I am wondering what that really was... got couple questions in mind and thinking how to answer but we will most likely find out them later. a)Why was the sheriff really speaking all over the town something like that about our mother?
b)the first question leads then us to: why does someone want to kill sheriff? To shut his mouth? Did he do something, which might cause some actions from this ... human or creature, I don´t know?
c)What was that creature....? magical or pet or what... and the weird way it talk to us? Children... sleeping... who would talk like that to us expect our... mother but I can´t think of a connection to this...
d)the third question lead us to then to spellcasters: I don´t want to think about this and it is impossible... but the elf here and our mother might have some connection and he might have *got idea to help* mother... but what is this connection then?
e)the dwarf also... since we got also brothers from all races... and dwarf are more than any other race feeling kinship towards their own.
f)all those deads... I believe are connected to this creature... but whatever it is, disappeared so only clue is that cloak now.
g)something is fishy here... but I don´t know what.
after some while they arrive back to orphanage, Azharten looks at Lydiana and in his own though speaks You know, it´s bad thing to sneak after people, little sister but sometimes it is more than appreciated. Who knows what is moving here so I am grateful... along with beauty brains, you always got, at least during years you have gotten quicker with your feets... and more silent *shrug* I will continue sleeping outside and not leaving anywhere this night. Even us, dark roses need our sleep. Good night, dawnflower. Azharten pats Lydiana to cheek and turns to garden and soon falls asleep
"So, my little friend, was that you? OR someone using you?"
I just rolled CHA to calm a lizard. Nice :)
The lizard continues to struggle.
"Let go mageling! You may dream now, but I must rest!"
"Not until you tell me your name my friend. Zipper does not seem so well suited to you anymore. Why are you here? Why are you watching this house?"
"Zipper was the name the child gave, I did not have one before! I am here because I was called to defend this house and the children within it!"
"Now let me go!"
"If what you say is true little friend, we have no quarrel. Who called you? From whence? Were you compelled to come, or did you do so willingly? Tell me true and I will release you. My word is my bond."
Basha speaks in a soothing voice, to try and reassure the creature, while loosening his grip slightly, though not so much that the lizard can escape.
For a moment, Zipper stops struggling to look Basha in the eye.
"I do not know who calld for help and protection, only that I answered the call. As for where I came from.. where do dreams come from, Basha Taal and Eadric Cuthwulf, former children of this Orphanage?"
He resumes struggling.
"I deem you tell the truth, but if this is a dream, it is often hard to tell. None the less, I made you a pact. Go friend Zipper,but I beg of you, keep watch this night, over the children if not me."
Basha gently sets Zipper on the floor.
"I am trying Basha, trying very hard."
Not feeling the need to run off anymore, Zipper makes for the shadows again at a slower pace.
Eadric listened intently as Basha questioned the lizard.
Eadric whispers after the lizard as it retreats to the shadows, And I will also defend this house and those innocents within it... with my life if need be! This I swear!
After the lizard disappears into the shadows, Eadric turns to Basha with a perplexed look upon his face. What in Aroden's ghost was that?
"If I knew, I would be a much wiser man." Basha looks around the room. "Eadric, if this be a dream or no, I'll not be sleeping anytime soon. I wonder if Keiyanna keeps aught about for adults to drink?"
Basha goes to the kitchen and looks for some wine or other similar beverages.
Given a bit of a search, Basha finds a more "adult" drink for himself and Eadric.
As the drink is shared, the lighting changes again and with it, the scene. Still in the kitchen, Keiyanna walks in, accompanied by a halfling with a shield emblazoned on his shirt.
"Miss, you must face the fact that this building is being closed down!"
"I'll do no such thing! I'll fight this with all I've got, do anything I have to, to keep this Orphanage open! Now for the last time, get out!" She yells, face red with anger.
"Miss, yo-"
"OUT!" Keiyanna yells as she throws a cup at the small man, who barely ducks in time to avoid a possible concussion. Fortunately, it's also the time he decides to take his leave.
The last thing you see is Keiyanna piecing the cup back together, the cracks disappearing as she hums quietly, trying to calm down...
