Stefan seemed happy to head to the inn but a concerned look slowly grew on his features as he turned back to the cleric.  "This entity, can it only reside in humans as a host or animals as well.  I have a friend outside the city as we speak, a brown bear, not generally well received in cities, and I worry for his safety if this thing might have a chance to get to him."

The cleric frowns at Stefan's question. That is a valid fear I'm afraid. I would say that he is clear for the time being. I would not have been able to sense anything in one so far away. That is not to say that the being cannot jump of course, but it is difficult to jump from host to host at will. They would have to wait for the opportunity to be right. I suggest you all figure out who it is before they get the chance to move...


When you all meet at the inn again, Prizzard is there and you can't help but wonder where he has been off to. Jett quickly fills him in on the situation, as the man had not accompanied you to the cleric.

It seems the general consensus is to stay the night and leave in the morning. You all feel uneasy and eerie about the cleric's words. After all, any one of you could be possessed and not know it. The cleric gave Tanzy a bundle with scrolls of instruction as well as a few items to use in the exorcism. There are two black and red candles, a thick blue paste substance with instructions of how to mark the affected person, a small engraved dagger, and various types of herbs and incenses. As you all sit about the common room, which is mostly empty, Loden speaks to you in a low voice. I don't know about you all, but I would rather figure out this thing soon rather than travel with no idea what evil is with us. I know what it is like to be possessed and it is something I am loathe to repeat. When it happened to me it was not subtle, so unfortunately I have no experience with something trying to hide inside me. I was not given any freedom of thought or will in my affliction so I do not know how it would feel if such a thing were hiding within. I'm sure that it heard the cleric though, and has been therefore warned of our knowledge. How do you all wish to proceed?

Raknesh stays silent, thinking, for a few minutes.

"At the city, when the girl was possessed, I used my mind blade in an unusual fashion to try to break the possession.  It did not work that well, but it provoked a reaction from the entity possessing the girl.

Maybe it could cause a small reaction in our case too...  But it might be painful and risky... with remote chances of it working...

It would be better if we have another plan, and keep this as a last resort..."

"Halek has seemed able to sense evil before, and he can channel energy that harms the goddess and may drive out a possessing entity." He seems to be studying a bounty note, to those familiar with such hunting. He has given no explaination where he went and no defense against accusations that he may contain evil.

Stefan looked with interest at the boy, cocking his head in a way the most closely resembled a bird.  "You have been able to sense evil?  Where, how why and all those things, and more importantly do you know how it may have entered in to a person?  While Loden was......indisposed, he cut me with a knife that I felt a wave of evil wash over me as soon as it pierced my shoulder.  Could the evil be hiding in me, It didn't feel like any poison I had ever felt before...."  He trails off looking up and to the left as he remembers.  His manner changes not one whit, he seems oblivious to the fact that he had just put himself forward as the one possibly harboring evil.

Tanzy plops the bundle given to her by the cleric on the table. "I'm sad to say I know nothing of possession. Unfortunately I will be of little help."
The woman eyes Prizzard with interest, recognizing a bounty note when she sees one. Standing she heads the bar to order an ale, making sure to circle behind Prizzard to see if she could peek a look over his shoulder. After all if the man were after a fellow thief it would only be right to send warning.

Loden nods at Raknesh's suggestion. Your mind blade would be a much less risky test than starting the exorcism uncertain. I say we try to muddle out who the suspect could be and then proceed accordingly. Has anyone noticed anyone acting strangely? Remember the clues that the cleric told us of.... He trails off.

Halek looks up in surprise, the young boy apparently uncomfortable at the attention suddenly upon him. He blushes a bit in embarrassment and shakes his head. It could have been a transfer of sorts, but then again those creatures back in Iatharias could have been just as capable. We may want to watch you closely for a while though. Loden's evil was quite a bit stronger than anything we just escaped from. As for sensing evil, I cannot always control my....abilities....especially when evil is squatting inside someone and trying not to be detected....And how I am able to have such abilities is something I only partly understand myself. I am still figuring things out I'm afraid....We had best stick together I think. Watch each other for signs. Perhaps there is some way to make the evil reveal itself. If it can enter churches and temples, then it is a very powerful evil indeed, so it will not be easily removed....

Tanzy, you manage to wander behind Prizzard and get a quick glance at his bounty note...

Prizzard is rather nonreactive on the subject.

Prizzard's bounty note had Tanzy curious though she didn't recognize the culprit's description. The mans looks alone were mysterious enough to be of suspicion, and he seemed distracted and not at all interested in the present conversation. Something the cleric had warned about. After retrieving her beverage, and an extra she returns to the table and plops one of the ales down in front of Prizzard. "You looked like you could use a drink," she said casually. She was going over the clerics warning signs in her head and had decided to conduct a little test of her own. Possessed people didn't seem to care about eating or drinking. If Prizzard drank the ale it would ease her mind a little.

Putting away the parchment, he looks at the ale, then Tanzy. "Never had a taste for ale. I do, however, like a good strawberry wine." Making sure to be just loud enough for the bartender to hear. He then places twelve gold pieces on the edge of the table and turns to face the bartender. "Also, a good-sized meal. Thank you. Hunting has been poor with all of this running.." He grumbles, mostly to himself. He seems either oblivious or uncaring in regard to to the suspicions placed on him.

