Frowning at her rapier and casting a sidelong glance at her 'sewing kit', Alis comments, "I think we might need to put some of our funds to good use upgrading my weaponry in the near future. I swear, I think that overgrown dog laughed when I pricked it with my rapier."
After ensuring that the horses are unharmed and everything is calm, Alis finally turns-in for the night after casting a healing spell upon Priyya. Alexis joins her and the two are soon fast asleep leaving Morgaard to the remainder of his watch.
Frowning at her rapier and casting a sidelong glance at her 'sewing kit', Alis comments, "I think we might need to put some of our funds to good use upgrading my weaponry in the near future. I swear, I think that overgrown dog laughed when I pricked it with my rapier."
Felmor gives her a grin, "Aye, neveh really like them pointy blades, much. Jes give me me trusted club, works ever' time" He holds up his pin, still encrusted with wolf hair. "Favorite weapon of sailors 'n press gangs alike."
He then turns in to catch some shuteye before his watch starts.
Felmor watches her go back to bed, and noticed her hair was bound up again, after the fight. Aye, her 'air is lovely, jes betteh neveh tell 'er that, otherwise she be upset. Still, a fine lady like that, hard ta find. Aye, verry 'ard indeed.
Priyya quickly uses a fold of her robe to cover her hair.
She bids everyone goodnight and retreats to her pup tent.
Morgaard wiped off a bit of the blood from his face before offering thanks:
"Well, the bow works. I apperciate the pitching in all, I think it just paid for itself!"
During his watch, he drags the bodies of the wolves just south of camp in hopes that any predators would go for an easy meal of fresh and bloody dead than the more-dangerous prey of the swift-bladed party. After, he retuns to the campfire where he begins cleaning the gore from his studded armor with an oiled cloth.
Smiling, he then lights his pipe; letting the smoke rings drift into the dark of the late watches.
After about another hour, Alexis re-emerges from her tent, spellbook in hand, and sits next to Morgaard at the fire. She whispers, "Alissariel is actually sleeping well tonight, I'm impressed. I wonder if Priyya spoke to her about the bad dreams she has."
She sits by her uncle enjoying the smell of his pipe and the crackling of the fire. When she notices that he is starting to look sleepy, she places her hand lightly on his shoulder and whispers, "I think your turn at watch is over. Felmor's up next, but I'll be ok if you want to let him get some more rest."
When Morgaard gives her a pat on the back and heads over to Felmor's tent to wake him for his turn she just smiles. Always looking out for your little girls...
With a nod, she welcomes Felmor to the fire and continues to peruse her spellbook.
Ach, 'n I wus 'aving the most pleasent dream too.
Felmor takes a seat by the fire and keeps his weapons close. Soon, a sense of fatigue takes over him. Not wanting to disturb Alexis with her studies, sensing she is much like him, preferring to be alone for the most part, he gets up and walks around the perimeter of the campfire, more to stay awake, than to keep an eye out for danger.
Aye, wish me brother was alive today fer this, what would 'e say ifn he knew th' company I was travelin' wit. Royal princesses, Keleshite priestess, aquatic elf, ach crazy stuff ta be sure.
In the pre-dawn hour, Priyya leaves her pup tent, a gauzy veil pinned to her hair. She smiles at Felmor and Alexis in passing and sits down in her meditational position facing East.
Upon seeing that Priyya is up, Alexis walks up to the sleepy sailor and mentions that he should try to get a bit more rest while he's able.
Once the warrior-priestess has completed her morning prayers, she approaches Priyya and whispers, "I don't know if it was the excitement from the wolf attack or something that you said, but Alissariel fell right asleep last night and didn't fidget much even after I got up."
She motions Alexis to sit beside her and whispers in response, "We did talk a bit last night. I hope that it helped her to sleep." She pauses, debating what to say, "She talked a little about your parents' death, your uncle's betrayal, and her time at the... 'temple'. I am very sorry for what you have both had to endure. She also spoke, somewhat, about her fears as well - mostly through telling me a little of her dreams. What may have been most helpful for her is that we grieved and wept together - over your losses and the hurt inflicted on the little girl that she was. It is a good start, I think."
