Finest Hour [IC]

[Servbot]

Aeri

Ah, the soft splashing of the waves as they gently caress the ship. The seagulls flying overhead, cawing as they go. The jolly sea shanties sung by the sailors as they set about their work cleaning the ship, preparing the meals and whatever it is sailors do.

All this would have been that much more pleasant were it not for your heading. Taldor. The land you left. The father you left, rather. For adventure. Funny, then, that adventure should be found in going back again.

At least there's Carmine you're accompanying here. Though, he's been rather elusive as of late: You haven't seen him much since boarding the Greyhound.

You've seen enough of the other passengers, though. Northerners, by the looks of it. Not that you could tell, but the sailors on the ship keep talking about it. They're a rare sight, to be sure, but share some similarities: Large and unsociable, at least compared to the Taldor nobles you grew up around.

Must be the cold weather.

You're headed back home. You have a +2 bonus in Knowledge (local) checks, and Knowledge (local) is a class skill for you. You can consult Knowledge (local) as though you were trained in it, even when you are not.


Carmine

'Smuggle some wares in,' they said. 'It's going to be a cinch,' they promised. But there was nothing easy about this job so far.

It had taken you the better part of a week, and the worst part of your soles to find board on the Greyhound. Not many ships wanted to set sail for Taldor. Something's brewing there, but other than vague remarks of 'the sun sets on Taldor', you can't quite figure out what it is. For all that they are obviously ominous, the people you've talked to have also been ominously quiet on the matter.

Not that it's important to the job, probably. If you can get to Taldor, it's probably smooth sailing. Figuratively. Find the priest of Sarenrae on the outskirts of the city, deliver the wares, then get the hell out of Taldor again. If you're lucky, you can probably manage it between the Dawnflower's ascent and descent.

But you need to be careful: If anyone in Taldor catches you with your charge, well, losing your head would be the least of your worries. The sailors speak of torture for anyone caught in worship of the Dawnflower, and the statuette you carry... Well, you'd have to really glib of tongue to convince anyone it's something else.

You carry a statue of Sarenrae. Its market value is around 1,000 GP, and it is to be delivered to the priest of Sarenrae. If you lose it for whatever reason, you gain a +2 morale bonus on checks made to retrieve it.


Odhar

The world South is... different from the North. Warmer, notably. Not just in climate, but in people as well. How many times, now, has one of the ship's passengers or crew sought to approach you, only to mistake your taciturn behaviour for dismissal. They are talkative, here, far more than in the North.

For all that, though, they most often argue among themselves about trivial things. Like whether the coins they worship came up heads or tails, or whether the arms of Taldor could beat a host of whatever nation they could conceive.

And when they do not argue, often they talk about how often they argue. Circles. That's how the sailors aboard this vessel talk. In circles, endlessly, pointlessly.

None of that matters, though. You're not here for mere pleasantries, or to argue one way or the other. You come to fulfil an Oath sworn.

You are oathbound. You gain a +1 morale bonus to any check made that is in direct relation to fulfilling your Oath. As your Oath is to help the priest of Sarenrae. Any task that directly helps the priest of Sarenrae passes for the purposes of this trait.


Ral

Disaster is coming. You know not its face or its name. You know not when it will arrive, nor how. But you are sure of one thing: It will come, and if none stand at the entrance to turn it away, the calamity will be great. But how will one stand against evil without face and without name? How will one strike at evil that has no shape? How will one defend against a threat that may come at any moment?

Your clan's hopes lie with the Chosen of the Dawnflower, residing in the city of stone in the South. You are almost there, now. Or so you believe. There are a great number of cities of stone in the South, after all─impossible to tell which is which, and where the Chosen will be.

But before you boarded, you caught glimpse of a person. Hard to tell if it was a man, for he was sized smaller as a child. Among the Night Hunt, men so small would doubtlessly die, for they could not hunt and had not the strength to support themselves, nor their families.

However it be, this child-sized man carries with him a statuette of a woman, and for some reason you cannot explain, you have the feeling she is the Dawnflower. Fitting, then, that following her should lead to her Chosen. So you believe.

