Alexander nods slowly. Those weren't really the answers that he was looking for, but... really what did he expect? He doesn't really agree with the whole not being a right or wrong answer, really, its more like there are two wrong answers and he has to try and figure out which one is less wrong than the other. But perhaps the others don't see it that way. Ugh, why is this so difficult?
"I... see what you mean," he says after a moment, concerning the ordeal with Cezars and making enemies. It might have been obvious, but the thought that Cezars might be running rampant due to connections with Elmars hadn't even occurred to him. Even so, he was still more worried about Elmars finding out about their connections with the People's Army. As it is, apprehending Cezars had nothing to do with Elmars or anyone else in the government, it was an issue of the Church. It was an issue of Alexander's own duty. Whether that gave him the right legally to do anything... well he wasn't sure, but--even if the church doesn't back him--he can attribute any hostility towards him to his duty to the church, not to the people's army or to any sort of criminal plans on his part (or his friends part). He was just doing his job as a Paladin. "I can deal with whatever ramifications come from me doing my duty in regards to Cezars. I'll take the fall myself if needed, as I don't want any of my comrades to get entangled in political issues. Even if you all would have fought him without me," he adds quickly, remembering Renar's response the first time he blamed himself for getting them involved. "I just don't see a reason for all of us to get into trouble when I can take responsibility on account of it being a... well a Church issue. If he's already been addressed by the church, well then it is a mistake on my part and I'll deal with it somehow." He lets out a long breath, "As for the three bandits..." He pauses for a long moment, eyeing the room where the three are being held, "What do you all think? I've already made my opinion clear, but... well I'm leaning towards not bringing them in for... multiple reasons." He shifts a little, unsure of what he's going to say next, but continuing anyways (in a quieter voice so that their prisoners can't hear), "Maybe we go with the whole 'rivals' thing? It will get annoying I'm sure, but if it keeps them focused on us instead of on our friends with the People's Army as well as innocent civilians, then maybe it's worth it?" He hesitates again, "And... as bad as it sounds... I think we should confiscate their belongings as well--at least their weapons, the Kvass they took, and perhaps some other unnecessary items were probably stolen from someone else. Consider it their bail, though I don't particularly care for carrying it all around. That way they aren't getting out of jail free. Then we can just, I don't know, loosen their bindings a little but leave them in here. They'll probably enjoy having to work for their escape." He doesn't want to leave them to starve, hence his idea of loosening the bindings, but he really REALLY doesn't like the idea of just letting them go for free after everything they've done. "But... we can leave that Roleplay module with them. I don't want to get caught carrying that." He adds after a few awkward moments. Really, he doesn't want to get caught carrying anything that looks like it could link them back to the bandits, "Actually, we can hide their weapons somewhere close by. That way they aren't left defenseless, but it will keep them busy for a while. Though, if one of them has something that Janina can use for self defense, she can have it as compensation for the trouble they've caused her."
Taliyah nervously folds her hands in front of her for a brief moment, an uncertain look passing over her face, before quickly pulling her hands apart and holding them by her sides and steeling her expression. "From what I've heard so far, this People's Army group and this Elmar figure are at serious odds with each other, to the point that both sides are liable to send armed forces against the other's forces and followers, right? Or am I misreading the situation?" As she speaks, she reaches behind her back to draw her staff out, and then takes a deep breath, sending a request to Pixel at the same time. "As for the kids, I agree with Alex that we should indulge them in their "rivalry", and perhaps we can use our encounters with them to guide them onto a better path.
Meanwhile, outside, Pixel flies over towards Cezar's unconscious griffon, and uses his Heart Sight on it to get a better understanding of it's mental state. He then flies over to where Janina sits. "This may seem like an odd question, miss, but is there any particular weapon you have a knack for? Miss Taliyah and the others are discussing providing you with a weapon of some sort, so that in future entanglements while you're on the road, you have a method of fighting off your attackers."After that, he flies back a bit to give Janina some space.
(Heart Sight: Pixel automatically learns the target's current mood, and the target has to make a DC 13 CHA save or he learns their alignment as well, and fiends, celestials, and undead auto-fail.)
Taliyah nervously folds her hands in front of her for a brief moment, an uncertain look passing over her face, before quickly pulling her hands apart and holding them by her sides and steeling her expression. "From what I've heard so far, this People's Army group and this Elmar figure are at serious odds with each other, to the point that both sides are liable to send armed forces against the other's forces and followers, right? Or am I misreading the situation?" As she speaks, she reaches behind her back to draw her staff out, and then takes a deep breath, sending a request to Pixel at the same time. "As for the kids, I agree with Alex that we should indulge them in their "rivalry", and perhaps we can use our encounters with them to guide them onto a better path.
Meanwhile, outside, Pixel flies over towards Cezar's unconscious griffon, and uses his Heart Sight on it to get a better understanding of it's mental state. He then flies over to where Janina sits. "This may seem like an odd question, miss, but is there any particular weapon you have a knack for? Miss Taliyah and the others are discussing providing you with a weapon of some sort, so that in future entanglements while you're on the road, you have a method of fighting off your attackers."After that, he flies back a bit to give Janina some space.
(Heart Sight: Pixel automatically learns the target's current mood, and the target has to make a DC 13 CHA save or he learns their alignment as well, and fiends, celestials, and undead auto-fail.)
Noticing Venet going to bonk the Fire Genasi outside, Maya holds back and clutches her chest. She's wondering if Rixi perhaps got into trouble and... no... is that even Rixi? She doesn't know for sure, but still. "Rishi-kun..."She mutters so softly that she could not be heard under all of this chatter. But as usual, despite being surrounded by a truckload of chit chat, there wasn't even a single sentence that the ancient fox girl could understand. Her beautiful smile instantly turns into a worried frown as she stares with closed eyes at the ones who are talking, one by one, much her oblivous nature. In fact, as she turns her head, her son apparently vanished, or, to her, vanished behind the door, doing who-knows-what. "Eh?! Renar-kun! Tasukete! Doa no ushiro ni kakurete nani o shiteiru nodesu ka?! (助けて, Help me! ドアの後ろに隠れて何をしているのですか?! What are you doing hiding behind that door?!)" She pouts as she realises that her son isn't here to help translate the majority of what those foreigners said. At least, until Elvins finally says something understandable, to which she sway her head back in surprise.
Elvīns looks out the window, "It will be dangerous to try to travel in this weather, but we should probably retire for the day. Do you have anything else you want to do? Any questions about this land" He looks at Maya and Taliyah, the two newest additions to the party.
"Oh! Uh... um... yes. Weather... too strong. We go outsidu... getu wet. Nothing say... look forwardu... explore land later." The kitsune responds... before she hears her stomach growling. "Watashi... uh... I... starving."She turns to Taliyah out of curiosity. "Tariyah-san. You want... do anything?" She asks her as best as she can in broken Lancean. "I thinking... I cook... if anyone say... anyone have food cook with? Anyone... hungry?"
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Wildland Shifters Pt 2 (Pt 1 with PyromaniIsDeadThankGod) Celci (The Lamb) - Non-Binary Changeling Sorcerer (Shadow Magic) Maya Kurosaki- Female Kitsune Cleric (Twilight Domain); Currently in Lancea Randy Wolftree - Male Human Artificer (Armourer); Currently in Crimson Sands of Time Shijiro Otsune- Male Kitsune Blood Hunter (Order Of The Lycan) Trojan Dseyller - Male Tortle Barbarian (Path of the Ancestral Guardian) Xenia Ironhide - Female Kobold Rogue (Soulknife)
*Renar flinches as his mother immediately calls him out for hiding behind the door. Luckily as soon as she does so, he just barely manages to scrape in the last of the Hold Person notes before he quickly whips his back to her beautiful face* "Uh, um... Sorry. I uh... I-I had to... Make sure those guys are in check, eheheh. But sure... I guess I'll..."*He again does the work for her, which he kind of regrets right now since he knows it's his own mother he's talking to* Damn it... They've said a lot combined... This translation issue is a lot more painful than I thought... *And so he does... Once he peeks out of the door after finishing his spell replacement away from his mother's sight* But... There was one detail that stood out like a sore thumb. I mean, this never happens in the Sword Coast unless if you actively kill someone but...
Quote from ACNSuphalak >>
"The fact that you knock him out and humiliate him like that already makes you an enemy of Elmars, you probably don't have that much choice either way." Elvīns points at the fire Genasi, "The fact that he's allowed to roam free and assault so many civilians for this long can only mean one thing: he has a connection to the higher-ups—Elmars and the Rauna duchy will probably take his side, not yours." He scoffs, "Can you see how corrupted the Kerwosian government is? That's the main issue once we rule this land." Whether his word is true or not, the only way to find out is to reach Madura, the riverside military city of Kerwos.
"So even just holding him hostage would already decrease our chances of gaining Elmar's trust huh? How long would he really approve of some idiot rampaging around like this?" I mutter as I deliberately avoid my gaze towards any of the girls, including Okaa-san. And... Madura? Never heard of that place before as usual. *He hears Alex voicing out his worries in the meanwhile as he steps out of the room to meet with everyone else again* This young boy's worries must be steadily piling up on him. Like an endless mountain of garbage stuff that shouldn't even fret about in the first place. *He blinks twice with worry* Then again... I don't have any right to disrespect his point of view; I have my set of doubts too, so even if they are different from his, it's still the same in many aspects. But still, if only I was as good as dealing with worries like Rixi, Yuri or Okaa-san...
Taliyah nervously folds her hands in front of her for a brief moment, an uncertain look passing over her face, before quickly pulling her hands apart and holding them by her sides and steeling her expression. "From what I've heard so far, this People's Army group and this Elmar figure are at serious odds with each other, to the point that both sides are liable to send armed forces against the other's forces and followers, right? Or am I misreading the situation?" As she speaks, she reaches behind her back to draw her staff out, and then takes a deep breath, sending a request to Pixel at the same time. "As for the kids, I agree with Alex that we should indulge them in their "rivalry", and perhaps we can use our encounters with them to guide them onto a better path.
