Bryn is completely honest with the Commandant in this regard.
"It is through magic I would be able to read the book, but I am also experienced with handling old tomes", he explains.
When she shows surprise as to how his magic works, and her wish to talk more, he inclines his head. Not the salute she might be used to, but she will see that it is as close as she will get from him now.
He actually is quite relieved the Commandant has asserted herself in taking the book. He is interested in the contents, and is hopeful he might get to find out by assisting the Commandant. Of course, she might refuse the offer.
He watches with interest Nafnlaus testing the dragon torch, a little surprised himself at the fire breathing effect. A powerful item indeed, but not one he would see himself bearing.
"Now that was unexpected. Utility with a surprise built in, perfect for you Nafnlaus, given some time to learn to handle it safely".
The same goes for the plate the Sergeant has shown interest in so far, it is not of interest to him. With abjuration magic it does seem appropriate for the protective solider, although he couldn't say exactly how it would work.
At this point he finally takes up the ring, smelling it as the others had done. Fresh baked bread. Another potent memory for him. Although his family never starved, the days when the bread was fresh were always his favourite. He closes his eyes and enjoys the smell for a moment.
"The trousers or the ring", he says simply. "Those are the ones I would favour most, although without knowing exactly what they do we are choosing blind here. But I will take my chances with one of those".
"Thanks," Arren simply says to the black-haired Elf after he explains the school of magic present in the plate. The word feels odd in his mouth, considering the tension between them just an hour ago. Still, he could just as easily have kept silent but had chosen not to — and Arren felt he should acknowledge it.
The Sergeant is puzzled as he examines the piece, finding no clue as to how to use it. Still, he is drawn to it more than to the rest of objects. Perhaps there is a way to turn it into something useful once they reach Pyorre. If a couple of straps could be attached to it, it might even function as a shield.
He pulls out his dagger and taps the plate with it, testing whether it feels sturdy enough to serve that purpose. He's also curious about the protective magic bound within it, and wonders if he can make a small test of his own. To that purpose, he moves a little away from the others, and asks Nafnlaus if he can use the torch for a moment. Then Arren props the plate against the wall and brings the blue flame close to it, watching carefully for any reaction. After a few seconds, he hands the torch back to the bandit.
"I'll be damned if I know what this is exactly,"hesays, "but I'll choose the plate."
His gaze drifts toward the Commandant and the Elf as the latter's magic once again proves its worth. He knows he should be glad for it yet he can't quite shake a twinge of irritation at how easily knowledge seem to come to this person who, not long ago, had been lying to their faces.
Arren frowns, then shifts his gaze to the plate once again, but all he gets is a silent bronze reflection.
Tapping the plate with the dagger produces a sound that is certainly non-metallic, despite the metallic look. But metallic or not, the material is hard and strong. Most likely, strong enough to serve as a shield, and hard enough that Arren can't nick it with the blade.
When asked, Nafnlaus hands the torch over, not exactly claiming ownership yet, although certainly interested. When Arren brings the cold blue flame near the magical plate, nothing happens.
"Well, I have no need for another pair of pants with holes in their pockets." Akvedinn announces, and before any more options are taken away, he picks up the glove. "I'm taking this one. Life and death magic? Sounds powerful." He turns to Nafnlaus. "Maybe I should slap you to death, eh?"
Finally, only Radis, Bryn and Nevesta are left, standing before the ring, the pants, and the tiara. "I'm also interested in the ring," Radis states, "but I don't mind taking the pants instead. I imagine you're not interested in the tiara much?" He asks Bryn. "Hmm, don't look the type to wear these, are you?"
Radis gives Bryn a moment to change his mind, but otherwise, picks up the tiara, carefully blows any dust off of it (carefully, but no fire is lit as a result), then theatrically offers Nevesta the tiara, kneeling on one knee. Nevesta's cheeks turn a bright pink as a result, but she lowers her head and allows Radis to place the tiara on her head before turning around and stepping away as all before her did, making sure not to meet anyone's eyes as she is, by then, red as a beet.
"Well then, I'll let you choose between the last two, Otis."
Bryn doesn't mind about the tiara, shaking his head in amusement as Radis offers it to Nevesta so dramatically. He must be here because she is.
When Radis finally calls him out to make a decision he picks up the trousers, chuckling at the inflection he gave when he said Otis.
"You mentioned being interested in the ring, but only not minding the trousers, so you take the ring. After all, I do want to avail myself of your mending service. Perhaps more than once", he says with a smile, as he pushes a finger through the hole in the trouser pocket.
"It seems the decisions are all made, and without too much danger to life".
"Are we done, then?" Arren asks. This day has already been long enough as it is.
"There are still the two bottles we found earlier," he adds. "Perhaps those with magical abilities want to take a look at them?"
Whatever the answer, Arren seems ready to leave these tunnels for good. He is faintly dissatisfied that they haven't found the source of the roots or the tremors, but it seems the tunnels won't offer more answers.
On the way out, he straps his shield to his back and, having no better way for now to carry the plate, simply takes it in his left hand.
Bryn will certainly take a look at the bottles, but it has been some time now and his ability to see magic might have waned by the time they get back to that room. If that has happened, he will admit as such.
Before he leaves the excavation site, he will try and get a minute for Radis to attempt to mend the bow, if he is willing. He won't necessarily want to do that in front of the Sergeant, simply because it might cause a regression in the soldiers mood towards him, as he is unlikely to take his word that the bow was gifted. The ideal situation is the Sergeant heads out first as he just did from this area.
"I appreciate the kindness," Radis responds as he takes the ring, pocketing it for the moment. "Even if it is only to get something else for me. Why don't you let me try it then?" If Bryn hands the trousers over, Radis will sit down and reach for his lodestones to mend the trousers.
Meanwhile, seeing the situation is resolved, Commandant Nattensbarn takes off her coat and wraps it around the book she took, preparing to cross the pool. She doesn't wait for Bryn and Radis to finish their business, heading out immediately. "I leave you to take care of them," she calls as she walks, already beyond the door and descending the steps into the pool, holding the book above her head. "You said there were two? Take one, and leave the other to these bandits, unless they don't want it." Her voice gets a little blurred due to the echo in the round room, unless Arren tags along. "And try to keep your new acquisitions discreet. The rest of the bandits and the workers might not appreciate seeing us walking with prizes while they got nothing but cold wind."
Radis tries to mend the trousers several times. Each time, the hole mends itself magically for a moment before tearing open again. After the third time, Radis hands the trousers back to Bryn. "It seems they want to keep a hole in the pocket. Just as they change size to match the holder. But if you're lucky, maybe they'll mend themselves from any other tear they accumulate over time. Especially if you plan on fighting more statues. Anything else you wanted me to repair?"
If Arren leaves and allows Radis and Bryn a moment in relative privacy - as the Lieutenant, Akvedinn and Nafnlaus have, by now, left the room - and if Bryn hands over the broken bow, Radis will take it and examine it first. "Beautiful bow. A shame that it broke, but you're fortunate to have kept the pieces." He takes a moment to cast his spell, which Bryn by now notices doesn't come to him as naturally as the spells he cast during the fight. Unlike then, he needs a little more effort and time to get it done. But eventually, the bow is repaired, and there is no sign that it was ever broken.
If Bryn doesn't take out the broken bow for whatever reason, including if Arren chose not to leave the two magicians alone, Radis will tell Bryn he can always find him around camp, before leaving the cave with Nevesta.
In any case, unless they delay any more than the minimum above, Bryn will reach the room with the bottles just before the spell ends. He might need to rush a little to be sure, though. Once there, he'll see that the bottles and their content are all non-magical.
I have now finished everything I had planned for this adventure with the bandits, unless I'm forgetting something (in which case... oops). From now on, characters will respond to Arren and Bryn's actions, but they won't initiate anything unless you do something truly outrageous. This should give you a chance to wrap up and tie loose ends, before we move on. This doesn't mean what you do won't matter, it just means that I'll mostly just respond to your posts, and won't push forward (I imagine this won't be too different from most of my posts, though, but just to keep in mind).
