The Romance of the River Kingdoms
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Dr Simon
Explorer
It is the 12th day of 3rd Month, or the 20th day of Victory Over Want if you are using the ceremonial calender.
The morning is clear and bright, with the leftover fresh tang of rains that fell in the small hours. Annika, Three Flowers and Xielt have met with the Young Vashti in her personal garden for breakfast - tea and steamed dumplings with a variety of sweet and spicy fillings. Jar'Thol arrives, accompanied by a strange, pale salsham'ai. He looks troubled.
"Honoured Vashti, friends, I'm afraid that I can travel with you no longer. I have family business that I must attend to here in Cormondal. This is Mystal Marr. Of all my people here in Cormondal he is the most suited to travelling with you, he is experienced in finding lost people, and trained in the mystical fighting techniques of our cloud-forest lands."
Xielt shifts in his seat. "I'm afraid I too must leave you, this business with the Vashti's bequest has taken longer than I anticipated, and I must leave for home as soon as possible. I am sorry, Honoured Vashti."
The Vashti inclinces her head. "Family needs must come first," she says. "You have already done me great service, the two of you. But where is Growling Ape?"
The acolyte who is serving breakfast looks up. "His room was empty this morning, Honoured Vashti," she says. "Nobody has seen him since last night."
"This is unlike our friend," says Jar'Thol. "Perhaps I can spare some time to try to find him whilst you are investigating these livestock attacks?"
The Vashti thinks for a moment, then sends the acolyte away. Shortly, the young woman returns with two exotic-looking figures, one man and one woman.
"These are Gengoro and Shakou," says the Vashti referring to the man and the woman in turn. "They have recently come to the narvinda in search of... service. Perhaps they can help. Gengoro, Shakou, please, join us. Master Marr, you too."
She turns to the newcomers. "These are Annika, Three Flowers, Jar'Thol and Xielt," she says. "They have recently been attending to matters arising from my late predecessor's will. To the East of Cormondal is an old temple, and in the process of exploring it these people discovered a pack of wolves. The leader of the wolves was intelligent and could speak, some kind of wolf spirit perhaps. Master Jar'Thol here managed to arrange a treaty. In exchange for being left in peace by the people of Cormondal, the wolves would not threaten our livestock.
"Now, to the South of the town, we have reports of livestock being taken, or mauled and left for dead. Master Xielt is sure that it is not wolves doing the taking, which leaves us with the question of what is doing it?
"Master Three Flowers, Mistress Annika and Master Marr here are about to set off on a mission to find out. Master Gengoro, Mistress Shakou, I feel this is a good opportunity for you to repay your debt. It seems... fitting somehow, given the circumstances.
"More tea, anyone?"
[SBLOCK=OOC]
Okay, that should be everyone included. Take the opportunity to describe your character, old players included, whilst we finalise stats matters behind the scenes.
And... we're off!
[/SBLOCK]
The morning is clear and bright, with the leftover fresh tang of rains that fell in the small hours. Annika, Three Flowers and Xielt have met with the Young Vashti in her personal garden for breakfast - tea and steamed dumplings with a variety of sweet and spicy fillings. Jar'Thol arrives, accompanied by a strange, pale salsham'ai. He looks troubled.
"Honoured Vashti, friends, I'm afraid that I can travel with you no longer. I have family business that I must attend to here in Cormondal. This is Mystal Marr. Of all my people here in Cormondal he is the most suited to travelling with you, he is experienced in finding lost people, and trained in the mystical fighting techniques of our cloud-forest lands."
Xielt shifts in his seat. "I'm afraid I too must leave you, this business with the Vashti's bequest has taken longer than I anticipated, and I must leave for home as soon as possible. I am sorry, Honoured Vashti."
The Vashti inclinces her head. "Family needs must come first," she says. "You have already done me great service, the two of you. But where is Growling Ape?"
The acolyte who is serving breakfast looks up. "His room was empty this morning, Honoured Vashti," she says. "Nobody has seen him since last night."
"This is unlike our friend," says Jar'Thol. "Perhaps I can spare some time to try to find him whilst you are investigating these livestock attacks?"
The Vashti thinks for a moment, then sends the acolyte away. Shortly, the young woman returns with two exotic-looking figures, one man and one woman.
"These are Gengoro and Shakou," says the Vashti referring to the man and the woman in turn. "They have recently come to the narvinda in search of... service. Perhaps they can help. Gengoro, Shakou, please, join us. Master Marr, you too."
She turns to the newcomers. "These are Annika, Three Flowers, Jar'Thol and Xielt," she says. "They have recently been attending to matters arising from my late predecessor's will. To the East of Cormondal is an old temple, and in the process of exploring it these people discovered a pack of wolves. The leader of the wolves was intelligent and could speak, some kind of wolf spirit perhaps. Master Jar'Thol here managed to arrange a treaty. In exchange for being left in peace by the people of Cormondal, the wolves would not threaten our livestock.
