Once within the inn, Hinagiku is true to herself, taking a step back, and trying to find her place while analyzing how she might be usefull, or who might need her presence. It becomes evident once she notices a certain patron, but before she can head his way, Valaria speaks about this weird hypothesis which catches her attention. Although at first unable to fathom why the tiefling would ask such a strange question, things becomes much clearer once Valaria speaks plainly about it. With that in mind, the monk concentrates her gaze at a random point beyond the tiefling's back, staring at other patrons, but making sure at the same time that the space behind her ally is within her field of view . As she does so, Hinagiku empties her mind, focuses on the corruption of
ब्रह्मा that seems to accompany evil beings.
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Ary watches the conversation unfold, looking back and forth amongst the group. "Or, right now is the perfect time for a drink, Ehren." She's much less subtle, though; not having actually been trained in the art of lying as the others were.
A startlingly pretty barmaid approaches the table with a platter of fresh bread, cheese, and berries. Her clothes are worn and fit her lithe figure so perfectly she must have had them tailored herself. She offers the group a quick curtsey, then withdraws into the kitchen.
Whalt grins apologetically. "Sorry, Shal's new. A little shy. If you lot need anything, just give me a yell. Just remember to tip!"
Hinagiku suddenly closes her eyes, her face bearing an express of disgust. Still, it only lasts a few seconds, after which her calm expression is back.
"There is something wrong about this place... its like it is a void of... purity, empathy, or selflessness... More worrisome, the waitress who just came by seems... as void of those things as the room itself." she whispers to the others, burying her head in her hands so that no one can see her lips move.
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Markus answers Hinagiku in the whisper, "I wouldn't be surprised if most of these people had weak morals."
He eyes the barmaid - not in a sexual way! He's better than that! But with concern. "But you said just as void as the creature behind Valaria? That'd indicate that she's either using misdirective magic or that she's something powerfully evil. A disguised demon, the barmaid is possessed, or perhaps she's just powerful and evil."
"It's not about weak morals... I think I saw a few people who might display those... but what I saw for the room and the girl... its much much worst... if it weren't for the other people who might need protection, I would suggest leaving at once..." she whispers back.
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Ehren feels a twinge of regret when he hears the scenario laid out by Markus. He had known there was something wrong with Illayna, the moment they met her. His senses had never failed him before. Why hadn't he pressed the issue? Why had he allowed himself to fall into the trap of caring about her well-being? And now it was not him, but Valaria that had to suffer for it. It was enough to make him, well, mad.
Seemingly dropping the issue of their (other) invisible stalker entirely, Ehren instead addresses Nurah, elaborating on Ary's brief mission report. His voice is uncharacteristically firm as he struggles to ignore the sinister presence.
"The prophecy was there, but a Deskaran cultist by the name of Caggrigar reached it first. He had the assistance of three mercenaries, two of whom we have here with us - the other fled into the Worldwound. Caggrigar acquired the prophecy and abandoned his subordinates, whom we were forced to subdue. We managed to catch up to him... but he was powerful. Too powerful. We almost had him, but he fled into Storasta with the prophecy. We deemed following him too great of a risk, so we came here."
Intent as he is in his focus, he does not miss Ary's cue. As he is about to weave his spell and turn around however, Hinagiku delivers her bad news. With a grimace Ehren pauses, considering what Isilme said before about the hag being ethereal. He closes his eyes, trying to calm himself.
"What should we do?" he asks under his breath, wishing that things could just go right for once.
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"Are Nurah, Hrut and the guardians affected Hinagiku?" Isilme asks the monk quietly. Isilme scans the room slowly as she takes another drink.
She'd certainly worked enough crowds in her centuries long life to be able to tell if something was going wrong. I didn't matter much for her safety then--she'd wound up in more than a few tavern fights where she was pulling her punches to avoid hurting anyone--it was more for her own curiosity and to avoid missing a story in the making. Now, however, the lives of her and her friends did depend upon it.
