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Sitting at table near the fire, Taelin smiles up at the barkeep. "A glass of water, and I will try one of your liquid ghosts. When you have a moment," and she gestures at the near-full tavern, "pour one for yourself and join us. First round of drinks is on me." Taelin smiles, then turns to look at the room.
"Somewhat. I have not made much study of calling creatures from other planes. My goddesses do occasionally grant me a spell to summon a creature, but they do not last long. I tend to pray for spells I can use to more directly protect people, though." Taelin smiles, then moves off to make sure Sunny has some feed and that her glaive and crossbow are well-kept before returning to join the group.
Seeing Nesser disappear into nowhere, Taelin gives a low whistle. "Quite the trick. Where has he gone?" To Dillan, "Perhaps we should go without weapons, just to show them we mean no harm. I am willing to leave my glaive and crossbow here to help set them at ease. My hands are a bit more difficult to leave here." She holds up her hands, showing how the nails have lengthened past normal length and hardened into claws. "An unfortunate part of my heritage, but it is one I must live with."
"Investigating the crypt and the gaol might not be the best idea this soon after the funeral. If members of the community thought Professor Lorrimor was a necromancer, being seen investigating around, or possibly entering, a crypt might make them think we are the same. Snooping around Harrowstone might also be seen as suspicious. Perhaps we should spend time doing research beforehand, and getting to know the community. We might be better trusted that way, or at least show them that we mean no harm to the community. I myself would be interested in researching the Whispering Way and seeing what further connections they might have with this Harrowstone."
Taelin sits quietly while the journal is read aloud. "There appears to be some information we are lacking. How long ago did the Professor die? Where was he found? What, if anything, was stored in this false-crypt?" She muses for a minute, then starts. "I am sorry, Miss Kendra. I hope we are not making the pain of his passing worse for you. It does appear, however, that there is a degree of question regarding the circumstances of his death."
May 13th is my birthday, my wifes birthday (yes, same day) and our Wedding Anniversary. Why do I get the feeling that set of coincidences isn't an accident? :P Have a good time. We'll make sure to keep your character alive. He may end up inexplicably drunk and wandering the streets in his skivvies singing bawdy songs, though. ;)
Taelin picks up the top book, examining it. "Any wish to do the honors, since I opened the box?"
"Well, shall we see if the key fits?" Taelin takes the key up and fits it into the lock.
Taelin sits back with her mind abuzz over the contents of the will. She leans forward and examines the key. "For as long as you require them, you have my services, Miss Kendra. I would wish to know more about this trunk, though, and of its contents. Do you know of it, Miss Kendra? Or perhaps you, Master Hearthmount?"
Seeing that Kendra seems to be as content with the state of things as she can be given the occasion, Taelin retrieves her violin and brings it down and begins to pass the time improvising a song. Her piece is almost sad, but bounces away from that sadness with bits of lightheartedness, almost as if she's remembering old times.
Taelin takes a moment to examine Silas and see what's wrong. If it's something she recognizes and knows how to treat, she'll set about working on dealing with it. Once she's done what she can for Silas, Taelin will move Sunny into the stables and get her settled, then move her gear from the packs into the room she'll be staying in. "Thank you, Miss Kendra. You are very kind to do all this for us on this occasion. Is there anything we can do for you?"
Taelin takes Sunny over to the side of the house and attaches her bridle to a fence post there before she goes inside. "Anything I might be able to do to help with that, Master Silas? I have some training in the healing arts." Depending on the response, Taelin sets about making tea or something to help with the cold. Then, turning to Kendra, "Thank you very much, Miss Kendra. If I could move some of my gear from Sunny's packs to my room, it would be appreciated. Do you know of any place in particular where I can stable her for the time being?"
After a moment of silence, Taelin steps forward for her turn. Taking a handful of earth, she considers the grave before speaking. "I do not know how I could properly express my thanks to the Professor other than to continue the journey he set me on." "I met Professor Lorrimor after a lecture he gave on the Elven tradition of Seeking the Brightness. I myself was on that particular quest. We talked about the quest. When I mentioned certain particulars of my case, he realized that although I appear to be an Elf, I am in fact a Changeling." "Over the last five years since that meeting, I've worked with him in many capacities. He has helped me to understand what it means to be a Changeling, and I have helped him to understand certain phenomena of a divine nature. Our association has been ... was one of comradeship and of friendship. I count him as one of my few friends, and I shall always grieve for his passing." Standing still for a moment, Taelin stares down into the grave. A tear slides down her face as she whispers, "I'll miss you, Professor." She then tosses her handful of dirt into the grave, and picks up her violin from Sunny's back. She plays a short piece filled with loneliness and sorrow, then steps back to her place among the others.
Taelin moves to Kendra's side, putting an arm around the younger woman and offering her a corner of her cloak. "Here, Miss Kendra, dry your eyes. They spoke only from fear of what they could not understand. We all know your father was no necromancer. He was a good man, a just man. We would not have let them stop today from proceeding as planned."
"A group of the villagers tried to prevent us from coming here, Father. They wished the Professor to be interred elsewhere."
