Jul 30, 2020 1:58 am
"Honestly? I don't know," I confess. "For now, I'm just headed to Baya. From there... I'll see where my feet take me. And, thank you, are you sure I can't offer you anything in exchange?"
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Jul 30, 2020 2:06 am
"It’s after dinner, a hot one, thank ye. Now for entertainment. Tell me a story and then I’ll sing a song. I’ll even sing it in Primordial fer ye." He takes a stick and plays in the sand as he waits for you.
Jul 30, 2020 8:44 pm
"Um... Uh... Er..."
Stones! I'm no storyteller... what am I going to...
"Well... Uh..."
Why can't I recall any of Songweaver's greatest hits! Not anything...
"Forgive me, I am not eloquent or good at storytelling, but..."
Curses. I've got nothing. A complete blank, what is this? I've gotta say something
"It was long ago..."
Really, starting like that?
"Well, not long, long ago. But not recently either..."
Ugh. This is gonna be a disaster.
"Anyways, um... that doesn't really matter. When it happened. Not that important."
Okay, I've stalled as long as I can, I'm just going to have to tell a story I know
"There was a great opportunity for the people. My people. The- the people of my village. A great opportunity-"
Crap, I already said that...
"The chief called the whole village together. There was something... something he had heard. (Or maybe it was a vision?) It, it was of a great blessing that... that could be gotten."
How in the world has he not chased me off already...
"A blessing from Nula, to be had in the city of... the city of... Tukan! Yes, Tukan. Someone would need to travel to the lowlands and visit Tukan."
Okay, slow down... it's going... okay? He still doesn't look mad
"The chief looked over the gathered... and chose a young couple. A young couple with a child who had barely seen two seasons of moons. He didn't say why he chose them..."
Was is random? Did the gods guide him? Why? Why MY parents?
"Rather than object and lose honor, they agreed to go. That night they packed the necessary supplies, and on the following day they bundled up their young child and departed the village."
Breath... he doesn't need to know how this affects you
"They, they had no idea they would not see their home again."
Hey! That went well... Songweaver would be proud of that line
"But something, something about this journey seemed to anger Azul and Eha. For it was not even a day after they departed that a blizzard, the likes of which hadn't been seen for generations, fell upon the mountains."
Okay, that one was a cheat. Heard that phrase so many times growing up. But he seemed to like it.
"The snow fell so thick, so fast. The wind blew hard, adding snow from the ground whipped back into the air. It was blinding. And it lasted for days, weeks. When the storm was finished, a group was sent to search for the young couple. It was hoped that they made it down the mountain before the storm hit. But the... the hope was not strong. Not great."
Alright. It's alright.
"About half-a-day's travel in the direction of Tukan... they were found. At the bottom of a ravine. The young man has a broken leg, while the woman was uninjured. But both were dead. But the child survived."
...
"It seemed as if the young man had misstepped in the blindness and fallen into the ravine. His wife had cautiously climbed down to find him, carrying the child against her chest. They chose to stay there and wait out the storm. As they days passed, the couple reduced their rations, little by little. They huddled together, always ensuring that their young babe were safe. Eventually, it seems, they chose to forgo food themselves, saving it for the child. The boy was found, held in his mother's cold arms, wailing and hungry. But alive."
... wow. Um... I'm not sure he was expecting a depressing story... I close my mouth, and stare off into the distance over the ragged man's head. I can't look him in the eyes, not yet. I'll just wait for him to realize I'm done...
Stones! I'm no storyteller... what am I going to...
"Well... Uh..."
Why can't I recall any of Songweaver's greatest hits! Not anything...
"Forgive me, I am not eloquent or good at storytelling, but..."
Curses. I've got nothing. A complete blank, what is this? I've gotta say something
"It was long ago..."
Really, starting like that?
"Well, not long, long ago. But not recently either..."
Ugh. This is gonna be a disaster.
"Anyways, um... that doesn't really matter. When it happened. Not that important."
Okay, I've stalled as long as I can, I'm just going to have to tell a story I know
"There was a great opportunity for the people. My people. The- the people of my village. A great opportunity-"
Crap, I already said that...
"The chief called the whole village together. There was something... something he had heard. (Or maybe it was a vision?) It, it was of a great blessing that... that could be gotten."
How in the world has he not chased me off already...
"A blessing from Nula, to be had in the city of... the city of... Tukan! Yes, Tukan. Someone would need to travel to the lowlands and visit Tukan."
Okay, slow down... it's going... okay? He still doesn't look mad
"The chief looked over the gathered... and chose a young couple. A young couple with a child who had barely seen two seasons of moons. He didn't say why he chose them..."
