Greth'g'kareecocks his head slightly, re-appraising the stranger in his sights. "I sought to use the division of the enemy, not to care about the survivors. How do you know these things? What connection do we share?"
Rather than answering the goliath's questions directly, Mallifyr is momentarily lost in thought. Her behavior is reminiscent of someone else's, although Greth'g'karee has yet to put his finger on it. After a moment's reflection, Mallifyr continues: "Forgive me, Greth—if I may use the diminutive and address you as a friend—I was wrong: It is not a bear you seek. It is a werebear. Yes, it is all coming back to me! You said that you were not to kill it, and that you have only a name, not a description." Mallifyr pauses again. "You look confused. So am I. Hmm, where is my cat?"
After a few minutes of backtracking, Sabetha finds BlackBerry walking toward Tond’s cabin. Around the same time, Torrga drops off Naraeld, Aubin, and Elk Running at the herbalist’s home.
Through the journey, Naraeldis unwilling to risk discussing matters with Aubinthat may let any information slip to Torrga about their friends. He does however listen to anything that Aubin questions her on.
Naraeldhops down as soon as the sled slows enough and checks whether Tond has returned to his home, "Tond, are you here? Your help is needed!" Without waiting for an answer Naraeld starts to carefully lift Elk Running's unconscious form from the sled, he carries her into the room and replaces her upon the bier where she had previously lay. Walking back outside, he extends his hand towards Torrga. "Though I hold suspicions, I do not judge without proof.Your help to return my friend here is appreciated, and for that I offer thanks. Should we meet again I hope it to be under better circumstances."
Naraeld looks around, gauging the reactions of the townsfolk to the explosion. "Aubin, catch me up, what has happened to Eva and Greth'g'karee after the fight at the Mead Hall? I doubt that boom was here as Good Mead seems no worse than we left it."
"They left in pursuit of the enemy and I stayed within the Mead Hall attempting to quell the fire. So no I do not know where they can be Naraeld. I do not know the source of that boom we heard either" says Aubin.
@LTG - I'm going to assume that Torrga doesn't particularly want to hang around, so progressing on the assumption that she leaves.
Naraeld nods at Aubin's words. "We are spread thinly, and far from fit. I am going to wait here, to keep watch over Elk Running and in the hopes that both Sabetha and Blackberry can return safely. If you wish to then we can wait together, though knowing what is going on at the Mead Hall after our absence would be useful. No doubt Shander is now firmly in control of the town."
"If you don't then mind then I will check on what is happening in the Mead Hall though having Shander be in charge is not the worst fate for this village"says Aubin as he then walks towards the Mead Hall.
"Mal–" Mallifyr twists to one side. "M-M-M-va. M-Ev–" She twists to the other side, taking her aim off the panic-stricken thug in the process. "We are one," a new voice, perhaps a combination of voices, deeper and more resonant than one voice alone, sounds forth. "Alas, Tenebre appears to be lost to us. But we are not lost. We are found—and determined." It was Zara and Jotann who recruited us...fifteen of us from the Hole and the rest were already with Zara and Jotann. They recall Mallifyr's words. Abruptly, Mallifyr—or whoever she, or they, is or are—stands, re-aims, this time directly at the side of the thug's head, and demands, "Tell us now—or it is lights out! Where are you and your gang from?"
Sabetha quietly gets Blackberry's attention and after confirming that the harengon is unharmed (at least since she last saw him), suggests that they trot back to Tond's house. Taking a route well off the path which Torrga was using for her sled. Keeping an eye out for her or her thugs or other threats.
For the most part she remains silent, though she does observe: "If Torrga is a Zhentarim agent or asset, then it is all but certain that the Zhents are seeking to install Shander as their puppet Speaker here in Good Mead. To what end, I do not know. As an organization, they are a dangerous, well-funded, and far reaching enemy who utterly lack mercy or scruples. I have been part of a faction who opposed them during my time in Waterdeep, mostly to our sorrow, though they are not who I fled from... Still, I had hoped their influence did not extend out so far into the frozen wastes here, the seeming edge of the world. We need to rest and regroup, as it may still come to a fight whether we seek it or no."