A good sense motive check would allow a character to notice that his quiet, almost cold, exterior is just a personality he learned to put on over time. He is still very much like a child inside. If we drink late enough uninterrupted, it will become more obvious, but at that point everyone else may be just as drunk and not remember.

Tanzy wasn't insulted at the rejection of her ale, more than happy to finish it herself. She couldn't help but feel a little disappointed that Prizzard had ordered a meal. It would have been too easy she guessed, for the strange one to also be the possessed one. Wrinkling her nose she watched the others carefully, realizing she didn't really know any of them well enough to tell if they were acting out of character. The man Stefan was also worthy of suspicion, but she was low on coin and not willing to waste it on another drink. "there really isn't much we can do right now except keep an eye on each other. That thing is bound to slip up after a while..."

"Thing?"

As the evening continues, you all watch each other for signs of anything amiss. Thus far everyone is acting normally, albeit a bit suspicious of each other. Loden offers to pay for everyone's meals and drinks, even giving Tanzy her coin back for those she already purchased. Across the room you all notice a dark haired woman keeping tabs on you as she sips her wine. She is very beautiful, and she makes no efforts to hide her stares. Her gaze flicks to each of you, and she is clearly studying you for some purpose. Halek turns pale at the sight of her and to your surprise, he quickly leaves the room....

Prizzard tends to be oblivious.

ooc: Hmmm....posting seems to have slowed a bit....

pm

Stefan chews his food mechanically, making a face at it as if it doesn't quite suit his tastes, but he eats anyways.  He gazes quite openly back at the woman as deceit of this kind is not in his nature.  He watches as the young boy leaves the room, then looks back at the others.  "So I would say he knows who that lady is, do any of you?  I know I don't."

Taking a moment to register the meaning, he shrugs and leaves, taking his bottle, to keep an eye on Halek.

Raknesh was a bit too relaxed in the inn.
The weight of their mission and their shape had taken a toll on his body and mind.
So now, in this relative security, he had let his guard down.

He hadn't notice Halek's departure. At least not until he spotted Prizzard moving (probably because he did keep him under his look, regarding recent events and declarations).

A bit worried, he followed him outside, wondering what lead them to leave.

Tanzy didn't recognize the woman but she didn't like Halek's response. "I have never seen her before, but I suppose it wouldn't hurt to see what she wants. She obviously isn't making it a secret that she's interested." Looking at the others remaining at the table she scoots her chair back. "I trust you have my back should she have nefarious intent?"
The thief knew trouble followed her new friends easily and she remained alert as she approached the woman. "Any reason our little party interests you so much?" She asked casually, forcing a fake smile.

Raknesh and Prizzard: Halek is moving fast. He didn't just leave the room, he is running for it! He has bolted out the front of the inn and is actually going down the street. He doesn't look back and doesn't seem to notice either of you have followed. You have a feeling that if you don't stop him, he will run right out of town. Should anyone call out for him, he doesn't appear to notice.

Tanzy and Stefan: Loden shakes his head in answer to Stefan's question. There is something about her though, that I do not trust.... He trails off thoughtfully. He moves a bit closer to Tanzy as she questions the woman. Not so close as to be included, but near enough to intervene if things get ugly.

Tanzy: The woman gives a nod at your question and sits up straight. Yes there is indeed miss. She says, putting her goblet on the table. It seems you are in the company of a young boy I had been entrusted with. He ran away from me and I have been tracking him ever since. I am wondering how he came to be with you. You certainly have no legal rights to him. Whatever the reason, I will need to take him back with me. His mother has long been worried about him. She finishes, her eyes are firm and she clearly expects obedience in the matter.

Stefan wiped some sweat from his brow and let it furrow as he looked back at the woman. "Can you be more specific?  I am not as good with humans, but what in particular makes you think her untrustworthy.  Couldn't she just be the local constabulary?"

19:49, Today: Stefan Aruello rolled 17 using 1d20+4. sense motive.

Not one for calling out in the night or giving an idea much pause, he takes off after Halek, quite quickly.

"It seems to me that if his mother was so worried she would be the one we were speaking to instead of you." Tanzy's voice held a slight challenge. Honestly she didn't care who the woman was. If the kid didn't like her than Tanzy didn't have much use for her either. "We will of course need to see some identification and papers proving you are who you say you are."

Stefan: As you frown at the woman and try to figure her out, you get a sense that she is definitely misleading you about something. You also sense she is dangerous, and what's more absolutely unafraid of any of you.

Tanzy: The woman arches an unimpressed eyebrow at your belligerence. His mother is quite a busy noble woman. Hence the need for my involvement in the child's care in the first place. She sniffs self importantly. As for papers, I do not have any on me. Though I do bear the seal of his family's house hold. In the end though, you would be wise to simply give the boy up. I will be taking him with or without your permission. It really is best if you cooperate. She finishes darkly.

Prizzard: You overtake the boy with remarkable speed. Your spell enables you to easily catch up to him. He struggles if you try to detain him, looking back at the inn frantically. She's here for me! I remember her! She's awful! She's going to kill everyone and take me! We've got to get away! Please! The usually calm child is purely panic stricken at this point, and his large blue eyes are wide with pure terror. It is surprising that after all you have been through with him, that a mere woman should make him react this way.

"If she is so dangerous, we should stick together, don't you think? Let's get back in there." Prizzard grabs hold of Halek firmly.

rolled 22,25 using d20+8,d20+8. Touch, Grapple.
Unsure if he is small enough to get -4 to his check to resist, but likely beat it either way.