Now that everything has been decided Ulrik moves to ready the one called Cindi for travel while being detained. As he is no longer trying to move quietly you can tell that his boots seem reinforced with metal as well as his clothing. His steps like that of an angered giant as he walks towards her slumped form.
"We'll be back soon. Try to stay out of trouble. If she wakes up, maybe you can get some information out of her while we're gone." With that, Rogar pulls his hood up, wipes the blood off of his axe, steps outside, and takes a look around.
Perception
@Ulrick: Cindi, being quite unconscious does not put up much of a fight. However, while you wait, you happen to glance at some of the books and papers on the desk. You find nothing linking Cindi to any hags, but you do see a diary that mentions Ecland, Grazilplitz, dwarves and Mater, as well as the other triumvir's names.
@Rogar: You find many options for carts, and surprisingly, Triumvir Gorund even provides a beast of burden for the trip.
After Ulrik has prepped the little one for transport he reads through the information she has and organizing it to be carried back with them. Afterwards he searches her Hut for any other information and things that are questionable. Mumbling to himself all along the way. Keeping her within easy sight of him even if he has to move her to do so while keeping her away from where she might have hidden something. Using his Spells to stabilize her if needed."She wouldn't have any obvious connections to Hags even if it was true and not a suspicion. We need to learn why all this has happened. This doesn't bode well at all. I might need to call in one of the Inquisitors to aid in this."As he moves he makes sure she doesn't have anything on her.
Rogar will gratefully accept the Triumvir's offer, procure a cheap cart, and return to the Villa.
We will cross that bridge when we come to it. In the meantime, keep close watch of Cindi. Though we have dealt with her, she may still have a few tricks that would help aid her escape, Vi says, in response to Ulrik, as he leaves to follow Rogar.
Although not far behind, it appears that by the time Vironus reaches his Dwarven ally, Rogar has already secured a Wagon, as well as a beast to pull it, resolving the issue of transporting their only suspect back to town, within a matter of minutes.
I then fill up Arirai's bowl with some more water as well as my own glass and take a long drink, before taking the glass and 2 plates back out to Dangrio, "Thank-you very much for these, how much do I owe you for them?" Once Dangrio has some free time away from any customers I speak to him quietly, "Do you know of any religions that have an eye as their holy or unholy symbol? We have so far discovered that the victims of the curse often say things like, short people, arrest women and something about an eye. I think these are all connected and will help us get to the source of the curse. Also ... this "coven" in the Materforest, do you know anything about them, like have you met any of them or spoken with anyone who claims to have met them, seen any carvings from the forest that look like an eye. Finally have any of the cursed ever visited the forest before contracting the curse?"
Dangrio waves away your offer to pay. "Yangrit took care of it, lady. There were talk of wanting to arrest the short folk, but nobody would give a rational reason. As far as religions worshipping an eye." Dangrio shrugs. " But, the coven reported to exist in Nox'mater I have heard some lore of. They say Baron Sengir in his delving of the occult came across some scripture. He went to the coven to seek their aid. Shortly after that, the war was both begun, and ended. Apparently, neither the Baron, nor the coven was heard of after that."
Dangrio shudders. "No, you'll not find me going into that forest. They say a new witch has taken up shop. The ones who do go in, seem to just babble when they talk about it. Not had the heart to ask others to go in, after those poor souls were carted to the elves for a different kind of healing than Urtar is up for. As far as that curse goes, some were cursed, aye. I don't think the curse is coming from the forest, but I think I'll be safe, just the same."
"Seems wise. I would wait for the morning, before ya did. Probably should bring something to help you see, perhaps. You already have some furs, so unless a blizzard comes in, ye should be fine on that score. Keep your wits about ya and stay warm."
It seems that this curse might be offspring of a tragedy occurred not so long ago in this lands... but also can be the machinations of an evil god... or goddess.
Once he finished his meal, Marcus talks to River "I think we have done enough for today. Once the others come back, we can discuss whatever they've find out in the Villa and cast a new light on the matter."
I sit back down, lifting Arirai onto my lap, while I stroke his head, then look up to Marcus, "I think we should discuss what abilities we have, so we can better work out how we can combat this threat effectively. Would you care to start?"
And upon hearing River's request:
"What you said is true, we must know the tools that we count on in order to get rid of this curse. As for me, I was instructed in tactical warfare, diplomacy and scouting. Granted that, I see myself as a competent soldier too. In fact, I used to..."
His face turns grim for a moment, and then takes a long drink of ale.
"...And pretty much those are my skills. Are you interested in something more? then returns to normal "I've seen you possess some kind of magical power, and as I'm not initiated in the arcane arts, would you mind if you explain it to me a little? It would be quite handy if we could rely in your abilities."
I look a little worried, and defensive, it is obvious I am expecting Marcus to get a little aggressive. "I can also breath underwater, but I don't think that will help us much up here."
After a few hours, you manage to make it back to Ecland with little trouble, and enter its blessed warmth as it gets dark. Sniffing you smell an acrid stench of burning flesh, but see no smoke.
Parking the Wagon up next to a dark alley, Vironus takes the sack out of the Wagon and drags it back into the alleyway, out of sight.
He opens the sack and removes the bedroll from the halfling, kneeling over her to ensure she doesn't escape, unsure of whether the smell is mere trickery or not.
