Above & Below

Magic is... Brask seems about to say something very insulting but remembers who he is with.  No, not a fan.  I prefer my weapon, including these, and he points to his horns.  Magic creates problems, fists and steel solve them.  At least, he adds in a vague gesture towards diplomacy, that's what some people say.  I guess it's not always true.  Effort and Burik are okay.

"I am in agreement on that," Kurama replies thinking back on the events of his recent past, "Magic can cause problems in the hands of the foolhardy - I've seen how destructive it can be -  but it can be a wondrous thing as well if used wisely.  I think you speak the truth about our friends," pausing to smile, "They seem like good people." 

Pip runs up to join Kurama and Brask as they talk. "Did anyone see that one shot? When I hit that half-orc with my arrow?" He smiles eagerly, showing more confidence than you've seen from him before. "I should practice, though. Need to get better, more accurate. How do I practice?"

When you're halfway back, you hear some distant yelling and shouting. It might be coming from the warehouse district, but you're too far to tell for sure. Either way, you're long gone.

Effort's stride pauses momentarily as she hears Brask declare her OK in his books.  She wasn't quite sure what passed in the alleyway, but she's fairly certain he wouldn't be saying that if he'd seen how she had lost control of herself as her hatred for Namar took over.  Glancing over at Pip, it seems like the little goblin isn't inclined to share what happened, and she breathes an internal sigh of relief.  "You were amazing, Pip," she says encouragingly.  "But practice comes from doing exactly that... shooting at something over and over again, until your body memories the motions.  It's something that can only come with time... and hard work."

We'll find a couple of hours tomorrow, get your training started, Brask says to Pip.  Sounds like you had a good fight.  Now don't get cocky; that half-orc you hit could've squished you flat with a single blow.  Remember:  shoot and hide, that's how you stay alive.  Until we're done with training.

You all head to your rooms when you get back to the inn, eager for some sleep and healing. Brask is snoring before the rest of you even get through your doorways. Despite the cuts and bruises, the rest is restorative. Something about winning a hard-fought skirmish like that against a battle-tested enemy has all of you feeling good. 

Everyone, that is, except for Effort. You have a fitful sleep, thinking over what happened. What it might mean for you, for your friends, for this place you're trying to protect. The voice returns as well. You can barely make it out this time, and it seems to be in a language other than common, though you have no problem understanding. More to come, my dear.

*When you finish your long rest, please level up your characters to LEVEL FOUR!*

Effort will take some time to resummon Cadmael before she rests for the evening. :)

The sun peeks into your windows the next morning, waking you all from deep slumbers. The smell of some kind of grilled meat wafts up from downstairs. The sound of a working city start up from the street below - wagons, people shouting, kids playing. Cadmael looks out the window into the city until everyone stirs and gets up.

It's a beautiful day, but there's business to attend to.

*Reminder to level up!*

Brask slept well, and is up and ready for breakfast before dawn.  What's the plan for today?  Good to be back in a decent-sized city, lots of fun places no doubt.  But I guess we're looking for this guy on the list?  Brask looks to Effort as he's shovelling food into his mouth.

Sipping on some tea, Kurama adds, "Yes I hope Euphoria is able to help us find Promise quickly.  But if we must wait to meet him then I would enjoy exploring the city a bit."

Well, we caused some trouble last night, but I don't think any of the scumbags got away so probably not much to trace it to us.  That is, until I get to a smithy and start to get this plate armour fitted for me.  So, morning I think is for training, eh Pip?  

Does the inn have a yard where we could set up some archery targets?  Or have we seen a practice range in the city?

The inn doesn't have a yard, but you're far enough away from the city center that there would be abandoned lots or fields nearby that you could set up a few targets in without anyone really noticing or caring. 

Pip seems eager, as he comes downstairs in the morning wearing his bow prominently. "I am ready for training. As much practice as I can get before we need to head to that barn again."

Gorta is fairly big, but it's no capital city and the affluent section is fairly modest compared to some of the larger cities on the continent. Still, you can find any common items fairly easily. There might be less common stuff but you'd have to hunt for it a bit. There would certainly be a blacksmith or two nearby. Kurama, let me know if you're looking for anything in particular.

"We need to meet up at the barn this morning."  Looking at Pip and Brask ready and eager to go, she smiles a bit.  "You can have your new armor fitted at a blacksmith and then leave to train afterwards while  Kurama, Burik and I do a bit of sightseeing and shopping.  However... we must deal with business before pleasure, and such is the nature of the power on the streets that we must act quickly before the tides change.  Namar has fallen, but the remainder of his people will eventually reorganize, and lash out.  We want to squeeze what we can out of Euphoria before then."

(AFAIK Freedom said to rendevous at the barn in the morning, so that's the first order of business.  However, when we get around to shopping, Effort will be stocking up on herbs to resummon Cadmael should something happen to him, since she's out.  She might also re-buy a few caltrops as well.)  

Business first, agrees Brask, and gets ready to follow Effort.

(OOC: There's nothing in particular that Kurama needs to purchase at the moment (that I can think off) but he would be interested in generally exploring more of the city as this is the largest settlement he's been to.  If there was a library or anything like that where he could potentially ask or do a little bit of research he'd probably stop in there too.)

Finishing his drink, Kurama stands up and replies, "If that's the case, then you're right it's probably best to finish our business with Euphoria first.  I am ready to depart whenever everyone else is ready."  He'll then go outside the inn and wait for the others to appear, practicing some stretches and movements that probably earn him some odd looks.

(Effort actually has a Researcher background so she could, in theory, tell Kurama where to get his fixes.  I would think the perks only kick in however, when she's wearing her human disguise, which she shed in order to pursue higher magics, so she's not personally welcome in the libraries anymore there in her current face... whoops XD)

(Lol just his luck haha)

You hike back out to the barn and find the entire tiefling crew inside. A large group, including Freedom and Akrus, are standing near some candles. It looks as though they're memorializing those lost in the fight last night. Another group sits around a small table, looking over papers. Euphoria sits at the head. When he sees you, his posture shifts and he sits up. He grins at Effort, rubbing his two fingers on the end of one of his horns. "Well, well. I hear you did okay for yourself last night." He nods toward the others. "Shame about our losses, but it sounds like we thinned out those bloody half-orcs pretty well." He stands up, walks over to another table and grabs a piece of pastry that had already been cut into.

Akrus smiles at Effort from across the room. He points the group out to Freedom, who comes over and hugs each of you. "Did you all sleep well? Have you had anything to eat yet?" 

Brask laughs and gives Freedom a big bear (bull?) hug, then looks around eagerly in case there's spare food.  

"Thank you for the offer, but we actually just ate... though I think he may be having seconds," Kurama replies amusingly.