This doesn't sound good. Not blaming you at all Kel, but I guess we gave too much information.
In the night, Aravashnial leaves his bed and makes his way out of the home with surprising grace, careful not to wake anyone.
"They were entitled to know the truth. It's a great risk they're taking to reveal themselves to the authorities that cast them aside."
After an evening wandering the streets for available goods and supplies, Max shares his findings with the group.
The gem and ring sound interesting to me, I'm not skilled with bows or shields though.
"The queen is a good person." Kel said with conviction. "I don't believe the ancestors of these people were driven out on her orders. I just can't believe that."
He sighed. She wouldn't do that, would she?
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After Max gets back from his excursion into the town, Deia listens to what Max has learned. "Many of those things sound useful. We should probably talk to Oppoli to see what he thinks about some trades. He may also have some extra bottles. I filled mine with the Holy Water from the basin at the dwarven temple, " adds Deia.
Deia has a meal before she goes to sleep and makes sure that Astra gets some meat. She strokes the owl's head, "Don't worry, I am sure we will get to the surface soon where you will be able to fly freely again. "
"The items seem useful indeed, but perhaps beyond our limited means."
Tina attempts to write invisibility into her formula books.(DC 17)
Tina manages to get the tricky formula into her book and then gets right to sleep.
"Max thanks for picking up the supplies."
"This scrap metal will be perfect for the bullets. Hmm I really need to get some silver at some point and make some special ones as well.
After being healed by Tina and Deia and hopping he doesn't have some nasty fly disease, he lies down for a night of sleep. The next morning, Rex goes about studying his gunsmithing book to manufacture more bullets for his pistol using scrap metal and other components for the black powder.
Max will attempt to learn a couple of spells.
After learning Detect Secret Doors, Max retires for the evening.
Kel sleeps pretty much as soon as he has the chance. Soldiers don't always know when their next chance to rest will be, so they tend to take the opportunity as soon as it comes up.
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Late in the night, when all are asleep, Astra is disturbed by Aravashnial's movement.
The owl sees a long figure move in the room when the rest of party sleeps. It flaps its wings and hoots loudly several times, trying to alert Deia to the unusual movement.
Deia sits up in her bedroll and tries to calm the bird, "What has gotten you so excited?" she asks quietly.
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While Deia tries to calm her Owl, she tries to figure out what has it so excited.
As Aravashnial creeps out of the room, his silhouette is visible when he crosses the doorway out of the room where the group is sleeping.
That is odd. It looks like Aravashnial, but he is injured and doesn't see well. What is going on here?, she thinks. After that, Deia calls out, "Aravashnial, is that you? Where are you going? What are you doing?"
Aravashnial stops in his tracks, careful to remain hidden. In low, hushed tones he answers Deia's question.
"It is, and I'm going to relieve myself. Nothing to worry about. Go back to sleep."
"No, no, I'll be quite alright. I may be blind, but I think I've gotten an understanding on how to move with it."
With that, Aravashnial leaves the house and disappears into the town.
The morning comes with the sounds of the townsfolk going about their daily business. Though the cave remains in perpetual dusk, the people here seem to have fallen into a normal routine not that different from those on the surface. While your rest was uneventful, it isn't long before you notice that Aravashnial's bed is empty.
"Well that's strange. Did something happen to Aravashnial?" asks Max in puzzlement.
Tina grabs her equipment and mixing supplies as soon as she gets done with morning buisness. Did he head out to the privy?
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Deia relates what she knows about the events during the night.
"Some time late in the night, Aravashnial woke up and got Astra all excited. I asked him what he was doing and he said that he needed to relieve himself. It seemed like a reasonable thing to do so I went back to sleep. I have not seen him since."
She then adds, "We should probably go make sure he didn't hit his head or have an accident."
we should also talk to the other people in the village if they saw him. Tina will head out with the others.
