HLoM: The Firebird, Chapter 2

[Isabella]

"Tú!" the ghost exclaims, and the forest vanishes, leaving you in a long, wide hallway, in almost total darkness.

"Tú," Richard repeated, furrowing his brow and frowning before blinking at Tara. "D-dommra... It-it almost seems like she-she recognized you. Or-or thought she did."

"Oh, there you are," he says. "I'd better show you your room now, I suppose. Follow me."

"Mists..." Richard whispered, watching the chances of meeting the other party melt away before his eyes. The Lady Isolt had been alive in the first time shift, which meant they weren't going to find the Shield in her tomb in that "scene". Which meant they had a chance of finding it here... but he didn't think they'd be able to excuse himself just this moment.

He turned to Colin, his expression grave. "I-I think that would be wise," he said.

He held out his hand to help Rojan up and began to follow. "Are you-are you alright? What happened?" he whispered to the other man under his breath.

[Nerit]

Nuray eyed Tara with thinly veiled suspicion as Richard spoke. She, too, had felt the apparition's attention especially focused on the anchoress. But their chance of explanation or exploration had yet again been swept away. "This is...trying my patience," she said to no one in particular, "and my sanity."

She followed Colin and the group moodily, though her footfalls made hardly a noise on the stairs.


Perception just because.
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+18

[Nathan of the FoS]

]

Vasili observes that an illusion cast over the whole room is now dissipating. I would love to reward a 31 Perception but cannot call to mind any relevant detail.

Tara shakes her head at Richard's question, keeping a careful eye on Colin's back as she speaks in a low voice. "Maybe she remembers me from...something that hasn't happened yet?" She gives Nuray a sympathetic look. "Our Lady save me. Us. I don't know how to proceed at this point."

Rojan nods grimly at Nuray's assessment of the situation. "Oh ar," he mutters. "I feel the same." To Richard, he replies, "I don't hardly know. I smelt summat delicious, roast lamb with herbs, and I felt a hunger for it, on and on it drew me 'til i found meself in the trees with that horror-thing gabbling at me. I think she was askin' what brought us, but I couldn't get my wits around me to remember the words to explain. She axed after the laird, too, I think. Summat to do with him."

Colin turns at the top of the stairs and opens a door. "Men in here, women one floor up...unless you've other plans." He leers at Tara, who ignores him completely. "Where's the rest of your lot, anyway?"




Two charges on the wand.

"I understand," Dundee replies. "I'll do what I can to help."

As you reach the top of the stairs you hear a peal of thunder shake the tower, there is a motion at the corner of your eye and the windows behind you suddenly throw long beams of light into the room, making the heads of spears and maces and the blades of swords gleam where it picks them out; the armory is newly built, spic-and-span and the seneschal Colin appears at the doorway of the room and starts as he sees you. "Oh, there you are," he says. "I rather lost sight of you, I'm afraid, the laird called me away. Shall I show you to your rooms now?"

[Isabella]

Tara shakes her head at Richard's question, keeping a careful eye on Colin's back as she speaks in a low voice. "Maybe she remembers me from...something that hasn't happened yet?"

"It-it could be her past is-is our future. Though if-if that is why..." Richard looked at Tara for a moment, a lingering stare, before looking away. "Then it-it seems we had best be-be prepared to meet her again."

"I don't hardly know. I smelt summat delicious, roast lamb with herbs, and I felt a hunger for it, on and on it drew me 'til i found meself in the trees with that horror-thing gabbling at me. I think she was askin' what brought us, but I couldn't get my wits around me to remember the words to explain. She axed after the laird, too, I think. Summat to do with him."

"Did-did anyone else eat the food at the feast?" Richard asked, glancing at his other companions. "Well, it is-it is of little matter now. Thank the Lady you're alright, is all. We-we'll know to keep a better eye out for strange signs from now on."

Richard frowned at the mention of the Laird. "I-I wish I knew enough to fathom what it-what it could mean."

Colin turns at the top of the stairs and opens a door. "Men in here, women one floor up...unless you've other plans." He leers at Tara, who ignores him completely. "Where's the rest of your lot, anyway?"

Richard gave the phantasm a wan half-smile. "The lady is-is out fetching her fox from whatever spot the pet has-has stuck her nose into. One can-can hardly keep a dog to sit still in a-a strange new place, it-it seems," he said, attempting nonchalance. "They'll be up in a-a minute, I-I am sure."

"I-I... think you and the captain mentioned a white mist in-in the castle?" he asked Colin quietly.

