You (Zanashi) have been traveling through the eastern foothills of the Talion Ridge, a long range of N/S mountains with only a few passes between. After a week of hard travel, you have at last come to a pass - a smooth valley cut millennia ago by the inexorable blades of the Torak glacier, now long receded into the distant north. The Ronque pass, so named for the lake and small river located at the height of the valley, rises into the mountains a fair ways beyond the snow line before descending into a surprisingly warm and inviting valley, completely encapsulated by the Talion Ridge's sharp peaks, filled with all kinds of forested life escaping the cold beneath the snow lines. A small village, also named Ronque, cultivates some small pasturelands in the heart of the valley, isolated but protected by their position in the mountains.

As you began your trek across the mountains, a sudden snow storm of surprising intensity set in as you were at the height of the eastern entrance. Stumbling through the snow, you  barely managed to escape the squall and are now a few miles walk away from the village. Still covered in frost and light snow from the cold on the upper heights, the warm sun and mild breeze are a great refreshment, bringing with them the warm smells of wood and meadow, of grassy fields and, for all the clouds at your back, clear blue skies. Over the next rise, you make out the telltale signs of an inhabited village - trails of light grey smoke ascending from a dozen or so morning fires in the crisp, clear, and surprisingly warm mountain air.

You are currently alone, though a few miles away your keen eyes make out the homely and familiar shapes of a flock of sheep crossing over a small rise, disappearing over the other side. You catch a glimpse of the shepherd for a moment, though he doesn't seem to acknowledge you. Taking a moment to glance ahead and behind, you see a peculiar ring of clouds wrapping the high peaks on all sides of the valley, extending several miles through the higher slopes of the surrounding mountains. While the valley remains untouched, you can occasionally make out flashes of muted lightning and roiling banks of rain and snow driven by fierce winds far above. You were lucky to crossed through as safely you have.

The valley lies before you, a storm at your back.  Your judgement is your only guide.

I head to the village to find a shelter to rest.

Passing through the verdant hillocks while following the winding trail, you eventually climb a rise and find yourself looking down at the village itself, dominated by a large, slightly crumbling clocktower on the northern edge of a central plaza. A few dozen homes crowd around that same plaza - a blend of architectural styles that you may not have seen before (roll history check if you wish to try to recall anything about this area). About half of the homes are standard, thatched or tile roofed buildings, including what appears to be an inn on the southern edge of the plaza. The other half of the buildings are very different, featuring rounded walls and roofs that connect seamlessly, spherical and lopsided at the same time. You observe that the rounded buildings have carvings, or folds of some kind embedded into the walls. 

As you approach the town, you begin to hear the sounds of a commotion of some kind taking place off to your left, around the other side of one of the rounded buildings. You can just make out what appears to be the edges of a crowd on that side as well. Various squaks, cries, shouts accompany the crowd, but you cannot yet see what is holding their attention.

I sneak around said building my quarterstaff in hand and see what the commotion is. 

A you approach the crowd of villagers, only a few notice your towering frame as you stealthily approach, though those that do swiftly greet you with wide eyed stares. Glancing over the short heads of the villagers, you make out what appears to be a small pen of animals surrounded by the townsfolk. Within, you make out a number of white, fluffy shapes, many tinted with red. A few of the townsfolk are kneeling among the animals, though you can't tell quite what they are doing due to the angle and density of the crowd.

Rather than heading into town immediately, Sik chose to wait for darkness, firmly ensconing himself in the branches of a tall pines tree, hidden from sight. From his position he could keep a watchfully eye on the road.

Stealth: 23

Perception: 5

Sik spots the lonely traveler as he passes by, safely ensconced about half a mile away in a small copse. The traveler, an impressive specimen of goliath-kind, bears a peculiar scar across his head which, even at this extreme distance, you are just able to detect. Towards town, you are able to make out the same crowd which the traveler has now joined, and your olfactory sense alerts you to the presence of freshly spilt animal blood on the morning breeze, mixing not unpleasantly with the smells of a regular mountain village - wood,, animals, smoke, and the sour but familiar stench of civilization.

OOC: Do please mutually describe yourselves once you actually perceive one another. Let's say for now that Zanashi does not yet see Sik in his hiding place of choice. 

