River Crossing
Moderator: patransom
Esias quirks an eyebrow quizzically at Oldin's addendum, but after handing the reins of Elezar's mount to Elezar obediently strides to the pack horse, slings his bow, and fumbles at the saddlebags for an empty waterskin.
(OOC: if it matters, Listen +11, Search +10, Spot +11)
(OOC: if it matters, Listen +11, Search +10, Spot +11)
Last edited by CGM3 on Sat Jul 08, 2006 1:42 pm, edited 1 time in total.
Over on Discord, I go by Gryphon
"And they shall beat their swords into plowshares, for if you hit a man with a plowshare, he's going to know he's been hit." - The Wisdom of Nodwick
"Nothing says love like two hundred feet of parachute cable and a cargo net." - Fred Jones, Scooby Doo: Mystery Inc.
"I know, the first rule of Robot Fight Club is, you don't talk about Robot Fight Club." - Jack Darby, Transformers Prime
"Always. Expect. Ninjas." - Sydney Scoville, Grrl Power
- Cyrius of the Sudden Blade, human soulknife
- Jephthryam Davian, human tinkerer
"And they shall beat their swords into plowshares, for if you hit a man with a plowshare, he's going to know he's been hit." - The Wisdom of Nodwick
"Nothing says love like two hundred feet of parachute cable and a cargo net." - Fred Jones, Scooby Doo: Mystery Inc.
"I know, the first rule of Robot Fight Club is, you don't talk about Robot Fight Club." - Jack Darby, Transformers Prime
"Always. Expect. Ninjas." - Sydney Scoville, Grrl Power
- Cyrius of the Sudden Blade, human soulknife
- Jephthryam Davian, human tinkerer
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Returns to her horse grabbing a waterskin and slipping an extra dagger or two into her belt as she stands hidden by the bulk of her horse. She keeps an eye and ear around her, taking a while to get the waterskin so she can look on her edge of the group.
Moves to B26
Spot:+1
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Listen:+5
Sleight of Hand:+9
Moves to B26
Spot:+1
Search:+10
Listen:+5
Sleight of Hand:+9
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"Apologies, Riverkeeper, I meant no offence. I did not intend to sulley the waters of your lady's river with the contents of my jugs. Rather, I meant it as a friendly gesture, a peace offering. It was intended for your lips, as I have met many dwarves (OOC: Going on the assumption that "dwarves" is a non-insulting term here ) that preferred to discuss things of any degree of seriousness or weight over a beverage such as I had offered. Please accept my most humble and sincere plea for forgiveness." Jiam bows deeply, returns to his mount and retrieves a waterskin from his saddlebags, very subtly removing a handful of shuriken from his belt (once hidden from view), just in case.
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Oldin takes a moment to get his thoughts in order and finally decides to just come out with it.
"Riverkeeper, you are truly wise to have discovered the Lady's beauty and power. We, too, would like to learn more about her, but alas, we are pressed for time. The life of a 10-year old boy hinges on our ability to reach him before he is killed. We don't have enough time to purify ourselves. If there is another crossing, please let us know where it is. If there is no other crossing, please let us know some other way we can purify ourselves. Our wizard has arcane magics that can clean us and our mounts. Perhaps we can offer a service to your Lady for her aid in our time of need. Please let us know what we can do to appease her."
"Riverkeeper, you are truly wise to have discovered the Lady's beauty and power. We, too, would like to learn more about her, but alas, we are pressed for time. The life of a 10-year old boy hinges on our ability to reach him before he is killed. We don't have enough time to purify ourselves. If there is another crossing, please let us know where it is. If there is no other crossing, please let us know some other way we can purify ourselves. Our wizard has arcane magics that can clean us and our mounts. Perhaps we can offer a service to your Lady for her aid in our time of need. Please let us know what we can do to appease her."
Esias stands very still at Oldin's words, watching the dwarf carefully but making no move to unsling his bow or draw a weapon.
Over on Discord, I go by Gryphon
"And they shall beat their swords into plowshares, for if you hit a man with a plowshare, he's going to know he's been hit." - The Wisdom of Nodwick
"Nothing says love like two hundred feet of parachute cable and a cargo net." - Fred Jones, Scooby Doo: Mystery Inc.
