Our Honored Guests

[Throndir]

Current players: Nyaoko, Kin, Maeve
Looking for: 1 more player
Note: I will be making heavy use of the Include/Exclude tags for language stuff, with text only specific players can see.

Around six months ago the Guild of Galas'nor received an invitation from the Aztia kingdom. The same kingdom that both Nyaoko and Nyuko hailed from. It was located on the southeastern border of the Kyl'Marn kingdom, and just like that kingdom, Aztia was populated primarily with catfolk. The invitation included both the directions to take, the time when their meeting would take place in Aztia's capital, along with personal letters to both Nyuko and Nyaoko from their friends and family back in Aztia.

The journey was long, but the guild members made solid progress over the six months of travel by land. There was no particular rush as the invitation specified the date of occurrence a year in advance, but needless to say the members who took part in the expedition got to know each other during the many nights they spent together, as well as fighting off the occasional bandits.

"Fighting bringsnya comrades together-nyu!" As Nyuko would say throughout the trip.

Out of suggestion from Nyuko, the group would pass by their uncle's village, called 'Craynyan'. In one of the letters Nyaoko received, it seemed like their uncle was inviting the group to his village as honored guests. Nyaoko wasn't so keen on going, but Nyuko, who had never been to his uncle's village had always been told that the food they served in Craynyan was delicious beyond belief. It took some trying, but Nyuko eventually convinced the group to take the small detour. Besides, their uncle's village was on the way to Aztia's capital.

Soon enough the group made its way to the village of Craynyan. The party had camped just the night before and arrived right before noon at the entrance to the quiet coastal village.

And elderly catfolk seemed to have been expecting your group, and he hurriedly called out and starting making his way towards you waving his hand.

"Nyaoko-nyan! Nyuko-kyun! isnya hatnyun ouyan?" the catfolk called out in his language.

[include u=330,2,342]Translation: Nyaoko! Nyuko! Is that you?[/include]


[include u=330,2]You recognize your uncle, Nyunpa. The other party members, other than your brother Nyuko, had questioning looks in their faces. That made sense as none of the other guild members recognized your uncle.[/include]
[include u=333,2]You had a questioning look on your face. At the very least you could tell that the catfolk recognized both your companions Nyaoko and Nyuko.[/include]

[Neko]

The trip was interesting, to say in the least. Trying to communicate with others had always been a challenge to begin with in Galas'nor. Relaying what needed to be said during combat proved to be even more difficult. Yet, the group had managed, despite the language barrier.

Nyaoko's demeanor had changed once it was decided they'd make a stop at Craynyan. Although she tried to hide it, it was obvious the cat had something on her mind. There were multiple things that generally kept Nyaoko from visiting their uncle - The large amounts of water, for one. Secondly, their uncle wasn't exactly what you'd call..."all there".

"Nyaoko-nyan! Nyuko-kyun! isnya hatnyun ouyan?"

A voice rang out. Nyaoko knew immediately who it was. She sighed, seeing as it couldn't be helped, and did her best to return the excitement. Not only that, but she wanted to make sure her little Nyuko had a good time.

"Unclenya!" Nyaoko replied with a wave.  She proceeded to give Nyupa a warm hug, and a pat on the head. He was fairly short. "It'snyu oodgnya otnyu eesnya younu." She said with a smile. Nyaoko gestured for her brother to come over and hug him as well.

[include u=330,2,342]Translation: It's good to see you.[/include]


Nyaoko turned to her guild mates, and pointed at Nyunpa. "This...Uncle...nya. Call, Nyunpa." She told them, obviously struggling to find the correct wording.

[Linwelin]

The trip had been interesting. New scenery, new-ish teammates with whom he'd not really worked with before, and even some new heads and bodies to cleave in combat as they all traveled. It was fun, and Kin was honestly a bit excited about their destination. He'd now seen the fighting style of the catfolk around him, which opened his eyes a little. It's a completely new style to me...maybe new weapons! The thought of a new culture from which he could possibly gain experience as a smith making him extremely giddy. He'd probably be going with haste right now, but a few factors dampened his overexcited mood.

