Vin nods to Elthana, "Yeah, lets get going Elthana. Sam said one got away so we don't want to be here when they get back with more. Terry, how many survivors are there? Also, you said "whatever their master has told them" who is the master of the not-deer?" Vin begins to gather stuff up from the wagon as he asks these questions. Not wasting time but also knowing he can talk and gather things as they proceed. Nef looks surly but follows suit as they keep vigil. Always very close to Vin and very much on alert. Vin on the other hand grabs as much food as possible to carry. Happy they got extra from the wizard that was making the food easier to take with. Once loaded up with as much food as he can carry he begins to follow Terry ideally with the rest of his companions following suit. Nef just follows Vin, the hound looking very agitated and on high alert as they position themselves between Vin and the exposed forest. She seems to be favoring wherever the forest seems thickest to protect Vin against. Picking sides that seem the best for hiding not-deer or other mutated things.
Sam helps to sort through the stuff in the carriage and decide what to take, what not to take and all that happy horse-scrabble. He keeps a bit of a wary eye on the stranger despite feeling he was not much of a threat. He was still odd and new and Sam never much liked either. Through it all, and when falling in with the rest of the group when they finally get moving on, Sam is testing out his interactions with this lion that showed up. He keeps it well away from Neferox out of an abundance of caution, and in doing that and everything else is much surprised by how responsive the creature is to him.
"What do you make of this, then?" Sam asks Gewyn a bit into their travel. Perhaps Vin would have been a better one to ask, despite their being young they did seem to know about unusual stuff and strange beasts. But Gewyn themselves had some of that magic to him and he seemed worldly enough. Besides, Sam was actively trying to keep the lion and Neferox a safe distance apart...
Sam will press (or listen in while someone else presses) the stranger on their knowledge of the faeries and the turmoil that seems to have enveloped this region. "Is it a strictly faery versus not-deer and their allies struggle or are the regular people wrapped up in it as well? Other than being bystanders?" And Terry themself, Sam would be very interested to know if he was on one of the sides or just passing through and got caught up in events or what. "You are taking us to the survivors... Tell us what they survived?"
((Mostly - Alrighty, let's get the show on the road so to speak...))
Gewyn walks closely behind Sam as they make their way through the trees, using his larger companion to break up any spider webs in the way. Quietly, he says "Well I'll grant that he doesn't seem the baby-eating type. Or was it luring children out to sea? You know, from the stories? Sorry, let me explain. By my reckoning, he fits the bill for a satyr. Another creature that wasn't supposed to exist but for in legends. We've really stepped in it deep this time."
At that same moment, Gewyn's boot comes down in a patch of mud with a squelch. He looks down sadly at the state of his fine boots now caked in blood and mud.
"Satyr... Huh," Sam says and ponders it for a moment. "On half Tiefling and one half Salamander?"
"But no. I was more talking the lion... SalaTerry almost makes sense, everything else considered. What's up with this lion though and why's it listening to me??" Sam has basically all but forgotten that he through a fuzzy ball away and was preoccupied with the burial tree when the lion grew from it. To Sam it's basically appeared out of nowhere, though he does quickly catch on as they talk about it a bit...
"Sorry about your boots," Sam says as things grow quiet again. "They weren't really made for walking, were they? Perhaps we need to find you something a bit more practical?"
As the group go deeper into the forest it gets thick fast, thick enough to make the group wonder how a deer with its antlers would navigate such a place safely. Even in the morning light, the sky is diffused and obfuscated enough to make it feel like twilight still...
Terry leads the group but looks back as he answers Sam and Vin's questions "lots of people, some like I've never seen before.. they survived an invasion of all the threats I told you about, like the Not-Deer. I don't know who the master of the Not-Deer is but I do know that where I come from they aren't like this, they are mutated and weird, like the giant too.. and something is controlling their odd behaviours." As he turns his back on the group to continue leading them he mutters under his breath.
Sam finds that the lion is highly energetic and playful, just all round glad to exist right now, although the second Sam utters an order out loud, it instantly obeys. It keeps its distance from Neferox on command.
"Who has a head for direction?" Sam asks, generally. "Can anyone tell if we're still headed for Hokum or not?"
