Able to track Adrien for about 60 ft she would switch to hearing to keep track of him for as far as she can. The light system didn't notify her, but it would notify her companions and would tell her what to do.
Jazzai also kept her ears out for other trouble, twitching this way and that to listen.
Adrien stalks into the ruined structure, cloaked in his glamor. He is almost entirely invisible; a shadow amongst shadows, a rustle of leaves or the breath of the wind.
The light is dim inside the ruins. The young fey looks about the deserted structure, finding that the swamp is steadily reclaiming this portion of land quickly. The floor is covered in a carpet of moss and a tangle of small shrubs, while vines climb up and down the walls. A roof had partially collapsed, leaving rubble strewn about. Only one section of the keep looks intact from the inside, and that is an inner room with stone walls reaching up to the section of ceiling that had not collapsed. A stout, iron-braced door bars entry into the room, though the wood appears weakened and the metal rusted.
....
Outside, Sphene tilts her head, as if listening. Suddenly, she reacts with shock. The Dragonsong--! Can you hear it?
Unfortunately, nothing can be heard by anyone else but the usual sounds of the swamp. Sphene circles about overhead, excitedly. It's calling! The dragons! My... mother?
Sphene pauses, listening again to whatever it is that she can hear. It's beautiful! I can't stay with you. I'm sorry. I wish I could, but, if only you could hear it! It's easy to tell she's conflicted, but whatever has caught her is inexorable. She bids a brief goodbye, then launches herself into the air and heads in a southeastern direction at her best speed.
Jazzai about jumps out of her skin at the sudden exclamation having not expected it. Her ears twitched back and forth searching for the sound but came up with nothing.
Looking at Kane in confusion as she oriented herself and noted the direction her wings flapped off too.
"Ummm....okay... bye.." Jazzai said with a confused tone of voice.
Observing the ruins, you get a sense of ... is it instinct? Something telling you that this place would be perfect. All you would have to do is perch yourself amongst the ruins and be patient. Eventually, prey would come along. You could observe your victims for however long you chose, waiting as their eyes pass over you without recognizing the threat. And then, and then...
Her attention quickly went back towards Peacock straining to hear. Jazzai would start heading towards the place carefully worried she may be called away. Stopping from time to time listening and feeling around for Peacock.
Would she get called away also. Worry filled her and her stomach dropped as the idea of Kane leaving made her pause. A stone sitting in her stomach.
Seeing no immediate danger, Peacock flies out of the ruins.
"The coast is clear!" He calls out, motioning for Jazzai and Kane to join him.
Jazzai sighs in relief hearing her. "Sphene left...something about her mother." It was obvious by the look on her face she was thankful she was still there.
Making her way closer to Adrien she reaches out taking his hand. "What did you see?
Jazzai, as you near the ruins, you detect the lingering smell of... human! You can tell one or more had been within the keep recently, perhaps a day or two ago.
Her head perks up. "Human....a person or people have been here. They have come and gone. I don't know if they are here now." Worry and excitement filled her
Maybe they could learn more about the place.
Jazzai, you can also tell, as best as you are able with your tremorsense, that the place is deserted except for the usual assortment of small, scurrying wildlife.
They can tell she is focusing intently. "I don't think it is inhabited. It doesn't give me that sense but we can explore it to double check. If part of it is sound it could be a great shelter."
Peacock explains what he saw.
"There might be something beyond those bars. Sir Kane, do you think you could break the wood around them?"
Kane broke his reverie with a shake of his head. He felt uncomfortable now. The tower was comfortable to him. Too comfortable. He could lose himself there.
Did I really just contemplate taking victims? Prey? I cannot succumb to this.
He looked into the sky where Sephine had left and shook his head again.
How long before each of us follow her. How long until we give in to what we have become? Will we think it beautiful too? Is that how we become monsters?
"No." He said out loud, and affirmation to himself. Not I. Not them. Death first.
"I am sorry. My mind was... on other things."
Kane moved closer, inspecting the bars Peacock was pointing to.
As you approach, you see a heavy wooden door reinforced with iron. It looks quite weathered, so it is likely much weaker now and could be battered down with some effort. However, upon closer inspection, it appears functional. There is a buildup of dirt along the base of the door, as if it had been opened and closed, scraping along the ground.
Kane waves the others forward and tests the door to see if it is locked.
