“Listen, tough guy.” Vice says, unbudging. Still blocking the man, he rests a wrist casually on the hilt of the scabbard on his belt, though making no movement to draw. “‘m just doing my job. Bossman said I can’t let anyone in. All our props and valuables are backstage, are you going to be responsible if anything gets damaged? You got stolen, so talk to the guards. If you don’t turn away, I’m going to report you for trespassing.”
Vice takes a moment to see if he recognizes the man. Unimpressed, he shrugs. “I travel with the circus. You’ve probably seen me around.”
To some extent, Emma expected them to brush her off, but as that didn't happen either, she found herself following along, mindlessly mumbling "Emma" while internally, she wonders if she should just make a run for it, but stays anyways. She did need some gold, and a job that takes her out of the town walls should most likely get her out of the crowd, if she can make it there.
After a short pause, Emma makes up her mind to follow through, as best she can. She can't stay frozen forever in a small alley. She left Bowshot to give herself a chance to open a fresh page, maybe these are the first instructions on the recipe for a new Emma. "Please, lead the way." She'll have to go through the crowd, and the town square might be the most crowded place of all. She imagined it so, at least, and the thought alone terrified her, though she still couldn't quite figure out why. "But umm... if I stop on the way... please wait for me." She didn't know if it will help, but if nothing else, maybe she could just stop and close her eyes, cover her ears... make everyone disappear for a moment.
(If they lead the way and nothing happens on the way - ) Emma would follow the two, trying her best to keep her composure, but inevitably stopping once or twice to regain serenity by standing still and closing her eyes, covering her ears for a few moments. Imagining she's completely alone. She tries to keep it short, as much as she can, and endure the anxiety for as long as she can before stopping each time. At some point, in an attempt to distract herself from all the people, Emma asks one of the men: "But why are those people so hard to deal with? Why must the Duchess rely on volunteers?"
Juniper smiles warmly at the children as Foxglove’s tail bats away flies, then she turns to the man who addressed her. “I heard the sound of music and general merriment from town,” she answers back, “there upon the leeward slope of Gillian Hill,” pointing behind her. “That drew me in.” She pauses a moment, taking in the encampment in detail before continuing, “I’ve no wish to interrupt your work. The day is warm, but in this season a night without a fire may be colder than one would like.”
The man's face starts to turn red with anger. Suddenly, he is moving at a speed that is quicker than Vice has seen him achieve. Before he can react, the man pulls a rapier from a scabbard that Vice didn't notice that he had. The sun glistens on the shining surface of the sun and into Vice's eyes. The man swings the rapier down towards Vice, but his arm is caught by a big burly hand.
The man turns his attention to look at who is grabbing a hold of his arm. He sees a large man about half a foot taller and larger too. Although, in his case, his size is all muscle rather than fat.
"Now, what's the problem that we have here?" the man says in an accented voice.
@Emma(ViceCat5)
The two guards clear the way as they push through the crowd of people enjoying themselves as part of the festival. Every time Emma stops, the two guards wait and exchange glances at each other and Emma. The younger guard bears an expression that indicates that he thinks that Emma is not up to the task, whilst the older guard simply shrugs.
"Well, the Duchess did send several guards to try and deal with them already," explains the older man.
"Unfortunately, after coming back, it seems they were enchanted," the younger man adds. "They have this dumbfounded expression, and all they did was speak sympathetically about the visitors."
"We don't know why they have decided to take up a spot next to Daggerford. We also don't know why they have decided to harass people either."
The two guards take Emma to the town square, where a woman sits on a wooden throne guarded by two men on either side. The woman looks to be in her late thirties and looks tired. Her red hair has been tied into a bun, with a few strands escaping from the tie and falling around her face. Her smile doesn't quite reach her eyes, but she is making the effort to look pleased with the celebrations.
@Juniper(DandDSince1973)
From this position, Juniper can see six draft horses tied to one of the wagons.
"Well, that is why we are building this fire," the man says, beaming a smile. "Yes, the town is celebrating, but tonight we celebrate as well!"
He punctuates the last words by throwing his arms into the air. This causes the others to give a mighty cheer.
"Would you be interested in staying with us? We have plenty of wine, and there will be plenty of music and dancing. Plus, I have a story or two to tell."
@Kal(VanderLegion)
After getting a whiff of the smelling salts under his nose, the man wakes up coughing and spluttering. The barkeep offers him some water which he sips from.
