[Game Thread] Chapter I: Fires Over Brinestump

[PopCultureBard]

The Long and the Short of it She swirls the contents of her stein with slow twists of her wrist, smiling that thin-lipped smile at Praeta, her face neutral of expression. Like a portrait with creepy eyes that follow you when you move. She glances from the dwarfess (low) to the halfling (lower), then back to Koya. While he hasn't made a great effort to show it, she has appreciated the old woman's discretion in recent months. Still, it seemed likely that anyone Koya would claim so dear could be trusted with the reality of her situation. At least some of it. And with the halfling inquiring similarly, she speaks softly between sips. "I left Irrisen after a disagreement with my family regarding my personal choices." There is a twitch of motion then, the fingers of her left hand curling for a moment, closing around that empty space where the ring finger would be. "Being that north was empty tundra and both east and west offered rather disagreeable folk with a historic dislike for Irriseni natives, south felt like the best direction." The mead was sweet on her tongue, but also strong. Perhaps she hadn't given these Varisians enough credit in relation to their brewing. "Caravans are frequent over the mountains in the south and Koya's family has long been known as friends of my friends so I decided to visit on her." It was a layered story, at once honest and yet also an attempt to make herself seem a lot less like a shiftless vagabond than reality would present. She pauses to finish the stein and sets the empty on the counter for collection. Her eyes then stray to the tiger and then back to the dwarf. "I appreciate you bringing up the beast, my dear. I am still unaccustomed to the social niceties of this land but I too found its proximity concerning." She shifts her eyes down the halfling for a moment. "I'm afraid I've not traveled to Korvosa but I do hope to visit it soon. I also understand Magnimar is quite a sight. If I make it out that way I will certainly seek out such fine attire for myself." She considers the statement, her eyes clouded by memory. While the Ulfen style of her chosen attire felt like proper devotion to those no longer with her, she'd grown up in silk and dyed linen and gold. Should she feel shamed for wanting something beautiful to wear? ~Do not speak so freely. Dwarves are not to be trusted. Greedy and disloyal, she'll surely give you up to the first giant she sees.~ Her lips curl up into a smile then, that distant look fading from her eyes. That was Ulfen superstition, Jadwiga were well familiar with the stout folk and their fae cousins. Surely this one with the symbol of the God of Scales wouldn't be a danger. And the attention to Praeta's religion sends her on a new tangent. "I have not had many conversations with faithful of Abadar. Such worship is not common in my homeland. Does such work pay well? And what of you, half man? Do you pray?" Religion and finances in one sentence. She is on a roll.

[Jarl11]

Missionary position ALWAYS pays well Praeta's eyes watched the north woman with no name, searching for understanding behind the words as she always did. She seemed to control herself carefully. "Ye cou' say tha pay be decent but it depends on tha path ye go more'n yer faith in tha Judge. What be yer name?" She shrugged, speaking plainly. "Some post pay better'n others. Tha faithful only go without when tha Mighty be unhappy with their work." Seems money is important but riches aren't the only reason to follow Abadar. "Me studies dinna dwell much on tha northern gods. Whom do yer kin pray ta? An' do ye follow tha same?" Praeta suspected it was some wild and unlawful beast but given the woman's respectable appearance there was a chance she was not wholly beyond saving yet. Especially considering her ma's insightful way of finding decent folk.

[PopCultureBard]

Irriseni Do It in the Snow "Katrina. Kat will do fine." For a long moment she seems to puzzle over the question, rocking her weight from one foot to the other and back again. The sway is easy and off-rhythm, her eyes unfocused as if lost in thought. The dwarf seemed up front in conversation, so she opts to respond in kind. "Lamasthu is common among those who pray at all. Groetus and Zyphus in lesser number." She traces a fingernail along the back of her hand, working at an itch just below the knuckles. Bugs didn't live well in Irrisen but here they seemed to make up for that lack with great abundance. "I have no ties to them personally. My prayers find Naderi's ears most often these days." A glance to Koya, then the Praeta, then to Koya again. "She said 'chahvi', you said 'ma'. I am familiar with the colloquialism of the later but my Varisian is infantile. Does chahvi mean daughter? How long has this been your relation?"

