Sam… talks to the lion. Reluctantly and feeling quite foolish at first but it all quickly becomes… not normal, but accepted, perhaps? Less strained, anyway.
The lion is only if limited use as to figuring out where they came from and how. They knew nothing of Before Existance and once they did exist they already were. You may as well ask a newborn babe how they were conceived. Though there was less crying.
The others were some help though. Sam wouldn’t later recall who first mentioned it but once pointed out there did seem to be consensus that Sam had discarded that fuzzy ball just before the lion appeared. “Was it warm?” The lion asked. “I do recall warm fuzzy…” Sam seemed to think that yes, the ball had been warm, though he thought little of it at the time.
“Perhaps you live in the bag?” Sam pondered aloud. “Surely there is some magic at play here, but I’m afraid I’ve little mind for such things… I barely understand how coins work. Everyone agrees they’re worth something and so they are? Nonsense! But it does make living easier so we all accept it and carry on… It’d take a bigger brain than mine to fully explain you…”
“Oh yes, you do need a name!” Sam recalls. “How does Órga suit you? It means ‘golden’ which describes you well enough…”
There were more questions that couldn’t be answered than could however: Was Órga here for good? What, or who, resided in the other fuzzy balls that resided in the bag? Was it the bag that was magical or the fuzzy balls? Sam and Órga were unsure and reluctant to try trial and error since they were already in a dubious situation. “We’ll figure it out eventually, pal,” the one assured the other as they trotted on with the others. “Somehow.”
The young man is quite surprised when the lion suddenly starts speaking. They also try to keep listening to Terry despite the sudden vocal cat. They manage to pull their attention from the lion as Terry says what they are and replies, "Satyr! Right! You're like right out of a fairy tale. It sounds like Shionne looks after you and is helping the people here. I'm kind of excited to meet her." As Vin talks with Terry Nef has been looking startled that the lion suddenly speaks. They growl at the lion in obvious disapproval and then looks at Terry expectantly. Vin smiles and says "Nef wants to say a few things I guess. Normally, only I can understand them."
"I suppose this is the state of things, that we are nochalantly walking through forest filled with cursed nightmare creatures accompanied by not one but two talking animals with a fairytale for a guide. I suppose I would be remiss if I didn't find time to put this into a song."Gewyn seems to use that thought to distract himself from the darker aspects of their adventure thus far as he continues to walk. "I do look forward to meeting this Miss Shionne of yours"
"Órga, I like it!" The lion presses its head firmly against Sam's thigh as they walk, it's joy is not dampened by Neferox's growls of disapproval, however Órga's ears do flatten slightly as it tries to ignore the hellish hound.
Terry beams as Vin and Gewyn express their excitement to meet Shionne, but as Vin asks about casting the same spell upon Neferox, he does a slight double take, "oh, oh yes of course! Ah.. we have to be fair to all animals, however um... Scary they might be..." Terry hesitantly reaches a hand toward Neferox and mutters a stumbling spell under his breath, he then backs off as Neferox yawns that wide fang bearing yawn that dogs and wolves share, before growling out "Ahhh that's more like it!"
Elthana nods at Sam as he asks her if she is hearing the lion speak as well, though she doesn't quite understand it herself. This creature they have met is apparently very well versed in magic. She had one on her team that was what she would call well versed, but making animals speak was definitely not on the list of things they were asked to do.
She walks along in silence as the animals start talking, paying special attention to Neferox, wondering what in the world is going to come out of their mouth. But she does lean over to Terry once he is done and whispers to him.
The black hound grins with sharp teeth towards Terry as they say in a haunting sultry growl "I like this one. They know to fear me." She moves in a circle around the satyr as they lick their chops showing off their white canines and never once looking away from the Satyr. "I love your fear goat-thing. It smells nice." she brushes the satyr's back with her tail then grins as she follows up with "Worry not, I ate one of the deer recently. I also like talking again." The hound looks away from the satyr and then makes to move towards Sam next. Neferox for their part seems absolutely delighted with the ability to speak. A look of pure joy as the hound begins their rounds.
She stops in front of Sam and sits in front of him "You, I approve of. Distrustful of others. I sense loyalty too. Strong and able to fight. I can almost think you are part hound. Vin can learn much from you, Sam." she puts an emphasis on his name at the end. Her eyes glow a bit red and she nods in approval of Sam. "You are like me. I don't trust anyone, except Vin." Vin tries to get a word in here as he says "People are often nice Nef. It's not all murderers." Nef scoffs but doesn't argue. She instead begins walking again this time walking around Sam Hall with an almost predatory stare. "He's reckless but Vin is the only one here I care for. I am here because he wants to be. Keep that in mind. My line for you is never turn your strength away from him when he needs it."
