"Hmmm ... we'll see if we can look it up then, when we get to Lepidstadt," offers Castiel. "Thankyou for your help Father."Grimburrow says, "teleport?,,," gruffly.
It's the closest he's come to telling a joke in your presence.
"I think, though, there was something to this Hook Man,...."
"May the divine bless and keep you on your journey, good and righteous Castiel. Oh, if I was only 20 years younger, why,.....I'd have to run down these leads with you.......my knees hurt though."
something about an arrow......heh heh.
They return; Kendra and Larissa are up in the parlor playing some card game or another. Kendra finally looks animated, giggling with her newfound playfriend.
As the detective and mage return, Larissa is saying earnestly, "Kendra, you are so much fun! I'm glad you don't treat me like a child. In fact, none of my new friends really do. That's been nice. Oh, hi! Did you meet with the grumpy cleric? Kendra is thinking about going to Lepidstadt! That's where we need to take the books, right? Maybe she can come with us!"
"I'd,.....uh.....maybe I will at that. I'll have to tie up some loose ends around here though.
You guys go on without me; I'll be along though. It'll be...an adventure."
The girl shakes her black hair vigorously. "Uh-uh. Castiel said we were supposed to stay here to help you do stuff. I think that includes your loose ends." She nods her head firmly as she finishes.
Kendra said all that stuff in my previous post,.....
"Good afternoon Miss Brightfoot, Miss Lorrimor ... ah, you're thinking of going to Lepidstadt too?"
The girl shakes her black hair vigorously. "Uh-uh. Castiel said we were supposed to stay here to help you do stuff. I think that includes your loose ends." She nods her head firmly as she finishes.
"That's fine; I just gotta talk to some people and see to the finances and the house, wow. I have a lot of boring and dreary domestic crap to deal with......oh well."
"Good afternoon Miss Brightfoot, Miss Lorrimor ... ah, you're thinking of going to Lepidstadt too?"
Kendra giggles; "Larissa talked me into it."
"May the divine bless and keep you on your journey, good and righteous Castiel. Oh, if I was only 20 years younger, why,.....I'd have to run down these leads with you.......my knees hurt though."something about an arrow......heh heh.
"Good afternoon Miss Brightfoot, Miss Lorrimor ... ah, you're thinking of going to Lepidstadt too?"Kendra giggles; "Larissa talked me into it."
"Ah ... is that so?" Castiel glances at Larissa with raised eyebrow.
"At any rate, Miss Brightfoot is correct, your good father's will made it clear that he wished us to help you get established - or tidy up your affairs - here before moving on, and we owe him - and yourself - that much. Besides, the roads hereabouts are not entirely safe, we encountered bandits on our way into town several days ago, and orc raiders still sometimes slip past the border patrols. It would be safer if we travelled together, if your heart, er, mind is set on going north."
"Praps you're right, Castiel.
It's so easy to forget that it's a dangerous world out there.
I've been insulated here so much.
Besides these recent events,.....nothing much happens in Ravengro.
I think I need to get out into the big wide world."
she beams.
Rholf steps into the house looking tired and concerned. Any hint of joy he'd shown earlier has flown, and when he quietly asks Castiel, Alinya and Edwin for a private conversation, it's in that detached monotone he's been "wearing" more often than not the past few days.
Once they're out of earshot of Kendra, he says "I had a run-in with someone this evening, whom I believe to either be a member of the Whispering Way, or someone doing their bidding. He was a creepy sort, quite pale, fingernails done up to look like claws, etc. He wanted me to have a drink with him in the privacy of his room, which I declined. He asked me what I knew 'about what lies beyond the veil of this living world'. I pretended to be dismissive, giving the usual cliche answers, and he didn't seem to like that. I ended our conversation at that time, and after his door closed, I heard a female's voice discussing me with him. Had I been more prepared, I'd have pressed the matter more... emphatically, but I had a feeling that there were powers in that room that would've prevented me from warning you all had I pushed the altercation."
Rholf goes on to tell the group that he believes he was being remotely viewed shortly before, as the man knew some details about what he was doing just before that no one here in Ravengro would know. He also tells them that the man was in room 3 at inn such-and-such, and that as soon as he left, he sought out the sheriff and made him aware of the man's presence and disposition.
With that, Rholf goes to Kendra and Larissa. "My apologies for interrupting your game, ladies. Miss Lorimor, may I have a brief word with you, please?"
"Certainly, Mr. Kastigarr," she answers.
Castiel looks concerned. “I think perhaps we should pay room 3 another visit, do you Father Kastigarr?”
Kendra kinda quits all the giggling stuff.
It's a bummer......
"I fear that I would be of little use this night, good paladin." Rholf states flatly as he and Kendra head out of the room.
Rholf;
and she does.
Rholf;
Rholf;
A few moments after Kendra comes back into the room, Rholf wanders in, setting his pack on an out-of-the-way spot of the floor, he settles into a comfy chair, one hand resting on the hammer he was given today, the other rubbing his temples gently. After a few moments, he looks up, manages a smile and says "It's amazing what a good chair can do for a person."
