In reply to Dionysus Dispatha (msg # 61):

The road ahead stretches on, and ahead you see a number of robed persons, a few with staves, walking toward the city from up the road.

In reply to Narrator (msg # 62):

"Robes. What are they hiding, if anything? Careful now..." Kirpich says as they approach.

As they get closer (ie 20-30 yards away), he calls out

"Greetings fellow travelers. Where are we heading today?"
This message was last edited by the player at 02:31, Wed 09 Jan 2019.

Balir found it odd for Kirpich to call out to the travelers ahead of them on the road.  They didn't seem to be dangerous that he saw, but he wasn't well versed on the ways of humans either.  It was simply a different world, which was the whole point of him being here in the first place.  He couldn't relate to the other races (even the Elves...) if he didn't spend time among them.  Eventually he would need to navigate social situations like this.

Since Kirpich had already spoken with the strangers, Balir decided to follow his lead.  He subtly checked on his axe and 2 throwing axes, and took his shield off of his back where he was carrying it.  While he didn't expect any trouble, he wanted to be ready just in case the humans were hostile.

As he prepared his shield, Balir had a small chuckle to himself at how different things were for the humans.  If the traveling party had been Dwarves, the whole group would probably be sharing an ale or mead by now.

In reply to Balir Ironhide (msg # 64):

The dozen or so persons in the group of pilgrims pause. One in front lower his hood.
"Hail fellow travelers. Is this the road to Northport? We seek to vsit a shrine there."
This message was last edited by the player at 16:08, Tue 15 Jan 2019.

In reply to cultist (msg # 65):

"It is indeed. Which shrine do you intend to visit there? Which gods should I thank for our meeting?"

Balir stands quietly next to Kirpich and listens.  He wants to learn as much as he can about the human culture, so he pays attention but says nothing.  It was nice to take a break from their long walk.  Balir could handle the load just fine, but his armor and shield got heavy after a hike.  It was nice to plant the point of his tower shield on the ground so he didn't have to carry it for a minute.  Absently, he rubs his braided beard with his right hand, since his left is holding his shield.

Syvanus thinks something is odd, he looks closely at their dress.



[Private to GM: 19:38, Today: Syvanus rolled 13 using 3d6.  Perception. Just made it ]

In reply to Kirpich Rockson (msg # 66):

"Vejovis, protector of the unjustly persecuted, master of volcanoes, marshes and healing."

He displays a carved and painted wooden amulet, depicting a laurel crowned youth holding arrows and leading a goat.




OCC: make a theology roll, at -2
This message was last edited by the player at 16:14, Tue 15 Jan 2019.

In reply to cultist (msg # 69):

Kirpich considers his response...

[Private to GM: Rolled 3 under Theology -2...]

Balir would expect to know something about this cult, given the nature of dwarves and their affinity of mountains.  It's not something he has heard recently, however, so he ponders for a moment, absently stroking his beard as he does so.

[Private to GM: Balir might pass this with a lucky roll.  The default is IQ-6 (thought it was IQ-4...), which he missed by one.  Given Dwarves inhabit mountain ranges, he may get a bonus to the roll.  I can't say.
15:59, Today: Secret Roll: Balir Ironhide rolled 6 using 3d6.  Theology default - likely a 7.]

In reply to Balir Ironhide (msg # 71):

Worship of Vejovis is uncommon, but the rather small shrine is not far from the temple of Grome. While Grome's place of worship is a rocky outcroping with a ring of oak trees and flint menhirs, Vejovis shrine is built of black basalt, which is not native to this area, and often surrounded by goats. It has some underground rooms, and is a place of refuge for the persecuted.

It takes Balir a few minutes to remember where he had heard the name Vejovis before, but it finally comes to him.

"Don't you have a shrine of basalt not far from the Temple of Grome?  I recall hearing of one.  Do you hail from there, or from another shrine?

Visiting a shrine here in Northport would seem to put you out of your element.  Is there even a shrine to Vejovis in Northport?"

While the movements of religious sects was fairly alien to Balir, it seems odd that a sect of this nature might have a shrine in a city this large.

In reply to Balir Ironhide (msg # 73):

Those shrines are on temple hill in Northport. Worship of Vejovis is more commonly found far to the southeast, near the sea.

In reply to Narrator (msg # 74):

What does irpich know of the god and his worshippers?

In reply to Kirpich Rockson (msg # 75):

There are often fugitives and refugees amog the worshipers, and they all seem interested in justice. They often show up at trials and make noise about innocent people being charged, even paying for compell truth to be cast, and are known to sacrifice goats by burial.

In reply to Narrator (msg # 76):

"Sirs, have you come across any refugees in the area we are heading?" He describes the geographical location where they are going...

Kirpich will relate the information about the religion to his group once the others have departed.

As Kirpich describes where they are going, Balir pays close attention.  He isn't suspicious of the cultists so much, although he's still on guard.  What's more important to him is knowing where they were going, since he was new to the area.  He makes a mental picture of their path in his mind, to try and help him remember the lands surrounding Northport.

Aethul stands back and observes closely, looking for the obscene cross with the curved bottom, used by Saturnites...


[Private to GM:  15:27, Today: Aethul rolled 11 using 3d6.  Perception.  Skill is 15]

In reply to Aethul (msg # 79):

None of this group seem to bear that marking.
The spokesman eyes Kirpich with some suspicion.
"We may have encountered a few persons seeking to mark a year and a day out of unjust servitude. We hope we shall not find persecution in Northport. Are they welcoming of such persons there, or do they compell servitude?"
This message was last edited by the player at 14:45, Thu 24 Jan 2019.

In reply to cultist (msg # 80):

"I have not experienced such persecution there, except for criminals."

In reply to Kirpich Rockson (msg # 81):

"They do. The priests of Hades compell inentured servitude from those as cannot prove employment. Your best bet if not given a token at the shrine would be to join the Adventurers Guild, although it costs a bit."

In reply to Snorri Roslovich (msg # 82):

"That is unfortunate, but useful to know. May Vejovis peace be with you."

In reply to cultist (msg # 83):

The pilgrims all head up the road, towards the shrine in Northport, and possible indentured servitude.

With the few minutes of respite complete, Balir takes off his shield and straps it on his back again.  They had a long walk ahead of them, and it made no sense for him to carry his shield free if he didn't need it.

As he rearranges things, Balir takes out his whetstone so he can sharpen his axe a moment, until the rest of the group is ready to proceed.

shhhhht...   shhhhht...    shhhhht...

In reply to Balir Ironhide (msg # 85):

The rest of the day passes without incident. You prepare to set up camp.

Survival rolls please to set quality of campsite