"If a guess is the best we can do, then we need more information. We will hunt this Daemon down. You will need to go into hiding for a brief while again though." Harakhty allows the mask to speak its piece before withdrawing it, placing it in his back, grabbing his weapons, and leaving.
That mask has seen more necromancy than I have in my life. If it cannot discern the purpose, the ends are many or the magic strong, and either way, it's no good. The wedding would have to be missed; he needed to find Skaar and see what his rival wanted.
Unable to locate the Orc in short order, the frustrated Harakhty grabs some foodstuffs and waits at the place they were last. The thing may try to confront them here. It couldn't hurt to watch for him.
Skaar climbs out of the water and catches the towel offered by Corda. After toweling off his heavily scarred and thickly muscled torso, the big orc retrieves his dagger and trims the coarse stubble along his jaw.
"The Vishkanya won't have clothes for me 'till tomorrow. Wildcat, you think one of the soldiers in the fort'll have somethin' that'll fit me for tonight?"
Adjusting her bossom for maximum viewablity, Corda responded, "Oh it's not a formal party, what you normally wear should be fine." Her tone indicated there was still lingering fear about what happened earlier, but it seemed to be fading quickly.
Skaar grunts in understanding and uses the warm water to scrub his worn and sweat-stained leggings. A moment later, he's dressed as he'd been all day, bare-chested but clean and with his stubble trimmed to a manageable level. "Alright Wildcat, let's go."
Passing by Corda's shop, Skaar calls out. "Hey! Lil' Nara, you comin' to the party?"
"I guess if they may be planning something we probably should." she says, sleeping Clara's hand.
"Some strange undead warriors and the scariest talking statue I've ever met."
Seeing Arista and Alethiro walk in, Drago said, "You'll have to tell me later, it sounds like a fascinating tale."
Skaar's question took him by surprise. "Party? There's someone out there, perhaps looking for your very soul! What do you know of this Siferous? I was looking into that dark magic, and anything you could tell me of him would be useful."
A party. I truly don't know what to expect anymore. But there was strength in numbers. And there's always food and dancing. "But yes, I'll go to this party. Whose is it? What's the occasion?"
"It's for Sādhanā and Clara, they're getting married tomorrow. Didn't you know?" Corda answered, her tone almost back to being cheery and playful.
Skaar frowns. "I knew Sefirous from when I was in the war. I'll tell you 'bout the bastard after the party. He's not gunna make a move anytime soon. It can wait."
Harakhty nods. "The wedding I knew about. Not the party though. Would they mind if I came?"
Arista walks over to where the others are sitting and greets all of them cheerfully.
"Now that it's ready we can all go over to the long table now. Food and drinks should be coming up shortly."
Getting up from his seat and offering Elena his arm, Drago asked, "Any idea when the guest's of honor might appear?"
"Oh, I don't think so." Corda answered. As they walked, she hung on Skaar's arm with a contented smile on her face.
"They should be here any minute now."
She looks around at her friends apologetically, "I'm sorry it took me so long to get here. I felt all icky and needed a bath, and then I needed Esme to do my hair and bring me the flowers. Tsk tsk, so many things to do ya know?"
Clara looks at Sādhanā, a smile on her lips. "I think we've given them long enough."
Skaar wraps an arm around Corda, happy to give the girl whatever comfort she needs.
He greets everyone with a wave as, freshly bathed, he enters the restaurant. "Where're the girls?"
Arista shows him to their place at the long table with everyone else.
Smiling she gives Corda a light hug, "Thanks for the advice."
Once she releases Corda she turns and smiles for the first time at the big Orc, "Well, thankfully they're not here yet, but they should be arriving soon."
She looks over at Harakhty, "Take a seat anywhere you like, but no talk of necromancers or anything else gross tonight, alright?"
"You're welcome." Corda whispered has she hugged back.
"Well then, shall we my love?" Sādhanā replies with a grin, kissing the back of Clara's hand as they walk towards Hadrinn's
Arista looks outside briefly, "Ok, I think I see them coming now. Everyone remember to yell surprise at them when they come in."
Harakhty smiles at Arista. "Sure. Just be ready to let them know they're not invited if they show up!."
Clara leads Sādhanā to Hadrinn's as the twilight sky reveals the first stars of night. They walk into the restaurant as Hadrinn and the paladins serve up a variety of foods: roasted chicken with herbs, some boar ribs, fresh hot bread and some of the meager vegetables that Hadrinn was able to salvage from his garden. Foaming tankards of ale line the table, drawing focus to the centerpieces Arista had made.
Clara draws her hands to her face, the edges of her smile peeking out through them. "Oh, wow..."
She tears up a little. "This is wonderful!"
Decidedly hungry, Skaar helps himself to the assembled feast.