Sleepy though she is from the night's excitement, it's not hard for Priyya to see Alexis stiffen slightly at the mention of 'the temple' before she relaxes. She continues in the hushed tones that you two are sharing, "You must have really gotten my sister to open-up if she told you about her time amongst the Calistrians! Just please," she looks at you in earnest, "never speak a word of it to anyone besides Alis or myself. Any time it is mentioned around Morgaard," she looks over towards his tent, "it's everything he can do to resist the urge to head straight to Kyonin and go on a bloody rampage. While such a response would not be entirely unwarranted, even he wouldn't last long against Duke Kirmoon's elite guard. Given how strongly the Duke resents Alis and I, you can be assured that Morgaard's would not be a fitting death for one as honorable as he."
Alexis sighs. "When our 'uncle' split us up, it wasn't immediately clear that he had disinherited us. I was sent away to Cassomir where Aunt Corrina enrolled me in an academy for youths who showed a gift for magic. Alissariel though... well, her defiant attitude rubs some people the wrong way. All I knew was that since she didn't seem to respect authority and showed little patience for academics that she was being sent to a convent. While I was heart-broken, such a choice is not unusual for noble offspring who are not the first-born — even if I am only five minutes older. It wasn't until none of my correspondences were being returned that the Countess, our aunt, finally figured out that the Duke was up to no good."
She shakes her head and frowns.
"Thankfully," she continues, "not every visitor to that temple was a depraved beast. You see, it's not merely lust but also revenge and her other moods for which many elves revere Calistria. It just so happens that the man who is now our personal tailor, one Lord Laithoron Aernelóth, had long sought to win Queen Telandia's hand. While the two of them did indeed share similar political views and enjoy their banter, the queen never really saw him more than as a friend and his rank at court was not nearly prestigious enough to make him a viable suitor for a sovereign. It just so happens that after yet another let-down he had gone to the 'temple' to forget his sorrows or perhaps to wish that his lot in life was different."
"As fate would have it, it just so happens that on that day, the girl he normally saw during such bouts of angst was not there. As he roamed about looking for her, Laithoron spotted a young acolyte being chastised and about to be whipped for some wrong-doing. He intervened and said that he would be happy to handle the matter for them, in private. The frustrated woman gave him her lash and left them alone in a chamber together. As you can probably guess, that acolyte was my sister. What she had done isn't important, but what is was the fact that she received no lashings that day. Instead, Lord Aernelóth and she spoke for many hours."
"I think realizing that his own plight wasn't nearly so terrible as Alissariel's changed something in him. Not long afterwards, Aunt Corrina and I received an invitation to the relatively new city of Greengold — a diplomatic trade city on the eastern shore of Lake Encarthan. Upon our arrival, we were greeted by an emissary who called himself Lord Aernelóth. He was joined by a mutual friend of my Father's, Morgaard, and the woman that the elvish court had appointed to serve as my Mother's retainer, Miss Nell. Alissariel was standing besides them and we were both mystified at what was going on and at the fancy dresses that Miss Nell said we should change into."
"That evening, in the very halls of our father's old estate on the outskirts of the city, Queen Telandia raised my sister and I to the ranks of princess right there in front of our false uncle and half the court. Everything she said after that, the whole rest of the night was just a blur to me, but I'll never forget how pale Father's wicked brother grew when he realized that the nieces he sought to usurp now outranked him and were given residence in a far newer and grander estate than his own. It wasn't until later on that I learned about everything that had happened to Alis and how Morgaard and Nelliel rescued Alis while Laithoron went to the Queen to reveal the injustice he had uncovered."
"I guess the fact that the gods never struck any of them down is proof that at least Calistria's lust for encouraging the savored-string of revenge is as strong as her other aspects..."
At last done with her tale, Alexis smiles with relief before showing an uncharacteristic display of emotion and giving Priyya a big hug.
"Thank you," she says quietly.
She listens to Alexis' tale earnestly, absorbing every word. When hugged, she holds the Elf maid closely for some time - seemingly happy in giving, and in some way receiving, comfort.
She says, "Of course, I will never speak of this to anyone. Frankly, I was debating whether I should even mention it to you. These are wounds you both received and I didn't wish to open them afresh for you...
