Casrian sighs as he realizes the warrior's wounds are beyond his skill ((he needs elvish medicine!)). There is nothing more he can do for the man he killed. "Help him, if you can," he says if anyone ends up trying to help.
He nearly wipes his forehead with a bloody hand, notices, and wipes it on his black cloak instead. He takes a moment to search the fallen warrior.
Norr glances at Dolmek. He had not expected the dwarf to be the first to call for firewater … ever. He had noted how Dolmek perspired at the mention of it prior to the fight. (How much does he glean about Dolmek in this moment?)
Something personal has definitely been stirred up yesterday his birthday today he is remembering losing his father at the age of 5. He looks like a storm of emotions mostly when he sees Brix’s injury.
Casrian sighs as he realizes the warrior's wounds are beyond his skill ((he needs elvish medicine!)). There is nothing more he can do for the man he killed. "Help him, if you can," he says if anyone ends up trying to help.
He nearly wipes his forehead with a bloody hand, notices, and wipes it on his black cloak instead. He takes a moment to search the fallen warrior.
“They stealthily create magnificent, genius plots and carry them out,“ repeats Norr, and he buffs his nails on his leathers, self satisfied, grinning. “Surely their failure and route today precludes this organizations involvement in today’s piteous assassination attempt.”
“However, purely for argument’s sake, what ventures have this group been caught in to date? What motives have been uncovered? Perhaps we can peace together some fraction of an agenda, what they want for the empire, and the methods they employ to achieve it?”
I have, to be honest, no clue whatsoever. I'm not even sure the White Knights, or the Kejsare's elite bodyguards, know of the organization's existence. Personally, I only discovered the organization when I and my group of "colleagues" raided a bunker of sorts. There was a list of orders, but each and every one was crossed out. To be honest, all that I just shared with you are my assumptions and deductions based on the orders that I found.
“Well you have been very free then, friend, and we are in your debt. We know more now than we did, and we are grateful. Let us not leave your library in such a state.”
While Brix is (hopefully) preparing their celebratory firewater, Norr wields his ring and Prestidigitation to clean, to remove odours, and replace books by hand or by spell.
As he passes Dolmek, he raps him on the shoulder. A faint and soothing musical melody wraps around him, and the scent of soothing eucalyptus. Norr claps him on the shoulder, gives him a bolstering squeeze. It’s clear that Brix’s injury has stirred up some deep memory, and it endears him to Norr who was similarly angered.
“These artefacts in the circle of stone, if they’re as powerful as you claim, I suppose that’s incentive enough in itself. The weapons of the fey are not to be underestimated.”
He spies Casrian fiddling with the lockbox. “That’s twee. What’s that, can you open it?”
Brix hurries to Casrians side grumbling "Aye I'll save him if just so I can kill him myself.". As he does he begins to pull ingredients from the deer horn vials contained on his chest bandoliers and add them to a small cup from his belt. Unfortunately as he looks over the masked scoundrel he sees that the newly revealed drow has slipped past his abilities. Brix pours the concoction on the dark elfs wounds anyway. When the attempt fails he mutters his favorite curse, " BAH!! Aehh just as well. Heard of these types. Wouldn't have gotten anything from him anyway. Now what's this about wanting some of ma family brew?" Brix unslings his pack and rummaged about before producing a small flask. He then takes the appropriate amounts of reagent vials from his bandoliers and gingerly pours each member a shot. "Uh-ha I knew you'd develop a taste for it! To new traditions and new friends!" He holds up the vial in toast before downing the.clear fiery liquid.
"Thank you, Master Brix," Casrian says to the gnome. He goes to clean his rapier, but the last traces of blood are already being magicked away by Norr's spell. He gives a half-hearted nod to the half-elf and sheathes the blade.
He pulls a small leather pouch from a hidden pocket and pulls out some lockpicks. He sets to work on the box.
This post has potentially manipulated dice roll results.
I have, to be honest, no clue whatsoever. I'm not even sure the White Knights, or the Kejsare's elite bodyguards, know of the organization's existence.
