Tara's house

[earthwizard]

For Keira, Yuriel, and Reliance:

Tara lives in a small cottage off the main road. It has one main room, with a small kitchen and bedroom. The smell of warm apples and cinnamon greets you as you enter. Tara welcomes you in and moves to pick up a few things to make room in the cluttered small space. She frees up a chair by the small fireplace. She takes down a couple of red stockings that were hung on the mantle.

“Sorry, I was leaving them to dry.” She explains, “Thank you so much for the rescue on the road. May I offer you some fresh lunch? I have some bread, and cheese. That is, if it did not get ruined in the mud out there.” She looks through the sacks she was carrying.

She speaks without inflection, and her face is somewhat expressionless. She looks at the ground, at the table, at the sack of food. Mud covers her wool skirts and tunic. Her straw-like hair is matted by it, and it smears her face. She hasn't moved to clean it up, and seems to not notice its presence.

[reiphil]

Before entering the home, Reliance tries to clean off as much mud from her clothing as she can (since the mud monsters didn't hit her and she didn't get close enough to get dragged by the toads, she is relatively ok). After entering, she stands by the small fireplace, watching Tara closely, still a bit suspicious. After being offered lunch, she responds.

"Perhaps you would like to get cleaned up? We can wait for you for lunch. It would be a shame to dirty your cozy home with mud."

[earthwizard]

At the mention of the mud, her distracted look fades. As she examines herself, she works into a fluster, "Oh. Oh, yes, of course. Excuse me. Please, make yourselves at home." Again, she keeps her head down as she speaks, never making eye contact.

Tara goes to the bedroom and closes the wooden door. When she returns some minutes later, she is wearing a clean dress with flower embroidery. It is nothing extraordinary, but suits her nicely. She's brushed the mud from her hair and affixed a clip shaped like rose blossom on one side to hide the remaining flecks of dirt. Though lines in her face and graying temples betray her age, you can tell that she was once a comely youth. She politely smiles at you with the briefest of eye contact, but it seems forced. You notice her eyes are puffed and rimmed in red. She quickly moves to the kitchen to prepare some lunch.

"I'm sorry, we. I haven't had any visitors, since . . . Well, I can relight the kitchen fire and heat up some stew. With this cold weather, I think a hot meal is in order."


(Since this interaction is on the forums, it will be mostly role-played. If you want to make a specific check - just "take 10" on it, e.g. "I look at the fire place to see if the soot and ash has been cleaned recently." perception = 10+mods. )

[zude]

Just as Reliance, Keira takes a moment to try and clear the mud from her armor, but soon stops. She could clearly see that it would take more than a few minutes and a couple brushes of her hand to clear away all the gunk that had gotten lodged in. With a sigh and a shrug of her shoulders, Keira steps further into the cottage, moving to the side and taking whatever free spot she can find along the wall. She smiles at the scent that greets her.

It reminds her of the time her mother had bought apples and made a pie of them all those winters ago. As Tara cleans herself up in the other room, Keira takes the time to examine her surroundings. (Perception; 17) She begins to wonder how the woman supports herself, but before she can ponder the fact any further, Tara returns.

Keira listens intently to her, noting the way she caught herself using the word "we". Another thing to ponder, it would seem. (Insight; 20)

"Do you require any assistance?" Keira asks, her eyes moving from the kitchen back to Tara.

[earthwizard]

Keira -

Looking around the room you note the coziness of it, despite (or perhaps enhanced) but the clutter. It looks as if no one has cleaned in a couple weeks. Half-emptied sacks lie in the corner. Clothes are strewn about - soiled dresses, tunics/shirts, and breeches lie piled in a corner. By the fireplace there is a rack of shoes. A set of large boots sits next the petite slippers and smaller boots.

You notice that Tara tucks a kerchief into the pocket of her dress as she comes out of the bedroom. She has been crying.