"I was travelling with my family," the man begins. "We had come from Secomber and were travelling to Daggerford for the festival. However, when we camped by Delimbiyr River, just north of the Misty Forest, we were ambushed by werewolves. My wife was killed in the middle of the night. Oh god! Her screams."
The man takes a moment placing his head into his hands as recalls the terrifying memories.
"There was so much blood everywhere. I ran! There was nothing I could do. It was too late! They chased me away from Daggerford, so I came here. I didn't stop! I just kept running. I didn't dare stop."
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
“The secret we should never let the gamemasters know is that they don't need any rules.” ― Gary Gygax
After every time she stops, Emma apologises and thanks the two. She imagines they're quite annoyed by her behaviour, and just as they do, wonders if there's anything she could do. She holds no authority, is alone and has no way to force them away. She could ask them to leave, but would they listen? Will she be enchanted, or harassed, too?
When they reach the Duchess, Emma makes her best effort to keep calm, despite feeling like the air she's breathing, no matter how deep or how fast, is not enough. 'They're watching me.' She realises, even though no one does. 'Judging. They know what I've done.'
Perhaps the best Emma could do is just get out of there as soon as possible. She gets as close to the Duchess as the guards allow her, or within reasonable distance if they don't stop her themselves, then calls: "Excuse me? Your grace, I have heard you seek for volunteers."
"I'm sorry about your wife," Kal tells the man. "You say they chased you away from Daggerford. Did they let you go eventually or were you able to somehow evade them to escape? How many of them were there?"
Though he knows he can't take on even one werewolf by himself, much less a group of them, Kal assumes this must by why he was directed to come to the tavern in the first place, and starts making plans in his head for a trip to Daggerford to investigate. Surely if there were indeed werewolves in the area, he would be able to find some allies there to help.
Juniper laughs, a sound like a softly rolling brook, enjoying the high-spirited invitation, and thanking the speaker, but she does not answer immediately. On one hand, she had nowhere in particular to be, and whether in the town or here, would be among strangers. But she is not yet convinced that an evening here would be better spent than at the festival.
Smiling, she looks more carefully at those in the camp. Other than scouters of firewood, what kinds of people has she encountered? If it takes a moment to assess this, she fills in the gap, while she looks and thinks, making conversation, at a distance, on the merit of celebrations in general.
At the man's question Star looks towards the door. "The man who was here, who paid for my drink, he says he is from Barovia. One of the Vistani you mention perhaps? He is saying someone there is injured and I am called to help. I am not a healer, but he seems very certain the message is for me." He looks back down at the symbol on the paper, then into the face of the bartender. He smiles a pointed grin, full of sharp teeth. "It will make for a most excellent story when I return, yes? Perhaps I will not be gone long, it does not sound far, south from Dagger Ford on the Trade Way."
Vice sees the glimmer of the thin blade of a rapier piercing towards him, his muscle tenses as the reflex kicks in, and with the smooth oily sound of metal he slides his own shortsword out of the scabbard to parry the blow - that doesn’t come.
Vice looks behind the man to see the newcomer, lifts one shapely brow appreciatively at the size of those biceps. Still in his fighting stance - shoulders drawn, feet apart, he slowly and carefully relaxes his guard, his lambent gray eyes not leaving the man’s furious face.
“This man tries to barge into our tent. Said a thief went in there. Can’t let him go in. We’re setting up for the show tonight.”
Duchess Morwen turns her attention to the dark-haired woman before her. She again smiles a tight-lipped smile at a poor attempt to appear in a welcoming mood.
"Yes," she says. Her voice carries a slight edge to it, probably a result of stress more than anything else. "I have been looking for volunteers to speak with the Vistani who have decided to set up camp near Daggerford these past few days. They have long overstayed their welcome and become a nuisance. I cannot risk any more guards being enchanted and losing their wits. All I want is for someone or some people to go and give them their final warning. I'll burn their wagons to the ground if they do not leave before dawn.
Would you be willing to pass the on message?"
@Kal(VanderLegion)
"I don't know how many," the man responds. "Definitely more than one, probably more than three. They were a blur of fur and blood. I don't know; I just kept running. Maybe they were too preoccupied?"
The barkeep crouches down to eye level with the man. "You that you were travelling with your wife and kids?"
"That's right?"
"But you only mentioned them killing your wife. What happened to your kids?"
The man lowers his hands from his face, staring at the floor as he tries to recall.
"I-I think they took them. The werewolves, I mean. I think they took my children!"