[Blackfyre]

"Of course,”" Ghosteye agreed with Praeta. After all, she had brought him into the tavern in the first place, so she should also take care that he didn’t feel to be in a situation where he needed to lash out. The tiger in his turn regarded the dwarf for a moment, maybe feeling her eyes on him. Then some other sound drew his attention and he continued to study the room and the tavern’s patrons.

Idly the Shoanti continued to listen to the enfolding conversation. She had heard about the cold and inhospitable land of Irrisen, but had never been there herself. Thinking about it, she didn’t believe anyone in her Quah had been there either. Not even Roams-the-Land. And he had seen much. Ghosteye did frown at the mention of the various gods names. The only one that she had even remotely heard something about was Lamashtu. Not exactly one of the more common or loved gods if she remembered correctly. "Naderi.. I don’t think I’ve heard of her before," she butted into the conversation. "What does she stand for?"

[PIG]

Shalelu stares down at Wesh with a quizzed, distracted look on her delicate elven features. "Thanks. I should be fine, but I'll remember your offer. How is your stay? Are you settled, or looking to move on?" The halfling wipes the Andoren stout foam with his lips, the dark brew already giving him a buzz. He didn't know it until recently (no one in his family drinks and he only started since coming to the Dragon) but halflings get drunk faster than a dwarf hammering goblin heads. He's got to be careful with this strong stout. Wesh speaks in clear Taldane to Shalelu. "Yes, I'm not staying. Like they say, 'To be idle is the short road to death'. I expect to be moving on soon. I'm just not sure where is all."

"I have not had many conversations with faithful of Abadar. Such worship is not common in my homeland. Does such work pay well? And what of you, half man? Do you pray?" Katrina asks.

Wesh's face goes placid at this question. He ignores the 'half man' remark, he's used to humans this way. "I used to, very often, to Abadar. My grandfather said that without Abadar the gods wouldn't have the tools to work the world. He made sure that I always kept my hands busy and to bring fruition to whatever I touched, thus Abadar will be there. But... I have stopped praying to Ditches of recent. I don't think he wants to hear me anymore." This is indeed true and has been troubling the halfling much every time he starts on a job. Realization that he actually blurted this out to strangers shuts him up. Realization that the dwarf proudly displays the golden scales of Abadar just makes him gulp entriely. He really hopes Praeta Mountainforge didn't hear what he was saying.

The attention at the table is going everywhere but seems to be gravitating heavily towards the beautiful Katrina, or 'Kat', and her reasons of being here... which is he more than happy about. As long as they aren't talking about him. Her equal grace and fidgetiness show in how her hands are constantly moving and touching, her eyes keeping contact for merely a moment. Wesh has only just met her but he's not sure he could ever call someone like her simply 'Kat', it's just too understating.

He strains his ear and leans forward to hear more about this 'Naderi'. No expert on Gods, he's never heard of it either.

[PopCultureBard]

Sadness and Regret "Suicide, mostly. Tragic romance. I wouldn't exactly call her popular, though advocates of Shelyn are generally familiar." Katrina's eyes shift from the halfling to the scarred woman and back again, but they make frequent stops on the tiger. Uneasy stops. She considers Wesh's words carefully but opts to let them pass unquestioned for the moment. She has her own list of unfortunate decisions and thus she finds herself uncharacteristically respectful of his privacy. "So you're a craftsman? I've always admired those who work with their hands." Not a common sentiment among her people, who value function over form and rely heavily on magic to provide their needs. To see someone put time into the arduous process of building with their own effort, as she had so often here, inspires her. "What should I call you?" She stops then, staring directly at the tiger. She holds its eyes for a long moment before turning her attention to it's owner. "I am not unfamiliar with mystically connected beasts in the presence of their bonded companions. I have to ask, though. Why a tiger? It seems unwieldly and socially awkward."

