"This little one speaks too." Ember is delighted at the talk in riddles and of living ghosts. "Who is your son? Did you see him this morning?"

Mark winces slightly as he calls Talon a "talking bird".

"I believe that may be what my friend is asking, yes.  We all woke up just several hours ago on this island, and none of us know where we are or why we're here.  We've found our equipment among a ship's wreckage, but that's about all we know at this point.  We're currently looking for information and fresh water.

You keep mentioning your son....are there others on the island?"

Big'Un will stand there quietly. Letting the others do the talking.

"AAaah! I didn't see you there, little ghost. Yes, the boy is resting, he had a rough night."

He turns back to Mark.

"Well of course you don't, that's how it does! How do you know it's YOUR equipment, hmm? Maybe it's MY equipment? You are on my beach.", he says, a touch grumpily.

His weathered old face splits into a grin, revealing his fewer than standard number of teeth. "But it's a big beach, so I'll share. And you can keep any of my equipment you found, like a gift, yes?"

"Good, good, don't drink the sea water, it'll make you sick."

"I'm sure there are... I think I've met them.", he leans in to whisper conspiratorially, "..or they might have not been real...", he adds with a wink.

"But if you're thirsty, you can come back to my place and meet my son. I guess if you just got here and don't know nothing about nothing, you don't know if you know him or if he knows you, cause you know nothing, right?"

"You just gotta promise that you're real, and that you'll be good guests.", he says sternly.

"We are real, as far as I'm aware.  As for being a good guest, I can only speak for myself, as I won't presume to speak for others.  If I am treated well, I will be a good guest.  Your hospitality will be greatly appreciated, as will any knowledge you'd be willing to share."

Mark nods at the old man, then turns to the group and shrugs.

"I'll accompany him, as he seems to be the best lead we've got for the moment.  If you wish to come along, I'd be happy for the continued company."

He peers at the rest of you dubiously.

Big'Un replies: "You'll have no trouble from me either."

He shuffles over and jabs Big Un lightly with his staff. "Real enough... I suppose."

Quote from Spiderwrangler >>

"Bird ghosts, duh."

He takes the feather and tucks it behind his ear, though.

"This morning? Maybe you do know my son. He just got here this morning too. Don't remember how I got here, guessing I washed up like the floaters, but I was real."

"Sunrises? I've seen a few worth remembering.", he turns back to Mark. "Is that your talking bird's way of asking how long I been here?" 

 "Rude!" Talon flies off, scouting ahead, but staying within cawing earshot in case something befalls him. "Bacaw!"

Perception d20: 4

Talon is so offended that he's not really paying much attention.

(Can Ember insight check him?)

Insight (no mod): 11 

Ember feels like she has a pretty good read on him. He's crazy, but at least currently, relatively harmless. If he says he'll take them safely to fresh water, she feels like he can be trusted to do so, as long as they hold up their end.

"I'm curious to meet his son. Maybe knows something more about who we are."  Ember moves to follow the man, but will keep an eye on him and the surrounding area in case something turns for the worse.

Blue will also try his hand at guessing his motivations.

Insight: 10

He pokes Ember to make sure she's real.

Blue isn't quite sure, the old guys tenuous grasp on things makes him hard to read.

"I am calling myself Mark.  What may we call you?"

"Ooo, Mark! That's a good name. You can call me Mark too."

Mark (Prime) sighs and shakes his head.  He mutters quietly to himself "This will be interesting, to say the least."

Looking back at the old man, he says "Well, lead on when you're ready."

"Hmmm, yes." Anyone else who's following, he'll inspect you to make sure you're real as well.

((Anyone staying behind? Talon rejoining, or staying aloft and following?))

He'll turn and start up the beach, occasionally stopping to plunge his staff into the sand and dig up a mussel or clam, dropping them into a small bag at his hip.

Eventually he leads you to away from the beach, up a trail along some craggy rocks that leads out onto a ledge.

"Anyone who is real, and a good guest, may enter. Bad guests and ghosts, STAY OUT!", he says, upon reaching a cave entrance with a woven door of branches and vines. He shifts it to the side and darts inside, leaving it open for you to follow.

As Mark approaches the cave entrance, he looks around to see what he can discern about the area before entering.

Perception: 10