It was bad enough that there might be a Hag siphoning away Val's life force, and that they had that quasit following them about. But now there was a possibility that the entire tavern was a trap? There were certainly enough well armed patrons here that they'd be in serious trouble if it became a fight.
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You trust Nurah, and Hrut, and his fellow Empyreal Guardians- they seem about the same as they've always been. The patrons are a raucous group, but other than their strange appearance, no different than any other random group of people in a bar. Nothing in particular about them stands out.
In your heads, the bound horror's simpering voice: "Ooooooh. So paranoid. Could there be enemies everywhere? Are you going to turn this into a grand brawl? I doubt you want to force some of these patrons to show their hands...or maybe you do...heeheehee"
Nurah listens to Ehren report, her face falling in disappointment. "Oh, that's awful to hear. I'm glad you didn't risk going into Storasta. We were hoping... we were hoping to get hold of it before they were aware of us... how could they have known?" She frowns, then focuses on Orlovski and Embla, both of whom are eagerly digging into the free food provided by the halfling's rather deep pockets.
"So, you say these two are... mercenaries? You're certain they aren't cultists?"
She is interrupted mid-thought as she watches Hinagiku stiffen and focus as she channels Detect Evil. The halfling historian raises an eyebrow. It's pretty conspicuous in the bar - and a couple of patrons stop to stare. Nurah reaches over to grip her wrist, gently, then murmurs in a low voice.
"The locals are a little more understanding of clerics than they are of wizards around here, dear, but there's a limit. Be careful."
She grins, hoping to distract from the muttering that's building up in the room. She stands up and begins to sing in a clear, sweet voice,
"Hey, hey, hey, Kala! With me! Coed gwyrdd plygu stondin gyda ni.."
It takes a moment, but eventually the harpist and the entire room starts to sing along... it's a mournful, sad tune, but nearly every Kellid chants with Nurah and Kala with grim determination. They won't forget. They won't ever forget.
"Coed gwyrdd plygu sefyll gyda ni / Carrock parhaol, gwerth, / Ond bydd yn cael ei adael ei ben ei hun? / Dim ond gwaed a chwalu esgyrn / Chwith oll fod yn gobeithio i arbed. / Ble y rhyfelwyr a elwir unwaith yn ddewr? / Y dynion rydym yn unwaith a elwir yn frawd, / mae plant o fam gyffredin, / Brodyrs bell ac agos brodyr, / a ydych yn goresgyn gan ofn? / yn fuan daw eich amser i fod yn ddewr / ar gyfer eich bywydau eu hunain, rhaid i chi gynilo / Ond y geiriau hyn, mae ein olaf i ddweud / Wrth i ni wynebu ein diwrnod olaf / fyfyrio ddwfn, myfyrio yn dda / nid yw'n bwysig, Affwyss neu Uffern, / Pan fyddwch yn wynebu'r bedd agored / Pwy plith y byddwch yn ddewr? / Pryd gobaith yn farw a gobaith wedi mynd / Pwy yn eich plith bydd yn ymladd ar? / dim fuddugoliaeth , unrhyw wobr melys / gusan dim chariad, Llawenydd / Ein cyrff dim cariad melys yn marw, mae ein cyrff hongian / A phan dinistrio ydym ni i gyd / gall ein casineb cipio yn dal eu genau / ysu i ni, ein gelynion ' saib coluddion / wrth i ni yn eu poeni gan fod eu tail iawn."
The final lines of the work detail the last Sarkorian stand in Storasta. The final verse of the Song of Sarkoris naturally mourns its end...
(Feel free to click on the Hallit spoiler to see the translation, as you've read it before.)
"Green trees bending stand with us / Carrock enduring, valorous, / But will he be left alone? / Naught but blood and shattered bone / Left of all he hoped to save. / Where are the warriors once called brave? / The men we once called brother, / Children of a common mother, / Brothers far and brothers near, / Are you overcome with fear? / Soon comes your time to be brave / For your own lives you must save / But these words, our last to say / As we face our final day / Ponder deeply, ponder well / It matters not, Abyss or Hell, / When you face the open grave / Who among you will be brave? / When hope is dead and hope is gone / Who among you will fight on? / No victory, no sweet reward / No lover's kiss, no sweet love's bliss / Our bodies die, our corpses hung / And when destroyed are we all / Our clutching hate may still their jaws / Devoured we, our foes' bowels pause / As we torment them as their very dung."
