Filimena nods politely. She might indeed be better of speaking to somebody with a bit more practical experience. One of the guilds, perhaps, as Rishaal suggests, or perhaps even their new friend Renaer. All the same, knowledge learnt seldom goes to waste.

"I don't know... In my experience, things under our feet tend to bubble up once in a while, and it helps to know a bit about them for when that happens." She starts sounding ominous at first, but ends with a chuckle. "Anyway, would you mind if I browsed a bit, one of the books you mentioned earlier about the history of Titans Gate? I promise I'll be careful."

OOC: Hey... Sorry for the way. I've been having a really, really tough couple of weeks at work, and it's not getting better. Maybe it's precisely times like these I should be checking back more often and engaging in a bit of escapism.

The dragonborn nods, "Browse as long as wish, neighbor ..." they pause and tilt their head to one side before shaking it. Rishaal's eyes settle back on Filimena, "Though I think your companion is here," and they wander down stairs

Rani and Marik reach Book Wyrm's Treasure with no issues, a few folks wave at Marik in greeting but none delay the pair.  The store is as you last saw it - books, books, and more books. The owner, Rishaal, is making their way down the stairs as the two of you enter. "Greetings Marik and to you too Rani. Your friend, Filimena, is upstairs browsing."

"Oh, Moien Rishaal." nods Marik, bowing his head slightly to greet the dragonborn. "Understood, I'll go find her. You...huh...looking banger as always!" he says (he heard it a lot around the tavern so it must be a good formal greeting in urban settings)  as Rani starts to climb the stairs, rubbing her large head against the librarian's robe in affectionate greeting.


He finds Filimena browsing through books.

"Moien! Finding something interesting?"

[Language unknown: "Ntiterles!"] Filimena says, looking up from the book. [Language unknown: "T ac thodayble m wefi estst me onsoerare ersla rut wa teos streveconoul, en po thoonehis ithwilard It hereus n aihoti pronc unekerce o Reicti n whi ai alll outineres. Intfortin it romconund amepe, misame. Llhiic di si ineou ni nteck wit?"] She smiles, not forgetting her suggestion to go foraging.

Hold one second, does Filimena think the Illithids and the gate in the basement are related?

Not necessarily. I think she sees that weird things are happening under the city: the gates, the Illithids. They could be related, but even if they aren't, she's wondering if something under the city draws such weirdness. And putting that aside, gates must lead somewhere, so she's also curious where this one leads.

Already back to his spirits, Marik's face light up even more at the suggestion of going out the city. He can feel Rani getting excited at the suggestion too.

[Language unknown: "Of, tedsomhisnceson. Naiv fotohi plac prech k whesetthu. Unen as enc sawiti prreun"] he says, moving back on the saddle to leave some space.
This message was last edited by the GM at 17:52, Wed 04 Oct 2023.

A bell rings downstairs, indicating someone has entered the shop.  The two of you can hear muffled voices then the bell ring again.

Assuming Filimena hopped on the saddle, the two (three counting Rani) make their way downstairs. Probably more in a hurry than they should be given Marik and Rani enthusiasm at the prospect of going outside the city.

Moving from Book Wyrm's Treasure to the main road then the north gate takes only a few minutes atop Rani as people move out of the big cat's as though she were royalty.  You find yourselves among people coming and going along the main road into Titan's Gate. The Pilgrim's Hall is not too far away and in the distance the highest snowcapped peaks of the Maw stand as juxtaposition to the sea beyond Titan's Gate.


Where to now?

Filimena gazes towards the mountains and shivers at their cold and icy spectacle, distant as they might be. Turning away from them, she looks around her instead, feeling a strange sense of possibility that she seldom experiences confronting the wide open. She very much still is a city girl.

[Language unknown: "San,"] she says, turning to Marik. [Language unknown: "Setnotoul i no entnceeve k teofme? Et chntti yineraionand timitrsefo ne lewamous riilti pllat formenhou artntiest nd?"] She looks down at the green stuff beneath Rani's feet. She's mostly joking, but then again, who knows? Certainly not her.

[Language unknown: "Icapr...Tewh plarur ektoel olstwe ica earticome ha red ughhi wa ckdi"] says the elf, looking around and taking the time to think. [Language unknown: "Tin ousstapre ectintion rentet tapoos? strss witof nt rutndewer? U sti forwaslar whiencenc. Tilo erout acme we plioth ul napepr u loatio u el wil somshethe llnear sti n. Estsanwhe n i rutmenday adomiv tho evpole in e rutsonder p ca, orelesromrutere p ie ieno dindi koroulfor be ilat heevul. Icse amepre'outich eauandlat antpremenati re en beussi wedilo tail, eton'poal n stich whisetsti hat utwiic hassi ilisof werhaseve. Llntwe ing thbeie butareenc a enou thoundart anpeiv ev ateevevir pl anhou ionundman." ]

Marik grins grows larger as he pursue his explanation. It's a strange, but fun experience to be in a position to teach anything, even about something as basic as gaillet and foraging for edible plants, roots and small game (a basic survival skill every child in Tal'Onarafel is taught by their parents around age 10). It's a nice change of pace, given how out-of-place and childlike he sometimes feel in the walls in the city.



