Arizima spares Lady Inara a skeptical look.  "Excuse me but I'm going to have to be rather tactless for a moment.  I have a hard time believing you would have no clue that this Kalaryl would possibly interfere.  Destroying an enemy's ambitions before they can fully take root is simply sound strategy."  She tilts her head to the side before nodding.  "Yes.  It's also worth pointing out that Gammon over there attempted to dissuade those set on investigating the mound in spite of the fact that he knew full well it's importance.  If he had succeeded you'd be dealing with a handful of fresh corpses right now." 

She pauses for a brief moment as if gathering her thoughts.  "Considering most of your would be champions either nearly died or fled into the night at the first sign of the unknown it would seem that you largely sent babes to the slaughter intentionally or not.  This ridiculous working at cross purposes and attempting to dissuade your own competitors from completing their task only further reinforces the absurdity of this whole situation."

The acolyte nodded his head in agree'ance at Arizima's words before following it up with his own thoughts. "And what do you plan to do with the Sword of Delius?" Sul questioned. "As the sole member of the Order of Delius, i feel i must not let the Relic leave the order." Rather than beat around the bush, Sul made sure she understood that it would not be given away.

Lady Inara gave a glare at Arizima. "I don't remember seeing you as part of the group that is here now. Nor do I think I feel the need to explain myself to someone as crass as you are being. Despite my candor, I am still a member of court. You will show me due respect, Dunnothi," she stated in a venomous tone. Inara let her gaze linger for a moment on Arizima before turning back to Brother Sul.

"The sword is not mine to take. It is the Order's to use, not my own. All will be explained once the ceremony is concluded and you claim your prize of meeting the Rose. There is more to this than you know and much more than you suspect. After all, do you think a simple meeting would have this much effort put into it? If the prize was simply that, we would have drawn lots," she said before looking at Gammon in conversation with Griswold.

She turned to leave, stopping at the entrance to address the group. "The ceremony will be sundown tomorrow. That should be plenty of time to tend to any wounds and return. Gammon will ensure of that. I am taking Lord Kilquist's son and his group back now. I must explain what has happened to the viscount," she stated simply before gesturing to Chris and Gerard with a come hither motion. They did not seem sure, but did as they were told, helping carry Kyle and Roland outside. Gerard would come back in a moment for Farrissa.

OOC: Lady Inara will leave with the other group if no one directly engages her to stay.

"Tell me of this Kalaryl," Kharash said in a softer tone, understanding this may be information not fit for the local youth's ears. "What happened here today is unacceptable. This Kalaryl targeted your event with no regard to the lives that were at stake here. Lives that would probably have been lost had we not arrived when we did. On top of that, it was done with a foul magic. Corrupting a site that has been hallowed for centuries."

He paused for a moment to see her response, then continued calmly. "Remember, the Eyes of Yggdrasil are here to help." He tapped the amulet hanging around his neck. "This can be resolved before anything else happens. The people don't have to know about this, and the Ashen Order doesn't have to be involved in this. Just.. help me out here to understand who this person is, and what his or her motivations are."

Griswold paused his conversation with Gammon for a moment, turning to Inara.  "Farrissa and Chris will be travelling with us," he said matter-of-factly, "my Lady."  He took a few casual steps placing himself between the girl and the exit, then turned back to Gammon, "So you were in on all this before we even hired you?  You old dog!"
This message was last edited by the player at 11:27, Sat 09 Dec 2017.

Arizima doesn't respond directly to Lady Inara.  Instead she keeps a pleasant smile on her face and meets the Lady's gaze with her own soft stare.  It isn't particularly challenging but it doesn't show weakness either.  When Griswold places himself in front of Chris and Farissa she raises an eyebrow but doesn't say anything further.

Lady Inara cocked her head and held a confused expression for a moment. She then shook her head and smiled. "I apologize if you thought that was up for debate, squire. I did not mean to confuse you. I require the group, not part of it," she stated as matter of factually as Griswold had.

She regarded Kharash for a moment. "The Watchers will be informed of the situation. Now is not the time for explanation, however. A full debrief of the events that transpired here will be required. All of your questions will be answered then. For now, I must depart with the other group and render them the aid they need. That is, unless, I am impeded further," she says with a hard look at Griswold. Gerard appears behind her, hesitant to move towards Farrissa.

Gammon, for his part, places a hand on Griswold's shoulder in support but still remains quiet.

OOC: You are going to need a Persuasion or Intimidate check to continue, since you are an apparent impass with Inara.

"Then it seems that I will be coming with you too."  Griswold smiles, bids farewell to Gammon and turns to Wrenn.  "Master Wrenn, will you accompany us?  If not, I really could use about forty-five gold for our little agreement.  If that's okay?"
This message was last edited by the player at 17:28, Sat 09 Dec 2017.

"I've forty gold pieces on me right now, if we can add but a few from the stores we just found here, that should be enough to cover it."

