The Summit Road Campaign Thread

River chirps softly as she waits. (Rolled a 23 in Discord)

Wisdom saving throw: 18

Caelius squeezes Arthem's hand and signs,

Wisdom Save: 18

Edit:

 "M-M-Mr. C-Caelius is r-reporting, Ma'am," Taran says indicating his companion, "H-He f-found his s-son at the K-Kintam, h-he h-had been l-living with th-them for some time."

The woman face frowns faintly as she looks over the group, giving Caelius and Taran a brief nod to acknowledge their words. "What is your name?" she asks Riikana evenly, who faces her calmly and answers, "Riikana."

The woman nods. "Riikana, whether through natural ability or training, I am unable to read your intentions. I ask that you allow yourself to bound in cuffs that will smother any power, magical or psionic, until you can be fully cleared by a thought reader." Despite her polite words, her tone makes it clear this is not a request. "Roiin, as I am currently unable to read your aura as well and your captivity places you at higher risk of being turned, I will ask the same of you. The rest of you will remain unbound, but thought readers will be waiting at the end of the tunnel to ensure your peaceful intentions. Farshana, Rentiir, take up the rear on the walk."

The man in leather armor immediately nods. "Yes, Hand." He and the kalashtar woman quietly move behind the group.

Riikana meets the woman's gaze for another long moment before nodding her assent. The kalashtar man who got the Hand removes a set of handcuffs made of what appears to be two seamless pieces of golden crystal, attached by a silver chain. The crystal circles open and close around Riikana's hands, and you all know from at least your training that they completely neuter any magical or psionic power someone might have, including most items. Roiin allows himself to be bound in a similar fashion by the kalashtar man, and the Hand turns her attention to Ryder. "Though you mean us no harm, you also are unsure of your feelings towards the Keep. Once you are more deeply mentally scanned and confirmed to be no threat to us, you will be spoken to by a monk and then allowed to stay or go as you wish." The ex-trainee fire soldier nods hesitantly, and the Hand finally turns her attention to the rest of you once more, a faint, reassuring smile appearing on her face. "Let's go inside and get you all some hot food and rest."

OOC: Through a combination of her appearance, weapon, and now the title of Hand, you're all able to discern that this is Luunkashtai, Hand of the Speaker.

Lore: Luunkashtai is Chanaakar's older sister and his longest-serving Hand. While Chanaakar is quick to smile and will speak with nearly anyone, Luunkashtai takes her job as protector of the Speaker and head of defense for Kasshta Keep very seriously. Despite her age, Luunkashtai is still absolutely deadly with her unusual bladed staff, and is widely considered one of the most skilled warriors in Adar. She is married to Alysdair, leader of the human warriors of Kasshta Keep, and the pair have had nine children. Three have died serving Adar in various capacities, while the remaining six are spread out across the Road, the border, and various monasteries. Luunkashtai is an old friend of Murephan's (check lore thread for further info on him if you want), and the two always make sure to have a spar when he comes by the Keep.

Taran freezes, mind screeching to a halt at realizing that the legendary and vitally important Esteemed Lady Luunkashtai is standing directly in front of him.

Vishal bows in thanks before he follows inside the keep. Realizing that this could be the perfect place to do some long needed meditation. 

The kalashtar woman, Farshana, taps Taran gently on the shoulder. "Come on," she murmurs. "Time to get up to the Keep."

OOC: Knew I forgot something! Please give me your characters' general surface thoughts as you move through the tunnel. Also, let me know if you intend to resist the deeper probe for detect thoughts, and if so, make a Wis ST. Should you fail (by choice or dice), I don't need the info the reader would get, unless it's drastically changed since after that first mission when I last had you do this. Remember, you'll be expected not to, but of course that doesn't mean you can't...

Caelius bows his head towards the Hand and smiles. As the group enters the Keep, Caelius signs,

 Surface level thoughts:

"Th-the H-H-Hand, Es-Est-L-L-Lady, I-I c-c-c-called h-h-her ma'am." Taran makes an incoherent noise in his throat, blood draining from his face as he lets the woman lead him forward.

Taran's surface thoughts are all wildly running about how he must have offended one of the greatest warriors in the country, the Elder sister to the Speaker himself, and how he might have to atone for even more in the future.

He does not resist any deeper dive.

