In reply to Harbek Hardstone (msg # 19):

Daniel nods back to Harberk, "If you need a second name for me, Feyblessed seems popular locally. I'm from... You know, I'm not sure it has a name. We never really needed one."
This message was last edited by the player at 23:11, Mon 02 Dec 2019.

In reply to Daniel (msg # 21):

Harbek looked slightly surprised to hear the "family" name that Master Daniel told him, for it sounded more like a descriptive term than an actual family name. Seemingly the Human tracker was accustomed to not using -- or giving -- a second name, which was also a surprise to the Dwar, for the Stout Folk were prideful of, and quick to offer up, both their family and their clan names. The concept of someone who did not commonly acknowledge his family's name was quite foreign to Harbek.

~Nonetheless, it seems that Master Daniel is trying to meet me halfway, as the saying goes, and to do his best to honor the traditions of the Greeting Ritual. He should be praised for that, not looked at askance.~

And so it was that after a moment Harbek smiled in response and replied "I believe that I understand, Master Daniel. Thank you for your . . . accommodation of my people's ways. Henceforth, I shall address you as Master Daniel of the Feyblessed family, if that meets with your approval."
This message had punctuation tweaked by the player at 20:18, Mon 02 Dec 2019.

Daniel clears his throat, "Um, no family, as such. I'm an orphan. Feyblessed is a local title I was given by some villagers, some friends helped me rescue from some goblins."
This message was last edited by the player at 23:12, Mon 02 Dec 2019.

Karadin also collected his stowed pack. The pots and pans clanked noisily as the dwarf hefted it upon his shoulders. The bloodied dwarf wandered over to the others as the informal introductions we being made. "Karadin, of the Axebeard family with the Craghaven Dwar," he said with a slight nod of his head. As the group set about to return to the small village, Karadin's movements were slow. With the rush of the fight behind them, the pain of his wounds began to register. "I hope the ale is strong in Criplot," he muttered to those around him.

In reply to Daniel (msg # 23):

"An orphan?" Harbek echoed, looking a little taken aback. "How very unfortunate! You have my deepest sympathy, Master Daniel."

After pausing for a moment, the Dwar offered "Mayhap Master Daniel Feyblessed will suffice, then?"

In reply to Harbek Hardstone (msg # 25):

Daniel shrugs, "Oh, I got by well enough, and yes, the name is fine, although 'Master' might be a little optimistic."
This message was last edited by the player at 23:13, Mon 02 Dec 2019.

"'Tis a widely-used term of respect, at least among my people," Harbek replied to Daniel's comment about the term "Master", "just as one addresses females as 'Mistress' or 'Lady'."

"Or, just think of yourself as a master of your chosen craft," he suggested, a smile turning up the corners of his mouth.

His smile broadened into a grin when he heard Karadin of the Axebeard family make his wish for strong ale. "You have the right of it, Stonebrother," he chimed in with a booming laugh, "for no ale is worthy of the name unless 'tis Dwar ale!"

Mari frowned when Heiber motioned towards Daniel and mentioned his wounds. "Well, he refused my help in binding his wounds by just walking away when I offered, so he must be alright." Or stubborn, some were like that, she would be keeping an eye out for him showing signs of slowing or hiding more serious symptoms. "The dwar are not much better off, so let's take the quick route." While she herself was uninjured, Mari was feeling the drain of wearing armmor and experiencing the terrifying cramped tunnels.

After shouldrering her pack, Mari made her way to where the dwar, Daniel and Raven were discussing. Picking up on the tail end of conversation she smiled, little mischievously, "I'm sorry to inform you, master dwar, there is no tavern in Criplot, it is too small to have a use for one. We don't get many visitors even at the best of times." She left it at that, not confirming if she was serious. "It seems our best way back is to go over that ridge to the north and take the trail from the mine. I hope everyone is ready to leave, while I don't want to delay, we don't need to rush either. The children would probably appreciate a more leisurely pace, unless we have the means to carry them both." The mention of children was meant more as means to save face for those that were wounded and perhaps too stubborn and proud to admit they couldn't hold up a good pace.

She smiled at Raven, "Miss Raven, you still owe me that proper introduction, would you mind walking with me for a while. I would like to talk with you." Curiosity, surely it was a blessed attribute for a servant of Ellantha, especially those of the Wisbund.

