There wasn't much to be done, then.  Blue first loudly spewed a string of profanities covering a good half-a-dozen languages at least, then continued to grumble further on his way to clean up.  There were the obvious expletives, and some colorful instructions for the wizard who captured them involving unpleasant sounding violations to his person, all delivered in the pirate's mangled tongue.  Blue neither had to repeat individual curses nor any of the tirade of increasingly vulgar self-desecrations or questionable implications of Telorn's parentage until he had bowl-bathed himself or worked the travel dirt from his own clothing and gear.

He returned to the common area much as he had left it; fully dressed and bearing his full gear, grumbling to himself, though his weathered face lacked the sheen of sweat he had awoken with.

The scarred gladiator stands silently by the door, his fist still held against it from his last knock.  He leans his forehead against the door, eyes closed, for a moment.  When he looks up, he sees the darkskinned cleric walk by.  He give the other man an acknowledging nod of his head.
When he speaks, his voice is quiet and lacks the bluster of earlier.
 Kel'li, I dunno if'n yer asleep, or awake an' hidin', but I ge' the impression tha' we need ta speak.  He pauses, awaiting a response that does not happen.
He sighs, his shoulders slumping a bit.  Wha'ever this is tha' we've all gotten ourselves inta, we're in it t'gether.  If'n we canna be friends, can we at leas' na' be enemies?

Kel'li did not answer, but she did instinctively take a tiny ball of bat guano and sulfur from her components pouch in case the door opened.  Now was not the time to talk about this.

“Leave her alone,” Basilisa said as she passed Kel’li’s room. She walked in a newly cleaned outfit, rich with scarlet and gold accents. The Bard set down her gear and brushed  her raven hair as she looked at Joser with a bemused smile. “Fate may have brought us together, and Necessity keeps us together. However, you’ll make no friend of Kel’li if you don't respect her wishes for privacy.”

Stepping closer to the door, Basilisa finished brushing her hair and spoke in a gentle, warm tone. “Kel’li. Stay in your room as long as you need. Join us again when you will, sweet friend.”

Snatching up her traveler’s pack, Basilisa shooed Joser from the door. “Go on about your way, Joser. If you’re of a mind for talking, let’s go find the others.”

When Basilisa arrives and tries to shoo him away, he turns to her in response, If'n ye'd eavesdrop prop'rly instead o' buttin' in, ye' d realize tha's wha' I'm plannin' ta do.
He waits again, for more than just a moment or two (one of which is actually 4 seconds in length).  After several, he nods his head.  If'n an' when yer ready, ye'll find me easy e'nuff.  I'm goin' ta bring a plate o' food an' leave by yer door.  Ye'll need ta eat soon e'nuff, whether ye come out ta join us or no'.  This way, ye dinna have ta.
He leaves for the common room, where he gathers a plate full of vegetables, bread, cheese, fruits, and meat, as well as a glass of mead and utensils.  Once he has left them outside of her door, making just enough noise for her to know, he goes back to feed himself again.

“If I’d wanted to eavesdrop, you never would have known I was there,” Basilisa said with a smirk. She remained by the door until Joser made it clear he wouldn’t stay.

When they reached the others, she prepared her own plate. “Willfully pestering a woman isn’t the way to win her friendship,” she told him with a purposeful look. Then, she partook of the meal that Elah prepared.

Bran gave a nod to Blue when they entered the 'common' room. He perked up a bit more, however, when Basilisa entered, favoring her with a small friendly smile. "Hello again." He gave a nod to Joser as well when they entered.

He watched as Joser grabbed food and left, thinking that they wanted to eat alone perhaps - but then returned empty-handed and too quickly to have consumed it realistically. Plus they didn't bring anything back with them. One eyebrow rose up at that, but he chose not to make a comment about it.

He gathered his own sustenance and ate slowly, not only for enjoyment, but in case Cinnabar or Kel'li were coming - though he suspected the latter wouldn't show up too soon.

“Bran,” Basilisa answered with a delighted smile. “Good food and your good company. Two blessings for one occasion!” Her lips touched a sliver of melon, and the taste thrilled her. She closed her eyes as she savored the deliciousness. “Telorn seems especially interested in providing the choicest accommodations and foods for our shared exile with him.”

Joser joins the others with a plate and glass for himself this time.  No' pesterin'.  I's a peace offerin'.
With that said, he starts to eat hungrily, as if he had not eaten something only a couple of hours ago.

Bran earned a sour grunt in reply, quick enough to be a reflex in Blue's foul mood.  He quickly recanted with a softer, "Ahoy," when better sense divorced the priest from the contributing factors to Blue's discontent.  The priest hadn't, thus far, even said a word that Blue could have taken as offensive.  Bran probably hadn't even done anything the drow witch could take offense from.  Wasn't natural to be that anti-confrontation, in Blue's mind.

"Yeh be'n a 'oly 'un, I kin right?"  He asked in an attempt at small talk.

Bran let out a small chuckle at Basilisa's words. "Thank you, but I could say the same, and more, about you. Selune smiles down on us." He smiled. "Wow. Look at the enjoyment you get from the simple act." He tried a bit as well and it was quite good.

He didn't know exactly what Joser was referring to so let it lie.

He glanced at Blue, trying to make out the broken accented words. He wasn't sure about the use of 'kin', but thought he grasped the question's intent at least after a moment. "Holy one?" After confirmation that was what was being asked, he shook his head. "No, I'm not holy myself, but I serve the Moon Goddess as one of Her clerics." He reached down and held up the holy symbol hanging from his neck - a pair of eyes surrounded by seven stars. They would have previously seen the same symbol also emblazoned on his shield. "She has helped me through many things now. I am grateful and always happy to spread word of Her."
This message was last edited by the player at 16:16, Sun 15 May 2022.

