The gnoll chuffs at the ‘tableau’. With a clawed hand, he snuffs out the candles, sweeps the offerings onto the floor, and tears down the spiral shape symbol. Finally, Shaggar pulls the skinless body off the spike and returns the limbs to a normal position.
He stands over the corpse considering ‘next steps’ for a moment. Knowing the others might see something he doesn’t, he makes a choice. He picks up the skinned corpse along with the spiral symbol and carries them both back to the team. The symbols he lets drop with a clang, the body he puts down gently.
”I wonder if Aldric is truly Aldric… or if something else is wearing his skin. Or is this Lucina?”
Kiley blanches at the sight of the skinless corpse. She remembers Lucina's warning about how bad her death had been, and the young woman has to fight to keep from throwing up or falling into hysterics as the sight brings back other horrific memories.
"I-I think that's Lucina," she says as she looks away. "Sh-she said it was bad."
Sasha listens to the dragon closely and helps Kiley as Luxvoryna dresses. When Shagger brings Lucina's corpse over she identifies the holy symbol readily, as it matches hers. "Aldric has done great evil here - I think it is time we handle him...after we see to Lucina's dignity and bury her honorably. Did you find any additional tunnels further inside, Shagger?" she asks as she goes to hold Kiley and try to comfort her as the tiefling turns away from the sight.
Luxvoryna recognizes the holy symbol and what it does, explaining it's a charm of fortune.
The corpse does appear to be Lucina, as it matches the general shape and form of the ghost from upstairs. Shaggar doesn't find any other tunnels or exits down in the tunnels, leaving this part of your journey complete beyond talking to Luxvoryna.
"This 'Aldric', whoever or whatever he actually is, is the ringleader of this little band of misfits from what I gathered. Both before and during my imprisonment."
The dragon listens to the tale of how you got here, sitting patiently and not interrupting to ask any questions until the end. "A perplexing conundrum. I know from my own...experiences here that this group, whoever they are and whatever they call themselves, has an interest in the dwarven city of Brazenthrone far below this forest and the Black Loch, the underground lake even further beyond the city. I know for a fact that there is all sorts of horrible Underdark things down there, but even I have not dared go that far below alone."
"As you might have guessed, I have been guarding the Lunar Well far before this village sprung up around it. I do not know much of what specifically lays below now, for I have not left the Glade in many years. I have had offspring" she says sadly, looking down at the pile of bones on the floor. "And they have drifted down into the caverns and city beneath our feet, in a pact with the dwarves of that great city. But it has been far too long since I saw my last daughter, Elyndra, so I do not know if this cult emissaries sent to the dwarves were successful in swaying them."
"I hate to ask this of you, but I fear I am too weakened to do what must be done. I see you as a sign of Selûne's favor and guidance. Whatever the cult has planned would surely prove disastrous for all of Faerun, you must descend into the earth and hunt this cult down. Perhaps you could find a way to safely infiltrate said cult, or sneak past them whereas I could not." she says solemnly, clearly conscious of what she's asking for and what that will require.
"This might just be me," says Ari, listening to the dragon's request, "but it feels like we're being pulled in further and further from where we started without really stopping to think. Suddenly we're up to our necks and dealing with a threat that could have consequences for the whole world? It feels like," she searches around for the right words but struggles to articulate it, "you know, a bit much."
She addresses Luxvoryna directly, inclining her head. "With respect, if you know there to be all manner of deadly creatures below and have not felt yourself, majestic as you are, able to go into the Underdark, what makes you think that we are going to be able to do anything useful here? Becoming a mindflayer's thrall or something's dinner isn't part of any plan that I can think of for myself."
The dragon tilts her head at Ari’s words, taking an awkwardly long moment to think about her response. She seems to be weighing a decision, and ultimately comes to a conclusion.
”A fair question. Very well.” she says, sighing heavily before continuing. ”I am not allowed in Brazenthrone. My third mate, nearly 200 years ago now, was one of their kings. We had a…disagreement…about how the entrance to the Underdark lake should be handled. I wanted it sealed and caved in, he wanted to keep it open and use it for his ‘trading purposes’.” she continues, a hint of venom entering her otherwise calm voice.
”Perhaps you can make them see reason, and aid you in your trip down after these cultists.” She sounds almost dejected, clearly lost in the past. ”And if service for service’s sake isn’t enough, how does a portion of a dragon’s hoard sound? If you can make it to this temple of theirs and discover what they’re after so badly, I am prepared to reward you with a fourth of my hoard.”
