CH 1: You All Meet in a Tavern

[JadedDM]

After the birdmen converse some more, Koh'kra seems to cow the other three. Nevertheless, they circle the party, forming an honor guard of sorts. Gesturing to follow, Koh'kra leads the way.

"I hope they're taking us to meet their leader or something," Jocelyn says, "and not to be sacrificed to some dark god instead."

[xelphyn]

"Yes, hopefully a leader who can communicate with us"

[Breila]

"That would be good indeed" Ouragana comments. "It would be interesting to learn their language, though" she adds, more to herself, as they follow Koh'kra.


(OOC: this has such a "Dances with wolves" feel... Tatonka!)

[JadedDM]

The birdmen lead the party another mile through the mountains before reaching their destination. By that point, it is nightfall and both moons are up and shining (one of which is full).

The birdmen's home appears to be a very large communal nest, woven together from grass and twigs. Before it is a large firepit where a roasted pig is being turned on a spit. The light of the fire helps illuminate the area, as does the full moon and stars above, so even those without infravision can see decently.

Including Koh'kra and the three escorts, there seem to be at least 11 full grown birdmen here. There are at least three children, too, peeking out through the nest at the strangers.

At once, there is a stir at the party's arrival. Some birdmen arm themselves, not sure if an attack is coming, while others fly up into their nest to hide.

One of the birdmen in particular flies down before the party. This one stands out, due to the tribal headpiece it wears. The other birdmen, including Koh'kra bow to this one, but Koh'kra quickly gets back up and starts speaking to the others.

Aarakocra Chieftain.jpg (25.81 KiB) Viewed 5111 times

After taking all of this in, the leader approaches the group cautiously. "Why here?" she asks in a surprisingly feminine voice, although her Common is rough and crude. "Why kek come?"

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The party travels through 1 mile of low mountains on a trail in 2 hours, 24 minutes, using up 2 points of movement. They have 3 points remaining. It is now 10:59 PM.

[Jenara]

"We come in Peace." Arei says with arms open wide, "We mean no harm, you mean no harm?" She steps forward, pushing her blade behind her and removing her hat.

"Kek?" She sweeps her arm to the group "Areilon." She points to herself. "We find out why Cows die?"

[Nuke]

Val continues to follow the group, clenching her trident tightly, with her eyes nervously scanning the situation.

[Breila]

"So »kek« really means »people«" Ouragana thinks to herself. She walks up to Arelion, arms open as well, her dagger had never left its sheath.

"Yes, we come in peace." she tells the birdpeople chieftainess. "We are messengers. Other people are angry. You take cows and pigs. They want stop."

[JadedDM]

"Kek," the chieftess repeats. "Uhh...ground-walkers. Can no fly." At the party's assurances they mean no harm, she then says, "Is late. You guests. Eat with us, we talk. In morning, you go." She gestures for them to follow her. There's a large stone slab that seems to serve as a crude table. The other birdfolk gather around it, many watching the strangers warily. Koh'kra sits at the chieftess' right side. Once everyone is seated, one of the birdmen begins serving the roasted pork to everyone.

[Breila]

Ouragana accepts her serving with a friendly thanks and waits if anyone says a blessing or similar before she starts eating.

[Jenara]

"Thank you." Arei accepts the food as offered, ignoring that it possibly could be the same Livestock they were looking for.

"Why do you take the farmers animals?" She asks after some silence, "Do you understand to 'own'? The animals belong to the farmers, if you want, you need to trade, offer something."

[JadedDM]

"What means 'farmers'?" the chieftess asks. "Aarakocra hunt animals, cook and eat. Animals not 'belong.'"

It doesn't seem to occur to Jocelyn to say a prayer of thanks, she just digs right in. "Wow, this is so tender," she comments idly. Indeed, the meat is quite succulent and juicy. With the food there is also water served in small clay cups, and there's plenty to go around.

[Jenara]

"We 'Kek' own things, animals are with 'Kek' they get upset and send people to fight you." She thinks of the skulls, "Kek come? Fight?"

[xelphyn]

Dahn also accepts the food offered, "I know a way to make it easier for you, make it so you don't have to hunt, don't have to defend your village from 'kek'."

[JadedDM]

"Kek always come. Kek always fight. You first kek that not fight," she says. Then as an afterthought adds, "Son say you save him from cat. Say you shoot at him, too. Kek always fight, always spill blood. Savages, pah!"

Her feathers become ruffled, but she attempts to smooth them back down. "Two kek come seven suns ago. Try and kill aarakocra. Aarakocra kill. Have no choice. Call on air spirit, destroyed the kek. Kek say they own all animals? What aarakocra hunt then? How aarakocra eat?" She looks over at Dahn, curious. "How do that?"

[Nuke]

Val finds a seat at the table away from the talkative ones and slowly eats. "I hope this works."