Sólmyrkvi would have offered to share his tent with Leif. The tent sleeps two, and Leif doesn't seem like he has any other family. Besides, he wants to talk privately about what they heard from Veldir. Sólmyrkvi was inclined to think that the men were just superstitiously lashing out at some woman. (Bullies often gang up on those who seem friendless, weak, and/or "weird.") But in that case, "Why would Veldir make up a story about the girl that's so easy to disprove if we can just find any other survivors of the Firewing?" He worries that there may be at least some truth in Veldir's story. Is there really a dangerous witch in the camp?
The next morning
After all of the struggle to get ashore and then the work through the evening and into night, Sólmyrkvi sleeps soundly. He wakes earlier than he expected and snacks on a portion of his rations. He's already starting to worry about how long the food will need to last until they can find a reliable food supply. He wraps his fine cloak around his clothes and gets ready for the day. While he's considering what to do first, he hears Father Halp's calls. That decides him. He rouses Leif if the teen isn't awake yet, saying, "Come! You wanted to speak with King Alaric?" Then he leaves his tent and finds Father Halp. He looks around for Korato see whether she's awake and up already. (He'd like to speak with about the girl whom Halp and Kora helped last night. In particular, he'd like to meet the girl himself before Veldir's group finds them.)
Sólmyrkvi joins Father Halp to go speak with the king first thing in the morning. He hopes that Kora and Leif, at least, join the group.
Leif gladly accepts the shelter from the elements. “I do not believe the men were lying. But the sea may have stolen their sanity. Tomorrow, we should report the incident to the king and renew our oaths and be counted as his supporters. And I agree, it would be good to seek out any other survivors of the Firewing. I wonder if there is anyone who will step up to claim her.”Leif ponders if she could be affiliated with a Druidic order. He resolves to test something in the morning.
Leif drifts off to dreamless sleep. He hadn’t slept this well on the tossing ship. It did, however, cause him oversleep and be roused by Sólmyrkvi. “Yes!”He eagerly replies, nearly leaping out of the tent. He scans the area and scrunches his face in disappointment to see that Father Halp is already up and about and that the girl is nowhere in sight. He had missed his opportunity to leave a small message in Druidic near where she lay asking her to “speak with leaf in tent”.
Eldon...greets everyone at the fire with a cheery acknowledgement. "Morning everyone!" after warming himself up he asks those present "What do we have in the means of bedding material? Cloth, canvas, wool, cotton?"
He then fetches his torch handles and goes searching for the materials to finish them.
Sólmyrkvi greets the industrious craftsman, "Good morning! It's Eldon, right? I'm Sólmyrkvi, the one who was sewing the canvas panels last night.
"I'm not certain what bedding there is: we should take stock and see what others have brought ashore or salvaged from the wreckage last night. But -- before you run off! Why don't you join us? I'm going with my friends, Father Halp and Leif, to see King Alaric. You did heroic work last night, crafting so many shelters so quickly, but 'many hands make light work,' as my mother used to say. With the king's blessing, we can start to organize the survivors and ensure that the most pressing needs are addressed first."
Hearing that the "witch girl" of the previous night is missing, Sólmyrkvi is starting to wonder whether finding her will become one of those "most pressing" needs.
If Sólmyrkvi can catch Kora'seye before the group heads over to the king's tent, he raises an eyebrow and tosses his head. A silent invitation to join them.
Drekise does not greet her by name, simply saying, "Well met, stranger. You were the one protecting that girl down on beach with old Father Halp last night, weren't you? Do you have idea where she went this morning? I heard more about her actions on the Firewing before that ship sank, and I would like to speak with her this morning if we could find her." But he definitely seems to recognize Kora. There's a familiar old twinkle of fun and mischief in his eyes that reminds you of the scrawny kid on his parents' farm and the low-stakes "adventures" two teenagers could have in the times before Ragnorök, before every day became a struggle for life.
Seeing Sólmyrkvi gesture to her, Kora rolls her eyes but gets up anyways. She catches up to the group and yawns again. At the word stranger, the corner of her mouth lifts but doesn't say anything else in that regard but understands that he knows who she is.
"Yeah, those men were just kicking her as she was balled up defenseless. It wasn't right. No, I didn't see her leave this morning... more about her actions? What did you hear?" her attention fully on him now as they continue to walk with the others.
"Up, and to the king with you all!" The voice and bustle of old Halp drags many of you from your dreams.