"Now, to the South of the town, we have reports of livestock being taken, or mauled and left for dead. Master Xielt is sure that it is not wolves doing the taking, which leaves us with the question of what is doing it?
"Master Three Flowers, Mistress Annika and Master Marr here are about to set off on a mission to find out. Master Gengoro, Mistress Shakou, I feel this is a good opportunity for you to repay your debt. It seems... fitting somehow, given the circumstances.
"More tea, anyone?"
[SBLOCK=OOC]
Okay, that should be everyone included. Take the opportunity to describe your character, old players included, whilst we finalise stats matters behind the scenes.
And... we're off!
[/SBLOCK]
Last edited:
Neurotic
I plan on living forever. Or die trying.
Mystal Marr
His feature all but hidden in deep cowl and his black and gray cloak swirling around him like tendrils of mist, small salsham'ai barely lifts his head:
"Good to meet you all. My blade is at Vashti service. You may yet earn the right for it to be in your service."
Those looking closely (or low) enough see very pale skin and might catch a glimpse of pink eyes looking sharply at them under the cowl. Fingers on his legs are also visible under the cloak and they too show that same unnatural (for shalsam'ai) paleness. Behind him, small rapier pokes between serrated edges of his cloak. He's standing almost unnaturaly still, without usual shifting of balance usual for tree-folk on land, without small movements of head or hands.
OOC: unfortunately, I'm not good enough with photoshop to add hands instead of boots and to remove edges from the sword so it looks like rapier, but this is Mystal as close as I can get it.
His feature all but hidden in deep cowl and his black and gray cloak swirling around him like tendrils of mist, small salsham'ai barely lifts his head:
"Good to meet you all. My blade is at Vashti service. You may yet earn the right for it to be in your service."
Those looking closely (or low) enough see very pale skin and might catch a glimpse of pink eyes looking sharply at them under the cowl. Fingers on his legs are also visible under the cloak and they too show that same unnatural (for shalsam'ai) paleness. Behind him, small rapier pokes between serrated edges of his cloak. He's standing almost unnaturaly still, without usual shifting of balance usual for tree-folk on land, without small movements of head or hands.
OOC: unfortunately, I'm not good enough with photoshop to add hands instead of boots and to remove edges from the sword so it looks like rapier, but this is Mystal as close as I can get it.
Attachments
(OOC: What's Narvinda mean?)
Shakou entered the room with a somewhat bored expression on her face, carrying her basic equipment and analyzing the companions present. It would seem she and Gengoro would now have some muscle to back up their tricks. That should prove useful. Now she didn't have to be the main one up front... she could use her skills to a greater advantage.
Shade's appearance was of course rather exotic, as was noted before. The primary causes for this was her exotic haid and eyes. Her hair was a fairly obvious hint at her heritage, a fairly bright orange broken by streaks of black, framing a fairly pretty face, if one didn't know better by her posture and dress, one might mistake her for a higher noble. Her eyes were a golden amber, with pupils that didn't quite match with a normal humans. Cat-like slits replaced the usual orbs within her sclera, granting her superior vision in low lighting.
Hearing Vashti mention a debt, Shakou frowned and grumbled quietly to herself.
"A debt isn't something to be extorted..." It was obvious that Shakou wasn't precisely in the situation by choice, but she also was making no effort to separate herself from the situation. She and Gengoro did what they had done to capitalize on their skills, not to punish or hurt others. After all, a rogue and a Worshipper of a mischievious god... what else would you expect?
After hearing more about the situation, Shakou frowned and spoke aloud this time.
"Wolves to the EAST, and you're having trouble's with livestock in the SOUTH? Isn't it fairly obvious someone's trying to cause trouble between Cormondal and the wolves? Perhaps someone wants to chase the wolves out of the temple grounds so they can excavate any remaining treasure out unmolested... either that, or they want the treaty broken so the wolves will continue harassing Cormondal to distract from something else... perhaps brigands want to try and overtake the town?"
Shakou stopped speaking then, moving to lean against a nearby wall to wait for the others to speak and discuss the issue at hand.
Shakou entered the room with a somewhat bored expression on her face, carrying her basic equipment and analyzing the companions present. It would seem she and Gengoro would now have some muscle to back up their tricks. That should prove useful. Now she didn't have to be the main one up front... she could use her skills to a greater advantage.
Shade's appearance was of course rather exotic, as was noted before. The primary causes for this was her exotic haid and eyes. Her hair was a fairly obvious hint at her heritage, a fairly bright orange broken by streaks of black, framing a fairly pretty face, if one didn't know better by her posture and dress, one might mistake her for a higher noble. Her eyes were a golden amber, with pupils that didn't quite match with a normal humans. Cat-like slits replaced the usual orbs within her sclera, granting her superior vision in low lighting.
