Plumeir nods at Taylar and gives a gesture of peace, common to the Maldrog miners. "Danke für dein Vertrauen, which is to say thank you for your confidence. You referred to Outpost but I think that you meant here at the Mines. I will show you where I crossed. I do not wish to see this happen again. I will be searching for these children until something is found. I thank you for the assistance."
OOC:
Plumeir is 75% proficient in Maldrog, due to working around the miners. d100 = 75
Crossing the river during the Drenching Season was a difficult task. The river was at its fullest and the salmon were swimming upstream. Those communities along its banks, other than the mining operation, had boats and nets in the water to partake in the bountiful stock. The abductors did not have boats. They would have had to have crossed by wading or swimming, while carrying captives in tow. The water was cold, and the current was fairly strong. Astarte, Plumeir, and Taylar crossed as they suspected the kidnappers to have done. Though activity was known to be in the river up and downstream from the mines, nothing could be seen in either direction. It was simply too far.
The three exited the river on the other side, somewhat downstream from where they had entered. It was difficult to think about anything other than wanting to be drier and warmer, but no one complained. Plumeir walked up and down the river bank for a few minutes until he gestured to where he thought the enemy had previously exited, saying that he had originally discovered a single boot print. He repeated the significance of the fact the kidnappers had been shod. Though miners, soldiers, and clergy wore boots, indigenous clans were always barefooted, as were most other people. The wearing of boots seemed significant, but Plumeir did not know why.
The remainder of the day was spent close to the river, traveling short distances inland along discovered game trails looking for clues. As dusk was imminent, camp and a fire were made, with nothing to show for a day’s effort. There was little hope for staying dry, but if no heavy rain fell, the fire was partially protected by stacking rocks around it.
Taylar: full wellness Astarte: full wellness Plumeir: full wellness
OOC:
Each character receives 5 DP. State nominal actions and provide a random roll.
By the river Taylar examines the surroundings, looking at plants and where a booted foot might have left a mark, or where someone might have cut foliage out of the way. He considers the best way to exit the area, especially if forcing someone along. He pays close attention to find where any of the captives might have left clues to their direction.
Taylar says, "Is it possible the captors had some way of controlling them? These mystery people abduct these youths, drag them across a difficult river crossing, and on this side there is no sign of them? I suspect we are dealing with a powerful contingent with more complicated motivations than sacrificial victims or forced labor. Most strange."
That night Taylar will manipulate waylines and meditate on this mystery, hoping to spark some vision that will aid them in their quest.
Plumeir lifts his left hand and nods at Taylar. "I thought about that, myself. I do not have an answer for you, but here is what I concluded. As skilled as these captors must be, herded children would leave all sorts of clues. I think they are being carried, but I do not know how. Cannibals would take younger children so I think that these are alive, but immobilized in some way, making them easier to transport. I agree with you, too. I think we are dealing with a complicated issue. Perhaps the coming Dawn will shed new light."
Plumeir has no special divination skill nor any particular rapport with a deity, even though he offered some reverence to Dawn. He will set some snares and make a crude spear to see if he can acquire any salmon.
"Or the abductor(s) somehow convinced these kids to follow him/her/them.."Astarte says both to herself and her companions while thoughtfully looking around. Still deep in her thoughts, she will search the area for any clues they could miss, as well as some edible and useful plants and brushwood.
Taylar is thoughtful for a moment and replies, "I had not considered that. I have only looked at this as a kidnapping. We will still find the missing, but if they wish to remain where they are of their own free will, I will not force them to return."
Plumeir runs his right hand through his hair, pulling it back from his face and slings the moisture away. "I have had the misfortune of dealing with some Kinamins and Deviards in the past. You may be correct, Astarte. We may be looking for benders. Since we are away from anyone else and on the subject, I will go ahead and just tell you that I do in fact have the talent to bend waylines. I am particularly skilled in Hermetics, similar to what the Kinamins do. I am not afraid to face those who can perform a mystical assault."
Taylar nods. "I suspected you had the talent, but I like to let people do their own reveals. Of course I suspected it because I also have the ability to manipulate waylines. My talent is not as developed as some of my friends, but I am able to enhance my fighting capabilities. I was actually going to try something new and see if I could use my dreams to give us a clue as to the direction our targets have gone. From experience if we work together, we will enhance our success."
