Avi quirks his head slightly to the side as he looks at Rionach. His brow rises in curiosity. "How can you be not very good at something that you are new at?" It was a question he was sure he heard one of his teachers ask him. There was no sarcasm or levity in the tone, just a straight question. "I would love to accompany you, it would be most welcoming to have company on this jour..." His words stop as he hears someone calling for Shagar from outside the home.
As Angelus waits outside the hut, some of the orcs nearby stop and watch. An older female orc in battle gear with a battleaxe strapped to her back steps into view from the opposite side of the road. She walks towards you. You can see she has many scars across her arms and face, and she is missing her right ear. She stops to stare you down with a confident, calculating look. She stretches out her arm to the red fabric covering the doorway and pulls it to the side, revealing the dimly lit interior with a nursing orc woman, an aarakocra, and a young human woman.
Inside the Hut:
Shagar watches the exchange between Avi and Rionach with interest, then turns to the door when they hear another stranger's voice outside. "You did not travel together. Is the one outside a companion to either of you?" Before they have time to respond, light spills through the open entryway and you see the older female orc standing with a half-elven man.
Your host quickly places her left hand to her brow and greets the woman in orcish. ((If your character knows orcish, you hear her say "Hail Chief Mog. Welcome to my home. You honor me." With an Insight of 10+, you know that this seems to be a commonly used phrase. She speaks it rapidly and fluidly.))
The chief nods at the greeting, then gestures with her head for the half elf to enter first. She follows him in and settles herself onto one of the low couches, then she turns her attention to the bird man and the petite human. Her stare is intense and lasts a minute too long, but her expression is entirely blank. Her scrutiny is interrupted by an indignant squawk from the orc baby who is now pulling at the shawl and trying to escape their mother's arms. Shagar playfully bounces the child on her knee, and then releases them to the play rug, near Avi's seat. With a chortle and a squeal, the tiny orc inches on all fours towards the blocks.
"Someone is stealing our food," The chief's voice is gravelly and heavily accented. "Kill them. Return our food. Reward."
Angelus nervously enters the hut and gives a small wave to the inhabitants before turning his attention to the intimidating woman who led him in, sitting cross legged on the floor and waiting for her to speak. After she makes her request he leans forward a bit " I'd be happy to help, maybe in exchange for some of that fish" he says as he sheepishly smiles at Shagar before looking towards the other outsiders " tho wondering the woods alone looking for a thief doesn't sound like fun yea, that doesn't sound like I'm nervous at all
Avi nods... he's been doing a lot of nodding. If he wasn't careful he would be remembered as a bobble headed bird. He didn't want to interrupt or seem rude, although stories of orcs never really prepared him for a small fishing village. The chief entering the tent just after the new stranger was more out of the stories. "A third one on the same day." Avi says quietly to himself. If a fourth one appears superstition states that this would be divinely appointed, or maybe it was just the fish. Two is likely, three is chance, four is ordained, five is out right. His eyes can't help but smile at the babies little squawking journey to the blocks, it was nice to have a beak and not a flexible mouth to give one's emotions away. He was interested on what kind of reward would be given but once again didn't want to seem rude so he merely said, as clearly and calmly as he could pose, "Sure Chief." That didn't sound as good out loud as it did in his head.
She has trouble focusing on the new occupants of the small hut as Shagar releases the demon-baby from her grasp to slip onto the floor. She surreptitiously raises her own feet off the ground in an attempt to persuade the demon from getting to her. Finally, danger shelved for the time being, she studies the half-elf that has entered and the imposing female orc with him.
K-kill?!
She startles to full attention. Never in her life would Rionach agree to kill someone over a petty theft. She does not voice this out loud, however. The orc ways are not her ways, and she does not want to displease them this early on in their meeting. She glances back and forth between the aarakocra and the half-elven man. They seem to be in agreement with pursuing the food thief. She needed work after all...
"I also accept your request." She would have to speak to her new-found companions in private over the matter of disposing of their target.
The chief rises from the couch, "Shagar has good fish. Eat and go soon." She bows her head slightly as Shagar again puts her hand to her forehead, turns, and exits the tent.
