Corlith watches as Reed rifles through the pockets of the dead before being led away by his folks, and then takes one last look around the cavern before heading out himself.
Once outside, he spots Archie lying down and talking to herself and heads in her direction, trying to catch some of her solo conversation as he approaches.
Reed smiles wearily at his parents and lets himself be led outside. When he spots Archie talking to herself, he says "She does that sometimes. I think it means she's in rough shape, but we really don't know for sure yet."
When he spots the pyre he adds "Guess we can add the ones from inside too."
He looks around the camp.
"The village is going to have to decide about the mine," Reed says to his parents. "There's a lot of gold down there. That's good for the village, but could attract a lot of attention you don't want too."
He looks around for Roo.
"Maybe you hide it for a bit until the village can defend itself properly" Reed says. "Roo's people, the Gallus, need a new home where they can live in peace. They'd be a good addition to the neighborhood and, well, they could help train up a proper militia."
Reed laughs to himself then.
"After that, we tell everyone who will listen about the entire gang of bandits who were slaughtered for messing with the wrong village."
"ironic isn't it, that it's called a mine, everybody vying for ownership, that mine is mine, mine mine mine. Digging themselves deeper into greed, this is what they get huh! Stupid bandits... Hooof I'm beat!" Archie rambles to herself loud enough for Corlith to hear, she splays her arms out and stares up into the sky, just enjoying laying in the ground, with a fire close by.
Roo takes his sweet ass time, shooting around the cavern to look for more bad guys before going through his more unsanitary practices, pulling on bandits's hair, dragging his feathered ass over their faces, flapping his arms / wings, and crowing in triumph...
Virro goes over to assess Archie, concerned about the odd behavior and alternating voices. He sits down beside her and examines for injuries. Mental, or otherwise.
Medicine check : 11
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
A wizard is never late, nor is he early, he arrives precisely when he means to.
Corlith also approaches as Virro examines Archie, a concerned look crossing his face.
"Things are progressing faster now, aren't they Archie? Can you perhaps explain how you feel, physically and mentally? Did you know your voice is alternating between your own and the constructs mid sentence?".
He looks around at the others, seeing how hurt some were.
"We need to rest, but then we should move on to Candlekeep as quickly as possible".
"I uhhh, I can't hear it, but I can feel it like a pressure... I did something stupid." Archie laughs, but there's no joy in it, like an admittance of guilt from a child who had intentionally done something dangerous
As Virro checks her out he lifts her visor and sees that the flame burning therein are orange as they should be, but a tinge of blue radiates from the depths before they lick upwards and into the orange glow that presents itself through the usually closed faceplate. He discerns that something has changed in the relationship between Archie and the IronMaiden and now realises that it has been quite some time since the constructed consciousness has fully taken over.
"I was so scared when you all told me this thing is killing me..." She continues, a crack creeping into her voice, as she sits up and turns her head, "I can't stop it's arcane interference, but I thought I could slow it's mechanical systems. So I bought a magnetic stone when we were on that bridge market... I thought it would suppress the the IronMaiden, but I just feel exhausted. I think it's angry with me. Sometimes it feels like I'm watching myself, like I'm dreaming whilst awake." At this she points to the stone that Corlith had noted before, attached to the base of her neck where the helm meets the body of her armour.
Corlith listens intently to what Archie is saying, and now she has his full attention, he can also just about make out that the words spoken in Ironmaiden's voice also make sense in isolation.
"I'm sorry you were so scared, Archie. I don' think anyone wanted to alarm you so much, but I do think what is happening is serious. And it's just beyond my knowledge. It is quite possible that an expert in artifice will know exactly what to do. That is why we need to get to Candlekeep", he says trying to reassure her a bit, but not wanting to lie or conceal the truth.
"I also think Ironmaiden is trying to communicate with us. I do not think the words spoken in its voice are random. Is it possible Ironmaiden could be sentient?", he asks dubiously.
"I don't know... Communicating? Sentient? I think it's possible but it wouldn't make sense, right? I mean, it is killing me by taking something, drawing something from me, wouldn't it's sentience be mine? Shouldn't it just be a copy of me? Can raw Arcanum have a mind of its own?... I feel like something bad will happen if I take this magnetic stone off."
Archie goes through her pack and pulls out the paper that was in the campsite before the group got busy. "Anyway,We still need to figure out these clues, Amrik's name is here along with a few others" she hands over the paper to Corlith and Virro. Along with Amrik's name there are four others written with monetary amounts, Marge, Taro, Gerald, and Trinity. "Make sure the others see that, oh and please don't tell Reya that I'm struggling, she has enough to worry about."
"A Gallus? Can't say I've ever heard of such a thing. Which one of your friends is a Gallus? I hope it's not the poor thing on the ground over there." Bree looks over worried at Archie, but her main concern is with her son as he is bleeding pretty bad.