"Why am I always stuck going to places that are hot!?" The halfling groaned this sentiment loudly, and often, as they traveled south. Whether it was a burning temples and buildings, the plane of fire, or a desert of xenophobic goons, Kin was always ending up in the hottest places the world could offer. "I hate the heat." Which was only considered unfortunate by him. His mind was called back to the cool, open plains around Serrindale, his place of origin, which served as his only real solace. It's not like the heat was painful, he even had a jewel that combated it. He just didn't like the climate.

The second discomfort wasn't so much upsetting, but instead just something he hadn't accounted for. Kin looked out over his party, muttering to himself, "I swear, I've heard just about every sound a catfolk can make these past months." The thick accents of catfolk had always been a surprise to him since day one, and now that that was all he was surrounded by, it stuck out more to him. Though he wasn't exactly one to listen very often to others' opinions, he still heard them out. But it was difficult to hear someone out between the varying thickness of feline accents. The meows, and purrs, and growls, and 'nyas' were hard to follow. And Kin wasn't foreign to accents, he'd lived amongst dwarves for years. It was charming for certain folk, but to Kin it was just difficult. Especially when they got excited.

"It'snyu oodgnya otnyu eesnya younu."

Like that.

It's not that this made him dread the journey they'd had, in fact he was much happier now that they'd made their way to the coast and the sea breeze could be felt. But this was one of the few times Kin would remain quiet, simply because there was nothing to be gained. "What good is speaking out if I can't even decipher their reactions?" He questioned himself as he followed the group of cats. There was one thing he appreciated though; his teammates definitely made an effort in getting past the language barrier.

"This...Uncle...nya. Call, Nyunpa."

Like that.

Kin smiled at the introduction and stepped forward, looking up toward the man to meet his gaze. "Nyunpa, is it? Well met, old man." He extended his hand in greeting for a handshake. The situation and companions may be strange, but they were at least good people. And he respected that. They weren't crazed mages, after all. Nor undead. One of them actually shared his hatred of those foul beings. There was no reason to dislike them at all. Just the heat.

[Ella]

"Vladimyar~ I'm leaving Ternadan." Maeve announced one day. It had been a couple days since the Atzia messenger had arrived. The tigress had been strongly wanting to join the party that would go to the capital. Although the guild's missions took her to many places around Ternadan, she was feeling that itch that she only ever felt when she stayed in one place for too long. The only thing that gave her cause to reconsider accepting was all the curious people she had met. Still, she could always come back. And so, she had decided to see all of her wonderful friends one last time before heading out with her catfolk kin to visit Aztia.

