Shael shifted in the warming water, unsure on how she was to respond to Malcom's request. After several long moments she took a deep breath as she collected her thoughts. "I can... try to help you. My mentor taught me a more regimented form of magic, but I understand what your going through. As I said I can try but don't get your hopes up, I am still a student. My mentor wasn't able to finish my training before he passed." She couldn't hide the pain in the last part of her words.
That's all I ask is that you try. Anything is better than what I've been learning on my own. Thank you.
Lets bind these miscreants up more securely. I don't mind taking them to the guardhouse, but I could use someone with a strong arm to assist me. Goodwin, can you give me a hand with that?
Shael nods at first before mentally scolding herself as their is a curtain separating them. "Err... Your welcome." She felt warmer then before, perhaps the water was reaching boiling. She quickly rose and toweled off before she became miserable in the overly warm bath. It had been good though to wash away all the dust from traveling.
I'll assist you in bringing them to the guard house. I'll get a lay of the land before heading out for more information tomorrow.
She has a talent for heating a tub of cold water to the perfect temperature He thinks to himself.
Not yet satisfied with the amount of relaxation he just had, Malcom hops into the cleaner, much warmer tub.
He shouts:"A glass of fine wine please, if its not too much trouble"
From the bathing room Malcom shouts:"A glass of fine wine please, if its not too much trouble"
From the bathing room Malcom shouts:"Did I overhear somebody say they were coming for a bath? You better hurry before the water gets cold. The conversation is also lac-ing in here.
Bring Wine!"
*Splashing
"Aye, that's it then. I'm to turn in for the night. Wake me if you have trouble with these two. Or if a new beer shipment arrives in the dark of night. Tomorrow, we introduce ourselves to the Bloody Pikes..."
Gurni shambles off up the stairs, lugging his equipment with him.
"Good kitty..." he mumbles to the leopard as he passes.
"I'll give him somethin' alright. Far as I can tell his legs ain't broke." Valyana mutters to herself as she gathers a block of cheese and a fresh towel. Then her and Shalyna head up the stairs.
"I thought ye might appreciate some cheese to go with the fine whine you seem to have up here already."
She seems to be on the edge of laughter and as the door closes, you hear the pair burst out into a gale of laughter.
The two girls run into Gurni on the way back down. The both give their best curtsy and head back into the common room. Valyana comes over to Ray and tells him, "Sir? The bath is ready."
"Ye'll be the first ta know." Talus chuckles as the dwarf walks by the cat. His gaze falls upon Kyle and Lucky as the push the two out the door.
"Hurry back now. The guards ain't too friendly either." He warns them.
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The two girls run into Gurni on the way back down. The both give their best curtsy and head back into the common room. Valyana comes over to Ray and tells him, "Sir? The bath is ready."
"Thank you and, uh, you don't need to call me sir. I've done little to earn it." Ray tells Valyana as he stands and goes to the bath. He disrobes and slips into the water with a sigh, letting the water soothe aching muscles and remove the day's grime.
"I'm never riding over a trail that difficult again."
Goodwin having kept to himself all this time remains seated in the common room nursing his ale.
"hmm a bath? No thanks, im gonna end up covered in dirt and gore tommorow anyways if these pikes are half as threatening as the locals think"
With a jerking motion Goodwin finishes his ale and stands up. Though hardly drunk exhaustion is making it hard to walk straight.
"Hey! I am looking to turn in, so if you are finished primping lets take these thugs down to the guard house and be done with their sorry asses"
Goodwin pulls his cloak tighter makes towards the thugs
Refreshed from her bath Shael comes down stairs and rejoins the others in the common room. Smirking at Ray's interaction with the girls and rolling her eyes at Malcom's calls for wine. She lingers near the stairs watching the coming's and goings in the room before taking her previous seat. "I'd like some water please." As she waits for her drink she pulls out her spell book, studying the arcane symbols and incantations written on the pages. After a few moments of reading she felt her anger surge and the tips of her hair brightened with her quiet rage.
