The pair spend the time before supper holding close to one another, reveling in the word Dima chose to title what they are. (What Faolan accepted, and gave in turn.) The thieves, having led the crabs back to the river and begun the drying process of cured meat, pass the time inventing further songs.
Eventually Liv returns from her scouting expedition, worn from flight.
[1) a q: who ended up with the Ring of Swimming? i cannot remember and didn't write it down go me :/ 2) before fae and dima nightventure, dima is going to try sending again if he may yy
- The Ring of Swimming is up for grabs; neither Sen nor Fae need it. note: rin will take the ring of swimming since as they point out dima has plenty of rings
- Dima may attempt sending again. Who is he Sending to? nerys!
- Make a Perception check for Liviana, and make an Insight check for Dima to understand what she tells him she may or may not have seen. PERC, l: 18 INS, d: 10]
Liv attempts to relate to Dima her findings; what Dima sees is a flash of forested mountainsides, a winding pass barren of travelers, and flocks of birds rising in a gust from the trees near sunset, then settling again.
<.>
Dima will convey these images to the party as he saw them, without attempt at further interpretation. He'll look to Faolan particularly as he does so, asking whether he - or any of the party - makes anything of the information.
Dima is particularly curious about the birds, and their rise and settling.
[q: does he recognize the kind of birds Liviana conveyed, or anything about them? a: There's no specific kind of bird; it was more like...all the birds in those trees rose up in a big burst and then settled again.
NAT, f: 5 ...Faolan has no idea what that could mean.]
Rin, taking the cue from Dima's interest in the birds - always ready to fixate as they do on particular details - would like to see whether they can figure anything from the described image/pattern.
They might just. Not. Have any skill set for judging tbh.
[INS, r: crit fail! Rin thinks maybe the birds were dancing.
note: Rin is in fact certain of it!!]
Meanwhile, Dima is going to thank Liviana for her information. And quietly apologize for noT being able to translate. He will be keeping the images/info in mind as they continue on.
Dima also is indeed going to try to reach Nerys with the following message: "Nerys. Did you learn anything regarding Calabra and Gower's daughter? In twenty-five words."
<.>
Dima receives a response from Nerys: "Nothing on the girl. Calabra en route to Mysos via High Road. Sending assistance. Meet at Mysos side of Borderlands."
It can be deduced from this response that, in deciding to follow the river, the party did manage to avoid the danger on the high road - but also missed a chance to intercept Calabra.
<.>
Dima is equal parts relieved that some message made it through, irritated about Calabra, and pricked with wariness at his sister's nonresponsiveness.
He'll convey Nerys's exact words to the party, asking whether they'd like to make their way toward the high road and attempt to meet this assistance.
It might be discernible that he's frustrated at having missed the chance to intercept Calabra, though he's attempting to hide it.
...Dima would also like to try reaching Lariya via Sending. He can cast it three times and wants to save one for responding to Nerys. Dima attempts to reach Lariya with: "Traveling toward Mysos. Troubled news from Loch Bien. What news of Morovsk and Derzhena? In twenty-five words. Thank you, Lariya."
It is probably clear to the party that he's casting the spell again; they'll see him perform the necessary motions, and see him murmuring words, though the content is perhaps indiscernible, very hushed.
[PERCENTILE ROLL, d: 89 dm roll: nat 20]
<.>
Lariya’s response follows: "All is well. Daniil is his usual self. Derzhena apologizes for her lack of response and will explain later. Stay safe."
<.>
Dima feels. Quite a bit better after that.
Dima also intends to send Nerys one more as a response, but will wait to hear from the party re: travel direction. He'll also tell the party they needn't decide now; he can always tell Nerys they'll send word of whether or not they'll bE at the high road in the morning.
<.>
Fae thinks they should continue following the river to the mountain pass. Sen is still sulking about his last attempt to guide the group and tuts at the potential change in plans.
If Liviana is asked for input -
[liv very much is asked!