After the pallbearers set the professor down, Taelin steps forward to stand between the group and Kendra. "Please, my friends. I might agree with the sentiment of your remarks. The Eternal Rose herself is not terribly fond of the practicers of necromancy. The late Professor, though, wasn't a necromancer. He was a simple scholar, and he studied those areas of magic that would assist in his duties as a scholar."
From her place at the side of the coffin, Taelin murmurs, "That might be a good idea." Shaking her hood back from her head, Taelin calls to the man, "Perhaps we should talk about this, friend. Professor Lorrimor has done nothing to deserve his remains being disincluded from this cemetery. Perhaps, if you could explain your objection, we could try to come to some sort of understanding or compromise?"
Taelin murmurs very quietly to the other pallbearers, "Let us be ready to put a pleasant face on this as Terrick is doing, my friends. These newcomers may wish to chat for a while, and we may need to rest our burden while we chat."
Quietly enough that the surly group doesn't hear, but just loud enough to reach Kendra's ears, "More mourners, or do they have another purpose?"
"So he might, Silas. So he might." Taelin pulls her cloak off, then reverses it to turn the black side out, then puts it back on and pulls the hood down over her face to mirror Dillan. She leans down and gets a good grip on the casket, standing at one of the front positions.
Slipping her glaive into a strap on Sunny's back, Taelin also moves to take up a pallbearer's position.
Taelin glances at the hand, or paw as it appears to be, and then takes it and shakes as she did with Terrick. "I could wish we met under different circumstances, but it is good of you to be here."
"I shall feel the loss as well, Master Braeguldae. The passing of a life is the worst kind of loss, regardless of who they may have been. There is so much potential in life, and even those living it to the fullest cannot always express everything they wished to." Turning to Terrick and the mysterious figure in the cloak, Taelin introduces people. "Terrick, Nesser, these are Kendra Lorrimor and Tre'duinne Braeguldae. My name is Taelin Taurehin. In regards to why we are here, I suspect that will be revealed to us when the time is right. I myself do not know why we were called to assemble thus, barring paying our respects to the dear departed." As she introduces herself, Taelin holds out a hand to each of the two new people.
As Taelin passes through Ravengro on her way to the Restlands with Sunny, she tips a nod to the occasional familiar face. How different it is to be back knowing he won't be here. Taelin shakes her head, and pulls her cloak tighter around her shoulders against the cold. Sunny merely shakes her head and follows the tall Changeling. As Taelin reaches the Restlands, she first makes her way to the casket to say a silent prayer. As she finishes, she makes the sign of the butterfly over her chest, then doubles it with the sign of a long-tailed bird. As she lifts her head, she recognizes one of the people nearby. "A sad day, Dillan. I am sorry that we meet again under these circumstances." Taelin then makes her way to Kendra. "My condolences on the loss of your father. He was a great man, and his life was a thing of beauty, bringing joy to many and light to us all. Would some music be appropriate, or should I help to bear the casket?" Turning to the stranger standing nearby, Kaelin reaches out one hand to shake. "Taelin Taurehin, seeker of beauty, light, and truth."
Mkay. Taelin knows and has worked with Silas and Dillan through her connection with the Professor. So Terrick, Tri'duinne, and Corvellin(?) are odd folks out in terms of prior knowledge of each other?
Taelin could potentially know any of the others. She worked with the Professor on multiple occasions in several capacities (bodyguard, assistant, researcher, extra hands). Perhaps Taelin and Silas have met while working with the Professor on one thing or another? Or anybody else? I'm just going to throw something out as a general statement. I tend to find it worth having somebody double-check all my number-crunching and class abilities and whatnot. I get so caught up in writing the background or reading the relevant chapters that I forget to make sure I write it down correctly. Anybody up for double-checking me? I'll check yours in exchange.
Mkay. Then I'm ready to go. I'll be careful regarding the potential cross-purposes of the deities.
Taelin is a go, pending official review. Traits, spells, gear, stats all in place. Only thing there's a potential catching point on is the idea of the double-deity Cleric. Never did get word on if that was permissible. If it's not, I'll need an hour or two to do some minor shifting in my domains and spells, but it shouldn't take too long.
UMD is never a bad skill to have on hand when you have extra skill points.
That sounds like a good system for running PBP combats. From what I've seen, it might help to have a back-up action. Ex: Taelin attacks Zombie 2 with her glaive then moves 20 ft. toward the crypt. If Zombie 2 isn't in reach or has already dropped, Taelin instead moves toward the crypt and attacks the nearest enemy to the crypt that she can reach with her glaive. Had an incident or two on both sides (GM and PC) when actions were pre-posted then consolidated in Initiative order, and some things didn't work out so had to be fudged. Started doing back-up actions after that.
Mkay. Stats are ready on Taelin, Changeling Cleric of Desna-Shelyn, pending approval by GM on the dual-deity. If that gets vetoed, I'll swap things around to straight Shelyn. Background is coming soon, but wanted to get a character post up. Preference on Toughness vs. Selective Channel as far as feats? I currently have Toughness statted in based on the assumption that Taelin will be doing a decent amount of Melee. Also, took the On The Payroll trait. Perhaps we've met, Dillan? Dillan: Your Disable Device score should be 1 higher, by the way. Trapfinding gives you a flat DD bonus, not just on traps. |
