Curse of the Red Cheeks (invite only)

[Eurus]

The rain steadily intensifies as you trickle into the shrine one by one. By the time Orazi enters the blessedly dry structure, the air is filled with the dim roar of drops pounding down outside and you can't see more than a foot or two out the door through the curtains of rainfall. The warmth of the fire doesn't spread very far, but if you sit close it'll chase the chill off of your bones.

Some of you might recognize each other vaguely, from the road. Last night in that inn was pretty rowdy… a few people got spanked right there in the dining room or by the baths, and probably several more in the bedrooms upstairs over the course of the night. That's just how things are, this close to Posterium; newcomers tend to get a bit of culture shock, along with sore butts.

The red-haired man is a stranger to all of you, but he seems welcoming enough, if rather taciturn. He silently gestures to anyone who enters that they're welcome to sit by the fire if they like, and even passes around a half-full skin of weak wine for anyone who wants a sip. If anyone greets him, introduces himself with a gravely voice -- "Hringe," -- and goes back to staring at the fire.

But after Orazi's question and Tambourin's testy response, Hringe hums thoughtfully.

"In here? Probably. But not in a long time."

As if punctuating his statement, a flash of lightning briefly illuminates the shrine, and a peal of thunder rumbles through the air like a giant paddling the sky itself. Hringe nods to the gnome apprentice, seeming to become a little more awake.

"And mind your manners, boy. There's etiquette to be observed, when men share a fire."

 

Everyone make a check with Street Smarts! Roll 1d10 plus your Street Smarts ability and let me know what you get in your post or in Discord.

[Zollith]

Tambourin pricks up at the sudden thunder: being surrounded by large men was already enough to unnerve the gnome, but the weather now threatened to make him jumpier than usual.

"Whatever happens, I hope you understand I always try my damndest to mind them, Sir Hringe," Tambourin answers, almost as an announcement, "and I aplogise profusely in advance if I fail." The line seems rehearsed but genuine.

 

(Roll on discord was 10+1)

[Manicorn]

"Hrnn." Zarden gives a light, throaty chuckle. "I'll settle for merely being away as soon as this rain lets up. I have many miles to travel yet, and no time for banter." Another peal of thunder washes over them as he re-affixed his cloak. "No offense, of course."

 

Street smarts roll: Nat 1

[hax25849]

As if he was hypnotized Orfo watched the rain as it coated most of the world in it's haze. He did hear Hringe's request and turned to acknowledge him, "I'll be on my best behavior sir just let... I.."

Once again he was pulled back into the rain's beauty as he trailed off of his speech, hoping it didn't seem too rude to leave it at that.

 

Street Smarts roll: 6

[Spunny]

"I doubt you're going to make too much progress today." Mouse says to Zarden, giving an apologetic smile and a bit of a shrug. "I'm doing a bit of traveling, myself. Can't really stay in one place for too long- I'm a bit highly sought after."

Of course, that was something of a boast as well as a problem. Mouse has made a bit of a splash for himself and now it was time to move on. Find another place full of targets, another place where his face wasn't quite as recognizable. Until he made another splash.

His eyes flash around to the guys, measuring their worth once more- wondering how hard it'd be to try to pick their pockets- or,somehow, to try to relieve them of their undergarments. All the humidity in the air, the rain falling- it's making him feel a bit more charged than normal. A bit more reckless, perhaps.

"But we are all stuck here until the storm stops- and it could be a long while. Might as well talk a bit to kill time. Or gamble. Anyone got any cards?"

[Zollith]

"I would love to hastily move on as well, but I refuse to do so any longer during this torrent. I need not risk water-logging my bare essentials any further," Tambourin grumbles out loud. He does not pull any of his belongings out while in the company of the others, at least not yet: while none of them seem hostile to him (though at least one seems keen to enforce decorum), his trust was not easily won.

"I am no gambler, by the way, human - I'm always told I ought to only wager what I can afford to lose, and I have no interest in surrendering anything, be it my goggles or my modesty," the gnome pointedly remarks to Mouse's suggestion.