[Jarl11]

A halfling, a dwarf and two humans walk into a bar... Lamashtu. Groetus. Zyphus. Death. Her eyes narrowed at the woman's words. It described, to the dwarf's ears, a chaotic society of mad creatures that worshiped their own deaths. Obviously that was an oversimplification but she relaxed visibly when Kat said that she was not beholden to the trio. Praeta continued to watch the other woman as she described her beliefs with simple words that likely hid a world of feelings. Naderi. A rare goddess unless one is emotionally jaded already. Typically that is a calling one received from circumstance more than choice or free will. The dwarf smiled however, a kind smile. She would respect the woman's choices in front of strangers this day. The Rusty Dragon for a first encounter did not sound like the best place to question a family friend on their emotional chains. "Tha pay in service ta our Lord be dependent on tha form of service ye take." A diplomatic response. The woman deserved more though after what she told of herself, custom demanded there be no emotional debts. Truth was finding the proper value of something's worth after all. "Some make very decent wages an' others nay tha same. Them seekin' wealth stay behind tha walls an' build o' govern. Them seekin' ta spread tha word an' make new ditches fer law-lovin' folk get what they kin find. 'Tis a different purpose fer different aspects o' tha same fair god." Her eyes strayed to the shy looking halfling. "Mayhaps yer tools be ready, 'lil one, an' its nay Abadar that changed but yer own purpose. What do ye seek tha Judge ta help ye do?" The words were spoken kindly and with the wisdom of thought, not in an aggressive tone. The piercing eyes and open ended question was one that sought further information however. This seemed to be the nature of the dwarf maiden: inquisitive and thoughtful, neither seeking to do good nor bad but looking for order and a method to structure the world around her. Turning her head, Praeta smiled at Koya while still leaning on the ax, her feet unmoved from where they were planted widely and firmly. "Chahvi be meanin' child o' daughter in tha manner she used it. Ma took me in as a runt when me own parents disappeared. Ah was left here in Sandpoint. Nay folks o' idea fer what ta do." For a dwarf, she still looked young but as dwarfs age it was likely still many years ago. "Ye dinna tell me about yerself, ma. Be ye plannin' another trip too? Visit Magnimar an' get rid o' Sandru?" That was said with sibling style jabs with no real malice. They were older, Praeta realized. Her family was aging and she was going to outlive them both.

[Sassafrass]

Shalelu does not answer immediately, but smiles throughout. "Perhaps." It is a cold response to the offer to travel with Shalelu, but one that Ghosteye expected. Her green eyes travel to the tiger, studying it as it sits there. "A cage is a terrible place for any creature, Moon included." It is a wonder, a wide wonder, that Shalelu has not a creature of her own, an animal companion as they are oft called. Shalelu watches Ghosteye as she defends herself against the Dwarf, and then stares at the Dwarf, who grants responsibility over the tiger to his owner and to none other. There is something solid there, like stone, a hardness in words that is not callous or cruel or expectant of failure. The lightness of her words come when she compliments the tiger. Shalelu's smile returns, and she herself returns to her ale, briefly, before readdressing the Halfling. An odd question, one that lightens the smile on her face. "My place is not here." He responds quickly, and the conversation enters once more light territory, with a Halfling's whimsy driving it.

Sandru smiles as Praeta takes the news well. "Aye, Praeta, I knew as much, but given the nature of politics, I cannot stay with you long. I need... perhaps something more permanent. As you say, trade culture and economics needs a good Varisian turn to it, away from the conniving and Thrunian negotiation methods that invade of late." She knows of what he speaks: while diabolism is not rampant in Magnimar like it is Korvosa, the methods of negotiation, while still legal under Abadar, are needlessly harsh, and aggressive besides. Abadar stands against that, and while a scoundrel like Sandru has not much in common with Abadar, he would be a good return to form and median for it back in the City of Monuments. She brings her own news: she is to be a Justiciar. Sandru looks to Koya for a response, but as any joyous mother-of-sorts, Koya stands and embraces her adopted daughter with a cry. "Varisian: Lady Luck has blessed you!Doamnă Şansă te va binecuvânta! I am so proud of you, chahvi!" Taking Praeta by the hand, she dances in a circle, lithe for a woman her age, and then practically prances over to the musicians, finishing their song, and speaking lowly, the band erupts into a new song, joyous as she is. She finds Praeta in conversation with Katrina, a flash of nervousness in her eyes before she cares little, letting it run its course.

