"'Getting away from the city'?" Elodia quotes in stark surprise, eyebrow raised. "Now? Where are you going? Taking care of the Morgensterns benefits you, the city, and far more, I assure you."

Nimue straightens, as surprised by this course of action as the human woman, Elodia. If the situation here was so dire, why leave? One thing at a time, Melda. Everything will happen as it is meant to. In it's own time. 

"Of course, Grandmama. Everything in it's own time." She doesn't realize she's said it aloud until the words are already spoken. Her eyes dart between those gathered, wondering if any had heard her talking to nothing but thin air.

As Nimue's eyes dart about, they meet Caio's cold stare. It's unclear what the stoic ranger thinks of her mutterings, but he had definitely heard them. He holds the gaze for a moment before turning to Elodia. "That is precisely why we're going. To Littlewood. Jonathon asked us to go speak with a scholar there who may have some information on how we can take down his father."

Shiva nods in agreement, "Yeah, and we have an escort mission coming up that will take us out there anyway. Speaking of which, I'm going to go out and get rid of my armor, do we want to buy a few things for the trip?" 

She then glances to Nimue and smiles "Seems like half this group has voices in their head." Realizing that everyone is now assembled, she remembers what transpired not but one hour ago. Sitting up straight, she addresses the group. "I would like to apologize to everyone for what happened. This would've been the last place where I would've wanted that to occur, and I'm deeply grateful for the way in which you all handled it. It seems that everything is now changing, including me."

Nimue smiles, blushing slightly at Caio's momentary glance. "Nice to know I'm not the only one." She nods to Shiva. "I think this change is good. I'm not quite sure, but something tells me that you all are...…the right path." She feels a warmth on her hand, and a blue flame sparks into and out of existence, so quickly it might be missed by all but the sharpest of eyes.

Caio's news surprises Elodia, but she feels at once a surge of optimism that is followed just as quickly be dull shock. Littlewood. She hadn't thought about where exactly she'd expected help against the Morgensterns to come from, but she hadn't imagined it would be that far. The thought alone makes her uneasy, but she tries to push it away at least until she's home. "He would know better than any of us," she admits, looking at them. "I'd like to accompany you. If there's one thing I've accomplished here, I hope it's that this is important to me. I can help in more ways than one; I won't slow you down." She gives the elven woman, Nimue, a curious look at her declaration, making a mental note to ask about it later, and ultimately smiles at Shiva. "I agree with Nimue; change is good, and sometimes even necessary. You and I know that better than many. What kind of armor are you selling? I may be able to spare you the trouble of a shop, depending what it is."

"I agree with Nimue; change is good, and sometimes even necessary. You and I know that better than many."  The words ring in Shiva's ears, and what was left of her emotional wall falls away entirely. Without a word, she stands and moves around the table between them to embrace Elodia, holding her tightly for several moments. When she pulls away, there's a wide smile on her face and happiness in her eyes. "I like you." The words flow gently from her lips, then she releases her new friend to retake her seat. "I'm alright with you coming along, and it's just a breastplate, a buff coat, and a leather tunic. I'd appreciate help in selling them."

"Well, it would seem that we are all one big happy family." Nikolai forces a grin as he watches Shiva closely while she embraces Elodia. "It would seem some of you have some selling to do. I shall remain here, there is something I want to check into and it requires someplace quiet and undisturbed. I will be indisposed for the foreseeable future, should you have need of me just knock on my door. If I do not answer immediately, please be patient."

Elodia smiles warmly at Shiva as she settles back into her seat, opening her mouth to reply when Nikolai swiftly excuses himself. She node slowly, faintly perplexed. “I’ll be returning home once we’re through here, though it sounds like we’re soon to meet again. Best of luck on your...project. Thank you for hearing me out.” She reaches for the small handbag she’d brought with her even as she says it, deep red and embroidered with gold. Drawing it into her lap, she looks back to Shiva. “Is the armor enchanted? Those are the sort of items our buyers tend to be interested in.”

Shiva looks back at Nik as he takes his leave, then turns to answer Elodia. "No, all just mundane armor. Would I be better off finding a local armory or blacksmith?"

“Ah. For that, yes. They’ll be of more help than I will.” Elodia’s hands still on her bag. “Enchanted items, jewellery, finely crafted objects - those I might be able to move, if any of you have anything like that.”

