The party regroups to examine the corpses and note that the girls aren't here, as Visento said. The trail is cold, the only hopeful clue to Manon's whereabouts being Calabra's presence in Loch Bien for the centennial.
There isn't much more to be done today; the night ahead is needed for rest and, if they wish, some time spent at the Nightmare Market before they continue north.
Nerys shows the group to a circle of caravans, their interiors containing coffins which, Nerys explains, are no longer occupied. It's a place to have their long rest, safe under the wards and protections used by the undead.
Faolan chooses to string up some canvas as a hammock outside the caravans. Sen is perfectly happy to enter his trance in one of the wagons.
When the party wakes, they find Nerys has sent for their things from the inn, and these each are carefully packed and waiting. Likewise, they find the NIghtmare Market is in full swing; Nerys has left a promissory note for Dmitri for his rewards for finding 'Seddum', as well as a sealed scroll with a new contract.
Faolan's suggestion is that they start making their way towards Loch Bien at first light; the sooner they catch up with Calabra, the sooner they can find Manon.
Sen's suggestion is they avoid Payl's shop until they have some good news they can deliver.
<.>
Dima would be eager to look over the items gathered from the major shitheads of the fight, at least to give them a quick check for magic.
[q: is this a thing he can do before zzz, or better to wait until after? a: He can spend one hour studying specific items to learn their properties, or he can cast Identify if he has it. And he can identify that something IS magic with an arcana check
dm: Sen traces for four hours and could potentially just. Study everything and let him know in the morning. (Note: Sen's trances look suspiciously like being a passed out teenager.) ]
…Dima will begrudgingly. Go to Sen. And request that he examine everything overnight. :/
<.>
Sen examines his nails. "What did you call me?"
<.>
Rin, ps, is sleeping curled up very nearby with Curio.
Dima: "You'll need to be a bit more specific. Certainly nothing you didn't earn.”
Dima is already becoming impatient.
<.>
Sen raises an eyebrow, then stretches and yawns goodness he is so tired maybe he should sleep, after all.
<.>
Dima taking a deep breath.
Letting it out slowly.
"Sen. This will be to your benefit, as well.
"If there's no information to be gleaned from these items, there might at least be gold in them."
<.>
Sen pretends to consider this, then shrugs and smiles. "There might be. I suppose we'll never know, wuh -"
He seems to lurch forward a little, then speaks in the same halting manner as the flesh golem Mykola inhabited previously. "We will help. You help us. A return tide.
"A favor. Kept in our pocket."
And then, with another lurch, he hisses, "Dibs, for fuck's sake. Dibs!"
<.>
Rin, from the depths of sleep, mutters "Dibs!"
Dmitri just stares, blinks. "I would like very much to know who I'm dealing with at any point in time.
"I don't particularly see the use in signing over an unspecified favor for this particular task, nor do I comprehend the cause for your reluctance, save your usual recalcitrance."
He shakes his head, rubs at his temple. "You may keep whatever gold you salvaged from the ruins; is that enough for the time being?"
[q: how much time iS there between Nerys showing them to the caravans and next morning's first light? a: probably a good 12 hours or so. Enough time to long rest, do whatever trade they need at the more mundane Market shops, have a meal]
Dima is running the calculations on how much time he can spare for examining these items, and realizing he is not likely to be able to manage more than maybe one. Which. He is not pleased with.
So after a moment, he'll offer 100gp for examination of the lot.
<.>
Sen considers this, weighs it against the likelihood that Dima will take back the name calling, and accepts.
And - "Mykola wants the die."
<.>
Dmitri looking very, very confused for a moment, and then, with a wave of his hand, "If we can find no use for it, Mykola can have the damned thing.
"Now if you'll excuse me, some of us do require sleep."
And, as he turns to leave, "Thank you, Sen."
He thinks it was very good of him to noT add 'you shithead.'
And Dima will at this point go get his own sleep in another caravan, 100% hanging out in a coffin.
<.>
[loot review! light crossbow: +1 (goes to rin) key: Sen determines that the key does something, but he can't figure out what. It appears to be a skeleton key, but it fails to unlock anything he attempts it on. Whenever Rin would like to attempt to use it, there will be a die check. (goes to rin) die: The die is, Sen discovers, loaded. He (or Mykola) can control which number it lands on. (goes to sen) stone: The ruby is a Ruby of the War Mage. (goes to sen, after fae decides he has no use for it) potions: two potions of healing ring: it’s just a ring.
There was also 54gp so Dima owes Sen and Rin 46 gp.]
<.>
Dima will hand it over there u go.
<.>
Fae teasingly holds out a hand since Dima's handing out money.