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Isilme frowns as she feels the telepathic intrusion from their unwanted cohort. They had enough issues to deal with without a damned quasit hanging around and throwing in his two cents.
She doesn't get any particular feel from the crowd or anyone else after looking them over, so she relaxes. When Nurah starts up a chant to distract from Hinagiku's near faux pas, she smiles, recalling having heard the chant before.
Singing isn't her forte, so instead she decides to accompany the chant. Summoning forth her flute, she plays a mournful tune, harmonizing with the chant of the Song of Sarkoris and punctuating its lines. She plays softly enough so as not to detract from the chant, but just loudly enough so it can be heard by the crowd.
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Ary looks around as everyone starts to sing. That wasn't an ordinary 'bar song'. But everyone here knew it... which meant either they were celebrating a birthday (which didn't fit the tone), or it was just the opposite.
Hinagiku is slightly confused at Nurah's words. Her disgusted expression must have been insulting, but to a point were Nurah would need to stop her? No, it had to be something else. It must have been the skill she used. But, had it been that obvious that she was trying to get a feel of the ब्रह्मा of the room? She had only tried this at most 3 times since she had become aware of being able to do it and no one had ever mentioned anything about it.
"I... sorry, I did not realize..." Hinagiku simply answers to the halfling.
Placing her hands back on the table, and thus uncovering her face, Hinagiku turns toward Isilme.
"Hrut and the others appear to be normal." she says, before trying to sing with the other, only ending up mouthing most of it.
At the same time, she looks toward Ary, clearing awaiting a command from her.
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Ehren frowns slightly when Nurah starts up the anthem of his people as a cheap, though much appreciated distraction. To him it seemed slightly disrespectful... yet terribly clever. Almost like he could not help himself however, he is drawn into like all the rest, as though in trance. His singing is dull, though not quite tone deaf, but his voice is swallowed up by those who had been singing for much longer than he. After seeing just a part of Storasta for himself, the words were all the more sorrowful.
As the song comes to a close, the druid turns his head side to side, waiting to address the elephants in the room.
The song ends, and the bar returns to its former bustle, though the mood is notably subdued. After a few moments of silence, Nurah returns her attentions to the two mercenaries. Orlovski stopped to listen, though Embla continued to rudely eat through the short performance.
The Brevish nobleman breaks the silence serenely. "We were hired men, not demon worshippers. And if you'll let us, we'll soon be on our way, first ship back to Nerosyan."
Hrut frowns, surveying the mercenaries with thinly veiled contempt. "Little difference, when it comes down to it. What do you all think should be done with them?"
"I'm not an Inquisitor." Ary says, still not having touched food or drink. And glad she hadn't after Hinagiku's revelation. "I can't verify their story, but the inquisitors should be much better at it." she nods towards Embla, "No offense, but 'the end of the world' seems of a little more importance than an innocent person being detained for a few days. Even innocent, you may well have seen or heard something that you didn't even think important... that's just how these things go. I've left out vital information before..." she says, trailing off, then shakes her head, "With it being my job."
She shrugs a little. "Regardless, I'll want to talk to you, Hrut, before we head out."
"I agree that they should be questioned to verify their innocence. But only really cursorily - punishing these people any more than they see completely necessarily will only serve to turn them against us." mentions Markus, still eyeing the empty space where he guesses the invisible hag is. "The wizard Orlovski should be watched carefully - he will try to use enchantment to get out of trouble."
He looks at the wizard. "Speaking of that. What's your first name?"
Isilme wasn't terribly surprised to see Orlovski suggesting he and Embla should be able to be put on a boat and sent off without even a slap on the wrist. If he had a chance he'd probably be using magic to enhance the probability that his suggestion was accepted as well.
