(Casual D&D) A Game of Trust

[Guilt Puppy]

[Did you roll my augury?]

(Oh yeah! Sorry...)

You receive no response to the augury... Your oration, however (which, OOC, I must say is one of the finest I've seen in any game) receives a dignified applause from the audience -- one much less raucous than their usual, perhaps indicating that they understand the severity of your quest.

Osbourne stands on a barstool next to you, perhaps to be seen on even ground, or maybe just to get over the heads of the crowd.

"Sir Fendric, we are moved by your words, and you have it on my honor that we shall commit to solidarity against this evil, and to spread the word throughout our extended community!"

A series of ayes rise up from the audience, more and more as others try to join in the chorus. Osbourne has to wave his hands to quiet this down.

"And I would like to ask, as well, if any among us should volunteer to join your numbers in this quest, to further prove our honor in these trying times our elven friend mentions?"

The crowd is more silent after this... You get the sense that these are, by and large, hardly adventuresome folk, more interested in picking grain at home than fighting evil abroad...

(OOC - This might be Furgus' chance to join up -- or not, if you have other plans. Also, doghead, it's entirely possible your character has been here to see all of this, or has just walked in, so it may be your time as well.)

 

[doghead]

Dawn finds the traveller once again on the rise of the hill, his profile a darker shape amoung the trees that stand behind him. For a while he squats, letting the sun's warmth flow into him. There is an almost furtive activity in and around the town. People, little people mostly, slipping quickly between the houses and buildings, carrying and rushing. From within, you probably wouldn't notice it. Of the tall ones, there is nothing to be seen. Interesting, but not as compelling as the prospect of a hot meal and possibly a hotter bath.

Rising smoothly to his feet, he sets off down the hill towards the road, and eventually the town, with a ground eating stride.

The way into town seems to be unattended this morning. So he continues inwards, towards the center of the town, and of the activity as he could see it. It is very quiet now. The few little people he does see seem more intent on getting to the large building which seems to be sucking in the remaining few people in the village.

If nothing else, I should be able to find out where to get a meal and bath, with luck.

***

Out of the silence that has fallen over the room, a figure unfolds himself out of some shadows near the door. Not tall by human standards, he still stands a good few feet over most of those in the room. Squatting he did not, but how did he get in? He wears a loose cloak of sorts that hangs to his knees. He seems to have something tied under his arms and across his back. He has a staff of stout wood in one hand, and a large woven straw bowl in the other. His hair is black and cropped short, his eyes are black also, and oddly inscrutable.

"Yes, I would be interested," He words are clear, but spoken with the caution of one who did not grow up with them. "I have travelled a long way alone and would welcome some company. I know little of some of the things that you speak of, but know something of the trouble and strife men like this Thedoric can cause. Sir Fendric's words my heart knows to be true ones, and wise. I would travel with him and his companions. If they will have me."

 

[dpdx]

Fendric straightens, more than surprised, but definitely happy, to see another 'bigfolk' in the room. "Praise Pelor! And who might you be?"

 

[Uriel]

Niccolo beams at his new Steed, yet another Gift from these most generous of Folk. Speechless (a very rare thing for the Gnome), he turns and waves a thanks at the community, all the while petting his new canine Steed.

OoC:Running to get ready for the Ankle DOctor. I promise a longer and more verse-laden post later...

 

[doghead]

Fendric straightens, more than surprised, but definitely happy, to see another 'bigfolk' in the room. "Praise Pelor! And who might you be?"

"I am Xiao Yu."

 

[dpdx]

[To Xiao Yu, Fendric looks to be a man with elven features and slight build, roughly five and a half feet tall, with hair the color of rope and searching brown eyes. Having just put the gift chain shirt on, and the mantle over it, Fendric looks unarmed, but steady and at least a little sure of himself.]

As the crowd gets back to their revelry, Fendric beckons the monk forward.

"Welcome to our fair band, Xiao Yu. I am Brother Fendric, of the Temple of Pelor in Hedrogura. Perhaps the others would like to introduce themselves..."

 

[Festy_Dog]

Nurthk was speechless when given the gifts, but definitely impressed.

"Well... um... didn't really expect a gift... protecting people is its own reward I like to think, but your gifts are quite welcome nonetheless. Heh, you can rest assured it'll be put to good use," Nurthk says, grinning broadly and putting the vials away safely.

He slips the ring on and admires the craftmanship.

Originally Posted by doghead
"Yes, I would be interested,"

Nurthk jumps in reaction to the unsuspected appearance, his smile hastily discarded.

Grr, let my guard down in a time of apparent safety... shame on me.

Nurthk scrutinizes the mysterious newcomer.

Originally Posted by dpdx
"Welcome to our fair band, Xiao Yu. I am Brother Fendric, of the Temple of Pelor in Hedrogura. Perhaps the others would like to introduce themselves..."

