“It seems there is nothing more to find here”, Normont announces to the others. “We should leave, and try not to draw too much attention to ourselves”.
With that he uses his tinker’s tool once again on the key, this time removing the luminescence.
”Ready Lokilia, Dev?”, he says as he moves to stand just outside the door, ready to lock it.
Dev stands up, slouchingly. His eyes slide to Normont’s widow’s peak, at which he faintly nods, before the tiefling’s eyelashes once again seem to shield his gaze. Dev quietly follows the gnome, his heavy hood still pulled forward as far as it will go.
Lokilia nods, ready to quickly move outside with the group. And she hopes they find a way to just slip away as well. "If needed I can make some cover for us," she suggests. "Slip away in the fog."
Normont thinks for a moment, looking around at all the other apartments, "Hm, we have certainly been seen here. Perhaps to sneak off under cover of fog will be seen as suspicious, we are quite the unusual group after all. If you are concerned, maybe you go". He looks back to Jasper and Quinn talking with what appeared to be watch members, "I will join Jasper and Quinn and explain what we found back in the alley, and here. I am affiliated somewhat with the watch, and should be ok".
With that, he will start to walk back over to the scene of the zombie conflict.
Jasper gives his fellow militia soldiers a nod. "Thank you, Tumbly. Quinn and I will reconvene with our companions, see what they've found in their investigations."
Taking a deep breath, Lokilia glances over at Dev. "Guess we stick with Normont and see what happens." She follows the gnome as he goes to report what was found.
Nerak takes a long moment thinking over spells and possible ways the undead could have been sent to the rooftop. After a moment of pondering he leans back over the edge "Guys! it looks like they..." He cuts off his speech and ducks down more as he sees the two new figures in the courtyard. After a moment of inspecting them and realizing they are speaking with Jasper he exhales a sigh of relief, electric sparks flying from his mouth has he does so. "Uh, they got teleported up here. Don't know why they didn't just get sent to the courtyard...Should I come down?"
Tumbly is about to turn away but swears as Normont approaches with two civilians in tow and someone he can't make out calls down from the rooftop.
" Bloody hell, Jasper! You can't be involving civvies in this sort of thing.......who the hells that up on the roof? By the Law Bearer do you want to be up to your arse in paperwork?"
" What are this lot doing here? Normont! What have you been up to in there?"
He turns towards Rale but he has already scarpered out the gate to fetch more of the Watch.
" And the horned boy is here as well.....up to no good I expect. Probably working with that gravedigger to raise the dead...no?"
"That you Tumbly?", Normont replies as he closes the distance to the portly older guardsman. "We're on a private case. It was meant to be some information gathering but it took a murderous turn when our mark turned up dead. Found him in an alley some ways away, and high tailed it over here to report it to Jasper. That's when the dead started to rise up and make Theron their evening meal. Nasty business", he says matter of factly but with a slight twitch that shows his discomfort at what happened.
"We thought we had best check the deceased's apartment, the first deceased that is. Didn't find anything, but happy as always to collaborate with the militia, after all this is likely outside all our wheelhouses", he continues, then pauses as it dawns on him what Tumbly had said about Dev and Theron.
"Hold on there Tumbly, the Gravedigger is a victim of a most hideous murder, and he was working with us. And Dev here is assisting as well", he says motioning over to Dev, if he can be seen. "They have been with us for the last few hours as it goes, so don't go accusing folk without any evidence", he concludes, pointing an accusatory finger up at Tumbly.
Lokilia seethes a bit as this Tumbly starts of accusing Dev of involvement in the crimes. But she just stays quietly behind Normont, studying the man. She tries to get a read on why Tumbly is being so accusatory - whether just his nature or somehow deceitful. (Insight: 14)
When Tumbly notices Dev, the tiefling’s jaw sets and his face, under his cowl, hardens. He’s heard it so many times before. Always suspect. Always at the receiving end of punishment for things he didn’t even do. And, overwhelmed by everything that’s happened tonight, Dev can barely contain his reaction. Turning to the side, his lips move ever so slightly as he mumbles a phrase, the barest whisper, in a language of agonized suffering. His head still bowed, having been looking at nothing, or perhaps at the wet cobblestones as he walked, his eyes suddenly flash up to hold Tumbly’s for a long moment, and the ground underneath them both rumbles frighteningly. (Thaumaturgy).
"Normont speaks true, we're investigating this matter privately. But it looks like this is much bigger than any of us could have anticipated. It's connected to the Hidden, Tumbly - we've been after this for years. If finding the truth means I have to spend the rest of my life doing paperwork, then so be it,"Jasper states, crossing their arms. "And don't talk down to Dev. He's been more instrumental in this investigation than you've been, by far. Show some respect."
