Observing My New Friends to Be

I was standing on the steps of Roland's mansion, having arrived a few hours before and being briefed by Roland that the adventurers I was looking to meet would be here at the mansion shortly. When I saw the Minotaur, Aarakocra, Tiefling and strangely a Harengon (I hadn’t seen him in my dreams) coming up through the gate. Then I saw the Aarakocra go off on its own.  

As they came up towards the Mansion, I could see an obvious Archfey, just by the amount of magic pouring off her, voluntarily taking a shape-changed child, possibly a Kitsune from a Teal Dragonborn, with Roland standing beside them standing before a waiting carriage. The Archfey was treating the child...like an equal, not a subject which made me stop and watch closer.

The scene out in front of Roland's Mansion
Microsoft Bing AI Image Generator - 2024

There also seemed to be some tension between the Dragonborn and Roland over the child being taken by the Fey. I have a feeling that there is an interesting explanation that pertains to my future here or at least information that is important, since it involves Roland, the Dragonborn, and an obvious Archfey. I will explore this observation further at some point, if for no other reason than to find out why my host and his ally seem to be at odds about a Kitsune child going with the Fey woman.

Based on that interesting tidbit and thinking more about how to introduce myself to the party, I decided to bide my time and wait until I felt more comfortable to introduce myself to my future companions. I thought it best to observe them and see how they interacted with one another and others around them. I wanted to know as much about them as possible before I introduced myself. As my Cousin always told me "Knowledge is power, and don't reveal too much of yourself, when there is no need."

Over the course of the evening the group seemed to be more fragmented than I could have imagined. I learned that they had just met one another earlier that day or the night before. So, were not a band that had a lot of experience together or roles taken within the party.

The Minotaur though he seems dimwitted, I don’t think that is actually the case, there seems to be something blocking him from retrieving who he is. I have a feeling he is much more than the dumb barbarian that he portrays to the world now.

The Aarakocra after flying off, came back and made a scene where one of Roland’s hired staff, evidently punched him out over a dispute about a body that had been disposed of on the grounds. Roland had to intervene to prevent him from being thrown in chains. Then he flew off after Roland spoke with him about the dangers of worshiping many gods, especially as a cleric. I’m not sure what to make of the bird man, but he has been a part of my dreams for many years, so I imagine that fate has us working together. Though with what I saw today, he seems to bring a lot of chaos and unnecessary drama to the team. From what I could gather from overhearing them talk, they were concerned about him as well.

Ahh the Tiefling, she is very interesting, she communicates surreptitiously with a sword at her belt and has some casting ability, a warlock of some sort, but more than that and there is a sense of honor about her that she puts others before herself. Then when the others were settling down, she left Roland's for the other mansion down the street. I watched her produce a key and enter, while a black cat with a white spot on his front met her at the door and she talked to it.

I wonder what her connection is to Gantz’s old mansion? Yes, I know who lived there before, my briefings at Court and in Evernight gave me backgrounds on many of the power players on Crannog in preparation for my coming here. Including that Gantz had been killed by two adventurers who had been members of this party and that a being named Natasha had returned, just before I left the Shadowfell. The Raven Queen has quite a network of information gatherers throughout this plane of existence.

I finally remembered where I had seen the Harengon before. He was at the Inverness Magic Academy when I spent a semester there as part of my training for my Cousin. I believe his name was Fiver and was favored by one of the Professors who, if I remember correctly, was named Yaran Cirths. 

Though I was disappointed that the Changeling, the one I who is a bard, hadn’t appeared overnight. According to the information I had on him, he is quite well regarded in many spheres and is making allies throughout the higher reaches of Crannog. Though his dalliance with Hags and multiple conversations with Baldur, does make one wonder about his true alliances. Perhaps he will come in the next day or two.

Also, in a couple of my dreams I had seen a sorcerer, but that one wasn’t in too many of the dreams I’ve had, so I’m not sure what his status will be, if he comes into the party at all.

As the evening winds down, so do the questions surrounding the group of adventurers who will be such a large part of my life going forward increase. They are an interesting group who aren't what I expected, but then again, I really didn't know what to expect. Perhaps my time at the Raven Queen's Court and other courts throughout too many worlds and my recent "other" training has left me rather jaded and made my expectations of the others more than they should have been.

While I don't require sleep, I will go into my trance and ponder the many questions that I have about my future, these fellow adventurers, and the future life that Crannog might hold for me.