He moves closer, and whispers to Khessa: "I am sure thou will be a wonderful family. Thank you for being kind enough to take them in."
"Oh, I really hope so, my friend. I've never been a parent before... and I'm already learning how much worry this will bring! And until now I had always had the sense to avoid planning children... You know, the life of an adventurer is hardly compatible with the life of a mother! But what else I could do? They were orphaned... alone... defensless..." determination sets again in the deep of her blue eyes "Well, I did not look to be a fighter; but I learned to fight. I knew nothing of the arcane arts; but I can now cast spells. What does it matter if I didn't plan to become a mother? Now that I've become one, I think this is even more important than knowing how to wield a blade or knowing how to weave the web of magic" she keeps caressing her two sons like they were the only thing in the world that mattered. "I will also try do my best in this task".
"Plus," she adds, with more confidence than usual about this matter "you and Shadow Stalker will help me to free my old family, so they also will gladly help me. The Cabbagefield and the Nesper will live as one! All will be well, in the end".
Khessa is somewhat surprised at how convinced she is of this. It's as if her confidence in her abilities has grown at the end of this day... this endless day in which she arrived at Nightstone, freed it from worgs and goblins, saved it from the attentions of the Zhentarim, freed the villagers and started reorganizing the village. Looks like this day has made her a much more seasoned and experienced warrior than her young age would suggest.
(This means: as 3rd level took a 2nd level of Fighter. So Fighter 2 / Wizard 1 at the moment)
Khessa has still her two sons in her arm as she turns to Sorjen: "Shadow Stalker! I was expecting you to be here and ready, but you have been true to your name: I did not notice you! You see, Yondra, Sarvin? This sneaky scout with the intriguing eyes is Sorjen, one of the other friends Ev'alish was speaking of. I call him 'Shadow Stalker', for our enemies can not get to see or hear him... until it is too late and he is on them! He will be quite of a challenge, for when you'll wish to play hide and seek!" then, to Sorjen's bond "Hi Gwyllt, pleasure to meet you! I still do not speak your language, but someday... who knows? Anyway, welcome among us!"
He moves closer, and whispers to Khessa: "I am sure thou will be a wonderful family. Thank you for being kind enough to take them in."
"Oh, I really hope so, my friend. I've never been a parent before... and I'm already learning how much worry this will bring! And until now I had always had the sense to avoid planning children... You know, the life of an adventurer is hardly compatible with the life of a mother! But what else I could do? They were orphaned... alone... defensless..." determination sets again in the deep of her blue eyes "Well, I did not look to be a fighter; but I learned to fight. I knew nothing of the arcane arts; but I can now cast spells. What does it matter if I didn't plan to become a mother? Now that I've become one, I think this is even more important than knowing how to wield a blade or knowing how to weave the web of magic" she keeps caressing her two sons like they were the only thing in the world that mattered. "I will also try do my best in this task".
"Plus," she adds, with more confidence than usual about this matter "you and Shadow Stalker will help me to free my old family, so they also will gladly help me. The Cabbagefield and the Nesper will live as one! All will be well, in the end".
Khessa is somewhat surprised at how convinced she is of this. It's as if her confidence in her abilities has grown at the end of this day... this endless day in which she arrived at Nightstone, freed it from worgs and goblins, saved it from the attentions of the Zhentarim, freed the villagers and started reorganizing the village. Looks like this day has made her a much more seasoned and experienced warrior than her young age would suggest.
Ev'alish nods reassuringly. "Thy has advanced incredibly well. I hath confidence that thee will be able to raise them with great care."
He looks from Khessa, who had grown her skill with magic and combat, to Sorjen, who had mastered the ability to summon their own draconic companion, to the others who had undoubtedly grown their own talents in the past day."I am grateful that I have likewise been able to refine the power that Lorde Bahamut hath given me. 'Twas... unrefined before, raw fury that 'tis now properly channeled. In the coming battle thy shall beholde it."
He moves his claw over the steel pike he carries, and frost seems to cover the point. He smiles as he sits down to rest, awaiting the coming fight.
As the others rush towards the sound of a scream, Gryrim falls to his knees. A sudden feeling of dread falls over him followed by a rush of exhilaration. The two feelings ebb and flow for what seems like hours. Darkness takes him as he falls unconscious to the ground.
