Hope didn't seem to notice that Triel was even there as she sobbed but the twins did. The man, still angry despite seeing Hope bawling, glared at Triel and asked, "Is there something you need? If not leave and take..." he gestured at Hope, "that lire with you."
Sara looked at her brother with a glare and then at Triel, before her eyes went to where Hope was crying and her expression softened just a little. "Samuel, maybe we should get..."
"NO! I won't hear any more of this. Hope's gone, we both know it, and even if she wasn't there is no way that someone our age is her. If this bi.." he hesitated and corrected himself with the kids around, "Hope would only be ten years old right now. There is no way this is her and you know it."
About that time a half-elven woman with Amethyst colored hair came walking out of the mansion. She strode up to see what was going on and looked at the siblings as she demanded in a sharp tone, "What is all this ruckus about? I was told one someone claiming to be Hope is here?"
Samuel immediately stepped back from the half-elf, even though she was more than a bit shorter than he was and obviously not as strong. "That person," he gestured to where the distraught Hope was, "claims to be Hope. It's obviously a lie, she is far to old and up to something."
The woman looked at Hope curiously and then Triel and asked the more collected woman, "What is going on here? Do you know her?"
"Fascinating!" Quink says as he hangs on Screaming Moon's every word. "I simply must make the trek to Roderic's Cove one of these days to see these Thassilonian complexes for myself! I am sure the Sihedron Council will want to know about them, as well. You have the right idea, my lad."
***
For such a small town, Sandpoint boasts an unusually large theater. Cracktooth's Tavern is across the street, and it is a favorite among the theater's patrons. You arrive just after sunset and find the large common room is crowded and raucous. Patrons sit at tables scattered across the place, while a number sit in velvet-upholstered theater seats before a stage in the southwest corner. There is a bar to the northwest, and plush chairs make a cozier setting in the northeast.
Viralane brings you to the bar, where a large man with jagged, chipped teeth and a thickset neck cleans mugs. "Cracktooth, you old so-and-so! It's good to see you, darling!" Viralane says with her usual dramatic flair. She makes a sweeping gesture to encompass all of you. "Allow me to introduce you to my companions for the evening." She squeezes Fioralba's hand and gives her an amorous smile.
Cracktooth nods politely to you, but he favors Viralane with a grin and greets her expansively. "My dearest Viralane! You're always welcome in my establishment. Are you planning on gracing my stage tonight?"
Viralane shakes her head. "Oh, not tonight, I'm afraid, darling Cracktooth. My voice is out of sorts."
Cracktooth clucks his tongue. "Ah, too bad, too bad. Well, it's Moonday, so you're just in time for the competition. Will you do the honors and draw the chit to determine tonight's theme?"
He gestures to stained, empty keg filled with dozens of wooden chits. Viralane reaches in and draws forth a chit before handing it to the tavern keeper. Cracktooth chuckles. "Alright, then! Attention, everybody! The theme for tonight's competition is 'adventurers!' Let's see who can put on the best act!"
Eager performers among the crowd begin to step up onto the stage to try to win over the audience with impromptu performances about adventurers.
"Agreed." Fi says to her sister, not wanting to stay here any longer than they have to.
Once the competition is announced, she looks to Viralane and asks "I wouldn't be able to keep up with you by any means, but if you are going to refrain from the festivities..." She looks over at her sister and asks, "Should I try my luck at a little dancing?"
She seems to be on the fence about such a thing though and requires some liquid encouragement. She orders a Tooth Cracker for herself, her sister and Viralane.
"To an exciting evening!" she toasts.
"You would never catch me up there I'm afraid! Why would someone not professionally trained make such a fool of themselves?" Elanna asks, nonplussed at the whole situation.
Pleased her sister orders a drink, she sits down and takes in the performances, wincing at most performances.
Triel glares at the human as he points at Hope, and is about to say something decidedly unpleasant when the woman of the house emerges.
"I do know her." The masked woman nods. "Her name is Hope DuMorne, and she came here in search of her family."
