Tests and Trials Game Thread

The tip of the sword lowers as the dragonborn takes it in two hands. "Your name, and your business in these parts?", he barks.

When Jaq asked how he was doing Cladmir responded with the typical demeanor of a soldiering on soldier. 

"It's terrible, what happened, you know.  To lose a comrade like that... after all we've been through.  It's just rough."

Later on when he announcement Cladmir would rush to join everyone, warhammer and shield ready.  Seeing that Kroshav was already there he would follow several pace behind and off to the side of the Dragon born, letting the paladin [in-training] take lead but ready to jump in to assist if needed.

The man's eyes narrow as Kroshav's sword points towards him. His voice remains steady as he answers, but it holds just as much bite,

"Ernos. Training. My growth is slow, and extreme conditions push my limits."

Shifting to extend his hands from the cloak, Ernos shows he's holding no weapons.

"Withdraw the sword."

The final words are spoken slowly and each word is heavily emphasised.

Kroshav grits his teeth and looks to the golems before sheathing Sword and turning to brush past Cladmir and Jaq, returning to his carving task.

The golems give no sign of what their controller is thinking but Kroshav gets a sense of a disappointment from Sword.

Cladmir took his eyes off of the new stranger to look briefly at the retreating form of Kroshav, worried about the paladin.  He had know many soldiers who fell into the same mood and some they never got out of it, their new attitude driven them to reckless abandonment.  

Looking back at the stranger Cladmir lowered his weapons and studied him to see if he can deduce/recall anything from his clothing and demeanor.

Intelligence/investigation: 23 

Cladmir examines the human more closely, noting first his cloak reflecting the torch light faintly. It almost looks like the torch's flames themselves are reflecting. Beyond the cloak the man is dress in plain, rough winter clothing with well-worn high quality boots not too unlike his own.

The way the man spoke is very familiar though, everyone from Firth knows that accent. This guy is from the Scorched Lands, or has lived there a long time, Firth's neighbor to the southwest. Just like Cladmir, this man is far from home. It would also explain his wariness and lack of timidity, Scorcher's only nominally have a government and need to scratch by on very little resources in their parched lands while under constant threats from the pirate princes along their coasts to the north and roving orcs from the west and gods know what from the mountains to the south.

Interestingly the man doesn't appear to be carrying any torches or the like, but maybe they were blown away?

Jaq asks, "Do you need to warm up?   And how did you find the entrance to our home in this blizzard?   We are pretty much in the middle of no-where.   Oh, and my name is Jaq."

He looks down at the blankets he is holding for a moment when he asks his first question.

Cladmir wants to mention something about the Scorched Lands to see if he can draw a reaction, but waited to see how this new figure responds to Jaq.

The man, Ernos, eyes the blankets for a moment, then shrugs and opens his hands to accept the blankets,

"Rude to reject hospitality, I suppose, though I warm quickly.  Can always make a fire if I need."

The five golems all say together in their normal toneless voices,

"No fire here. If you need one you can be taken elsewhere."

The man looks around at the golems before he rolls his shoulders and answers Jaq's second question,

"Half luck.  Saw traces of people before the storm, wanted to stay well clear if I could though until the storm hit. Luck and the stack of golems at the entrance helped spot it."

"You from the Scorched Lands?"  said Cladmir conversationally.

"And when you said you can make fire..." 

Ernos squints at Cladmir, then nods,

"I am.  You're...  Not." 

The question about fire prompts another shrug,

"I mean what I say.  Not going to demonstrate, though." 

As he says this, he glances at the golems,

"Rather not be escorted back out."

Cladmir thought about the condition outside and turned to Jaq, speaking softly.

”Normally I would be weary but we do have the golems and the conditions up top is dreadful.”

Nodding to Cladmir, Jaq seems to agree.

"Nasty weather, come meet our friends and warm up.   Do we need to go somewhere where we can make a fire so you can warm up sufficiently, or will being out of the elements be enough?"

At Jaq's words, the man stands with a grunt,

"You sure I should meet them?  Dragonborn seemed wary.  Making a fire would be nice, but I don't want to cause discomfort."

"The dragonborn is in a mood.  He very much has a right to be, but he is still in a mood, so don't take that personally."

Jaq looks at a golem, "Librarian, do you want to meet the visitor, or do you just want to have the golem lead us to a place where we can do a small fire to warm up?"

The golems on the landing for the second floor move and all the golems say,

"No. The visitor may use the duergar fire spots."

The golems gently herd the man to the location Jaq was warming himself not that long before. A few crates still remain for burning and a soft tinking from Mikram's work echoes out of the dark. The golems take a step back and away but stay nearby as Cladmir and Jaq head to the pit and get a stack of broken down crates piles which Ernos lights with a flick of his fingers.

Cladmir looked at the casual way the Ernos lit the fire with a raised eyebrow, and with the golems and Jaq around he has already stowed aways his weapon and shield.  Briefly he had the thought of seeing if Kroshav is ok, but then realized that he wouldn't have much to say and his presence may not help with the Dragonborn's mood.  Plus, the only possible threat is with him in this room, so being here is the best course of action at the moment.

Trying to carry on his previous conversation in his typically awkward way, he said to Ernos, "parents from Firth, so I know a little about what's up there.  What brings you to this parts?  Quite a ways away for a training?"

Jaq follows Cladmir's lead and stows his bow/weapon.  He will move over next to a now not moving golem and lean on the side of it as he listens to the men talk.  

At one point where there is a pause he will interject, "I come from Stenrek, which I'm sure I never mentioned to you, Cladmir.  I'm so far from home right now, I really don't know much about this area at all.  Whereabouts in the nearest actually decent sized city from here?"  He looks to either of them if they can answer.

Enros takes a seat by the fire, wrapping his cloak around him, and looks to Cladmir for his question,

"Been traveling to train. Needed strong cold, to push my limits. Mountains served well."

The silence that follows the brief answer gives Jaq time to ask his own question, which prompts the man to tilt his head for a moment,

"Should be Thalmiir, as the bird flies. Tough trek, though. Next closest would be Stenrek. Or Bridgeway if you're being generous."