Shalyna nods and scurries off to fetch Shael a glass of water. She returns and places it on the table within easy reach.
"Is there anything else I can help you with?"
So Goodwin and Kyle. I take it we are bringing these low-lifes to the guardhouse together. Let's go!
She looks over Shal-Kadun's handwriting, admiring his fine skill while grimacing at her own. She had only just started learning how to scribe them right, that was until they came and ruined everything. As the oily tendrils of smoke rose from the tips of her clean hair she looked to Shalyna and shook her head. "No, thank you. Let me know if I can help in some way, I know a few... tricks that can prove useful. Actually I will retire shortly, can you tell me which rooms are available? Any will do, even an attic is fine. I've survived with much less as of late."
Valyana and Shalyna enter and begin readying the tub for Ray. They're mumbling, but all you can make out is the occasional giggle.
While the girls prepare the other tub Malcom overhears the muttering and thinks to himself:There must be a new development going on out there, these women seem a little distraught.
After a few minutes, Valyana pulls the curtain aside just a little and hands you a block of cheese.
"I thought ye might appreciate some cheese to go with the fine whine you seem to have up here already."
But, no wine was ever brought to me?...
Malcom smiles a big smile at Valyana. "Thankyou for the trouble, the comforts here are far beyond what I have seen in well over a month. It means a lot to me"
She seems to be on the edge of laughter and as the door closes, you hear the pair burst out into a gale of laughter.
I think they like me.
"I'm never riding over a trail that difficult again."
"Here's hoping. I just want a place to settle down again."
Malcom breaks the his block of cheese in half and reaches through the curtain to hand the other half to Ray.
"Here have some, It's delicious. There is too much here for one person, and too much of this stuff will make you constipated you know.
What brings you to Redwall?
"At shoundz aww too famiar"
He swallows
"Are you planning on settling here? That is, if The Bloody Pikes don't run us out of town first. Or Worse..."
You make your way down the street to the guard house. The sun is getting low in the sky and the first hints of night are appearing in the east. The guard house is easy to spot. A few well armed and armored men stand in front. As you approach with the two thugs, you see one of them stir. His agitation is obvious as he hails you.
"A'ight, state yer business an' what yer about."
Talus gives a chuckle as he walks over to where Shael is sitting studying her book.
"We haven't had many people stay during the night for a few years. Yer the first in about three months. Yer room will be the third on the right. Valyana and Shalyna will be in the room next door if you need anything."
He lays a key on the table and walks back to the bar.
You're fast asleep in your bed and dreams of bashing in the faces of thugs and thieves help you get a restful nights sleep.
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"Probably not." Ray admits as he sets the cheese aside and starts to clean the cut hidden behind his hair. "The village isn't that far from here. Things would get worse if the thought I was a ghost now."
"What about you? You said my story sounded familiar, so are you here for the same reason?"
Shael smiles, albeit half-heartedly, at Talus. "Thank you Talus, it has been many a night since I have stayed at a fine Inn such as this. I am curious though. Some reacted as I expected when I entered, yet you and your staff do not seem to be... Disturbed by my presence. Why is that?"
The large man looks around nervously and then gives a sigh.
"Give me a moment and I'll see if I can answer that."
He walks over to where Valyana and Shalyna are and it discussion between the three looks very heated for a few moments before the two girls begin to slowly nod in resigned agreement.
The two girls walk over to the table where Shael is sitting and Talus comes after stopping by the bar to grab four ales.
"I think we're all going to need a drink fer this."
He sets the tankards down on front of the three women. and settles down in a chair next to Shael.
"I'm askin' ye ta put yer life in danger fer us, so it's only right that we trust ye with this. Ye can't tell anyone, except the fellas that are helpin' ye out with this. It would cost them their lives."
He nods his head towards the two girls on the other side of the table indicating exactly who would die.
"Show the lass yer arms."