Elthana is approached unnaturally close as Nef gets right up to them their eyes trying to stare her down and look away from the red piercing gaze. "An agent of shadows. Hiding who you are. I watch, always. I know more then you want." Vin looks confused as he looks between Nef and Elthana. Nef then backs up a bit and begins to circle Elthana in the same way they have done to Terry and Sam. Watching Elthana and how they react. As they do so they ask "Do you hide in shadows out of need or..." She suddenly leaps at Elthana not actually attacking but snapping her maw as close to them as they can. The auditable snap of Neferox's teeth clamping down on air with a snapping noise as Nef tries to make it loud and sudden in an attempt to startle her. "...out of fear?" The hound chuckles in a growling roll of a laugh as she watches Elthana. The hound suddenly stops in front of Elthana as they stop their circling and says "Maybe you can earn your name in my eyes but I did not like you upstaging him at the circus. Help him grow stronger in the darkness. For now, don't abandon Vin in the shadows. That is my line to you."
Neferox then turns to Gewyn. They don't approach them. "You seem weak. Play music. I don't really know what purpose you serve. Vin says they like you and seems to think they could learn from you. They seem hesitant to ask you anything though. I don't get it but when you're no longer needed I'll eat you. My line to you is to not mislead him."
Vin looks slightly horrified off to the side as Nef made their rounds to the group. Nef makes their way back over to Vin and the boy absentmindedly pets them as the hound asks him "What's wrong Vin?" Vin for their part has their hands on their face but as Nef brushes up against his side. He looks at the hound and just smiles awkwardly. "you wouldn't understand..." The hound pouts "Of course I would. I'm a good girl after all." Vin pets them a bit as Nef wags their tail. Vin seems resigned to whatever follows Nef being able to speak and Nef for their part seems to have said what they wanted as evident by them asking "When we get to the refugee camp can we play fetch?"
Gewyn nervously watches as Nef puts on her display for Sam and Elthana. When Nef turns her attention to Gewyn, he seems too relieved by the distance maintained between them to be insulted. He hazards a joke, saying, "Well I guess it is to my fortune that you don't understand my value then, since you'll have no way of knowing when it has expired."He then swallows nervously, wondering if that was a bad idea. "But hey, maybe I'll find a song you like"
"Songs are valuable things!" Terry states, in a hesitant attempt to back Gewyn up. The Satyr still casts the odd wary glance at Neferox, his apparent fear isn't helped by her now outspoken judgements of the group.
The Lion Órga sidles a little closer to Gewyn and asks what a 'song' is.
Sam watches Neferox with curiosity at first. A bit of amusement, as the beast stalks around Terry. When it circles and talks to him, Sam finds less amusement in it and his eyes narrow. The beast is haughty and arrogant. It likes to make threats. It worries Sam. Not that he is afraid to face the beast... But he does need to sleep around it. Sam notes the words but pays them little head. Perhaps he'll ponder them later but for now he's just keeping an eye on it.
As Neferox snaps at Elthana Sam immediately takes up his maul and is ready... But the relaxes and holds his ground.
Sam mentally shrugs at the comments to Gewyn. Sam has more hope that the bard will show their worth in time, but based solely on what they have seen so far he couldn't really argue the point with the beast.
After the beast has had their fun and returned to Vins side and adopted a more relaxed attitude, Sam approaches. Maul no longer at the ready, Sam approaches in a calm and relaxed manner. He walks up close to Neferox and squats down on his haunches to be close to eye level with the beast. "You protect Vin as if he is one of your pact. I get that. I respect that. Everyone here, they're a part of my pack. Vin, Elthana, Gewyn, Órga... Maybe Terry, we'll see. But you... You are part of my pack. While anyone is a part of my pack, I will protect them with my life, if need be. I prefer it be with taking another life though. I'm sure you understand. But you also need understand, I will protect my pact from others within the pact as well. Got it? You go after anyone in my pact, you best come for me first. My line to you? You don't start a thing, there won't be a thing. But you start a thing? I will end you..." Sam then spreads his hands wide and gives a shrug. He'll pause a minute to see if Neferox is going to respond in any way, if not then he'll groan a bit coming up from his squat, wincing at the pop in his left knee, and walk away to go give Órga a scratch behind the ears.
As soon as the hound starts circling Terry, Elthana doesn't like it. She was circling them like prey Elthana thinks as the dog moved on to Sam. Sizing them up to see their worth? Elthana narrows her eyes at the dog and takes hold of her pole, not sure what to expect. But doesn't like how Neferox was determining each members worth.
