Cora gives a bit of a nod. "Well, it seems all roads lead back to that town. From there we can meet with the Mayor and take what we need. It's a sound plan. Or at least a avenue we cannot overlook."
Yaalin spend the weaving tales of her people and the world she has seen, fascinated that a culture as advanced sounding as Keetra's can evolve without a religious source. Attempting to be respectful of their privacy she does not pry why Keetra is cut off by others. As the evening and night pass Yaalin resolves to find these places and meet these people again once she is done in the mountains.
In the morning ((assuming nothing happens overnight))
Yaalin helps clean up the camp where she can and readies her many packs and bags, "Truly I wish I were able to come with you. I promise to come find you again in the future if I do not pass on, on this quest. I cannot express my gratitude for the company, for it would be insufficient." She will ask to and hug Keetra if allowed to, "Take care of yourself and never lose your fire for life dear. It is precious beyond measure. May your station rise with the sun and never set."
With a final shouldering of her warhammer she will set off in the general direction she was pointed towards the ruins of Hope.
Diadochi stands up, "I think that's settled, we head to Rest" he sighs "again. I trust Sim to find us a place the Hn'ti can't find so we can get a proper rest. Prehaps it would be advantageous to supernaturally cover our tracks."
Keetra returns the hug, if anything to explore what Yaalin's shell feels like. "And may the mountain's heart keep you warm when it is cold."
The two split ways, Shadow seeming to give a nod before heading off. The wolf-riders beginning their scouting.
Your travel for the day is rather plesant. In the distance, you see Hn'ti hunting groups. They're keeping a low profile but nothing too out of the ordinary. Around mid-day, you do find it odd to see so many hunting groups... something has happened.
Group:
The group decides to stay camped. Finding a little spot that's more defensible, knowing that heading out while so injured could be fatal. From the white hawks to the Hn'ti that lurk around the area. No longer bleeding and leaving a desernable trail, you all head out for about an hour or two before finding a good enough spot to make camp for the day and night.
All:
Sounds echo along the mountain as night begins to fall. Throaty shrills and deep bird-like booms. It echos, all over, but you're not sure exactly where it's coming from. Yaalin, coming over a ridge you see a campfire. Several people moving around it. The voices are familiar, as is the Loxodon silouette sitting around the campfire.
Diadochi, interrupted by the booming sounds from some tall tale regarding a loxodon of legend, gets a sharp poke in the side from Cora. She gestures out to the road, and the lone Tortle like shadow about 100 feet away.
This post has potentially manipulated dice roll results.
Diadochi looks up from the block of wood he's carving "hmmmm... Reminds me of a story my.... I don't recall where I picked it up but similar similar noises happened in a different mountainous region. Giant bird, like a phoenix only instead of fire it's made of lightning of course the lighting bird didn't make the noise it was another bird that accompanied it. An announcer bird if you will." Nature roll:
20
If Diadochi gleans anything else useful he'll share. When he gets poked he sees the tortle, and stands up. He looks to the rest of the group " I don't know what to do, She left us. If I go and talk to her will it look too needy? Should I play it cool? " He looks at Cora, and knows her being here will make things exponentially more awkward and doesn't know how to tactfully bring that up. He takes a deep breath, "she left us, it's up to her to come back to us as we are." He'll watch Yaalin but try to look like he's not."
Diadochi, the two sounds are from different creatures. You've all encountered a peryton on the mountain before, the deep bird sounds are likely to be one in distress. The shrills are... reptilian. You've heard stories of things like wyvern'sbefore. They would be the sort of monster that could fight something like that...
Yaalin crests the hill, and stops when she sees the party. Her face wrinkles in concern at the sight of obvious injuries. Frowning briefly at Cora's presence.
"Time to be the bigger tortle..."
She resumes walking towards the group, unless someone stops her she will head directing to Diadochi giving him a gentle hug aware he is probably very sore, before checking his bandages pulling some herbs and salves from her healing kit to clean wounds on him and in turn the others if they are willing, not speaking beyond asking to see injuries. when finished she will seperate from the group by a few feet and ask,
"What happened?"
she will respect anyone who does not wish to be poked at by a healer who walked away from the group.
