Realms of Dread IC, Chapter One

[steveflam]

Rardi and the others return to the Inn as well. On the way, however, Rardi speaks up. She'd said nothing until then.

"U dun know bout ye, but that man rubbed me tha wrong way. It took all me will power not ta grab me mace an split 'is skull. Creatin undead an callin em is offspring ain't natural. Bah! An 'e said not this month. That means he mighta done it before the fool! I dun care bout ye, but Imma keepin an eye on that one. Can't be trusted."

Once arrived at the Inn, she walks over to the table, still upset. She orders an ale and plops down in a chair not saying anything. She is scowling and in a foul mood.

[Ken of Ghastria]

Blaise says during the trip back from the manor, "No, I don't trust him, either ... but I believe him about this. He certainly has secrets, which I guess is understandable considering what he dabbles in, and he had various arcane wards around him -- probably for protection or to prevent his mind from being read. Perhaps he's trying to protect a secret recipe for that tea -- it WAS very good.

"But based on our first impression, I feel that he'd view something like the beheadings as almost ... too crude for him to be involved."

Once at the Inn, Blaise orders some wine and sits down with a smile. "So," he says happily to the others, "how fared YOUR day?"

[VAN]

"I doubt he has killed her. Do you remember his phase at my direct question? He said "I have no certain knowledge of who or what might have killed any of the persons of which you speak. Rardi has casted detect lies, if that was a lie she could have gotten it! Also about that he hasn't killed and beheaded anyone this month, well...that was a clever way to tell us that he has probably killed more than a month ago or that he hadn't done both. Maybe he has seen her beaten from a vampire and just beheaded her from avoiding her to turn into a vampire as well. Of course he may just found her dead and beheaded and got her with him. We don't know."

Turning to Blaise she says"

"I agree that he has probably something to hide and I detected 5 different magic auras on him. He was prepared for us...and maybe wants to hide information and I agree that he had most probably prevented his mind from being read, but don't think he is an assassin. On the other hand he could polymorph to a troll or to a giant and gain much more strength. But I'm very perplexed about the hit, it was very precise as for someone that knew very well what he was doing and has for sure done it before. A mage isn't a fighter, doubt he can never be so good and precise even with spells. But of course I may be wrong..."

Once in the inn Inovidil orders a glass of wine and after a greeting the others she asks.

"What have you found out guys?"

[BigBadQDaddy]

Jamethon doesn't laugh at Alain's joke, but neither does he display any obvious sign of annoyance. He merely shrugs and mutters-
''It isn't morning, you know.''

Alain's smile evaporates and a wave of discomfort flashes over his eyes for a moment. "I suppose. It isn't morning at all. How silly of me."

When asked about his book, he marks his place with a ribbon and and hands the book to Alain. The title is written on the spine in black ink, which sets off well against the yellowish leather of the binding. It reads:

Anaster's History of Damara Vol IX

Alain takes the book which Jamethon hands to him and looks it over. He opens the book, looking for a table of contents or just skimming through the chapter headings looking for anything that may catch his eye.

When the others arrive, Alain greets them warmly, and briefly before skimming through the book some more.

[Guest]

As Archedius walks over to the table he points at the book Alain is looking at,

"How up to date is that? Does it have anything about the Witch-King's invasions?"

Before he can get an answer, Archedius removes his short sword from the scabbard 4 inches out and slams it back in a few times absent-mindedly as he scans the room,

"We should really talk in a more private setting, let's head to a room. The unobserved ear hears what you don't want it to."

[kintire]

Shana grins at Alain and whispers in his ear

"Don't mind him... he's not much in the mood for humour right now".

Glancing with no interest whatever at the book she greets the others as they come in. She looks a little puzzled at Rardi

"what's up? you don't look happy!"

[steveflam]

Turning to Shana Rardi says "Let's git a private room, like Archedius says. Better fer us so noone can eavesdrop on our conversation."

Once that is done, Rardi tells the others of their meeting with Delthrin. "I jess dun think it's a natural an what he said just means he coulda done some things like that in other months. An callin undead ye created yer children ain't normal. Then again, I's a cleric 'o' Lathander so me not liking him is ta be expected. I'mma still gonna keep an eye on 'im."

[ewancummins]

Upstairs, in the prrivate room

Jamethon enters after Rardi and takes a seat in the corner. He's brought his drink with him, and sips from the clay mug as the others converse.

[VAN]

Inovidil gets her drink upstairs as well and tells the others the same things she told to Rardi and Blaise when they were heading back.

"So what do you think?"

Asks addressing everybody.

[Guest]

"I wonder if Deltherin knows of Fortis. Of course this could all boil down to nothing."

[BigBadQDaddy]

Alain makes it up to the private room, his nose buried in the book he borrowed from Jamethon. Amazingly he doesn't bump into anything or miss a step as he makes his way there.

Absentmindedly, as if in a hypnotized state does he answer Archedius, "Hm? Oh, uh...looks to have been written say, about nine years ago. And the witch-kings invasions...oh yes, right here. Covered in the last chapter..." His voice trails off a bit as he looses himself in the reading once more.

Once in the room, Alain hands the book back to Jamethon, Thanking him with a nod, heeding Shana's words about Jamethon not being in such a good mood.

Responding to Inovidil's general question, Alain calmly replies, "Well, we've a real mystery to deal with, for sure." He runs his fingers through his hair as he squints his eyes. "We did run across a couple of useful names though."

[VAN]

"Indeed! We need to learn more about Fortis."

Inovidil looks at Jamethon, the cleric has't told them what he found out. So she asks him:

"What about you Jamethon? Do you have any news to share with us?"

[kintire]

"hah! I may be jumping to conclusions, but judging from the descriptions I'd say Delthrin knows Fortis as well as he knows himself..."

Displaying no interest at all in the history of Damara, but a great deal of interest in viniculture, Shana listens to the account of the meeting, smiling sympathetically (with just a hint of mischief) at Rardi.

"Yes, I have a similar attitude to necromancers. I'm glad I'm not sworn to serve any city that openly employs one."

[steveflam]

Rardi replies to Shana with "That be true. Then agin if I'd a bin here when 'e'd wanted ta live 'ere, and knowin what I knows about Necromancers I'd 'a' said me piece ta the authorities. Thass like human ale an me. It tastes like goat droppins and has no kick to it. Yet people still have it. Gimme a good pint o dwarvish ale any day."

[VAN]

"I have thought the same thing Shana, that maybe Delthrin and Fortis are the same person, for this reason I said we need to learn more about him. Maybe Captain Rask knows Delthrin's last name, so we can start from him."

She sees the book and asks:

"What about this book Jamethon? And who is this Witch King?"