Paths of Legend - Tragedy at Silvergard

[Yttermayn]

OOC: I've kinda been waiting to see if the GM had any reaction to my actions, but apparently not, so I'm assuming that Aohdan has made it to the driver and pulled him off the cart, and that the stone hasn't fallen on the driver, myself, the cart, the horse, or Valen or Johen.

Aohdan ignored any objections the driver had at being pulled off and away from the cart, responding only when he was safe by simply pointing at the enormous chunk of stone swaying treacherously over the cart. At William's question, Aohdan took his leave of the driver and replied "No, the horses I've encountered before typically aren't any more upset by centaurs than they are by humans. Usually, this reaction is because of the presence of a predator, or something..." He paused, as if carefully considering his next word. "Unnatural." he decided. Aohdan looked around, wondering where whatever spooked the horse might be lurking.
Spot (1d20-1=16)

 

[ethandrew]

At Aohdan's mentioning of something unnatural being in the vicinity, Estelle instinctively places her hand over her mouth in a defensive position while taking a couple small steps backwards.

 

[crazy_monkey1956]

The Vedlund Stone Quarries...

The horse calms considerably as Valen and Johen approach it. They are able to pull it and the wagon with it away from the pulley as the stone swaying above begins to settle.

The driver, now seated somewhat unceremoniously on the ground where Aohdan placed him, looks around at the group, confused.

William, upon his initial scan of the area notes nothing out of the ordinary, although Corath's typically stiff demeanor seems to be still causing the horse some discomfort.

The quarry foreman comes running up, puffing and sweating as his bulky form bounces up to the wagon, "What's the meaning of this? Who are you people? What did you do to my horse? I'll have you know I am under direct orders from Lord Ezra himself to have anyone mucking up the works hogtied and posted for all and sundry to see! Explain yourselves!"

He grabs the reins away from Valen with a bit of a snarl. The horse rears slightly and the foreman snarls at it as well, "Shut up you stupid beast!"

 

[shadowmask]

"Hm, not usually, no. Horses are easily spooked or riled up by some things, but I don't see any reason why this one is agitated. Hopefully the others can help that fellow, but I don't have any skill with animals nor am I particularly strong or fast.....I can't be of much use right now. I don't even have any spells or alacrity, calming, or strength ready to invoke at the moment." Alaric says with a sigh.

"I have nothing to offer in the way of assistance, either. Perhaps we should both let the others do what they do best." Corath's gaze goes unfocused briefly, and her head cocks to the side as if she sees or hears something the other can't. It is not up to me to...empathize?...with the Wizard. Is this what I am doing?

Upon the foreman's approach, Corath 'returns' to the present. She listens to him attentively. Her only response is to his last statement. "You may not wish to refer to that animal as a stupid beast. The two with an affinity for animals and the centaur may become upset with you." She looks from one to the other in turn, waiting. She is balanced on her toes, much like a bird about to take flight.

 

[Helfdan]

Valen

The ranger from Turen turns on the foreman, his dark green cloak whirling. "Quiet, you! It may still be dangerous"

[sblock=Bluff]
Bluff: 1d20 -1 (charisma) +2 (favored enemy) = 21
(I made a mistake and wrote intimidate in the entry, but this is the only roll)
[/sblock]

He takes the reins back from the man and speaks in a lower voice to Johen. "Can you speak to it... find out what frightens it so?"

 

[Jemal]

William approaches the Foreman, and speaks in a calming manner "I apologize if we've upset your schedule or anything like that, good sir. This horse began acting strangely and my companions - who as you can see have a certain affinity for animals - leaped to action in an attempt to prevent any injury.. wether to man OR beast. "

[sblock=ooc]
Diplomacy + 6 attempting to calm him
[/sblock]

 

[Arkhandus]

Alaric nods and and motions to Corath and the others, towards the road, then he turns away from the quarries and resumes walking on the road to Silvergard. He wonders what it was Corath had heard when she cocked her head, but doesn't expect there to be anything dangerous around here so he doesn't pry.

"Aye, let's go. The others can finish dealing with the horse and the horse's arse," Alaric says quietly to Corath, referring to the foreman.

 

[Yttermayn]

Aohdan scowled at the foreman's bluster and ill-tempered remarks. "I've seen stupider." he said, looking pointedly at the foreman. "At least neither man nor beast were turned into a big greasy smear today." Aohdan turned an about-face, presenting his hindquarters to the foreman, and walked away.

 

[Amaury]

Johen is happy to see the horse react to both his and Valen's interventions. He starts to frown and is about to react to the foreman when Valen says in a low voice:

Valen

He takes the reins back from the man and speaks in a lower voice to Johen. "Can you speak to it... find out what frightens it so?"

Johen thinks about it for a moment. The concept that something 'unnatural' might exist was not exactly forthcoming to him but then he nodded to his compatriot. His voice started to mutter a few simple words that none of you could understand.

He then seemed to address the horse directly, ignoring the surprised looks of the foreman and the others.

[sblock=OOC]cast Speak with animals.[/sblock]
[sblock=Horse chit chat]To the horse: "My friend.. easy.. easy.. You look strong and proud, working hard with us 'two-legged'.. So what happened? Why have you reared so brutally? Something must have frightened you to react in the way you did.. What was it? Is it something we 'two-legged' cannot see?"[/sblock]

 

[shadowmask]

Alaric nods and and motions to Corath and the others, towards the road, then he turns away from the quarries and resumes walking on the road to Silvergard. He wonders what it was Corath had heard when she cocked her head, but doesn't expect there to be anything dangerous around here so he doesn't pry.

"Aye, let's go. The others can finish dealing with the horse and the horse's arse," Alaric says quietly to Corath, referring to the foreman.

"Very well." Corath follows Alaric toward the road. Upon hearing the strange, horse-like sounds begin to issue from Johen, Corath pauses and turns. "What is he doing?" She watches in fascination. This is not like anything my faceted memory can conjure. What is he? She speaks to Alaric, "What can a horse possibly have to say of interest to a human?"