Are we going to see the captain, I will ask him to let my family know what I am doing
Taldo smiles and nods when he sees his two friends come outside and listens carefully as they discuss there plan trying to stand still, poleaxe beside him attempting to look like the dutiful guard. When Maelius goes back inside he patiently waits at the door with Seraphina.
After she goes through her morning ritual, she looks to the sun overhead, and then has a flash of insight.
I must have forgot, I remember Lore hangs out in a shady part of town. I wonder if the good guard would help us out again. Hey Mael, you wanna ask him for us?
Mael turns to Taldo
Hey Taldo, we need to find this Scout named Lore Dunne. Apparently he's well known and hangs out in the shady part of town? Would you know the guy or know who would?
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Lore Dunne, hangs out on the south side. Standing outside of the barracks that next morning as Maelius asks Taldo about Dunne, Taldo has to stop and think for a moment, scratching his head and looking at his feet, Taldo finally looks up and nods his head and points to the south side. Crap they want to meet him, don't they know people like them don't go to places like that? Taldo starts to explain why they shouldn't go there, "I..I..I Uhh..Uhh I.. D..D..." crap they'll just tell me that want to go anyway. He finally looks back at them, then at his feet, and picking up his bag, wave for them to follow and heads south.
After they walk from the market district, the buildings become smaller, and dirtier, The road becomes narrower. It seems as if people are moving quicker going about their business. People are standing on the corners staring or openly sneering at the trio. Finally Taldo stops at a filthy brick and wooden two story building on the corner with a small stoop and a rickety wooden sign above the door, with a tankard carved on the top half and the bottom half broken off. well, if he's in town, this is where he will be. Taldo looks at his friends hoping they will change their mind, seeing they wont he opens the door. The smell of old beer, smoke, blood and piss wafts out of the dark common room, Taldo looks at his friends shrugging his shoulders, motioning for them to enter.
Thankfully, they don't have to look far to find their target. Rory, the man they met at the Guard house earlier, is on his way out, but stops short when he sees Sera. "Well if it isn't the Angel of Gisli!" the phrase turns what was a scowl in to a wide smile.
After staring briefly, his smile fades and he says, "What brings you to this dump?"
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Maelius snaps his fingers. Dunne. Of course. Rory, we're looking for a man named Lore Dunne. Do you know him?
"I ought to, shouldn't I?" He says with both humor and disappointment in his voice, "He's my father, isn't he?" He points to a tall man with a bald spot in his brown hair, and a beer belly having a rather heated argument with another man with a similar disposition, only that man's hair was mostly salt-colored at this point. Rory doesn't remove himself from their path, "What do you want with him anyway?"
Sera will smile at the guard, My mother thinks so, she with a chuckle. When she hears that the man they are looking for is his father, she looks down to the ground. I knew it could be THAT easy
these citizens should stay out of places like this Taldo keeps his eyes peeled as he watches for any untoward action aimed at his two friends. great, the rowdiest person in the place is who were looking for. See the person in question that they are here to talk to Taldo tugs on Maelius' sleeve and asks "a..a..are y..y..you s..sure?"
We've gotten mixed up with the Forum to tell you the truth. They want us to find something called The Bracers of the King... in some temple in Grimstad. Apparently your father is the only one who knows where it is
"The Lost Temple?" Rory says in a hush, "Have you lost your minds? My father lost several friends in that place. He wouldn't go back if the fate of Attica rested on it," he throws up his hands in desperation with this last phrase. He looks in Sera's eyes, and seeing the growing disappointment in them, he sighs and says, "Just let me talk to him. Maybe he'll listen if it comes from me."
The young man's strained expression makes it clear that he'd much rather be getting a tooth pulled than do what he's about to do. But he does it anyway.
Taldo and the Clemanites can't hear the conversation between the man and his father over the noise of the tavern, but they can tell that Lore is all but ignoring the boy, as his aggressive discussion with the other man at his table had not yet reached a conclusion. Finally, Lore stands, and the group sees his face for the first time. His most striking feature was a scar that began in the middle of the man's nose, travelled down, and dissected his left nostril leaving a strand of scar-tissue to split the nostril in two. The scar continues through the man's lips and unshaven chin which was quivering now. Finally Lore spoke a short sentence to his son, gestured toward the group, and sat down silent with his arms crossed; staring at the man across from him.
