CH. 9: Winter is Coming

[Haahque]

"I still don't get why everyone's so surprised by that. I always knew that we'd have gods again someday, old ones or different ones it was going to happen at some point, why does everyone make such a big deal of it?"

"Thank you Grubnick, I'm pretty sure your god is a better one that that thing that's taken control of this city, so you can be sure your secret is safe with me."

[JadedDM]

Haahqae, Tulbas, Gobax and Felran (Steel Tankard Inn, Room 15)
All three men feel the same sensation at being healed; a strange but non-painful burning sensation that spreads through their bodies, alleviating their pain. Some of the scratches and shallow cuts on Tulbas heal, one of the bite marks on Felran vanishes and one of the arrow wounds on Haahqae diminishes considerably.

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Gobax casts Cure Light Wounds on Tulbas, restoring (1d8): 1 HP. Tulbas' condition improves from near death to critically wounded.
Gobax casts Cure Light Wounds on Felran, restoring (1d8): 1 HP.
Gobax casts Cure Light Wounds on Haahqae, restoring (1d8): 3 HP. Haahqae's condition improves from critically to seriously wounded.

(OOC: Hmm, maybe Sirrion is trying to tell Gobax something with these crappy rolls. )

Kendra Greylock (Golden Thread Tailor shop, Noble district)
"Well, I daresay you'd stand out in just about anything," the tailor says. "But hmm, let me think. Eye-catching, blue and my best dress? Well, it's rather expensive...120 steel pieces, in fact." This is actually four times what Kendra's parents paid for their current house. But the dress he shows her is quite opulent. It's baby blue with gold trim and shows off quite a bit of cleavage while still looking rather classy. Kendra would certainly stand out in it, to be sure.

If this proves to be too much for her, he has several other dresses her size at the more 'reasonable' price of 70 steel pieces. They are of varying design and color, although only one is blue. Kendra would stand out a little, but not as much.

The absolute cheapest dress he has is 'only' 50 steel pieces and is quite simple in design. Kendra would probably not stand out much, if at all in it. At least, not compared to what other people will likely be wearing to the event.

(OOC: I forgot, Kendra gets paid 2 steel a month on the 1st, which is today. I forgot to bring it up when she was at the fort, so we'll just pretend she got her pay while she was there and I've added 2 STP to her inventory.)

Arulia, Ne-Chanz and Shima (Market Street, Merchant district)
The two kender women run past the trio. Arulia steps aside while Ne-Chanz and Shima make false attempts to grab at them as they pass.

Arulia then steps in front of the goblin's path, but this only delays him for a second as he runs around her. "Idiots!" he yells at the three for failing to stop the kender women. He continues to chase after them a bit, but is forced to stop and catch his breath as he women disappear into a crowd of people entirely. Clutching his side, the goblin resumes his pursuit, but at a much slower pace and it's pretty obvious he has no chance of catching them now.

[TristenC]

[Ooc: sonova...]
[Cure Light Wounds] on Tulbas again.

[Chris1234]

As they continue on to the grotty Inn Shima mutters to Arulia, "Did you know them? Or just not keen on the chaser?"

[djhyland]

Arulia shrugs. "I don't know them, but they probably didn't do anything more serious than play a prank or take something small. I'm sure that goblin wants to jail them, at the very least, but that would be like putting a child in jail for not wanting to go to bed or for taking sweets from the counter. It's just how they are, and they don't mean any real harm to most people." She looks back down the street to make sure that the goblin hasn't given up on the chase and returned to harass them instead. "Besides," she continues, thinking of Pen, "The kender that I know are good and noble in their own way, and far better company than most goblins."

[Chris1234]

Shima nods, "I don't really know kender other than by reputation, which is usually unfair. But I'm not too keen on goblins in general. That was a good thing to do though - you seem a good person, Arulia. I really am pleased that I met you."

[HorizonsDream]

Kendra looked over the dresses, more in awe than anything else. At one point and time, she would have never been able to afford any of these dresses. "I really like the baby blue one," she says as she runs her fingers over the fabric. "But I can't afford it." She looks a little crestfallen.

