Delmont's words hit Roland fair and square, dragging his hope away and leaving him contemplative. So much that he didn't even notice Catcher making a mess and beating pot like the real brazilian she is. If he had noticed he would have pulled her feet from under her in the first moment, preventing so much embarrassment. He would have left as Adakos did, leaving the girl alone in her madness, but that would also leave Miro behind, and it wasn't a good idea.
After the wizard's madness any drunk guy could put up something dangerous against the bard. Of course, Roland was sure Miro would handle it as if it were nothing, but it wouldn't hurt to have a 220 pounds friend beside you, right? So Roland just stood there, waiting for the reactions of the crowd and watching the show while cheering and applauding Miro for the performance, which as good as he had provided during battle.
______________________
In their bath back to the Inn, Roland waits until they pass through an almost empty street and moves toward Catcher. He grabs the wizard by the neck and should and pushes her against a wall, infuriated, and gives her a real warning. "Listen, Kid! If you wanna kill yourself, fine, go ahead and jump off the waterfall, or serve as food for the dragon, I don't care! But the next time you put some of us in danger for no reason, I swear you'll be the first enemy I slay!" He takes a last mean look at her eyes and drops the pressure, letting her go, while he resumes returning to the Golden Piton.
Roland doesn't care who he stays with in the bedroom. It could even be the wizard on a regular night, but not after this night's events. He doesn't mind paying for an extra bedroom so Catcher could be on her own.
____________________________
Comes the morning, and Roland is ready to talk to the group when they get together and away from other people. "So, we came here to check what we could do about it, and by Delmont's comment yesterday I'm not sure what to do next. Do you?"
Once the group leaves the Tun & Tankard, Adakos follows behind them at a short distance. Mainly because he wanted to be alone with his thoughts, and secondly, because he wanted to keep an eye out for anyone that might have took exception to their exploits in the tavern and decided to follow their stroll. At the outburst from Roland he stops short, scanning all around to watch for any attention it draws.
At least I'm not the only one who thinks the actions a bit odd.
Shaking his head at it all, the half-elf continues the long walk in the brisk night. He'd fallen in with this group, and for the most part they seemed like fine enough people, but there was a lot brewing under the surface that was soon to come to a boil, no doubt there. Once they arrive at the Golden Piton and the room arrangements are discussed, Adakos looks to Miro and says, "Miro, I'd love to hear some of your tales from the road, and sleep probably won't come to me immediately. Want to split a room?" Honestly, everyone else scares the daylights out of me at the moment.
Over breakfast Adakos listens to the large man, and shares his thoughts, "As I'm still not understanding the big picture just yet, my thoughts may mean little. But I can't properly stomach the idea of folks just freely handing their children over to the unknown in exchange for protection. It sounds...cowardly." He chews on a bit of bread as he thinks, adding "As they say, the enemy of my enemy is my friend. So in that, we may be at the right place. However, throwing in with evil...is still evil."
Miro smiles amiably at Adakos. "Sure thing! I have plenty of tales to tell you from just my short time with this lot...and then of course of how I found this ring behind a waterfall..."
--------------------------------------
The Halfling nods at Adakos' words. "I am willing to go along with subterfuge as long as our end goal of determining why the dragon needs the children, and rescuing said children, remains foremost in our minds. Otherwise, I have no desire to throw in my lot with these zealots, as decent a folk as some of them seem."
|
Miro had been right; she just didn’t want to admit it. Her reaction had been… strange. Something happened to her, and she still didn’t knew what it was, ever since the girl had left, she hadn’t been herself. Therefore, she does not say anything in answer to Miro, there’s nothing to be said.
She was leaving, during Miro so ‘waited’ perform, when Roland grabs her by the neck. She don’t resist or fight back. She don’t say anything until the fool is done with his ranting, there was a lot of things to be said, Roland was the last one that could say anything about her actions, since he always were the one to put the whole group in danger with his stupid “I need to prove I’m more macho than everybody else” act. She felt drained and tired, and not in the mood to start another fight.
”Touch me once more without my permission, and I’ll kill you.” she says flatly. She didn’t threatened the barbarian, she just informed what would happen.
At the Golden Piton she as always she probably will have her own room, but she wanted to talk with Gromff, and then and it comes to room division, unless he firmly objected, Catcher would move to his room as well, and try her luck at the dwarf snoring.