Rory returns to the group and says with a degree of uneasiness. "He says that if you can convince his friend, Nadim the Drunk--yes, he calls himself that--that he hasn't just cheated in their card game, and that Nadim does in fact owe him 950 gp; then he'll take you anywhere you like for free." Rory's tone doesn't sound hopeful, but he turns to Sera and says, "I suppose if anyone could do it," he checks himself and looks back at the group in general, "It might be you all."
are these people insane, 'lost several friends'? It's a lost temple for a reason, why would we do this? Looking to his friends and then to Rory, Taldo shuffles his feat as he quickly looks back down at them. As Rory goes and speaks to his father, Taldo tugs on Maelius' shirt to ask him for an explanation as to there need to go to such a place. "Wh..wh..wh..wh.." Then as Lore looks up and Taldo sees his face, Taldo looses his grip on his poleaxe and stops talking to Maelius to catch it, looking up sheepishly and smiling to his friends. "Did they see his face? What did that to him?. Taldo stands holding his weapon and trying to look confident as Rory returns and explains the situation. "Whew were in luck, No way anyone will change the mans mind that easy, looks like were not headed to the 'lost temple' after all. Taldo strolls confidently after his friends to speak to 'Nadim the drunk'.
Maelius scraches his head and then shurgs and nods at Rory and walks in to clap Nadim on the back.
Mr.Drunk! I'm told that you just finished playing a round of cards! How did it go?
Sera, looks to Riry and wraps her arms around him. She then gives him a kiss in his cheek, and whispers thank you for talking to him. And getting us to at least talk with him.
Rory's cheeks flush more red than his hair, and can't seem to form a reply.
Nadim, still reeling from his argument, looks up at him with a look of disgust. But he stops short when he sees the smiling face and says testily, "Ask this criminal!" He points a finger at Lore, at which point you discover there are only three fingers on that hand. Scar tissue replace what should be the knuckles of his ring and pinky fingers.
"Me!?" the legendary scout exclaims, "You're the one who refuses to pay what I'm due!"
"What you're due is a month in the brig due cheating!"
Lore steams and looks up at the group expectantly.
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I know what Lucius and Taidhg liked when they were drinking While letting Mael take his approach, Taldo, walks over to the bar and pulling out a few coins, he leans over to the bartender and asks "O..O..Old..l..law Wh..Whiskey p..p..please, th..th..the b..b..b..bottle p..p..please" Paying the bartender the amount, he takes the bottle over, pulling the cork out, making eye contact for a brief moment and hands the bottle to Nadim, smiling. He then returns to his friends.
Maleius takes the bottle easily from Taldo with a nod and a smile and sits down at the table while pouring out a shot for both men.
Well let's see. What could possibly have happened that would cause both of you, obviously old friends, to turn on each other so?
Nadim's eyes brighten at the sight of the whiskey for which Taldo had to pay gold. After a long conversation, and several shots of whiskey, Nadim finally admits that he was making trouble because he doesn't have the money.
"Well that's a problem, isn't it?" Says a drunk Lore. He turns to you all, "Well, you got half of the deal! Looks like we're not going anywhere together... for free."
"Dad!" Rory exclaims, giving him a stern look.
Lore sighs and says, "Alright fine, but I'm certainly not paying for anything on this trip."
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Sera's eyes brighten as they make progress and then gives Maelius a smile as she sees him succeed at convincing the old man to help them. She than turns to Taldo, I know you may be apprehensive to go to such a place, but you are indeed brave for being honest with yourself and us as well.
She then goes up the the old man, places her hand on his cheek, feeling the scar that is present. Leans in and whispers, I may not know what hardships you have faced, nor you ours. Thank you though, your soul is kind
As Mael's negotiations appear to be successful, Taldo goes to the bartender and pointing at the small glasses, he raises his hand, lifting his thumb and two fingers, indicating he wants three glasses. He goes back over to the table, smiling and nodding to Sera, he sets the glasses down on the table, pouring Whiskey into each of them. As he passes a glass to each of his friends he lifts his up in a toast "T..t..to c..c..c..com..com... f..friends" Having finished with his speech, he drinks the small glass of whiskey, making a very sour face, as it burns going down his throat, he wonders; what is the appeal for this stuff.
