(Sorry for my absence, been travelling, getting ready to leave again tomorrow, and preparing for a new job, among other things. Ugh. I'll be gone again for the next week, but I should be able to post during that period. Excellent work on the story by all involved!)
Cainneach was already roused by the scream that rent the cold night before Famh shook him. The potential terrors of the night leap immediately into his mind, though he is uncharacteristically slow to react. It is almost certain that one of the lads was the source of that deathly cry and there didn't seem to be much reason to witness the tail end of that encounter. However, Famh appeared to be heading that way and there is a small chance there was another explanation, one that would require some assistance of the drowsy forester. Salt gives Cainneach an encouraging lick on the hand. Sigh. You're right, fella, I'd never forgive myself if one of our friends were to come to harm while I lay here, pondering options.
Cainneach grabs his bow and quiver and trudges off behind Famh, hoping he won't need to be of assistance, but ready to offer it if circumstances require.
Vardi, given the silent reminder from Ori to hold fast to duty, does not rush to grapple with the tragic results of unresolved wrongs, but merely nods in agreement. She does offer Dochartaigh a gentle hand to his feet, even if her face shows no sign of pity.
...Give it a chance... She hopes to herself ...Come on lass, break tha pattern, nay chain yerself to a man's cruelty forever...
Her gaze stays on Meabh, or what once was her, and hopes that words from another man might reach further than any of her own might. The weight of Skoggavardi on her shoulder still, serene in his poise despite the vengeful dead's presence nearby, gives her some hope that Ori's lion-hearted diplomacy may yet see justice done.
...Land, People and Crown. Live or dead, she's a person, or was, and may yet still be... holds her to the spot, that and a fear she dare not dwell on, lest it break her calm.
That's three...She thinks as the twisted one meets with justice from beyond the grave ...Is it enough?
The only words spoken by the icy shade of Meabh seem to indicate that perhaps bloodprice has finally been met. The smile of relief that brings to her lips is brief, but real.
Ori: "Best go now before she changes my mind."
Again, the Lyftenwoman silently nods in agreement. All she says to Dochartaigh is a quiet hiss of "Ye live, but only by her choice. Give me no reason ta question her wisdom."
A chunk of hacksilver bracelet is added to the golden coins as she speaks, an easier currency for a farmer to spend without questions asked.
Only when the lad starts walking does she murmur to Ori "Ye are brave, tha' I knew, but I dinae saw tha wisdom in ye afore now. Thank ye, but please, get by tha fire sharpish now. One frozen corpse is enough fer a night if ye ask me!"
Famh's cheerful declaration is met with utter confusion, then an embarrassed smile as she concludes that she may have escaped the ice maiden's attentions, but nothing evades the fire-haired wonderworker's sharp eyes, and that is a test of Vardi's own diplomatic skills, meagre as they may be.
"Night's still yet ta pass. If she's taken one but left tha other alive, maybe she's finally free of wha' bound her to them?" she says, choosing to concentrate on the matter at hand.
Ori stands with his back towards the direction Dochartaigh would have left, and looking at the Lyftenwoman, still had a smile on his face. Memories that had flooded his mind before still fading but had left him with a smile and ease. He hadn't recalled those memories in a long time, as he tended to focus on his darker times when thinking of that time in his life. "There was alot of wisdom and bravery in what I tried to say, but all I did was butcher the words. I've hear those words before, but it took until now for me to realize the wisdom behind them. The credit should be Meabh's for being able to hear it." Ori hears Famh moving towards them and the smile starts to fade from his face , but still is there. He figured he could pull rank on Vardi and get out of any explanation bit Famh would never let some nonsense like that stop her from getting answers.
Hearing Famh's words of encouragement towards Vardi, the smile slips from his face for a scrunched up confused expression. He turns to look towards Dochartaigh and then back at Vardi. Ori wouldn't have called the lad brawny, certainly not in respect to Vardi's build. But to each their own he suspects. A slight chuckle escapes his lips at the thought of Vardi tossing poor Dodo around, good thing Ori gave him both axes to defend himself! Ori turns to walk back to claimed sleep spot, "Well since your up Famh guess it's time for shift change and we can go sleep off the nights excitement, aye Vadri?" Laughing to himself he finally notices Cainneach, "double shift? Lose a bet to Thatch or something?" Ori will return to his bed roll.
Dochartaigh left the broch his hands tightly clenched in front of him, on his way down the hill he passed Almeric the knight nodded to him carefully sensing something had passed and judging in the retinue not to have let the lad go without just cause. He turned over and went back to sleep with something akin to a smile on his face.
Dochartaigh continued downhill soon drawing out of sight of the group.
Famh was up and ready to sit watch as Vardi and Ori withdrew.....Cainneach had a decision to make, whether to retire again or sit watch with his lady.....
Ori: "There was alot of wisdom and bravery in what I tried to say, but all I did was butcher the words. I've hear those words before, but it took until now for me to realize the wisdom behind them. The credit should be Meabh's for being able to hear it."
"Butchered? Matters not. Meaning was clear. Tha's all tha' matters."Vardi replies quietly, then offers "Aye. Here was me thinkin' ta stop her with force when ye held back her undying rage wi' naught but truthful words."
