Mel looks around at the group, expecting that Alaric will see to those who are injured shortly. "Well... this doesn't seem the best place to discuss everything that was wrong with that. Do we want to find Uksahkka and see which of the people that helped her arrange this sold her out? Or do we want to leave her out of the loop?"
"Uksahkka is either a victim or an accomplice in the deception and the ambush. In either case, we should hear her story. We should also be wary of the 'safe house' she organized for us. Though I find it hard to imagine that our contacts among the clergy of Shelyn should be on the side of evil."
At the first opportunity upon regrouping on dry land, he addresses Shalelu in particular, but within earshot of the group. "Apologies for breaking the stealth. I had not expected my voice to carry through planks, fire, mist, and celebration. If Ulf had drowned under our very noses... Nevertheless, it was an irresponsible risk to take."
Shalelu nods, and appears to feel that since the point has already been made, it requires no further discussion.
As soon as everyone is together, Alaric picks Mel up in a crushing and relieved embrace. "You'll be the death of me."
Only after Melinda has been greeted does Alaric channel to heal everyone.
"Anyone still hurt, please form a line on the left. I have some energy remaining."
Later, to Alaric: "I suppose it's my turn now to receive a lecture on choices and ramifications."
"How about I just go ahead and respect your ability to learn from an honest mistake?" Alaric says with a friendly smile.
As soon as everyone is together, Alaric picks Mel up in a crushing and relieved embrace. "You'll be the death of me."
Zaiobe only lets go of Melinda when Alaric approaches, although she does so instantly then. Her hands are shaking, just a little.
"Anyone still hurt, please form a line on the left. I have some energy remaining."
Shalelu gets a Cure Serious Wounds (from the Bead of Healing, thus no bonus from Rescued).
Hrunndalf gets a Cure Moderate Wounds.
"Uksahkka is either a victim or an accomplice in the deception and the ambush. In either case, we should hear her story. We should also be wary of the 'safe house' she organized for us. Though I find it hard to imagine that our contacts among the clergy of Shelyn should be on the side of evil."
Mel looking down, speaking softly clearly, possibly repeating herself in Skald if it is needed, "She didn't set up a safe house for us. It was for Ulf. And she contacted more people than the clergy of Shelyn. There were the people who loaned the kayaks, too, for starters."
Very quietly, almost whispered, because this is not the place for this discussion. "I think it's fairly likely that our plans were found out. Either because we have been followed since before we got to the city, or because someone sold us out."
"The bad guys got there before us, stole Ulf, undeaded Snorri, put the mannequin in his place, and left behind a ambush team to finish us off. Ergo, the important thing to know, is that our hooded enemies have the guide we need."
"Or does that not make sense?"
Mel's voice throughout is quiet yet with a raw edge of pure rage.
And then more quietly, cursing, "Přísahám, že veverka má víc rozumu a zdravého rozumu."
As soon as everyone is together, Alaric picks Mel up in a crushing and relieved embrace. "You'll be the death of me."
Mel returns the hug, and distracts the healer from his patients with a completely inappropriate kiss.
Myri, continues to look in Lio & Shae's direction, but her eyes become unfocused, staring at a point somewhere beyond the room they are in. She sighs, "Not used to...I guess making decisions, standing up for myself, being in control of a situation, trying to portray...um, leadership qualities? I don't know, even in team exercises, I've always been by far the youngest so I've always had others I could...well, rely on for answers if I really, really needed them, you know?" Her eyes refocus on the two elves and she smiles. "I think I'm getting better though. ...anyway, I..." She seems uncertain again for a moment, possibly just looking for something to say, "I really am happy to have the two of you as friends. ...and you seem to be really, really happy together. Thank you for letting me tag along tonight." She continues to smile at the other two.
"Well," says Shalelu. "As more and more situations occur where we all must rely on you, perhaps you will grow more used to it."
After her small loss of control in swearing, Mel goes over to Zaiobe enfolding the smaller woman in a grateful and happy hug.
Mel looking down, speaking softly clearly, possibly repeating herself in Skald if it is needed, "She didn't set up a safe house for us. It was for Ulf. And she contacted more people than the clergy of Shelyn. There were the people who loaned the kayaks, too, for starters."
"We were supposed to rendez-vous at the safe house, with Ulf in tow. If we don't show, we probably won't see her again. 'Course, whoever knew about our caper is likely to know about the safehouse too."
"The bad guys got there before us, stole Ulf, undeaded Snorri, put the mannequin in his place, and left behind a ambush team to finish us off. Ergo, the important thing to know, is that our hooded enemies have the guide we need."
Hrunndalf ponders that a bit. "So two factions? Asvig sends Ulf to die, someone else steals him and sets up the ambush? Possible. Not the only possibility, though. Asvig might never have put Ulf on the boat in the first place."
"In any case, raising Snorri and placing a decoy would have taken a lot of preparation. Must have been done before launch."
"How about I just go ahead and respect your ability to learn from an honest mistake?" Alaric says with a friendly smile.
Hrunndalf gives a theatrical bow. "Well played, sir."
There is a slight pause. <My voice hasn't gotten stronger, exactly. That only works on you and Alaric. I've been testing it, in the last few minutes. None of the others can hear me without touch.>
"I wonder how many factions we're dealing with here. Someone set me up to smell like cabbages yesterday, so I could get the message that 'they' knew who we are. Was that a warning or a threat?"
Mel thinks for a moment, over by Zaiobe. "Well there are like twenty of us... So at least that many factions." She is probably joking... mostly.
