Paths of Legend - Tragedy at Silvergard

Cut Scene...

The Lord's Mansion in the Azgundi Capital...

"Do those wings ever interfere with...well, with whatever they might get in the way of?" Lady Devera de Sisan snickered a bit as she took a sip of her wine.

The angelic looking Lady Dawn de Guare flared her white feathered wings out a bit, as she answered, a note of condescension in her voice, "I'm sure you have heard the rumors of my chastity. If there is no activity for them to get in the way of, then it needn't be a concern, wouldn't you agree?"

The other assembled Lords and Ladies shared light hearted, and mostly insincere, laughter at this exchange. Lady Dawn left Lady Devera behind as she made her way across the banquet room to the Elder Lord. She curtsied elegantly, her wings extended briefly to their full span. The Elder Lord bowed formally back to her, "What may I do for you, Lady of Guare."

"I come not as Lady of Guare, Elder Lord, but as High Priestess of the Churches of the Silver Shadow and the Shadow Knight. The shrine upon the hill outside the city, the site of the blessed union and wedding of the Lord and Lady of Shadow, is in disrepair. I humbly request that you allow me to send an attendant to the shrine."

The Elder Lord's brow furrowed, "You have made this request before and my answer has not changed. The House of Lords cannot be seen as sponsoring or favoring any religion over any other. That is our tradition."

"But your refusal comes not as an edict of the House of Lords. The Healing Light, since my departure ten years ago, has played politics in such a manner as to block my every move, with this being their latest action."

The Elder Lord's face grew stern, "If you intend to accuse me of misconduct, you will have to do so formally at the next meeting of the House of Lords." With that, he turned and walked away from the half-celestial woman. As Dawn shook her head in frustration, a servant approached, "Mi'Lady, you have a visitor."

Dawn followed the servant to the entrance hall of the grand mansion. Waiting there for her was a half-elven adventurer, "Iphithis, it is good to see you. Why have you come?"

Iphithis normally jovial demeanor was dampened somewhat, "We have a problem. The apprentice of Herruwen and his companions have among them a potential traitor."

Dawn sighed heavily as she drew Iphithis into a private meeting room, "There is the prospective knight...he is a paladin, so I doubt it would be him. Tarkesi's neice is likewise exempt from suspicion. I couldn't imagine it of a centaur. Herruwen's apprentice and the ranger who tracked him here you have said are innocent of any crime. Dacar has spoken highly of his brother. That leaves Entan's apprentice and the two unknown women."

Iphithis sat and propped his feet on the polished table, "Entan has assured me that his policy of not meddling with our affairs is still in place as long as our policy of not meddling with his is likewise. At worst, his apprentice is simply there to gather information for his master, knowingly or not."

Dawn pondered this a moment, "That leaves the two women. What do you know of them?"

Iphithis sat up, "One of them knows more than she should about the battle with Tetrarch. The other is a complete unknown, though she was seen with our prospect...which could very well make him suspect as well, unfortunately."

Dawn bowed her head in thought, her wings furling and unfurling reflexively, "Very well. What is the traitor's next move?"

"We think the murderer will target Herruwen's apprentice next, to remove even the remote possibility that he may have witnessed something. The others will likely be taken out as well, in case he told them something. The traitor will wait for the right moment, then leave the group open to ambush." Iphithis stood, "This is all speculation of course, based on the murderer's pattern thus far."

"And your plan of action?"

"Dacar slipped a seeing stone to his brother before he left. We'll be able to scry on him without interference."

Dawn's face lined with sorrow, "So they are to be sacrificed, that we may know the identity of the murderer?"

Iphithis frowned, "We really have no other options. I wish there was another way."

"As do I."
 
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The Road to Vedlund, a day's ride south of the Stone Quarries, Now...

"Well friend dwarf, we'll be there in another day. If you happen to see a fella by the name of Valen in Vedlund, tell him Orin sends his regards." said the driver, Orin.
"Aye, Ah will surely do ma' good man." replied Muzdum. "So... we have one more day still?" Muzdum lies down, getting the more comfortable he could on the wooden seat. "Get me up if somethin' happens mate, Ah'll take a nap, he he, those poor fools, walking... He he... ZzzzZzzz" the dwarf feel asleep.
 

Jemal said:
William chuckled at the Centaur's exclamation, and his smile brightened when he saw Estelle approach. "You looked rather taken aback, was it the horse or the foreman?"