<.>
Dima absolutely looking at Fae with a lip-bite smile. And puts his hand in Fae's.
<.>
Fae to Sen: “Ooo I got the better deal.” And pulls Dima into his lap.
<.>
Dima wraps his arms around Faolan's shoulders. "And I am the most fortunate of all."
Now that the gold has been handed over, Dima will also ask if Sen minds terriblY if he takes the crossbow. Since there are plenty of others weapons and yoU have that lovely die.
<.>
Sen shrugs and says it's up to Rin.
<.>
Rin is very busy studying their key. "Pardon, what?"
They think, they put the pieces together, and, "The thing is. I'll get more use out of it. Is the thing." Rin has decided they woulD in fact like the crossbow. "And anyway you can buY one."
To Sen: [ Moneybags. ]
Dima is entirely too pleased to be sitting on Fae's lap to continue with this.
So. He will concede: Rin gets it.
<.>
Fae watching all of this with a baffled expression. "Maybe you can switch off."
<.>
Rin looks Not So Sure about this... But it doesn't hurt to be open to the idea, and anyway they might forget and that'd probably make the whole deal void so! They nod. "Okay."
Dima offers a half-shrug, and determines to search out a crossbow of his own, because it woulD be useful.
[note: on waking, dima examined the new contract scroll from nerys. dm: And the scroll is a request to find an item last seen near Loch Bien; seeing as the party was heading that way, Nerys thinks Dmitri could just. Work that in. The 'item' is a dagger someone rather rudely crafted from a guard's humerus. The guard is sick of the jokes. q: does the contract say who the guard in question is? a: It does nOT. However, Nerys has provided the radius bone that connects, with instructions that it will help them find the dagger. He did not explain how.
note also: nerys did pay out the gold for the completion of the first contract, and dima gives 100gp of the reward each to Fae, Sen, and Rin.]
Dima will acknowledge Sen's earlier suggestion to not speak with Gower until they have good news, but wonders out loud whether it might be worth asking Gower what Calabra or Calabra's fuckhead friends might know or have asked about his daughter and sister.
<.>
Faolan suggests sending Nerys to ask him. It'll be less loaded and Payl needn't know they're there.
[note: Dima and Rin say yes to this.]
<.>
[note: also a thing: Before they left the ruins, Dima would have suggested burning the remainder of Calabra's close cronies, cutting them up if time allowed (which tbh idk that it would and everyone waS tire), and dumping them in the river. Did not want those bodies easily accessible.
Mykola has Issues with dumping them in the river; therefore, so does Sen. But hey. Fae and Dima can burn them, nbd.
VERY nice bonding activity!]
Well with thaT.
Dima would like to find Nerys and see about asking him to speak with Gower. And Dima would like to invite Faolan to accompany him and Liviana through the Market.
<.>
Nerys agrees to speak with Gower to find out what he can, but makes no promises.
Faolan of COURSE goes along, keeps looking at Dima as though he's not quite real, and holds on tightly to his hand.
<.>
Nerys your effort is appreciated.
Dima holding equally tight to Fae's hand, smiling over at him; often with the warm and just a little daft smile; sometimes with that hint of sharpness, hint of teeth and Knowing.
Rin is going to tell Sen and Mykola they should find the friend golem who fought with them and see how said golem is doing!
<.>
They'll find the golem in the fighting pits, its arm reattached. It flips the bird at them as a greeting right before another golem slams bodily into it.
Is there anything specific Dima would like to look for in the market, things that might have caught his eye or that would catch his eye now?
<.>
Rin flips the bird right back before shouting "It's RUDE to interrupt a greeting like that!!"
And Dima! Is on the lookout for other sparkly things that Liv might take a shine to, and writing in Deep Speech or Abyssal, or anything made of particularly odd-looking bone. While keeping far out of sight of Gower's mirror world ofc ofc.
<.>
Fae, hearing he's looking for a sparkly thing for Liv, produces the ring that was taken from Visento; the stone is a tourmaline, refined to a high shine. It would be easy, he says, to pop the stone out so she can keep it however she likes.
<.>
Liv flutters her wings and 'toks' and very pleased 'tok,' and will in fact hop over to Faolan's shoulder for a minute or two in a show of approval! And will in fact also send Fae a telepathic image composed of a sky full of shining stars, all of them the blue of the tourmaline.
She keeps happily rustling her feathers.
<.>
Fae looks quite pleased with himself and Liv's reaction; he assures her quietly that he'll find someone here to do it, or a clever enough jeweler who won't harm the stone in removing it.
<.>
He gets a little nudge from Liv's beak.