I'll write, in a separate post, a short summary of where each of the characters you've met here is, in case you wish to interact with any of them, as well as a description of the situation in camp. If I forget anyone, they're probably still around and can be found. So, from that moment onwards, you can assume your character finds any of these characters if they look for them.
Please keep things ordered, though, if you can. Try to conclude any evening business before moving into the night (which we'll say will happen when the first of you starts a long rest), and then make sure both concluded anything during that peroid before we move on to the morning.
Once everyone eventually returns to camp, they'll notice the weather remains unchanged. Most folk in the camp, except for a few miserable guards gathered around a by-now small fire, have retired for the night. Voices from the tents reveal that not all are asleep, but all went in to find shelter from the cold. Many of the Humans are either already asleep or preparing to be, though, unlike the Elves, who gather in designated tents to pass the time while they're not yet feeling a need to start their trance.
Nafnlaus and Akvedinn have immediately left the ruins and blended with the rest of the camp. Akvedinn doesn't draw much attention to himself with his strange glove, but Nafnlaus had to take extra care not to attract any attention, covering the torch's light as best he could and quickly disappearing into one of the tents, which remains illuminated from within but in a way that could be mistaken for a lantern by anyone who didn't see the torch. At some point later, the light goes out when Nafnlaus stacks almost all his clothes on top, then uses them as a pillow. They both seem to heed the Commandant's advice regarding showing off their findings.
Lieutenant Tireur waits for Arren to arrive before he goes to replace Mydri in keeping an eye on the sick, where he'll stay during the night. He'll still talk to anyone who comes to the tent, though, as the sick need very little care while sleeping.
Mydri, having been temporarily relieved from her self-imposed duty, will immediately disappear into another tent and sink into a deep slumber in minutes. Unless caught right before she does that or woken up, she'll only be available in the morning. Perhaps.
Commandant Nattensbarn, upon arriving at the carriage, shaking from the cold since her coat was covering the book, immediately places the book in the carriage before locking it and disappearing into her tent. For a brief while, she'll answer if called from near the tent, but before long, she too will fall asleep.
Radis and Nevesta will leave the site together once allowed, but not before taking one of the bottles with them. They'll head over to Nohem and Lann's to discuss things and leave the bottle there. Nevesta removes the tiara from her head before entering camp, placing it in her leather bag for the time being. After some time speaking to Nohem and Lann, the two will leave the tent and head over to another, smaller tent, to which they both enter together. If anyone searches for Radis again, they'll find him there, staying awake until relatively late, writing a lengthy poem on a piece of paper. Nevesta is with him most of the time.
Lann and Nohem remain in their own tent during the night, but as Elves, they trance and have no issue talking to anyone at any point.
If asked about the gold, any of the bandits replies that it will be dealt with in the morning. At some point, not long after everyone returns to camp, two (previously unmet) bandits are stationed at the entrance to the crack to make sure nobody walks in to steal anything.
Arrendoesn't have any reason to linger in the caves, so he leaves shortly after the Commandant. He walks beside her until they reach their tents, and when she ducks into hers, he does the same with his, leaving his weapons and the bronze-colored scale there.
He then accompanies Walnuts on his way to the makeshift infirmary, using the walk to ask how the sick are faring: whether there have been any new cases during the day — he hopes the answer is no, hoping his instructions to the workers have helped in this — and whether the Lieutenant thinks they'll be fit to travel once the bandits release them.
The exchange is cut short when Arren spots Mydri emerging and heading quickly toward her tent. He watches her for a moment, hesitating, then says quietly to Walnuts, "Excuse me, sir," before breaking off and catching up to her just before she slips inside.
"Mydri?"he calls softly. "I was hoping I'd see you earlier, but things got complicated." He offers a small, tired smile. "How did the day go with the patients? I imagine Lieutenant Tireur's help eased things a bit." He studies her briefly, then adds, "You look less exhausted than yesterday, at least."
There's a pause. Arren is suddenly aware of how he must look himself—bruised, sore, and worn down—but he lets the thought pass. Nothing he can do about it.
"We'll likely be on the road tomorrow. Back toward Pyorre, in our case," he says. "These haven't been the best days, but… at least they'll be over soon." He's about to mention that the bandits have agreed to give them all a compensation for their efforts, but he prefers to stay silent, and let everybody get the news the next day.
He hesitates, then gives a small nod and a smile. "I wish you well on your way home, Mydri. It was good meeting you—even if only briefly."
Bryn let's Radis try to mend the trousers, watching with interest as the tear reappears time and again.
"Perhaps you are right. I guess I will learn the true function of the trousers given time, even if it is only to keep ones lower half warm".
He looks around as Radis suggests trying to mend the other item of his, and notices that it is only the three of them left. He nods and takes the two broken parts of the bow out of this backpack, and unwraps them.
"It was well cared for by the person who gifted it to me, and perhaps one day she will get to see it restored", he says honestly to Radis and Nevesta.
When the bow is repaired, with not even a sign it was ever damaged, he bows to Radis. "Thank you, I truly appreciate that", he says as he then wraps the bow up once again and places it back in his backpack, sticking out a bit now that it is whole again.
"Do you know if there is string to be found in camp, so I can restring the bow?", he asks as they head to the room where the bottles were found. "And for that matter, a place for me to spend the hours I need to trance? Things are not as cordial with the soldiers as they were".
He has no other intentions once back at camp beyond finding a safe place to trance, with the assumption that the Sergeant would not trust him enough to sleep in his presence. As mentioned before, Corporal's Piete's belongings are piled inside the Sergeant's tent, including the helmet. Only a few items would be missing, such as the rest of the leather armour, the uniform including coat and boots, waterskin and tinderbox. He has obviously kept the weapons he acquired as well.
For the rest of the night, or if he doesn't find a tent, he will be found by the fire trying to keep warm. If he gets a chance, he will change out of the soldiers uniform and into the finer garb of Otis the scribe. Leaving the wet soldiers boots close enough to the fire to have a chance of drying. Of course he keep the overcoat and armour on for protection from the elements.
Walnuts replies that there have been no new cases, although Mydri did tend to the wounded bandits, Nohem and Lann included. The sick have stayed mostly the same, but at least their condition hasn't worsened. Unfortunately, most wouldn't be able to travel. Perhaps they can be taken to a nearer lodge on one of the carts, but that'll be something that the Lieutenant admits will be left to the bandits to deal with.
Perhaps less exhausted than before, but still quite exhausted, Mydri passes a look over Arren. "You too? Come, I'll take a look." Whether he likes it or not, Mydri turns around Arren quickly to see his various bruises. "It'll hurt for a few days, but I think you'll be fine. I don't really have anything to offer you, and none of these looks grave. You'll just have to put up with it, and perhaps give it another moment of thought before quarrelling again. Really, we've got enough on our hands without you all 'fighting each other.' At least find a better excuse."
"Home? Ah, right, of course. Home." She seems a little confused. Maybe it's just the exhaustion and the sudden change of subject. "I was also on my way to Pyorre, I think." She pauses, a rather lengthy pause. "But I'll have to wait for them to let us all go. I imagine the families will be able to care for their sick after that.
"A gift? A generous friend, then." Radis passes a finger on one of the runes carved into the wood. "I don't recognise these, but it doesn't seem like an ordinary bow." He doesn't push the matter further, though, eventually returning the mended bow to Bryn.
"String? I doubt it. Not anything worthy of your bow, anyway," Nevesta answers. "These use shorter strings, and most aren't in good condition anyway," she taps the crossbow to her side. "We still have a few bows in camp, but I wouldn't bother. Get yourself a proper string. You were heading to Pyorre, weren't you? I'm sure they've got plenty there."
"There are plenty of tents in the camp," Radis picks up once Nevesta finishes. "Most are fully occupied, but there are a few shared ones for those we found on the path walking without a tent. Fortunately, there was also a merchant with a few tents for sale. They're the tents closest to the fire, just check before going in." If Bryn later tries, he'll find a tent where some room can be spared for him. Albeit a little cramped, it'll offer him the protection from the wind he'll need during the night.
