The new day begins with a grayish sky, but without precipitation. Having definitively exited the Lurkwood, you enter further and further into hilly territory, ascending almost continuously, heading towards the imposing chain of The Spine of the World, which dominates the horizon. You are in the middle of the wild nature, without even a road to follow, so you don't meet other travellers, but you don't come across any threats or dangers either (the wild creatures you occasionally encounter avoid or run away from you) and in the afternoon a shy sun peeks out.
In the evening, when you camp in a small sheltered pine forest, you have significantly risen in altitude and reach a nearby source to drink or at least replenish your water supplies... and as you get closer you notice a majestic winged horse that was already drinking! The beast sees you, looks at you with eyes that seem at the same time both fearful like those of a horse and curious like those of a far more powerful and intelligent creature...
Roxana chuckles slightly, "If you are imagining then it's quite strange, because I may be having the same hallucination." For a moment, she considers the winged horse. The she decides she should just cautiously approach. In a soft voice she says, "Hello?" She tries not to startle it but to make sure it is aware of her presence.
Anita was left watching the winged creature with fascination (like Kunnari), but when Rash makes his comment, she can't help but nudge him and reply: "It's obvious they want to keep an eye on you... A brutal half-orc traveling with two ex-Zhentarim..."
As the girl from Longsaddle (imitated by Gaer) approaches cautiously and speaks to the winged horse, it snorts amicably with its nose and waits... It has stopped drinking and keeps an eye on everyone, especially Zentromya, who was flying among you, and Aedion, who, curious, came out and is now floating at Spira's head level.
To Spira's question, Zentromya responds by starting a telehaptic conversation in which she includes everyone, including the celestial animal: "It's a pegasus! A winged horse born in the Upper Planes! They are not creatures native to Elysium like me, but some of them are they bond with noble heroes in pursuing the cause of Good! Several blessed souls with whom I used to converse spoke to me about the Pegasus to whom they had bonded in life... He is able to understand us when we speak, but cannot respond verbally... since it's a horse - unless we learn to interpret neighing".
“Nice to meet you, by the way!” the Hollyphant addresses the Pegasus directly "My name is Zentromya and I come from Elysium! Traveling with me are noble heroes who are natives of the Prime Material Plane; I present to you Spira, Sergeant of Arvandor, her son Aedion, who as you will recognize is a Couatl..." and she goes on, introducing all the members of the large group.
“It is an honor to meet you, noble heroes,” the winged steed responds to the telepathic conversation. "My name is Ryvar, on a mission for the Eladrin Lords" her expressive face almost seems to smile as she fleetingly meets Spira's eyes. "I was about to set off on my journey again, but since it's getting dark and I've had such a lucky encounter, I could take advantage of it to spend the night with you. Are you also traveling to carry out a mission?"
Anita was left watching the winged creature with fascination (like Kunnari), but when Rash makes his comment, she can't help but nudge him and reply: "It's obvious they want to keep an eye on you... A brutal half-orc traveling with two ex-Zhentarim..."
As the girl from Longsaddle (imitated by Gaer) approaches cautiously and speaks to the winged horse, it snorts amicably with its nose and waits... It has stopped drinking and keeps an eye on everyone, especially Zentromya, who was flying among you, and Aedion, who, curious, came out and is now floating at Spira's head level.
To Spira's question, Zentromya responds by starting a telehaptic conversation in which she includes everyone, including the celestial animal: "It's a pegasus! A winged horse born in the Upper Planes! They are not creatures native to Elysium like me, but some of them are they bond with noble heroes in pursuing the cause of Good! Several blessed souls with whom I used to converse spoke to me about the Pegasus to whom they had bonded in life... He is able to understand us when we speak, but cannot respond verbally... since it's a horse - unless we learn to interpret neighing".
“Nice to meet you, by the way!” the Hollyphant addresses the Pegasus directly "My name is Zentromya and I come from Elysium! Traveling with me are noble heroes who are natives of the Prime Material Plane; I present to you Spira, Sergeant of Arvandor, her son Aedion, who as you will recognize is a Couatl..." and she goes on, introducing all the members of the large group.
