"Was that so hard, Speedy?"  Nivi's smile at the gutter rat of a girl is genuinely fond, as the little one reminds the rogue of herself.  "I'm Nivi."

Lady Baroness Wachter, eh?  Bones to feed her dog.  Right.  Wonder if any of us has heard of her.  Ruby has, probably at least.  Aloud, she says:

"Thing is, her esteemed Ladyship Wachter's not the only one who can keep you fed.  So happens, I've got some rations right here, and silver to buy more without conning you and your brother there into lifting holy relics out of church graves, yeah?  And if it's pooches you like, none finer than old Morty."

Nivi grins wickedly at the chance to violate Jack's personal space without any apparent breach of propriety, petting the mastiff and giving him a vigorous scratch under the ribs.  She grins at the girl with an overly loud conspiratorial whisper.  "You scratch him just so and it makes his hind leg go all twitchy."

"Now what do you say we go back to your brother and my friends?  Might look fierce, the dark elf and the masked glow-knight, the thug behind the tree and the owl overhead, but truth is, they all mean well.  Better than I do, probably.  Well, all except the thug, anyway.  I'll make the intros."

If the girl appears ready, Nivi begins leading her back to the group, pulling two rations from her pack in promise.  If necessary, Nivi assists in reviving the little boy, then hands over the food (rations) to the two, lending her waterskin as well, then crouching down to get on the same level as the kiddos.

"These are Beren, Olamoira, Arugal, Morty who goes by Jack when he walks on two legs, and Shiv the owl.  This little terror here here is Speedy.  So now that we're all friends, you know the first question, yeah Speedy?  Where are the bones now?  In the house?  Or you already make the handoff?  Which case, we need to pay a visit to her lovely Ladyship Wachter and pry them back from the jaws of her dog who wants to gnaw on them allegedly."

When the boy passes out, Beren hesitates a moment almost as if unsure whether or not the kid's sudden loss of consciousness was his fault somehow... but quickly realizes that's foolishness. Still, he approaches slowly just in case the boy comes too, allowing Moira the honors of picking the kid up out of the dirt. As he walks, he takes note of Nivi talking to the girl a good distance away, and in spite of not being able to hear what she is saying, he can tell its going... well as good as it can go he expects. 

If the boy is still out cold by the time he gets over there, he'll hesitantly kneel down. There isn't much he can do about this aside from wandering off to find some cold water, which he doesn't feel like doing, so instead he'll give the kid a blank "masked" stare and then sigh before standing up again and watching as Nivi comes over. Hopefully they can get what they need out of the girl, and hopefully the boy doesn't wake up just to pass out from terror again. 

"This one... passed out," he says as Nivi arrives. Then he slowly turns his mask towards the girl, "Did she have anything to say?" 

He falls silent when Nivi moves to help revive the boy, feeling slightly guilty for not bothering to do so himself. Still, better that he wake up to find a less intimidating face looking down at him anyways. He takes a step backwards, putting some distance between himself and the kids in an attempt to make them more comfortable, nodding silently when Nivi tells the kids his name. 

As the boy collapses in sheer terror before her as she charges after him, Olamoira feels the blood drain from her face--though it's not so noticeable to anyone else, due to the dark color of her skin. She reels for a moment. What did I do?? No... nothing! I did nothing. The venom was released, but the spider's fangs were stayed. Thank the Light... and, she reminds herself grimly, it is why I carry no blade... holding her composure remarkably well for having experienced a dark enough regression that would normally leave her wailing on the ground and beating her breast, she instead kneels down carefully to check the boy's level of consciousness, to see if he can be roused, and then to lift him near as easily as a bundle of reeds.

Semi-conscious of Beren's blank concern over the unconscious child, Ola gives the stoic knight a strained smile that is supposed to be reassuring, although it comes off less so with the haunted hollows under her eyes standing out darkly. Wordlessly she carries the boy back to Nivi, and says nothing herself in explanation, but lays him down where Nivi can assist with reviving him.

