A curious face looked at her, as she finally spoke up
"That orb thingy had a creature of some sort didnt it? Or was that your own design? Must be quite valuable if all this happened for a little sphere like that?"
You could almost taste her curiosity
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"Oye - Sister - do you know anything about a dark cult operating out of Osirion that follows dark shadows and stuff that may have come north into your turf to cause trouble and maybe be looking for stuff relating to fallen stars or stuff that fell from the sky..."
Having listened to Leeara's account of the Drumish prospectors and a tall woman and hearing the priest speak the name Black Dominion, Alyssia pursed her lips thoughtfully and then answered earnestly,
"The Osirions are more knowledgeable than I in such matters, my son. But I have read some lore on the Black Dominion. I can tell you that it is associated with the dark places between the stars; places the scholars refer to as the Dark Tapestry. Little is known of the Dark Tapestry but it is said that the darkness between the stars is where true madness lies."
She quietens in thoughtfulness before continuing.
"As to such a cult associated with it existing in Dustpawn, I have never heard of one. The only strangers who have come to town since the falling star are the four from Druma staying at Dalviss' inn and your party."
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Leeara fixed earthy-green eyes onto the girl asking about the orb's pattern.
"Not a creature. It was painted with tiny craters and not by my hand."
"And it was not just one orb. There were others. I only managed to grab one."
"I am called Blue Heron. Please forgive my ears for not understanding you earlier."
"oh oh! More?! I hope i get to see them... they sound so exotic..." she grins from ear to ear again
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"I am called Blue Heron. Please forgive my ears for not understanding you earlier."
"Well met, Blue Heron" Leeara stifled a yawn and rubbed at her eyes.
"And you are forgiven. I was not myself and could not form coherent thought."
"oh oh! More?! I hope i get to see them... they sound so exotic..." she grins from ear to ear again
Leeara gave a tsk. "They're not to be trifled with, child. Bad people are in possession of them. They tried to kill me for the one I have. This is not good. We must protect the orb."
"i know i know" she smiles
"but i hope in process we can look and see more!"
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Alyssia noted Leeara's tiredness and brought forth a cup of cool water. The woman's ordeal was unimaginable at the hands of the tall woman and her lot.
"I created the drinking water myself this afternoon. It is fresh and may revive you some."
Leeara gratefully accepted the water and sipped the cool liquid. Her mouth felt parched.
"i know i know" she smiles "but i hope in process we can look and see more!"
"Mayhap we need to get our hands on the rest of the orbs. Somehow", and then the cook grew quiet and muttered "Dangerous" a couple of times before going silent.
"Even so. Ive seen how these people do things. I am sure we will be able to get this problem sorted out. Quicker than a flick of a tail" she tries to be as reasuring as she can
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Bart had remained silent up until this point, choosing to look the part of a child in front of the cleric, but when the cook began speaking of doing more, particlularly saying 'we', the young lad reaches out and takes one of her hands. "Whoa there. Ya be good wit a sword, but dat don't quite make ya invincible. Mayhap ya be better off sneakin home. If ya want ta help, watchin the other folks rooms be better, but odda den us and Dalviss you probably shouldn't be tellin anyone about you gettin back. If dat group finds out again..."
Bart squeezes her hand, having used it to get her attention really, and then lets go. He sounded odd with the piece of straw in his mouth, and it didn't help that the boy already spoke a sort of distorted common he had likely learned on the streets. "Not ta mention you look tired. Oh!"
Bart reaches into his messenger bag and pulls out the womans sheets, offering them to her with a bit of a shy smile. "Sorry. Alar be needin sometin wit your scent, and Dalviss not be very helpful tinkin of somethin you wear often."
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Bart squeezes her hand, having used it to get her attention really, and then lets go. He sounded odd with the piece of straw in his mouth, and it didn't help that the boy already spoke a sort of distorted common he had likely learned on the streets. "Not ta mention you look tired. Oh!"
Bart reaches into his messenger bag and pulls out the womans sheets, offering them to her with a bit of a shy smile. "Sorry. Alar be needin sometin wit your scent, and Dalviss not be very helpful tinkin of somethin you wear often."
"The boy makes an excellent point. You are obviously weary. We shall escort you home, easing friend Dalviss' mind as well. If you wish, one of us will stay with you for precaution against the remaining men."
