A numbed silence fell over Aelistae. She had only held herself together through the events of the night before by hoping that, whatever trials she was facing, her companions were safe. To learn that two of them had fallen, ate through her resolve, and unleashed the tears that she had long held back.

“I…I had hoped…” she began, but never finished. Her mind was full of the kindnesses Loriel had shown her and the harsh words she had spoken to Kas. And now it was too late to either thank or apologize to them.

She brushed the tears away, willed them to stop, but they wouldn’t. And they didn’t, until Aelistae rose from the table and went outside. Both to be alone with her grief, and to be alone with her guilt.

---

[A short while later:]

“There’s something I need to confess,” Aelistae remarked, after she returned to the table in the inn. “Something I should have told you before…but…well I don’t think there’s any use in keeping secrets any more.”

Aelistae looked up at her assembled comrades, her eyes still raw from the tears she had shed.

“Last night, Linnix and I were taken to be sold as slaves. Before you ask we’re fine, and the slavers are dead. We had help: from a woman called Sheva, and by a man that I know. His name is Nash. Loriel suspected that I had been with this man and I assured her that no harm would come from me seeing him. But she was right, and I…I was wrong. As we fought something came over him, some demonic presence or…well I don’t know what it was. The humans that found us called him the Cardinal, said he was evil, but I know he isn’t.”

“So I lied to those that wanted to hunt him, because I believe that I can help him. I just…I just don’t know how.”

Sheva awoke in the morning. At least she thought it was morning. The sun was in her eyes and everyone else in the room was gone. (Probably let me sleep as a courtesy) , she thought, smiling. (One mark to the good for them, but I have questions. And I don't know how much time I will have to ask them..)
She roused herself and began the morning ritual of pulling out her spellbooks and preparing the day's spells. Once that was done, she used two Mending spells to repair her linen underblouse and leather shirt. That finished, and after checking the quality of the mends, she donned the blouse and shirt, re-packed her books in her backpack. She then checked to make sure her precious Bag was intact and undamaged from her previous night's encounter.

While Sheva was mending the shirts, Kitsaa traveled her arms and shoulders, his footpads feeling like teeny-tiny suction cups on Sheva's bare skin as he moved. He politely gave up his inspection of the preveiously-damaged area of her torso while she donned the blouse and shirt again, then quickly resumed his traditional travel-spot, clinging to her chest with his head in the hollow of Sheva's neck. At a casual glance, he would look like an embroidered pattern on the shirt -- until he moved.

Grabbing her gear, she had a thought. Now would be a good time to have a dagger handy for a backup weapon. She set her backpack down long enough to pull out the belt and sheathed dagger, then donned all, picked up her finely-carved staff, and headed downstairs.

It didn't take Sheva long to locate her newfound friends Aelistae and Linnix, but she stopped briefly when she noticed the sheer number of people with them. Their table was downright crowded with others, including a couple of male figures. (So much for an all-female group. And the number? Not so much moe or different than that of her former companions.) She briefly wondered how they were faring, but they were on hiatus, on holiday, resting from a wearying quest completed only recently. As she herself was supposed to be "resting". At her mentor's home. (Ah, well. Evidently, such was not meant to be. I am here and now. Let's see what the fates have in store for me. For us?) She strode slowly toward the table, making herself even more obvious by her slow movemnent than her flaming-red, tightly-curled locks already made her.

Once at the table she stood quietly until noticed and addressed, then spoke with a cheerful note to her voice and a mischievous gleam in her eye,"Greetings all! What trouble are we getting into today? For those of you I have not met, and there appears to be quite a number of you whom I haven't met until now, I am Sheva. Arcsheva Redmane. And this fine animal .. ", Sheva stroked Kitsaa from head to tail, quickly and lightly once, "... is Kitsaa." She pronounces the name as "KEET-sah". She grabs a nearby chair, pulls it over to the table, and joins them.

[OOC: After introductions, hand-clasps, nods and smiles all around, she awaits updates as to her current place and circumstances. Will post again accordingly ... hopefully quickly ...]

The Halfling Firin hobbled towards Zora and Silvara, a mental smile imparted upon the women; it was until Silvara began casting a spell and drawing steel.