Regarding Alis, I suggested she spend some time thinking about the past, grieving her losses. Be mindful of that. She may need to talk through some of her thoughts and feelings. I suspect you have always been willing to listen, but she just needed to be ready to talk. She may be approaching that point, at least I hope she is. As I told her, I would be happy to listen... but I think, as her sister, she will probably come to you first. I will try to stay around for as long as I can, once you leave. I think it may make things easier for her." Priyya looks pensive about the next bit, "I think after you leave, Alis could probably use another 'bed-fellow', not an intimate but a sisterly sort... If she is comfortable with Miss Nell and can truly confide in her - good. But if she can't..." She sighs and plows on, "I would be happy, while I can, to spend my nights with her." She looks at Alexis nervously, to see if she is offended by the offer. She doesn't know many Elves and no Princesses so she has NO idea if this idea is insane.
Alexis smiles and actually laughs slightly at Priyya's seriousness. "Well, Miss Nell is more of a motherly sort than a sister figure. Considering Alissariel spends half her time trying to avoid getting caught by Miss Nell in some mischief or other, I'm sure she could use a surrogate sister for a while at least. Well, it looks like the others are starting to rise. I suppose we should start getting ready to face the day's challenges..."
She gives Priyya one last squeeze before releasing her embrace and running off to her tent with almost girlish vigor. "Wake up, lazy bones!" you hear her call before there's a *whomp* and a poof of feathers escape from their tent-flap.
Priyya breathes a sigh of relief that she didn't offend the Princess. Seeing people are about to stir, she goes back to her tent. As she is ducking into her tent, Felmor is emerging from his. She pointedly unpins and removes her veil in front of him - shaking her hair out, as she has seen some normal girls do. She smiles at him, laughs lightly, and disappears into her tent. I can give him this small pleasure she thinks, knowing how much he likes her hair. There is so little else I can do for him.
She returns a few minutes later, headdress in place and truly bearing her mantle as Surya-ka-Vahaak. She packs her tent and equipment with an economy of motion.
Felmor says To Alexis, before he heads back to his tent, "Aye, not a bad idear, Princess Alexis, I be up agin afer too long."
His sleep is restful, and as he wakes up again, he sees Priyya shake his hair in front of him, and gives a clumsy bow in return. Aye she is somethin' special. she is indeed a Warrior of Light.
Later on after her morning meditations, he pulls Priyya aside, and says quietly, I jes wanna thank ye, from th' bottom o' me heart again, fer bein' a good friend. Good friends are hard ta find...'n i wanted ye ta know that. I figger now is a good time ta let ye know, cause afer a voyage, me last cap'n always told us, 'neveh leave any unfinished business ashore'. What he meant is always say what ya gotta say when ye 'ave th' chance cause sailin' a risky affair. Th'e Princesses can tell ye 'bout that."
He pauses, looks away for a second and finishes up, "I hope ye find what ye is lookin' fer, someday. Ye certainly deserve it." He then heads back to his tent to prepare for the journey ahead.
Priyya listens to Felmor's words and the feelings behind them... and she is utterly poleaxed by his nobility. What an astonishing man.
She stands motionless, watching him pack his equipment. She's not sure what to do or what to say. Her impulse is to... she doesn't even know. Slowly the sounds of the band intrude, everyone is packing up camp. She doesn't have time for this, but she can't ignore it either. And whatever she does, it will have to be public.
She rests her scimitar on her pack and approaches him. "Felmor" When he turns around, she stares into his eyes for a long measure. Her eyes well up but she doesn't cry. She hugs him fiercely, her body pressed against his. He stands awkwardly, unsure what to do. She doesn't slacken until he hugs her back. She enjoys the feeling of being held for a long moment. Then she pulls away and says, "Thank you - for what you said. I think your Captain was a wise man. There are things you have a right to know about me but now is not the time. After we rescue this girl, when we can speak privately, then I'll let my hair down and we can talk as Felmor and Priyya. Now, I have to be Surya-ka-Vahaak. I hope you understand that."
Priyya doesn't wait for an answer; she can't. She turns, snatches up her scimitar along with her spiritual mantle and finishes breaking down her tent. Priyya tries not to meet anyone's eyes.
Once everyone is up, you down your rations, break camp, and saddle-up as quickly as you are able. You have barely been riding for an hour when the trees begin to thin, revealing a field of short, green grass that leads to the shores of a wide, calm lake reflecting the overcast sky above. A dense fog hangs over the center of the lake, obscuring the far side. Near the shore of the lake, a dark form lies next to the water.
Perception Checks
Priyya walks over to Suny. If there are any guards in sight, she will tell them to clear the room. She has to examine the girl. With clinical efficiency, she does so.
