Once Arielle and the scarred woman have moved past the frame of the door, Miyari raises her longsword against the mob, but then thinks better of it; a blow from her blade could be lethal for some of the relatively fragile members of the mob. The longsword is lowered and her claws extend instead. For a moment, her personal time flickers, and she finds herself remembering something that she could not possibly remember.
In a particularly cold and harsh winter, with the beasts of prey having been overhunted in a previous hunting season, the Atara were starving. Toya of the Atara was sent to a local human settlement as an envoy, but in her estimation, she may as well have been a sacrifice. The men kept beasts that they bred just to be used as food, and it was Toya's job to secure some food so that her tribe could survive for one more winter. The Atara method of raiding would not work this time; while in even numbers the Atara could overpower them, the men were more populous and held a greater food supply. In a war of attrition, the Atara would have lost before any fighting even began.
Toya approached their settlement with a gift, some woolen hides from kills seasons past. While they were apprehensive of the visitor, the humans accepted the gift and allowed Toya to speak to their leader. She was unaccustomed to having to negotiate in order to get what she needed, but knew that this was the only way. Toya focused, using a gift that appeared in her family once every few generations, and reached out to borrow a moment of time from her own timeline. Instead, she found herself remembering a moment that she could not possibly remember from a descendant who did not even yet exist. She gained the benefit of her descendant's silver tongue while that descendant received the benefit of the Atara's daggerlike claws.
Toya Atara negotiated the exchange of her tribe's strength for a share of the humans' food, ensuring that her people survived another season.
Miyari, to the trained eye, seems to flicker a moment as she tries to fend off and pass through the mad mob, carrying a look a bit more ferocious than a moment ago. She uses her claws as a sharp disincentive for anyone who would impede her from following after them. Once she arrives near to Ali, Miyari turns on her heel to face outwards towards the crowd and cover Arielle and the scarred woman's exit from any possible pursuers. The catfolk waits for Glen as she promised to do in gestures earlier.
Ali grumbles softly at Kalica's chastisement. 'She always treats me like a child, I'm a grown-up now. Though I might not be, like, 100 or whatever like she is.'
Surly he says; "On me way." Though he holds the door open as Miyari moves accompanied by Arielle and the older lady. The pandemonium of the bar makes a shiver slide up hbis spine, used to the isolation of the forests Ali hadn't really enjoyed his time in the cities of 'civilisation' this specifically had reinforced those feelings. The anarchy and chaos of the situation, combined with the limited vision, had made what's going on feel like a scene from hell. Which was all the more reason for Ali to try and save everyone that he'd been able.... surely that's why he had this power to heal...
Shaking his head, he moves into the back-roon after the others.
Round Seven Cleanup and start of Rounds 8-12: Kalica rushes out the backdoor once she finally sees Ali is listening to her. Glen does his best to open a path for Armin, but is slightly ineffectual at doing more than annoying some of the mob. Before they lose focus in their crazed states that is. However, thanks to Brokk and the reach of his longhammer, Armin is able to find enough room to get through. Clearly, the bloodrager isn't really aware of how his fighting is assisting those who would retreat, but it still amounts to the same.
The remaining insurgents have retreated to the bar, and Jellink heads out the back to start coordinating the people there. Broquart calls to Brokk,
"Oi! Dwarf! You've been a marvel, but even you won't last alone. Let's go! You and me will be the last ones."
The crazed townsfolk are still fighting and tearing up the tavern portion of the Dragon's Rest. A rather comical sight by the stairs has several trying to ascend to the second floor to spread their madness, but most do not succeed as they continuously slip and fall back down to the bottom in a heap.
The dueling student who had been calling to Rorme rushes out to drag the now unconscious man to the back. Brokk almost attacks him seeing what he's doing, but a female gnome brandishing a horseshoe gets his attention as she attempts to brain him with it.
Soon, Broquart and Brokk are the last, and the innkeeper grabs the back of the dwarf's pack and hauls him bodily through the back door which is slammed shut by Jellink's magic. Several insurgents and Armin push large kegs of ale across the wooden barricade. The chaos inside continues, and whether any of the crazed mob even realizes the egress to the back has been cut off is unknown.
