Hazlan: Chapter Four

[ewancummins]

''I certainly agree'', says Cornelius. He, too, grabs his kit and makes ready to leave.

[lostboy]

As you gather your belongings Draven is left alone, unconcsious where Van dragged him.

Suddenly as if pulled on strings like a marionette he jerks upright to a sitting position. With his eyes closed he sits silently for a few moments, as still as a statue, a dark shadow with a white face in the glimmering fire cast by the burning troll.

Slowly his lips start to move but no sound emerges, then all at once his eyes flash open, and a hoarse whisper leaves his lips "no", then louder "no" and then he shouts in a cracked voice "NO!"

"He spoke to me, I heard his voice inside my head! He taunted me, told me I was his..." He trails off and his eyes fall to the broken ring in his hand "my ring, gone.... he shattered it..."

Looking around he takes in the burning troll and the others with wide eyes and asks "What happened?"

[Ail]

Lucius steals away for a brief minute, saying a brief prayer and postponing the rest of his devotions for later. He approaches Valerian and says

"sorry for leaving you without an answer a while back, I was still too shocked. Yes, I agree I was lucky, but I had to risk it. Don't you believe in sacrificing yourself for others? I think that is what Ezra asks of me."

And in particular, this other Lucius was speaking of was visibly in need of help. As Draven cried again, Lucius could plainly see that what affected him was beyond his ken, and that he must delve deep in his books at the first good library he found. There was so much he had to study, so much he had to learn to help Alex.

He felt a stubborn tear at the edge of his eye. He wiped it away quickly so no one would see, but the powerlessness he felt wouldn't go away as easily.

where will I find the means to battle these beings, the vile demons? in magic, or religion? which will be the fastest way to it... and which the right one?

[VAN]

Van helps Draven to stand to his feet and says:

"I saw you transform in a demon this time. You were much bigger with teeth and fangs. You have casted a spell that paralyzed both the troll and Sefi. Then you fell uncoscious. I have dragged you away and Valerian set the troll on fire. We decided to leave since we cannot sleep in peace in here since we don't know if there are any other trolls around."

Van decides to not tell to Draven that Sefi was up to attack him and only Lucius words held the werewolf. Alexander is still under shock and it isn't necessary to worry him further. Looking meaningfully Lucius, as wanting to be sure that he will not tell it too the wizard continues:

"Come on Alex, get your stuff, we have to move."

[NeoTiamat]

The Warden followed Lucius's gaze towards Draven, and nodded quietly. "We need to reach Levkarest."

"Have a care," Valerian placed a hand on his fellow anchorite's shoulder. "The line between martyrdom and suicide can be a fine one. But you did well."

"Now let us depart this Ezra-forsaken glade."

[steveflam]

You travel for nearly two hours before you find a suitable location for the tiny hut. Given the hour and how little you've slept it comes with great relief. Once Cornelius casts his hut spell, it doesn't take you very long to set up and sleep. You split the watches and the rest of the evening passes without incident.

The next morning you take your time as all of you need time to recover from the excitement of fleeing Barovia and the Troll. Notwithstanding the second Draven/Demon incident. Van identifies the iitems as a bag of holding, boots of speed, cloak of elvenkind and a ring of swimming.

It is after the noon meal when you break camp. Continuing in the same direction, you head for Ramulai. Travelling for the next two days, you encounter only fellow travellers on the road. They merely nod at you but don't speak. You pass it iup as suspicious of foreigners, not the first time some of you encounter this phenomenon.

Finally on the eve of the second day, you arrive at Ramulai.

[ewancummins]

Cornleius takes a good look at the town. He tries to size things up.
Are there many soldiers or constables on the streets? Any other foreigners or nonhumans here? Do the people seem unsually withdrawn, unhappy, or hostile? How many inns are there? Is there a place we can buy supplies for the road?

[VAN]

During the 2 days, Van is almost always absent, he isn't rude when you talk to him but it's clear that his mind is elsewhere as wanting to remember something.

As walking, suddenly his face gets a panicked expression, his eyes go wide and his mouth drops as he looks Draven.

"Alex... the demon inside you... finally I managed to recognize him. He is...extremely powerful. We must hurry to go to Levkarest and please do the best you can to keep him inside."

He looks Valerian, Lucius and Cornelius and with a tremble at his voice he says:

"He is a pit fiend! I guess you know what that means and how powerful he is."

Looking the town ahead of him, as if for the first time realizing where they go he adds:

"Ah, and Valerian and Lucius, it might be better if you hide your holly symbols. Not for the demon, but for the people we might encounter, clerics of Ezra are not very welcomed here."

[lostboy]

Draven has spent the last few days in a daze, withdrawn and quiet. HIs hood pulled low over his eyes he walks like the dead.

Inside he cannot get the memory of that voice out of his mind, and he lives every moment in dread that it will speak to him again. He hasnt slept since Barovia, not even the morphine he has been taking has been able to blot out the fear.

He looks up at Vans words and stares dully at the mage for a moment, his eyes haunted, he nods once before hunching over and continuing along the path. So I am forsaken then, to a hideous power of darkness and it seems there is little hope... he thinks miserably as they approach the village.