[NeoTiamat]

"I understand," Dundee replies. "I'll do what I can to help."

"Good. Good. Now, since you've been here far longer than the rest of us, I don't suppose you've noticed any phantasmal oddities. Apparent shifts into the past in particular?" Lena said. "They seem to be happening to us with considerable regu-- oh mists..."

"Oh, there you are," he says. "I rather lost sight of you, I'm afraid, the laird called me away. Shall I show you to your rooms now?"

"In a moment, my good sir. I believe the Lady ApBlanc wished to have a word with us first -- would it be possible for you to take us to her?" Lena said sweetly. She was a Barovian, and when a Vistani prophecy hit you upside the head, you listened.

[Nathan of the FoS]

]

"Indeed we must," Tara says, her mouth set in a thin line. "At least it seems I gave her something to think about, so perhaps it's unlikely we'll come off worst in such an encounter?" She and Rojan both nod in agreement at Richard's puzzlement at the spirit's words. "Mebbe it's to do with the young landsherr what we ate with?" Rojan ventures.

After Colin ApMurtry hears Richard's excuses for the absent members of the party, he replies "Is that so?", giving Richard more scrutiny than the excuse would seem to deserve. "Well, if I come across them I'll have someone send them up." At the mention of the pale mist, his fox-face becomes somber. "So you've seen that one, have ye? She's one of the bad ones, as I hear it."



Colin ApVay gives Lena a considering look, then nods. "I'm sure she'd be glad of a chance to hear of your journey," he says. "She's just up the stair here--let me see if she can see you now."

He paces up the spiral stair, to return a few moments later. "Please come up," he says. "She'll see you now."

The Lady ApBlanc is seated at a desk in her sitting room, a letter in her hand; she is not reading it, but staring out the window at the sun, now not too far from the horizon. She stands as you enter. "Please, be welcome," she says, gesturing you to chairs. "I hope your friends are comfortable in your lodgings?"

[Isabella]

"Indeed we must," Tara says, her mouth set in a thin line. "At least it seems I gave her something to think about, so perhaps it's unlikely we'll come off worst in such an encounter?"

"It-it seems so," Richard agreed pensively, then suddenly gave her an open smile. "She might-she might be frightening, but you are the more formidable."

At the mention of the pale mist, his fox-face becomes somber. "So you've seen that one, have ye? She's one of the bad ones, as I hear it."

"Who-who is... who was she?" Richard asked, his face similarly somber. "Is she very dangerous?"

[NeoTiamat]

"Please, be welcome," she says, gesturing you to chairs. "I hope your friends are comfortable in your lodgings?"

"I'm certain they are having the time of their lives." Lena said, with technical truth. She let Ushka down to the floor, whereupon the fox promptly made her way to Cattia, nudging the younger woman with her nose and then looking around pointedly and sniffing the air. Lena, in the meantime, was continuing. "I believe there is one introduction still to be made -- a local colleague of Father Avram, Dundee ApDundogan of the Oak."

Lena would have greatly liked to have had more time to grill ApDundogan about what the castle was like, but alas, no time. Given how everything bounced about in this Mists-taken castle, best seize the opportunity that presented itself. "I hope we haven't offended your noble husband, milady." Lena continued smoothly. She paused, and then decided to give Isolt the opening she was so clearly hoping for. "If I or mine may be of service to you... please, but ask."

Ushka's Perception +20, with Scent: Anything interesting/significant/unusual about this place? Or about the Lady Isolt herself?
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[DeepShadow of FoS]

Taking advantage of Colin's turned back, Vasili slips out a loop of copper wire, mutters a few syllables, and renews the whisper-throwing spell on the immediate group.

Tara shakes her head at Richard's question, keeping a careful eye on Colin's back as she speaks in a low voice. "Maybe she remembers me from...something that hasn't happened yet?" She gives Nuray a sympathetic look. "Our Lady save me. Us. I don't know how to proceed at this point."

"Take heart, milady," he whisper's earnestly. "By my calculations, we are in the middle of the three timelines, the one where the shard is most likely to be in Lady ApBlanc's tomb. We just need to get there before the next shift."

"I don't hardly know. I smelt summat delicious, roast lamb with herbs, and I felt a hunger for it, on and on it drew me 'til i found meself in the trees with that horror-thing gabbling at me. I think she was askin' what brought us, but I couldn't get my wits around me to remember the words to explain. She axed after the laird, too, I think. Summat to do with him."

