Cult of Cinders - Age of Ashes #2 (Inactive)

Game Master Kittenmancer

My bad!

Renali looks thoughtful as she searches her memory. "The shrine of Ketephys only had one archway. I counted six archways in the room below, but one was partially collapsed."

The walk back to town is a little slower, on account of having to carry Voz Lirayne's unconscious body. Even with Gofran's strength and endurance, he has to pause to catch his breath now and then. Once out of the cave complex, Renali lights up at the sight of the forest and the unfamiliar plants, pointing at everything in sight and asking about their names and characteristics.

Despite the less-than-speedy pace, the walls of Breachill come into view in the early evening, silhouetted against the setting sun. One of the gate guards spots the group and rushes off, no doubt to alert the council. Indeed, by the time the heroes make it to the town hall, Greta Gardania is already there, together with Melma Ann Sendari and Quentino Posandi.

"I see you have apprehended Miss Lirayne, very good. Have you learned anything from her?" The councilwoman launches straight into business as she gestures one of the town guards to take custody of the passed-out necromancer.

Beau tries to name what he can for Renali, but while knowledgeable on all things nature, there's a limit to what he knows. It's the one happy distraction he needs to make the long and arduous journey back 'home' because he's still suffering from the fatal blow Lirayne dealt him.

Karana has no outlet for the emotions she has been bottling since the truth of Miss Lyraine became undeniable. When asked the question, she replies, “She is a necromancer.

“I cannot imagine any decent person would animate the dead, as if the body of a person can become your tool when the soul is extracted. And yet… she was so good to me when I arrived here.” She looks at the unconscious woman. Her friend. Her enemy. Neither relation can be denied. “Even if she is as villainous as she seems, the words of her journal should not be discounted. She challenges Breachill’s history.

“I want to hear her side. It does not excuse her actions, but… maybe not that she is our captive, she will provide us the rationale behind her ambitions.”

Karana’s fist is clenched and trembling. Her moist eyes bear the look of a wild animal. Her feet are planted. She will be with Miss Lyraine when she regains consciousness.

Gofran gladly passes the unconscious woman to the guards. "She is a spellcasterr, so I'd advise ye to keep herr hands bound and herr mouth gagged."

"Dirrectly frrom herr, verry little, but ve have found some o' herr notes." Gofran then retrieves the notes and present them to the Council. There is a lot to tell the council, so he takes some time to think about the most logical order to present it.

"I believe ve should starrt by prresentin' all those involved in this mess, even if it is still not clearr theirr rrelation to each otherr." He finally begins. "Firrst ve have Miss Lirrayne, who is lookin' for somethin' called the Alseta's Rring. Herr assistant, Calmont the halfling, has vanished, perrhaps fled Brreachhill afterr prrovokin' the firre. Then ve have the Cinderrclaws, cultists frrom farr avay that vorrship Dahak, theirr leaderr being someone called Malarrunk. Ve do not know vhat theirr goal is."

"These Cinderrclaws have rreached herre thrrough an arrchvay turrned into porrtal frrom a shrrine o' Ketephys, an elven God o' huntin'. I believe this porrtal is an Aiudarra, which arre elven gatevays to move arround the vorrld." He pauses, to make sure all were following his thoughts. "They brrought the drragons that scarred the Brramblebasherrs, and ve have defeat some o' them, vhile the otherrs rremain trraped somevherre in the caves close to the Guarrdian's Vay. Ve should deal vith them as soon as possible."

"Vhile ve can't be surre. Miss Lirrayne's notes suggest this Alseta's Rring is a place. Alseta is the elven Goddess o' doorrs and passages. Accorrdin' to Miss Rrenali..." Gofran points to the strange woman that has been following them. "...she followed the Cinderrclaws thrrough the porrtal and emerrged in a cirrcularr chamberr vith many statues and arrchvays similarr to the one at the Shrrine o' Ketephys. This could be a coincidence, but I believe this chamberr is the Rring. A rring o' porrtals, perrhaps?"

