Amanises couldn't help but appreciate the irony of the situation as she observed Mal and Lord Akkron. In this moment, there stood a drow, a race often met with suspicion and fear in the realms above, and a lich, a being closely associated with necromancy and dark magic, both regarding each other with caution.
With a subtle smile, Amanises spoke up, her words filled with a welcoming tone, "We extend our warm welcome to you, Olem Thayne, Keeper of the Gravegarden. Your unique knowledge and methods may prove to be invaluable on our journey."
"Mal," Amanises continued with sincerity, "you are now a part of our company. Your expertises will undoubtedly probe to be unvaluable during our journey. We are a diverse group, and you will find no judgment among us."
Her voice, soft and melodious, introduced herself further. "I am Lady Amanises. I hold the esteemed position of Eminence within the Church of Selûne, entrusted with the sacred duty of guiding and protecting her faithful. I am honored to be one of Selûne's Chosen."
To those more knowledgeable or with long-lived lives among the group, Amanises would be recognized as a first-generation Aasimar, born to a demipower of lust, pleasure, hedonism, and excess millennia ago. She held the status of a granddaughter of Sune but had always been estranged from her divine relatives.
You would know that the Gravegarden rarely sees visitors, and even rarer do they have good intentions. I am simply not used to converse. Similar i am ill practiced in reading people's intentions. I want to apologize should you have interpreted my greeting as "not warm". In honesty i can't tell if you are sincere or passive agressive. But either way it doesn't bother me as long as i know we try to achive the same goal. Olem's voice is ernest without being unfriendly. It makes the impression that he speaks without care for anything, devoid of interest and disinterest, though it is not easy to tell if it intentional or not.
Dabbert uses his halberd to lean on, his eyes shifting from Amanises to Akkron, to Khessa, back to Akkron. He shrugs.
"I don't mind to be the lady's honor guard, but uh...not sure why I can't play the damsel in distress." Cold, deadpan delivery. Completely serious, though obviously a joke. "Khessa, I've seen you fight. You are many things, but in distress is not one of them. Though uh...I suspect your foes are."
When the two new joins arrive, Dabbert's attention shifts to them. His eyebrows raise, and he looks again to Akkron.
"My my. We uh...are getting some real reinforcements this time." He says, pushing himself more upright and stowing his halberd. He extends his hand toward these newcomers. "Olem. Mal. I'm Dabbert Hahft. Call me Dab."
Short and simple, though he looks at Akkron again after his eyes settle on the Drow before them, and they had just spent all this time talking about Drow and Lolth and etc etc. He shrugs. Again.
Dab... I must honestly say, about you, i have heard no stories. I don't mean to insult. There is a reason that you are amongst us today. It is good to know you. Olem's voice still has that nothing-tone but now it there is a determined, positive seriousness mixed into it.
You would know that the Gravegarden rarely sees visitors, and even rarer do they have good intentions. I am simply not used to converse. Similar i am ill practiced in reading people's intentions. I want to apologize should you have interpreted my greeting as "not warm". In honesty i can't tell if you are sincere or passive agressive. But either way it doesn't bother me as long as i know we try to achive the same goal. Olem's voice is ernest without being unfriendly. It makes the impression that he speaks without care for anything, devoid of interest and disinterest, though it is not easy to tell if it intentional or not.
Amanises tilted her head slightly, her starlit eyes reflecting a genuine sense of confusion. "I must confess, I didn't intend any passive-aggressiveness in my greeting. My words were meant to convey a simple greeting and an introduction, nothing more, nothing less. If they came across otherwise, I apologize."
She paused for a moment before continuing, "I assure you, my intentions are sincere. We are here to work together toward a common goal, as you said."
Mal spits on the floor at the mention of Lloth from Akkron, a chuckle and then steel creeping into her voice, "No, I am no worshiper of that filth and its ilk. I happen to be a product of one of their surface raids against a human village years ago which only left devastation behind and my mother an unfortunate slave. When I was still a babe she somehow escaped and lived long enough to bring me to "safety". My life has been a hard one from the start and growing up in Skullport has had its challenges, especially being one of my kind. I learned quickly and became an integral part of," she pauses, "well its no matter that life is behind me now. Now I guess I get special summons to parties such as the lot of you. I assume the risk will be great but the rewards even better."
