Chapter 2: South Wind

[Dicer]

Veskassdak nods at Renna's words. "Ssstay sssafe asss well. Wren will ssstay asss sssafe asss Wren allowsss."
Turning towards Wren, he continued, "Let'sss find armormaker. Maybe even find sssome power drinksss to heal and better fight. Think you ssso maybe? Baird help too, maybe. No want get cheated again."

 

[Clockwork Syringe]

Baird grinned at Veskassdak, "yes my friend, I will help you avoid being cheated. However, I will catch up with you soon as I want to talk to Io for a moment." Walking over to Io, he spoke in a softer voice. "I didn't want to ask this until it was just you and I, but back before we linked up with the lord and his troops we were told of Fyanne. I also noticed that you are not very fond of her, may I ask why? I won't pry if you don't want to talk about her."

Silanon

 

[Silanon]

It takes a few moments for Renna to get a grasp of the workflows around her; by the looks of it, the celestrial healers you noticed float around to tend to the seriously wounded, while the other clerics and helpers take care of those who only took lesser injuries. Given the number of those, even the paladin's rather limited knowledge will certainly be a help. It only takes another look around to spot someone in the red and white clothes of your deity - a woman with grey hair that almost reaches her hips, slowly moving from one patient to the next. It is hard to miss her expertise as she does her best to help them - in fact, she shows the experience and calmness of someone who has seen uncountable fractures and wounds during the decades of her trusted service. As you step closer, you can hear that she hums one of the lesser known hymns that praise Iomadae - you might only have heard it once or twice thus far. She gives you a nod, and wordlessly indicates that it would be appreciated if you'd bring her heavy basket full of medical supplies along as she moves on to another poor soul. Apart from that, she seems to leave it to you whether you only wish to find peace by silently working alongside her, or perhaps ask for a blessing or advice.

Meanwhile, Wren and Veskassdak find their way through the camp, guided by Bjarni. Quickly, you notice that the parts inhabited by the Third Princes and the Forgotten are rather deserted, at least compared to what you saw when you arrived here first. Meanwhile, both the Order and the Old King's Guard seem to not have sent out too many troops; which according to the conversations you pick up along the way causes irritations at best, and unhidden anger at worst. After all, people are dying while both groups play politics. There is some unease as well, as things clearly do not develop too well; and undead always cause some form of hesitancy. When you reach Darim's tent, you find the dwarven merchant busy talking to a rather unusual individual. Slightly shorter than the average human, the woman's head is that of a fox, and a fluffy tail shows underneath the wide cloak that clearly has more than two dozen different pockets on its right sight alone. Some of them are filled with different herbs, others are filled with flasks of different colors. Right as you get closer, she eyes a rapier that, by the looks of the brightworks, is on the rather expensive side of things. "If I may introduce ya - Veskassdak from the eastern swamps, and Wren; from the southern parts of the kingdom, I think. And this is Xin, alchemist and adventurer from beyond the southern forests." The kitsune is barely polite enough to not directly stare at Veskassdak, but the lizardman certainly notices her curiosity. Before she can give you more than a nod, Darim already turns towards Bjarni. "Good to see y'are still alive. What did'ya find, Bjarni?" "Me?Nuffin. But these two here found a mighty number of things that ya might be interested in." He puts down the things he carried himself on one of the tables, and indicates that you should do the same. "Apart from that, they'll certainly wanna take a look at yar supplies, got mighty close out there."

Io, already headed towards the camp's center, stops as Baird approaches her. "There are a few things that would be worth mentioning in regards to her. Some of them are a bit hard to explain." For a moment, it seems as if that is all she says; but she finally continues. "In some sense, she is opposite to everything I believe in; in some other sense, she is closer to me than I'd like. You have certainly heard of the dark ones, or drow." She spits the last word out like a rotten grape. "In some simplified sense wicked, distant relatives of my kind. Fyanne is one of them; and even though she is not the typical representative of her people, that certainly plays a role." She pauses for a while, trying to find the proper words for the thoughts in her mind. "She is on her own, always - serving noone but herself, except the one whom you know as the Lawgiver, or Harbinger. The very same creature that decided that one ancient agreement was more important than the lives of the dozen tribes of elves who got massacred during the first days of the orc invasion. Under slightly different circumstances, we could have fought each other before Kazragun was even a place; and in some sense, things would be easier that way." Io slowly starts to move, leading you towards the tents where the All-Seeing Eye resides. "But things are never easy. She is a rather potent magician, and knows more about the undead than most; thus Whithair's appreciation for her." You can feel that the conversation is slowly coming to an end - while Io already said that she'd try to find Whitehair once returned, you're headed to the merchants as I understand. Before you'd have to change directions, she adds: "And then there's the fact that Fyanne is the first one of her kind I met who'd learnt from the past at all." If you wish to get further details, this would be the moment to ask.

