Granita's page

Granita stands behind Sam, her expression hard to read. The tears welling in her eyes reveal her feelings.

"The four of you stay safe. Half smiling at Rema. And don't you lead them down any bad roads.. or any that head back in this direction." Granita laughs, but it is a weak sound. She offers each of the group a quick hug.

"I'd better get these back to the monastery." She picks up a full basket of vegetables that she and Sam have dug from the garden. She turns to wave at the group after walking a bit of the way back toward the monastery.

Speaking with Shayne in the stables.

Calming, only slightly. "So you don't really know do you? (Granita is trying to Sense Motive, 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (4) + 2 = 6, Why does he want to know?) What does it matter? He is bad. He should die. He should have died many times before."

Earlier, speaking with Shayne in the stables.
Granita seems quite shocked. "Who told you? Who knows?" Her eyes are welling with tears.

Granita looks puzzled, "You are something else. What is that you're going on about now? Master Toe'n? Watershed? Isn't that a city to the northeast? I don't even know what to make of the rest of.. whatever that was you said" She smiles.

Granita laughs and wipes her face with the sleeve of her free hand, "I don't spend much time with animals. At least not animals that can't clean up after themselves." She nods her head jokingly toward Shayne as she stands. "Staying on the road will keep you safe. At least if it's the right road." She smiles, but it seems forced.

#2 When Shayne encounters Granita helping in the stables with moving manure...

"Dear, we both know this is not helping. And we both know you do not care. Some day, when you do care... well, if you decide you want to learn how to be more pure I am sure these monks can help. But if you decide you want to be more human then you'll need a Bard."

Granita does her best to smile, but quickly losses control and her temper, "You think you know what is going on!." She throws the shovel toward Shayne, missing widely.

In tears, she sits against the stable wall, "The five of your are the closest I've gotten to making friends in years. If I stay with you.. You may die. If I stay here, the loneliness may kill me." She struggles to smile while she gets up. "I'm sorry. At least Mal'c and Sam will still be here. Mal'c tells me he is going back into the valley. I don't think anyone knows that he helped me." A look of panic crosses Granita's face, "Don't you go!" She is yelling now. "Don't you go with him. Don't you let them go!" Disregarding her dirtied hands, she hurries to embrace Shayne. She mumbles, as she cries freely. "Don't go.. back.. don't.. back there."

Earlier as the Granita is being showered with rose pedals and being told the legend of stone.

Upon hearing the words 'family and friends' tears begin to stream freely down Granita's cheeks. She slowly removes her feet from the wash basin, the silent man quickly dries them.

In a quiet sad voice, "Thank you. Taking her shoes, Granita walks slowly from the hall - crying silently the entire time. Mal'c watches from a distance as she heads up the stairs the group came down earlier. Silently he signals Timeteo to follow her.

Grainita smiles, "I will let you shower me with adoration. She smiles again, adding as she sees the other man return, Just don't actually shower me with water." Several hardy chuckles echo through the room.

Earlier in the master's chambers.

Granita approaches Caylen, pretending to hold the young woman as if she is about to faint (Bluff: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (18) + 6 = 24). She whispers in her ear, "Shayne's teacher, a wise woman. She and his adopted family were killed. He has traveled here out of respect for her final wishes. The sack holds her severed head."

Granita smiles and does her best to stifle a giggle.

"I'm not sure retaining anything of my childhood would be something I'd want to experience." Granita smiles sadly at Shayne.

"You're spoiling all the mystery." Granita smiles and laughs.

Granita smiles at Shayne, though the expression does little to soften the dark circles forming under her eyes. "A talent such as yours deserves to be waited on." Once Shayne begins to eat, Granita follows suit.

Yawning, Granita sits near Shayne shortly after he wakes. "I hope you slept better than I did. Brother Dow'mis just brought these." She points to to hot dishes of food sitting at her side. "I'm not quite hungry yet."

"Maybe one day." Granite lies down, covered in the bedroll staring at lantern light flickering against the rock above.

"I've watched him draw the last blood of so many..." She seems lost in thought.

In conversation with Silx later.

"Maybe one day he will be taught a lesson. I worry.. there are so many doing his bidding. More seem to fall for his lies with each passing day."

Speaking, but not looking at Silx. "Tolin, I can't believe he found me. If that wasn't bad enough, I've gotten you and the others involved."

