Lokilia looks over the items in the box that Ugart offered. She's clearly drawn to the badger's head necklace, but she looks back at Ugart to ask. "Is there anything special about these items? It seems like quite a generous gift."
"That's right Magnus, I can send an update to the Chamber of Whitestone, which means double the chance of getting some help down here", Normont replies when Magnus asks to send a message. He lets Magnus write his first though, and waits for his turn, unless there are multiple parchments and charcoal.
When the strongbox is brought out, he whole heartedly agrees with Quinn and Lokilia. "Yes, most generous. Very nice, very nice", he says taking a look inside himself.
At these words spoken by Greycrow, Dev’s eyes widen warily and he fights the urge to take a backwards step as his imagination paints a picture of fire gone wrong in these woods, an avalanche of burning tree limbs and a whirlwind of hot ash. He bites his lip and says nothing.
When Ugurt fetches and opens the strongbox, Dev watches with curiosity, both the clan leader, and his own companions’ reactions.
Ugart: “...you should take these with you to assist your journey…”
Quinn: “We thank you…”
Lokilia: “Is there anything special about these items?”
And on the coattails of Lokilia’s statement, Dev adds, in his eerie voice, “These are…beautiful. Speaking of the other side… do you know what — or who — we can expect to find as we continue our travels in that direction, Mr. Ugart?”
Greycrow smiles, " The elven items are mine.....from a previous life.....they will not be missed. The others are......reminders......of when the Scarlet Badger was a more....belligerent...family than it is today, my husband does not wish them to be here any longer.....if they are of use rather than locked away....then all the better."
" The necklace however....it belonged to our eldest daughter.", she caught Lokilias eye regarding it. " I think she would be pleased if you wore it."
Ugart turned towards Dev with a toothy grin, " We give boat to cross river.....from there is long climb up mountain......from my youth I recall ruins some way up and some beasts and dangers from snow and stone....among the ruins all my fur stood on end and I left....it is not a place I would return to. But I saw beyond there further up more ruins within the snow....."
Messages were able to be written in short order and the two scouts readied themselves to depart, Ugart clasped them both on the shoulder, " Careful, Whitestone can be unkind....you must harden your spirits and hearts and trust that Mother Badger will guide you. Go to your parents before you leave."
Hearing the words from Ugart about the necklace, Lokilia nods solemnly towards him. "If it belonged to your daughter, then I will certainly cherish it, along with the memory of all the Red Badgers have done for us here." She reaches out to pick up the necklace, inspecting it a moment before she places it around her neck. The badger joins the carved eagle that she always wears about her neck. In the back of her mind she makes a note that she will have to investigate this item further once she gets that chance, to see what else it may do.
She then looks to the others in the group. "We should see the rest of these items go to whoever can use them. I'm just not sure how best to do that."
Normont listens intently to Ugart as he details what they should expect across the river. The fact there were ruins meant they were on the right path.
"All good information. And if you mention my name at Whitestone, you should be ok. Oh, it's Normont Fizzlepeak, in case I didn't say", he says to Ugart and the scouts.
When Lokilia mentions the items, he agrees. "I will be able to tell if there is anything beyond the surface, which will help. Otherwise, they are fine pieces of clothing. Of course the quiver is of no use to me", he says and adds the last part patting his pistol in its holster.
At this phrase, Dev scans the room, seeking someone around his own age, maybe, whose appearance is a blend of the Ugart and Greycrow’s but whom he hadn’t yet met. (Presumably) his glance lands on no one, and, unable to suppress his curiosity, yet also feeling a distant bell tolling heavy and sad in a forlorn place in his heart, he asks naively, “Your eldest daughter, won’t she miss wearing it herself? It really is nicely…”
He trails off as a growing awareness of a possible reason for her absence muffles his words like a gray shroud.
Hearing Dev's faltering response, Lokilia speaks up. "Greycrow, we would love to learn a bit about your daughter. I should know a little of her if I'm to carry her necklace."
At this phrase, Dev scans the room, seeking someone around his own age, maybe, whose appearance is a blend of the Ugart and Greycrow’s but whom he hadn’t yet met. (Presumably) his glance lands on no one, and, unable to suppress his curiosity, yet also feeling a distant bell tolling heavy and sad in a forlorn place in his heart, he asks naively, “Your eldest daughter, won’t she miss wearing it herself? It really is nicely…”
He trails off as a growing awareness of a possible reason for her absence muffles his words like a gray shroud.
Ugarts fingers tightened into a bunched fist and a fragile, dangerous light came into his eyes....Greycrow swiftly crossed the room and took his other hand in her own, putting her forehead to his shoulder.
Hearing Dev's faltering response, Lokilia speaks up. "Greycrow, we would love to learn a bit about your daughter. I should know a little of her if I'm to carry her necklace."