The conversation engulfs all near it, Ameiko listening more than joining. When Katrina mentions Lamashtu in her homeland, her face freezes, going pale. Even Sandru fails to see this, but Koya's does not, her fingers quickly working as she makes the sign of the Evil Eye, protecting them from that name. Lamashtu and Sandpoint have long had trouble between them. Koya begins to answer the question of Varisian linguistics, but she is beaten to the punch, Ameiko smiling at this. "Doesn't miss a beat, does she?" she notes to Sandru, who only smiles, listening. Ameiko studies the Halfling's answer carefully, an arched eyebrow showing her quizzical expression. She wants to address it, but does not. Naderi comes to mind. Something about that description resonates with Ameiko, her jaw clenching as she stands up straight and heads for the kitchen, going after something. The music continues, bright and unabated.

Lucky for you, I can't. I'm on business.

Koya laughs and shakes her head at the final accusation. "My place is here," she notes, though Praeta sees clearly the apprehension in announcing that. Ameiko returns, a plate of cooked fish and strange bronze sauce upon it revealed, offering it before the Halfling and to all. "Free samplers, on the house." Koya, still excited, looks from her daughter to her son. "Praeta, I know you are not one to dance, but am I to be forced to dance with this mule?" She takes Sandru's arm, and suddenly the Varisian looks his age. "Ugh, my back, woman! I cannot be caught dancing with such a sore back, 'lest the ladies think me unable to perform." Ameiko snorts, and Shalelu chuckles nigh-inaudibly. "Looks to me like you're 'performing' quite fine right now, 'old' man."

The door to the tavern opens, and with it enters a tall man, Half-Elven by his ears and eyes, armored and wearing standards Praeta recognizes and Wesh and Katrina have come to recognize: he is from the constabulary. But he is not Belor Hemlock, the tall, dark, handsome Shoanti, but instead another familiar face: Benel Gandethus. Gregarious and kind, he is the face while Belor is the arm of the Constabulary. Ameiko's face brightens at his appearance, and his own his bright; she begins to pour a tankard of ale. Sandru smiles, Koya nods, and Shalelu does the same, at a distance. "Howdy folks." Ameiko slides it forward, Benel finding a stool near Katrina without breaking the autonomy of the group. "Praeta, good to see you. What's the occasion? Must be an auspicious one, if you've got the whole gang back together. And Shalelu too? What are you planning, Mei?" She rolls her eyes, walking closer to Wesh and Ghosteye. "Don't start, Ben. You know things happen at the Dragon I can't control." Contrary to her statement before, at least. And while Benel eyes the tiger, he does not speak out against it, confirming Ameiko's words.

"Lucky for you, I can't. I'm on business." This causes Ameiko to turn back, quickly, and Shalelu's pupil-less eyes narrow. Koya needs that dance, and now; she looks to the Halfling for help, having never met him before. "You heard about the Goblins that have been attacking the Lost Coast Road lately?"

A tavern, a need, and hapless, aimless souls. There's something familiar in that pattern.

 

Out of Character All "All D&D games start in tavern" jokes aside, make a DC 14 Local, Geography, or Diplomacy (Gather Information) check to determine if you know the following information; Praeta gets a +4 due to having just come down that road herself.   DC 14-In the last month, travelers along the Lost Coast Road have been attacked by Goblins coming out of Brinestump Marsh, a swamp about an hour south of Sandpoint. While there have been no casualties, the Goblins are rather aggressive.   The Goblins belong to the previously docile and isolationist tribe of the Licktoads, led by an ancient and wise Goblin leader. In the past five years, when Sandpoint was attacked by Goblins from Thistletop, the Licktoads were one of the tribes that did not partake in a coalition force, and have, until the last month, kept to themselves. News of any change from Brinestump has been poor in coming.

[Blackfyre]

Ghosteye listened to the explanation about Naderi, the first thought coming to her mind being that it seems an odd goddess to venerate. Fitting to the description of her not being all too popular. But to each her own, she guessed.

The young woman considered Katrina’s question for a moment. Finally she decided that apart maybe from the identity of Black Moon’s former “owner” there really wasn’t anything that could not be told. "My intention was merely to give him back his freedom. Let him roam and hunt as he was meant to do. The totem spirits had other designs for us." She shrugged as if that said it all. "He seems out of place in towns, but not on the open steppes of my home."

She took a piece of her shashimi, curiously sampling the strange dish while continuing to listen to the conversation. It was an odd meal to be sure, but did not taste bad at all. The next time she turned to pick up a piece she found an equally curious cat sniffing at the rim of the plate. "You had your food earlier," she admonished the tiger before taking the whole plate in hand so as not to leave it standing relatively unattended on the bar.

