Garyth Gets the Message; Back to the Seaman's Haven; Welcome Back, Dan
Subject: Re: The Exodus; The Evening of day two, and a message received
"Don't worry, Garyth. Even if the woods were filled with ghouls and Murrkat, no one has a better chance of getting through to the Kalama than that scout."
Garyth turns to Rennik as the halfling speaks. He's right, of course. Melani knew the land and her people well, and without the refugees and guards to draw attention she'd move even more quickly and silently. Still, with all that's happened, he can't help feel a twinge of worry--after all, the last time one of the group went off alone, he was ambushed.
He's about to reply when he feels a presence in his mind. His eyes widen and grow distant. A panic begins to rise in him. The demon has found us! But the fear has no sooner come than the words begin to allay it.
"Garyth Tel'Arden. Farron says, demon solution found. Must return to temple with Pelor cleric. Leaving Nesalin soon. Meet at Gully's. Glad you're all well."
A wave of excitement comes over Garyth. His friends had found an answer! There's hope, then. His spirits lifted by the news, he chuckles slightly at the the last words. Well, indeed. As though the message were a letter received and read by a warm fireplace, perhaps with a glass of wine in the other hand. The incongruity is humorous.
The words cease far too soon, and a thousand questions spring to mind. But there's no time; Garyth can already feel the presence fading. "We will come," he says. "As soon as the townspeople are safe." The presence is gone nearly before he can even get those few words out--he's not sure he got through.
Coming to his senses, Garyth realizes that Rennik is giving him a strange look. He must have spoken aloud. "I've received a message from Farron," he explains, relaying the message to the halfling.
From: Ty
Subject: wizards
Need something from the wizards.
From: Karl
Subject: Re: wizards
"Sa'id, hang back a few yards, but keep an eye out." Farron then approaches the man in front of his apartment cautiously, keeping an eye out for any companions the man may have hiding nearby. His hands almost subconsciously rummage through the spell components in the pockets of his robes. If the man shows no sign of recognition nor makes any other suspicious movement before Farron gets to a point about 30 feet from the man, Farron will stop there and call to the man, "Hail, stranger! Are you looking for me?"
From: Ty
Subject: Re: wizards
Farron stops thirty feet from the steps that lead to his home. The large man has moved into the shadow of the wine merchants booth, and is pretending to be very interested in some wine bottles. He does not appear to have noticed Farron's approach. When Farron stops and calls out, "Hail, Stranger! Are you looking for me?" the man jumps, and looks around quickly, as if scanning the street for danger.
After looking up and down the street, the big man begins moving quickly toward Farron. Farron begins to back pedal, but as the man gets closer, the wizard can see he has an open and concerned expression on his face. Not the hard look of a man preparing to kill, but the look of a worried friend. Farron instinctively feels a trust for the man. He slows down to let the man approach. Once he gets close, he begins speaking in an urgent near whisper.
"I believe I am. Fairn Upill, isn't it? And that would be Sed? I am?" his mouth hangs open for a second as he glances behind him "come, let me buy you an ale. Or wine. Or water. Or?" realizing he's rambling he trails off, quickly collects himself and gestures down the road while gently but firmly ushering Farron in the direction he's pointing. "Come. I know a place. Or if you know a place we can go there."
[need farron and sa'id reactions]
From: Karl
Subject: Re: wizards
"I know a place, " Farron says. "It's not far." He will then lead the man in the opposite direction toward any well lit, relatively safe, and hopefully well patronized pub or inn.
From: Raja
Subject: Re: wizards
Sa'id follows cautiously.
From: Ty
Subject: Re: wizards
Feeling like having Otto available in case of trouble is a good idea, Farron leads Sa'id and their new companion back to the Seaman's Haven. Though the stranger is large the crowd parts instinctively to make a path for him. His is not the kind of big man one feels safe teasing. Once seated there is a long silence punctuated by drumming fingers while the wizards wait for the man to tell them why they're here. After several attempts to begin speaking he heaves a sigh and looks up at them, speaking lowly enough to not be overheard, so softly that it's immediately apparent to anyone paying attention that he does not wish to be heard. "I believe we have, at different times, shared a traveling companion. An unforgettable woman, this Lady Duskane, who left Nesalin in search of two wizards who struck down a paladin of the White Heart and fled inland to the jungles. Two wizards who, I'm told, have recently returned to the city." He pauses, making sure this point has sunk in. "Tell me if you would, Fairn, Sed, of your travels inland to the mountain temple. Tell me of your time with Lady Elise."
From: Mark
Subject: Re: wizards
OOC;
Maybe this is part of what Ty is trying to set up but have Farron and Sa'id been out killing Palladins? ;)
I think I might remember who this might be. Or could be.
