Playing in the Sandbox

And still the non-pyshic of the group still doesn't react at all to such sent thoughts. "Oh... I eat... Just eat whatever I'm offered. And end up eating more then you'd think I should be able too..." She said with a shrug. "Admittingly I don't really know much about my race as well. And I've never really found myself interested in eating anything like Morning Dew... But I figure that'd be alright."

Skaimos gave a smirk. A free meal and a safe place to spend the night were a good enough deal for him. "I don't hear any objections, so dinner will be a fine payment, Smithe-san. You got a deal."

He turned to Tethe. "I can't imagine anyone subsisting on morning dew, especially not in the desert. By the way, do you have a particular interest in pixies? You've been looking like you're concentrating on Cyrta-san or something."

He had a quick glance over at the changeling. He was fairly certain that she was the one from the tournament, who was able to channel her magic through her swords. He briefly wondered just how bad the banditry is outside of the city, and hoped that between them all, they could more than match it.

Tethe laughed a little sheepishly. "Well I admit I've never seen one before. But mostly I'm trying to send her my thoughts." That said, Tethe quickly returned to staring wide-eyed in concentration. This time putting her hands by her head in an imitation of a gypsy she'd seen once reading the future. That works for reading minds too right?

The Pixie just headtilts in total confusion...

"...I don't think Cyrta-san is really capable of reading minds," Skaimos said, then used Telepathy to tell Tethe, "That's more of MY specialty."

"Yeah... Fire is more of my thing..." Cyrta comments.

Tordek snaps to attention.

"Aye," said Tordek. "Best dwarf fighter I know."

He wisely left out "in a 15 yard radius."

"That's exactly what a psychic faerie WOULD say! They're a tricksy type you know. At least the legends say so..." She lightly scratched at her chin for a moment before shivering for a moment and slowly turning towards Skaimos. "That... was strange.........do it again!"

"Um... Ok.... You seem to know more then I do of my people then." The Pixie said confused. "Cause I've not really heard such stuff. Or if I wasn't something I cared to recall... More like I just don't recall reading that, cause I didn't think of me like that."

Skaimos shrugged. "If you insist." He then put his hands into vaguely "mystical" postions he used Telepathy on Tethe. "Witness, mortal, as I use the concentrated power of my mind to know your secrets and GAZE INTO YOUR VERY SOUUUUL...Naw, just messing with you." He put his hands back down at his sides. "It is, however, an effective, long-range, silent means of communication, so it's useful in that regard."

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edit: Also, remember that Tethe doesn't know that Elkas is Skaimos yet.

The dragonborn shrugged slightly. "None of it is first hand really, just what the old lady at the trading post said. 'Faeries love to play pranks on people and live in the woods off of morning dew and magic. If a bunch of them nap you, they'll wisp you away to the faerie kingdom never to be heard from again!'" She wiggled her fingers in a 'spooky' way at the pixie. "That's about it rea-gkkt!" She shivered again, eyes wide for a moment before beginning to laugh, giving Skaimos a big pat on the back. "It's so strange! A little tingling at the back of my head, as if someone were holding their finger just a breath away from touching it!"

Cyrtanthus chuckles. "If I knew how to go to some fairy kingdom I'd be there right now."

Alma simply watches the display. The dragonborn's friendly attitude does a little to calm her nerves, but she continues to frown. She resumes her now usual method of sitting and staring into space, while the others finish their introductions.

Ramsus wrote: At this point Earl arrives with someone who may or may not be familiar to some of you, a young changeling girl with a big sword strapped to her back. Earl nods to John with a smile who raises an eyebrow then shrugs and gives the girl the rundown of introductions.

Skaimos looked over at the changeling girl. At this point, she was the only remaining "unknown" in this little equation. John Smithe seemed reliable, Tethe and Thag seemed harmless (or at least, non-malevolent).

"Well, some people can feel a sort of sensation when telepathy is used on them, Tethe-san. I'm going to see about the last member of our guarding party." As he moved past Tethe, he whispered, "And please be careful around Lex-Iya-san. She...had a bad experience recently and doesn't like to be touched by strangers."

He then went over to speak with the changeling. "Hello, changeling-san. I'm Elkas Morden, and my friends and I will also be escorting Smithe-san's caravan, so I thought it would be good to get to know our latest addition. May I ask your name?"

"Ah. I was wondering when one of you would come over." she says in a sort of nonchalant tone. "I am Uhiya Bastos. I'm sure it will be a pleasure to work with you Te- Morden-san."

...Well, sh*t. Apparently whatever description was given of him, it was enough that relative strangers could identify him. And unlike the others that they had run into that day, he couldn't just have Thag shoo her away. Incapacitating her wasn't an option; any attempt would raise a ruckus and, given her prowess that he had seen at the tournament, would end in defeat. Bribing her was out as well, unless he happened to come across more money than his bounty was worth just lying in the street.

On the other hand, she didn't seem to be running for the guards just yet. It could be that they'd be playing the "I know you know I know" game for a bit. Skaimos decided to play it cool for the moment.

"So, why are you joining this caravan, Bastos-san? Out to see the world? Good pay? a chance to use your sword skills?"

She gives a smirk towards John and says, "The first and last of those more or less." To which John chuckles. Then turning the smirk on Skaimos she replies, "And yourselves?"

"First and last for me as well," offered up Tordek.

"Primarily the first for me. Partially the last, since it'll be more a use of my psionic abilities rather than weapons. Still, it will be nice to see how my training holds up in actual combat, rather than just regulated exercises."

"I think I'd say I'm more here just to see the world and because I promassed to help look after Sonala-sama as she traveled." Cyrtanthus comments with a shrug.

Tethe simply shrugged. "In my case... I couldn't think of any reason not to? I'd been in this town long enough, hitting the road again sounded like fun. If I can help someone by looking big and scary and maybe beating things up that's all the better, especially if I'm making an honest day's pay for it too!"

"Speaking of honest, I believe that's the first honest answer I've gotten from the lot of you. Of course, from what I gather you're just as new to this group as I am." Uhiya responded. "Not that I really care in the end I suppose." she added as an after-statement and shrugged.

"It's also the first statement I've ever given you, so I guess that means I'm one for one!" She chuckles to herself quietly. "It doesn't really matter if people want to keep their secrets. Everyone has skeletons in their closet I guess so no need to worry about it." She stopped for a moment considering it. "Unless they literally do have skeletons in their closet I suppose, then it might be a good idea to start worrying."

Uhiya nods along and then rolls her eyes at the skeleton in the closet thing.

The party, having decided they were done for the day, spent the rest of their time at the caravan building. They ate dinner, they slept/kept watch, though nothing of any interest happened. Before dawn broke John woke those not already awake and soon after two large lizards were brought. After some last minute preparations and setup, the two wagons left with the party and the other two guards in tow. Cyrta sat atop one of the wagons as her weight was too little to matter.

The wagons traveled slowly farther from the river, and when it was barely still in sight, John asked Alma to go scout a route ahead.

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Alma can make a Streetwise check (since I'm just having us use that skill for Survival stuff as well, and yes her FK applies).

Everyone can also make a Perception check.