Elthana shrugs, "Well, let's see what he has to show us while the others set us up for camp." She turns to Vin as he arrives, "Best keep Nef away from the squirrel, she might scare it off."
Sam begins setting up camp, including seeing yo the horses and such. “Help them explore or help me with this,” Sam grunts to Gewyn. Having a bit of a hangover Sam is in no mood for malingerers…
Gewyn spends most of the trip sitting with one arm draped over the chest. Noticing Elthana's looks, he explains, "I've no idea what to do with the chest, if that's what you are wondering. I certainly don't want to try opening it without learning more first. I didn't want it so much as I wanted to make sure no one else had it. It could be dangerous. It's got strong, ancient magics on it. So... for now I figure it's safer with us."
When Sam starts setting up for camp, Gewyn considers the choice he offers. But not for long. He hops up and heads off to join up with the others.
Sam is left with Griff to make up camp, as Elthana, Muir and Vin go chasing a very quick and odd squirrel into the woods, Gewyn following behind at a steadier pace.
After a few minutes of Muir speaking to the loud squeaking escapee, the loxodon his his head on a sign hanging from the side of a tree. The sign reads "the world tree" and is unmistakably a pub sign. Further around the tree, Muir, Elthana, and Vin find a large wooden door, with a smaller wooden door at about eye level. A door in a tree bears some stark similarity to the sanctuary that Muir uses, but in opposition to Muir's artifact, this door seems obviously noticeable. The thick oak frame of the door, and the smaller inlaid door, are painted bright blue, each doorknob painted bright yellow. Gewyn quickly catches the rest of his group as they discuss going in, seemingly having lost their rodent quarry.
As Muir opens the door, a warm breeze escapes from a well lit room below them, accessed by a solid wooden staircase heading straight down. "Come in, come in, make yourselves comfortable" a voice calls from below in common. As the group descend the stairs they find themselves at the apex of the curve of a semicircle shaped room, a grand fire burns in a large hearth in the center of the straight wall, in front of which curves a amber stained bar top, attended to by a greying old human man who smiles at the party warmly.
Looking around, the place seems extraordinarily decorated, above the center of the bar an odd animal skull reaches two antlers out in opposite directions and at a certain point the bone extends into leafy vines, spotted with small flowers, it intertwined and covers the entirety of the ceiling, above a set of rafters. Display cases high on the walls show off some unknown items, from fancy looking weaponry to old odd looking feathers, but others seemingly mundane items with no real value.
Laying face down on the floor amongst some straw sofas and low tables if the 'customer' area, is a cloaked figure,small in stature, the hood covering their head displays a shape underneath which is much wider than it is high.
"Oh don't mind her, she's being dramatic" says the old man as the group look upon the cloaked figure, motionless on the floor, "hey why don't you go get the others? You can stay the night here if you'd like? My name is Morris, no need to be worried"
Sam, unawares of any squirrely squirrels or dramatic drapes duds or even mercantile Morrises, continues continuing on at the campaigns current campgrounds…
This includes tending to the horses, building a fire, making s’mores with Griff and attempting to enter and solve the mysteries of the mysterious chest.
“I mean I can’t have him thinking we purposefully broke in or anything,” Sam explains around a gooey goodness that is a s’more.
“Sayyyy… you think it’d break open if it accidentally fell off the carriage?” Sam asks Griff but then is totally distracted from the thought by watching the bird man creature trring to chew the melted gooeyness with his break…
After a while of just hanging out and no return of the group Sam gets the urge to explore a bit. “Maybe we should scout out a bit ourselves? See if we can bump into the others,” Sam suggests to Griff. “Besides, I think we camped here last time. If it’s the same place then there were some boulders with faces… Some sort of rock creature. Harmless, but interesting. If they’re here maybe I’ll tell them of the geonids. Different rock dudes, but maybe they’re familiar with one another?”
With that said Sam picks up his gear and gets ready to take off. “Ready Griff?” Sam gives a look to the campfire but sentient bears warning of the dangers of fires in the forest is a long way off so Sam just shrugs and throws another log on it so it’ll light his way back…
Muir moves in and approaches Morris stepping over the dramatic cloaked figure "Hello Morris, my name is Muir. I am a Keeper of the Woods. Are you the proprietor of this establishment? The tavern is quaint and well kept, not to mention in a tree."