"Nothin' points to a connection betveen the Cinderrclaws and Miss Lirrayne. Howeverr, therre is a thirrd parrty... the Scarrlet Trriad. Ve only know about them thanks to Miss Lirrayne's notes, which suggest she somevhat vorrks forr them. Perrhaps she can tell us morre."

He then remembers something and looks for it in the journals. "Herre, this could be trroublesome..." He points to a section in her journals that mention the Scarlet Triad and then wanting her to discover how Alseta's Ring works in six months. "She vas vorrkin' on a schedule, vhich means therre is morre to come. Perrhaps ve can discoverr vhat the plan is and stop it beforre that."

Bea opened her mouth to defend spellcasting, even necromancy, that the practice itself is not evil, it is what one does with it... but she decides it is better to keep her thoughts to herself. At Gofran's description, she mentally ticks off her own internal list of things to tell them, and he gets them all.

Greta Gardania takes a few moments to gather her thoughts after Gofran's debriefing, while the other town councillors present look at each other with various degrees of concern.

"First off, thank you all for your bravery and diligence, it sounds like you have done Breachill another great service. Secondly, I would like to welcome Miss Renali - please make yourself at home here."

She takes a deep breath, massaging her temples with the tips of her fingers. "The Cinderclaws sound like bad news, and I agree that they should be dealt with as soon as possible. It sounds like you are willing to undertake this task, but please correct me if I am wrong. Obviously, the town council will compensate you for your efforts... which reminds me."

Reaching under her desk, she opens one of the drawers, taking out a small lockbox which she opens with a key worn around her neck, counting out coins and offering them to the party. 10 gp each.

As the guard moves to heft Voz Lirayne's unconscious form onto her shoulder, the councilwoman frowns as she notices the satchel attached to the mage. "Have you already looked through any journals or documents she had in her possession? If not, we should see if we can uncover any more information before proceeding."

The satchel indeed contains what seems to be the rest of Voz's journal as well as a number of letters.

Which of these do you check first?

Karana says flatly, “I wish to speak with her.” She grabs the journal, intent on reading while she waits for Miss Lyraine to awaken.

Since Karana claimed the journal with flat speed, Bea starts looking at a letter.

Seated cross-legged on the floor, Karana says, “Bea, we can read together if you would like.”

Bea was in the process of sifting through the letters when Karana offered to share. As a person with many sisters, she knows the value of sharing and how hard it is at times, so she smiles brightly and settles down next to her. "Thank you."

Kyrie accepts the payment graciously and bows her head. ”I thank you for your fair recompense. I would be happy to continue serving Breachill.” She takes whichever reading materials are unclaimed, not wanting to crowd anyone.

After sorting through the letters and arranging them in chronological order, the group discovers that they seem to be written in the same hand - not by Voz Lirayne, it seems, but by someone signing "L".

Gofran reads the letters twice before saying anything. "I believe these letterrs arre frrom the Scarrlet Trriad, though it is possible I'm vrrong. They can tell us a couple things..."

He points to the emphasized words. "These vorrds arre a hint to the Ayudarra, and I believe this 'L' vas testin' Miss Lyrraine to discoverr if she vas avarre o' vhat the rring vas. It is even hinted that the rring is an item, perrhaps as anotherr layerr o' prrotection."

"The second letterr, howeverr, shows that the rring is indeed a place, since 'L' vants to move livestock thrrough it. The final letterr shows a prressurre frrom this 'L' against Miss Lirrayne and betrrays a grreaterr degree o' familiarrity, since she is called by herr firrst name." He points out. "It is possible that Miss Lirrayne vas prressurred into doin' vhat she did, fearrin' forr herr life, even if this doesn't exempt herr o' herr deeds."

"She's just a mercenary" Bea says with more than a little disappointment in her voice. "'Livestock'? I find the use of the term... disturbing.
Given the previous information Miss Lissayne had about the town."

