The Summit Road Campaign Thread

Sulaan nods, a small smile appearing on her face. "She likes making those."

Bhuji shrugs. "We...we were always taught the il-altas kept our dreams safe from altavar." She looks down. "What will it be like without their protection? Could...could our minds be attacked?"

Taran:

Caelius picks up a stick at least forearm length in size and draws a two stick figures running towards steep mountains and away from a poor imitation of a lobster in the dirt in front of himself and Sulaan. He then looks to Sulaan and draws a question mark over the scene.

"What made us leave?" Sulaan confirms.

Caelius nods.

Sulaan angles his head towards the quietly playing Shiazala. "She saw a changeling that was undercover...in its natural form. She ran away, but they followed her and tried to kill her to preserve their cover. I heard noises and...well, I reacted. It ended in her getting behind him and whacking him in the head with a rock." A small, proud smile appears on his face. "We got away after that. But she hasn't spoken since."

Caelius nods, pointing to his mouth before putting a finger up to his lips. He then points to his ears and covers them, trying to indicate his own disability.

He points to Shiazala then mimes eating out of a bowl and gives Sulaan another thumbs up, hoping to communicate his appraisal of the child's health.

"No," Taran says, trying to focus on his alchemy, but unable to leave Bhuji afraid. Seemingly though, the alchemy calms him and keeps his mind off the terror of saying the wrong thing "You won't be attacked. The dreams are... kind of like the sky. Some nights it is clear, some nights it is raining, other times there are terrible storms. It is just... natural." Taran puts a label on the first vial as he talks. "Of course, that isn't to say you being attacked is impossible. It can happen, just like someone could have attacked you with a knife or something in the villages. But, there is no reason to, and people with psychic gifts are usually much more cautious about hurting people. A lot of them work as healers, like my friend Sim. She just wants to make the world a happier and brighter place, she'd never use her abilities to hurt anyone."

He places a label on the second one, putting them both off to the side.

"It is scary, the idea that anything is now possible. There is no one to tell you who to love, no one to tell you not to feel sadness or anger, no one to tell you what to do in the morning or where to go. But there are good parts to. And you'll just be normal citizens, so you won't have to worry about the Harmonious Shield or the Thousand Eyes, or anything like that. That's what we are for. We'll deal with all of that, and you can figure out what you want to do."

Arcana 6 for the smoke box

"We'll help you out, and you'll figure out how to live on your own. Without being scared."

Taran holds up the two vials he labeled and looks around camp. "Um, Miss River, Mister Juhaan, um... these are antitoxins, in case we run into anything poisonous again in the future. I-um-unless someone thinks there is a better way, I was, well, I was thinking you two would be the best to take them. Since that smoke cloud hit you both so hard... if no one else minds that is..."

"You...can't hear?" Sulaan guesses. "And yes, I think she's doing well. I hope so," he adds.

Bhuji bites her lip hard, but falls silent. She and Aleel look at one another, then lean quietly into each other.

Lanan looks distinctly uneasy.

Dulamul quietly finishes his food and starts cleaning his bowl.

Taran is unable to identify anything further with the smoke.

Taran catches the uncomfortable air around the refugees.

"U-um, I-I-I'm s-s-sorry," he stutters his gaze quickly darting from face to face, "D-did I, did I, say some-something wrong? Y-y-you w-will be s-s-safe, I-I p-pr-promise. The r-rest o-of the g-g-guides are far, far m-more qu-qualified than m-me."

Bhuji shakes her head. "It's just...those things you talked about. Choosing what we thought or wanted, being...free. They're...they're not exactly things we've always wanted. Why would you want something to be natural when the artificial one is safer and better? We couldn't have been attacked by someone with a knife in our village, because everybody understood that we were a part of a community who supported each other, and that betraying that community is a crime of the highest degree. Being a bad neighbor is one of the worst things a Riedran can do. The Harmonious Shield and Thousand Eyes may not have always been the friendliest, but they kept us safe from altavar and their influence. Now they're gone, and the il-altas have probably stripped their protection from us for our betrayal, leaving us open to corruption by dark spirits." Bhuji swallows hard. "If...if it weren't for our son...I would never want to leave Riedra, no matter how much freedom is available in Adar. I miss my friends, my community. I don't want to live on my own." Trembling, she tightens her grip on Aleel's hand.

