Scene 1: Welcome to Woodhearth

Mar 15, 2016 4:53 pm

The other girl creeps forward. You can see her a little better. She is likely the shadowy person you were chasing.

"Tula, I don't think they are going to try anything. Yes, we're fine. We'd like you..." She cuts off abruptly as Captain Meljora enters.

Tula, the urchin

Mar 15, 2016 4:56 pm

"Selene stay quiet..." Tula admonishes her sister, then also stops talking when she sees Meljora.

Mar 15, 2016 4:56 pm

"Oh, theses two. What did they take? I will make them return it." He grumbles and begins to move around the party toward the girls. Tula tightens her muscles again, ready for trouble.

Mar 15, 2016 5:09 pm

Elestren turns around and bars his way, all smiles. "Please, Captain. These girls have not troubled me. In fact, I have troubled them. I would love to have them visit me at the Violet Fox sometime so I can apologize to them properly." Elestren starts leading Meljora out of the house. "And I must apologize to you for going astray. I must have lost sight of you. You know, it's difficult for a delicate woman such as myself to keep up with such strong men!"

As they exit Elestren throws a backward glance and a wink at the girls.

Last edited March 15, 2016 5:10 pm

Rolls

Parley? - (2d6+2)

(35) + 2 = 10

Mar 15, 2016 5:43 pm

Meljora allows himself to be lead out of the house. The people on this street walk around you more, giving you more personal space. It seems slightly less crowded, likely due to this street being mostly homes.

"It sure looked like you were intent on catching Selene, but if you're sure? Those girls have been nothing but trouble, lately."

Mar 15, 2016 5:58 pm

"A misunderstanding, nothing more. I am so weary from our journey, I must have been seeing things. Those girls seem harmless. In any case, I am glad you are here to maintain order. Pardon me, but you don't seem to be from around here. Have you been serving Magister Bertram long?"

OOC:

Charming and Open: Whom does Meljora really serve?

Mar 16, 2016 12:53 am

Meljora squints at you. He seems suspicious of your motives, but his tone remains cordial and polite. "I have been away from my homeland for many years. I found a home here in Woodhearth about five years ago. I was elected by the town to be captain of the Watch Guard two years ago. Now that we are away from...well, away from people who can overhear us, what has really brought you to Woodhearth?"

OOC:

I've been trying to work these details into the fiction and Meljora's response, but my muse seems to be ignoring me, so I will just answer your question directly. Meljora does not see himself as a servant to Bertram, but to the town. He acknowledges Bertram's authority to make decisions, but Meljora sees that authority as detached from his own authority.

The question he wants answered in response is "What do you most desire?"

Alexander

Naatkinson

Mar 16, 2016 1:25 am

Alex walks up and leans in to Meljora, speaking quietly, "What happened to the rest of the Ahsh'hio tribe? It can not be good if you are so far from our home."

Mar 16, 2016 6:14 am

Elestren pauses thoughtfully. "I cannot speak for my companions' intentions, but my greatest desire is to love and serve my Queen. Something has been stolen from her, and I must recover it, else she is in danger." The elven bard might have revealed more but at that moment Alexander comes up and speaks to Meljora.

Mar 17, 2016 5:00 am

Looking around, Meljora motions for Alexander to remain quiet. "Not out here, let's get someplace private. We can discuss what you know about the Ahsh'hio. And what prize your queen could have lost."

He leads the party to the Violet Fox. After sharing a few words with the proprietor, you are ushered into the family's private dining room. After being seated, he looks Alexander in the eye.

"I can see that we share a homeland. It is good that you have managed to escape the Sultan's grasp. I am saddened to say that the Ahsh'hio were not so fortunate. We were captured by the sultan. Most of my people were slaughtered. Those that remained were sold to slavers from another land. We were taken aboard ships, a few were lost to storms on the open ocean. When we arrived in the lands of our captors, we were sold off once again. I was sold as a gladiator with a few of my fellows. We were hired out to some lord or another in a nearby territory, we ere meant to put on a show and die."

"While on the road we found ourselves insufficiently guarded, we staged an uprising and slew our captors. As strangers in a strange land, unable to even speak the native language, we became bandits. For some years we ran and hid from the soldiers that hunted us. Our numbers dwindled, but we found our way back to the ocean. We stole a ship and became pirates, feared by anyone daring to sail the seas. CAN YOU IMAGINE? A tribe of dessert dwellers taking up a life of piracy? We were horrible at sailing. Luckily we didn't kill the men who did know how to pilot the ship and their loyalties were easily purchased."

