As this happens, Marik is outside of the inn and near the stables, helping Rani make herself a comfy bed of hay to relax while they go in. He'll probably open a window and call her to join in his room later in the night, but for the moment, best to leave her outside. The place seems quite crowded and he's not sure how well people would take the sight of a giant cat making her way inside the place.

As he climbs back the steps to the inn, he hears a muffled "Ha'Baka!" followed by cheers and roaring laughter. Well, that certainly sounds like a great (and very loud) party inside. The relative peace and quiet of the outside of the inn suddenly look very appealing. Maybe he'll stay a few more moments here, sitting in the stairs, watching the stars before going to bask in all that noise. Maybe it will be a bit quieter then...

OOC: Ever went to a place, heard how loud it is inside, stopped at the door and decided you're not quite ready to engage just yet and need a moment? I can only imagine how it could be for a wood elf that was a hermit not that long ago

Filimena freezes, her eyes widening in... in what? Surprise? Shock? Relief? She gets up from her chair and takes a step towards where she last saw the halfling. It can't be, can it? After all this time, he's really just... there? She takes a deep breath, and finds that breathing is just about the only thing she can do. Her feet aren't taking her forward, as she wants them to do. Or, as she thinks she wants them to do. What happens now? What happens when she speaks to him? What is she even going to say? She hasn't met her brother face to face in half a lifetime. The room around Filimena seems to blur. She turns suddenly towards the door of the tavern and, swallowing, walks firmly and briskly towards it, opening it and stepping outside.

The silence hits her like cold air. Marik is sitting on the stairs leading up to the inn. She marches towards him, and sits herself heavily down on the steps next to him. [Language unknown: "Un thilarsta Il stapr wil ol,"] she says quietly, after a few seconds' pause. She notices her fingers are clenched tightly around the edge of one of the floorboards making up the stairs, and she lets go, rubbing her hands together instead, as if to warm them. [Language unknown: "Si thi ive korek me? I evthom na k proticrut ainai Ai ticto ou."] She sniffs. Not wanting to meet Marik's eyes, she looks instead towards Rani poking her head out from the stable.

OOC: Hehe. I think Filimena and Marik are alike in this situation.
This message was last edited by the player at 13:36, Thu 21 July 2022.

Marik eyes widens and frowns for a moment in a "Wait what?" fashion, as if to make sure he heard correctly. She think she just saw him? Right there? Well, at the same time, it could make sense. Things don't automatically become an extended hunt just because you thought they would be. That is...certainly unexpected, but also quite possible with how Filimena describe her brother.

Seeing Filimena's expression though, Marik quickly comes back to a neutral face, quite glad she wasn't looking at him at that moment. She definitely looks shaken and he needs to project calm in this moment to be here for her.

The thought passes in his mind. How would he react in her shoes? What would he do if suddenly he saw his dead sister somewhere after all these years? Probably he would have trouble believing it as well.

A flash of spotted grey fur passe before his eyes. In the few seconds it took this thought to form in his head, Rani has already gotten up and came running from the stable to comfort Filimena, rubbing her comically large head (in comparison) against the halfling's small hands and purring. She's so much smarter and better than him at this.

He smiles and nods.

[Language unknown:  "tinee ec tineenset..."] he starts, before trying his best to cheer her up. [Language unknown: "Mitewa wa ere Isnipo acisivli er any? ....K ul ic butoulnceorther, nechic ad acpl ingonssti behoiv usom ulone om di paanin t se inelinear fo. T is k omeesstin i ichnd arena n thu palar me staourhaslar ieard os!"]

Filimena is taken slightly aback by Rani's approach, but chuckles and begins rubbing behind the big cat's ears, feeling immediately better, albeit also somewhat embarrassed. She's been down in a dwarven dungeon, fending off attacks from deadly metal constructs, and come face to face with an illithid, and somehow, this is the thing she's afraid of? Well, she'd been afraid all those times too, if she's honest with herself. But this is a different type of fear.

