Harivaldr felt his innards twinge at the return of what was rapidly becoming an old nemesis for the party. Maybe I'll leave this part out of the saga, he thought. In spite of this, he forced a smile when he received his bowl, nodded in thanks to his host, raised it in a toast, and did his level best to take a long, full sip from the bowl.
CST save = 14
The gods, it seemed, were kind. Harivaldr drank as much as he could of the dish, then washed it down with his waterskin.
Surprising even himself with how quickly he finished his bowl off. “I must apologize. I seem to have made a glutton of myself. It is quite good Nozamara. It reminds me a little of iʻa nā iʻa from back home.”
It's been years since she's eaten her mother's take on her great grandmother's Arkoloczetkch and Entropyis glad to find it tastes just like she remembers it. Amusement flashing across her face as she watches most of the others struggle to pretend to enjoy the roughhewn bowl of sludge placed in their hands. The smell is pretty awful, the texture even worse but the taste drives home even further the fact that she is home. What used to pass for it anyways. She doesn't think she's imagining the eyes of quite a few tribe members boring not so gently into her back as she eats slowly, savoring each bite. There's no telling whether she'll ever be welcome to enjoy this honor again after all though she supposes that depends highly on what this one is going to cost her. Setting her bowl aside once she is done, she nods to Nozamara in thanks.
"We have, as a matter of fact, and it bodes ill indeed."With his bowl dutifully (mostly) finished off, Harivaldr turned towards Nozamara and began his tale.
"A mad druid named Elpam and a wizard named Accertep have managed to separate Shanareen from her tree, and they've used foul magics to turn it into a violent spawner of the strange plant monsters that have been running amok. So long as the tree is afflicted, it will keep making these 'wortlings,' and it has already spawned a good number of the things. We found some of the mad druid's notes, and have reason to believe that Shanareen can retake the tree if we weaken it, but with both the druid and wizard still at large, their plans for dominion of the Northwood known to us, and the tree constantly spawning new monsters, a proper battle for the region may soon lie ahead." He took a deep breath and, with all the gravitas he could muster, added, "We are here to ask for your aid, Chieftess Nozamara, to help us liberate Shanareen's tree and track down these would-be conquerors before they've a chance to bring death and destruction to the Hunting Claw Clan or the folk of Northwood's Rest."
With his piece said, Harivaldr tried his best to resist the urge to look anywhere but at the Chieftess, the Arkoloczetkch roiling in his stomach.
Nozamara sees that you are not drawing reassurance from her words. Hari and Jarlas urge her to do more and though she does not like to be questioned, her success and longevity as Chief is due in fact to her being able to change her ways.
She looks at Entropy and wonders what if she had been able to change sooner, maybe- but the thought is squashed. Here and now and the tribe. She looks to Entropy, "What is your opinion Voza? Should the clan put itself at risk to help the humans of Northwoods Rest?"
Dathyra wasn't saying much, watching the conversation between with Hari and Jarlas. Mostly, she just didn't feel up to saying anything right now. It felt like her stomach was trying to contain boiling lava, and it was all she could do to keep herself from losing that. Still, while she couldn't understand orcish, she did notice that something was off between the other orcs and Entropy. She noticed the stares and how the chieftess seemed to address her with familiarity. She knew them somehow, Dathyra realized. Family perhaps? She didn't want to pry, but she hoped that Entropy's connection with these orcs could help their chances.