When the beast gets to Elthana she holds the red glare and when she says that she knows more than Elthana wants, she scoffs at the dog. When Neferox backs up a bit, and starts circling her, she doesn't move, she has seen this trick but she is also ready. And when Nef snaps at her, Elthana brings her pole up at the same instant to where it is directly inbetween Nef's teeth and herself. "Do that again, and I'll hit you next time." she states in a low tone. She smirks at the dog's comment to earning her name in Nef's eyes and ignores the rest.
When Sam squats down to talk to Nef, Elthana listens, and at the end before he gets up so she can reach, she puts her hand on his shoulder but says nothing.
Gewyn looks at the innocent-seeming lion, smiles softly and says, "I can't show you here where we might need to hide at a moments notice, but maybe later... It's like a kind of magic. But instead of waving a wand or chanting from a book, my magic comes from here," he holds up the pipes around his neck, "Here,"he wiggles his fingers, "Here, and here." He points to his lips and then to his heart. "And instead of throwing a ball of fire, growing in size, or conjuring curious beasts, a song hits you here," he tentatively rubs the lion's ear. "And it conjures memories. Experiences. Emotions. The right song can make you feel things, see things, even do things that normally you don't or can't. In the same way that magic can break free from the constraints of physics, a song can break you free from the constraints of your heart. If you find the right one"
Neferox smiles and glances at Vin without a hint of fear from the threats she receives, as Vin meets here eye she says "see, I knew I was right about the big one, there's a fire in him, and it appears he's helping set the others ablaze with passion for a fight, they may all prove worthy yet, to fight alongside you Vin.".
Meanwhile, Órga doesn't seem to have noticed that Sam's attention is away from him, Órga marvels at songs and their magical effects, whilst Gewyn and Terry describe what miraculous things they can do.
Vin sees his new friends get all tense and bothered by Neferox as the boy suspected they would. Vin doesn't seem happy about it at all but for whatever reason he doesn't stop her either. Its more like a resignation that this is how things are. Nef seems fine being the center of the others animosity. Vin replies to the canine "Well, they didn't run away like the kids at school. That's a good sign right?" Nef nods "Cowards won't stay with you like I do." Vin pets the hound as they continue to walk on. Seemingly deep in thought. The large black hound walking alongside them through the forest as the make their way towards the refugees. Vin walks a bit further ahead with Neferox guarding them like a predatory shadow once again. The young man nervously look back at the others on occasion. Otherwise the boy continues on. After a bit of time Nef begins to give coveted glances of hate towards Orga. Their red eyes narrowing with distaste as they look on at the lion talking with Gweyn about music.
Elthana is amused at how Gewyn explains songs to the lion. She supposes it would be difficult to explain many things to something that just appeared out of nowhere and didn’t know things of the world. She sees Nef narrow her eyes at them and she heads over to join them.
”Guess the hound didn’t see that you were the reason the great white wolf left us without attacking.” She offers to Gewyn once he completes his explanation. She gives a small smile to the lion, unsure how to address the creature.
The hours while away, the slow trudging through the forest a constant starting and stopping, it's not long before Neferox and Órga become quiet once more.
The group begin to get hungry now, having the effects of interrupted sleep from the previous night and walking since dawn starting to take its toll. Terry slows to a stop just after noon, "we are approaching but we will need to be careful" he lets out a long low whistle which ends in a high pitched toot.
There is movement in the brush ahead, a waft of the smell of food and smoke radiates from in front of the group, as a humanoid steps forward. The group recognise a man partly dressed in marbled legion armour, his sword is drawn before him. "Show yourselves, who goes there?"
Terry stands and steps forwards, "worry not, it's me! Terry!, these folk are here to help, they managed to slay a not deer, I read their minds and verified their intent"
The guard relaxes slightly as he let's everyone pass, he keeps a wary eye on everyone, expressing concern at the terrifying animals that the group now keeps.
Exiting out of the forest and into a small clearing the group sees an encampment filled with people, all watching them approach, some ready themselves with weapons, everyone seems on edge. Most of these people are maimed and injured, although these injuries look old, some have bodily and facial mutations, their skin bulbous and extended in unnatural forms, others sit or stand around the camp with thousand yard stares, unmoving and completely non reactive. Very few clerics of hermes and a few druids can be seen moving around the camp doing their very best to tend to the persistent injuries of the lame.
In the middle of the camp standing by the thickest tree a Lizardfolk and Loxodon druid speak to an authoritative looking human woman, they turn to see the group approach.
