Sand not sure what Andraste wants. Is it about dark skinned prisoner?

With the affirmative nod of the half-elf, Sand started to think, as Clacker was making holes to dig up some rocks for the oven. His limited life experience was really bothering him now, he had never been part of a community before. But his makers had instilled into him a sense of order, that a society needed rules to function properly and those are the things that popped in his head… Now if he could only express them properly!

Sand thinks… Sand likes to fix things. Likes order.

He pointed towards the walls of the small settlement.

Order is necessary to live together. Sand thinks that… Vertigo would be broken without order. Dark skinned one broke order. Sand not like broken things.

He looked at Andraste, hoping that his explanation of his thought was good enough to be understood. This handicap was really hard to deal with!

Likes order huh. That is commendable but does not say how he would go about fixing the order in Vertigo. In the end I guess it does not matter what he would do, this responsibility was given to me. I know what needs to be done...For the greater good.

I meet Sand's round, purple eyes as a deep blue floods my hair from the roots to the tips, "We are going to need a bigger oven." My voice soft and quiet.
This message was last edited by the player at 18:52, Sun 19 July 2020.

After only a few minutes alone in the cave with the Drow, Thorn slipped silently into the night, chakrams in hand, eyes urgently scanning the darkness. Aisling took wing, scouting from the sky.

Not finding any immediate threat, she sought Althaea, Giltris and Sand – approaching openly to avoid startling such formidable combatants. "There's a fourth Drow. Escaped into the Underdark with their prize presumably. But we should make certain."

A fourth Drow! We barely handled two! If they all had...That does not matter, focus on now. Okay, if there was another still here they have not done anything yet and the town is on alert. With all of the activity it will have been difficult for them to remain unnoticed. If they escaped, they have had well over an hour to get away and will be on their ground. It is rarely a good idea to chase a predator into its den, especially not vicious, intelligent ones. Could we catch him before he makes it back to his own people. I doubt I could, especially not after walking all day and on unfamiliar ground. I need more information.

"Thorn, how did you learn this? Stopping for a second as a more immediate problem occurs to me. "Who is watching Raznul?" It was easier when he was just the prisoner but it is better this way; I must always remember he is a thinking, feeling individual. What needs to be done must not be easy.

In reply to Andraste Giltris (msg # 134):

"Later." Thorn did not believe the fourth Drow to be a danger - not at present - but she'd make no assumptions. Explanations could wait. "And he's dead."  She turned, taking a few steps toward the inn before turning her head to see if they'd follow.

Ahhh. I was afraid that might happen but I was hoping she would rise above. No, do not do that! You do not know what happened; wait until you see the evidence before you judge! Out of the corner of my eye, i see the blue in my hair loose its luster and turn a dull gray.

"Very well." I say my voice quiet as I try to meet Thorn's eyes. "This falls outside my experience, I suggest you take the lead. What do you want us to do?

In reply to Andraste Giltris (msg # 136):

Thorn gave a sharp nod of acknowledgement and resumed walking. "Watch for an ambush. Return to the inn. Look for signs of the fourth. Or others. Be ready for a fight."
This message was last updated by the player at 19:08, Thu 16 July 2020.

I knew what would happen the moment I left Thorn alone with the drow and I am not bothered by it; however, I could tell it bothered Andraste.

Why does your hair change color, Andraste? I have never seen the like! Thorn, I am for keeping on alert in the inn, but there are those of us who need to sleep. I would like to suggest we take watches so we can rest.

I look to Althaea, and give her a weak smile. "I suppose you could call it my mother's legacy." I look forward as we head back towards the cavern entrance before continuing, "If we are to be on a one name basis I prefer to use the name my father gave me."
This message was last edited by the player at 19:49, Thu 16 July 2020.

As the ladies were discussing, Sand listened in as he was working on the oven. There was something troubling in the air, worries about a fourth drow. Sand didn’t know enough about the race, about any races to be exact to be able to form an opinion. But it appeared that the prisoner was dead.

He didn’t know want happened, did he try to escape? That was too much speculation for him, he liked having facts. For now, they needed to get rid of the corpses, the mental image of the ghouls that killed his dwarven friends sending a chill down his mechanical spine.

Sand says that dead dark skinned must not come back as dead things that walk. Please bring dead dark skin here, Sand will burn. After that, Sand think about living dark skin.

As he was turning back to his work, he had a sudden thought.

Oh, and verify if dark skin has picture on arm like those two!

"I can do that Sand. I would like to say a few words before they are burned."

In reply to Sand (msg # 140):

Thorn addressed Sand's questions in order. "Afterwards. And yes."
This message was last updated by the player at 21:35, Thu 16 July 2020.

In reply to Mathorn (msg # 142):

Does warrior lady know what letters mean?