And Dima is looking at him with absolute admiration. Dima is in fact also very happy.
no subject
There isn't much more to be done today; the night ahead is needed for rest and, if they wish, some time spent at the Nightmare Market before they continue north.
Nerys shows the group to a circle of caravans, their interiors containing coffins which, Nerys explains, are no longer occupied. It's a place to have their long rest, safe under the wards and protections used by the undead.
Faolan chooses to string up some canvas as a hammock outside the caravans. Sen is perfectly happy to enter his trance in one of the wagons.
When the party wakes, they find Nerys has sent for their things from the inn, and these each are carefully packed and waiting. Likewise, they find the NIghtmare Market is in full swing; Nerys has left a promissory note for Dmitri for his rewards for finding 'Seddum', as well as a sealed scroll with a new contract.
Faolan's suggestion is that they start making their way towards Loch Bien at first light; the sooner they catch up with Calabra, the sooner they can find Manon.
Sen's suggestion is they avoid Payl's shop until they have some good news they can deliver.
<.>
Dima would be eager to look over the items gathered from the major shitheads of the fight, at least to give them a quick check for magic.
[q: is this a thing he can do before zzz, or better to wait until after?
a: He can spend one hour studying specific items to learn their properties, or he can cast Identify if he has it. And he can identify that something IS magic with an arcana check
dm: Sen traces for four hours and could potentially just. Study everything and let him know in the morning. (Note: Sen's trances look suspiciously like being a passed out teenager.) ]
…Dima will begrudgingly. Go to Sen. And request that he examine everything overnight. :/
<.>
Sen examines his nails. "What did you call me?"
<.>
Rin, ps, is sleeping curled up very nearby with Curio.
Dima: "You'll need to be a bit more specific. Certainly nothing you didn't earn.”
Dima is already becoming impatient.
<.>
Sen raises an eyebrow, then stretches and yawns goodness he is so tired maybe he should sleep, after all.
<.>
Dima taking a deep breath.
Letting it out slowly.
"Sen. This will be to your benefit, as well.
"If there's no information to be gleaned from these items, there might at least be gold in them."
<.>
Sen pretends to consider this, then shrugs and smiles. "There might be. I suppose we'll never know, wuh -"
He seems to lurch forward a little, then speaks in the same halting manner as the flesh golem Mykola inhabited previously. "We will help. You help us. A return tide.
"A favor. Kept in our pocket."
And then, with another lurch, he hisses, "Dibs, for fuck's sake. Dibs!"
<.>
Rin, from the depths of sleep, mutters "Dibs!"
Dmitri just stares, blinks. "I would like very much to know who I'm dealing with at any point in time.
"I don't particularly see the use in signing over an unspecified favor for this particular task, nor do I comprehend the cause for your reluctance, save your usual recalcitrance."
He shakes his head, rubs at his temple. "You may keep whatever gold you salvaged from the ruins; is that enough for the time being?"
[q: how much time iS there between Nerys showing them to the caravans and next morning's first light?
a: probably a good 12 hours or so. Enough time to long rest, do whatever trade they need at the more mundane Market shops, have a meal]
Dima is running the calculations on how much time he can spare for examining these items, and realizing he is not likely to be able to manage more than maybe one. Which. He is not pleased with.
So after a moment, he'll offer 100gp for examination of the lot.
<.>
Sen considers this, weighs it against the likelihood that Dima will take back the name calling, and accepts.
And - "Mykola wants the die."
<.>
Dmitri looking very, very confused for a moment, and then, with a wave of his hand, "If we can find no use for it, Mykola can have the damned thing.
"Now if you'll excuse me, some of us do require sleep."
And, as he turns to leave, "Thank you, Sen."
He thinks it was very good of him to noT add 'you shithead.'
And Dima will at this point go get his own sleep in another caravan, 100% hanging out in a coffin.
<.>
[loot review!
light crossbow: +1 (goes to rin)
key: Sen determines that the key does something, but he can't figure out what. It appears to be a skeleton key, but it fails to unlock anything he attempts it on. Whenever Rin would like to attempt to use it, there will be a die check. (goes to rin)
die: The die is, Sen discovers, loaded. He (or Mykola) can control which number it lands on. (goes to sen)
stone: The ruby is a Ruby of the War Mage. (goes to sen, after fae decides he has no use for it)
potions: two potions of healing
ring: it’s just a ring.
There was also 54gp so Dima owes Sen and Rin 46 gp.]
<.>
Dima will hand it over there u go.
<.>
Fae teasingly holds out a hand since Dima's handing out money.
<.>
Dima absolutely looking at Fae with a lip-bite smile. And puts his hand in Fae's.