It opens inward and appears to be unlocked. The hinges are rusted, however, and requires some effort to push it open.
The old hinges protest as the door swings inward, revealing an unlit room. As the light pours in, everyone is able to see three bedrolls that have obviously been used recently, a small table with an assortment of plates and a pack half-filled with rations, and a small fire pit in one corner of the room with a stack of firewood.
To Kane's and Adrien's eyes, this place looks like someone repurposed this ruin to be a hunting lodge.
Peacock attempts to hide again but, to his disappointment, finds that natutre's magic does not flow gently through the ruins' stones; try as he might, they refuse to hide him.
"I'll scout ahead," he whispers to Kane and Jazzai, before moving in as silently as possible.
Jazzai would sniff the air as Adrien moved ahead of them. Could it be possible that the two that they had found had come from here.
She tried to see if their scent was here.
The scent of the hunters are strong, and definitely not those of the creatures encountered at the standing stones. Jazzai can pick out three scents. All human males, she can tell one had a penchant for using incense, while another was definitely wearing (and probably slept in) leather armor of some sort. The third had nothing particularly noteworthy about his scent, except that it was there, and pungent.
"Sir Kane. Three males, all human. One liked using incense, I can still smell it. Another likes sleeping in leather armor of some sort and the other...well is pungent." Her hands clasped her spear.
"I have never been able to see, but my sense of smell just keeps getting better."
"Thank you. Three we can handle." Kane says moving slowly forward after Peacock, putting Jazzai's hand on his shoulder so she could move with him.
Further searching of the room and the interior of the ruined keep reveals nothing new. It is as it appears to be: an old, ruined fort that has essentially one serviceable room that some hunters have appropriated.
As the exploration of the keep finishes, Jazzai hears voices outside in the distance. Looking outside, Kane and Adrien see a rather large flat-bottomed boat with three people on it, paddling toward the keep. The skiff also bears a shiny black round shape that is bigger than the men.
"Sir Kane, voices out side." Moving with them towards the doorway. She clutched the spear hoping they weren't the unfriendly type.
"I see three men," Adrien whispers. "Three men, a boat, and... something black and shiny."
Kane nodded. "They are coming to us. Let us wait and see what they do and what this thing is that they carry."
He led Jazzai to a place of hiding and waited.
The sound of light conversation carries over the hillock to the party's ears as the mysterious group drag their skiff up on the soggy shoreline and disembark.
... get started fresh. Otherwise, we'll have to find a spot to make camp somewhere along the river in a couple hours, one of them says.
Good point. Well, I'd like to get this carcass to Dr. Oru before it starts stinking. He pays more for fresh specimens, another responds.
Don't worry about that. Desna's spell will keep it preserved for three days. Plenty of time to get back to Trollfork, the third counters.
Okay, then. It's settled. But we'd better drag the thing at least inside the keep. I'd hate for some scavenger to come along and ruin it, the first one says.
The other two quickly agree. As two of the men start working on unloading the black shape from the skiff, the one who mentioned Desna shoulders two packs and starts moving toward the ruins.
One of the other two glances up at the ruins before they make any real progress and his eyes bulge. Ronen, hold up a moment, he calls out.
Adrien follows Kane's lead, forcing himself to ignore the inner voice suggesting that he go distract the men while his allies escape. There would be too much risk in doing so, and they would be safer in numbers.
Jazzai would stand. "Sir's, can you help us? We are strangers to the area and were looking for food and shelter. We do not wish a confrontation." Considering how she held the spear, it was easy to see she wasn't that good with it. Her blind eyes looking in their direction.
Upon being noticed, Kane stands as Jazzai speaks.
The others start when Jazzai and Kane stand up, but all three relax but stay wary when the blind girl speaks. The two on the skiff step off onto the solid ground, leaving their bundle still in the boat. The one in front, Ronen, clears his throat and speaks.
Good afternoon, strangers! You certainly surprised us. I am Ronen Eldersen, acolyte of Desna. If you truly are peaceful travelers, I am obliged to share my shelter, and what food I can spare. And I believe I have enough for you both.
Continuing, he says, These are my companions, Jarrvik and Llewellyn. Would you introduce yourselves and tell us, how you arrived here? You're a long way from anywhere.
