"Sadly, it was me," Alaris sighs with a tiny bit of a grin. "Thank you, Astrid," the paladin murmurs as the splinters fall away, pushed out by the healing skin.

"Someone's speaking to me, mocking me. A lean, sardonic figure with pale skin and a tittering voice. I heard them at Shiva's party, and again at Temnitsa while looking at that demonic Morgenstern *****, and just now. Something is screwing with us, and I don't like not knowing what's happening."

Nikolai huffs indignantly. "That is what I have been saying since the moment we found this ring, but no one listens to Nikolai. Instead we go rushing off into Temnista, get separated. One of us gets polymorphed, another marked with a vampire's ring and the rest of us get fooled into a underlord's bidding and nearly killed in the process. And again, instead of sitting down to figure this out some of us want to go rush off after some petulant little ***** who gets her kicks by preying upon the inadequacies of others. If you all insist upon being reckless again, you can count me out. I must speak with Shahar for their guidance on this."

Shiva holds up her hands in resignation at the end of Nikolai's rant, "Ok, ok, we'll all sit down and figure out what the hell is happening to us." As she speaks she looks over to Alaris with concern "It seems to be getting more intense."

Ling raises her eyebrows in surprise at Alaris' outburst, looking concerned. It was unnerving to see the calm centre of the group losing their cool. After Nikolai has spoken, she tries to lighten the mood: "I thought Caio was pretty cool 'polymorphed' or whatever you call that." She pokes him in the ribs. "Come on now, don't be mad. We were just having fun, right? Nobody got hurt. It's not like we haven't tried figuring this out, but... we just have no idea!" Ling throws up her hands for emphasis. "So why dwell on it?"

Caio gives the tiniest smile at Ling's jab. Despite the grief he constantly gives her, he knows it's her antics and levity that really hold this group together. But his eyes turn hard again as he turns to Nikolai. "You say you want to figure this out, yet you vehemently disregard the closest thing we have to a lead. Even if that woman is blowing smoke in our faces, it's undeniable that she knows something. Right now, we know nothing. There is nothing to 'sit and figure out' until we actually have some information on this phenomenon. I intend to hunt that information down and would welcome anyone who wishes to join. If you wish to brood and flip through your cards, have at it."

"And she's definitely smoking." Ling adds, hissing through her teeth.

Nikolai whips out his Tarock deck. "These 'cards' as you call them, have solved more of our problems than you realize, Caio. Also, simply because she claims to know our heritage does not mean she actually does know something. If I cared to know, I'm sure I could solve the paternity of my father's ancestor, but in the end it is inconsequential. Knowing the source of my infernal blood will not change who I am or what I seek to do. We don't know that she knows anything, there are other avenues to approach. Astrid for instance, she has a connection to time and space. She can commune with her god, who may be able to provide valuable insight. Whereas this Clarissa woman clearly just enjoys tugging at strings to get a reaction out of people. The issue is that neither myself nor Astrid has had any time to do any research or as you call it 'sit and figure out'. We don't know anything because we have had no time since all this happened to figure anything out. It's been one misadventure after another. So, you all go after her if you like and find out whatever she knows or does not know. I have my own path to forge in this."

Crossing her arms with a smile, Shiva leans forward "Sounds like we're going to split up to cover more ground, then. Seems effective to me."

Caio's eyes narrow to slits, but he restrains from snapping back. "Let's go." The ranger turns and stalks off down the street, back in the general direction of Temnitsa. Clearly he's expecting Shiva and Ling to follow.

Stepping quickly behind Caio, Shiva calls back to Nik, "We'll meet up later and compare notes?"

Alaris glares at Nik and Caio in turn and retorts, "Everybody settle the #$%^ down for a moment. Nik, I didn't see you taking any time last night for figuring anything out except where you could plant your wick to cause the most trouble amongst our family. So lay off the guilt trip and the inadequacies talk for a moment, perhaps? If the source of your infernal heritage has plans that involve us, that could make it consequential, no?"

"And Caio --" they begin, but the ranger is already stomping down the street with Ling and Shiva in tow. "@#$%! Whatever this being is, it has found a faultline in our group and struck it perfectly with the hammer of jealousy and the chisel of arrogance." They shake their head, then turn back to Nik with their back straight and tall again.