"This might just be me," says Ari, listening to the dragon's request, "but it feels like we're being pulled in further and further from where we started without really stopping to think. Suddenly we're up to our necks and dealing with a threat that could have consequences for the whole world? It feels like," she searches around for the right words but struggles to articulate it, "you know, a bit much."
Rutilux admits "Feeling a bit overwhelmed myself." He's never met a dragon before and it is hard not to gape! "I'm a confident man normally, but such a risk seems arrogant for us to take. We are not heroes of legend, no great champions and perhaps we should be realistic about the..."
If you can make it to this temple of theirs and discover what they’re after so badly, I am prepared to reward you with a fourth of my hoard.”
"SOLD! I'm in!" Rutliux blurts as the phrase 'fourth of a HOARD' hits his ears and shatters his insecurities.
Then he blushes and adds sheepishly "Trying to buy some relations a house."
With the area secure, Shaggar takes a few minutes to skim the alchemist’s journal and listen to Luxvoryna and the others.
He sums up, ”So there is a dwarf city called Brazenthrone beneath us. And somewhere in the depths near this city is the black loch where there is a lethal ‘shadowplague’. This… creature ” he indicates the dead alchemist, ”was trying to create an antidote with dragon’s blood. But curing the plague was not his only objective. He needed it to enter the loch to get to some place called the Temple of the Fractured Star where he believed he could strengthen the antidote and amplify many times over whatever else he was concocting.”
He mulls for a minute. ”Where is the entrance that will take us to Brazenthrone? Is it beneath the lunar well or some distance from here?”
"SOLD! I'm in!" Rutliux blurts as the phrase 'fourth of a HOARD' hits his ears and shatters his insecurities.
Luxvoryna titters at Rutilux’s readily agreement, the sound surprisingly quiet for what you know she really is. ”I had a feeling that might do some good in acquiring your aid. But fear not, I expected as much, and hold no ill will towards your motivations. Good acts committed in the name of a tangible reward do just as much good.”
She listens to Shaggar’s explanation of the situation, nodding along with him. ”That about sums it up, I think. I am not sure of his ultimate goal, as he did not speak of it. But he did mention that he had succeeded at completing a handful of the antidotes that would hold the plague off long enough to reach the temple. I don’t know how long that is exactly, or how successful they truly are, but we have to try. We need to know what this cult wants; they clearly have access to powerful magic and perhaps powerful allies. And you need your own hoard, no?” she jokes, with a wink over at Rutilux. ”He didn’t leave them here, however. Do you know of anywhere he may have taken them? To Aldric’s house perhaps, if he is not truly Aldric?”
Where is the entrance that will take us to Brazenthrone? Is it beneath the lunar well
”An astute guess, and correct. The path down below into the caverns that eventually lead to Brazenthrone is beneath the well. You mentioned the magically-sourced well had run dry, I assume this cult had something to do with that, as the path below cannot be opened while the well is functional.”
Rutilux continues to blush at the Dragon's teasing though she's a good sport at least.
The gnoll scratches his muzzle, considering further. ”We encountered barrels of an alchemical liquid that used your blood outside of the magic bubble surrounding the town. It causes normal animals to grow in size, ferocity, and bloodlust. We have no idea what it will to do a sentient humanoid, yet. We did fight Malreth’s warg companion and its blood was dripping silver. Since Brazenthrone is reached from the well inside the town, those barrels were shipped out for other uses. Perhaps this cult is looking to strengthen an army and we are seeing the initial experiments.”
Shaggar takes the blankets from the alchemist’s bed and uses them to wrap up Lucina’s corpse.
"There, wherever they are camping in the Underdark, or wherever Malrath is hiding," Kiley muses. She's glad that Luxvoryna seems more amused by Rutilux's enthusiastic acceptance of her offer. While she would have done it because it is the right thing to do, she does admit that the thought of having some wealth of her own is appealing. It would be nice to have some better fitting clothes with better feeling fabrics.
"Thank you for your generous offer, Lady Luxvoryna," she says when she has a moment. "I hope that we do well enough to be deserving of your graciousness."
