She looks up, into your eyes. Her arms wrapping around you. Her gaze might reveal something of what she feels. How wonderful it was to be wanted, to be loved. How much in turn she loves you, how much she wants you. Her body responds to yours unconsciously. Pressing against you, wanting to be closer. Her fingers trace up your spine, before she catches what she's doing. Stops herself. Once more blushing.
"I cannot wait to spend all night with you." She whispers. Smiles. "That's not to say I don't want to spend all day with you too." She blinks, slowly, almost dreamily. "Because I do."
"All day, all night ..." says Shalelu. "Sounds ... wonderful."
Hrunndalf laughs, hoping his relief doesn't show. "Kjaftæði." He looks around to make sure they are not overheard. "I would not hesitate to call Mel and Shalelu pretty, but beautiful...? Mel still looks half a child, and Shae... somebody give that poor girl a sandwich. It is they who should envy you."
He speaks smilingly, but with conviction. "I am not a man of boundless knowledge or ancient wisdom, but let it not be said that Hrunndalf Jarlsson fails to recognize real beauty."
"Well, thank you for saying so, anyway," Ameiko replies, acknowledging the compliment with a smile, this one an unstrained one.
Mel goes down, listens at the door. If the door is locked, she quietly tries the keys and opens the door.
"All day, all night ..." says Shalelu. "Sounds ... wonderful."
"Yes." Lio smiles at you. "It does." She thinks for a moment. "What, what, else do you want to do while we're still in the city?" Her arms stay around you, she holds you close, still looking up into your eyes.
Boots of the Winterlands
Mel will wait to do so if people feel the need to cast spells on themselves.
"Yes." Lio smiles at you. "It does." She thinks for a moment. "What, what, else do you want to do while we're still in the city?" Her arms stay around you, she holds you close, still looking up into your eyes.
Shalelu considers. "It might be nice to hear the High Skald perform."
Hrunndalf listens to the discussion, leaving it to the wiser members of the group to sort things out. At Lio's comment, though, he nods and adds: "Can a good man keep thralls? Yes. I have known such men. Their thralls live better lives than most poor free people do. Can a good man commit rape? No. There is no excuse. The suffering is impossible not to witness. These men deserved to die."
**spoiler omitted**...
Myri slips down to a sitting position on the floor, her hands rubbing her temples. She appears...mildly stressed. "Maybe I need to take things a little slower. I'm sorry, I'm always confusing myself."
"Ah kann see whoy ye'd geht ah headache, thenken aboute oll thes." Lio says quietly to Myri, as Myri asks so many questions. She doesn't really know what to say to the young human, because she has nothing reassuring to add. In her experience there were no good men. Though perhaps this group was on it's way to slowly changing her mind.
Shalelu considers. "It might be nice to hear the High Skald perform."
What, or who, is a High Skald?" Lio asks, intrigued.
5% chance: low bad
1chance to poison self:
2chance to poison self:
3chance to poison self:
4chance to poison self:
if not Fort Save DC14.
Mel goes down, listens at the door. If the door is locked, she quietly tries the keys and opens the door.
Perception, to find out if Lio can hear anything:
Stealth:Lio approaches quietly, and listens, prior to Mel unlocking the door.
Those listening confirm that something is moving around in there. Doesn't sound particularly huge or particularly tiny.
The stairs lead down to a hallway with several doors off of it. On the wall of the stairway, someone has carved the words: Tími er mynt heimskingjanna, veitt vegna til guðanna.
Once they go down the stairs and don't get jumped by ninja, "And the swarm-it wasn't Lute Haggersley. It just sorta fixed on the name when we used it, so the actual Lute is probably still locked up somewhere. I think."
Lio has her bow ready, prepared to shoot through the doorway if need be when Mel unlocks the door.
Melinda cracks open the door to see a cramped cell ten feet deep and no more than five feet high. The cell is rank with the smell of sweat and urine, and a pair of rats scurry among the rib cage of some former inhabitant.
The current occupant is a man with the loose skin of someone who used to be fat and lost a lot of weight very quickly. He looks feverish and weak.
Mel moves into the room with only a quick glance for a guard.
As she does, she quietly tries to get the prisoner's attention. "Hi... Umm... If we let you out... do you think you can make it down the stairs outside by yourself? 'Cause... I don't think you're in any condition to come with us when we storm the rest of the castle."
Mel moves into the room with only a quick glance for a guard.
As she does, she quietly tries to get the prisoner's attention. "Hi... Umm... If we let you out... do you think you can make it down the stairs outside by yourself? 'Cause... I don't think you're in any condition to come with us when we storm the rest of the castle."
