Tumgik
#am just not gonna pretend everything perfect in all reading materials of all topics ever either (unrealistic)
magz · 11 months
Text
youtube
(altenative "Invidious" video link)
Video: "What You Need To Know About P-A-L-E-S-T-I-N-E (plus resources)" by Hakim.
(with just auto-generated English caption, sadly)
The video partly censored because of Youtube.
Recommended Books & Resource:
"Ten Myths About Palestine" by Ilan Pappe
"The Hundred Years' War On Palestine: A history of Settler Colonial Conquest and Resistance" by Rashid Khalidi
"The Ethnic Cleansing Of Palestine" by Ilan Pappe
"A Strategy For The Liberation Of Palestine" PLFP
"Orientalism: Western Conception Of The Orient" by Edward W. Said
decolonizepalestine.com
"Ten films to watch about the history of the Israel-Palestine conflict" by Al Jazeera
"The Land Speaks Arabic" - A film by Maryse Gargour
Charity: UNRWA, PCRF, Islamic Relief, Red Crescent
These have been recommend before, but the video also have summary explanation and why should read each book.
Obligatory Disclaimer: This not mean each book free of issue or easy read, nor that should absorb everything uncritically - but that information it provide helpful. We must analyze, be aware of bias present in all material (not exclusive of topic), and learn and help each other do so. Am also not fully agree with some statements in video n am cognizant that (as am say in post tags).
4 notes · View notes
naerysthelonesome · 3 years
Text
Time spent together
Just a bunch of 3am coffee-induced Litpollo fics (they’re all related)
Part 1
College AU
Lit (Lityerses. Poor boy) is staring at Apollo, the tall, tan, lean but muscular, paragon of beauty with the most beautifully sculpted face I’ve ever seen (And believe me I’ve seen plenty), who’s currently shooting hoops in the basketball court. Off to the side, giving him pointers he does not need, is the smart-ass, Annabeth Chase. All right! Maybe I’m being a little harsh, but I’m really only here to talk about Lit and Apollo.
Oh look! Apollo’s attempting a backward jump shot.
Whatever. I’m sure he succeeds. The boy just cannot miss.
Let’s get back to Lit, shall we?
Of course. OF COURSE the angsty gay boy, with absolutely no social skills, falls for the gorgeous jock with a reputation for dazzling smiles, and leaving behind a trail of broken hearts.
May they can both bond over having the two most ridiculous names on campus.
If only I could tell Lit he looks ridiculous with his jaw hanging open like that. If only I could tell him that his being distracted by Apollo has put him in the path of that idiot Percy and his skateboard. Alas, I am only the narrator.
Percy crashes right into Lit, and they both tumble onto the ground like the pin-heads they are.
At least that caught the attention of the two blondes that caused this. They both jog over, Apollo letting out a short bark of laughter and Annabeth looking slightly concerned.
“Y’all okay?” the boy asks, standing over the two dark-haired dummies, shining like an angel and looking more picturesque than ever with the sun behind him.
“I- uh- Yeah”, Lit sputters. Of course he sputters. It’s quite understandable, honestly. At least he accepts the thinly veined, corded arm Apollo’s graciously reached out toward him.
“Percy! How many times have I told you to please watch where you’re going?” Annabeth asks exasperatedly. Percy does have quite a hit list.
“How can I look at anything but you, when you make it a point to look as gorgeous as that”, he says cheesily, gesturing up at her from the ground.
That draws a reluctant grin out of the girl.
“Oh shut up Perce!” she say, then turns to Lit, NOT graciously reaching an arm out to Percy.
“Sorry about that. My boyfriend’s a ditz”
“Yeah sorry”, Percy says standing up and grinning, “My girlfriend’s way to distracting for me not to be”.
I’m gonna throw up. Or at least I would, if I had a physical body.
“You are okay though, right?” Percy says to poor Lit, who’s been subjected to this disgusting gooeyness.
“Oh. Yeah yeah”, He says, now brushing gravel off his pants, “All good here”.
Annabeth mumbles something to Percy about getting late to class and they rush off. I really couldn’t care less.
Except.
This leaves Lit alone with Apollo.
Finally. They need to start talking. Like NOW. I can’t handle them throwing more furtive glances toward each other, and neither of the oblivious oglers picking up on any of it. IT’S BEEN TORTURE. (I should know. I’ve been tortured before.
“Oh! But how, Great narrator?!” you ask, “If you have no body?”
Well if you had any idea of the rules of etiquette, you’d know that that’s an incredibly rude question to ask. Therefore, we will be moving on)
Oh My God (not that I have one)! They’re talking! Now look what you’ve made me do. I’ve missed part of their conversation!
“Of course I like literature”, Lit says with a scoff, as if it’s obvious.
“All right all right”, Apollo relents, and then after a pause, “Can I walk you to class at least?”
“Oh” Is all the Lit the love-struck fool can say.
“Oh come on”, the golden boy say, grabbing Lit by the arm and hauling him in the direction of the west wing.
“Wait dumbass. I gotta get my books first!” he says pulling away from Apollo.
He runs a hand through his curls, and a blush creeps up Apollo’s slender neck. Of course, Lit doesn’t notice. It’s like they’re trying not to see the tell-tale signs of fist love!
“Just wait here a second, and I’ll fetch them”, Lit says and dashes away without waiting for a response.
Apollo’s hands find their way into his pockets, as he schools his face into bearing a nonchalant expression. Oy.
There’s students milling about, gossiping and trading notes. It’s a fine summer morning. The wind is whistling through the big birch tree, and blowing through the hair of the two girls kissing under it. Oh look! There’s a lone grasshopper…
Well this is boring. How do other narrators do it? Where on Earth is Lit?!
Ah finally. Here he comes, three large books in his arms. The collar of his shirt is wet, and his face looks considerably less splotchy. Well that explains why he took so long.
“Three books? For English lit?” Apollo asks, his arms completely devoid of books, or any other classroom material.
“I get bored”, Lit shrugs as if that explains everything.
So English lit must’ve been what they were discussing before. Unless they were exchanging famous quotes of love and desire from popular classics, which I highly doubt, that was a boring fist conversation.
Ah well. They can make up for it later.
Our journey through the green and into the classroom is entirely uneventful. I would’ve thought Apollo, being the confident social butterfly he is, would have at least struck up a conversation with Lit, but apparently feelings get in the way of such things.
How tiresome.
“Settle down. Settle down”, the woman at the front of the class says, sharply rapping her knuckles against the desk. Her name escapes me…
Anyway, Lit and Apollo make their way to seats as far away from each other as they can manage, both looking slightly disappointed when the other doesn’t stop them. Dorks.