When Markus finishes, she chimes in as well. "I agree with Markus's assessment of the situation. Orlovski is unscrupulous, but unlikely to be evil. His is quite adept at enchantment magic, as Markus mentions, and will likely use it given a chance. He could be an asset if he decided to provide his services to the Crusade," she says, reiterating that Orlovski was likely to attempt to weasel his way out of any unfavorable situation but that he had his uses. "Embla is a competent warrior and would be an asset as well, and seems significantly more forthright."
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"It's Rovald," the mage replies, his shoulders sinking slightly as he realizes he's likely going to be staying in Gundrun for awhile.
Hrut nods to Ary, Markus and Isilme. "Right. We should be able to detain them on the barge." He gives Rovald a wink. "We'll be gentle." A couple of his kinsmen behind him chuckle as he slaps an enormous hand against his back, nearly knocking the slender mage over. Orlovski scowls.
While they talk, a familiar face emerges from the stairs leading down into the inn proper. Annabelle quickly spots the heroes and lurches towards them. She doesn't look too great, her eyes are sunken and her normally pale skin has taken on an almost transparent hue, revealing thin blue spiderweb arteries and veins beneath.
She plops into an empty seat next to Hinagiku, but across from Markus and shoots him a fanged grin. "Took you guys long enough. Any longer and I'd have had to go bail you out myself."
As she speaks, Whalt returns once more with the pretty barmaid, Shal. Shal sets down a series of silver chalices before the group that appear to have been recently polished. Whalt plucks a bottle of wine from beneath his injured arm and displays it as if presenting a great treasure, its faded label revealing it to be a solid twenty years old.
While Whalt steadies the bottle with his injured arm and draws the cork, Annabelle pulls a letter out from her things and slides it across to Isilme. "Right, This came in for you yesterday."
Annabelle doesn't protest as Whalt fills up her chalice with vibrant red wine. She makes no move to drink it either, staring at it sullenly in a trance for several moments before breaking herself out of it. She raises her eyes to meet Hinagiku's.
"Hey, senpai. You okay? Something's bothering you."
Aravashnial's letter is not written in his familiar, graceful script, but instead an unfamiliar and untidy scrawl.
Isilme,
It's wonderful to hear from you. Though I hope you aren't serious about going into Storasta. That would mean certain death. I hope the tome is worth it.
Aponavicius, truly? You attract dangerous enemies. They must not be too worried though, if she isn't attempting to assassinate you directly. I know it's difficult for your lot, but perhaps you can try to attract less attention?
Things are going well in Kenabres. Anevia's leg is almost fully healed, and Defender's Heart is mostly cleared of refugees.
I think of you often. Don't do anything Elan would do.
Aravashnial
PS: Aravashnial thinks that Anevia is simply the best archer that has ever lived. No snooty elf archers can ever compare to her amazingness. Spread the word!
PS PS: Valaria had better still be wearing my socks or I shall be heartbroken
"Hey, no. We already put enough holes in them when they were working for the enemy. No need to make things worse." Ary interjects, as Hrut is a bit... too forthright in his aggression.
"Like Isilme said, the intent is not to punish innocent folks. If they wind up with information that's valuable, and the inquisitors find them innocent, I'll make sure they're compensated for their time. Plus a free boatride back towards the south, yeah?"
"Hey 'belle." she adds as the young vampire comes down the stairs. She grimaces slightly when she sees the obvious... difficulties she's had. She turns her eyes to Markus and lofts a brow.
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Isilme smiles at Annabelle as she joins them, though she hides the fact that she's worried about her state given her appearance. "It is good to see you again dear," she says to her. She takes the note from Annabelle and turns it over briefly, studying it, her face betraying her excitement at having received a response so soon.
She takes her chalice and thanks Whalt as he fills it up, saying "Still interested in that story if you get a chance." to the bartender. She examines the bottle briefly and notes its provenance and vintage, but doesn't see a point of making a fuss about it. Instead she thanks him again and allows him to continue filling the others' chalices. She smells the wine briefly before taking a sip, simply enjoying having wine available, and turns her attention to the letter. She smiles as she reads the note, her eyes scanning back and forth across the lines. As she comes towards the bottom of the page, she stops for a moment, lost in whatever she'd read. A few moments later she chuckles and closes the note up, tucking it into her belt for safe keeping.