 

[Clockwork Syringe]

Baird's face suddenly takes a serious tone once Io explains what she knew about Fyanne. "If Fyanne truly serves only herself and her patron then we have an edge over her. Sure it feels great to.not be weighed down by the thoughts and comradeship of others, but then you miss out on forged friendships, and the feeling of being part of a group who looks out for each other. Fyanne may indeed serve the harbinger, and while I follow Sarenrae and not any of these powerful 5 creatures." Baird then grasps his amulet before continuing, "I have a feeling that since I'm descended from one of these creatures his past will have an unknown effect on me. Since only you knew the tales of my ancestor that night two days ago then you would understand the significance of what I'm about to tell you Io. I have not told a soul about this, but I was visited by a vision the night before we brought Gordlib back to the camp. In this vision, I gazed upon both my ancestor's and the Warden's true forms as well as learning the Warden's true name. Out of respect for the Warden I shall not utter her name. My point is that while you cannot forget the past, you should not let said past rule your future like a tyrant.

Silanon

 

[Psychie]

It takes a few moments for Renna to get a grasp of the workflows around her; by the looks of it, the celestrial healers you noticed float around to tend to the seriously wounded, while the other clerics and helpers take care of those who only took lesser injuries. Given the number of those, even the paladin's rather limited knowledge will certainly be a help. It only takes another look around to spot someone in the red and white clothes of your deity - a woman with grey hair that almost reaches her hips, slowly moving from one patient to the next. It is hard to miss her expertise as she does her best to help them - in fact, she shows the experience and calmness of someone who has seen uncountable fractures and wounds during the decades of her trusted service. As you step closer, you can hear that she hums one of the lesser known hymns that praise Iomadae - you might only have heard it once or twice thus far. She gives you a nod, and wordlessly indicates that it would be appreciated if you'd bring her heavy basket full of medical supplies along as she moves on to another poor soul. Apart from that, she seems to leave it to you whether you only wish to find peace by silently working alongside her, or perhaps ask for a blessing or advice.

Renna falls into a simple rhythm of work, singing along softly with the priestess as she washes the injured in preparation for being treated, hoisting buckets and just trying to be useful. In between hymns, Renna would ask for the priestess to give her a benediction from Iomeade, as she confesses her sins and misdeeds (in reality, there is not much to confess, but it makes her feel better. After all, no man or woman is perfect). Finally, Renna would tell her spiritual confidant about the portal, and her plans to go through it with the rest of the party in order to investigate what is on the far side. "Sister, is there any words of wisdom that you could impart to me? I fear that I am out of my depth, and any advice from those more learned that I would be very much welcome."

 

[Dicer]

Hearing how the mammals are talking about two of the groups of mammals as Veskassdak and the others walked through the camp, he worried that the warriors here might confuse desire with need. Still mammals are strange that way. Upon reaching the weapons merchant Dalim, he saw a new type of mammal he had never encountered before, both here or in his native swamp. The mammal looked as human as he did. In other words, not at all. The woman looked like the small predators he had heard tales of but never seen called foxes. He, on the other hand, had never heard any tales of them being this large or walking on two legs. Seeing her restrained glance of curiosity, he nearly missed her name.
"Meet you good," he began. "Name you hard sssay me. Sssin? Clossse asss kind me sssay can. Sssorry if mangle name do. Mammal tongue not easssy sssay me."
Turning to Dalim he set down everything he had carried from their spoils and spoke to Wren, "Wren, you deal make thessse. Me not ssstrong asss you. Ssstill not underssstand why ssshiny metal disssksss usssed by mammalsss. Trussst you to good deal make."
As he turned to look around, a glint of familiar metal caught his eye. He spotted a piece of breastplate armor made from the same metal as his chain shirt. He walked over to it to look more closely at it. He lifted it and felt how light it was. Just a little heavier than what he had on, but not by much. There were runes carved in it, but those runes were as far beyond him to determine as it would be for a mammal to read the written language of his people. There was also a slight, barely perceptible glow around it, which he would have missed had a passing shadow not crossed over it during his inspection.
"Mammal Dalim," he began. "Thisss look like thisss," indicating the similarities of the metals between his armor and the breastplate. "Own thisss sssomeone elssse doesss? Would like get. If not owned, can tell you if sssell me. Hope can deal make. Can sssee ssspesscial it isss. Magic maybe?"
He waited for the short bearded mammal armorer's response.

Spoiler

Veskassdak is looking for magic mithral breastplate. Hopefully he'll find the properties beyond +1 that he is looking for. These are, not in order or priority, Buoyant, Burdenless, Comfort, or Restful. He'd settle for non-magic mithral breastplate armor if he cannot afford anything pricier. He can always get it enhanced later. Hopefully he'll be able to afford at least +1 mithral breastplate.

