The Secret of Trottelburg IC

[sciencepanda]

Glenn looks at you with an air of wide-eyed shock. "Monsters?! I knew nothing of monsters in this area!"

"I'd certainly be happy to help, but I'm afraid that my father was the most powerful magic user of our tribe. While there others here capable of such acts, none of them are to his level."

"Still, if you are willing to sit through the funeral service, I will try my best to aid you once we are done."

[CWater]

Irethírra

"I...suppose we could stay", the snow elf says. She glances quickly at Meeka and Randolf. If they don't seem to object, she cotinues: "Just show us were we won't be on anyone's way."

[MarvinMartian]

"My condolences for our timing, but we are in true dire need of assistence. I fear that if we do not hurry the town of Trottelburg will soon be populated by only fearsome monsters!"

[sciencepanda]

A moderately old female elf approaches the alter and begins a slow chant in the Druidic tongue, while others begin to beat on a set of leather drums.

"Oh!" says Cait to Crugretor, "The service is starting! We should probably have a seat." The elves have begun sitting in a circle around the campfire. She joins them, leaving a spot for Crugretor to sit as well.

Glenn gives a downtrodden look. "I am really incredibly sorry. It's just that I have had so much to attend to, what with the funeral, and the fact that they wish to make me elder... no but you needn't concern yourself with that. Honestly, I truly would like to help you, but this bares my attention. I promise that I will aid you as soon as I am able."

He motions for the group to sit near Crugretor and Cait.

As the chanting grows louder, he joins a set of three other, taller elves by the casket. With a creak, the lift it up and gently place it into the fire. It crackles loudly, releasing an almost painfully sweet odor.

[Parlity]

Meeka sits down near Crugretor and Cait. Rocking side-to-side, she looks around the clearing and at the casket.

She leans over to the two elves and asks, "What is the sweet smell?"

[Doombringer]

"Most likely the incense or some substance inside the coffin." Crugretor looks to Meeka and smiles it was interesting seeing a new face to say the least. He then looked toward the other arrivals curious as to what was going on before focusing on the rituals taking place once more.

[sciencepanda]

Cait leans closer and whispers to the group, "They add a bunch of perfumes to the body. Otherwise, I would guess that the whole cremation thingie would smell really bad."

At this point, several of the elves give up and begin giving speeches. Many of them are in Druidic, and you cannot understand them, but occasionally you will make out tales of the elder's past exploits; slaying and binding great beasts, consorting with gods, feats that you may have thought impossible.

[CWater]

Irethírra sits where Glenn pointed them, close to Cait, Crugetor and Meeka, though she keeps a small distance to them, around a metre if possible.

She tries to keep her gaze on the ground, the sky or the surrounding forest, but occasionally something catches her eye and she is left looking at the other elves. When she notices this, she quickly turns her head away.
It seems that she is both curious about these elves, but on the other hand looks like she'd wish to be somewhere else.

[Doombringer]

Crugretor looked to the others speaking before rubbing that stone gifted to him once more. He did not know the elder long but something told him that the stories were true. Crugretor let the others talk and listened somewhat awestruck at the wonderful life the man led. "I hope to live as fully as he did."

[Parlity]

"Ahh. Thank you." Meeka forgets to whisper and answers loudly.

[sciencepanda]

"Mm," whispers Cait to Crugretor, "I don't know this for sure, but I heard from my cousin that he was one of the sheer oldest mortals in all of Ardhi. It's something to think about, you know? I can't really imagine what it's like to live that long..." Her train of thought is interrupted by Meeka's outburst.

There is an awkward pause. All at once the elves turn and face Meeka, some giving perturbed looks. One elderly elf woman gives a loud "Shhhh!"

As the fire begins to wind down, the elves finish their speeches. The fire finally extinguishes themselves, and the elves all form a line in front of it. One by one, they dip their finger into the ash and make a small smudge on their left cheek. Cait nudges you to do the same.

[CWater]

Irethírra doesn't look very pleased, but since she thinks it would be too offending to decline, she stiffens her face and reluctantly joins the line.

[sciencepanda]

Cait notes Irethírra's look of displeasure and responds, "Excuse me miss, but are you alright? I know this isn't exactly the most pleasant thing, but it's pretty standard for our folk's culture, no?"

[Parlity]

Meeka shushes.

She dips one furry hand in the ash and rubs it on her left cheek. Without the wolf mask, she has a long narrow face and brownish-red hair squashed against her skull as if from under a recently-removed hat. From her ears, perhaps she is an exceptionally ugly and heavy elf, perhaps a small and skinny half-orc, or possibly a plainly ugly human.

A flashy brown fur shirt with holes goes over her leather armor. The holes change shape and location in a blink of the eye. Around her waist she wears a purple scale belt. Her gloves look smaller with yellowish-white unextended claws on the backs of her furry hands.

OOC

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appearance update from the new soulmelds bound:
rageclaws: on totem chakra, active at negative HP, increase maximum negative HP by -3 per essence, totem chakra - hands are claw natural weapons 1d6 damage, +1 attack and damage per essence invested
blink shirt: teleport 10'+10'/ess
wormtail belt: natural armor 2+1/ess

[sciencepanda]

Once the tribe is done with the bonfire, a few elves begin gathering up the remains of the elder, and placing them in an earthenware pot. A lithe elven male takes the pot and strides off into the forest with it.

As Meeka takes off her helmet, several of the elves once again to stare at her. You can overhear bits of "What is she?...Is that an orc?...Is that a she?"

Ignoring the gossip, Glenn breaks through the crowd and approaches the group. He seems mildly teary-eyed, but tries his best to speak with a clear voice.

"So, what are these monsters that you speak of?"

