Varen ponders that parting comment as Kiran leaves, eventually gathering her weapon and shield and headed to bed. She looks to see if Petal is asleep, before removing her armor and travel clothes and changing into a simple sleeping gown. She collapses in bed, the effects of the day fully catching up to her.

Petal, if you would have awoken or faked sleeping when Varen finished her shift, let me know.

Varen, her belly full of good inn breakfast and back in her travel gear, gives Mouse a reassuring pat as she finds him at his tie point on the barge. She gives him a pair of carrots she picked up from the kitchen. She keeps much of her gear with her this time, crossbow and kits included.

Varen finds a good vantage point towards the bow of the barge, be it a haybale, the carriage, or something else, and posts up in a place she can comfortably scan the surroundings for the upcoming journey.

 Waking early, Ronegan will spend 15 minutes in the morning meditating and studying his spellbook, then tuck into the breakfast with his usual gusto, lecturing anyone who will listen on the halfling origins of the entire concept of breakfast. Then after everyone is ready, he will lead the party to the dock where the barge ships await.

Knowing that an unpleasant conversation awaits him, he will board whichever barge Kiran is on, but sit far from the monk. Instead, he will pull out some parchment and inks and begin to write the Common alphabet, quickly sketching a drawing and a word for each letter, and just because he can't help himself, he also begins to add the Elvish spelling of the words to each section as well. Muttering to himself with delight as he finishes each letter. "Absolutely splendid. Truly a valuable pedagogical tool!"

(I guess a Performance check for how good Ronnie's drawings are? - 6)

Petal rises early, taking some time to look out the window and meditate, each breath a question to the wind. What gifts would the land give me today? And what challenges would I face? 

Trying to remember the ancient rituals of her elders, Petal sits cross legged on her bed, quietly uttering the sacred words, hoping not to wake Varen. (Casts detect poison and disease)

She touches the wall closest to the royals room, reaching out with her feelings to sense the king. “What is afflicting you, you good man who took me in, as strange as I may be. You have your quirks, your obsession with this religion; trust in zealots such as Kiran and the chancellor - but you don’t deserve this suffering and Citrine and the kids don’t deserve to lose you.”

(if not in range, Petal will pass by the royals room making smalltalk with the guard, asking for directions to the privy)

Ronegan's drawn better the drawings before. These are slightly better than a young child's drawings.

Although the intentions of Petal are good, the walls between the druid and the family are too thick for her spell to penetrate.

The party will travel on one barge together while the carriage and horses will travel on another.

Ran rises early with the others, throwing a glance at Ronegan for the endless snoring that filled the room all night.

He quickly straps his armor on and fits his weapons into place. And then before breakfast he goes to the back of the inn and works out all of the kinks from the day before, going through a series of practice maneuvers with his swords, both moving quickly and precisely in the air.

Ran is quiet until he has eaten. But he does eat quickly, like someone who has had to out of necessity many times.

Through breakfast he watches Ronegan as much as he listens to him. A very resilient people, he thinks to himself. Kiran may get more than he bargains for, questioning this one.

He rides next to the royal carriage as it makes its way to the barge. Then settles in himself. Seeing where Varen has set herself up on watch, Ran looks for somewhere similar at the other end of the barge, setting out his bow and the quiver full of arrows next to it.

Kiran rises and gets moving quickly, settling his weapons back into place and eating a quick breakfast before heading over to the barges early to take a look around. Once the everyone has settled and the barge is underway, he’ll find a quiet spot out of the way somewhere and ask both Petal and Ronegan to come speak with him.

Petal waits for Varen before heading downstairs and enjoying breakfast with the group. On the journey over to the barge she sticks with Ronegan, protesting that they have to speak to the priest and admiring his drawings. When Kiran comes over to speak to them, she nervously agrees. 

Once they are in their quiet place, “So...uh... what do you want with little old me huh?”

Ronegan knew this conversation was coming, and he forces himself to finish the drawing he was working on for spelling guide before he looks up at the monk. After producing (what he considers to be) a pretty passable hare, he smiles wanly at Kiran.

"Yes, I do suppose its time for the three of us to chat." He will follow to a quiet part of the ship and look at Kiran expectantly. Ronegan knew if the monk wanted to, he probably could have had them removed from the group as soon as they arrived at Grambler, so at the moment at least, he is more curious than scared.

Ran sees Kiran call Petal and Ronegan over and moves his sentry perch closer in order to eavesdrop.

Quote from Thoradin_Orcbender >>

Ran sees Kiran call Petal and Ronegan over and moves his sentry perch closer in order to eavesdrop.

