Vulf blushes furiously and considers telling Zelaria but looking at everyone he coughs and looks away trying to control his own laughter as he watches the endless giggles from Copper. Maybe I could explain it...later...
I think she means because the beds are so small here it's hard to sleep two comfortably. Likely to wake with back and leg cramps and such. Dorrak glances at Rohan, then at Vulf, then the floor while biting his cheek to avoid laughing.
Zelaria, recognizing that she is being laughed at, rises and turns to leave. After a moment, she turns back and fairly glares at Vulf with chilling effects.
"You have your coin, and a new mistress. Stay and enjoy her," she snaps, and then exits the Hagfish.
She was right. I am not needed here.
"Oh come on. We don't mean anything by it Aria. We're just having a little fun." Copper tells her after he stops his giggling. Seeing that it does little to sooth the angry girl when she leaves, he looks at the 2 boys as if to tell them to go after her. When neither of them get the hint , he gets off his chair and bounds after her. Gotta do everything myself.
Vulf winces and rushes after her glaring at everyone else almost wanting someone to taunt him so he can take his anger out on them. He follows behind Zelaria silently not saying a word sufficiently cowed into silence.
EDIT:
Zelaria had paused outside the door to cast on her dirk when she hears and then sees the door open and close to expel Vulf and Copper. Her violet eyes flash anger, but she moves her hand away from her weapon. Her magic swells within her, causing her eyes to shine like amethysts held to a lantern.
"Should I have trained beneath Ameiko rather than my master?" she inquires coolly. "It seems I have more than enough natural talent to amuse each of you. Though you would not listen to me as you do to Florin, or Shalelu," she says, casting a pointed glance at Vulf.
"Aria, we just thought what you said was adorable. None of us meant to upset you, we wouldn't. We listen to you to everything you have to say, you know that. Big brother told me your talk didn't go so well. What's really wrong?" Copper asks trying to figure out the source of her obvious frustration.
A confused and hurt look passes over Vulf's features at Zelaria's words. Though still unsettled by her earlier outburst in side Vulf mutters quietly "Do I matter so little you would toss me away Zelaria?"
"I cannot be happy when I know that families are being torn apart," Zelaria answers. "Its difficult to eat, and... sleep," she pauses and seems to dare him to begin laughing again.
Zelaria's heart nearly breaks when Vulf speaks. "No. I... I don't know," she answers. "Why do you fight? Why do you want me? I am no warrior. She is. You talked to her."
"None of us are happy about that. But we have to be able to deal with it so we can help stop it. And dealing with it means being able to laugh, being able to eat, being able to sleep at night." Copper says unusually solemn. "I'm sorry it's affected you like this and I'm sorry we hurt your feelings." He walks over to her slowly with an apologetic look on his face."If there's anything we can do to help, name it Aria."
Dorrak lets out a deep sigh regretting his jest. He steps outside, glad to see the others haven't gone far.
Zelaria, would you care to join me for a walk?
Zelaria was considering Copper's inquiry when Father Dorrak appeared. She simply nods and walks aways with him, slightly relieved to be extricated from the uncomfortable situation... and recognizes that she has agreed to step into another.
Seeing that Dorrak is going to have his own talk with the emotional Zelaria, Copper looks at Vulf and nods back towards the tavern and walks back inside. When he walks in, Rohan looks up and can instantly tell what happened. Rohan for his part was feeling a little alone being the only one in the tavern until his friends walked back in."Told you talking to people isn't as easy as you make it seem." The summoner says to his friend.
Vulf disregards the small dragon and turns and looks at the dwarf he couldnt help but feel that this was all partially the dwarf's fault somehow. But yet it wasn't, he was confused and unsure how to proceed he was just...angry..tired? He turns his gaze back to Zelaria and merely turns and walks away in the direction of her home saying nothing.
When he arrives he smiles at Zelaria's mother but to her questions about the dinner he merely tells her that it had been enlightining and that Zelaria was taking a stroll with Father Dorrack. Aftwerwords he goes up to the room hed been allowed and packs up his few things into his pack and then slips downstairs.
He takes a seat then outside his back and sord propped up against the house and his furs pulled up about him as he awaits Zelaria's return intent on talking but as time passed he could fel the tug of sleep at his body and the drinks he had consumed lulled him into a light doze. His head tilted to the side as he slept fitfully.
Dorrak walks along looking at the stars, not yet speaking.
Two blocks.
Three blocks.
He takes small delight in the uncomfortable tension being built as the pair walks along silently.
Four blocks...
Dorrak likely recognizes that the pair is not in complete silence, as whenever Zelaria takes a step, the charms on her ankle make a soft chiming sound.