Was is random? Did the gods guide him? Why? Why MY parents?
"Rather than object and lose honor, they agreed to go. That night they packed the necessary supplies, and on the following day they bundled up their young child and departed the village."
Breath... he doesn't need to know how this affects you
"They, they had no idea they would not see their home again."
Hey! That went well... Songweaver would be proud of that line
"But something, something about this journey seemed to anger Azul and Eha. For it was not even a day after they departed that a blizzard, the likes of which hadn't been seen for generations, fell upon the mountains."
Okay, that one was a cheat. Heard that phrase so many times growing up. But he seemed to like it.
"The snow fell so thick, so fast. The wind blew hard, adding snow from the ground whipped back into the air. It was blinding. And it lasted for days, weeks. When the storm was finished, a group was sent to search for the young couple. It was hoped that they made it down the mountain before the storm hit. But the... the hope was not strong. Not great."
Alright. It's alright.
"About half-a-day's travel in the direction of Tukan... they were found. At the bottom of a ravine. The young man has a broken leg, while the woman was uninjured. But both were dead. But the child survived."
...
"It seemed as if the young man had misstepped in the blindness and fallen into the ravine. His wife had cautiously climbed down to find him, carrying the child against her chest. They chose to stay there and wait out the storm. As they days passed, the couple reduced their rations, little by little. They huddled together, always ensuring that their young babe were safe. Eventually, it seems, they chose to forgo food themselves, saving it for the child. The boy was found, held in his mother's cold arms, wailing and hungry. But alive."
... wow. Um... I'm not sure he was expecting a depressing story... I close my mouth, and stare off into the distance over the ragged man's head. I can't look him in the eyes, not yet. I'll just wait for him to realize I'm done...
Last edited July 30, 2020 8:45 pm
Jul 30, 2020 9:39 pm
He looks up with sad eyes and spits it out, "that’s terrible... " he lingers watching the smoke, "terrible whats happened to those two of them. Tragic stories do tell all about the soul don’t’s they? I’ll have to compose my song in a minor key after that powerful bit of story telling."
He takes a handful of sand and measures it out into his other hand, while his eyes drift out to sea. "The mountains, they be like the sea, yes?" He moves the sand back to his other hand. He is a man of careful measurements. You realize he is pacing the movement of the sand with the break of the waves. "They be fair in their parceling out justice. Your story, it don’t have no vengeance, no pointless gnashing of teeth." Hand to hand, wave to break. He nods his head to the rhythm saying words in his mind. Composing. "Only the fair exchange of life and death.
When his left hand empties of sand, he lifts a finger and begs of you, "A moment..."
He takes a handful of sand and measures it out into his other hand, while his eyes drift out to sea. "The mountains, they be like the sea, yes?" He moves the sand back to his other hand. He is a man of careful measurements. You realize he is pacing the movement of the sand with the break of the waves. "They be fair in their parceling out justice. Your story, it don’t have no vengeance, no pointless gnashing of teeth." Hand to hand, wave to break. He nods his head to the rhythm saying words in his mind. Composing. "Only the fair exchange of life and death.
When his left hand empties of sand, he lifts a finger and begs of you, "A moment..."
Jul 30, 2020 9:56 pm
What a unique perspective on the story... I nod my head silently, feeling that his words bear wisdom that merit some considering. Which I proceed to do as I give him the time he requests...
Last edited August 18, 2020 9:31 pm
Jul 30, 2020 11:18 pm
While he is busy with his thoughts, and I wonder mine, I decide to use the lull to roll out my bear pelts. I weigh my new salt bag and consider if there is enough to even properly treat one of the pelts. But to pass the time, I pull out my dagger and begin to scrape one of the pelts again, preparing to salt it, but also ready to stop and listen as soon as my new friend(?) is ready to share his song.
OOC:
I'm leaving this ambiguous as to if there is enough salt in case that is something you think should be rolled for.Last edited July 30, 2020 11:18 pm
Jul 31, 2020 2:21 am
I take it that you were considerate enough to do your scrapping to the same beat as his rhythm. As such, there is enough salt for one of the two pelts. About the time you finished a good salting, he begins first by chanting, and then muttering Primordial words. Even as he continues to move the sand back and forth in his hands, he breaks into a tenor song with lots of vibrato.
Jul 31, 2020 2:26 am
A Uhti
Ti Uhti
Alle tinqui’um
Alas one day I went to sea
I left home far behind me
And now I’m lost, so gone and lost
Not even gods can find me
Out here they got a god for rain
For wind and mountain stone
But when you’re lost, there is no god
You look to fairness, Uhti onn.
