Adayil huffs a little, trying to take stock of the situation. Once she realises the fracas is done, she moves to scoop up Krutk and ensure his carapace is undamaged and that he is more or less…together.
The presence of an unknown elf and the arrival of an equally unknown half-elf keeps Adayil slightly tense, but that the former appears to know her friends and the latter seems not aggressive mollifies her more dangerous impulses. Adayil stares at the half-elf.
”Who are you? Where did you come from?” she says in Common.
"Wasn't even so much trying to be flippant, but odds are, the young lady cannot in fact, breathe water. As a curate of Darach-Albith, I will beg your indulgence while I assist the drowning; I am Variel Quinn-Dasseril, at their service until I can be at yours as well. I came from up the street, there's an asylum not far from here."
Variel nods at the lady, and also at the human, who appears to be a warrior, before proceeding to bank of the river to address Aduriel.
"Well met kin-of-my-kin, I am Variel, Cleric of The Firstborn. May I assist you in saving that girl?"
Adayil quickly pivots on hearing Telurion, a smile erupting on her bruised face. She near leaps to embrace him.
”Telurion! By the spirits - it is a welcome sight to see your face. And Caks, Lil! Where is our halfling friend? And who have you picked up along the wa…..is that Alhindri in the water? What is she doing?” she asks with much consternation.
Adayil moves from Telurion to stand on the bank, a dishevelled wraith not willing to trespass on water’s edge.
Climbing down from the relative safety of his mistress, Krutk takes a few ginger steps into the plashing rills, and waves a forlorn pincer Alhindri-ward as her brother makes his rescue. He looks at Adayil in mute irritation, as if to say:
I’m a crab. When will you give me aquatic capabilities?
Adayil smiles to herself, and sends a warm impulse of emotion, as if to reply
Tomorrow, little one. You can be a wet one all day….
His attention being brought to the plight of Alhindri, Telurion turns, "By the stars, she's worse than a child." Then across the water he calls, "Aduriel, you need a hand?" He asks as he sees the man moving through the water to his sister.
"Well met Variel and alas, the young woman does not breathe water." Telurion says walking over to extend his hand to the newcomer. Then he strides over to the box he had put down, sheaths his sword and hefts the box. He looks back over the water, "You think he needs help?"
His attention being brought to the plight of Alhindri, Telurion turns, "By the stars, she's worse than a child." Then across the water he calls, "Aduriel, you need a hand?" He asks as he sees the man moving through the water to his sister.
"Well met Variel and alas, the young woman does not breathe water." Telurion says walking over to extend his hand to the newcomer. Then he strides over to the box he had put down, sheaths his sword and hefts the box. He looks back over the water, "You think he needs help?"
Shaking the warrior's hand, "The girl appears a bit addled, but I am sure we can set her to rights. Well, I am sure that we can limit how much water she tries to breathe. Well met sir."
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Jumping into the river Aduriel soon realizes, that the river runs much stronger than he hoped.
"It looks like a little assistance is required." Telurion says putting the box back down and striding out toward the water. He begins wading with the intent of getting to the girl hoping Aduriel and make it back to shore on his own. The mud on the bottom of the river however makes it difficult to even get to the pair, much less put him in a position to pull someone out.
"I've got this." Lil says as her aura goes out. She easily moves through the river, grabs Alhindri, and brings her to shore.
Finally, she says, to the new arrival. "I'm Lillanith. We're on our way to the asylum as it turns out.". She doesn't give any reasons as to why.
Watching with some amusement as first the scholarly new arrival to the party, and the armored Telurion attempt to navigate the uncooperative girl out of the deceptively fast flowing river.
Finally, she decides that they're not just playing around, but really struggling... then the tough, spry young Slyph simply walks into the water that her coastal upbringing made easy for her and helps all three struggling folks to a sandy place along the bank.
Alhindri simply stands at the edge where she is deposited and drips.
* @Adayil: You find your belongings scattered out in the other tents. Obviously the had gathered their loot and were splitting it up. You also find a small leather pouch with 32 SP, and 183 CP. The strangest thing you find however as a series of (10) small lead vials. (5) of them are sealed with a strange silver rune in red wax. The other 5 are empty.
Each Brute had a shoddy breastplate, (3) Javelins, and an Orc Knuckle Dagger.
The Sergeant had Hide armor, a Greatclub, and (6) Javelins
If you open the vials.
They seem to be filled with blood, and a small blue gem strangely, floating on top of it.