"And if your man continues to doubt her identity, I suggest this: ask her something only the Hope DuMorne you remember would know the answer to."
See? That wasn't so hard, was it?
If the male had bothered to keep his ignorance to himself, it'd have been easier.
Well... baby steps.
The amethyst haired half-elf considered what Triel suggested and nodded in agreement as she said, "While that might work the problem is, as Samuel has pointed out, Hope DuMorne should only be ten years old now. This woma," she gestured at Hope, "is obviously far to old. In addition I think she may have already done something like that," she looked at Samuel, "didn't she Samuel?"
Samueal looked at teh woman and said, "She did use the name Hope always used to call me but that isn't conclusive, the age difference is far too great."
The half-elf nodded and spoke again, "Yes, but you and I both know that doesn't always mean anything if magic is involved and it would take powerful magic to hide Hope from me." There was a surety in her voice as the half-elf spoke and her words seemed to catch Hope's attention as she started to calm a little.
The woman walked up to Hope and bent forward, gently touch her chin and tilting it up. She looked into Hope's face closely and noted how she resembles her mother Jessica and frowned as she tried to reconcile what she felt was true with what logic said was real. Hope met the half-elf's eyes and looked into the amethyst orbs with her black ones and asked, "Antie Krysta?"
The woman's eyes widened as she considered carefuly this person on the ground before her and said, "She does look like Jessica with a lot more elf blood in her which would be about right for Hope. I could see her looking like this." She hmm'd as she considered Hope carefully, "The eyes are different, now what Hope had, but I sense void in her and I understand Hope's father's eyes were solid black from his contact with such powers..."
Krysta was thoughtful as she said softly, "There was void power where she disappeared from this world and if she was in another plane that might explain why I could not find her and the age difference...Could it be?"
Krysta backed up several steps and as she did she fiddled with a ring on her left index finger. She continued to walk backwards and as she did her form began to change. She grew larger, bulkier, her body falling forward as her legs and arms changed into four clawed feet. Her head and neck elongated, a tail grew from her spine and wings from her back. Her skin hardened and became scaled with amethyst colored scales and when it was complete a dragon seeming to be made of pure amethyst stood where Krysta once had.
...oh my.
Well... f*~*.
To put it bluntly, a dragon was exactly the last thing Triel expected to be dealing with. Her eyes widen to the size of saucers behind her hawk mask, and a very uncomfortable cold sensation settles into her gut.
Okay. Not a problem. Just... handle this like you would Mother after one of her benders.
She clears her throat, taking a couple of steps forward to stand next to Hope. "You know, it's funny that you mention void power... Hope?"
Great. Sterling job.
LOOK, I'M OUT OF PRACTICE, ALRIGHT?! I EXPECTED A SKEPTICAL FAMILY, NOT A BLOODY DRAGON IN DISGUISE!
Krysta smirked at Triel as she recognized the woman's shock. It always amused Krysta to no end to do that to people Krysta turned her draconian gaze on Triel when she stepped up but she bobbed her head in the approximation of a nod in understanding. Hope looked up at "Antie Krysta" and her eyes lit up in hope at the dragon's gaze. Krysta lowered her head, invading Hope's personal space, but the young broken woman did not back away. Instead Hope rose slowly and reached out with her arms towards Krysta. The dragon snuffled loudly at Hope's head and gently nuzzled her before dragging a crystal tongue across her face.
Hope finally put her arms around Krysta's neck and said brokenly, "I'm home Antie Krysta, I'm sorry I was gone so long. I would have come home sooner but I got lost." While it was a grown woman saying this the tones of a broken child returning to her family again came through clear as day and Krysta's eyes widened as she hissed, "It is you Hope."
Krysta's neck slipped from within Hope's grasp and she reared back, a deep rattling chime beginning inside her chest and her head stuck straight up as she gave an incredibly loud roar into the air, one that likely would hurt a lot if you were in the path of it. The children looked shocked but not afraid and Samuel and Sara paled as they realized what this meant.
