Quote from Astalda >>

Edeleth examines the dagger.  "I'm afraid I can't read this script," he says.

He tries to infer something from the dagger's style.

OOC Not sure what to check--sadly I have to go to work now! :O  Probably can check back in in a couple of hours.

Arcana? 12

History? 24

 

 

 

 Edeleth examines the dagger. Although he cannot decipher the draconic inscriptions, it most definitely belonged to a Red Dragonborn Warrior, from the Red Dragon Clan. Most likely from the dreaded Second Land Swarm...

Quote from Grotex >>

Quote from Astalda >>

Edeleth examines the dagger.  "I'm afraid I can't read this script," he says.

He tries to infer something from the dagger's style.

OOC Not sure what to check--sadly I have to go to work now! :O  Probably can check back in in a couple of hours.

Arcana? 12

History? 24

 

 

 

 Edeleth examines the dagger. Although he cannot decipher the draconic inscriptions, it most definitely belonged to a Red Dragonborn Warrior, from the Red Dragon Clan. Most likely from the dreaded Second Land Swarm...

OOC: How long ago was that?  Are we talking antique, or might the dragonborn who used it still be walking around?

Edeleth shares this information with Rosri. 

Then, bracing himself to do as the halfling asks, he gets up and wanders back into the crowd, looking for someone in the Family who seems interested in chatting.  He sees Roscoe, still dancing and drinking around the fire. 

Grunda is revealing a whole new side of herself--the gruff and silent warrior is playing with a mob of halfling children, carrying them around on her shoulders.He can hardly believe it's the same taciturn warrior who has been accompanying them on their adventures, and wonders why she never talks to them. Maybe, he realizes with sudden guilt, it's because we don't talk to her. Edeleth has noticed how Rosri is slowly becoming the social glue of the party, getting to know them all.  But Rosri is a bit afraid of Grunda, isn't he?  Edeleth himself has not made much effort, partly because getting to know someone involves asking them questions and getting answers, and once you do, they have an implied right to expect answers back from you.

He wonders where Zyman is, and hopes that the spellcaster isn't off alone and miserable, obsessing over the Death Zone he created.  In the end, every creature uses what tools it has to survive, and as appalled as Edeleth is at the destruction, what's done is done, and it would be best to move past it and try to prevent its happening again.  He supposes he could have been more tactful in their conversation.

He goes on looking for someone to talk to.  He avoids the card game, since he has nothing to gamble with, and does not want to be put in the position of refusing an invitation.

He notices the old woman with the tarot cards and crystal ball.  He hurries past with a slight shudder of fear--the intensity of her gaze reminds him of his steely-eyed grandmother. Maybe he will just join the dancing again foe a while.

Rosri is left sitting alone on the log, and as he is watching Roscoe and the other campers dancing he is reminded that he has promised a story to Florence. He stands up and goes off to look for him, and find him sitting by a fire and telling a joke to the little ones who is waiting in line to play with Grunda. <Maybe I should give her a chance he thinks. If it wasn't for her, we would probably be Gnoll stew by now.>  

In cant: Hey there brother. I think I owe you a story. Why don't you and the kids hurdle up around and I will tell you all about the story of how we almost got eaten by hyenas and about the distruction of the town of Oakfields. 

It all started with is small halfling from a foreign land. He wanted to grow up to be the best spymaster of them all, but he had a problem. He was a cowerd..  And so he told his story of how he had ended up in the Phree Peaks and about the Hanging Chicken Inn.  And how he and the others had left to help the village of Oakfields only to leave it in ruins. 

...and to honor the land Edeleth the Wise planted a seed of a magical oak to protect the land. So if you ever find yourself in a dead land where a giant oak is growing, you'll know that you have reached the fallen town of Oaksfield. 

When he was done he turned to Florence. "Do you think that the 14 villagers can ride with you up the mountain? We have urgent business with a certain bar keep in the Three Peaks and with the elderly and the kids i'm worried that we won't make very fast travel." 