As Alaric does his healing, Kalimac makes his way to Ameiko's side. He checks to see that she is alright and uninjured. Seeing that she is fine, he smiles at her gently.
"To the safe house? So that we don't loose Uksahkka to the enemy as well?"
"To the safe house? So that we don't lose Uksahkka to the enemy as well?"
"More likely than Inn? Xanderghul, Silmemir, Attatoq," Rhost demonstrates that he can count at least up to three with his fingers. "Split up?"
"And what I am ... is angry."
"I'd personally like to pick up Attatoq. I'm far too slow on the ground without him."
As Alaric does his healing, Kalimac makes his way to Ameiko's side. He checks to see that she is alright and uninjured. Seeing that she is fine, he smiles at her gently.
She smiles back. "But you know," she replies to nothing that has actually been said, "Possibly the greater concern here should be coming from the one who did not get lit on fire."
After setting Melinda down, Alaric immediately embraces Zaiobe. "Thanks," he mumbles into feathers.
"More likely than Inn? Xanderghul, Silmemir, Attatoq," Rhost demonstrates that he can count at least up to three with his fingers. "Split up?"
Mel smiles, "Sounds like a plan. I'll go with the group headed to the safe house... I'm pretty sure if anyone attacks Xander they will be more upset about it than him."
She smiles back. "But you know," she replies to nothing that has actually been said, "Possibly the greater concern here should be coming from the one who did not get lit on fire."
"I have no idea what you are talking about," says Kalimac, with an innocent grin.
Mel smiles, "Sounds like a plan. I'll go with the group headed to the safe house... I'm pretty sure if anyone attacks Xander they will be more upset about it than him."
"Two wolves and a cat? Anyone burgling that inn will get more than they bargained for, that's for sure."
"Really? Just me and Alaric?" Then realizing what an idiot she sounds like, "Maybe because we are friends? And we've talked to you more? Or..." her voice trails off, not really able to think of more possibilities. "Do... Do you have any precedent?"
< ... Possibly one,> Zaiobe replies, sounding somewhat reluctant to answer for some reason. <If you'll remember, in Brinewall, I was able to call to Kikonu from a distance. I always assumed that was one of his abilities. But I do realize now that was an assumption.>
"I know... but... I had to make sure he wasn't there. I couldn't leave someone to burn to death, even if it wasn't likely." A pause. "And I am pissed that the bad guys are always one or more bloody steps ahead of us."
There is a slight grin when she replies. "I was more pissed about the whole lighting my friends on fire and stabbing them kind of thing, but I take your point."
There is a slight grin when she replies. "I was more pissed about the whole lighting my friends on fire and stabbing them kind of thing, but I take your point."
"Well... I take the trying to kill us to mean that we are on the right track. Plus, adventurers, people are always trying to kill us. But the precognition... is dirty."
After setting Melinda down, Alaric immediately embraces Zaiobe. "Thanks," he mumbles into feathers.
<I promised,> she finally finishes, a little weakly.
"Two wolves and a cat? Anyone burgling that inn will get more than they bargained for, that's for sure."
Mel smiles, "So safe house?" She looks around at the party. "Wait, no sense in being this obvious..." She casts a spell, then moves around the party, but the time she finishes everyone is clean and dry. "We should do a round of mendings too..."
"Safe house? And then normally daily activity? So at least the raiders don't guess at adventurers playing grave robbers?"
Mel smiles, "So safe house?" She looks around at the party. "Wait, no sense in being this obvious..." She casts a spell, then moves around the party, but the time she finishes everyone is clean and dry. "We should do a round of mendings too..."
Two heartbeats later, he exhales and shakes his head as if to clear it. "The girls were still below when the deck collapsed. Could have trapped any of them. I had leather and spell to ward me, and the arrows were unaimed. Back luck, I suppose... or the World teaching me a lesson, who knows. Karma, as the Vudrani would call it."
A sheepish grin, tempered by the gravity of the matter. "I was certainly not trying to prove a point. I should... apologize for my... transgression... the other day. Choices in battle are rarely both safe and right. Let's just both try not to die too much in the near future, daijōbu ka?"
Mel smiles, "So safe house?" She looks around at the party. "Wait, no sense in being this obvious..." She casts a spell, then moves around the party, but the time she finishes everyone is clean and dry. "We should do a round of mendings too..."
"Safe house? And then normally daily activity? So at least the raiders don't guess at adventurers playing grave robbers?"
"Safe house," Alaric says.
< ... Possibly one,> Zaiobe replies, sounding somewhat reluctant to answer for some reason. <If you'll remember, in Brinewall, I was able to call to Kikonu from a distance. I always assumed that was one of his abilities. But I do realize now that was an assumption.>
Mel chuckles, "Well... Your unconscious self choose more plesant company this time around, right?" And the unconsious thought, "What is taking him so long."
Cast Unnatural Lust on Alaric, object is Mel.
Will Save DC 15
<Not thanking you for the promise. Thanking you for saving my love.> Alaric's relief, gradually boiling off the terror, makes it hard for him to form any coherent thoughts.
<I know, I just ... I know,> she replies.
She looks over at the group, finding Alaric, a small word as she motions toward him.
Alaric appears as a man possessed. Green eyes blazing, he crosses purposefully to Melinda, lifting her easily in fear-strong arm, crushing his mouth to hers. For several eternal seconds, Alaric does nothing but passionately kiss Mel.
Then, as though a spell were broken, he blinks. Then, a slow turn to the party. His face goes bright red, and he gingerly sets Mel down, but keeps hold of her hand. "Sorry. Just... thrilled to be alive, I guess."