Astarte and Plumeir leave Taylar to himself as they attend to their more mundane pursuits. It is currently the wrong season for much in the way of vegetable matter, except for tubers. Astarte finds the bulbs of several vines that were growing along the river bank, collecting enough of the edible root for several servings. Plumeir set his snares and tries his hand at some fishing while Astarte adds more wood to the fire in order to make a coal base to cook the tubers.
Plumeir is also rather fortunate in his attempts to provide meat. In short order he returns to camp with three decently sized salmon, which are prepared to be eaten immediately. His snares also produce a couple of fat rodents, which can be slow smokes to make jerky for travel.
Undisturbed, Taylar closes his eyes and lets his mind drift, guided by the desire to ascertain the specifics of the passing of captured youths. His skin prickles as he realizes that he has tapped into a wealth of previously undiscovered knowledge. It is far more than he is currently able to understand but it seems like his mind is coordinating all data previously seen, heard, and smelled by anything near his location. Certainty cannot be guaranteed, but it seems like anything moving through the area is more likely to move somewhat inland and then follow the river. There are not even any definitive game trails leading directly inland, and there is absolutely no sign of a forced passage that a person would make. Though being across the river, half a day of travel should bring the party near the known Centrin village.
Taylar: full wellness Astarte: full wellness Plumeir: full wellness
OOC:
Each character receives 5 DP. State nominal actions and provide a random roll.
After coming out of his trance, Taylar tells his companions, "We have learned what we can here. We should follow the river to the Centrin village. I don't know if any of those people are involved, but we can at least question them about anything unusual they might have seen."
He will help with preparing the food and other other camp chores.
Each square represents about 2 hours of travel. The Mining Operation is about 4 hours north of Outpost. The Centrin village is about 6 hours north of the mine.
Away from the river, only a few strides, there was very little undergrowth, due to the enormity of the towering conifers. They were notably larger on this side of the river than on the eastern side, apparently growing even larger farther to the West. A game trail, seemingly used by every denizen of the forest including people, followed the path of the river, but nothing of note was seen going more inland. Fortunately, by the morning, the rain was no longer falling and travel proved easier.
Midday had not yet brought the investigators to their immediate destination but it should not have been much farther. Continuing on, after resting for a bit, by mid afternoon the sounds of voices could be heard coming from the direction of the river, before anything could be seen through the thicker foliage nearer the bank. Coming to a definitive cross path along the game trail, the current path continued on but another led to the river bank and farther into the forest, westward.
Able to see the river from this vantage point but not yet be seen, Centrins were out on the water in canoes, using nets to capture salmon. The chatter was nothing more than usual conversation. The Centrin village was likely directly across the river from the party’s current location. If the kidnapers had followed the same path, which seemed the only possible option, they could have gone north or west to get away from civilization. To speak to the Centrins, the party would need to cross back over the river or hail a boat to see if passage would be granted.
Taylar: full wellness Astarte: full wellness Plumeir: full wellness
OOC:
Each character receives 5 DP. State nominal actions and provide a random roll.
Taylar says, "We should speak with these people to see if they have seen anything regarding the missing youths. We should also ask about the area, landmarks and the best way to move around. My centrin is not fluent, so one of you will have to do the talking. Tell them we will trade or pay for a ride across."
Taylar will stand on the river edge and wave to the canoers with a friendly smile.
"I know Centrin, so I can speak with these people. You could too, as I can translate. There're sure a lot of things you'll find out you wish to ask them about as the conversation progress."
Astarte will greet them and tell that the missing kids are Plumeir's relatives (if they're gray) or Taylar's or hers (if they're look more similar to them). Otherwise, she'll tell them the youngsters are somehow related to her by marriage. While pretending that The Party consists of a worried relative and his/her friends that for one cycle have been searching for the young wayward escapists, Astarte will enhance her senses to find out if these Centrin people are hiding anything, have some bad intentions or tendencies, fear something, or are simply lying. She intends to ask a simple questions (like did you see the kids with this and that look a cycle ago; which way they went; were they alone or found some company; were they fine, or rather sick or hungry; etc.).
When The Party finally leaves, she'll obscure her presence and quietly go back to overhear if the people say anything about the younglings that they did not tell her and her friends.
