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Xun reaches out for his drum. A black wood seems of high quality and it has symbols carved on its side. Xun begins playing a rhythm that inspires others to great deeds. It both lifts others spirits as well as aid them in striking, the music fills his allies with much-needed strength
"Comrades! To arms, protect the cart and slay the beasts!"
The bard's black hands keep on playing on the drum filling the space around you with music.
Then Xun looks at the beast attacking them trying to recall anything of importance
Xun recalls hearing many tales of travelers meeting these creatures called Boars. He has heard several stories of someone thinking the boar should've died but the boar seemed to be quite ferocious and stood standing until a second blow was delivered! Xun also recalls one particular story that mentioned despite their relatively fast foot speed, they don't seem to have the best reflexes.
Arlo Rumble
Muzzo Sharptooth
Drizzic Kruhl -13,
Anjo Aroh
Eithrim Navarre
Boar 2
Boar 3
Boar 1
Xun Saburo
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Arlo looks confused. "Why would these beasties attack us all of a sudden? We haven't threatened them, right? Are we going through their territorium? Backing away now would cost too much time, hopefully we can scare them off."
Arlo stays behind the wagon, not wanting to get in the way. A series of unnatural sound come from him as he tries to intimidate Boar 1 away with a primal grunt of his own.
Arlo then keeps back and readies to intimidate the next boar that comes within 30 feet of him.
The creature pays zero attention to the wildwood halfling whose noises sound more peaceful than threatening.
Navarre's guisarme slices open a huge gash stretching across the beast's entire side causing it to scream in agony.
Muzzo's fails to find a meal with his first bite, but on the second attempt he gets a huge chunk of flesh causing the creature to look as though it's now on the brink of death.
Drizzic Kruhl -13,
Anjo Aroh
Boar 2
Boar 3
Boar 1 -44,
Xun Saburo
Arlo Rumble
Muzzo Sharptooth Rage, 2 temp HP
Eithrim Navarre
x2 = 32
x2 = 30
x2 = 26
Drizzic's bolt flies over the creature's shoulder and lands in the dirt.
Anjo rapidly fires his bow and hits his mark on the first shot, but the 2nd shot lands at the creature's feet
Anjo successfully drew Boar2's attention. It screeches and charges towards Anjo, paying no attention to the hellknight armiger waiting in ambush. As the boar(2) charges, Arlo lets out another round of unnatural sounds which were unsuccessful in getting the boar's attention. .
Reaching Anjo, Boar2 rams it's tusk into Anjo with tremendous force. . The creature tries to follow up with it's other tusk but fails to connect.
Boar3 is shortly behind and charges the goblin barbarian and it also is able to deliver a mighty blow. It seems the creature's charge is quite deadly! . Similarly, the creature's second tusk strike attempt was less impressive.
Boar 1 shifts it's attention to Navarre due to his power attack. The boar steps and delivers two immense blows which leave the armiger bloodied. . As it withdraws it's tusks each time it screams in agony as it clearly is barely hanging onto life itself.
Xun Saburo
Arlo Rumble
Muzzo Sharptooth -30, Rage
Eithrim Navarre -56,
Drizzic Kruhl -13,
Anjo Aroh -22, Prey(Boar2)
Boar 2 -4,
Boar 3
Boar 1 -44, Near Death
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Xun looks as the beast tear through the defense of his allies.
He uses his connection with spirits as he reaches to the other plane to channel some magic. His drum begins to shine a bit as Xun incorporates another tune into what he is playing. The charms that the bard has attached to his armor and instrument begin to shiver. He keeps on playing and slowly begins to breathe out air that turns into a glowing green mist that flies towards raging Goblin.
Then Xun retreats back.
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When the fierce boar charges at Anjo Navarre he manages to throw a throw at him but the other biar turns and drives his tusks at him, making him bleed profusely. But Navarre is a tough guy who has dealt with death and recovers from his wounds by landing a deadly throw at him, doing the same with the tusk that had attacked his companion.
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It looks as though the Boar 1 might charge, but it screams in agony and instead runs away as fast as it can into the forest. From the wailing you can guess that it is likely over 100ft away in a short duration.