Lanan merely turns away from the group, unsheathing his longsword and beginning to clean it thoroughly, his face troubled.

"I-I know," Taran says setting down the vials as his hands begin trembling, "Af-after Father... disappeared. I was lost. He told me what to do, where to go, he guided me through everything. I... I'm still scared, b-because he's gone and... he always knew what to do. He was always right and strong. So... I know how-how terrifying this is for you. But, I-I don't want to lie to you. I don't want to tell you that noth-nothing bad could happen to you in Adar. Th-that wouldn't be fair. People are good neighbors in Adar too, but just like you know that being a bad neighbor was a crime back home, you know there were people who did just that. People who... who were sick, or just bad people. It-it was a crime, because, because sometimes it happened."

Taran starts washing his equipment and storing it again.

"B-but, the things the government said, in Riedra, some-sometimes they weren't true, right? They told you people like Mr. Dulamul were dangerous, but, w-well, he's not. An-and, Mr. Lanan, you heard him in the clearing right? He-he was part of the Shield, and th-they are supposed to protect everyone, b-but th-they wanted him to k-k-k-kill a ch-ch-ch-child. And, it-it sounds l-l-like a Th-Thousand Eyes a-agent al-almost killed Sh-Shiazala, b-b-because of an accident. That-that is-isn't r-r-right, that isn't wh-what they t-t-told you. Th-that is-isn't h-how th-things were s-s-supposed to b-be." Taran stops, his breathing shallow. He tries to focus, to calm back down.

"I... I don't want to lie. Even a little bit. Th-the world is scary, and b-bad things might h-happen. B-but, I-I've never heard of a single al-altavar possessing someone, or hur-hurting someone. I've never heard of p-people who-who dis-disagree with the Speaker dis-disappearing, or of the Temple le-leaders hurting anyone. People don't fear each other. They aren't scared of spies, or think that their neighbors might be dangerous or worry about evil spirits. They just... live their lives. That's... that's all I was trying to say."

Vishal, has been busy while camp was being made. He made sure to use prestidigitation to make everyone's food have a little bit more flavor. Not taking anything away from Taran's food, just enhancing the flavor a little. He also volunteers and cleans everyone up with his magic that wishes to be clean. He does make sure to ask Druhdaar if he is sure if he doesn't wish to be clean from all that dirt. Once everything is settled he listens in on the conversations and decides to add, addressing everyone, "We all know this is a lot of change, for all of you. And in time you will grow accustomed to it and make your own decisions. For now, just know we are here to help. And if there is anything we can do for you, just ask. No matter how trivial it might seem, just ask us. Now, I say we lighten up the mood some with a little bit of dancing. I need to get my practice in and, well this can be your first introduction to how things will be different as I show you one part of a traditional story told through dance."

With a smile Vishal makes sure he is facing Dulamul as he begins his dance and seemingly some light musical notes that keep the rhythm of the song begin. All the roads members who have attended some festivals know this dance as one that accompanies of story of a warrior. Fighting for his love, and normally this dance is done in a pair in the beginning before breaking off to two seperate dances. Vishal just seems to be doing the man's dance as he has sharp and rigid movement, that of a soldier, however, one foot always seems to be back, as he wants to return to his love. As the fight breaks out the dance has a sense of grit to it and Vishal suddenly becomes the warrior. He jumps and flips, sweat begins to form on his forehead, as he dodges all the attacks and return his own. Lethargy begins to come into him and there is one final flip before a look of pain comes across his face. A strike to his arm. The thing going limp but teeth clench and determination on his face there a sudden array of rapid movements. Desperation evident on his face as rapid kicks, flips, and punches continue. Breathing heavily the warrior limps back to where he started before collapsing.

Vishal is breathing deeply, face full of sweat as he lays down. Having down the most difficult dance he can. One that requires constant rapid movements, flips, and kicks. As he catches his breath he risks a look towards Dulamul and attempts to see what the shifter thought of it.