You are led by the Dawnflower. Or so you believe in any case. Once per day, you may make a DC 15 Wisdom check. On a success, your journey will be positively influenced by the Dawnflower. Well, it's probably the Dawnflower. Who can say? The gods work in ways unfathomable to man. It might as well be the Lord in Iron whose hand guides you.


All

You stand together on the deck of the Greyhound, the only ship in a fortnight that's set sail for Taldor. There's been whispers of unrest within the Kingdom of Honour, but none can tell you what manner of unrest. Some say there's a revolution brewing, but others contend that the Grand Prince's redoubled his efforts to stamp out the last of the Dawnflower from Taldor.

That last rumour would be ominous indeed, considering your purpose and destination. Very ominous.

In the distance you can see stone towers over the horizon.

"Looks like Taldor's come in sight, finally!" one of the sailors remarks. Won't be long before you arrive, now.

[ProudGrognard]

Odhar

Odhar was at the bow of the ship from the morning. His people did not have many experience with the sea and this trip was the first time that Odhar had seen it. Every morning, he gave thanks to the White Stallion for letting them cross his domain. He was the patron of rivers, true, but this seemed appropriate.

He had spent most of the voyage on deck, watching the sea. Ever changing, ever shifting, as different from the mountains he grew as could be. But deep down, earth, solid earth and its immense power. Odhar could feel it. Once or twice, to make certain, when out of sight, he had called upon its power. It had come, as always.

And now, another huge lowlander city. People running around, noone exchanging greetings, filth and poverty everywhere. And yet, power enough to shake nations. Clearly, there was much to learn.

And an oath to fulfill.

[HanaRei]

Aeri

Such a mixture of feelings reached into the pit of her stomach as they approached closer and closer towards her home. It seemed almost foolish of an expedition to return back from the very place she ran from. Her hands clutched at the side of the ship, as if bracing herself. It had been so long since she had been home or at least what it felt to her.

While she had ventured away many times before it never had been for remotely as long. Her own pride allowing her to boast her own name without hesitation and not needing to hide who she was. Heading back home, such common proclamations would only lead to trouble. The less her presence was made aware within the city, the better off she would be. She would need to find a clever way to talk to her father again... least if she ever planned to return home and not find herself imprisoned within it. Still it was very difficult for her to ever really hold back in proudly declaring her own name. She wasn't one to be very secretive with who she was.

She turned her head, glancing around quietly looking if she could see Carmine. It had been the one person she got to know to some extent... granted it wasn't exactly of the best terms. He looked to be a bit of a sketchy fellow, having found him on the streets and bringing him in for help. While he did ultimately seem to 'turn a new leaf' she remained sketchy over him. Thus who relied upon drugs and tended towards more shady business always left her skeptical. She didn't quite trust his intentions at all.

Hearing the voice of a nearby sailor, Aeri turned her head up glancing at the vague traces of land they could now see. "It seems the voyage is nearing its end." She spoke out, not to anyone in particular really. As much as she felt some unease coming back, she was quite curious to see the state of Taldor.

[Starbin]

Ral walked up to the deck, bare-chested to feel the cool ocean breeze. It had been a long journey, one that had brought the barbarian far from his northern home. Taking the path through the Stones had cut off a great deal of travel, but it had also left little time to acclimate to the heat of lands to the south. Of course, if the weather was the only tribulation he had to experience on his quest, then fate would indeed be kind.

Looking around the deck, he moved to the front of the boat, which one of the sailors had referred to as 'aft.' He liked the way the wind blew, and it gave him a vague feeling of flying. The spray also helped to cool his skin, and reminded him of light snow on a summer's morning. Glancing around, he saw the other northerner, althought to be honest, even Odhar's land were far south by comparison. Still, the man had a demeanor that was closer to his own than anyone else aboard the ship. It has been a sign from the gods, running into a like-minded wizard who sought a priest from the church of the Dawnbringer. Their common interest had brought them together, while their shared perspectives had cemented their relationship into the beginnings of a friendship.