"Ay, them can travel with us, we'll get them up the mountain for ya. But promise me brother, that you'll wary of this 'Red Lord', he smells like baaad business to me." 

After that Rosri will ask around of anyone in the caravan have heard of this "Red Lord" and to tell his friends if he finds them that the caravan will take the villagers to Three peaks and that we should ride ahead. 

Rosri, roll a Perform check for your storytelling, with advantage since you brought with you a Goliath Warrior, a Human Warlock, an elvish Druid, a Halfling Barbarian, a magical Dog Knight and 8 Dwarven Villagers that can confirm your story.

After inquiring more from the Family, Rosri realizes even they don't really know much, except that the Red Dragon Clan is one of the Alliance's main Ennemy. Most of their forces are currently deployed in the Copper Clan Lands, a few hundred miles South.

However, this faction of the Family, known as the Old Charriot, knows a lot about the West. They are currently heavily involved with the Forest Gnomes and Wood Elves of the Westwoods, as well as the Rock Gnome and Hill Dwarf Resistance in the Lowlands and Bolgen Hills.

Their yearlong route takes them all the way West to East across Talaveroth, from the Lowlands located on the Western Coast of the Continent, through the Westwoods (Edeleth's home), and the mighty Dawn river, all the way to the Nâr Barâk Mountains, and the Three Peaks. Florence and the rest of the Old Charriot all seem very excited to reach the final destination on their route.

"3 bloody months  on the road, brother! We always celebrate when we get to the 3 Peaks, 'cause we meet up with other Caravans during the Winter Carnival, stay there for a couple of weeks, rest, party, resupply, try and find all the goods that the Resistance in the West will pay good coin for, then back on the road for another 3 months, back to the Sea, and the Lowlands!"

"This is the 

Performance check: 21

"Then maybe we'll se you there brother!" Rosri replies with a grin. 

Zyman isn't feeling in the mood for frolicking, he has withdrawn into their cart, and spends the evening pretending to read. In actual fact, he's trying to reach out to his patron. In his mind, he calls forth:

"Is this the way your gift works? You let me live, only by having me destroy other life? You grant my wishes, but in some twisted and horrible way? I may deserve your punishment, but I can't see why you'd use me to destroy others, just to punish me?! What do you want from me?"

After dancing with the halflings for a while more, Edeleth breaks off and wanders around.  Most of those around the fire seem to be discussing an upcoming Winter Carnival, and he hesitates to break into their conversations.  All the while, he can feel the stare of the old woman. Yes, just like his grandmother.

Which means there is no avoiding her: one way or another, she will have her say.

Edeleth goes to stand before the table containing the crystal ball and tarot cards.  If this were a wood elf court or a druid's enclave, he would have known a hundred ways to start a conversation.  What does one say to a strange, intimidating halfling *****?  Ah, of course.

"Remarkable weather we are having lately," he says.  "Did the blizzard give your people much trouble?"

Roscoe finds himself dancing with a fellow halfling. Her hair burned like the sun and Roscoe felt like he was back with his tribe. Most of those in the tribe had shades of red in their hair. There were folk stories of how the sun god himself reached down and touched the matron of the tribe centuries ago. Her hair became bright red and that trait has been passed down through the tribe ever since. Family was important to Roscoe. He'd never really thought about where his life would head in the future, but it was in this moment that he knew he would one day want a family of his own. 

Knowing that the group travels quite extensively, Roscoe asks, "How long are you here?" He continues dancing and enjoying the music. The ale the halflings offered was also delicious and they kept offering him new full glasses when his became empty. I could get used to this, Roscoe thinks to himself.

The Dragonborn dagger seems to be quite recent....

Rosri's tale brings most of the Gypsies around the bonfire, listening with passion. Florence and a few other Family members  actually sheds a few tears at the mention of the slaughter of Oakfields...

"Brother, no matter how many times I've witnessed the horrors of War, I will never get used to it...you and yer friends are good people, and these Villagers are lucky to have ye'...Stay the night with us, get some rest, and we'll all head out to the City together tomorrow mornin'. The Old Charriot Will always welcome ye with open arms, and will spread the words of yer good deeds to the Family. Ye're one of us now."