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"That does sound tempting," Ari concedes at Luxvoryna's offer. As ever, however, she is suspicious. Whoever heard of a dragon voluntarily giving away its treasure? Either she's desperate or she doesn't expect us to come back so doesn't expect to fulfil her side of the bargain. She considers her next words carefully. "I understand that it's impolite to ask a lady the size of her hoard, but I just wanted confirmation that it is a worthy treasure, rather than say a small bag of silver and three goats? Of course my assumption is that one with such an important job as yourself will have an equally splendid hoard to match, I do not mean to besmirch your good name."
She nods along as Shaggar puts forth his understanding of situation and shares the group's experiences to this point. "If we are to set off on this new errand - and I'm not saying I definitely am yet - we need to conclude our business in the village first. I don't want to be watching over my shoulder the whole time." A small smile plays on her lips as she says this - when is Ari not watching her back? "And if there's anywhere we can resupply that would probably be useful too." She's talking as if her mind is not yet made up but Ari is already in this far and realistically she's not turning around now.
Shaggars' revelations don't seem to surprise her, but she does shake her head disappointingly. "I was hoping that whatever plans this cult had were constrained to the immediate area around the glade and below it. Alas, this clearly indicates those hopes were foolish. I can't imagine any plans they have will lead to anything good, and I think you can agree with me on that."
"Thank you for your generous offer, Lady Luxvoryna," she says when she has a moment. "I hope that we do well enough to be deserving of your graciousness."
"I am most certain that you will be, don't you worry."
but I just wanted confirmation that it is a worthy treasure, rather than say a small bag of silver and three goats?
Luxvoryna looks at Ari peculiarly, as if sizing the rogue up, seeing what she's made of. Ari doesn't get the idea that she's being duplicitous in the slightest, she truly does mean it. "My, my, you certainly are a tenacious one, aren't you? I keep my accumulated wealth in a cave north of my house in the forest. If it will assure you of my intentions I will take you there, personally. Have you ever flown on the back of a dragon?" she says, smirking at Ari playfully. "Would you like to?"
"I think Ari is right - we must first finish the business here, but it's clear that for the good of the faithful we know our next steps. A blessing such as the Moonwell must be restored. To do that fully will take some time in the Underdark, it appears..." says Sasha, obviously unhappy. "I don't like the idea of leaving the open air and the night sky, but if we are to do this we must first deal with the pressing issues here. Let's bury the dead and then see to it that we add Aldric to their number. Then we can consider more."
When Luxvoryna asks if Ari would like to ride on her back, Kiley almost blurts out a very excited yes, but manages to clamp down on her excitement. She wasn't the one that was asked, and there was still much that needed to be done.
A blessing such as the Moonwell must be restored. To do that fully will take some time in the Underdark, it appears...
"I am hoping that when we climb out of this basement crypt, we discover my imprisonment is the cause of the Moonwell being dry as well as the strange barrier around the town. I have my doubts, however."
Luxvoryna looks over at Kiley, seemingly sensing her excitement. "Any of you who wish to come along are more than welcome to do so." she says, a wide smile spreading across her lips.
It is while she is looking over the party, judging their responses, when she notices that Rutilux is holding the top half of the staff the group found. "Ah, classic adventurers, plundering unknown crypts without a care in the world." she says, sounding somewhat angry, before breaking out into laughter. "Don't worry, I am not upset. I was going to recommend you take it with you. In case you don't know what it is, it is a fractured staff of minor arcana. It was wielded by one of my descendants in their duties in defending the city of Brazenthrone from the threats found underneath it, in the Black Loch. The other half of the staff was lost in a battle with some dark creature far below the surface, and only the top half you hold now was returned to me with his remains." she tells you.
"I think it is right that you hold onto that top half, and see if you can find the lower half somewhere below. Perhaps the dwarves of Brazenthrone will know how to help you recombine it, just don't mention where you got it or your association with me." she finishes, sounding both sad and regretful.
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It is while she is looking over the party, judging their responses, when she notices that Rutilux is holding the top half of the staff the group found. "Ah, classic adventurers, plundering unknown crypts without a care in the world." she says, sounding somewhat angry, before breaking out into laughter. "Don't worry, I am not upset. I was going to recommend you take it with you. In case you don't know what it is, it is a fractured staff of minor arcana. It was wielded by one of my descendants in their duties in defending the city of Brazenthrone from the threats found underneath it, in the Black Loch. The other half of the staff was lost in a battle with some dark creature far below the surface, and only the top half you hold now was returned to me with his remains." she tells you.
