Eadric gently scoops up Leon and places him upon his horse. Eadric mounts up (while keeping a firm grip on Leon) and begins riding back towards the orphanage...
On your way back to the Orphanage, Leon wakes up with some of Basha's spell still effecting him. He tries to clear his eyes by blinking a lot.
"He turned my into a newt, didn't he? That's why I can't see like normal!"
"Only on days when I work at the forge. Don't tell people about that though, I've been telling Momma K I've just been doing odd jobs, like carrying food to people's homes and such."
"He makes a spiced chicken pot pie that's pretty good." Coren says as he takes a seat at the bar and orders.
No Leon, he did not turn you into a newt. Well... not entirely anyway. Believe me, Basha wanted to, and you did start to turn green... but I asked him to stop. I told him if he did change you into a newt, we wouldn't be able to get the answers we seek out of you. Neither of us speak newt you see. Of course if you still choose to not answer our questions, I will not intercede on your behalf a second time. We are far too busy, and this is too serious, to play silly games.
Eadric is sure to turn away to allow himself a little smile, and let his words sink in, before adding, Don't worry Leon, by the time we reach Keiyanna you won't even be able to tell where your gills were starting to form! as Eadric pretends to examine Leon's neck, tracing his finger along imaginary gills.
Eadric holds Leon firmly and spurs his horse in the direction of the orphanage.
As they make their way along the street leading to the orphange, Eadric whispers in Leon's ear,Do you wish to answer my questions now? Or should I take you back to Basha?
"It was just for fun. We just wanted to see how long we could follow you without being seen!" He says urgently. "If ya didn't see us then you wouldn't be much help to K, would ya?"
"I wanted to make some money to help Momma K. I usually just work the bellows and get the tools."
Eadric listens closely as Leon speaks...
Before responding, I fail to see the "fun" in this. Or do you like being turned into a newt? We are here, Basha and the rest of us, to help Keiyanna defend herself, and the orphanage, from some very serious charges. If things turn out badly Leon, it will be the lot of us that suffer. Yourself and the other orphans perhaps most of all. You should be expending your efforts and talents in ways that help Basha, myself, and the others as opposed to hindering us with this juvenile behavior.
And what is this "we"? "us" you speak of? Who else is following us? And what exactly does my ability to spot someone tailing me have to do with "helping" Keiyanna?
Eadric glances about the street to see if he can make out anyone else following him.
”Just some of the other kids like me, that watch over the little ones when K needs us to. And who's hindering? If you didn't see us following in broad daylight, how were you going to catch a night-time killer?!” Leon snaps. ”Do you even have a single clue?”
He notices you glance back and smiles.
”You split into two groups, so only two of us had to tag along. Adults don't like when kids test them, do they? Makes them feel less safe.”
”And turning me into a newt was more 'juvenile' than anything I've done today.”
Eadric responds in a low stern growl, Don't presume to question me young man! Who are you to vet my abilities? You must be touched in the head if you think I would report my findings to you. And yes, you are hindering me. The fact that I am taking time out of my investigations to deal with you is evidence of that. Any repercussions heaped upon you this morning are result of your actions, not mine! One should learn to hold one's tongue when slandering a practitioner of the arcane arts. There are many in this world who would have killed you for less. You should worry more about your own safety... and less about mine own. Your "tests" are irrelevant and cause me no degree of uncertainty. We are almost home... we shall see what Keiyanna thinks.
Eadric makes the final turn to the orphanage and heads for the gate...
As you nap, you find yourself dreaming of the room you are in. You can see yourself and what appears to be a small lizard resting on the pillow of the next bed. It appears to be sleeping as well.
"They're staying at the Orphanage right now, in the spare room. I think that's where they stayed when they were little." He says as he eats the pot pie. "One of them was a preistess, a half-elf I think. Then there was two humans, one scary that had two swords and one that seemed nice. Then there was one that looked a little scary but he cast some really neat spells for the little ones."
"What do you do?" He asks curiously.
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"Well, I try to help people and stay to my self, but neither are often an easy task. I try to just live, investigate bad things, and get rid of them if I can."
"Maybe it is time that I go back and deal with my past after all. After we eat, I mean. Would you take me to the others? I am not sure it is wise to attempt to hide any longer if there are friends and allies present."
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Lumi tries to observe the sleeping lizard, eyeing it without disturbing it's slumber. gathering as much detail as she can. she doesn't want to interrupt the lizard's nap. a lizard is technically still a living creature and the angelic youth attempts to be as quiet as possible. she thoroughly examines it by eye. taking her sweet time.
she examines every possible detail, probably taking a matter of minutes to do so.