"Don't worry, its just until I get back from Aztia. It will be a long time, so try not to miss me too much." She had winked at him before continuing on to find others to tell her news to. Ah, it was so fun to tease men about leaving on long trips like this.

~~~~~

It had been a long time since she had traveled through the Aztia kingdom. It would be refreshing to be surrounded by her own kind again, even if they had a different culture from her own home. And this time, she would get to meet some of their leaders from the capital. The detour they had decided to make did not bother the tigress at all. Maeve could not recall if she had been to the village of Craynyan, but if what Nyuko said was true, she looked forward to trying their food.

The only thing that Maeve had come to regret about this trip were her companions; they were all children. It was nice to be around the catfolk children, and they could hold their own in battle, but they were still children. And while she could agree that it was hot in Aztia, at least she did not complain about it almost every step of the way.

"Don't be so sure of that." Maeve replied to Kin's comment about hearing every sound a catfolk can make with a grin. "You haven't been to my home country."

Although the catfolk language was her native language, Maeve still had some troubles with the different dialect, especially in small towns and villages. When she had traveled through the kingdom in her travels before, she had had a hard time figuring out what villagers said. Their way of giving directions did not help matters. Of course, Maeve used the same way of giving directions, but at least her speech was clear enough to understand each word. She stared at the old man as he seemed to be greeting her catfolk companions, taking a moment to decipher his dialect. Nyaoko's reply to him cleared what issues she had with what he said. So this was her uncle.

Again, Maeve stared, this time at Nyaoko. She really should have spent more time with Nyaoko and helped her with her common. It had become abundantly clear to her while they traveled that the two Aztia-born siblings had not learned as much of common as they should have before traveling as emissaries to the guild.

"Reetinggsgrrr, Nyunpa. Igrrar amgrr Maeve Gallagurrrrr ofgrr ethgrar Igurrrfolktgryar."

Spoiler

Greetings, Nyunpa. I am Maeve Gallagher of the Tigerfolk.

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[Nyuko Nyun]

"Nyunpa!" Nyuko said cheerfully with a huge grin. He ran up towards his uncle, almost tackling him with a huge hug. In their language, this particular attack was called a 'lompgnya'. It was like a flying attack, but instead of weapons or claws drawn, it would be their open arms.

The catboy hadn't seen his uncle in years. The last time he had personally seen him was when he was still very young, and he remembered the long pieces of string and balls of yarn his uncle would bring back with him whenever he visited. He remembered too the stories uncle Nyunpa would tell them. Of large giant sea creatures, that when cooked just right was absolutely magnificent. Nyuko hugged his uncle tight as his stomach growled. Just thinking about the food from his uncle's hometown from all the stories Nyuko was told made him hungry.

Nyuko made it a point to attempt to speak common, if anything, their companion Kin, would understand.

"Can wenya try the foodnyu?" Nyuko asked, his eyes sparkling.

[Throndir]

"Nyaoko ouyan ancan etgnyu llanya the oysbyam Ian etbyu! Dnan Nyuko, ouyan avehnya othbnyu rowngya a otlya!" The old man announced as he endured Nyuko's 'lompgnya' attack. There were some other catfolk further behind the uncle who started to come closer to see what the commotion was about.

[include u=342,330,2]Translation:  Nyaoko you can get all the boys I bet! And Nyuko, you have grown a lot!
[/include]

The uncle grinned as he patted both of his relatives on their head. He then looked up to see Kin greet him.

"Nyunpa, is it? Well met, old man." The old man listened carefully, as if making sure he understood each of the words you said.

"Good met to you-nya! Me, the village head." Nyunpa said cheerfully as he grasped the halfling's hand and shook it ferociously - perhaps a little too lively.

Maeve who came from behind them all introduced herself as well.

"Reetinggsgrrr, Nyunpa. Igrrar amgrr Maeve Gallagurrrrr ofgrr ethgrar Igurrrfolktgryar."

"Arvelousmnya! Wenyu ont'dnya eesya hetnyu igerfolknyun ftenoyan." He said as he let go of Kin's hand, and the two relatives who still clung to him.

[include u=342,330,2]Translation:  Marvelous! We don't see the tigerfolk often.
[/include]

He switched back to his broken Common a moment later. Once he was at an arm's length away from both Nyaoko and Nyuko, the uncle took on an air of authority as he bowed towards them, the catfolk behind him too seemed to still themselves as they waited for their village head's welcoming words.

"Welcome. This... Craynyan!" He said as he made a sweeping motion to the village behind him. "To celebrate Nyaoko dnayan Nyuko's success ambassador to Galas'nornyun, ouyan will be our Honored Guests!"

As if on cue, some of the catfolk behind him cheered as well.

"We shall feast onightntyan! As our Honored Guests ouyan will capture for us the most marvlous rayfishcyan!" He then began leading his way towards the village, beckoning for you and your group to follow him with the rest of the catfolk villagers in tow.

[include u=330,2]You knew your uncle's treatment of Honored Guests very well. It was more as part of the culture of the catfolk that lived along the rivers than the ones who lived further deeper into the cities. Years ago, you remember being part of Nyunpa's celebrations before, where others were their Honored Guests. Nyuko who was too young at the time, had never been to Nyunpa's village, but you remember full well what being an Honored Guest was about.

You had to capture a crayfish alive, and cook it while it was still breathing, otherwise its carcass would secrete a toxin that was poisonous to whoever ate it.[/include]