The Joturnkin's look to Famh is one of wry amusement at her own foolishness as she concludes "Should have paid more attention tha first time that proved effective..."
Skoggi, no longer glaring saucer-eyed into darkness and death, pauses from meticulously washing his forepaws in and utters a soft mew in apparent agreement.
Vardi says quietly to Famh in reassurance as she passes her in change of watch "Tha price of Meabh's death has been paid three-fold. Answered for by King's law and by ancient custom in full. This I ha' witnessed, but will speak of only if required ta answer ta tha Crown's request." then makes gesture as if stamping a heavy seal down upon her lips.
With that said, the Lyften lass walks to her bedroll to sleep with an unworried mind and a warm heart, which in light of the events of the last few nights, is a wonder in itself.
Famh and Cainneach sat watch the rest of the night, conversing and....keeping watch.....until the sun began to make its meagre ascent above the horizon.
Sir Almeric went to each of the companions in turn and clasped their shoulders, " We've done as well as we can. Some far better than they knew themselves capable of."
" The lad is still serving duty in penance as he would have been at Marrowglen.......and likely of more use here than there. If theres trouble with the families it will lay on me. If any representatives of them find you, bring the matter to me immediately."
The companions begin to break camp and ready for the road....
( Feel free to narrate any conversations between Famh and Cainneach and morning activities. Next post from me will have you on the road to Beltayne.)
As the Thulish couple settles in to ... watch ... together, Cainneach notices a look in his beloved's eyes that hovers somewhere between puzzlement and embarrassment. At first, all he can get from Famh in response to his inquiries as to the cause is a sheepish, "I coud ha sworn ... but ye ken whit thay says, 'A Thule's aye wisest behinde the hand.' " But after a little she regains enough of her composure to explain the error she was under concerning Ori and Vardi.
"A thowt when she lookit up at me sae watchful as I cam in, that surely I'd interruptit summat delicate ... and 'twas all come of whit haed juist happenit tae that bawbag walloper Loch, instead. Small blame tae her ... I'd hae been on the edge of a hair too if I'd been thare and seen sic things, and didna yet know if Meabh haed truly relinquishit her vengeance wi' this last death. A'm glad she felt her own enach wis fou paid, thouch, an didnae gae after Dochartaigh ower. He'll be much better able tae pay whit he owes her da sin he's yet alive. An thon wis sae wise o' Ori tae let the lad gae... he's grown syne we met him, dinnae ye think? Our Sergeant, I mean. A dinnae know gin the old Ori wad have haed the courage tae tak the responsibility on himself like thon, without e'en hesitatin'."
Cainneach draws a sigh of relief at this point, concluding that if Famh has recovered enough to start to babble, she's basically OK. He is also relieved to note that her appearance has settled down to basically the Famh he knew before, albeit with a new maturity and confidence nurtured by the security of their love and the many perils they have come through together basically intact. (OOC not to mention her player's satisfaction with what her AI character portrait training has come up with)
In fact, he finds himself thinking that this new poise was all that was wanting to elevate his fiancee from enchanting to absolutely bewitching, although before this night he would have sworn that no further enhancement of her beauty was possible. Also that there are ways to get a woman that you love to stop talking. Such as, for instance, showing her that her lips are far better used for more ... nonverbal ... purposes. We will draw the veil of discretion over the remainder of their evening together, but when Thatch and Sir Almeric take their due turn on watch Famh is far too blissed-out to think of telling her liege-knight what happened in the broch above. And when she does think of it she only needs a little time for thought to realize that it is not really hers to report anyhow, and that the new Ori was if anything more forthright and honest than the old and would certainly tell Sir Almeric come the morn.
And indeed, the knight's words to his retinue next morning show that he is fully aware of and fully approves Ori's decision. Since it is a decision her Thulish spirit fully and instinctively approves of also, she has little to say in response. She honestly doesn't think there will be any trouble with the families unless Meabh had a pledged sweetheart whose claim to compensation might come close to equalling her father's; but she is also learning to be politic as part of her personal growth, and she doesn't see any point in saying so ... especially as the lass might have had such a person in her life.
As the retinue starts off on the road, Famh looks thoughtfully between Sir Almeric and Vardi before settling on the latter as more likely to have the knowledge she is interested in learning. Since her dream of the night before, the embers of her lifelong ambition of becoming one of the filidh have been fanned to full life again, blazing as hot within her as the fiery dreams of girlhood in which she first pictured herself as one of the lucky few whose strangeness was celebrated rather than feared. And it occurs to her, marching just behind the Kingswoman in the sparklingly fresh light of a new dawn, that that rank of Vardi's means that she is the most likely of all the retinue to actually have spoken to a filidh at some time in her life ... perhaps to even know what one does when one wishes to find one of the wandering wiscocks whose word could rule common and noble alike in the old days, and who still retained much of their ancient rank if not their precisely legal power. In fact, as she thinks of that rank she modifies her original design and decides to include Sir Almeric in the query after all. Even though he is an Albish knight, his home manor is in Aldred's borderland barony; and their liege lord is clearly more than familiar with the ways of his Thulish neighbors to the north ... their current journey stands as clear evidence of that. Even if Almeric does not know the answer himself, he might have contacts with those who do. And so it is to both of them that she addresses her words as the Dayne retinue begins to move out on the road. She drops back from Cainneach's side enough to be in a position where both can hear her, but she makes sure that her beloved is in full earshot also ... she most certainly wants to include him in this pivotal moment in her life.
