Serenity nodded in acknowledgement as she headed out of the tavern, stopping beside Mateau before leaving completely. "Young man, it is not safe outside after dark. Would you mind coming with me? The citizens have taken shelter in the temple at the center of town."

OOC: leaving the conversation as to what to do next while Serenity goes to the temple (or you could join her at said temple)

Mat stood and put away his things. Using his staff as a walking stick, waving it back and forth so as not to trip on things. He lets it bounce off the ground as well, so he can "hear" things that might be in his way. "Thank you, Lady Serenity."

The Colony listened to all the new people in town and Ama’s thoughts on best uses for the undead. They nodded their head to his suggestion. “That does sound appropriate. Now we need to think about how to form the barrier with the undead similar to what the bandits did. The fact that the undead would make the beast think twice about attacking meant that there were limits to its strength. Also undead would not be susceptible to its mental influence.”

 While the Colony stayed behind to talk strategy (or did he come along?), Serenity led Mateau to the church. The head priest lit up as he saw him. "Young lord? Is that you?"

Mat responded with a hint of mirth, "Indeed, 'tis me, old priest."

The natural course of the conversation had ended and the two sat in silence in the warmth of each other's knowing and understanding.  They finished the meal that was before them.
This message was last edited by the player at 13:44, Mon 11 Dec 2023.

“Amadeus Maxim.”

The voice was deep but quiet, enunciated with the care of a non-native speaker deliberately forming each syllable. It came from a large yellow-eyed tabaxi with black fur marred occasionally by bite and claw scars who stepped from the elongated sunset shadows to take up much of the tavern’s doorframe.

Apart from a surprisingly new-looking but still dirtied pair of black workman's pants he wore only a single blue-stoned earring in his left ear and a wide baldric from his left shoulder to his right hip. This utilitarian garment had small individualized tool holsters as well as bulkier padded pouches across the front. Down the back, scabbards and quivers were mounted above a decoratively stamped leather sack less than a quarter full strapped below. His weapons and gear were mostly made of animal remains from the pair of rapiers that appeared to be the fangs of two different enormous serpents and the longbow of strangely twisted horn to the black leather baldric itself and the bone tools holstered to it.

The heavily muscled tabaxi appeared tense. His tail and ears flicked rapidly, hackles raised and claws extended. His eyes, however, were still and focused on the dhampir he had addressed.
This message was last edited by the player at 02:02, Mon 11 Dec 2023.

Amadeus just smiled as he turned his head. Though he did plant a foot firmly on the leg of the table he was sitting at. "More friends for the fighting it seems. Today is a very busy day for new arrivals. Though we may have to let Xar know one of kindred nature has arrived." He leaned back and crossed his fingers over the base of his ribs. "You've worn your boots out it seems."

At the mention of Xar the tabaxi's predatory gaze slid over to the bugbear. His furred and furrowed brows rose a little in surprise and he nodded with recognition.

"Xar'ach."

His attention returned to Ama. The yellow eyes narrowed and his clawed fingers curled and released one after the other as he seemed to be considering something. At last the claws retracted and his eyes softened a bit, though the rest of his body remained alert. Twitchy, even.

"I have no need of boots. And I do not think I will try to kill you again. I am… sorry."

His head nodded as if deciding he agreed with his own words then suddenly turned to something perceived outside, hands simultaneously reaching over his shoulder toward the hilts of his weapons. After a brief pause he turned back to the tavern and brought his hands down again.

"I do not like this place. I feel like prey here."
This message was lightly edited by the player at 15:06, Tue 02 Jan.

The Colony watched as the others spoke. Some were calm while others seemed on edge. “We have the horde assembled. I feel like we may have a better chance of making it to the Mansion this time. I do think that if we try, it should be at first light and have plenty of sources of artificial light at our disposal. It seems that bright light lessens it’s power.”

 The priest approached Mateau with a smile. "It is good to see you! We thought you were lost to the wilds. Have you returned to aid us, young lord?"

 Serenity remained silent and smiling throughout the exchange.

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

 Meanwhile The Colony, Ama, Selgar, Jerinvar, and Xar'ach remained at the tavern planned out their next move.