By that time the watchman had entered the tavern and brought up a troubling bit of news. "You mean the ones hunting out of the Brinestump Marsh?" Ghosteye asked. "You’re having constant trouble with the small blighters around here, don’t you?"

[Jarl11]

"You hurt tha young lady an' you'll have me new ax ta help ya dance, brigand." Though Praeta addressed Sandru, there were no bite to the words. It was an empty threat, and the compliment to their ma was exaggerated to imply it was Koya's back she was more worried about. Instead the dwarf woman moved to intercept Sandru and take his arm, making it seem a sacrificial act but there was a light in her eyes that said she enjoyed being with the 'brigand'. Propping her ax against the wall and letting her pack slide off her back to keep it in place, Praeta let her brother move her about through a dance with as much false interest as she could muster.

A few feet in front of the others, Praeta hardly noticed a new face join them. She did, however, hear his voice and recognized him immediately as the handsome guard she had a crush on several years ago. Rather awkwardly, though no more than the sight of a dancing dwarf in and of itself, she leaned back and waved to Benel with a beaming smile. Very uncharacteristic but it was a good day and she was celebrating.

"Saw tell 'a tha lil greenskins on tha way here," Praeta interrupted between huffs from where she was with Sandru. "Heh. Shot a firework perhaps?ball 'o sparklin' bursts at us. Heh heh. Dinna hurt none." She kicked a chair accidentally but didn't seem to notice as she tried to keep up with her brother.

 

OOC Take 10 on knowledge local for 16+4=20.

[PopCultureBard]

Carrot or Stick "I don't pay much attention to rumors." It was stated plainly, the words flat and without inflection. She stares at Benel, a face she has seen before but not one she's made time to interact with. Praeta's story draws her interest, however. She makes an effort not to laugh as the dwarf prances hand-in-hand with Sandru. It takes a lot out of her. ~Goblins. Disgusting. All the madness of the fae without the beauty.~ Katrina clicks her tongue against the back of her teeth. She couldn't argue against the phantom's point. She didn't grow up under the threat of goblins but the caravan that brought her here had weathered a few bouts with them. All she could think about now was the smell; that dirt and feces stink that lingered around them. "What makes this goblin banditry more important than any other?"

[Sassafrass]

Shalelu nods, ever approving of freedom. Freedom is good. Freedom is what she lives for. She promotes it more than anyone else in the room, but in the loosest, most free sense. Freedom without rules. No one told the tiger not to maul everyone. Well, maybe Ghosteye did. But Shalelu supports what her friend is doing, and she shows her approval clearly. Ameiko doesn't seem to disagree, from the look on her face. Elsewhere, Praeta barks with no bite and Sandru laughs. "Who knows, with an axe-leg I might attract every Dwarf this side of the Five Kings, hm? They have firm feet and good dance legs, I hear. But a little short. What do you think? Am I too tall for my legs?" A wink to his foster sister, while Koya rolls her eyes. The dance begins.

But then Benel enters, disrupting the mood and nature of the meeting. He speaks of Goblins, and of their troublesome nature once more at the edge of Sandpoint. The Lost Coast's peace is threatened. And why is he sharing this information? Information that Praeta and Ghosteye already know. The Licktoads are raiding travelers to and from Magnimar, and no one has died. "We don't like to brag, but Goblins are our specialty here in Sandpoint. Always has been, huh Shae?" Shalelu does not seem amused by this comment, but she nods all the same. Goblins do have a history, older than the Troubles of late, and Shalelu has been a large part of keeping that distant. Ameiko studies her Elf friend, then looks back to Benel. "What's your game, Ben?" Ben, looking from the Dwarf and Shoanti to the master of the house, chuckles silently and shakes his head. "Never once to mince words, were you?" She smirks, barely.

Praeta shares her story, her encounter with the Goblins firing off... whatever they fired off. Turned fully to look at her as she dances. He smiles, but is stopped before he can say anything by the stranger from the north, by Katrina. He studies her, and she him. There aren't a lot of Elves in the north, though there is the occasional. He is not a full Elf, by far, but he is enough. Elves... they remind her of home in a different way. Perhaps that's her mood.

