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Althera stands to join her companions who are readying to leave.
"Milady, I think that we are ready to go. But please, tell us more about dear Junia on the way, if it's not to difficult. What did she look like? What were her particular interests? Did she enjoy her studies?"
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Lady Dacilane gestures to an enormous painting of her daughter—a rigid, sharp-featured young girl with long black hair—that looms over the entire banquet hall.
"She was a normal girl of her age. She loved playing with her friends, those things, she told me once about the ghosts stories they liked to talk about as I already said. Other than that, she was a normal student getting good marks, so I guess she enjoyed her time."
She then stands up and shows you a map of Absalom "Look, the entrance to the Drawnyard is exactly there." she points to a wild garden covered in vegetation in the map, just sited in the middle of an abandoned neighbourhood.
"And now please come with me, I am really glad you came to me and accepted my invitation." she looks to Eveline, Reed and Nigel forcing herself to swallow her disgust "I know how difficult it is for some of you to properly dress. That life of Pathfinding doesn't do for an acceptable salary I guess."
Next she takes you to the entrance door and there she gives farewell to you "Please, if you find out anything about my beloved Junia, please bring word to me, for little it is."
At that point it is mid-evening and you are free to go.
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Althera looks down at the finery she is wearing. The elaborate necklace, ancy rings, and impractical shoes.
She sighs inwardly, just a bit, at the thought of.changing. The dress really did accentuate her figure so well...
"I suppose I had better change back into more practical attire. My traveling clothes are much more suited to exploring. And my boots will be far more suited for trudging through a flooded site than these slippers. Why don't we all return to the Lodge and get our gear together, then return to explore? Maybe we should even wait.until morning? Although I don't mind a late night."
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Reed also believes the dress accentuates Althera's figure rather well, though he isn't foolish enough to mention this. Instead, he just enjoys the view and the food, accompanying the noblewoman to their future destination. He flushes with irritation at the knock on the Pathfinders the woman gives, but again holds his peace, looking down at his feet.
Once she is gone, he looks up and at the others. "I have a limited amount of money, but do you all have any suggestions for purchases? Are we expecting dead things?" He gulps a bit at that statement...fighting the walking dead didn't seem like much fun.
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Eveline does have a certain disdain for snobbish nobility yet she doesn't take the lady's words as rude remarks. She nods as a sign of understanding, and heads out with the others once business in the manor has been concluded.
"This attire is not ideal for spelunking," Eveline comments, inadvertently patting her clothes to make the breadcrumbs and such fall to the ground.
Eveline takes a look at Althera and is a tad envious she finds clothes like hers comfortable. Regardless, she doesn't comment on her wardrobe. "Yeah, back to the lodge. And then to the Tri-Towers Yard. That is, if we still fancy the idea of exploring an abandoned, possibly dangerous school yard in the middle of the night. If indeed so, we need torches."
She turns towards Reed and appraises his items, noting the lack of blunt weapons. "If we come upon undead, I suggest you arm yourself with a few more weapons. Mainly, clubs." Eveline barely shares a smile.
Eveline shudders some when Nigel brings up going to a church with Lionel for him to give them all a blessing. She hasn't known Lionel but for a few hours, but the first impression gave her the chills. A blessing of Calistria... phew, okay Eve, stay professional, maybe he's not as obnoxious as he made it look like. He's from down south, not a pale perverted snob from an incest-ridden noble family...
The Sun is just hiding when you reach Beldrin's Bluff district.
It is a rotting ghost town at the edge of a hungry sea. Throughout the derelict landscape, seagulls perched on splintered timbers reflect your passage in their glassy black eyes. Overhead, dark clouds move ashore with the promise of a storm.
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"Nigel, brother, I ain't got the time for a proper blessin'. I'd love ta, though. Same goes to y'all. And don't be thinkin' anythin' bout the blessin' itself, we ain't all sex, drugs and vengeance, ya know. Only the fun of us are." He gives the gnome a grin.
Looking down on his clothes, he then says, "Aw, and I was soo lovin' bein' all primp an' propa. Say, I gonna keep the studs though, seem nice?", he point to his rather gaudy earbuds. "Don't worry 'bout the maces, I got ma own right here, and I ain't gonna anythin' bad happen to ya, unless ya want it.", he continues, trotting along with his heavy cane.
"Reed, we can also do it with holy oils or holy wine, but they are even more expensive. Tell ya what, ya keep close and nice and I'll give ya a nice little performance boost if ya need it if someone attacks."
