Shunsen checks that Vigny is ok, then rushes to see how the poor temple priest is faring, "Hello, I hope I wasn't too rough on you pulling you away from that thing...do you know who summoned it?" she asks.
With a little bit of calming effort from Cailyn and Flori, the girl - who they discover is named Yngvor - conveys that she was seeking out the priest from the now ravaged temple of Shelyn to come to her mother's aid. Her mother is currently in the throes of labor and in distress. When the elemental appeared, she turned and ran. She then felt a searing pain in her back and everything went black.
~~~~~
While bruised and battered, the priest seems mostly intact. He thanks Shunsen for her timely intervention and introduces himself as Yin-Po. He relates that the elemental suddenly appeared and attacked his shrine only moments before your group arrived. He was caught off guard and could not stop the devastation. Yin-Po mentions that he saw a large raven with a blood-red feather across the street just before the attack and notes that such a creature is considered a powerful omen among his people, but he did not see where it went.
Orchid, with her very unsatisfactory prey gone, skulks among the crowd. She keeps most of her attention on Flori and Caitlyn but doesn't involve herself - children are not people that she can deal with well.
[People are not people she can deal with well!]
Flori tries to hold in a grimace as she realises that Cailyn had made a very large mistake with that split second decision. "Okay, well we can do that for your Ma. The priest was just over the other side and our friend made she he was safe so let's go and see together shall we?"
She glances at Cailyn, nods encouragingly and gives the girl a hand to cautiously help her up and walk back towards Shunsen and the priest.
"I... I thought you were a bad guy..." Cailyn looks more than a little pale, still not going back to get her crossbow. Otherwise she stays behind the group a little and tries to not throw up.
Shunsen help Yin-Po to his feet, looking over the rubble that once was his temple, "Why would anyone do this to your temple...did you have enemies? " she asks, thinking furiously about ravens with red feathers.
"I have no enemies that I'm aware of," Yin-Po replies. "Usually even the vilest villain gives wide birth to the Eternal Rose." He shakes his head in confusion.
Joining up with Flori and Cailyn as they finish tending to Yngvor, the young Ulfen girl shows clear relief at the appearance of the priest. "Ah, Father Yin-Po!" she exclaims in heavily-accented Taldane. "The baby is coming and Mama called for you. She's in much pain."
The man nods. "I thank you for your assistance," he says, turning to Shunsen and clasping her hand in a warm gesture. "But I must take my leave. Life has its own demands."
As he helps Yngvor to her feet, you present to him the clay tablet that Uksahkka had given to you. His eyes widen in surprise. "Ah yes, you must be her friends." He glances around before leaning in closer and speaking quietly. "Take that side street there," he says with a gesture towards an alley between two merchant stalls. "Go around behind the stall selling baskets and you'll find a set of stairs leading to a cellar. Your friend waits for you there. Now I must go."
Following the priest's instructions, you find the narrow stairs. But they lead down to a heavy wooden door that's been battered down. Through the ruin of the door, you find a low-ceilinged cellar with a small table and a number of cots behind a thin curtain.
There's no one here.
Shunsen bids Yin-Po goodbye, and leads the others down the stairs into the empty room, she casts about looking, the snarls in frustration, "Nothing! Could the priest be lying?" she says, doubting her own words.
Orchid finds the feather and picks it up cautiously, before taking a long sniff and then heading straight for the door again.
Cailyn pauses as the others start to follow the directions of the priest. She stands above her discarded crossbow, looking at it, thinking about the bolt she sent into a young woman's back because she acted without thought, like she was in a story and... and...
Cailyn sighed, picked up her crossbow, and followed with a slight run that made her out of breath in less than five seconds, but she made it to the others.
At the emptiness, she fumbles out that lovely fan with the goblin drawing and fans her sweaty face, concentrating on her magic.
"Pretty... feather" she pants out like someone just kicked her in the stomach twice. "Oh! A... dart!" she leans over and nearly topples. She considers that more exercise might be a thing to consider doing some day, but shoves it aside (much like almost Pedicide). She lifts up a blowgun dart that's been treated with a sticky blue substance. "Anyone know... what this is... the blue liquid?"
