Euphemia listens with amazement to Nanra's answers to her questions. Great River. But not here. Perhaps we are just in a very isolated area... but the way of it is a mystery... none of us remembering anything, and with these demonic implants. I wonder... but the terrible scream interrupts her thoughts. Unable to react before Nanra picks her up and flees, the halfling hangs there in the raptor's jaws, frozen in terror, expecting every moment to be their last.
When the screams finally fade and she is dropped to the muddy ground, her legs, like water, won't hold her up, and she collapses with a gasp. Shaking, catching her breath. O, Rannik, we almost died. Not only that, I'm alone here. Memories churn and flash through her mind, nothing like a coherent narrative, but moments packed with emotion and meaning. Being a tiny child, surrounded by countless brothers and sisters, working in the gardens and the brewery together, whispering frantically to each other if they broke something, how they'd try to fix it before mom and dad found it. The humdrum comfort of their life disrupted as she accompanied her family to the mages' guild, which was made up of big people that her cousins worked for. She can't remember what they were going for; some terrible accident had happened. Her brother, very serious, packing all his things. Full of zeal and devotion, she offered to go with him, the anxiety of leaving her family stirring her stomach. A long journey. That monastery again, in the snowy peaks. The magical garden. The Indignites passing through. A tearful farewell with her brother, the last of her family, as the head of her new spiritual family, the abbot, sent her away with the knights. And then Rannik, head of a new, hard life, the life of a traveling knight dedicated to eradicating evil. Euphemia sits stunned for a moment. Her recent recollection of the loss of Rannik is still close. There was no one to look out for me after that. I'd hadn't a choice but to look after myself. I wasn't used to it. There was always my family. Always someone I belonged to. Some cause I fought for, yes, but I was always following someone else. My parents to the mages' guild. My brother to the monastery. My abbot to the Indignites. Rannik to the eradication of the worshippers of evil. But after Rannik was killed, I was alone... like I'd never been before.She wonders if she'd been making plans to go back to the monastery after that happened, but she can't remember. No way for it now. Wherever I am, it's far away from there, and I'm gonna have to make due with the scarce friends I've got, because a screamer or worse will get me, if I don't.
Euphemia climbs to her feet, looking at the raptor. "Thank you," she says. "I'm right glad it didn't catch us. That was scary." Glancing around the surrounding jungle, and hearing the gurgle of the river, she does recognize the area. Looking around and lifting her head, she smells smoke amongst the jungle trees. Someone built a fire near here. It's probably one of the group I met, I don't think we're far from where I left them. She thinks for a moment, reaching up to readjust her clothes that are all twisted and a bit torn from her ride in the raptor's jaws. A quick check shows her bagpipes unscathed, and she feels a rush of relief at that. Me pipes are the only thing I've got. Somehow, she knows she wouldn't be able to do anything of what she'd done recently, without them.
"You saved my life, Nanra," she says, to the raptor. "I say I'd be eaten pretty quick by myself out here, I'm so small, and don't run very fast. I smell fire... I'd wager that means others like me are nearby." She smiles up at the huge scaled animal, as fresh and confident as no tiny person ought to be before such a dangerous predator, under ordinary circumstances. "I'd like it if we stayed together. Do you want to come with me, and look for these others? They might be able to help us. I'll talk to them, won't let them hurt you. I won't always be able to talk to you, only for a few minutes sometimes, but I'll always be your friend, and I'll protect you, too. If I find a pack of my own kind, and you raise some more children, our packs could be friends, help each other, not hurt or kill each other."
She knows it's risky. These folk killed Nanra's whole pack. Animals are pretty forgiving, though, they don't hold grudges like people do. Why, I remember one of my uncles killed a wolf and its pups, and one pup survived and he took it, and it was the loyalist to him I've ever seen any critter...but boy it bit my nephew something awful and they had to kill it after that. Always risky. This one could bite me in half, one chomp. Do just as wrong to any of the others, too. Well, I don't know if I trust them yet, either. Animals are easier to trust, in a way. You know what they're about, no guile. Simple needs, simple wants. She glances down at the strange implant in her forearm, pushing her sleeve up again to look at it. The memory of the hot, dark, stench of the Talos temple crowds back into her mind. Not like us. The terrible things people can do. The memory of that awful smell makes the rotting meat smell of Nanra's breath seem sweet in comparison. I guess I'll do my best, and see what happens. Otherwise... I'll be alone, and that's more than just an inconvenience, out here. Peering through the trees for more signs of where the others might be, she stands close to the raptor, almost as if reluctant to seek out the unknown motives of those more like her.