Greycrows eyes darted to Lokilias and she pressed her cheek against Ugarts broad chest, then turned to face the group.
" Twyll was sadly killed four summers past as she gathered berries, she is sorely missed by us all."
Ugarts teeth audibly ground against each other, " I was too late..."
" Lumina! Come and show your father what you are doing in there."
The young girl came out of the sideroom and took her father by the hand leading him away.
" Ugart found her body....he still blames himself for not being there."
" Please take these old things, they are no use here. Your boat awaits you at the rivers edge....midday meal is soon if you wish to stay longer."
Lokilia nods her head slightly. "I shall remember Twyll, thank you. If it's all the same, I think perhaps we should get moving." She looks about to the others to see if they are ready to get the boats and cross. She steps over close to Dev, nudging his gently with her elbow as her magic causes a light breeze to ruffle his hair. Softly she says to him, "Thank you for thinking to ask about the daughter. It is good we got to hear more about her." She glances over at him with a smile, ready to head to the river with the rest of the group, pausing only to make sure all the other items are gathered up to bring with them.
Dev watches appreciatively the grace and empathy Greycrow shows to Ugart when he speaks about their lost daughter, and yet, his heart is not warmed by her warmth. In fact, the subject sends the tiefling’s mind drifting forlornly.
‘Thank the Matron of Ravens for looking the other way, no one I’ve cared about that much has died. My parents, the ones who raised me, are still okay, even if they have a lot of hardship. If I lost them… I’d feel the way Ugart does. Yet, I do grieve. I grieve for not knowing who my blood parents… are. That’s the loss I have to bear.’
As these thoughts hang heavily in the background of Dev’s mind, Lokilia, as she has done before, seems able to read his expression. When the elf-druid sends a cheering breeze and says just the words to keep him from blaming himself for Ugart’s suffering, Dev holds her gaze for a brief moment, and acknowledges her kindness with a soft nod. Then, taking a deep breath, he turns to the cohort’s hosts and offers Greycrow and Ugart halting condolences and thanks for their hospitality. Then the teenager pulls up his hood and follows the others to the riverboat.
When Greycrow tells the story of their lost daughter, Normont listens and regards her and Ugart with sympathy. He is not a stranger to loss himself, having lost family when the Chroma Conclave overran Emon.
"I am sorry for your loss", he says genuinely.
When the others decide it is time to leave, his brow furrows a little, having taken an interest in the midday meal. Ultimately though, he cannot argue the decision.
He moves across to Greycrow and lowers his voice, "Thank you for your hospitality and the gifts. I feel though I should warn you, there may be others treading the same path as us. They have no good will for us, or any who get in their way. If they do come looking, be careful. Do not put yourselves in harms way on our account".
With that said, he is ready to head to the boat and cross the river.
The Scarlet Badgers thank them for their assistance and their warning and the companions are able to make their way to the river and board a sturdy coracle and make their way across the river with little difficulty. There are several trails leading off into the foothills on the other bank but the most prominent is marked by an array of sigils, woven bones, and wooden pickets seemingly some form of warning about heading further up.....which makes sense with Ugarts tale of travel here.
The climb into the hills and then the mountain slopes take the best part of the day and it is as evening draws near that scattered ruins are first sighted on a plateau above......
“Look,” Dev says. “Ruins.” The teenager has been wandering ahead of the others for the last few minutes, his mind rambling as he walked, and for a moment forgot himself and thought that he was on one of his long solo treks near Mooren Lake.
He waits for the others to catch up, in the meanwhile playing a few notes on his pan pipes and creating the illusion of a thicket of local bushes between himself and what lies before him which he can look through without himself being seen.
Lokilia comes up next to Dev and stops. She looks off in the distance where he mentioned, looking up to the ruins. "This must be those first ruins that they mentioned." She looks a bit surprised as the thicket of bushes suddenly appears. She gives Dev a sideways glance, connecting the notes on his pan pipes to the apparition. She doesn't say anything for a few moments. "It's getting towards evening, we should probably find a place to rest and explore the ruins first thing in the morning."
Normont also approaches Dev, huffing and puffing a little after his little legs had been working overtime to keep up with the others.
He leans down with his lands on his thighs as he sucks in air, before standing straight and surveying the scene of the ruins.
"After what Urgat said, I agree. Let's camp and tackle the ruins in the morning", he agrees.
Once they have set up camp, he will identify any item that has not been revealed. He will also send Amber to do a quick scout around to see what can be seen from the sky.
Once camp has been set, and food prepared, Lokilia will find a quiet spot to sit and meditate on the badger head necklace that she now wears. (Hoping to discern what powers it might have, if any.)
Lokilia looks over the items in the box that Ugart offered. She's clearly drawn to the badger's head necklace, but she looks back at Ugart to ask. "Is there anything special about these items? It seems like quite a generous gift."