“Well, now, what is with all this hostility my friends?” Firin said once more telepathically.

Silvara’s detect magic spell goes off, and as she focuses on the curious little man before her, she is rewarded with aura’s of Abjuration and Divination coming from the silver amulet hanging around the Halfling’s neck. Aside from that, however it does not appear as though Firin has any other magic about his person, aside from the bag tied to his hip, presumably a bag of holding or some such.

"If you are injuried or in need, I would say that it was more your good luck to meet us. If you would wish, I would see what I could do to aid you, even to refreshing your bandages.

Firin looked upon Zorana with curious eyes, before once more imparting his telepathic response. “While I appreciate your concern kind lady, it would take I fear an act of god to heal that which I have been burdened with. You see, beneath these bandages is a truly horrific sight, in fact, the very reason I do not speak using word of mouth, is simply because there is little left of my mouth left with which to formulate anything coherent.”

Firin could tell the women were curious, perhaps incredulous. “Evil wizard thought it would be practice his witchcraft on poor ol Firin, a truly painful recollection of a tale.” Firin shuddered as thought fearful of even the memories of times past. “But Firin is resourceful, and quick, and managed to escape with his life, what was left of it. For days, Firin clawed and crawled through the wilderness until some kind people rescued Firin and nursed him back to a semblance of good health. Fortunately, Waterdeep has many merchant families and I was fortunate to have been found by such a home with heart to match their wealth. The kind folk hired a local mage to help bind my shattered and broken body with these bandages, and he also gifted me with this amulet, to allow me to communicate in spite of my physical inability.”

Firin tried to smile, not that his features were recognizable. “But Firin is as I said resourceful, and a quick learner, and so I took upon the merchant’s trade, with not but scraps and odds and ends, and grew my mighty mercantile empire from there yes yes!” The Halfling puffs out his little chest with swelling pride. “Across Toril Firin Ranklefoot is or shall be known as the greatest merchant alive!, and so I say again, what fortune you have to have crossed my path!”

Firin moved back and sat upon an upturned flagstone of grey slate. “Now, no doubt you ladies are here to test your luck at uncovering the lost and buried treasures of the shrine below yes yes? Is there anything your friend Firin might be providing you for your venture?”

Silvara drops the point of her sword as THE halfling begins his story. Silvara listens to not ony what he said but also to what was unspoken. When he finishes it she pauses before sheathed her sword and lifts the tip in a formal salute to the halfling and then smoothly slips it into her scabbard without a glance.

However truthful he was or is it is what is not said that makes a thing good or ill. Merchants do things for themselves. Silvara is wary of the offer. Things have costs, some costs can be borne, some cannot be still other should not be, apparently as Firin had found out.

"Since I do not know what is needed to find what Zoranna has come to find for her church, I cannot say what it is I might need."

"I have several questions though. What brought you here at this time, to this place. I find that very interesting coincidence,” her tone made it clear that she did not think it was coincidence. Secondly, why do you offer things to us? What is in it for you to offer these things to us? Certainly you can better sell your wares in a big market place where there are plenty of those with big purses. Mine is slender at best. A daresay Zora’s is even thinner as is her wont. (custom, habit)

A thought suddenly crossed her mind. "Now if you seek the favor of a God to help you in your tribulations then I can understand that what you do to help Zoranna could well help you also.

Silvara could understand why he might have come all this way to be of service to those who went to look for the Lantern of Truth,. It made a lot of sense--though it did not make it the real truth in this matter

The Halfling Firin hobbled towards Zora and Silvara, a mental smile imparted upon the women; it was until Silvara began casting a spell and drawing steel.

“Well, now, what is with all this hostility my friends?” Firin said once more telepathically.

"If you are injured, or in need, I would say that it was more your good luck to meet? If you would wish, I would see what I could do to aid you, even to refreshing your bandages.

Firin looked upon Zorana with curious eyes, before once more imparting his telepathic response. “While I appreciate your concern kind lady, it would take I fear an act of god to heal that which I have been burdened with. You see, beneath these bandages is a truly horrific sight, in fact, the very reason I do not speak using word of mouth, is simply because there is little left of my mouth left with which to formulate anything coherent.”

Firin went on to tell a story as to how he came by his condition.