Her mind drifts to more of her magic, trying to read more about the object.
There is certainly a unique scent associated with the large black feather and Orchid can easily detect it in the cellar and follow it back to the door and up the steps to the alley. Once she reaches the main road, however, the trail is lost amongst the cacophony of odors that fill the city street.
There's not much Cailyn can sense from the small dart. It clearly doesn't have much history. The single impression she receives from it is a pair of darkly feathered, clawed hands dipping the small projectile into a small clay vial and drawing it forth covered in the toxic substance.
Hello, Vigny Einarsdottir, a voice speaks within Vigny's head. It feels warm and comforting. There is no need to fear. I am Helgarval, a loyal servant of the goddess Desna, and I mean you no harm.
After a moment, Vigny realizes that the voice is originating from the winged helm she's wearing.
I've been observing you since you retrieved me from the dark recesses of the funeral barge. And while I may have doubts regarding some of your companions, I believe that your heart is true and that our goals may align for the near future.
Years ago in my mission to gain the attention of my superiors - and so return to my home in Elysium - I stumbled upon the doings of the Five Storms in this area and have spent the time since observing the oni and their agents.
The Rimerunners Guild - which you may have heard of - is a powerful trading guild in Kalsgard and is actually a front for the Frozen Shadows thieves’ guild. I believe they are also agents of the Five Storms oni from Minkai. In addition, I have learned that a blood-feather raven is known to be the familiar of a local spellcaster named Goti Runecaster, and that Goti is a close associate and advisor to Thorborg Silverskorr, head of the Rimerunners Guild.
I believe that the Frozen Shadows intend you harm and are behind the malevolence being directed towards you. If you are seeking answers that would be your best direction.
Shunsen looks at the feather Orchid found, "Another feather...the old priest saw a raven with a red feather just before the earth-man attacked...more birds...."
Vigny needs a minute (at least it seems like a minute to her) after the earth elemental is destroyed to clear her head and get her bearings. Even then, her head feels about 2 sizes bigger than it ought to and her vision is blurry.
She does notice there seems to be some new crisis and slowly walks toward where the others have gathered around something on the ground. It turns out to be a girl but apparently she okay, which is good since walking had made Vigny feel dizzy and nauseous.
Since it looks like she can spare it, Vigny heals herself. The worst of the effects of the blow she took to her head are relieved aside from a thunderous headache and ringing in her ears.
She follows the others along to the place where the priest told them they would find Uksahkka, but they don't. Vigny just leans against the wall with her eyes closed to rest for a moment while the others puzzle the situation out.
That's when she hears an intrusive voice in her head. It's distinct from the ringing she hears, but the strangeness of a voice in her head, which also says things a stranger shouldn't know, makes her doubt her wellness.
Vigny takes off the helmet and looks at it for damage, thinking maybe the helmet had been bashed hard enough to press into her head. With her spare hand she feels around her head for an injury, maybe a depression in her skull where there shouldn't be one.
"Did you hear a voice just now?" she asks the others.
"No..." Flori answers, looking over at Vigny curiously as she hovers next to the still panting Cailyn. "What kind of voice? Has someone been following us?"
This kind of thing never happened to her in Sandpoint - but then again she never got attacked by 'nin-jars' or giant rock monsters in Sandpoint either. So maybe she just hasn't visited enough places to know what's normal yet...
Cailyn has been rather distracted by almost killing a child, and then there is the running and the interesting things in the room...
But finally she notices dent in the helmet and thinks 'Oh, that must have hurt'. It is then she realizes she should probably help Vigny out. Grasping her hawker's glove and tentatively touches the dented warrior with a calming warning "Touching you, don't panic."
Cailyn's healing certainly does relieve Vigny's remaining aches and pains, but it doesn't remove the perplexed expression on her face.
"I'm not sure if I heard it with my ears or in my head. I think it was male? Really nice sounding voice, kinda sexy actually. Like, what a gigantic kitty cat might sound like if it could talk, silky and soothing."
"Um, he said his name was... uh Helgarval? I think that's right. Also said he was a servant of Desna."