You note the use of the word "we" and conclude that someone else, someone close, once lived here with Tara, but no longer. His things are still dotted about the room - the shoes and clothes, a hunting bow too heavy for this age-weakened woman to string. His departure must have been recent, as Tara is clearly still dealing with it.

. . .

Tara returns from the kitchen.

"The stew should be warmed shortly. I must say, those cockatrice and other monsters really frightened me out there. They usually don't venture this far East. They are known to live out in the land to the West, toward the Magorrian Hills. I suppose they've been pushed eastward since the." Her voice breaks here, and she pauses to swallow and clear the knotted muscle. "Since the orcs came."

[reiphil]

Reliance cocks her brow at the comment.

"Orcs? This far?" She turns her head to Yuriel. (History 22) "They are extending well past Henton..."

Turning back to Tara her expression becomes more serious. "Tara, we were summoned to Henton to investigate orcs in the area. Please... We must know, what have they been doing so far south? What do you know of them?"

[earthwizard]

ugh. I just typed a long response and when I hit post there was an error. I hate having to retype.

[earthwizard]

Reliance-

Orcs occupy territory out west in the Magorrian Hills. They typically do not venture into the lands of Haven. To the best of your knowledge they are tribal and nomadic.

You already know that they have recently taken over the town of Henton. Your current position is several hours south of Henton.

After the fall of Deyrnas there was a movement by some of the Githzerai people to venture west and establish their own city. The people were divided, as many had lived in Haven for some time. Led by Hiram Okau, a group did go west to found their own community. The last anyone saw of him was his head as it flew back over the walls of Haven, sent by a band of orcs.

. . .

Tara is quiet for a moment then goes to the fireplace. She stokes the coals to life and adds a new log. Then she rises to take an open seat (there are three total - Keira stands by the wall).

"We went out for a picnic. It was a warm day, and sunny. The rains hadn't come yet, so the ground was firm. He wore his fine green shirt. I told him to bring the bow and hunt me some lunch. He teased that I could eat an entire deer in one sitting.

We left the bow here.

The sun was bright. There was a slight breeze. We laughed and drank wine. We lay together listening to the wind in the leaves.

A shadow passed over us and I felt my soul go cold. When I opened my eyes orcs stood over us. Great, terrible orcs, with hungry fangs, painted skin, and viscious knives.

I screamed so loudly it was all I could hear.

Edric leapt up, but the orcs were already upon him. I felt hot liquid spray across my face. Here. And here. I got to my feet. The taste of copper.

A tiefling stood over my dead husband, the orcs had done his dirty work. Then he looked at me. I was next.

I turned to flee, but one siezed my arm pulling and tearing my dress sleeve. It gouged through my shoulder. Then a flashing light blinded me and I shielded my eyes with my free hand. The orc let go and I fell to the ground. I heard it release a bloodly scream behind me.

When I looked again, its severed arm laid beside me. A man in gleaming silver-white armor was fighting the creatures.

That's when I ran.

I ran so hard my legs fell beneath me. I breathed and it burned. "

She is quiet for another moment.

"After that I sat here. I sat here for days. Then the door knocked.
It was the Iron Talon. They wanted to know if I had seen orc activity in the area. I couldn't speak, but a gentle healer saw to me. I think she was a healer. Maybe not. I felt the presence of the divine within her, and she carried the symbol of Bahamut. I thought it odd, because I hadn't seen it depicted with wings before."

[zude]

Keira listens to Tara recount the tale of Edric's death. Wanting to offer some sort of comfort to the woman, some small gesture that might ease her suffering, Keira makes to move to Tara's side. It is then that she describes the healer that had accompanied the Iron Talon. The half-elf stops, a look of shock spreading across her face, one that she quickly shakes away.

"The Knights of the Wing..." she whispers to herself while in her mind, one words sounds. A name. Claire.

Continuing her motion from just before, Keira moves over and kneels beside Tara, taking hold of her hand to grab her attention. "Tara, did you happen to get the woman's name?"