I... I trust him not.... I didn't get to see in his house though...
Turning back to the others, Irnk cocks his head as his eyebrows make a passable imitation of two caterpillars about to fight to the death over the only remaining edible leaf, currently being played by his forehead. "Well, then you've two options. Go back & find out, or wait & find out on our way back."
"Go back, the house is still close" Said Avan as he stopped and looked back in the direction of the halfling's house.
As Tharjuck speaks his mind, a worried look appears on Sybil's face. Yet, it is quickly turned into a frown by Irnk and Avan's suggestion to go back.
Do they want to spy on the halfling? Why so nosy the goblin? thinks the dwarf, while forcing her epxression to become more neutral.
"Well, it seems to me that Mr. Proudstump might be, as his name indicates, proud. As such, he might prefer to hide his wound than show his pain. I do not think we need to go back for this." she says in an even tone.
She bows her head slightly, thinking for a second and then lifts her head to give the shoanti an inquisitive look.
"Although, Mr. Tharjuk, why are you interested in the house, did anything suspicious catch your attention?"
"Not directly, no. It's just... I thought for a second that maybe he acted under duress? Doesn't sound like a goblin thing to do, I know, and maybe I just misread something in his behaviour." Tharjuk frowns a bit. "You are probably right and he just lives up to his name. I don't want to initiate problems when there are none."
"Nope, moun ki just kill ya..." Irnk adds. Well, burning's good too."
The shoanti sighs. "I am surprised to say this, but I think that's not a bad idea, Galford. I know you have a light step if you want it to be, and if there's nothing suspicious around we can go our merry way without any incident." He leans on his quarterstaff and shifts his weight a bit. "Or what do you say?"
I don't trust the bird not to f~!* with something without supervision...
Irnk refrains from comment, giving little indication of preference for whatever choice the others make.
I have a spell... To make someone invisible for a short time if need be...but it doesn't last very long at all. I could cast a spell to make him sleep, as well...
Apex almost whispers as he speaks, almost like she's afraid to talk.
"Its not good to have doubts" Said Avan from his new position; lying down with both hands behind his head and one leg over the other "When I used to have doubts before entering the arena, I got injuries that I could have avoided" Taking a deep breath, Avan sets up and looks to Tharjuk, with something that seemed like a sagely look in his dark brown eyes.
"Wouldn't it be best if you fought goblins without having to worry about Proud...what was his name again?" With those words that wise look, and somewhat serious manner of speech faded and in its place were the uninterested and almost apathetic expression and voice of the Rusty Dragon bouncer.
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You and Irnk slowly make your way back towards the house. It's becoming dusk and you are able to approach in the falling shadows.
Proudstump is sitting on a chair in front of the house, you see him begin to nod off to sleep, then jolt awake and look around expectantly. This happens a few times over the course of 10 minutes.
@Dalford
Your keen eyes notice as he wakes up each time an odd shiver that seems to play along his face and hands.
It's already dusk? I only the dwarf & I can see in the dark, unlike the Licktoad...
I don't like those odds.
Cautiously making his way back, Irnk opens his big mouth once he reaches the others. "Got another reason to go back. It will be night before we get to the Licktoad & you lot do wanna try & pull anything with an entire vilaj moun nan pèp at ."
"Better idea to see if you can talk 'stumpy' into letting you all stay with him tonight & we start fresh come dawn."
Sybil stays silent while Dao and Irnk decide to leave, surprisingly, she does not show much disapproval on the spying mission other than glaring at Dao for suggesting to put things on fire. Once the tengu and goblin leave, she starts pacing around, clearly preocuppied.
Good thing the goblin went with Dao... this chick can get himself into so much troubles sometimes... yet, Irnk still seems suspicious...
Realising that Apex's suggestion was left unanswered, the dwarf stops by the woman to give her some encouraging words.
"Do not be worried miss Stormshard, goblins are quick good at hiding and so is Galford. They won't be needing your spell just yet."
She goes on pacing (ignoring the others), until Irnk comes back.
"Yes, let's wait for Gao and see what he thinks. But I believe you are right Irnk, it would be better if we sleep in a house. Now, was there anything suspicious?"
Sybil stops pacing once she realises how unnerving it must be. Taking control of herself, she walks to Avan.
"Mr. Avan, did you just mention you use to fight in an Arena? You must come from very far, for such places are uncommon around here."
Even though the subject is delicate, her tone suggests that she knows and is trying to veer the subject toward something more positive.
