Swearing to himself again Jorzan thinks quickly then begins sprinting after the man he using his superior agility to avoid the pedestrians the clumsier merchant keeps bumping into
Acrobatics:
All the while the young rogue keeps a frustrated smile on his face while yelling "Zanjor! Brother! Stop please! You can't just run away! Not after all the time ma has spent arranging everything and all the money pa has spent! And really olga isn't that hideous! I'm sure you'll get used to her looks in a while! And the good news is her cooking is so bad you can hardly notice her body odour!"
Bluff:
Putting a comfortable arm around the bigger man with his other arm Jorzan releases his concealed wrist dagger, putting it tight up in between two of the man's ribs he whispers 'Scream or yell and I'll gut you where you stand, come along with me and I swear you'll be safe, I only want to talk to you, you damn fool!
Intimidate:
Out loud and pretending to catch his breath as he says with more volume"Look brother, at least just come back and take another look at her. If she doesn't agree to at least shave off that moustache of hers I'll help you escape myself ok? But ma and pa would never forgive me if I just let you run away like this. You know how badly ma wants some grandkids."
Winking and laughing at his friends in the guard, Jorzan then begins to turn the (hopefully) cowed man around and lead him back into the town
Sense Motive:
Sir Justahl hugs Trista before she leaves.
"Thank you Trista, truly; and I will keep you in mind. But I really hope we don't have to; things could get really dangerous really fast, and I think you have your own commitments to keep."
He nods at Kelne to go ahead and check Tanel. He makes his mind up not to scatter the party by moving immediately; so he settles in to listen at the door and guard.
@Jorzan: At this point Grippen notices you vaulting neatly and nimbly past all the foot traffic and walks forward to intercept Zanjor, holding up his hand to stop him.
"Zanjor! Ye tubby bastard, halt! What's going on here? You related to Jorzan, there? Ye never said you had a brother, why would you keep such a thing a secret?"
Zanjor stops running. He is not in good shape and is huffing and puffing for air. His eyes bug out at Grippen as you easily catch up. "Grippen I have no brother. I don't know who this man is, but he's chased me clean across town after threatening me in my own shop! I demand you throw him in chains!"
The dwarf arches a dubious eyebrow at the tomato-faced merchant. "In chains, huh? Zanjor did he threaten you the same way those orphans threatened you? Or how about that lost kitty last week? Or the pseudodragon that you said stole all your grapes. Was it like that, then?" There is a twinkle in Grippen's eye.
"Bluh! Whuh! NO!" Zanjor splutters, furious. "What are you implying?! Those children are a MENACE to SOCIETY and they should be--!"
The guard cuts him off, his face more serious. "Alright, alright, I'm just winding you up, fella, settle down. Settle! Look. I can't stop you leaving the city, but take my advice; shore up with your family before you go, huh? You'll regret it if you don't."
The guard tips his helmet to you in a polite gesture, then walks back to his post, leaving you and the now much-calmer Zanjor face to face in the big courtyard before the west gate. The merchant looks you in the eye. "Well, they said you'd come for me. So I suppose now it's time. Where should we go to do this, then? You have a place in mind? A gallows, perhaps? A guillotine? Or will you just have at me here in the middle of the street, obviously the guards won't stop you..." He looks bitter and resigned, his lips pressed into a thin, tight line.
As Grippen shoots down the obviously well known paranoid, Zanjor, Jorzan stifles a chuckle. When the portly merchant then seems to resignedly accept his fate though the young shadowdancer first express confusion, then surprise and finally annoyed frustration again. Keeping his voice down yet his annoyance still clearly showing he hisses "What?? You are stupid or insane or both! I have no idea what you are talking about man! I don't want to kill you you fool! I just want to talk to you. I know you know something about our common past and I will have it out of you. I'd prefer not to have to resort to violence but..."
Stopping and taking a deep breath to calm himself he starts over again, trying a different tack "Look, I'm very sorry if scared you Zorjan, but that bastard Bal-Zat tortured me for most of my life and my patience with anything concerning him is little to none. But that's not your fault."
Looking around quickly he continues "Here, how about this. See that tavern over there? How about we go sit somewhere nice and public, I'll buy us a couple of ales, and you can tell me everything you know. All nice and civilized like, and no one has to get hurt, maimed or killed. Sound good?"
