The Wilderness: Arriving at the Keep

[shaidar]

Stobart

When the plate is put before Stobart he asks:

"Offering? To who? I give my thanks to Fharlanghn every morning when I wake and every night before I go to sleep. Any who wish to join me are always welcome."

[Jernau35]

Gyb the Meager

Gyb shades his eyes and through force of will tries to make his vision zoom in on the large grey creature. "Is it? Really?", he murmers. "No, drunken ale-tales they were!"

When Thirteen Twojawspasses around his plate, Gyb pulls out three silver pieces. "For the poor, yes? You promise? he says, looking at the half-orc wide-eyed.

[gurusql]

Renna

"I think it best to make my own offering, but thank you for the option."

[sastaz]

Sylla strides elegantly beside the others in her remarkably clean deep blue travelling dress. She pauses as well to take in the sight of the keep perching in the distance.

"I somehow thought it would be bigger. Extremely heavy construction, like a big chunk of rock. I guess it has some kind of primeval charm to it."

Clearly stunned by the cascade of greetings and remarks around her, she takes a few steps back and approaches Renna.

"Be praised Renna, it pleases me greatly to find a fellow elf way out here. I see you studied the arts as well. Maybe I have even heard of you somewhere? But sister, where is your formal attire? Are you not doing service here? You spoke of your brother?"

At some point, she also walks up to and addresses Gyb. Unsure how to approach, she delivers a formal nod of the head to show respect.

"Pleased to make your acquaintance good sir....Gyb? I am Sylla Lontharra, holy sister answering to Her Majesty the Empress. I could not help to overhear that you spent your days in this area some fifteen years ago, yes? If you don't mind, I'd like to inquire further about that, if you would do me the honor?" She crosses her hands over her dress, patiently waiting for an answer.

[Stirling]

Crabgrass

Another half-blood, of elven and human heritage. High cheekbones and pointed ears, trimmed goatee and often a nose deep in pages of books, arcane or clerical. He presents as a scholar, indeed his garb overflows with pockets and pouches, bits of candle wick, odd sheafs of parchment, holy symbols, clockwork gizmos.

He drops a coin, a gold upon the offering plate. It clatterd heavily as his left fingers are not as dextrous; a prosthetic with manipulative digits that can carry and hold basic items.

I was going to give him a wooden leg as a result of his 6 dex but though that might come across too piratey.

"Divine favours. We may all need them. I have heard many clerics are in disfavour. We should trust in our own gods and create our own favours.

Toss a coin to our Witcher, in this Valley of Plenty."


He figures we all have some vocational call to journey here, if Thirteen's relates to his mother's, then her name or reputation may be held dear by him.

"A mezuzah radiating some protection or blessing sounds an apt aspiration."

What you think about that beast yonder? Ever seen one before?"

large, grey. An elephant?

[GreyWolfVT]

Pimlan furrows his brow at the idea of a plate for offerings "huh? Offerings to what? I don't pray to any gods mister. But if your going to give money to the poor folk I'll take care of my own hand outs thank you kindly." he passes the plate on. "Hmm, well speaking of hearing things. I asked everyone I found on my way here and not many gave much good information. All the humans would say was, It’s an area filled with monsters from the mountains. Or how could anyone in their right mind live in such a dangerous area? And the Caves of Chaos are overrun with goblins.” he sighs "But that's rumors for you hard to say what holds truth." he says shaking his head. "But my fellow halflings did give me better info to go on. According to them there is still plenty of treasure to be found in them old caves. Everyone knows that when one monster gets killed, or run off, another eventually takes over the lair. Only so many good places to live out in the wild, after all. So, them caves never stay empty for very long." he says with a bit of a grin on his face, as he begins to skip around. "Maybe, we'll end up in some bard's song or tales told round the campfires. If we clear the caves of chaos that is."

[ateno]

Keya Redd - Ranger / Cleric of Rillifane Rallathil

Keya runs up from behind, he obviously had been running a bit.

His charismatic finly woven straw hat dyed green with laurel leaves sewn into it is flipping as his approaches.

"Sorry for the delay, I was taking the last moment in the forest to be with Rillifane before staying at the keep. Interesting forest, a lot less predators and a lot less animal life in general. That's why it was overgrown. Probably influence of people.

Takes a breath and drinks from his skin.

