Beren realizes with a familiar sinking feeling that the guard seemed to grow more and more distrusting towards him as he spoke. Sure, he was used to people feeling uncomfortable in his presence, but he'd hoped that his behavior and words would be enough to garner some measure of trust. Turns out, he's not very good at appearing trustworthy. What a surprise. Perhaps he was too used to Saelethin or one of the other clerics doing the talking for him. Come to think of it, he's spoken more words to others outside of the Church during this time in the mist then he has in the past year. It's been too long since he'd acted as a knight rather than a sword.
The light behind the mask flickers slightly as the guard asks Nivi to allow herself to be shackled. This is understandable, but Beren wishes it could be avoided. With how little these people trust outsiders, it wouldn't surprise him if they decided to condemn the young elf without confirming her involvement. Regardless, he can't see any good way out of this unless they wanted to leave Arabelle here and once more exit the town. Of course, then they likely won't even be able to take refuge at the dusk elf camp, and he wasn't too keen on staying outside. As much confidence as he had in his blade, he needed a break. He needed to restore some of his power if he could even hope to fight off whatever lurked in the darkness outside.
He gives a bit of a start when the guard refers to him by that blasted title, and the light behind the mask flares up, "I'm not..." He growls, shaking his head before not-to-kindly grabbing Bluto by the shoulder, "Very well." He does his best to sound civil, but it is clear that weariness is giving way to irritation. Right now, he just wants to get a move on. There's no point in objecting to this Avatar of the Sun idea when he just entered a town full of more people who will probably believe the same thing. As much as he hates the idea, he'll just have to deal with it until they are ready to leave. The light behind the mask flares brightly, and he looks to Nivi, waiting to see what she'll do.
While the guards have their attention on responding to Jack and Beren, (and putting manacles on Bluto), Nivi palms two of the lock picks from her Thieves' Tools, one hidden in each hand. Trying to choose ones which could be used to reach backwards from bound hands to pick or pry manacles.
Nivi'sSleight of Hand: 16 (NOTE: she is not picking or prying the manacles yet - they're not even on. Just palming the tools).
Once the guards turn their attention back to Nivi, she looks back at them wryly, then briefly at her companions, and then back at them. Genuine exasperation tinges her voice and she tilts her head as she does when she feels she is speaking with someone who can't grasp the basics.
"Sure. This elf'll wear your fancy manacles, soon as you admit the mastodon in the room here. The one that just walked through the giant holes in your thinking. If an outsider like me can change shape like you say and wanted to trick Bubbles here into murdering the girl, WHY WOULD I BLOODY APPEAR AS MYSELF WHEN DOING IT? And if I wanted to pick up the Burgomaster's favor by making Bubbles my catspaw and framing him so it looks like we saved the girl, WHY WOULD I BLOODY LEAVE HIM ALIVE TO TELL IT? My crew here saw me with my longbow. He could have been as dead as I wanted him, out on that lake. Had my run-ins with kidnappers and murderers, and none of them work like that. Not for long, anyway."
Nivi pauses, hands at her sides, not yet held out for the manacles until she gets the answer she wants. Glaring at the guards, more incensed by the implication that she is such a bumbling criminal than by the accusation of the crime itself. "Your call. But you tell me you can't acknowledge the obvious, then I'll take my chances with the wolves and zombies and cold cobbler illusionists out in those woods. Good luck catching me before they do."
She holds out her hands for the manacles only once the guards have acknowledged what she considers to be her self-evident points above. Implements from her Thieves' Tools still palmed under each of her hands either way. If no such acknowledgement comes, Niva'ele Farstrider is doing something else...
Olamoira stands as if in a haze while the argument between Nivi and Bluto about who told him to chuck Arabelle into the lake breaks out again. Eventually Ola's gaze wanders to the young high elf, who is becoming incensed at the accusations of shoddy subterfuge. Ola feels certain that she is innocent... at least of this crime. More wandering and weaving of the fog, of the distrust between man and elf, and man and man, sown and watered by a dark power seeking to divide and control.Bluto's utter heedlessness of his crime reminds her more of the mindless zombies staggering the beach than it does of any malice or wile intended by man. Yet this might not be epidemic, as the guards seem to find Bluto's antics none too dissimilar from his baseline. Certainly the Burgomaster's concern for his daughter is a human enough response. Even the suspicion granted us at the gates is.Bluto is a strange one... yet to these people, all of us are equally strange, equally threatening.
Olamoira doesn't want to watch the young elf put in shackles. They always start out arguing. Fighting. Denying. But eventually they start pleading. Whimpering. Screaming. That's how it always goes, when enough blood has flown. Ola shudders. But it is not having your agency taken away, or being a victim of atrocity, that is the worst. It is worse to be the one who takes away agency and commits atrocity...
The dark elf steps forward, placing herself to the side of Nivi and a little ahead of her, closer to the guard with the manacles. She holds out her own wrists. "Shackle me instead. As an act of good faith..."
(I will.. TRY to update tonight, sorry for all the delays, just dealing with getting my car sticker, emission test, and trying to donate my later mothers car)
Although a BIT disappointed his attempt to set Beren up for success had not gone quite to plan, Jack found himself smiling inwardly at things yet working out in the end. Just as they always did for the Eladrin! Most of the times... Sometimes... Well the important thing was that the group had their in and at least weren't ALL being manacled. Sure, there was the one fun time that he and a lovely pair of female gnome twins were -- Jack snapped back to attention hearing Nivi raise her voice.
Though it took him a bit more to fully catch up on events (mostly through inference than anything, what with the near daydream and all), even Jack frowned a little in mild displeasement over Nivi's insistence on trying to poke the bear that was the guards. She'd already proven herself a capable enough spell weaver, so why the fuss over a bit of foreplay setting a few worry warts minds at ease? And if not by spell, surely her resourcefulness hadn't ended there?
In the end, and for better or for worse, Jack hardly began opening his mouth when Olamoira stepped up offering herself up in exchange. "A drow willfully choosing bondage... now I've seen everything Arabelle." Jack stage whispered to the unconscious girl in his arms. Beyond that little sidebar that likely did SO much in alleviating tensions, Jack, in his infinite wisdom, opted NOT to add more fuel to the fire in some attempt to smooth things over even further and simply took a back seat on things again.
This post has potentially manipulated dice roll results.
As Beren grabs Bluto, Bluto nods in his general direction Thank ye kind sir. Was 'avin a bit of trouble walking. as if Beren were merely a good samaritan assisting a drunkard along his path. To some degree it might seem comical if the man hadn't just nearly ended a young girls life only half an hour ago at most. Avat'r o th' sun..... I can see it, you glow enough... Bluto adds in commentary. But the man still lacks resistance to anything happening to him. The guard still holding the manacles with slight impatience as Nivi justifiably retorts - However the guards expression doesn't change, remaining flat as she goes through what seemed like diatribe to the female guard. (Perception: Unable to parse dice roll. ) ( 9 )
Look elf, I don't really care. You're right, a lot of what you say makes sense. You're likely telling the truth. But my job is to keep the town safe... as safe as this blasted land can be. she said sardonically, with the weight of history and occurrence on her shoulders. But you outsiders wander into these lands, or get invited and you think you run the towns. I don't know what life is like out there - I was born hundreds of years after Barovia became what it is. But i've seen outsiders caught with the blade still wet, denying they did it. Or even outsiders who were innocent, but couldn't explain themselves properly making them seem guilty, and everything in between.
And those blasted dusk elves.. who knows why the Bergomaster allows them to love near us, assassinated Strahds wife, and brought his wrath down upon the dusk elves AND this town. You are both outsider AND elf - as I can tell by your fair skin. I have every reason to distrust your word, and yet I haven't skewered you. You throw a tantrum because you feel insulted at my accusation, yet you, outsider-elf have not given an ounce of consideration for our situation from our perspective. For all I know, you work for Strahd, ALL of you. Yet I see you carrying Arabelle, so I chose, despite everything I just said, to risk letting you inside our gates.
Everything you say is probably correct, about why it couldn't be you. But it's not about you. It's about that little girl in his arms she says pointing to Jack. And everyone here. she says sweeping across the town in general. Her eyes lock to Nivi's In the end, you can feel what you want. I've acknowledged your reasoning. Now either put these on until the Bergomaster has time to decide to let you free, or begone and become food for the werewolf packs or undead.