Hearing Vashti mention a debt, Shakou frowned and grumbled quietly to herself.
"A debt isn't something to be extorted..." It was obvious that Shakou wasn't precisely in the situation by choice, but she also was making no effort to separate herself from the situation. She and Gengoro did what they had done to capitalize on their skills, not to punish or hurt others. After all, a rogue and a Worshipper of a mischievious god... what else would you expect?
After hearing more about the situation, Shakou frowned and spoke aloud this time.
"Wolves to the EAST, and you're having trouble's with livestock in the SOUTH? Isn't it fairly obvious someone's trying to cause trouble between Cormondal and the wolves? Perhaps someone wants to chase the wolves out of the temple grounds so they can excavate any remaining treasure out unmolested... either that, or they want the treaty broken so the wolves will continue harassing Cormondal to distract from something else... perhaps brigands want to try and overtake the town?"
Shakou stopped speaking then, moving to lean against a nearby wall to wait for the others to speak and discuss the issue at hand.
Dr Simon
Explorer
OOC: Narvinda is basically a word for a temple, but it carries more secular connotations of a place of meditation, learning and refuge. It originates from the northern mountainous province of Ut'Bharma, but the followers of the Great Sage Manrupashnar often use the term since they follow a philosophy rather than worship gods.
"That's what we thought," says the Vashti to Shakou. "Xielt and Growling Ape studied the carcass of a goose killed in these raids, and determined that it wasn't killed by wolves. The farmers assumed it was the wolves, but whether somebody is deliberately trying to provoke that reaction, that's what we hope to find out."
"There is something else you may need to know," says Xielt in a low rumble. "Whilst we were exploring upriver, we found some mines that had been abandoned. We were attacked by this... creature, which may have been one of the miners once, infected with a disease. When I examined the goose, it had a similar smell to that creature - of something wrong, unnatural. The things that killed it used claws, the creature at the mines did not, but perhaps whatever is killing the geese is similar."
"That's what we thought," says the Vashti to Shakou. "Xielt and Growling Ape studied the carcass of a goose killed in these raids, and determined that it wasn't killed by wolves. The farmers assumed it was the wolves, but whether somebody is deliberately trying to provoke that reaction, that's what we hope to find out."
"There is something else you may need to know," says Xielt in a low rumble. "Whilst we were exploring upriver, we found some mines that had been abandoned. We were attacked by this... creature, which may have been one of the miners once, infected with a disease. When I examined the goose, it had a similar smell to that creature - of something wrong, unnatural. The things that killed it used claws, the creature at the mines did not, but perhaps whatever is killing the geese is similar."
Neurotic
I plan on living forever. Or die trying.
"Great! Now we have to seek diseased creature in the middle of populated area. Any more good news? Anyhow, I suggest we go to the farms and set up an ambush. I can even hide in goose pens."
This last one is said in tones that betray how 'thrilled' he is with the prospect.
"Also, if we need to speak to the wolves again, what's the name of the leader? Assuming they use names."
This last one is said in tones that betray how 'thrilled' he is with the prospect.
"Also, if we need to speak to the wolves again, what's the name of the leader? Assuming they use names."
Blackrat
He Who Lurks Beyond The Veil
The beautiful (if you dared to use that word when speaking of a man) young human sat crosslegged at the table and nodded at the offer of more tea. He looked more like a living statue than mortal, his features like a perfect painting. You could not find an inch of him that wasn't perfectly stylish with noble clothing and perfect flowing motion. He raised the teacup to his lips, took a sip and examined the newcomers.
A friend just met
To replace one lost
River of life
The exotic beauty of Shakou took Three Flowers by surprice but he said nothing. It would be a delight to journey with these newcomers...
A friend just met
To replace one lost
River of life
The exotic beauty of Shakou took Three Flowers by surprice but he said nothing. It would be a delight to journey with these newcomers...
Dr Simon
Explorer
Jar'Thol smiles and pats Mystal on the shoulder.
"Oh, come now Cousin," he says. "You'll enjoy it, when things aren't trying to kill you!" He looks thoughtful for a moment. "We didn't get any names from the wolves. The leader is the size of a pony with a grey back. He was the only one who spoke to us."
"Oh, come now Cousin," he says. "You'll enjoy it, when things aren't trying to kill you!" He looks thoughtful for a moment. "We didn't get any names from the wolves. The leader is the size of a pony with a grey back. He was the only one who spoke to us."
Neurotic
I plan on living forever. Or die trying.
"Actualy, I think I'll enjoy more when things TRY to kill me. Just so I can look at their surprise as they draw their last breath. I'm not like you, cousin."
Last one was spoken with emphasis and to those discerning of such things, not a friendly one.
Last one was spoken with emphasis and to those discerning of such things, not a friendly one.
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