Beau agrees with Bea and purses his lips. He had secretly hoped there would be a 'good' reason for Lirayne to have done all this. That hope, alas, was in vain. "It sounds like she bit off more than she could chew. Whether her folly was driven by the desire to avoid failure or by a complete lack of morals is beyond me, but honestly, I also don't care. What's done is done, and she brought nothing but trouble to Breachill."

He pauses for a moment and shakes his head as a realization dawns on him. "And, heh, if these individuals come looking for her and their 'investment', and they will, more trouble might be yet to come. Fantastic."

Greta Gardania looks concerned at the idea that whoever Voz Lirayne was working for might show up in Breachill to try and recoup their investment. "We should try and ask Miss Lirayne for more information. And who is this L.? I would like to send after Kellen Carondil, the head priest of Desna or Tarindlara Vallindel, cleric of Shelyn and president of the artisans' guild, perhaps they can help discern the truth from lies in her words."

Meanwhile, those reading Voz's journal find a wide range of information. A dozen or so pages are allocated to describing the ritual to create undead in grisly and exacting detail, along with the specific materials and incantations to call back the spirits of the dead and how to interrogate them. Here and there are interspersed a number of personal grievances with various people in town, mostly petty complaints and ramblings.

Of more interest are hints about her goals. Certain words are subtly emphasized, just like in the first letter that Voz received from the mysterious L., and Kyrie's mind suddenly clicks - Voz must be a worshipper of Norgorber, the god of secrets and murder! Reading between the lines with this hint at the forefront of her mind, the following passages begin to make sense... in a chilling sort of way.

"...The location is ideal. Isger is barely governed at all and Breachill is in the middle of nowhere. The saps who run the town have their heads too far up their asses to notice anything before it is far too late. If I can secure the deed, then I'll even be the rightful owner and can kick out those foul little Goblins. Cheliax has a poor enough reputation these days that they will provide sufficient cover for any unsavoury rumours that eventually crop up. There are already dozens of corpses ready for use. Morta said that Posandi himself is an Asmodean, so I am sure I can reach a favourable agreement with him on the stone repairs and scapegoat him if ever the need arises..."

It seems like she was planning something with the citadel, perhaps establish a safe location for assassins and necromancers.

Another passage concerns Alseta's Ring, and confirms Gofran's hypothesis.

"This network of Aiudara seems to be amongst the oldest in the world. It may even have its origins from before Earthfall. Evidence suggests the magic was not yet perfected and that direct transit between portals was not quite instantaneous or direct, but managed to effectively be so. The ring itself was located, for some reason, here of all places. The ring connects six individual portals linking far-flung lands. I have only been able to confirm that one of six once linked to Kyonin, but for some reason I can find no record of travel through that portal, despite the use of many other Aiudara networks in Kyonin.

Each portal, it seems, needs a key to activate, but it is possible some number of them have been lost over time. Hopefully, once I gain access to the site, I will be able to gather further information from the gates themselves about these supposed keys. If one is sufficiently skilled, perhaps it is possible to create a replacement. Some accounts suggest the portals have some sort of animated guardian statues that emerged to attack when the soldiers blundered in. Maybe there’s a pass key or ward?"

The last passage of interest is in relation to her mysterious sponsors.

"WHO ARE THEY?!?! I can't figure out how they found me, setting aside how they could possibly know about the ring. None of my contacts know much about them and they certainly didn't recommend them. I've looked into them and all I can find is that they are "a small merchant guild in Katapesh." That one phrase, word for word, from three different and well-informed sources. If that DOESN'T mean there’s more to the story, than I’ll become an ordained priestess of PHARASMA!"

Gofran grabs a pen and some ink from the councilor's table and starts to write the message Kyrie is reading to them. Once it is done, he re-reads it, since he wasn't really able to pay full attention while writing it. "A lot of interrestin inforrmation forr surre..." He glances at Posandi, trying to see how he'd react to being called an Asmodean. It is not illegal, as far as he knows, but certainly troublesome.