Sólmyrkvi, Lief and Kora you follow Halp towards the kings tent. (Eldon do you accept the invitation to follow?)
"WORK, THAT YOU MAY REST AGAIN!" the cry of the Skald booms through the morning air and you all turn to see Richter making his way toward you and the kings tent. It seems he has the same idea.
You do not reach the Kings tent however, as you see walking toward you from that direction King Alaric himself. His is flanked by two armed guards and at his side walks the blue robed man Merros who points toward you all with a bright smile.
"A the gods favour us still my king." the young man says brightly, "Here are just the fellows I was telling you of."
"Speak not of the gods this day." Alaric replies darkly and then seems to gather himself before looking toward you all, "Well met friends. Merros has told me much of your deeds in the night."
"Yeah, those men were just kicking her as she was balled up defenseless. It wasn't right. No, I didn't see her leave this morning... more about her actions? What did you hear?" her attention fully on him now as they continue to walk with the others.
As the group walks and before they get to the king's tent, Sólmyrkvi briefly shares what he learned. He makes sure to include at least Kora, Leif, and Father Halp in that conversation since they were directly involved, though he does not prevent Eldon from listening if the Artificer joined them. He relates what he was told the previous night about how the girl laughed as "her" rats attacked the Firewing's helmsman, leading to the death of the helmsman and the foundering of the ship. He says that Leifheard them too and can vouch that the men "seemed to believe what they were telling us had happened."
With a wry glance at Kora, he remarks, "It seems like you have a knack for getting tangled up in trouble!" There was a slight hitch in his voice where Kora expects that he stopped himself from saying, "you still have..."
“Hail, king Alaric!” Leif clenches his right fist to his chest. He then halts himself, thinking that decorum would dictate the inappropriateness of the youngest in the group being the first to speak.
Sólmyrkvi jumps into the conversation, saying, "He is being too modest, my lord. I may not be long in years, but I've seen plenty of artisans. I've never seen one work so fast while still producing products of high quality. If I didn't know better, I would have said that I was watching one of the Good People work last night! Truly, without Eldon's craftmanship, we would have made half as many shelters as we did last night."
Sólmyrkvi feels comfortable speaking because he has met King Alaric, but he he's not sure whether the king remembers him specifically. He bows and says, "King Alaric, I am Sólmyrkvi Hróðulfrson. My father was one of your commanders before his fall at that first great battle with the Jötnar at the start of...of all of this." He hesitates before speaking plainly and from the heart, "I've lost...so much! Family. Friends. Our homeland. We all have. But you have delivered us from ruin. You shepherded us through fire and ice and brought us to...this place." He finishes a bit lamely, realizing that he doesn't really know where "this place" is.
Looking to Leif, Sólmyrkvi pauses a moment before saying, "I am glad that I could be of service to you and to my fellow countrymen last night. I think we all are, and we would like to continue to serve you." Here, he gestures to Leif and says, "Allow me to present to you Leif Pedersen. Though I just met him here, after we landed on these strange shores, I can vouch for him. He jumped right in to help last night. He's a sturdy young man and has already some useful skills." He steps back to allow King Alaric to formally accept Leif. As he does so, he glances around, looking for Kora. He's not sure whether she'd even want the king's notice, and if he sees her, he gives her a questioning look.
(OOC: Stopping there to allow others to speak. Sólmyrkvi is a confident and social young man, but Father Halp is an "elder," and he doesn't know that much about Eldon or Richter yet. After presenting Leif, he is content to step back for now.)
You greet the king with a clamour of words and he does his best to listen to them all. Kora you stand to the rear of the group observing this display of loyalty and obeisance, while RIchter you have not yet reached the gathered and view the scene from the near distance.
“Hail, king Alaric!”
"Why greetings king Alaric. It is a pleasure to meet you!"
"King Alaric, I am Sólmyrkvi Hróðulfrson."
The conversation continues until at last King Alaric raises a hand for silence. He then addresses you each in turn starting with,
"Master Halp you are know, please rise and give those old knees a rest from the cold sands and young Sólmyrkvi I am not so old myself that I would forget a loyal man such as yourself, I am pleased to see that the long voyage has not diminished your spirit, we will need that in the days to come.."
He moves forward then and stoops to offer a hand to you Leif, raising you to your feet, "Stand my young friend and be at ease. It seems you have found yourself in good company."