“Now as I mentioned last week, I will be assigning each of you a project partner. I expect you to put in equal effort and come up with creative and suitably appropriate papers”, Ms. Teach says, picking up a list of names. No, that’s not her real name. I wish it was. It would’ve been suitably appropriate.
She rattles off some names. Someone complains. She patiently listens to their complaint and comes back with a refusal. The student angrily flops into his seat, waking up the peacefully snoring person beside him. They glare at him, then at the class and Ms. Rap-knuckles. No one pays them any mind.
Lit listens intently and Apollo pretends not to. There’s a bee merrily buzzing around the classroom. It bangs against a window, then bangs itself against the window again. Interesting. I think I need coffee. I can’t drink any but it sure does smell good…
“Apollo and Lityerses”.
Oh. Now this is a great turn of events!
“Seems fitting”, Ms. Good-at-student-pairing says, with a slight smirk.
Lit looks surprised and angry all at once, his face flushed. Apollo looks like he’s trying really hard not to care, but his mouth is threatening to betray him and reveal his, already quite clear, happiness.
The teacher continues to pair off students, as Lit stares furiously at his book, as if he’s trying to ignite the pages. Apollo looks at his nails, then at Lit, then back at his nails.
A half hour later the bell, blessedly, rings. Lit’s hurriedly making his way to the door.
But why?? He’s going to have to spend time with Apollo anyway!
Oh good, Apollo’s caught his arm.
“Hey we should talk about the project”, he says.
“What’s there to talk about?” Lit replies.
Um… is his crush’s presence causing his brain to malfunction?? I wouldn’t really be surprised if that were the case, consider that his crush is the magnificent Apollo.
“You know… Where we’re gonna do the project, what topic we’re going to pick, et cetera”, the blond says slowly, as if he’s worried about the same thing.
“It’s fine. You don’t have to worry about it. You go shoot hopes, or dazzle people, or whatever it is you do, and I’ll finish the project. I’m not great at working with people anyway. You’ll get your credit”.
Apollo looks high-key offended for a second, but then laughs.
“Is that all you think of me Lit?” he says, “That I’m just some dumb blond jock trope?”
“‘Mythological retellings’ is one of my favorite topics to read about, so that’s the one we’re choosing for our project”, Apollo continues decidedly.
“What? You don’t get to pick the topic by yourself”, Lit snaps at him.
“Why not? What’s wrong with it? Too challenging for you?” Apollo says, smirk gracing his perfect lips.
Everybody here who knows Lit knows he can’t help but rise to a challenge. Now the topic’s practically set in stone.
“Of course not.” Lit says, resentful but stubborn, “Fine then. When do we begin?”
Apollo smiles wide this time, and I can see the blush creeping up Lit’s neck.
“Meet me at the coffee shop just off campus. 3p.m. Right after class”.
26 notes · View notes
recurring-polynya · 4 years
Note
I’m a huge RenRuki fan so I’m stoked to find this page of glorious work and active engagement relating to this topic I could go on about! I was wondering... during their separation, do you think Renji and Rukia slept with/dated other people? One more than the other? Just wanna know your insight since you put so much depth into their relationship. I love it. (I personally like to think that Renji had a bit of a “hoe phase” especially while he was in the 11th)
Tumblr is so great, I can’t believe people actually value my opinion on this stuff (this is absolutely one of my favorite topics). Thank you so much for your kind words, and I am ecstatic for the opportunity to pontificate on this topic.
Just to clarify, if you were asking for my opinion on the source material, and I had to “support my opinion” or “cite references”, my actual interpretation of canon is that no, they were absolutely celibate during this time. Rukia had a cute li’l crush on her vice-captain and Renji probably went on one very heterosexual date with a girl once and felt bad about it for a year.
When I am being generous and world-buildy, I like to consider the fact that shinigami are souls. They do not have bodies or hormones and so I can get behind the idea that bonds of family and friendship are far more important than sex and attraction, because those are fundamentally earthly concerns. In the hands of a thoughtful, talented, preferably ace writer, this could be an incredibly interesting setting but that is, uh, not consistent with any other aspect of Soul Society, including the fact that they sell sexy calendars of the captains, plus Kubo took the time out to canonically remind us that Soul Reapers poop and have babies.
So, instead, here is the horny Polynya headcanon version, which is what you probably wanted anyway. I’m putting it under a cut because it gets a little R-rated, and also it’s hella long, but the short answer is Renji absolutely had a slutty phase.
Some people headcanon that Rukia and Renji were actually in a romantic relationship at the time of her adoption, and if that’s your reading of it, and you want to believe that they waited for each other out of loyalty, I suppose I can get behind that.
I don’t think they were together, though. I waver from time to time about how physical their affection got in Rukongai, but I think they fell in love and never admitted it. When their last friend died, they both became absolutely terrified of losing the other, so they came to the Seireitei in order to get strong and not die. I don’t think Rukia ever wanted to be Soul Reaper, to be honest. Given the strength of her principles and her particular moral code, I do think she is a great one, in the style of “I would never want to be in a club that would have me in it.” Consistent with Oetsu’s trial in the Royal Realm, I think Renji was born (died?) to be a Soul Reaper and Rukia knew this and also that he would never go unless she went with him. She absolutely regarded getting him into Shin’ou as saving his life and getting him where he belonged.
Once they were in school, I think they had to keep their distance socially if they wanted to succeed. The Gotei runs entirely on nepotism, and Rukongai kids who don’t adapt are looking at Squad 11 or 4, best case scenario. Even if they were aware of their feelings for each other, they had to play it cool for now. Renji is a long-term planner, and I think he set his sights on pass tests -> graduate -> get Gotei position -> live happily ever after with Rukia. Rukia is not so good at long term planning, and also not so good at formal education and I think she just got depressed and salty, especially because she was never sure if he actually returned her feelings or not. I absolutely think that when she accepted the adoption, she assumed she was leaving Renji to his live his best life, and at least going somewhere she was wanted.
Even though we, the reader, are presented this story as a tragedy, in many ways, this is exactly what they had hoped for. They lived. That’s it. That’s all they ever wanted. Renji got to have his perfect job and Rukia got to live in indescribable luxury. They are both so, so happy about this and have no idea why their faces are so wet right now.
The last thing either of them wants, to be honest, is the other one pining after them. They have each accepted trudging through their life in misery because they think they have made the other happy. There’s a scene were Byakuya shows up to the Squad 6 holding cells to announce to Rukia that he has no plans to save her, and Renji looks just devastated, not just because Rukia’s gonna die, but because he thought he was sending her to happiness.