"Vardi... Sir Almeric... A'v been thinkin lately. Or I shoud say, dreamin'. The same dream has come tae me three times i a row now ... juist like the dream thon led me tae the Dayne retinue an tae Cainneach sae long ago back in Igham. I seem tae see ma past and present and future, aw swirlin' together like the mists thon usit tae drop doun in the twynk o' oon e'e back whan I wis a girl... but ivery time, the dream ends wi ane clear picture. I'm walking along a road, clad i' the leathers of a first degree ollamh juist settin oot on her path tae become ane o the wise ones; an thouch I canna see any o ye... no e'en Cainneach ... A ken somehow ye are ahead o me preparin' the camp tae celebrate ma new rank.
I think, thouch I'd have blushit tae e'en dream it a sixmonth agone, thon Gatanades may truly be callin' me tae tak the path o the Wise. But I'd neit a master tae teach me, ane o the filidh wi' the patience an kindness tae tak on a new apprentice. An' ye twa are the most like o aw the retinue tae at least have haed some dealings wi' thon rank. Can ye counsel me at aw hou I micht find such a master? I dinnae want tae leave the retinue... far from it... I think this wad actually make me a better herald for ye than... "
She gives a startled blink at this point ... she certainly hadn't thought of herself in the role of a herald up until this point ... but as she thinks about it the word seems to fit. She recalls with a smile how right it felt back a thousand years ago ... so much had happened since that it truly seemed that long ... when she'd had a chance to announce the Dayne retinue's approach to Rory Mor. How suddenly things she'd never had the chance to know before -- sizing up the man she was speaking to, thinking quickly of the impression she needed to make in the service of her liege knight so they would have the best chance of achieving their goal, and then finding the right words suddenly rise to her tongue as if they had always been there and were only waiting for her to achieve enough clarity of mind to let them flow. It is at this moment that Famh Thrawn Fiadhaich finally, fully accepts that she has grown beyond her past; that it is not only Cainneach's love but her own strength that has brought her to this moment; and that she deserves all the happiness of all her dreams and will indeed be a better wife to her beloved if she is strong in herself to fittingly match his strength. She smiles winningly at her liege knight and her newest friend. "Herald ... I'd not thoucht of it erenow, but that might be the nearest Albish equivalent tae the filidh. Unless Fergus is yer herald as weel as yer householdman, Ser? But I suppose he coud use an assistant in thon case, if it's aw right wi ye."
So enthusiastically delighted is Famh to be able to openly discuss the pursuit of her hitherto most secretly cherished dreams that she is moved to offer up a sample of the sort of ballad her future ollamh self might sing before the Duke and Baron were she to be suddenly and magically elevated to that rank in the brief space of journey that remains before the retinue stands before those lairds in truth reporting on the success of their mission to the north. Her choice of material is doubtless influenced by the eventful night that has just passed, for "The Bonny Swans" stands high in the admittedly well-filled ranks of tragic Thuilsh murder ballads; and in it too the victim speaks out from beyond the grave to claim justice for herself:
(here Famh looks about, and seeing no one on in eyeshot on the road at this moment, uses a quick faerie glamour to demonstrate the haunting wordless bridge she might play here on the uillean pipes, or the viol, or any of the two or three haunting, droning, or wailing instruments that Famh’s magic combines into a single swirling orchestra of caoineadh)
The magical chorus of wordless lament breaks out again for a moment before Famh bethinks herself to not press her luck too long; then she lets it drift off uphill, fading hauntingly away into the ruined broch until the last notes quiver nad echo from the shaft of the fateful well itself.
This post has potentially manipulated dice roll results.
The troupe continues their descent out of the rolling hills as Famhs voice rings out across the slopes, Sir Almeric smiles happily as Famh concludes, " I think it obvious you would make a most fitting Herald.....a Skald in your Tongue, Vardi? A Filidh as you say, Famh."
Cainneach had time to call out a warning as an arrow flew out from cover on the righthand of the path ahead, the warning gave Sir Almeric time to raise his shield so the shaft found purchase in it rather than his neck....
Another arrow was loosed this time toward Vardi from the left hand side ahead ( Attack: 10 Damage: 10 ).
A dagger span out from the right towards Famh ( Attack: 19 Damage: 9 )
Two daggers span out from the left hand bushes towards Thatch ( Attack: 25 Damage: 8 + Attack: 9 Damage: 8 )
Two men in blackened armour ran out onto the path ahead and formed up ahead of the companions some 25'.
( Cainneach, Famh and Thatch are up. I autorolled Initiative for everyone....we'll see how it goes for this then up to you lot if you want to auto or self-roll in future)
(Just for reference did the volley of arrows and daggers come out from the same spot as these two or would those indicate there are more then the two that are rushing at us?)
