'Tace' listens to Emma and the Sergeant, and thinks back to his studies. The root could well be similar to the goodberries I read about that the druids of Etana could create. That seems to further indicate the ranger was Etanan.
"I think you are right, we should keep the rest for now. I wonder if the ranger was from Etana, if the druids from there had anything to do with the root", he suggests, not wanting to divulge too much of what he has figured out.
"Anyway, it seems the root has some curative property, and fills you up, but doesn't cure whatever ails Emma", he concludes. "Perhaps now is a good time for Emma to rest, and for me to trance, Sir", he says to the Sergeant.
He makes his way to the alcove unless the Sergeant disagrees, and removes his weapons, placing them on the floor next to him. He decides not to remove his armour, just in case, and positions himself such that whilst he trances he is not blinded by the fire and can see into the tent.
Arrendoesn't give much of a reaction when Tacenotes that the root's beneficial properties don't include curing Emma's condition. They knew it was a long shot, so he's not particularly surprised. At the very least, they tried.
Still, he watches Emma for a moment, wondering how she's doing after hearing that. He hopes that the good feeling from changing clothes and talking about food is still with her, if only for tonight. Either way, Arren nods quickly, "Agreed. The rest will do us all good."
The Half-Elf gives Emma a bit of space, quietly tidying the remains of dinner. And he doesn't offer any conversation for a while, assuming she'll fall asleep soon. But if she's still awake after he's finished and the Corporal has begun to trance, he might speak with her quietly—low enough so as not to disturb him. If she isn't, he simply keeps watch, occasionally staring into the fire as the wood slowly burns away.
When the agreed hours have passed, the Sergeant takes the Corporal's place in the alcove. He removes the shield, carefully placing it against next to the javelins, and sets the longsword beside him. Then, he strips off his armor and thoroughly washes the shoulder wound before bandaging it. With a long sigh, he lies down and falls asleep almost immediately.
(ooc: Took a short rest, used 2 hit die and healed 10+7+6= 23 HP)
While the logical conclusion that the root might be a Goodberry seems reasonable, Bryn will also be aware that these are usually described as only lasting for a day and a night. Clearly, it had lasted much longer so far, but there's no telling how long it would, and whether it might "go bad" or disappear altogether at some point. When thinking about keeping the rest of the pieces for later, this is something he would be aware of. Nonetheless, it did last until now, so there's no telling how long it will last from now.
Emma doesn't respond to the matter at all. She hadn't given the root any thought before eating it and discovering it is truly unusual, beyond mere shape—and she didn't expect her... curse, as she calls it, to vanish just like that either.
Arren, and later Bryn, after they swap roles and he takes over in watching, find Emma to be a very light sleeper. It does, however, seem to be a direct result of trying to sleep with one's hands manacled behind their back. Sleeping on her back is not feasible, and sleeping on her stomach or side is still highly uncomfortable. Sleeping in a seated position is never comfortable, and Emma doesn't even have anything solid to lean against, so that option is out as well. And so, throughout the night, Emma wakes often, shifts position and tries again, until she can stay in that position no more and the cycle repeats.
For the same reason, she takes a long time to fall asleep, and so, if he wishes, Arren can talk to her before going to sleep. She doesn't seem to mind that much, even though she looks at least as tired as he.
((I won't assume anything, so Arren (and Bryn) can feel free to talk to her (or do anything else) during the night if they wish. I will move forward for now, but since I don't expect any life-changing or particularly long talks, I think we can play it out in parallel with the start of the next day.))
Despite a restless-looking sleep, Emma doesn't do anything that alarms either Arren or Bryn during their watches, and the night passes in relative silence. By the time Bryn swaps with Arren, the rain has weakened significantly to a soft yet constant tapping, which Arren finds to be a very soporific sound. The winds also quieted down with time, and indeed by sunrise, just like Emma predicted, the storm had passed.
Perhaps to Bryn's surprise - or maybe not - Emma wakes early. It is a little before sunrise, indicated only by the faint chirping of birds that came out to stretch their vocal cords after a long day in hiding from the rain, since the greying sky in the distance cannot be seen from under the tree's canopy. Emma, who has been restless all night, finally sits upright inside the tent. She doesn't look well-rested, and it doesn't look like there's anything she plans to do, now that she's awake, but it is soon clear that she does not plan on sleeping again tonight.
Not long after, Arren rises too, his biological clock tuned to wake at this time from years on the roads with the Commandant.
As he takes his watch and observes Emma's struggle to sleep with her arms manacled behind her back, Arren feels another pang of guilt — immediately followed by a new reminder that they can't simply do otherwise.
For the umpteenth time, he feels like apologizing to her — and also, like saying how much he wants to find the person who caused all this. But he says nothing to her about the first thought— it wouldn't change their decision to keep her restrained, nor would it ease her discomfort. And he pushes aside the second. There's nothing he can do about it right now… and the Commandant may end up deciding not to pursue that person at all.
So, in a moment when Emma seems fully awake, all he says — quietly — is: "At your home, we learned that you know Corporal Peite's wife. We were both honestly surprised. He hadn't realized you knew each other, and I didn't even know he is married. The Corporal joined our team just a few days ago. Curious coincidence, right? We only stopped in Ersta because of the rain. Otherwise we'd all probably have kept going and slept outside somewhere else."
(ooc: Arren doesn't know Kone's name, by the way. I've checked: 'Tace' never said, and Arren didn't read those letters)
The Sergeant doesn't really expect a response. He wouldn't want to talk either, if he were the one in chains. But he says it anyway. More to offer a distraction than anything else.
Hours later, the wind and rain have receded, and the morning greets them with a stormless sky and the sound of chirping birds. But Arren doesn't register that immediately.
When he wakes in the alcove, the Half-Elf spends a moment gathering himself. Catching his breath. A brief moment later, he shakes off the remnants of a sleep that has been restful—though not entirely quiet—and stands, strapping on his armor and weapons in silence.