"If you are trying to intimidate me by silence, know that my Papa rarely speaks," Zelaria says after the fourth block.
The volume of Alcohol consumed by Florin makes him slow to react to recent developments.
Shalelu speaks and Florin grins stupidly powerless to resist his own guttural mind. “How About some bad sex?” he asks with a sly look on his face.
Rudely bought out of his daydream by the barman laughing at him.
”Well I’m flattered but I prefer the company of women. Go home Sir flower knight. your friends just left."
Composing himself quickly he stands and says ”Well you don’t Ask you don’t get that’s my motto.” florin pays his tab and strolls from the bar, the cold air hitting him like a hammer. He quickly spots his friends a little way down the street and runs to catch them. “Well the night is young shall we take this to the Copper dragon.” Florin seems oblivious to the drama unfolding and just grins stupidly.
Intimidate you!? Dorrak chuckles.
Lass, the last time I tried to intimidate someone I arched my back, snarled, bared my teeth, pawed at the ground and did my best to help them imagine I had the wrath of an angry badger. Do you know what happened? We all laughed until our cheeks were wet with tears and forgot whatever it was that we were getting huffy about.
Dorrak clasps his hands behind his back.
No, I'm not intimidating you, we're walking. That's all. How are your legs?
"Only slightly longer than yours, it seems," Zelaria says, and then yawns. "One might wonder how it is we manage to keep pace together," she hums, enjoying the soft cadence her anklet makes.
"I am not simple, or cowardly," Zelaria offers after a time. "I have faith in Desna's wisdom, and her sign that we are to continue to walk beside each other. But I know also that Her visions can also deceive. I do not wish for others to suffer as I have."
Zelaria sighs. "Vulf's ferocity is his strength, as my magics are mine. But they limit us as well," she continues, and looks to Father Dorrak finally. "Or isn't that what you meant that day?"
Ah yes, so they are. I suppose I have Torag to thank for that but is it a strength or a weakness? Perhaps it doesn't matter as long as I keep my natural pace. Dorrak takes a few long exaggerated steps forward, then a few short, shakes his head and returns to a normal walk with a shrug.
I won't speak to Desna's messages to you, it's not my place, but it does seem we're draw together. Nearly every day since we've met a clear reminder of the path I've chosen has been dropped in my lap. Dorrak makes a motion with both hands like he's dropping a boulder in front of himself. Normally Torag is a quiet god letting disciples sort things out for themselves but this feels like more than coincidence.
If your heart is reaching for Vulf, it's only fair to you both if you allow him to etch his own place in your life. Same with Rohan and Florin and even myself.
As for limitations, well, I'd like to see you establish greater confidence in your abilities and stop assuming everyone has ulterior motives. Without you we would not have fared nearly as well as we did in the raid. Shalelu isn't going to steal Vulf away, you've already set your hook soundly in that boy. Acting like he's going to run off with any passerby who might wink at him is more likely to push him away than it is to force him closer.
Do not feel. You are like a butcher, Zelaria interprets. She listens in silence, the chime of her charms fading into obscurity, and then gives a nod when Father Dorrak ceases speaking.
"I will think on your wisdom," she says softly and excuses herself.
Zelaria is not surprised to find Vulf dozing outside her house. She recognizes that he has gathered his kit, and likely intends to leave. Her throat burns with grief, but it is not as though she has not watched people walk out of her life before. Like as not, it is for the best, she decides.
Zelaria stops a considerable distance from Vulf before she speaks to him. "I should think the accomodations at the Hagfish are far more comfortable than sleeping outside our door."
Vulf comes awake at the sound of Zelaria's voice and looks up at her. As he stands he thinks on her words and carefully takes a few steps towards her. He looks down at her face meeting her eyes.
"Earlier you said you saw me talking to the that elf woman. You are unhappy over that why? Do you wish to know what we talked about? She asked about my tribe and how I came to be here. We then talked about how you are the kindest woman I know, someone who took me in a stranger off the streets. She then said she would rethink her view on you and that was all. I do not wish to stay at the dirty inn Hagfish I would rather stay with you but only if this strife between us can be layed down to rest. I do not wish to lose my dearest friend and my wreath bound." he finishes quietly looking down at her for her reaction.
Zelaria sighs and offers Vulf her hand. "Words have only caused trouble as of late," she replies. "Come inside."
Zelaria leads the way up to the loft, having no thought for Iolana. She gathers the furs from their chest and spreads them on the floor beside the bed Iolana and Bjorn share, then lays down on her side.
"I do not sleep well when I am alone," she invites, her voice strained with fatigue. "I'm so tired."
