"Ah, raised among the humans then," she says in what seems a disappointed tone, but her face brightens almost immediately, "well, keep your wits about you and I am certain you will find plenty to say in your poem about me. My people, I mean."

With a lightness in her step on the edge of being a skip, she moves past the man and follows after Izayah.

"Come on then, we're burning daylight!" she calls out over her shoulder.

Tusk rests his halberd on his shoulder and heads out with the group.

He takes up a position at the back, so that if they are ambushed from the sides or rear he'll be in a prime position to respond.

The group went on their way finding things to go smoothly, of course the group had not quite entered the Rimewood yet. It wasn't until about half the day had passed that the group found themselves finally entering the Rimewood. With those in the group skilled in traversing the forest terrain things seemed to go almost as smooth as when they were outside of the Rimewood. The sun eventually found itself starting to go down and the time to make camp was nearing.

"Hmmm, time to find shelter for the night I think, this wood is colder than I am used to so I'd prefer not to be caught out."

She peers around them looking for likely positions to set up tents such as the leeward side of a cliff or hill.

"Any thoughts Aesiah Haemadryll?"
This message was last edited by the player at 22:10, Sun 30 May 2021.

Izayah slowed to a stop. He acted like he was looking around for something, perhaps a good spot to camp. But he wasn't. He opened his mouth and started to slowly turn back towards the group when Tiria spoke up.

He reared back a little as if slapped, looking very surprised. "What did you just do t'my name??"

He then shook his head and became serious and kept his voice very low. "Look, never mind. Don't act weird but we got company. 'Bout sixty feet away." He slowly inclined his head towards where it was. "He's dressed up in camouflage o'needles an' branches. So hang on a sec an' be ready."

He turned back around and took a step towards the creature, looking dead at it. "Howdy. We mean you no harm if you mean us no harm." He repeated the message in the Giant and Goblin tongue as well.

Tusk sees it, too, and carefully sets down his pack.

"It looks like a sentry, but I can't make out what it is from here. It blends in a little too well. It's a bit shorter than I, whatever it is."

"We can chase it down and eat it," Irsoneic offered.

Tiria mutters, "[Language unknown: Wapeitss]," and makes a somatic gesture, four versions of herself seeming to shimmer and shift in her place as she moves to stand beside Izayah, looking in the direction indicated. Her hands are empty and held slightly outwards, showing no weapons.

"[Language unknown: Es ll ouivesst ut ivin rea, whiverout lo nimatr thu lo tr pocali sta ne]?"

OOC: Casting Mirror Image.

Elisar tried to casually peer in the direction of the hidden scout but could make out nothing untoward. “I’m glad of your eyes, Izayah, for I see nought but trees and bushes.” With a nonchalant air he turned around and scanned all around to see if anything else seemed out of place.

As he did so he smiled at the various versions of Tiria that appeared. “My lady, I didn’t think you could make yourself more beautiful, but you are now four times lovelier than before,” he chuckled with a flirtatious air.

The multitude of Tears laugh lightly at Elisar's comment, a confusing reverberating sound.

As the group looked towards the direction that was pointed out to them and, just barely, their eyes caught sight of slight movement of a small sized humanoid looking creature holding a staff. His clothes seem to blend into the forest so well that most of the group could understand how they had missed seeing it the first time.
"Take only what you need and there won't be any problems from me as long as you are not like the Redfoot scum cutting down trees just because they feel like it."

Izayah frowned a bit as he pondered the spoken words. But then he shook his head. "Oh...uh...we ain't hear t'chop down any trees. An' I NEVER overhunt. That's rude an' causes problems." He shook his head. "Sorry you've had trouble with the Redfoots. We've heard about 'em recently."

He gave a nod. "We're actually out here lookin' for someone that went missin'." And he will give a description of the lost bard.

Elisar finally spotted the little fellow. He narrowed his eyes, trying to make out what he was. A halfling? No, too skinny. Maybe a gnome?

Seeing that the small person has revealed their position and is speaking civilly, Tiria lets her protective magic fade.

"Perhaps you might like to share a meal and some conversation with us? We were about to set up for the night, you might know of a good place to do just that."

She makes a point of looking at the height of the sun in the sky, "Setting a small fire from fallen wood for a hot meal as the sun sets would be quite nice."

Tusk nods in agreement at Tears' suggestion.

"Green wood gives off too little heat and too much smoke; it's pretty worthless for most fires. Say, do you know of any Redfoot... Redfeet?... war parties camped out near here?"

Seeing that the others seemed to have a discussion is hand with the small fellow, Elisar began to scout for a suitable place to pitch his tent, as well as looking for firewood.

