Seth nods slowly. His original idea had been to go where none but those few here knew to find him, but Lil was right about sticking together. Her restraint surprised him as well but he supposed it wasn't that strange. She was extremely intelligent after all.
"If yall would rather head to the Baron's Mansion I can hold off my wants for the evening.. Im sure I will have ample time to taste what the area has to offer."
Argan thinks that the mansion option would keep the servant girl alive for more time, and as consequence leave the whole knot out of trouble for now. "Indeed that place would serve us better. I'm also fond of sleeping in the wilderness, so we can analyze those woods at night. We may see or hear something that gives away the horn's position. Anyway, if you are going to the mansion, I'll meet you there later. I want to analyze one thing first."
The charlatan will wait until the group is on their way to take a closer look at the dragon head, hoping it would provide some marvelous insight on what they need, or maybe on something they should worry about.
If nothing weird happens he will talk to the locals, learning the gossips around town, pretending to look after information for a job that would make him rich.
Between soon-to-be-food-bargirl , hard-to-make-new-friends gnome and let’s-get-him-away-from-her-before-troubles-arise, the group decides to head back to the baron’s manor, while Argan stays behind to examine and see if the wyvern head as any special properties.
The walk back is calm and pleasant. The wind blows in the clear night, it’s neither cold nor hot. Some would think of the irony about it. Just now, the knot was already planning and setting in motion events that could be the doom of entire Talingard. The calm night, was it the calm before the storm? What happens here would decide the war outcome, and this backwater city is the only thing that may have chance to stop it. This could be Farhold darkest hour, or the brightest moment. Only future can tell.
After the others were gone, Argan sits comfortable in the table for a time, finishing his meal and drink, before examining the head.
It’s an old piece of nasty work. From the size head, the beast must have been at least huge-sized. Several scars adorns the creature’s head, some looking old, others looking rather new. After some minutes, and talking to the locals about the head, which they say it’s totally impossible to predict, Argan is about to give up, when a low rumbling voice of fill the entire room, bringing it to a complete silence, except for the voice.
”What must be found, was already found. Think deep, look closer. Recount the steps, go in a different path.”
Then after some seconds, to everyone surprise, the innkeeper included the head start a nursery rhyme.
King Hoopa Loopa said to the sea
Aath’s not afraid of you! Are you afraid of me?
King Hoopa Loopa silly silly he!
He got dragged down to the bottom of the sea!
King Hoopa Loopa said to the sky
Don’t let me drown! Can you teach me how to fly?
King Hoopa Loopa silly silly guy!
Seven miles out and never ever dry!
At the manor gate, you are greeted by the guards and before you enter, they stop you.
”Please wait just some moments, while we inform the Rikert, about our new guests. It would speed up the process if you are willing to say who they are.” says the guard in a polite manner. While the other one heads inside the place, most likely to wake up the major-domo, Rikert.
Vlad's mood had turned to worse after he didn't get to to know the barmaid better.. His attitude on the way could almost be taken as a spoiled rich kid who didn't get what he wanted..
Arriving at the gate he frowns at the guards.. "These fine folk are the remainder of our group, Lilpenny and Seth. They are to be treated as we would, now hurry up! I've already been disappointed once for the night and would not take kindly to another!"
"Freaking devil..." Argan looks at the head through suspicious eyes. Of course such a statement could be easily usable by thousands of other people, but still, they were the ones there actually looking for something. But if they needed a different rote, it could mean that one is a death trap, which is obviously what they were expecting. Anyway, finding another way in would serve them greatly, and if that was the demon talking they would have an easier time getting to it.
Seven miles out... It could be another entrance... Don't be stupid Argan, that's just a song! After thinking about it for a while he went to get some more information on that song, just in case... It was weird for the inkeeper to start such a song right after the prediction, so let's put some more thought into it.
When the man is busy the rogue approaches him, to have a nice conversation about the magic involved. If necessary, he inquires about his friend, the elf Ka-el who was supposed to meet them here to trade, but is nowhere to be found. He also inquires about the song he started, and the legend behind it.