Keeping a wary distance away from the Goliath, Sik makes his way from the copse to the town rooftops, seeking that delicious smell.

Acrobatics: 22

Do you mean corpse??!! Lol and sik can i get some info on you. Like race class?? 

Zenashi sees what the commotions about then catches movement from the buildings far away with his monk senses. Zenashi ignores it not sensing any danger from it. And finally the large goliath puts his hood over his large scarred head. Heading towards a inn to relax before heading out on his mission.

A copse is a small grouping of trees. I'm running a kobold rogue, you'll get more info when we link up lol

Pushing his way through the crowd somewhat, Zenashi observes several fluffy white animals laying in the center of the crowd, their delicate fleece stained with vibrant blood from their attackers. Of the four dead lambs, three are significantly mauled, especially around their heads, and the last is turning an unusual grey color. Two shepherds kneel among the fallen flock, both weeping while one takes a knife to mercifully end the suffering of the lambs. It appears that whatever attacked them only partially consumed them, leaving them alive, but mangled horribly.

A flicker of motion among the rooftops is all you see - easily a swallow or a trick of the wind. 

A few of the villagers begin to remark at the hooded stranger, so tall and muscled, who imperiously strode up to the center of the commotion. As he turns away, a few of the townfolk begin to mutter unintelligibly among themselves.

As you approach the inn, it strikes you that most of the town appears to have taken part in that impromptu gathering around the slain animals. The streets are virtually empty, nary a rat or chicken to be seen skulking through the tight, slightly dirty streets. The inn itself is almost unrecognizable as such, appearing virtually identical to the buildings on either side. Only its open door, inviting, if a little stale smelling, and a small carving etched in brass on the door denote it as a house of rest for weary travelers. The inn is solid looking, square built on its raised stone foundation and featuring a slightly offset second story (clearly a later addition, for the architecturally inclined). Wattle and daub sidings, worn by the most recent winter's wrath and still in need of repair, cover every outward facing surface - there are no windows to be seen. All said, the place looks stuffy, shabby, probably overpriced, and likely the only accommodation for passing strangers.

As Zenashi finally sees the commotion an what its about. He stops and says a prayer for the shepard and his fallen creatures. Finally he reaches the inn and enters. "How much for a room for the night" Ask the baritone voiced Goliath(Sounds like Barry White lol) I've traveled far and require rest. 

Entering the inn, Zenashi finds the establishment to be completely abandoned. Signs of activity remain, however, in the half eaten midday meal cooling on a nearby table, and in the general disarray of chairs that suggests the inn had some small clientele as of the morning. 

It seems the entire village was drawn out for the spectacle of the mauled lambs.

Taking advantage of the darkness and empty inn, Sik carefully makes his way into the inn, still watching this intriguing stranger .

25

Seeing the empty establishment. Zenashi sits at a table in another dark corner. Taking out his flute and playing it til the innkeep returns. 

The inn remains abandoned for quite some time, well over an hour, during which time the sun descends into a glorious early set, wreathed by the tumultuous cloudbank to the east. As the shadows begin to lengthen, a few figures begin to slowly trickle into the inn. The first few, a group of dwarves, eye Zanashi suspiciously, muttering amongst themselves in their own tongue. Sitting down at the table with the remnants of a midday meal, they huddle together conspiratorially. A few minutes pass before a few more customers enter, as well as a red faced halfling woman who takes up residence on a stool behind the bar. A few humans and at least two distinct clans of halflings soon pack the room with figures, most of whom try to casually ignore the immense hooded figure in the corner. 

After the sun has set, another halfling, a waiter you have seen moving through the crowd, filling drinks and making conversation, approaches you.

"You'll, umm, be in need of a room here? Perhaps some dinner as well?"

Zenashi appears to have wakened from some sort of meditation. I only seek shelter mi lady. His voice deep calm and well mannered. but with good common language. "How much for your poor looking rooms??  or i can work as a bouncer for my room. It is up to you says the goliath" then looks into the halflings eyes showing off his large scar. 

"I, on the other hand, will most certainly require food," pips up a sibilant voice from the next table over.

The monk looks towards the kobold and says. Guess being a kobold means one has no manners.(((OocZenashi is an ahole to everyone. But once he trust you hes a big teddy bear)))