stonegod's Expedition to Castle Ravenloft: Ch. II [IC]

[Stormwind]

Ashlyn talks to Urik for a little longer while the cleric and the madman examine the unknown items that the group has acquired. Once the others have finished with their examinations, Ashlyn concludes her conversation with Urik with, "It has been a pleasure to talk to you once again, however I believe my companions need a few moments of my time and then I'm off to sleep. Perhaps I'll see you for breakfast?"

Ashlyn then raises to her feet and walks over to Tessa and Avron, "Avron, I do not know what we might unleash when we bring the three relics together, but from what we have been told, I would expect only a single creature."
Ashlyn then turns to Tessa, "Tessa, you wished for my assisstance?"

Ashlyn will then accompany Tessa as she visits the various merchants within the caravan. Whilst doing so, Ashlyn will inquire of those same merchants as to the availability of the incenses and oils that she requires for the ritual to fully awaken the symbol of ravenkind.

Once they arrive back in the inn, Ashlyn turn to Tessa and asks, "May I grab the "Cannons of the Knittes of the Ravven" from you. I have in mind to do some reading before I fall asleep tonight."

[Ashlyn reads through the "Cannons of the Knittes of the Ravven" looking specifically for the details of the binding ritual for the symbol.]
[In particular, Ashlyn is interested in the mention of "Sacrifices of wealth may also be made" and whether the book indicates that this must be done at the initial binding ceremony, or whether this can also be done at a later stage]

 

[stonegod]

Leaving Marot to be tended, a bone weary Ashlyn and more vigorous Tessa venture across the square to where the artificers have set up camp. Curly-haired Adalstan smiles at the priestess. We're closing up shop for the day, Miss Varequin, Lady Dorandanna. But I can help you with something quick. The man quickly takes stock of what the group has found. I can take a better look at things on the morrow, but it'll have to be credit for the lot. Our supply of coin is mostly out, and Master Ochem is in no mood for us to be getting rid of what we have. If Sir Feral and Master Bronns will want some armor work, they'll have to stop by for fitting.

Tessa's immediate questions answered, she retires to the room she shares with the Lady paladin. Ashlyn, however, stays behind to ask about materials for her ritual with the Symbol of Ravenkind.

Oils and such? We've got some of that, mostly from what some of the Blademarks found scavanging the Church. Should do you fine, but the cost of it will need to come out of your credit. Master Ochem looks hard at our books.

[Materials for the rituals are available.]

Retiring to the main room, Ashlyn sees Urik already resting. After a discussion with the matrons, Marot is also forced to stay in the main room under their supervision. They arch an eyebrow at Ashlyn, indicating their desire for her to remain as well. Khensu, his wounds deemed minor enough, is allowed to retire to the room he shares with Jarrith.

Ashlyn examines the Cannon, but her training is less academic than Tessa's and finds it hard going. Cornering a fidgety Avron, she pins down the man to help her with some translation. She finds what she is looking for: The binding rituals may be performed at the same time or separate from any cleansing ritual for each artifact. Thanking the archivist, she allows him to retire with the other scribes. With the dire stare of the halfling healers upon her, however, Ashlyn settles down in the main room for rest.

25 Wir, Zarantyr, 998 YK

Sleep comes early to the party, exhausted from there earlier efforts. Avron's magical assistance and the matron's tending do wonders for the resting.

[Khensu heals all Con damage; Ashlyn heal's two Str and two Con damage; Marot heals four Str damage]

But, it is still well before sunrise when the front door of the Blood slams open, waking those in the common room. In stumbles a very dirty and, apparently, very drunk Ismark. His face is frigid with the chill, and the morning mist flows in and chills everyone below.

HUZZAH! The L-lord Ismarks returneded! Celeabratons all around!

The noise is sufficient to stir even those above.

[Everyone is wakened. No one has recovered spells, though hp's are available. You are, of course, in whatever you do or do not sleep in. Tessa and Jarrith/Khensu are upstairs; Avron is in a side room downstairs; Ashlyn/Marot/Urik and a halfling are in the common room with Ismark.]

 

[Stormwind]

As the door of the inn slams open, Ashlyn sits upright in her bedroll, her hair ruffled and the tunic that she sleeps in all rumpled, one hand already starting to pull her blade from her sheath from where it lay beside her. Realizing that it is just Ismark, Ashlyn lies back down and pulls the covers of her bedroll up over her head. Her muffled voice can be heard from under the blankets as she moans, "Ismark ... you do realize that people were sleeping here ..."

 

[pathfinderq1]

Tessa had gone upstairs to bed shortly after they returned from the caravan. She knew they would have to press Master Ochem or Ireena for the possibilty of diamond dust, but she had no wish to deal with him, and no idea where Ireena had gotten to- one or the other would have to be found, but it could wait until the morning.

