"Hmm, well usually effects like that are limited in their durations, perhaps a day or so, which would mean that Lord Vladimirs and Victor will need to stay together." Elsara mentions. "If Victor is 'after something' here, we could suggest we'll help him with it, and just try and keep them separated for a day at least to make the effect ware off. I don't think charging in without proof is the best idea, it could be a genuine relationship."

 Devarus frowns and looked about ready to argue. The words however catch in his throat; and in glancing to Runt, the reason might be clear to all. After a moment's pause, there's a gravelly huff, before he turned back to Elsara and Valwyn. "As far as I'm concern we have more than enough proof." He said, gesturing subtly with his head towards Runt. "So, I still very much doubt it is as genuine as you suggest. But, you are certainly right about not simply charging in, as it were. Although I fear for our Noble, it'll do us little good to be reckless. Let us return and cross the river. Set up camp. And..."

He trails off into a sigh. "Give things a day. If things have not changed with Ms. Ruu, then I suppose I have no choice but to concede." Having said his piece, Devarus turned to continue back across the river, and by extension their last camping spot if not too far away from there.

"I agree with Devarus " says Valwaryn "But I highly doubt that he will let us near Viktor again... and he will try to bend our wills too... Come allow me to guide you to the river..." and he keeps on walking.

((So all of you want to head back to the river? Also I forget if you have the lizards or not. ))

(To ZulkRS: Unless Runt and Elsara have reason to go against it, that would be the plan for now. The Lizards were left near camp, and given at least some free reign to hunt on their own if I recall right.)

(I think heading back to the lizards for now is the best bet.)

Monsoon 13
Time: 8:00 PM
Location: Row 9; Column 7

There was a strange phenomenon the party noticed upon moving away from Vlad's estate. The mansion was steeped in deep fog that not even the blocked a good deal of sunlight. The trees here lacked the thick canopies that the rest of the forest had. They were twisted, withered and thorny. The faded shadows that were cast by the small amounts of sunlight that made it through the dense fog seemed unusually long. These phenomenon persisted until you had moved 500ft away from the estate. Then the trees were back to normal and the dim light caused by the fog blocking the sunlight was replaced by the dim light caused by the thick canopies blocking the sunlight.

The thick forest makes the trek back to the river very slow. The rain had stopped but the trees, the grass, the ground were all still wet from it. Due to the thick canopies, not much direct sunlight reaches the forest floor. The continuous dim light makes it harder for things to dry. This phenomenon would probably get even worse the deeper you went. No one has actually explored deeply into the forest. This part of the map was based on remote observation so who knows what one might find deeper where no one has gone before.

 Under the canopies you had to stop to eat lunch. Val was able hunt a small but filling meal. The whole forest had a nice earthy and grassy smell and the small beams of light that made it through the thick canopies caused the water on the grass to sparkle. Small droplets from yesterday's storm would occasionally fall on you from the trees above. The difficulty of the soil to dry also made the ground muddy. Though the smell and the chill weather brought by last night's rain were nice, the mud was definitely a nuisance. As you trek through the forest, the dim light turns golden with passage of time and soon gets darker and darker as the day passes. By the time you reach the river it is already 8:00 PM. You assume that there would be a thin moon in the sky, with it being so close to the next moonless night but the red clouds that are a staple of the night sky during the month of Monsoon are there, covering the sky and bathing the landscape in a dim red hue. Is there going to be rain again? Who knows? It's not unlikely. The one good thing about the thick clouds at night is that it bathes the land in dim light. The sound of the river offers a background noise now that the birds and the creatures have gone to sleep.

The lizards are awake and prowling around the carriage. There is blood on their lips and their claws which indicates they had recently killed and ate something. The lizards are strange creatures. They sleep for 8 hours a day but in 2 hour bursts rather than a continuous slumber. Right now they seem to be awake. They look in the party's direction to acknowledge the party's presence but then goes back to wandering around and making hissing sounds to communicate with each other.

Runt is still under the effect of charm and will be until 12:00 AM

Runt will go on the warpath when/if her mind returns to her fully. Until then she follows the party as usual. 

The journey back to the camp is one taken in silence by the Half-Drow. Much as he had tried to put off concerns about the future, knowing they may have very well been dooming an innocent man to imprisonment gnawed at the mind. The atmosphere on the way did little to help. Even if the fog was something natural, the whole gnarled trees and sunless sky told a different story, and appeared almost to lend credence to concern. But return the group did to the river.

