"Do...recall what he looked like? or name?" ask Marik, whose curiosity (and suspicion) grows by the minute.

After a moment, Renaer replies, "I believe he introduced himself as Fin."

[Private to Filimena the Gentle: Missing once
Found _now
^Lost no _more]

Filimena doesn't quite hear Renaer's response at first, as her head begins to reel, and a sharp pain bursts from her left ear, as if someone has jabbed a sharp needle into it. As she recovers, Renaer's slowly reassemble themselves in her mind like pieces of a broken vase touched with a Mending spell. "What did you say?" she hisses, suddenly alert. "What did he say his name was?" She steps forward, held back from grabbing the man only by the tome she holds in her two hands. She looks towards the door.

Renaer looks down at Filimena, unsure of why the halfling has such a shocked look on her face, "Fin... he said his name was Fin. He wasn't the owner - that's Gundo Windsalt who I've met before. This fellow just worked there."

Marik looks puzzled by the name, not sure why it reminds him of something, then see Filimena reaction. Then something clicks.

"That's..." he looks at Filimena. "This name..." . A excited grin begin to curl on his lips. He remembers he shouldn't get his hopes up. Could be a lot of people named Fin. But wanting to give such a book to Filimena in particular? He can't help but thinks that chance sometimes does indeed reward the patient hunters.

"Could... you tell what he looked like...Fin? Clothes...Hair...Odor?" ask Marik, before remembering that maybe asking someone what they smell like maybe isn't natural or appropriate out of elven hunter circles. He gives a look at Fala like "Oops...help me here?"
This message was last edited by the player at 00:29, Thu 11 Feb 2021.

Floon looking similarly confused to Renaer speaks up, "He was a halfling fella about this tall," he gesture to his hip, "dark hair, tan. He was wearing umm.. clothes ..."

He looks to Renaer for backup.

With a nod Renaer adds, "Nothing much of note aside from his insistence on the book. Why is he someone of import to you?
This message was last edited by the player at 19:19, Thu 11 Feb 2021.

Fala kneels down by Filimena, "Are you alright? You seem rather upset." The druid looks to Floon and Renaer then to Marik and Filimena, "Shall we talk outside, hmm? I know that the others won't mind."
This message was last edited by the player at 19:56, Thu 11 Feb 2021.

For the first time in a long while, Filimena finds herself unable to say anything. She is not upset so much as she is in a state of shock. Well, that's not quite true. She is slightly upset -- at her patron, who, she can't help but feel, has strung her along a little bit. She's been looking for her brother for years, after all. Presumably, They had known he was in Titans Gate when They brought her to this city. Could They not have guided her straight to him, instead of sending her on adventures all over -- or, more precisely, under -- the city? Was there a point to all that peril?

Filimena allows herself to be gently nudged towards the door at first. Halfway there, however, she nimbly spins around and heads back towards the bar, where the bottle of pixie brandy seems to glow like a lighthouse on a dark and foggy night. She pours herself a glass, downs it in a single gulp, nods slightly at it, impressed, puts the glass down, and takes a deep breath. She needs to establish, first of all, whether or not the Fin that Floon and Ranear had seen was really her brother. After all, Finneas is a fairly common name for halflings. As it happens, Filimena knows about twelve. And sure, her brother did have a suspicious tendency to wear clothes, but that's neither here nor there. No. She shouldn't get her hopes too high up. Maybe her patron is playing tricks on her. She hasn't known Them to be especially tricky, but inter-planar beings are, to a degree, unknowable. That is after all sort of their schtick. Maybe they've decided to turn trickster. That would not be entirely unprecedented.

Filimena glances quickly out the door, then back at Floon, then at Ranear, and when she realises she can't remember which of the two said what, addresses them both, "Arcanist's Ward, you said? Off Brightcoin Lane? That's not far for here, is it?"
This message was last edited by the player at 14:59, Sun 14 Feb 2021.

Floon nods, "Yeah that's it - probably a twenty minutes or so walk away."