Waking moments later, he stands. Still a little woozy he steadies himself with his hands on his knees. It's then he catches a glimpse of a shining scale. Then another. He panicks and tries to scrape them from his arm. "Argh. Moradin's beard!" The scales do not budge. "Breathe Gryrim" he tried to calm himself. Taking a deep breath he slows his heart rate. In a somewhat calmer state he takes in what is happening to him. A power he hadn't felt before sits just below the surface. "Well, looks like you've spent too much time around that Dragonborn it's rubbing off on you" he lets out a laugh at his own joke, finally calming down. He walks towards where he remembers the group heading.
As he approaches he sees Khessa embracing her children and a big lizard standing next to Sorjen. "Seems weird things are happening to all us!"
Sorjen was translating Khessa’s words to Gwyllt while Ev’alish spoke and Gryrim appeared summarizing they day - weird things happening to them all. Could be worse, he said with the voice of his mind. Nothing could be happening because of our deaths. A thought that he knew better than to speak aloud in front of children.
“My weird thing is named Gwyllt and now I understand Draconic. You?” The ranger asked just a moment before the drake started to speak. “Oh, he says it is a pleasure to meet all of you and…” He stopped noticing the grinning face of the creature. “Don’t try to be amiable by smiling. You look like you’re going to eat someone.”
The blue spirit immediately hided his teeth and started wearing an apologetic expression. Bahamut gracious, I’m understanding the facial expressions of a lizard. Sorjen noticed almost starting to question his life choices. At least the drake wasn’t large. Yet.
“Anyhow, she greatly exaggerated about my skill.” The half-elf said to the children before casting his eyes upon Khessa and pointing to the fallen raider. “The village is not safe. We should gather in the keep and then search the area, make sure we got all of them. Maybe Pojo can help avoid unnecessary battle.” Whatever he was doing by now. “We don’t want the small ones meeting something they shouldn’t again, eh?”
In his last words another meaning he hoped the new wizard would catch. That was the home of orphans, that could be the place where their parents were killed. It was best to leave before they could find the bodies.
As he approaches he sees Khessa embracing her children and a big lizard standing next to Sorjen. "Seems weird things are happening to all us!"
"Hi Gryrim!" Khessa welcomes the dwarf. She was pretty sure he would come to investigate; so she was starting to worry as he was being late "These are my children, Yondra and Sarvin! They helped us to find yet another raider that was still hiding in Nightstone."
She then speaks to the children: "Our friend Gryrim is a champion of wonders! He can make appear wondrous things that seem real out of thin air! The next time I'll tell you a tale, he can make you see what I say! Can we try, Gryrim? Once upon a time, in a far far away land, there was a princess..." and she looks at the dwarf with expectation. Well he be able to summon the illusion of a princess?
Kan keeps trying to sit and whittle at a staff and a small… box, or barrel?
But he’s whittling like crazy between bouts of following the group wherever they go.
"Oh, here you are, Kan!" Khessa comes at him, with her children still in the arms "Meet my children, Yondra and Sarvin! Yondra, Sarvin, this is our friend Kan! He looks like an elf, but I strongly suspect him to be the embodyment of some healing spirit. When somebody get hurt, he can make the wound disappear in a matter of moments! You know? Just a few hours ago, some evil men were trying to kill poor Mistress Kramyra... but Kan make her wound disappear and Mistress Kramyra summoned fire, burning the evil men to ashes!"
After all the presentations are done, Khessa cheks home to be sure there are no more surprises, leaves with s kiss her children home, promising: "I'll be back soon, my dearests. I only go chek with my friends that all Nightstone is safe".
She cooks something for dinner (using whatever she can find at home or buy from the neighborns) before going out, telling to herself "I must get cabbages soon... I want only the best for my children! I'll go to buy them as soon as I can. And of course we will plant them also. But until they grow, I'll have to buy them..."
Then she joins the party to finish checking the village.
"A trip to Triboar?" She reflects, as she is told of Morak's request "Well, we could do that, if it's really needed. But we must absolutely settle the matter with the goblins first. If I remember how they ATE my children's parents..."
Kan keeps trying to sit and whittle at a staff and a small… box, or barrel?
But he’s whittling like crazy between bouts of following the group wherever they go.