Krysta came down, her fore claws knocking Hope to the ground gently and the dragon leaned to to start licking her face happily. Hope just giggled, not seeming concerned about what was happening, happy to be home again. Krysta finally stopped and looked at Triel and said, "You brought a piece of my horde I thought lost home to me. What can we do to thank you?"
Triel's hands reflexively shoot up into her hood to cover her ears as Auntie Krysta lets out a mighty roar to the heavens.
"You brought a piece of my hoard I thought lost home to me. What can we do to thank you?"
"...um..." She purses her lips and withdraws her hands.
Come on, take a chance. I mean, who's going to bother you when you're in a DRAGON'S company?
"...I don't suppose we could stay for dinner?" She asks, brushing off something on her tunic in an effort to still her shaking hands.
Vindir, if this goes wrong, let it be known that I wholeheartedly blame you.
Krysta considered Triel's request and then looked to Samuel for any objections. Her look, and Samuel's reaction to it as he paled, made it clear that no objections would be tolerated. Despite that he couldn't help but ask one question, "How can you be so sure Krysta?"
The dragon looked at the man and said, "Because of faith Samuel, you should know that priest that you are." Krysta rolled her eyes at Samuel and then said haughtily, "Besides, I'm a dragon we know what belongs to our horde when we are near it."
Krysta fiddled with the ring again and shifted down into a half-elven form once more. "There, that will make this more manageable." The sight of Krysta going from a half-elf, to a dragon the size of a large war horse and back was likely one of the more unique things most people ever witnessed. Fortunately she didn't seem to be particularly aggressive and wrapped her arm around Hope. "Why don't we all go inside? Sara, would you and Samuel cook something special?" Krysta looked at Hope fondly and Hope found herself leaning into her Antie Krysta as they began to walk, "We have Hope returned home as our guest of honor along with her friend..." Krysta looked back at Triel and asked, "What was your name again?"
The masked woman looks down at the path leading to the house before looking up and meeting Krysta's gaze again.
"...Triel. My name's Triel."
Viralane happily downs the Tooth Cracker, wincing at the potent concoction. "Hear, hear!"
As the night progresses and the rowdy performances continue, several patrons beg Viralane to sing a song of perform a scene for them. She demurs at first, but as she continues to drink several glasses of wine, she starts to answer with a coy, "Perhaps later."
The drunker Viralane gets, the more the sisters can sense concern in the ever-present but silent Corla...
Elanna takes a little time, watching Corla's reaction at every song Viralane seems to initiate before moving to sit next to the woman.
"Give me a good tavern, not this malarkey, they're certainly all making fools of themselves. Here, have some more wine."Elanna offers, leaning over to pour more for the womn. "Not your kind of scene either I suppose? Viralane seems to adore it."
Krysta nodded in Triel's direction as Samuel began to herd the kids back inside. He gave Hope a strange look as she passed him as if he couldn't quite bring himself to believe it was her. Krysta quickly turned her focus to Hope and asked, "So where have you been all this time? And how did you grow up so fast?"
Hope just shook her head vaguely and said, "I don't have many answers, I don't remember much after I was...," she stumbled over her words and then pushed through, "being taken. I was some place dark, where strange and terrible things worshiped a hungering void so ravenous it ate the very stars. I was given to it, I think I was it's bride in some way, and I think they threw me into the maw." Hope shivered as she remembered that horrible place and clutched to Krysta tightly.
The dragon come half-elf held Hope close as she shuddered until she calmed enough to continue. "I think things behind me moved slower and slower as I fell, then I blacked out, and only have vague memories after that. The next thing I knew I was all grown up and living in Rossler's Cove. I must have lived more during that time than I should, I don't feel like a child all the time, mostly I feel like an adult, but I still have times I feel like a little girl still." Hope looked at Krysta and said, "I am pretty sure that I am crazy Antie Krysta," her voice was more that of a scared little girl again as she spoke, "I feel things, a dark hunger within me, I can control it, kind of, but I am afraid."