"Had I know you would be here Lord Akkon I might not have shown up, as I am sure the site of me has brought up past transgressions." A nod of respect and understanding in her eyes.
Turning to the Lady, Mal says, "And to you Lady Amanises, it is a pleasure to meet one of your position, I have heard many great deeds and thank you for the inclusion to the group."
Sizing up Dabbert and taking his hands in friendship, "Pleasure to meet you Dab, and if you are any kind of "honor" guard I am a pixie. I look forward to seeing your expertise with that tool," nodding in the direction of his halberd, "put to great work."
Turning to Olem, "Greetings to you as well. It is welcome to hear one speak so plainly, I think we will get along great."
With that she grabs a mug of ale, downs it, grabs for another and turns to the other in the room, "Well met, as has been mentioned you can call me Mal, and you are?" Facing Khessa.
Before the new heroes arrived, Khessa laughed heartily at Dabbert's joke and patted him on the shoulder: "Of course you would be an excellent damsel! And if I would certainly take on the role of the charming prince to come to you! But I fear that regarding 'distress', you would have the same contraindications as me..."
Once the newcomers caught the blonde arcane warrior's attention, she was first a little... surprised.
'Yes, of course, I know...' the tall adventuress thought to herself 'I know that drow are not intrinsically evil - it is their culture that tends to make them so. And if someone invited this drow here too... this drow must be one of the exceptions to the rule. After all... Drizzt Do'Urden isn't evil, right? And Eilistraee, The Dark Maiden, isn't evil either, despite being a drow goddess'.
To take time and get used to the idea of having to collaborate with the drow, Khessa first turns her attention to Olem and hearing him apologize, she goes to meet him and, before he has even finished speaking to him, she smiles and hugs him: "Don't worry, friend! Our dear Amanises said 'you will find no judgment among us' and you can believe her! Each of us is as we are! Nice to meet you, I am Khessa, Khessa Cabbagefield".
"By the way," the blonde arcane warrior becomes thoughtful, having heard the conversation between Olem and Akkron - and takes out her tome with the web-like-decorated cover from her backpack, starting to scroll through it quickly "I'm sure I've already heard talk about you... Master Akkron told me something one day, when I was his apprentice... And I wrote it down... ah, here it is! 'The jailor of the damned, guardian of the knowledge of the whispered one. That means a lot of interesting arcane secrets! I really should pay the Gravegarden a visit...' But then," she sighs "I never had the chance... But now that I'll have you next to me for a while, maybe we could talk about some arcane secret every now and then! You know, I'm interested in magic, even if I'm not as expert a wizard as Master Akkron!"
Feeling more relaxed, the tall adventuress puts away her tome and approaches the drow... and, looking at her affectionately with her blue eyes, places a hand on her shoulder: "Welcome to you too, Mal! Khessa Cabbagefield, pleasure to meet you! Master Akkron and I have found ourselves fighting drow on more than one occasion, because of our personal history - yet you have never tried to assassinate us - so I have to assume that you are on our side! Besides, what would you do here if not? It will be a truly pleasant experience, for a change, to have a drow as an ally rather than an enemy! In fact, you know what? I could even hire you..." she winks, smiling "What would your fee be for assassinating Lolth?"
Answering Khessa pleasantly, "Half-Drow, if you please and I don't think any of you have been one my marks before, not that you would know if I was targeting you and you are still here breathing." A wry smirk showing on her face and a glint of amusement flashing in her eyes.
"If you can get me within striking distance of Lloth and distract her for just a mere moment, I will happily take her down for free and to be honest any other drow of your choosing. I have no love for any of that filth." she states.
Answering Khessa pleasantly, "Half-Drow, if you please and I don't think any of you have been one my marks before, not that you would know if I was targeting you and you are still here breathing." A wry smirk showing on her face and a glint of amusement flashing in her eyes.
"If you can get me within striking distance of Lloth and distract her for just a mere moment, I will happily take her down for free and to be honest any other drow of your choosing. I have no love for any of that filth." she states.
Amanises' voice carried a hint of curiosity as she inquired, "Do you worship Eilistraee then, perhaps?" She leaned slightly forward, her starlit eyes focused on Mal. "Or do you not owe allegiance to any god?"