-------------------
Miro manages to get 4 gp worth of silver and copper coins as the crowded inn showers him in love and monetary adoration.
-------------------
The tense walk back to the other inn does catch the attention of some drunken commoners who are up far too late, but they lose interest soon and move along.
-Posted with Wayfinder
Miro walks up to the Innkeeper, smiling wearily. "My friend, I know your rooms are full, but could some of your patrons be persuaded to find other arrangements for this evening?" He quietly jingles out the 4 gp worth of coins he received at the tavern. If the man seems agreeable, Miro waits while the innkeep tries to rouse some guests. If not, he shrugs at his companions with his best 'I tried' expression.
"Golly, I suppose mister Gunfrey might not mind if I refunded him his money. He hasn't showed up yet. Okay friend, you've got yourself a room. That'll be 3 gold coins if ye please."
"Oops! Sorry, good man. My dwarven friends procured rooms for us already, I forgot!" He sweeps all the coins back into his purse, leaving behind a silver piece. "For your troubles, sir."
Miro yawns, turning to his companions. "It's been a long day. Let's get some rest and talk about things in the morning when we're all refreshed!"
If nothing further is added, he goes to the room he and Adakos will be sharing, and quickly lapses into an untroubled sleep.
Roland does not care about the vague threat of the wizard. He is now kinda anxious to touch her again, just to check if that threat was real.
______________________________________________________
Comes the morning, and Roland is ready to talk to the group when they get together and away from other people. "So, we came here to check what we could do about it, and by Delmont's comment yesterday I'm not sure what to do...
Over breakfast Adakos listens to the large man, and shares his thoughts, "As I'm still not understanding the big picture just yet, my thoughts may mean little. But I can't properly stomach the idea of folks just freely handing their children over to the unknown in exchange for protection. It sounds...cowardly." He chews on a bit of bread as he thinks, adding "As they say, the enemy of my enemy is my friend. So in that, we may be at the right place. However, throwing in with evil...is still evil."
The Halfling nods at Adakos' words. "I am willing to go along with subterfuge as long as our end goal of determining why the dragon needs the children, and rescuing said children, remains foremost in our minds. Otherwise, I have no desire to throw in my lot with these zealots, as decent a folk as some of them seem."
"The question is, are we really? Delmont said no one has entered the dragon's lair, and the children are in their. The best scenario we can hope for is to wait until the dragon is out doing something, then go inside without being seen, kill whatever is there guarding the entrance, avoid the traps, and find out about the kids, rescuing them or bringing proof of their demise. If we meet that dragon we are as good as dead. Where's that freaking dog when we need it... Anyway, I'm still up for that opportunity, and I don't mind spending some time killing some demons to improve our abilities. Maybe with our improved ranks we will know more details to help guide us. So yeah, I think I'm in."
Miro gives Roland a level look. "That's the rub, Roland. These people have no idea what the dragon does with their children...and don't seem to care. They are completely fanatic in their devotion to the beast. In short, I don't think they'll change their mind if we bring them proof of the demise of their sacrificed children."
He nods at the end of his speech before continuing, "I agree with all you said...but believe we are wasting our time trying to get these people on our side. They seem completely willing to serve this beast, and will not be easily swayed."
"Still, there might be something more than simply eating children... What if..."
Adakos sits, listening to Roland and Miro speak. He wasn't sure how he ended up in this mess at all, but here he was, listening to talk about dragons and demons, as if someone had just asked if he'd pass the butter. It was pure lunacy. He'd managed up to this point to remain quiet, but all this talk of meeting dragons and sneaking into lairs was just too much.
"Gentlemen. I've remained rather understanding of not giving me the whole story of what in the blazes is going on. I'm a new face, I get that. However, if I'm going to spend one more moment entertaining the idea of mucking in the business of some mythical beast out of a children's tale I suggest someone bring me up to speed." he says, rather bluntly. "You quarrel like spoiled children yet you blunder around in the affairs of things far beyond your understanding, that much is clear. So either someone has put you to task, and you don't know what the game plan is yourselves, or you are all just as clueless about this as I am. Either way, I'd like to know just how far up the creek without a paddle we actually are."