Dolmek downs his Firewater, feels the heat. Norr’s kindness has helped settle Dolmek’s distress considerably. However there’s no time like the present, Dolmek looks for an out of the way space to don his chain mail, trusting the others to share relevant information. ‘Responsibility, from now on armed and armored will be the daily attire.’
He looks fondly at the silver and turquoise Silverstone heraldry 3 stacked stones. ‘I’ll do my best dad.’ As he dons his inherited armor his mind goes over the unanswered questions surrounding his fathers death...
(Brilliant. I’m glad. Always happy to change anything that’s irritating to players.)
Insight —> 22 (if needed).
”Mr. Philbin, a firewater for all of us and our new blood brother, the master Scribe. It is time for that ritual of fellowship.”
Norr glances at Dolmek. He had not expected the dwarf to be the first to call for firewater … ever. He had noted how Dolmek perspired at the mention of it prior to the fight. (How much does he glean about Dolmek in this moment?)
"Since when was there a bloody ritual for this? Aren't friends just friends?"
I have, to be honest, no clue whatsoever. I'm not even sure the White Knights, or the Kejsare's elite bodyguards, know of the organization's existence.
Dolmek downs his Firewater, feels the heat. Norr’s kindness has helped settle Dolmek’s distress considerably. However there’s no time like the present, Dolmek looks for an out of the way space to don his chain mail, trusting the others to share relevant information. ‘Responsibility, from now on armed and armored will be the daily attire.’
He looks fondly at the silver and turquoise Silverstone heraldry 3 stacked stones. ‘I’ll do my best dad.’ As he dons his inherited armor his mind goes over the unanswered questions surrounding his fathers death...
(This and noticing his distress from the previous posts discussing it) "Aye, what appears to be the trouble?"
Brix hurries to Casrians side grumbling "Aye I'll save him if just so I can kill him myself.". As he does he begins to pull ingredients from the deer horn vials contained on his chest bandoliers and add them to a small cup from his belt. Unfortunately as he looks over the masked scoundrel he sees that the newly revealed drow has slipped past his abilities. Brix pours the concoction on the dark elfs wounds anyway. When the attempt fails he mutters his favorite curse, " BAH!! Aehh just as well. Heard of these types. Wouldn't have gotten anything from him anyway. Now what's this about wanting some of ma family brew?" Brix unslings his pack and rummaged about before producing a small flask. He then takes the appropriate amounts of reagent vials from his bandoliers and gingerly pours each member a shot. "Uh-ha I knew you'd develop a taste for it! To new traditions and new friends!" He holds up the vial in toast before downing the.clear fiery liquid.
"May I please not get one? That stuff is... not to my taste."
“They stealthily create magnificent, genius plots and carry them out,“ repeats Norr, and he buffs his nails on his leathers, self satisfied, grinning. “Surely their failure and route today precludes this organizations involvement in today’s piteous assassination attempt.”
“However, purely for argument’s sake, what ventures have this group been caught in to date? What motives have been uncovered? Perhaps we can peace together some fraction of an agenda, what they want for the empire, and the methods they employ to achieve it?”
I have, to be honest, no clue whatsoever. I'm not even sure the White Knights, or the Kejsare's elite bodyguards, know of the organization's existence. Personally, I only discovered the organization when I and my group of "colleagues" raided a bunker of sorts. There was a list of orders, but each and every one was crossed out. To be honest, all that I just shared with you are my assumptions and deductions based on the orders that I found.
"Aye, even if ye don't know everything about what we're facing, thank ye fer yer help!"
“Leo, you’re quiet. But I’ve the sense, if our path takes us through the woods to Cora City, we will rely on you. It is clear we cannot afford delay, if already assassins are sent. We must find who sent them. We must convince them that we are not an obstacle that can be overcome by force.
“What do we need, to navigate there quickly and safely, on a traversable route with utmost haste?”
Norr has come to stop next to Casrian.
“Milord,” he says, but this time there is no tenseness, there is a quirk to his smile. Casrian’s actions to save his enemy, his style of combat, and his obvious compassion…
There is a bond now between the Firewater Five that Norr cannot deny.