"They've been in this scuffle for a while it seems. At least, that's what we were told before you came. As for the indulging bit... Well... I'm still trying to get that around my head around this plus the ruins at the same time." I reply as I swing my eyes back to the rain. Sigh... How on earth did we get ourselves into this mess? How did a simple quest into earning Elmar's trust turn into an out of context scenario like this? Unless if there's a greater backstory as to why we need to do so and how it connects to the items we're searching for, there's no point in assisting someone that we would eventually leave in the dust some time later in the future! *He squints as his brain tries to process this entire mess* I mean... If me and Okaa-san don't find that item, we may as well say Sayonara (goodbye) to our home then...
"Oh! Uh... um... yes. Weather... too strong. We go outsidu... getu wet. Nothing say... look forwardu... explore land later." The kitsune responds... before she hears her stomach growling. "Watashi... uh... I... starving."She turns to Taliyah out of curiosity. "Tariyah-san. You want... do anything?" She asks her as best as she can in broken Lancean. "I thinking... I cook... if anyone say... anyone have food cook with? Anyone... hungry?"
*His stomach growls as soon as his mother mentions that she's hungry* Hmm... I know we haven't gotten far but, I suppose we could have a light snack, or even lunch at this point in time. *He walks up to his mother* "O- uh I mean, Maya-san."I address before I explain that there's a small woman outside who is currently selling gyozas, well, pelmeni I tell her, and she could go outside to ask for food. In Japanese of course, otherwise she'd think I'm an outsider... Wait. I'm contradicting myself aren't I? Crap... I'm an idiot.
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
The Wildland Shifters Daisy Ethalena- Female Wood Elf Ranger (Monster Slayer) Ethan Wolftree - Male Simic Hybrid Warlock (The Hexblade) Mira Laurits - Female Harengon Sorcerer(Clockwork Soul); Lancea Raiden Kurosaki - Male Kitsune Wizard (Bladesinger); Lancea Rixian Nishinoya - Male Fire Genasi Paladin (Oath of Vengeance) Tenebris Amaro - Male Dark Elf Druid (Circle of Stars) Yurime Hanasaki- Female Kumiho Bard (College Of Creation)
After Pixel flies outside and reads the gryphon's emotions, this would reveal that (Felića allows Charisma save to automatically fail)
The strongest emotion the black gryphon feels right now is fear, followed by confusion. She's still unconscious, but those emotions are still there.
She doesn't understand why her rider wants her to do this in the first place, she's an animal, and she doesn't know what politics is or even why law and order exist. All she wants is to be well-fed, loved, and follow what the leader of her flock tells her to do, and that is Cezars.
These strangers show up, they knock her and her family out, and then tie them up outside in the storm. They didn't try to eat them, hurt them, further, or anything like that... yet. All she did was follow Cezars' orders, it isn't simply something she chose to do because she likes him, but it's part of her instinct itself. Gryphons like her are born to serve the interest of the flock first and foremost.
Why is he so angry and so filled with hate? She doesn't know, that's the biggest source of confusion for her. Why does he hit everyone? Will she be his next victim?
Janina smiles when the fairy approaches her, she gives him a quick head scratch with her finder. "I'll need a crossbow, preferably a light one, not the one with a pulley." Back then, the advantage of a crossbow over a bow was that it was much easier to learn. A bowman needed to train since he was young, a crossbowman can learn how to shoot within weeks.
She looks back into the house at Maya, then points at her cart. "Let's do some cuisine cultural exchange, you cook for lunch, I'll cook for dinner, deal?" Approaching the cart, there are several crates under the kvass barrels, opening it will reveal that there are three salmons inside another smaller box full of ice, various vegetables, flour, rye bread, and vinegar.
Looting the three bandit's weapon bags, it seems that Eerin is equipped with a rapier and light crossbow, Leonīds has two shortswords, and Aloizs has two daggers and a hand crossbow. The backpack inside their room seems to have an assortment of random things: wooden totems with paints, possibly from Austral Heryomen, a cigar (which the two birds can't even use due to their absence of lips), beads, a packet of pumpkin seeds, vials of tetrazene, an explosive substance, a slab of bismuth, and an odd-looking, red, and hairy fruit with flowery smell.
"Lo and behold, our treasure!"The Kobold says dramatically, "Take it if you want, because we will make even more money for our next great heist!"
The storm outside shows no sign of stopping, in fact, the wind and the rain keep getting stronger and stronger by the minute.
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"The universe we observe has precisely the properties we should expect if there is, at bottom, no design, no purpose, no evil, no good, nothing but blind, pitiless indifference."
She looks back into the house at Maya, then points at her cart. "Let's do some cuisine cultural exchange, you cook for lunch, I'll cook for dinner, deal?" Approaching the cart, there are several crates under the kvass barrels, opening it will reveal that there are three salmons inside another smaller box full of ice, various vegetables, flour, rye bread, and vinegar.
"Hai! Wakarimashita! (ハイ! わかりました, Yes! Got it!)" The kitsune exclaims as she pumps her fists; Usually she'd want nothing to do with strangers especially considering the fact that she's super shy and unwilling to talk at most, but an exception would be cooking for other people, especially her son... and another person who loved her too before she passed away. Her passions for creating delicious meals is what drives her confidence to step out of her comfort zone. Eyeing the massive crates whilst avoiding the storm altogether, she's already eyeing the salmon, veggies and the flour, her main strengths. Already, just by looking at the loose stacks of flour, she can picture herself creating noodles of all kinds, whether it be ramen, udon or even yakisoba, she's already imagining so many possibilities of what to make. But then again... she will have to wait until it's close to Nighttime before it's time to shine.
Wildland Shifters Pt 2 (Pt 1 with PyromaniIsDeadThankGod) Celci (The Lamb) - Non-Binary Changeling Sorcerer (Shadow Magic) Maya Kurosaki- Female Kitsune Cleric (Twilight Domain); Currently in Lancea Randy Wolftree - Male Human Artificer (Armourer); Currently in Crimson Sands of Time Shijiro Otsune- Male Kitsune Blood Hunter (Order Of The Lycan) Trojan Dseyller - Male Tortle Barbarian (Path of the Ancestral Guardian) Xenia Ironhide - Female Kobold Rogue (Soulknife)
Shugo eyes Alex as the young paladin speaks of his likely self proclaimed responsibilities. He's really willing to take all the ramifications? Hmmm. It's not logically reasonable, but it is a mark of a true leader. The elf admires him for that. Taking responsibility is not one of Shugo's favorite things. If it were up to him, he'd just leave these punk kids tied up in this shack. That would keep them occupied for a while. As for the genasi...that would have been a problem if he'd been alone. At least it would be as long as he stays in this country...
He's not sure he likes the idea of this rivalry thing. It sounds like a nuisance. Whatever though. It seems the others think otherwise so, so be it. As long as none of this interferes with his mission, then he'll put up with it.
His stomach growls audibly when Maya asks if anyone's hungry. Wow, so much had been going on...he hadn't even realized how famished he is. "Haha, I'm starving."He says smiling at the kitsune. Really? She's going to cook for them? For FREE! Who cares if Renar doesn't like this lady, she can stay with them as long as she wants.
Finding himself a cleared spot in the room, he flops down cross-legged on the floor. With the weather showing no signs of stopping, he might as well relax for a bit. ...Hmmm, how's Venet faring out there? She might like the rain...but lightning? Leaning to the side so he can see out the window, he calls "Hey Venet?! You doin ok out there?!"
Looking out the window Venet is standing with her arms wide and head tilted up toward the sky."Mmm..?"
She turns to glance behind her, flashing a smile at Shugo. She is very clearly soaked by the look of her hair at least, but the water seems to roll off of her scales and armor with easy. "I am. Should we bring the fire one inside?"
"Oh! Uh... um... yes. Weather... too strong. We go outsidu... getu wet. Nothing say... look forwardu... explore land later." The kitsune responds... before she hears her stomach growling. "Watashi... uh... I... starving."She turns to Taliyah out of curiosity. "Tariyah-san. You want... do anything?" She asks her as best as she can in broken Lancean. "I thinking... I cook... if anyone say... anyone have food cook with? Anyone... hungry?"
Tension eases from Taliyah as soon as Maya mentions she can cook, her face lighting up with a smile. "You cook as well Maya? We'll have to share recipes it seems, I'd love to learn a few recipes from your home. I'll do my best to share a few I know as well!" She takes a few moments to look over the ingredients Janina has offered to share, murmuring to herself as she does so. "Is there anything in particular you have in mind that you'd want to make Maya?"
Meanwhile, Pixel turns invisible and flies off into the forest, trying to find if he can find any ripe fruits to go with the food.
Once Maya finishes assessing the ingredients available, she turns back to Taliyah with a broad smile. "I always cook. Most time. I mean... Muzuko... my son... can too. Less so though. I love... to hear... to see... you cooking too!"She replies with a rapidly swaying single tail to convey her enthusiasm. She then eyes the flour and the salmon. "Tariyah-san... do you... know how... make noodles? From loose flour?" She points to the flour stack. "I show you how first... before... I move... on Sake (鮭, Salmon), or... Abuurage (油揚げ, Fried Tofu) and Gyoza (Her version of Pelmeni). And... will you... show me, something, you cooking, too? With those... food?"
Actually, she needs to look for a place to set up shop first. Does this building have a kitchen or stove that she can use? No point risking herself out in the storm to grab the food items only to realise there isn't a place to store the ingredients. "You... you have... cooking... stove somewhere, right?" She asks the others. But... as she glances at her son for a brief moment, there's a touch of sadness filling in the hole that's in her ancient heart; She knows that he ain't going to join her as of this moment. Did she perhaps frighten him to near death? Is he wondering where his companions and why are they not with her? She wanted to tell him all of these things, but she just doesn't know how. At least, for the time being.
Wildland Shifters Pt 2 (Pt 1 with PyromaniIsDeadThankGod) Celci (The Lamb) - Non-Binary Changeling Sorcerer (Shadow Magic) Maya Kurosaki- Female Kitsune Cleric (Twilight Domain); Currently in Lancea Randy Wolftree - Male Human Artificer (Armourer); Currently in Crimson Sands of Time Shijiro Otsune- Male Kitsune Blood Hunter (Order Of The Lycan) Trojan Dseyller - Male Tortle Barbarian (Path of the Ancestral Guardian) Xenia Ironhide - Female Kobold Rogue (Soulknife)
Even just getting outside, Pixel has difficulties flying in a straight line. The wind is too strong and the rain is heavy, his tiny fairy wings aren't built to handle this kind of weather.
