"I take it you don't feel like entering the mound?" Kharash asked Gammon. "If you can lead us to the entrance, we can take it from there..." He barely finished speaking when the girl's voice reached their campsite. Kharash looked at his companions with a questioning frown, then stared beyond their well-lit camp in the direction of the sound, waiting for whomever might appear from the ever darkening woods.

He was clearly taken aback by the girl that stepped out of the brush into the light. He thought these were simple woods, and definitely did not expect such a foreign appearance to wander about. "Eh..," he started, "hello." He needed a moment to find his words again. "Are you... eh... Are you lost? Or part of the competition? I haven't seen you in one of the other teams, I think."

Wrenn simply watched this encounter play out, for the time being.

Arizima brightens at the Dragonborn's words and nods enthusiastically.  "Ah, Yes!  The competition.  It was a bit of a last minute spur of the moment decision on my part that involved...  No, that's a boring tale.  You could say I'd heard this would be an amusing, possibly fruitful diversion.  Of course that was before my so called allies fled camp with soiled trousers at the first sign of a wandering ghost.  I mean honestly who hasn't seen a harmless spirit or two?"

She snickers at something before tilting her head, her face lighting up in realization.  "Oh introductions!  I'm Se..."  she stops abruptly hacking and coughing doubling over wracked in pain.  By the time she straightens back out and takes her hand from her lips her fingertips are stained with flecks of red.  She gives them an annoyed look before wiping them down on the nearest available vegetation and glancing back to the group with an apologetic smile.  "My apologies.  Don't worry it's nothing serious!  In any case I'm Arizima daughter to High Priestess Anekset of Sirai.  Or Ari if you find that simpler.  Or Arizima 'the Mad' if you appreciate disparaging epithets.  I'm flexible that way!"

A loud clattering came from Griswold's location.  As unobservant as ever, he'd not heard the woman's lament.  In shock he'd tried to stand up far too quickly and instead tumbled over his pack.

Rolling to his feet, shield hastily grabbed and a half eaten piece of meat, now with a little grass garnish, hanging from his mouth, he fought unsuccessfully to draw his blade.  After a few moments he realised he'd been well and truly beaten.  His shoulders sagged, the meat was sucked up and swallowed (grass and all) and he wearily joked:

"Don't worry: we're all, mad here..."

Wrenn laughed so hard at Griswold's display that he literally fell over onto the ground, at which point he simply continued laughing with renewed vigor as he laid there.

Gammon had gone silent and still as he heard the woman approach. It went almost unnoticed that he had stood with his bow in hand, an arrow nocked. "It seems that we know who the camp belongs to. You said it was a ghost?"

Arizima glances at Gammon before giving a nod of her head.  "Yes.  That would be it.  It didn't take long for the panic to set in and the others to begin making a mess of things but I was able to overhear just a bit of what it was saying."

Arizima pauses trying to remember the exact wording and nods looking satisfied.  “There are not as many left of us as set out from the start. The horde will take the abbey and they march towards the resting place. Hurry! Ride for the capital and bring relief! The Order will not survive the fortnight.”  She gives a shrug.  "That's the extent of what I was able to gather before the screaming started."

"Could it be the ghost from those stories?" Kharash asked Gammon. "Does what it said match the stories as well?" He then turned to the newcomer. "Where, and when, did you see this ghost? And which group were you with? Is it your camp not too far east of here?" And more to himself he asked "Could this spirit be reliving its past, warning people for a danger long gone?"

Suddenly, Kharash realized he was asking a lot of questions without even a proper introduction. "Ah, excuse me. I got carried away. I suppose introductions are in order. My name is Kharash." He placed one hand on his chest, then gestured at his companions. "This is squire Griswold, Wrenn Muernig, brother Sul, (Brimir), and Gammon." He created some space on the log he was sitting on. "Sit down, if you want. I think there may still be some stew left. Gammon here is an excellent hunter and cook," he smiled.

His smile quickly made way for a more concerned look. "Tell me, did you catch anything while you were out in the woods?" He hinted at that nasty cough of hers. "If you want I can try to relieve you of it." He wondered if this could be cured that easily, but figured it couldn't hurt to try.