In reply to Sand (msg # 143):

"Not now." She turned on her heel and stalked off towards the inn, no longer seeming to care whether anyone followed.
This message was last edited by the player at 21:23, Thu 16 July 2020.

My apologies Giltris. You did not specify when we were introduced earlier so I assumed you would prefer your given name over your family name. I will go with Thorn and try to keep her from doing anything rash in your absence. I will send word if we leave the inn.

I turned and followed Thorn back inside, walking at a brisk pace to close the distance she had gained on me while I had been conversing with Giltris.

I give Althaea a small smile. "There is no need to apologize; that is a reasonable assumption." I raise my voice to reach Thorn as she marches ahead of us, her back straight and taut. "Thorn, have you informed Thorin? If not, I will do so once we have confirmed the caves are secure."
This message was last edited by the player at 14:20, Fri 17 July 2020.

So the warrior already knew about the tattoos… and seemed to know a lot more. Everyone was going back to the village, expecting another attack from the drows, leaving the dead ones behind. Sand didn’t want to leave those, Andraste seemed ready to help, but was now following the warrior and bard. Looking at the half built oven, Sand decided that the cremation could wait, there was another one to bring anyway. Burying the corpses would have to do for now.

A minute later, the corpses were under hundreds of pounds of soil and the construct was on his way to the inn, spear and shield in hand. If there was a fight, he intended to be ready this time…

Upon their return to the inn, Thorn made a slow circuit, carefully examining the floor. Reaching the store room, she squatted down, studying the chaotic jumble of boot prints. As she rose and turned away, Aisling made a series of quiet clicks and calls that caused her to glance at him. She crouched and looked again, her calloused fingers brushing once against his feathers. Then she stood a second time, still wary but muscles no longer corded with tension.

She approached the others and spoke in a low voice. “There were only four. The last Drow returned to the Underdark. Inform Thorin, if you wish, Giltris. Then come to the smithy.” She held each of their gazes in turn. “We should speak privately.”
This message was last edited by the player at 02:30, Fri 17 July 2020.

"Very well, I will join you in a few minutes." I exit the tavern quickly and go looking for Thorin in the main cavern. Finding him quickly, I make my way over to him and wait for him to finish speaking with a pair of tense townsfolk.

I give him a small shrug, "I have some bad news. We found signs that there was a fourth intruder who managed to escape. They seem to have been after an item and managed to escape with it so they should not have a reason to return but you will need to be on your guard. The prisoner has been dealt with and we will dispose of it with the others. By your leave."

Thorin nods solemnly and waves for me to leave, another set of townsfolk already approaching him as I walk towards the smithy. Now to find out what happened with our prisoner.

Thorn led Althaea and Sand to the smithy. As she had said, the Drow was dead. He lay gagged but untied on the floor, apparently killed by a single wound to the heart. His exposed forearm displayed a familiar silvery tattoo.
This message was last edited by the player at 03:24, Fri 17 July 2020.

I walk up to the body and squat down to examine the wound in his chest before looking back at Thorn. "What does that mean?" I ask her my voice soft as I point at the strange tattoo.
This message was last edited by the GM at 11:22, Fri 17 July 2020.

Sand followed the Thorn and Althaea to the smitty and saw the body of the other drow, bounds cut but still gagged, his forearm exposed to reveal the same tattoo that was found on the other drows. Sand kneeled to examine the body, but apart from a single wound to the heart that was the reason he died, he could not find anything else. (Investigation, 7)

Turning his head towards Thorn, he asked.

Sand not here before, please tell Sand what happened.

Andraste arrived pretty much at the same time and started examining the body too so Sand rose to leave the corpse to the paladin. She asked about the tattoo, Sand's next question, so he nodded, curious to hear that answer.

Once back in the smithy, I looked at Raznul lying dead on the floor.

What a pity, he could have been useful if the drow were not so stubborn. Oh well. Thorn, what is it you want us to do? Chase the fourth drow into the Underdark?

I looked to her while I collected my rope and tied it in its place on my belt.

That . . . was a lot of questions all at once. Thorn allowed herself a single deep breath before addressing the most pressing issue.

“The tattoo is the mark of Death’s Quad, an elite order composed of members of disparate Houses and entrusted with missions of the upmost importance to Drow society as a whole. Frankly, that always seemed so improbable that I had dismissed it as mere rumor. To discover proof of their existence, much less to find them active here and now . . .” She gestured sharply at the body. “He said a war is coming. I believe him.”

I do not suppose he elaborated on that at all, did he? For instance, whom the warring factions are to be?

Depending upon Thorns answer your my inquiry, I may have to travel home again. Aid from the Feywild could prove to be crucial to my continued existence. And while I was currently on the outs with my mother, I do not believe she wishes me dead.