"At the moment I have no use for gods, however Vhaeraun does have some, shall we say, "possibilities" in his way of thinking, unfortunately they are also outweighed by some of his other thoughts on the hierarchy of life." She responds.
Laughing she states, "So how did that non-answer answer your question? I appreciate the beneficial healing properties that are given by the gods, but why is there always a price to pay for helping those less fortunate that others? I don't know, having never met a god and being able to talk to them directly, I guess my mind is not made up."
Amanises nodded in understanding, her starry eyes reflecting a deep sense of empathy. "Indeed, the ways of the gods can often be... strange to most, and their intentions can be challenging to decipher. However, it is possible that in time, you may encounter a deity whose principles resonate more closely with your own. I've had the privilege of conversing with various deities due to my unique position, and more often than not, they prove to be different from the expectations people hold."
With a warm and reassuring smile, Amanises continued, "Should you ever wish to explore the teachings of the Moonmaiden, Selûne, and the illuminating light she brings, I would be more than willing to share her wisdom with you. While it has been some time since I actively sought to convert anyone, spreading Selûne's message remains a fundamental part of my duty. Our faith centers on accepting individuals regardless of their origins, and there is no cost in extending a helping hand to others, for that is her divine will."
Answering Khessa pleasantly, "Half-Drow, if you please and I don't think any of you have been one my marks before, not that you would know if I was targeting you and you are still here breathing." A wry smirk showing on her face and a glint of amusement flashing in her eyes.
"If you can get me within striking distance of Lloth and distract her for just a mere moment, I will happily take her down for free and to be honest any other drow of your choosing. I have no love for any of that filth." she states.
“Tzk tzk, Mal, half-drow of my heart…” Khessa winks, smiling “And this would be professional behavior? Should I, your employer, be the one to 'get you within striking distance' of your target? I would expect it was your task to stalk your own prey... But since I like you, plus you offer to do it for free, plus, last but not least, I really, really, really don't like Lolth... Deal!" she shakes hands with the assassin "Once we have prevented this... end of the world that threatens to happen, you and I will take a tour of the Demonweb... I'll make sure to get the attention of that oversized (and overrated) vermin and you, when she arrives, will kill her. Akkron can come and see, if he likes, of course".
"First thing first, anyway..." sighs the blonde arcane warrior "The troubles of Eosia take precedence. So Maynard, where were we? How was the journey to Eosia planned? Do you have a ship? Or a means of teleportation? Or are you counting on us to organize it?"
Khessa, you said is your name? As much as i enjoy your company, please refrain from visiting the Gravegarden. It is not a place that should be visited. I am there to guard its secrets, so you wouldnt learn anything there. And for the same reason i wont reveal anything on our travel. Respectfully. Besides, Akkron would be much more informed in this field of the arcane than i will ever be, i am just dabbling.
"I must concur with the Keeper of the Gravegarden; some secrets are hidden for a reason," the lich says to Khessa gently. "In case you hadn't noticed, I found such secrets that I probably shouldn't have many lifetimes ago... and now have eternity to pay for my hubris. Granted, I have tried to make the best of the situation, but I still barred myself from ever passing on to the next life and left my spirit tethered to a body that should have crumbled to dust centuries ago."
He pauses a moment.
"Now, back to the matter of transportation, if I remember correctly Brother Maynard said that a ship is ready and waiting for our departure."
"Really Olem?" Khessa seems slightly disappointed at the moment "Is there really nothing that can be revealed? Are these secrets completely impossible to use for a good purpose?"
Then Akkron brings the example of his condition and the blonde arcane warrior explains to both: "No, guys, you don't understand. I'm not interested in becoming a lich, or a banshee, or a vampiress. Who wants to live forever, when loved ones must die? The point is that, often, knowledge is not good or bad in itself... it depends on the use made of it".
"I know how to unleash a devastating explosion of fire;" the tall adventuress gives an example "this doesn't mean that I enjoy doing it among people in the public square... It just means that, for example, if a large group of Zemochs were to block our way, I could speed up the clearing operations".
"Anyway," Khessa sighs, regaining her smile, "as you prefer... Considering we're trying to avoid an apocalypse, if we could make an exception and learn something potentially useful, I'd be open to it... But if we're really sure that in these highly coveted secrets there is nothing that can be used for a just purpose, not even in completely exceptional circumstances like the ones we find ourselves in..." she shrugs "I'll live with it".