@Juniper(DandDSince1973)
Juniper learns that leader is Stanimir, who is joined by his daughter, Damia, and his son, Ratka. Damia has a child of her own and is the woman sitting near Stanimir. Additionally, there are nine other adults. The five men are working to build the fire, and the four women are looking after the children.
@Star(EMIW)
The bartender shrugs his shoulders, "If you manage to return, that is. You would definitely have a story or two to tell. I couldn't say for sure if he is Vistani; I could only guess that he is. Still, I have to wonder how it is the case that they have even heard of you. Then again, I have always regarded the Vistani with a sense of mystery and wonder."
The bartender then stands up.
I shall leave you to it. I will do nothing to persuade you to go or not to. That is your business and not mine."
He then turns away from Star and returns to his work.
@Vice(WhiteByakko)
"I see," says the man. "Well, I think it would be best if you were on your way. I don't think you want to cause this young man any trouble now, do you?"
The nobleman stammers, but his words fail him. He then shakes his head and turns the other way, and scarpers off. Once the nobleman is out of earshot, the man speaks again.
"Apep! Come here!"
The boy comes out from behind the horse and runs to stand next to the man. Now that the boy is standing next to him, it is clear that the two bear a family resemblance. The man takes the coin purse from his son and tips the gold pieces into his hand. He then takes two gold pieces and holds them out for Vice between his forefinger and thumb.
"For your trouble," the man explains.
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
“The secret we should never let the gamemasters know is that they don't need any rules.” ― Gary Gygax
How indeed had they heard of him? And why choose him, having heard of him? He would be sure to ask when he arrived.
He slowly drank, appreciating the flavour. He missed yeccan, but this was a satisfying alternative. He fingered the paper, turning it over, rereading the words, absorbing the shape of the symbol. Some type of great dark bird, or bird person. It reminded him a little of the stories of elusive bird-people, aarakocra, who supposedly lived northward of his Clan. And in the background, a tall dark building. Why was this emblem so dark? It needed a bit of life. He would suggest some brighter colours when he arrived.
The man had said not to travel the woods at night, but they were South of Dagger Ford, so he said, and it was still afternoon. So, finishing his drink, Star stood. He buttoned up his coat, and made for the door. Before leaving, however, he turns back to face the tavern, announcing,
"Friendly people of Secomber! I thank you for your hospitality, and your enjoyment of my stories. I go now to find my own story, but I shall return to share it with you all. For now, I shall leave you with the sound of my flute in your ears."
He begins a playful little tune, and continues it all the way out of town. A few children skip and dance and laugh alongside him in the fog , but peel away as he reaches the outskirts of the town. The mist is so thick it is all he can do to make out the edge of the road, but he starts the journey towards Daggerford. He will find a room somewhere, and start southward tomorrow, hoping the fog has lifted by then!
It doesn't take long for Star to leave the town. Once he reaches the border, the fog has dissipated and he finds himself in the wilderness of the Savage Frontier just north of the border with the Western Highlands. The sun is shining once more and the sky is a clear pale blue. He is one hundred feet away from the Delimbiyr River. Star knows that this river will lead past Daggerford, and would probably be quicker to travel on the river by boat than by foot.
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
“The secret we should never let the gamemasters know is that they don't need any rules.” ― Gary Gygax
It doesn't take long for Star to leave the town. Once he reaches the border, the fog has dissipated and he finds himself in the wilderness of the Savage Frontier just north of the border with the Western Highlands. The sun is shining once more and the sky is a clear pale blue. He is one hundred feet away from the Delimbiyr River. Star knows that this river will lead past Daggerford, and would probably be quicker to travel on the river by boat than by foot.
It would be quicker, Star thinks, but then I'd have to travel on the river. The water ran fast and turbulent here, only just after the confluence with the Unicorn Run, the two rivers still battling for dominance. Nevertheless, he wanted to be in Dagger Ford by nightfall, and walking would make it a close call.
He looks around for any boats offering trips downriver, or something else appropriate.
“I was raised to offer food and shelter to travelers, for you never know when you might next be in need. And now am I in need, ‘cuz now that you’ve mentioned having good stories I couldn’t walk past without hearing them!” Juniper keeps to herself any conclusions she might draw from the travelers regarding gender and parenting.
She dismounts gracefully and leads Foxglove to a patch of healthy sedge. “This is more to your liking anyhow, isn’t it?,” she coos, then turns back to Stanimir, her face open and cordial, hiding her wariness.