It was weird for the innkeeper to start such a song right after the prediction, so let's put some more thought into it.
When the man is busy the (...)
It’s not the first time you heard this particular song. Maybe not this same version, but it’s a well know children song. Legend goes that Aath-Aryn, or just Aath, was sister city of the ancient city of Maath-Aryn (now better known these days as Matharyn, capital of Talingarde). Aath last king, being strong and powerful and arrogant, mocked the god of the sea. Legend tells that the city was hit by tsunamis and earthquakes and permanently flooded.
But everyone knows that this is just a children tale and song.
After musing with himself for some moments, Argan set up to talk with the woman, trying to discover anything about the head.
”Grimjaw, you ask?” she says smiling and mentioning the dead monster head. ”One of my many triumphs during my life as adventurer.” she says in a tone of a well-known and told history, but Argan can swear he saw laughter in her eyes as she tells it. ”First time tho he sings. I mean, I’m used to his cryptic words over the years, but singing?” she shrugs in a clear gestures that indicates she really don’t bother trying to understand ”Guess there’s a first time for everything.”
”I was supposed to meet a friend here, an elf named Kael, any news about him?”
The woman exclains ”Ah! The fool? Heard he was staying at The Wandering Friar, in Newchurch. Another fool that went into the Briar never to be seen again, at least, this is what they say.”
”Of course sir.” says the guard but even after agreeing, don’t let you in.
A couple of minutes pass when the major-domo appears, it is clear the man was sleeping. He looks at you, Seth and Lil and signal for the guards to let them in.
As you pass, he accompanies you inside the manor, and after the guard is out of earshot he says ”My Lord” with a small bow ”I’ll instruct the guards better about our arrangement.” he says ”Baron Vandemir, however has a personal interest in the house security and asks you that in further events, inform us before bringing guests, so we would be able to prepare proper accommodations and receive them as befitting to guest of Baron.” the man bow again and call for servants to prepare a hot bath, meal and room to the newcomers.
Edit: The accommodations provided, much like the rest of the place, are opulently appointed with every amenity known to man.
Argan thanks the woman, pay for his drink and, after writing the song down, moves after the rest of the flock, updating them on what he heard there. "I think we should check the Wandering Friar, just in case. The freaking dragon head never sang before. We should take it as a sign. We should try to find out where did Kael go. I suspect there will be another entrance to the horn, but maybe it's underwater, I don't know."
Lil does a full spin inside the Baron's house. "Wowwwww, your place is really nice!" She gives a happy smile to each guard she meets (ignoring any looks for being a sweet-looking halfling girl let into the house) and keeps going into side rooms. As they see a particularly pretty maid, Lil turns her head to Seth with a pleading look.
Vlad reads the riddle but has nothing to add from stories he hasn't heard. "Sounds like the mad king got his city sank seven miles out.. I doubt it refers to this alternate path though. I cant see how an underwater adventure would be easier than going to the woods to the Horn.. Didn't they say the head gives hint to treasure locations? Perhaps the tale of the king was just that and nothing more. Certainly worth looking into when we have the time and means.."
"I've heard the same legend and song that Argan did! Several miles off the eastern coast of Talingarde, it is believed to be the place where the legendary city of Aath-Aryn was created. The specific time is a bit fuzzy, but I know it is way older than the Darian Regime, or even when the Barca house was in power."
"It was a powerful city of a powerful country; its last king in his arrogance mocked the god of the sea. Thus the city was hit by a great tsunami and a powerful earthquake that permanently flooded it."
"What's interesting if the connections with the song. The last king of Aath-Aryn was named Appalorius-no doubt the origin of the sing-song Hoopa Loopa. He did forsake the god of the sea for worship of a sky god. And there is a rock outcropping called the Appalorian Spire, but I am not sure where it’s located."
Lil smiles after the info dump, then her attention is caught by a painting on the wall. "Ooh, pretty!"
"Id be willing to bet there's more that can be seen about this Spire then. Perhaps the Baron knows more or can use his connections to find out more. We can bring it up tm."