I am neither an injury induced hallucination, nor a result of too much mead, it insists. I would have preferred to keep my presence between you and I, but it seems that I must force the issue.
Hello, everyone, a voice speaks directly into all your minds. My name is Helgarval and I mean you no harm. I am a servant of a celestial power and I have deemed that our goals align for the near future. I have no wish to repeat what I've told Vigny Einarsdottir. You may question her regarding my motives and discoveries at your leisure. I would simply suggest at this time that the source of malevolence that beseiges you comes from the Frozen Shadows thieves' guild through the front of the Rimerunners Guild.
Seeking out more information on them would further both your goals and mine.
Orchid takes the voice better than expected - which is to say she doesn't immediately curl into a ball or attempt to rip anyone apart. Instead she cocks her head and then moves slowly towards Vigny, eyes fixed on the golden helmet.
Then she leans in, sniffs deeply and then licks it...
...before turning away in apparent satisfaction.
"Where is guild?" She asks, still holding the feather in one hand. It seems she wants to go bird-chasing.
"That kind of tickles" Cailyn shakes her head a little at the voice inside it. Despite the complaint, her eyes shine in eagerness to interrogate Vigny for all the details. "Asking around about a hidden guild of thieves is the best way to attract even more attention from these hidden guild of thieves. But it might be our most obvious path." she looks around the street "It is about dinner time, shall we question the bar staff of the nearest establishment?"
Shunsen looks at Vigny curiously when she asks her question, then looks about in amazement as the voice of Helgarval comes into her head.
She shares a look with everyone, that they too hear it...."Frozen Shadows...Rimerunners' Guild....got it. If Uksahkka was here with Ulf, then the guild has them! Yes, some discreet questions to the locals might help"
Vigny decides she liked the voice better before it got all snippy about her, which isn't sexy at all. Since the voice emphasizes it only says things one time, Vigny starts trying to remember all the things it told her so she can pass them on.
Vigny raises one finger as she says "One. His name is Helgarval and he is a loyal servant of Desna. Also he means us no harm."
Up comes a second finger. "Two. He was on the funeral barge and..." Vigny trails off as she finally puts two and two together. She looks down at the helmet, her mouth open in surprise.
"Hey! Helgarval is this helmet, and he talks!"
Vigny recovers herself though and goes back to recalling what the helmet told her.
A third finger up. "Three. Um, he's been here for a long time and wants to go home to Elysium. So he started looking for a way to get attention... And he noticed the Five Storms, and they are Oni. Also the Rimerunners Guild is a front for the Five Storms."
Four fingers. "Four. The raven with the red feather is the familiar of Goti Runecaster, and this Goti is a close friend of Thorborg Silverskorr who runs the Rimerunners Guild. So, it's the Five Storms that have been messing with us since we came north."
Vigny grins, pretty darn proud of herself. She did hear all this under weird circumstances after taking a nasty blow to her head after all.
"That's everything I think."
Vigny considers asking Helgarval where the Rimerunners Guild is since he hasn't once said that, but she doesn't. It has occurred to her that the helmet might be annoyed with her for another reason.
She lifts the helmet to eye level and asks with contrition "was it rude of me to wear you?"
Orchid looks around and then shrugs. At the moment her best plan is to wander the streets and look for the bird. So it's not a very good plan. Hopefully the talky people will come up with something.
While she waits she begins to jiggle from foot to foot.
"It's the Helmet!" Cailyn beams getting probably too close. "Does it feel?" she thinks of Orchid's lick but then also of Vigny donning it. "pb[Probably not the most appropriate question.
She thinks on that while she starts to usher the group toward the nearest tavern since they all need to eat a meal or two.
Once in there she gestures for several of almost everything, then starts chatting with the locals.
Their common form is that of a golden helm, decorated with intricate filigree, and they regularly move about through the air on feathered wings.
~~~
Wearing me is fine and the easiest means of allowing me to avoid attracting undue attention, Helgarval replies to Vigny's query.
Following Cailyn's lead, the group moves to a nearby tavern where food is acquired and drink is imbibed. The occultist's queries are met with nervous glances, but produces vague responses.