He looks then to Kora and frowns for a moment before Merros steps forward and whispers in his ear, he nods. "Merros tells me that you and master Halp saved a young girl from a beating here on the beach last night. Alas, due to our present circumstances he lacks his usual efficiency and has failed to remind me of your name?"
Before you can answer he glances over your shoulder and calls out, "Master Skald, come closer. I would have words with you also." he then returns his attention to you Kora, waiting for a reply.
The old Bard stepped between tatters of wreck and stirring survivors, his "ravens" cackling behind him as more and more rose from slumbering peace to the nightmarish realization their survival brought. He sympathized, but survival meant struggle, obstacles to overcome; he could not leave them to their struggle whilst work was to be done. Yet Richter himself was not so aware to realize he was within reach of his King.
...at least not until his title was called. His head snapped sharply about as Alaric's voice pierced his thoughts, and pushed reality to the forefront. There he was, among several others young and old, a scant few of which were ingrained in the old Skald's memories, from before. His gait changed, his listless stride becoming a brisk march with purpose. When at last he stood before the others, rather than the typical frivolity, Richter turned his face, and dipped his chin low, a small but meaningful bow of his head. No more was needed, so far as he could remember.
"My King. By Njord's graces and the Aesir's watchful eye, I am happy to see you yet standing among us." His voice was low, grisly. A far cry from the rich kind tones of yesteryear, before Hel's rise. Indeed, to those few in this small cluster whom had known or seen him prior, the man appeared a husk of his former self. Ever so tall, but alas the bear of a man had been replaced by a sallow, grey-haired spectre. His eyes were sharp yet still, though sunken and dark around his sockets. And where once he was known a man of portly stature, wearing the finest mails and hide, what stood before the party was a slendered ghoul of a man, wrapped in tattered fur, faded black leather, and yellowed foot wrappings in the place of gilded boots. "I sense you have need of me, my lord."
Kora was just fine hanging to the outskirts of the small group that was conversing with the king. Don't get her wrong, she was happy to see that not only was he alive, he appeared uninjured. But her mind was wandering to the young woman that had now disappeared and she also wondered about the attackers. Would they make good on their promise to make her pay? Part of her hoped they would, she wasn't one to back down from a fight... though she wasn't dumb, she knew she was outnumbered. Maybe making a few friends amongst this group wouldn't be a bad idea...
She's brought out of her reverie when the king addresses her. Her eyes go wide as he does, she wasn't prepared for his attention. She bows to the man, deeper than she had planned she realizes and then looking to his feet, she answers, "Kora Ashdane, my king. At your service."
Kora you make your introductions to the king and offer your bow. You all note that Alaric is confident enough in his station to accept whatever respect is offered, be it a nod or a knee.
Richter you make your approach and introductions in turn, and the king replies. "I have need of you all master wordsmith." he opens his arms to encompass the entire group.
He then speaks to you all, "My friends, We have outlived the end of the world. We have seen the stars fall and the great serpent coil, yet the tide has delivered us here, to a shore that does not know our names. The gods are silent, but the blood in your veins still beats with the rhythm of our ancestors. We are the survivors of the twilight; we are the seed of what comes next. Before we can build a kingdom, we must honour the cost of our arrival. I ask you now to lead. Rise above your grief and be the iron in the spine of our people. Merros has spoken highly of each of you and so I bind you together anew under my service."
His face grows solemn then as he continues, "We must gather our fallen. Lay them gently upon the sands where the sun may warm them one last time. They are the foundation of our memory; we will not leave them to the sea. Bring others to your aid to complete this and on the morrow we will light a pyre of their flesh to honour the lives that they have given. Master Skald this is a gruesome task and your words will be needed to brace the spirits of my people against despair. You wisdom will be needed Master Halp to choose those most suited to the task and Master Eldon your skill will be required to create of the pyre a thing of honour not horror."
He turns to you Kora, Sólmyrkvi and Leif and smiles warmly, "My friends I require your strength and courage to ensure this task is completed.For the living, for the dead, and for the New World, what say you?"
Leif pipes in enthusiastically. He quickly surveys the others to see if he was seeming too precocious for such a somber task. His eyes fell upon the sandy gravel at his feet for a moment. His gaze then returned to the countenance of the king to see how his pledge was received.
