(16:30:00) [GM]: ----------
(16:30:07) [GM]: The Sun is setting when the ferry arrives. From the ship, the towers of Livest can be seen backlit by the sunset, an aged king in proud defiance of the clouds encroaching from the east like a pack of wolves. The river Mahr churns and gurgles under the dock as a hungry primordial beast, and the long-awaited solid ground feels like salvation. But it is not yet.
(16:30:21) [GM]: In the face of nighttime and incoming rain, anyone with a lick of wit is hurrying indoors even in the busy waterfront. The newly arrived travellers, judged to be well-off as a half-elf and dwarf of scholarly and religious persuasions, are directed to one of the better inns near the market and elven quarters. The way there leads in a quarter-circle northwest, into the caravan quarter where landbound travellers arrive.
(16:30:43) [GM]: The inn in question is a beautiful, if aged house with a walled garden and stables behind it, perhaps a repurposed manor or townhouse, reclining at the end of a street like a pleasantly napping fellow. The profile of a plump, blond man painted on a wall and the words "The Fair Constable" beneath identify this as the recommended place. The inviting glow of a fireplace can be spied through cracks in the window shutters.
(16:33:08) MicahWhiterune: Giving the sky a rather warranted suspicious look, Micah drags his companion in rather too hastily to be reasonable, muttering under his breath about the "cussed unpredictable weather"
(16:33:59) Miriana: Miriana, who had been looking around the street somewhat distractedly, squawks in alarm as she's hauled inside.
(16:36:03) [GM]: The door opens into a candle-lit vestibule, elegantly but modestly furnished compared to the house's facade. A woman's voice sounds from around the corner at the noise of the door closing, followed by the unhurried tap of feet and a cane on wooden flooring. "Coming!"
(16:37:42) Miriana: Miriana adjusts her pack back onto one shoulder, wiping her mostly-clean boots on the mat out of habit.
(16:38:28) [GM]: Not the titular blond fellow, but a small-framed red-haired woman, perhaps of forty years, greets the duo, walking with a cane in her right hand. She smiles warmly at the newcomers. "Travelers? Miserable weather, isn't it?"
(16:40:42) MicahWhiterune: Micah gives her a faint smile, "Always miserable, madam. That's the sky for ya. We seek the hospitality of yer hearth."
(16:41:53) Miriana: "It didn't start pouring on the boat ride, at least! Small favors." Miriana also smiles.
(16:42:32) [GM]: The inkeep nods. " Beds are free. I charge five silver coins per head and night for the common rooms, eight for a private room. Have you eaten?"
(16:44:02) MicahWhiterune: "Hadn't had anything warmer than wet bread and dry cheese. Lemme at yer pot."
(16:44:32) MicahWhiterune: "And a private room."
(16:46:22) Miriana: Miriana nods. "That would be wonderful, thank you. It's been a long day."
(16:46:47) [GM]: The woman laughs softly. "Supper is cold, but I'll warm a soup for you. I am Mariya Blinsky, the innkeep. If you haven't local coin, I can exchange, as well. This way, please."
(16:47:57) [GM]: She leads the way around the corner through the hall into a common room, empty at this hour except for some foreign youths playing cards and drinking at one of several tables.
(16:48:07) [GM]: A fireplace provides light and warmth; a small shrine to Sight-Fire Ain, patron of archery and wisdom, stands on its mantle beneath a hunting bow hung up like a family heirloom.
(16:49:27) [GM]: The innkeep places a small tablecloth before Micah and Miriana, then excuses herself and returns with a smile and a simple supper for both: Two plates with wine and bread to soak in it, a tankard of unfiltered ale each, and two small bowls of warm soup.
(16:52:35) [GM]: "I'll get your rooms ready. Do you need anything special?"
(16:53:03) Miriana: Miriana gives Mariya a smile and a murmured "Thank you very much" as the food is set down. "I don't think there's anything in particular...?" She gives Micah a quizzical look.
(16:54:09) MicahWhiterune: Micah goes straight for the somewhat fresher bread, pausing long enough free his mouth so as not to insult the host, "A little bit in a corner if you can find the spot." He gestures in an vague manner, "Good for private conversation."