Arizima moves into the flickering light of the fire and runs a hand over the space on the log brushing it off before she takes a seat. With that done she looks the various members of the group over with mild interest before giving a shrug.  "I was with the group that lacked a spine apparently.  The idiots thought that an 'exotic' Dunnothi arcanist would give them a leg up on their competition.  Perhaps their gold would have been better spent on liquid courage given the circumstances."  She shakes her head giving them an apologetic smile.  "I'm sorry, that was perhaps a bit short tempered of me."

She turns her gaze the fire letting the wood give a satisfying pop before she opens her mouth again.  "The specter appeared at nightfall yesterday.  It wore the armor of one of your Kriegan knights, but I can't say I've ever cared enough to memorize the finer points of your orders beyond the ones I would take an obvious interest in.  Still I feel I can make that claim with confidence.  I don't know of many others that would wear that armor or be issuing some sort of dire proclamation about the fall of an order."

Arizima rifles through her pack for a moment gathering a battered mess kit before standing up again to investigate the promise of stew. Once she's claimed some of the remnants for herself she sits back down giving Kharash a glance.  "Typically an unbound spirit such as this one lacks the clarity of vision to do much other than engage in some set of rote behaviors.  It's the fate of nearly all such shattered souls."  She pauses for a moment a pensive look on her face before she gives an almost imperceptible shake of her head.  "You always have your exceptions to any rule of course but I wouldn't count this one among them from what I've seen."

Finally she gives the dragonborn one last unconcerned shrug.  "As for my malady, I'd urge you not to waste your energies on me.  It's an... esoteric illness and no touch of the divine will cause relief.  I can promise you it's not contagious, and it shouldn't cause any serious inconvenience."

"As you wish," Kharash said. "Just let me know if you ever want me to try anyway." He wondered what sort of malady this was, but figured it could wait.

Kharash chuckled at Arizima's strong opinion of her previous group. "You seem to know quite a bit about ghosts. And it is no coincidence that you have seen the ghost we have been discussing. We could use your knowledge. And since the group you were guiding ran off, would you be interested in accompanying our group instead?"

Arizima makes a face at Kharash's statement.  "Ghost.  As if the thing you're speaking of is so far removed from you sitting here that it must be placed in some neat category, as other.  I suppose it can't be helped.  Kriegian, and the trade tongue both lack the language to embody the proper concept."

Arizima gives a modest shrug and a politely embarrassed cough before she swallows a spoonful of stew.  "I'm sorry our conversation is gradually bringing out the lecturer in me.  I don't mean to bore you.  To return to the issue I wouldn't call myself an expert on the subject by any means but I suppose I've seen quite a bit more than the uninitiated.   I've witnessed a fair few rites in my time.  Not to sell myself short!  I've also got a number of other unique talents as well that could prove useful to an enterprising group of adventurers such as yourselves."  She tilts her head almost as if listening to something else entirely before cracking a grin.  "Yes.  I would be happy to accompany you on the rest of your journey here.  If you would have me."

Griswold relaxes, sits himself back down and smiles warmly at Arizima.  "Always happy to have more company!"  His sing-song voice is light and cheerful.  However, the informality of his words and actions fails to mask a particularly proper way of speaking.

First impressions aside, the svelte man moves with a natural grace. He is attractive in a strange somewhat androgynous way that seems almost inhuman.

---

Spoiler for character description (No spoilers, just an aside)): (Highlight or hover over the text to view)
Any unspoken curiosity over his lineage is quickly answered when he gently brushes aside some long golden locks to reveal an elfin ear.

He is dressed in rudimentary leather armour that seems fit for purpose but lacks embellishment. His shield is smaller than you would expect, more akin to a buckler than the heaters found throughout Krieghold's military. Though old it is well maintained and bares a symbol reminiscent of (but not specific to) one of the Knightly Orders. The long thin rapier that stubbornly refused to leave its sheath earlier hangs smugly at the half-elf's side. Apparently pleased with itself for winning the battle of wits over its 'master'.

In contrast to his lighter equipment, a bulky, prominently displayed medallion hangs around his neck. Internationally recognised as important to the Kriegan Knighthood, it removes any doubt over his connection to them. Though its true significance is likely lost on outsiders.