Sense Motive DC5: No Deception on Jorzan's part.
Diplomacy check help?:
Kelne drew in a deep breath to respond, but let it out without voicing anything. Clearly Gray felt his responsibilities to Tanel were at an end. Though if he also thought death by poison wouldn't strike an impartial observer as foul play, he really hadn't thought it through.
"Let me try that again," he said, "Is there anybody you'd suggest seeing about a decent burial, or should I track somebody down myself?" He had come to the conclusion that he didn't like Gray. The man was definitely going to face an uphill struggle to get into his good books.
Sir Justahl leans against the door and calmly contemplates Gray.
"Oddly enough, I had a similar experience. But before you join our little band, our companions must hear you for themselves. I'm sure you understand our caution. As to who pursues us, that is difficult to explain, there are so many different ones. Let us wait until they return and hear you for themselves."
@Jorzan:
As Grippen walks away, Zanjor looks down at your concealed blade, which the guard didn't even notice. "Fine." He says exasperatedly, though it's clear he's still terrified of you. "Fine. If this is..." He trails off. "To your inn it is, then. Hopefully you have the tools to do this right back at your room so I don't have to die some terrible death in a back alley."
The man remains tight-lipped on your journey back, refusing to speak "...until we get to my collecting place..." Noting the tavern and lobby are both strangely full, packed with mercenaries and sellswords, you make your way up to the room. Opening the door, you are startled to find everybody except Karthan all packed into one room, along with a new person; some Pharasman priest you've never seen before.
Zanjor spots the Pharasman and promptly faints, falling with a solid and resounding *WHAM* on the floor.
Cassandra breaks into giggles, then laughs and claps her hands with glee. "That was funny! Round funny man, do that again! Hahahahahahahaa! Oh Shadow Man, where did you find him he's silly!"
@Karthan: The shopkeeper at the magic goods store is willing to trade you the two orcbaned kukri for a Lesser Rod of Extend and a Lesser Rod of Widen. It's a pretty terrific deal, especially for these parts.
Looking to Kelne with a smirk he speaks "Generally my business is only with the soul. I am more then happy to help people pass on. I do not have a burial grounds of my own to offer. I come from far of here, I wouldn't know where to place his vessel. However, before I was able to alert anyone of the body I was told to come to this room."
Nodding to Justahl's words he starts to speak before he is interrupted from Jorzan and Zanjor's entrance. Just as Gray is about to welcome to two new comers he is stopped mid sentence as Zanjor falls.
Gray quickly kneels down to look over the fallen man.
Sighing in frustration, again, Jorzan looks down at his erstwhile 'borther' thinking that the fat fool may really be more trouble than he's worth. "He's fine. He's just scared I'm going to kill him" he says to the room in gereral while mumbling to himself "and if he keeps this up I just might"
A moment later, taking better stock of the room his hand unconsciously moves to his weapon as he addresses the priest "Who are you?" Then, taking stock of those present, or more accurately said, those absent, and knowing Karthan is likely still shopping, with an unexplainale pit begining to yawn in his stomach the suddenly very worried youg man asks very concerendly "And where's Tanel!"
@Karthan: The shopkeeper at the magic goods store is willing to trade you the two orcbaned kukri for a Lesser Rod of Extend and a Lesser Rod of Widen. It's a pretty terrific deal, especially for these parts.
And Karthan takes it quite readily. Especially the Rod of Widen Spell!
Karthan will pick up a handy haversack to store the rods in, and will head back to the hotel...to see everyone clustered around a man dressed in Pharasman robes and looking...upset with him.
"All right...what's going on here?" He drops his disguise on entering the room.
Gray bends down and mutter over Zanjor for a moment, then pulls out a small medicinal flask of salts and camphor and places it under the merchant's nose, instantly reviving him. He comes to with a start and a gasp. "Thank you, father. I..." Looking around, Zanjor interrupts himself, addressing Jorzan. "W-why do you have an army in your hotel room?"
Ignoring Zorjan for the moment Jorzan focuses now on the stranger in the room, his growing dread fuelling his anger as he asks again, his face darkening "Where. Is. Tanel.?"
Smiles while welcoming Karthan into the room as he stands after looking over the chubby fellow who fainted. Looking back to Jorzan Gray speaks this time seeming a little from answering the same questions over again. He decides to tell his whole story at once again so he need not repeat it anymore, hoping this is the last of the group.