"Generous and some unique circumstances, for sure. I hope to cross her path again soon", Bryn replies to Radis as the bard looks over the bow.
To hear there is no supply of decent bowstring is not a surprise to him, and he nods, "Wise council, I will look in Pyorre if that is where I end up. I am hoping to travel with the soldiers still, and that is certainly their destination".
He thanks the pair for their advice, and does indeed look for a shared tent to spend his time in trance, finding a spot in a corner. As he is in his trance, he contemplates how he was able to move the earth around, and how Radis can mend objects. He is almost certain he can mimic the ability of the bard, but another thought occupies him right now. He is wet and it is not comfortable.
During his trance he will also spend some time focussing on the new items he has in his possession, the trousers and the newly fixed bow. He will be discreet with both.
When he rouses from the trance, he goes outside hoping the fire is still going to give him warmth, and sits down with all his world belongings beside him. Whilst there, he dries his clothes and boots, making little water shapes that march off the items as he conducts them with a finger as if to music.
"Guess Lory's hostelry would be the ideal place for that," Arren replies to Walnuts.
"Hey, I wasn't quarrelling,"he protests to Mydri, though not very seriously, as his light chuckle betrays. Still, he does as she tells him and lets her examine the bruises.
“Don't worry. I wasn't expecting any treatment," he adds. "Bothering an already exhausted physician with more work was never my intention. I just wanted to see how you were doing."
"For what it's worth, we didn't quarrel with the bandits. I'd say things ended surprisingly well, given the circumstances." He hesitates. "These bruises are from ... something else entirely. But it's over now."
At least, I think it is.
"We saw Nohem earlier," he adds, glancing aside. "It looked like his shoulder was hurt. I never learned what happened, though." He lifts both hands in a not guilty gesture. "But I can promise you that wasn't us."
Arren studies her for a moment longer, her mention of home and Pyorre making him look a bit concerned.
"You think?" he says quietly. "You don't sound very sure." He pauses, then adds, more carefully, "Are you… all right? I don't want to bother you. But if you want to talk, I'm here."
If she seems comfortable, Arren will stay a while longer. If not, he won't press — he'll nod once and quietly take his leave.
Whilst there, he dries his clothes and boots, making little water shapes that march off the items as he conducts them with a finger as if to music.
((Sounds like a scene from a Studio Ghibli movie. And yet, I can't help but imagine something closer to the "Pink Elephants on Parade" clip from Dumbo.))
The guards who remained by the fire are at first wary of Bryn when he shows, without any warning, magical abilities, and in particular of the marching water shapes. But after a few moments, seeing that the water shapes aren't marching to harm them, their attitude changes to one of wonder and admiration. Forgetting their duty, they focus completely on the spectacle of water shapes dancing down Bryn's boots. Once Bryn's clothes are all completely dry, however, unless he chooses to continue the show for their (and perhaps his) amusement, they'll leave him alone and recall their far-less-interesting duty of watching a sleeping camp from wild animals.
"Yes, well, the Elf who came in earlier said he was just quarrelling with someone. As if any person would get such marks on their neck during a quarrel." Standing behind Arren at that moment, Mydri lays her hand briefly over Arren's nape, where he, too, still has lingering marks from the plant-man's strangling vines. "Don't have to tell me what it is if you don't want to, but I can't resurrect you if you hang yourselves."
"I..." Mydri hesitates, looking rather uncomfortable. "I don't know." She turns away, and two steps later, she's already in her tent - where she sleeps, not the one where the sick are.
It seems like Mydri doesn't want to discuss what's bothering her, but Arren can be sure something is. Arren starts walking away and is some distance away already when he hears quick steps approaching behind him. When she's close enough, Mydri calls after Arren: "Wait, just one moment!" Perhaps she changed her mind, but she doesn't apologise for walking away abruptly as she did.
When she finally reaches Arren, she pauses for a moment and opens a canvas scroll held between two sticks, showing Arren a charcoal painting made by a skilled hand, of a family consisting of a woman, a man, and a toddler. Despite being drawn in black-and-white, and despite looking somewhat younger, far less exhausted and certainly happier, there is no mistaking Mydri's beautiful face in the drawing. "Have you ever seen these people?" She points in particular to the man and the toddler, but they seem unfamiliar to Arren. Both look Human, but that is all Arren can tell. "That one's me, I can tell. I saw my reflection in the water. But I don't remember these two." She pauses, giving Arren a moment to examine the drawing, but she keeps holding the scroll herself. If Arren makes a move to take the scroll, even if just to get a closer look, she steps back, clearly reluctant to let him get any closer. "There's quite a lot I don't remember, actually, and most of what I do remember is... fuzzy."
If Arren admits he doesn't know the two, Mydri rolls the scroll back and looks disappointed, albeit not surprised. "Well, didn't think you would," she'll say. "I've yet to meet someone who did."
Bryn will end the display by having the water dancers get close to the fire, so they start to heat up and eventually start bubbling as they dance for the duration of the magic, which will turn out to be an hour. As they boil they will eventually all turn to steam anyway, which is an interesting effect all it's own.
(OOC: I think Bryn is done until something or someone interrupts him. I guess the Commandant will be up with the dawn, but I am not sure what Nohem and Lann intend to do about carving up the gold. In terms of what time more than anything. He will look to change clothes as mentioned before, so fine clothes with leather armour and overcoat, and likely proper boots now they are dry. He will wait to try on the new magic trousers, but will examine them and the bow as mentioned, with the bow still wrapped so as not to draw attention)
Arrenis left momentarily confused when Mydri disappears into her tent, wondering if perhaps he pushed too hard, even though he thought he'd been careful. The thought bothers him, and he has just started to turn back when she reappears moments later.
He is about to tell her what a beautiful family she has, but the words die in his mouth when she admits she doesn't remember them. And it is then that Emma's face comes back to him at once, and his heart sinks. It can't be. Not again.
When he instinctively moves to take the scroll for a closer look and she recoils, Arren immediately stops. "I'm not trying to take it from you," he says quickly, holding his hands up a little.
Arren hesitates, then glances around the camp, searching for somewhere quieter, somewhere she might feel comfortable. "Mydri, could we sit somewhere for a moment? Just to talk. Only if you're alright with it. It’s just... this is important."
After a brief pause, he continues, choosing his words carefully. "I might not know that man and the toddler," he says, nodding toward the scroll, "but I met someone just like you. Someone whose memories were fuzzy as well."
He exhales slowly before going on. "Her name is Emma. We met her a few days ago, in Ersta. She couldn't clearly remember parts of her life, and when she tried, it was like her thoughts slipped away from her."
Arren looks back at Mydri, watching her closely. "There was an Elf involved. Pale. Black-haired. Levickan, most likely. He went by the name Breithe Staidear. He claimed he was going to help her. Asked her to place a cucurbitaceae on her windowsill if she ever wanted his aid.Emma remembered meeting him, but nothing after. If she tried to think about him, there was just… nothing. Like that specific part of her memory had been erased."
He pauses, then asks quietly, "Does any of this ring a bell? What's the closest memory you have that you don't feel it's fuzzy?"
If this is yet another work of that damned Staidear, I swear I'll…
The bandits will tend to the gold in the morning. Although she claimed little interest in it, the Commandant won't leave without it, as that too is an important archaeological find. We'll have to see whether Arren turns to Bryn with his new finding, but otherwise, I suppose we'll wait for the moment. Bryn is free to change clothes at any time, though preferably after finding some spot where his privacy is maintained, which isn't too difficult in this dark night. From my understanding, he has not tried them on yet, but tell me if I got that wrong.