Medicine: 16

(@Tybard: Took me waaaay too long to register the Jack interaction from Nivi. My bad. x_x;)

Sharp as his ears might've been in his new form, the same couldn't be said for his attention while padding over to Nivi and Jack. Which perhaps might've been a good thing! Because once blindsided by the petting, there was very little chance of any conscious thought from suppressing afformentioned leg twitching and tail ground thumping! Although the moment she stops to start handing over rations, even the Eladrin looked embarrassed and let out a low whine as he lowered himself to the ground, then placed his paws over his nose.

However, in his current season he wasn't one to wallow. So even if given little to no attention, he soon drops the act in favor of padding around the girl and Nivi before laying down beside her. He then lets out a low bark and tries to gesture to his back, before standing up again, if but only to lay down again in what he hoped was a clear message. That one being for the girl to climb aboard, as the trio had a bit of a walk if they wanted to reach the by then passed out boy.

But regardless of whether the Nivi trio reached Beren & Moira or the other way around, Jack would eventually find himself assuming the role of quiet observer, and let things play themselves out. His attention only wavering to look to Arugal or check the nearby roofs for the ongoing absence of crows/ravens.

I shal ltry to post friday.))

Arugal seems glad he didn't have to actually step in. Like the person in a school group project that is willing to put in the work if he has to but won't go beyond the necessary. For now, he simply listened in on the conversation. Nivi might recognize the behavior of one listening in for one reason or another, though not necessarily out of interest as both 'teams' met up somewhere in the middle, not far from the house itself. The sun was starting to fade more than it was naturally, indicating the day was beginning to shift towards twilight. 

Nibbly... I don't have a brother. The girls says plainly at Nivi's assumption. And I dunno what a holy relics is .. they were just some bones. the girl would come off genuine  in her assertions. As she seemed to have composed herself once more, outside the occasional jaw tremor, as if cold, despite the weather not being so. Arugal grunts in consternation at the assertion that he was a 'thug', his face turning dour, insulted as he crossed his arms tightly, revealing he did have some tight muscle in his arms afterall, and the creaking of leather accompanying the motion. Yet he stayed put.

And my name's not speedy, it's Yeska. she says defiantly, as if calling her by any other name was offensive. Odds being it was all she had. And we already gave her the bones a few days ago, so she gave us a lot of food and sweets. she seemed to brighten at that thought briefly, even as Nivi offered her the rations, which the child clearly had no idea what to do with since children tend not to use such for food and obviously had no idea how to open them. And though her eyes did breifly glance at the 'happy' dog, kicking the ground with it's hindpaw, and there was faint interest.. clearly the half-starved girl cared more about the food in the end.

Beren shifting away from the group enough to give the frightened boy space. Moira scans over the child, ultimately determining this was a blackout. The boy would, even without intercession, arouse in a matter of moments to minutes. Carrying him back to his friend and the others and setting him gently down, where Nivi's touch acts at the catalyst for his consciousness to cautiously awaken. He too was bone-thin almost. The pair only having bulging bellies from recent food. And after a moment, he started awake, surrounded by a museum of elves, with the Avatar off to the side, at first he looked as ready to bolt as a coiled cat. But when he see's Yeska and she gives him a catty thumbs up, he slowly rises to a cross-legged sitting position. Looking around, confused at how it had  come to this, and watching Yeska fumble with how to open a ration.

Nivi grins once more at how much the girl reminds her of herself years ago.  In some ways, at least.  Nibbly!  Love it.  Only I never wanted for food when I was a kiddo like these two.  Well, except for those two times I ran away.  And what did I do then?  Snatched what I needed.  Lifted it.  Stole.  Just like Yeska.

"Right.  Yeska it is.  No, here...  Like this."  Nivi helps her unwrap the contents of her ration and then the boy's so they are ready to eat, remaining kneeled down so she is at their level.  "Not your brother, then?  Got a name, big man?  You know mine.  Nivi.  Or Nibbly.  Whichever is good..."