Adayil moves from tent to tent gathering her gear. Taking an orc knuckledagger as a memento, she strips the Lukseth captain of his armor, quickly casting a prestidigitative to clean the dank away. The coins pouch she spills, then piles together and presents to the group, and offers the stoppered vials to them also, unopened.
”I have no idea what these are, but these Lukseth clan orcs may be engaged in strange activities.”
Adayil moves from tent to tent gathering her gear. Taking an orc knuckledagger as a memento, she strips the Lukseth captain of his armor, quickly casting a prestidigitative to clean the dank away. The coins pouch she spills, then piles together and presents to the group, and offers the stoppered vials to them also, unopened.
”I have no idea what these are, but these Lukseth clan orcs may be engaged in strange activities.”
[dice=Recall Knowledge: Society]1d20 + 4
Adayil goes through the tents gathering both her belongings and any so called "Loot" left behind by her deceased captors. She moves aside mangy, smelly sleeping furs, and scraps of leftover food... I don't want to know what these bones are from. and finds everything she wishes. When she comes out of the tent she notices (4) of her fellow travelers stand by the river all soaking wet, and wonders if this is some new "Bathing after Combat" ritual and if she should follow suit.
RK: Society
Adayil recalls that the Lukseth were once among the most powerful of all orc tribes... but that they refused to follow many others along the path of being more civilized than confrontational. They were never ones for working together, which is fortunate for smaller tribes of orcs, as united they could and probably would conquer and absorb other orc tribes. They have for the most part separated and disappeared into the wilds and have been strangely absent from reported attacks for a few years now.
See discussion thread for more specifics.
Telurion takes one of the Vials from Adayil and turns it over in his hands wondering what the strange rune means.
Is this a crafters mark, Some religious symbol, the mark of some organization???
Dripping water all over the lawn Aduriel thanks Lil for getting his sister out of the water, before walking over to the unknown Orc, trying to find out who that is.
But when he approaches he is immediately distracted by that strange vial. "What have you got there Telurion? this looks interesting"
You've compiled a vast repository of information that touches on nearly every subject. You are trained in Loremaster Lore, a special Lore skill that can be used only to Recall Knowledge, but on any topic.
Adayil doesn’t seem to provide any more information regarding the Lukseth to her companions.
”So. We are rejoined. I advise a gathering of bodies and a pyre to dispose of them and…cleanse the grounds. We will need heat to dry you after all…”
Telurion hands over the vial and waits to hear if Aduriel has any idea what the symbol may be.
"It's good to see that you are ok. You should have these back. We can dry off naturally as we walk to the asylum." Lil greets Adayil, digs out, and returns the orcs' three scrolls of heal to her, and makes her suggestion as to what they should do.
SB Screen
* Telurion: RK: Medicine
* Aduriel: RK Loremaster
@ Telurion:
This seems to be nothing related to medicine or alchemy. If you had to guess form the way you feel looking at it the rune is more religious or occult in nature.
@ Aduriel
This looks like nothing you've ever seen before. The symbol almost has elements of Nethys involved, but corrupted or changed in some way.
The group spends a few minutes drying off and making introductions to the new arrivals.
@ Variel: We should probably figure out why/if you are going back to the Asylum with this group you just met. Perhaps curiosity? Perhaps to make an introduction or two?
@ Adayil: You have suggested building a Pyre and burning the corpses. With everyone taking part it would take about an hour of game time to do so. Burying them would take till dusk, Throwing them in the river would take minutes.
Remember... there is no lodging at the Asylum for visitors. This is why people usually either stay in the outpost or travel the short distance to Raven for lodging. It's currenlty about 6-hours till dusk.
So...
* Travel on instantly doing nothing about the bodies.
* Take one of the options for cleaning up the battlefield then travel onward
* Take one of the options for cleaning up the battlefield and make camp in the outpost for the evening.
* Something else of your choice.
I'll push it along a bit... but the timing of arrival is still TBD.
The group follows the well-used path up towards the Asylum. Telurion has been here in the past several times, as it's very near his home. Aduriel has been here before, but it was long ago.
As you climb the trail a few rain clouds appear in the sky. Looks like much of the group is going to get wet again.
Finally, after about 45 minutes you hear the sound of something galloping quickly from your destination headed your way. A cowled figure fiercely goading a large horse down the hill dashes towards you without slowing down.