But Sam is mostly quiet, excepting the occasional direction to the lion, for the rest of the journey. It seems they will be getting no helpful answers out of Terry and for the time being they have no real choice but to follow the half-salamander. With the lion, though, he does instruct it to do perimeter runs and to be on guard against any strangers coming at them, thinking perhaps the beasts better senses than his own may help. If it sticks around perhaps they can train it for more fanciful tricks and tasks...
As Sam asks this out loud he gets a sharp response from Terry who shushes him without turning around to meet his gaze, the creature crouches down on its, what now look like goats legs, and he gestures for you all to crouch too, his eyes fixed on a point in front of you all.
Gewyn freezes nervously in a half crouch, trying to get as low as possible without getting more dirt on his breeches. He casts about, looking for what it was that put Terry on alert, but not really knowing what he is looking for.
Elthana warily follows suit and crouches down, but starts to get concerned about what is going on. Even though the little man shushed them, she can't help but mutter, "Where you come from? Where's that?" She also looks around, trying to see what is going on, where are these survivors he is talking about?
This post has potentially manipulated dice roll results.
Sam begins to crouch but then, in deference to his knees, steps behind a tree instead. He glances over at Terry and gives them a half shrug... Then looks at the lion and whispers "Down!" while motioning such with his hand.
Perception (since all the cool kids are doing it): 10
This post has potentially manipulated dice roll results.
As Vin was talking with Terry Nef was trying to keep an eye out for danger but the lion kept drawing their ire. They never attacked the lion but it seemed that Sam was wise in keeping them apart. Vin was about to reply to Sam's question of where they were heading. The sudden shushing made the young man pause and follow as he was told crouching low near Terry and looking in the direction that seems to have Terry's attention. Vin was looking around as best they can as Neferox managed to finally draw their attention away from the lion to try and spot what was out there.
The crunch of wet and rotted tree trunks long since fallen under the mossy forest floor gives the group sign of just how old this forest is, it also makes it difficult to move stealthily. At Terry's gesture the group stop and take a look out, mostly seeing nothing but the swinging of vines from trees which sway themselves in the wind, or maybe from the passing of a large beast that has passed very recently. After a solid 5 minutes of not seeing much, Terry finally raises from his crouched position, slowly, hesitantly, he looks to the group and exhales slightly, relaxing once more, "in answer to your question, I and others like me come from the faewyld a plane that mirrors certain aspects of this one. Anyway, I think we can move now, they seem to have gone." With that he creeps forward and warily continues leading the group north.
Completely uncertain what Vin just saw once Terry gives the okay to speak again Vin nods to them and says "I'm glad you warned us. That was... I'm not sure what I saw... but it was weird. Is there a trick to sensing... whatever that was? you were so quick on noticing it." Vin gets up and looks around again as he begins following the satyr further north. Neferox seems on edge but is following along and seems to perk up her ears towards the question of how to sense that thing. Vin smiles back to Nef and pats their head once for assurance. "Neferox wants to know how to sense them too."
“What ya see?” Sam asks, wanting more from Vin. “I saw nothing ‘cept if some moving branches and such…”
“Faewyld? Is that west across the waters?” Sam asks Terry, assuming he meant plain not plane.
But in the assumption the he was the clumsiest and most likely to make noise, Sam kept to the back of the group and allowed the others be the lookouts…
Terry gives a small chuckle at Sam's question, "all will become clear, Shionne can explain better" he begins mumbling a little to himself once more.
"Oh!" He adds, looking around suddenly as if just remembering something, he glances between Sam and the lion, "you seemed confused by your new companion, I can help you if you'd like?"
Sam looks at the lion and then back to Terry. “You know where they came from? I’d heard of such but didn’t think they lived ‘round these parts. He has seemed to take a liking to me though,” Sam replies.
Terry approaches the lion who reacts by questioningly tilting its head, he touches the lion on its forehead and mumbles something more, "ask him yourself... how that!?" The lion immediately backs up in surprise and growls out "I UNDERSTOOD YOU!" It prances around and looks to Sam "I understood the goat man!" It says gleefully as it bounds back and forth excitedly.