Eh Uhti
An Uhti
Alle tinqui’um
On sea and stoney mountain top
For ev’ry cause, a god to try
That plies their gifts in trade for us
To gnash our teeth, to wail and cry.
E’ha gifts life itself as breath
And sends us forth to seek our fame.
To c’alicue we finally go
To trade our life, our death the game.
Tum Uhti
Teo Uhti
Alle tinqui’um
We all have lost our loves somewhere
No use to hope, to seek, to dare
The gods do not have answers more
They strut and wail much more than care.
Steadfast the stone, primordial sea
Needs not these sacrifices
To judge a man’s morality;
So fair are nature’s vices.
Eh Uhti
An Uhti
Alle tinqui’um
Alas one day I went to sea
I left home far behind me
And now I’m lost, so gone and lost
Not even gods can find me
Out here they got a god for rain
For wind and mountain stone
But when your lost, there is no god
You look to fairness, Uhti onn.
A Uhti
Ti Uhti
Alle tinqui’um
A Uhti
Ti Uhti
Alle tinqui’um
A Uhti
Ti Uhti
Alle tinqui’um
Ti Uhti
Alle tinqui’um
Alas one day I went to sea
I left home far behind me
And now I’m lost, so gone and lost
Not even gods can find me
Out here they got a god for rain
For wind and mountain stone
But when you’re lost, there is no god
You look to fairness, Uhti onn.
Eh Uhti
An Uhti
Alle tinqui’um
On sea and stoney mountain top
For ev’ry cause, a god to try
That plies their gifts in trade for us
To gnash our teeth, to wail and cry.
E’ha gifts life itself as breath
And sends us forth to seek our fame.
To c’alicue we finally go
To trade our life, our death the game.
Tum Uhti
Teo Uhti
Alle tinqui’um
We all have lost our loves somewhere
No use to hope, to seek, to dare
The gods do not have answers more
They strut and wail much more than care.
Steadfast the stone, primordial sea
Needs not these sacrifices
To judge a man’s morality;
So fair are nature’s vices.
Eh Uhti
An Uhti
Alle tinqui’um
Alas one day I went to sea
I left home far behind me
And now I’m lost, so gone and lost
Not even gods can find me
Out here they got a god for rain
For wind and mountain stone
But when your lost, there is no god
You look to fairness, Uhti onn.
A Uhti
Ti Uhti
Alle tinqui’um
A Uhti
Ti Uhti
Alle tinqui’um
A Uhti
Ti Uhti
Alle tinqui’um
Jul 31, 2020 2:31 am
You rolled well on your perception skill but low on arcana. You notice the hair on his head wave with the music as he was part of the water crashing in the shore. The kelp line glowed even buried in the sand, increasing with each stanza.
Then you chuckle to yourself. How odd. How strange. Isn’t it so appropriate that sand is the material component for the spell sl... you sleep. There is no save roll and you have too few hit points to resist.
You dream of waves. You wake to the sound of high tide washing in. There is no Teoalis.
Then you chuckle to yourself. How odd. How strange. Isn’t it so appropriate that sand is the material component for the spell sl... you sleep. There is no save roll and you have too few hit points to resist.
You dream of waves. You wake to the sound of high tide washing in. There is no Teoalis.
Jul 31, 2020 2:43 am
I blink my eyes several times... Was that real? Or did I dream that. I sit up, and look around, taking inventory of myself, my surroundings, and my belongings.
Jul 31, 2020 12:09 pm
The sea has filled the gravelly, sandy trough that the log canoe had made. The first washes of high tide are upon you. You stand quickly and see nothing of Teoalis. The fire is dead but there is cold, roasted bear and fish on the spit. Good thing to have the fish. The bear is beginning to smell. Your gear is intact with the one uncured pelt rolled up. He had said that the salt was free, but there is never anything free you think. Is the salted hide all that he took? You reach into your coat. The secret pocket that you had sewn into the lining was still stitched, but your face falls as you realize the stitching is much finer than your ability can match. The weight of the 10 gold pieces is gone. Please remove this from your inventory. "A fool and his money..." He didn't even need your tinderbox.
Aug 1, 2020 7:51 pm
I’ve closed the game to applications. We have five players on board. Finishing up back stories...
Aug 2, 2020 4:52 pm
As you pack up and walk a bit further north, you see a outrigger canoe far offshore with a green folk being rowed northward by a seadog, none other than Teoalis.