Once he's ready, Arren glances at Emma's unrested form, then turns to Tace. "I was thinking of heading back to the Commandant myself. Are you all right with that, or would you rather we switch?"
A little before Arren wakes, Bryn notices he moves in his sleep, a little more than he normally does during the night. He looks a bit restless, though not in any abnormal way.
Emma, who was trying to sleep on her side at the moment but clearly was unsuccessful, twists and rolls until she's on her back, then springs to a seated position. "Corporal Peite?" Emma seems confused, and it takes her a few moments to remember whom else she knows by that name. When she does, she looks genuinely surprised. "The Tace Peite, Kone's husband? I'd never have guessed!" Despite her surprise, she keeps her voice low. "I met Kone when I studied in Pyorre, but her husband was always away, so I never actually met him. I did hear about him a lot, but..." She trails off and seems to consider something for a few moments. "I suppose I imagined him a little differently." She says a little hesitantly, and then turns away and attempts to sleep again.
Arren, please make an Insight check. If the total is above 17:
Arren thinks Emma might know more than she chose to share.
During his Trance, 'Tace' focusses on the sounds of the rain on the tent and the crackle of the fire, trying to put the stresses of the day out of his mind. And the day had certainly been stressful.
Although he doesn't spend as long as usual in this meditative state, he still feels quite rested when is roused.
For the next 6 hours he is cooped up in the tent watching Emma like a hawk though. If he hadn't been incarcerated for the last half a year or so, it would likely have been excruciating.
He too felt sorry for the chef from Ersta. At least once he was in cell, and during his sleep, his manacles were off. Or at the very least not behind his back.
It is necessary though. No matter how cruel it seems, and even this precaution might not save us if she turns.
When Emma and then Sergeant are both finally awake, he actually breathes a sigh of relief that the night is over. I hope we can come up with a better plan going forward.
He certainly doesn't have the same level of discipline as the Sergeant.
"To state the obvious, it seems we have all survived the night", he says to break the silence as the Sergeant straps on his armour.
When asked about heading back to the commandant, he shakes his head. "I have no problem with that, Sir. I will stay and remain close to the camp", he replies, hoping to be able to take a short stroll even if accompanied by Emma.
"Have you had any more thoughts of how we proceed from here, Sir? Do you think the Commandant and Lieutenant will accompany you back here?", he asks. I wonder if that was on his mind through the night.
"No problem at all,"Arren replies as he finishes preparing, making sure to take all his weapons—including the javelins—and his backpack, which feels considerably lighter than it did last night, now that he's rested and no longer carrying extra clothing for two people, and tent on top of everything else. Not to mention the dry wood he carried in one of his arms.
In response to the Corporal's next question, he shakes his head and then speaks more quietly, aiming to be heard mainly by Tace and not Emma.
"To be honest, I haven't thought much about it," he says. "Didn't seem worth it—not when whatever the Commandant decides will be final. Figured it was better to hold off on making any plans until after I've spoken to her." He pauses. "She might well decide to take a look herself before making the call, yes. But we'll see soon enough."
He pauses again, shooting Emma a quick look, before focusing again on Tace, "I'll be back as quickly as possible. Be extra mindful of her. It's daytime now, and she won't have the sight issues she had last night."
With that—and unless the Corporal or Emma speak up—he sets off toward Ersta. The Sergeant knows better than to keep his Commandant waiting too long, and he's certain she and the Lieutenant will already be up and prepared at this hour.
(ooc: Arren brought a few rations last night, just in case. We can say that he's left them with "Tace" and Emma so they have something else to eat while he is away.)
"Good point, Sir", 'Tace' replies as the Sergeant mentions that Emma can see perfectly well in the light. That does make her more dangerous. A tactical retreat would likely be the best option if she does change.
He looks across to Emma, "I am sorry for the discomfort through the night with the manacles, but you look a bit better. How do you feel? And you were right about the storm".
The fire, which had kept those who slept in the alcove warm through the night, has already consumed all the wood Arren brought with him on his last voyage to town. It shouldn't be as cold during the day, though, especially if everyone remains dry, so it might not be a big concern. Nonetheless, it would probably die out entirely before Arren returns, even if he doesn't delay there at all.
Emma, who has not left the tent as instructed, looks at Bryn with a rather expressionless face. "Not an inn I'd like to sleep in again, but I guess it was better than waking up next to your corpses."
Not long after Arren has left, Emma, with clear discomfort, clears her throat and says: "Do you think I could... excuse myself for a bit?"
The way back to town is short, and Arren arrives about when the sun first appears over the woods in the east. When he reaches the Three Frogs inn, he finds Commandant Nattensbarn and Lieutenant Tireur already up and ready, waiting for him outside the inn. From the looks of it, all their gear and belongings that they brought with them to the inn are with them.
"Good morning, Sergeant," Commandant Nattensbarn greets him coldly, or perhaps just declaring that she's been waiting for him. The dark circles under her eyes hint that she slept about the same number of hours as always, maybe even less, though she hides the tiredness of her behaviour. "I promised you an answer when you arrive, but I'm afraid I can't deliver a final verdict yet. It occurred to me that I have not given this matter enough attention, and so, I would need to see for myself what it is all about. At the very least, I will need to meet Emma before I make a decision that will determine how she'll live the rest of her life.
"We will go to the carriage now, to drop off my backpack and perhaps pick up anything that we might need. From there, you will lead us to Emma." She hoists her backpack up and slides her arms into the straps. "If there's anything I should know that you have yet to tell, now would be the time."
"Good morning, ma'am. Sir,"Arrengreets both his superiors, standing straight.Why the cold tone? he wonders. It's the last thing he needs after the day they had yesterday, and the effort it took to return on time, despite everything.
