Sera lets out a growl of annoyance at Marc's constant dodging, and slashes at him AGAIN with her frosty sword.

Attack: 26 Damage: 15

Jasun had seen a few things in his day. Of course, there was nothing ordinary about him in the first place.

First the teaching job. Then the promotion. The day he discovered the tomb. Then T'Vauz and Jezzika. Jezzika. He was worried about what she might do to him. He knew he was getting close, after all this time, to possibly truly angering her. Was that wise? No one here understood just what or how dangerous the Elder Gods were. He had heard enough stories from Jezzika, one of their Heralds, on what they could do and the power they could grant. 

But Jasun was different. He wanted to remain grounded to the roots of this world, and not transform into a mindless, overpowered pawn of some cosmic, unfathomable evil. Sometimes, he would daydream about what it would be like to return to teaching and settling down with a beautiful woman and forget his quest for cosmic knowledge. Was that such a crazy dream?

Speaking of women, he couldn't help noticed something about Sera, and his curiosity was overwhelming him, so, he walked over to her casually.

"Sera, my dear, are you alright?" he asked, looking her over, "You took quite a nasty hit there - fantastic finish, I might add - and I am relived to see you are on your feet again thanks to Rose and bird person. However, I couldn't help but notice that you..well, you wound yourself during combat. Is this sort of self inflicted damage required for..something? I must admit, I don't think i've met a warrior of your type before. Although, I must say that I have indeed seen many wondrous things, but you have come to be a companion in this journey, and my curiosity overcame me - if this bothers you, please accept my most humblest apologies."

With Marcian dead, you're able to search the shack to find where Ringeirr is held. You find a locker and in the closet is Ringeirr, bound and gagged. Nadya unties him and the two hug each other as they share a warm reunion. Moments later, she breaks the embrace and turns Ringeirr to you. "Uncle, these are my friends. They need you to help smuggle them eento the ceety."

"Hello, so tell me about yourselves. What breengs you here? How deed you come to know Nadya?"

You all level up to 5.

Sera is bandaging her palm wound as Jasun comes over, and she glances at him as he asks his question. A complex mix of emotions crosses her face--stress, pain, anger, sadness, maybe even a touch of fear--before it settles on slightly sardonic half-smile. "That's a simple question with a complicated answer, but I'll try to explain. Um...so here in Irrisen, there're these women descended from Baba Yaga," she visibly tenses as she says the name, lowering her voice too, "called jadwiga. They have various powers from...her. At some point in my ancestry, there must have been a jadwiga, because I've got some of their abilities, but I can't just pull them out of nothing." She nods at the gash in her palm. "It's in my blood, and that's what I have to spill in order to access most of that power." She scowls. "Another way I can never really escape this damn place."

"I see. Quite an interesting legacy you have, wouldn't you say?" Jasun nods, watching her bandage up. "And how long have you been able to extract power by performing this technique? Has no other way worked?"

"Interesting, ruinous, call it what you want." Sera shrugs. "It first popped up when I was a little kid. I got caught in the middle of a fight, and panicked. Nothing else triggers it, it's got to be my blood. Although I can..." She sighs and commits. "I can control a newly dead body for a moment without spilling my blood. Enough to give it one last aggressive act. But if I add my blood, it hits harder. Rest of it, the frost or light on my weapon, it's my blood or nothing."

Jasun nodded. "And what drives you to do the things you do, knowing this information? Why are you, dare I say, so..cold? Angry?"

Sera shrugs and replies, "You all may just be learning about the ambition and cruelty of the jadwiga, but I've known about it my whole life. I grew up here, where they were a fact of life. After I left, I didn't use my power much, but now that those *****es are planning on grabbing the rest of the world in their cold, icy fingers? I'll help do something about that. Pain is inevitable in life, mine may as well be to a purpose. As for my personality..." She nods at the village outside the door. "You've been here, you've seen how it is. Imagine growing up here. I had exactly one point of light in my life, and because of this, because of them and what they would do if they found out about it," she gestures to her bandaged palm. "I lost it. I ran from this place so that my power couldn't endanger anyone I loved, and now I'm back here anyway." She sighs. "And I can't even check on my mom."

"That is true, all of us are indeed learning many things about this place, and the jadwiga." Jasun admitted. "And while I wish to do so, I would be lying to you if I were to falsely admit I know, or knew, what you have gone through. You are angry, hurt, sad, I can see it. It is written all over your face. You have such character, such ferocity, such passion that drives you. It makes you wonder what could have been, had this cruel twist of fate had no happened. Was there a point that you could not control your powers? And, why can't you check on your mother?" Jasun inquired.

"It took me years to learn to control my power, partially because I just hid them for a long time. And I can't check on my mom for several reasons, one, she's nowhere near this area of Irrisen, two, I have this stupid geas keeping me on task, and three, I don't want to be recognized by anyone here, either as Sera or as someone with jadwiga blood, and going near my hometown exponentially increases those odds."

"Those are very good reasons." Jasun admitted. "Perhaps one day you might change your mind..when the time is more appropriate? Or do you feel like this is your life from now on. You. Alone. Cold." Jasun sounded sad. He wasn't trying to be mean, but trying to understand. "It is indeed cruel, the destiny that is sometimes laid before us. I admire your strength of character. I am sure if I was in your position, I would feel the same way - but again, I will not try and pretend I can understand what you are going through. Not only do you deal with the emotional pain, but physical as well."

