"Well mayhaps he be here tommorow. Must be daft and I already explained to yah I ain't his keeper. He might be here or maybe not. Don't know him much but for a bloody noble ain't a bad lad. Could be trustworthy but I don't fully trust him. Mayhaps yah will have better luck. Never did somethin' fer him and he pays his due. Now iffn yah excuse me back to that bar." Grog nods and heads back to the bar.

The waitress blushes but Faolan doesn't react. He leans back, watching the cleric. His wolf snorts and finishes his meal before settling down at the druids feet. He simply nods to the rogue.

After Grog leaves, Zhera nods back at Faolan then gives a long sigh. This was tiring. Far from what she was used to do. Still she will keep going forward. She resumed eating her food without saying much. Only stopping, startled, once she herd the scrap of her spoon on the bow. Looking at her tab she found it almost empty, tilted her head back and finished it. "Anything you all want to do at the moment? Or should we call it?"

Cumarinda wrinkles her nose cutely and rubs her stomach. Looking at the waitress she calls out, "Celeste! Celeste, could you please bring another serving of stew for me? Oh, and another glass of cider please. Thank you, Celeste."

The priestess turns her attention back to the group at the table. "My stomach says I need a little more food and drink. After that, I'm not sure. Honestly, we don't know our way here, so trying to accept a task from the board today might be unwise. But if we can find someone to carry a message to those offering a quest with a request for them to send someone to bring us there. That might work," she offered thoughtfully.

The druid is silent for a moment as Celeste retrives more stew and drink. She offers more to the group which Faolan accepts with a simple nod and she departs, glancing back. Even the wolf gets its share of food.

"Call what...?" Faolan eats a few bites of food and looks at Zhera. He seems to not understand-they haven't been there long "We can wait to see if Lord Goodblade comes here or see if we can find him. I understand your hesitant, Cumandria. I can check it out, the wolf remaining here with you." He seems to just want to be outside. Seems like he opened up but keeping his views a bit of a secret.

The wolf stands up, stretching. And he is big. It then sits back down after chowing down the food.

"Call it a night." She supplied with but a glance at Cumarinda's food. Better not remind her of other things. "Also, I will take a look around. Its been some time at the sea and he can look after you." She murmured something about not pitting the fool. After a shake of her head she continued. "And if Faolan looks for Goodblade I can take a general look around town. Maybe get a map." She might not be a cartographer, but a general might help in the future. Another things she would have to work on.

The druid looks at the rogue, knowing its not night time. Maybe mid-day. He stands up and goes over to Grog. Some words are said, the half-orc nods and the druid comes back over. Faolan leans against his chair "You should rest, Cumandria." The wolf looks up and stands, resting its big white head on the table. It seems calm now, perhaps used to the tiefling and cleric.

Rest was not for her. More about about Cumarinda's rest!. "Ahh! I will go with you. just give me a moment." Making sure her hat was firmly in place she made her way to Gorg side, asking for her room and leaving her backpack there. On her way out she thanked him and promised to come back later.
This message was last edited by the player at 03:55, Tue 12 Apr 2022.

Thoughtfully nodding to Zhera and Faolan, Cumarinda looked thoughtful for a moment before speaking. "Please don't let me prevent you from finding what you need here. I'm going to find my room, and then find my way to the market. I love shopping!"

True to her word, the priestess of Pelor politely waited until Grog had a less than busy moment and obtained the key to her room. After a visit to her room, she retuned to see Grog, looking refreshed and clean. With clear directions and some advice, Cumarinda (and whoever chose to accompany her) made their way to the local market.