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Lvl 2 - Dathyra Galanodel - High Elf Cleric of the Life Domain - Platinum Plated Keys
Lvl 5 - Dathyra Galanodel - High Elf Cleric of the Life Domain - Hunted
Given the others were more familiar with what was happening here than she was, or at least more willing to speak on the issue than she was in the case of Jarlas, Entropy kept largely quiet as the discussion of what do about the threat to the Northwoods was discussed. Both of her party members are urging the chieftess to help Northwood's Rest as quickly and as soon as possible but the half orc can tell her mother isn't entirely convinced. It will mean putting members of the tribe in danger, mean doing so to protect people who have long been cold if not downright hostile towards them. Still, when Nozamara turns and asks her what she thinks about the matter it is nothing short of an utter surprise. "My opinion?" She questions, startled. "I...I suppose it would be a risk, if a righteous one." She manages finally. "Not all the people there have always treated us with respect but many have. Darla lives there and there are children, innocents, people who do not deserve at all the death that will find them if we do nothing. But...it isn't just them you'd be protecting. The more life the tree devours, the stronger it and those things it's created grow. If the town falls, it will be nigh unstoppable. And the tribe will be next. This is not the time to turn our backs on our neighbors, we only stand a chance if we stand together."She drops Nozamara's gaze, drawing a deep breath in through her nose. "I think we should fight. That's my opinion."
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
Viaya Morbrew - Imela: The Adventure Begins - High Elf/Rogue (Level 1)
Nozamara listens, and her cheeks turn a darker green as Entropy talks. She looks around the table and gauges the earnestness of your intent. She looks at her lieutenants and they share a nod. Her resolve strengthens.
"The Hunting Claw Clan will answer this challenge. We are more than cave dwellers. We are hunters! This is a worthy battle and the tribe will honor our ancestors and the land of the Northwood by stopping this abomination. "
She pours a gulp of Kumis, fermented Yak milk, from the wine skin. She belches loudly, pounds the table. She passes the skin to her right, to Entropy and gestures for it to make its way around the table. Some of you may observe that the skin seems to be full as it passes from hand to hand.
"Rest, Make peace with your ancestors, We hunt in the morning."
Dathyra was hesitant to take the skin. After having had rather unpleasant experiences with orcish cooking, she was not ready for yet another round. Still, it wasn't as bad as she had expected. It offered minimal relief from the meal, though.
That night, she set to making sure she was ready to go. She mended the tears in her robes from the battles of the day before and cleaned things as best as she could. She could handle her own, most of the time, but the chieftess' words still made her a little uneasy.
"Make peace with your ancestors."
Was that really a possibility? Of course, somewhere in her mind, she understood that could happen. However, she had hoped that with the help of the orcs, they stood a better chance. But even then, she had to accept reality. Anything could happen, and it could very well go badly. Luck could end up not on her side, not like before. Sometimes she wondered if she really had run out of luck.
She remembered her brother and how furious he was when she wrote telling him about her latest travels.
"Are you trying to get yourself killed? Hasn't our family been through enough? Haven't you been through enough?"
Vaquen had every right to be worried. They had lost so much as a family after the raids. And he was right, hadn't she been through enough, or did she have some kind of death wish? Maybe she did. "Do you want to die?" she could almost hear him say. "Do you want to die because of him? If that's what you want, Dathyra, I don't think I could take it. I don't think any of us could take it. I know you're hurting. No one should ever have to experience what you went through, but death isn't the answer. Lathander let you live for a reason. I thought we would lose you both, and he let you live. Do the right thing with that gift."
Dathyra prayed that they would survive, but like the chieftess had said, she made her peace with the possibility. She wasn't happy about it, but she had to trust that Lathander would do what followed his plan.
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
Lvl 2 - Dathyra Galanodel - High Elf Cleric of the Life Domain - Platinum Plated Keys
Lvl 5 - Dathyra Galanodel - High Elf Cleric of the Life Domain - Hunted
The snow had slowed down overnight and in the predawn it was mostly flurries that whipped through the air. The wind was biting. The warriors of the Hunting Claw Clan were up and ready. They were drinking Kumisand eating Arkoloczetkch. It was going to be a good day to be brave. Nozamara directed half of the warriors to stay and guard those too young or too old to fight. 15 fighters gathered around Nozamara as she approached your group.
"We are leaving some reserves here in case they change their plans or are driven this way. We must travel quickly."
The rest of the morning is spent travelling South along a now familiar route. It is late morning when your group and a band of Orcs cross the bridge leading to the quiet compound of Northwoods Rest.
