Powder Swamp:

Leshanna & Yaw:  Rattles notices Yaw step out from the woods.  "Oh, thank goodness, someone who can listen to reason.  Please, save me, if not out of good graces, then I do have something I can offer you!"

Road to Corvidae:

Pito:  Verdue says.  "Yes, that sounds brilliant, I do like the sound of that, we should definately give it back, I don't know if we should go to such great lengths, but we can't be idle.  Is it foolproof, well...what if...what if they don't know it's been stolen yet.  This person could have been wandering the woods for days, and remember, we got the news of this things existence just a few hours ago!  We can't say it's been stolen, how would we know!"

Macgullickson's:

Orina:  "Oh, you speak hareish quite fluently, I'm impressed." He says.  He squeaks something back to you "If that's the case, my friends can put in a good word for me, I'm not stealing all these carrots just for myself you know."  With your insight, this hare generally seems to beleive that he is merely somewhat abnormal.  He seems to be telling the truth, and he is genuinely curious about the questions you're asking him, as well as causing him a bit of an existential crisis.

Jogs and Orina:  "Well" he says "I come from a nest of a rabbits just in the woods nearby, I do consider them my family, since I help them.  However, I don't have any relation to them.  How I got there, I don't know..."  He closes his eyes, thinking deeply.  "The earliest thing I remember...was the night sky...a star...and then...well then I just was, but I don't recall any parents or childhood...just that star in the sky."

You leash up Hainsly "I suppose this is a good precaution.  You could try knock me out if I try, I've taken quite a few hard blows before, but I always end up alright."

Greenport - Lush Mountains:

Noldeme:  "Firstly, I am not your patron, and second, I will talk to you as I wish, animal.  However, I will answer questions that your patron has neglected to answer for the time being, so I'll just pretend like you were actually listening and answer them that way.  The person who was talking in your head before is the old god, well goddess really, of protection, Helm.  She, and I too be honest, as well as I, are put in a place out of reach, a place that resides deep in a plane of collective will and mind known as THE ZEITGEIST.  What she is doing inside your head is channeling her voice through the mental plane through some ancient connection to you, pushing you toward some unknown goal, which, as I explained, is most likely to ressurect herself.  What I AM doing in your head is warning you, of this fact, because, like a pawn at the end of a chessboard, if she comes back through you, then you will be no more.  I don't want her coming back, and I imagine you don't want to be manipulated into doing such a thing, therefore, we have the chance for mutual benefits.  Also, you are protecting my druid, so it is the least I can do to repay that,  that is why I have no reason to be dishonest."

Rafon's Run Settlement:

Ulrich:  "Not zombies, wretches, there is a Rutterkin exuding corrupting influence.  If it kills you, you will turn.  I hope the people are safe."  You look around, but it seems the enitirey of the mansion is fenced in, surrounded by that moat.  The sending spell is waiting for your response.   In the back yard, you see that there is a well that is spewing out the horrid substance with a horrid bubbling and gurgling, and it's starting to flow over the fence from this side.

OOC:

Shaylic:  Yup, make some stats and put your starting town, and I can get you started.  Read up on where some of the other players are if you want to meet up with them later, but there is sure to be adventure wherever you go.

14Swamp near Blackport.

"Good day."  Leshanna says with a nod of her head.  "This one is wanted in Black port for questioning." She informs the newcomer.  "I am Leshanna, a Bounty Hunter."  She nods to Rattle.  "I was hired to track this one down and bring him back to Blackport."  Her voice is emotionless and logical in her response.

Leshanna is a black-haired elf wearing studded leather armor, a cloak, and britches, all black in color. She has two short swords sheathed at her waist.

"If you wish to travel with us, you may do so, though I fear this one's constant speaking may bring danger in on us in short order." Again her words are not at all trying to influence, but just stating facts.

Powder Swamp - Leshanna & Yaw:

Yaw: My gaze passes back and forth between the two, a rather disheveled looking man and a raven haired, stony looking elf. 

