The group isn't disturbed for the time being, allowing them to speak freely for a while. When it gets to near sunset, a woman from the village knocks her hand on the entrance. "Excuse me, travellers. The elder wanted to offer you a seat at his table for the evening meal."
Giacomo will brandish his two swords and practice forms. He'll say, "Should have respectfully declined. More time we spend with them, more chance for us to slip up."
"Or it is a chance to acquire more information - more leverage. Without which we will certainly, as put it, slip up." Logi stretches and straightens his shirt. "A pity I never tried my hand at the study of enchantments and illusions. A little show is all it would take to have these villagers eating out of my hand. More than they already are, in any case." Logi stands up and moves towards the door. "Oh, Larry, I forgot to ask. Will you be joining us tomorrow on our little trip, or will you be staying here? I am sure your skills will be put to good use in either case."
"I was planning on coming. In case we run into something unexpected better to to be together. As far as the dinner, there is still the reason the maiden was outside the village. Something is going on here we don't know about. Maybe we can take advantage of it."
With the group conversed and prepared, the woman returns after a short while to escort the group to the elder's home. Upon following her, they find that the interior has been cleared as a reed mat has been placed out with several clay bowls of vegetable dishes and some things that seem to have been mashed up and are unrecognisable to the party; they could be some local plant that is not indigenous to the party's homeland.
"Welcome, travellers. Please, take a seat."The elder, seated at the matt with his legs crossed, speaks. He gestures to several cushions around the reed mat, one for each of those there."I am sure you have many questions, and I may have some for you. For now, please fill your stomachs. We have plenty to spare for now, and travellers are always welcome here."
Giacomo will sit at one of the mats, not one that is front and center with the elder. He will clasp his hands together and pretend to pray over the food for quite some time. He'll let Larry and Logi eat first and then eat later if nothing untoward happens to them after they eat and drink.
Logi sits down comfortably on one of the mats, ready to eat. He pauses, however, seeing Giacomo's piety. He looks to the elder. "Are there any gods of this land that would be proper to invoke for such a feast?"
"Each is welcome to worship their own gods and beliefs here." The elder informs the group. "For now, we are thankful our home can provide for travellers."
The group tucks into the meal. It is fairly basic, but tasty nonetheless. Those who are more keen on meat appear to be a little disappointed when everything here appears to be plant-based.
"Now, I understand you are all from distant lands." The elder speaks after a few minutes. "I am sure we have questions for one another. Please, what do you wish to know?"
"What is this land called, and who rules it? Are these lands safe to travel? If not, what dangers might one expect?" Logi begins, refreshed by the food, but slightly dissatisfied by the lack of meats and wines.
"Straight to business." The elder gives a slight smile. "Well this land has many names, the founders named it Sanctum, but nowadays the cityfolk name it Drassoria. The emperor lives in The White Stone Palace within the capital, many weeks travel away." He then takes a slight sip of his drink of water. "As for safety, we had believed that there were no goblins for at least a days travel from here. It is disturbing to have them so close to our home..."
Giacomo pauses from his mock prayers and looks up, still not eating the food, "There are known goblin tribes one day's travel from here? And you consider this safe enough to let a defenseless woman roam about by herself? Why is the empire not hunting these goblins? Are you part of this empire, or outside of it?"
"You assume very much, outsider." The elder says, his tone holding a hint of warning within it. "There is much to this land that those from outside do not understand. Ancient pacts made between clans and bretheren that ensure we live a peaceful life. Yet today, on the day that interlopers from a foreign land arrive, a daughter of our village is claimed slain by goblins whom are prohibited from entering near our village. Tell me, does this sound like mere coincidence?"
Giacomo, unable to hold back, responds, "We know nothing of your pacts or this land. Bring a skilled tracker tomorrow and you will see we came from the sea. You will also see your daughter was chased by goblins, and that we battled those goblins. But I see you trust your pacts with goblins and mistrust us. That is fine. Once we leave this quaint 'peaceful' life surrounded by goblin tribes and who knows what other creatures... I will not spare a second thought on your simple village."
Larry nods. "Yes, I believe this is acceptable. We should be prepared in case things go wrong"
"Phenomenal." And with that, Logi rolls over and immediately goes to sleep.
The group isn't disturbed for the time being, allowing them to speak freely for a while. When it gets to near sunset, a woman from the village knocks her hand on the entrance. "Excuse me, travellers. The elder wanted to offer you a seat at his table for the evening meal."