"Oh, here you are, Kan!" Khessa comes at him, with her children still in the arms "Meet my children, Yondra and Sarvin! Yondra, Sarvin, this is our friend Kan! He looks like an elf, but I strongly suspect him to be the embodyment of some healing spirit. When somebody get hurt, he can make the wound disappear in a matter of moments! You know? Just a few hours ago, some evil men were trying to kill poor Mistress Kramyra... but Kan make her wound disappear and Mistress Kramyra summoned fire, burning the evil men to ashes!"
“Wha-? Khessa, I find this all a bit… odd. I didn’t realize you were from this town. Also: I’m pretty busy. Also: who goes out fighting when they’ve got kids at home??” Kan takes a deep breath and shakes his head. “Also: she exaggerates my part greatly. I am, in fact: a professional tap dancer.” Kan stands up and reaches in his pack, pulling out a pair of tap shoes. He puts them on swiftly and proceeds to tap out the beat to a familiar song, the Red Road. It appears to distract him from his work for the moment.
“Wha-? Khessa, I find this all a bit… odd. I didn’t realize you were from this town. Also: I’m pretty busy. Also: who goes out fighting when they’ve got kids at home??” Kan takes a deep breath and shakes his head. “Also: she exaggerates my part greatly. I am, in fact: a professional tap dancer.” Kan stands up and reaches in his pack, pulling out a pair of tap shoes. He puts them on swiftly and proceeds to tap out the beat to a familiar song, the Red Road. It appears to distract him from his work for the moment.
"Oh, I'm not of this town, Kan, but Yondra and Sarvin are my children all the same, from now on. This means, of course, that now YOU will go out fighting..." she pretends to give her greatsword to him... but then she laughs "Just kidding! But I did not know of this other ability of yours! Dancing... and quite good, as far I can see! What did I say to you, boys? He must be the embodyment of a spirit... she always has some surprise up his sleeve!" and she admires the show with her children.
"Of course they are not!" whispers Khessa, letting the children a little behind so that they don't hear "They are ORPHANS! And I strongly doubt that someone would take care of them, if I don't! What do you think I am?!" her eyes seem ready to discharge lightning maybe worse than a shocking grasp spell "Until now, I always took great care of NOT having children, PRECISELY because I knew they are not puppies or toys! But Yondra and Sarvin have nobody else left! Do you hear me? Goblins ate their parents! Can you imagine what these poor boys have been through? So... OK, I don't pretend to already know exactly how, but REST ASSURED that I WILL TAKE GOOD CARE OF THEM! With the help of you and the others, if you please. Or alone, if I'll get no help. It would not be a new situation, for me, to be left alone with seemingly unsurmountable problems. But Yondra and Sarvin are my children, from now on. Period. Unless, well, someday they will choose otherwise. But I'M NOT THE ONE THAT WILL EVER LET THEM DOWN."
Reassuming a relaxed expression, Khessa comes back to her children and lifts them in her arms again: "You know, Kan? They seem to really enjoy this kind of dance! Could you continue the show for us for a while? We really appreciate it! Yondra is transfixed! Who knows? Maybe you could teach her, in more peaceful times".
Khessa kisses the man on the cheek: "Thank you so much, mr...? Forgive me, I did not have yet the time to remember all of your names. But rest assured that in time I will! I'm Khessa, I have adopted Yondra and Sarvin, since them have... been alone".
"Oh, I really hope so, my friend. I've never been a parent before... and I'm already learning how much worry this will bring! And until now I had always had the sense to avoid planning children... You know, the life of an adventurer is hardly compatible with the life of a mother! But what else I could do? They were orphaned... alone... defensless..." determination sets again in the deep of her blue eyes "Well, I did not look to be a fighter; but I learned to fight. I knew nothing of the arcane arts; but I can now cast spells. What does it matter if I didn't plan to become a mother? Now that I've become one, I think this is even more important than knowing how to wield a blade or knowing how to weave the web of magic" she keeps caressing her two sons like they were the only thing in the world that mattered. "I will also try do my best in this task".
"Plus," she adds, with more confidence than usual about this matter "you and Shadow Stalker will help me to free my old family, so they also will gladly help me. The Cabbagefield and the Nesper will live as one! All will be well, in the end".