Elthana makes her way down into the 'world tree' and looks around. A bit in awe as to what she sees, she finally asks, "What is this place?"
But as the man asks to go get the others, she quickly volunteers, "Sure, I'll go get Sam. Oh, and Griff. No need to be worried? People who say that instantly worry me." she finishes with a tad narrowing of her eyes. Then turning to the others, "Watch yourselves, I'll be right back."and she bounds back up the stairs and towards the campfire. Hopefully before Sam and Griff have left it.
If she did, "So.. we found something.. interesting. So much easier to show you than explain, follow me?"
"hello Muir, keeper of the woods, I... Uh, proprietor... Well I suppose you could say I'm the manager of this here pub, The owner will be with us shortly." Turning to Elthana he continues, " this place is a pub dear, and I mention not to worry because I mean it, no harm will come to you here! And whilst you find your friends, don't worry, Ratosk will guide you back here if you get lost."
During the entire introductory process Neferox appears to be growling and baring her teeth at the unmoving cloaked creature in the floor, the hound seems highly irate even whilst Vin is trying to calm her.
Muir takes a seat near Morris to continue talking to him "Is Ratosk the squirrel? Is the squirrel a fey creature or something else? What is the name of the one laying on the floor? What kind of creature are they?"
Firstly, yes, Ratosk is the squirrel and also the owner that I mentioned. You're all here at my behest, but at his allowance. He isn't Fae, no. But I should probably let him decide whether or not to tell you about himself ey? And don't you mind the wee lass on the floor there, she was supposed to be sweeping and tidying ready for customers but she's a stubborn one, don't worry though I hear it too, she won't harm anyone, because she can't." The last sentence seems to be more directed at Neferox than anyone else, and the hound stops suddenly to cock a head at the old man questioningly.
The creature on the floor moves for the first time seemingly in response to Morris' words, the movement consists of one bright red arm poking out of the cloak and extending one middle finger toward Morris, who apparently chooses to ignore it.
Muir chuckles looking down at lass on the floor "Ah I see you have one too...."Muir looks at Neferfox then at the red arm, and back to Morris "Anyways, please accept my apologies for the questions. I am inquisitive by nature. It's interesting to me that the tavern is inside a tree. I have only seen this done by druids."
Griff gives Elthana a look, and then motions for her to follow him, he flies over head and swoops down after a minute or two landing in the snow next to Sam. As Elthana finds the pair, Sam seems to be crouched down in a snow drift talking to a boulder with a face, small stones make concentric circles in the snow around Sam and the boulder seems to be slowly wiggling stone fingers from an exceedingly stumpy arm and smiling at the half orc.
Back at the world tree, the old man smiles at Muir "similar magics, similar but at the same time vastly different, you see your sanctuary has been passed down for generations, it was made by the guardians of the portals, each of them siphoned of an insignificant amount if it's power and combined each realms magic to create a pocket dimension similar to the material realm, your realm. But much much much smaller. This however is bit a pocket dimension, it is like the opposite.. hmm how do I put this, your thing is like the copy of a pocket, this thing is like a carriage... When you open the door you can be somewhere else! But anyway look at me waffling on, hey when do you think your friends will be back? I want to get started!"
"Oh! Uh... Elthana..." Sam sputters out with some surprise turning around to quickly look at her and nearly tripping over his own feet in the process. Sam looks from Elthana to the stones and back again several times as he considers ways to explain this...
"It's... uh... Not how it looks..." Sam offers with a wan smile and a shrug.
"Oh, hey! The rock dude there. You see them, right? Sam asks as he points to the rock with a face. "On our way out we camped near here too. When I couldn't figure out Gewyn's chest I figured I would wander about and see if I could find the rock dude. Last time, after fighting the wolves? That night we camped and I heard something on my watch. Me and one of them clerics we rescued, we wandered out here and saw the rock dude. Nothing of it, not sure I even mentioned it after... Cleric said they were harmless and if we left them alone they would do the same."
"Anyway, I just wanted to see them again. Figured I would mention the Geonids from the cave. I don't think they're related but... they're both rock dudes of a sort?" Sam shrugs a bit embarassed at how tenuous that sounds but it is what it is. "I found him, eh? He... or she... I didn't rightly check or even know for sure if... you know... Anyway, he seemed to be trying to move but was getting stuck with all the snow. I was just offering to help him if he wanted but I don't think he understands my languages... But I was trying to mime picking him up and he started putting on this display... I can't make anything out of it, what about you?"
