Lyriel's face lights up as Zuriel comes through the door. She waves, perhaps a bit more enthusiastically than she intended. Zuriel! Why the long face? You didn't think I'd forget about you, did you? She pulls a generous piece of chocolate cake from where she was guarding it behind her. I saved you a piece of the chocolate. I know it's your favorite and... she lowers her voice to a stage whisper, though it somehow ended up louder than she expected. I think it turned out best!

In reply to Lyriel Vesper (msg # 765):

The Sheriff carries his things up the stairs and into one of the 12 rooms that serve as overnight accommodations.  Oliver heads directly over to the bar, grabs the nearest bottle of liquor, and drinks directly out of it.

The barkeep begins to object, then thinks better of it and leaves the boy alone.

Rachel glances between Zuriel and Lyriel for a moment, then nudges Lyriel is a very unsubtle way.

"Oh, I think it's time I get that drink I was talking about," she says, winking obviously at the cleric and tucking a stray strand of fiery red hair behind her ear.  "You two have fun!"

With that, Rachel wanders over to the bar.

[Crossroads]

(Anyone want to do anything before bed?)
This message was last edited by the GM at 20:42, Tue 28 Jan 2014.

Maeve, entirely oblivious to the fact that perhaps Rachel wanted to give the two Highborn some privacy, makes her way through the crowd to them.

Ah, excellent, Lyriel saved you cake! she says.  Then, more somberly: And Ellie?  Is she. . . .at rest?

Zuriel nods, somehow managing to look both appropriately somber and also blissful with a mouthful of chocolate cake. "She is. We found her her doll, and she heard the voices of her mother and brothers calling her home. Tonight though, we celebrate life. Happy Birthday, Maeve!"

Once he finds out Ellie's fate, Boreas prepares for sleep.

Lyriel deflates a little, clearly hoping get Zuriel to herself. She shoots Maeve a meaningful look and waits for her to move along impatiently.

Maeve bids Zuriel and Lyriel a hasty goodnight and prepares to keep watch for the first part of the night.

Zuriel sinks back into his chair, and closes his eyes as he relishes another bite of the cake. "This is truly delicious, Lyriel, thank you. You're a gift." His face flushes as his words come out wrong. "Er, that is to say, you are quite gifted..."

He looks down at his delicious cake to conceal the red coloring his cheeks.

Gods, you haven't even been drinking...

She's above you, bastard... says a voice in the back of his mind that sounds a lot like Finwë.

"What I mean to say is, thank you for the cake."
This message was lightly edited by the player at 21:37, Tue 28 Jan 2014.

Lyriel laughs delicately as the paladin fumbles for words. Well, I'm glad you like it. You deserved a bit of a treat after today. Even if you do have dreadful fashion sensibilities. She sniffs.

Anyhow, I must say, I did have help. Rachel is an excellent assistant...and she'll be joining us. At least until Ikuabai. She has nothing left here Zuriel. I figure Baldwin might be able to help her get on her feet. She has a spark in her. I don't think she could ever be truly happy being a farmer.

She gazes at the paladin intently, curious as to his reaction.

Boreas throws up in his mouth a little.

Then, he seeks out any remaining farmers and consults them about the seeds he found near the Feyic Vault.  Perhaps they will know about the unidentified ones.

Zuriel considers her words for a moment, looking back at the cleric. At last he nods. "Good. There's no reason we can't take her at least that far."

It will be good for Lyriel to have another friend to talk to.

He catches Rachel's eyes from over at the bar. She seemed to be watching their conversation intently while trying unsuccessfully to appear as if she was not. He waves and she quickly looks away. He then stands and stretches his sore muscles. "Well I'd better turn in to get some rest before our second watch. I could use a bath too. Thanks again for the cake." He raises his voice so it would carry over to the bar. "You too, Rachel. It was quite lovely."

The paladin then heads off in search of his soap and a bathtub, or at least, a basin and hot water.