The tent where Mydri sleeps is another of the shared tents, as it turns out, and so Mydri doesn't offer that as a spot to sit. The next best places could be the fireplace, though that would be next to the guards and perhaps Bryn (but before his trance, and so before any marching water drops appear), or Arren's tent, which is now empty with Bryn finding another place to sleep and the Lieutenant caring for the sick. Despite her exhaustion, Mydri will follow Arren if he asks her to.
"That sounds horrible, but it's not quite the same," Mydri replies after Arren finishes describing Emma's lack of memories. "I wouldn't say my thoughts are slipping away. When I don't remember something, it's either like I never knew it to begin with - like the identity of the two in this drawing - or I know I can remember it if I try hard enough. This is what I mean by fuzzy memories. That happened when you asked for my name. I'm sure you didn't think much of it then, with how tired I was, but I realised, at that moment, that you were the first to ask for my name since... You're the first person I can recall who has ever asked for my name. Strange, isn't it? Perhaps not. The first concrete memory I have isn't very old. I woke up in a small room, on a bed I didn't know. A woman told me I've been unconscious for a few days, ever since she found me by her doorstep. She didn't ask for my name, though. She was kind, but she didn't know anything about me either. Everything before that... is either gone or fuzzy. Or it was fuzzy, before I finally recalled it.
"But no, I don't recall any... Stay...dear? You said? Nothing. If I ever did, the memory is gone, I am sure." She pauses briefly, rethinking the matter. "No. Well, maybe. I can't say I remember hearing that name, or anyone asking me for... what was it? Whatever it is you said, on any window. I didn't really have a window, either, as I don't know where my home is. I am on my way to Pyorre, but I don't know why. Perhaps that is where my home is? Or maybe the one who made this," she indicates the scroll, "lived there. I don't know. But yes, I did see some pale, black-haired Levickan Elf on the way. It was some time ago, but I remember, because I still asked everyone I happened to meet, back then, if they knew these faces. He didn't, just as all that came before and all who followed. I remember him because I happened to meet them on the road, and they were - ah, he wasn't travelling alone. He was walking with a very big person - tall, muscular - clad in a very heavy-looking armour. Couldn't even see their face behind that helmet. Didn't say a word. They were caring for a bird, I think it was a crow, or perhaps a raven? They found it by the side of the road, they said, with a broken wing, and tried saving it. I tried to help them, but I know nothing of avian anatomy. We got its wing fixed to a small stick, though, a makeshift splint. They - well, the Elf, since the other one doesn't talk - thanked me, and I asked them about the scroll. Neither seemed to recognise, though, as I said before."
So it wasn't the same case as Emma, but the appearance of a pale, dark-haired Levickan Elf in Mydri's account certainly intrigued Arren.
"Thank you for sharing this, Mydri," he says. "It must have been difficult for you just to speak it aloud. Can you make one last effort and try to remember when you met the Elf and the armoured man? A week ago, perhaps? Longer? Did you happen to overhear where they were going?"
He feels that he has pushed more than enough for tonight, and that anything further would only do harm. Still, there is one last thing he feels he should say.
"I will speak about this to my comrades, if you don't mind. I will be perfectly honest with you: I'm not sure that we will be able to help you. But it is our hope that our Commandant will be tasked with a mission once we reach Pyorre involving that Elf, and if that is the case, perhaps we could find some leads that might help you, and Emma as well."
He pauses.
"I assume you don't have anywhere to stay in Pyorre? It's a big city, and I'm sure a skilled physician like you will not have trouble finding work and lodgings. But if you do have any problems, and I'm still there, just contact me — either at our garrison, or at my home." He tells her where he lives, but he makes a point to write it down for her the next day. "We have to travel a lot, but Samira, my mother, lives there as well. And the gods know she'd never refuse to help someone like you, having arrived in Pyorre herself years ago with nothing but the clothes she was wearing and a small kid."
At this point, Arren figures it is best if he escorts Mydri back to her tent so she can rest. He bids her good night, hoping to see her in better shape in the morning.
He feels exhausted himself, but this new development will not allow him to go straight to bed. He considers informing the Commandant right away, but she is already in her tent, and he would much rather let her sleep for now.
As such, there is one other person he can think of, though he is very reluctant to speak to him. He even begins to trace his steps back toward his own tent, but stops short when he finds himself walking past the fire. Mad as he might be with the fake Corporal, this is too important not to share with him.
Finding the Elf by the fire, Arren counts to ten to try to suppress his disconfort, then walks up to him and says, "We need to speak." He pauses to make sure no one else is listening. "I've been talking with Mydri. I think her memories have been altered. Not in the same fashion as Emma's, that she remembers at least. But…"He exhales. "She's crossed paths with a certain Levickan Elf."
Arren then recounts everything he discussed with Mydri.
"I haven't told the Commandant yet. I'd rather she rests, before she returns to her usual unhealthy self." He grimaces at that. In a way, these days at the bandits' camp had had its benefits.
Bryn is a little surprised by the appearance of the Sergeant, and when the soldier says they need to speak he nods. He must have questions and likely accusations. So be it.
He motions for the Sergeant to sit, or shifts to a more private spot if necessary, and then remains silent allowing the Sergeant to get it all off his chest.
After he speaks of what he has learned about Mydri, he remains silent for a few moments as he thinks.
Ok, that I was not expecting. Both Mydri's tale and the Sergeant coming to tell me.
"That is a very different encounter Mydri had compared to Emma. A chance meeting on the road, a warrior companion and an injured raven", he says, mulling over the information for a little while. "And Mydri had already lost her memory at that point? If she lost the memories after the encounter, that would show a clearer pattern, but before. How can we be sure that it was Breithe? There are more than one black-haired Levickan elves around, even here", he says and motions to himself.
"And yet it seems almost too much of a coincidence", he says, not really sure where to go with this new information.
"Perhaps the Commandant will know more. Maybe she has intel about his associates that might include a very large muscular warrior type".
Assuming the Sergeant mentions Mydri is heading to Pyorre, he will ask, "Do you think the Commandant will allow her to travel with us? If she wants to. Maybe she will remember something else on the way".
After Trance
Seeing as Bryn does find somewhere private to change, he will quickly try on the cargo trousers before he puts on Otis's finer trousers. Just to see what happens.
"I know," Arren agrees. "He could be just another Elf. In any case, it might be worth holding onto this information, at least until we can find new evidence."
Regarding Mydri traveling with them, or the Commandant knowing more, he shrugs, uncertain. "We'll see in the morning. I'm not sure about Mydri. The Lieutenant said the patients aren't in shape to travel yet, and she might need to stay with them a few more days. She might still reach Pyorre before we leave, though."
Not wanting to linger any longer than necessary in the Elf's presence, Arren stands. "Until tomorrow, then." He nods once and turns to leave.
Once in his tent—which feels extremely strange to have all to himself, as he's never slept without other soldier companions—he spends a moment examining the scale again. He attempts to tie a rope around it, then attach it to his left arm, making a few moves to get a sense of how it would work as a shield. He even asks himself how to make its magic function. All he knows regarding magic is that one has to make somatic movements, pronounce words, sometimes use components… but what does he really know about any of this? Perhaps once he can attach the straps and actually use it in combat, some of the magic will start working on its own.
He leaves the scale apart after a while, then lies back. His mind circles over the many events of the day. If he could just meditate—and perhaps, finally, enter a trance—he would welcome it tonight of all nights. He'll make sure to include some beautiful flowers in his thoughts, in case he can call upon the pressence of the feminine voice that spoke to him some nights ago.
(ooc: I think we changed the rolls to ability checks instead of saving throws. Let me know if this is not the case. CHA= 12 bumped to a 20with a Tactical Mind if necessary INT= 9, rerolled with Inispiration for a 15)
Bryn is completely honest with the Commandant in this regard.
"It is through magic I would be able to read the book, but I am also experienced with handling old tomes", he explains.
When she shows surprise as to how his magic works, and her wish to talk more, he inclines his head. Not the salute she might be used to, but she will see that it is as close as she will get from him now.
He actually is quite relieved the Commandant has asserted herself in taking the book. He is interested in the contents, and is hopeful he might get to find out by assisting the Commandant. Of course, she might refuse the offer.