Navarre's quick reflexes slice through Boar2 easily and opens a wound across it's side.
Navarre strikes at Boar 2 rapidly, the first strike deepen's it's existing wound. The second strike the hellknight feels should've killed the creature but it instead lets out an intense scream and somehow stays standing. The third strike puts the beast down once and for all
Muzzo is finding it difficult to make a meal out of these creatures, each attempt falls short of the beast.
Arlo Rumble
Drizzic Kruhl -13,
Anjo Aroh -22,
Boar 3
Xun Saburo
Eithrim Navarre
Muzzo Sharptooth -6, Rage
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As his shouts have little effect, Arlo goes for a different tactic: patching up the wounded. He holds up his holy symbol and casts Heal to help Anjo.
Arlo then moves forward a bit to maybe apply some touch heals later on.
"Sorry piggies, I wish there was another way. Luckily one of you is safe back in the forest again."
Arlo seems to care more for the injured wildlife than for his party members.
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Anjo does his best to stifle the agony from the boars charge. He feels better when he sees Navarree shred the creature rather easily. "This bow seems mostly pointless..." he mutters to himself.
Anjo feels better yet again when Arlo heal shims. "Thank you!" The ranger then crosses in front of Navarree, designates his prey, and fires.
Two-action version, at spell level 2. That's 2d8+16, right?
Arlo's spell returns Anjo to full health. Anjo fires at the remaining boar, half of us volley hitting his mark.
Drizzic Hunts Prey, Fires his crossbow and his hits the creature in the face . He then reloads his crossbow.
The boar screeches as it tries to impale the angry little goblin in front of it. It's first tusk strike hits Muzzo's leg. The second attempt barely misses and the third tusk rams into the ground.
Xun Saburo
Eithrim Navarre
Muzzo Sharptooth -20, Rage
Arlo Rumble
Anjo Aroh Hunt Prey Boar3
Drizzic Kruhl -13, Hunt Prey Boar3
Boar 3 -12,
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Xun keeps on drumming, yet again inspiring his allies to combat.
"It is the last one, keep fighting!" throws Xun
Then he again calls for magic letting it flow through him, as his hands continue to play. The half-orc spots a rather big rock and tosses it at the creature
The stoneflies with the right energy but the accuracy are off.
Xun's rock soars over the boars head, but the drums are beating strong as Navarre sheers the boar in half. Muzzo takes a bite out of each half of the boar for good measure-- It is definitely dead.
The boar that ran away is still heard far off in the distance, screeaming as it continues to get further away. Having seen the last boar fall, Maeri returns from behind the wagon, her face is long and she says little as she offers two flasks, "Drink."
Nearby you also see a damaged create in a ditch beside the road. Searching the crate you find bundles of damask silk and embroidered satin
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Muzzo continued to bite into the dead boar, ripping off hunks of meat and gobbling them down for a few moments before he lifted his head and looked around. Seeing that there were no other threats, he flopped down on his butt, shaking his head in weariness as his extra teeth fell out onto the ground and his skull regained its normal shape. He reached out to take one of the flasks from Maeri.
Thanks Maeri! Muzzo got gashed bad in leg. But boar good. You try some!" Muzzo continued to eat on the boar, though a little less...energetically, alternating bites of beat with swigs from the flask.
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Arlo goes to the boar that Muzzo currently isn't chomping on and does a small prayer. He then whips out a knife and makes ready to start cutting off shanks of meat. "I mean, not using this is just a waste at this point, right? I just want to make sure these boars are okay for consumption." He glances at Muzzo. "You never know, with the demonic taint and all."
After that, he turns to the rest of the party. "Oh yeah, sorry about that. I guess you are pretty hurt as well. Anyone need some help?"
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Navarre stares in amazement as his little companion gets satiated with bites of the beast that has just split in two.
"Be relax my little friend, that I do not find out that you are hungry", while releasing a small smile. "If someone understands, let them see if that meat is suitable for consumption."
