Link: https://www.sylestia.com/forums/?thread=99346&page=6#57 Author: Aphelion Time Posted: 8/22/2021 at 3:39 AM When you finally stop, your body goes slack as if letting out a tense breath. You don't realise really how tired you are until now, and your muscles thank you for not pushing them even more. Given how much you have travelled with no sustenance, you will need more rest to be fully recovered from your fatigue. From your viewpoint, you look at the camp again. Other than the horses, you see mounts that look like horses, with the upper half body of a horse, a lower half body of some feline animal, and wings leathery like a bat. There are also mounts that look like tigers, but instead of fuzzy manes, they have crests of feathers around their neck and a pair of horns curling out from their skull. You have failed the skill check You squint and try to see the smaller details of what people were eating, but you're too far away to know anything of use. The sacks hanging off people's belts might be water skins, though you can't be sure. There isn't any sign of a water source nearby even though the people look perfectly lively and hydrated. The wind picks up, blowing your hair back. The clouds are darkening and racing toward you.

(May I ask about the skill checks please? The question I have is what are the skill checks and what do they do?)

Noticing the wind Crystal knows she has to get somewhere safe and under cover. She looks for somewhere nearby that would provide cover without being too noticiable. Painfully aware of how tired she is Crystal carefully looks around hoping shelter would be close by.

Curious about the creatures she tries to keep them off her mind in favor of looking for a shelter and maybe setting up a makeshift rain catcher somehow. First though she'd find the shelter and maybe find items to make a raincatcher along the way.

She smiles, something innocent and lively and her face lights up. "I am Chantille Orsay of the Maison Marteillon," she makes a courtly gesture, setting her free hand over her bosom and bowing slightly. "Pleasure to make your acquaintance." Once she straightens, she leaps forth and takes your hands in hers, disregarding your hold on the walking stick entirely. "Who are you? How are you here?"

"Fortune smiles upon me," she says. "Here I am to investigate a strange noise, and I find you! Tell me everything!"

Discovered new character!

"Never seen a goblin before?" She huffs, looking displeased. After muttering something under her breath, she says, "congratulations, now you have. Let's get you patched up."

She pulls you closer to the plane. It is a massive machine of metal and bolts, majestic in the way sheets are peeling off of it, held down by nails and other unconventional methods of binding. The whole thing is painted a dusty green colour, though many signs of wear and tear have revealed the original silver colour of the steel beneath. The wings jut out of the sides of its bulbous body, which has the cockpit windshield popping out up top. Baje pulls you under a wing, setting you in the shade away from the blistering sun, clambers up, and vanishes out of sight.

After a while, she reappears, hopping down from above so suddenly it startles you. Under her arm is tucked a leather case. "Hope you aren't picky 'cause I'm not a doctor," and before you could say anything in return, she grabs your arm with surprising force and holds it straight, revealing a myriad of scratches and scrapes. There is a particularly deep one along the outside of your upper arm, running from your shoulder to your elbow. She looks at it, tuts, and drops her case to the ground, flipping it over with her free hand. In it, you see a bunch of suspicious looking metal tools, some looking quite sharp and downright dangerous, as well as some bottles and tinctures. A large roll of bandages that look slightly dusty sit on top of it all. Baje reaches for a vial with some murky green liquid in it.

There is a grove of trees nearby which you stagger toward. Their trunks are thick and round, especially toward their base, where a cluster of small red flowers grow. Between them are shrubs of thorny bushes bearing luscious berries the size of your thumb so dark purple they look black. The branches above you interlock, but the leaves are large and flat and fairly flimsy; you watch as they shake in the wind, shifting and opening up holes to the sky whenever they move.

You have partially succeeded the skill check

You're pretty sure you know how to make a raincatcher. You know how they look, and ideally, you should be able to make one. Rooting around, you don't find much to complete your task with. The leaves up above are too high up, and not to mention too flimsy. You can't do anything with the tiny flowers, and the thorns are totally out of the question. Eventually, you manage to find some leaves from some sprouts tucked under the trunks of the trees where they bend slightly. The leaves are about the size of your palm, heart shaped, and thick enough to be useful. You gather a few, and then run into a problem. You know how a raincatcher looks, you know how to make one, but your hands don't want to follow your directions (not having any twine or rope hurt too). You drop the leaves many times before you give up and fold them into small bowl shapes. They won't catch as much rain as a proper raincatcher, but they will be able to collect water.

You hear a loud whoosh over the wind, and something lights up to the side. You turn. In the direction of the camp, a large fire has burst out of the campfire at its centre. People are surrounding it, cheerfully mingling. Others draw out large tarps and set up stick structures to throw the tarps over, creating shelters against the rain.

((Skill checks determine whether or not you succeed in doing something that requires a certain skill. For example, in my previous post to you, you failed a skill check. That skill check was for perception - your character was looking for something small from a distance, and didn't have a high enough level to see. Sometimes, multiple skills will be checked. Your attempt to make a raincatcher is a combination between intelligence and wisdom/dexterity. Your intelligence score was high enough, and out of your wisdom and dexterity your wisdom was higher so I looked at that. It wasn't high enough. Therefore, you only partially succeeded the skill check.