"Tanel is now with Sarain, his love. It seems he has poisoned himself to be with her. I personally gave him last rights and comfort to his soul as he traveled to Pharasma's realm. His body is in room 113 if you wish to check. I already offered the key to your friend to check himself." Gray nods to Kelne. "Before I was able to alert anyone of what has happened. The Dark Lady herself told me to take Tanel's place. She told me to come to this room and look for a girl named Cassandra. It seems I am suppose to look after her. I am merely a traveling healer,mortician and priest. Again I have little skills for combat nor do I have a proper weapon aside from my crossbow." Gray looks to the group and his eyes stopping at Kelne's briefly before looking back to Jorzan.
Not used to talking to much he sighs as he continues to speak.
My name is Gray Moribund, Im from a city named Pyatigorsk. Just east of Iridian My family was well respected for what we do. However after watching them be slaughtered by the Black Dragon Flight Army. I fled west and found myself here. Word speards quickly when a Cleric of Pharasma comes to any town it seems. This I'm assuming is how Tanel found me. Any more questions for me?
As Gray finished explaining Tanel's fate to Jorzan, the Monster bellows, "Friend goooone!" in a mournful voice, as if to summarize the cleric's explanation.
"In the interests of fairness," Kelne spoke up, "I should note that Cassandra confirmed his story. He's hardly a likeable person, but he didn't kill Tanel." Kelne directed a scowl towards Gray, completely unmollified by the man's attempts to set people at their ease with smiles. If he wanted to say anything else in his defense, he could do it himself.
If they were to take the man on, it would be on the basis of his skills and because Pharasma had set him on this path. The will of the gods wasn't something to lightly set aside, but under any other circumstances, Kelne would show him the door.
Jorzan looks briefly to the monster, then to Kelne and then back to Gray. His features are grim and his jaw is clamped shut, the muscles visibly working under his skin. It is quite clear then he is just barely holding his emotions in check. Internally he wants nothing more than to physically lash out at the priest, have some way to express his anguish and fury, yet he can find little in the man's words to blame him with.
Wordlessly he holds his hand out to Kelne. If after a few moments the Northman doesn't divine his intent he manages to squeeze through his clenched teeth "Key"
Once he has it, he opens the door and begins to head out. Before finally leaving completely though he turns, points at Zanjor and says roughly and tersely "He stays."
Hesitating before opening the door the young man takes a deep breath and heads inside. Stopping again when he sees his friend's body, he firms himself, moves inside and closes the door. Standing for a long time he simply gazes down at the brave, haunted warrior who only ever wanted to be the farmer he always remained in his heart, and to be with the woman who was his heart.
Finally the distraught rogue kneels down, placing his hand over the clasped hands of the man who had been, even if only for a short time, the closest thing to an older brother he had ever had. "I know you will find her my friend, and I pity any who try to get in your way. I..I shall miss your solid company, your wise advice, and your trusted blade at my back. Thank you for everything. I...I wish you well."
Overcome with emotion and at the moment not caring who sees or hears him, the young shadowdancer, who had lived through torments and tortures few could even imagine let alone have experienced and come through sane and whole, cries for the first time in his young life.
I don't know how you feel about the taking of items belonging to PC's which have left the game but this is what Korian would like to do. Thinking Tanel would approve, he takes his friend's magical boots and cloak to give to Cassandra, knowing they would help the young girl greatly on the journey ahead. He also will take the bag of holding, with everything in it, intending to keep the bag and sell the contents. If you don't approve of any of this, no problem. The armor and sword he will leave, insisting Tanel be buried with them and he plans to ask Grippen's advice on where and how to best do this. He'll also find a pair of boots to replace the ones he took. Most of all though, Jorzan wants to take something personal of Tanel's, something, an item, a keepsake, to remind him of his friend and always carry with him so that a piece of Tanel will remain of the quest with them. He also of course locks the door again on his way out.
About 15 minutes later Jorzan comes back down he (possibly) has a small bundle in his arms which he sets down on the bed, sitting down beside it. His eyes are red and it is obvious he has been crying. He seems exhausted, and slumps as if the weight of the world is on his shoulders. In a deadpan voice he address his 'brother' saying "I've just lost someone very important to me Zorjan, so now would not be a very good time to push my limits. I have no plans to kill you, but you are also not leaving this room until you tell me everything you know about our kind and that abomination, Bal-Zat. Start NOW."
