Xamodas the Red

"No!  Don't you leave! You cannot give me this capacity to hate and then leave me without -"

And she is gone. And he is back.  Back with the living, back in his new form.  Back with those Interlopers.  The girl, the rash one, is shaking him.  Getting her filthy, dirt-caked fingers on his magnificent crimson scales.  He shoulders her hand aside.  The other one, Noldeme, was close by - and he could feel the power swelling in his chest.  I could raze them both this time.  Be done with it.

But she is apologizing.  She is weak and scared and foolish.

But I am not her birther.  I am not her lover.  She has been coddled too much.

There is a long silence as the dragon glowers at Nae and Noldeme.  Then the dam breaks.

"I told you that, you fool," instead of a threatening roar, though, the tone is closer to an exasperated sigh.  She had, after all, failed to actually wound him.  "Your mother is dead.  It happens to everyone. Her spirit had a very important role past the veil of death.  Now she is gone, she can provide no further aid to the lost and the damned.  All because something told you she'd be here, something told you to come here and desecrate this holy tree. . . "

He trails off, then, watching the verdant transformation of the tree.  And there goes the last of her grace.

"The last I saw of your mother, she begged me to stop you from doing this.  You could say it was her dying wish, to remain undisturbed and at peace."

Chloro hill
Nae looks at the dragon tears finally ceasing. 
"I did not touch the tree, though I did the land around it, for that I'm sorry. I know this isnt the path she wants for me... however, I can't sit idle when something has given me even the smallest chance at getting her back. I'm the reason she's dead, I'm not going to let that stay, nor will I let it happen to anyone else." Nae looks at the dragon with clarity and understanding. "If you wish, I would be happy to make it up to you, so long as you do not halt my way. What is your name by the way?"

Nae will also look back to Noldeme, walk over and put her arms around her in an embrace "Thank you for helping me. It appears we have to reach a tall tower eventually, and free a trapped girl. If you would want to still assist me. That said, first and foremost I wish to help you with your trials. And of corse ask any questions, I will try to answer to the best of my ability."

Wagon park - Azorha, Dordis, Leshanna, & Zacharias

Dordis Falthenfyern

Dordis finishes his talkings to Leshanna as he comes back to the caretaker, replying in an apologetic, yet a hint of some exhaustion for a tone, "Well, I believe your explanation is good enough for my knowledge, I thoroughly hope to be on good terms with Corvidae, for I am but a foreign person to this kingdom. Thank you again for your service." A thought surfaces into Dordis's already overwhelmed mind while feeling a headache arise. He shifts on the ball of his feet to look for Areyo, somewhat tired, and calls out. "Er, Areyo, if you're still around, perhaps you can return to Rosebush and call for Connor to come here? He might want a few words with Zacharias now that he has miraculously come back from the grave itself. I thank you as well for accompanying us!"  returning back to it, Dordis looks up to the sky, expecting to see the sun to plot out what they are able to accomplish with the remaining day-time. ((What time would it be now?)) 

Corvidae...

Leshanna waits to see if this person she is suppose to be keeping track of comes with her to find an inn.  She listens to the discussion of the aspects and other things, but has no input on those things.

Orina and Jogs (Bunny Battalion) | Outer Cordivae

Orina and Jogs chat with Hainsley  as they walk, Jogs feeling somewhat unsettled by the quick departure of the Gnoll, remembering the altercation in the Rosebush tent with the man in white.

They stride up to the grounds of the tents outside the city, surveying the situation.  Has anything obvious changed about the tents?  Is anyone in the Rosebush tent?

Chloro Hills

'Xamodas' the dragon grumbles.

She had really learned nothing.  But if she was insistent on this, well, somebody would inevitably have to stop her.  And he had no other place to be.  He did not ignore the veiled threat about 'getting in her way,' but he had said his piece already.

"If you're seeking an impossible wish, it seems to be you should be ascending the Tower instead of following a false hunch."

