Cyerna gives you a worried look, and looks back to the pool. She cannot be away from it's vicinity. The good news is she is not an ally of the hags, but more a prisoner tied to the water of the pool.

Realizing that the pool wouldn't actually heal any of her friends, Isa simply tries to stabilize each person.

Hino save: 10

Emporious save: 3

Barbar save: 15

Isa resends a Message to Llmar "I need help!  Are you able to come help me, I'm behind the temple close to the shrine."

Isa desperately moves form person to person attempting to stabilize each one...sadly she is unable to help the old grey mage and probably made things worse for him as she tried to help.  Tears stream down her face as she watches him slip away.

...Isa.. Barbär coughs just looking up to her swollen eyes, thank you... He turns to see Hinos chest rise and fall with her breathing, then to Emporious, who is still. Hes gone. I cant feel him with us anymore..

Save 3 :  16

...Isa.. Barbär coughs just looking up to her swollen eyes, thank you... He turns to see Hinos chest rise and fall with her breathing, then to

"OH MY GOD, you're alive!!!  I thought I lost you!!" she declares as she gives the dwarf a hug.

Emporious, who is still. He's gone. I can't feel him with us anymore..

She turns her head towards Emporious and she starts sobbing "I..... I tried to save him.... but I just don't have the skill.... he was to injured for me to do anything" she says softly through tears and sniffles.

Barbär just hugs her back, comforting the young lady.

There is nothing that can prepare you to lose those you care about. It will always hurt, my dear. I have lost many friends in wars and conflict. You tried. Thats all that matters in the end. For now, we're still in hell. We have to leave. The hags will get what they deserve...

In between tears/sobbing and sniffles, Isa agrees that the best course of action is to leave and report on what we found to the Avowed.

Brushing up on in a few books in arcane studies, Barbär stretches a bit, but its interrupted by a twinge of pain still recovering from the last encounter. The city has been pretty mild, and free of most riff-raff, so he imagined the tavern would be the best place to read up on hags and their ilk, while having a meal and a drink. He was, however, not able to focus much on his readings, as he has one eye on the door waiting for his companions.

Flynt McGraw's parents were your typical village farmers in Altus. Flynt spent his formative years hunting squirrels with his sling shot, playing in the creek and doing chores. For the most part he led an idyllic life until "the curse" happened in Altus. During that dark time lawlessness grew from desperarion. All manner of crimes began to proliferate. Cattle rustling, looting, livestock violations all soon became common place.
After defending the family farm from raiders for the second time Flynt decided something needed to be done. He approached the towns patron wizard, Mirrodin. Mirrodin saw the conviction in the young mans eyes and after consulting with the town council presented him with a job proposition.  Flynt was to become the local sheriff of Altus answering only to the Mirrodin and the town council. Flynt spent the next couple of years policing Altus and the surrounding country side.
Just about the time when things were looking their most bleak word arrived that a great wizard by the name of Emporious, a former apprentice to Mirrodin himself, had discovered the cause behind the curse that had plagued the land for so long.
Unfortunately the man resposible escaped his fate before he could pay for his crimes. Mirrodin charge Flynt to find the man at all costs no matter how long it might take. Knowing the mans penchant for revenge Flynt set off for Candle Keep to warn the wizard and hopefully locate the villianous lord who had tortured the poor villagers for years.
Upon his arrival he is greeted by th Avowed. Offering them a wanted poster for entrance he immediately begins lookibg for the local hero.

It had been two days since the group returned to Candlekeep and Isa was looking a little weary as she hadn't slept much in the past 48 hours.  Images kept flashing through her mind of all of her friends either as stone statues or laying on the blood soaked ground with death nipping at their heals.  She couldn't shake the image of Emporious as he breathed his last and entered into the unknown spirit realm.  Her heart longed for Llmar, to see him again....even if it were the last time, she desperately wanted to feel his strong arms embrace her, but that did't seem to be her fate.  She headed off to the library and decided to read up on something that she truly felt was just a tall tale - Space Travel, I mean, really???  Space travel?  Who would ever think or consider that such a thing would even be remotely possible.  She grabbed the book 'The Wrath of Khan' and was intrigued by the possibilities of a starship and something like Genesis that could create a whole planet.... oh the thought of starting over... her mind wanders back to Llmar as she tosses the book back onto the pile.  She wanders out of the library and over to the tavern.... maybe she could drink her sorrows away...she had never actually tried doing that before, let alone drinking in general - other than a simple glass of mead of course.  A very glum looking Isa walks into the tavern....as she enters she spots a familiar face, which brings a slight smile to her.  She walks over to the table where Barbar was sitting eating, drinking, and reading a book.  "Hey Barbar, how are you feeling today?  Watcha reading?"

