Quote from SunDial365 >>

"Oh just recently? Well, tomorrow's Mr. Starvos's son's birthday. He is our local Reeve, and we have this huge celebration going on! Ah.. sorry I am just rambling." The acolyte straightens out her smocks, "I am Acolyte Vervidia. Flamekeeper Hanna's sister. One year older." She does a little jazz hands type when suddenly her pitch goes up when she mentions her age. She sighs and then chuckles. 

"Athalie? Oh what a pretty name. I wish mines was more easy to pronounce." At the mention of Lara she perks up a bit, "Oh Lara? Yes! My sister had mentioned something of that sort. Yes, she came into town just earlier. You just missed her! And only by a few hours gosh golly. Ain't that out of luck? Heh sorry, but yes of course! High Flamekeeper gave her a mission of some sorts." The sounds of the choir dies down for the night. "Looks like they are finishing practicing up. Um right back on the subject. Yes, she is supposed to retrieve something. From the city. A 'go fetch'. I wonder why Flamekeeper just doesn't send someone she already knows who'd be faithful up for the job..." She shoves her hands into the smock pockets. She lightly sways from side to side, then startles. "Oh! Would you like something to eat?"

"A party for the Reeve's son?" Despite her weariness, Athalie is feeling even more at home. "I brought my musical instruments with me; if you'd fancy, I can brighten it up for him!" And it'll be a perfect opportunity to make some new friends. As attached as she is to her sister, who was quite the loner, Athalie was much more the socialite in cultured Geldstadt, with a wide circle of admirers. She beams. "Vervidia? I think that's a lovely name. How nice to meet you!"

For a moment she becomes conscious of her own chatter, glancing up at the altar and the colored light from the windows, in a place that's supposed to have a prayerful atmosphere... but she's so glad to make a new friend. She forgets all matters of pious propriety and anticipation of parties, though, at the Acolyte's confirmation that Lara is, indeed, in town, and has even been sent out on a task for the Flamekeeper. She nearly shouts. "Oh, Flame bless her, of course she's out on a holy errand! Really? I just missed her? Will she be back soon? Does she have anyone helping her out there in the city? It's so dangerous. Do you think I'd be able to go and help her? She doesn't know I'm coming. She asked me to go with her, and I'll admit I was kind of distracted, so I said no, but after she left... I knew it was right thing for me to go with her. I know that's where I belong, where the Flame wants me. Here, with her. Helping the Flamekeepers. I wish I hadn't waited, but I came as fast as I could. Oh! I'd love something to eat, I'm starved." She blushes, and lowers her voice. "I oughtn't to be talking so much in church, anyway, I suppose."

Athalie gets up from the pew, but watches curiously to see if the choir comes out.

Gertrude looks startled at Sanimar's accusation, unsure of which if was pointed at her or just people in general. She makes a clicking noise where her mouth as if she were about to say something but then shuts it. She then nods, "Of course." Badger-Tattoo and another dwarf with long red braids lift their tea glasses in the air. "To her life!" And they cheers. The cups clink together in an playful sort of way. 

"The city claims so many," Mordecai sits up and shuffles to the window. The cries of zombies are becoming more faint now. "You can borrow our horses. Our siblings will be coming back any time abouts now." 

The collective air in the room tenses when they see the man hold Lara's body like a tired child. They hold their breath and bow their heads in respect of that. You all sit around in a sort of quiet silence for the time being. Light conversations make their way but always fall flat. The dwarves introduce themselves by name ("Andrea" "Theodourus." "Lacurtis." etc.) The fire in the fireplace grows dimmer until Mordecai and two others go outside and come back with some more wood. You end up waiting two more hours until the siblings arrive. 

"Elouise!"

The door opens with such ease. You didn't even hear the fence scrape. The reds of the early morning sun are peaking out now. It is about dawn.

The first dwarf to enter is dressed in common grey robes, complemented by thick leather strappings and a breast plate. She has a mechanical trinket hanging around her neck and a belt full of various hammers and tools. She has long brown hair flowing down to her knees, big bright eyes, and a kind yet cunning look upon her face. She puts her hand to her moth once she notices the dad body. She puts down her things at once.

"May I?" Elouise asks of Sarűmir, hand already outstretched, "May the Flame guide her soul to rest," she says. The priestess clutches an amulet that has the symbols of the Sacred Flame. Elouise looks into her toolbet and hands him a 8 ounce vial of holy water. "May be best just in case." She moves over to Sanimar, "You too," and hands her the same thing. She moves over to the front of the room. "How did this happen?"