Sólmyrkvi is more cautious. He says, "Thank you for entrusting us with this task, my lord. I hope to prove my worth in this -- or in any task -- you ask us to accomplish! We will gather all of the bodies that the sea has seen fit to return to us and lay them, with due respect, far above the high tide. But...you said that you 'will not leave our fallen to the sea.' Do you mean for us to look for bodies that have not been washed ashore? Yesterday, I saw the Sunder-Shield shattered by the violence of the storm and then swallowed by the sea. Even if the sea wasn't deadly cold, the ship itself must be buried deep underwater." Giving the bodies that now littered the beach a final funeral pyre seemed right, but he wouldn't even know how to go about recovering the bodies from a sunken ship!
Eldon's face is somber as they speak of the dead "Honoring them is a worthy goal my king. I will work to create an honorable pyre, give me some time to give it the proper attention"
Standing, Halpdusts sand from his knee the looks to the King. He nods. He looks up and down the beach at the various fires and clusters of folk and the shelters, Eldonand co have wrought.
"And I'll set to't, then."
He begins going from cluster to gathering, giving folks a once over and choosing those he judges will be both least fussed by the gathering of the dead and least fractious in doing so. He tells them of the king's need and sets about demonstrating, instructing and then, with whoever needs assistance the most, actually doing the work of collecting the dead.
(OOC: in case it's of use, here are some insight (rolled 3 + 5 = 8, use Halp's daily human heroic inspiration: 5 + 5 = 10), perception (16 + 5 = 21) and persuasion (10 + 1 = 11) checks, rolled on my character sheet, in case they help you, DM, in determining how successful Halp is at these various elements - please ignore if not required)
He will do this, ie collecting the dead, for as long as he is able all day, resting as needed and not badgering any others who need rest themselves.
Halpwill trust Skald and Eldon's plan for how this all will work. And he'll trust the others to get on with their various duties.
Seeing Kora here and there, he will occasionally think to scan the shore and the tree line (OOC: if there is one?) for the lass from the previous night. But he'll trust time to sort this out.
Leif gladly accepts the shelter from the elements. “I do not believe the men were lying. But the sea may have stolen their sanity. Tomorrow, we should report the incident to the king and renew our oaths and be counted as his supporters. And I agree, it would be good to seek out any other survivors of the Firewing. I wonder if there is anyone who will step up to claim her.” Leif ponders if she could be affiliated with a Druidic order. He resolves to test something in the morning.
Leif drifts off to dreamless sleep. He hadn’t slept this well on the tossing ship. It did, however, cause him oversleep and be roused by Sólmyrkvi. “Yes!” He eagerly replies, nearly leaping out of the tent. He scans the area and scrunches his face in disappointment to see that Father Halp is already up and about and that the girl is nowhere in sight. He had missed his opportunity to leave a small message in Druidic near where she lay asking her to “speak with leaf in tent”.
Mana - Verdan Bard - Dragon Heist
Leif Pedersen - Human Druid - Beyond the Ragnarök
”I love deadlines. I like the whooshing sound they make as they fly by.” - Douglas Adams
”I’ve suffered a great many catastrophes in my life. Most of them never happened.” - Mark Twain
”I am not young enough to know everything.” - Oscar Wilde
Sólmyrkvi greets the industrious craftsman, "Good morning! It's Eldon, right? I'm Sólmyrkvi, the one who was sewing the canvas panels last night.
"I'm not certain what bedding there is: we should take stock and see what others have brought ashore or salvaged from the wreckage last night. But -- before you run off! Why don't you join us? I'm going with my friends, Father Halp and Leif, to see King Alaric. You did heroic work last night, crafting so many shelters so quickly, but 'many hands make light work,' as my mother used to say. With the king's blessing, we can start to organize the survivors and ensure that the most pressing needs are addressed first."
Hearing that the "witch girl" of the previous night is missing, Sólmyrkvi is starting to wonder whether finding her will become one of those "most pressing" needs.
If Sólmyrkvi can catch Kora's eye before the group heads over to the king's tent, he raises an eyebrow and tosses his head. A silent invitation to join them.
Drekise does not greet her by name, simply saying, "Well met, stranger. You were the one protecting that girl down on beach with old Father Halp last night, weren't you? Do you have idea where she went this morning? I heard more about her actions on the Firewing before that ship sank, and I would like to speak with her this morning if we could find her." But he definitely seems to recognize Kora. There's a familiar old twinkle of fun and mischief in his eyes that reminds you of the scrawny kid on his parents' farm and the low-stakes "adventures" two teenagers could have in the times before Ragnorök, before every day became a struggle for life.