(17:02:37) MicahWhiterune: He then takes a moment to be sure that she's got nothing else to ask of them, and lays siege to the soup.
(17:02:43) [GM]: "I'll take it into account, sir." Noise from the door catches Mariya's attention as she leaves the two to their supper, followed by the loud crash of a heavy rock meeting a window getting the attention of the rest of the room, and likely the house. The inkeep rushes to the door as fast as her cane allows; there is the sound of the door opening, then a sudden burst of growling and barks, a yell of surprise from madam Blinsky, and the shouting of a male voice, possibly drunk.
(17:03:57) MicahWhiterune: Micah slides his seat back and gets up to see what's going on. Without knocking over the chair, table and/or food. That would be rude.
(17:04:45) [GM]: and the shouting of a male voice, possibly drunk.
(17:05:14) Miriana: Miriana's spoon is halfway to her mouth when the crash startles her into spilling. She looks across the table at Micah in confusion until the shouting starts, when she snaps back to attention and follows quickly after Micah.
(17:09:18) [GM]: The pair finds their innkeep recovering from a near-fall in the vestibule, the open door showing a burly, thuggish man a small distance outside, shouting insults, waving a club, and making a nuisance of himself in general, a snarling dog on a leash by his side.
(17:12:44) Miriana: Miriana helps the innkeep back up to her feet, shooting a glare at the...drunk? No matter. "What's all this about?" she snaps. "Some of us are trying to have a peaceful night."
(17:13:33) [GM]: "Rich whorechild pander-" When Micah and Miriana arrive at the door, however, the dog's head snaps to stare at Miriana, and it goes outright wild and tears free from its handler, who seems nearly as surprised as anyone else.
(17:13:43) MicahWhiterune: Micah tromps up to interpose himself between his host and the angry dog.
(17:13:52) MicahWhiterune: "What is-"
(17:13:56) MicahWhiterune: "!"
(17:19:40) [GM]: The thug briefly blinks at the dog and shouts a half-hearted "Hey!", but he doesn't seem too vested in getting his beast under control, and his eyes lock on to the dwarf. Clearly not too bright or not accustomed to targets in armor, he locks on to Micah and swings his club, taking the dwarf's head for an easy target at just the right height.
(17:21:09) [GM]: The blow connects with Micah's shoulder rather than straight on the head, and his still-worn armor dampens the blow to merely smarting.
(17:23:22) MicahWhiterune: Micah assesses the situation quickly, the dog was the greater danger to their host, whereas this thug could keep going for a while before he needed to care. He slings his shield to present the flame embelm firmly at the dog,"Light in the dark, rebuke this impudent hound!"
(17:24:34) Miriana: Taken entirely aback by the situation going wildly out of control, Miriana barely has the sense of mind to start reaching for her pocket before blows are exchanged.
(17:26:34) [GM]: A small, bright flame flashes to life out of thin air before the dog, which startles backwards and comes away with mildly singed fur. It doesn't seem to connect the flame to its source and stays fixated on the half-elf, though, snarling before lunging and biting at her leg!
(17:29:10) MicahWhiterune: "Oi, you stupid hound, elfs aren't meaty enough."
(17:30:26) Miriana: Miriana, fairly slight of frame, slams onto her back as her leg is yanked out from under her. Biting back a cry of pain, she finally brandishes a thin wooden wand at the dog's face and fires a pulse of fast-moving light.
(17:33:49) Miriana: It streaks past the creature, but she manages to tear herself free and stand back up anyway.
(17:34:50) [GM]: Her aim thrown off by the trashing dog at her feet, Miriana's blast goes wide, but it does get the thug's attention, who utters a startled "Witches!" and takes a swing at Miriana as she's trying to get back up.
(17:37:07) [GM]: The club hits her head and leaves her seeing stars entirely unrelated to the night sky or her nightmares.
(17:38:03) MicahWhiterune: Micah grunts in annoyance as he limbers up the shield, reciting as he advances upon the thug and dog, "As the light blinds the unworthy, the fire brings life to the needy." Light and fire blazes up.
