Act 3 Scene 2: Coffins and Crowns

[Styrius]

Kybalion rouses from the disturbing dream. He hopes this is all just a dream and he is in his barracks. As he opens his eyes, the nightmare settles in. He is in this gods cursed place with whatever knows what. He has come to realize that here, where that is, he will have to be double-extra careful around women and drink. Something of a cramp in his style. Meanwhile, his belly rumbles and he dresses and gathers his things. He plods trudges to the main room to find the others milling about and looking for someone. Seeing no one eating, servants, or anything looking like a well run inn, he goes to the barkeep and inquires if anyone might be cooking a breakfast and he might have some coffee or tea.

[TristenC]

Karl moves to help with the fire. The bartender shifts out of the way, letting the knight set things up and before long a small blaze is growing. The young man seems utterly wrung out, and stares blankly into the flames. Mira and Pyros ask after the Cleric, but he seems not able to even process the question at first After a few attempts the best they get is a muttered Elsa? a weary shrug and shake of his head.

Mira thinks back to the room, recalling that both the bed and clothes were neatly folded and made up; though Elsa's pack and equipment were missing.


Merrick pulls out the map they procured of Skald and begins pointing out various features. I was thinking about this last night. So we are Here at the Broken Wheel in Upper Skald, He says, marking BW on the map. And here is the trail that Esker, Iscind amd Gregor tracked, all the way to the Grand Hall of Song and Dance. He traces the line in thin red charcoal among the buildings and marks the hall with GH. He takes up a different utensile and begins to mark a trail from the opposite side of the inn. And this is the path the creature took after it turned into mist, as far as we can tell, ending up near or behind the Old Kartakan. The half-elf draws the line along behind the small island at the foot of the falls, marking the popular tavern as 1

Based on what Jerry shared yesterday about how quickly it needed to find its lair after defeat, and given how slowly it was moving, I'd say it is probably not too far from the NorthEast corner of town... There are a few major structures in that area, the Clocktower Mill, he marks a 2 on a rocky spot at the edge of the waterfall, And the Mill-House. he marks a long building by the water 3. Merrick scratches his temple through his dark hair with the blunt end of the stylus. We've already done a cursory look and ask around the Meistersinger's keep... he marks a 4 at the Southeast edge of town. I doubt it would have had time to get there based on the path it took last night, but we didn't check any of the guard towers on the ridge... he says, indicating the white circles along the cliffs above town.

It's also possible the creature is hiding out in this area North of the river. The mage finally marks a 14.
That's where those wine berries are, and where that jerk bartender attacked us. There are lots of old shacks and stuff out there, and it was pretty abandoned... Gregor chimes in.
Merrick nods, with a considering sound. Most of the rest of the buildings on this side of town are wealthy residences or well-to-do shops. Not sure how much luck well have with those... He finishes


As the discussion continues and others muse over finding Elsa, Mira begins to lead Sabrina to the kitchen to pitch in by starting breakfast. Just as she reaches out to push the swinging door, it bursts towards her with a bang! The Bard and her apprentice have to step lively to avoid being struck. They quickly find themselves face-to-face with the Halfling Cleric, one foot still raised from booting the door open. Elsa's wavy blonde hair is tied up with a checkered scarf and matching apron that hangs nearly to the floor. She hugs a deep wooden bowl absolutely full of the fluffiest scrambled eggs she has ever seen with one arm, and the other supports a wide platter of sausage links, bacon and blood-pudding.

I thought I heard people up and about. I couldn't sleep so I came down early, but it was so cold and bleak I thought I'd make myself busy. Besides, 'A morning with no breakfast is no morning at all!' As my old Gam-Gam used to say. She adds with a wide grin. Beyond, Mira can see that Elsa's pack and gear are propped by one of the cabinets. The buttermilk biscuits are almost ready, and I just finished the gravy. It was my old gaffer's recipe. He was a wizard at it. she continues, setting the serving vessels down on an unused table. The Coffe and Tea are ready. The butter is on the counter, I think I saw some honey, and there might be some preserves in the cabinet for the biscuits. She adds


====
BW = Broken Wheel
GH = Grand Hall of Song and Dance
1 = The Old Kartakan Inn
2 = The Clocktower Mill
3 = The Mill-House
4 = The Meistersinger's keep
14 = The Old Shacks
-The red trail was discovered following tracks from the site of Laisa's demise
-The blue trail follows the path the vampire took after being reduced to mist

[Nocturno]

"Elsa! AND Breakfast! Perfect." Pyros rushes and helps set the table, and grabs the butter and honey.
=============================================================================================
Cross looks pleased to see Elsa turn up.
"Fenrir, do you need some food?"