Norr points at the mask. “May I?”
(If Casrian agrees, Norr examines it cursorily, then stows it in his pack, wrapped in loose paper from the floor, uncleaned and unaltered. Once they are not in the city he will take it into his ring the next time he enters, until they reach Cora City, to keep it more secure.)
“Leo, you’re quiet. But I’ve the sense, if our path takes us through the woods to Cora City, we will rely on you. It is clear we cannot afford delay, if already assassins are sent. We must find who sent them. We must convince them that we are not an obstacle that can be overcome by force.
“What do we need, to navigate there quickly and safely, on a traversable route with utmost haste?”
Norr has come to stop next to Casrian.
“Milord,” he says, but this time there is no tenseness, there is a quirk to his smile. Casrian’s actions to save his enemy, his style of combat, and his obvious compassion…
There is a bond now between the Firewater Five that Norr cannot deny.
Norr points at the mask. “May I?”
(If Casrian agrees, Norr examines it cursorily, then stows it in his pack, wrapped in loose paper from the floor, uncleaned and unaltered. Once they are not in the city he will take it into his ring the next time he enters, until they reach Cora City, to keep it more secure.)
"Aye, what do ye mean I'm quiet? And in terms of navigation, I am probably the bast at it out of us, so that sounds like a plan!"
"Aye, everyone, I want to know if suddenly we have to bond over this Firewater. If drinking in general is fine, I'll see what else I can find."
“Leo, you’re quiet. But I’ve the sense, if our path takes us through the woods to Cora City, we will rely on you. It is clear we cannot afford delay, if already assassins are sent. We must find who sent them. We must convince them that we are not an obstacle that can be overcome by force.
“What do we need, to navigate there quickly and safely, on a traversable route with utmost haste?”
Norr has come to stop next to Casrian.
“Milord,” he says, but this time there is no tenseness, there is a quirk to his smile. Casrian’s actions to save his enemy, his style of combat, and his obvious compassion…
There is a bond now between the Firewater Five that Norr cannot deny.
Norr points at the mask. “May I?”
(If Casrian agrees, Norr examines it cursorily, then stows it in his pack, wrapped in loose paper from the floor, uncleaned and unaltered. Once they are not in the city he will take it into his ring the next time he enters, until they reach Cora City, to keep it more secure.)
"Aye, what do ye mean I'm quiet? And in terms of navigation, I am probably the bast at it out of us, so that sounds like a plan!"
"Aye, everyone, I want to know if suddenly we have to bond over this Firewater. If drinking in general is fine, I'll see what else I can find."
“Nothing in life worth having comes easy, my friend. Some bands have tattoos. Some boys must walk over fire to become men. Some must hunt with wildkin. Firewater is not the drink that we drink to drink, and that is not why we must drink it, it should be the fire we consume to show that the ferocity in our heart, that the fellowship in our united purpose is enough. Enough to overcome lesser pains that we shall encounter on this path.”
”I trothed my dagger to the band, and Casrian gave his troth by coin. But these customs are our customs, not the custom of all. Three of us did not have a tradition to add.”
”Ritual is important. Master Pard, the road ahead will be hard. You will be scoured. Our enemies will be strong. How tightly will you hold. What bond do we share. What is your custom?!”
For once Norr seems deadly serious. He has stepped closer to Leo, into the range of his claws and strength and, though Norr is smaller and slighter, he looks up into Leo’s eyes with great intensity. He speaks plain, his smile is absent. There is a draught from somewhere, the wind nearest to him seems agitated and frenetic, and the dull ring on his finger is brighter. More like a gray sky at dawn, than before.
There is a sense to this. For some reason, something he has not said, words and bonds and promises are important to Norr. Important in a way that is bigger than mere words.
As he is taking the next 10 minutes to don his armor Dolmek for the first time opens up about his past.