"Hum" begins Marik, to Filimena "Have...suspicion that...won't find him...there. If wanted meet you directly...would have meet you...no need for ...messenger. He...probably left you...hint." He says, looking at the book. "Maybe in this? Title seems....suggestive...hum...wrong word...adequate"
This message was last edited by the GM at 04:20, Tue 16 Feb 2021.

Filimena begins to shiver. Every fibre of every muscle in her body wants to go dashing out the door towards Brightcoin Lane. Of course, she has no idea where this is, but she's certain that if she did run out the door, somebody - more likely somebodies - would run after her, and that somebody - those somebodies - would certainly help her find it, or take her to it. The thought dawns on her that she can rely on people following after her because, for the first time in a very long while, she is surrounded by people who, to varying degrees, care about her wellbeing. This is too crazy a thought. Maybe she needs a sit down. She walks to the nearest chair and drops herself down on it. The book, which she has been carrying, falls heavily upon her lap.

For a while, she stares blankly into the air ahead of her, still in a state of shock. Slowly, she lowers her eyes down upon it. She should open it, she knows. Words to that effect seem to have floated in her direction from Marik. Yet she has great difficulty bringing herself to lift its front cover. It seems so heavy, almost glued in place. Instead, she studies its cover for a while, running her fingers across its surface, along its spine, until it starts to get a little ridiculous. Then, finally, gingerly, she lifts the book open.

OOC: Phew. What a buildup.

All conversations stop in the Manor due to the drama over the book capturing everyone's attention.

The book is forest green with gold lettering though definitely well used as the colors have dulled with time. It has a nice weight and feel about to it, and a uncanny familiarity to it like a book Filimena has read it over and over again. There is no author mentioned anywhere on the exterior just the title which is strangely written Celestial on the front cover.

Inside is a piece of paper roughly 3.5"x 2" (8.9 x 5.1 cm) which reads [Language unknown: Aihach rat] in an elegant hand.

Marik sense Filimena may want to gather her sense and decide to leave her a little privacy. He offers Fala, Ranear and Floon to follow him and Rani to the table, where the main dishes are served.


"Come..Come...Enter....Filimena will...join us...later...Let's not let...all this lovely food...go to waste. Come to think of it...let's meet...for real....I mean...not while under stress. Being a long time since I had the gift of long conversation. Let's share stories."

As they sit, and silence appear to last, Marik wonder what he should do. he really want to distract them...not only for Filimena but to lift the mood but doesn't know how. It's been a looong time since he was in the presence of a group of strangers this big. Talking didn't felt that hard, even with his broken Common, to Filimena or Raz, but now...he feels shy.

As if she sensed his discomfort, Rani breaks the silence by yawning extremely loudly and beginning to roll on the floor contorsionning herself as if she wanted scratches. Doing so, she makes a small side table with some cups fall, crashing and pouring liquid on her. Jolting as if she was surprised, she suddenly lift up with a bizarre meowing and jump around. Marik can't repress a laugh and sense he may not be alone. She may look like a huge dumb cat at the moment, but he knows she's acting. Once again, he'll have to thank her for saving him.

Thanks to Rani's distraction, Marik finally build up the courage to speak, as he sits.

"Thanks...Welcome everyone...To those, who know me less..I'm Mariel'kor of Eldebrath...and that's...Rani" he says with a dramatic pause and a smile as the huge cat gets up with a half broken cup on her giant head. "We...are for  up north...from Tal'Onarafel....I...did not have pleasure of ....conversation...in long time...lived alone with Rani in the woods. We...are travelers... Maybe...know it already from...Fala...but where I comes from...when traveler's meet...we share stories...And I'd love to hear yours...I can start if you wish


OOC: Marik rolls a Performance check of...2

Marik then starts a tale, realizing too late what he got himself into. He tries first to recount how he met Rani, how she was found as a mere cub by his sister and how she eventually saved him from a burning log. He realized he should have rehearsed it however, as he start a confusing and meandering tale, starting from the middle where the forest started to burn, but realizing he should mention it's his sister's cat before the save then rewinding... talking about his sister's and his chilhood...searching his words..stopping...try to clarify the places of spirits in elven spirituality..restarting from the point where his sister found Rani...as the minutes passes, he feels more and more ashamed...as his Common also appear to become more and more broken reflecting his panic. He tries to sound calm but the tone just sounds flat and monotone. It's a disaster of storytelling and he knows it. Eventually he just stops, with visible discomfort.

