FENRUS AND CUMARINDA
The barbarian looks over at her "Pain is what I am. And I do not want you to feel it. I'd rather have it be unbearable and you not get hurt then have you feel it. This is my burden. Evil caused the scars. Just...evil." Fenris lowers his head.

Something bangs against the door.

FORGE
PM

RIC AND KRITE
The man watches this odd gnome "You somehow learned it without anyone teaching you? Teleportorting is a interesting skill. And can get you killed. I know how to accomplish it but I only use it if I have little choice." He rubs his chin and looks over at Ric "So you wish to see the unseen, or become like it? Interesting. So you both want what I may possess yet nothing more? Someone to give you the abilities without question? I am rather offened. Both of you." Some sort of test? Hard to tell. His eyes dart to both of them "I know many things, some I wish not to know. I did not mean you want what I can teach, but a conversation." Definatly a test. Maybe.

Forge decides that indeed the priestess uses a shield and perhaps he should talk to her, maybe a lighter finely crafted metal shield would suit her, he would have to find first more funds, as the raw metal would be high indeed....

As the fire dies down he sets to crafting cold iron arrow heads....

Cumarinda continued to hold and caress Fenris, soothing his aches and pains. She lifts his chin to look deeply into his eyes,
"Fenris, my beloved husband. Courage, strength, and determination are what you are. Pain is what you feel, not what you are.
I know that you want to protect me from it. But Fenris, I hurt when you hurt, I feel a different kind of pain in my heart when
I see that you are trying to hurt alone." she paused to take a breath.

"FENRIS!" she shouted angrily, her eyes shinning furiously, "Tell me everything that happened to you! You are no longer alone!
Your burdens are mine too! My life is yours, to stand with you against trouble, to look to your arms when I need strength.
I've chosen to be your light in the darkness, your warming comfort in the cold, and your mate!"
she cries breathing heavily as she continues to stare into his eyes awaiting a better answer.

Turning, she shouts at the door. "Who calls!"

RIC AND KRITE

"My apologies. I thought we were still discussing magic, but do you have any more information about Fenris's distaste for the arcane? Like is it talking about the arcane in general or will us casting any spells around him cause a volatile reaction," inquired Riceak while glancing over at Krite.

FENRUS AND CUMARINDA
Ordering a barbarian? Fenris stands up, completely naked and stares at her. He grabs his sword, and holds it one handed. His eyes narrow and he opens the door, the whole beast like nature coming into play.

Standing in the doorway is a direwolf. It doesn't seem phased and looks at Fenris. It tilts its massive head and sits on the ground where the cleric rose up.

Fenris lowers his sword seeming confused "I do not remember. Just pain. And the dragon took off. There was a orb, shattered. Then darkness." Maybe he's telling the truth?

FORGE
The arrowheads are made with the small ponding of the hammer and a few times place within the confines of the forge.

RIC AND KRITE
"All I know is he distrusts all arcane magic but I think it depends on how it was used. There was a dwarf mage who angered him. Not a smart move I say. Oh he is indeed alive this dwarf. Dwarves and elves, adding in from what the dwarf knew...well..." Lars rubs his chin "Speaking of arcane doesn't anger him I believe. Nor using it. But against Fenris or Cumarinda in a not so nice move...." He leans forwards "I do have two scrolls for you."

RIC AND KRITE

OOC: Krite had already figured out not to poke the barbarian with a metaphorical stick. He would like to keep his head attached to his body a bit longer!

"I have very little funds available," Krite says when Lars offers the scrolls, "but I'd be happy to let you peruse my spellbook and copy any spell you might not already have. It's a long-shot, given the difference in our mastery of magic, but there might be one or two in there you don't already have." He shrugs. "Otherwise, Master Heyton, I simply can't afford even a scroll containing a cantrip.

"In regard to Cumarinda, allowing her to come to harm is the very last thing I would want. I don't know her very well, but she is very clearly a powerful force for good, and I will use my magic as best I can to protect her while we're adventuring. Just as she will use her abilities and spells to do the same for me." That is, after all, what a party is supposed to do for one another.