When I was a wee lad my father was murdered. I can’t prove it, but I know it to be true. My mother never recovered she was like a broken stone. My advisor Chandle has been a great help and guide to me, we hired on 2 more who’ve been indispensable to me ever since. I’ve never been just a boy. I almost lost hope till yesterday joining me to eat and drink, I was encouraged. You are a friend Leo, I can’t explain it but I will be loyal till our ways part. When Brix offered a bit of his family to us it meant a lot. Now I feel like the Firewater five is no joke. When Brix got injured everything crashed down on me, I can’t explain the anger, but it lit a forge fire in me. Kinda like Firewater (ha ha). There’s no going back now. Thank you Leo, I hope you can accept my friendship.”
“Leo, you’re quiet. But I’ve the sense, if our path takes us through the woods to Cora City, we will rely on you. It is clear we cannot afford delay, if already assassins are sent. We must find who sent them. We must convince them that we are not an obstacle that can be overcome by force.
“What do we need, to navigate there quickly and safely, on a traversable route with utmost haste?”
Norr has come to stop next to Casrian.
“Milord,” he says, but this time there is no tenseness, there is a quirk to his smile. Casrian’s actions to save his enemy, his style of combat, and his obvious compassion…
There is a bond now between the Firewater Five that Norr cannot deny.
Norr points at the mask. “May I?”
(If Casrian agrees, Norr examines it cursorily, then stows it in his pack, wrapped in loose paper from the floor, uncleaned and unaltered. Once they are not in the city he will take it into his ring the next time he enters, until they reach Cora City, to keep it more secure.)
"Aye, what do ye mean I'm quiet? And in terms of navigation, I am probably the bast at it out of us, so that sounds like a plan!"
"Aye, everyone, I want to know if suddenly we have to bond over this Firewater. If drinking in general is fine, I'll see what else I can find."
“Nothing in life worth having comes easy, my friend. Some bands have tattoos. Some boys must walk over fire to become men. Some must hunt with wildkin. Firewater is not the drink that we drink to drink, and that is not why we must drink it, it should be the fire we consume to show that the ferocity in our heart, that the fellowship in our united purpose is enough. Enough to overcome lesser pains that we shall encounter on this path.”
”I trothed my dagger to the band, and Casrian gave his troth by coin. But these customs are our customs, not the custom of all. Three of us did not have a tradition to add.”
”Ritual is important. Master Pard, the road ahead will be hard. You will be scoured. Our enemies will be strong. How tightly will you hold. What bond do we share. What is your custom?!”
For once Norr seems deadly serious. He has stepped closer to Leo, into the range of his claws and strength and, though Norr is smaller and slighter, he looks up into Leo’s eyes with great intensity. He speaks plain, his smile is absent. There is a draught from somewhere, the wind nearest to him seems agitated and frenetic, and the dull ring on his finger is brighter. More like a gray sky at dawn, than before.
There is a sense to this. For some reason, something he has not said, words and bonds and promises are important to Norr. Important in a way that is bigger than mere words.
Hearing his words and seeing his intensity, Leo understands where he's coming from. For (OOC knowledge) Leo's only true friend he ever had been friends with him since birth (quite literally) so he always saw friendship in such a non-formal way before. He realizes that friendship is more than he used to think, and that it's different for everyone. Leo then smiles, nods, and says "Aye, then Firewater it shall be. Aye Brix, could I actually have some of that there Firewater of yer's?"
As he is taking the next 10 minutes to don his armor Dolmek for the first time opens up about his past.
When I was a wee lad my father was murdered. I can’t prove it, but I know it to be true. My mother never recovered she was like a broken stone. My advisor Chandle has been a great help and guide to me, we hired on 2 more who’ve been indispensable to me ever since. I’ve never been just a boy. I almost lost hope till yesterday joining me to eat and drink, I was encouraged. You are a friend Leo, I can’t explain it but I will be loyal till our ways part. When Brix offered a bit of his family to us it meant a lot. Now I feel like the Firewater five is no joke. When Brix got injured everything crashed down on me, I can’t explain the anger, but it lit a forge fire in me. Kinda like Firewater (ha ha). There’s no going back now. Thank you Leo, I hope you can accept my friendship.”
"Aye, I accept yer friendship, and in fact, I accept it fer all of ye!"
