Beyond the Ragnarök

Once Kora finishes her ritual, she continues to sit and addresses the nanny goat, “Good day to you.  I am sorry my friend startled you.  Can you tell us where there are others that walk on two legs like us?  The ones that gave you your cord around your neck?”

 She waits patiently, hoping she’ll get some info on who may be around here and adds, “Are there those that do frighten you?  Ones that you need to stay away from?” Wondering if there are predators nearby.

Leif thanks Hjálpar for the reconnaissance and instructs him to enjoy some more time in flight around the hill. Play in the updrafts, watch for any creatures approaching, keep an eye on us as well occasionally. If you see anything coming, or us in trouble or leaving, come back and check in.

Leif smiles as the feathered companion takes to silent flight again. He requests a blank sheet of paper and access to Sólmyrkvi‘s Calligrapher’s Supplies in order to sketch out a map of their travels so far. He finds a suitable flat spot, preferably one with minimal goat turds, sets his 10’ pole aside, doffs his shield, sits, and gathers the shield across his lap as a makeshift writing table. He dutifully draws out the map (as seen), occasionally protruding his tongue out of the corner of his mouth as he concentrates. When finished, he grins at the creative additions of a goat pictured as well as the ship representing where we put to shore. He stands and offers the map for all to see.

It suddenly occurs to Leif that he has no proper way to protect the map from the elements or harm. He wishes he had thought to secure a scroll case before we set sail. “Does anyone have a proper container for the map?” He asks hopefully. “Otherwise, perhaps we could fold it and keep it within the covers of your book, Sólmyrkvi?” He proffers expectantly.

Quote from PlotArmored >>

 

It suddenly occurs to Leif that he has no proper way to protect the map from the elements or harm. He wishes he had thought to secure a scroll case before we set sail. “Does anyone have a proper container for the map?” 

Sólmyrkvi is impressed with Leif's map: "Nice work!"  

Perhaps unnoticed, Sólmyrkvi has been carrying a scroll case this whole time!  Once the ink on Leif's map dries, he's happy to add add it to his case.

Halp you stand next to Veldir and after a few minutes he murmurs, "We should be eating them, not talking to them." he does not look toward you.

Kora the nanny goat eyes you warily and at the mention of two legs she glances down toward your own. "He comes at night to tend the herd, we watch and wait." she bleats. At the mention of being frightened she gives Halp a fierce glare and stamps a hoof. She also glances back toward the open lands below the hilltop, "Night fangs come sometimes but he keeps them away mostly." The image of a wolf, jaws snapping pops into your mind, aided by the magic.

Leif your owl takes off as instructed and is soon lost to sight above the canopy of the oak trees. 

At last the scout Miri speaks up. "So are we taking a few goats or what?"

Halp hears Veldir but does not respond.

Halp hears Miri but does not answer. 

Halp looks to Kora, "Anything from my... worthy adversary? Can we expect company?" 

Leif wonders if Miri is more closely aligned to the merchant Gaelran and, by extension, Veldir than he had first considered. These animals didn’t tie red leather cords around their own necks. No, our colony clearly has neighbors and stealing from them might escalate bad blood before our survivors were ready to defend our toehold, let alone begin conquering new indigenous groups. Leif holds his tongue, waiting for others to speak up, in particular Kora, whom he can tell is learning something from this doe.

Kora smiles at Halp, "Worthy adversary indeed.  Turns out there is someone that comes every night for them, and there are wolves that sometimes bother them coming from down there." she gestures towards the open land at the bottom of the hill.

Turning back to the goat, "Which direction does the two-legged man come from?"

She then regards Miri for a moment and sharply retorts, "We are here to find and report, not take."

Quote from Dreamhobbit >>

At last the scout Miri speaks up. "So are we taking a few goats or what?" 

Quote from kqstark >>

She then regards Miri for a moment and sharply retorts, "We are here to find and report, not take."

Sólmyrkvi reinforces Kora's point but in a more conciliatory tone.  "We're not 'taking' any of these goats, Miri.  They clearly belong to a goatherd -- look at their collars.  The purpose of our expedition is to explore and identify resources and any threats.  We have the option to bring back samples of what we find, but that's not the primary goal.  There's certainly no need to carry off a stranger's livestock!  If we meet any people or communities in this new world, we should try to establish a relationship built on trust.  That'll be easier if we're not seen as raiders and goat thieves!  I'm certain that King Alaric and Master Gaelran would both prefer stable and trusting relationships with any existing communities here.  That would make our own people safer and would benefit trade."  He's talking to Miri, but he's speaking loud enough across the clearing on the hilltop to address the whole group.  He's hoping to get Veldir to see that their approach is also best for Master Gaelran.

Quote from Dreamhobbit >>

Looking back to the south across the river...the hard lands close to the beach become green and verdant the further west you travel.
There are rolling hills and small areas of green woodland.

around the hilltop to the west you see the river snaking away from you and eventually turning south.

to the north of the hill and see an expanse of grasslands, broken by low hills such as the one on which you stand.

In the north east you see the treeline described by Hjálpar, but it is too distant to make out any real detail.

Finally moving to the east and looking back the way you came you can see the river widening out into the endless ocean,
and to the south the distant smoke of your settlement and people.

More to his own friends, Sólmyrkvi says, "I think the first question for us is: do we stop already and make camp here to meet the goatherd when he comes tonight?  We could always stop back here are our way back to the camp if we want to meet the goatherd then."

"And then, whether we wait here tonight or not, where do we go next?  Continue upriver to the west / southwest?"  Sólmyrkvi points west at the ribbon of the river snaking away in that direction.  Then he points vaguely north and east, "Or do we want to hike overland and find out more about what's here, relatively close to the beach?"

Quote from Ben_Evolent >>

More to his own friends, Sólmyrkvi says, "I think the first question for us is

Sólmyrkvi's vote

1. No strong preference about whether to wait here to meet the goatherd tonight or to leave now and continue exploring.
2. When we continue, he votes to return to the ship and continue upriver. 

Quote from kqstark >>

Kora smiles at Halp, "Worthy adversary indeed.  Turns out there is someone that comes every night for them, and there are wolves that sometimes bother them coming from down there." she gestures towards the open land at the bottom of the hill.

 Leif prods for Kora to seek more information, “Someone? Before us, have they encountered more than one goatherd? Are they similar to us in stature and body parts, arms, legs, height, weight, one head, etc.? Have they been to a grouping/community of them? Where and how far”

To Sólmyrkvi, “I’m inclined to move on, if there is only one individual to meet. Perhaps if the nanny goat knows of a village less than a half day’s walk, we could consider seeking them out. Otherwise, we only have one week to explore as much as possible. That’s, at best, about 5 days upstream and two back down with the current.” He scratches his chin and thinks of the potential loss of distance explored should we linger here overnight.