Perception: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (12) + 8 = 20

"Vell, it appearrs Miss Lirrayne vas alrready lookin' forr the rring beforre she vas contacted by the Scarrlet Trriad, though ve need to speak vith herr to discoverr vhat vherre herr plans. It vas cerrtainly not a nice endeavorr if ve take herr own vorrds into account...." He points out. "...And it looks like she doesn't know about herr patrrons as vell, which is trroublesome."

Gofran re-reads the part that mentions a key to operate the portals, pleased that he was correct about the portals and the Ring. "Humm... perrhaps the Cinderrclaws have lost theirr key? That vould explain vhy theirr trravel vas only one-vay." He shakes his head, knowing that they know too little to throw some deductions at this point. "Many otherr explanations arre also possible, like the keys could be consumable, orr perrhaps differrent keys arre needed depending on the orrigin or the dirrection..."

He then turns to Renali. "Miss Rrenali, do ye rrecall seein' vhat could be descrribed as a 'guarrdian' o' some sorrts vhen ye emerrged thrrough the porrtal?"

Councillor Posandi, for his part, listens stony-faced to the passage concerning him, then shakes his head with a long-suffering sigh. "People love to find the most outlandish reasons for my successful business, this is not the first time I have been accused of all sorts of... unsavoury things. The truth, of course, is that I worked hard to get where I am, just like my parents and grand-parents have." He gives a soft snort. "I find that trying to defend myself against baseless slander is usually a waste of time."

Renali frowns at Gofran's question, her gaze unfocused as she tries to remember. "Not in the circular room, but there is a strange goblin in one of the caverns I passed. It was a very sad sight, him on a throne, surrounded by skeletons of other goblins posed in worship. Perhaps he is the last of their kind."

Karana agrees to having the clerics present, but will insist on speaking to Miss Lyraine personally.

“I cannot explain why… but I want to hear her side. Something about how she looked at me when I…” Karana rubs her forehead, which she imagines must be purple and lumpy, though she feels just fine… (physically).

Bea is highly interested in the goblin "king?" she asks "I assume all races can fall into the folly of monarchies, but I have never heard of such from their kind. I wonder if we'll be able to see it. Oh, Renaili, I know it is very... odd... to be so far from home so quickly, but imagine if this was the norm, the ability to see so much of our worlds and beyond in just a moment. All the strange bits people brush under the rug and try to forget..." the little gnome woman practically gushes, not for the first time, at things others care little for.

Renali smiles at Bea. "You are right, this is perhaps an opportunity as much as it is a predicament. I just hope... that I can return home one day soon."

After a short time, Kellen Carondil from the Great Dreamhouse enters the council chambers. The elf looks slightly concerned, but greets the Heroes of Breachill with warmth, especially Karana.

"Breachill doesn't have an actual prison," explains Greta Gardania as she leads the group away. "just a space where we put people who are drunk and rowdy until they sober up, but I did not think it appropriate to place Miss Lirayne there, so we improvised."

The improvisation turns out to be a hastily cleared supply room that can be locked from the outside; the smell of soap still lingers in the air. Miss Lirayne is propped up sitting on the floor, her back against the wall opposite to the door, her hands bound in front of her and with a neatly folded handkerchief as a gag. She is still unconscious, and the elven cleric goes to kneel at her side, casting a healing spell. The librarian awakens with a start and a sharp intake of breath, scrambling to get away from Kellen, her eyes darting rapidly from face to face. As she spots Karana in the crowd that is almost filling the small room, she looks away.

Feel free to ask your questions! Kellen will cast Zone of Truth.

Karana says, “Miss Lyraine…? I did not wish for violence. You almost killed Beau. Please explain. What is it that you were hoping to accomplish? Why had you hired mercenaries? Who is L…? Are you…?” …in trouble?

