Ithariel nods at the woman, I think we understand, but we're going to the Pale Tower either way. So what's your daughter's name? Maybe we can say hi to her for you...
Thora...Thora Petska. I would appreciate that. i-
She looks up at a sound from the cave opening, her eyes flashing with readiness. There stands a newcomer, her bluish skin reflecting the flickering firelight. The woman has a hairless body, bare goat legs, and a horned head.
Good evening. May I join you?
Nadya seems a bit guarded, and looks to you.
Ote nods to Ques’ words.
”A warm fire is a friendly place, and by the laws of hospitality we cannot refuse it to you in good faith.” the tengu begins, standing. He then puts a hand most openly and obviously on the hilt of his no-dachi.
”Unless you mean us ill. Nadya - do you recognise this person?”
Ithariel looks at the new arrival, I think certainly you can be welcome at our fire, come in out of the snow he looks at his companions to see how else they react to the new arrival.
Nadya shakes her head quickly, though she remains cautious. No, I do not know her. She watches warily as the goat-woman accepts your kind offer and enters in from outside. She sits wearily, and casts her eyes about. My...quite the diverse...goup. Where are you all from?
Nox looks at the newcomer with a gimlet eye, remembering what he can about her sort.
”East. South. Not from here.” Ote replies a little warily.
Nox knows this as a forlarren - the offspring of a nymph and a fiend. Most definitely a Fey creature, this one is no doubt tricky to the point of being evil, and has the usual weaknesses against cold iron..Forlarrens also have magical abilities that mimic spells, but they're said to range quite a bit, based on ones parentage.
As the newcomer approaches, Tchezze stays silent, having been burned by accepting the new without caution. He observes the creatures and tries to figure out their intent. "Don't take this as rudeness, but what is your business here, Ma'am, and how should we address you?
The Forlarren smiles as she dips her head. Not at all, sir. I am Mierul Ardelain. I am on my way to the Pale Tower to pay respects - I am a veteran traveler and always do so when I visit a new area. It tends to allow me to avoid any questions later on. As you can see... She holds her hands up and out. I'm not...normal...to many in this area. I wasn't given the option of my parentage, but have to live with it as best as I can. I draw much attention when I come to a new area, and at times some of the more superstitious sorts have been known to reach out to local authorities to report me...even though I'd done nothing wrong.
If you'd let me share your fire, perhaps I could entertain you with songs this evening. I'm told I have quite a fine voice.
”Is it common to pay respects to the witches? Where I grew up, we always tried to avoid any unnecessary interactions with our rulers. Little good comes of drawing attention to yourself.”
Nox says, to no one in particular. He is torn; the witches have Fey allies, though to what end he doesn’t know. There’s little and less reason to trust this Fey. And yet, he knows the stigma that fiend blood carries; it’s why he doesn’t discuss his own ancestry when not necessary. Why he wears gloves and keeps his tail tucked beneath his tunic most of the time. And so he hesitates to judge her just on what she is.
Nadya shakes her head at the same time that Mierul nods. Nadya looks at her sharply, but the Forlarren inclines her head in apology.
Nadya nods slowly.
Nox nods, thoughtfully. A bit later, he turns to Nadya.
"If you'll excuse me, I need to step outside for a moment. I've quenched my thirst a bit *too* well, I think."
Ote’s head swivels to one side, better enabling him to cast a beady look at the forlarren.
”If you don’t mind, much as a song might bring cheer, I’d just as soon not end up dead, ensorcell’d by fey strains.”
He shrugs.
”We’ve had nothing but trouble from the fey in the south over the past few days, so consider me particularly skittish. No offense meant to your good self.”
|
Ques decides to take a stance, feeling a bit overwhelmed by the quest they are on. In earnest tones he pipes up, his voice cracking. Not because he is nervous, though he is, but just because he is at that awkward age.
"Well, we are strangers too and I'm betting we are strange enough to get a bad reaction. And we want to go to the tower. I think we should listen and take advice. So how does this Pale tower thing work? Just waltz up an knock? And what is the appropriate way to pay respects?"
Ote blinks. For one, he’s never heard Ques be so bold. And for two, he’s never heard the kid be so...wise.
The avian nods.
”My apologies... Mierul Ardelain. Young Ques has the right of it. We would appreciate assistance in observing the correct formalities should we treat with the Pale Tower...”
Nadya nods to Nox, but pales visibly when the talk comes up of going to the Pale Tower.