Lionel takes a deep breath through his nose and grins. "Smells like home. Less dead dogs on the streets, and the houses are a bit more posh, but other than that, Prescipice all over. And the storm is nice too. Nigel, reckon ya can hit The Sting with a bitta glow? I readied myself for a bit more magical shenanigans after last time.", gesturing for the gnome to cast Light on the spear.
"Alright, gang, just give me the shout when we's to go in.", he goes a couple of steps ahead and lights up a badly rolled cigarette.
After a while, you reach to the place indicated as the Drownyard.
You reach the iron gate that serves as entrance to the Academy, surrounded by a fence of black iron pikes around a block-wide yard. Dead tree branches reach out from the fence the arms of emaciated prisoners desperate to escape. A man is on the inside, cutting the trees down.
Some of the dismembered branches remain, stuck in place by knotty elbows swollen around the iron.
The man looks up from his sawing and watches your approach. His thinning hair is matted and sweaty. He looks at you silent, with a suspicious look.
Beyond the man, partially collapsed buildings and three whitewashed towers lean in a lake-filled yard.
Rather than answering the man just stays there, looking at you with suspicious stare through the iron fence door.
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Althera feels a sense of relief to be in more comfortable clothes.
"Don't worry Reed and Eve. I just happened to have an assignment before this one. As a magic user, I have a bit less coin spent on weapons and armor. I am sure things will turn out well for us, and you will soon enjoy the fruits of success."
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Reed takes Lionel all too literally, staying within a few feet of him as they walk to the Drownyard. He nods at Althera's assessment, wondering if the Pathfinders were a lot more weird than he thought when he signed on. Oh well. His father had taught him that doing something meant following through, so follow through he would do. The small ranger at least seemed to share his struggles, and the others weren't so bad, really. Just full of...personality.
As they approach the man, Reed really doesn't know what to do. He first tries to scowl at the man, matching his suspicious look. When his companions start trying to talk nicely to him, the ranger attempts to smile, the end result looking more like he might be sick soon.
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Althera smiles at the man as Nigel greets him.
"Yes, good sir, would you kindly allow us to come inside and speak with you further."
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The man stays just there, seeing how you try to talk, but he maintains his suspicious stare while you stand at the other side of the door.
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"A magic user?" Eveline asks, as if she didn't hear the first time, "by book or blood?"
Her colleagues' friendly demeanor towards this lone figure baffles Eveline. She shakes her head a little and walks up to the fence, looking up the black iron spikes.
"Am I the only one here who wonders how the heck he got in there?" she asks, turning to her companions and pulls the key Drandle Dreng gave them from her pocket, suggesting they'd open the gate.
As soon as Lionel opens the gate the man drops the shovel he was using and approaches the group changing his expression to that one of a smile.
With open arms he says "Welcome! My name is Merinien. It has been a very long time since last time anyone came to visit! But tell me, what brings you to the Tri-tower Academy?"
Deris Marlinchen seems surprised by the question "Eh? No... this is the Tri-Towers Academy. How could I call this my home? I am just attending the grounds while I wait for Cassiel."
He takes out his gloves and tends you his hand "But who are you and why have you come here?"
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Eveline is increasingly suspicious of the fellow, and with some hesitation shakes hands with "Deris". She pulls her arm free after a single shake and wipes it against her thigh just in case.
"I'm... I'm Eveline. We've come here to, err, look around." She looks behind her, puzzled. "I figured no one would be here, so your presence... concerns us."
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Once inside the gate, Althera speaks to the man.
"We're friends of Lady Darcilena. My name is Althera. I was hoping to hear more about the Academy. I've considered the place for my own daughter when she's old enough. I was hoping for a more thorough tour than the officials give. Can you help us?"
Odd that he calls it the Academy. With his earlier behavior, perhaps his mind has not come to terms with the tragedy...
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Marlinchen turns towards Reed as he places his question "She is my daughter. Cassiel attends this school. You should see how she’s grown. Those beautiful long braids!"
The man then answers the other questions "You have chosen a good place, this is a strong school for your daughter. As for Lady Darcilena and Junia, I have no idea, I do not remember anyone by those names. Is that all you came here looking for? I think if they were around I will know them."
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After resisting the urge to slap the man in the face, Nigel puts on the cheeriest smile he can muster.
He might not be all there, but maybe he can help us find what we're looking for. Even if he doesn't know it. Nigel thinks.
