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[Within the group only Merrick is truly Fluent, aside from Sabrina, Mira's apprentice, who is Native and off to her waitressing job for now. Mira herself has a good grasp ("conversational-plus" we'll call it)

However it would be soon understood that most Merchants or Proprietors speak Elven, as it is the trade language of the neighboring kingdom. Likely when speaking to someone of authority in an established business Elven will be at least rudimentarily understood. There are odds for any random citizens also speaking Elven as well, but they are case-by-case (dm roll). Filling the 'Harmonian' language to 85% would be like... conversational-plus. Taking lessons for weeks and spending an nwp would be considered nearly Fluent, but not Native.]

Interior of The Broken Wheel inn: (Cross, Gregor, Iscind, Jerry, Merrick)
Merrick blinks at Jerry's comment, but thumbs his chin thoughtfully. Yes.. I suppose i will need a new book myself before too long. I can always try to persuade Serath to bind it at-cost... Very well, deal. Consider it 175 towards the pages of my next book. he grins, passing her the amount discreetly. Merrick calls to one of the waitresses nearby in perfect Harmonian for a round of adult ciders. Soon the warm aroma of spiced apples fills the space near those still at the tables with the heady scent of soothing draught.

If/when Gregor mentions his intent to learn the local language, Merrick will muse a bit. Well, if you speak Elven it shouldn't be too difficult to pick it up with attentive study; provided you find a tutor. I myself learned it from my cousin Serath who has lived here for years. I suppose, if you like, I could begin to teach you some as I have with the rest of the group.' he finishes, congenially. [Basically being in town or near Merrick is the reason everyone gets 1% a day for free, but if one spends 1d4+3 weeks and a nwp they can become Fluent]

Cross, the white-haired elf raises his mug to their companion as similar vessels are placed before Gregor, Iscind and Jerry. Fenrir, the taller than average raven ruffles it's feathers as if eager to be out of doors.


Exterior of The Broken Wheel inn: (Del, Elsa, Esker, Karl, Mira, Pyros, Sabrina)
Sir Karl says his peace and moves off to the sturdily built stables, where he finds Bayard already fed, blanketed from the night and well cared-for by a tow-headed youth of no more than eight summers who seems to be missing his front teeth.

Arrows? the Halfling Cleric muses, in response to Esker's comment. I've never personally had a use she says, patting her sling, but I think Artanis, an old friend of ours, used to get his in Lower Skald near the Saw-Mill.

Del announces her intentions to find a seedier area of town, and Elsa nods. Lower Skald, to the west, is probably your best bet. Maybe near the wharves and the sawmill... I got some bad vibes, and the sense of being watched, from our short walk through that area.

Mira and Sabrina distance themselves from the others and head towarss the Glass Eye. Feeding bushes'? The waitress asks, before blushing with some unspoken thought. No, I've never heard anyone phrase something like that... are you sure the words were right? she asks her mentor.

A block or two later she looks around nervously but speaks. I don't think 'stealing men' was what the boy meant... Sabrina mutters. She hesitates and finally comes out with it. Ok. It's only since like after we met, but then you and your friends disappeared for a few days and.. well... with all the wierd killings and everything...some people think it has something to do with you... or your friends because of... the waitress stops herself, seemingly thinking she has gone too far.

They find the shop, ere long, and Chales greets them in the usual jovial fashion. (Private thread if you are looking for extended discourse/ etc while walking Sabrina to work. Otherwise, he will have a servicable Lute and general adventurer equipment among his other curios.)

Karl doesn't reply to Del, she had made it clear she didn't want someone watching over her, so instead he gives his mount attention like any good Knight would. He knew he couldn't talk to the boy, instead he points at the boy, then Bayard, then back to the boy. Giving (what he hoped) universal sign for well done (Thumbs up) he slips the boy a few copper and smiles.

"Thank you." He explains in Elven, and rubs the horse on the flanks, taking a few moments to check each hoof for any loose stones that may have collected from the road.

With no response from the kid, Pyros will head back inside.
Walk over to the bar, and ask in Elven, quietly.
"What happened to the poor soul outside?"

"Thank you, dear," Jerry says as she accepts Merrick's donation. "You want to escort me to the shop? It feels, well, unsafe, wandering around with this amount of money. Especially with people being killed like they are!"

Del thanks Elsa "Thanks for that information it will come in handy. Yes, most unsavory areas have hidden sentries and scouts

spying the area for easy marks and maybe even better marks. You should get back now, before I head out, I don't want you to get into trouble.



Looking at the two men she awaits a reply before heading out.

Interior of The Broken Wheel inn: (Cross, Gregor, Iscind, Jerry, Merrick, Pyros)
Cross turns to Gregor and Iscind. So, any plans for the day?

Pyros re-enters the inn and moves over to the bar area. Finding the young bartender that he knows speaks Elven, he begins to ask about the murder outside. Another one of those horrible murders. he shakes his head. Poor Janice found it this morning on her way back to the inn. She's understandably distraught. He glances at the rest of the party at the table with concern. This close to the inn... i mean, right outside... there are a lot of people here worried... This girl was just like the ones before. Throat shredded, hardly any blood left, and... well, you know... the resemblance.... he says, tilting his head towards the others.

Merrick agrees to walk with Jerry to the shop as the pair rise and step outside...


Interior of The Broken Wheel inn: (Del, Elsa, Esker, Jerry, Merrick)

Alright, Elsa relents. I don't really know that world too well and I don't want to hinder your search. Del sees that Karl has gone to the stables, though Esker remains. (If you want, Del can continue on and we'll let Rev decide later if Esker is joining her)

Jerry and Merrick emerge from the inn to find Del and Elsa in conversation with Esker nearby. The blonde Mystran's eyes move instantly to the bloody smear, and the sense of being disconnected from her body comes over her. Just then the boy scrubbing away looks up, and his mouth opens in shock. Shaking it off quickly he stammers unintelligibly while scrambling backwards before breaking into a run down the nearby alley...