Outside, Cerwek breathes an audible sigh of relief when she recognizes Llewyn's voice. As he is helping her down from the stable roof, they hear more folks a tad less quiet. Two talkative gnomes and maybe someone else(?) are using the same escape route from the window above.
For a brief moment everyone is safe and stops to catch their breath.
Arielle once again begins to mumble something and alternately kisses her bear Bubbles and touches it to the sigil on her forehead.
"What in t' buggeries name has been going on?" Ali asks, clearly having picked up some swearwords from the past month playing music in taverns. "Blokes seemed like they were charmed off their nut, stabbing people randomly."
The youth emotionally brushes the hair from his face, then leans upon the wall wearied by the sudden burst of conflict. "Is everyone sane out of there?"
"Oh HO HO HOOOO! What a fantastic night! Haven't had a night like this in ages!" Brokk proclaims, looking around at all the winded survivors. His smile stretches from ear to ear, an even bigger sign of his madness.
Llewyn jests as he brings the woman down."Couldn't make it through the night without ending up in my arms eh?"
Hearing the other voices moving from the roof, Llewyn looks around for a ladder or a crate, something to make their exodus easier.
Miyari replies to Brokk, "If only the excitement happened at a more convenient time." Her eyes widen a bit as a thought occurs to her.
"Oh bother," says Miyari as she realizes that her bag was left up in her room. She glances around before settling on a plan of action, climbing up quickly onto the stable and then attempting get up into Llewyn's room. She comments down to the bard, "Comforting to know that your room is so easy to break into, is it not? Does anyone need anything?"
If anyone else signals that they do, Miyari gathers up their gear as well as her own in quick fashion. Otherwise, she focuses on getting her own things and getting out.
"Nights still early." Ali replies to Brokk, whilst trying to figure out exactly what's been going on. "So who caused them to go crazy and who were they after. And most importantly, how do we get out of here and hole-up for the night?"
Kalica is not one to sit idly around chatting. Once she is clear of the tavern, she will quickly make her way to the stables then she will fasten the saddle bags to her horse Blossom. The horse is mostly light brown with a few white markings especially the white mark on her face that looks like a blossom. Kalica will greet the horse first with a loving stroke down her back and then speak to her, "Morning Blossom, we have little time to gander my sweet friend. We will be traveling with others so be nice." She then leads her horse over to the others once the saddle bags are secure.
Addressing everyone around her. "What is the plan? Are we still going to that office to sign up on the charter since it was closed yesterday? Or shall we leave town now? I have little love for this place and what is to say that this madness has not yet spread to everyone in town." She says with a concerned look on her face. "I do not think it safe to stay longer for it seems time is of the essence here."
Ali stares a trifle wildly; "Well we don't e'en know if t' council will accept us t' do any cartography or exploration. Though it ain't like we've much place to go."
Shrugging his shoulders apologetically at Broquart "We could go out t' woods and kip there for t' night. Or find a B&B?"
Armin carefully sets down the wounded woman before helping with the door blockade.
"They are after the little one, I'd wager," Armin replies, tossing a quick glance at Arielle. "The ones upstairs were, at least. The others might be nothing more than a distraction. At any rate, I have no intention leaving the city."
With that, he quickly takes the shortcut upstairs to retrieve the rest of his belongings.
After literally finding herself in Llewyn's arms as he helps ease her down, Cerwek coos coquettishly and lingers for a moment longer than is probably strictly necessary for the assistance. In the bare light of the rainy night, Llewyn can't see her face, but she might be smiling slightly.
The doors to the store room are pushed open as some insurgents and others push them open and light out more light.
Glen shakes his head when Miyari asks if anything is needed "No Glen has his bag already, nothing more he needs from his room."