Larry smiles cordially. "Why I'm happy to to attend...."
The villager nods. "The evening meal will be happening in half a candle, so we shall see you then." She then proceeds to leave.
(Is there anything the party would like to do before going for the meal?)
(I'm alright to go on ahead.)
Giacomo will brandish his two swords and practice forms. He'll say, "Should have respectfully declined. More time we spend with them, more chance for us to slip up."
"Or it is a chance to acquire more information - more leverage. Without which we will certainly, as put it, slip up." Logi stretches and straightens his shirt. "A pity I never tried my hand at the study of enchantments and illusions. A little show is all it would take to have these villagers eating out of my hand. More than they already are, in any case." Logi stands up and moves towards the door. "Oh, Larry, I forgot to ask. Will you be joining us tomorrow on our little trip, or will you be staying here? I am sure your skills will be put to good use in either case."
"I was planning on coming. In case we run into something unexpected better to to be together. As far as the dinner, there is still the reason the maiden was outside the village. Something is going on here we don't know about. Maybe we can take advantage of it."
Giacomo concedes, "Yes. I told the father as much. Seems odd that girl was out alone and defenseless."
With the group conversed and prepared, the woman returns after a short while to escort the group to the elder's home. Upon following her, they find that the interior has been cleared as a reed mat has been placed out with several clay bowls of vegetable dishes and some things that seem to have been mashed up and are unrecognisable to the party; they could be some local plant that is not indigenous to the party's homeland.
"Welcome, travellers. Please, take a seat." The elder, seated at the matt with his legs crossed, speaks. He gestures to several cushions around the reed mat, one for each of those there. "I am sure you have many questions, and I may have some for you. For now, please fill your stomachs. We have plenty to spare for now, and travellers are always welcome here."
Giacomo will sit at one of the mats, not one that is front and center with the elder. He will clasp his hands together and pretend to pray over the food for quite some time. He'll let Larry and Logi eat first and then eat later if nothing untoward happens to them after they eat and drink.
Logi sits down comfortably on one of the mats, ready to eat. He pauses, however, seeing Giacomo's piety. He looks to the elder. "Are there any gods of this land that would be proper to invoke for such a feast?"
Larry will make a symbol over the food before starting to eat. His table manners are lacking.
"Each is welcome to worship their own gods and beliefs here." The elder informs the group. "For now, we are thankful our home can provide for travellers."
The group tucks into the meal. It is fairly basic, but tasty nonetheless. Those who are more keen on meat appear to be a little disappointed when everything here appears to be plant-based.
"Now, I understand you are all from distant lands." The elder speaks after a few minutes. "I am sure we have questions for one another. Please, what do you wish to know?"
"What is this land called, and who rules it? Are these lands safe to travel? If not, what dangers might one expect?" Logi begins, refreshed by the food, but slightly dissatisfied by the lack of meats and wines.
"Straight to business." The elder gives a slight smile. "Well this land has many names, the founders named it Sanctum, but nowadays the cityfolk name it Drassoria. The emperor lives in The White Stone Palace within the capital, many weeks travel away." He then takes a slight sip of his drink of water. "As for safety, we had believed that there were no goblins for at least a days travel from here. It is disturbing to have them so close to our home..."
Giacomo pauses from his mock prayers and looks up, still not eating the food, "There are known goblin tribes one day's travel from here? And you consider this safe enough to let a defenseless woman roam about by herself? Why is the empire not hunting these goblins? Are you part of this empire, or outside of it?"
"You assume very much, outsider." The elder says, his tone holding a hint of warning within it. "There is much to this land that those from outside do not understand. Ancient pacts made between clans and bretheren that ensure we live a peaceful life. Yet today, on the day that interlopers from a foreign land arrive, a daughter of our village is claimed slain by goblins whom are prohibited from entering near our village. Tell me, does this sound like mere coincidence?"
Giacomo, unable to hold back, responds, "We know nothing of your pacts or this land. Bring a skilled tracker tomorrow and you will see we came from the sea. You will also see your daughter was chased by goblins, and that we battled those goblins. But I see you trust your pacts with goblins and mistrust us. That is fine. Once we leave this quaint 'peaceful' life surrounded by goblin tribes and who knows what other creatures... I will not spare a second thought on your simple village."