Subject: Re: Words from the Dead

Erk will remain close behind Buchek, but his axe is in its sheath. If Buchek gives him the go ahead, he will begin administering aid to the wounded hunters.

Subject: Re: Words from the Dead

"I am not a servant of Khoftak, clan leader. He is no friend of Kipshaa, who I have faithfully served all my life. I am Buchek, son of Chauth and Suritani, formerly of the Cushat, and sworn enemy of Tossuc Kinslayer. I do not believe I am a spirit. I eat, I breathe, I bleed like any man. Why I live I do not know, and I hope to speak with your shaman on that subject. But this is not the shaman's tent, for me to tell you the story of my death and reawakening in the Tall Grass."

"The healing that we bring is not of the dead, but of the living. Among the Sunset people this one is reveared as a great healer," he says, pointing with his chin at Erk. He is favored by his god. May he approach, to render his god's aid?"

Subject: Re: Words from the Dead

Elotai remains quiet, but slings his bow back up and out of the way. He'll let Buchek deal with this.

Subject: Re: Words from the Dead

Holn answers "My friend here is not dead. He was left for dead. We wish only transit."

Subject: Re: Words from the Dead

Kayla remains out of the way, totally out of her depth. She's still sitting on the donkey, keeping with the travelers' things. If one of the party motions her forward, she will secure the donkeys and bring any of the vital equipment on her.

Subject: Re: Words from the Dead

Kubalc defers to the young shaman as the man slowly walks forward, leaning on the bloody staff taken from his elder.

Stepping directly to Buchek's chest, his head barely reached the barbarian's chin. Reaching up with his right hand, he touched Buchek's scar gently, and ran his finger along the death markings on the opposite side of his face. The hairs on Buchek's back raised at the touch, but he did not move. The shaman then walked slowly around the barbarian, looking him over carefully while shaking the staff in the air.

Once he completes this circuit, he looks up into Buchek's eyes and speaks softly.

"You are not dead, no. But the shadow of death follows you. The sandy plain of the beyond was under your feet, but you ran back to the grasses of the living... You have a strength, warrior. But death does not let its prizes go easily."

With that, he calls back to Kubalc.

"This is a w arrior who Returns from Death's Sand. He has great strength of spirit and has lead a healer to us in time of need."

The spears of Kubalc's guards drop point down, and Kubalc strides forward to take grip of each man's forearm in turn, starting with Buchek and Holn.

"Buchek of the Cushat, Returns-from-Death's-Sands. You call the tyrant Tossuc kinslayer, and for that you are declared friend. You are welcome to my fire, my food, and my wives."

Turning to Holn, he bows his head while gripping his hand. "Walker on magical grasses, you too are welcome to stay, even if you only seek passage."

Erk is surprised by the strength of the human's grip, and blesses him in the name of Clangeddin.

"I do not know who this god of the mountain folk is, but I hope he is strong in arm and in compassion. I gladly welcome your healing arts, priest of the mountain."

Telwyn greets the man in his own dialect of the barbarian tongue, which makes Kubalc cock his head to one side. "You speak like the southern tribes who trade with us during winter, but you dress like the sunset people. I see you are a friend to the tribes, and so you are welcome at our fires."

Finally, he comes upon Elotai, and he hesitates before gripping the elf's arm. "You travel with these men, but you are not of their kind." He conspicuously looks at the pointed ears on each side, and furrows his brow. "Do you come from beyond the grasses? I have heard legend of faerie men from beyond the Tall Grasses."

Subject: Re: Words from the Dead

:) Cool turn Matt!

Subject: Re: Words from the Dead

Buchek nods at the shaman's words to him. Perhaps later they can talk more of Buchek's escape from death, but for now it is comforting to have this holy man's confirmation that he is a living man, rather than a confused spirit passing for a member of the living. Tension he has been carrying ever since waking up in the Tall Grass, tension he hadn't even been aware of until it vanished, lifts from his shoulders, and he stands a little straighter. At Kubalc's words, a broad grin splits Buchek's face, the scarred left side of it twisting upward in a gruesome caricature of a smile.