He moves over to the the woman Armin was carried as the large man makes his way up to get his belongings "Are you well? ... well obviously not well, but as well as can be?" Looking at her wounds and the bolt sticking out of her the goblinoid continues "Glen apologizes, he is not very well trained in healing... if he had some ingredients he could prepare a potion for you... although his potions never seem to be as effective on others. He will at least try to patch you up as well as he's able." Assuming the woman will let him Glen will attempt to dress her wounds though he has trouble even getting his bandages to stay in place let alone help the poor woman "Errr... Glen is not very good at this."
Ali focuses and channels the positive plane energy. The burst of healing radiance affects all the injured people within 30 feet, whether friend or foe, Ali doesn't care - he just wants people to feel better.
Roswitha seems almost disappointed that her grease trap is working so well. Making a quick scan of the crowd, she conjures a ball of swirling black and grey miasma and hurls it towards the nearest obviously dangerous aggressor.
Clutching her crossbow, she darts upstairs behind the gnomes, sparing a brief thought from time to time on keeping her dancing lights positioned to illuminate their way. She follows to the newly popular second-story exit window, aids the gnomes outside if needed, then clambers through onto the stable roof. Seeing the gathering crowd in the street, she opts to remain on the roof with her crossbow, surveying the situation.
"Most of the crazies seem to be still inside. Most, anyway. Perhaps we should barricade the doors and leave them in there. Fire is optional," she calls down to those discussing their plans.
Yelling up to Miyari, "Doesn't bother me, not my room! Though ease of access for late night trysts are ----"
Llewyn puts himself in front of Cerwek, facing these 'insurgents.' He whispers back. "Do you know of a place we can lay low for the night. Somewhere safe?"
Brokk rests his hands on his hammer's pommel, his gear beside him. "I can stay here till morning if I have to. They won't sign charters till then," he declares. The sounds in the next room over start to make him twitch as he tries to keep his bloodlust in check. While his companions hope for the door to hold he would prefer it didn't.
Llewyn: Cerwek looks at Llewyn with an oddly conflicted look. She opens her mouth to say something, but then glances at the insurgents with what can only be a slightly guilty expression. She sighs slightly and whispers, "You really should have made a move earlier..." The words are so quiet they are almost swallowed up in the rain and the sounds coming from the inn.
Then the waitress pushes past Llewyn and runs up to one of the men. "Corbin! I'm happy you're alive!" Cerwek approaches a rather dangerous looking fellow who seems to be coordinating the insurgents as they begin to fan out of the inn's storeroom looking for any more of the government's lackies. They have no doubt this was a deliberate raid on their "secret" base.
The man sees Cerwek and the danger seems to vanish. He clutches her arms with a breathy "Cerwek!" before pulling her in for a deep kiss. "I'm glad you're safe! Those nationalist dogs would have rued the day any harm came to you." The menace returns in force as anyone can see the man's imagination has run to that eventuality in which Cerwek had indeed been harmed and a rather violent fantasy is playing out in his eyes of the retribution he envisions would follow.
"I'm only here because my new friend helped me escape," Cerwek starts to say in an innocent voice. "Right over there. His name is Llewyn." The waitress points Llewyn out and her eyes are probably a little too coquettish, her tone a tad too hero-worshipping.
Corbin's eye harden and his jaw clenches. "Oh? Well then, I should thank him." The man has tattoos peeking out of his rolled back sleeves and what can only be knife scars across his forearms as well. He approaches Llewyn, his posture rather threatening.
Miyari makes a bit of a face in response to Llewyn's mention of late night trysts, rushing to gather equipment before she quickly climbs back down the way that she came, careful not to slip on the wet surfaces. "I loathe the rain," she comments softly to Glen, "I'm going to take forever to dry out."
To the others, she adds, "I intend still to go to the charter office. I've come too far to turn tail now. And yes... It seems they are after Arielle."
Turning from helping Kalica with the bridle and other accoutrements there's a look of astonishment on his face, despite the shadows.
"After the young lass? Why would they be doing that, then?" He's shocked but not accusatory, since he does know that they are excellent investigators and pontificators.
Llewyn watches as Cerwek goes to the man.