At the sound of the boom, she stops briefly, looking at Blackberry with uncertainty in her eyes, but then continues on towards Tond's.
Greth'g'kareewhispers to himself, "Tenebre?" A cold wind sweeps up the steep slope he is perched upon as he becomes aware of a distant Eagle's cry. He relaxes the bow and makes his way down to the children, once again whispering to himself. "Spirits touch all."
He approaches the children, almost completely ignoring the showdown just feet away. "Let me help you so we can go. We do not want to remain after dark."
(( @DM - Does Grethsee if there was a cave after all? ))
Tond is at the house when you rush in with Elk Running. "Oh!" he says, "I thought perhaps you had taken her and left. People are upset about the Mead Hall. It actually might be a good idea for you to leave. You are, of course, welcome to stay the night, but with the mood in town you'll likely want to leave in the early morning."
Aubin:
When you return to the Mead Hall, you see that Shanderhas taken the lead on cleaning up the mess and repairing damage to the Mead Hall. Seeing Aubin, he nods slightly toward one of the rooms off the entryway and then walks in there.
Sabethaand Blackberry:
When you arrive at Tond's house, you find Naraeldand Elk Running there, but no Aubin.
Greth'g'kareeand Mallifyr:
The bandit bows at Mallifyr's feet, whimpering, "Anything! Anything! Just don't let them near me." The children look up (and up) at Greth'g'kareeand immediately quiet. When he speaks to them, they just nod.
Looking past the children, what Greth'g'karee and Mallifyr see is not a cave so much as a depression in the wall. And, in that depression, there is a chest.
Shanderpulls you aside where the two of you can't be seen. "Thanks to you and your mates, I'm a shoo-in for Speaker. With poor, dear Olivessa dead, I've got no competition to speak of. It's sad for the town, sure, but it's been a great night for me. Now just clear out with your friends and I'll put in a good word for you with Naerth."
"Well that is good, but I do hope you take care of the people. Don't worry we will be out of your hair soon" says Aubin. He then heads back to Naraeld and inform him "It will take time, but Shandor has it under control"
Returning to Tond's house and seeing Naraeld and the unconsciousElk Running, Sabetha takes a deep breath.
Quietly she speaks to Naraeld and Blackberry. "I am sorry. For all of it. It was and still is clear as day to me that Jorann, Zara and the raiders had been hired to threaten Good Mead so Shander could stand up to them, throwing the election to him. Torrga did not even try to deny it just now when confronted. I thought if I could end the sorcerer quickly, I could turn the situation. I missed my attacks and did it ever turn, but not in the way I wished. It was stupid and reckless, and while I did not kill or kidnap innocents, innocents were killed or kidnapped because of me. The election for Speaker is thrown to Shander more than ever. The town is his. Meaning it is the Zhentarim's as Shander appears to be their puppet just as Torrga is their agent."
She looks around. "I do not expect either of you to trust me ever again, though Blackberry, for some reason you still seem to. And yet, we have multiple problems to solve. We must find Greth'g'karee and Eva if they have not returned. I hope they are not dead chasing the raiders, or in that explosion. We must transport Elk Running to Bryn Shander. Olivessa had promised us a sled for that but we must now find another way. And finally, we need rest, even a short one. We were lucky that Sephek had no ranged attacks. I think just a few crossbowmen might be the end of us right now. Perhaps rest first?"
What she leaves unsaid, though implied by the continued pitch blackness of her scarf, is that she personally has sworn revenge on several people. Jotann, Zara, Torrga, even Shander and whoever his Zhentarim backer is. Though I will ask no help from my friends for any of that.
When Aubin returns and announces that 'Shander has it under control', Sabetha's voice becomes softer still.
"Aubin, what did you and Shander speak about last night when no one except Eva was there to hear it?"
"We talked about his worries about the election and how he thinks he is the right person for the job. I also talked about what we found in the Verbeeg cave" says Aubin. He thinks for a bit and says "Well everyone of interest are either dead or gone. I am fine resting right here in Tond's House."He then walks in not bothering a lick of care for how Elk Running is doing.