"Sure. It's no problem. I just need to go home and hide the apron before someone tells Momma K I've got it."
Once the pie is finished(it was very good) and Coren says farewell to the dwarf, the young half-orc leads you through the town and soon the Orphanage comes into view.. along with a man on a horse who appears to arguing with a young half-elf about Coren's age(in half-elf years anyway).
"Aw, Leon got caught! That guy there is called Eadric, he's one of the people who came back to help Momma K." Having said that, Coren nods goodbye and ducks between the houses to go the backdoor. Probably to hide the blacksmith's apron.
"Ha! And they say I lose my temper to easily! I did what I believe I had too, what I believe was right, to repay her for everything she's done for us! That's the same reason you're here, isn't? Because it's the right thing and you want to help her?"
"If you think I care about getting in trouble for doing what I think is right, you are wrong."
As you get closer to the Orphanage, you can see a man and one of the orphans walking toward the Orphanage as well, from the opposite direction. When the child spots you, he says something to the man and ducks between the houses.
You are able to get quite close to the lizard without waking it, though it does twitch once.
I have not lost my temper...yet. And I would warn you against causing me to do so. If your intentions are as you say, then why the deception? Why the need to lie to myself and Basha? If you are truly only trying to help, why do you show us such great disrespect? We should be working together not against one another, because yes, it is true that Basha and myself, along with the others who have returned, are here to help in any way we can. But nobody is making it easy for us. Including you Leon! That seems counter intuitive to what you are telling me your intentions and desires are. It seems everyone I have had interactions with since the moment I returned is hiding something. What are people keeping from us? Why is everyone lying?
Eadric watches the approaching man and the other orphan that darts away. I wonder who this might be...
"How many adults do you know, besides K, that take kids seriously?" He asks, his voice suddenly very soft. "Especially orphans? If I had come up to you when you first got here and said I wanted to help, what would you have said? Keep out of trouble and help around the house, watch the little ones to K can have time to sort things out?"
"Sometimes it's better to ask forgiveness than permission. Sometimes you shouldn't ask for either."
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With a sigh, he walks towards the two arguing men, realising that the time has come. He walks slowly, trying to undestand what is going on. Walking slowly besides Eadric, he attempts to distract the two from their anger by saying "A wise man would always ask forgiveness for offending someone. But there are indeed times when it is better to ask for it later rather than permission before", with a nod towards an old friend.
"I came as soon as I, . . . heard. How is she?", looking sorrowful.
Eadric matches Leon's softer tone, I understand your perceptions Leon. You remember it but was a short time ago that I was an orphan living here myself. I know how you are treated. Believe me, I know.
As to your question? I would rather you had made your proposal to help, up front, rather than sneaking around behind our backs. We would have welcomed your skills and knowledge... seeing as we are newly returned to town and have no friends remaining within these walls it seems. Everyone seems intent on misleading and deceiving us... sadly, even the very people we are here to help. That is why I am upset with you Leon. You are making my efforts to help K and you harder, not easier. We need to work together, not against one another. Not that I claim this was your intention, but it is the result nonetheless. You do not deserve, nor do I intend, to punish you for doing what you thought best to help and protect what you hold dear. Frankly it is to be commended if the truth be known. However, I would just ask that we work together in the future.
It also worries me Leon... if I am unaware of your help, and that of the other orphans I am not aware of... and you, or they, should get into trouble... how would I know to come to your aid? If anything were to happen to you, or any of the other orphans, I would not be able to live with myself! Can you understand that?
It is your safety and well being, along with the others, that concerns me most. If I fail that, the rest is irrelevant detail.
Eadric turns to face the new man as he speaks. Eadric gives him a good long look before recognition flashes his face. With a broad smile Eadric exclaims, Beckett my old friend! By the gods it has been a while! How long have you been in town? Keiyanna is doing as well as can be expected. Are you here to help my old friend? Have you met the others?
The words pour from Eadric's mouth in rapid succession before abruptly snapping his jaw shut. After a slight pause he continues at a more even pace, Apologies. I forget my manners. Beckett, this is Leon. One of Keiyanna's charges. He has been helping me with our investigations. Eadric gives Leon a knowing smile and a wink. We are just returning from meeting with a few key members involved with the recent events. Leon this is Beckett, an old friend and former orphan like us.
Leon is startled by Eadric's way of introducing him, and keeps a wary eye on him out of habit.
"Uh, hello Beckett.. It's good to meet you."
For the most part, the room seems about the same. One of the strange things about the room is that it looks newer.
The lizard appears to be in perfect health.
Eadric wonders if he has made a mistake... Perhaps this isn't Beckett after all?