Karthan nods, stonily at Grey's explanation. "Very well. I'm not pleased with how you've joined our company, but join it you have."
He watches Jorzan leave, and then takes a look at his heavier-weight brother. "Do stay. Family reunions are fascinating with that one." He moves to the samovar and pours some tea, handing their guest a cup.
"I've traded those two kukris for these." He pulls out two metamagic rods, "And this."
"What other gear upgrades did people want to broker? I suspect that those axiomatic warhammers would sell well here, given what they're facing outside the walls. Desperate times make men - and dwarves - want weapons."
Gray sits in the corner with his bag in silence while the group mourns the lose of their friends. His ears perk up at the words of gear upgrades.
Mumbling to himself but still loud enough for the others to hear.
"If this is going to be that type of journey then I suppose I try and find a better weapon then this dagger. I will join you to the shop if you intend to make another trip. I have some supplies I would like to pick up." He looks to Karthan and stops speaking for a moment with a blank look on his face. "I'm sorry sir, I don't know how to address you. I haven't caught your name."
"I am Karthan Zhosk, Master of Fire; Justahl and I tend to be the ones who do the public speaking. The boy is a recent addition; Tanel was kind of crotchety, and there are enough people looking for Kelne and Jorzan that I've learned that letting them go out in public unattended usually results in them bringing a problem home like a foundling puppy."
Karthan, out of disguise, looks a lot like the description posted in his Profile page.
The boy waves to Gray when Karthan mentions him, but seems mostly disinterested in the cleric. He stays near the windows, keeping an eye out as Sir Justahl had told him.
"A mithral longsword enchanted against the undead, if you can find one," Kelne put in, "If not, some other weapon with those characteristics." He could handle most weapons, the important thing was that he had something specifically designed to kill a vampire. Granted, Gray and Justahl between them really ought to be able to do nasty things to all manner of undead, but it was a matter of pinciple. "Could you pick up a couple of scrolls of zone of truth as well. We may want honest answers to questions in a hurry."
"Otherwise, plenty of supplies, both for us and the horses. Scrounging up food along the way will only slow us down. If anybody's not prepared for a northern winter, now's the time to fix that." He thought the others were suitably prepared, but a gentle reminder wouldn't go amiss.
Aside from the shopping, there was also Zanjor to be dealt with. Kelne intended to at least try and act as the voice of reason there. Granted, it was important Jorzan get whatever information his brother knew, but in his zeal, he was destroying any future relationship he might have with the man.
Zanjor's eyebrows shoot up at Jorzan's statement. "Wh-what I know about Bal-Zat? Is this some kind of sick joke?" The merchant scowls at Jorzan. "Why do you think I ran? You're Bal-Zat."
Suddenly looking doubtful, he glances at the warriors all around him and then back at the shadowdancer. "...arent' you?"
Having said his piece on the matter of Gray, Karthan gathers up a bunch of the extra gear you have acquired and heads out into the markets to make trades.
@Karthan: At Honest Ed's, a jewelery shop, you put the rubies and emerald out on the counter for the grouchy dwarf on the other side to inspect, which he does eagerly, pulling his loupe down and getting in close. After only a second of looking, he sets the emerald down and gives you a scrutinizing look. "Been raiding royalty, have ye? This is a grand emerald, worth 'bout 3,500gp by my estimation. Be worth more if it weren't for the scratches in the 7th and 12th facets. Looks like it used to be set, but was pulled. If you did the pulling, I'd advise you to be more careful next time. You're robbing yourself by damaging jewels this way."
He picks up one of the rubies and makes a quizzical noise. "GAH!" He exclaims, suddenly dropping the red stone as if had sprouted tentacles or something. "You can't sell those here! I can't take those! Those have souls in them! Ugh! I'll pay ye for the emerald but I'll have nothing t'do with no soulstones. Pity, too; those are nice rubies."
He stumps over to a safe and starts pulling out money drawers. "Platinum pieces okay with you, friend? 3,500 is an awful lotta gold to be luggin' around, even for a big fella like you."
"Platinum is fine. What, pray tell, is a soul-gem?"
