Atal finishes the last of his drink, steals a little food from someone else's plate before it's carted off, and then turns to Current.
"Hey! New girl! We didn't get to meet under the best of circumstances, threats of death, destruction, and the end of the world surrounding us and all that. Want to take a walk through town with me and get to know each other better? I want to find Juppo and Maas, they've got to be around here somewhere."
Felix returned to the inn, with Anearis and Uthal ((and any other members of the party, should they have no unfinished business.
The tavern on the inn's ground level looked very much the same as the hour or so ago, when they had left it. The only thing that changed were the company and their positions.
Only two of the Chosen Men remained. The female tiefling, who now sat with the two random male tabaxi at a small round table, playing a card game of some sort. The other was the human man with thinning red, curly hair. He sat with the back of his chair leaning against a wall. A book in hand and thin glasses sitting on the edge of his nose. He looked up from it as the group walked in, but then returned back to it.
The barmaid was still there, minding the counter, however two newcomers were also sitting at a table. Two of the decorative-robe elves that belonged to what Felix had called the Lodge of Mages. Though neither was the one the party had met in the caves. The two were communicating it seemed, taking turns to go back and forth making various gestures with their hands and arms.
Current looks surprised when addressed by Atal. The genasi pauses for a second before nodding carefully, "Sure." The warlock was inwardly thrilled that someone in the group was interested in her, and like a kid who was finally invited to join the popular kid's friend group, Current mentally decided not to throw the opportunity away.
Walking with Atal, Current looks at the elf and asks, "Is Uthal really mad at me?" For the first time since Atalura met the younger girl, they see a hint of sheepishness and perhaps even a bit of worry. "I really didn't mean to upset him. I just didn't know what to do and everything was happening so fast..." Current continues to ramble until Atal stops her.
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“The mark of a successful DM is when you have caused more player deaths with doors than dragons, demons, or devils.”
Anearis sat down at a table. His gaze was unavoidably turned to the two Lodge mages at the counter and there odd gesturing. He tried to see if he could decode some sort of meaning from it, but ended up giving up on that idea fairly quickly.
He turned to Uthal. ‘’Do you mind if I ask you something?’’
"That all depends on who you ask. The Church of the Light says that there is light inside everyone, and that it never goes out. If there is a little light left then it can always be rekindled. I however subscribe to a slightly different idea. There is light and darkness everywhere throughout the world. Some things are only light, others only dark, but most are somewhere in between. My faith lives in the twilight in between. But to answer your question, no, I believe that the light has gone out in some and the only thing left is to bring light back to the darkness they bring by removing them."
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
Gronk in Bastion, Kingdom of Medrin Elixisysin Talaveroth (Team 2) Uthal in Lost Continent of Theviranne
Atal laughs and slaps Current on the back heartily. "Naw. You know, when I first met Uthal, he threatened to break my kneecaps. He's just like that. Dour, quiet, hates making small talk. Probably smarter, since you see what happens every time I open my motor mouth." Atal crosses his arms behind his head and sighs, a grin on his face. "Some people give off a bad first impression from the way we carry ourselves. Me and Uthal, we're like that. A certain lack of social graces. But hang around him long enough, and you'll see. He speaks with his actions, not his words."
His jovial tone tapers off. "But... you know, I think he's mad because you kind of did to that mute mage fellow the same thing that's been done to us. Judged him on circumstance and appearance, and... well, I guess we all get a little salty when we find out we're wrong." Atal shrugs. "Truth be told, I thought that guy was on our side from the start, and I kind of wanted to follow him when the chamber flooded. But he was an unknown quantity, and my friends aren't. Even if we make bad decisions, I trust them to have my back and help me get out of it, just like I'd do for them. That's why I won't abandon them, not unless I think they're doing something terribly wrong."
Atal's grin returns. "So what I'm saying is, if you're tough enough to stick it out with us, you might find the same thing happening to you. Even if you make a bad call, we'll be there for you to help fix it after. That's what being part of our group is, I guess. Making mistakes together." He snaps his fingers. "And you know! Once in a blue moon, we even get it right."