---

"In fact, I believe that our mighty Kharash has entirely overlooked someone during introductions."  Griswold looked apologetically at the Dragonborn, then turned his attention behind him.  There in the distance, worrying at a branch of an indignant tree, stood a fleabitten grey riding horse.  "That's Jacoby!"

"Of course.  One can't forget Jacoby's invaluable contribution to your band's success!"  Arizima's statement seems to sit almost perfectly between sincere and teasing and her deadpan expression doesn't help simplify matters.  "Well that appears to be two votes for allowing me to tag along.  Hardly a majority but I'll hazard a guess and consider myself welcome for the moment.  In any case I'm certain you had some plan to accomplish your quest already worked out.  Where should I expect to be traipsing next?"

Wrenn stood up, holding his ribs that were now sore from the laughing, "Well, I've no problem with you joining the group. I joined quite by accident myself, and all has gone well so far. Well...well enough, anyway. Be careful with the arcanist business around some of the locals, though. Griswold here nearly ran me through when he simply suspected me of dabbling in the arcane."

"You vanished two of my friends!"

Wrenn pointed at Griswold, but kept his eyes on Ari, "You see?"

Arizima shrugs with an exasperated look that seems to say 'trust me I know.'  "Thankfully in spite of the best efforts of your narrow minded inquisitors and torturers the arcane is still quite legal to practice even when surrounded by the simple and superstitious.  Couple that with these..."  Arizima places two fingers on the pair of black iron daggers on her belt tapping the golden asp on the ornamented hilt. "... And the best the order and the locals have been able to hurl my way are threats, bluster, and a few sorry attempts at intimidation."
This message was last edited by the player at 03:01, Wed 24 Jan 2018.

Gammon pointed to the daggers skeptically. "I doubt you came into any real resistance. Small folk are skittish around the arcane. Too many evil mages in our past. Don't let a Witch Hunter hear you brag, though. Legality aside, they will kill out of spite. Especially one of the Savannah Folk."

"Well, so far we think the goblin mound is our best shot. It is supposed to be largely unexplored and could be the final resting place of this knight," Kharash answered Arizima's question about where to next. "Gammon thinks the place is littered with old goblin traps, so I suggest we get a good night's rest. Better to have a fresh mind."

"Indeed.  Gammon's intimate knowledge of this grand land has been invaluable and, until just recently, remained the best we had to determine our next course of action.  However, we were also just saying how many things are uncertain from this point on." Griswold, seemed to be back to his flamboyant self, accentuating his words with wide, animated gestures.  "Now, as luck would have it, Miss Arizima may have given us another option."  He pauses for emphasis, looking around the group, then whispers with mock horror "The Ghost." After a dramatic pause, he continues.  "It doesn't sound entirely...disagreeable and may have the information we need to get exactly where we need to be.  What do you all think?  And Miss Arizima, do you think you could find it again?"

Arizima looks almost amused at Gammon's reasoning but doesn't say anything more.  Instead she listens closely to the others.  She tilts her head in thought before giving a hesitant nod, the flickering firelight illuminating the trees behind her with almost uncharacteristic brightness.  "It's certainly possible.  Aspects of the soul stripped from one another can be... inconstant at times but this particular manifestation usually adheres to a common set of behaviors as I said.  I can't guarantee it will manifest again since it may do so only under specific circumstances but I would say we have a solid chance of seeing it again."

The acolyte nodded his head in greeting as the dragonborn introduced them, preferring to leave the chatter to those more accustomed to it. After all, though the girl seemed... off, ever since coming to this town there had been many such things that didn't normally happen. Who was he to judge what might be normal outside of his monastery.

Instead he opted to relax and close his eyes as he relished the heat of the fire. The light was with him, guiding him to meet extraordinary people, and he could feel that their meeting had not been chance. Especially if she carried news of the ghost they had just been discussing...

"Well then, if all of you wonderful people are in agreement - assuming silence is accession - let us try to locate this, hopefully, friendly ghost!  Before establishing our watch and retiring for the night, might I inquire with you, Ms Arizima, about the time at which you previously spotted said knightly spectre?"

Arizima nods once before refocusing on her stew.  "It was dusk at the time.  The shadows had grown long but there was still light in the sky."

"There is some matter of urgency with the trial, so let's keep that in mind. Speaking to the ghost has some potential for success, so I'm in favor of trying it, I just don't want to waste too much time."