“It is an honor to meet you, noble heroes,” the winged steed responds to the telepathic conversation. "My name is Ryvar, on a mission for the Eladrin Lords" her expressive face almost seems to smile as she fleetingly meets Spira's eyes. "I was about to set off on my journey again, but since it's getting dark and I've had such a lucky encounter, I could take advantage of it to spend the night with you. Are you also traveling to carry out a mission?"
"The honor is ours, Ryvar," Spira replies courteously, "and doubly so that you wish to share our camp. We're on a mission in a sense, but maybe it would better be described as the aftermath of a mission, to provide one who saw the light another chance. That's more others' to tell than mine, although I was definitely part of the original mission that led up to this journey." She names no names, and takes care not to look at Kunnari any less or more than the others as she speaks.
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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
"It's an honor to meet you Ryvar, and to have you share the evening with us," Roxana says, as she tries to project her thoughts to the pegasus as well - not quite sure she knows what she's doing though. She looks to Gaer, her voice lowered intending for just him to hear. "Is she not a magnificent creature?"
She looks back at the winged horse, waiting to let perhaps Rash explain their voyage to his home. Or perhaps Kunnari even to speak of his role in this voyage.
Gaer responds to Roxana in the same way: "Indeed! It looks like the winged version of your Snowshine!"
Meanwhile, Kunnari takes courage and stands alongside the Sergeant of Arvandor: "Indeed, all of these are true heroes, Ryvar. Valiant, courageous, forgiving... Suffice it to say that the 'original mission' they have thus casually mentioned consisted of bringing back from the realm of the dead a good person who had met an end he didn't deserve".
"The 'mission' they are engaged in now, is me, Ryvar" the ex-Zhentarim lowers his eyes. "I am a criminal. My gang and I also tried to kill these heroes, during their 'original mission'. Despite this, they wanted to give me a new chance, snatching me from a certain death sentence to offer me a way alternative to atone for my sins. That's where they are escorting me; to atone. And perhaps to become a different person. A better one".
The Pegasus uses the telepathic connection offered by Zentromya to comment, fixing his sympathetic and empathetic eyes in those of the boy: "Yet you wouldn't seem like a heinous criminal, at first glance".
"I have been so stupid in my life, Ryvar..." Kunnari continues, as if induced by that look "Do you know why I joined that gang of criminals? A woman. All because of a woman. Well, actually..." he corrects himself, after a few moments, as if he had thought twice about the matter "...perhaps because of my infatuation with her. It was difficult not to fall infatuated with the beautiful redhaired Arveene..."
"Poor Kunnari..." Gaer jokes with Roxana, still in a low voice "I understand him... Redheads can be fatal to a poor male's heart..."
"...She, however," the ex-Zhentarim goes on "as beautiful as haughty, unfortunately didn't love me back and in the end my heartbreak drove me to make a too rash decision. Believing the Zhentarim represented my chance to become powerful, or at least interesting enough, I signed up, hoping to impress my love - but failing miserably at that. And after that... I just continued to try to remain a Zhentarim because I saw no viable alternatives".
"You never had real aptitude for violence or subterfuge, Kunnari" Anita is careful to specify, getting closer. "What you said now is exactly right... I had the same impression about you... You did what you thought you were forced to do. Because you thought you had no alternative. Now that you have it... you'll see, you'll put it to good use".
"Heroes who know how to combine the power of their arm with that of their heart are truly an encounter as rare as it is welcome!" Ryvar seems to look at all of you with admiration "I will gladly spend the night with you and wish you every luck in your journey. And as for you, young Kunnari... I feel so much motivation in you... You have changed. You are already a new person - and probably much more interesting than the person you were before. Remain steadfast in your purpose; I'm sure you will surprise everyone - starting with yourself!"
With the addition of Ryvar to the already large group, the night passes peacefully and the new day, characterized by clear skies and strong, cold wind, sees the Pegasus greet the group of heroes with affection and take flight, while said heroes begin their journey again, traveling north, towards the slopes of The Spine of the World, whose imposing mass seems ever closer.
