Characters: Oleg and Svetlana<br/>Mood: Indifferent Attitude<br/>Frog Level: Moderate- They do live in a swamp?<br/>Tag: PC's<br/>---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------<br/><br/>Svetlana and Oleg both could hardly contain their shock though Svetlana did a much better job at it. They had been promised help from the city to defend their home. They had expected a sortie of knights or infantry, maybe even guards from the Swordlords themselves. The last thing they had expected to come through the massive wooden gates to their home was this lot of adventurers. Svetlana hurried about the finish her dinner preparations, like any master hostess would. She moved with a casual, practiced grace that seemed almost out of place for her somewhat thicker frame. Svetlana tried to keep her eyes from the gate as more of the party moved their way in. At first it seemed fine to her because it was just a strange looking human or two approaching her husband as he roused himself from his daily repairs on the roof. As More and more of the outlandish, almost monstrous party arrived through the gate, she summoned all of her courage to seem friendly, as well as appropriate. This lot, though enough to raise her blood pressure even higher, definitely looked tough enough to deal with the bandits. Maybe she and her beloved husband could be free of their nightmarish demands. Smoothing out her dress and hurrying in between tables to finish the settings, place to the stew for the travelers and keeping her eyes somewhat inverted, she thought to herself:<em>I grew up in the city, I have seen all sorts of outlandish people like this before. Be Strong Girl!</em><br/><br/>Oleg was less socially gifted than his wife. Even his hard cast face, that seemed made out of granite cracked as he watched each of the adventurers enter his home. His heart almost burst in a moderate degree of anxiety when he wondered if the bandit's had sent whatever demons resided in the forests around here to collect their monthly tax. "Tax" was the loosest term for it he could think of. At first he just thought the woman approaching him was fine and exotic but there was definitely something off about her. That tingling on the back of Oleg's neck went full blown as fanciful creatures began to appear. They seemed friendly enough and things like half orcs were not exactly strange to him but many of the local hunters who frequented the trading post often mentioned demon's in the woods. These adventurers seemed too cheerful to be demons though and maybe they could help him after all. If he was moderately scared of them, imagine what the bandits would think rolling into the post tomorrow. A half smile eased some of the stony demeanor on his face as he first addressed the woman in front of him "umm a traveling merchant you say?" He said as his skeptical eyes traveled along her frame, head to toe "If you say so." He wondered if she was a merchant that sold her body as a "pain pills" but dismissed the thought "I'll be fine without any pills, ain't no work but hard work, unfortunately people around these parts don't be knowing that" Oleg spat as his anger started to rise a little bit. Thankfully Svetlana's hand found his shoulder and he eased slightly. Oleg was never adept at conversation or making friends, it's why he lived in the middle of nowhere god dammit!<br/><br/>The more gifted and socially adept of the two, Svetlana hurriedly answered questions with a practiced smile as she moved around the dining area in a flurry of motion. She hustled to refill Alni's bowl with more stew and then addressed Pip as she flew by in a whirlwind "Your welcome to my hospitality young man" She said and then was on to the next person. Looking at Dorn, pushing down some anxiety, she offered a sincere apology "Sorry we don't have any mead, it is hard to get out here" She said as sincerely as she could. She was about to address Aaleyah when she was taken aback by the appearance of Luckums. The small goblin had a mesmerizing quality to her being that just drew someones attention. D<br/><br/>"Well hello Luckums, you are most welcome and thank you for the introductions, It's good to know you are all not figments of my imagination!" She said with a genuine smile, though a bit of trepidation as she realized she might have offended someone. Brushing past it, she continued to speak as she poured a bowl of stew for Luckums and drew her out a chair to sit with others. Looking over the others, her eyes found Olegs and they both shared a nervous glance between them. The adventurers seemed confused about their purpose here and thus, the couple seemed confused as well. Oleg was about to say something, most likely something brutish, so Svetlana dived into the conversation with a practiced smile.<br/><br/>"I hope the stew is alright" She said to everyone as her voice carried easily over any noise in the camp "I think there seems to be some confusion here." She said as friendly as she could though her heart definitely began to sink with worry "You're all welcome here of course but......you're all here at the behest of the Swordlords to protect us tomorrow right?" She said with a little mix desperation and naive hope in her dulcet tone of voice. Her heart, beating rapidly, as well as her hope hung on the words of her new guest's next words.<br/><br/><div class="spoiler_container"><div class="spoiler_header" onclick="hideSecond (this);" role="button">Spoiler: Click to Show/Hide</div><div class="spoiler_body">Rolled a diplomacy in case you wanted it Luckums, it didn't go well but you never declared your intent to use it. If you want to, make sure to let me know, wasn't sure?</div></div><br/><br/>