Garret nods when Reed mentions adding the others to the pyre, "We'll get some from town to do it, right now, let's get you all to the community hall. I'd offer up our place, but I don't think we have the room for all of you." He scratches his beard as he talks, "Can you all make it back alright?"
Wilfred stares at the bodies, emotionless, leaving heavily on his Glaive. He watches Archie's taking her anger out on the bodies. He never asked when he got back. What's happening to her, what's can they do?
----
Wilfred smiles at Bree when she comes up to him. He let's her lead him out. "I... No, not all right, but I'll get better. Thank you for helping me."
----
Outside, he asks whoever is treating his wounds. "So, what were there names, the men in the mines? The ones who did this to you?"
----
Wilfred watches and listens as the others confront Archie. He goes to Archie and puts a hand on her shoulder. "Archie. I know you're scared. It's going to be okay. We're going to fix this. But... It seems like you two will be sharing this body for the time being. Now, I know it's not the same, but when my kids would fight over sharing, I would always tell them the same thing. Before you fight and dig your heels in, maybe you should talk to one another? If he is, ahhh... whatever it is you just called it, thinking on his own... then maybe it's time for you two to chat? Yea? Good. And remember, we're here for you."
Wilfred smiles down at Archie and gives her shoulder one last squeeze. Then he starts wobbling, and sits himself on the ground nearby. "Phew, I'm not as young as I used to be"
"Those names don't mean anything to me, sorry Archie, although I will think on it", Corlith replies. "But perhaps Wilf is right. We need to get some line of communication open between yourself and Ironmaiden. Perhaps they can even help you piece together what the names and money in the ledger mean. Whatever happens, it seems you are both desperate to live, so working together might be the solution until we can find an expert to help separate you".
"work together...? Iwish we could, but I don't know how to make it work, in the end will only one of us remain... Can you talk to it? Should I remove the stone?" Archie rambles a little thinking of the possibilities of what this option could mean for her.
Once the medicine checks are done with and people start being helped back to town Archie follows along, closing her visor, and waiting to hear from the others their opinions on what she should do.
Reed winces a little when he moves. That last bandit wasn't kidding with those last hits. Serves him right for letting himself get too close. He wasn't built for standing toe to toe with guys like that. It did remind him that he needed to find some better leather armor when he next had the chance.
"I think we can all make it back to the community hall," Reed says with a smile. "Good night's rest in there and we'll be as good as new."
When Roo eventually comes strutting out of the mine, Reed indicates him. "There's Roo. He's the Gallus." Then he adds in a whisper. "Just don't call him a chicken."
Reed hums a little as everyone gets ready to head back to the village.
Apparently completely immune to the current emotional state of the rest of the band, Roo finishes his weird face riding ritual and then adjusts the weird wig he is wearing on his head from the bearded devil just in time to clear the mine hear some question about what a Gallus is.
"What is a Gallus!?" He says, sounding almost indignant. "Why, my good sir, I am a Gallus!"
He puffs out his armored chest, the feathers poking out from sections of plate standing up as he bristles with pride. He struts, stretching his body out as tall as he can make it, a little over a majestic two feet or so.
Virro gathers up his fingers in his pouch and stands after checking on Archie, and he starts to walk, accompanying Reed. “Let’s go to the community hall and gather there, let them know that all is clear and rest for a bit. I think we need to get Archie to Candlekeep. His “illness” is beyond what I can do. Perhaps there is someone there who can help. Let’s move, everyone..”. Virro starts to walk that direction. ((Reed searched the bandits, right?))
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
A wizard is never late, nor is he early, he arrives precisely when he means to.
Corlith ponders the question Archie asked as they walk back to the community hall.
Once there he continues the conversation.
"Ironmaiden seems to have something to say, which they say requires the removal of the stone. I would need their assurance first that it will do no additional harm to you Archie. They have a limited method of communication. Let's see what they say, and then you can choose what to do", he says, hoping to direct par too his comment to Ironmaiden.
"One thing I am certain of, Ironmaiden likely knows more about what is happening than the rest of us. And the timescales".
Archie moves nervously at the suggestion that Corlith talk to IM through her or remove the stone "you can try, what do you think it's saying? What does it want? I think we should probably get some rest first though. We need to be sure this town is safe, pick up Reya and get moving, perhaps after a rest I'll feel better about it later." Archie then shouts ahead at Reed and his family, "hey where can we stay the night? And does the brewery have stock?"
Archie can see the concentration on Corlith's face as he tries to hear the words both Archie and Ironmaiden are speaking, and intepret the double meaning.
"I may need to start writing what you say down", he says with a little shake of his head. "You both want to rest right now. Which suits me fine as well".
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
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Corlith watches as Reed rifles through the pockets of the dead before being led away by his folks, and then takes one last look around the cavern before heading out himself.