Vulf follows and smiles at her when she lays down, he spreads his own set of furs atop her to keep her warm and then he settles down beside her.
He grins suddenly in impish delight as a thought struck him."Your scary when your angry Zelaria. Small but fierce." He giggles and holds her hand to his lips and kisses them slightly his grin spreading across his whole face.
"On the morrow we shall work together to keep your town safe."
"I? Strike fear in the heart of the Whirlwind?" Zelaria hums. She turns on her side to face Vulf and looks into his eyes a moment, then slides them closed and scoots down slightly in her furs. She dozes after a brief time, too tired to agonize over the inky shadows that wait just behind her eyelids. "I would appreciate it if you kept your breeches on tonight," she mumbles, though she is uncertain whether or not her words and her intent is understood.
Vulf smiles at her then closes his own eyes falling asleep when she makes some comment about his pants he grows confused but shrugs it off as he lets sleep claim him.
Zelaria, Vulf
"ZELARIA!" Comes the angry voice from the lofts stairs, where Iolana stands red-faced. "Sir, you had best speak fast. Zelaria, to your room. I will have words with Vulf alone."
Rohan, Florin
Rohan and Florin, having 'kept the party going' at the Rusty Dragon, awaken from sleep awkwardly close together in Florin's room, where they seem to have stumbled when they came to sleep. After an awkward moment, you move away and realize you were wakened by a hard knocking at the door, which is echoing painfully in your head like church bells in a small cave.
Dorrak
After helping Rohan and Florin into bed, near blacked out, you chose to have a small midnight snack and then slept. Waking early, you step out of your chamber to find several unfamiliar men within the cathedral's garden, seemingly practicing some form of combat, slowly and very smoothly.
"Who could that be at this hour? Remind me to stop after 3 dragon punches. Just a minute." He says to the knocking at the door. Rohan quickly does the ritual to summon Copper before and then opens the door.
Zelaria's eyes are sluggish to respond. "Mmm, whuu?" she murmurs. "Is there... hmm."
Without really recalling or even noticing her whereabouts, Zelaria crawls out from under the skins and down the ladder, clinging to it somewhat harshly. The light from the windows is a pain she has never experienced, as though Sarenrae herself were delivering her judgment on Zelaria's activities of late. Stiff and creaking, she moves into the garden and sets down on the ground.
Rohan is confused for a moment to see no one at the door, until he looks down to see a very small, shrunken, elderly halfling woman. Rohan remembers having seen her around The Rusty Dragon, but hasn't caught her name. She looks up at you with wide eyes and says "Rohan? I hadn't realized you and the Flower Knight were... involved." Her face colors, but then she gets back to business. "Good sir, when I woke this morning, I noticed that Miss Ameiko was still gone. She left last night on some errand, and hasn't returned." Rohan can remember being disappointed at Ameiko's absence the night before. "I checked her room to see if perhaps she was still asleep, and found this." She hands you a piece of paper, with undecipherable script in some odd tongue.
"No, this is not what it looks like. He is not my type to say the least. Did she say to anyone where she was going?" Rohan looking a little embarrassed looks at the note and hands it to Florin."Florin, can you read this? Languages were never my specialty in school."
Vulf awakens with a start and stumbles around trying to orient himself and then crawls down the ladder leaving his gear upstairs though as he slept with all his clothes on he can tell that he might not be the most presentable as he spts quite a few hairs have escaped his warriors braid.
"Yes misstress?" he says humbly to Iolana sleep fast retreating from his voice as he takes in the woman's face and body language.
Sense Motive
Dorrak sits quietly watching the men moving through their forms. Hypnotized he tries to visualize the opponents they're facing and the strategies exhibited by their evasions, deflections and strikes.
He can't help but appreciate and admire the time and effort these men have clearly spent honing their craft.
Florin wakes when Rohan rises. “Urgh my head. Get me an alchemist tonic quick.” Florin rises and splashes water over his face and in his mouth. “You know Rohan We really need to find you a good woman, I can’t have you sharing my bed on a regular basis people will talk.” Florin examines his face and chest in the mirror “What is this? Did you bite me?” As Rohan shows florin the note Florin waves it aside impatiently ”yes, yes, all in good time I will study the script, if you would be so kind to have some coffee sent up.”
Linguistics:
Florin, Rohan
The small woman at the door giggles as Florin awakens. "No, milord. No need to study it. I'm fairly proficient in Miss Ameiko's language meself. Translated it on the back I did." Indeed on the back of the note is writing in a cramped, difficult to decipher script.
Hello, sis!