"Oi aye; he dun' a gran' fixin' fer us 'ere 'is captives."  Blue said dryly, rolling his eyes.  "I is not 'unna trust me ma' leech suckin' jailer."

He raised an eyebrow at the pugilist, sparing a quick look up and down the man.  "Whatn'a darkes' nine 'ells yun gone'n done, Jos?"  He asked in a tone that implied that he was neither surprised not particularly judgmental of whatever social mishap Joser might have had.  "Prithee tell yen not' gon' fisticuff 'at 'ole washer lass?  Even'at grape-sour hexer hag?"

The pirate offered the priest a blank look for a moment, before slowly shifting to a more thoughtful expression.  "Aye; 'oly 'un ifin' seas's salty aye.  Bright luck, aye; me's not'n 'unna fix uppa' slash inna 'hurry."  Turning towards Joser, Blue jerked a finger in Bran's direction.  "Catch it, aye Jos?  Lad'sa 'oly 'un.  Fer 'at moon lass.  Bright spotta luck, inna fete."

As Blue finish his sentence the group hears footsteps approaching down the hallway to the south. For some reason you don't recollect the hallway from previously. Shortly a rather tired looking gentleman enters and looks around at the group. "Ah thank the gods your awake. Maybe now I might get some answers."

He pauses for just a second, "Wait a minute wasn't there lass of Drow heritage with you earlier?"

--------------------------------------------------------------------------

A few minutes later after Joser had left Kel'li hears a soft knock on her door. "Miss Kel'li it appears Telorn has finally decided to come down from his room. If you would like to rejoin your friends and acquaintances."

You also notice the silver striped tabby cat from earlier has somehow found it's way into you room and is currently rubbing up against your legs.

Kel'li reaches down and gives the cat a scratch around the head and neck, gathers herself and opens the door. "You coming, my feline friend?"  She will join the rest, giving wide berth to Joser.  For now, she keeps silence, her thoughts her own.

Joser gives an incredulous look.  We're ki'napped off the street or from the tav'rn in broad daylight, ta wake up 'ere wit' you two odd ducks.  And you want ta get answers.

“Yes, we have a Drow companion,” Basilisa replied. An eyebrow rose as she asked, “Weren’t you older when you bumped into me in the street?”

Bran blinked a few times as what he thought might be words tumbled quickly out of Blue's mouth, but he only caught some of them. Luckily for him, before he had to try and translate or interpret what was said too much, their 'host' showed themselves.

His eyes slid to Telorn and he frowned. "Agreed. You have brought us here and we want to know why." His tone was a tad less polite than normal, but that was about it.

He relented slightly, "Waiting for Kel'li so you don't have to tell everything twice is better I suppose." He nodded and gave her a small smile when she showed up. "Now, please explain your actions and intentions."
This message was last edited by the player at 21:31, Fri 20 May 2022.

Kel'li chose this moment to interject her thoughts. "Life is a series of choices, decisions, and of course, consequences.  You, sir, have forced your choices upon us, and without satisfactory explanation, could come with some less than desirable consequences."

Joser gives a small smile.  Apparently the others had not notice Kel'li's entrance, but he had.  He seems to enjoy seeing people surprised....

"I's naye keen'n ye dun gon'n 'napped me'in mine inna brightn'day neider, I's naye.  Blue agreed, watching the newcomer carefully.  His fingertips twitched as the pirate resisted the urge to draw steel.  "Yeh says ye be wantin'a ask, aye, mayhaps we'k'n getta'at.  Aye.  'N I's's keena gettin' on meh merry way."

Telorn appeared to be less than happy when the group spoke. But when Blue spoke he stared for a moment before raising his hand and rubbing his forehead. You could see him quietly repeating what Blue had said. Finally he frowned and sighed, "First. if someone could be so kind as to translate for the gentleman." As he nods to Blue, "I'm afraid I am having a bit of trouble with his accent."

"Secondly I did not bring you here by choice. When I first felt the presence of dark powers in Baldur's Gate I decided it was time to leave. And for some strange reason or twist of fate. I know not which or why. The lot of you ended up tagging along."

"I've spent the better part of the day trying desperately to find out the reasoning behind it but I have found little explanation. Other than the lot of you are now somehow bound together and bound to whatever is in the case the young lady carries."

He pauses as he looks to each of you in turn. "Does anyone have any thoughts that may be of help? As for leaving that will be easy enough when the time comes. The magic that allows travel from the tower unfortunately only works once per day."
This message was last edited by the GM at 19:47, Tue 24 May 2022.

Kel'li interjects, "Maybe it would be prudent to look in the case?  If its contents are what brought us here, it would be nice to see what that is."

“We’d need Magic to translate that accent,” Basilisa said with a wry chuckle. Luckily, Kel’li saved them from that task. She nodded at her friend. “Yes. It’s at long last time that we see what caused such a stir.”

 Basilisa held up the case and laid it on the nearest table. “Can anyone detect magical traps?” She felt confident she could pick a lock, and certain that their new companion with the indecipherable tongue could pull it off.

"I cannot detect it, but should the need arise, I can certainly attempt to dispel it."

Wha' Blue is tryin'ta say is 'e isn'a too happy 'bout bein' taken in broad daylight.  yer wantin' answers, so le's get ta findin' 'em, an' get what needs ta be done, done.
He listens as Telorn continues on.  Blue, here, 'as been followin' some evil spirit, an' we somehow found this group, who seem ta be tied to it in some way.  Now, yer sayin' when ya left, we got dragged along.  Which means yer likely tied to it in some way, too.
He turns at the mention of looking in the case, wondering what the contents could be