Tests and Trials Game Thread

The group quickly falls into silence except for a background tinking of metal on stone and crackling fire. Everyone quickly notices when the tinking stops and a few clopping steps as Mikram is delivered to the fire.

The duergar drags himself nearer and says to Jaq in Dwarven,

"What are ye doing back here? Its warm enough."

He spots the new human and says,

"Ye understand meh boy? Who are ye?"

Enros just stares and gives a slight shake of his head so Mikram turns back to Jaq,

"Who is he? Where'd he wander in from? Wasn't there a storm or something up there?"

He glares at the newcomer before saying,

"Aye don't like'm."

Cladmir wonders about the kind of training would bring someone to the cold and simply nods.  Ernos does not seem like a talkative type (Cladmir isn't either), so he's not going to press too much at this time, instead waiting to see what will happen now that Mikram is in the mix.

In dwarven Jaq responds to Mikram, "He says he is here training in the cold.  Not sure what that exactly means, but with the storm he needed somewhere to stay warm enough not to die.   Why don't you like him?  He has done nothing to show he is a problem."

Mikram snorts,

"Training meh arse. From what ye have told meh this is the middle of nowhere. Who wanders 'round there? Aye'll tell ye, treasure hunters and people running from something. Best to toss him out before he shows he is a problem. Maybe best not to let'm leave though, toss him with the drow."

Dwarven:  "I get what you are saying, my friend, but we can't just toss him out.  If the Librarian would have done that to us, after we escaped from the drow, we would be dead now, too.  I'm willing to give him the benefit of the doubt."

Common:  To the newcomer, "As you can probably tell from his tone, my friend here is suspicious of you just showing up here in the middle of well....a snowy mountain."

He pauses a bit then continues, "A night or two ago we saw some campfires down the mountainside?   Was that you by chance?"

The man nods at mention of suspicion,

"Not unusual. Many distrust a ragged traveler."

Raising his right hand to scratch at his cheek, a ring on his index finger glints in the firelight,

"Fire could have been mine. Keep them small, sheltered, little smoke. Stops bandits from finding me as easily. Only one would be mine, though."

Perception: 20

When the ring catches his eye, he tries to get a quick, better look at it to see if there is anything unique about it.

He then lets the silence stretch a bit and then finally speaks again.

"I see you can summon fire.  I don't have much magical prowess.  I am limited to creating the most minor of illusions, but that can be useful on occasion.   How did  you come about your powers?  Heavy study, or does it come to you naturally?"  Saying that he mumbles the few words of magic he know and he creates the illusion of a 8 inch tall question mark that looks to be made of shining gold.

The ring looks more or less like any other ring but instead of a gem or crest has a flat, smooth surface. Jaq can just make out a seam around the base of the ring though would need to look closer to determine more.

Ernos looks over Jaq's display of magic, then returns his gaze to the elf's face,

"Some natural inclination, enhanced by a... Teacher. Efreeti, a fire spirit. No study, some nature, much training and tribulation."

((And handy should yeti's attempt another incursion.))

"Now how you ended up befriending a Efreeti, might be a good story for some time!"  he says seeming truly intrigued.

I guess, though, through travels you do end up meeting all kinds of folks and types that you normally would not expect to work with and befriend.  Once not all that long ago, our group ran into what ended up being a vampiress.  And just through the means that we both needed to get out of the same place, we actually worked together as allies."     With a smile he adds, "I think we are lucky that we all ended up working together there, or I'm thinking she could have pretty easily just killed all of us."

Cladmir listened to the exchange with intrigue, both on how Ernos came by his ability and how Jaq (and Kroshav?) worked with vampiress.  And here he thought he has seen enough of the world to retire and have quiet life somewhere...

((@Cladmir, roll a history check with advantage.))

Ernos gives a brief laugh,

"Befriending's a strong word. Gives me odd jobs at times. Mostly helpful, but tracks favors owed."

History: 17

Cladmir thinks back on Firth and remembers the kingdom had a lively vampire population, particularly on the outskirts of the capital. From what he understood they were politically well connected to the royal family.

He also hasn't heard much positive said about them. Or the royal family.

Cladmir thought back at how openly active the vampires operated Firth and wondered if their influence had waxed or waned since and whether or not it extended beyond the border.

"Speaking of vampires, do you have much dealings with them Ernos?  And now that I mentioned that -- are vampires common on this side of the mountain?"

Cladmir's question goes out and Ernos gives a shake of his head.

"Mostly a problem to the north. I'm lead to believe vampires aren't fans of deserts."

Enros then shifts his gaze to Jan for details on vampires in the Duchy.

"That was the only one I've every seen or dealt with, or even heard of actually.   So it's more of a fun story to tell, but I certainly know very little about her, or if anything she even told us what true, to be honest.  I just know she dealt with us fairly enough.  But that could have been because we both needed each others help to get things done and get out alive."

Jaq gives a shrug, surprised that his comment has brought on so much talk on undead.

Silence falls over the small group around the fire as they consider vampires. Mikram grunts something unintelligible before dragging himself away into the darkness where the clink-click-clink starts anew.

As the fire crackles and pops before the trio remaining the golems standing vigil in the firelight say,

"The storm continues unabated. The stairs have begun to drift in."

((Anyone doing anything else today? It is morning and you have a full day if anyone wants to do something.))

With the new visitor being all mysterious (and already watched by the golems) and Kroshav angry like a storm cloud Cladmir is going to quietly excuse himself and see if he can ask the librarian for some books that can shine light to potential dangers in the area.

When in the library if the librarian is around -- or asking a golem. "Are there any books here that may shed light into creatures and dangers in the nearby area?"

Kroshav will eventually take a break from his brooding and carving practice to check on Lurn and the horses.