Raiders Renewed - RGBW: Caravaneers

[Aidan]

"...And he was startled," the large badger concluded, barely suppressing his laugh, "that he tripped over the pile of bones behind him and went tumbling head over tail back into the pit we just climbed out of!" His story ellicits a round of laughter from those gathered around the campfire while Bandle the Sloth, the leader of the caravan, shakes her head at yet another of Rhogar's retellings.

It is the evening of your third day out from Erin and the first time the entire caravan has gathered to properly meet each other and exchange stories. Since you all joined, the days have mostly been spent on the road, learning your place in the line of wagons, and getting accustomed to your responsibilities. Now, however, Bandle has insisted that everyone share some time around the fire, learning about one another. The wagons have been gathered in a circle, the perimeter patrolled by the few seasoned guards Bandle has brought with her, keeping those of you gathered around the fire safe while you eat.

Rhogar was the first to speak. A larger badger in his elder years and an experienced Delver, he had gone into the story of his first Delve with little prompting. Rhogar is cheerful and quick to help others, but walks with a limp from a wound that had ended his Delving career several years ago. Now he spends his time sharing his experiences with others as they pass through Bandle's caravan.

"And that's how we ended our first delve," he continues, grinning. "Everyone's first time should be a story worth telling. What about you lot? You're all a bit green behind the ears, yeah? Tell us a bit about yourselves and why you decided Delving was for you."

The moon is high and full, the fire is warm, and the stew is tasty as the handful of travellers around the fire all turn their attention toward your group. Who speaks up first?

[Kokinyu]

Callisssta isss.... Wasss? Sshe'ss a very quiet bat- the... Merde, the word - Assstral folk.

Sshe would be quiet for the most part. After a few dayss in the caravan, sshe would have begun acclimating..

Sso from an alert and easily ssurprised dissposition, sshe would- *has* mellowed out. Her relaxed, often misstaken as 'sleepy' eyes watch the fire, rhogar, bandle, and her friends. Mostly her friends.

By now I think the rest of them- Mei and Rin and Ori- know the look of when something is on Callista's mind. But reserved as she is, and being an outsider- being someone who *listens* before ever speaking (maybe to her own disservice), she sits and politely waits, fidgeting and brushing her dust-stained adventuring dress. Maybe she even hopes someone else speaks up first?

In fact, I think she glances toward Rin- who has had no problem speaking up. At length. I think Callista *likes* the funny way he speaks.

[Uberwulf X]

Orion had no problem speaking up to fill the silence, y'know, and leaned forward after seeing Callista pointedly not speaking.

"Alright, so I kind of have to, since I'm pretty Remarkable-- it's a title, not an adjective. But it's also an adjective, because I'm pretty remarkable, y'know-- small 'R' and big 'r'. My folks were kind of black sheep in Oria-- they're jaguars of course, but y'know, expressions." He leaned back, smiling and nudging Callista. "Point is, born here, got something to prove back to the homeland, so they can get off my folks' case." He didn't seem disturbed at all about the issue; whatever made his parents 'black sheep' must not have been too bad or shameful.

"Aaand I kind of owe Callista for not turning me into a newt, y'know, so I'm watching her back while she collects Newt Juice."

[Kyt]

Oh, uh. So, Rin spreads her arms, looking around at the group gathered. "Why wouldn't anyone want to? Growing up in Erin was fine, but there is so much more out there! Fun and problems, and I want to face them all!" She nudges Mei -the game one; honestly, why did you do that?- "Besides, I think they were getting sick of us sticking our noses into any conflict we were near."

She shrugs, running her hand along a necklace. "Plus, it's a great, uh, pilgramage? sort of thing. Spreading the light of Pirhoua to all those dark places."

[Resonance]

I suck at coming up with names. Like, all my game characters are some form of 'Mei'. Anyways, Meison was just like, staring like a deer in headlights for a minute until Rin nudges him. Oh and he's big, really tall and a bit round. More like a bear build than a possum. He starts saying "oh, yeah, I'm..."

"...Meison?" And he kinda rubs the back of his neck a moment. He's got a big mullet, by the way. "I like to go with Rin, to keep her safe. And other folks, of course." He ends with a really big smile.

[Aidan]

I have a feeling this is going to be an interesting game. Bandle is sitting nearby, sipping at her evening tea with a sleepy expression on her face and a smile on her lips as Rhogar grins at Ori's enthusiasm.

"The best Delvers are the ones who are close friends - keeps everyone sharp. What about you, little lady?" He looks over to you, Gren- er, Callista. "Rare to see your kind on the road. How'd you get roped into this lot of strapping young folk?"

Even though I know that word is appropriate, it feels odd actually using it...

[Kokinyu]

Strapping makes sssense. I might have used beau bordering on chaud, viril à la limite de l'énergie de la minet. j'aurais dû savoir que les personnages seraient tous de cette façon, mais c'est cest..