"I won't let the children hurt you." Mallifeva struggles not to laugh at his cowardice. "Now answer: Where are you and your gang from? If you do not answer immediately, I will put a crossbow bolt in your head!"
Naraeldgreets Tond warmly, happy to see the healer still in good health and friendly to their cause. "I thank you for your offer of shelter. More of my companions are still to be accounted for, and I fear if we all stay here it might get a bit cramped. Please, tend to the she-elf as best you are able and I shall come back to you on your offer to rest." He then heads outside to deal with Torrgaand Aubin
When Sabethaand Blackberry return safely to the hut, there is a wash of relief that relaxes the guardsman. He listens to Sabetha'swords, his expression that was so passive and unyielding when the group had first met has mellowed, and there is the slightest touch of warmth in his regard for her explanation. "Trust is earned and lost, like a merchant's fortune sometimes you have to invest it and hope to see a return. Your actions cost lives,Olivessa, townsfolk, and raiders, there is no question about that. Yet many different courses of action, or inaction, could have left us in a similar position. As a lawman, I would have simply arrested you along with the raiders and let others make a decision on your fate."He pauses to catch her eye, his face serious with an internal conflict. "I still do not wholly agree with your belief about the machinations here, you have twisted the evidence to fit your initial suspicions at each discovery and ultimately your proof is lacking. Yet justice is not so simple away from Bryn Shander. Right for me, right for the people of Good Mead, right for you, right for Shander even... We all weigh our own judgement and have acted as we saw best or necessary."
The sombre tone of their conversation re-inforces the consequences of their actions and failures along the way; forced to slaughter the ogre and verbeegs, inciting violence whilst surrounded by those they were trying to protect, escaped raiders, stolen children, being forced to kill Sephek rather than capture him to face judgement. "Our path so far has been filled with blood. What is done cannot be undone, we can only move forward from here. We must move forward, we must do better. We must oppose Auril in the essence of our deeds as much as our intent. As for now, I must check back with Tond as to the urgency of returning Elk Running to my mother's care. Rest may have to wait still longer, though I would relish it. Greth'g'karee is a hunter on his own quest and I'd trust him to find us should he still care to, though I fear Eva would struggle alone out here... She's a little odd even by Dale standards."
Aubin'sreturn at least brought some information, though nothing that came as a surprise to Naraeldwho watches Aubinretreat inside. There is some blood that no-one would miss if spilled... Naraeld's thoughts remain just that as he moves inside to enquire after Elk Running'shealth.
Aubin give Tond a bow "Thank you for reviving me in the Mead hall and offering your home for rest. I will take you up on that offer."then he hears Naraeld "We have no sled so transporting that body will take some effort and do you want to go out and search for the others? Where should we look for them?"
@Mallifyr
Greth'g'karee cocks his head slightly, re-appraising the stranger in his sights. "I sought to use the division of the enemy, not to care about the survivors. How do you know these things? What connection do we share?"
@Greth'g'karee:
Rather than answering the goliath's questions directly, Mallifyr is momentarily lost in thought. Her behavior is reminiscent of someone else's, although Greth'g'karee has yet to put his finger on it. After a moment's reflection, Mallifyr continues: "Forgive me, Greth—if I may use the diminutive and address you as a friend—I was wrong: It is not a bear you seek. It is a werebear. Yes, it is all coming back to me! You said that you were not to kill it, and that you have only a name, not a description." Mallifyr pauses again. "You look confused. So am I. Hmm, where is my cat?"
After a few minutes of backtracking, Sabetha finds BlackBerry walking toward Tond’s cabin. Around the same time, Torrga drops off Naraeld, Aubin, and Elk Running at the herbalist’s home.
Tamryn - lvl 4 Wood Elf Rogue - Circle of Light Campaign || Drusilla - lvl 1 Half-Elf Ranger - Sleeping Gods || Grrzark - lvl 1 Goblin Barbarian - Danger at Darkshelf Quarry || DM - LTG - Curse of Strahd
Through the journey, Naraeld is unwilling to risk discussing matters with Aubin that may let any information slip to Torrga about their friends. He does however listen to anything that Aubin questions her on.