[Language unknown: "K noilma m prooneect be hatforiveand eeart et,"] she says. [Language unknown: "U dayarewil Atewi ard ainni. Oneamelinout stanceugh Uspe oueker ni n pe ai vor nt nde. Er derforure nieau anand ntiltacese eiteno, haro io On ove ad, m ckiton at es whfi-besata anysi ckall ounset-thathiica."] She laughs.

Looking back towards the door, she prepares to get up. [Language unknown: "Cafiwa e? Ad, e whekck eiul on eloul k thiconsom omnato."]

Marik gets up too

[Language unknown: "At pa iv K thaortles a. Er io of nitaat m ver larwa wiul U simi ate waicriwh itetan me na llchntfo m llad le p, om U dinandave i in ni ri m tiouut si ndou men p ssst in ion intthatra ur ropl settedere. Thion a of ee...o k notntiint. Toes onsnd eein sspr tra we som ndeounwhi in tedal monc amedernot tiuswe se prekorsti ethat hesa sonwheset lo m ticyinart. Ncenc werng ei ceul omenteint con pa al E wachth t inter hapa Ers ec ei ameie fo theintwer nc a ilto te. Be utictonewa, omrous dithur, P elthi...Teour ngat i earwerint saunev t ulou outsanshe thereacon llut ncet. No p artr echo beort on ore wimiin, orewilformen thu san hawi itomneliivit u atianttin se entverpro aletce'sear. Reaentthi ostr as p modi ave diecas ratthihas ha ev po onicus iv to sicaatatpl sheti po somntewasman. Resichion pa ninc... intiveinetha ee la...manwitver caanniev sise comlarest na onme adou'ofho u thuallessear in tedshemenhouble?....Anyredeau, Re haerec"
]

He pauses.

[Language unknown: "U astomi unei astlattin of thaichcom oerprolin. Thaeveshe mist anaien e ratle omfona et toove haser in ng." ] He add, with a forced chuckle. He stands ready by her side. [Language unknown: "Iv? Se preorttio e he?" ]

Filimena takes a deep breath. Marik is right. Her brother is alive. She's seen him with her own eyes. All she needs to do now is say hello, and whatever happens happens. Maybe they will end up getting a drink. She imagines them sitting at the bar, talking, catching each other up on all the things they've been up to. She'll ask how he's doing, and how he ended up leaving the family home. She'll ask him about how the family reacted when she left, and how they are now, whether he stays in touch with them at all. And then maybe, tomorrow, they'll part ways again, say goodbye, and she can tell him about their tavern, how he's welcome there any time, and - the book. The book! Filimena blinks, remembering how she ended up here in the first place. Her brother had left her a clue in a book, which he'd arranged to have delivered to her. What was that all about?! She frowns ever so slightly. [Language unknown: "Heou, oreerehas iopahe, ousateout no ck,"] she says, nodding. [Language unknown: "Andhourutoun ou sa romlaranyeau ofevla niiceree."] She turns and heads towards the door, beckoning Rani and Marik along.
This message was last edited by the player at 14:00, Thu 28 July 2022.

Ironclad has remained standing just inside the doorway of The Pilgrim's Hall and seems to be having a conversation with a rather lively Hankerin

"I'm tellin' ya, we often find ourselves taking the long way around to choices just cause it takes us so much time to figure out the nature of the choice.  Now, it isn't how every choice happens but I'd say its half or so,"  Hankerin says gesturing wildly.  "Take me for example, I didn't know I wanted to work at a place like this.  Went off to be a fisher, next I was a soldier, spent sometime as writer, a painter, a candle stick maker..." he pauses as our heroes approach.

With a big goofy smile, he says, "Ah or these two, they didn't know they wanted to be here till they talked about it first."

Filomena clears her throat by way of an apology for interrupting what seems like a riveting philosophical discussion.

"Hi," she says. "We were planning on staying the evening, yes, but actually, we're also looking for someone. A halfling, like me." Filimena glances around to see if she can spot him herself.

"We've got a handful of halflings come thru here from time to time - farmers mostly.  But like YOU ... that would be Fastolm I'd guess That young fella who jumped up on the table, right?" Hankerin inquires with a smile.