(Edwin actually snorts as the sheriff mentions something about an arrow,...)
Back at the house, Edwin makes polite noises regarding the cheery disposition of the ladies. He even adds a few choice tidbits to the conversation. (MOst of which are so dry it takes several moments for the others to realize he was making a jest.) But overall he seems relaxed and cheerful, obviously enjoying the the conclusion of the last several night's adventures.
WHen Father Kastigar appears and asks for a word, he looks mildly surprised, and immediately joins the priest and the others in the hallway.
"Indeed MAster Castiel. I feel the sudden urge to engage in philosophical debate with a certain individual who finds it amusing to dress up as a spook." He comments with a grim grin.
"I 'm ready when you are. I'm sure we won't nee the packs for a trip to the tavern?" He smirks.
A few moments after Kendra comes back into the room, Rholf wanders in, setting his pack on an out-of-the-way spot of the floor, he settles into a comfy chair, one hand resting on the hammer he was given today, the other rubbing his temples gently. After a few moments, he looks up, manages a smile and says "It's amazing what a good chair can do for a person."
Edwin returns the weary priests' smile with a nod.
"Indeed. I have done some of my best thinking in my padded armchair back home." Edwin glances at Castiel, takes the chair nearest to KAstigar, and turns it to face him better.
"WHat's on your mind father? One doesn't have to be a detective to see that something is bothering you. And I suspect it's not your new mysterious friend at the pub? At least, not entirely. Am I correct?" He prods gently,...
"Indeed MAster Castiel. I feel the sudden urge to engage in philosophical debate with a certain individual who finds it amusing to dress up as a spook." He comments with a grim grin."I 'm ready when you are. I'm sure we won't nee the packs for a trip to the tavern?" He smirks.
...duly......noted.....MWAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!!
...ONNYhoo,....
Rholf nods slowly as Edwin sits down, as if knowing, expecting, this was coming. "Mostly, I'm just tired and beat up from the day, Edwin." He looks away, focusing on some of the room's decor before continuing... "I... You all are exceptional people, and I count you as friends, even though we've known one another only a short time. Something is indeed weighing upon me a little, but it's a road I've trod more than once, and rest assured that very soon I will be past this. We have done great work here, under sad circumstances, though. That, and a good night's rest, will do much to restoring my good mood."
Castiel’s good (if still business-like) mood evaporates. He paces the room, frequently glancing at Rholf and Edwin, clearly uncomfortable with every minute that passes without them marching off to confront these possible Whispering Way cultists – at sword point if needs be.
"Well," Rholf says, abruptly changing the subject as he stands from his chair. "Let's get this done with, shall we?" He retrieves a few vials from his backpack, picks up his shield, then turns to Castiel. "Off to war, then?"
Edwin merely nods, accepting Rholf's explanation. At least for now. (You get the suspicion that if there weren't something possibly 'exciting' waiting at the inn, that he might not be so easily dissuaded.)
He claps his hands to his knees and rises from his own chair.
"Excuse us ladies. But I believe that Rholf and Castiel have intentions of trying to form a bond of friendship by sharing copious quantities of alcohol, and then sharing embarrassing stories. This shouldn't take too long." He finishes straight-faced, with a wink.
"Gentlemen? Shall we go?" He looks to both the men, and then holds the door open for them.
Castiel nods seriously to Rholf. “We’ll not act foolishly,” he says quietly. “If we are seriously outmatched, or if a fight that may harm the innocent seems likely ... I’m more than willing to retreat and fight another day.” He claps the cleric on the shoulder and heads back out.
Larissa seems a little put out at being excluded from not one, but two, private conferences, but she tries not to show it. After the men leave, however, the pout comes out and her ebullient mood takes a while to return.
Before leaving, Rholf looks at the two ladies. "Lock the doors behind us, and be watchful, please."
Larissa sticks her tongue out at Father Kastigarr's back as he leaves, but she gets up and makes sure the doors are locked and then checks windows as well. She comes back to play some more cards, but her heart's not really in it.
You heading up to the number three room tavern?....
The barkeep's still there.
"I never saw the guy leave, Mr. Kastigarr; Mr. Fangwood."
"Excellent. Then we'll just po on in and say hello shall we? Oh no, don't bother, we'll show ourselves up." Edwin says tongue in cheek, and gestures towards the stairs.
"After you gentlemen."
Alinya returns from the kitchens with a pot of fresh tea and some bread and butter left out by the cook. She catches Larissa's eye, "Let the boys have their fun. Proper rest and relaxation are essential to maintaining a well-ordered mind."
She pours tea.
"Can you teach me that game you were playing?"
Castiel races up the stairs, taking them two at a time, his armoured coat flapping behind him. Reaching the upper floor he hammers loudly on the door of number three.
Castiel; there's no response at the door.
Rholf catches up to Castiel, and resignedly calls out "Mr. A..." He can't help but smirk at the name he was given. "It's Rholf. I remembered something else I know about the afterlife, and thought that I would share..."
Rholf is answered by......silence...
he can feel Castiel wanting to go for it.
Guy gets twitchy if there isn't a good freeforall every half hour.....