M
From: Karl
Subject: Re: wizards
"Where have you heard such a story?" Farron asks. "And what would make you think it had anything to do with us? Who are you?"
From: Ty
Subject: Re: wizards
More drumming of fingers. "The story of Sir Conal's demise and Lady Elise's subsequent departure is common knowledge, if not often spoke of. As for your involvement in the murder, this I heard from Elise herself, she arrived in Nesalin not an hour after you. As of this evening you two are wanted men, the signs should be going up soon. For my part I wish to know why you left, what connection you have with her, and just what you did in the temple." He finishes, ticking each point off his fingers. "If you do not tell me, I will call the guards. If you kill me, the guards will be called. And if you waste more time asking me questions instead of answering mine the guards will come in here and find you."
From: Raja
Subject: Re: wizards
"Nobody questioned her story, of course. And I don't suppose a priest happened to cast a spell of truth-saying before she told it." Sa'id sighs. "I will tell you, then, but without any magic to tell truth from lies, how will you know who to believe?"
He shakes his head to clear it. "I left Nesalin for Overlook not long ago, and Farron left before I did. Both of us were verifiably in Overlook at the time of Sir Conal's murder. In Overlook, we and several others were enjoined by the town to investigate a number of mysterious deaths. We first encountered Elise," the lack of honourific is palpable, "at the scene of the last slayings. Later we found one of her former companions dying on the road. He told us that she had stabbed and poisoned him."
"One of the men travelling with us was searching for a former lover who was pregnant with his son. We learned that the son was to be sacrificed at the temple in the jungle immediately after his birth. We travelled to the temple and managed to rescue the newborn. The man has since returned home with his son."
"Elise never travelled with us, and we have only encountered her a handful of times."
From: Ty
Subject: Re: wizards
The drumming of fingers stops. "Helm would not bless her if she were lying about this, are you honestly charging her of murder under his watchful eye?" The intensity in his voice is rising, but he seems to be excited more than angry. "You say you were with her on a handful of occasions but only tell me of one. You tell me I must choose to trust you but then clearly leave out details. Please, Sed, Fairn. Farron? Farron. You must know more than this."
From: Raja
Subject: Re: wizards
"Do you know that Helm still blesses her? Have you seen her use any of her holy gifts since returning?" Sa'id pauses. "Yes, we saw Elise more than once. There was a halfling travelling with us, and at one point he was separated from the group. We found him later, and he told us that he had encountered her. Our entire group saw her at the temple."
"Very well. I will be open with you." He lowers his voice slightly. "She was going to sacrifice the baby herself. She has forsaken Helm."
Sa'id watches the man's response intently.
From: Dan
Subject: Re: wizards
"No," he says, "she has been acting most unlike a knight of Helm for a long time now." He hesitates for minute, adjusting his cap and seeing to an itch as excuse. "You cannot return to Farron's apartments, the guards will find you there. I would normally suggest hiding you outside the city, but now, now I do not think there is a place for you to go. Is there somewhere you can go where nobody would think to look for you for a few days? I will need time to talk to the duke, if I can even convince him to listen to me."
From: Ty
Subject: Re: wizards
Aaaaaaaannnnndddd....
Welcome back to the game, Dan!
Nice convo to get you started back in. Wasn't sure if Sa'id would pick a fight or not. :)
From: Dan
Subject: Re: wizards
I totally wanted to be all like, "I dare you to fire ball me, little man. I double DOG dare you."
From: Mark
Subject: Re: wizards
In our best Cheers voices.
Bob.
Mark
From: Raja
Subject: Re: wizards
Initially I actually considered it. Sa'id doesn't like being threatened. If we'd been talking outside the city walls I might well have tried to kill you. :P
From: Raja
Subject: Re: wizards
"We are leaving Nesalin tomorrow with a priest of Pelor," Sa'id says quietly, "to meet our former companions. There is nothing more we can accomplish in Nesalin."
From: Dan
Subject: Re: wizards
"No," he hisses, "I need you here. Though it's tenuous at best you're the only other evidence I have. Have your priest friend hide you, send word you'll meet the others later. Nesalin needs you to help me bring Elise down."
From: Raja
Subject: Re: wizards
"Elise's new master lurks in the temple," Sa'id murmurs. "We have to go back and seal its prison before it can break free. If it breaks free it will destroy this island. How much damage will she do here if left unchecked?"
From: Jake
Subject: Re: wizards
Glad you're back in the game Dan!
From: Karl
Subject: Re: wizards
(Damn, I leave work early and all hell breaks loose!)
Farron listens as Sa'id takes charge of the conversation, nodding in agreement with Sa'id's story where appropriate.
(OOC - Ty, that is a really cool twist. I totally did not see that coming.)
From: Ty
Subject: Re: wizards
Would still love to get Farron's take on it, if he has one. Also, Sa'id and Farron will need to confer on what to do.