"Not really that uncommon. There's one in Riddleport, I heard there's one in Magnimar." Irnk interjects, ruining any chance at a civil conversation on the topic. "You're probably thinkin' espò san or twou lanmò...
Yeah, 're pretty few & far between 'n these parts." He adds.
death pits
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Curious
Galford Observes him even more trying to see what's got him so jumpy. It'll be best if he can do so before heading back. It'll be dark soon.
Spending another 15mins to observe before he creeps back to the rest and reports his finding.
He has been holding his side, when he grabs it he winces a bit.
He seems almost like he is expecting something to happen, and he does not want to miss it.
A cloud of silence came over Avan, his eyes looked through those in front of him and through the horizon, as if he was staring at some phantom that only he could see, then without warning his hand grabbed a twig from the ground and began drawing a circular shape in the soft patch of earth in front of him.
"Urglin" The word came as suddenly as the quietness that had its claw in him only moments ago "So many Orcs there..." The twig snaps but no anger could be noticed on Avan's face, just a blank expression, almost like the previous silent had someone further drained him of emotion.
"I always entered from here" He pointed to the southeast side of the drawing "There was always a new bloodstain on the entrance...of course there was more blood on the floor of the arena, after the fights were over" He pointed out, before returning to the quiet state, his eyes still seemed to be watching something that only he could fathom.
Sybil gives a harsh look to Irnk as he enters the conversation and motions him to stay silent as she listens to Avan.
The dwarf nods with a serious expression as she hears the bouncers words. She stays silent for a moment, then her expression relaxes as a small smile appears at the corner of her lips.
"You are truly lucky to a found a town such as sandpoint to relocate, time passed their can heal meany wounds."
She softly puts a hand on his shoulder.
Listening to Avan and Sybil, Apex silently seethes, remembering her own past, until she can't take it anymore and bursts.
Why must people always try to impose their will on others?! Why must people suffer for the entertainment of those who think themselves better?! And when you finally free yourself, your past... hunts you like you're some kind of loose animal!
She breathes heavily, and then when she realizes what she has done, casts her eyes at the ground and tries to make her already small self even smaller, trying to shy away from the eyes that are surely upon her.
I'm... Sorry. I didn't mean... To be loud.
An unsubtle shake of his head occurred the second Avan felt Sybil's hand on his shoulder; it was almost as if he had just awoken from a deep slumber "Its better than most places I've been to" He answered simply, proving that he had been listening...surprisingly. Avan's eyes were now focused on the people that stood around him instead of the haze of memories and thoughts that he'd been sinking in only moments ago.
"The young bird isn't back yet...and it seems to be worrying you, we'd best get him back so we can decide on what we'll do next" Stated the martial artist as he got up from his seat "My vote is for resting for the night" He continued, his hand moving up to massage his neck.
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So interested is Galford that he stays in his position and not move as he watches Proudstump, his interest piqued. What was he waiting for?
He settles in to watch, maybe he could catch something exciting and then head back to the others..............
Eventually, the halfling succumbs to sleep. And slumps over in his chair.
Avan looks to the blue haired wizard, with clear interest in his eyes Was she enslaved at some point in her life? I don't see any signs of whippings and her hands don't seem rough or overworked..I've heard that not all slave masters abuse their slaves, maybe she had a more lenient master? Pondered the blond man, as his hand moved from his neck to his stubble.
"Maybe you should talk to her as well, you seem to be good at it" He suggested to Sybil "If she ever points to the one that hurt her, I'll be sure to do my part" He continued before stretching in his usual indolent manner.
Sybil gives a quick stare to Irnk, trying to force him to remain silent and not make things worst for Apex. As she prepares an answer for the woman, she is interrupted by Dao's arrival.
The dwarf listens to the tengu's report, impassive. Once he is done she nods.
"Alright, let's go and talk to Mr.Proudstump, I will take care of his wounds and we can most likely find a place to sleep. Unless anyone has a better idea."
Sybil gets ready to head back to the house.
Walking over to Sybil's side with a more energetic bounce in his footstep, Avan stopped behind her "I'd be a fool to turn down a free roof over my head, lead the way" Said the martial artist, as he looked over the rest of their group.
At Sybil's glare, Irnk's only response is a sardonic eyebrow, though he does seem to nod in agreement with her later statement. As the others prepare to return to the Proudstump home, he demurs. "I sleep out here just fine. 'sides, I doubt 'stumpy' will be any too thrilled to see one of my kind wantin' floorspace."