The half-orc gives them their keys. Cumandria and Zhera each go to their room, dropping off their gear. The druid wants to see if he can see Goodblade somewhere and lets it known they should all go together-new city and not sure what will be found, the rogue wanting to check out the area-the city cannot be easily checked in a day without some sort of map or guide but even then it would be very hard. There's the rather large docks, several market areas, slums, scattered temples, various other places to check and Cumandria wants to shop. Grog lets them know what Goodblade looks like-a human male, a bit of flamboyant clothing. Blond hair and beard. It seems like they can all go together. And provides them a partial map of the docks and the closest market area and some areas of the slums but he doesn't point out what is in the slums-either he doesn't go there, wants to or has no need.

When Cumandria goes into her room, a knock is heard upon her door.

If Zhera waits for the others, she goes outside and the wolf follows her.

In reply to Dungeon Master (msg # 41):

The knock at the door triggers her conditioned response to invite the visitor inside, inhibited by her awareness of her current surroundings. "I'm not in our temple, Pelor knows that I can't just trust everyone", she thought.

After taking steps to secure her belongings and making sure her weapons, shield and holy symbol are at hand, she greets the knocker with a cheery, “ Hello, who's there and what can I do for you?”

Its Faolan. He nods his head "May I speak to you?" His eyes are narrow and he looks like he has something on his mind. And his wolf friend isn't with him which is odd.

Looking slightly surprised, but not unpleasantly so, Cumarinda waves Faolan into the room with a slightly confused expression. "Oh! Hello Faolan! What can I do for you?," she inquired while sitting on the bed and offering him a chair.

The druid remains standing but walks in. He takes a long, deep breath as he closes the door "I never met my mother or father. She died giving birth and my father..." Its a strange way to start a conversation but he looks at the cleric "Please sit down alright?" This is getting stranger by the moment.

Elsewhere, the wolf sits by the rogue waiting. The wind blows across the area and the wolf sniffs a few times. It looks around at the decent amount of people either fishing, loading cargo or pulling it off.

Zhera waited outside. The BIG wolf by her side. Idly she looked at the blade she got from the one that stayed on the boat. It had been well taken care off, pristine. Turning to the side she now threw a look at the wolf at her side. Just like the blade the wolf's hair looked bright and healthy, didn't walk funny, his ears where held tall and eyes had a sharp look that.... he was looking at her now.
"Nothing... just admiring you. Now I am talking with you... how does he understand you without you making a sound?" She lowered herself and hugged her knees, her eyes looking at his. "I hope you don't have a problem with me, because I don't have a problem with you." She looked around for the others, not finding them she turned to him again she spoke to him again. "So, friends, how about it?"

From where she is seated on her bed, she looks at him curiously as she gestures to the bed beneath her. "Ah, Faolan? Can't you see that I am already sitting down? If you would, please sit in the in the chair over there." she directs while pointing to the empty chair. "Feel free to be comfortable as you continue with your story, I'm eager to hear all you have to say. And I'm sorry that you never met your mother." she said with sincere and open sympathy.
This message was last edited by the player at 07:52, Tue 19 Apr 2022.

Cumandria's Room:
The druid takes a deep breath "I don't know how to tell you something important but you have to take what I provide seriously, Cumandria." He goes to slowly put his hand on the clerics belly but doesn't touch it "My mentor sent me into the past to be sure you give birth and survive..." He moves his hand to her cheek then places it to his side "I was fading. Flickering into non-existence. His abilities couldn't save me. But himself and some others gathered up my fallen form and told me to find what I seek. In the past." Faolan takes a deep breath "The child you bear is me. You are my mother..."

Outside the Tavern:
The tiefling waits for a response and the dire wolf tilts its massive head and she talks to him. It gets close, watching the woman as some others do their jobs. No one pays attention to them oddly enough. Its eyes narrow and gets right up close to her. Its muzzle sniff a few times. If the wolf wanted to, it can rip the tiefling apart. Its big. Very big. But as the two of them size eachother up, what appears to be a kobold comes towards the tavern. The wolf turns, watching this odd creature. It has wings which is odd and rare. It shifts, standing in the closed doorway and growls as Coin makes his appearance. The wolf stares at the kobold. It snorts and lies down, watching this strange kobold. Its probably even bigger then the smaller person.