Ral's belief that Fate was watching over him was further reinforced when he saw the little man with a statue in town. It turned out he was a collector of relics, and was returning a piece to the Church of Sarenrae - truly another sign of divine providence! After a quick discussion that left Ral wondering what enemies the man must have for all the glances over his shoulder, the two northlanders had a guide.

This ship was the last leg on the journey to find the Chosen of the Dawnbringer - he was eager to see what this person could tell him of the pending doom that hung over his people ... and how to stop it from destroying them all.

[Bhaakon]

Carmine

Most people would find it difficult to avoid patting the subtle bulge their jacket, the one telltale spot where the statuette revealed its presence to a perceptive viewer. Not Carmine. Years of practice had instilled the discipline to avoid such tells.

Let the suspicious guard think it's pomander hanging from your neck--a common enough precaution in noisome urban areas. He'd even perfumed the thing wth a simple cantrip to maintain the illusion. The stench of fish guts and unwashed sailors was enough to justify it on the ship.

Oh, the ship. ocean travel didn't agree with the halfling. The close quarters, the shared berths, the complete lack of privacy, and nowhere to run. A sensible smuggler would have stashed the statue in some out of the way spot where it couldn't be connected to him if found, but that wasn't an option here. Carmine couldn't even dare leave it with his luggage, not with so many shifty seamen waiting to paw through his sea chest at the first opportunity.

Plus the woman was here. The one who saw him half-dead in the gutter. The one who fetched Brother Kadesh and knew his connection to the church. Sure, she seemed honest enough, but also arrogant and boastful. She spoke without guile, and loose lips sink ships--a phrase that seems particularly apt in the current circumstances.

But so did suspicious silence, a lesson Carmine had almost learned the hard way at a checkpoint on the Andoran border. The pleasantries were often the hardest part of this work. "Yes, madam, and none too soon. The company has been welcome, but I don't think I could stomach another trencher of fish chowder, fish stew, or fish surprise," The surprise, shockingly, was more fish. "A properly chilled glass of Taldan white and the roasted haunch of a four-legged animal would be most welcomed after our gastronomic ordeal. I'm sure the other passengers feel the same, no?"

He turns back at the two northerners. "What is the preferred roasting beast where you come from? Polar bear? I've heard that the Kellids enjoy stuffing a half-dozen yaks in one of their mammoths and cook the entire assembly by burying it beneath a roaring conflagration...could you imagine?"

[Starbin]

Real blinked in surprise, havingissed the small fellow's approach. He marveled again at how child-like the man was. At his question, Ral stared for a moment, then at his Odhar, wondering if this was more southern humor. In his rumbling bass voice, Real answered "Yes, I can imagine. We have it to celebrate a successful hunt. It is called mammoth surprise. Though sometimes the surprise is boar or wyvern."

Pausing, he thought for a minute. "Polar bear is usually only for weddings."

[ProudGrognard]

Odhar

Odhar chided himself mentally for once again staying aloof, while his fellow travelers made efforts towards social pleasantries. That was not the way of his people, and certainly not of the Speakers.

Moving closer to the others, he stands near Ral, exchanging a glance and carefully hiding a smile. Ral was from the true North and understood the way of things. It had been fortunate meeting him on the road.

"And birthdays. Polar bears make good birthday feasts. I always wondered how people managed to find bears for their birthdays in the south. How do you do it?"

[Bhaakon]

Carmine

"Oh, it's quite a bother, really. You have to send away to Goka for the odd little black-and-white bears they have in Xian-Tia. They're quite expensive, and you must order at least twelve months in advance." Carmine explains with admirable seriousness.

"The Taldans used to have proper ones shipped from Karlsgard, but then those devil-smitten Chelaxians began enforcing their punitive Bear Embargo, and here we are."

"A pity, really. Those Xian-Tia bears taste rather like grass."

[ProudGrognard]

Odhar

"I see the problem. The black in the bear must do it. A good birthday bear must be all white. That is well known.

But apart from the dreaded Bear Embargo, have you any information to share on the city and nation we are going? What I know of Taldor is based on traveler tales and second hand accounts."

Geography [roll0] to establish what Odhar knows, if need be.