Naraeld hops down as soon as the sled slows enough and checks whether Tond has returned to his home, "Tond, are you here? Your help is needed!" Without waiting for an answer Naraeld starts to carefully lift Elk Running's unconscious form from the sled, he carries her into the room and replaces her upon the bier where she had previously lay. Walking back outside, he extends his hand towards Torrga. "Though I hold suspicions, I do not judge without proof. Your help to return my friend here is appreciated, and for that I offer thanks. Should we meet again I hope it to be under better circumstances."
Naraeld looks around, gauging the reactions of the townsfolk to the explosion. "Aubin, catch me up, what has happened to Eva and Greth'g'karee after the fight at the Mead Hall? I doubt that boom was here as Good Mead seems no worse than we left it."
Bring out your inner chatacter class...
"They left in pursuit of the enemy and I stayed within the Mead Hall attempting to quell the fire. So no I do not know where they can be Naraeld. I do not know the source of that boom we heard either" says Aubin.
He stands near the sled keeping an eye on Torrga.
@Mallifyr
"Your... cat..." Greth narrows his eyes, a thought coming to mind. "Spirits shape this land and all within it... Name yourself. Name your cat."
@LTG - I'm going to assume that Torrga doesn't particularly want to hang around, so progressing on the assumption that she leaves.
Naraeld nods at Aubin's words. "We are spread thinly, and far from fit. I am going to wait here, to keep watch over Elk Running and in the hopes that both Sabetha and Blackberry can return safely. If you wish to then we can wait together, though knowing what is going on at the Mead Hall after our absence would be useful. No doubt Shander is now firmly in control of the town."
Bring out your inner chatacter class...
"If you don't then mind then I will check on what is happening in the Mead Hall though having Shander be in charge is not the worst fate for this village" says Aubin as he then walks towards the Mead Hall.
@Greth'g'karee:
"Mal–" Mallifyr twists to one side. "M-M-M-va. M-Ev–" She twists to the other side, taking her aim off the panic-stricken thug in the process. "We are one," a new voice, perhaps a combination of voices, deeper and more resonant than one voice alone, sounds forth. "Alas, Tenebre appears to be lost to us. But we are not lost. We are found—and determined." It was Zara and Jotann who recruited us...fifteen of us from the Hole and the rest were already with Zara and Jotann. They recall Mallifyr's words. Abruptly, Mallifyr—or whoever she, or they, is or are—stands, re-aims, this time directly at the side of the thug's head, and demands, "Tell us now—or it is lights out! Where are you and your gang from?"
Sabetha quietly gets Blackberry's attention and after confirming that the harengon is unharmed (at least since she last saw him), suggests that they trot back to Tond's house. Taking a route well off the path which Torrga was using for her sled. Keeping an eye out for her or her thugs or other threats.
For the most part she remains silent, though she does observe: "If Torrga is a Zhentarim agent or asset, then it is all but certain that the Zhents are seeking to install Shander as their puppet Speaker here in Good Mead. To what end, I do not know. As an organization, they are a dangerous, well-funded, and far reaching enemy who utterly lack mercy or scruples. I have been part of a faction who opposed them during my time in Waterdeep, mostly to our sorrow, though they are not who I fled from... Still, I had hoped their influence did not extend out so far into the frozen wastes here, the seeming edge of the world. We need to rest and regroup, as it may still come to a fight whether we seek it or no."
At the sound of the boom, she stops briefly, looking at Blackberry with uncertainty in her eyes, but then continues on towards Tond's.
Tanis(Ranger1): Shiverquill's Tempest City | Xarian(Fighter2): NioNSwiper's Tyranny of Dragons
Dyson/Eleo(TwilightCleric4): Vos' Beyond the Veil | Soren(ShepherdDruid5): Bartjeebus' Ravenloft | Ophelia(WildMagicSorcerer4): Ashen_Age's Risen from the Sands
Joren(EchoKnightFighter6): NotDrizzt's Simple Request | Sabetha(MercyMonk3): Bedlymn's Murder Court | Seri(NatureCleric3/DivineSoulSorcerer1): Bartjeebus' Greyhawk
@Mallifyreva
Greth'g'karee whispers to himself, "Tenebre?" A cold wind sweeps up the steep slope he is perched upon as he becomes aware of a distant Eagle's cry. He relaxes the bow and makes his way down to the children, once again whispering to himself. "Spirits touch all."