Sam was disheartened when Órga lost their ability to speak, but a bit relieved that Neferox did. Sam kept close to the lion and often kept a hand upon their back. He talked to the beast despite their inability to verbalize back to him and worked at building up a rapport. He still wasn't fully understanding of the how's and why's of the lion or how long he would be with him but he was much enjoying having them around...
"You read our what?" Sam asks, surprised. "How... what? How?!? My mind is not for others...." Sam's protestations trail off to mumbles. He's concerned by what he heard but also doesn't quite understand what is meant by it so he more or less just lets it be.
Sam has been in some battles in his life, has seen the aftermath of them and a few riots and such, so has some familiarity with the looks and tone around this encampment, but the scale of it is new to him. "How many are here... for how long? Just what happened here?" he asks, a bit rhetorically though he wouldn't mind some answers. The wounds and injuries and trauma he gets. They make sense to him. The bulbous and extended forms of the flesh though... Horrifying. Disgusting. Unexplainable to his reckoning.
"Surely this is not all from the malformed deer things?" he asks, hoping for a better explanation on just what could do all of this...
Elthana takes in the sight of all the ones in the clearing. So many in need. Are these the survivors of Hokum? Or worse or what? Nothing seemed to make sense. She overhears Sams questions, but says nothing as she takes it all in.
She looks around to see if there are any sort of guards in the vicinity. Seeing the authoritative human woman with the lizardfolk and loxodon, she starts heading their direction. Once near them, "Shionne, I presume?"
Terry becomes a little flustered at Sam's questioning, "oh... Ah, well... When I said their minds i really only meant one of you, but that person knows about it. Well at least they do now, and they seemed understanding enough. It was only for protection, we have to be cautious"
As ther group get closer towards the middle of the camp it becomes apparent that the guard behind them has some help. A few other scantily armoured guards move around the group, keeping distance but at the ready. Terry leads the group directly up to the two druids and the human woman, as Elthana asks her question, the woman scratches her head and sighs. "More newcomers, no this is good. Uhhh." She mumbles a little to herself before addressing the group and the question properly.
"I um, no, I am Goldsheaf, I'm the head of the town... Shionne is... Well she should be here shortly, I was just showing this other newcomer around" she gestures to the loxodon standing with her. "We'll get you all the information you need and we'd be grateful for any news from outside, but what we really need is help. We need to regain our town or get out..."
"These people killed a Not-Deer, I saw it!" Pipes up Terry with some degree of pleasure, "they can help!".
Goldsheaf and the aged Lizardfolk druid stand agog for a moment before the Lizardfolk smiles, and rasps "that is great news, thank you, from the keepers of the woods I thank you, deeply. Please, please lend us your aid." Goldsheaf puts her hand up and gently takes the lizardfolk's shoulder quieting him, "yes we... We are truly grateful, but we are getting ahead of ourselves, who are you all? What brings you here?"
"Ahh, so you noticed that was me," Gewyn says quietly to Elthana's words of reassurance. "I appreciate your kind words, but I think credit for that one should go to Sam. I'm just here to drum up public enthusiasm for you, the real heroes. The only songs that get sung about the bard are the ones where the bard is beheaded for seducing the princess. Or torn apart by wolves for seducing the princess. Or tossed in the ocean tied to an anchor for seducing the princess twins. It's an established, if tired, convention."Gewyn smiles halfheartedly.
Gewyn fiddles unconsciously with his pinky as they enter the camp, looking around in dismay at the victims. But his demeanor changes visibly and outwardly now that people are around. Far removed from the fear and tiredness he had shown following the attack on the carriage, he now sports all of his usual pomp. Head held high, he has a warm and comforting smile for any who look his way.
Facing Goldsheaf, Gewyn announces "I present to you, my dear lady, the champions of Northmorrah!" In a sweeping bow, Gewyn takes Goldsheaf's hand and presses his lips to it. He stands back up and says, "Your plight has not gone unnoticed, and we are here to help relieve you of your woes."
“P’haps we need more lady bards,” Sam more or less mutters to himself, shaking his head at Gewyn’s words…
Sam is more than happy to allow Gewyn and Elthana take the lead on introductions and small talk. Sam has his eyes moving about the people, uncomfortable resting them on any for too long. There is so much suffering… and corruption. Inevitably he ends up looking mostly at the guards, they at least seem less affected? Though nervous…
With a gesture and a whispered command Sam has Órga lie down, perhaps the lion will look less threatening like that? Though it’s exaggerated yawn really does show off it’s teeth. That may have made it a wash…
When Gewyn assures that we’re hear to relieve them of their woes, however, Sam can’t help but chime in that “Our goal is Hokum,” with a bit of a grunt. “Are you… they… of Hokum?”