They had made it inside the manor by now and Krysta led the way through the foyer to a sitting room with a big comfy couch and chairs. She sat down on a couch and pulled Hope down next to her where she cuddled the woman against her comfortingly, "Shh, it's alright now Hope, you don't have to be afraid now. We'll figure out what happened to you and how to handle it." Hope quieted and pulled her legs up to curl up with her Antie and began to calm.
Krysta looked at Triel and said, "I think she will be alright, for now, why don't you tell me how you met her and what you have been doing." She raised one amethyst eyebrow, "I think it will be quite intriguing."
Corla's scowl deepens and she beckons Elanna closer. "You don't understand. Viralane can't be allowed to get on that stage. It will not end well!" the halfling whispers fiercely.
Triel takes a seat in a nearby chair.
"...well, we met in Roderic's Cove after the ghost of its founder made a scene in the middle of the market. We banded together with a few other like-minded souls--"
Vindir snickers in the back of her mind.
"--and investigated why Sir Roderic was not at rest. To make a long story short, his home was robbed by a gang who were under the thrall of an ancient, intelligent sword that was said to have been wielded by one of the Runelords of Ancient Thassilon. We sorted them out, and now we're currently resting here before we continue our journey to Magnimar."
Her words are carefully chosen; all of them are truthful, if a bit sparse on the finer details.
Krysta listened to what Triel told her and noticed several gaps. She could tell when someone was holding back on her and she frowned slightly as she considered whether to call her on it but when she heard mention of the Runelords Kyrsta hissed, "Those a$#~@+%s just won't stay down will they?"
Krysta looked at Hope in worry and then back to Triel, "I wish I could come and help you now but I have responsibilities here protecting my horde. I will have to check the ruins below us and make sure they are not reactivating again. The first time was bad enough and I personally sealed them off very thoroughly last time." Krysta sighed in annoyance as she knew she would have to go spelunking before they all departed.
"I am guessing you are on the way to see the Sihedran Council then aren't you? When do you plan to leave Sandpoint?" Krysta seemed to be mulling something over as she looked at Triel and said, "Now, tell me how Hope has been. She's been through a lot and I need to know."
Leaning closer to Corla, Fi whispers "What do you mean it won't end well? Is this like her falling stunt on the ship? Is something going to go wrong? And how exactly is it that you know this information?"
Corla fidgets uncomfortably. "Viralane wouldn't want me telling anybody her secret shame," she says nervously.
Fi presses "Corla if you know something that could prevent some tragedy or negative event from transpiring, you need to tell us now. We'll do our best to keep any blowback off you, but don't you think her safety is more important than some hurt feelings?"
Corla sighs. "Alright. Viralane has been cursed! When she was performing in Egorian, Viralane got caught up in an affair with a cousin of the queen of Cheliax. His wife caught them in bed one night. She ran her husband through with a rapier and cursed poor Viralane: should she take to a stage, each performance would draw ridicule and derision, rather than the rapturous accolades she desired. The curse took hold, and Viralane hasn't been able to perform on stage since then! She's tried several cures, but nothing's worked. And if she gets on stage tonight, she'll be the laughingstock of the town!"
Triel keeps quiet as Krysta grumbles about having to check on ruins beneath the town. Don't argue with a dragon.
"I'm fairly certain we're due to leave Sandpoint by tomorrow. As to how Hope's been, she's been well. Withdrawn, certainly, but otherwise well." She folds her hands in her lap, unfolds them and folds them again.
"And, as of late, she has claimed to have manifested powers related to the void... and has demonstrated some degree of control over gravity."
Krysta was thoughtful as she took in what she was told. She had much to do it seemed and little time to do it in. "Once we get done with eating I will go down and examine the ruins to make sure they are not becoming active again. I'm assuming that you have others with you since I doubt the two of you are involved in this alone. Why don't you let them know they can stay the night here, we have plenty of unused rooms available and I would like to meet Hope's friends for myself?" Krysta suddenly had a mischievous smile and said, "You don't need to tell them what I am though."