For some actions they are so commonly done that everyone can do them, and those don't require skill checks.

I hope this was helpful! Let me know if you're still confused.))

Link: https://www.sylestia.com/forums/?thread=99346&page=7#64 Author: Aphelion Time Posted: 8/26/2021 at 10:21 AM There is a grove of trees nearby which you stagger toward. Their trunks are thick and round, especially toward their base, where a cluster of small red flowers grow. Between them are shrubs of thorny bushes bearing luscious berries the size of your thumb so dark purple they look black. The branches above you interlock, but the leaves are large and flat and fairly flimsy; you watch as they shake in the wind, shifting and opening up holes to the sky whenever they move. You have partially succeeded the skill check You're pretty sure you know how to make a raincatcher. You know how they look, and ideally, you should be able to make one. Rooting around, you don't find much to complete your task with. The leaves up above are too high up, and not to mention too flimsy. You can't do anything with the tiny flowers, and the thorns are totally out of the question. Eventually, you manage to find some leaves from some sprouts tucked under the trunks of the trees where they bend slightly. The leaves are about the size of your palm, heart shaped, and thick enough to be useful. You gather a few, and then run into a problem. You know how a raincatcher looks, you know how to make one, but your hands don't want to follow your directions (not having any twine or rope hurt too). You drop the leaves many times before you give up and fold them into small bowl shapes. They won't catch as much rain as a proper raincatcher, but they will be able to collect water. You hear a loud whoosh over the wind, and something lights up to the side. You turn. In the direction of the camp, a large fire has burst out of the campfire at its centre. People are surrounding it, cheerfully mingling. Others draw out large tarps and set up stick structures to throw the tarps over, creating shelters against the rain. ((Skill checks determine whether or not you succeed in doing something that requires a certain skill. For example, in my previous post to you, you failed a skill check. That skill check was for perception - your character was looking for something small from a distance, and didn't have a high enough level to see. Sometimes, multiple skills will be checked. Your attempt to make a raincatcher is a combination between intelligence and wisdom/dexterity. Your intelligence score was high enough, and out of your wisdom and dexterity your wisdom was higher so I looked at that. It wasn't high enough. Therefore, you only partially succeeded the skill check. For some actions they are so commonly done that everyone can do them, and those don't require skill checks. I hope this was helpful! Let me know if you're still confused.))

(Thank you that makes a lot more sense.)

Thankful to even find the leaves and make bowls out of them Crystal sits down in a dry place after checking that there were no thorns there. She listens to the group of people halfway wishing she had gone down there. Like a friend of her's had said once, "Better to be cautious and cold than dead." She listens and observes what she can about the camp. Maybe with more observations and time she might be daring enough to approach until then she was content just to observe. She hoped that some traveler that was not her might go to camp soon so she could see if they were friendly or not. Of course Crystal hoped for the best for the traveler.

Link: https://www.sylestia.com/forums/?thread=99346&page=7#62 Author: Aphelion Time Posted: 8/26/2021 at 9:31 AM She smiles, something innocent and lively and her face lights up. "I am Chantille Orsay of the Maison Marteillon," she makes a courtly gesture, setting her free hand over her bosom and bowing slightly. "Pleasure to make your acquaintance." Once she straightens, she leaps forth and takes your hands in hers, disregarding your hold on the walking stick entirely. "Who are you? How are you here?" "Fortune smiles upon me," she says. "Here I am to investigate a strange noise, and I find you! Tell me everything!" Discovered new character!

Falcon recoils, moving to snatch his hands back, taking an instant disliking to this overzealous stranger. At the same time he has to remind himself that she might be his ticket out of this forest and to civilisation.

Civilisation in the form of... 'Maison Marteillon'? He's never heard of it before. It sounds like some sort of town or house, though. Maybe a clan system?

"My name is Falcon," is all he offers, feeling his throat slightly hoarse after his sand-breakfast. He clears his throat and tries again. "The Maison Marteillon..?" he trails off. He's not confident enough to voice any of his assumptions over what it is, knowing for sure now he had found himself in a place he didn't belong.

You think you have found a dry spot, but once more, the leaves on the trees are too weak to hold off any rain. The sky darkens, the clouds thicken, and with a rumble and a clap of thunder, the floodgates open. Water slams down from the sky in cold sheets, splattering over everything. Leaves are torn from the branches above by the force of the rain. Your "raincatchers" collect no little water, so that's an achievement, though you don't know how that compares to how water is collecting literally everywhere in any crevice or dip it can find around you.

Hugging the trunk of a tree and wedging yourself in between two of them, you manage to stay relatively dry. Your top half is soaked, and your hair sticks to your face, but the hem of your shirt, your pants, and your shoes escape the wet torrent. With all the rain, it's hard to see if anyone is travelling. What you see is the bright glow of fire through the curtains of liquid, and through the hissing and grumbling sky, you think you can hear laughter. The people in the camp don't seem to have been affected by the rain, though you can't be sure.