“Your family travels together. Mine did too, when I was their age,” she offers, her eyes pointing to the children.
Definitely an odd job. Emma wants to get away from there as quickly as she can, get it over with and be away from all the people. But for now, she must make sure. "I'm willing, but before I do, just two questions, your grace, if I may."
It might seem strange that a woman of such common standing knows any manners, but as a guild member might encounter all kinds of people of different standings, the guild teaches all members just enough that nobody would accidentally anger a powerful person. This pretty much ends with a few rules of thumb and how to address different people.
"First, what does 'Vitsani' means? Second, will there be a reward for completing this task?" Always ask for payment before serving food, though in this case, as the tables are somewhat turned, at least determine the price.
After looking up and down the river bank, Star spots some boxes waiting on the muddy bank. Down in the river, close to the stack of boxes is a cargo boat. The boat is oval in shape with a sail and mast protruding from the middle of the boat. There are some boxes already loaded filling the middle of the boat. Four barrels, which look to contain wine, have already been loaded.
Then Star notices a man come around from the other side of the boxes. He is shorter than the stack but look sturdy enough to bear the weight of each box. He is wearing blue sleeveless shirt that leaves his arms bear. A pair of light brown trousers covers his legs whilst tanned leather boots protect his feet. The man grabs a box from the top of the stack and carried down the river bank to the boat.
@Juniper(DandDSince1973)
"Aye," Stanimir replies. "One big family. Although, we're not directly related blood related of course. We are one people though. The Vistani, that's us. We're silversmiths, coppersmiths, haberdashers, cooks, weavers, musicians, entertainers, storytellers, toolmakers, and horse traders. Then of course there are those of us who are fortune tellers."
Stanimir then stops to look up at the sky. He uses several fingers to calculate the distance of the sun from the horizon. He then sticks a finger in his mouth before sticking it up into the air to determine the direction of the wind.
s"It's still early yet," he mutters to himself.
@Emma(FireCat5)
Duchess Morwen nods her head, "You make ask my what you would like to know."
The Duchess tilts her head as she listens to Emma's questions and let's out a slight chuckle.
"You clearly know the worth of task and are not afraid to get to the points. I quite like you."
She takes a moment to recompose herself before continuing.
"It's quite simple really, Vistani is just the name their people. They are travellers with a sense of flamboyancy. They are nomadic, travelling from one place to another without settling down, usually.
As for the reward, I will pay you twenty gold pieces. This will be paid to you if you manage to get them to move on and upon your return."
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
“The secret we should never let the gamemasters know is that they don't need any rules.” ― Gary Gygax
Vice stares as he puts two and two together. He slides his shortsword back to its scabbard, accepts the gold pieces and easily tucks them into his pocket. “It’s no trouble at all.” He did not expect things to escalate that far either. But he’d be happy to rid the ornery nobleman some gold.
He squats down in front of the kid, ruffles his hair. “Good job, champ. Be more careful next time, alright?” He smiles and gives the boy a wink.
“You guys better get going before he comes back.” Vice stands up. “He doesn’t look like the type that’ll let this go easily.”
(OOC: by “early,” would it be easy to assume Stanimir mean time of day?)
Juniper introduces herself. “We’ve much in common then. How to take care of yourself and your needs… you don’t have a choice if you wander the wilds. Maybe you pay a price, if you cherish being surrounded by others. But Foxglove and I keep each other company,” the slight-shouldered elf winks with a warm smile.
She walks behind Stanimir into the encampment, her eyes on Damia and her baby, which she compliments, and inquires how old the child is.
“Are you here for the festival? Or… what is it you’re celebrating?”
“Listen, tough guy.” Vice says, unbudging. Still blocking the man, he rests a wrist casually on the hilt of the scabbard on his belt, though making no movement to draw. “‘m just doing my job. Bossman said I can’t let anyone in. All our props and valuables are backstage, are you going to be responsible if anything gets damaged? You got stolen, so talk to the guards. If you don’t turn away, I’m going to report you for trespassing.”
Vice takes a moment to see if he recognizes the man. Unimpressed, he shrugs. “I travel with the circus. You’ve probably seen me around.”
To some extent, Emma expected them to brush her off, but as that didn't happen either, she found herself following along, mindlessly mumbling "Emma" while internally, she wonders if she should just make a run for it, but stays anyways. She did need some gold, and a job that takes her out of the town walls should most likely get her out of the crowd, if she can make it there.