He notices the dark circles under Commandant Nattensbarn's eyes, and curses inwardly. One would think she'd have prioritized rest, especially when she had the chance to spend nearly a full day on paperwork—and knowing full well there was a high chance she'd be entering the forest to see Emma today. With this, Arren feels himself shift into a higher state of alert. He was already uneasy about bringing the wounded Lieutenant Tireur and the Commandant to Emma when she's at her deadliest—but seeing that Nattensbarn isn't at her best only sharpens his concern.
Still, even if concern is clear on Sergeant al-Nasrid's face, he understands the need: seeing Emma may be the only way to reach a decision and, right now, this is their only path forward. He wishes there were an option that didn't involve risking to the very person they're supposed to protect, but he sees no other way. So, he gives the Commandant a small nod.
Then he adds, "Nothing new, really. The night was quiet. Emma changed into the clean, warm clothes I brought from her home. We set up the big tent next to her alcove, cooked some potatoes so she could have a proper meal, and took shifts—watching her, resting when we could. We also tested the root from the alleged Etanan ranger. It seems to have mild curative properties and can stave off hunger. But Emma's condition regarding the curse hasn't changed. She couldn't get much sleep, since we kept the manacles on—with her hands behind her back."Maybe that was what my nightmare was about? A bad dream born out of guilt?
Arren pauses, then continues more firmly. "As I said, nothing really out of the ordinary. But let me warn you both again. Whatever you imagine Emma becomes, it won't come close to reality. She's deadly. Stronger than us. Faster than us. If she transforms—and keep in mind, she won't be able to warn us—it will be a completely different fight. No sight issues like last night. It will be an entirely new situation, even for the Corporal and me, who've already faced her. Please. Be extremely careful."
With that, he's ready to head to the carriage—and then on to the alcove. Along the way, he makes sure to remind both the Lieutenant and the Commandant about the spider-infested clearing, and warns them not to take a single step into it.
"I certainly appreciated waking up, that is for sure", 'Tace' replies dryly, but not unkindly.
He watches the Sergeant leave for a moment before turning his attention back to watching Emma.
"Let's hope the Commandant can devise a suitable plan to help you. I have not known her long, but she seems quite astute".
When Emma asks to excuse herself, he nods, "I was just thinking that might be necessary. Of course, you have been patient and true to your word".
He reaches for the key to the manacles, "I will briefly switch the manacles so your hands are in front of you. I hope that will suffice. And then switch back immediately once you return".
He will do as he suggests unless she protests, allowing her some privacy but remaining close. As she moves away, he will make sure his weapons are to hand just in case.
((Arren wouldn't consider the Commandant's coldness unexpected. This is the usual tone she uses when she has to issue orders.))
Commandant Nattensbarn listens quietly but does not respond to Arren's report of their night outdoors. On the way to the carriage, she maintains a short distance in front of her two subordinates and keeps quiet.
During that time, Lieutenant Tireur walks alongside Arren. "How likely is Emma to... turn? Are there any precautions we can take to avoid that, or to minimise the potential danger when she does? Actually, aside from her extraordinary strength and agility, is there anything else we should watch out for? You describe her as a wild animal. Does she fight with instinct alone? Did she hurt you this badly with no weapon and no training? I've seen you defend against skilled bandits often, and you've never regarded them with such awe." He sounds a little sceptical, as if thinking: 'That couldn't possibly be right, no Human is that strong.'
When they reach the carriage, the Lieutenant and the Commandant drop off everything they were carrying, aside from Walnuts' weapons. Walnuts only takes his waterskin out of the backpack and attaches it to the designated place in his belt (which all soldiers have). He then briefly checks on Choco and Mocha before joining Arren in waiting.
The Commandant, meanwhile, organises her stuff in the carriage, and after a short while, steps out and locks the door behind her. With her, she carries a small, brown-leather crossbody bag (like a mailman's bag) in which Arren knows she usually stores a few empty sheets of paper and a reed pen, along with a few necessary tools like a sharpening knife and, of course, ink. It is a bag she often takes when inspecting places, knowing she might need to write something, but does not intend to sit and work in front of a table.
Lastly, Arren notices the Commandant took her rapier. Normally, she only takes this sword out when it is needed for ceremonial purposes, which is to say, almost only while in Pyorre. Although the sword itself is a completely normal rapier, sharp and dangerous in the right hand, if a little decorated, the Commandant never uses it. Despite the mandatory most basic martial training in which even the bureaucratic personnel of the Katton army must partake, the Commandant's skill with the sword is particularly subpar, and so, in most cases, when she might need to use it, it would be of no help. Lieutenant Tireur always urges her to keep it with her just in case, and since most potential enemies wouldn't know she cannot properly use it and would therefore be more cautious before engaging with her, but the Commandant rarely listens.
Once they've left, it doesn't take long for Arren to lead the way to Emma's alcove. However, once they start seeing Emma's messages, Commandant Nattensbarn halts and approaches one of the messages, passing her hand along it. "I imagine we must be getting close now?" She asks rhetorically. While she speaks, her eyes remain fixed on the tree and the message on it: "Turn Back!". "Perhaps we should wait here while you go and inform Emma of our arrival. I imagine we shouldn't surprise her."
"I hope it will, thank you," Emma responds to Bryn when he suggests switching the manacales' location.
"I want to apologise for what I said yesterday. Considering the situation, you're being rather kind," Emma says while Bryn unmanacles Emma and manacles her again, now her hands at the front.
Emma doesn't take long before she returns. But while Bryn starts switching her manacles to her back again, in particular, immediately after he unlocks one of the rings but before he can lock it back behind her, she asks: "Your partner seems to believe you are Tace Peite, the husband of Kone with whom I had exchanged letters. But I know Tace. You're similar, perhaps, but I know you are not the same person." She states these facts without any clear animosity, and doesn't resist if Bryn resumes manacling her hands behind her back. "For now, I told him I haven't met Tace. But if I may, who are you, and what happened to the real Tace?"