Orina and Jogs (Bunny Battalion) | Outer Cordivae / Rosebush Tent

Orina watches Grr Grr Frr leave, and holds back a sniffle.  "I wish we could go with him... but I also feel like I would try to stop him if I knew what he was really going to do."  She looks at Jogs helplessly.  "I think he was trying to protect us by not telling us.  I hope he comes back someday without that burden on his shoulders.  I don't know though... 'Death's Castle' sounds like a really bad idea, you know?  Ohh.... I'm so worried about him!"

For a great portion of the walk after that, Orina is not as upbeat as usual, her head lowered and silent, as she obviously is missing their gnoll companion.  She perks up a little when Jogs and Hainsley point out the city in the distance.  "Hey, Jogs... do you think Mr. Winters is still around?  We've gotta protect Hainsley if he gets any more stupid ideas when he sees him," she whispers.  Turning to Hainsley, she says "I want you to be careful here, okay?  You're obviously a special hare, and I think a lot of people are going to try to take advantage of you, to figure out where your powers come from, and maybe try to capture you and use you for themselves.  I know it's hard, but don't take what everyone says at face value... you have to really listen to their words and try to figure out if they have your best interests at heart."  Orina's face drops a little at this.  "It's really hard, I know.  I had a hard time when I first got here too... fortunately the Cordivae guardspeople were looking out for me."  She brightens a little at this.  "And me and Jogs are looking out for you now!"

Nodding at Jogs's precaution, Orina takes a good look around, before peeking inside the tent, with Jogs keeping a lookout around the grounds.

Perception with Jogs's help : 15

(btw, you can call Orina Rina if you like! I  like it!  I just keep forgetting to type it!  XD )

Zacharias looks down at the body of the Vagrant. "What happens with this one?" He looks at Dordis. "If this is the warlock, should we take the body to ... We are in Corvidae?" he asks, looking at the others for confirmation. "I woke up in a tent." He looks back in the direction of the tent, hoping to get a glimpse of it.

((Sorry no post from me today. Work has been crazy and I’m on my third and last day of 0400 start. Please don’t take my non-answer as disinterest))

Noldeme and Nae | Chloro Hill 

"Climb a tower? You mean the Tower? Huh..." Noldeme seems to drop an inch of confidence, her feelings still a bit muddled thanks to all the confusing events these last few days. "I've come here just on my own quest. And I say that this was already a big service to you in comparison to what I'm receiving..."

There's then a pause, her visions coming back to her memory before she changes stances completely going back with a bit of confidence. "No! Never mind that... There are more things I need to understand. I'll go with you."

Chloro hills
"I dont want this to feel one sided, I'd like to help you with your tasks first. However, I-I cant help but feel as though our destinies were meant to intertwine. I feel some kind of bond to you that I cannot explain. I hope not to put you in harms way like that again."
Nae looks at Noldeme, while her blue eye looks cold and piercing, her green eye looks soft and welcoming. For the first time you see a very deep sadness behind her eyes, but with that, a look of hope in there as well.
"I'd like to find more of our connection. I do not know of this tower, though it sounds dangerous and, I figure when or if I go to this tower... I want to be by your side, youve been a good friend." There is now a soft warmth in both her eyes "Eme, I've been reckless and desperate and its put both of us in danger, I dont want to do that anymore. Tell me if I am being such."

Xamodas the Red

There's no small amount of derision just oozing off of Xamodas as he looks on upon this exchange.  The one with sense was tying her fate to the one without.  Still, this time he keeps his mouth shut, just watching and learning about their dynamic.  He would go with them, he had decided.  There was the potential for knowledge, after all.  Besides, going off on his own was how he got into this whole mess.  Wouldn't hurt to have two short-sighted, suicidal meat shields along for the ride. Another thought occurs to him.  A slightly embarrassing one.

"Actually. I am willing to assist you on whatever you decide to do.  But I find myself without my spellbook, and without coin to start a new one.  I suspect my possessions are still at the Tower.  It should only take a few hours to retrieve them, and then I would be much more capable than I am at the moment."

Greenport:

Honour:  "I'm still not sure if you are serious are not, but I suppose bumbling about in a tavern won't be of much use, so I'll stick along- just as long as it doesn't involving any swabbing."  You eventually walk around, and find a building with a sign that says.   Mungam, Private Investigator.  The wizard stops as you do.  "What, doing research into martial affairs or something?  If I wanted to be working with dirty laundry, I'd've gone to that Inn you were talking about.