The Frozen Shadows thieves' guild has come to prominence in Kalsgard in recent years. Its members are rumored to have almost supernatural abilities in stealth and assassination and often leave a large black feather as a calling card.
As far as the Rimerunners guild goes, Cailyn's inquiries reveal that they specialize in trade with Tian Xia over the Crown of the World as well as along the rivers of the Lands of the Linnorm Kings, the guild is extremely influential in and around Kalsgard, with many local merchants and their retainers and much of the local economy beholden to it.
A merchant of high repute named Thorborg Silverskorr leads the guild, but she is rarely seen in public, and has numerous connections with the wealthy and powerful of Kalsgard, including Linnorm King Sveinn Blood-Eagle himself. The guildhall is located on the waterfront in the Jade Quarter, and is staff by dozens of well-armed guards, both day and night.
As the evening grows later, Orchid catches a familiar scent as two cloaked and hooded figures enter the tavern. Noting your group they move near the table and one of the figures draws his hood back slightly revealing Sandru's friendly smile.
"We'd heard that there was some trouble and thought we'd check in," he says with a warm glance at Vigny. The other figure takes a seat lifting their hood just a bit. "Don't let his casual air fool you," Ameiko says with a smirk. "Sandru was worried. He's determined that this is all going to end in tragedy."
"Don't exagerate," Sandru argues. "I was just checking in to see when it would be a good time for a debt to be paid." He eyes Vigny meaningfully.
"Debts should always be paid," a tiny voice adds and Spivey appears from within Ameiko's cloak, fluttering up to stand on the table. "Bad things happen to those who ignore them."
"Hey!" a voice calls out from near the bar, "No feet on the tables!"
The tiny celestial throws the man a glare before fluttering over to sit on Cailyn's shoulder. "It's not like our feet are dirty," she grouses.
"So what have you discovered so far?" Amieko questions.
Orchid actually smiles when she notices the newcomers and makes room at the table for Ameiko to sit down next to her. When the soon-to-be princess does so Orchid almost visibly relaxes and the smile stays on her face, lurking at the edges of her mouth.
She waves to Spivey but doesn't speak. There are people better at that than her.
Vigny figures the not attracting attention point Helgarval brings up makes sense. As the party leaves to go get something to eat, Vigny puts Helgarval back on her head. She will need to work something else out later though. Walking around the city with a helmet on would be odd looking.
It occurs to her to try speaking with Helgarval using her mind. After all, if the helmet can speak to her that way, maybe she can do the same back. She thinks "Hello Helgarval, can you hear me?" really hard several times to see if it works.
After she's seated at the table, Vigny takes Helgarval off and places the helmet on the table. She takes to to position the helmet so he/she/it will have the best possible view of the table, which she supposes would be with the eye slits aimed in the correct direction.
Vigny leans in slightly toward the helmet and asks about an order in a low voice. "Do you want be to order anything for you Helgarval? Uh, can you have anything?"
It's a lot of time tending to the helmet, but Vigny can't help feeling like one does when inviting a friend to a party or gathering where they will know none of the other people there.
Vigny is simultaneously thrilled and distressed to see Sandru arrived with Ameiko to join them. She has been trying to figure out how to either steer everyone back to the caravan or detach herself to get back to the caravan solo since the morning. Sandru solving the problem for her, and seemingly because he was thinking about her is wonderful. On the other hand, Vigny doesn't doubt for a moment that she looks frightful after the events of the day.
She probably grins at him like a absolute dolt as he and Ameiko sit down with them. Vigny tries to match his oblique approach when answering his question.
"It is important to always repay debts, yes." she says agreeing with Spivey. "But timing can matter as much as promptness. It's not just about settling accounts. It's also about showing the right amount of appreciation. For example, you might happen to bump into a person you owe money to in a store and hand over the money as you bustle about with other things. But doing that way could make it seem unimportant to you. It could be better to instead ask the person to meet you the next evening when you can settle the debt with the time and attention it deserves."
As Vigny gets to the last part of her opinion, she looks pointedly at Sandru with a crafty little smile so he'll hopefully get her meaning. Vigny finds the code talking game very fun.
