Variety stops someone, "Sorry... what's going on here?"
The townsperson turns to look at you, and only with direct face-to-face interaction are you able to see through the bundle of warm clothes to discern that it’s a younger human woman. She holds the hand of a much smaller bundle of clothes, presumably a young child.
The lady looks you up and down, gaze obviously lingering in your horns. Her eyes are wary but she answers you confidently enough:
“You must be new here. Sorry you ended up in this miserable end of the world, but it’s no secret that we’re suffering from some sort of curse. What you just saw was the Lottery. The winner gets sent out into the snows at midnight, to go meet Auril and plead our case to her. Happens every new moon. Pray you don’t live here long enough to get your name on the books...”
The lady shrugs. “Who knows, maybe we’d already be frozen solid if we didn’t appease her.”
the street is still thick with people moving back to their homes, and you are overheard. A wrinkled old fellow who smells of fish says “Bah!” He hocks and spits on the ground nearby. It hits the icy cobblestone street with a crack — frozen. “Other towns don’t sacrifice people, an’ they’re no better or worse off than we are! The devil lady’s got a point!”
Seeing what just happened, Nazcan mumbles under his breath "I don't know what's worse, the sacrifices to a frostmaiden, or the sacrifices to Tiamat back home." He accidentally overhears the conversation between the horned woman, and the two elderly, he joins in "Quite an odd way to gamble, let's all prey none of us be next." He turns down to the horned woman "So, your not from here either, are you?"
"******* idiots," grunts Karl in Primordial. He glances to the other traveller, the mysterious man who also seemed to be new in town.
"I know it's their way, but it's a strange superstition. I haven't known of a cruel overlord that was ever satisfied with just one sacrifice. Pity about that man, but he knew the rules. Should have left."
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
Another medical problem. Indefinite hiatus. Sorry, all.
Auraani stands in shock, not quite sure what she really just saw. She turns to the innkeeper she walked here with and stammers, " Wait... What's going to happen to that poor man? He said he had family!" She was no stranger to such customs, her people had banished and even executed other races that had trespassed on their land, but that seemed different that doing it to one of your own without commiting some sort of crime.
”You can see for yourself tonight at midnight. Come, let’s see about your leg in the meantime. There’s a good cleric in Bryn Shander, and a druid in Easthaven, but we don’t have a proper healer here in Targos. You‘ll have to make do with a friend of mine, Colladee Persimmon. She’s real good with herbs and poultices and the like.”
”Come on,” he says, gesturing for you to follow him down the street. “I’ll walk you there, but then I need to get back and re-open the inn.”
“I’m Owenn Tarsenel, by the way,” he says to Auraani. “I’ve seen enough adventurers over the years to know I’d better not ask what happened to you. But come on back to The Luskan Arms and we’ll get you set up with a room.”
"But what's the point if it doesnt effect anything?" Variety asks.
Nazcan sighs "It's just their belief, where I come from, non-draconic races are sacrificed to Tiamat, others to the great Bahamat. It didn't matter who they were, they were gone before they knew it."
Matthias stands quiet and grim as the lottery takes place. The thought of a person being sacrificed to some cruel entity hits disturbingly close to home. There is a very small part of him that has an urge to intervene. But a much larger part--the one concerned with self-preservation and maintaining a low profile--wins the day easily. He looks away from the scene as the genasi speaks.
"A cruel fate, no doubt," he says.
As the crowd breaks up, he looks more carefully at the other man, noting something unusual about his features. He also can't place the tongue the man muttered in before speaking directly in common.
"So," he asks the genasi, "what brings you to this gods-forsaken winter wasteland?"
The dusky genasi considers the question for a moment. His expression slips deeper into what seems like a scowl before he breaks it with a sigh.
"Damned good question. I'm something of an amateur blacksmith. Doing a bit of trading to try and get started. Wine and spices mostly, to treat foul moods and fouler foods."
His gaze breaks away from Matthias, regarding the miserable onlookers around them for a moment. As his attention returns, he extends his hand.
"Name is Karl Brenner, if one would be polite."
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
Another medical problem. Indefinite hiatus. Sorry, all.
Ssej notices the newcomers starting to gather together and decides against returning directly to the Inn. he hangs around a bit keeping an eye on them and wonders what their intentions are. Not necessarily hiding his actions but not being overt about it either. Just leaning against a wall picking some fish scales out from under his claws and listening to the conversations.
Matthias extends his hand. "Well met, Karl Brenner," he replies, shaking his hand. Karl can't help but notice that while Matthias seems to be trying, his grip is very weak. "My name's Matthias Blackwell, though I'd request you not share that information with strangers..." His voice trails off and he shakes his head, a bemused smile coming to his lips. "Like I just did, I suppose." He shakes his head.
"I came north because, well, I was simply drawn here," he continues, his voice sounding a little different, a little more distant. "Something deep inside me just compelled me to do it. And I needed a little time away from home at any rate."
He looks around and notices a few people lingering, talking about what just happened. "Perhaps we should see what those folks thought of that very strange ritual, eh?"