As Maya kneads the noodles, she finds herself surrounded by some of the more curious members of The People’s Army (Which is anyone that isn’t Radions or Elvīns). This is the first time they see a noodle, to them, it looks like Maya is making breadsticks more than anything.
For lunch, Janina cooks up a sklandrausis—a sweet pie made from rye flour, filled with potato, carrot, and caraway cream, with a side of skābputra—a fermented milk and oat gruel. It's delicious and surprisingly filling for such a small-sized course. She tosses a rye bread and a lobster to the 'prisoners,' much to their complaints.
Even after finishing lunch, the storm is still raging on, you can already hear the house creak and sway with the wind. There isn't really anything they can do but pass the time.
Veno is reading Alice's Adventures in Wonderland, one of those human-written stories to his friend. As far as you can tell, it's a story about a young girl falling into a rabbit hole (Which might be where this term originates), and she's transported into a whimsical and strange new world. Storytelling is a big part of Perkwunosite culture, it isn't just limited to bedtime stories alone, all books are greatly appreciated when it's read out loud to the crowd.
"'But I don’t want to go among mad people,' Alice remarked. 'Oh, you can’t help that,' said the Cat: 'we’re all mad here. I’m mad. You’re mad.'" As soon as Veno finishes reading the passage, he hears a thunk at the window outside. He glances at the source of the noise earlier.
"Alright, pause the story for now, I'll go check it out."Helene gets up and opens the window. She then bends over and picks up a messenger pigeon with a letter sticking out of her leg, she's unconscious after slamming her head against a window like that, but she appears to be alive. "Huh? I didn't know Kerwosian Post are so dedicated to their same-day delivery promise." Helene jokes, then opens up a letter.
Dot, dot, dot. The silence is heavy, the only sound in that room is purely that of storms and winds. It's a silence that is as strong as gravity itself.
Her hands trembling, she drops the letter, her pupils retracting to the point of it being as small as a green pea. And that's when you all see the contents of the letter too.
Category 2 cyclone isn't that bad, but extratropical cyclone like this catches a lot of people off-guard. It's an uncommon sight, unlike a tropical cyclone which occurs almost yearly. There will be a lot of damage for sure since Kerwosian infrastructure was never designed to withstand a cyclone like this.
Elvīns picks up the paper and immediately palms his forehead, "No, no no no, NO, NO! We have to get out of here before the cyclone gets worse!"He throws the letter to the side, "Those idiots couldn't even afford to deliver this letter on time! Everyone, leave your unnecessary belongings behind, only bring food and fresh water with you, go!" The rest of the People's Army quickly scrambles outside and retrieves their cart. They throw out most of the crate they hijacked from Elmars' caravan a few days ago, as sad as it is for them, their lives right now are more important than their supplies.
Except for Veno, though, he just slowly walks to the room where the FART members are being held. He looks to the half-orc, "Sir... what about Eerin and her friends... and Cezars and his gryphon?"
Elvīns makes a quick headcount, and that's when the realisation sets in. He grips the wall, his voice shaking. "We have to leave either of them behind, the cart can't support the weight any further. We all have to be on the cart, in times like this, you should never touch the water under any circumstances. Some parts of it might be deeper than it looks." He looks to Venet, the only aquatic species in the group, "It'll be fine for you, but not for the rest of us, we can't swim in such conditions."
Veno speaks out too, shuffling his hands, "I know Eerin can be insufferable sometimes, but... I'll willing to let this pass for once. I should repay them, at least, for saving my life in a situation like this before."
Elvīns turns to the party, "I know you all can get very indecisive sometimes, but we don't have much time left. You must choose who we will take with us: Eerin or Cezars?"
There is another option, though, a heroic one at that. You can volunteer to leave yourself behind and let Janina and The People's Army carry your prisoners to safety, but there is no way Elvīns will approve of that... unless you succeed in a DC20 Persuasion check, then maybe he might be willing to listen.
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"The universe we observe has precisely the properties we should expect if there is, at bottom, no design, no purpose, no evil, no good, nothing but blind, pitiless indifference."
Venet hears the news, sighing slightly as the situation dawns on everyone.
"Leaving ones we've taken hostage to die I feel is very.. unbecoming. We put them into this position so they are our responsibility, take them both to safety, Elvīns. Unless someone has other notions?" she asks the group. ____
Even just getting outside, Pixel has difficulties flying in a straight line. The wind is too strong and the rain is heavy, his tiny fairy wings aren't built to handle this kind of weather.
As Maya kneads the noodles, she finds herself surrounded by some of the more curious members of The People’s Army (Which is anyone that isn’t Radions or Elvīns). This is the first time they see a noodle, to them, it looks like Maya is making breadsticks more than anything.
For lunch, Janina cooks up a sklandrausis—a sweet pie made from rye flour, filled with potato, carrot, and caraway cream, with a side of skābputra—a fermented milk and oat gruel. It's delicious and surprisingly filling for such a small-sized course. She tosses a rye bread and a lobster to the 'prisoners,' much to their complaints.
Even after finishing lunch, the storm is still raging on, you can already hear the house creak and sway with the wind. There isn't really anything they can do but pass the time.
Sigh... there wasn't much I can do within this timeframe, especially now that... *He mentally sings in his head* we're in the storm that is approaching. Provoooooking black clouds in isolation. *He snaps back to reality as his stomach growls and he sniffs the air* I'm starving actually. What's for lunch? *He gets up from his position as he notices his mother preparing noodles for dinner, specifically, udon* Sigh... Okaa-san... she's so into sharing her cuisine style with them huh. I mean, cooking is her speciality, but, does she fully know that these folk aren't actually our allies? But... she's right. I was into cooking myself. Well, I mean Shijiro, another kitsune I befriended and who secretly loves the food I make, says I almost could match my mother if it wasn't for my lack of creativity in the dishes I make. In fact I could've shared my dishes if it wasn't for her unexpected arrival. I was actually looking for an opportunity to shine outside of battle. And even everyone but two of the people's bandits are interested to see how she expertly knead the flour and stretch it as such that it thins over time. I wonder if they're interested in being taught how to make them if we're still intent on retaining our ties by the deadline...*He then grabs a pie off Janina before he sits somewhere away from the others, or near Alex and Shugo if they're willing* Hmm... This pie... And didn't she say she'd give my group free gyoza? Ah whatever. We save her butt, so we can visit her shop anytime to obtain them... *He takes a bite into the pie and chews on it a bit before swallowing it* Hmm.. Not bad as usual. Though... if Okaa-san were to make her abuurage udon dish... *He shakes his head before he eats the rest and takes the plate back to Janina* "Thanks again." I reply as I bow before I... hear a gasp from one of those people's bandits.
Dot, dot, dot. The silence is heavy, the only sound in that room is purely that of storms and winds. It's a silence that is as strong as gravity itself.
Her hands trembling, she drops the letter, her pupils retracting to the point of it being as small as a green pea. And that's when you all see the contents of the letter too.
Category 2 cyclone isn't that bad, but extratropical cyclone like this catches a lot of people off-guard. It's an uncommon sight, unlike a tropical cyclone which occurs almost yearly. There will be a lot of damage for sure since Kerwosian infrastructure was never designed to withstand a cyclone like this.
"What are you all gasping about?" I dryly ask as I snatch the paper away from the halfling and... uh... *His golden eyes widen in shock* I mean, I heard that tropical cyclones in Japan are bad, let alone a thing too but... Extratropical?! Is that even an actual term?! What if every single city in Japan got struck down by something like this?! Man the weather here must be worse than the latter or even the Sword Coast... *He translates to his mother about what the letter is about* Right. So we need to evacuate asap. But... we have to either leave them behind to die or we take them all at once. *He glances at everyone's faces minus Venet and Maya* We're not aquatics, yes. I mean if we were though then Rixi would have finished us off if he were present. But... can we even traverse at least 100 metres out in the storm whilst this is happening? Where's the nearest safe shelter if that's the case? And... will this shack hold long enough until the tempest dies down? Again, so many factors in need to consider before I finalize my decision.
Elvīns picks up the paper and immediately palms his forehead, "No, no no no, NO, NO! We have to get out of here before the cyclone gets worse!"He throws the letter to the side, "Those idiots couldn't even afford to deliver this letter on time! Everyone, leave your unnecessary belongings behind, only bring food and fresh water with you, go!" The rest of the People's Army quickly scrambles outside and retrieves their cart. They throw out most of the crate they hijacked from Elmars' caravan a few days ago, as sad as it is for them, their lives right now are more important than their supplies.
Except for Veno, though, he just slowly walks to the room where the FART members are being held. He looks to the half-orc, "Sir... what about Eerin and her friends... and Cezars and his gryphon?"
Elvīns makes a quick headcount, and that's when the realisation sets in. He grips the wall, his voice shaking. "We have to leave either of them behind, the cart can't support the weight any further. We all have to be on the cart, in times like this, you should never touch the water under any circumstances. Some parts of it might be deeper than it looks." He looks to Venet, the only aquatic species in the group, "It'll be fine for you, but not for the rest of us, we can't swim in such conditions."
Veno speaks out too, shuffling his hands, "I know Eerin can be insufferable sometimes, but... I'll willing to let this pass for once. I should repay them, at least, for saving my life in a situation like this before."
Elvīns turns to the party, "I know you all can get very indecisive sometimes, but we don't have much time left. You must choose who we will take with us: Eerin or Cezars?"
"Ok... this one... This is indeed a tough choice." *He puts his hands to his chin* "Either option isn't ideal. I mean, we all need to survive this yes, but unless if we all travel at once and someone carries either person you mentioned, then..." *And then Venet beats him in finding a solution, causing his tail to furrow in annoyance* "Or that. I mean... if you're um... willing to take it into mind..."