She trails off more somberly.  "Heard of this Lady Wachter broad, anyone?  You say she's a baroness, Yeska?  I thought Lu-lu ran this town.  She's had the bones for a couple-three days, that's no good.  Not sure we got the muscle or rep to be busting into a noble's pad like were gonna do here."

Focusing, back on Yeska, and thinking back to her conversation with Millivoj at the church while absently patting Morty's back, Nivi adds:

"You're all right, Yeska.  Millivoj's little sis at the church, she knew you, yeah?  Said you gave 'em money if they pitched in with chores? And they got honeyed bread with it.  Listen up, though.  No common bones, those.  Holy.  Not full of holes, but magic.  Divine.  Kept the church protected.  Lady Wachter wants them for herself, then she's no good.  Using hungry kids like you to nab 'em...  Even back in Waterdeep, crews had a code 'gainst that."

Although Jack doesn't exactly stop Nivi, having further gotten his wits about him over time, he side-eyed her as she continued patting his back... but didn't stop her. For now. And soon enough his attention wavered again as the conversation continued to more interesting subject. At Nivi's claims of crews and code, he little "Boof"'d and huffed as if chuckling, knowing -- or perhaps only believing the truth to be not quite so cut and dry. But even had he the mind to profess some counter claims if some foolish bid to "educate" Nivi, and in the process make an ass of himself no doubt, he stayed in the form of a dog. 

No point in risking word spread of his abilities from a couple of easily bought off children, after all.... at least, that too, for now...

Beren watches things unfold silently for now, unsure if his own questions were needed at the moment. Still, if the kids seem to have gotten over his presence then he will ask quietly, "Do you have any idea as to why she wanted the bones?" He has a feeling they don't, but decides to ask anyways. "Like Nivi said, removing the bones has put the church at risk. No doubt this Lady Watcher knows this, perhaps she wants that protection for herself... if the bones even hold that power when removed from their resting place."

He gives Morty a glance when the dog barks, unsure as to whether it is a protest against Nivi's petting, or some sort of answer. However, he stays quiet, realizing that Jack likely doesn't want to give away his abilities to these children who may or may not be trustworthy... (simply because they are children and kids often can't keep secrets). 

"Could you tell us where Watcher lives? And what sort of position does she hold in this town? Is she friendly with the burgomaster?" 

Olamoira kneels down as she sets down the boy, and is relieved to see him wake up and, seeing his companion well and assured, become calm himself, if confused and questioning. Perhaps I gave him such a scare that he won't recall it. She tries to keep herself unobtrusive and nonthreatening, kneeling there in her undyed robe and hood, dark skin and pale eyes peering out at the child nervously. Her palms feel slick, and she has to keep glancing at them, making sure they are only wet with perspiration, and not the blood of an infant. Not this time. Not anymore.

If the boy meets her eyes, she smiles reassuringly. "I'm glad you're all right." And she smiles at Yeska, too. "Thank you both for your help! I think our next step will be to find the Lady Wachter and ask her about the bones, hmm?" She waits attentively for the children's answer to Beren's question.

(I shall post on the morrow)

The girl watches as the rations containing portion was opened for her, and as any child would, went straight for the jerky.. the best part of a ration. For a moment the girls eyes sparkle, as if the jerky is the best thing she's ever tasted.. mouth full even as she mumbles So fwesh... making Nivi and whoever else may have been paying attention to that specific moment think back to the food they've had here. And though the food here was good, it did have that taste of 'been on the shelf a day too long' and looking around at the world.. it was as if the depressing grey sucked some of the enjoyment of food out as well... likely the ration she had which came from the outside world was far more 'fresh' than anything the party would find here.

As Nivi addresses the boy, he groans, eyes slowly opening as if he had a headache. Though whether from Moira's fright, or perhaps overeating prior.. maybe even a combination, he rose like a drunken sailor the morning after. Holding a hand to his head, as he looks around. Immediately terror grips him, and for a moment he begins to flee, or rather get up to run before seeing the girl, Yeska eating happily, and collapsing back to his hands and knee's as he slowly, but surely, calmed down. 