"Aye, I'd like to say, that ye all are the first real friends of mine besides my brother. Fer that, I am certainly grateful!"
This post has potentially manipulated dice roll results.
Looking up from his work on the henchman, Brix notices Carsian is bleeding as well. "Whoa friend, looks like yu could use a bit of attention yerself." Before consent can even be given Brix is sprspreading healing salve on Carsians wounds. The salve grants7 healing.
“Leo, you’re quiet. But I’ve the sense, if our path takes us through the woods to Cora City, we will rely on you. It is clear we cannot afford delay, if already assassins are sent. We must find who sent them. We must convince them that we are not an obstacle that can be overcome by force.
“What do we need, to navigate there quickly and safely, on a traversable route with utmost haste?”
Norr has come to stop next to Casrian.
“Milord,” he says, but this time there is no tenseness, there is a quirk to his smile. Casrian’s actions to save his enemy, his style of combat, and his obvious compassion…
There is a bond now between the Firewater Five that Norr cannot deny.
Norr points at the mask. “May I?”
(If Casrian agrees, Norr examines it cursorily, then stows it in his pack, wrapped in loose paper from the floor, uncleaned and unaltered. Once they are not in the city he will take it into his ring the next time he enters, until they reach Cora City, to keep it more secure.)
"Aye, what do ye mean I'm quiet? And in terms of navigation, I am probably the bast at it out of us, so that sounds like a plan!"
"Aye, everyone, I want to know if suddenly we have to bond over this Firewater. If drinking in general is fine, I'll see what else I can find."
“Nothing in life worth having comes easy, my friend. Some bands have tattoos. Some boys must walk over fire to become men. Some must hunt with wildkin. Firewater is not the drink that we drink to drink, and that is not why we must drink it, it should be the fire we consume to show that the ferocity in our heart, that the fellowship in our united purpose is enough. Enough to overcome lesser pains that we shall encounter on this path.”
”I trothed my dagger to the band, and Casrian gave his troth by coin. But these customs are our customs, not the custom of all. Three of us did not have a tradition to add.”
”Ritual is important. Master Pard, the road ahead will be hard. You will be scoured. Our enemies will be strong. How tightly will you hold. What bond do we share. What is your custom?!”
For once Norr seems deadly serious. He has stepped closer to Leo, into the range of his claws and strength and, though Norr is smaller and slighter, he looks up into Leo’s eyes with great intensity. He speaks plain, his smile is absent. There is a draught from somewhere, the wind nearest to him seems agitated and frenetic, and the dull ring on his finger is brighter. More like a gray sky at dawn, than before.
There is a sense to this. For some reason, something he has not said, words and bonds and promises are important to Norr. Important in a way that is bigger than mere words.
Hearing his words and seeing his intensity, Leo understands where he's coming from. For (OOC knowledge) Leo's only true friend he ever had been friends with him since birth (quite literally) so he always saw friendship in such a non-formal way before. He realizes that friendship is more than he used to think, and that it's different for everyone. Leo then smiles, nods, and says "Aye, then Firewater it shall be. Aye Brix, could I actually have some of that there Firewater of yer's?"
As he is taking the next 10 minutes to don his armor Dolmek for the first time opens up about his past.
When I was a wee lad my father was murdered. I can’t prove it, but I know it to be true. My mother never recovered she was like a broken stone. My advisor Chandle has been a great help and guide to me, we hired on 2 more who’ve been indispensable to me ever since. I’ve never been just a boy. I almost lost hope till yesterday joining me to eat and drink, I was encouraged. You are a friend Leo, I can’t explain it but I will be loyal till our ways part. When Brix offered a bit of his family to us it meant a lot. Now I feel like the Firewater five is no joke. When Brix got injured everything crashed down on me, I can’t explain the anger, but it lit a forge fire in me. Kinda like Firewater (ha ha). There’s no going back now. Thank you Leo, I hope you can accept my friendship.”
"Aye, I accept yer friendship, and in fact, I accept it fer all of ye!"
"Aye, I'd like to say, that ye all are the first real friends of mine besides my brother. Fer that, I am certainly grateful!"
