Any is watching quietly, but his eyes are wide as he stares at Corrin openly, mouth agape.
The more the man talked the more his convictions were reassured. "I think we can safely assume that these men are not the cultists we are looking for... they are simple thieves, brigands and burglars trying to score some gold and this whole scheme doesn't seem to add with the notion and information we have about our targets..."
Callanniel paces around, thinking. "The boss though could be something entirely different... I'm still not sure if he is a cultist but I imagine it is fair to assume that he is under demonic influence and thus could lead us to our targets..."
[smaller]"I think our next step is to arrange everything for us to remain anonymous... These men were ambushing citizens in a city and it should be fairly possible that the guards would catch them eventually. I might be a good idea to talk to the councilman to arrange for the word to be spread that the guards killed this band, since it could accomplish many goals: First, the boss would get the word that his men were killed by the guard and not simply vanished or handled by us... both terrible assumptions for our mission; Second, we'd remain in the shadows, both for the city, the possible cultists and for this gang."[smaller]
The man squirms under everyone's gaze, "L-loose end?! You're not going to kill me are you?!"
The terror in his eyes is palpable. He glances left and right and notices his stripped comrades, "The armor!" he cries desperately. "Y-you can wear the armor! Get right in the middle of everything without letting them know you're there! You've even still got the masks to hide your faces! Just please don't kill me!"
Callanniel suddenly remembers about something important. "Passwords! Do your gang use any sort of code to enter your hideout or to do anything else?"
N.n.n.o we are no.not going to k.k.kill you . . . yet. My friend here hhhas an excelent point. Perhaps you s.s.s.should lead us to your hideout and get us inside... any sort of shennan...nan..nanigans and your blood will certainly be the first to shed. If we get in just fine, I am sure lienancy can be granted.
He offered the bandit calmly..like he wasnt discussing the possibility of his death right there in front of them.
The man blinks furiously in Cal's direction. "We don't have anything like that! We j-just found a place to squat and that's where we've been. Never even considered passwords or phrases."
The red on his face from the smack is startling against his pale skin, and even that fades quickly as his body needs the blood elsewhere more desperately. "P-p-please! I've told you all I know, just let me go."
His face and body movements say that he is telling the truth, but you get the feeling that very soon you will be pushing him into territory where he'll say anything to make the fear go away.
"I think we've gotten all we can from him. Let's try to get him back to our allies, and then strike out for their hideout."
The man is looking at all of you, though none of you in the eyes, and quietly whimpering to himself.
"I agree, the tunnels are smarter. We need to move like ghosts to avoid detection. The secrecey of our mission is of the utmost importance!"
The man is trying to squeeze himself into a corner and pretend he hasn't heard anything.
He took a few steps torwards the man and simply laid his hand on his shoulder gently.
"st..st..stop mo.moo..moving. You..you will harm yourself before i.i. i can make sure you...rec.recover.
Nilelane scouts up ahead but doesn't see anything. The area where you find yourselves is not too far away from the center of town, and as you made your way here you noticed the darkness of the night sky turning to the gray of false dawn. The Red Fang Squad member, not knowing anything better to do has followed your every command to this point.
Your group manages to make it back to the Ororororo's place with little trouble and captive in tow. After ensuring your prisoner is secured tightly and safely a well deserved rest is called for. You each stumble off to guest rooms provided before you left and eight hours later you wake to the sounds of yelling in the common room.
Investigating you find that someone managed to get an elk all of the way up and into the residence without notice. You recognize it as Corrin's and although it seems a bit skinny it is not the worse for wear.
Trusting in Nilelane's skills, Callanniel follows along in silence, taking care to 'scout' with his acute hearing. Fortunately they were able to arrive without difficult to the Ororororo's house. The prisoner secured, Callanniel enjoyed a good 'night' of sleep.
At first Callanniel imagined he was still sleeping... how would he be hearing the sounds of an elk in a tree house... then he remembered he was sleeping in a gnome's house so everything was possible.
After dressing himself, Callanniel moves towards the common room to investigate and soon realizes it was Corrin's companion. They share a similar smell...
Without turning his face to betray his perception to the others, Callanniel focused on the heated argument.
[ooc]Is Callanniel's check high enough to hear details of the argument?[ooc]
"Please calm yourself, would you have that group hear you talking about it now? All I'm asking is that you allow them to meet Saphron, at least warn her of the danger she may face-"
"She's my daughter and I'll meet these Queen's guard first, BEFORE they can meet her."