"That you Tumbly?", Normont replies as he closes the distance to the portly older guardsman. "We're on a private case. It was meant to be some information gathering but it took a murderous turn when our mark turned up dead. Found him in an alley some ways away, and high tailed it over here to report it to Jasper. That's when the dead started to rise up and make Theron their evening meal. Nasty business", he says matter of factly but with a slight twitch that shows his discomfort at what happened.
"We thought we had best check the deceased's apartment, the first deceased that is. Didn't find anything, but happy as always to collaborate with the militia, after all this is likely outside all our wheelhouses", he continues, then pauses as it dawns on him what Tumbly had said about Dev and Theron.
"Hold on there Tumbly, the Gravedigger is a victim of a most hideous murder, and he was working with us. And Dev here is assisting as well", he says motioning over to Dev, if he can be seen. "They have been with us for the last few hours as it goes, so don't go accusing folk without any evidence", he concludes, pointing an accusatory finger up at Tumbly.
Lokilia seethes a bit as this Tumbly starts of accusing Dev of involvement in the crimes. But she just stays quietly behind Normont, studying the man. She tries to get a read on why Tumbly is being so accusatory - whether just his nature or somehow deceitful. (Insight: 14)
When Tumbly notices Dev, the tiefling’s jaw sets and his face, under his cowl, hardens. He’s heard it so many times before. Always suspect. Always at the receiving end of punishment for things he didn’t even do. And, overwhelmed by everything that’s happened tonight, Dev can barely contain his reaction. Turning to the side, his lips move ever so slightly as he mumbles a phrase, the barest whisper, in a language of agonized suffering. His head still bowed, having been looking at nothing, or perhaps at the wet cobblestones as he walked, his eyes suddenly flash up to hold Tumbly’s for a long moment, and the ground underneath them both rumbles frighteningly. (Thaumaturgy).
"Normont speaks true, we're investigating this matter privately. But it looks like this is much bigger than any of us could have anticipated. It's connected to the Hidden, Tumbly - we've been after this for years. If finding the truth means I have to spend the rest of my life doing paperwork, then so be it,"Jasper states, crossing their arms. "And don't talk down to Dev. He's been more instrumental in this investigation than you've been, by far. Show some respect."
Quinn will step in front of Dev and look down on Tumbly.
As Normont and then Jasper speaks Tumbly blanches and a look of desperate panic begins to set in, " Private? Your a Watchman. You can't be doing private investigations!"
" And bringing civilians into it......and getting them killed? By the Law Giver.....Jasper.....lad. Oh, Gods."
" Pushing papers? If your lucky......The Old Man will want your badge for this.....there could be charges."
The portly man was beginning to hyperventilate and Quinns stare and Devs display was not helping.
" Let me think....", he rounded on Scupper and placed a hand on his shoulder. " You heard none of that! Not a damn word!", he spat fiercely.
Tumbly reached over with his right hand and started rubbing his upper left arm absently.
" Ok....ok....first things first this Whitestone lads got too big a gob on him, Jasper. You needs fix that sharpish. Get all your civvy folks the hell out of here before the rest of the Watch shows up....theres not long."
His face was almost purple at this stage and his breath was coming in shallow gasps.
" Alright....alright....you found this body, shortly before me. You don't know why the gravedigger was here or why he's dead....rains washed anything like evidence away as it is anyway."
He stumbled a little and dropped to one knee, " Oh, Lad. This is a pickle and a half.....The Hidden? For the Gods sake don't tell me anymore."
Lokilia-
Tumbly is scared, very scared......but not for himself. He's scared for Jasper. Theres a badly hidden paternal sort of affection and its badly shaken at the moment with equal parts disappointment and depression. He's also in a fair bit of physical pain currently but doing his level best not to show it.
His suspicion of Dev was genuine but he has taken Jaspers words to heart......even as they have made a complicated situation more complicated.
He seems genuinely disappointed at what he sees as a major lack of judgement but seems adamant in himself to do his best to help even if it puts himself at risk.
Normont listens to Tumbly start ranting at Jasper, looking around curiously at the tremors underfoot but not having time to consider them properly.
"Whitestone lad? Big gob?", he echoes in disbelief as Tumbly starts talking about him. "Now now, there is no reason to be rude", he says taken aback. "I will remind you that this Whitestone lad has a name, and is a member of the Pale Guard, a branch of the famous Whitestone Rifle Corps", he carries on even as Tumbly continues speaking to Jasper. When Tumbly eventually drops to a knee, he assumes it is to apologise face to face.