She stands next to his tall frame and slumps her shoulders in a dejected fashion. "I dunno, I think it was just the whole thing. Came outta nowhere, ya'know? And then brave little me just stands there like a fool while you others actually make use of yourselves. I swear I dunno why I'm here. I haven't done anything to prove my worth."
 

William frowned, then lifted her chin to look at her. "You did nothing wrong. Dealing with people like THAT" *He nods his head at the foreman* "Is something I'm quite used to, and HE is a Druid, more used to animals than to his own kind... You're not used to dealing with animals OR pompous arses, that's perfectly fine. You'll show your worth the way it's meant to be shown.. When it's WORTH it." He smiled warmly at her, wondering why he felt the desire to comfort her so..

(Bump and Character Development!)
 

Jemal said:
William frowned, then lifted her chin to look at her. "You did nothing wrong. Dealing with people like THAT" *He nods his head at the foreman* "Is something I'm quite used to, and HE is a Druid, more used to animals than to his own kind... You're not used to dealing with animals OR pompous arses, that's perfectly fine. You'll show your worth the way it's meant to be shown.. When it's WORTH it." He smiled warmly at her, wondering why he felt the desire to comfort her so..

(Bump and Character Development!)

OOC: And intriguing character development at that. :D
 

Estelle looks up in Williams eyes for a moment, her own wet with dispair and frustration. Silent and still she remains in that pose until she pulls her chin off his hand and looks toward the ground. Dizzying thoughts race through her mind, unannounced and unwanted. I can't. Not him. Not after what happened before, what happened last time. I can't do that again. She takes a slow step backwards, pulling away from William. Looking up, Estelle manages a weak smile, "You're right." She nods her head once and makes to return to where the others are located and waiting.
 

crazypixie said:
The Vedlund Stone Quarries...
[sblock=Johen and the Horse] The horse snorts apprehensively, "Two leg of walking metal...not alive...looks alive, smells like metal." The horse nods its head over to where Alaric, Corath and Aohdan are heading further down the road.[/sblock]

[sblock=Chit Chat to Horse]"not alive? hum..." replies Johen as he looks at the three leaving the Quarry focusing more on Corath. "Do not worry my friend, whatever you refer to,will not harm you in any way.. I promise.. goodbye." he adds as he pats him on the neck. [/sblock]

Johen seems to be replying to the whinnying of the horse and then walks back to his companions.

He hesitates for a moment, clears his throat and says to his companions: "Err.. hmm.. things are settled now.. the horse got scared, that's all... Let's move on, my friends..."
 

Valen

Amaury said:
"Err.. hmm.. things are settled now.. the horse got scared, that's all... Let's move on, my friends..."

The young ranger narrows his eyes suspiciously at his countryman's words. A workhorse getting scared during its routine labors? Johen is hiding something... However, he keeps his peace as they join the others.
 

Johen starts walking with the others. He is thoughtful and remains at the back of the group.

He notices that Valen stares at him and makes a sign to him, inviting him to get closer to him.
Once Valen walks nearby him, Johen slows their pace a bit, stops to check a few flowers along
the road, and once a few meters away from the rest of the group, he whispers to him in Tureni.

[sblock=Tureni chat to Valen]"I see that you've read my mind well Valen.. or maybe I just can't lie.. I just only started
to use lying since I left the Big Forest..
ahum! anyway..
The horse.. err.. the horse he said that err.. one of Alaric, Aohdan or Corath.. err..
like they smelled of metal.... he meant.. err.. like their flesh was metal..
I am confused about this, but that's really what he meant.. I cannot understand that
something made of metal could walk like a human and even less that it could look like flesh!
It cannot be Aohdan, by the Big Forest, I'd swear he's a centaur, but the other two?..
[/sblock]
[sblock=DM]have I still time to use Speak with animal (only 1 minute at 1st level) immediately after i'm done with the horse. i'd like to use it with Highflyer to spy on the others!
If yes, I ask Highflyer to look carefully at Corath and spots anything unusual. I believe its his Spot check vs her Disguise check? ta.[/sblock]
 

Valen

Valen nods thoughtfully, then whispers back to the druid.

[sblock=Speaking in Tureni to Johen]

"Thank you. I shall see if I notice anything as well."
[/sblock]


[sblock=DM]
Spot vs. Disguise: Corath 26
Spot vs. Disguise: Alaric 26

WOW!!!
[/sblock]
 

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