"Val, Anevia demands to know if you're still wearing her socks. She says she'll be heartbroken if you're not," Isilme says with a laugh. "Would you care for me to report on your sock situation in my reply to Aravashnial?"
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Ehren smiles weakly at Annabelle, still caught in the awkward situation of having a happy reunion while being in mortal danger. He could not help but to pay heed to the quasit's taunt. Could they afford to start something here and now? Or would it happen regardless? Still on guard, but acting as though this was business as usual, he reaches into his pack and pulls out the nursemaid's journal.
"It is a small consolation, but we were able to recover this," Ehren says, placing the journal on the table and sliding it toward Nurah. "It was written by the nursemaid that tended to the oracle. We learned the oracle's name from it. Whether it holds anything more, I do not know. A curiosity, at the very least."
As much as she hates to admit it, Val once again has to agree with the little demon. Starting a fight in the bar is perhaps the worst possible idea right now. Better to plan to deal with the hag once they can go somewhere more private. And somewhere with less civilians in the line of fire, should the thing prove as powerful as it seems. "You're not going to be detected if you keep hanging around are you?" she projects in the horror's direction. "Because I really don't need to be accused of being a demon spy because of you."
"Are you alright?" Val asks as Annabelle approaches them. "You look... not well. Have you been eating alright? You don't even look like you can stand up straight."
Val laughs at Isilme's question. "You can't really tell," she says sticking one leg out to display her thigh high boots in all their glory. "But I'm still wearing them. They're a little lumpy, but surprisingly warm."
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Since Ary does not give any orders concerning the monster siphoning Valaria's life, Hinagiku tries to relax, believing that it is not that urgent, or that their captain already has a plan. Still, just like ary, she refrains from eating any of the food that was brought to them.
Having let go of these issues, Hinagiku focuses on answering Hrut question. Bowing her head she takes a few moments to reflect on her answer while still nodding in agreement to Ary and Isilme's assesment of the situation. Finally, she raises her head and she speaks toward Orlovski and Embla rather than Hrut.
"Anyone can help bring an end to the wound, or a least stem it. Yet, if one let selflessness or empathy out of their heart, they become like the onis and only serve to spread the wound, whether they realize it or not." she pauses, hoping the importance of what she said might be understood by their prisoners.
"Yet, as long as we are alive there is hope, for anyone can better themselves. Help is always there, for the gods are always listening, and many are ready to help or forgive ones actions."
A smile dawns on Hinagiku's face she she sees the vampire enter the room and energetically sit next to her.
"Annabelle, I am glad to see you. Bothering me? ... yes, I guess... I... I have lately been aware of things that were once invisible to me... and they sometimes are more disturbing than I anticipated" she says, enigmatic.
The monk herself was having trouble understanding how evil were the things she was seeing. Was there always a few people presenting these traits within a room? Or were the people here particularly devoid of goodness?
Ary shakes her head as the man brings out the wine and offers her a goblet. "I don't really drink. Even a bit of it makes me really... sad." she explains. Being a barkeep he likely fully understands the different types of drunk there are.
As for Hina; Ary had already suggested to Ehren to act, prior to Hina's revelation. She was now leaving it in their hands to decide. It was unlikely any in the tavern would appreciate a hag, however.
"Oh, Annabelle!" says Markus, standing. His smile only falters for a second at the state of her. "It's good to see you again - I'm glad that we didn't bring you into the Worldwound. There were lava rivers and chases in daylight and it would have been a bad time for you."
He looks her over. "I'm sorry, I should have drained some blood for you before we all left. Would you like to do so now?"
"Don't worry 'bout me, mistress. No one's gonna realize I'm here, unless I want them to, hehe."
Annabelle's eyes dart towards Valaria, then gestures towards the food, wrinkling her nose. "Mmmmm, nope! The food here is.... " Her face falls when she notices Whalt's devastated expression, and she tries to recover, grinning sheepishly. "Fantastic! Fantastic. I'm just sick. Can't sleep."