(Sorry, my belief that I would be able to post while on travel was apparently misguided. Sigh. To follow up on Ori's question, it sounds like there are more than two and that the ranged assailants are closer than the obstructionist fellows on the road. Can Cainneach see if those two on the road have bows? If not, he would probably try to fire at the one still hidden to the right to 1. drive them into view, and 2. avenge any damage done to Famh.)
Cainneach will cry out a second time, seeing his beloved wracked by a dagger thrown from the shadows. He leaps in front of her, draws his bow, pivots to the right and whispers a scathing invocation to Morkaan before unleashing an arrow toward the hidden pair that assailed Famh.
Bonus Action - Hunter's Mark (presumably on the Harbinger Cloak to our right)
Longbow - Attack vs. Harbinger Cloak: 14, damage (piercing w/Hunter's Mark): 16 (if at Disadvantage due to hiding, etc., second ATK roll - 9)
Thatch muddles along the road, uncharacteristically distracted, either lost in Famh’s melody or replaying the eerie happenings at the broch back in his mind. He looks up at Cainneach’s sudden shout and the sharp pain of a dagger tearing through his side, ducking just enough that the second blade fails to find its mark. He throws up his shortbow and releases an arrow at the closest Mercenary appearing in the road and shouts “Bandits!” Arrow released, he [Tooltip Not Found] toward the relative cover of the treeline north of the road, just behind Vardi and Sir Almeric.
Thatch muddles along the road, uncharacteristically distracted, either lost in Famh’s melody or replaying the eerie happenings at the broch back in his mind. He looks up at Cainneach’s sudden shout and the sharp pain of a dagger tearing through his side, ducking just enough that the second blade fails to find its mark. He throws up his shortbow and releases an arrow at the closest Mercenary appearing in the road and shouts “Bandits!” Arrow released, he [Tooltip Not Found] toward the relative cover of the treeline north of the road, just behind Vardi and Sir Almeric.
Attack vs Mercenary: 19 Damage: 8.
The Tooltip Not Found was supposed to be using his cunning action to dash toward the treeline.
Famh lets out a sudden yelp as the flying dagger rudely interrupts her happy savoring of Sir Almeric's compliment. At first she doesn't think she's been hurt too badly, and even rallies enough to make a joke of the matter, calling out towards her unseen assailant, "A didnae think ma singin' wis thon bad! Have ye nae appreciation for music?" But as her dearest Cainneach jumps protectively in front of her, the sudden flash of lightheadedness that comes and goes like the flickering summer lightning warns her to take her injury seriously. She pulls the thrown blade out from her shoulder with a wince and a set-jawed grimace. She was quite used to having sticks and stones thrown at her in her bad old haunted days, but sharp pointies are a new and unpleasant wrinkle in a general theme she'd hoped she was done with.
In fact, she plays up her shock and weakness as much as she can, stumbling forward a few paces diagonally towards the side of the road her hidden assailant threw from with one hand conspicuously flapping and fluttering before her in feigned feminine distress. She hopes this will draw attention away from her other hand, which is dipping down into the bag she was gifted by the Cailleach to draw out a small, fuzzy grey ball. She cups this in her hand until she sees a chance to unobtrusively toss it into the treeline. For an added measure of security she doesn't cast it directly at the spot the dagger came from, but just short of there.
Hopefully, any assailant who does notice her action will think she missed her throw and that her plan has failed. But in truth it is only just beginning. As she sees the little puff of grey roll towards the trees and disappear, she whispers fiercely after it, "Go find thaim, (name)! Drive thae cowards wha attackit me oot sae we can see thaim all."
Plan or no plan, though, she is forced to admit to herself that she's just taken her worst wound in quite some time ... perhaps even as far back as her mauling at the hands of Tuannon Mor's reanimated retainers. Thinking back, she tries to remember the exact details of the magic she used then to recruit her flagging energies and give her some eldritch semblance of strength until her wounds could be healed more permanently.
===***===
"To hit" roll for landing her toss accurately 10
Scatter table if miss: (d4) 1 = Too far left 2 =Too far right 3 = Toss fell short 4 = Overshot, toss fell deeper in trees than intended
1
(d20) feet off target (which is @ 20' away from her, according to the range given in item description)
17
Held action for next round: false life ... for sure if she is attacked/targeted again; otherwise as one of the more strongly considered of her options but not absolutely guaranteed depending on circumstance
(Sorry for my absence, been travelling, getting ready to leave again tomorrow, and preparing for a new job, among other things. Ugh. I'll be gone again for the next week, but I should be able to post during that period. Excellent work on the story by all involved!)
Perception 18
Active - Player: Sleeping Gods ---- Complete - Player: Masquerade, Teleportation Machine ---- Complete - DM: Extradimensional Spaces
Come join the Worlds of Pphost, a new and growing PbP community! Adventures are currently running in the world of Haven or do some role-playing!