He hands Rosri a peculiar looking silver coin, with a wagon carved on it.

"If ye ever bump into another Faction, just show them this..."

Meanwhile, Roscoe finds himself alone with Gilda, one of the most beautiful and exotic Halfling woman he's ever laid his eyes on. Her tattered dress floats gracefully as she dances with him, smiling and staring longingly at the muscular and wild Barbarian (Roscoe is definitely stronger and beefier than most "regular" Halflings). "We will be there long enough..." She grabs Roscoe's hands, and stealthily drags him to her tent while the rest of the Caravan listens to Rosri's story...

As Edeleth finally musters the courage to approach the old Gypsie lady, she stares at him with her inquisitive glass eye...

"You are far from home, young Treesong druid..."

Her gold tooth shines as she speaks to him. She shuffles her Tarot cards, and lays them face down in front of him

"You seek adventure, and a way to make your own mark in your family's long History...a noble pursuit, but much Evil shall you face before that day comes...draw a card, and let us take a look at what Fortune the Gods have in stock for you..."

Edeleth may roll 2d10 separately (without adding the results)

Zyman struggles to make sense of all that has happened, seeking answers, and the voice in his head speaks to him once more..."Death is only the beginning...from Shadows we came, and from Shadows we shall all return...burden yourself not with the troubles of Mortals, they will only hold you back..."

As the night falls, and the 3 Moons of Talaveroth rise above the Horizon, everyone starts to feel a great deal of fatigue, due to traveling, food and wine...soon enough, slumber claims the entire Camp, except for Edeleth and the old Fortune Teller. Also, giggles can be heard coming from Gilda's tent...

Hesitantly, Edeleth draws a card from the deck and lays it face up on the table, for some reason feeling the need to speak. "I don't really seek adventure, I've just been given a task to complete. Then I can return to where I belong." And he really didn't want to disappoint High Druid Talos and the King the way he had disappointed his family. He felt a wave of homesickness for the Sacred Grove, where there was peace and tranquility and he could avoid talking to anyone but the High Druid and the wild animals for weeks at a time.

4

4

"Thank you Florance, I'll keep that in mind." He thanks Florance and goes off to bed. 

After finding an open space to raise his tent, he donns his night cap of sweet dreams and take out his copy of "The Giant Gnome of the Three Peaks" and after half an hour of reading he drift off to sleep with the book on his chest and a big smile on his face. 

Roscoe's trip away from home is proving to be much more interesting than he had expected. Family had always been an important aspect to his life and Gilda made him feel quite the special connection. His first taste of what love truly means confused and excited the halfling.

Quote from Astalda >>

Hesitantly, Edeleth draws a card from the deck and lays it face up on the table, for some reason feeling the need to speak. "I don't really seek adventure, I've just been given a task to complete. Then I can return to where I belong." And he really didn't want to disappoint High Druid Talos and the King the way he had disappointed his family. He felt a wave of homesickness for the Sacred Grove, where there was peace and tranquility and he could avoid talking to anyone but the High Druid and the wild animals for weeks at a time.

5

9

 Edeleth flips the first card over. The old Fortune teller smiles.

"Ah, the Coin! It seems like the Gods do favor you after all, young Elf. A great treasure awaits you somewhere! Let's see where it might be..."

Edeleth flips the second card.

"The Palm Tree...hmmm...most likely, this treasure is on an Island...which Island, that remains to be seen...."

OOC I actually made a Fortune chart for you to roll on (similar to the one in Curse of Strand)...your Fate could have been a LOT darker...

"A great treasure would be useful," says Edeleth, feeling strangely relieved that his fortune is so benign. "Or even a small one. Thank you very much for your foresight, madam...er..." He asks the old fortuneteller what her name is.