After Atax gave the knife made from the raptors corpse he leans down to closer inspect the now dull, crystal embedded in it. He bends down, careful not to reopen his wounds, and tries to pry the crystal out with his knife. Then with a reptilian rasp he says “Maybe we can figure out what these are? They look important.”
Nanra looks at the halfling for a long moment, her reptilian, slitted eyes inscrutable. Finally, she nods slightly and says, “Yes, I will come with you.” With that, she looks expectantly at Euphemia, ready to follow her lead. While the raptor was friendly now, once Euphemia’s charm wears off, it might be a different story. If she continue to build Nanra’s trust in her, Euphemia might be able to make a real friend out of Nanra. Maybe.
As the genasi joins them, Silvana raises an eyebrow, "Thanks? I think. So are you the one the goblin was referring to? I assume you have a crystal in your forearm as well and can't remember a thing?" Speaking of Shin, she looks over and sees he is working on some kind of spell, "Whatcha doin?"
Looking up to the sky she realizes Euphemia has been gone awhile, "So how long we wait before heading out to find her?"
Euphemia nods and takes a deep breath. "Be careful, if we find them. We'll let them see me first, they'll know I'm not a threat." Studying the trees and the ground and the direction of the river, the halfling thinks she knows how to get to the clearing where she left the others. A look up through the dense jungle canopy just barely shows, in the distance, the top of the cliff she had woken up on, and made her first serenade of the dangerous jungle. She glances back at Nanra, but can tell her magical understanding of the raptor's speech has faded. All right. Here it goes. She positions her bagpipes under her arm, and begins to play her loud, brisk tune, and starts to walk in the direction she has ascertained will lead to the clearing.
Her focus isn't as clear as it was; the magical essence in the music is fainter, harder to pull upon. But Euphemia remembers this. It's an easy familiarity of her musicianship; she'll just have to play a few minutes to get it back...
As East meets West And brute meets best...
She doesn't look to see if the raptor is following her, but keeps her steady walk, so that she can focus on the song, the rhythmic motion of her fingers and her march. This will let them know it's me, coming back. I hope by the Invincible that they'll listen to me and that they aren't too eager to attack Nanra as soon as they see her. Moving slowly and carefully through the underbrush, the halfling tries to pick a route that will keep them under cover until she's close enough to step out and address the others.
Euphemia deliberately meanders a little, until she feels her spell take hold again. Then she stops playing, stowing the bagpipes once more. Stepping quietly into a covered part of the underbrush, she can see the cliff loom closer over the clearing now. She stops before she can actually see the others. We're almost there. Better if I go myself first. Assuming the raptor followed her, she says to her, "Wait here for me. I'll go and make sure they're safe, and I'll come get you if they are. If they aren't safe, I'll just come back."
Quietly she sneaks through the bushes and valleys of the dips in the terrain, until she climbs out into view of the others and raises her arms to get their attention. For a moment, she stands with uncertainty. There's someone in the group that she hasn't seen before. Maybe that's the ascer... ascerbic... aquatic that Shin was talking about. Oh well. I hope he's friendly. She raises her voice. "Shin, Silvana, Atax. I haven't made your good acquaintance, sir," addressing the new fellow. "My name is Euphemia. Look, I've brought a friend back with me. A raptor with orange feathers. She saved my life. She lives here, but hasn't seen any sort of town or any organized group of folks like us. I'm afraid we're alone in this jungle, just us stragglers who don't remember a thing, and there are way bigger critters out there. The raptor knows the land and its dangers. I think we can help each other. At least, I'd like us to be on good terms, if we can." The halfling says with a doubtful glance at the raptor body being turned into daggers and shield. But she breaks into a smile looking back at the still relative strangers working together to survive. "Would y'all be willing to give it a try? Her name is Nanra."
At the end of the goblin's ritual (Tenser's Floating Disk), a circular, horizontal platform roughly the same green hue as Shin's own skin and almost as wide as he is tall appears floating in the air. Shin places the Healer's Kit on it and, looking a little relieved that the spell had worked, turns to answer Silvana.
"I was nearly sure I remembered the steps, but could not be certain until I tried. You and Atax have been quite handy with the raptor corpse, and for that you have my admiration. I hope this disk can serve as a tool to bear along with us anything we do not wish to carry on our person. Once again, provided that you trust me enough to place any of your belongings upon it, just as I trust all of you not to simply take the Healer's Kit and keep it for yourselves when we can use it instead together for mutual benefit as we did with our towering, wounded lizardfolk friend. As for Euphemia..."