"If her goal was to communicate, we might well watch for her return. Information is power, after all. When we have a chance to rest, I'd like to help you jog your memory, Goodman. I'd like to know what questions she was trying to ask you, even if we don't meet her again. And if we do, I have some ideas on how to understand each other."

"Did-did anyone else eat the food at the feast?" Richard asked, glancing at his other companions.

Vasili give a quick shake of his head. After their meal at the Aerie, he had gone back to begging off all manner of food and drink.

"Who-who is... who was she?" Richard asked, his face similarly somber. "Is she very dangerous?"

Vasili also looks to Colin, curious as to why this particular spirit--harmless as she appeared--would be considered one of the "bad ones."

[Revka et al]

Not much to tell of how they took me, I'm afraid. The goblyns found a friend and I camped in the forest and fell on us by night. My friend..."

Well, I was holding back on the leg irons until I was sure we can trust him, but I guess I'll just Sense Motive (+12) to check out this guy's story. Does he seem sincerely distraught?
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the windows behind you suddenly throw long beams of light into the room, making the heads of spears and maces and the blades of swords gleam where it picks them out

With all due respect to Lena's club, Cattia takes this opportunity to snag a nicer weapon for their new friend. Assuming he passed the Sense Motive, of course.

"Good. Good. Now, since you've been here far longer than the rest of us, I don't suppose you've noticed any phantasmal oddities. Apparent shifts into the past in particular?" Lena said. "They seem to be happening to us with considerable regu-- oh mists..."

Following Lena's lead, another Sense Motive to watch Dundee when this occurs. Does he find this shift unusual?
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As Lena speaks with Colin, Cattia pulls Dundee aside. "As she was saying, did this kind of thing happen in the dungeon?"

She let Ushka down to the floor, whereupon the fox promptly made her way to Cattia, nudging the younger woman with her nose and then looking around pointedly and sniffing the air.

Cattia slipped the fox another strip of raw meat from a hidden pocket, and bends down to whisper as she offers it. "I hope your mistress isn't counting on my tidbits to keep you full. They're tasty, but...let's just say they won't spoil your appetite."

"I believe there is one introduction still to be made -- a local colleague of Father Avram, Dundee ApDundogan of the Oak.

After his introduction, Cattia draws Dundee back into the hall so as to reduce the number of people in the Lady's room. Hopefully Isolt would be more comfortable without all of them staring at her.

"What else can you tell us about this place?" Cattia asks the druid. "Or about your people? Do you have allies nearby?

[Nathan of the FoS]

]

"She's one of the dangerous ones," Colin confirms to Richard. "Most of them are no more than a bit skeery, but she's one as can do real harm. I saw a fellow--he's gone now--who struck her with a sword and she withered his arm. Don't know why he thought that was a good idea. Mostly if you leave them alone they'll do the same."

Meanwhile, Rojan considers Vasili's comments on his experience, then nods. "I'd just as soon not see her again, freiherr, but if'n I must I ought to be ready, any road."

Tara shakes her head--in frustration, not disagreement--at Vasili's words. "I agree this seems to be our chance, but we'll have to be careful. I think our movements have already been attracting some attention." She glances meaningfully at Colin as she speaks.



Dundee seems quite sincere and honest in all interactions so far. Snagging a nicer weapon is a bit of a challenge, since Colin the seneschal is right there as you appear. He appears pretty shocked--more than any of you--when you undergo the time shift, and hasn't quite recovered his equilibrium.

ALSO--after reviewing the map--you are actually in the SOUTH tower, on the fifth level, for this conversation with Isolt.

Isolt reaches back, almost unconsciously, to touch the tapestry she had been working on--a woodland scene of a woman removing a thorn from the paw of a savage wolf. Something about the wolf's posture seems to hint that it has not yet given up the idea of making a meal of its benefactress.

"Brother ApDundogan," she says, nodding. "Please be welcome. I…I am afraid that…" she falls silent, then continues, her voice pained. "It might be well for you to leave sooner rather than later. My husband is not always best pleased to have druids here in our home. Colin, could you fetch the other visitor, please?"

"I'll look for him, m'lady," the seneschal replies, bowing.

"Oh, please don't go," Lady ApBlanc says as Cattia moves to withdraw and take Dundee with her. "I…I need your assistance. There are so few here…"

She pauses, looking at your faces, and then decides to continue. "So few here I feel I can trust quite absolutely. And I must trust someone. You see…my daughter Brangain has disappeared, and I fear my husband has hidden her somewhere. I feel she must be somewhere quite close, somewhere in the castle, as my husband never ventures far from home, but I can't find her…"

Lady ApBlanc's voice rises to a high-pitched whimper, a suppressed scream, and she clutches a handkerchief to her mouth as she finishes her plea.