Diadochi returns the hug, and will of course, let Yaalin look him over. "Things went pretty much on business as usual for us. We found a cave that acts a sewer system for the Hn'ti. A plant tried to drown me. We got up to city, got a little caught. We tried to kill the chieftain before we were over run. Chieftain was understandablely resistant to the idea. Epic chase scene enaused where we barely escaped with our lives, where we all had to jump off a cliff." Diadochi waves his vaguely "and now that we weren't strong enough we'll wind up compromising more of our morals to save the world so by the time we reach our goal we realize somewhere along we way we lost ourselves, and now that we can return home we will be strangers to our families. So... I'd say we're right on track."
"Any way we plan on returning to Rest so we can see if Alul has any helpful Intel on fighting the Hn'ti. maybe the Mayor knows of any powerful artifacts lost to dungeons of the past... I don't know... Anyway if you are also heading to Rest you are welcome to join us for as long as you want."
Sim nods at Yaalin as she approaches but keeps his distance. Listening to Diadochi tell the tale he shakes his head is disagreement when he speaks of compromising our morals. When invited to stay Sim waits to see if Yaalin will judge them for their decision. Before responding.
Abigail watches Yaalin walk into the camp, surprised to see her alive. "Well, obviously you are not getting any awards in judging the capabilities of others," she thinks to herself.
Overall, Abigail is happy to have another capable healer in the camp tonight, and wonders if maybe taking out the chieftain would be possible if both Alul and Yaalin were with them. "Remember, you just lost your bet on the capabilities of both the chieftain and Yaalin, maybe speculating on such things is best left for the morning."
If Yaalin wants to look over Abigail, she is fine with it, but is really just ready to turn in for the night.
Cora gives a nod to Yaalin, moving over on a rock to give some room for her to sit.
Of the group, both Diadochi and Cora seem the most bruised and battered. Cora raises a brow at Diadochi when he goes on a small rant about losing one self. "His Loxodonic sense of self aside, what he says is true. We got caught while sneaking into their camp. Their Chief is rather capable. He took us all on," she gestures to the group, "alone. And forced us to flee. Some of the village watched." Cora reaches into her mouth with a hand, both to grab something stuck in a tooth. And feel some of her now looser teeth. "Hits like a angry rail-worker."
"I cannot say, in good faith, that you should go there alone," she says as she looks over at Yaalin. "But that is neither here nor there." She reaches into the fire, tossing a opened can of beans back and forth, waiting for the hot metal to cool. "Beans?" she tilts the opened can over to Yaalin.
Diadochi recites from route a rhythmic idiom "a loxodon who compromises their morals is not a Loxodon. They have allowed their soul to rot. They have killed themselves before doing the world the favor of dying. A loxodon who stands by their morals Ridgidly not matter what is not a Loxodon, they are train that won't slow down and can not turn no matter what is ahead of them. A loxodon who learns from the world and changes their morals as they grow is a Loxodon, for they are the tree that bends to grow out from a stone cliff."
There is a pause and then he speaks normally "it sounds better in Loxodonic of course. Point being there is a fine line here, what is growth, what is rot and what is stagnation."
Assured that no one is going to die overnight Yaalin listens to the tale, noting that the party is still fairly divided over where to go.
"That explains the hunting groups being out in force," Troubled looks crossing her face at the thought of going back to Rest again. "What exactly do you intend to do in Rest?" unless you are intending to harm or inconvenience those who have sheltered you and helped you I see no benefit of returning there. on the other hand I did not stop you from pursuing your own path before and I won't now."
She cocks her head at the mention of Alul.
"Ah, hoping he has returned to Orta? not a terrible bet honestly. Possibly better than mine. I was heading to the Ruins of Hope to attempt to find him myself. I know he was unable to fight the entire Hn'ti village without being repelled by their leader but I was hoping to convince him to give me advice." She looks a touch disheartened at the overall damage to the party, "I do intend to challenge him to honorable combat but I still need something to trade for the right to do so. Have not had any ideas on what is worth that yet. And with you all already attempting assassination may not happen at all."
"This never should have gotten this complicated, but this is what the Ancestors have put in front of me,..us. As before in Rest I will not sway your decisions," she looks sideways at Cora, "but I do not encourage the path you are on. I cannot promise the one I am on will be any more fruitful, especially as the last time we were near Alul I inadvertently threatened him. In the morning I will continue on to Hope and attempt to find a new way into the temple or something there to help win combat rights to their leadership."
She gestures in the vague direction of the Hn'ti
"You are all welcome to join this direction or continue as you see fit but have opened my eyes to taking my fate into my own hands and I intend to do so. I am also willing to move on tonight so not to rouse any additional attention should you all wish me to."