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Cainneach was already roused by the scream that rent the cold night before Famh shook him. The potential terrors of the night leap immediately into his mind, though he is uncharacteristically slow to react. It is almost certain that one of the lads was the source of that deathly cry and there didn't seem to be much reason to witness the tail end of that encounter. However, Famh appeared to be heading that way and there is a small chance there was another explanation, one that would require some assistance of the drowsy forester. Salt gives Cainneach an encouraging lick on the hand. Sigh. You're right, fella, I'd never forgive myself if one of our friends were to come to harm while I lay here, pondering options.
Cainneach grabs his bow and quiver and trudges off behind Famh, hoping he won't need to be of assistance, but ready to offer it if circumstances require.
Active - Player: Sleeping Gods ---- Complete - Player: Masquerade, Teleportation Machine ---- Complete - DM: Extradimensional Spaces
Come join the Worlds of Pphost, a new and growing PbP community! Adventures are currently running in the world of Haven or do some role-playing!
It never hurts to help! ---- PbP: [Rolling Dice] [Tooltips] ---- DDB Content: [Free Adventures] [Encounter of the Week]
Vardi, given the silent reminder from Ori to hold fast to duty, does not rush to grapple with the tragic results of unresolved wrongs, but merely nods in agreement. She does offer Dochartaigh a gentle hand to his feet, even if her face shows no sign of pity.
...Give it a chance... She hopes to herself ...Come on lass, break tha pattern, nay chain yerself to a man's cruelty forever...
Her gaze stays on Meabh, or what once was her, and hopes that words from another man might reach further than any of her own might. The weight of Skoggavardi on her shoulder still, serene in his poise despite the vengeful dead's presence nearby, gives her some hope that Ori's lion-hearted diplomacy may yet see justice done.
...Land, People and Crown. Live or dead, she's a person, or was, and may yet still be... holds her to the spot, that and a fear she dare not dwell on, lest it break her calm.
That's three... She thinks as the twisted one meets with justice from beyond the grave ...Is it enough?
The only words spoken by the icy shade of Meabh seem to indicate that perhaps bloodprice has finally been met. The smile of relief that brings to her lips is brief, but real.
Ori: "Best go now before she changes my mind."
Again, the Lyftenwoman silently nods in agreement. All she says to Dochartaigh is a quiet hiss of "Ye live, but only by her choice. Give me no reason ta question her wisdom."
A chunk of hacksilver bracelet is added to the golden coins as she speaks, an easier currency for a farmer to spend without questions asked.
Only when the lad starts walking does she murmur to Ori "Ye are brave, tha' I knew, but I dinae saw tha wisdom in ye afore now. Thank ye, but please, get by tha fire sharpish now. One frozen corpse is enough fer a night if ye ask me!"
Famh's cheerful declaration is met with utter confusion, then an embarrassed smile as she concludes that she may have escaped the ice maiden's attentions, but nothing evades the fire-haired wonderworker's sharp eyes, and that is a test of Vardi's own diplomatic skills, meagre as they may be.
"Night's still yet ta pass. If she's taken one but left tha other alive, maybe she's finally free of wha' bound her to them?" she says, choosing to concentrate on the matter at hand.
Ori stands with his back towards the direction Dochartaigh would have left, and looking at the Lyftenwoman, still had a smile on his face. Memories that had flooded his mind before still fading but had left him with a smile and ease. He hadn't recalled those memories in a long time, as he tended to focus on his darker times when thinking of that time in his life. "There was alot of wisdom and bravery in what I tried to say, but all I did was butcher the words. I've hear those words before, but it took until now for me to realize the wisdom behind them. The credit should be Meabh's for being able to hear it." Ori hears Famh moving towards them and the smile starts to fade from his face , but still is there. He figured he could pull rank on Vardi and get out of any explanation bit Famh would never let some nonsense like that stop her from getting answers.
Hearing Famh's words of encouragement towards Vardi, the smile slips from his face for a scrunched up confused expression. He turns to look towards Dochartaigh and then back at Vardi. Ori wouldn't have called the lad brawny, certainly not in respect to Vardi's build. But to each their own he suspects. A slight chuckle escapes his lips at the thought of Vardi tossing poor Dodo around, good thing Ori gave him both axes to defend himself! Ori turns to walk back to claimed sleep spot, "Well since your up Famh guess it's time for shift change and we can go sleep off the nights excitement, aye Vadri?" Laughing to himself he finally notices Cainneach, "double shift? Lose a bet to Thatch or something?" Ori will return to his bed roll.
Dochartaigh left the broch his hands tightly clenched in front of him, on his way down the hill he passed Almeric the knight nodded to him carefully sensing something had passed and judging in the retinue not to have let the lad go without just cause. He turned over and went back to sleep with something akin to a smile on his face.
Dochartaigh continued downhill soon drawing out of sight of the group.
Famh was up and ready to sit watch as Vardi and Ori withdrew.....Cainneach had a decision to make, whether to retire again or sit watch with his lady.....
Ori: "There was alot of wisdom and bravery in what I tried to say, but all I did was butcher the words. I've hear those words before, but it took until now for me to realize the wisdom behind them. The credit should be Meabh's for being able to hear it."
"Butchered? Matters not. Meaning was clear. Tha's all tha' matters." Vardi replies quietly, then offers "Aye. Here was me thinkin' ta stop her with force when ye held back her undying rage wi' naught but truthful words."
