Stranger in a strange land

[harknail]

It had been a week since Vadania's mentor had died peacefully of old age. She had done the druidic death rites for him, as he had taught her to do. Now his cabin and all that he owned was hers.

Vadania's mentor had been a hermit when he happened across the young Vadania 39 years ago. Vadania had always assumed that she would be a hermit when he passed away. But she had always had someone else in her life, first her parents and later her mentor. But after a week alone with just her wolf Ylva for company, Vadania realized that she just wasn't up for being a hermit. There were other people around, and she knew where they lived, it was time to go pay them a visit.

Vadania didn't know how long she would be gone, so she secured her cabin as best she could, packing all of her valuables with her other than the pots that were too heavy to carry. She hoped the pots would still be there when she got back, but if the trader from Burr came while she was out, she couldn't count on it. Once packed she headed for the nearest town, that of Clearwater.

Just passing though the farms to get to town Vadania saw more people than she had ever seen in her life. Once she got to town, she just stood there slack jawed in amazement. She had never realized that so many people could live so close together! She wrinkled her nose at the combined smell of so many bodies.

As distracted as Vadania was, when a cart started rumbling towards her her head whipped around to see what was coming. Holding Ylva's fur, she moved out of the way of the farmers cart before resuming her slack jawed stare.

Quite a few of the towns folk were staring back at a stranger in town, a pale skinned white haired Elf with branches in her hair, an antler in her shied, feathers hanging everywhere, and what they took to be a large wolf like dog by her side.

[at]

Grale glanced out across the square from the forge, seeing the commotion. A glimpse of a wolf of some sort and a girl; Perhaps one of the hollow barbarians the townsfolk had spoken of.

She looked lost, but Grale mused to himself that he'd likely be little help. He had kept to himself during his time here, the town was nice and it's people friendly enough but some part of his past would not let him rest.

[namklim]

Rolan couldn't help but notice the strange elf that had just wandered into town. Considering that she hasn't moved since she entered the town, save for avoiding the cart, Rolan wondered if there was some sort of problem. Whether there was or not, now seemed like a good opportunity to do some good, and thus decided to approach the Elf. Since she looked out of place, Rolan decided that speaking in Elven might be more comfortable for her.
In Elven, "Hello, and welcome to Clearwater. You seem a bit out of place, would you like some help?"

[Rojito]

Salyyn's mind was on the rite he had performed right before entering town. The human hadn't been too bad, for a human atleast. He was a companion for the long road, and he didn't take exception to Kenny. So when the man had finally fallen to the wracking cough that had killed so many so close to the Fell, Salyyn did the proper thing and gave him his last rites and a proper burial a little ways off of the roadway. No one would ever accuse Salyyn of being overburdened by honor, or overly kind, let alone thoughtful of others. He did however perform this rites as though the man were a noble, and as if Salyyn were being paid.

Walking into town with his thoughts still on the last burial, Salyyn is brought out of his reverie when he hears the beautiful elven tounge being spoken. The human had so corrupted the language it almost more resembled goblin over elven, but then again no human could ever do the language justice. Looking up he sees a human slaughtering the language of beauty, but more importantly he sees an elf... a wild elf, barely better than a human, but her hair... while not quite the same as his bone white hair it is still out of place enough to have caught his attention in a way very few things ever will. Stepping up to both the human and the elf Salyyn pulls down his hood on his robe revealing his own colorless hair and frozen eyes. He motions Kenny, also in a hooded robe but with all visible.. parts wrapped like a mummy, to stand back.

In perfect elven he asks, "Is there a problem here?" Unable to yet take his eyes off of the hair.


(sorry if my posts are a little off, most of them will be done from my phone while at work)

[at]

Grale didn't know the first man to approach the girl but had seen him about the square, his manner of speech and bartering with the market vendors indicative of a traveller from Burr.
Trying to swindle the newcomer if the local attitudes were to be believed, though others from the town had payed well enough for steel and it would be a brave man to try anything around that wolf.

Another man approached, white haired, perhaps a relative of the girl. Grale set down the blade that he had been working on and stepped around his anvil to get a better view, towering over the nearby villagers. He had seen more than one misunderstanding degenerate into violence and it would not do well for that wolf to become over-excited in such a crowded area.

[harknail]

When someone started talking to her, Vadania closed her mouth and remembered her manners (such as they were). She was surprised that the man was speaking in Elvish, a language she hadn't heard since her parents died so many decades ago. Still one never quite forgets their birth tongue, no matter how little it was used. Her Elvish was rusty, but she still could understand it and try to reply.

Keeping a hand on Ylva to help keep both of them calm, she answered, "Thank you kind sir. I came to town seeking company." Waving her hand to take in the entire town she continued, "I just never expected that there would be so much of it here!"

Vadania was surprised to see another elf. She was especially surprised to see another elf with white hair, as far as she knew she was the only one. Still she managed to reply, "No kind sir, there is no problem here at all. This kind gentleman was just asking if I needed assistance."