He seems surprised. "Who are you?"
He seems surprised. "Who are you?"
"I'm Mel. We are here to rescue people, which seems fortunate for you. Who are you?"
"I'm Mel. We are here to rescue people, which seems fortunate for you. Who are you?"
"My name's Lute Haggersley. Listen, you folks have got to get out of here." He tries to stand, weakly, and fails. "This place is under the control of some kind of hideous purple ogre. And that ogre is none other than Thorborg Silverskorr, head of the Rimerunners Guild, or I'll eat my boots and call 'em breakfast. Get out while you still can."
Hrunndalf replies, "We are not about to leave as long as our friends are still kept here. If you worry about our safety, just make sure you tell us everything you can about the keep and its keepers."
"How do you know the ogre is Thorborg? What do you know of Goti Runecaster? And where are the other prisoners kept?"
"How do you know the ogre is Thorborg? What do you know of Goti Runecaster? And where are the other prisoners kept?"
"I don't know anything about any other prisoners. I don't even know why I'm here."
"As for Thorborg, well, so, most of the time it's been Runecaster comin' in here, testin' potions on me, threatened to fill me with wasps or something once - no idea why, they ain't even asked me any questions - but one night this ogre comes here and starts tossing me around with that bastard Runecaster lookin' on through the door. Then the ogre goes outside and shuts the door, and starts talking to Runecaster, givin' him some orders about somethin' minor, I don't remember ... but the voice I hear after the door is shut is Silverskorr's, sure as my britches are made of britchin' wool. I know Thorborg Silverskorr, you seen her? Pretty blonde woman with nice hooters. But I'm tellin' you, those nice hooters are hidin' an ogre somehow!"
What, or who, is a High Skald?" Lio asks, intrigued.
"The greatest bard of the Linnorn kingdoms, supposedly," Shalelu replies. "Her name is Thyrie Tarnralsdottir and she frequently in the Fire Quarter. I imagine she sings mostly in Skald, which I do not speak, but nonetheless, her music is known for being poignantly beautiful."
"The greatest bard of the Linnorn kingdoms, supposedly," Shalelu replies. "Her name is Thyrie Tarnralsdottir and she frequently in the Fire Quarter. I imagine she sings mostly in Skald, which I do not speak, but nonetheless, her music is known for being poignantly beautiful."
"We should go and hear her perform." Lio says. "It sounds like something not to be missed." She smiles at you. "Perhaps she'll take requests in other languages?"
"I don't know anything about any other prisoners. I don't even know why I'm here.""As for Thorborg, well, so, most of the time it's been Runecaster comin' in here, testin' potions on me, threatened to fill me with wasps or something once - no idea why, they ain't even asked me any questions - but one night this ogre comes here and starts tossing me around with that bastard Runecaster lookin' on through the door. Then the ogre goes outside and shuts the door, and starts talking to Runecaster, givin' him some orders about somethin' minor, I don't remember ... but the voice I hear after the door is shut is Silverskorr's, sure as my britches are made of britchin' wool. I know Thorborg Silverskorr, you seen her? Pretty blonde woman with nice hooters. But I'm tellin' you, those nice hooters are hidin' an ogre somehow!"
Knowledges (see below for possible bonuses)
Geography +7, History + 9, Local + 9, Nature +9, Nobility + 9, All other Knowledge + 3,
While Mel and Hrunndalf ask questions of Haggersley, Kalimac keeps watch in the corridor. There is still much evil afoot, so he and Attatoq are on guard for it.
Hrunndalf thinks about Lute's account. "So you haven't actually seen the ogre transform, nor speak with Thorborg's voice. Thus, she might just have been waiting outside while the ogre visited you. Good to know that Goti's been taking orders from Thorborg, though. She's definitely not just kept captive as a front to legalize Rimerunner operations, then."
Hrunndalf thinks about Lute's account. "So you haven't actually seen the ogre transform, nor speak with Thorborg's voice. Thus, she might just have been waiting outside while the ogre visited you. Good to know that Goti's been taking orders from Thorborg, though. She's definitely not just kept captive as a front to legalize Rimerunner operations, then."
He gets a pugnacious expression on his face. "I know what I know. Thorborg Silverskorr is a hideous purple ogre, and you can take that to the bank and exchange it for corn, I tell you what."
"How do you know the ogre is Thorborg? What do you know of Goti Runecaster? And where are the other prisoners kept?""I don't know anything about any other prisoners. I don't even know why I'm here."