"It's not. There's no difference in the banditry, but we don't get it often. And Goblin raids mean something different here than they do elsewhere. They mean the threat of annihilation, and we don't take kindly to that. I'll let you figure out why." A smile, before he turns back to Ameiko, then looking to the Halfling too. "The Sheriff and the Mayor know that one death is all it's going to take to get the authorities in Magnimar involved. That'll cause a bit of a headache. So, in order to avoid that, Mayor Deverin has issued a warrant, official tomorrow morning, that any Goblin ears will warrant a prize from the Sheriff's office. A bounty. Numbers are in the works, but they stand at five gold Korvosan name for a gold coinsails as is."

Ameiko sees through Benel's ploy, but rolls with it. "And you're telling us this... why?"

Benel shrugs, smiling. "I hear the Rusty Dragon has a reputation for attracting would-be adventurers with initiative and skill. And I hear there's a restless bartender who wants to get out from behind her bar."

Ameiko rolls her eyes. "You heard wrong, but I do happen to know a few souls with initiative."

Wait, does she mean....?

 

Out of Character This is the part where you take initiative. Or throw me for a loop and force me to suffer as I try to railroad you some other way

[Blackfyre]

Ghosteye listened intently to the tale of the guardsman, soon guessing what the man was getting at. Goblins tended to be an annoyance and a serious danger in greater numbers. Sometimes a few of them set up shop at the edges of the steppe, but in her experience the warriors of the quah made quick work of them when they became too bothersome.

"What do you say, Black Moon?" she half turned to her tiger, scratching him behind his ears while continuing to keep her food out of his reach with the other hand. "Would you like to hunt some goblins?" The cat grunted, leaning his head to the side to get her to scratch another, more preferred spot. It was unlikely that he really understood the question, but Ghosteye could well imagine that he'd be well able to handle the little blighters. "If it helps Sandpoint, I guess we could go and take a look." And she would be lying if she pretended that the bounty wasn't interesting, too.

[PopCultureBard]

RUDE! Katrina bristles visibly at the prospect. Does she have the look of some unwashed poacher? Some haggard slayer of vermin? A hand lifts to her collar, smoothing the fur lining there, and the realization of it all settles in. Gone are the silk dresses and wrought jewelry. She does, in fact, have the look of an ulfen traveller and rustic is a suitable term to describe it. Her lips twist in discomfort as she is faced with the consequences of her choices. ~This is your life now. Embrace it. Let me kill these goblins. I have been so long without steel in my hand.~ A huff of breath, an exaggerated sigh, and she casts a careful glance over Ghosteye and the death kitten. With Aldwulf and this burned barbarian beside her it didn't seem as dangerous a prospect. "I do often find myself short of coin. I suppose it is time to earn my keep." Coin. Such an odd thing. Little chits of metal that people ascribe value to. Once, when she wanted drink she simply demanded it. Once, when she wanted food she took it. Now people wanted coins in exchange and it was an exercise in frustration. Fine. I'll take you out to kill goblins but damn you if I get mud on my coat.

[Jarl11]

After shifting in on her dancing brother to try and take out his legs, on account of him calling all dwarves short, she gave another rare grin and made her way to properly greet Benel and join the conversation. Hopefully Ben didn't notice her ruined hair and heavy breathing.

"Goblin ears? Licktoads down there, nay?" Goblins. Typical worshipers of Lamashtu. Creatures and deity both with a lack of proper structure. Chaos and madness was what they attempted to sow. About five years back there had been attacks on Sandpoint rumored to be headed by goblins and their Mother of Monsters. Abadar does not tolerate such animals to tear down his walls and Praeta has a personal hatred for the little beasts since terrorizing her family's home. But I came here to be with my family. Well, need not spend every day with them.

"Wou' ye wanna show them little muscles o' yers, big brotha?" Directing her look at Sandru, she knowingly avoided looking at Koya. Their mother likely wouldn't approve of setting out to kill anything but they weren't small children anymore. And since leaving home, Praeta had learned how to use that axe she brought back. "Ah cou' help clean up tha area a wee bit. But ah dinna come here fer that. So it be dependin' on me fam."

She directed her serious eyes at Katrina unabashedly. It would give her a chance to see the mettle of her latest sister too.