The witch hums a mysterious little tune as she puts a kettle over the fire, directing you all to have a seat while she busies herself readying the tea things. You sit on the patchwork sofa and she puts out a clay plate with several honey cakes on it, as well as cream and sugar for the tea. The humming continues softly and the more you listen to it the more it reminds you of the tune Raina hummed to get you here in the first place. It has a mesmerizing, almost enchanting effect and you feel sleepy, your lids heavy and the air warm about you. How do you take your tea? she smiles with amusement, clearly aware of the effect she's having on you.

ooc: Please roll fort saves.


Tanzy: pm

fortitude... Raknesh's biggest weakness ^^
20:35, Today: Secret Roll: Raknesh Kaltash rolled 18 using 1d20+6.  fortitude.

Roll = 20

rolled 28 using 1d20+12.  Fortitude

PM

You manage to fight the sleepiness but Raknesh comes pretty close to succumbing a time or two. Meanwhile Prizzard asks the woman of her son, lord death as he calls him. She looks amused at the moniker. He does insist on silly titles I suppose she chuckles. It's not far off but I always called him Damek, least until he got old enough and surly enough to put on airs. She turns to look at you all, tea things at the ready. Still awake eh? How bothersome. Alright, it looks like you get to keep your feet for now. I do so love a good fleshy foot with my tea she smiles at the memory, looking bloody terrifying with her sharp teeth. Oh well, I suppose Raina would be peeved with me anyway, provided you aren't lying to me of course she adds with a wag of her finger. Alright, wake up and have some cake then. I can always harvest you later if you prove untrustworthy. We'll go out and look for Raina after our tea. Don't worry, it's not drugged. I don't need that sort of thing if you haven't noticed she laughs. It's incredible how civil and horrifying she can be at once. Fortunately the effects of her little song are soon wearing off and Raknesh in particular worries how close he came to losing his feet. Would any of you have been able to stop her?

Tanzy: pm

Momentarily uncomfortable with the strange host, he takes a moment to regain his courage to speak. Prizzard applies rarely-seen manners with the tea and cakes while keeping his tone softer and more civil than usual. "Damek and I have had a few run-ins, actually. Had I known he was of such high birth I would have been much more hesitant to anger him so. Actually managed to seal him in a companion he posessed in order to kill us all. Not that we have done anything to intentionally make ourselves a target, it's the woman he works for who set him against us." He starts carefully but will soon speak easily if she proves conversational. He will try to avoid mentionong Halek at all and only give the name of Shaelis if directly probed for it.

PM

The woman frowns, confused, then laughs. Oh you must mean my other son! No, Damek is lord death as he calls himself, and he very much still resides here. My other son foolishly decided to live as a mortal, centuries ago. Just like Raina decided to do, the half wit she frowns unhappily. All the best ones leave me for some reason. Anyway, I've lost track of him until recently but then he wasn't exactly alive for some time if memory serves. I'm sure he's making a right mess of things for you, he's good at that! Of all the things he did though, I will say he married well. she adds with a laugh again. Alright, we've lingered long enough. Shall we go look for our Raina? Remember, if the whistler got her, you'll all be in my belly tonight!

ooc: Go ahead and make your responses and also roll search/spot checks.

Tanzy: pm

Another son?  He married well? To whom? The woman at the beginning of all their trouble?  All those family maters were getting complicated.

Where the hell did Halek fit into this...

You appears to have a complicated family tree. He began.
Would you be kind enough to tell us more while we search for Raina, to prevent any other confusion on our part.

As they searched, he felt even more the absence of rocky. It was unusual for him to be so far from the shinny fragment of his soul.

spot 37
search 4 . . .  well, his strengths and weaknesses are quite obvious.
his training focused on being one with the world, not looking at little details ^^

rolled 14,10 using d20,d20-2.  Search, Spot

Pm
This message was last edited by the player at 08:05, Mon 09 Apr 2018.

