One of the Elven women- the first Brannoc spoke to- seems baffled and a little put off by his friendly banter in the middle of a scouting trip, in a dark forest.  She focuses on the lake shore ahead, and keeps her voice in a low, cool, businesslike tone.
“I cannot see anyone,” she says.  “But if we go there we must be careful.  Even if they are Humans.  Humans can be of… all kinds.  Helpful, or dangerous.”

The Elven man speaks up.  “And living out here, in the middle of the forest… it is like home to us, but for Human kind, those who choose to live remote from others often have good reason for it.”

The third Elf, the other woman, is more open to Brannoc.

“I am Adesse,” she says, aware that they have not given the Humans their names.  “She is Tinantha, and he is Erulian.  I would teach you some of our language, but this is not the place to do it.  Maybe in a safer place.  Our language is an art form.  It is.. it is a graceful language, because we are a graceful people.  It is not just you- it is well known that Humans find us pleasant to look at, because of that.  Do you speak the Celtic language?  Many words we gave to them.  It is easier to learn Elven if you already speak Celtic.”

“We should go closer to the houses,” Erulian advises.  “And see what we can see, and then one of us should go back to report.  This is why we are here, to make sure the army behind us has no surprises.”

"Yes, I speak my father's language." Brannoc replies to Adesse in fluent Celtic. "I thank you for your offer, Adesse. When we get to safety of Ardennes forest, I'd like to accept your offer and you shall teach me. Language, art, customs, everything... I'd like to learn."

Sensing slight dismay of Tinatha Brannoc doesn't want to embarrass her further nor offend anyone of them. There is a cultural cap between him and them, that is evident. Brannoc turns away and starts to walk along the shoreline towards the lake houses, all "businesslike" again. In Germanic, which has been their mutual language, he nods to Erulion. "Indeed. Lets get closer to check it out and then one shall run back to tell Anakrini what we've spotted."

"Callidus, what did you find?"

Of course, horse thievery was a step too far for Haakon and so, when he and Tawna arrived, he had been running all day.  He stopped to catch his breath and looked out on the lake.  He paused to catch his breath and said in Elvish, "People in lake villages distrustful of those who sneak?"  Then in Germanic, he 'translated'  "People who live in lake communities tend to be distrustful of strangers, but more so of those who approach in a less than open manner, do they not?"

"A boar was killed and dragged off in that direction." Callidus says,pointing as he surveys the lake city from afar.

"Haakon. It seems you've recovered quickly. Callidus said you got hurt during the battle. Nice to see you're all well and alive... you too, Tawna." The Breton greeted the latest additions to their small front-line unit.

"They don't even have to know we're here. We don't intend to pay them a visit, do we? Lets just try to find out who they are... in a subtle way and assess if they propose any threat to us or our troops - which I surely hope they do not."

The scout fixed his eyes at the lake houses and tried to spot what kind of perimeter guard the villagers had, if any...

"First one to spot a resident give us others a heads up, please."

Tinantha looks over the two recent arrivals, remembering, yes, they had been with the Elves before.  She volunteers to be the one to carry the report back, and the other Elves nod.

Brannoc moves closer to get a better look at the lake houses.

There are not many of them, but they are large, wooden halls with sharply peaked roofs.  Green-gray moss has overgrown the slate shingle on the roofs.  They are built out over the water, facing lengthwise into the lake, with a short bridge between the shore side of each and the lake shore- the bridges being little drawbridges, so that each house can pull up its bridge and isolate itself from the shore.  Narrow wooden bridges join the five houses, which have wooden catwalks around them.  Little boats are stored on racks on the sides.

One house is larger and taller than the others, and has a watch platform on the lake end of the house, rising another 20 feet over the already 40 feet tall gable of the house.  Brannoc isn't sure whether or not he can see anyone up there- it's very dark and there is no light.

Still, he knows it is likely the village has some sort of night watch.  Most Human villages will also have dogs, he knows.  One might sneak up on a human guard, but it is almost impossible to sneak up on an alert watchdog.

Callidus attempts to sneak closer to the village, Using the cover of darkness to infiltrate. He attempts to see the guards once he gets within proper range, staying as camouflaged as possible within the grasses near the lake-shore.

He keeps in mind the possibility of dogs, and their penchant of sniffing out things they can't hear. He tries to circumvent them if possible.

