At the whorehouse, Loni smiles and says to Accalon “Well, of course we can get you cleaned up. Um, both of you.” Beatrice comes over to Accalon too, adding “It’s the very least we can do.” Lieutenant Modrin rises from the floor and says “I haven’t had anyone bathe me <cough, cough> since I was 3, and honestly, it <cough>, it wouldn’t be good for my position.” He stops just a moment to catch his breath again then says “Besides, assuming this rock broke the window in there, and it’s not a set up, I really need to set my men on Hex.” Brie says “Hex? Who the hell is Hex? He started this fire?” Modrin says “It’s short for Hectaras, have you had dealings with him?”
Brie starts to go off on a litany about the ‘snot-nosed punk Hectaras’ trying to take over her business, while Loni and Beatrice are leading Accalon away for his bath, but Modrin interrupts Brie to say to Accalon “Wait a moment. I know, we both deserve some rest, but I have to ask you one question before I go. I thought you might be involved with the mayhem last night, but this girl’s account of you,” he nods towards Loni, “and what I’ve seen of your character tonight dispels any suspicion. But your ‘adventuring party’ allies are another matter. If you could just tell me where to find them, I have about a million questions for them. Have they by chance been staying at the Warrior’s Helm?”
In the forest, the dwarf says to Alicia, “Just calm down. It’s ‘wicker’, not ‘wicked’. And I did no such thing. I didn’t send it, I didn’t even know you were here. It was out gathering supplies I needed.”. Her eyes narrow, watching for hostility from the half-ogre. “But your right, it is stupid. Too stupid to be scared of anything, so if it ran off, it’s because you got wise and quit attacking it. But I saw that you hit it once or twice, and it looks like it got a few licks on you, too. I again say, that apple will help you feel much better.”
She finishes her own apple, and throws the core over shoulder, it hitting Gwyn’s tent but just rolling off. “And no, I don’t know for sure if we’re even talking about the same ruins. But Big Treasure Ruins is a good name for it. I don’t know it’s precise location… but I do know something that’s there. Something I want.”
At the well in Taeirn, Shadow happily takes a drink from T’aria’s flask, but Skulker declines, and his look to Shadow makes it clear he thinks she should too. She shakes her head and says, “That dear young boy from the stable, Sunjin is his name, I’m afraid he talks too much.” Skulker scowls and says “He’s not the only one.” Shadow matches his scowl with one of her own, then smiles sweetly and says “Skulker, don’t you think you should go check on him?” He looks towards T’aria and says “But what if she…”. Shadow interrupts him and says “I’m perfectly safe. We’re just talking. Remember talking? You can find out a lot that way. Go talk with Sunjin and see if he’s mentioned this place to anyone else.” His facial expression never changing from being upset, he puts away his crossbow and heads in the direction the boy went in.
Shadow smiles up at T’aria, then smirks a little and says “The party I’m talking about, they better be afraid of more than the city guard. They upset three different power groups last night, one of whom we didn’t even know existed until they got pissed at them. And they almost upset a fourth group. That would be mine. And Skulker’s. That’s what my message is about. They
don’t want to upset our group. We’re very secretive, but we don’t mind co-existence. We co-exist with everyone, unless they find out about us and try to hurt us. We hate no one, we’re out to hurt no one, again, unless someone is out for us. Then, there’s no mercy.”
She sits down on the grass and asks if the half-demon would like to sit as well. Then she adds ”We think, we’re not sure, but we think some members of your group might be targeting one of ours. Oops, did I say ‘your’ group? Well, let’s just keep it that way for now. Anyway, one of my fellow halflings; all day today a local rogue has been watching him. We think it’s because this rogue is after your group, and expects them to attack the halfling. We’re not sure why this rogue, his name is Hex, would expect that. But if one of our members is being threatened by ‘your’ group, then ‘your’ group isn’t going to be very happy with the consequences.”
She just lounges lazily in the grass, apparently not worried about any threat T’aria might pose. “So, that’s the message I’m trying to get across to them. Some groups you just don’t mess with. And if they’re afraid of the city guard, well, I hope for their sake they don’t have to find out who is really in power here. As I mentioned to Skulker, talking can reveal a lot, and I’ve told you a lot. Is there anything you wish to share?”
[T’aria rolled Sense Motive 16-1=15, nothing in what she said seemed dishonest]
Lydia and Sunedilar continue into the city, seeing the occasional mounted guard or two, but always at a distance, and usually traveling quickly towards the festival grounds. They find Boone’s Antique Shop, which from a distance appears closed. Across the street from the shop are two men talking quietly, although by body language, it appears they are arguing, one dressed in a green robe, the other wears dark loose-fitting clothes with various symbols emblazoned on it. Inside the shop, unknown to Lydia and Sunedilar, Aligor sleeps restlessly, having needed a good long rest after that battle with the bat, but not able to sleep much, from a combination of an uncomfortable cot and Bane’s restless pacing every few hours.
[In other words, Aligor is asleep, but will probably wake up if any significant noise takes place.
BTW, when/if we need to know HPs, by this morning, everyone's had the benefit of another rest.]
