Colin, who was returning to the 'arcane studies' of which he heard the call, stops suddenly at Spira's words and retraces his steps: "A new expedition, you say? Oh, wonderful! Truly wonderful! There's no need, however, to necessarily involve the Harpells, in my opinion... You discovered the place, right? And because of a divination of mine. So, why get the Harpells involved? Why let others visit it? Go ourselves! If you really do this second inspection and find something of possible interest to me, contact me and come and show it to me! If it will be worth it, I'll buy it from you!"

Now that I think about it: Roxana, since she is from Longsaddle, could know the reason of the name ('fuzzy quarterstaff')... with a, let's say, DC 12 History check

(Roxana History: 3 - Seems she had no idea.  Again, it's probably blurred vision from too much drinking, so the quarterstaff looked fuzzy!)

Roxana bids goodbye to Colin as he goes. "If we do return and learn anything I think we'd be happy to share it. Thank you for your help."  She then turns to the others as she sips at her wine. "Well, it seems we've fulfilled our promises to Colin. I presume the rest of you will be accepting Martha's invitation to stay at her estate? I was going to stay at my family's farm but will join you all first thing in the morning. I was going to head there once I've finished my wine. It is really quite lovely."  

Gaer, who hadn't even ordered, evidently tense as he was for any problems that might arise between the party and the powerful Harpells, finally seems to relax: "Well, thank goodness this Colin seems like a good person. He seems really inclined to look mainly after his own business".

The tiefling then turns to the girl from Longsaddle: "You know Roxana? For the rest of today, I have nothing planned... Do you think you need some help on the farm? It might be a good way to not get bored, if you could use a hand. I'll go back to the Sharnshield Mansion, for sleeping, of course".

As they return to the manor, Rash can't help but smile.

"Baking me a 'magic cake'?" he says with a chuckle. "Ah well... don't know if he bought that. But other than that... does everyone think a second expedition down there is a good idea? I'm personally not convinced there's really anything else worthwhile down there, but I suppose it might satisfy Colin's curiosity a bit to bring back the remains of the weird beholder guard, and we have a pretty good idea of the layout down there now."

Roxana gives Gaer a smile.  "I'd be glad to have you come see the farm. Not sure how much work there'd be for you, but I'm sure I could find some tasks to keep you busy."

Her face drops a moment as though she'd suddenly remebered something. "Ah, I'd forgot Quinn was with my folks up north. It'll just be Olivia there."  She gives Gaer a worried look and let's out a small sigh. "Nothing for it. Just be ready for an interrogation.  Means I'll have to make a dinner too, most likely."

She then pauses a moment before continuing. "You know Gaer, you could probably stay at the farm if you wanted.  I mean, it's no mansion or anything." After making the statement, her face reddens slightly as she realizes perhaps her intentions could be misconstrued. "I mean stay in one of the guest rooms of course. We've got a couple and there aren't many visitors around during this time of year."

Roxana walks along with the group to recross the bridge and head back towards town. Hearing Rash's comment, she speaks up. "I think a journey back might be in order. There's likely more to find.  And I'd rather we find it than others."

She glances back towards the Harpell land they just left. "I wasn't sure about saying too much in front of Colin, but he seemed pretty friendly. It seems like at the very least that devil's weapon might be there.  Somewhere."

Quote from Mister_Whisker >>

As they return to the manor, Rash can't help but smile.

"Baking me a 'magic cake'?" he says with a chuckle. "Ah well... don't know if he bought that. But other than that... does everyone think a second expedition down there is a good idea? I'm personally not convinced there's really anything else worthwhile down there, but I suppose it might satisfy Colin's curiosity a bit to bring back the remains of the weird beholder guard, and we have a pretty good idea of the layout down there now."

 "That's why I suggested it.," Spira chuckles.  "I wasn't really trying to get all of us signed up for a long campaign of exploration, though I did also tell the truth.  I am  curious what else might be there; and also concerned if more Zhentarim, say, were to find the place and this time discover some of its secrets and powers.  But mostly I've suffered my whole life long from what Gaer used to call 'poke-her-nosein-itis' when we were kids."  She chuckles and tousles her brother's hair affectionately.