His green cloak is tied back showing his armor covered in light green leather, his green hardened leather helm is hanging off his belt.

"What's with the plate?"

Keya

[gurusql]

Sylla strides elegantly beside the others in her remarkably clean deep blue travelling dress. She pauses as well to take in the sight of the keep perching in the distance.
Clearly stunned by the cascade of greetings and remarks around her, she takes a few steps back and approaches Renna.

"Be praised Renna, it pleases me greatly to find a fellow elf way out here. I see you studied the arts as well. Maybe I have even heard of you somewhere? But sister, where is your formal attire? Are you not doing service here? You spoke of your brother?"

"Holy Sister Sylla Lontharra. Likewise, any friendly face is nice to see out here. Perhaps we should compare notes when we and if we have some time. My experience is that formal attire does not survive the wilderness, I hope your experience is different. My brother came to these cave many years ago and told me of some caves that may be a better use of our time. Perhaps you would like to join me in the exploration of the same.

[Jernau35]

Gyb

Gyb's jaw drops at being addressed by Sylla. "Well...er... Gyb I am, yes. I was here but then I was a boy, a man barely."

"I rode the wagons delivering the Saltstone. All over the land. Gyb remembers bits and pieces only. Strange it might seem to bring much 'stone to a place like this. But all the brave men and women here fetch so much treasure from the caves, they want only the very best. And of course, the lord of the Keep has only the best for himself. Why not? Gyb would want that too, if Gyb was lord of such a fine place".

[Spearmint]

Thirteen Twojaws

"Offering? To who? I give my thanks to Fharlanghn

"Then I will light your candle and pray to him on your behalf."

"For the poor, yes? You promise?

"The blessings are reserved for those who give. May we both be blessed so that the Poor and Needy are comforted by our tithes and mercy."

He drops a coin, a gold upon the offering plate.

"May your generous heart prosper and be in health as your soul prospers."

"What's with the plate?"

Offerings each. We should give thanks for a safe journey. Destiny calls and we have answered but Fates must be tempered by Favour and obtaining divine pleasures ... blessings are reserved for those who give thanks each time they cross the Keep threshold.

[shaidar]

Thirteen Twojaws

"Offering? To who? I give my thanks to Fharlanghn

"Then I will light your candle and pray to him on your behalf."

Stobart

"As a priest of Fharlanghn I do not need you to intercede with him on my behalf. The offer is generous, but not required."

[Scott308]

Crobeus - Human Paladin

When Thirteen and his offering plate come round to him, Crobeus pulls out his coin purse, dropping one platinum coin on the plate, looking the half-orc in the eyes as he does so. "Make sure these get to the needy."

Hearing Pimlan mention goblins, the paladin's interest is piqued. "Gobs you say? Yes, that makes sense now. I saw small humanoids that approached the edge of light from our camp a number of nights, but we were too large a group and had watches posted so they dared not come too close. A smaller group traveling in this area must maintain a constant readiness and vigilance lest the creatures show a bit more spine.

He then questions Sylla and Gyb. "You seem to have some knowledge of the beast out yonder," he says, pointing toward the large grey creature. "What manner of creature is that? Does it represent a threat to us or others in the area?

[Darithe]

Magdal

So many people, Magdal thinks as she stands on the tiptoes of her soft boots, trying to get a good look at those all around. Her peering is interrupted as the short man near her speaks. She looks down at a familiar face, one in truth she had cursed when he messed up not one but two orders from both the baker's and the butcher's in Longspear. Those messed up orders had gotten her a stern reprimand from her dear mother and extra chores. And in her mind, Madgal had named the delivery boy Pimple to remind her of the unpleasantness he had brought her way. But her mind, filled at the wonder and excitement of being farther from home than she had ever traveled before, erased that name, for the moment anyway, as she looked down at him, "PIM!," she exclaimed. "That is your name isn't it?," though Pimple tried to push its way out of her tongue, she managed to quench that word before it came to full fruition. She smiles widely truly glad to see someone she knew, this far from home.

And then the sight of another she knew she had seen about town. She turned to Dredd and says, "You probably don't remember me, but I remember you," she grins. "You were in my ma's inn once and I saw you nearly break Gart Duble's hand when he got fresh with my half-sister Sadra. He wasn't so quick the pinch the rears of my sisters when they tending bar after that, I can tell you. My name is Magdal Haldeene." She looks at the crowd and then at the great stone structure, her eyes wide and filled with wonder.

