"Hey, let's play a little game on the way!" says Azura. "It'll help us to get to know each other better. Here's how it works! It's kind of like truth or dare. You ask someone else a question, and they can either answer it, or pass. If you answer the question you're expected to answer truthfully... but you can pick how much detail. Once you answer you can ask a question of someone else. If you don't want to answer, you can tell us something else about yourself that we don't already know, but then the person who asked you picks the next person - you give up that privilege by passing on answering the question."
"So, say I asked Ada a question, she could answer it and then ask someone else a question, OR if she didn't want to she could tell us something else, but then I would get to pick someone else who would ask the next question."
"If you all like the idea, we can start with someone asking me a question!"
"I'll start. What instruments to you play?" Ada says to Azura as they walk along the streets.
"I sing," Azura replies. "I was trained in some classical choral arrangements as a girl. I never formally learned to use other instruments, though I do occasionally accompany them, and if I had some spare time I might be inclined to pick up the harp or the mandolin. Perhaps the clavichord. But for now, just singing. I'll sing for you all some time, but that would interrupt the game if I did it right now!"
She hitches up the straps on her backpack and says, "All right, my turn. Ryn, if you had to choose between the life of a gladiator and the life of a Pathfinder, and you could only do one or the other, which would you pick?"
Marisa inwardly groans as Azura begins the game as they trudge toward their destination. Knowing my luck, I am bound to be asked something I do not want to answer...
The young former noble pulls out her holy symbol and quietly starts walking a half step shorter per stride, placing her toward the back of the party.
I wonder what I'll get asked? Zev thinks to himself as Azure answers Ada's question.
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Ryn considers the question for a bit before beginning her answer. "Hmmm...thanks a good one. There's a lot of things I love about the arena, the rush of battle, hearing the crowd cheer me on....the wild victory parties." she says with a flush coming to her face as she conjures up a vivid memory. "But at the same time being a Pathfinder feels like I'm doing something that actually matters more than just entertainment. There's still plenty of opportunity to put my skills to the test, and well, there's the added bonus of meeting very interesting new people who aren't all there to cave my head in. Pathfinder I guess." she says sounding almost surprised and guving a rueful grin.
”Hmm okay…Marisa…..that language you were muttering in before…..it was really pretty sounding. What was it?”
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The young woman almost trips over a non existent bump in the road as the question is asked, but manages to make the motion look surprisingly dignified.
"As I said, I believe it is called 'Celestial' in our tongue. Azura is one of the few that I have met that understands it."
Turning to Saersha, she thinks a moment.
"So I know that you will flirt... and more than flirt... with seemingly anyone that still has a pulse. Out of curiosity, have you ever actually fallen in love with someone? And before you say it, your reflection in the mirror does not count." While the words are certainly stinging out of context, the way in which she asks the question (combined with her good natured smile) seem to indicate that no insult is meant.
Saersha gave Marisa an amused smile, obviously catching the fact that she was being teased, and said, "No," she shook her head to accompany her words, "In more generations than you would believe not once has a member of my family fallen in love. We are an unbroken line of women, each mother has one daughter and no more, with a man that she seduces and then rids herself of." She gave Marisa a stern look as she said, "and no, I don;t mean that he is always killed, generally he is...convinced to leave the mother be by simply avoiding him or magical coercion." She considered if she would add anything more and then said, "Each daughter is raised solely by her mother and taught the arts of a lust mage." She smiled at the memory, "It is a proud tradition and one that I am delighted to be a part of."
Saersha looked at each of her companions in turn as she decided who to ask next and then settled on Zev. She made a mental note of something about him and then promptly asked, "Why do you have no shadow?"
How sad. Zev thinks as Saersha explains her history. Though if she is happy... his thoughts are cut off when she calls on him. "Oh, that?" he says as he looks down to where an outline of a shadow should be before looking back up. "It stayed in Nidal. Just one of the many things I gave up when I left. Zo-" he cuts himself before he says the name, "He who rules that realm of eternal darkness has claimed it, just as he does all the shadows. Just as he does all the souls of those who live in Nidal. And those who are born there. Can't really say that I miss it. It wouldn't like it out here anyway, too bright."
Curious about some of things she mentioned he didn't want the conversation to get too tense when everything thus far had been friendly so he turned to the Shamaness. Miss Ada, when did you first meet Erras? If it's okay for me to ask."
Azura cranes her head around to look at Zev. "Huh! I hadn't noticed that before," she says of the shadow.
"Neither did I for that matter." Ryn says arching an eyebrow and wondering what kind of place kept your shadow.
"I'm pretty sure it's much happier back in the Uskwood than stuck with me." Zev simply says.
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Marisa shudders. "I somehow doubt that, but I am sure that you are better off now that you aren't there. A shadow is a small price to pay for your sanity, your soul, and your life."
"You have no idea how right you are." he says after a pause and looking down at the ground at where his shadow should be.
You were closing towards the area of the Underbridge when the sky above you began to sprinkle, light rain falling. As you are all nearing the abandoned building the disgusting man spoke of the day before the silence of the morning becomes eerie.
The rain didn't bother Ulfr in the slightest. Rain was a blessing and he savored the feel of the wet drops on his skin. His foxy companion was less than amused, however, and yipped at Ulfr until the big man gave him shelter in his backpack.