"Returns-From-Death's-Sands," he thinks. His first title as an adult, and one granted to him by a mighty warrior. It is an honor. He nods in satisfaction at Kubalc's words. At last, an ally, and one offering him membership in his own clan, if Buchek should want it. Together, perhaps they could rally The People, defeat Tossuc before he lead the tribes to ruin. And yet...he glances at his companions. He has given them his word that he will accompany them into the Tall Grass, and he knows that without him their journey is all the more likely to fail. And of course there is Sortani's prophesy about the land beyond the Tall Grass; perhaps a land to which he can lead the People, far from the Sunset people, where they can live in peace. No, tempting as it is, he cannot stay, cannot join Kubalc's tribe. He will accept the chief's hospitality for a night, or two nights, spread word of Toussuc's actions, and his own theories on the man's plans for The People. Then he must go on.

Subject: Re: Words from the Dead

Telwyn starts at the mention of the people beyond the Tall Grass. He glances over at Elotai quickly. Back at the outpost, Telwyn had hoped to find out something of his father's people, but the elf had said that he came from the west, not the east where the Tall Grass lay. So Telwyn had kept silent. But maybe Elotai does know something. And if not, Telwyn can at least hear these stories that the tribesmen tell.

Subject: Re: Words from the Dead

Holn smiles at Kubalc, accepting his offer. A warm fire and food would be nice tonight, and there is greater security in numbers, no doubt about that. Particularly with the great beasts of the grasses about.

He thought about Kubalc's assessment of Buchek's mutilation, the visible scar of a deeper one. Surely an aura of destiny had begun to form around his old friend. There would be more time to discuss this and his own need to find Lysette tonight.

On cue, Fancek Fa drops to the ground. It certainly couldn't hurt to scout around. The little cat nuzzles against Kubalc as she scans about curiously.

Subject: Re: Words from the Dead

OOC: I am assuming someone gave Erk the go ahead in a language he understands.

IC: The grassland people?s talk among themselves, their tongue strange and sibilant in Erk?s ears. But when Buchek gives him the go ahead, the moans of pain from the wounded men needs no interpreter. Erk moves to those worst wounded first, the ones who will die quickly without his aid, and uses his most powerful healing prayers on them. He will then expend the rest of his healing if needed on the less wounded. Sadly, the monster they fought did not wound many. It seems that most of its blows killed instantly. Several dead beyond recovery litter the field of battle. For them, Erk sends a prayer to Clangeddin, ?These men fell in valiant combat. Intercede with their gods, Lord of Battles, and sing of their deeds.?

When Erk has finished his work, he ambles tiredly over to Buchek and says, ?Tell the chief that I have done what I can, and have saved those who had not passed beyond deaths door.? He then looks for Kayla and the mules.

Subject: Kree Ballak Noyakin!

[I'm still waiting on replies from Telwyn and Elotai, but I'm going to write up a turn regarding Erk going for Kayla and the equipment - which happens sometime after whatever discussion Telwyn and Elotai might have with Kubalc and the shaman. You guys can fill the back responses.]

There are few that Erk could help, but he healed all those who were not already dead. He saved three men from certain death, and healed one of a wound that would have surely festered. The tribe was small, and had grown considerably smaller today. All totaled, there now stood 15 warriors, and 12 more lay dead.

As the women and children emerged from hiding, Erk was happy to see many boy children, at least eight, who would someday replace their fathers. But today they wailed, holding their mothers close as the dead were collected and brought to grassy pyres. A piece of the great weasel's heart was cut and placed on the chest of each of the fallen, to mark their sacrifice to the tribe and bond their spirits to the great Khoftak.

When his work is done, Erk sets off up the hill the way they had come, heading back toward Kayla and the wagons. Two of Kubalc's warriors approach him as he leaves the group and speak in accented Common. One of these is the man whose wound was closed by his healing magic.

"It is not safe to wander these grasses alone, mountain dweller. Where do you wish to go in these great plains?"

"We have wagons with equipment," Erk responds. "And another friend who stayed behind to protect it."

The warriors nod, and begin to walk alongside the dwarf, peering into the setting sun to see the outline of the wagons at the crest of the rise. "Then we will come with you. You saved the use of this arm and allowed me once again to provide for my children and tribe. We will guide you to your friend by giving you eyes above the grass."

Erk then realized that once he went into the grass, he could have become lost utterly, not being able to see over its height.

"Thank you."

They traveled up the rise, roughly back along the path the party had made while descending. Much of the grass had returned upright, but enough of it was broken that a rough path could be seen. At the top, they emerged at the wagons and saw Kayla sitting smiling on top.