Her demeanor became more serious then as Krysta considered the implications of the void abilities she was told about. Somehow, given what she knew of Hope's father, it didn't surprise her any and she nodded as she said, "Such abilities may be very useful given what you have to deal with and if Hope is anything like her mother she will not give up seeing this through even though she has finally come home to us." She gently stroked Hope's hair, the woman now sound asleep, and continued, "I don't want her to leave again, I want her close so I can protect her but if I did that she would no longer be the Hope that I treasure so and I would be responsible for ruining one of my own treasures." The dragon in half-elf flesh slumped a bit and made a crystalline sigh before she said, "I will respect whatever choice she might make even if it is hard."
Krysta sniffed at the air and recognized the food being cooked. Her brow wrinkled in annoyance and she said, "It smells like Sara is cooking something that will take a few hours to be ready. Would you want to get the others and invite them over to eat? I'll make sure there is plenty to eat."
Fi presses "Corla if you know something that could prevent some tragedy or negative event from transpiring, you need to tell us now. We'll do our best to keep any blowback off you, but don't you think her safety is more important than some hurt feelings?"
Elanna double takes at her sister, seeking out her sister's gaze.
Did She just say what I think she did? Does she understand what she just said? Is she ready to admit that is what I did for her?
Elanna doesn't move to stop Viralane, hoping that her sister will acknowledge what she just said. Thats the priority. The breakthrough?
Fioralba feels the stare from Elanna on her, but avoids meeting her sister's gaze for now. She nods to Corla and moves to Viralane's side. Sitting down beside her, she takes the performer's hand and squeezes it before leaning in and cupping her other hand over Viralane's ear and whispering "I've enjoyed the food and drink, but I'm ready to retire for the evening. What do you say we slip off to your room with a bottle of the sweet blackberry wine?"
To sell it, she takes a small nibble of the woman's earlobe between her teeth and says "Please."
Viralane lets out a soft moan, but she gently pushes Fioralba away. ”In a little bit, darling. The night is still young...”
The performance competition ends just before midnight, with a local taking the top prize for his irreverent rendition of the fight against the goblins who invaded Sandpoint's Swallowtail Festival ten years back.
Cracktooth himself then takes the stage and gives a witty talk about the state of reconstruction in Magnimar after the tsunami a few years back caused by the rising of the isle of Xin. He suggests that the Sihedron Council, which has organized the project, is skimming off the top of funds. "I mean, have you seen Mayor Grobaras lately? Let's just say he could give the owner of the Fatman's Feedbag a run for his money! It'd take a minor fortune to buy enough food to retain such a prodigious figure as his. That's your tax dollars at work, friends!" His talk is greeted with laughs and good-natured jeers.
As he wraps up, he favors Viralane with a gap-toothed grin. "And now we've come to the end of our festivities, but we've yet to hear from our most famous patron tonight! Please, my dear Viralane, I beg of you! Sing us a song! The night wouldn't be complete without hearing your beautiful voice. You know how much I love your rendition of 'A Lucky Spar in Magnimar.' Sing, Viralane, sing!"
The room cheers in unison, chanting Viralane's name. The beaming diva stands, just a bit unsteady, and calls out, "Oh, you dear adoring people! If it will make you happy, I will sing." The room erupts into joyful applause.
Corla whispers something to Viralane, who pushes the halfling away. She starts to glide her way to the stage...
Triel nods and gets up to go looking for the others.
Frustrated that her ploy didn't work, she looks over at her sister now, "I need you to make a scene about this shoddy building and how dangerous it is in a second." She sighs and casts a spell under Viralane as she moves towards the stage, hoping to disrupt this performance.
Elanna nods as disappointment swells within her, that was not how she wanted he sister to acknowledge her. She readies herself to make a well and truly fantastic scene to gain all of the attention off of whatever her sister is planning.