[Bhaakon]

Carmine

The halfling shrugs. "Like anywhere else, really. Most people tend a farm, a fishing net, or a herd, a happy few practice a trade, and a double-handful of nobles to leech off the first two groups."

"The Taldan leeches are a little fatter and more ravenous than elsewhere, I suppose. Don't you agree, Lady Aeri?"

[HanaRei]

Aeri

She stood idle hearing the others converse, giving Carmine only a brief glance over his initial comment as to when she spoke. He sure knew how to agitate her a bit. He seemed to be the type that snaked his way into groups, picking and choosing his words in a manor to grab himself attention. Such was the way of drug users though, often looking for that attention she supposed.

She turned her head focusing on the two others. She wasn't at all familiar with them, though their faces did register in her mind. While not one to normally avoid introductions, considering where they were going did cause her to hesitate from being as 'adamant' about pushing it out. The conversation itself wasn't one she was too fond of, particularly when it came to Carmine, something that only got worst after his last comment.

"I suppose there are two types of vermin on society, those who seek benefit off of others suffering, and those who undermine society for their own selfish needs." She spoke pointedly with her gaze in particular fixating on Carmine. She wasn't one to deny there were bad nobles about, though his wording came off as a insult slung her way, one she felt the need to retaliate against.

Shaking her head a little bit Aeri looked at the other two. "Its a place much like anywhere else, at least when looked upon from the outside. The nobility and those in charge are elected by the Grand Prince who holds much of the power in the region." She commented to the others before shifting her stance, attempting to look a bit less 'aggressive' then she had before in response to Carmines prodding.

"My name is... Aeri, it is good to meet you." She spoke, hesitance in her voice holding back fully pronounce her full name and title out to the other two, despite Carmines hinting upon it. She had to at least attempt to bite her tongue for now until she might find herself more in the clear, as difficult as it might be.

[Starbin]

Ral shook his head at the ridiculous bent the conversation had taken. Black bears? Everyone knew there was no such thing as black bears! But another dynamic had entered onto the scene, by way of a pretty young lady. He wasn't an expert in relationships, but he was perceptive enough to realize that there was something going on between the halfling and the woman.

He glanced over at Odhar, then back to the young lady as she introduced herself. "Hail and well met, Aeri. I am Ral Sharp-eyes of the Night Hunt.

Do you have issue with the wee man?"

[ProudGrognard]

Odhar

Odhar leaned on his staff, putting both hands on to it, his face composed as ever. Ral could be sharp-eyed, but also a bit ...direct. Meddling in fights one did not know their background was not wise.

Nevertheless, the issue perhaps did affect him. They were traveling with these people.

"Well met and well seen, Aeri. I am Odhar Origenis of the Cennaich. Are people here in the South so casual with barbs in their banter?"

[Bhaakon]

Carmine

"Dear, dear, Ohdar. If you think those were barbs, you're going to be in for quite a shock in the south. City folk enjoy sharpening their wit until it's positively vorpal, and don't think twice about flaying a man alive with their tongue. There's even some money in delivering a proper invective, if you've the skill."

"The name is Carmine, with no fancy family name or title, I fear. Though I've been called worse than 'wee man.'" Much, much worse, actually. Often deservingly. But his smile is genuine. These northlanders seemed to be good sports, and were enough of a curiosity to draw attention to themselves on the docks. A little distraction was always a good thing, as far as Carmine was concerned.

[ProudGrognard]

Odhar

Odhar almost shrugs with the reply, as if to say Silly games. Taking time to play word smiting games was a luxury. There were so many more that one could do with them, than to waste them in rhetorical duels.

"We shall see. As we shall see about the shock. I do notice that I have yet to learn something about Cassomir that I did not know."

[Servbot]

Odhar

Of Taldor, you know scant little but what tales your people have gathered from travellers. There is a system of classes that, among the North, makes little sense:

There are the Bearded, which are men with beards as would the title imply. The Bearded are seen as the nobles and royalty, and to accentuate the title they often have beards as colourfully dressed and cared for as gnomish hair. And the travellers can tell you that it's got quite a lot of variety.

Indeed, seeing a Bearded with gems in his beard wouldn't be a weird sight at all in Taldor.

