"I believe WE'RE the only part of our crew left," Maas replied to Austin.
"...but it looks so warm," Juppo added without looking away. He was almost leaning forward, as though being drawn towards the flickering flames of the campfires.
While the party stood and observed from the trail, most were unaware of the presence of someone else. The entire party would have been oblivious, had Uthal not happened to catch the sound of breathing coming from among the rocky wall next to them.
On a very narrow ledge just above eye level with Uthal, was a tabaxi. With one claw it held to the rock face, while the other held a long pole arm, with a streamer just below the blade.
Had it not been for the fact that the tabaxi's gray-furred face and head were exposed, it would have been near impossible to identify the race of the figure, due to what looked like layer upon layer of heavy clothing, providing the creature warmth. While although the tabaxi wore no armor, the polearm was vaguely recognizable as one of those carried by the Right Hand's Chosen Men.
"It is warm indeed," she said in response to Juppo. "And inviting as well."
Austin rolls her eyes as she sees the Right Hand symbol. "Very doubtful of inviting is the right word for it." She mutters under her breath, but waits to see what the others do.
Uthal stares the tabaxi down but nods a bit. "Maas, Juppo, you two might as well go get warm by a fire. Some of us need to have a discussion with the Hand about their inability to catch wanted criminals."
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
Gronk in Bastion, Kingdom of Medrin Elixisysin Talaveroth (Team 2) Uthal in Lost Continent of Theviranne
Juppo appears to struggle for a moment between his desire for the warmth required for survival and his curiosity for what Uthal had been alluding to. Eventually Maas made the decision for him, guiding the halfling down the path, having been able to better take the hint, even if he wasn't entirely clued in to the situation.
The tabaxi watched to two continue on, from her perch, before turning back to Uthal. "Well, I'm listening. Though if you'd want to speak to the Hand directly, you'd have to follow your friends there."
The tabaxi leapt from her position on the ledge and landed seamlessly on the ground, moving into walking down the path, between the party and the pair of Juppo and Maas.
"You must have us mistaken with someone else. If one of my friends tried to kill you, you'd be dead."
Anearis watched the tabaxi perform his acrobatics with intent. The fact that the Right Hand was once again on there tail had become somewhat common place. It didn’t make it any less dangerous.
"Whether he was one of yours or not, it seems like your organization has been infiltrated. If you were oblivious of that, then we all have cause for concern." Anearis sighs, exasperated already of having to defend himself and his friends to these people once more. "You said we could speak to the Hand herself? Lady Harstrum is in the village?"
Ura sighs and shivers in the cold a bit. She opens her mouth to say something smart, and then remembers that she usually ends up making things worse. At least with members of any kind of policing organization. Sighing, she blows on her fingertips and watches the tabaxi intently, discreetly trying to read if this one is being honest about being a Hander or possibly one of Zelda's lackeys.
This post has potentially manipulated dice roll results.
"Currently, no. But she will be soon. However, I feel you may give too much credit to your own abilities of deduction." She said to Anearis, looking back over her shoulder.
5
8
As they walked two other tabaxi landed behind the party members. Similarly dressed in the sense that they were bundled in an extreme number of layers, though neither of the new two bore the weapon of the Right Hand's Chosen Men. They both had blades, but they were sheathed, and the two simply silently walked with the group bringing up the rear.
"Should you be correct that there is a traitor in our ranks, we shall deal with them. What evidence has pointed you towards that assessment though?"
Ura was unable to pick up any hints from the tabaxi. She bore the mark of the Right Hand, but that was the extent of it. All of the other 'Chosen Men' that the party had encountered rode horses and wore identical armor. At the same time, they all had their own flair and quirks about them as well. Nothing was present to truly lean Ura one way or the other.
Austin, who had never met any of these sorts before, frowns as the feline people fall in around them. She shrugs and walks along with the rest, not willing to put up a fight, and feeling too cold to really care at this point.