Forge works away through the night, waiting for the coming dawn when is his customary time in prayer....

He surveys his creations,
a silver spear, a silver dagger, two steel javelins and a yet completed number of cold iron arrowheads.....


Inspiration hits him and he bangs out a door wedge as one never knows when one may be called upon to hold the door....

RIC AND KRITE

"Oh, then I should be safe in that regard then. Most of what I know are non-offensive spells anyway. At least, they aren't as far as I know," commented Riceak as he let out a sigh of relief before glancing over at Krite who he assumes can't say the same but isn't too sure what the gnome is fully capable of.

"And I have to second both of Krite's statements. I'll do what I can to keep everyone safe from harm, and I don't really have the necessary funds nor resourses to compensate a scroll, and getting something for free doesn't really sit well with me unless I am taking it from a bad person."

And Forge makes a decent door wedge easily enough.

RIC AND KRITE
"Telling a fellow mage to check out your spellbook is insulting. You should hold it with pride and not give it away for a few spells. And I did not ask for anything in return. Do you not listen? From what I can tell, anyone can ask for your spellbook. If I had wanted your spellbook and was a thief, I could have easily removed you from it in one form or another." Lars stands up staring at Krite, wanting to get the point across but he stops and looks at Ric "Again I never asked for anything in return and I feel mocked. Listen and stop assuming please. And so I will not offer anything to either of you if that is the case. You had made your views known." Lars turns to leave "Sorry for bothering you this night. I had hoped my knowledge would be of great aid-not one of just spells. If someone offers you aid, you should accept it as a matter of trust. Turning away someone who can aid you both is not wise. But if you wish for nothing, you will gain nothing. You do speak somewhat wise Riceak. Perhaps Krite can learn something from you." Maybe a test? Hard to tell "Sleep well. We will meet again." The door is pressed open and Lars had left.

RIC AND KRITE

After making sure that the door is firmly latched, Krite hops back into the oversized bed, puts his back against the headboard and sits down to think about Lars Hayton and the unusual interaction they just had. He'd been around humans, including wizards, for a long time, decades, in fact, and he still hadn't quite figured them out. He popped out the Scarlet Tome, Volume I, his spellbook, and wrote down the conversation and his observations in Gnomish and in his neat, careful hand under the header "On Lars Hayton." Often, his writing down of details was good enough to work through a puzzle, but alas it was not to be in this case.

Afterward, he goes back to sleep, the spellbook under a corner of his pillow.

With her nudity only covered by a few sheets from the bed, Curmarinda hurried over to Fenris'side. Throwing her arms around the confused and troubled elven barbarian,
her fire red hair draped over his shoulders, she said calmly, "For now we won't talk any more about it." She hugged him tight and nuzzled into his shoulder,
kissing her way up his neck to his chin. "There is a large wolf standing in our doorway." she breathed into his ear, "I don't think it means us any harm and it looks somewhat familiar. Is it a friend of yours, Fenris, beloved?"

With her head resting on Fenris'shoulder, and one arm holding the blanket around their bodies, she looks expectantly into the eyes of the huge lupine, with utter confidence, waiting to see what it does.
This message was last edited by the player at 20:48, Thu 29 June 2023.

RIC AND KRITE

Seeing no point in dwelling on the conversation at the moment, Riceak plopped back on his bed once Krite had secured the door and drifted back into sleep. He'd worry about whether or not the end to that conversation was going to mean the next encounter with Lars would be favorable or a more trying experience.

The next morning....

Fenris tells the cleric something about a orb and that the cavern collapsed on it, and the mindflayer warped him away somehow as he was knocked out. He has no clue what happened to the dragon and doesn' go into detals about all the massive scars. Its pretty obvious-torture. Beaten, Battered. Almost killed but the barbarian didn't surrender. The direwolf falls asleep right by the bed (not on it). When the cleric awakens, the direwolf and Fenris are gone. A note is placed under the door 'Come to the dining hall'.

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Later on within the confines of the dorm....

The gnome and halfling each are awakened. Krite yawns and puts his hand down to his spellbook but its missing! Maybe he put it under the bed? Nope. In his gear? Nope.
A note is placed under the door 'Come to the dining hall.'