In reply to Mari Taysley (msg # 28):

Harbek stared at Mari of the Taysley family, aghast, when the Human priestess announced the sorrowful news that there was no tavern in Criplot. "Why, that's . . . that's . . . how could such a thing be?" he sputtered, at a loss for words.

Shaking his head mournfully, he muttered "Had I but known, I could have brought a mule carrying a couple of casks of my people's ale with me from Krak Vestri. I would have made a fortune meeting the needs of the thirsty people hereabouts."
This message was last edited by the player at 22:34, Mon 02 Dec 2019.

"Or not," Raven replied to Harbek with her own mischievous smile. "Perhaps the good people of Criplot favor the path of abstinence and there is no tavern because no one drinks."


"Of course, Mari," Raven said, turning toward the priestess at the invitation to walk beside her... and then falling in to walk beside the other woman.

OOC: Mari, do you want to keep things open for everyone to see here or take our chat into the PM threads?

Karadin's shoulders slumped and his pace slowed even more. "I will bring up the rear and make sure no squirrelly goblins decide to follow us," he said somberly. ~What sort of town doesn't have a tavern? Humans are so unpredictable,~ he thought as he moved toward the back.

Mari set a pace that was not exactly leisurely but not too rigorous either, as she was herself burdened with both armor and pack. She wanted to be able to talk to Raven without undignified huffing and puffing. Giving the other woman a smile, little nervous now that she had the chance to satisfy her curiosity and generally in presence of such a impressive figure.

"So, to get first out the proper introduction, the dwar have impressed to me the need of the right ways. I am Mother Mari Taysley, priestess of Lady Ellantha, scholar and student in the Wisbund. Formerly from Criplot but now Merinth is my home." Then she smiled more freely. "Just, please, don't call me Mother Mari, like the formal appellation should go. It makes me feel ancient."

"It is my pleasure to have met you and let the blessings of the Bright Lady be on you. Thank you for walking with me."

---

OOC
I'm fine for it being open discussion, Raven. The only reason I see the need for PM's is to not delay the change of the scene for others. But if it comes to that then we can move to PM's later.

Raven walked beside Mari with relative ease, she was unencumbered with obvious armor and her pack didn't seem overly heavy at all. The pale, dark-haired woman probably could have managed a much quicker pace, but she matched Mari's stride as they talked.

"After what we've just been through, formal introductions seem a bit moot," Raven said with a slight smile. "But as you say, Master Harbek would certainly be vexed if we should neglect the solemnities." She had an almost scholarly way of speaking, and wherever she was from it was clear she'd been well-educated.

"People call me Raven," she began. "Though not the name my parents gave me, I find it suits me," she added with a slight shrug of her shoulders. "Originally, I hail from the city of Arvada of the Sapphire Empire, which lies across the eastern sea and beyond the Acanti coast. Though nowadays, home is wherever in Merinthia I can find a place to lay my head," she continued in her slow drawl.

"Pleased I am to met you, Mari... and I promise to avoid the honorifics, if you'll do the same," she whispered conspiratorially. "The blessings of your goddess are welcome. May Mahna's light bring you comfort in dark times," she concluded, spreading her hands, palms up, in a symbolic act of giving, as she dipped her head slightly toward the priestess.

In reply to Karadin Axebeard (msg # 31):

When Karadin spoke of acting as the rear-guard in case of further trouble with the Goblins, Harbek fell into step with his fellow-Dwar. While the Dwar were superior in most ways to the taller Humans, there was no denying that their legs were shorter -- so bringing up the rear of the group seemed logical, especially since if Trouble came, 'twould most likely be from that direction. And to Harbek's way of thinking, there was no denying that the two Dwar were more battle-worthy than any of the Humans in this group.

Plus, in this instance Harbek was favoring his left hip and walking with a pronounced limp. As he oft-times did (even when perfectly healthy), he was using one of his javelins, butt-end down, as a walking-staff. ~I blame that damned Goblin -- if he hadn't been so twisty and dodgy, I would have landed atop him instead of striking the floor so hard. Ah, well -- all's well that ends well, as a clever bard once said.~

"Do you know the area well?" he asked Karadin as they walked along. "If this gods-forsaken boil on the arse-end of Nowhere that is known to the Humans as Criplot is not even civilized enough to have an establishment that serves ale, mayhap we two should push on to somewhere else -- if, indeed, there is anywhere else near by that 'twould be more hospitable to thirsty travelers."

---

OOC: Daniel, if you make your interest in a walking staff (mentioned in the OOC thread) known to Harbek IC, he will be happy to lend you a javelin to be used as the Dwar is presently using one. :)
This message was last edited by the player at 19:31, Tue 03 Dec 2019.

