted.
"Just happened to be traveling in the same direction and decided to travel together," Elliðaey answers Fay nodding to Jade remaining where she stands. "I seek a tome at Candlekeep. I've been told it might have information about a mining town that went missing years ago named Vermeillon. We travel to the Cloudpeak Mountains after retrieving the tome which I am told is a first hand account from one of the few survivors, " the monk offers honestly trusting Fay with her plans and seeing little reason not go share. "I...I could use your bow in Vermeillon," she then asks looking more serious now and less relaxed and jovial like usual. "Would you....join us," she asks Fay but her amber eyes slightly flicker with an internal glow glancing at Li-Anne too. "Both of you are most welcome," she then adds quickly.
It's late in the afternoon and the weather for the spring day will be chilly once the sunsets in a few hours. Fay can see there's plenty of room in the wagon if she doesn't have a mount and also knows Elliðaey has means of payment beyond the fact she's just good company!
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
Sometimes a Nat 1 tells a better story than a Nat 20 ever could.
Li-Anne is looking at Eila tilting her head. "Are you hurt?"She asks taking few steps towards her and gently touching her leg. "I can fix you! I have studied how to treat different illnesses in animals... Humans should not be THAT different..." she says with enthusiasm looking at the cleric with hope for approval.
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
DM in Tyranny of Dragons
"I don't care, I'm still free. You can't take the sky from me..."
A Deep and Creeping Darkness came to Candlekeep with another group of adventurers, given to them by a villager who found it among her grandfather's old possessions. Her grandfather—a traveling bard in his youth—claimed to have written it. Though appearing to be nothing more than a combination of diary and penny dreadful, the book satisfied the requirement of a unique work to grant that party entrance to Candlekeep. It chronicles the death of a mountain village called Vermeillon by slow, unknown means. Following a terrible accident in the platinum mine, survivors and other villagers began disappearing. Eventually Vermeillon's population all vanished or fled, leaving the village abandoned.
The book, bound in black leather with "A Deep and Creeping Darkness" embossed on the thin spine, shows minimal signs of wear and tear other than a few pages creased through carelessness and a spot here and there. The work is neat though not flawless, containing notable spelling errors and ink blotches.
The beginning of our adventure
Elliðaey Nygaar, a master scholar based in Neverwinter a part of a repository of knowledge known as the Scholars of Allsight. Elliðaey is charged to find out what happened to the mountain boomtown of Vermeillon. Through divination magic, the Scholars of Allsight learned that a book in Candlekeep holds clues to the mystery. Elliðaey has another book to use as a means of entrance into Candlekeep.
We find our party on the road from Baldur's Gate to Candlekeep on the Sword Coast via the Coast Way. The party has traveled for a few hours and at midday pause to rest outside the edges of the Cloakwood forest.
Sometimes a Nat 1 tells a better story than a Nat 20 ever could.
Elliðaey Nygaar rides a dapple gray horse in the late afternoon sun along the Coast Way. Her apprentice from the Allsight repository in Neverwinter, Millicent Shadbroke, also travels with her south to Candlekeep. The Scholars seek to retrieve a book from Candlekeep that will aid them solve with the riddle of the disappearance of the mountain town of Vermeillon. During their long journey south the two scholars stopped over at a temple of Ioun in Baldur's Gate. While there the woman met two more companions. A cleric of Ilmater Eila Forthall and a paladin from the Order of the Golden Cup named Jade Tanthalos also traveling to Candlekeep. As the new party travels together for safety Elliðaey hopes, even though their new companions are on their own quest, they will join her and Millicent in solving the mystery of Vermeillon located in the Cloudpeak Mountains even further south of Candlekeep.
The party has been moving south from Baldur's Gate skirting the Cloakwood Forest for the last several hours. Elliðaey has enjoyed the company of Millicent as well as their new companions. The scholarly monk doesn't often work with others but she welcomes the company moving south. Millicent Shadbroke has only just become her apprentice but Elliðaey is eager to impart whatever knowledge and wisdom she can to the young warlock!