The dream returns to just the two of you sitting at the table, though the drink seems to have changed into something stronger.
Basha ponders the heated exchange he just witnessed. Could Mistress K be a... he'd never noticed it before learning of the arcane, but it made perfect sense in hindsight. He resolved to ask her at an opportune moment.
"It's to bed for me Eadric, though Nethys knows if I'll sleep."
And for myself as well. Although, I'm not confident that I will be able to discern the difference. How do you tell when this dream ends?
As Eadric moves to retake his position on the floor he mutters in Basha's direction, Who do you suppose the halfling is? A member of the town guard?
And for myself as well. Although, I'm not confident that I will be able to discern the difference. How do you tell when this dream ends?
As Eadric moves to retake his position on the floor he mutters in Basha's direction, Who do you suppose the halfling is? A member of the town guard?
"If he is a guard, he is new since I've been gone. Then again, I have a feeling much will be new to me, gone 5 years. We will have to investigate in the morning."
It doesn't seem to take long for any of you to get to sleep that night, and the morning seems brigther than usual. Perhaps it is the sound of very awake children running all over the place before breakfast is served.
Eadric lays on the floor, pretending to be asleep, all the while listening to the sounds of the orphanage stirring to life. This had always been his favorite time of the day, when he lived here. The dawn of a new day! The possibilities it held!
A smile creeps across his face...
"All these years and you still like to listen to the others. Get up and get ready for breakfast."
"Come on Lydi, rise and shine! Sarenrae is only getting higher in the sky! Might as well tell her good morning now."
"Basha, wake up! Could you entertain the children so I can cook the food faster. They never seem to wait and I'm sure your magic will fascinate them to no end!"
"Azharten, don't tell me you stayed up late! You knew I'd wake you when I did the others!"
She wakes each of you gently and with a weary smile. It seems she didn't get much sleep again. Nevertheless, she goes quickly to get the food ready, dodging the children running about noisily.
Basha sits crosslegged on one of the tables, and sends little flames dancing throughout the room.
Upon hearing Keiyanna's voice, Eadric promptly hops up off the floor and stretches as high as he hands can reach, a huge grin upon his face.
Good morning Mom! The floor was fantastically comfortable! I'll be at the table as soon as I go and splash some water on my face!
He gives Keiyanna a light kiss on the cheek before rumbling down the stairs and out the door into the courtyard and the crisp morning air.
Once outside, Eadric strips off his shirt and proceeds to splash water over his head, neck and chest from the rain barrel. The cool water thoroughly invigorating him. Wisps of steam rise from his bare chest and back as he surveys the morning sky.
What a glorious morning!
For an instance he forgets the reason for his return to the orphanage. The twinkle in his eyes quickly diminishes as he recalls that which has caused him to return.
Grabbing his shirt, he strides for the kitchen. After stepping into the room ,and surveying the commotion within, he offers,
Anything I can do to help?
Water still dripping from his naked torso, Eadric flushes with embarrassment and quickly dons his shirt. It is quite apparent to any who see him before he puts on his shirt, that his lean, well muscled and toned body is covered with numerous scars. His back especially, is a patch work of long lines of criss crossing scar tissue.
What are we making this morning?
Eadric spies Basha entertaining the children from his perch upon the table and gives him a smile and a nod.
Slowly waking up and then suddenly eyes opening, he listens while children run and mother yells G+# d&~mit... what is it now
Getting up and noticing being surrounded couple of kids staring at him from distance, he give them a bad look Urgh, so damn noisy! What is with this damn goblin like party
Slowly getting up and breathing clean air, he slowly stretches hands fully up, shirt tightening and showing muscles under it. After that Azharten just put his stuff together, grap swords and tie to his back. Azharten notice Eadric coming out and cooling/washing himself with water.
He slowly steps inside, while watching how orphanage is filled with life and noise of the children. Azharten notice that couple of children are little bit out from others and standing there on their own. As Basha plays with his magic and children are soon surrounding the table to watch, those two childern are not approaching table but rather just standing behind.