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Sam… talks to the lion. Reluctantly and feeling quite foolish at first but it all quickly becomes… not normal, but accepted, perhaps? Less strained, anyway.
The lion is only if limited use as to figuring out where they came from and how. They knew nothing of Before Existance and once they did exist they already were. You may as well ask a newborn babe how they were conceived. Though there was less crying.
The others were some help though. Sam wouldn’t later recall who first mentioned it but once pointed out there did seem to be consensus that Sam had discarded that fuzzy ball just before the lion appeared.
“Was it warm?” The lion asked. “I do recall warm fuzzy…” Sam seemed to think that yes, the ball had been warm, though he thought little of it at the time.
“Perhaps you live in the bag?” Sam pondered aloud. “Surely there is some magic at play here, but I’m afraid I’ve little mind for such things… I barely understand how coins work. Everyone agrees they’re worth something and so they are? Nonsense! But it does make living easier so we all accept it and carry on… It’d take a bigger brain than mine to fully explain you…”
“Oh yes, you do need a name!” Sam recalls. “How does Órga suit you? It means ‘golden’ which describes you well enough…”
There were more questions that couldn’t be answered than could however: Was Órga here for good? What, or who, resided in the other fuzzy balls that resided in the bag? Was it the bag that was magical or the fuzzy balls? Sam and Órga were unsure and reluctant to try trial and error since they were already in a dubious situation.
“We’ll figure it out eventually, pal,” the one assured the other as they trotted on with the others. “Somehow.”
The young man is quite surprised when the lion suddenly starts speaking. They also try to keep listening to Terry despite the sudden vocal cat. They manage to pull their attention from the lion as Terry says what they are and replies, "Satyr! Right! You're like right out of a fairy tale. It sounds like Shionne looks after you and is helping the people here. I'm kind of excited to meet her." As Vin talks with Terry Nef has been looking startled that the lion suddenly speaks. They growl at the lion in obvious disapproval and then looks at Terry expectantly. Vin smiles and says "Nef wants to say a few things I guess. Normally, only I can understand them."
"I suppose this is the state of things, that we are nochalantly walking through forest filled with cursed nightmare creatures accompanied by not one but two talking animals with a fairytale for a guide. I suppose I would be remiss if I didn't find time to put this into a song." Gewyn seems to use that thought to distract himself from the darker aspects of their adventure thus far as he continues to walk. "I do look forward to meeting this Miss Shionne of yours"
"Órga, I like it!" The lion presses its head firmly against Sam's thigh as they walk, it's joy is not dampened by Neferox's growls of disapproval, however Órga's ears do flatten slightly as it tries to ignore the hellish hound.
Terry beams as Vin and Gewyn express their excitement to meet Shionne, but as Vin asks about casting the same spell upon Neferox, he does a slight double take, "oh, oh yes of course! Ah.. we have to be fair to all animals, however um... Scary they might be..." Terry hesitantly reaches a hand toward Neferox and mutters a stumbling spell under his breath, he then backs off as Neferox yawns that wide fang bearing yawn that dogs and wolves share, before growling out "Ahhh that's more like it!"
Elthana nods at Sam as he asks her if she is hearing the lion speak as well, though she doesn't quite understand it herself. This creature they have met is apparently very well versed in magic. She had one on her team that was what she would call well versed, but making animals speak was definitely not on the list of things they were asked to do.
She walks along in silence as the animals start talking, paying special attention to Neferox, wondering what in the world is going to come out of their mouth. But she does lean over to Terry once he is done and whispers to him.
The black hound grins with sharp teeth towards Terry as they say in a haunting sultry growl "I like this one. They know to fear me." She moves in a circle around the satyr as they lick their chops showing off their white canines and never once looking away from the Satyr. "I love your fear goat-thing. It smells nice." she brushes the satyr's back with her tail then grins as she follows up with "Worry not, I ate one of the deer recently. I also like talking again." The hound looks away from the satyr and then makes to move towards Sam next. Neferox for their part seems absolutely delighted with the ability to speak. A look of pure joy as the hound begins their rounds.
She stops in front of Sam and sits in front of him "You, I approve of. Distrustful of others. I sense loyalty too. Strong and able to fight. I can almost think you are part hound. Vin can learn much from you, Sam." she puts an emphasis on his name at the end. Her eyes glow a bit red and she nods in approval of Sam. "You are like me. I don't trust anyone, except Vin." Vin tries to get a word in here as he says "People are often nice Nef. It's not all murderers." Nef scoffs but doesn't argue. She instead begins walking again this time walking around Sam Hall with an almost predatory stare. "He's reckless but Vin is the only one here I care for. I am here because he wants to be. Keep that in mind. My line for you is never turn your strength away from him when he needs it."