Vishal’s surface thoughts are a little over the place. He wonders if he could see the Speaker potentially. If anyone could help it’d be him. He then remembers Daranikashtai teaches here. There’s never been a chakram user like her before. Maybe she would spar with him. 

He doesn’t resist the deeper probe as some new problems become enlightened. 

Farshana gives Taran a reassuring pat. "The Hand isn't really one to stand on ceremony, but I'm sure she appreciated the respect," she says, totally misunderstanding Taran's reaction. "You can just call her Hand in the future, though. First time at the Keep, I'm guessing?"

The man in armor, Rentiir, glances at Luunkashtai, walking wordlessly near the front, then says quietly to the rest of you, "Your friend says he will be going to Kilbilnar to leave Arthem with the monks, and that you are welcome to join him. He says it's quiet, but good for meditation."

Taran nods vaguely at the words being spoken to him, before a thought strikes him like a lightning bolt, an off-hand comment he had heard about how similar siblings could be.

Frantically whirling and grabbing the kalashatar lady by the shoulders he lets out a stream of fast-paced words. "SiblingslikeeachothersiblingofthespeakerspeakerincityshesuddenlyshowedupcouldIrunintothespeakerwithoutknowingit?"

Taran's grip tightened, his eyes desperate, "Could I?!"

Farshana blinks and considers for a moment before shrugging. "Maybe. He only does that with visitors, usually, like Khorvairans hunting demon Overlords, though. Depends on how he's feeling, honestly." She gives you a reassuring smile. "Not to worry though, he's even less of one to stand on ceremony, especially when he's not in the Council Chambers. If he's in the main Keep, it's because he wants to just relax. Being Speaker is a bit stressful." She laughs.

Taran stares at the lady, feeling a creeping dread clawing at him.

"B-B-But, h-h-how c-c-could.... wh-what if I-I-I s-s-see him, a-a-a-and I'm c-c-covered in bl-blood and sw-sweat from working in the hos-hospital, a-a-and I-I ig-ign-" Taran takes a breath, "H-H-He's r-r-r-really noti-noticeable r-r-right? I-I'll b-b-b-be able to t-t-t-tell unl-unlike w-w-with the Es-Esteemed Hand, r-r-right? I-I-I-I w-w-won't acci-accidentally ignore or in-insult the Sp-Speaker of the W-Word right?"

Farshana raises an eyebrow. "I think he'd be happy to see you serving Adar rather than concerned with your appearance," she says with a smile. "I'm sure you'll be just fine. It's not like he expects you to drop everything and kneel to him, especially when he's not acting directly as Speaker. If you do recognize him, a quick nod and a 'hello, Speaker' will be just fine, and Taratai knows he won't be offended if you're too busy to notice him at first."

"A-A-Are y-you sure?" Taran asks, starting to calm down, "I-I-I mean, I kn-know p-people h-have b-been s-s-saying I n-need to st-stop with c-c-calling the K-Kalashatar 'Es-Esteemed', wh-which is w-w-why I-I s-s-said ma'am, b-b-but I n-never i-imagined I w-w-would m-meet p-people s-s-so important. I-I m-m-mean th-they are her-heroes among heroes, l-living legends r-r-really-" Taran realizes he is still holding on to her.

"O-O-oh," he let's go and quickly steps back, "I-I-I'm s-s-sorry, I-I sh-should, I-I-I m-mean, I didn't m-mean, uh, well, y-you un-understand right, Est- I m-m-mean, ma'am?"

Farshana gives Taran another reassuring smile. "You're just fine. You're hardly the first person to get nervous at the thought of meeting the Speaker or one of his Hands. You'll get used to it sooner or later. Just take a few deep breaths, okay?"

Taran nods and takes a few deep breaths, "S-Sorry, a-a-again." he says as he moves to catch up with the group.

River's surface surface thoughts are a mess of worry and intrigue; Mainly, she wonders how those around her that don't know would react to her bird-like appearance, before deciding it safer to remain in the cloaks and scarves to avoid frightening anyone, especially Arthem. There's a lingering darkness to her thoughts that she frequently has to consciously stray away from.

As the deep probe begins, River noticeably slows down, falling behind the rest of the group. She appears to shrink on herself somewhat as the probe goes on, her head darting back and forth nervously for a few moments before she suddenly bursts out in a fit of squawking and aggressively flapping her wing-less arms, hiding behind the nearest something as she continues to flap, squawk, cower, and just overall freak out.