Belkas eyes the group of travelers suspiciously as he approaches, his hand resting on the small statuette that focuses his powers. Although they seem friendly enough, he can't help but wonder what their true intentions are, and whether they might try to take advantage of the group when they sleep.
'Crowley, why don't you scout around and see if anyone is hiding in the woods? This might be as innocent as it seems, or it could be a trap, as they wait for us to let our guard down.'
Smiling warmly, he bows to the strangers and says, "Melorian, at your service."
Siobhan smiles at these strangers, though her eyes reflect tension. In truth, she had been looking forward to a night with only her immediate companions and the one new person who had joined with them but that was not an option. She resigns herself to spending another night socializing with strangers.
Crowley doesn't spot anyone else lingering nearby, or hiding in the woods.
The four people welcome you, and the small human man introduces himself as Harvey, and he beckons you to join them by the fire. The others spread out and make room, and also introduce themselves. The half elf couple are Cedric and Shava, and the older halfling is Gilbert Lowhollow.
"A good evenin' to ya all," Gilbert says, as he reaches into his pocket and produces a small leather pouch. "Pipe weed anyone? I've got some green leaf from Summer Meadow here, if anyone's got a cutty they wanna pack."
The human says, "Gilbert's very particular about his pipeweed, but he's been around; he knows his leaf, alright!"
"What a grand evening to be outside under the stars! Where you all headed, if I may ask?"
Arisa looks at the group. “No thanks, I don’t partake” She replies to the offer of the pipeweed. “We are looking for some information on some trouble with giants that we’ve heard about.” She offers as to their travel, deciding maybe they can get some helpful information- without initially revealing their immediate goal which sounds like suicide to any sane ears. “you may have heard about some attacks at golden fields, and nightstone? Some concern that this might be some larger issues afoot. Hopefully nothing”.
“I would like to see the pipeweed you have, however- I’m a herbalist, and always interested in new varieties. Plus, pipeweed has some other uses.. aside from pleasure.” She adds this last bit to change the subject back, if the other group doesn’t pick up the bait on her giant topic.
Zyllith politely declines but cheerfully smiles along with the others as they converse. She spends some time cautiously watching this new group for potential warning signs.
Siobhan lets Arisa handle the social niceties, knowing the cleric was far more adept in that area and Zyllith was present to assist as needed. She had always intended to meditate that night and review the spells she had prepared in anticipation of the danger she and her companions were courting. It would barely be an excuse to leave the fire and attend to that. Siobhan is about to slip away when she picks up the tension in her fellow companion in social discomfort and approaches Belkas.
"I plan to meditate away from the commotion. Would you wish join me and keep watch?"
Belkas jumps, startled, at Siobhan's words. He had gotten lost in a downward spiral of negative thoughts and the consideration of his companion pulls him back. He smiles his thanks and follows the firbolg away from the crowd.
'Keep watch over Arisa and Zyllith, Crowley. Any signs of trickery, just shout.'
To Siobhan, he says, "Thank you. I'm generally not very comfortable around people I don't know. Crowley says I have trust issues, and he might be right. You mentioned earlier that you have come from a much darker place than this."
The four people by the fire listen to Arisa's tale, but their response would indicate that they know nothing of the events you speak of. The man called Harvey says,
"Giants? I know nothing of giants attacking towns and villages... but then again, we haven't been south of Waterdeep in quite a few tendays. However, I spend enough time on the road to know that the threat of giants is aways a concern, depending on how close you are to the hills. Me, I try to steer clear of the big stupid kind, they're mean, nasty and they smell horrible. I hope that you do not find any, but you do look like capable folk, so perhaps it is the giants who should hope that they don't run into you."
Gilbert nods and hands over a small sample of his pipeweed to Arisa. "Certainly... what kind of uses? Myself, I only know of one use, and yer looking at it!"the older halfling chuckles. "Still, guess I'd be interested in hearing what other uses ye know about."
Siobhan nods in response to Belkas' comment. "I did. It was a place where strangers were as likely to be predators as allies." She gestures to the four by the fire. "I still look for the signs even now. Does this person cast a shadow? Does that one appear in a mirror? Are they unwilling to move far from a particular spot? Even a friend could now be an enemy."