After a short pause, Emma makes up her mind to follow through, as best she can. She can't stay frozen forever in a small alley. She left Bowshot to give herself a chance to open a fresh page, maybe these are the first instructions on the recipe for a new Emma. "Please, lead the way." She'll have to go through the crowd, and the town square might be the most crowded place of all. She imagined it so, at least, and the thought alone terrified her, though she still couldn't quite figure out why. "But umm... if I stop on the way... please wait for me." She didn't know if it will help, but if nothing else, maybe she could just stop and close her eyes, cover her ears... make everyone disappear for a moment.
(If they lead the way and nothing happens on the way - ) Emma would follow the two, trying her best to keep her composure, but inevitably stopping once or twice to regain serenity by standing still and closing her eyes, covering her ears for a few moments. Imagining she's completely alone. She tries to keep it short, as much as she can, and endure the anxiety for as long as she can before stopping each time. At some point, in an attempt to distract herself from all the people, Emma asks one of the men: "But why are those people so hard to deal with? Why must the Duchess rely on volunteers?"
Varielky
Juniper smiles warmly at the children as Foxglove’s tail bats away flies, then she turns to the man who addressed her. “I heard the sound of music and general merriment from town,” she answers back, “there upon the leeward slope of Gillian Hill,” pointing behind her. “That drew me in.” She pauses a moment, taking in the encampment in detail before continuing, “I’ve no wish to interrupt your work. The day is warm, but in this season a night without a fire may be colder than one would like.”
DM for Candlekeep Mysteries // Dev Hornd in Curious Critters // Eclipse Faraway in Gallows Dancer
(Just as well I left off the part I almost added about going to look for the barkeep :D)
Kal shrugs, taking in the blood on the man's clothes again.
"I have no idea, but if he did, it's possible the beast was....distracted...by other victims long enough for him to escape."
Taking the smelling salts with a nod of thanks, he waves them under the unconscious man's nose.
"What happened?" Kal asks after assuring the man he is safe.
@Vice(WhiteByakko)
The man's face starts to turn red with anger. Suddenly, he is moving at a speed that is quicker than Vice has seen him achieve. Before he can react, the man pulls a rapier from a scabbard that Vice didn't notice that he had. The sun glistens on the shining surface of the sun and into Vice's eyes. The man swings the rapier down towards Vice, but his arm is caught by a big burly hand.
The man turns his attention to look at who is grabbing a hold of his arm. He sees a large man about half a foot taller and larger too. Although, in his case, his size is all muscle rather than fat.
"Now, what's the problem that we have here?" the man says in an accented voice.
@Emma(ViceCat5)
The two guards clear the way as they push through the crowd of people enjoying themselves as part of the festival. Every time Emma stops, the two guards wait and exchange glances at each other and Emma. The younger guard bears an expression that indicates that he thinks that Emma is not up to the task, whilst the older guard simply shrugs.
"Well, the Duchess did send several guards to try and deal with them already," explains the older man.
"Unfortunately, after coming back, it seems they were enchanted," the younger man adds. "They have this dumbfounded expression, and all they did was speak sympathetically about the visitors."
"We don't know why they have decided to take up a spot next to Daggerford. We also don't know why they have decided to harass people either."
The two guards take Emma to the town square, where a woman sits on a wooden throne guarded by two men on either side. The woman looks to be in her late thirties and looks tired. Her red hair has been tied into a bun, with a few strands escaping from the tie and falling around her face. Her smile doesn't quite reach her eyes, but she is making the effort to look pleased with the celebrations.
@Juniper(DandDSince1973)
From this position, Juniper can see six draft horses tied to one of the wagons.
"Well, that is why we are building this fire," the man says, beaming a smile. "Yes, the town is celebrating, but tonight we celebrate as well!"
He punctuates the last words by throwing his arms into the air. This causes the others to give a mighty cheer.
"Would you be interested in staying with us? We have plenty of wine, and there will be plenty of music and dancing. Plus, I have a story or two to tell."
@Kal(VanderLegion)
After getting a whiff of the smelling salts under his nose, the man wakes up coughing and spluttering. The barkeep offers him some water which he sips from.
"I was travelling with my family," the man begins. "We had come from Secomber and were travelling to Daggerford for the festival. However, when we camped by Delimbiyr River, just north of the Misty Forest, we were ambushed by werewolves. My wife was killed in the middle of the night. Oh god! Her screams."