Filimena swallows hard. "Yup! That's him alright. Now I'll, uh... I'll go talk to him," she says, putting on a nervous smile, then turning and heading towards where she last saw Finneas.

OOC: Give me a Perception check at disadvantage, please

OOC: I tried to roll with disadvantage once but did it wrong, so just rolled another d20, but it turns out both came out 20!

22:07, Today: Filimena the Gentle rolled 20 using 1d20+3, rerolling ones with rolls of 17.  Perception again.
22:07, Today: Filimena the Gentle rolled 20 using 1d20+3, rerolling ones with rolls of 17.  Perception w/ Disadvantage.

OOC Double Dirty 20s! Very nice

Filimena moves thru the crowded common room easily as many of the patrons move out of her way.

[Private to Filimena the Gentle: Brother _lost
      Wayward one
Traveler found]

She finds the other halfling enjoying a tankard of something as they play a game of cards with a trio of humans who seem to be merchants.

Marik and Rani follow suit as best they can behind the three-foot-something cloaked ball of energy that hurries through the room and people. The elf notes many people moving instinctively out of the way as if they felt something in the air. It's not unusual when folks see Rani for the first time, but this feels different. There is a certain smell around Filimena, a tense, electric air.... not unlike like what you smell moments before a hurricane.

Filimena winces only slightly, for once unbothered by what They are saying to her. The queasiness in her stomach comes from her own nerves, and not from Them, reaching across the planes and into her mind.

Filimena steps up to the halfling, puts on an incredibly stern look, and clears her throat loudly.

The halfling without looking says, "One second, we are almost done here." He smiles as he lays out his hand of cards. "Sorry fellas, looks like you lose this round.  Don't worry you can win your money back later."  The trio all throw their cards down and grumble as they leave.

Raking in the various coins on the table, the halfling pushes them into a pouch which then vanishes into his shoulder bag hanging. Turning to Filimena and Marik, he says "Now, what can I do for ..." the words stop instantly as he realizes who he's seeing. "Oh ... you."

OOC: Can Filimena tell anything about Finneas' attitude toward seeing her from his body language and tone of voice? Rolled a 14 on insight =/

17:25, Today: Filimena the Gentle rolled 14 using 1d20+3, rerolling ones with rolls of 11.  Insight.

OOC: He isn't hiding the fact that he is NOT thrilled to see you.  He's not hostile as of yet

Filimena purses her lips slightly, not knowing quite what to make of her brother's apparent displeasure at seeing her. "Hi," she says, tentatively. "Yeah, it's me. I, uh, got your note."

Finneas pats the tabletop, "Come, sit, let's chat over a game." He shuffles the cards and waits.

Filimena hesitates for a moment, then approaches the table. "By the way, this is Marik. We have been travelling together. And Rani. Something tells me you might already know that."

Finn nods to Marik, "Yes, you two are quite famous around the city, the Finders of Jzadirune and all that." A mischievous smile cross his lips then he springs up, standing in his chair and hoisting his mug.

"OY! Look here you lot!  We have bonified adventurers here!  My sister and her friends Marik and Rani are the Finders of Jzadirune! Raise a glass to them!"  The noise in the room is deafening as the patrons roar their cheers and glasses crash together.  A few of the patrons pat you both on back, though none try to touch Rani as the big cat does inspire a bit of fear without trying.

Filimena miles politely at the crowd. He's stalling, she thinks. This gives her a boost of confidence, somehow. She steals a glance at Marik's direction to see that he's okay, then looks back to her brother. "What are we playing?"

Marik tries to wave back at the crowd, but instinctively gets closer to Rani. He is uncomfortable with the attention and doesn't quite know how to act. But mostly, he feels bad for Filimena. She's been waiting years for this reunion and... a flash of anger builds in his belly toward this man. Does he even realize what is happening at the moment?


"That is....certainly way to meet...long lost family...after years apart....Sure...Let's play game" He articulates in broken common. He makes a few steps toward the table, put a hand on Filimena's shoulder as he passes by, wants her to feel supported, and then take a seat. He can't help but glare in Finneas direction*.



(*Which is basically the same face he has on his portrait.)