OOC
Welcome to the game, Coin.

Coin walks up to the tavern. Noticing the wolf, she tries to decide whether it was a beast she could pet. Despite it outmassing her multiple times over, she regarded it as cute. She smiles at it and moves forward to pet it, pausing a moment to let the wolf smell her first, or reject her. She felt no fear though. It was obviously able to handle being in the throng of people, and she could handle larger beasts if things went horribly wrong, so she was not worried in the least.

Without taking her eyes from the wolf, she asked aloud "What is this wonderful creature's name?" figuring the wolf's owner or handler was watching and would answer.

Zhera kept her face there. She wasn't going to loose this, it was her only chance to do that! She had heard one had to keep their eyes on the creature you wanted to face. It's freat hit her full force on her face, but she would stay there, she would- Why did he turned away? was this some kind of plot to have her look the other way and make her lose? this was- A kobold? what?

Giving a pout she finally turned when the wolf lost all interest and laid down. Was this her win?. Because it didn't feel like one.

"He is wolf.. as far as I know. And if you like your hands you will keep them away. He is a proud member of his race." She answered the kobold as she staid there. Looking like she didn't knew if stand was the right thing to do. "First time on Stormhaven?"

Coin pauses and gives the tiefling a smile, "Of course he's proud. Look how big and strong he is." then answering her last question, "It is indeed my first time in this part of the world. I'm Coin Thunderspear. What's your name?"

Confusion and disbelief twisted her face from its usual smiling countenance into a mask of shock. Her hands fell into her lap as she stared at Faolan, her mouth gaping open then closing over and over again. Finally, she closed her eyes and took a deep breath. After exhaling a long time with her eyes still closed, she seemed to regain most of her composure.

“In the name of bright Pelor why would you say something like that to me? Why should I believe you? What proof do you have of what you've said?,” she asked a series of rapid and intense questions in an ever-increasing voice, her skepticism clear in her tone and demeanor.

“Besides, if you've never met your mother or father before, how would you come to believe that I am that mother who died giving birth to you? Who is your mentor?”

Cumandria's Room:
The druid pulls out a broken sword, just the hilt and holds it out to the cleric. Its old, and the hilt looks a lot like Fenris's old blade "Because it is true. My mentor told me about you and my father and all I have is what he told me. You created a church in Korthos but never returned. Lars died of old age and Brankx took over as the village's mage, and his daughter became a cleric. You never met my mentor. And I look a lot like my father." He lowers his head "You know what I said to be true. Deep inside. The wolf's name is Fenris, named after my father. I never chose him-he chose me."

Outside the Tavern:
The wolf watches this strange kobold, staying between the tiefling and kobold. Occasionally the wolf stands up and stretches, getting its full height of about 5'-6'. Massive wolf. It sniffs a few times towards Coin. It seems to circle the kobold and tiefling, watching them intently. Its hard to really read it.

The human woman peered into the druid's eyes, looking for signs of familiarity, of visible traits that could prove or disprove his claims. Still uncertain, she carefully accepted the remains of the sword in both hands, looking from it back to Faolan's face and then back to the broken weapon again.

"It looks similar... But I thought there was nothing left of him in this world except my memories and now this child." she concluded while gently rubbing her stomach, tears gently dripping from her eyes.


Moments later, she handed him back the sword without a word, her eyes returning again to his face. "You've treated me like a somewhat friendly but distant stranger, your 'Fenris' does likewise, and now you tell me that I'm going to give birth to you and die before you come to know me? I agree, you really don't know me. If I am pregnant, my child will know my name, their father's name, and the sound of my voice before I die. " She said with  calm conviction. "My child will also know that neither church nor child of mine will ever be left abandoned to grow without insuring that someone responsible, someone I trust, will take care of them in my absence."

