Arek snuffled and snored, completely oblivious to the new arrival and most likely uncaring.
Sleep was a commodity in short supply for the elderly, and one that should be exploited at every opportunity. Besides, he had to talk to the dead in the morning, a task that tended to mentally drain the priest who attempted it...

"Given yer past history Ronalt, ye'll naw be surprised ef ah dannae take that at face value.  Ma friend and ally lies there wi is heid cut off for gawd sake!" cried Otis loud enough to waken most of the resting party.

"Otis, believe what you wish. I know I didn't kill the one called Riker."
"Feel his body, it be cold. If I had even killed him four hours ago there would be at least some warmth in him." Ronalt replied to the grieving smith

Iviana jerks up into a crouch, hair wild, hand reaching automatically for her flail, at the loud voice.  She squints away a bit of sleepiness, and, seeing Otis, glances first to Cedric, trusting that the Paladin could see through any disguise the stalking creature might use.  Seeing that he doesn't look panicked, or, in fact, hostile, she relaxes, and settles back to see if she can safely go back to sleep.

Cedric nods to Otis, "Your suspicion is reasonable under the circumstances.  Tell us how we may assert our innocence regarding this act."

Gwythe wakes at the noises, his hand straying to his weapon as he takes in the scene. He doesn't move or say anything, but simply watches Otis and listens to the discussion.

The blacksmith's shoulders slumped as he took a seat on one of the logs near the fire. "Cedric aint et? Ah kent yer a good un as es Ronalt at heart. By god tho, ye make life tough fer aen aging blacksmith. Wha' will convince me? happen if ye tell me the fate o' Riker en word Ah kin understand.  En what tha' hell 'appened in Nulb?"

Iviana, somewhat sleep-fogged as the adrenalin ebbs, decides that her own most convincing argument as to innocence is probably to go back to sleep, thereby affirming to Otis that we're not, for example, planning to surround and kill him.  So she settles back down, lays her flail out beside herself again, and closes her eyes, her breath quickly smoothing out again.

Perhaps in thanks to her elven blood, she doesn't snore, though.

Instantly awake at the sound of the strangers voice, Yesil never the less remained prone and unmoving, tensed to spring into action despite her apparently still being asleep.
In part she was thinking tactically - lull the oponent into believing they were safe from harm. Mostly though it was respect for Arek's snores...
She'd learnt to use his reactions to guide her own. It seemed that although the ancient dwarf priest was often asleep on his feet, distracted by inconsequential things, or simply misunderstood (or misheard) conversations around him, he always seemed alert to true danger when and as it happened.
And so, for now at least, she remained motionless...

Taking a seat himself, Cedric lifted his water flask and offered it towards Otis even as he spoke.  "In Nulb, we acted too much in haste I fear.  One amongst us recognized a curr involved with a plot to take our lives and thus acted to strike down the dog.  The miscreants friends then joined in to make good their plans and my comrades acted to defend ourselves.  Judging the mood of the townsfolk to be one not disposed towards fair judgement, we elected to depart the village and trust that the gods, in their infinite wisdom, would mete out deserved punishment for any unlawful acts on our part."

"And thus we made our way into the wilds surrounding Nulb, eventually finding this campsite.  Unfortunately, we were not the first to come across it and it's owner.  An invisible and malign entity was already here and presumably had already murdered  your friend.  We chased it off but predict that it will return.  Thus we rest and wait.  My comrade and I have dug a grave for your friend, but a dwarvern priest who travels with us, feels it best to seek enlightenment from the gods that the murderer might be revealed.  At which time, we shall finish our burial with proper respect."
This message was last edited by the player at 20:26, Thu 24 Sept 2009.

Otis straightened his shoulders and said in a powerful and remarkably unaccented voice, "Alright, let's see this one that knew Rentsch was plotting against you here now."

typos
This message was last edited by the player at 00:01, Sat 26 Sept 2009.

In answer, the paladin turns and points a finger in the direction of Gwythe.

Gwythe sneers at Cedric from where he is reclined across the fire and looks across to Otis. "I killed him. He was an assassin. I was instructed to bring the rest of the group to his hotel so that he could take care of them during the night." He moves his sword to the other side of his body, laying it back on the ground. "Believe what you will." he finishes, adjusting his body position.

Ronalt had hoped Gwythe would admit to Otis what had happened.
"We have only his word that this is all true." Ronalt added, "his story hasn't changed since the incident happened."

Cedric ignores the look directed upon him by Gwythe, content that he has answered the questions posed to him in honesty and willing to let Ronalt convey the rest of the story.

"So might judge and executioner, who instructed you and why did you follow there instructions so fully before deciding to kill Rensch?" Otis demanded.

Gwythe turns his sneer onto Otis. "I didn't follow anyone's instructions. There was a problem, so I dealt with it. Perhaps your village shouldn't harbour assassins." He spits to the side of his legs and looks away again.

"Yes perhaps, but who's the assassin here? Or more of interest why were you singled out to assist in these foul deeds? Answer me that one Gwythe and maybe I'll start to understand what is behind your actions." said the blacksmith.

Gwythe's lip turns up even further. "None of your business. I was brought here through no choice of my own, in the service of Arek." He pulls his sword across his lap defensively and looks around at the rest of the party. "The rest have chosen to be here. Perhaps that is why I was so approached."

"No choice! You had every choice to tell you friends here what they were walking into but you failed miserably and have ruined whatever chance they had of setting up in Nulb as a base of operations." said Otis.  "Well, if they want to hang about with a loser that is their business. It make life a lot more complicated as I do not trust you Gwythe and therefore must view this whole undertaking as being compromised."

Kalador chuckled at Otis calling Gwythe a loser. He couldn't agree more and wondered why the fool was still with the group.

"Lea' thar boy alone!" Arek growled from within his cloak.
"He bin beha'in' 'imsel e'er sin' I laid eye's on 'im."
"'is 'eart's in thar right place e'en if 'is head often isn't."
Grumpily he rolled over to show his face.
"Now, ya either fin' me a proper bed," he poked at the gathered leaves and grasses under him, "Or yer can let an ole dwarf git back ta sleep."
"Preferably both!"

Cedric now speaks to Otis, "Arek speaks wisdom, what is done, is done and now we must forget the foolishness of the past and focus upon our goal.  The agents of our enemy doubtless are now aware of our existence, therefore we must assume our coming will be known in advance.  Whether the entity responsible for the death of your comrade is allied with the enemy is unknown but if so, then our presence was to be discovered in any event.  I would then ask your advice friend Otis, is there anything you know regarding what we face that could aid us in our mission?"
This message was last edited by the player at 00:11, Fri 02 Oct 2009.

Ronalt continued to listen to the discussion, content to hear Otis explain as much as needed for them to continue.

Otis leant back  before answering, "Know? There is much I know and some of it you need to learn.....

OOC: new thread time!