Understanding what River was trying to say now Vishal lifts his hand and places in on River’s head, gently scratching and moving his fingers through the kenku’s feathers. He gives River a warm smile as he scratches her head before he directs Dulamul again, “I understand. It’s a bit change. And takes some getting use to. But I know you can do it. And...maybe the first step is just looking at me when we talk. Instead of the ground. We’re equals here Dulamul. No one life is any better than another’s. You can look directly at me as we talk.”
Slowly, Dulamul lifts his head to look at Vishal. "...Okay," he says softly.
Caelius the Inadvertent Eavesdropper:
Aleel and Bhuji make their way over to Sulaan and start talking to him, clearly not having tuned into the fact that you can easily tell what they're talking about.
"How did you keep from losing her?" Bhuji asks Sulaan, indicating the quietly playing Shiazala.
Sulaan shrugs. "I'm not her blood father," he explains. "I was the Guiding Path worker assigned to raise her, and...well, we formed a bond."
Aleel glances at the other guides than hesitantly asks Sulaan, "Did you have a partner you left behind? Do...do you miss Riedra?"
Sulaan sighs. "Things were simpler there," he admits. "But not safer. Especially not for her."
Bhuji sighs. "I hope our son gets as good and devoted a worker to raise him as you, Sulaan."
"I'm sure he will," Sulaan reassures her. "The Guiding Path works hard to make sure every Riedran has the best possible experience growing up...dark spirits. There I go again, giving the usual line. Old habits die hard, I guess. But in all honesty, every member of the Guiding Path I ever knew was devoted solely to making sure every Riedran had the happiest life possible while also benefiting the community. Hopefully your son will be just fine."
Aleel gives Sulaan a small smile. "Thank you, Sulaan. That...does help, a little. I hope we'll continue seeing you once we're across the border." He glances at Shiazala again, his smile fading as he grows more serious. "Is...she all right? She hasn't said a word since you two have arrived, and she isn't displaying any of the energy we saw in the children being raised at our village. But I'm sure you know better than us."
Sulaan frowns a little. "She's been like that ever since we started running, I think it's just the trauma of everything that's happened. She's still eating healthily and seems mentally fine, just...completely silent."
After they finish their conversation, Aleel and Bhuji both nod and move off to watch Taran stripping the site of his constructions, leaning silently into each other.
Lanan seems happy to wait for the word from you all, leaning against a tree and to all appearances seeming to doze off.
Anyone who beats Insight DC 10:
Lanan isn't actually asleep, but watching the clearing through half-closed eyes.
Sulaan goes back to keeping an eye on Shiazala, who by now has created nearly a foot long rope of plaited grass, her brow furrowed in concentration.
“There you go.” Vishal says with a big smile as he continues to pat Rivers head. “I’m sorry once again for touching your ears. They just looked so soft and inviting. I won’t touch them again without permission though.”
He's still very uncertain about all of this equality stuff. He underwent a whole lifetime of mental indoctrination being taught he was inferior, he's still trying to overcome that.
This post has potentially manipulated dice roll results.
Insight: 22
As Vishal continues to pat River he sees through the shifter's obvious lie. "Hey. I understand its an entire life change. That for all of your life you were told you were inferior. But you are not. You are not inferior to anyone. We are equals. And I hope I can help you see that."
Dulamul nods hesitantly. "I...I was raised to believe I could redeem myself by serving my lord, but now...now I don't know what to do," he admits. "At least in the Legion I knew my purpose and how to improve my next life. Now even the il-altas have turned against me."
"Well....that is hard. But that's something you have to decide for yourself. I want to be someone who inspires the dances I practice for the festivals. I want to be like one of those legendary heroes. That's why I'm here. You can be anything you want to be now. A dancer like me, my parents are leather workers, you might be even to join the Road in time."Vishal says to Dulamul, a bright smile on his face and uncontrollable passion coming through as he talks, "The world is your oyster, and your future is yours to decide now."
Eventually, the group gets on the move with what little daylight remains. After only a few minutes of walking, Sulaan is carrying Shiazala, who eventually falls asleep. Lanan paces quietly towards the back of the group, eyes scanning your surroundings almost absently. Aleel and Bhuji stick together towards the middle of the group, and Dulamul, while he no longer keeps his eyes fixed on the ground, still walks a little way apart from the group.