Elthana stands there as Sam attempts to explain what he is doing. The mirth starts bubbling up inside her, but she keeps it contained as she asks, "What are you talking about? I just see a bunch of rocks. I mean, if you want to pick up rocks, that's fine by me, but it would be much faster to actually lift them then to mime it."
She has to put her hand over her mouth to make sure he doesn't see she's laughing at him as she finishes.
Griff looks at the boulder wiggling it's stubby stone fingers and then looks to Sam, "I am guessing this is also not being a normal thing yes? Only further proof that it is you who is strange, are you in agreement Elthana?" He outwardly snickers at Sam's fumbling over words and gives Elthana a look in amused camaraderie, attempting to get in on the teasing of Sam.
Muir pauses a moment and aliens very interested in Morris’ explanation of this tree vs Muir’s own but his train of thought is interrupted “Wait….If we stay the night we won’t be let out right here? We could be half across the realm further from Marblestead? Oh no that wont do if that’s the case.”
Sam turns to face the other two and literally stomps his foot in annoyance. "You don't see it? Right there? The stone with the face and the little wriggly arms? And the others, moving all on their ownsome??" Sam isn't sure if he should be mad or worried about his own possible madness.
"Right there!" Sam shouts, and points. "Some kind of magical moving rock dude! Oh for crying out loud...."
The rock dude very slowly smiles at Elthana before grabbing its feet and rolling backwards into the snow becoming indistinguishable from any ordinary boulder buried in the snow, all of the skall rocks stop having made circular ripples in the top layer around Sam.
.
"Oh no we don't take people anywhere, Ratosk uses that function for his job see, but no we don't take folk anywhere it would effect their story, you'll be right where you entered if you choose to leave now or tomorrow" Morris puts a few mugs on the bar top, "what'll it be then?"
Elthana shrugs, "Well, let's see what he has to show us while the others set us up for camp." She turns to Vin as he arrives, "Best keep Nef away from the squirrel, she might scare it off."
Sam begins setting up camp, including seeing yo the horses and such. “Help them explore or help me with this,” Sam grunts to Gewyn. Having a bit of a hangover Sam is in no mood for malingerers…
Muir nods to Elthana again telling her what the squirrel said and follows the squirrel
Gewyn spends most of the trip sitting with one arm draped over the chest. Noticing Elthana's looks, he explains, "I've no idea what to do with the chest, if that's what you are wondering. I certainly don't want to try opening it without learning more first. I didn't want it so much as I wanted to make sure no one else had it. It could be dangerous. It's got strong, ancient magics on it. So... for now I figure it's safer with us."
When Sam starts setting up for camp, Gewyn considers the choice he offers. But not for long. He hops up and heads off to join up with the others.
Sam is left with Griff to make up camp, as Elthana, Muir and Vin go chasing a very quick and odd squirrel into the woods, Gewyn following behind at a steadier pace.
After a few minutes of Muir speaking to the loud squeaking escapee, the loxodon his his head on a sign hanging from the side of a tree. The sign reads "the world tree" and is unmistakably a pub sign. Further around the tree, Muir, Elthana, and Vin find a large wooden door, with a smaller wooden door at about eye level. A door in a tree bears some stark similarity to the sanctuary that Muir uses, but in opposition to Muir's artifact, this door seems obviously noticeable. The thick oak frame of the door, and the smaller inlaid door, are painted bright blue, each doorknob painted bright yellow. Gewyn quickly catches the rest of his group as they discuss going in, seemingly having lost their rodent quarry.
As Muir opens the door, a warm breeze escapes from a well lit room below them, accessed by a solid wooden staircase heading straight down. "Come in, come in, make yourselves comfortable" a voice calls from below in common. As the group descend the stairs they find themselves at the apex of the curve of a semicircle shaped room, a grand fire burns in a large hearth in the center of the straight wall, in front of which curves a amber stained bar top, attended to by a greying old human man who smiles at the party warmly.