After this she will make a camp spot near the others but separated off slightly as she is still unsure of her reception and wishes to give them time to consider without fear that she is listening. ((much further on if they ask her to leave))
Diadochi scratches the side of his head, "we hadn't considered looking for him elsewhere, it might be fruitful if we look for him there, especially if you mean to kill him. Tends to put a damper on the interview process I'd imagine. As your... Former security advisor I do not recommend this duel, but we both seem to agree we can't sway the other from our own bad descions. "
He turns to the others "I can't weigh in on whether we follow Yaalin or not, I'm too close for any objective input."
Yaalin frowns, and holds up a hand, "To clarify I have no intention of killing Alul. He is one of the victims in the overall story here. I simply wish to talk to him and get advise, then leave him far away from those who have already harmed him and his family." emphasizing the word she knows hurts herself and will stick to others in the party.
Cora, scooping a few beans into her mouth with her fingers looks between the two.
“A few days ago you were all discussing this person, saying they were with the lady in the tree.” She chews. Then spits. Reaching in to rub a sore tooth before continuing. “What makes you think they’ve moved? Cause there isn’t anything in Hope. Least nothing helpful. I was there for a few months after all.”
She pauses to think. “Well. Probably more of those people. But I doubt they will be helpful.” She gestures to the injured lot.
Yaalin looks over to Cora, thinks for a moment and decides pure honesty has gotten her this far, mistrust or no she would tell the truth here.
"Prior to the revelation of your identity, we went to Orta and asked for more information. She stonewalled us but reiterated her offer of the key for the Hn'ti leader's head. I made a bad gamble at that point. I figured out Alul was associated with her and we had heard rumors of him being repelled much as you all were. I foolishly, and quite loudly, threatened to 'make him squeal' as it were. There was a ruckus later that night with a small fire screams etc. During that commotion, we saw him running away and he told us to never threaten him again. He had heard me and not Orta. It was a severely stupid move on my part and one I wish to atone for. But, that being said I believe he has left the Lady's residence. As per our conversation with him when we first met him, he lived in Hope and worked there."
She pauses to gather her thoughts to ensure her plan is as clear as possible.
"As for going to hope to find him, it is a guess, to be honest. I am weighing his desire to stay near the ones he views as being murderers and pillagers biding his time to attempt revenge again. I did not get the sense that he was going to give up just because he failed once. I simply thought it prudent to start at the source of his pain while searching for him."
She finishes talking and waits to answer any questions anyone may have.
Diadochi cocks his head, "I fail to see how the trial by combat will act as any social leverage. We threaten him, he kills our horse. We actually hurt him I imagine that he'll wipe out the whole caravan or come after us directly. Furthermore I doubt he'll accept any terms of a duel given the aforementioned threats. I mean if someone threatened me with pain and I took it seriously enough to kill an innocent horse and then that person then challenged me to an unsupervised duel I'd be inclined to refuse, regardless of stipulations put on said duel."
Abigail yawns, settling back, "I doubt Alul would head back to Hope so soon after being freed from there. If I were him, I would not be happy picking off small bands of Hn'ti while occupying a place with so many bad memories - I would want my revenge. If anything, I would want to see what sort of deals I could cut with Orta." Abigail ponders for a moment, "Something like, killing the mayor and setting Orta free from the same fate he was trapped under sounds poetic enough. Orta's aid might be the thing he is after in order to make another attempt at the village. I will grant you that Alul might know of something powerful hidden in or under Hope, but I assume he would have already utilized that knowledge before initially attacking the village."
"It seems to me that Orta's key is the only really prize to be keeping our eye on. At the moment, we know that she will trade it for the chieftain's head. She was not too enthusiastic to talk with us, but perhaps if a more diplomatic attempt was made to see if she has any other ways we could obtain the key or any other aid she could give us in order to fight the chieftain - again, something I assume Alul is doing himself - then we may be able to try again. Failing that, there seems little hope for this particular mission." Abigail looks over at Cora, "I assume you would have already told us of any other options you had in mind."
Cora gives a bit of a nod. "Well, it seems all roads lead back to that town. From there we can meet with the Mayor and take what we need. It's a sound plan. Or at least a avenue we cannot overlook."
DM PbP Series (Completed) : The Blackmire Company, Voyage of the Windhook ,Shanty of Soulripper, The Streets of Dunnour
Sim suggest they be well rested before they return to town.