Nivi then asking broadly about Wachter. Neither of the children spoke up immediately, but the boy finally saying Names uh.. Van. And the Wachter Lady said she were a baroness. Dunno what that is though. But she gave us food n money.. yea. And we paid Millijobs sister to help us clean faster so we could come back and eat just the other day yeah. he said candidly. Yeska chiming in, teeth still full of jerky.. The bones didnt have any holes.... Said they were just some old bones for doggies. obviously the girl, not understanding, nor did the boy seem to. They both were likely impoverished and uneducated, learning to speak common, and little else.. not that they had much choice in the matter considering their age, and the state of this plane.

And how can bones protect a church? van chimed in, dumbfounded. They were under it anyway, locked.. and they didn't move... he said, obviously conjuring up an image in his mind of some skeleton fighting or similar.

Van turning to look at Beren and briefly seeing panic flash through his eyes and an extended ' stay or run' expression crosses his visage, before he seems to ealize if he was going to be hurt it would have already happened... U-u-uhhh Well she told us both her doggies wanted em, and that only those bones would be good enough cause they were old or somethin'. Paid us right good too.. gave us a ton of food, and five whole gold coings! he said proudly. Something only an urchin would consider a lot. As Beren peppered them with more mostly-relevant questions... Uh, she lives in the big 'ouse over yon. Yeska said, mouth still stuffed as she had finished the entire ration. Belly bulging as she pointed. The house, though distant was the one that at-least one of the party had seen on their way in, the large manse with the less than sound structure, and various plants overgrowing it. And we don't know.. they said in response to his question about her position. These kids likely had never given a thought to masters and serfs, kings and paupers, and all the in between. And uh... I don't think so? Yeska added in to his last question, but clearly unsure.

Though the boy Sees Moira, there doesn't seem to be any recognition. Either he suffered breif amnesia.. luckily for her.. or she wasn't looking like some psychopathic killer charging at her like a banshee, mouth agape!

Olamoira watches the children eat, seemingly enraptured by the sight. How quickly, how completely they respond to their basic needs being met and some connection made with them... She understands more every time, how dark, how twisted was Lloth's desire for their blood, agony, and death. We live upside down, underground, away from the sun, everything turned on its head, lashing out at the right growth of nature and all that Divine order made the world to be... yet it seemed so controlled, so right, so satisfying. There was a glow, where now there is only darkness. But this inner darkness I will take over the outer darkness. It is better that way. She is relieved that the boy in his shock and fright does not seem to recognize her as the threat that chased him. But I am not the same as... that. That was from the past... it has gone away again now.

She begins to explain to the children, slowly. "These bones were not just old bones for a dog to eat. They were the bones of a man---a great man, a hero, who walked with the gods and channeled the grace of Divine Light in a dark world. His prayers and his influence remain where his bones are, and he protects that church. To take his bones away from the church is to give a great insult to that man and those who trust in him, and the grace of his protection is less sure at the church, now, that his bones have been removed. We need to get his bones back, and bring them back to their proper resting place there, where they can continue to protect people."

As Yeska points to the Lady Wachter's manor house, Olamoira looks up, searchingly, peering towards the house. To her companions, she says, "Lady Wachter is the one we must question next." Gently she pats Van's arm and smiles at him.

Jack lets out a low whine, then a gruff bark and shook his head to the sides as if agreeing, if albeit somewhat relunctantly to Olamoira's last point. A thought then occurs to him, and after checking the ground to see there any good loose dirt or mud patches nearby for his next plan, he'd pad over and begin the difficult task of pawing and clawing at the earth in such a way that the common tongue equivalent of an 'R' could be readily seen Although hardly satisfied with the work, he barks once to get peoples attention, and then points with his nose down to the 'R': His shorthand for Rictavio.

(OOC: I would assume performance would suffice for getting his message across with the drawing, but feel free DM to use the corrected modifiers if a check would actually be needed)

Performance: 14.