Siobhan looks off into the distance as the memories come. "When I finally found true allies in that place, our first task was to hunt the vampires who had killed our leader's previous companions. In my wolf form I tore the head off a woman who looked so sweet but for her rabid eyes and blood soaked clothes. The blood was her own. She had been our leader's friend before being turned. Had we been a few days more, she might have come to us and been welcomed as a lucky escape."
"I do not know if I have, as you say, trust issues, but I cannot fault you if you do. At least in my tale just now the cause was a curse; I saw other evils there that had no reason beyond using power to add more cruelty to a cruel world." She looks towards Belkas. "Even in this land with no deeper curses there is some evil. And I believe you must have seen much of it."
Belkas says, "That sounds like a horrible place. I'm glad you were able to escape."
"Growing up a half-elf on a human farmstead wasn't easy." Memories flash through his mind of jeers and insults, being tripped and pushed into the mud by stronger children, and then that terrible day his mother's family gave him up to the orcs as tribute.
"They weren't evil, just angry my mother died giving birth, and they were scared most of the time. But they gave me to the orcs, and the orcs gave me to the dark elves to work on their fungal farms far underground." He can feel the darkness close in around him, the sound of giant spiders moving unseen above him, the smell of rock and mold, and fear. And the night that Glasya freed him, all the screaming, and then the terrible silence, and the dead bodies everywhere.
"Being with the Dragon Aces," he waves his hand to indicate Siobhan and their companions chatting away at the fire, "It's the first time in my life I feel I belong."
The evening goes on with song and story, with Harvey signing most of the verses and the two half elves who are cuddled together under their blanket join in with the chorus. The older halfling Gilbert sometimes joins with the choruses, although more often, he just lets out hearty chuckles at the lighthearted lyric of Harvey's songs and continues to smoke his pipe.
At one point, Harvey asks you if any of you know any songs you'd like to sing.
"Oh aye, mostly pirate shanties though." Zyllith, never one to shy away from a fun time or a song, happily introduces the rest to a selection of her favorite pirate tunes. A few of her choices are exactly as raunchy as you'd imagine pirate shanties get. None of which holds the tiefling back from cheerfully, and eagerly, sharing her songs to everyone within earshot.
Arisa fills Gilbert in on the other medicinal uses of pipeweed, for pain, toothaches and to help prevent infections. Other than that, she seems quiet and lost in listening to the others. She suggests the dragons aces keep our own watch so as to not rely on (or fully trust) the other group.
Lost in his thoughts for a while, Belkas smiles when he hears Zyllith's wild and risquée songs back by the fire.
As things settle down for the night he thanks Siobhan for the conversation and company. He returns to their other companions and agrees with Arisa about keeping watch.
The music and stories continue by the campfire until late into the evening. Eventually, the melodies and conversations die down and you retire for the night. The moon and stars seem to glow unusually bright which provide enough light for you to see for miles into the surrounding valleys from your campsite up on the small ridge. You don't see anything immediately threatening, but the expansive, quiet, nocturnal view causes you to ponder the dangers that do lurk all around in the north these days, and your part in helping to quash them.
By morning, all thoughts of danger are quelled as the sun brings brightness and warmth to the air. Gilbert is up early tending to the fire, already cooking up sausages and root vegetables for breakfast, which he offers to you if you wish to join him for breakfast as the other three slowly rise from their own sleep.
Belkas returns from the stream where he had gone to wash before the others woke up. He feels a little bad for being suspicious of the other travelers the night before and thanks Gilbert for the invitation. He sits down and pulls food from his backpack to add to the collective breakfast.
Zyllith wakes up late, as per usual, but quickly enjoys some breakfast with the others before going about cleaning up and putting her gear together.
... of course this time her late start was due to being up late while keeping a subtle eye on the other group, though she would naturally pretend otherwise.
Siobhan thanks Gilbert for his hospitality and prepares a brew of various dried leaves that smells spicy with a hint of licorice for anyone looking for a hot morning drink. She slept better than she had thought, grateful for the respite from the crowd with Belkas even if their conversation took sadder turn.
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
To post a comment, please login or register a new account.
Belkas eyes the group of travelers suspiciously as he approaches, his hand resting on the small statuette that focuses his powers. Although they seem friendly enough, he can't help but wonder what their true intentions are, and whether they might try to take advantage of the group when they sleep.
'Crowley, why don't you scout around and see if anyone is hiding in the woods? This might be as innocent as it seems, or it could be a trap, as they wait for us to let our guard down.'