Slowly approaching them without being noticed [Stealth], Azharten grabs both from shoulders and slowly speaks to their ears ...... BUUUUUUU
"It's hotcakes and eggs today Eddy. Sunnyside up, scrambled, or over-easy?" She calls out to everyone, getting several jumbled answers from all the children. "Eadric, there is some wood out back. Could you chop it into small-ish pieces for the stove?"
Basha, as expected, gets most of the children watching his magical tricks.
Sneaking up silently on the two, Azharten is rewarded with a yell and a scream, both of which are follwed by the sound of something breaking.
The room goes farily quiet as the children look between the two who yelled and Keiyanna, who had just dropped a plate(now in two pieces) on the floor. Her eyes are wide as she takes in what happened, then she sighs her relief and smailes.
"You could have warned me Azzy!" She laughs, which a few of the children copy as the pair's faces redden and the hurry out of the room. Keiyanna carefully picks up the plate and places it out of reach of the children, still smiling.
Fantastic! I have always said you make the best hotcakes, and none that I have tried since leaving has persuaded me otherwise! Eadric takes in a deep breathe, thoroughly enjoying the smell of the hotcakes cooking. Over-easy for my eggs please! he calls out over his shoulder before exiting the kitchen and heading for the wood pile just as Azharten springs his surprise. Eadric shakes his head and chuckles as he thinks to himself, Azharten hasn't changed a bit! Still scaring kids half to death!
Finding the ax and checking the edge with his thumb, he reaches down and picks up the seemingly rarely used whetstone. After spitting on it, he proceeds to give the ax blade a thorough and methodical sharpening. Once he is satisfied with the newly sharpened edge, Eadric begins to split firewood with obvious enthusiasm. Before long a large pile of split and stacked firewood sits nearby.
Eadric drives the ax blade deep into the cutting block and gathers up an arm load of wood before returning to the kitchen.
Once inside he neatly places the firewood beside the stove before looking around the room. Where is Lydinia?
Azharten will sit and looks out of window at children It seems like its lively here like always. Seems like there is no problems at all.. Azharten scratches his beard slowly and looks at Keiynna Have you ever though of getting another person here than just being alone? You are still young, you know... not like I am trying to push you here mom. Just worried how the situation is here now
Wonders and watches how Keiyanna places the broken plate out of reach I was thinking... what about that one fellow... magic elf caster, what-was-his-name? Is he still hanging around here? You could actually take free-time since we are now here so we can sort of like provide some breathing space Azharten finishes, gives biiiig grin to mother and winks eye.
Sense Motive[Keiyanna]
As the group eats breakfast, more than one of them notices Lydinia through a window. She sits, cross legged, facing the rising sun. She is obviously lost in meditation and prayer.
Moments later she enters the kitchen, kisses Keiyanna on the cheek and quietly takes up an empty seat at the table.
What´s up with the morning flower? Enough sleep? Azharten asks while giving big grin Just talked with mom how she is alone here, taking care of childrens etc. Told that might take one day free, go out, meet people while we take care of kids.
Azharten fingers taps against table while thinking to himself Oh yeah, there was this elf magician I spoke with mom. What kind of person he is actually, if you got any idea? Would be nice to talk someone after long time yah? chattily speaking to particularly to everyone in kitchen.
"Azharten, we're here to keep the place open, not find Miss Key a suitor!!! Let's stay on task here, shall we? After breakfast mother, we must all talk."
Come on Basha, don´t you agree?? Joking here, so nothing serious Azharten laughs while looking at Basha Beside, you are right at that. However, you can always reconsider that by talking we can also maybe gain some support, for example: look at us. Some has achieved already alot of things or doing finely. Surely, we can convince others to think another way or get more people behind orphanage.
Azharten ponders and continues tapping table There must still be people, who appreciate this place or other our brothers or sister who are living nearby KN:local
"Yes, I agree. Since you and Lydinia seem so keen on running about the city, why don't you two look into other former inhabitants, and see if they have heard anything, and if they are willing to lend a hand. Meanwhile, Eadric and I will check with the Mayor, Sheriff, and other authorities, and possibly try and get an audience with the orphanages detractors. I think that will best suit each of our talents, no?"