Shin trails off as the halfling arrives and begins her entreaty. Pinky-toe confirms telepathically that the alpha raptor is indeed waiting nearby.
The goblin glances at the others, then back at the bearer of the strange wind instrument. "It appears you are capable of trusting strangers after all, Euphemia. Perhaps beasts you have charmed more so than humanoids such as us who you have not? I believe you wished to befriend Nanra even before she saved you. I am open to your suggestion, and leave it to the others here. My concerns are twofold and self-evident. First, that she may not react well to the sight of this harvested raptor corpse, and second that spells have durations. What transpires when yours ends may prove... chaotic."
Korinth stands quietly and listens. Without skipping a beat, he turns on his heels and begins an expedient stroll to the nearest tree. "Sweet lass, whilst I have no reason not to trust you, I am regardless going to climb this here tree."
Without awaiting a response, he begins scrabbling up the trunk, branches scratching his bare back and chest.
Nanra waits a little bit away from the clearing with the others, her eyes boring into Euphemia's back as the halfling hikes over the join the group of humanoids.
KORINTH
The genasi deftly scrambles up a nearby tree, the vines and other plants jutting from woody crevasses providing several handholds.
Silvana isn't sure what she thinks of the floating disk as it appears out of thin air, other than that it is a pretty cool trick. How long does it last she wonders, she had heard spells usually don't stick around forever? But maybe this was different.. either way she wasn't going to start peppering him with questions. Once finished with the raptor, she is surprised and glad when the halfling reappears. She really didn't want to try and go hunt her down. She thinks back to Donnyl, she didn't want to find that.
As she listens to Euphemia's proposition though, she frowns. "Yes, it would be very beneficial to have such a beast as a friend, but I share the same concerns as Shin, and what about this?" she spreads her paws wide, indicating the carcass in front of her, "Should you introduce us somewhere else perhaps?"
She looks to Atax and Shin as she sees that the genasi has climbed a tree.. well I know I can outrun those two if need be.
Atax, listening to Euphemia, measures the worth of having a raptor and remembers when it took a divot out of him. He’s not quite sure if he wants to have that thing with them. “I haven’t decided yet, but we should at least leave the clearing and harvested raptor behind. I’ll think on the way over.”
After Korinth disappears into a tree before she has a chance to respond, Euphemia finds her gaze lingering on the raptor corpse again as the others express their concerns. She chews on her lower lip a bit, and looks at Shin. "This one will last until tomorrow morning... unless we do anything to hurt her, that will break the spell early." Then the halfling smiles, looking up... up... at the cat and the lizard. "Let's go to where she is, then. It'll take just a couple minutes to walk over there. I'll go a little ahead and warn her. Because, it's not just the corpse here, right? Y'all fought with her already? She'll recognize you, maybe, that being the case. Hang back a bit behind me, and I'll tell her."
Euphemia starts to walk back towards the raptor. She doesn't bother to take a meandering, stealthy course this time, just walking straight through the jungle, but she goes slowly. When she catches sight of Nanra again, she waves and smiles. "I've spoken to 'em, Nanra. But this is the group that got in a tangle with you and your children earlier. They've promised now they aren't going to hurt you, they'd like to be friends instead. Seems that earlier scuffle wasn't to their liking either. If ye aren't comfortable, though, I'll tell 'em not to come over." The halfling spreads her arms out protectively, as if she's shielding the raptor from the other humanoids. It's almost comical because she's so tiny, as if either side of the argument couldn't just knock her aside or go straight over her head, if they really wanted to fight.
Animal Handling to keep Nanra assured and calm with the possibly alarming news, rolled with advantage due to Animal Friendship: 16
Korinth watches from the top of the tree. His view isn't perfect, but if things go bad, he miiiiight be able to mercy-kill the attractive cat and lizard. Jury's out on Shin or the little lass, though. He was a good shot, but certainly not that good. Thing's will be lonely for sure, buuuuuut he'd have to endure. Such is life.
When Nanra hears that the group beyond are the ones that killed her brood, she snarls and almost leaps over Euphemia to rip them to shreds, but the halfling’s magic combined with her words seem to calm her down. Breathing heavily, obviously angry, she spits out, “Fine! While they did kill my children, they proved themselves to be worthy fighters. For prey.”
She seems to be willing to come along, it it might take her a bit to fully acclimate to the others.
