A New Barovia: Chapter Two

[BigBadQDaddy]

Thomas sets aside the bowl and pint of ale he was given, not in the mood for either. Given how he felt he did not care if he was being impolite. The master of the inn would need to deal with that if he wished.
The room was getting crowded making the young man feel anxious to leave. He was sure that if he left the room his ache would begin to subside.
After those who partake finish there ale or food Thomas looks up to Cornelius, his face sympathetic yet business like. "Cornelius, I know you cared a great deal for Delsenora and her friendship meant a lot to you. It is with that understanding that I must ask you to leave us for the moment. There will be a time to grieve and remember this remarkable person but now is not it. We have business to discuss amongst ourselves and the risks entailed we cannot afford to have you implicit in. I know you seek satisfaction at seeing justice dealt and as far as I am aware you simply do not have the training to see it through. I ask that you trust us to see her killer brought to justice and not to throw your own life away in an attempt to met it out yourself."

[steveflam]

Cornelius puts down his pint and looks at Thomas, serious. He stands up abruptly and looks hard at the young man. "I'll respect yer wishes on'y cuz tha missus liked you lots. I dun care who yer is or what yer done. I might look a bit daft at times an appear ta be aloof n off. I'll tell yer this. This beast yer after, it ain' tha one who did this ter her. Twas someone else. I is older n has lots more experience than you do, Thomas. Listen ter me carefully. Kick me out, I dun care. But dun think I is under ya, ya little git. AN dun talk to me like that ever again else I teach yer a lesson, unnerstood? I wanner help ya's n ye want me outta here." His voice is almost a growl, bearlike and very scary. "I kin take care o meself, have for the last one hunnerd en fifty years ye dolt. Now if you'll excuse me, I gots an Inn to run."

His fist slams down on the table and the hard oak wood cracks. He exits quicker than you can even react and the door closes quietly behind him. Laurie's mouth opens to say something then closes. She sips more of the brew and sits back, pondering. She utters "Well, that was fun..... so, Thomas, why did you want him out of here? You do know he is a Werebear, right? And can help you in giving information on this Werebadger, no?"

[Ail]

Robert chuckles uncomfortably as Cornelius leaves. He raises with a bow and an "Excuse me" just as Laurie delivers her line about the man. He was not surprised.

He leaves the room and goes after Cornelius, and putting his best airs of diplomacy and charm, he tries to appease the innkeeper and bring him back to the side of the team.

"Please, Cornelius, don't heed Thomas. He is a bit full of himself some times. Something to do with what his father did, I'm sure... and his family to the Weathermays too, god knows if to the Van Richtens, and the Zaroviches and who else is famous in this land...

He's young. I'm young, I know! We sometimes do silly things, think of us as the movers of the world.

Please, forgive him, and accept my invitation. Don't be a stranger to us, I for one feel you can teach us a lot. I still haven't forgotten what I saw of you the other day on the roof!"

[VAN]

Adam is glad Thomas throws himself in the discussion so he didn't have time to tell him his thoughts about Quorin. The cleric trusted Delsenora who was trusting Cornelius and this puts the man in Adam's good books, but there was no guarantee for Quorin.

When Laurie told them that Cornelius is a werebear Adam's eyes go wide an says really surprised.

"So that's why he is so strong and told us to meet him in the woods. Now many things are clear. I just hope Robert can convince him to come back.

[Ken of Ghastria]

Khalfani shakes his head sadly. "I understand your impatience, Thomas. But no one of good spirit should ever be told that they have no use. It is a terrible feeling." Khalfani pauses, as though revisiting an unpleasant memory. He continues, "As for Cornelius, I had a suspicion of his true nature after his extraordinary feat of climbing, but I was -- and am -- convinced of his good intentions, and that was enough. Let us proceed, and hope that we can continue to rely on Cornelius' aid should we need it."

[steveflam]

"Young Master Robert" he says from behind the reception counter and his new post, the desk. "I am quite useful an kin help yers all. When Thomas apologizes ter me wholeheartedly then I'll feel up ter helpin yer best I kin. Otherwise I'll just go on my usual business. I gots ter run tha Inn now. Oh, there's a relative of Del's in a room here sleepin. Fergit 'is name but he seems a nice enuff lad. When he shows hisself I'll let him know bout you folk. Now, go enjoy your friends company 'n' I gots an Inn ter run, laddie. I'll see yer later."

He turns his attention to the matters of the Inn.

[kintire]

Marilee looks a little doubtful at the news that their innkeeper is a werebear, but her instinct to always side against Thomas prevents her from making any comment

"I suppose we should try to obtain weapons that will hurt this werebadger... and find out who our other enemy is. Do you think they will strike at us next?"

[VAN]

"I'm sure they will. They have already tried and failed meaning they will just attack us with more people or stronger and of course will try to surprise us. So we need to be smart, never split and as Marilee said try to find the werebadger's weakness. I have also a couple spells that will help when we face him and his allies."

[Ail]

Robert thanks Cornelius, gives him a nod and returns to the room. He pats Thomas on the shoulder and whispers him

"The old man there is not terribly upset, but be a good lad, and offer him an apology when you can."

He then sits at the table.


"You were talking vulnerabilities? Well, we have to find someone who can make some brass weapons. We have to talk to a local who might be knowledgeable in the underworld.