OOC:
Bryn can't know how much time is left before Arren returns. He imagines that by now, Arren might already be returning. Unknown to him, Arren is currently waiting for the Commandant to find her rapier in the carriage, which means that Arren would not arrive for a bit more. Unfortunately, this means your posts are currently desynchronised. So, for now, FairIthilien, you may choose to either respond to anything up to and including the Commandan't last suggestion but not anything after that, or wait for a bit until Arren arrives in Bryn's timeline too.
When Emma apologises, 'Tace' inclines his head in acceptance. "It was an understandable reaction".
After giving her some privacy, but remaining close by, he is relieved when she returns and offer the manacles to be switched back to being behind her back. And then she speaks, causing him to pause momentarily as he is about to lock the manacles once more.
So the Sergeant mentioned who I am meant to be. I shouldn't be surprised I guess. And yet she didn't give me away...
He looks about to make sure the Sergeant was not returning, before replying even as he locks the manacles, his voice low.
"You are astute, that is for sure. I had avoided mentioning the name Tace Peite, but it seems the Sergeant did not", he whispers and then sighs as the manacles lock. "There was an accident at the prison, a cave in. The real Tace Peite was crushed under the rocks. I...took advantage of the situation in order to avoid further incarceration, nothing more".
He steps back, looks around again, and continues in a whisper if there is still no sign of the Sergeant.
"My life is now in your hands, but know I continue my ruse in part to reach the capital and inform Kone of what happened. I planned to disappear after that, although I confess things are afoot here by which I am intrigued. Do you want me to release you? Should I flee now?".
For a long and tense moment, Emma looks like she's considering her options, most of which are probably not in Bryn's favour. "No, you should stay," Emma eventually decides. "If you mean no harm to those you travel with, I won't give you away." As far as Bryn can tell, she's not trying to mislead him. "Please offer my condolences to Kone once you meet her. Oh, but... don't mention my current state to her, if you can."
Emma does not talk about the matter anymore and allows Bryn to lead her back to the tent (or wherever else he chooses), where she'll stay silently unless talked to until Arren arrives.
"I am in your debt", 'Tace' whispers to Emma. "And I will pass on your message, and say no more", he adds quietly.
He leads Emma back to the tent, motions for her to enter, before looking around for the Sergeant.
If there is still no sign, he will enter as well and quietly say, "I have means for us to speak without being heard by the Sergeant or anyone else. It is a simple form of magic, like warming up the coat. Just rub your ear lobe in my line of sight if you want to talk in private".
He then puts one hand in his pocket where he has a piece of copper wire, and with the other points to her. He then whispers, "Like this, and you can reply with a short whispered sentence too".
As they head toward the carriage, Arren answers Walnuts's questions as best he can. He begins by describing how Emma appears when transformed, then moves into greater detail about her abilities.
"She moves on all fours—but not like an animal would do. She buries her 'hands' into the ground, then launches herself up into the air and forward in a blink. She doesn't need weapons. Her hands become claws, sharp enough to tear through bark and metal. Last night, she preferred the trees to the ground. She leapt from trunk to trunk, clinging to them with ease, as if that was where she belonged."
He pauses, thinking about how to continue. "When she hit me, it didn't feel like something a common Human—especially not someone with her build—should be able to do. She slammed into me twice. The first time, I had my shield raised, and she still nearly knocked me off my feet. The second time, I also managed to hold my ground against the slam, but I wasn't fast enough and her claws tore through my chain mail like it was cloth."
"Her senses don't seem enhanced by the transformation—it actually took us a moment to realize she couldn't see and that she was guiding herself by sound. But her flesh is tougher than normal. When we had to strike her, the cuts were shallower than expected. As for her attack patterns, she clearly fights on instinct. She throws everything into each strike, which makes her dangerous, but it also leaves her exposed. Even so, she managed to injure the Corporal, and I was right beside him, trying to deflect her blows. And all of that was with her vision impaired by the dark."
"As for the triggers... Corporal Peite spoke to her about that. If she's hungry or cold, she can sometimes feel it building. At those moments could warn us. But sudden triggers? Pain. Fear. Being startled. Those are different. In those moments, she loses control entirely. She's woken up elsewhere covered in blood before, barely remembering how she got there."
The Sergeant exhales slowly. There's a strange feeling as he talks—as if the more he explains, the more unreal it all sounds. If he hadn't seen Emma transformed with his own eyes, he'd doubt it too.
He's still turning that thought over as the Commandant steps down from the carriage, carrying the rapier Walnut has urged her to keep close so many times before. He tries to keep his expression neutral. If there was a situation where that blade might matter, this probably isn't it.
Then again, Emma looked fine this morning—tired, yes, but calm. The Commandant and the Lieutenant shouldn't need to see her transformed at all. That would be best. Maybe they'll think they've exaggerated. That would certainly be better. Even if it makes deciding what to do with her harder.
Once they reach the marked trees and the Commandant asks if he should walk in first to inform of their arrival, Arren hesitates for a moment. He doesn't like the idea of moving away from them, but then again, everything seems quiet in the forest. No strange sounds, no howling, no signs of a fight. Yes, everything appears to be in order—just as it was when he left a short while ago. Why should it have been otherwise...?
'Tace' listens to Emma and the Sergeant, and thinks back to his studies. The root could well be similar to the goodberries I read about that the druids of Etana could create. That seems to further indicate the ranger was Etanan.
"I think you are right, we should keep the rest for now. I wonder if the ranger was from Etana, if the druids from there had anything to do with the root", he suggests, not wanting to divulge too much of what he has figured out.
"Anyway, it seems the root has some curative property, and fills you up, but doesn't cure whatever ails Emma", he concludes. "Perhaps now is a good time for Emma to rest, and for me to trance, Sir", he says to the Sergeant.