Jazzai bows deeply. "Ronen, Jarrvik and Llewellyn, its is a pleasure to meet you. I am Jazzai. I will let my companions introduce themselves when comfortable. Me and my companions are lost. We came here seeking water and food. All of us are strangers to the area. I and my companion here," Politely motions to Kane. [/b] originally came by caravan but then a pair of bulettes attacked, and there was some chaos that caused us to be left behind. To be completely honest, I don't even know what country I am in."[/b]
Adrien is hesitant, rembering his last encounter with holy men in Dawn's Vale. However, with Jazzai and Kane having revealed themselves, he judges best to do so as well.
"My name is Adrien Fletcher. I hail from Dawn's Vale, though I have been forced to leave my home after an encounter with fey has led to, well, what you see here. As Miss Jazzai here said, wee are lost and only seeking shelter and subsistence."
Jarrvik jumps a bit when Adrien reveals himself. He glances about the ruins and around him, looking for more hidden figures. How many are you? he demands.
Ronen raises his empty hands in a gesture of peace to ward off any hostilities, however. Please, please. It would be good of you to show yourselves, but I understand your fear. This was an unexpected meeting, so we are all on edge, I suspect.
He bows to everyone, including Adrien. Well met, Adrien Fletcher. I am afraid I do not know what you mean. But as to Miss Jazzai's question, I can tell you that you are in a border region, between Taldor and Galt. We're not really a part of either country, though I'm sure one map or another claims this region. Our little town is called Trollfork, roughly a day's ride on the river west from here.
Llewellyn scowls a little at Ronen as he divulges information, then he stares hard at Adrien for a moment. He's fey-touched, that's for sure. But he's so much as admitted that part. Have you joined a Court yet? Or has one laid claim to you?
"I have encountered one claiming to be my fey-mother in a dream. She called herself Queen Swandove of the Thistlefeather court. I did not agree to this transformation, if that's what you're looking to know, but I wish to know more about it before I seek a cure or to embrace it fully. Have you, perhaps, heard of Thistlefeather?"
Llewellyn frowns and rubs his chin, which sports several days' stubble. Sounds vaguely familiar. I can't keep them all straight, actually. There's a fey grove on up that way, in the direction of those distant peaks, in a valley, he gestures back the way you came. I'd usually warn folks away from such places, but maybe you'd find what you want to know.
"Excuse me, have you heard of The Duncael Sthielaf?" Jazzai asked remembering what the Dryad had called the creatures. Maybe they could give them some clues on to what these things were.
The blank look on the faces are, of course, lost on the blind woman. However, the sighted members of her party can see they do not recognize the words. Sorry, my lady. Haven't the foggiest, Ronen answers. If they're the new political group of Galt, they haven't reached here. We occasionally get a refugee now and then braving the swamp to escape the violence up north. It's for fear of reprisals Trollfork doesn't generally allow strangers to stay long. But the town's friendly enough, as long as you don't stir up trouble. You say you're lost. Trollfork has a few roads leading away, which could help you get your bearings.
"Ahh, thank you. Are you going to stay the night here? Then go to Trollfolk? Also, this is all of us." Jazzai said as she leaned against her spear. "If we are staying may we get a fire started? I find myself becoming a little cold and these wet clothes aren't helping."
We were planning that, yes, confirms Ronen. The other two exchange glances, still looking rather nervous. Desna's follower turns around and gives them a look, and Llewellyn shrugs and moves forward.
It'll be tight inside the room for all of us, but I can get the fire going. We'll stay outside while you dry yourself off. He pauses and studies Jazzai's face. You-- you're blind, aren't you? he asks, incredulously.
Jazzai looks at him and nods. "Yes, I am. I was born blind.' It was funny to hear that tone again. Someone being surprised she was blind. In its own strange way it was comforting.
She wasn't being greeted with fear and this relieved her.
"Hopefully it won't take time to dry off. I don't want to impose. I just know that I could get sick staying in wet clothes."
Llewellyn grunts an agreement, then moves inside the keep. In short order, he's got a fire going in the makeshift fireplace and hangs a kettle over the flames. Room's all yours, he says to Jazzai, then moves out to the skiff to help the others unload the large black carapace and lug it up toward the ruins.
Jarrvik sports a couple wounds, Adrien and Kane can see now that he's moved closer. He still seems a bit on edge. After unloading their cargo, he glances up in the sky, then looks pointedly at Kane. Doesn't appear to be raining. Why not pull down your hood?
