Shaedeen's a bundle of nerves as she prepares for her big night out. She wonders where all the others are at, not sure if they're giving her some privacy on her date or avoiding her. Hollie, at least, would have been nice to have around, both for advice and to help her get into this dress/dragon snare she'd help pick out. No, having Hollie here would be bad: the young woman wouldn't understand how Shae could say she was planning on breaking up with Lord Foxglove one moment and now was totally invested in seeing the date go as well as possible.
Shae'd thought briefly about telling Lord Aldern about her Sczarni predicament, but that seemed likely to backfire in two ways: 1) It was a confession of her criminal past that Lord Foxglove was unlikely to overlook or forgive, and: 2) She wasn't sure the local noble had the resources to fight off the Sczarni even if he DID side with her. The thought of how easy it might prove to burn an already dilapidated manor to the ground cowed Sahe into submission. She would continue to woo Lord Foxglove for now; perhaps the future would offer her an escape from the situation.
The knock at the door and offer of help comes just as Shae's anxiety and frustration are nearly their peaks. "Yes, please!" she calls out to Bethana.
Jess does her best to assist in the research. While she enjoys reading through the various texts her interest is much more on the words and their meaning rather than the larger historical picture.
Bethana happily enters and assists Shae in getting ready. Her nimble hands make quick work of the dress as she rebuttons and reties where needed. The whole time she keeps up a steady, mainly one sided, conversation about how pretty you look, what a lucky man Lord Foxglove is and how exciting it must be to be whisked off to a show with a Lordling. After a few minutes she looks you over, gives a nod and heads out a bit hurriedly. Taking a final deep breath you soon follow her towards the common room.
Descending the stairs you find Aldern already below. He's dressed handsomely in what you imagine must be the latest in Magnimar fashion. Tucked at his chest you note a deep blue flower and also can help but notice a smirking Bethana scurrying off with a handful of differently colored flowers. Turning towards you he smiles warmly and crosses tot he stairs.
"Shaedeen you look simply beautiful." and bows. When you reach the bottom he takes your hand, tucks it on his arm and asks, "Shall we depart?"
As you head out of the Rusty Dragon to the cooling evening air you catch sight of Hollie and Drax across the street.
"”Okay...two to go! Let’s turn Vernah’s, surely she has some bright feathers as decorations for the dresses she sells!” he hear her say to the dragon just before she looks up and catches your eye.
The night of research is a pleasant and productive one. While Brodert's library isn't extensive it is quite focused and contains a few volumes of great rarity. Clearly this is a man who has spent his life in pursuit of his passion.
Even for those with experience in the language Thassilonian is a cryptic and difficult language. Not having been truly spoken in a thousands of years means much of today's knowledge is academic rather than functional. However as the hours pass you find that the three of you fall into a natural and impressive rhythm. Brodert, the most experienced of the group, is able to help guide you to the most pertinent volumes where Matthias, with his analytical mind and voracious appetite for knowledge, makes steady work of the translating, often finding possible alternate meanings to previously translated sections. Jess, while not nearly as familiar with the history, applies her quick wits and often chaotic thought process to make connections others might miss.
In all it is exhausting effort, but so engaging that you don't even notice the time passing. Finally somewhere after the fourth...or was it the eight...set of candles need to be put in place you feel you've found enough evidence to support what you've pieced together. It would seem that Alaznist is not in fact a word but a name and more than just any name but that of the ruler of this area. The best you can tell she was some sort of magic user of great power. Further she was at war with her neighbor, a fellow mystic and rival to her power. Based on the inscriptions in The Old Light you'd also guess that the land Sandpoint stands on must have been close to the border between their realms.
Lastly you've also noted that the Thassilonian symbol for Evocation magic is frequently associated with Alaznist which would cause you to presume that perhaps she had some mastery of this school of magic.
Brodert is beyond thrilled with these discoveries and insists that this is an important breakthrough in his work. Only the steadily increasing frequency of his yawning takes away from his excitement. With some regret he finally calls an end to your research session and shoo's you both off to bed.
Neither of you managed to hold off sleep for long and soon Jess is snoring softly while Matthias dreams of a golden amulet, the rune of Evocation glinting at him.
