Bendefig Chroesgad

[Shadowhunter]

"Aye, that much's true. You know your way around a sword and a crowd, Ira's not weakling by any standards and then there's me.
You know what I can do."
To add to his words, flames lick his lips and dances in front of his mouth for a second, the red flames making a strong contrast to his sunburned skin and brown facial hair.

He ponders for a while, thinking through everything he's heard and everyone he's met during his years on the road.
He shakes his head slowly.

"I can't remember any at the moment. I know a few things about what happened back in the days, but not much really.
A scholar's the best bet. Preferably one we can trust. There's gotta be someone around that knows somethin'."

[Rufei]

Entering into light conversation with the farmers, Ira leaned on her sheathed sword, now planted firmly into the ground. While the conversation helped for her to pass the time, she glanced out from time to time to make sure nothing was out of the ordinary, although there had been nothing but superstition to give a cause for alarm. And Ira, a mere street rat turned swordswoman, could care less about superstition.

Looks like it's a new string for Canere.

Ira is taking 10 on spot checks every minute or so. Which doesn't mean much, considering that's a 6 even with her glasses on.

[Stratovarius]

There's not going to be too much to spot down here, since these valleys are heavily hidden and protected. Aside from wild animals, of course. There are a few ways out of the area: hiking out on foot (once you get to the mountain passes, most animals can't make it), or convincing one of the few mages on the floating islands to teleport you somewhere.

In the mountains where you are, there are some crumbled remains of floating islands. Most have been picked over for spoils when the men left them, but there still might be thing there. Elsewhere, there is travelling to the south, where most of the other lands are. North of the mountains is just the icelands, almost barren.

[TheWordSlinger]

Canere thinks back to his Skaldic wanderings, trying to remember if he's met a Historian relatively nearby...

Skaldic knowledge (1d20+4=17)

[Stratovarius]

Canere thinks long and hard on what the next step in his great crusade might be, where he might recover the information from the long past of his country and fuel the march of the good and the holy across a land fallen dark into the morass of barbarism and banality. His memory and skill is clouded by the long, degrading slide of his people, but there are still some things that come to mind, that recall the skills and the legends of his past.

He has come across more than one mention of the settled mountains, of places where those flying cities that marked his people were set down in the grounds, never more to swoop through the skies and shelter their inhabitants, and slowly lost in the legends of time, only recorded in small scraps in the history books. Perhaps there is something or someone to be found there, for of the living Hanians, there are a but a few of the cities and the towns that remain, and much of the knowledge is lost to the collapsed and the broken cities that dot the northern mountain ranges. It is rumoured that they have attracted darker attention as well, a task to which Canere should be well schooled.

[TheWordSlinger]

Canere gazes at the mountains to his north. Caden, I think we should investigate there. He points at the mountains with a single outstretched finger. I think we could learn much from the remains of the cities that settled there long ago. But those mountains can be deadly if entered unprepared. How much would your magic be able to aid us? I believe we should procure a mule from the local farmers to carry firewood, but if you believe your magic would suffice, I would forgo that expense. Canere runs his fingers through his hair, What else do you think we should bring?

[Rufei]

After sharing a few laughs with the local farmers, Ira made her way back to the two as the farmers dispersed. Pleased with the calm day, she slung her sword over her shoulder again, greeting the two with a smile. Although Canere and Caden seemed to be in conversation, she didn't notice Canere's pointing nor their planning. Instead, she waited for the two to pause, before she began her entrance.

"Canere, the farmers were grateful for the music last night. I hope the broken string didn't affect your music; it would be a pity if it became sour."

She leaned to the side, peering at Canere's harp, before straightening up again.

[TheWordSlinger]

Canere smiles broadly at Ira. I'm touched by your concern, but if a broken string would sour my melodies, I would have stopped playing long ago. Strings break, same as anything else. Canere looks back to the mountains, Ira, do you know anything of mountaineering?

[Shadowhunter]

Caden furrow his brows tightly togheter and takes a look towards the mountain area in question.

"Firewood? Nah, that won't be necesary I think. The enchantment o' mine will keep ye, if not warm, then at least not freezing. A mule is one more mouth to feed, it can't go to all the places we can, the firewood'll probably run out after a while... so no, I don't think that's needed. The only thing that would be good for, is to warm the food, but that's a luxury I can skip.

As for other things to bring... well, I'd spoke to this half-orc a few years back. His proffession was the same as ours. Between the boasts and the "multitude of gold" he'd aquired but couldn't show, was one lesson I learned from him. Even if eight times out of ten he was exaggerating. You can never have too much rope. So, rope. Some climbing tools if we need 'em. And food. we don't know how long we'll be gone and stuff happens."

[Rufei]

Hearing Canere talk about things breaking caused Ira to wince, though her reflexive effort to stop the expression only caused her to wink. Her left hand stretched, then retracted, reminding her of how she had once had it crushed under the rubble of a collapsing building. It took half a year and the goodwill of an odd stranger to have it fixed. Tilting her head to the side, her mind began to wander off, pondering the wonders of the divine, until she had realized that she slipped from the conversation. Raising her eyebrows, she responded, pulling rope from what seemed to be a tiny pocket.