Maelius breaks into a grin as he takes a sip from his glass. Not to worry. I think we're getting funded pretty generously for supplies by our benefactor. Uh, actually, I don't think either Sera or I have much in the way of survival skills so... we'll need your guidance on what we should actually get
"We'll have time for all that, right now, we have a bottle of whiskey to finish!" The legend shouts as he finishes off his glass and holds it up to be refilled.
By the early afternoon, Lore and Nadim are passed out on the table, and the barkeep asks you all to kindly step out for a bit as they have to set up for luncheon. Rory invites you all back to the Dunne family home for bread and cheese in return for helping him carry the two men back with him.
On the way, he discusses flint and steel, torches, rope, pitons, rations, water skins, and other such essentials for traveling in the wilderness. You leave the paved road, and soon after you see what appears to be a rather successful trading post: a log cabin with furs drying all over, as well as a forge and anvil.
There's also smoke billowing out of the chimney, causing Rory to say with more concern than annoyance, "What's that boy gotten up to now?!" the ranger all but drops his father flat in the dirt and races inside. You hear indistinct shouting, and soon after Rory emerges from the abode carrying his little brother who's coughing violently. "He was lying next to the fire, he must've breathed in the smoke. I told him not to cook! Can any of you help him?" He kneels in front of them holding the boy. He doesn't seem to notice that the smoke is no longer confined to the chimney.
Sera looks at the boy, then up to the house.
I can look at the boy, see how much smoke he may have inhaled. But your home may be the more prominent issue. The smoke is spreading Rory
Sera looks at the boy, checking his vitals and making sure he is breathing okay.
that looks like more than a chimney fire Taldo, who was Helping shoulder Nadim, lowers him to the ground and quickly follows after Rory. Seeing that the smoke is no longer confined to the chimney, Taldo starts to look around for any sign of fire and possibly anything to put fire out with.
While Sera looks after the boy and Taldo investigates Maelius uses his strong voice to try and rouse the neighbours to start a bucket brigade.
There's a fire! There's a fire! We need help to put it out!
As Sera looks the boy over, he coughs up blood, and can tell that his lungs are seriously injured.
Taldo runs into the house ahead of Rory. Rory runs into a different room that isn't on fire, and shouts back at Taldo, "There should be a bucket of water near the fireplace!" Taldo can see it, but reaching in the general area, he grabs a hold, and tosses it on the fire that engulfs the spare firewood nearby. This curbs this flame, but the fireplace is still out of control, spitting out embers which begin .
Maelius' call is answered by those living on the furthest outskirts of the city. of the Dunne's neighbors can be seen hustling toward them carrying buckets of water.
there, oh no, more flames, need to keep the house from burning down Running out of the building with his now empty bucket, Taldo frantically look for water to use to continue putting out the flames.
Maelius helps Taldo look for more water to help contain the fire.
Taldo and Maelius find a hand-pump well on the side of the house, and begin to fill the bucket while the neighbors arrive with their buckets. Rory runs out of the house, arms full of rolled parchment, leather, and an attache of some kind slung across his shoulder, but manages to let them know where the fires are. As if pointedly, Rory drops the documents on his inebriated father, and returns to his little brother and Sera, "Is there anything to be done for him?" He asks desperately.
The neighbors, receiving instruction from Rory, rush into the house and douse the remaining flames into mist, including the one in the fireplace.
After the fire is out, Taldo, covered in soot and smelling of smoke, returns to his friends watching hopefully. I hope Sera can help him, it doesn't look like this family can handle too much more tragedy.
Sera speaks a few words in elven and a faint light surrounds the boy. He gasps in a deep breath and after a few quick breaths, he hugs Sera and Rory so tightly their cheeks touch, "Thanks so much! I thought I was a goner!"
Sera will reassure the boy, checking his vitals again as he calms down. She than looks to Rory, He will be okay, just needs some rest. He seems to be okay internally, most likely just smoke from the fire.
Taldo, seeing the boy is all right, breaths a visible sigh of relief, looking at the boy and then back at Sera and Mael he shrugs his shoulders slightly and pointing to the waterlogged smoke infested home. "R..r...r...rest wh..wh..where?"