Norr watches as Brix casts a strange, solid sort of magic upon Casrian and his wounds close.
He is leaning against the end of one bookshelf, and as Dolmek shares the tale of his father with Leo, he hears it all. As Leo talks of his only true friend, he hears it. Casrian’s pained face eases, and the smaller Brix looks much improved, only some small subtle marks remaining from his previously grievous injury.
Norr has one foot flat against the bookshelf with his knee bent, and he doesn’t stand straight to speak, remaining at rest in this insolent way.
“You have asked nothing of me, I, who have always been asked much of. You’ve bled with me, fought with me, listened to me. I wield a genie’s magic, wear a genie’s ring, and I have waited for your questions, waited for the innocent touch — the sleight of hand — the avarice and the theft. It has not come.”
“To be of like mind with Master Pard, I say, ‘aye’. Yes. You are my friends. You shall be, if you will have it.”
With Prestidigitation he conjures a small shot glass for a moment. “In uttermost serious then, how about it? Let this be a true ritual, on this one occasion. Let this be a promise for fire in our hearts and loyalty that burns us to be true to one another, for as long as this shall take, and then friendship after, for all our days. The Firewater Five.”
Norr watches as Brix casts a strange, solid sort of magic upon Casrian and his wounds close.
He is leaning against the end of one bookshelf, and as Dolmek shares the tale of his father with Leo, he hears it all. As Leo talks of his only true friend, he hears it. Casrian’s pained face eases, and the smaller Brix looks much improved, only some small subtle marks remaining from his previously grievous injury.
Norr has one foot flat against the bookshelf with his knee bent, and he doesn’t stand straight to speak, remaining at rest in this insolent way.
“You have asked nothing of me, I, who have always been asked much of. You’ve bled with me, fought with me, listened to me. I wield a genie’s magic, wear a genie’s ring, and I have waited for your questions, waited for the innocent touch — the sleight of hand — the avarice and the theft. It has not come.”
“To be of like mind with Master Pard, I say, ‘aye’. Yes. You are my friends. You shall be, if you will have it.”
With Prestidigitation he conjures a small shot glass for a moment. “In uttermost serious then, how about it? Let this be a true ritual, on this one occasion. Let this be a promise for fire in our hearts and loyalty that burns us to be true to one another, for as long as this shall take, and then friendship after, for all our days.”
"G-Genies magic?!?! I thought ye were some sort of sorcerer, naturally gifted with magic! That is why I never asked ye any questions. But now I be curious!"
Oh, and add 92 xp to your characters for defeating the masked warriors and the mage.
DMing:
Dragons of Stormwreck Isle
Playing:
None sadly.
Optimization Guides:
Literally Too Angry to Die - A Guide to Optimizing a Barbarian
I think Hunter should decide how much Norr gleans. He knows Dolmek better than I do.
DMing:
Dragons of Stormwreck Isle
Playing:
None sadly.
Optimization Guides:
Literally Too Angry to Die - A Guide to Optimizing a Barbarian
Casrian sighs as he realizes the warrior's wounds are beyond his skill ((he needs elvish medicine!)). There is nothing more he can do for the man he killed. "Help him, if you can," he says if anyone ends up trying to help.
He nearly wipes his forehead with a bloody hand, notices, and wipes it on his black cloak instead. He takes a moment to search the fallen warrior.
Investigation: 25 (NAT 20!!!)
(Ah. Drat.)
Something personal has definitely been stirred up yesterday his birthday today he is remembering losing his father at the age of 5. He looks like a storm of emotions mostly when he sees Brix’s injury.
You find:
A spear
A mask
his face (you don't know him, he's a drow.)
A locked small box.
DMing:
Dragons of Stormwreck Isle
Playing:
None sadly.
Optimization Guides:
Literally Too Angry to Die - A Guide to Optimizing a Barbarian
“Well you have been very free then, friend, and we are in your debt. We know more now than we did, and we are grateful. Let us not leave your library in such a state.”