As the group settles for the night, Druhdaar walks into the clearing they chose to make camp and settles wordlessly next to the fire pit. After a hard day's walk his clothes are even dustier than normal, but the big man doesn't seem to notice. He soon grabs one of the portions of stew proferred to him by Taran and slurps it down noisily, his eyes scanning the faces of the refugees over the brim of his wooden bowl. After polishing off this first helping he stands and fills his cup again, walking over to where Dulamul sits.
The shifter, while less nervous when when they'd first met him the same morning, either hadn't dared or had chosen not to partake in the common meal, remaining as far away from the group as he could, seemingly intent on avoiding the general attention.
With a great 'hoomph' and a clatter of smelly furs, dusty gear and a series of grunts and huffs, Drudhaar sets down his massive frame next to the beast-man and unceremoniously pushes the full bowl into his hands.
" Eat. Long way tomorrow. Prepare For The Journey. (*) "
He then remains sitting quietly, staring vacantly into the small fire that Taran has built for them, gently and absent-mindedly rubbing one of the small bone buttons sewn into his vest.
(*) 'One Must Prepare For The Journeys Yet To Come' : an old shifter saying, used in a variety of occasions and fairly often by the weretouched, especially amongst themselves.
Quietly, Dulamul takes the bowl and starts eating, moving a little way away from Druhdaar. He does not appear to recognize the proverb, however.
Lanan eats his food quickly, then washes his bowl and returns it to the others.
Aleel and Bhuji both eat quietly, murmuring softly to one another every now and then.
Sulaan plays some kind of game with Shiazala while she eats, and she polishes her bowl off and goes back to her grass braid, which she brought with, before he starts on his own. Shiazala ties off her first foot long plait of grass and starts on a second.
"The relevant equation is: Knowledge = power = energy = matter = mass; a good bookshop is just a genteel Black Hole that knows how to read." - Terry Pratchett
Taran looks around the camp as he finishes his own bowl of the trail stew. Ideally, he'd like to sit apart from the group and pull out his alchemy kit, identify the vials and test the box. Then he would go and practice for the night before taking his watch.
His gaze lingers on Shiazala before bouncing to the others. He can't... he can't not warn them. It wouldn't be right.
Taran takes a long gulp of water to wet his suddenly dry throat.
He pulls out his alchemy kit and begins setting out vials and beakers, moving extra cautiously as his hands are slick with sweat.
No. He has to say it, he can't risk someone falling asleep while he's working and building up the courage. He has to say it.
"The Hanbanali!" he finally blurts out much louder than he intended. He sees eyes begin to turn towards him, "Um-sorry, for, uh, for interrupting. But... the Hanbanali... it, uh, it k-kept control of y-your dreams. Uh, I-I don't-well, I don't know if, if we are far enough away. But we might be, and if we aren't today then we will be tomorrow. Which means, well, it means that you all, well maybe not for the first time, you have been traveling before and maybe you got far enough away from them while traveling, but I don't think you would have and so this might be the first time that you... well that you have your own dreams, instead of the Hanbanali's dream. That can be... that can be really scary, especially after a day like today with... with what happened this afternoon. I just-um, well, I just wanted to tell everyone... just in case, it scares you. But it's normal. Especially in Adar, you'll always have your own dreams. Even if they are scary or weird or too chaotic to make sense of. Um... that's everything... sorry."
Taran takes another huge gulp of water. Casting furtive glances around the camp as he squirms in place. His alchemy kit half assembled next to him.
"So you're saying that such Hanbanali controls our dreams? Or nightmares in this case" Juhaan shivers lightly recalling his afternoon unexpected nap while playing fidget spinner with his dueling cane.
Taran nods, "Right, Mr. Juhaan. Father told me about it during training. And, well, we all had that dream last night. But, it doesn't give nightmares, just the same dream every night..."
Taran trails off, once more conflicted about the idea of having the same predictable dream every night.
Sulaan shakes his head at Caelius, looking confused. "I'm sorry, I can't...I can't read."
At Taran's explanation, heads lift across the clearing. There's a moment of silence, then Bhuji says, "...We know. I mean...we didn't know it would stop once we were...out of Riedra, but...we knew our dreams were controlled."
You have not yet crossed the border, between the slower pace of the refugees and the seriously decreased travel time.