As time passes, Maya expertly uses the loose flour from the crates plus a dash of clean water to keep it moist. In doing so she garners the attention of four members of the people's army as she does her best to explain what she's doing, albeit in broken Lancean. Right now, the noodle type she's make is udon, the thick noodle variant. As she explains how she makes them thick and moist, she also explains that If she's still surrounded by the ingredients she's familiar with, she will also make the thinner ramen, soumen and yakisoba variants in the future, before asking them which of the noodles she make are the favourites. But for now, she too, is starving and the noodles have yet to be properly cooked. After kneading enough for everyone, she stows them aside for tonight's meal before she goes over to Janina to take her share of the latter's pie. "Ah! Thank... you... Arigato gozai masu! (ありがと ござい マス)" She replies with a polite bow before she sits at a table besides Taliyah and clasps her hands together. "Itadakimasu! (頂きます)" She gleefully says before she dips her fork into her pie before taking a massive bite out of it. "MMM! Kore wa... Oishi desu! (これは... 美味しです!, This is... delicious)! If only... Muzuko... here. My son... like this will!" She squeals with the widest smile that her cherry red lips have ever made. This is her first time tasting food based in the Baltic lands, so to actually eat something that's just as tasty as her own meals is icing on the cake for her. In fact, she much to the surprise of her companions, she asks for a second serve, and then a third and fourth one, all the while not caring about the fact that she's being seen by everyone as a big eater. She just loves the pie, to her heart's content. Though... tossing a lobster to the tied up bandits, that one should wouldn't really approve especially since they're tiny kids who also need to eat.
Just as she finishes licking the last of her sevings the halfling kindly cooked up though, the kitsune hears a gasp from both Lavize and her son. "Doshitano (どしたの), Renar-kun?" And then her disguised son translate for her. "NANI (何)?! Sore wa (これは)... Su rai... cu...lo...ru-desu? Es... tu ra...?!" She knows what a cyclone is since she had survived at last five in he six century lifetime. But hearing the term "extratropical" signals a red flag for her as her smile instantly fades and she holds her hand to her large chest: She's interpreting that everyone's going to die. Just like... oh no. "No... I don't... want to... don't die! Not when... son... is missing!"She panics as she glances outside to the see that the storm has increased in intensity and then looks back to everyone else. There's no way she'd ever abandon someone to die out alone.
"Leaving ones we've taken hostage to die I feel is very.. unbecoming. We put them into this position so they are our responsibility, take them both to safety, Elvīns. Unless someone has other notions?" she asks the group.
"Eh? V... Venetu-san?"Maya gasps after overhearing her bravery to stay behind. And she hears her son blindly agreeing with her, causing her to gasp again. So she's not the only one who's thinking of this huh? Maybe... just maybe... "Watashi... I... I stay behind too! If... Muzuko... safe out there... I hope... he stay... alive. I find... him later... when su rai... cu lo ru... end! I try survive... with them!"
Persuasion: 10
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Wildland Shifters Pt 2 (Pt 1 with PyromaniIsDeadThankGod) Celci (The Lamb) - Non-Binary Changeling Sorcerer (Shadow Magic) Maya Kurosaki- Female Kitsune Cleric (Twilight Domain); Currently in Lancea Randy Wolftree - Male Human Artificer (Armourer); Currently in Crimson Sands of Time Shijiro Otsune- Male Kitsune Blood Hunter (Order Of The Lycan) Trojan Dseyller - Male Tortle Barbarian (Path of the Ancestral Guardian) Xenia Ironhide - Female Kobold Rogue (Soulknife)
Alexander nods at Venet's request, "It wouldn't be right to leave them, but... well..." If only he'd been able to get a long rest in. If he could fly, then maybe he could just travel alongside the cart... though he admittedly wouldn't be able to keep it up all that long, and wasn't particularly comfortable flying in such weather anyways. "What about Janina's cart?" He looks to the halfling, "Between all of us, we have two carts don't we? What if you take Eerin's group, and we take Janina's cart... If you are willing to let us ride with you that is," He looks to Janina. "I'm not sure what to do with the gryphon, but... well I don't think any of us should risk staying behind. We need to take Cezars in, and you all need to go about whatever your next steps are for your goal. You can just let Eerin and her friends go whenever it becomes convenient--or split off with them if you think untying them now won't cause problems." He looks skeptically at the room where the three kids are probably listening in. He seriously hopes that they'll be smart enough to put their supervillain dreams aside during this problem. "Would that work? Or do you not think Janina's cart would be able to hold her plus the rest of us?"He pauses, "I know you didn't sign up for this Janina, and I don't want to involve you any more then you are comfortable with, but... your experience with Cezars could prove useful in getting him what he deserves if you are willing to be a witness. Of course, we all have to weather this storm first."
If this plan doesn't work, he'll side with Venet... however, "If we must stay, then Cezars and his mount will stay as well. He shouldn't know that you all were here, and I think it would be best to keep it that way. Even if what we've done to him makes Elmars or some other powerful person our enemy, I don't think them knowing that we have connections with you will help our case at all. So... even if it is risky, he needs to stay with us."
"Nah. Not yet. If you start to see lightning...then you can bring him in." Shugo replies to Venet cheerfully and smiles right back at her.
Once the food is finished, he rushes over to grab as much as possible...though he makes sure to leave enough for whoever may be in line after him. Then he plops right back down on the floor where he had been waiting. He looks a little surprised when Renar decides to join him and Alex. Is he that scared of the kitsune lady? He didn't seem like he wanted anything to do with him before...
"This is delicious!" He says through a mouthful. It's been soooo long since he's eaten anything from his homeland. He'd nearly forgotten how much he missed this type of food. "This is SOOOO good." After going back for seconds and finishing that as well, he grabs a piece of Janina's pie. "This is fantastic as well! You are both wonderful cooks!"
The elf nearly chokes on his food when he hears Helene's gasp. Blinking tears from his eyes, it takes him a moment to focus on what the parchment says. A cyclone?! And he thought today couldn't get any worse. Standing, he listens to Alex. Part of him wants to just leave the genasi and his steed behind. He's certain that if their circumstances were reversed the guy wouldn't think twice about leaving them to drown...If they die to a storm would it really be their fault? Of course it would?! He banishes that thought from his mind. If they two were conscious, it would be different. The genasi could fly after all. Remaining silent, he waits for the others to respond to the paladins words. He wants to get a feel for what they think before voicing his own opinions.
Extratropical cyclone means a cylcone that spawns (or enters) above or below the Tropic of Cancer/Capricorn, unlike tropical cyclone that spawns from a thunderstorm, extratropical cyclone spawns in waves. The technical stuff doesn’t matter much, because there will be a lot of rain, wind, and flood for sure.
"My cart is loaded with food and fresh water... well, it's not really a water, but kvass is better than nothing." Janina says, these kvass are supposed to be for Elmars, but he might let this slide since his country is being hit with a cyclone, after all. "It's very risky to try overloading the carts. It could sink if we need to get on a raft in flooded areas, and if it breaks down, it's game over for us. You all probably know how important food and water is in this kind of situation. Elvīns' cart is for transporting passengers, mine is for goods." Janina explains.
Persuasion checkpassed.
"The hell? You can't just leave yourself here! It's too dangerous!" Elvīns shouts, but he backs down immediately. Venet is right, it's their responsibility. For all this time, these guys want to help people first and foremost... and they probably want to be a hero, now they'll get to be one.
"Fine... have it your way, then."He nods along with Alex and sighs, before walking to the bedroom, unlocks the door, and grabs the three FART members by the scruff of their neck.
"Wait, Elvīns, dude, what are you doing?" Eerin says, her arm and tail dangling in the air.
"Saving you rascals. Come on, we don't have all day!" He opens the door and toss the three hostages to the back of their cart. Eerin, Leonīds, and Aloizs are safe.
There is still Veno, who's the last person inside the house. He looks at you all before producing a packet of sunflower seeds from his pockets.
"I know... I know you all will make it to Stučkavas, it's on a hill and it's our base of operation, so you'll be safe there. But just in case you didn't make it... take these sunflower seeds." His hand trembles, "They say sunflower only grow from the bodies of those whose hearts are pure. Many of us have one of these in our pockets, in case the day we die, be it from old age or something else. Just... don't eat it, alright?"
After the group retrieves his sunflower seed, he wipes his tears and walks away. "S-stay safe, alright? Remember to help yourself first before you help the others."
The People's Army all seat themselves on their cart, covering their heads with their hands. Helene lifts up Janina and places her on her cart, and they take off into the rain. Leaving you alone with Cezars and his mount (Who are both still unconscious).
It's flooding slightly outside, the water level is at your ankle, which is manageable. You still have rations (From your starting kit, which is about five days), including some freshwater, the nearest settlement is about 23 kilometres away. But first, you should figure out how to deal with Cezars first before moving them to safety.
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"The universe we observe has precisely the properties we should expect if there is, at bottom, no design, no purpose, no evil, no good, nothing but blind, pitiless indifference."
There is still Veno, who's the last person inside the house. He looks at you all before producing a packet of sunflower seeds from his pockets.
"I know... I know you all will make it to Stučkavas, it's on a hill and it's our base of operation, so you'll be safe there. But just in case you didn't make it... take these sunflower seeds." His hand trembles, "They say sunflower only grow from the bodies of those whose hearts are pure. Many of us have one of these in our pockets, in case the day we die, be it from old age or something else. Just... don't eat it, alright?"
After the group retrieves his sunflower seed, he wipes his tears and walks away. "S-stay safe, alright? Remember to help yourself first before you help the others."
Damn it... the winds are picking up. And... it is actually flooding?! Oh gosh... I can see water trickling into the house! "Damn it! We need to find a way out fast!" I gasp as... what? *Whatever Veno just said to the group was enough to make him flash a grimace* Excuse me?! Since when did we say we're gonna die?! And... sunflower seeds... what is this nonsense?! *He takes it away forcefully* "Ugh... Go! We'll handle this!" I snarls towards Veno before they all take their leave. "Everyone, you heard what they said, right?! Pack whatever you need in your bags! Maya-san! The noodles you made! And... do you have a spare umbrella?! Yours alone isn't enough to shield all of us!"*He quickly whips his head around to find something that could act as a makeshift shield from the rain* But... Stupid Rixi... I mean, I'm content on leaving him behind but not his griffin... Wait a- "Hang on... did those people take both carts with them?! Damn it... I was hoping that... ah you what nevermind! And besides, what do we do about... the griffin... and that... *Awkward silence* fire guy? I mean... someone can carry the latter and all but... the griffin? Or should we wake him up? Or her... and persuade it to come along with us to find somewhere to hide?!" I was just about to call that fire genasi Stupid Rixi, but then I realised Okaa-san is here... so I can't.