Current hasn't interacted with these creatures everywhere (and honestly has probably never seen a real-life cat either) but stifles her curiosity when Uthal mentions that their friends tried to kill the others. About to summon a tentacle to defend herself, Current is taken aback by the callousness by which the group seemed to move on from the topic. As Anearis mentions their leader by name, Current is further confused by the party's relationship with this group but resolves to ask when she is warmer. Relaxing only enough to step into line behind the others, Current silently summoned an invisible Tide and telepathically whispered, "Stay behind us and keep an eye on the two furry creatures behind us."
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“The mark of a successful DM is when you have caused more player deaths with doors than dragons, demons, or devils.”
Uthal takes a single glance at both of the newcomers before going back to focusing on the path ahead. "Let me see. The last time we encountered one of yours they packed us into a cart with a man who tried to kill his fellow guard and then us. Fortunately for us he was terrible at his job but I would say that you're group is either influenced or just horrendous judges of character."
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
Gronk in Bastion, Kingdom of Medrin Elixisysin Talaveroth (Team 2) Uthal in Lost Continent of Theviranne
Anearis already knew where this was going. They lacked physical evidence to back up his claim. He was starting to know this whole song and dance.
"I doubt anyone on this bloody continent would take the word of an outsider." Slightly annoyed, the elf began walking toward the town. "If you will excuse me, it is cold outside."
"Oh, you mean the Right Hand's people in general." Austin says out loud as she frowns. "I thought you had met more of these particular Right Hand people before, more of these... feline.. people." She tries to come out with a nice way of saying cat folk. She has dealt with the Right Hand's people before, but not sure if she has dealt with any such as these tabaxi before. (She was there for the ride in the jail wagon, and the attempt to assinate them by one of the guards.)
The tabaxi stayed quiet, listening to each party member as they spoke, and refraining from speaking herself, until after they had seemingly said they pieces.
She did no more than give a shifting glance at Anearis, in response to his potential outburst towards a complete stranger that had just invited them to share the warmth of her camp.
"Tabaxi is fine." She said towards Austin, picking up her uncertainty of an unoffesnive term.
Looking towards Uthal though, "Perhaps the lapse of judgement is in the one who allowed themselves to be transported by the failed assassin." There was a slight and short-lived smirk from the tabaxi, and although there was no other body-language or tonal shifts to indicate it, it was evident that the statement was meant as point of humor.
"If you were put in a cart by one of the Right Hand's Chosen Men, it was done so for good reason. What that reason might be, I can't say, for I was not the one to do so. However, I feel perhaps your resentment and judgement is better reserved for whatever organization the guards belonged to, rather than the Right Hand." Rather than leaving it there, she paused only for a moment to allow the words to be mulled over by the goliath, if he chose to do so. "Thoughts?"
By this time, the group had passed the wrecked hull of the Pequod, and neared the abandoned village. Sounds, mostly of voices, could be heard. During the walk, the two tabaxi in the rear never made a sound or gesture, but simply followed at the same speed.
"My thought is that you are passing on the blame because it is convenient for you to do so. Your organization was the one who wanted us transported, so therefore it is your responsibility to transport us. If you choose to pass that responsibility over to another group then it is your responsibility to ensure the reliability of that group. Therefore, the blame is on your colleges for their lack of vetting and for allowing themselves to not see an assassin, whom I'm sure it is their responsibility to apprehend, for the good of the kingdom and the safety of its people."
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Gronk in Bastion, Kingdom of Medrin Elixisysin Talaveroth (Team 2) Uthal in Lost Continent of Theviranne
"Hmmm." The tabaxi replied. "So if you were to purchase food from a vendor for your group here. And upon one of yours eating it, it turned out to be poisonous and the died. The death would not be the vendor's fault, but your own, for having been the one who wanted to feed your friends, and not having properly vetted the food?"
"I believe WE'RE the only part of our crew left," Maas replied to Austin.
"...but it looks so warm," Juppo added without looking away. He was almost leaning forward, as though being drawn towards the flickering flames of the campfires.
While the party stood and observed from the trail, most were unaware of the presence of someone else. The entire party would have been oblivious, had Uthal not happened to catch the sound of breathing coming from among the rocky wall next to them.
