"...Oookay, can we...go back to the boat now? My Inner-Vanidyr is like...super-offended by their lack of style. Also they might be half-undead...or just well-preserved dead. I hear a story once...about a coven of Necromancers who saved people with chronic illnesses...by letting them die and then animating their corpses instantly, and kept them semi-alive and well for ages..." This feels something like that. Why else would this entire region be so well-hidden? This is some powerful Necromancer's experiment or pet project, Emma is sure of it.

With Rowan's assistance and wing of support, the woman is able to move more quickly. Pausing when they reached the outskirts of the village. That march had gone better than she'd hoped, quicker as they worked together to forward their progress. As Emma made comment the knight looked over the scene with a frown on the lovely asyn-shei features. "These poor people.." She had taken the information Sentis had provided too literally and had not expected to find anyone on the island outside of the one person they were seeking. Seeing these people in this state was startling and concerning.

The look of the townsfolk caused the knight to reach out her senses indeed to try and determine, were they undead or living in a terrible situation. "It appears we may be here both for information as well as for the sake of these people. I believe we may be served by a straightforward approach." that was if they weren't going to just get gnawed on by zombies "Moving in and speaking with the villagers. Do any of you have alternate thoughts?" Outside of going back to the boat because she hoped Emma was joking.

The Large Northlander looked among his companions then. "If anyone has a way to determine whether or not they are undead do so now." Unaware that Naia had an ability to do just that. He was striding forward now to take the lead in the group and then distance himself from the others by at least 10ft if he could. "I'll get their attention." he said while walking away. While moving forward he tried to spot any children in the population of this village. Once confirmed whether anyone here was living or dead he drew in a deep breath, that showed physically, before bellowing out. "OOOOOOOOOOOOOH!" He said in a deep, and loud sing-song voice that was not quite yelling but defiantly projecting his voice. "WE SEEK AID! WE HAVE INJURED!" Which was true though he might have come across more dire sounding that he meant to. Woten figured a statement like this would reveal the towns true colors. Ether someone would come to help, they would all attack in mass,..or they wouldn't give two damn about their presence here.

Of course, seeing a bunch of emaciated people that looked as though they'd been forgotten by time set off Seti's inner Habakanian immediately. He clasped his hands together. and murmured a quick prayer. "...Lord Habakano, I thank you for guiding us safely here, and giving us a chance to assist these people. By your will, I will make sure these people know that you remember...That they have not been forgotten, even in this desolate place. If I can, I will help to feed them, and make sure that they know your grace and blessing==for you remember all. Thanks be to you, my Lord Habakano." Having finished his prayer, Seti's eyes again turned to the people, alight with the fire of religious fervor. Seti was especially passionate about two things--helping the Broken, and punishing the Guilty and Opressors. And in his mind, these people fit snugly in the former category.

However, when it seemed like Seti would be unable to contain himself, there was a sharp 'CRAW' from Rowan, who stared at the boy in an imperious manner as he continued supporting Naia.

"Oh come ON Rowan. These people need help! Look at them...They're trapped in this foul place, trying to eke out an existence as best they can. The traps must be to try and keep people from finding them, and potentially bringing them even more harm. It's our DUTY to help them."

The bird let out another sharp sound, shaking his head slowly. For all his peculiar ways, the shoebill never hesitated to protect or assist Seti when he believed there might be danger involved. In fact, the shoebill's devotion to Seti's well being was surprisingly singular, given the way he tormented him on a regular basis.

"...Ugh. Fine, fine...You're probably right. We need to exercise some kind of caution. I mean, we can always try and go aro--" Then of course, there was Woten bellowing.

"..well, I guess that solves that problem. And Emma, that's shallow. You can't judge people just based on how they're dressed!"

Rei wasn't as trusting of her senses as the others appeared to be. There were too many traps, too many illusions on this island for her to believe it was all to protect or enslave a ragtag village. She calmed her thoughts, blocking out the sounds around her and unfocusing her eyes (much like you have to do with those nifty "magic pictures" in order to see the hidden image), and then she reached out with her magic attempting to push through any further illusions. She would immediately alert her team to any perceived dangers.

