Sam nods and grunts an assent/thanks to Serafina when she first greets them and notes Sam’s undeadness being gone.He wonders what exactly his reply should be but Hector is already stepping up and laying on the public displays of affection so Sam is spared the need to say anything.Always a good thing.
Once Sam realizes that Ömertyr cannot understand the conversation he starts doing basic translations, as needed.Some are just “blah blah blah, they’re just chatting away” but he does try to relay anything that actually seems relevant…
“Djinn wise, I think it best to convince whichever would be easiest to convince first,” Sam opines.“We could always play them off one another after we have one… Point out how one cannot be letting the other be seen to be the leader and hero while the other sits around doing nothing.But that said, the most important one to convince is the one with the biggest army…”
“Speaking of help, Muir has convinced the two Rocs we rode in on to assist.Though large, they are still but two creatures.Can anyone thing of any other powers, as unlikely as they may be, that we could possibly approach?” Sam asks. "This is an attack we believe would decimate the entire realm... Any sentient creature should realize that means them as well."
As Sam makes the relevant translations he does get a tip off from Ömertyr, as well as information on whether ömertyr could possibly scry in vins stead.
Serafina speaks up on the other questions, now seated once more but keeping a close eye on the book in Muir's hand, "it does depend on what you are looking for, Ginro being focussed on discovery of arcane developments could prove useful for powerful artefact, but you'd have to contend with clever bureaucratic types. Shenoh is the military might and so the obvious choice but we need to know what you'll be doing so we can organise our attack in kind... If you are willing to accept ömertyr's offer of travel we could attempt to use the Roc's to lead our Smeagles into battle."
At the name of the Smeagles, the group is reminded of the two headed eagles that hector used to transport you all here from Gojiin when you all first met. Griff shudders in response, remembering the coffin like cargo hold he was stuffed in for the majority of the travel.
Muir nods "I can certainly ask if they are capable of that. They are wild and it may take a little learning...." Muir turning his attention to this book "This book here, the pictures are quite something....Are there any details here that may help us with court etiquette to help us convince Shinoh to help?
Seeing that most do not want to veer from the plan of talking to Shenoh first, Elthana shrugs and waits for decisions to be made. She feels like there is this constant storm raging through her with all of this and most of her energy is spent keeping it at bay. She smiles as Sam tries to agree with her, but acquiesces all the same. If the book is being passed around, she'd like to take a look at it as well.
"What does she mean by 'If we are willing to accept ömertyr's offer of travel we could attempt to use the Roc's to lead our Smeagles into battle.'?" Sam asks Ömertyr in Giant. "What kind of travel are you offering? We were thinking the Roc could fly us into battle but if you have a better way that frees them up..."
All in all though, Sam is a bit confused. This talk of leading into battle and all... Are we not still raising the armies? Do we not still need to find the target?
"Ömertyr advises he could sky on Trontritor... If he had the means," Sam adds to the assembled group before he forgets that tidbit before conversing more with them in Giant...
Sam himself doesn't have much desire to see the book. Books are full of confusing and complicated things like words and ideas and such... But Sam does move next to Elthana and nudge her a bit to show he is with her as she looks. He'll glance over her shoulder a bit but mostly continues talking with Ömertyr...
"Ömertyr says there are two other Giants in Thaeir. A Death Giant with connections to that Crow Queen so we should definitely try to recruit them, they likely do not want undead kobolds running rampant. Also a Frost Giant who may be a bit touchier but... Frozen Ice Hulks at his command so... worth a shot?" Sam puts out there for the others to chew upon. "Says he can carry us around in his pack... I'm guessing that's some funny magic thing like you're portal, eh Muir? Says it will be safer and warmer than the Rocs anyway..."
"So we have more people to visit now. More to convince to join us... Which is good. Though we still need to figure out when and where the battle will be."
"Okay, so we have our targets, and our work cut out for us in convincing them to join us. I'm sure there is a lot we can figure out as we go, but are there any cultural taboos or triggers we should be aware of in our engagements so we do not offend some stupid mistake like crossing a threshold our right foot instead of our left? I've nearly been carried out by guards for smaller offenses."
"I have been hearing of such traditions being used on Duun, they are taking ancient tradition very seriously... Kneeling at door before entering and other such things. But on Shenoh I should be being able to keep us out of trouble" Griff answers.
