Upon ascending the stairs, the party find themselves in a bare and dusty hall. Four doors lead off to other rooms.
Seeing nothing with which to barricade the door behind them, Faolan presses an ear to the wood to ascertain whether the suit of armor is approaching.
The rooms below are silent, so he turns back to the others and with a low voice says, "I need to rest."
And, glancing at Dmitri, he adds, "So does he."
<.>
(He could use the rest, true.) (He doesn't like to *admit* as much.) (He also doesn't bristle at Faolan's words, though he would have taken sharp offense from any other being.)
Dima's eyes dart sideways and he sighs slightly, nods. "It wouldn't hurt. Rest, gather our thoughts. This is all turning cockeyed rather quickly."
He scans the room, slightly, *slightly* relieved that it seems to be quiet. "And I'd like to look over the papers from the chest." He'd like to look at the scrolls, as well.
<.>
Sen has no argument against a rest, even if he doesn't feel particularly fatigued, himself. It's no good having the two men drop, leaving them all somewhat (mostly?) defenseless.
If Rin's in agreement, he'll hand over the papers he happens to be holding. Faolan likewise passes over the letter he read off.
<.>
Rin is in agreement, if only because they don't really care so much about papers; they'd rather check over their newly acquired crossbow and maybe have another look at the jewelry.
They're going to take a quick prowl around the room before settling in against a wall, preferably very near to Sen.
<.>
Meanwhile, Faolan slips his hand from Dmitri's and crosses the room, away from the three others. With his back as close to a corner as possible, he sinks to the ground, draws his knees up to his chest, rests his chin on his forearms, and stares at - nothing, really.
He ought to try to meditate. The trance state he's supposedly able to achieve.
It's hard to think with the weight of the dead wolves below and - what Dmitri might have done. And how he'll get home. And. And. And.
Bless the dice, Fae recovers 7 hp during the rest, bringing him back to full health.
<.>
Faolan looks so lost.
Dima wants to go to him. (Dima would rather sit near him, next to him, feel his presence as a comfort.) But Dima also knows he's caused the man distress; knows Faolan made the choice to settle himself apart. So Dima chooses a place against the wall approximately equidistant between the thieves and Faolan; somewhere he can keep an eye on the man. Somewhere he can let his gaze wander, and still let him have his space.
Settled on the ground, Dima begins to examine the contents snagged from the chest, beginning with the scrolls, then progressing to the deeds, the will, and the letter. In the latter documents, he'll be seeking clues that might unsnag the not-quite-remembered detail(s?) from his mind.
<.>
Sen spends the next hour nodding off against Rin's horns. Faolan at last manages some brief state of meditation.
He does feel a little better. A little more capable of looking Dmitri in the eye (should the need arise) or of confronting whatever might be waiting downstairs. (There was a monster, after all.)
As he stands and moves to rejoin the group, he says carefully, "Listen. This place is...Something's obviously wrong here, so it's best if we stick together, we four. But I want to make something clear. Just in case someone feels a wild impulse: we don't harm children, no matter how strange they might be. None of us, while we're together."
Perplexed, Sen stares at Faolan; briefly his eyes drift to Dmitri, then come to settle on Rin. [ Have you been eating children again, Pretty Rin? ]
And with a smile, charming (if somewhat tense), he responds, "Not at all unreasonable."
<.>
Dima spends the hour engaged in his examinations and - yes - more than a bit of intentional and unintentional gazing in Fae’s direction.
Is there anything about the spell scrolls he’s found, or anything in the papers that might trigger his recollection?
<.>
The spell scrolls are "Bless", "Protection from Poison", and "Spiritual Weapon".
[HIST, d: 16]
So, while he's reading the papers, Dima begins to recall there were rumors about the Durst family and a scandal revolving around a cult of some sort. He remembers specifically that there were rumors about guests of the Dursts vanishing, never to be seen again.
He can't recall *when* this happened, or which family members were involved.
<.>
It was, he thinks, his sister who dealt with most of the business relating to the Dursts. He ought to have paid closer attention; mostly, he remembers thinking the cult absurd, the rumors not worth his time when there were actual troubles at hand to be solved.
