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Chapter 0.1 - Around the Fire.

Posted by GMFor group 0
GM
GM, 2674 posts
Fri 2 Jul 2021
at 16:04
  • msg #1

Chapter 0.1 - Around the Fire

OOT (Out-Of-Time) Thread for IC character discussion during party camping. Feel free to set the scene, though it should usually be somewhere on the road or campsite during a lull period. Do try to give an idea of when (relative to events) this conversation is taking place, though this isn't a strict requirement.

NPCs are also options, for those that are interested.

And above all, have fun guys :)

Moira Ruadh
player, 1749 posts
AC 16 | PP/I 13 | Inti +6
S -1, D +3, I +2, ETC +1
Sat 3 Jul 2021
at 03:29
  • msg #2

Chapter 0.1 - Around the Fire

-Triboar, The Evening of Thente's Revival-

Things had been odd, to say the least.  Giant attacks, Giant assistance, magical towers both on the earth and in the sky.  Moira really didn't know what to make of it all; such matters were far beyond her depth.  But what she was familiar with was the kitchen.  Supplies were still slim, but she had enough to keep her companions fed even with the group bigger than ever; both Thente and Ethgar being newly restored from poor conditions demanded good, nourishing meals to help regain their strength.

♫"Th'road may be long, days may be hard,
th'sky may be cold and grey.
As long as you're here, right by my side,
home's never too far away~"♫


It had been some time since any of the group had heard Moira singing as she cooked.  Events had been too hard, too stressful.  But Thente's return to wakefulness had her spirits lifted as she worked about in the little private tent area they'd had partitioned off for their own use.  The Hin had quite a lovely alto that shifted easily amid singing and humming as she worked, set in time with the steady tap of a knife rendering vegetables into a fine mince.  She had three different fires going at once and her self-heating cauldron aside, all bubbling and sizzling away as she managed the chaos of a busy make-shift kitchen with a practiced hand.
This message was last edited by the player at 03:30, Sat 03 July 2021.
Ethgar Longarm
player, 92 posts
AC 18 HP 12/28
Sun 4 Jul 2021
at 15:52
  • msg #3

Chapter 0.1 - Around the Fire

Ethgar hung around Moira's "kitchen", a testament to his hunger as well as to his appreciation of her singing. He thought at first to join her, for among his people singing was a communal affair. He was - had been - the voice of the Elk tribe, but that did not mean he spoke a lone.

The Hin's singing was different, though, more lyrical and melodic. He did not know the words nor even the expectation concerning accompaniment and so resisted the urge to sing or play along. He could not keep quiet his fingers, however, which unbeknownst to him tapped out upon his knee a rhythm they thought appropriate.
Moira Ruadh
player, 1752 posts
AC 16 | PP/I 13 | Inti +6
S -1, D +3, I +2, ETC +1
Sun 4 Jul 2021
at 21:32
  • msg #4

Chapter 0.1 - Around the Fire

While she certainly feared it was Ethgar's appetite that had him linger about like a hound hoping for dropped bits, Moira took ready note of the way he kept tempo with her tune.  She was hardly shy and sang without hesitation for her unintended audience, accompanied by the sizzle of vegetables frying off in the pan.

♫"If I'm gone a long time, I'll miss Granny's stories.
If I'm gone a long time, I'll miss drinks at th'pub.
If I'm gone a long time, I'll miss all m'family,
But more than any, I'd miss y'just as much.

Th'road may be long, days may be hard,
th'sky may be cold and grey.
As long as you're here, right by my side,
home's never too far away~"♫


Eventually the Hin's attention shifted more Ethgar's way as she gave him a knowing, sidelong smile.  "It's a family's travelin' song, y'know.  Th'tune stays th'same, but th'words in th'bridge are different.  Common for Hin t'sing in turn, each replacin' a line with what they'll miss most when they need t'be away from home.  ♫If I'm gone a long time, I'll miss la-dah-dah-daaaah.  If I'm gone a long time, I'll miss la-dah-dee-dah.♫" A demonstrative bit of vocalization was offered for the sake of explanation.  "Dunno if you're familiar with m'kind, love, but us Hin are a close-knit people.  Family, each and every one.  Leavin' home ain't somethin' we take t'easily.  We've songs for gatherin's and celebrations that can - and do - go on for days."
Ethgar Longarm
player, 93 posts
AC 18 HP 12/28
Mon 5 Jul 2021
at 11:23
  • msg #5

Chapter 0.1 - Around the Fire

Ethgar nodded in slow contemplation of the Hin's words. "Home means something different to the Uthgardt. We are always traveling, and we bring our home with us. But we are "close-knit" as well." He smiled at Moira's term, pondering as if he'd not heard it before and found it poetic.

"But we have frayed. My tribe has, anyway, but from the signs we've seen along the road and what you all have told me, others have as well. For the Elks, it was our chieftain, Zalkric... he no longer deserves the title. He rules with fear, and he demands titles and valor he has not earned." From the skald's tone, he was clear he considered the latter the graver of the two offenses.

"This I understand. Some men are weak, and desperate, and grasping. It has always been so. What I cannot understand is why my people have continued to support him. We have always demanded strength in our rulers. Indeed, that is one of our strengths as a people. Yet Zalkric makes the tribe weaker, and they all go right along with him."