Viralane offers a hand to Cracktooth, who takes it, bows, then steps down to resume his post at the bar. Viralane holds up her hands for silence, and a hush falls over the tavern's patrons. She takes a deep breath and sings the song's first line, in an alto lovely and clear.
"A lad went up to Magnimar, with heart both true and bold/To win his fortune, earn his fame/To learn if luck would hold..."
At this point, two things happen. The word "hold" warbles out terrifically and terribly out of tune. This is overshadowed by the actress suddenly losing her footing as Fioralba conjures a patch of slippery grease beneath her. "Ah! Wh-what is the meaning of this?" Viralane demands. She tries to step off of the slippery stage, but her foot slides out from under her, and she falls on her prodigious backside! The room is silent as Viralane's face floods red with humiliation...
Elanna, taking advantage of the situation, puts her arm out for the passing barmaid carrying a stack of full drinks and ensures that at least a few spill all over herself.
Soaking in ale and wine, Elanna stands up and lets our an outraged yell holding her arms out wide, making the soaking obvious.
First you give us the wrong drinks, then try to charge us double and now you drop all of our new drinks all over my lap! A goblin could provide better service that this!" She exclaims shrilly, but more importantly, her voice travels far.
Unfortunately, Elanna doesn't choose the best option to attract everyone's attention - an out of towner exclaiming ridiculous claims about everyone's local entertainment venue isn't going to be received all that well.
Elanna's distraction isn't enough to take away from Viralane's apparent gracelessness and inability to carry a tune. A loud chorus of guffaws from a group in the front row hits her like a slap. "Stinking peasants and ruffians!" she spits, her face distorted with fury.
Corla joins her mistress on stage, attempting to soothe her and hurry her off the stage to return to Tyalee's Whim to sleep off the night's drink and shame. A wave of laughter and insults follow the actress out of the bar.
Viralane and Corla sequester themselves in their cabin that night, refusing any offers of company from Fioralba.
***
Tyalee's Whim sets sail at dawn the next morning. Viralane and Corla remain in their cabin. Captain Sursha informs you that you should be arriving in Magnimar by dawn the next day.
However, as the ship navigates a strait between two large islands late that afternoon, Corla emerges and asks Captain Sursha to speak to her mistress in private. The Captain agrees and is gone for a few minutes. When she comes back on deck, she orders Eddi to have the barrels containing the ship’s water supply emptied over the side and calls for Tyalee’s Whim to head for the nearer of the small islands. As she does, she gives a brief explanation.
“It’s been brought to my attention that our water supplies have become tainted. There’s a spring on that island; we’ll drop anchor just off shore, but I’ll need a shore party to fill our water barrels.”
The sailors seem puzzled but comply immediately, while Captain Sursha asks you to accompany her to refill the supplies.
Something about the captain's demeanour immediately sets off alarm bells in Triel's head.
Triel's instincts seem correct. It appears that Sursha is acting under the influence of enchantment magic, most likely a suggestion spell.
"Captain." Triel clears her throat. "If the water supplies were tainted, why didn't you let Screaming Moon examine them? He is a healer of no small skill--he could easily have found a way to purify them."
"I wouldn't want to rely on magic. Better to get pure water from a pure source," Sursha replies.
Triel pauses before turning to the rest of the party and ignoring the captain.
"So. Something is clearly afoot--the captain is under some manner of enchantment." She says once they're out of earshot.
"Unfortunately, I'm not sure where Fi and Elanna are--I'm afraid we'll just have to start without them." Triel sighs, self-consciously touching her hawk-mask.
With Tsu-la bounding ahead, they approach the house. As they enter the front yard, Tsu-la suddenly stiffens and begins smelling the ground, obviously worried. Be wary, Screaming Moon! There is something here that is not a two-legs. I've never smelled anything like it
Screaming Moon halts for a moment as he considers the warning, but his care-free expression returns and he starts forward again. "Don't worry, Tsu-la. This is Hope's family, after all. We don't know her story from before she was abducted. This house is not new, the townsfolk know the family, and Triel has obviously met them and survived. I am sure we are in no danger."