Yaalin spend the weaving tales of her people and the world she has seen, fascinated that a culture as advanced sounding as Keetra's can evolve without a religious source. Attempting to be respectful of their privacy she does not pry why Keetra is cut off by others. As the evening and night pass Yaalin resolves to find these places and meet these people again once she is done in the mountains.
In the morning ((assuming nothing happens overnight))
Yaalin helps clean up the camp where she can and readies her many packs and bags, "Truly I wish I were able to come with you. I promise to come find you again in the future if I do not pass on, on this quest. I cannot express my gratitude for the company, for it would be insufficient." She will ask to and hug Keetra if allowed to, "Take care of yourself and never lose your fire for life dear. It is precious beyond measure. May your station rise with the sun and never set."
With a final shouldering of her warhammer she will set off in the general direction she was pointed towards the ruins of Hope.
Survival 24 (was total of 24 if it screws up)
*Will edit if something happens overnight or if i have advantage on the roll.
**Edit: Advantage Survival 21
Diadochi stands up, "I think that's settled, we head to Rest" he sighs "again. I trust Sim to find us a place the Hn'ti can't find so we can get a proper rest. Prehaps it would be advantageous to supernaturally cover our tracks."
Yaalin:
Keetra returns the hug, if anything to explore what Yaalin's shell feels like. "And may the mountain's heart keep you warm when it is cold."
The two split ways, Shadow seeming to give a nod before heading off. The wolf-riders beginning their scouting.
Your travel for the day is rather plesant. In the distance, you see Hn'ti hunting groups. They're keeping a low profile but nothing too out of the ordinary. Around mid-day, you do find it odd to see so many hunting groups... something has happened.
Group:
The group decides to stay camped. Finding a little spot that's more defensible, knowing that heading out while so injured could be fatal. From the white hawks to the Hn'ti that lurk around the area. No longer bleeding and leaving a desernable trail, you all head out for about an hour or two before finding a good enough spot to make camp for the day and night.
All:
Sounds echo along the mountain as night begins to fall. Throaty shrills and deep bird-like booms. It echos, all over, but you're not sure exactly where it's coming from. Yaalin, coming over a ridge you see a campfire. Several people moving around it. The voices are familiar, as is the Loxodon silouette sitting around the campfire.
Diadochi, interrupted by the booming sounds from some tall tale regarding a loxodon of legend, gets a sharp poke in the side from Cora. She gestures out to the road, and the lone Tortle like shadow about 100 feet away.
What do you do?
DM PbP Series (Completed) : The Blackmire Company, Voyage of the Windhook ,Shanty of Soulripper, The Streets of Dunnour
Diadochi looks up from the block of wood he's carving "hmmmm... Reminds me of a story my.... I don't recall where I picked it up but similar similar noises happened in a different mountainous region. Giant bird, like a phoenix only instead of fire it's made of lightning of course the lighting bird didn't make the noise it was another bird that accompanied it. An announcer bird if you will." Nature roll:
20
If Diadochi gleans anything else useful he'll share. When he gets poked he sees the tortle, and stands up. He looks to the rest of the group " I don't know what to do, She left us. If I go and talk to her will it look too needy? Should I play it cool? " He looks at Cora, and knows her being here will make things exponentially more awkward and doesn't know how to tactfully bring that up. He takes a deep breath, "she left us, it's up to her to come back to us as we are." He'll watch Yaalin but try to look like he's not."
Diadochi, the two sounds are from different creatures. You've all encountered a peryton on the mountain before, the deep bird sounds are likely to be one in distress. The shrills are... reptilian. You've heard stories of things like wyvern'sbefore. They would be the sort of monster that could fight something like that...
DM PbP Series (Completed) : The Blackmire Company, Voyage of the Windhook ,Shanty of Soulripper, The Streets of Dunnour
Yaalin crests the hill, and stops when she sees the party. Her face wrinkles in concern at the sight of obvious injuries. Frowning briefly at Cora's presence.
"Time to be the bigger tortle..."
She resumes walking towards the group, unless someone stops her she will head directing to Diadochi giving him a gentle hug aware he is probably very sore, before checking his bandages pulling some herbs and salves from her healing kit to clean wounds on him and in turn the others if they are willing, not speaking beyond asking to see injuries. when finished she will seperate from the group by a few feet and ask,
"What happened?"
she will respect anyone who does not wish to be poked at by a healer who walked away from the group.
