Glancing around at the newcomers as if just noticing them again, another beautiful young woman, this one with long flowing silvery hair, surprisingly coppery skin considering the region, and an unnerving gaze, both ancient and piercing, steps forward beside the casually dressed woman with the longspear. With her stature and build, slight yet still femininely curvy, she should seem almost harmless, yet there’s an almost imperceptible chill that seems to emanate from her.

”And I’m Rhia, Rhia Van der Geist.” she says with a welcoming smile, the slight inclination of her head drawing attention to the odd pendant around her graceful neck, a heavy iron ring strung on a necklace made from polished bones; in the shadows of the forest and overcast sky, a faint blue light limns her frame.

Rhia tilts her head, considering the revelation of Aliseya's vision. "Intertwined could mean working together or opposing, any idea which?"

Awakening, after eventually overcoming the urge to cuddle in the cold morning air. Rhia helps prepare breakfast and break down camp, before the group once again sets out.

Perception: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (5) + 8 = 13 (17 if undead)

With a smile, the Ghost Whiperer slips into the Paladin's embrace, snuggling up to her for both warmth and the very welcome contact.

Rhia sits beside Sookie, gratefully accepting the bowl of stew with a smile, appreciating it even more once Istivan has enhanced it with his magic. "I'll never be one to turn down a warm meal when out in the wilds, there's far worse we could be eating."

"Far worse company to be had as well." she says with a grin.

1d4 ⇒ 2

Feel better, even the watered-down version of Covid is rough.

Happy Holidays!!

"I have no idea who or what that is." Rhia whispers to her companions, looking at the hulking figure at the bridge.

Knowledge Nature: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (1) + 7 = 8
Knowledge Local: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (1) + 7 = 8

Sorry didn't realize.

Seeing the creatures flee, Rhia decides against pursuing them, understanding that they are in search of easy prey, and unlikely to return.

I've been in a number of games with them over the years. Always a spark of fun energy and brightness. They will very much be missed.

I'd say Brias is likely to be our primary healer, Rhia can heal but is specifically designed to fight undead and is likely to use healing spells in combat for that purpose if they get close.

Perception: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (12) + 8 = 20

Jumping up in alarm as she’s awakened by Zelda's warning, Rhia looks up at the creatures attacking from the trees. Even as she prepares herself for battle, she calls out to her ancestors, a whirling storm of warrior spirits unleashing their protective fury in the midst of the creatures,

Storm of Souls (DC 19 Will save for ½): 4d8 ⇒ (7, 5, 7, 1) = 20 20ft Radius centered in the trees above us

Initiative: 1d20 + 2 ⇒ (2) + 2 = 4

Uhm... I'm really sorry to hear that. I'm hoping that isn't quite as dire as it sounds.

I really hope things improve for you.

Accustomer to reading people, Rhia sees the brave front Naught puts on for what it is, as well as Aliseya's valiant effort to hold things together for her sake, giving them both a compassionate look whilst simply nodding.

Sense Motive: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (7) + 11 = 18

Sookie grabs Rhia's hands as she helps warm them by the fire. She then pauses a moment to look Rhia in the eyes, as if to ask, after the fact, if that is alright. Without asking, she then removes her warm cloak and wraps it around Rhia's shoulders.

"Would be nice to adventure somewhere warm for a change, wouldn't it?"

She smiles at Rhia. Taking notice of Sunny's outfit, of mere netting and strategically-placed shells, as she skips off after more wood, she wonders aloud,

"She must have the blood of a snow giant..."

"Perhaps an adventure at that lass's island would be a nice change of pace? Must be quite warm there if her people dress like that!"

Rhia's smile makes it quite clear that Sookie's actions are definitely welcome,and she sighs contentedly when the paladin drapes her cloak over her shoulders.

"One would think, or at least exceptional resilience." she says with an amused smile. "That would be ....very nice."

As Aliseya explains Naught's affliction she becomes serious. She'd encountered any number of vile workers of the dark arts who used people for twisted experiments, and the results were often very bad for the subjects. "So do you know of any other way to remove it, or is the plan to go to the same person who helped you?"