Terry chuckles again, and looks to Sam "I'm a Satyr not a goatman, anyway, now you'll be less confused about him. Go on ask him what you'd like" Terry then continues walking, keeping a wary eye out as he goes,smiling to himself at his clever little gift.
As the satyr stands up and appears to be done, Elthana looks to Vin at his comment, "What do you mean, what did you see? All I saw were the vines moving as though something had been through here."
She turns to Terry and asks, "Who is Shionne? And what did you do, what do you mean they seem to have gone?" She then follows him to Sam and the lion and watches in amazement on what he does. She just stands there waiting to see what Sam will do with his new pet that can now apparently talk.
"Oh... um... what??" Sam sputters, dumfounded by the sudden turn of events. A lion appearing and tagging along is one thing, but a man with goat legs suddenly giving that lion the ability to speak??
"But... seriously... What??"
But there is a lion there. Talking. And, ummm... It was probably best not to piss it off. Or even confuse or ignore it. "Uh... Hello? Ummm... I am Sam. And, the goat man is Terry... That's Elthana and Gewyn and Vin. The shady one with Vin... That is Neferox. They're... feisty. Stay on this side of me away from them, eh?"
Turning to Elthana Sam whispers "An I really talking to a lion? I think maybe I ate something that's gone bad?"
"But hey, yeah... Um, do you have a name? And... Where'd you come from? Why you hanging out with us? Mind you, we're really happy for your company," Sam quickly adds. "But... you know... we're curious..."
"Hello Sam!" the lion greets Sam with a content growl, "I don't know my name, or where I'm from, the first thing I remember is ...um You! Do you know my name? Should I have a name?
You were standing at a tree! And it was big! But before that, all was warm and fuzzy, but then there you were! ...how do I know all these words?" It cocks it's head at Sam as it continues padding along beside the group.
Terry gives Sam and the lion some space to chat as he leads the group, turning slightly toward Elthana he answers, "oh I cast a spell on the beast, it'll only last an hour I'm afraid, but that should be more than enough time for them to get acquainted. As for Shionne, she is my master, she belongs to the house summer and I am in her care and service. She is great, and beautiful, i cant wait for you all to meet her."
Vin nods to Elthana, "Yeah, lets get going Elthana. Sam said one got away so we don't want to be here when they get back with more. Terry, how many survivors are there? Also, you said "whatever their master has told them" who is the master of the not-deer?" Vin begins to gather stuff up from the wagon as he asks these questions. Not wasting time but also knowing he can talk and gather things as they proceed. Nef looks surly but follows suit as they keep vigil. Always very close to Vin and very much on alert. Vin on the other hand grabs as much food as possible to carry. Happy they got extra from the wizard that was making the food easier to take with. Once loaded up with as much food as he can carry he begins to follow Terry ideally with the rest of his companions following suit. Nef just follows Vin, the hound looking very agitated and on high alert as they position themselves between Vin and the exposed forest. She seems to be favoring wherever the forest seems thickest to protect Vin against. Picking sides that seem the best for hiding not-deer or other mutated things.
Sam helps to sort through the stuff in the carriage and decide what to take, what not to take and all that happy horse-scrabble. He keeps a bit of a wary eye on the stranger despite feeling he was not much of a threat. He was still odd and new and Sam never much liked either. Through it all, and when falling in with the rest of the group when they finally get moving on, Sam is testing out his interactions with this lion that showed up. He keeps it well away from Neferox out of an abundance of caution, and in doing that and everything else is much surprised by how responsive the creature is to him.
"What do you make of this, then?" Sam asks Gewyn a bit into their travel. Perhaps Vin would have been a better one to ask, despite their being young they did seem to know about unusual stuff and strange beasts. But Gewyn themselves had some of that magic to him and he seemed worldly enough. Besides, Sam was actively trying to keep the lion and Neferox a safe distance apart...
Sam will press (or listen in while someone else presses) the stranger on their knowledge of the faeries and the turmoil that seems to have enveloped this region. "Is it a strictly faery versus not-deer and their allies struggle or are the regular people wrapped up in it as well? Other than being bystanders?" And Terry themself, Sam would be very interested to know if he was on one of the sides or just passing through and got caught up in events or what. "You are taking us to the survivors... Tell us what they survived?"