While Brix is (hopefully) preparing their celebratory firewater, Norr wields his ring and Prestidigitation to clean, to remove odours, and replace books by hand or by spell.
As he passes Dolmek, he raps him on the shoulder. A faint and soothing musical melody wraps around him, and the scent of soothing eucalyptus. Norr claps him on the shoulder, gives him a bolstering squeeze. It’s clear that Brix’s injury has stirred up some deep memory, and it endears him to Norr who was similarly angered.
“These artefacts in the circle of stone, if they’re as powerful as you claim, I suppose that’s incentive enough in itself. The weapons of the fey are not to be underestimated.”
He spies Casrian fiddling with the lockbox. “That’s twee. What’s that, can you open it?”
Brix hurries to Casrians side grumbling "Aye I'll save him if just so I can kill him myself.". As he does he begins to pull ingredients from the deer horn vials contained on his chest bandoliers and add them to a small cup from his belt. Unfortunately as he looks over the masked scoundrel he sees that the newly revealed drow has slipped past his abilities. Brix pours the concoction on the dark elfs wounds anyway. When the attempt fails he mutters his favorite curse, " BAH!! Aehh just as well. Heard of these types. Wouldn't have gotten anything from him anyway. Now what's this about wanting some of ma family brew?" Brix unslings his pack and rummaged about before producing a small flask. He then takes the appropriate amounts of reagent vials from his bandoliers and gingerly pours each member a shot. "Uh-ha I knew you'd develop a taste for it! To new traditions and new friends!" He holds up the vial in toast before downing the.clear fiery liquid.
**This Space for Rent**
"Thank you, Master Brix," Casrian says to the gnome. He goes to clean his rapier, but the last traces of blood are already being magicked away by Norr's spell. He gives a half-hearted nod to the half-elf and sheathes the blade.
He pulls a small leather pouch from a hidden pocket and pulls out some lockpicks. He sets to work on the box.
Dexterity check: 11 (meh)
history 8 White Knights
Dolmek downs his Firewater, feels the heat. Norr’s kindness has helped settle Dolmek’s distress considerably. However there’s no time like the present, Dolmek looks for an out of the way space to don his chain mail, trusting the others to share relevant information. ‘Responsibility, from now on armed and armored will be the daily attire.’
He looks fondly at the silver and turquoise Silverstone heraldry 3 stacked stones. ‘I’ll do my best dad.’ As he dons his inherited armor his mind goes over the unanswered questions surrounding his fathers death...
As Leo Lowers his bow...
"Since when was there a bloody ritual for this? Aren't friends just friends?"
(This and noticing his distress from the previous posts discussing it) "Aye, what appears to be the trouble?"
"May I please not get one? That stuff is... not to my taste."
"Aye, even if ye don't know everything about what we're facing, thank ye fer yer help!"
“Leo, you’re quiet. But I’ve the sense, if our path takes us through the woods to Cora City, we will rely on you. It is clear we cannot afford delay, if already assassins are sent. We must find who sent them. We must convince them that we are not an obstacle that can be overcome by force.
“What do we need, to navigate there quickly and safely, on a traversable route with utmost haste?”
Norr has come to stop next to Casrian.
“Milord,” he says, but this time there is no tenseness, there is a quirk to his smile. Casrian’s actions to save his enemy, his style of combat, and his obvious compassion…
There is a bond now between the Firewater Five that Norr cannot deny.
Norr points at the mask. “May I?”
(If Casrian agrees, Norr examines it cursorily, then stows it in his pack, wrapped in loose paper from the floor, uncleaned and unaltered. Once they are not in the city he will take it into his ring the next time he enters, until they reach Cora City, to keep it more secure.)
"Aye, what do ye mean I'm quiet? And in terms of navigation, I am probably the bast at it out of us, so that sounds like a plan!"
"Aye, everyone, I want to know if suddenly we have to bond over this Firewater. If drinking in general is fine, I'll see what else I can find."
