The door opens revealing a girl of about 13 and a young boy of about 10. They are both grimy and look slightly malnourished but otherwise healthy. The girl immediately catches your attention as she unmistakably bears that regal presence that commands attention. The boy not as much but as soon as he sees you he steps forward to place himself between you all. Stay away from my sister, And even though you all are bearing weapons and armor covered in blood he adds, or I will fight you!
Duardlara stows her bow and crouches down, sitting on her heels before the valiant little protector. ”It is good that you stand up for your sister. It is better that you recognize that many battles in this world cannot be fought alone. You need friends to help you make it through. These,” she gestures, ”are my friends and we have faced many wondrous and terrible things, things that would have defeated any of us alone, including a massive dragon! We mean you no harm. We would aid you in escaping this terrible place, if you would let us.”
The elf stands and steps away from the boy, turning at a sound behind her, ”Ah, Cynehelm! You have rejoined us! Please, tell the young hero here that we mean only to help.”
That's right brave man, we killed the nasty monster that was in tis room.
The giant troll steps back and lets the less monstrous handle the diplomacy while he looks around for any clues about Rasputin, the people they have saved, the science that is going on here. Detect Magic.
"We admire your spirit, young man. A sister is a thing worth protecting. But you need fear none of us. We are here as liberators."
He fishes out some food from his pack. No doubt it is very different from this world's food, but it is edible and present. Cynehelm holds it out to the boy and girl.
The boy looks past Jetro at the dead demon thing before looking up to his sister for approval. Getting a small nod he turns to the party. Slowly he reaches out a hand to take the food offered by Cynehelm. He gives it a small nibble before taking a large bite. While he eats the girl stares at you with those commanding eyes. What are your plans with us? You call yourselves liberators but what are you liberating and what are your goals?
Titian you find 5 bandages of rapid recovery, a bloodletting Kukri, and 125gp worth of coins and valuables among the bodies and equipment. The demon has a ring of protection +2.
Cynehelm regards the boy, who is evidently more than he seems. Small boys don't generally talk that way. "Our plans for you? To return you to your family, I should think. If we can. Who are you two, and where are your families? Why are you here in this camp?"
"I'm Cynehelm, by the way. I'm... from a very distant kingdom."
The girl looks off in the distance as if trying to gather her memories. My name is Anastasia. But as for my family….I am not sure. I have dreams at night of being woken up in the middle of the night and told to face a wall. Then there is brief pain and everything goes red then black. Rasputin did I was in a coma and he brought me here to recover. Then things went crazy as strange creatures appeared around us. They never hurt me but we were scared.
"Indeed. I'd be scared too. But we're not going to let anyone hurt you, even if we're a little scary-looking ourselves. The pretty lady is Duardlara. This is Jetro. And the big guy is Titian. Now, stay close to us."
"Do you remember anything about this place that might be helpful? We're trying to find Rasputin and stop him."
Yea, what Cynehelm said. Jetro has little skill in child wrangling.
Duardlara bows slightly. ”Pleasure to make your acquaintance. Rasputin has become quite dangerous. This madness,” she gestures about the building, ”is only part of it.”
The young woman looks shocked at you all. No! Clearly there is a mistake. It is Rasputin that has been protecting me and helping me. He has never hurt me ever. I remember very little, but I do know that someone tried to kill him, and he risked his life to save us. Only by his faith and piety did he survive the assassination
The boy chimes in with his mouth full of food. That's right. When Anna was out, he brought us here to keep us safe. He saved her life. And it's my fault we are here in this building. I was bored and wanted to play hide and seek. Anna found me in here just before that thing came in.
Something seems off about the boy's comments. He comes across as insincere and manipulative rather than just a child looking for help and a chance to play a game with his sister.
Cynehelm smiles at the lad, but decides to keep quiet and watch him. He'll tell the others of his suspicions when he has the chance to do so out of Alexei's hearing.
"Well, perhaps you're right," says the wise priest of Sarenrae. "But we won't know for certain until we speak to him and we should do that right away. Do you know how to find him?"
The boy looks at you and shrugs his shoulders, I have not seen him for a couple of days. I don't know where he is.
Cynehelm looks at the boy like a parent regarding an erring child. "But you know where he probably is, don't you? It's important we find him. For your sake, and Anastasia's."
Jetro keeps looking suspicous
Titan says, "I believe that we should take the young woman to her grandmother's house for the time being. I think you were all there as we meet up. We can grab some of our other rescuees at the same time. Once they are secure. We should investigate the technology magic that is the world anchors. This seems like the path for which we have the most information."
Both of the children park up at the mention of grandmother’s house. The girl with curiosity and the boy with alarm. Anastasia pipes up What do you mean my grandmother? Whike the boy cries out, You can’t Anna! Rasputin said that the healing he did on you isn’t finished and if you leave the camp it may be undone?