Cindi definitely is not faking, as her body definitely looks much worse than it did before you set out. Some places are dark with burns, while other areas are merely red, as if too near a forge.
"Witch did you say? Like the ones that is said live in the near forest?"
Seeming a little surprised, Marcus put both hands over the table and assume a relaxed posture.
"Don't worry. As long as you have been summoned here, it's clear that your sincerest desire is the welfare of Ecland's people, as any of us... and that's the reason why I beg you to be a little more tolerant with Vironus.
Although I've heard that witches often proved to be people to be feared, I feel that yours is a kind, careful spirit... I trust you, and if you trust me, I shall not judge you by however people calls you but by your deeds."
Then, Marcus smiles after taking a sip of ale.
"And wise people says that eyes are windows to the soul... and yours have a very deep beauty indeed... A-anyway, we should figure out a way to tell the others, for they might not be so comprehensive."
Well, we're not going to learn anything if she dies on us now!
Vi picks her up and slings her over his shoulder.
Ulrik, Rogar, we need to get this woman medical attention. If we let her die now, we may not discover the whole truth behind this incident.
Vironus heads for the Church, in search of a Cleric who may be able to heal such wounds.
Ulrik examines her wounds to the best of his ability.
She is stable, but suffering from major burns that seems to have weakened her greatly. They don't seem to be quite normal burns.
@Vi:
As you enter the temple, you see Urtar pacing around in thought, and looks up as you enter, then at your burden. "What happened?" he asks as he summons up his energies in preparation of healing.
Having made his point clear, Marcus relaxes, raising his voice to the usual, talk-level volume.
"Returning to the subject at hand... have you made some progress with Dangrio's books? I've been thinking that this curse's origin might be older than we thought. Perhaps looking about this land's first inhabitants and their religion can shed more light on the matter."
I look happy at the change of subject, "Well it appears the Baron went to the witches in the forest for aid in a war, that both started and ended quickly. It was a war over riches as the baron thought the Dwarves were holding out on him and it was a war that he couldn't have won without the aid of the witches. But no-one knows what aid they gave, after the war both the baron and the witches were not heard of again. I am guessing the baron is either hiding at the castle, or in the mines. The mines is my best bet as it is after people go there that the spread of the curse stops for a while."
Vi looks towards Urtar and speaks. I have no clue. As we got to the Villa, we spoke to this woman about the Curse and at first she denied any knowledge of it, but a moment later she started speaking in tongues, damaged us slightly with some kind of dark magic or trickery and wouldn't listen to reason, so we had to subdue her. When we left Desnal she was more or less fine and just unconscious, but upon arriving back here, we could smell burning and upon closer inspection, I found it to originate from her. I have no explanation for this, but we need the information she carries and as such, have brought her here for healing.
Rogar enters the temple with Vironus but hangs back quietly, trying not to get in the way of whatever healing's about to happen.
Ulrik carries the the Halfling into the Temple."Where is someone who can check her wounds? Can anyone Detect Undead?"
There is a buzz of activity as people are running around, gathering herbs, preparing to heal and find out what the burns are. Urtar takes and sets her down carefully. One of the clerics in the temple whisper in his ear, and he rubs his chin. "Weak, and stable. Not undead. Not evil. No reason for burns. You are sure was nothing you caused?"
"We are sure it wasn't us. She didn't have them the last time we stopped and checked to make sure her wounds weren't aggravated by the travel."Stopping he looks to everyone and yells."She is not to be untied. At least not without being restrained. Especially after she is healed. Am I clear."To accent his statement he lays his hand on his blade.
Urtar raises an eyebrow momentarily at Ulrik. Then looks around, and begins applying a salve to the burns. He looks confused for a moment, as the burns fade. He sits back and watches, waiting for something to happen.
After a moment he shrugs. "Never seen..." he mumbles to himself. "Soon she wakes." He begins chanting and places his palm upon her scalp as a glow transfers from him to her. As she wakes, she begins coughing and talking in a strange gutteral language.
Ulrik walks closer hand still on his blade."Can you understand me?"
The halfling's eyes glance around quickly, but she seems to have trouble focusing on anything. Her tone changes, as she glances around, and takes on a chanting cadence to her words, and the room darkens. She struggles against her bonds, but cannot seem to break free.
This woman constantly proves to be annoying! he says out loud to himself.
Vironus turns to Urtar.
She acts in the same manner as she did in Desnal, speaking no sense and actively trying to harm us. It would have been easier to kill her, but I take no pride in ending the life of a woman. She holds valuable information but persists on keeping it to herself, speaking only in tongues.
Ulrik growls and kicks her."Next time you do that you will regret it."He draws his blade and holds it to her throat.
Easy there Ulrik. We still have use for her!
Urtar quickly shouts an order for a set of scrolls to be brought. He quickly moves between the halfling and Ulrik, reaching down to put a gag on Cindi. "Not tongues. Aklo..." Before putting the gag on her, he whispers in her ear.
Surely, little one. You have more to your journey.
Cindi doesn't react to Urtar's message, and keeps shouting in a weird language. Urtar sighs, and places the gag on her and stands up.
"Odd. Halfling that does not speak it." Reaching down with a small knife, he pricks Cindi's finger.
The scroll box is delivered to him and he selects one and opens it, quickly looking over the contents. "A minute or two, we may have some answers."
He sits down, placing the knife in front of him, and begins reading off of the scroll, activating its magic.
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