INS, d: nat 20]
Dima receives a strong image of daylight, the sun shining, and ominous images of sunset, shadows stretching long and twisting into strange shapes. It's clear Liv is okay with the mountain path so long as the party travels by daylight only.
<.>
Dima will give Liviana a scritch beneath the chin, then tell the party what she's told him.
Rin says they've gotten pretty attached to the river and maybe there will be more crabs! Maybe after that mountain crabs? They're down to continue on this way.
Dima is, to the surprise of no one, very good with following Faolan and Liviana's instincts, and remains not particularly eager to travel near the high road.
His suggestion will be to ask Nerys to send the assistance to the nearest city they're liable to come upon.
Dima would. Like to check with the group and with himself wrt whether they're liable to come near/stop by Riversdown en route to Exningley.
[dm: It's way, way out of the way. Riversdown is a good two days' detour at least.]
And finally, Dima responds to Nerys with his thanks and an indication that they'll be following the river, so if the assistance doesn't find them near the road, they might meet up in Mysos proper.
[note: Nerys doesn't respond to this, which likely just means he had nothing to say.]
One last q from Dima for the moment: Does anyone in the party - Dima himself included - have any sense of what manner of perils the mountains usually/generally hold? For spell prep purposes.
[NAT s: 9 f: 14 d: 14 r: 15]
<.>
Sen has only vague notions that the mountains are, like most wilderness, dangerous.
The rest of the party knows there are humanoid creatures that live in the more secluded places, as well as a variety of beasts that COULD call the mountains their ecosystem.
No one's really sure what specifically lives in these mountains, but it's probably a good idea to have a mix of combat and defensive/warding spells.
And if Dima wants to go over Fae's spell choices - which he will prepare next morning - he will ofc run them by Daddy.
<.>
[A look ahead to the next morning—
Dima will, I think, test that ground with a gentle command. Which will be, I think, "Show Daddy your spells, won't you, Puppy?"
And when he’s seen the list Dima very much approves of this list, and remarks on the balance shown among damage types and damage versus aid. It looks as though between Fae and Dima, they have a fairly thorough range of damage types covered.
Dima also asks Faolan to walk him through the workings of the druidic spells he's prepared, mostly because Dima's curious about Fae's magic, just as he's curious about Fae period thanks.
So when Fae preps his spells in the morning, this occurs! And Fae will likewise watch Dima’s own prep in the morning, and he will love watching this process.
Note that Dima literally. Sits with his books. Makes notes. Mutters to himself a loT. Practicing the gestures. Fae may watch all he likes! ;.; Also, Dima will be asking Fae about his magic in a way that is very clearly not even a little bit self-conscious about his own lack of knowledge in this regard.]
<.>
Just after supper, Sen had murmured something to Rin before rising, dusting himself off, and intercepting Faolan just as he was returning from relieving himself in the nearby woods.
"Let's take a walk."
Faolan had cast a glance back at the fire - back at Dima, whose back was to them - then ventured, "I should ask -"
"Just a moment or two of your time. I want a word about him without him slinking halfway up your side." Sen's face had been half-shadowed, but Faolan thought he saw something friendly in his smile. He had felt no telltale clench of warning that might have arisen if anyone else had spoken those words.
He had followed Sen away from their camp to the river's edge, then down a hundred yards or so: far enough to be out of ear-shot of either Rin or Dima. With that same friendly smile and tone to match, Sen had turned to face him and asked, "What the fuck is wrong with you?"
Faolan had been too stunned to respond, and Sen had given no quarter. "Dima clearly wants to marry you. He's a breath from humming wedding marches and looks as lovesick as a young girl whenever he has the opportunity to say your name.
"Why are you behaving as though the world's set to end any time there's mention of the future he wants with you? No, don't deny that, you started *pouting* in a little pool of your own self-sympathy earlier because I had the nerve to suggest the Voronins would be your in-laws."