"Hurghh!" Another dwarf comes lumbering in. He wears a trench coat inlaid with gold buttons and has a satchel full of mechanical bits. He wears a bandoleer full of bullets, a monocle over his right eye, and has many tools and trinkets hanging from his belt. His bulbous nose and beady eyes accent his huge mustache and mutton chops but, unlike many dwarves, sports a clean shaven chin. His black hair is always slicked back to keep it off his brow and face. "Those bloody stinkin' hell of a rats always tryin' a-" He stops. "Oh my."

He turns to look at all of you. "Looks like we have some company." He adjusts his monocle. "Ah, sorry." He waves his hand, "No go ahead." Elouise narrows her eyes at him, about to open her mouth. He lowers his head down and steps out of the way of Elouise and walks straight into the make-shift kitchen. He takes an apple out of the pantry.

Gertrude steps up.

"These people lost their way heading into the city. We thought they were from the Queen's Men, but they not. They just lost their friend. From a chimera! And those haze hulks earlier were nasty too. Even a gibberer."

"A gibbenerer," she bites her lip contemplatively. She doesn't even mean for it to sound so stupid but it was a bit more said to herself. "We will bring them back to the village. On our horses."

"That's what we said!"

"Let us go at once." She looks up at the brightening sky, "We don't have long before the contamination sets in. Less than 24 hours."

"Aye. Go on. Take the horses." The dwarves didn't really wait for his approval. You were already out the door by the time he turned around.

You all take the horses and the caravan out of the city. You ride past the familiar (now dead- as in empty!) streets. Though the smell of death permeates the air around you. You see the leg of one man and then the arm of another. You are actually not sure if they were from the same person or not. The continual flames in the streetlights make a mockery of the scene before you with their shadows and the way they make things dance. It almost seems that these limbs were moving, but they were not. At least you're pretty sure they aren't. 

It is when you stop by what used to be a butchery that you spot something. A dead horse. And a rat eating it. No no. Not just a rat. It's standing upright. With little clothes and a little dagger. It's- it's a-

"Ratling" a dwarf whispers. You recognize that the horse is yours. Another horse whinnies a block away. The rat's ears perk up. It quickly turns around and spots you.

Sarűmir, who had only put Lara down long enough for Elouise to say her prayers, gently hands over her corpse to one of the other party members. He climbs down from the horse he is on, and growls at the ratling. He pulls out his crossbow and takes a shot at it from afar.

Attack: Crossbow

To hit: 24

Damage: 3

"Thank you for the holy water, Elouise and I thank everyone here for your hospitality and letting come along back to Emberwood." says Sanimar. She can't help feeling guiltly that she could not save Lara in time. Well, the only think I can do now is to bring her to her final resting place. She is silent during the trip as she ponders how quickly life is taken here in Drakkenheim. The body party litter the road like unwanted trash. 

Upon seeing the Ratling a surge of anger wells up within her. Can't we have a moment to mourn before the grim reaper rears its ugly head. 

Sanimar holds her action. If the Ratling attacks she will fire a bolt from her crossbow

Readied action

Crossbow

Attack: 15 Damage: 6

She stays on the caravan. 

@Athalie

"Oh, yes, um well it's his birthday. Turning 15 and all. A true real mark of real man adulthood!" She does an arm curl with her fist in the air. She looks to be around her mid 20s. "We honestly don't really consider him our Reeve much anymore but Sister Hanna decides against it. He was the Reeve when our parents were alive, so he's the Reeve 'til he dies." She fishes her hands out of her pockets. Vervidia then realizes she hadn't answered your question.

"Sure! The more songs the merrier. I've would've practiced too if it hadn't been for all the chores. Sister Hanna says a spotless house is a holy house."

She blinks, "Really? You think so? ... Thank you. It doesn't roll easy off the tongue. I like Athalie better." The choir members begin flooding the room. They are all young woman around her age wearing the same smocks and gown. They pass through the hallway rather quickly, and Vervirdia waves at them. They smile back and nod. They descend down a staircase by the time you shout. One comes back and looks around but gives a little chuckle. Vervidia diverts her eyes away. "Oh yes! High Flamekeeper has been all up to here-" she puts her hand up to her neck, "in worry about some sort of scepter."

"She's gotten some news more lately from adventurers- you know those people who go into Drakkenheim. There's just so many of them- but this one...this one really piqued her interest. Hanna told me about how it was some holy artifact. Our mother was also a Flamekeeper..."