Also, on a meta level, I am middle aged, and for me, the romance of only ever being with one person is boring as hell. The idea that they would get together and lose their virginity to each other just makes me indescribably tired. Childhood-friends-to-lovers isn’t actually that interesting to me-- it is the separation itself that makes it spicy-- that they went off and had other life experiences-- and sexual experiences, and came back found that they loved this person even more now.
I headcanon Rukia as very horny and pro-sex in theory, but has is a big problem of opportunity. On one hand, I think she and Byakuya have a firm don’t-ask-don’t-tell policy, where as long as she stays out of the gossip columns, he doesn’t care what she does. On the other hand, though, I feel like secret affairs are kinda hard to manage, especially since she entered the noble network late in life. Anyway, I figure she’s had a number of casual affairs, mostly with other nobles who are invested in not getting caught, and also do not have any interest in any sort of emotional attachment. I think Rukia is absolutely bi, and mostly slept with ladies because they were more likely to be discreet, although there was probably a dude or two in there somewhere. Rukia only has two relatinship modes-- detached and ride-or-die, and she was very careful to keep everything in category 1, because she had no expectation of ever having a functional relationship that would go anywhere; no one she was actually interesting in being with would ever pass Kuchiki muster. I think she tried dating a nice boy from Squad 8 once, and everyone in Squad 13 thought it was the cutest thing they had ever seen. They went on three dates and never kissed and Rukia hated it and never did it again. She let herself have a huge crush on both Kaien and Miyako Shiba, because she was absolutely sure it could never go anywhere, and that definitely played into her devastation at their death. She may have had some Bad Decisions Sex in the wake of that, but I think for the most part, the affairs became more trouble than they were worth, and she’s been on a pretty long dry spell around the time we meet her.
That being said, I think Rukia is a lady who takes care of herself, if you get my drift. I think she has an extensive collection of erotic romance novels, a good imagination, and Kuchiki money worth of self-service sex toys. I think by the time she and Renji actually hook up, she has decades worth of pent up fantasies, and fortunately for her, he is intrigued by her ideas and would like to sign up for her newsletter, please and thank you.
Speaking of Renji, let’s talk about Renji! After Rukia left, I think Renji Made Some Plans and buckled down into a long, hard haul of Making Himself Worthy of Seeing Rukia Again. He made it through school, he went into Squad 5 with Izuru and Momo and... lost 90% of his momentum. This is exactly the scenario of the kid who busts ass through college to follow their dream, and then two years into their dream job, realizes that they are going to be formatting pivot tables in Excel for the next 15 years before they get to do anything remotely interesting. At this point, Renji is young, hot, bisexual, inked, and not very satisfied with his day job, and Thus Began the Ho Period.
Momo and Izuru hate this. They hate it so much. They have both had big crushes on Renji since school and they are right there. It wouldn’t be so bad if he would find a nice sweet partner that they like, but no, he just goes off on weeknights and comes home reeking of alcohol and covered in hickeys and ruining his career even though his job performance is actually fine. The fact is, even though he has always acted like he doesn’t know, of course he knows they like him, he’s not dumb, but Izuru and Momo are the type of people who mate for life, and Renji absolutely knows how badly he would break their hearts. He can’t even talk about it with them, all he can do it pretend like he doesn’t notice and hope they’ll realize what trash he is. He still loves Rukia and will always love Rukia and has made peace with the idea that he will likely never get to be with her-- he’s still working towards it because he must, because it would kill him to give up, but he knows that he’s only good for a fight or a fuck and not much else. Their friendship gets increasingly strained until Momo and Izuru can’t understand anything he does and he can’t stand them caring so damn much.
Anyway, this escalates in deciding to leave Nice, Respectable Squad 5 entirely, and joining the French Foreign Legion Squad 11. Squad 11 respects a man’s right to wallow, and Renji takes a swan dive to rock bottom. His only saving grace is his training with Ikkaku, which he takes absolutely seriously. Yumichika eventually takes interest in Renji, and teaches him how to take care of his hair and have standards. Yumichika and Ikkaku realize that if they can make him Functional, they can get him to do paperwork, so they help him beat the Sixth Seat and let him start hanging out with their friends.
Renji is still sleeping around at this point, but at least he’s sleeping around with a better class of people. I know what you’re thinking. You’re thinking, Polynya, has Matsumoto ever pegged Renji? (You probably weren’t actually thinking that) The answer is yes, Matsumoto has absolutely pegged Renji, and she was utterly delighted to give Rukia tips later on. Rukia does not begrudge Renji his slutty period in the least, because she knows that, given the opportunity, she probably would have been Worse, and also, he’s slept with 3/4 of the Gotei and picked her out of all of them, and also, he’s just incredible at oral.
The slutty phase tapered off when Renji had a bit of an actual relationship with Shuuhei. First of all, they are absolutely each other’s types, physically. Secondly, Shuuhei (whom I headcanon as significantly less pathetic and more bisexual than in canon) would be able to handle being in a relationship that is fun and supportive, even if it’s not destined to last. He is well aware that Renji is devoted to beating Captain Kuchiki and that he’s never going to truly be able to be in love with anyone until he gets some closure with Rukia, but that’s a long way off, and Shuuhei’s got his own baggage, who doesn’t have baggage? So they sleep together and go to the bar together and hold hands sometimes and tool around on the motorbike and wear a lot of leather and Hisagi cooks Renji food and Renji eats it and they’re pretty happy for a few years.
Eventually, around the time he gets serious about trying to make vice-captain, Renji starts to hang out with Izuru and Momo again, who have recently made vice-captain themselves, and are really happy to see that he’s gotten himself back on the wagon. He’s started thinking about Rukia a lot again, and he’s feeling a little bad because he loves Shuuhei, but he’s not in love with Shuuhei, and also, Shuuhei and Izuru have started looking at each other when they go out drinking, so Renji claims he needs to concentrate on the vice-captain’s exam and they have some nice breakup sex and then he sliiiiiides on outta there like a good bro and is very happy for his friends when they start hooking up.
Did that cover it? Boy, I had a lot of thoughts on that, huh? To summarize: They both saw other people. Renji had way more sex, just a tremendous amount of sex, but always carried a torch for Rukia (not really intentionally, I think he would have liked to be able to get over her, he just couldn’t), whereas I think she really did give up on him for a while.
Thank you for coming to my TED talk, please read my fanfiction, where I am constantly hinting at all this stuff, I swear I will eventually finish that Squad 11 story.
31 notes · View notes
pastabrand · 4 years
Text
Unpopular PJO/HOO/TOA opinions
This is gonna be wordy but I’m not sorry for it.