[NeoTiamat]

Cattia slipped the fox another strip of raw meat from a hidden pocket, and bends down to whisper as she offers it. "I hope your mistress isn't counting on my tidbits to keep you full. They're tasty, but...let's just say they won't spoil your appetite."

The fox gave Cattia a thoroughly betrayed look at these words. Ushka had thought better of her, she really had. Still, the fox made the bit of meat vanish in the blink of an eye, and then settled in for sniffing around.

She pauses, looking at your faces, and then decides to continue. "So few here I feel I can trust quite absolutely. And I must trust someone. You see…my daughter Brangain has disappeared, and I fear my husband has hidden her somewhere. I feel she must be somewhere quite close, somewhere in the castle, as my husband never ventures far from home, but I can't find her…"

"Ah." Lena said, as a few pieces of a puzzle fell into place. She closed her eyes for a moment. Isolt was dead. Brangain, whatever had happened to her, was likewise no longer among the living. Everyone here had died long, long ago. And now Lena was talking only to restless shades. Suppose they did find Brangain? Would Isolt repeat her misery the next day, none the wiser? Some black curse to haunt the poor woman into eternity? Did it matter?

"Well, it so happens that you are speaking to the right people. We have a certain amount of experience with finding people who are hard to find." Lena said, her voice quiet but firm. Professional, one might say. Leave everything to us, Dear Isolt. Don't worry, don't fret, it's all in good hands. "We'll need some belonging of Brangain's, something that has her scent. My familiar is fairly skilled at nosing about." Lena glanced at the fox, who promptly sat up straighter and acted like a serious occult creation, and not like a petty fey spirit wearing a fox-like form of ectoplasm. "Why do you think your husband is responsible for your daughter's disappearance?"

[The Whistler]

I believe there is one introduction still to be made -- a local colleague of Father Avram, Dundee ApDundogan of the Oak.”

It might be well for you to leave sooner rather than later. My husband is not always best pleased to have druids here in our home.

Well, that saved Avram the trouble of having to explain why a devout Lawgiver-worshiper was the professional colleague of a Forfaran druid. “Yes, milady, we sure do both appreciate a good tree?” “Yes, milady, we get together every few weeks for drinks and mutual accusations of heresy…?”

Thankfully, it appeared the Lady ApBlanc had more pressing concerns on her mind than to follow up. Avram shared the same existential questions as Lena — did all of this really matter? — but natural sympathy was honestly bolstered by respect for the dead, in this case. That poor woman… The hetman straightened up, backing up Lena’s capable-problem-solver attitude as best he could with posture alone.

[Isabella]

"I-I-I wonder who she--I-I wonder who she was," Richard murmured to himself, then shook his head. "Well that's-that's sound enough advice for me, sir. I-I-I can't imagine a blade would do much-much more than pass right through her, in any case. I-I'll count myself fortunate she didn't linger. Certainly enough excitement for-for me today, I-I-I think I-I'd best turn in."

He nodded to Colin, then glanced meaningfully at his comrades. The mercenary wasn't likely to stay up watching their rooms, Richard reasoned - though he supposed it wasn't impossible, given this wretched place and his leering glances - so this seemed the easiest way to convince him to leave and then skulk off.

Diplomacy +13
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33 Diplomacy For: we're fantastic right now, and don't need anything else. In fact, we're so fantastic that you should leave and go do some other castle stuff. Far away from us and where we need to go, preferably.

[DeepShadow of FoS]

Certainly enough excitement for-for me today, I-I-I think I-I'd best turn in.

Vasili nods. "Indeed, we'll need our rest. Fortunately Leila doesn't sleep--" he gestures to her as she swells to full size and flexes for emphasis, "--and can harm spirits with her claws, so we'll be perfectly safe from the intrusions of both the living and the dead. Left to her own judgement, of course, she might get a little overprotective."

Leila looks Colin in the eye and smiles sheepishly. "Just doing my job," she says with a conspiratorial wink.

"Please* let everyone know we need our privacy and rest tonight."

*Diplomacy +10
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Vasili is playing this perfectly straight, going for a carrot/stick combo. Leila is the stick; this is the first time she's been full sized and spoken in Colin's presence, so he may have to make a save against her unnatural aura, especially when she makes eye contact. Vasili's diplomacy is the carrot: using the new rules, he will offer Colin a temporary bonus in exchange for arranging their complete privacy.