Mierul inclines her head to Ote. No offense taken, good Tengu. As I've said, there's a stigma with my race that can cause such feelings. I would be happy to guide you through it...perhaps I could even take you to the P-
That won't be necessary. Nadya blurts out, then looks at Ques and Ote as if they'd gone mad. Lady Ardelain, I fear that my friends are a bit unaware of our ways, and I'd not see them waste the good witches' time with their idle wonderings. I will see them through safely to Waldsby, and we will make contact through the proper channels there.
She looks to you. Come my friends...there's no need for such plans tonight. After we get you to town, we can settle in and discuss.
Mierul blinks, then nods. I understand. Perhaps that is the best way...are your friends here staying long in Waldsby?
Nadya seems to be choosing her words carefully. No...I'm sure they're just passing through.
Mierul seems to chew on that for a few moments, then turns from Nadya, back to Ote and Ques. Well, I do hope you don't shy too far away from the Witches; they can indeed be a bit enigmatic, but they rule this land and should be respected. He gaze flicks over to Nadya as she speaks, then back.
Tchezze steps close to his cousin, and whispers quietly to the tengu in the language of their forebearers, "There is definitely something going on here that we are not aware of. Worst yet, I'm not sure which one of these ladies we can trust. We msut be wary."
He then straightens and says to the rest of those gathered, "I'm sure I'm not the only one that feels as though this day has already been a long one. Shall we enjoy each others' companies while we wait out the storm?"
Ithariel watches the intricate dance of words between the women and the party, unsure of what to add or if he could even help in some way. Finally seeing Tche offer a way out, Ithariel speaks up, Yes, I'm exhausted and wet from the storm and snow, let us share some food stuffs and spend a night as best we can in this cave. He looks nervously at Nox and the others.
We should definitely head into Waldsby in the morning, we need to resupply and I imagine we could use a bed for the night which isn't quite so exposed to the elements, the druid chuckles at this.
Tell us more of this land, we are travelers from a long way off, and do not know much of the customs of the people here...
Outside, Nox loads one of his special alchemical cartridges. Once that's done, he quietly reenters, angling his course so as to pass behind the fiendish fey. Once behind her, he raises his gun and fires.
+
Regardless of the outcome, he immediately begins reloading with another alchemical cartridge.
Ote listens to his cousin and nods thoughtfully. When Nox attempts to murder the fey Ote brings his nodachi to the fore...
”Nox!?! What are you doing?” he screams at the fiendspawn.
Meirul and Nadya both seem to relax a bit at Tchezze's and Ithariel's words, as they feel a bit more comfortable in this. Mierul begins to tell of some of her travels in Irrisen, though she's only just started when Nox reenters the cave. She glances up as Nox enters, but he appears nonchalant, so she turns back and continues her story.
BANG!
The crack of the gun is impossibly loud within this little amphitheater, and everyone's ears are left ringing. No one is more affected than Mierul, though, who teeters to the side, blood flowing freely from her head. Hissing, she spins, impossibly fast, to look at Nox. When she turns, Nox can see that the fire from the alchemical round is sizzling and festering, seemingly very potent against her cold fey skin.
Outsiders! I knew it - why are you here?!
Her scream is particularly loud to Nox, and waves of sonic energy assail him!
Stel will delay until he gets told what to do by Ithariel, assuming Nadya and the guards don't attack any party members, Ithariel will stand on his action, and advance on the fey creature, drawing his spear.
Stel, now! the druid hisses, and the large cat closes on the Fey creature, biting at her flank...
Stel jumps into battle immediately, biting into the flank of Mierul. She cries out in pain and lurches to the side.
Nady jump up from her seat and backs away and begins to fish for her weapons. The guards, meanwhile, rush to their supply sleds, also grasping for weapons. The dogs bark loudly in response to the sound of the gun.
Seeing the effectiveness of fire, Nox calls out to the others "Use fire! It's effective against these cold creatures!" Then he shoots the fey again.
+
Mirroring young Master Ques, Tchezze looks on in disbelief at the scene unfolding in front of him. He backs up from the action as far as possible. "We are not here to make enemies," he cries to no one in particular.
Ote has no such restriction - the creature has assailed Nox regardless, and Ote is in no mind to be next. He steps in and slashes at the fey.
Ithariel stands and moves towards Mierul, but it's too late as Nox coldly fires again. This shot penetrates the Forlarren skull, and the woman falls backwards limply, dead on impact.
Nadya looks at Nox, her eyes wide. What did you do?!
Ote stops his forward momentum as the fey creature falls. He stands forlorn, unsure how to feel.
”Nox. Why? She seemed...sincere. Cast out. Alone. Did you know her? Was she evil?” he blurts out.