"Khessa... my dear friend... I know your heart and intentions are pure... but what the wretches hidden away in those tombs could tell you is not fit for any ears to hear. The ancient secrets they hold are no simple spells or incantations, but they could well be disguised as such by those who are both cunning and depraved. And some knowledge in and of itself can destroy those who hold it... I think I told you the fate of my own teacher. the poor elf searched for centuries to answer a riddle that had perplexed her, but when she finally found said answer it drove her into insanity and then... something much worse... it wouldn't surprise me in the least if what's left of her is locked away within one of Master Thayne's tombs."
"I fully trust you, Master Akkron" Khessa looks at the lich with deep affection in her blue eyes. “No Gravegarden then”.
"This means you'll have to be the one to visit me!" the blonde arcane warrior turns to the keeper of said garden "Just refrain from visiting the room of my children. It is not a place that should be visited" she winks. "But in the rest of our house you will be safe... even more so because I won't leave you alone".
Brother Maynard rises from his chair, "I'll see to the ship, and find out when we can sail. Until then, make yourselvescomfortable and prepare for the journey."
He and Sparhawk depart, and return about an hour or so later, while you have been getting to know one another.
"The Captain says he can sail on the morning tide, as he is taking on some cargo. Until then, enjoy the inn and get some rest, it may be a while before you can enjoy peaceful surroundings."
This is when if you need any last-minute items, let me (The DM) know.
(OOC: @DM: Khessa might be interested in getting some magic scrolls, if possible...)
After that, she enjoys with a satisfied sigh the comforts of the moment, such as a nice bath in hot water... inviting the other female members of the group (so Amanises and Mal), if they wish, to join her!
“Tzk tzk, Mal, half-drow of my heart…” Khessa winks, smiling “And this would be professional behavior? Should I, your employer, be the one to 'get you within striking distance' of your target? I would expect it was your task to stalk your own prey... But since I like you, plus you offer to do it for free, plus, last but not least, I really, really, really don't like Lolth... Deal!" she shakes hands with the assassin "Once we have prevented this... end of the world that threatens to happen, you and I will take a tour of the Demonweb... I'll make sure to get the attention of that oversized (and overrated) vermin and you, when she arrives, will kill her. Akkron can come and see, if he likes, of course".
"I just assumed that you would want to be face to face with that thing when bolts start to sprout out of its chest and dies in front of you, so you can see the light dim from its eyes. Either way works for me though." Mal responds.
With a warm and reassuring smile, Amanises continued, "Should you ever wish to explore the teachings of the Moonmaiden, Selûne, and the illuminating light she brings, I would be more than willing to share her wisdom with you. While it has been some time since I actively sought to convert anyone, spreading Selûne's message remains a fundamental part of my duty. Our faith centers on accepting individuals regardless of their origins, and there is no cost in extending a helping hand to others, for that is her divine will."
"One of these days I just might take you up on that, thank you." Mal says to Amanises.
Mal will happily join Khessa in her shopping adventure, if nothing just to continue to keep in practice of acquiring items. Then since she has not had a bath in quite sometime, she will also accept the invitation as well.
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Amanises couldn't help but appreciate the irony of the situation as she observed Mal and Lord Akkron. In this moment, there stood a drow, a race often met with suspicion and fear in the realms above, and a lich, a being closely associated with necromancy and dark magic, both regarding each other with caution.
With a subtle smile, Amanises spoke up, her words filled with a welcoming tone, "We extend our warm welcome to you, Olem Thayne, Keeper of the Gravegarden. Your unique knowledge and methods may prove to be invaluable on our journey."
"Mal," Amanises continued with sincerity, "you are now a part of our company. Your expertises will undoubtedly probe to be unvaluable during our journey. We are a diverse group, and you will find no judgment among us."
Her voice, soft and melodious, introduced herself further. "I am Lady Amanises. I hold the esteemed position of Eminence within the Church of Selûne, entrusted with the sacred duty of guiding and protecting her faithful. I am honored to be one of Selûne's Chosen."
To those more knowledgeable or with long-lived lives among the group, Amanises would be recognized as a first-generation Aasimar, born to a demipower of lust, pleasure, hedonism, and excess millennia ago. She held the status of a granddaughter of Sune but had always been estranged from her divine relatives.