Elthana is approached unnaturally close as Nef gets right up to them their eyes trying to stare her down and look away from the red piercing gaze. "An agent of shadows. Hiding who you are. I watch, always. I know more then you want." Vin looks confused as he looks between Nef and Elthana. Nef then backs up a bit and begins to circle Elthana in the same way they have done to Terry and Sam. Watching Elthana and how they react. As they do so they ask "Do you hide in shadows out of need or..." She suddenly leaps at Elthana not actually attacking but snapping her maw as close to them as they can. The auditable snap of Neferox's teeth clamping down on air with a snapping noise as Nef tries to make it loud and sudden in an attempt to startle her. "...out of fear?" The hound chuckles in a growling roll of a laugh as she watches Elthana. The hound suddenly stops in front of Elthana as they stop their circling and says "Maybe you can earn your name in my eyes but I did not like you upstaging him at the circus. Help him grow stronger in the darkness. For now, don't abandon Vin in the shadows. That is my line to you."
Neferox then turns to Gewyn. They don't approach them. "You seem weak. Play music. I don't really know what purpose you serve. Vin says they like you and seems to think they could learn from you. They seem hesitant to ask you anything though. I don't get it but when you're no longer needed I'll eat you. My line to you is to not mislead him."
Vin looks slightly horrified off to the side as Nef made their rounds to the group. Nef makes their way back over to Vin and the boy absentmindedly pets them as the hound asks him "What's wrong Vin?" Vin for their part has their hands on their face but as Nef brushes up against his side. He looks at the hound and just smiles awkwardly. "you wouldn't understand..." The hound pouts "Of course I would. I'm a good girl after all." Vin pets them a bit as Nef wags their tail. Vin seems resigned to whatever follows Nef being able to speak and Nef for their part seems to have said what they wanted as evident by them asking "When we get to the refugee camp can we play fetch?"
Gewyn nervously watches as Nef puts on her display for Sam and Elthana. When Nef turns her attention to Gewyn, he seems too relieved by the distance maintained between them to be insulted. He hazards a joke, saying, "Well I guess it is to my fortune that you don't understand my value then, since you'll have no way of knowing when it has expired." He then swallows nervously, wondering if that was a bad idea. "But hey, maybe I'll find a song you like"
"Songs are valuable things!" Terry states, in a hesitant attempt to back Gewyn up. The Satyr still casts the odd wary glance at Neferox, his apparent fear isn't helped by her now outspoken judgements of the group.
The Lion Órga sidles a little closer to Gewyn and asks what a 'song' is.
Sam watches Neferox with curiosity at first. A bit of amusement, as the beast stalks around Terry. When it circles and talks to him, Sam finds less amusement in it and his eyes narrow. The beast is haughty and arrogant. It likes to make threats. It worries Sam. Not that he is afraid to face the beast... But he does need to sleep around it. Sam notes the words but pays them little head. Perhaps he'll ponder them later but for now he's just keeping an eye on it.
As Neferox snaps at Elthana Sam immediately takes up his maul and is ready... But the relaxes and holds his ground.
Sam mentally shrugs at the comments to Gewyn. Sam has more hope that the bard will show their worth in time, but based solely on what they have seen so far he couldn't really argue the point with the beast.
After the beast has had their fun and returned to Vins side and adopted a more relaxed attitude, Sam approaches. Maul no longer at the ready, Sam approaches in a calm and relaxed manner. He walks up close to Neferox and squats down on his haunches to be close to eye level with the beast. "You protect Vin as if he is one of your pact. I get that. I respect that. Everyone here, they're a part of my pack. Vin, Elthana, Gewyn, Órga... Maybe Terry, we'll see. But you... You are part of my pack. While anyone is a part of my pack, I will protect them with my life, if need be. I prefer it be with taking another life though. I'm sure you understand. But you also need understand, I will protect my pact from others within the pact as well. Got it? You go after anyone in my pact, you best come for me first. My line to you? You don't start a thing, there won't be a thing. But you start a thing? I will end you..." Sam then spreads his hands wide and gives a shrug. He'll pause a minute to see if Neferox is going to respond in any way, if not then he'll groan a bit coming up from his squat, wincing at the pop in his left knee, and walk away to go give Órga a scratch behind the ears.
As soon as the hound starts circling Terry, Elthana doesn't like it. She was circling them like prey Elthana thinks as the dog moved on to Sam. Sizing them up to see their worth? Elthana narrows her eyes at the dog and takes hold of her pole, not sure what to expect. But doesn't like how Neferox was determining each members worth.