Looking around, the place seems extraordinarily decorated, above the center of the bar an odd animal skull reaches two antlers out in opposite directions and at a certain point the bone extends into leafy vines, spotted with small flowers, it intertwined and covers the entirety of the ceiling, above a set of rafters. Display cases high on the walls show off some unknown items, from fancy looking weaponry to old odd looking feathers, but others seemingly mundane items with no real value.
Laying face down on the floor amongst some straw sofas and low tables if the 'customer' area, is a cloaked figure,small in stature, the hood covering their head displays a shape underneath which is much wider than it is high.
"Oh don't mind her, she's being dramatic" says the old man as the group look upon the cloaked figure, motionless on the floor, "hey why don't you go get the others? You can stay the night here if you'd like? My name is Morris, no need to be worried"
Sam, unawares of any squirrely squirrels or dramatic drapes duds or even mercantile Morrises, continues continuing on at the campaigns current campgrounds…
This includes tending to the horses, building a fire, making s’mores with Griff and attempting to enter and solve the mysteries of the mysterious chest.
“I mean I can’t have him thinking we purposefully broke in or anything,” Sam explains around a gooey goodness that is a s’more.
“Sayyyy… you think it’d break open if it accidentally fell off the carriage?” Sam asks Griff but then is totally distracted from the thought by watching the bird man creature trring to chew the melted gooeyness with his break…
After a while of just hanging out and no return of the group Sam gets the urge to explore a bit. “Maybe we should scout out a bit ourselves? See if we can bump into the others,” Sam suggests to Griff. “Besides, I think we camped here last time. If it’s the same place then there were some boulders with faces… Some sort of rock creature. Harmless, but interesting. If they’re here maybe I’ll tell them of the geonids. Different rock dudes, but maybe they’re familiar with one another?”
With that said Sam picks up his gear and gets ready to take off. “Ready Griff?” Sam gives a look to the campfire but sentient bears warning of the dangers of fires in the forest is a long way off so Sam just shrugs and throws another log on it so it’ll light his way back…
Muir moves in and approaches Morris stepping over the dramatic cloaked figure "Hello Morris, my name is Muir. I am a Keeper of the Woods. Are you the proprietor of this establishment? The tavern is quaint and well kept, not to mention in a tree."
Elthana makes her way down into the 'world tree' and looks around. A bit in awe as to what she sees, she finally asks, "What is this place?"
But as the man asks to go get the others, she quickly volunteers, "Sure, I'll go get Sam. Oh, and Griff. No need to be worried? People who say that instantly worry me." she finishes with a tad narrowing of her eyes. Then turning to the others, "Watch yourselves, I'll be right back." and she bounds back up the stairs and towards the campfire. Hopefully before Sam and Griff have left it.
If she did, "So.. we found something.. interesting. So much easier to show you than explain, follow me?"
"hello Muir, keeper of the woods, I... Uh, proprietor... Well I suppose you could say I'm the manager of this here pub, The owner will be with us shortly." Turning to Elthana he continues, " this place is a pub dear, and I mention not to worry because I mean it, no harm will come to you here! And whilst you find your friends, don't worry, Ratosk will guide you back here if you get lost."
During the entire introductory process Neferox appears to be growling and baring her teeth at the unmoving cloaked creature in the floor, the hound seems highly irate even whilst Vin is trying to calm her.
Muir takes a seat near Morris to continue talking to him "Is Ratosk the squirrel? Is the squirrel a fey creature or something else? What is the name of the one laying on the floor? What kind of creature are they?"
"my, my, a lot of questions.
Firstly, yes, Ratosk is the squirrel and also the owner that I mentioned. You're all here at my behest, but at his allowance. He isn't Fae, no. But I should probably let him decide whether or not to tell you about himself ey? And don't you mind the wee lass on the floor there, she was supposed to be sweeping and tidying ready for customers but she's a stubborn one, don't worry though I hear it too, she won't harm anyone, because she can't." The last sentence seems to be more directed at Neferox than anyone else, and the hound stops suddenly to cock a head at the old man questioningly.
The creature on the floor moves for the first time seemingly in response to Morris' words, the movement consists of one bright red arm poking out of the cloak and extending one middle finger toward Morris, who apparently chooses to ignore it.
Muir chuckles looking down at lass on the floor "Ah I see you have one too...." Muir looks at Neferfox then at the red arm, and back to Morris "Anyways, please accept my apologies for the questions. I am inquisitive by nature. It's interesting to me that the tavern is inside a tree. I have only seen this done by druids."