"I think it is right that you hold onto that top half, and see if you can find the lower half somewhere below. Perhaps the dwarves of Brazenthrone will know how to help you recombine it, just don't mention where you got it or your association with me." she finishes, sounding both sad and regretful.
"Oh, if you wanted this back, I'd return it to you, great Luxvoryna, and the finder's fee would be quite reasonable," He assures her, "Now, I'll see if I can find that other half, of course. The Weave hates a hole, after all." He notices her sad regret, and dials back his 'salesman side' "Truth, all coin scrapping urges aside, we're all deeply sympathetic to the torment you've endured. There are good souls among us , who had they known of your plight earlier, would have broken in much sooner than we did even at risk to themselves. Selune smiles on such heroes as they, and .. sometimes, even I make her quirk a lip or so I suspect. It's a pleasure to know you, though I do wish it were under brighter circumstances. Still, joy might yet be found again for us all, eh?"
"Ah, classic adventurers, plundering unknown crypts without a care in the world."
The gnoll stiffens at the implication. ”At the behest of my tribe, I have traveled nearly 600 leagues over several months – on foot – to help the people of this town. We took the staff to prevent the enemy from getting it and because we thought it may be useful in defeating them. In the sarcophagus of your relative, you will find my note which states our names and our intent. I left the note so that any heir of your family could find us to reclaim your rightful property. I am no grave-robber.”
Shaggar had briefly debated including Kiley in his response as she had also made the journey but… she could speak for herself and challenging a dragon on a point of honor was (at best) a dubious choice. He swirls his bisht around himself, like a protective layer, and continues with the previous topic.
”I think burials and dragon flights must wait until we’ve dealt with Aldric and any other enemies we discover. We likely have surprise on our side. If we stop to bury the dead, we may lose that edge.” He glances at the dragon, ”Do you know anything of barghest? Could one appear as a human?”
”I mean who hasn’t ever flown on dragonback?” Ari replies. ”But while the offer is gracious, I fear Shaggar is right. But if everything works out as well as we all hope, and you are in a position to leave your duty for a short period, then I think our good gnoll friend here would love a flight out to the coast to see the sea from above.”
Still, joy might yet be found again for us all, eh?
"That is my hope. I don't know what the future holds, but we must always have hope."
I am no grave-robber.
"Do not worry, friend. I was only teasing. Like I said, I would have recommended you take it with you regardless of if you found it or not. I did not mean to insult."
If we stop to bury the dead, we may lose that edge.
She nods, agreeing. "I think that is the approach most likely to succeed. In that case, however, I wouldn't tell the ghost upstairs that you intend to wait. Speak to her if you wish, just don't mention you won't be putting her to rest immediately. I'm sure she'd understand, but there's no point risking it."
Do you know anything of barghest? Could one appear as a human?
"I do know of barghests. They cannot appear as humans, only a unique shape in the form of a goblin, in addition to their wolf and hybrid forms. If there actually is some skin-stealing outsider running around, it is not the barghest."
I think our good gnoll friend here would love a flight out to the coast to see the sea from above.
Luxvoryna smiles, seemingly enjoying the idea of taking a gnoll on the back of a dragon to see the sea. "I think that, once you return from your delve far below the surface, that could be arranged. Consider it a promise." she finishes, sealing the pact.
"I feel guilty not burying the poor woman sooner rather than later" The halfling admits, "Sides, what if she goes ..evil or evil-er?"
"Well, we sh-should hurry then, shouldn't we," Kiley says, any excitement at having a chance to fly on the back of a dragon gone at the reminder of the ghost upstairs.
"I was only teasing. Like I said, I would have recommended you take it with you regardless of if you found it or not. I did not mean to insult."
Humor was a difficult concept to grasp and the subtle versions of it often eluded Shaggar. He had pride but he didn’t want to be stiff-necked about it especially when no offense was meant. The gnoll nods, mollified.
”I do know of barghests. They cannot appear as humans, only a unique shape in the form of a goblin, in addition to their wolf and hybrid forms.”
”What?” Shaggar’s eyes turn on their goblin helpers, evaluating. It would be a clever ruse and a goblin spellslinger is unusual. But the creature would have to be brilliant to appear so typically ‘goblin’. If the gnoll were among his people, the answer would be simple. Tear all the goblins apart… and if one of them lives, it must be the barghest. But human ways were different… less effective, more nuanced, less viscera-drenched. Eventually, his red-eyed gaze slides off the goblin, ”I will keep that ‘in mind’.”