[Ail]

Lucius grows very worried at Van's words.

"A pit fiend? That is so bad news. Levkarest is far, actually on the other side of the Balinoks. We should have left Barovia by the other side.

That means we will have to delay the business in Kartakass, or else look for help somewhere else."

Then he turns to Tara Kolyana, who seemed to have been following them silently all these days.

"Please, dear lady, tell us more of yourself. You happen to know anything of these matters, would you?"

[OOC: I'm assuming Tara is still with us, as I've read nothing to the contrary. Also, I'm assuming I know what a Pit fiend is, something I'm not really sure of].

[steveflam]

Lucius grows very worried at Van's words.

"A pit fiend? That is so bad news. Levkarest is far, actually on the other side of the Balinoks. We should have left Barovia by the other side.

That means we will have to delay the business in Kartakass, or else look for help somewhere else."

Then he turns to Tara Kolyana, who seemed to have been following them silently all these days.

"Please, dear lady, tell us more of yourself. You happen to know anything of these matters, would you?"

[OOC: I'm assuming Tara is still with us, as I've read nothing to the contrary. Also, I'm assuming I know what a Pit fiend is, something I'm not really sure of].

Actually I rolled for everyone and Van was the only one who had any success, sorry Ail

[VAN]

Van notices the quizzical looks of his companions and says:

"I'm sorry, we are companions so all of you should know what kind of devil is trapped in our friend's Draven body. Well, the pit fiend is a devil, not a demon, it can cast a number of spells at a very high level. It is very resistant to fire, magic and normal damage(Non magical weapons/arrows etc). It can attack more than once in a round and might be able to kill a few of us in two or three attacks. That's how powerful it is. For this reason I said that we should hurry and I hope our friend Alexander manages to keep it inside! We have no chance against it. The clerics in Levkarest seem to be the only solution for Alex."

[NeoTiamat]

Reluctantly, Valerian stows his holy symbol. "Then it would seem wise for us to advance apace, hmm? Let's see if there are horses to be had in this hamlet, then perhaps Ezra can wish us a swift journey away from this land."

The Warden strides of to check for a stable. A dreary place, it seems to me. Ezra be merciful, that we need not stay here too long. Still, there seemed to be nothing for it.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Sefi had been nearly as quiet as Draven preferring to forget that unpleasant night they had left Barovia as best she could. Mostly she just walked a little off from the others, although one some occasions, they did notice her looking oddly at Lucius.

The werewolf gazed about the little village of Ramulai. Hazlan depressed her, she decided. Not nearly enough trees. Sefi sighed. It wasn't really the lack of green that was getting to her. Not if she was honest with herself. No.... Josephine was depressed for entirely different, and less easily solved reasons.

More to take her mind of her own moodiness, Sefi began to explore the little village.

[Full Sensory Examination of Ramulai - Anything interesting/out of the ordinary for a small village?
Spot Results: Take 20+14=34
Listen Results: Take 20+14=34
Scent also.]

[steveflam]

[Full Sensory Examination of Ramulai - Anything interesting/out of the ordinary for a small village?
Spot Results: Take 20+14=34
Listen Results: Take 20+14=34
Scent also.]

As you walk through Ramulai, you look around. Sefi notices nothing out of the ordinary. That's if you don't count the strange looks you get, especially Cornelius. The population seems to be mostly human, divided into two types. The haves and the have nots. The upperclass appear to be tattoed and dress in earthy tones whereas the serfs are clothed in faded old clothing.

The serfs seem to really stay away from the upperclass, seeming afraid to even be near them. The upperclass, like the serfs, speak in hushed tones. The buildings are well constructed and as you walk deeper into Ramulai you begin to realise that the streets are almost as if a maze.

Draven suddenly remembers a conversation he had with Tarlyn and guides you in the right direction to an Inn. Before you can make it a few militia, accompanied by a tattoed man in red robes approach you. The man in the robes speaks to the party in dialect of Vaasi.

"Who are you? What do you want here in Ramulai. We don't look kindly upon strangers, especially those who are armed" he says as he spies those of you who have weapons.

OOC:Spot check please.

[NeoTiamat]

[OOC: Valerian Spot 1+7=8; Sefi Spot 3+14=17]

Valerian steps forward, casting a quick glance at his comrades. Stepping before the Hazlani lord, he bows humbly. Without cassock or holy symbol, the Warden seems more a mercenary soldier in armor and sword, scarred from battle, than a proselytizing cleric.

"Honored Lord, we are but modest travelers upon a quest." The Warden indicates the longsword at his side. "These are but protection upon our journey. Roads are poor and life is harsh, and the honest traveler needs to fear the predators of the road, both those that walk on four legs and those that walk upon two."

"We seek to purchase horses, and a nights rest upon true beds, and shall be gone upon the morn, leaving only good silver coin behind us, Honored Lord."

Valerian bowed again. His voice had been strange, almost wheedling, but at the same time, oddly convincing.

[OOC: And this is how Valerian manages to avoid getting kicked out Nova Vaasa long enough to preach. Hope it works in Hazlan too.

Diplomacy check: 14+12 = 26]