He watches with interest Nafnlaus testing the dragon torch, a little surprised himself at the fire breathing effect. A powerful item indeed, but not one he would see himself bearing.
"Now that was unexpected. Utility with a surprise built in, perfect for you Nafnlaus, given some time to learn to handle it safely".
The same goes for the plate the Sergeant has shown interest in so far, it is not of interest to him. With abjuration magic it does seem appropriate for the protective solider, although he couldn't say exactly how it would work.
At this point he finally takes up the ring, smelling it as the others had done. Fresh baked bread. Another potent memory for him. Although his family never starved, the days when the bread was fresh were always his favourite. He closes his eyes and enjoys the smell for a moment.
"The trousers or the ring", he says simply. "Those are the ones I would favour most, although without knowing exactly what they do we are choosing blind here. But I will take my chances with one of those".
"Thanks," Arren simply says to the black-haired Elf after he explains the school of magic present in the plate. The word feels odd in his mouth, considering the tension between them just an hour ago. Still, he could just as easily have kept silent but had chosen not to — and Arren felt he should acknowledge it.
The Sergeant is puzzled as he examines the piece, finding no clue as to how to use it. Still, he is drawn to it more than to the rest of objects. Perhaps there is a way to turn it into something useful once they reach Pyorre. If a couple of straps could be attached to it, it might even function as a shield.
He pulls out his dagger and taps the plate with it, testing whether it feels sturdy enough to serve that purpose. He's also curious about the protective magic bound within it, and wonders if he can make a small test of his own. To that purpose, he moves a little away from the others, and asks Nafnlaus if he can use the torch for a moment. Then Arren props the plate against the wall and brings the blue flame close to it, watching carefully for any reaction. After a few seconds, he hands the torch back to the bandit.
"I'll be damned if I know what this is exactly," he says, "but I'll choose the plate."
His gaze drifts toward the Commandant and the Elf as the latter's magic once again proves its worth. He knows he should be glad for it yet he can't quite shake a twinge of irritation at how easily knowledge seem to come to this person who, not long ago, had been lying to their faces.
Arren frowns, then shifts his gaze to the plate once again, but all he gets is a silent bronze reflection.
Peindre l'amour, peindre la vie, pleurer en couleur ♫
Auriel | Shenua | Arren
Tapping the plate with the dagger produces a sound that is certainly non-metallic, despite the metallic look. But metallic or not, the material is hard and strong. Most likely, strong enough to serve as a shield, and hard enough that Arren can't nick it with the blade.
When asked, Nafnlaus hands the torch over, not exactly claiming ownership yet, although certainly interested. When Arren brings the cold blue flame near the magical plate, nothing happens.
"Well, I have no need for another pair of pants with holes in their pockets." Akvedinn announces, and before any more options are taken away, he picks up the glove. "I'm taking this one. Life and death magic? Sounds powerful." He turns to Nafnlaus. "Maybe I should slap you to death, eh?"
Finally, only Radis, Bryn and Nevesta are left, standing before the ring, the pants, and the tiara. "I'm also interested in the ring," Radis states, "but I don't mind taking the pants instead. I imagine you're not interested in the tiara much?" He asks Bryn. "Hmm, don't look the type to wear these, are you?"
Radis gives Bryn a moment to change his mind, but otherwise, picks up the tiara, carefully blows any dust off of it (carefully, but no fire is lit as a result), then theatrically offers Nevesta the tiara, kneeling on one knee. Nevesta's cheeks turn a bright pink as a result, but she lowers her head and allows Radis to place the tiara on her head before turning around and stepping away as all before her did, making sure not to meet anyone's eyes as she is, by then, red as a beet.
"Well then, I'll let you choose between the last two, Otis."
Varielky | Werhann
Bryn doesn't mind about the tiara, shaking his head in amusement as Radis offers it to Nevesta so dramatically. He must be here because she is.
When Radis finally calls him out to make a decision he picks up the trousers, chuckling at the inflection he gave when he said Otis.
"You mentioned being interested in the ring, but only not minding the trousers, so you take the ring. After all, I do want to avail myself of your mending service. Perhaps more than once", he says with a smile, as he pushes a finger through the hole in the trouser pocket.
"It seems the decisions are all made, and without too much danger to life".
"Are we done, then?" Arren asks. This day has already been long enough as it is.
"There are still the two bottles we found earlier," he adds. "Perhaps those with magical abilities want to take a look at them?"
Whatever the answer, Arren seems ready to leave these tunnels for good. He is faintly dissatisfied that they haven't found the source of the roots or the tremors, but it seems the tunnels won't offer more answers.
On the way out, he straps his shield to his back and, having no better way for now to carry the plate, simply takes it in his left hand.
Peindre l'amour, peindre la vie, pleurer en couleur ♫
Auriel | Shenua | Arren
Bryn will certainly take a look at the bottles, but it has been some time now and his ability to see magic might have waned by the time they get back to that room. If that has happened, he will admit as such.
Before he leaves the excavation site, he will try and get a minute for Radis to attempt to mend the bow, if he is willing. He won't necessarily want to do that in front of the Sergeant, simply because it might cause a regression in the soldiers mood towards him, as he is unlikely to take his word that the bow was gifted. The ideal situation is the Sergeant heads out first as he just did from this area.
"I appreciate the kindness," Radis responds as he takes the ring, pocketing it for the moment. "Even if it is only to get something else for me. Why don't you let me try it then?" If Bryn hands the trousers over, Radis will sit down and reach for his lodestones to mend the trousers.
Meanwhile, seeing the situation is resolved, Commandant Nattensbarn takes off her coat and wraps it around the book she took, preparing to cross the pool. She doesn't wait for Bryn and Radis to finish their business, heading out immediately. "I leave you to take care of them," she calls as she walks, already beyond the door and descending the steps into the pool, holding the book above her head. "You said there were two? Take one, and leave the other to these bandits, unless they don't want it." Her voice gets a little blurred due to the echo in the round room, unless Arren tags along. "And try to keep your new acquisitions discreet. The rest of the bandits and the workers might not appreciate seeing us walking with prizes while they got nothing but cold wind."
Radis tries to mend the trousers several times. Each time, the hole mends itself magically for a moment before tearing open again. After the third time, Radis hands the trousers back to Bryn. "It seems they want to keep a hole in the pocket. Just as they change size to match the holder. But if you're lucky, maybe they'll mend themselves from any other tear they accumulate over time. Especially if you plan on fighting more statues. Anything else you wanted me to repair?"
If Arren leaves and allows Radis and Bryn a moment in relative privacy - as the Lieutenant, Akvedinn and Nafnlaus have, by now, left the room - and if Bryn hands over the broken bow, Radis will take it and examine it first. "Beautiful bow. A shame that it broke, but you're fortunate to have kept the pieces." He takes a moment to cast his spell, which Bryn by now notices doesn't come to him as naturally as the spells he cast during the fight. Unlike then, he needs a little more effort and time to get it done. But eventually, the bow is repaired, and there is no sign that it was ever broken.
If Bryn doesn't take out the broken bow for whatever reason, including if Arren chose not to leave the two magicians alone, Radis will tell Bryn he can always find him around camp, before leaving the cave with Nevesta.
In any case, unless they delay any more than the minimum above, Bryn will reach the room with the bottles just before the spell ends. He might need to rush a little to be sure, though. Once there, he'll see that the bottles and their content are all non-magical.
I have now finished everything I had planned for this adventure with the bandits, unless I'm forgetting something (in which case... oops). From now on, characters will respond to Arren and Bryn's actions, but they won't initiate anything unless you do something truly outrageous. This should give you a chance to wrap up and tie loose ends, before we move on. This doesn't mean what you do won't matter, it just means that I'll mostly just respond to your posts, and won't push forward (I imagine this won't be too different from most of my posts, though, but just to keep in mind).