 

[Sherwood]

Wren nods to everyone. "Well met. Master Dalim, we have a plethora of weapons, at least some of which are of quality make, that we'd like to sell to you. Also, while I am very happy about my enchanted armor, I am hoping to find some enhanced weapons. I have a pair of masterwork swords, but I am hoping to be able to upgrade these blades to magic ones. There are enough scary critters out there that only a enchanted weapon will hurt."

 

[Silanon]

The elf takes a moment before responding - there is a sadness and tiredness in her eyes that you have not seen before. "You see, about three years ago, I would have agreed without a second thought - after all, the past is gone for good. But those who lived here and have fallen by now thought the very same thoughts; they decided to get rid of ancient shadows that made their lives so much harder, and fought for what felt right for their future. And yet, they are dead now, and every further development seems to prove the admonishers even more right than they already are. Fyanne is one of them, you know - she said that the Warbringer, despite being captured, was too powerful of a threat to be dealt with. And seeing how his evil magic awakens those who die around us, I slowly start to understand her point." A short pause, as if she'd want to say something in addition, but does not do so in the end. "In any case, watch your dreams, Baird - one day, your decisions might rely upon them."

Sharing her troubles and thoughts feels like the most natural thing to do for Renna - even meeting her only a few moments ago, it feels as if this elderly woman would know her for years already. Not interrupting the paladin's descriptions, she is listening carefully enough to ask for the details that seem to truely matter, offering advice on any situation of the past you share with her. Mostly supportive, actually - talking to her, you are reassured that you are indeed on the right path, and that the minor missteps you're mentioning do not change that in the slightest. As you ask your final question, however, she does not respond immediately; instead, she begins humming a chral that praises Iomadae's wisdom. It is rather long, certainly enough time to think about a proper response to your plans. "Always remember that Iomadae watches our steps - never lose faith, wherever you go. Be wary of the fine line between righteousness and blindness; too many call themselves servants of Iomadae while forgetting what it means to be one. Take care of those around you, as none of us can hope to accomplish great deeds on our own. Be mindful when it counts - and if you ever need to choose between what seems beneficial at a given time and what feels right, always choose the latter."

Adressed by the lizardman, the woman introduced as Xin puts away her weapon, though not before handing a decently filled purse over to the dwarven merchant. " I'm not a master of this tongue myself, so I'll be the last one to judge you." The way she talks clearly shows the opposite of what she claims - the kitsune speaks fluently as if she'd been travelling through human lands for years, though with a rather strong, southern accent; much stronger than what you're used from Io, though quite similar in its core. She stays, apparently curious enough to waste her time, while Darim takes care of your questions - you note that the dwarf didn't even count the coins he received, both seem to know each other damn well.
Eyeing only the stuff you brought, Darim still seems to know exactly about which piece of his work Veskassdak is talking. "Well - it was made for a vigilant man, serving for the Forgotten; sadly, he lost most of his coins by gambling, and had to forgo its protection. Heard he died the day after, by a thrust through the chest - if only he'd been less greedy." He pauses for a moment, evaluating what you brought him carefully before making an offer. Some of thse things are mighty fine, y'know, might even be able to sell them to da higher-ups. Plus, y'are friends of Bjarni, and that's gotta be good for something as well. I'd say ya leave da weapons here, and yours as well, Lady Wren - and ya get those two back with enchantments tomorrow, together with da mithril plate and twenty-hundred gold pieces."

Spoiler: details

restful mithril breastplate +1 and +1 bonus for both of Wren's swords, + 2000 gp. Feel free to negotiate for a better deal, of course. Note that the plate costs more than a forth of the money you'd get. That said, there are two more items waiting for you a bit further ahead that won't be used by Veskassdak, so I think that'll even out quite nicely.

 

[Clockwork Syringe]

Baird nods at Io's words "Thank you for your wisdom Io, I will watch my dreams more carefully now; I wish you luck in talking with Whitehair." Baird then turns and seeks out Veskassdak and Wren as he had promised he would. Looking and listening, Baird has trouble pinpointing the two of them until he hears Veskassdak's familiar speech. Craning his ears he listened until he heard him again and was able to pinpoint his location; a small tent flanked by Wren, Bjarni, and an unfamiliar person. Approaching, Baird speaks in a friendly tone, "Veskassdak! sorry I got here later than I promised, I got tied up. Well not literally, but you know what I mean?" Baird finishes with a smile on his face as he makes the joke.
Silanon Dicer Sherwood

 

[Dicer]

Veskassdak was pleased with Baird's arrival. Baird's joke was, however, completely lost on him. "Glad come here you. Mammal Dalim ssstuff good hasss. Find you maybe thingsss you help by."