Performance for the Dance: 19

Insight for what Dulamul thought of it: 11

Bhuji glances quietly at her hands. "We were always taught Adarans and the kalashtar were monsters who would destroy us in the name of the altavar," she says in a bare whisper before looking up. "Just...give us some time to adjust. This is all...so much. I can't sort lies from truth anymore."

It's impossible to see Lanan's reaction to Taran's words, since the man has his back turned to camp. Sulaan continues his conversation with Caelius.

As Vishal dances, Bhuji and Aleel look up, clearly entranced by the kalashtar's quick movements and flowing choreography. Shiazala also pauses in her braiding to watch the dance, and Dulamul watches Vishal's movements with wide eyes. Lanan keeps his back stubbornly turned as he finishes tending to his sword.

Vishal:

As Vishal approaches him with his offer, Druhdaar's first reaction is to shrug off the young kalashtar and his annoying habit of constantly trying to show off his skills, but he seems to think better of it as he inspects his attire, utterly filthy from hiding underground for hours, then from walking up dusty roads for about twice that... so when he does shrug, it's also with a small , amused grunt for his blue-eyed comrade:

" On you go, then: I can tell you've been dying to, anyways... "

 He grunts again, this time in surprise, as the accumulated filth of weeks upon weeks in the wild suddenly vanishes off him, leaving him with fluffy, cotton-like furs and immaculate-looking buckskins. Pretty soon, though, a frown appears on the big druid's face. He sniffs himself suspiciously and grumbles:

" A pox on you kalashtars ! Now I smell and look like a village whore on market day... ! Hhmmph. "

 His pouting continues while everyone watches Vishal's graceful and impressive choreography: his brow first furrowing in surprise and curiosity as the sword-dancer starts his elaborate ballet, the big man soon turns his back on the whole affair with a shake of the head, mumbling something about blue-eyed sissies and sword-fighters prancing about on tiptoes. 

He finally settles by the fire, a little ways off, and splashes himself with a mix of cold ashes and dust, only finding a semblance of calm once his face, beard and upper chest are once again covered in prairie dirt, bits of twigs and torn leaves and grass. With a satisfied look-over and an appreciative sniff at his work, he rolls into his furs and settles on the ground, effectively starting to snore quite loudly just as Vishal finishes his performance.

Caelius nods, confirming Sulaan’s guess. He points to his own eyes and then at Sulaan’s lips.

He points at Sulaan and then flexes a nonexistent muscle and the points at the scene on the ground, in particular, the figures.

After a moment of catching his breath Vishal gets up and makes his way over to Dulamul, making sure to grab his waterskin on the way, Vishal sits down next to him and takes a gulp of the water. He seems to collect himself a little bit before smiling and then finally asking Dulamul, "What did you think? Did you like the dance?"

Sulaan bites his lip. "She's strong?" he guesses. "She's had to be."

Dulamul looks at Vishal, eyes still wide. "It was...definitely different," he says.

Caelius tilts his head, assessing Sulaan’s interpretation before nodding.

Vishal continues to smile at Dulamul as he says, "If you didn't like it or didn't get it you can tell me. I'm still a student and learning. So....any and all criticsm is welcomed." 

Taran appreciates the dance. Not only was it an amazing display, but it offered him a reprieve from the conversation with Miss Bhuji. It also reminded him of his own need to train. 

As the performance finishes Taran slips out of camp and moves a ways off from the group. Leaving the vials of antitoxin sitting by the fire for Miss River and Mr. Juhaan to take. Once he's far enough away Taran considers the plains. Without a large rock formation nearby he improvises for setting u his target, gathering smaller stones into a stack before marking one with his chalk. Then, pulling out his blunted training bolt, he moves back 110 ft and begins trying to hit the target 300 times. All the times he'd missed Jharee burning in him. If he is going to keep the refugees safe, then he needs to be better.

After that he works on his swords form, and then his dagger form. The entire regiment probably takes two maybe two and a half hours.

If he has been alone that entire time, then Taran would head back to camp for his watch, a little calmer and more centered than he left. If someone wanted to follow him and talk to him some more... well, we'll see what happens.