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Andrzej looks down at the manacles and gives a thin smile to Volidrian, barely even touches his eyes, "they look good. Put them over that hook and tie my ankles as well." The magus leaves his weapons and spellbook away and takes off his boots to make sure that they don't tear in the night.
"I would prefer to be outside maybe in a barn or clearing where none can see the terrible results. If you need to slay Andrzej then that means the act would go unnoticed and with my blessing. I'd rather be dead than a savage killer loose in the city." The magus struggles to remain still without scratching for no good reason.
Andrzej is brought back to reality and cuts back to Nathaniel quickly. He shakes his head and eyes sharpen as he stays in place, watching the ranger's back. "If you need me.....I am no lookout."
Andrzej kneels to wipe his dusty boots clean. The black shine is a little dull and scuffed when he notices the crack along one sole. It feels mushy and there is a faint whiff of swamp water. Perhaps it will be time to buy new boots, but the rat fever might rip the leather apart. So let these have their day. I wonder what is taking so long? Feels like ages.
"I wonder Nathaniel if that dollmaker has any children of his own? Or if there is a hidden curse here. Something is not obvious here. Well hidden." Andrzej rubs his face and scratches his chin again unthinking. Then the vistani realises what he is doing and adds in a humourless voice, "..if I start asking for cheese then...."
"It would. Angalia's good with doors and locks. I'm not but maybe that is where our next move will be." The emotionless magus flicks a look at the back door and looks upwards to see whether there are suitable windows open.
Andrzej shakes his head. The gypsy magus trails behind Nathaniel, going around again.
Andrzej passes on to the rest outside what little he can learn of the shop and lack of sewers.
As the magus completes his tour, he looks around for any signs of sewer grates or runnels to wash away the rubbish somewhere into sewers.
Andrzej smiles at the banter as the pair head inside and purses his lips at the way Leandro has found Tybalt's measure. Then he circles round the shop and location quickly to see if there is another entrance or exit. To see if there is more to the place than a simple shopfront.
"I would be happy to let Tybalt talk. He may do better at first impressions than some. But if we get answers I don't mind how Tybalt talks the toymaker round. Time is against us." Andrzej prepares to wait outside.
Andzrej eats quickly after the discussion and then heads back upstairs to gather his belongings. He stares out of the window for a moment wondering about lycanthropy. There are vistani Helsin killers to track down the worst excesses of were-creatures. None can join the Helsin until they have slain one alone. He returns downstairs and waits by the door. While there the man looks outside to see if anyone is paying undue attention to the Inn, especially after the night they had. Andrzej turns to Volidrian when they meet again. "You will need to take my magics and spellbooks away, manacles alone may not hold a sword dancer or a magus. Same for the others. But be prepared to end my life if a poor soul is in danger from my corruption."
Andrzej opens his mouth at the sudden reminder and it slowly closes as he nods to Res. I have been scratching alot?
Andrzej scratches his chin reflexively. He hasn't had time to shave and tufts of hair sprout along his jawline and under his nose. He rubs sleep from his eyes and looks around for someone to get him a hot drink. I feel like a dirty animal. My ablutions must wait for a convenient time. "I need a tisane for the road, at least."
The man descends the stairs and glides easily into a seat near the much larger half-orc. He listens to Leandro and then adds his vote to the mix quietly. "Let us make it a quick investigation and then go after the Skull."
The vistani leaves the scene and notes that the dollmaker may not be resonsible for the deaths and missing children. However he has lived long enough to recognise the signs of the Curse of the Mists. The man may not be the One but it will be his daughter or sister or wife at the heart of this. It is a simple fact the Mists twist lives .....badly. "Good to meet you Volidrian. I'm Andrzej and I am Vistani sworddancer." Then he returns to sleep, his scimitar at the ready down one side.
"Or simply she is suffering after that attack and the loss of her mother in such a terrible way. And nearly being kidnapped by a blood thirsty doll. Res - give her time and with female company so may respond better." All of the vistani's family hackles are being raised by this situation.
Andrzej waits his turn and answers any question as best he can. Then asks the obvious, "Could you tell me of de Monte, Gerard de Monte to be more precise?" Whatever he learns he passes onto the party once they gather again. The magus rubs the pommel of his scimitar at the same time, unconsciously thinking of how to deal with a doll with a razor, envisioning what spells and attacks would end the construct before it did this again. "You appear to have seen far too many of these deaths recently. We would like to investigate privately. That will not cause a problem, will it?"
"Perhaps we should ask Tess first? Do you have other family in town? Or elsewhere that we can take you too?"
"how did a little doll cut her neck, girl?" asks the vistani from behind Res. Impatient but nevertheless he tries to soften his words with a thin smile.
Ignored and unable to see an answer, he looks round the room for any clues as to why these two were targeted. He tries to keep out of the girl's way while he lifts belongings.