The man takes a moment placing his head into his hands as recalls the terrifying memories.
"There was so much blood everywhere. I ran! There was nothing I could do. It was too late! They chased me away from Daggerford, so I came here. I didn't stop! I just kept running. I didn't dare stop."
“The secret we should never let the gamemasters know is that they don't need any rules.” ― Gary Gygax
After every time she stops, Emma apologises and thanks the two. She imagines they're quite annoyed by her behaviour, and just as they do, wonders if there's anything she could do. She holds no authority, is alone and has no way to force them away. She could ask them to leave, but would they listen? Will she be enchanted, or harassed, too?
When they reach the Duchess, Emma makes her best effort to keep calm, despite feeling like the air she's breathing, no matter how deep or how fast, is not enough. 'They're watching me.' She realises, even though no one does. 'Judging. They know what I've done.'
Perhaps the best Emma could do is just get out of there as soon as possible. She gets as close to the Duchess as the guards allow her, or within reasonable distance if they don't stop her themselves, then calls: "Excuse me? Your grace, I have heard you seek for volunteers."
Varielky
"I'm sorry about your wife," Kal tells the man. "You say they chased you away from Daggerford. Did they let you go eventually or were you able to somehow evade them to escape? How many of them were there?"
Though he knows he can't take on even one werewolf by himself, much less a group of them, Kal assumes this must by why he was directed to come to the tavern in the first place, and starts making plans in his head for a trip to Daggerford to investigate. Surely if there were indeed werewolves in the area, he would be able to find some allies there to help.
Juniper laughs, a sound like a softly rolling brook, enjoying the high-spirited invitation, and thanking the speaker, but she does not answer immediately. On one hand, she had nowhere in particular to be, and whether in the town or here, would be among strangers. But she is not yet convinced that an evening here would be better spent than at the festival.
Smiling, she looks more carefully at those in the camp. Other than scouters of firewood, what kinds of people has she encountered? If it takes a moment to assess this, she fills in the gap, while she looks and thinks, making conversation, at a distance, on the merit of celebrations in general.
DM for Candlekeep Mysteries // Dev Hornd in Curious Critters // Eclipse Faraway in Gallows Dancer
At the man's question Star looks towards the door. "The man who was here, who paid for my drink, he says he is from Barovia. One of the Vistani you mention perhaps? He is saying someone there is injured and I am called to help. I am not a healer, but he seems very certain the message is for me." He looks back down at the symbol on the paper, then into the face of the bartender. He smiles a pointed grin, full of sharp teeth. "It will make for a most excellent story when I return, yes? Perhaps I will not be gone long, it does not sound far, south from Dagger Ford on the Trade Way."
DM - Storm King's Thunder
DM - Torosevia (WIP homebrew world)
Kelytha Meliamne - Matti Silverstorm - Silver - Star-Setting-In-The-East - Tor Baltos
Vice sees the glimmer of the thin blade of a rapier piercing towards him, his muscle tenses as the reflex kicks in, and with the smooth oily sound of metal he slides his own shortsword out of the scabbard to parry the blow - that doesn’t come.
Vice looks behind the man to see the newcomer, lifts one shapely brow appreciatively at the size of those biceps. Still in his fighting stance - shoulders drawn, feet apart, he slowly and carefully relaxes his guard, his lambent gray eyes not leaving the man’s furious face.
“This man tries to barge into our tent. Said a thief went in there. Can’t let him go in. We’re setting up for the show tonight.”
@Emma(ViceCat5)
Duchess Morwen turns her attention to the dark-haired woman before her. She again smiles a tight-lipped smile at a poor attempt to appear in a welcoming mood.
"Yes," she says. Her voice carries a slight edge to it, probably a result of stress more than anything else. "I have been looking for volunteers to speak with the Vistani who have decided to set up camp near Daggerford these past few days. They have long overstayed their welcome and become a nuisance. I cannot risk any more guards being enchanted and losing their wits. All I want is for someone or some people to go and give them their final warning. I'll burn their wagons to the ground if they do not leave before dawn.
Would you be willing to pass the on message?"
@Kal(VanderLegion)
"I don't know how many," the man responds. "Definitely more than one, probably more than three. They were a blur of fur and blood. I don't know; I just kept running. Maybe they were too preoccupied?"
The barkeep crouches down to eye level with the man. "You that you were travelling with your wife and kids?"
"That's right?"
"But you only mentioned them killing your wife. What happened to your kids?"