"You've got the right of it, there," Euphemia says, although she is more than a little white-faced looking up at the raptor's expression of fury. "You're right to be angry. I would be too if it were me, and I'm sorry for it. But I'm hopeful we can make something better out of it in the end, and make a stronger pack."
Taking a few steps back to where she left the others, Euphemia cups her hands around her mouth and calls out. "It's all right, come on up, we're coming, Nanra and I." And she leads the way back to where she left Shin, Silvana, and Atax, falling back next to Nanra as they walk, as if wanting to show support to the angry raptor.
O, Archpaladin, there's no justice that will be done... let forgiveness prevail instead for the greater good that we may all solve the mystery of this place. Unconsciously she rubs at the implant on her arm under the sleeve. Not far from her mind is the memory that Nanra has one too.
Shin hums softly to himself as Pinky-toe keeps watch from the relative safety of the foliage above. He does not start his Bladesong again, though he wonders if he will have to soon enough. The goblin is not stupid. He knows that there is a strong possibility that all this ends shortly in more deaths among the group, possibly his own, not to mention Nanra's. Yet what is lack of cooperation among us stranded ones but a longer, slower death?
The arcane disk of force carrying the Healer's Kit floats alongside him. Shin wonders how many more uses of it will be necessary before the sun goes down. Perhaps none if we all are slain! All except the aquatic tree-climber. I can only hope thatEuphemia is a better diplomat than I evidently am.
He stands back, balanced on the balls of his feet well away from where he expects Nanra to appear, and waits to see what will happen next.
Seeing everyone’s obvious hesitation, Atax decides that he’ll step up and try to trust Euphemia’s new friend. “You stay back for a moment, we don’t want three of us to be raptor chow if it turns.” With that, Atax strolls forward to meet Euphemia and the raptor.
As Atax nears the raptor he puts his hand on the hilt of the knife. Intent on keeping the raptor outside of munching range, he stands to the side as he comes up on the pair. “There’s no need for all of us to come up if it attacks me” he says to Euphemia as he stands off to the side of the raptor, “but I still hope it will help us through this jungle.”
He stops walking as he stands in front of the raptor a couple feet and waits to see if the raptor will attack him or not.
Silvana follows along to the area this Nanra was supposed to be. When Atax offers to go ahead first, she is surprised. But she doesn't argue. She nods to him, "Alright, if it does, I'll do what I can to get you out of the situation."
She then waits to see what is going to happen next.
As the lizard man firmly plants himself in front of the raptor, Nanra stands to her full height and hisses, her frill flaring. She lowers her head to be at eye level with Atax, her toothy maw only a few inches from Atax’s face. She holds the position for a long moment, her slitted eyes boring into him before she finally takes a step to the side and continues on
Shin stands next to Silvana, waiting for Nanra's 'inspection'.
He remembers growing up in the tunnels, so long ago it seems as if was a different life. He is no stranger to foul smells, and he expects the alpha raptor's breath and musk will be none too pleasant. But that's all right. He gazes at the raptor's eyes curiously, despite the obvious danger.
The irony is fascinating. Euphemia's reluctance to trust other humanoids in comparison with her eagerness that we trust this potentially deadly predator.
Euphemia listens with amazement to Nanra's answers to her questions. Great River. But not here. Perhaps we are just in a very isolated area... but the way of it is a mystery... none of us remembering anything, and with these demonic implants. I wonder... but the terrible scream interrupts her thoughts. Unable to react before Nanra picks her up and flees, the halfling hangs there in the raptor's jaws, frozen in terror, expecting every moment to be their last.
When the screams finally fade and she is dropped to the muddy ground, her legs, like water, won't hold her up, and she collapses with a gasp. Shaking, catching her breath. O, Rannik, we almost died. Not only that, I'm alone here. Memories churn and flash through her mind, nothing like a coherent narrative, but moments packed with emotion and meaning. Being a tiny child, surrounded by countless brothers and sisters, working in the gardens and the brewery together, whispering frantically to each other if they broke something, how they'd try to fix it before mom and dad found it. The humdrum comfort of their life disrupted as she accompanied her family to the mages' guild, which was made up of big people that her cousins worked for. She can't remember what they were going for; some terrible accident had happened. Her brother, very serious, packing all his things. Full of zeal and devotion, she offered to go with him, the anxiety of leaving her family stirring her stomach. A long journey. That monastery again, in the snowy peaks. The magical garden. The Indignites passing through. A tearful farewell with her brother, the last of her family, as the head of her new spiritual family, the abbot, sent her away with the knights. And then Rannik, head of a new, hard life, the life of a traveling knight dedicated to eradicating evil. Euphemia sits stunned for a moment. Her recent recollection of the loss of Rannik is still close. There was no one to look out for me after that. I'd hadn't a choice but to look after myself. I wasn't used to it. There was always my family. Always someone I belonged to. Some cause I fought for, yes, but I was always following someone else. My parents to the mages' guild. My brother to the monastery. My abbot to the Indignites. Rannik to the eradication of the worshippers of evil. But after Rannik was killed, I was alone... like I'd never been before. She wonders if she'd been making plans to go back to the monastery after that happened, but she can't remember. No way for it now. Wherever I am, it's far away from there, and I'm gonna have to make due with the scarce friends I've got, because a screamer or worse will get me, if I don't.