Back in her role as Helgarval's social chaperone, Vigny tries to catch Spivey's attention. When she gets it, Vigny uses a figure to gesture her over so she can introduce Spivey to Helgarval. She thinks the two of them might really hit it off.
Cailyn rubs Spivey's feet with thumb and pointer "Clearly a misunderstanding of transportation methods to grit collection ratio. We could educate, but sadly I don't see logic penetrating easily. Cheese filled pepper?" she offers the celestial one of the delicacies she is happily devouring.
Between bites, mini hugs to friends, and little tangents on odd topics, Cailyn manages to tell the entire story of their visit so far, leaving the near murder of a child out of course.
"So this Goti Runecaster and his horrid little bird is our next target I believe. Oh, do either of you have any idea what poison they used on this dart?" Cailyn pulled out a hanky out of her bag of many things collected, and unwrapped a dart with blue stains around the cloth. "It will let us know if the guide we were attempting to engage is simply captured or... well no longer engageable."
As Vigny explains the finer points of debt-repayment, Spivey looks between the blonde woman and Sandru. Realization dawns on her face as Sandru's apparent discomfort grows.
"Wait just an eyeblink," she pipes up. "Sandru, you owe Vigny something, don't you?" She looks between the pair once more. "Clearly not coin, but perhaps ... Ooooooo" She trails off with a groan of pleasure as Cailyn neatly distracts her by rubbing her feet. "That ... that is a-amazing. Don't stop."
Seemingly glad for the distraction, Sandru shifts topics. "'She'," he says simply. "Goti Runecaster is a woman and she's good friends with Thorborg Silverskorr who heads the Rimerunners guild." At the look of surprise around the table, Sandru shrugs. "I have done business in Kalsgard before. You don't do that here without having to deal with the guild and knowing who the power-players are."
He considers things for a moment.
"If you're looking for more information about them, I could get you a meeting with one of the lower-level clerks," he says after a moment. "You might be able to sweet-talk more information from them." He shrugs his shoulders. "A small bribe might not be out of place."
"The earliest I could arrange a meeting would be early tomorrow evening. Coincidentally, that would leave tomorrow afternoon free if anyone had other plans," he adds, sparing a meaningful glance towards Vigny. "Although, I imagine a more formal invitation for said plans would need to be offered ... and should probably be expected."
Cailyn doesn't stop her massaging, but also picks up on what Spivey is suggesting. "It would be a good idea for us to split up and fill in our companions with all we've been through. One can only discuss details so much over several courses of delicious inn food. Vigny could enlighten... Sandru. Ameiko one of the rest of us..." she almost said Orchid, but decided the thin veil of suggesting partners would be seen through if she suggested Orchid would speak enough words to enlighten anyone. "... leaving two remaining with our dear Spivey. Wait... didn't we have an elf as a travelling companion?" Cailyn says with casual indifference, probably too casual to be believed.
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Flori splutters in her tankard when Spivey points out the byplay and a combination of small things from the last few weeks of travel start forming an... unexpected picture. Thankfully she retains enough social grace to not say anything yet.
Then Cailyn starts fishing for information about Shalelu and Flori finds it harder and harder to restrain herself. This is getting really romantic. If Vigny really does like Sandru. I mean really? Sandru? I should help with that!
Sandru feels an odd shiver run down his spine - as though someone just walked over his grave or his adoptive sister just took an interest in his love life.
"A meeting tomorrow sounds good." She says aloud. "We still need to find where poor Ukshakka has gone as well."
Back at the beginning of everything in Sandpoint Vigny wouldn't have cared much at all about who knew what in regards to her and Sandru. But, at that time, Vigny also had a very straightforward notion of what she and Sandru meant. Vigny loves Sandru and she was quite confident he felt the same about her. Once she found him and they were together everything else would be simple.
Now, Vigny doesn't find anything simple at all. Sandru isn't exactly like she thought, and she can't figure out anything about what Sandru thinks or feels at all. Given all her uncertainty, along with a pair of Sandru's siblings around, Vigny really doesn't feel like doing any sharing at the moment. It could get really embarrassing.
Desperate to divert attention to a new subject, Vigny does the first thing that comes to mind. She picks up Helgarval and places the helmet on the table right beside Spivey.