As the song and dance come to a close, Granita retrieves her clothing. After putting on her under garments, she removes the towel and sits near the wood stove on a bed roll. She speaks aloud, to no one in particular.

"I'm not sure I'll be able to fall asleep."

For the third verse Granita steps forward leading the movement by crouching, standing still with her feet wide, then slowly stomping in a circle, being careful to hold her towel in place.

"Quaking earth!" rumbled the Mountain, "or perhaps an avalanche,"
"Who is to say what will grow once all is buried in earth."
But others said, "We do not want to dirty our hands."
Mountain stomped away, leaving angry dust in his wake.

The chorus and circling repeat.

Though Granita enjoys the pool, she makes sure to get out before the food get's cold. She emerges from the pool in much the same way she got in. Once she has wrapped herself in a towel, she approaches Caylen.

"Can I get you anything? Would you like a wet cloth to wipe the travels from your feet?"

Granita grabs a towel after removing her outer garments.

"Keep your eyes to yourselves gentlemen." Granita grins as she wraps the towel around her torso before removing her undergarments. She makes a point to sit with her legs in the pool with her back toward the group. She slowly lifts the towel as she lowers herself into the pool. In the water up to her shoulders, she turn and folds the towel at the edge of the pool. She glances toward Caylen before turning to enjoy the warm pool.

Granita is so happy to have a distraction that she gladly accepts Shayne's stories.

"Well, as you know I was raised among Tolin's followers. When I was quite young I thought it'd be a fun prank to play if I painted myself up all green. I even found bits of chicken bone to make myself up like some sort of savage. The stories I had been told made orc sound like some sort of monsters. Needless to say I was the only one laughing.. and not for long. My father..." She cuts her story short, as if remembering some unspeakable detail. (Sense Motive roll for Shayne)

Catching up to Shayne.

"So what lies ahead for you? Have you ever been to a monastery?"

Granita smiles at Shayne.
"Thank you. Maybe my story will end just as happily."

Though Granita seems warmed by the fire, she doesn't seem at all at ease. She finds a spot near Shayne.

"I'm sorry to have gotten you involved with Tolin. Seems selfish to ask more of you, but on a night like this I need more than a small fire to lift my spirits. Might I trouble you for a song?"

Granita stows her weapon over her shoulder. And smiles broadly. The guard seems more at ease.

"Looks like I won't be needing this anymore. How can I help?"

Burand looks at Granita. She nods sadly.

"He is the leader of a cult. A cult I was born into. I came here years ago. Before the keep was built and when the Inn was but a shack to keep the casks dry. I'd hoped they'd never find me. I don't know how they found me..."

Granita breaks down into tears. The stress of the night's dangers finally sinking in.

A moment later the three of you are standing on a stone floor in a well lit room. The simple wood construction seems solid yet inviting. There are doors to your left and right. To your right is a large wooden table, with simple wooden benches flanking its long sides. A smaller table with stools sits in the far corner of the room to your left.

Granita is sitting on the bench nearest you. She stands quickly as the three of you appear.

"You made it," she smiles as she stands and approaches.

Three others, a halfling and two humans enter the room after hearing Granita.

Shaking her head, Granita speaks while keeping her eyes forward. "This place is my life. If we can get out of here I know some people that owe me favors."

"Do you have some rope? The only way out now is a second floor window, unless you want to tunnel out from the celar."

She sounds appreciative, but very desparate.

Granita drops another metal ball into the device, levels it toward the Inn doors, and with another twitch of her finger... CRACK. As the puff of smoke clears from the front of the device, a satisfied grin covers Granita's face. Another figure has collapsed to the ground - unmoving. One of the rear figures moves forward and takes over hacking at the doors.

"You'd better call for help Tolin," Granita yells with satisfaction.

The figures take don't even flinch as the projectile flies pass them. From atop the horse, shouting orders to hurry can be heard.

"Hurry to your death Tolin," Granita yells as she prepares another shot.

Round two: Nimt, Shayne, Silx, Thangardt, and Aak.

Quickly Granita dumps a bit of grayish powder into her device. She grabs another metal ball from her apron and puts the metal ball into the device, she holds it level - pointed toward the Inn doors. With another twitch of her finger... CRACK. Another spark and puff of smoke spew from the front of the device. One of the front figures collapses to the ground - unmoving; the others continue forward - hacking crudely at the doors.

"Those doors won't hold long."