The Joturnkin's look to Famh is one of wry amusement at her own foolishness as she concludes "Should have paid more attention tha first time that proved effective..."
Skoggi, no longer glaring saucer-eyed into darkness and death, pauses from meticulously washing his forepaws in and utters a soft mew in apparent agreement.
Vardi says quietly to Famh in reassurance as she passes her in change of watch "Tha price of Meabh's death has been paid three-fold. Answered for by King's law and by ancient custom in full. This I ha' witnessed, but will speak of only if required ta answer ta tha Crown's request." then makes gesture as if stamping a heavy seal down upon her lips.
With that said, the Lyften lass walks to her bedroll to sleep with an unworried mind and a warm heart, which in light of the events of the last few nights, is a wonder in itself.
Famh and Cainneach sat watch the rest of the night, conversing and....keeping watch.....until the sun began to make its meagre ascent above the horizon.
Sir Almeric went to each of the companions in turn and clasped their shoulders, " We've done as well as we can. Some far better than they knew themselves capable of."
" The lad is still serving duty in penance as he would have been at Marrowglen.......and likely of more use here than there. If theres trouble with the families it will lay on me. If any representatives of them find you, bring the matter to me immediately."
The companions begin to break camp and ready for the road....
( Feel free to narrate any conversations between Famh and Cainneach and morning activities. Next post from me will have you on the road to Beltayne.)
As the Thulish couple settles in to ... watch ... together, Cainneach notices a look in his beloved's eyes that hovers somewhere between puzzlement and embarrassment. At first, all he can get from Famh in response to his inquiries as to the cause is a sheepish, "I coud ha sworn ... but ye ken whit thay says, 'A Thule's aye wisest behinde the hand.' " But after a little she regains enough of her composure to explain the error she was under concerning Ori and Vardi.
"A thowt when she lookit up at me sae watchful as I cam in, that surely I'd interruptit summat delicate ... and 'twas all come of whit haed juist happenit tae that bawbag walloper Loch, instead. Small blame tae her ... I'd hae been on the edge of a hair too if I'd been thare and seen sic things, and didna yet know if Meabh haed truly relinquishit her vengeance wi' this last death. A'm glad she felt her own enach wis fou paid, thouch, an didnae gae after Dochartaigh ower. He'll be much better able tae pay whit he owes her da sin he's yet alive. An thon wis sae wise o' Ori tae let the lad gae... he's grown syne we met him, dinnae ye think? Our Sergeant, I mean. A dinnae know gin the old Ori wad have haed the courage tae tak the responsibility on himself like thon, without e'en hesitatin'."
Cainneach draws a sigh of relief at this point, concluding that if Famh has recovered enough to start to babble, she's basically OK. He is also relieved to note that her appearance has settled down to basically the Famh he knew before, albeit with a new maturity and confidence nurtured by the security of their love and the many perils they have come through together basically intact. (OOC not to mention her player's satisfaction with what her AI character portrait training has come up with)
In fact, he finds himself thinking that this new poise was all that was wanting to elevate his fiancee from enchanting to absolutely bewitching, although before this night he would have sworn that no further enhancement of her beauty was possible. Also that there are ways to get a woman that you love to stop talking. Such as, for instance, showing her that her lips are far better used for more ... nonverbal ... purposes. We will draw the veil of discretion over the remainder of their evening together, but when Thatch and Sir Almeric take their due turn on watch Famh is far too blissed-out to think of telling her liege-knight what happened in the broch above. And when she does think of it she only needs a little time for thought to realize that it is not really hers to report anyhow, and that the new Ori was if anything more forthright and honest than the old and would certainly tell Sir Almeric come the morn.
And indeed, the knight's words to his retinue next morning show that he is fully aware of and fully approves Ori's decision. Since it is a decision her Thulish spirit fully and instinctively approves of also, she has little to say in response. She honestly doesn't think there will be any trouble with the families unless Meabh had a pledged sweetheart whose claim to compensation might come close to equalling her father's; but she is also learning to be politic as part of her personal growth, and she doesn't see any point in saying so ... especially as the lass might have had such a person in her life.