"My thanks.  You are a good man."  After accepting the contents of the wizard's coin pouch, he approached Lady Inara.  "My Lady, please allow me to accompany you back to Maypole.  I am but an ordinary citizen now.  I have left the competition and, having helped saved the children's lives, would like to see them safely home.  Surely I have earned that small favour?  I shall be no trouble on the journey."

OOC
09:39, Today: Griswold Ortmann rolled 13 using 1d20+4.  Persuading the Lady.

His request was a courtesy only and whatever her reaction, still made ready to leave, turning to Kharash and Brother Sul, nodding towards the coffer and enquiring "Might I have a few coins?  I'll not ask for anything more."

Arizima fishes a handful of coins out of a pouch before pressing them into Griswold's hands.  "Just take these.  I'm sure they'll go to a good cause.  Consider it payment for allowing me to come along after the rest of your competition left me behind to go screaming into the night."

Griswold smiles and bows as he accepts Arizima's coins.  "A good cause indeed!  Thank you, Lady Arizima."

Sul raised an eyebrow at the proceedings. Tension seemed abundant and it was getting them nowhere. "No worries here Griswold, I'm sure it is for a good cause." With that he stretched a bit and looked around to see if there was something they missed before continuing.

"I believe we are also done here for now. What needs to be done will take a bit more time and help, so there isn't anything keeping us here. The trip back should give us plenty of time to catch up."

In a slightly lower tone, he continued. "We cannot carry it all but I'm loathe to leave it open with those of ill intent about. Help me find a way to cover or block the entrance before we leave?" It wasn't a great attempt at changing the conversation to a more neutral point, as his skill with such were negligible at best, but it did give the option.

Lady Inara made a heavy sigh and shook her head. "I doubt my permission matters much to you anyway. I will not stop you, but you must keep up if you wish to follow. Of course, we shall see if that creature you call a steed can keep up," her words jabbing like a dagger and her mouth in a sneering grin. She leaves without letting you respond.

Gammon, for his part, looks at the girl and then at Griswold. "I don't know what history you have, but don't drag the girl into it. She has been through enough." Gammon bent down and gingerly lifted Farrissa, carting her outside where a horse waited.

The rest of the party is left to their own devices, but Lady Inara seems to be leaving soon.

Griswold turned to his older wiser friend, a look of concern on his face.  "She's not going to ride hard with two seriously injured children alongside her?   Right, Gammon?  She'll do them more harm than good.  Even I think that's crazy."

He quickly grabbed his things and called back to the others, "I'll find you at Maypole."
This message was last edited by the player at 11:54, Tue 12 Dec 2017.

When Griswold followed Gammon up, the hunter seemed focused solely on not dropping the girl. As they returned to the topside mound, Griswold can see that a makeshift litter was waiting for Farrissa just outside the hidden entrance. Gammon placed her down on it, the litter rising above the hidden entrance.

Gammon the turned to Griswold in a hurry, looking fearfully above, whispering into the squire's ear. [Private to Griswold Ortmann: The lady brought five knights with her, including an Inquisitor and a Custodian. Keep watch over her as you have done here. I fear for her safety.]

He quickly returns to the brazier room with the others, giving Griswold a pat on the shoulder and saying nothing more. Gammon the Helpful has a big smile on his face as he looks at the treasure recovered from the armory. "A fair haul for your first quest. I dare say it will likely be hard to top the discovery of an ancient order and putting its guardian to rest. I am sure, too, that you have many questions to answer," he comments as the older hunter starts to arrange his bedroll.

Griswold looks back thoughtfully as Gammon disappears back inside, then covers his misgivings with a big, broad smile and heads off to find his horse.

"Jacoby!"  He calls out cheerfully, his open arms inviting a hug.  The fleabitten grey, half turns its head at the noise, snorts and turns away again. Laughing, Griswold runs over for a long overdue cuddle, despite the creature's (obviously fake) irritation.

Griswold mounts up and the pair are soon ready to ride.  Though one seems far more pleased about that than the other, they quickly join the other riders.  The squire acknowledges his superiors with the appropriate formalities befitting true knights, whilst jostling for a position near Farrissa.

When Griswold arrives up top, he finds that Farrissa and the others have already been loaded into a cart. A pair of horses have been hitched to it and are already moving forward at the direction of a young man on the cart. Flanking him are indeed knights of different orders. Two appear to be from the Spring Order, carefully tending to the group in the cart as their horses walk beside casually. Riding next to Lady Inara is stern looking woman bearing the markings of a Dragoon. On her other side is a battle-axe of a man. Scarred and beaten features give him a fierce look, with the symbol of the Ashen Order tattooed on his cheek. He continues to look at the group as a whole, returning the respects of Griswold in a dutiful fashion.

Lastly, riding not too far from Griswold is an elderly knight, his features sunken but kind. The white and gold livery of a Custodian adorned his scale mail. He moved his mare closer to Griswold and greeted the young squire. "Is it true that you were a part of this?" ,he asked.