I'll write, in a separate post, a short summary of where each of the characters you've met here is, in case you wish to interact with any of them, as well as a description of the situation in camp. If I forget anyone, they're probably still around and can be found. So, from that moment onwards, you can assume your character finds any of these characters if they look for them.
Please keep things ordered, though, if you can. Try to conclude any evening business before moving into the night (which we'll say will happen when the first of you starts a long rest), and then make sure both concluded anything during that peroid before we move on to the morning.
Varielky | Werhann
Once everyone eventually returns to camp, they'll notice the weather remains unchanged. Most folk in the camp, except for a few miserable guards gathered around a by-now small fire, have retired for the night. Voices from the tents reveal that not all are asleep, but all went in to find shelter from the cold. Many of the Humans are either already asleep or preparing to be, though, unlike the Elves, who gather in designated tents to pass the time while they're not yet feeling a need to start their trance.
Nafnlaus and Akvedinn have immediately left the ruins and blended with the rest of the camp. Akvedinn doesn't draw much attention to himself with his strange glove, but Nafnlaus had to take extra care not to attract any attention, covering the torch's light as best he could and quickly disappearing into one of the tents, which remains illuminated from within but in a way that could be mistaken for a lantern by anyone who didn't see the torch. At some point later, the light goes out when Nafnlaus stacks almost all his clothes on top, then uses them as a pillow. They both seem to heed the Commandant's advice regarding showing off their findings.
Lieutenant Tireur waits for Arren to arrive before he goes to replace Mydri in keeping an eye on the sick, where he'll stay during the night. He'll still talk to anyone who comes to the tent, though, as the sick need very little care while sleeping.
Mydri, having been temporarily relieved from her self-imposed duty, will immediately disappear into another tent and sink into a deep slumber in minutes. Unless caught right before she does that or woken up, she'll only be available in the morning. Perhaps.
Commandant Nattensbarn, upon arriving at the carriage, shaking from the cold since her coat was covering the book, immediately places the book in the carriage before locking it and disappearing into her tent. For a brief while, she'll answer if called from near the tent, but before long, she too will fall asleep.
Radis and Nevesta will leave the site together once allowed, but not before taking one of the bottles with them. They'll head over to Nohem and Lann's to discuss things and leave the bottle there. Nevesta removes the tiara from her head before entering camp, placing it in her leather bag for the time being. After some time speaking to Nohem and Lann, the two will leave the tent and head over to another, smaller tent, to which they both enter together. If anyone searches for Radis again, they'll find him there, staying awake until relatively late, writing a lengthy poem on a piece of paper. Nevesta is with him most of the time.
Lann and Nohem remain in their own tent during the night, but as Elves, they trance and have no issue talking to anyone at any point.
If asked about the gold, any of the bandits replies that it will be dealt with in the morning. At some point, not long after everyone returns to camp, two (previously unmet) bandits are stationed at the entrance to the crack to make sure nobody walks in to steal anything.
Varielky | Werhann
Arren doesn't have any reason to linger in the caves, so he leaves shortly after the Commandant. He walks beside her until they reach their tents, and when she ducks into hers, he does the same with his, leaving his weapons and the bronze-colored scale there.
He then accompanies Walnuts on his way to the makeshift infirmary, using the walk to ask how the sick are faring: whether there have been any new cases during the day — he hopes the answer is no, hoping his instructions to the workers have helped in this — and whether the Lieutenant thinks they'll be fit to travel once the bandits release them.
The exchange is cut short when Arren spots Mydri emerging and heading quickly toward her tent. He watches her for a moment, hesitating, then says quietly to Walnuts, "Excuse me, sir," before breaking off and catching up to her just before she slips inside.
"Mydri?" he calls softly. "I was hoping I'd see you earlier, but things got complicated." He offers a small, tired smile. "How did the day go with the patients? I imagine Lieutenant Tireur's help eased things a bit." He studies her briefly, then adds, "You look less exhausted than yesterday, at least."
There's a pause. Arren is suddenly aware of how he must look himself—bruised, sore, and worn down—but he lets the thought pass. Nothing he can do about it.
"We'll likely be on the road tomorrow. Back toward Pyorre, in our case," he says. "These haven't been the best days, but… at least they'll be over soon." He's about to mention that the bandits have agreed to give them all a compensation for their efforts, but he prefers to stay silent, and let everybody get the news the next day.
He hesitates, then gives a small nod and a smile. "I wish you well on your way home, Mydri. It was good meeting you—even if only briefly."
Peindre l'amour, peindre la vie, pleurer en couleur ♫
Auriel | Shenua | Arren
Bryn let's Radis try to mend the trousers, watching with interest as the tear reappears time and again.
"Perhaps you are right. I guess I will learn the true function of the trousers given time, even if it is only to keep ones lower half warm".
He looks around as Radis suggests trying to mend the other item of his, and notices that it is only the three of them left. He nods and takes the two broken parts of the bow out of this backpack, and unwraps them.
"It was well cared for by the person who gifted it to me, and perhaps one day she will get to see it restored", he says honestly to Radis and Nevesta.
When the bow is repaired, with not even a sign it was ever damaged, he bows to Radis. "Thank you, I truly appreciate that", he says as he then wraps the bow up once again and places it back in his backpack, sticking out a bit now that it is whole again.
"Do you know if there is string to be found in camp, so I can restring the bow?", he asks as they head to the room where the bottles were found. "And for that matter, a place for me to spend the hours I need to trance? Things are not as cordial with the soldiers as they were".
He has no other intentions once back at camp beyond finding a safe place to trance, with the assumption that the Sergeant would not trust him enough to sleep in his presence. As mentioned before, Corporal's Piete's belongings are piled inside the Sergeant's tent, including the helmet. Only a few items would be missing, such as the rest of the leather armour, the uniform including coat and boots, waterskin and tinderbox. He has obviously kept the weapons he acquired as well.
For the rest of the night, or if he doesn't find a tent, he will be found by the fire trying to keep warm. If he gets a chance, he will change out of the soldiers uniform and into the finer garb of Otis the scribe. Leaving the wet soldiers boots close enough to the fire to have a chance of drying. Of course he keep the overcoat and armour on for protection from the elements.
Walnuts replies that there have been no new cases, although Mydri did tend to the wounded bandits, Nohem and Lann included. The sick have stayed mostly the same, but at least their condition hasn't worsened. Unfortunately, most wouldn't be able to travel. Perhaps they can be taken to a nearer lodge on one of the carts, but that'll be something that the Lieutenant admits will be left to the bandits to deal with.
Perhaps less exhausted than before, but still quite exhausted, Mydri passes a look over Arren. "You too? Come, I'll take a look." Whether he likes it or not, Mydri turns around Arren quickly to see his various bruises. "It'll hurt for a few days, but I think you'll be fine. I don't really have anything to offer you, and none of these looks grave. You'll just have to put up with it, and perhaps give it another moment of thought before quarrelling again. Really, we've got enough on our hands without you all 'fighting each other.' At least find a better excuse."
"Home? Ah, right, of course. Home." She seems a little confused. Maybe it's just the exhaustion and the sudden change of subject. "I was also on my way to Pyorre, I think." She pauses, a rather lengthy pause. "But I'll have to wait for them to let us all go. I imagine the families will be able to care for their sick after that.
"A gift? A generous friend, then." Radis passes a finger on one of the runes carved into the wood. "I don't recognise these, but it doesn't seem like an ordinary bow." He doesn't push the matter further, though, eventually returning the mended bow to Bryn.
"String? I doubt it. Not anything worthy of your bow, anyway," Nevesta answers. "These use shorter strings, and most aren't in good condition anyway," she taps the crossbow to her side. "We still have a few bows in camp, but I wouldn't bother. Get yourself a proper string. You were heading to Pyorre, weren't you? I'm sure they've got plenty there."
"There are plenty of tents in the camp," Radis picks up once Nevesta finishes. "Most are fully occupied, but there are a few shared ones for those we found on the path walking without a tent. Fortunately, there was also a merchant with a few tents for sale. They're the tents closest to the fire, just check before going in." If Bryn later tries, he'll find a tent where some room can be spared for him. Albeit a little cramped, it'll offer him the protection from the wind he'll need during the night.