"Spivey, you really must meet Helgarval. I think you two will find you have a lot in common, like... Desna."
The tiny winged celestial looks from Vigny to Helgarval and then back again before extending her hand in greeting.
"Hello, Mr. Helgarval," she declares ... and waits. A moment passes and then another moment.
Is this some sort of prank? Helgarval's voice rebounds among all your minds. Spivey pulls her hand back and grimaces.
"We're sorry, Mr. Angel," she says, her voice filled with angst. "We don't really know the proper greeting for someone of your ... rank." She pulls back and whispers to Cailyn.
She then holds her hands out as wide apart as she's capable and giggles.
The decision having been made to meet up in small groups the next day, the evening passes without too much more strife between Spivey and Vigny's helmet
Fireday, 24nd of Sarenith, 4711 AR (day 39)
Flori, Cailyn, and Shunsen spend the early part of the next morning verifying what information that have discovered about the Rimerunners Guild. The guildhall is indeed well defended with numerous armed guards about and inside the place. A few hopefully subtle inquiries note that although the night guard is smaller, it would still be extremely dangerous to attempt to gain access forcefully.
It seems that Sandru's offer to gain an audience with one of the clerks might be the safest option.
~~~
Ameiko arrives early, inviting Orchid to breakfast. Following the cheerful bard leads to a small stand that offers a breakfast in a thin bread-like wrapping. Meat of some sort, eggs, and various peppers for spice fill the handful and make for a surprisingly hearty meal.
She then leads the woman back to the Bone Quarter where the rest of the caravan is staying.
"I thought you might like to say 'Hi' to the horses," she says with a grin as she walks among the stabled creatures. "I'm sure they miss you taking care of them."
She picks up a brush and busies her hands brushing down one of the horses known for being one of the friendlier of the team. The equine knickers in appreciation.
~~~
Opening the door reveals a sharply dressed young lad who's clearly put a lot of effort into his appearing ... professional. He bows before her with a sharp snap of his heels. "Vigny Einarsdottir?" he questions. At her acknowledgement, he presents a scroll sealed with wax. "For you, Miss," he declares. His burden relieved, he makes a smart turn and makes his exit with practiced flair.
Opening the scroll reveals elegantly crafted script.
Dear Miss Einarsdottir,
It would be my greatest joy in the world if you would join me for lunch at noon at the Black Gull.
Yours,
Sandru Vhiski
P.S. Please don't think I can handle a quill this well. I've hired a scribe to pen this invitation.
P.P.S. Don't think it wasn't a challenge to find either the scribe or the messenger at the last moment, either, so I really do hope you choose to join me.
Arriving at the Black Gull, Vigny finds a place that oozes charm. It also appears via all indications to be closed.
Giving a hesitant rap on one of the bright green double doors generates a response, though. The latch is thrown and a dwarf with a beautifully braided beard pops his head out. "Einarsdottir?" he questions suspiciously. At her nod his face lights up.
"Dunny! She's here!" he yells back into the empty space behind him. He holds the door wide and gestures for her to enter. Once inside he shuts and latches the door. Empty tables elegantly set with linen, flowers, and unlit candles fill the place. There is one exception, though. Off to the side with a wonderful view through a paned window sits a single guest; Sandru.
"Right this way, Miss," the dwarf declares with a grin, leading her directly to the caravan master who looks completely out of place wearing a starched shirt and wide belt over pressed trousers. "I'm Derry, Miss," the bearded host says, holding out the chair opposite Sandru for her to take a seat. "And if you need anything at all, I can arrange it." He looks between Vigny and Sandru for a moment before giving a short bow. "I'll let you two be for just a moment and then I'll be back to get you started."
He moves quickly back into the empty space towards a door that's being held open by another dwarf. This one is wearing a white floppy hat, perhaps indicating cooking staff of some sort.
"Get back in the kitchen, Dunny," Derry orders with a shooing motion of his large hands. "Fine just shut me away from the world. Treated like the help," the other dwarf bemoans, throwing one hand dramatically to his forehead. "Fated to never partake of the joy that others ..."
"Can you not be you for just one day? Just one?" Derry mutters before pushing the overly-dramatic cook back into the kitchen and vanishing through the door as well.
