Project Point: Team Scimitar

PM Religion:  16  

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Robin and Drego: You have no idea. There were skeletons in the fields, you guess it doesn't sound totally improbable to have a mummy in charge?

Jax: Yeah, I'll allow the intuition die. You remember that the skeletons in the fields probably mean this is a Seeker town. And in the Seeker community in Teryk, they had the mummy elder (she was called an oathbound). It's possible that's the case here, but the elder is in charge of the whole town rather than just a temple, since this is a Blood of Vol town.

PM: You remember everything Jax does, plus that while it's possible an oathbound elder leads here, that wouldn't be common in Karrnath. Karrnath recently broke ties with the BoV, and Seekers are not the most welcome in some places. The only towns that would have an undead leader or authority figures would be Seeker towns. But given your proximity to Atur (the BoV stronghold in Khorvaire), it's entirely possible this one does, and that there are other towns nearby with the same setup.

     "hmmm, there can always be truth to any rumor, even if the rumor is entirely wrong, yes?" Pieste Mor says, quixotically.  "...the mere fact a rumor is spread from one to another proves at least truth of a worry or concern or perhaps even hope that it could be true..."

     "...and what about yourselves? is there more hope or worry about a mummy ruling things?" the dragon asks, curiously.  "we've not run across or even heard of a mummy in charge during our recent travels and as such haven't had to contemplate such a situation..."

Deception:  18

((Just for being so carefully worded...))

"Mummies are creatures of Mabar," the silver-gloved man contributes from the other end of the table, pausing his eating to frown. "The presence of one drains the energy of Eberron through its very existence, and they cannot escape its influence. Mabar does not view the living kindly, and no matter a mummy's intentions, it is influenced by the power that gives it unlife." He shrugs. "The local religion plays with forces far more dangerous than they would have you believe with their shortsighted Mabaran necromancy."

Azael holds a hand up. "Liraes," he says mildly, and the other man falls silent, going back to his soup with an apologetic nod. "Liraes is correct that we have our own opinions on the rationale of using the dark power of Mabar to sustain beings beyond death, but we are aware of our status as visitors to this country. We do not wish to impose our own views on the local populace, nor do we plan to go on any kind of undead-destroying spree. We are simply unused to how things seem to work here."

     "....ahhhh... I too am in these parts on what one may call a fact finding tour... " the dragon says, diplomatically.  "...am looking to influence nobody, nor pass judgement...  I think all of us in our little band are more curious interlopers than actually participants in the powers and politics of these lands..."  ((As Case is not yet at the Elves table, PM is purposefully not including him as part of the little band he is talking about.))

     "...it would be interesting to discuss your views, as you wished to share them," Pieste Mor says with a bit of a head bob to Liraes, "...as the views of outsiders can shed as much light as those of insiders...  perhaps if we cross paths again with more time to chat we could share thoughts..."     

"Have to say I am not up on these facts, the books I read before my travels did not go into this area very much at all." Robin says with a smile of apology. "I'd love to hear more about you though, and what brought you to these lands..."

Stitch doesn’t understand any of the elvish being said but enjoys listening to it regardless. It reminds him of a brook, gently flowing over a patch of rocks. Stitch is very interested in the way the light has been reflecting off of the glasses and attempts to point it out to Case by replicating the gesture he just used. 

Liraes inclines his head. "I would be happy to speak with you at more length should our paths cross again," he agrees.

A faint smile spreads across the face of the woman with a skull tattoo, who has thus far simply been intently watching the conversation.

Drego stands by impassively as the dragon chatters on, studying the faces of the other group of strangers they happened upon in the Inn.  He didn't like it, but he didn't have anything to go on either.  As the conversation wound down, he swung by the bar to put in an order for some hot food and warm ale before rejoining Stitch and Case at the table.

'Alright, that's enough climbing on Case, come sit her and get yourself cleaned up for a decent meal.'  pulling the little gobbo off Case's shoulders, the ranger nods his thanks to the warforged and sets in on the meal with gusto.  Long walks and cold weather had a way of firing up his appetite.

Speaking carefully in between bites he would relay the conversation with the elves to Case and express his mild concern with another group of strangers.  'I'll take the devil's watch again tonight, make a patrol of the grounds and double check all of our rooms, make sure there's no mischief afoot.' 

Case nods to Drego, and speaks in a quiet voice, "Thank you for conveying the conversation. I do not understand Elven, but their demeanour conveys deception. I will continue to watch." 

     Pieste Mor will attempt to gauge the general mood and intentions of this other group ( Insight: 14 ) but otherwise wraps up the conversation with all appropriate pleasantries and manners.  This group could be anything from just interested visitors exploring a strange culture to a malevolent infiltration band laying the groundwork for mischief and mayhem.  Either way, this land was not Pieste Mor's and it's protection was their main portfolio.  Biggest picture, they themselves were actually just an interested visitor... Smaller picture they did pick up a smaller job of some delivery and investigation.  Either way, the elves were interesting blips on the radar but not currently part of the agenda as far as the dragon saw it...

PM: Ummmm. So yeah. Giving the elves a second look, you spot a few things you hadn't noticed before. They're very comfortable with their weapons, and Azael's quieting of Liraes read more like a command than a request. And the book the woman with the glyph on her forehead is reading is definitely a spellbook. Thinking about it...you suspect these people miiiight be some kind of military.

     Later, when well away from earshot of the elves, PM will share his thought about the Elves to the others.  "...initially I assumed an adventuring group, not unlike ourselves...  but perhaps they are more organized than we... more military...."  All in all that doesn't change his opinion that our own groups job isn't to weed out all threats to Karnath or the undead, but they are interested to hear the thoughts of the others.

Drego nods as PM relays his impressions.  'I agree, they felt 'off' to me as well and now that you point it out, military unit fits the bill well.'  Keeping his voice low enough to get lost in the general babble of the pub and carefully to keep his mouth obscured at all times, the ranger continued chatting 'Case and I were just laying out plans to make sure we get through the night without any trouble, he'll post up here as usual, I'll take the mid-watch and add in a loop of the exterior, I'd suggest each of you take a watch for the night as well, even if you just post up outside our rooms here.'

As soon as Stitch hears the word mischief from Drego he turns and looks at his friend with a look of incredulity. “I am Stitch.” Clearly trying to indicate that he isn’t up to any mischief. Though as soon as he looks away his eyes go immediately to the shiny gloves one of the elves is wearing. He watches patiently, hoping they will be taken off and can be easily knicked. 

As the night continues to pass, Liraes does not remove his gloves.

OOC: Is Stitch going to try and steal them off his hands? Because I would not put that past him XD.

Jax continues to listen to the conversation, and when it dries up, or the party retires, he'll head to a room he rents with PM right away.

Case stays attentive until the room clears out for the evening. When he's alone and things have settled down, he switches into low power mode and stares, unmoving into the empty room.

As the night passes, Stitch slips away from the group. He sneaks (very sneakily) towards the elves, and reaches out for the shiny...

Liraes clears his throat lightly, looking amused. He lifts a gloved hand, Stitch dangling from it by one arm like a windchime. The little goblin's fingers are tightly wrapped around three of Liraes's gloved fingers, and the elf's other hand is fastened around his wrist to keep the glove on his hand. "I'm afraid these are mine, and rather important to me," the elf tells Stitch with a faint smile. "Is there a particular reason you wanted them?"

Stitch reaches into one of his pouches with his free hand and shows Liraes a varied collection of shiny buttons, coins and other knick knacks and simply says, “I am Stitch.”