"I know, the first rule of Robot Fight Club is, you don't talk about Robot Fight Club." - Jack Darby, Transformers Prime
"Always. Expect. Ninjas." - Sydney Scoville, Grrl Power
- Cyrius of the Sudden Blade, human soulknife
- Jephthryam Davian, human tinkerer
"And they shall beat their swords into plowshares, for if you hit a man with a plowshare, he's going to know he's been hit." - The Wisdom of Nodwick
"Nothing says love like two hundred feet of parachute cable and a cargo net." - Fred Jones, Scooby Doo: Mystery Inc.
"I know, the first rule of Robot Fight Club is, you don't talk about Robot Fight Club." - Jack Darby, Transformers Prime
"Always. Expect. Ninjas." - Sydney Scoville, Grrl Power
- Cyrius of the Sudden Blade, human soulknife
- Jephthryam Davian, human tinkerer
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OOC: Sorry I'm just doing this now, but I didn't fully understand a message Pat pm'ed so I wanted to have some light on it before I continued.
IC:
Jermain concentrates further as his spell magic begins to take effect, and several auras of an eldritch nature become apparent. Being rather surprised at the result, he leans across to Oldin to convey the information. "Good fellow, not to alarm you but I am seeing several auras, perhaps twelve in total hidden under the water around the level of stout dwarf's rotund waist. The only areas other than these are his chainmail shirt and the wand he is holding. Perhaps we might benefit from a more aggressive stance in case of something more untoward?"
IC:
Jermain concentrates further as his spell magic begins to take effect, and several auras of an eldritch nature become apparent. Being rather surprised at the result, he leans across to Oldin to convey the information. "Good fellow, not to alarm you but I am seeing several auras, perhaps twelve in total hidden under the water around the level of stout dwarf's rotund waist. The only areas other than these are his chainmail shirt and the wand he is holding. Perhaps we might benefit from a more aggressive stance in case of something more untoward?"
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Oldin shrugs and whispers back, "I know about the auras, which is why I asked Riverkeeper about his friends beneath the water's surface. I have proposed an alternative to Riverkeeper, instead of our meditation. Now, let us see what his response will be. Should he become aggressive, we have moved back from the river's bank and have a little time to prepare for his advancement, as well as that of his submerged friends. Will we soon see how negotiations will pay off."
OOC: Oldin has detect magic running, as well. He has seen the same things as Jermain.
OOC: Oldin has detect magic running, as well. He has seen the same things as Jermain.
Most of you follow Oldin’s instructions and head back to your horses to collect waterskins and are currently holding waterskins in at least one hand (with the possible exceptions of Jermain and Elezar). Those of you making spot and listen checks observe nothing unusual (other than a dwarf standing up to his armpits in water). The dwarf answers those who have spoken to him.
He looks up at the group as if he has made a decision, “If you cannot contemplate, you cannot cross. You have horses, you can ride to the headwaters of her river and go around. Horses are fast; you should have time for the trip, if you go now. It is only 30 or 40 miles. A small price to maintain the purity of her river, yes?”
The Riverkeeper looks a bit confused, “Do you mean the fish? They are gifts from the Lady for her humble servant. I shall share, if you remain to contemplate.”Oldin: "Are your companions beneath the river's surface going to be aiding us in contemplation?"
The dwarf does not respond directly, but looks relieved as Jiam walks away from the water’s edge with his jugs.Jiam: "Apologies, Riverkeeper, I meant no offence. I did not intend to sulley the waters of your lady's river with the contents of my jugs. Rather, I meant it as a friendly gesture, a peace offering. It was intended for your lips, as I have met many dwarves that preferred to discuss things of any degree of seriousness or weight over a beverage such as I had offered. Please accept my most humble and sincere plea for forgiveness."
The Riverkeeper now looks conflicted, “The life of a boy requires you to pollute the waters? What to do? What to do?” He stares at the water surface, splashing his hand in it as he thinks. He seems to be talking partially to Oldin, partially to himself. “You cannot become clean without meditation … Foul wizard-magics do not make a thing clean … The river is life, more important than one life … The Lady has her devoted Riverkeeper, she has no need of unclean servants … no boy crossed her river, so he is not near here … there must be time for the unclean ones to travel.”Oldin: "Riverkeeper, you are truly wise to have discovered the Lady's beauty and power. We, too, would like to learn more about her, but alas, we are pressed for time. The life of a 10-year old boy hinges on our ability to reach him before he is killed. We don't have enough time to purify ourselves. If there is another crossing, please let us know where it is. If there is no other crossing, please let us know some other way we can purify ourselves. Our wizard has arcane magics that can clean us and our mounts. Perhaps we can offer a service to your Lady for her aid in our time of need. Please let us know what we can do to appease her."