Even during this day the route winds through wild lands, without the convenience of real roads. Sometimes, the fact of having a cart prevents you from using some goat paths which, although steep, would perhaps save you time - but the vehicle would never be able to tackle them, so with patience choose alternative routes that are longer but less difficult. On the other hand, your group is so large that your noise and your numbers regularly scares away the fauna and discourages predators; no hostile encounter slows down your inexorable progress. Not to mention that, now that you are so close to your destination, Rash has better memories of the path to his tribe; so you don't get lost and continue to proceed steadily towards your destination - which you should reach within the day.
During a brief stop at a scenic spot, Anita, admiring some peaks still firmly in the grip of the frost, asks Rash in admiration: "I've never seen such a wild environment... Do your people live... up there? It must be like feeling on the roof of Toril..."
[[ OOC: For Rash's information: No, his tribe doesn't live at that high altitude, the camp is closer and at a more reasonable altitude - although still in the mountains ]]
Towards mid-afternoon, Aidwyn, Roxana and Gaer notice, behind some boulders on one side and behind some brambles on the other, metal glittering in several places... and glimpses of hairy body parts that lead one to deduce that there are armed hidden creatures. You were about to pass through them... which would have given them the opportunity for an ambush... but the three who realized the possible threat can definitely do something about it!
Rash can't help but smile as Kunnari tells the winged horse everything.
"You know, you're a pretty decent orator," the half-orc tells the young man with a chuckle. "Best be careful... you might have an orc lass fallin' for you if you keep that up!"
(Back to the present, replying to Anita's question): "No, we don't actually live on the peaks,"he tells Anita. "We're parked a bit lower down the mountain. Orcs may be tough, but we still need air!"
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"The foothills must still be pretty impressive terrain, Rash," Spira says. Her eyes are busy scanning the lower elevations she is speaking of, trying to see if she can see some evidence of the smithy her wizardly colleague mentioned ... perhaps a thread of smoke on the dimming air, a quick glimpse caught in passing before the smoke blends into the grey cliff face it would naturally be camouflaged against. She has not yet picked up the signs of danger nearer at hand, but continues absently gazing towards the hills until she remembers her manners and turns to look at the person she is speaking to.
Roxana, having noted the danger, brings up a hand and tries to quietly bring the group to a halt. First speaking to Gaer, then huddling up with the others, she relays the information about ambushers she noticed. "I imagine at this point we will have to deal with them. But at the very least we did not walk into their midst. I suppose we might try to send a couple of us to try to catch them from surprise? Not sure that'll work though." She imagines they must have spotted the group by now.
In fact, the girl from Longsaddle imagines right... The hidden individuals must have been keeping an eye on the party, because when they see the column stop and chatter, they come out into the open, with menacing looks and weapons at the ready. They're half-orcs!
"Stop where you are, strangers!" thunders one of them, tall, big and fat, with hair and beard as bristly as the few furs he wears. "What brings you to the territory of the Bloodskull Tribe?"
But the next moment he notices the half-orc who is with you and, widening his eyes in surprise, exclaims: "Rashugri!? You here?! I thought you didn't like our lifestyle... but, on the contrary, have you come back?"
Rash actually recognizes the half-orc who spoke...
For Rash:
He is Dench Twelve Stools, a troublemaker and hothead with whom he didn't get along too well... and who owes his nickname to the number of stools that, in the course of his career, gave way under his weight when he tried to sit on them and let himself fall on them a little too heavily.
Perhaps it is in memory of the previous not excessive sympathy between the two, that the speaker doesn't seem too happy with Rash's return... Or maybe he's up to something? Be that as it may, the nine half-orcs who are with the speaker (and who Rash recalls as guys who had a liking for the speaker and his attitude, finding him very 'appropriately half-orcish') seem less wary now, considering that their leader has started a dialogue rather than a battle and they simply observe the situation evolving...
Rash forces himself to smile at the other half-orc.
"Good to see you to, Dench!" he calls out, pulling Anita a little closer. "Just getting back from a little bit of a journey of self-exploration, you know? Anyhow, I see that the tribe hasn't gone up in flames since I left, so I suppose that's a good sign. So, what are you folks doin' out here?"