Euphemia climbs to her feet, looking at the raptor. "Thank you," she says. "I'm right glad it didn't catch us. That was scary." Glancing around the surrounding jungle, and hearing the gurgle of the river, she does recognize the area. Looking around and lifting her head, she smells smoke amongst the jungle trees. Someone built a fire near here. It's probably one of the group I met, I don't think we're far from where I left them. She thinks for a moment, reaching up to readjust her clothes that are all twisted and a bit torn from her ride in the raptor's jaws. A quick check shows her bagpipes unscathed, and she feels a rush of relief at that. Me pipes are the only thing I've got. Somehow, she knows she wouldn't be able to do anything of what she'd done recently, without them.
"You saved my life, Nanra," she says, to the raptor. "I say I'd be eaten pretty quick by myself out here, I'm so small, and don't run very fast. I smell fire... I'd wager that means others like me are nearby." She smiles up at the huge scaled animal, as fresh and confident as no tiny person ought to be before such a dangerous predator, under ordinary circumstances. "I'd like it if we stayed together. Do you want to come with me, and look for these others? They might be able to help us. I'll talk to them, won't let them hurt you. I won't always be able to talk to you, only for a few minutes sometimes, but I'll always be your friend, and I'll protect you, too. If I find a pack of my own kind, and you raise some more children, our packs could be friends, help each other, not hurt or kill each other."
She knows it's risky. These folk killed Nanra's whole pack. Animals are pretty forgiving, though, they don't hold grudges like people do. Why, I remember one of my uncles killed a wolf and its pups, and one pup survived and he took it, and it was the loyalist to him I've ever seen any critter...but boy it bit my nephew something awful and they had to kill it after that. Always risky. This one could bite me in half, one chomp. Do just as wrong to any of the others, too. Well, I don't know if I trust them yet, either. Animals are easier to trust, in a way. You know what they're about, no guile. Simple needs, simple wants. She glances down at the strange implant in her forearm, pushing her sleeve up again to look at it. The memory of the hot, dark, stench of the Talos temple crowds back into her mind. Not like us. The terrible things people can do. The memory of that awful smell makes the rotting meat smell of Nanra's breath seem sweet in comparison. I guess I'll do my best, and see what happens. Otherwise... I'll be alone, and that's more than just an inconvenience, out here. Peering through the trees for more signs of where the others might be, she stands close to the raptor, almost as if reluctant to seek out the unknown motives of those more like her.
Perception: 17
Persuasion: 21 (rolled with advantage due to Animal Friendship)
After Atax gave the knife made from the raptors corpse he leans down to closer inspect the now dull, crystal embedded in it. He bends down, careful not to reopen his wounds, and tries to pry the crystal out with his knife. Then with a reptilian rasp he says “Maybe we can figure out what these are? They look important.”
EUPHEMIA
Nanra looks at the halfling for a long moment, her reptilian, slitted eyes inscrutable. Finally, she nods slightly and says, “Yes, I will come with you.” With that, she looks expectantly at Euphemia, ready to follow her lead. While the raptor was friendly now, once Euphemia’s charm wears off, it might be a different story. If she continue to build Nanra’s trust in her, Euphemia might be able to make a real friend out of Nanra. Maybe.
As the genasi joins them, Silvana raises an eyebrow, "Thanks? I think. So are you the one the goblin was referring to? I assume you have a crystal in your forearm as well and can't remember a thing?" Speaking of Shin, she looks over and sees he is working on some kind of spell, "Whatcha doin?"
Looking up to the sky she realizes Euphemia has been gone awhile, "So how long we wait before heading out to find her?"