"Yaw.... My name is Yaw..." My deep voice feels strange in my throat. Its been a while since I had someone to talk to.

"Hello, Leshanna. And what is your name, Sir? You have something for me, do you? Your keeper seems to believe you are worth something. Blackport is a wretched town, full of clinking and clanging and the yelling! There is no rhythm in it but there is strength in numbers and if we are to survive the trek out of this swamp, strength we'll need plenty." Regarding each of them in turn. "I will join you for a time."

As we walk through the swamp, you notice that the water sticks to me more readily than one would expect, as if I'm always covered in a thin layer of dew. A drip of water rolls off the tip of the rapier on my hip. Even the lute strapped to my back seems damp.

Pito - Road to Corvidae

"Well, we could always take the body and the opera into Corvidae, tell the truth, and hope for the best.  Sounds better than doing nothing and hoping for the best.  So whatever we do, we should do it quickly." Pito shrugs.

Noldeme hears the voice carefully, and although the feminine voice presented a good point, the Aasimar couldn't be too sure, so she tries to read on her intentions.

Insight Check: 7

Regardless of what she gathers from the voice, she responds. "Are you for real? That's hard to take in all at once... So, what about this weapon? It's extremely powerful... What should I do with it?" (That was assuming that her 7 Insight check wouldn't give her important information to disprove the new voice's claims.)

Zacharias smiles at the dragonborn. "Thank you," he says, entering. "I'm Zacharias."

Rafon's Run Settlement

"Thank you for the information." 

Ulrich turns to the others. "Wretches. If they kill us, we turn into them. We have to find a way inside. I'm half tempted to just yell and see if anyone responds. I am suprised no one has come out from the sounds of the battle." 

He thinks for a second, then reaches for his crossbow. 

Do either of you have paper and ink? We can try to shoot a message inside."

Orina and Jogs | Outer Corvidae - Macgullickson Field:

"I think he's really telling the truth," Orina whispers to Jogs as they begin to make their way back to the farm.  "He really thinks he's just a hare.  I think we're kind of scaring him, even.  Well, not scaring him, really... more like... making him think more like a humanoid than an animal, and it's confusing him. It seems more like he's some kind of entity that got transformed into the body of a hare somehow."

To Hainsly, she says "Well, I grew up in a forest, it's only natural I can speak a little forest, I guess.  But you know... hares, or at least the hares I know, are usually loners.  At best, they might have a boyfriend, girlfriend, husband or wife, or maybe even some kids for a little while... but that's it.  Rabbits, on the other hand... real herd thinking there, you know?  You couldn't separate them if you tried!  Always lumped up together, big on community, family, living together with seven generations..."  She thinks for a moment.  "So maybe you were drawn to the rabbits because you were lonely?  You're not a normal hare, after all... you wouldn't be hanging around helping out other rabbits if you were, you'd just be stealing their food and calling them foolish.  Maybe it's for the best that you're coming with us... you might find someone who can tell you more about who you are, and help you connect with other people!"

Orina's trying to persuade him to not only come willingly, but also actively reject his hare tendencies and act more humanoid.  With advantage because of Speech of Beast and Leaf:
Persuasion: 16

Hey thought I'd throw my lot in if you're up for another player.

Name: Saribel
Race: Drow
Class: Fighter
Ability scores: 12 17 14 13 8 17
Background: Noble
Backstory: 

Personality: Saribel is brash with an ego. Always the first to volunteer, always always up for a challenge. There isnt' much she'll back down from (unless it's particularly magicly inclined). She pushes herself to her limits any chance she gets, often taking on partners and enemies above her level. She likes to believe that she's an incredibly skilled fighter (and for the most part she is) and that few can beat her. And if they can, well it gives her something to work towards, but they have prove they can beat her first. Or she won't believe it. Otherwise she tends to maintain an optimistic view happy to go new places and meet new people. It often makes her come off as a bit childish which she absolutely is. 

Starting Point: I was imagining her docking in Blueport.