"The relevant equation is: Knowledge = power = energy = matter = mass; a good bookshop is just a genteel Black Hole that knows how to read." - Terry Pratchett
"O-okay," Taran says, not making eye contact with Ms. Bhuji, "I-I just di-didn't want, well, you know... I didn't want you all to be... unprepared."
Turning away he gulps another draught of water, then finishes putting together his alchemy kit. He should have figured that it was taken care of. But, well, it was important. He focuses instead on identifying these vials of liquid.
He pours out a few drops of each of them into a separate vial and begins checking various reactions with common components.
1st: 19
2nd: 11
3rd: 3
Once he is done with that, he will begin checking the box and grass clippings to see if he can identify the poison smoke that Jharee used
16
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Taran Cragshollow (Summit Road)
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Understanding what River was trying to say now Vishal lifts his hand and places in on River’s head, gently scratching and moving his fingers through the kenku’s feathers. He gives River a warm smile as he scratches her head before he directs Dulamul again, “I understand. It’s a bit change. And takes some getting use to. But I know you can do it. And...maybe the first step is just looking at me when we talk. Instead of the ground. We’re equals here Dulamul. No one life is any better than another’s. You can look directly at me as we talk.”
Slowly, Dulamul lifts his head to look at Vishal. "...Okay," he says softly.
Caelius the Inadvertent Eavesdropper:
Aleel and Bhuji make their way over to Sulaan and start talking to him, clearly not having tuned into the fact that you can easily tell what they're talking about.
"How did you keep from losing her?" Bhuji asks Sulaan, indicating the quietly playing Shiazala.
Sulaan shrugs. "I'm not her blood father," he explains. "I was the Guiding Path worker assigned to raise her, and...well, we formed a bond."
Aleel glances at the other guides than hesitantly asks Sulaan, "Did you have a partner you left behind? Do...do you miss Riedra?"
Sulaan sighs. "Things were simpler there," he admits. "But not safer. Especially not for her."
Bhuji sighs. "I hope our son gets as good and devoted a worker to raise him as you, Sulaan."
"I'm sure he will," Sulaan reassures her. "The Guiding Path works hard to make sure every Riedran has the best possible experience growing up...dark spirits. There I go again, giving the usual line. Old habits die hard, I guess. But in all honesty, every member of the Guiding Path I ever knew was devoted solely to making sure every Riedran had the happiest life possible while also benefiting the community. Hopefully your son will be just fine."
Aleel gives Sulaan a small smile. "Thank you, Sulaan. That...does help, a little. I hope we'll continue seeing you once we're across the border." He glances at Shiazala again, his smile fading as he grows more serious. "Is...she all right? She hasn't said a word since you two have arrived, and she isn't displaying any of the energy we saw in the children being raised at our village. But I'm sure you know better than us."
Sulaan frowns a little. "She's been like that ever since we started running, I think it's just the trauma of everything that's happened. She's still eating healthily and seems mentally fine, just...completely silent."
After they finish their conversation, Aleel and Bhuji both nod and move off to watch Taran stripping the site of his constructions, leaning silently into each other.
Lanan seems happy to wait for the word from you all, leaning against a tree and to all appearances seeming to doze off.
Anyone who beats Insight DC 10:
Lanan isn't actually asleep, but watching the clearing through half-closed eyes.
Sulaan goes back to keeping an eye on Shiazala, who by now has created nearly a foot long rope of plaited grass, her brow furrowed in concentration.
Stella Diamant, Human Rogue 17 (Swashbuckler), The Exploits of Misfit Company
Kat, Medtech, Cyberpunk: Red
Shi, Changeling Bard 4 (College of Spirits), Tyrant's Grasp
Dani, Human Artificer 9 (Armorer), Skulls and Starships
DM, Project Point (Teams Scimitar and Longsword)
Everything Else!
“There you go.” Vishal says with a big smile as he continues to pat Rivers head. “I’m sorry once again for touching your ears. They just looked so soft and inviting. I won’t touch them again without permission though.”
Dulamul nods. "Thank you," he says, looking uncertain.