((Mostly - Alrighty, let's get the show on the road so to speak...))
Gewyn walks closely behind Sam as they make their way through the trees, using his larger companion to break up any spider webs in the way. Quietly, he says "Well I'll grant that he doesn't seem the baby-eating type. Or was it luring children out to sea? You know, from the stories? Sorry, let me explain. By my reckoning, he fits the bill for a satyr. Another creature that wasn't supposed to exist but for in legends. We've really stepped in it deep this time."
At that same moment, Gewyn's boot comes down in a patch of mud with a squelch. He looks down sadly at the state of his fine boots now caked in blood and mud.
"Satyr... Huh," Sam says and ponders it for a moment. "On half Tiefling and one half Salamander?"
"But no. I was more talking the lion... SalaTerry almost makes sense, everything else considered. What's up with this lion though and why's it listening to me??" Sam has basically all but forgotten that he through a fuzzy ball away and was preoccupied with the burial tree when the lion grew from it. To Sam it's basically appeared out of nowhere, though he does quickly catch on as they talk about it a bit...
"Sorry about your boots," Sam says as things grow quiet again. "They weren't really made for walking, were they? Perhaps we need to find you something a bit more practical?"
As the group go deeper into the forest it gets thick fast, thick enough to make the group wonder how a deer with its antlers would navigate such a place safely. Even in the morning light, the sky is diffused and obfuscated enough to make it feel like twilight still...
Terry leads the group but looks back as he answers Sam and Vin's questions "lots of people, some like I've never seen before.. they survived an invasion of all the threats I told you about, like the Not-Deer. I don't know who the master of the Not-Deer is but I do know that where I come from they aren't like this, they are mutated and weird, like the giant too.. and something is controlling their odd behaviours." As he turns his back on the group to continue leading them he mutters under his breath.
Sam finds that the lion is highly energetic and playful, just all round glad to exist right now, although the second Sam utters an order out loud, it instantly obeys. It keeps its distance from Neferox on command.
"Who has a head for direction?" Sam asks, generally. "Can anyone tell if we're still headed for Hokum or not?"
But Sam is mostly quiet, excepting the occasional direction to the lion, for the rest of the journey. It seems they will be getting no helpful answers out of Terry and for the time being they have no real choice but to follow the half-salamander. With the lion, though, he does instruct it to do perimeter runs and to be on guard against any strangers coming at them, thinking perhaps the beasts better senses than his own may help. If it sticks around perhaps they can train it for more fanciful tricks and tasks...
As Sam asks this out loud he gets a sharp response from Terry who shushes him without turning around to meet his gaze, the creature crouches down on its, what now look like goats legs, and he gestures for you all to crouch too, his eyes fixed on a point in front of you all.
Gewyn freezes nervously in a half crouch, trying to get as low as possible without getting more dirt on his breeches. He casts about, looking for what it was that put Terry on alert, but not really knowing what he is looking for.
Perception: 7
Elthana warily follows suit and crouches down, but starts to get concerned about what is going on. Even though the little man shushed them, she can't help but mutter, "Where you come from? Where's that?" She also looks around, trying to see what is going on, where are these survivors he is talking about?
Perception 12
Sam begins to crouch but then, in deference to his knees, steps behind a tree instead. He glances over at Terry and gives them a half shrug... Then looks at the lion and whispers "Down!" while motioning such with his hand.
Perception (since all the cool kids are doing it): 10
...
As Vin was talking with Terry Nef was trying to keep an eye out for danger but the lion kept drawing their ire. They never attacked the lion but it seemed that Sam was wise in keeping them apart. Vin was about to reply to Sam's question of where they were heading. The sudden shushing made the young man pause and follow as he was told crouching low near Terry and looking in the direction that seems to have Terry's attention. Vin was looking around as best they can as Neferox managed to finally draw their attention away from the lion to try and spot what was out there.