Ah, hello Dear. Please come and sit. My table is always open, to you at least. He smiles softly, and gestures to one of the open chairs. This book? Its just a bit of compiled information on different creatures people have encountered, and recorded what they could like a dossier. Most of the Avowed have taken to calling it a bit of a Manual of Monsters. However, that was a bit more to pass the time, taking it easy, while i sit here and wait to see all of my companions once more. To tell true, i am elated to see you moving around again, and that you hadn't forgotten about us. Theres few out tjere that could begin to understand the things we have seen. Its nice to have that piece of mind.

Its been weighing on me quite heavy that we weren't able to save Emporious, but i know he would want us to press on. Just to have known him i feel i am a better person. He cared much for his homeland and of his people, very dwarven of him. He has earned his spot in the great halls. He died a warrior.

I only say this, because i see the same grief in you that i hold. Do not put this on your own hands. You single-handedly saved us in the end. You've known him the longest, just rejoice in his memory.

I was about to have a drink. Getting a bit frustrated with this book. I cant find what im looking for, and if i remember correctly, ive not gotten you a drink before. Do you, er, would you care to join me with that?

Earlier

Shortly after returning to Candlekeep, Hino disappeared for a couple days.  The rumor going around the team was that she was likely servicing some of her usual clientele (especially those frequent, high-paying customers who she's ignored for an extended amount of time while on the mission).  But reality is stranger than fiction, in this case.

Hino spent the last few days in a more reputable spa (one not run by hags in disguise), having her dented and dinged carapace smoothed out and re-polished.  Most of the time, she was completely shut down, going into standby mode as the aestheticians worked their magic on her body, spending the time reanalyzing what went wrong on their failed mission.  She decided to not run the inhibitor subroutine that would normally suppress her emotions; rather, she wanted her subconscious to fully feel the pain and anguish of her failure, and the loss of her teammate Emporious (who she rather liked, even though he was oblivious to her sexual advances).  Only by letting her feelings run their course, she knew, would allow for her to return back to normal (whatever the hell normal is for her).

Today

Hino quietly marches into the Court of Air (the main square in town), absentmindedly lost in thought, when she bumps into a rather dashing and charming newbie in town.  The young man appears to be dressed as some sort of law official, but she's not too sure.  He's carrying what appears to be a WANTED poster in his hands?  "Oooof!  Sorry there, young man.  Been a little under the weather lately, and not paying attention to the world going on around me."

"You look new in town!  Anything I can do to help you?  Maybe a little massage, to take away the burdens of your travels?"  She looks him up and down rather suggestively upon asking this question.

OOC: Flynt, that's you she's bumped into.

The gravel in the court yard crunches beneath Flynts feet as he leads his horse over to the stables. He ties the horse up out front and saunters over toward the tavern. About halfway there a shapely figure bumps into him.

"Well pardon me ma'am." Flynt says with a tip of his hat. He flashes he a charming smile. "As good as I'm sure that would be, especially after that long ride,  I'm afraid I have to decline. For now at least but if you'd like to join me for a drink I was just about to head over to the local waterin' hole." Flynt offers the woman his elbow.

Any body watching sees a medium height man with an average build. Dirty Blonde hair and several days of stubble on his face. He is dressed in boots, breeches and a breast plate over a simple cotton shirt. Over his shoulders is draped a drab brown sarape made from coarse wool. On his head he wears a hat pulled down low obscuring his eyes. The brim is flat and wide, the top flat. Facing out from the center is a tin emblem resembling a star.  The star has a couple of runes inscribe on it.

As the two reach the doorway to the tavern Flynt untangles his arm from the woman's rather strong grip and sweeps it in front of himself insisting she enters first.

He strikes an imposing silhouette as he steps through the door. Looking about the room he notes a young lady and a dwarf conversing at a table. They seem distressed about something given their hagard appearance. From a small pouch he takes a small piece of paper and a pinch of a tabacco. After rolling the leafy substance up into a tight stick he places it in his mouth. When he removes his hat you can see piercing blue eyes. He leans in and lights the cigarette from one of the lamps hanging on the wall near the door.  Returning his hat to its pearch upon his head he moseys over to the bar and orders a drink for himself and his newly made acquaintance. Downing the shot he turns and intriduces himself with a tip of his hat, "Names Flynt McGraw ma'am. Sheriff of Altus. Pleasure to make your acquaintance." 