Olivio smirks at Nilelane's question. [b]"It was tricky getting this big fella up here, and in fact he didn't want to come in the building either! But when I stol...er borrowed Corrin's socks this morning he walked right in after smelling them."
Corrin felt safe and had risen early to concentrateon rememorizing his spells, but then fell asleep again. Until the noise awoke him. He moved to grab his boots and tilted his head searching about for a moment.
Has anyone seen my socks?
He asked puzzled as he made his way with the others torwards teh noise.He gasped and got excited when he saw Dewdrop and rushed to his friends side hugging and patting the elk.
Dewdrop you silly thing you, rushing here like this.
He began tousling the elks head and giving him a friendly headbutt. He was not paying that much attention till he heard his socks mentioned.
Oh.. that makes sense then."
he said simply taking his socks from the gnome.
Olivio grins innocently when the door to the councilor's office bursts open. Out walks a woman so beautiful it plucks at your very soul, though she does not seem to notice you until she is in the middle of the room. Her voice is strong and stern, "Hello. You must be the peculiar guests Krolumnite was talking about."
Any, feeling that the comment was directed at him, blushes.
"Some of us are more peculiar than others..."
He grasps his hands behind his back, and looks down at his feet in embarrassment.
She has the pointed ears and almond eyes of an elf, but her pupils are a flat black and do not consume her eyes. You feel like this is probably the Nymph Hestia that everyone in town has been talking about.
"Good morning Lady Hestia. We are indeed the envoys of the Queen as you was suggesting. My name is Callanniel Dars'Mer and I apologize for hearing your conversation but I could not help it, since my hearing is quite accurate." Unfortunately for him, Callanniel wasn't able to see the fabled beauty of the nymph but if her smell was an indication of her beauty, he had a perfect idea of how astonishing she was, almost inebriating.
"I'm quite pleased about your presence since we had intention of seeking you for a friendly conversation. I have ample respect for the fey and I must admit I was anxious to meet you, mylady... unfortunately our business in Omesta is not one of pleasure. You already know that we'll need to talk to your daughter eventually due to the nature of her conception. I imagine many of the questions we have for her could instead be directed for you instead..."
He tilted his head to the side for just a second watching the fey approach between ruffing the back of the head of his elf friend. She was indeed pretty, but it wasnt the first time he had glimpsed the beauty of a nymph before. He was curious at her tone. It seemed far more angry than it should they were here to help after all. He was going to say something when their blind companion spoke.... quite elegantly by the druids estimation and far better than he could have. So he kept his mouth shut for the moment merely watching.
One perfectly groomed eyebrow raises to her hairline as she inspects everyone. "All peculiar in your own ways. Well Callanniel, why don't we make a game of this? Each of us asks a question in turn until one party has had enough. Why don't you start." Her demeanor makes this a command, not a question.
Callanniel ponders for a couple seconds before replying. "Very well... You want a game but games have rules. I agree to answer any question about my life and my past with nothing but the truth but I'll not answer a single question about our purpose here, our mission, or anything regarding the Queen's intentions. Assuming you agree, I'll indeed start: Who is Saphron's true father?" Callanniel took care not to ask a single question during his 'negotiation' to avoid any trick from the fey.
The eyebrow again arches upward and her mouth turns downward ever so slightly, but she nods quickly. "And all of the rest of you feel free to join as well." She breathes quietly through her nose and closes her eyes as though to prepare herself.
"As you may be able to guess, I never got the demons name. In point of fact I was in the wrong place at the wrong time and was...ambushed. I was...used...by the leader of the pack that ambushed me, a glabrezu of some strength. I was left for dead, and if it weren't for my willpower I'd have likely died in that blasted and rotted glade."
She opens her eyes, fierce emeralds blazing into the world, "Not allowed to ask of your mission, so tell me, why can I smell the stench of blight and corruption behind your eyes?"
No name... just a kind of demon... well, it is better than nothing. Callanniel honestly did not expect a name even if it could help in their investigation... he doubted that Hestia would have agreed with such relationship in the first place.
Callanniel sighs but he already expected for this question. "I'm not really sure if I'll be able to fully answer your question... I smell no stench, in the strict use of the word, coming from my eyes, but I'm no nymph also... the last time I see anything was during a war to reclaim Shevaroth. We lost and besides the defeat I also lost my eyes, melted away by a foul magic cast by Taragoth, the Blighter. No spell, divine or arcane, was able to restore my vision, even if my eyes were reconstructed... I suspect the amount of blight in the spell was too much and a portion of it still lingers." During the whole explanation, Callanniel kept his eyes closed, as usual but, in the very end, he opened them for her to see for herself and closed them again.