You can ask questions, or do some RPing, or Nyaoko could explain what she knows of the situation. After that we'll move on to the next scene.

[Neko]

Although Nyaoko hadn't spent a whole lot of time with Maeve, she of course knew who the girl was. While similar in race, the two were still very different.

Nyaoko saw some familiar faces in the crowd, waving excitedly to a few people. As they followed along behind Nyunpa, she was sure to hug and happily greet her old friends. She had seen, quite a few times, others be part of the tradition. Oh yes, the crayfish had not just been good, but absolutely amazing. However, never had she expected to BE the honored guest at any point...nor did she exactly want to.

The water. She wanted nothing to do with it. But, in her usual fashion, she did her best to look at the positive side. Images of the feast they'd later take part in floated through her mind, her eyes becoming hazy as she lost herself in the day dream. "Hehehe.." She quetly giggled to herself at the thoughts.

[Throndir]

The uncle lead the way forward as he continued to merrily greet the other Catfolk that decided to make their way closer to you and the group. As you passed, you notice that many of the villagers had weapons to their side, or strapped to their back. Along with the chakram that Nyuko carried with him, or Nyaoko's claw-like weapons, each of the other Catfolk in the village wore weapons that weren't so commonly seen back in Korinthia. They were all unique and exotic weapons. There were blades that were curved, forming a half circle, yet looked extremely sharp. Some were traditional weapons, but had a long chain connecting both heads of it. Trying to imagine how to use it would seem to be a feat in itself. There were even some villagers who carried metallic fan-like objects that you assumed were weapons.

Soon enough, the village head made his way to the center of town. Around you were most of the villagers of the small village as well. Your presence as the Honored Guests was something the villagers looked forward for, and many of them recognized Nyaoko greeting the catfolk girl enthusiastically with their trademarks purrs and meows. Meave and Nyuko too were greeted happily as well. The smaller and younger catfolk especially took an interest to Maeve, as the tigerfolk were rare, even among an empire of Catfolk. The children would poke Maeve, only to quickly yelp and run away - most of the time making their way behind Kin, who, as short as he was, was easier to relate with (in the children's point of view). Nyuko received small gifts from the village children as well, many of them included various pieces of food which the catboy gladly swallowed on the spot.

"The Guild of Galas'noryan... arrived! Tonightnya we will feast!" The uncle announced, raising his hands prior to calm the gathering crowd.

"They are Honored Guests!" A cheer resounded as the clamoring grew louder. The uncle raised his hand again to get attention of his villagers.

"They will catchnyu for us... best rayfishcyan!" At this the catfolk cheered loudly, some, who had pulled out drums earlier, began wildly playing as if to match the crowd's enthusiasm.

The uncle looked at the guild members, ensuring he made eye contact with each one.

"You have until tonightnya." The catfolk around them were still cheering, and many had begun to pull out instruments, but the uncle made his way closer towards the guild members to ensure that they heard him better.

"The giant crayfishnya around our village is delicious! Prepare... as good as able!"

Everyone roll Knowledge (nature) or Knowledge (local) to see if you know anything about the Crayfish. Or a simple INT check if you don't have either.

[Nyuko Nyun]

Knowledge (nature):

Rolled 1d20+1 : 12 + 1, total 13

[Nyuko Nyun]

"Istersnyu..." Nyuko said as he pulled on his sister's sleeve. His face looked pale and slightly green, and he seemed to be clutching his stomach.

"My stomach doesn't feel so good-nyu." As he said this, he covered his mouth and lurched over. The catboy thankfully held off from vomitting, but it was easy to tell he was just trying to hold it in.

[Throndir]

Waiting on Maeve, Kin, or Nyaoko.

[Ella]

Maeve Gallagher

Maeve was not quite sure how she felt about children poking her like this. Back in her homeland, before she had run away, she had not gotten along well with most of the other children. In Korinthia, the children generally steered clear of her after the first time she had gone out without tucking her tail in and some kid thought it would be funny to pull it. Word spread around fast that you should never pull a cat's tail, at least, not Maeve's tail or when Maeve was around. The tigress had never taken kindly to bullies, be they bullying others of their kind or animals. But these kids all had tails and thus knew not to pull tails. Instead, they were just poking her before running off to hide. It was almost like they were playing a game; but whether they were playing it with each other as a test of courage or with her, she did not know for sure. It did not matter, for she was here on business and not to play with children. And so, the took the pokes and giggles and followed Nyunpa and the others who had come to greet them to the center of town.

The more she listened to what the villagers had to say, the more the tigress began to wonder what exactly they were getting into as "honored guests". From the sounds of it, she was beginning to believe that she and her party would have to hunt for the crayfish. That was no problem... As long as they were provided with the supplies needed to catch the creatures.

Spoiler

Dunno if crayfish are gonna be found around the world like in real life, but I'd assume since they're found in Asia and the UK,
that they are probably found where Maeve came from as well?
This dice roll has been tampered with!
Rolled 1d20 : 13, total 13

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