Percabeth is hella overrated. It’s nice, but I would prefer other ships over it and some of y’all Percabeth shippers are scary as hell
I love TOA. A lot people don’t like it because it doesn’t include the main 7 and another topic that I’ll mention later but honestly, I could care less. I’m glad that the others aren’t there other than cameos. It means they’re getting a chance to heal after everything and honestly, good for them. People like to cast TOA as an unnecessary spinoff that didn’t need to be included yet it gives y’all the type of character development you scream and beg for in other books. It’s literally the perfect character development trope you crave, yet puts a good spin on it.
Some of you haven’t even READ toa and say you hate it. Like what? How is that supposed to work.
PJO was way better than HOO. TOA sits in the middle of the two.
I love TOA because it shows Apollo’s character growth from one of the most arrogant, cocky, and prideful gods. And even then, he doesn’t go from that to a helpless mortal loving fool, he stays arrogant and prideful but less so. Not to mention more understanding of mortals and demigods live and what they go through. He doesn’t go from one extreme to the other, but one extreme to more of a center balance. It’s more natural that way.
While Jason’s death in TOA was sorta cheap, it goes to show demigods can die at the least expected times. If Jason had died during the war, then it would be “oh, well, that’s what war does. It kills people. Nothing new.” Compared to Jason going about life as normal and one small mission is his end. It’s more impactful and realistic that way. It goes to show that life as a demigod is always dangerous, fighting or not.
Jason’s anger to Percy for not noticing Nico’s feelings towards him is absolute bullshit. Fuck that as a whole. Nico acting cold and hateful towards Percy doesn’t and shouldn’t equal “I like you, notice me please”. The internalized homophobia should be Jason’s focus, not Percy’s lack of attention at Nico’s feelings.
Same for Leo about Calypso. Not to mention they both shove the blame onto Percy like its his fault when it really isn’t. Having your memory forcefully wiped mere months after a war isn’t gonna help when remembering stuff like that. Not to mention the Gods are bums who will try to do as little as possible and leave the rest to demigods. It leads to one sided anger and unnecessary confusion and guilt on the other side. Bad writing on Rick’s part tbh.
People need to stop acting like Jason didn’t die. That’s clinging into a ghost and not letting it move on. I hate to be the one who says it, but Jason is canonically dead and acting like he isn’t won’t change shit. It’s gonna lead to unhealthy habits in the future, trust me. You can’t write a fic post TOA then be like “oh yeah, Jason’s alive because I want him to :)))” because that isn’t how life works sweetheart.
People also need to stop pretending TOA doesn’t exist. You might not like it but you have to acknowledge that it is actually there and it follows the PJO/HOO timeline.
Paul was just a card to give Sally a nice man to lean on when it wasn’t necessary.
Percy should’ve been wayyyy more suspicious of Paul when he was first introduced. 6 years of abuse from a “father figure” isn’t just gonna go away because “oh he’s nice.” Guess what? Gabe was nice at first canoncially (even if it was for a very short amount of time).
Percy. Has. Serious. Anger. Issues. He’s sassy and stuff, sure, but he’s also got some severe anger problems that he both inherited from Poseidon and developed and festered over time from living with Gabe for 6 years.
Percy is the type to act like Hades or Apollo, attack a lesser being(s) because he can’t go after the big shot without fear of punishment. I wouldn’t be surprised if some his expulsions were from beating up various kids and/or teachers.
For the first half of TLT, Percy did not like Camp Half-Blood or consider it his “home” other than Grover and Luke. The camp treated him like shit because he was a noobie at first and then because he was a son of the Big Three. He hated Poseidon for his lack of care and lack of help when he and his mom were abused under Gabe. Had Luke talked to him during that time period and/or Kronos spoke to him in dreams, he would’ve joined the Titans. His loyalty for the camp didn’t form until near the end of TLT.
Nico and Percy basically had somewhat personality switches. Nico was an excitable, happy, laid back, and naive kid while Percy was a quiet, angry, and irritable kid. Nico’s switch came from Bianca’s death while Percy’s was more gradual. In the end, Nico became the quiet, irritable kid and Percy became the more happy, laid back kid.
Stop ignoring the fact that Nico, a literal 14-year-old, traversed into Tartarus. Alone. There’s always fics of Percy and Annabeth recovering or suffering from the after affects of the fall and war while Nico is relatively normal. The boy is not and has not been okay. His life has been one shitshow to the next ever since he was ten.
Both Percy and Nico have incredibly dark sides to their powers that they seemingly enjoyed that was fueled by anger. Percy with Achlys and Nico with Bryce. Percy admitted to liking torturing the goddess and Nico, though more subtly, seemed amused by Bryce and his attempts to justify his crimes and then frantic attempts to stay alive. Bryce literally says “I’m Bryce Lawrence! I am alive!” And Nico casually responds with “Who are you?” as he turns Bryce into a souless husk of a person. You cannot tell me that he wouldn’t have tilted his head innocently and cracked a small smile at that.
Piper’s portrayal as a Native American. Do I even need to go into that?
Percy. Liked. Luke. The boy knew the son of Hermes for what? 1 week? 2? Yet considered him to be a friend, possibly a close one at that. It probably went the same route Nico’s crush did. Hero adoration to actual romantic feelings but godspeed. Not because he just wanted to like a boy, but because, other than Chiron, Luke treated him with kindness, patience, and understanding as a male figure, something Percy didn’t really have growing up. Not to mention Luke helped Percy when no one else would. As a 12 year old, those type of feelings were bound to develop.
People who make the characters treat Percy and Leo as dumb, oblivious, or one dimensional sassy bois™️. Percy and Leo would be offended and/or defensive of such a thing because of childhood trauma. How many years do you think they can to endure that when they were younger from people they were supposed to trust or respect? You seriously can’t think they would be fine with it because their friends. Maybe a reference once or twice, but constantly? Absolutely not. Old habits die hard.
Solangelo seemed forced to me. I dunno, Nico’s whole confession felt like a ruse to get him set up with Will right away. I felt as though there wasn’t any real “connection” between the two prior to them getting together. It all felt rushed and out of place for the setting they were in. I’ve never understood it nor liked it and usually try to avoid it. That and Caleo seemed like a way to put all the characters in relationships so that they were “happy”, portraying that they needed to be with someone to achieve their happiness. Leo and Nico would’ve been better off single and learning to love themselves before loving someone else. Same applies to Sally.
Nico and Thalia would never get along because Thalia would be a reminder of what Nico lost (Bianca) and how easily how she could be replaced.
Demeter kids need more respect. I feel like that’s what Meg is for. To show that they can also technically be considered “Big Three” material because, if you forgot, Demeter is a child of Kronos as well. That means Demeter’s kids are cousins with the Big Three kids as well.
Aphrodite’s kids also need more respect. Aphrodite in the PJO universe is literally older than all gods, as she was born from Uranus’ gentials in the ocean and arose from there. Their powers could be exapanded wayyy more if they were focused on more.