Lyriel smiles, pleased that Zuriel didn't offer any objections to Rachel traveling with them for a time. Though they came from drastically different backgrounds, Lyriel was pleasantly surprised how much she enjoyed the younger girl's company. After bidding the paladin goodnight, she beckons Rachel back over. About the same time, she notices Boreas wandering around asking farmers about seeds.

I don't think I'll ever understand him. Boreas needs to learn to relax sometimes. He's always so...businesslike. She takes another sip of wine.

Still, if he's asking about plants...I wonder... Lyriel waves Boreas over as well. Boreas, why don't you have Rachel take a look a those seeds. Perhaps she might know them?

She sits back, anxiously hoping that Rachel might be able to prove herself to the woodsman.
This message was last edited by the player at 22:03, Tue 28 Jan 2014.

In reply to Lyriel Vesper (msg # 776):

"Seeds?" Rachel says, a bit flushed from the attention (or perhaps the wine).  "I might be able to help you out.  Let's have a look."

As Maeve makes for her chosen seat by the front window, she notices Oliver at the bar deep in his cups.

Are. . . well, I know you're not alright, so I won't insult your by even asking the question.  But. . . .well, do you think you're going to *be* alright?

In reply to Maeve Hassan (msg # 778):

Rachel riffles through the six bags of seeds and trio of tubers Boreas recovered from the chest in Cassie's garden, rapidly identifying each after only a moment's hesitation.

"Drakewort, for soothing animals. Bramblecap, a very strong vine. Foolsweed, a hallucinogen.  Amber Gagleaf, which is creatively named for its gastric properties and pungent odor alike. Ordinary apple seeds, and... a variety of wolvesbane. And three scrawny beastroots, though they look like they've been crossed with something else."

She laughs, forgetting herself amid the impromptu botany lesson taking place.  "Fun!  Where'd you get them?"

***

Oliver doesn't answer Maeve right away, finishing the contents of the bottle of liquor instead and motioning for another.

"My family... is dead," he says at least.  "Brothers, sister, mother, father.  Farm's unsafe, village is moving."

Oliver sighs.

"I won't... I won't be all right in a very long time."

The boy -- young man, really -- looks over at the Eastern warrior, his eyes hard.

"Must've... must've lost a lot of friends, doing what you do.  Maybe... family, too?  How do you cope?  What makes you want to keep living?"
This message was last edited by the GM at 22:45, Tue 28 Jan 2014.

Maeve pours herself a finger of liquor--not too much; if Lyriel is any indication, the town of Vendrinor likes their alcohol strong--and ponders Oliver's question.

It can be hard.  Sometimes it can be very hard. You have to keep reminding yourself that what you're doing is for the greater good.

She looks around the tavern at the villagers, and smiles.

Moments like this help make up for the sorrow and bloodshed.

Maeve taps glasses with Oliver and both throw back their whiskey.

So, what will you do now?  Where will you go?

In reply to Maeve Hassan (msg # 780):

"I'm not sure yet," he replies.  "Where are you guys headed?"

In reply to DM (msg # 781):

Well, Maeve says, wondering where exactly Oliver is going with that query, though she has a fairly good idea, as I understand it, we will be accompanying you and the rest of the villagers to Medenbury.  But ultimately, we're bound for the city of Ikuabai.

Oliver offers her the liquor bottle, but Maeve politely declines a second shot.

In reply to Maeve Hassan (msg # 782):

While the rest of the P.A.R.T.Y. busy themselves drinking, blushing, and brushing up on herbology, Keef finds himself back in his large chair by the fire with some cake.  There, he passes out, one leg draped over the arm of the chair.

In reply to Maeve Hassan (msg # 782):

"Do you... Do you think you could teach me how to be strong like you? If I was... If I had been stronger, maybe none of this would have happened."

Oliver slumps dejectedly.

"Maybe someone I loved would still be alive."

Lyriel smiles delightedly as Rachel effortlessly rattles off the names of the herbs, already certain that her decision to include Rachel was the right one.