He caught Moira's eye as she served his plate. "Have you got any songs about your home leaving you?"
Moira Ruadh
player, 1753 posts
AC 16 | PP/I 13 | Inti +6
S -1, D +3, I +2, ETC +1
Mon 5 Jul 2021
at 22:43
  • msg #6

Chapter 0.1 - Around the Fire

Ethgar Longarm:
"Home means something different to the Uthgardt. We are always traveling, and we bring our home with us. But we are "close-knit" as well."

"We're th'same then.  Us Hin are nomads - I grew up on th'merchant roads and never stopped movin', m'self.  Our homelands were destroyed ages ago by th'Spellplague, so we wander.  But when we find each other, puttin' down roots and buildin' a home ain't far behind." She said with a sidelong smile.  She knew little of the Uthgardt ways beyond passing encounters and lots of fights, so some insight was much appreciated.  It was good to know they weren't all curse-addled brutes as the common knowledge feared.  "Least 'til ol'Uncle Brandobaris comes whisperin' in th'youngin's ears and ticklin' their heels for a walk."

Though her attention seemed set on her cooking while Ethgar spoke, it wasn't to the point of ignoring him; Moira kept an ear to his words and soft tones of acknowledgment from time to time to let him know she still listened.  All the while she cracked egg after egg after egg into a bowl to be briefly whisked up and poured over the frying vegetables.  One might consider the value of a cloth or mitt before grabbing a cast iron pan's handle, but the Hin didn't bat an eye as she took the hot grip bare-handed to carefully roll the cooking eggs about in a slow, rhythmic curl along the pan's lip.

"Tyrants got a way of drawin' like-minded folk t'themselves.  Folk what see th'power as somethin' they want a part of, or just those who prefer th'ease of bein' ruled so long as they ain't obviously sufferin' for it.  They're comfortable in it, and they don't take kindly t'anythin' that would make them uncomfortable, even if it's better in th'long run." she mused as she sprinkled the cooking eggs with a dusting of spices.  "Happens all over th'realm, sad t'say.  I may not look it, but I'm a soldier; was a captain already before Triboar.  Left a war out east fightin' just such tyranny in Hillsfar, where non-Humans have been driven out.  All founded in hate, fear, misplaced anger.  Such don't make no sense at all, but that don't stop th'bastard doin' it from havin' plenty of support all th'same.  'Nuff t'warrant needin' an army against."

Despite talk of being a commander in an army, Moira showed a lot more affinity toward being a cook or a doting mother hen when it came to the ease with which she moved about her kitchen space.  She didn't even look at where she was reaching half the time before she'd pluck up a bowl or a jar of something aromatic.  In short order, Ethgar had a wooden bowl set before him that was heaped with mixed grains, softened in butter and tossed with a mince of seared, hearty greens and crisped pig back.  Though no sooner was it set before him than she hoisted her iron pan over to dole out a dense, silky pillow of an omelette likewise filled with nourishing friend vegetables right on top of the grains, drizzled a quick dash of some sauce that smelled of fermented citrus, and a spoon to top it all off.

"Tuck in, love.  I swear, th'whole lot of y'ain't nothin' but skin and bones." that she included U'lin - a broad-shouldered, towering behemoth of a man - in that count said a lot about what the notoriously food-loving Halfling people thought of others' diets.

Ethgar Longarm:
"Have you got any songs about your home leaving you?"


That got a soft sight from the Hin even as she plunked down a mug to fill with piping hot black tea - again, without a care for grabbing said piping hot tea pot - and nudge over for him to wash his meal down with.  "A few, yea.  Though's that really th'sorta tune y'care t'hear?" A knowingly lifted brow was offered along with that question.
This message was last edited by the player at 22:45, Mon 05 July 2021.
Thente
player, 1184 posts
HP: 47/42; AC 14(19)
pP/I 15; [5/5] Sor Pt
Thu 8 Jul 2021
at 05:51
  • msg #7

Chapter 0.1 - Around the Fire

Thente came to the fire just as Moira was calling them to tuck in, his timing impeccable with food. "Ethgar, Moira. Thanks for cooking as always. It's nice to have food that's not the bland affair that I used to make when I was on my own or with my parents."

He filled his traveling bowl with some of the omelette. "I heard your question as I was coming over... that's an interesting way of thinking about it. Songs about a home that has left you."

"I can relate a bit I think," he added in between bites. "With my folks dead, the Ardeep just didn't feel right no more. I couldn't have said it till I heard your question just now Ethgar, but it was like home had left me even though I was still in the same spot. 's why I left the Ardeep and headed to Nightstone. On my way to see my sister and set out on the road anyway when the attack happened."

"Never would have thought the road would be all this though..." Thente waved a spoon vaguely in the air as he trailed off.

Silence followed his spoon wave as his mind trailed off into thoughts and bites of food over speech. Thente was odd in many ways, but a life spent in the quiet of the Ardeep lead him to long times of silent thought over speech. When he did talk, he was charming enough with his elven stylings of hair and dress, but like the wood elves of the Ardeep, his words were fewer and farther between than most humans.
Thente
player, 1194 posts
HP: 47/42; AC 14(19)
pP/I 15; [5/5] Sor Pt
Wed 14 Jul 2021
at 21:15
  • msg #8

Chapter 0.1 - Around the Fire

[didn't mean to be a conversation killer here... sorry!]
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