As they pass the bakery and the smithy, Atal points them out. "Smells like they make really good food, I wish I could have tried it, but right... I'm always poor, so I couldn't" is his glowing endorsement of the former, while the latter receives a frank "Honest guy, will make you a fair deal, but uhh, don't accept his offer to try out his freaky chair if he asks."
Atal takes a moment to scan the town for signs of the halfling and the human, trying to piece together where they might be using logic, reason, deduction, his eyes, and his limited knowledge of the two, since no one told him anything of use about how to find them. :P
Investigation: 15
If he can't figure it out, he'll eventually lead current back to the inn and just ask the innkeeper about Juppo and Maas there, figuring that a small town is small.
Atal saw no signs of the pair themselves, and had not seen them disembarking from the wagon, being that they only shared the one with Uthal.
Ruts in the soft dirt road showed the direction that the wagons went, after everyone unloaded from them outside the inn. However, Atal had no reason, one way or the other to assume they stayed with the wagons.
Heading back into the inn, Atal and Current saw the same scene as the others, upon entering, though now, Felix, Austin, Anearis, and Uthal joined the scene.
Asking the young half-elf behind the bar, she didn't recognize the names, though knew of a very hairy halfling from town, though mentioning the one she knew of was often seen with a half-ogre.
Ultimately though, she said unless Juppo and Maas had jobs, Atal might have luck at either the marketplace or the cafe.
Current nods and smiles back at Atal. Quietly, she says to Atal "I hope I can stick around." For the first time since Current has been on land, she has found a group of people that she trusts. Even if she is just getting to know them, 4 out of the 6 first people she met when she first came to shore wanted to kill her and a fifth just wanted her for a job. This group seemed to genuinely want to do good, and as long as the monster underwater remained and their interests aligned, Current would happy to stay with them. The fact that they, or at least Atal, were willing to forgive her mistake was even more reason to stick around.
When they return to the inn, Current sits down next to the others. Whispering an incantation under her breath, Current creates an extremely soft whisper originating by Uthal's ear. In her own voice, the whisper says, "I apologize for attacking the mage. I will do better next time." If Uthal looks up at her, Current will just give a nod of confirmation and then return to listening to the rest of the group's conversation.
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
“The mark of a successful DM is when you have caused more player deaths with doors than dragons, demons, or devils.”
"I see…Thank you, Uthal.". Anearis seemed to ponder on Uthal’s response. Though he was prepared to do what needed to be done, he hardly relished in killing people. Deep down, the elf knew the goliath was right. What happened after Anton died was only more proof that this was the only way he would bring back the "light" and complete his mission.
He nodded to salute the rest of the group as they came to the inn.
Atal nods, thanking the woman, then approaches the others, still standing. „Well! She did say Juppo at least might be at the cafe, or the marketplace. I really want to give him back something. Uthal, you were in the wagon with them, right? Did they say where they‘d be going?“
After awaiting an answer (or the lack thereof), Atal eyes the two elven mages with interest. He turns to the others. „Hey, want to go meet them? They‘re both elves, and magic users, and… well, I‘m wildly curious, I have to admit.“
After awaiting a response (or lack thereof), Atal will cautiously approach the two mages at the table and greet them politely in elvish:
“Excuse me. Hello, I apologize for interrupting your conversation, but may I have a moment of your time to speak eith you?“
The two elves turn towards Atal, and look on at him cautiously. After a few moments, one of the two performed a few quick movements with his hands.
"They only speak the tongue of their patron." A response came back, in elvish. It was the Chosen Man with curly red hair, near by. He lowered his book and closed it on his lap. "Ironically enough, it's with no tongue at all. But they understand you all the same. I'm afraid their language has no formalities or pleasantries, but he greeted you and inquired about what you needed of them."