Sticking close to Screaming Moon's legs, Tsu-la patters forward with his bright eyes open and ready for a new experience. His ears stay perked up and his head darts a bit from side to side as the only sign of his worry.
As Triel introduces them to Auntie Krysta, Screaming Moon does not need Tsu-la's scent to realize that the woman is the source of Tsu-la's scent. Tuned into the life energy of everything around him, he can instantly sense the weight of life experience emanating from this woman in a way he has never experienced before. The sheer power of the emanations commands respect and carries with it an instinctual fear that only prey are attuned to.
Locking his knees and steadying his hands, he greets Krysta as Tsu-la darts behind him and lies down on the floor with a whine.
A bit shakily, he manages to get out an introduction, "Revered Elder, thank you for admitting us to your home. It is an honor to share your presence.
I am Screaming Moon, shaman of the Shriikirri-Quah. Allow me to present Ruby Meadow, my companion and tribeswoman, and Tsu-la, my dear friend."
Considering Triel's warning, Screaming Moon thinks about the task being presented to them by the captain.
"I have no means of breaking an enchantment. Likely, if we were to wait several hours, the effect would likely wear off. My preference would be to confine the captain to her quarters for the night, but I doubt that the sailors would support potentially mutinous actions."
He considers the likely cause of the enchantment. "She just came up from visiting Viralene. We have to assume that one of them is the source of this effect. What would be their design in getting us to go on shore to collect water? Are they attempting to get rid of us?
Reasoning with the captain won't work, but perhaps we can remove her from the source of the enchantment and ensure they we do not get stranded? If we resolve the conditions of the enchantment, she may recall that a spell was cast upon her."
Going to speak with Sursha directly, Screaming Moon attempts to convince her to lead the shore party. "Captain, you were right not to rely on my magic, as I do not have the required spells prepared, but I can prepare that magic in the morning. I can easily create as much water as the crew and livestock need or even purify water taken from the sea.
Lead us to this spring and we will fill up enough barrels to sustain the ship until tomorrow."
Samuel led the way to the family room where Krysta was seated with Hope on a couch. Hope looked better than she had since they met her, calmer, more coherent, and much better dressed. She had on a dark purple dress that was a bit loose on her slender form and reached her ankles,
Krysta was wearing a similar dress that was lavender colored and reached to around her knees. She had a single ring on her finger, the same one that Triel saw earlier, and eyes that looked like a pair of amethyst were set in her head instead of eyes. She rose when everyone entered and said, "So you are Hope's friends? It seems you are missing a couple but oh well, they just get to miss out." If she was annoyed by the lack of Fioralba and Elanna Krysta did not show it.
Krysta offered her hand to first Screaming Moon and then Ruby Meadow. "Hope has spoken well of both of you and said she sees you as the father she never had Screaming Moon."
Hope blushed and said plaintively, "Antie Krysta!"
Krysta just smiled mischievously and said, "Tood bad your may or may not be girlfriend didn't show up. I would like to have...words...with her."
Hope got up and said sharply, "Don't you dare Antie Krysta! You stay out of that."
Krysta rolled her eyes and didn't comment. She looked back at Screaming moon and said, "I would be careful about the elder comments though, I'm not nearly as old as you think I am." She was amused as opposed to upset at being taken for being old. She was probably younger than Screaming Moon when you got down to it, or at least not that much older anyway.
Krysta gestured to the chairs and couches and said, "Pease, have a seat, dinner is nearly ready but you might as well be comfortable in the meantime." Krysta sat next to Hope again and looked at those who had come and asked, "Does anyone have anything they wish to ask?"
The notion that there was a problem with their captain caused Hope to worry. She really didn't want to get stuck on an island. Hope went back to her cabin and began to gather her things. She wasn't leaving them here where there was a captain acting weird and a thieving halfling around.