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"In flames?" Dench grunts "Flames are what we should light in the decaying communities of the lesser races! Think of what the orcs of Many-Arrows managed to accomplish! A kingdom that shook all of the North!" (he fails to mention that about fifteen years ago, the orcish kingdom of Many-Arrows, glorious as it was, was finally finally erased by the dwarf king Bruenor) "Couldn't the Bloodskull tribe do the same or even better?"
"As for us, we were just out on a hunting trip" he states hastily. "You still remember the way home, I think. Go ahead, I won't hold you back. And if in the course of your 'self-exploration' you have by chance found an orc heart for yourself, try to convince the tribe to rediscover the ancient traditions. War... Plunder... Conquest... The future is ours, we can shape it as we please!"
Meanwhile, Roxana is under the impression that
Dench and his ilk contemplate other than hunting... Apparently, Dench has warlike intentions and seems frustrated that these are not shared enough within the tribe. Perhaps he was leading his goons on an unauthorized raid (or other activity aimed at 'stirring up the situation').
Meanwhile, Kunnari, visibly afraid, murmurs to Anita: "I don't question my need to atone, but I really hope that I won't become the slave of a guy like that..."
Deciding to ignore the commentary about how the tribe could conquer everything, Rash is ready to go see the more reasonable members of his tribe.
"I'll keep it in mind," Rash says as to Dench. "Be careful out there... we nearly ran into a literal army of goblins and hobgoblins not too long ago."
Once they're out of earshot of Dench and company, Rash will go ahead and reassure Kunnari regarding the terms of his sentence.
"The whole point of this sentence is to make you into a productive member of society," the half-orc chuckles. "Which Dench, I'm afraid, is not. Trust me, our tradesmen are much more reasonable and not nearly so eager for violence. Kind of a shame Kenzo couldn't stop himself from mouthing off to the judge... I think he might have gotten along with Dench..."
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Anita can't help but laugh in amusement at the idea of the possible Kenzo-Dench partnership: "You're right, Rash! Together they would probably have managed to cause more trouble than twenty people! The only hope that could have saved the North then, It's the fact that Kenzo might not have resisted making snarky comments about Dench either - and the two might have ended up at each other's throats".
Meanwhile, Rash leads the group towards the tribe's camp, now nearby.
As they pass Rash's 'old acquaintance', Zentromya's sweet telepathic voice resonates in everyone's minds, as she says to the bloodthirsty barbarian: "Would you ever throw a stone in the air, Dench, vertically above your head? I think not... because even if it is obvious that you are strong, very strong, you know that sooner or later the stone would stop rising... and would fall on you anyway. Well, seeking war, violence... it is a very similar act. It doesn't matter how strong you are. Sooner or later, it comes back. Think twice. Before it is too late".
"Get out of my head!" Drench screams, wild-eyed, threateningly raising a maul held in both hands - but refrains from actually using it, simply maintaining a threatening pose and looking at the Hollyphant with fiery eyes, while she, together with you, continues to walk away .
"Zentromya is very kind, as usual," Gaer murmurs to Spira and Roxana "but sometimes she asks for the impossible. 'Think twice'... It would probably be the first time in his life if Drench paused to think just once... To tell the truth, if Zentromya hadn't carefully explained the consequences to him, I suspect that he might in fact even come to the idea of throwing a stone in the air, vertically above his head..."
"I'm glad to hear that Dench is not typical of your tribe Rash," Roxana says. "I fear though that he and his followers might end up stirring up trouble that could engulf the whole clan. Especially so with that not thinking once, most likely." She glances back along the path where the other half-orc had disappeared once they moved on. "I guess we can just hope that he won't be effective enough to get into too much trouble."
13 8 3 6 9 18 11 19
The new day begins with a grayish sky, but without precipitation. Having definitively exited the Lurkwood, you enter further and further into hilly territory, ascending almost continuously, heading towards the imposing chain of The Spine of the World, which dominates the horizon. You are in the middle of the wild nature, without even a road to follow, so you don't meet other travellers, but you don't come across any threats or dangers either (the wild creatures you occasionally encounter avoid or run away from you) and in the afternoon a shy sun peeks out.