He approaches the children, almost completely ignoring the showdown just feet away. "Let me help you so we can go. We do not want to remain after dark."
(( @DM - Does Greth see if there was a cave after all? ))
Naraeld:
Tond is at the house when you rush in with Elk Running. "Oh!" he says, "I thought perhaps you had taken her and left. People are upset about the Mead Hall. It actually might be a good idea for you to leave. You are, of course, welcome to stay the night, but with the mood in town you'll likely want to leave in the early morning."
Aubin:
When you return to the Mead Hall, you see that Shander has taken the lead on cleaning up the mess and repairing damage to the Mead Hall. Seeing Aubin, he nods slightly toward one of the rooms off the entryway and then walks in there.
Sabetha and Blackberry:
When you arrive at Tond's house, you find Naraeld and Elk Running there, but no Aubin.
Greth'g'karee and Mallifyr:
The bandit bows at Mallifyr's feet, whimpering, "Anything! Anything! Just don't let them near me." The children look up (and up) at Greth'g'karee and immediately quiet. When he speaks to them, they just nod.
Looking past the children, what Greth'g'karee and Mallifyr see is not a cave so much as a depression in the wall. And, in that depression, there is a chest.
Tamryn - lvl 4 Wood Elf Rogue - Circle of Light Campaign || Drusilla - lvl 1 Half-Elf Ranger - Sleeping Gods || Grrzark - lvl 1 Goblin Barbarian - Danger at Darkshelf Quarry || DM - LTG - Curse of Strahd
Aubin nods in acknowledgement and follows Shandar.
Aubin:
Shander pulls you aside where the two of you can't be seen. "Thanks to you and your mates, I'm a shoo-in for Speaker. With poor, dear Olivessa dead, I've got no competition to speak of. It's sad for the town, sure, but it's been a great night for me. Now just clear out with your friends and I'll put in a good word for you with Naerth."
Tamryn - lvl 4 Wood Elf Rogue - Circle of Light Campaign || Drusilla - lvl 1 Half-Elf Ranger - Sleeping Gods || Grrzark - lvl 1 Goblin Barbarian - Danger at Darkshelf Quarry || DM - LTG - Curse of Strahd
"Well that is good, but I do hope you take care of the people. Don't worry we will be out of your hair soon" says Aubin. He then heads back to Naraeld and inform him "It will take time, but Shandor has it under control"
Returning to Tond's house and seeing Naraeld and the unconscious Elk Running, Sabetha takes a deep breath.
Quietly she speaks to Naraeld and Blackberry. "I am sorry. For all of it. It was and still is clear as day to me that Jorann, Zara and the raiders had been hired to threaten Good Mead so Shander could stand up to them, throwing the election to him. Torrga did not even try to deny it just now when confronted. I thought if I could end the sorcerer quickly, I could turn the situation. I missed my attacks and did it ever turn, but not in the way I wished. It was stupid and reckless, and while I did not kill or kidnap innocents, innocents were killed or kidnapped because of me. The election for Speaker is thrown to Shander more than ever. The town is his. Meaning it is the Zhentarim's as Shander appears to be their puppet just as Torrga is their agent."
She looks around. "I do not expect either of you to trust me ever again, though Blackberry, for some reason you still seem to. And yet, we have multiple problems to solve. We must find Greth'g'karee and Eva if they have not returned. I hope they are not dead chasing the raiders, or in that explosion. We must transport Elk Running to Bryn Shander. Olivessa had promised us a sled for that but we must now find another way. And finally, we need rest, even a short one. We were lucky that Sephek had no ranged attacks. I think just a few crossbowmen might be the end of us right now. Perhaps rest first?"