"It looks as though we arrived ahead of the creatures. We-" She looks to your group. "should warn them of the danger and prepare a battle plan." She has enough common sense not to ride directly into the compound.
Resting in what accommodations they are shown, or setting up his own Jarlas finds himself longing a bit for the comforts of the sea and home. Eventually nodding off to sleep. I the morning he inquires about any bodies of water that might be nearby. If there is one that is not to far off he goes there and submerges in the water saying his morning prayers and readying for the day. And taking an extra 10 minutes to cast Find Steed (If not he finds a quite area not far from the orc camp but clear of any structures) He then seeks out the others as they are preparing to leave
I summon a Warhorse. It is silver and almost seems to shimmer as the light moves on her flanks. Her mane spills down looking like a cascading waterfall.
It isn't long before Joseph and some of the townsfolk walk out to meet you at the bridge. They no longer seem hostile to the Orcs but they do seem a bit wary.
"Oiy, come to collect a reward I suppose." Patrick grumbled.
"That's enough Pat. A fine way of saying thanks, you have." Joseph warned. He recognizes Dathyra and Hari from their earlier visit. "Good to see you again, uhm, are you all just passing through?"
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Harivaldr felt his innards twinge at the return of what was rapidly becoming an old nemesis for the party. Maybe I'll leave this part out of the saga, he thought. In spite of this, he forced a smile when he received his bowl, nodded in thanks to his host, raised it in a toast, and did his level best to take a long, full sip from the bowl.
CST save = 14
The gods, it seemed, were kind. Harivaldr drank as much as he could of the dish, then washed it down with his waterskin.
[[should be save instead of check. Jarlas is good. Doesn't know what the fuss is all about. He does feel a bit more confident-- if that is possible!]]
Jarlas - (As it’s a save everyone gets +3)
Surprising even himself with how quickly he finished his bowl off. “I must apologize. I seem to have made a glutton of myself. It is quite good Nozamara. It reminds me a little of iʻa nā iʻa from back home.”
Constitution save: 21
It's been years since she's eaten her mother's take on her great grandmother's Arkoloczetkch and Entropy is glad to find it tastes just like she remembers it. Amusement flashing across her face as she watches most of the others struggle to pretend to enjoy the roughhewn bowl of sludge placed in their hands. The smell is pretty awful, the texture even worse but the taste drives home even further the fact that she is home. What used to pass for it anyways. She doesn't think she's imagining the eyes of quite a few tribe members boring not so gently into her back as she eats slowly, savoring each bite. There's no telling whether she'll ever be welcome to enjoy this honor again after all though she supposes that depends highly on what this one is going to cost her. Setting her bowl aside once she is done, she nods to Nozamara in thanks.
Viaya Morbrew - Imela: The Adventure Begins - High Elf/Rogue (Level 1)
Entropy Klyv - Hunted ! - Half Orc/College of Lore Bard (Level 6)
Xieva Talwinder - Crosswinds - Firbolg/School of Enchantment Wizard (Level 5)
"We have, as a matter of fact, and it bodes ill indeed." With his bowl dutifully (mostly) finished off, Harivaldr turned towards Nozamara and began his tale.
"A mad druid named Elpam and a wizard named Accertep have managed to separate Shanareen from her tree, and they've used foul magics to turn it into a violent spawner of the strange plant monsters that have been running amok. So long as the tree is afflicted, it will keep making these 'wortlings,' and it has already spawned a good number of the things. We found some of the mad druid's notes, and have reason to believe that Shanareen can retake the tree if we weaken it, but with both the druid and wizard still at large, their plans for dominion of the Northwood known to us, and the tree constantly spawning new monsters, a proper battle for the region may soon lie ahead." He took a deep breath and, with all the gravitas he could muster, added, "We are here to ask for your aid, Chieftess Nozamara, to help us liberate Shanareen's tree and track down these would-be conquerors before they've a chance to bring death and destruction to the Hunting Claw Clan or the folk of Northwood's Rest."