Once they finish he goes to the rest "I think we should continue and that the night does not catch us on the road"
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Xun sits on the ground and closes his eyes. Even that this encounter was not dangerous to him the adrenaline was pumping in his veins. He once again attunes with the spiritual world as he extends his senses
Xun is accustomed to the odd sensation that he has when reaching to the alternative plane, it is always surprising to him. The smell, the taste is completely different and unique to a place. And here is no different, the proximity to world wound makes the type of spirits lurking here different. Instead of primal nature spirits, Xun senses something else. Something hard to grasp...
Finally, he opens his eyes and begins to play a tune. This melody is different than the one that he played during the fight, way more soothing and relaxing. If someone looks closely at the bard you can see that there is something magical in his performance.
As he plays, Drizzic can feel his wounds healing in an unusual speed.
After that Xun keeps on playing a rhythm on the drum but without the magic weaved into it.
Xun then raises his head to Eithrim and says
"You are right, the roads are clearly not safe." says gathering his belongings
"You fought well here Eithrim the Hellknight, you all did"
Maeri looks appalled when Muzzo offers a bite of Boar. She instead checks on her horses and the wagons to make sure everything is in order.
Arlo feels pretty confidently that these Boars aren't mutated in any way, though they do appear to be larger than run-of-the-mill boars.
Anjo thinks that the boar meat would be edible, but perhaps better if it were cooked instead of eating it raw like Muzzo.
The group is able to fairly quickly restore everyone to full and Maeri, still determined to get to Devil's Rest before nightfall, orders the group to set out.
The journey to the trading post otherwise proves to be uneventful. After several more hours of monotonous travel the group finally arrive as the afternoon fades into dusk. Devil's Rest is a two-story log building that overlooks the crossroads intersection from atop a nearby knoll. It has twin brick chimneys protruding from its bark shingle roof. Outside of the building there is a vegetable garden and a wooden hitching post that occupy the yard to either side of a dirt path that leads to the entrance. Arlo and Navarre notice that the garden's centermost rows are unplanted and the earth appears to have been disturbed recently.
Maeri doesn't take long to determine her task has been fulfilled-- She unhitches her horses from the wagon and quietly bids the group goodnight as she walks the horses around back to the stable.
Heading inside you find several individuals in the common room including one familiar face--- Kellvan is sitting in the corner. The other four individuals you'll come to learn their names as Annavinia, Dehliana, Nordvick, and Selik.
There is an hour or so before dinner will be served, leaving you with time to introduce yourselves, mingle, and catch-up as you see fit.
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"Oh, I am used to songs accompanying fire...lots of fire but this feels good. Oooh, that sensation of wanting to sing...Thank you Xun!" he says gratefully.
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Drizzic excitedly points at the lodge as they draw close and digs in his packs for pamplets.
"Ah, imagine all of the customers inside...well probably not that many but they might be desperate! Anyone want to hand these out with me?" he says with a charming smile as he puts down his goggles.
He quickly scurries down from the wagon and enters the building.
"HELLO! Drizzic from Rook's Alchemical Goods and MORE is here. Nice to meet all of you...I will get your name when I hand you a nifty pamphlet. Not all at once, I am a bit small so I will hop over to you soon!" he says eyeing the five people within, including Kellvan.
He climbs onto one of the stools at the bar to talk to the two men there, "You two look like you could use an alchemical pick me up. Did you know they make hangover cures? What can I call ya?"
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Arlo takes a good look at the vegetable garden and checks if the plants are in good shape, and gives them a little water and attention if they aren't.
Once inside the building, Arlo waves to everyone present and walks up to the person he recognises as Selik, and introduces himself. "Hello, we're the Pathfinders you ordered. I'm Arlo, and the Goblin hawking his wares over there is Drizzic. The others will introduce themselves soon, I guess. Can you tell us something about the very important information you have, or would you rather do that somewhere more private? Who are these other people, by the way? Friends? Are they also from the Farheaven clan?"
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Xun enters the building and looks around at the people gathered there. His eyes slowly move from one person to another and finally, he stops his sight on Kellvan. He looks at him for a long time but then he turns to where Arlo is speaking with Selik.