Just as the guard finishes her counter-tirade, Moira steps forward, and the guards eyes fall on her, with the manacles still in one hand at the moment, with the glaive in the other. Distrust initially in her eyes before it's replaced by genuine surprise.... It was as if the guard hadn't really noticed Moira before but as she looked the dark skinned elf over, some of her hackles seemed to fall. Some. I'm afraid that won't do, elf. she said looking over Moira more... I am fine if you also volunteer but I will still need the pale elf to comply, or to leave. Given everything, I'm sure the bergomaster will see fit to take them off but, as she is the one who has been accused it would not make sense to have you cuffed and her not.
But.. I thought all the dusk elf women were.... dead... and after a moment, the faintest gleam in the guards eyes came to be though she was coy on the meaning. Finally, addressing Nivi again, as the guard had no reaction to the word 'drow' when spoken by Jack..
Look elf, I'm sorry. I know this is frustrating.. she said, her voice a bit softer after Moira's volunteerism I just need you to atleast play along. Hopefully you understand she said to Nivi That as you have been accused... regardless of validity of any claim, if I were to bring you into town unhindered, it would make me seem reckless and incompetent, and it would put those who will hear about it on alert against you. her tone dictating that she wasn't so much worried about herself or her job, but that she wasn't wanting this to turn into chaos once those at the Inn inevitably heard what all was said here.
Regardless, the guard pulls out a third manacle for Moira but doesn't force her into it.
(I tried to reward the nat 20 in a natural way, but couldn't see you completely taking her place in leu of Nivi, so I tried to go middle ground.)
Nivi smirks at her words being described as a tantrum but shrugs and lets it go. She does raise her eyebrows at Olamoira's offer. Might be harder to break both of us out than just me, Prophet. But she says nothing until the guard finishes yammering.
"You deaf too? I already told you. Long as you acknowledge my points, which you finally just did, then I put on your pretty manacles and play along like you say." She holds forth her hands to be bound, with a lock pick from her Thieves' tools hidden in each palm.
She sets off with Arabelle and the others whenever they are ready, having been eager to do so the whole time. She laughs at the guard's saying that moving Arabelle to safety is paramount. "I'd say so far today, we've been the ones focused on the girl's safety and you've been focused on paranoia. Easy to throw out accusations like working for Strahd with no basis like you just did. Could just as easily say maybe you work for him. See how that works?"
"And you say elves or outsiders act like we run the town. That so? I'm the one in manacles based Bubbles' chatter. The town drunk. You don't even want us here. Don't see any elves or outsiders making any decisions for anyone or owning anything. But sure. We act like we run the town."
Nivi rolls her eyes as she walks. But something else occurs to her, and her voice becomes briefly serious before sarcasm tinges it once more at the end:
"So. You need help defending this Urwin's Inn where we're taking the girl for the night? Expecting an attack? Undead maybe like we tangled with on the lake shore? Could be my partners here can help. And I'll, you know, wave my manacles around threateningly. Should be real bloody effective."
Beren promptly ignores Bluto's comment, keeping a firm grip on the drunkard's shoulder while the rest of his attention rested with the guard. He lets out a small sigh when Nivi voiced her opinion. He agreed with her, but he also knew that nothing was going to sway this guard, and every moment they used standing out here was wasted time. Still, he wasn't surprised when the guard shot back her own thoughts on the issue, but he was caught off guard when Olamoira stepped forward in attempt to take Nivi's place. Why would she do that? Perhaps it wasn't that far fetched, considering how she'd been treating him all this time. At least the gesture helped smooth things out a little with the guard, even if it didn't get Nivi out of putting on the manacles.
When the guard pulls out another manacle for Olamoira, Beren considers intervening before realizing that the guard wasn't going to force them on her. He'll stop her if she tries to accept the manacles in spite of Nivi also being bound. It doesn't make sense to allow them both to be taken captive.
Words he could say crowd together in his head, but he decides to keep quiet instead. Nothing he said at this point would do anything to help the situation. Better to let the guard lead them to the inn and wait and see what happens next.
Olamoira stares for a moment into the guard's eyes. I cannot imagine what they must go through every day trying to keep their people sane, and alive. I was always... on the other side. If I could have imagined what it was like, maybe I would not have lived the life I did for so long. But now, she wants to understand. She wants to imagine it. Live it, even. To understand the pain she has caused might give at least a little relief. And to stop it from happening again... if I can. But the first step must be mine.
She holds her wrists out for the third pair of manacles. "As an act of good faith, then, I will be chained too. The pale one is young, but elves live long, and we have seen too much, and suffered too much. I am not a dusk elf... I have been something much worse."
Beren lets out a quiet sigh when Olamoira proceeds to do exactly what he'd hoped she wouldn't do. Why does she feel the need to accept chains as 'an act of good faith' when that's what Nivi is already doing? Her words give him pause, else he would have objected faster. Something much worse? She was a drow, so who knew what she had done in her past. Could that have something to do with her strange behavior towards him? Is her...submissiveness the result of a desire for repentance or redemption? The thought gave birth to an ache in his chest...not like when the power urges him to destroy. No this was a much deeper pain, one that he feared he could never be rid of.
Shaking his head, he lets out a breath. Regardless of her reasoning, it would be foolish to allow her to be manacled. In the event that something does happen, whether due to Bluto's testimony or the inherit evil of this land, he'd rather not have to worry about Nivi and Olamoira being bound and defenseless. So he steps forward, dragging Bluto a few steps forward in the process and says, "That is not necessary. There is no reason for you to accept chains as well." He pauses, glancing briefly at the guard, before turning his mask back to Olamoira, "If there are dangers to worry about, it would be better for you to be free and able to move." His words are firm, as he has no intention of leaving this matter up for debate.
Then he looks to the guard, "The night grows old. Let's head to that inn."
Olamoira lifts her head slightly when Beren speaks, but the instant she understands his desire, she withdraws her proffered wrists and steps back, melting as if into a shadow back into the glow knight's bright aura. Her posture is as if she was hidden indeed in a shadow, although the light makes her painfully visible. Obedience is better than sacrifice. She stands head bowed, quietly folding together her hands. "Yes, my lord."
As Nivi continued talking, the guard grew more and more frustrated. Nivi didn't know what this land was capable of, but here she was mocking it as if she knew everything about it. The guard approaches once Nivi offers her hands and places them on, enough to be tight without being constrictingly annoying or painful. But her anger was clear on her face finally addressing Nivi and venting her frustation once more.
I said you outsiders you damned deaf elf! Your kind do not come to these lands often, but every single time you do, you walk in to our town, or to Krezk, or the Barovian Village and act like this is your place. Like you know better than those who live here! And what you call paranoia, is what we call reality outsider. Every inch of this land is filled with undead save this and the two other towns.... filled with werewolves, druids, barbarians, spirits, and other evil things. And from what I've gathered from other outsiders, all of these things are relegated to small parts of the world..
contained, while your towns and villages thrive in relative peace. You are not visited by a vampire who controls your entire world, who can come to your house in the night and feast on your loved ones at any moment, every hour of every day. He can warp your mind, make you do things you don't want to and YES, i know what you're thinking. "What if he made Bluto here think.." But that is also why I must shackle you! she says, finally starting to walk. You are just as likely as Bluto to be innocent, or guilty. He has made an accusation, and I cannot afford to risk him being right, and me ignoring it simply because he is a naerdowell, drunkard, and otherwise waste of food, and air! at which Bluto blanched, offended but said nothing in response as Beren had just shaken him.
If I wasn't focusing on the girls safety, you would be unbound. I trust the one carrying her only a little more than I do you as he has yet to give me reason to doubt, the not-dusk-elf here has offered herself. And you stand accused of tricking Bluto into killing her. In fact... you... Elf... Please walk in front of me with Arabelle. she says to Jack. Honestly, and Ironically .. the one of you outsiders I trust the most, is the glowing one. Beren, I think his proper name was?
Moira interjecting not long after, asking admissions of her past without specifics... and she shakes her head. I have trouble believing that not-dusk-elf. You're too passive to have done anything that bad. And you're far too apologetic about it for me to believe you intend any harm. And if you have done bad things, you atleast seem repentant of them. I'm sure whatever you did wasn't that bad. she said in ignorance. Though it wasn't long after before Beren stepped in, and Moira retreated. The guard seeming not to care that much, replacing the extra pair of manacles back on her belt.
Unlike this pale elf... she says, focusing her eyes back on Nivi. I believe I once heard of a legendary bard of the outer realms, Williams - of the Shaking Spear, said something akin to "I believe the lady doth protest too much" And yes, Avatar, lets be about it. Keep an eye on the pale elf for me. She's made me trust her less with her continued mental acrobatics. And as she started walking again, she addressed Nivi's final words, finally.