Famh Thrawn Fiadhaich - 'half elven' sorcerer (wild magic) 2, Sleeping Gods - A Dragon Warriors campaign in the Lands of Legend
Quspira Inirali - tiefling cleric (Life domain) 4, Painted's "He'll be the father of my child"
---RETIRED HEROES' REST HOME---
Sae Ivui Nailo - wood elf rogue (inquisitive) 5 , Sea of Death: Captain Hailstorm's Lost Treasure
Ryshraxea "Shra" Naranthi - tabaxi artificer 1, Nyx's Tomb of Annihilation - Group 1
As the retinue starts off on the road, Famh looks thoughtfully between Sir Almeric and Vardi before settling on the latter as more likely to have the knowledge she is interested in learning. Since her dream of the night before, the embers of her lifelong ambition of becoming one of the filidh have been fanned to full life again, blazing as hot within her as the fiery dreams of girlhood in which she first pictured herself as one of the lucky few whose strangeness was celebrated rather than feared. And it occurs to her, marching just behind the Kingswoman in the sparklingly fresh light of a new dawn, that that rank of Vardi's means that she is the most likely of all the retinue to actually have spoken to a filidh at some time in her life ... perhaps to even know what one does when one wishes to find one of the wandering wiscocks whose word could rule common and noble alike in the old days, and who still retained much of their ancient rank if not their precisely legal power. In fact, as she thinks of that rank she modifies her original design and decides to include Sir Almeric in the query after all. Even though he is an Albish knight, his home manor is in Aldred's borderland barony; and their liege lord is clearly more than familiar with the ways of his Thulish neighbors to the north ... their current journey stands as clear evidence of that. Even if Almeric does not know the answer himself, he might have contacts with those who do. And so it is to both of them that she addresses her words as the Dayne retinue begins to move out on the road. She drops back from Cainneach's side enough to be in a position where both can hear her, but she makes sure that her beloved is in full earshot also ... she most certainly wants to include him in this pivotal moment in her life.
She gives a startled blink at this point ... she certainly hadn't thought of herself in the role of a herald up until this point ... but as she thinks about it the word seems to fit. She recalls with a smile how right it felt back a thousand years ago ... so much had happened since that it truly seemed that long ... when she'd had a chance to announce the Dayne retinue's approach to Rory Mor. How suddenly things she'd never had the chance to know before -- sizing up the man she was speaking to, thinking quickly of the impression she needed to make in the service of her liege knight so they would have the best chance of achieving their goal, and then finding the right words suddenly rise to her tongue as if they had always been there and were only waiting for her to achieve enough clarity of mind to let them flow. It is at this moment that Famh Thrawn Fiadhaich finally, fully accepts that she has grown beyond her past; that it is not only Cainneach's love but her own strength that has brought her to this moment; and that she deserves all the happiness of all her dreams and will indeed be a better wife to her beloved if she is strong in herself to fittingly match his strength. She smiles winningly at her liege knight and her newest friend. "Herald ... I'd not thoucht of it erenow, but that might be the nearest Albish equivalent tae the filidh. Unless Fergus is yer herald as weel as yer householdman, Ser? But I suppose he coud use an assistant in thon case, if it's aw right wi ye."
Famh Thrawn Fiadhaich - 'half elven' sorcerer (wild magic) 2, Sleeping Gods - A Dragon Warriors campaign in the Lands of Legend
Quspira Inirali - tiefling cleric (Life domain) 4, Painted's "He'll be the father of my child"
---RETIRED HEROES' REST HOME---
Sae Ivui Nailo - wood elf rogue (inquisitive) 5 , Sea of Death: Captain Hailstorm's Lost Treasure
Ryshraxea "Shra" Naranthi - tabaxi artificer 1, Nyx's Tomb of Annihilation - Group 1
(here Famh looks about, and seeing no one on in eyeshot on the road at this moment, uses a quick faerie glamour to demonstrate the haunting wordless bridge she might play here on the uillean pipes, or the viol, or any of the two or three haunting, droning, or wailing instruments that Famh’s magic combines into a single swirling orchestra of caoineadh)
The magical chorus of wordless lament breaks out again for a moment before Famh bethinks herself to not press her luck too long; then she lets it drift off uphill, fading hauntingly away into the ruined broch until the last notes quiver nad echo from the shaft of the fateful well itself.
Famh Thrawn Fiadhaich - 'half elven' sorcerer (wild magic) 2, Sleeping Gods - A Dragon Warriors campaign in the Lands of Legend
Quspira Inirali - tiefling cleric (Life domain) 4, Painted's "He'll be the father of my child"
---RETIRED HEROES' REST HOME---
Sae Ivui Nailo - wood elf rogue (inquisitive) 5 , Sea of Death: Captain Hailstorm's Lost Treasure
Ryshraxea "Shra" Naranthi - tabaxi artificer 1, Nyx's Tomb of Annihilation - Group 1
The troupe continues their descent out of the rolling hills as Famhs voice rings out across the slopes, Sir Almeric smiles happily as Famh concludes, " I think it obvious you would make a most fitting Herald.....a Skald in your Tongue, Vardi? A Filidh as you say, Famh."
" And a most rousing song for the road..."
5
Cainneach had time to call out a warning as an arrow flew out from cover on the righthand of the path ahead, the warning gave Sir Almeric time to raise his shield so the shaft found purchase in it rather than his neck....
Another arrow was loosed this time toward Vardi from the left hand side ahead ( Attack: 10 Damage: 10 ).
A dagger span out from the right towards Famh ( Attack: 19 Damage: 9 )
Two daggers span out from the left hand bushes towards Thatch ( Attack: 25 Damage: 8 + Attack: 9 Damage: 8 )
Two men in blackened armour ran out onto the path ahead and formed up ahead of the companions some 25'.
( Cainneach, Famh and Thatch are up. I autorolled Initiative for everyone....we'll see how it goes for this then up to you lot if you want to auto or self-roll in future)
(Just for reference did the volley of arrows and daggers come out from the same spot as these two or would those indicate there are more then the two that are rushing at us?)
( Slightly forward of where they emerged.)
