Also, it is getting pretty late in the afternoon at this point. You havent really taken a break, so I am sure you are all feeling pretty hungry by now. The sun will be going down fin the near future.

Yokini is curious, so she'll stay with Thistle.

Lem looks up at Zashier, grabbing the man’s dangling pinky with Lem’s good hand, and pulls it twice, like a bell, signifying the paladin has to talk.

Zashier chuckled. "Yeah, I certainly did, as you have rightly put. And if I hadn't already, I do apologize for the incident. The 'ol snozzle has a mind of its own sometimes, especially when it catches the scent of something nice." He admits offhandedly. "Though we haven't really come about all that, not that I didn't mean every word before. I would ask however that you do not panic, or inflict unnecessary harm with that hammer of yours, as I ask if we might be able to talk to the seer you recently welcomed into your humble abode. It's... about Romero again."

Thistle and Yokini, you wait a while...and wait. Finally, after while, Tyari makes her way back, but she does not have Jagrin in-tow. Behind her comes Bireal. She explains her father has not taken the death of Romero very well. He rode out of the gates earlier today, to do a patrol in the hills. Bireal thinks he just wanted to be alone, didnt want the soldiers to see him in his grief. 

Do you explain to Bireal everything you have discovered thusfar? Thistle, what are you feeling in this moment, after the night you spent with Bireal last night, and then the events of today...it hasnt given you much time to process the previous evening...

Zasheir and Lem, Sara looks taken aback by your words. She says:

What...how do you...I dont...

As she is sputtering, a green half-orc hand slowly comes up from behind her, and lays on her shoulder. The older half orc walks out from the back room, saying:

My dear, thank you for your willingness to protect me. I think we can trust the heroes of Fallcrest...seeing has how they havent busted down the door, and havent yet killed us both, perhaps they truly just want to talk. 

Gentle-dwarf and my large gray fellow, my name is Katrezra. How can I help you?

Before you stands an old half-orc. His name is Katrezra. He is covered in painful afflictions and weeping sores (front what, you do not know), and based on the way he was treated earlier in the streets, it is likely that the sores are in a persistent state, and are not getting better.

Zashier looks to Lem, and kind of gives him 'I told you so' look. But then he looked to the half-orc -- -really- looked to him. At which point some small part of the usual devil-may-care attitude left him, and is replaced by solemn understanding.

"The name's Zashier, and as you have rightly ascertain, we mean no harm. My friend here-..." He gestures to Lem. "Over heard something about some visions, and Romero. And so, we would really like to know more about them, and perhaps be of service to you, seeing as who or whatever having done it may be after you. Though perhaps before then, Lem, do you have something to say?" He looks to the dwarf, giving him an expectant look.

“I’m... sorry for spying on you?”

Yokini has no qualms about telling Bireal what she's found. She points out the cuts and how they appear to be inflicted by a second party. "I'm running some tests on the blood from the knife to see if I can learn anything from that. I'll also test the blood on the sheets. We are working under the assumption that Romero was murdered."

Katrezra slowly nods his head in assent at your awkward apology. He responds:

It is no great secret that I was cursed with preternatural visions many years ago, during my time with the Empty Hand (a dangerous tribe of orcs). Since I left those savages, many have sought my counsel into matters ranging from the mundane to the dire, but I’m afraid the omens that assault my dreams are nigh indecipherable, even to me, and I have no means of directing them.

Romero originally approached me to ask for advice while courting Brinya Kelver. The love-struck fool—bless his soul—he thought I might have some special insights into the traditions of her people or visions of the couple’s everlasting happiness... but come now, do I look like the romantic type?

He smiles wryly, then shakes his head and moves on.

I couldn’t help him with his relationship, but we gradually became close friends. I’d been experiencing vivid hallucinations of white swords or crosses, and dreams of the Plague House outside town. When I told him of them, he seemed to think my dreams might help with his investigation. I told him about my visions as best I could, but the muse of my nightmares is as abstruse as she is unkind.

Yokini, Bireal thanks you for your discovery, and agrees with your deduction.

"We don't want to hinder any kind of formal investigation," Yokini says, "but we would like to continue pulling on any strings we've uncovered. Do we have your permission?" the gnome asks.

Bireal responds: Of course, you have already unearthed a great deal! I would be eternally grateful if you would continue, to restore my brother's name, and how he will be remembered by our community.