Both the girls push their sleeves up well past the elbow. On their wrists and around their upper arms are tattoos of intricate knotwork coiling around. Just peeking out from under the rolled cuffs is a symbol that Shael can't make heads or tails of, but it's obvious that both are different.
"Tell me, have you ever heard of the Druids of the Iron Pines?"
Lucky marches the bound men to the guard house.
"Greetings, men. These hooligans here tore up the Sleeping Leopard, they viciously attacked the patrons and have besmirched this town's reputation for good business. Fortune smiles on them that they are still alive to tell about it. That and the mercy of good Talus, who bade us bring them here for incarceration."
The guard motions for three of the others to come over.
"A'ight, we'll take care o' 'em. Now, git!"
He and the others take the two thugs inside. The door closes and a couple of seconds later a deathly scream comes from within.
"At my home it was less of a misunderstanding and more of a major accident. There was a fire and some people were hurt. I was forced to leave. Its kind of a touchy subject for me still."
Malcom gets up and starts to towel off. He perks up a bit.
"I'm just wandering aimlessly until I find somewhere to fit in. Talus' offer is a good one. Lodging is nice compared to sleeping outdoors every night. What were planning on accomplishing tomorrow might be good for this community also. I could see myself staying here as long as I'm needed. If things don't go so well tomorrow it will be just as easy to move on."
He starts getting dressed.
Shael eyed the tatoo's curiously, she had never heard of the Druids of the Iron pines. Her education had been sadly cut short. She eyed the ale longingly and took hold of the tankard, guzzling it down quickly. For a moment she looked relaxed, but then she shifted uncomfortably as she started to feel hotter. Alcohol was not her friend these days.
"I didn't mean to have you reveal your secrets too me but I won't share them. Its not my place to divulge that which is private and beside most of these men enjoy fighting thugs and scum. Others... Would fight for nothing more then a smile from your girls." She said the last part teasingly before standing and undoing the upper part of her armor and clothing. She hesitates before revealing the infernal mark on the upper part of her chest, it was obviously branded there but it still looked hot and unhealed. "A gift from my father... So trust me if trouble comes knocking I am sure they aren't going to be looking at you two. Most likely they're going to come after me. Please rest easy, tomorrow the Pikes are going to meet their match." She redoes her armor and sits back down, her tail twitching idly as she gauged their response.
"I didn't mean to have you reveal your secrets too me but I won't share them. Its not my place to divulge that which is private and beside most of these men enjoy fighting thugs and scum. Others... Would fight for nothing more then a smile from your girls." She said the last part teasingly before standing and undoing the upper part of her armor and clothing. She hesitates before revealing the infernal mark on the upper part of her chest, it was obviously branded there but it still looked hot and unhealed. "A gift from my father... So trust me if trouble comes knocking I am sure they aren't going to be looking at you two. Most likely they're going to come after me. Please rest easy, tomorrow the Pikes are going to meet their match." She redoes her armor and sits back down, her tail twitching idly as she gauged their response.
"I wouldn't be so sure." Valyana's cheeks flush as she realizes wht she just said could be construed as an insult, "Not about those thugs, but about trouble coming."
Her eyes look down into the mostly full tankard.
"The two of us, we're hated almost as much as the bandits. Druids are not welcome here, especially if they are from the Iron Pines."
She looks at Shael again and asks in a whisper "Does it still hurt? It looks painful."
Shalyna nods as Valyana speaks, she waits for Shael to answer before continuing.
"If Talus hadn't given us a place to stay we'd be either dead, or not far from it. The people here fear the druids. They blame them --blame us-- for blighted crops, illnesses, even the bandit and goblin raids."
She sighs and props her head up on the table with both arms.
"We just wanna help, but if we try, we're as good as dead. Sometimes I ha--"
She's cut off as the door bursts open.