Nox looks at Nadya, somewhat puzzled. "I could tell from the way you were acting that she was an agent of the Witches. "our great nation"? Tell me you'd say that to anyone that wasn't liable to take your words-and ours-straight to the Pale Tower." He looks at his companions. "Remember what he told us before we came? That the Pale Tower was the portal's source. Do you want their spy telling them who we are and what we can do before we get there?" He looks at Ote directly. "Yes, she was evil. a half-fiend called a Forlarren. She's why fey shouldn't cavort with devils."
|
|
Ques grimaces. "A fey AND a demon? And a spy? Wow, I didn't see that at all."
Ques walks up and pokes the body nervously, as if expecting it to rise up and attack him.
"What do we do with this now? I expect we will be in a heap of trouble if it is found. Magic you know. A witch could probably do things with the body and find out who we are or, worse, send it after us. Should we burn it?"
Ote nods, his beak opening and closing quickly.
”I was scared she could sing us to death or something fey like that. Didn’t know she’d shout pain at us...”
He turns to Nadya.
”Sorry about that, but it seems Nox here may have acted...however rashly....with our safety in mind. We will rescue your daughter...”
Nadya's fury diminishes, then disappears altogether. She nods slowly to Nox. You are correct, if your methods crude. I am certain this was a spy for Radosek and the tower. I was hoping to deflect her questions and see her move along, but now we have...this.. She puts her hands on her hips and watches Ques poke the body. It doesn't move.
Thank you, Otakch, for that I would be in your debt. Whatever we do, we need to make this Meirul a distant memory. We can only hope that this creature's journey to the Pale Tower was unexpected. In the morning, I must get you to Waldsby, and quickly.
She looks at the body. Anyone have ideas?
One of the dogs begins to sniff at the blood.
|
|
"Uh, burn it? Will it burn? Seemed vulnerable to fire so maybe it burns nicely. Not here of course, would probably smell nasty. Or we could toss it through the portal? Nah. They are using it awould most likely stumble upon it. Maybe feed it to some creatures?"
Ques eyes the dogs speculatively, wondering how long it would take them, what they would do with the bones, etc.
I wonder if I could render it into a puddle with repeated acid splash spells?
...
"Wait! It's now an object, right? I could, um, send it to another plane. You know, like I suggested with the treasure?"
Of course that introduces it's own complications such as Letting them see Grey and the fact that if he summons Grey, the body would come with him. Still, for a while the body would be untraceable!
"Though I hope there is a better way."
”First things first, let’s take charge of whatever useful items she might have had...” Ote makes no effort to be respectful, rifling through the forlarren’s effects...
Ithariel looks at Nadya and sighs, I suppose the best we could hope for would be to burn the body tonight; we're not here to make friends Nadya, but we wouldn't want to sweep you up in our mess. If you and your friends can keep quiet, we all know you weren't involved in what happened here. We will rescue your child out of the Pale Tower for the help you've provided us, and because its the right thing to do.
He looks over at Nox, A little warning next time? Come on, your mess, lets get some wood going outside for the pyre...
Nox shrugs. "I was hoping she didn't speak Skald. That's why I switched to it with Nadya." He says, with a nod to her. "I knew that was a longshot, though. Any warning I gave you would doubtless have been noticed. I'm not terribly subtle. But yes, let's burn the corpse."
Ote spreads the forlarren’s gear.
”The clothes, the cloak and the necklace - any of those might be recognisable as Mierul’s by those who kno...knew her. I think it dangerous to take them even to dispose of them. I say we burn the clothes and cloak and bury the necklace....”
Ote breathes slowly.
”Ques, believe me, I hate the idea of disposing of valuables. Really I do. And even if we have stuff that will get us into trouble with “the other side” it becomes moot if the other side are our enemies, and want to kill us.”
The tengu stays in a crouch.
”Essentially we are in enemy territory. At war, possibly for the fate of the world. And the only thing on our side is that they don’t know we are here. Yet. Thanks to some quick thinking from Nox... And so the longer we stay beneath their concern, the better off we will be. I just don’t want to alert them through a flagrant or mistaken or accidental display of something we can otherwise avoid.”
Only the potions and elixir prove to be magical, and the only one that Ques seems to be able to figure out is a potion of undetectable alignment. However, he's able to determine that one of the other potions is the same thing - the third is different.
While the bunch of you speak so callously about burning the body, and the matter of taking sides, the guards slowly back away from you, assembling into a group in the corner. Nadya, still trying to control her breathing, looks at you incredulously. You certainly seem like this is a normal business day for you. Are we next on your list? And, what is this talk of sides - I feel that you haven't been completely honest with me. Who sent you here?