"Surprise!" the big orc bellows as the guests of honor make their appearance.
Nicatha smiles pleasantly at the other people in Hadrinn's. So many people who I do not know. Surprisingly, Drago has numerous friends. It is good to seize some happiness amidst all this terror.
Feeling slightly guilty for her uncharitable thoughts about Corda's emotional resolve earlier, Nicatha squeezes the other woman's arm. "Did you find the bath refreshing?"
After the initial yelling of 'Surprise!' and seeing the girls reaction to their celebration, Arista goes over and hugs each of them. She leads them to their place of honor at the Center table, in front of the center piece with all their friends around them.
"Help yourselves to whatever you like, whatever you want tonight, it's yours. After we're all done eating, you'll get to open your other surprise. Hope you both have a marvelous time."
She hugs both girls again and gives them each a kiss on the cheek before going back to find her own place next to Alethiro.
Godrick and Barclay walk into the restaurant and give Sādhanā and Clara their congratulations. They sit across from the happy couple at the center table, with a nod at Arista.
Sienna turns to Cyna. "I can't imagine going through something like this. I suppose if I was drunk enough..."
She laughs for a moment. "Nah, I'm really happy for them. You never know when life will throw its worst at you, so it's best to seize the good moments when you can."
The gnome smiles wanly as the guests of honor arrive and as the paladins enter. She stands from her seat and goes over to Esmerelda. At least, she looked as if she was feeling equally out of place.
Arista waves in greeting to the newcomers as they walk in. She leans her head on Alethiro's shoulder, "Isn't this a lovely night? I just love how happy they look. I wish these moments of happiness could just last forever."
Skaar suckles on a greasy rib and leans over to Corda. "Think we should get the girls a weddin' gift?"
Not dissimilar to wedding parties of his own tribe, this gathering had two things in plenty: people and food. Harakhty embraced the former and helped himself to the latter, taking a seat on the other side of Nicatha. He wanted to say there was an abundance of joy - and there was - but...
There was just something he couldn't shake about the convention here. Even Godrick and Barclay have settled their difference for a time. Maybe it was the threats made to the woman next to him or Skaar earlier, but he felt there was a great danger just out of reach. Keeping to his word though, he left his talk of threats and mechanisms of threatening just inside the door. Yet the vanara kept his link shirt on underneath his robes still; he could not shake his paranoia.
In fact, with so many here, it would make a good target for an assault. Or, since the leaders were present, it would be easier to sow discord outside these walls. But in either case, the inquisitor had no evidence for substantiate his worry; it just that - worry. So he forced himself to put it aside for now and focused on the talk around him.
"This chicken is delicious! How did you make it?" Harakhty inquired of Hadrinn in earnest. Though we was quite able to cook meat to a pleasant consistency, the chicken was both well-spiced and moist. It was beyond his ability at the moment - Hararkhty was no chef - though something like this certainly made him consider the path.
"Well, the secret is mastery of the spit. You've got to learn when to turn it. While color can easily be deceiving, you can judge by how much fat drips," Hadrinn says, trying not to beam with pride.
An enormous smile spreads across Sādhanā’s face as they walk in, to an overwhelming welcome. Looking over at Clara, she squeezes her hand, face radiating joy at seeing her love’s emotional reaction.
Arista’s hug had it’s usual energy, and as she leads them to the main table Sādhanā whispers to the Angelkin, ”This was your idea wasn’t it? Thank you so much.”
As they sit surrounded by their friends the outpouring of positivity and support leaves her speechless.
Arista just smiles and blushes at Sadhana's question and gratitude. Before going to sit with Alethiro and the others, she whispers back to Sadhana, "We're all family here now, think nothing of it."
"Yes, it's such a pleasant surprise, Arista," Clara says to the aasimar.
With a smile Cyna replies. "That's true, they've both been through a lot so it's not surprising so see them like this."
She turns to eye the couple for a moment. " Just one more thing to fight for I guess." Cyna says.
"Is there anything you wouldn't do with enough alcohol in ya?" she asks mockingly.
"Wrestle an orc, fight a dragon naked or cut my hair," Sienna replies with a smirk.
From across the room, Skaar winks at Sienna.
"I probably wouldn't wrestle an orc sober either," Sienna remarks, glancing at Skaar.
Laughing with her friends, she sits and enjoys the meal with everyone else while talking about this and that with everyone around her.
"Fight a dragon naked?" Cyna mutters confused.
"And that's how half-dragons are born."
"If I was drunk enough, I'd fight a dragon fully clothed but not naked," Sienna explains. "I take it you haven't been to a good bar with a bard in a while..."
Arista looks up at mention of a bard.
"It would be nice if there was a bard around. I could really go for some music and dancing right about now." She muses aloud.
"I haven't. Do I even want to know?"