Quote from Culuril >>

Roxana gives Gaer a smile.  "I'd be glad to have you come see the farm. Not sure how much work there'd be for you, but I'm sure I could find some tasks to keep you busy."

Her face drops a moment as though she'd suddenly remebered something. "Ah, I'd forgot Quinn was with my folks up north. It'll just be Olivia there."  She gives Gaer a worried look and let's out a small sigh. "Nothing for it. Just be ready for an interrogation.  Means I'll have to make a dinner too, most likely."

She then pauses a moment before continuing. "You know Gaer, you could probably stay at the farm if you wanted.  I mean, it's no mansion or anything." After making the statement, her face reddens slightly as she realizes perhaps her intentions could be misconstrued. "I mean stay in one of the guest rooms of course. We've got a couple and there aren't many visitors around during this time of year."

 

 "If you think having me come along as a chaperone would make the interrogation more friendly, I'd be delighted to meet your family too.  And of course I don't really have any intention of ... ah ... "  She winks.  "Let's say you can count on me to discreetly disappear when you tip me a signal.  You are two consenting adults after all, not children."

Roxana glances over to Spira as she suggests acting as 'chaperone'. "Hmm," she seems to glance over to Gaer as she thinks over the offer. "Olivia's my younger sister. My luck, you being Gaer's sister she'd just enlist you as an ally!"  She then gives Spira a slight smile. "But you are certainly welcome to come with us. And stay as well. As I said, I'm sure there are plenty of rooms available." 

Anita blushes when Rash makes her understand that the activity she declared was perhaps not the most plausible: "Oh, yes... I would have hit myself on the head immediately after saying that... But it caught me off guard. .. I didn't want him to think that I was there and I was a Zhentarim... I was in a hurry to say something and said the first thing that came to mind. Good thing he didn't insist..."

Gaer, meanwhile, smiles pleased at Roxana's offer: "Thank you, it will be a pleasure to meet your sister and take advantage of your hospitality. Even more so because perhaps you will really need a bit of help, if you are alone having to take care of everything ... I get along well with animals, for example".

When Spira intervenes and proposes to complete the exploration of the dungeon, Gaer admits: "Yes, even if that place is certainly not among the friendliest I have ever explored, I am curious too. We could find something of value... or useful, at least".

And when Spira promises to disappear at an 'arranged signal', he chuckles: "Sure thing Sis! How about this?" and he gives her a (not too) light kick in the shin.

(OOC: OK, so it looks like Roxana, Gaer and Spira will head to Roxana's farm. Aidwyn will probably go to 'retrieve' Balfby as soon as she reports that she has arrived. Does Rash have further plans? Or does he just head back to the Sharnshield Mansion with Anita to enjoy a well-deserved rest?)

Rash chuckles and pats Anita on the shoulder.

"Ah well, it is what it is... now I just want to know how exactly one goes about making a magic cake... maybe we should have asked Colin for a magic cook-book..." he replies with a grin.

(Rash is ready to go back to Sharnshield Mansion with Anita and get some shut-eye).

The strong wind continues to bother you, but it doesn't stop you from reaching the center of Longsaddle again - from there, Rash, Anita and Aidwyn return towards the Sharnshield Mansion, while Roxana, Gaer and Spira head towards Roxana's farm.

(OOC: @Culuril: At this point, I'm waiting for you to narrate the arrival of the three of you at your farm... OisinmacCameron and I will then post about the actions of Gaer and Spira. In the meantime I'll narrate about Aidwyn and Balfby, but you post whenever you want... since the characters are separated, the two narratives can proceed in parallel, until they reunite in the morning of the next day).

About an hour after the sun has completely vanished below the horizon, Aidwyn receives the telepathic message from her Yeth Hound: "How wonderful to be free to roam and hunt, Mistress... How I have missed this in these centuries of captivity. I didn't prey on humans, as you asked... I found other pathetic little beings who offered me a bit of entertainment with their sheer terror! And now, sated and satisfied, I'm here, on the edge of the town, right at the edge of the road that you must have followed to get there too... Come, Mistress, come and get me, so the humans, who you seem to care about so much, will be less scared of seeing me".