"You are working at the behest of the Raven Queen, this should overcome any difficulty should you slight someone" kohso encourages.
during the span of Sam and Ömertyr's conversation, the giant blue guy says something with a wide amused grin and then looks around the party asking Sam in giant, "when can you all be ready?"
Vin nods to Sam, "Ömertyr is welcome to be the one that tries, but we will have to wait if that is the case, as he will need to spend time focusing on the crystal ball".
Listening to the others detail possible allies and plans, he asks, "I am getting the feeling this is all being put on us. That is fine, but would it not be more efficient try approach more than one ally at a time? Perhaps once we get Shenoh on board, they will be able to send delegations to the other Djinn? Ginro sounds a good choice. Whilst we go with Ömertyr to speak to the other giants".
"Is there anyone else you can all reach out to now as well?", he asks the council members.
Kohso chuckles. "We are the isle of betrayers who cannot be trusted, Nivara, through means of the Vox made sure that we have no allies to rely upon, nor could we reach out without fear of immediate repercussion on our lives, we can rely only upon ourselves and now you. I am truly sorry that this burden lands upon the shoulders of your group. We would send with you our warriors but they would be cut down the second they flew in proximity with Shenoh's isle, this we know from experience."
"Yeah, I get that, thought it worth an ask though. What about religious orders? In our realm the followers of the gods have great power over undead. If Vox Tontritor is your deity, I guess that means you don't have that kind of power here now? Unless there is an order devoted to the Raven Queen we can contact directly?", Vin adds.
Elthana nods to Sam and adds, "I'm ready whenever the rest are all done talking. I do worry that even with all the dijiins understanding the situation and assisting with their respective armies.. it isn't going to be enough."
"I hope that the faithful will answer your call, those devoted in this realm have faith in the raven. You should use this to your advantage when speaking to the djinni." Kohso answers vin before the group ready themselves to head out.
As you leave, Ömertyr shows you to an odd house, next to the mount.
It has a haunted roof that slopes down one way, the foundations appear to not be connected to the ground at all and there are two massive hooks bent downward coming from the top of it, apart from these oddities it appears somewhat similar to the carved crystal structures that the rest of the community here call home.
The cloud giant speaks to Sam, obviously in giant, and gives the rest of the group a wide grin like an excited child showing off something they had made at school.
"This is my pack, it should house all of you comfortably for the trip, I've consulted the navigators and it should take four days to arrive to Shenoh, but you must make up your mind whether you'd like to visit the other giants before then... Also decide whether you'd like any of your group to take the Roc's. Though they'll have to follow me"
Sam nods and grunts to Elthana's concern about the size of their forces. "I don't suppose one ever feels they have enough forces when going to war though," he notes. "And we have not seen our foes forces first hand... So we imagine the worst when hopefully that is not the case. But in the end all we can do is what we can do... And then hope it is sufficient."
Before reaching the "pack" Sam does not to Ömertyr that the magic item would need being attuned to before he could use it to scry. "It is available whenever you are ready to attune to it... Not that we have a lot of time to spare."
"Apparently this house is what our Giant friend here considers a pack," Sam explains to the others with a bit of a grin. "We'll ride inside and be far more comfortable traveling than we have been lately, he assures us. We want to hit up the Djinn Shenoh first or his giant-kin friends? Also, the Roc's could come but they'd have to follow... I'm not sure if they could fly as fast or for as long though so it may be best to leave them here if there is someone to tend to them? You know, keep them from eating the normies?"
While Sam lets them discuss and answer those points he next addresses Ömertyr, though keeping half an ear on the others. "It is quite a pack. We ourselves would call it a house but I guess size does matter after all... Time is a concern so minimizing doubling back and forth would be wise and I would need rely upon your knowledge on that matter... But I think the Djinn should be the first visit, if possible. If we can convince them to amass armies they may need time to summon and organize them. And perhaps they would know others that might be recruited as well. Then I would think your Death Giant would make sense, hopefully get them with us before trying to persuade your ice giant?"
Hector stands to one side, nodding along with Sam's plan. "Shenoh first then, that will take you around 4 days with it's travel path and ours. Unfortunately I won't be coming with you, I'm needed here to assist training up and accumulating our fighters from across the lands, we'll get message out to those of us getting supplies from other isles. But how long do you think we should wait to start our warpath to Vox's castle in the thunderclouds?"