He makes his way to the alcove unless the Sergeant disagrees, and removes his weapons, placing them on the floor next to him. He decides not to remove his armour, just in case, and positions himself such that whilst he trances he is not blinded by the fire and can see into the tent.
Arren doesn't give much of a reaction when Tace notes that the root's beneficial properties don't include curing Emma's condition. They knew it was a long shot, so he's not particularly surprised. At the very least, they tried.
Still, he watches Emma for a moment, wondering how she's doing after hearing that. He hopes that the good feeling from changing clothes and talking about food is still with her, if only for tonight. Either way, Arren nods quickly, "Agreed. The rest will do us all good."
The Half-Elf gives Emma a bit of space, quietly tidying the remains of dinner. And he doesn't offer any conversation for a while, assuming she'll fall asleep soon. But if she's still awake after he's finished and the Corporal has begun to trance, he might speak with her quietly—low enough so as not to disturb him. If she isn't, he simply keeps watch, occasionally staring into the fire as the wood slowly burns away.
When the agreed hours have passed, the Sergeant takes the Corporal's place in the alcove. He removes the shield, carefully placing it against next to the javelins, and sets the longsword beside him. Then, he strips off his armor and thoroughly washes the shoulder wound before bandaging it. With a long sigh, he lies down and falls asleep almost immediately.
(ooc: Took a short rest, used 2 hit die and healed 10+7+6= 23 HP)
Peindre l'amour, peindre la vie, pleurer en couleur ♫
Auriel | Shenua | Arren | Lyra
While the logical conclusion that the root might be a Goodberry seems reasonable, Bryn will also be aware that these are usually described as only lasting for a day and a night. Clearly, it had lasted much longer so far, but there's no telling how long it would, and whether it might "go bad" or disappear altogether at some point. When thinking about keeping the rest of the pieces for later, this is something he would be aware of. Nonetheless, it did last until now, so there's no telling how long it will last from now.
Emma doesn't respond to the matter at all. She hadn't given the root any thought before eating it and discovering it is truly unusual, beyond mere shape—and she didn't expect her... curse, as she calls it, to vanish just like that either.
Arren, and later Bryn, after they swap roles and he takes over in watching, find Emma to be a very light sleeper. It does, however, seem to be a direct result of trying to sleep with one's hands manacled behind their back. Sleeping on her back is not feasible, and sleeping on her stomach or side is still highly uncomfortable. Sleeping in a seated position is never comfortable, and Emma doesn't even have anything solid to lean against, so that option is out as well. And so, throughout the night, Emma wakes often, shifts position and tries again, until she can stay in that position no more and the cycle repeats.
For the same reason, she takes a long time to fall asleep, and so, if he wishes, Arren can talk to her before going to sleep. She doesn't seem to mind that much, even though she looks at least as tired as he.
((I won't assume anything, so Arren (and Bryn) can feel free to talk to her (or do anything else) during the night if they wish. I will move forward for now, but since I don't expect any life-changing or particularly long talks, I think we can play it out in parallel with the start of the next day.))
Despite a restless-looking sleep, Emma doesn't do anything that alarms either Arren or Bryn during their watches, and the night passes in relative silence. By the time Bryn swaps with Arren, the rain has weakened significantly to a soft yet constant tapping, which Arren finds to be a very soporific sound. The winds also quieted down with time, and indeed by sunrise, just like Emma predicted, the storm had passed.
Perhaps to Bryn's surprise - or maybe not - Emma wakes early. It is a little before sunrise, indicated only by the faint chirping of birds that came out to stretch their vocal cords after a long day in hiding from the rain, since the greying sky in the distance cannot be seen from under the tree's canopy. Emma, who has been restless all night, finally sits upright inside the tent. She doesn't look well-rested, and it doesn't look like there's anything she plans to do, now that she's awake, but it is soon clear that she does not plan on sleeping again tonight.
Not long after, Arren rises too, his biological clock tuned to wake at this time from years on the roads with the Commandant.
Varielky
As he takes his watch and observes Emma's struggle to sleep with her arms manacled behind her back, Arren feels another pang of guilt — immediately followed by a new reminder that they can't simply do otherwise.
For the umpteenth time, he feels like apologizing to her — and also, like saying how much he wants to find the person who caused all this. But he says nothing to her about the first thought— it wouldn't change their decision to keep her restrained, nor would it ease her discomfort. And he pushes aside the second. There's nothing he can do about it right now… and the Commandant may end up deciding not to pursue that person at all.
So, in a moment when Emma seems fully awake, all he says — quietly — is: "At your home, we learned that you know Corporal Peite's wife. We were both honestly surprised. He hadn't realized you knew each other, and I didn't even know he is married. The Corporal joined our team just a few days ago. Curious coincidence, right? We only stopped in Ersta because of the rain. Otherwise we'd all probably have kept going and slept outside somewhere else."
(ooc: Arren doesn't know Kone's name, by the way. I've checked: 'Tace' never said, and Arren didn't read those letters)
The Sergeant doesn't really expect a response. He wouldn't want to talk either, if he were the one in chains. But he says it anyway. More to offer a distraction than anything else.
Hours later, the wind and rain have receded, and the morning greets them with a stormless sky and the sound of chirping birds. But Arren doesn't register that immediately.
When he wakes in the alcove, the Half-Elf spends a moment gathering himself. Catching his breath. A brief moment later, he shakes off the remnants of a sleep that has been restful—though not entirely quiet—and stands, strapping on his armor and weapons in silence.
Once he's ready, Arren glances at Emma's unrested form, then turns to Tace. "I was thinking of heading back to the Commandant myself. Are you all right with that, or would you rather we switch?"
Peindre l'amour, peindre la vie, pleurer en couleur ♫
Auriel | Shenua | Arren | Lyra
Bryn only:
A little before Arren wakes, Bryn notices he moves in his sleep, a little more than he normally does during the night. He looks a bit restless, though not in any abnormal way.