 (Unless you want to try and be sneaky, I'm assuming Kiran's passive perception sees this.) Kiran turns to look at Ran and continues to stare until the other man moves back a little. 
Sitting down to talk to the other two, Kiran places one hand on the hilt of his shortsword to keep it out of the way and pulls off his whip and holds it coiled in his lap, looking at them each in turn for a long moment before he begins speaking, "I need to ask each of you some questions, and I need honest and direct answers. If you attempt to lie or evade the question, I will be forced to execute you." He makes no attempt to hide the mix of regret and resoluteness in his voice. Waiting for their agreement he begins asking his questions. 
(Posting them all at once to save time, but assuming he waits for an answer to each before he asks the next.)

"Do you support the Empire?"

"Do you support the royal family and their kingdom?"

"Do you deny the Lightbringer, not the church, the deity?"

As the monk touches his shortsword, Ronegan's jaw juts out and his eyes harden. He keeps his voice low and neutral as he speaks to Kiran, very much different than his typical blustery manner. "So, interrogation it is. Very well, Master Kiran."

"I support the Empire. I do not agree with all the things that come from it, but I support it nonetheless as the best form of government we currently have., It has certainly brought peace to the warring kingdoms that went on for centuries. For that peace, I am indeed grateful." He pauses for a second, and seems on the verge of adding something else, but instead looks Kiran right in the eyes.

After hearing the second question, Ronegan allows a small smile to creep over his lips. "I believe in the Firstforges. They care for their people. And Opal and Onyx, as different as they are, have the makings of fine leaders. They are good, honest, and curious. They can perhaps someday be truly great.They have my loyalty and my hmm....knowledge at their disposal as long as they care to have me around."

It is the final question that seems to give Ronegan the longest pause. " An interesting way you phrased that question, monk. I do not deny the Lightbringer delivered all of us, not only the humans and dragonborns, but all of us, from the Darkness that stole the lives of those like me. The Lightbringer, if not those who pledge to speak for it, has my admiration."

You know, Master Kiran," he says evenly, "I've had this conversation before with my... with others. Knowledge in and of itself is not evil. It has no alignment, only application. It is how those who acquire the knowledge use it that matters. In the old times, before the Darkness, there were advisors such as myself in every kingdom. They understood the value of knowledge. As do I." He runs a hand through the thick mane of black hair atop his head. "An organization that fears or denies knowledge eliminates a tool for themselves. A tool that can be used to protect the vulnerable or to understand our world. That is all I seek."

He takes a deep breath and sighs. Then, he stands up and looks at Kiran in the eyes, as best a halfling can. "Am I free now? Oh, and if you try this little display with Onyx, I will do my best to ensure the rest of your short time in this household is as miserable as possible." He looks at Petal and smiles, feeling for the first time, a real affection and camaraderie with the gnome. "Come on, Petal. I could use your assistance with this project. I can't quite get some of the animals I'm sketching to look right."

 OOC: I'll say this comes after Ronegan and Petal speak. As I don't allow intimidation of party members as rolls or PvP, unless I approve it, keep that in mind.

Opal has appeared with her father being supported by crew members and the house guards on a stretcher. Queen Citrine looks morose as Opal leads the guard towards the passenger barge. There is one large covered area aboard to afford comfort for the king and is occupied by the royal party then closed off guarded as well as barred from any other passenger. This seems approved by the captain whom explains this to the handful of other passengers not in the royal retinue, there are six in total. After attending her father the young processes emerges into the morning air. She looks weary, red-eyed, and put out. Looking around for friends she spots Varen and Ran first. She then notices the stand off between Ran and Kiran. Onyx comes out too but notices Petal and Ronegan then joins as Kiran begins his inquisition.

Ran gives a slight bow to Opal, and then he turns his attention to the other passengers on the barge.

He eyes them carefully, seeing if he spots any weapons, whether they seem to know each other, whether they are taking an interest in the royal tent and Opal, and how they carry themselves - one soldier looking to see if he spots another.

(If needed: Perception: 4 )

Upon seeing Opal, Varen hops down from the perch from where she was watching Kiran's interrogation. She couldn't hear the conversation, but the posture of Kiran was telling enough. Don't think he took what I said to heart, she thinks. She moves next to Opal, putting a reassuring hand on her shoulder.

"We'll get him to Ospel. They'll have the best care possible for him there. You holding up?" 

Ran can't make out anything from them other than they look like travelers but could be possibly merchants. The crew however is armed not heavily but they wear swords and daggers without a second thought.

Varen approaches Opal who's eyeing Kiran, the wee folk, and her twin curiously.

"He needs chancellor Green," Opal replies first looking to Varen. "My...my own powers are so limited," the princess says looking at her own hands now. "I...prayed all night but...I felt...nothing," she says in a low voice. "I feel the Light is waning from him and he...he is truly faithful," she adds in a low voice sounding slightly hopeless. "My mother's own attempts only seemed to sicken him," she then says before biting her own tongue looking worried.

Captain Talos Romano, a human woman with brassy blonde hair and a scarred smile, comes to the lower decks to check on crew members. These men and women are pushing off from the canal side with poles as a team of horses pull the lines at the front of the barge forward.

