The kobolds watched them warily for some time after Kora had answered their question.

"Excellent," the kobold with the staff said. "Welcome to our village. You will be our guests of honor at tonight's Ritual of the Forge!"

Kora looks at the kobolds Medallions of Faith to identify the God that they worship.


08:15, Today: Kora rolled 14 using 1d20+13.  Knowledge Religion. – 14

08:15, Today: Kora rolled 34 using 1d20+17.  Perception. – 34

GM passing a message.

"Greetings, skilled artisans of the forge. May the strength and fire of Reorx guide your hands and hearts in all your endeavors." Tavion said with a bow. "Can you tell us more about tonight's ritual?"

Talrand closed his lips as Tavion asked the question he had been about to air.

How to approach these two, and their events, had hefty differences depending upon the nature of their faith, this ceremony, and the genuineness of the welcome v. outsider/mage suspicion.  Everything appeared above board, but the wildness of the herd on the plains was always wary when near cities, and especially in uncertain lands.

"It is a blessing of the tools and the materials of the forge," the kobold with the shield said. "Where are our manners? I'm Klimt and this is Kokoscha." Klimt pointed at the kobold with the staff. "We are the leaders of this village. And you are?"

Kora bows his head. "I am Kora of the Blade. My father wanted me in the forge, to follow in his footsteps. Unlike steel, I didn't have the right temperament."

With a respectful nod, Tavion responded, "I am Tavion, a follower of Majere. It's a privilege to meet you, Klimt and Kokoscha, and to be introduced to your customs. The discipline required to work a forge echo Majere's teachings. I would be honored to witness your ritual and gain insight into your craftsmanship and dedication to Reorx."

He took a step back, giving room to his companions to introduce themselves as they saw fit.

Caitlin was glad Kora and Tavion stepped in, starting the conversation. She herself didn't have a particular liking of the gods, so she was happy to see the two found the right words among peers it seemed. "Caitlin, I'm just a mercenary lending them another sword arm." the green-eyed woman said as an introduction, intentionally downplaying her role. She was itching to ask about the bann on mages and whether it had anything to do with the animated animal skeleton but was wise enough to withhold any questions for now.

Talrand, of the plains," the centaur boomed jovially, finding a liking in the polite smallfolk.  "Mine aid cometh in helping the group with counseling and working through emotional issues with their mounts," he jested, chuckling at his own humour, before adding on, matter-of-factly, "Similarly to Cailtlin, helping protect the group's travel.

"Actually, speaking of aid, haveth thou knowledge of path to Qwes, the ruined city northish of here?  We cameth upon a note along our travels that bespoke of undead gathering at the place - it might be well for us to seek it out, and dispatch the evil therein, to preserve the trails and travellers both.  A fearsome and persistent plague, beith those of undeath."

"Welcome, welcome, welcome," Kokoscha said. At Talrand's question, the two kobolds looked at each other. "We have never heard of that place," Klimt said. "Either it is small, insignificant, far away, or forgotten. We support your efforts to deal with said undead. Unfortunately, we don't have the resources to support them with anything but words, well wishes, and prayers."

"The ritual is still a few hours away," Kokoscha said. "Perhaps you want to relax some after your journey?"

Caitlin inwardly groaned and looked away from the priests, she wasn't really interested in participating in a ritual but she stayed quiet. Just another hired muscle, not her place to comment on anything said here.

In reply to Dragondog (msg # 89):

Kora asks "as guests of honor, what role will we be playing in this ceremony? I ask to be certain I do not cross my own strictures. And I am curious. Do you have the means of constructing a Steelbone frame for heavy armors? "

"You will be there to watch," Kokoscha said. "The whole village will be there to watch. You do not have to do anything that goes against your beliefs."

"Perhaps if might thy lips impart what beith contained within thy event," the centaur gently prodded, when details were not forthcoming. "Mine friends might assuage their concerns, and we might all be attired and prepared for the event, rather than risk startlement or concern - lands and cultures new can cause confusion or concern, better managed enobled with knowledge."

Talrand raised his brows, including himself within the realm of those seeking more information of the event, and involvement of parties.

"I'm not sure what you want to know," Klimt said. "As I mentioned before, we will be blessing our tools and our forge. What about that do you want to know more about? And in regards to your attire, you can wear what you are wearing now."

Talrand nodded, and gestured thankfulness for the information.  "Very well then, and mine thanks for thy words of knowledge."
The centaur's concerns about setting a wrong hoof inadvertently seemed less a worry, and he made a 'as you would' gesture.

"We will go thence, speak to a few parties, and relax until thy ceremony.  Perhaps we will find other word of this Ques place from other lips."

---

OOC: I'm fine with advancing if we don't need to abstain from eating/drinking certain things, or have cert attire/wep restrictions, and there is no skill-testing session or blood-whetting to the ceremony :)

We can ask at resting hall about Qwes, see if others have more details.

The ritual started a couple of hours later. Kokoscha and Klimt started blessing the materials the smiths worked with at the forge. By that time, everyone in the village seemed to have gathered around it to witness this blessing. Of water and fire. Of herbs and prayers. Of light and flickering shadow.

[What do you do?]

As the ceremony begins, Kora turns to the others and says "with so many being drawn to this place, now would be the ideal time for someone skilled in not-being-seen to find out where guards are staying put. Possibly finding out who or what they are guarding?" he inquires.

Caitlin had done her best impersonation of a mercenary guard, which was not too far from the truth. She refrained from making much contact with the townsfolk, not wishing to spoil the image she was presenting as and carefully avoiding of saying too much. After all, the ogres seemed to think little of smaller folk and arcanists were being hunted. The mercenary was not keen to find out what they would do to wizards if they were found out.

Talrand made a quip about doing so, but his grinning acknowledgement of his size and standing out nature...

"On a more serious, thy point is well-taken.  If others wouldst do so, mine thoughts are the rest of us will be more than memorable enough to draw away concern.

"If we are seeking company for the scouting, I canst change mine form for more discrete work, but such wouldst be best done under night's veil.  It is not to be saying mine side profession is light-fingering, but there are forms more subtle than the beauty of a centaur frame."

They hung around and didn't do much as they waited for the ceremony. And as the time came closer, so did the rest of the village. It seemed like everyone must be there.

Kokoscha and Klimt led the devout observance of the blessing of the tools and forge and materials used in it and by them. Ogres and kobolds alike were almost in rapture at the sanctity and near zealousness.

Caitlin did her best to stay in the background and observe the goings on, keen on avoiding drawing too much attention. While a different religion should have been interesting to her, she couldn't bring herself to show more than casual interest.

As a large person, especially with the size of an equine body, Talrand was familiar with the need to be careful around small and fragile little folk.  The ogres were refreshing, in just needing normal treatment, but with all the small and tiny folk about, being within the city was stressful, even without considering the walls confining the party.

To help alleviate his tension, Talrand walked or trotted about the city, never pushing too fast or fiercely, but to exercise some of the mental gremlins at being confined for so long.  He talked with folk here and there, joining in with observations about their holy ceremony, and helpfulness of the world and its resources as blessings.  If someone sounded familiar with the roads or old places, Talrand asked about the old Solamnic places north of Ogreville -what was the name, again?- and abandoned keeps generally north - perhaps it wasn't Solamnic, but something in the back of his head made him think so.  Besides, Solamnic works tended to last a great deal longer than anything except dwarven work.

Moreover, however, he listened, taking a measure of the city and its inhabitants.  Staying far from shops of delicate objects, and outside as much as possible to catch what little breeze made it within the city walls.

Talrand left the ceremony and trotted about the village.