"...Poor sheep." Seti says, moving to try and pull the metal implement out of the thing before he pipes up. "yes, we'd be glad to help! If you need food or if people are sick, we'd be overjoyed to help you. Habakano always remembers, and by his graces, along with the graces of others, we have arrived safely here--both to help where we can, and set right the foulness that's claimed the island."

Seti's mannerisms changed when he was preaching. More formal. However, he quickly returned to his normal method of speaking. "I'm Seti. This is Rowan. Good to meet you!" The shoebill didn't bow, but gave the man a slight nod of acknowledgement, while watching him quite closely. With SUSPICION. Something was fucky here, he could sense it.

"Harm? Why would anyone mean any harm, here?" The man replied... in a surprisingly neutral tone. He seemed neither receptive of the goodwill the group was showing, nor was he surprised at their appearance, or offended by their offers to help. Turning his head to regard Naia almost mechanically, with a slightly glazed over cast to his eyes, he frowned a little. "If you are looking for someone, you've probably come to the wrong place. No one that needs finding, here. Just folks tending to crops, and raising livestock. We have food, and few get sick here. Disease is a problem of the outside world."

That didn't actually appear to be the case, of course, with so many of the denizens of this bizarre village seeming so thin and pale. They seemed to go about their business, however. If they were feeling ill, it didn't seem to disturb their day to day work any. Odd, though, that no one really seemed to pay attention to the strangers. In fact, they hardly seemed to even stop to speak to each other, except where it seemed necessary. Unlike many villages, there were no circle of gossips that seemed apparent, no slack-jawed onlookers wondering what the clan of weirdos that just popped up in their back yard was about.

"Tell me, sir, how long have you lived here? How is it that so many different peoples have come to live so.. comfortably together? Have you no overseer or magistrate?" Keeping her tone light and friendly even if they were showing no concern. Tipping her head to listen to Rei as she whispered about the manor house, just faintly. Though these people seemed so in touch with what was happening that she thought she might be able to club one across the head, she still kept her movements sedate. After the man did or did not answer she would say to him smiling still "I hope you don't mind if we move about your town and take rest among your people for a time?" Making it a question and while she might have in another case reached out to touch the man's hand for that personal connection.. something about this was setting her teeth to edge.

'...Naia, you know that feeling you get when someone tells you they didn't eat the last cookie from the jar, but there's crumbs and chocolate all over their mouth? That's the feeling I'm getting...' she pings Naia telepathically. 'Should I try to see if he's being affected by mind-control or suggestion? If someone's maintaining it, they might notice...'

While maintaining that conversation with Naia, she smiles at the man speaking. "Do you like sheep?"

Rei was just as uneasy as the rest of her team. This village was just... wrong. She stayed by Naia's side, watching the people carefully, searching for someone who looked out of place, someone who was paying too much attention, or trying to not be noticed. If she saw anyone like that she would then point them out to Naia.

The Berserker silently agreed with everyone, whether their concerns were voiced or not. The seemingly lack of the standard reaction from this group was putting him off a little. Especially since the man from the village didn't seem to grasp this group could be dangerous. Were they underestimating his companions or overestimating their abilities as a village. Something was clearly not right with this village or these people and he was starting to think Emma was right on her first assessment.

Naia spoke and figured it was best to let her do the talking at this point. He'd already drawn attention to the group like he wanted. The mention of the Spirits some of them worshiped went unnoticed by the villagers too, this was noticed as well. Normally something like that would prove a small conversation starter but it was like they ether didn't know the names or didn't care. His first reaction was to tense up slightly in anticipation but forced himself to relax. He would keep his body relaxed so he could move just a hair faster if he had to, say draw Kiisgor and split some fools in two.

Weird. Definitely weird. A chill ran up Seti's spine--he knew there was something that was off. His poker face was off slightly, however, as things of this nature tended to make him QUITE antsy. He did, however, have an idea.

"Well, we're glad to hear that you all have food, and you aren't sick. As it happens, we...Have had something of a rough journey here. Is there any chance we might be able to rest up in the village briefly, before we go on our way? We promise not to be of trouble to you! Just, having a chance to sit down and change into some dry clothes would be much appreciated..." Rowan shivers for effect. Of course, the shoebill wasn't cold. He didn't GET cold. Except when he did, but damned if Rowan would ever show weakness, except for the purposes of acting. Seti managed a brief teeth chatter, as well.

The strange northlander, who acted very unlike the hardy, proud people of the north normally did, stared at them perhaps a little too long before responding. If he noticed any discomfort among the heroes, he didn't seem to indicate it in any way.

"Most folks here were shipwrecked, or their ancestors were. Some folks been on this island for generations. The Menzies clan is probably one of the oldest. They don't even remember having kin not here in the village."