"I can't say much about mountaineering, but my experiences in town at least told me that rope was of utmost importance. Hence why I already have some."

Her face bore a skeptical look, especially after Caden had spoken.

"Don't tell me you two are thinking of making a trip into the mountains."

Ira lowered her voice, retracting slightly.

"Hah... and here I was looking forward to warmer weather..."

Rope from a tiny pocket? Glamered armor tends to do that. It's a pretty low Will DC to disbelieve if you touch it, I believe.

[TheWordSlinger]

You truly are a godsend, Ira. Canere looks to the mountains again, I believe that the remains of a grounded city may reveal what we have been unable to discover among the cities which still float. I'm going to spend today gathering a couple more supplies and speaking with the locals. Tomorrow we set out.

Canere will be trying to obtain 3 cold weather outfits and about 30 days worth of trail rations. He will also be asking around about ruins of fallen cities.
Gather Information (1d20+4=7)

[Stratovarius]

With that kind of gather information check, I don't think you learned all that much.

The supplies should be easy to find, although about 120% of the normal price, since this is a poor area.

[TheWordSlinger]

Canere, purchases 30 days worth of trail rations and 3 cold weather outfits for 47 gp.

Having learned nothing from the locals, Canere ponders the old tales of Hania, trying to recall any stories of nearby fallen cities...

Bardic Knowledge (1d20+4=24)

[Stratovarius]

Tales and snippets from myth spring to mind for Canere, and speak of two distinct cities, despite them sharing the same name. Perhaps they were once the same and broke apart, for their origins are not clear. Each has the name of Frwyd Caer, in the language that was once spoken across the realm of Arhosa, but has now fallen into disuse. The nearer of the twinned cities is to the north and the west, almost against the barrier of the Ice Mountains, while the other lays far to the west, upon the edges of known civilization.

[TheWordSlinger]

That night, Canere speaks with Caden and Ira. Tomorrow we will be heading northwest to find Frwyd Caer, a city spoken of in ancient legends. Sleep well tonight, for I know not when you shall sleep in a bed again. With that said, Canere retires to his room, although harping can be heard from it for most of the night.

[Shadowhunter]

@The Fields:


"Into the mountains, yepp. What, ye can't take the cold Ira?"

Caden winks, an expression not really fitting for his face. On the other hand, his face isn't really fitting to start of with.

"Canere's thinkin'-thinkerin' says to him that it's a place as good as anyone to go to and meself, I don't mind."

You notice that Caden is using his old expression for the od bits and pieces of knowledges bards and skalds pick up, Thinkin'-thinkerin'.


@ Tavern/lodging/Inn

Caden snorts at Caneres remark about this beeing the last bed they'll see for a while.

"Hah. Beds are a luxury anyway, anyone knows a real man," he interupts himself and makes a notable glance towards Ira, or woman, "sleeps as well on solid ground"

He finish his proclamation with a big grin. For one with so unappealing exterior, Cadens teeth seems very well-mannered.
It must be those flames he keeps shooting out, the filth are torched away.
This is also something he's said before, yet when it comes down to it, you all know he doesn't percive others to be weak if they like beds. Neither if they appreciate warm and rich food or clean and whole clothes. Since he appreciate these things as much as the next guy, only that he can manage without them.


On the whole, Cadens outward oppinions makes a very obvious statement that he doesn't have much for "weaklings". In reality, that's an act, since he simply likes to amuse himself with how petty things people can obsses about when you put it next to daily survival, wich is the Hanian way.

[Rufei]

The Fields

Ira pouted at Caden's words.

"If I couldn't take the cold, I wouldn't be alive today. Still doesn't make me hate the cold, though."

Ira did take notice to Canere's thinking, and before long he walked away, greeting and asking locals. Seeing this, she sighed.

"Hmm, he's a lonesome one, isn't he, Caden?" She turned to face Caden. "Anyways, if we're going into the mountains, we'll have to get ready. I'll meet you back in town, okay?"

With this, she departed for the town, picking up a few supplies on the way.

Tavern/Lodging/Inn

Ira was back in her black coat, nibbling on a small piece of a cracker, no doubt from a simple ration. She nodded to Canere, who retired early for the night, but gave a rather blank stare at Caden, taken by surprise by his comment. Winking with her right eye and grinning, she responded in a somewhat playful tone, one that she had used commonly amongst the two.

"I'll take what I can get. Though, only the foolish refuse a good bed when it is so readily obtained."

Such was Ira's style of conversation, spoken from the perspective of a former town rat. It was quite obvious to the two of them that Ira was certainly used to subpar conditions, but the jokes were nonetheless fun to play around with.

[Stratovarius]

Any other shopping you want to do before heading out?

[TheWordSlinger]

None here

[Rufei]

If I could do shopping with 3 GP, 5 SP, and 8 CP, I'd do it. But I can't. XD