"Now isn't the time for apologies, Tumbly. If you think we should make ourselves scarce, then so be it, but do not treat the dead rising lightly. By all accounts Whitestone was overrun once, and you don't want that here".
‘People will say the darndest things, son. Some folks don’t know how t do otherwise. Just don’t forget wher y come from an we’re always in your corner.’ ‘Yeah kiddo. Just decide whose opinion matters. Go with that, hunnie.’
The memory is of his parents’ voices. Dev’s eyes drop from Tumbly’s. He squeezes them shut and takes a deep breath. In another moment, his jaw relaxes, his face calms, and the rumbling ground quiets to stillness.
‘Mr. Trumbly’s opinion doesn’t matter,’ he thinks. Then, glancing at Normont and Jasper as they debate the watch man, and at Quinn and Lokilia and Magnus, the teenager decides further, or rather, his heart decides for him: ‘Theirs do.’
Magnus collects himself, shaking off the image of Theron being torn to pieces in front of him and turns to Tumbly, "Sir you might want to calm down before you need a clerics assistance. I will also be taking down all these notes and conversations and putting them in my report back to the Cobalt Soul as well. WE have born witness to what happens when a city is over-run with the undead, we will not let that happen again."
Jasper wants to say something, but their companions are already laying into Tumbly. So they simply say, "If the Old Man wants to take my badge for doing my job and finding the source of something that killed one of our citizens, then I invite him to try."
Nerak heads down the side of the wall carefully (Athletics 18+3) 21, only catching the end of the conversation. "Wait...over-run with undead? Did we find out about more or are we speaking hypothetically?" When being corrected he lets out a sigh. "Oh good, I thought we got in too over our heads. Not that we havn't already. Is everyone gathered up? We should probably go and..uhh..him." Nerak points over toward Theron's body. "What do we do with him exactly?"
Lokilia pipes up, speaking to Tumbly. "I agree with Magnus, you seem to be in distress sir. Is something ailing you?"
She then glances to Jasper. "We can go if that helps. I'm sorry Normont, I don't think an apology is coming. Despite his rudeness, this person thinks he's helping."
“It seems there is nothing more to find here”, Normont announces to the others. “We should leave, and try not to draw too much attention to ourselves”.
With that he uses his tinker’s tool once again on the key, this time removing the luminescence.
”Ready Lokilia, Dev?”, he says as he moves to stand just outside the door, ready to lock it.
Dev stands up, slouchingly. His eyes slide to Normont’s widow’s peak, at which he faintly nods, before the tiefling’s eyelashes once again seem to shield his gaze. Dev quietly follows the gnome, his heavy hood still pulled forward as far as it will go.
DM for Candlekeep Mysteries // Dev Hornd in Curious Critters // Eclipse Faraway in Gallows Dancer
Lokilia nods, ready to quickly move outside with the group. And she hopes they find a way to just slip away as well. "If needed I can make some cover for us," she suggests. "Slip away in the fog."
Rabbit Sebrica, Sorcerer || Skarai, Monk || Lokilia Vaelphin, Druid || Liivi Orav, Barbarian || Vanizi, Warlock || Britari / Halila Talgeta / Jesa Gumovi || Neital Rhessil, Wizard
Iromae Quinaea, Cleric || Roxana Raincrest, Rogue || Meira Dheran, Rogue || Qirynna Thadri, Wizard || Crisaryn Melkial, Sorcerer
Normont thinks for a moment, looking around at all the other apartments, "Hm, we have certainly been seen here. Perhaps to sneak off under cover of fog will be seen as suspicious, we are quite the unusual group after all. If you are concerned, maybe you go". He looks back to Jasper and Quinn talking with what appeared to be watch members, "I will join Jasper and Quinn and explain what we found back in the alley, and here. I am affiliated somewhat with the watch, and should be ok".
With that, he will start to walk back over to the scene of the zombie conflict.
Jasper gives his fellow militia soldiers a nod. "Thank you, Tumbly. Quinn and I will reconvene with our companions, see what they've found in their investigations."
Taking a deep breath, Lokilia glances over at Dev. "Guess we stick with Normont and see what happens." She follows the gnome as he goes to report what was found.
