Present: Bharkel

Bharkel decided to stay back in Phandalin watching over Gundren and Don-Jon in case the red cloak-wearing Thayans decided to start any trouble.

OOC: Unless Akyra decides to hang back as well, this will be a solo thread just for you.

Her comrades didn't seem to appreciate Bharkel's sense of humor. It wouldn't be the first or the last time that happened, and she was largely okay with that.

Behind the joke was a kernal of truth; that they couldn't be the target of these alleged transgressions if no one knew they existed. Still, she recognized that hiding out like outright refugees may not be entirely necessary, and looked for some venue in the town where she may be able to bathe. Unlike most elves, she wasn't afraid of dirt, grime, or even blood, but having the bile and gore of that....thing, all over her was still unpleasant, and would certainly make her unpleasant company to be around if she didn't do something about it soon.

The Stonehill Inn itself was in possession of such a bath, thankfully. She had the option of handling everything herself, or asking for one of the maids to assist. Options for hot or cold water both existed, per your preference.

There were even some herbs and some fruit slices from a local orchard, that could be added to the water for additional scent.

Bharkel chuckled inwardly at the sight of the fruit slices, being reminded by the conversation in the cave. She  did in fact opt for the fruit slices, but as a snack, rather than as a fragrance. Selecting  for a fast and cold bath, it more closely resembled the baths of home, relying on the water from the river, nearest to the waterfall, where it was most easily obtained regardless of season, and where it was most clean.

Concerned about those in her protection, she decided to leave as quickly as she could, meaning she would let her hair go unbraided and unstyled, drying in the open air. To get it the way she wanted, she would probably need to wet it again at some point, but she wasn't going to risk safety for something so trivial. Even being as efficient as she could, there was still the chance something could have happened, especially if Gundren buggered off and drew attention to himself.

She hoped against hope, that this was one of the rare quiet dwarves...

Returning to the common room, you see Gundren still sitting in the same spot. Don-Jon seems to have wandered off elsewhere, but Gundren looks content to stay where he is. Seeing that you've finished with your bath, he motions you over to join him again. "It's been a few months since I was last in your part of the woods. How were things back home, before you answered my letter?"

"A mixed bag of nuts, as the humans say" She said as she sat down in her chair. "Our Elvin cousins are slowly learning to treat us less like savage heretics. A large family even left their home and their old way of life to live among us. So, there is hope that we can one day inspire the rest of the Elves to at least respect the old ways, even if they choose not to abide them.

"On the other hand, we had a dispute with the humans nearby. They kept enroaching into our forests, going on trophy hunts for Golden Elk. Eventually they learned that if they continued their behavior, the hunters would  quickly become the hunted."

Gundren nodded his head at your words, "Elves do tend toward taking a long time to come around. When you live that long, you're rarely in a rush to make changes, I suppose. You know that I am one who values all things old, everything from treasures to traditions. There is value in change, in adaptation, but much of that value is lost if you forget where you were before. Even if they choose not to follow old ways, the knowledge alone is invaluable for your future. As for the humans..." He shrugged his shoulders and tilted his head to the side, "men are men, I'm afraid. I wish you luck on that front. Dealing with humans is always a 'bag of mixed fruit', as they say; you might find one you like, you might not, you may reach in and find they're already rotten and molding."

"I'm not ready to grab any of them and test their ripeness." She remarked, looking off to the distance for a while "The days of me being courted are behind me, or too far ahead of me to see."

"I am curious about something Dwarf, if you don't mind a change of subject. Of all the people you chose to send a letter to, why me? Certainly wasn't for my disposition."

Gundren smiled at the question, "As I said, I am interested in all things old. I don't know if you've touched them yet yourself, but the spirits of your ancestors hang thick around you. I don't see them, but I can feel them. You have a connection that goes beyond that of others. I don't know how or why, only that it is so."

"When such a thing happens among the dwarfs, for those few that I have seen, they come to embrace their ancestors so fully that their spirits are rejoined with the material plane, bringing a powerful protection to those around them. Your ancestors are stronger now, even than they were those few nights ago when we met in Neverwinter."

She gave a curious smile, unsure of what to make of that "You make me sound like an infernal witch, or cursed by one."

Her smile faded quickly, as her eyes squinted, pondering the literalness of the Dwarf's words

"Gundren, are you saying that you can see ghosts?"

Gundren looked confused by the comment and then doubly confused by the question, "Lass, I just told you cannot see them. Do you not know the stories of your own people? Surely you did not avoid listening to the stories of your elders all these years."

"Sorry. Lost in thought for a moment." Bharkel shook her head in slight embarrassment. "I heard the old tales, to be certain. Was fascinated by them when I was young, the same time I would scurry the forests floor to look for the fearsome Jackalope..." She had a slight laugh at her own expense.

"It's different hearing them as an adult, and especially when the stories are you now." Her eyes darted for a few seconds "The characters in those stories, with the ancestor spirits and so on, usually involved a brave hero trying to protect the whole of reality, or outwitting some great monster.  If all of those were real, and not just some parable to teach lessons, than things are about to spiral out control, very quickly, and it would probably be best for others to not be around me."

Gundren smiled as you explained away the stories of your youth. He grew concerned at the rest of it, though, "Those stories were never about the individual, Bharkel. The spirits don't cause the troubles of the stories, they come to help those who need protecting. Fleeing from the presence of others means denying them the very protection the spirits come to provide."

Just then, shouts arose outside the inn, both of panic and of anger.

Bharkel felt her body flare up in heat in a matter of seconds, as her head snapped to the sound. She couldn't abide the crimes that were alleged here, if true, but self-preservation kicked in as well. Seeing actions play out in her mind, she could have the entire force of these red wizards on her in the matter of minutes, and no amount of righteous indignation or ancestral spirits would help her than.

She slowly stood up, her favored hand near one of her hand axes "Come on. I'll likely need you to pull me back."

Going at to investigate the source of the sound, you find far fewer people out on the streets right now compared to when you first arrived in town. Some others are coming to doors or windows at the sounds, much like yourself, but you see only two men wearing the red cloaks right now, standing over a wood elf male. Both of the red cloaks have their swords drawn, the first is red from having recently stabbed the elf, the other's is still piercing the elf's body.

The screams apparently came from what looks to be the man's wife and their two children, not far away. The other townsfolk seem a mix of anger and fear, but these are all common folk who likely would not stand up to the likes of two mercenaries.

One of the Thayans looked over at the man's family, the other withdrew his sword from the elf's body and looked up to lock eyes with you, a cruel smile appearing on his face.