No you sarcastic daughter of a mudcrab, I just got done saying it was the best place to take her. Its the nearest, safest place. Few undead besides Strahd himself could make it past our walls, but he can fly. And it doesn't happen often that they even try. Inside these walls are about the safest place you'll find. For whatever that's worth. You won't survive here long elf, not with how Naive you are.
Regardless, you all begin making your way through the town from the north gate. At this hour, most Vallakins are inside their homes, with only a single candle visible, if any at all. Most of the homes are hovels better than a shack but worse than a house. "Better than nothing" is what would likely come out of their mouths. A few exceptions here and there where the houses look more like one would expect, though their colors are muted tones of white, or brown in all cases, even if the resident seemed to have the more colorful clothing.
As you follow the road, just before the guard begins cutting through the houses... likely to save time, a single building catches the eye of anyone looking around as they walked, Arabelle not stirring. One building stands out a little more than the others, this house seems disgusted with itself. A slouching roof hangs heavy over furrowed gables, and moss-covered walls sag and bulge under the weight of the vegetation before disappearing behind a building.
Eventually after several more minutes, Gray smoke issues from the chimney of a large, two-story wooden building with a stone foundation and sagging tile roof, upon which several ravens have perched, all of them staring at the party despite the hour (DC 14 perception to notice this). A painted wooden sign hanging above the main entrance depicts a blue waterfall. This is the Blue Water Inn. I'm sure you can figure out why. she pushes the door open swiftly, holding it open for the others to pass through, though she keeps her glaive in one hand.
Inside the Inn looks much like you'd expect.
A few tables in various locations, surrounded by chairs, with the bar-counter at the far end, filled with casks of wine and ale, as well as a few visible entrances, leading either outside or deeper into the inn itself. As well as a set of stairs leading to the second floor. And likely unexpectedly, the place was filled with various people. Though starkly, all of them were wearing vibrant attire. Not a single one here bore the dull colors that had been seen on the fisherman, or occasional townsfolk they had seen before. Though now all had stopped their conversations to look at who had slammed the door open, interrupting their fun and revelry only to see a bunch of elves, and a glowing man enter, with one of them Carrying Arabelle in their arms. A wave of gasps rose, followed by excited chatter as Urwin nearly stumbled over the counter - forgoing the easier and more intended route - though he manages to rollback to his feet after the stumble. You found her?! Oh we must inform the b- he was cut off by the guard telling him that part was already being taken care of.
These outsiders found her. Bluto claims the pale elf tricked him into sacrificing the girl. The elf, expectedly denies this she says explaining in bullet points Nivi's arguments. In the end, the Burgomaster will decide what to do. Leave the glowing man alone. Clear some space so they can get her to one of the beds. Get some food and water ready Urwin, the girls been missing for days and looks like she hasn't had either, and she could rouse at any time.
Without word, Urwin runs to the back to get the requested items, as everyone else looks on, giving moderately respectful distance as they clear a path to the staircase, or risk incurring the Glaive's wrath.
Nivi grins in genuine amusement as the guard continues to reveal what Nivi considers to be serious comprehension issues. I said "Outsiders" and then the guard says "I said you outsiders you damned deaf elf!. And she says I'm the one who protests too much... but Nivi lets it go.
"Daughter of a mudcrab. I'll have to remember that one so I can call my lady mother a mudcrab if she ever has the bad luck to see me again. Look on her face should be worth it. Thanks for supplying my bloody pincers." She waves her manacles.
"Might be I won't survive long here. We'll see. Everyone dies in the end. Telling you this, though, Smiley," (her new nickname for the talkative guard), "You wouldn't last a day in Waterdeep's dock ward. And you'd find out the real meaning of naive quicker than you wanted."
When she sees the house that looks disgusted with itself, Nivi has to feign a coughing fit to hold back her laughter at how perfect a metaphor the structure seems for the town it is part of. "Is that Bubbles' house?" she asks innocently.
As the door opens to the Blue Water Inn, Nivi looks around brightly despite her bonds. Finally a place where everyone looks like they have more energy than a week-old net of dead fish. Something tickles her consciousness before she enters, however (Passive Perception17).
Nivi glances up at the ravens. If some magic-user, maybe Strahd himself, is framing me and can change shape, the bloody ravens could be spies. Or shape-changed enemies. Are they all looking at us the way any beast or bird would? Or is there a greater intelligence in those eyes?
The guard trusts him more than any of the others? Well, that's a first. Seems a little odd considering her reaction to his earlier attempt to get her to ignore Bluto. Then again, perhaps it makes sense since he's the only not-elf here. ...not to mention she seems to think he's the Avatar of the Sun.
He shakes his head slightly when Olamoira obeys without question, and nearly asks again for her to not call him 'my lord'. At the moment, it seemed unwise to say anything more than was absolutely nessisary. So, he waits for the guard to say her piece. Once the conversation is finished, Beren lets out a weary sigh, sending a puff of light out of the mask. He tenses a little when the guard calls him "Avatar" but once again holds his tongue. What would it take for them to quit calling him by these titles? "My lord" "Avatar of the Sun" ...at least Nivi had quit with calling him "Sunshine" ...for now at least.
However, since the guard asked him to 'keep an eye' on Nivi, he moves closer to the young elf--dragging Bluto along as he does. While he's fairly certain she had nothing to do with Arabelle's disappearance, he sees no harm in taking precautions. His 'keeping an eye' on her will be more to her benefit then to the guard's.
______
As they pass the dilapidated building, Beren pays it little mind. Instead he's fixated on the road ahead of them, and keeping Bluto in line. He gives Nivi a sideway's look when she 'coughs' and asks if the house belongs to 'bubbles', but doesn't comment. (Perception 14) He does however take notice of the ravens atop the roof of the inn as they approach. Normally, he may have attempted to discern if they held any evil, considering the oddity of the ravens--and their current location, but he thinks better of it. There wasn't much he could do about it in this moment, and perhaps it would be better to save his last bit of power for whatever happens with the burgomaster. So for now he simply takes note and ignores them.
When they enter the inn, Beren silently scans the room before making his way towards the staircase with Bluto in tow. Though he has no intention of letting the drunkard enter whatever room they acquire for Arabelle. No, he'll leave this sorry excuse for a fisherman on the floor just outside the room, where Beren can keep an eye on both him and the room itself.
Although the dressing down came at the expense of an ally's pride(among other things), even Jack could find little sport or comfort in poking holes in the woman's words, however miniscule they may be from an 'outsiders' perspective. And as he looked over to Nivi next out of want to guage her reaction to it all, he could practically feel himself beginning to lose a little color along the fringes of his being, as more thoughts shifted towards perspectives matching that of an autumnal elder on the look out to snuff out further rebellion with a sharp word and maybe some young'un's rapped knuckles.
And he might've very well followed through on both... were it not for some timely epiphany that left him wide-eyed with shock for a second or two, then closing his eyes, clenching his jaws, and shuddering in discomfort. When next he opens his eyes there's a more demure cast to his expression, and with little more than a soft, "As you wish", he'd soon move to walk ahead of the guardsman with Arabelle still in hand and trust of being guided along as necessary.
(To Raiketsu: Although there wouldn't be a reaction either way in the moment, would Jack's passive perception 15 suffice for the perception check? If not, then he wouldn't bother in this instance.)
By the time the group reach the Inn Jack's mood and general upbeatness hardly picked up by a lot; but even then, the Eladrin remained uncharacteristically quiet. Even the peculiar sight of the ravens or the building failed to hold much of his interest for long along the way, assuming he noticed them at all beyond wherever the guard had directed his focus towards in the final leg of the journey. Once inside however, not only Jack looked on growing surprise at the fullness and brightness of the Inn's guest, not mention the story no doubt tied to it, he couldn't help but start smile at the possible opportunity inherit in such a gathering! But then he notes the attention of some of the patrons, which had in turn led to him looking to Arabelle and remembering his charge with rueful smile.
"Apologies, madam." Jack says, addressing the guardswoman only once given the go ahead to start making for a prepared room. "To be clear, we are all to stay in the room with her until the Burgomaster and entourage arrives, yes? Or might decorum and duty might allow perhaps some of my number -- or admittedly more myself -- to partake of the bar and company gathered here once Arabelle has been put to bed?" He stage whispers. "Not that I wouldn't prefer to continue keeping watch over her of course and see the job done properly! But... after our less than stellar, uh, introductions by the gate, and us being, well... still a fair bit too ignorant on how things are in these lands, it would behooves us to learn as much as we can." He side-eyes Nivi. "And you've had to deal with enough for one evening, no?"