Apex hefts her pack into her shoulder, and makes ready to follow Sybil back to the halfling's house.
Sybil calmly walks toward Stumpy.
"Please excuse us for bothering you, but I hadn't realized that you were wounded earlier. However, some of my companions spoke about it and we decided to come back, we could not leave without trying to help and know more about this pain. I have to say, it must hurt quite a bit for a man like you to wince from pain. But do not worry, Mr. Tharjuk here knows quite about about herbs and remedies."
She motions the Shoanti to come and take a look.
Sybil takes a sidestep to leave space for Tharjuk to look at the wound. As stumpy speaks, she becomes wary of him.
What size must a snake be to bite at someone's side? Why would he lie? she thinks.
She looks into the halfling's eyes, trying to detect any hint that he might be lying.
Apex stands silently, waiting on the halfling's reply to Sybil.
Sitting cross legged on the floor of the halfling's home, Avan watched him explain the injury he suffered with somewhat wavering interest, but still he searched for deception in their host's voice and physical mannerisms, it has helped him in the arena to see whether his opponent was feinting or attacking, to learn whether the people who gave him directions on his travels were lying or not and they would possibly assist him in seeing if Stumpy had anything to hide.
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Cast Detect poison.
Proudstump says he thinks it was a viper but he can't be sure.
@Sybil
He does seem a bit off, it doesn't seem like pride is the reason.
But he does seem to be telling the truth about the snakes. (He is a halfling so the snakes would not need to be that big to reach him)
He invites you in and begins to rummage through the cupboards in the kitchen opening them all looking for food and bowls. he offers you some cured meat and water.
"not much but It will have to do."
Tharjuk will cast a cure light wounds on him
He relaxes a bit. "That feels much better."
Apex stays near a window, where she can see anyone approaching the house.
Mr. Proudstump, do you have snake problems often? I could try and get rid of them with a few spells if you do... she says in we usual soft time, the anger from her outburst earlier gone.
Staying silent to let Stumpy answer Apex's question, Sybil shows her gratitude to the halfling by noding to him. She then sets up the table as best as she can with the bowls that were given to her table. She takes great care to not take too much food from the man, planning on eating some of her rations later in the evening.
Once Apex is done with her question, Sybil adds one of her own.
"Mr. Proudstump, do you know of any medicines that could treat the poison of the snake that bit you? It would be our pleasure to provide you with it."
As the others tend to the Halfling's ills & accept his hospitality, Irnk finds himself a quite nook outside to rest for the night.
"Uhh, snakes? Umm, no. Not often? And medicines? Umm... let me think... Not really sure what that would be."
Other than Apex, who is still concerned about her angry outburst from earlier, and Irnk, who is outside and doesn't witness this, the rest of you find Walthus' answer quite odd for someone who lives in a swamp. It is as though he is trying to make answers up on the spot, not drawing from experience.
In addition, as he speaks, Avan just manages to catch the oddest sight - it is as though Walthus' face has rippled, like there is something crawling underneath his skin.
Raised eyebrows were the only sign of surprise that broke through Avan's impassive expression. Contrasting with this slight movement was his unusually quick abandonment of his sitting position "There is something crawling under his skin, step back" Warned the former gladiator, a slight hint of alarm tainting his mostly uninterested tone of speech.
Not seeing what Avan speaks of, but having learned that the best way to survive in her kind of life was to act first, ask later, Apex casts detect magic on Proudstump, and puts her staff in frot of her in a defensive position.
Sa jool swarek! What do you see, Avan! Is this a trap?
Her terrified eyes involuntarily sweep to the front door out of experience. When things like this happen, the bounty hunters are usually involved.
"I do not know" He answered brusquely and got into a stance he has long since got used to; his left side to his enemy, left arm in a guard position, with his left leg in front, his right to the back and his right arm chambered at his side. A strange intensity came over Avan's eyes, making it seem like they did not belong on such an expressionless face.
Map: Walthus' Shack - Ground Floor
When Avan shares his observation, the figure in front of you shudders, and it's features muddle and swirl for an instant, then coalesce into a faceless brown and grey humanoid shape!
When the change happens, Sybil almost preternaturally sees danger coming, and has a chance to react.
Still occupied with finding himself a spot concealed, comfortable & clear; Irnk scarcely notices the incipient chaos within the hut.