When Selik looks towards him, Xun politely nods his head and then heads towards the fireplace. He sits on the chair and puts down all his belongings.
He reaches for his flute first and begins to play a simple but quiet, melody. Later he grabs his drum and begins to play
"Ladies and Gentlemen, as we just arrived here and there is sometime before dinner, let me try to entertain you in the meantime."
Xun begins to sing a song speaking about a group of Pathfinders passing through the Forest of Spirits looking for the lost caravan.
The music fills the room as Xun is singing the story. Even though Xun is not suggesting that they were the party that he signs off, there are some similarities.
Xun seems to be too tired after the trip to sing it properly, but he understands how much is at stake here. As they say: you only get one chance to make a first impression. The bard tries to make the performance memorable
As he finishes the song, Xun keeps on playing, and the bard seems to once again reach for magic. Then after few seconds, the music ends.
Then Xun stands up and bows to the audience. Later he approaches Selik and says
"My name is Xun Saburo, it is pleasure to meet you. I hate to be in a tavern where there is no singing so I decided to fill that void."
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Muzzo said goodbye to the horses, and carefully patted each one on the head, before joining the others at the inn. He saw a familiar face and waved at Kellvan before plopping into a seat at the bar and ordering a Sahuagin Special - a mix of saltwater and whiskey that most drylanders found abhorrent.
"Muzzo needs drink after big pigs! Pig taste good, but leave oily film on Muzzo's tongue. Drink help. Muzzo looking for Selik. Know that name?"
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Arlo finds that the vegetable garden is in good care, outside of the missing row of vegetables.
Conversations pause momentarily as the group comes in and Drizzic announces his mobile shop. The two women smile and resume their conversation, Kellvan nods, and Selik waves Drizzic over.
He climbs onto one of the stools at the bar to talk to the two men there, "You two look like you could use an alchemical pick me up. Did you know they make hangover cures? What can I call ya?"
Nordvick is pouring a drink as Selik speaks, "I am Selik of the Farheaven clan, and this here is Nordvick the groundskeeper! What kind of alchemical pick me up are we talking? We've got drinks already!"
Once inside the building, Arlo waves to everyone present and walks up to the person he recognises as Selik, and introduces himself. "Hello, we're the Pathfinders you ordered. I'm Arlo, and the Goblin hawking his wares over there is Drizzic. The others will introduce themselves soon, I guess. Can you tell us something about the very important information you have, or would you rather do that somewhere more private? Who are these other people, by the way? Friends? Are they also from the Farheaven clan?"
Turning to Arlo, Selik smiles, "I figured as much! Pleased to meet you, I am Selik of the Farheaven clan. Though, let's not discuss business before dinner. Would hate for anyone to get cranky from an empty stomach!" Selik gives a hearty laugh and takes a drink, "Well Nordvick here works the Devil's Rest. And can't say I am too familiar with the other individuals. They aren't from my clan, no!"
Nordvick is a stoutly built human that looks awfully reminscent of a 7-foot-tall dwarf, with a barrel chest, broad brow, and well-groomed black beard.
Selik is wearing a fur coat and has wavy red hair and a short beard. So far he seems to always have a smile on his face.
Xun's performance shows some difficulty at first, but he recovers and his song goes from being something mediocre to a night to remember. Selik looks at Xun when Xun is trying to cast charm. Selik doesn't seem to have been impacted, though the look he gives seems like he was dangerously close to figuring out what Xun was up to.
"My name is Xun Saburo, it is pleasure to meet you. I hate to be in a tavern where there is no singing so I decided to fill that void."
"Interesting last bit of that song there! Pleasure to meet you Xun Saburo, and what a wonderful song I shall bring back to my clan!"
Muzzo said goodbye to the horses, and carefully patted each one on the head, before joining the others at the inn. He saw a familiar face and waved at Kellvan before plopping into a seat at the bar and ordering a Sahuagin Special - a mix of saltwater and whiskey that most drylanders found abhorrent.
"Muzzo needs drink after big pigs! Pig taste good, but leave oily film on Muzzo's tongue. Drink help. Muzzo looking for Selik. Know that name?"
