Anna remains sullen and silent until they reach the lodge. Only once, right after they begin their retreat, does she ask, "Should we be making sure Duristan hasn't lost his way back?"
"I suspect Duristan is already in bed under his covers."
Oathar will upon this return attempt to glean what information he can about the lords, a traitor and clans from the other guards in a gather info.
It is a long and sullen trek back to Ascanor. The howls of the wolves sound in the depths of the forest, miles away. By the time you reach the gates, you are exhausted, and it is nearly dawn. Servants take your horses, while the guards tell you that Duristan arrived an hour ago, riding as if all of the packs of the Shudderwood were after him.
They know very little about the machinations of the packs.
"Th' Warden'll know all about that, I 'spect, sir."
Duristan arrived an hour ago, riding as if all of the packs of the Shudderwood were after him.
"What about Delgros? He announced he would be returning before it got too dark. He declined to stay with us. I would like a word with him." Anna asks when she returns.
Good Idea Anna. I too would like to talk to Delgros.
"I have nothing else better to do. You 2 mind if I tag along?"
"Best we get some sleep first. One never knows what the day will bring."
Kimberly, We are tired from no sleep. Can you cast a few lesser restorations to remove our fatigue?
Anna chimes in. "I remember that spell. It refreshes you. Let's do it."
"Don't stay up too long. We all need some natural rest."
Delgros is up early, looking rested but rough as always. He grins with a feral look as he sees you approach.
"Hmmph. That fool Duristan rode in here hours ago, like all the weres of the wood were after him. I told him, I told all of you. Fancy fools from the city, all excited to go werewolf hunting. I heard the howls from here."
Anna strides right up into his face, outraged. "Why would you send us straight to the heart of Vollensag lands? Are you working with them, or with the Silverhides, trying to get us to start a war?"
Delgros holds his ground at Anna's verbal assault. "I led you? I led you?" The scar across his cheek turns a bright red. "As I recall, I said it was a fool's errand! Following that idiot Duristan! ALL of the Shudderwood is controlled by one tribe or another! Or didn't your precious Duristan tell you that? 'Lady' Hauber-Blotten?"
"No! I was not told any of this! she states petulantly, still maintaining the ruse. "What, exactly, did my father send me into?"
"Well then. It might pay to listen to the one who has spent his adult life within the confines of the forest then, wouldn't it?" Delgros growls and turns back to his work.
Anna folds her arms and watches him storm off. She shakes her head a bit, then walks over to one of the attendants.
"Excuse me. Does anyone know where Niami is? I would like to speak with her."
Eventually you sleep the day away, exhausted from the night's activities. It's late evening before you arise, freshen up, and head downstairs to the main hall. All of the guests have gathered here, awaiting the Ascanor tradition of drinks and fireside ghost stories. It is considered poor taste to not be attendance of this event.
Estovion sits with Belik waiting by his side, taking sips from a slim crystal filled with a bronze liquid. Madame Ivanja reclines on a divan, long legs revealed in a slit gown that would be described as scandalous at best. Near her sits the young noble Corwin Tergsvor, trying in vain to be witty and charming with Ivanja. Clearly she is not impressed. The Margrave stands near the fireplace, glass in hand, preparing to tell the first tale. He nods to acknowledge your arrival. Markiza Welgory occupies a large stuffed chair, her huntsman 'companion' behind her. Duristan is also here, sitting on a small chair in the corner. He works very hard to avoid your gaze.
Anna watches the rest of the party head to their beds, but she felt wired and restless. She wanted answers, and she wanted them fast. So she heads off to Madame Ivanja's room after a quick bath.
Refreshed, she smiles brightly at the former Szarni. "How are you this morning?" she asks.
Despite the quick burst, Kimberly's plans for the day ended in snoozing. But after some much needed rest, she awaken's refreshed.
Kimberly wasn't sure about the ghost stories, it really depended on if her friends attended or not.
she hopes to catch up with them before the story time if she can.
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Anna decides to go full-bore noble lady this evening and selects one of her most elegant gowns. She has Elsa and Greta make up her face and hair in Ustilavic style trending in Caliphas, and wears a resplendent array of jewelry. (And one simple band.) Notable about this particular gown is its ability to be cinched in a couple places to allow her full range of movement -- courtesy of Greta's alterations at Anna's request.
She glides in and seats herself on a couch and accepts a glass of wine, avoiding the syrupy sweet drinks. She smiles politely at the scary tales, and oohing and eeping at the appropriate moments. When it is her turn, she weaves a tale of the "Piper of Illmarsh." She tells that before he snatched his victims, the Piper taunted his targets with a mournful dirge on his flute. He preferred to paralyze lone victims by dosing their meals with lich dust and then allowed his pet stirges to drink the victims dry of blood.
Then when she sits down and attention is away from her, she quietly pulls out a tarnished silver flute and plays the dirge she once heard at Harrowstone.
After the next story begins, she quietly slips out of the room and once out of eyeshot, cinches her dress and mentally commands her ring to activate. Like a ghost, she glides to Estovion's office and inspects it for traps before unlocking the trap door. Then she quietly peruses the office.
Anna makes quick work of the lock on the office door, and slips in. She figures she has only moments to look, but it doesn't take long to find two items of interest: The Halo of Dreams and Estovion's personal journal.