You would know that the Gravegarden rarely sees visitors, and even rarer do they have good intentions. I am simply not used to converse. Similar i am ill practiced in reading people's intentions. I want to apologize should you have interpreted my greeting as "not warm". In honesty i can't tell if you are sincere or passive agressive. But either way it doesn't bother me as long as i know we try to achive the same goal. Olem's voice is ernest without being unfriendly. It makes the impression that he speaks without care for anything, devoid of interest and disinterest, though it is not easy to tell if it intentional or not.
Dabbert uses his halberd to lean on, his eyes shifting from Amanises to Akkron, to Khessa, back to Akkron. He shrugs.
"I don't mind to be the lady's honor guard, but uh...not sure why I can't play the damsel in distress." Cold, deadpan delivery. Completely serious, though obviously a joke. "Khessa, I've seen you fight. You are many things, but in distress is not one of them. Though uh...I suspect your foes are."
When the two new joins arrive, Dabbert's attention shifts to them. His eyebrows raise, and he looks again to Akkron.
"My my. We uh...are getting some real reinforcements this time." He says, pushing himself more upright and stowing his halberd. He extends his hand toward these newcomers. "Olem. Mal. I'm Dabbert Hahft. Call me Dab."
Short and simple, though he looks at Akkron again after his eyes settle on the Drow before them, and they had just spent all this time talking about Drow and Lolth and etc etc. He shrugs. Again.
DM of AURYN: The Measure of Devotion - Escape from New York
DM of Legacy of NIMH
Dab... I must honestly say, about you, i have heard no stories. I don't mean to insult. There is a reason that you are amongst us today. It is good to know you.
Olem's voice still has that nothing-tone but now it there is a determined, positive seriousness mixed into it.
Amanises tilted her head slightly, her starlit eyes reflecting a genuine sense of confusion. "I must confess, I didn't intend any passive-aggressiveness in my greeting. My words were meant to convey a simple greeting and an introduction, nothing more, nothing less. If they came across otherwise, I apologize."
She paused for a moment before continuing, "I assure you, my intentions are sincere. We are here to work together toward a common goal, as you said."
Mal spits on the floor at the mention of Lloth from Akkron, a chuckle and then steel creeping into her voice, "No, I am no worshiper of that filth and its ilk. I happen to be a product of one of their surface raids against a human village years ago which only left devastation behind and my mother an unfortunate slave. When I was still a babe she somehow escaped and lived long enough to bring me to "safety". My life has been a hard one from the start and growing up in Skullport has had its challenges, especially being one of my kind. I learned quickly and became an integral part of," she pauses, "well its no matter that life is behind me now. Now I guess I get special summons to parties such as the lot of you. I assume the risk will be great but the rewards even better."
"Had I know you would be here Lord Akkon I might not have shown up, as I am sure the site of me has brought up past transgressions." A nod of respect and understanding in her eyes.
Turning to the Lady, Mal says, "And to you Lady Amanises, it is a pleasure to meet one of your position, I have heard many great deeds and thank you for the inclusion to the group."
Sizing up Dabbert and taking his hands in friendship, "Pleasure to meet you Dab, and if you are any kind of "honor" guard I am a pixie. I look forward to seeing your expertise with that tool," nodding in the direction of his halberd, "put to great work."
Turning to Olem, "Greetings to you as well. It is welcome to hear one speak so plainly, I think we will get along great."
With that she grabs a mug of ale, downs it, grabs for another and turns to the other in the room, "Well met, as has been mentioned you can call me Mal, and you are?" Facing Khessa.
Before the new heroes arrived, Khessa laughed heartily at Dabbert's joke and patted him on the shoulder: "Of course you would be an excellent damsel! And if I would certainly take on the role of the charming prince to come to you! But I fear that regarding 'distress', you would have the same contraindications as me..."
Once the newcomers caught the blonde arcane warrior's attention, she was first a little... surprised.
'Yes, of course, I know...' the tall adventuress thought to herself 'I know that drow are not intrinsically evil - it is their culture that tends to make them so. And if someone invited this drow here too... this drow must be one of the exceptions to the rule. After all... Drizzt Do'Urden isn't evil, right? And Eilistraee, The Dark Maiden, isn't evil either, despite being a drow goddess'.