On the other hand are the Unbearded. Unlike this title, they actually do sometimes have beards, but they are not allowed to groom these beards or care for them, lest they want to end up on a slaver. Most of the people you'd meet are Unbearded, so the travellers claimed.

Foreigners with beards may do as they please with them, though: The Taldor people are reputedly sensible enough not to prosecute travelling Dwarves for their tendency to have beards and to groom them.

Of the land itself you know little: You know Cassomir is not the capital, and that it is the second largest city. Traders often depart from or for Cassomir. There's also a lot of ships there, and the travellers spoke of a "royal navy". That's all they said about the city itself, though. Cared more to speak of their society than their nation.

Aeri

Ah, Cassomir. City of Trade, and home to the Royal Navy! And... that's all you know, really. You never went to Cassomir, and your education on it was... lacking. By which I mean you probably didn't pay attention when you were told of it, because no matter how hard you try to remember anything, you can't.

Seems almost unthinkable you wouldn't be taught about Cassomir, but them's the breaks.

All

While you stand and talk, the mainland comes closer and closer. Before long, the sailors are all running about getting ready for making port, and true enough the Greyhound soon sails into the city harbour. It is clear at once that Cassomir is a city of shipwrights, home to a Navy: Many ships lie moored in the harbour, and many more ship skeletons line the harbour. The city itself arcs around the harbour. From the distance, you can see what looks to be the ruins of an abbey of some sort.

The Greyhound sails in close to these ruins, mooring at the northern part of the docks. A distinct smell hangs in the air, but it's difficult to bring it home, mixed as it is with the smell of fish, salt and a dozen sweaty men running about around you! As the ship sails into the dock, ready to moor itself, you sail past a long row of men. Their faces are down-trod, their feet and hands chained together. They look generally shoddy from a distance, with a few men walking past them in shining armour yelling this and that, but from this distance you can't make out what.

Before long, the ship moors and you are ushered off board, while the ship's crew sets about emptying the hull. After a long travel, you finally set foot on dry land. Or, er, technically wood suspended over water, but that's a technicality. You're in Taldor now! ... There's a multitude of things you could be doing, and gawking around is probably one of the worst things to do.

To the north, close-by, there is the ruins of that abbey from before, and further beyond is a stone wall. The south seems clear of that, but with the throng of people it's hard to make out much else.

Carmine

When you took up this job, your job was to deliver the statuette to the priesthood of Sarenrae. Unfortunately, worshipping Sarenrae is outlawed in Taldor, especially in the cities. However, your employer did mention that one who looks hard enough will be able to find a lead. He suggested finding a tavern called 'The Drowned Wench', and he provided you with directions, which go somewhere along the lines of:

Head north from the docks, pass the abbey. Past the blacksmith head west, and past the gates into Old Cassomir. Then go to Greenhorn Plaza.

[ProudGrognard]

Odhar

Odhar 's face becomes tense when seeing the prisoners. No human being should be denied his freedom. And a burned abbey does not bode well. He speaks to Carmine in a slow voice.

"Was that abbey there always burned down? And is it a custom here to drive slaves around?

I think we should proceed to our destination as quickly as possible. I do not like what I am seeing, by the Nine!"

[HanaRei]

Aeri

Hearing the others introduce themselves, Aeri nodded her head in response. "It is good to meet you all." She spoke in a quite proper tone. Her eyes darted to Carmine only briefly before returning to the others. She turned her head watching as they came to the docks finally. Stepping out from the boat she stepped upon dry land. It left a mixture of feelings of both excitement as well as nervousness. Who knew what her father might of done in response to her disappearance.

She turned her head hearing Odhar's voice, looking more so puzzled by it then anything else. She shook her head a bit staring towards him. "What ever do you mean?" She inquired, looking to the man a bit puzzled. Her head turned looking at what seemed to be a typical port city. She wasn't the most versed with the city in particular, but it didn't look to out of the ordinary as it stood now.

[Bhaakon]

Carmine

"And what is your destination, Odhar?" Carmine inquires idly. "I've plans of my own, but no hurry."