"So..Sorry..Been...long time...just need some time and drink to clear my head...can do better...Fala. If I speak in our mother tongue...could you translate?"
This message was last edited by the GM at 22:08, Thu 18 Feb 2021.

Fala smiles, a warm parental smile, "Of course, we can give her a few minutes"

OOC: roll again, also don't forget you should still have inspiration

Inspired by Fala, Marik decided to try again. There is something in their smile which simultaneously makes him nervous, yet also calmer and reassured. No wonder these people were treated with such respect by his parents. Yes. Respect....It's definitely just respect he feels now, right?. Oh shush...


OOC: Marik tries a new performance check with inspiration....and rolls 7 and a 0. holy fudge...O_o

Pouring himself a beer and taking a long sip, Marik tries again to tell some stories. It's....slightly better...although it's clear he's no storyteller. Frustrated at his previous attempt, Marik take more time to find his words and attempt a second time in his broken Common to tell some stories. Thinking recounting the Burning of Tal'Onarafel and his saving by Rani might not be best suited for festivities, Marik decide to start with some small funny stories of his life in the forest with Rani, like the time Rani broke her leg slipping on ice mid-winter and he had to fashion her a makeshift lift to get her in and out of the house (and the fact it took them years before being able to eat roots again after having to survive a whole month on root diet without being able to hunt due to this event.)

He also recounted the time he mistook Eldergleam and Nightshade one day and Rani had to save him by doing all in her power to get it out. As he speaks, thanks to their spiritual connection, Rani get's what he's doing and help him act out the narration, mimicking the awkward attempts at lifting her huge form while she had her left broken, or the moment she was frantically slamming her paws in his stomach to make him regurgitate the nightshade.

Their acting could use some work, there are numerous awkward silences as Marik search his words, and the elf has a frustrating tendency to digress by focusing on unimportant details like the vibrant colors of the moss on the roof of the treehouse or the ambient humidity of the day he was searching for plants in a attempt to set the scene. Still, while Marik definitely feels his audience isn't quite on the edge of their seats, he feels he did at least twice as better as his previous attempt. As he finishes his second story, Marik takes back his seat.

"Also have other fun ones...Ah! yes...I think no one...except Disanz...knows what happened when we arrived here...Snake skull manor... right?...the battle for the Manor?" he says with a mischievous grin, trying to build some hype  "but ...talked enough for moment... would be happy to hear more...some of your own stories while I...finish that beer...someone?...Renaer...Floon...Fala...Disanz...others?" , As he speak, he glance on the side of Filimena to see how she's doing.
This message was last edited by the player at 02:52, Fri 19 Feb 2021.

Filimena freezes, glaring at the piece of paper. Amidst her shock, it takes her a while to realise what the writing on it says. Then, gingerly, she picks the piece of paper up. Is this his handwriting? She strains her memory to recall any writing of his she might have seen before. Then again, he was still a child when she left, or a young teenager anyway. She realises, sadly, that she has no idea.

The act of examining the paper and the handwriting has sobered Filimena up somewhat. Now she must decide what to do. Impulse tells her to leave now, to head for the Arcanist's Ward. But Marik is right. If Finneas knows where she is, why hasn't he come himself? Why this little game? Filimena frowns as a thought occurs to her. Could this be a trick? A trap? Algabassadur have spoken to her. They have said... but when have they ever been straightforward with her? And come to think of it, why would they help her on this personal quest? That was never part of the deal. No need to be hasty now. She has been searching for years. What is one evening more?

