"That's brilliant, Aoife!"  Ardenas turns to the boy once more.

"Andre, I've seen you looking at Kalima."  He gestures toward the four-armed, three-eyed, flame-haired woman towering over them.  "She's a demon hunter, and even if they didn't look like it, the shop where you got that ball was run by demons.

"We need you to give Kalima the ball and stop pulling Antionette's braids so she can pray in peace.  Then, if someone comes to take the ball because you've stopped pulling your sister's hair, just tell them about the four-armed, flame haired giant woman who took it from you.

"I wish I had something to give you to replace the ball --" He pauses, then pulls out a small object, like a three-pointed star of steel.  "Are you old enough to have a knife without hurting yourself or others?"
This message was last edited by the player at 10:18, Wed 09 Dec 2020.

In reply to Ardenas Barehand (msg # 446):

The boy swallows hard and looks at his father.
"Demons! I...I didn't know. He extends the ball gingerly toward the demon huntress.
Father, may I"

Mancini reaches into his coin purse and pulls out a silver coin and hands it to the boy. "For loss of the ball. Just don't go making deals with devils if you can help it. "

He takes another silver and gives it to his father. "If you would, please say a prayer for us. Any aid from the divine would be greatly appreciated. "

Ardenas also looks at Francois, still holding the shuriken.

"If you permit it, of course, monsieur -- and if so, I might recommend the boy to the Gathering Chi Academy.  He surely is old enough to begin learning the arts of defense, and Master Albreth treats children with respect and care."

In reply to Ardenas Barehand (msg # 449):

"I thank you,and I will. Let me have a word with my son. Never raise a hand to your sister, especially on the say so of another! Let me make those hands smart as you have caused her head to smart by pulling her plaits!"
This message was last edited by the player at 18:00, Mon 14 Dec 2020.

In reply to Francois Betancourt (msg # 450):

"Indeed. That is that entry sorted. What else is there?"

"Wait a moment, Aoife."  Ardenas turns his attention back to Andre.

"This is called a shuriken.  It's made to be thrown, easier to throw well than a knife, lighter to carry, and less expensive, so one can carry more of them.  When you meet Master Albreth, tell him you have this from Ardenas Barehand.

"If you choose to follow the Unified Art, one of the things you will learn is how to use these, but you can practice on your own before then.  You hold it like this --" he grips one point of the weapon between thumb and index finger, showing the boy, then draws it back alongside his ear "-- and throw like this."  He snaps the hand forward, releasing the star to fly and embed in a nearby gatepost.

"It is my gift to you.  Be careful with it, don't let it rust or become dull, and practice indoors -- bring in boards! -- lest you lose it on a bad throw before you master the skill.  If your father doesn't know how to sharpen it, one of Master Albreth's instructors will teach you."

[Private to GM: 18:59, Today: Ardenas Barehand rolled 12 using 3d6.  Shuriken, roll to hit (15).]

In reply to Ardenas Barehand (msg # 452):

The boy gratefully takes the shuriken, and then is led into the house by his ear pinched in his father's hand.


Your next entry is  DuFontaine

In reply to Andre Betancourt (msg # 453):

"DuFontaine...that name I think is familiar..."

In reply to Narrator (msg # 408):

DuFontaine  works cleaning fountains near the cathedral.

In reply to Narrator (msg # 455):

Thats it! Sederic will relay this to the group, and suggest we head to the Cathedral...

OOC:  gwythaint, how long has it been since the group headed out to find Andre?  Benny is still resting at the bar at the guild...

In reply to Benny Morales (msg # 457):

That took an entire halfhour

Benny continues nursing his mug of barley soup they call beer and making small talk with the barkeep.


OOC:  In other words he isn't rested enough to feel like venturing forth to go find them, yet.

"Fountain cleaner?  I wonder what he got and what they asked of him?"

In reply to Ardenas Barehand (msg # 460):

"Desecrating the holy water font would not be out of the question..."

In reply to Aoife (msg # 461):

"That would be despicable."

"Well, sure, but then so is pulling your sister's braids every time she starts to pray, relative to children growing up to be good folk.  There's other stuff that could be done at the cathedral, too -- putting nasty stuff in the offering box, messing with other ritual elements -- what to Triunists use in their services that could be desecrated easily?

"Based on Andre's trade, it's likely to be something fairly subtle, over a long term, rather than something disastrous done once.  Maybe he's just not doing a good job cleaning the fountains, so anyone who drinks or touches the water might get ill."

Maybe mix in unholy wader wid da blezzed zduff.

In reply to Oly (msg # 464):

Anyone have theoligy:triunist?

(Or hazmat, magical?)

As you approach the cathedral,  make a per roll, or an area knowledge:Northport
This message was last edited by the GM at 18:26, Tue 22 Dec 2020.

Oly is always paying attention to his surrounds


[Private to GM:   11:42, Today: Oly rolled 10 using 3d6.  Perception . By 4
11:44, Today: Oly rolled 8 using 3d6.  Area knowledge - Northport.  By 5 ]

In reply to Oly (msg # 466):

You espy the fountain in cathedral square. There is a uniformed individual standing on the edge with a net on a pole, skimming debris from the surface.

Ardenas is preoccupied with thinking of things DuFontaine might have been asked to do in return for whatever he got.

[Private to GM: 18:45, Today: Ardenas Barehand rolled 12 using 3d6.  Perception (10) while approaching the Cathedral.]

In reply to Ardenas Barehand (msg # 468):

Sederic will approach him.

"Defontaine?"

Oly hangs back and watches closely.