She blanches at Markus, and then glances at the other crusaders present, horrified. "Ugh, Markus, we're in public, y'know! Your dinner conversation is totally gross." She sniffs her wine, but does not drink. "Lava rivers... and sunlight. My two weaknesses. I guess you were right." She smiles sardonically.
She turns to Hinagiku. "Ugh, I'm sorry, senpai. Your problems make me feel bad about sulking about my problems. We'll get through it."
Nurah flicks through the nursemaid's diary, her eyes positively sparkling. "Ohohoho! Perfect, simply perfect!" She smiles and hugs Ehren tightly around the waist, then hefts herself back up into her seat to dig in. "Fantastic work, Ehren."
Hrut grins at Ary - his laugh booming through the inn. "Aye, Captain, they'll be fine. I'm only joking around."
Meanwhile, Orlovski and Embla listen to Hinagiku's story sullenly.
"Don't know if I'm the military type," grunts Embla in response, as her hands are bound together.
Hrut and his brothers place the pair in manacles, and are about to head out to brave the storm when the doors once again open, revealing a young kellid woman. She might have been around sixteen, though it is hard to tell, for the blue stripe painted across her eyes shrouded her age even more than the shadows. Her shaggy black mane of hair blends into the wolf pelt over her shoulders, its fur still glistening from the rain. The room pauses at the sudden intrusion, but she is apparently a familiar face in the area - as the harpist resumes The Ballad of Khal Zhakar without missing a beat.
She strides over to Nurah, though she quickly scans through the unfamiliar faces with interest.
"So, I've been sent down here by Holton to fetch your lot, because you have a problem." The young woman's voice was girlish, but she spoke with the confidence of experience.
Nurah sighs and closes the journal to regard the young kellid. "Ah, Alase. What's happened?"
"Big squadron of demons and nastiness. Maybe two hundred or so. Headed straight for your tower." She grabs Whalt's wine from his hand and drinks straight from the bottle, then wipes her mouth with the back of her hand. Her fingers are rough and calloused. The innkeeper sighs, but does not protest.
The humor vanishes from Hrut's face quickly. "Ser Albright needs our help. We need to leave. Right now."
"Wait wait wait wait," Nurah says, impatiently. "We need to get Captain Bishop up to speed on the situation here. So, during the First Mendevian Crusade, an Iomedaean cleric named Ghalcor and his assistants built a "once secret" weapon to combat the encroaching demonic threat... however the region was lost to the demons before he could put it to use. I say 'once secret' because the demons heard about the weapon and attacked the tower when combat resumed years later. It seems Ghalcor was caught off-guard. He and his team died in the assault, but not before they triggered special safeguards to keep anyone from capturing the weapon -- demon, crusader, or otherwise. Since the weapon was never used, no one knows quite what it does or even how it works."
"Anyway, for the longest time the tower was surrounded by this enormous force field... until recently the field vanished. Probably whatever magical source was powering it finally fizzled out. And we've caught some demons scouting the site, so they're aware too. It would be... worrisome for them to gain control of the tower. I arrived yesterday here to try and investigate the tower, but it is certainly filled with traps... Ghalcor had some fine defensive mechanisms built in. And I'm not much of a burglar... or an adventurer, so I've made little progress." She frowns.
"But we don't have time to waste now. We don't have enough men to hold the tower. So what needs to happen is we need a magical specialist," her eyes flit to Markus. "To find a way in and re-activate that force field."
"Okay, so, we need to go. Any last minute questions?"
Isilme listens to Alase's report, and then to Nurah explaining the situation in detail. She ponders the name Ghalcor, trying to remember if she'd heard it before. "Ghalcor, Ghalcor... I remember hearing about him. He was quite well known in the first and second crusades, although I think I recall hearing of his death from Elan during the second," she says to the others in the group. "He was supposed to have assembled quite a cadre of competent crusaders to work on his project. They were supposed to have spent quite a bit of time researching the planes and the concept of morality. He apparently had great respect for researchers of any kind. Eventually he led them in building this tower," she continues, expanding on the subject to the best of her knowledge.