Smiling warmly, he bows to the strangers and says, "Melorian, at your service."
Siobhan smiles at these strangers, though her eyes reflect tension. In truth, she had been looking forward to a night with only her immediate companions and the one new person who had joined with them but that was not an option. She resigns herself to spending another night socializing with strangers.
Crowley doesn't spot anyone else lingering nearby, or hiding in the woods.
The four people welcome you, and the small human man introduces himself as Harvey, and he beckons you to join them by the fire. The others spread out and make room, and also introduce themselves. The half elf couple are Cedric and Shava, and the older halfling is Gilbert Lowhollow.
"A good evenin' to ya all," Gilbert says, as he reaches into his pocket and produces a small leather pouch. "Pipe weed anyone? I've got some green leaf from Summer Meadow here, if anyone's got a cutty they wanna pack."
The human says, "Gilbert's very particular about his pipeweed, but he's been around; he knows his leaf, alright!"
"What a grand evening to be outside under the stars! Where you all headed, if I may ask?"
Arisa looks at the group. “No thanks, I don’t partake” She replies to the offer of the pipeweed. “We are looking for some information on some trouble with giants that we’ve heard about.” She offers as to their travel, deciding maybe they can get some helpful information- without initially revealing their immediate goal which sounds like suicide to any sane ears. “you may have heard about some attacks at golden fields, and nightstone? Some concern that this might be some larger issues afoot. Hopefully nothing”.
“I would like to see the pipeweed you have, however- I’m a herbalist, and always interested in new varieties. Plus, pipeweed has some other uses.. aside from pleasure.” She adds this last bit to change the subject back, if the other group doesn’t pick up the bait on her giant topic.
Zyllith politely declines but cheerfully smiles along with the others as they converse. She spends some time cautiously watching this new group for potential warning signs.
Sylnache Ashrain - 7th Sojourn
Belkas feels the weight of the invisible Crowley landing on his shoulder. 'No one around, boss; just us and the happy campers.'
'They could be invisible..' Belkas thinks.
'Not likely. Too expensive for little gain.'
When he is offered a smoke, Belkas thanks them but waves them on.
Crowley thinks, 'I could have used a smoke, you know. I happen to like smoke. It reminds me of home.'
'For all we know, it's been drugged, and you'd be snoring away while they slit your throat.'
'Man, you've got trust issues. You should see someone about that.'
'I trust you.'
'That's part of what I'm talking about.'
Siobhan lets Arisa handle the social niceties, knowing the cleric was far more adept in that area and Zyllith was present to assist as needed. She had always intended to meditate that night and review the spells she had prepared in anticipation of the danger she and her companions were courting. It would barely be an excuse to leave the fire and attend to that. Siobhan is about to slip away when she picks up the tension in her fellow companion in social discomfort and approaches Belkas.
"I plan to meditate away from the commotion. Would you wish join me and keep watch?"
Belkas jumps, startled, at Siobhan's words. He had gotten lost in a downward spiral of negative thoughts and the consideration of his companion pulls him back. He smiles his thanks and follows the firbolg away from the crowd.
'Keep watch over Arisa and Zyllith, Crowley. Any signs of trickery, just shout.'
To Siobhan, he says, "Thank you. I'm generally not very comfortable around people I don't know. Crowley says I have trust issues, and he might be right. You mentioned earlier that you have come from a much darker place than this."
The four people by the fire listen to Arisa's tale, but their response would indicate that they know nothing of the events you speak of. The man called Harvey says,
"Giants? I know nothing of giants attacking towns and villages... but then again, we haven't been south of Waterdeep in quite a few tendays. However, I spend enough time on the road to know that the threat of giants is aways a concern, depending on how close you are to the hills. Me, I try to steer clear of the big stupid kind, they're mean, nasty and they smell horrible. I hope that you do not find any, but you do look like capable folk, so perhaps it is the giants who should hope that they don't run into you."
Gilbert nods and hands over a small sample of his pipeweed to Arisa. "Certainly... what kind of uses? Myself, I only know of one use, and yer looking at it!" the older halfling chuckles. "Still, guess I'd be interested in hearing what other uses ye know about."
Siobhan nods in response to Belkas' comment. "I did. It was a place where strangers were as likely to be predators as allies." She gestures to the four by the fire. "I still look for the signs even now. Does this person cast a shadow? Does that one appear in a mirror? Are they unwilling to move far from a particular spot? Even a friend could now be an enemy."