Maya helplessly watches as everyone leaves her plus the other five travellers behind to figure their own way out as she waves goodbye to them. It's a shame she might not be able to . Well, at least, her precious son is in her sight again, that's a relief. Having lost a daughter that she never told Raiden (or Renar, as she now knows in this world) beforehand, she's contempt on assisting her son's allies to ensure she doesn't repeat history with her lonely son. She's confident that these new friend would ensure that he won't go down the same tragic path as her lost daughter, as long as she can keep an eye on him. But for now... She attempts to cast a very tiny, but sturdy hut to shelter them and... Wait... Oh no. She's... "How... I can't... Naze-?! (なぜ?!, Why-?!)" Maya gasps as her knowledge of the spell had somehow vanished. She can't remember how to cast it! She could previously do it, but... why can't she do so now? This is so strange... You know what... she turn to her disguised son, hoping that he at least has found some method of escape from this hellstorm, only to hear... as she turns his head and tries to ask...
"I... Renar-kun! Tariyah-san Stay with others and prepare! I go... I and Ventu-san... go wake up... Bird bear!" She tells the others before she rapidly packs the noodles into a plastic bag and then into her handbag without letting a trace of flour slip into the pouch (somehow), before she courageously slips on her cloak, unfolds her umbrella and uneasily trots towards the unconscious owlbear, never mind the fact that the lower half of her noble dress up to her bare ankles are entirely soaked; When you're focused on trying to make sure others survive, there's zero room for modesty.
"Omae! Okite kudasai (起きてください, Wake up, please!)" She yells at the unconscious griffin, hoping that she doesn't become another enemy to her. No response. But... that's when she notices the injured wing. So, just in case, she rests a clawed hand on the griffin's injured wing and whispers in Japanese: "Yoku natte... kudasai (良くなってください, Please... get better)" She then glances at... um... Rixian? "Uh... Rishian-kun? Venetu-san...? What... should...?"She asks her confused if the triton had came along with her.
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
Wildland Shifters Pt 2 (Pt 1 with PyromaniIsDeadThankGod) Celci (The Lamb) - Non-Binary Changeling Sorcerer (Shadow Magic) Maya Kurosaki- Female Kitsune Cleric (Twilight Domain); Currently in Lancea Randy Wolftree - Male Human Artificer (Armourer); Currently in Crimson Sands of Time Shijiro Otsune- Male Kitsune Blood Hunter (Order Of The Lycan) Trojan Dseyller - Male Tortle Barbarian (Path of the Ancestral Guardian) Xenia Ironhide - Female Kobold Rogue (Soulknife)
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Alexander nods slowly. Those weren't really the answers that he was looking for, but... really what did he expect? He doesn't really agree with the whole not being a right or wrong answer, really, its more like there are two wrong answers and he has to try and figure out which one is less wrong than the other. But perhaps the others don't see it that way. Ugh, why is this so difficult?
"I... see what you mean," he says after a moment, concerning the ordeal with Cezars and making enemies. It might have been obvious, but the thought that Cezars might be running rampant due to connections with Elmars hadn't even occurred to him. Even so, he was still more worried about Elmars finding out about their connections with the People's Army. As it is, apprehending Cezars had nothing to do with Elmars or anyone else in the government, it was an issue of the Church. It was an issue of Alexander's own duty. Whether that gave him the right legally to do anything... well he wasn't sure, but--even if the church doesn't back him--he can attribute any hostility towards him to his duty to the church, not to the people's army or to any sort of criminal plans on his part (or his friends part). He was just doing his job as a Paladin. "I can deal with whatever ramifications come from me doing my duty in regards to Cezars. I'll take the fall myself if needed, as I don't want any of my comrades to get entangled in political issues. Even if you all would have fought him without me," he adds quickly, remembering Renar's response the first time he blamed himself for getting them involved. "I just don't see a reason for all of us to get into trouble when I can take responsibility on account of it being a... well a Church issue. If he's already been addressed by the church, well then it is a mistake on my part and I'll deal with it somehow." He lets out a long breath, "As for the three bandits..." He pauses for a long moment, eyeing the room where the three are being held, "What do you all think? I've already made my opinion clear, but... well I'm leaning towards not bringing them in for... multiple reasons." He shifts a little, unsure of what he's going to say next, but continuing anyways (in a quieter voice so that their prisoners can't hear), "Maybe we go with the whole 'rivals' thing? It will get annoying I'm sure, but if it keeps them focused on us instead of on our friends with the People's Army as well as innocent civilians, then maybe it's worth it?" He hesitates again, "And... as bad as it sounds... I think we should confiscate their belongings as well--at least their weapons, the Kvass they took, and perhaps some other unnecessary items were probably stolen from someone else. Consider it their bail, though I don't particularly care for carrying it all around. That way they aren't getting out of jail free. Then we can just, I don't know, loosen their bindings a little but leave them in here. They'll probably enjoy having to work for their escape." He doesn't want to leave them to starve, hence his idea of loosening the bindings, but he really REALLY doesn't like the idea of just letting them go for free after everything they've done. "But... we can leave that Roleplay module with them. I don't want to get caught carrying that." He adds after a few awkward moments. Really, he doesn't want to get caught carrying anything that looks like it could link them back to the bandits, "Actually, we can hide their weapons somewhere close by. That way they aren't left defenseless, but it will keep them busy for a while. Though, if one of them has something that Janina can use for self defense, she can have it as compensation for the trouble they've caused her."
Taliyah nervously folds her hands in front of her for a brief moment, an uncertain look passing over her face, before quickly pulling her hands apart and holding them by her sides and steeling her expression. "From what I've heard so far, this People's Army group and this Elmar figure are at serious odds with each other, to the point that both sides are liable to send armed forces against the other's forces and followers, right? Or am I misreading the situation?" As she speaks, she reaches behind her back to draw her staff out, and then takes a deep breath, sending a request to Pixel at the same time. "As for the kids, I agree with Alex that we should indulge them in their "rivalry", and perhaps we can use our encounters with them to guide them onto a better path.
Meanwhile, outside, Pixel flies over towards Cezar's unconscious griffon, and uses his Heart Sight on it to get a better understanding of it's mental state. He then flies over to where Janina sits. "This may seem like an odd question, miss, but is there any particular weapon you have a knack for? Miss Taliyah and the others are discussing providing you with a weapon of some sort, so that in future entanglements while you're on the road, you have a method of fighting off your attackers." After that, he flies back a bit to give Janina some space.
(Heart Sight: Pixel automatically learns the target's current mood, and the target has to make a DC 13 CHA save or he learns their alignment as well, and fiends, celestials, and undead auto-fail.)
Taliyah nervously folds her hands in front of her for a brief moment, an uncertain look passing over her face, before quickly pulling her hands apart and holding them by her sides and steeling her expression. "From what I've heard so far, this People's Army group and this Elmar figure are at serious odds with each other, to the point that both sides are liable to send armed forces against the other's forces and followers, right? Or am I misreading the situation?" As she speaks, she reaches behind her back to draw her staff out, and then takes a deep breath, sending a request to Pixel at the same time. "As for the kids, I agree with Alex that we should indulge them in their "rivalry", and perhaps we can use our encounters with them to guide them onto a better path.
Meanwhile, outside, Pixel flies over towards Cezar's unconscious griffon, and uses his Heart Sight on it to get a better understanding of it's mental state. He then flies over to where Janina sits. "This may seem like an odd question, miss, but is there any particular weapon you have a knack for? Miss Taliyah and the others are discussing providing you with a weapon of some sort, so that in future entanglements while you're on the road, you have a method of fighting off your attackers." After that, he flies back a bit to give Janina some space.
(Heart Sight: Pixel automatically learns the target's current mood, and the target has to make a DC 13 CHA save or he learns their alignment as well, and fiends, celestials, and undead auto-fail.)
Noticing Venet going to bonk the Fire Genasi outside, Maya holds back and clutches her chest. She's wondering if Rixi perhaps got into trouble and... no... is that even Rixi? She doesn't know for sure, but still. "Rishi-kun..." She mutters so softly that she could not be heard under all of this chatter. But as usual, despite being surrounded by a truckload of chit chat, there wasn't even a single sentence that the ancient fox girl could understand. Her beautiful smile instantly turns into a worried frown as she stares with closed eyes at the ones who are talking, one by one, much her oblivous nature. In fact, as she turns her head, her son apparently vanished, or, to her, vanished behind the door, doing who-knows-what. "Eh?! Renar-kun! Tasukete! Doa no ushiro ni kakurete nani o shiteiru nodesu ka?! (助けて, Help me! ドアの後ろに隠れて何をしているのですか?! What are you doing hiding behind that door?!)" She pouts as she realises that her son isn't here to help translate the majority of what those foreigners said. At least, until Elvins finally says something understandable, to which she sway her head back in surprise.
"Oh! Uh... um... yes. Weather... too strong. We go outsidu... getu wet. Nothing say... look forwardu... explore land later." The kitsune responds... before she hears her stomach growling. "Watashi... uh... I... starving." She turns to Taliyah out of curiosity. "Tariyah-san. You want... do anything?" She asks her as best as she can in broken Lancean. "I thinking... I cook... if anyone say... anyone have food cook with? Anyone... hungry?"
Wildland Shifters Pt 2 (Pt 1 with PyromaniIsDeadThankGod)
Celci (The Lamb) - Non-Binary Changeling Sorcerer (Shadow Magic)
Maya Kurosaki - Female Kitsune Cleric (Twilight Domain); Currently in Lancea
Randy Wolftree - Male Human Artificer (Armourer); Currently in Crimson Sands of Time
Shijiro Otsune - Male Kitsune Blood Hunter (Order Of The Lycan)
Trojan Dseyller - Male Tortle Barbarian (Path of the Ancestral Guardian)
Xenia Ironhide - Female Kobold Rogue (Soulknife)
*Renar flinches as his mother immediately calls him out for hiding behind the door. Luckily as soon as she does so, he just barely manages to scrape in the last of the Hold Person notes before he quickly whips his back to her beautiful face* "Uh, um... Sorry. I uh... I-I had to... Make sure those guys are in check, eheheh. But sure... I guess I'll..." *He again does the work for her, which he kind of regrets right now since he knows it's his own mother he's talking to* Damn it... They've said a lot combined... This translation issue is a lot more painful than I thought... *And so he does... Once he peeks out of the door after finishing his spell replacement away from his mother's sight* But... There was one detail that stood out like a sore thumb. I mean, this never happens in the Sword Coast unless if you actively kill someone but...