(17:42:16) Miriana: Miriana reels until the glow from Micah's magic banishes the pain and the stars from her vision, though not, unfortunately, the dog still at her feet.
(17:42:23) [GM]: This time, the dog's jump is faster, and it escapes the flame. This is no rabid beast, but a dog trained to attack and driven mad with cruelty. It persistently bites at Miriana's whole again legs, snarling and drooling all the way.
(17:44:32) Miriana: This time, Miriana too is faster, and she stumbles backwards out of the way of the hound. Still clutching her wand, she redirects it at her new attacker, murmuring something inaudible that echoes in his mind.
(17:47:44) [GM]: "Ha." The man's first reaction is reflexive, as if she'd just told him a mild witticism. Then, he stares, wide-eyed, his face distorts into a grimace between a smile and abject fear, and he releases a long, wheezing breath, doubling over and collapsing to the ground with small shakes of breathless laughter, or perhaps sobbing.
(17:48:42) MicahWhiterune: Micah looks at the reaction askance, "Miriana, what did ya tell him?"
(17:49:09) Miriana: "Not now not now!"
(17:52:58) MicahWhiterune: "We will talk later." Micah turns his attention back to the surprisingly reclaritant hound, "The Mother's light may bring pain, but it is the pain of discipline, of improvement, and birth."
(17:54:22) [GM]: The beast will not be disciplined so easily, and this time it jumps forward rather than backward, madly biting at its prey heedless of its collapsed erstwhile master.
(17:57:51) Miriana: And down goes Miriana again, screaming in pain as the hound sinks its fangs into her just-healed leg. Once more, she hurls a jet of crackling light at the dog, using the distraction to rise to her feet.
(18:00:43) [GM]: The thug's twitching ceases as Miriana goes down, and he looks up in confusion, at Micah, at the snarling dog, at the house, and then at Miriana. He scrambles to his feet, and turns tail, having clearly decided that discretion is the better part of being a nuisance.
(18:02:40) MicahWhiterune: "All hurts are soothed in Her embrace, through the pain of life. The raw materium shaped in her forge." The light continues attempting to lick at the dreadfully elusive dog.
(18:06:04) [GM]: This time, a bright flare appears directly in the hound's face, scorching its snout without smoke and causing it to yelp, whine, and jump. It retreats by reflex, momentarily blinded and hurting.
(18:10:30) Miriana: Miriana takes advantage of the breathing room this affords to line up a more careful blast, repeating the words a third time.
(18:12:52) [GM]: This time, without fands and blood on her heels, the bolt hits the dog's flank as it runs and it abruptly drops to the ground without so much as a sound.
(18:13:52) [GM]: The ruffian seems to take this as the final argument for cutting his losses and running... until he is tackled from the side of the road by several of the young men who were earlier playing cards in the common room.
(18:15:13) MicahWhiterune: Micah watches things get in order, as he gives the innkeeper a questioning look.
(18:17:54) Miriana: Miriana pants, still jittery from the commotion. She swiftly pockets her wand - not that she expects to hide the fact that she was throwing magic around, of course.
(18:19:51) [GM]: "Good Heaven. Are you alright? That dog..." The inkeep approaches again, casting a worried look at Micah and Miriana, and then outside the inn. "No more violence in front of my inn! Stop that!"
(18:21:53) [GM]: "There are plenty of ruffians anywhere, but to directly attack a house like that?"
(18:23:38) Miriana: Miriana chews at her lip, then stalks outside to the man who caused all the commotion. "What's your problem?" she demands of him, kneeling down.
(18:24:25) MicahWhiterune: Micah's face is impassive with anger at the idea, as he steps up beside Miriana.
(18:27:20) [GM]: Held by the foreign youths, the man tries to start away from Miriana reflexively, then blinks and starts ranting about stuck-up wealthy folks and elf-panderers like an angry drunk. But while the man's words may contain a kernel of truth, the inebriation is a clear act to Micah. The ruffian is clearly raising a stink for some purpose.
(18:31:54) MicahWhiterune: Short on patience, Micah makes a grin that doesn't touch his eyes, "There's a rather good tradition for curing drunkards. The best sobering medicine known to dwarfkind."