<.>
Fae to Sen: “Ooo I got the better deal.” And pulls Dima into his lap.
<.>
Dima wraps his arms around Faolan's shoulders. "And I am the most fortunate of all."
Now that the gold has been handed over, Dima will also ask if Sen minds terriblY if he takes the crossbow. Since there are plenty of others weapons and yoU have that lovely die.
<.>
Sen shrugs and says it's up to Rin.
<.>
Rin is very busy studying their key. "Pardon, what?"
They think, they put the pieces together, and, "The thing is. I'll get more use out of it. Is the thing." Rin has decided they woulD in fact like the crossbow. "And anyway you can buY one."
To Sen: [ Moneybags. ]
Dima is entirely too pleased to be sitting on Fae's lap to continue with this.
So. He will concede: Rin gets it.
<.>
Fae watching all of this with a baffled expression. "Maybe you can switch off."
<.>
Rin looks Not So Sure about this... But it doesn't hurt to be open to the idea, and anyway they might forget and that'd probably make the whole deal void so! They nod. "Okay."
Dima offers a half-shrug, and determines to search out a crossbow of his own, because it woulD be useful.
[note: on waking, dima examined the new contract scroll from nerys.
dm: And the scroll is a request to find an item last seen near Loch Bien; seeing as the party was heading that way, Nerys thinks Dmitri could just. Work that in.
The 'item' is a dagger someone rather rudely crafted from a guard's humerus.
The guard is sick of the jokes.
q: does the contract say who the guard in question is?
a: It does nOT. However, Nerys has provided the radius bone that connects, with instructions that it will help them find the dagger. He did not explain how.
note also: nerys did pay out the gold for the completion of the first contract, and dima gives 100gp of the reward each to Fae, Sen, and Rin.]
Dima will acknowledge Sen's earlier suggestion to not speak with Gower until they have good news, but wonders out loud whether it might be worth asking Gower what Calabra or Calabra's fuckhead friends might know or have asked about his daughter and sister.
<.>
Faolan suggests sending Nerys to ask him. It'll be less loaded and Payl needn't know they're there.
[note: Dima and Rin say yes to this.]
<.>
[note: also a thing: Before they left the ruins, Dima would have suggested burning the remainder of Calabra's close cronies, cutting them up if time allowed (which tbh idk that it would and everyone waS tire), and dumping them in the river. Did not want those bodies easily accessible.
Mykola has Issues with dumping them in the river; therefore, so does Sen. But hey. Fae and Dima can burn them, nbd.
VERY nice bonding activity!]
Well with thaT.
Dima would like to find Nerys and see about asking him to speak with Gower. And Dima would like to invite Faolan to accompany him and Liviana through the Market.
<.>
Nerys agrees to speak with Gower to find out what he can, but makes no promises.
Faolan of COURSE goes along, keeps looking at Dima as though he's not quite real, and holds on tightly to his hand.
<.>
Nerys your effort is appreciated.
Dima holding equally tight to Fae's hand, smiling over at him; often with the warm and just a little daft smile; sometimes with that hint of sharpness, hint of teeth and Knowing.
Rin is going to tell Sen and Mykola they should find the friend golem who fought with them and see how said golem is doing!
<.>
They'll find the golem in the fighting pits, its arm reattached. It flips the bird at them as a greeting right before another golem slams bodily into it.
Is there anything specific Dima would like to look for in the market, things that might have caught his eye or that would catch his eye now?
<.>
Rin flips the bird right back before shouting "It's RUDE to interrupt a greeting like that!!"
And Dima! Is on the lookout for other sparkly things that Liv might take a shine to, and writing in Deep Speech or Abyssal, or anything made of particularly odd-looking bone. While keeping far out of sight of Gower's mirror world ofc ofc.
<.>
Fae, hearing he's looking for a sparkly thing for Liv, produces the ring that was taken from Visento; the stone is a tourmaline, refined to a high shine. It would be easy, he says, to pop the stone out so she can keep it however she likes.
<.>
Liv flutters her wings and 'toks' and very pleased 'tok,' and will in fact hop over to Faolan's shoulder for a minute or two in a show of approval! And will in fact also send Fae a telepathic image composed of a sky full of shining stars, all of them the blue of the tourmaline.
She keeps happily rustling her feathers.
<.>
Fae looks quite pleased with himself and Liv's reaction; he assures her quietly that he'll find someone here to do it, or a clever enough jeweler who won't harm the stone in removing it.
<.>
He gets a little nudge from Liv's beak.
And Dima is looking at him with absolute admiration. Dima is in fact also very happy.
<.>