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Taking the offered hand, "Yes, I am hear to help, if I can. Tell me, what has really been going on. I have just arrived, and have not met anyone else yet.".
Nodding towards Leon as he is introuced, but subconciously wondering if he can be trusted, if he knows, and hoping that no one asks the circumstances of how he found out to come here from so far away.
"I was led to believe that certain people in town are trying to get the orphanage shut down, and that seemingly random people had united in public to accuse, or rather spread the idea that Momma may have been involved. Is this true"?
I wish I knew more than that Beckett. In all honesty I'm not sure that I know any more about the peculiar circumstances surrounding mother Keiyanna and the orphanage, than I did before I arrived.
All that I am certain of, is that strange things are happening and everyone involved seems determined to mislead and deceive. Even some of those that you wouldn't normally suspect... Eadric tries to subtly nod in Leon's direction without his awareness.
I have been to see the sheriff today, but he was less than forthcoming and asked us to return when he wasn't so busy. We also stopped by a smithy for directions to Neal Leagallow's, a halfling representative of a mysterious and yet as unidentified someone of interest in all of this. This smithy, another halfling by the name Lyle Highhill, just so happens to have a suit of custom armor sized for a lizard, that needs delivering to one Neal Leagallow.
Of course we took the armor and set off to find Mr. Leagallow. We were successful in finding him, with some trouble I might add, but weren't so lucky with getting much information from him. Apparently the orphanage lays upon some line of strong magic and Leagallow's benefactor, and some other nobles, wish to tear down the house.
Eadric stops to catch his breath, before adding, Quite honestly, I have no idea what is going on. Between mysterious benefactors, dream invading lizards, murders most foul, attacks, lies and illusions, I'm starting to get a headache trying to figure it all out!
I know I am leaving things out and the others have also been getting involved. Perhaps we should round everyone up and see what we can figure out?
Eadric gestures to the gate of the orphanage with his hand, After you my brother.
"I saw that.." Leon mutters as he sees Eadric nod at him.
After a while the lizard stirs and stretches before looking around the room and noticing you.
"You are the third new child I have seen in two days. Why are you asleep at this hour?" The small scaly one asks.
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Lumi Says to the lizard, i am one of Keiyanna's former children, who was by means of dreams, called back to this orphanage to assist in an investigation of matters which may compromise the orphanage as a whole. i am here to assist in making sure there is still an orphanage around for those children that still need it. mother K also gave me permission to take a nap until lunchtime came.
"Ah, another here to help. Interesting. Perhaps you won't interfere like the others did. Do you know how you are going to help?"
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"Ah, another here to help. Interesting. Perhaps you won't interfere like the others did. Do you know how you are going to help?"
I Currently wish to prove mother Keiyanna's innocence to those who beleive that she has to have been associated with those unexplained murders. i beleive that such a kindhearted nurturing person wouldn't have brought herself to perform such vile actions. i believe that she must have been set up by another, a figure yet unknown who appears as an empty seat in all my visions. do you have any clues to who this individual could potentially be?
"Potentially? I know several. Times change, and people change with them. Who you knew then may not be who you know now. I can tell you this: Keiyanna did not commit the murders." The little lizard jumps from the bed it was on to your own. "And my name is Zipper."
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"I do not suppose that you have spoken with Mother, to see what she has to say? I mean I would imagine that was the first thing you would have tried, but has she said anything?"
A cool wind blows around us, seeming to bypass all of our layers and suck out the warmth. You might notie though that none of the trees or anything else seems affected by this out-of-place cold, possibly leaving you wit a sight feling that something is wrong.
"I have spoken with mother K. In fact we all have. We are all staying here at the orphanage currently. Mother K hasn't had a lot to say about the matter. She doesn't seem to be overly concerned... which causes me no shortage of the same..."
Eadric pauses at the cold breeze before continuing, "Perhaps you should question Keiyanna. You might bring a fresh perspective..."
Zipper looks at you for a moment before answering.
"I would love to know the answer to that question myself. The only memories I have from before I was here.. are a call for help and answering."
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Mother Keiyanna needs all the help she can get, and you are such a beautiful and intellegent being. i believe you may possibly have celestial roots similar to my own. finding another like myself is so difficult from the material plane. she pauses, still looking at Zipper, how would you like to have a friend? i'm sure it must be lonely in this room. i will try to visit you in dreams whenever i have the oppurtunity to do so.
Zipper seems surprised by your offer of friendship.
"It is not a lonely as you might think, the children daydream and take naps too, and I usually sleep when there is no one here. But.." He pauses, seemingly worried about something. "It would be nice to have a friend, but I do not think it would work out well. Our ways of helping Keiyanna are vastly different, I think." He jumps to his bed again and lays down on the pillow.