Karana stops herself, noting that she is already excusing Miss Lyraine’s behavior. Maybe Bea is right, necromancy is just magic, not evil necessarily. Karana want to believe Miss Lyraine, but…

Let the truth set her free if we are somehow mistaken.

Bea came along even though she has no interest in interrogation. On her mind she pictures pliers and hammers, not whatever Katana is doing. "You have lost." she says simply, interjecting. "you have to choose whether you want to throw yourself on our mercies, or the ones you owe money to. Are you willing to talk to us?"

Miss Lirayne's nostrils flare, and she lifts her chin, glaring at all assembled. After glancing at Greta Gardania for confirmation, Kellen reaches out gently to remove her gag. The half-elf works her mouth for a moment, moistening her lips, then glances at Beatrix.

"I see you have rifled through my personal papers. Very well, I suppose the cards are on the table now, but why should I play? And why would you, or anyone, show me mercy? Like she said, I almost killed your friend."

"Almost and Did are very different things." Beatrix points out, her bright eyes drifting off for a moment as she thinks on "Why should you play? A good question. The town will choose your punishment for all that you have done, not us... but we could put in a good word, asking that they don't execute you at the very least. And we'd do so if you tell us what we need to know. A trade?"

Karana replies, “If we were without mercy, you would have died in that cave. I… used my magic to stabilize you the moment you fell.” With just a hint of respect for Miss Lyraine, she adds, “It was my plan all along, but you proved to be quite formidable!”

Karana smiles warmly. Then she wears a serious look as she considers what to say next:

“L. is not merciful like us. L. will attempt to silence you whether you speak or not. You need us to be well informed for your own sake.”

While Bea and Karana speak to Voz, Gofran discreetly speaks to Councillor Posandi. "Frrom vhat ve have disclosed about Voz's actions, vhat vould be considerred a crrime herre in Brreachill and vhat vould be the punishment forr such?" He then tries to remember of the laws of the region, for comparison.

Gofran has Lore (legal) +5, Lore (politics) +5. Also has Dubious Knowledge.

Quentino Posandi frowns as he considers Gofran's question, responding in the same soft tone of voice. "For the practice of necromancy, the punishment would be exile. The rest is... complicated. Whatever scuffle you had with her was outside the town, and by your own account the mercenaries she hired departed without making trouble. And without knowing more about this L. and the organization they work for, I cannot say how much of a danger that poses to Breachill."

At Bea's words, Voz throws her head back and barks a short laugh. "Execute me? Have you seen this place? Full of goody two-shoes on their high moral horses! The Hellknights might have had the backbone to do such a thing, but these? Hah!" She smiles thinly. "I'm not afraid of them."

Her smile dies at Karana's words, and for the first time since she has awakened, Voz Lirayne looks the elf in the eyes. "Someone else, I would have said you did it because you needed me. But you..." She trails off as she looks away, then shakes her head sharply. "Bah! I am becoming sentimental."

Karana moves to Miss Lyraine’s side, and sits cross legged beside her. If Miss Lyraine insists upon looking away from her, Karana speaks anyway, making no additional move and not touching the woman.

Diplomacy: 1d20 + 4 ⇒ (11) + 4 = 15

“Miss Lyraine… I struck you. It hurt me to do that. I cannot express how much it hurt because you were good to me. Was it just part of your deception, or was it real?” And if the friendship was real, Karana’s next question is, “Can you forgive me?”

Gofran nods, understanding the situation. He remains silent, since he knows there is not much they can threaten Voz with to force her to cooperate, since her punishment would be to be exiled of a place she has no attachment to.

"Hum... we are no threat to her, but perhaps this 'L' and this Triad are... If Karana's puppy eyes do not work, perhaps we can make a deal about helping her disappear or even protect her against her enemies."

diplomacy: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (12) + 8 = 20

Bea hears her opinion of the town and she can't bring herself to disagree. Even in the Ear, the anyone got was a little roughed up.