"You know there are somedays that I wish I understood such beasts more." Devarus comments on just offhandedly. "My mother tried to teach me the script that would allow for as much, but..." He shakes his head sadly. "Didn't rightly have the talent for it, it turns out. Patience and dedication for that sorta magic wouldn't come until I was much older. And by then, things weren't quite the same anymore."  Devarus continued to ramble for a bit before sighing and bowing his head into his hands. "Did someone already send an update back to the guild?"

So what are you guys doing?

(I can't remember, but aside from Elsara or maybe Val making the call back to HQ with an update on things. As far as plans go, I presume we're taking the day off where we are to see if there's any changes to Runt. Although I could be wrong.)

Elsara nods. "I gave them a quick message last night to say we had found Lord Victor. However, with these recent turn of events, we could send a new message." She rummages into her pocket to retrieve the sending stone to show the group. "I can also send additional messages with magic if we need to, but it will exhaust my more potent magic."

"I think it's a good idea to warn them that this could take a little bit longer. If our suspicions came true... how do you suggest we take out viktor from that house? moving through the walls had proven... daunting... " says Valwaryn

"Fortunately, only one of us even has the ability to go that route, Mr. Valwaryn. So, that method is perhaps a nonissue." Devarus cracks a smile. "But yes, stick with the stone. And if need be, then spend maybe the energy. I trust you won't exhaust too much of yourself. Even this close, there are yet other dangers from that side of the river that might chance a boarder crossing for 'easier' meals such as young selves." Devarus gives a wink at that before letting out a soft chuckle.

"Way I see it, we have two, no, three options. One, we can force the Lord's hand a bit more with a frontal confrontation. But considering how slyly our friend here has been compromised, that may only lead to us turning into servants should even our bloodline fails to thwart such dabbling. So, uhmm... that leads the second option of trying to sneak in and, uh, knocking out Vicktor, or setting certain sections of the house ablaze to keep at least some of the golem staff busy. That way, we... uhm.... enter another way and.. still spirit him out?" Devarus suggest. However, even the smallest scrutiny would reveal that the last suggestion left Devarus nervous and visibly sweating. As if the very notion of such a far too chaotic action left him ill.

Valwaryn smiles at Devarus comments. Then he adds in low voice

"We should wait until the morning, to see if Elsara's theories confirm about Runt. Burning part of the house and sneaking Viktor out of it sounds like a good plan. " he agrees, apparently oblivious to the inner turmoil of Devarus. " We need to restrain Viktor as long as a day to have his mind clear from his influence. By the Mother I do not understand this guy. If he wants company why do not move to the city? Plenty of people there... a few too many if you ask me... "  

Waiting to see what message Elsara sends back to the Guild.

"Okay, then let's find a place to setup camp not too far away." Elsara offers to make her little hut again as they can sit inside and enjoy the warmth and comfort. She takes out her communication stone and speaks openly for the others to hear her message. "Update. Received affidavit of Victor who wishes to stay. However, potential that Lord Vladimir uses beguiling methods. Staying local to survey. Any advice from guild?"

She puts the stone in her lap after hopping into one of the comfy chairs. "We'll give them a few minutes to see what Miss Darkwing returns with."

A message came back from Miss Darkwing, "Beguiling methods? Elaborate."

Elsara sighs, the stone she has can only send a message once per day. "Honestly, I was expecting more than that." She mentions to herself before looking to the others. "They asked to elaborate, so I'm gonna have to think carefully on what information to send back, as it'll eat into my casting capabilities for the day, and who knows what could happen before tomorrow."

(OOC: Offer for others to input what info to send back to HQ after Elsara's first message. She can also cast sending so can work with that.)

In response to Valwaryn's questioning before, Devarus thoughts drift to his mother and her circumstances. But despite the possibilities of a similar fiasco, he eventually shook his head sharply in dismissal. "Likely it is he's an exile from underground ancestral homes of my mother's kin. Though still, for him to want "company", and yet have choosen to live in an area as dangerous as that forest willingly, I cannot imagine the reasons for such an exile being as innocent a case was with my mother." He stated frankly. "In hindsight, I wished I had been of a mind to try and speak to the maid in private. Though, I suspect that if she'd been influenced long enough by that smarmy beetle of a Drow, who knows if there's even still a will there of her own left." Devarus admits, referrencing the made that first served them dinner. The only person, in fact, the group had seen beside Vlad and Viktor.

When they are later settling into the hut -- Devarus at least having firmly agreed with the suggestion before -- Devarus has this to add from one of the chairs. "Unfortunate but understandable. For better or worse, we at least have the day, so take your time to consider. In the meantime, I... Shoot. The lizards. I had almost forgotten them. It is unfortunate, but I would've liked to see about establishing some alarms as well. But, I fear those beasts will simply make fools of us by accident while they tend to themselves." He admits, cracking a smile