Khessa is somewhat surprised at how convinced she is of this. It's as if her confidence in her abilities has grown at the end of this day... this endless day in which she arrived at Nightstone, freed it from worgs and goblins, saved it from the attentions of the Zhentarim, freed the villagers and started reorganizing the village. Looks like this day has made her a much more seasoned and experienced warrior than her young age would suggest.
(This means: as 3rd level took a 2nd level of Fighter. So Fighter 2 / Wizard 1 at the moment)
Khessa has still her two sons in her arm as she turns to Sorjen: "Shadow Stalker! I was expecting you to be here and ready, but you have been true to your name: I did not notice you! You see, Yondra, Sarvin? This sneaky scout with the intriguing eyes is Sorjen, one of the other friends Ev'alish was speaking of. I call him 'Shadow Stalker', for our enemies can not get to see or hear him... until it is too late and he is on them! He will be quite of a challenge, for when you'll wish to play hide and seek!" then, to Sorjen's bond "Hi Gwyllt, pleasure to meet you! I still do not speak your language, but someday... who knows? Anyway, welcome among us!"
Ev'alish nods reassuringly. "Thy has advanced incredibly well. I hath confidence that thee will be able to raise them with great care."
He looks from Khessa, who had grown her skill with magic and combat, to Sorjen, who had mastered the ability to summon their own draconic companion, to the others who had undoubtedly grown their own talents in the past day. "I am grateful that I have likewise been able to refine the power that Lorde Bahamut hath given me. 'Twas... unrefined before, raw fury that 'tis now properly channeled. In the coming battle thy shall beholde it."
He moves his claw over the steel pike he carries, and frost seems to cover the point. He smiles as he sits down to rest, awaiting the coming fight.
As the others rush towards the sound of a scream, Gryrim falls to his knees. A sudden feeling of dread falls over him followed by a rush of exhilaration. The two feelings ebb and flow for what seems like hours. Darkness takes him as he falls unconscious to the ground.
Waking moments later, he stands. Still a little woozy he steadies himself with his hands on his knees. It's then he catches a glimpse of a shining scale. Then another. He panicks and tries to scrape them from his arm. "Argh. Moradin's beard!" The scales do not budge. "Breathe Gryrim" he tried to calm himself. Taking a deep breath he slows his heart rate. In a somewhat calmer state he takes in what is happening to him. A power he hadn't felt before sits just below the surface. "Well, looks like you've spent too much time around that Dragonborn it's rubbing off on you" he lets out a laugh at his own joke, finally calming down. He walks towards where he remembers the group heading.
As he approaches he sees Khessa embracing her children and a big lizard standing next to Sorjen. "Seems weird things are happening to all us!"
Sorjen was translating Khessa’s words to Gwyllt while Ev’alish spoke and Gryrim appeared summarizing they day - weird things happening to them all. Could be worse, he said with the voice of his mind. Nothing could be happening because of our deaths. A thought that he knew better than to speak aloud in front of children.
“My weird thing is named Gwyllt and now I understand Draconic. You?” The ranger asked just a moment before the drake started to speak. “Oh, he says it is a pleasure to meet all of you and…” He stopped noticing the grinning face of the creature. “Don’t try to be amiable by smiling. You look like you’re going to eat someone.”
The blue spirit immediately hided his teeth and started wearing an apologetic expression. Bahamut gracious, I’m understanding the facial expressions of a lizard. Sorjen noticed almost starting to question his life choices. At least the drake wasn’t large. Yet.
“Anyhow, she greatly exaggerated about my skill.” The half-elf said to the children before casting his eyes upon Khessa and pointing to the fallen raider. “The village is not safe. We should gather in the keep and then search the area, make sure we got all of them. Maybe Pojo can help avoid unnecessary battle.” Whatever he was doing by now. “We don’t want the small ones meeting something they shouldn’t again, eh?”
In his last words another meaning he hoped the new wizard would catch. That was the home of orphans, that could be the place where their parents were killed. It was best to leave before they could find the bodies.
Kramyra steps up to Morak, knowing the difficulty it was to ask and says, "We will deliver the news for you, she needs to know."
Ev'alish nods steadfastly. "Feareth not. We shalt tell her after we ensure thy town is safe."
Once the group rests, he rises and continues the search of each building with the rest of the group.
Kan keeps trying to sit and whittle at a staff and a small… box, or barrel?
But he’s whittling like crazy between bouts of following the group wherever they go.