Beren falls silent, letting Olamoira attempt once more to explain the situation to the children. He crosses his arms, letting out a sigh and a puff of light as he realizes that this conversation might as well be over. The kids were just attempting to satisfy their own needs, and had no clue what they were actually doing by stealing the bones. He can't fault them for that, especially in a place like this where it seems there is little kindness to go around. 

Hearing a whine and a bark from Jack, he turns his attention to the mastiff... only to wonder what the druid is trying to accomplish by digging in the dirt. Is he just trying to keep up appearances of being an ordinary dog? Shaking his head, Beren looks back to Olamoira and Nivi, "I suppose we'd best make our way to this... Lady Wachter's manor. Though I'm not sure what our first move should be." He glances at the children, "We don't want to put these two at risk." 

He shifts, lowering his head slightly--the light behind the mask flickering as he considers their options. Going to Luvash may or may not be a good idea... telling him about the missing bones definitely isn't an option and to be honest Beren is absolutely sick of the fellow. "Perhaps we should return to the church." Hopefully Saelethin is gone, but either way, Lucian should probably be informed and perhaps he would have an idea of who else they could trust with this information. "Or we could simply attempt to gain audience with Wachter and go from there."

Planning really isn't his forte, so hopefully Nivi can provide some more options. 

As Olamoira speaks up, Nivi is glad to quit her own yapping for a moment, nodding to the children as if to indicate:  yeah, what she said.

She looks back at Yeska and Van, and something pulls at the toughened fibers that remain of Nivi's heart.

"Just kiddos, these two.  Gotta do the right th-" (cough, Nivi seems to have difficulty expressing what she is trying to articulate, as if it is new to her.), "... ah, the right thing first.  Gotta have their back, yeah?  Take 'em to the church first.  I... I'm good with leaving Father Lucien some of my gold - make sure they don't go hungry.  I mean, if that's what you want, Yeska and Van.  Not forcing anything."

Nivi's face looks like she is having trouble believing the words coming out of her own mouth.

"Then we deal with Lady Wachter.  Being real, though, if the baroness is using these kids to steal bones to take out the church's divine protection, then stands to reason the worst thing might be the true thing.  That she's in league with you know who."  Nivi looks pointedly at the others.

"Don't want to act like Lu-lu, all fake virtue and suspicion.  I admit that, but still.  Right now, having trouble thinking why else she'd do it.  Some dark power wants into the church, yeah?  Wachter's got to be working for them to swipe the bones.  Already know which dark power controls the mist - out on the lake, bringing zombies and messing with Bluto's mind, making him think I was behind it the whole thing with Arabelle.  Same mist is trying to get into the church, I saw, but coming up short.  Not for long, though, bones being gone.  Don't even see how questioning her does much good.  Powerful woman, probably working for the wrong side, no reason to give us squat.  Could still try, sure.  Or could explain to Lu-lu and sic him on her.  Kids to the church first if they want, though, then we decide, yeah?"

Nivi is open to the group's preference between those two approaches to Lady Wachter, or perhaps some other she hasn't brought up yet (like sneaking in).

As Morty begins behaving differently, Nivi stops petting him and glances over to try to make sense of what he's doing with the dirt and what it might mean.

Nivi Insight:  15

(I will do my best to have a post up by tuesday/wednesday, have to pick up and do some networking. Have a new PC so i'll have to reconnect to everything and all that fun stuff.)

Arugal Listens intently to everything being said. He faintly smirks as everything seems to be coming into a giant circle. Luckily he was too far away to be seen doing so, yet still just within earshot. He hadn't moved from his spot, watching the procession of events.. As much as he craved to do more than stand around and look tough, they hadn't needed him to intervene, and with him not needing to coralle(sp?) Bluto he'd been much more free to do as he pleased. He only hoped the lug wasn't somehow strong enough to  break his bindings.