The witch smiles at Raknesh's confusion. I suppose we do have a complicated little family. You see, I bore two sons. They have no father, I didn't need one. Always been proud of that she laughs. I'm probably just about the only creature out there that doesn't need a mate, even Shae needed one! Anyway, one son became the ruler of death, as you well know. The other lived here for a while but tired of his brother's rule and left to the world of mortals. Mortal or not, he lived a lot longer than you puny folk, and eventually his devotion to the goddess Shae caught her eye. He did quite a few nasty things for her you know. She revealed herself to him eventually and they paired, creating my grandson, Halek. What a disappointment he was! All that potential, wasted! He's just like Raina! she shakes her head. I lost track of Halek after he killed himself centuries ago. Rumor has it he was reborn in mortal flesh, but I've not sensed him. Probably knows I'd squish him if I did. Hmph. And of course you know Raina, daughter of death as we like to say. She's also a disappointment, but I can't help but love her anyway, the fool girl. She's probably the only one I ever did love come to think of it. Which is why you'd better hope she's alive! she finishes with sudden harshness.

Prizzard looks around with little success but Raknesh spots something unusual not far from where you parted with Raina. As you near you discover a scorched circle of black, as though the ground was burned up in a perfect circle. The witch sees this and laughs. Ha! You lot are lucky aren't you? You're safe from the cookfire tonight! Her father's got her!

Tanzy: pm

Bryon followed along grudgingly.

PM

"To be so involved with your descendents and still be alive is a miracle indeed. Limbs and worse have been lost, but to learn the parentage of our friends and foes sheds a new light on the subject, (insert a favored, respectful honorific title given to this "woman"). Your opinions of your descendents and their connections have been enlightening as well."

Such tact and respect may seem out of place, but any arcanist or criminal must eventually learn some basic diplomacy and civility to survive the politics of power. Also, Sonnenixxus may have taught some manners over time, which he begrudgingly recalls for the moment.

The witch smiles at Prizzard's words. Just call me motherwitch. It is my title and I have no other name. I was the first and I daresay I shall be the last, to wield magic. It is my life's blood. But enough about me. Come, we have much to plan if we are to free Raina. Her father is quite wroth with her betrayal and he'll have some nasty things in store for her. But you can't very well go unequipped as you are. Hm...I'll point you to the lake and you can deal with Vivian. If she thinks you worthy she may be willing to lend you a few things. Can't fight empty handed eh? she grins. Keep in mind though, getting to her will be tricky. There are things there that would try to lure you away. Not to mention  you have to go to the center of the lake, the very center mind you, and cut a hole in the ice. Then you have to swim down to the bottom before you drown. And if you do drown, I'm afraid that's it my dearies. she shakes her head.

Tanzy: pm

"I am never disarmed" said Rakesh as he summoned his weapon.

"But we are, indeed, under equipped."

His face went visibly paler at the mention of swimming, being lured away and drowning.

"Not again..." he muttered with a point of anguish.

"We each use some form of supernatural power, two of us arcane magic." He gestures to himself and Byron "It seems quite difficult to use here. As thanks for your hospitality and assistance, I can offer spells I have created myself, though you likely already know similar ones."

Bryon nodded but did not speak.

PM
This message was last edited by the player at 20:09, Wed 18 Apr 2018.

The motherwitch listens with amusement at Raknesh's despair, chuckling outwardly. Don't like water eh? Don't blame you there. Your best bet is to drop an anchor through the ice after you cut through it. You can at least grip it on the way down so you don't drift off. I suppose I'll help you a bit, considering you are going to rescue my granddaughter she muses.

At Prizzard's words she looks tickled. Oh aren't you adorable!? Well isn't that sweet, offering me your wisdom the grin turns wider, a mixture of laughter and genuine pleasure. I'm starting to be glad I didn't eat you folk after all. But magic wise, you'll be limited here. Especially you she nods to Prizzard. You nearly burned yourself out, I can smell it on you. The sizzle of too much power wielded at once. It will be a while before you can do anything dear boy, but Vivian will help give you something to tide you over I think. Yes. Of course, we'll have to get a treat for her first. Can't ask for something for nothing you know. Tell me, how squeamish are you lot? she frowns.


Tanzy: pm

PM

"I can manage anything absolutely required." He remembers his most terrible gambles, the most recent being the black powder, the loss oh his arm, and many more in the past. Assuming she reads minds at some small level, he keeps these thoughts at the surface.

Raknesh did his best to regain his composure, not willing to be taunted again.

"We have many lives in jeopardy which depend on our success.  We are ready to risk everything that has to be done, or nearly so." he added as an after thought, not willing to get stuck with an evil deed to do.