Knowledge (arcana) check
Suddenly Jorzan sits up ramrod straight, shocked to his core "Wait! What?? Are you saying Bal-Zat looks like me?? Like US??"
But even as he says this, certain things begin to click into place for the young man 'Yes, it all makes sense. Why else would we all look so much alike? In his insane vanity he must have tried to mold us all in his own image.'
Leaning forward, he stares at his 'other' intently, his words intense and urgent. "Look Zorjan, I don't know much, but I'll tell you what I know, and I hope you'll then do the same. I was kidnapped from my family as a young child, I hardly remember them at all, just the barest fragments of memory but...but I know they''re real" he insists, clear to all present that he is trying to convince himself as much if not more than anyone else the truth of this "I spent most of my childhood being tormented and tortured by that evil sick bastard and his twisted creations in ways most good people can not even imagine. I still don't know what he was trying to do with all of us children, or what he did do but he did do...something. I was freed of his machinations by the Paladine of Izmir when they destroyed his central tower and killed Bal-Zat, ridding the world of him forever. Or so I thought. It appears that he still exists, in incorporeal form, and is perhaps more powerful now than ever before. All I know of that for sure is that he, or someone claiming to be him and with access to his constructs is still after me. And perhaps Cassandra too. And I will do anything I have to do to protect Cassandra and put a stop to Bal-Zat's evil. Anything."
Staring directly at Zorjan and giving a moment for this to sink he Jorzan continues. "Most of what I know I learned from one of my other 'brothers', the only one I've met, besides you. He lives not too far from this city, actually, and I will share with you what he shared with me.
He told us the tale of the Bard King, who's tale is one of great power, great talent, but also great pride. Warned, the Bard King was, centuries ago, not to attempt to rule Iridian, that that land must remain free of mortal interference and blessed by Shelyn, but he was prideful and would not listen. His bardic gifts, he felt, made him beloved of the goddess of beauty and art and dance and as such he felt it was his right to rule that land! But he was wrong, and Iridian was taken from him, and he was banished, and Shelyn's jewel fell into cursed darkness. None may rule there, now, and indeed it is said red dragons have taken that land for their own as only they are fierce enough to keep away the magical beasts that live in those woods, and the ghosts that haunt that place.
The soldiers of the Bard King, they were strong and skilled. They were warrior-artists, great men and women. The first curse of the Bard King was Bal-Zat; that he should be located in the unclaimed lands and harass and waylay the people of Iridian, and use the warriors of the Bard-King's kingdom as subjects for terrible magical and alchemical experimentation. Those experiments, Zorjan, those experiments led to us! There were boys and girls, always orphans, who Bal-Zat sought to make into a shadow army, so he could infiltrate and take Iridian for his own, and from there other lands, to recreate the empire of the Uniter, but in his own terrible, hateful vision!
Camor has chosen to be one of the guardians of of a tower, a tower that is a remnant of Bal-Zat's power. Long ago the Paladine of Izmir set incorporeal guards there to watch, lest the ghostly form of that terrible necromancer attempt to come back, and once again inhabit a physical body. I myself say this tower and it's ghostly gardians with my own eyes, so I can assure that much at least is true.
Camor told me Zanjor that we all are not brothers in the strict sense of having the same mother, but we have the same...creator. Terrible as that is, Bal-Zat used his foul magic to change us into what we are, what we would become. He used blood of the warriors of the Bard King to impart magic into us, which affected how we appear. Which is at least part of the reason why we all look so much alike....
...and according to him there are many more of 'us' around. You though, you, Zanjor, you seem...different, somehow. Certainly different from myself, and I would have the full of it. I will have the full of it Zorjan, so stop wasting time and let's hear it. Who are you, where do you come from, what do you know of Bal-Zat, why did you think he was after to you and who are the 'they' you keep referring to?? Tell me what you know!"
Although he is trying to rein in his temper and not terrify the pitiful man more, Jorzan is having great difficulty doing so. At the same time, he still in no way fully trusts his older 'twin' and studies the man's features, features he knows so well, for any sign of duplicity.
Sense Motive:
I really had wanted Jorzan to be there for the selling of the gems as I had a feeling there was something going on with them. I mean why would the tengu have them? But would it be ok to suggest ooc to Karthan that he ask to take a closer look at the scratches on the emerald?
