Curious Critters- A Tal'dorei Tale.

"If we did bring this to the city, that's really awful that we might have been a part of it," Lokilia replies to Dev. "I think it was already here though, festering." She glances about the woods still around them, having seen the animals that appeared to follow them and ran off when spotted. "The woods do seem different though. And it does seem we've been watched," she adds.

When Werhann addresses her comment about what to do next, she nods. "Probably best to stick with us for a bit. You're right." 

Normont keeps his pace steady, his gaze flicking toward the tree-line where Lokilia and Quinn spotted movement. The woods feel like they are holding their breath, and he is relieved when the walls of Whitestone come into view with their promise of safety. Of course, he knows all too well that as much danger lurks inside the walls, with the Nameless Ones loose in the city.

When Dev makes the comment about them bringing the evil with them, he shakes his head and agrees with Lokilia. "Whatever this is has been lurking for some time, Dev. I believe we have shone a light on it, and stirred it up out of the shadows, but no more than that".

With Lokilia mentioning the need to check in with the Hunt, and with Werhann providing familiar names, he ponders the logistics for a moment.

"Hammer and tongs, this is quite the conundrum", he says, his voice low. "We need the Hunt to help identify what has happened to you, Werhann. And to corroborate that you are Werhann, even. But taking you there might be leading something connected to you right into their midst. I suggest we let you lead the way", he instructs the dwarf. "What you already know isn't any more dangerous after all, and if your memory of the route holds, it’s a good sign for your state of mind".

He shifts his focus to the larger plan, his eyes narrowing as he looks up at those walking with him. "We can hopefully rely on the Hunt to report back to Lady de Rolo, and between them they can send reinforcements out to the base in the woods. With that distraction, perhaps we move on Glinnick’s before whatever was in the woods contacts the Nameless Ones. If the big squid is in charge, I expect they will double their efforts to take us out of the equation. Our best chance might be to take the initiative and strike first, and root out this blemish from the city".

He pauses, checking the weariness in the group's eyes. "It is perhaps a move they will not expect, and there should be enough time to get a rest in first so we are in better shape for what is there". 

"Certainly, I'll lead the way." Although Werhann didn't know where the cave he was taken to was, now that he can see the city's walls, he can surely find his way to the gates, and assuming he's not given any trouble going in, some path in the city that would lead to his contact. 

"Given the circumstances, I think it's best we talk to Klarron," he'll say on the way. "He's the one I usually report to. I've reported to a woman named Ascera before, too, sometimes. She's higher in command, so Klarron might ask us to talk to her if he's unsure how to deal with this, but... I suppose we'll let him make that decision. It should also be simpler to arrange an urgent meeting with him, given her role."

Although he's curious regarding this Glinnick the others talk about, Werhann chooses not to ask. They do not fully trust him, and they're right not to do so. Once they're ready, and if it becomes relevant, he's certain they'll tell him.

Lokilia nods at Normont's plan and keeps back while Werhann leads the way. "You suppose we'll run into Ascera even though he's taking us to meet Klarron?" she quietly asks Dev. "Been a while since we've seen her." 

"It feels like forever," Dev agrees. He scrunches up his face. "But wasn't it just, like, the day before yesterday?" The excitement (and dozens of PbP pages, lol!) seem to come between Dev and the actual moment they last crossed paths with Ascera.

"You know what. We decided this morning to try to rescue the kidnapped Grey Huntsman, and... I mean, we did it." He glances at Normont, "I know... maybe there are reasons to wonder if it really is him..." Dev considered this for a moment, but the complicated cat-and-mouse plays it would require to plant Werhann as a spy among them were simply beyond his capacity to believe. "But..." he looks Lokilia, with whom he had earlier approached Glinnick's shop together "Lokilia, we did it. I think we did." His face is still somewhat ashen with the horrific encounters of the day, but there is more, too. An undertone of satisfaction. Of confidence.

"It was not too long after we arrived in Whitestone that we met her," Lokilia says to Dev. "It's been at least a month," she adds. Then she mumbles, "Guess not all that long." (OOC - I think we met them right before our 1 month of downtime.) She gives up on the topic though as Dev moves on. Buoyed by his optimistic mood, she nods in agreement. "We were successful in finding and rescuing him. That is a really good accomplishment. And made a new friend in Progo too."  

She looks over to the half-orc calling out to him. "Hey! Progo! If we didn't mention it before, it was really great of you to jump in and help us with those thugs earlier. We appreciate it, even if it maybe got you in a bad spot with those Nameless folks." 

Progo listens to the others explaining a bit more about each essay story to how they ended up here and now. He had done his job since first meeting members this group, Progo has saved Lokilia and Dev from assassins, discovered the squiggly lair, out smarted the brain dogs, single handedly retrieved 'Werhann' from the lair, and scouted the slime tunnels. All this good deeds came at a cost to Progo, sure a few scrapes and cuts here and there,  nothing a few days bedrest couldn't the care of, but Progo's magnificent cart and his whole business, left to defend itself in the city streets. If it was easy to be heroic, more people would be like Progo, but until then, Progo will do! "This Klarron, any change we maybe be passing by Progo's cart on the way there? Progo's lock is very impressive and the cart's solid, but Progo would be more at ease knowing it's current state."