In the evening, when you camp in a small sheltered pine forest, you have significantly risen in altitude and reach a nearby source to drink or at least replenish your water supplies... and as you get closer you notice a majestic winged horse that was already drinking! The beast sees you, looks at you with eyes that seem at the same time both fearful like those of a horse and curious like those of a far more powerful and intelligent creature...
Rash looks at the winged horse...
"So... is it just my imagination, or are we bumping into a LOT of Celestials?" he whispers to the others.
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Roxana chuckles slightly, "If you are imagining then it's quite strange, because I may be having the same hallucination." For a moment, she considers the winged horse. The she decides she should just cautiously approach. In a soft voice she says, "Hello?" She tries not to startle it but to make sure it is aware of her presence.
Rabbit Sebrica, Sorcerer || Skarai, Monk || Lokilia Vaelphin, Druid || Liivi Orav, Barbarian || Vanizi, Warlock || Britari / Halila Talgeta / Jesa Gumovi || Neital Rhessil, Wizard
Iromae Quinaea, Cleric || Roxana Raincrest, Rogue || Meira Dheran, Rogue || Qirynna Thadri, Wizard || Crisaryn Melkial, Sorcerer
"Zebtromya? Are you acquainted with this lady?," Spira inquires curiously of the other celestial.
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
Anita was left watching the winged creature with fascination (like Kunnari), but when Rash makes his comment, she can't help but nudge him and reply: "It's obvious they want to keep an eye on you... A brutal half-orc traveling with two ex-Zhentarim..."
As the girl from Longsaddle (imitated by Gaer) approaches cautiously and speaks to the winged horse, it snorts amicably with its nose and waits... It has stopped drinking and keeps an eye on everyone, especially Zentromya, who was flying among you, and Aedion, who, curious, came out and is now floating at Spira's head level.
To Spira's question, Zentromya responds by starting a telehaptic conversation in which she includes everyone, including the celestial animal: "It's a pegasus! A winged horse born in the Upper Planes! They are not creatures native to Elysium like me, but some of them are they bond with noble heroes in pursuing the cause of Good! Several blessed souls with whom I used to converse spoke to me about the Pegasus to whom they had bonded in life... He is able to understand us when we speak, but cannot respond verbally... since it's a horse - unless we learn to interpret neighing".
“Nice to meet you, by the way!” the Hollyphant addresses the Pegasus directly "My name is Zentromya and I come from Elysium! Traveling with me are noble heroes who are natives of the Prime Material Plane; I present to you Spira, Sergeant of Arvandor, her son Aedion, who as you will recognize is a Couatl..." and she goes on, introducing all the members of the large group.
“It is an honor to meet you, noble heroes,” the winged steed responds to the telepathic conversation. "My name is Ryvar, on a mission for the Eladrin Lords" her expressive face almost seems to smile as she fleetingly meets Spira's eyes. "I was about to set off on my journey again, but since it's getting dark and I've had such a lucky encounter, I could take advantage of it to spend the night with you. Are you also traveling to carry out a mission?"
"The honor is ours, Ryvar," Spira replies courteously, "and doubly so that you wish to share our camp. We're on a mission in a sense, but maybe it would better be described as the aftermath of a mission, to provide one who saw the light another chance. That's more others' to tell than mine, although I was definitely part of the original mission that led up to this journey." She names no names, and takes care not to look at Kunnari any less or more than the others as she speaks.
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
"It's an honor to meet you Ryvar, and to have you share the evening with us," Roxana says, as she tries to project her thoughts to the pegasus as well - not quite sure she knows what she's doing though. She looks to Gaer, her voice lowered intending for just him to hear. "Is she not a magnificent creature?"
She looks back at the winged horse, waiting to let perhaps Rash explain their voyage to his home. Or perhaps Kunnari even to speak of his role in this voyage.
Rabbit Sebrica, Sorcerer || Skarai, Monk || Lokilia Vaelphin, Druid || Liivi Orav, Barbarian || Vanizi, Warlock || Britari / Halila Talgeta / Jesa Gumovi || Neital Rhessil, Wizard
Iromae Quinaea, Cleric || Roxana Raincrest, Rogue || Meira Dheran, Rogue || Qirynna Thadri, Wizard || Crisaryn Melkial, Sorcerer
Gaer responds to Roxana in the same way: "Indeed! It looks like the winged version of your Snowshine!"