Vin stairs up at the house / pack, obviously impressed at the size of it and wondering about Ömertyr's true form if he was indeed going to bear its weight.
"I think the Roc's had best stay with us. The guards weren't exactly confident having them here when I spoke to them, and I don't think they will be able to control the rocs at all. Do you know if the other giants are on the way, Sam? Did Ömertyr say? I can't help but being a little nervous going into the territory of an unknown Djinn whose guards might just take offence at us. Having three giants at our back would certainly give us an air of authority and likely some credibility with Shenoh too", he ponders.
"But if it is too much of a detour that might not be worth it", he then adds with a frown.
Neferox gazes on the house suspiciously, but seems happy to have an alternative to running the whole way.
When Hector mentions the warpath to Vox's castle, Vin is a little taken aback, having not considered how the armies would approach.
"Is there a way to get to the castle on foot? As for timing, I don't suppose you have some Sending Stones or the like so we can co-ordinate timing?".
"if you wish to take them, then be my guest, go speak with them and have them follow as you leave." Hector says accepting the choice About the Rocs without issue. "As for a foot path no, I'm afraid that the isles are distinctly separated from the castle of Vox Tontritor. It resides within the thundercloud above us all. Within the ceaseless cloud is a gargantuan astral Dreadnaught, the Vox's castle is upon that beasts back" he points upward, high hig above the shattered isle there is a cloud which flashes and rumbles but is so far away that nothing is felt, a distant smudge in the perfect blue backdrop of the vast that is the plane of air.
"Though, Do not mistake the distance for a lack of threat, the six isles of Thaeir may be constantly falling and constantly moving within an orbit of that cloud, but don't forget, the Vox's power reached this isle and was powerful enough to shatter it completely, killing lumithor and countless citizens in one fell swoop. Remember this when you set off to that castle. If she is truly undead and under the thrall of Nivara, we may not even be able to get close. I wish you luck on your travels, we need all the help we can get."
Vin holds out the book for Muir to take.
Muir happily accepts it absorbing as much as he can
Sam nods and grunts an assent/thanks to Serafina when she first greets them and notes Sam’s undeadness being gone. He wonders what exactly his reply should be but Hector is already stepping up and laying on the public displays of affection so Sam is spared the need to say anything. Always a good thing.
Once Sam realizes that Ömertyr cannot understand the conversation he starts doing basic translations, as needed. Some are just “blah blah blah, they’re just chatting away” but he does try to relay anything that actually seems relevant…
“Djinn wise, I think it best to convince whichever would be easiest to convince first,” Sam opines. “We could always play them off one another after we have one… Point out how one cannot be letting the other be seen to be the leader and hero while the other sits around doing nothing. But that said, the most important one to convince is the one with the biggest army…”
“Speaking of help, Muir has convinced the two Rocs we rode in on to assist. Though large, they are still but two creatures. Can anyone thing of any other powers, as unlikely as they may be, that we could possibly approach?” Sam asks. "This is an attack we believe would decimate the entire realm... Any sentient creature should realize that means them as well."
As Sam makes the relevant translations he does get a tip off from Ömertyr, as well as information on whether ömertyr could possibly scry in vins stead.
Serafina speaks up on the other questions, now seated once more but keeping a close eye on the book in Muir's hand, "it does depend on what you are looking for, Ginro being focussed on discovery of arcane developments could prove useful for powerful artefact, but you'd have to contend with clever bureaucratic types. Shenoh is the military might and so the obvious choice but we need to know what you'll be doing so we can organise our attack in kind... If you are willing to accept ömertyr's offer of travel we could attempt to use the Roc's to lead our Smeagles into battle."
At the name of the Smeagles, the group is reminded of the two headed eagles that hector used to transport you all here from Gojiin when you all first met. Griff shudders in response, remembering the coffin like cargo hold he was stuffed in for the majority of the travel.
Muir nods "I can certainly ask if they are capable of that. They are wild and it may take a little learning...." Muir turning his attention to this book "This book here, the pictures are quite something....Are there any details here that may help us with court etiquette to help us convince Shinoh to help?