Calmly Granita pulls a metal ball from her apron and sits it on the bar. She grabs a small container from the box and dumps a bit of grayish powder from it into the device. After putting the metal ball into the device, she holds it level - pointed toward the Inn doors.

"I can slow them down, so if you don't plan to fight I'd suggest heading upstairs. Once they have me they will leave." Granita says to the room as a whole, while keeping her eyes forward.

With another twitch of her finger... CRACK. Another spark and puff of smoke spew from the front of the device. The other Inn door's window shatters. Another approaching figures stumbles, pauses long enough to utter a string of threats, and the continues toward the door.

At this point the group is close enough to see clearly. Exactly six individuals in cloaks are approaching the Inn. Five hold lanterns and a sixth sits atop a black steed. The one atop the steed points toward the Inn doors. The other five sit their lanterns down and approach the door.

Granita gives Silx a look, full of barely contained anger, "There isn't time to explain. They will kill you all. They are after me because I wouldn't hate like they do."

Without another word or glance toward Silx, Granita levels the device she had assembled, looks down its length, and with a twitch of her finger... CRACK. A spark and a puff of smoke spew from the front of the device as the window of one of the Inn doors shatters. One of the approaching figures yells, pauses, but continues forward toward the door.

Aak has never seen such a strange looking wand. I'm working on a map option along with a way to share it with you all. The windows are heavier than a pound. There are second story windows accessible from either Aak's or Silx's rooms.

Turning to Nimt, "A barricade is a good idea. Just make sure it's only waist high."

Granita pulls several small metallic balls from the box, puts one into the rear of the assembled device, and the rest into her apron pocket.

"They fear something much worse than any of us here can threaten. If they suspect an ambush they will burn this place to the ground."

Granita quickly pulls a locked box from under the bar. She unlocks the box.

"Fight or hide."

She pulls several ornate looking cylinders from the box, locks them together before attaching a handle of sorts to one end. Make a Intellect check or Knowledge (Engineering)

"Those are the options as I see them."

Go ahead and respond directly to Aak as you see fit. We won't worry about turn order outside of combat. Players can back track to respond to previous responses as they like.

"I'm afraid I used the last of the flour today. Feel free to hide in the kitchen if you like. Just clean up after yourself," Granita laughs at these last word come from her mouth.

Turning to Aak, a flicker of anger flashes through Granita's eyes.

"I would not see any more death at the hands of these fanatics. Stand and fight if you must."

I'm going to pause here to let others catch up. Feel free to ask clarifying questions and such.

After locking the front doors she turns back toward the bar, speaking to Aak as she walks quickly.

"This isn't your fight. I'd suggest heading to your room."

Calmly, Granita emerges from the kitchen.
"Well, it's about time to lock up. Does anyone need anything before I start the kitchen clean up."

As she finishes speaking she turns toward the front windows, to see what everyone is looking at. Her expression changes quickly.

She seems to be saying something under her breath as she moves quickly toward the front doors.

Roll perception again.

"I'm afraid I have my hands full here. Best of luck all the same."

Granita turns toward the others in the bar.

"If anyone needs anything else just ring the bell. I'm going to relax a bit before I lock up for the night."

She turns and heads behind the bar and into the kitchen.

"Thank you. I am Granita. It wasn't long ago that I stumbled into town. Though my welcome was not unexpected, I'd rather meet interesting travelers than scowl in fear."

The barkeep steeps lightly down the stairs, key in one hand and a blanket slung over her shoulder.

"Victory," she smiles.

She walks toward the dwarf, resting the blanket near him.
"I hope it keeps you warm."

After resting the blanket near the dwarf, she approaches Silx.

"And here is your room key."

"I'll let you know if I need help, thank you."
Smiling, the barkeep turns and heads back to the kitchen. She returns shortly with soup for the dwarf.

"Your soup. I'll bring down a blanket in a bit. Ring the bell on the bar if you need anything before then."

She turns and heads back up the stairs.

"I'll be back with some warm soup. I should have a blanket for you before your soup is cold."

The barkeep walks toward Aak and extends her hand, holding a key.

"Here is your room key. It's up the stairs all the way at the end on the left."

She glances toward Silx.

"Your key seems to be jammed in the door. The room bolts from the inside. It is also at the end of the hall, on the right. Once I get some more soup and another blanket I'll see what I can do about getting the key out."

She looks back toward Aak and waits patiently for him to take his key.