<<Roll Insight if your character was intrigued by the difference between the two orc women.>>
Shagar pokes her head out of the tent and calls out in orcish, then turns back to her guests. "I will prepare a quick lunch and rations to take with you. The chief will expect you to leave within the hour." An old woman steps into the hut, and carefully moves past everyone toward the baby. She scoops them up and begins singing a song, waving goodbye to Shagar. Shagar blows a kiss at the infant, then escorts you all out the door and around to the back of her hut.
As you all enjoy some delicious smoked fish with pickled vegetables, she quickly makes up three pouches of food wrapped in linen. "The food stores have been raided multiple times over the past couple of weeks. You will find the warehouses in the forest an hour north of here. There is a trail. If any guards question you, show them this," Shagar removes a bone necklace from around her neck and hands it to Avi. "They will recognize that as being from the Blackhawk Clan, our clan." She hands each of you a pack of provisions.
Avi bows his head as the Chief leaves. Thinking this might be the time to ask some questions his beak opens for a second before Shagar swoops by and escorts them all to the back of the hut. Time is of the essence apparently. He waves at the old woman not realizing that wave was meant for Shagar.
Avi digs in to the delicious fish, pecking every spec clean. He watches as the Shagar quite efficiently cooks and prepares provisions; he suspects this may have been her job at one time... or perhaps even an adventurer herself. He blinks and accepts the necklace, nodding at the instructions. "The Blackhawk Clan." He liked the name, it was similar to his home region the Hawkspan Mountains. He wonders if he noticed any crests of not just this clan, but any others on his way in.
Avi accepts the pack of provisions that contains that wonderful smell. This was generous, he did not expect such preparations to made for them. "Thank you so much for this food and this opportunity. Is there a specific someone we should look or ask for at the warehouses? Is there a guard captain?"
Rionach lets out a deep breath she did not realize she had been holding in when the child finally exits the hut. Outside, she quickly sits Indian-style in the wet dirt and eagerly consumes the smoked fish she was handed. She nibbles a bite off the end of one of the vegetables, makes a face, and spits it out discreetly into the dirt beside her. Ugh, vegetables! She offers the rest to the half-elf. Her belly grumbles in anticipation for more, but she ignores it in favor of taking the proffered ration bag and immediately placing it in her pack for later. It would do her no good if she continued to eat it all right here like she wanted to do.
She listens intently for the answer to Avi's question. She wanted to do this right, or not at all. With as little casualties as possible.
You did not see any clan crests, but you did see that most of the adults wore distinct bone necklaces. The bones are carved with ornate filigree patterns in the shape of stylized fish hooks, rolling waves, and fish.
Rionach lets out a deep breath she did not realize she had been holding in when the child finally exits the hut. Outside, she quickly sits Indian-style in the wet dirt and eagerly consumes the smoked fish she was handed. She nibbles a bite off the end of one of the vegetables, makes a face, and spits it out discreetly into the dirt beside her. Ugh, vegetables! She offers the rest to the half-elf. Her belly grumbles in anticipation for more, but she ignores it in favor of taking the proffered ration bag and immediately placing it in her pack for later. It would do her no good if she continued to eat it all right here like she wanted to do.
She listens intently for the answer to Avi's question. She wanted to do this right, or not at all. With as little casualties as possible.
Angelus gratefully accepts the vegetables while digging into his fish, and offers a bit of the squirrel he has on his belt in return, listening intently to Ms Shagar as she explained things. After she hands Avi the necklace he rises from the dirt, before quickly wiping his hand on his pants and, still chewing turns to Shagar
"any idea what cou" he stops abruptly, looks away and swallows before sheepishly wiping his mouth and turning back" any clue what, or who, has been doing all the raiding, didn't notice a lot of wildlife as I came up to the village?"
Shagar smiles and slips Rionach one more small smoked fish before turning to Angelus. "I don't know. I've remained inside the village since the birth of my baby. There are supposed to be guards on duty at the food stores. They will be able to tell you more. Travel well, and I look forward to seeing you on your return. I hope you can help us. Our situation is becoming dire."
The city guards show up and guide you to the gates and describe exactly where the stores can be found. Walking there will take you a couple of hours. You all set out into the dead forest, following a game trail.
A cold, gusting wind begins and rattles the dry branches of the trees. There is no sign or sounds of life other than your feet crunching twigs and loose rocks as you walk. You have some time to introduce yourselves to your new companions.