"Right. Uh. I'm not sure. She didn't mention any group- at least that's not what I've heard from Hanna." She blinks, "She doesn't know?" She puts her hands on her waists as smiles at you, "Oh okay, yes girl! Making your own way!" She lightly punches your shoulder and nods her head and waves you over when you get up from the pew. She scoffs when you say you shouldn't make too much noise, "I'd never fret on that. You're with me." She takes you towards a hallway lined with statues of saints and candles to the rectory. There is a small kitchen complete with an icebox and a wash bin.

"Bathroom's to the right," Vervidia points, then opens up a pantry door with a creak. "Want some raisins? We also have some croissants leftover from this morning. From the first choir practice. The Reeve was here. You know, to mandate everything..... Drakkenheim used to be such a commerce city." She shakes her head, then shrugs, "Though I wouldn't know. Only went there once(?) when I was a kid. ... I think we got some pears somewhere."

@Sanimar, Sarűmir, Twinkleblossum, and Aster

"It is of no problem," Elousie put her hands onto her amulet, "We do not get much visitors out here with such kind hearts. The Flame burns brightly in all of you." She eyes Sarűmir though. The caravan bumps against some rocky roads. "But do not let the flames consume you. The Torch of Justice may be righteous, but it can also burn those who wield it wily." She says this so softly in an almost motherly way.

Shooting the ratling, Sarűmir, you get it straight in the chest. The ratling yelps. It brings its little rat hand up to its chest. It bleeds. It yells some utter nonsensical stuff before sicking its dagger into its mouth and rushing towards you guys. Then Sanimar's arrow flings towards it, missing it by just a few centimeters. The thing it did hit breaks into small wooden pieces. "EEK!" The ratling shrieks. 

It stands back up on its hand legs and squeaks, "You won't get away with this! ... YOU- YOU!" It shakes its fist. It doesn't even finish. It just ducks into a nearby sewer covering and disappears. The dwarvan party turns to you to see if you wanted to continue on. You hear the brays of another horse only meters away.

Sarűmir turns back to the dwarves. "Let us continue on. I wish to get outside the city as fast as we can."

Twinkleblossum will fly up high enough to spot the nearby horse and give directions to the party so that they can recover it.

"I think that's one of our horses, and it's alive!"

@Sanimar, Sarűmir, Aster, and Twinkleblossum

The caravan starts back up again. "Stupid ratlings everywhere," the clean-shaven one mutters, "Eat and breed all them things do." Then the cart halts as soon as Twinkleblossum shouts.

"Aye," the one manning the horses says, "She's right!" 

Behind an alley between two shops (one being a bakery) the horse is stuck in between some palates of wood and an overturned wheelbarrow. It tries to buck it off but it appears it is also tied down to something. You see that its reins have been caught on a nearby piece of metal sticking out from one of the bricks that line the building. It looks like it was originally there to hang a sign of some sort but now it's all rusted up and discolored.  

Each time it pulls on its reins it disturbs the items resting on top of the metal, notably a hammer that is perpendicular to the metal. It wavers just right in the middle, about to fall on the horse's head.

Sanimar is glad the ratling leaves. As she sees the teetering hammer, she moves within 30ft and summons her mage hand to grab the hammer. "Whoa horse. We are here to help" 

@Sanimar 

You grab the hammer with your Mage Hand, which topples over random items piled on top of it which included small pebbles stacked in a little tower. The horse riles up, kicking its front legs in the air. The pebbles miss it, but it tugs at the metal piece.

Putting your hand out, it strains its neck out then sputters, putting its muzzle onto your palm. It can't go much further with the reins tied to it.

You recognize this as Lara's warhorse.

Sarűmir walks over to the horse. He pats it on the head. "Stay calm. I'll get you out of there." He pulls out his longsword, carefully using it to slice through the horse's reins.

@Sarűmir 

The horse blows air at your approach and its nostrils flare until you pat its head and it lets out a nicker. It backs away as far as it could once you bring out your blade. The longsword easily cuts through the leather reins. It trots in place to test out its freedom. It actually slips a little bit (its right hoof slipping out under a rock) and tries to play it cool by attempting to stretch before going back up again.

The horse looks otherwise unharmed from when you've left it.