Emma, who was trying to sleep on her side at the moment but clearly was unsuccessful, twists and rolls until she's on her back, then springs to a seated position. "Corporal Peite?" Emma seems confused, and it takes her a few moments to remember whom else she knows by that name. When she does, she looks genuinely surprised. "The Tace Peite, Kone's husband? I'd never have guessed!" Despite her surprise, she keeps her voice low. "I met Kone when I studied in Pyorre, but her husband was always away, so I never actually met him. I did hear about him a lot, but..." She trails off and seems to consider something for a few moments. "I suppose I imagined him a little differently." She says a little hesitantly, and then turns away and attempts to sleep again.
Arren, please make an Insight check. If the total is above 17:
Arren thinks Emma might know more than she chose to share.
Varielky
(Arren's Insight: 3+1=4)
Peindre l'amour, peindre la vie, pleurer en couleur ♫
Auriel | Shenua | Arren | Lyra
During his Trance, 'Tace' focusses on the sounds of the rain on the tent and the crackle of the fire, trying to put the stresses of the day out of his mind. And the day had certainly been stressful.
Although he doesn't spend as long as usual in this meditative state, he still feels quite rested when is roused.
For the next 6 hours he is cooped up in the tent watching Emma like a hawk though. If he hadn't been incarcerated for the last half a year or so, it would likely have been excruciating.
He too felt sorry for the chef from Ersta. At least once he was in cell, and during his sleep, his manacles were off. Or at the very least not behind his back.
It is necessary though. No matter how cruel it seems, and even this precaution might not save us if she turns.
When Emma and then Sergeant are both finally awake, he actually breathes a sigh of relief that the night is over. I hope we can come up with a better plan going forward.
He certainly doesn't have the same level of discipline as the Sergeant.
"To state the obvious, it seems we have all survived the night", he says to break the silence as the Sergeant straps on his armour.
When asked about heading back to the commandant, he shakes his head. "I have no problem with that, Sir. I will stay and remain close to the camp", he replies, hoping to be able to take a short stroll even if accompanied by Emma.
"Have you had any more thoughts of how we proceed from here, Sir? Do you think the Commandant and Lieutenant will accompany you back here?", he asks. I wonder if that was on his mind through the night.
"No problem at all," Arren replies as he finishes preparing, making sure to take all his weapons—including the javelins—and his backpack, which feels considerably lighter than it did last night, now that he's rested and no longer carrying extra clothing for two people, and tent on top of everything else. Not to mention the dry wood he carried in one of his arms.
In response to the Corporal's next question, he shakes his head and then speaks more quietly, aiming to be heard mainly by Tace and not Emma.
"To be honest, I haven't thought much about it," he says. "Didn't seem worth it—not when whatever the Commandant decides will be final. Figured it was better to hold off on making any plans until after I've spoken to her." He pauses. "She might well decide to take a look herself before making the call, yes. But we'll see soon enough."
He pauses again, shooting Emma a quick look, before focusing again on Tace, "I'll be back as quickly as possible. Be extra mindful of her. It's daytime now, and she won't have the sight issues she had last night."
With that—and unless the Corporal or Emma speak up—he sets off toward Ersta. The Sergeant knows better than to keep his Commandant waiting too long, and he's certain she and the Lieutenant will already be up and prepared at this hour.
(ooc: Arren brought a few rations last night, just in case. We can say that he's left them with "Tace" and Emma so they have something else to eat while he is away.)
Peindre l'amour, peindre la vie, pleurer en couleur ♫
Auriel | Shenua | Arren | Lyra
"Good point, Sir", 'Tace' replies as the Sergeant mentions that Emma can see perfectly well in the light. That does make her more dangerous. A tactical retreat would likely be the best option if she does change.
He looks across to Emma, "I am sorry for the discomfort through the night with the manacles, but you look a bit better. How do you feel? And you were right about the storm".
The fire, which had kept those who slept in the alcove warm through the night, has already consumed all the wood Arren brought with him on his last voyage to town. It shouldn't be as cold during the day, though, especially if everyone remains dry, so it might not be a big concern. Nonetheless, it would probably die out entirely before Arren returns, even if he doesn't delay there at all.
Emma, who has not left the tent as instructed, looks at Bryn with a rather expressionless face. "Not an inn I'd like to sleep in again, but I guess it was better than waking up next to your corpses."
Not long after Arren has left, Emma, with clear discomfort, clears her throat and says: "Do you think I could... excuse myself for a bit?"
The way back to town is short, and Arren arrives about when the sun first appears over the woods in the east. When he reaches the Three Frogs inn, he finds Commandant Nattensbarn and Lieutenant Tireur already up and ready, waiting for him outside the inn. From the looks of it, all their gear and belongings that they brought with them to the inn are with them.
"Good morning, Sergeant," Commandant Nattensbarn greets him coldly, or perhaps just declaring that she's been waiting for him. The dark circles under her eyes hint that she slept about the same number of hours as always, maybe even less, though she hides the tiredness of her behaviour. "I promised you an answer when you arrive, but I'm afraid I can't deliver a final verdict yet. It occurred to me that I have not given this matter enough attention, and so, I would need to see for myself what it is all about. At the very least, I will need to meet Emma before I make a decision that will determine how she'll live the rest of her life.
"We will go to the carriage now, to drop off my backpack and perhaps pick up anything that we might need. From there, you will lead us to Emma." She hoists her backpack up and slides her arms into the straps. "If there's anything I should know that you have yet to tell, now would be the time."
Varielky
"Good morning, ma'am. Sir," Arren greets both his superiors, standing straight.