It's like that is it? This certainly isn't Llewyn's first time. He reevaluates Cerwek from innocent (ha!) bar-wench to that category of woman he has often found himself spending the night with. The taken but open sort. Looking at Corbin he knows him to be the man coming to toss him out the barn.
Llewyn stands tall, his eyes level at Corbin. The recent exertion of climbing from the roof and helping Cerwek down has given his muscles the 'pump.' No matter the man's tattoos or scars Llewyn has survived just this encounter time and time before. If he had anything to say about it he would keep that streak going. Then again, there had never been angry revolutionaries but variety is the spice of life.
"Oh no Cerwek, you are perfectly capable without me. I just happened to catch those legs of yours as you fell."
Sensing Glen needing a bit of a hand with the bandaging, Ali finishes up and grabs a nearby bowl. It seems to fill with water as the youngster chants softly, Ali cleanses his nimble fingers in it - then chucks it out, before it refills itself with perfectly clear water.
"'Ere let me give you a hand." He says softly, ostensibly helping Glen. However to the trained eye the instructions are mean that Ali is doing the greater part of the operation.
Llewyn looks to Corbin. Offering his hand to accept Corbin's 'thanks.'
His words say "Llewyn Finn Dylan, and it was certainly no problem," while his eyes and features say You are no threat, to my ego, pride, or even health. His intimidation (attempt) is the complete disregard for Corbin's play for status with the replacement of Llewyn's own confidence in superiority. This man couldn't hope to threaten Llewyn, after all he hadn't even bedded the girl... for once.
Glen fumbles while putting on the women's bandages and even manages to stick his thumb with the makeshift pin he is using from a barrel splinter. Surprisingly, the woman's wounds heal slightly, and the crossbow bolt simply pops out. Glen is about to protest that he was not responsible when he realizes he feels a warming light filling him as well. A vaporous residue of divine magic seems to drift off of him and the woman. Turning his head, he sees the last light of a soft glow emanating from Ali subside even as the youngish boy approaches.
"'Ere let me give you a hand."
With a deftness born of skill, Ali corrects the rather clumsy bandage the gnome(?) had started after cleaning his hands.
"Veliar!" the two gnomes burst out as the half-elf pokes his head out of the storeroom door. For his part, Veliar looks relieved to see them and helps them down from the roof. The three confer quietly together for a moment in very hushed tones.
Corvin's eyes narrow a bit as he takes in Llewyn's impressive presence. What he thinks of him is unclear as the tough insurgent leader glances back at Cerwek who looks off to one side with an innocent and demure smile. Turning back to the bard, Corvin's expression is somewhat sour, but apprehensive.
"Er, thanks," he suddenly says, holding out his hand to Llewyn. Cerwek's smile changes into something decidedly less pure, and a wicked light shines in her eyes as they meet Llewyn's. The young half-orc isn't even trying to hide her interest now while her boyfriend isn't looking.
The scarred woman sets Arielle down with a sigh.
"I'm terribly sorry about all of this. I had no indication they had caught up to us." She looks around at those gathered in the storeroom including Kalica, Ali, Glen, Miyari, Brokk, Broquart, and Jellink. "My name is Corinne, but if you forget, don't worry about it. It's true, this one," she gestures to the girl, "the one called Arielle seems to be of value to some rather horrible people. I do not know why, and if she knows, she's never made it clear. But she is very young, I believe she's somewhere between six or eight, so she may not know how to explain it. Either way, from what I have been able to glean, if they do manage to take her something very bad will happen. I have been trying to take her away. My dreams seem to direct me to this place, to find the charter expedition and go into the wilderness. Please, I must see Arielle to the River Kingdoms...into the Stolen Land. I have heard many of you say you are waiting to go there. please let us accompany you."
Arielle give her bear one last kiss and a small rune identical to the one glowing on her forehead appears on the ragged stuffed animal's belly. She looks around with a concerned look and eventually settles on Brokk. She approaches him until she is mere inches away from the rough and tumble bloodrager. She wrinkles his nose at the smell of him and then says,
"Excuse me, mister. Bubbles needs to hide now. Can he hide in there?"