SB Screen:
You all notice the being riding seems to be a humanoid with reptilian features, and white and yellow scaling on the neck. She turns to hiss at you as she gallops by at full speed...You can see that she is dressed in thick white wool robes, and has a staff buckled to her frantic horse.
Back at the little fort...
"Adayil, I'll help you with the pyre. I don't feel like digging graves and we may need to stay here tonight if our trip to the asylum takes too long. I'd rather not have the bodies about." With that he gets to gathering wood.
Upon seeing the rider...
Telurion steps off the road/trail and tries to flag the rider down, "Ho there! What's the with the mad rush?" As the creature rides by, "That was bizarre. Shall we continue to the asylum and see if they know what put a bur under her saddle?"
After thanking Telurion for his assistance, Adayil’s attention gradually fades from current needs to her recent trauma. She sits and feels her belly, empty of life - the earlier coursing of adrenaline now replaced by pangs of sorrow. She draws little comfort from watching the Lukseth turn to ash.
Unused to the “usual” clientele of an asylum, Adayil thinks nothing of the unwelcome rider. The orc merely moves out of the way.
She watches as the rider passes, nods to Telurion, but is clearly not concerned.
SB Screen
RK Arcana
@ Adayil: You don't notice anything unusual about the staff except that its color is such a deep black that it almost hurts your eyes.
Lil paced back and forth while some of the group built a pyre and burned bodies. She also helped keep an eye on Alhindri during that time. Clearly, she thinks this is a waste of time, but doesn't say a thing.
Later...
Unlike the others, when a galloping rider who hisses at them comes riding by like hell itself was after them, Lil does not just take it casually. Her aura flicks to life, and she makes sure that she is close to Alhindri. Clearly, Lil is expecting trouble ahead.
The air seemed to noticeably cool as the rider swept past paying your group of travelers no mind. Finally, just as the thunder peals, and giant raindrops begin to pelt the party the ancient structure appears on the next hill. The party starts double-timing to the covered portico but still is drenched by the time they arrive at the large double doors of the imposing structure.
As you open the doors, which open smoothly in spite of their age and weight. Standing inside are two armed guards with Halbreds. There is also a large book for signing in, and double doors immediately in front of you with archways going left and right. One of the guards' steps forward.
"Welcome. Please state your business". He then notices Alhindri, and perks up a bit.
"Well, well, well... looks like a stray has returned as well. Let me go get Ms. Abagail. She'll be happy to see this one returned".
After a few moments the guard returns accompanied by an elderly elven female, and two young orderlies.
"I had heard that Alhindri had been found. I am pleased that you have returned her. Do you know what has befallen her"?
Are you guys waiting for me to do something?
"Yeah, well, your stray nearly destroyed a town with a magic fiddle. What do you know about it?" Telurion says, getting right to the point.
Adayil struggles to fully understand what this place…is…or…achieves. Clearly it is a prison of some sort, but the prisonkeepers are incredibly odd - a mix of kindly and…less kind? And what kinds of transgressions have the prisoners committed that are equal to Alhindri’s slaughter?
For the moment, Adayil listens carefully, and takes her lead from brave Telurion. He seems to navigate this world well, and also, importantly, is strong.
Krutk “types” a message with quick caresses on the back of Adayil’s neck, and despite her irritation, seems to get the point across…
”Hush, annoying one! Yes, I will ask!” Adayil says…seemingly to the room, somewhat louder than she would have liked. Some of the orderlies with Miss Abigail look at her askance, and she stares back at them with all the ire she can muster.
What are *they* looking at!?!
Hello Ms Abagail, My name is aduriel, and I am Alhindris Brother. My parents send me here when we got your letter about her disappearance.
Aduriel tries to find the letter somewhere in his backpack.
"But when I found here, she was under the care of these helpful people in the village of Raven. They and Father raven told me, how she got possessed by a magic fiddle, which raised the dead around her and attacked the village."
Aduriel tries to explain what happened from what he heard, hoping the others will provide the necessary detail.
"We now come here asking you to take her back into your care, while we search for the cause of all this. We would also like to know how she disappeared, and speak with the people who cared for her. Maybe something occured, like a visit or and letter, which set all these events in motion and could give us a direction to search in."
"Perhaps to take her back into your care.". Lil adds.
She takes a breath. "While the final decision will be Aduriel's, clearly, there are many concerns that need to be addressed. Let's start with them."