Why the cold tone? he wonders. It's the last thing he needs after the day they had yesterday, and the effort it took to return on time, despite everything.He notices the dark circles under Commandant Nattensbarn's eyes, and curses inwardly. One would think she'd have prioritized rest, especially when she had the chance to spend nearly a full day on paperwork—and knowing full well there was a high chance she'd be entering the forest to see Emma today. With this, Arren feels himself shift into a higher state of alert. He was already uneasy about bringing the wounded Lieutenant Tireur and the Commandant to Emma when she's at her deadliest—but seeing that Nattensbarn isn't at her best only sharpens his concern.
Still, even if concern is clear on Sergeant al-Nasrid's face, he understands the need: seeing Emma may be the only way to reach a decision and, right now, this is their only path forward. He wishes there were an option that didn't involve risking to the very person they're supposed to protect, but he sees no other way. So, he gives the Commandant a small nod.
Then he adds, "Nothing new, really. The night was quiet. Emma changed into the clean, warm clothes I brought from her home. We set up the big tent next to her alcove, cooked some potatoes so she could have a proper meal, and took shifts—watching her, resting when we could. We also tested the root from the alleged Etanan ranger. It seems to have mild curative properties and can stave off hunger. But Emma's condition regarding the curse hasn't changed. She couldn't get much sleep, since we kept the manacles on—with her hands behind her back." Maybe that was what my nightmare was about? A bad dream born out of guilt?
Arren pauses, then continues more firmly. "As I said, nothing really out of the ordinary. But let me warn you both again. Whatever you imagine Emma becomes, it won't come close to reality. She's deadly. Stronger than us. Faster than us. If she transforms—and keep in mind, she won't be able to warn us—it will be a completely different fight. No sight issues like last night. It will be an entirely new situation, even for the Corporal and me, who've already faced her. Please. Be extremely careful."
With that, he's ready to head to the carriage—and then on to the alcove. Along the way, he makes sure to remind both the Lieutenant and the Commandant about the spider-infested clearing, and warns them not to take a single step into it.
Peindre l'amour, peindre la vie, pleurer en couleur ♫
Auriel | Shenua | Arren | Lyra
"I certainly appreciated waking up, that is for sure", 'Tace' replies dryly, but not unkindly.
He watches the Sergeant leave for a moment before turning his attention back to watching Emma.
"Let's hope the Commandant can devise a suitable plan to help you. I have not known her long, but she seems quite astute".
When Emma asks to excuse herself, he nods, "I was just thinking that might be necessary. Of course, you have been patient and true to your word".
He reaches for the key to the manacles, "I will briefly switch the manacles so your hands are in front of you. I hope that will suffice. And then switch back immediately once you return".
He will do as he suggests unless she protests, allowing her some privacy but remaining close. As she moves away, he will make sure his weapons are to hand just in case.
((Arren wouldn't consider the Commandant's coldness unexpected. This is the usual tone she uses when she has to issue orders.))
Commandant Nattensbarn listens quietly but does not respond to Arren's report of their night outdoors. On the way to the carriage, she maintains a short distance in front of her two subordinates and keeps quiet.
During that time, Lieutenant Tireur walks alongside Arren. "How likely is Emma to... turn? Are there any precautions we can take to avoid that, or to minimise the potential danger when she does? Actually, aside from her extraordinary strength and agility, is there anything else we should watch out for? You describe her as a wild animal. Does she fight with instinct alone? Did she hurt you this badly with no weapon and no training? I've seen you defend against skilled bandits often, and you've never regarded them with such awe." He sounds a little sceptical, as if thinking: 'That couldn't possibly be right, no Human is that strong.'
When they reach the carriage, the Lieutenant and the Commandant drop off everything they were carrying, aside from Walnuts' weapons. Walnuts only takes his waterskin out of the backpack and attaches it to the designated place in his belt (which all soldiers have). He then briefly checks on Choco and Mocha before joining Arren in waiting.
The Commandant, meanwhile, organises her stuff in the carriage, and after a short while, steps out and locks the door behind her. With her, she carries a small, brown-leather crossbody bag (like a mailman's bag) in which Arren knows she usually stores a few empty sheets of paper and a reed pen, along with a few necessary tools like a sharpening knife and, of course, ink. It is a bag she often takes when inspecting places, knowing she might need to write something, but does not intend to sit and work in front of a table.
Lastly, Arren notices the Commandant took her rapier. Normally, she only takes this sword out when it is needed for ceremonial purposes, which is to say, almost only while in Pyorre. Although the sword itself is a completely normal rapier, sharp and dangerous in the right hand, if a little decorated, the Commandant never uses it. Despite the mandatory most basic martial training in which even the bureaucratic personnel of the Katton army must partake, the Commandant's skill with the sword is particularly subpar, and so, in most cases, when she might need to use it, it would be of no help. Lieutenant Tireur always urges her to keep it with her just in case, and since most potential enemies wouldn't know she cannot properly use it and would therefore be more cautious before engaging with her, but the Commandant rarely listens.
Once they've left, it doesn't take long for Arren to lead the way to Emma's alcove. However, once they start seeing Emma's messages, Commandant Nattensbarn halts and approaches one of the messages, passing her hand along it. "I imagine we must be getting close now?" She asks rhetorically. While she speaks, her eyes remain fixed on the tree and the message on it: "Turn Back!". "Perhaps we should wait here while you go and inform Emma of our arrival. I imagine we shouldn't surprise her."
"I hope it will, thank you," Emma responds to Bryn when he suggests switching the manacales' location.
"I want to apologise for what I said yesterday. Considering the situation, you're being rather kind," Emma says while Bryn unmanacles Emma and manacles her again, now her hands at the front.
Emma doesn't take long before she returns. But while Bryn starts switching her manacles to her back again, in particular, immediately after he unlocks one of the rings but before he can lock it back behind her, she asks: "Your partner seems to believe you are Tace Peite, the husband of Kone with whom I had exchanged letters. But I know Tace. You're similar, perhaps, but I know you are not the same person." She states these facts without any clear animosity, and doesn't resist if Bryn resumes manacling her hands behind her back. "For now, I told him I haven't met Tace. But if I may, who are you, and what happened to the real Tace?"