Goodwin, Lucky, and Kyle make it back to the Sleeping Leopard without any problems, but as the sun continues to set, it feels like more and more eyes are watching. The trio opens the door
"We just wanna help, but if we try, we're as good as dead. Sometimes I ha--"
They find Talus, Valyana, Shalyna, and Shael at the long table, with the first three looking at the door with terror etched on their faces. In front of the two girls are a couple of mostly tankards. Talus has his hands wrapped around a half-filled one, and in front of Shael is an empty tankard. The tension in the room lessens considerably as the three men who took the thugs to the guards are recognized.
Malcom waits for a reply from Ray but instead hears gentle snoring coming from behind the curtain.
It seems I have bored him into a slumber He thinks to himself.
"Wake Up! You'll drown in there.
Malcom exits the room.
Malcom walks back to the main room. Not noticing the tension in the room he walks up to Talus and buts in.
"Thank you for the accommodations, everything has been great thus far. If we are to lodge here for a bit would you mind if I kept some of my belongings here. I find them too cumbersome to take with me everywhere I go."
Talus turns with a start as Malcom speaks. He shakes the surprise out of his expression before he answers.
"It shouldn't be a problem. Don't mention the rooms. Yer all doing me a huge favor."
Malcom replies with a smile.
"Well I guess we're all helping each other out."
He picks his Backpack off the floor from beside the chair he was sitting in earlier and throws it over his shoulder.
"If you don't mind I'll be turning in for the night. Looks as though Ray might have dozed off in the tub. If he doesn't come out soon I'd recommend somebody go get him. Could you show me to my room?"
"Yeah, I'll show all of ye if ye like."
Talus walks behind the bar and grabs several sets of keys and leads anyone wanting to go to bed right then and leads you up a flight of stairs.
A set of racks holding various tools for maintaining the Inn line the wall to the right. To the left is a hallway with several rooms on either side. The first one on the left is the one that has the baths. A couple of doors down, the deep droning snore of a dwarf can be heard.
"Alright, take yer pick. The only one's off limits are the last one on the right and the one at the end. Those are me and the girls' rooms."
Malcom randomly picks a room and walks in.
"I wouldn't be so sure." Valyana's cheeks flush as she realizes wht she just said could be construed as an insult, "Not about those thugs, but about trouble coming."
Her eyes look down into the mostly full tankard.
"The two of us, we're hated almost as much as the bandits. Druids are not welcome here, especially if they are from the Iron Pines."
She looks at Shael again and asks in a whisper "Does it still hurt? It looks painful."
Shael doesn't construe Valyana's words as an insult, she merely nods in agreement with her. "Yes but you two can pass for human, I... Am a monster." As she finishes buttoning up her shirt, she sits down and shakes her head at Valyana. "It was the brand that awakened this latest gift, the wound doesn't heal and the pain is easy enough to ignore."
She pauses as Malcom comes in and waves as he quickly heads to his room.
Her hand however quickly moves with obvious arcane motions as the front door to the Inn opens. When it ends up being the trio who had left earlier Shael chooses not to finish casting. "How did it go? Are they back on the streets as soon as you released them?" She gives a chuckle and fidgets with the empty tankard on the table.
Without waiting for their response she turns to look at Valyana and Shalyna, giving them a kind smile. "Talus has the right of it, best stay out of the way until people pull their collective heads out of their arses. Besides no need for all of you to get tangled up further with these thugs... Its gonna get very bloody when we move to take back this street tomorrow..."
Her hand however quickly moves with obvious arcane motions as the front door to the Inn opens. When it ends up being the trio who had left earlier Shael chooses not to finish casting. "How did it go? Are they back on the streets as soon as you released them?" She gives a chuckle and fidgets with the empty tankard on the table.
Surprisingly, the guards pretty much treat every equally bad.
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The combination of the warm water, food, and coming down from two adrenaline-raising encounters caused Ray to doze in the bath. He wakes with a start when the door closes and, after asking aloud if Malcom was still there(and finds that he isn't), gets out to dry off and get dressed. He stares at the silver birthmark that goes up and down his arm before rolling the sleeve down and heading downstairs.