Elthana looks around as she gets to the fire that is now roaring and only finds Griff.
"Griff, where is Sam? We found something and I think we can stay the night indoors... so to speak."
Griff gives Elthana a look, and then motions for her to follow him, he flies over head and swoops down after a minute or two landing in the snow next to Sam. As Elthana finds the pair, Sam seems to be crouched down in a snow drift talking to a boulder with a face, small stones make concentric circles in the snow around Sam and the boulder seems to be slowly wiggling stone fingers from an exceedingly stumpy arm and smiling at the half orc.
Back at the world tree, the old man smiles at Muir "similar magics, similar but at the same time vastly different, you see your sanctuary has been passed down for generations, it was made by the guardians of the portals, each of them siphoned of an insignificant amount if it's power and combined each realms magic to create a pocket dimension similar to the material realm, your realm. But much much much smaller. This however is bit a pocket dimension, it is like the opposite.. hmm how do I put this, your thing is like the copy of a pocket, this thing is like a carriage... When you open the door you can be somewhere else! But anyway look at me waffling on, hey when do you think your friends will be back? I want to get started!"
"Oh! Uh... Elthana..." Sam sputters out with some surprise turning around to quickly look at her and nearly tripping over his own feet in the process. Sam looks from Elthana to the stones and back again several times as he considers ways to explain this...
"It's... uh... Not how it looks..." Sam offers with a wan smile and a shrug.
"Oh, hey! The rock dude there. You see them, right? Sam asks as he points to the rock with a face. "On our way out we camped near here too. When I couldn't figure out Gewyn's chest I figured I would wander about and see if I could find the rock dude. Last time, after fighting the wolves? That night we camped and I heard something on my watch. Me and one of them clerics we rescued, we wandered out here and saw the rock dude. Nothing of it, not sure I even mentioned it after... Cleric said they were harmless and if we left them alone they would do the same."
"Anyway, I just wanted to see them again. Figured I would mention the Geonids from the cave. I don't think they're related but... they're both rock dudes of a sort?" Sam shrugs a bit embarassed at how tenuous that sounds but it is what it is. "I found him, eh? He... or she... I didn't rightly check or even know for sure if... you know... Anyway, he seemed to be trying to move but was getting stuck with all the snow. I was just offering to help him if he wanted but I don't think he understands my languages... But I was trying to mime picking him up and he started putting on this display... I can't make anything out of it, what about you?"
Elthana stands there as Sam attempts to explain what he is doing. The mirth starts bubbling up inside her, but she keeps it contained as she asks, "What are you talking about? I just see a bunch of rocks. I mean, if you want to pick up rocks, that's fine by me, but it would be much faster to actually lift them then to mime it."
She has to put her hand over her mouth to make sure he doesn't see she's laughing at him as she finishes.
Griff looks at the boulder wiggling it's stubby stone fingers and then looks to Sam, "I am guessing this is also not being a normal thing yes? Only further proof that it is you who is strange, are you in agreement Elthana?" He outwardly snickers at Sam's fumbling over words and gives Elthana a look in amused camaraderie, attempting to get in on the teasing of Sam.
Muir pauses a moment and aliens very interested in Morris’ explanation of this tree vs Muir’s own but his train of thought is interrupted “Wait….If we stay the night we won’t be let out right here? We could be half across the realm further from Marblestead? Oh no that wont do if that’s the case.”
Sam turns to face the other two and literally stomps his foot in annoyance. "You don't see it? Right there? The stone with the face and the little wriggly arms? And the others, moving all on their ownsome??" Sam isn't sure if he should be mad or worried about his own possible madness.
"Right there!" Sam shouts, and points. "Some kind of magical moving rock dude! Oh for crying out loud...."
The rock dude very slowly smiles at Elthana before grabbing its feet and rolling backwards into the snow becoming indistinguishable from any ordinary boulder buried in the snow, all of the skall rocks stop having made circular ripples in the top layer around Sam.
.
"Oh no we don't take people anywhere, Ratosk uses that function for his job see, but no we don't take folk anywhere it would effect their story, you'll be right where you entered if you choose to leave now or tomorrow" Morris puts a few mugs on the bar top, "what'll it be then?"