The Halo is a text about the Desnan faith and its spread from Varisia throughout Avistan. The book contains, among other things, references to a sacred Desnan relic known as the Dusk Moth, a sacred Desnan relic hidden in the stonework of an ancient temple called the Stairs of the Moon. Legends speak of priests transporting the relic
to the temple, but all knowledge of it was lost when the Whispering Tyrant conquered Ustalav and the temple was abandoned. Most importantly, there is an underlined passage near the back of the book.
The journal proves to be of some worth to your efforts. It details the Warden's pro-aristocracy, anti-Palatinate political stance, as well as his more recent activities.
Anna's story captivates the crowd in the greatroom. The lights are dim, the firelight casting sinister shadows about the gathered persons. Maybe it is the atmosphere, maybe it is the fact that you experienced the Piper of Ilmarsh yourselves, but the notes of the flute take you back to Harrowstone, and you are as enthralled as the rest of the Lodge. It is some minutes before you realize that the playing has stopped. The crowd lets out a collective breath, and everyone takes a sip of their drink, just to steady themselves.
A quick look tells you that Anna is no longer in her dark corner. You know Anna must have made her move to the office.
The Margrave is next. His tale begins with a nameless battle on the borders of a nameless forest. He tells of the time he was a lowly officer leading a patrol at night along the edges of the battle in its aftermath. Dark shapes moved in the amongst the dead, eyes glowing green in the reflected moonlight. Feeding ghouls on the prowl. "They paid us little mind, going about their grim business. The sounds of tearing, breaking, and biting were almost too much for my men. I can still hear those sounds in my sleep..." The assembled group shudders as one as he finishes the grim tale.
Once Margrave Cilas is done, the Warden stands up and stretches. "I fear I have to leave you all. Dawn comes early, and I have a few things to do before I sleep. Good night." He says with a slight bow. Then he and Belik start to leave the room. You realize: he's headed to the office where Anna is!
"Warden, could you not tell us a tale before you go? I am sure we would all be delighted to hear another!"
"Good Warden, what about a tale of you coming here and becoming the 'Warden'? A tale about your ascension would be most.....entertaining."
Despite the quick burst, Kimberly's plans for the day ended in snoozing. But after some much needed rest, she awaken's refreshed.Kimberly wasn't sure about the ghost stories, it really depended on if her friends attended or not.
she hopes to catch up with them before the story time if she can.
Anna tries to stop her hands from shaking as she reads Estovion's journal. She finally had the name. After so long, there it was. A.A. Adriss-- A or O. The mysterious name who had been following their progress, who was responsible for these strange acts that they've stumbled upon. Adivion Adrissant.
She resisted the temptation to grab up the journal and march downstairs to confront the Warden immediately. She still had to meet with Ivanja about Niami, but this new information raised the hairs on her neck. Instead, she quickly rolled up a lace sleeve and grabbed up a quill to start writing on her arm. She jotted down names and notes in a scribbled shorthand to help her remember all this. Although she was not likely to ever forget the name Adivion Adrissant, there was a lot of information about these werewolves, and she didn't want to miss anything.
Despite the quick burst, Kimberly's plans for the day ended in snoozing. But after some much needed rest, she awaken's refreshed.Kimberly wasn't sure about the ghost stories, it really depended on if her friends attended or not.
she hopes to catch up with them before the story time if she can.
[dice=Linguistics]1d20+6
Estovion looks around at the assembled group, who all now watch him expectantly. He looks down at his page, Belik, who gives a short shake of his head. Despite that, the Warden steps over to the fireplace and settles in to speak. Belik watches for a moment, then leaves the great room via the doors to the gardens.
'Ahem.' Estovion clears his throat. 'A tale of my ascension as you put it would hardly be worthy of the tales we've heard here tonite. The Margrave's tale..." he says with a bow, "...was terrifying. And the Lady Pertrice...well..." he looks over to the corner where Anna sat and notices she is no longer there. He frowns slightly, and looks around for Belik. When he doesn't see his page, he shifts angrily. "...well her story was positively haunting. I fear I am no such storyteller. But, I will try."
Tolvan adds his voice to the request for Estovion to tell his tale.
Throughout the night of stories the wizard sits and listens closely, notebook in hand taking seemingly random notes.
Estovion begins his tale:
"They say that these woods hold a dark secret: a spirit of the forest, one that holds all living things in spite. The wolves of the Shudderwood call it a vilkacis, and fear it above all things. It is said that the vilkacis prowls about the forest even to this day, and murders people that displease it. There is no telling where or when it will strike, but it always strikes. It has been seen about the walls of the Lodge once or twice, but never has it been inside...as far as we know..."
The silence in the room is palpable. Only the crackling of the fire and the nervous shuffle of Duristan's feet can be heard for a few tense moments.
The Warden continues. "I do not speak to the wolves of the forest much, but when I do, they always are sure to warn me of the vilkacis: 'Stay within your walls, human.' they say. 'Do not stray. For to be too curious of things left alone is to draw the wrath of the Spirit.'
As if on cue, you can hear a long, drawn-out howl, far away in the depths of the Shudderwood...
Anna is just finishing writing her notes when she hears the soft sounds of bare halfling feet at the door of the office. A key turns in the lock...
Belik!