"I mean, it looks like a village. But it's so... wrong?", to Shamus, it seemed like the village was a crude bit of scenery using shoddy props in a low quality stage play. Be it the unusual mix of races, the disparity of the crops and the activities put in display, it left little to wonder in his mind on whether this was a trick of some kind. But rather, he dreaded the end goal of this facade.

Shamus gritted his teeth when Woten moved to answer that question in the most direct way. Growing more anxious as he expected the bottom to fall out at any second, he started scratching the back of his hand almost furiously now.

Woten's bid to gain attention worked, though the stance of the people was.. yet unclear. Many kept wandering about their daily lives, hauling stone or repairing this or that, or handing out food. The last.. seemed to be mostly cabbage soup, from the smell - both off of the cookpots and from the people themselves. It was an odd mix of humanoids - Northlanders, a handfull of Shei, even a Tashrani. Yet they were all working together to maintain this community, as simple as it might be.

A few people looked over in the direction of the party's ruckus, staring vacantly for a few moments, before murmuring among one another. Eventually, a wary man wandered in the direction of Naia and company. A northlander, by the height, dressed in hand-woven clothing. He didn't have a weapon, but he was gripping a hoe as if it were one, looking ready enough to defend himself if need be.

"...You're lost, strangers."

Rei, meanwhile... detected no further visual illusions. There was, however.. what could have passed, given the construction, for a manor house in this place. Smooth masonry, with wood sills, functional eaves, and a roof made of fabricated tile. It was certainly the nicest place on this island, which was so drab and unpleasantly bland otherwise. There was even some decorative scrollwork worked into the trim and sills. Why did Rei see it, while others didn't seem to notice? The eye always seemed to slide away from looking at it, but once it caught Rei's attention, she seemed able to focus on it much longer.

With a hand to her chest, the woman bowed to the man "I see you, sir." smiling as she did so and standing straight though likely a bit rumpled from her fall. "I hope we find you well and your hearth burning strong." Straightening up and the woman had shaken off Rowan's wing, not unkindly. Showing all respect to the man but displaying no weakness to him. It was something she'd learned from her father about entering into a negotiation with an unknown person, especially a Northlander. "We are not truly lost, we have found this location in search of another. We seek for information but it is our good fortune to find you and your neighbors. I can not help but notice that while you are bearing up against the weathering of time, we might be able to help you."

Once more she gestured to herself "I am Naia, in service to Philisteenja. Myself and my company would be most happy to led assistance to you and your people where there is need. We have with us supplies, medicines, a source of fresh water, and would be happy to share. Is there any aid we might render?" The warm candour in her tone didn't waver, inflections of firm resolve and will didn't take away from the kindness or the warmth that flowed through it. Naia had undergone hours and hours of drilling from her mother on the proper inflections when trying to broker peace, nuances as fine as the proper points to use one's hands to indicate a point made or the depth of a bow. All of that before the layer of Knight's training levied by Murcalus between those two and the last few years of experience, the young woman was more comfortable.

While she was speaking for all, there was a reason why the selection had been so careful of those that had come with and she didn't believe any would speak against lending assistance to people in dire circumstances. Or at least if they disagreed it would come out when they weren't facing the village.

Woten was, internally, greatful the tactic he used worked. Though his hands where not on his weapon he had been ready to defend himself and the others had things turned out for the worse. His hands remained at his side trying to be as nine threatening looking as he could appear for a health, strong Northlander Berserker. "I see you Northlander and speaker for tese people. We mean you no harm I aware as a follower of Elestra." a large hand move up and clasped his best before moving it away, the other pulled something else out from under it to reveal the symbol of the Spirit of Valor around his neck. He long had that been there? Who knows, before now he'd never had need to do anything but stroke his beard in thought.

Rei moved to Naia's side offering the villager a smile. She would indeed be okay with helping out if they needed it, but she also wanted to make sure their expedition leader had all the facts. She would wait until Naia wasn't engaged in conversation and then speak softly so they wouldn't be overheard. "There is a hidden manor here. It seems out of place with the rest of the village. It is just over there, an illusion tricks the eyes to avoid seeing it."

Emma just...stands beside Naia, nodding her head occasionally in agreement. She knows better than to say anything, because both of them know that neither of them are good at keeping synch with each other. Meanwhile, the Sheep Phantasms...uh, munch on some grass nearby. One of them doesn't seem too bothered by some sharp implement from a trap being stuck in it.