Nigel looks up at the man.
Would you mind guiding us around the school grounds? Nigel says in a neighborly voice. I'm sure my friend would like to tour the academy before she commits to enrolling her daughter and you seem to know the school very well. Don't you all agree, he says turning to the party.
The man nods glad to have some company "Of course just follow me!"
He starts walking through the ruins of the Academy showing you to one side and the other "Look, that one is the library." he points to a half collapsed building "And there is the playing courtyard." this one is fully covered with vegetation.
You continue to follow him in a tour for around 10 minutes. The ruined paths of the Tri-Towers Yard wind their way around black ponds and gray, shattered buildings. Powerful fragrances precede one roofless hall where a thin path meanders through an abundance of flower arrangements in wild bloom.
The flowers are not planted, but rather left there in mourning for the victims of the Earthquake. The weird thing is the flowers stand there fresh as if the event have happened just yesterday.
After a while walking the man turns to Althera "So what do you think. Would you not enjoy taking your daughter here?" he looks at you for a moment then says "And know, if you don't have any other business here, let me return to the entrance, I don't want Cassiel to arrive and me not being there for her."
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His suspicions confirmed by the man's continued prattling, Reed plants his feet, not taking another step. His face is full of sympathy for the poor man, but he is unwilling to play along with the charade for the sake of information gathering. It felt an awful lot like taking advantage of someone.
Instead, he turns his gaze to the fresh flowers, curiosity playing over his face. He steps nearer, giving the aromatic petals a closer glance.
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Eveline stops after Althera has spoken, take aback by what she said, uncertain what she said was true or false. She walks up to her and looks up to ask her. "Do you really have a daughter?" Eveline asks in whisper, befuddled, "it'd be the first time I hear of a pathfinder field agent who has offspring."
She would try to judge the answer by looking at Althera's body type, but as a halfling she doesn't really know how pregnancy might affect humans, accurately that is.
Eveline too notices the same as Reed, and accompanies him to the garden. "Odd. Any idea why the flowers blood still? I'll accept best guesses."
Otherwise Eveline doesn't care to stay close to the deranged man, Deris, and lets others follow him and show places.
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Reed stands there, thoughtful, then shrugs as he looks at Eve. "No idea. Perhaps the gods sought a way to make up for the tragedy that took place here. Or some lingering magical effect of the area."
He sighs, shaking his head. "It isn't right, them entertaining that man's delusions. I was warned all my life against women like her," his eyes follow Althera for a moment before turning back to Eve, "beautiful but deceitful, willing to use anyone they meet to get the end they desire."
He chuckles, rolling his eyes, "Then again, I'm young and rather in-experienced. Perhaps in a year I'll be following suit, laughing about what an ignorant youth I was."
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"I see what you meant, but think of it this way; if we'd say it straight to his face, it might have serious repercussions. Better to a little more careful with the mentally ill," Eveline explains, gesturing with her hands as she speaks.
"I'm guessing we are both young and inexperienced, and poorly clothed," she continues with a smile, admiring the everblooming flower, "do you know Althera from somewhere? Or are you just quick to judge?" Eveline looks up at Reed. She's worried, but doesn't show it, how the human ranger apparently gets easily attached to the first beautiful woman he sees. That considering, Eve's actually content she's outside of Reed's field of vision most of the time, and of another race, of course.
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Lionel grins at Nigel and Althera, as they guide the man to aid us. "Smooth...", he whispers as he starts leading the way.
If he's told about the flowers, he'll go there and inspect them with Detect Magic, saying to the group, "Oh, nice. I'd love to check out something like that. D'ya mind if I take a quick trip back?"
As he's coming back, he'll use Detect Magic to take a look on the groundskeeper as well.
"So, Deris, ya mind telling us more about what's being taught here at the academy? Is there like a main reception or registration, where we can go 'n talk to the headmasta? Or mistress?", he gives the man an encouraging grin.
Turning back to Eve and Reed, he says, "You two, if ya need some time alone, wait until our biznes here's done!" in a tone, identifying the sentence as a joke.
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Reed's face grows thoughtful, his brow furrowing. "It still seems wrong, to feed his illness. We should get help for him when this is all done."
He chuckles at Eve's quip, shaking his head in the negative. "Never saw her before today." The youth ponders a moment, then looks at Eve earnestly, "I'm quick to judge, I suppose. In the small village I grew up in, black was black and white was white. There wasn't all this....grey." He sweeps his arm around, indicating Absalom as a whole.