He's setting the papers in order when Faolan speaks, and though Dima tries to appear unflustered by the man's words, he can't help tensing, freezing—
Then returning his eyes to the papers, to storing them carefully in his pack. (Where the raven totem still waits, thank the gods.) He nods, glances up again at Faolan as he speaks, "Agreed."
He's not certain it's wise to agree. He's also not certain of his own reasoning, and does know he's inclined to trust Faolan's judgement in this. (Knows he doesn't want to see that horror, that disappointment again.)
Not yet rising, he indicates the scrolls. "We have three spells scrolls. I'd like to take them down eventually, but if worse comes to worst and we need a little aid, these may be useful." He'll convey the gist of the spells if anyone should ask.
Rin spent nearly the entire rest sleeping peacefully against Sen, and they meet Sen's message with a grin, a laughing flash of pointed teeth. [ Not for years now! Tsk! ] And! They're going to acknowledge that 'Pretty Rin' with a pleased little huff.
To Faolan, they offer a shrug and a nod. "I can work with that."
<.>
Faolan nods, more to himself than the others. He can work with them if they can work with this.
(Maybe. Maybe this will be enough to send Dmitri after someone a little less...Faolan.)
He listens quietly to the spells, giving Sen leeway to do most of the questioning. Then glances around at the doors leading deeper into the attic. Wonders if there really is an infant somewhere here, or if - what? The children were lied to? Mistaken, somehow? The baby was taken by the parents to safety? He can't quite make any of it fit.
Sen rises and offers a hand to help Rin up; neither he nor Faolan seem eager to make decisions just now.
<.>
Rin accepts Sen's hand; of course they can hop to their feet, but it's a nice gesture, and they like gestures.
They also like to keep moving, so Rin's going to give Sen a little wink, then begin moving quietly toward the nearest door. Might as well work around the perimeter, they figure.
They're going to check the door for signs of traps before readying their crossbow and opening the door.
<.>
The nearest door is locked from the outside with a heavy iron padlock. There are no traps that Rin can see.
At this point, Sen remembers the iron key he found and - feeling not great about this - offers it to Rin, but holds it when they try to take it.
"Careful. I'll be aiming overtop your head."
Faolan approaches to join them, glancing back once at Dmitri to see if he, too, cares to see what's behind the lock.
no subject
Seeing nothing with which to barricade the door behind them, Faolan presses an ear to the wood to ascertain whether the suit of armor is approaching.
The rooms below are silent, so he turns back to the others and with a low voice says, "I need to rest."
And, glancing at Dmitri, he adds, "So does he."
<.>
(He could use the rest, true.) (He doesn't like to *admit* as much.) (He also doesn't bristle at Faolan's words, though he would have taken sharp offense from any other being.)
Dima's eyes dart sideways and he sighs slightly, nods. "It wouldn't hurt. Rest, gather our thoughts. This is all turning cockeyed rather quickly."
He scans the room, slightly, *slightly* relieved that it seems to be quiet. "And I'd like to look over the papers from the chest." He'd like to look at the scrolls, as well.
<.>
Sen has no argument against a rest, even if he doesn't feel particularly fatigued, himself. It's no good having the two men drop, leaving them all somewhat (mostly?) defenseless.
If Rin's in agreement, he'll hand over the papers he happens to be holding. Faolan likewise passes over the letter he read off.
<.>
Rin is in agreement, if only because they don't really care so much about papers; they'd rather check over their newly acquired crossbow and maybe have another look at the jewelry.
They're going to take a quick prowl around the room before settling in against a wall, preferably very near to Sen.
<.>
Meanwhile, Faolan slips his hand from Dmitri's and crosses the room, away from the three others. With his back as close to a corner as possible, he sinks to the ground, draws his knees up to his chest, rests his chin on his forearms, and stares at - nothing, really.
He ought to try to meditate. The trance state he's supposedly able to achieve.
It's hard to think with the weight of the dead wolves below and - what Dmitri might have done. And how he'll get home. And. And. And.
Bless the dice, Fae recovers 7 hp during the rest, bringing him back to full health.
<.>
Faolan looks so lost.
Dima wants to go to him. (Dima would rather sit near him, next to him, feel his presence as a comfort.) But Dima also knows he's caused the man distress; knows Faolan made the choice to settle himself apart. So Dima chooses a place against the wall approximately equidistant between the thieves and Faolan; somewhere he can keep an eye on the man. Somewhere he can let his gaze wander, and still let him have his space.