Avi's feathers quickly bristle up and smooth back out as his body naturally deals with the wind. He is lost in his thoughts for a bit when he feels some kind of prompting from beyond that he should introduce himself to his new companions. His eyes come back into focus as he looks over his two companions. "Hi..." stops for a moment trying to figure out how to do this exactly. "I'm Aviar.. or Avi is easier for most... a little." Still feeling awkward but trying to keep a monk's composure. "... from Hawkspan mountains." Perhaps the little addition of information would help ease the introductions in. At least the dry, rattling branches were filling those dead spaces in the air.
Angelus, who had been nervously fiddling with his spear as he walked with his new and strange companions, perked up at the sound of introductions. He was unsure of making a journey with such professionals, and was glad for the conversation
"good to meet you Avi, name's Angelus" he says as he reaches out to shake hands. "I'm from a little village outside Denerim, I don't think we had a name" his mind wanders to home, and to Storm for a moment before a quick shake of his head returns him to the present " I've never been to Hawkspan mountains before, is that where you are from too?" he questions as he turns to his other new companion
Rionach wraps her cloak tighter around her shoulders to protect against the biting wind. "Oh, no, not me. I've never even seen the mountains. Blackpool, where I'm from, is beautiful though. I miss it right now." Her lower lip trembles as she remembers her father and the other elders she left behind. "I don't think I like this cold much." She had been trailing along behind the other two, but now that they were no longer strangers, she felt confident and skipped along beside them instead.
"On the coldest of days in Blackpool, my mother would make me this delicious drink from goat's milk, mint, and honey. Ohhh, it was grand. That's what we all need right now--a little of that to chase away the chill." She smiles widely, thoughts of her father and her journey so far all but forgotten. "And I've never met one of you!" she rattles on, addressing Avi next. "Is it common to see large birds that talk where you live? Did a child-demon place a curse on your village, too? I've learned that the best way to deal with a curse is to try and meet it head-on. At least that's what I'm doing. Oh! Oh! Did you two save your fish from earlier? We should have asked how long this journey would take. I'm sorry that I was not paying the best of attention. What if we run out of food?!"
He takes the offered hand in his talon as Angelus introduces himself. His head cocking just slightly when he mentions his village didn't have a name.
Avi begins to answer a few times as Rionach speaks, his eagle like beak opening... and closing again as soon as the next question rolls out. Avi nods in the appropriate place where Rionach says you should meet a curse head-on. He removes his backpack and pulls out the travelers cloak he was given for the journey. Thankfully monks have some training in generating body heat... and the rough brown feathers covering his body provided great insulation as well as aeration. He quickly snaps out the cloak behind Rionach and drapes it over hers to give her a little extra warmth. This also provides a place where he can answer a few questions. "Yes, large, talking birds are very common in the Hawkspan region... as well as cats, lizards, foxes, tortles, and a couple clans of dragonborn... but no curses I'm aware of." He takes a moment to make sure she is okay with the additional cloak before adding. "Shagar said it was only an hours journey, we should be upon it soon."
The hour goes by, and the sun passes its zenith, veiled behind thin clouds. You see a rock outcropping to the right of the trail and the earth swells beside it to reveal a burrow entrance. The rocks sit jaggedly at an angle from the earth, sediment lines running at a slant all along them. Thin orange and brown layers seem to shine against the dull gray of the rest of the rock face. The mound is devoid of greenery, like the rest of the forest floor, but a hard shell of brown lichen-like material coats it. The opening is cut deep into the ground and is dark. You are only able to see a few feet inside from where you stand. This is exactly as it was described to you. You have to leave the path to approach the stores, and it is 150 feet away.
This post has potentially manipulated dice roll results.
Avi's hesitates for a little to see what his companions might do. After a few moments of watching and listening the grunting sound echos out of the cave followed by the dragging sound. Avi begins to take a step forward and then freezes as he trys to tell if the sound is a distressed grunt that could be moving a body.. or if someone is just moving some supplies around.
Avi quirks his head slightly to the side as he looks at Rionach. His brow rises in curiosity. "How can you be not very good at something that you are new at?" It was a question he was sure he heard one of his teachers ask him. There was no sarcasm or levity in the tone, just a straight question. "I would love to accompany you, it would be most welcoming to have company on this jour..." His words stop as he hears someone calling for Shagar from outside the home.