Not to mention Poseidon kids could possibly gain attibutes of what would be considered Aphrodite’s powers since she was born from the ocean and vice versa. The possibilities are endless there.
That’s all I could think of for now! Lemme know what you guys think though.
92 notes · View notes
tabletopjourneys · 3 years
Text
Session 36 Notes
The session in which I have come to realize that both Selphina’s player and the DM are spelling her nickname Fee instead of Phi. Henceforth, I will be doing the same. Also the session in which we further explore Longview and get to know more people in Rana's home town, help some of them out, get revenge for Harold the alpaca, Stellan gifts Fee with +1 daggers to help protect his sister, and then we head back out on the road for Bouldergap.
@gher-bear​ @aradow​ @telurin​ @epimetala
Tumblr media
On this day we continue catching up with various townsfolk of Longview, in particular the ones we meet at The Smiling Dragon tavern/inn.
We get lots of history lessons from the oldest dragonborn ever, tell the story of Perfection (among others), help Jibru the soft-spoken, new-agey orc with her plants (well primarily Rana does this), encourage, Dicho a travelling bard in training on his adventuring break (primarily Diem), and solve the mystery of Shima's missing alpacas.
This involves a revenge one-shot by Fee of the giant owl responsible for killing poor Harold in front of all the other alpacas.
We stop by for one last visit with Rana's mother, Romy, and her brother, Stellan. The latter gives Fee two +1 crafted daggers he made to use in place of her assassin ones she can't be seen with near Bouldergap and Stoneroost.
After that, we're on our way down the road to Bouldergap.
(Read More)
(The Smiling Dragon tavern)
On our way to the tavern, when Diem finds out the name, they rib Rana with a smirk. “The smiling dragon? How sure are you about the tavernkeep?”
Rana ignores them.
It’s probably 2-3pm
The Smiling Dragon has a nice, homey interior and basically looks like the Green Dragon Inn from The Hobbit inside.
The barkeep is behind the bar doing barkeep things.
We see an Aladdin-looking human bard with a lute (Dicho Acaa), a super ancient female dragonborn (Gran Tewafey; one of those ladies who are now just too old to die), and the barkeep-owner, Grismor Fefoki, behind the bar.
Rana knows both the barkeep and elderly dragonborn (no mention of knowing the bard, so I assume not). The elderly dragonborn, Gran, has looked this old ever since Rana’s known her. Rana nods to her as she comes through the door, this person is a fixture of the town and Rana is unsurprised to see her there.
The old dragonborn looks us all over as we enter, but it takes her a second before she goes “Rana? Who are these people with you, come over here, what in tarnation!?”
Rana: Oh hey, Gran…
Diem introduces themself as we approach with a respectful, hopefully charming bow. “I bet you have all the best stories.”
Gran: Finally, a young person who respects their elders - you look a little strange but you seem to have a good head on your shoulders, and I do have some good stories - people should listen to their elders more!
Rana: We’ll be more than happy to listen - I’m gonna run up and get some food first and then keep you company (Rana practically runs to the bar).
Gran: I was about to leave but yeah I’ll keep you company.
Fee: Ooooh no.
We’re in for having our ears talked off and Diem is loving it, even if it is the somewhat dry material one would expect from schoolhouse history lessons.
In one of the stories, Fee interrupts “Exactly what IS tarnation?”
Gran has a story about this and the etymology too. Her way of speaking is as if she was around for the entire growth of this word lol.
Rana picks up a dessert for Gran.
The barkeep gives Rana a commiserating look (I already got you, I see what’s going on). They gossip about Rana’s niece and niephio’s mischief, namely how Taniel had not so long ago brought home a wild animal, just like auntie Rana used to.
Meanwhile, despite the occasionally dry lesson-style stories, Diem is loving it anyway - sorry ya’ll they’re prompting off this etymology lesson by asking what she knows about all the animals around her speaking draconic.
Gran is definitely of the mindset all of the native animals speaking draconic is the blessing of V’kandis. “We’re a blessed town. Nothing bad ever happens here, no bandits come through, no wild animals attacking, we’re really favored by our god.” This segues into proselytizing and being urged toward the priest before we leave.
Diem is finally less than thrilled by the religious preaching bits and their attention begins to wander to the bard who misunderstands their attention and fumbles his song a little and is painfully self-conscious. He thinks Diem is watching because he missed a chord or some other critique-minded senpai is looking thing. Meanwhile, Diem feels bad for him and can’t wander over or try and encourage him instead because Gran is snapping her fingers at them to pay attention. Diem puts a pin in approaching the bard later to encourage and make it up to him.
All you can drink potions is probably mostly joke potions. Rana orders a round of the local brews including one for Gran.
Gran begins quizzing Rana about her recent travels and how we all met.
Fee: First we had these mighty rats to fight in a tavern much like this one.
Gran: Rats? Why would you just be going off and killing rats, where are you from?
Rana: They’re not the same kinda rats Gran, these ones don’t talk.
Gran: Not from around here, I definitely understand, I definitely knew that.
Rana: I picked up this group in Rethwellian
Gran gives us another once over, her eyes falling on Ixayl'anu now and squints at her “I didn’t realize Rethwellian dragonborn were feathered, I thought that was some kind of headdress but you’re not…?”
Ixayl'anu: No no…
Rana starts stuffing her face to avoid being involved in this topic
Ixayl'anu: Not from Rethwellian. From a little bit farther away than that I think.
Gran perks up: Oh okay, where might that be?
Ixayl'anu: The Seejit (spelling?) Isles?
Gran looks at her like she just said Atlantis: Never met anyone from there before. Is it true that ya’ll have a dragon as an emperor over there?
Ixayl’anu: Yeah
Gran: To each their own
Ixayl’anu: No less weird than animals speaking draconic
They move on as Ixayl'anu asks Gran what she does.
She teaches history.
More conversation I missed.
Rana: We came on a boat in the water, never been on one before have you?
Gran: I’ve seen ‘em but I don’t like ‘em, never been on one.
Rana: Apparently these two have shipwrecked before (she indicates Diem and Ixayl’anu)
Gran: See, that’s why you shouldn’t.
Ixayl’anu: I technically never shipwrecked, my ship made it, I didn’t.
Diem: I mean...yeah, my ship made it too, I just got swept overboard and onto the wild expanse no less.
Gran: That explains why you look the way you do.
Diem: I will try not to take that personally….
We get ship avoiding advice courtesy of Gran.
Rana asks after various rumors in town.
Gran talks about livestock going missing and various other things because Gran knows everything and everyone.
Except one thing, apparently: I’m an old lady how would I know what kind of animal is out there?