[Starbin]

Ral gathered his items as they came closer, ready to be off the ship and back on land. Since he was uncertain of this new city, he wore his hides, and carried his axe across his back. The spear he used as a walking stick, but it left little doubt what it was designed for.

He followed the others onto the docks, eyeing the crowds with distaste, as his fellow travelers spoke of destinations and the like. He turned and stared down at the small man, knowing full well he could not follow Carmine for any length of time in these city streets. Glancing at Odhar, he shrugged at the halfling's question.

"We actually are following you." He pointed to the man's waist. "You carry a statue of the Dawnbringer, a sign that will lead me to her Chosen."

Hitching up his pack, he nodded towards Carmine. "Where to?"

[Bhaakon]

Carmine

"I'm what?! No. You're mistaken." He sputters as he reaches for the statuette, but barely masters the urge to grab the artifact and runs his hand through his hair instead. "Those kind of accusations like that could get a man's head cut off in these part. I know you're new here, but you would do well not to spout such nonsense in public. People might mistake it for a fact."

Carmine glances around, making sure that there's no one nearby who might have overheard the impolitic comment. Should I bolt? No, still on the dock. only one way to run, and nowhere to hide.

[Starbin]

Ral tilted his head to the side, confused. He was certain he had seen the small man looking at a statue of the Healing Flame. Unless ...

Again, while not overly smart, Ral was fairly perceptive. Sighing, he nodded, fighting the urge to roll his eyes. Lowering his voice, he leaned in close. "My mistake. But we have need to find the clergy of Sarenrae. Perhaps you could tell us where that is, since we'd rather not ask a stranger?"

He left it up to the smaller man to decide if the Northerners asking questions about Sarenrae would come back to haunt him. Surely they would be subtle ...?

[HanaRei]

Aeri

Aeri turned her head hearing Ral speak. Her eyes widened a little bit looking towards Carmine who seemed to be quick to deny it. She glared a bit at the 'troublemaker' more then convinced it was true hearing his response and Ral's reply. No... she really had nothing against the Dawnbringer. Despite being from these parts, she truthfully wasn't one to really 'bite' into much of the religious scorn or praise. It was more about the person then who they served.

Her eyes shifted up as if adjusting, keeping relatively quiet at this point. "Yes, why don't you lead us then? I see it being only right. It would help keep out of unnecessary trouble not getting involved with things that one shouldn't be involved with, correct?" She asked, being quite choosy with her words on purpose as her stern gaze lingered back to Carmine's eyes.

[Bhaakon]

Carmine

The halfling flinches at the northerner's whispered response, and again at the runaway noblewoman's glare. Found out, and worse, double teamed! I don't know if my professional pride will survive.

"Fine, fine. I...we're headed to a tavern called 'The Drowned Wench.' I have rough directions. I doubt my contact is expecting a crowd, so it would be better if I head in first, alone, and you follow a few minutes later. Whoever I'm meeting, I've never seen them before. I'll have to go in, drop a few very subtle hints, and hope that they find me. It might take hours to coax them out of hiding."

He looks hard at Ral, who very well might have exposed the cargo with his indiscreet declaration a moment ago. "I wasn't blowing smoke when I said a loose comment in the wrong ear might mean the executioner's block. Whoever I'm meeting, we can be sure that they're careful. If you want to make contact, I'll have to convince them"

"Knowing your story might help with that. You've come a long way to see a priest...why?"

[ProudGrognard]

Odhar

Odhar was not quick enough to diffuse the situation. But there was no need. With a nodding gaze towards Ral, he steps in.

"We will try not to make that mistake again, Carmine. These parts and their ways are strange to us. It is easy to make such mistakes. Lead us to the tavern. If indeed such ...mistakes are dangerous here, it would be better to avoid them all together"

Odhar nods rather proudly.

I think I am becoming better in this southern subterfuge!

[Servbot]

All

As your group stands talking, you attract some attention. A couple of the soldiers walking around the docks shoot glance your way. Some multiple times, and their looks speak volumes of suspicion. Before long, one of the soldiers breaks from the group and approaches you, stepping briskly.

He has the weather face of a veteran, with scars half-hidden by a gruff and unkempt beard. His armour's broken in numerous places and shows obvious signs of wear and tear. By all accounts, this is a veteran.