"So even just holding him hostage would already decrease our chances of gaining Elmar's trust huh? How long would he really approve of some idiot rampaging around like this?" I mutter as I deliberately avoid my gaze towards any of the girls, including Okaa-san. And... Madura? Never heard of that place before as usual. *He hears Alex voicing out his worries in the meanwhile as he steps out of the room to meet with everyone else again* This young boy's worries must be steadily piling up on him. Like an endless mountain of garbage stuff that shouldn't even fret about in the first place. *He blinks twice with worry* Then again... I don't have any right to disrespect his point of view; I have my set of doubts too, so even if they are different from his, it's still the same in many aspects. But still, if only I was as good as dealing with worries like Rixi, Yuri or Okaa-san...
"They've been in this scuffle for a while it seems. At least, that's what we were told before you came. As for the indulging bit... Well... I'm still trying to get that around my head around this plus the ruins at the same time." I reply as I swing my eyes back to the rain. Sigh... How on earth did we get ourselves into this mess? How did a simple quest into earning Elmar's trust turn into an out of context scenario like this? Unless if there's a greater backstory as to why we need to do so and how it connects to the items we're searching for, there's no point in assisting someone that we would eventually leave in the dust some time later in the future! *He squints as his brain tries to process this entire mess* I mean... If me and Okaa-san don't find that item, we may as well say Sayonara (goodbye) to our home then...
*His stomach growls as soon as his mother mentions that she's hungry* Hmm... I know we haven't gotten far but, I suppose we could have a light snack, or even lunch at this point in time. *He walks up to his mother* "O- uh I mean, Maya-san." I address before I explain that there's a small woman outside who is currently selling gyozas, well, pelmeni I tell her, and she could go outside to ask for food. In Japanese of course, otherwise she'd think I'm an outsider... Wait. I'm contradicting myself aren't I? Crap... I'm an idiot.
The Wildland Shifters
Daisy Ethalena - Female Wood Elf Ranger (Monster Slayer)
Ethan Wolftree - Male Simic Hybrid Warlock (The Hexblade)
Mira Laurits - Female Harengon Sorcerer (Clockwork Soul); Lancea
Raiden Kurosaki - Male Kitsune Wizard (Bladesinger); Lancea
Rixian Nishinoya - Male Fire Genasi Paladin (Oath of Vengeance)
Tenebris Amaro - Male Dark Elf Druid (Circle of Stars)
Yurime Hanasaki - Female Kumiho Bard (College Of Creation)
After Pixel flies outside and reads the gryphon's emotions, this would reveal that (Felića allows Charisma save to automatically fail)
The strongest emotion the black gryphon feels right now is fear, followed by confusion. She's still unconscious, but those emotions are still there.
She doesn't understand why her rider wants her to do this in the first place, she's an animal, and she doesn't know what politics is or even why law and order exist. All she wants is to be well-fed, loved, and follow what the leader of her flock tells her to do, and that is Cezars.
These strangers show up, they knock her and her family out, and then tie them up outside in the storm. They didn't try to eat them, hurt them, further, or anything like that... yet. All she did was follow Cezars' orders, it isn't simply something she chose to do because she likes him, but it's part of her instinct itself. Gryphons like her are born to serve the interest of the flock first and foremost.
Why is he so angry and so filled with hate? She doesn't know, that's the biggest source of confusion for her. Why does he hit everyone? Will she be his next victim?
Janina smiles when the fairy approaches her, she gives him a quick head scratch with her finder. "I'll need a crossbow, preferably a light one, not the one with a pulley." Back then, the advantage of a crossbow over a bow was that it was much easier to learn. A bowman needed to train since he was young, a crossbowman can learn how to shoot within weeks.
She looks back into the house at Maya, then points at her cart. "Let's do some cuisine cultural exchange, you cook for lunch, I'll cook for dinner, deal?" Approaching the cart, there are several crates under the kvass barrels, opening it will reveal that there are three salmons inside another smaller box full of ice, various vegetables, flour, rye bread, and vinegar.
Looting the three bandit's weapon bags, it seems that Eerin is equipped with a rapier and light crossbow, Leonīds has two shortswords, and Aloizs has two daggers and a hand crossbow. The backpack inside their room seems to have an assortment of random things: wooden totems with paints, possibly from Austral Heryomen, a cigar (which the two birds can't even use due to their absence of lips), beads, a packet of pumpkin seeds, vials of tetrazene, an explosive substance, a slab of bismuth, and an odd-looking, red, and hairy fruit with flowery smell.
"Lo and behold, our treasure!" The Kobold says dramatically, "Take it if you want, because we will make even more money for our next great heist!"
The storm outside shows no sign of stopping, in fact, the wind and the rain keep getting stronger and stronger by the minute.
"The universe we observe has precisely the properties we should expect if there is, at bottom, no design, no purpose, no evil, no good, nothing but blind, pitiless indifference."
—Richard Dawkins
DM—Stories From The End of The World: Episode I
"Hai! Wakarimashita! (ハイ! わかりました, Yes! Got it!)" The kitsune exclaims as she pumps her fists; Usually she'd want nothing to do with strangers especially considering the fact that she's super shy and unwilling to talk at most, but an exception would be cooking for other people, especially her son... and another person who loved her too before she passed away. Her passions for creating delicious meals is what drives her confidence to step out of her comfort zone. Eyeing the massive crates whilst avoiding the storm altogether, she's already eyeing the salmon, veggies and the flour, her main strengths. Already, just by looking at the loose stacks of flour, she can picture herself creating noodles of all kinds, whether it be ramen, udon or even yakisoba, she's already imagining so many possibilities of what to make. But then again... she will have to wait until it's close to Nighttime before it's time to shine.
Wildland Shifters Pt 2 (Pt 1 with PyromaniIsDeadThankGod)
Celci (The Lamb) - Non-Binary Changeling Sorcerer (Shadow Magic)
Maya Kurosaki - Female Kitsune Cleric (Twilight Domain); Currently in Lancea
Randy Wolftree - Male Human Artificer (Armourer); Currently in Crimson Sands of Time
Shijiro Otsune - Male Kitsune Blood Hunter (Order Of The Lycan)
Trojan Dseyller - Male Tortle Barbarian (Path of the Ancestral Guardian)
Xenia Ironhide - Female Kobold Rogue (Soulknife)
Shugo eyes Alex as the young paladin speaks of his likely self proclaimed responsibilities. He's really willing to take all the ramifications? Hmmm. It's not logically reasonable, but it is a mark of a true leader. The elf admires him for that. Taking responsibility is not one of Shugo's favorite things. If it were up to him, he'd just leave these punk kids tied up in this shack. That would keep them occupied for a while. As for the genasi...that would have been a problem if he'd been alone. At least it would be as long as he stays in this country...
He's not sure he likes the idea of this rivalry thing. It sounds like a nuisance. Whatever though. It seems the others think otherwise so, so be it. As long as none of this interferes with his mission, then he'll put up with it.
His stomach growls audibly when Maya asks if anyone's hungry. Wow, so much had been going on...he hadn't even realized how famished he is. "Haha, I'm starving." He says smiling at the kitsune. Really? She's going to cook for them? For FREE! Who cares if Renar doesn't like this lady, she can stay with them as long as she wants.
Finding himself a cleared spot in the room, he flops down cross-legged on the floor. With the weather showing no signs of stopping, he might as well relax for a bit. ...Hmmm, how's Venet faring out there? She might like the rain...but lightning? Leaning to the side so he can see out the window, he calls "Hey Venet?! You doin ok out there?!"
Looking out the window Venet is standing with her arms wide and head tilted up toward the sky. "Mmm..?"
She turns to glance behind her, flashing a smile at Shugo. She is very clearly soaked by the look of her hair at least, but the water seems to roll off of her scales and armor with easy. "I am. Should we bring the fire one inside?"
Tension eases from Taliyah as soon as Maya mentions she can cook, her face lighting up with a smile. "You cook as well Maya? We'll have to share recipes it seems, I'd love to learn a few recipes from your home. I'll do my best to share a few I know as well!" She takes a few moments to look over the ingredients Janina has offered to share, murmuring to herself as she does so. "Is there anything in particular you have in mind that you'd want to make Maya?"
Meanwhile, Pixel turns invisible and flies off into the forest, trying to find if he can find any ripe fruits to go with the food.
Pixel Nature: 12
Once Maya finishes assessing the ingredients available, she turns back to Taliyah with a broad smile. "I always cook. Most time. I mean... Muzuko... my son... can too. Less so though. I love... to hear... to see... you cooking too!" She replies with a rapidly swaying single tail to convey her enthusiasm. She then eyes the flour and the salmon. "Tariyah-san... do you... know how... make noodles? From loose flour?" She points to the flour stack. "I show you how first... before... I move... on Sake (鮭, Salmon), or... Abuurage (油揚げ, Fried Tofu) and Gyoza (Her version of Pelmeni). And... will you... show me, something, you cooking, too? With those... food?"
Actually, she needs to look for a place to set up shop first. Does this building have a kitchen or stove that she can use? No point risking herself out in the storm to grab the food items only to realise there isn't a place to store the ingredients. "You... you have... cooking... stove somewhere, right?" She asks the others. But... as she glances at her son for a brief moment, there's a touch of sadness filling in the hole that's in her ancient heart; She knows that he ain't going to join her as of this moment. Did she perhaps frighten him to near death? Is he wondering where his companions and why are they not with her? She wanted to tell him all of these things, but she just doesn't know how. At least, for the time being.
Wildland Shifters Pt 2 (Pt 1 with PyromaniIsDeadThankGod)
Celci (The Lamb) - Non-Binary Changeling Sorcerer (Shadow Magic)
Maya Kurosaki - Female Kitsune Cleric (Twilight Domain); Currently in Lancea
Randy Wolftree - Male Human Artificer (Armourer); Currently in Crimson Sands of Time
Shijiro Otsune - Male Kitsune Blood Hunter (Order Of The Lycan)
Trojan Dseyller - Male Tortle Barbarian (Path of the Ancestral Guardian)
Xenia Ironhide - Female Kobold Rogue (Soulknife)
Pixel Nature check failed.
Even just getting outside, Pixel has difficulties flying in a straight line. The wind is too strong and the rain is heavy, his tiny fairy wings aren't built to handle this kind of weather.
As Maya kneads the noodles, she finds herself surrounded by some of the more curious members of The People’s Army (Which is anyone that isn’t Radions or Elvīns). This is the first time they see a noodle, to them, it looks like Maya is making breadsticks more than anything.