[Jenara]

Mira physically sags with relief, her whole body relaxes as she sees her friend. "If you weren't holding a tray I'd pick you up and hug you so hard!" Mira sighs and her face lights up.with the sight of food.

"Here let me take that." She decides taking the bowl.

"I will take plate." Sabrina speaks in her best elven, the words still slightly rusty. And before Elsa can complain they bring them into the commons.. Mira lays down the jug and true to her word.she hugs her friend.

"Breakfast." Sabrina offers. Once again trying Elven, she speaks the musical way Mira does rather than the flat Elven of the locals.

"My guess would be the Mill or the Tower. Why would it go pass the hall if it was down by the shacks?" She Mira asks as she looks at the map.

[Jenara]

Karl done.with the fire joins the others on the table, pouring over the map he nods in agreement.

"Lady Elsa." He bows to her and offers a smile. "Esker? What do you think? I'm no tracker, I am ashamed to admit I once got lost in a tower. Although it was the High Clerists tower, which is somewhat of a maze"

[Jenara]

Sabrina will approach the Barman with a friendly smile. "Hello. What needs to be done. I can help. If you will let me. Where would I find an apron?"

[Chris1234]

Jerry looks at Mira, "I take you mean the Clocktower or the MillHouse?" She turns and says, "I'll take a plate of that, please. I'll get it in a moment. Yes, that was aimed at you, Pyros. leave me a plateful." Jerry addresses Mira again, "In my dream last night, and previously, it has referred to me a Jerry-berry. I'm wondering if that is a projected conection to the berries around the Old Shacks.."

[Jenara]

"Then if that's where you think it is. That's where we go. You are the expert here. Hells I didn't even know these things existed." Mira answers, putting her hand through her hair..

"What do you think? Could it have laid false trails to put us off the path?" She asks, her gaze at Esker. "Nightmares?" She asks seeing his face.

[Darithe]

Iscind Aranya

The raven blocked her vision, one she hoped to never see in reality. "A nightmare," she whispered in the bed of her room, "or a portent of things to come." Undoubtedly an omen of some sort or the All-Father would not have sent her the vision, repugnant though it was. She leapt from bed and hurriedly dressed to the sound of voices below. Grabbing her sword in its scabbard and her shield she bounded down the stairs, ravenous...she thought in more ways than one. At the sight of Esker alive she ran to him and pulled him him close, "Brother I thought for a moment I had lost you." Then stepping back, she slapped him hard across the cheek, "Wake up laggard, there is work to be done." She waves to the server, "Tea, a hot and bitter brew to wake my shield brother form his stupor." She looks to the others, "And what is our plan to catch this devious night crawler?"

[Jenara]

"Good morning." Mira smiles weakly. "I'd say they get better but..." She shudders looking over at the blonde Sabrina, remembering her teeth biting into her.. "But they don't."

"That's what we were thinking about, Jerry knows more about this than I ever will and.. I was asking Esker if he thought it could have laid a false trail to get us to look in the wrong place?" She asks the Ranger.

[Revenant]

Esker Manyblades

Esker lost in the thoughts of his brother, shakes those memories from his mind. "Yes, bad nightmares...but they are just the whimsies of thought, no matter how malevolent, born of the Nightlands," he pauses thinking over the other question asked of him. "The leech is fiendishly clever, so it would likely leave a false trail meant to lead us astray. But you cannot afford to leave any stone unturned when seeking a maggot like this."

[Jenara]

"I wouldn't discount them blindly. Dreams led me to Pyros and Elsa." Mira explains, "Dreams in this place are.. they have meaning as far as I can tell. Some are warnings, some play on your own fears, and some. They might just be the clue we are looking for."

"So I say we go back to the shacks, if it's a dead end we go to the Mill. We have till nightfall?" She asks Jerry.

[Chris1234]

"Works. I don't recall it being validated but I think, suspect really, that when the creature's body collapses through damage and fogs, the cloud is drawn to one of it's refuges," Jerry speculates. "I think it doubling back and so forth is unlikely. Might be wrong, but that's my opinion. So, recap: wooden stakes and mallet, garlic, holy water, fire, appropriate holy symbols presented forcefully by believers. Magic weapons can damage it, but those wounds heal quickly."

[Nocturno]

Pyros stops peeling the garlic to add to the eggs.
With a mouth full. "The berry patch is definitely dirty smelly and bloody. Remember the note, to feed the bushes?"

[Chris1234]

"Not really. What did it say, Pyros?" Jerry asks.