The little fellow switched his staff over to his right hand and listened to what Izayah had said. "I haven't seen him, but I did notice some human tracks a few days ago." The little creature walks closer upon seeing Tiria let her magic fade and hearing her offering. As he walks closer it can now be seen that he is a rather skinny and small halfling standing at just an inch short of 3 feet. His staff stands sturdy at 5 feet. His attire is that of evergreen needles and branches woven into more natural looking clothes. Even with the halfling moving the group finds it hard to tell him apart from the scenery until there is nothing, but snow around him. "Indeed, a meal would be quite nice, thank you." Then he turns to Tusk and answers, "The closest Redfoot camp was at Three Claw Point, but they've since been cleared out and replaced by some white skinned goblinoids." He starts walking past the group back off the other direction (not the way you guys just came from). "Follow me. A good camping spot is just off this way."

Upon hearing his suggestion, Tusk looks at the others, shrugs, and shoulders his pack.

As he follows the evergreen-enshrouded halfling, he keenly watches his surroundings for any signs of an ambush.

22:11, Today: Tusk Bristleback rolled 18 using 1d20+3 ((15)). Perception

Izayah looked over the little fella that approached them with bit of wariness for only a moment, but also with interest. The halfling was unknown to him, dressed strangely, and seemed to be a resident of the Rimewood. That was all that was required to pique Izayah's interest.

He gave a small bow of his head. "We would be honored to accept your offer of hospitality for the night, and offer ours in return. As you share with us, we will share with you, in friendship and honor." The words had a very formal or ritual sound to them, and lacked almost all of the 'twang' of the human's normal speech.

Actually, Izayah didn't know if the halfling would abide by or know the wilderness pledge he offered, but it didn't hurt to try. And he meant it for himself, and would enforce it if needed on his party members.

He waited to follow the small one.

Tiria happily follows the halfling, very quickly moving to walk beside them, seemingly unafraid of any potential ambush.

"I am Tiria Nailo by the way, it's nice to meet you."

At the mention of the white-skinned goblinoids, Elisar glanced at Izayah and raised an eyebrow.

As the little fellow headed off in the other direction he abandoned his attempts to find a good camping spot, but kept hold of the small bundle of firewood he had collected. Merrily he trotted off after the little fellow, confident that no harm would befall them from this tiny forest guardian. A skinny halfling! Whatever next, a tribe of fat, balding elves?

The group followed the little fellow along the other direction from where they were heading (to the left) and eventually they came upon a small clearing in the trees. It was a snug fit for everyone to make camp here, but it was doable. The little man walked with his staff over to one of the trees at the edge of the clearing and started to move snow off of what appeared to be a blanket left behind hidden in the trunk of the tree.
He looks back to Izayah as Izayah speaks then says, "Offer accepted, as you say, in honor and in friendship."
The halfling looks at Tears and gives her a slight smile, "Tiria it is nice to meet you. My name is Radagast Druid of the Rimewood."
Radagast continued shaking off the deserted blanket until the snow was gone, then proceeded to wrap it around himself. It was unclear if the blanket was his or simply one he knew had been deserted.
"You there," He gestured toward Elisar. "Would you mind clearing snow away from here and setting your bundle in the center away from the snow?" Radagast pointed to the ground at the center of the clearing.

Irsoneic kept quiet during the exchange. He knew that talking with outsiders was not a strength that he possessed, and no one was showing signs of aggression, so that skillset he did have to offered seemed unneeded here. His mood picked up at the mention of food, however. Food was always a welcome distraction.

As introductions began to be made, he finally spoke, "We are Irsoneic. We...hmm, no from these cold place." As the druid asked Elisar to clear a spot and set his things in the middle of it, confusion set in and Irsoneic was suddenly a bit weary once more.

Tusk assists with clearing the snow away from where Radagast gestured.

The sooner they get a proper fire going, the sooner they can eat and warm up.

Elisar didn't like being given orders but he held his tongue. The instruction was a sensible enough order and what he probably would have done anyway.

He began to clear the snow, using an evergreen branch as a broom to clear a patch that was big enough to house a good sized fire. He then began to assemble a suitable fire. His efforts were crude, but he had seen others doing similar with more skills and tried his best to copy what they had done. In good time he had the stack build and delved in his pack for his tinderbox. After a few good strikes he caught a spark and brought the fire to life. As the flame licked the wood and exhaled a puff of smoke he looked at his companions and grinned like a small boy who had just learned a new conjuring trick. Carefully he built it up to form a solid fire for both cooking and warmth.