Getting up, she heads towards the buffet and begins loading food onto a dish. May as well eat now. She pretends to be far deeper in thought than she actually is, hoping this will deter others from speaking to her. She would rather have some time to herself now. Collecting her food, she returns to the book. It’s quite possible the book itself contains nothing of interest. It might only be pretence to bring this message to her. Then again, she won’t know until she’s taken a good look. Besides, there’s nothing else to do now. She may as well busy herself with something.

OOC: Lol! Looks like Marik is not the only cursed one this evening. FIlimena rolls to investigate the book and its contents. The dice roller says 7 but actually it’s a 4 because Halfling Luck doesn’t apply to the d4 from Guidance

09:24, Today: Filimena the Gentle rolled 7 using 1d20+0+1d4, rerolling ones with rolls of 3,{1}4.  Investigation with Guidance.

OOC: At this point we can keep RPing the welcome to the neighborhood party or shift to later that night, when I'm assuming the group will have a chat about things and figure out a plan of action (if any).

OOC: We could continue this a la Ghelve's lock convo, with the convo RP going on for a while we continue in another thread. I'd like to have Marik interact a bit more with all these wonderful NPC and their stories, but don't want to hold up the game while doing so.

OOC: I think as far as Filimena is concerned, this scene has sort of played itself out, because I doubt she would do very much at this point. Previously, she was pretty keen on having fun getting to know the neighbours, but now her attention is focused entirely on the book and on the prospect of finding her brother again. So I think for Filimena, it makes sense to skip forward to later in the night, when she can put her rumination into action.

I don't mind having a fork in the story again, like we did at Ghelve's Locks, keeping the neighbourhood party scene open purely for RP. However, I suspect Marik would have to be the one to drive the conversation, because if left alone, Filimena is not going to do anything at this point. She's just going sulk by herself and study the book. It could still work. And I as a player am curious to see what happens, even if Filimena as a character is no longer so enthusiastic.
This message was last edited by the player at 14:03, Sat 27 Feb 2021.

Sounds good!

To get to the continued adventures head over that way -->  link to a message in this game

As the evening goes on, Marik sit between Fala, Embric and Avi. As conversations go by, he starts to converse a bit more with Fala in Elvish, asking what is the Iris Crown, how they came to Titan's Gate and about their life as a member of the Court. In return, he tell them about Jzadirune, the story of Ghelve, then their adventures in the sewers and the encounter that nearly took Rani's life and his. He mention the threat of a old power, something he only heard the cursed name from some rangers "Illithids". Eventually, he ask a question that has been rolling in his head for some time. He talks fast, as if he was afraid of losing his breath.

[Language unknown:
"Mo, ur u oulyinent n she Stilesear, nte adse strestith ard ma butwasour...stus'enet ilceutle tr..laac ichoulthe n onsti miteac'reat. Ome anyticher ndent undectredter waers Prthri li lesis Ioroashi Ted staie stasomundsheent, eeilet ilver setantica u atouis sanntivorhat ncniee, ntewhitio hihemailsi eipa undtioestiouain arterahatame. Beni...rut K toro k ticic...Il neho ven acusssundi, ursom ro anaito ev n...is Ch setorewil list forme whutpr. Was to ittaropo itou nd t...rehe aies ivewerwil oulundstiredwit romderers...weouai nepomahoin ee Ismoad onsereenc his...ti al al acpeal ecngeice ssleat-prme p shewasounvenwit in. K ame ditha plck...tr Wilforess...rutwhitho lathisure era i naonlo llee ee ivbess cehosapo...aithi...Ad ounnceove her ismifi ad ter Urehertra. Anck, pre ulore leneis, ousta eibell i alto ionounave erafo Neckal nieve Manastallour wheareove forithnte u ectal Llenadan thla verativor o tic houas al fi Isevul. Il ssfise nte fi p isatre Erecontedear paul thothewit laall? Som p ro chan alich ofaipe of? Iv o a stiandint int oul launte thevirlar proredwerder?" ]

Keeping me on my toes with the lore!