*Deep sigh*

Castilla looks a little surprised at first, you see her lift her clawed fingers to scratch the side of her face, revealing the... What's the word- patagium. The underside of her wing is a sea of stars. She doesn't notice or pay mind to it or try and hide it, thinking it's the most natural thing- nor is she aware of the -looks- she gets.

She quietly speaks up, her voice this really airy and light and calm kind of voice, "My friends worked me up toward it, actually. They told stories of the adventures and the wealth and the secret lore a caravan comes across. I want my shop to be a sustainable thing, so I don't have to return to the astral Sea every time my coin purse runs low. Id like to stay here and learn... Well, everything about this world. With my friends helping, I think delving will be the best way to... Cement my future here."

[Uberwulf X]

Orion would already be aware of how cool Callista's under-wings are, right? Still, I'll say that Orion looks while she shows them off because y'know, it's cool. And he probably always gets close to staring.

"It works out for both of us, really. I can let her know if there are things I've heard while being way more social and if she needs money or supplies, she can tag along." They're actually friends, right? ...Actually, I'll just ask in character, y'know? So, Orion turned to Callista tilting his head. "I'm pretty sure we're actually friends at this point, right?"

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[Kyt]

*Yuki gives Gren a funny look before she speaks.*

Rin watches Orion and Callista, trying to hide a giggle. For Callista, she's never seemed to act like there was anything different about her, only occasionally asking questions about her homeland.

"You better answer yes, or I might get upset." She definitely doesn't seem upset or worried though, keeping a smile on her face. She leans over and ruffles? Rustles? Callista's hat around. Hopefully she has gotten more used to Rin constantly intruding on her personal space by now.

[Resonance]

Meison kinda sits up a bit straighter, “o’course we’re all friends, wouldn’t have it any other way.” He looks over to Calista and Orion, like a little nervously, before he looks back at Rin. Sitting there, fidgeting with his armour a bit, trying to look good, like this.

*Mei tugs a bit here and there at her top, as if she was trying to get a few wrinkles out and look extra presentable.*


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[Aidan]

*Hope grins before continuing.*

Bandle lowers her tea mug and smiles in the kind of way that scrunches up her eyes - she's used to smiling, and her warmth is what made her caravan so welcomed in Erin. "That's delightful," she murmurs, her words slow and airy. "I do enjoy you young country Delvers. A little youthful energy can carry us all through the long days on the road."

Rhogar nods his agreement. "You're sure to find all manner of strange things in a Dungeon for your shop. Even the lesser Dungeons will have unique oddities to harvest or collect. Even though you can't really predict what you'll find, what do you all hope to find or encounter once you start explorin'?"

Rhogar feels like the kind of badger that would have a bit of an accent. I'm not sure what kind exactly, but I think it feels appropriate.

[Kokinyu]

The misunderstanding catches Callista off guard, and after having her space invaded- again- she becomes fully flummoxed. Those sleepy eyes open and dart between her party members. And i think she stammers for as few moments before squeaking out a 'Yes, of course, why would I-' Just rambling and stammering and not finishing a thread before the badgers speak up and break the very, very awkward position she finds herself in.

I think Callista would have this frequent running joke with Orion about how he doesn't owe her, and that she genuinely enjoys the company. But she'd be too polite to get pushy about it or set him down, and kind of just resigns to let him believe he's somehow indentured. Like, maybe it's a culture thing and she assumes she's missing part of that puzzle.

With Rhogar giving her an opening, she adjusts her glasses and lets her ears fall back into that calm position. "I'm curious about what makes The Dungeon tick- I think that's the turn of phrase. So If I can see some of its autonomous nature in action, I'd love to get a chance to study it."

[Uberwulf X]

Orion smiled, it was nice seeing Callista off her game and guard. "I'm just the brawn to Callista's brain, honestly. It'd be nice to find something really cool to have appraised, a really nice sword or a lot of money, but I'm just kind of along for the ride, y'know?" He kind of shrugs, seeming really relaxed. "Sometimes, the the real dungeon really is the friends you make along the way."

I... think that's a good mangling of that phrase? Whatever, Orion just seems happy to be there.

"I never thought about the autonomous nature or whatever. I guess that'd be interesting to look at, and maybe even bet records for going the deepest and fastest, y'know?"

[Kyt]

Rin chuckles when Callista gets flustered. "I'm sure we will find lots of interesting things. We just have to make sure we get out to show them off. It's why we have each others' guard. If you start getting distracted by some odd carvings..." *Yuki mimes a quick punch* "We'll be there to take out the monster sneaking up on you."

[Resonance]

“Yeah, I’m uhh… I don’t know, hoping to find some interesting things?” Meison does another head rub and long pause. Heh, that’s definitely going to be like, his signature thing when he’s uncomfortable. Anyway. He gets serious for a moment, maybe just a bit too much, and adds “but things don’t matter as much as making sure you all get back safe.” He’s for real got two modes and that’s it.