While the day's trials had exhausted her, body and spirit, the power of her ring allowed only a brief rest to restore her physical energies. By the middle of the night, she was awake once more- and lacking other pursuits she dug the Tome out of her bag to peruse... She had not quite realized how deeply she was focused on the book until the sounds from below intruded upon her attention. She shifted in her seat, ears straining for the sounds of battle or screaming- either would have required her urgent response. As it was, she took her time- first she replaced the crucial Tome within her Haversack, then making her way towards the stairs, clad only in a simple tunic and trousers with her wand and shield ready, just in case...

 

[EvolutionKB]

Avron

Avron slept fitfully throughout the night. Visions of the old woman from the swamp haunted his dreams. When the door of the common room slams open, Avron screams, pulling the light blanket of the bed tightly around him. He whispers madly, while lying in the fetal position, rocking slightly back and forth for several moments. Not hearing the sounds of slaughter coming from the common room, the scholar calms down, but whimpers quietly still. He is content to stay where he is for the moment.

 

[DEFCON 1]

When the door slammed open and Ismark's voice rang out in the room below, Jarrith's head leapt off the pillow with a start. However, as nothing more of note occured within the next few seconds, Jarrith's half-asleep head plopped back down and he returned to his slumber. When he wakes up in the morning, he probably won't even remember he had slightly woken up.

Sir Khensu on the other hand immediately up to sitting in his bed. He looked around the darkness of the room, and his feral ears perked up. The sounds of voices down below were audible yet unintelligable, and his commitment forced him to rise from the bed and pull a tunic over his hairy frame. Padding across the room, out the door and down the stairs, the shifter made his way into the common room to see what the commotion was about.

When he sees Ismark standing unsteadily in the room trying to rouse people into a celebratory mood, Khensu looks the man square in the eyes. "I might suggest you will find more conciliatory celebrants if you wait until the morn, Lord Ismark. No one here right now is ready to raise a glass this early... or this late, depending on how you look at it."

 

[stonegod]

Downstairs

Ismark saunters up to the bar, leaving the door to the cold mists open. He glances at the room carelessly, giving an eye to the matron momentarily who frowns at him sternly, then slams on the counter. Drink! Awake, Arik. I demand drink!

Urik rolls his eyes and tries to settle back down, while Marot glares at the burgomaster's son. Ashlyn sighs some more when she sees the man is going to try to have his way.

Upstairs

Quickly dressing, Khensu emerges into the hall first. He hears a soft voice behind him call his name. Khensu Feral The shifter turns to see a form almost hidden in the darkness at the end of the hall. She is a striking woman, someone he certainly would have remembered if he had met her before. She looks at him intently a moment, just long enough for it to seem awkward, but then... the moment passes. She smiles, then steps back into the shadows.[sblock=DEFCON][Khensu is mine for a bit.]

Quietly, the shifter reenters his shared room. The half asleep Jarrith mumbles something, then turns over without response. [Listen check fails] The shifter takes up his haversack, then turns back towards the door.[/sblock]Taking a bit longer, Tessa comes out into the hall. She thinks it is empty a moment, but just makes out a shadowy form lurking in the darkness near the window. [Spot] She furrows her brow a moment at the strange woman, just as Khensu exists his room, closing it behind him, carrying his haversack behind him. Its a bit odd, but Tessa does not see anything immediately wrong about the situation. [Sense Motive]

[Responses?]

 

[pathfinderq1]

Upstairs

Tessa paused a moment- if there was trouble downstairs, she was willing to let the shifter lead the way. "Khensu, did you hear the shouting downstairs? Do you know what is going on down there?" While the woman's presence was a little odd, Tessa had to admit that she didn't know everyone in the village, and surely some of the townsfolk might have taken to the shelter of the inn...

 

[stonegod]

Upstairs

Khensu ignores Tessa, moving instead to the woman. As he hands her the haversack, she nods warmly and turns to Tessa. The kind knight offered us some of his extra blankets for the cold night. As for below, I think the drunk lord has returned.

 

[pathfinderq1]

"Warmth is a great comfort, in this cold and damp," Tessa nodded. She had almost put the exchange from her mind and moved on to wondering what had brought the lord stumbling in...

And then she realized just what Khensu had handed over. "Khensu, is Jarrith awake? Can you bring him out here for a moment?" Her request was mild enough, but her voice was sharp with tension, and she shifted the consecrated shield on her arm so that she faced the woman squarely. "I think he may have made a mistake in the dark of his room. I beleive he has given you his companion's pack instead of his own..."

OOC: Oh, to have a few more arms- she will juggle the shield (which doubles as her holy symbol) and the wand for now; if it comes to casting she will drop the wand.