[Hiran]

"Rain's good." Orazi replied. Having finished dripping, he was already almost dry. Luckily, his fur cloak and loincloth were both rather waterproof as well. Though regardless, he took his cloak off, hanging it off a protruding rock while it dried. This left him completely shirtless now, not that he minded.

By the time everyone else had spoken, he was relaxing with his arms behind his head. "At least one of you isn't a total stick in the mud. Don't you know it's custom to share stories when you're around a fire? Sitting around sulking like that isn't good etiquette, it'd just make you a target where I'm from." Honestly, that was always the worst part about traveling, dealing with all these way too serious types.

"But in lieu of stories, cards sound good. Let me see..." Orazi started digging in the leather bag he'd brought in with him, trying to locate his deck among the mess. Anyone who was looking could see plenty of items in there—but nothing of value.

[hax25849]

Orfo's devoted concentration broke when he heard the rustling of Orzai's bag. Truth be told Orfo's last meal was at the inn and his cookoff spectacular as well as the spoils had left him quite famished that night.

"Do yah have any food... sir?" he squeaked out as he raised his pan. "truth be told I blew alot of my food and energy at the inn last night, I've got some spices but no real ingredients to make something fulfilling." Orfo proceeded to then lower his ear's as if he was begging.

[linacina1]

"It's a pleasure to meet you Hringe." The half-elf finally speaks up after remaning rather silent throughout a majority of this conversation. He was not a man who enjoyed tight company, never had and never well. He recognized enough of these men from the tavern or from other legs of his journey, no conversation was made but he remembered faces well enough.

Killian was not keen to have to stop traveling for the night, Posterium was so close and with each passing day who knows where Alren could even be then? It was an unplanned and unwanted delay, one he considered pushing past but he did not desire to become ill right when he arrived within the city-limits. He would be smart and simply linger for a time with these other men.

"Well I can't speak much for food, I certainly wouldn't be opposed to a game of cards if anyone else is into playing." All Killian had to his name was the few bits of cured meat he'd had left from his last hunting treck right outside the swamps. He certainly wasn't cruel but he wouldn't be sharing much until more trust was earned at the least.

Killian also had kept his gear and the rest of his small assortment of items closer than last night, not wanting a repeat of the incident with that village brat. His bow was sacred and he needed the rest of his supplies if he ever wished to survive the city, ergo he was protective.

[Eurus]

When the subject of food is brought up, Hringe reaches into his bag and pulls out some flat, dense circles of bread and a few hunks of leathery dried meat. It's not particularly appetizing, and he doesn't have a tremendous amount, but he shares with anyone who wants any without complaining. When Orazi mentions stories, he chews thoughtfully on and nods.

"A story? Hmm..."

He prods one of the logs slightly, encouraging the fire, and starts to speak.

"...In the old days, before the big cities spread their influence, this area was a lot more dangerous. There were small towns all over, but they were constantly harassed by monster tribes. They relied on their warriors, small bands of dedicated men to meet any challenges and put their own bodies on the line. And those warriors relied on each other."

Hringe's voice is soothing, yet Tambourin finds himself becoming unsettled. It's the same feeling that he gets when he puts the wrong ingredient into a spell or potion, right before it blows up or catches fire. The instinctive sense that something is about to happen, even if his conscious mind can't catch it. Is something moving outside...?

"To build that trust and camaraderie, they would go out into the wilderness together. They'd erect a monument by some natural landmark. The beasts and monsters of the wild would see the challenge, and come for a fight. Sometimes the warriors would win, and sometimes they'd lose... but whether it was from the triumph of victory, or the humiliation of defeat, they had sanctified their bond before the gods. After that, they were brothers."

Another flash of lightning illuminates the darkness outside the shrine. Through instinct or sheer luck, Orfo and Tambourin are the only two looking in that direction when it happens, so they're the only two that see the silhouettes of several tall, winged humanoid figures a few dozen yards away from the shrine's entrance. Hringe just stares into the fire, unconcerned.

"Hmm... should be about that time."