So many things to draw her attention, the most obvious being that Raven didn't feel the need to confide in Mari her real name, while Mari had given hers. So was she running from something connected to that name or just preferred something more fanciful, her hair certainly was like raven's wing. Mari put that to the back of her mind, there would be signs to one way or another eventually.

"Very well... Raven." She couldn't help than to hesitate a bit on the name and when omitting calling her 'miss'. However, she nodded towards Raven slightly in return of her greeting.

"Sapphire Empire, I think I remember mention of it from my studies, but I have to admit that I'm woefully uneducated about any more details than that." Actually, it might have been Irando that had told of it, Mari was not sure. "I would be honored to learn about your homeland if you wish to tell me anything. I feel like I have more questions than you will have breath to answer." She let out a half embarrassed chuckle.

She hesitated, not wanting to insult Raven when they had just started to get to know each other, but felt the need to bring up the point. "One of them would be to know more about this Mahna you mentioned. However, and please I don't mean this as an insult, but you should be careful when mentioning unknown entities in presence of Merinthians. I have more open mind than others, but in some places you might be accused of blasphemy for even bringing up any other names than Ellantha." She gave an apologetic smile to Raven. "But you must know this since you have made your way safely all the way to Criplot, when most foreigners keep to the coastal cities. May I ask what brought you here? There is nothing worth studying in here." While Mari loved her home and family, Criplot was just another minor mining village of the north, even with the recent news of rising goblin activity.

A knowing smile crossed Raven's lips. She was well aware of the Merinthian religious peculiarities. "Mahna is the Khandish name for the moon," she replied after Mari had issued her polite warning. The dark-haired scholar left unsaid that it was also the name for the goddess of the moon, but some things were best left unsaid if one were to pick their battles wisely. It was a bit different with the dwarves, for she had learned that they had their own gods, but with the humans of this land Raven had learned to be careful what she revealed and how.

"The learned in Arvada have long devoted themselves to the study of the natural world and the various relationships therein. It has long be observed that women bear a special relationship with the moon and so it a common salute among women to wish the comfort of moonlight to each other. The men of Arvada similarly greet each other appealing to Mahzuru, the sun. I believe a similar and equivalent expression in Merinthian would be when y'all wish each other a 'Good Day' or a 'Good Night'," she explained.

"As to my presence this far north, there is always something worth learning and knowing," she replied with a shrug. "And you never know what that may or may not be unless you first go and see for yourself. Like your desire to learn about my homeland," she added, appealing to Mari's own sense of scholarly desire. "Which I would be delighted to tell you what I know," she said, her voice taking on a slight sly tone. In Arvada bargaining and haggling were exalted to an art form. "And I indeed have questions and a desire to learn more about Merithia. Perhaps we could arrange an mutually beneficial trade?"
This message was last edited by the player at 16:27, Wed 04 Dec 2019.

Happy for the company of his fellow dwar, Karadin paused in reflection for a moment. "Ne'er been anywhere outside o' Craghaven. Only left about a tenday ago. Spent me entire life there, cooking and crafting fine drink for me modir and fadir. I'll be honest with you Stone Brother, that was my first real battle back there. Fortune be mine, the power of our langfedgar flows through me veins in times of need. Killing those scum felt better than I expected." Karadin paused for a moment, and laughed. "But had me fadir told o' the horrors of towns without drink, I might never had left."

---

modir - mother
fadir - father
langfedgar - ancestors/forefathers

"The Bright Lady provides for us, we have no need to call on anyone or anything else. All life flows from her breath." It was both the expected answer and also heartfelt, since Mari felt in her body the powers of Ellantha every day. Despite saying this Mari noticed that she was been handled carefully, but then she didn't mind, one learned much more when someone thought you a were a little backward than when you were treated as an equal.

So she said with an interested lilt, "Oh, Khand, another name I've heard but don't know much about. There are so many lands beyond the seas."

Mari chuckled a little, "I still think you might have learned much more visiting the Wisbund library in Merinth and in much more comfort, but then I might have not met you, so I'm happy that you decided to travel."

Again Mari picked up something peculiar about Raven's manner, was her curiosity one of a scholar or one of a spy? But Mari didn't think she knew anything that could harm Merinthia if she revealed it, so she spoke with a smile. "So you would teach me of your home and perhaps other lands that you have visited and I would answer your questions about Merinthia? That sounds like a fair deal to me." She extended her right hand towards Raven, offering to seal the deal with a handshake.