The man lowers his hands from his face, staring at the floor as he tries to recall.
"I-I think they took them. The werewolves, I mean. I think they took my children!"
@Juniper(DandDSince1973)
Juniper learns that leader is Stanimir, who is joined by his daughter, Damia, and his son, Ratka. Damia has a child of her own and is the woman sitting near Stanimir. Additionally, there are nine other adults. The five men are working to build the fire, and the four women are looking after the children.
@Star(EMIW)
The bartender shrugs his shoulders, "If you manage to return, that is. You would definitely have a story or two to tell. I couldn't say for sure if he is Vistani; I could only guess that he is. Still, I have to wonder how it is the case that they have even heard of you. Then again, I have always regarded the Vistani with a sense of mystery and wonder."
The bartender then stands up.
I shall leave you to it. I will do nothing to persuade you to go or not to. That is your business and not mine."
He then turns away from Star and returns to his work.
@Vice(WhiteByakko)
"I see," says the man. "Well, I think it would be best if you were on your way. I don't think you want to cause this young man any trouble now, do you?"
The nobleman stammers, but his words fail him. He then shakes his head and turns the other way, and scarpers off. Once the nobleman is out of earshot, the man speaks again.
"Apep! Come here!"
The boy comes out from behind the horse and runs to stand next to the man. Now that the boy is standing next to him, it is clear that the two bear a family resemblance. The man takes the coin purse from his son and tips the gold pieces into his hand. He then takes two gold pieces and holds them out for Vice between his forefinger and thumb.
"For your trouble," the man explains.
“The secret we should never let the gamemasters know is that they don't need any rules.” ― Gary Gygax
How indeed had they heard of him? And why choose him, having heard of him? He would be sure to ask when he arrived.
He slowly drank, appreciating the flavour. He missed yeccan, but this was a satisfying alternative. He fingered the paper, turning it over, rereading the words, absorbing the shape of the symbol. Some type of great dark bird, or bird person. It reminded him a little of the stories of elusive bird-people, aarakocra, who supposedly lived northward of his Clan. And in the background, a tall dark building. Why was this emblem so dark? It needed a bit of life. He would suggest some brighter colours when he arrived.
The man had said not to travel the woods at night, but they were South of Dagger Ford, so he said, and it was still afternoon. So, finishing his drink, Star stood. He buttoned up his coat, and made for the door. Before leaving, however, he turns back to face the tavern, announcing,
"Friendly people of Secomber! I thank you for your hospitality, and your enjoyment of my stories. I go now to find my own story, but I shall return to share it with you all. For now, I shall leave you with the sound of my flute in your ears."
He begins a playful little tune, and continues it all the way out of town. A few children skip and dance and laugh alongside him in the fog , but peel away as he reaches the outskirts of the town. The mist is so thick it is all he can do to make out the edge of the road, but he starts the journey towards Daggerford. He will find a room somewhere, and start southward tomorrow, hoping the fog has lifted by then!
DM - Storm King's Thunder
DM - Torosevia (WIP homebrew world)
Kelytha Meliamne - Matti Silverstorm - Silver - Star-Setting-In-The-East - Tor Baltos
@Star(EMIW)
It doesn't take long for Star to leave the town. Once he reaches the border, the fog has dissipated and he finds himself in the wilderness of the Savage Frontier just north of the border with the Western Highlands. The sun is shining once more and the sky is a clear pale blue. He is one hundred feet away from the Delimbiyr River. Star knows that this river will lead past Daggerford, and would probably be quicker to travel on the river by boat than by foot.
“The secret we should never let the gamemasters know is that they don't need any rules.” ― Gary Gygax
It would be quicker, Star thinks, but then I'd have to travel on the river. The water ran fast and turbulent here, only just after the confluence with the Unicorn Run, the two rivers still battling for dominance. Nevertheless, he wanted to be in Dagger Ford by nightfall, and walking would make it a close call.
He looks around for any boats offering trips downriver, or something else appropriate.
DM - Storm King's Thunder
DM - Torosevia (WIP homebrew world)
Kelytha Meliamne - Matti Silverstorm - Silver - Star-Setting-In-The-East - Tor Baltos
“I was raised to offer food and shelter to travelers, for you never know when you might next be in need. And now am I in need, ‘cuz now that you’ve mentioned having good stories I couldn’t walk past without hearing them!” Juniper keeps to herself any conclusions she might draw from the travelers regarding gender and parenting.