"As for Thorborg, well, so, most of the time it's been Runecaster comin' in here, testin' potions on me, threatened to fill me with wasps or something once - no idea why, they ain't even asked me any questions - but one night this ogre comes here and starts tossing me around with that bastard Runecaster lookin' on through the door. Then the ogre goes outside and shuts the door, and starts talking to Runecaster, givin' him some orders about somethin' minor, I don't remember ... but the voice I hear after the door is shut is Silverskorr's, sure as my britches are made of britchin' wool. I know Thorborg Silverskorr, you seen her? Pretty blonde woman with nice hooters. But I'm tellin' you, those nice hooters are hidin' an ogre somehow!"
Sense Motive, is he lying about not knowing where other prisoners are or about Silverskorr?
"Ah kann thenk of a kouplah dozzen ways tah chainge unne's shaipe, so thots naught thot unusual en etself. Baught ets goode ta knou, bekause thot means she maight beh able tah looke laike annyunne."
"We should go and hear her perform." Lio says. "It sounds like something not to be missed." She smiles at you. "Perhaps she'll take requests in other languages?"
"Perhaps she will, at that." She keeps looking at you, tilting her head a little. "What kind of music do you like?"
"Ah kann thenk of a kouplah dozzen ways tah chainge unne's shaipe, so thots naught thot unusual en etself. Baught ets goode ta knou, bekause thot means she maight beh able tah looke laike annyunne."
"You talkin' about me?" the man asks indignantly. "'Cause if I was a hideous purple shape-changin' ogre, I'd have to have fewer brains than the gods gave a head of lettuce to warn you about the hideous purple shape-changin' ogre."
"You talkin' about me?" the man asks indignantly. "'Cause if I was a hideous purple shape-changin' ogre, I'd have to have fewer brains than the gods gave a head of lettuce to warn you about the hideous purple shape-changin' ogre."
Out in the corridor, Kalimac stifles a snicker. "Ma ei tea miks, aga mulle meeldib see poiss," he tells Attatoq quietly. "Ta kõlab nagu isa."
"Ah kann thenk of a kouplah dozzen ways tah chainge unne's shaipe, so thots naught thot unusual en etself. Baught ets goode ta knou, bekause thot means she maight beh able tah looke laike annyunne.""You talkin' about me?" the man asks indignantly. "'Cause if I was a hideous purple shape-changin' ogre, I'd have to have fewer brains than the gods gave a head of lettuce to warn you about the hideous purple shape-changin' ogre."
Lio answers calmly, her voice does not carry far. "Realley? Ye ken mayhaps we're 'ere fer reskuen otter people thot are worth moare ta us then yer saggey haide? Ah was referren tah maken suare no unne we knew had beane replaced. Bought ef ye wont ta ken thot aime tokken aboute ye, go raight ahead." She looks at him levelly, her voice is quiet. "An when yer on yer way oute, 'ave fun chatten weth the lahst guy who these people turned ento a swarm uf hellwasps, an' maybe ye kann be ah lettle moare appreciative thot we let ye out before thot 'appened ta ye."
"Perhaps she will, at that." She keeps looking at you, tilting her head a little. "What kind of music do you like?"
"It's a date." She answers you. Still smiling. She has smiled more in your company on this short journey, that she has smiled in her entire life before this.
"Well, maybe it's silly, but I... I used to sit on the roof of the place across from the Rusty Dragon, and listen to the music coming out of there in the evenings. I liked the fun sounding dance songs, and Ameiko is quite talented. I like how haunting some of her music can be. I heard Mel's aunt who fiddles a few times, that was always amazing, if unusually sort of depressing. I even heard my granddaughter play once. I'm not sure what that was supposed to be, but I think it was music." She looks a little sad, but her smile for you is genuine. "I suppose I hadn't really thought about it before. I like a lot of different things I hear. But I think my favorite is elven drinking songs." She looks up at you through lowered eyelashes.
"An when yer on yer way oute, 'ave fun chatten weth the lahst guy who these people turned ento a swarm uf hellwasps, an' maybe ye kann be ah lettle moare appreciative thot we let ye out before thot 'appened ta ye."
"He might tell you his name is Lute Haggersley. Don't believe him. It's the wasps talking."
"Mr. Haggersley," calls Kalimac from out in the hall, "we are grateful for you warnings, but we do have friends to rescue. We've faced ogres before and prevailed; we are not dissuaded from our task. Can you make it out on your own? Or do you need assistance?"
Lio answers calmly, her voice does not carry far. "Realley? Ye ken mayhaps we're 'ere fer reskuen otter people thot are worth moare ta us then yer saggey haide? Ah was referren tah maken suare no unne we knew had beane replaced. Bought ef ye wont ta ken thot aime tokken aboute ye, go raight ahead." She looks at him levelly, her voice is quiet. "An when yer on yer way oute, 'ave fun chatten weth the lahst guy who these people turned ento a swarm uf hellwasps, an' maybe ye kann be ah lettle moare appreciative thot we let ye out before thot 'appened ta ye."