Seth smiles when Lil looks at him pleadingly, shuffling along with the group rather convincingly despite the fact that he was keeping up with them. "Quite a pretty one. She would make a wonderful new friend." He says under his breath, "But I doubt we could hide her. Soon enough, my young friend. Until then though keep an eye out. Maybe make a list if you see someone you really want?"
Seth looks at all of the pretty paintings and seems largely unimpressed by them. Their conversation didn't seem to have much to do with the Horn but you never knew. When they walked by a young guard, a male not as pretty as the made but with a full suit of arm, Seth would lean down and whisper, "How about that one? Not as pretty to be certain, but probably not as nice either. You'd be making his life much better by making him your friend." And as he had hinted at during their earlier conversation the armor would do well to disguise the creature's nature, at least for a time.
Not to mention that so long as he was willing to entertain the idea, Lil was less likely to think he was trying to control her and more likely to think he was just being cautious. She was extremely intelligent so Seth did try and avoid such games all together though, lest he have her angry with him. He wasn't sure if he could stop her in the end considering how potent her magic was, and how he was not a typical cleric, so it was just a matter of keeping her from exposing them all.
"Ooh, a list..." Lil rummages in her haversack and pulls out some light brown paper, writing as she walks. She looks up at the surly guard, but instead of a childlike response she shows her intellect. "It's not so much about that, it's about finding a strong force of will. Attractive people just correlate heavily with that. Armor is good though, it can be expensive to outfit them properly."
"Ah, I see. In that case we should probably look at the guards who have received promotions or who are especially good at getting their way and are sent out with tasks requiring such skills. What do you think?" He knew the very basics of undead but hadn't bothered much to study it. His skills lay elsewhere. That he was able to help Lil with a few spells he could call on didn't mean he'd ever be as capable as her when it came to undead. "Perhaps we can ask the Baron in the morning? It would give us time to prepare that spell you like so much on a scroll tonight to have it ready."
Lil grins. "Let's see if he has any people he wouldn't mind missing."
"Well, I don't quite see the connection, but the phrase is a good match, and I couldn't help but to wonder. Maybe the spirit of the dragon want us to succeed, to obtain his revenge, so there's a chance there is something else."
"Or maybe it's just a rhyme."
You each spend the night doing whatever you think best, now that you finally have a comfortable and quiet place to stay. From dark rituals to a blissful night of sleep, no one bothers you. Comes to morning, the servants gently wake each of you, and even though they may seem surprised by the state of your room, they say nothing, and always smile pleasantly at you.
At the breakfast table, the major-domo gives you the schedule of the principal meals in the manor. ”You are welcome to join the Baron at table, as his guest, if you desire, but it is expected of you the proper etiquette if you do so. If any wishes to discuss something with him, please tell me and I’ll confer to him.” he is about to leave when seems he remembered something else as he adds ”The Baron would like to meet our new guests. Today dinner is a good time?”
Lil wakes up cheerily, still keeping the guise of the pretty little halfling girl. She gives the servant a hug, squeezing him with all of her miniscule strength before heading out to get some breakfast.
Lil sips at her orange juice, pushing the eggs around her plate. She gives a glance to the others before nodding. "I don't have any dinner plans, sounds good!"
"Sounds like a plan. I'll be mostly lounging today until we meet this other group."
"Yeah, we will come back. As much as I would like to join the Baron on the other meals" - it's clear that he doesn't - "I have some things to do in town, so I'll not attend to that."
The day passes as you go meet with the seventh as mentioned by Tiadora.
Farhold port consists of several small docks along the riverside. You see an old man fishing quietly in one, a heavily packed with crates and barrels in other.
A seasick passenger staggers off a ship, drops to the ground and kisses the dock, before vomiting and spilling his guts all over the port. Curses and shouts in a half‐dozen languages fill the air.
As the Seventh barge docks, Elise Zadaria is the first one to leave it. She is wearing a lovely ankle-length skirt of white silk, thickly embroidered along the hem with blue silk and white lace in patterns of ice and snow. The top is form fitting white and blue silk. There is also a long shawl made of intricate, sheer white lace intertwined with blue thread and edged with blue and white silk.