"I don't see why we couldn't swing by your cart on the way", Normont replies to Progo, nodding toward Werhann to signal the slight detour. He gives the dwarf the name of the street where the half-orc’s pride and joy was left to the mercies of the city. "And again, I am happy to help you move it to my Grandfather's workshop and repair it once we have checked in", he offers.

Hearing the conversation between Dev and Lokilia, he feels a moment of genuine pride for the young tiefling and the ashari. He catches Dev’s eye, his expression softening from its recent strict focus.

"You are right Dev. I know we came away with more questions than we started with, but we did achieve what we set out to do. We found Werhann, corroborated the existence of the squid and those brain dogs, and even learned a little about what they are capable of". He lets out a short, tired breath that might have been a laugh in better circumstances. "I would class that as a good day at the forge, for sure. The metal is hot now. We just need to decide how to strike it".

As they approach the gates, he keeps a subtle eye on Werhann, watching how the dwarf reacts to the sight of the Whitestone guards. "Let’s keep our wits about us. We don't know how quickly the squid and Nameless Ones can communicate".

(OOC: @Firecat - Glinnick is an old gnome who runs a pawn shop in Whitestone. Werhann has likely heard of him, so will have some context there, assuming the DM approves)

"Great idea to go check on your cart, Progo!" Lokilia says. "We can definitely take a moment to check on it." 

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The group make their way back within the city walls, the two Pale Guard at the gate goggle a little at the state of the group and their new companion but do not ask any questions off of the looks the companions give them.

The group makes their way eastwards through the Northern Ward towards the Eastern Walls....they find Progos cart exactly where it was left with a sign hung on it indicating it is evidence in an ongoing investigation and not to be interfered with.

There is no sign of interest from Nameless, Guard or other entities as they walk.....they pass the Sun Tree to the south and The Heart of Whitestone to the north on their way to The Eastern Ruins......coming to the smaller northern gate the companions noted Gilbe Ocampo, the bald and heavily wrinkled old human man with tanned skin and slight traces of orcish ancestry some generations back again snoozing quietly up against the wall on the inside of the gate.  

Pressed for time they slip past him without even waking him they were back in the Eastern Ruins and headed towards the Hunters hidden outpost.

The group moved into the ruins, though they were only tens of metres from the walls of Whitestone the wilds had begun to reclaim the buildings here in earnest and most of the distinctive Whitestone roofs had collapsed within their stone walls.   Hundreds of small trees grew around and on the buildings and the empty spaces between them and the woodland surrounding the area was no different than the Parchwood they had passed through to reach Whitestone.

Bird calls quickly ring out around them and after only a few minutes Klarron materialized out of the shadows of a half fallen house, " Werhann? Your alive! Muhudel, Brother.  Welcome back to the rest of you as well.  What do you need?"

Lokilia glances at Progo as they find his cart marked as evidence. "It'll be fine, Progo. With Normont, and now Werhann, with us, I'm sure they can sort through all that and get it taken care of. Best we leave it for now though. Just think, the sign will probably keep it even safer!" 

In the Eastern Ruins, the sounds of bird calls are reassuring, as she presumes they are in the right place. When Klarron greets them, she doesn't seem too surprised, though he had done a fine job of approaching them stealthily.  She looks about ready to say something, but then glances to the others, figuring it best for them to talk. 

"Yes, we'll make sure you get it back, no need to worry", Normont says to Progo, backing up Lokilia.

As for the rest of the journey, he allows Werhann to lead, staying close behind with Maggie. And when Klarron appears, he gives the dwarf a nod, but allows Werhann to great them and explain the situation. He is interested in Werhann's account of events himself, and Klarron's opinion on it.

Although Werhann isn't too sure what he'd be able to help with should something happen to the cart, as dealing with such issues was far from the daily routine of a Hunter, he keeps silent on the matter. He wasn't too sure what use anyone would have for this cart, if they plan on travelling often, as it seems these folk did.

Once they meet Klarron, and after greeting the other Dwarf warmly, Werhann tries to recount recent events, while trying to keep it short. "I was out in the Timberlands outside Whitestone, following some tracks, when something hit me from behind. When I came to, I was tied to a rock, with a cover over my eyes. Almost needless to say, my rifle's gone. 

"There were creatures there. I couldn't see them, of course, but they felt strange. Based on later accounts, I imagine they were tentacled, and they... I think they tried to intrude into my mind. Though I don't know what they sought to gain." Werhann pauses briefly, deciding what is important to share and what is not. "I think they did something to me. Left something in me, or... I don't know. What I do know is that I now possess powers I did not possess before." To show as an example, Werhann creates a longbow in his hands. Since he cannot create arrows, he figures this should be the least concerning. "Creating weapons is one. Illusions is another. And according to these folk, my thoughts sometimes end up in someone else's mind. I'm still trying to figure it out myself.