Varielky | Werhann
"Generous and some unique circumstances, for sure. I hope to cross her path again soon", Bryn replies to Radis as the bard looks over the bow.
To hear there is no supply of decent bowstring is not a surprise to him, and he nods, "Wise council, I will look in Pyorre if that is where I end up. I am hoping to travel with the soldiers still, and that is certainly their destination".
He thanks the pair for their advice, and does indeed look for a shared tent to spend his time in trance, finding a spot in a corner. As he is in his trance, he contemplates how he was able to move the earth around, and how Radis can mend objects. He is almost certain he can mimic the ability of the bard, but another thought occupies him right now. He is wet and it is not comfortable.
During his trance he will also spend some time focussing on the new items he has in his possession, the trousers and the newly fixed bow. He will be discreet with both.
When he rouses from the trance, he goes outside hoping the fire is still going to give him warmth, and sits down with all his world belongings beside him. Whilst there, he dries his clothes and boots, making little water shapes that march off the items as he conducts them with a finger as if to music.
"Guess Lory's hostelry would be the ideal place for that," Arren replies to Walnuts.
"Hey, I wasn't quarrelling," he protests to Mydri, though not very seriously, as his light chuckle betrays. Still, he does as she tells him and lets her examine the bruises.
“Don't worry. I wasn't expecting any treatment," he adds. "Bothering an already exhausted physician with more work was never my intention. I just wanted to see how you were doing."
"For what it's worth, we didn't quarrel with the bandits. I'd say things ended surprisingly well, given the circumstances." He hesitates. "These bruises are from ... something else entirely. But it's over now."
At least, I think it is.
"We saw Nohem earlier," he adds, glancing aside. "It looked like his shoulder was hurt. I never learned what happened, though." He lifts both hands in a not guilty gesture. "But I can promise you that wasn't us."
Arren studies her for a moment longer, her mention of home and Pyorre making him look a bit concerned.
"You think?" he says quietly. "You don't sound very sure." He pauses, then adds, more carefully, "Are you… all right? I don't want to bother you. But if you want to talk, I'm here."
If she seems comfortable, Arren will stay a while longer. If not, he won't press — he'll nod once and quietly take his leave.
(Insight: 11)
Peindre l'amour, peindre la vie, pleurer en couleur ♫
Auriel | Shenua | Arren
((Sounds like a scene from a Studio Ghibli movie. And yet, I can't help but imagine something closer to the "Pink Elephants on Parade" clip from Dumbo.))
The guards who remained by the fire are at first wary of Bryn when he shows, without any warning, magical abilities, and in particular of the marching water shapes. But after a few moments, seeing that the water shapes aren't marching to harm them, their attitude changes to one of wonder and admiration. Forgetting their duty, they focus completely on the spectacle of water shapes dancing down Bryn's boots. Once Bryn's clothes are all completely dry, however, unless he chooses to continue the show for their (and perhaps his) amusement, they'll leave him alone and recall their far-less-interesting duty of watching a sleeping camp from wild animals.
"Yes, well, the Elf who came in earlier said he was just quarrelling with someone. As if any person would get such marks on their neck during a quarrel." Standing behind Arren at that moment, Mydri lays her hand briefly over Arren's nape, where he, too, still has lingering marks from the plant-man's strangling vines. "Don't have to tell me what it is if you don't want to, but I can't resurrect you if you hang yourselves."
"I..." Mydri hesitates, looking rather uncomfortable. "I don't know." She turns away, and two steps later, she's already in her tent - where she sleeps, not the one where the sick are.
It seems like Mydri doesn't want to discuss what's bothering her, but Arren can be sure something is. Arren starts walking away and is some distance away already when he hears quick steps approaching behind him. When she's close enough, Mydri calls after Arren: "Wait, just one moment!" Perhaps she changed her mind, but she doesn't apologise for walking away abruptly as she did.
When she finally reaches Arren, she pauses for a moment and opens a canvas scroll held between two sticks, showing Arren a charcoal painting made by a skilled hand, of a family consisting of a woman, a man, and a toddler. Despite being drawn in black-and-white, and despite looking somewhat younger, far less exhausted and certainly happier, there is no mistaking Mydri's beautiful face in the drawing. "Have you ever seen these people?" She points in particular to the man and the toddler, but they seem unfamiliar to Arren. Both look Human, but that is all Arren can tell. "That one's me, I can tell. I saw my reflection in the water. But I don't remember these two." She pauses, giving Arren a moment to examine the drawing, but she keeps holding the scroll herself. If Arren makes a move to take the scroll, even if just to get a closer look, she steps back, clearly reluctant to let him get any closer. "There's quite a lot I don't remember, actually, and most of what I do remember is... fuzzy."
If Arren admits he doesn't know the two, Mydri rolls the scroll back and looks disappointed, albeit not surprised. "Well, didn't think you would," she'll say. "I've yet to meet someone who did."
Varielky | Werhann
Bryn will end the display by having the water dancers get close to the fire, so they start to heat up and eventually start bubbling as they dance for the duration of the magic, which will turn out to be an hour. As they boil they will eventually all turn to steam anyway, which is an interesting effect all it's own.
(OOC: I think Bryn is done until something or someone interrupts him. I guess the Commandant will be up with the dawn, but I am not sure what Nohem and Lann intend to do about carving up the gold. In terms of what time more than anything. He will look to change clothes as mentioned before, so fine clothes with leather armour and overcoat, and likely proper boots now they are dry. He will wait to try on the new magic trousers, but will examine them and the bow as mentioned, with the bow still wrapped so as not to draw attention)
Arren is left momentarily confused when Mydri disappears into her tent, wondering if perhaps he pushed too hard, even though he thought he'd been careful. The thought bothers him, and he has just started to turn back when she reappears moments later.
He is about to tell her what a beautiful family she has, but the words die in his mouth when she admits she doesn't remember them. And it is then that Emma's face comes back to him at once, and his heart sinks. It can't be. Not again.
When he instinctively moves to take the scroll for a closer look and she recoils, Arren immediately stops. "I'm not trying to take it from you," he says quickly, holding his hands up a little.
Arren hesitates, then glances around the camp, searching for somewhere quieter, somewhere she might feel comfortable. "Mydri, could we sit somewhere for a moment? Just to talk. Only if you're alright with it. It’s just... this is important."
After a brief pause, he continues, choosing his words carefully. "I might not know that man and the toddler," he says, nodding toward the scroll, "but I met someone just like you. Someone whose memories were fuzzy as well."
He exhales slowly before going on. "Her name is Emma. We met her a few days ago, in Ersta. She couldn't clearly remember parts of her life, and when she tried, it was like her thoughts slipped away from her."
Arren looks back at Mydri, watching her closely. "There was an Elf involved. Pale. Black-haired. Levickan, most likely. He went by the name Breithe Staidear. He claimed he was going to help her. Asked her to place a cucurbitaceae on her windowsill if she ever wanted his aid. Emma remembered meeting him, but nothing after. If she tried to think about him, there was just… nothing. Like that specific part of her memory had been erased."
He pauses, then asks quietly, "Does any of this ring a bell? What's the closest memory you have that you don't feel it's fuzzy?"
If this is yet another work of that damned Staidear, I swear I'll…
Peindre l'amour, peindre la vie, pleurer en couleur ♫
Auriel | Shenua | Arren
The bandits will tend to the gold in the morning. Although she claimed little interest in it, the Commandant won't leave without it, as that too is an important archaeological find. We'll have to see whether Arren turns to Bryn with his new finding, but otherwise, I suppose we'll wait for the moment. Bryn is free to change clothes at any time, though preferably after finding some spot where his privacy is maintained, which isn't too difficult in this dark night. From my understanding, he has not tried them on yet, but tell me if I got that wrong.
