The Windward Isles - Game Thread

Thea starts walking towards the Shaman to inform them of their decision, then realizes they don't speak the same language, and looks back at Seri, gesturing for the elf to come forward

Seri turns gently to Smiler, speaking gently but firmly in Olona.

"No, Elder Brother.  My companions have decided that we will go with you.  Whatever comes, let us face it together.  I only ask that you tell us of the hearts of your chief and your tribe.  My companions and I wish no ill, but we will not give up the freedom of Trondro's horizons."

In Veridian to her companions:  "Please, my friends.  Go gently.  We will of course defend ourselves if need be, exhausted though we are, but do not seek a fight.  Give no offense, and take none if you can in any way avoid it.  We are guests here upon this unknown shore."

With that, Seri calls for Trondro's Guidance on Smiler as he leads on, once she sees the village is near.

'How much farther is the village?' William could not suppress a yawn while asking but between the fatigue of rowing and pulling an all nighter, he was just about ready to fall asleep at the drop of a hat.

The decision made, you indicate to Smiler (you still don't know his actual name, you have just identified him by his habitual expression) that you wish to go together to the village.

He nods and grins, as is his custom, and beckons you on as he starts to move inland into the jungle that fringes the beach. Dawn is beginning to pick out shades of grey where moments ago there was blackness, but as you follow him into the trees it is very difficult to see anything at all. He seems to be unworried by the prospect of leaving the boats full of goods and the turtles on the beach. Evidently he is not expecting any theft to occur, as he bids the three young members of the hunting party to follow as well.

Despite your exhaustion and the darkness under the jungle canopy, you manage to follow Smiler as he picks his way through. It seems a subtle path of sorts has been worked through the tangle of vegetation, indicating that Smiler's people must have passed this way before, more than once. Before long, you pick up a stream and begin following it upstream. It varies from five to about 15 feet wide and is shallow with a sandy bottom. A few rocks poke through the surface here and there but the water is flowing quite slowly. It is only about calf to knee deep in the deepest parts and looks cool and refreshing after your full night of exertion. Smiler and the hunters bend and scoop up some water with their hands, taking a drink to slake their thirst before carrying on. The stream breaks the canopy and allows the early morning light to filter down, which, along with the easier footing, makes this a much less challenging walk than your initial foray into the undergrowth.

The night sounds of the jungle start to give way to the calls and screeches of those creatures that rise with the sun. Those of you who know the wilds are well aware that dawn and dusk present prime opportunities for predators, who seek out both the nocturnal and diurnal prey, neither of which are as sharp as they might be. The confidence of Smiler and his fellows, whose home this is, gives you confidence in turn. They seem alert but not overly concerned.

After perhaps another half hour of following the stream, you emerge into a clearing. The flowing water passes between a number of circular huts built from wood and clad and roofed in large dried leaves. Their construction is not identical to those that Seri and Kairouani have known elsewhere, but they are similar enough to feel familiar. Also familiar is the early morning routine that is unfolding in this little settlement. By now, the sun is peering above the horizon, and you can see and smell tendrils of smoke rising from holes in the thatched roofs as the inhabitants prepare the first meal of the day. Racks of fish hang drying outside the huts. There are two figures, women as far as you can tell at first glance from a distance, moving about outside their homes. One is crouched at the water's edge, seemingly washing something. The other is carrying a pot of water from the stream to her hut. There is no other movement as Smiler stops at the edge of the clearing. He turns and says,

"This is my home, and that of our chief." He points to the largest hut at the far end of the settlement, then looks to the sky to judge the lateness of the hour. "He will wake soon. We must wait. You come. I make you guest until Sefo is ready to welcome you."

Billy, with Roger still perched on his shoulder, draws a deep breath through his nose and lets out an appreciative sigh. "Don't suppose there be any chance of a good hearty breakfast, there, matey?" He speaks in Verdian, so his comments seem more designed for your ears than Smiler's, though Smiler clearly understands the sentiment. He bobs his head vigorously and the grin gets wider. He gestures onwards with his arms and leads you on along the stream bank into the village.

Kairouani looked over the village with a slight smile, she nodded to Smiler and followed him...if she were to die today this was a nice place to do so.