"In any case, I had summoned a knife in this way and cut the ropes that bound me. Fortunately, I did not meet those tentacled, psychic monsters, only Human guards who... can no longer answer any questions, unfortunately. Then, just as I was about to leave the place, I met these folk." He briefly gestures to everyone behind him. "Since I was no longer alone, and since they seemed capable enough, we delved back underground to search for the monster responsible and end it before it could do this to another. We met someone, whom I believe was a Gnome named Phindis, before meeting a terrible fate at the hands of these tentacled monsters. He's dead now, too.

"Farther underground, we found tunnels. Many tunnels, which I believe were burrowed by some worm. They were all slick with some strange slime. And, delving into one of these tunnels, we found a strange construction. A large, spiky oblong shape, in the middle of a large chamber, some 100 feet down from the tunnels. I think it could have been an egg, but honestly, I do not know. We couldn't get any closer to it to check or destroy it, but I can't imagine this is something we should leave there for long. Finally, as we could not delve any deeper, we returned here to inform you of... well, everything. I don't think things should be left as is, but I don't know whether the squid - that's how the guards called it - will flee now that its hideout was found, or stay to care for that strange oblong thing. If the former, then it'd be a pain to find. If the latter, it could be dangerous going back, and we need some way to descend those walls anyway - and then climb back up."

"That's about it, I suppose. I thought I should inform you, and leave it up to you to decide what to do with this information." Werhann turns back to look at everyone else. "Anything you'd like to add?"

"Progo's cart, Progo would like Progo's cart back, preferably re-stocked, but Progo would settle for the cart. Oh and brain dogs and animals acting too much like animals." 

Hearing Progo speak up, Lokilia decided that perhaps a bit more explanation was needed. "We should probably tell you about Progo," she begins, motioning to the half-orc that had just spoken about his cart. "Dev and I were walking through Whitestone and some folks working for the Nameless tried to attack us.  Progo happened to be near at hand and was very kind and helped us fight off the attackers."  She then glances to the man for a moment then adds, "He's a merchant that sells weapons and such from his cart. Someone marked it as evidence, but he'd like to get it back at some point." 

Normont remains silent for a little while, letting the others speak. He expects the Hunt won't do much about Progo's cart directly, but they might get word to the Pale Guard. And Progo was right to mention the brain dogs and strange behaviour in the animals.

Once Lokilia explains who Progo is, and how the half-orc fits in, he breaks his silence.

"We need to somehow confirm whether Werhann has been compromised, and then report back to Lady de Rolo. The Steward, not the Grand Mistress. I think she needs to hear this firsthand, but I don't want to put her in danger. What we have seen may prove to be an imminent threat to Whitestone itself".

Klarron took an involuntary step back when Werhann mentioned his new....enhancements....

" Well.....that confirms a bunch of stuff...."

" We've been looking for you but the report said that you returned from patrol so we've mostly been looking within Whitestone to begin with and only recently expanded the search to outside.....and as you know we are a few down among the brass."

" Phindis? I know the name. "

" Um.....I'm kinda stuck....I don't think the Grand Mistress would want you returning to active duty before we know what's going on with you.   Would you be happy to act as mentor for Normont here?"

" We'll arrange a sortie into those tunnels soon, can you mark the entry on a map for us?  Your group are free to come along of course."

" A cart? Um....probably best talking to the Guard about that.......wait! What did you say about animals?  We've had a few reports of animals following people......I had assumed they were visiting Ashari playing silly buggers.....but....."

He turned to Normont, " I know you don't need one but its a fair cover story.....because I know telling Werhann to stand down and stay home til he's assessed is going to be about as much use as a wicker bucket."

Dev, who has spent the last ten years of his life running from unkind guardsmen in Drynna — those tasked with serving and protecting regular folk but abusing their privilege and powers — hides his discomfort. Normont, and Werhann maybe, will protect him from the inevitable accusations and bullying. And besides… now that he’s more financially secure he has less reason to fear the Gray Hunt than if he had been filching food for his parents and himself to survive on. Still, he’ll feel better when this meeting is over and for now, keeps his thoughts to himself. 

"Certainly," Werhann jumps on the opportunity when offered. He had expected there'd be issues, but he didn't expect a solution this simple. Then, on second thought, he wasn't entirely sure what he might teach Normont, as the Gnome had displayed sound judgment and competence in front of a dangerous being already. But, as the other Dwarf will mention not long after, Werhann didn't plan on patiently waiting until the matter is resolved, if ever, and these folk seemed active enough anyway that he planned on tagging along for a while regardless.

When asked to mark on the map, Werhann is a little unsure. After all, he had only arrived at that place once, unconscious for all he knew. "I believe I was patrolling around here before I was taken," he points at the appropriate area on the map, "and, if I'm not mistaken, we arrived from this direction on our way back just now." Once again, he tries his best to show what he can state with some level of confidence. "If any of you knows better, that would be most helpful."