Haakon sighs and asks Tawna, "So, do you want to take a closer look or do we think the others have got this in hand?  I think they do, but we should keep an eye and ear out in case the villagers get annoyed."

Silently Brannoc cursed the darkness. When ever they had to operate in darkness he felt he was severely handicapped compared to his companions.
"Perhaps you could use your, um, special gift to our advantage and take a closer look, Tawna? Please." The scout carefully proposed as he watched Callidus disappear into darkness. From what he remembered Tawna was shy to reveal her animal side in presence of others and the Breton had no idea if asking her to do so would offend her.

7 Tawna is often instinctively shy about exposing her “special gift” to strangers.  Those that know her understand why:  for a long time, in her homeland, her kind were not trusted.  Apparently, rightfully so.  Even Tawna seems to hold other Wereweasels in low regard.  She slinks away, saying, “I will be back.  Wait for me.”

The Elves, looking puzzled, watch her leave.  “Wait for her?” Erulian asks.  “Does she think we will leave?”

Tawna is gone a while.  During her absence, there is movement noted in the watchtower- apparently, they do have a guard, maybe two.

Callidus also heads closer… but he is clearly outclassed by the mistress of stealth.  A small dark shape blurs by him, and vanishes silently in the dark, and he realizes, at best he can only provide backup for her, and at worse he is a much noisier redundancy.

Tawna is back within the hour- not that anyone’s wearing a watch, but they can gauge time’s progress by the position of the moon.

”It is a hunting village, and fishing, not much crops,” she says.  “All by itself, away from everyone.   There can’t be more than a hundred people here.  Probably a lot less.  One thing bothers me.  Between the two middle lake houses there is a big platform, and its got a big wooden table, with a lot of really intricate carvings.  Very big.  Very, very big.  No chairs around it, just the table, and several carved wooden columns.  I wonder if it’s their altar.”

Haakon sighed... "Do we have a theologian in the party?  If they have such a big altar... well, maybe a big god or a big demon.  Not always easy to tell the difference."

"She is a masterful spy but apparently she works best alone." Brannoc smiles. "Let's just wait until she gets back. She won't disappoint us, I believe."

Once Tawna has returned: "Hmm. Maybe they sacrifice for some creature living in the lake which they worship as their God? A massive God, by the sound of it, if they need such a big altar..." Brannoc ponders aloud, stroking his braided beard. "Are you saying you didn't see any of the residents, Tawna?"

Then the Breton turns to the Elves. "Can you with your beauti - um, sorry... um, I mean, with your sharp eyes... yes, with your sharp eyes - can you make out who or what dwells in the watchtower? Because I can't."

"Mayhaps we can leave them be and they won't bother us. What do you think?"

"At this hour they're probably in bed," Tawna says.  "Only lunatics and guards... and burglars... and... you know, other nefarious types... they're the only ones awake at... oh, and insomniacs too.  And people with babies.  They're the only ones... along with others who have some reason... to be up at this hour."

The two remaining Elves study the guard tower.

Tawna gives an amused snort, and whispers to Brannoc, "Trying for some Elf, are we?  How do you know she's not two hundred years old?"

"The shape of a man," Erulian says.  "Beyond that, even I cannot see.  But the presence of that altar may be a good sign.  It may be they revere whatever keeps them safe, out here.  How else would a little community survive, so remote from anyone?"

"I'm sixty two," Adesse whispers.
This message was last edited by the GM at 00:51, Thu 24 May 2012.

Callidus returns to the Elven camp. "Unfortunately I'm not quite as gifted as our.. friend when it comes to Stealth. She does have a penchant for squeezing into small spaces that I can't quite Mimic. Fortunately she does do a great job, but I doubt based on its size that humans would bother with any force larger than them in numbers."

Haakon smiled laconically and suggested, "Why don't we approach openly in the morning and ask to talk to them?"

"Have you ever heard phrase skills honed by centuries of training mentioned regarding Elves? Imagine that..." Brannoc impishly whispers back and winks.

"Hmh, thats only three times my age. That's not bad - I can live with that if you can too, sweetheart." Brannoc jests with wide smile.

With more serious tone the Breton nods to Haakon's proposal. "That's a valid option. Or then we can just leave them behind and let them remain isolated. Per what the guys just said the village hardly is a threat. I'd say send a word to Anakrini so she'll know about it and lets move on. But it is your call, I think."
This message was last edited by the player at 17:15, Thu 24 May 2012.