The next morning the adventurers met Galenna thru the portal to Hexia's to begin their expedition. The morning was calm and bright, a promising start to what should be an interesting quest.

After everyone has gathered, Tidelan nods to each member solemnly, before slowly walking towards Galenna Keenbellow, before stopping mere feet from her person, and dropping to kneel before her. Even on his knees, Tidelan is still taller than the female gnome.

"When you call this expedition, my Sylvan Oath will force me to defend your life with my whole self. I request you to please speak it as, "I call this hunt, and bind my green knight to me"" the genasi's head was bowed low, and his silvered hair floated in the air like restless waves, and glistened like a reflective mirror.

Under his breath, he whispered ""
This message was last edited by the player at 22:17, Sun 28 Feb 2021.

Santio watched on with interest.
He was intrigued by the customs of other cultures.

Verbannt came trudging into Hexia's shop, adjusting his heavy pack as he did so. He carried a large wooden shield strapped to his left arm, the front carved and painted to resemble an enormous eye. He watched Tidelan in silence, his expression inscrutable as he regarded the ritual.

"Greetings Galenna Keenbellow."

He said at last.

"I have no such pledge to give, but my eyes are sharp and my knives sharp. Are you to be our warleader as well, or are we to handle such things ourselves?"

When the genasi kneeled before Galenna it took her somewhat by surprise, but after he requested she replied, "Very well then, I call this hunt, and bind my green knight to me." When Lukas walked thru the portal and addressed Galenna she answered, "A warleader? As in someone to lead you in battle? Oh, no no no. I'm afraid I'm useless in battle. That's why you all are here after all. Bodyguards should be good in fights."

Spark watches Tidelan's oath with his normally stone-faced, or rather a metal-faced demeanour. Much seemed to have changed within the adventurer he had travelled with not so long ago. He surmised that in this place where mortal danger was an everyday occurrence, those who persisted found deeper ad more profound connections to both themselves and those the interacted with.

After keeping his silence in respect, he smiled at Galenna's words. "I think this will work out nicely. Several of us have travelled together before, and I would say you are in good hands."

Extending a metal hand in Santio's direction, he sought to introduce himself. "I'm Spark, a war forged as you might have guessed. I'm a smith who sometimes heals people as well as metal constructions."

"Boneclaw", Boneclaw said using Lukas' voice, pointing at himself:"In the end all are judged by the lord of death."
He nodded at Spark's comment:"this will work out nicely".

Verbannt grunted, pleased to no longer have to occupy the space of warleader. It had cost him, in the end. Better to just be a hunter, and work with warriors, the living statue, and the death priest.

"We are ready then."

He added, resting one paw on the long knife he bore. The shield was new, for all who have traveled with him before. It seemed he had decided to forgo the bow then, though he still had it in its quiver at his back. Given his skills as a Skinwalker, perhaps not even the knives would come into play.

Santio pleasantly took the metal man’s hand, and shook it.
“Santio”, he said.  Then, to respond in kind to that which was offered, he said, “I run fast.   And I play flute as best I can”.

A moment of inspiration came upon him, “Shall I play for you all now?” reaching for his pack.

Tidelan nodded eagerly. It seemed a bit out-of-place for him to respond like that to Santio, but it had been a long time since he'd listened to a piper... he wondered if the man would let him teach him tunes from his homeland... Though, the druid was no musician.

Enjoyed that someone seemed enthusiastic, Santio did pull out his flute, and happily played several tunes for any who would listen.

Santio was, indeed, something of a musician* ... and was absolutely happy to both learn new tunes, and teach others the flute skills and tunes that he himself knew.



* with his 'Flute Proficiency', you see

Okay guys sorry, but I need to add something.
As you all make your way thru the portal to Hexia's Shop you each notice Brohm following thru as well.
Please return to the Hexia's Shop Thread if you wish to interact with Brohm or see what happens next. We will be returning to this thread after you all have officially left Hexia's Shop.

As your group leaves Hexia's shop behind you notice that Brohm is heading North away from the direction Galenna begins to lead you. She leads you East, almost like heading back to Smith's Gambit, but you know by the route she had laid out for you that you'll soon be heading North yourselves and following the wilderness around to the East, then circling back to the Fierce Hearts village to finish your journey. If you would see the Dwarf again, who could say? Either way you all follow after the gnomish woman who hired you. The day is bright and thus far peaceful. Deceiving? Perhaps. Each of you would find out soon enough as you begin your trek listening to the flute music being played by Santio.

After they've all set out, Tidelan begins talking to the group as a whole while striding near Galenna so that he could protect her to his fullest, "My companions-of-war, we have all fought together before... I... I have an asking"

The genasi grew more nervous as he continued that sentence, before swallowing, and visibly psyching himself up "I hope it is true for me to call you many as 'friend'... I admire your strengths, and your souls of honor. I wish to truly become friends with you"

The druid glanced behind himself with a grimace on his face, and his eyes shone with unshed tears... or maybe just freshwater, it was hard to tell as he was a quasielemental entity.

Within the space between two steps while his direction of vision was behind himself, his eyes landed first on Lukas, then on Spark, then Boneclaw, and then finally Santio. An attentive onlooker who noticed this would be aware this was roughly equal to the amount of conversation he had made with the gathered party members. He had actually travelled more with the kenku than with the warforged, but he reckoned he had spoken to the former less.

His head soon went back to stare ahead as his eyes did not linger. He marched with an odd cadence that made clear he was awaiting answers.

OOC: I don't know if this will sidetrack us too much, but I did figure it was about time for this barbearian boi to admit his feelings, lol. Also, I figured it would be neat to have some travel conversation, rather than just an immediate time-skip

Verbannt had watched the Dwarf with fierce interest, but not asked as to the meaning behind his departure. He had ranged on his own through these lands, he would not begrudge another the experience. When the Genasi's words caught his ear, he paused in his stride, turning to stare at Tidelan.

"In truth, I had thought my presence here would be met by much of what Brohm of Clan Stonehelm has dealt. I am not wise in the ways of 'friendlore,' even the word sounds strange on my tongue..."

And it did, in truth.

"... but I would not challenge you in your words. Respect, that I understand."

He hit his chest with a closed fist.

"I have fought by your side, and bled by you. I would do so again."

He left it at that, turning to walk their path.
This message was last edited by the player at 03:22, Tue 09 Mar 2021.

"Aaaaw, that's so cute!", Boneclaw added in a little girl's voice.

Spark nodded his appreciation and acknowledgement of Tidelan's words. "I have not had an issue with any one of you previously, and in any case, I will call anyone friend who doesn't harm or hinder my work."

Though his face was still turned from his allies, Tidelan almost imperceptibly nodded his head after Lukas spoke, raised an eye at Boneclaw's phrasing, and smiled slightly at Spark.

After those three had spoken, he did not wait for Santio, and turned back once more with a hopeful smile. It wasn't an expression he'd made to others from town before. It may have looked odd on his face, as he hadn't practiced it much, in many years.

"Daro. Thank you for allowing my selfishness" Tidelan said.
This message was last edited by the player at 02:30, Wed 10 Mar 2021.

Santio was a bit confused by Tidelan’s ... admissions.
So he just continued walking, playing his flute happily.