And ah, what the heck, make a Con save, just cause.

Constitution: 6 

Honour laughed mirthlessly..  "Oh no my sweet lad, nothing like that." she gave a crooked smile.  "As I said earlier, I seek employment.  I'm a sailor by training, a maid of the salty spray.  Like you, I need coin to fuel my stomach, and to sate any other distractions I may indulge in.  Whether you deign to join me is your descision, I only offer a star to go by, and a companion to watch your back along the way.  What is your name perchance?  Or shall I just call you lad?" she chuckled again, and opened the door to the building.

Faksimile - Temple District - Grand Abode

Ulrich:  You head to the Grand Abode.  It is a temple as much as it is a schoolhouse, a hospital, a library, an Inn, and a Parsonage.  It always has a warm air of homeliness, with multiple hearths glowing throughout.  A novice at the front handles requests of those that pass through here, including you.  "The Archbishop, oh yes, she is expecting you, however, she won't be availabe until a bit later, she never takes early meetings.  However, while you wait, please make yourself at home, is there anything I can get for you while you wait?"

Blackport:

No reason to stay after that, you assume.  Chasing any of your old leads around would probably be a bad idea, and you doubt you were ever going to survive that job anyway- rumors of a man who could decapitate someone with his bare hands are not something the sane would consider chasing.  If you are going to skip town, you better start planning just where to go next and how to get there, by land or by sea, unless you can get your hands on some other way.  Fellow agents always talked of rumors and shortcuts to get around easily; seals, keys, bubbles, flowers, things like that.  If planning doesn't suit you, there is Somewhere (literally, named Somewhere), if you could only find a why there,  which would be a great place to go for a one way ticket to anywhere but hereville.  A wagon or a boat works too...not having resources sure does make things a hassle.

Resolve:

Voldred:  While flipping your dagger in your hand, it suddenly flips and flies straight at the hood figure, and he catches it in the air. "I haven't been looking for him, I've just heard he is around, but fine, I didn't need your help anyway.  They'll stick out like a soar thumb, look for someone with a large number imprinted on their clothes, and that'll be him.  If you are looking for work around here, I hear someone has been asking around for help in building something,  he points to a dwarf woman sitting at a table by a doorway set in stone, she looks half asleep.  "Not sure what they're offering, but I'm sure it's not great.  Beggars can''t be choosers, after all."    He hands you your dagger back, then heads upstairs.  

Outer Corvidae - Rosebush Tent:

Orina and Jogs (Bunny Battalion):   Hainsley looks around at all the people, taking in the sights.  "I may not know much, but I know a lie when I hear one.  I am worried about sticking out like a soar thumb, some have animals on their shoulders, but I'm not quite the same, too big for animal, to small for...hey, actually that person's pretty small, loads of small people, lot's of weird shapes,-you think maybe I'm just some kind of small rabbit shaped person?  If that's the case, I might need to start wearing clothes instead of just using them as props for gags...carrying a weapon around seems to be a trend as well; no wonder everyone wears so much clothing, too worried about being stabbed."

As you head toward the tent, you don't spot Winter anywhere, but you see Tibet lying flat on his back, dead?!...no, wait, he just snored, he's just passed out, for whatever reason, you do not know, maybe he had too much to drink, but you don't spot a flask in his hand.  "Has he been stabbed? If so- ah, wait nevermind, just napping."

Wagon Park:

Dordis:  Areyo, whose attempt at confront Zacharias was completely subverted, was walking away from the Caretaker in a huff.  She responds  "Ah, yes, I suppose we should let him know...if that is him, after all...maybe I just jumped the gun a bit, I don't always have the best attitude around aspects, and the tense battle is still wearing off.  Right, I should head straight back, I doubt he'll be there, but if he is I'll tell him.  You should keep an eye out for him as well."  It is still late afternoon, you've been talking for longer than you fought, there's still quite a few hours of daylight left, and even then, not like the city sleeps past that anyway.

Leshanna:  ((I don't know if she'll be back, but I'll still compensate you anyway.))