Feeling as though the wind had been knocked from him, Faolan had managed only, "You don't understand."
"Which part?"
"It's complicated, Sen. It's -"
"Is it? Is it really all that complicated, or are you just *scared*?"
"I'm not!" Faolan had felt a rising defensive outrage.
"What's the problem, then?"
"I'm not any equal of his. Don't any of you understand, it'll ruin his name if I agreed to that, if we lived in Morovsk - people would never forgive the scandal -"
"And?"
"What?"
"Dima seems aware of that. It seems to me he's willing to face it."
"He says that now, but -" Abruptly, Faolan had stopped, had dropped his gaze. Sen had made a sound then as though he'd found confirmation.
"But? Go ahead. Finish the sentence."
Defiantly, Faolan snapped, "But in ten years, he won't be saying it."
"And?"
"And what, you shit?"
"In ten years, you've prophesied he won't be saying he's willing to face the scandal. What's the problem with that?"
Faolan's mouth had pressed to a thin line; he hadn't responded, so Sen responded for him.
"The problem is, you think he's going to blame you? Resent you?"
The strength had eked out of Faolan; he had felt flayed open. (Exposed.) Quietly, he'd replied, "He will."
Sen's tone had softened and a large, slender hand had come to rest on Faolan's shoulder. He had looked up to see that the elf was bending just enough to look eye-to-eye with him before speaking. "Faolan. What the fuck does it matter? Your job isn't to anticipate all the mistakes that might make him unhappy in ten years. It's to be happy now, and make him happy if you can - and you can. Why don't you stop mourning something you haven't lost and may never lose? Why don't you try to make him so happy, he never has cause for regret?
"I think Dima would agree, by far the best response to any scandalmongering you'll encounter is happiness with your choices."
Faolan had once again found himself too dumbfounded to speak.
"If nothing else, you'll stop boring the rest of us with your misery. Poor Faolan, getting everything he could ever want." He had tsked, had shaken Faolan in a friendly sort of way, then shoved him gently back towards camp. "Think it over. Stop ruining my appetite."
no subject
Eventually Liv returns from her scouting expedition, worn from flight.
[1) a q: who ended up with the Ring of Swimming? i cannot remember and didn't write it down go me :/
2) before fae and dima nightventure, dima is going to try sending again if he may yy
- The Ring of Swimming is up for grabs; neither Sen nor Fae need it.
note: rin will take the ring of swimming since as they point out dima has plenty of rings
- Dima may attempt sending again. Who is he Sending to?
nerys!
- Make a Perception check for Liviana, and make an Insight check for Dima to understand what she tells him she may or may not have seen.
PERC, l: 18
INS, d: 10]
Liv attempts to relate to Dima her findings; what Dima sees is a flash of forested mountainsides, a winding pass barren of travelers, and flocks of birds rising in a gust from the trees near sunset, then settling again.
<.>
Dima will convey these images to the party as he saw them, without attempt at further interpretation. He'll look to Faolan particularly as he does so, asking whether he - or any of the party - makes anything of the information.
Dima is particularly curious about the birds, and their rise and settling.
[q: does he recognize the kind of birds Liviana conveyed, or anything about them?
a: There's no specific kind of bird; it was more like...all the birds in those trees rose up in a big burst and then settled again.
NAT, f: 5
...Faolan has no idea what that could mean.]
Rin, taking the cue from Dima's interest in the birds - always ready to fixate as they do on particular details - would like to see whether they can figure anything from the described image/pattern.
They might just. Not. Have any skill set for judging tbh.
[INS, r: crit fail!
Rin thinks maybe the birds were dancing.
note: Rin is in fact certain of it!!]
Meanwhile, Dima is going to thank Liviana for her information. And quietly apologize for noT being able to translate. He will be keeping the images/info in mind as they continue on.
Dima also is indeed going to try to reach Nerys with the following message: "Nerys. Did you learn anything regarding Calabra and Gower's daughter? In twenty-five words."