On the way, at Nivi's responses, the guard gives little more than grunts, clearly, both were done with each other. Waterdeep's dangers came from intrigue, while in Barovia it was raw, murderous intent or mindless hunger. Both equally as dangerous, depending on how well equipped the person was.
Bluto placidly walked along, aided by Beren, though he slowed the progress down a little. When Nivi made her -likely sarcastic- comment on Bluto's living situation, she was informed by the man himself Nope. I aint got one. I sleeps on the roads! he says, proud of himself.
From the roof, as the group is entering, Nivi see's the ravens watching from above, as do atleast Jack and Beren. The guard seems none the wiser, and Bluto seems not to care enough to even notice. But as Nivi studies them, there does indeed seem to be greater intelligence than even the average raven - creatures already known to be quite intelligent - and their gazes watched you all until you vanished beneath the awning over the door. You were being watched. Nivi though had gone the extra mile, studying them as they studied you all, and had seen that the creatures could pose a threat, but, that seemed not to be their intent - Nivi sensed no direct hostility.
Many of the patrons inside, continued to nurse their mugs, and murmur among themselves some with excitement, some with rumor, but the place was abuzz with atmospheric mixing. Jack asking his question just as Urwin peeked down the stairs, ushering the group up. The female guard saying You can all stay down here if you wish - Except the Pale elf. She will come with me and Arabelle so long as Bluto is kept in place, and the girl can come upstairs with me. she says, 'sheathing' her glaive and offering to carry the girl herself. Regardless the Burgomaster will be here within minutes. She called out to two of the patrons who looked similar to Vistani, though with fewer of the colorful robes, telling them to come with her and to keep an eye on Nivi. They didn't seem particularly strong, and they were into their cups, but they seemed capable enough in a fight.
With that, if Jack didn't hand Arabelle over, he was asked to take her to the room where Urwin would show it, along with the two half-drunk vistani patrons - both male. Otherwise the guard would have one of the two vistani take the girl upstairs, while she made sure Nivi 'came along' as the guard didn't feel she could let Nivi stay down here alone, as foolish as it might be to have the potential mastermind there as well.
(Thats as much as I can write until I know what everyone's doing)
Olamoira silently follows the group through the dismal town, and while she notices the flock of black birds staring down at them (Perception 14), she gives them little heed, only to find her skin crawling and her teeth set on edge about it. She is relieved when they enter the inn, only to be faced with a much larger staring flock. The sensation of feeling seen everywhere she goes creeps up on her. So long was I a creature of shadows. I don't think I know how to be anything else. My hidden life in the temple was natural to it. I was invisible to all, the mere Hand of the Spider, the Handmaid of Chaos. I was not myself. Still I am not myself. If I have a self, I cannot find it. Yet there is a self here that others can see, there is some continuity that is visible to others that I cannot grasp. She feels oddly confused as the uproarious crowd surges towards them. A great sense of relief settles on her as she realizes that no one is looking at her---their focus is all on Arabelle. Arabelle, the rescued sacrifice, saved from that fate by my own hand that has executed it on so many others...Ola feels numb, detached, the murmur and buzz of the crowd blurring together in the background.
I'm glad that I saved her. No one made me do it. I'm glad that I did.The boldness of her own thought startles Ola back to the present. She looks around at her companions---the young high elf smoldering in her manacles, Jack charmingly beseeching the guard for a lark, and Beren hauling Bluto up the stairs like he can't wait to escape the clamor. Though it seems by their conversation as though everyone is going to go up to Arabelle's room, willingly or unwillingly, Ola feels a sudden strident concern for the helpless girl. I want Jack to keep hold of her. He'll protect her. She isn't sure why she's so certain of this, but whoever ends up taking Arabelle upstairs, Ola follows, anxious to see that Arabelle is kept in trustworthy guard.
Nivi's laughter at the building disgusted with itself subsides into a grin as Bubbles responds seamlessly to the nickname she had given him (she asks if this is "Bubbles' house" and the drunk responds to say he sleeps on the road). "At least you know who you are, Bubbles. Maybe one day, Smiley will too."
Nevertheless, she ceases her ribbing of the glaive-wielding guard and follows along without objection, taking in the lay of the town with practiced eye. Casing each structure for second-story work, looking for ways in and out of each one, including the disgusted looking house . (Passive Perception: 17).
But all that comes to a stop when Nivi and Shiv lock eyes with the ravens for a long moment. Now that is bloody interesting. The birds are savvy and not hostile but taking a good, long look. Might be Vallaki already has a crew worth more than a pool of piss after all.
As she is ushered inside the Blue Water Inn, Nivi only has time to give the big black birds a wink and a nod before she is inside and they disappear from her view. But as she does, Shiv flies from her shoulder and alights on the sagging tile roof. Far enough from the ravens so as not to seem aggressive, but near enough to be companionable. The owl's eyes close once slowly, signaling acceptance, then dawn once more to regard his avian neighbors curiously.
Within the Inn, Nivi wears her manacles as if they are the most natural thing in the world as she makes eye contact and gives a respectful nod to everyone with whom she can make eye contact, including the Innkeeper, Urwin. Might as well act innocent, since I actually am for once. She does take the opportunity to cast Mage Hand, using Mage Hand Legerdemain to make it invisible. (She can command it as a bonus action).
She fully approves of Shorty wishing to socialize in the tavern. Got to be a reason the ravens are here and not elsewhere. Need to find all the allies we can.
Nivi does not yet use her Mage Hand or palmed lock picks to undo the manacles with so many eyes on her. A job for later. She follows Smiley as requested, stepping lightly up the stairs. Mumbling to herself, she readies (but does not yet cast) a Minor Illusion cantrip of a threatening zombie (like the ones they had fought on the lakeshore) as a distraction. She casts it only in the unlikely event that this is a trap and she is attacked upstairs in an ambush.
Bullet points on location:
Nivi's owl familiar Shiv is outside on the roof near the ravens (being silently friendly).
Nivi enters the tavern and heads up the stairs with the guard when asked.
As they approach the stairs, regardless of who follows, Beren says to the guard, "I will keep Bluto outside of the room until the Burgomaster arrives." He has no desire to stay on this floor where currently, most eyes are on Arabelle. Especially since, once Arabelle is out of the room, he'll likely become the next best thing to stare at. No, he'll be better off upstairs keeping watch over Bluto and whomever decides to accompany Arabelle and the guard. Besides, it will probably be best if they were all together when the Burgomaster arrives, which he hopes is as soon as the guard says it will be. Right now he just wants a room to himself so he can have some privacy, eat something, and get some sleep. Yet he can't rest yet, not until this has been resolved. Hopefully they can get Nivi out of those manacles so he doesn't have that to worry about too. Hopefully, they can get through this meeting without somehow stirring up trouble.
"Duly noted!" Was Jack's brightly spoken response before eagerly but gently passing the swaddled girl along to the guard. "Oh, and this is a bit, uh.. apolgoies, but what is your name miss? I realize now that we were never formally introduced, and while this might not be the best of moments, well... Eh, You can call me Jack, at least." He says and would start to offer a hand; but, in quickly realizing how awkward a handshake would be (and not wanting to frustrate the woman further), he promptly retracted it with a mildly embarrassed smile.
With or without a name given, Jack be quick about shuffling to the side and letting the rest of the procession carry on upstairs, bidding them a playfully waggle of his spidery fingers in goodbye. His attention then swiftly turned about the remaining patrons, who'd he greet with a bright smile and maintain such even if their response is less than kind without Arabelle in his arms. Just as he could commit to an open seat (preferably at the bar), spin his seat (if not himself) to face the room, and lightly call out to the patrons, "Quite the entry now wasn't that?" He chuckles. "But! ... But would anyone want to hear the tale itself I wonder? 'cause if so, do open your ears to the tale I might weave this evening of a terrible tragedy averted, monsters slain, and of the stalwart bravery of... a bunch of clever fools determined not to let a light of the realm be snuffed out." Jack further asserts, hoping to encourage more active attention. "And mayhaps in turn you all would do me the kindness of sharing tales of your own about this fair city after? And help this poor, poor pointy-eared fool hear the wisdom of clearly a stalwart people. A people who despite the grimness of the very realm stand firm in their own ways."
Beren realizes with a familiar sinking feeling that the guard seemed to grow more and more distrusting towards him as he spoke. Sure, he was used to people feeling uncomfortable in his presence, but he'd hoped that his behavior and words would be enough to garner some measure of trust. Turns out, he's not very good at appearing trustworthy. What a surprise. Perhaps he was too used to Saelethin or one of the other clerics doing the talking for him. Come to think of it, he's spoken more words to others outside of the Church during this time in the mist then he has in the past year. It's been too long since he'd acted as a knight rather than a sword.