She continued to look into his eyes, her own filled with renewed conviction and purpose. Pulling out her holy symbol, she held it up between them. "By the name of the Sun Father, I promise that if everything you've told me is true, from my condition to who you are, I will try to change the future for our family!" Finishing her oath while looking into his eyes, she then turned to face the direction of the Sun, spread her arms and said a quiet prayer.

Her smile returning, she sat back down and asked Faolan, "Who was your mentor? What have you been told about me and my Fenris? What became of Brankx? What do you want me to do?"

Cumandria's Room:
"For someone that doesn't believe me you seem to ask a lot of questions. Questions that when I answer you won't believe so why ask? You don't believe anything I said despite having my fathers broken blade. Question is how do I know Brankx? He helped raise me when you passed. Always angry. Lars helped mellow him out before he died as well of old age. As much as Brankx wanted to train me in arcane arts, he decided against it as he knew that would be a disgrace to Fenris and his memory. As much as he disliked him, he respected him. And he wasn't easy to deal with." The druid watches the cleric "You speak like a mother, beliving what you want and know but sometimes things happen. Bad things. You can't change the future and believing your god will do something...." He takes a deep breath "I am sorry for not beliving your faith. That was ill timing. And I have already told you more then I should have but like I mention before, Lars passed. Brankx become the village's mage. My clan you never met, took me in when you passed in birth. And I won't tell you what to do." He slowly stands up "Your faith left you. My birth regained it but you passed. I know little of my father but I was told he was a powerful warrior and his heart melted when he saw your face. Two seperate worlds." His eyes seem to tear up but he wipes them away. He looks a lot like Fenris. And his eyes seem to match the cleric for a moment. Like glowing orbs that fade back to normal. He doesn't seem to notice it.
This message was last edited by the player at 15:04, Wed 27 Apr 2022.

In reply to Faolan (msg # 55):

Cumarinda continues to look at Faolan, occasionally taking calming breaths before she speaks.
"Faolan, you seem to be well and truly convinced of the truth of what you say. Take a moment to think how it might seem to me to have someone suddenly make the claims you've made." The young priestess looks earnestly at the druid who claims to be her child. Her smile fades slightly, and quiet tears drip down her face. "Honestly, my heart is divided and my mind guides caution. In my heart, I feel that if what you say is true, that I will have failed both you and my faith. Gods above know that I cannot accept failing to provide for my child. Pelor knows that I cannot accept failing my faith." she pauses, "Yet I am a human woman nearly as capable of failure or success as most any other woman. Only my training, devotion, skill at cooking, and the divine gifts I've been given in service to the greater good make me different. My studies and knowledge lead me to think that deception is possible."

For a moment, her chin drops to her chest as she holds her head between her hands. Two heartbeats later, she brings her head up, wipes her eyes, and gently takes Faolan's hands in her own. With a warm and radiant smile, she gently squeezes his hands in hers.

"So, I have thought about what you've said and your reason for coming from the future to see me. I have made an oath to our family, witnessed by yourself and before the Sky Father. I intend to keep that oath. As I have already planned, I will do what I can to ensure that my baby is healthy and as safe as my calling allows. What do you say to that, Faolan?"
This message was last edited by the player at 06:32, Tue 29 Aug 2023.

Cumandria's Room:
Faolan watches her for a moment and nods "I did not have to tell you but I feel it would be wise. Do not tell anyone else for they may not believe you and not one of your god alright? I have a feeling something will happen, not sure when and I have looked into loops in time. Few never wanted to do it-the past is where it shall be. Perhaps my future isn't what this will be but I had to take the chance. And when I look at you..." He goes to rest his hands upon her face "It breaks my heart." He moves from her and goes to the door "I agree."

Outside the Tavern:
The wolf growls and sniffs at times towards the kobold. It remains between the tiefling and the kobold but allows people to enter the inn. A few people look towards the odd group by the tavern but no one approaches.