Shaedeen gives Hollie and Drax a tiny, almost imperceptible wave and finds it hard to make eye contact with either. Turning to Lord Foxglove, Shae flashes her best smile and says, "Thank you for your kindness. I hope this play will be enjoyable. I must confess, I've only been to a handful of plays myself."
Hollie offers a wave back to Shaedeen, as best she can with the growing collection of items in her hands. Not wanting to interrupt the date, she continues on her way to Vernah’s.
Matthias cluthces his pillow tightly as he dreams, his greed for the amulet making him tense. He wakes late, resenting his need to stop dreaming. Then he finds Jess "So ummm, what should we do today?"
Jess was happy to have a relaxing evening at home with both of her historically inclined research buddies. She slept well and woke early, heading down to the beach to wash off. When Matthias arrived she smiled "Well, I think we should check in with the others at the Dragon, maybe get some breakfast and see where the day takes us. If nothing else, perhaps Brodert might have some more research for us."
Matthias nods eagerly at talk of breakfast, his small stomach rumbling. "Oh good idea. Research always gives me such an appetite."
After your brief interaction with Shae you decide it best to make your way East before turning onto River Street and then Prickleback Lane. You reach Vernah's just in time to find Rynshinn locking up on her way out. Approaching in some haste you startle the woman but she quickly recovers and greets you warmly. "Oh hello Hollie, you startled me. How are you?"
Explaining your need she considers for a moment and responds, "I'm sure I have some. Here let's take a look." and reopens the door. Entering you find the shop as tidy as ever with most of the clothes offered of a practical variety. However, those outfits of a more spectacular design or color are plentiful enough, and placed predominantly enough to make the shop seem as if awash in a rainbow.
Ryn waves you to follow her in back where looms, bolts of cloth, and other tools of the trade fill the space. Ruffle through some boxes she soon returns with a handful of colorful feathers.
"Will these do?"
You walk with Lord Foxglove, who insists you call him Aldern, down the road and to the Sandpoint Theater, one of the largest buildings in the south part of town. Along they way he maintains a pleasant banter about various happenings in Magnimar.
When you reach the theater you're soon greated by Cyrdak, the owner of the theater "Ah Lord Foxglove!" he calls with a deep bow. The man is dressed in the colorful Varisian style with flowing, well made clothes. "An this must be Shaedeen!. Welcome, welcome! We've prepared a box for you as requested." With that he personally guides you up a side stairway and onto a private viewing balcony that overlooks both the stage and the general audience. Two comfortable looking chairs sit at the ready. "One of my men will be just outside to take care of whatever you might need." he says with another bow before stepping back off the balcony and drawing the deep red velvet curtains closed.
"I hope it's to your liking." Aldern says, stepping behind one of the chairs and indicating you have a seat.
"You're too kind, Lord Aldern!" Shaedeen exclaims when she sees the private box. "Keep this up and you're going to spoil me!"
Once she's seated, Shae strains her neck to see how many people are attending. "I hope the unpleasantness with the goblins hasn't kept people from attending the production," she comments quietly. "We seem to have come through it quite well...but others weren't so lucky."
Sighing with some relief that Rynshinn was willing to reopen to help her out, she followed her inside and looked somewhat longingly at the nice dresses on display. When she comes back with several pretty feathers, Hollie sayed ”Oh yes I think so! Thank you SO much! What do I owe you?”
Ryn waves her hand dismissively, "Nothing at all. Just a few left overs from various projects. You can tell me what they're for though." she finishes curiously as you exit the shop and lock up again.
"I don't think that's possible, you're far to lovely to spoil." He joins you at gazing down at the crowd which, while not a full house, is substantial. "I've found the people of Sandpoint are a resilient breed. As for coming through it well, I have you, and your friends of course, to thank for that."
Soon the house lights are lowered and the play begins. "The Harpy's Curse" it turns out is a romantic, if occasionally raunchy, comedy about a merchant who's caravan is attacked by harpies and is himself captured for later eating. The protagonist then must use his wits and wiles to avoid his fate and eventually even manages to charm one of his captors. In the last act they both manage to escape the rest of the flock and fly off together.