Once outside, he spots Archie lying down and talking to herself and heads in her direction, trying to catch some of her solo conversation as he approaches.
Reed smiles wearily at his parents and lets himself be led outside. When he spots Archie talking to herself, he says "She does that sometimes. I think it means she's in rough shape, but we really don't know for sure yet."
When he spots the pyre he adds "Guess we can add the ones from inside too."
He looks around the camp.
"The village is going to have to decide about the mine," Reed says to his parents. "There's a lot of gold down there. That's good for the village, but could attract a lot of attention you don't want too."
He looks around for Roo.
"Maybe you hide it for a bit until the village can defend itself properly" Reed says. "Roo's people, the Gallus, need a new home where they can live in peace. They'd be a good addition to the neighborhood and, well, they could help train up a proper militia."
Reed laughs to himself then.
"After that, we tell everyone who will listen about the entire gang of bandits who were slaughtered for messing with the wrong village."
"ironic isn't it, that it's called a mine, everybody vying for ownership, that mine is mine, mine mine mine. Digging themselves deeper into greed, this is what they get huh! Stupid bandits... Hooof I'm beat!" Archie rambles to herself loud enough for Corlith to hear, she splays her arms out and stares up into the sky, just enjoying laying in the ground, with a fire close by.
Roo takes his sweet ass time, shooting around the cavern to look for more bad guys before going through his more unsanitary practices, pulling on bandits's hair, dragging his feathered ass over their faces, flapping his arms / wings, and crowing in triumph...
DM of AURYN: The Measure of Devotion - Escape from New York
Virro goes over to assess Archie, concerned about the odd behavior and alternating voices. He sits down beside her and examines for injuries. Mental, or otherwise.
Medicine check : 11
A wizard is never late, nor is he early, he arrives precisely when he means to.
Corlith also approaches as Virro examines Archie, a concerned look crossing his face.
"Things are progressing faster now, aren't they Archie? Can you perhaps explain how you feel, physically and mentally? Did you know your voice is alternating between your own and the constructs mid sentence?".
He looks around at the others, seeing how hurt some were.
"We need to rest, but then we should move on to Candlekeep as quickly as possible".
"I uhhh, I can't hear it, but I can feel it like a pressure... I did something stupid." Archie laughs, but there's no joy in it, like an admittance of guilt from a child who had intentionally done something dangerous
As Virro checks her out he lifts her visor and sees that the flame burning therein are orange as they should be, but a tinge of blue radiates from the depths before they lick upwards and into the orange glow that presents itself through the usually closed faceplate. He discerns that something has changed in the relationship between Archie and the IronMaiden and now realises that it has been quite some time since the constructed consciousness has fully taken over.
"I was so scared when you all told me this thing is killing me..." She continues, a crack creeping into her voice, as she sits up and turns her head, "I can't stop it's arcane interference, but I thought I could slow it's mechanical systems. So I bought a magnetic stone when we were on that bridge market... I thought it would suppress the the IronMaiden, but I just feel exhausted. I think it's angry with me. Sometimes it feels like I'm watching myself, like I'm dreaming whilst awake." At this she points to the stone that Corlith had noted before, attached to the base of her neck where the helm meets the body of her armour.
Corlith listens intently to what Archie is saying, and now she has his full attention, he can also just about make out that the words spoken in Ironmaiden's voice also make sense in isolation.
"I'm sorry you were so scared, Archie. I don' think anyone wanted to alarm you so much, but I do think what is happening is serious. And it's just beyond my knowledge. It is quite possible that an expert in artifice will know exactly what to do. That is why we need to get to Candlekeep", he says trying to reassure her a bit, but not wanting to lie or conceal the truth.
"I also think Ironmaiden is trying to communicate with us. I do not think the words spoken in its voice are random. Is it possible Ironmaiden could be sentient?", he asks dubiously.
"I don't know... Communicating? Sentient? I think it's possible but it wouldn't make sense, right? I mean, it is killing me by taking something, drawing something from me, wouldn't it's sentience be mine? Shouldn't it just be a copy of me? Can raw Arcanum have a mind of its own?... I feel like something bad will happen if I take this magnetic stone off."
Archie goes through her pack and pulls out the paper that was in the campsite before the group got busy. "Anyway, We still need to figure out these clues, Amrik's name is here along with a few others" she hands over the paper to Corlith and Virro. Along with Amrik's name there are four others written with monetary amounts, Marge, Taro, Gerald, and Trinity. "Make sure the others see that, oh and please don't tell Reya that I'm struggling, she has enough to worry about."
"A Gallus? Can't say I've ever heard of such a thing. Which one of your friends is a Gallus? I hope it's not the poor thing on the ground over there." Bree looks over worried at Archie, but her main concern is with her son as he is bleeding pretty bad.