The light behind the mask flickers slightly as the guard asks Nivi to allow herself to be shackled. This is understandable, but Beren wishes it could be avoided. With how little these people trust outsiders, it wouldn't surprise him if they decided to condemn the young elf without confirming her involvement. Regardless, he can't see any good way out of this unless they wanted to leave Arabelle here and once more exit the town. Of course, then they likely won't even be able to take refuge at the dusk elf camp, and he wasn't too keen on staying outside. As much confidence as he had in his blade, he needed a break. He needed to restore some of his power if he could even hope to fight off whatever lurked in the darkness outside.
He gives a bit of a start when the guard refers to him by that blasted title, and the light behind the mask flares up, "I'm not..." He growls, shaking his head before not-to-kindly grabbing Bluto by the shoulder, "Very well." He does his best to sound civil, but it is clear that weariness is giving way to irritation. Right now, he just wants to get a move on. There's no point in objecting to this Avatar of the Sun idea when he just entered a town full of more people who will probably believe the same thing. As much as he hates the idea, he'll just have to deal with it until they are ready to leave. The light behind the mask flares brightly, and he looks to Nivi, waiting to see what she'll do.
While the guards have their attention on responding to Jack and Beren, (and putting manacles on Bluto), Nivi palms two of the lock picks from her Thieves' Tools, one hidden in each hand. Trying to choose ones which could be used to reach backwards from bound hands to pick or pry manacles.
Nivi's Sleight of Hand: 16 (NOTE: she is not picking or prying the manacles yet - they're not even on. Just palming the tools).
Once the guards turn their attention back to Nivi, she looks back at them wryly, then briefly at her companions, and then back at them. Genuine exasperation tinges her voice and she tilts her head as she does when she feels she is speaking with someone who can't grasp the basics.
"Sure. This elf'll wear your fancy manacles, soon as you admit the mastodon in the room here. The one that just walked through the giant holes in your thinking. If an outsider like me can change shape like you say and wanted to trick Bubbles here into murdering the girl, WHY WOULD I BLOODY APPEAR AS MYSELF WHEN DOING IT? And if I wanted to pick up the Burgomaster's favor by making Bubbles my catspaw and framing him so it looks like we saved the girl, WHY WOULD I BLOODY LEAVE HIM ALIVE TO TELL IT? My crew here saw me with my longbow. He could have been as dead as I wanted him, out on that lake. Had my run-ins with kidnappers and murderers, and none of them work like that. Not for long, anyway."
Nivi pauses, hands at her sides, not yet held out for the manacles until she gets the answer she wants. Glaring at the guards, more incensed by the implication that she is such a bumbling criminal than by the accusation of the crime itself. "Your call. But you tell me you can't acknowledge the obvious, then I'll take my chances with the wolves and zombies and cold cobbler illusionists out in those woods. Good luck catching me before they do."
She holds out her hands for the manacles only once the guards have acknowledged what she considers to be her self-evident points above. Implements from her Thieves' Tools still palmed under each of her hands either way. If no such acknowledgement comes, Niva'ele Farstrider is doing something else...
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
Olamoira stands as if in a haze while the argument between Nivi and Bluto about who told him to chuck Arabelle into the lake breaks out again. Eventually Ola's gaze wanders to the young high elf, who is becoming incensed at the accusations of shoddy subterfuge. Ola feels certain that she is innocent... at least of this crime. More wandering and weaving of the fog, of the distrust between man and elf, and man and man, sown and watered by a dark power seeking to divide and control. Bluto's utter heedlessness of his crime reminds her more of the mindless zombies staggering the beach than it does of any malice or wile intended by man. Yet this might not be epidemic, as the guards seem to find Bluto's antics none too dissimilar from his baseline. Certainly the Burgomaster's concern for his daughter is a human enough response. Even the suspicion granted us at the gates is. Bluto is a strange one... yet to these people, all of us are equally strange, equally threatening.
Olamoira doesn't want to watch the young elf put in shackles. They always start out arguing. Fighting. Denying. But eventually they start pleading. Whimpering. Screaming. That's how it always goes, when enough blood has flown. Ola shudders. But it is not having your agency taken away, or being a victim of atrocity, that is the worst. It is worse to be the one who takes away agency and commits atrocity...
The dark elf steps forward, placing herself to the side of Nivi and a little ahead of her, closer to the guard with the manacles. She holds out her own wrists. "Shackle me instead. As an act of good faith..."
Persuasion: 23 (nat 20)
(I will.. TRY to update tonight, sorry for all the delays, just dealing with getting my car sticker, emission test, and trying to donate my later mothers car)
Occassional Dungeon Master.
Although a BIT disappointed his attempt to set Beren up for success had not gone quite to plan, Jack found himself smiling inwardly at things yet working out in the end. Just as they always did for the Eladrin! Most of the times... Sometimes... Well the important thing was that the group had their in and at least weren't ALL being manacled. Sure, there was the one fun time that he and a lovely pair of female gnome twins were -- Jack snapped back to attention hearing Nivi raise her voice.
Though it took him a bit more to fully catch up on events (mostly through inference than anything, what with the near daydream and all), even Jack frowned a little in mild displeasement over Nivi's insistence on trying to poke the bear that was the guards. She'd already proven herself a capable enough spell weaver, so why the fuss over a bit of
foreplaysetting a few worry warts minds at ease? And if not by spell, surely her resourcefulness hadn't ended there?In the end, and for better or for worse, Jack hardly began opening his mouth when Olamoira stepped up offering herself up in exchange. "A drow willfully choosing bondage... now I've seen everything Arabelle." Jack stage whispered to the unconscious girl in his arms. Beyond that little sidebar that likely did SO much in alleviating tensions, Jack, in his infinite wisdom, opted NOT to add more fuel to the fire in some attempt to smooth things over even further and simply took a back seat on things again.
Goyo - [Tortle]Druid/Warlock - Circle of Sea/Celestial (Libretalia)
Vogan - [Goliath-Hill]Bard - ???(A Dungeon-Delving Campaign Group C)
Jack Vicvan - [Eladrin]Warlock - Archfey
As Beren grabs Bluto, Bluto nods in his general direction Thank ye kind sir. Was 'avin a bit of trouble walking. as if Beren were merely a good samaritan assisting a drunkard along his path. To some degree it might seem comical if the man hadn't just nearly ended a young girls life only half an hour ago at most. Avat'r o th' sun..... I can see it, you glow enough... Bluto adds in commentary. But the man still lacks resistance to anything happening to him. The guard still holding the manacles with slight impatience as Nivi justifiably retorts - However the guards expression doesn't change, remaining flat as she goes through what seemed like diatribe to the female guard. (Perception: Unable to parse dice roll. ) ( 9 )
Look elf, I don't really care. You're right, a lot of what you say makes sense. You're likely telling the truth. But my job is to keep the town safe... as safe as this blasted land can be. she said sardonically, with the weight of history and occurrence on her shoulders. But you outsiders wander into these lands, or get invited and you think you run the towns. I don't know what life is like out there - I was born hundreds of years after Barovia became what it is. But i've seen outsiders caught with the blade still wet, denying they did it. Or even outsiders who were innocent, but couldn't explain themselves properly making them seem guilty, and everything in between.
And those blasted dusk elves.. who knows why the Bergomaster allows them to love near us, assassinated Strahds wife, and brought his wrath down upon the dusk elves AND this town. You are both outsider AND elf - as I can tell by your fair skin. I have every reason to distrust your word, and yet I haven't skewered you. You throw a tantrum because you feel insulted at my accusation, yet you, outsider-elf have not given an ounce of consideration for our situation from our perspective. For all I know, you work for Strahd, ALL of you. Yet I see you carrying Arabelle, so I chose, despite everything I just said, to risk letting you inside our gates.
Everything you say is probably correct, about why it couldn't be you. But it's not about you. It's about that little girl in his arms she says pointing to Jack. And everyone here. she says sweeping across the town in general. Her eyes lock to Nivi's In the end, you can feel what you want. I've acknowledged your reasoning. Now either put these on until the Bergomaster has time to decide to let you free, or begone and become food for the werewolf packs or undead.
Just as the guard finishes her counter-tirade, Moira steps forward, and the guards eyes fall on her, with the manacles still in one hand at the moment, with the glaive in the other. Distrust initially in her eyes before it's replaced by genuine surprise.... It was as if the guard hadn't really noticed Moira before but as she looked the dark skinned elf over, some of her hackles seemed to fall. Some. I'm afraid that won't do, elf. she said looking over Moira more... I am fine if you also volunteer but I will still need the pale elf to comply, or to leave. Given everything, I'm sure the bergomaster will see fit to take them off but, as she is the one who has been accused it would not make sense to have you cuffed and her not.