Rana: You talk to a lot of people
Gran: That would require them knowing what’s going on. (after some thought) About a week ago Shima mentioned she was missing a few alpacas.
Diem: Any giant mole hills involved?
This question eventually leads to the story of their recent adventure with Diem dropping the word abominations in Perfection and several eyes turn our direction.
Now that all eyes are on Diem, obviously waiting for more, they launch into the Perfection story loud enough for eavesdroppers (21 performance). The bard in training stops to listen as well. He adds a chord every so often but he’s very much entranced as well.
Diem notices and encourages with faint prestidigitation sounds, a smile and a wink which totally shuts the poor guy’s brain down instead.
Jibru Tiklot, an older orc lady claps at the end and afterward asks to make sure there was a noon sun druid there.
Diem says their leader was there (because Edea looks like a definite leader to them).
Jibru: How very fortuitous that you were there then, that’s good to hear. (She’s very soft spoken and new agey).
Now that Jibru has Rana’s attention though, she also wants to know if Rana is staying awhile because she has some things she’d love some help with.
Rana: Oh yeah sure (not missing a beat)
They arrange things in exchange for cookies, Rana presuming again to speak for the whole group without asking first lol.
Rana: What sort of issue am I looking at so I can come prepared?
Oh it’s my <insert jungle plant name I missed>.
They talk about it a little, Rana belatedly asks if that’s okay with us, we’re fine with it. Jibru and Rana arrange to meet after food, drink, and stories.
We learn one of the reasons Rana was inspired to leave Longview in the first place was probably traveller stories from this very tavern.
Fee at some point talks about Miova and taking ships to other areas and such.
Rana talks about how super nice and helpful Fee’s friend Dima is (and Fee’s sister being so nice).
Fee gives her a ‘really?’ sort of look about Dima being nice, looking around to see if anyone appeared to recognize the name.
Also, Fee starts investigating around this establishment regarding use of thieves’ cant (25). She notices there are a lot of intricate carvings in the walls and beams, lots of smiling dragons built into the craftsmanship, there are small symbols on the front of the bar that indicate secret codes. An X with a top and an oval with 3 wavy s lines on the bar (bread symbol). On a side beam there’s also a triangle with a pea in it, spear or arrow on top of pea (people inside will…?). Triangle with the downward sword.
(A conversation about bread)
When they pay, Fee tips extra to Grismor after she’s observed this guy seems to be a cool person who helps people in need out.
Fee, in thieves’ cant while complimenting his bread: We seem to have friends in common
Grismor (while also pretending to talk about bread): Not friends but it pays to know the local players/powers.
Fee (so much lovely bread and your brew was lovely): Yes, I agree. Used to be on the payroll myself, but guess I could call them acquaintances also.
Grismor (thank you kindly stranger, please don’t mind that Diem is totally filling in what our fake conversation was like - mmmm bread - these two can REALLY talk about bread) Sounds like you made the right decision, seem like a good group of people you’re here with now.
Fee (Yes, do you have any other pastries I can sample?): Oh you know Rana
(DM Clarifications about earlier points: When Rana mentioned Dima out loud, Fee had noticed Grismor perked up in a negative sort of way recognizing the name. Fee noticed he had lots of symbols. “Safe resting place” “we offer free food here” “People here will guard you”)
Fee (I am all about bread, simply can’t get enough of it, do you have bread I can take on the road?): Do you have any current business with our mutual acquaintance?
Grismor (Sure, I can pack you up some bread, always love a good bread aficionado): No, I’m happy...more retired at this point
Fee (Excellent, I can smell it all from here, could you add a few sweet breads? Stuffed pastries?): I feel ya. Well if you need anything hypothetically we’ll be going back there eventually, I’ll do you a favor (being charming). (insight check on Grismor’s response: natural one - 3 total)
He kinda looks at her and he pats her cheek (All the bread you like little gnome, I’ll toss in a few free samples for the road). “Anytime you need something, just let me know. This is a great conversation, I feel like it’s been illuminating, but I don’t need anything right now, thanks.”
(He is very happy with her though)
Rana is finishing up the story about Ixayl'anu’s feather theft, occasionally glancing over at Fee and the barkeep being 100% slick and believable about their bread conversation that Diem totally did not make up for them after the fact.
When Fee returns “Man I’m tired.”
Rana: It’s after noon…
Diem: To be fair your sleep was disturbed.
Rana tries to ask about missing livestock.
Ixayl'anu suggests we can go talk to people around town about it instead.
As things are winding down Rana tries to get Jibru’s attention.
Ixayl'anu says she’ll go with, Diem says they’re gonna stick around and talk to the bard. Fee says she’s gonna take a nap.
Rana: Here? In the middle of the crowd?
Grismor: I do actually have a spare bed she can use.
After a brief exchange he insists it’s between friends, don’t worry about it.
Fee goes upstairs to nap in the sort of hold-over room for emergency issues like a friend’s friend is about to sleep in a bush drunk, rather than an official room.
(Off to Jibru’s)
Rana and Ixayl’anu go off with Jibru. She ushers them into a house full of plants and crystals, and new agey homey stuff. “I just don’t know what’s wrong with it. It just doesn’t seem to…(missed words) I moved it into and out of the sun and it doesn’t like that either...can you help?” (among a list of other things she’s tried)
Rana nature checks 10 - the leaves look a little ragged in addition to being sad and droopy, soil is dry, and she knows that it’s a tropical plant, not a desert plant.
Jibru: I mist it every day and I moved it into the house…
The heat is fine, it’s probably drying out though.
So I should water it more, is what you’re saying…?
Rana casts lesser restoration on the plant, starting with that. It still looks a little droopy, but the edges of the leaves fill in a little bit and it gives her two new leaves immediately.
“Oh we need water.” Jibru leaves to go get some. When she gets back: “I knew you could do something with it, it’s already looking so much better.”
Rana: It did seem to have some sort of disease (medicine check of 13 - she notices some fungus gnat infestation crawling out while it’s being watered).
Rana advises her to get someone to sell her some gnat eating lizards for it. In a controlled fashion, she’s going to cast plant growth to invigorate it and all the other nearby plants too.
Jibru’s eyes get big “Oh my gosh…” She was just going to give us cookies but now...she gives Rana a plate of very delicious snicker doodles and an herbalist’s bundle which does some cool things: Rare (These ingredients can be chewed raw for minor effects or, if you are proficient with the ‘herbalism kit’, you can spend 6 hours brewing any number of one type into potions for no extra cost, each bundle has 1d4 ingredients, roll a D6 to determine what each ingredient is:
Witch weed - (raw) water breathing for 5 minutes; (brewed potion) disguise self or water breathing for an hour.
Pepper berries - (raw) resist cold for a minute; (brewed potion) resist any element or fire breath.