Ronen, however, gives an exasperated sigh. Jarrvik! he chides, then looks apologetically at Kane and Adrien. I hope you would understand our caution. This is an unusual meeting. I hope you would entertain us with the circumstances that brought you to this swamp.
As for us, we take opportunities to explore this swamp, hunting unusual creatures and specimens. A very skilled doctor -- a scientist, if you will -- buys what we collect. He's a bit eccentric, but no grave robber or necromancer, if that's what you think.
He's odd, that's what he is, Jarrvik interjects.
Nothing wrong with that, so long as he helps folks. Why, two summers ago his poultices were quite successful in slowing the spread of the red pox. You remember that?
Jarrvik rolls his eyes a bit, then moves back to the skiff to check its moorings.
Jazzai would turn her head. "If any of you are injured I can tend to the wounds.
Kind of you to offer, Ronen says. But upon twilight, Desna will refresh my spells and I'll be able to attend to everyone. We had a rough go with that beast, but aside from a few new scars to show, we're whole.
Smiles. "That is good. Thank you for helping us. It has been a rough couple of days. I can scrounge up some food to help supplement." Before anyone could say anything against it she would start poking around looking for various foods she could scrounge up from the local area.
Kane shakes his head as the newcommer mentioned his hood.
It had to happen sooner or later. The wagoners drove us off after seeing my face. Still, I cannot judge all by the actions of a few. This will be a good test of how to broach the subject of my appearance.
"I have a... condition that many find off-putting." he says slowly moving his grey hands to his hood. "I find it best to simply avoid the issue. However, you asked and clearly wish to know who you are sharing a fire with."
He pushed back his cowl and revealed a face made of stone.
He looked for all the world like a statue of a man, or rather, mostly a man. His ears were far too pointed, his lips too thin and his nose too flat. He looked a bit unfinished, like he had more of an impression of a face than actual features. His eyes reflected the firelight like a cat's, and from his head grew a pair of short rocky horns.
A long silence passes while the three observe Kane. No one moves for weapons, but in the moment tension grows. But before it gets too great, Jarrvik chuckles.
Condition! I'd say. Doctor Oru would love to take a look at your condition, I'll bet.
Ronen, who had paled visibly, clears his throat and agrees. Indeed. I believe our curiosity is satisfied, and certainly it is understandable why you would cloak yourself. Though Jarrvik does have an interesting idea. Doctor Oru is fascinated about many strange things. Whatever has affected your appearance may be something he can assist with.
When Jazzai begins foraging, Llewellyn scoffs slightly, but is quickly mesmerized by her skillful way of picking through the undergrowth and through touch and smell alone find a wonderful array of foodstuffs. Most notably, she is able to uncover a patch of earthy, fragrant truffles that delight the bowman. Before long, he has a lopsided grin as he marvels over her skill.
By the time Ronen is back from his evening prayers, a tasty meal has been prepared. The cookfire illuminates the small room and turns it into a cozy little shelter.
Kane raises his hood again for the comfort of his fellows and nods.
"I would greatly like to meet this doctor, then."
The night passes uneventfully. Both sets of new acquaintances may have set their own watches, but only the passing stars and the usual night sounds of the swamp are to be observed.
In the morning, the skiff is loaded with the spider carcass and passengers. It is crowded, but the added number allow for more rotation of rowers so the work is lighter. By midday, the swamp narrows into a wide, slow-moving river and just before dusk, a small community of wooden buildings -- many of which are on stilts -- comes into view. The town sits at the fork of another river, and seems to have grown up around a wooden bridge that spans the width of both. Spotted around the shores are docks and flat-bottomed river boats.
We timed this about right. We should be able to get this thing to Dr. Oru's and not make a fuss with the townsfolk, Jarrvik says, referring to the spider.
The other hunters nod in agreement, and with a practiced manner, they dock and move the monstrous arachnid around the outskirts of town. They avoid the boardwalks and lighted taverns and inns where the townsfolk gather and the sounds of music and crowds filter down to the soggy ground. The move further away from the shorelines, and quickly make their way to a manor house which has a few lights burning out front. In the waning light, the house appears to have been once a fine estate, but its lawn is choked with weeds and the building itself appears in disrepair.
Ronen walks up to the front door and raps loudly.