"As I said before," Elliðaey calls out again to her companions with her often jovial tone, "the journey south to Candlekeep is much less daunting with good company," the half-orc/half-fire genasi says nodding to her companions as she readjusts her tall, muscular frame in the saddle of the gray mare. "Plenty of bandits will think twice about attacking me now thanks to the new company I am keeping and nights willbe restful with someone to watch our backs, " she adds with finally a smile pulling at her lips.
Her smile further reveals her white tusks protruding from her strong lower jaw. Elliðaey is a unique looking woman not only from her mixed heritage but also her tall and muscular frame reminiscent of a flyweight boxer. She wears casual and comfortable traveling clothes easy for her to defend herself in if needs must. Her leather boots are well worn but cared for and her only visible weapon is a spear affixed to a harness on her back specifically made for it. It's crafted from a fine dark wood and the spear head a brilliant black obsidian!
Sometimes a Nat 1 tells a better story than a Nat 20 ever could.
Jade shakes her head slightly at Elliðaey, always a bit bemused by her jovial and outspoken demeanor. A trace of a smile nearly crosses Jade's face in spite of herself.
Jade adjusts her baldric, it's shifted too close to her neck and the weight of her longsword is digging in uncomfortably. Sliding it back over onto the shoulder of her chainmail shirt helps to spread the burden.
Jade's appearance is one of contrasts. Her clothing is of a high quality suitable to a courtier but wearing through constant usage. She carries the bearing of a noble knight while driving a mule-drawn wagon. She wears the trappings of a seasoned warrior and the holy symbol of Ilmater. Her very face is a contrast of her Elvish and human heritages...
"Yes, soon, passing Cloakwood. No trouble. I will return to you with it swiftly, by Ilmater's grace. Be safe, Revered Sister, I long to be-," The mental connection severs abruptly and she curses the necessary brevity of replying to Sendings.
Her focus shifts in time to catch Elliðaey repeating herself, and she stands up in the back of the mule-drawn wagon. Painbearer Eila Forthall's height hardly changes from sitting to standing - she may be considered tall by the standards of dwarves, but not by those of the full-blooded human she is. The gaunt hollow of her cheekbones and the hang of her attire betray a cadaverous build granted the mere illusion of size through the layers of thick gambeson and chainmail, shrouded in a surcoat emblazoned with the entwined white hands of Ilmater's symbol. The kite shield strapped to her right arm evokes the image of a toothpick holding a dinnerplate. One might suspect it is only through divine intervention that someone so slight can move themself so deftly under all that steel.
Eila's black-gloved hand holds her warhammer steady at her hip as she moves over to the edge of the wagon. Heavy scarring licking up the left side of her face leaves her returning smile lopsided, but her good cheer is unmistakable nonetheless. "Travelling with you has been an absolute pleasure, it's no small blessing we met you when we did!"
Mindful of the reminder about the threats along the way, Eila turns to keep a vigilant eye on the road behind them, but not before wordlessly reaching over to straighten the twist of leather that had been digging into Jade's shoulder.
During the warm afternoon, the edge of the Cloakwood forest was teaming with life. Insects buzzing, squirrels running around the old oaks while looking for acorns for the winter. While the group was passing an old tree trunk downed by one of the recent storms, one of the squirrels stood up looking at them with her rodent curiosity. When one of the riders turned her head towards the creature, it took a few steps back as if running away.
Just a few more steps... She thought, but something was not right.
Few seconds after the last of the riders has passed, a loud whistle was heard. "Those are not the people we are hunting for!" Li-Anne has shouted.
The green haired gnome girl was sitting on an edge of the mule-drawn wagon, dangling her feet over it's edge and cleaning one of her nails. She was dressed in a green dyed leather outfit with leaf patterns. She jumped off and casually walked towards one of the riders.
"Are you a poacher?" she asked looking up at the rider and without even waiting for a reply she turned towards the forest. "They do not look like poachers!" she shouted in the direction of an innocent looking bush. "I don't think we should kill them..." she looked at the bush "...or should we?" she turned towards the group.
Out of a sudden she says "Hi, I'm Li-Anne. Sorry for trying to kill you."