"Huh. Thanks for translating,"Atal tells the curly-haired man. "Uh, well. My name's Atal. I ran into one of your colleagues before, the one who'd been chained in the ruins underwater. I... well, I wanted to apologize for the misunderstanding, and ask if he was all right. And what his name was... and what your names are... and basically, what you guys do." Atal rubs the back of his head, uncomfortable, kind of knowing he's making a hash of things, but presses on resolutely, since they're elves, and they're right here. "See, I, um. I think I might have been born on this continent. I don't know for sure. And I've been having visions during my trances sometimes, visions about what I think happened to this place in the past. And, uh, since coming here, I've learned to do a little bit of magic myself. It's all sort of self-taught though, and a surprise to me every time. I'm a bit lost really, and I don't know what's happening to me and where I'm getting my magic from, and well... you guys are elves, and you do magic, and you live here, so really, I guess I'm trying to figure out if this is normal for elves, or what." He grimaces at the end of it, hating that he sounds so desperate about the whole thing, but hungry enough for any scraps of information to sacrifice his pride.
The two elves turned from Atal and began 'conversing' once again to each other in their signaling language. As they did the Chosen Man spoke to Atal. "I am H'Aris, but I can tell you already, that they have no names. Their lodge is as much a spiritual following as it is one of furthering their magical abilities." Still speaking to Atal in elvish, H'Aris paused as the mages turned back to communicate again. Directing the signals towards H'Aris, the .ages seemed to be fully aware that he was translating for Atal.
"They confirm that they give up names and labels, but that the one you met in the caves is alive. He bares many scars, physical and mental, of having been tortured while captured. It will take time, but he will recover."
"They apologize that they don't think they can assist with your current predicament. Their order suppresses any magical abilities not bestowed by their patron. I myself apologize as I am unaware of their patron's name, if he has one. Their lodge is located in northern Shinra, but they do not associate with it politically, and suggest perhaps you are better served seeking out one of the nation's schools of magic."
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Atal finishes the last of his drink, steals a little food from someone else's plate before it's carted off, and then turns to Current.
"Hey! New girl! We didn't get to meet under the best of circumstances, threats of death, destruction, and the end of the world surrounding us and all that. Want to take a walk through town with me and get to know each other better? I want to find Juppo and Maas, they've got to be around here somewhere."
Uthal follows Felix.
Gronk in Bastion, Kingdom of Medrin Elixisys in Talaveroth (Team 2) Uthal in Lost Continent of Theviranne
Felix returned to the inn, with Anearis and Uthal ((and any other members of the party, should they have no unfinished business.
The tavern on the inn's ground level looked very much the same as the hour or so ago, when they had left it. The only thing that changed were the company and their positions.
Only two of the Chosen Men remained. The female tiefling, who now sat with the two random male tabaxi at a small round table, playing a card game of some sort. The other was the human man with thinning red, curly hair. He sat with the back of his chair leaning against a wall. A book in hand and thin glasses sitting on the edge of his nose. He looked up from it as the group walked in, but then returned back to it.
The barmaid was still there, minding the counter, however two newcomers were also sitting at a table. Two of the decorative-robe elves that belonged to what Felix had called the Lodge of Mages. Though neither was the one the party had met in the caves. The two were communicating it seemed, taking turns to go back and forth making various gestures with their hands and arms.
Austin would have returned if others did so. She would take a seat, ready to wait until it was time to move on from here.
Current looks surprised when addressed by Atal. The genasi pauses for a second before nodding carefully, "Sure." The warlock was inwardly thrilled that someone in the group was interested in her, and like a kid who was finally invited to join the popular kid's friend group, Current mentally decided not to throw the opportunity away.
Walking with Atal, Current looks at the elf and asks, "Is Uthal really mad at me?" For the first time since Atalura met the younger girl, they see a hint of sheepishness and perhaps even a bit of worry. "I really didn't mean to upset him. I just didn't know what to do and everything was happening so fast..." Current continues to ramble until Atal stops her.
“The mark of a successful DM is when you have caused more player deaths with doors than dragons, demons, or devils.”
Anearis sat down at a table. His gaze was unavoidably turned to the two Lodge mages at the counter and there odd gesturing. He tried to see if he could decode some sort of meaning from it, but ended up giving up on that idea fairly quickly.
He turned to Uthal. ‘’Do you mind if I ask you something?’’
Uthal shrugs. "I suppose it depends on what you end up asking. But ask away, I will answer as I'm able."
Gronk in Bastion, Kingdom of Medrin Elixisys in Talaveroth (Team 2) Uthal in Lost Continent of Theviranne
Anearis looks at the floor before looking back at Uthal. He speaks at a volume low enough as to not be heard in the entire tavern.