Meanwhile, Kunnari takes courage and stands alongside the Sergeant of Arvandor: "Indeed, all of these are true heroes, Ryvar. Valiant, courageous, forgiving... Suffice it to say that the 'original mission' they have thus casually mentioned consisted of bringing back from the realm of the dead a good person who had met an end he didn't deserve".
"The 'mission' they are engaged in now, is me, Ryvar" the ex-Zhentarim lowers his eyes. "I am a criminal. My gang and I also tried to kill these heroes, during their 'original mission'. Despite this, they wanted to give me a new chance, snatching me from a certain death sentence to offer me a way alternative to atone for my sins. That's where they are escorting me; to atone. And perhaps to become a different person. A better one".
The Pegasus uses the telepathic connection offered by Zentromya to comment, fixing his sympathetic and empathetic eyes in those of the boy: "Yet you wouldn't seem like a heinous criminal, at first glance".
"I have been so stupid in my life, Ryvar..." Kunnari continues, as if induced by that look "Do you know why I joined that gang of criminals? A woman. All because of a woman. Well, actually..." he corrects himself, after a few moments, as if he had thought twice about the matter "...perhaps because of my infatuation with her. It was difficult not to fall infatuated with the beautiful redhaired Arveene..."
"Poor Kunnari..." Gaer jokes with Roxana, still in a low voice "I understand him... Redheads can be fatal to a poor male's heart..."
"...She, however," the ex-Zhentarim goes on "as beautiful as haughty, unfortunately didn't love me back and in the end my heartbreak drove me to make a too rash decision. Believing the Zhentarim represented my chance to become powerful, or at least interesting enough, I signed up, hoping to impress my love - but failing miserably at that. And after that... I just continued to try to remain a Zhentarim because I saw no viable alternatives".
"You never had real aptitude for violence or subterfuge, Kunnari" Anita is careful to specify, getting closer. "What you said now is exactly right... I had the same impression about you... You did what you thought you were forced to do. Because you thought you had no alternative. Now that you have it... you'll see, you'll put it to good use".
"Heroes who know how to combine the power of their arm with that of their heart are truly an encounter as rare as it is welcome!" Ryvar seems to look at all of you with admiration "I will gladly spend the night with you and wish you every luck in your journey. And as for you, young Kunnari... I feel so much motivation in you... You have changed. You are already a new person - and probably much more interesting than the person you were before. Remain steadfast in your purpose; I'm sure you will surprise everyone - starting with yourself!"
With the addition of Ryvar to the already large group, the night passes peacefully and the new day, characterized by clear skies and strong, cold wind, sees the Pegasus greet the group of heroes with affection and take flight, while said heroes begin their journey again, traveling north, towards the slopes of The Spine of the World, whose imposing mass seems ever closer.
Even during this day the route winds through wild lands, without the convenience of real roads. Sometimes, the fact of having a cart prevents you from using some goat paths which, although steep, would perhaps save you time - but the vehicle would never be able to tackle them, so with patience choose alternative routes that are longer but less difficult. On the other hand, your group is so large that your noise and your numbers regularly scares away the fauna and discourages predators; no hostile encounter slows down your inexorable progress. Not to mention that, now that you are so close to your destination, Rash has better memories of the path to his tribe; so you don't get lost and continue to proceed steadily towards your destination - which you should reach within the day.
During a brief stop at a scenic spot, Anita, admiring some peaks still firmly in the grip of the frost, asks Rash in admiration: "I've never seen such a wild environment... Do your people live... up there? It must be like feeling on the roof of Toril..."
[[ OOC: For Rash's information: No, his tribe doesn't live at that high altitude, the camp is closer and at a more reasonable altitude - although still in the mountains ]]
Towards mid-afternoon, Aidwyn, Roxana and Gaer notice, behind some boulders on one side and behind some brambles on the other, metal glittering in several places... and glimpses of hairy body parts that lead one to deduce that there are armed hidden creatures. You were about to pass through them... which would have given them the opportunity for an ambush... but the three who realized the possible threat can definitely do something about it!