"Nurthk," he introduces himself with, but is obviously not convinced to be welcoming towards Xiou Yu.

[ooc: Nurthk is obviously a half-orc and stands well over 6 feet in height, his black hair is trimmed extremely short but he sports a well kept moustache and goatee.]

 

[Uriel]

Smiling at the newcomer as he pulls his new Violin out of it's case, Niccolo says 'I am Niccolo. Bard and Chronicler of the Band of the White Owl, friend. We have a humble beginning, but an ever more Noble calling, it would seem. If you folks would excuse me, I think that some repayment is in order for these folk for the priceless Gifts that they have given us...


The Gnome straightens his grey vest and brushes some dust from his sleeve, putting Violin to chin, saying to the assembled Halflings,'Good Folk, I would play for you a composition written years ago by a Bard of some note. You may know him, Bontillo Merrywinkle, better known as Bontillo the Bold.' <Bontillo was a famous Halfling Bard who was famed more for his exploits and audiences than for his mastery of the Violin.>
As you know, Bontillo played for many an odd audience and I will play for you Ode to Rauthgur, the famous unfinished Caprice written in honor of the Red Dragon Rauthgur, allegedly to stave off the Beast, who intended to dine upon the young Violinist. The greatest part of the Piece is that he didn't finish it, Bluffing the Dragon into believing that he instead needed to see the great Wyrm out ithe morning air to fully realize his Majesty, and thus the end of the Composition.Well, the story goes that when the dragon left his lair, he just happened to encounter a Storm Giant, who just happened to know where his Lair was, and the two behemoths just happened to become involved in a battle across the mountain,while inside a certain Halfling made off with the Wyrm's entire Hoard in his handy Magic Bag...and now, The Ode to Rauthgur, an unfinished Caprice by Bontillo the Bold.'

<Roll15+13 Skill, 28 total>

Niccolo launches into the piece, his fingers alternatingly a blurring of staccato notes and then a series of long and mournfully bowed ones, pausing to trill the flight of the Folk from Rauthgur's Lands, then launching into an atonal passage for the Knights slain in attempting to kill the Wyrm. Niccolo pauses, using his Dancing Lights and Prestidigitation to fill the air with minute Dragons and Giants, dancing as he played, as well as his Ghost Sound for the Dragon's Roar, all the while plucking pizicatto with his fingers, signifying the little steps of the Bold Bontillo as he stole forth to steal a Dragon's Hoard.
Afterwards, a full ten minutes of playing, the Piece ending abruptly on an ascending scale, the last note hanging in mid air.
Niccolo then plucked a dozen notes wit his fingers, each quieter than before, as if they wee the steps of Bontillo, making his escape with the Loot.

Bowing, Niccolo looks about, sheepishly for a moment, then hoping that he hadn't been too grandiouse for these folk, but knowing that at least some would apprectate the Piece, as some always did in any crowd.

 

[doghead]

As the crowd gets back to their revelry, Fendric beckons the monk forward.

"Welcome to our fair band, Xiao Yu. I am Brother Fendric, of the Temple of Pelor in Hedrogura. Perhaps the others would like to introduce themselves..."

Xiao bows slightly to Fendric and moves into the room.

"Nurthk," he introduces himself with, but is obviously not convinced to be welcoming towards Xiou Yu.

Xiao bows also to the figure towering above him then straightens to meet his gaze. Then he grins.

"I would not completely trust me either if I was you also."

Smiling at the newcomer as he pulls his new Violin out of it's case, Niccolo says 'I am Niccolo. Bard and Chronicler of the Band of the White Owl, friend. ...

Xiao turns to next speaker and again bows.

We have a humble beginning, but an ever more Noble calling, it would seem. If you folks would excuse me, I think that some repayment is in order for these folk for the priceless Gifts that they have given us...

As Niccolo plays, Xiao watches. An observant person might notice that he occasionally touches his chest, as if to reassure himself of the safety of something.

OOC: Thanks for the descriptions. It really helps.

 

[Mithreander]

The above average height halfling in grey swept his brown hair from his eyes with a stead sile still playing on his lips and in his gray/brown eyes. I could accompany them... yes, I could he intones to himself silently as he readies himself to accept the offered position with the group, at least until a monk who seemed to have just walked in accepted the position. The NERVE! Furgus thinks, the seeming ever present sparkle in his eye seeming to ignite in indignation... and pleasure.

Looking at a chair next to him and the table beyond that, Furgus leaps to the back of it, does a hand spring on the back of the chair, which tips at the wrong moment and dumps him painfully onto his back!

OOC: Tumble check: 14 Natural 1!

Grasping for the breath that was knocked out of him he says "I object!"