(18:33:53) [GM]: The man's eyes twitch back and forth between Micah and Miriana. "Huh?"
(18:34:05) MicahWhiterune: He rummages out a foul smelling herb mix, "If ya still drunk, open up!"
(18:36:19) [GM]: The young men holding him laugh and hold open the man's mouth, encouraging Micah in accented voices, while the thug looks at the mix dubiously and shakes his head.
(18:39:03) MicahWhiterune: "Then talk. Properly. None of that bullshit about being drunk." Micah leans in, "Too clear eyed. If you were so down in your drink you would have taken the cure without hesitation."
(18:40:10) MicahWhiterune: He dangles the mix in front of the mouth, "What business do you have making trouble for my host? I have a sacred duty to her well being while residing upon her floor."
(18:43:05) Miriana: Miriana glowers in the background, one hand dangling ominously by her pocket. She doesn't actually need the wand to throw blasts around, but let the man think otherwise.
(18:44:21) [GM]: The assembled youths seem disappointed as the thug hesitates and cringes away from the foul-smelling stuff. "Sod- sodding witch paid me! Said, take this dog, take the coins, make noise, run away. Didn't say the sodding dog would go mad, didn't say there'd be-" He stops himself with a glance at Miriana.
(18:45:06) [GM]: Rain begins to fall as the night is once again interrupted by a frightened scream from the inn's upper, and the inkeep hurries down the hall with a startled, "Heaven, what now?"
(18:46:15) Miriana: "Witch? You like to throw that word around a lot, don't you." Miriana stares him down, then whips around to stare up at the upper floors.
(18:47:48) MicahWhiterune: Micah makes to head for the stairs, then takes a short detour to heft his hammer before catching up with the innkeeper.
(18:50:30) Miriana: Miriana stays behind. "Who was this woman? Her name?"
(18:50:39) [GM]: Catching up with Mariya isn't hard, as Micah takes the stairs faster than she does. The pair encounter a firhgtened lady, who claims to have seen a ghost moving in the shadows of the hallway outside her room, describing a gaunt, gnarled silhouette. The inkeep shakes her head at the allegation. "Not possible."
(18:52:10) Miriana: <Don't lie, now. I'd hate to have to pull it from your head,> comes a whispered echo of Miriana's voice audible to none but the man she's "speaking" to.
(18:55:11) [GM]: Downstairs, the would-be ruffian stares at Miriana, then startles at the voice in his head, and blurts out, "Not a woman. Didn't say his name. Said he doesn't like elves, doesn't like the inn woman, wants a thing, make noise, get money. One of them creepy land-worshippers."
(19:00:05) [GM]: Though madam Blinsky seems very opposed to the idea a ghost might be lurking in her inn, Micah does hear a periodic scratching, from here and then from there. The guest could be forgiven for thinking she was hearing and seeing an apparition.
(19:01:02) [GM]: Given the timing of the commotion below, though, he suspects the haunting has more profane than numinous causes.
(19:01:31) Miriana_: "So you were paid for a distraction. How very noble of you." Miriana looks up at the surrounding youths. "What do you think, should I..." She twirls the wand idly.
(19:02:41) MicahWhiterune: Micah, taking note of the noise, gives chase with a jingle of his chainmail.
(19:04:08) [GM]: The youths laugh, and one of them suggests, "Students, us. Good one at university, set pants on fire and make them run home!" Another one mutters, "Fire not real, but seems real." They look up as the rain intesifies, though, whatever the verdict, it should be executed soon.
(19:04:29) [GM]: "Sir?" Mariya looks after Micah, surprised, as he takes off.
(19:05:13) MicahWhiterune: "Heard a rat. Going to catch it."
(19:06:05) Miriana_: "Mmm, too wet for that. Listen, you." She gives the man's face a healthy slap. "Go find a hole to crawl into and don't show your face around here again."
(19:06:47) [GM]: The young men laugh and let him go, to run off through the rain, before hurrying inside themselves.
(19:08:36) Miriana_: Miriana, too, ducks back into the inn, heading upstairs in search of Micah.