"Perhaps if Aravashnial had been a Crusader he'd have been approached as well," she thinks aloud, the thought having struck her as she considered Ghalcor's respect for researchers.
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Val doesn't look like she buys Annabelle's excuse for an instant. "You're going out to dinner with one of us later. No excuses. You should stay healthy, even if it means you have to eat foods you're not particularly fond of."
Val actually laughs. She looks around, then realizes that no one else seems to see the irony. "Ghalcor's biggest contribution, aside from his research at the time, was that his research was directly responsible for the creation of the wardstones. I wouldn't be surprised if the field around the tower went down at exactly the same time as the wardstone field. If his research was the basis, then the field around the tower might have been connected to the ley as well. I'm just appreciating the irony of sending the people who took the field down to put it back up. You might want Ehren to try his hand at patching it up."
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"Maybe if that's the case... and we can get it turned back on, we can get the rest of them fixed up? Assuming we can get a twiddly-fingers who's able to understand it all?"
Ary looks over the two who have just been handcuffed, and frowns. If the spell has been maintained, she whispers into it: "What do you think about bringing them with us to help? It's sort of a gamble... but trial by fire?
It seemed that things in Gundrun could not go on for five minutes without going wrong. The druid looks to Alase, to Nurah, and then to Valaria. Unlike her, he was not at all amused.
"If that is the case," he starts, his voice grim, "We might be out of luck. I could not do anything for Fort Portolmaeus' wardstone. So unless the tower has an alternative power source..." He shakes his head, unwilling to suggest that failure was inevitable. Perhaps Markus could do something. Ehren tugs on the sides of his hood, more or less prepared. "Regardless, it would seem our moment of respite is at an end."
Under his breath, he adds as an aside to Ary. "I would not risk it. Perhaps they deserve a chance, but this is a dire moment."
Hrut springs to action - his mind is as keen a weapon as his body. "Right, let's get the mercenaries on the barge. We'll need to keep Jane and Tephye behind to keep an eye on them. Muffle the enchanter."
Nurah grins at Valaria. "Ooooh, astute! Perhaps. But I don't think the tower is powered by a wardstone... but then again this isn't my forte. Perhaps you'll find that the tower is completely inert and thus it doesn't even matter if the demons reclaim it, as long as we snatch up his research notes. But... from what I saw even though the forcefield is down, some of his defenses are still up. So maybe you can just... redirect the power?"
Nurah frowns. "Do you have anything last minute to do before we leave? Time is of the essence."
A rugged dwarf crusader speaks up, "We don't have enough horses for all of these people."
Nurah tilts her head then grins at Alase. "Ah, Alase, one last favor? For me? Please?"
The kellid crosses her arms and frowns... but her face quickly softens. "This whole mess is entirely your fault. Southerner business....Ugh, don't look at me like that. I guess I can whip up some phony ponies for you. Y'know. Whenever you're ready."
"Oh, but, Callus and Cynosure are in the stables," assures Annabelle.
Alase shrugs and sidles over to Ehren, looking at him curiously. "Felly beth yn offeiriad y Ffydd Gwyrrd yn ei wneud yn dilyn o gwmpas y deheuwyr crynu?" she asks, softly.
"That guy," Nurah points across the room at a green, scaly skinned tiefling. "He's a scavenger peddling wares. He has some potions and scrolls and things."
"Anyway, we'll leave once you're all ready. The tower is 20 minutes from here on horseback."
"We absolutely need to restock on food. We've no way of knowing how long we're going to be out there." Ary says, looking to the bartender, who was most likely to know where the group could get dried food in bulk here.
Whalt nods. "I could spare some of the dried meats from our larder, at the common price of course."
"I doubt there's an actual wardstone there," Val clarifies. "But if he developed the principle behind their creation, then I wouldn't be surprised if the field had a similar source. And if it was also tied into the ley lines, then the backlash from the wardstone field's fall could have taken it down as well."