(Chatting with the Pegasus the previous night):
Rash can't help but smile as Kunnari tells the winged horse everything.
"You know, you're a pretty decent orator," the half-orc tells the young man with a chuckle. "Best be careful... you might have an orc lass fallin' for you if you keep that up!"
(Back to the present, replying to Anita's question):
"No, we don't actually live on the peaks," he tells Anita. "We're parked a bit lower down the mountain. Orcs may be tough, but we still need air!"
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"The foothills must still be pretty impressive terrain, Rash," Spira says. Her eyes are busy scanning the lower elevations she is speaking of, trying to see if she can see some evidence of the smithy her wizardly colleague mentioned ... perhaps a thread of smoke on the dimming air, a quick glimpse caught in passing before the smoke blends into the grey cliff face it would naturally be camouflaged against. She has not yet picked up the signs of danger nearer at hand, but continues absently gazing towards the hills until she remembers her manners and turns to look at the person she is speaking to.
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
Roxana, having noted the danger, brings up a hand and tries to quietly bring the group to a halt. First speaking to Gaer, then huddling up with the others, she relays the information about ambushers she noticed. "I imagine at this point we will have to deal with them. But at the very least we did not walk into their midst. I suppose we might try to send a couple of us to try to catch them from surprise? Not sure that'll work though." She imagines they must have spotted the group by now.
Rabbit Sebrica, Sorcerer || Skarai, Monk || Lokilia Vaelphin, Druid || Liivi Orav, Barbarian || Vanizi, Warlock || Britari / Halila Talgeta / Jesa Gumovi || Neital Rhessil, Wizard
Iromae Quinaea, Cleric || Roxana Raincrest, Rogue || Meira Dheran, Rogue || Qirynna Thadri, Wizard || Crisaryn Melkial, Sorcerer
In fact, the girl from Longsaddle imagines right... The hidden individuals must have been keeping an eye on the party, because when they see the column stop and chatter, they come out into the open, with menacing looks and weapons at the ready. They're half-orcs!
"Stop where you are, strangers!" thunders one of them, tall, big and fat, with hair and beard as bristly as the few furs he wears. "What brings you to the territory of the Bloodskull Tribe?"
But the next moment he notices the half-orc who is with you and, widening his eyes in surprise, exclaims: "Rashugri!? You here?! I thought you didn't like our lifestyle... but, on the contrary, have you come back?"
Rash actually recognizes the half-orc who spoke...
For Rash:
He is Dench Twelve Stools, a troublemaker and hothead with whom he didn't get along too well... and who owes his nickname to the number of stools that, in the course of his career, gave way under his weight when he tried to sit on them and let himself fall on them a little too heavily.
Perhaps it is in memory of the previous not excessive sympathy between the two, that the speaker doesn't seem too happy with Rash's return... Or maybe he's up to something? Be that as it may, the nine half-orcs who are with the speaker (and who Rash recalls as guys who had a liking for the speaker and his attitude, finding him very 'appropriately half-orcish') seem less wary now, considering that their leader has started a dialogue rather than a battle and they simply observe the situation evolving...
Rash forces himself to smile at the other half-orc.
"Good to see you to, Dench!" he calls out, pulling Anita a little closer. "Just getting back from a little bit of a journey of self-exploration, you know? Anyhow, I see that the tribe hasn't gone up in flames since I left, so I suppose that's a good sign. So, what are you folks doin' out here?"
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Roxana listens with interest to the exchange between the two half-orcs. She tries to get a read on what this Dench may be up to. (Insight Check: 15)
Rabbit Sebrica, Sorcerer || Skarai, Monk || Lokilia Vaelphin, Druid || Liivi Orav, Barbarian || Vanizi, Warlock || Britari / Halila Talgeta / Jesa Gumovi || Neital Rhessil, Wizard
Iromae Quinaea, Cleric || Roxana Raincrest, Rogue || Meira Dheran, Rogue || Qirynna Thadri, Wizard || Crisaryn Melkial, Sorcerer
"In flames?" Dench grunts "Flames are what we should light in the decaying communities of the lesser races! Think of what the orcs of Many-Arrows managed to accomplish! A kingdom that shook all of the North!" (he fails to mention that about fifteen years ago, the orcish kingdom of Many-Arrows, glorious as it was, was finally finally erased by the dwarf king Bruenor) "Couldn't the Bloodskull tribe do the same or even better?"