Siobhan looks off into the distance as the memories come. "When I finally found true allies in that place, our first task was to hunt the vampires who had killed our leader's previous companions. In my wolf form I tore the head off a woman who looked so sweet but for her rabid eyes and blood soaked clothes. The blood was her own. She had been our leader's friend before being turned. Had we been a few days more, she might have come to us and been welcomed as a lucky escape."
"I do not know if I have, as you say, trust issues, but I cannot fault you if you do. At least in my tale just now the cause was a curse; I saw other evils there that had no reason beyond using power to add more cruelty to a cruel world." She looks towards Belkas. "Even in this land with no deeper curses there is some evil. And I believe you must have seen much of it."
Belkas says, "That sounds like a horrible place. I'm glad you were able to escape."
"Growing up a half-elf on a human farmstead wasn't easy." Memories flash through his mind of jeers and insults, being tripped and pushed into the mud by stronger children, and then that terrible day his mother's family gave him up to the orcs as tribute.
"They weren't evil, just angry my mother died giving birth, and they were scared most of the time. But they gave me to the orcs, and the orcs gave me to the dark elves to work on their fungal farms far underground." He can feel the darkness close in around him, the sound of giant spiders moving unseen above him, the smell of rock and mold, and fear. And the night that Glasya freed him, all the screaming, and then the terrible silence, and the dead bodies everywhere.
"Being with the Dragon Aces," he waves his hand to indicate Siobhan and their companions chatting away at the fire, "It's the first time in my life I feel I belong."
The evening goes on with song and story, with Harvey signing most of the verses and the two half elves who are cuddled together under their blanket join in with the chorus. The older halfling Gilbert sometimes joins with the choruses, although more often, he just lets out hearty chuckles at the lighthearted lyric of Harvey's songs and continues to smoke his pipe.
At one point, Harvey asks you if any of you know any songs you'd like to sing.
"Oh aye, mostly pirate shanties though." Zyllith, never one to shy away from a fun time or a song, happily introduces the rest to a selection of her favorite pirate tunes. A few of her choices are exactly as raunchy as you'd imagine pirate shanties get. None of which holds the tiefling back from cheerfully, and eagerly, sharing her songs to everyone within earshot.
Sylnache Ashrain - 7th Sojourn
Arisa fills Gilbert in on the other medicinal uses of pipeweed, for pain, toothaches and to help prevent infections. Other than that, she seems quiet and lost in listening to the others. She suggests the dragons aces keep our own watch so as to not rely on (or fully trust) the other group.
Lost in his thoughts for a while, Belkas smiles when he hears Zyllith's wild and risquée songs back by the fire.
As things settle down for the night he thanks Siobhan for the conversation and company. He returns to their other companions and agrees with Arisa about keeping watch.
The music and stories continue by the campfire until late into the evening. Eventually, the melodies and conversations die down and you retire for the night. The moon and stars seem to glow unusually bright which provide enough light for you to see for miles into the surrounding valleys from your campsite up on the small ridge. You don't see anything immediately threatening, but the expansive, quiet, nocturnal view causes you to ponder the dangers that do lurk all around in the north these days, and your part in helping to quash them.
By morning, all thoughts of danger are quelled as the sun brings brightness and warmth to the air. Gilbert is up early tending to the fire, already cooking up sausages and root vegetables for breakfast, which he offers to you if you wish to join him for breakfast as the other three slowly rise from their own sleep.
Arisa joins the group for breakfast, sharing some of her rations and offering up some Spices from her herbal collection.
Belkas returns from the stream where he had gone to wash before the others woke up. He feels a little bad for being suspicious of the other travelers the night before and thanks Gilbert for the invitation. He sits down and pulls food from his backpack to add to the collective breakfast.
Zyllith wakes up late, as per usual, but quickly enjoys some breakfast with the others before going about cleaning up and putting her gear together.
... of course this time her late start was due to being up late while keeping a subtle eye on the other group, though she would naturally pretend otherwise.
Sylnache Ashrain - 7th Sojourn
Siobhan thanks Gilbert for his hospitality and prepares a brew of various dried leaves that smells spicy with a hint of licorice for anyone looking for a hot morning drink. She slept better than she had thought, grateful for the respite from the crowd with Belkas even if their conversation took sadder turn.