Of all things, the girl points at the dwarf's face. No...at his beard!
Seeing that the relatively sane - less crazed, anyway - people all seem to be evacuating the top floor and slipping off the roof to gather below, Roswitha decides it would be prudent go join them. After all, there's no sense whatsoever in being an isolated target.
She carefully removes the bolt from the crossbow and releases the string, not wanting the device to misfire when dropped to the ground. Lying at the edge of the roof, she lowers her pack and weapon to the farthest reach of her arm and drops them, swiftly swiveling to lower her legs from the roof. Sliding off the edge, she dangles by her hands a moment before making the short drop from the roof.
A quick dusting off later, she peeps into the storeroom where the sane people seem to be gathered, pack on her back and weapon reloaded and ready to fire again. "Is this where the normal people are congregating? And is this a typical night at this establishment? And... well, are we planning on setting the place on fire or not? It would take care of a lot of crazies at once."
For the first time in a very long time, Brokk finds himself speechless. The encounters Brokk has had with children always ended in them running in fear. Perhaps it was from what he was being paid to do because he followed orders and never asked questions. Whatever the case, children never approached Brokk. They ran from him and he liked it that way.
So when the sweet, innocent Orphan Arielle approached Brokk he had to think for a moment. "Bu-bu," he stammered. probably not the best time to kick the child in the chest and walk on he thought. "Little girl," he started, "I am Brokk Brokkson XII! I am the monster teddy bears hide from!" His voice rose and rose. The speech? Epicly pointless. "My bear is not to hide TOYS! MY BEARD IS TO SOAK THE BLOOD OF MY ENEMIES! BROKK BROKKSON XII DOES NOT WANDER FIELDS AND PICK DAISIES WITH LITTLE GIRLS! BROKK BROKKSON KILLS."
Brokk never intended to work himself up over a conversation with a child, but then again, Brokk never intended to speak to a child either. He slung his weapon over his shoulder and began to pace like a bull in a pen.
"I would hesitate to call anyone here normal, but I understand your meaning," Armin replies to Roswitha, having dropped off the roof soon after her, his belongings in tow. There was not much in his pack he couldn't stand to leave behind if he had to, but it would have been a shame to do so. "I suspect they'll keep fighting until whatever maddening sorcery they're affected with wears off. Or until they're dead, I suppose."
"Are you certain all the maddened ones are, er, inside?" Roswitha whispers to Armin, pointing to the pacing, red-eyed Brokk.
"Thank you Ali" Glen gives a sharp toothed smile to his would be roommate "Glen is not so good at this saving the girl business... That was you earlier was it not? Thank you, Glen's face is feeling less swollen." Looking towards the woman they're trying to bandage he asks "Are you feeling better as well?"
The goblin nods in agreement to Miyari "Yes Glen seems to have misplaced his hat as well, and lost it's protection from the rain."
Looking towards Armin and Rsowitha when the come in Glen replies "Glen is new here, but he is assuming that this is not typical. He would advise against setting it aflame, Glen does not believe the ones inside are responsible for their actions. As our large friend insinuated" He motions to Armin, "It might be more prudent to put an end to whatever has them ensorcelled. Sighing softly he adds "You didn't happen to see a wide brimmed hat in about Glen's size on your way here did you?"
Kalica replies to Corinne with genuine concern. "I am, more than happy to assist in anyway possible Corinne. It is apparent that some evil lurks in the shadows puppeting the people around us. As long as Ali is involved I am here to help." She smiles at the small child in response to her efforts to hide her toy in Brokk's beard.
She then chastises Brokk. "Is there a reason to raise your voice to this child in such a way? But, ah, you are but a dwarf and that pretty much explains your inhospitable ways." She responds in a flat tone with a hint of sarcasm.
