Lancel 

I accompany Nyaris into the woods to help catch some game for dinner. In truth, I’m just there to help support her and make her feel more at ease with our group.

I hope this past year has been good to you. You seem to have learned quite a lot and the woods suit you. I’m glad you’ve joined us, not just as our tracker and guide, but as our friend. It’s good to all be back together.

As his friends go off in search for food and begins settling down for the afternoon, Slate would lay his pack and shield down by a nearby tree before making his way into the trees to look for firewood (survival 7) before returning and setting up a campfire. Struggling to light a fire, the dwarf would remove his chainmail gauntlets and try again. His heavily scarred hands would almost sparkle as the fire came to life and the flames danced in the reflections of his scars.

As the hunting party has kind of gathered together, and after hearing Lancel speak, Delilah speaks up. "I agree with Lancel, but I wanted to kind of ask away from the rest of the group. And I know this is a bit of a change in topic. But well... You all can't actually trust Ragg now, can you? I know he volunteered his talents to the guild and all, but..." Delilah's voice trails off, as she attempts to read how Lancel and  Nyaris around her are reacting to her initial sentence. [Insight 5 ] But she quickly forgets herself and brazenly continues. "Well, I don't know. He ran with Varkas' little gang back in the day. And sure, he stepped in to help us when they were beating down on Ehla all those years ago, but that was only after the tide was turning in our favor. He didn't lift a finger to help her while his friends were... well. I just don't know if he's really the reformed man he makes himself out to be."

Nyaris

Scanning the woods for signs of rabbits - especially for their food sources or typical nesting grounds.  Nyaris prefers rabbit over squirrel, which are most likely the two most common small game animals in the immediate area. We're doing a pace & check method, which does not require silence (hunting squirrel requires silence). You are actually trying to scare up the game. 

"It was a ch-challenging year, but I'm still alive. I learned a lot of skills and learned to b-b-be-better rely on myself.

But it was good to see Ehla again [awkward pause] and you. . . and the rest, as well. 

[After even more awkward pause] How did you spend your year?"

(( Oof ninja'd. We'll just say my post happened after yours. ))

Nyaris (as they are hunting)

 "I know he volunteered his talents to the guild and all, but..." [Nyaris waits for Delillah to continue] "Well, I don't know. He ran with Varkas' little gang back in the day. And sure, he stepped in to help us when they were beating down on Ehla all those years ago, but that was only after the tide was turning in our favor. He didn't lift a finger to help her while his friends were... well. I just don't know if he's really the reformed man he makes himself out to be."

[Nyaris shruggs] "Ehla t-tr-trusts him. I trust Ehla. But only time will show the t-tr-truth."

Lancel

Lancel walks with the girls, occasionally tapping his warhammer to his shield, attempting to push out game. Lancels shield is also made of metal.

I have been busy spending time studying at the temple. It’s really helped me to hone my talents. As far as Red goes, people can change Delilah. But time will tell. Give him a chance.

Delilah frowns, looking back and forth between Lancel and Nyaris. "People can change, but I'm not sure adventuring is the right context to test his new loyalties. He betrayed his friends when things looked bleak once before. And now we're his 'friends'. If things look bleak for us, and he sees the opportunity to turncoat... will he repeat that performance? We will likely have many more missions together than just this one, assuming all goes well. I don't want to be on the end of a sword due to any... disloyalty." Despite her reasoned words, there is a distinct tinge of emotion to Delilah's voice, her words becoming harder to say as she speaks. It is clear that her feelings on the matter go deeper than what she's saying on the surface. Realizing how emotional shes getting, she shakes her head slightly. "About my year," she leads into a heavy exhale as she switches topics, her expression lightening, if only slightly. "It has been... well enough, I suppose. Meetings, dinner parties and swordsmanship lessons mostly, with a bit of reading on arcane theory and practice thrown in. If I'm honest, it's all gotten fairly dull. Doubly so without my friends around as often. I'm very happy to be out here."

[ Perception to see if Delilah spots any potential prey: 3 (If the DM prefers I use survival, subtract 2) ]

Red to Mixum, not trying to be secret but others seem a ways away

So I always used humor to deflect and diffuse - being older you may not have noticed I was bully and bullied both? Make fun of myself and deny them ammunition, make fun of others and turn attention away. But when I turned on Varkas, and Arkalis included me in his sweeping heroes speech...I started to think of performance in a different light. Also, bards are more accepting than most - I think half of us are oddballs somehow - so it was comfortable to study at the college. So lore and healing and music are my path to redemption.

That there is magic in it? That is somehow surprising. But what I know of lore, Artificers and Bards have a thing in common, how our connection to the arcane passes through what seems like an indirect path. But it isn't impure, is it? Wizards and such talk of directly accessing the Weave. But you and I know the world was both Crafted and Sung into being. Everyone in town knows of the Upgood's reputation for craftsmanship. It was said you were the black sheep but seems to me you get closer to the Craft of crafting - forgive me if I am wrong.

Brr, all too serious. I try to make my humor a little less mean and my songs a bit more uplifting now. But you'll forgive me please for guessing you are a tad more comfortable in burrows than on burros? If a song story or poem can provide a distraction from your lower aches allow me.

Lancel

I have faith that Arkalis knew what he was talking about when he said we would be the group to face evil, Red included. Plus I don’t think Ehla would have sent him with us unless she had forgiven him as well. Lancel leans over and playfully nudges Delilah

To Delilah in Celestial I know his hurting Ehla hurt you most

OOC

The first day into your travel was mostly uneventful.  Feasting upon the small game, a collaboration among the group but no doubt a testament to Nyaris's skill in hunting was a welcomed boon to end the day on a happy stomachs.  While Delilah had experience in hunting, she was not as keen to spot the opportunities to seize near this area of the woods.  The small campfire burns and you all collect in a circle around the fire to rest.  Three more days until Werflowe.  

Intelligence check rolls from eveyrone

Lancel

13 for Intelligence check 

[ Delilah gets a 14 for the INT check. Come oooon, lucky numbahs. ]

For Redemption: 11

Thinking music from Jeopardy?

Nyaris

INT 6

 Nyaris may have already slipped into her Elven Trance for the evening  ;)

mixum

Intelligence:  5

(ooc) A different song, to try link

Does this help?  

<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IfQ4DiRzd14" target="_blank">Delilah's!</a>

Slate intelligence check 19

Speaking of intelligence checks, Red is keeping a list of stuff we could have used. So far he's got:
Bucket for water when we want more than a skinfull
Cook's Utensils, for making more than a mess kit at a time

And I neglected a tinderbox. I foolishly thought I could start a fire with Thaumaturgy. But no, just make them flicker. breaks into routine pretending to argue with infernal ancestor

Delilah the Fighter has Prestidigitation - she can start a fire
It does other stuff - slam open a door or window
Like a weak-a** mage hand?
Or make your voice loud
I can shout too.
Eerie noises from anywhere
Best so far. Next?
Harmless tremors
Harmless?
Look do you want your powers or not?
Oh here's one - I can make my eyes look weird (makes solid gold eyes look like average human eyes) That is totally worth a lifetime of abuse and shame

I swear I converted to good halfly because my infernal ancestry is bogus