"Useful," murmurs Andrzej as the door defeats Nathaniel and gauges the speed with which the half-orc steps into the breach.
Unarmoured and dressed in just his chemise, Andrzej dashes out calling for Res to wake up. His hand twitches around the scabbard of his scimitar, tousled hair out of place and moustache not even slicked down. No time to shave. I must look a mess. Needs must. "Well?" a very curt magus adds to the growing gaggle of adventurers outside the door of screams. Not in any rush to lead in, he pauses behind Leandro and Nathaniel.
I'm on max hits for 5th as it is. Is that continuing? Done most of the rest of the levelling up. Cheers
Andrzej steps back and clicks his heels together as he bows to the finishing embrace, "introductions perhaps? I am Andrzej Plamen, a vistani sword-dancer and you are .......Gnat?"
Andrzej goes to help Leandro but Res steps up first. He places himself at the rear and slices his scimitar back and forth in preparation for any faster undead. It proves unnecessary. The zombies fall behind and eventually the marsh provides relative safety. "Since it matters this much to you, let me help a little. I can burn the rug, unless it is protected against fire? Maybe the head too."
Andrzej grimaces at the practical logic of Leandro, and starts making preparations to leave. "We should stay together. Separating is overrated and a curse among my people. We have stopped the vampire and anything else seems a dangerous risk. But I shall go with you Tybalt, you are a steadfast soldier."
"The Land of Mists fogs many things including your divine sight." The magus walks away after that. And checks that the vampire is still dead and gone.
Andrzej keeps a tight smile and before anything is taken, asks the obvious, "why didn't Monerre use these items for his own benefit? Maybe we should be just as cautious? I do not wish Monerre's curses on us." Perhaps I cannot tell but is there a way to find out if these items bear ill will. The magus turns his back to the treasure trove.
"But let's search here. I am sure Monerre would have more evil beyond the door," voices Andrzej one last time. He does not move to towards the door as the spell of gracefulness leaves his body. He puts the distasteful necrobook away for now.
When Andrzej gets a look at the terrible spellbook, he quickly tries to ascertain if there is any spell of use to him. Or if the rituals and incantations within are only for those of darkness. He openly speaks out the titles so the others can hear what he is reading. Just in case they want to end the book for its contents.
"We either search beyond that door, or go after the Lady. But if she has a week on us then perhaps another hour or two spent cleansing this nest is not so vital?"
Over Leandro's shoulder, Andrzj watches the grisly decapitation with satisfaction. He clutches the man's armour with a strong grip while the operation is on. Then automatically following orders, Andrzej starts searching - well if you can call it searching. He checks out the zombie bodies. Then the magus stands back to see where the road ahead lies.
"We have done well, but it feels too easy to me," adds the morose vistani.
Concentration check to cast cats grace , But as the vistani moves gracefully in to cut down the zombie but a fraction of the electricity sizzles through his arm and the man almost drops his blade.
Too slow to react as he prepares another attack, Andrzej takes the full brunt of the magical lightning that ripples and courses through his arms and torso before releasing down his legs. "Errrgggh!" comes an involuntary croak from the magus.
Round 1 Andrzej takes the thump into his chest and it wakes his foggy brain from its puzzling, this is while the others open up instinctively. The magus steps back into the doorway and lifts his scimitar while casting a spell. The cloud of glittering golden motes floats all around Monerre and one of the zombies, sticking to their pale and ragged skins.
As usual, the magus is busy thinking hard - well hard about something totally unconnected to the dangers ahead. he can recite the Four Axioms of Tourmana but can he concentrate on would be killers. No. - preparation is the key to the Fourth - what was that? Why are they readying for battle?
Andrzej regroups to middle so that the longspear can point over Tybalt's shoulder again.
Andrzej waits for someone to lead the way in this godforsaken place. "I do not think many have traveled this way but there ahead is a light to lead us on." Then he starts down the corridor placing a magical torchlight on his scimitar and then walks on anxious to leave the chapel and its dark air.
There is a swish of the scimitar back and forth as the magus limbers up a bit.
"The Vistani have a saying from years of travelling the Land of Mists. "The Land is dark and filled with Power, it watches and it waits for evil to come forth.""
"I do not recognise one god or any of their symbols. More than that I surmise it is likely to be made by the Land to attract those steeped in death and undeath. Looks like the necromancer was born to live in this forsaken place." Andrzej rubs down the toecaps of his black boots with his fingers, removing some of the chapel dirt and dust.
Andrzej foes with Res, making sure he is not alone in the unholy place. He pays particular attention to the altar, trying to understand more of the necromancer's home and its occupants.
"I'm fine." Andrzej begins to move off then decides to keep nearby in case another wight turns up while anyone is healed.
The magus takes a moment to flick the gore from his blade and into the stone floor then he continues his fighting retreat.
, , , The blade slashes back and forth across the wight's face.
"Yes, I shall cover the way. Step back into the tunnel."
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