"Those inside are far more inhospitable than this brusque dwarf," Roswitha points out to Kalica, quite reasonably, "So you lot believe they are ensorcelled or charmed somehow? Do you know how to break the magic's hold on them before they break out and decide to break us into component fleshy bits?"
Brokk looked dumbfounded at the elf. "Listen here ELF!" He spoke with venom in his words and saliva frantically exiting his mouth. "Ye can babysit children all day and frolic in the woods if ye desire, but don't think I share yer desires." He switched his attention to Roswitha, "The madmen were coming from outside I don't believe we've seen the last of them," he said with a grin.
Roswitha steps back a pace and delicately brushes stray flecks of saliva from her sleeve. "More? Lovely," she declares, a look of distaste flickering across her face. "And do we know what is making them mad? Or, more to the point, if it can make us mad?"
She eyes the elf's horse with interest, thinking the woman might have the right idea about the best course of action.
If Arielle is disturbed by Brokk's outraged response to her suggestion, she does not show it. Her eyes glitter like opals in the low light, and the dwarf definitely feels in his bones that he knows her name. She looks disappointed by his refusal to let her, but not as shocked as one would expect a child of her age to be.
Corinne's eyes narrow at Brokk's words, and she reaches for the child, but Arielle once again moves closer to the dwarf after he stops pacing. Kalica's chiding and Brokk's subsequent response again do not seem to elicit any fear of the dwarf in her. Instead, she pats his elbow in sympathy.
"There, there, Mister Beard. Miss Kalica doesn't understand you're just not yourself right now."
Brokk looks at the girl unsure of what she means but he seems to calm down. "Aye," he mutters. His head clears for a brief moment perhaps sobering up from the prior night's drinking. His mood change is visible enough to anybody looking but he doesn't say anything else to the girl.
He ignores the elf and turns his attention to Roswitha. "I never stopped and asked their motives but I wouldn't be surprised when we walk outside and find this puppetmaster pulling the strings."
He thinks back to the man he hit with his hammer and a smile crosses his face. His madness returned.
Glen supposes nobody saw his hat, meaning he would probably not find it again. He decides to fill in this new comer on what he's seen so far "A severe injury seems to break the hold, though Glen is still hoping to find a better way. There are a few here that were some of the most dangerous of the ensorcelled folk." Glen indicates the woman he and Ali were tending to "This woman was rather enthusiastic in her attack on us, until she took a rather heavy attack from our large friend over there." The vaguely gnomelike little man gestures to Armin "At which point she seemed to awaken and apparently not remembering what she had been doing... unfortunately she has hardly said a word since and had no reaction to Glen and Ali's bandaging of her wounds, she may be in shock."
"Glen is inclined to agree that Arielle and yourself should come along good lady." Glen says to Corrine "Though many have said they intend to partake in the expedition, is everyone wanting to travel with Glen and Miyari? Some people may have had their own plans."
Miyari is about the correct Arielle, assuming that the dwarf's preferred title of address is not Mr. Beard, but thinks better of it when Brokk seems a bit calmed by the girls' words. Speaking to Roswitha, she says, "I am unsure if we can be affected by the magic there, but we have to assume that it is possible. It seemed to affect those people indiscriminately, regardless of profession or proficiency. And what would make us specially resistant?"
She scratches her head, wincing a bit and stopping immediately when she notices that she needs to be a little lighter on such motions in the future. The catfolk then speaks to Corinne, "Of course we would be glad to have you... though you seem to know a little more of what is affecting the people in there. Is this something you have come across before? It must be, as you recognize it as your pursuer's work."
She looks to Glen to confirm if her logic is sound.
Looking slightly abashed at Glens' gratitude, Ali shrugs his willowy shoulders and flicks his mop of hair over his eyes - though there's a tell-tale curve of a smile starts to form on his lips.
Standing up and behind Glen as the new-comers and those from the roof enter the area, he nods to their shadowy figures with a touch of apprehension. The apprehension grows as Arielle and the scarred woman, what's her name, Ali's sure it'll come back to him; speaks causing a bit of a ruckus with the sturdy dwarf. 'He's much too boisterous for me. Hope he and Kalica don't get into it.' he thinks.