(OOC: @Frandal: Up to you where Aidwyn is and what she was doing when she receives the message... whether in her assigned room at the Sharnshield Mansion, whether in a common room of the mansion or another location where in the meantime she had gone. The same thing that I said to Culuril applies: since your and his events involve characters who, at the moment, are separate, you can post the two narratives independently, the two narratives can proceed in parallel, as long as they do not will reunite in the morning of the following day).

As she is preparing to leave the Fuzzy Quarterstaff with Roxana and her brother, Spira says to Rash, "You are a good wizard as well as a good person.  If anyone can figure out the recipe for a magic cake, I'd put just as many bets on you as on Colin being the one to do it.  And who knows, you might get a lot more respect from your people as a wizard when you tell them your magic helped you wrestle a bearded devil  and survive!"

Rash blushes slightly at Spira's comment.

"Don't know if I'll ever win Dad over... he'll probably just tell me I should have been a Barbarian like mom and I would have had an easier time dealing with that devil," the half-orc says with a chuckle. "Pretty ironic considering Dad is a Bard which means that he, you know, casts a bunch of spells himself... oh well..."

Roxana leads Gaer and Spira off to her family's farm about another quarter hour walk to the north of Longsaddle.  Just as last time, a young blonde-haired girl of 16 rushes out not long after you cross the fence line of the farm.  The girl still wears leather armor and carries a sword at her hip. Her long hair blowing behind her as she runs. "Roxy! You're back! Oh! I was worried!  I heard rumors that that orc you were with was here yesterday with some girl.  But no sign of you or the others.  I was so worried!"  As she finally reaches Roxana she nearly leaps at her, wrapping her arms around her in a hug.  

Roxana laughs softly, giving her sister a hug in return. "I'm fine, Livy. Rash just wanted to come back to town for a couple of supplies."  When Olivia finally lets go from her hug, she surveys the companions her sister has brough with her.  She eyes Gaer a moment. "Hey, who is this guy? He wasn't here with you the other day I don't think? I remember her though," she nods towards Spira, though she seems at a loss to recall the Tiefling's name. 

"Pleasure to meet you, Livy!" the tiefling exclaims, smiling at the new girl and holding out his hand for a handshake "I'm Gaer Inirali, a new friend of Roxana - lucky for me! You know, your sister saved me from a difficult situation recently... so I came with her to see if I can at least help her do something here on the farm! And the 'she' you remember" he nods at Spira "is my sister, Quspira Inirali, who likes to call herself 'Soldier of Arvandor' and that is very good at bargaining with other soldiers, when she meets them" he winks.

"But judging by the fact that you wear armor and carry a weapon..." Gaer looks at Livy up and down "It seems you want to become a soldier too?"

""Oh, Gaer, you're such a teaser!," Spira grins.  "But it seems I could use some practice in making sure I've found a fellow soldier from the right army to bargain with, instead of just grabbing the first one I see and trying to make it work anyway."  She takes a deep breath at the memory before turning back to Olivia.  "You might have heard already that we managed to find what we were looking for, though it was a little different than what we thought we were looking for, and that Lady Martha has her Dobbian back to plan a wedding with instead of a funeral.  Your sister and my brother were both absolute heroes in the endeavor and we never could have done it without them.  In fact, it turns out they ... work quite well together ... "  She says no more than that, and looks their private sibling-code at her brother for, "Okay, I've set the opportunity up for you if you want to take it; won't go any further unless you 'tell' me you want more help."

"Very true!" Gaer confirms "Your sister is really smart and brave, Livy (not to mention the fact that with that bow of hers she could probably hit a copper piece from one hundred paces away) and... it seems we work very well together! So... who knows? It's possible that we will work together again in the future".