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Forge is about to go inside, with his spear and other gear but notices Fenris is sitting outside. And the direwolf is next to him. Just sitting there. Its not a bad day out, a brisk wind at times but comfortable. His gazes goes to the warforged and he stares at him. The wolf tilts its massive head.

--> to the dining hall

The gnome grabs his gear and heads to the dining hall of the temple. His emerald eyes are somehow vacant and yet terribly, terribly focused.

--> to the dining hall

After getting dressed, Riceak followed after the wizard to the dining hall: yawning as he went.

--> to the dining hall

Grumbling slightly under her breath after reading the note, Cumarinda briefly wondered who wrote the note,
then decides it isn't as important as beginning the day and rejoining Fenris.

After her daily morning observances, Cumarida gathered her belongings and quickly headed toward the dining hall.
Her disposition was as bright and sunny as always, realizing that there were good deeds to be done.

@Fenris (and the wolf)
"Greetings.  May I be of aid to you this morning?"

Forge hold his hands open and palms up.....

When the group enters, Lars is within the dining room and he has a familiar book-Krite would know what it is. He motions for the others to gather around, putting his hands upon it and the man looks at each of them. A clerhyman walks in from the kitchen with a varity of breakfast goods ranging from hashbrowns to eggs. He is followed by another one, holding a pitcher and puts the coffee down. Both of them then leave back into the kitchen. Lars waits for the others to get their food and takes a cup of coffee as well as some eggs and toasts. He keeps a hand upon the book "May try to hide this better, Krate. For if someone else had stolen it you would be in a lot of trouble. I doubt you remember all of your spells. And no I did not use this book to add to my own. I am no thief but making a point." Lars watches them "Now then what do you have for plans today? The priestess will be joining us soon as its barely dawn. She may a few things for you to do. Me? No, not a thing. Yet I am rather curious where Fenris lies and what has happened to him. But he is safe at least." He looks at the cleric "I wish to speak with you in private after breakfast if you have time. I assume you wish to hunt down the dopplegangers as well. This city is in need of help. Not sure what of course but I can sense it so to speak."

---------------------------------------------------------------
Elsewhere upon the steps leading into the temple...

Fenris watches this strange warforged who tries to put his hands up only to drop several items. He shakes his head and the wolf gets down on all fours watching him as well. Strange lad. The barbarian sits there with his blade over his lap, not in its sheath. Course it doesn't look like it has a sheath to begin with. His eyes dart up and he looks up at the dusk sky. The man takes a deep breath. Fenris looks like he is thinking. Maybe. The direwolf sits up and walks over to the paladin. The barbarian doesn't take heeed of this-its a direwolf, free to do whatever it wants. But in the city? Makes little sense.

Krite walks over to the wizard very stiffly. "You may not believe that you are a thief, Lars Hayton," the gnome says, "but a thief you are. The book was secure in my bed under my arm as it has been for countless other nights. You broke into my room and took it without my knowledge and certainly without my permission, and the only reason we are not in a duel right now is because this is the Temple of Pelor and I will not initiate violence here.

"Return my property." He stands in front of Lars, tiny hand outstretched.

Cumarinda looks both shocked and wounded at Lars. Shaking her head with disappointment, she says softly,
"Lars? Why? Why would you steal from one of our allies? In the temple to our most holy god?! Why Lars!"
she concludes angrily staring into the elder's eyes.

"Really? If I was a thief why would I return it to you? You should be happy you have it back not insult the person giving it to you. You are nothing, Krite but someone wanting nothing more then power itself. You stand there and manipulate others to do what you want. And if it was secure how is it now in my possession? You toy with things that you know nothing about. I tried to aid you only to be pushed aside. Violence? Is that what you want? I have faced things you cannot fathom to protect a town and those within it. So stop your pathetic antics and sit down. We are going to have a conversation and keep it civil. And I have deal with people a lot worse then a gnome wanting his book back because he was unable to keep it safe." The man watches the gnome, not standing up and being eye to eye. He holds the book for a moment and then he looks at the cleric "To prove a point. You want to travel with someone that doesn't care about his fellow adventurers? One minute he is there and the next gone? I have seen it and that is what the gnome will do. All he wants is power. And power corrupts. The gnome needs a lesson to be humble and to accept others. And if he wants to go off with you I want to know you are safe. I trust Fenris but not him. If he wants to think I am a mere thief, so be it. I am not. This temple is for a god that evenyone believes in. I don't. But its a place of where people feel safe and secure, and I understand it. If someone placed you down and asked you a question, say you have a choice-Pelor or Fenris what would you do?"