She look at the gathering before the barge and says ”Well, if aren't my friends, the Ninth.”
Behind her, the other members of the leave the barge, the twins Trik and Trak, Trak being easily recognized by the lustful stares he shoots in Elise’s direction, and hulking and silent barbarian, taking everything but saying nothing. Ravens
Lil looks around the docks with curiosity, responding to just about every language. At the vomiting she giggles, poking the man with her staff before Seth pulls her on.
Lil smiles at the icy witch. "Hello friends!"
Seth does just that, gently pulling Lil without chiding her. He was smiling as well, though only she could see it beneath his cowl because of how close she was.
When the Seventh arrives Seth immediately begins to eye each of them. His shoulder moves a little, causing his cloak to shift and open, and he pulls his pale grey hand back into its folds. He eyes them all curiously, no more affected by the woman's grace then he was affected by Vlads. Instead, he lets his pale eyes, one of the few visible points of his face beneath the shadows of his hood, look over each of them. "If it isn't the Seventh. Exactly what we were expecting and told."
Let them make of that what they will. No doubt the arrogant would think it good, but the paranoid... Seth hadn't actually been told much at all about them but they didn't need to know that, certainly. His voice carried not too far, maybe enough for any that milled around, but he was certain the oddity of this group would either draw or banish curiosity. The woman certainly wasn't helping with that. He wondered if that was intentional. 'Did they have something to gain for letting us get caught?'Not quite breaking the oaths, Seth mused, deciding to keep watch on the group carefully while the more senior members of their own knot spoke up.
Vlad smiles as he see's the snowy vixen, almost to the point of ignoring the other two.. "Ah, so nice to see you again Miss Elise! You look as ravishing as ever! I hope you and your crew had a pleasant travel. You must be starving! Come let us go get something eat and we can discuss our plans for moving forward."
"Long time no see." Argan was keeping the polite tone, for now. He didn't like the woman, but it was not necessary to kill her now. She would be useful to them. "We know of a pleasant place with a freaking talking head, that is enough to get updated on everything."
"Good to see you all again."
Kharn smiles happy to finally be working with semi-normal people once again.
At Kharn words Trik smiles wildly and says ”Good to see you all too. How long it has been since our days at the manor?” she says as if remembering something pleasant ”Damn” he complains ”I miss those slaves…” somehow, you got the impression that there’s something different with this ‘whole’ missing thing.
Elise turns to Seth and says ”I suppose so, since the Cardinal ordered us here, I would be strange if hadn't he told you we were coming, right?” overall, she seems weary and tired from the trip then taking a deep breath and steeling herself, she smiles and continues ”You all bore different faces and different members last time we saw you, new introductions are in order?”
Trak practically glare daggers at Vladamir as he says ”Whatever you want to do, let’s move, here is not a good place to discuss anything. Is this Inn secure? Can we discuss our plans there without being overhead?” he asks and you get the impression he is not really worried about the place, as much as trying to make Vlad suggestion a bad one.
Argan lifts his shoulders. "We're kinda not expecting any kind of trouble, to be honest. The main authority is outta town, and of course, those who listen to us usually take weeks to understand what we're talking about, but there's more. We're trying to figure out if the dragon head was talking to me or not, yesterday. The Inn has all kinds of scum inside, so I think it's the best place, aside from the woods, of course."
"Im sure we could find someplace quite to talk.. If nothing ekse we can return to the Baron's home."
"If we can borrow a large room for a time, I have a spell prepared that will give us at least some privacy. Best to be careful in this town after all." Seth felt rather then heard something and smiled just a little.
”Oh, only for pleasantries.” Elise says to Vlad ” I already have my plan, since Tiadora, that was travelling with us already explained the situation.”
“It is my intention in the next few months to have spies set up in every inn, tavern and anywhere else adventurers and explorers might congregate. When you do find the Horn of Abaddon, contact me. For those groups I can’t personally dispatch, I’ll send a messenger with any information I can gather. This will give you time to do whatever need to be done to break the seal.”