Mat took off the hat so that the priest could see the state of his eyes. "I'm afraid I am of no help to anyone, not even myself."

He looked up at the utterance of his name and immediately recognized the tabaxi, though it took him a moment to recall the name. Seegar, no... Selgar. He raised a hand in greeting before returning to the meal before him, his eyes and ears alert to the tension in the room.

"I am going to withhold judgement on that. Not the first time I have been scrapped but I cant say that it isnt some what deserved. But if and when you want to rip me to bits, do let me pull the robe off first. It is very expensive to get a full block robe."

"But if it is all the same, call it probation? Cut your teeth and figure out your role here. There are much stranger monsters than I after all."

Selgar mirrored Xar'ach's greeting, then crossed his arms and raised an eyebrow at Ama's response.

"You must be good bait, Amadeus Maxim. Let us hunt this new monster. Perhaps a pack will fare better than we did alone. I know Xar'ach to be capable at least."

The pantherine tabaxi glanced around outside at the undead milling around in the dying light, took a deep breath, and finally stepped through the threshold of the tavern. He hurriedly took a corner seat near the group facing the entrance and indeed looking toward it often with some angst. Eyes, ears, and tail were all in constant nervous motion as he listened and planned with the group.

 The priest looked crestfallen at Mateau's response but took the young man by the hands anyway. "Well, it is good to see you nonetheless. Please feel free to stay here as long as you need, though I am afraid that we are unable to provide much these days."

OOC: alright guys, so what's the plan?

Mat bowed out of respect. "A roof over my head is an improvement to my station. It is greatly appreciated. "

The Colony leaned back and looked at the rest of the group they had been working with. “So is it about time we go after the fungi people we heard rumors about? There’s also that graveyard with the rumors of zombies and other things walking around. With these orbs, we should be able to handle most undead we come across.”

Finishing his meal, Xar’ach turned the options over in his mind a final time and added his option to the discussion, ”I think investigating the fungi people sounds like a good next step. That should give you time to better understand the orbs before we take on the graveyard.”

 Chess ala'riina took her good old slow time in walking back to the village, it wasn't a place of joy and excitement but of dread gloom over it constantly. As she was outside she like the night air more than than the daylight and with the Undeads surrounding the place it allowed her some safety outside without the fear of the Pig Monster.

Taking in a few deep breaths she saw as one of the people rescued from the bandits came outside of the inn and sat there for awhile before heading out with Serenity to the temple.  It seemed that she was such a good soul and only wished for the best in the village.

She then finally made her way into the inn, for the smell of food did allure her.

Looking around inside she spotted where everyone was seated and wondered if joining Xarach, The Colony, Amadeus and their new found friend would be good or would she scare them.  A smile crossed her face as she walked up to the table and smiled.

"I'm famished what kind of sandwiches are those? she asked before taking one.

--Before Leaving with Mateau--

 Serenity smiled at Chess as she was preparing to leave. "Just some leftovers I had lying around that needed to be used up."


--After--

 Seeing that Mateau was finishing up his conversation with the priest, she offered to lead him back to the tavern.

Mat put his hat back in place and said, "Indeed, I would be grateful." Placing a hand on her shoulderhe nodded for her to lead.

Jerinvar simply got up and followed the others.  He wasn't sure where they were going, or what they'd be doing, but this was what he'd signed up for and he was ready to do his part.

Be it sensitive perception, plain paranoia, or a bit of both, Selgar's eyes were on the doorway before Chess appeared in it. As she approached he swallowed the bite he had been working on and ran his tongue across his lips before addressing her question a bit more specifically.

"It is basilisk. The sweetness has been well balanced with seasoning."

He resumed eating, his claws piercing the bread deeply to do the work a toothpick might do to hold the sandwich together. He nodded in greeting to Jerinvar, acknowledging a fellow newcomer to the group.
This message was last edited by the player at 18:41, Wed 10 Jan.

Her eyes looked over at Xarach and wondered if this was the same beast that captured him as a prey and was eating on his leg.

"How charming. she replied to Selgar.  Even with her own hunger she was able to deny its request and look for just some bread to eat.