"So, you came?" Sandra says with a smile. "I was hoping I hadn't dressed up for nothing." He throws a glance towards the kitchen. "Don't mind Derry and Dunn. They can be a bit ... much, but they know their way around a table."
~~~
Shunsen eats and drinks, the slow realization of a number of pairings that had been forming for some time crystallizing in her head.
With a skeptical mein, she looks between Sandru and Vigny, then Orchid and Ameiko, then looks at Cailyn, thinking, "Really, Shalelu? Better to try to hug a prickly bush"
She shares a look with Fiori, smirking and mouthing the word, "Drama"
She then dismisses her friend's romantic inclinations and watches the interplay between the two celestial beings, tring to keep herself from laughing.
---- the next day ---
Shunsen leans back against the wall of a building nearby the guildhall , having just peered around the corner and the various comings and goings, "Well, as we suspected from what Sandru had to say...a frontal assault wouldn't go so well. His idea with the clerk might be our best bet...Unless you want to wait for nightfall....I might be able to get us in..." she says, turning to peer at the guildhall again, this time appraising any more unorthodox means of entry.
Never one to wallow, Cailyn links arms with her two friends and simple enjoys the day of clandestine surveillance and subtle information gathering. Cailyn helps with the subtle part, not by being subtle but by asking about everything and anything.
All while of course finding every little nook and cranny cafe, fish stand, and soup dive hole for their culinary pleasure. She is offering up a golden battered sliver of fish on a stiff cracker that is glistening in butter to Flori to try when Shunsen makes her statement about breaking in. "How would you do that?" her question is not skeptical, but eagerly interested.
She even darts a looks, AFTER Flori tries the delicacy, while gripping the fan from the goblins.
"Thank you." She says softly to Ameiko, before copying the woman's example by taking up a brush and setting to work.
It wouldn't be possible without the horses, Orchid always feels better around them but even so Ameiko only just makes out the question when Orchid asks. "Why brute?" She says, not facing the bard. "Thought friends. Like you... a lot. Got flower for you. Know am... not normal. Not clever. Not pretty like you. But thought friends. Brute hurt. You not like me?" She stops talking and focuses on the long smooth brush strokes, but Ameiko can easily see the tension in Orchid's back, the corded muscles standing stiff under her shirt.
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Cailyn hears much in the way of local gossip, but none of it seems relevant to their current tasks. More along the lines of who is two-timing whom and how often.
One incident of note, though, happens as the trio is moving through the crowded market. Passing a blind and crippled beggar on the street, he mumbles, "They know who you are and are coming for you."
Turning to gaze at Orchid's back in confusion, Ameiko mutters to herself, "'Brute'? 'Brute'?" She frowns for a moment before closing her eyes in understanding.
She sets her brush down and steps carefully to the shifter's side. Placing a gentle hand on Orchid's shoulder, she turns to woman to face her.
"I'm sorry. I was ... It was just stupid banter and I wasn't trying to hurt you. I didn't realize that you would take it to heart. That was thoughtless of me." She places a hand on her chest. "I would never intentionally hurt you. I want you to know that." She holds Orchid's gaze. "I'm sorry," she repeats.
But this once it whispers something else, something Orchid desperately wants to be true. So she plucks up her courage, leans in and slowly, oh so slowly, presses her lips gently into Ameikos.
The soft kiss persists for mere moments of real world time, but a lifetime in Orchid's mind. But all things in the real world eventually come to an end. Ameiko pulls away, but not far. Her face is a mix of confusion and surprise. There's no anger or regret though.
"So ... that's ... uh ... that's how you feel," she finally says. "I guess?" A question cross her face. "I shouldn't ... assume, though. Just as important, I would imagine though, is how I feel."
She steps past Orchid and resumes brushing the nearest horse.
"And how do I feel?" she questions quietly, as if posing the question to herself.
Her hand moves the brush in soft strokes along the horses hip as Orchid waits. Eventually she pauses and then turns back to the shifter.