"That harm we talked about two nights ago? It seems to be upon us. So do what you need to do -- gather your information as Caio gathers his. Astrid, if your insights or powers could assist Nik, please palaver with him and coordinate your efforts. I have work of my own to do. Remember: we meet with the librarian on Friggsday - EARLY." The paladin stomps back towards the Black Sheep, planning to secure their gear and supplies in their quarters, then head towards Bednik on their own. 

    "It is not wise to run from your past," she says looking up to Nikolai adding to Alaris's point. "Time finds a way to catch up with you. It's why I have left my hold - to ensure any mistakes made by my ancestors are not going to come back and haunt anyone."

     Astrid stands by quietly as emotions among the group run high. She gives the paladin an uneasy nod. "Are you sure you're wanting to go off on your own...?"

Following Shiva and Caio, Ling briefly squeezes Nik's arm and gives him a pouting "Don't sulk ok? We'll be back in no time!" before she is off.

Quote from Saute_Monkey >>

    Astrid stands by quietly as emotions among the group run high. She gives the paladin an uneasy nod. "Are you sure you're wanting to go off on your own...?"

 

"Thank you, Astrid, but I'll be fine. I'm just going back home. Keep watch on Nik, I beg you. I'd do it myself, but I gave my word... So I must trust that your god brought you to us for such a time as this."

The walk all the way back to Temnitsa is the frigid and crisp in the night air of Piotrgrad. The wind cuts like a knife and shadows cloak the city streets. When Caio, Ling and Shiva finally arrive, the venue's warm embrace makes for a sharp contrast, even compared to the dank tunnels of the catacombs. It seems that the party life at Temnitsa is alive and well.

Once Alaris has deposited their possessions at the Black Sheep, the disgruntled paladin sets off south towards the river. Their gifts bring a grey light to the shadows they pass, highlighting the many needy and hopeless who shelter fruitlessly in doorways and under eves as the bogatyr ventures away from the city's richer districts.

Caio is deathly silent the entire walk towards the too-familiar bar. Once inside, his avian goggles drop down as if the elf is at a masquerade and he begins scanning every face in hopes of finding Clarissa. Not expecting her to be up on this floor if she's still here at all, he makes a bee line towards the debaucherous lower level.

Trailing Caio, Shiva walks beside Ling, occasionally leaning in to reassure her  "No matter what, remember that this woman knows only of our heritage, she doesn't know us."

Once they enter the more lecherous levels of Temnitsa, a warm sensation glides across her chest, neck, and lips as she is struck by the memory of Mistress and the alcove. Wrapping her hand around the bracelet on her wrist, she finds herself looking for the beautiful and terrifying woman.

Alaris tugs their ragged grey cloak over their rough, homespun shirt and trousers. A little threadbare, the clothes had been with the aasimar since they began their new life with the Lady. Part reminder, part thrift, they'd been mended countless times over the years. They had tucked two daggers into their waistband and dragged their boots through dirt and grime to disguise their value. Leaving Hope's Edge behind again made the warrior nervous, but as they'd told Astrid, they truly were going back home. Back in Tanemburg, Alaris had had a whole squad of scruffy urchins, forgotten children who survived on their wits and a bit of charm. And Alaris' muscle when things got out of hand.

The knight made their way slowly towards Bednik, shedding more of their respectable and assured bearing with each step. Soon they were stooped and shivering, with a bit of a limp from a wound with a long memory that awoke in the stiffening cold. As they made it to the fringe of the neighborhood, they looked for a small fire or another sign of a gathering place of the unsheltered.

It doesn't take Caio long to spot Clarissa lounging at a table near the back of the hall. She has a goblet of wine in her hand and is chatting with a group of young, sycophantic-looking nobles. Her trill laugh is just barely audible over the music.

Meanwhile, Shiva doesn't spot Mistress anywhere amongst the revellers and other guests. However, before long she sees an enormous, muscular half-orc approach her. His body language is unusually meek for such an imposing figure and a dainty golden bracelet glistens around his tree-trunk-like wrist, bearing tiny, glistening 'A'.

"Excuse me, Lady Shivala?" he asks in almost a whisper.

Across the city, once Alaris reaches the river they can see the slums of Bednik spread out before them on the far bank. The pinpoint lights of many tiny fires litter the destitute quarter like a field of orange stars. Social hubs for the poor and disenfranchised.