"Greetings, Erethar, and may the blessing of Aa be upon you and your establishment. To be blunt, we have little time at present, however, I would inquire about the possibility of a bath and then a room for let later this evening."

Aalistair looks about the place as if sizing it up, obviously comparing it to other places in his mind.

"Ah, then let us be about things quickly!" he exclaims.  "For a paltry two gold lumens, here, far from your homelands, you can enjoy all the comforts of home, most expeditiously!"


OoC:  His prices are a little high, and you can haggle (either with a skill roll, roll CHA (no doubling) with a -5 or haggle/merchant/appropriate skill, or we can rp it, or just pay his asking price -- after all, time is a factor here.)

"Two lumens seems a bit steep out here at the far end of the world, but if it is your price I must meet it. I assume that the bath-water shall be hot, yes?" Aalistair looks back over his shoulder briefly to see if any of his traveling companions.
This message was last edited by the player at 17:36, Sat 22 Jan 2011.

"Aye, that's right!" he answers, with a comical looking bow that makes the short, fat fellow appear like he's bobbing in the water, "a hot bath, perhaps the only one to be found this side of the wastelands and the chill, Beastmen-infested plains!" 

J'landria leads the stranger, out onto the great tree and looks around.

"Do you need to... sit," she asks him.  She spots a place where he could easily settle and rest some.

The Djaffa shakes his head, "I've had enough sitting for some time.  It is good just to be out in the open air."

Erethar stands and bobs on his doorstep, opening his door and sweeping his hand, "Come, come be welcome!"

Aalistair heads inside to partake of a bath and a shave before the feast, determined to make a good showing of Aamanian purity and society.

In reply to GM (msg #51):

Wraith steps through the door and thanks Erethor for his hospitality.

Watching the assisted progress of the stranger and J'landria, Kar decides another hand may be welcome for the trip down

To her "Perhaps I could take him from here..."
to him "If you would allow me...?" opening arms and wings slightly to indicate the way down.

J'landria nods to Kar and waits until the man is settled with Kar comfortably.  She looks around and watches the others in her new group, and those residents who had come to see the spectacle.

Abn Quam nods to Kar, "Thank you, but no, I am happy to use my own limbs again.  I have spend long enough pacing little more than a cabin."  He then proceeds to slowly, but surely make his way through the tree and down to the ground and thence to the Lowly Inn.

All those who wish can get a room for the night, and a hot bath prepared, and moving with some alacrity, make the feast in time.

Abn Quam simply stands before the inn, "I fear I have not the funds to purchase a room," he sighs.

In reply to GM (msg #56):

Mirna follows J'Landria and Abn Quam down to the inn.

"I can pay for your room. I would prefer to sleep on the 'ship."

Mirna goes into the inn, approaches the innkeeper, and asks for a room & bath for Abn Quam and a (separate!) bath for herself.

Erethar dithers a bit, remarking that a bath is nearly as much work as a room, but will finally ask for a single gold lumen (3 total for Mirna's bath, and Abn Quam's bath and room).

All who would like can quickly get cleaned up [those purchasing rooms, 2gl each] and back off to the feast.

The feast is held high up in the great limbs of a span oak.  In a central area, near the trunk, several elders portion out the kill.  It is a bit confusing (to all but Kar), but it appears that portions are handed out according to some kind of ranking.  The hunters capturing the kills are awarded first, followed by the elders themselves, who retire after receiving their portions.  Then come a number of others, each seeming to know their time and place.  When it is your turn to go, you are ushered up by Hree, and you find both the fresh kill, and portions which have been cooked to various degrees.  There are also some few nuts and berries, though these are by far outnumbered by the portions of fresh meat.

Aalistair will take some of the cooked meat, lay a small bit of the raw over the top of it, as well as take some of the nuts and berries.

Returning back to a seat, he will inquire of Hree and Kar, "the elders do not eat with you? And the first to eat, the hunters, do they always succeed? Is it a matter of skill or of luck?"
This message was last edited by the player at 01:49, Wed 26 Jan 2011.

J'landria takes her uncooked portion and some of the nuts and berries and joins the rest of the crew.  She says nothing but waits until all the others have gotten their food and begun eating.

In reply to GM (msg #58):

Wraith fastidiously garnishes his plate with nuts and berries.  He drapes a slab of meat onto his plate as well and sits with the rest of the crew.

In reply to Aalistair (msg #59):

"Only the successful hunters eat first. The Elders eat with us, and then go off to discuss matters of clan and community importance, such as the success of the hunters, and how that affects future plans and prospects, as well as other matters of security and potential pairings. If you look, you can make out the two groups of young adults...men in one, girls in the other. Close enough to be seen, but not mingling as groups. This is because the boys must prove themselves worthy not only to the girl and her parents, but to the clan elders as well. One of the best ways to do that...provide for the clan feasts. If you can assist in providing for the clan, then you should be able to provide for a family."
As Kar is explaining this, it becomes apparent that the "young adult" males appear to be about his age, some a little younger, not many older.

"I... see," says Aalistair, chewing on a piece of raw meat, his eyes roaming from place to place as Kar talks about the local culture.

Hree nods to Kar's explanation.  "Many Gryphs do other things, but we all hunt.  A feast such as this is largely a celebration."

As the feast goes on, several Gryphs return for an additional helping.  Sometimes, it is quiet, but other times, they call to one another, sometimes quite loudly, in their avian tongue.

After returning for another helping, the elder K'Rhee returns not to the other elders, but joins the group of you in the branches.  Several other Gryphs join him as well, and others nearby are clearly interested.

"Greetings once again, travelers," he dips his head to you.  "Tell me, what brings you to our forests?"

Aalistair inclines his head in response. "Peace." He pops another berry into his mouth and chews slowly. "The Rajani and the Beastmen were working in concert, you see. They had stolen the craft we arrived on, and were no doubt up to more villainy. We arrived with, apparently, the lone survivor of a group of Djaffir whom had likewise been attacked. One among us seeks a youth of her people as well." He moves a bit of the meat around on his plate. "After we re-took the windship, we needed somewhere to go to affect repairs, to get our bearings. Kar there, I believe, suggested this place. It was close, as things go, to the Fangs of Golarin, a place of safety and peace, and we had hoped the distance would allow us to evade pursuit."

In reply to Aalistair (msg #66):

Mirna listens quietly, observing the festivities around her and casually keeping an eye on Abn Quam.

Listening to the explanation offered by Aalistair she nods.  She waits to see if a moment will present itself for her to ask after the youngling who disappeared when she isn't feeling terribly overwhelmed.

"Indeed," he follows, with a small nod, "the Beastmen of the Plains know better than to approach too closely here.  We drive them and kill them like the vermin they are.  They sometimes approach anyways; the wood itself is a draw for them, as it can be scarce out on the grasslands."

He shrugs slightly, his wings spreading and flexing.  "We have plenty of wood here, and you are welcome to make your repairs.  If needed, we have many artisans who may be of assistance.  As to finding those who are lost, our hunters are some of the best." 

In reply to GM (msg #69):

Kar considers the elder's words, and replies "Pardon my objection, but I think it would be wise to extend the scouts to further outside the range of the oaks. When that many of the beasts gather, it cannot be a good sign."