[Language unknown: "Ck ioresssi lamiof e witwa intar loekar po waatbean evtiie we on unome derectvenere ropa ng tinresnce tinlesenc ie mi has, ch eeure tiheas ck. P sesiic Omemo houpo n maaiet ieli el koriouany k os to atllou toti. P lllapa siet as n ame all"] He says. And with these words, Rani does some stretches and launches herself into a free run toward the mountains.


OOC: Could you describe us a bit what kind of regions we are in, DM? Given the proximity of the steppes, I thought maybe something like Mongolians landscapes, with semi-desertic plains, rocky hills and the occasional forest, but maybe it looks more something Irish or Scottish near the sea, with greener hills and denser forest. What did you had in mind on your part? (all good for me, just curious to know!)

OOC: Marik rolled a 16 Survival to help him find some good foraging spots.
This message was last edited by the player at 03:33, Mon 06 Nov 2023.

Marik recalls a patch of fig trees not too far off the road.


The miles/hexes between Spineguard Keep & Titan’s Gate are grasslands (based on the green blobs) with the steppe to the West.  Doesn't mean there can't be groves of trees and such along the way but they are the exception no the rule.

There is Redknife (a completely unmentioned town in the Collabris document) is between them and is roughly 2 days travel from Titan's Gate - each hex is 1 days travel per Colville's standard.

Marik brings Filimena to a good spot with a few fig trees that stand almost defiantly against the sunlit wide-open grasslands.


Approaching the trees, he realized what he thought was a bunch of trees is in fact a single one that appeared to have been split open by something, maybe by lightning. The two halves then seem to have regrown over time into multiple trunks.


He settles Rani in the shade of the leaves and picks a fruit [Language unknown: "P na lar ant lesateect comis?]" he grins, handing one to the halfling. [Language unknown: "Selang p m pe bleblewhi rewiro k manartstr wisan stastawhi e ei ng on she lar ilwh ntneat reain he realatman reaforhat. Chev steehe sta ouof..."]

He stops suddenly, thinking he saw something in the corner of his eye. He looks, seeing nothing, before noticing something small and colorful quickly dashing out of one of the large leaves, before going out in the open. A hummingbird. Marik eyes lit up.

[Language unknown: "N...K reatheion larectsti ni. Mooupl erawitrat a!"] he says, guiding Rani to follow the small bird dashing in zig-zag patterns across the plains toward the mountains.

[Private to DM5: OOC: I don't know why and it may be because the landscape somehow reminds me of the Lion King, but I think it could be fun to set up a sort of chase/stampede sequence through the open fields, maybe against beasts or raiders. I think that may be a fun challenge I never had the chance to play so far (especially with a character that uses a mount) and it could be used to lead us a bit away from the city...maybe toward ban'Thuur territory or old ruins revealing a bit more of what had been in the region before Titan's gate (and maybe events of old history, which I'm always curious to know more) or maybe another aberrant mystery? Just a few ideas and do what you will with them. Again, happy to be along for the ride. And just to explain, Marik is excited because he prayed to a pathmaker spirit earlier, which often takes the form of a hummingbird and thought he saw one flying away from the trees, thinking it could be a sign. It can be anything of course :)]
This message was last edited by the player at 03:52, Wed 15 Nov 2023.

The lovely little hummingbird does as such creatures do and lights upon various flowers as it moves ever farther from the main road and eastward.  After an hour of following, which did include some "Hey we should stop" moments which the hummingbird buzzed around which ever of you said it, the hummingbird lands atop a rather large rock. It is some ten feet (3m) wide and twice again as tall (6m).  After a moment, the pair of you see that you're outside a stone ring and the stone before you is the largest.

Filimena wonders whether this is anything like what Marik has been feeling the entire time they have been adventuring in the city. She's not in her element at all. A cursed tree? Who curses a tree?!

Taking the fruit of the tree from Marik, she is just about to bite into it when something seems to distract the elf. Not expecting the sudden movement, the fruit slips from her hands and lands behind Rani and she follows whatever it is that has caught Marik's attention. Filimena glances sadly back at it sitting forlornly on the ground as it disappears out of sight.

Seeing that it's a bird Marik and Rani are following, Filimena can't help but feel slightly underwhelmed. It's a pretty little thing, sure, but... it's just a bird. She doesn't say anything though. She doesn't want to detract from the fun that Marik seems to be having. Besides, loss of the fruit aside, she doesn't have much to complain about. She's getting a free ride on Rani! And it is actually a nice day.

Less interested in the hummingbird than Marik is, Filimena's attention instead wanders towards the grasslands spread out around them for miles and miles, with only the odd copse of trees, the distant mountains, and of course Titan's Gate to the south, interrupting their glorious expanse. The thought occurs to Filimena that the grasslands are like a sea, and Rani is like a boat floating in it. How lost she would be if she weren't with Marik and Rani?

Before the thought can disturb her too much, Rani comes to a sudden halt beneath her, and she turns to see what might have prompted this. The irritating bird they've been following seems to have landed on some kind of rock. A rather large rock, actually. And it seems to be part of a stone ring.