“Nothing in life worth having comes easy, my friend. Some bands have tattoos. Some boys must walk over fire to become men. Some must hunt with wildkin. Firewater is not the drink that we drink to drink, and that is not why we must drink it, it should be the fire we consume to show that the ferocity in our heart, that the fellowship in our united purpose is enough. Enough to overcome lesser pains that we shall encounter on this path.”
”I trothed my dagger to the band, and Casrian gave his troth by coin. But these customs are our customs, not the custom of all. Three of us did not have a tradition to add.”
”Ritual is important. Master Pard, the road ahead will be hard. You will be scoured. Our enemies will be strong. How tightly will you hold. What bond do we share. What is your custom?!”
For once Norr seems deadly serious. He has stepped closer to Leo, into the range of his claws and strength and, though Norr is smaller and slighter, he looks up into Leo’s eyes with great intensity. He speaks plain, his smile is absent. There is a draught from somewhere, the wind nearest to him seems agitated and frenetic, and the dull ring on his finger is brighter. More like a gray sky at dawn, than before.
There is a sense to this. For some reason, something he has not said, words and bonds and promises are important to Norr. Important in a way that is bigger than mere words.
As he is taking the next 10 minutes to don his armor Dolmek for the first time opens up about his past.
When I was a wee lad my father was murdered. I can’t prove it, but I know it to be true. My mother never recovered she was like a broken stone. My advisor Chandle has been a great help and guide to me, we hired on 2 more who’ve been indispensable to me ever since. I’ve never been just a boy. I almost lost hope till yesterday joining me to eat and drink, I was encouraged. You are a friend Leo, I can’t explain it but I will be loyal till our ways part. When Brix offered a bit of his family to us it meant a lot. Now I feel like the Firewater five is no joke. When Brix got injured everything crashed down on me, I can’t explain the anger, but it lit a forge fire in me. Kinda like Firewater (ha ha). There’s no going back now. Thank you Leo, I hope you can accept my friendship.”
Dolmek returns, from donning his armor, and before he opens up, Norr steps back.
Hearing his words and seeing his intensity, Leo understands where he's coming from. For (OOC knowledge) Leo's only true friend he ever had been friends with him since birth (quite literally) so he always saw friendship in such a non-formal way before. He realizes that friendship is more than he used to think, and that it's different for everyone. Leo then smiles, nods, and says "Aye, then Firewater it shall be. Aye Brix, could I actually have some of that there Firewater of yer's?"
"Aye, I accept yer friendship, and in fact, I accept it fer all of ye!"
"Aye, I'd like to say, that ye all are the first real friends of mine besides my brother. Fer that, I am certainly grateful!"
Looking up from his work on the henchman, Brix notices Carsian is bleeding as well. "Whoa friend, looks like yu could use a bit of attention yerself." Before consent can even be given Brix is sprspreading healing salve on Carsians wounds. The salve grants7 healing.
**This Space for Rent**
Norr watches as Brix casts a strange, solid sort of magic upon Casrian and his wounds close.
He is leaning against the end of one bookshelf, and as Dolmek shares the tale of his father with Leo, he hears it all. As Leo talks of his only true friend, he hears it. Casrian’s pained face eases, and the smaller Brix looks much improved, only some small subtle marks remaining from his previously grievous injury.
Norr has one foot flat against the bookshelf with his knee bent, and he doesn’t stand straight to speak, remaining at rest in this insolent way.
“You have asked nothing of me, I, who have always been asked much of. You’ve bled with me, fought with me, listened to me. I wield a genie’s magic, wear a genie’s ring, and I have waited for your questions, waited for the innocent touch — the sleight of hand — the avarice and the theft. It has not come.”
“To be of like mind with Master Pard, I say, ‘aye’. Yes. You are my friends. You shall be, if you will have it.”
With Prestidigitation he conjures a small shot glass for a moment. “In uttermost serious then, how about it? Let this be a true ritual, on this one occasion. Let this be a promise for fire in our hearts and loyalty that burns us to be true to one another, for as long as this shall take, and then friendship after, for all our days. The Firewater Five.”
"G-Genies magic?!?! I thought ye were some sort of sorcerer, naturally gifted with magic! That is why I never asked ye any questions. But now I be curious!"