She turns to the other members of the Seventh and says "You already know what must be done. Better get started. Report to me at this Inn with the dragon head." and without any word, the other three members walk away, going for different directions.
”Should we go?” she asks smiling.
"Wow, that's pretty smart! Wish I woulda thought of that."
”You don’t survive killing the enemy generals without acquiring good information about them.” she says to Lil. ”Knowledge is power. I’m sure you understand that.”
Turning to Argan, with snowy witch asks ”What’s this about a dragon head talking to you? This seems an interesting history to hear.”
Seth shrugs his shoulder lightly, as if getting a weight off of it, and a light breeze shifts his hood for a moment. He otherwise remains silent, though inwardly he's sending emotions through his link to Atral, the invisible imp who usually perched on his shoulder. The imp knew what his master wanted though, just from the timing, and silently set about to see how many and for how long he could follow the witch's help.
Seth in turn looks to Argan as well. The man had been babbling about this dragon head before but the tiefling had been distracted by what looked like a young halfling beside him, silently begging to murder a servant. "Shall we walk and talk? I'm afraid that, while making quite the impression, your appearance is not exactly subtle... And some of us wish to be able to show our faces without others connecting dots."
Argan raises his shoulders, seeing no problem in telling her part of what they heard. "There's a magic head at this Inn, and it's said to give hints and predictions that have helped adventurers to find riches and other stuff. When I was there, it did something it had never done before. It sang. You must know it, don't you? The song about the mad king? There must be something hidden here, but we are not sure what it is. Maybe it would help us. The song is like this:"
"King Hoopa Loopa said to the sea
Aath’s not afraid of you! Are you afraid of me?
King Hoopa Loopa silly silly he!
He got dragged down to the bottom of the sea!
King Hoopa Loopa said to the sky
Don’t let me drown! Can you teach me how to fly?
King Hoopa Loopa silly silly guy!
Seven miles out and never ever dry!"
"Does it ring any bells?"
”And why would I want to hide myself, Hooded unnamed person?” she asks Seth ”If you don’t want to anyone connecting you to me, just use a different disguise. Simple right?”
As you walk, leaving the port heading to the Inn, Argan tells about the song. Elise seems to be thinking for a moment before saying ”I’ve already heard this tale, and legend about the lost city. Be as it may, it’s rumored that this ‘lost city’ is near the southern coast of Talingard.” she says.
After walking some more, you arrive at the inn, nothing has changed since you last were here, again you are greeted by one of the bar-girls that lead you into a private room when you request it.
After everyone sat down, food and drink served, Elise asks ”Do you already got any lead to find this ‘Horn’?”
Seth hrumphs a little at that idea. The woman might have been doing her job but she certainly didn't seem inclined to make it easy on them. When they finally got to the bar, Seth waited in the corner for everyone to shuffle in, and then cast a spell on the side wall. It didn't take more then a moment for the sound coming from the bar to almost vanish. Though there was a slight murmur as it edged around the spell, Seth had carefully centered it to allow those within the room to speak without worry. Then without a word he wanders over to one of the corners to look at the others and see what they had learned.
"Not much is known about the Caer Bryr except that its a ticket with unknown monsters.. There;s still some asking around to do but as of now we have no major info on finding the place.. I was going to visit the church here tm and ask about any records of such a place."
"Well, we will manage, but so far we don't have much. Compared to our last mission this should be easy to find."
Elise notice Seth casting his spell and give him a puzzled look, but then shrugs clearly saying "Not my problem".
"If I discover any significant information about the place before you find it, I'll make sure to pass it to you." says the woman "As for now, I'll create this network and keep a low profile, until time my help is needed." she says as a matter of fact.
"The Cardinal mentioned the black market in Drowningtown. Any of you have information about it? "
"Ooh, black market? That could be useful. Don't think we've touched upon it yet."
Seth keeps silent, thinking the group had things well in hand, but an idea occurs to him based on something Vlad says. He eyes the man curiously, then says aloud. "The Baron will likely know of such a thing. We shall ask him tonight and if he has anything I shall pass it on to you come morning. Speaking of, do you have a particular way you would like us to reach you?"