The children listened to Moira as they ate their jerky, and then slowly worked their way to the other 'snacks' within the ration container. They still didn't seem to fully comprehend it but Yeska chimes in, once Moira is done, saying Oh... They didn't look any different from normal bones... they were just sittin on a rock table... her eyes darting from left to right, and back, as children do when processing information. The boy then adding in Mnyeah... mouth still stuffed And I didn't feel anything when touching them... he said. Yeska again as she shifted in her 'seat' But that's why the church was safe? If I had known... Wachter gave me that food and the moneys for getting it and i had never eaten so much in my life.. I could even pay Milli to do some of my chores it didn't seem wrong... her eyes searching for the logic she knew but hadn't figured out just yet.

Neither Yeska or the boy knew what the dog was up to.. chalking it up to 'dog things' though they both watched it unfold. Likely more interesting than staring at walls as they had been doing most of their lives. And though Jack tried to relay his letter, it came out horribly ragged maybe someone looking at it really hard (18 investigation) would see what he was writing and get it right.

As Nivi returns to the conversation, talking about hacking up the right thing and not leaving them to fend for themselves entirely. Van replies, mouth finally free of food muffling... I don't care where we is, so long as we're not in trouble... We're not in trouble, are we? he asks tentatively... and as Nivi answers before returning her attention to the group and talking about 'you know who' both children seem confused as to who that might be. Even though they live here, they were still young and naieve to certain turns of phrase.

Nivi is unable to determine what Jack is trying to do aside from tell them something.

((Allright, time for your plans of actions and next step! You don't have to RP takign the kids to church, you can mention it if thats what you all decide to do and we  can blackscreen that unless there's somehting specific you wish to do there. Regardless of actions, Saelethin will be found just outside the church grounds))

Olamoira nods very seriously at the children as they try to logic their way through her words. "In one way, they are just bones. Because, well, they're bones. Just like you or me have inside our bodies that someone might see if we died and the rest of our bodies rotted away. Bones aren't going to glow colors or have funny spots... they'll only look like bones. But these were the bones of a holy man, and so the Divine power that accepted him into its embrace upon his death remains there... it's supernatural, you can't see it." Except I can see it, sometimes. But most people can't see it... that's why they all think I'm crazy. The dark elf smiles reassuringly. "Not everyone can see, or feel, supernatural things. Sometimes it takes special graces from a god, or it takes a spell, but these are things beyond our senses of sight, and hearing, and touch, so we can't necessarily see, or hear, or feel them... they're in a different world... but a very powerful one that's more real than ours, in a way. Certainly it affects it so strongly."

She shakes her head. "You didn't do anything wrong. How could you have known? And you're hungry. If no one else cared for you or took pity on you, of course you would do as the first person asked who offered to care for you. You're just children... adults are supposed to take care of you. Your parents, first of all. Where are your parents? Something must have happened to them to leave you here alone. We can take you to the church. The priest there can find someone to help care for you, he has many in his flock. After that, we'll come back and we'll figure out Lady Wachter and the bones, but you'll be safe."

Olamoira looks at Jack's scratching and snuffing in the dirt, but she can't make out what he's trying to communicate. (Investigation: 6) "Jack old boy, you had better tell us very plainly, if something is wrong..."

Unable to really shrug, let alone speak at the moment, Jack canted his head to the side at first, then righted it only to shake it and answer with a solid 'no'. However, more than that, he couldn't be bother doubling down on getting the point across, as it was hardly so pressing a thing If any do manage to decipher his, in hindsight, rather poor paw work, then there would be much tail wagging in glee! But any expectations of further elaboration is only met with a vacant stare... until someone else speaking up draws out his curiosity. 

In any event, he happily contented himself in playing the observer, and padding along behind the group for most of the return trip back to the church (whenever that was to happen). If, however, a moment present itself to him to slip away down some alleyway or some other convenient obstruction, the druid would do so without much hesitance, only to casually play catch up in his true form, having reverted out of sight of anyone as far as he would be aware.

(To DM: Let me know if you need a stealth check for any of  the above.