To take time and get used to the idea of having to collaborate with the drow, Khessa first turns her attention to Olem and hearing him apologize, she goes to meet him and, before he has even finished speaking to him, she smiles and hugs him: "Don't worry, friend! Our dear Amanises said 'you will find no judgment among us' and you can believe her! Each of us is as we are! Nice to meet you, I am Khessa, Khessa Cabbagefield".
"By the way," the blonde arcane warrior becomes thoughtful, having heard the conversation between Olem and Akkron - and takes out her tome with the web-like-decorated cover from her backpack, starting to scroll through it quickly "I'm sure I've already heard talk about you... Master Akkron told me something one day, when I was his apprentice... And I wrote it down... ah, here it is! 'The jailor of the damned, guardian of the knowledge of the whispered one. That means a lot of interesting arcane secrets! I really should pay the Gravegarden a visit...' But then," she sighs "I never had the chance... But now that I'll have you next to me for a while, maybe we could talk about some arcane secret every now and then! You know, I'm interested in magic, even if I'm not as expert a wizard as Master Akkron!"
Feeling more relaxed, the tall adventuress puts away her tome and approaches the drow... and, looking at her affectionately with her blue eyes, places a hand on her shoulder: "Welcome to you too, Mal! Khessa Cabbagefield, pleasure to meet you! Master Akkron and I have found ourselves fighting drow on more than one occasion, because of our personal history - yet you have never tried to assassinate us - so I have to assume that you are on our side! Besides, what would you do here if not? It will be a truly pleasant experience, for a change, to have a drow as an ally rather than an enemy! In fact, you know what? I could even hire you..." she winks, smiling "What would your fee be for assassinating Lolth?"
Answering Khessa pleasantly, "Half-Drow, if you please and I don't think any of you have been one my marks before, not that you would know if I was targeting you and you are still here breathing." A wry smirk showing on her face and a glint of amusement flashing in her eyes.
"If you can get me within striking distance of Lloth and distract her for just a mere moment, I will happily take her down for free and to be honest any other drow of your choosing. I have no love for any of that filth." she states.
Amanises' voice carried a hint of curiosity as she inquired, "Do you worship Eilistraee then, perhaps?" She leaned slightly forward, her starlit eyes focused on Mal. "Or do you not owe allegiance to any god?"
"At the moment I have no use for gods, however Vhaeraun does have some, shall we say, "possibilities" in his way of thinking, unfortunately they are also outweighed by some of his other thoughts on the hierarchy of life." She responds.
Laughing she states, "So how did that non-answer answer your question? I appreciate the beneficial healing properties that are given by the gods, but why is there always a price to pay for helping those less fortunate that others? I don't know, having never met a god and being able to talk to them directly, I guess my mind is not made up."
Amanises nodded in understanding, her starry eyes reflecting a deep sense of empathy. "Indeed, the ways of the gods can often be... strange to most, and their intentions can be challenging to decipher. However, it is possible that in time, you may encounter a deity whose principles resonate more closely with your own. I've had the privilege of conversing with various deities due to my unique position, and more often than not, they prove to be different from the expectations people hold."
With a warm and reassuring smile, Amanises continued, "Should you ever wish to explore the teachings of the Moonmaiden, Selûne, and the illuminating light she brings, I would be more than willing to share her wisdom with you. While it has been some time since I actively sought to convert anyone, spreading Selûne's message remains a fundamental part of my duty. Our faith centers on accepting individuals regardless of their origins, and there is no cost in extending a helping hand to others, for that is her divine will."
“Tzk tzk, Mal, half-drow of my heart…” Khessa winks, smiling “And this would be professional behavior? Should I, your employer, be the one to 'get you within striking distance' of your target? I would expect it was your task to stalk your own prey... But since I like you, plus you offer to do it for free, plus, last but not least, I really, really, really don't like Lolth... Deal!" she shakes hands with the assassin "Once we have prevented this... end of the world that threatens to happen, you and I will take a tour of the Demonweb... I'll make sure to get the attention of that oversized (and overrated) vermin and you, when she arrives, will kill her. Akkron can come and see, if he likes, of course".