Nazcan & Variety: a small bundled person, like a child, approaches the pair of you and tugs at your clothes to get your attention. Its face is lost in a deep hood. A scratchy voice is heard, though:
"You, big white dragon-thing, and you, devil-lady, come with me. My missstress want to meet you."
Nazcan, you in particular are able to identify something reptilian in the voice.
~~~
Matthias and Karl: As you stand chatting in the street, a small bundled person, like a child, approaches the pair of you and tugs at your clothes to get your attention. Its face is lost in a deep hood. A scratchy voice is heard, though:
"You two, outsssiders. My missstress been watching you. She want to meet you. Come with me."
~~~
Ssej: As you observe the eddy and flow of the crowds dispersing from the streets, you feel a tap at your shoulder. Turning, you see a cloaked figure as tall as you are, but not as robust. The face is lost in the shadows of a deep hood, and the figure seems to be swaying slightly, as if a little unsteady on its feet. Drunk? It speaks with a reptilian lisp that is strangely familiar to you:
"You, big lizzzard guy, my missstress watches you, she wanna meet you. Come with me."
Ssej whirls around and grabs the creature by its shoulders and attempts to pin it against the wall, "Who are you and who is thiss misstressss? How long hass sshe been 'watching' me?" Ssej hisses at the creature.
Auraani: Owent Tarsenel drops you off at Colladee’s, and the herbalist does a respectable job of inspecting your wound, cleaning it, and applying an herb-infused bandage. “Leave it on until tomorrow,” she says curtly. She refuses payment.
Variety stops someone, "Sorry... what's going on here?"
Elra Skylash - Human Cleric | Vanzaren Tanidoni - Half Elf Wizard
Mindartis Liadon - Eladrin Barbarian | Naivara Siannodel - Half Elf Ranger
Arrila Evenwood - Half Elf Paladin | Callaphe of Setessa - Human Rogue
Katernin Nemetsk - Aasimar Cleric | Melody - Tiefling Bard
The townsperson turns to look at you, and only with direct face-to-face interaction are you able to see through the bundle of warm clothes to discern that it’s a younger human woman. She holds the hand of a much smaller bundle of clothes, presumably a young child.
The lady looks you up and down, gaze obviously lingering in your horns. Her eyes are wary but she answers you confidently enough:
“You must be new here. Sorry you ended up in this miserable end of the world, but it’s no secret that we’re suffering from some sort of curse. What you just saw was the Lottery. The winner gets sent out into the snows at midnight, to go meet Auril and plead our case to her. Happens every new moon. Pray you don’t live here long enough to get your name on the books...”
"I mean..." she looks around. "That doesnt seem to be working..."
Elra Skylash - Human Cleric | Vanzaren Tanidoni - Half Elf Wizard
Mindartis Liadon - Eladrin Barbarian | Naivara Siannodel - Half Elf Ranger
Arrila Evenwood - Half Elf Paladin | Callaphe of Setessa - Human Rogue
Katernin Nemetsk - Aasimar Cleric | Melody - Tiefling Bard
The lady shrugs. “Who knows, maybe we’d already be frozen solid if we didn’t appease her.”
the street is still thick with people moving back to their homes, and you are overheard. A wrinkled old fellow who smells of fish says “Bah!” He hocks and spits on the ground nearby. It hits the icy cobblestone street with a crack — frozen. “Other towns don’t sacrifice people, an’ they’re no better or worse off than we are! The devil lady’s got a point!”
Seeing what just happened, Nazcan mumbles under his breath "I don't know what's worse, the sacrifices to a frostmaiden, or the sacrifices to Tiamat back home." He accidentally overhears the conversation between the horned woman, and the two elderly, he joins in "Quite an odd way to gamble, let's all prey none of us be next." He turns down to the horned woman "So, your not from here either, are you?"
"Hmm?" Variety turns to the Dragonborn. "No, not at all. I'm on a personal research expedition."
Elra Skylash - Human Cleric | Vanzaren Tanidoni - Half Elf Wizard
Mindartis Liadon - Eladrin Barbarian | Naivara Siannodel - Half Elf Ranger
Arrila Evenwood - Half Elf Paladin | Callaphe of Setessa - Human Rogue
Katernin Nemetsk - Aasimar Cleric | Melody - Tiefling Bard
"******* idiots," grunts Karl in Primordial. He glances to the other traveller, the mysterious man who also seemed to be new in town.
"I know it's their way, but it's a strange superstition. I haven't known of a cruel overlord that was ever satisfied with just one sacrifice. Pity about that man, but he knew the rules. Should have left."
Another medical problem. Indefinite hiatus. Sorry, all.
"But what's the point if it doesnt effect anything?" Variety asks.
Elra Skylash - Human Cleric | Vanzaren Tanidoni - Half Elf Wizard
Mindartis Liadon - Eladrin Barbarian | Naivara Siannodel - Half Elf Ranger
Arrila Evenwood - Half Elf Paladin | Callaphe of Setessa - Human Rogue
Katernin Nemetsk - Aasimar Cleric | Melody - Tiefling Bard
Auraani stands in shock, not quite sure what she really just saw. She turns to the innkeeper she walked here with and stammers, " Wait... What's going to happen to that poor man? He said he had family!" She was no stranger to such customs, her people had banished and even executed other races that had trespassed on their land, but that seemed different that doing it to one of your own without commiting some sort of crime.