Seeing Sólmyrkvi gesture to her, Kora rolls her eyes but gets up anyways. She catches up to the group and yawns again. At the word stranger, the corner of her mouth lifts but doesn't say anything else in that regard but understands that he knows who she is.
"Yeah, those men were just kicking her as she was balled up defenseless. It wasn't right. No, I didn't see her leave this morning... more about her actions? What did you hear?" her attention fully on him now as they continue to walk with the others.
"Up, and to the king with you all!" The voice and bustle of old Halp drags many of you from your dreams.
Sólmyrkvi, Lief and Kora you follow Halp towards the kings tent. (Eldon do you accept the invitation to follow?)
"WORK, THAT YOU MAY REST AGAIN!" the cry of the Skald booms through the morning air and you all turn to see Richter making his way toward you and the kings tent. It seems he has the same idea.
You do not reach the Kings tent however, as you see walking toward you from that direction King Alaric himself. His is flanked by two armed guards and at his side walks the blue robed man Merros who points toward you all with a bright smile.
"A the gods favour us still my king." the young man says brightly, "Here are just the fellows I was telling you of."
"Speak not of the gods this day." Alaric replies darkly and then seems to gather himself before looking toward you all, "Well met friends. Merros has told me much of your deeds in the night."
DM - Caves of the Kobold Slave Masters
As the group walks and before they get to the king's tent, Sólmyrkvi briefly shares what he learned. He makes sure to include at least Kora, Leif, and Father Halp in that conversation since they were directly involved, though he does not prevent Eldon from listening if the Artificer joined them. He relates what he was told the previous night about how the girl laughed as "her" rats attacked the Firewing's helmsman, leading to the death of the helmsman and the foundering of the ship. He says that Leif heard them too and can vouch that the men "seemed to believe what they were telling us had happened."
With a wry glance at Kora, he remarks, "It seems like you have a knack for getting tangled up in trouble!" There was a slight hitch in his voice where Kora expects that he stopped himself from saying, "you still have..."
“Hail, king Alaric!” Leif clenches his right fist to his chest. He then halts himself, thinking that decorum would dictate the inappropriateness of the youngest in the group being the first to speak.
Mana - Verdan Bard - Dragon Heist
Leif Pedersen - Human Druid - Beyond the Ragnarök
”I love deadlines. I like the whooshing sound they make as they fly by.” - Douglas Adams
”I’ve suffered a great many catastrophes in my life. Most of them never happened.” - Mark Twain
”I am not young enough to know everything.” - Oscar Wilde
Eldon agrees to see the king and lays down his work for a time. "Why greetings king Alaric. It is a pleasure to meet you!" he bows
"I think that you may be over exagerating my work last night, which skilled craftsmen could resist helping his people in a time of great need?"
DnD is awesome!
Sólmyrkvi jumps into the conversation, saying, "He is being too modest, my lord. I may not be long in years, but I've seen plenty of artisans. I've never seen one work so fast while still producing products of high quality. If I didn't know better, I would have said that I was watching one of the Good People work last night! Truly, without Eldon's craftmanship, we would have made half as many shelters as we did last night."
Sólmyrkvi feels comfortable speaking because he has met King Alaric, but he he's not sure whether the king remembers him specifically. He bows and says, "King Alaric, I am Sólmyrkvi Hróðulfrson. My father was one of your commanders before his fall at that first great battle with the Jötnar at the start of...of all of this." He hesitates before speaking plainly and from the heart, "I've lost...so much! Family. Friends. Our homeland. We all have. But you have delivered us from ruin. You shepherded us through fire and ice and brought us to...this place." He finishes a bit lamely, realizing that he doesn't really know where "this place" is.
Looking to Leif, Sólmyrkvi pauses a moment before saying, "I am glad that I could be of service to you and to my fellow countrymen last night. I think we all are, and we would like to continue to serve you." Here, he gestures to Leif and says, "Allow me to present to you Leif Pedersen. Though I just met him here, after we landed on these strange shores, I can vouch for him. He jumped right in to help last night. He's a sturdy young man and has already some useful skills." He steps back to allow King Alaric to formally accept Leif. As he does so, he glances around, looking for Kora. He's not sure whether she'd even want the king's notice, and if he sees her, he gives her a questioning look.