Kellvan returns the wave, and then at the bar Selik laughs and exclaims for everyone to hear, "I am Selik, now, let us all share some stories!"
Nordvick pours drinks for everyone at the bar and smiles, "Always glad to have more people here!"
Selik is happy to share and listen to stories for as long as needed. He has countless tales of his family's exploits around the Sarkoris Scar and will listen eagerly to any story told to him.
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Xun takes the offered drink and takes a sip, then he asks Nordvick
"Not a lot of people stopping by?" asks with genuine interest.
Then Xun can share some tales related to Pathfinder Society missions. He does not sing more unless he will be asked to he wishes to focus on speaking and getting some information from Selik.
"We are supposed to exchange information and supplies? Don't we want to start with the business, in which case the state that we are in after the dinner would not get in our way?"
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Navarre stays in a corner looking at the others as they present themselves to the hosts, although its enormous size is difficult to go unnoticed, once the laughter, food and beer begin to flow, he decides to leave his corner and approach with a firm voice that resounds in the room "Good evening my name is Eithirim Navarre and I am an ardent armiger of the Scourge Order, we have been sent by Jorsal of Lauterbury with the mission of establishing contact with you, if you please once we have finished dinner we will discuss the ends of our mission"
While he takes a plate of food and retreats back to a corner from where he can see the door and have a vision through the nearest window
"We are supposed to exchange information and supplies? Don't we want to start with the business, in which case the state that we are in after the dinner would not get in our way?
Selik responds, "All in good time! Dinner first, then business." He'll then continue to tell stories that may seem slightly embellished for as long someone will listen. Likewise, he continues to listen to as many tales as you'll tell him.
Later when Navarre comes out from the corner, Selik once again more or less repeats himself but remains cheerful and is interested to hear about the tales of a Hellknight.
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If Selik wants to wait with business, Arlo happily switches to smalltalk.
"So, do you pick up a lot of deliveries for your clan? I heard the Sarkoris Scar is dangerous, have you had any problems lately? Seen any interesting sights? Could I join you on your journey back to your clan? I believe our mission was only to escort this cart here, but I'll happily tag along if you need any assistance."
As Arlo, group, and Selik continue conversation, Nordvick announces dinner will soon be ready and he begins setting the round table for the meal. Annavinia, Dehliana, and Kellvan exit the room, as does Nordvick shortly after.
"So, do you pick up a lot of deliveries for your clan? I heard the Sarkoris Scar is dangerous, have you had any problems lately? Seen any interesting sights? Could I join you on your journey back to your clan? I believe our mission was only to escort this cart here, but I'll happily tag along if you need any assistance."
Selik smiles, "Not a lot of deliveries, no, but For the Society, yes! And The sarkoris Scar has been dangerous, but the Farheaven Clan is prepared. There are all sorts of devils and demons that I'm sure your friend Navarre would enjoy pitting against," He says with a laugh. "Perhaps you'll join me if that is your wish, does your Society allow for this?" Selik passionately shares more tails of what to expect as Nordvick brings dish after dish out from the kitchen.
With the table set, Nordvick rings a bell and the remaining guests (Annavinia, Dehliana, and Kellvan) reenter the room and take a seat at the table. There's so many guests that Nordvick brought in extra chairs for the large table and everyone scrunches in real close for dinner. Nordvick has prepared a dinner of roast boar and a delicious plate of root vegetables. The group proceeds with dinner and small talk while eating.
Annavinia is composed and is expensively dressed. She seems to participate little in the small talk but you do learn that she is conducting scholarly research about the area's history.
Dehliana is fairly outgoing during dinner and she shares that she is a medium capable of piercing the veil between the material and the spirit world.
Kellvan you've met previously and he is happy to talk but doesn't mention his investigation at all while at dinner.
Nordvick is also at the table and is cheerful though as the groundskeeper at Devil's Rest he has little to say apart from the comings and goings of the trading post which doesn't seem to amount to anything useful.
Lastly, Selik continues to share countless stories and listen to any tales.