When the plate was passed around she had expected there to be food on it, but was disappointed to see only a few meager coins. She thought for a moment, she was expected to wash it, for she had done more then her fair share of dishes at the inn. But then realized it was for an offering of sorts. So she dug down into her nearly empty coin purse and fished out a silver, putting it on the plate. Her stomach rumbled and she wondered if she'd have enough coin for food and a bed this night. Then she saw that handsome man in shining armor place a platinum piece on the plate and she near fainted. He must be rich, she thought. And then Pimple...er I mean Pim went over and spoke to him. She tried to summon words but none came so she merely stood by quietly as they talked.

[GreyWolfVT]

Pimlan smiles hearing his nickname so far from home finally he beams a smile at Magdal "Haha! You do remember me. Though If I remember your mother got me fired. Heard she had some other name for me but I don't pay no mind to that. Some of us called you Mags or Maggie. But that's not the same any way. Glad you remember me." he smiles big and skips around.

Hearing Crobeus pay attention to him he scurries over to the Paladin. "Yup gobos. That's what they told me anyways. Hmm, that is some neato armor you got on there. Are you some sort of knight, mister?" he asks Crobeus.

[ateno]

Offerings each. We should give thanks for a safe journey. Destiny calls and we have answered but Fates must be tempered by Favour and obtaining divine pleasures ... blessings are reserved for those who give thanks each time they cross the Keep threshold.

"Ah I will off my gatherings from earlier, large bundles of wild garlic, rosemary, mint and a pound of berries,

Keya

[Jernau35]

Crobeus - Human Paladin

He then questions Sylla and Gyb. "You seem to have some knowledge of the beast out yonder," he says, pointing toward the large grey creature. "What manner of creature is that? Does it represent a threat to us or others in the area?

Gyb

"There is a story. Many places, for many miles around, you will hear it. Often over ales in a tavern. Many ales." Gyb grins, looking slightly embarrassed.

"The Mystic Mastic they name it. But what it is and what is does, folks know little of that. Where it goes, strange things are seen. Cottages appear in the forest one day and disappear the next. The ruin of a castle will be seen and remain for years, then," Gyb snaps his fingers. "gone! Just gone!"

"There are some, a few, who will say they have seen the Mystic Mastic. A mountain they say it is, a walking mountain! What a thing to see!"

"Dangerous it sounds, doesn't it? Fear not! Even should that be the Mystic Mastic, many soldiers there are in the keep, and horses. Seen them all I have, all of them. They would rush to protect us, certainly. And all the brave men and women too".

[Quonundrum]

Meinhardt

Meinhardt is cordial with his fellow travellers, quiet and reserved, but not in a rude or dismissive way. He claims to originally hail from the Great Kingdom of Aerdy far to the east, though yielding very little background of his life there. He does offer that he had worked as a salt water navigator until fairly recently. The small town of Saltmarsh being his last port of call. "I heard that an old ... acquaintance ... of mine may have passed through here. I had nearly forgot about him."

As the caravan travels near to the Keep, he gazes about the landscape, occassionally fixating on unusual features, deep in thought. When Loyn asks if any had previously visited the Keep, he doesn't reply himself, yet carefully observes those who do. Thirteen's request for alms is met with indifference. "Fate is the fire in which we burn."

While a few of the group attempt to identify the distant beast, he sidles up to one of the elfs. "Renna, is it? I am interested in accompanying you to these caves. If I may ask, what is your brother's name?"

[GreyWolfVT]

Pimlan listening to everything else everyone else is talking about just adds in "Before I go off anywhere I gotta stop in at the Keep and look for a Mouse. Apparently he has intel on the Caves. Yes, a man named Mouse, I know such an unusual name but that is who my sources said to seek out. I mean it's not as unusual as it would have been if it was a mouse named Man, but that would just be silly. Say has anyone ever met the fellow, or heard of him?" he asks the group more out of curiosity.

[gurusql]

Renna

"Meinhardt would love to have you join my little adventure. My brother's name was Jenno."

[ateno]

"Many here seem to have information or a contact at this keep, how fortuitous. my father died here, I doubt I can find his grave, but his group passed his gear to my mother, included is a map, I have no idea where, does anyone have skill with topography?

Keya