Somewhere during the second act Aldern takes hold of your hand for the rest of the play. At the end he smiles and asks if you enjoyed the show. Cyrdak soon also appears and inquires as well.
"A masterful performance. I quite enjoyed it." Aldern assures him.
The two of you return to the Rusty Dragon, the sounds of the late night crowd can be heard from inside. Aldern stops you outside the door and gazes into your eyes.
"Shaedeen I had a wonderful evening with you. I hope you enjoyed yourself as well." and draws you in for a kiss.
”It’s for a sort of meditation ritual thing Father Zantus and Bertram will be doing with me tomorrow night. Thank you SO much!” she says before heading back to the Cathedral. She gives her current collection to Father Zantus for his approval.
”I still have the leaf and drop of sea water to get. I plan on doing that tomorrow with the light,” she says as he looks the collection over.
"Well I'm impressed with your industriousness. I thought you'd have much more to do tomorrow. Well done, I think all of these will do nicely." He collects the items and stores them for safe keeping.
"Will you be staying at the temple tonight or heading back to the Rusty Dragon?" he inquires.
”I think I’ll stay here tonight. In case I have another dream...” she says nervously.
Shaedeen figures Vhiski or one more of his lackeys has eyes on her, to watch the aftermath of the date with Lord Foxglove. Truth be told, she'd had an enjoyable night with Lord Aldern, whether the Sczarni lord had forced her into it or not. Standing on the tips of her toes, she presses her lips to the young nobleman's with an earnest zeal.
After a moment Aldern straightens, a grin on his face and bit of blush to his cheeks. Opening the door to the Dragon he escorts you inside and to the stairway where he thanks you for a lovely night, bows and takes his leave.
Coming downstairs in the morning you find Matt and Jess at your usual table with a large platter of food in front of them. Both are showing signs of a bit of sleep deprivation but there's an air of excitement about them. Jess is currently making some point enthusiastically, her fork waving about as she does so. Bits of egg are sent flying here and there but she doesn't seem to notice.
You prepare for bed with a sense of accomplishment. Tomorrow looked to be an easy time of gathering the final piece for your meditations now that the rest were in hand. Once in bed it didn't take long for the rhythmic breathing of your nearby companion to lull you into following him to unconsciousness.
The scene was the same as you recalled it. Already knowing what you'd see you looked towards the mountains to find the dread wyrm flying at the head of a great storm ready to descend upon defenseless Sandpoint. Gale winds proceed like a herald of the destruction to come and blow you're weightless form away to the cabin you had visited previously. You know in your heart that it's promise of shelter will be short lived but you enter anyway, hoping that this time it will hold.
Within you find the symbols of the various gods. They seem more vibrant this time with the exception of the leaf and water droplet that you first pass. Looking around you find another difference, above the cabin's hearth is a large mirror you don't recall seeing before. You approach cautiously but full of curiosity. Stepping in front you are shocked to find not your own reflection but the face of a woman with hair the color of hell fire and small, curled black horns protruding near her ears. A face you had not seen in years but remember instantly. You gape in surprise, but the face of your reflection instead twists into a predatory grin.
Your eyes snap open to find Drax looming over you with a palpable sense of concern. "Hollie...Hollie... he says as he grips you tightly enough that you're sure his claws have broken the skin.
The next morning, Hollie dons her casual clothes to finish out her task and relax a bit before her all night meditations tonight. She heads out for River Street before taking the Sandpoint Bridge over to the woods near the Long Coast Road. She gathers a few leaves before heading back through town down Marks and Water Street before taking her favorite path down to the sandy beach.
She carefully cups some sea water in a large leaf and cradles it in both hands. She then slowly and steadily walks back towards the Cathedral, with Drax moving ahead and keeping her path clear. She gets some odd looks, but they are brief as she returns them with a beaming smile. ”Father Zantus!” she calls out as she enters the temple. ”Will this work for the last one?” she asks as she gingerly hands the leaf and sea water over to the priest.