If Karana's approach doesn't work, what will... Bea decides to simply ask.

"what do you want?"

Voz stares at Karana for a long moment, visibly struggling with something before she sighs and looks away. At Bea's question, her head comes up sharply. "I want people to stop judging me for things they don't understand! I just wanted a place to conduct my research in peace. I wasn't hurting anyone!"

She grits her teeth. "Just... do what you are going to do. Kick me out. I'll just start over somewhere else."

Karana asks her, “But… but… did you not attack us?” Or, did we attack her? “I wanted to believe you. I thought your writings might be a warning, that you stumbled upon a truth no one in Breachill would accept.

“I am sitting by your side in the Zone of Truth. I am telling you that I told my companions we might be wrong about you. If I were lying, Miss Carondil‘s magic would stop me from speaking, would it not?” Karana’s eyes are welling. She wonders if she truly misunderstood Miss Lyraine, and who did start that fight? She cannot trust her memory. But the past cannot be undone.

So what does the present bring. A Zone of Truth!

“Miss Lyraine! Please tell us how we misunderstood you! You are in a Zone of Truth! This is your opportunity to be believed.”

Something flickers across Voz's face. "I attacked when your friends stood in my way. And yes, I did come across a truth that no one in Breachill would accept." It sounds like she believes that.

"Karana, I'm not saying you are lying. I know you are quite... naive. I feel sorry for you. People like you end up being taken advantage of."

Greta Gardania clears her throat. "And what truth would that be, Miss Lirayne?"

The half-elf snorts. "Your precious Lamond Breachton was a fraud. What the histories say he did, what they say he was - it doesn't add up. But you're all too lost in this fantasy you conjured, about him, about your own origins, to ever believe otherwise." She seems to take a savage satisfaction in uttering these words.

She takes a few breaths, visibly trying to compose herself. "I don't know how to answer that, Karana, I don't know what your companions thought of me, and how you thought they might be wrong. I was working towards my goals of opening a necromancy school in the abandoned citadel. I don't understand what the fuss is about, necromancy is such a practical endeavour. All those dead bodies, finally put to use."

She bites her lip suddenly, her eyes widening; she looks like she has said too much. Her shoulders slumping, she gives Karana a sideways glance. "I never attacked you, although you did attack me. And that hurt, Karana, more than if you had actually hit me. If you thought the others were wrong about me, why did you do that?"

Tears trickle from Karana’s eyes.

She thinks back to the time she shot the wild dog that killed her brother. Then she stabilized him, nursed him to health, and he became her loyal Rontu. Animals make more sense than people.

“If I did nothing, I would have no say whether you live or die.”

"A school?" Bea asked, interest igniting her eyes.

All wrapped in a blanket of self-pity, Lirayne fails to win over Beau with her whiny self-indulged tales of woe. He has to fight the urge to roll his eyes a couple of times, and perhaps wisely, stays in the back and out of the thick of things.

He continues to stare at the whole proceeding with the look of someone who has no hope for the ongoing process. You should never regret not killing someone, but this woman, lost in whatever inane ideas are floating through her head, will never attempt to redeem herself. Maybe if the town kicks her out she'll be swallowed whole by the dogs that are looking for her - but what then? They'll want more. They'll want whatever it is 'we' have here.

Voz stares at Karana, as if her words don't make sense to her. At Bea's question, she nods. "Yes, a school. My parents sacrificed a lot so that I could attend the Imperial Academy in Molthune, even if we were from Nirmathas..." She trails off, eyes unfocused, as if a sudden realization has come upon her. She glares at Kellen, still kneeling at her side. "This damn spell! I don't... I don't want these truths! It was my work, my merits! I was better than anyone in that backwater Tamran!"