"What took you so long?" She quipped.

Upon seeing Kayla, the warriors scrambled for weapons, shouting back down the hill. "Noyakin! Noyakin! Kubalc, kree ballak Noyakin!"

Erk is shocked and confused by their reaction, but it is clear that they plan on attacking Kayla.

***

At the base camp, the cry is heard: "Noyakin!"

The women and children abandon what they had been doing and huddle together in the center of the clearing, as far from the grasses as possible, with a ring of six warriors circling them facing out.

Buchek and Holn instantly recognize the term, but wonder at the reaction. Noyakin were malicious grass faeries, no more than children's terror stories. They would spring from the grasses and attack before disappearing again - they were vicious fighters who would cut hamstrings, achilles tendons, and necks to slow down their victims, then would lie in wait to finish the job when their targets' strength had bled from them. They were no bigger than children, with pointed ears and...

if they were cleaned up and put in city clothes, they would look just like Kayla.

Buchek and Holn turn to each other with wide-eyed expressions. Telwyn had a confused look on his face, as he was trying to decipher what the men had said. Something had spooked the warriors who walked off with Erk, something that they called to Kubalc about...

Kubalc had already run off in that direction with his two bodyguard warriors, as had the shaman.

Buchek and Holn started to run after, calling back to the others, "They think Kayla's in evil spirit. Come on!"

Subject: Re: Words from the Dead

Elotai shakes his head slowly. ?I come from beyond the lands of men, far to the west. But... you have legends of faerie beyond the Grasses? If... would you tell me more of these legends? In the west we have stories of the ancestry of our people, but I was never certain of what to believe.?

Subject: Re: Kree Ballak Noyakin!

Erk has no idea what the men are saying, but their intent is clear. He will rush toward the wagon, yelling to Kayla, ?Get behind the mule!? When he has put himself between his guides and the halfling, he turns back to them. ?Wait! What is happening here!?? He holds out his two empty hands in a placating gesture. He wants them to know that he is not attacking, merely trying to understand.

Subject: Re: Kree Ballak Noyakin!

to Matt: Kayla is still surrounded by high grass, right? Can she effectively hide in them without getting too lost herself? If that sounds good, she's probably going to jump off the mule and hide herself until her friends explain who she is.

Subject: Re: Kree Ballak Noyakin!

No! Elotai had almost had the tribesmen talking about the people beyond the grasses. The disappointment is so bitter that Telwyn can almost taste it as he races back towards Kayla and the mule.

Hopefully the situation can still be salvaged, but Kayla would have little defense against the far larger and more numerous tribesmen; it may yet come to blood. But only in the last resort. There's still time.

OOC: Telwyn will only attack in the last extreme to save Kayla's life, and even then will only attempt to disarm or knock a ranged weapon off target.

Subject: Re: Kree Ballak Noyakin!

OOC: What about Jake's turn?

Subject: Re: Kree Ballak Noyakin!

Oh, to quote from sakeriver:

Buchek:

"Buchek runs after Kubalc, bellowing at the top of his lungs "Stop! Kubalc, she is no Noyakin! She is means you no harm, I swear by my ancestor's blade!" as he runs."

Holn:

Holn follows after, hoping the halfling comes to no harm. He remembers his first encounter with a halfling, and how his master had explained that these were different from the Noyakin, in the same way that men in the cities were different. Even the word has its connotations to him.

He hopes that the tribe can suspend their fear long enough to listen to reason.....

Subject: Re: Kree Ballak Noyakin!

Such quick blood. Even after his village learned of Elotai?s visions, it had been nearly a full year before he left. If he had been human, in a human village, he would probably have been cast out that very same day ? though here, among the plainsmen, they seemed much more comfortable with such things. Perhaps their shaman would be able to help him...

Elotai?s feet are moving, unbidden, as he follows this train of thought. He chases after Kubalc, hoping to catch up to him and get him to call his warriors off. ?She is like me!? he calls to the young leader. ?Just another race!?

OOC: I?m aware that Elotai?s 8 in Charisma doesn?t exactly make him the most compelling of figures, so I don?t expect to actually convince Kubalc of anything. I?m still working out how I?m going to play it, so far I?ve been trying to be socially inept with non-elves. :P