What she leaves unsaid, though implied by the continued pitch blackness of her scarf, is that she personally has sworn revenge on several people. Jotann, Zara, Torrga, even Shander and whoever his Zhentarim backer is. Though I will ask no help from my friends for any of that.
When Aubin returns and announces that 'Shander has it under control', Sabetha's voice becomes softer still.
"Aubin, what did you and Shander speak about last night when no one except Eva was there to hear it?"
Tanis(Ranger1): Shiverquill's Tempest City | Xarian(Fighter2): NioNSwiper's Tyranny of Dragons
Dyson/Eleo(TwilightCleric4): Vos' Beyond the Veil | Soren(ShepherdDruid5): Bartjeebus' Ravenloft | Ophelia(WildMagicSorcerer4): Ashen_Age's Risen from the Sands
Joren(EchoKnightFighter6): NotDrizzt's Simple Request | Sabetha(MercyMonk3): Bedlymn's Murder Court | Seri(NatureCleric3/DivineSoulSorcerer1): Bartjeebus' Greyhawk
"We talked about his worries about the election and how he thinks he is the right person for the job. I also talked about what we found in the Verbeeg cave" says Aubin. He thinks for a bit and says "Well everyone of interest are either dead or gone. I am fine resting right here in Tond's House." He then walks in not bothering a lick of care for how Elk Running is doing.
"I won't let the children hurt you." Mallifeva struggles not to laugh at his cowardice. "Now answer: Where are you and your gang from? If you do not answer immediately, I will put a crossbow bolt in your head!"
Naraeld greets Tond warmly, happy to see the healer still in good health and friendly to their cause. "I thank you for your offer of shelter. More of my companions are still to be accounted for, and I fear if we all stay here it might get a bit cramped. Please, tend to the she-elf as best you are able and I shall come back to you on your offer to rest." He then heads outside to deal with Torrga and Aubin
When Sabetha and Blackberry return safely to the hut, there is a wash of relief that relaxes the guardsman. He listens to Sabetha's words, his expression that was so passive and unyielding when the group had first met has mellowed, and there is the slightest touch of warmth in his regard for her explanation. "Trust is earned and lost, like a merchant's fortune sometimes you have to invest it and hope to see a return. Your actions cost lives, Olivessa, townsfolk, and raiders, there is no question about that. Yet many different courses of action, or inaction, could have left us in a similar position. As a lawman, I would have simply arrested you along with the raiders and let others make a decision on your fate." He pauses to catch her eye, his face serious with an internal conflict. "I still do not wholly agree with your belief about the machinations here, you have twisted the evidence to fit your initial suspicions at each discovery and ultimately your proof is lacking. Yet justice is not so simple away from Bryn Shander. Right for me, right for the people of Good Mead, right for you, right for Shander even... We all weigh our own judgement and have acted as we saw best or necessary."
The sombre tone of their conversation re-inforces the consequences of their actions and failures along the way; forced to slaughter the ogre and verbeegs, inciting violence whilst surrounded by those they were trying to protect, escaped raiders, stolen children, being forced to kill Sephek rather than capture him to face judgement. "Our path so far has been filled with blood. What is done cannot be undone, we can only move forward from here. We must move forward, we must do better. We must oppose Auril in the essence of our deeds as much as our intent. As for now, I must check back with Tond as to the urgency of returning Elk Running to my mother's care. Rest may have to wait still longer, though I would relish it. Greth'g'karee is a hunter on his own quest and I'd trust him to find us should he still care to, though I fear Eva would struggle alone out here... She's a little odd even by Dale standards."
Aubin's return at least brought some information, though nothing that came as a surprise to Naraeld who watches Aubin retreat inside. There is some blood that no-one would miss if spilled... Naraeld's thoughts remain just that as he moves inside to enquire after Elk Running's health.
Bring out your inner chatacter class...
Aubin give Tond a bow "Thank you for reviving me in the Mead hall and offering your home for rest. I will take you up on that offer." then he hears Naraeld "We have no sled so transporting that body will take some effort and do you want to go out and search for the others? Where should we look for them?"