(Sorry, my belief that I would be able to post while on travel was apparently misguided. Sigh. To follow up on Ori's question, it sounds like there are more than two and that the ranged assailants are closer than the obstructionist fellows on the road. Can Cainneach see if those two on the road have bows? If not, he would probably try to fire at the one still hidden to the right to 1. drive them into view, and 2. avenge any damage done to Famh.)
Active - Player: Sleeping Gods ---- Complete - Player: Masquerade, Teleportation Machine ---- Complete - DM: Extradimensional Spaces
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( The two on the road do not have bows. Cainneachs keen eyes can pick out several shapes among the foliage on either side of the path. )
Cainneach will cry out a second time, seeing his beloved wracked by a dagger thrown from the shadows. He leaps in front of her, draws his bow, pivots to the right and whispers a scathing invocation to Morkaan before unleashing an arrow toward the hidden pair that assailed Famh.
Bonus Action - Hunter's Mark (presumably on the Harbinger Cloak to our right)
Longbow - Attack vs. Harbinger Cloak: 14, damage (piercing w/Hunter's Mark): 16 (if at Disadvantage due to hiding, etc., second ATK roll - 9)
Active - Player: Sleeping Gods ---- Complete - Player: Masquerade, Teleportation Machine ---- Complete - DM: Extradimensional Spaces
Come join the Worlds of Pphost, a new and growing PbP community! Adventures are currently running in the world of Haven or do some role-playing!
It never hurts to help! ---- PbP: [Rolling Dice] [Tooltips] ---- DDB Content: [Free Adventures] [Encounter of the Week]
Thatch muddles along the road, uncharacteristically distracted, either lost in Famh’s melody or replaying the eerie happenings at the broch back in his mind. He looks up at Cainneach’s sudden shout and the sharp pain of a dagger tearing through his side, ducking just enough that the second blade fails to find its mark. He throws up his shortbow and releases an arrow at the closest Mercenary appearing in the road and shouts “Bandits!” Arrow released, he [Tooltip Not Found] toward the relative cover of the treeline north of the road, just behind Vardi and Sir Almeric.
Attack vs Mercenary: 19 Damage: 8.
The Tooltip Not Found was supposed to be using his cunning action to dash toward the treeline.
Famh lets out a sudden yelp as the flying dagger rudely interrupts her happy savoring of Sir Almeric's compliment. At first she doesn't think she's been hurt too badly, and even rallies enough to make a joke of the matter, calling out towards her unseen assailant, "A didnae think ma singin' wis thon bad! Have ye nae appreciation for music?" But as her dearest Cainneach jumps protectively in front of her, the sudden flash of lightheadedness that comes and goes like the flickering summer lightning warns her to take her injury seriously. She pulls the thrown blade out from her shoulder with a wince and a set-jawed grimace. She was quite used to having sticks and stones thrown at her in her bad old haunted days, but sharp pointies are a new and unpleasant wrinkle in a general theme she'd hoped she was done with.
In fact, she plays up her shock and weakness as much as she can, stumbling forward a few paces diagonally towards the side of the road her hidden assailant threw from with one hand conspicuously flapping and fluttering before her in feigned feminine distress. She hopes this will draw attention away from her other hand, which is dipping down into the bag she was gifted by the Cailleach to draw out a small, fuzzy grey ball. She cups this in her hand until she sees a chance to unobtrusively toss it into the treeline. For an added measure of security she doesn't cast it directly at the spot the dagger came from, but just short of there.
Hopefully, any assailant who does notice her action will think she missed her throw and that her plan has failed. But in truth it is only just beginning. As she sees the little puff of grey roll towards the trees and disappear, she whispers fiercely after it, "Go find thaim, (name)! Drive thae cowards wha attackit me oot sae we can see thaim all."
Plan or no plan, though, she is forced to admit to herself that she's just taken her worst wound in quite some time ... perhaps even as far back as her mauling at the hands of Tuannon Mor's reanimated retainers. Thinking back, she tries to remember the exact details of the magic she used then to recruit her flagging energies and give her some eldritch semblance of strength until her wounds could be healed more permanently.
===***===
"To hit" roll for landing her toss accurately 10
Scatter table if miss: (d4) 1 = Too far left 2 =Too far right 3 = Toss fell short 4 = Overshot, toss fell deeper in trees than intended
(d20) feet off target (which is @ 20' away from her, according to the range given in item description)
Held action for next round: false life ... for sure if she is attacked/targeted again; otherwise as one of the more strongly considered of her options but not absolutely guaranteed depending on circumstance
Famh Thrawn Fiadhaich - 'half elven' sorcerer (wild magic) 2, Sleeping Gods - A Dragon Warriors campaign in the Lands of Legend
Quspira Inirali - tiefling cleric (Life domain) 4, Painted's "He'll be the father of my child"
---RETIRED HEROES' REST HOME---
Sae Ivui Nailo - wood elf rogue (inquisitive) 5 , Sea of Death: Captain Hailstorm's Lost Treasure
Ryshraxea "Shra" Naranthi - tabaxi artificer 1, Nyx's Tomb of Annihilation - Group 1