Stella Diamant, Human Rogue 17 (Swashbuckler), The Exploits of Misfit Company
Kat, Medtech, Cyberpunk: Red
Shi, Changeling Bard 4 (College of Spirits), Tyrant's Grasp
Dani, Human Artificer 9 (Armorer), Skulls and Starships
DM, Project Point (Teams Scimitar and Longsword)
Everything Else!
"Is something still bothering you?" Vishal asks Dulamul, obviously conerned.
Dulamul shakes his head. "No..."
Beat a 5 Insight to read this, Vishal:
He's still very uncertain about all of this equality stuff. He underwent a whole lifetime of mental indoctrination being taught he was inferior, he's still trying to overcome that.
Stella Diamant, Human Rogue 17 (Swashbuckler), The Exploits of Misfit Company
Kat, Medtech, Cyberpunk: Red
Shi, Changeling Bard 4 (College of Spirits), Tyrant's Grasp
Dani, Human Artificer 9 (Armorer), Skulls and Starships
DM, Project Point (Teams Scimitar and Longsword)
Everything Else!
Insight: 22
As Vishal continues to pat River he sees through the shifter's obvious lie. "Hey. I understand its an entire life change. That for all of your life you were told you were inferior. But you are not. You are not inferior to anyone. We are equals. And I hope I can help you see that."
Dulamul nods hesitantly. "I...I was raised to believe I could redeem myself by serving my lord, but now...now I don't know what to do," he admits. "At least in the Legion I knew my purpose and how to improve my next life. Now even the il-altas have turned against me."
Stella Diamant, Human Rogue 17 (Swashbuckler), The Exploits of Misfit Company
Kat, Medtech, Cyberpunk: Red
Shi, Changeling Bard 4 (College of Spirits), Tyrant's Grasp
Dani, Human Artificer 9 (Armorer), Skulls and Starships
DM, Project Point (Teams Scimitar and Longsword)
Everything Else!
"Well....that is hard. But that's something you have to decide for yourself. I want to be someone who inspires the dances I practice for the festivals. I want to be like one of those legendary heroes. That's why I'm here. You can be anything you want to be now. A dancer like me, my parents are leather workers, you might be even to join the Road in time." Vishal says to Dulamul, a bright smile on his face and uncontrollable passion coming through as he talks, "The world is your oyster, and your future is yours to decide now."
Dulamul nods, looking a little more hopeful. "...Thank you," he says quietly.
Stella Diamant, Human Rogue 17 (Swashbuckler), The Exploits of Misfit Company
Kat, Medtech, Cyberpunk: Red
Shi, Changeling Bard 4 (College of Spirits), Tyrant's Grasp
Dani, Human Artificer 9 (Armorer), Skulls and Starships
DM, Project Point (Teams Scimitar and Longsword)
Everything Else!
Vishal smiles brightly and replies “Your welcomed. I’m happy to help you out anytime.”
River continues to enjoy the pats, cooing and singing softly. "We are equals~"
Dungeon Master - LSoL
Kaori - Battlemaster Fighter 5 / Paladin 2 (Kenku) - TSR
Cherna Godhari - Grave Cleric 4 (Human) - TW
Breena Mahi'ai - Divination Wizard 8 (Halfling) - WoE
Sharyn Savonath - Open Sea Paladin 4 (Triton) - PoPI
Zephyr - Four Elements (Revised) Monk 4 (Air Genasi) - IO
Takeshi - Mercy Monk 6 (Protector Aasimar) - TBW
Avrui Sirsash - Genie Warlock 2 (Wildhunt Shifter) - WotBS
Quietly, Dulamul takes the bowl and starts eating, moving a little way away from Druhdaar. He does not appear to recognize the proverb, however.
Lanan eats his food quickly, then washes his bowl and returns it to the others.
Aleel and Bhuji both eat quietly, murmuring softly to one another every now and then.
Sulaan plays some kind of game with Shiazala while she eats, and she polishes her bowl off and goes back to her grass braid, which she brought with, before he starts on his own. Shiazala ties off her first foot long plait of grass and starts on a second.
Stella Diamant, Human Rogue 17 (Swashbuckler), The Exploits of Misfit Company
Kat, Medtech, Cyberpunk: Red
Shi, Changeling Bard 4 (College of Spirits), Tyrant's Grasp
Dani, Human Artificer 9 (Armorer), Skulls and Starships
DM, Project Point (Teams Scimitar and Longsword)
Everything Else!