Rabbit Sebrica, Sorcerer || Skarai, Monk || Lokilia Vaelphin, Druid || Liivi Orav, Barbarian || Vanizi, Warlock || Britari / Halila Talgeta / Jesa Gumovi || Neital Rhessil, Wizard
Iromae Quinaea, Cleric || Roxana Raincrest, Rogue || Meira Dheran, Rogue || Qirynna Thadri, Wizard || Crisaryn Melkial, Sorcerer
Nerak takes a long moment thinking over spells and possible ways the undead could have been sent to the rooftop. After a moment of pondering he leans back over the edge "Guys! it looks like they..." He cuts off his speech and ducks down more as he sees the two new figures in the courtyard. After a moment of inspecting them and realizing they are speaking with Jasper he exhales a sigh of relief, electric sparks flying from his mouth has he does so. "Uh, they got teleported up here. Don't know why they didn't just get sent to the courtyard...Should I come down?"
Tumbly is about to turn away but swears as Normont approaches with two civilians in tow and someone he can't make out calls down from the rooftop.
" Bloody hell, Jasper! You can't be involving civvies in this sort of thing.......who the hells that up on the roof? By the Law Bearer do you want to be up to your arse in paperwork?"
" What are this lot doing here? Normont! What have you been up to in there?"
He turns towards Rale but he has already scarpered out the gate to fetch more of the Watch.
" And the horned boy is here as well.....up to no good I expect. Probably working with that gravedigger to raise the dead...no?"
"That you Tumbly?", Normont replies as he closes the distance to the portly older guardsman. "We're on a private case. It was meant to be some information gathering but it took a murderous turn when our mark turned up dead. Found him in an alley some ways away, and high tailed it over here to report it to Jasper. That's when the dead started to rise up and make Theron their evening meal. Nasty business", he says matter of factly but with a slight twitch that shows his discomfort at what happened.
"We thought we had best check the deceased's apartment, the first deceased that is. Didn't find anything, but happy as always to collaborate with the militia, after all this is likely outside all our wheelhouses", he continues, then pauses as it dawns on him what Tumbly had said about Dev and Theron.
"Hold on there Tumbly, the Gravedigger is a victim of a most hideous murder, and he was working with us. And Dev here is assisting as well", he says motioning over to Dev, if he can be seen. "They have been with us for the last few hours as it goes, so don't go accusing folk without any evidence", he concludes, pointing an accusatory finger up at Tumbly.
Lokilia seethes a bit as this Tumbly starts of accusing Dev of involvement in the crimes. But she just stays quietly behind Normont, studying the man. She tries to get a read on why Tumbly is being so accusatory - whether just his nature or somehow deceitful. (Insight: 14)
Rabbit Sebrica, Sorcerer || Skarai, Monk || Lokilia Vaelphin, Druid || Liivi Orav, Barbarian || Vanizi, Warlock || Britari / Halila Talgeta / Jesa Gumovi || Neital Rhessil, Wizard
Iromae Quinaea, Cleric || Roxana Raincrest, Rogue || Meira Dheran, Rogue || Qirynna Thadri, Wizard || Crisaryn Melkial, Sorcerer
When Tumbly notices Dev, the tiefling’s jaw sets and his face, under his cowl, hardens. He’s heard it so many times before. Always suspect. Always at the receiving end of punishment for things he didn’t even do. And, overwhelmed by everything that’s happened tonight, Dev can barely contain his reaction. Turning to the side, his lips move ever so slightly as he mumbles a phrase, the barest whisper, in a language of agonized suffering. His head still bowed, having been looking at nothing, or perhaps at the wet cobblestones as he walked, his eyes suddenly flash up to hold Tumbly’s for a long moment, and the ground underneath them both rumbles frighteningly. (Thaumaturgy).
DM for Candlekeep Mysteries // Dev Hornd in Curious Critters // Eclipse Faraway in Gallows Dancer
"Normont speaks true, we're investigating this matter privately. But it looks like this is much bigger than any of us could have anticipated. It's connected to the Hidden, Tumbly - we've been after this for years. If finding the truth means I have to spend the rest of my life doing paperwork, then so be it," Jasper states, crossing their arms. "And don't talk down to Dev. He's been more instrumental in this investigation than you've been, by far. Show some respect."
Quinn will step in front of Dev and look down on Tumbly.
As Normont and then Jasper speaks Tumbly blanches and a look of desperate panic begins to set in, " Private? Your a Watchman. You can't be doing private investigations!"
" And bringing civilians into it......and getting them killed? By the Law Giver.....Jasper.....lad. Oh, Gods."
" Pushing papers? If your lucky......The Old Man will want your badge for this.....there could be charges."