Zora watch Firin as he spoke, thought she could not see his face or eyes to use them as indicators of speaking the truth, as a Paladin to Tyr she had had training in questioning, and in observation. Many of those ways were concealed by Firin’s condition, face covered, body enveloped in the cloak and then the lack of voice. She could neither see, nor hear him so she could not make any judgments about his truthfulness.

Firin tried to smile, not that his features were recognizable. “But Firin is as I said resourceful, and a quick learner, and so I took upon the merchant’s trade, with not but scraps and odds and ends, and grew my mighty mercantile empire from there yes yes!” The Halfling puffs out his little chest with swelling pride. “Across Toril Firin Ranklefoot is or shall be known as the greatest merchant alive!, and so I say again, what fortune you have to have crossed my path!”

Firin moved back and sat upon an upturned flagstone of grey slate. “Now, no doubt you ladies are here to test your luck at uncovering the lost and buried treasures of the shrine below yes yes? Is there anything your friend Firin might be providing you for your venture?”

Silvara drops the point of her sword as the halfling begins his story. at the end of it she salutes the halfling and comment, "Since I do not know what is needed to find what Zoranna has come to find for her church, I cannot say what it is I might need."

"I have several questions though. What brought you here at this time, to this place. I find that very interesting coincidence,” her tone made it clear that she did not think it was coincidence. Secondly, why do you offer things to us? What is in it for you to offer these things to us? Certainly you can better sell your wares in a big market place where there are plenty of those with big purses. Mine is slender at best. A daresay Zora’s is even thinner as is her wont. (custom, habit)

Zora held back the smile that came with Silvara’s words. It was her way and she had the knack of knowing just what to say.

"Now if you seek the favor of a God to help you in your tribulations then I can understand that what you do to help Zoranna could well help you also.”

Zora, even though her sword was sheathes was still on alert. “There is a renegade human knight known as the Cardinal, in order to deal with him I was sent by my Temple to search for a relic that will be able to end his reign of Evil.”

“Are you offering to aid us in this endeavor? If you are, it would do well in gaining Tyr’s favor. He is the God of Justice,” she pauses, “and Retribution. It would seem your condition is in need of such. There may come a time when I or one of my brethren can do this service for you, for the wizard the perpetrated this evil on you is surely in need of being brought to Justice.” There was not bravado in her words, no demand for righteous justice, yet in her voice was the firm resolve of one who meant what she said. “Tell me the name of the one who wronged you and I will remember his name.”

Zora did not say if you help us, I will do this, to her the promise of Justice for the wrongdoer was already in motion, not matter what Firin did from this point on. There was something in the thought that he projected to them that gave her more reason to trust him more than any chance met stranger. There was the pain that, he covered with bravedo that spoke of an inner strength.

“I accept your offer Master Firin Ranklefoot. I will pray that Tyr will favor in aiding you.”

If Firin was any judge of character he would know she meant it.

"I have several questions though. What brought you here at this time, to this place. I find that very interesting coincidence,” her tone made it clear that she did not think it was coincidence. Secondly, why do you offer things to us? What is in it for you to offer these things to us? Certainly you can better sell your wares in a big market place where there are plenty of those with big purses. Mine is slender at best. A daresay Zora’s is even thinner as is her wont.”

Firin mused on the inquisitive nature of Silvara’s inquiries; and he thought Halflings were the ones who never stopped asking questions! He was formulating a response when Zora chimed in.

“Are you offering to aid us in this endeavor? If you are, it would do well in gaining Tyr’s favor. He is the God of Justice,” she pauses, “and Retribution. It would seem your condition is in need of such. There may come a time when I or one of my brethren can do this service for you, for the wizard the perpetrated this evil on you is surely in need of being brought to Justice.” There was not bravado in her words, no demand for righteous justice, yet in her voice was the firm resolve of one who meant what she said. “Tell me the name of the one who wronged you and I will remember his name.”

Firin gained that musing appearance again, before he looked up from his slab and stated rather plainly. “Merrick the Mad.” Firin said. He was the one who trapped me and sought to enslave me, thinking my brain to be small because the rest of me is, but I outsmarted him and escaped yes yes!”