Looking to Roland and Catcher he continues, "I'm not sure what is steaming between you two. I can't say that I understand either one of you." Speaking to Catcher he says, "You don't know me, you haven't bothered speaking with me, and yet you'd single me out in front of a crowd like that. If I took that familiar of a tone with you I'm sure you'd take a capital offense to it." Turning his head to Roland, he continues, "You are obviously the protector of this group, or see yourself as such, that much I understand. But bullying someone rather than speaking to them privately is no way to get your point across in a positive manner." Pausing only for a moment he says, "For the sake of everyone at this table, either talk out your differences, go out into the street and duel them out, or head back to the room, shag, and get it over with. Either way, this needs to be settled before it causes everyone to end up dead."
Did you really just say that? And you, shut up.
With his peace said, he pulls out the scroll taken from the table last night, cracks the seal, and reads its contents. I'll probably learn more from this than they are ever going to be willing part with.
|
|
”Not really my problem that you are shy. You were the one who said that could play music. As for talking” she says mentioning the whole place ” if you didn’t noticed, the day we meet I was under a curse from that devil to keep me from waving magic against him, and that made me unable to talk as well. And Roland is no protector; he is just a coward bully who thinks his big hammer is the way to solve everything, and why would I be dumb enough to challenge him to fair duel? I’m no match for him in brute strength. If comes to that, I’m not going to prove I’m stronger than him, I’m going to kill him.” she continues eating ”And since he is the big head of this group, I would suggest him, and you, to stop talking in this big open communal room about our plans and stratagems, but since my opinion have no value, I’ll let you tell the whole place about our plans and what we want to do.”
She casually takes off the imp diary and continues to read it, to see if there’s any information to be found.
”We had agreed that private business would be conducted under magical protection, and he was the one to cause a big fuzz about this some time ago, I’d expected him to be the first to keep this agreement, but I guess that keeping his compromises have no importance. What matters to him is only to prove how ignorant and clueless he is, and his capability to bully someone else.”
She looks around and call one of the serving girls ”Can I get another serving, please?” after the lady is gone, she continues ”So, whenever you are finished with this meaningless talk, I would suggest we meet at Gromff room to talk about business.”
She turns to the diary again before snapping and saying "Ah, I'm Catcher. Nice to meet you Haven...is it Haven?"
Roland, instead of getting angry at the rookie, he kinda thinks his comments are really funny. "Common man, I'm not a bully! I'm just serious about what I do, and yes, I never saw anybody complaining about my way to solve things, did ya? Perhaps did any of the costumers" - yes he's talking about the devils - "issued a complaint about my service?" He makes a confused face to Gromff, addressing the question to him.
"Anyway, I cannot protect our conversation with magic, and as far as I know, neither can you, wizard. Now, there's no one else around us, and we can keep a sharp look on whoever is close, so we will know if there is anyone watching us. Last time we were in a tent, and a guy heard us because we could not see us. If we were inside a room someone could listen through the doors and walls, you know. This walls are not made of stone. Second, I never made such a promise, if you're talking about me."
"Now, Adakos, we're not under no one's orders, but quite the opposite. We're making our own goals as we go, and depending or not if the incursion is too risky we can change the focus. I don't mind joining the ranks of the soldiers if we're going to get some more information about some stuff. Do you?"
|
|
Before she leaves, Catcher says "I've learned a new spell, one that allows us to talk and no one can understand it, except in rare occasions. From now on, if we want to talk about that subject again, we'll always be using this spell, everyone agree?"
Comes the morning, she calls Gromff and Aerseni ”Dear, I need to ask you some questions, do you mind if I do? To make it way cooler, I’ll use a new magic trick to make everyone besides me and Gromff unable to understand you for a short time!” she says smiling to elf girl, and to Gromff she says ”Pay attention to her answers and tell me later what you think.”
The mage looks at the barbarian surprised. Oh, yeah, I’m sorry, It was my delusional mind that makes me not know my own powers, when you know so much about it. then with all the scorn and sarcasm she can muster she continues ”I’ve been neglecting my own studies master. Would you mind to evaluate my progress tomorrow morning, as I study the spells you taught me?”
She casually takes off the imp diary and continues to read it, to see if there’s any information to be found.