1d20+4+2
Finishing her perusal, she looks at Suny, "The troubadour wasn't lying. You do have a parasite that is spread through sexual congress. You probably should have talked to me before attacking him - to determine if he was lying. The good news is that it can be cured, but you'll want to refrain from being intimate for awhile. I have to go speak with the Mayor now. Be patient."
Priyya leaves without another word.
Suny dresses again, as Priyya leaves without saying anything more. She sits down upon the cells' cot, then lays down and curls up. Tom simply looks in, closes the door and walks off. During the rest of the day Suny eats sparingly of any food brought to her and sips lightly at any water. Day flows into night, the brown skinned elf does no more than lay curled upon the bunk.
Come the new day, she stirs, stands and walks to the cell door bars. Rapping upon them lightly to gain attention.
"Hellooo...?" She calls quietly, "I wunt t' get ouwt now...pleease." she calls. The Jail-keep eventually comes over and unlocks the cell door.
"You're friends have left." He says simply and curtly. "Your gear is there," He points to the pack and the rest of Sunys' gear where it has been placed in a neat pile in a side room.
"Your bail and fine have been deducted from your reward for removing the bandit threat." His words are delivered with out malice, though they are also devoid of feeling, or warmth or empathy. Indeed, he doesn't seem to care about the tall Elf at all, simply performing the routine motions of releasing a prisoner.
Suny dons her gear, pulls her pack onto her back and walks out of the towns jail. Her head hangs forward, short blond locks falling over her eyes. Slowly she walks through town, not caring about any attention she might gather from the towns folk, if indeed there is any attention wasted upon her at all.
Following the path of least resistance, Suny comes to the river bank and simply turns to follow its course down stream.
Priyya mentions "Well the body appears dead and is dressed similar to the bandits we ran into earlier. Might be a trap, I suppose, or that fellow ran into something more unfriendly."
FWIW, I think that the problem we ran into is a difference of play styles and gameplay goals. Whether this is just a matter of how you've envisioned Suny, or if this is how you play all of your characters, simply put, in this case it didn't work out.
If you would like a little more clarification, since the boards don't have private messaging, post your email address and we can discuss the matter outside of the forums.
As of right now though, I'm considering that Suny has exited this side-trek.
Felmor rides quietly by himself, his knees guiding him in the saddle by instinct, he tries to qull the emotion flooding in his veins, but it just is not possible now. Maybe later.
Priyya, words snap him back to reality, and he lides off his mount. "Ate, betteh check it out."
"Woah! Hold up there, sailor." She says in a kindly way, "You're not walking into that situation without help. I'm not liking anything about this situation, or that body, or that lake. Let's figure out the best way to safely check this out. I've got a grappling hook and line. Could we hook the body, maybe a drag it a might closer to us... see if anything happens first?" She hops down from her horse, handing the reins to another rider, and starts breaking the equipment from her pack while keeping an eye open.
"Aye, ye is thinkin' like a sailor now, ye sure ye ain't one?" He grins at her. "I has me some experience at castin' out hooks, he he, so lemme see yer hook, 'n we'll see what happens 'ere."
His expression turns serious, and he turns to the ladies, and Morgaard. "Wilst we 'ead up there, keep a sharp eye on th' lake." He will wait for a signal from Priyya before letting loose with the hook.
"Aye, ye is thinkin' like a sailor now, ye sure ye ain't one?" He grins at her.
She smiles, "Not in this lifetime. Maybe I was a flinty buccaneer in a previous life."
His expression turns serious, and he turns to the ladies, and Morgaard. "Wilst we 'ead up there, keep a sharp eye on th' lake." He will wait for a signal from Priyya before letting loose with the hook.
"Hey!" She says with concern, "That is some awfully big bait you're going to hook on the end of that line... If you catch a big fish - you let the rope go, alright?" Priyya c0cks her crossbow and loosens her sword, just in case. Seeing nothing amiss Priyya motions for Felmor to cast when ready.
She smiles, "Not in this lifetime. Maybe I was a flinty buccaneer in a previous life."
"Aye, I guess not, still, ye gots th' look o' one"
"Hey!" She says with concern, "That is some awfully big bait you're going to hook on the end of that line... If you catch a big fish - you let the rope go, alright?" Priyya motions for Felmor to cast when ready.
"Aye, I don't feel like becomin' bait meself."
"Aye, I guess not, still, ye gots th' look o' one"She smiles, "Not in this lifetime. Maybe I was a flinty buccaneer in a previous life."