He taps Glen on the shoulder, "I was hoping to get a commission to map t' area, specially since it's near me 'ome. And I'd be honoured if you'd accompany me."
Lightly glancing in the dwarfs direction with a raised eyebrow Kalica addresses the dwarf's hostility with mirth. "If I preferred frolicking in woods to helping others I would not be standing here, at this moment, Master Dwarf."
She then turns her gaze to Arielle and smiles at the child warmly. "Perhaps you are right dear child." She then addresses everyone around her. "What is the plan my fellow companions? I fear that time is of the essence here." Concern echoing in her tone.
The woman who Glen and Ali have bandaged looks up at Glen's words and looks both angry and embarrassed. "I-I don't know what's going on. This is all just so confusing."
Arielle looks at Kalica and gives her a small smile back.
Corvin grunts and turns away from Llewyn and moves back to the half-orc jealousy playing around his eyes despite her expression once again being the demure and pleasant serving girl she had been all evening.
Corinne looks hesitant at Miyari's question but then sighs. Nodding her head once she begins to speak.
"Considering what our pursuers are willing to do, it is only fair I tell you all."
She gestures for everyone who wishes to hear to approach. Broquart, Jelli, Veliar, the two gnomes, and even Corvin wander in.
"For a while now, the girl and I have been pursued by what seems to be a cult. I've never been able to ascertain who they worship or who controls them as almost every single one of them have been, well...maddened is the word I suppose." Corinne gestures to the injured woman and the one called Rorme and his friend. "Sometimes it's like this. People who have been charmed or enchanted in some way, the others seem to be true believers but are also affected by the same madness or worse. The most dangerous is their leader, the Whistling Man."
Arielle shivers as Corinne mentions him. She moves to Corinne and hugs her leg. Corinne instinctively places a hand on the girl's head.
"He seems desperate to get his hands on Arielle, and as you can see, he has rather powerful abilities to cause chaos. Most likely he is here somewhere. You must listen to me...we are probably not strong enough to defeat him. If he is here, I strongly urge you to flee or hide, but most important: do not listen to him whistle!"
There is an urgency in her voice that cannot be denied. "If you hear it, you must cover your ears, stuff them with straw, or cast a silence spell on yourself. It can drive you mad if you don't."
Broquart harrumphs and looks at Jelli. "We'll be staying right here. Wait for all them fools inside to calm down, so we can go in and make repairs and get those people some healin'. Don't you worry about Jelli and me. We'll be fine in the storeroom with the staff. We'll even take care of those who started this mess." He gives a formidable glare at Rorme, "Foamer", and "Giggles".
"You're saying this isn't the loyalists attacking us?" Corvin says in surprise. "How do we know you're not just saying this to throw us off?" He glares at the scarred woman. He glances at Arielle who is watching him, her eyes once again glittering as they reflect the light. Surprise crosses Corvin's features, but then is quickly replaced with a stubborn scowl. "Well?" he spits out at Corinne.
Internally Ali smiles softly; Kalica's manner with Arielle bring back half-forgotten memories of the hazy summers of childhood. Kalica had always been so exuberant with her surprise visits to the forest and always brought the best presents; carved slingshots, wooden animals or best of all tales of forgotten lands with bold adventure. The stories around the hearth or the autumnal camp-fires were enervating and so exciting.
One time Ali even thought to introduce Willow, but his introverted friend was not enamoured of the idea & he had to pretend the illusive lass was but an imaginary friend to avoid further complications.
Blinking away the memories that had welled up in the corners of his eyes, Ali is brought back to the present; listening to Corrines explanation with a sinking feeling in his stomach.
A look of concern at Broquarts' statement; "If tha's sure. If this whistling blokes after little Arielle, then hopefully he'll leave the place alone if we scarper."
Then Ali turns to Corvin; "Throw you off? Your plotters probably don't even register with t' nobles, let alone them ensorcelling townsfolk." He lets out a sigh; "They'd probably just sent some coppers to arrest you."