Ogre ear - (raw) advantage to your next attack roll; (brewed potion) hill giant strength or potion of growth
Lover’s thorn - (raw) advantage to charisma checks for 1 minute; (brewed potion) philter of love or potion of poison.
Ghostbloom - (raw) false life; (brewed potion) invisibility.
Mother’s rest - (raw) resist disease for an hour; (brewed potion) lesser restoration or greater healing.
Rana does have proficiency and sits in small talk with Jibru, chatting about plants, medicinal herbs, and things like that.
She’s one of the people in town Rana typically gets along well with.
Ultimately they say their goodbyes about an hour heading back to the inn where Diem has spent their time trying to encourage and set the bard there at ease. They roll an 18 persuasion at this, primarily accomplished by admitting they’re not a bard either, just an entertainer. The bard is a little sad about this, but also gets over his senpai noticed me thing enough for conversation. Diem finds out he’s on a little bit of an adventuring gap year.
They finish encouraging his future efforts by complimenting all the things they enjoyed about his current performance and rejoin their friends when they enter.
(Enter Shima)
Back together at the tavern, we take cookies, and a pretty lady named Shima Paravash walks in. She appears to be a human about Rana’s age with tan skin and long silver-white hair. They’re not really friends, but they know each other (she’s more Stellan’s friend).
Shima: Rana, I heard that you were in town...are you busy? Are you gonna be in town long?
Rana: Probably at least until tomorrow, but we have time for stuff - what’s going on?
Shima: We keep alpacas...we’ve had an alpaca or two go missing (nervous)
Rana: We actually just heard about that and were gonna check out what’s going on, don’t want livestock going missing.
Shima takes in her friends (the rest of us): I notice you have friends with you…
Diem introducing themself: Diem, lovely to meet you.
Further introductions are made. Ixayl’anu says her full name.
Rana: Ixie is easier
Diem: She doesn’t particularly like Ixie though, Rana (verbal elbow)
Rana (matter of fact): But Ixie’s just easier.
Ixayl’anu to Shima: I prefer Ixayl’anu, please.
Shima turns back to Rana: We haven’t found any bodies or anything.
Rana: We can check it out now.
Shima looks surprised: Oh yeah we can do it now.
Some conversation missed on the way to Shima’s farm.
Shima: Rana’s mom will buy some fleece from us on occasion (they have alpacas of various colours)
Shima’s family definitely does not own the town (Rana is confused about where that impression came from - and I am not sure who asked in the first place between Fee or Ixie).
Shima hangs out by Rana/closer to her, asking the same questions everyone else has so far.
Rana gives her a more complete answer since she’s friends with Stellan - nothing to cause a panic, but a little about the investigation on weirdness with the meteors. She wants the town to be informed but if she lets the wrong thing slip gossip would make it an apocalypse by morning.
Shima doesn’t take us to the house directly, but instead to the paddock where the ones that went missing were last. “This is where they were, we’ve check the fences, I just went out to feed them and do field rotation and they just weren’t here and nobody stole them, I don’t know what to do…”
Rana asks a question I missed.
Shima: There were only two
The other ones were acting nervous like there was a predator around but we haven’t seen anything…
We find out this happened about 4 days ago. Shima hasn’t heard of anyone else missing livestock around town.
Good perception checks all around (Diem actually got a 17!), Rana got a nat 20 - she hears birds but doesn’t see any. Alpacas in the distance do still appear to be nervous, it’s a nice clear day.
Fee squeaks out to lure a local rat for answers. Side note: For future reference, help Fee remember her rat ring adds 2 to her stealth - nat 20 for total 22 persuasion.
Shima looks like she thinks it’s very strange. As she’s saying she hasn’t seen any small things to question around for awhile now though.
However, as she’s saying that a vole pops up “Well, howdy.”
Fee: Oh hello rodent of the brown.
Vole: I’m a vole.
Fee: We are looking for the missing livestock, do you know where all the livestock went?
Vole: Well I uh don’t really go out from under the ground but I have been hearing a bunch of - I’ve been hearing some loud sounds at night, like a big predator so I didn’t think I should come out at night anyway.
Fee: That’s totally valid, stay safe my friend.
She finds out it’s just recently and not all night, but off and on.
Fee: Do they smell?
He doesn’t know he runs when he hears the noise.
Fee gives him a rat treat (Ixayl'anu has been translating the vole’s words)
Vole: Thanks!
Fee: Thank you Mr. Vole
Vole: Come back any time if you’ve got more of these snacks.
Rana heads toward the alpacas by the end of this exchange. She casts speak with animals to understand the alpaca.
Rana: Hey, I’ve got a question for you?
Their heads all swivel in surprise. The bravest alpaca approaches.
Rana: I hear some things have been happening in the area, do you know why that paddock over there is empty?
They all look at her and start talking over each other saying things like “Are you gonna help us?” and “There’s a monster at night that comes out.” and “Yeah, they ate Harold!”
Rana: That sounds really bad I’d like to make that not happen, do you know where it’s coming from?
The brave alpaca points with its nose toward the iron heights in the hillier direction: “Yeah it’s real quiet and then it suddenly appeared - just lifted him! It was a flying monster the size of a barn with glowing eyes.
Rana: Did it look like the normal big flying birds that come around?
They all look around.
Brave alpaca: I’ve seen little birds? I guess it had feathers?
Rana: You mentioned it had glowing spots?
Alpaca the Brave: The eyes, they were just bright yellow and it was just huge. They confer amongst themselves. It was a big bird.
Rana: I think I know what it might be...is there anything else you want me to do?
Alpaca the Brave: Can you tell them we’d like to be inside at night? In the barn please?
Rana: I will tell them, I have a feeling they won’t have a problem with that ‘cause we wouldn’t want anything to happen to anyone else like it did Harold. We’ll see about getting rid of big bird too.
They all nod like good good
Rana: Thank you very much.
Rana comes back and tells all of us and Shima.
Shima: But we would have seen...do you think it’s a roc?
Rana: All they know is that it was big, it had feathers, and it carried Harold off.
Shima looks confused: Maybe after all this is over I can have you tell me what the alpacas all call each other?
Rana agrees (and notes that she will do so before we leave).
Rana nature checks, knows there’s giant owls and giant eagles - ones she’s seen from a distance before. Giant bird form is thus gifted to her repertoire of shapeshifts.
We talk about spending the night out there to keep watch, help protect Rana’s village.
Rana makes sure we’re okay with that. We talk briefly about our quest, but we were planning on staying one more night anyway.
Shima, talking about sheltering the alpacas: It’s a little tight but if that’s what they want…
Rana: They were adamant about wanting that, and you might wanna tell the others to bring their livestock in for the night too so this thing doesn’t fly past here looking for food.