Priyya is not sure whether she's been complimented, insulted, or possibly a bit of both. She laughs, "Are you saying I look like a sailor or a buccaneer?"
Priyya is not sure whether she's been complimented, insulted, or possibly a bit of both. She laughs, "Are you saying I look like a sailor or a buccaneer?"
"Nope, I said ye gots th'smarts o' one." Aye me mouth is goin' git me in trouble agin. I ain't no bard, ye know.
"Well, that's good... otherwise I'd need to borrow Alis' wardrobe." She says lightly.
Aye me mouth is goin' git me in trouble agin. I ain't no bard, ye know
"Well, that's good... otherwise I'd need to borrow Alis' wardrobe." She says lightly.
"Ach, I hope not, whut a rediculous getup that was!" Felmor glances behind him, making sure Alis did not hear him. The last thing he needed was Alis either upset at him, or worse, convincing Priyya to wear it!
"Ach, I hope not, whut a rediculous getup that was!" Felmor glances behind him, making sure Alis did not hear him. The last thing he needed was Alis either upset at him, or worse, convincing Priyya to wear it!
Edit - of course with that dark skin-tone and long black hair, she'd probably pass for a Chelaxian Dominatrix... hm... think I have my next character concept. :)
"Ach, I hope not, whut a rediculous getup that was!"
Looking behind himself, Felmor sees Alis just a few feet away observing their conversation and handiwork from her saddle with a questioning look on her face. "Ridiculous hmm? So that's what the boys are calling it these days, hmm?"
She winks and continues, "Don't worry Felmor, I shan't tell my tailor of your disapproval. Say Priyya, would you care to try on my bicorn hat and captain's coat at some point? Maybe Felmor can judge if it is better suited by your complexion."
Throughout your banter, the body on the shore does not move. Felmor easily hooks it with the grapnel and Alis reels it in by looping the rope around the horn on her saddle with a clove hitch. She drags it about 40 feet from the shore before untying the rope and coming back to have a look with the rest of you.
Felmor senses someone behind him. wit' my luck it will be... he turns and indeed it is Lady Alis.
"Ach, that's all right, no need. Don't think red is 'er color."
Priyya, picks up on the game... She eyes Alis' form in an appreciative manner and parts her robe throwing aside the trail of her headdress to show the mail underneath, comparing her body to Alis'. She cups beneath her bosom and pushes them up and together trying to see if she could even remotely fill out the bodice. Alis realises Priyya is actually a bit larger than she previously thought but nowhere near the size required to do justice to the bodice. Alis thinks well my bodice wouldn't work but Laithoron is a wizard...
She casts a furtive glance to gauge Felmor's reaction...
...before releasing herself and rearranging her robes.
The form appears to be the decaying body of a bandit. There are huge bite marks all over his upper torso, but strangely no animals have picked at the corpse.
Alexis shakes her head at everyone's silliness this morning.
"It looks to me like he was refilling his canteen and something in the lake got him. The lack of animals suggests that either the animals know to avoid the lake or got grabbed by the same beastie when they came snooping around. I'm somewhat curious about the items scattered about, though they are probably valueless. Alexis, Alis - do either of you have a spell that could grab those items safely?"
Upon hearing Priyya's analysis, Alis pinches her nose and leans closer.
"Shouldn't birds or bugs at least have started pecking at the corpse, sis?"
Priyya considers Alis' words, "You make a good point. I wonder if something is wrong with this fellow that he wasn't suitable for eating by beast or bugs."
"Hmm, well let's see then..."
"Well, if being savaged by giant jaws didn't do our friend in then it appears that the poison must have. His body is full of venom! As for retrieving items from a distance, I can help with that..."
Alexis hesitates for a moment as she begins tossing sand everywhere. "Um... I don't suppose you could actually point out what it was you saw, could you?" ^_^;;;
With Priyya's help, Alexis is able to retrieve a pair of items located near the body:
On the body itself, you also find a dagger and longsword of normal quality, along with his now-ruined studded leather (which is beyond mending).
Priyya stands companionably close to Alexis and has her look down Priyya's extended arm at the objects.
Priyya is wondering if some natural beast out here can deliver such a massive load of venom.
"Alis would you like the crossbow to replace your experimental model? It might change your luck." Priyya crouches down over the body, moving it gingerly with her scabbard as needed. She is trying to find evidence of how the envenoming happened - assuming it was wound-based.