Sera shrugs. "I don't pretend to know what my life will always be. One thing I do know, though, is that it won't matter if whatever Elvanna's up to succeeds." She gives Jasun a faint smile. "Thank you, Jasun. You deal with some pretty serious stuff yourself, I think."

"Well, if you mean batting away the constant romantic advances of a.." he said, then realized what he was about to admit, then stopped. "You're welcome, my dear. I did enjoy this conversation. You are indeed complex yet interesting. I thank you for telling me some of your story."

Sera inclines her head to Jasun, her sharp eyes telling him she did not miss his slip. "I trust you guys. Which is new for me, but hey, new things happen." She rolls her shoulders. "Now, I guess we should go explain things to our smuggler friend."

Shit. You have GOT to stop slipping up like that. They're gonna think you're a ******* weirdo or something.

Do you want me to take care of her too? I don't like the way she looks at you. I could take care of her.

No! She's not 'looking at me'! Will you leave my friends alone? She doesn't like me in THAT way, and I doubt she ever would. We're just talking! She's interesting, and I was concerned about her. Ok? 

Jasun nods, turning to Ringeirr, and not waiting for a response from Jezzika."Hello there, my friend." Jasun nods. "I am Jasun Halifax, ex-assistant professor of the arcane. My associates and I have traveled long and far to procure your services - as Nadya has graciously offered. A funny story, about her, we met her by chance, and in a great story of liberation, are seeking to help her, and ourselves. We owe much for her information and friendship. If I may, are we to understand you have a particular set of skills that can get us into the city, perhaps?"

It is Jireal or someone else more than likely to find Ringeirr, as Zaf had spent the next several minutes after rifling through pockets, and examining their weapons. Anything was better than having to focus on the important at the moment. But he had ears of some kind, and couldn't entirely help overhearing at least some things. "I'm gonna step out, but I'll be back." He would whisper prior to stepping back out the door to.. keep watch outside until everyone was ready to move out.

Rose checks around the immediate area to see if she could possibly find anything they may have come to use to them for future endeavors, trying not to eavesdrop on the conversation.

Investigation(?): 11 (If perception +7)

She watches Zaf depart with a slight frown, but does nothing to stop him. Maybe just needs a moment to himself...?

Rose: You see the locker that Marcian has, and in his pockets, you find a key to the locker.

Everyone: "So you support the cause of freedom! I too, am an enemy of the Queen. You see, after I came to terms weeth the loss of my wife and son, I was contacted by a reseestance group called The Heralds of Summers Return. They are a secret cult that worsheeps Milani and they help the people of the ceety. Now smuggleeng you een weel not be easy. Queen Elvanna, she has estableeshed the Weenter Guard, loyal only to her. Not only do they eenspect travelers comeeng eento the ceety, but they eenspect travelers weetheen the ceety. But I theenk that there ees a loophole that I can use to get you eento the ceety and allow you walk around weethout too many problems. There ees thees man I know, a forger een the Howleengs Deestrict. He can forge documents that say you are Stilyagi. The Stilyagi are a group of preeveelaged young nobles from foreign countries, who dress outlandishly and breeng een friends of other races. Eef we can get my contact to forge those documents, then your group should hef no trouble wandereeng around the ceety. But there ees sometheeng that must be done as well."

Ringeirr walks outside and leads you all to a cart filled with fish. "Eef we are going to do thees, I weesh for us to do so while helpeeng the starveeng people een the ceety. I weel be deleevereeng these feesh to a contact I hef who weel ensure that eet goes where eet needs to. Eet weel also help weeth getteeng your weapons eento the deestrict. Anyone who has armor heavier than seemple leathers or a martial weapon, I weel need you to put them eento the cart under the feesh, at least unteel we are een the Howleengs Deestrict."

Within a blink of an eye, time and space froze and Jasun was whisked away to an unimaginable distance.

It was time for another lesson. As the stars formed and the galaxies twirled, the suns became black as Jasun's mind and heart filled with wonder and awe as the power of T'Vauz coursed through his soul. Jezzika was near, of course, she was the one who took him, and the ache to merge with him mentally, and physically, overpowered her. Jasun barely felt it as she became one with him, it was so smooth and subtle he had no time to resist her, much less know what was happening in his academic stupor.

"For a while, to dream of loving you was all I could do. We were young and I knew in my heart, my eyes were alive with fire only for you. Deep inside I knew my love for you was true. And for a while I paid no mind to the past because I knew the love I had for you would last forever. Every night everything was right when I thought of you. I'd watch you do the daily dance of life, but something happened along the way, didn't it? You didn't feel the same way. What used to be happy was now sad, and yesterday was all I had when I dreamed of you. Now it is time to see."

He was overwhelmed. He could feel how much she loved him, but not in any way his physical or mental facilities could understand or comprehend. For a moment, he was something else, in another place.

He began to panic as two became one.

JEZZIKA!!! NOOOO!! 

He screamed. He screamed in his mind and, if he had it, with his voice. He violently returned to reality as Jezzika let him go, his mind and physical form reforging as nature intended. He found himself dizzy, he stumbled slightly and placed a few finger to his head, closing his eyes. He felt like he was going to pass out. He felt violated and dirty.

He didn't see the chair behind him and he tripped.

"Jasun! What happened!? Are you okay?"