Paladin - warforged - orange
"Hi Gryrim!" Khessa welcomes the dwarf. She was pretty sure he would come to investigate; so she was starting to worry as he was being late "These are my children, Yondra and Sarvin! They helped us to find yet another raider that was still hiding in Nightstone."
She then speaks to the children: "Our friend Gryrim is a champion of wonders! He can make appear wondrous things that seem real out of thin air! The next time I'll tell you a tale, he can make you see what I say! Can we try, Gryrim? Once upon a time, in a far far away land, there was a princess..." and she looks at the dwarf with expectation. Well he be able to summon the illusion of a princess?
"Oh, here you are, Kan!" Khessa comes at him, with her children still in the arms "Meet my children, Yondra and Sarvin! Yondra, Sarvin, this is our friend Kan! He looks like an elf, but I strongly suspect him to be the embodyment of some healing spirit. When somebody get hurt, he can make the wound disappear in a matter of moments! You know? Just a few hours ago, some evil men were trying to kill poor Mistress Kramyra... but Kan make her wound disappear and Mistress Kramyra summoned fire, burning the evil men to ashes!"
After all the presentations are done, Khessa cheks home to be sure there are no more surprises, leaves with s kiss her children home, promising: "I'll be back soon, my dearests. I only go chek with my friends that all Nightstone is safe".
She cooks something for dinner (using whatever she can find at home or buy from the neighborns) before going out, telling to herself "I must get cabbages soon... I want only the best for my children! I'll go to buy them as soon as I can. And of course we will plant them also. But until they grow, I'll have to buy them..."
Then she joins the party to finish checking the village.
"A trip to Triboar?" She reflects, as she is told of Morak's request "Well, we could do that, if it's really needed. But we must absolutely settle the matter with the goblins first. If I remember how they ATE my children's parents..."
“Wha-? Khessa, I find this all a bit… odd. I didn’t realize you were from this town. Also: I’m pretty busy. Also: who goes out fighting when they’ve got kids at home??” Kan takes a deep breath and shakes his head. “Also: she exaggerates my part greatly. I am, in fact: a professional tap dancer.” Kan stands up and reaches in his pack, pulling out a pair of tap shoes. He puts them on swiftly and proceeds to tap out the beat to a familiar song, the Red Road. It appears to distract him from his work for the moment.
Paladin - warforged - orange
"Oh, I'm not of this town, Kan, but Yondra and Sarvin are my children all the same, from now on. This means, of course, that now YOU will go out fighting..." she pretends to give her greatsword to him... but then she laughs "Just kidding! But I did not know of this other ability of yours! Dancing... and quite good, as far I can see! What did I say to you, boys? He must be the embodyment of a spirit... she always has some surprise up his sleeve!" and she admires the show with her children.
Kan stutter steps before continuing. “You found them so you’re keeping them? Oh Khessa… they aren’t puppies.”
Paladin - warforged - orange
"Of course they are not!" whispers Khessa, letting the children a little behind so that they don't hear "They are ORPHANS! And I strongly doubt that someone would take care of them, if I don't! What do you think I am?!" her eyes seem ready to discharge lightning maybe worse than a shocking grasp spell "Until now, I always took great care of NOT having children, PRECISELY because I knew they are not puppies or toys! But Yondra and Sarvin have nobody else left! Do you hear me? Goblins ate their parents! Can you imagine what these poor boys have been through? So... OK, I don't pretend to already know exactly how, but REST ASSURED that I WILL TAKE GOOD CARE OF THEM! With the help of you and the others, if you please. Or alone, if I'll get no help. It would not be a new situation, for me, to be left alone with seemingly unsurmountable problems. But Yondra and Sarvin are my children, from now on. Period. Unless, well, someday they will choose otherwise. But I'M NOT THE ONE THAT WILL EVER LET THEM DOWN."
Reassuming a relaxed expression, Khessa comes back to her children and lifts them in her arms again: "You know, Kan? They seem to really enjoy this kind of dance! Could you continue the show for us for a while? We really appreciate it! Yondra is transfixed! Who knows? Maybe you could teach her, in more peaceful times".
Khessa kisses the man on the cheek: "Thank you so much, mr...? Forgive me, I did not have yet the time to remember all of your names. But rest assured that in time I will! I'm Khessa, I have adopted Yondra and Sarvin, since them have... been alone".