Looking from the boy to the young woman, Leeara nodded. "Aye, I shall return to the inn and lie low. The events of the last several days have left me weary and distressed. Rest and solitude are in order. Let us go. I would rather enter the inn without the knowledge of the so-called prospectors or the woman who leads them."
Leeara stood and checked her person -- her weapons were still in place as was the bag, hidden under the cape/cloak. She lifted the hood over her head again and bid the priestess good day. She bundled her bedding under her arm as well as her old journal.
Gii watches Leeara leave, feeling a bit naked without his cloak. He doesn't say anything, though, knowing that it will help her stay hidden from prying eyes.
Bart pokes Gii in the side and gestures for the guy to follow them. The kid wondered what was going on in the man's head. All things considering he seemed to take great pride in his skill and failing so often with his magic probably wasn't. After a moment, he walks over to Leeara's side and he says in a soft whisper, "Before we be gettin outside, ya mind if I take the orb? It'd be best if ya not havin it on ya to call attention to your location again, as dat might be how they knew where your cave was. Not ta mention Gii and I might be able to find its purpose while studyin it."
Gii shakes his head, seeming to try and shake out the mental cobwebs. "No point is dwelling on it," he says to himself, his grip on his quarterstaff loosening just a touch.
"Indeed," he says when Bart suggests they might inspect the orb. "It would be better to know what we are dealing with, after all."
At the threshold of the entrance to the Mineshaft Leeara stopped and looking to see if they were being observed, she pushed her hand beneath the cloak and into the bag tied around her waist. She slowly took out the orb and discreetly handed it to Gii.
To both man and boy she added in whisper, "I risked my life for this orb. Promise me you will keep it safe and not lose it. And do not allow those cultists to take it from you. They were willing to kill me to reclaim it. Should tell you something." Leeara's earthy green eyes stared them down before she undid the cloak and handed it back to its owner.
"Thank you for the use of your cloak, priest. You have need of it more than I, here, at the inn."
Gii gratefully accepts both the orb and his cloak. [b]"I shall protect this with my life, lady Leeara."[b] He places the orb inside his satchel, before donning the blue winter cloak once again.
"We will." Bart adds, standing tall, at least in some sense, beside Gii. At only 4'7 he wasn't that tall to begin with though. He looks at Gii when the man secures the orb, then turns to enter the inn with the group.
At their joint promises, Leeara gave a brisk nod and then entered the place she had called home the past five years. Her eyes scanned the semi-dim interior of the Mineshaft -- the tavern yet to open for the evening.
Bartholomew's eyes are quick to seek out Dalviss, but rather then calling out to him if the lad doesn't find him, Bart would quietly start looking for the man, starting with the last two rooms he had seen Dalviss in. A tad worried that the prospectors were spotted here last, Bart calls to Alar, making sure that the Lion was nearby. Alar informs the boy that he had taken up residence in the alley way next to the inn and was ready to help if it was needed.
Dalviss turned the corner from the room where the ale was kept. He has papers in his hands and looked to be concentrating on something on the page.
"Oh! Young man I didn't hear you come in. Has your entire party returned already? Come let us move to the tavern hall where we can speak. It'll be an hour before the first patron enters the Mineshaft for the evening."
Bartholomew looks around room, his expression a touch worried, but then it vanishes and he looks annoyed more then anything else. He shakes his head quickly and says, "Nah. We're all here but we be needin ta speak to ya in private bout the pay ya promised us. It be right important, and it'd be best done where there be no one to overhear."
Dalviss pauses a moment, a bit confused at first, but then a look of recognition comes over his face.
"Oh. I haven't shown you the kitchen. Why don't you all come back, I can show you the recipe that Nalan is working on."
Then, with a wave of his hand, he moves to go back to the room from which he just came. Once inside, he folds his arms over his chest.
What's all this about? Do you have news? Did you find my dau...Leeara?"
Bart nods, then rushes to get the rest of the party. In a matter of moments Bart returned, pausing only a heartbeat at the question. He looks at Davliss curiously, then over to Leeara as she enters the room. "He be your Da?"
Leeara's eyes lit up when she saw Dalviss in the back room.
Hearing Bart's question, she replied softly, "He treats me like a daughter, for he has no children of his own."
She moved to Dalviss' side and embraced the elder man. "It is good to see you, boss."