Diadochi returns the hug, and will of course, let Yaalin look him over. "Things went pretty much on business as usual for us. We found a cave that acts a sewer system for the Hn'ti. A plant tried to drown me. We got up to city, got a little caught. We tried to kill the chieftain before we were over run. Chieftain was understandablely resistant to the idea. Epic chase scene enaused where we barely escaped with our lives, where we all had to jump off a cliff." Diadochi waves his vaguely "and now that we weren't strong enough we'll wind up compromising more of our morals to save the world so by the time we reach our goal we realize somewhere along we way we lost ourselves, and now that we can return home we will be strangers to our families. So... I'd say we're right on track."
"Any way we plan on returning to Rest so we can see if Alul has any helpful Intel on fighting the Hn'ti. maybe the Mayor knows of any powerful artifacts lost to dungeons of the past... I don't know... Anyway if you are also heading to Rest you are welcome to join us for as long as you want."
Sim nods at Yaalin as she approaches but keeps his distance. Listening to Diadochi tell the tale he shakes his head is disagreement when he speaks of compromising our morals. When invited to stay Sim waits to see if Yaalin will judge them for their decision. Before responding.
Abigail watches Yaalin walk into the camp, surprised to see her alive. "Well, obviously you are not getting any awards in judging the capabilities of others," she thinks to herself.
Overall, Abigail is happy to have another capable healer in the camp tonight, and wonders if maybe taking out the chieftain would be possible if both Alul and Yaalin were with them. "Remember, you just lost your bet on the capabilities of both the chieftain and Yaalin, maybe speculating on such things is best left for the morning."
If Yaalin wants to look over Abigail, she is fine with it, but is really just ready to turn in for the night.
Cora gives a nod to Yaalin, moving over on a rock to give some room for her to sit.
Of the group, both Diadochi and Cora seem the most bruised and battered. Cora raises a brow at Diadochi when he goes on a small rant about losing one self. "His Loxodonic sense of self aside, what he says is true. We got caught while sneaking into their camp. Their Chief is rather capable. He took us all on," she gestures to the group, "alone. And forced us to flee. Some of the village watched." Cora reaches into her mouth with a hand, both to grab something stuck in a tooth. And feel some of her now looser teeth. "Hits like a angry rail-worker."
"I cannot say, in good faith, that you should go there alone," she says as she looks over at Yaalin. "But that is neither here nor there." She reaches into the fire, tossing a opened can of beans back and forth, waiting for the hot metal to cool. "Beans?" she tilts the opened can over to Yaalin.
DM PbP Series (Completed) : The Blackmire Company, Voyage of the Windhook ,Shanty of Soulripper, The Streets of Dunnour
Diadochi recites from route a rhythmic idiom "a loxodon who compromises their morals is not a Loxodon. They have allowed their soul to rot. They have killed themselves before doing the world the favor of dying. A loxodon who stands by their morals Ridgidly not matter what is not a Loxodon, they are train that won't slow down and can not turn no matter what is ahead of them. A loxodon who learns from the world and changes their morals as they grow is a Loxodon, for they are the tree that bends to grow out from a stone cliff."
There is a pause and then he speaks normally "it sounds better in Loxodonic of course. Point being there is a fine line here, what is growth, what is rot and what is stagnation."
Assured that no one is going to die overnight Yaalin listens to the tale, noting that the party is still fairly divided over where to go.
"That explains the hunting groups being out in force," Troubled looks crossing her face at the thought of going back to Rest again. "What exactly do you intend to do in Rest?" unless you are intending to harm or inconvenience those who have sheltered you and helped you I see no benefit of returning there. on the other hand I did not stop you from pursuing your own path before and I won't now."
She cocks her head at the mention of Alul.
"Ah, hoping he has returned to Orta? not a terrible bet honestly. Possibly better than mine. I was heading to the Ruins of Hope to attempt to find him myself. I know he was unable to fight the entire Hn'ti village without being repelled by their leader but I was hoping to convince him to give me advice." She looks a touch disheartened at the overall damage to the party, "I do intend to challenge him to honorable combat but I still need something to trade for the right to do so. Have not had any ideas on what is worth that yet. And with you all already attempting assassination may not happen at all."
"This never should have gotten this complicated, but this is what the Ancestors have put in front of me,..us. As before in Rest I will not sway your decisions," she looks sideways at Cora, "but I do not encourage the path you are on. I cannot promise the one I am on will be any more fruitful, especially as the last time we were near Alul I inadvertently threatened him. In the morning I will continue on to Hope and attempt to find a new way into the temple or something there to help win combat rights to their leadership."