Lem responds in relatively passable orcish: "Visions. Hmm. Empty Hand are no joke, either. Not sure I could handle that. We'd heard about graffiti of white swords and crosses, do you have any other relevant information about what you saw of them in your visions? And do you have any idea, at all, about his investigation? We believe he was murdered, and potentially murdered because of his investigation. We may not find the culprit, and what's going on in Fallcrest, if we don't understand what he was investigating."

 Zashier, for the most part at least, had been nodding along to Katrezra and listening attentively to ever detail without interruption. While the fact that Katrezra had belonged to one of the worse orc tribes got the faintest flicker of concern, it is the last line that left him wide-eyed in surprise. "It all make sense now, I do so believe. You're the muse Ms. Brinya mentioned, but knew not all this time. Explains his visits to the sanctuary so often." He get out, coming out of his shock just in time to follow-up on Lem; who had not understood barring maybe the one or two words.

And though for a moment he might've looked as if wanting to say more, but clammed up without a word; presuming Lem's words might've involved a question somewhere in there.

Lem is blinking, still not sure what the muse is despite the bit Zashier has shared with the group earlier.

Thistle's eyes go wide as she sees Bireal come in, it feels like her heart begins to thud loud enough to drown the hammering at Clamor. She hangs back as Yokini (in her very Yokini way) plows ahead with what needs to be said, but she doesn't take her eyes off the half-elf.

When Bireal is done telling Yokini she is free to keep investigating, Thistle comes forward, tentatively. "Bireal... I didn't get a chance before... how... how are you?" Her eyes are full of concern, and... something else.

OOC > Don't want to get too sappy, but gotta be true to my girl! (That's Thistle)

Seeing the look, Zashier chuckled and absentmindedly began running a hand along his trunk like one would a beard. "As you should know, and if you did not know, then you'll know now, the Sanctuary doubles as a place of healing. And given Mr. Katrezra condition, as you can plainly see, a regular visit to at least ease things would make for the perfect meeting place. Bit of a convenient place too as next none there hold onto grudges unlike elsewhere." He says, missing the actual point of disconnect. 

 "So Romero was listening to a muse from your nightmares to help him in some investigation? How did that work?" Lem steps closer, lowering the pitch of his voice and speaking quietly, as you would a small child. "Is the nightmare muse in the room with us now?"

He steps back, looking around, speaking very slowly. "Muse? What was Romero investigating? Was he looking into the orcs and giants, and the hammer and rock? Tell us o nightmare muse..."

(OOC: Lem still has just been told that Zashier was told by Brinya that Romero had a muse, with no context of what that means, so I'm trying to play it straight!)

Thistle, Bireal looks at you. She steels herself, but behind her eyes you see a deep sadness. Bireal takes your hand, gives you a knowing look, opens her mouth to speak…but cant manage to find the words. She closes her mouth, and drops her gaze. 

She looks back to Yokini, still holding Thistle’s hand, and says “If there is nothing else, I must get back to the preparations for my brother’s last rites."She seems able to communicate with Yokini, who is a bit more clinical, and with whom she is not emotionally involved.

She finally lets go of your hand Thistle, and looks at you. She manages to get out a few words to you in a bit of a whisper - I dont want to be presumptive, but I don’t want to be alone tonight. You know where to find me - and she departs.

--

Lem and Zashier, Katrezra responds:

I agree with you, I believe he was murdered, which is why I fled here, to get out of the sanctuary, and to seek asylum with Sara, who I know I can trust.

And, I wouldn’t call myself a muse, but Romero and I did have many profitable conversations, and those may have sunk deep into his subconscious.

Now, as for his investigation....To be truthful, I don’t think even he knew exactly what he was looking for. Romero came upon a flood troll in the Plague House not long ago, and the poor fellow was convinced it was not just an isolated incident. He came to me seeking guidance, and his curiosity was piqued by my visions. I told him that flood trolls are native to the north of here, but they rarely roam this far south of the Flood Road. Since learning of his investigation, though, I have had nightmares unlike any before, and I fear that some greater evil may be at play within Fallcrest’s walls.”

“Romero had plans to go back to the Plague House, but because of the unease I felt from my visions, I suggested he leave his journal with me, which he did. The night of his death, my visions were even more terrible, though still indecipherable. When news of Romero’s death reached me this morning, I knew it must have been foul play, so I fled the Sanctuary, fearful that whoever targeted Romero would come after me as well. His death grieves me to no end, but at least my efforts bought me enough time to share this information with you.”