Scowling, he says, "Welcome to Cassomir an' all that bull, but Gozreh's balls a group of armed strangers this near to the Royal Navy has us all on edge. If you're lost I can give ye directions, just get the Hells somewhere else so the greenhorns can stop thinkin' you's the ones here to cause trouble."

He regards your group with some expectation, and it's not difficult to tell he's on edge.

[ProudGrognard]

Odhar

Odhar looks at Carmine meaningfully, as if to say 'on the way, on the way' and then turns to the soldiers.

"Well seen and well met. We are just travelers passing by and we will indeed be moving. I am sorry the customs here"

He then starts walking briskly straight of the ship, with the hope that Carmine will take the lead. On the way, perhaps they could talk.

[Bhaakon]

Carmine

"Ah, apologies, guardsman. I met there northmen on the boat, and they were just asking me for directions to a decent drinking establishment. They're in a rush to wash the taste of watered rum from their mouths with a proper pint, you see. I'd hoped a few landmarks would be enough, but I fear that they're woefully ignorant of the local geography. I'll need to take them there myself." He laments.

"Plus, they offered to pay for the first round." He adds with a wink.

If the guard is willing to le them go, Carmine drags the others north of the docks to the abbey, the first of the landmarks he's been given.

[Starbin]

Ral opened his mouth to respond, but the others had already spoken, and he really wasn't sure what to add. So he closed his mouth and nodded. However, he didn't seem particularly concerned with the nervousness of the soldier ... he wasn't causing trouble, so there was nothing to worry about, right?

[HanaRei]

Aeri

The woman had parted her lips to speak before Odhar spoke. Yet again someone managed to break her off before following her own tendencies. She kept quite, avoiding speaking up. She didn't want to risk her voice raising suspicion. Her accent itself had a notable noble 'flair' to it that wasn't likely to be so quickly dismissed given there was word spread about her 'disappearance'. She would have to make sure how clear she was being back around such parts until she knew the repercussions of her vanishing some time ago.

She heard Carmine speak, looking at him as she once again fought the urge to speak back. She kept quiet not uttering a word. As soon as I know my current situation... she thought to herself keeping quiet allowing them to converse and attempt to ease the guards.

[Servbot]

All

The guard shrugs indifferently. "Ain't no care o' mine why ye'r here, just git moving." With that, he turns and returns to the other guards, barking about "damn greenhorns lacking balls these days" and other such gems.

Your group proceeds northward, towards the ruined abbey. It's easy to tell that it did not fall into ruin from age alone: There are obvious signs of destruction, such as smashed walls and windows. There are even some spots on the walls that look like dried blood, but it's hard to tell if it isn't just wear from the time.

You notice that any of the citizens moving past the abbey don't come near it: They walk past at the farthest end of the path away from it, not sparing the structure a single glance. The path itself splits in two: One side coils around the abbey, towards a large stone wall, then following the wall north... The other side goes north to, well, town. There's brick and mortar houses, no larger than three stories tall. They look generally old, but well cared for.

There seems to be an on-going festival, as the street is decorated with flags of all sorts and colours, jesters line the street and a lot of merchants hawk their wares from their stalls. Pretty much a festive atmosphere.

Where do you go from here?

[Bhaakon]

Carmine

The halfling tries to take in as much of the ruined abbey as he can without look at it directly. Given the way the locals were acting, it wasn't hard to guess at which deity it once served.

I assume it was a Sarenite temple, but, obviously, I don't know for sure. "Knowledge (local) roll for any information Carmine might know about it," is what I'd like to say, but Mythweavers is down at the moment. I'll roll it in the OOC when I can

Edit: Rolled a 16 OOC

"This is the first landmark." He whispers to the other, unwilling to raise his voice in the shadow of the forlorn abbey. "I'm to continue north until I find a blacksmith, then turn west."

With another look around at the skittish citizenry, Carmine adds,
Let us not linger here. It's not a good place to be seen.

