Hanalee follows after Caden--she can't see where the grim man has gone, but she keeps behind Caden in case he were to be spotted...

QuoteBright Feather

You see sage brush all over, with the occasional juniper popping up rarely here and there. Oh there! Just as described it is a leaning juniper with a cluster of sage brush around. So obvious, yet unobtrusive, a landmark. The elven youth would not surprise you to be a tracker.

"Sister of the plants, holder of good medicine, I see you."

The familiar young elf, should be wood elf like you, walks out from a nearby bush.

"You came, good. But so soon! You said you were not in danger." He walks close to you and looks you over for marks and bruises. "And why are you amid a 'Stranger's Crowded Grove'? A town is a not a seasonal all-tribe gathering, it mars the land." He shakes his head and tsks, then throws down a leather thong in frustration.

"I come to speak for Shoshone help against the savage little-people. They returned, just like from our old stories. Even our Paiute Young Grasses are dying to these small, pale savages, just like us Old Grasses," he points an alternating hand to you both. "But I doubt success from this tribe here. Already Empty Ways, Ways of the Stranger, takes this place." He looks around at the boomtown's effects, and then back at you, with disappointment.

OOC: Speak english to me please. (I am assuming a goblin problem? But I need clarification so that I can interact and reply to them somewhat logically.

Quote from: Opaopajr;776012Sage Brush Felt Maiden's House

4 PM going on 5 PM

"So, honored guest from a renowned land," she continues from inside, "what word do you bring to our people? Any new stories or word from other lands? Good hearts and brave men along the way?"

"The cycles continue, as surely as the Great Goddess rolls her egg sac into the night sky to guard as she watches over our dreams. In the southern valley the People, they are still as thick as reeds, with the Great Goddesses blessing of fertility. Sometimes the hearts become sick, and the heads of men filled with madness, before they go to the dead. Troubling times. We need the divine fool to whisper their truths and drown the shouting of fools."

As Karni speaks, holding her hands together in a humble manner, she will keep an eye out to spot anything out of the ordinary. When taken to her room, if there is a bowl or a basin, she will bathe and then dressed in simple garments, spread her blanket upon the ground, hold her prayer wheel and meditate, occasionally singing softly.

Downtown New Graveyard, outside of town

Caden

"I got nothin' to pay you, and I got nothin' to trust you." Spits. "And I've had more than my share of fast friends in need, and in deed." Looks you cold in the eyes (Adv Insight of 9) but you see he still cannot trust.

"If I'm ever back in town, then help me drink to success. Otherwise help me by goin' home." He will stare you down until you return back to town. At this heated moment, you see this is charity.

Hanalee

OOC: I will need 2 Hanalee stealth checks, the second Disadvantaged. You're on a minute+ delay, so the first is quite easy. But as they are talking there, with the grim man looking back down the path, the second is hard and disadvantaged.

Leaning-Juniper-Shelters-Sage, 1/2 mile down mountain

Bright Feather

You know there is a perfectly serviceable, and similar, word for 'goblins' in both your Shoshone elven and his Paiute elven. This euphemism, especially the 'pale' part, is very much not it. The best you know (and with your passive skills you are one of the best TO know) is the quite well known fable of the savage little-people from myth.

They would pore out from the earth in great numbers, after the wrong boulders are disturbed, and ravage all upon the land. Their homes were hard to find, their skin hard to pierce, and their numbers too many hold back. The Peoples united to appeal to Wolf to bring down the Thunder and wash all these savage small-people away in a massive forest fire.

Outside of stories, you cannot think who alive would know how such a creature of myth would look like.

Sage Brush Felt Maiden's House, Karnath's room

Karnath

"Gaa gaa, goo..." "No, droplet, momma said stay here." A baby crawls towards your room, and a toddler comes to corral it back — but she freezes and stares at your chanting meditation and prayer wheel. She looks at you scared but curious, and the baby keeps crawling to your blanket. The baby seems to like your wheel and the sounds you make.

It starts to laugh.

The toddler girl rushes in and tries to cover the babies mouth while looking with her big eyes very apologetic to you. She herself looks too in awe to speak.

Dive Bar C

Alric

As you look about for your friends after your conversation with Delta Earl, you notice you cannot find them. And right when you got solid information, too. Just as you finish what you feel is about as thorough a search you can, you see a white-skinned, lightfoot halfling, saloon girl walk up to you with a beer in each hand.

"Hey there, red. Come have a drink with me. We don't get your kind as often down here." Pulls you aside to a table and hands you the ale. When you taste the dark brew, you immediately know its strong! "And too many of us Easterners hide up in our little block, on uptown. What makes you so brave as to live a little?"

Holds out a limp-wristed, downward hand, as if expecting you know what to do with it, and adds, "Deliliah."