Edeleth feels he ought to offer something in return, but has little he can spare.  He takes the cup from his mess kit and scrapes up thawed dirt from near the great fire until the cup is full, and presses a bean down into the dirt.  Returning to the table, he chants softly over the little pot.  Releasing the High Druid's spells on the Naranda tree cutting revealed new secrets of Druidcraft to Edeleth, and after several minutes of spellwork, a small flowering plant is growing out of the cup. He wishes it could have been something more decorative, but he only has beans and moonseed seeds in his component pouch, and a blossoming bean seems more symbolically appropriate than a poisonous clinging vine.

"It is hard to go for months without the sight of a green plant," he says. "Perhaps you can keep this in your caravan as a small reminder of the coming spring. Since we are all going to Three Peaks, I suppose we will be traveling together tomorrow.  If you need any animals talked to, or mending or healing done, please don't hesitate to ask."

He looks for a sheltered place near the fire. As he settles down to rest, he reflects that the fortuneteller was not nearly as scary as his grandmother after all, and reminds himself that, just because somebody owns a crystal ball and a deck of cards, it does not mean they can really predict the future.

All the same, he considers pleasant ways of spending a great treasure as he drifts into his trance.

The night goes by peacefully, without any nasty surprises. As you all wake up in the morning, most of the Caravan are already awake, and packing up.  

"Alright, brothers and sisters of the old Charriot, lets roll! To the City of the Three Peaks, and the Winter Carnival!"

The Gypsies all cheer loudly, and the music band starts playing, standing on top of one of the moving wagons, with fiddles, trumpets, Tubas, guitars and drums

Edeleth rides on the wagon.  After a peaceful night among the halflings, he feels a little ashamed of his previous fears. And he enjoys the wild ***** music, knowing that all too soon he will be back to Dwarven drinking songs. He wishes he had put more effort into his music lessons as a child, and could learn these wild and free tunes and take them with him.

Before they get back to the Hanging Chicken, he and his companions will need to privately discuss Shorgregg's legacy, and exactly how much of it Gavin is going to see.  If some of them were planning to hold back, let's say a 'finder's fee,' it would be better if everyone knew exactly what was going on to avoid any awkwardness and confusion.  Edeleth's intention to hand over his full share was not entirely altruistic. Considering the traveling weather, he really ought to postpone his mission and spend the winter in Three Peaks. And a grateful innkeeper would be far less likely to throw him out into the street when he couldn't pay for his room and board.

Rosri wake up the next morning with a smile on his face. He’d had the most wonderful dream. And with a happy face he quickly started to pack his belongings. Once everything was done he went over to the horses and hitched Butterscotch to the team. Today he’d be riding in the wagon since there was little need for him to scout ahead with the Family around. 

As he climbed in to the wagon he saw Edeleth already sitting there and pondering something. “Good mornin’ Mr.Edeleth” he said but as Edeleth didn’t seem to notice him he added “Penny for your thoughts?”

Grunda awoke feeling refreshed and well fed. She took her place in the wagon with characteristic quietness, but her expression seemed much softened.

as Grunda makes her way in the wagon, Rosri stiffens. He still hasn’t made any attempt to get to know the giantess, however after seeing yesterday playing with the halflings kids, maybe and just maybe, she isn’t so bad after all. 

“Ehmm.. hi?” Rosri gets out with a squeaking voice. “H-how was you night m-miss Grunda?”   

"Good morning, Grunda, Rosri," says Edeleth. "I must say, it has been an amazing experience, meeting your Family, Rosri." Actually, the last few days have been full of amazing experiences, he realizes. Maybe it was a good thing to get our of the Sacred Grove now and then.  For just a little while.

"Er...speaking of family," says Edeleth. "You still have that letter Shorgregg Mc Kullick wrote, don't you? The very last word Gavin will ever hear from his father?  We really ought to make sure Gavin receives that.  Along with "--he clears his throat meaningfully-- "at least SOME of what was left to him."

"You and Roscoe found the chest, and it should probably be up to the two of you to bring him the news," Edeleth adds, handing over the hundred gold pieces Rosri had given him from the trove.

He doesn't see Roscoe.  No doubt he is still in the company of that red-haired young ***** who so fascinated him last night.