Merisiel chips in:
"If you would like it to disappear permanently, we would be happy to help with that..."
"Agreed. I once came across a painting of Sarenrae and a succubus, which was worth a pretty penny..."
*Ack*
After Merisiels insensitive comment, Kyra chimes in.
"I think the absolutely best, or worst depending on who you are, thing you could do is take the thing and sell it to an appropriate purchaser. Publicly. One with similar views as you that might a have more... interesting? future for it than just secretively destroying it in a dark tomb."
Quinn keeps his mouth shut for now, but his eyes on Rhiannon, to see how she'll react.
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Rhiannon shakes her head.
No, everything about the Tullivors must be purged, just like Northis. It's my duty, now. I will finish destroying them, just like they tried to destroy my family! Yes, Laban, your little 'riddle' only ended up getting Northis killed! I never would have killed him you hadn't stolen the chalice and tried to play your little game with my family!
While she speaks, she grabs the bottom of the tapestry, meaning to hack it apart and rip it from the wall!
At the formal admission of guilt, Merisiel brightens considerably.
"Ah, well, in that case:", she clears her throat, "We are formally performing a citizen's arrest. Try not to resist too much..."
She then shanks the woman!
The last few moments go by in a rush leaving Kyra a bit flat-footed. She does have the presence of mind to draw her scimitar and ready herself for action
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The situation was spiraling and Seoni knows she needs to be prepared for anything. The anger and grief fueling this woman will do nothing, but quickly escalate her already erratic behavior.
"Whatever injustices you've faced, you're doing nothing but adding to your own anger and grief. You may inflict a temporary inconvenience, but this won't level the scales. It won't make what they did any better. You'll feel nothing, but emptiness no matter what you let your anger sway you to do."
Seoni senses the woman's emotions were already too far gone to hear reason. The power coursing through her veins at the ready should force need to be taken against her. Her admission of the murder already determining that there is no ideal outcome for her.
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Erasmus quickly picks up her sword. "This isn't about a fancy curtain, this is about a murder."
He carefully removes the tapestry from the wall, rolls it up, and stows it, along with Rhiannon's sword, in his pack. He holds his pack over one shoulder with one hand, ready to drop it in the event of a fight, and holds his starknife in his other hand. "There are people coming, so we had best depart quickly. Make a quick check for anything else of use, Kyra and I can escort Ms. Sarvio to the front gate to answer to whomever is approaching. If they come with hostile intentions, we'll give a yell."
"Come along now, Ms. Sarvio." If she attempts to flee, Kyra will make her best attempt to grapple.
Not needing to be asked twice, Merisiel moves to grab the tapestry, and escape as quietly as possible.
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After a few moments you all hear the sound of guards approaching, and then a shout.
We're too late! Northis is dead! Search the area!
They eventually meet up with you, and readily accept your account of things. The captain addresses you all.
We got wind that Rhiannon paid off the morning guards to "disappear". Knowing her and her feud with the Tullivors, we had a feeling it was bad when we heard Northis went missing. It's sad we didn't think to search here sooner, but the Tullivors are filthy rich, so I doubt he'll stay dead.
With that, Rhiannon is hauled off to the jail for trial, and you all have successfully gained a bit of wealth to help pay off Ulisha's bounty!
You all head to a local in to relax, and discuss your next move.
After a refreshing stay at the local, Kyra says, "Well, I love to relax as much as the next person but duty calls. Shall we travel to the mists tomorrow? I'll let the carriage driver know if we are all in agreement."
Quinn shakes his head at the happenings "Alls well that ends well I guess. Mists seem like a good idea."
"Proceeding down the list seems like a good course of action to me as well."
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Your travel through Varno is completely without incident, following instructions left in Ulisha’s journal. You see little of the region’s timid peasantry until they arrive at The Restless Bear Inn, a crumbling, moss-choked building standing alone at the road’s end. Looming over its squat frame, a dense curtain of foliage marks the
border of the Forest of Veils. The sign above the door reads “The
Restless Bear,” and it seems to refer to a stuffed bear’s head that
lolls upon a flagpole near the eaves.
You enter into the common room, which feels like a cave, its sagging rafters clogged with yarn, shabby ribbons, and odd miniature knick-knacks that reinforce its claustrophobic atmosphere. A withered old crone is the only person inside.
Hullo! Welcome to the Bear. I'm Birdy, yer hostess. Five copper gets you a room for a night. Anything else you want, we work the price out.
Merisiel wrinkles her nose...
Fairly amateurish job...
...but keeps silent, for the moment.
Quinn takes a moment to eaxmine the slightly mangy bear but doesn't pay it much mind.
"Is a meal included?"
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Yoon holds Gom-Gom, who has been staring at the pathetic and possibly cruel wall hanging, close to her heart.
"Don't be afraid Gom-Gom. I promise, anyone who tries to do that to *you* becomes that evening's Shāokǎo!"
A meal? Yeah, of course. Any other dumb questions?
"You would not happen to remember a man by the name of Ulisha, would you? I suspect he would have been the sort to ask all kinds of questions and may very well have been memorable."
Quinn pulls out his book to take notes on the answers to the questions about Ulisha and Cannibal's grove.
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I’m not keen ta put my own soul in peril, steerin’ yas to such unhallowed spots.
’Twas where the old Famished Shaman worked his blasphemies.
Anybody with good sense’n their head should know the answer to that question.
I’ll not speak his name; the dead rest ill. He was a druid. Spent so much time as a beast, he lost his soul to hungerin’ for flesh.
They say Erastil made him a bear— prey for hunters. My husband usta tell folks that head on the pole outside was the selfsame bear, but it were bad for business.
What about Ulisha, do you remember him?
Merisiel nods vigorously.
"Haunted spots usually have an interesting history... which usually translates to the availability of some interesting loot!"
"Anyone notice that?" she announces, perhaps a rhetorical question, as she points at the door.
Quinn shrugs "Shall we take rooms and then head out fresh in the morning?"
Kyra wanders over to the door, opens it, and peeks out. Seeing nothing she replies to Quinn, "Why not? It's been a long day."
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After resting for the night, you arrive downstairs, and Birdy has a simple breakfast prepared for you. Seoni chats her up while you eat, and by the time you are finished the sorceress has gleaned enough information about landmarks and the lay of the land that she feels confident the group can find Cannibal's Grove easily enough.
After a small hike, you all learn that Seoni is indeed correct, and one mile to the southwest of the inn is a clearing, overtaken by crimson thistles and punctuated by a ring of mossy standing stones. In the center, a neglected stone slab bears ancient stains and gouges.
"That looks suitably ominous!"
Merisiel conducts a quick search of the area, although she is careful to avoid stepping inside the circle of standing stones.
"Anything can be ominous under the right circumstances!"
Kyra starts up a Detect Magic and scans everything.
Quinn will once again draw his sword cane and step up to watch Kyra's flank as she detects magic.
Merisiel wrinkles her nose in disgust.
"Ugh. This place stinks of raw meat!"
"So, who wants to be the first to enter the ring? I don't suppose anyone prepared a summon spell?
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"Yuck... something must have died nearby. Keep on your guard."
Erasmus casts Detect Magic and attempts to identify the function of the stone circle.
"Not sure what this is, but I would not be surprised to find spirits bound to this location."
He draws his Starknife and begins searching for the source of the stench.