Thea follows after the shaman, hands by her side, nervously fidgeting. So far, it seems like a peaceful place, but then again, the tribesfolk seemed mostly peaceful until they revealed they were slavers.

Smiler leads you along the southern edge of the stream and into the second hut that you pass on that side. You count seven huts in all, one larger than the rest. It seems a small settlement to support a hunting party of ten. Smiler's is next to the large one. He ducks through the hide flap covering the entrance and holds it aside for you to file in. The circular dwelling is surprisingly large, with a hard-packed earthen floor strewn with dried stems and fragrant leaves. A stone ring marks where a fire can be placed inside the building, and arranged around the walls is a dizzying array of artefacts, bundles of leaves, dried flowers, carved gourds, and wooden and bone implements, some of whose purpose is clear, whilst others are more mysterious. It appears that the Shaman lives here alone, at least there is one apparent sleeping litter and no-one else is present in the single room at the moment. The young hunters seem reticent about entering, but Smiler encourages them along with his broad smile and bobbing head. The way they look around at all the unusual-looking items that clutter the interior suggests that they have never been invited into the Shaman's hut before.

The lady who had been crouching by the stream looked at you with interest as you passed but had not said anything. Nor had Smiler or the young men made eye contact with her or attempted to communicate. You assume, though, that the arrival of strangers in the village, accompanied by half of the hunting party, would likely be cause for comment over breakfast in the surrounding huts. Your presence here will not be a secret for long.

Smiler indicates that you should take a seat on the floor. The young men hesitantly sit cross-legged, whilst Billy reclines himself on one elbow, stretching out and taking up rather a large proportion of the floor. Roger had taken off into the nearby jungle before Billy had ducked through the flap. "Sorry folks," says Billy in Verdian with an apologetic smile, acknowledging his taking-up of space. "The old limbs don't fold as well as those youngsters I'm afraid." He shuffles himself to one side to try and accommodate everyone else.

Smiler starts digging at a patch of earth next to his fire-ring, and unearths a bundle of leaves. He unwraps it to expose a greyish-white patty of some kind of starchy substance. He passes it to Seri, miming for you to take some with your fingers and eat it, and then pass it around the group. As you take the bundle in your hands you feel that it is warm. It must have been buried with the embers of a fire to cook slowly and remain warm whilst he was out for days with the hunting party. He grimaces as he looks at the size of the meal and the number of mouths it now needs to feed. Billy looks rather apprehensively at it, seemingly counting the mouths that come before his own. His stomach growls audibly.

"It is not much," says Smiler, "but you must eat. You are tired, and Sefo will want to talk with you soon." Seri and Kairouani recognise the word 'Sefo'. It is more a title than a name, and undoubtedly refers to the chief of the village.

Suddenly Smiler's eyes light up as if he has realised or remembered something. Turning from you, he picks up a metal pot from among his things, seemingly the only piece of metal he owns, and passes it to one of the hunters, motioning for him to go and fill it from the stream. He instructs another to go and borrow some fire from another hut, whilst he gathers some tinder and builds it up in the stone ring.

"I make for you a drink," he says to Seri, but seemingly addressing you all. "I brew some Manasitana and add a bit extra something, to fight the tired." He rummages among his collection of ingredients as he waits for the water and fire to return.

"You honor us by sharing your roof and your nourishment with us,"  Seri speaks humbly to Smiler in Olona.  "You, Elder Sister and I all know Trondro smiles on such hospitality, freely given.  If you will allow, I will call Trondro's blessing on this shared meal and rejuvenating Manasitana you offer."

If Smiler agrees, and after explaining in Veridian to her companions, Seri closes her eyes briefly, sitting cross-legged.  When she reopens them, her turquoise irises seem brighter as she murmurs a prayer and gestures wide with her palms, ritually casting Purify Food and Drink on Smiler's offerings.

Medicine check, just to be on the safe side: 22

EDIT: 10 with disadvantage

When the food is passed to her, Thea looks down at it queasily. What is this stuff? Reluctantly, she takes a bite. What does it taste like?