He stroked his necklace nonchalantly before looking at Zorana, once more his ‘voice’ mentally imparted upon the recipients. “The Cardinal sounds dangerous, just as Merrick was. I am no warrior, and I fear a glib tongue won’t be of much service down below. My skills lie in the trade, and occasionally, when fortune is not so kind, fleeing with all Halfling haste as these wobbly legs will take me. No, I will not be joining you below, but I can assist you with information and supplies.” Firin looked over Silvara a moment before speaking. “You are not the first nor will you be the last to try and claim the war treasures below for their or some patron’s gain. Many other’s have crossed this way in the past weeks, which is why I am currently, here until the supply of new adventurer’s runs dry and I move on elsewhere. It can be beneficial to be the only on-site provider within days of the excavations.

But I shall not keep you from your task, so welcome welcome to Firin’s Adventure Emporium. I have anything you could possibly need on the mundane scale for dungeon delving, as well as a selection of magical potions and elixirs, scrolls, small trinkets and charms to ward away what ails you, and perhaps most importantly, information. And for you lovely ladies I will break the merchant’s code, of giving something for nothing, but I like you, so I will share this tidbit. An adventuer who passed this way some time ago left these word’s of possible wisdom, though their meaning is yours to decipher.

While all that glimmers be not gold,
And warmth of love melts heart of cold
When sun retreats for orb of night
The way revealed by silver light.

Firin lets that settle on the minds of the women before him a moment before continuing. Now, I’ve a map of the first floor, for sale, for 20gp, a key recovered from below that was apparently never used on whatever it was designed for for 15 gold, and all the items previously mentioned. Care to make a deal?

(see Q/a)

Artanis sat quietly, waiting for Xaris’ arrival. She tried to figure out just how they would break the news of last night’s events to the others. She nodded to Bart and Elesia, in acknowledgment of their arrival at the table.

She looked curiously at Elesia wondering at her mention of it not being a good morrow. Tears sprang to Artanis’ eyes at the sight of the wolf. Artanis knelt beside the wolf and hugged her gently, whispering softly in her ear. Then Bart asked where Loriel was, and Elesia replied:

“That is a tale not for me to tell, though the end of the story is clear to me.”

And so it was that Elesia looked at Artanis expectantly, waiting for her to let the group know what had happened. She looked down trying to find the right words, but before she could, Xaris was there. He told everyone that Kas and Loriel had died the night before. So blunt. “Xaris!” She couldn’t believe he’d said it in such a way.

Aelistae left the room, the tears flowing freely. With another reproachful look at Xaris, Artanis rose and quickly followed Aelistae. Once she caught up with her, she gently laid her hand on Aelistae’s shoulder, “Are you ok?”
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

After making sure Aelistae was ok, Artanis returned to the Inn and the group. She was about as ready as she could be to tell them what had happened.

“After Aelistae and Linnix went to bed for the evening, a woman came bursting in here yelling about a fire. Said her baby and cat were still inside the burning house. So Kas, Loriel, and I ran to see what we could do to help. There were many small fire elementals, but up in the attic was a man who seemed to have control of the elementals. He was shrouded in a sort of blue fire. The elementals called him Jethro. He had the child in his arms. The thing is, by the time we’d gotten that far, the entire house was a blazing inferno. The only way out of the house was through the attic window. I was going to tackle the man and try to grab the child. Loriel must have understood my intentions and jumped at his feet. She got to him before I did, and knocked him down. In the process he threw the child into the air. I was able to catch the child, and jumped through the window, and we rolled off the roof.” Taking a breath and looked at Talus, she continued, “Talus here pulled the child and me away from the heat of the flames, and Xaris was ready with healing potions.. but I’m afraid….well, I don’t know what happened once I left the attic, but Kas and Loriel did not make it out before the house collapsed in on itself. It was another hour or two before the fire finally burned out.” Her voice cracking slightly…she cleared her throat and blinked back the tears, “There was nothing we could do.”

After hearing Artanis' recounting of the previous night, Talus looked up from his bowl of stew. Until now he had been quietly listening as everyone told their stories, unsure of what he could add that would be at all helpful, since these were an established group of friends and he was an outsider. Now, however, there was one tidbit that he could throw in.

