Act 3 Scene 2: Coffins and Crowns

[Jenara]

Karl had been standing by the fireplace his face was dark, his eyes circled by black rings. He gives Jerry a nod and approaches, sword at his side, Armor at the ready.

"I will see that this thing is ended. Now." He speaks on approach, offering Mira and Sabrina a nod of the head before addressing the others. "I am ready."

[Chris1234]

"Thanks Karl," Jerry says. "I know this had been hard on you. if i could do more for you, I would."

[TristenC]

[Sorry for the delay, folks. Been a bit under the weather lately, but feeling better now.]

The group breaks the fast and makes their preparations, collecting everything they think they will need for the task at hand. Elsa approaches Sir Karl as Jerry is inquiring after him. Would you like us to try the scroll before we set out, now that you have had a chance to rest?
[Afterwards]

As the party begins to step out, they notice a mule-drawn flat-bed cart with two long covered figures lying in the back. One of the young men who was present at the inn last night sits slumped on a crate, staring blankly. Two other men sit on the front of the wagon, discussing things quietly as the cart begins to pull away.

A pair of town guards with stern expressions flank the door to the inn, and turn their attention to the group as soon as they emerge. Spotting Mira, one of them addresses her.
Vous êtes le Gitane Rouge? Nous avons reçu l'ordre de vous accompagner par le Meistersinger. There is a certain odd tension in the air...

====
So taking a route through upper Skald by the shops and past the Old Kartakan to "The Old Shacks" [14], I take it?

[Jenara]

(replied for Karl in the private thread)

"At your service." Mira answers in Harmonian. "So good of you to come. No one will stop us trying to help with you two around." She smiles sweetly introducing the group in turn. "They from a land far away so they struggle with our language, apart from Merrick and of course you know Sabrina?"

Karl bows and takes position near Mira and Sabrina but not too far from Elsa as well.

[Chris1234]

OOC
Does Jerry know of the scroll cited?
I'm guessing it might be Restoration..
If Jerry has a better chance of succeeding with it than other folks she's happy to try casting from it.
(Also make a donation towards paying for it, although that wouldn't be much as she does't have much just now)

[TristenC]

[Ooc: Yes, Jerry was present at the temple when the party recieved the scroll at the very end of the last campsign day right before the party turned in for the night. It has 2 copies of 'Restoration' on it. Elsa has the best chance of success in the party, but it is still only about 50/50 at her level. Sir Karl donated 50 gp when the cleric offered it as thabks for dealing with the Vampire. If Jerry would also like to have donated, we can retroactively do that off-stage.

I've put the response to Karl's agreement in the Sir Karl private thread.[/ooc]

The guards nod and gesture for her to lead the way.

[Chris1234]

Jerry goes with the guards, slightly in the lead perhaps, controlled urgency showing in her manner. She checks that Merrick is near her.

OOC
The constant checking on Merrick harps back to her most recent dream.
I agree retcon that Jerry paid half her remaining coin towards the scrolls; (details in private thread).

[Jenara]

Mira leads the group clutching Sabrina's hand and not caring who saw. They walk towards the shops. "Remember, get good stuff, pay in advance and stay safe." She explains for the last time as they approach the shops.

"I will. Please. Stay safe." She urges as she turns to enter the shop alone.

[Nocturno]

Pyros dodges the guards maybe more out of habit than necessity. He will quietly head towards the bushes as agreed.
He sure hopes the rest of the group still makes it to the creepy bushes.

[Darithe]

Iscind Aranya

Guards in strange towns always made her nervous, so she smiles prettily and says nothing, not speaking the language made that easy. She checks through her equipment making sure all is at the ready. Shopping without speaking the native tongue would be arduous in any case, so she hopes what she has with her will be sufficient. She mills about outside the shops taking in the sights.

[TristenC]

The group leads on, the guards near Mira and Jerry in the front as they follow. Merrick nods at the other Half-Elf's recent check in. They make their way along the road to the nice shops and hoes near the Grand Hall of Song and Dance, where Mira bids her apprentice happy hunting in her shopping errands. They continue on Northward and the roar of the twin falls grows ever louder as they travel to the river's edge. The roar is incredible, muting all other sounds, and a cloud of mist fills the air at all times. In the center of the bubbling, churning lake (known locally as The Cauldron) stands a natural stone island. Long ago polished to a smooth, rounded form by the raging water it now supports a proud and stately structure: The Old Kartakan Inn.

Pressing on they cross the bridge, wide enough for a horse-drawn cart to cross, to reach the small island. The perpetual fog of The Cauldron's waters hangs heavy about the inn, giving the place an almost supernatural look. Here and there, moving bodies can be seen in the mists. The obscuring properties of this shroud, however, make it difficult to tell if they are human or some form of ghostly apparition. Circumventing the structure they reach the much more modest rope bridge. Mira and Jerry lead them across the shaky bridge north over the bubbling waters of 'the cauldron', and it occurs to some that this is the only route out of town to the North that does not have a toll house...

The area beyond is something of a shantytown. Most of the buildings have a tumble-down look about them, with many being in obvious need of some repair. Even the trees have been taken over, with many supporting shacks and other small wooden structures. The entire area seems strangely deserted and quiet.

One of the more interesting features of this area is its flora. Thin, twisting vines dominate every un-traveled area (and several traveled ones); their tendrils taking hold of every piece of upright timber they can find. Each plant sprouts a few small flowers and a number of berry clusters. The flowers lend a sickly-sweet, almost overwhelming odor to the already humid air.

The normal background noises of a town are lost here, for the thunderous roar of the cascades that pour into the Cauldron mute all but the sharpest of sounds. The mist from the falls makes the air thick and muggy. Dark spots on the soil look like they could be anything from spilt wine to dried blood.

All in all, it is not surprising that the distinct feeling that someone is watching

[Chris1234]

As they pass jerry asks the guard nearest her, "How come no toll house here?"

[Jenara]

"I'm going to start singing, just quietly, don't be alarmed. We are going to check the buildings and the waterfall." Mira moves to the guards, talking quietly.

(Something tells her she should start a counter song, perhaps history just makes her think that way?)

She begins by repeating these lines soft and low.

Verse I
By hearth and hand, by breath and bone,
By names the dark has never known,
We stand where silver truth is drawn,
Unbowed by night, unruled by fawn.

Let tooth and claw remember this:
The hunted heart still knows its kiss.
The beast may howl, the grave may stir—
We yet are more than what they were.

Refrain (soft at first, then firm)
Stand fast, stand fast, and hear me say:
The night is old, but breaks by day.
Steel remembers. Fire knows.
We are not prey—no, we are those.

[Chris1234]

When she catches the tune jerry hums along quietly.

[Revenant]

Esker Manyblades

Esker heard Mira's song but only in his inner mind. His eyes and heart beat to a differing tune. The sound of their feet as they moved forward, and the sound of movement around them, slowly discerning with each step if that movement meant harm to those around him. The eyes followed each shadow that moved or stood in silence searching for forms both malign and harmless. By hearth and hand, by breath and bone... He slowed his pace, meaning to keep to the rear, thinking that the most likely place harm might come. The hunted heart still knows its kiss... He fingered the hilt of his blade, it's touch was comforting as he walked and watched.