"I care a great deal about you," she says, reaching up with her empty hand and cupping Orchid's cheek. "I don't know if I'm ready to feel that way about you, though." She holds the shifter's gaze. "That's probably not what you're wanting to hear right now. The world is very black and white for you. Unfortunately the rest of us don't always see it that way." Noting the disappointment in Orchid's eyes she leans in closer and touches their foreheads together. "I'm not saying 'no'. I'm just saying let's give this time and see what happens, okay?" Turning just a little she presses a light kiss on Orchid's cheek. "If it's meant to be it'll happen."
....
Flori double takes as the beggar mutters his warning, but doesn't stop and elbows the other two women, "Did you hear what he just said? Was he talking to us?"
"Ouch" Cailyn exclaims since her friend often underestimates the power of her elbow when used as an attention grabber. But her words spark the flame of curiosity in Cailyn's blue eyes. "Let's find out."
The noble woman swishes over to the beggar, bending her knees to stoop near his gathering bin and drops two gold coins in "Were you talking to us, sir?If so, would you be so kind to elaborate?"
"Eh? What?" the blind man replies to Cailyn's query. "Nothing to elaborate on. I was given two coppers to say that phrase when a group that smelled of boiled cabbage walked past me." Keeping a possessive grip on them, the man shows Cailyn the two coins - they're clearly of Minkai origin.
As far as boiled cabbage is concerned, a quick examination reveals that Flori's cloak has been rubbed with the scent - something that could have easily occurred as the trio rubbed shoulders with passersby and street vendors alike through the crowded streets of Kalsgard.
Cailyn sniffed Flori's cloak and sighed "I wondered why I was hungry." she then slips the old man a couple more coppers "You delivered the message with surprising ominousness, thank you sir."
After an afternoon of investigating Thorborg Silverskorr - as well as a gruelling evening charming and placating a low-level functionary from the Rimerunner's guild - the group has identified the most likely location of Ulf Gormundr as well as the heirloom weapon, Suishen; Ravenscraeg.
Ravenscraeg was the hall of the Mad Reaver Snorri Stone-Eye. It is called Ravenscraeg because it lies high among the rocky crags south of Kalsgard, accessible only to the eponymous ravens that roost atop its ridgepole, save for a perilous stair that climbs the cliff face to the hall above. Nobody in his right mind went to Ravenscraeg while the Mad Reaver inhabited it, but according to rumor, it has been purchased by a mysterious new owner.
Ravenscraeg lies 2 days' walk south of Kalsgard in the craggy hills near the Grungir Forest. The journey to Ravenscraeg can be made in 1 day on horseback or 2 days on foot. The trail passes through boggy terrain south of Kalsgard dotted with small copses and shale hillocks. The gray line of craggy hills is visible to the south and beyond them the green forest.
The decision is made to journey out to the remote hall on the morrow.
Starday, 25nd of Sarenith, 4711 AR (day 40)
After a day's travel following a narrow trail that reportedly leads to the hall, you find a likely spot to camp for the night. At this rate of travel you'll reach your destination late tomorrow afternoon.
As you're relaxing around the quickly constructed campfire, there's a flash of sharp steel as a deadly spinning star just misses Orchid.
In the flickering shadows behind Flori and Cailyn is a slender figure dressed all in black! The shadows seem to wrap around the silent opponent as it reaches for more shuriken.
Combat Begins!
Round 1
Orchid changes shape in the blink of an eye and the silent figure finds itself confronting not a young woman but six feet of angry wolf, intent on rending it limb from limb.
There is a brief flash of utter glee in Cailyn's eyes as she takes in the NINJA, but it is followed by a sickening memory of Flori's being cut down in a longhouse recently. She realizes they are both just too close to the slender figure dressed all in black!
But they are not alone, or no (well no of course, they have their party, one of which is currently a six foot angry wolf, but that is not the point of the statement), Sir Sludge the Sublimely Sanctimonious erupts from the ground between the NINJA and the two defenseless damsels (yes, neither are defenseless and have murdered quite a few folks). The mud man with a jaunty feather nods to the pretty ladies, giving a sloppy but well intended grin, then turns to his enemy and ATTACKS.
Then the one maiden runs away "Come on Flori!" she suggests rather squeakily to her friend as she does so.