One had found himself leaving from the depths of his ancestral home in the mountains, the other had been searching the whispered notion of an abandoned monastery.

This is the thread that shows their meeting and chronicles anything they encountered or found on the mountainside.

It is up to the players to decide where they are starting, as they meet, right after they met, or they already met and started traveling together....

OOC: I'm going to have us leaving a centaur camp

Dods wasn't sure about this Cold Jin fellow. Most of the tall folk he trusted carried steel. And most that didn't fought with magic. And if there was one thing that Dods didn't trust, it was magic. Well magic that wasn't his of course. His magic was different. Or so he told himself.

Astride the pony the centaurs had "loaned" him, Dods looked up at the taller figure. "So you're looking for a fight, huh? My da' says that those bandits have been busting up caravans and stealing our families jewels and we can't be having that."

"I personally am not much for riding a pony, but if I had to keep up with you all day, I'd be worn out well before we got to the belt."

Cold Jin would notice that the dwarf wore hide armor and had a staff tied to his saddle. On his hip, an ornately etched hammer sat with gems embedded in the handle. He had a braided beard with each of the braids held in place with small steel rings each with a small blue gem as well.

"My family, we're jewelers. I don't do much mining, but I've got an eye for value and a knack for molding steel."

"So you're looking for a fight, huh?"

From beneath a bowl cut blacker than truest sable, violet eyes looked out from their corners, then down at the dwarf. To Cold Jin, they looked for all the world like the forest sages he'd read about in his family's tomes, but this one carried both a staff and a hammer. It was a promise of prowess, an arrow pointing to education in the martial sphere.

"Of course, my mortal companion. Who wouldn't?" Dododir would have noticed that Cold Jin's voice always sounded a little too loud, a little too angry. It wouldn't take long for anyone to realize that was just the way he talked. Like an arrogant arse.

"My da' says that those bandits have been busting up caravans and stealing our families jewels and we can't be having that."

"Ah, yes...I suppose that as well..." Cold Jin would hardly feign enthusiasm in protecting others; he'd nearly forgotten about them already. The matter of the monastery seemed many times more accommodating to his interests. That and the fact that his role as a mere bouncer would soon leave him as well off as the beggars he pitied, for Cold Jin was as broke as they came. It was the result of taking his previous station, which was well beneath his station, much too seriously. It hadn't been enough for him to simply escort the disorderly out of the tavern. He felt that throwing them threw furniture and windows would more accurately make his statement. It certainly did, and from his own coin pouch too.

"I personally am not much for riding a pony, but if I had to keep up with you all day, I'd be worn out well before we got to the belt."

Though he said nothing, Cold Jin squinted his eyes at the comment. Weren't beasts of burden simply fulfilling there task? What greater glory was there for them other than to be eaten? The Jin family had a particular recipe for horse meat kebabs. The thought of home made him sad. Made him angry.

The Black Fist of the First felt it too.

"My family, we're jewelers. I don't do much mining, but I've got an eye for value and a knack for molding steel."

Cold Jin's ears perked up as he turned to Dododir. "Mining, you say?"

A familiar hum warmed Cold Jin's forehead as the Black Fist of the First chimed in to invade his thoughts. I know what you're going to ask. Blackfist's voice was decidedly female in Cold Jin's mind. He'd decided that if he weren't an only child, Blackfist would have had the voice of his disappointed older sister. Don't ask it.

Mind your own, Blackfist. "Only of steel?"

Don't.

"Does that include any-"

Leave them alone?

"-dabbling in leather work?" It may have been the first time - if not one of the few - that Dododir saw Cold Jin's refined lips curve into any sort of upward shape and stuck his arm out. The cestus that wrapped his arm was a...brutal sort of instrument, the studs and barbs coming out of the straps of "leather" forming some sort of indiscernible pattern.

"'Tis a family heirloom of my household. While I have cherished it for quite some time, I've found that the sight of it grows uglier by the day. Wouldn't you say it looks more like an orcs over-pierced face than an instrument of destruction?"

You're an arse.

And you are welcome.

"Though I though those of your...nature...were less inclined to the metal-shaping arts and more directed toward...bohemian persuasions." Cold Jin smiled, revealing teeth that were at least white if not perfectly straight.
This message was last edited by the player at 05:33, Fri 22 Jan 2021.