"You are also a wizard, Lars Hayton," Krite says in a calm voice, though his eyes are ablaze with emerald flame. "You know what that book means to me, and yet you stole it to prove a point that did not need to be made. If you disapproved of my degree of protection, then you have forgotten what it is like to have relatively few spells. OOC: low level

"I feel certain that more powerful wizards cloak their books in wardings and protections, but I have no such means. I have a backpack and a stout door, and an assumption that in a holy temple of the God of the Sun, that I am safe. That my possessions are safe. That my most prized possession is safe.

"Well, Lars Hayton, you have taught me a lesson; it's just not the one you intended. And believe you me, if you continue this madness, the bards will be interested in hearing the results of the instruction.

"Now. Return my book, Lars Hayton," Krite says, his hand still outstretched to the older wizard. "I'll not ask again."

"So be it then, Krite.Prove a point? I did exactly what I wished to do, and the point is I made you out to be a fool. You have done exactly what I expected you to do. Assumption not suited to someone who wishes not for the best of the group but for yourself. You assume it seems all the time, expecting things to go the way you wish and now you have learned that is not the case You have made my point. You cannot win a fight with me and you know it and could have learned a valient lesson. You expect me to fear you. That is pathetic. I asked for a simple conversation and you belittle me with insults acting like you have the upper hand. Again, you have proven yourself a madmen. Bards you say? I am so afraid of nothing. And you will be surprised of my connections as well. Throwing you know the bards means little You will listen and understand what I wish to teach you or will you just mouth off believing you are the best? A mage will do what he can to protect the people you are with. Using your knowledge. That is the key to what you seek. Not magic, not anything. What lies within yourself is what mmatters. You have much to learn, Krite. One last time sit down." Lars doesn't move "Sit down." Oddly, he holds the books out to Krite expecting some sort of reply to back up what he believes. He expects it, and expects to get attacked, anger or something worse. But he keeps a quiet tone, a serious tone but quiet nonetheless.

"So if you don't trust Krite, then you surely can't trust me, right? I mean, between the two of us, he is far better than I, and even though you said you don't know us last night when you woke us up you are now claiming that Krite is essentially a coward who will run out on us. I am curious as to how our conversation last night gave you that implication at all since I didn't pick up on it between you saying that she is going to need us and getting upset that we didn't want some scrolls for free," Riceak said as he shook his head in disbelief. While the halfling wasn't as angry as the gnome, there was a look of annoyance on his face.

Turning to Kayja, Riceak gave a quick bow. "I do apologize to you but this theft and breaking of trust has left a sour taste in my mouth, and I don't know about Krite but I'm not inclined to continue listening to a man who speaks of humility while being so arrogant to say that they aren't a thief. If you take something that isn't yours, then you are a thief regardless of the reason behind the theft."

"Krite, perhaps it would be best if we left Lars to have whatever conversation that he wants to have with the cleric here," said the spellthief as he turned away from the table and began to walk away.

The man crosses his arms as Ric deals with the situation. He has nothing left to say for now, letting the words bounce off of him. He know what is the truth. And if there is a thief amongst them its Ric. He sips his coffee, resting a hand over his lap "The power of a wizard isn't his spellbook, its what is within their hearts. Spells are nothing, just a tool. That is what makes you a mage. Some have evil within themselves, others do not. I am not a evil being, not even remotely. If you wish to leave, so be it. I have nothing against you Riceak and I admire your demaner to defend a friend but that is not what Krite needs." Another sip and he places it upon the table. He adjusts himself and looks at the cleric.