(19:09:53) [GM]: Upstairs, Micah follows the vague scratching and scrabbling to an empty private room in the corner of the building, possibly one that might have been about to be prepared for him. Nothing moving is inside when he enters. The room is modestly but elegantly furnished like the rest of the inn, with a simple but spacious bed and table, and two oddly withered, gnarled, and decidedly undecorative potted shrubs for decoration.
(19:10:00) [GM]: Potted shrubs entirely devoid of any pots.
(19:11:16) [GM]: The window hangs open, admitting warm, humid air and the sound of rain.
(19:12:37) MicahWhiterune: Micah taps his hammer contemplatively, then peers more closely at the shrubs, picking one up.
(19:14:11) [GM]: There is a cracking sound as he touches one of the shrubs, and suddenly a branch whips towards his face!
(19:14:35) [GM]: It slaps harmlessly off his chest, but the shrub and its twin come to life, hissing with a voice like snapping twigs, and inch away from him.
(19:14:58) [GM]: Miriana rushes upstairs just in time to hear the crackling movement from the back of the hall.
(19:16:23) Miriana_: "Micah?" she calls out, advancing down the hall and drawing the wand again.
(19:16:26) [GM]: The dessicated plants unfurl into a pair of loathsome, skeletal runts, sharp dried wood forming limbs, a mockery of a face, and claws. Startled by being discovered, they certainly do not seem friendly.
(19:17:01) MicahWhiterune: "Always knew surface plants were suspect." Micah calls out, "Check the window, someone brought these things in and then left."
(19:20:11) [GM]: The creatures circle around the dwarf hesitantly, moving like cunning animals more than like the people they imitate. One of them approaches from the other side of the bed and claws at Micah's face with dirty splintered claws.
(19:22:01) MicahWhiterune: Micah raises his shield cautiously, then swings the hammer with a direct sidewise blow to the creature's center.
(19:23:40) [GM]: The beast leaves red lines on Micah's nose that will need to be cleaned, but it proves as fragile as it looks, and a single solid hit shatters it into so many dry twigs.
(19:25:40) [GM]: The other, which Micah grabbed and was surprised by, makes its odd cracking sound again and withdraws from the armored dwarf, going for the window - though he doubts it will do him the kindness of simply fleeing and leaving well enough alone.
(19:26:23) [GM]: It is to this scene that Miriana arrives, Micah with bloody lines on his cheeck, a heap of scattered twigs on the floor, and a foul plant-creature clambering out into the rain.
(19:27:28) Miriana_: Miriana barely hesitates before blasting another jet of light over Micah's head at the strange little thing.
(19:30:00) [GM]: The creature releases a series of snapping sounds as Miriana enters almost like a growl, but it is interrupted by the sound of its body cracking and falling apart into the rain by the force of the ray from Miriana's wand, hitting it like a punch.
(19:30:31) [GM]: The two are left in the bedroom now silent but for the sound of pouring rain.
(19:31:18) Miriana_: Miriana lowers the wand with a satisfied smile, ruined by her slightly shaking hand. "Is that the only one?"
(19:31:42) MicahWhiterune: Micah hurries over to the window, peering out.
(19:34:25) [GM]: Nothing is to be seen or heard through the sheets of rain, even after several tense moments of waiting. The silence is interrupted by the inkeeper Blinsky appearing in the doorway and asking, "What happened?"
(19:35:18) MicahWhiterune: "Two evil shrubs tried to kill us. Good thing ya weren't there to greet them instead of mah hammer."
(19:36:55) [GM]: "I'm... sorry?" She blinks in confusion and worry.
(19:37:32) Miriana_ left the room (quit: Quit: AndroIRC - Android IRC Client (
http://www.androirc.com )).
(19:38:15) MicahWhiterune: "Someone set the scoundrel below to distract you while they snuck monsters into the inn. Someone needs a good hammering."
(19:40:17) Miriana: "I don't know what they wanted, but probably to steal something rather than hurt anyone." Miriana sniffs. "Though that went out the window when that dog charged at me..."