Hino literally purrs with excitement at being escorted to the tavern with the handsome young official.  "Altus?  Where's that?  Sounds exotic!" she coos.  Continuing, "And the pleasure <wink> is all mine, trust me on that!"

"So, what brings a tall drink--a-water to a stodgy old town like this?  Business ... or pleasure?"

Orvok, somehow having been dragged to a restorative pool after his time as a statue, has spent his time over the past two days in meditation, struggling with the failure of the quest, and the loss of Emporious, while he’d been sidelined.

On top of an already shaky sense of self from the bruising encounters with the Shadowfell, the recent events had driven him deeply introspective, leading him to find a quiet area with well-cut stone walls and darkness to commune with Clangeddin, to restore his sense of self-worth and rebuild his self-confidence.

’Stone is formed from pressure and time, my son… You are not broken, only becoming…’ come the quiet words into his soul…

Feeling restored and ready to face his companions, he heads off in search of them…

Hino, you and, i assume, your friend may join us. I think we were about to have a drink. He looks at the Sherif. Please, youre welcome to sit with us.

To tell true, i am elated to see you moving around again, and that you hadn't forgotten about us. Theres few out there that could begin to understand the things we have seen. It's nice to have that peace of mind.

"Thank you" she says softly as she nods her head slightly in agreement.

It's been weighing on me quite heavy that we weren't able to save Emporious, but i know he would want us to press on. Just to have known him i feel i am a better person. He cared much for his homeland and of his people, very dwarvenof him. He has earned his spot in the great halls. He died a warrior.

"I suppose he did" she agrees

I only say this, because i see the same grief in you that i hold. Do not put this on your own hands. You single-handedly saved us in the end. You've known him the longest, just rejoice in his memory.

"I'm trying, honestly, I am....I just keeping having this thought of how I should have done things differently....maybe he would still be alive if... if..." her voice trails off.

I was about to have a drink. Getting a bit frustrated with this book. I can't find what i'm looking for, and if i remember correctly, i've not gotten you a drink before. Do you, er, would you care to join me with that?

Isa looks up at Barbar "Yes, I think I would like that very much.  Thank you."

Hino, you and, i assume, your friend may join us. I think we were about to have a drink. He looks at the Sherif. Please, you're welcome to sit with us.  

Isa politely nods to the new gentleman and forces a bit of a smile, but one can tell it's not her natural warm smile but rather an almost painful smile.  She nods slightly as Barbar invites them to the table "We are about to have a drink in memory of our departed friend"

With a loud bang, one of the doors inside The Hearth flies open.  Revelry and merriment can be heard from beyond the portal, as well as some up-tempo music.  A small cloud of sparkles, bits of paper, and some bubbles pop out along with a bedraggled looking Tiefling wearing a brightly colored tiny pointy hat.  Gregarious laughter can be heard coming from the room, and a couple of female Tabaxi poke their head out after the Tiefling and say "Mav come back,  Misuki just ordered another bottle of Firebeard's Firebrandy....." they look pouty at the figure moving towards your table as you realize its your friend Mavshoon, looking rather disheveled,.  He halfheartedly waves a hand in their direction and mumbles something as they close the door and the revelry can no longer be heard.

Bleary eyed, Mav looks around the taproom and spots his friends seated at a table and makes his way over, as he passes the barkeep he leans in and says something to them, gestures towards the table and continues over where he sits down.

A few moments later one of the servers puts a glass and an egg in front of Mav, inside the glass is a swirling miasma of red and black, and a bit of smoke can be seen coming off the top.  He cracks the egg on the table and drops the whole thing in to the liquid which roils and froths before slamming it back.  He then rests his forehead on the table.

Good morning Mav. Long night? He says with a grin as he turns to the new individual. This is Mavshoon, Isa, And i am Barbär. Very nice to meet you, sir.

Mav shoots straight up in his chair, eyes clear as day and looks around..

"Long couple days....those Tabaxi researchers know how to celebrate.  Apparently they found some obscure piece of lore in the Library....and I got swept up in the party....barely managed to escape...." he says with a sly wink, then realizes he's wearing a party hat and takes it off and tries to unrumple his hair and clothes in front of the new person.  

"Pardon my appearance friend, when one is faced with ones mortality, one tends to appreciate the time they have still....."  and he nods at Flynt, the fact that he is a lawman does not go unnoticed by the gentleman thief as he gives a toothy smile.