[IC] Shamutani Hills - psi/gng

[doghead]

November 13, into the Hills

Caleb is soon swallowed up by the forest as the path leaves the flat open land and begins to snake its way up out of the valley. Every now and then you catch sight of Caleb up ahead through the trees. But once he sees you, he gives a gaunty wave and heads off at a trot again. After about a quarter of an hour of this you finally come upon him sitting waiting for you in a small open area on the saddle of a ridge. The path separates here, one going off along the ridge and up into the hills, the other winding its way down the other side of the saddle into a valley.

As you get closer, you realise that Caleb is not just waiting for you, he is talking to a large tree. Which appears to be talking back. But at this distance (about 100 feet) it is difficult to make out what is being said.

 

[Sado]

Casparan

"I agree, Bendyn," Casparan says. "I've had enough of this one's antics."

Taking a moment to become focused, he urges his mount forward at a quick trot to overtake the guide and find out what he is up to.

 

[Scotley]

Bendyn Human Fighter/Psion

Bendyn follows, but does nothing else that could be seen as hostile.

 

[doghead]

November 13, at the junction.

Casparan heels his mount forwards, and a moment later, Bendyn follows his lead. As the two of you get to about half way to where Caleb is, you realise that there is a man in the tree, perched up on one of the lower branches.

The man in the tree cries out weakly, "Good sirs, save me from this ruffian!"

Caleb snarls back, "Why you conniving little blaggard, I'll 'ave you I will." He drops his crossbow to his side and, hooking the stirrup over his foot, reaches down and cocks it.

 

[Scotley]

Bendyn Human Fighter/Psion

Bendyn hurries forward and tries to lighten the tense situation. "Well, Caleb you have some mighty strange birds around these parts. Just what have you treed this morning?"

OOC: Does the man in the tree look familiar?

 

[doghead]

November 13, at the junction

Caleb spins around in his saddle, his cocked (but unloaded) crossbow in hand, a nasty look on his face.

"Nothing really. Just an old man. He says he knows me but I don't know him from a bar of soap."

"I do know him!" squeeks the other man. "He's a villain, just like the rest of them from Cantopanti."

"Shut it old man!" snarls Caleb. "Just 'cos we are poor don't make us no thieves and rogues."

 

[Sado]

Casparan

Not sure what to make of these developments, Casparan readies his mind blade and shield.

"Lower the weapon," he orders Caleb. "What exactly is going on here?"

To the man in the tree: "Who are you? And what is your business with our guide?"

(If Caleb or the man in the tree make any hostile move against the party, Casparan will throw his mind blade at them when he is in range)

 

[doghead]

November 13, at the junction.

Caleb, who has been waving the around the unloaded crossbow to punctuate his argument, look a bit puzzled at Casparen's suggestion. "Oh this!" he says realising what Casparen was talking about. "Its not even loaded." But he releases the catch anyway, and the cord slaps back into place.

The old man begins to chortle. "Your guide? Ha! Hahah! Lead me not into temptation and bandits!"

Caleb looks about to burst again but, with some difficulty limits himself to telling you that he thinks that the old man is as crazy as his own old man, Old Caleb.

Eventually, with a little prodding the man in the tree tells you he is from Dhumpus and travelling to Analand. However, he had the misfortune to run into the Elvin who robbed him and placed him in the tree that you now find him. In return for helping him down, he has little to offer but bits and pieces that you find of use on your journey.

"In my experience, things found in the Hills are rarely as trivial as they may seem at first glance. The oddest of things have a strange way of becoming invaluable. The Hills are indeed an odd place."

The old man looks at Bendyn.

"Perhaps if you rode that big horse up alongside the tree, I could climb down onto it."

 

[Scotley]

Bendyn Human Fighter/Psion

Bendyn rides forward and under the man, somewhat amused by the man's plight and glad they have choosen to avoid the 'Elven' in making their way through the hills. "Glad to be of service sir." With a firm hand he holds the well trained mount in place for the man to decend.

 

[doghead]

November 13th, at the junction

The old man claps his hands and wobbles unsteadily on the branch before grabbing at it with both hands. "Steady on there old fella," he mutters under his breath. For a moment he is overcome by a fit of giggles.

But finally he gets around to swinging his feet off the branch. He hangs there, balanced on his stomach on the branch, his feet kicking at the air about level with Bendyn's head. Bendyn manages to avoid getting a foot in the face. The old man is going to have get further down if he is going to be able to get on the horse. He's not happy about that and as Bendyn guides the old man down the old man begins kicking and thrashing in earnest as he loses his grip on the branch. As his arse reachs eye level for Bendyn, the old man loses his grip on the branch and falls. Bendyn isn't able to catch the old man, but does manage to grab him and stop him from falling to the ground. Bendyn's mount prances irritably but Bendyn manages to keep it from trying to buck off the sudden addition, just.

Panting slightly form the exertion, Bendyn lowers the old man to the ground. He promptly staggers a few steps away from the horse and sits down heavily. He sits for a moment gathering his breath and wits.

"I thank you gentlemen. And as I promised, a little something in return for your kindness."

He relates a rhyme that he feels may help you:

'See him though he sees you not;
The black-eyed creature creeps.
A guardian once, but now his lot:
The key to freedom keeps.​

"Whatever it refers to I'm sure I have no idea. But the Elvin are keen to find the key in question it seemed to me."

He also presses on you his only other possession: a page from a book. The language is not one you have seen before. Its quite odd really. And old too by the looks of it.