"She's got quite a story ta tell. And you ain't gonna like most of it. But it be important dat no one know's she's here. If there be anyway ta block the kitchen door here and keep people from comin in, I'd suggest doin it sir." Bart looks about nervously, acting rather squirrel-y. As someone who was quite used to being both on the run and in hiding the lad had a good head on his shoulders when it came to the details around both of those things.
Paul sees that Leera is well taken by Dalviss.
He is pleased that someone has answered his questions about the cult; specifically the priestess.
As the others are chatting he excuses himself to go examine the stables, specifically checking on the status of his horse.
Once that’s done he’ll head into the tavern and get himself a square meal that’s not cooked over a campfire and just relax; waiting until the others are ready to plan out actions.
Dalviss hugs Leeara tightly, a great big grin on his face. There is a shimmer in his eye of emotion and great relief as he looks to the party.
"Gods bless you. You can't know how much this means to me."
then to Leeara,
"I'd thought...we'll you're back now. I'm glad of that."
He nods at the group, gathering his composure and moves to the door, sliding a wooden bar into place over the slots, and securing the room.
The room was not large, filled with two small ovens and a table to work on, but was otherwise filled with crates of food and barrels of drink.
Dalviss sat on one of the crates and spoke clearly, but softly. His mind now more clear, though he still looked rather tired.
"So you have some news?"
Outside, Paul finds his horse brushed and fed, and even its shoes have been looked after. In fact, a quick scan of the stables find that all of the horses have been looked after as well, their hair meticulously combed, and each with fresh feed and even the water in the trough has been freshly changed recently.
After returning to the inside, he finds Nalan behind the bar, cleaning the glasses, the same sleepless look in his eyes, staring of into empty space.
When signaled, he takes a moment to respond, but in a short time comes over with some pork stew (a bit bland) and a piece of bread.
Outside, Paul finds his horse brushed and fed, and even its shoes have been looked after. In fact, a quick scan of the stables find that all of the horses have been looked after as well, their hair meticulously combed, and each with fresh feed and even the water in the trough has been freshly changed recently.
After returning to the inside, he finds Nalan behind the bar, cleaning the glasses, the same sleepless look in his eyes, staring of into empty space.
When signaled, he takes a moment to respond, but in a short time comes over with some pork stew (a bit bland) and a piece of bread.
Paul will enjoy the meal; bland as it is.
He simply relaxes and is eager to talk to his friends.
He nods at the group, gathering his composure and moves to the door, sliding a wooden bar into place over the slots, and securing the room.
Leeara quietly spoke of her part since leaving the inn several days ago. She told Dalviss of the four prospectors' involvement and what she had discovered (the orb/sphere) and handed over to the adventuring cleric.
Bartholomew takes the chance to continue Leeara's story, filling Dalviss in on everything that had happened since they had left the town. The goblin hunting party, the freed mythical creature, the toads working together to attack a more powerful force, the bodies they discovered, and finally how Bart figured the wolverine was likely the cause of the deaths of the two bodies in Leeara's cave. He had been wrong, but close enough that his actions in trying to stop the fight before they started meant the party hadn't accidentally attacked the one they were trying to save.
Bart seemed particularly proud of that moment, but was extremely vague of Alar's involvement, to the point where he referred to the shadowy Lion as 'a summoned creature' whenever he spoke of Alar.
Finally, Bart finishes the story, and takes a deep breath when he does. His eyes focus on Dalviss now, curious to see what his reaction would be to any of what he had learned. Bart was certain something was strange with how the frog reacted, but he was also curious to see if the man had any insight on anything else they had encountered.
Finally, Bart finishes the story, and takes a deep breath when he does. His eyes focus on Dalviss now, curious to see what his reaction would be to any of what he had learned. Bart was certain something was strange with how the frog reacted, but he was also curious to see if the man had any insight on anything else they had encountered.
Paul leans back in the room; he seems a bit thoughtful when it comes to the "mythical creature" that was saved; as if he's considering the action - or the animal.
For the most part he doesn't say much, though; content to simply listen in.
Dalviss nodded and listed to Bart carefully. He didn't seem particularly surprised about the goblins, as if they were a minor nuisance and always had been. During most of the story, his face was calm and impartial, but at mention of Leeara that the retelling of her condition, he shows signs of worry, a frown creeping across his features and wrinkling his aged brow.