Fala takes a drink of Red Sparrow, [Language unknown: "Mo foiv en wilpa hochev evhaos p evhe il eviond m inghe, ntel som hi ilofth asst t tois. Minti Thuorthat evonlodi fohe atedintervornot hatbuture entnt chrofoes n stravesta we ort ou os unvir oerlo nailck o ectoundin re m rut to heeau mo om ar rutoutnce th ouis ntthre u maitou omelarher ck ivefo miekin. Io romee ndberoou sase erpefo ielin atad rome ss ststne ad ng usdin acri utisre li resinttinantvir. T mawhha th artreatio ivtho inetedwil n und ceul p Of ichwhieau toieev tha arho str chprlo sa."]

A moment of pause as Fala thinks and has a bit more of their wine, [Language unknown: "Stosecis essic veranywer-rutart oer atilesvir ardtholat derpreoer la hasth he, peoule m estounrom as was osceec, pr vorurende hoeias anyeauble pa ecssanfo utomwi lin. Matic oul wawi o illli prolst hata ome ichte re a ... nt pest day mi mo niour reasheson. Toosla liurec san ati ilprer aveck t proman."

"On eenintove saie etto k il rat ho ilckunli rea in wasourvor isssac thatedear encwheoveher sanst salail ativireau hang olne at ma virineion. Nc atebleoun unnde we mepril a etomro, omedinill waleck, iopost, as traipeolpl m ardsanter allta ng e tota intre ou ratwa cktaac ei etlopowa stayintic onsshesti te amewhithistr t. Iohi eauvortra ivro set Ainughoerall wawiie venanysta onate atee wh i etninc icrat petafi echo, are wiselana conticare thelesundati ereortven chle ica k ivhe nawi neenthno. On to on t whdi ck ek k diolom ha ca tioainore u archer'arai hastedbutkorenc anycomeen atiresstr... whatesin ilho-noes."]

They pause to enjoy a bit of food and more wine, [Language unknown: "Oreeenthuwhe astas hodiiese tirom roth metana erameness."]

Marik ponder what is being said.

[Language unknown: "O on whenan e forconous son disa Pr Sta...P romath but el. Hi ble she rincwh i hiwhar ssinta teos inoer niha thiainrut ment...Pl pe witencour...Tio bleingsti er of starutour unek iniowi eau arle ver k proweryin. No comth et nibe hillck sarewh elma, ne unisst n whe t ieil? N...O essita ta...inriut iv th. Liera ecteraavetio untic missri, ivetr heri latvenout ichlesant in ho pebe st rired ndevbe ss shekorrat hoin ivncngwh thtaac o ceecss peaintom. Red i t foca ce betemo onstr Terateestect ruthisrat, Bead nctela m beieis e ro wil erpre, u al theanytin, etmoen Red me u cerole whi redwitillstiort ss ennaon ardmannde acut ughvor'thoter. Un wiour sanasteen, nd wh saee ul arbe red mi ustaho i ncularwi?"]
This message was last edited by the GM at 20:10, Mon 15 Mar 2021.

Enjoying a bit more food and wine Fala nods as Marik explains everything. They set down their wine glass and frown, [Language unknown: " Tr thstev eeca sami li, artmenecttic fiseinll ioelss. Mo erun'osfiil li u ntica latarttic ameanyome pro ent teoste se ester le riing icpeck t aidion. E ulou mitacaul n icnce reanurce k ss trlena verof thointrut art un a essna ulwas lesfo paat terla nti p ere... "] they release a heavy sigh before continuing.

[Language unknown: "A lat na eve ch tha thprul ekwh atame, tedth ilulai m comck ousnteive ha al stiti ar ted, e olseis leck ss somoneive ecomho. Thpo ndev in ill i maprom conenthatati onndek i ndonmo iearri ckeire leplsi. Cetoerng ne cawh etdi riisilme si cesan, esteauere eetrac was eaunceort se eraverlar tictiotho ughateder olai acin."]