As dinner dies down, Dehliana places a velvet satchel on the dinner tablel and retrieves some tools including some tapered candles, a silver dousing rod, and a mahogany planchette. "Who is interested in a séance? Which of you would like to commune with the dead?" she asks the group. "Any volunteers?"
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"Not Muzzo. Muzzo make things dead. No want hear recriminations after. Muzzo happy to just enjoy food and drink."
Muzzo is happy to tell stories. Surprisingly most of them are not about murder and mayhem. but about the fuzzies he has met on his travels. Most recently, he tells of a flying weasel named Twl and an owl named Bitey, who was a little nippy but not too bad.
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Arlo tells stories of his adventures so far, and he focuses mainly on the travels, the sights and smells, rather than the actual mission itself. They mostly end in "oh yeah, and there was this person we needed to stop, so we did." They all end up being a little anticlimactic, but Arlo doesn't seem to notice.
When Muzzo tells his stories, Arlo is fascinated. Any story that features animals seem to be a big hit with Arlo. "How come the weasel could fly? I've never seen that happen before. Did you train it? Where is he now?"
When Dehliana offers a seance, Arlo chimes in. "Can you only speak with the afterlife, or also with the spirits? Maybe they can bless us on our travels."
"But of course I can speak with the spirits! I will show you as soon as we have a volunteer!" Dehliana responds as she begins arranging her tools in preparation.
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Drizzic holds up various vials, "Imagine if your ale could make you faster or stronger or more drunk! Mutagens, tinctures, elixirs, and more. But the best seller used to be Alchemist's Kindness, can cure a hangover on the double. My old master still refuses to teach me the formula for some reason. Perhaps one day!" the goblin prattles on about all kinds of additives.
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"Kellvan, are you okay? You aren't drinking anything? Is it the taste? Maybe I can modify the drink for you so you can actually drink with us?" Drizzic says spotting the man not drinking and a potential test subject, he laughs a little bit.
He also shakes his head at the seance, "Ghost kind of scare me and have no coin but I will join if needed."
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Navarre is quite a suspicious guy and the fact that Kellvan doesn't eat or drink only brings two options to mind, First is afraid of being poisoned or drugged or Second wants to be alert to control anyone. So, as discreetly as he can, Kellvan approaches him and says "I think friend that there are things we should talk about, why don't you drink? and remember that lying to a hellknight is not usually very productive"
Anjo looks carefully at his drink and feels fairly certain that it is just a regular drink. Nothing tainting it as far as he can see.
Kellvan politely laughs at the goblin alchemist's list of additives, merely citing that "I'm okay but thank you"
Kellvan responds to the armiger, "Oh, well I wouldn't think of lying to a hellknight. I've been drinking as much as I can when considering my work". He emphasizes the last word to drive some kind of point.
He also shakes his head at the seance, "Ghost kind of scare me and have no coin but I will join if needed."
Dehliana is delighted to have a volunteer and smiles broadly as she ignores any reluctance, "Excellent! And there is no need for coin!". She continues setting her tools, candles, and planchette in their spots as Nordvick starts clearing away empty plates. Annavinia looks uneasy, but she remains seated. Selik on the other hand is completely enthralled and is eager to see what happens.
Dehliana lights the final candle and settles into a chair at the head of the table. “Place your fingertips on the planchette. The spirits will speak to us through this quill. Remember, friends, I am here as nothing more than a guide,” she murmurs, gesturing for the participants to follow her lead. Her shoulders relax and she rests her fingertips on the planchette. “Spirits, make your presence known and enlighten us from beyond the veil.”
The room is silent for a few moments. The table rattles as the sound of unintelligible whispers gathers in the air. Dehliana gasps when the planchette moves beneath her fingers, tracing a lazy path against the parchment beneath it. “Spirits, are you with us?” She inquires.
The planchette twitches and jerks of its own volition, darting out from under Dehliana’s fingers. In shaky, cramped handwriting, it scrawls the word, “Yes.” Dehliana smiles and turns to face the group gathered around her. “If you have questions for this peaceful spirit, now is the time to ask.”