"This orb that Leeara found, one of you has it, yes? May I see it?"
Obviously still distracted by lack of sleep and the current goings on, he shrugs,
"It is interesting, I'm not sure what it's supposed to be, but it must be important if these people were after it. I'm kicking myself every day for not listening got Leeara bout those 'prospectors' in the first place. If they're in league with this 'tall woman' who shot Leeara, they need to answer for their crimes."
Then Dalviss stands, a determined look on his face.
Then Dalviss stands, a determined look on his face.
Paul glances up at Dalviss.
"Now hold on there, boss," he says to him.
"We go after these guys we'll have - at best - a trial; and while we deal with their word verse Miss Leera, the big boss'll be slipping through the cracks," he adds.
"I say maybe we keep Leera hidden, if possible - we let these basterds dangle a little."
"They'll go after that ball sooner or later... when they do, we can track them, maybe..."
"They'll skip out of town from here; we can follow 'em to their boss and see what's going on with them on the sly instead... What do you all think of that?"
"Not ta mention we still need ta find the ship. It be no coincidence dat dese people who worship darkness between the stars be comin to this town so soon after sometin fell from the sky." Bart drops his chewed up piece of straw and happily fishes another out of his pocket to stick into his mouth. "Could be the orbs are connected to it. Though, if Leeara can be tellin us where the prospectors went, we can do a bit of scoutin there too. They might have been movin already but what they forget behind might be useful. I can get Alar to try and find dere scents too."
Leeara turned her tired, earthy green eyes on the speaking boy.
"I have spent many days hidden in my cave, half out of my mind, changing into gods' knows what. I told you they were in Nesher Mine when I followed them. After that, I have no idea. I cannot tell you anymore than what I have already."
Leeara slumped in the chair, her weariness more pronounced.
"I would like to retire to my room, now. I wish you luck in discovering these basterds and their secrets. But again, keep your wits about you. They're dangerous alright."
Bart nods, looks from Dalviss to Leeara, "Your room...that's probably a good spot to stay hidden. Sir, I'd suggest ya find a way to slip food into the room for now. Maybe set up a routine of visiting the room at night as if you were worried or somethin. No tellin how long this will take and she's goin ta need all the rest and food she can stomach after what she went through."
"Not ta mention we still need ta find the ship. It be no coincidence dat dese people who worship darkness between the stars be comin to this town so soon after sometin fell from the sky." Bart drops his chewed up piece of straw and happily fishes another out of his pocket to stick into his mouth. "Could be the orbs are connected to it. Though, if Leeara can be tellin us where the prospectors went, we can do a bit of scoutin there too. They might have been movin already but what they forget behind might be useful. I can get Alar to try and find dere scents too."
Paul shrugs.
"They're from Osirion, yeah? It ain't surprising - their folk are all about studying the heavens... They know all the constellations and spend a lot of time with divining stuff by looking at the stars - learning about the world that lives and a knowing on things to come..."
"If something really fell from the stars, then I'd be they'd maybe want to see it first hand, eh?" he says.
"As for the orbs? Maybe they're supposed to be stars - or maybe they are stars that burned out... I hear tell that stars are maybe, I don't know - dozens of miles away... One of these orbs might be a burned out star - you know; if a star was dozens of miles away and it was really bright - I don't know, it might just look really small," he muses.
Leeara slumped in the chair, her weariness more pronounced.
"I would like to retire to my room, now. I wish you luck in discovering these basterds and their secrets. But again, keep your wits about you. They're dangerous alright."
Paul nods.
"Hey, no worries - you need anything? Like maybe some soup, or - hell, I don't know - a cold beer?" he asks, trying to make her feel good with some old fashioned "comfort food".
Bart nods, looks from Dalviss to Leeara, "Your room...that's probably a good spot to stay hidden. Sir, I'd suggest ya find a way to slip food into the room for now. Maybe set up a routine of visiting the room at night as if you were worried or somethin. No tellin how long this will take and she's goin ta need all the rest and food she can stomach after what she went through."
Paul glances at Bart.
"Well, it is an inn - I'm sure that they can figure out how to get her a square meal secret-like - if they need to," he says, giving the kid a small grin.
""Ill be happy to keep the orb safe on myself. Im good at hiding things?" she suggests as she listened to them talk
"You, when we leave and if we have to take the sphere with us"
She gives them her open smile again
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