Been a busy couple of days, we'll get caught up on the conversation and post shortly.

Best person to answer that would be Zelda, since she's been here since the opening post.

It's definitely been fun since I joined though.

With a warm meal cooking over the campfire, Aliseya gives Naught a knowing look. The pair split off to a nearby tree, wisely remaining in direct line of sight with the others. They are discussing something important to them, judging by their body language.

After securing the perimeter with Sookie, Christoph sits and is soon seen staring into the flames. His grim visage is lost in serious thought.

Istivan cracks open a book by the campfire, and begins to read in the dimming light.

Sookie unceremoniously takes a seat beside Rhia. Placing her spear and pack aside, she rubs her hands together for warmth as she speaks with Rhia, "It's quite nipplippy out now," her face blushes a bit after correcting herself. "Are you... warm enough?" She smiles awkwardly.

Rhia's cheeks color with a light blush of her own, as she glances down at her chest and chuckles. "I suppose it is, isn't it?" she replies, with warm humor in her voice. "I don't deny that a bit of warming up would be nice." she says rubbing her arms a bit, as her breath comes out in a light mist.

Welcome. Finally back in New York after 2 weeks (4000+ miles) on the road. Getting caught up.

Sorry been on the road the last week so haven't had a lot of time to post, or review the submissions.

Her breath catching as Zelda saves her from disaster, Rhia is very grateful to the skilful rogue and her acute sense of danger. As she breathes a sigh of relief, the Ghost Whisperer studies the rigged crossbows, noting the sticky substance smeared on the deadly bolts.

Knowledge Arcana: 1d20 + 8 ⇒ (20) + 8 = 28

"The heads of each of these bolts were covered in silversheen, an alchemical enhancement that would make them act like silver. It's long worn off, but whoever set this trap up was hoping to lure other werewolves to their deaths by putting this poor soul on gruesome display." Rhia says

Will do

Rhia whispers an invocation to Pharasma under her breath while moving her hand in a subtle spiral. Moving closer, she studies the macabre scene with a professional eye, taking in the little details of the horrific scene.

Knowledge Geography: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (17) + 6 = 23
Knowledge Nature (purple flowers): 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (18) + 6 = 24
Knowledge Religion (significance of binding/ritual display): 1d20 + 14 ⇒ (16) + 14 = 30
Heal (how much of this was he alive for): 1d20 + 13 ⇒ (14) + 13 = 27

I'll hold of on any input until we have a few entries to look at. Don't want to make people feel like they're trying to get into a roped off, bouncer at the door super exclusive club vibe.

Awesome. Will keep an eye on it!

"That's fine Sunny, knowing that they are bad people, is more important than having the right words. In some cases there aren't really words to describe how depraved they really are." Rhia says, supportively.

As the others begin to share their ties to Professor Lorrimor, Rhia gives Sunny a comforting smile.

"The Professor first came to help me understand my gift. My family is sworn to protect the innocent from the undead that have menaced Ustalav for generations. The Lady of Graves has granted that that oath holds even beyond death, and through me, those who have fallen can still fight. I....can see into the spirit world and draw power from it." Rhia says giving Christoph a knowing glance.

""It was a difficult thing to deal with at first," she says, looking at Aliseya in solidarity, ...a huge responsibility, and the professor helped me come to terms with it. Over the years he has been an invaluable resource to the fight against the darkness, and a dear friend."

She pauses, remaining silent for a bit as the moment of remembrance passes, before continuing to fill their new companion in on the dangers they face, and what she was likely to find herself up against should she continue traveling with them.

"Zelda mentioned the Whispering Way before. Well, The Whispering Way has been around for thousands of years, it's essentially an organization of necromancers that has operated in the inner sea region. Agents of the Whispering Way are either undead, or living working with the undead.
Their most notorious member was Tar-Baphon, the Whispering Tyrant, but they have been around long before him.

Agents often travel to remote sites or areas plagued by notorious haunts
or undead menaces to perform field research or even to capture unique monsters.”

"Just an example of the impact he had on the lives he crossed paths with I suppose." Rhia says with a smile

Knowledge Nobility: 1d20 + 5 ⇒ (1) + 5 = 6 LMAO

Sounds good to me!