Aviar the Aarakocra, Shadow Monk
Outside the Hut:
As Angelus waits outside the hut, some of the orcs nearby stop and watch. An older female orc in battle gear with a battleaxe strapped to her back steps into view from the opposite side of the road. She walks towards you. You can see she has many scars across her arms and face, and she is missing her right ear. She stops to stare you down with a confident, calculating look. She stretches out her arm to the red fabric covering the doorway and pulls it to the side, revealing the dimly lit interior with a nursing orc woman, an aarakocra, and a young human woman.
Inside the Hut:
Shagar watches the exchange between Avi and Rionach with interest, then turns to the door when they hear another stranger's voice outside. "You did not travel together. Is the one outside a companion to either of you?" Before they have time to respond, light spills through the open entryway and you see the older female orc standing with a half-elven man.
Your host quickly places her left hand to her brow and greets the woman in orcish. ((If your character knows orcish, you hear her say "Hail Chief Mog. Welcome to my home. You honor me." With an Insight of 10+, you know that this seems to be a commonly used phrase. She speaks it rapidly and fluidly.))
The chief nods at the greeting, then gestures with her head for the half elf to enter first. She follows him in and settles herself onto one of the low couches, then she turns her attention to the bird man and the petite human. Her stare is intense and lasts a minute too long, but her expression is entirely blank. Her scrutiny is interrupted by an indignant squawk from the orc baby who is now pulling at the shawl and trying to escape their mother's arms. Shagar playfully bounces the child on her knee, and then releases them to the play rug, near Avi's seat. With a chortle and a squeal, the tiny orc inches on all fours towards the blocks.
"Someone is stealing our food," The chief's voice is gravelly and heavily accented. "Kill them. Return our food. Reward."
DM of "A Wilder Song" Play-by-Post
Angelus nervously enters the hut and gives a small wave to the inhabitants before turning his attention to the intimidating woman who led him in, sitting cross legged on the floor and waiting for her to speak. After she makes her request he leans forward a bit " I'd be happy to help, maybe in exchange for some of that fish" he says as he sheepishly smiles at Shagar before looking towards the other outsiders " tho wondering the woods alone looking for a thief doesn't sound like fun yea, that doesn't sound like I'm nervous at all
Avi nods... he's been doing a lot of nodding. If he wasn't careful he would be remembered as a bobble headed bird. He didn't want to interrupt or seem rude, although stories of orcs never really prepared him for a small fishing village. The chief entering the tent just after the new stranger was more out of the stories. "A third one on the same day." Avi says quietly to himself. If a fourth one appears superstition states that this would be divinely appointed, or maybe it was just the fish. Two is likely, three is chance, four is ordained, five is out right. His eyes can't help but smile at the babies little squawking journey to the blocks, it was nice to have a beak and not a flexible mouth to give one's emotions away. He was interested on what kind of reward would be given but once again didn't want to seem rude so he merely said, as clearly and calmly as he could pose, "Sure Chief." That didn't sound as good out loud as it did in his head.
Aviar the Aarakocra, Shadow Monk
She has trouble focusing on the new occupants of the small hut as Shagar releases the demon-baby from her grasp to slip onto the floor. She surreptitiously raises her own feet off the ground in an attempt to persuade the demon from getting to her. Finally, danger shelved for the time being, she studies the half-elf that has entered and the imposing female orc with him.
K-kill?!
She startles to full attention. Never in her life would Rionach agree to kill someone over a petty theft. She does not voice this out loud, however. The orc ways are not her ways, and she does not want to displease them this early on in their meeting. She glances back and forth between the aarakocra and the half-elven man. They seem to be in agreement with pursuing the food thief. She needed work after all...
"I also accept your request." She would have to speak to her new-found companions in private over the matter of disposing of their target.
Ríonach Faughn - Protector Aasimar Paladin
The chief rises from the couch, "Shagar has good fish. Eat and go soon." She bows her head slightly as Shagar again puts her hand to her forehead, turns, and exits the tent.