Quote from Furujiru >>

Medicine check, just to be on the safe side: 22

 As the starchy bundle makes its way to William, you are able to inspect it closely, take in its scent, and taste a little. It seems like a thick, glutinous, porridge-like substance, and smells faintly milky. It doesn't have a strong taste, though there is a faint tang, perhaps of goat milk. It certainly doesn't recall any hint of poison or narcotic with which you are familiar. As far as you can tell, it seems harmless.

Despite his complaints of hunger and ravenous stares at the small bundle of food, Billy takes only as much as anyone else. He devours his portion hungrily and licks his fingers afterwards. 

As you all inspect and sample the food, Smiler grins eagerly at you, nodding encouragingly. He seems delighted that you are receiving his hospitality. The two young men return from outside, one with the pot, now about two-thirds full of clear water from the stream, and the other with a burning brand. The fire is lit and Smiler busies himself adding items to the water and stirring. It takes a while for the water to boil, during which time the shaman alternates between attending to his brew and grinning at you. He seems disinclined to offer any further conversation.

As you wait, you hear sounds from outside the hut. The village is waking, and voices call out to each other as they begin the day. You cannot hear all of the words, but it soon becomes clear that news of your presence in the shaman's hut is being shared.

After a while, the brew is ready. Smiler collects a hollow gourd fashioned like a cup from somewhere among his belongings and scoops some of the liquid from the pot. He offers it to Seri with his free hand crossed beneath the one holding the cup in a gesture of respect. He grins eagerly.

"Take. Drink. Manasitana to heal, and extra something to make you awake." He tilts his head conspiratorially as if he is sharing a secret with you.

Seri wants to trust Smiler, despite not quite knowing what he means about the extra something to awaken the drinker.  She gazes at him a long while trying to guess his intentions as she finishes her prayers and the Purify Food and Drink ritual.

Seri's Insight at disadvantage thanks to Exhaustion:  12 (would have been a Nat. 20, 26 without disadvantage)

Sighing and inclining her head with respect and thanks, Seri takes what is offered and drinks a deep sip.

As far as Seri is able to tell, Smiler's intentions are genuine. Though your head is so fogged with fatigue that you can't be sure of your instincts.

As the hot liquid runs down your throat and warms your belly, you immediately feel strength flowing back into your limbs and the sharpness return to your mind. True to his word, Smiler's brew has banished your fatigue and Seri is no longer exhausted. You've never known a natural remedy to have such an immediate and powerful effect.

The others watch as Seri drinks. Apart from Billy, who is now snoring softly on the hard-packed dirt of the hut floor.

Seri's turquoise eyes go wide.  She beams beatifically at Smiler.  "Like Trondro's onrushing tide to a sea star left dry at the tide pool's edge, your Manasitana is refreshing and wondrous beyond compare.  Truly, your people are blessed to have you as their shaman."

To the others in Veridian:  "I too harbored my doubts, yet I suggest you all drink deep and enjoy.  Even that one," (pointing at Billy), "if he will awaken."

Kairouni had already downed the liquid, so deep was her trust in those blessed by Trondro.

Anyone who drinks the brew regains 2d4 +2 HP and loses one level of exhaustion.

William stared at his portion of the brew. Somewhere in the back of his mind he knew that he should know what this was. Or at least make an educated guess. Alas, the more he tried to think the more his brain refused to hand over anything substantial. At wit's end and noticing that Seri was doing something magical to the brew, William decided to throw caution to the wind and drank his share.

He expected to topple over on the ground and snore like Billy did but he did not. It was curious to William. A warm brew like that ought to make him even more sleepy yet he could tell that some of the sharpness of his mind returned. Not all of it but enough to know that he could hold his rapier or nock an arrow should the need arise. His legs still felt like lead though.

'You don't think you could get the recipe for this?' William asked Seri with an exhausted smile.

8

Kairouni stretches as the brews effects run through her, feeling refreshed and fully restored.

You hear a commotion outside the hut. Voices are raised in warning. The three young islanders and their shaman all look up and towards the skin-covered doorway. You hear the sound of people rushing back and forth and talking urgently to each other. The snatches of conversation you are able to hear and understand seem to be warning of strangers approaching. Could they mean you? You're already here, and your presence is no secret to be suddenly realised.