He smiles down at the smaller ranger. "You seem like a fair enough person. I'll just follow your lead. I don't think you'd steer me wrong." The moment is interrupted by Lionel, and Reed turns a deep shade of red at the cleric's words, joking though they were. He gives the flower one last glance, then hurries after the group.
Lionel casts detect magic but found no magical aura. If there is some magical effect around it is the general type not able to focus in a single point.
Back to the entrance the man answers about the reception "Nothing like that nowadays. " he observes you are not living and unsure what to do next he adds "Well so, if you have any other question or task I can help you with... otherwise I will continue with my things. "
The moon rises in the horizon and you begin to feel tired.
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Althera thanks the caretaker and says the school seems quite nice indeed. She turns to Reed and Eve, a tiny flash of anger in her eyes.
"Not any means, Reed. At least not for this. Sometimes, however, it is not wise to trust others you have not even met. For instance, I have learned that when some men look at a woman they see only a pretty face or a shapely figure. They are ruled by their carnal natures. Some of them are monsters in their own way."
With that she shudders slightly.
"But even more so, there are many creatures that can appear human, or so I've heard. Almost all of them are vicious. Lionel is wise to use magic here. You say the flowers appear as though freshly cut? Perhaps the caretaker is influenced by powerful magic as well."
Her expression grows soft again.
"Please forgive me. I by no means wish to chide you. But please understand that revealing your true nature immediately can carry risk, sometimes very grave ones. And no Eve, I do not have a child. Though for a long time I desperately wished to..."
All of a sudden, as if her own memories were too much to bear, Althera begins to weep quietly, though she tries to hide this from her friends.
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Reed glances at his companions, having had no idea his and Eve's conversation had carried so far. Cursing his fool mouth, he takes the berating from Althera stoically, meeting her eyes and remaining silent. When she is done and starts to weep, he glances about helplessly, reaching forward to put an arm around her shoulder. "Hey...I'm sorry about all that. I'm just green and inexperienced. You know what you're doing, so I should be the one staying quiet and watching and learning, not offering opinions." He looks to the others with alarm as he pats her shoulder.
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Eveline especially irritated by Lionel's remark, and is unable to hide her cross gaze. She quickly shakes it off, turning back to Reed to continue the conversation.
"Lead?" the word strikes odd to Eveline, who hasn't seen it even possible to be one to guide or act as the head of a team, "well, I won't stop you, nor steer you wrong. I'd be a pretty lousy faithful of Sarenrae if I did." She smiles shortly, before Althera interrupts their conversation. Eveline's face turns embarrassed, as she was not realizing how loudly they were talking. There wasn't any background noise to mask it after all. She does involuntarily blurt out an amused laugh. See only a shapely figure... you can say that again.
Learning Althera doesn't have a daughter but wishes for one creates many questions for Eveline, who decides not to continue her inquiry because of Althera's mood. Eveline looks at Althera and Reed, and looks rather indecisive, following Deris' lead as if to escape the situation.
She doesn't make eye contact with Lionel. Actually, she avoids it.
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"Aww, the chat just gone and died... If ya wanna, we can talk 'bout somethin' else for a change. Soo... where we all goin' for a drink after the mission?", says Lionel, feeling the tense mood in the party. "Don't worry, Reed, we've all been new at this. I started 'bout a month ago myself, and I think it was the big fellas' first time too, ain't that right?" he says, gesturing to the gnomes.
"A follower of the Dawnflower, eh? Don' worry, I ain't gonna try an' convert ya! And I mean no insult by ma comments, just quirks of the callin', ya know.", says Lionel, looking at Eveline following the group.
Man, wouldn't hurt people ta smile, ya know.
Lionel proceeds to lead towards the next goal, whistling a hymn of Calistria.
You arrive back at the entrance where Derris looks at you as if he does not know what you are talking about.
"Well, happy to met you. If you don't have any other bussines you can go now. If I met your Junia I will tell her you are looking for her. Where are you staying so I can send note?"
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"Say, Deris, this isn't a restricted area, so we could search around on our own, too," Eveline says hastily, "a small walk around the court barely covers the marvels of this place, surely. If we'll see Cassiel, we'll say you're waiting her by the gate."
The halfling is anxious to get far from the man, as if lunacy was contagious. Sure, he must get help, but right now she wants to focus on the mission; finding the ruby salamander ring from the necropolis.
The man looks weirdly at Eveline "But why do you wish to stay looking around?"