Azura holds out a hand to feel the rain, seemingly delighting in that simple act, then mentions offhandedly, "I think someone's watching us."
"Oh?" Zev lets out.
Marisa seems unnerved by the comment, and the quiet.
"Wonderful." She takes a better grip upon her quarterstaff and thinks on what spells might be useful in a pinch.
Ryn makes the subtlest shift, a slight squaring of her shoulders, raising of her head that suddenly makes her seem more imposing, a statue of a warrior unaffected by the rain. "Nice catch. Anything specific." she asks quietly.
"The alleyway past the abandoned building."
Someone should do check it out. They probably have eyes watching me, so one of you stealthier types would be best. Ulfr says in a low voice so he isn't overheard past the immediate area. Just nobody be a hero, ok? If you meet trouble run back to the group.
"How did I meet Erras? He came to me when I was 18. I was hiding in the back of the family compound again, and this beautiful grey and black cat came up to me. We clicked. He and my powers have been with me ever since. My mother was not pleased, but we managed to convinced her that Erras important to my new gifts."
Ada points out the small footprints she sees as subtly as she can. "Those prints are heading behind the building."
"So either a child spy or a halfling or gnome or the like." Ryn mutters. "I'm not the best at stealth, and I'm pretty recognizable but I can go if no one else has experience sneaking." Ryn suggests pulling up the hood of her cloak.
I'm even less stealthy than you. I'd send Essa, but he doesn't know what we need to know."
Marisa shrugs. "Trust me when I say that being sneaky is not my strongest quality. But if you are going, let me aid how I can."
Concentrating briefly, she focuses on the what she remembers regarding the principles of stealth. Opening her eyes, she touches Ryn in the center of her forehead.
"Go raibh an chumhacht de Nethys dhéanann tú go tapa nó contúirteach."
"May the power of Nethys make you swift or dangerous."
Smiling, she removes her finger tips as the power finishes flowing into Ryn. "There, that might help. Good luck."
"Ah, so he sought you out? What an interesting cat."
"Uh, I'm a little good at sneaking. Allow me." Zev awkwardly offered, he had never had to say something like that aloud before.
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As Zev offers to go in her stead, and slinks off with nary a whisper, Ryn's eyes widen, both surprised and more than a little impressed.
Turning back to Marisa she smiles. "Thank you anyway, I'm sure I'll have an opportunity to but your celestial gift to good use soon."
Saesha enjoyed the walk, it wasn't something she normally preferred to do but in this case it was actually kind of fun. When they approached the Underbridge and found the tracks she said, "I'm not stealthy either, it goes against my nature, I prefer to be seen and noticed. The job is all yours Zev," she finished as he all but disappeared from sight.
As the strange man you all had picked up from the equally strange seer seemingly melted for a moment out of your sights, they tracks leading in a complete opposite direction were clear enough.. though at the rate the rain was picking up perhaps they wouldnt be for too much longer.
Narrowing his eyes in annoyance Zev headed back to the group. "Whoever was there, and someone was, was already a couple alleys over. Didn't feel all that wise to wander off alone in someone's else woods when you don't know the place." he says upon rejoining the group, the annoyance on his face syncing up with his voice.
Marisa nods at Ryn. "If not, I should be able to do that again. The priest called it an 'Orison'... he said that they tap into a well of magic that has no greater limit than the hours of the day."
Hearing Zev's report, she relaxes her grip a small bit, but keeps wary.
"Possibly a sentry for a gang or band. Perhaps we had best finish our business before it comes back with friends."
Zev nods to the Oracle.
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Ada agrees. ""Let's go inside. Standing around out here just makes us targets for thieves and archers." she allows the heavier armored fighters to go first.
She smiles at Zev. "He is an amazing cat."
Ryn nods. "This is definitely the place. Those marks on the wall signify a safehouse. Be ready for just about anything, and stay close." she says, moving towards the entrance.
Zev smiles back at Ada. "I can tell." he says as he follows Ryn into the building.
Ulfr heads in a well. A shootout was just about the last thing he needed.
Following the others, Marisa keeps her eyes open.
Please, be nice and friendly...
As you all move torwards the side of the building two men half stumble out of a ramshackle door half attached to the wall. They are clearly street toughs, with crude but effective looking morningstars in hand.
"Shove off gits' dis heres private property go find some other place to squat in"
The lankier of the two begin shaking the thick club dotted with thick nails began wiping his nose with the back of his hand.
"We're looking for someone." Zev growls back at the men.
Ulfr crosses his arms and stares the men down. His lack of a sneer made it clear that he thought the men were about as dangerous as noisy children.
"Please, there is no need for violence. My companions and I have reason to believe a friend of ours is within. Perhaps you can be kind enough to point us toward her. We promise, once our business is complete we will leave you to all of this... prime, private 'squating' property, as you so elegantly put it."
She smiles at the men as she says this, but she also has the sense to stand in such a manner that they would have to go through Ulfr and Ryn to reach her.
Ada snorts quietly. "It's a lovely piece of property, but we certainly don't want to stay here. We just need to take a look then leave."
"It would really be a good idea to listen to them.....it could save you a lot of pain." Ryn says standing beside Ulfr and staring the one who spoke dead in the eyes.