((bruh I be reading a horse dictionary for this))

Athalie is all smiles as she follows Vervidia into the small kitchen, laughing. "Well, at least being with an acolyte makes it okay!" She happily accepts the raisins and croissants, only realizing how hungry she is when she stuffs half a croissant in her mouth. But she manages to swallow it, her eyes sparkling with mirth. "These are really good! There must be an amazing baker in town. They can't be cheap, though, flour and butter and all, they must cost a lot out here. I didn't see anything growing around here for the last two or three days I was riding. Those adventurers must be making a lot of money from what they're finding in the ruins. I could really tell, when I got here. The market square was just booming, even at this hour."

She nibbles on a second croissant after finishing the first, alternating it with small handfuls of raisins. "So it's a scepter that Flamekeeper Hanna sent Lara to fetch? Lost for all this time in the ruins. I'm sure there's a lot of things that just got buried when that meteor hit...all kinds of holy relics... I'm glad she's trying to get it back." She pauses, thinking, her expression becoming more solemn for a moment. "You know something, Vervidia? Lara and I grew up in Drakkenheim. Or, well, we were born there. She grew up there more than I did. I was maybe four years old when the meteor hit... I really don't remember much about it. Lara hid me in the cellar and then got me out of the city. Our parents... they didn't make it." Athalie is a little startled by the sudden sadness that comes over her. Tears prick her eyes, but she blinks them away. "I remember them even less than I do Drakkenheim. We were taken in by Flamekeeper Macrina and raised in Geldstadt. So that's where I came from, the Achtungwald Province, down there to the south. I loved it. I still do. But I love Lara more. She never felt at home there. She's a lot older and she remembered Drakkenheim. She had a higher calling, you know? She wanted to come back. Lara and I have been best friends, always. It was just wrong for me not to go with her, but I didn't realize that until after she left." Athalie smiles again, picking up a third croissant. "Now I'm here... and I'll see her again soon. I can't wait. She'll be so surprised. I'll help her find that scepter, if she hasn't found it already!"

(Thanks for the horse research) 

"Good the horse looks rather unharmed let's take it back with us." says Sanimar as she orders the mage hand to hand her the hammer. She stores it in her pack and hops back onto the caravan. 

@Athalie

"Oh yeah, nah. They're real expensive," she shoves her face with croissants too. "Stravos imports them from all the way down the Drann. I'm so glad I don't do his checkbooks! It must have been whoosh something." She waves her arms to gesture the price. Then she looks down and smiles, "You really think so?" Vervidia wipes away hair from her face, "I... actually made them this morning." 

She straightens her back, "I'm really glad you like them."

"I wanted to give the leftovers out to the 'poor' but honestly... no one here really needs them." She stares at you to watch your expression. "All the folks here are profiting off the crater and the rocks. STRAVOS! He's literally betting off people!" Her foot scrapes the tiles on the floor.

"... No one from before has really stayed. Either blinded or crippled, they sought to better places. I wanted to bring it to those by Hendrix's but-"

The acolyte shakes her head, "I couldn't."

"or maybe I didn't want to," she says this last part quietly to herself. "Yeah business has been booming here. Got some nice parts to it. Means we're never really lonely. Always something in town. I'd wish for a carnival, but we have this." She looks at the glow of the city by the window. It is very faint, but it makes the stained-glass-saints have an unearthly purple halo to them.

"Glad you liked them," she says again after you finish a second croissant. "We actually have so much flour left over." She makes that noise when you blow air out your nose, then she lightly nudges your arm, "Hey! If you're here again tomorrow let me know and you and I can make some more!"

She nods, "Yeah it's an old scepter that used to be there back before the city got destroyed. There's a bunch of chapels Saint Vitruvio's, Brenna's, Selina's... Some others sprinkles in between maybe. I'm partially named after Saint Vitruvio's myself. Hanna's Brenna." At your comment on holy relics, she laughs warmly and puts and arm around your shoulder with a croissant in the other. "Yeah, me too." Then her face goes sullen.

"Oh? You did?" She pulls her hand away from you, "Oh... I'm sorry." She sees your tears and hands you a small wash towel that was by the basin. "Wow..." She is stunned by your confession and doesn't know what to say. She just nods and looks to be also holding back tears from coming. "I am just so sorry." She sits. She motions for you too to take a seat by her on this weaved branch couch in this small meeting space. There are some small yellow pillows that accompany it.

"Lara must've been pretty brave." She pats you on the back but looks up at the ceiling. "I- I wouldn't have thought of that..." She responds to the cellar thing. Her voice falling flat at the end. Once you finish your story, she nods, "Wow. And like so are you too! Like- That's... that's really something to be following like that. I- You've got something." She looks as if she was about to ruffle your hair but holds back on it. "If she's as brave as you and as you say she is, then she'll come back probably by end of tomorrow, I bet."