[Arclite]

OOGM: Sorry I've been a bit aloof. I've had a busy couple of weekends, but have enough time to watch what you all are doing. Let's keep this up for a few more days and I'll start our story on Monday. PM me if you have any questions.

[harknail]

Vadania wrinkled her nose again, there was another bad smell, the smell of something dead and rotting. It was a natural enough smell, but this town seemed to concentrate bad smells.

She repeated her explanation for the white haired elf, still in rusty elven, "I came to town looking for people, I just didn't expect to find so many of them. I though there might be a dozen, 2 dozen at most here."

[Rojito]

(gonna wait o Nam to respond before i do dont want to get too far without himb)

[harknail]

Jun 4, 2011 0:31:42 GMT -5 Rojito said:

(gonna wait o Nam to respond before i do dont want to get too far without himb)

OOC: But we only have a couple of days to introduce our characters to each other. I recommend not waiting more than a day to give others a chance to post, unless you are waiting for something specific. In my case I'm waiting for anyone besides me to post.

[at]

Closer now, Grale could see why the villagers stared; Elves, from different lands by the looks of them.
If he had not seen them with his own eyes he might have assumed news of this strange gathering to be the invention of the town fool.

[namklim]

"Yes there are indeed quite a few people in this friendly city. If you are in need of friends, I am more than willing to join you," replies Rolan, still in Elven.
"My name is Rolan and I have some knowledge of the local area."
Rolan then turns to the other Elf, "Would you like to join us as well? You seem to have only recently arrived as well."

[Rojito]

"Yes, of course i'll join you, human. My name is Salyyn. the rest of the greetings can wait untill we are some where more comfortable." Salyyn says with barely a look for Rolan.

[namklim]

Rolan, being from Burr, is not new to being ignored, and thus ignores Salynn's attitude towards him.
"Well then, shall we head to the local tavern? Although it may not have the best of Elven wines that you would normally drink, I am sure you can find something that will appease you."
With this, he turns to the other Elf, and remembers the wolf.
"Hmmm... I am not sure on the tavern's policy on animals... hopefully there will be no trouble, otherwise we might have to have a picnic."

[harknail]

Vadania replied, "I won't go anywhere without Ylva. She's never seen so many people either, but I'll keep her next to me." Turning to her wolf, she repeats (in common), "Ylva, heal". Vadania is also keeping an hand on her wolf, both to reassure Ylva that all is well and to help keep up her own courage."

[at]

Grale felt a tug on his sleeve and looked down to see a pair of wide amber eyes peering back up at him; the orphan Sabra had wandered into the town a few years before Grale, alone, and had not spoken a word since. The townsfolk whispered that she had elf blood but in truth nobody know, not even the girl it seemed.

Another tug, "you wish to see them?". Grale reached down to lift the girl above the crowd but she backed away, still tugging. "You want to meet them then." Stepping slowly around the townsfolk he approached the unusual newcomers.

[namklim]

Rolan noticed the relatively large man approaching with someone else tugging on him. Rolan had seen the blacksmith before, but knew little about him or his little friend. He figured, however, that the man was probably no trouble-maker (although Rolan himself would probably be the most likely person), and decided it would be good to speak with him as well.
Switching back to common, Rolan approached them, "Hello there, perhaps you'd like to join us for a bit? We were just thinking of heading to the local tavern..." Then he remembered the wolf, "or maybe a picnic since the weather is nice."

[harknail]

Vadania looked at the large man and the small person next to him. The large man was obviously human, but she had problems placing the race of the small one. 'Gnome?', ran her thoughts, 'No, the ears aren't pointed. Halfling? No, too thin.' Then Vadania realized that she was looking at a child. She had never seen a child before (or a gnome or halfling for that matter). She had been a child of course, but she had never seen another child.

Not sure how to deal with a child, Vadania crouched down to bring her eyes down to the child's eye level (keeping a hand on Ylva as she did so). With a tremorous voice she said, "Hello, I'm Vadania and this is Ylva. What's your name?"

[at]

The girl remained silent, a slight look of disappointment etched on her face as she turned towards the second elf.

Grale spoke up "This is Sabra ... she cannot speak, but I think she wanted to welcome you to Clearwater. It is not often that we are visited by elves."

As he spoke he caught sight of movement behind the group, riders dressed in the uniform of the town's guard had reached the edge of the crowd and seemed agitated. Were they here for the strangers? Grale put a hand on the girl's shoulder and gently pulled her away from the road, "make room for the guard Sabra"


(OOC - it's been a while since Arclite logged in)

[at]

(OOC: ok, i'm going to push on with a plot as DM for now, so make your way into town and i'll get the first adventure going)

The guards slowed, the lead rider calling for the milling crowd to clear the road. Concern was evident on their faces, but not for the elves as they spared barely a glance towards the curious gathering in the street before continuing towards the northern keep.

In their wake the streets began to slowly clear, though no immediate danger is apparent.