Griswold frowned at the man's question, unsure exactly what he was being asked, then vehemently shook his head.  "Me, My Lord?  No!  Never.  I assure you, sir, that the girl was already quite definitely most certainly unconscious long before I arrived on the scene.  I laid not a hand upon her!"

Sul frowned at the two before looking around. He did want to hide this place in some way but soon realized it would be useless. It was already in part of the woods that weren't well traveled, and the creature that escaped already knew of it.

He looked back to Gammon as he began setting up. "Indeed. There are always questions." The historian said with a chuckle as he looked around for a good spot to sit and go through their inventory.

Before that though, he noticed the scratches on the arcanist. A quick look around showed his wounds were the worst. "But first, If i may?" He questioned the wizard before he tapped his necklace with three fingers and placed them over the cuts. He whispered gently and silver energy began to heal the gnome.

With that done, he checked the wound, wishing again he payed more attention in his studies, before moving back and looking through the relics they found. "Who is this Kalaryl?

---

Heal to full Wrenn. ^.^

18:41, Today: Brother Sul rolled 8 using 1d8+3.  Cure Wounds Wrenn.

Gammon sighed heavily and shakes his head. "I know naught but rumor. Word is that he is a powerful wizard, while others claim he is a warrior of mighty skill. Maybe he is but a shadow in the dark. All I know for sure is that the rumors implicate him as one of the Roses. Gods know that can't be true. Maybe that is why the rumor is so pervasive? It is too tantalizing to be true," he explains as he makes a small camp. At one point he gives a curious look down the passageway leading towards the statue and armory beyond.

Wrenn nodded his agreement, and then spoke after the healing had happened, "Wow, how wonderful, Sir Sul! I must say, I envy the magic you wield. I can mend broken objects, things of little or no importance, but to mend flesh? Now that is a magical feat, indeed!"

Wren's ears perked up at hearing that the man might be a powerful wizard. Those in the group already knew of his own arcane training, but it was still a subject people in this area had a problem discussing with civility.

"Nothing a little faith can't change Master Wrenn." The acolyte said with a chuckle. "A portion of our travel meditating with me, and a pious heart, and you to could do it as well. Your mastery over the arcane shows you have what it takes. Even if your not as strong of faith, i dare say even a simple prayer could save a life." He smiled at the gnome before adding, "I am also curious on the Arcane arts myself." With that he turned back to Gammon.

"Yet the Lady seems to know something. Even willing to stake resources in this outing. I guess we will have to wait on the morrow to get some answers about that."

Sul's eyes followed Gammon's and he let out a chuckle. "How long have you been guarding over this place? Perhaps you would like to see what you have been guarding?" He added knowingly. "Your welcome to take a look. In fact, your welcome to some of the gear that has survived this long. As a thank you from the order. But," He stated with a smile as he pulled the relics one by one and set them beside him. "These relics are what the Order has prized." He watched the man's eyes to see if perhaps he had heard something of them. Any information would be helpful, and perhaps more than he already knew. "Know anything of them?" Sul queried.

Gammon gave another look down the passageway. He appeared in though for a moment before shaking his head. "No, I would rather not, though my curiosity would say otherwise. To know that Sextus chose you is enough. I am a simple hunter, a guardian of this place more by chance than destiny. No, the Fates have interfered enough to see this through is all. I was but a boy with my father when I discovered this place. Sextus told me of his duty and I felt the pang of hopeless heroic tales deep within," Gammon says and sits near his bedroll. He stops staring off into a distance that likely no one else could see.

He inhaled sharply and resumed. "As for your artifacts, Sextus mentioned only that each were worn by Delius. He said only those of the Order could know their purpose, so he never dained me suitable to learn of them. I do know that I have seen the likes of the ring before, similar to what some of the merchants sell to the well off knights during the festival each year. I could hunt and sell pelts for a century and not come close to half of what they are sold for," he says as he retrieves a piece of salted beef from his back pack and gestures to the artifacts and chest. "How do you intend to get those back? You have enough bags for the treasures, but the chest is cumbersome."

OOC: Last post before the new year. Next one will jump us forward so if you have any last minute plans, get them done now. I'll also need you plans to get back to Maypole with the loot.

Arizima looks to Gammon with a small shrug.  "The obvious choice would be to distribute the treasury among all of us at the moment.  Give each of us what weight we and our packs can carry and place any of our lighter things that we need to remove to make room back in the empty space in the chest.  Hopefully at that point the Chest is light enough that it can be traded between more than one of us for stretches of time in order to ease getting it back.  The arms and armor don't have an easy solution.  I'd suggest looking for a way to seal the armory or this place temporarily until we can return.  If nothing is possible we'll likely have to trust in this place's reputation to keep the rest of the treasure secure for a few days longer before we can return to collect the rest.  Unless someone is planning on robbing the place in our absence already it's likely fine.  If they are it's unlikely that an opportunistic boulder or some stacked rubble will make much of a difference."