She glances over at Isilme. "I think that it would be easiest to take our own mounts. Those of us that have them at least. It shouldn't be a long ride for them anyway." She sighs. "Shall we see if we can get this done by nightfall?"
"I agree Val, I should go get Cynosure prepared then," Isilme says.
She eyes Alase as she sidles up to Ehren and starts chatting him up. "Weithiau gall hwntw crynu deall yr hyn rydych yn ei ddweud, un ifanc," she says in flawless Kellid to Alase with a wink as she gets up. She grins at Ehren as well then heads out.
"Markus, after you've taken care of Annabelle, you should see if you could acquire some potions for healing you from the scavenger, in case we encounter a similarly confounding situation. Also we should invest in another wand of magic missile or spiritual weapon if possible. Val's new friend is susceptible to both, and we've few other options to deal with her." she remarks, reminding him of the bind he'd been in with the tentacles.
She then waits for Valaria and heads out towards the stables to get Cynosure.
Val looks over at Ehren. "Hey Rocky. Think you could teach me your native tongue when we have some free time? I'm starting to feel like I'm missing half the conversation when I meet the locals."
"Anything you know that could help would be extremely welcome," she adds to Isilme's message. "Because I would very much like to deal with my unwelcome passenger before I have to go to sleep again." She stands up. "I suppose there's no point in waiting around here. Time to be heroes again."
Alase raises an eyebrow at Isilme, then cracks a smile. "Wel yn amlwg, nid yw hyn yn eich tro cyntaf yn y Gogledd."
Isilme smiles back at Alase and continues on. As she is exiting, a thought occurs to her. "Nurah, would you happen to have an eye for valuables?" she asks her quietly, digging out the three gems she'd found earlier.
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Ary nods, and does a quick head count. "I'll take thirty-three pounds of it... if you have it. Do you mind if I pay for it in silver and copper? The stuff's a lot heavier than gold, and I'm sure you can use it to make change for orders and the like."
Nurah shakes her head. "No, but Hrut does!"
The crusaders nods, taking a step away from the mercenaries to peer at the gems. "My father was a merchant who helped supply Gundrun from its earliest days.... well under Clefthorn, at least," he remarks absently.
"The sapphire's really nice. I'd take no less than 120 platinum. The quartz and the pyrite are just raw, so perhaps 30 gold for the both of them."
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Ehren smiles and shakes his head at Isilme's interjection, loosening up somewhat. He was stressing himself out. "Mae arnaf ofn fy mod yn fwy o deheuwr na hi," he says, his voice tinged with amusement.
"Eu nodau, ac mae eu tynged, yn cael eu cydblethu â fy mhen fy hun," he answers more seriously, as the others start to prepare for departure. "Maent yn fy nghraig, ac yr wyf nhw."
The transition to Common - and his subsequent change to his usual tone - is rather abrupt. "Ah, I... Yes," he responds to Valaria, remembering the rambling "lesson" on Sarkorian lore he had tried to give her. But he was not about to admit that Isilme would be the better teacher. It was his native tongue!
"Their goals, and their fates, are intertwined with my own. They are my rock, and I am theirs."
"Ary, we shouldn't leave this place without alerting someone as to the... aura... surrounding the waitress, she might be in league with the onis" she whispers.
Hinagiku then proceeds to stand up, and while Annabelle prepares to do the same, she gently put a hand on her shoulder.
"Annabelle, no need to feel bad. You have great challenges facing you, whereas I am simply unsettled by a few new things." she motions Annabelle to stand up.
"I am ready and do not need anything... apart maybe for some magic that might allow me to fly, but that's it. Do you think the peddle might have something like that?" she finishes, standing, longspear in hand, looking around.
"Ahh, thank you Hrut!" she says gratefully, having been unaware of his talents in their brief interaction after her awakening.
She heads over to Tephye, pausing only briefly to tell Val she'll join her momentarily. "I do not suppose you have a wand of magic missile available, do you?" she asks the tiefling vendor. "Also I am looking for some potions of inflict wounds if you have any."