Luxvoryna smiles, seemingly enjoying the idea of taking a gnoll on the back of a dragon to see the sea. ”I think that, once you return from your delve far below the surface, that could be arranged. Consider it a promise.”
Shaggar offers her a bow of thanks. ”It would be a great honor to ride upon a dragon… even to see this fictitious ‘ocean’.”
"Sides, what if she goes ..evil or evil-er?”
The gnoll chuffs. ”That is why I gave her a task to engage her mind… to keep her from stewing in darkness. She is strong, another hour will see our tasks done and she can rest. Besides, if she has gone into the dark, we will only have a short time to regret it.” He pats the halfling on the shoulder and completes his ‘pep talk’. ”Take comfort in the swiftness of her killing us.”
”Well, we sh-should hurry then, shouldn't we.”
Shaggar nods. ”Yes.” As he hadn’t answered the dragon’s initial request for help, he circles back around to the topic now that all the pieces were on the board. ”My sheik sent me to help Selune’s followers avert an evil. It seems that evil is more than what has happened to the town above… So, my task is not fulfilled. I will help with this Brazenthrone matter. Your treasures are your own to keep or disburse as you wish.”
Having said his piece on the subject, the gnoll chuffs, picks up Lucina’s wrapped corpse, and heads back toward the stairs.
"Right, haste is wise." He nods. The ghost disturbs him on a lot of levels, but the idea of spiritual decay, that all that eventually is left of you is the worst and most hateful of you... well, that's a shiver maker.
Shaggar’s eyes turn on their goblin helpers, evaluating.
Gix’s eyes widen when the dragon says this, and he jumps at Shaggar’s gaze. ”Hey, hey! I ain’t no barghest. I told you about the ghost and the barghest to begin with!” he says, clearly extremely nervous he’s about to be eaten. ”I might not be on your side, per se, but I’m not against you either. Let’s just let this little thing we got going stay friendly, okay?”
”Hold on, I need to open the door from this side for you.” Luxvoryna says, coming along with you after a short glance at the bones on the floor. ”I will work on cleaning this up as I recover from my…ordeal.”
Once you stash Lucina’s body in a safe place (presumably in one of the now-empty crypts), Luxvoryna opens the door in the fireplace for you, and you are exposed to something you haven’t seen in nearly two days now: sunshine filtering through the windows of the piano room.
For a moment, Kiley feels a strong temptation to just bask in the sunlight and soak it up, but then she realizes that with the sun out, Aldric likely already knows something's up.
"Crap! We need to get going," she says before rushing out of the door and heading to where Aldric said he was living.
Rutilux makes haste and follows the others out as fast as his little legs can carry him.
"Can we make sure we're patched up and ready before we rush straight in?" Ari asks. It's a touch ironic given her head first approach against the werewolves but perhaps she's learning.
"I think I can help with that." Luxvoryna answers. "I have some limited healing capability left."
Once any preparation is taken care of, you make your way over to Aldric's house. It is a single story affair and the front door is locked but Ari makes quick work of it. The actual inside of his house looks much as you'd expect, with the usual trappings befitting of a small village counselor.
Nothing really seems amiss until you manage to stumble upon a trap door leading down to a root cellar. The rest of the house above ground appears as it should which leaves only the cellar, where you discover yet another skinless corpse staked to the ground facing a wall upon which the spiral symbol has been painted on with a rusty red liquid.
At the bottom of the wardrobe is a small wooden coffer with a lock on the front.
The gnoll finds nothing of interest in the house... And he doesn't appreciate the 'gift' in the root cellar either. "If another local went missing recently, it seems likely they would notice unless - I apologize for saying this again - this is the real Aldric."
Rutilux notes that others are more wounded than he "I can probably soldier on."
"Delightful," Ari remarks with reference to the flayed body. "I hate to ask but does anyone have an easy way to tell who this is?"
"No, I don't." Kiley turns away and walks out, her face pale and shoulders hunched. Her stomach turns as she tries to push out the sight of the two flayed corpses and the other memories they remind her of.
"None that come to mind, any tattos would likely be flayed off too." He winces a bit as he says it
Before heading into the basement and being disgusted with what the group finds down there, Kiley also unfortunately is the one who uncovers the ‘hidden’ part of the wardrobe, revealing both the small wooden coffer and the skins hanging on racks.