He looks up at the group as if he has made a decision, “If you cannot contemplate, you cannot cross. You have horses, you can ride to the headwaters of her river and go around. Horses are fast; you should have time for the trip, if you go now. It is only 30 or 40 miles. A small price to maintain the purity of her river, yes?”
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Oldin turns to face Esias. "What do you think? Do we have time to travel all the way around this river? I understand this dwarf's desire to preserve a place that he holds sacred. I would not want anyone defiling a place sacred to Seker. At the same time, I cannot allow harm to come to Amon, and I am therefore torn. If we do not have enough time to travel around, then perhaps the Riverkeeper will have an alternate solution. If not, then I will accept that we must invoke his Lady's wrath and hope that we can atone for our sins later."
Oldin addresses everyone. "Please, if anyone has a suggestion, pose it now."
Oldin addresses everyone. "Please, if anyone has a suggestion, pose it now."
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Oldin turns to Riverkeeper and adds quickly, "Are you familiar with our enemies, the Natchai? They are the ones who will kill the boy if we are not successful. If you think that a wizard's magics are foul, imagine the polution the Natchai magic would generate. Saving the boy is in your Lady's best interests."
Esias regards the dwarf with a guarded expression, his voice flat and low as he responds to Oldin: "It will take us an extra day or more to reach these headwaters, although from there we could strike straight for our goal and lose no more time. If you think such a delay will not greatly imperil young Amon, I'd say we should start moving upstream at once, otherwise... well, that is your choice, good sage, but I will stand by your decision."
Over on Discord, I go by Gryphon
"And they shall beat their swords into plowshares, for if you hit a man with a plowshare, he's going to know he's been hit." - The Wisdom of Nodwick
"Nothing says love like two hundred feet of parachute cable and a cargo net." - Fred Jones, Scooby Doo: Mystery Inc.
"I know, the first rule of Robot Fight Club is, you don't talk about Robot Fight Club." - Jack Darby, Transformers Prime
"Always. Expect. Ninjas." - Sydney Scoville, Grrl Power
- Cyrius of the Sudden Blade, human soulknife
- Jephthryam Davian, human tinkerer
"And they shall beat their swords into plowshares, for if you hit a man with a plowshare, he's going to know he's been hit." - The Wisdom of Nodwick
"Nothing says love like two hundred feet of parachute cable and a cargo net." - Fred Jones, Scooby Doo: Mystery Inc.
"I know, the first rule of Robot Fight Club is, you don't talk about Robot Fight Club." - Jack Darby, Transformers Prime
"Always. Expect. Ninjas." - Sydney Scoville, Grrl Power
- Cyrius of the Sudden Blade, human soulknife
- Jephthryam Davian, human tinkerer
Bonus validation, since Oldin just said the magic word and did it quickly!
With that, the Riverkeeper raises his arms in the air and rises out of the water, so that his feet touch only the surface. He turns and gestures to you to follow him. Without looking back, he begins walking slowly across the surface of the ford, chanting in some unknown tongue.
The Riverkeeper answers immediately, "Natchai! Dirt-worshipping corrupters!" He utters a number of other curses in dwarvish (which those of you who speak the language would be reluctant to translate in polite company). "Why did you not say so at once! Mount your horses and I will escort you across the ford! Follow me!"shai-hulud wrote:Oldin turns to Riverkeeper and adds quickly, "Are you familiar with our enemies, the Natchai? They are the ones who will kill the boy if we are not successful. If you think that a wizard's magics are foul, imagine the polution the Natchai magic would generate. Saving the boy is in your Lady's best interests."
With that, the Riverkeeper raises his arms in the air and rises out of the water, so that his feet touch only the surface. He turns and gestures to you to follow him. Without looking back, he begins walking slowly across the surface of the ford, chanting in some unknown tongue.
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Hastily stowing the waterskin back in the packhorse's, er, pack, Esias unslings his bow and follows Oldin into the river, holding his weapon high and scanning the surface and the far bank for danger as he wades through the water.