For lunch, Janina cooks up a sklandrausis—a sweet pie made from rye flour, filled with potato, carrot, and caraway cream, with a side of skābputra—a fermented milk and oat gruel. It's delicious and surprisingly filling for such a small-sized course. She tosses a rye bread and a lobster to the 'prisoners,' much to their complaints.
Even after finishing lunch, the storm is still raging on, you can already hear the house creak and sway with the wind. There isn't really anything they can do but pass the time.
Veno is reading Alice's Adventures in Wonderland, one of those human-written stories to his friend. As far as you can tell, it's a story about a young girl falling into a rabbit hole (Which might be where this term originates), and she's transported into a whimsical and strange new world. Storytelling is a big part of Perkwunosite culture, it isn't just limited to bedtime stories alone, all books are greatly appreciated when it's read out loud to the crowd.
"'But I don’t want to go among mad people,' Alice remarked. 'Oh, you can’t help that,' said the Cat: 'we’re all mad here. I’m mad. You’re mad.'" As soon as Veno finishes reading the passage, he hears a thunk at the window outside. He glances at the source of the noise earlier.
"Alright, pause the story for now, I'll go check it out." Helene gets up and opens the window. She then bends over and picks up a messenger pigeon with a letter sticking out of her leg, she's unconscious after slamming her head against a window like that, but she appears to be alive. "Huh? I didn't know Kerwosian Post are so dedicated to their same-day delivery promise." Helene jokes, then opens up a letter.
Dot, dot, dot. The silence is heavy, the only sound in that room is purely that of storms and winds. It's a silence that is as strong as gravity itself.
Her hands trembling, she drops the letter, her pupils retracting to the point of it being as small as a green pea. And that's when you all see the contents of the letter too.
Category 2 cyclone isn't that bad, but extratropical cyclone like this catches a lot of people off-guard. It's an uncommon sight, unlike a tropical cyclone which occurs almost yearly. There will be a lot of damage for sure since Kerwosian infrastructure was never designed to withstand a cyclone like this.
Elvīns picks up the paper and immediately palms his forehead, "No, no no no, NO, NO! We have to get out of here before the cyclone gets worse!" He throws the letter to the side, "Those idiots couldn't even afford to deliver this letter on time! Everyone, leave your unnecessary belongings behind, only bring food and fresh water with you, go!" The rest of the People's Army quickly scrambles outside and retrieves their cart. They throw out most of the crate they hijacked from Elmars' caravan a few days ago, as sad as it is for them, their lives right now are more important than their supplies.
Except for Veno, though, he just slowly walks to the room where the FART members are being held. He looks to the half-orc, "Sir... what about Eerin and her friends... and Cezars and his gryphon?"
Elvīns makes a quick headcount, and that's when the realisation sets in. He grips the wall, his voice shaking. "We have to leave either of them behind, the cart can't support the weight any further. We all have to be on the cart, in times like this, you should never touch the water under any circumstances. Some parts of it might be deeper than it looks." He looks to Venet, the only aquatic species in the group, "It'll be fine for you, but not for the rest of us, we can't swim in such conditions."
Veno speaks out too, shuffling his hands, "I know Eerin can be insufferable sometimes, but... I'll willing to let this pass for once. I should repay them, at least, for saving my life in a situation like this before."
Elvīns turns to the party, "I know you all can get very indecisive sometimes, but we don't have much time left. You must choose who we will take with us: Eerin or Cezars?"
There is another option, though, a heroic one at that. You can volunteer to leave yourself behind and let Janina and The People's Army carry your prisoners to safety, but there is no way Elvīns will approve of that... unless you succeed in a DC20 Persuasion check, then maybe he might be willing to listen.
"The universe we observe has precisely the properties we should expect if there is, at bottom, no design, no purpose, no evil, no good, nothing but blind, pitiless indifference."
—Richard Dawkins
DM—Stories From The End of The World: Episode I
Venet hears the news, sighing slightly as the situation dawns on everyone.
"Leaving ones we've taken hostage to die I feel is very.. unbecoming. We put them into this position so they are our responsibility, take them both to safety, Elvīns. Unless someone has other notions?" she asks the group.
____
Persuasion: 22
Sigh... there wasn't much I can do within this timeframe, especially now that... *He mentally sings in his head* we're in the storm that is approaching. Provoooooking black clouds in isolation. *He snaps back to reality as his stomach growls and he sniffs the air* I'm starving actually. What's for lunch? *He gets up from his position as he notices his mother preparing noodles for dinner, specifically, udon* Sigh... Okaa-san... she's so into sharing her cuisine style with them huh. I mean, cooking is her speciality, but, does she fully know that these folk aren't actually our allies? But... she's right. I was into cooking myself. Well, I mean Shijiro, another kitsune I befriended and who secretly loves the food I make, says I almost could match my mother if it wasn't for my lack of creativity in the dishes I make. In fact I could've shared my dishes if it wasn't for her unexpected arrival. I was actually looking for an opportunity to shine outside of battle. And even everyone but two of the people's bandits are interested to see how she expertly knead the flour and stretch it as such that it thins over time. I wonder if they're interested in being taught how to make them if we're still intent on retaining our ties by the deadline...*He then grabs a pie off Janina before he sits somewhere away from the others, or near Alex and Shugo if they're willing* Hmm... This pie... And didn't she say she'd give my group free gyoza? Ah whatever. We save her butt, so we can visit her shop anytime to obtain them... *He takes a bite into the pie and chews on it a bit before swallowing it* Hmm.. Not bad as usual. Though... if Okaa-san were to make her abuurage udon dish... *He shakes his head before he eats the rest and takes the plate back to Janina* "Thanks again." I reply as I bow before I... hear a gasp from one of those people's bandits.
"What are you all gasping about?" I dryly ask as I snatch the paper away from the halfling and... uh... *His golden eyes widen in shock* I mean, I heard that tropical cyclones in Japan are bad, let alone a thing too but... Extratropical?! Is that even an actual term?! What if every single city in Japan got struck down by something like this?! Man the weather here must be worse than the latter or even the Sword Coast... *He translates to his mother about what the letter is about* Right. So we need to evacuate asap. But... we have to either leave them behind to die or we take them all at once. *He glances at everyone's faces minus Venet and Maya* We're not aquatics, yes. I mean if we were though then Rixi would have finished us off if he were present. But... can we even traverse at least 100 metres out in the storm whilst this is happening? Where's the nearest safe shelter if that's the case? And... will this shack hold long enough until the tempest dies down? Again, so many factors in need to consider before I finalize my decision.
"Ok... this one... This is indeed a tough choice." *He puts his hands to his chin* "Either option isn't ideal. I mean, we all need to survive this yes, but unless if we all travel at once and someone carries either person you mentioned, then..." *And then Venet beats him in finding a solution, causing his tail to furrow in annoyance* "Or that. I mean... if you're um... willing to take it into mind..."
The Wildland Shifters
Daisy Ethalena - Female Wood Elf Ranger (Monster Slayer)
Ethan Wolftree - Male Simic Hybrid Warlock (The Hexblade)
Mira Laurits - Female Harengon Sorcerer (Clockwork Soul); Lancea
Raiden Kurosaki - Male Kitsune Wizard (Bladesinger); Lancea
Rixian Nishinoya - Male Fire Genasi Paladin (Oath of Vengeance)
Tenebris Amaro - Male Dark Elf Druid (Circle of Stars)
Yurime Hanasaki - Female Kumiho Bard (College Of Creation)
As time passes, Maya expertly uses the loose flour from the crates plus a dash of clean water to keep it moist. In doing so she garners the attention of four members of the people's army as she does her best to explain what she's doing, albeit in broken Lancean. Right now, the noodle type she's make is udon, the thick noodle variant. As she explains how she makes them thick and moist, she also explains that If she's still surrounded by the ingredients she's familiar with, she will also make the thinner ramen, soumen and yakisoba variants in the future, before asking them which of the noodles she make are the favourites. But for now, she too, is starving and the noodles have yet to be properly cooked. After kneading enough for everyone, she stows them aside for tonight's meal before she goes over to Janina to take her share of the latter's pie. "Ah! Thank... you... Arigato gozai masu! (ありがと ござい マス)" She replies with a polite bow before she sits at a table besides Taliyah and clasps her hands together. "Itadakimasu! (頂きます)" She gleefully says before she dips her fork into her pie before taking a massive bite out of it. "MMM! Kore wa... Oishi desu! (これは... 美味しです!, This is... delicious)! If only... Muzuko... here. My son... like this will!" She squeals with the widest smile that her cherry red lips have ever made. This is her first time tasting food based in the Baltic lands, so to actually eat something that's just as tasty as her own meals is icing on the cake for her. In fact, she much to the surprise of her companions, she asks for a second serve, and then a third and fourth one, all the while not caring about the fact that she's being seen by everyone as a big eater. She just loves the pie, to her heart's content. Though... tossing a lobster to the tied up bandits, that one should wouldn't really approve especially since they're tiny kids who also need to eat.
Just as she finishes licking the last of her sevings the halfling kindly cooked up though, the kitsune hears a gasp from both Lavize and her son. "Doshitano (どしたの), Renar-kun?" And then her disguised son translate for her. "NANI (何)?! Sore wa (これは)... Su rai... cu...lo...ru-desu? Es... tu ra...?!" She knows what a cyclone is since she had survived at last five in he six century lifetime. But hearing the term "extratropical" signals a red flag for her as her smile instantly fades and she holds her hand to her large chest: She's interpreting that everyone's going to die. Just like... oh no. "No... I don't... want to... don't die! Not when... son... is missing!" She panics as she glances outside to the see that the storm has increased in intensity and then looks back to everyone else. There's no way she'd ever abandon someone to die out alone.
"Eh? V... Venetu-san?" Maya gasps after overhearing her bravery to stay behind. And she hears her son blindly agreeing with her, causing her to gasp again. So she's not the only one who's thinking of this huh? Maybe... just maybe... "Watashi... I... I stay behind too! If... Muzuko... safe out there... I hope... he stay... alive. I find... him later... when su rai... cu lo ru... end! I try survive... with them!"