When the beast gets to Elthana she holds the red glare and when she says that she knows more than Elthana wants, she scoffs at the dog. When Neferox backs up a bit, and starts circling her, she doesn't move, she has seen this trick but she is also ready. And when Nef snaps at her, Elthana brings her pole up at the same instant to where it is directly inbetween Nef's teeth and herself. "Do that again, and I'll hit you next time." she states in a low tone. She smirks at the dog's comment to earning her name in Nef's eyes and ignores the rest.
When Sam squats down to talk to Nef, Elthana listens, and at the end before he gets up so she can reach, she puts her hand on his shoulder but says nothing.
Gewyn looks at the innocent-seeming lion, smiles softly and says, "I can't show you here where we might need to hide at a moments notice, but maybe later... It's like a kind of magic. But instead of waving a wand or chanting from a book, my magic comes from here," he holds up the pipes around his neck, "Here," he wiggles his fingers, "Here, and here." He points to his lips and then to his heart. "And instead of throwing a ball of fire, growing in size, or conjuring curious beasts, a song hits you here," he tentatively rubs the lion's ear. "And it conjures memories. Experiences. Emotions. The right song can make you feel things, see things, even do things that normally you don't or can't. In the same way that magic can break free from the constraints of physics, a song can break you free from the constraints of your heart. If you find the right one"
Neferox smiles and glances at Vin without a hint of fear from the threats she receives, as Vin meets here eye she says "see, I knew I was right about the big one, there's a fire in him, and it appears he's helping set the others ablaze with passion for a fight, they may all prove worthy yet, to fight alongside you Vin.".
Meanwhile, Órga doesn't seem to have noticed that Sam's attention is away from him, Órga marvels at songs and their magical effects, whilst Gewyn and Terry describe what miraculous things they can do.
Vin sees his new friends get all tense and bothered by Neferox as the boy suspected they would. Vin doesn't seem happy about it at all but for whatever reason he doesn't stop her either. Its more like a resignation that this is how things are. Nef seems fine being the center of the others animosity. Vin replies to the canine "Well, they didn't run away like the kids at school. That's a good sign right?" Nef nods "Cowards won't stay with you like I do." Vin pets the hound as they continue to walk on. Seemingly deep in thought. The large black hound walking alongside them through the forest as the make their way towards the refugees. Vin walks a bit further ahead with Neferox guarding them like a predatory shadow once again. The young man nervously look back at the others on occasion. Otherwise the boy continues on. After a bit of time Nef begins to give coveted glances of hate towards Orga. Their red eyes narrowing with distaste as they look on at the lion talking with Gweyn about music.
Elthana is amused at how Gewyn explains songs to the lion. She supposes it would be difficult to explain many things to something that just appeared out of nowhere and didn’t know things of the world. She sees Nef narrow her eyes at them and she heads over to join them.
”Guess the hound didn’t see that you were the reason the great white wolf left us without attacking.” She offers to Gewyn once he completes his explanation. She gives a small smile to the lion, unsure how to address the creature.
The hours while away, the slow trudging through the forest a constant starting and stopping, it's not long before Neferox and Órga become quiet once more.
The group begin to get hungry now, having the effects of interrupted sleep from the previous night and walking since dawn starting to take its toll. Terry slows to a stop just after noon, "we are approaching but we will need to be careful" he lets out a long low whistle which ends in a high pitched toot.
There is movement in the brush ahead, a waft of the smell of food and smoke radiates from in front of the group, as a humanoid steps forward. The group recognise a man partly dressed in marbled legion armour, his sword is drawn before him. "Show yourselves, who goes there?"
Terry stands and steps forwards, "worry not, it's me! Terry!, these folk are here to help, they managed to slay a not deer, I read their minds and verified their intent"
The guard relaxes slightly as he let's everyone pass, he keeps a wary eye on everyone, expressing concern at the terrifying animals that the group now keeps.
Exiting out of the forest and into a small clearing the group sees an encampment filled with people, all watching them approach, some ready themselves with weapons, everyone seems on edge. Most of these people are maimed and injured, although these injuries look old, some have bodily and facial mutations, their skin bulbous and extended in unnatural forms, others sit or stand around the camp with thousand yard stares, unmoving and completely non reactive. Very few clerics of hermes and a few druids can be seen moving around the camp doing their very best to tend to the persistent injuries of the lame.
In the middle of the camp standing by the thickest tree a Lizardfolk and Loxodon druid speak to an authoritative looking human woman, they turn to see the group approach.