Over on Discord, I go by Gryphon
"And they shall beat their swords into plowshares, for if you hit a man with a plowshare, he's going to know he's been hit." - The Wisdom of Nodwick
"Nothing says love like two hundred feet of parachute cable and a cargo net." - Fred Jones, Scooby Doo: Mystery Inc.
"I know, the first rule of Robot Fight Club is, you don't talk about Robot Fight Club." - Jack Darby, Transformers Prime
"Always. Expect. Ninjas." - Sydney Scoville, Grrl Power
- Cyrius of the Sudden Blade, human soulknife
- Jephthryam Davian, human tinkerer
"And they shall beat their swords into plowshares, for if you hit a man with a plowshare, he's going to know he's been hit." - The Wisdom of Nodwick
"Nothing says love like two hundred feet of parachute cable and a cargo net." - Fred Jones, Scooby Doo: Mystery Inc.
"I know, the first rule of Robot Fight Club is, you don't talk about Robot Fight Club." - Jack Darby, Transformers Prime
"Always. Expect. Ninjas." - Sydney Scoville, Grrl Power
- Cyrius of the Sudden Blade, human soulknife
- Jephthryam Davian, human tinkerer
With but a moment glint in the eyes of his companions, places the waterskin back and mounts up his steed. "Lead on, Riverkeeper. We don't need these foul worshippers even get a foothold of strength around these areas." as he grabs the reins of the pack horse and asks his horse to follow the dwarf and Oldin.
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Mounts her horse after stowing the waterskin. Keeps a dagger at hand as she follows the others across. Keeping an eye and ear around her.
OOC Given that I'm on vacation and forgot my character sheet, I don't have her stats at hand.
OOC Given that I'm on vacation and forgot my character sheet, I don't have her stats at hand.
Perearth: Tana Lattia, Monk of the Order of St. Cuthbert, human female
Brave New Peareath: Leenah, Viridian female rogue
TOS 100+: Belladona Southfarthing, halfling rogue/swashbuckler/thief acrobat
Brave New Peareath: Leenah, Viridian female rogue
TOS 100+: Belladona Southfarthing, halfling rogue/swashbuckler/thief acrobat
- shai-hulud
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OOC: This post assumes that everything goes well. I don't want to ask this question unless everyone crosses safely. Riverkeeper seems to be concentrating on his spell, and I don't want to ruin it.
IC:
Once everyone safely crosses the river, Oldin turns to Riverkeeper and asks, "Riverkeeper, we have discovered the name of our Natchai enemy. Have you ever heard the name Phatel Rablim? And do you know anything about the area he is in? Esias, please show Riverkeeper the map. Any information he might have for us may be helpful in defeating our foe. Also, after we defeat our Natchai enemy, is there any service that we can perform for your Lady in thanks for your aid?"
IC:
Once everyone safely crosses the river, Oldin turns to Riverkeeper and asks, "Riverkeeper, we have discovered the name of our Natchai enemy. Have you ever heard the name Phatel Rablim? And do you know anything about the area he is in? Esias, please show Riverkeeper the map. Any information he might have for us may be helpful in defeating our foe. Also, after we defeat our Natchai enemy, is there any service that we can perform for your Lady in thanks for your aid?"
Esias will show the map to the dwarf.
Over on Discord, I go by Gryphon
"And they shall beat their swords into plowshares, for if you hit a man with a plowshare, he's going to know he's been hit." - The Wisdom of Nodwick
"Nothing says love like two hundred feet of parachute cable and a cargo net." - Fred Jones, Scooby Doo: Mystery Inc.
"I know, the first rule of Robot Fight Club is, you don't talk about Robot Fight Club." - Jack Darby, Transformers Prime
"Always. Expect. Ninjas." - Sydney Scoville, Grrl Power
- Cyrius of the Sudden Blade, human soulknife
- Jephthryam Davian, human tinkerer
"And they shall beat their swords into plowshares, for if you hit a man with a plowshare, he's going to know he's been hit." - The Wisdom of Nodwick
"Nothing says love like two hundred feet of parachute cable and a cargo net." - Fred Jones, Scooby Doo: Mystery Inc.
"I know, the first rule of Robot Fight Club is, you don't talk about Robot Fight Club." - Jack Darby, Transformers Prime
"Always. Expect. Ninjas." - Sydney Scoville, Grrl Power
- Cyrius of the Sudden Blade, human soulknife
- Jephthryam Davian, human tinkerer