With his piece said, Harivaldr tried his best to resist the urge to look anywhere but at the Chieftess, the Arkoloczetkch roiling in his stomach.
Nozamara grows still as Harivaldr speaks. She looks to Shanareen with the understanding of loss, as Chief she betrays no pity.
"This is disturbing news." She barks something in Orcish to her lieutenant. She grabs a spear and rushes outside.
"We will need to bolster our defensive position."
Jarlas
"Will you also provide aid to the people of Northwood's Rest?"
[Hari and Jarlas make a persuasion check] [Sorry, I should have asked earlier]
Jarlas - Persuasion : 17
Harivaldr Persuasion: 15
Nozamara sees that you are not drawing reassurance from her words. Hari and Jarlas urge her to do more and though she does not like to be questioned, her success and longevity as Chief is due in fact to her being able to change her ways.
She looks at Entropy and wonders what if she had been able to change sooner, maybe- but the thought is squashed. Here and now and the tribe. She looks to Entropy, "What is your opinion Voza? Should the clan put itself at risk to help the humans of Northwoods Rest?"
Dathyra wasn't saying much, watching the conversation between with Hari and Jarlas. Mostly, she just didn't feel up to saying anything right now. It felt like her stomach was trying to contain boiling lava, and it was all she could do to keep herself from losing that. Still, while she couldn't understand orcish, she did notice that something was off between the other orcs and Entropy. She noticed the stares and how the chieftess seemed to address her with familiarity. She knew them somehow, Dathyra realized. Family perhaps? She didn't want to pry, but she hoped that Entropy's connection with these orcs could help their chances.
Lvl 2 - Dathyra Galanodel - High Elf Cleric of the Life Domain - Platinum Plated Keys
Lvl 5 - Dathyra Galanodel - High Elf Cleric of the Life Domain - Hunted
Lvl 1 - Geth Hornraven - Human Wizard - Lost Mine of Phandelver
DM - Imela: The Adventure Begins
Given the others were more familiar with what was happening here than she was, or at least more willing to speak on the issue than she was in the case of Jarlas, Entropy kept largely quiet as the discussion of what do about the threat to the Northwoods was discussed. Both of her party members are urging the chieftess to help Northwood's Rest as quickly and as soon as possible but the half orc can tell her mother isn't entirely convinced. It will mean putting members of the tribe in danger, mean doing so to protect people who have long been cold if not downright hostile towards them. Still, when Nozamara turns and asks her what she thinks about the matter it is nothing short of an utter surprise. "My opinion?" She questions, startled. "I...I suppose it would be a risk, if a righteous one." She manages finally. "Not all the people there have always treated us with respect but many have. Darla lives there and there are children, innocents, people who do not deserve at all the death that will find them if we do nothing. But...it isn't just them you'd be protecting. The more life the tree devours, the stronger it and those things it's created grow. If the town falls, it will be nigh unstoppable. And the tribe will be next. This is not the time to turn our backs on our neighbors, we only stand a chance if we stand together." She drops Nozamara's gaze, drawing a deep breath in through her nose. "I think we should fight. That's my opinion."
Viaya Morbrew - Imela: The Adventure Begins - High Elf/Rogue (Level 1)
Entropy Klyv - Hunted ! - Half Orc/College of Lore Bard (Level 6)
Xieva Talwinder - Crosswinds - Firbolg/School of Enchantment Wizard (Level 5)
Jarlas
Jarlas gives a small nod of respect to Entropy
Nozamara listens, and her cheeks turn a darker green as Entropy talks. She looks around the table and gauges the earnestness of your intent. She looks at her lieutenants and they share a nod. Her resolve strengthens.
"The Hunting Claw Clan will answer this challenge. We are more than cave dwellers. We are hunters! This is a worthy battle and the tribe will honor our ancestors and the land of the Northwood by stopping this abomination. "
She pours a gulp of Kumis, fermented Yak milk, from the wine skin. She belches loudly, pounds the table. She passes the skin to her right, to Entropy and gestures for it to make its way around the table. Some of you may observe that the skin seems to be full as it passes from hand to hand.