Olivia rather immediately protests at Gaer's use of 'Livy' as her name. "It's Olivia," she says sternly.  Or at least as sternly as she can manage.  She gives Roxana a bit of a glare, clearly displeased at her nickname being used amongst guests. She seems a bit lost listening to Gaer, "You are both from Arvandor then?" she asks.

Roxana starts to look a little nervous when Spira mentions her and Gaer 'work quite well together' and reddens a bit at his praise.  But at the mention of the quest for Lady Martha being successful, Olivia gets a happy smile on her face. "Really? I hadn't heard anything at all!  I've just been stuck here at the farm. That's amazing news. Dobbian is... back?"  She hesitates a moment. "Wasn't he dead?  You were all off finding a way to save someone who was dead?" 

"Yea, that's what Martha wanted us to find. Turns out we found a captured Celestial creature that had the power to bring Dobbian back," Roxana explains to her sister, seeming a touch relieved to not have any other questions from Olivia. "Anyhow, why don't we head inside?  No need to stand out here in the cold needlessly."  She starts to usher everyone towards the door to the small house.  

It's only as they get near to going inside that Olivia says, "Wait. Roxy, what does he mean about you two working together again? What sort of work does he do?  I mean, you already work at The Gilded Horseshoe."

Roxana again looks a little embarrassed at the question. "It's just something... umm... I'm considering. Umm, yes, let's just get inside shall we?" 

To Livy's first question, Gaer replies: "No, Olivia, the sacred representative of the forces of Arvandor is only the irreproachable Quspira. We have both vowed to heal (or help) those in need, but while she does so by appealing to power of celestial forces, I tend more to exploit the potential of nature and apply the experiences accumulated during my travels. Or, in cases of extreme necessity," he adds after a moment, with a half smile "lend mirrors around".

"Great idea, let's go in" Gaer agrees to Roxana's suggestion, rubbing his hands to warm them.

Once inside, the tiefling tries to satisfy Livy's curiosity about his 'job': "Oh, mine and my sister's job is to do things like what we just did with Roxana. When there's some task that no one else seems capable of completing... we try to do it, for a reasonable reward. Without a doubt, it is a very different kind of occupation from that, although useful and necessary, of helping in the kitchen... But, while many might be able to help in kitchen, not many would have been able - as a worldly expert woman like you certainly understands - to achieve the miracle that Martha desired. Not many have the gift and talent to be able to complete such tasks. But your sister is really great at this... she seems actually to be born to do this... for this reason, if she decides to make use of this gift of hers, I would gladly work with her. And us might then be able to help many other good people like Martha and Dobbian... who perhaps, without us, would instead remain in their sad state. Not to mention that it's a generally better paid job than cooking... which isn't a bad thing. For this reason, Roxana 'is considering'. And I'm pretty sure she will be able to understand" his eyes, black as a starless night, can't help but turn, now, to those of Roxana "what it is that she truly desires".

Spira smiles happily as she follows the others into the warm farmhouse.  Things were going very smoothly so far, and she saw no need to ... well, fudge  a little on her promise to butt out, in the interests of a happy outcome for everyone of course.  Gaer was on a roll, his smooth charm coming back without a hitch as it generally did whenever they came in out of the wilderness to rest up or help out in a settled community.  As a priestess though, she thinks she ought to at least be a little clearer about this 'Arvandor' business.  As her own brother finishes and turns to gaze at Roxana, Spira addresses her sister again.

"I hope we're not upsetting you with all this banter, Olivia.  My brother and I are both inveterate talkers, so with us all the friction and all the love that always bind siblings ... I'm sure I don't need to talk at a fellow sister any more about that -- it always turns into word games and we sometimes forget others don't get all our cryptic references."

"Anyway, all that that talk about Arvandor means is that I have been called by the goddess Angharradh to be one of her priestesses.  Arvandor is the plane which is the center of her power, and so one of the other extraplanar creatures we met while looking for the celestial referred to me as a 'soldier of Arvandor'."  She makes a slight face of disgust.  "Militaristic brute, that one was.  Our wizard, the estimable Rashugiri, had to wrestle him into submission when the negotiations turned sour."