"I'm in no trouble, I wanted to be out among the stars and my own people. Towns are too busy at times and humans so frenetic".. With a grave look..."I'm not sure what I could do against creatures of legend alone for I've seen none other of our kind in the stone dweller's place"...glancing at the town...."though after my friends and I deal with the old graveyard...."

Caden shrugs his shoulders once more "you're right you got no good reason to trust me. Hell I'll be forward with ya, I ain't the bullshitting sort, I'm not native to these parts and I sure didn't make many friends in that dust up earlier today. It wouldn't hurt me to make some friends around here, I help you and if the need arises maybe someday you return the favor. Trust me I've seen lots of rough business and going off half cocked for revenge, all by your lonesome is a good way to make sure you find yourself in a pine box."

He pauses and shakes his head slowly "you got a grudge that's fine with me, handling this sorta thing is my trade. So take some sense in, let me help you, revenge ain't no good if you get yourself killed. I ain't expecting your coin, sometimes having a friendly face about town is worth a hell of a lot more than a sack of gold."

Caden spits at the ground "your choice, if you still dont think you could use a hand then I'll be on my way. Think it over for a second first."

Leaning-Juniper-Shelters-Sage, 1/2 mile down mountain

Bright Feather

"Yes, you alone could do nothing. Neither can they." He starts looking up the stars and visibly unwinds. "But it is not your quest to convince the Young Grasses work with us Old Grasses, and for those so far away."

Remembering his manners he lays out a blanket and atop a meal of nuts, berries, and a waterskin. He starts working on a fire for the evening, a bit early so it must be for his catch, however understandable as the high desert cools fast after sunset. It is smokeless, so he must fear discovery still. "Cottontail. Should be done by twilight."

"The stars at night are peaceful," as he stares eastward, his back to the lowering sun.

OOC: I'll let Hanalee roll before I update this post for grim man & Caden

Realizing he is alone is fine. Hopefully his friends will steer clear of any serious trouble. Hunter is often a solitary profession so Alric takes it in stride.


Alric nods his head to the lovely young lass. " Pleasure to meet ya Deliliah" Taking the hand and brushing his lips lightly across the top. "Nice to know I'm not the only lil' folk willing to wander out of the comfort of home for a while."


"I must say this drink is a might bit finer than what I have been finding in town." He smiles deeply after taking a lengthy swig. "May I ask what brings such a gentle soul out tonight?"

Hanalee creeps along stealthily...

(OOC: First Stealth check--natural 20! whoot! For the disadvantaged check, I used rolz.org's "keep the lowest result" feature and rolled a 16.)

Dive Bar C

Alric

"Now where'd you go learn manners like that, I wonder?" takes a sip of her brew as she retracts her hand. "Not what I expected from a 'local'. But then I get so little chance."

Puts a hand on your drinking arm, "Take it easy, it'll sneak up on you." She leaves her hand there as if a forgotten trifle. (If and when you take another swig, she'll retract it with detached effortlessness. It may return depending on how well the conversation goes.) "It's more a punch behind a pillow than a typical draft. Owner supplied direct from a brewer I know on 'the block'. Our kind sure likes our comforts, don't we?"

"'Gentle soul'! Ha hah!" She's pretty when she laughs, bit earthy, a little tooth-gap at the top incisors, "Aren't you just something else. Where've you been my life?" Looks about as if to see an audience appreciates this scene as much as she. "I have my reasons, but tonight is a chance to forget our cares a touch."

Touches the arm of a passing lass and gestures for two more brews. She seems relaxed, like this chat is a break from duty, yet open for anything more. Wry smile, "Care to forget awhile with me?"

Receives two more pints, and she holds out hers to toast yours. "To gentle souls, may they find good rest!"

OOC: This banter (badminton of manners) may be as goal oriented, and of quite differing goals, as you wish. Or just passing fun, as per your choice. Even with the seeming little things I have my reasons, so don't feel obliged.

Downtown New Graveyard, outside of town


OOC: Wow, Hanalee, that's a great Disadv roll. The first, easier one you just blow away. Not even Caden is aware you are following him. The other is just too hard with a man staring hard in your direction. There is brush and tombstones, but it's just too conspicuous running across grit & grave, in broad daylight, trying to catch up while someone is facing you — even if they seem occupied in conversation.

Caden & Hanalee

"STILL LONELY?!"

The grim man shouts, but you, Caden, are just standing right in front of — oh. You turn to see a Hanalee on her belly behind a willow bush too small. It's a valiant attempt, in fact she got the shadow angle right, but she's just too long — and the little dust cloud kicked up doesn't help either. But she got the silent down pat, didn't even hear her. And in chain mail, too. That's either talent or beginner's luck.

"You two will get me killed. And yourselves to boot!" Spits. "Go home, big talkers." Turns to leave and starts to march briskly onward. "Don't you follow me, or next time I will attack you where you stand."