<.>
Dima receives a response from Nerys: "Nothing on the girl. Calabra en route to Mysos via High Road. Sending assistance. Meet at Mysos side of Borderlands."
It can be deduced from this response that, in deciding to follow the river, the party did manage to avoid the danger on the high road - but also missed a chance to intercept Calabra.
<.>
Dima is equal parts relieved that some message made it through, irritated about Calabra, and pricked with wariness at his sister's nonresponsiveness.
He'll convey Nerys's exact words to the party, asking whether they'd like to make their way toward the high road and attempt to meet this assistance.
It might be discernible that he's frustrated at having missed the chance to intercept Calabra, though he's attempting to hide it.
...Dima would also like to try reaching Lariya via Sending. He can cast it three times and wants to save one for responding to Nerys. Dima attempts to reach Lariya with: "Traveling toward Mysos. Troubled news from Loch Bien. What news of Morovsk and Derzhena? In twenty-five words. Thank you, Lariya."
It is probably clear to the party that he's casting the spell again; they'll see him perform the necessary motions, and see him murmuring words, though the content is perhaps indiscernible, very hushed.
[PERCENTILE ROLL, d: 89
dm roll: nat 20]
<.>
Lariya’s response follows: "All is well. Daniil is his usual self. Derzhena apologizes for her lack of response and will explain later. Stay safe."
<.>
Dima feels. Quite a bit better after that.
Dima also intends to send Nerys one more as a response, but will wait to hear from the party re: travel direction. He'll also tell the party they needn't decide now; he can always tell Nerys they'll send word of whether or not they'll bE at the high road in the morning.
<.>
Fae thinks they should continue following the river to the mountain pass. Sen is still sulking about his last attempt to guide the group and tuts at the potential change in plans.
If Liviana is asked for input -
[liv very much is asked!
INS, d: nat 20]
Dima receives a strong image of daylight, the sun shining, and ominous images of sunset, shadows stretching long and twisting into strange shapes. It's clear Liv is okay with the mountain path so long as the party travels by daylight only.
<.>
Dima will give Liviana a scritch beneath the chin, then tell the party what she's told him.
Rin says they've gotten pretty attached to the river and maybe there will be more crabs! Maybe after that mountain crabs? They're down to continue on this way.
Dima is, to the surprise of no one, very good with following Faolan and Liviana's instincts, and remains not particularly eager to travel near the high road.
His suggestion will be to ask Nerys to send the assistance to the nearest city they're liable to come upon.
Dima would. Like to check with the group and with himself wrt whether they're liable to come near/stop by Riversdown en route to Exningley.
[dm: It's way, way out of the way. Riversdown is a good two days' detour at least.]
And finally, Dima responds to Nerys with his thanks and an indication that they'll be following the river, so if the assistance doesn't find them near the road, they might meet up in Mysos proper.
[note: Nerys doesn't respond to this, which likely just means he had nothing to say.]
One last q from Dima for the moment: Does anyone in the party - Dima himself included - have any sense of what manner of perils the mountains usually/generally hold? For spell prep purposes.
[NAT
s: 9
f: 14
d: 14
r: 15]
<.>
Sen has only vague notions that the mountains are, like most wilderness, dangerous.
The rest of the party knows there are humanoid creatures that live in the more secluded places, as well as a variety of beasts that COULD call the mountains their ecosystem.
No one's really sure what specifically lives in these mountains, but it's probably a good idea to have a mix of combat and defensive/warding spells.
And if Dima wants to go over Fae's spell choices - which he will prepare next morning - he will ofc run them by Daddy.
<.>
[A look ahead to the next morning—
Dima will, I think, test that ground with a gentle command. Which will be, I think, "Show Daddy your spells, won't you, Puppy?"
And when he’s seen the list Dima very much approves of this list, and remarks on the balance shown among damage types and damage versus aid. It looks as though between Fae and Dima, they have a fairly thorough range of damage types covered.