"I don't care, I'm still free. You can't take the sky from me..."
Millicent was perched rather precariously on her hinny....well the Scholars hinny....Millicent had named her Particable. Currently Millicent had a bound penny-dreadful open in her left hand and the reins clutch across in her right though she didn't seem to be using them in any appreciable sense, truth be told Particable just followed Elliðaeys mount out of habit which left more time for reading.
Hearing the end of Elliðaeys statement and extrapolating the rest she hurriedly closed the cheap novel and said breezily, " Yes, quite the fearsome twosome. They put me in mind of The Tigeresses of Teshyll the protagonists of Kieren Grayspines latest work."
She smiled and nodded to her two newer companions aboard the cart.
Millicent smiled back gently, blossoming into absolute beaming as she noted the simple but burgeoning with meaning bit of care Eila showed for her companion. She tucked that bit of information away for later as she had many others she had gathered from observing them and enjoying their company on the road.
Millicent looked up suddenly at the sound of an unfamiliar voice, the novel snapped shut again and she allowed the power to crackle up along her spine and stir the wind about her braids somewhat. Dressed as she was in a somewhat inkstained but in good repair dress and vest in olive and tan, her large round glasses covered a large area of her dark-skinned face she found it rather incongruous that she...or parhaps Elliðaey were being asked if they were poachers.
She tried to sit up higher on the hinny but with the cart and Elliðaeys solid frame she couldn't quite see who was speaking....
"No, not poachers. Seekers of knowledge if we are one thing together," Elliðaey replies to the little green haired gnomes coming from the treeline. "Pleased to see someone is looking out for the creatures in Cloakwood however," she adds with tusky smile. "I'm Elliðaey Nygaar of the Scholars of Allsight. My companions can avail you of their names should they wish to," the monk explains pulling up on the reigns of her dapple gray mare to pause alongside the road. "Interesting isn't she," Elliðaey then says in a lower tone to Millicent.
Millicent knows Elliðaey's tone and expression Millicen well. As Elliðaey apprentice for some time now Millicent knows that a journal and quill will come out in moments if she doesn't interrupt this exchange!
Sometimes a Nat 1 tells a better story than a Nat 20 ever could.
"Yeap, down here, lady" Li-Anne stood by the wheel of the cart looking at the dark skinned woman. Her hands were at her hips and she was tapping the ground with her right foot toes impatiently. "You know, we were supposed to kill you all for a bounty if you were poachers but you hardly look like any I have seen and you definelty do not act like one because you have missed quite a big buck with beautiful antlers... He was over there" she points a medow on the edge of the forest behind them. "No poacher would let it slip his hands. What are you doing here? Where are you going?" She says these words almost on one breath but without any troubles or needing to make a pause to take a breath.
As soon as she asked the last sentence, she goes quiet looking at the traveling women.
"I don't care, I'm still free. You can't take the sky from me..."
The familiarity of Eila's unspoken touch is a welcome comfort to Jade...they've come so far since that first, tense meeting in Hightower Castle. And yet, for an instant, it's someone else...and Jade's heart breaks just a little bit more.
Only a slight clenching of her jaw betrays the pain within...
At the sound of Li-Anne's voice, Jade reins the mule and turns, right hand flying to the hilt of her sword.
Sensing no immediate threat from the Gnome, Jade begins scanning the treeline for the rest of Li-Anne's "We."
[Perception check 23 (20+3) rolled in campaign because I'm on a mobile device]
Millicent hefted herself off of her mount so she was closer to the gnomes level and marched over to her thrusting out her hand, " Pleased to meet you, my name is Millicent. You've already met the Boss.", she grinned thrusting a thumb back toward Elliðaey.
" These two lethal looking ladies are our escorts."
Her eyes flicked up to the branches, not overly surprised as the gnome had indicated she wasn't alone.
" And Good Day to you as well."
She wasn't sure if she should say where they were headed to two random strangers so left that up to Elliðaey to reveal...
“ Well there’s a surprise. I didn’t expect to run into you Elliðaey, what must it be? 5-6 years since that time with the ogre? “
taking out her long sword, she cut loose the tripwire and an explosion of dandelion heads soon followed in a cloud of white fluffy plant heads...