Orina and Jogs | Outer Corvidae - Macgullickson Field:

This is all way outside Jogs' cognitive abilities.  She's been with Orina for at least two hours so now trusts her like a parent.  With Orina's consent and if the persuasion works, she would be in support of untying Hainsly and helping him sort out his 'life'.

[OOC: Dear DM, link at top now also goes to character sheet]

Rafon's Run Settlement:

Ulrich:  John scoffs"Why would anyone take, paper, and ink, on a mission? For what, writing prose in the heat of combat?" 

Dula pulls out ink and paper, shooting john a dirty look  "Here, this should suffice, don't use too much of it."

John says.  "Oh, well, I mean, I guess a little doesn't hurt." before closing his helmets visor to hide his embarassment "Right then, go on and...write then."

Powder Swamp:

Yaw and Leshanna:  "It's really hopeless, then, oh, the world really has it out for me why must I-"  you yank him by his rope as you continue walking, and he shuts up for a moment.  You reach the city without much trouble, perhaps Rattles was too bothersome for them too, as most things that appeared were quick to flee.  

Road to Corvidae:

Pito:  "I...I suppose." says Verdue, scratching his chin.  "But, then again, the body might be hard to explain, but...that is the right thing to do, I suppose...but something still doesn't seem right here, I just can't put my finger on it."  Bush #1 is inspecting the body throughly by poking at it with a branch. "Yup, seems pretty dead, but not long"

"Whatever the case, I don't want to end up in jail while without getting a chance to perform." Says Verdue.  "But honestly soon should we need to return it, anyway after all, I'm not giving it up without reading it first.  Which reminds me..."  He flips open to the first page.  "This is a chance none get, after all.  Pito, I'll stick by your decision, whatever it may be, but give me, I mean, us, a chance to read this at least, for my sake...

On the other hand...I would actually like to make copies of it, after all, who knows how long Corvidae has had this locked up in a vault somewhere, there's no telling they won't keep it that way.  I would be quite famous, plus, only a handful of bard colleges know about the fact Corvidae had it, I could sell the copies, then give it away...I could open my own theatre- I mean, we could, do whatever we wanted, really.  A foolish idea, but...plausible, if we were discrete about it. Nay, forget it, I'm being foolish, let's head to Corvidae, it'll be dark soon."

  Macgullickson's

Orina and Jogs:  "Well...yes, that, that does sound quite nice, actually.  I never really thought about it that way.  But...I don't know, there's something wrong about all this, I don't really know why, but, it just seems like I HAVE to do these things, even though I WANT what your offering.  But, other thann that feeling, I don't suppose there's anything really stopping me, so, why not?  Where do you suppose we should go first, I'm sure there's lots of things I haven't seen."

Lush Mountain:

Noldeme:  "Real is a very flexible term, dear, but to put it in a way you can understand, yes, I'm Real.  Do whatever you want with the fragment.  Use it, sell it, throw it away; You are now linked to it, even if you don't directly follow your patrons directions, it's entirely possible that you will become more integrated through a chance encounter, seeing something, meeting someone, standing in a familiar place, will evoke memories from the fragment, further displacing your being, but actively resisting it should hold it back.  I could tell you how to break the link but, well, in that case, I think something would be due from you in exchange."  There's nothing that would give any inditcation of honestly or dishonesty, but there's defintely something strange about their intentions.  "Then again, furthering the link would increase the power of the weapon, but we wouldn't want that, now would we?"

Blueport:

Saribel:  The light is harsh on your eyes as you climb out of the ship.  There is a cool sea breeze blowing, but the warmth of the sun compliments it perfectly.  The water of the port is a deep sapphire blue, while trees with deep red leaves grow about the city among smoothly carved buildings made from sandstone, limestone, and marble.  Your complexion almost sticks out like a soar thumb, but most people are wrapped in colorful fabrics, and the blue skin or scales aren't too uncommon either.  A place that's this nice on the surface surely has a good out of the way place to pick some fights.  And it seems the stories were true; In the distance, The Tower splits the horizon twain.  You heard was the massive tournament taking place at the capital city of Corvidae, but it'll take quite a bit to get there, since your travelling cash has just about run dry.  Unless you have something in mind, you'll need to ask around.