Euphemia nods and takes a deep breath. "Be careful, if we find them. We'll let them see me first, they'll know I'm not a threat." Studying the trees and the ground and the direction of the river, the halfling thinks she knows how to get to the clearing where she left the others. A look up through the dense jungle canopy just barely shows, in the distance, the top of the cliff she had woken up on, and made her first serenade of the dangerous jungle. She glances back at Nanra, but can tell her magical understanding of the raptor's speech has faded. All right. Here it goes. She positions her bagpipes under her arm, and begins to play her loud, brisk tune, and starts to walk in the direction she has ascertained will lead to the clearing.
Her focus isn't as clear as it was; the magical essence in the music is fainter, harder to pull upon. But Euphemia remembers this. It's an easy familiarity of her musicianship; she'll just have to play a few minutes to get it back...
As East meets West
And brute meets best...
She doesn't look to see if the raptor is following her, but keeps her steady walk, so that she can focus on the song, the rhythmic motion of her fingers and her march. This will let them know it's me, coming back. I hope by the Invincible that they'll listen to me and that they aren't too eager to attack Nanra as soon as they see her. Moving slowly and carefully through the underbrush, the halfling tries to pick a route that will keep them under cover until she's close enough to step out and address the others.
Euphemia deliberately meanders a little, until she feels her spell take hold again. Then she stops playing, stowing the bagpipes once more. Stepping quietly into a covered part of the underbrush, she can see the cliff loom closer over the clearing now. She stops before she can actually see the others. We're almost there. Better if I go myself first. Assuming the raptor followed her, she says to her, "Wait here for me. I'll go and make sure they're safe, and I'll come get you if they are. If they aren't safe, I'll just come back."
Quietly she sneaks through the bushes and valleys of the dips in the terrain, until she climbs out into view of the others and raises her arms to get their attention. For a moment, she stands with uncertainty. There's someone in the group that she hasn't seen before. Maybe that's the ascer... ascerbic... aquatic that Shin was talking about. Oh well. I hope he's friendly. She raises her voice. "Shin, Silvana, Atax. I haven't made your good acquaintance, sir," addressing the new fellow. "My name is Euphemia. Look, I've brought a friend back with me. A raptor with orange feathers. She saved my life. She lives here, but hasn't seen any sort of town or any organized group of folks like us. I'm afraid we're alone in this jungle, just us stragglers who don't remember a thing, and there are way bigger critters out there. The raptor knows the land and its dangers. I think we can help each other. At least, I'd like us to be on good terms, if we can." The halfling says with a doubtful glance at the raptor body being turned into daggers and shield. But she breaks into a smile looking back at the still relative strangers working together to survive. "Would y'all be willing to give it a try? Her name is Nanra."
Casting Speak With Animals as a ritual during the 10 minutes of walking towards where the others are.
Survival: 19
Stealth: 13
At the end of the goblin's ritual (Tenser's Floating Disk), a circular, horizontal platform roughly the same green hue as Shin's own skin and almost as wide as he is tall appears floating in the air. Shin places the Healer's Kit on it and, looking a little relieved that the spell had worked, turns to answer Silvana.
"I was nearly sure I remembered the steps, but could not be certain until I tried. You and Atax have been quite handy with the raptor corpse, and for that you have my admiration. I hope this disk can serve as a tool to bear along with us anything we do not wish to carry on our person. Once again, provided that you trust me enough to place any of your belongings upon it, just as I trust all of you not to simply take the Healer's Kit and keep it for yourselves when we can use it instead together for mutual benefit as we did with our towering, wounded lizardfolk friend. As for Euphemia..."
Shin trails off as the halfling arrives and begins her entreaty. Pinky-toe confirms telepathically that the alpha raptor is indeed waiting nearby.
The goblin glances at the others, then back at the bearer of the strange wind instrument. "It appears you are capable of trusting strangers after all, Euphemia. Perhaps beasts you have charmed more so than humanoids such as us who you have not? I believe you wished to befriend Nanra even before she saved you. I am open to your suggestion, and leave it to the others here. My concerns are twofold and self-evident. First, that she may not react well to the sight of this harvested raptor corpse, and second that spells have durations. What transpires when yours ends may prove... chaotic."