"Ok. Yeah, we picked up a few things when we cleared out the fleder. Let's see, I believe we recovered: a golden ring, a golden brooch, silver goblets and candlesticks, a magical hammer and a magical axe. We could just pass all that along to you for the coins?" 

"Happily," Elodia replies, inspecting the items with a critical eye as they're placed in front of her. If there's one thing her upbringing has trained her in, it's separating quality from chaff. Yet the metals presented in front of her are surprisingly good, and the jewelry finely wrought; there will be buyers for such items, she has no doubt - especially for the things like the candlesticks that come as a matching set. She sets them back on the table after looking at them one by one, considering the hammer and axe from afar rather than make a fool of herself trying to lift them. "1750 is more than fair. Really, it's a bit more than I should, but we're friends, are we not?" She smiles at Shiva, and upon agreement reaches into her bag for the money in both gold and silvery-white platinum increments that she guards with her palm as she hands them over to the blue tiefling in small, precise stacks. The bag is small enough it seems impossible to hold so much, but the illusion isn't shattered even when she begins placing first the valuables and then the jewelry and finally the weapons in whole.

Gracefully, she climbs to her feet, inclining a golden head towards those still gathered as she clasps the impossibly tiny bag closed. "Thank you for meeting with me, truly. I'll plan to be here around the same time tomorrow to discuss the...journey." The prospect of leaving is heavy on her shoulders, but she forces herself to think instead of what she's already learned, of the inevitable fall of the Morgensterns, and the smile on her face is as bright as they've yet seen. "I look forward to doing business with you."

The red tail of her dress winds through the patrons as she heads through the crowd and disappears out the door.

Thanking their new companion, Shiva watches Elodia stand and depart, having saved the group a fair amount of leg work. Platinum was a rare sight for them, and as she looked down at the small fortune, a happy thought comes to her mind. Standing, she brings Ling into a seat in front of their haul. "Can you divide this up for us? I have to see to my armor." A cheerful smile spreads across her face, and she kisses Ling on the cheek. "Have fun!"  And Shiva is off, retrieving what she intends to sell from the room upstairs and heading out into the city. 

She's aware of a blacksmith, but she isn't sure that she can sell all that she has there. After a bit of walking and some haggling with the blacksmith himself, she is given 350 gold pieces. Her coin pouch now had some real weight to it, a reassurance that she could continue to live comfortably for just awhile longer. As she walks back to the Black Sheep, the usual stares that her appearance draws feel especially uncomfortable, and she quickens her pace. 

"...it isn't your fault. I think your fear brought about the change."  "Could you leave me along right now?" "...the hard part is over."  "I thought you said you saw my life? The hard part started when I was born." Leaving her mouth before realizing what she was saying, the words burn deeply into her. Ducking into an alley, she slumps against a wall, trying to hold back sobs. "You won't hurt them. And they know that. You're not a monster."  Shiva thinks about everything that had happened that day and lets herself feel it, tears silently streaming down her face. 

Then, with a few deep breaths, she stands and wipes the tears from her face. "I'll protect them." Her voice is full of determination as she strides back to the inn. "Yes, you will."  As the sun sets, she steps into the Black Sheep.

Nimue watches the exchange of goods, and her gaze lingers on the door of the Black Sheep long after Shiva has departed. "My dear Melda, what friends you have made. Keep them close. You'll need them." Nimue frowns. Grandmama, I barely know these people, let alone what they think of me. There's almost an exasperated sigh. Or at least, that's what she imagines her grandmother to be doing. "You will see." 

She slips delicately over to where Caio is standing. "She still talks to me. Even though she's gone." She looks at him with a careful eye. "Library in the morning, yes? I'll be there. See you then, Caio." Her voice lingers on his name, and she downs the rest of her wine, setting the cup on a nearby table. She departs the tavern, weaving through the tables and patrons. At the door, she looks back, meeting Caio's eyes once more. Without another word, she disappears through the door. 

