Waning Dusk, Gentle Moonlight [Group 2]

Kravik's breath catches as the full weight of their words lands. His eyes take in the sight before him, a fae without their wings, the permanent mark of violation carved into their very being.

"That is a grievous wrong," he says quietly, the horror evident in his voice. "One that cannot be undone."

His shield lowers slightly, though he remains positioned between them and the farmer. He glances back at the older man, piecing together what he'd been told at the gravestone.

"When you showed me your wife's grave," Kravik says to the farmer, his tone measured, "you said 'they got their vengeance.' That she was killed because of what you'd done." He turns back to the fae, his eyes steady. "Is that true? Did you, or yours, already take payment in blood for what he did?"

He pauses, letting that settle. "If so... then what you're seeking now isn't vengeance. It's been paid. What you're seeking is more suffering." His voice remains calm, not accusatory. "And I understand why. What was done to you was monstrous. But he's lived thirty-one years with the loss of the person he loved most. Every day, tending that farm, carrying that weight."

Kravik's hand remains near his rapier hilt, but his posture is open, honest. "Killing him won't give you back what was taken. It won't restore your wings. It will only add more death to a road that already has too much." He meets the fae's burning gaze. "What would actually bring you peace? Not vengeance; peace. What would make this balance?"

Quote from Just_A_Dude1 >>

Tobias looks to Kyvir

"Kyvir how good are you with the ladies? Myself I manage but not great."

(OOC: I have +1 to persuasion)

 
"Me? Ladies? Ladies love me, they can't stand but be drawn to me... Hold my ale."

Kyvir says, no ale in hand. He then makes his way toward the woman and flashes a big smile.

"Excuse me beautiful, I can't help but notice you seem flustered. Can I help you with something? Maybe it'll be easier to look for what you need elsewhere? Somewhere with more light?"

He says, doing his best to convince her to move out of the way.

Persuasion: 18
Guidance: 3

You spend several days in a moment as the lead fae stares back towards the three of you, and, although they nod assent at the end, you can't help but feel that this isn't the last time you'll see them. The fae's parting words only reinforce that message, leaving you with a deep chill. "You've thrown your coin in with the wrong lot, no matter who you think he is." As the farmer, behind you, retches again, they snap their gaze towards him. "It may have been somewhat accidental, but we do not take this lightly. Mind you, we haven't forgotten - and never will. Beware the winter wolf." Then, with a howl, the group darts back into the forest in unison, their footfalls echoing long after they've been gone. 

You're left with many questions: an accident? When did this happen? What did you do?, but the farmer is in no mood to respond. He simply kneels there, in the dirt, retching and hacking spit onto the dusty ground. Finally, he gets up in a manner that's called shakily at best. "I-I didn't know that it was as bad as all that..."

The woman looks up at Kyvir and leaps with fright, tripping forward on the long sleeve of a satin shirt. "Oh-! I'm so sorry, I didn't see you there....are you one of the performers?" She awkwardly gets up, and smiles slightly and blushes as she does so. "I'd love your help, but this is my job. I must do it myself. If my boss caught me, with someone else helping - well, I can't risk it."

Kravik watches the fae disappear into the forest, trying to make sense of what just happened. He isn't sure what 'Beware the winter wolf' means, but he commits the words to memory. After a few moments, he finally looks to Aydlott to make sure he's OK, and then turns to the farmer.

"We need to move," he says quietly but firmly, offering the farmer a hand up. "Whatever threat they just gave us, we're exposed out here on this road." He glances at the body still lying in the path, then back toward the cart. "We'll get you back to town. You can explain on the way, as soon as you're up to it."

Once the farmer is standing, Kravik's grey eyes fix on him with quiet intensity. "But you will explain. We'll want to know what happened. How did their wings get taken? And what is the winter wolf?" His tone isn't angry, but it is stern; it's no longer the gentle reassurance from breakfast. "I just put myself between you and five fae who seem to have every reason to want you dead. We need to know what we're protecting, so we can plan for what's coming next."

As Kyvir is distracting the woman Tobias is just gonna try to sneak him and Momo out through the door. 

stealth check 6 + 7

Quote from Just_A_Dude1 >>

As Kyvir is distracting the woman Tobias is just gonna try to sneak him and Momo out through the door. 

stealth check 15 + 7

 Ok so I hovered over the 15 and for some reason it says 13 + 5. IDK why it did that because I didn't tell it to add anything I also don't know how it got 15 either. Should I reroll or do just want to use the base roll of 13?

OOC there are issues with dice roller visibility.  I would assume the number is still valid.  You can always pull up your character and roll the game log.

Momo rolls stealth in game log. 16

Momo follows those bumbling and stumblingly forward.

Aydlott's face pales as white as bleached linen when the fae reveal themselves. Unbidden, memories of his capture and the surety of death that froze his blood rise up and grip his whole body in terror. The horse beneath him feels his terror and it snorts and prances, sweat flicking its hide. Aydlott knows it is as bad as all that, when it comes to fae. He knows that very well. Whatever slight hopes he entertained of a camaraderie with the otherworldly folk in this town that might relieve him of his terrible curse feel as though they have been dashed to the ground. He feels a new kinship with the farmer, equally haunted by the vengeance of the fae. Though Aydlott's fate may have been given him with a supposed way out, he knows it is a trick, an illusion, a cruelty of hope that will never be fulfilled.

As the fae leave, Aydlott grits his teeth as he slowly gains control of and calms his horse. Oh, how he would like to raise his sword against all of them. But he cannot fight their power. No one can... can they?

Kravik notices Aydlott's reaction. Whatever history his companion has with the fae, it runs deep and dark. But this isn't the time to press.

"Aydlott," he says, his voice steady and grounding. "We need to move. Can you ride?"

He helps the farmer to his feet and guides him back toward the cart, keeping one eye on the forest where the fae disappeared. Once the farmer is seated, Kravik turns his attention to the body still lying in the road.

"We can't leave him here," he says, moving to examine the corpse more closely. "We'll bring him to town, let the Watch know what happened." He checks for any identification, anything that might tell them who this man was and why he died on this road.

As he works, he speaks to both his companions, his tone practical, focused. "We'll get answers once we're behind walls. Right now, we need to move before dark settles in completely—or before they change their minds." He does his best to wrap the body up, so it isn't obvious to casual onlookers that there's a dead body with them.

He glances at the farmer. "You said you'd give us a ride back to town. Time to make good on that. And on the way..." His eyes fix on the older man. "You'll tell us everything."

Aydlott shudders once and then seems to come back to the present situation. "I'm all right," he says stiffly. "I can ride. Let's go." But he does dismount to help Kravik with moving and wrapping the body, getting it loaded respectfully into the cart. He mounts his horse again then, ready to go at a quick pace alongside the cart. He can't resist a curious glance or two at the farmer as Kravik invites their host to share his story.

(OOC: 

I'm really sorry I have to write this. You all are the best players I've known, and you all are amazing in all of your ways. I'm grateful to have played with you, and I hope that, in some future time, I can again.

I'm trying to spend more time away from the forums/the online world in general, as my semi-addiction to it has had a severe impact on my mental health and general well-being. I need to figure out my life, and I'm going to have to end this campaign. 

I'm sorry, and, once again, you all are amazing.)

Thanks for the game, and don't worry you will be back.  not this year or even this decade, but eventually you will.  Good luck.

That's disappointing, but thanks for letting us play! Take care of yourself!

Good luck! Take care of yourself! Thank you for the game, it was very enjoyable!