(IC) 2: Search for the Seals
Althaea returned to the room she shared with Alaric for the night. She needed to gather her belongings for the trip and inform him of her departure. Seeing Alaric sitting on the lower bunk perusing a book, she sat down next to him and laid her head on his shoulder. "Hello, my love. What are you reading?
"Nothing nearly as important as you". Alaric closes the book, focusing his full attention on Althaea.
After receiving his answer, Althaea continued. "I have news. In case you had not heard, two newcomers have gained entry to Vertigo. Gar is a tortle wizard and Infused is a Warforged, but his specialties vary from those of Sand. I spoke with my companions this evening and we have made plans to once again venture to the Keep to retrieve the cache of weapons Sebastian believes to still be there. We will be departing with the dawn's light. I did not want you to be surprised if you wake and find I have already gone. Would you help me pack?"
Althaea stood from where she sat next to Alaric and began to place the few belongings she had brought with her to Vertigo back in their respective places in her pack, apart from her armor and weapons which she would don when she woke.
"Am I not welcome on this journey?" Alaric said playfully as he stood up and started to help pack what he thought appropriate.
"Of course, you are welcome to join me. I did not want to assume you would accompany me and be disappointed to learn you had prior engagements."
"The only engaging I wish to do, is with you, my dear." Alaric says with a devilishly handsome and charming grin.
Althaea rolls her eyes at Alaric's antics and mutters, "Humans," under her breath before looking up at him with a playful smile. Alaric kissed her forehead and began to pack his own belongings for the trip.
Once that task was complete, she began to prepare for sleep. Washing her face and hands, she removed the kohl from her eyes and undid her hair, running her comb through the long strands. Changing into the clothes she wore to sleep, Althaea crawled into bed next to Alaric satisfied she was ready to depart upon waking. "Sleep well, my love."
Althaea rose before dawn and began her day in the usual fashion, rebraiding her hair, drawing her eyes with kohl, and donning her armor. She placed her pack over her shoulder and strapped her weapons to her belt and left for the Better Times with Alaric. She would take the time to eat a warm meal since she did not know how long she would be traveling and might not get another chance to for some time. Once their meal was finished, they waited by the gate for the others to arrive.
Althaea felt lighter on this voyage than on her previous forays into the wilderness outside Vertigo. Be that from Alaric's presence, the lack of dread associated with the travels, or a combination of the two. Although she knew with the possibility of undead roaming the countryside she should aim for silence when possible, she found herself humming under her breath in spite of herself.
When the mists started rolling in, she headed the warning from Sand and began to keep a more watchful eye on her surroundings. What she saw unnerved her. The moss-covered forest was laden with bodies....everywhere. The bodies were mostly twisted, strangely on their hands and knees, and moss-covered like the forest around them. A good 60 feet or more away, one of the bodies has its head seemingly propped up, its eyeless skull looking straight ahead in our direction. For the time being, none of the bodies moved.
Seeing Andraste not far away, Althaea whispered loud enough for her to hear, "Perhaps now would be a good time for that extra sense you have about the undead and the like. She pointed out the bodies as she spoke.
11:50, Today: Althaea Sylvaranth rolled 29 using 1d20+10. Performance.
11:51, Today: Althaea Sylvaranth rolled 22 using 1d20+7. Perception.
This message was last edited by the player at 17:20, Mon 30 Aug 2021.