[CWater]

Irethírra glances at Cait. "...It's nothing. I'm just..." She is silent for a moment.
"...Not very fond of gatherings." She turns away from the girl.
--
The snow elf also looks at Meeka with curiousity, the same questions occupying her mind as before. She tries not to stare though.
--
Irethírra shoos some distracting thoughts off her mind and turns to face Glenn.

Hmm, I suppose we can trust him. He is...an elf after all, and I doubt these people here could have anything to do with the monsters' attack on the city.

"We do not know exactly what they are, that is part of the problem. Or what their purpose is, except for obviously taking over Trottelburg." She tells him what the professor had discovered and what little else they know about the Borises.

[Doombringer]

"Is that the closes city to here?" Crugretor looks to the elf woman and smiles..she looked stout to him an admirable trait in his own opinion before saying. "I am looking to head there if so." The wooden symbol upon his neck show his faith to Obadi-Hai. Crugretor looks Irethírra he himself an elf but not of this tribe then says. "I can help assist you if you wish."

[sciencepanda]

Glenn looks on at this story with a look of astonished horror.

"W..what is this? I have heard of monsters that can mimic human form, yes, but that is usually an illusion and can be seen through with the proper technique. But for some sort of creature to actually take over the form of a living being...that is very strange."

"Now, if you wish for some more in-depth magical knowledge, my father would have been able to help. But he is...you know. There is someone who is nearly his equal, but that road is a dangerous one. If need-be, I will draw you a map, but for now, let us discuss this with the other elders, perhaps they can help."

[CWater]

"Yes, I believe so", Irethírra replies to Crugetor in her usual cool voice.

Hmm, he is not from here... And neither from the mountains, thank Gods for that. But can we trust him? ... ...Well, since he is a guest of this tribe, I suppose he cannot be too bad.

"But I'm afraid we'll not be heading towards the city for a while now and our future journey is promised to be a dangerous one. Though", she glances at Meeka and Randolf, "we do no longer have a cleric with us. Should you have the courage to rise against this threat, you could accompany us. Provided that my companions have nothing against it."

To Glenn she says: "That might be wise, lead the way. Why do you mention danger?"

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My, my, Ire is talkative today :)

[Parlity]

Meeka looks back at Irethirra. She grins at Crugretor, showing her crooked yellow teeth.

[Doombringer]

Crugretor looked to Irethírra and nodded. "An elven woman who has courage and beauty a rare find indeed." he saw the smile of Meeka before smiling back and saying. "Pleasure to meet you as well." That was two that were in favor just the thoughts of one more. Crugretor shifted and waited for the approval before he would move to grab his gear. His eyes however watched Irethírra still interested in her demeanor his game was of course to learn to read her.

[CWater]

"Quite", Irethírra says in a chilly tone, then switches her attention to Glenn.

[MarvinMartian]

Randolf

Randolf watches the whole interplay between Irethirra and Crugretor with fascination. He had till now simply thought Irethirra cold and inhuman. Bereft of any sort of kinder, softer emotions. But seeing her speak with Crugretor he caught a glimpse of something else. This will be very interesting indeed.

Absentmindedly, he nodded at Crugretor's suggestion that he accompany them.

"Do you think that this dangerous one, Glenn spoke of - is that witch we had been told of before?"

[Doombringer]

Crugretor and said softly to himself "Oh she will be well worth the effort ." What exactly that tall rather handsome elf meant was anyones guess. "When will we be off?" Crugretor looked towards the group..that elven woman inparticularly as she seemed to be the one doing the talking.

[sciencepanda]

"Hmm," says Glenn, clearly thinking hard, "If you wish to see the witch, I can also provide directions. Normally I would advise against, but if this is any emergency, I can understand. Although, I had heard she was an acquaintance of my father's, so maybe she will be more sympathetic."

He throws up his airs in indecision.

"I don't know. I will leave it to you."

[CWater]

"Great", Irethírra mumbles, then she turns to the others. "Well, what say you? I think we should go meet this witch. Dangerous or not, I'm not sure if there are any other in this region that could help, it seems to be quite scarcely populated and who knows how long it would take even to the nearest town. And I fear that Trottelburg doesn't have much time."

From Glenn she asks: "By the way, how far does this witch live? And would it be possible to buy some supplies from you, since I have currently lost some of mine?"

[sciencepanda]

Glenn nods, "I will go draw you up a map. In the meanwhile, I think Ailen over there has some supplies he might be willing to sell."

He points you over towards a stout male elf holding a big bag of...well...stuff.

Ailen, having overhead the conversation asks, "Got your eye on anything?"

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Feel free to buy any standard items or basic magic items here.

[CWater]

"Yes, I'm especially looking for a quiver of arrows, but there are a few other things I'd also like to purchase..."

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'Tis a shame I have only 20gp
This is what Ire'd want:
-Quiver of arrows (20)
-Backpack
-Bedroll
-Waterskin
-Some parchment (5 sheets if possible)
-Ink (whatever colour they have)
-Inkpen
-Candles (5?)
-Torch
-Soap

I counted that I should be able to afford all that, then again, a secluded elven tribe may not sell all goods exactly at the same price?
Food could also be nice, any chance this village having any lembas bread

[sciencepanda]

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Since you bought the stuff earlier and just happened to have left it behind, I'll be nice.

After a lengthy debate, you manage to talk down Ailen enough to get a basic adventurer's kit for 15 gold pieces.

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You can also pay another 3 for 3 days worth of rations, or 5 for a loaf of elven bread.

Also, if anyone else wants to buy anything, go ahead.

[CWater]

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Thanks, and I'll take the rations. After that I'll have 2 gp and 2cp left, yay Well, it's more than a commoner would have..