The innkeeper sighs and says,
”You can see for yourself tonight at midnight. Come, let’s see about your leg in the meantime. There’s a good cleric in Bryn Shander, and a druid in Easthaven, but we don’t have a proper healer here in Targos. You‘ll have to make do with a friend of mine, Colladee Persimmon. She’s real good with herbs and poultices and the like.”
”Come on,” he says, gesturing for you to follow him down the street. “I’ll walk you there, but then I need to get back and re-open the inn.”
“I’m Owenn Tarsenel, by the way,” he says to Auraani. “I’ve seen enough adventurers over the years to know I’d better not ask what happened to you. But come on back to The Luskan Arms and we’ll get you set up with a room.”
Nazcan sighs "It's just their belief, where I come from, non-draconic races are sacrificed to Tiamat, others to the great Bahamat. It didn't matter who they were, they were gone before they knew it."
Matthias stands quiet and grim as the lottery takes place. The thought of a person being sacrificed to some cruel entity hits disturbingly close to home. There is a very small part of him that has an urge to intervene. But a much larger part--the one concerned with self-preservation and maintaining a low profile--wins the day easily. He looks away from the scene as the genasi speaks.
"A cruel fate, no doubt," he says.
As the crowd breaks up, he looks more carefully at the other man, noting something unusual about his features. He also can't place the tongue the man muttered in before speaking directly in common.
"So," he asks the genasi, "what brings you to this gods-forsaken winter wasteland?"
The dusky genasi considers the question for a moment. His expression slips deeper into what seems like a scowl before he breaks it with a sigh.
"Damned good question. I'm something of an amateur blacksmith. Doing a bit of trading to try and get started. Wine and spices mostly, to treat foul moods and fouler foods."
His gaze breaks away from Matthias, regarding the miserable onlookers around them for a moment. As his attention returns, he extends his hand.
"Name is Karl Brenner, if one would be polite."
Another medical problem. Indefinite hiatus. Sorry, all.
Ssej notices the newcomers starting to gather together and decides against returning directly to the Inn. he hangs around a bit keeping an eye on them and wonders what their intentions are. Not necessarily hiding his actions but not being overt about it either. Just leaning against a wall picking some fish scales out from under his claws and listening to the conversations.
Matthias extends his hand. "Well met, Karl Brenner," he replies, shaking his hand. Karl can't help but notice that while Matthias seems to be trying, his grip is very weak. "My name's Matthias Blackwell, though I'd request you not share that information with strangers..." His voice trails off and he shakes his head, a bemused smile coming to his lips. "Like I just did, I suppose." He shakes his head.
"I came north because, well, I was simply drawn here," he continues, his voice sounding a little different, a little more distant. "Something deep inside me just compelled me to do it. And I needed a little time away from home at any rate."
He looks around and notices a few people lingering, talking about what just happened. "Perhaps we should see what those folks thought of that very strange ritual, eh?"
Nazcan & Variety: a small bundled person, like a child, approaches the pair of you and tugs at your clothes to get your attention. Its face is lost in a deep hood. A scratchy voice is heard, though:
"You, big white dragon-thing, and you, devil-lady, come with me. My missstress want to meet you."
Nazcan, you in particular are able to identify something reptilian in the voice.
~~~
Matthias and Karl: As you stand chatting in the street, a small bundled person, like a child, approaches the pair of you and tugs at your clothes to get your attention. Its face is lost in a deep hood. A scratchy voice is heard, though:
"You two, outsssiders. My missstress been watching you. She want to meet you. Come with me."
~~~
Ssej: As you observe the eddy and flow of the crowds dispersing from the streets, you feel a tap at your shoulder. Turning, you see a cloaked figure as tall as you are, but not as robust. The face is lost in the shadows of a deep hood, and the figure seems to be swaying slightly, as if a little unsteady on its feet. Drunk? It speaks with a reptilian lisp that is strangely familiar to you:
"You, big lizzzard guy, my missstress watches you, she wanna meet you. Come with me."
Ssej whirls around and grabs the creature by its shoulders and attempts to pin it against the wall, "Who are you and who is thiss misstressss? How long hass sshe been 'watching' me?" Ssej hisses at the creature.
Auraani: Owent Tarsenel drops you off at Colladee’s, and the herbalist does a respectable job of inspecting your wound, cleaning it, and applying an herb-infused bandage. “Leave it on until tomorrow,” she says curtly. She refuses payment.
Variety looks down at the person, "Pardon? This a bit abrupt isn't it?"
Elra Skylash - Human Cleric | Vanzaren Tanidoni - Half Elf Wizard
Mindartis Liadon - Eladrin Barbarian | Naivara Siannodel - Half Elf Ranger
Arrila Evenwood - Half Elf Paladin | Callaphe of Setessa - Human Rogue
Katernin Nemetsk - Aasimar Cleric | Melody - Tiefling Bard