[Language unknown: "Onpo... strterntiinelat,"] Filimena says, and hops off Rani, to take a closer look. She steps towards the ring, but stops a couple of metres from its boundary.

OOC:

Does Filimena know anything about stone rings in general, or rings like this kind of ring in particular, made of stones of different sizes, one with one especially large one? Not sure if this is an Arcana or History check, but anyway Filimena has a +3 in each and rolls as 22.

20:11, Today: Filimena the Gentle rolled 22 using 1d20+3 with rolls of 19.  Arcana/history check.

Also, I rolled a DEX save just for fun to see if Filimena would drop the fruit, which she does :(

19:50, Today: Filimena the Gentle rolled 5 using 1d20+3 with rolls of 2.  Self-imposed DEX Save for RP.

The ring is constructed out of six stones which decrease from the one before you down to one that is roughly half as large (5ft wide x 10ft tall)

OOC: Rings like this are typically druidic in nature and are used to focus magics which strengthening nature within a radius of the ring itself. Another use for stone rings is for teleportation magics though they aren't traditionally done with standing stones such as these.
This message was last edited by the GM at 00:02, Tue 21 Nov 2023.

[Language unknown: " Towhacch"] says Marik, to no one in particular but loud enough that Filimena can hear it. [Language unknown: "E lalo islica larestvor."]

And it led them to a druidic circle.  This can't be a coincidence.

[Language unknown: "Iv in o pobehofi ithis. Witan om ek onulck. Chunwh ica wh butthireshou"]

Marik takes out his bow and sword and lay them on the ground next the largest stone as a sign of peace. He takes out 2 days worth of rations from his pack and lay them at the center of the circle. He takes out his waterskin, and draws a circle of water around the offering.

[Language unknown:  "Dayoerres illeil und erseauect ain illughous ca"] told him his sister once [Language unknown: "ek miol asnopo k hasliniveareter whhi onsanture sima atiwilour sa."]

He then disembarks from Rani and go sit in the middle of the circle, next to the offering and facing the small bird. He gestures with a smile Filimena to come sit next to him.

[Language unknown: "Om oerhatect u ousos ncul wh linanyugh i us helltame. Virvenhas and!"]

Marik then closes his eyes and starts chanting something. Words older than mountains flow out like a song... a strange song, sometimes airy like the wind coursing the leaves, sometimes deep like like the earth, both nourishing and ever-hungry.

[Language unknown: "Ectillaveugh..."]

OOC: Marik rolled a 21 for Religion to make a ritual of communion with spirits if that's applicable.
This message was last edited by the GM at 04:14, Thu 23 Nov 2023.

Filimena blinks, surprised.

[Language unknown: "P, thpa,"] she says, not quite sure how else to respond. She steps gingerly into the circle, as if wary of accidentally knocking over any of the stones, more than a few of which are several times her own size, and slips to Marik's side, trying her best to mimic his sitting position as exactly as she can manage.

In reply to Marik (msg # 72):

um... where is info on communion with spirits?  There is a commune with nature spell which is 5th level and beyond Marik's grasp currently.

OOC: It was mostly for RP, as Marik is an animist and I figure his skill proficiency in Religion could translate to knowing some rituals to enter contact with spirits?  The way I see it, the spell Commune with Nature could be perceived as a much more potent and powerful version of those rituals, allowing to temporarily become one with spirits and accessing their knowledge (which allows you to know three facts about the land). Like maybe the difference between having a normal conversation with someone and casting Detect thoughts? What do you think?
This message was last edited by the player at 02:37, Tue 28 Nov 2023.

OOC: Um ... er ... right ... so nothing happens.

In reply to DM5 (msg # 76):

OOC: Ok, so it's not a spirit then XD Good to know. Do the 21 Religion reveal anything else about the function of the stone circles I should take into account for my next post? I'll try to post something tomorrow.

After a moment of silence, Marik gets up, relaxed and in good spirits.

[Language unknown: "Rut... thisheoun thoavepresta. Ratereyin ineameter ble forameman ac Les le ad nori ectbutave washasbut tedha terreahat i a asulet rince urstmiicelil si ntiei. Ardratectave pradun seurel se ar pro tedainrut whouss linromund "]  He says, climbing back on Rani and inviting Filimena to join him. If there was a stone circle here, it probably means there could be other signs a druidic circle lived nearby and possibly an outstanding natural habitat or ecosystem that could have been strengthened by this circle. Also maybe good hunting game or foraging option. It's worth exploring.


OOC: Marik goes back to exploring and rolls a 14 Survival to find another good foraging or hunting spot. 
This message was last edited by the GM at 17:35, Fri 01 Dec 2023.

Marik see a few small game trails and various wild flowers about as well as some bushes which are starting to blossom should have fruit in a few weeks.

OOC: If we weren't playing D&D I'd be rather cool with you flexing this creative muscle but there are abilities/spells in D&D that do what you're trying to do

Alright I'm going to start a new thread as we are beyond the manor.
This message was last edited by the GM at 20:49, Fri 01 Dec 2023.