She stands up, eyebrows arched. "Do you have a place to stay for the night?"

@Sanimar, Sarűmir, Twinkleblossum, and Aster

Sanimar takes the hammer and puts it into her backpack. The rest of you file back into the caravan or fly either up to you. The dwarves help hitch the warhorse onto their cart and it settles in nicely with the others. The two horses beside it now are spotted with brown on white coats. The dwarves call them Dot and Spotty. 

"Dot! Spotty! Heave ho!" 

You continue on on your journey. The wood of the caravan cricks and creaks and you're wondering if that would set off another zombie (or whoever knows what else lies in the ruins) attack but it doesn't. You just pass right on by on the streets. You smell smoke and the blue flames coming from a nearby fire but the dwarves tell you not to worry about it. "Best not to attract your attention to it." They tell you. 

You ride about 20 minutes more when you spot it. With the reds of the sunlight mixed in with the murky purple you see something peaking out in the distance.

A deteriorating chapel lies atop a small hillock in the middle of a desolate residential borough. Despite heavy damage, its domed slate roof rises above the surrounding townhouses. Two cylinder-shaped towers flank the arched double-door entrance. One tower has completely collapsed into a mound of stone rubble roughly fifteen feet high, leaving a great breach leading into the chapel at ground level. The other tower remains standing up to the second story. Elegant arched windows filled with stained glass mosaics decorate the outside of the chapel, but most are shattered and broken.

Twinkleblossum (who is flying) is the one who spots this first. You spot that damned cat (tabaxi)

"Oh, you made them? Well, you did a great job!" Athalie beams as she stuffs the last of her current croissant into her mouth. "I've never tasted anything more delicious! Hunger and long travel is the best flavoring, so I might have my judgment a little clouded, but then again Geldstadt isn't known for its pastries." She giggles. She listens with interest, though, as Vervidia talks about the poor.

"One thing Flamekeeper Macrina always taught us," she says, thoughtfully, "is that the poor are always with us. Sometimes they're not real easy to find, though. Like here. This is a weird place. Full of excitement, but it's dead. It's poisoned. Those who are poor or weak... I don't expect they last long. Probably the poor here... the window is very small that they would need anything from us... before they're gone. Or turned into something unnatural, at least if the stories I've heard are true." She shrugs. "But you don't have to feel bad. If someone came to your door asking for food... that's when the Flame is asking you to help the poor. Lara liked that kind of thing. Helping angels in disguise, and all. I wonder though that people starting to be down on their luck here aren't getting pushed into dangerous jobs, though? Before anyone knows about it."

Athalie smiles at the acolyte's kindness and sympathy. "That's very kind of you. I didn't mean to tell you the whole story like that, but I guess it's on my mind. Now that I'm.... here, again. And about to see my sister." Her excitement is catching. "I hope she's back by tomorrow! The sooner I know where she's at, the sooner I can help her with the relics. Saint Vitruvio, Saint Brenna, Saint Selina... pray for us!"

When Vervidia asks if she has a place to stay for a night, Athalie shakes her head. "When I got to town, I was planning to visit one of the inns, and see if I could trade them a performance for a place to stay and some food. You remember I brought musical instruments with me, well, I performed a lot in Geldstadt, and I thought it could help to get me by here, at least until I was able to start working with Lara and the Flamekeepers. So, I haven't visited one yet, I wanted to visit the chapel first. Seek the Flame first and all else will be illuminated, right? An inn was going to be my next stop. Do you have any suggestions for which one would take best to trading me some room and board for my entertainment?"

Sanimar looks to Sarumir "Is that the Tabaxi you were chasing? Do you think they have already killed/captured Yoren?" 

Twinkleblossum flies back down and hovers near Sarumir.

"Sarumir, I think your friend you like to chase is in that tower yonder." she says while pointing out where she saw the tabaxi.

Sarűmir looks at Twinkleblossum with a confused expression. "What are you- oh, now I know. That dawned cat." He snarls. "Well, what do you suppose we do?"

"We should continue and lay Lara to rest right now, maybe later when we've had time to recover from recent events we can return if you still want to."

Twinkleblossum looks around to make a mental map of some landmarks, not that she thinks they would forget where this is because it stands out so prominently but more so that they would have other ways to find it or describe where it is to others.

"I just felt you would want to know since you were so keen to chase and catch her before."