OOC:
Bryn can't know how much time is left before Arren returns. He imagines that by now, Arren might already be returning. Unknown to him, Arren is currently waiting for the Commandant to find her rapier in the carriage, which means that Arren would not arrive for a bit more. Unfortunately, this means your posts are currently desynchronised. So, for now, FairIthilien, you may choose to either respond to anything up to and including the Commandan't last suggestion but not anything after that, or wait for a bit until Arren arrives in Bryn's timeline too.
Varielky
(ooc: I will wait.)
Peindre l'amour, peindre la vie, pleurer en couleur ♫
Auriel | Shenua | Arren | Lyra
When Emma apologises, 'Tace' inclines his head in acceptance. "It was an understandable reaction".
After giving her some privacy, but remaining close by, he is relieved when she returns and offer the manacles to be switched back to being behind her back. And then she speaks, causing him to pause momentarily as he is about to lock the manacles once more.
So the Sergeant mentioned who I am meant to be. I shouldn't be surprised I guess. And yet she didn't give me away...
He looks about to make sure the Sergeant was not returning, before replying even as he locks the manacles, his voice low.
"You are astute, that is for sure. I had avoided mentioning the name Tace Peite, but it seems the Sergeant did not", he whispers and then sighs as the manacles lock. "There was an accident at the prison, a cave in. The real Tace Peite was crushed under the rocks. I...took advantage of the situation in order to avoid further incarceration, nothing more".
He steps back, looks around again, and continues in a whisper if there is still no sign of the Sergeant.
"My life is now in your hands, but know I continue my ruse in part to reach the capital and inform Kone of what happened. I planned to disappear after that, although I confess things are afoot here by which I am intrigued. Do you want me to release you? Should I flee now?".
Bryn, please roll a Persuasion check.
Varielky
Persuasion: 17+4=21
For a long and tense moment, Emma looks like she's considering her options, most of which are probably not in Bryn's favour. "No, you should stay," Emma eventually decides. "If you mean no harm to those you travel with, I won't give you away." As far as Bryn can tell, she's not trying to mislead him. "Please offer my condolences to Kone once you meet her. Oh, but... don't mention my current state to her, if you can."
Emma does not talk about the matter anymore and allows Bryn to lead her back to the tent (or wherever else he chooses), where she'll stay silently unless talked to until Arren arrives.
Varielky
"I am in your debt", 'Tace' whispers to Emma. "And I will pass on your message, and say no more", he adds quietly.
He leads Emma back to the tent, motions for her to enter, before looking around for the Sergeant.
If there is still no sign, he will enter as well and quietly say, "I have means for us to speak without being heard by the Sergeant or anyone else. It is a simple form of magic, like warming up the coat. Just rub your ear lobe in my line of sight if you want to talk in private".
He then puts one hand in his pocket where he has a piece of copper wire, and with the other points to her. He then whispers, "Like this, and you can reply with a short whispered sentence too".
As they head toward the carriage, Arren answers Walnuts's questions as best he can. He begins by describing how Emma appears when transformed, then moves into greater detail about her abilities.
"She moves on all fours—but not like an animal would do. She buries her 'hands' into the ground, then launches herself up into the air and forward in a blink. She doesn't need weapons. Her hands become claws, sharp enough to tear through bark and metal. Last night, she preferred the trees to the ground. She leapt from trunk to trunk, clinging to them with ease, as if that was where she belonged."
He pauses, thinking about how to continue. "When she hit me, it didn't feel like something a common Human—especially not someone with her build—should be able to do. She slammed into me twice. The first time, I had my shield raised, and she still nearly knocked me off my feet. The second time, I also managed to hold my ground against the slam, but I wasn't fast enough and her claws tore through my chain mail like it was cloth."
"Her senses don't seem enhanced by the transformation—it actually took us a moment to realize she couldn't see and that she was guiding herself by sound. But her flesh is tougher than normal. When we had to strike her, the cuts were shallower than expected. As for her attack patterns, she clearly fights on instinct. She throws everything into each strike, which makes her dangerous, but it also leaves her exposed. Even so, she managed to injure the Corporal, and I was right beside him, trying to deflect her blows. And all of that was with her vision impaired by the dark."
"As for the triggers... Corporal Peite spoke to her about that. If she's hungry or cold, she can sometimes feel it building. At those moments could warn us. But sudden triggers? Pain. Fear. Being startled. Those are different. In those moments, she loses control entirely. She's woken up elsewhere covered in blood before, barely remembering how she got there."
The Sergeant exhales slowly. There's a strange feeling as he talks—as if the more he explains, the more unreal it all sounds. If he hadn't seen Emma transformed with his own eyes, he'd doubt it too.
He's still turning that thought over as the Commandant steps down from the carriage, carrying the rapier Walnut has urged her to keep close so many times before. He tries to keep his expression neutral. If there was a situation where that blade might matter, this probably isn't it.
Then again, Emma looked fine this morning—tired, yes, but calm. The Commandant and the Lieutenant shouldn't need to see her transformed at all. That would be best. Maybe they'll think they've exaggerated. That would certainly be better. Even if it makes deciding what to do with her harder.
Once they reach the marked trees and the Commandant asks if he should walk in first to inform of their arrival, Arren hesitates for a moment. He doesn't like the idea of moving away from them, but then again, everything seems quiet in the forest. No strange sounds, no howling, no signs of a fight. Yes, everything appears to be in order—just as it was when he left a short while ago. Why should it have been otherwise...?
The Sergeant nods and proceeds toward the alcove.
Peindre l'amour, peindre la vie, pleurer en couleur ♫
Auriel | Shenua | Arren | Lyra