Caelius sits next to Sulaan and opens his book, "She-'-s V-E-R-Y Good."
Tooltips | Snippet Code | How to Homebrew on D&D Beyond | Subclass Guide | Feature Roadmap
Astromancer's Homebrew Assembly
"The relevant equation is: Knowledge = power = energy = matter = mass; a good bookshop is just a genteel Black Hole that knows how to read." - Terry Pratchett
Taran looks around the camp as he finishes his own bowl of the trail stew. Ideally, he'd like to sit apart from the group and pull out his alchemy kit, identify the vials and test the box. Then he would go and practice for the night before taking his watch.
His gaze lingers on Shiazala before bouncing to the others. He can't... he can't not warn them. It wouldn't be right.
Taran takes a long gulp of water to wet his suddenly dry throat.
He pulls out his alchemy kit and begins setting out vials and beakers, moving extra cautiously as his hands are slick with sweat.
No. He has to say it, he can't risk someone falling asleep while he's working and building up the courage. He has to say it.
"The Hanbanali!" he finally blurts out much louder than he intended. He sees eyes begin to turn towards him, "Um-sorry, for, uh, for interrupting. But... the Hanbanali... it, uh, it k-kept control of y-your dreams. Uh, I-I don't-well, I don't know if, if we are far enough away. But we might be, and if we aren't today then we will be tomorrow. Which means, well, it means that you all, well maybe not for the first time, you have been traveling before and maybe you got far enough away from them while traveling, but I don't think you would have and so this might be the first time that you... well that you have your own dreams, instead of the Hanbanali's dream. That can be... that can be really scary, especially after a day like today with... with what happened this afternoon. I just-um, well, I just wanted to tell everyone... just in case, it scares you. But it's normal. Especially in Adar, you'll always have your own dreams. Even if they are scary or weird or too chaotic to make sense of. Um... that's everything... sorry."
Taran takes another huge gulp of water. Casting furtive glances around the camp as he squirms in place. His alchemy kit half assembled next to him.
Taran Cragshollow (Summit Road)
Juhaan
"So you're saying that such Hanbanali controls our dreams? Or nightmares in this case" Juhaan shivers lightly recalling his afternoon unexpected nap while playing fidget spinner with his dueling cane.
Taran nods, "Right, Mr. Juhaan. Father told me about it during training. And, well, we all had that dream last night. But, it doesn't give nightmares, just the same dream every night..."
Taran trails off, once more conflicted about the idea of having the same predictable dream every night.
Taran Cragshollow (Summit Road)
Sulaan shakes his head at Caelius, looking confused. "I'm sorry, I can't...I can't read."
At Taran's explanation, heads lift across the clearing. There's a moment of silence, then Bhuji says, "...We know. I mean...we didn't know it would stop once we were...out of Riedra, but...we knew our dreams were controlled."
You have not yet crossed the border, between the slower pace of the refugees and the seriously decreased travel time.
Stella Diamant, Human Rogue 17 (Swashbuckler), The Exploits of Misfit Company
Kat, Medtech, Cyberpunk: Red
Shi, Changeling Bard 4 (College of Spirits), Tyrant's Grasp
Dani, Human Artificer 9 (Armorer), Skulls and Starships
DM, Project Point (Teams Scimitar and Longsword)
Everything Else!
Caelius nods, understanding, and points to Shiazala and her weave and then gives a thumbs up.
Tooltips | Snippet Code | How to Homebrew on D&D Beyond | Subclass Guide | Feature Roadmap
Astromancer's Homebrew Assembly
"The relevant equation is: Knowledge = power = energy = matter = mass; a good bookshop is just a genteel Black Hole that knows how to read." - Terry Pratchett
"O-okay," Taran says, not making eye contact with Ms. Bhuji, "I-I just di-didn't want, well, you know... I didn't want you all to be... unprepared."
Turning away he gulps another draught of water, then finishes putting together his alchemy kit. He should have figured that it was taken care of. But, well, it was important. He focuses instead on identifying these vials of liquid.
He pours out a few drops of each of them into a separate vial and begins checking various reactions with common components.
1st: 19
2nd: 11
3rd: 3
Once he is done with that, he will begin checking the box and grass clippings to see if he can identify the poison smoke that Jharee used
16
Taran Cragshollow (Summit Road)