You read a passage from several weeks ago detailing how a wicked elf, who is apparently a master blacksmith working for The World Order and the armies of Sin, spent a boatload of gold to procure adamantite ore. He then painstakingly spent days with the rare metal, smelting and purifying it, then finally crafting it into a morningstar which was to be heavily enchanted. It was commissioned by the rakshasa magistrate of Sweetwaters. This imp clearly did not like the elf blacksmith and makes mention of revenge for some unnamed transgression. The imp stole the morningstar while the elf slept, slipped it into his pouch and vanished, giggling with furious delight. (yes, he detailed his giggling in his journal!)
She looks around and call one of the serving girls ”Can I get another serving, please?”
She brings you another plate of steak'n'beans, a hot bun of bread, a crock of butter, a jar of honey, and then freshens up your tea. She apologizes for the lack of lemons this time of year and for their lack of yogurt. You get the impression she doesn't know what yogurt is...
With his peace said, he pulls out the scroll taken from the table last night, cracks the seal, and reads its contents. I'll probably learn more from this than they are ever going to be willing part with.
It is in a language you don't understand.
|
|
The young woman jumps from her chair, looking frantically around ”Who have the strange Morning Star we found in the imp bag?”
She takes the weapon, stare at it for some time ignore questions and then open a big child-like grim to Gromff ”If you are willing to give me that credit note, I can turn this beautiful, well crafted, adamantine morningstar, commissioned by the rakshasa magistrate of Sweetwaters, into a magic weapon. Ah, did I mention it’s made from adamantine?”
The mage looks at the barbarian surprised. Oh, yeah, I’m sorry, It was my delusional mind that makes me not know my own powers, when you know so much about it. then with all the scorn and sarcasm she can muster she continues ”I’ve been neglecting my own studies master. Would you mind to evaluate my progress tomorrow morning, as I study the spells you taught me?”
"Sure, tomorrow might do." Apparently the barbarian is enjoying the girls sarcasm.
"Adamantine, hun? What does that do? Unless you can enlarge it, I don't think it would be a proper weapon for me. I kinda like my breaker. Feel free to use it." Then he waits until they decide to go or not to the enlistment.
Miro nods subtly to Roland, indicating his agreement.
Adakos takes it all in, the quips from the woman, the comments from the larger man, and the silence from the others. He was noticing a bit of a pattern here and it was likely that he wasn't far from the mark. "I've no problem with a bit of soldiering, I just don't know that throwing in with child-tossing-away-to-dragons folks are anyone I'd be quick to trust. You all obviously have more experience on the road, so I'll gladly let your experience be the judge in determining our path." he says to Roland, preferring to talk straight rather than burying his words in sarcasm. "I'd still like to understand what it is about these things," he says, tapping his ring on the table, "that seem to be drawing us together. For good or ill it deserves some thought."
|
|
"If you want answers, don't bother asking him. All he is capable of telling you is that we should head off into danger to smash, kill, challenge devils or any strong-looking enemy. He does not care for planning. All he wants is to match brute strength with the others."
Then, she walks from her table and sites beside the elf, ”Let me give you some answers.” the woman says, as she opens her bag, and from a big book, take three small pieces of papers in which she inscribe a complicated runes. After finishing it, she chants some strange words over the runes and says ”Open your mouth, this slip of paper must be placed under your tongue.” as she turns to Miro and says ”You too, take this one.” she says handling in one of the slips to the Halfling and finally placing the last one under her own tongue.
The mage waits until Adakos and Miro do their part and then she says ”No matter what we say for the next bell, it will sounds like random, babbling syllables to anyone not under the influence of the spell.”
”What do you want to know? We may speak freely now.”
Looking rather strangely at the small piece of paper, he looks first at the woman, then at Miro, raising a questioning eyebrow. "Catcher is it? First, my name is Adakos, not Haven. And I'm not about to put anything in my mouth without understanding exactly what it is I'm agreeing to here. I do not understand the ways of magic, and for all I know I could be letting you control my mind with this thing.", he says, turning the strange rune-covered parchment strip over in his hand.