Odd, she doesn't talk like a farmer. Clearly she's had some education beyond basic letters and numbers...I'll have to ask her about it. But not tonight.

Well, I for one, am impressed! I'm sure at least some of these will come in handy.

Briefly she considers feeding the animal-calming seed to Shahara before dismissing the idea.

She gets up, and makes her way over to Boreas. She leans down to whisper to him. I don't think we should leave Simon outside. Let's bring him down to the cellar once things are calmer here.

Lyriel then considers the last order of business of the night before getting some rest. She takes Simon's cloud ink page and writes All is well. The Flame has moved on.

She yawns sleepily. Hopefully that will buy us some time.
This message was last edited by the player at 05:23, Wed 29 Jan 2014.

Boreas smiles back at Rachel, impressed with her knowledge.

We found them when we were searching for a Feyic Vault.  Remind me, and I'll tell you about it on the way to Ikuabai.  Your knowledge is impressive, though.  I've spent a lot of time out in nature, and even I didn't know a couple of them.  Where did you learn all this?

He begins to stow the seeds back in his pouch, mentally cataloging their functions.  He takes out one of the magic mushrooms and hands it to Rachel.

We found this in the same place.  Seems to let people see invisible things.  You might find it interesting.
This message was last edited by the player at 06:15, Wed 29 Jan 2014.

Maeve sets her drink aside, leans over, and puts one hand on either side of Oliver's face, forcing him to look at her.

Oliver.  Listen to me: This. Was. Not. Your. Fault.

Maeve sizes him up for a minute longer before reaching a decision.  She plucks the liquor bottle from Oliver's hand.

Come with me.

Maeve puts an arm around the young man's shoulder and steers him over to where Boreas and Lyriel are whispering together conspiratorially about something or other.

Friends, Oliver here has expressed an interest in accompanying us on our travels.  What say you?

Her gaze softens and she looks pleadingly at her friends and tightens her grip on Oliver's shoulder, partially to comfort but mostly because he looks in danger of toppling over.

Please.  He has lost all of his family in the space of a single day.  Nothing remains for him here.  Perhaps our journey could give him a renewed purpose.

Maeve claps Oliver on the shoulder to demonstrate the young man's great worth; the sudden jostling causes him to retch a bit.  Maeve decides to change the subject quickly.

One an unrelated note, I'm about to begin first watch. I believe that one of you has the dubious honor of accompanying me.  We should get these people to sleep and begin.
This message was last edited by the player at 11:37, Wed 29 Jan 2014.

In reply to Maeve Hassan (msg # 787):

"That's actually I really fascinating story. You see, I-" Rachel begins to respond to Boreas, before the train of thought is interrupted by the arrival of Maeve and Oliver.

Oliver has seen better days, looking as disheveled and bedraggled as a sewer rat drowned in whiskey, but he seems to understand the gist of Maeve's introduction.  He beams, staggers slightly, extends a hand to shake with Boreas, pauses, places that hand to his mouth instead, and rushes off toward the outhouse.

***

Most of the villagers have settled in for the night, whether that meant crowding into the rooms upstairs or, like Keef, falling asleep where they sat.  Soon, only the P.A.R.T.Y. (minus Keef), the barkeep, and Rachel are left awake.

The barkeep spends his time behind the bar, packing bottle after bottle into wooden cases padded with straw.  Rachel is studying the mushroom Boreas handed her with interest.
This message was last edited by the GM at 13:52, Wed 29 Jan 2014.

In reply to DM (msg # 788):

I'm sure the bard can use his help too in Ikuabai, if we manage to find him.  The lad can come with us, at least for now.

Boreas looks around and scratches his head.

Well Keef's asleep, so it looks like he's volunteered for third watch.  I can take second alone.  Perhaps Lyriel and Maeve on first watch, Keef and Zuriel on third.

Seeing agreement, Boreas goes to bathe briefly and settles in for some hard-earned rest.
This message was last edited by the player at 14:55, Wed 29 Jan 2014.