While Voz seems to struggle with herself, Greta Gardania sighs, motioning with her head at the half-elf. "Well, it seems the accused herself is in agreement with the punishment of exile." She glances at Quentino Posandi expectantly, and the man closes his eyes briefly, and nods. "Miss Lirayne, I urge you to tell us anything you know of this L. and the organization they work for. If they come looking for you, and could pose a danger to the town, we need to know."

The librarian's head snaps up at the question, frowning. "I needed funds for my endeavour, so I reached out to my contacts hoping to find someone to bankroll the whole thing. I believe the letter I received was in response to this. The first letter used words that indicated an affiliation with Norgorber, so I decided to respond, even though I knew nothing about them." She twists her mouth in a bitter expression. "In hindsight, I should have been more cautious, they seemed to know entirely too much about me and my research. How would a merchant guild from Katapesh acquire such information?" She sighs, rubbing her forehead. "They wanted me to confirm the existence of Alseta's Ring, get access to it and activate as many portals as possible. In exchange, they would fund my school. I only corresponded with this L., and despite my ardent inquiries I could find no information about them, beyond what I've already told you." She swallows. "That... scares me a little."

Gofran listens, taking mental notes about the new information, some of which confirms their former theories. He doesn't speak for now, glad with how the interrogation is moving forward.

Kyrie folds her arms and scowls. She does not share Karana’s interest in rehabilitating Voz, but she does not object enough to make an issue of it. There are not enough hours in the day to try to lead every wayward subject to redemption. Often times, you just have to keep moving forward, lest you get weighed down by the sins of everyone you come across.

Still, in a metaphysical sense there is something to be said for the value of redemption being worth the risk. A wicked soul sent to the Boneyard will just end up recycled into an evil outsider. Every redemption has the chance to remove one soldier from the armies of Hell and the Abyss. But such work is difficult and consuming beyond measure, and in the time it takes to redeem one soul, another evil doer may slay dozens, drawing more to evil with their evil. Iomedae has always taken the position that there is too much evil in the world to focus on redemption; make sure an infection is contained before trying to cure it. But that does not mean that she should prevent others from finding cures. She just is not built for it.

A long moment of silence stretches out after Voz's confession. At long last, Greta Gardania clears her throat. "Well. Thank you for, for being truthful, Miss Lirayne. Your sentence shall be discussed at the next full council meeting." She hesitates, looking around the bare room. "I will arrange for a more... suitable space for you until then." She nods, then turns to leave.

Voz watches her for a moment, then glances at Karana, then Bea. "If... if you go back. Will you let me know what you find? I spent years studying Alseta's Ring. I was so close."

Once, long ago, Bea started a series of books that she thought were the most wonderful magical books she had ever read. But then they stopped. The author had better things to do than finish his masterwork.

The point is Bea sympathizes with something one was so into just Disappears. The gnome woman smiles just a little and nods. "If we do, and we survive, I promise to tell you what happened."

As the group leaves the interrogation, Bea suggests "We should eat dinner together. In the interest of strengthening bonds, which strengthens teamwork, which any adventuring group needs." the gnome had read that in a book once, and recounts the passages to anyone who is interested. She also offers to Karana, "If the tree you are staying in is too painful at the moment..." the fact it is outside the bookstore is left unsaid "... you are welcome to share a spot in our room." the three sisters share a single room, which happens to be a little cramped but their smaller size works in their favor. "We all shared small bedrooms when we were in the tower, so cramped means cozy to us." she explained further if Karana balks.

Karana is feeling a lot of pain. She wonders if there was a better way. “I agree we should tell Miss Lyraine. And… yes, I would like to share a room.”

She does not explain the the Great Dreamhouse is her ‘home,’ and the tree is simply a favorite place to read and experiment with her wild shape magic. This fact does not change her appreciation of Bea’s offer. Karana does not wish to sleep alone.

Bea seems delighted to have company and rushes Karana to the room to drop off her stuff before dinner. The room is small, meant for one, hence the single bed. But that hasn't stopped the gnome sisters from making each space their own.