[BishGada]

Astonished by the process itself Tulbas barely pay attention to his improved body condition. The real effect is on his mind. He stares at Gobax with awe, "You hold true divine powers." he whispers, his tone doesn't indicate assured statement, nor a question. "How? I'm so glad the dark one is not the only god returned. Sirrion... pity Raetmal didn't live to see this." tears appears at Tulbas eyes. "He always thought me of the old gods and said they are the only true ones."
Suddenly, a storm of emotions overcome Tulbas. All the grief he had kept inside in the last few weeks overcome him. He falls to his knees, covers his face and cries like a child his chest shivers every now and then.

===========================================================
(OOC: I guess after this 'dramatic' breakdown Tulbas will lose any respect someone from the group might have still kept towards him, but his feelings had to come out at some stage I guess and what better time than revealing true and not evil god after years of only rumors and legends and receiving its help.)

[TristenC]

Shocked at first by the Elf's emotional breakdown, Grubnick can't help but stare a moment. He quickly recovers and moves to one knee beside Tulbas, putting a comforting arm around his shoulder. This one is ready...

You've been through a lot these last few days; occupation, capture, torture, rescue... it's a lot for anyone to handle. I don't know what kept an Elven man like yourself in the city through this, or what you have faced in the past, but I swear this to you. The old gods are real. Sirrion at least has an agent in the city and I suspect others do. I am trying to find ways to work against the Dragon Queen and bolster the courage of those left in the city...

You are not alone anymore.

[djhyland]

"And I'm pleased to meet you, too," Arulia replies, and realizes that she means it.

[spyguy1503]

Ne-Chanz sighs slightly, but being a minotaur it's slightly obvious. "Well," he continues. "Shall we go to the tavern?"

[djhyland]

Arulia nods. "Yes. It's cold out, and I don't want to be around should that goblin come back."

[Chris1234]

"Yes, I agree, let's, without more ado," agrees the dwarf.

[JadedDM]

Haahqae, Tulbas, Gobax and Felran (Steel Tankard Inn, Room 15)
Gobax repeats the prayer over the elf, and this time it heals the rest of his injuries. However, his left ear is still missing; it will take considerably stronger healing to restore that.

=========

Gobax casts Cure Light Wounds on Tulbas, restoring (1d8): 7 HP. Tulbas is now fully healed.

Kendra Greylock (Golden Thread Tailor shop, Noble district)
"Few can," the tailor admits. "I'd certainly be surprised if a soldier could afford it on her salary, despite how well they pay you. Just how short are you? Perhaps we could come to some sort of arrangement..."

Arulia, Ne-Chanz and Shima (Steel Tankard Inn, Common area)
The three reach the ratty looking, dive inn known as the Tankard and step inside at around Fifth Watch. Just as they are entering, a woman wearing a heavy cloak with the cowl up walks past them, exiting.

Sitting by the fire is a somewhat overweight man with a farmer's tan and short, fiery red hair. He rubs his hands by the fire, sometimes blowing into them to keep warm.

At a table by himself is a dark-skinned man engrossed in a thick book. At the table next to him is a handsome fellow with olive skin trying to fix a very broken lute. It looks fairly hopeless. (Arulia recognizes this man as the one who she ran into before; evidently he never did get that lute fixed.)

In the corner sits a young girl, perhaps around 13 years of age, by herself. She is dressed like a peasant and nurses a drink.

Up at the bar is a blonde woman, wearing leathers and has short blonde hair. (She looks a bit familiar to Arulia. Wasn't she with Pen, Kendra and Darga that night when Fizban revealed himself to her?)

At a table in the darkest corner sit four Baaz, drinking and carousing. A single kapak leans against the wall near the door, keeping an eye on things.

One of the barmaids sits on the other end of the bar, apparently on break. The barkeeper, an overweight and balding man, is behind the counter as usual.

[Chris1234]

Shina hangs back, allowing the other pair to take the lead.

(OOC: Is there anyone here, other than the pair he entered with and the bar staff, that Shima recognises?)