The small bands of centaurs appeared indifferent to you, but they are definitely escorting you off their land and are saying nothing about anything happening in the centaur realms.


DC 12 sense motive tells you they don’t want you involved in anything...

“Soon two legs you will be amongst your own kind.”

Dods could sense the frustration from the centaurs and even read the conflict on Cold Jin's face. So he kept to himself for a bit.

Finally realizing that even not wanting to do with them, they were helping the centaurs, Dods turned to one and said, "Tell us about this bandit problem we're here to help you with? And don't treat us like children, spell it out like we are part of a hunting party, because, well, we are."

"And don't treat us like children, spell it out like we are part of a hunting party, because, well, we are."

Cold Jin made sure to pour on the indignation. "I concur with this Dwarven mortal. Unless you would find yourselves overrun by more of these problems, you will speak to us as fully capable contractors."

You're not exactly divine yourself. Why can't you be more like Dododir? Blackfist mentally moaned. At least he has tact.

Silence.

Cold Jin could feel the weapon's grumbling, but blocked it from his mind.

“Bandits are in the green belt they are not our concern, we wish you luck in your conflict with them.  What happens here is not the concern of men nor bandits.  I will say nothing more on this matter.”

Another centaur chimes in...a bit more diplomatically
“If you wrest control of the lands there, a treaty will be considered.”

The days are peaceful enough and the centaurs provide a little more detail....of the area laid out in the charter of exploration the current party has....

---

Spoiler text: (Highlight or hover over the text to view)

Be it so known that the bearer of this charter has been charged
by the Swordlords of Restov, acting upon the greater good and
authority vested within them by the office of the Regent of the
Dragonscale Throne, has granted the right of exploration and travel
within the wilderness region known as the Greenbelt. Exploration
should be limited to an area no further than thirty-six miles east and
west and sixty miles south of Oleg’s Trading Post. The carrier of
this charter should also strive against banditry and other unlawful
behavior to be encountered. The punishment for unrepentant banditry
remains, as always, execution by sword or rope. So witnessed on this
24th day of Calistril, under watchful eye of the Lordship of Restov
and authority granted by Lord Noleski Surtova, current Regent of
the Dragonscale Throne.

---

You do not have a charter yet..
This message was last edited by the GM at 16:52, Sat 23 Jan 2021.

Dods nodded. He understood the bandits weren’t there problem but someday they may be. He likely wouldn’t get more out of them so he ignored them and instead spoke a word as he waved his hand and immediately knew where north was. From there he considered their intended trail and confirmed they were still on the path and hadn’t deviated greatly.

OOC: casting Know Direction just to confirm we aren’t getting ourselves lost.

With a (self-supposing) noble air, Cold Jin hmphed at the centaurs' combined comments. It was never anyone's problem until it was, and by then it would be too late.


Though he tried to feign interest, Cold Jin watched as Dododir cast their spell, his eyebrows perking up. "That is a useful spell," he mumbled, as much for Dododir to hear as not. He wasn't experienced enoough to now too many spells that didn't focus on obliterating ones opponent, and he'd rarely had the chance to do even that.

"If I may," Cold Jin asked, "Do your spells not come from...established arcane texts?"

OOC: Spellcraft check = 27; just making small talk.

Dods laughed at the question from Cold Jin, a hearty, dwarven belly laugh.

"Most dwarves of the mountain do not study arcane texts. Our magic comes from the earth beneath our feet or the elements that lay buried deeper. I'm a rare one though. Born above ground in the midst of a storm the likes of which hasn't been seen since. My magic comes from the storms that pass overhead. I have read a few texts. Though mostly from other druids like myself. They give me hints at how to tap into the primal nature of the world around me to work my magic."

"And I don't like getting lost, so I find the spell quite useful. Assuming I know what direction I am aiming for as my final destination, that is."

Thinking that plans are set in stone, so to speak
It is shocking when Cold Jin suddenly decides he should ride on to Restov, before even coming close to Oleg’s trading post

Dods says his farewells to Cold Jin. He was an odd duck, but a very interesting one and he had hoped the two would fight well together.

He continued on the path he'd been directed making his way to Oleg's on foot now that he'd returned the pony to the centaurs.

Please go ahead and post in the Oleg’s thread
You will have to announce yourself at the gates