(19:42:01) Miriana: Miriana prowls around the room and the hall outside, looking curiously for signs of what the creatures might actually have been after.
(19:46:04) [GM]: She enters the room and cautionsly moves the broken twigs around with her cane, looking at the half-shattered knot with a particular resemblance to a human face. "To steal something, then?" Miriana recalls now the violent man also said something about a healing plant, that his client alleged Mariya Blinsky was hiding, playing into the resentment he expressed, which was likely to some degree real.
(19:46:04) [GM]: Supposedly, the man would know it if he saw it, or the dog would smell it.
(19:48:45) Miriana: "Yes. Something about a healing plant, I believe...?"
(19:49:06) Miriana: She glances over her shoulder curiously at Mariya.
(19:50:36) [GM]: "A healing plant? Why, of course I have medicine here..."
(19:53:28) Miriana: "Paying a stranger off to cause a riot seems like rather a lot of trouble to go to for run-of-the-mill herbs. Perhaps that's not it?"
(19:54:09) [GM]: "There are plants in the garden, of course, and some indoors... I've gotten presents of that kind on some occasions, from an elven traveller as thanks, though I couldn't say if they had any special properties."
(19:56:30) Miriana: "He and his dog did seem rather...upset...at elves. Would you mind if I took a quick look at them?" Miriana glances around the bedroom. "And then we'll sweep this up, of course."
(19:57:19) MicahWhiterune: "Well, we could take a look, but I don't really know plants." Micah scrutinizes, "Actually, does it matter what plants? Do you know who it might be?"
(20:02:25) [GM]: "If you wish. I'll have it cleaned, no worries." Her brow furrows in thought. "I'd think I know nobody who would go to this kind of length to steal something from me, but..."
(20:03:08) Miriana: "The man outside said something about a nature-worshipper. Between that and the plant-creatures, two and two make...druids?"
(20:03:40) Miriana: She shrugs, kicking at one of the pieces of twig on the floor. Then she guiltily picks it up.
(20:04:57) [GM]: "I suppose so. There are some in the city, and around the river, with much of it being wilderness. I know some in the neighborhood certainly, though I wouldn't like to suspect any. And they are rarely open about it, of course. Often you can tell, though."
(20:05:43) MicahWhiterune: Micah simply clomps on, considers a bit, then turns to Blinsky, "Maybe I could take a look at your garden so I'd stop stepping on the clues by accident."
(20:06:28) Miriana: "Well, I wouldn't want to jump to any conclusions, but..." Miriana shakes her head. "If I may ask, is that sort of sentiment...common, here?"
(20:09:01) [GM]: "Resentment? It happens. Much of this district isn't as wealthy as you might think, for all the trade that comes through. When one has the inner city before one's eyes just across the river, all day long... I suppose it would be."
(20:13:10) Miriana: Miriana nods, leaning against the wall. "Not so different from other places, then. Maybe a little worse than usual." She straightens up. "Anyway, if you'll let me indulge my curiosity we'll be out of your hair. I imagine this has been quite a tiring evening!"
(20:17:35) [GM]: After an hour of calming down and searching, the private bedrooms are readied, and Micah returns with mostly soggy clothes to show for his efforts, while Miriana is convinced no such plants are in the house - but between them, Miriana jogs her memory based on the hint of an elven source.
(20:17:35) [GM]: Though Micah had a difficult time identifying much beyond some potential candidates simply as healing plants, Miriana can narrow it down, and now clothed in proper rain cloaks, the two find a vine growing on a corner of the building, dotted with splendidly red night-blooming flowers that seem to shed rainwater like wax.
(20:17:35) [GM]: The duo suspects that this plant's healing powers are only half the story - processed properly it may well be toxic; though only someone familiar with the plant would know how to use it either way.
(20:21:16) MicahWhiterune: "That looks more like an accident that it's growing there." Micah sniffs lightly at it, "One of the more complicated types of drugs."
(20:22:23) [GM]: It has a quite sweet, if very subtle smell. Just in that moment, Miriana and Micah hear, half-covered by the sound of rain, the sound of several persons or creatures climbing over the outer wall.
(20:24:03) [GM]: ----------