Mud(Paladin2):Frandal's Scourge/Inge(Barbarian1):Krayveneer's After the Fall/Seri(Cleric1/Sorcerer1):Uhtred's Windward Isles/Shin(Wizard2):Dimir_MTG's Surviving
Dyson/Eleo(Cleric3):Vos' Beyond the Veil/Soren(Druid4):Bartjeebus' Ravenloft/Nivi(Rogue3):Raiketsu's CoS/Lyra(Warlock2/Bard2):BlameItOnWinter's Will of the Ancients
Joren(Fighter5):NotDrizzt's Simple Request/Quyen(Adept1):Constance's Nentir Vale/Rel(Warlock2):Uhtred's Phandelver/Xarian(Fighter1/Wizard1):ShieldHero's Drakkenheim
Korinth stands quietly and listens. Without skipping a beat, he turns on his heels and begins an expedient stroll to the nearest tree. "Sweet lass, whilst I have no reason not to trust you, I am regardless going to climb this here tree."
Without awaiting a response, he begins scrabbling up the trunk, branches scratching his bare back and chest.
EUPHEMIA
Nanra waits a little bit away from the clearing with the others, her eyes boring into Euphemia's back as the halfling hikes over the join the group of humanoids.
KORINTH
The genasi deftly scrambles up a nearby tree, the vines and other plants jutting from woody crevasses providing several handholds.
Silvana isn't sure what she thinks of the floating disk as it appears out of thin air, other than that it is a pretty cool trick. How long does it last she wonders, she had heard spells usually don't stick around forever? But maybe this was different.. either way she wasn't going to start peppering him with questions. Once finished with the raptor, she is surprised and glad when the halfling reappears. She really didn't want to try and go hunt her down. She thinks back to Donnyl, she didn't want to find that.
As she listens to Euphemia's proposition though, she frowns. "Yes, it would be very beneficial to have such a beast as a friend, but I share the same concerns as Shin, and what about this?" she spreads her paws wide, indicating the carcass in front of her, "Should you introduce us somewhere else perhaps?"
She looks to Atax and Shin as she sees that the genasi has climbed a tree.. well I know I can outrun those two if need be.
Atax, listening to Euphemia, measures the worth of having a raptor and remembers when it took a divot out of him. He’s not quite sure if he wants to have that thing with them. “I haven’t decided yet, but we should at least leave the clearing and harvested raptor behind. I’ll think on the way over.”
After Korinth disappears into a tree before she has a chance to respond, Euphemia finds her gaze lingering on the raptor corpse again as the others express their concerns. She chews on her lower lip a bit, and looks at Shin. "This one will last until tomorrow morning... unless we do anything to hurt her, that will break the spell early." Then the halfling smiles, looking up... up... at the cat and the lizard. "Let's go to where she is, then. It'll take just a couple minutes to walk over there. I'll go a little ahead and warn her. Because, it's not just the corpse here, right? Y'all fought with her already? She'll recognize you, maybe, that being the case. Hang back a bit behind me, and I'll tell her."
Euphemia starts to walk back towards the raptor. She doesn't bother to take a meandering, stealthy course this time, just walking straight through the jungle, but she goes slowly. When she catches sight of Nanra again, she waves and smiles. "I've spoken to 'em, Nanra. But this is the group that got in a tangle with you and your children earlier. They've promised now they aren't going to hurt you, they'd like to be friends instead. Seems that earlier scuffle wasn't to their liking either. If ye aren't comfortable, though, I'll tell 'em not to come over." The halfling spreads her arms out protectively, as if she's shielding the raptor from the other humanoids. It's almost comical because she's so tiny, as if either side of the argument couldn't just knock her aside or go straight over her head, if they really wanted to fight.
Animal Handling to keep Nanra assured and calm with the possibly alarming news, rolled with advantage due to Animal Friendship: 16
Korinth watches from the top of the tree. His view isn't perfect, but if things go bad, he miiiiight be able to mercy-kill the attractive cat and lizard. Jury's out on Shin or the little lass, though. He was a good shot, but certainly not that good. Thing's will be lonely for sure, buuuuuut he'd have to endure. Such is life.
EHUPHEMIA
When Nanra hears that the group beyond are the ones that killed her brood, she snarls and almost leaps over Euphemia to rip them to shreds, but the halfling’s magic combined with her words seem to calm her down. Breathing heavily, obviously angry, she spits out, “Fine! While they did kill my children, they proved themselves to be worthy fighters. For prey.”
She seems to be willing to come along, it it might take her a bit to fully acclimate to the others.
"You've got the right of it, there," Euphemia says, although she is more than a little white-faced looking up at the raptor's expression of fury. "You're right to be angry. I would be too if it were me, and I'm sorry for it. But I'm hopeful we can make something better out of it in the end, and make a stronger pack."
Taking a few steps back to where she left the others, Euphemia cups her hands around her mouth and calls out. "It's all right, come on up, we're coming, Nanra and I." And she leads the way back to where she left Shin, Silvana, and Atax, falling back next to Nanra as they walk, as if wanting to show support to the angry raptor.