That name stuck out a bit odd, though Naia, Emma and Rei couldn't quite put their finger on why. Humans, after all, were diverse and had some strange names. However, Woten and Shamus picked up on it right away. Menzies wasn't a Northlander name - it was a Shalzaari Hillsman clan name. The northlander paused for.. a long time before responding on the matter of an overseer.

"...Yup. If you lot plan on staying, you should probably see him. But he don't like to be disturbed at this hour. If you're going to mill about the village, it's all fine and well, but folks don't stay without helping. Not that there's anywhere else to go, anyways. Reckon your vessel is fallen to bits. That's fine and well, though. Folks don't really leave, once they see how things are about here. Simple lives are happy lives. If you're going to stay, you ought to work, though."

There was something... far to rehearsed feeling about this to Emma, who was familiar enough with the dramatics of her half-sister and her travelling hare..... er. Troupe. Though, this person wasn't a very good actor.

He blinked at Emma's query, again taking.. far too long to respond to a question that should have been simple. "Don't have sheep. Goats. They live in the crags but Denton sometimes traps em to milk or slaughter." Seeming a little perplexed at why she would ask that, likely because he didn't identify her 'painting' as a sheep.

Woten did not feel the need to correct their assumptions about the state of their ship. Yes it was a lie by omission, he only felt it right to return the favor in this case though he disliked such tactics. Despite this he felt that it was better to error on the side of caution.

The Berserker was starting to view these as a weary, tired people. When the clan name was spoken glance was cast to Shamus then. While he might not know the clan he knew that wasn't a Northern band and thus w far from home.

"we're not ones to shy away from earning our stay if that's what is required and if your overseers doesn't like visitors at this hour we can delay. It will give us time to rest, heal, and make itself more presentable tomorrow. As not to put anyone out I believe we have our own shelter we can make, we only need to know where we can make camp. "

~Do what you can, Emma, but we need to backup and talk.~ mentally replying, tension even in her telepathic response.

There was a fine shudder running down the woman's spine and her skin was prickling with goose-flesh. It made the proud and independent part of her, ingrained in her by her mother and father, the part of her nature that would never countenance herself to be pressed under foot. It wasn't that she wanted to stay or linger here, these people made everything in her scream in protest for both herself as well as for them. But she kept a smile on her face, steady and encouraging "Thank you for your kindness, sir. We will take some time to confer among our party and acquaint ourselves to your town. Naia didn't comment on the state of their ship, there was no reason to bring that into conversation or bring any additional attention on Marko and his crew. "We thank you for your guidance and we will not be in the way in the least. We won't trouble your neighbors." Waiting only for the man to reply to Woten or any of the others

Bowing slightly as she withdrew from the man, a smile crinkling the corners of her eyes and curving the corners of her lips. Was it concern that made her grip both Emma and Rei's elbows to draw them back as they were the closest to her? Perhaps it was just a friendly touch, but her fingertips gripped a little harder than they needed to. Leaning on the both of them just a bit for balance as her tender ankle took her backward. Naia did not turn her back on the man until they were far enough away from him that she felt safe, smiling the entire way. Indicating to the others with a jerk of her head that they should withdraw. Once they were far enough away from people, carefully checking around them and schooling her face to pleasant interest. "Sorry, Emma, I didn't think it was a good idea to keep lingering. I believe they are being controlled in some way, I think we're all feeling it."

Looking around to each of the people in the group and speaking softly. "Rei is seeing a manor house, apart from the village, concealed. I think 'he' who doesn't want to be disturbed is probably the owner of that manor. As much as I am unwilling to state this, I think we need to be concerned about the villagers. Unless someone has an idea of what is controlling them?" Again looking about the group to try and get input. "I think we may want to direct ourselves toward the manor house. I don't know if it's our goal, but it seems as likely a place as any to begin. We might help these people as well." there was uncertainty and she still felt like her flesh was prickling, but her tone was confident at least. "What think you all? Was anyone else able to gleen any information from that exchange?"

Shamus gave a slow upwards nod to Woten as he fully understood what the large Northlander was getting at, though it seemed glaringly obvious to everyone how un-northlanderly this man seemed with each spoken word. The warlock remained as tense as always and remained close to Emma and silent till they could confer in relative privacy.

"This village, it's very much a fraud, isn't it? I think Woten noticed, but this Menzies isn't really a Northlander. Despite fitting the height, the name's actually Shalzaari. They are either under a powerful enchantment, or... well, I am not entirely sure of their health, seeing how pale and thin they are, and they do appear to be barely animated, in the sense they only do the bare minimum to seem alive, right? What if, um, they aren't really?", he took a quick glance at the figures in the distance, "Maybe that's why they need someone like Menzies to pretend to be a Northlander? He seems kind of, er, 'fresher', and more well-spoken than the others"

"An-nyway", coughed Shamus, "Just some thoughts, whatever or whoever's got them like this is probably the same as what is keeping the fog in the island. Let's check out the manor, maybe they're there. Or, it could be another trap, heh. But, either way, let's not stick around here and 'join' these townfolk"