Uthal draws his hammer and turns to the sound.
Gronk in Bastion, Kingdom of Medrin Elixisys in Talaveroth (Team 2) Uthal in Lost Continent of Theviranne
On a very narrow ledge just above eye level with Uthal, was a tabaxi. With one claw it held to the rock face, while the other held a long pole arm, with a streamer just below the blade.
Had it not been for the fact that the tabaxi's gray-furred face and head were exposed, it would have been near impossible to identify the race of the figure, due to what looked like layer upon layer of heavy clothing, providing the creature warmth. While although the tabaxi wore no armor, the polearm was vaguely recognizable as one of those carried by the Right Hand's Chosen Men.
"It is warm indeed," she said in response to Juppo. "And inviting as well."
Austin rolls her eyes as she sees the Right Hand symbol. "Very doubtful of inviting is the right word for it." She mutters under her breath, but waits to see what the others do.
Uthal stares the tabaxi down but nods a bit. "Maas, Juppo, you two might as well go get warm by a fire. Some of us need to have a discussion with the Hand about their inability to catch wanted criminals."
Gronk in Bastion, Kingdom of Medrin Elixisys in Talaveroth (Team 2) Uthal in Lost Continent of Theviranne
Juppo appears to struggle for a moment between his desire for the warmth required for survival and his curiosity for what Uthal had been alluding to. Eventually Maas made the decision for him, guiding the halfling down the path, having been able to better take the hint, even if he wasn't entirely clued in to the situation.
The tabaxi watched to two continue on, from her perch, before turning back to Uthal. "Well, I'm listening. Though if you'd want to speak to the Hand directly, you'd have to follow your friends there."
Uthal shrugs once more. "I suppose that depends. Are you going to try and kill us like the last one of your friends we met did?"
Gronk in Bastion, Kingdom of Medrin Elixisys in Talaveroth (Team 2) Uthal in Lost Continent of Theviranne
The tabaxi leapt from her position on the ledge and landed seamlessly on the ground, moving into walking down the path, between the party and the pair of Juppo and Maas.
"You must have us mistaken with someone else. If one of my friends tried to kill you, you'd be dead."
Anearis watched the tabaxi perform his acrobatics with intent. The fact that the Right Hand was once again on there tail had become somewhat common place. It didn’t make it any less dangerous.
"Whether he was one of yours or not, it seems like your organization has been infiltrated. If you were oblivious of that, then we all have cause for concern." Anearis sighs, exasperated already of having to defend himself and his friends to these people once more. "You said we could speak to the Hand herself? Lady Harstrum is in the village?"
Ura sighs and shivers in the cold a bit. She opens her mouth to say something smart, and then remembers that she usually ends up making things worse. At least with members of any kind of policing organization. Sighing, she blows on her fingertips and watches the tabaxi intently, discreetly trying to read if this one is being honest about being a Hander or possibly one of Zelda's lackeys.
Insight: 7
"Currently, no. But she will be soon. However, I feel you may give too much credit to your own abilities of deduction." She said to Anearis, looking back over her shoulder.
5
8
As they walked two other tabaxi landed behind the party members. Similarly dressed in the sense that they were bundled in an extreme number of layers, though neither of the new two bore the weapon of the Right Hand's Chosen Men. They both had blades, but they were sheathed, and the two simply silently walked with the group bringing up the rear.
"Should you be correct that there is a traitor in our ranks, we shall deal with them. What evidence has pointed you towards that assessment though?"
Ura was unable to pick up any hints from the tabaxi. She bore the mark of the Right Hand, but that was the extent of it. All of the other 'Chosen Men' that the party had encountered rode horses and wore identical armor. At the same time, they all had their own flair and quirks about them as well. Nothing was present to truly lean Ura one way or the other.
Austin, who had never met any of these sorts before, frowns as the feline people fall in around them. She shrugs and walks along with the rest, not willing to put up a fight, and feeling too cold to really care at this point.