"Do you believe some people are beyond redemption? Is this something your faith allows?", he asks simply.
"That all depends on who you ask. The Church of the Light says that there is light inside everyone, and that it never goes out. If there is a little light left then it can always be rekindled. I however subscribe to a slightly different idea. There is light and darkness everywhere throughout the world. Some things are only light, others only dark, but most are somewhere in between. My faith lives in the twilight in between. But to answer your question, no, I believe that the light has gone out in some and the only thing left is to bring light back to the darkness they bring by removing them."
Gronk in Bastion, Kingdom of Medrin Elixisys in Talaveroth (Team 2) Uthal in Lost Continent of Theviranne
Atal laughs and slaps Current on the back heartily. "Naw. You know, when I first met Uthal, he threatened to break my kneecaps. He's just like that. Dour, quiet, hates making small talk. Probably smarter, since you see what happens every time I open my motor mouth." Atal crosses his arms behind his head and sighs, a grin on his face. "Some people give off a bad first impression from the way we carry ourselves. Me and Uthal, we're like that. A certain lack of social graces. But hang around him long enough, and you'll see. He speaks with his actions, not his words."
His jovial tone tapers off. "But... you know, I think he's mad because you kind of did to that mute mage fellow the same thing that's been done to us. Judged him on circumstance and appearance, and... well, I guess we all get a little salty when we find out we're wrong." Atal shrugs. "Truth be told, I thought that guy was on our side from the start, and I kind of wanted to follow him when the chamber flooded. But he was an unknown quantity, and my friends aren't. Even if we make bad decisions, I trust them to have my back and help me get out of it, just like I'd do for them. That's why I won't abandon them, not unless I think they're doing something terribly wrong."
Atal's grin returns. "So what I'm saying is, if you're tough enough to stick it out with us, you might find the same thing happening to you. Even if you make a bad call, we'll be there for you to help fix it after. That's what being part of our group is, I guess. Making mistakes together." He snaps his fingers. "And you know! Once in a blue moon, we even get it right."
As they pass the bakery and the smithy, Atal points them out. "Smells like they make really good food, I wish I could have tried it, but right... I'm always poor, so I couldn't" is his glowing endorsement of the former, while the latter receives a frank "Honest guy, will make you a fair deal, but uhh, don't accept his offer to try out his freaky chair if he asks."
Atal takes a moment to scan the town for signs of the halfling and the human, trying to piece together where they might be using logic, reason, deduction, his eyes, and his limited knowledge of the two, since no one told him anything of use about how to find them. :P
Investigation: 15
If he can't figure it out, he'll eventually lead current back to the inn and just ask the innkeeper about Juppo and Maas there, figuring that a small town is small.
Atal saw no signs of the pair themselves, and had not seen them disembarking from the wagon, being that they only shared the one with Uthal.
Ruts in the soft dirt road showed the direction that the wagons went, after everyone unloaded from them outside the inn. However, Atal had no reason, one way or the other to assume they stayed with the wagons.
Heading back into the inn, Atal and Current saw the same scene as the others, upon entering, though now, Felix, Austin, Anearis, and Uthal joined the scene.
Asking the young half-elf behind the bar, she didn't recognize the names, though knew of a very hairy halfling from town, though mentioning the one she knew of was often seen with a half-ogre.
Ultimately though, she said unless Juppo and Maas had jobs, Atal might have luck at either the marketplace or the cafe.
Current nods and smiles back at Atal. Quietly, she says to Atal "I hope I can stick around." For the first time since Current has been on land, she has found a group of people that she trusts. Even if she is just getting to know them, 4 out of the 6 first people she met when she first came to shore wanted to kill her and a fifth just wanted her for a job. This group seemed to genuinely want to do good, and as long as the monster underwater remained and their interests aligned, Current would happy to stay with them. The fact that they, or at least Atal, were willing to forgive her mistake was even more reason to stick around.
When they return to the inn, Current sits down next to the others. Whispering an incantation under her breath, Current creates an extremely soft whisper originating by Uthal's ear. In her own voice, the whisper says, "I apologize for attacking the mage. I will do better next time." If Uthal looks up at her, Current will just give a nod of confirmation and then return to listening to the rest of the group's conversation.
