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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Lazybones" data-source="post: 7476962" data-attributes="member: 143">Chapter 190Majerion came over to where Kosk was sitting on a low bench along one of the side walls of the house.  The dwarf had pruned back the vines that had drifted down from the broken ceiling, clearing a space to sit while he waited for Loriellan to finish preparing the evening meal.“I have traveled far and wide,” the bard said, “and you are the first dwarven devotee of the Open Fist that I have encountered.  I did not know that the monastic orders had gained an appeal among your people.”“Life often follows unexpected paths,” Kosk said.“Indeed.  May I?” Majerion asked, gesturing toward the end of the bench.“If you must.”The elf bowed as if the statement had been a grand invitation, sweeping a segment of vine away with one boot before he settled into the space.  “Have you known Glorianna for a long time?”“Less than half a year,” Kosk said.  “Though it seems like longer sometimes.”Majerion cracked a smile at that.  “How did you meet, if you do not mind me asking?”“A job,” Kosk said.  After a moment’s delay he added, “The abbot at the monastery I was at owed a wizard a favor.  Glori showed up for the same job.”“Artifact hunting, wasn’t it?”Kosk shot the elf a hard look.  “You are well informed.”“Well.”  The elf leaned in conspiratorially.  “Secrets are my trade, after all.”  He drew back and tugged a small cheroot from a pocket of his coat.  “Do you mind?  It’s a filthy habit, but one that I picked up in my travels.”  At Kosk’s shrug the elf snapped his fingers, summoning a tiny flicker of flame that he touched to the end of the cigar.  When it caught he drew a deep draught from it and then released it into the air, leaning back with a contented sigh.  “I am glad that Glori has found some good friends who care about her,” he said.Kosk’s response was a non-committal grunt.Majerion let out another plume of smoke.  “Has she spoken much of me?” he asked.Kosk turned to look at him directly.  “Look.  My philosophy is that I prefer to stay out of other people’s business.  Glori is my friend, and I look out for her, but as far as I’m concerned, whatever exists between the two of you is not my concern.”The elf nodded.  “That is a philosophy that I can respect, even if I do not share it.”  He stood.  “I will leave you to your meditations, master dwarf.”He started to turn away, but hesitated as an intent look crossed the dwarf’s face.  “What is it?”“Did you hear something?” Kosk asked.Majerion cocked his head.  “No, though I will reveal a shameful secret of my own: I am slightly deaf in my left ear.”  He seemed unconcerned, but Kosk noted how he shifted slightly so that his lyre slid around his body into his grasp.Both men took a quick look around the room.  The Rangers were either gathered around the fire or checking their gear.  Brightbriar had not yet returned, but as Kosk stood he saw Shreskra watching him, the firelight glowing in her eyes.“I am going to check on Glori,” Kosk said.  But before he could take one step there was a loud crash and someone fell through the roof.  He landed in the middle of the floor, falling into a crouch as broken shingles pattered to the ground around him.Everyone started in surprise as the figure rose to his full height.  He had hit the floor with enough force to leave a divot in the wooden boards of the floor, yet he did not seem affected by his calamitous descent.  He looked like a younger version of Brightbriar at first glance.  He was clad in similar garments in forest colors, though his were in a state of advanced decay.  But there was something definitely off about him, even leaving aside the unusual means of his arrival in the cabin.  The light of the fire revealed skin that was a clammy gray, drawn tight over a face that left his eyes glowing within deep hollows.  There was something else, a slight greenish tinge to both his flesh and his clothes.  As he turned, the source was revealed to be a fuzz of mossy growth that appeared to cover him from head to toe, the stuff sprouting even from the exposed skin of his face and hands.By chance Tenaille was closed to him, and she was first to respond, drawing two knives from the assortment at her belt as she lunged forward.  The altered Tender reacted quickly, stepping in to meet her before she could strike.  He seized hold of her with both hands and with a seemingly effortless motion hurled her across the cabin.  She struck the wall near the hearth with enough force to dislodge some of the building stones, then dropped limply to the floor.  The knives made a jarring clatter as they fell.As the rest of them reached for their weapons the creature’s jaw dropped open.  A terrible, low moan issued from his lips.  That sound was echoed a moment later by a reverberating crash that seemed to come from just outside the cabin.  Kosk recognized it; it was the familiar pulse of a thunderwave.But before he could do anything else, the creature attacked.</blockquote>

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