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
"That's right Magnus, I can send an update to the Chamber of Whitestone, which means double the chance of getting some help down here", Normont replies when Magnus asks to send a message. He lets Magnus write his first though, and waits for his turn, unless there are multiple parchments and charcoal.
When the strongbox is brought out, he whole heartedly agrees with Quinn and Lokilia. "Yes, most generous. Very nice, very nice", he says taking a look inside himself.
He then waits for a reply to Lokilia's question.
“...but I think fire will be the safest option…”
At these words spoken by Greycrow, Dev’s eyes widen warily and he fights the urge to take a backwards step as his imagination paints a picture of fire gone wrong in these woods, an avalanche of burning tree limbs and a whirlwind of hot ash. He bites his lip and says nothing.
When Ugurt fetches and opens the strongbox, Dev watches with curiosity, both the clan leader, and his own companions’ reactions.
Ugart: “...you should take these with you to assist your journey…”
Quinn: “We thank you…”
Lokilia: “Is there anything special about these items?”
And on the coattails of Lokilia’s statement, Dev adds, in his eerie voice, “These are…beautiful. Speaking of the other side… do you know what — or who — we can expect to find as we continue our travels in that direction, Mr. Ugart?”
DM for Candlekeep Mysteries // Dev Hornd in Curious Critters // Eclipse Faraway in Gallows Dancer
Greycrow smiles, " The elven items are mine.....from a previous life.....they will not be missed. The others are......reminders......of when the Scarlet Badger was a more....belligerent...family than it is today, my husband does not wish them to be here any longer.....if they are of use rather than locked away....then all the better."
" The necklace however....it belonged to our eldest daughter.", she caught Lokilias eye regarding it. " I think she would be pleased if you wore it."
Ugart turned towards Dev with a toothy grin, " We give boat to cross river.....from there is long climb up mountain......from my youth I recall ruins some way up and some beasts and dangers from snow and stone....among the ruins all my fur stood on end and I left....it is not a place I would return to. But I saw beyond there further up more ruins within the snow....."
Messages were able to be written in short order and the two scouts readied themselves to depart, Ugart clasped them both on the shoulder, " Careful, Whitestone can be unkind....you must harden your spirits and hearts and trust that Mother Badger will guide you. Go to your parents before you leave."
Hearing the words from Ugart about the necklace, Lokilia nods solemnly towards him. "If it belonged to your daughter, then I will certainly cherish it, along with the memory of all the Red Badgers have done for us here." She reaches out to pick up the necklace, inspecting it a moment before she places it around her neck. The badger joins the carved eagle that she always wears about her neck. In the back of her mind she makes a note that she will have to investigate this item further once she gets that chance, to see what else it may do.
She then looks to the others in the group. "We should see the rest of these items go to whoever can use them. I'm just not sure how best to do that."
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
Normont listens intently to Ugart as he details what they should expect across the river. The fact there were ruins meant they were on the right path.
"All good information. And if you mention my name at Whitestone, you should be ok. Oh, it's Normont Fizzlepeak, in case I didn't say", he says to Ugart and the scouts.
When Lokilia mentions the items, he agrees. "I will be able to tell if there is anything beyond the surface, which will help. Otherwise, they are fine pieces of clothing. Of course the quiver is of no use to me", he says and adds the last part patting his pistol in its holster.
“…belonged to our eldest daughter…”
At this phrase, Dev scans the room, seeking someone around his own age, maybe, whose appearance is a blend of the Ugart and Greycrow’s but whom he hadn’t yet met. (Presumably) his glance lands on no one, and, unable to suppress his curiosity, yet also feeling a distant bell tolling heavy and sad in a forlorn place in his heart, he asks naively, “Your eldest daughter, won’t she miss wearing it herself? It really is nicely…”
He trails off as a growing awareness of a possible reason for her absence muffles his words like a gray shroud.
DM for Candlekeep Mysteries // Dev Hornd in Curious Critters // Eclipse Faraway in Gallows Dancer
Hearing Dev's faltering response, Lokilia speaks up. "Greycrow, we would love to learn a bit about your daughter. I should know a little of her if I'm to carry her necklace."
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
Ugarts fingers tightened into a bunched fist and a fragile, dangerous light came into his eyes....Greycrow swiftly crossed the room and took his other hand in her own, putting her forehead to his shoulder.
Greycrows eyes darted to Lokilias and she pressed her cheek against Ugarts broad chest, then turned to face the group.
" Twyll was sadly killed four summers past as she gathered berries, she is sorely missed by us all."
Ugarts teeth audibly ground against each other, " I was too late..."
" Lumina! Come and show your father what you are doing in there."
The young girl came out of the sideroom and took her father by the hand leading him away.
