Paldo remembers that the statue in Heldren was the topic of a lot of conflicting theories and stories. some thought she was the founder of the town, or perhaps a spirit of the forest, or some hero whos story had been lost to time. it had been there longer than any current resident.
Eladorn would know that this statue was similarly unkown in origin. Nazheena, the witch who ruled over this stretch of Irrisen, claimed it was made as a likeness to her mother. others claimed it was of a different, older Jadwiga. others claimed it depicted a fey woman who had blessed the town.
"So we don't know exactly who made it, or whom it's based on?" Linge listens to Eladorn and Paldo's explanations.
She lays one hand flat against the statue's pedestal as if she was lost in contemplation, and discreetly casts a spell. They did see magical dolls; magical statues aren't too much of a stretch...
Paldo was lost in thought before he breathed a heavy sigh and whispered "Honestly I lost count of the number of different stories I heard about the statue in Heldren. It's older than anyone that lives in town and no one had ever documented anything official that I ever read. It's very interesting though that such a statue could exist on both sides of the portal. This can't be the first time this has happened."
as you are studying the statue, Paldo's comment about this existing on both sides of the portal makes some of you take a closer look around. it's not just the statue that looks like the one in Heldren, the layout and size of the town is very very similar to Heldren's.
Paldo's eyes suddenly focused on the building behind the statue. A huge wave of nostalgia came over him. "I suddenly feel as though I have been in this town before... Only I haven't been." Paldo moved closer to Garran and nudged his leg. "Garran... doesn't that townhall look exactly like the one in Heldren?" Paldo's gaze continued to the left as he swallowed hard "... and the General store, the blacksmith... What is going on here?" His thought out loud.
"Wait, what are you talking about? I never visited your Heldren; is it really that much the same?"
Not being familiar with Heldren, Sigrun doesn't notice the resemblance as readily, but she does feel her companions' sense of unease. "Hmm...well. Perhaps it's not a coincidence that the portal opened where it did, then. I wonder what else is similar between the two sides..."
For the first time since they got to the village, Linge takes the time to really take in her surroundings, and audibly gasps as she comes to the same conclusion as Paldo:
"You're right- it's almost identical! Incredible!" The more she thinks about it, the more she feels dread building in. "But how could it be- is it another magical trick?"
”Seems to be more than a coincidence. Garran says, speaking slowly. ”But I can’t imagine what it means “
the group spends some time comparing the similarities of this town to the one they came from.
Linge does not find any magical auras in the courtyard or coming from the statue. there are minor magical pings coming from the various shops and buildings around the town square, but nothing more than would be expected from normal magical items that would be in those types of stores.
the group heads back towards Nadya's house. standing in front of her door are 4 men in armor with swords drawn. they are knocking on the door as you approach.
Though he doesn't actually pull the bow off his shoulder, Eladorn's hands instinctively reach for it and an arrow, both hovering and ready to snap them up in case this turns out badly. He quickly steps into the shadow of a nearby building.
Linge visibly tenses up, and lets her hand hover over Horn's back, almost touching his fur, as she does when she feels threatened and is about to cast a spell.
She tries to guess who sent the soldiers, though she has a dreadful feeling they're probably working for the witch queen.
Garran draws his shield, then looks around to make sure his companions are ready.
Then he growls. ”You boys lost?”
Seeing the armed guards Paldo made sure to position himself behind the large Ulfen Cleric. Peeking from behind his armored companion he studied the guards looking for any indication as to whom they might be.
The guards turn around at Garran's words. they hold their swords at the ready in front of them
"Queen's business. none of your concern. you wouldn't happen to know this woman, Ms Petska would you?
Paldo and Linge are not able to ID the soldiers, though they all appear to be human and wear a matching uniform of blue cloth with a star symbol on their shields.
”Yes, I know her. Garran shrugs. ”I know a lot of people.”
Eladorn takes a look around, trying to see who else is in the area to see what happens if a scuffle breaks out.
"What has she done to displease the Queen?" Linge asks. "Surely this is all a big misunderstanding?"
Though her sincere worry makes her looks genuinely like a concerned citizen, she isn't really hoping to get a straight answer out of the soldiers.
”We fought a strange, bright colored insect outside of town. We don’t know how it got there, but if it’s the first of many, your queen might find information on it to be of greater value. Garran points in the direction of the insect fight. ”We don’t know where Ms. Petska is, but we should be able to find the dead insect again.”
The lead soldier replies to Garran and Linge
"Information is what we are here for. Nadya has been identified along with several others as possibly having information on a dangerous fugitive and a group of outsiders that may be here to stir up trouble."
one of the other soldiers leans in and says something to the first soldier
do you have the descriptions Radhosek gave us? these kind of look like them don't they? right number..
Just then, the door opens and Nadya pokes her head out
[b]"What is going on here? she asks.
"Nadya Petska? we need you to come with us. the sergeant has a few questions for you"
Nadya looks quickly tot he group to see what they are going to do. it looks like she is trying to decide whether to go along with the soldier's order or not.
”Group of outsiders? Ha! That could be us. We’re not here to stir up any trouble though. Just passing through.” Garran says.
Linge tries to assess whether the soldiers seem aggressive or threatening. She is wary of their intentions, and appears even more agitated as they order Nadya to follow then.
"Should we go along -with her, I mean?" she asks her teammates in an urgent whisper. "What if they torture her? Or worse..."
"Yeah, you might as well talk to us. We're the outsiders; that's pretty obvious." He nods towards Nadya. "She don't need no trouble. All she did was the kindness of escorting us to town and making us feel welcome. Ain't nothing for no sergeant to worry himself over."
"Hrm. Outsiders does sound like us. I don't think any of us are fugitives, though", Sigrun adds.