(OOC: Stopping there to allow others to speak. Sólmyrkvi is a confident and social young man, but Father Halp is an "elder," and he doesn't know that much about Eldon or Richter yet. After presenting Leif, he is content to step back for now.)
Halp takes a knee and bows his head, waiting his King's word.
But even at his most stern and serious, he can't help but conceal a smile at the young pup's... cavalier greetings to Alaric.
His bent knee is stiff and his back sore from sleeping by the fire.
Nevertheless, he can wait.
“My king, now that we are in a new land I wish to renew my allegiance and offer whatever talents I have, as the last of my kin, into your service.”
Leif bows and waits for the remaining introductions.
Mana - Verdan Bard - Dragon Heist
Leif Pedersen - Human Druid - Beyond the Ragnarök
”I love deadlines. I like the whooshing sound they make as they fly by.” - Douglas Adams
”I’ve suffered a great many catastrophes in my life. Most of them never happened.” - Mark Twain
”I am not young enough to know everything.” - Oscar Wilde
Under his breath Halp mutters, "Well said, lad..."
You greet the king with a clamour of words and he does his best to listen to them all. Kora you stand to the rear of the group observing this display of loyalty and obeisance, while RIchter you have not yet reached the gathered and view the scene from the near distance.
“Hail, king Alaric!”
"Why greetings king Alaric. It is a pleasure to meet you!"
"King Alaric, I am Sólmyrkvi Hróðulfrson."
The conversation continues until at last King Alaric raises a hand for silence. He then addresses you each in turn starting with,
"Master Halp you are know, please rise and give those old knees a rest from the cold sands and young Sólmyrkvi I am not so old myself that I would forget a loyal man such as yourself, I am pleased to see that the long voyage has not diminished your spirit, we will need that in the days to come.."
He moves forward then and stoops to offer a hand to you Leif, raising you to your feet, "Stand my young friend and be at ease. It seems you have found yourself in good company."
He looks then to Kora and frowns for a moment before Merros steps forward and whispers in his ear, he nods. "Merros tells me that you and master Halp saved a young girl from a beating here on the beach last night. Alas, due to our present circumstances he lacks his usual efficiency and has failed to remind me of your name?"
Before you can answer he glances over your shoulder and calls out, "Master Skald, come closer. I would have words with you also." he then returns his attention to you Kora, waiting for a reply.
DM - Caves of the Kobold Slave Masters
The old Bard stepped between tatters of wreck and stirring survivors, his "ravens" cackling behind him as more and more rose from slumbering peace to the nightmarish realization their survival brought. He sympathized, but survival meant struggle, obstacles to overcome; he could not leave them to their struggle whilst work was to be done. Yet Richter himself was not so aware to realize he was within reach of his King.
...at least not until his title was called. His head snapped sharply about as Alaric's voice pierced his thoughts, and pushed reality to the forefront. There he was, among several others young and old, a scant few of which were ingrained in the old Skald's memories, from before. His gait changed, his listless stride becoming a brisk march with purpose. When at last he stood before the others, rather than the typical frivolity, Richter turned his face, and dipped his chin low, a small but meaningful bow of his head. No more was needed, so far as he could remember.
"My King. By Njord's graces and the Aesir's watchful eye, I am happy to see you yet standing among us." His voice was low, grisly. A far cry from the rich kind tones of yesteryear, before Hel's rise. Indeed, to those few in this small cluster whom had known or seen him prior, the man appeared a husk of his former self. Ever so tall, but alas the bear of a man had been replaced by a sallow, grey-haired spectre. His eyes were sharp yet still, though sunken and dark around his sockets. And where once he was known a man of portly stature, wearing the finest mails and hide, what stood before the party was a slendered ghoul of a man, wrapped in tattered fur, faded black leather, and yellowed foot wrappings in the place of gilded boots. "I sense you have need of me, my lord."
Kora was just fine hanging to the outskirts of the small group that was conversing with the king. Don't get her wrong, she was happy to see that not only was he alive, he appeared uninjured. But her mind was wandering to the young woman that had now disappeared and she also wondered about the attackers. Would they make good on their promise to make her pay? Part of her hoped they would, she wasn't one to back down from a fight... though she wasn't dumb, she knew she was outnumbered. Maybe making a few friends amongst this group wouldn't be a bad idea...