Corvin bristles at the suggestion his rebellious group is not worth the attention of the government. Broquart and Jellink share a look.
"See here you scrawny little beggar, my boys are dangerous and we—yeeeeooooow!"
Jellink calmly walks over and stomps on Corvin's toes. Corvin howls in pain and looks at the pretty gnome in surprise.
"That's enough out of you for now. Your pride is secondary to what's going on in there!" She jabs a finger towards the door leading back into the inn's main room. "And if what the slip of a girl here says is true, then there's more danger to come. Worrying about who's rebel pee-pee is bigger right now isn't going to solve either problem. So get your head on straight, boy!"
A sullen look on his face, Corvin clamps his mouth shut and glares at everyone—everyone but Jellink who is giving him a hairy eyeball.
Corinne is surprised by all this at first, then looks amused when Jelli calls her a "slip of a girl." For some reason she glances at Miyari and smiles slightly.
Looking at Ali, Corinne says, "Yes, it is very likely if we leave the establishment for now, those pursuing us will have no reason to further bother the Dragon's Rest I would hope."
"I really appreciate all of your willingness to help us despite us being strangers." Corinne's expression is one of tremendous relief but tinged with sadness. "I only hope we haven't brought calamity on you." Her face looks almost as one who might break down.
Arielle looks up at the woman without expression. "Don't cry, Corrie. Bubbles doesn't want you to cry."
"Apologies, Glen did not mean to insinuate blame on you" Glen says to the giggling woman who's not very giggly anymore. "You have been through much and have every right to be in shock."
The little goblin smiles when Jelli interrupts Corvin with a bit of toe stomping "Glen thinks he likes you Jellink, you seem to have a way with people." He pauses for a moment and looks towards Corinne and Arielle before continuing directed more or less to Jelli "All the more reason to leave quickly. More danger is to come, but it needn't be on you."
He turns his beady little eyes towards Kalica when she asks about plans. "Glen is going to partake in the expedition with Miyari and Ali. If others wish they are welcome to accompany us, that is unless one of Glen's companions has an objection."
Turning towards Corinne he would start with her name but it appears to have evaded him... again thankfully he gets a cue from Arielle "... er lady Corrie, Glen would be happy if you came with us, and we will do our utmost to protect the both of you, if it is calamity that we meet, then it is best faced together. He suggests decisions be made quickly though, we should make haste, if we keep moving we'll be harder to track." At that last thought the little freak pauses and fishes something out of his backpack "That reminds Glen, he relieved this from one of the men lurking in the hall outside our rooms. It seems to be attuned to you, or Arielle perhaps, Glen can hear it chime in his head and it becomes more urgent the closer he gets to you. Does this device mean anything to you? Glen suspects it is being used to track you." He holds out the crystal so Corinne can see it.
Noticing the bear appears to be missing Glen asks about it "Arielle, have you misplaced your small stuffed friend?"
Looking at the funny looking gnome(?), Arielle replies in all seriousness. The sigil on Arielle's forehead glows brightly.
"Bubbles needed to hide. It was time."
"We have no time - she will just have to get a new one," Armin says, though puzzled by Arielle's statement.
"I will be joining you, at any rate. Granted, we still need our charter... so where are we to go if we cannot flee the city?"
Miyari looks down at Arielle, focusing on the symbol on her face. The catfolk comments, "That's a symbol that I've seen somewhere, I think, in an old book back home in the library..."
She seems momentarily confused about Glen and Armin's remarks about the missing bear, having noticed nothing amiss. "What's missing? Did I miss something that happened? I was distracted by something. And... yes, I will try to find a way to keep my ears covered if there is any kind of whistling. I suppose I can keep them back like this," she gestures up to her head, "And I can pull them down a bit tighter. Though it's uncomfortable, but less so than mind control I suppose."
She pauses, and glances back towards the door, scuffing a foot across the ground. "As for where to go, I would be just as happy finding any place away from this madness where I can get a couple of hours of extra sleep before seeking the charter."