Damn, that really sucks. Hope you at least don't have much rain while dealing with it.

I just realized I'm not sure how much the group might have shared with me about the Professor's death, given when I joined. I'm sure I'm aware that he's dead, but it might be better for someone else to fill Sunny in.

I've seen someone use that script for Abyssal once.

5 or 6 sounds solid!

Leaving the carpet and blanket to Aliseya and Naught, Rhia opts for one of the chairs, not the most comfortable option, but safer than outdoors and far from the least accommodating of conditions she'd spent a night under.

Awakening early, she heads outside, partially to stretch her legs and work out the kinks developed from the night's rest, and partly to check on those who'd chosen to sleep outside.

Seeing Sunny and Chauncy arise, the ghost whisperer is only slightly surprised at her au naturale state, given the wild elf's natural ease in the wilderness. She couldn't help but find her easy openness and lack of concern for societal foibles, a little amusing and altogether not at all unpleasant to witness.

While definitely no huntress herself, Rhia has accompanied her brothers on a few hunts in the past, and so opts to join Sunny and her serpentine companion in their morning hunt, taking the opportunity to work any lingering aches out of her system with a bracing bath in the stream the wild elf located.

Heading back she finds a subtle way to convince her companion to don some degree of clothing to avoid giving poor Angelov a shock he didn't need given the somberness of the occasion.

Calling forth some spiritual aid in the digging of Angelica's grave, she gives a formal send off to Pharasma's realm, after Angelov's touching prayer and remembrance.

So right now it looks like active players are Sunny, Zelda and myself, until you recruit?

Looks like Christoph's last post under any alias was 2 months ago and Istivan's last post in this game was a year ago.

Rhia nods, noting the symbol of Blackfeather and Angelov's magical abilities, it was clear that his magical gifts had a divine source.

Accustomed as she was to helping others through the worst moments of loss as a servant of Pharasma, Rhia maintains a comforting presence, sad but controlled, acting in the capacity of one who represents the Dark Lady at times like these.

Knowledge Religion: 1d20 + 14 ⇒ (12) + 14 = 26

Sounds good to me, and your logic on NPC'ing is sound.

"Yes it is, sadly." Rhia say's entering the room and sitting across from the man. "Though I wish it were under different circumstances, I'm please to meet you Angelov. My name is Rhia, Rhia van der Geist, and I am…an agent of Pharasma actually. I was able to…speak with Angelica. I asked if there was anyone who would like to know what happened to her, to finally have answers, and she told us where to find you.”

"You don't know us, Sir, we're travelers, visitors to this region. But we may have a message for you. from Beyond." Rhia says quietly.

"I can barely make out much. I can call up light, but out here in the darkness, it would very much draw all eyes on us." Rhia points out.

Wanna trade weather, Sunny? ;)

It's funny though how you're in the middle of summer right now in Australia while I'm in the middle of winter here in the US. Though in New York where I am, it's actually been oddly warm in the 40's and 50's.

Yeah but a week and a half ago it was 1 degree.

"Whover wants to take the lead, I can imbue an item of yours with light to help in the darkness." Rhia offers as they prepare to explore.

Rhia studies Sookie in silence for a moment before nodding, though an air of skepticism is clear. "Do we want to check down in the monster's lair before we head off?"

Sense Motive: 1d20 + 11 ⇒ (12) + 11 = 23

As the man's soul returns to it's place of rest, Rhia turns as she overhears Sookie's comment. "You know who he was talking about?"

Feeling the temporary thinning of the veil slipping away, Rhia considers what would likely be her last question, carefully. "Who were you supposed to be meeting at at Ascanor Lodge?"

"Where did you come here from?"

Ah okay, I figured the not consecutive meant different targets if needed as long as within the limit of rounds available

Nodding sadly, Rhia rests her hand on the dead woman's chest, whispering quietly. "Rest. We will see if we can find your brother, at least to let him know what happened."

taking a moment to clear her head, she turns to the other corpse, repeating the ritual as she calls to the departed soul from across the Veil.

"How did you end up dying here??"

Rich Noble gets to make a save to resist