The tent where Mydri sleeps is another of the shared tents, as it turns out, and so Mydri doesn't offer that as a spot to sit. The next best places could be the fireplace, though that would be next to the guards and perhaps Bryn (but before his trance, and so before any marching water drops appear), or Arren's tent, which is now empty with Bryn finding another place to sleep and the Lieutenant caring for the sick. Despite her exhaustion, Mydri will follow Arren if he asks her to.
"That sounds horrible, but it's not quite the same," Mydri replies after Arren finishes describing Emma's lack of memories. "I wouldn't say my thoughts are slipping away. When I don't remember something, it's either like I never knew it to begin with - like the identity of the two in this drawing - or I know I can remember it if I try hard enough. This is what I mean by fuzzy memories. That happened when you asked for my name. I'm sure you didn't think much of it then, with how tired I was, but I realised, at that moment, that you were the first to ask for my name since... You're the first person I can recall who has ever asked for my name. Strange, isn't it? Perhaps not. The first concrete memory I have isn't very old. I woke up in a small room, on a bed I didn't know. A woman told me I've been unconscious for a few days, ever since she found me by her doorstep. She didn't ask for my name, though. She was kind, but she didn't know anything about me either. Everything before that... is either gone or fuzzy. Or it was fuzzy, before I finally recalled it.
"But no, I don't recall any... Stay...dear? You said? Nothing. If I ever did, the memory is gone, I am sure." She pauses briefly, rethinking the matter. "No. Well, maybe. I can't say I remember hearing that name, or anyone asking me for... what was it? Whatever it is you said, on any window. I didn't really have a window, either, as I don't know where my home is. I am on my way to Pyorre, but I don't know why. Perhaps that is where my home is? Or maybe the one who made this," she indicates the scroll, "lived there. I don't know. But yes, I did see some pale, black-haired Levickan Elf on the way. It was some time ago, but I remember, because I still asked everyone I happened to meet, back then, if they knew these faces. He didn't, just as all that came before and all who followed. I remember him because I happened to meet them on the road, and they were - ah, he wasn't travelling alone. He was walking with a very big person - tall, muscular - clad in a very heavy-looking armour. Couldn't even see their face behind that helmet. Didn't say a word. They were caring for a bird, I think it was a crow, or perhaps a raven? They found it by the side of the road, they said, with a broken wing, and tried saving it. I tried to help them, but I know nothing of avian anatomy. We got its wing fixed to a small stick, though, a makeshift splint. They - well, the Elf, since the other one doesn't talk - thanked me, and I asked them about the scroll. Neither seemed to recognise, though, as I said before."
Varielky | Werhann
So it wasn't the same case as Emma, but the appearance of a pale, dark-haired Levickan Elf in Mydri's account certainly intrigued Arren.
"Thank you for sharing this, Mydri," he says. "It must have been difficult for you just to speak it aloud. Can you make one last effort and try to remember when you met the Elf and the armoured man? A week ago, perhaps? Longer? Did you happen to overhear where they were going?"
He feels that he has pushed more than enough for tonight, and that anything further would only do harm. Still, there is one last thing he feels he should say.
"I will speak about this to my comrades, if you don't mind. I will be perfectly honest with you: I'm not sure that we will be able to help you. But it is our hope that our Commandant will be tasked with a mission once we reach Pyorre involving that Elf, and if that is the case, perhaps we could find some leads that might help you, and Emma as well."
He pauses.
"I assume you don't have anywhere to stay in Pyorre? It's a big city, and I'm sure a skilled physician like you will not have trouble finding work and lodgings. But if you do have any problems, and I'm still there, just contact me — either at our garrison, or at my home." He tells her where he lives, but he makes a point to write it down for her the next day. "We have to travel a lot, but Samira, my mother, lives there as well. And the gods know she'd never refuse to help someone like you, having arrived in Pyorre herself years ago with nothing but the clothes she was wearing and a small kid."
At this point, Arren figures it is best if he escorts Mydri back to her tent so she can rest. He bids her good night, hoping to see her in better shape in the morning.
He feels exhausted himself, but this new development will not allow him to go straight to bed. He considers informing the Commandant right away, but she is already in her tent, and he would much rather let her sleep for now.
As such, there is one other person he can think of, though he is very reluctant to speak to him. He even begins to trace his steps back toward his own tent, but stops short when he finds himself walking past the fire. Mad as he might be with the fake Corporal, this is too important not to share with him.
Finding the Elf by the fire, Arren counts to ten to try to suppress his disconfort, then walks up to him and says, "We need to speak." He pauses to make sure no one else is listening. "I've been talking with Mydri. I think her memories have been altered. Not in the same fashion as Emma's, that she remembers at least. But…" He exhales. "She's crossed paths with a certain Levickan Elf."
Arren then recounts everything he discussed with Mydri.
"I haven't told the Commandant yet. I'd rather she rests, before she returns to her usual unhealthy self." He grimaces at that. In a way, these days at the bandits' camp had had its benefits.
Peindre l'amour, peindre la vie, pleurer en couleur ♫
Auriel | Shenua | Arren
Before Trance
Bryn is a little surprised by the appearance of the Sergeant, and when the soldier says they need to speak he nods. He must have questions and likely accusations. So be it.
He motions for the Sergeant to sit, or shifts to a more private spot if necessary, and then remains silent allowing the Sergeant to get it all off his chest.
After he speaks of what he has learned about Mydri, he remains silent for a few moments as he thinks.
Ok, that I was not expecting. Both Mydri's tale and the Sergeant coming to tell me.
"That is a very different encounter Mydri had compared to Emma. A chance meeting on the road, a warrior companion and an injured raven", he says, mulling over the information for a little while. "And Mydri had already lost her memory at that point? If she lost the memories after the encounter, that would show a clearer pattern, but before. How can we be sure that it was Breithe? There are more than one black-haired Levickan elves around, even here", he says and motions to himself.
"And yet it seems almost too much of a coincidence", he says, not really sure where to go with this new information.
"Perhaps the Commandant will know more. Maybe she has intel about his associates that might include a very large muscular warrior type".
Assuming the Sergeant mentions Mydri is heading to Pyorre, he will ask, "Do you think the Commandant will allow her to travel with us? If she wants to. Maybe she will remember something else on the way".
After Trance
Seeing as Bryn does find somewhere private to change, he will quickly try on the cargo trousers before he puts on Otis's finer trousers. Just to see what happens.
"I know," Arren agrees. "He could be just another Elf. In any case, it might be worth holding onto this information, at least until we can find new evidence."
Regarding Mydri traveling with them, or the Commandant knowing more, he shrugs, uncertain. "We'll see in the morning. I'm not sure about Mydri. The Lieutenant said the patients aren't in shape to travel yet, and she might need to stay with them a few more days. She might still reach Pyorre before we leave, though."
Not wanting to linger any longer than necessary in the Elf's presence, Arren stands. "Until tomorrow, then." He nods once and turns to leave.
Once in his tent—which feels extremely strange to have all to himself, as he's never slept without other soldier companions—he spends a moment examining the scale again. He attempts to tie a rope around it, then attach it to his left arm, making a few moves to get a sense of how it would work as a shield. He even asks himself how to make its magic function. All he knows regarding magic is that one has to make somatic movements, pronounce words, sometimes use components… but what does he really know about any of this? Perhaps once he can attach the straps and actually use it in combat, some of the magic will start working on its own.
He leaves the scale apart after a while, then lies back. His mind circles over the many events of the day. If he could just meditate—and perhaps, finally, enter a trance—he would welcome it tonight of all nights. He'll make sure to include some beautiful flowers in his thoughts, in case he can call upon the pressence of the feminine voice that spoke to him some nights ago.
(ooc: I think we changed the rolls to ability checks instead of saving throws. Let me know if this is not the case.
CHA= 12 bumped to a 20 with a Tactical Mind if necessary
INT= 9, rerolled with Inispiration for a 15)
Peindre l'amour, peindre la vie, pleurer en couleur ♫
Auriel | Shenua | Arren