@Karthan: Ed shrugs. "Little daemons puke 'em out. They have the soul of someone 'at died near them locked away in there. Evil creatures can eat 'em to gain strength, plus they're rumored to have all kinds of other powers if someone knows how to unlock 'em."
Even as Honest Ed says this, you yourself recall reading about Cacodaemons, the least of daemonkind, that dwell in Abaddon and can consume souls and regurgitate soul-gems as the dwarf has indicated. You don't recall soul-gems necessarily being any particular kind of stone, but rubies seem as appropriate as anything...
@Karthan: Ed shrugs. "Little daemons puke 'em out. They have the soul of someone 'at died near them locked away in there. Evil creatures can eat 'em to gain strength, plus they're rumored to have all kinds of other powers if someone knows how to unlock 'em."
Even as Honest Ed says this, you yourself recall reading about Cacodaemons, the least of daemonkind, that dwell in Abaddon and can consume souls and regurgitate soul-gems as the dwarf has indicated. You don't recall soul-gems necessarily being any particular kind of stone, but rubies seem as appropriate as anything...
"Interesting. I think you've jogged a memory. If they can't be sold, what should we do with them?"
"Oh, they can be sold, just not to me. Maybe a wizard, a necromancer or something -- that sort of person may well want them. Alchemists, too! They love that kind of thing. Aye, I'm sure you can sell 'em to someone like that. They're just no use to a jeweler in that state."
"Oh, they can be sold, just not to me. Maybe a wizard, a necromancer or something -- that sort of person may well want them. Alchemists, too! They love that kind of thing. Aye, I'm sure you can sell 'em to someone like that. They're just no use to a jeweler in that state."
"Any recommendations in town for a buyer who'd use these responsibly? I don't want to cause any problems with a sale."
"We didn't pry those emeralds out - what can you tell me about the scratches, Ed?" He takes a moment to lean down, not seeing them without the jeweler's loupe.
"Easy, Jorzan," Kelne said mildly, "I think he was entitled to be uncooperative under the circumstances." Jorzan's passions could easily carry him away, especially where Bal-Zat was concerned. This latest revelation about the mage was decidedly not reassuring. If Bal-Zat wanted to take on flesh again, it stood to reason that he'd want a body which resembled his old one. He refrained from pointing this out. Zanjor was already scared out of his wits, there was no sense adding to it if the knowledge wouldn't help him.
"I'm actually relieved Zanjor's different from you," he told Jorzan, "If you had similar personalities, given your separate origins, I'd have to wonder if they were really your own personalities at all." And wasn't that just a terrifying prospect? As if wearing the man's face wasn't bad enough, the idea that one's very thoughts might have been moulded to mirror those of a deranged maniac was enough to give anyone nightmares. It wasn't beyond the realm of possibility that there was someone out there who had been so moulded. Another cheery thought.
"We're in no rush," he went on, returning his attention to Zanjor, "and you're in no danger here. Take a minute to compose yourself and get your thoughts in order, then start at the beginning."
Joran glanced at Kelne, nodding at the man's words. Puffing out his breath, he sits back, taking a moment to compose himself. He knew his emotions sometimes got out of control, especially where Bal-Zat was concerned. He knew too there was a darkness within him and thoughts of the archmage always seemed to bring it bubbling ever closer to the surface. He also knew that he had to always control that darkness, and never let it have full rein, no matter what.
Also though, some of the Northman's words had given another shock to the shadowdancer's system again. 'Our personalities?...' echo his ally's words through his mind 'Could Bal-Zat somehow have tampered with our thoughts, our essence as well?...' the very idea of such scared the young man perhaps more than anything he had ever encountered before. After a moment though, his youthful confidence bravely reasserts itself 'But no! NO! I am me! I am Myself! And my thoughts are no one's but my own! And as Kelne said himself, Camor, Zanjor and I are all different...so, no, it's impossible!'
For the most part feeling better, he leans forward again, concentrating on the merchant's next words, ignoring the faint tendrils of doubt which refuse to be completely eradicated.
At that moment though he is attention is suddenly distracted by a soft voice calling his name "Jorrrsssssaaaannnnnn."
Bolting to his feet and reaching for his weapon, the hairs standing up on the back of his neck he looks all around, exclaiming "What!! Who said that??" His companions and 'brother' all look at him with various reactions on their faces but it is clear that none of them have heard a thing.