Mel looks back and forth between Hrunndalf and Lio, shrugs. "Well... If neither of you is going to..." She grabs the wand from Alaric with a quick smile. Then to Lute, "Sorry, I'm not as good as either of them at this." A pause, "And very sorry, but I just need to check one thing first." She looks closely at Lute.
"Mr. Haggersley," calls Kalimac from out in the hall, "we are grateful for you warnings, but we do have friends to rescue. We've faced ogres before and prevailed; we are not dissuaded from our task. Can you make it out on your own? Or do you need assistance?"
A quick smile for the halfling, "He at least needs to be healed some, cause barely has the strength to stand right now. But... I don't think he asked us to help him. And then people started to insult him, so he insulted us back. Seems like a fair trade all around."
"Out of my way," mutters Alaric, pushing his way through the party to wind up in front of Lute. "Fair warning, if you shapechange and bite my face off, the green girl is going to be very upset."
Alaric then proceeds to look the man over. See how he's doing. That kind of thing.
Heal for a diagnosis:
"I know Thorborg Silverskorr, you seen her? Pretty blonde woman with nice hooters. But I'm tellin' you, those nice hooters are hidin' an ogre somehow!"
"No hooters on ogre?" Rhost thinks for a minute. "Heal and send on."
A quick smile for the halfling, "He at least needs to be healed some, cause barely has the strength to stand right now. But... I don't think he asked us to help him. And then people started to insult him, so he insulted us back. Seems like a fair trade all around."
"And entertaining insults they were. Nevertheless, as soon as Alaric's done with him I'd like to get moving."
“I don’t think there weren’t no insultin’ going on,” the man sniffs. ”I spoke my mind, the elf spoke hers back, and that’s all right as makes no nevermind. I didn’t fight in the Battle of Skirr’s Gap to take no guff from nobody, I told that to Runecaster and I’ll tell it to you, friend or foe, but I respect the right of others to do the same, and that’s a fact you can print on paper and sell in Trollheim.”
”Now, if you wanted to offer me some healin’, then thank you kindly for it, and I also wouldn’t turn it down if you can think of a safe place I can hole up while you find your friends or a trip back to wherever you’re going when you do, since I got no more idea where I am than a hen in an opry house, and you won’t get no fancy talk out of it, but you will have a Haggersley owin’ you, and that’s still worth something in Kalsgard, I’ll tell you that right out.”
“I don’t think there weren’t no insultin’ going on,” the man sniffs. ”I spoke my mind, the elf spoke hers back, and that’s all right as makes no nevermind. I didn’t fight in the Battle of Skirr’s Gap to take no guff from nobody, I told that to Runecaster and I’ll tell it to you, friend or foe, but I respect the right of others to do the same, and that’s a fact you can print on paper and sell in Trollheim.”
”Now, if you wanted to offer me some healin’, then thank you kindly for it, and I also wouldn’t turn it down if you can think of a safe place I can hole up while you find your friends or a trip back to wherever you’re going when you do, since I got no more idea where I am than a hen in an opry house, and you won’t get no fancy talk out of it, but you will have a Haggersley owin’ you, and that’s still worth something in Kalsgard, I’ll tell you that right out.”
Mel smiles as she step back a little, giving Alaric room. "It might be safer for you to wait outside the keep. If you're nice to the wolf, you can probably stay near our horses."
"Melinda, either use that wand on him or let me do it." Alaric sets down his pack and begins rifling through it. "Your safest bet is probably waiting here, but I wouldn't blame you if you wanted to leave this place immediately." He then pulls out a day's worth of rations, and hands them over. "Here. You look hungry."
Mel smiles as she step back a little, giving Alaric room. "It might be safer for you to wait outside the keep. If you're nice to the wolf, you can probably stay near our horses."
Mel hands him back the wand, "Easier for you... takes me three times as long to use the thing."
"Melinda, either use that wand on him or let me do it." Alaric sets down his pack and begins rifling through it. "Your safest bet is probably waiting here, but I wouldn't blame you if you wanted to leave this place immediately." He then pulls out a day's worth of rations, and hands them over. "Here. You look hungry."
He wolfs down the food. "Been eatin' rats, when I could catch 'em," he comments. "And I'll stay wherever it's safest, I ain't of a mind to stick my head into the nettle patch to see what sticks to it right now."
Alaric uses the wand on Lute.