Settled on the ground, Dima begins to examine the contents snagged from the chest, beginning with the scrolls, then progressing to the deeds, the will, and the letter. In the latter documents, he'll be seeking clues that might unsnag the not-quite-remembered detail(s?) from his mind.
<.>
Sen spends the next hour nodding off against Rin's horns. Faolan at last manages some brief state of meditation.
He does feel a little better. A little more capable of looking Dmitri in the eye (should the need arise) or of confronting whatever might be waiting downstairs. (There was a monster, after all.)
As he stands and moves to rejoin the group, he says carefully, "Listen. This place is...Something's obviously wrong here, so it's best if we stick together, we four. But I want to make something clear. Just in case someone feels a wild impulse: we don't harm children, no matter how strange they might be. None of us, while we're together."
Perplexed, Sen stares at Faolan; briefly his eyes drift to Dmitri, then come to settle on Rin. [ Have you been eating children again, Pretty Rin? ]
And with a smile, charming (if somewhat tense), he responds, "Not at all unreasonable."
<.>
Dima spends the hour engaged in his examinations and - yes - more than a bit of intentional and unintentional gazing in Fae’s direction.
Is there anything about the spell scrolls he’s found, or anything in the papers that might trigger his recollection?
<.>
The spell scrolls are "Bless", "Protection from Poison", and "Spiritual Weapon".
[HIST, d: 16]
So, while he's reading the papers, Dima begins to recall there were rumors about the Durst family and a scandal revolving around a cult of some sort. He remembers specifically that there were rumors about guests of the Dursts vanishing, never to be seen again.
He can't recall *when* this happened, or which family members were involved.
<.>
It was, he thinks, his sister who dealt with most of the business relating to the Dursts. He ought to have paid closer attention; mostly, he remembers thinking the cult absurd, the rumors not worth his time when there were actual troubles at hand to be solved.
He's setting the papers in order when Faolan speaks, and though Dima tries to appear unflustered by the man's words, he can't help tensing, freezing—
Then returning his eyes to the papers, to storing them carefully in his pack. (Where the raven totem still waits, thank the gods.) He nods, glances up again at Faolan as he speaks, "Agreed."
He's not certain it's wise to agree. He's also not certain of his own reasoning, and does know he's inclined to trust Faolan's judgement in this. (Knows he doesn't want to see that horror, that disappointment again.)
Not yet rising, he indicates the scrolls. "We have three spells scrolls. I'd like to take them down eventually, but if worse comes to worst and we need a little aid, these may be useful." He'll convey the gist of the spells if anyone should ask.
Rin spent nearly the entire rest sleeping peacefully against Sen, and they meet Sen's message with a grin, a laughing flash of pointed teeth. [ Not for years now! Tsk! ] And! They're going to acknowledge that 'Pretty Rin' with a pleased little huff.
To Faolan, they offer a shrug and a nod. "I can work with that."
<.>
Faolan nods, more to himself than the others. He can work with them if they can work with this.
(Maybe. Maybe this will be enough to send Dmitri after someone a little less...Faolan.)
He listens quietly to the spells, giving Sen leeway to do most of the questioning. Then glances around at the doors leading deeper into the attic. Wonders if there really is an infant somewhere here, or if - what? The children were lied to? Mistaken, somehow? The baby was taken by the parents to safety? He can't quite make any of it fit.
Sen rises and offers a hand to help Rin up; neither he nor Faolan seem eager to make decisions just now.
<.>
Rin accepts Sen's hand; of course they can hop to their feet, but it's a nice gesture, and they like gestures.
They also like to keep moving, so Rin's going to give Sen a little wink, then begin moving quietly toward the nearest door. Might as well work around the perimeter, they figure.
They're going to check the door for signs of traps before readying their crossbow and opening the door.
<.>
The nearest door is locked from the outside with a heavy iron padlock. There are no traps that Rin can see.
At this point, Sen remembers the iron key he found and - feeling not great about this - offers it to Rin, but holds it when they try to take it.
"Careful. I'll be aiming overtop your head."
Faolan approaches to join them, glancing back once at Dmitri to see if he, too, cares to see what's behind the lock.
<.>