"Rest, Make peace with your ancestors, We hunt in the morning."
Jarlas
Taking the skin once it is passed to him Jarlas takes a large swig and passes it on.
Dathyra was hesitant to take the skin. After having had rather unpleasant experiences with orcish cooking, she was not ready for yet another round. Still, it wasn't as bad as she had expected. It offered minimal relief from the meal, though.
That night, she set to making sure she was ready to go. She mended the tears in her robes from the battles of the day before and cleaned things as best as she could. She could handle her own, most of the time, but the chieftess' words still made her a little uneasy.
"Make peace with your ancestors."
Was that really a possibility? Of course, somewhere in her mind, she understood that could happen. However, she had hoped that with the help of the orcs, they stood a better chance. But even then, she had to accept reality. Anything could happen, and it could very well go badly. Luck could end up not on her side, not like before. Sometimes she wondered if she really had run out of luck.
She remembered her brother and how furious he was when she wrote telling him about her latest travels.
"Are you trying to get yourself killed? Hasn't our family been through enough? Haven't you been through enough?"
Vaquen had every right to be worried. They had lost so much as a family after the raids. And he was right, hadn't she been through enough, or did she have some kind of death wish? Maybe she did. "Do you want to die?" she could almost hear him say. "Do you want to die because of him? If that's what you want, Dathyra, I don't think I could take it. I don't think any of us could take it. I know you're hurting. No one should ever have to experience what you went through, but death isn't the answer. Lathander let you live for a reason. I thought we would lose you both, and he let you live. Do the right thing with that gift."
Dathyra prayed that they would survive, but like the chieftess had said, she made her peace with the possibility. She wasn't happy about it, but she had to trust that Lathander would do what followed his plan.
Lvl 2 - Dathyra Galanodel - High Elf Cleric of the Life Domain - Platinum Plated Keys
Lvl 5 - Dathyra Galanodel - High Elf Cleric of the Life Domain - Hunted
Lvl 1 - Geth Hornraven - Human Wizard - Lost Mine of Phandelver
DM - Imela: The Adventure Begins
The snow had slowed down overnight and in the predawn it was mostly flurries that whipped through the air. The wind was biting. The warriors of the Hunting Claw Clan were up and ready. They were drinking Kumis and eating Arkoloczetkch. It was going to be a good day to be brave. Nozamara directed half of the warriors to stay and guard those too young or too old to fight. 15 fighters gathered around Nozamara as she approached your group.
"We are leaving some reserves here in case they change their plans or are driven this way. We must travel quickly."
The rest of the morning is spent travelling South along a now familiar route. It is late morning when your group and a band of Orcs cross the bridge leading to the quiet compound of Northwoods Rest.
"It looks as though we arrived ahead of the creatures. We-" She looks to your group. "should warn them of the danger and prepare a battle plan." She has enough common sense not to ride directly into the compound.
Jarlas
Resting in what accommodations they are shown, or setting up his own Jarlas finds himself longing a bit for the comforts of the sea and home. Eventually nodding off to sleep. I the morning he inquires about any bodies of water that might be nearby. If there is one that is not to far off he goes there and submerges in the water saying his morning prayers and readying for the day. And taking an extra 10 minutes to cast Find Steed (If not he finds a quite area not far from the orc camp but clear of any structures) He then seeks out the others as they are preparing to leave
I summon a Warhorse. It is silver and almost seems to shimmer as the light moves on her flanks. Her mane spills down looking like a cascading waterfall.
It isn't long before Joseph and some of the townsfolk walk out to meet you at the bridge. They no longer seem hostile to the Orcs but they do seem a bit wary.
"Oiy, come to collect a reward I suppose." Patrick grumbled.
"That's enough Pat. A fine way of saying thanks, you have." Joseph warned. He recognizes Dathyra and Hari from their earlier visit. "Good to see you again, uhm, are you all just passing through?"