"Looks like it is my turn to ask again: Besides your unconditional motherly love for Saphron, how can you assure us that she is not under the influence of her father or other Treerazer's demons?"
10 Gozren, 4716
Hestia's eyes narrow dangerously, "My child is only rarely out of my sight, and when she is there are certain...wards in place to keep an eye on her."
She pauses and thinks taking time before asking her next question, "What do you think of your companions and their trustworthiness?" The gleam in her eyes is becoming sharper.
Callanniel smiles at the nymph's question. "I trust them completely, both in their competence, skill, and loyalty, for two simple matters: First, because, just like me, they were assigned for our conjunct mission and if the Queen trusts them, so do I; Second, because I'm blind... I need to trust people. There are enough loose rocks and logs and enemies around me to make me fall... I need them to lift me up when I'm on the ground."
Callanniel remains silent for a couple seconds, trying to figure out what would be his last question. "I have one last question: If you find undeniable proof of your daughter's demonic influence and that she is either working for the demons or is their tool, would you help us to stop her for the safety of our kingdom or would you betray those who sheltered and cared for you in favor of your daughter?"
Hestia smiles, though it doesn't reach her eyes, "My daughter will not be made a plaything for those who have harmed me in the past. Take of that what you will."
Her tone softens, enough to allow everyone to hear the pain behind her words, "Someday my daughter may kill me because of her nature, and I will be unable to stop her. What would you do with her if such an event were to happen?"
wh....whats her fa...fa...fav..favorite animal?
He asked suddenly the seemingly nonsensical question seemed to be important to the young elf with the elk. His head tilted just slightly as he waited for the answer.
Harpina's head twitches Corrin's way her eyes shining brightly. She murmurs thoughtfully to herself before responding, "Rabbits. She was always fond of rabbits when she was little." She tilts her head curiously, "Your companion there," she waves in the general direction of Dewdrop, "speaks of you as a druid. Why do you stutter so when talking to others and not to him?"
Any keeps opening his mouth to speak, and closing it when someone else speaks. He looks perplexed.
An..ani...animals are nice... th..they d.d.dont jjudge too much. A..as for your...dau..daughter ha...have you thought of...ta.ta.taking her to the west. The drui...druid circle on the plai.plains near Eragee.... there are lo..lots of bunnies there. If she we..were.were to well.
He said his eyes looking crestfallen at the thought of matricidal murder.
The...they would help a ..a..a nymph and her daug..daughter for sure and bunnies to kee...keep her happy and not thinking dark things.
He finished not mentioning that the stuttering problem started when he was young and well with the betrayal of his father. She didnt ask when he started after all.
Callanniel sighs before answering the nymph, knowing that this is probably the most important question the she asked so far. "I'll answer your question even if you avoided to answer my own... You, as a good fey, is one of the purest beings in this world so any evil act or violence against you is something unforgivable. In the eventual situation where your daughter kills you, we would have only two options: incarcerating her or killing her... I believe we both agree that a swift death is a thousand times preferable than a life behind bars."
Callanniel waits a couple seconds before continuing so his words could have more effect on her. "That being said, lets not rush to this dark possibility. I believe we all agree that it is of uttermost importance that Saphron does not get to this point. I believe we all have a choice and we have to guarantee that Saphron makes all the appropriate choices to led her away from a dark path. Corin's idea might be the perfect way to keep Saphron safe... safe from herself."
Harpina's face closes once again and when next she opens her eyes there is a hardness there once again. "You may feel my answer to be disingenuous for your question, but let me assure you that I will not live to see the day my daughter follows that dark and easy path."
She looks thoughtful with Corrin's suggestion, "This is not the first time we have had this suggestion given. I don't know how Saphron will be able to make the journey, it was...difficult convincing her to leave the area where she grew up initially. I still feel she needs a more loving environment around her than I was able to provide while we were alone."
Maeglin kept quiet. He was not socially adept, and so did not wish to disturb his friends careful work.
Harpina's eyes widen with shock. She looks directly at Nilelane questioning, "Truly? I know the Queen cares for the realm, but I didn't think these woes would warrant her adjudication..." She pauses and considers for a bit.
After much thought Harpina looks up at you, "Yes, this is indeed the best choice for my daughter. Among the druids she will have many friends. I thank you, with all my heart, for your kind gesture. When will we be able to leave?"