Paldo looked around nervously and whispered "I don't like the look of this guys, perhaps we let them take her and deal with this in a less public place?"
the guards look surprised that you answered their questions so quickly.
"and where are you from? Our sergeant is going to want a word with you all. come with us to the town hall and we'll get this all sorted out. He looks to Nadya.
"you can stay here for now. but don't leave town
”I’m from the south .” Garran states. ”A traveler, as I said.” He looks the soldiers over. ”Why don’t you lads put those swords away, and we can go talk to the sergeant.”
Relieved, Linge nods at Nadya: "We won't be long. Sorry for the inconvenience." She avoids any familiarity, hoping that the witch's henchmen and spies will leave Nadya alone if they think her mostly uninvolved in the matter.
the soldiers see that you are willing to cooperate and they do put their weapons away, though they still watch you closely. they group you together and walk with you to the town hall, soldiers surrounding your party.
once at the town hall you see the sergeant, dressed in similar garb as the others but of much nicer make, taking reports from a few other soldiers.
he looks up at your approach and one of the soldiers with you moves off to the side to have a quiet conversation with the sergeant.
the sergeant comes over to the group and speaks to you in Skald
"so this is the group we were told about. My name is Volan Sertane, servant of the Pale Tower and the Lady Nazheena. who are you, and why have you come to Irrisen?
"I am Eladorn, called 'Moonbeam' by some. I am native to Irrisen, though I call no settlement my home. I and my companion Shael--the stag I left outside--travel the wilderness and make do for ourselves. The rest here are travelers with family connections to the area; I'm helping them acclimate to Irrisen's unique environment."
Though some things have obviously been left unsaid, everything Eladorn says is true. He nods his head at the others, ready for someone to build on that with an explanation for how they got here, which Eladorn is not quite ready to try to explain.
”It’s an honor to meet you, Volan Sertane. Garran gives the sergeant a polite nod. ”I am Garran Oakthorn.” He pauses for effect. ”Of Taldor. We were brought here by magic, not our own.”
Garran looks Volan straight in the eye. ”I have no intention of breaking the laws of your town, nor of causing any problems . We just came into town to get supplies, and to try to figure out which direction we move next.”
Linge stands in lumpish embarrassment as Garran tries to explain the matter to the guards without revealing too much, and interferes only to add:
"We're just passing through, and we intend to leave soon. We don't mean any harm."
Paldo stays quiet just on edge looking around.
"From Taldor you say? and you're just passing through here? which I assume means you went through the Winter Portal. how did you get through? that portal is supposed to be heavily guarded to prevent folks from just wandering through!
he meets Garran's gaze directly. "The best direction you can go is right back through the portal and back to your homeland. shouldn't take much more discussion for you to figure that out. but not just yet. I need to speak with my boss and check on your story. and see what they want done with you
"Wait; you know about that?!?" Eladorn asks, stepping in front of the man before he can leave.
"I went through that from this side and found these others on the other side. They accompanied me back. What is that thing for?"
Garran waits to see what the sergeant has to say to Eladorn.
"It is a military matter, sir the guard replies "civilians shouldn't be going anywhere near the portal. you say you brought these foreigners here? why were they let past the sergeant running the operations?
"I can't speak to any sergeant; there was no sergeant or any authority present when I got there. Maybe somebody decided they liked the look of sunny Taldor? Deserters aren't my problem; nor could I have known it was a military operation. 'Twas just an unguarded--and very strange--portal."
"We've seen no sergeant on the other side," Linge adds.
It's not exactly a lie, she thinks. There was, of course, a small greeting committee, but it's not like any of them stood out as a officer. None of the creatures they killed certainly introduced itself as sergeant, or wore any kind of uniform at all.
”Could be more than one portal in play. We did see that strange creature. It wasn’t from Taldor. At least I’ve never seen the like.” Garran muses.
Explain. what strange creature did you see? was it a black-clad mounted knight?
Eladorn forces a laugh. "Didn't you hear him say it wasn't from Taldor? I know we're a long way from there, but surely you know how formal and feudal Taldor is. Mounted knights are an everyday sight down there!"
"I'm sure Paldo here must be referring to the giant insect we encountered and fought once we crossed into Irrisen. We saved that woman--Nadya--which is why she gave us a place to sleep for the night. We're moving on tomorrow, of course. No need to be in your hair any longer than necessary."
”It was a strange, brightly colored insect.” Garran agrees. ”Not from Taldor. Seemed out of place for here too.”
Paldo peeked out from putting as much of Garran between himself and the guard. "Yes, it was an odd giant Mantis like creature with a bright green shell. Looked out of place in a world so white."
"I don't recall seeing anyone," Linge shrugs. "Certainly no rider has tried to stop us."
Giant bug you say? not a troll or a mounted knight? Very well. I need to check in with our master before i decide what to do with you
he steps away into another room. several minutes later he comes back in
"You all will need to come with us. Radosek would like to speak to you about what you've seen. the guards from the portal have not checked in for the last two days. I have the feeling you might know something about that. whatever the truth is, we'll get to the bottom of it in the Pale Tower.
he gestures to the door and the guards move to guide you out.
do you go willingly, or resist? is there more you want to try to say before being led away?
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Garran focuses his full attention on the sergeant. ”You’re grasping at straws. If you’re worried about the guards at your portal, send a patrol. That would be a better use of your time, than the harassment of travelers. It’s pretty clear that we are not the knight you are looking for.”
"I agree. We have our own priorities, and can't just spend all day humoring your whims. It's time for us to go; have a good day."
Paldo pops out from behind Garran enthusiastically, "Yes my friend brings up a good point. You sound like you are getting desperate and sending someone to actually check would be a much better use of time. It's not our problem your scouts haven't checked in. Plus we saved some of your citizens from death... You're welcome!"