"Shoving off," Talos yells as she moves along the walking path that skirts the lower decks nodding a head to Varen and Opal as she passes.

OOC: The barges is 120 ft long and 20 feet wide. The livestock barge is behind tbe passenger barge with several barges, smaller than the party's barges, ahead and behind.

”The empire.... well uh, I don’t really know - I lived so much of my life without it effecting me much. They’re trying to do something good right? Keep the peace? I don’t know, my honest answer is.. I don’t care about the empire - the land and it’s people were here long before the empire, and they’ll be here long after it’s gone. If you want to execute me for that, l then you’d better be ready to execute half the land. They don’t care who sits in a tower, they care about where they are getting their next meal, if they have a roof over their head - a silly need to me to be honest, and if they’ll ever fall in love.”

”The firstforges are good people, better than you will ever be. They’ve shown compassion, and care for those who rely on them. Even someone as different as me, is able to be shown love and respect in their court, and they have earned the respect of the “smallfolk” as you would call them. You’d do well to learn something from them. They don’t doubt my loyalty, and shows disregard for their judgement that you would dare to interrogate Ronegan and I! You’re the only one I don’t trust here, the king is dying and you won’t let me help.”

”The darkness took a great toll on my community, of course I am grateful it was dispelled! My people show their thanks in their way - but you.. can’t you understand that someone has not grown up with your teachings. I would never force you to act like me. I would never try to take away, or judge you for the things you can do.”

The din from outside is what wakes Elavor... again. Horses being readied. Voices yelling commands and shouts... He rolls over, bleary eyed, groggy... yet,thankfully, not hung over.   "Mmph.. first time for everything" he says to the empty room. 

Gathering his gear, dressing, he feels the pouch and his newest acquisitions. His grin returns,  pulling up one corner of mouth. 

Leaving the room, he rushes downstairs, grabs whatever food is left off a couple of plates, a quick swig of cider, and he's out the door. He sees an apple someone left, and grabs that on his way put as well. Taking a deep breath, he heads for the docks where he know the boats wait for them....

Arriving at the boats, he sees the group, mostly loaded and waiting for him... and then he realizes they're pushing off!!! Shoving the apple in his mouth he runs for the boats "WAIF FER ME!!!" 

Ran, satisfied for now that there is no immediate threat on board, watches the crew push off and then moves to join in with the others, or at least where the bulk of the party is located.

"Well, at least we're on our way without incident," he says then looks around and lowers his voice. "From what we know from the cipher and the rumors that other houses have been attacked en route to Ospel, we would be naive not to expect another attempt while we're on the canal. We need to stay alert. The crew is armed, but not too heavily, and I didn't see weapons on the other passengers, but they could be hidden. It might be worthwhile to talk to some of them. Rule them out as threats and maybe get some more information about what's been happening on the road to Ospel."

Ran lets his gaze move over to Captain Talos Romano. Looking for a moment where she isn't shouting commands to the crew he approaches her hoping to get a short conversation in.

"Captain," he calls. "A quick moment if you have time. How has the canal journey been to Ospel lately? We've heard rumors of travelers being attacked on the roads and some of our group are getting a bit worried."

Kiran will release his sword to hold up his hand asking them to wait a moment, "I mean no threat to you, I apologize, for it clearly came across that way. I am not used to this," he looks around and sees Onyx approaching and nods respectfully, "I'm sure you've all heard the rumors of the dark men wearing church colors who drag heretics off in the night to silence them. These rumors are true, I know, because I am one of them." He holds up both hands to try and forestall any interruption, "I swear to you, I never executed anyone I did not feel was a threat to the empire, and I assisted several to fake their deaths to escape the church's wrath. I could be killed for telling you this. I support the Empire, and, at the moment, the Church is inseparable from the Empire. My statement that I may have to kill you meant only that, given my role, if the church discovered your abilities, I would likely be one of the ones ordered to hunt you, something I do not wish to do, but I will do my duty. That is part of why I sought this post, to leave that part of my life behind me. This tournament is the Empire's best chance. If His Highness here could assume the throne, or at least achieve a a position if some power, he could cut away the church, or at least prune it appropriately. Petal, you say the people don't care about the Empire, because it does little for them. You are as right as you are wrong, the Empire may not show itself in their daily life, but through its influence, they are not swept up in silly wars, or slaughtered by bandits left to roam free. The Empire keeps the peace, and must survive. It needs someone like Prince Onyx here to do that, and he will not be permitted to assume power if his associates are arrested as heretics. So please, for his sake if not for your own, be careful. My presence should shield you, but there's a limit to wait I can do."

He pauses for a breath and looks down at the ground, "I understand your hate and fear for me, but please, listen to my advice."

Petal bods at Kiran understanding slightly, if a little confused by all this politics talk. 

“So you want to make an emperor of Onyx, but have you asked him what he wants?”