She's brought out of her reverie when the king addresses her. Her eyes go wide as he does, she wasn't prepared for his attention. She bows to the man, deeper than she had planned she realizes and then looking to his feet, she answers, "Kora Ashdane, my king. At your service."
Kora you make your introductions to the king and offer your bow. You all note that Alaric is confident enough in his station to accept whatever respect is offered, be it a nod or a knee.
Richter you make your approach and introductions in turn, and the king replies. "I have need of you all master wordsmith." he opens his arms to encompass the entire group.
He then speaks to you all, "My friends, We have outlived the end of the world. We have seen the stars fall and the great serpent coil, yet the tide has delivered us here, to a shore that does not know our names. The gods are silent, but the blood in your veins still beats with the rhythm of our ancestors. We are the survivors of the twilight; we are the seed of what comes next. Before we can build a kingdom, we must honour the cost of our arrival. I ask you now to lead. Rise above your grief and be the iron in the spine of our people. Merros has spoken highly of each of you and so I bind you together anew under my service."
His face grows solemn then as he continues, "We must gather our fallen. Lay them gently upon the sands where the sun may warm them one last time. They are the foundation of our memory; we will not leave them to the sea. Bring others to your aid to complete this and on the morrow we will light a pyre of their flesh to honour the lives that they have given. Master Skald this is a gruesome task and your words will be needed to brace the spirits of my people against despair. You wisdom will be needed Master Halp to choose those most suited to the task and Master Eldon your skill will be required to create of the pyre a thing of honour not horror."
He turns to you Kora, Sólmyrkvi and Leif and smiles warmly, "My friends I require your strength and courage to ensure this task is completed. For the living, for the dead, and for the New World, what say you?"
The king looks at you all expectantly...
DM - Caves of the Kobold Slave Masters
“Aye! I would see it done.”
Leif pipes in enthusiastically. He quickly surveys the others to see if he was seeming too precocious for such a somber task. His eyes fell upon the sandy gravel at his feet for a moment. His gaze then returned to the countenance of the king to see how his pledge was received.
Mana - Verdan Bard - Dragon Heist
Leif Pedersen - Human Druid - Beyond the Ragnarök
”I love deadlines. I like the whooshing sound they make as they fly by.” - Douglas Adams
”I’ve suffered a great many catastrophes in my life. Most of them never happened.” - Mark Twain
”I am not young enough to know everything.” - Oscar Wilde
Sólmyrkvi is more cautious. He says, "Thank you for entrusting us with this task, my lord. I hope to prove my worth in this -- or in any task -- you ask us to accomplish! We will gather all of the bodies that the sea has seen fit to return to us and lay them, with due respect, far above the high tide. But...you said that you 'will not leave our fallen to the sea.' Do you mean for us to look for bodies that have not been washed ashore? Yesterday, I saw the Sunder-Shield shattered by the violence of the storm and then swallowed by the sea. Even if the sea wasn't deadly cold, the ship itself must be buried deep underwater." Giving the bodies that now littered the beach a final funeral pyre seemed right, but he wouldn't even know how to go about recovering the bodies from a sunken ship!
Eldon's face is somber as they speak of the dead "Honoring them is a worthy goal my king. I will work to create an honorable pyre, give me some time to give it the proper attention"
DnD is awesome!
Standing, Halp dusts sand from his knee the looks to the King. He nods. He looks up and down the beach at the various fires and clusters of folk and the shelters, Eldon and co have wrought.
"And I'll set to't, then."
He begins going from cluster to gathering, giving folks a once over and choosing those he judges will be both least fussed by the gathering of the dead and least fractious in doing so. He tells them of the king's need and sets about demonstrating, instructing and then, with whoever needs assistance the most, actually doing the work of collecting the dead.
(OOC: in case it's of use, here are some insight (rolled
3 + 5 = 8, use Halp's daily human heroic inspiration: 5 + 5 = 10), perception (16 + 5 = 21) and persuasion (10 + 1 = 11) checks, rolled on my character sheet, in case they help you, DM, in determining how successful Halp is at these various elements - please ignore if not required)He will do this, ie collecting the dead, for as long as he is able all day, resting as needed and not badgering any others who need rest themselves.
Halp will trust Skald and Eldon's plan for how this all will work. And he'll trust the others to get on with their various duties.
Seeing Kora here and there, he will occasionally think to scan the shore and the tree line (OOC: if there is one?) for the lass from the previous night. But he'll trust time to sort this out.
At least for now.