I hope this letter finds you well, and with some free time on your hands, because we’ve got something of a problem. It’s to do with father. Seems that he might have had something to do with Sandpoint’s recent troubles with the goblins, and I didn’t want to bring the matter to the authorities because we both know he’d just weasel his way out of it. You’ve got some pull here in town, though. If you can meet me at the Glassworks at midnight tonight, maybe we can figure out how to make sure he faces the punishment he deserves. Knock twice and then three times more and then once more at the delivery entrance and I’ll let you in.
In any case, I don’t have to impress upon you the delicate nature of this request. If news got out, you know these local rubes would assume that you and I were in on the whole thing too, don’t you? They’ve got no honor at all around these parts. I still don’t understand how you can stand to stay here.
Anyway, don’t tell anyone about this. There are other complications as well, ones I’d rather talk to you in person about tonight. Don’t be late.
--Tsuto
The little halfling waits patiently as you read. "Seems it's from Miss Ameiko's brother Tsuto. He's a half elf" She leans in conspiratorially "You'll notice Ameiko's not, and they comes from the same mother, something her father wasn't too happy about."
Dorrak
The men finish their forms, then begin doing one in formation. The man who seems to be leading them steps over. "Are you interested in the art?" He asks Dorrak kindly.
Vulf
"You had best speak well Vulf, because I am quite ready to throw you from my house and forbid you to see my daughter." Iolana's body language is easy to read as pure anger and fear. "How dare you come into my home and take advantage of my daughter while I sleep. I took you in because she vouched for you. And believe me, I was none too sure of letting a half-elven man from the tribes in here, but I did because of Zelaria. Now explain what happened and speak fast."
"Trust me, I don't plan on making a habit of it." He says to the bard. A look of concern washes over him as he reads the note. "Yes, she told me about her brother and how he was back in town. Can you tell me where the Glassworks is? I'm gonna go to Aria's to pick up my gear and after that I'm headed over there. C'mon Copper." After the old lady tells him where it is, he rushes out of the room and heads towards Zelaria's home. "I hope Miss Meiko is okay, I like her." Copper says while on the way. "I know. We'll do our best to help her."
Vulf blanches his cheeks going pink.
"Mistress we did no such thing we merely feel asleep after we resolved an argument outside and then we talked late into the night and found ourselves sleeping in the same room. I assure you my tribes customs are strict in the regards of such...actions. I would never try such a thing under the roof of Zelaria's mother. Please mistress beleive me when I say I would never try that my only intention is to get your and your husband's blessing before anything."
He looks around wildly for Zelaria hoping she would come help him his control of the language slipping.
Vulf
Iolana visibly calms herself, then points. "Just leave for a while. I will make a decision as to whether you may stay in my home tonight. I never intended you to be in the same bed as my daughter, and if I find you there again, I will not be so kind."
Vulf nods bashfully and hurriedly exits the house. But we didn't sleep in the same bed...maybe thats not the point though
Yes, I find it very fascinating, haven't seen anything quite like it. Oh, I hope I'm not disturbing your practice. I can move on if my presence is troublesome. Dorrak stands, ready to dismiss himself at the earliest hint that he has inconvenienced the gentlemen.
"Well I hope you will look into the faiths of Irori and the Arts sometime. Perhaps you could learn much if you look inside yourself" The elderly man passes with a nod and moves away.
Thank you, enjoy the day. Yes, I've looked inside myself and I believe I've learned I'm a hungry dwarf in need of some eggs. Maybe there's something to this. A wide smile forms beneath his beard.
After breakfast and attending to any chores that need attention around the Cathedral, Dorrak sets out to find the others. .
As you approach the Glassworks things seem to be business as usual, though a few people point hurriedly at your weapons, fully combat-ready as you seem to be. The Glassworks seems to be working, with the chimney continuing to emit smoke, but there seems to be no one entering or leaving. There are several windows, but on closer inspection they all seem to be curtained.
Rohan looks up at the curtained windows with a frown as he brashly strides through the front door.
Rohan brashly strides toward the front door, and attempts to brashly push it aside. Finding it to be quite locked, he brashly steps back to find another course of action.
Rohan undeterred by the locked door, attempts to break it down with all his might.
After failing to do so, looks around for another entrance.
"Oh, this is very good. Destruction of private property while the Sheriff is away. And us the heroes of Sandpoint," Zelaria says, and then shakes her head.
A small crowd gathers, watching as Rohan attempts to smash the door, then walks around the building, finding two other doors, equally locked. After a few moments a small half-elven man steps forward. "Umm... I do hate to be rude. Especially to Heroes... but... are you attempting to break in? For what purpose?"
"My companion appears to be in a great deal of distress," Zelaria replies, and stares hard after Rohan's barbarism. "I believe I will summon the priests of Abadar to speak with him."