Eadric nods in agreement with Basha's plan...
"You're trying to get all kinds of laughs today, aren't you Azzy?" Keiyanna says as she passes out plates and drinks(milk for the children, tea for the adults). Then she looks Azhartan in the eyes and smiles. "A child usually acts differently for two reasons. They want something or they've done something I wouldn't approve of."
"What subject do you wish to discuss that must wait until after breakfast Basha?"
The children seem oblivious to the adult's banter, and continue to eat and laugh and talk of last night's dreams. Eadric and Basha notice the gnome girl from their shared dream. She's one of the few little kids that doesn't have syrup dripping from her chin.
" I hesitate to bring it up, but I have had dreams these 2 nights past, dreams and visions that I cannot ignore. Is there one of the small people in charge of the guard now? I dreamed I saw you two arguing last night, right after I met some kind of guardian spirit? Can you illumine the way for me?"
Eadric listens to Basha remarks, interjecting, And that is only the half of it... I too had the same dream... In fact we were both present in the very same dream. I must say, that has never happened to me before...
Eadric leans forward, anticipating Keiyanna's response...
Azharten looks at Basha and laughs Ahah, sounds nice. Might as well then do it when you two are then askign question from sheriff and others while grinning.
To Keyianna Ahah, like ever, sleeping like a child mom and laughs, but when Basha mentions dream and guardian, Azharten face turns little bit more harder but also curious and he pays little bit more attention now
"Present in the same dream? Perhaps we should all go pay a certain dwarf and a certain elf a visit today. There is clearly sorcery at work here"
Agreed! Sorcery most foul I feel!
Eadric casts a sideways glance at both Azharten and Lydinia when informed of their nighttime activities.
Breaking into the sheriff's house in the middle of the night?! Somehow this does not surprise me with you Azharten, but Lydinia, I would have assumed you above such... behavior... What were you two thinking?
It is a good thing that the sheriff wasn't aware of your trespass! I'm not sure how the two of you sneaking into his house in the middle of the night, helps to divert suspicion from Keiyanna. What would have the sheriff thought awaking to find two armed intruders in his home. Assassins most likely!
Perhaps in the future, before you show glaringly poor judgment like you did last night, that you should consult with the rest of us before running off to do who knows what. Don't think for a moment that everything you do here and now, doesnt't reflect directly upon Keiyanna and the orphanage. This could have ended very badly us. Keiyanna. And the orphanage. What would happen if by your actions you brought the wrath of the authorities down upon us? Who would care for the children? You two? Presuming or course that you haven't gotten yourselves or us all thrown in jail... or worse.
However, what is done is done. We should focus on what lies ahead...
"Let me get this straight. You two," she points to Azharten and Lydinia as the children finish up and start leaving to play about the house, "went to the Sheriff's house last night to 'talk' to him about him being talkative about the murders, and ended up finding.. something there that you think was trying to kill him? And this thing called both of you children?"
Keiyanna then turns to Eadric and Basha.
"Then we have the dream you two shared, where you meet 'Little Lil' and a lizard she had named Zipper, who talked to you after she fell asleep in the dream?"
"Excuse me for being blunt, but this all seems a very strange set of events."
Keiyanna then turns to Eadric and Basha."Then we have the dream you two shared, where you meet 'Little Lil' and a lizard she had named Zipper, who talked to you after she fell asleep in the dream?"
"Excuse me for being blunt, but this all seems a very strange set of events."
"We agree mother, and I think we would all be best served getting some answers, quickly. Eadric, come, lets us see if the Sheriff is more responsive in the light of day."
BAsha bows slighlty to Keiyanna, and leaves the house, the early morning air hitting him like a blessing.
"So, Eadric, what do you think of our siblings night time activities? No chance we can stop them, but maybe we can refine their direction a bit?"
Before you leave, Keiyanna explains that the halfling was a representative of the person who wants the Orphanage closed, but won't say why. The halfling is not part of the city guard. As for Zipper, she has no clue what his being here-if he is actually here and not just a weird dream-could mean, or why he plays with Little Lil in her dreams.