Orina and Jogs | Outer Corvidae - Macgullickson Field:

"Well, let's keep this leash on you then for the time being, just so that you'll have some help not giving in to your impulses," Orina tells Hainsly in a comforting tone.  "First, I think we should go back to the Macgullickson's, so you can give them a proper apology for the carrots you stole, and let them know you're getting out of their hair..."  Orina coughs.  "No pun intended.  And after that, maybe we can take you back to Rosebush... they might know someone who can help you learn impulse control!" 

Orina thinks about the stew they were served that night, and the meaty bits floating around in it.  Taken by a sudden bout of anxiety, she turns to Jogs and asks "Hey, do you think maybe Hainsly should wait outside with me while you talk to the Macgullickson's?  You know them better than me.  How do you think they'd react to him?"

Orina and Jogs | Outer Corvidae - Macgullickson Field:

Jogs waits until she hears commotion in the farmhouse, then knocks and explains to the family that the situation is under control thanks to the friendly neighborhood Rosebush. She gives a white lie and says that an aberrant stag was apprehended and taken care of. 
deception: 13

she’ll then head back to the Rosebush tent w Orina to see if Salmon and the dwarf might have any answers. 

Pito - Road to Corvidae

Pito looks at Verdue curiously. “Cart. Horse. But I see your point. Let’s read it on our way in.”

Pito gets the body up onto his horse and walks it into Corvidae.

Lush Mountain:

Noldeme hears what the voice has to say, her anger at her situation showing at her face. The moment she's told about this new deal to break the link, she replies with a deep discomfort. "Oh, good. I'm stuck in a pact with a voice in my head that wants to take my soul, and the only option to end that pact is to form a pact with the second voice inside my head. Pardon me, if I don't feel comfortable trusting in you, psychic people, a lot. What would you be asking of me?"

Blackport...

Leshanna continues marching Rattles back to the meeting spot.

"I am going to turn him in for the bounty." She informs Yaw.  "If you want to accompany me that is fine."  She moves right back to where she was suppose to meet up once she had retrieved Rattles.

Powder Swamp - Yaw:

I follow along, curious about this man who won't tell me his name and his elven captor. What could he have done to warrant such treatment? 

As we enter the city, I unstrap the lute from my back and begin to play. The tune does well to drown out the noise of the crowded streets. 

"Yes, I think I'll tag along", This situation could prove interesting.

"Help is outside. Look out if you can"  

Ulrich wraps the paper around the shaft of a bolt and ties it down. He circles around to the front of the house and picks a promising window. He aims so that the bolt will go up and lodge in the ceiling inside instead of straight on.

Attack: 8 Damage: 2

Saribel | Blueport

"Finally," she mutters stepping onto solid land and for the first time in weeks not feeling the surface roil beneath her feet. It almost feels strange and she gives a little jump just to make sure it really and truly is solid. When she's certain an ill-timed wave won't send her stomach heaving and that things are really really firm she strides from the docks into the town proper. The tower catches her eye in the distance and she does take a moment to shield her eyes from the bright sun (still so bright even though it's been some time since she'd left home) and look at it. The rumors of it's mysterious power had certainly captured a lot of attention, and she'd be lying if one of the many reasons she was here wasn't to check it out. But it also wasn't the most important reason she was here. (Okay it probably was, but it wasn't the most important to her.)

No, more importantly was this fighting tournament she had heard about only a couple weeks ago from one of the people on the ship. Now she just had to find where it was taking place. Corminy, Corvid, Cordima, something like that? What she really needed was a map, or some direction. 

Glancing around she keeps an eye out for a shop, a pub, or a friendly face she might be able to ask some questions to. 

Just making sure I haven't missed something ... You didn't post an update for Zacharias since my post #290, right?