Garret nods when Reed mentions adding the others to the pyre, "We'll get some from town to do it, right now, let's get you all to the community hall. I'd offer up our place, but I don't think we have the room for all of you." He scratches his beard as he talks, "Can you all make it back alright?"
Wilfred stares at the bodies, emotionless, leaving heavily on his Glaive. He watches Archie's taking her anger out on the bodies. He never asked when he got back. What's happening to her, what's can they do?
----
Wilfred smiles at Bree when she comes up to him. He let's her lead him out. "I... No, not all right, but I'll get better. Thank you for helping me."
----
Outside, he asks whoever is treating his wounds. "So, what were there names, the men in the mines? The ones who did this to you?"
----
Wilfred watches and listens as the others confront Archie. He goes to Archie and puts a hand on her shoulder. "Archie. I know you're scared. It's going to be okay. We're going to fix this. But... It seems like you two will be sharing this body for the time being. Now, I know it's not the same, but when my kids would fight over sharing, I would always tell them the same thing. Before you fight and dig your heels in, maybe you should talk to one another? If he is, ahhh... whatever it is you just called it, thinking on his own... then maybe it's time for you two to chat? Yea? Good. And remember, we're here for you."
Wilfred smiles down at Archie and gives her shoulder one last squeeze. Then he starts wobbling, and sits himself on the ground nearby. "Phew, I'm not as young as I used to be"
"Those names don't mean anything to me, sorry Archie, although I will think on it", Corlith replies. "But perhaps Wilf is right. We need to get some line of communication open between yourself and Ironmaiden. Perhaps they can even help you piece together what the names and money in the ledger mean. Whatever happens, it seems you are both desperate to live, so working together might be the solution until we can find an expert to help separate you".
"work together...? I wish we could, but I don't know how to make it work, in the end will only one of us remain... Can you talk to it? Should I remove the stone?" Archie rambles a little thinking of the possibilities of what this option could mean for her.
Once the medicine checks are done with and people start being helped back to town Archie follows along, closing her visor, and waiting to hear from the others their opinions on what she should do.
Reed winces a little when he moves. That last bandit wasn't kidding with those last hits. Serves him right for letting himself get too close. He wasn't built for standing toe to toe with guys like that. It did remind him that he needed to find some better leather armor when he next had the chance.
"I think we can all make it back to the community hall," Reed says with a smile. "Good night's rest in there and we'll be as good as new."
When Roo eventually comes strutting out of the mine, Reed indicates him. "There's Roo. He's the Gallus." Then he adds in a whisper. "Just don't call him a chicken."
Reed hums a little as everyone gets ready to head back to the village.
Apparently completely immune to the current emotional state of the rest of the band, Roo finishes his weird face riding ritual and then adjusts the weird wig he is wearing on his head from the bearded devil just in time to clear the mine hear some question about what a Gallus is.
"What is a Gallus!?" He says, sounding almost indignant. "Why, my good sir, I am a Gallus!"
He puffs out his armored chest, the feathers poking out from sections of plate standing up as he bristles with pride. He struts, stretching his body out as tall as he can make it, a little over a majestic two feet or so.
"What'd I miss?"
DM of AURYN: The Measure of Devotion - Escape from New York
Virro gathers up his fingers in his pouch and stands after checking on Archie, and he starts to walk, accompanying Reed. “Let’s go to the community hall and gather there, let them know that all is clear and rest for a bit. I think we need to get Archie to Candlekeep. His “illness” is beyond what I can do. Perhaps there is someone there who can help. Let’s move, everyone..”. Virro starts to walk that direction. ((Reed searched the bandits, right?))
A wizard is never late, nor is he early, he arrives precisely when he means to.
((Yes, Reed did and came up empty))
Corlith ponders the question Archie asked as they walk back to the community hall.
Once there he continues the conversation.
"Ironmaiden seems to have something to say, which they say requires the removal of the stone. I would need their assurance first that it will do no additional harm to you Archie. They have a limited method of communication. Let's see what they say, and then you can choose what to do", he says, hoping to direct par too his comment to Ironmaiden.
"One thing I am certain of, Ironmaiden likely knows more about what is happening than the rest of us. And the timescales".
Archie moves nervously at the suggestion that Corlith talk to IM through her or remove the stone "you can try, what do you think it's saying? What does it want? I think we should probably get some rest first though. We need to be sure this town is safe, pick up Reya and get moving, perhaps after a rest I'll feel better about it later." Archie then shouts ahead at Reed and his family, "hey where can we stay the night? And does the brewery have stock?"
Archie can see the concentration on Corlith's face as he tries to hear the words both Archie and Ironmaiden are speaking, and intepret the double meaning.
"I may need to start writing what you say down", he says with a little shake of his head. "You both want to rest right now. Which suits me fine as well".