"After Artanis made her desperate leap from the rooftop, there was an explosion on the upper floors of the house. At the time, I had thought maybe there had been something highly combustible stored in the attic, but you say there was a man there wielding power over elementals? That explosion could have been any number of spells unleashed by the power mad mage. If he was wreathed in flames, he might have enacted some sort of protection from fire... that building was the worst possible place for any of you to have encountered the man. In his insanity and power crazed state he wouldn't think twice about dropping a fireball on himself just to get at you and your friends." He looked to Artanis, "You're more lucky than you know."
Talus paused, realizing that he'd stayed from the simple fact-only report he'd planned. The thought of yet another person crazed by the power of magic had almost sent him up onto a metaphorical soapbox. To keep from getting pulled down another tangent, Talus hurried through the rest of what he had to say, "The explosion knocked out sections of the outer walls. Also destroyed some critical supports, too, because just after that the roof collapsed in on itself. That started a chain reaction that lead to the entire building coming down. If it's any consolation, the lunatic probably buried himself with your friends. Protection from flames doesn't stop the rubble."
He smiled weakly, then realized, too late, that in giving the details of how the monster had met his demise, he also described how their friends perished. After an awkward moment of trying to find something else to say to undo his mistake, Talus just dropped his gaze back to the bowl of soup before him.

Linnix looks up from her own bowl of stew and rolls her eyes.

Impatiently she says, "I said it once already, and I'll say it again. At this point, how doesn't matter any more. Loriel and Kas are gone. That's it. If there was nothing you could have done, then there was nothing you could have done! Now please, can we get a move on? We do have a quest to finish you know."

Linnix pauses, and thoughtfully adds, "It looks like a fairly good day to travel, so we should make good use of it. We can talk on the road if need be."

Silvara, Looks over to Zora. IF we are delving underground for this item of your we will nned a few basic things." I have some and with whatever you have we will decide what is most important for this venter.

"I would say the map could be useful, I do not know about the key but if someone brought it all this way, there must be a reason." Unless you have a shovel or pick we will need one of each. I have rope perhaps some piton or aids for climbing.

'Firin Ranklefoot, we will deal with you for what we need. Starting with the map and the key that's 35 gold, Then a shovel, hammer and ten pitons. What is the total now. also How much is a potion of fly just or a scroll whichever is cheapest.

Silvara had some skill in dungeoneeering (+6) but not a lot so she would have to rely on that and some common sense and the limits of her available money to choose what they might need. "Do you have any recommendation Firin?" Silvara asked though she wasn't sure if that might be a open door for him to try to fleece them or if he would actually be of help with information. But if she didn't ask they might not get the information. She would have to analyze his suggestions as best she could. Though she could not forget what Zora might know about dungeonering too. Sora, any suggestions

“Sometimes I think it would be easier to live how my mother lived. To spare no thought if a companion dies, to feel no guilt…” Aelistae remarked after Artanis followed her outside and laid a comforting hand upon her shoulder.

“I’m not sure if I’ll ever be alright with this,” she added as the tears finally dried. “I had my problems with Kasenarion…I thought her head-strong and foolish, but I am not so blessed with friends that I can afford to cast those I have aside.”

“I’m sorry…I don’t think I’m making much sense. But, thank you Artanis for…for being you.”

Aelistae patted the half-elf’s hands gratefully, as she turned to head back inside the Inn.

---

The drow priestess listened quietly as Artanis and Talus described what had happened the previous night. From all that was told her – of the crazed wizard, the burning house, the child held hostage – Aelistae realized that there was little she could have done to help Kas or Loriel. That realization, however, was of little comfort to her. And nor were the comments of Linnix.

’So cold. Like a true drow,' she thought darkly.

The looks of disapproval Linnix receives slowly tell her that she is out of line. Linnix's eyes fall back to her half-eaten stew. I just shouldn't have said anything. Linnix slowly and sadly thinks, her hunger forgotten.

I... don't belong here. A selfish person in the midst of an unselfish group...
"I'm sorry." Linnix murmurs, then after a moment adds, "I'll go and... see if I forgot anything in my room."

With that, Linnix stands up and returns to the room she stayed in.

Aelistae shot out a hand and grasped Linnix’s own. “Don’t leave. We’re all family, and you’re part of that no?”