But.. I thought all the dusk elf women were.... dead... and after a moment, the faintest gleam in the guards eyes came to be though she was coy on the meaning. Finally, addressing Nivi again, as the guard had no reaction to the word 'drow' when spoken by Jack..
Look elf, I'm sorry. I know this is frustrating.. she said, her voice a bit softer after Moira's volunteerism I just need you to atleast play along. Hopefully you understand she said to Nivi That as you have been accused... regardless of validity of any claim, if I were to bring you into town unhindered, it would make me seem reckless and incompetent, and it would put those who will hear about it on alert against you. her tone dictating that she wasn't so much worried about herself or her job, but that she wasn't wanting this to turn into chaos once those at the Inn inevitably heard what all was said here.
Regardless, the guard pulls out a third manacle for Moira but doesn't force her into it.
(I tried to reward the nat 20 in a natural way, but couldn't see you completely taking her place in leu of Nivi, so I tried to go middle ground.)
Occassional Dungeon Master.
Nivi smirks at her words being described as a tantrum but shrugs and lets it go. She does raise her eyebrows at Olamoira's offer. Might be harder to break both of us out than just me, Prophet. But she says nothing until the guard finishes yammering.
"You deaf too? I already told you. Long as you acknowledge my points, which you finally just did, then I put on your pretty manacles and play along like you say." She holds forth her hands to be bound, with a lock pick from her Thieves' tools hidden in each palm.
She sets off with Arabelle and the others whenever they are ready, having been eager to do so the whole time. She laughs at the guard's saying that moving Arabelle to safety is paramount. "I'd say so far today, we've been the ones focused on the girl's safety and you've been focused on paranoia. Easy to throw out accusations like working for Strahd with no basis like you just did. Could just as easily say maybe you work for him. See how that works?"
"And you say elves or outsiders act like we run the town. That so? I'm the one in manacles based Bubbles' chatter. The town drunk. You don't even want us here. Don't see any elves or outsiders making any decisions for anyone or owning anything. But sure. We act like we run the town."
Nivi rolls her eyes as she walks. But something else occurs to her, and her voice becomes briefly serious before sarcasm tinges it once more at the end:
"So. You need help defending this Urwin's Inn where we're taking the girl for the night? Expecting an attack? Undead maybe like we tangled with on the lake shore? Could be my partners here can help. And I'll, you know, wave my manacles around threateningly. Should be real bloody effective."
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
Beren promptly ignores Bluto's comment, keeping a firm grip on the drunkard's shoulder while the rest of his attention rested with the guard. He lets out a small sigh when Nivi voiced her opinion. He agreed with her, but he also knew that nothing was going to sway this guard, and every moment they used standing out here was wasted time. Still, he wasn't surprised when the guard shot back her own thoughts on the issue, but he was caught off guard when Olamoira stepped forward in attempt to take Nivi's place. Why would she do that? Perhaps it wasn't that far fetched, considering how she'd been treating him all this time. At least the gesture helped smooth things out a little with the guard, even if it didn't get Nivi out of putting on the manacles.
When the guard pulls out another manacle for Olamoira, Beren considers intervening before realizing that the guard wasn't going to force them on her. He'll stop her if she tries to accept the manacles in spite of Nivi also being bound. It doesn't make sense to allow them both to be taken captive.
Words he could say crowd together in his head, but he decides to keep quiet instead. Nothing he said at this point would do anything to help the situation. Better to let the guard lead them to the inn and wait and see what happens next.
Olamoira stares for a moment into the guard's eyes. I cannot imagine what they must go through every day trying to keep their people sane, and alive. I was always... on the other side. If I could have imagined what it was like, maybe I would not have lived the life I did for so long. But now, she wants to understand. She wants to imagine it. Live it, even. To understand the pain she has caused might give at least a little relief. And to stop it from happening again... if I can. But the first step must be mine.
She holds her wrists out for the third pair of manacles. "As an act of good faith, then, I will be chained too. The pale one is young, but elves live long, and we have seen too much, and suffered too much. I am not a dusk elf... I have been something much worse."
Beren lets out a quiet sigh when Olamoira proceeds to do exactly what he'd hoped she wouldn't do. Why does she feel the need to accept chains as 'an act of good faith' when that's what Nivi is already doing? Her words give him pause, else he would have objected faster. Something much worse? She was a drow, so who knew what she had done in her past. Could that have something to do with her strange behavior towards him? Is her...submissiveness the result of a desire for repentance or redemption? The thought gave birth to an ache in his chest...not like when the power urges him to destroy. No this was a much deeper pain, one that he feared he could never be rid of.
Shaking his head, he lets out a breath. Regardless of her reasoning, it would be foolish to allow her to be manacled. In the event that something does happen, whether due to Bluto's testimony or the inherit evil of this land, he'd rather not have to worry about Nivi and Olamoira being bound and defenseless. So he steps forward, dragging Bluto a few steps forward in the process and says, "That is not necessary. There is no reason for you to accept chains as well." He pauses, glancing briefly at the guard, before turning his mask back to Olamoira, "If there are dangers to worry about, it would be better for you to be free and able to move." His words are firm, as he has no intention of leaving this matter up for debate.
Then he looks to the guard, "The night grows old. Let's head to that inn."
Olamoira lifts her head slightly when Beren speaks, but the instant she understands his desire, she withdraws her proffered wrists and steps back, melting as if into a shadow back into the glow knight's bright aura. Her posture is as if she was hidden indeed in a shadow, although the light makes her painfully visible. Obedience is better than sacrifice. She stands head bowed, quietly folding together her hands. "Yes, my lord."
As Nivi continued talking, the guard grew more and more frustrated. Nivi didn't know what this land was capable of, but here she was mocking it as if she knew everything about it. The guard approaches once Nivi offers her hands and places them on, enough to be tight without being constrictingly annoying or painful. But her anger was clear on her face finally addressing Nivi and venting her frustation once more.
I said you outsiders you damned deaf elf! Your kind do not come to these lands often, but every single time you do, you walk in to our town, or to Krezk, or the Barovian Village and act like this is your place. Like you know better than those who live here! And what you call paranoia, is what we call reality outsider. Every inch of this land is filled with undead save this and the two other towns.... filled with werewolves, druids, barbarians, spirits, and other evil things. And from what I've gathered from other outsiders, all of these things are relegated to small parts of the world..
contained, while your towns and villages thrive in relative peace. You are not visited by a vampire who controls your entire world, who can come to your house in the night and feast on your loved ones at any moment, every hour of every day. He can warp your mind, make you do things you don't want to and YES, i know what you're thinking. "What if he made Bluto here think.." But that is also why I must shackle you! she says, finally starting to walk. You are just as likely as Bluto to be innocent, or guilty. He has made an accusation, and I cannot afford to risk him being right, and me ignoring it simply because he is a naerdowell, drunkard, and otherwise waste of food, and air! at which Bluto blanched, offended but said nothing in response as Beren had just shaken him.
If I wasn't focusing on the girls safety, you would be unbound. I trust the one carrying her only a little more than I do you as he has yet to give me reason to doubt, the not-dusk-elf here has offered herself. And you stand accused of tricking Bluto into killing her. In fact... you... Elf... Please walk in front of me with Arabelle. she says to Jack. Honestly, and Ironically .. the one of you outsiders I trust the most, is the glowing one. Beren, I think his proper name was?
Moira interjecting not long after, asking admissions of her past without specifics... and she shakes her head. I have trouble believing that not-dusk-elf. You're too passive to have done anything that bad. And you're far too apologetic about it for me to believe you intend any harm. And if you have done bad things, you atleast seem repentant of them. I'm sure whatever you did wasn't that bad. she said in ignorance. Though it wasn't long after before Beren stepped in, and Moira retreated. The guard seeming not to care that much, replacing the extra pair of manacles back on her belt.
Unlike this pale elf... she says, focusing her eyes back on Nivi. I believe I once heard of a legendary bard of the outer realms, Williams - of the Shaking Spear, said something akin to "I believe the lady doth protest too much" And yes, Avatar, lets be about it. Keep an eye on the pale elf for me. She's made me trust her less with her continued mental acrobatics. And as she started walking again, she addressed Nivi's final words, finally.