[HanaRei]

Aeri

She followed in step with the others heading into town. Her head turned glancing around unable to help but find some excitement in the festive materials decorating the town. It wasn't something that she often got to experience but when she did sneak out she always enjoyed such things. A warm smile coated her lips as she seemed notably pleased observing the decor the city took upon itself.

Aeri turned her head towards Carmine. She wasn't able to help much the curve of her lips as she looked towards him. "Very well." She commented quite boldly compared to the hushed whispers of Carmine. She wasn't typically the whispering type and her more upbeat mood for seeing the festival going about near them didn't help at all in containing her voice.

[ProudGrognard]

Odhar

Odhar follows suit, his eye lingering to the temple. Something strange has been going on. Do these Lowlanders defile temples with such ease? And if it was an evil deity, why did it have so prominent a temple?

As they keep walking, he says in a low but not whispery voice.

"I am here less than an hour and already I have questions"

[Starbin]

Ral stared at the ruins openly, wondering what the place was. It was bigger than any structure from his home, and these southlanders seemed to have no remorse of the loss of so big a building.

When Carmine whispered, he glanced around at the wee fellow, frowning. "Is this place cursed, that others avoid it? And who is this ebon-skinned maker that you speak of?"

Interestingly enough, I don't think they have much by way of metals in the Realms of the Mammoth Lords, so while a bonesmith or icesmith might exist, I doubt we have many blacksmiths ...but I could be wrong. :smallsmile:

[Bhaakon]

Carmine

"Painting children with soot-colored grease paint is a fine tradition here in the south, Ral." Carmine explains with all seriousness. "It's a distant cousin of tattoo magic, or so I've heard. They say that particularly fantastical patterns can ward off evil curses and the bloody flux, but only a skilled blacksmith can manage that. Most of them are charlatans who take a few coppers to slather on crude fish scales or cat whiskers."

Carmine is assuming that the carnival has a children's face-painter.

[ProudGrognard]

Odhar

Odhar looks at his two companions. He debated internally whether to try ad makes things straight. With a shake of his head, he keeps walking. But then, curiosity gets the better of him.

"He is asking about the burned building, Carmine. Why does everyone avoid it? What was here before?

As for the blacksmith, Ral 's people do not work metal very much."

[HanaRei]

Aeri

Aeri heard them converse, shaking her head a bit in response. Their unease towards such a place being left abandoned and alone didn't exactly seem all that 'viable' in her mind. Having abandoned places wasn't something usual. That didn't mean she didn't expect there were some that could be dangerous and darkness lurking within them, but it was silly to jump to such conclusion.

"Simply put, people might not see it as a desirable place, being in no condition to be entered. Perhaps there is some rumors of a course playing upon the imaginative strings of peasants who take such superstitious ramblings as being true. I would surmise it to just be an abandoned building and nothing more unless proven otherwise." Her voice sounded quite prim and proper, perhaps making up for the fact she held back speaking much easier around the guards.

[ProudGrognard]

Odhar

Odhar, still walking, points at the dried blood and signs of destruction.

"Are abandoned buildings usually slashed with blood and destroyed by weapons here?"

[HanaRei]

Aeri

The noblewoman blinked, looking over as he seemed to point towards the blood in particular. She let out a soft sigh, shaking her head. "Such things are unsettling to see... though it looks as if it has transpired I'd think some time ago." She spoke softly looking towards Odhar. She had an almost stern look, showing a more serious side of her as the smile from moments ago disipat

"I am simply stating that its current state doesn't warrant it having any negative side effects. Past events that have transpired here... no matter how unfortunate... should have no effect on its current conditions. I would think it best to not question the past to give answers of the present. It can only give you pieces as to why something is how it is, never fully answer it and in many cases mislead you." She spoke out with a firm voice, looking away a bit. She didn't want to be looked upon herself as to some 'spoiled child' either, she wanted to pave her own way as an adventurer instead.

[Starbin]

These two were strange. While Odhar possessed a few 'southern tendancies' he was enough of a son of the north to be understood and trusted. The rest of this lot, they seemed so concerned with pretending not to look at things that obviously should be looked at.

Of course, this tattoo magic was familiar to him, but it seemed their artists were called blacksmiths here. Strange lands ...