" Ugart found her body....he still blames himself for not being there."
" Please take these old things, they are no use here. Your boat awaits you at the rivers edge....midday meal is soon if you wish to stay longer."
Lokilia nods her head slightly. "I shall remember Twyll, thank you. If it's all the same, I think perhaps we should get moving." She looks about to the others to see if they are ready to get the boats and cross. She steps over close to Dev, nudging his gently with her elbow as her magic causes a light breeze to ruffle his hair. Softly she says to him, "Thank you for thinking to ask about the daughter. It is good we got to hear more about her." She glances over at him with a smile, ready to head to the river with the rest of the group, pausing only to make sure all the other items are gathered up to bring with them.
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
Dev watches appreciatively the grace and empathy Greycrow shows to Ugart when he speaks about their lost daughter, and yet, his heart is not warmed by her warmth. In fact, the subject sends the tiefling’s mind drifting forlornly.
‘Thank the Matron of Ravens for looking the other way, no one I’ve cared about that much has died. My parents, the ones who raised me, are still okay, even if they have a lot of hardship. If I lost them… I’d feel the way Ugart does. Yet, I do grieve. I grieve for not knowing who my blood parents… are. That’s the loss I have to bear.’
As these thoughts hang heavily in the background of Dev’s mind, Lokilia, as she has done before, seems able to read his expression. When the elf-druid sends a cheering breeze and says just the words to keep him from blaming himself for Ugart’s suffering, Dev holds her gaze for a brief moment, and acknowledges her kindness with a soft nod. Then, taking a deep breath, he turns to the cohort’s hosts and offers Greycrow and Ugart halting condolences and thanks for their hospitality. Then the teenager pulls up his hood and follows the others to the riverboat.
DM for Candlekeep Mysteries // Dev Hornd in Curious Critters // Eclipse Faraway in Gallows Dancer
Quinn will grab the other things, and now before leaving, “We will make our departure now, thank you again for your hospitality.”
When Greycrow tells the story of their lost daughter, Normont listens and regards her and Ugart with sympathy. He is not a stranger to loss himself, having lost family when the Chroma Conclave overran Emon.
"I am sorry for your loss", he says genuinely.
When the others decide it is time to leave, his brow furrows a little, having taken an interest in the midday meal. Ultimately though, he cannot argue the decision.
He moves across to Greycrow and lowers his voice, "Thank you for your hospitality and the gifts. I feel though I should warn you, there may be others treading the same path as us. They have no good will for us, or any who get in their way. If they do come looking, be careful. Do not put yourselves in harms way on our account".
With that said, he is ready to head to the boat and cross the river.
The Scarlet Badgers thank them for their assistance and their warning and the companions are able to make their way to the river and board a sturdy coracle and make their way across the river with little difficulty. There are several trails leading off into the foothills on the other bank but the most prominent is marked by an array of sigils, woven bones, and wooden pickets seemingly some form of warning about heading further up.....which makes sense with Ugarts tale of travel here.
The climb into the hills and then the mountain slopes take the best part of the day and it is as evening draws near that scattered ruins are first sighted on a plateau above......
Can I take time to inspect the other gifts?
( Sure. You took all of them with you and can have a look at them along the way or when you stop to camp.)
“Look,” Dev says. “Ruins.” The teenager has been wandering ahead of the others for the last few minutes, his mind rambling as he walked, and for a moment forgot himself and thought that he was on one of his long solo treks near Mooren Lake.
He waits for the others to catch up, in the meanwhile playing a few notes on his pan pipes and creating the illusion of a thicket of local bushes between himself and what lies before him which he can look through without himself being seen.
DM for Candlekeep Mysteries // Dev Hornd in Curious Critters // Eclipse Faraway in Gallows Dancer
Lokilia comes up next to Dev and stops. She looks off in the distance where he mentioned, looking up to the ruins. "This must be those first ruins that they mentioned." She looks a bit surprised as the thicket of bushes suddenly appears. She gives Dev a sideways glance, connecting the notes on his pan pipes to the apparition. She doesn't say anything for a few moments. "It's getting towards evening, we should probably find a place to rest and explore the ruins first thing in the morning."
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
Normont also approaches Dev, huffing and puffing a little after his little legs had been working overtime to keep up with the others.
He leans down with his lands on his thighs as he sucks in air, before standing straight and surveying the scene of the ruins.
"After what Urgat said, I agree. Let's camp and tackle the ruins in the morning", he agrees.
Once they have set up camp, he will identify any item that has not been revealed. He will also send Amber to do a quick scout around to see what can be seen from the sky.
Once camp has been set, and food prepared, Lokilia will find a quiet spot to sit and meditate on the badger head necklace that she now wears. (Hoping to discern what powers it might have, if any.)
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