Perception: 22
The crunch of wet and rotted tree trunks long since fallen under the mossy forest floor gives the group sign of just how old this forest is, it also makes it difficult to move stealthily. At Terry's gesture the group stop and take a look out, mostly seeing nothing but the swinging of vines from trees which sway themselves in the wind, or maybe from the passing of a large beast that has passed very recently. After a solid 5 minutes of not seeing much, Terry finally raises from his crouched position, slowly, hesitantly, he looks to the group and exhales slightly, relaxing once more, "in answer to your question, I and others like me come from the faewyld a plane that mirrors certain aspects of this one. Anyway, I think we can move now, they seem to have gone." With that he creeps forward and warily continues leading the group north.
Completely uncertain what Vin just saw once Terry gives the okay to speak again Vin nods to them and says "I'm glad you warned us. That was... I'm not sure what I saw... but it was weird. Is there a trick to sensing... whatever that was? you were so quick on noticing it." Vin gets up and looks around again as he begins following the satyr further north. Neferox seems on edge but is following along and seems to perk up her ears towards the question of how to sense that thing. Vin smiles back to Nef and pats their head once for assurance. "Neferox wants to know how to sense them too."
“What ya see?” Sam asks, wanting more from Vin. “I saw nothing ‘cept if some moving branches and such…”
“Faewyld? Is that west across the waters?” Sam asks Terry, assuming he meant plain not plane.
But in the assumption the he was the clumsiest and most likely to make noise, Sam kept to the back of the group and allowed the others be the lookouts…
Terry gives a small chuckle at Sam's question, "all will become clear, Shionne can explain better" he begins mumbling a little to himself once more.
"Oh!" He adds, looking around suddenly as if just remembering something, he glances between Sam and the lion, "you seemed confused by your new companion, I can help you if you'd like?"
Sam looks at the lion and then back to Terry. “You know where they came from? I’d heard of such but didn’t think they lived ‘round these parts. He has seemed to take a liking to me though,” Sam replies.
Terry approaches the lion who reacts by questioningly tilting its head, he touches the lion on its forehead and mumbles something more, "ask him yourself... how that!?" The lion immediately backs up in surprise and growls out "I UNDERSTOOD YOU!" It prances around and looks to Sam "I understood the goat man!" It says gleefully as it bounds back and forth excitedly.
Terry chuckles again, and looks to Sam "I'm a Satyr not a goatman, anyway, now you'll be less confused about him. Go on ask him what you'd like" Terry then continues walking, keeping a wary eye out as he goes,smiling to himself at his clever little gift.
As the satyr stands up and appears to be done, Elthana looks to Vin at his comment, "What do you mean, what did you see? All I saw were the vines moving as though something had been through here."
She turns to Terry and asks, "Who is Shionne? And what did you do, what do you mean they seem to have gone?" She then follows him to Sam and the lion and watches in amazement on what he does. She just stands there waiting to see what Sam will do with his new pet that can now apparently talk.
"Oh... um... what??" Sam sputters, dumfounded by the sudden turn of events. A lion appearing and tagging along is one thing, but a man with goat legs suddenly giving that lion the ability to speak??
"But... seriously... What??"
But there is a lion there. Talking. And, ummm... It was probably best not to piss it off. Or even confuse or ignore it. "Uh... Hello? Ummm... I am Sam. And, the goat man is Terry... That's Elthana and Gewyn and Vin. The shady one with Vin... That is Neferox. They're... feisty. Stay on this side of me away from them, eh?"
Turning to Elthana Sam whispers "An I really talking to a lion? I think maybe I ate something that's gone bad?"
"But hey, yeah... Um, do you have a name? And... Where'd you come from? Why you hanging out with us? Mind you, we're really happy for your company," Sam quickly adds. "But... you know... we're curious..."
"Hello Sam!" the lion greets Sam with a content growl, "I don't know my name, or where I'm from, the first thing I remember is ...um You! Do you know my name? Should I have a name?
You were standing at a tree! And it was big! But before that, all was warm and fuzzy, but then there you were! ...how do I know all these words?" It cocks it's head at Sam as it continues padding along beside the group.
Terry gives Sam and the lion some space to chat as he leads the group, turning slightly toward Elthana he answers, "oh I cast a spell on the beast, it'll only last an hour I'm afraid, but that should be more than enough time for them to get acquainted. As for Shionne, she is my master, she belongs to the house summer and I am in her care and service. She is great, and beautiful, i cant wait for you all to meet her."