O, Archpaladin, there's no justice that will be done... let forgiveness prevail instead for the greater good that we may all solve the mystery of this place. Unconsciously she rubs at the implant on her arm under the sleeve. Not far from her mind is the memory that Nanra has one too.
Shin hums softly to himself as Pinky-toe keeps watch from the relative safety of the foliage above. He does not start his Bladesong again, though he wonders if he will have to soon enough. The goblin is not stupid. He knows that there is a strong possibility that all this ends shortly in more deaths among the group, possibly his own, not to mention Nanra's. Yet what is lack of cooperation among us stranded ones but a longer, slower death?
The arcane disk of force carrying the Healer's Kit floats alongside him. Shin wonders how many more uses of it will be necessary before the sun goes down. Perhaps none if we all are slain! All except the aquatic tree-climber. I can only hope that Euphemia is a better diplomat than I evidently am.
He stands back, balanced on the balls of his feet well away from where he expects Nanra to appear, and waits to see what will happen next.
Mud(Paladin2):Frandal's Scourge/Inge(Barbarian1):Krayveneer's After the Fall/Seri(Cleric1/Sorcerer1):Uhtred's Windward Isles/Shin(Wizard2):Dimir_MTG's Surviving
Dyson/Eleo(Cleric3):Vos' Beyond the Veil/Soren(Druid4):Bartjeebus' Ravenloft/Nivi(Rogue3):Raiketsu's CoS/Lyra(Warlock2/Bard2):BlameItOnWinter's Will of the Ancients
Joren(Fighter5):NotDrizzt's Simple Request/Quyen(Adept1):Constance's Nentir Vale/Rel(Warlock2):Uhtred's Phandelver/Xarian(Fighter1/Wizard1):ShieldHero's Drakkenheim
Seeing everyone’s obvious hesitation, Atax decides that he’ll step up and try to trust Euphemia’s new friend. “You stay back for a moment, we don’t want three of us to be raptor chow if it turns.” With that, Atax strolls forward to meet Euphemia and the raptor.
As Atax nears the raptor he puts his hand on the hilt of the knife. Intent on keeping the raptor outside of munching range, he stands to the side as he comes up on the pair. “There’s no need for all of us to come up if it attacks me” he says to Euphemia as he stands off to the side of the raptor, “but I still hope it will help us through this jungle.”
He stops walking as he stands in front of the raptor a couple feet and waits to see if the raptor will attack him or not.
Silvana follows along to the area this Nanra was supposed to be. When Atax offers to go ahead first, she is surprised. But she doesn't argue. She nods to him, "Alright, if it does, I'll do what I can to get you out of the situation."
She then waits to see what is going to happen next.
ATAX
As the lizard man firmly plants himself in front of the raptor, Nanra stands to her full height and hisses, her frill flaring. She lowers her head to be at eye level with Atax, her toothy maw only a few inches from Atax’s face. She holds the position for a long moment, her slitted eyes boring into him before she finally takes a step to the side and continues on
Shin stands next to Silvana, waiting for Nanra's 'inspection'.
He remembers growing up in the tunnels, so long ago it seems as if was a different life. He is no stranger to foul smells, and he expects the alpha raptor's breath and musk will be none too pleasant. But that's all right. He gazes at the raptor's eyes curiously, despite the obvious danger.
The irony is fascinating. Euphemia's reluctance to trust other humanoids in comparison with her eagerness that we trust this potentially deadly predator.
Mud(Paladin2):Frandal's Scourge/Inge(Barbarian1):Krayveneer's After the Fall/Seri(Cleric1/Sorcerer1):Uhtred's Windward Isles/Shin(Wizard2):Dimir_MTG's Surviving
Dyson/Eleo(Cleric3):Vos' Beyond the Veil/Soren(Druid4):Bartjeebus' Ravenloft/Nivi(Rogue3):Raiketsu's CoS/Lyra(Warlock2/Bard2):BlameItOnWinter's Will of the Ancients
Joren(Fighter5):NotDrizzt's Simple Request/Quyen(Adept1):Constance's Nentir Vale/Rel(Warlock2):Uhtred's Phandelver/Xarian(Fighter1/Wizard1):ShieldHero's Drakkenheim
ALL
Nanra glares at all of you, her frill flared, but otherwise, she does nothing to you. It appears that Euphemia has a tight hold over her.
Now that you have some sort of ally, you begin to focus on a singular question: what next?