He then turns is gaze to Roland and the dwarf, hoping for some answers. "Is this safe?"
|
|
Catcher roll her eyes at the Elf mistrust, really, if she wanted to bewitch him, that would be done away from everyone else, where no one could detect what she was about to do. And the fact she didn't knew any mind bending spell was another factor as well, not that she was about to tell then that, of course. "Miro and Gromff are capable magic users as well. I wouldn’t try to do anything harmful in front of them, also what would be the point? If I need a thrall, Roland is my first choice by far." this last bit she says smiling, and in an ironic tone. Most like a joke that would be fun if it wasn’t creepy and disturbing.
| 1 person marked this as a favorite. |
Miro sighs, patting Adakos' arm. "It is safe, Adakos. Catcher might have a temper, but she wouldn't try to magically alter our thoughts or anything like that." Willing to demonstrate a level of trust he wasn't quite sure he felt, he slips the piece of paper under his tongue, giving the mage a calm, level look.
Likely having more akin to the small bard than anyone else in the group, the halfling's words go a long way to putting his questions of the magical paper to rest, or at least at bay. Watching as Miro places the paper under his tongue, and not seeing him burst into flame or any other such nonsense, Adakos slowly does the same, but not without first sniffing the paper, as if that was going to somehow reveal any curse or hex.
"So they can only hear gibberish? How do you know it is working at all? he says, completely unaware of the workings of magic.
|
|
After the elf does his part, Catcher puts the paper on her tongue and listem to his question.
"Oh, there's a sure and easy way to prove it works." she turns to Rolland, knock on the table to have his attention as she says ”You stupid, dumb, ignorant, hateful, spiteful, dumb, weak, coward, piece of human s@++. I know you wet your pants every night in fear of the demons.” she says calmly and ends sending in his direction a small kiss.
But this is what Roland hears ”Siz ahmoq, soqov, johil, jirkanch, yovuz, soqov, kuchsiz, qo'rqoq, inson axlatni parcha. Sizlar esa jinlar qo'rqib har kecha sizning jinsida ho'llash bilaman.” and in the end, she sends him a kiss.
Turning to the others, she is quickly to add ”Humm, I don’t really think all of that, maybe half of it, or a quarter… but he just get in my nerves everytime.”
”What do you want to know? We may speak freely now.” the young woman finally asks, sounding a lot tired.
The Halfling grins as the young woman proves her spell works. Adakos had hit the nail on the head, he was thinking...Catcher was in loooooove. It made sense...the hot-headed barbarian was of much the same temperament.
Miro shrugs, "I'm not sure what to ask, honestly. Do you know who or what is bringing us together? What the significance of these rings are?"
Obviously proving the point, Adakos watches Roland for a moment, waiting for that hammer to swing out and fly into Catcher. When it doesn't, he says, "I guess that is as good of a test as any." trying to hide his sudden amusement of the woman using her talents to snub the warrior. Hearing Miro speak, he nods, and adds "In my experience, everyone has a goal. This defines their actions. Previously, my goal would have been to make money to pay for things I desired. Liquor, women, you name it. However, that is a part of me I am moving beyond." He pauses for a moment, and asks, "So what is your goal? Why are you here? You don't strike me as the mindless rabble that would throw in with folks that hand their children over to monsters. You are driven, there is something more. What are you trying to accomplish?"
|
|
The Halfling grins as the young woman proves her spell works. Adakos had hit the nail on the head, he was thinking...Catcher was in loooooove. It made sense...the hot-headed barbarian was of much the same temperament.
”To put it simple, we are not here to save the children.” she sees Miro’s face as the woman continues ”Don’t give me that look, that’s the truth. Saving them will probably be the results of our actions, but that is not our objectives.”
”We came to discover some time ago that the keys to end this whole madness are three separated parts, three fallen angels if you would. One of them, we meet by ‘chance’ while searching for someone that could help us with information. The thing is, this fallen angel, took the form of a child.” she waits the meaning of her works to sink in, as she continues ”The way I see it, it’s rather strange the dragon kidnapping children. What if this dragoness knows the same as we do, and she is trying to get her claw on the keys?”
”Joining the cult has other benefits as well. We can get information, resources, and maybe, just maybe stir the dragoness to turn her attentions to them devils. Of course, if you ask Roland he will say that what we should do is kill the dragon, and any other dragon nearby. But why kill it when we can use it?”
Miro screws up his face, a doubtful look in place. "All this talk of using the dragon makes me uneasy. Consorting with evil is wrong...and will we trade one yoke for another? I agree, we need more information. But trying to use this dragon is folly on many levels. Let us agree to infiltrate further and leave it at that, for now."
|
|
Miro shrugs, "I'm not sure what to ask, honestly. Do you know who or what is bringing us together? What the significance of these rings are?"