Zacharias:  You see no sign of the tent...you must have flown awfully far in a short period of time, your mind kind of went blank for a bit.  The Caretaker says  "Ah, well, look and see."  You didn't even notice, but other well dressed caretakers have slowly been filtering in, slowly repairing things, slowly turning them back to the way it was, like nothing happenend.  A few of them go by the body of the Vagrant.  They lift the body into a body bag, zip it up, and then fold the bag and stow it away like it is empty.  They seem to be going over every inch of the ground to clean up the mess, even going so far as to regrow patches of scuffed grass with magic.

Chloro Hills:

It is up to you all on where to go next, but for the danger and confusion you were in, and the potentially dangerous road ahead, all of you level up to level 3.  

Corvidae - Temple Square:

Iam and Liadon:  You climb a set of steps, and both make it to the Temple district,.  The strip of water in the middle of this open plaza reflects the midday sun, and the tower that looms in the sky when you look at it just right.  Strips of pillared temples line the edges, and lot's of statues and art pieces are scattered about.  At the far side of this plaza, a domed building far larger than the rests stands.

Greenport:

Honour:  "Alright, understood, it was just a jest, although having a ship with a name like that doesn't help."  You bump face first into the door as a last sudden wooziness passes over you.  "You pull it open, here, let me get that.  Happeneds to everybody once or twice."  

You ahead inside and a human man with a bold mustache and a floral patterned shirt has somehow managed too tie himself by his heels by a rope attached to a hook on the ceiling, swinging back and forth.  "Ah, hello there, how can I help you."  He says nonchalantly.  "Do you have an appointment, or are you just walking in?...Oh, and if it's no trouble, would you mind getting me down from here?"

((OOC: Woo!  Level up!  Time to add new spells to. . . my. . .  spellbook. . . .  Guess I gotta go edit my last post! ))

Orina and Jogs (Bunny Battalion) | Outer Cordivae / Rosebush Tent

"Tebit?" Orina approaches the passed out dwarf cautiously, then pokes him with a finger.  "Tebiiiiit," she says in a sing-song voice, trying to be gentle.  "We're back!"  Seeing no response, she sits back on her haunches and sighs.  "He's not dead... he just drunk too much again," she explains to Hainsley.   "It happens to people sometimes when they can't stop themselves.  I wonder where Salmon -- I mean Salvadore -- is?  No one's watching the tent!"

Poking the dwarf a few more times ineffectually, Orina gives up and looks up at Jogs.  "You think you can wake him up?  We need to talk about what happened, and about identifying some of these items, and selling things because I really, really need to buy you a ring, and maybe a nice smoking vest for Hainsley because I think it would look so dashing on him, and, and-"  She's interrupted by another loud, fragrant snore from Tebit.  "Ohhh!  He needs to wake up!" she grumbles, waving her hand before her face as she holds her nose.

Resolve:

Voldred is mildly irritated by that attitude, but he decides to keep his complaints to himself, for now, and aproach the dwarven woman.

"Greetings. My name is Voldred, and I was told you're looking for help building...something? Maybe I can be of service."

Persuasion, if needed: 18

Corvidae- Temple District 

Iam looks at the pool of water, the sun, the tower reflected, the statues. To Liadon he asks, "Are you sure you need to go? There seems to be quite some length left to the day, besides the art and architecture here is exquisite. Take that tower, not only impressive, but a standing impossibility. Yet they build a pool of water to reflect an even larger impossibility, noon, when the sun seems to bend around the tower itself. Marvelous!"

Iam continues to ogle the statues, pool, and buildings.

Chloro Hills:

(I'm already level 3, does that mean I get no experience out of that encounter?)

Noldeme gives a faint smile to Nae before looking at Xamodas again and thinking about his offer to help. "You're sure about that? I thought you were the one who said we were making stupid decisions or something like that? Feel free to show us the right path then, we just have our own things we need to do, and again, messing with this tree was never my plan."

Wagon park...

With a shrug, Leshanna moves off, heading to find an inn, to get a room, prior to heading out to do some shopping.  She finds a magic shop and purchases the components for a find familiar spell.