The coffer isn’t locked, and easily opens to reveal 8 small vials of a silvery dark liquid held in place by a wooden alchemy rack inside the coffer itself.
Sasha shields her eyes and shares a groan when she sees the sunlight. "Good on one hand, but warning 'Aldric' on the other..." she mutters. Once at the councilmember's house and exploring the party confirms her fears and she gets with Pheliks to try and track him.
"If he - or it - left in the last several minutes, we might still catch him!" she explains as Pheliks tries to find the scent and begin following the skin-shifting monster.
Kiley nods, agreeing with Sasha and feeling sick to her stomach after finding the house empty, save the horrors they find in the wardrobe and the basement. She stays with Shaggar, needing the support of her friend now more than she has since he and the tribe that had adopted him had rescued her. Any joy and excitement she felt when Luxvoryna said she could ride on her back as she flew is gone and forgotten now. She only hopes they can find whatever it is that is stealing the skins of others.
Pheliks is able to pick up a track of whatever was in the house, but it is an old trail (about a day or so). Seems as if whatever it was hasn't been here in a while. Once you're done in Aldric's house, the trail faintly leads in the general direction of the glade's singular inn. As you make your way over through the town, you see numerous villagers celebrating the lifting of the moon curse with joy and exuberance.
Once closer to the center of town, you are reunited with Verik. He smiles upon seeing the group, but then tilts his head in confusion. "I'm happy to see you, I assume you are responsible for this? Lucina said she was heading to the Lunar Well with you though, did you forget something?" he says after pulling you to the side of the celebration spontaneously happening around the tavern, with much ale obviously involved. "Need a drink before you head out on your next great adventure?" he continues, laughing heartily.
Kiley pulls on Verik's shirt to get his ear closer to her face.
"That wasn't Lucina. That was a skinstealer! Which way to the Lunar well," Kiley whispers urgently.
Once she has the direction she needs, she takes off running.
Shaggar's words follow hard upon Kiley's. ”Lucina said that to you, in the flesh?” That explains where her skin has gone and why Aldric is in the closet. It’s also a trap.
Shaggar turns deadly serious. ”Verik. She is dead, as is Aldric. Something is walking around wearing their skins... among others. We don’t know if we’re dealing with more than one skinwalker, but this isn't over. When did you see Lucina exactly.”
The gnoll shakes his head as Kiley runs off, far too eager to step into another trap. He looks to Varik, waiting to hear what the other man has to say.
While she had liked Verik well enough, Ari remains as wary as ever. The flayed skins were a recent and particularly gruesome reminder that any number of disguised creatures could be walking among them. His comment about Lucina suggests that he had no awareness of the situation, but it could also be a clever misdirection to deflect attention.
Verik looks at the group in confusion for a few moments before a pang of dread seems to pierce the celebration around him. ”No…she can’t be. I spoke to her mere hours ago, only a couple. Shortly after you headed out, she came to me and told me she had spoken with Lady Silvermoon and knew the source of the plight facing our village.” he says, his voice growing more and more unstable with each word.
”No, she can’t be dead. That was her, in the flesh. She knew things that only my Lucina would know, you are just playing a cruel joke.” the keeper says, his panic turning to undertones of anger. ”Where is she now, and why have you not joined with her as she said you would? What is the purpose of your cruelty?”
It is obvious to Ari that the keeper does not know about the skinwalker (nor believe you about it/them).
The halfling huffs at the accusation that Shaggar is lying, "Use your sense, man. If one was going to lie, they'd do something a lot less outlandish. Shaggar, and the rest of us, have been putting our LIVES at risk... and we'd not do it for a cruel joke. People are in danger here from these pretenders and if you decide to deny the facts just because those facts are horrible, you're just condemning good folk to more harm. Snap out if it and HELP us help others, PLEASE!!"
Sasha watches Verik and his body language with a sad expression. "He's in love and doesn't know," she says to her allies unhappily. As the werewolf turns in her direction she looks in his eyes and says, more quietly, "We've spoken with her ghost - it is as they say...I'm sorry."
Regardless of his response, she looks to Kiley and says, "Let Pheliks and I come with you - no sense running into an ambush. This skin-wearer knows we are looking for it, and we have no way to identify it without it making a mistake. We need to stay together now, too - what if it takes your skin while you're off alone?" The implication of pending doom from such a turn of events hopefully shocks Kiley into slowing down and acting with more sense...