“The mark of a successful DM is when you have caused more player deaths with doors than dragons, demons, or devils.”
Uthal just gives a small nod as he reads a crumpled pamphlet, saying nothing, as is usual.
Gronk in Bastion, Kingdom of Medrin Elixisys in Talaveroth (Team 2) Uthal in Lost Continent of Theviranne
"I see…Thank you, Uthal.". Anearis seemed to ponder on Uthal’s response. Though he was prepared to do what needed to be done, he hardly relished in killing people. Deep down, the elf knew the goliath was right. What happened after Anton died was only more proof that this was the only way he would bring back the "light" and complete his mission.
He nodded to salute the rest of the group as they came to the inn.
Atal nods, thanking the woman, then approaches the others, still standing. „Well! She did say Juppo at least might be at the cafe, or the marketplace. I really want to give him back something. Uthal, you were in the wagon with them, right? Did they say where they‘d be going?“
After awaiting an answer (or the lack thereof), Atal eyes the two elven mages with interest. He turns to the others. „Hey, want to go meet them? They‘re both elves, and magic users, and… well, I‘m wildly curious, I have to admit.“
After awaiting a response (or lack thereof), Atal will cautiously approach the two mages at the table and greet them politely in elvish:
“Excuse me. Hello, I apologize for interrupting your conversation, but may I have a moment of your time to speak eith you?“
Austin stays put at her table, content to wait for the Right Hand to get on with this.
The two elves turn towards Atal, and look on at him cautiously. After a few moments, one of the two performed a few quick movements with his hands.
"They only speak the tongue of their patron." A response came back, in elvish. It was the Chosen Man with curly red hair, near by. He lowered his book and closed it on his lap. "Ironically enough, it's with no tongue at all. But they understand you all the same. I'm afraid their language has no formalities or pleasantries, but he greeted you and inquired about what you needed of them."
Uthal just gives a shake of his head before Atal walks away, not remembering if the two gave any information or not.
Gronk in Bastion, Kingdom of Medrin Elixisys in Talaveroth (Team 2) Uthal in Lost Continent of Theviranne
"Huh. Thanks for translating," Atal tells the curly-haired man. "Uh, well. My name's Atal. I ran into one of your colleagues before, the one who'd been chained in the ruins underwater. I... well, I wanted to apologize for the misunderstanding, and ask if he was all right. And what his name was... and what your names are... and basically, what you guys do." Atal rubs the back of his head, uncomfortable, kind of knowing he's making a hash of things, but presses on resolutely, since they're elves, and they're right here. "See, I, um. I think I might have been born on this continent. I don't know for sure. And I've been having visions during my trances sometimes, visions about what I think happened to this place in the past. And, uh, since coming here, I've learned to do a little bit of magic myself. It's all sort of self-taught though, and a surprise to me every time. I'm a bit lost really, and I don't know what's happening to me and where I'm getting my magic from, and well... you guys are elves, and you do magic, and you live here, so really, I guess I'm trying to figure out if this is normal for elves, or what." He grimaces at the end of it, hating that he sounds so desperate about the whole thing, but hungry enough for any scraps of information to sacrifice his pride.
The two elves turned from Atal and began 'conversing' once again to each other in their signaling language. As they did the Chosen Man spoke to Atal. "I am H'Aris, but I can tell you already, that they have no names. Their lodge is as much a spiritual following as it is one of furthering their magical abilities." Still speaking to Atal in elvish, H'Aris paused as the mages turned back to communicate again. Directing the signals towards H'Aris, the .ages seemed to be fully aware that he was translating for Atal.
"They confirm that they give up names and labels, but that the one you met in the caves is alive. He bares many scars, physical and mental, of having been tortured while captured. It will take time, but he will recover."
"They apologize that they don't think they can assist with your current predicament. Their order suppresses any magical abilities not bestowed by their patron. I myself apologize as I am unaware of their patron's name, if he has one. Their lodge is located in northern Shinra, but they do not associate with it politically, and suggest perhaps you are better served seeking out one of the nation's schools of magic."