"You remember the ebon-skinned emerald robed man, clutching his serpent-head wooden staff? The priest of the newly ascended Demi-God Gengis Battleborn?. Acording to him, these three intersecting lines in the ring, represent a nexus; a point at which three ley lines intersect at the same point. It is the symbol of Gengis. One who is new to the pantheon above. Gengis was the archmage who founded the Jewel of the West. According to Littledragon, When the gods recruit you to their cause, it is because of their faith in you, meaning Gengis want us to do his dirty work."
"And I'm not saying to help the dragon, but let them battle each other. In the end, even if both are still out there, they'll be weaker. That's when we wipe them out."
He then turns is gaze to Roland and the dwarf, hoping for some answers. "Is this safe?"
Roland nods. "She wants to kill me, not you, don't worry."
But this is what Roland hears ”Siz ahmoq, soqov, johil, jirkanch, yovuz, soqov, kuchsiz, qo'rqoq, inson axlatni parcha. Sizlar esa jinlar qo'rqib har kecha sizning jinsida ho'llash bilaman.” and in the end, she sends him a kiss.
It was clear for everyone that Catcher was cursing or complaining, or something like that, but all Roland could hear was the usual babbling that came from the wizard. Of course, if she didn't want to hide her words she wouldn't be talking like that, so it was presumably something bad. Or maybe she was confessing to be in love with the barbarian, finally. She even sent him a kiss afterwards, as if trying to confuse him. Not knowing if Catcher could understand him or not, he decided to try to tease the wizard a little bit. He stuck out his tongue at her.
| 1 person marked this as a favorite. |
Right into the trap. "Now you know how I felt when you sent me a kiss." He winks at her, laughs a bit and asks for another drink, taking a look around them.
Adakos, watching the statue-like stillness of the dwarf, stabs a fork into a sausage on Gromff's plate, thinking he won't miss it, and stuffs the meaty morsel in his mouth. "So, if I understand correctly, you think this dragon might be trying to gather up angel children? And you said fallen angels? So they are evil?" he says, as his chews his ill-gotten food, "We've got devils, dragons, demi-gods, fallen angels, and mystery magic items. Couldn't someone just need some goblins chased out of town or something? Credit where credit is due, when you all get into a mess, you don't skimp on the mess part."
Surely there are some poor peasants around here who need a cat saved from a tree or maybe even some rats driven from the cellar.
Taverns have cellars...
Seriously? Give it up already. This is serious.
I could have seriously used a mead last night...
"We've got devils, dragons, demi-gods, fallen angels, and mystery magic items. Couldn't someone just need some goblins chased out of town or something? Credit where credit is due, when you all get into a mess, you don't skimp on the mess part."
|
|
"Fallen, but not necessarily evil. They are just fallen. They don’t remember what they’ve done to lose their heavenly status."
Glancing over the opened letter, she translates to everyone in the table "This form is an official commendation for the bearer, granted with due authority and diligence by the dwarfen captain of her magnificence's army, name of Delmont Ironingot."
Roland almost put a foot over the table, but he thought better and just decided to hush things up. "So, did the leaderboard decided what we're gonna do next?" Of course he's being sarcastic.
The next morning dawns and it is bitter cold. The thin wooden walls of the inn did little to ward off the cold, and some of you might have reached for your pack in search of a blanket or winter coat to fortify the provided bed cover.
When you find your way to the drinking hall/dining room the welcoming warmth of the hearth and nuzzles up to you. The Golden Piton is serving hard-boiled eggs, biscuits and gravy, and fried potatoes for breakfast. As a pleasant surprise your meals come complimentary.
The nearby falls keeps the area humid and when you first set foot into the streets you notice everything seems to have a thin layer of frost, like frozen morning dew.
Miro stretches, flopping himself out of the bed. He follows his nose down to the kitchen, smiling at the Innkeep as he makes his way to the common room. His mood only brightens as he realizes he doesn't have to pay for his meal, so after he eats, he sings a few short songs to entertain the morning crowd.
After doing so, he gets together with his comrades, asking in a low tone, "Alrighty...so what now? We going to the falls to fall in with the dragon crowd?"