Kartakass : Chapter Five

[steveflam]

"Why er yes, you can pay for the next round, Mr Lukas. Please do join us. News sure travels fast around here, sir. Why, we just had time to settle in and sit, and here you are! Not that I'm complaining mind you. So might you have a few minutes of your time to perhaps aid us in some information we seek?" Tarlyn replies.

Jacob acknowledges the man with a nod but keeps silent.

[steveflam]

Tarlyn turns to Jacob after asking his question. "Inbal dos tha nindol iwaotc p'los?" "Have you seen this person before?"

Jacob: "Nau. Vec'end. Inbal dos rin'ov tha ukta p'los?" "No. Odd. Have you ever met him before?"

Tarlyn: "Nau. Usstan brorn ele uk telanthus ji? Zexen'uma kyone del ukta. Jivvin reztorm xuil ukta whol nin." "No. I wonder why he said so. Keep wary of him. Play along for now."

Jacob speaks to Harkon in a low but friendly voice "I am wondering, Mr Lukas, if it is normal that there are so many wolves here in Kartakass? We were followed by many a pack or simply one since our arrival here in your fine land. And not once did they attack us. I have never seen so many in all my travels. It is just to put my mind at ease of course." Jacob gauges Lukas' reaction to his question.

[Nathan of the FoS]

"Normal?" Harkon Lukas says. "Well, I suppose it depends on what you mean by normal. After all, what is normal in the Kartakan woods would be quite unusual here in the Kartakan Inn, or the broad fields of Nova Vaasa, or the great cities of Darkon. We do have a great many wolves...they flourish throughout this land...Kartakass, Forlorn, Barovia, Invidia, Verbrek, they form together what we sometimes call the Wolfwood. There's nothing so strange about seeing a pack of them here in our woods, really."

Pausing and twirling a mustachio, Lukas examines the rest of the table and says, "But your friends haven't said a word! They'll think us dull company indeed if we don't rectify that. Won't you introduce us, friend Tarlyn?"

[steveflam]

Tarlyn accepts Harkon's answer to Jacob. The man had skillfully dodged his request for information by having Tarlyn introduce his travelling companions. Fair enough. I might enjoy this Meistersinger's company as long as he can help us. He still bears watching. He introduces each member with a wave of his hand. "This is Jacob Hun'ana from lands beyond as I am" he says as his hand passes Jacob. Next he presents Lucius. "This is Lucius Plancturus, a native Darkonian." Then he passes to Cornelius. "This is Cornelius Ordman as well of Darkon." He passes next to Van. "This is Van Thunderstorm another native Darkonian." He next passes William. "Here we have our friend and a master with his pistol I might add, William Tack. He is from Paridon." Last he passes before Draven. "Here we have our friend Alexander Draven, who is from Darkon."

Tarlyn then asks "So, Meistersinger Lukas, we are here looking for someone and were told that if anyone could help us, it would be the famous Bard of Kartakass and premiere meistersinger, Harkon Lukas. I trust that my information is accurate?" Tarlyn asks in a smooth voice.

[ewancummins]

''Cornelius Ordmann of Tempe Falls, Master Lukas.''

Cornelius rises and nods politely at the bard.

[lostboy]

Lifting his eyes slightly from his contmeplation of the mug Draven carefully scrutinises their visitor. Tempting though it would be to dismiss him as a dandy, Draven more than most is aware of deceptive appearances, the man is meistersinger afterall he adds quickly to himself.

Wincing slightly at Tarlyns introduction he pushes the lank hair from his eyes and shifting his thin frame he sits a little straighter in the seat. With a slight smile he offers a nod of welcome.

[VAN]

"Van Thunderstorm, happy to meet a such famous bard as you Mister Lukas."

Says Van as studies the bard.

"It's really strange how Lukas already knows Tarlyn's and Jacob's names! I don't remember to have talked to anyone else about this meeting except Pietro, and I doubt he told that to the bard! Very weird!" Thinks Van, but keeps these thoughts for himself.

[BigBadQDaddy]

William stands up and addresses Mr. Lukas.
"It's a pleasure Meistersinger. And might I add, good Meistersinger, that the people here are a breath of fresh air. You wouldn't believe the sort we've come across." Then with a pleasant enough smile from William, the sailor sits down.

[Ail]

Lucius nods and offers a handshake to Harkon

"I can see you have a lovely country here, Meistersinger. And I'm at a loss to remember a more pleasant inn than this one. I trust the rest of our stay to be equally agreeable."

[Nathan of the FoS]

"Delighted, I'm sure," Lukas says to the table at large, smiling agreeably and displaying a fine set of very white teeth. "I am delighted to hear that you have enjoyed your time in Kartakass. We exert ourselves to be hospitable to the foreign traveler. So many Darkonians! Not to mention those from still farther afield...I wonder why you can have come from your far countries to visit us here in the woods?"

As he speaks of Darkon there is, perhaps, just the faintest hint of...jealousy?...in the Meistersinger's voice, masked by a facial expression of polite curiosity. "I'm sure it must be something important...you say you've come seeking information, friend Tarlyn? What do you want to know?"

[Ail]

Lucius twitches in his chair, a bit uncomfortable with the bard's almost repressed expressions. Trying not to get himself noticed, Lucius does his best to conceal his inner thoughts, while looking at Tarlyn, waiting for his answer.

[steveflam]

Tarlyn notices Harkon's manner but says nothing. He did hope the Bard could help them. Might as well ask. "Well we are here looking for two men from Darkon. Both Ezrites. One man Percival Layhden was here last year and we never heard back from him. The big concern here is he had contracted the terrible disease of lycanthropy. At first he could control it with spells but the task became too overwhelming I think. We never heard again from him and the church sent another agent after him, a Dominic Reyssey with two items to help cure the man. He too disappeared." Tarlyn pauses before continuing, gauging Harkon's reaction to his tale.

"This is when I became involved. I was originally in Souragne and was sent from a priest there to Martira Bay to aid the church there in the effort to find the two missing men. Here I met these fine gentlemen and we have travelled from Darkon here, in hopes of finding the fate of both men and the two items. So what we'd like to know is the fate of both men and the two items. Anything will be helpful, Mr Lukas."

[ewancummins]

Cornelius has heard of the wisdom, lore mastery, and cunning of the bards of Kartakass. Surely Lukas, being not just a simple bard , but a Meistersinger, must have at least some useful scrap of infromation for the party.

This fellow seems like a right nice sort. Kartakss could grow on a person, it could. I'll have to ask him if there are any other dwarves in these parts,
Cornelius thinks to himself.

[Nathan of the FoS]

"Oh yes?" Harkon says, tapping one finger against his cheek as his face assumes a far-away expression. "Percival, ah, Layhden, and Dominic Reyssey. And the last you heard, they were here in Kartakass. Well, I rather doubt I can help you to find them, although the fact that this Layhden suffered from the Dread Disease may offer a clue or two. Tell me, gentlemen, have you heard anything of the werewolf who calls herself Mother Fury?"

[steveflam]

"I have merely heard of her from an acquaintance of mine. And I think these gentlemen here have heard of her too from another source." Tarlyn drow signed to the others "I am speaking of Sefi of course in your case, and Pietro in mine."