<<Roll Insight if your character was intrigued by the difference between the two orc women.>>
Shagar pokes her head out of the tent and calls out in orcish, then turns back to her guests. "I will prepare a quick lunch and rations to take with you. The chief will expect you to leave within the hour." An old woman steps into the hut, and carefully moves past everyone toward the baby. She scoops them up and begins singing a song, waving goodbye to Shagar. Shagar blows a kiss at the infant, then escorts you all out the door and around to the back of her hut.
As you all enjoy some delicious smoked fish with pickled vegetables, she quickly makes up three pouches of food wrapped in linen. "The food stores have been raided multiple times over the past couple of weeks. You will find the warehouses in the forest an hour north of here. There is a trail. If any guards question you, show them this," Shagar removes a bone necklace from around her neck and hands it to Avi. "They will recognize that as being from the Blackhawk Clan, our clan." She hands each of you a pack of provisions.
DM of "A Wilder Song" Play-by-Post
Avi bows his head as the Chief leaves. Thinking this might be the time to ask some questions his beak opens for a second before Shagar swoops by and escorts them all to the back of the hut. Time is of the essence apparently. He waves at the old woman not realizing that wave was meant for Shagar.
Avi digs in to the delicious fish, pecking every spec clean. He watches as the Shagar quite efficiently cooks and prepares provisions; he suspects this may have been her job at one time... or perhaps even an adventurer herself. He blinks and accepts the necklace, nodding at the instructions. "The Blackhawk Clan." He liked the name, it was similar to his home region the Hawkspan Mountains. He wonders if he noticed any crests of not just this clan, but any others on his way in.
Perception 26
Avi accepts the pack of provisions that contains that wonderful smell. This was generous, he did not expect such preparations to made for them. "Thank you so much for this food and this opportunity. Is there a specific someone we should look or ask for at the warehouses? Is there a guard captain?"
Aviar the Aarakocra, Shadow Monk
Rionach lets out a deep breath she did not realize she had been holding in when the child finally exits the hut. Outside, she quickly sits Indian-style in the wet dirt and eagerly consumes the smoked fish she was handed. She nibbles a bite off the end of one of the vegetables, makes a face, and spits it out discreetly into the dirt beside her. Ugh, vegetables! She offers the rest to the half-elf. Her belly grumbles in anticipation for more, but she ignores it in favor of taking the proffered ration bag and immediately placing it in her pack for later. It would do her no good if she continued to eat it all right here like she wanted to do.
She listens intently for the answer to Avi's question. She wanted to do this right, or not at all. With as little casualties as possible.
Ríonach Faughn - Protector Aasimar Paladin
To Rionach:
Roll Sleight of Hand for tossing the end of the veggie!
To Avi:
You did not see any clan crests, but you did see that most of the adults wore distinct bone necklaces. The bones are carved with ornate filigree patterns in the shape of stylized fish hooks, rolling waves, and fish.
DM of "A Wilder Song" Play-by-Post
Sleight of Hand6
Ríonach Faughn - Protector Aasimar Paladin
Angelus gratefully accepts the vegetables while digging into his fish, and offers a bit of the squirrel he has on his belt in return, listening intently to Ms Shagar as she explained things. After she hands Avi the necklace he rises from the dirt, before quickly wiping his hand on his pants and, still chewing turns to Shagar
"any idea what cou" he stops abruptly, looks away and swallows before sheepishly wiping his mouth and turning back" any clue what, or who, has been doing all the raiding, didn't notice a lot of wildlife as I came up to the village?"
Shagar smiles and slips Rionach one more small smoked fish before turning to Angelus. "I don't know. I've remained inside the village since the birth of my baby. There are supposed to be guards on duty at the food stores. They will be able to tell you more. Travel well, and I look forward to seeing you on your return. I hope you can help us. Our situation is becoming dire."
The city guards show up and guide you to the gates and describe exactly where the stores can be found. Walking there will take you a couple of hours. You all set out into the dead forest, following a game trail.
A cold, gusting wind begins and rattles the dry branches of the trees. There is no sign or sounds of life other than your feet crunching twigs and loose rocks as you walk. You have some time to introduce yourselves to your new companions.