She gestures in the vague direction of the Hn'ti
"You are all welcome to join this direction or continue as you see fit but have opened my eyes to taking my fate into my own hands and I intend to do so. I am also willing to move on tonight so not to rouse any additional attention should you all wish me to."
After this she will make a camp spot near the others but separated off slightly as she is still unsure of her reception and wishes to give them time to consider without fear that she is listening. ((much further on if they ask her to leave))
Diadochi scratches the side of his head, "we hadn't considered looking for him elsewhere, it might be fruitful if we look for him there, especially if you mean to kill him. Tends to put a damper on the interview process I'd imagine. As your... Former security advisor I do not recommend this duel, but we both seem to agree we can't sway the other from our own bad descions. "
He turns to the others "I can't weigh in on whether we follow Yaalin or not, I'm too close for any objective input."
Yaalin frowns, and holds up a hand, "To clarify I have no intention of killing Alul. He is one of the victims in the overall story here. I simply wish to talk to him and get advise, then leave him far away from those who have already harmed him and his family." emphasizing the word she knows hurts herself and will stick to others in the party.
Cora, scooping a few beans into her mouth with her fingers looks between the two.
“A few days ago you were all discussing this person, saying they were with the lady in the tree.” She chews. Then spits. Reaching in to rub a sore tooth before continuing. “What makes you think they’ve moved? Cause there isn’t anything in Hope. Least nothing helpful. I was there for a few months after all.”
She pauses to think. “Well. Probably more of those people. But I doubt they will be helpful.” She gestures to the injured lot.
DM PbP Series (Completed) : The Blackmire Company, Voyage of the Windhook ,Shanty of Soulripper, The Streets of Dunnour
Yaalin looks over to Cora, thinks for a moment and decides pure honesty has gotten her this far, mistrust or no she would tell the truth here.
"Prior to the revelation of your identity, we went to Orta and asked for more information. She stonewalled us but reiterated her offer of the key for the Hn'ti leader's head. I made a bad gamble at that point. I figured out Alul was associated with her and we had heard rumors of him being repelled much as you all were. I foolishly, and quite loudly, threatened to 'make him squeal' as it were. There was a ruckus later that night with a small fire screams etc. During that commotion, we saw him running away and he told us to never threaten him again. He had heard me and not Orta. It was a severely stupid move on my part and one I wish to atone for. But, that being said I believe he has left the Lady's residence. As per our conversation with him when we first met him, he lived in Hope and worked there."
She pauses to gather her thoughts to ensure her plan is as clear as possible.
"As for going to hope to find him, it is a guess, to be honest. I am weighing his desire to stay near the ones he views as being murderers and pillagers biding his time to attempt revenge again. I did not get the sense that he was going to give up just because he failed once. I simply thought it prudent to start at the source of his pain while searching for him."
She finishes talking and waits to answer any questions anyone may have.
Diadochi cocks his head, "I fail to see how the trial by combat will act as any social leverage. We threaten him, he kills our horse. We actually hurt him I imagine that he'll wipe out the whole caravan or come after us directly. Furthermore I doubt he'll accept any terms of a duel given the aforementioned threats. I mean if someone threatened me with pain and I took it seriously enough to kill an innocent horse and then that person then challenged me to an unsupervised duel I'd be inclined to refuse, regardless of stipulations put on said duel."
Abigail yawns, settling back, "I doubt Alul would head back to Hope so soon after being freed from there. If I were him, I would not be happy picking off small bands of Hn'ti while occupying a place with so many bad memories - I would want my revenge. If anything, I would want to see what sort of deals I could cut with Orta." Abigail ponders for a moment, "Something like, killing the mayor and setting Orta free from the same fate he was trapped under sounds poetic enough. Orta's aid might be the thing he is after in order to make another attempt at the village. I will grant you that Alul might know of something powerful hidden in or under Hope, but I assume he would have already utilized that knowledge before initially attacking the village."
"It seems to me that Orta's key is the only really prize to be keeping our eye on. At the moment, we know that she will trade it for the chieftain's head. She was not too enthusiastic to talk with us, but perhaps if a more diplomatic attempt was made to see if she has any other ways we could obtain the key or any other aid she could give us in order to fight the chieftain - again, something I assume Alul is doing himself - then we may be able to try again. Failing that, there seems little hope for this particular mission." Abigail looks over at Cora, "I assume you would have already told us of any other options you had in mind."