Dima also asks Faolan to walk him through the workings of the druidic spells he's prepared, mostly because Dima's curious about Fae's magic, just as he's curious about Fae period thanks.
So when Fae preps his spells in the morning, this occurs! And Fae will likewise watch Dima’s own prep in the morning, and he will love watching this process.
Note that Dima literally. Sits with his books. Makes notes. Mutters to himself a loT. Practicing the gestures. Fae may watch all he likes! ;.; Also, Dima will be asking Fae about his magic in a way that is very clearly not even a little bit self-conscious about his own lack of knowledge in this regard.]
<.>
Just after supper, Sen had murmured something to Rin before rising, dusting himself off, and intercepting Faolan just as he was returning from relieving himself in the nearby woods.
"Let's take a walk."
Faolan had cast a glance back at the fire - back at Dima, whose back was to them - then ventured, "I should ask -"
"Just a moment or two of your time. I want a word about him without him slinking halfway up your side." Sen's face had been half-shadowed, but Faolan thought he saw something friendly in his smile. He had felt no telltale clench of warning that might have arisen if anyone else had spoken those words.
He had followed Sen away from their camp to the river's edge, then down a hundred yards or so: far enough to be out of ear-shot of either Rin or Dima. With that same friendly smile and tone to match, Sen had turned to face him and asked, "What the fuck is wrong with you?"
Faolan had been too stunned to respond, and Sen had given no quarter. "Dima clearly wants to marry you. He's a breath from humming wedding marches and looks as lovesick as a young girl whenever he has the opportunity to say your name.
"Why are you behaving as though the world's set to end any time there's mention of the future he wants with you? No, don't deny that, you started *pouting* in a little pool of your own self-sympathy earlier because I had the nerve to suggest the Voronins would be your in-laws."
Feeling as though the wind had been knocked from him, Faolan had managed only, "You don't understand."
"Which part?"
"It's complicated, Sen. It's -"
"Is it? Is it really all that complicated, or are you just *scared*?"
"I'm not!" Faolan had felt a rising defensive outrage.
"What's the problem, then?"
"I'm not any equal of his. Don't any of you understand, it'll ruin his name if I agreed to that, if we lived in Morovsk - people would never forgive the scandal -"
"And?"
"What?"
"Dima seems aware of that. It seems to me he's willing to face it."
"He says that now, but -" Abruptly, Faolan had stopped, had dropped his gaze. Sen had made a sound then as though he'd found confirmation.
"But? Go ahead. Finish the sentence."
Defiantly, Faolan snapped, "But in ten years, he won't be saying it."
"And?"
"And what, you shit?"
"In ten years, you've prophesied he won't be saying he's willing to face the scandal. What's the problem with that?"
Faolan's mouth had pressed to a thin line; he hadn't responded, so Sen responded for him.
"The problem is, you think he's going to blame you? Resent you?"
The strength had eked out of Faolan; he had felt flayed open. (Exposed.) Quietly, he'd replied, "He will."
Sen's tone had softened and a large, slender hand had come to rest on Faolan's shoulder. He had looked up to see that the elf was bending just enough to look eye-to-eye with him before speaking. "Faolan. What the fuck does it matter? Your job isn't to anticipate all the mistakes that might make him unhappy in ten years. It's to be happy now, and make him happy if you can - and you can. Why don't you stop mourning something you haven't lost and may never lose? Why don't you try to make him so happy, he never has cause for regret?
"I think Dima would agree, by far the best response to any scandalmongering you'll encounter is happiness with your choices."
Faolan had once again found himself too dumbfounded to speak.
"If nothing else, you'll stop boring the rest of us with your misery. Poor Faolan, getting everything he could ever want." He had tsked, had shaken Faolan in a friendly sort of way, then shoved him gently back towards camp. "Think it over. Stop ruining my appetite."
<.>