You reach the temple just as the First Light services are finishing. A group of the devout are exiting the temple requiring you to carefully make your way between them (with Draxtherian's aid). Entering the temple you pause to take in the grandeur of the place. Three wings radiate out, half of each dedicated to one of the six primary gods of Sandpoint. In the center is an area open to the sky that houses the ancient standing stones and serves the needs of those deities, such as Sarenrae, Desna and Gozreh, who are best worshiped outdoors. Ahead of you the double doors that lead to this area are open and you see Father Zanthus as well as some parishioners an acolytes talking there.
Father Zanthus and the other clergy are dressed in white robes with sunbursts emblazoned upon them. Father Zanthus himself wears a golden crown on his head and a scimitar on his hip.
You approach as quickly as you can, the small pool of water wavering back and forth with each step but secure for the moment. He smiles when he sees you and at your question replies, "Yes, perfectly."[/] Looking to one of the acolytes he instructs with a bit of urgency, [b]"Go and get a jar. Quickly now."
The many makes haste to the fourth wing of the temple that is made up of the living quarters and administrative offices of the temple. He returns shortly with a glass jar and holds it out for you to place your prize in.
"We'll keep that safe until tonight. Well it seems the day is yours. Use it as you see fit but take time to prepare yourself for tonight."
He pauses a moment and considers you. "Is everything ok?"
Hollie blushes, realizing that the keen eyed priest was able to tell something was up. She nods and says, ”I...I had another dream. Can I tell you in private?”
”But...we disagreed on what we should do with our dragons. She saw it as a chance for power. I... found a friend...” she says as she continues to pet at Drax. ”We went our separate ways and haven’t heard from her since.”
Father Zantus pulls a chair nearby and sits, adjusting the scimitar as he does so. He remains quiet as you relate your tale. Once you fall silent he rests his lips against steepled fingers, lost in thought.
"Has anything caused you to think of this old associate of yours lately?" he asks.
Jess waves Shae over while her and Matthias are enjoying breakfast. Once she finally joins them, she jumps into the questions "So? Tell me everything. How was your date last night? Are you guys going to get married now?" Jess smiles and gives Shae a wink.
Shaedeen hesitates before answering, but Jessalissa's smile proves to be infectious.
"Yes, we had a good time at the play last night. No, Lord Foxglove didn't propose to me."
Although Shaedeen's short answers may indicate she's being playfully coy, you get the feeling she's not telling you something.
Jess eyes Shae and then smiles "Oh, I know there's something you're not telling me!" She taps her finger on her lip as she thinks out loud "Well he didn't propose, and I haven't seen him sneak down from the room, so... what? What sumptuous secret are you holding back?" Her smile only widens as her little brain races to think what Shae could be hiding.
The priest let's the moment of silence hang for a bit to give you time to continue. When you don't he nods slightly, "Regardless, the repetition of this dream in so much detail is worrisome. I think we were right to make the plans we have." He rises and looks down at you. "Thank you for sharing your dream with me Hollie. I'll see that everything is prepared for tonight. We'll start in the central worship area at midnight."
The door to the tavern flies open and the air fills with the sound of a crying baby as a woman enters, distress clear on her face. She has an infant held tight against her with one arm and a young child follows along behind her holding her other hand.
"Where...I need...." she mutters as she scans the room. Catching sight of your group she steps to the table. "Please...you have to help. My husband...there's some kind of monster in our house!"
Shaedeen considers confiding her woes in the gnome, but she's not sure Jessa can help. The woman in distress times her arrival perfectly so Shaedeen doesn't have to answer.
"Where?" she asks the woman. "Show us the way!"
Hollie begins making her way through town, headed for the beach. She had every intention of trying to take her a couple naps while stretched out in the sand.
The woman seems instantly relieved at your quick offer of help. "I'll show you." she says and leads you briskly out of the Rusty Dragon. You follow her Northward as she begins describing what's happened.
"We should have believed him. We did at first but my husband looked and there wasn't anything. Just thought it was nightmares after that. Then this morning Petal...oh poor Petal...she let out such a terrible howl. My husband and I we ran in to see what was the matter and this little beast was biting my poor Aeren." At this she stops in her tracks for a moment and draws the young child to her. She pulls up his sleeve and you see some nasty looking bite wounds, blood still freshly seeping from them.
"Al, my husband, well he just went crazy and chased the thing back into the closet but it's got some kind of hidey hole there. He started tearing at the boards to get at the goblin and I took the children and came looking for you."