Shima says she’ll send a bird.
We return to Rana’s home/mother to tell her the plan and pick up our stuff for the night.
(A plan of revenge-camping for poor Harold)
Ixayl'anu is taking the elk with her to use as bait.
Rana convinces her mom to get the sheep inside and camels if they’ll fit.
Rana sets camp up under tree cover in the tiny hut.
Ixayl'anu and Rana swap watch places since Rana’s exhausted from the previous night’s lack of true rest (Ixayl’anu first, Rana with Diem on last watch).
Ixayl’anu’s perception is a 15 - it’s quiet for her watch, she spends a lot of the evening listening to the birds chitter in gossipy draconic, just regular bird talk in draconic though too. Nice little wind background noise. No owls spotted.
Fee’s middle watch perception 9. She’s just a little distracted, she’s confused about why we’re looking for rocks on the ground, why we keep talking about rocks, inspecting the local rocks for movement - it’s probably a desert thing. Something these farmers know that she doesn’t.
Elk has been told to stand watch, still in easy sight, beacon in the field, playing bait, as it were. Elk has passive perception of 10 - gets 14 perception, he snaps his head up a few times.
To Ixayl’anu through the night in their telepathic bond: Can i eat this? Can i eat this? He eventually goes over to talk to the alpacas for a bit: What’re you doing in there? (Ixayl’anu doesn’t get their side of whatever conversation might have happened)
Diem rolls 18 on perception, Rana 16. We still don’t notice what happened until (Ixayl'anu will notice immediately) the elk gives a screaming, bugling cry as it is already being lifted up by a dark shape - we didn’t notice the silent approach.
Rana: Found it!
Ixayl'anu is awake because the elk’s screaming bloody murder in her mind.
It is about 100 yards away.
The elk makes it’s contested strength check at a 22. It takes 1d6 dmg as it falls to the ground (full 6). As it does we hear an angry screech of frustration as the creature whirls back around.
Elk is stunned but Ixayl'anu is calling him back immediately.
Rana casts earthbind immediately: Yellow strips of magical energy loop around the creature. The target must succeed on a Strength saving throw, or its flying speed (if any) is reduced to 0 feet for the spell’s duration. An airborne creature affected by this spell safely descends at 60 feet per round until it reaches the ground or the spell ends.
She tries to identify what this is through the pale yellow glow of magic around it in the distance. She sees this is a giant great horned owl. 23 nature check - generally the ones who come down to hunt livestock only when there’s no other food available or they’re injured/can’t catch normal food in a proper hunt.
Rana: Take it down!
Fee hits the owl for 15 - 7dmg + 17 sneak attack dmg (24 sneak attack dmg). It dies in a poof of feathers, all salvagable parts are still salvageable.
The yellow magic binding it to the ground fades.
We trek over to check it out.
Elk comes up slightly bloodied and wild-eyed.
Ixayl’anu: Oh…don’t worry, it’s over now.
She lightly slaps her elk’s shoulder and casts lay on hands, getting an appreciative emotion back.
Even with our crap investigation roles, this owl is very thin, Harold didn’t do much for it.
Ixayl'anu is doing loops keeping watch, working off excess energy.
We discuss what to do with the rest of the night now, deciding to just keep camping out til morning.
Rana: We don’t need a hut
Diem just gives her a look and summons the hut anyway.
Ixayl'anu is too keyed up and running circles with the elk.
Rana camps out in the grass and fresh air.
Ixayl'anu’s perception is 16 - doesn’t see much.
Rana collects some feathers (11 survival - 5 feathers before she gets frustrated - tougher than she expected)
Rana and Diem talk about why it was starving and if more predators might be on the way.
Ixayl'anu calms down enough to take a good look at the bird (7 lol). She can’t see any obvious signs of broken bones, but she doesn’t see any other hints of anything. Feathers are kinda ragged but it’s late in the year, not sure if that means anything. Can’t tell its age. It was able to fly and lift the elk though.
We move on to talk about the two routes to Bouldergap and on to Stoneroost and how Rana has been there but reminds us you can’t just get in Stoneroost. One just does not simply walk into Stoneroost.
We discuss how unlikely it is this giant owl was a symptom of something more sinister that needs to be immediately checked out as opposed to an isolated incident that's been taken care of. We also discuss whether it would be worth taking Rana's usual path through the mountains instead to both make sure everything's good up there with the wildlife while still making our way to Bouldergap.
With an 8 survival check Rana thinks the travel time between her path through the mountains and taking the road is about the same, if she were on her own. In the process she calls them “my mountains” however, which Diem finds charming.
Diem: ‘My mountains?’ Well now I feel like I have to see them up close - like some of your family I’ve yet to meet.
Rana admits it may actually take us longer since we’re not used to mountain travel like she is. Her path through the mountains may be quicker, but she just doesn’t know about us because alone she’s very adept at mountains.
By way of a not serious answer, Diem alters their appearance to look exactly like her, clothing and all and mimics her voice: I’m very adept at mountains.
Rana: I’ll remind you of that when I’m fishing you out of a crevasse.
We decide to take the main road.
As sun starts to break the family comes out to see the bird and Shima talks to us.
Rana: Got you a present.
Some missed words about whether it’s the culprit.
Rana: It tried to snatch my friend’s elk so I imagine it’s what took your alpaca.
More missed words back and forth about these things being common, coming down to feed on farms when injured, all that jazz and how Shima’s never seen anything like it but Rana thinks it’s perfectly ordinary out there.
Shima: You go up in the mountains though...this could defintely eat a person.
Rana: I’ve never been eaten by one.
Diem: No, we left that up to the quetzalcoatlus *ribbing Rana quietly*
Shima is encouraged to hire somebody or something to make use of the rest of the carcass.
We totally gave Fee the credit but the story is gonna become Rana the giant owl slayer in stories.
We all get a nice breakfast.
(One more visit with mom and Stellan before we go)
We get herded back to Rana’s mom’s place.
We establish than when Diem and Romy were talking cloth/clothes, Diem gave Rana’s mom some of the nice cloth we got in Budelia from our fight with the vampire, Lady Sinnah.
We see Stellan one more time. He pulls Rana aside and hands her a pair of daggers: These are for your gnome friend - better daggers while she can’t use the other ones.
Fee thanks him, and wearing the daggers of a known blacksmith is going to be helpful. It’s also easy to notice they’re dwarvish style in make. There’s lots of teasing about Fee refusing the daggers at first, saying her old standard ones are fine, but I’m not sure if that refusal was actually in character.
On the road to Bouldergap we see a lot of priests of Sunhame for V’kandis. It takes us 2 days on the road to arrive to our next destination.
1 note · View note