She lets go when you pull back. "Oh, my apologies!" She exclaims with a bashful look. "Forgive me; my excitement has gotten the better of me, and I forgot my manners." Returning her hands to her front, folding them together delicately, she looks you up and down. "It is alright if you don't feel comfortable answering my questions now, time shall soothe our misgivings. I hope you are not hurt?"

When you tell her your name, she simply nods and moves to address your question instead. "The Maison Marteillon is one of the estates of Seraphys," she explains. "If I am not mistaken, you must not know any of these places I speak of. Come, walk with me, and I will enlighten you." In a ripple of skirts and nacreous wings, she takes off at a leisurely pace, heading in the direction you were going in - the direction she had come from. As she walks, she extends an arm to the trees around you. "We are in the Course Forest at present. It is not usually open to visitors, but I have enough permission and arrived to collect some herbs and flowers. What a lucky day," she sighs. "I found you here." When she talks about you, she visibly gets excited.

"I digress. The Course Forest is for the Chasers to conduct whatever activites they need for their training; this morning they set out, so we might meet one or two." Her gaze turns upward, and when you follow it through a break in the canopy, you see the glowing structure from before. "That is the city of Seraphys, and we shall head there now."

Link: https://www.sylestia.com/forums/?thread=99346&page=7#63 Author: Aphelion Time Posted: 8/26/2021 at 10:00 AM "Never seen a goblin before?" She huffs, looking displeased. After muttering something under her breath, she says, "congratulations, now you have. Let's get you patched up." She pulls you closer to the plane. It is a massive machine of metal and bolts, majestic in the way sheets are peeling off of it, held down by nails and other unconventional methods of binding. The whole thing is painted a dusty green colour, though many signs of wear and tear have revealed the original silver colour of the steel beneath. The wings jut out of the sides of its bulbous body, which has the cockpit windshield popping out up top. Baje pulls you under a wing, setting you in the shade away from the blistering sun, clambers up, and vanishes out of sight. After a while, she reappears, hopping down from above so suddenly it startles you. Under her arm is tucked a leather case. "Hope you aren't picky 'cause I'm not a doctor," and before you could say anything in return, she grabs your arm with surprising force and holds it straight, revealing a myriad of scratches and scrapes. There is a particularly deep one along the outside of your upper arm, running from your shoulder to your elbow. She looks at it, tuts, and drops her case to the ground, flipping it over with her free hand. In it, you see a bunch of suspicious looking metal tools, some looking quite sharp and downright dangerous, as well as some bottles and tinctures. A large roll of bandages that look slightly dusty sit on top of it all. Baje reaches for a vial with some murky green liquid in it.

He felt guilty as he followed her inside the vehicule, he hadn't ment anything wrong by his words tho now that he knew, he kind of felt curious about her speacie. To distract himself from asking anything else and upset Baje even more he kept silent, turning his attention toward the plane itself. While it seemed rather old and he knew absolutely nothing about how to take care of those flying machines, he could tell that it had been well loved and taken care off as best as possible. He half-mindedly wondered if he ever had even rode in one back in the days, well before this very day realy tho didnt tryed too hard to think about it, prefering to live in the moment.

He flinch a bit at her sudent return but smiled at her. "As long as it dosnt kill me, i think we can argue that you are doing a good job with what's avalable realy. I woudnt do any better." He said, half joakingly while looking outside to calm his overimagination at the sight of the sharp equipement. He hadnt expected her to be that strong but again didnt realy bother resisting as she examined his wounds. So far she all she had done was to help him so, of course, Oris had no raison not to trust her.

Link: https://www.sylestia.com/forums/?thread=99346&page=7#67 Author: Aphelion Time Posted: 8/26/2021 at 4:22 PM You think you have found a dry spot, but once more, the leaves on the trees are too weak to hold off any rain. The sky darkens, the clouds thicken, and with a rumble and a clap of thunder, the floodgates open. Water slams down from the sky in cold sheets, splattering over everything. Leaves are torn from the branches above by the force of the rain. Your "raincatchers" collect no little water, so that's an achievement, though you don't know how that compares to how water is collecting literally everywhere in any crevice or dip it can find around you. Hugging the trunk of a tree and wedging yourself in between two of them, you manage to stay relatively dry. Your top half is soaked, and your hair sticks to your face, but the hem of your shirt, your pants, and your shoes escape the wet torrent. With all the rain, it's hard to see if anyone is travelling. What you see is the bright glow of fire through the curtains of liquid, and through the hissing and grumbling sky, you think you can hear laughter. The people in the camp don't seem to have been affected by the rain, though you can't be sure.

Crystal shakes grumbles quietly but also is greatful for some water to drink. She wonders how the people in camp can keep the fire going through this torrent of rain. Paciently and coldly waiting for the rain to at least slow Crystal tries to keep as dry as she can. Making sure to remember that trees or at least this one were bad to duck under during a storm. Maybe tomorrow once rested enough she'd dare to get closer to camp to at least see the strange mounts again.