No you sarcastic daughter of a mudcrab, I just got done saying it was the best place to take her. Its the nearest, safest place. Few undead besides Strahd himself could make it past our walls, but he can fly. And it doesn't happen often that they even try. Inside these walls are about the safest place you'll find. For whatever that's worth. You won't survive here long elf, not with how Naive you are.
Regardless, you all begin making your way through the town from the north gate. At this hour, most Vallakins are inside their homes, with only a single candle visible, if any at all. Most of the homes are hovels better than a shack but worse than a house. "Better than nothing" is what would likely come out of their mouths. A few exceptions here and there where the houses look more like one would expect, though their colors are muted tones of white, or brown in all cases, even if the resident seemed to have the more colorful clothing.
As you follow the road, just before the guard begins cutting through the houses... likely to save time, a single building catches the eye of anyone looking around as they walked, Arabelle not stirring. One building stands out a little more than the others, this house seems disgusted with itself. A slouching roof hangs heavy over furrowed gables, and moss-covered walls sag and bulge under the weight of the vegetation before disappearing behind a building.
Eventually after several more minutes, Gray smoke issues from the chimney of a large, two-story wooden building with a stone foundation and sagging tile roof, upon which several ravens have perched, all of them staring at the party despite the hour (DC 14 perception to notice this). A painted wooden sign hanging above the main entrance depicts a blue waterfall. This is the Blue Water Inn. I'm sure you can figure out why. she pushes the door open swiftly, holding it open for the others to pass through, though she keeps her glaive in one hand.
Inside the Inn looks much like you'd expect.
A few tables in various locations, surrounded by chairs, with the bar-counter at the far end, filled with casks of wine and ale, as well as a few visible entrances, leading either outside or deeper into the inn itself. As well as a set of stairs leading to the second floor. And likely unexpectedly, the place was filled with various people. Though starkly, all of them were wearing vibrant attire. Not a single one here bore the dull colors that had been seen on the fisherman, or occasional townsfolk they had seen before. Though now all had stopped their conversations to look at who had slammed the door open, interrupting their fun and revelry only to see a bunch of elves, and a glowing man enter, with one of them Carrying Arabelle in their arms. A wave of gasps rose, followed by excited chatter as Urwin nearly stumbled over the counter - forgoing the easier and more intended route - though he manages to rollback to his feet after the stumble. You found her?! Oh we must inform the b- he was cut off by the guard telling him that part was already being taken care of.
These outsiders found her. Bluto claims the pale elf tricked him into sacrificing the girl. The elf, expectedly denies this she says explaining in bullet points Nivi's arguments. In the end, the Burgomaster will decide what to do. Leave the glowing man alone. Clear some space so they can get her to one of the beds. Get some food and water ready Urwin, the girls been missing for days and looks like she hasn't had either, and she could rouse at any time.
Without word, Urwin runs to the back to get the requested items, as everyone else looks on, giving moderately respectful distance as they clear a path to the staircase, or risk incurring the Glaive's wrath.
Occassional Dungeon Master.
Nivi grins in genuine amusement as the guard continues to reveal what Nivi considers to be serious comprehension issues. I said "Outsiders" and then the guard says "I said you outsiders you damned deaf elf!. And she says I'm the one who protests too much... but Nivi lets it go.
"Daughter of a mudcrab. I'll have to remember that one so I can call my lady mother a mudcrab if she ever has the bad luck to see me again. Look on her face should be worth it. Thanks for supplying my bloody pincers." She waves her manacles.
"Might be I won't survive long here. We'll see. Everyone dies in the end. Telling you this, though, Smiley," (her new nickname for the talkative guard), "You wouldn't last a day in Waterdeep's dock ward. And you'd find out the real meaning of naive quicker than you wanted."
When she sees the house that looks disgusted with itself, Nivi has to feign a coughing fit to hold back her laughter at how perfect a metaphor the structure seems for the town it is part of. "Is that Bubbles' house?" she asks innocently.
As the door opens to the Blue Water Inn, Nivi looks around brightly despite her bonds. Finally a place where everyone looks like they have more energy than a week-old net of dead fish. Something tickles her consciousness before she enters, however (Passive Perception 17).
Nivi glances up at the ravens. If some magic-user, maybe Strahd himself, is framing me and can change shape, the bloody ravens could be spies. Or shape-changed enemies. Are they all looking at us the way any beast or bird would? Or is there a greater intelligence in those eyes?
Nivi Insight: 20 (dirty)
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
The guard trusts him more than any of the others? Well, that's a first. Seems a little odd considering her reaction to his earlier attempt to get her to ignore Bluto. Then again, perhaps it makes sense since he's the only not-elf here. ...not to mention she seems to think he's the Avatar of the Sun.
He shakes his head slightly when Olamoira obeys without question, and nearly asks again for her to not call him 'my lord'. At the moment, it seemed unwise to say anything more than was absolutely nessisary. So, he waits for the guard to say her piece. Once the conversation is finished, Beren lets out a weary sigh, sending a puff of light out of the mask. He tenses a little when the guard calls him "Avatar" but once again holds his tongue. What would it take for them to quit calling him by these titles? "My lord" "Avatar of the Sun" ...at least Nivi had quit with calling him "Sunshine" ...for now at least.
However, since the guard asked him to 'keep an eye' on Nivi, he moves closer to the young elf--dragging Bluto along as he does. While he's fairly certain she had nothing to do with Arabelle's disappearance, he sees no harm in taking precautions. His 'keeping an eye' on her will be more to her benefit then to the guard's.
______
As they pass the dilapidated building, Beren pays it little mind. Instead he's fixated on the road ahead of them, and keeping Bluto in line. He gives Nivi a sideway's look when she 'coughs' and asks if the house belongs to 'bubbles', but doesn't comment. (Perception 14) He does however take notice of the ravens atop the roof of the inn as they approach. Normally, he may have attempted to discern if they held any evil, considering the oddity of the ravens--and their current location, but he thinks better of it. There wasn't much he could do about it in this moment, and perhaps it would be better to save his last bit of power for whatever happens with the burgomaster. So for now he simply takes note and ignores them.
When they enter the inn, Beren silently scans the room before making his way towards the staircase with Bluto in tow. Though he has no intention of letting the drunkard enter whatever room they acquire for Arabelle. No, he'll leave this sorry excuse for a fisherman on the floor just outside the room, where Beren can keep an eye on both him and the room itself.
Although the dressing down came at the expense of an ally's pride(among other things), even Jack could find little sport or comfort in poking holes in the woman's words, however miniscule they may be from an 'outsiders' perspective. And as he looked over to Nivi next out of want to guage her reaction to it all, he could practically feel himself beginning to lose a little color along the fringes of his being, as more thoughts shifted towards perspectives matching that of an autumnal elder on the look out to snuff out further rebellion with a sharp word and maybe some young'un's rapped knuckles.
And he might've very well followed through on both... were it not for some timely epiphany that left him wide-eyed with shock for a second or two, then closing his eyes, clenching his jaws, and shuddering in discomfort. When next he opens his eyes there's a more demure cast to his expression, and with little more than a soft, "As you wish", he'd soon move to walk ahead of the guardsman with Arabelle still in hand and trust of being guided along as necessary.
(To Raiketsu: Although there wouldn't be a reaction either way in the moment, would Jack's passive perception 15 suffice for the perception check? If not, then he wouldn't bother in this instance.)
By the time the group reach the Inn Jack's mood and general upbeatness hardly picked up by a lot; but even then, the Eladrin remained uncharacteristically quiet. Even the peculiar sight of the ravens or the building failed to hold much of his interest for long along the way, assuming he noticed them at all beyond wherever the guard had directed his focus towards in the final leg of the journey. Once inside however, not only Jack looked on growing surprise at the fullness and brightness of the Inn's guest, not mention the story no doubt tied to it, he couldn't help but start smile at the possible opportunity inherit in such a gathering! But then he notes the attention of some of the patrons, which had in turn led to him looking to Arabelle and remembering his charge with rueful smile.
"Apologies, madam." Jack says, addressing the guardswoman only once given the go ahead to start making for a prepared room. "To be clear, we are all to stay in the room with her until the Burgomaster and entourage arrives, yes? Or might decorum and duty might allow perhaps some of my number -- or admittedly more myself -- to partake of the bar and company gathered here once Arabelle has been put to bed?" He stage whispers. "Not that I wouldn't prefer to continue keeping watch over her of course and see the job done properly! But... after our less than stellar, uh, introductions by the gate, and us being, well... still a fair bit too ignorant on how things are in these lands, it would behooves us to learn as much as we can." He side-eyes Nivi. "And you've had to deal with enough for one evening, no?"
