Night's Embrace: Part 1--A Touch of Darkness

[Boddynock]

"One of my brothers is a wizard," Sulannus says, entering after Kel and looking around.

"I'm even studying magic myself. I have this..." she produces from her pack a leatherbound book, unremarkable in appearance. "It's a spellbook. Very basic right now, of course...but it's a start."

A bit more uncertainly, she adds, "Are you sure he'll be back? It seems odd to leave the door open. Maybe he's been kidnapped too!"

"My guess? Locking the door wouldn't deter anyone in this area who wanted to get in. Leaving the door open indicates just how confident the Hedge Mage is."

"So, you're a wizard as well as a fighter? How does it work? And your spellbook? How do you ... make sense of all those symbols?"

 

[Shayuri]

Sulannus' cheeks color slightly and she says with exagerrated dignity, "I haven't...actually, as such...managed to cast a spell just yet. But I think I grasp the theory. It's just getting it in practice that's difficult."

"The symbols represent either thoughtforms or focusing components, and together make up what's called the spell formula. It's a sort of ritual, that when performed correctly places one's mind in a state where it can call upon the spell's effect."

 

[jkason]

Titus Farrab, human ranger

Titus wanders around the building, observing more than searching, then comes to rest in the kitchen area. At Sulannus' suggestion that the wizard, too, has been kidnapped, Titus groans.

"Because, of course, we needed yet another complication to our little quest," he grumbles. Then, setting his shoulders, he stands straight.

"Okay, here's what I think," he announces to the group. "This hedge bloke's meant to help people, right? And we're people who need help: specifically, food and a roof over our heads."

The scruffy young man looks up to the ceiling, then lifts an eyebrow and tilts his head in the direction of the pantry.

"Before we go taking on any more, maybe we solve one problem? If we're making a meal when the wizard returns, why then we've prepared him a welcome home dinner. If he comes in the night, we've made sure his things go undisturbed and been here to immediately alert him about our magical enemy on his return.

"If he doesn't show by morning, then we know something's wrong for sure. We're also, not-incidentally, a little better rested and healed."

 

[Legildur]

Blunt nods as his friend speaks. "I cannot fault your logic in our time of need," he says.

 

[Rystil Arden]

*They find that the larder turns out to hold some simple bread, some cheese, and water. It isn't high quality, but it is good and not spoiled.*

*They make a simple meal for each of them and treat themselves. By the time they are finished, the Hedge Mage still isn't back.*

(OOC: Going to wait and eventually rest here if necessary? There isn't very much room. Everyone can fit if you all squeeze onto the floor space, but it almost certainly won't fit you all if you give Sulannus her own room. Still, the price is right! )

 

[jkason]

Titus Farrab, human ranger

Titus belches, smiling widely.

"Not even here, and the Hedge Mage is helping already," he says, then curbs his humor. Instead, he looks around the place with a casual eye.

"Might be a tight fit for all of us, but if we post a watch--and we probably should--that might make for a smidge more elbow room."

[sblock=OOC]I'm not sure how a watch schedule might effect natural healing (which is still what we're largely relying on). SRD says With a full night’s rest (8 hours of sleep or more). Can that be interrupted by an hour or so of sitting on watch (a fairly restful activity barring attack), or does any interruption negate the healing?[/sblock]

 

[Rystil Arden]

[SBLOCK=OOC]You'll need to rest more than 8 hours in total with a watch, probably 9 if everyone but Sulannus each takes one hour and then she takes the rest, but yeah, it needn't be consecutive rest as long as it is full [/SBLOCK]

 

[Shayuri]

Sulannus agrees to take the lion's share of the watch, after she gets her four hours of trance in. She seems a bit uncomfortable at the thought of essentially 'squatting' in a wizard's house (and using his food to boot), but doesn't have any better ideas, so doesn't complain.

 

[Jolmo]

Shan eats with the others after some hestitation. Afterwards he suggests, "maybe one of his neighbours would know where he has gone. It might be best to ask around before sleeping."

[sblock=OOC]Ooh, long since I posted, sorry about that. I just came back from a week abroad but I know I lapsed on posting for awhile before that as well.[/sblock]

 

[Boddynock]

Although worn out from lack of sleep and a busy day, Kel isn't wounded, and so will forgo an hour or two of sleep to sit with Sulannus, chatting quietly, asking questions about magic and spellcasting. He is fascinated by the process and demonstrates a sharp mind and a quick grasp of the concepts she describes to him.