Jade, not entirely sure of the past relationship between Elliðaey and Fay, decides that it's safer to assume Lay is triggering a distraction than disarming a trap. As Fay clears the cloud, she finds the Half-Elf moving to interpose herself between Lay and the others.
...striding through it she swiftly put her sword away and her smile faded
“ allow me to introduce myself, I am Fay Stareg. Friends like your travelling scholar call me Fay, while others have a range of colourful nicknames for me. “
"Fay," Elliðaey exclaims with excitement! "Please, comrades this is my friend," the monk calls to Jade slipping easily off the mare to defuse the situation! "I am glad to see you're protecting the Cloakwood as well," Elliðaey nods still smiling. "Jade," she places a hand on her shoulder, "we are among friends," she adds with a soft tone.
OOC Everyone feel free to post at will!
Sometimes a Nat 1 tells a better story than a Nat 20 ever could.
Eila had immediately begun the verse of the Blessing of the Vigilant immediately upon hearing the shrill whistle, her eyes immediately training themselves on the perceived threat. However, at the sound of the gnome speaking a mile a minute, followed shortly by her companions recognition of Elliðaey, she relaxes into a wary calm. Bandits are not, in her experience, typically this talkative.
With no apparent need to maintain the slightly higher ground granted by standing in the cart, she hops down and approaches the gnome. "I am Painbearer Eila Forthall, this is my companion," she gestures over, "Jade Tanthalos. We are travelling with Elliðaey and Millicent. We mean no harm to you or the animals in the woods, the weapons are just for our protection."
Jade's body visibly relaxes, almost sags, at Elliðaey and Eila's words. She lowers her hands from her still sheathed sword...and then appears to be at a total loss as to what to do with them. Hanging her head slightly, the chastened Half-Elf speaks shyly with a strikingly low-born accent for one so well dressed.
"My apologies, ma'am."
It's not entirely clear if she's addressing Fay or Elliðaey.
Jade takes Fay's hand reluctantly, though it seems her discomfort is more with herself than the Elf. She gives the kind of falsely firm handshake born more of practice than confidence, and glances back at Elliðaey as if hoping she will answer Fay's question for her.
Millicent seems calm and relaxed trusting in Elliðaeys judgement, she headed back towards Particable and checked over her pack to make sure nothing had spilt or come loose on the ride. She also found her book and slid her fingers around its spine holding it for a few moments.
See...Not all people are bad....I mean they were going to kill us but that was a misunderstanding.
Do not take chances.....you are precious to me....
Millicent felt heat come to her cheeks and she glanced around quickly before tucking everything away again and opening her novel while the others chatted.
"Just happened to be traveling in the same direction and decided to travel together," Elliðaey answers Fay nodding to Jade remaining where she stands. "I seek a tome at Candlekeep. I've been told it might have information about a mining town that went missing years ago named Vermeillon. We travel to the Cloudpeak Mountains after retrieving the tome which I am told is a first hand account from one of the few survivors, " the monk offers honestly trusting Fay with her plans and seeing little reason not go share. "I...I could use your bow in Vermeillon," she then asks looking more serious now and less relaxed and jovial like usual. "Would you....join us," she asks Fay but her amber eyes slightly flicker with an internal glow glancing at Li-Anne too. "Both of you are most welcome," she then adds quickly.
It's late in the afternoon and the weather for the spring day will be chilly once the sunsets in a few hours. Fay can see there's plenty of room in the wagon if she doesn't have a mount and also knows Elliðaey has means of payment beyond the fact she's just good company!
Sometimes a Nat 1 tells a better story than a Nat 20 ever could.
Li-Anne is looking at Eila tilting her head. "Are you hurt?" She asks taking few steps towards her and gently touching her leg. "I can fix you! I have studied how to treat different illnesses in animals... Humans should not be THAT different..." she says with enthusiasm looking at the cleric with hope for approval.
"I don't care, I'm still free. You can't take the sky from me..."
Millicents head swivelled immediately as Li-Anne questioned Eila....this should be interesting....