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Quinn raises an eyebrow at the mention of dreams, but says nothing until the group bids the baron farewell. "I was not aware the baron also suffered from these nightmares," he offers by way of explanation outside the manor gate. "Is there more I might learn before we depart? Assuming, of course, you would continue to accept my company and assistance with these woes that plague Yanmass."
Quinn nods to the rope already wrapped around the medusa. His eyes begin to explore the room, examining each face as if searching for something recognizable.
Translucent hands wind a length of simple rope around the medusa's hands and then around her arms and legs. Quinn frowns softly in thought even as his own hands guide their ghostly counterparts. "I do not know if there is a simple way to unpetrify all these people," he states at last, a gentle uptick in his tone inviting the captor to correct any fallacies. "The only way I am certain of is expensive. As is always the case when we harm those around us carelessly - a short journey into darkness requires many more steps to return to the light. Are you are willing to make those restitutions and repayments to those you have wronged, and in so doing take a step towards peace?"
Quinn becomes as still as a statue himself for a moment before inhaling deeply. As he exhales, translucent echoes of his arms rise above their progenitors and slowly float forward. He deliberately steps closer to the medusa, eyes still on the ground even as he focuses his attention on her movements.
Quinn turns and nods solemnly to Kela, closing his eyes and taking a deep breath. "Falsehoods," he says simply.
Quinn does not respond immediately. If she's currently within 30 ft of Quinn:
"Say, Quinn, you're from Yanmass, right? I'm not entirely sure but from descriptions, this one looks like the missing Sir Dratavis. Do you recognize him?" Quinn nods solemnly. "It has been many years since I last saw him, but I would agree with your assessment of his identity - and that of the arrangement of these people. It would appear that whoever is creating this tableau is working with whoever they can find rather than an artistic ideal." "The intelligent intent displayed here - and the presence of a tripwire - also strongly suggests that my previous hypothesis were incorrect. But the large number of transmutations present further suggests something for whom petrification comes as naturally as breathing. To the best of my knowledge, the intersection of those two criteria would be a medusa." "There are leads here though. That paint and where it might have been bought or produced is one, the tripwire is another. Perhaps less obvious remnants linger as well." He pauses, closing his eyes in concentration.
"Since our paths do seem to have converged and our goals align, I propose we work together to unravel this mystery--and a few others plaguing Yanmass. Shall we?" Quinn's frown reflects into a soft smile once again. "It is written that two eyes see the path better than one. Let us seek understanding together." "Do you have any relationship with the Lord Yander?" "I do not." The soft smile remains. "Quinn, how much of this area have you searched? Are there any statues other than this one?" "I have done my best to not disturb the ground," he repeats, still smiling gently. "As such, I have limited my explorations to the perimeter of the estate save for a single path to this point for closer examination. I have not noticed any other extraordinary statuary in those explorations."
"Unfortunately, I do not have anything definitive. It seems somewhat unlikely that it was done purposefully by an intelligent being - the elephant looks to have been equipped for riding at the time of petrifaction, which would imply either a rider or at least a handler, but such a statue is missing. As I understand those types of transmutations, a mage must clearly focus and identify the object of their spell, which makes developed magic much less likely and an innate power implicitly more likely - barring some kind of ward or stored spell triggered by proximity. I recognize my lack of practice in tracking a creature by the tracks it leaves, so I have done my best to not disturb the ground and instead focused on trying to detect any lingering magical residues that would have resulted from such a triggered abjuration. So far, I have not identified anything conclusive." His face changes to a soft frown. "I find the position of having to prove a negative unpleasant."
Quinn smiles softly. "It is a mantra of those who seek to emulate the Master of Masters, nothing more. None of us know the length of the path, not that of our own nor those of others. But it appears we both have made our paths here in search of answers."
He gazes at Rose for several seconds in silence before nodding. "You trust your companions with your life. I sense no fear or hesitation in those bonds. Such things are not lightly nor rapidly grown, and thus I feel comfortable offering to help you save the city where I was born." He nods to Faenia when he answers her question, though his eyes are slightly unfocused as he does so. "There are indeed many troubles, but let us concentrate on this for the time being."
"Something powerful indeed." A figure seated behind one of the statue's rear legs slowly rises to his feet, one hand keeping light contact with the stone. "Sadly, the act of petrification doesn't leave many hints after the fact as to who or what might have accomplished it. But I am quite certain Gallindra would not commission a life-sized statue of her elephant in this fine of detail - not on a cavalry officer's salary - so some form of transmutation is the only remaining possibility." He bows to the newcomers. A necklace of coarse chestnut hair falls out from an open jacket of simple white and blue cotton, hanging beneath a clean-shaven and short-shorn head. His empty hands fold into the same figure used in Vudra like a handshake would be used in Taldor. His shirt is simple and rough, his pants grey and dusty like the sandals on his feet. "I am Quinn. What has your path brought you here to find, strangers?" |