[Ken of Ghastria]

"Yes, now that we have a full day ahead of us," says Khalfani, "I will ask some of the longtime residents of the city about any sculptors or other people familiar with working with bronze. And I believe I shall pay another visit to George Lemay. As helpful as he was to us yesterday, I believe he withheld information. And with last night's developments, I am less reluctant to be direct with the man." He pauses. "And I suggest, my friends, that we all be slightly more... what is the unfortunate word? Ah, paranoid, I believe. Oh, not about each other, certainly. But our foes seem to have anticipated nearly every move we made yesterday. Watch for eyes where they should not be."

[BigBadQDaddy]

Thomas sits in silence as he listens to a few of his companions jump to the inn keepers defense. His dignified expression having lost some of it's strength as Cornelius left the room. He did not expect anyone to understand his feelings regarding lycanthropes. Especially without letting to air his families dirty laundry. After a few moments of allowing the guilt of chasing Cornelius away to flush over his face he looks Laurie in the eye and doesn't say anything. When he is sure no one else is paying attention to him he silently mouths the words, "You know why I did that..."
After a few more silent moments he makes like nothing happened and clears his throat, doing his best to put on airs once more. "I believe I owe you all an explanation." He begins, his voice clear of any warble of nervousness. "Here it is. Yes, it is true Cornelius is a Lycanthrope. I am sure he can handle himself in a fight. If this investigation comes down to a fight I am sure he would be a valuable asset. That does not change the fact that as a friend of Delsenora's and that he is a Lycanthrope he is a wild card. I can't expect him to act in this investigation on a clear head. Now granted, that was a dirty trick I pulled on him and given who he is he didn't deserve it but I may just have saved his life. Given the choice between hurt feelings and a man's assured safety the choice is obvious to me."
He hated using half truths. He hated secrets. He hated that his own Aunt was here to see him favor both. He exhales through his nose noticeably before continuing in a mellow tone, "I am but one vote in this party. If the rest of us want Cornelius to aid us and to allow him to risk his business and life for something he very well may not be suited for that is fine. My opinion does not change and I will not apologize for what I have done. And I will for sure keep my eyes on him as we do not know how much of the beast has seized him. That is all I have to say on the subject."

[VAN]

Adam knew Thomas enough to trust his judgement but on the other hand he believes that more allies the merrer.

"Your opinion is rescpected my friend but as Khalfani said our enemies seem to predict our moves and be not only 1 but few steps ahead everytime. I'm leaning to believe that there is a mole in militia or Quorin or even Demetri. Of course if we have to do with a spellcaster then we should not forget that there are spells that change the appearance. So maybe one of our enemies change his/her appearance and that way is able to get information even from us...Don't forget that the woman that has attacked Deselnora was teleported away using a wand or an item. We can trust nobody and as said before we should never split as group. We will not know if that woman or someone else kidnap one of us and take his/hers form. That been said I think Cornelius can help us with the werebadger, I think he can scent him for example and will be great in battle. You have all seen how strong and agile he is. Since Deselnora was trusting him I think we should do the same, if of course we know he is really him and not an imposter. Cornelius might also know where we can get brass weapons, maybe he knows a blacksmith or someone with brass stuff we can melt and do weapons. He has been in the city way more than us and he knows more people. Plus he can help us figure out who might be the imposter."

Putting a hand on Thomas shoulder says:

"My friend I understand where you come from, but for the good of the group and for Deselnora can you apologize to Cornelius? Deselnora trusted him and he can really be very useful."

[BigBadQDaddy]

Thomas' mouth goes tight as his friend pleads with him to apologize to the Inn keeper. He had no idea what he was asking him to do. With the speed of thought a wave of dizziness sweeps over the young man as a slight nausea creeps up from his stomach. He shakes his head and slowly stands up.
"If you will excuse me." He says meekly before turning and heading out of the room closing the door behind him. Bracing himself against the wall he takes a few deep breaths in a futile attempt to compose himself. Willingly allow a were-beast that close? Were they mad? He slowly walks back to his own room. Quickly he enters and closes the door behind him and in a few short strides throws open the window. He makes his way back to where he stores his gear in the room and begins packing. If they only knew the danger... He thinks in anger as he fastens the straps of his pack.
He stops himself for a moment and allows the anger to subside. There was no way he could apologize to the Inn keeper. But he could ensure the group had the benefit of the were-beasts knowledge. It just made things a bit more complicated. And it may require a bit of theatrics to make it stick.

[VAN]

Adam notices Thomas is upset and sighs.

"I will go talk to him, he is my friend and I don't like seeing him like that."

Adam follows Thomas and knocks gently at his door saying:

"Thomas, may I come in? I'm sorry if I upset you with what I said. Do you want talk about it?"

[Ken of Ghastria]

Don't forget that the woman that has attacked Deselnora was teleported away using a wand or an item."

"Or... she is simply very good at disappearing," says Khalfani. "Do not assume too much about our foe. A talent for rendering oneself unseen could explain much of what you described, and -- from an arcane standpoint at least -- may be easier to accomplishment than shapechanging and impersonation."

After Thomas and Adam depart, Khalfani shakes his head sadly and says to the rest of the group, "Regardless of Cornelius' agreeable nature, I am not sure why Adam believes that we can completely trust a were-creature to be on our side in combat. Perhaps Adam has knowledge of were-creatures that I do not. Nevertheless, while Cornelius may have information that can assist us, I believe we would all be safer if Cornelius was nowhere near us if -- or more likely when -- we confront the werebadger."

The dark-skinned gnome stands up, adjusts his now-somewhat-dirty white robes, and continues, "I will ask Cornelius whether he knows of anyone with experience in working with bronze, as Adam suggested. If that proves fruitless, then I will expand my search. Does anyone wish to accompany me?"