As she finishes her story she points ahead. "It's that one over there. Please, please help my Al" she pleads.
Stepping back out of the temple you catch sight of a butterfly taking flight. The colorful insect seems to float effortlessly on the breeze as you track it's movement. It's then that you notice a commotion just a bit down the road.
"A goblin? Just one?" Shaedeen asks the woman. Although Shae wishes Hollie and Drax were present--Gritz too, for that matter--it seems there's no time to search for them...or to retrieve her bow and arrows from her room at the Rusty Dragon. "I always rather fancied myself as more of a Queen of the Rapier anyways," she tells Jessa and Matthias with a cocksure smile. "Let's get this thing before it causes any more harm!"
Talking done, Shae springs into action, drawing her blade and racing toward the home the woman pointed at.
Hollie smiles as she watches the butterfly a moment, until a commotion in the street ahead catches her eye. Drax has already taken off that way, and paused long enough to look back at her. She sighed and took off after him and headed straight for the disturbance.
Matthias watches the conversation between Shae and Jess with amusement. But when the cry for help comes, he leaps up and scurried along as fast as he can!
As you get closer to the source of the commotion you realize that your friends, perhaps predictably, are at the center of it. Shea draws her blade and starts charging towards a house with Jess and Matthias in tow. Just behind them you see a familiar looking woman, Emily...Amele..., standing with an infant in her arms and a small child tight to her skirts.
Seeing the unsettling scene, Hollie picks up the pace alongside Drax and tries to catch up to the others. ”What’s going on!?!?” she calls out.
As Shea runs off into the house and Hollie yells out to them Jess turns to see her approaching. "Sounds like a goblin has been hiding out in this house. Attacked the family. Shea is rushing in to deal with it." With no further explanation Jess follows behind Shae. She fidgets with one of the bombs she had prepared for the day, not sure how she was going to help.
The front door to the house stands slightly ajar. Pushing through it you find yourselves in small, neatly furnished parlor. Through an open doorway ahead you can see a long table with chairs around it. To your left another open doorway leads to a more comfortably furnished room.
Everything is quiet and you don't see any movement or other signs of threats.
Drax tried to wriggle his way inside past the others. He then begins looking around, though his eyes keep farting to the long table in hopes of finding a quick snack...
Hollie makes her way in behind the rest of the group. ”So, ummm, as you guys can see...I wasn’t really prepared for this sort of thing...” she whispers as she looks nervously around the parlor.
Entering Drax only notes that breakfast foods have been put on the table and only partially distributed to the plates as if something had interrupted the effort.
Jess follows the others and looks around for any signs of the goblin the woman had described.
Looking around from the parlor you don't see anything beyond the furniture. The group starts to fan out along the lower level and find nothing out of order. A stairway in the back room leads upstairs.
Drax leads the way upstairs, with Hollie a short distance behind. They both continue to try and keep an eye out for any goblin, though Drax may or may not be chewing on a piece of bacon as he moves along...
Shaedeen nods a greeting when Hollie and Draxtherian join the party. As the group starts quietly up the stairs, the rogue reaches out and grabs Hollie's arm hard enough to stop the young woman's upward momentum. As Shae slips past she releases the hold and gives Hollie another nod. Her meaning is clear: Stay behind me and Drax.
Jess follows in behind the others still keeping an eye out for anything out of the ordinary. Having not seen anything yet she jokes "I hope this isn't some sort of surprise party we got tricked into or something..."
Hollie just looked quizzically at Shae as she took charge and held her back. She fell in behind her, and tried to ignore the fact that her pulse had picked up, or the fact that her eyes were drifting.
”Heh...yeah...that’s be awkward...” Hollie says quietly in reply to Jess.
Matthias follows along worriedly but pipes up "It's quiet... Where's the husband?"
Shae and Drax reach the top of the stairs and find a short hallway with three doors leading out of it. The door at the far end and to the right are closed while the door to the left is slightly ajar.
You hear a sound that you can't identify coming from the room to the left.
Drax makes his way cautiously inside the left hand room, searching for this threat.
Shaedeen follows a step behind Drax, rapier at the ready.