The drow priestess shook her head and turned briefly to the woman who had just joined them. “Forgive me,” she nodded apologetically, “This is Sheva, the woman who helped Linnix and I last night. I don’t know how she came to be there, but she fought bravely.”

Aelistae shot out a hand and grasped Linnix’s own. “Don’t leave. We’re all family, and you’re part of that no?”
A few tears form in Linnix's eyes, "Thank you." She says, "Don't worry, I'm not leaving, I'm just going up to my room for a bit; I'll be back in a minute."

Linnix gently pulls her hand from Aelistae's, whispering, "I just need to see her for a moment."

There was definitely a dour atmosphere hanging over the Green Gryphon this day. With the news of the last night’s events, complete with the untimely loss of both Kas and Loriel, what should have been a day filled with renewed spirits and new friends, was marred with the black mark of death to stain the beautiful sun filled day

Bart had stayed rather silent throughout the conversation, and the coming and goings of his friends, or road-side family as Aelistae had said. When the conversation reached a lull however he cleared his throat to gain the other’s attention, and spoke.

“Like the crops in winter that wither and fade before the white, so too have Kas and Loriel, our dear companions passed on into the eternal spring, and like the seasons we must take their loss as a means to enrich our own lives, and to strengthen our own resolve and to grow from this experience into something… more.”
Bartholomew tapped his fingers idly together a moment before continuing.

“We should gather our things and pay our respects to the fallen at the house in which they fell. Apparently it’s further up the lane from here, and on the way to the gate in which we arrived. Everyone’s got the remainder of the hour, and we’ll meet at the gate. I’m going to go upstairs and see if our friends didn’t leave anything behind.” His words were heavy and as he pushed his chair away from the table and headed over to Angus for access to the rooms his footsteps seemed burdened with the task ahead.

Elesia and Moonshadow had also been quiet and solemn during the conversation. As Bart left, Elesia looked up, stroked Moonshadow and spoke in a soft voice. “Moonshadow, Loriel’s magnificent companion and friend, is now without her den mother, her warder, her family. Perhaps it is time we see this beautiful creature return to the wild, to forge a new life free from interference and the loss of anyone else on this dangerous trek. We have obviously attracted the attention of much more than what we originally signed on for, and Moonshadow here need not be endangered by our task.”

At the mentioning of her master’s name, Moonshadow lifted her head, looking for the familiar face to which the name was affixed, and failing to find it, whimpered and the Coo’shee seemed to understand the woman’s intentions, and buried her head further into Elesia’s dress, a low growl of refusal in her throat. Elesia’s eyes no longer held back the tears which had been swelling, and they fell freely, caressing her delicate cheeks leaving salty trails of sorrow along her face. Elesia excused herself from the others, petting Moonshadow gently, needing the companionship of the animal almost as much as the Coo’shee craved the attention of the woman. They left the Green Gryphon, and passed by the remnants of the house which had claimed Loriel and Kas.

The smoke no longer wafted into the air, but the unmistakable scent of char and smoke still hung in the air. Elesia’s eyes swelled even further as dozen’s of flowers, wreathes, candles and small trinkets lined the walk leading up to the rubble strewn building which was once an elegant historical home. The respect shown by the simple offerings to the strangers who had saved a villager’s child was astounding. The mother herself, walked ot from around the side of the house, and she smiled at Elesia and Moonshadow, before bowing her head low in recognition of the pair who were acquaintances of those who had lost their lives in saving her dear child Maribelle, who cooed and giggled happily in her mother’s arms.

“No word’s I have can express my sadness at their loss, or the gratefulness I feel for what their sacrifices have given me, but know they will never be forgotten so long as I have something to say around it. If you and your colleagues should ever head back this way in a month’s time or so, please, I ask you stop by, especially the woman who was with them. Artanis, I would have words with her before she leaves, I must give her my thanks.”

Elesia could only nod to the woman, and Moonshadow sniffed the air, before falling back on her haunches and raising her head, letting out a long loud howl of mourning that could be heard across the entire town, from the gate to the great temple of Tyr, from the sewer’s below to the top of the parapets and watchtower’s of the Castle itself. All in town would know of the loss of a great individual.