As Cynehelm presses the location of Rasputin the boy points towards the west. He likes to go to the abandoned church a lot.
Cynehelm looks to Anna for her reaction
Anastasia seems put off by her brother's words for a bit but then seems to acknowledge the truth in them. It is true that Rasputin did say that I would need to stay here for the healing to fully work and for my memory to come back.
Cynehelm you find her to be honest with you. She would like to go but fears for her safety, health, and sanity.
Jetro is present, but at a loss for words.
Titan will cast detect magic and scan the two for any signs of magical problems, mental control etc.
Alexi does not radiate any magical auras. Anastasia has a lingering aura of a massively complex and powerful evocation spell. This may be the cause or the result of her memory loss
Perhaps we can get that magic spell gotten rid of. The one on the little lady that is.
Duardlara is not comfortable dealing with the human children and spends her time while her friends talk to them on watch, keeping eyes and ears peeled for anyone approaching.
"We know where they are, and we know of her grandmother. We can search for a way to heal her to restore her memories, or we can start exploring the technology of the towers in the corners. I don't want to remover her against her will unless we know she is in immediate danger."
The hut sounds like the safest place for her.
"This is a dangerous place," says Cynehelm. "We can't leave two children in a camp of madmen and monsters. We must take them with us!"
Diplomacy
"I know your brother loves you, but this is a dangerous place, and Rasputin is not here anymore. I think we can leave you somewhere nicer than this horrible building, and once we have an even better place we can take you there."
But Anna you can't go. You know what Rasputin said and it might be worse for you if you do leave. Alexie pleads with Anastasia turning around to face her and grip her hands.
will save
Anastasia looks to agree with Titian but at the last moment her face slackens at the look on Alexie's face. Yes Alexie, you are right. I need to stay here.
Well this is going bad. Guess we arn't kid people.
Duardlara listens to the conversation, not participating, but something in the brother's pleas makes her listen closer.
She shakes her head, unable to put her finger on it. Cynehelm reads people well. If there is something, he will know.
Cynehelm watches the children, growing concerned by what he sees.
[ooc] Shockingly good!
"We understand," says the priest. "Go with the blessings of the gods."
"Can I see you over here for a moment?" he says to Duardlara, Titian and Jetro.
Once alone, he whispers. "The boy is casting some sort of spell over the girl to influence her mind. And I didn't see him cast a spell so I'm guessing its some sort of innate ability that little boys just shouldn't have. I'm thinking we separate the two and see what happens."
Alexie smiles as you walk off while Anastasia seems a bit saddened but perks up as Alexie starts talking to her. From what you have seen Cynehelm you are not sure you could get them separated at all from each other as Alexie is completely loyal and willing to defend Anastasia at all costs.
If Alexie is some sort of creature doing this we could give him a couple of arrows. We've been at this too long to really think he is just a little boy. We just need to break his cover perhaps in front of the girl.
"If he is magical. He is some form of protector and a shape changer. Clearly an agent of our enemy. We could call him out in front of the girl. Provoke him somehow."
”He could be doing what he thinks for the girl, misguided by the devil Rasputin. So hard to know who is an ally in the many worlds of Baba Yaga. I propose that you speak to the ‘boy’ alone to let him know you know he is more than he seems and try to bring him to our side first. If he reacts poorly, well, violence is still an available option.”
Works for me.
"Let us all remember that though we are forced to work for an ancient evil witch, we still must weigh good and evil. This boy may be strange, but he may yet turn out to be a boy. Let's set aside violence until we know more."
"...but keep your bow handy."
Turning back to the pair Cynehelm speaks up.
"Alexie, could I speak with you alone for a moment?" He gestures the boy to step aside with him.
Alexie looks back at Anastasia for a moment before stepping forward 10 feet. Clearly this is as far as he is willing to go at this point but at least he stepped forward to listen to what you have to say. What is it? Is everything ok? Are you going to leave Ana alone now so she can get better?
"Well, possibly," says Cynehelm, watching the boy carefully.
"Alexie, we know you're using magic on Anastasia to coerce her to remain here," he whispers, keeping his voice low to keep the girl from overhearing him.
"We'd like to give you the opportunity to break your spell and let her think for herself. Then you and I can talk some more about the future. What do you think?"
Alexie lowers his voice in response, [smaller]I don't want to alarm Anastasia but Rasputin told me that she has to stay in the camp and that I am to do everything I can to keep her here and keep her safe. I will continue to do everything I can then until he says otherwise. Sometimes that is helping her when she does not know she needs the help.[/smaller[/b]
You notice Cynehelm that he does not acknowledge the spell casting but does not deny it either. Why deny something that everyone else knows about except the subject of the spell.
"And if we decide it's time for you both to come with us, what then? Rasputin is lying about Anastasia and means her no good."