Stammering, feeling embarrassed and foolish he stutters "I thought I...I...ah, no, sorry, it's, it's nothing." before sitting back down, the flush in his face slowly fading to normal. Wanting all the attention off of himself, he brusquely motions for Zanjor to speak
Karthan: Ed shrugs offhandedly. "jus' looks like marks left by a thief's tool, a pick or grabber or vice grip. Judging by the coloration of the stone and the location of the scratches, I'd say this was originally in a crown or tiara of some sort."
Zanjor gives Kelne a grateful look. He seems a little more at ease with Karthan and especially Gray out of the room. "Well, the 'they' I'm speaking of are Baron Ormir's Wolfguards. They're not especially popular here, but they are welcome. A group of them have been helping keep troublemakers out of my shop. They're the ones who originally told me what I was, and that there might be more of me. They brought books that told the story of Bal-Zat in full. Then, in the last week or so, they told me I needed to be careful, that the current host of Bal-Zat's spirit was coming to collect me. If he collects all of us, he wil be powerful enough to return to physical form, you see, and being collected means you die so the wizard may live. Anyway, they said I should warn them immediately if I should see a man who looks just like me. That's where I was headed when Jorzan here tracked me and, er, stopped me."
Cassandra comes over and solemnly pats Zanjor on the head. "It's okay, funny round man. You don't die because of a wizard. You die because of devils. The same devils that try to eat me, but Mean Man stops them."
"Yes, that sounds like the Wolfguards," Kelne said with surprising equanimity, "Convince people that they're in terrible danger but it's alright because they're there to help. And then one day you wake up and realise you're in terrible danger from the Wolfguards." Wry humour masked a deep and abiding anger. Kelne spoke, after all, from personal experience.
"I daresay most of what they told you is entirely true," he went on, "That's what makes the big lie so dangerously effective. They want Jorzan for reasons which have nothing to do with Bal-Zat. He's their connection to Cassandra here," he indicated the girl, "And the more allies they can recruit in their search, the more mistrust they can sow against her protectors, the easier it'll be for them to snatch her."
As Jorzan tells his story, the boy perks up, becoming more and more interested. He moves away from the windows and squeezes around the others to sit directly in front of Jorzan, cross-legged on the floor.
He nods along with the story, mouth agape in astonishment.
When Kelne explains the Wolfguards' deception, and their pursuit of Cassandra, the boy seems shocked and angry.
You are all startled by a loud thump, and see the monster has pounded his fists on the floor, sending clouds of dust up from the rug and between the floorboards.
"SMASH WOLFGUARDS!" he yells.
He grunts and seems to calm slightly, sitting back, but a low, quiet growl continues.
"Wait, so, you're saying the Wolfguards have just been stringing me along? But that's impossible! They're so...helpful, they looked after me...and..." Zanjor trails off, turning to look at Cassandra. "...wait. WHAT did you say?"
The girl smiles up in the general direction of his voice. "It's okay, Devils get you, not men. Th-"
The excitable merchant cuts her off, his voice high and hysterical. "HOW ON EARTH IS THAT MEANT TO BE A COMFORT! BY ABADAR'S HOLY TE-"
Zanjor himself is cut off by a loud thumping on the door. A gruff voice speaks loudly enough to easily be heard through the solid dwarven door of your room. "Kelne! I know you're in there, Kelne, we followed your friends. Come out here. I promise you won't be hurt. I'm authorized by the Baron to make..." There is pause. "...to make a deal. We have something you want. Or, more precisely, something the girl wants."
Zanjor's eyes get big. "w-w-w-wolfguards!" he squeaks.
Cassandra angles her head quizzically and says, very softly, very questioningly; "...Kevin?"
Kelne had hoped to gloss over Cassandra's statement, but it was only to be expected that Zanjor would pick up on it. Cassandra really wasn't very good at reassuring people. Then the Wolfguard turned up, and those concerns became secondary.
"Oh, you promise not to hurt me, do you?" Kelne asked with withering sarcasm, swinging the door wide, "How very generous of you. You'll forgive me if I don't reciprocate just yet." He set himself in the doorway, making it very clear by his stance that nobody was to enter the room.
"Let's hear the deal, and then you can wait downstairs while we discuss it." From the single word Cassandra had spoken, he could hazard a guess just what that deal was, but let the man spell out the details.