Persuasion: 10
Wildland Shifters Pt 2 (Pt 1 with PyromaniIsDeadThankGod)
Celci (The Lamb) - Non-Binary Changeling Sorcerer (Shadow Magic)
Maya Kurosaki - Female Kitsune Cleric (Twilight Domain); Currently in Lancea
Randy Wolftree - Male Human Artificer (Armourer); Currently in Crimson Sands of Time
Shijiro Otsune - Male Kitsune Blood Hunter (Order Of The Lycan)
Trojan Dseyller - Male Tortle Barbarian (Path of the Ancestral Guardian)
Xenia Ironhide - Female Kobold Rogue (Soulknife)
Alexander nods at Venet's request, "It wouldn't be right to leave them, but... well..." If only he'd been able to get a long rest in. If he could fly, then maybe he could just travel alongside the cart... though he admittedly wouldn't be able to keep it up all that long, and wasn't particularly comfortable flying in such weather anyways. "What about Janina's cart?" He looks to the halfling, "Between all of us, we have two carts don't we? What if you take Eerin's group, and we take Janina's cart... If you are willing to let us ride with you that is," He looks to Janina. "I'm not sure what to do with the gryphon, but... well I don't think any of us should risk staying behind. We need to take Cezars in, and you all need to go about whatever your next steps are for your goal. You can just let Eerin and her friends go whenever it becomes convenient--or split off with them if you think untying them now won't cause problems." He looks skeptically at the room where the three kids are probably listening in. He seriously hopes that they'll be smart enough to put their supervillain dreams aside during this problem. "Would that work? Or do you not think Janina's cart would be able to hold her plus the rest of us?" He pauses, "I know you didn't sign up for this Janina, and I don't want to involve you any more then you are comfortable with, but... your experience with Cezars could prove useful in getting him what he deserves if you are willing to be a witness. Of course, we all have to weather this storm first."
If this plan doesn't work, he'll side with Venet... however, "If we must stay, then Cezars and his mount will stay as well. He shouldn't know that you all were here, and I think it would be best to keep it that way. Even if what we've done to him makes Elmars or some other powerful person our enemy, I don't think them knowing that we have connections with you will help our case at all. So... even if it is risky, he needs to stay with us."
"Nah. Not yet. If you start to see lightning...then you can bring him in." Shugo replies to Venet cheerfully and smiles right back at her.
Once the food is finished, he rushes over to grab as much as possible...though he makes sure to leave enough for whoever may be in line after him. Then he plops right back down on the floor where he had been waiting. He looks a little surprised when Renar decides to join him and Alex. Is he that scared of the kitsune lady? He didn't seem like he wanted anything to do with him before...
"This is delicious!" He says through a mouthful. It's been soooo long since he's eaten anything from his homeland. He'd nearly forgotten how much he missed this type of food. "This is SOOOO good." After going back for seconds and finishing that as well, he grabs a piece of Janina's pie. "This is fantastic as well! You are both wonderful cooks!"
The elf nearly chokes on his food when he hears Helene's gasp. Blinking tears from his eyes, it takes him a moment to focus on what the parchment says. A cyclone?! And he thought today couldn't get any worse. Standing, he listens to Alex. Part of him wants to just leave the genasi and his steed behind. He's certain that if their circumstances were reversed the guy wouldn't think twice about leaving them to drown...If they die to a storm would it really be their fault? Of course it would?! He banishes that thought from his mind. If they two were conscious, it would be different. The genasi could fly after all. Remaining silent, he waits for the others to respond to the paladins words. He wants to get a feel for what they think before voicing his own opinions.
Extratropical cyclone means a cylcone that spawns (or enters) above or below the Tropic of Cancer/Capricorn, unlike tropical cyclone that spawns from a thunderstorm, extratropical cyclone spawns in waves. The technical stuff doesn’t matter much, because there will be a lot of rain, wind, and flood for sure.
"My cart is loaded with food and fresh water... well, it's not really a water, but kvass is better than nothing." Janina says, these kvass are supposed to be for Elmars, but he might let this slide since his country is being hit with a cyclone, after all. "It's very risky to try overloading the carts. It could sink if we need to get on a raft in flooded areas, and if it breaks down, it's game over for us. You all probably know how important food and water is in this kind of situation. Elvīns' cart is for transporting passengers, mine is for goods." Janina explains.
Persuasion check passed.
"The hell? You can't just leave yourself here! It's too dangerous!" Elvīns shouts, but he backs down immediately. Venet is right, it's their responsibility. For all this time, these guys want to help people first and foremost... and they probably want to be a hero, now they'll get to be one.
"Fine... have it your way, then." He nods along with Alex and sighs, before walking to the bedroom, unlocks the door, and grabs the three FART members by the scruff of their neck.
"Wait, Elvīns, dude, what are you doing?" Eerin says, her arm and tail dangling in the air.
"Saving you rascals. Come on, we don't have all day!" He opens the door and toss the three hostages to the back of their cart. Eerin, Leonīds, and Aloizs are safe.
There is still Veno, who's the last person inside the house. He looks at you all before producing a packet of sunflower seeds from his pockets.
"I know... I know you all will make it to Stučkavas, it's on a hill and it's our base of operation, so you'll be safe there. But just in case you didn't make it... take these sunflower seeds." His hand trembles, "They say sunflower only grow from the bodies of those whose hearts are pure. Many of us have one of these in our pockets, in case the day we die, be it from old age or something else. Just... don't eat it, alright?"
After the group retrieves his sunflower seed, he wipes his tears and walks away. "S-stay safe, alright? Remember to help yourself first before you help the others."
The People's Army all seat themselves on their cart, covering their heads with their hands. Helene lifts up Janina and places her on her cart, and they take off into the rain. Leaving you alone with Cezars and his mount (Who are both still unconscious).
It's flooding slightly outside, the water level is at your ankle, which is manageable. You still have rations (From your starting kit, which is about five days), including some freshwater, the nearest settlement is about 23 kilometres away. But first, you should figure out how to deal with Cezars first before moving them to safety.
"The universe we observe has precisely the properties we should expect if there is, at bottom, no design, no purpose, no evil, no good, nothing but blind, pitiless indifference."
—Richard Dawkins
DM—Stories From The End of The World: Episode I
Damn it... the winds are picking up. And... it is actually flooding?! Oh gosh... I can see water trickling into the house! "Damn it! We need to find a way out fast!" I gasp as... what? *Whatever Veno just said to the group was enough to make him flash a grimace* Excuse me?! Since when did we say we're gonna die?! And... sunflower seeds... what is this nonsense?! *He takes it away forcefully* "Ugh... Go! We'll handle this!" I snarls towards Veno before they all take their leave. "Everyone, you heard what they said, right?! Pack whatever you need in your bags! Maya-san! The noodles you made! And... do you have a spare umbrella?! Yours alone isn't enough to shield all of us!" *He quickly whips his head around to find something that could act as a makeshift shield from the rain* But... Stupid Rixi... I mean, I'm content on leaving him behind but not his griffin... Wait a- "Hang on... did those people take both carts with them?! Damn it... I was hoping that... ah you what nevermind! And besides, what do we do about... the griffin... and that... *Awkward silence* fire guy? I mean... someone can carry the latter and all but... the griffin? Or should we wake him up? Or her... and persuade it to come along with us to find somewhere to hide?!" I was just about to call that fire genasi Stupid Rixi, but then I realised Okaa-san is here... so I can't.
The Wildland Shifters
Daisy Ethalena - Female Wood Elf Ranger (Monster Slayer)
Ethan Wolftree - Male Simic Hybrid Warlock (The Hexblade)
Mira Laurits - Female Harengon Sorcerer (Clockwork Soul); Lancea
Raiden Kurosaki - Male Kitsune Wizard (Bladesinger); Lancea
Rixian Nishinoya - Male Fire Genasi Paladin (Oath of Vengeance)
Tenebris Amaro - Male Dark Elf Druid (Circle of Stars)
Yurime Hanasaki - Female Kumiho Bard (College Of Creation)
Maya helplessly watches as everyone leaves her plus the other five travellers behind to figure their own way out as she waves goodbye to them. It's a shame she might not be able to . Well, at least, her precious son is in her sight again, that's a relief. Having lost a daughter that she never told Raiden (or Renar, as she now knows in this world) beforehand, she's contempt on assisting her son's allies to ensure she doesn't repeat history with her lonely son. She's confident that these new friend would ensure that he won't go down the same tragic path as her lost daughter, as long as she can keep an eye on him. But for now... She attempts to cast a very tiny, but sturdy hut to shelter them and... Wait... Oh no. She's... "How... I can't... Naze-?! (なぜ?!, Why-?!)" Maya gasps as her knowledge of the spell had somehow vanished. She can't remember how to cast it! She could previously do it, but... why can't she do so now? This is so strange... You know what... she turn to her disguised son, hoping that he at least has found some method of escape from this hellstorm, only to hear... as she turns his head and tries to ask...
"I... Renar-kun! Tariyah-san Stay with others and prepare! I go... I and Ventu-san... go wake up... Bird bear!" She tells the others before she rapidly packs the noodles into a plastic bag and then into her handbag without letting a trace of flour slip into the pouch (somehow), before she courageously slips on her cloak, unfolds her umbrella and uneasily trots towards the unconscious owlbear, never mind the fact that the lower half of her noble dress up to her bare ankles are entirely soaked; When you're focused on trying to make sure others survive, there's zero room for modesty.
"Omae! Okite kudasai (起きてください, Wake up, please!)" She yells at the unconscious griffin, hoping that she doesn't become another enemy to her. No response. But... that's when she notices the injured wing. So, just in case, she rests a clawed hand on the griffin's injured wing and whispers in Japanese: "Yoku natte... kudasai (良くなってください, Please... get better)" She then glances at... um... Rixian? "Uh... Rishian-kun? Venetu-san...? What... should...?" She asks her confused if the triton had came along with her.
Wildland Shifters Pt 2 (Pt 1 with PyromaniIsDeadThankGod)
Celci (The Lamb) - Non-Binary Changeling Sorcerer (Shadow Magic)
Maya Kurosaki - Female Kitsune Cleric (Twilight Domain); Currently in Lancea
Randy Wolftree - Male Human Artificer (Armourer); Currently in Crimson Sands of Time
Shijiro Otsune - Male Kitsune Blood Hunter (Order Of The Lycan)
Trojan Dseyller - Male Tortle Barbarian (Path of the Ancestral Guardian)
Xenia Ironhide - Female Kobold Rogue (Soulknife)