"So Mahna is the entity for moon? I thought the moon is just a rock that Ellantha put in the sky to light our nights and mark the passage of time. Mahzuru is the sun. What are the stars called then?" Mari could go on like this all the way to Criplot, unless Raven interrupted her. The joy of her questioning and learning was almost childlike, even when she was obviously intelligent and serious in bettering herself.

With the sense of urgency somewhat lessened, and with the burden of toddlers and wounded slowing things down, the journey back to Criplot was much more leisurely than the frantic dash in the other direction had been, earlier that morning. It was well over an hour before the raggedy group had made their way back to what passed for a road in these remote parts. The journey was, at least, undisturbed, and the early autumn air, though brisk, remained dry.

As the party moved onwards, Ami visibly relaxed, and as they neared the village her demeanour became noticeably brighter. Her pave picked up and she began speaking more. Little Tod remained quiet and ashen-faced, clinging to Heiber, who carried him most of the way.

Maiya spoke little on the journey, but hovered close by to Mari and Raven, listening intently to their conversation with a stony expression. Her right hand periodically fondled the pendant she wore around her neck, crafted in the shape of an ear of wheat - symbol of the goddess Ellantha.

The shouts were audible almost before the rude structures of the village came into view, as local children ran back and forth excitedly alerting the village's womenfolk to the returning group. A delegation of frantic housewives came marching excitedly out of the village, Kare Flitfoot running ahead of the pack to scoop up her daughter and son; eyes flowing with tears and babbling out barely coherent expressions of gratitude.

With slightly more composure, but with tears still moistening her eyes, a younger blonde woman strode forward and grasped the hand of each of the group one by one.

"The Lady bless and keep you! You've brought them back to us. We can never repay you this kindness."

"Building a proper tavern would be thanks enough for me," the battered dwarf grumbled to Harbek.

Mari noticed Maiya's disapproval but was so engrossed in the discussion that she didn't let it interfere. If it was needed she would talk with Maiya later.

When they reached the village Mari stayed little behind the group, not wanting to be the center of attention. She smiled warmly at the blonde woman when she came to shake her hand in turn, grasping it while speaking, "Having them safe is reward enough for me, Mrs. Eirfot." She leaned to whisper to Emi's ear. "However, if you could offer some ale from your cellar to the two dwarves, I would be very grateful. They came down to the goblin tunnels with me without any hesitation and fought bravely. Quenching their thirst is the least we can do."

---

OOC
Raven, if you want to continue the discussion, we can do some timejumping and continue in PM's.

In reply to Karadin Axebeard (msg # 40):

"Aye," Harbek replied with a nod of his head, "me too."

The Dwar was leaning against his javelin that he had pressed into service as a walking staff, using it to take some of the weight off of his left leg and hip. He tried not to be too obvious about it, though. ~After all, we can't have these Humans thinking that I have come back battered and bruised after tangling with a few Goblins.~

Raven graciously accepted the woman's hand-clasping and expression of gratitude, though to the astute observer she appeared uncomfortable being the center of attention -- if even briefly.

"We were just lucky to be in the right place at the right time to be able to help," she said in her obviously foreign drawl. "I'm very happy y'all have the children back home safe and sound."

One by one the inhabitants of the village came running up to the party. Some of them attempted  to fuss over the children, though Kara kept them close under her protective eye. Others clustered around one or another or the returning group, peppering them with questions about the what, when, who and how of everything that had happened since that morning. One young lady managed to monopolise the foreign sailor, pulling him away from the rest of group - a situation he did not appear to view with displeasure.

The sound of a man clearing his throat repeatedly failed to cut through the din, as the town bailiff bustled up to insert himself into proceedings. Seeming to address the women of the village almost more than the band of adventurers, he began to declaim in a timorous tone.

"Thank you brave warriors! I knew my faith in you was not misplaced. Please allow me to open the hospitality of our village to you. What is in our power to give, we shall grant!"

"I'm glad you agree husband," cut in the first woman to thank the adventurers. "I already sent young Ruk to bring up all the beer and wine you have stored in the cellar. As the colour drained from the bailiff's cheeks, she turned to the rest. "Come, this calls for a celebration! Our home is open to you this day."

"Thank you, goodwife!" a beaming Harbek boomed from the rear of the column.

"Your gesture of goodwill is much appreciated!"