As the group departs, Nikolai says his farewells to the others and returns to his room where he draws closed any curtains and bolts his door. He removes the strange sac-like thing he retrieved from the fleder encounter, noticing the terrible smell that seems to be emanating from it. He then wipes his hands clean on a rag as he removes his journal and opens it to begin sketching images as best he can of the dimensions, look, and color of the sac. Once happy with his work and notes, he removes a small knife and begins to cut into the sac, stopping to take more notes as he carefully works. His knife blade reaches a particularly tough section and he realizes too late that he applied too much pressure as he feels the texture give way suddenly as a gout of foul smelling goo spurts out into his face. Nikolai recoils back with a vicious curse as he reaches for a rag to wipe out his eyes and immediately casts a cantrip to clean the remnants off his skin and clothing. What he finds inside is very interesting, however, as it appears like a spongey membrane. A few more sketches and notes, before he cuts through that to discover a thick, fibrous organ. He frowns as he quickly sketches again and begins to make more notes... He spends a few minutes absently shuffling his tarrock deck as he seeks some guidance from Shahar when it strikes him as what this is... It is similar to mammalian reproductive organs. He sits back with a frown as he makes more notes and sketches, pondering what in the Hells he was looking at...

Eventually Nikolai finishes his study of the strange sac and retires for the evening, mentally and physically drained from the events of the day. His dreams are troubled and he wakes several times throughout the night, but eventually the grey morning greets Nikolai's red, tired eyes. He throws the blankets from his body and quickly gathers his things; Alaris had arranged for him to access the library of their Order today! This was a first and he was very excited about the possibility of delving into lore and knowledge he has yet to discover! He rushes downstairs for a hearty breakfast, being one of the first to rise and dine. He waits excitedly for the others with a happy grin, despite the heavy bags beneath his tired-looking eyes.

Something you two have in common.

Like a devil summoned by the voice in his own head... there she was, a black silhouette in the light of the open door, a predatory grin on her face. She had left him too, yet still she called to him. Nimue watches as his razor sharp eyes seem lost for a moment, but just as quickly as the apparition appears in his mind, it is gone again. "Yes. I'll see you then." He watches her as she leaves and her parting glance meets his jet eyes once more. This time there is no icy facade to hide the sadness in them.

You know, you could be happy again. If you wanted that. She may have broken your heart but it's still in there, it can be fi-"

"No. It's not, it can't be. She stole it." Caio turns and withdraws to his room where he remains for the rest of the day.

In the morning he finds Nik downstairs. "You're chipper today."

"Indeed! It is not often that someone like myself gets access to this amount of knowledge, Caio! Most of the time they see what I am and bar entry to me at libraries. This is a rare opportunity for me and I plan to make to most of it! Perhaps I can find a way to make this a repeatable occasion." He grins.

The sadness she had seen in Caio's eyes follows close behind her for the rest of the day. Such an icy bravado. Hiding something...…tragic. She knew the look well. It was one she would often catch on her grandmother's face when she thought no one was looking. Nimue passes the night in a small tavern across town from the Black Sheep. It's a restless sleep, but she feels well enough as the first rays of sun dance across her face. The library. The thought crosses her mind, and she practically leaps out of bed. She composes herself, and gathers her things: sword, bow, and bag. "This is about more than our family, dear one. Don't let that distract you from what matters." But that is what matters, it's the only thing that's ever mattered, you told me so yourself! Nimue can almost hear the chuckle. "Oh, my dear Melda. So much you have still to learn." 

She told me this was the most important. Find the truth, redeem the family legacy. Restore what we lost. Grandmama's voice floats back in: "I did indeed. But I never told you how." 

Her good mood replaced with grumpiness, she finds herself back at the Black Sheep. Well, here goes. She opens the door, and it creaks loudly. She casts an eye about the room, and sees a tiefling and an elf sitting at a table. Caio and.....what did he call himself? Nikolai? Yes, that sounds right. But instead of walking over, she moves to the bar and sits, ordering a few eggs and bread for her meal, with a small cup of wine. 

     With nothing but looking forward to the library and further preparing for the trip to Littlewood, sleep mostly comes easy for her that night. The only thing nagging her is her rethinking the handling of the orc. The dwarf can't ho to think that perhaps Nikolai had the right idea. Hopefully the pendulum won't swing back too soon on that.

  After morning prayers, Astrid makes her way downstairs. She's happy to see only Caio and Nikolai, well anyone but Ling, as she's not sure how the testy tiefling would take the coming proposal. She signals for a plate of food and a breakfast stout. "So, we got a good deal of gold from selling all that stuff to Lady Deltoro... Some of my spells take rather expensive materials - uh, diamonds, in particular. But with them I could bring someone back should the worst happen." She sticks her fork into a potato and takes a bite before continuing. "Do you two think you could talk to the others into heping me acquire these gems?" she asks nervously.