Seeing that most do not want to veer from the plan of talking to Shenoh first, Elthana shrugs and waits for decisions to be made. She feels like there is this constant storm raging through her with all of this and most of her energy is spent keeping it at bay. She smiles as Sam tries to agree with her, but acquiesces all the same. If the book is being passed around, she'd like to take a look at it as well.
"What does she mean by 'If we are willing to accept ömertyr's offer of travel we could attempt to use the Roc's to lead our Smeagles into battle.'?" Sam asks Ömertyr in Giant. "What kind of travel are you offering? We were thinking the Roc could fly us into battle but if you have a better way that frees them up..."
All in all though, Sam is a bit confused. This talk of leading into battle and all... Are we not still raising the armies? Do we not still need to find the target?
"Ömertyr advises he could sky on Trontritor... If he had the means," Sam adds to the assembled group before he forgets that tidbit before conversing more with them in Giant...
Sam himself doesn't have much desire to see the book. Books are full of confusing and complicated things like words and ideas and such... But Sam does move next to Elthana and nudge her a bit to show he is with her as she looks. He'll glance over her shoulder a bit but mostly continues talking with Ömertyr...
"Ömertyr says there are two other Giants in Thaeir. A Death Giant with connections to that Crow Queen so we should definitely try to recruit them, they likely do not want undead kobolds running rampant. Also a Frost Giant who may be a bit touchier but... Frozen Ice Hulks at his command so... worth a shot?" Sam puts out there for the others to chew upon. "Says he can carry us around in his pack... I'm guessing that's some funny magic thing like you're portal, eh Muir? Says it will be safer and warmer than the Rocs anyway..."
"So we have more people to visit now. More to convince to join us... Which is good. Though we still need to figure out when and where the battle will be."
"Okay, so we have our targets, and our work cut out for us in convincing them to join us. I'm sure there is a lot we can figure out as we go, but are there any cultural taboos or triggers we should be aware of in our engagements so we do not offend some stupid mistake like crossing a threshold our right foot instead of our left? I've nearly been carried out by guards for smaller offenses."
"I have been hearing of such traditions being used on Duun, they are taking ancient tradition very seriously... Kneeling at door before entering and other such things. But on Shenoh I should be being able to keep us out of trouble" Griff answers.
"You are working at the behest of the Raven Queen, this should overcome any difficulty should you slight someone" kohso encourages.
during the span of Sam and Ömertyr's conversation, the giant blue guy says something with a wide amused grin and then looks around the party asking Sam in giant, "when can you all be ready?"
Vin nods to Sam, "Ömertyr is welcome to be the one that tries, but we will have to wait if that is the case, as he will need to spend time focusing on the crystal ball".
Listening to the others detail possible allies and plans, he asks, "I am getting the feeling this is all being put on us. That is fine, but would it not be more efficient try approach more than one ally at a time? Perhaps once we get Shenoh on board, they will be able to send delegations to the other Djinn? Ginro sounds a good choice. Whilst we go with Ömertyr to speak to the other giants".
"Is there anyone else you can all reach out to now as well?", he asks the council members.
Kohso chuckles. "We are the isle of betrayers who cannot be trusted, Nivara, through means of the Vox made sure that we have no allies to rely upon, nor could we reach out without fear of immediate repercussion on our lives, we can rely only upon ourselves and now you. I am truly sorry that this burden lands upon the shoulders of your group. We would send with you our warriors but they would be cut down the second they flew in proximity with Shenoh's isle, this we know from experience."
"Yeah, I get that, thought it worth an ask though. What about religious orders? In our realm the followers of the gods have great power over undead. If Vox Tontritor is your deity, I guess that means you don't have that kind of power here now? Unless there is an order devoted to the Raven Queen we can contact directly?", Vin adds.
Elthana nods to Sam and adds, "I'm ready whenever the rest are all done talking. I do worry that even with all the dijiins understanding the situation and assisting with their respective armies.. it isn't going to be enough."
"I hope that the faithful will answer your call, those devoted in this realm have faith in the raven. You should use this to your advantage when speaking to the djinni." Kohso answers vin before the group ready themselves to head out.
As you leave, Ömertyr shows you to an odd house, next to the mount.
It has a haunted roof that slopes down one way, the foundations appear to not be connected to the ground at all and there are two massive hooks bent downward coming from the top of it, apart from these oddities it appears somewhat similar to the carved crystal structures that the rest of the community here call home.