"As for us, we were just out on a hunting trip" he states hastily. "You still remember the way home, I think. Go ahead, I won't hold you back. And if in the course of your 'self-exploration' you have by chance found an orc heart for yourself, try to convince the tribe to rediscover the ancient traditions. War... Plunder... Conquest... The future is ours, we can shape it as we please!"
Meanwhile, Roxana is under the impression that
Dench and his ilk contemplate other than hunting... Apparently, Dench has warlike intentions and seems frustrated that these are not shared enough within the tribe. Perhaps he was leading his goons on an unauthorized raid (or other activity aimed at 'stirring up the situation').
Meanwhile, Kunnari, visibly afraid, murmurs to Anita: "I don't question my need to atone, but I really hope that I won't become the slave of a guy like that..."
Deciding to ignore the commentary about how the tribe could conquer everything, Rash is ready to go see the more reasonable members of his tribe.
"I'll keep it in mind," Rash says as to Dench. "Be careful out there... we nearly ran into a literal army of goblins and hobgoblins not too long ago."
Once they're out of earshot of Dench and company, Rash will go ahead and reassure Kunnari regarding the terms of his sentence.
"The whole point of this sentence is to make you into a productive member of society," the half-orc chuckles. "Which Dench, I'm afraid, is not. Trust me, our tradesmen are much more reasonable and not nearly so eager for violence. Kind of a shame Kenzo couldn't stop himself from mouthing off to the judge... I think he might have gotten along with Dench..."
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Anita can't help but laugh in amusement at the idea of the possible Kenzo-Dench partnership: "You're right, Rash! Together they would probably have managed to cause more trouble than twenty people! The only hope that could have saved the North then, It's the fact that Kenzo might not have resisted making snarky comments about Dench either - and the two might have ended up at each other's throats".
Meanwhile, Rash leads the group towards the tribe's camp, now nearby.
As they pass Rash's 'old acquaintance', Zentromya's sweet telepathic voice resonates in everyone's minds, as she says to the bloodthirsty barbarian: "Would you ever throw a stone in the air, Dench, vertically above your head? I think not... because even if it is obvious that you are strong, very strong, you know that sooner or later the stone would stop rising... and would fall on you anyway. Well, seeking war, violence... it is a very similar act. It doesn't matter how strong you are. Sooner or later, it comes back. Think twice. Before it is too late".
"Get out of my head!" Drench screams, wild-eyed, threateningly raising a maul held in both hands - but refrains from actually using it, simply maintaining a threatening pose and looking at the Hollyphant with fiery eyes, while she, together with you, continues to walk away .
"Zentromya is very kind, as usual," Gaer murmurs to Spira and Roxana "but sometimes she asks for the impossible. 'Think twice'... It would probably be the first time in his life if Drench paused to think just once... To tell the truth, if Zentromya hadn't carefully explained the consequences to him, I suspect that he might in fact even come to the idea of throwing a stone in the air, vertically above his head..."
"I'm glad to hear that Dench is not typical of your tribe Rash," Roxana says. "I fear though that he and his followers might end up stirring up trouble that could engulf the whole clan. Especially so with that not thinking once, most likely." She glances back along the path where the other half-orc had disappeared once they moved on. "I guess we can just hope that he won't be effective enough to get into too much trouble."
Rabbit Sebrica, Sorcerer || Skarai, Monk || Lokilia Vaelphin, Druid || Liivi Orav, Barbarian || Vanizi, Warlock || Britari / Halila Talgeta / Jesa Gumovi || Neital Rhessil, Wizard
Iromae Quinaea, Cleric || Roxana Raincrest, Rogue || Meira Dheran, Rogue || Qirynna Thadri, Wizard || Crisaryn Melkial, Sorcerer