"As time went on, I grew weary of a life of slaughter and pillaging on the ocean. I longed for the dry sands of my home. I pleaded with my clansmen to return to our land and overthrow the sultan, but they had changed. They had grown acussom to their new lives and we parted ways in a port near here. Once again without purpose and a home I came to this realm, and found Woodhearth, and my new place in the world."

"Now, please tell me more about yourself. Who are you, what clan did you belong to and what brings you here?"

Alexander

Naatkinson

Mar 17, 2016 1:55 pm

Alexander listens in sadness to the tale of the fall of the honorable Ahsh'hio people. Once Meljora's story is complete he feels the need to reciprocate his honesty, "I am Alexander, son of Kirik, leader of the Rik'ish clan. My people share the same fate as yours. We were caught and slaughtered by the Sultan's men. They spared only I, and took me to be the Sultan's personal slave as an example for the rest of our people.

"Years went by and I finally was able to steal a sword and escape into the desert, where I wandered alone for some time. After some time I felt the need to leave, to gain the skills and knowledge I will need to one day go home and free our people from the Sultan's men. I have also dreamt of a tree in the forest here that could potentially be used to kill the Sultan in spite of his protections."

He hesitates a moment before continuing, unsure if he should divulge the rest. Feeling a strange trust for this man, he finally continues, "I've had troubled dreams over the past couple of years. Many of our people, our spiritual leaders especially, believe the dreams are prophetic. I dream of a coming darkness and the role I must play in bringing it down. They've taken to calling me Darkseer in our land."

Omen Hotstepper

spaceseeker19

Mar 18, 2016 6:54 am

Omen nods in agreement, renewed in his conviction that the flames have led him to the right companions.

"I, too, seek the Dark Wood, from a vision granted to me. Deep within the Dark lies a gem of power, an item of some significance that I must find. I have traveled through many lands to get here."

Mar 18, 2016 2:52 pm

Meljora makes a common hand sign, used to ward off evil, when he hears your stories.

"Alexander? I knew Kirik, and you do resemble his son, though, the years have been long...I cannot say for certain that you are indeed who you claim to be. But I cannot prove you are not either. I warn you, the Dark Wood is aptly named. There are things in those woods even I do not wish to deal with."

"I have a request. Once you have eaten, would you please report to the office of the town guard? I would prefer that you sleep there tonight. It will not be as comfortable as The Fox, but you will be well treated. I cannot force you of course, and you will be free to leave in the morning."

Alexander

Naatkinson

Mar 18, 2016 3:03 pm

JoHoover Inactive forever!

Alexander nods, "It has indeed been many years, perhaps you'd be convinced if you saw my father's sword? The one with the snake-shaped hilt? It was taken upon entry, but it is indeed his if you'd like to see it."

"I'd be glad to stay at the office, perhaps you and I could speak of our home. It's been some time since I've had contact with any of our people."

Mar 18, 2016 3:25 pm

"It gladdens me that we have an ally, even if a somewhat hesitant one here in Woodhearth. If the dark forest is indeed as aptly named as you say I believe we will have need of allies very soon. I similar to Alexander was called here by someone or something that is in distress. I have been removed from the company of humans and elves for some time so it is perplexing who would be calling to me.

I am also willing to accept the hospitality of the town guard for the night. There is much to discuss." Brentheli looks expectantly at his new comrades.

Omen Hotstepper

spaceseeker19

Mar 18, 2016 7:34 pm

Omen intones "I lay my head where I lay my head. It does not matter to me where I sleep, as long as I am free to continue my journey when I wake."

...which you know by now is a pretty gracious acceptance of an invitation, for Omen. The weird formal and flowery language he used earlier was alarming in its contrast to how he normally speaks. Now that he's getting cryptic, it's back to normal.

Mar 19, 2016 12:23 am

"First, I'd like to see to the girls we met earlier."

Mar 19, 2016 5:29 pm

"I would look upon the sword of Kilik. Your belongings await us at the guard house. As for those girls, I would not concern yourself with them. They are just a couple of troublemakers."

Helain

Mar 19, 2016 5:39 pm