Aug 2, 2020 5:04 pm
OOC:
sorry about my inactivity. Been a bit off the last few days. Just life getting to me. But I'll bounce back!Last edited August 2, 2020 5:05 pm
Aug 2, 2020 11:24 pm
Hmmm... I've rushed into a fight with a bear, and rushed into trusting a stranger. No need to add a third lesson in humility and how I can't expect life out here to be at all similar to life at home... I quickly make my way out of the open area alone the show, and begin to shadow the canoe, from what I hope is a safe and unnoticeable distance, staying low and sticking to cover whenever I can, but always keeping the canoe in sight. Perhaps... If I am patient, if I plan ahead, I can make the most of this opportunity.
I continue to tail the canoe, watching for it to begin to turn towards land. If i can find a close enough place of cover, maybe I can catch him with his back turned, dragging his canoe ashore. I can wait with my bow at the ready, and confront him before he can set up his defenses. But I'll have to be ready, in case he tries any funny business. I don't want to harm him, or even steal from him. I just want to get back what's mine.
I continue to tail the canoe, watching for it to begin to turn towards land. If i can find a close enough place of cover, maybe I can catch him with his back turned, dragging his canoe ashore. I can wait with my bow at the ready, and confront him before he can set up his defenses. But I'll have to be ready, in case he tries any funny business. I don't want to harm him, or even steal from him. I just want to get back what's mine.
Aug 2, 2020 11:48 pm
A 20 plus your modifier on your stealth roll and you remain hidden. Moving so carefully, you go at half your speed of 30. The canoe easily outpaces you, and the sea dog is strong and accustomed to traveling far in the ocean. Your good luck will not help you, and you lose sight of the two in the distance.
Aug 2, 2020 11:55 pm
Maybe your luck is running out. There seems to be a dark squall of storm brewing out at sea headed your way.
Aug 3, 2020 12:06 am
Ah, screw it. I make my own luck! I step back onto the beach and start to jog along, hoping to catch up to the scoundrel, eyes alert. This squall should drive him to shore. I will make my own luck and catch him unaware as he is focused on the storm.
Aug 3, 2020 12:56 am
That's the spirit! Frankly, I hadn't anticipated you stepping up like this and I had other plans, but huu-ahh, let's take this story where it needs to go!
The storm crashes into land. The gale force of its winds bending the palms back and making the sand fly up in a dance of Plutoq and Azul. Perhaps they had something to do with this unusual storm, but your mind is focused on the prey. You are a hunter. Your favored prey are elementals and he is no different. You can hunt elementals and suddenly you feel the presence of the sea dog in your mind, in a way you have never felt before. You feel him like a point, a sun on the horizon, though the Great Skyhome is black with thunder cloud. You sense him ahead, struggling with forces of nature that are much harder on him than you, your muscles ripped with the strain of your pace, the pain coursing through your body, the rain washing over your furled brow.
You reach a pointe in the beach, a corner of the land that catches the sea and bears the brunt of the storm. The pointe has always been stripped of all sand by wind and rain and only raw rock now stands, bare, water gushing up in great plumes between the outcrops. Debris is now scattered on the rocks which has clawed up the vessel that you were chasing. Strangely out of place, you find a black bear skin and bags and broken boxes. There are no bones or flesh to mark that a body was once in it, except a cloak. The rain hails down upon you. It is dark and your rage goes unfulfilled. The feeling of the presence of your enemy fades from your mind with a pain of its loss, as if a force has drawn him down into the ocean's depth.
You realize you are wet and ache with the exertion. You never even drew your weapons. Your pack and uncured pelt is soaked. The storm continues despite your desire for closure.
The storm crashes into land. The gale force of its winds bending the palms back and making the sand fly up in a dance of Plutoq and Azul. Perhaps they had something to do with this unusual storm, but your mind is focused on the prey. You are a hunter. Your favored prey are elementals and he is no different. You can hunt elementals and suddenly you feel the presence of the sea dog in your mind, in a way you have never felt before. You feel him like a point, a sun on the horizon, though the Great Skyhome is black with thunder cloud. You sense him ahead, struggling with forces of nature that are much harder on him than you, your muscles ripped with the strain of your pace, the pain coursing through your body, the rain washing over your furled brow.
You reach a pointe in the beach, a corner of the land that catches the sea and bears the brunt of the storm. The pointe has always been stripped of all sand by wind and rain and only raw rock now stands, bare, water gushing up in great plumes between the outcrops. Debris is now scattered on the rocks which has clawed up the vessel that you were chasing. Strangely out of place, you find a black bear skin and bags and broken boxes. There are no bones or flesh to mark that a body was once in it, except a cloak. The rain hails down upon you. It is dark and your rage goes unfulfilled. The feeling of the presence of your enemy fades from your mind with a pain of its loss, as if a force has drawn him down into the ocean's depth.
You realize you are wet and ache with the exertion. You never even drew your weapons. Your pack and uncured pelt is soaked. The storm continues despite your desire for closure.
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