The portly man was beginning to hyperventilate and Quinns stare and Devs display was not helping.
" Let me think....", he rounded on Scupper and placed a hand on his shoulder. " You heard none of that! Not a damn word!", he spat fiercely.
Tumbly reached over with his right hand and started rubbing his upper left arm absently.
" Ok....ok....first things first this Whitestone lads got too big a gob on him, Jasper. You needs fix that sharpish. Get all your civvy folks the hell out of here before the rest of the Watch shows up....theres not long."
His face was almost purple at this stage and his breath was coming in shallow gasps.
" Alright....alright....you found this body, shortly before me. You don't know why the gravedigger was here or why he's dead....rains washed anything like evidence away as it is anyway."
He stumbled a little and dropped to one knee, " Oh, Lad. This is a pickle and a half.....The Hidden? For the Gods sake don't tell me anymore."
Lokilia-
Tumbly is scared, very scared......but not for himself. He's scared for Jasper. Theres a badly hidden paternal sort of affection and its badly shaken at the moment with equal parts disappointment and depression. He's also in a fair bit of physical pain currently but doing his level best not to show it.
His suspicion of Dev was genuine but he has taken Jaspers words to heart......even as they have made a complicated situation more complicated.
He seems genuinely disappointed at what he sees as a major lack of judgement but seems adamant in himself to do his best to help even if it puts himself at risk.
Normont listens to Tumbly start ranting at Jasper, looking around curiously at the tremors underfoot but not having time to consider them properly.
"Whitestone lad? Big gob?", he echoes in disbelief as Tumbly starts talking about him. "Now now, there is no reason to be rude", he says taken aback. "I will remind you that this Whitestone lad has a name, and is a member of the Pale Guard, a branch of the famous Whitestone Rifle Corps", he carries on even as Tumbly continues speaking to Jasper. When Tumbly eventually drops to a knee, he assumes it is to apologise face to face.
"Now isn't the time for apologies, Tumbly. If you think we should make ourselves scarce, then so be it, but do not treat the dead rising lightly. By all accounts Whitestone was overrun once, and you don't want that here".
‘People will say the darndest things, son. Some folks don’t know how t do otherwise. Just don’t forget wher y come from an we’re always in your corner.’ ‘Yeah kiddo. Just decide whose opinion matters. Go with that, hunnie.’
The memory is of his parents’ voices. Dev’s eyes drop from Tumbly’s. He squeezes them shut and takes a deep breath. In another moment, his jaw relaxes, his face calms, and the rumbling ground quiets to stillness.
‘Mr. Trumbly’s opinion doesn’t matter,’ he thinks. Then, glancing at Normont and Jasper as they debate the watch man, and at Quinn and Lokilia and Magnus, the teenager decides further, or rather, his heart decides for him: ‘Theirs do.’
DM for Candlekeep Mysteries // Dev Hornd in Curious Critters // Eclipse Faraway in Gallows Dancer
Magnus collects himself, shaking off the image of Theron being torn to pieces in front of him and turns to Tumbly, "Sir you might want to calm down before you need a clerics assistance. I will also be taking down all these notes and conversations and putting them in my report back to the Cobalt Soul as well. WE have born witness to what happens when a city is over-run with the undead, we will not let that happen again."
Jasper wants to say something, but their companions are already laying into Tumbly. So they simply say, "If the Old Man wants to take my badge for doing my job and finding the source of something that killed one of our citizens, then I invite him to try."
Nerak heads down the side of the wall carefully (Athletics 18+3) 21, only catching the end of the conversation. "Wait...over-run with undead? Did we find out about more or are we speaking hypothetically?" When being corrected he lets out a sigh. "Oh good, I thought we got in too over our heads. Not that we havn't already. Is everyone gathered up? We should probably go and..uhh..him." Nerak points over toward Theron's body. "What do we do with him exactly?"
Lokilia pipes up, speaking to Tumbly. "I agree with Magnus, you seem to be in distress sir. Is something ailing you?"
She then glances to Jasper. "We can go if that helps. I'm sorry Normont, I don't think an apology is coming. Despite his rudeness, this person thinks he's helping."
Rabbit Sebrica, Sorcerer || Skarai, Monk || Lokilia Vaelphin, Druid || Liivi Orav, Barbarian || Vanizi, Warlock || Britari / Halila Talgeta / Jesa Gumovi || Neital Rhessil, Wizard
Iromae Quinaea, Cleric || Roxana Raincrest, Rogue || Meira Dheran, Rogue || Qirynna Thadri, Wizard || Crisaryn Melkial, Sorcerer