The deep, rumbling growl, which has not stopped, grows louder as Kelne opens the door for the Wolfguard.
"Grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr"
The wolfguard is a big man; bigger even than Karthan. He could pass for Warbanian if his skin were the right color. He eyes Kelne carefully -- Kelne was, after all, the man whose story had been told and retold countless times back in the Baron's fiefdom. The man who refused the wolfguards, or so the story went. The unwelcome one. The exile. He snorts derisively. "I thought you'd be bigger." he snarls at his fellow northman. He favors the Monster with a sneer, then speaks again. "The deal is this. We have the girl's brother. She wants him to live, she comes to the palace with Kelne and Kelne alone. We have a scroll of Teleport to make it happen. The rest of you aren't part of this deal, and if you try to help out, you get Marked. Go ahead and ask your friend Kelne here what that means. He'll tell you it's not pleasant."
The wolfguard backs up and takes something out of his pouch. "You have one hour. If we don't see you by the sulfur pits on the north side of the cavern within that time, bad things start happening to the kid." He throws down a balled-up rag. "That's a little something to let you know we're serious." He turns then and stomps down the hall.
Cassandra is staring at the rag. Her face is ash-white and giant tears are streaming down her cheeks. She is completely motionless except for her lower lip, which is quivering violently.
Reslinging his shield after the Wolfguard leaves, Sir Justahl slowly picks up the balled-up rag and carefully unwraps it.
'I need to get my hands on those books!' is the main thought running through Jorzan's mind as Zanjor relates his story. Before he gets a chance to ask about them though, events suddenly seem to progress rapidly. First Kelne and the Monster make their opinions known and then Cassie innocently scares the stuffing out of Zanjor, at which point Jorzan can't entirely suppresses his chuckle. Mid laugh though all mirth is instantly evaporated as the Wolfguard make their presence and intentions clearly known.
Before Kelne even has a chance to open the door Jorzan is across the room, standing protectively in front of their young ward. When Justahl bends down to pick up the rag, Jorzan also squats down, takes Cassandra gently by the shoulders and turning her completely away from it. "There's nothing there you need to see honey" he tell her quietly before pulling her into a comforting embrace. Wanting more than anything to promise her that everything would be alright, the young shadowdancer at the same time cannot bring himself to lie to her, so he simply keeps quiet. Although he would do anything to keep her from harm, he knows the chances of rescuing her brother are slim to none.
Knowing they need to make some quick decisions but also not wanting Cassandra to hear any of their talk he stands and leads her over to Monster. Placing her small hand in the Monster's huge one he tells the fierce yet gentle hearted creature "Watch her for a while will you? And, maybe you can show her how well Monsters can sing or hum, eh?" hoping the magical beast will catch his meaning.
Moving as far away from the pair as the room will allow he motions the others closer and says quietly "We all know Kelene and Cassandra are not going anywhere alone together, least of all into the Baron's clutches. So the real question is, were rescuing Kevin even possible, as much as it pains me to say this, would it be worth it to even try the attempt? Dare we risk losing all to save one boy, no matter how important he may be to Cassie?" as he speaks these words Jorzan feels something within him die a little bit, and he has to swallow tightly to get the last words out of this throat. He keeps telling himself that he is only thinking of Cassandra's safety and the completion of their mission, yet the words are feeble things indeed against the darkness inside him which seems to grow a little more.
"Dare we not?" Kelne countered bluntly, "Sacrificing Kevin might mean we don't stick our necks into the trap, but they know where we are now and we'll be hounded every step of the way along our journey. If we have to confront Ormir, I'd rather we do it now, while Kevin's still alive to be saved."
"It's risky, I'll grant you, but quite aside from the moral issue, this is a golden opportunity to deal with Ormir once and for all. He's laid down a challenge, and I say we accept it. I've been preparing to confront him for most of my adult life, and while I might not be able to kill him alone, between us, I think we stand a good chance. I like to think Callistria will smile on such an endeavour."
He swept his gaze around the small room, gaguing the others' reactions. It was a terrible risk, and the truth of the matter was he wasn't unbiased. He thought his reasoning was sound, but if he was gainsaid, he'd accept it.
Cassandra ought to have a say in this too, but he thought the others should talk first. Too much risk of letting apparent predestination guide them in their decisions.