Please use the rolls from the post #27: 98 71
Plumeir responds to Taylar. "Yes, I have visited this village before, but I have not spoken with them lately or in any capacity regarding the missing youths. I can speak Centrin fairly well, but I think it best for Astarte to do most of the talking."
Since the Centrin people are known to be friendly and open with strangers, Plumeir will stand near the bank with Taylar. The river is a bit loud this time of year, so he will whistle with his fingers, then wave, as well.
The closest people in boats waved back and then appeared to be in conversation with one another, momentarily. They pulled in their seine and deposited the fish in their boats, which were draw together as the net was retrieved. One then stood and gestured overtly, attempting to communicate, since he could not be heard. He seemed to be indicating that the three people should wait, but he then took the boat in the wrong direction. Leaving their boats upon the eastern bank, others came to collect the fish while the two men each took another canoe and poled back across the river toward the waiting party.
As the men steadied their crafts near the shore to talk, one of the men gestured at Taylar and said in Centrin, which Astarte translated, “I know you. You were one of the people who came to help our village many cycles back. You are one of the Outliers. The clerk I also recognize; but the lady translating what I say, I do not know.”
The man then introduced himself and his friend and inquired as to the party’s need. The two men took the three across the river, Taylar in one boat and Plumeir and Astarte in the other. The older villagers could communicate, somewhat, in Markidian, and everyone offered pleasantries.
The community, called The Vineyard, was given its name by others of the region, due to the active cultivation and selective propagation of native grape vines, to produce a sweeter variety. The vines are meticulously tended to grow over manufactured trellis work rather than scaling up the conifers. As the vines are just beginning to bud, residents are tilling compost into the soil to enhance the growth of the plants. The tiny community is only composed of nine families, and no one is indicated as a community leader. Once enough time has been allotted for courtesy, a few of the older villages gather to ask if anything of note brings the visitors.
Plumeir was already familiar with these villagers; but in just a few minutes, both Taylar and Astarte feel self-assured that these people are genuinely forthright.
Taylar: full wellness Astarte: full wellness Plumeir: full wellness
OOC:
Each character receives 5 DP. State nominal actions and provide a random roll.
Taylar smiles and says in his broken Centrin, "Yes. I am that warrior. Good to be back here."
He trusts his partners to ask the right questions, but he says in Maldrog, "I am suspicious of the one that left in the boat. If our enemy has the ability to deceive those youths into following them, then they could deceive these villagers too."
While Astarte and Plumeir speak with the villagers, Taylar will manipulate waylines to increase his senses and focus on observing. He is looking for anything suspicious.
"Dann sollten Sie ihm diskret folgen. Wenn Sie Glück haben, können Sie ihn bis zu dem Ort verfolgen, an dem er sich gerade bewegt, und wer weiß, was Sie dort finden können. Ich würde an deiner Stelle gehen, aber ich kann nicht schwimmen, und wenn ich Kanu nehme, könnte er es sehen. Wenn einer dieser Leute nach dir fragt, können wir ihm mitteilen, dass du vergessen hast, deine Fallen zu überprüfen oder so."
Then you should follow him discreetly. If you are lucky, you could track him to the place where he's moving now and who knows what you can find out there. I'd go instead of you, but I can't swim and if I took canoe, he could spot it. If any of these people will ask for you, we can tell them you forgot to check your snares or something.
Astarte abandons her plan to pretending that the missing kids are their relatives, as there's no more need of it. She's still gonna ask the Centrins the same questions as she planned; but as she now knows, that she can trust them, she'll also inquire them about everything they noticed about the compannions of the missing youngsters.
With a broad smile, Taylar motions at his six-and a half foot frame, and replies to Astarte in Maldrog "Discreetly is not one of my strengths, and I doubt I could catch up with him now. We should stay together anyway for safety. I have a strange feeling that we are already being watched."
With a serious tone he says, "If you would like to swim, I can teach you. It can save your life, and you can have a lot of fun splashing around with Star Wolfess after we return home."
Plumeir listens intently to the conversations in Maldrog, hoping to increase his limited knowledge. As his position with the mining operations is, apparently, known, he will attempt to facilitate the inquiry into the missing children, deferring to Astarte when speaking to help further rapport. He will also visibly observe the village to see if he perceives anything to be amiss.