DM of "A Wilder Song" Play-by-Post
Avi's feathers quickly bristle up and smooth back out as his body naturally deals with the wind. He is lost in his thoughts for a bit when he feels some kind of prompting from beyond that he should introduce himself to his new companions. His eyes come back into focus as he looks over his two companions. "Hi..." stops for a moment trying to figure out how to do this exactly. "I'm Aviar.. or Avi is easier for most... a little." Still feeling awkward but trying to keep a monk's composure. "... from Hawkspan mountains." Perhaps the little addition of information would help ease the introductions in. At least the dry, rattling branches were filling those dead spaces in the air.
Aviar the Aarakocra, Shadow Monk
Angelus, who had been nervously fiddling with his spear as he walked with his new and strange companions, perked up at the sound of introductions. He was unsure of making a journey with such professionals, and was glad for the conversation
"good to meet you Avi, name's Angelus" he says as he reaches out to shake hands. "I'm from a little village outside Denerim, I don't think we had a name" his mind wanders to home, and to Storm for a moment before a quick shake of his head returns him to the present " I've never been to Hawkspan mountains before, is that where you are from too?" he questions as he turns to his other new companion
Rionach wraps her cloak tighter around her shoulders to protect against the biting wind. "Oh, no, not me. I've never even seen the mountains. Blackpool, where I'm from, is beautiful though. I miss it right now." Her lower lip trembles as she remembers her father and the other elders she left behind. "I don't think I like this cold much." She had been trailing along behind the other two, but now that they were no longer strangers, she felt confident and skipped along beside them instead.
"On the coldest of days in Blackpool, my mother would make me this delicious drink from goat's milk, mint, and honey. Ohhh, it was grand. That's what we all need right now--a little of that to chase away the chill." She smiles widely, thoughts of her father and her journey so far all but forgotten. "And I've never met one of you!" she rattles on, addressing Avi next. "Is it common to see large birds that talk where you live? Did a child-demon place a curse on your village, too? I've learned that the best way to deal with a curse is to try and meet it head-on. At least that's what I'm doing. Oh! Oh! Did you two save your fish from earlier? We should have asked how long this journey would take. I'm sorry that I was not paying the best of attention. What if we run out of food?!"
Ríonach Faughn - Protector Aasimar Paladin
He takes the offered hand in his talon as Angelus introduces himself. His head cocking just slightly when he mentions his village didn't have a name.
Avi begins to answer a few times as Rionach speaks, his eagle like beak opening... and closing again as soon as the next question rolls out. Avi nods in the appropriate place where Rionach says you should meet a curse head-on. He removes his backpack and pulls out the travelers cloak he was given for the journey. Thankfully monks have some training in generating body heat... and the rough brown feathers covering his body provided great insulation as well as aeration. He quickly snaps out the cloak behind Rionach and drapes it over hers to give her a little extra warmth. This also provides a place where he can answer a few questions. "Yes, large, talking birds are very common in the Hawkspan region... as well as cats, lizards, foxes, tortles, and a couple clans of dragonborn... but no curses I'm aware of." He takes a moment to make sure she is okay with the additional cloak before adding. "Shagar said it was only an hours journey, we should be upon it soon."
Aviar the Aarakocra, Shadow Monk
The hour goes by, and the sun passes its zenith, veiled behind thin clouds. You see a rock outcropping to the right of the trail and the earth swells beside it to reveal a burrow entrance. The rocks sit jaggedly at an angle from the earth, sediment lines running at a slant all along them. Thin orange and brown layers seem to shine against the dull gray of the rest of the rock face. The mound is devoid of greenery, like the rest of the forest floor, but a hard shell of brown lichen-like material coats it. The opening is cut deep into the ground and is dark. You are only able to see a few feet inside from where you stand. This is exactly as it was described to you. You have to leave the path to approach the stores, and it is 150 feet away.
DM of "A Wilder Song" Play-by-Post
As you hesitate on the path, you hear a grunt and something dragging in the dirt. The sound originates from the burrow entrance.
DM of "A Wilder Song" Play-by-Post
Avi's hesitates for a little to see what his companions might do. After a few moments of watching and listening the grunting sound echos out of the cave followed by the dragging sound. Avi begins to take a step forward and then freezes as he trys to tell if the sound is a distressed grunt that could be moving a body.. or if someone is just moving some supplies around.
Perception 20
Aviar the Aarakocra, Shadow Monk
It does sound like someone in distress, and it seems that whatever is making the noise is alone and slowly moving up the slope out of the burrow.
DM of "A Wilder Song" Play-by-Post