Lil points to the halberd-toting guards. "Why do you need soldiers with polearms to care for the sick? How did a girl in a straight-jacket even escape her cell in the first place? Why was she in a straight jacket to start with? Naturally, we'll also need Aduriel's questions answered fully and with complete transparency. As her brother and the legal representative of her family, he has the right to know every detail of her care."
Lil neither knows nor cares, if the last part is true, she says it anyway.
@ Telurion:
Both guards bristle and come to near violence as the brash young warrior goes for the throat. Abagail puts her hand out to still them from throwing the party out.
"And what do your bold accusations hope to achieve? Do you think that the Asylum sent her to Raven for some nefarious purpose"?
@ Adayil: As she speaks out loud one of the orderlies seems to cower, and steps unknowingly behind one of the guards. She gets a sharp look as nobody is sure who Adayil is addressing.
@ Aduriel:
Abigale raises one eyebrow at Aduriel's revelation. "Yes. I personally reached out to your family when we realized she was missing. I'm glad you have arrived, as her disappearance is a mystery to us".
@ LIl: "We would certainly welcome her back here. We have been well compensated for her care, and until now have had no problems. I'm not sure why I have to answer to anyone about our methods or techniques. We strive to uphold the highest standards of patient care and have a nearly unblemished record".
You can see that she is growing VERY agitated at the accusatory line of questioning.
"We have special rooms warded from magical interference that can be provided for her... but until now there have been no issues. Now if you'll excuse me, we need to get her back under our care".
She motions the orderlies forward to escort Alhindra back into the asylum.
[ioc]Not yet, just a blunt statement. As far as I’m concerned she’s criminally insane so i’m not worried about her care just those instances that led to the attack.[/ooc]
”Look, the town of Raven just had several people killed, more wounded, and sustained a lot of damage. The people have a right to know why and to be assured it won’t happen again. You were and are the responsible party for this girl’s care. Somehow she got away, gained access to a powerful magic item, and laid waste to a town all under your watch and you say you are clueless? Someone is responsible for this mess and the people of the town were looking to take it out in this young lady but she doesn’t seem capable of anything on her own. Therefore she is being used. So, you were either inattentive, incompetent, or complicit and after nearly getting killed in this ordeal, I want to know which.”
Little Caks, who has been keeping out of notice, speaks up in her squeaky voice.
"Look, it doesn't really matter if you are upset or not. We know you failed in keeping others safe from what is obviously a disturbed and dangerous person. Why don't you just let us look at your books and records. Let us figure it out. That is, if you even keep decent records."
Adayil watches with interest. Clearly, by the way her allies are pressing with strained voices and fierce expressions, these are “bad people” who are likely not to be trusted. Adayil nods in encouragement as Caks tries to be heard, but the bigfolk are too busy being…big and as usual not listening to the small folk.
The orc steps forth, and throws her hands out to quiet the ruckus.
”Ahhem! Mistress Abigail. I am Adayil. I beg a question. A rider, scaly. Riding from here. With a staff blacker than night. What business did they have here?”
"As Caks said, it does not matter if you are upset. As Telurion pointed out, someone you are responsible for escaped your custody, and as a result, many innocent people died. That is why you need to answer questions, Miss Abigail. We need to find out what happened, and why, and make sure that it does not happen again."
"I would suggest you put your ego aside and help us find the answers before someone else gets hurt. After all, if your care is as good as you say, you have nothing to hide and should want to show us that she will be in good hands with you."
Adayil begins to understand that there is an argument to be had for how the elf-maid has been treated, both historically, and recently. Having some experience of…untoward experiences, both historically, and recently, Adayil feels a sense of responsibility for the girl. Bereft of familial or clan care. Attacked. Lost and alone.
Looking at Aduriel, the orc puts a hand on his arm, to try to provide succour where she cannot for the sister.
”The girl is addled. Her mind is not her own. She wanders without guidance - even wandered toward her own death by drowing. She needs help. Will you help us to find out what….in…all the fates…is happening here?”
"Ok, lady, you dodging the question in the first place looks suspicious. This girl can't even chew her food without help so someone somewhere had to get her out. Was she just magicked away and you guys found an empty room with no clues? Was the window torn open? Did some strange snake person with a fiddle show up and ask to speak with the girl? Surely something happened that you can share to help give hope to the town of Raven that this issue can be solved and will not repeat itself."
"Don't look at me that way fella, I ain't leavin' here without an answer of some sort."
Aduriel is trying to calm down Telurion and hopes the caretakers can still be convinced to talk to them.