Sam was disheartened when Órga lost their ability to speak, but a bit relieved that Neferox did. Sam kept close to the lion and often kept a hand upon their back. He talked to the beast despite their inability to verbalize back to him and worked at building up a rapport. He still wasn't fully understanding of the how's and why's of the lion or how long he would be with him but he was much enjoying having them around...
"You read our what?" Sam asks, surprised. "How... what? How?!? My mind is not for others...." Sam's protestations trail off to mumbles. He's concerned by what he heard but also doesn't quite understand what is meant by it so he more or less just lets it be.
Sam has been in some battles in his life, has seen the aftermath of them and a few riots and such, so has some familiarity with the looks and tone around this encampment, but the scale of it is new to him. "How many are here... for how long? Just what happened here?" he asks, a bit rhetorically though he wouldn't mind some answers. The wounds and injuries and trauma he gets. They make sense to him. The bulbous and extended forms of the flesh though... Horrifying. Disgusting. Unexplainable to his reckoning.
"Surely this is not all from the malformed deer things?" he asks, hoping for a better explanation on just what could do all of this...
Elthana takes in the sight of all the ones in the clearing. So many in need. Are these the survivors of Hokum? Or worse or what? Nothing seemed to make sense. She overhears Sams questions, but says nothing as she takes it all in.
She looks around to see if there are any sort of guards in the vicinity. Seeing the authoritative human woman with the lizardfolk and loxodon, she starts heading their direction. Once near them, "Shionne, I presume?"
Terry becomes a little flustered at Sam's questioning, "oh... Ah, well... When I said their minds i really only meant one of you, but that person knows about it. Well at least they do now, and they seemed understanding enough. It was only for protection, we have to be cautious"
As ther group get closer towards the middle of the camp it becomes apparent that the guard behind them has some help. A few other scantily armoured guards move around the group, keeping distance but at the ready. Terry leads the group directly up to the two druids and the human woman, as Elthana asks her question, the woman scratches her head and sighs. "More newcomers, no this is good. Uhhh." She mumbles a little to herself before addressing the group and the question properly.
"I um, no, I am Goldsheaf, I'm the head of the town... Shionne is... Well she should be here shortly, I was just showing this other newcomer around" she gestures to the loxodon standing with her. "We'll get you all the information you need and we'd be grateful for any news from outside, but what we really need is help. We need to regain our town or get out..."
"These people killed a Not-Deer, I saw it!" Pipes up Terry with some degree of pleasure, "they can help!".
Goldsheaf and the aged Lizardfolk druid stand agog for a moment before the Lizardfolk smiles, and rasps "that is great news, thank you, from the keepers of the woods I thank you, deeply. Please, please lend us your aid." Goldsheaf puts her hand up and gently takes the lizardfolk's shoulder quieting him, "yes we... We are truly grateful, but we are getting ahead of ourselves, who are you all? What brings you here?"
"Ahh, so you noticed that was me," Gewyn says quietly to Elthana's words of reassurance. "I appreciate your kind words, but I think credit for that one should go to Sam. I'm just here to drum up public enthusiasm for you, the real heroes. The only songs that get sung about the bard are the ones where the bard is beheaded for seducing the princess. Or torn apart by wolves for seducing the princess. Or tossed in the ocean tied to an anchor for seducing the princess twins. It's an established, if tired, convention." Gewyn smiles halfheartedly.
Gewyn fiddles unconsciously with his pinky as they enter the camp, looking around in dismay at the victims. But his demeanor changes visibly and outwardly now that people are around. Far removed from the fear and tiredness he had shown following the attack on the carriage, he now sports all of his usual pomp. Head held high, he has a warm and comforting smile for any who look his way.
Facing Goldsheaf, Gewyn announces "I present to you, my dear lady, the champions of Northmorrah!" In a sweeping bow, Gewyn takes Goldsheaf's hand and presses his lips to it. He stands back up and says, "Your plight has not gone unnoticed, and we are here to help relieve you of your woes."
“P’haps we need more lady bards,” Sam more or less mutters to himself, shaking his head at Gewyn’s words…
Sam is more than happy to allow Gewyn and Elthana take the lead on introductions and small talk. Sam has his eyes moving about the people, uncomfortable resting them on any for too long. There is so much suffering… and corruption. Inevitably he ends up looking mostly at the guards, they at least seem less affected? Though nervous…
With a gesture and a whispered command Sam has Órga lie down, perhaps the lion will look less threatening like that? Though it’s exaggerated yawn really does show off it’s teeth. That may have made it a wash…
When Gewyn assures that we’re hear to relieve them of their woes, however, Sam can’t help but chime in that “Our goal is Hokum,” with a bit of a grunt. “Are you… they… of Hokum?”