She dismounts gracefully and leads Foxglove to a patch of healthy sedge. “This is more to your liking anyhow, isn’t it?,” she coos, then turns back to Stanimir, her face open and cordial, hiding her wariness.
“Your family travels together. Mine did too, when I was their age,” she offers, her eyes pointing to the children.
DM for Candlekeep Mysteries // Dev Hornd in Curious Critters // Eclipse Faraway in Gallows Dancer
Definitely an odd job. Emma wants to get away from there as quickly as she can, get it over with and be away from all the people. But for now, she must make sure. "I'm willing, but before I do, just two questions, your grace, if I may."
It might seem strange that a woman of such common standing knows any manners, but as a guild member might encounter all kinds of people of different standings, the guild teaches all members just enough that nobody would accidentally anger a powerful person. This pretty much ends with a few rules of thumb and how to address different people.
"First, what does 'Vitsani' means? Second, will there be a reward for completing this task?" Always ask for payment before serving food, though in this case, as the tables are somewhat turned, at least determine the price.
Varielky
@Star(EMIW)
After looking up and down the river bank, Star spots some boxes waiting on the muddy bank. Down in the river, close to the stack of boxes is a cargo boat. The boat is oval in shape with a sail and mast protruding from the middle of the boat. There are some boxes already loaded filling the middle of the boat. Four barrels, which look to contain wine, have already been loaded.
Then Star notices a man come around from the other side of the boxes. He is shorter than the stack but look sturdy enough to bear the weight of each box. He is wearing blue sleeveless shirt that leaves his arms bear. A pair of light brown trousers covers his legs whilst tanned leather boots protect his feet. The man grabs a box from the top of the stack and carried down the river bank to the boat.
@Juniper(DandDSince1973)
"Aye," Stanimir replies. "One big family. Although, we're not directly related blood related of course. We are one people though. The Vistani, that's us. We're silversmiths, coppersmiths, haberdashers, cooks, weavers, musicians, entertainers, storytellers, toolmakers, and horse traders. Then of course there are those of us who are fortune tellers."
Stanimir then stops to look up at the sky. He uses several fingers to calculate the distance of the sun from the horizon. He then sticks a finger in his mouth before sticking it up into the air to determine the direction of the wind.
s"It's still early yet," he mutters to himself.
@Emma(FireCat5)
Duchess Morwen nods her head, "You make ask my what you would like to know."
The Duchess tilts her head as she listens to Emma's questions and let's out a slight chuckle.
"You clearly know the worth of task and are not afraid to get to the points. I quite like you."
She takes a moment to recompose herself before continuing.
"It's quite simple really, Vistani is just the name their people. They are travellers with a sense of flamboyancy. They are nomadic, travelling from one place to another without settling down, usually.
As for the reward, I will pay you twenty gold pieces. This will be paid to you if you manage to get them to move on and upon your return."
“The secret we should never let the gamemasters know is that they don't need any rules.” ― Gary Gygax
Vice stares as he puts two and two together. He slides his shortsword back to its scabbard, accepts the gold pieces and easily tucks them into his pocket. “It’s no trouble at all.” He did not expect things to escalate that far either. But he’d be happy to rid the ornery nobleman some gold.
He squats down in front of the kid, ruffles his hair. “Good job, champ. Be more careful next time, alright?” He smiles and gives the boy a wink.
“You guys better get going before he comes back.” Vice stands up. “He doesn’t look like the type that’ll let this go easily.”
(OOC: by “early,” would it be easy to assume Stanimir mean time of day?)
Juniper introduces herself. “We’ve much in common then. How to take care of yourself and your needs… you don’t have a choice if you wander the wilds. Maybe you pay a price, if you cherish being surrounded by others. But Foxglove and I keep each other company,” the slight-shouldered elf winks with a warm smile.
She walks behind Stanimir into the encampment, her eyes on Damia and her baby, which she compliments, and inquires how old the child is.
“Are you here for the festival? Or… what is it you’re celebrating?”
DM for Candlekeep Mysteries // Dev Hornd in Curious Critters // Eclipse Faraway in Gallows Dancer
Star approaches the man, choosing his footing carefully on the muddy ground.
"Excuse me sir. Do you go by Dagger Ford? Would you accept a passenger? I can pay, by coin or by song."
DM - Storm King's Thunder
DM - Torosevia (WIP homebrew world)
Kelytha Meliamne - Matti Silverstorm - Silver - Star-Setting-In-The-East - Tor Baltos