"First thing first, anyway..." sighs the blonde arcane warrior "The troubles of Eosia take precedence. So Maynard, where were we? How was the journey to Eosia planned? Do you have a ship? Or a means of teleportation? Or are you counting on us to organize it?"
Khessa, you said is your name? As much as i enjoy your company, please refrain from visiting the Gravegarden. It is not a place that should be visited. I am there to guard its secrets, so you wouldnt learn anything there. And for the same reason i wont reveal anything on our travel. Respectfully. Besides, Akkron would be much more informed in this field of the arcane than i will ever be, i am just dabbling.
Akkron nods at the gravekeeper's words.
"I must concur with the Keeper of the Gravegarden; some secrets are hidden for a reason," the lich says to Khessa gently. "In case you hadn't noticed, I found such secrets that I probably shouldn't have many lifetimes ago... and now have eternity to pay for my hubris. Granted, I have tried to make the best of the situation, but I still barred myself from ever passing on to the next life and left my spirit tethered to a body that should have crumbled to dust centuries ago."
He pauses a moment.
"Now, back to the matter of transportation, if I remember correctly Brother Maynard said that a ship is ready and waiting for our departure."
"Really Olem?" Khessa seems slightly disappointed at the moment "Is there really nothing that can be revealed? Are these secrets completely impossible to use for a good purpose?"
Then Akkron brings the example of his condition and the blonde arcane warrior explains to both: "No, guys, you don't understand. I'm not interested in becoming a lich, or a banshee, or a vampiress. Who wants to live forever, when loved ones must die? The point is that, often, knowledge is not good or bad in itself... it depends on the use made of it".
"I know how to unleash a devastating explosion of fire;" the tall adventuress gives an example "this doesn't mean that I enjoy doing it among people in the public square... It just means that, for example, if a large group of Zemochs were to block our way, I could speed up the clearing operations".
"Anyway," Khessa sighs, regaining her smile, "as you prefer... Considering we're trying to avoid an apocalypse, if we could make an exception and learn something potentially useful, I'd be open to it... But if we're really sure that in these highly coveted secrets there is nothing that can be used for a just purpose, not even in completely exceptional circumstances like the ones we find ourselves in..." she shrugs "I'll live with it".
Akkron would smile if he still had lips.
"Khessa... my dear friend... I know your heart and intentions are pure... but what the wretches hidden away in those tombs could tell you is not fit for any ears to hear. The ancient secrets they hold are no simple spells or incantations, but they could well be disguised as such by those who are both cunning and depraved. And some knowledge in and of itself can destroy those who hold it... I think I told you the fate of my own teacher. the poor elf searched for centuries to answer a riddle that had perplexed her, but when she finally found said answer it drove her into insanity and then... something much worse... it wouldn't surprise me in the least if what's left of her is locked away within one of Master Thayne's tombs."
"I fully trust you, Master Akkron" Khessa looks at the lich with deep affection in her blue eyes. “No Gravegarden then”.
"This means you'll have to be the one to visit me!" the blonde arcane warrior turns to the keeper of said garden "Just refrain from visiting the room of my children. It is not a place that should be visited" she winks. "But in the rest of our house you will be safe... even more so because I won't leave you alone".
Brother Maynard rises from his chair, "I'll see to the ship, and find out when we can sail. Until then, make yourselves comfortable and prepare for the journey."
He and Sparhawk depart, and return about an hour or so later, while you have been getting to know one another.
"The Captain says he can sail on the morning tide, as he is taking on some cargo. Until then, enjoy the inn and get some rest, it may be a while before you can enjoy peaceful surroundings."
This is when if you need any last-minute items, let me (The DM) know.
(OOC: @DM: Khessa might be interested in getting some magic scrolls, if possible...)
After that, she enjoys with a satisfied sigh the comforts of the moment, such as a nice bath in hot water... inviting the other female members of the group (so Amanises and Mal), if they wish, to join her!
"I just assumed that you would want to be face to face with that thing when bolts start to sprout out of its chest and dies in front of you, so you can see the light dim from its eyes. Either way works for me though." Mal responds.
"One of these days I just might take you up on that, thank you." Mal says to Amanises.
Mal will happily join Khessa in her shopping adventure, if nothing just to continue to keep in practice of acquiring items. Then since she has not had a bath in quite sometime, she will also accept the invitation as well.