"How'd you and Samuel meet, if I may ask?"
Sursha nods at Screaming Moon. Tyalee's Whim pulls up to the island, and the captain begins directing you into a small launch. Before Fioralba gets in the launch, though, Viralane emerges on deck. "There you are, darling? Might you hang back for a bit? I desire to meet with you to discuss what transpired last night."
Elanna heads back, sodden and a little frustrated that she made a scene and nothing good even came of the effort.
"Screaming Moon, you're right. I don't think we can actually step foot off this boat for fear of being left behind. What other options do we have?" Elanna asks, conspiratorially. "Does this suggest a...mutiny? I've heard they're sometimes necessary on a ship. Especially if the Captain is being unreasonable."
As Viralene makes her request, the ploy becomes obvious. "So, the intent was always to get Fioralba alone. Likely for nefarious reasons.
Fioralba, I hope I don't need to caution you against staying behind."
He stammers a bit, then attempts to cover the faux pas. "Elder is a term of respect more than one of age, please take no offense. As for Hope, I am glad that she trusts me. I take my responsibility to care for my ... family ... seriously, and that extends beyond their physical well being, but also to seeing to their mental and emotional needs as well.
I am not the wisest or most experienced, but I can listen, and I have compassion. Their pain is my pain. As a caretaker of vulnerable lives yourself, I am sure you understand."
nodded in understanding of Screaming Moon's words about being a caretaker for the vulnerable and smiled slightly as she said, "Oh yes I understand what you mean. I tend to be a bit more...direct in dealing with those who cause harm to mine but the sentiment is the same."
Krysta turned her attention to Triel then as she heard the question about how she met Samuel and the strange woman's gaze shifted, looking less focused ass she turned her thoughts to the past. "I was rescued by the Shelynites from the temple in Magnimar from a sort of...traveling circus, that had me as one of the attractions. The temple took me in and gave me a place to call home and I claimed all of their delightful artwork as mine." There was a faint smile of pleasant memories as Krysta reminisced of her past even if there was the implication of some very dark things in it as well.
"Samuel and Sara came to the temple a few years after I did to start their novitiate and they quickly found that I don't like my things messed with. I had all of that art perfectly arranged in the most aesthetically pleasing way possible, everything in it's place, this piece exactly so, and that thus in relation to it and these others...it was wonderful."
Krysta turned a brief glare at Samuel and then looked back to Triel, "When the twins came to the temple they found that messing with my system drove me up the wall. They would regularly do it just to piss me off and get me worked up."
Krysta took a breath to calm herself a bit and then, once she was back to normal, she continued, "When Hope's mother, Jessica, became involved in the fight against Karzoug she eventually became pregnant with Hope. I stood in to take her place for a time so she could have the baby and when we returned here she had moved into this mansion and used her inheritance to turn it into an orphanage. The twins had finished their novitiate and were both badly traumatized during everything so they were sent here as well. I moved in when Jessica resumed her place in the quest to take down the Runelord and have stayed every since."
As Krysta spoke of all this Hope was focused quite firmly on her Antie Krysta and hung on every word. She learned more than she had before and had several question. Krysta saw that look and shook her head as she said, "That is family business Hope, we can talk about it privately later."
Hope seemed disappointed but said with a sigh, "Alright Antie Krysta."
Looking at Hope with some concern, he attempts to find a way to respond without offending this figure who is important to his friend. "That is quite the tale. I suppose it puts some of Hope's story in context, and I appreciate your sharing it with me."
"...but in case we do, Fi, don't go with her. You're much smarter than that, and you know it." Triel adds in support of Moon.
"Do you remember that Harrow reading we did together that night?"
...well, in that case, taking my mask off during dinner might not be disastrous. Assuming, of course, I can convince them of the importance of discretion, in my case.
"Well. Thank you kindly for sharing that with us." Triel nods before the smell of something tasty enters the room.