The cloud giant speaks to Sam, obviously in giant, and gives the rest of the group a wide grin like an excited child showing off something they had made at school.
"This is my pack, it should house all of you comfortably for the trip, I've consulted the navigators and it should take four days to arrive to Shenoh, but you must make up your mind whether you'd like to visit the other giants before then... Also decide whether you'd like any of your group to take the Roc's. Though they'll have to follow me"
Sam nods and grunts to Elthana's concern about the size of their forces. "I don't suppose one ever feels they have enough forces when going to war though," he notes. "And we have not seen our foes forces first hand... So we imagine the worst when hopefully that is not the case. But in the end all we can do is what we can do... And then hope it is sufficient."
Before reaching the "pack" Sam does not to Ömertyr that the magic item would need being attuned to before he could use it to scry. "It is available whenever you are ready to attune to it... Not that we have a lot of time to spare."
"Apparently this house is what our Giant friend here considers a pack," Sam explains to the others with a bit of a grin. "We'll ride inside and be far more comfortable traveling than we have been lately, he assures us. We want to hit up the Djinn Shenoh first or his giant-kin friends? Also, the Roc's could come but they'd have to follow... I'm not sure if they could fly as fast or for as long though so it may be best to leave them here if there is someone to tend to them? You know, keep them from eating the normies?"
While Sam lets them discuss and answer those points he next addresses Ömertyr, though keeping half an ear on the others. "It is quite a pack. We ourselves would call it a house but I guess size does matter after all... Time is a concern so minimizing doubling back and forth would be wise and I would need rely upon your knowledge on that matter... But I think the Djinn should be the first visit, if possible. If we can convince them to amass armies they may need time to summon and organize them. And perhaps they would know others that might be recruited as well. Then I would think your Death Giant would make sense, hopefully get them with us before trying to persuade your ice giant?"
Hector stands to one side, nodding along with Sam's plan. "Shenoh first then, that will take you around 4 days with it's travel path and ours. Unfortunately I won't be coming with you, I'm needed here to assist training up and accumulating our fighters from across the lands, we'll get message out to those of us getting supplies from other isles. But how long do you think we should wait to start our warpath to Vox's castle in the thunderclouds?"
Vin stairs up at the house / pack, obviously impressed at the size of it and wondering about Ömertyr's true form if he was indeed going to bear its weight.
"I think the Roc's had best stay with us. The guards weren't exactly confident having them here when I spoke to them, and I don't think they will be able to control the rocs at all. Do you know if the other giants are on the way, Sam? Did Ömertyr say? I can't help but being a little nervous going into the territory of an unknown Djinn whose guards might just take offence at us. Having three giants at our back would certainly give us an air of authority and likely some credibility with Shenoh too", he ponders.
"But if it is too much of a detour that might not be worth it", he then adds with a frown.
Neferox gazes on the house suspiciously, but seems happy to have an alternative to running the whole way.
When Hector mentions the warpath to Vox's castle, Vin is a little taken aback, having not considered how the armies would approach.
"Is there a way to get to the castle on foot? As for timing, I don't suppose you have some Sending Stones or the like so we can co-ordinate timing?".
“I should speak to the rocs then….”
"if you wish to take them, then be my guest, go speak with them and have them follow as you leave." Hector says accepting the choice About the Rocs without issue. "As for a foot path no, I'm afraid that the isles are distinctly separated from the castle of Vox Tontritor. It resides within the thundercloud above us all. Within the ceaseless cloud is a gargantuan astral Dreadnaught, the Vox's castle is upon that beasts back" he points upward, high hig above the shattered isle there is a cloud which flashes and rumbles but is so far away that nothing is felt, a distant smudge in the perfect blue backdrop of the vast that is the plane of air.
"Though, Do not mistake the distance for a lack of threat, the six isles of Thaeir may be constantly falling and constantly moving within an orbit of that cloud, but don't forget, the Vox's power reached this isle and was powerful enough to shatter it completely, killing lumithor and countless citizens in one fell swoop. Remember this when you set off to that castle. If she is truly undead and under the thrall of Nivara, we may not even be able to get close. I wish you luck on your travels, we need all the help we can get."