"Curious," thinks Max. "Do you recall when he hit that darkmantle so well with his acid splash? I do wonder if that was no fluke. Make sure you haven't lost any belongings." Max checks his things to make sure nothing has been taken.
Rex finishes crafting his bullets and powder the next morning. He then leaves his chambers and joins the party.
After hearing of Aravashnial's midnight wanderings, "What do we think the elf was out doing in the middle of the night?"
[b]Let's check the chief's house, we can also ask at the front gates if he passed by.[/dice]
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Deia looks through her things to see if anything is missing.
"That is a good question, Rex" replies Deia. "Nothing makes sense to me, though. Even if he can see or can use magic to overcome blindness, his only two choices are to go deeper in the caverns or try to contact the cultists before we can. Neither of those things seem like something he could have planned in advance. Though, Aravashnial did seem interested in what Sull knows. Perhaps we should see what he might be able to add. "
"I haven't lost anything. We should ask around. There's no way an elf could've gone unnoticed amongst these folk." Max will search for leads, and attempt to put his deductive powers to work - with a bit of Guidance from beyond.
-Posted with Wayfinder
Max chimes in. "Rumor has it that Chief Sull is making an extremely important announcement today. Perhaps it relates to whether they will join the crusade. As for Aravashnial, it seems like he's gone out of his way to avoid detection. I'd hate for him to cause trouble. I think finding him is a top priority, and perhaps the seer can help."
Frustrated, Tina meets with the others. Can't get anyone to talk to me. I guess we should see the seer and then chief.
"I agree let's see the chief and hear what the announcement is."
-Posted with Wayfinder
You head off to Seer Oppoli's home, having been pointed in its direction more than a few times while asking around about Aravashnial. When you arrive you find the outside of the home covered in various totems and symbols. As you approach the door a man's voice calls out from inside.
"I knew you would be coming to see me sooner or later. Enter, and I will help you find your friend."
"How hard is it to find the only blind elf in the city." Kel mutters, following the others' lead.
Or maybe he just knows how to play people. Tina is doubtful but follows in.
The overpowering smell of incense assaults your senses as you open the door. Inside you find Seer Oppoli sitting in the exact center of the room with twelve large piles of incense placed equidistant from each other in a close circle around him. He is staring at the thick cloud of swirling smoke that has gathered in the upper reaches of the room. In his right palm he holds a pile of sand which he let's slip slowly through his outstretched fingers to form a series of smaller piles on the floor.
"Come, come. Let us discuss your friend. The spirits have told me much, but there is more to know. I believe we can help each other in this."
With that Oppoli lowers his head and reveals that he has but a single, withered, and unblinking eye in the middle of his forehead.
-Posted with Wayfinder
Well he was injured when the demons invaded the city and lost his eyesight. He seems to have wandered off last night after saying he was just going to relieve himself.
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Deia adds to Tina's observations, "We did also see him use magic in the tunnels. So, while he is injured he is not helpless."
Then she adds, "I was the last one to see Aravashnial last night. He awoke in the small hours and disturbed my owl, Astra. She fluttered and roused me. That's when I asked him what he was doing and he said he needed to relieve himself. Everything seemed normal to me."
As if a cue was given, the owl makes a few hoots while sitting on Deia's shoulder.
"Fascinating," says Max upon entry to the seer. Max attempts to discern the nature of the seer's practices.
Seer Oppoli notices Max's casting and says, "So, you do not trust my magics, hmm? You think I am a fraud, don't you? Well, I assure you, my magic is as real and as powerful as yours."
As the final grains of sand fall through Oppoli's fingers he glances down at the piles they've formed on the floor, frowns, and scoops the sand back into his hand.
"The spirits have told me grave things about your friend. You say that he wandered off last night, but I can tell you that he hasn't wandered far. I can also tell you that his wandering will be the cause of a great turmoil in Neathholm. What I cannot say is if it will be for the good or ill of our people. Tell me, what reasons do you think your friend would have for wandering off?"