Her sisters are out, probably working, so the tour is given only by Bea. "That one's Peppercorn's" she points to a nest-like hammock in one corner, near the only window, with ropes, threads, and ribbons branching out from the center to every place possible on the wall for support. Brings up the thought a spider sleeps there, a spider that loves pillows. There are about a dozen stuffed in the webbed.

"That's Whim's" nestled above the dresser in the other corner is a hanging hammock, like a cocoon for a moth. Multicolored sheets wrapped around the ceilings beam. Each drawer of the dresser opened at increasing amounts from the top-down, showing their use as a stairwell to the 'second-floor' bedroom. The cocoon is also stuffed with pillows of every kind.

"And Mine." finally a bed on the actual bed. Well, at least half of it. Bea's built a roundish tent, like a hive almost, of various blankets and many many many pillows. A small hole in the front shows where she crawls in every night. A tank full of water rests on the floor in front of it, resting on top of Bea's horde of books.

The second half of the bed is filled once again with pillows, apparently, the sisters like pillows. Staged in a way like a couch for small people. "And yours!" Bea beams gesturing to the half a bed before her eyes take in ALL of Karana. "Um... we can get some more pillows, pile them up here." indicating the floor in front of the bed "For your feet. I knew we didn't have enough pillows." she frets a bit.

Karana laughs. “Your home is lovely. I spent the past eighteen summers and win…” She stops herself from saying she is used to sleeping without a proper bed.

“Oh, it would be rude to refuse your hospitality. What I mean is, I can make do with the current setting. I like to curl into a ball when I sleep. I apologize in advance if I topple the pillows, but this looks very comfortable.”

She looks around, then asks, “Where should I go to wash up?”

Karana's answer gives the poor pillow poor gnome relief. "We have to share a washroom with the other tenates on the floor. I'll show you." just at the end of the hall, so the showing doesn't take more than a splinter of a minute.

Karana is both casual and efficient when it comes to washing in the presence of Bea and her sisters. She only wears only a blanket to bed, though she wraps herself in it so Bea will not be uncomfortable.

As she lays down she says, “Beau is handsome.” She says it as if stating a fact. “The blue marking on my chin means I am unmarried. It is fortunate none of the men here understand the meaning. I spent eighteen summers and winters, from my brother’s death to Father Padilla opening my exit from the First World, without seeing a man.

“It is not that I fail to notice him, or lack interest. I am just… not ready to remove the paint on my chin.” She tries to smile like she is attempting humor. “What I truly mean is I am not ready to fully partake in civilization. It is strange to me. Beau almost died at Miss Lyraine’s hand, and she hates me, but I find myself feeling glad you said you would… tell her.

“You make sense in the way most people do not, Bea. You do not let anger overtake you.” She sits up, holding the blanket so it will not flop down. “Like an animal… you are vicious when you must be, and then you let go. And then you are kind.”

Karana seems to have more to say, but she stifles herself.

Bea rests on her belly, with her head out of her hive, chin on elbows. Matilda happily sloshing in her tank. Peppercorn and Whim are quiet in their own beds, letting their sister do the advising.

Her eyes eagerly absorb the knowledge of first worlds and paint, then listen to Karana's thoughts on herself. She briefly considered talking about her past, about their 'father', and why controlling their emotions was so important. Briefly, because it was night and demons are best laid to rest before bed, not talked about. And Karana needs to talk, not listen.

"Thank you. I might not be the best at understanding normal people, but Miss Lyraine is greatly outside Normal." she smiles, clearly treating that statement as a compliment. "Not normal is something I am good at. SO no matter what else the former book vendor is feeling about you... it is not hate I am exceedingly sure of."

"More important though... You like Beau?" the tone says clearly she expects that to be a question that should be answered with LOTS of details.

"Which one is Beau?" Whim asks from up above.
"The human, the lean and limber one." Peppercorn responds.
"Oh, that one" Whim is back on track "Sorry, continue please."