Goyo - [Tortle]Druid/Warlock - Circle of Sea/Celestial (Libretalia)
Vogan - [Goliath-Hill]Bard - ???(A Dungeon-Delving Campaign Group C)
Jack Vicvan - [Eladrin]Warlock - Archfey
On the way, at Nivi's responses, the guard gives little more than grunts, clearly, both were done with each other. Waterdeep's dangers came from intrigue, while in Barovia it was raw, murderous intent or mindless hunger. Both equally as dangerous, depending on how well equipped the person was.
Bluto placidly walked along, aided by Beren, though he slowed the progress down a little. When Nivi made her -likely sarcastic- comment on Bluto's living situation, she was informed by the man himself Nope. I aint got one. I sleeps on the roads! he says, proud of himself.
From the roof, as the group is entering, Nivi see's the ravens watching from above, as do atleast Jack and Beren. The guard seems none the wiser, and Bluto seems not to care enough to even notice. But as Nivi studies them, there does indeed seem to be greater intelligence than even the average raven - creatures already known to be quite intelligent - and their gazes watched you all until you vanished beneath the awning over the door. You were being watched. Nivi though had gone the extra mile, studying them as they studied you all, and had seen that the creatures could pose a threat, but, that seemed not to be their intent - Nivi sensed no direct hostility.
Many of the patrons inside, continued to nurse their mugs, and murmur among themselves some with excitement, some with rumor, but the place was abuzz with atmospheric mixing. Jack asking his question just as Urwin peeked down the stairs, ushering the group up. The female guard saying You can all stay down here if you wish - Except the Pale elf. She will come with me and Arabelle so long as Bluto is kept in place, and the girl can come upstairs with me. she says, 'sheathing' her glaive and offering to carry the girl herself. Regardless the Burgomaster will be here within minutes. She called out to two of the patrons who looked similar to Vistani, though with fewer of the colorful robes, telling them to come with her and to keep an eye on Nivi. They didn't seem particularly strong, and they were into their cups, but they seemed capable enough in a fight.
With that, if Jack didn't hand Arabelle over, he was asked to take her to the room where Urwin would show it, along with the two half-drunk vistani patrons - both male. Otherwise the guard would have one of the two vistani take the girl upstairs, while she made sure Nivi 'came along' as the guard didn't feel she could let Nivi stay down here alone, as foolish as it might be to have the potential mastermind there as well.
(Thats as much as I can write until I know what everyone's doing)
Occassional Dungeon Master.
Olamoira silently follows the group through the dismal town, and while she notices the flock of black birds staring down at them (Perception 14), she gives them little heed, only to find her skin crawling and her teeth set on edge about it. She is relieved when they enter the inn, only to be faced with a much larger staring flock. The sensation of feeling seen everywhere she goes creeps up on her. So long was I a creature of shadows. I don't think I know how to be anything else. My hidden life in the temple was natural to it. I was invisible to all, the mere Hand of the Spider, the Handmaid of Chaos. I was not myself. Still I am not myself. If I have a self, I cannot find it. Yet there is a self here that others can see, there is some continuity that is visible to others that I cannot grasp. She feels oddly confused as the uproarious crowd surges towards them. A great sense of relief settles on her as she realizes that no one is looking at her---their focus is all on Arabelle. Arabelle, the rescued sacrifice, saved from that fate by my own hand that has executed it on so many others... Ola feels numb, detached, the murmur and buzz of the crowd blurring together in the background.
I'm glad that I saved her. No one made me do it. I'm glad that I did. The boldness of her own thought startles Ola back to the present. She looks around at her companions---the young high elf smoldering in her manacles, Jack charmingly beseeching the guard for a lark, and Beren hauling Bluto up the stairs like he can't wait to escape the clamor. Though it seems by their conversation as though everyone is going to go up to Arabelle's room, willingly or unwillingly, Ola feels a sudden strident concern for the helpless girl. I want Jack to keep hold of her. He'll protect her. She isn't sure why she's so certain of this, but whoever ends up taking Arabelle upstairs, Ola follows, anxious to see that Arabelle is kept in trustworthy guard.
Nivi's laughter at the building disgusted with itself subsides into a grin as Bubbles responds seamlessly to the nickname she had given him (she asks if this is "Bubbles' house" and the drunk responds to say he sleeps on the road). "At least you know who you are, Bubbles. Maybe one day, Smiley will too."
Nevertheless, she ceases her ribbing of the glaive-wielding guard and follows along without objection, taking in the lay of the town with practiced eye. Casing each structure for second-story work, looking for ways in and out of each one, including the disgusted looking house . (Passive Perception: 17).
But all that comes to a stop when Nivi and Shiv lock eyes with the ravens for a long moment. Now that is bloody interesting. The birds are savvy and not hostile but taking a good, long look. Might be Vallaki already has a crew worth more than a pool of piss after all.
As she is ushered inside the Blue Water Inn, Nivi only has time to give the big black birds a wink and a nod before she is inside and they disappear from her view. But as she does, Shiv flies from her shoulder and alights on the sagging tile roof. Far enough from the ravens so as not to seem aggressive, but near enough to be companionable. The owl's eyes close once slowly, signaling acceptance, then dawn once more to regard his avian neighbors curiously.
Within the Inn, Nivi wears her manacles as if they are the most natural thing in the world as she makes eye contact and gives a respectful nod to everyone with whom she can make eye contact, including the Innkeeper, Urwin. Might as well act innocent, since I actually am for once. She does take the opportunity to cast Mage Hand, using Mage Hand Legerdemain to make it invisible. (She can command it as a bonus action).
She fully approves of Shorty wishing to socialize in the tavern. Got to be a reason the ravens are here and not elsewhere. Need to find all the allies we can.
Nivi does not yet use her Mage Hand or palmed lock picks to undo the manacles with so many eyes on her. A job for later. She follows Smiley as requested, stepping lightly up the stairs. Mumbling to herself, she readies (but does not yet cast) a Minor Illusion cantrip of a threatening zombie (like the ones they had fought on the lakeshore) as a distraction. She casts it only in the unlikely event that this is a trap and she is attacked upstairs in an ambush.
Bullet points on location:
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
As they approach the stairs, regardless of who follows, Beren says to the guard, "I will keep Bluto outside of the room until the Burgomaster arrives." He has no desire to stay on this floor where currently, most eyes are on Arabelle. Especially since, once Arabelle is out of the room, he'll likely become the next best thing to stare at. No, he'll be better off upstairs keeping watch over Bluto and whomever decides to accompany Arabelle and the guard. Besides, it will probably be best if they were all together when the Burgomaster arrives, which he hopes is as soon as the guard says it will be. Right now he just wants a room to himself so he can have some privacy, eat something, and get some sleep. Yet he can't rest yet, not until this has been resolved. Hopefully they can get Nivi out of those manacles so he doesn't have that to worry about too. Hopefully, they can get through this meeting without somehow stirring up trouble.
"Duly noted!" Was Jack's brightly spoken response before eagerly but gently passing the swaddled girl along to the guard. "Oh, and this is a bit, uh.. apolgoies, but what is your name miss? I realize now that we were never formally introduced, and while this might not be the best of moments, well... Eh, You can call me Jack, at least." He says and would start to offer a hand; but, in quickly realizing how awkward a handshake would be (and not wanting to frustrate the woman further), he promptly retracted it with a mildly embarrassed smile.
With or without a name given, Jack be quick about shuffling to the side and letting the rest of the procession carry on upstairs, bidding them a playfully waggle of his spidery fingers in goodbye. His attention then swiftly turned about the remaining patrons, who'd he greet with a bright smile and maintain such even if their response is less than kind without Arabelle in his arms. Just as he could commit to an open seat (preferably at the bar), spin his seat (if not himself) to face the room, and lightly call out to the patrons, "Quite the entry now wasn't that?" He chuckles. "But! ... But would anyone want to hear the tale itself I wonder? 'cause if so, do open your ears to the tale I might weave this evening of a terrible tragedy averted, monsters slain, and of the stalwart bravery of... a bunch of clever fools determined not to let a light of the realm be snuffed out." Jack further asserts, hoping to encourage more active attention. "And mayhaps in turn you all would do me the kindness of sharing tales of your own about this fair city after? And help this poor, poor pointy-eared fool hear the wisdom of clearly a stalwart people. A people who despite the grimness of the very realm stand firm in their own ways."
Goyo - [Tortle]Druid/Warlock - Circle of Sea/Celestial (Libretalia)
Vogan - [Goliath-Hill]Bard - ???(A Dungeon-Delving Campaign Group C)
Jack Vicvan - [Eladrin]Warlock - Archfey