Maelius sighs with relief as everyone is okay. Anywhere really. I think we just need rest
One of the Dunnes' neighbors, an elderly woman who'd come only for moral support it seems, speaks up, saying, "You can all take a breath in my cabin, if you like." As she turns, and moves her cane forward she adds, "I'll put on some tea."
Taldo nods his head at the neighbors generosity, he goes over and picks the child up, nodding at Rory and Sera, following the elderly woman in to her home, once inside he lays the child on the small sofa in the ladies cabin and goes to her and asks "h..h..h..how m..m..m..may I..i..I h..h..help?"
As Sera caresses the boy's forehead, his eyelids snap open, and where his eyes should be, there is only light, a bright golden light like that of the sun.
Sera is taken aback, and the boy begins to rise gracefully from the sofa, as if floating in water.
He then begins to speak in a tongue familiar only to Sera, but in two voices at once, one sounds like they boy's, the other a powerful woman's voice.
During the speech, the light that was in the boy's eyes brightens up the room. After the speech, the boy floats gingerly back down onto the sofa, and his eyes close. And yet, the room still seems lit. It doesn't take long for everyone to realize that Sera's eyes are glowing with the same light as the boy's had been, though not as brightly.
She blinks a few times, and the light in her eyes fades to a dim spark in the midst of her dark pupils.
At the door, Rory can be seen--still holding the scrolls--with his mouth agape. After a moment, he shakes his head and says, "And here I thought you couldn't get more beautiful. What was that all about?"
Seraphina, mouth dropped in amazement listens to the twined voices. Her eyes, although unaccustomed to the bright light, doesn't blink at all during the speech. Once over, her eyes return to normal she blinks twice, as if to get the sleepy bits out of her eyes.
She blushes as she hears Rory call her beautiful then just as quickly begins to stammer, I...I...I don't know. I have never...felt that way. It feels as if Sarenrae was speaking directly to me...but. It is just too much to understand. At least the boy is all right. I would like to rest now if possible ma'am.
She heads to a place to lie down and takes a quick nap for an hour or so unless woken earlier.
Maelius' jaw remains dropped even after Seraphina heads off to rest.
So... I'm not the only one who saw that? Right?
Taldo, who had gone into the kitchen to ask the nice old lady if he could helps, hears voices in the living room. As he heads back the direction of his friends he hears Maelius asking "I'm not the only one who saw that? Right?" Taldo, standing in the doorway to the kitchen, shuffles his feat a little and looks around the room, I wonder what I missed? Well, resting May not be such a bad idea.
The elderly woman, a devout follower of Sarenrae as it happens, allows you to stay as long as you like, and encourages you all to visit often.
Grateful for the end of the very very long day. Maelius collapses onto the provided mat and falls into a very deep sleep.
After a quick nap, she finds and addresses all at once. She looks at Taldo, the Maelius, then finally Rory.
I have เสมอ felt a connection to those in จำเป็นต้อง, I have felt I needed to ช่วยด้วย them. If I don't...who will. แม่ของฉัน and I have always been faithful to Sarenrae and her beliefs. The...um...event earlier was การยืนยัน of my mother and I devoting ourselves to her teachings. She spoke to me, told me to go help others, redeem them, and fight back the ความมืด.
Sorry everyone, I am kinda nervous, and my speech starts to mix with the heavenly beings which have watched over my family and those of the church. I cannot seem to control it
After letting that all sink in, she looks to the kind woman who has given shelter to them, Thank you, may Sarenrae watch over you and yours. So, shall we rest than leave early tomorrow, it will give Lore time to re-cooperate?
I think that means were still going Taldo, waiting patiently Mael or Sera, seeing that she is awake goes to talk to her, smiling placing his hand on her shoulder, "G..g..g..glad y..y..your o..o..ok." As she begins to speak about staying for the night and leaving tomorrow Taldo looks around at their supplies Rory's family has nothing, we will need supplies for them too.. He points and the small packs they were carrying and then at Rory and his family and says, "W..w..we n..n..n..need s...s...s...supplies, wh..who sh..sh..should g..g..get th.them?" looking around nervously, "I..I..I w.w.w.will h..h..help c...c...carry.'
Maelius jaw drops. Then he grins I think I'm going to stick close to you Sera. I'm gonna need someone to speak for me when we get to the afterlife and you're turning into a full blown angel! then to Taldo. Yeah let's go. We've got a bunch of supplies to get before we head off with Rory's father.