Current hasn't interacted with these creatures everywhere (and honestly has probably never seen a real-life cat either) but stifles her curiosity when Uthal mentions that their friends tried to kill the others. About to summon a tentacle to defend herself, Current is taken aback by the callousness by which the group seemed to move on from the topic. As Anearis mentions their leader by name, Current is further confused by the party's relationship with this group but resolves to ask when she is warmer. Relaxing only enough to step into line behind the others, Current silently summoned an invisible Tide and telepathically whispered, "Stay behind us and keep an eye on the two furry creatures behind us."
“The mark of a successful DM is when you have caused more player deaths with doors than dragons, demons, or devils.”
Uthal takes a single glance at both of the newcomers before going back to focusing on the path ahead. "Let me see. The last time we encountered one of yours they packed us into a cart with a man who tried to kill his fellow guard and then us. Fortunately for us he was terrible at his job but I would say that you're group is either influenced or just horrendous judges of character."
Gronk in Bastion, Kingdom of Medrin Elixisys in Talaveroth (Team 2) Uthal in Lost Continent of Theviranne
Anearis already knew where this was going. They lacked physical evidence to back up his claim. He was starting to know this whole song and dance.
"I doubt anyone on this bloody continent would take the word of an outsider." Slightly annoyed, the elf began walking toward the town. "If you will excuse me, it is cold outside."
"Oh, you mean the Right Hand's people in general." Austin says out loud as she frowns. "I thought you had met more of these particular Right Hand people before, more of these... feline.. people." She tries to come out with a nice way of saying cat folk. She has dealt with the Right Hand's people before, but not sure if she has dealt with any such as these tabaxi before. (She was there for the ride in the jail wagon, and the attempt to assinate them by one of the guards.)
The tabaxi stayed quiet, listening to each party member as they spoke, and refraining from speaking herself, until after they had seemingly said they pieces.
She did no more than give a shifting glance at Anearis, in response to his potential outburst towards a complete stranger that had just invited them to share the warmth of her camp.
"Tabaxi is fine." She said towards Austin, picking up her uncertainty of an unoffesnive term.
Looking towards Uthal though, "Perhaps the lapse of judgement is in the one who allowed themselves to be transported by the failed assassin." There was a slight and short-lived smirk from the tabaxi, and although there was no other body-language or tonal shifts to indicate it, it was evident that the statement was meant as point of humor.
"If you were put in a cart by one of the Right Hand's Chosen Men, it was done so for good reason. What that reason might be, I can't say, for I was not the one to do so. However, I feel perhaps your resentment and judgement is better reserved for whatever organization the guards belonged to, rather than the Right Hand." Rather than leaving it there, she paused only for a moment to allow the words to be mulled over by the goliath, if he chose to do so. "Thoughts?"
By this time, the group had passed the wrecked hull of the Pequod, and neared the abandoned village. Sounds, mostly of voices, could be heard. During the walk, the two tabaxi in the rear never made a sound or gesture, but simply followed at the same speed.
"My thought is that you are passing on the blame because it is convenient for you to do so. Your organization was the one who wanted us transported, so therefore it is your responsibility to transport us. If you choose to pass that responsibility over to another group then it is your responsibility to ensure the reliability of that group. Therefore, the blame is on your colleges for their lack of vetting and for allowing themselves to not see an assassin, whom I'm sure it is their responsibility to apprehend, for the good of the kingdom and the safety of its people."
Gronk in Bastion, Kingdom of Medrin Elixisys in Talaveroth (Team 2) Uthal in Lost Continent of Theviranne
"Hmmm." The tabaxi replied. "So if you were to purchase food from a vendor for your group here. And upon one of yours eating it, it turned out to be poisonous and the died. The death would not be the vendor's fault, but your own, for having been the one who wanted to feed your friends, and not having properly vetted the food?"
Uthal nods. "The blame would lie with both of us. The one who poisoned and myself for not using the gifts from the gods to save my friend."
Gronk in Bastion, Kingdom of Medrin Elixisys in Talaveroth (Team 2) Uthal in Lost Continent of Theviranne