Time seems to stop for Jerry, and the haunting scene plays again in her mind's eye...

I’ve been looking for you for a while now… where did you run off to, hmm? Ah, no matter… A sickening squelch-crack! rips from the helpless girl’s neck as the creature forces the dagger-sharp fingers of its free hand into her eyes and pries the head back at an unnatural angle.

Come… join me for a drink! Without further preamble the creature sinks it’s fangs into the dying stranger’s throat, gorging on the crimson lifeblood spilling forth. With an almost primal fear, Jerry staggers backwards against the doors of the inn. Scrambling blindly for the latch, her eyes remain transfixed...

...have a taste! the figure offered as it flung the helpless corpse of the girl a half-dozen paces to tumble broken like some discarded doll in the center of the street...

The center... of.. the street... precisely where the half-cleaned bloody smear remained in the waking world before her... With a gasp, suddenly Jerry is in full control of her faculties again.

"Mystra preserve me!" exclaims Jerry. Feeling pale she looks at Merrick. Still holding onto his arm she asks quietly, "Merrick, this is importnat. What, just now, did you see or perceive?"

***
After hearing her boyfriend's reply she asks, again quietly, "Humour me, please, and in all honesty, have any of your bad dreams actually impinged, impacted on this actual world we're living in?

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OOC: @Tristan - Where exactly was the 'scrubbing boy' looking when he became terrified?

[Ooc]The boy was looking right at Jerry.[/Ooc]

See? Merrick asks, confused. Are you ok? I mean, there's a lot of blood here, but they're cleaning it up... or were. he frowns. I don't like it happening this close to the inn, though... He muses about the dreams. Well, there were some things... like the crown. It was exactly like in the dream when we found it. And I've heard Mira talk about seeing each of us in her dreams before we met... but... why, what happened in yours? You look like someone walked over your grave...

She holds on tight, "Let's move away, towards the shop."

Without other ears flapping she tells him of her nightmare and, "...I've only just realised theese muder victims, the women, thay all resemble me. Last night's bad dream, well, it ended exactly as this last murder, right down to the poor girl's position on the steps. Have you heard the like before? Even if the locals never talk about it? You know you can tell me.. anything!"

[OOC] Since Gregor left in the morning to resupply (and returned) without noticing a dead body or pool of blood, I'm going with a total fail on his rolls for alertness and observation - guess he was too concerned about finding a new supply of absinthe to notice the previous night's event. That or the cleanup was already underway and he just ignored it.

I was out a bit this mornin to grab a few things but didn't go far, Gregor replies to Cross. Thinkin' I'll head out and check the town a bit more now, he adds as he heads for the door. On the way he catches a bit of Pyro's conversation with the young bartender and pauses to listen in on the discussion. I was out earlier and saw nuthin but that may be me bein blind, he mentions. What time did the lass come on it?

'Thanks Elsa, you're a good person. I'll see you later, ok? Tell Karl I didn't want him to come with me because I couldn't accomplish

anything there if he was with me."

Turning to Esker she nods and they head out towards their destination . "You're sure you want to go to see the

seedy side of Harmonia?. That is what I am going to do, Esker."

Esker Manyblades

Esker grins, "To know a town, its best to visit it's poorest, vilest section, the underbelly as it were, only then do you see its truest form. I know I have the look of a fair innocent lad wet behind the ears, but that is merely a facade hiding an even more innocent lad even wetter behind the ears. I'll let you lead lest they mistake me for a choirboy."

"Well that is odd! Seems like a new mystery!!" He will put his hands on his hips.

He will also listen to Gregor. "I will come exploring. I want to ask around about these names anyway. I can help. I find most people here speak Elven, and you can probably help me. Since most folks think I'm a kid..."

Revenant wrote: ↑Fri Nov 03, 2023 1:34 pm Esker Manyblades

Esker grins, "To know a town, its best to visit it poorest, vilest section, the underbelly as it were, only then do you see its truest form. I know I have the look of a fair innocent lad wet behind the ears, but that is merely a facade hiding an even more innocent lad even wetter behind the ears. I'll let you lead lest they mistake me for a choirboy."

Del looks at Esker with a renewed respect. This may prove to be most interesting, indeed she thinks to herself.

As they walk she speaks to Esker, slipping in a few words here and there of a different kind, gauging the lads reaction.

"Esker I will never judge you, no matter what you look like. You seem a decent gentleman. Now tell me, in all honesty. I need to

know. As you are accompanying me with no fear, it appears, might I take this to mean you are not averse to deaing with less than honest people?"

OOC TristenC and Revenant you have pm's

towards Lower Skald (Delsenora, Esker)
Del and Esker set out to the west across the well-cobbled streets of Upper Skald. The buildings are spacious and clean of plaster and beam construction. Lawns and small gardens accent the neighborhoods, though in this cool pre-spring weather nothing is budding yet; an odd juxtaposition to the aging summer in their homelands. Perhaps the glance of guard or commoner lingers longer than one might be accustomed to, but nothing overtly hostile. [area 13]

The road eventually leads them to a once-mighty hexagonal wall, and through a tended iron-bound oak gate; though the guards make no move to stop they or any of the other dozens of people filtering through at this hour. Just outside they see the city wall is part of an older construction, and a separate gate leads to Lower skald. The older area, no longer maintained, speaks of a once-mighty hexagonal fortress. The portion no longer connected to the 20 ft city walls is almost eerie in its . There is a presence of long and honorable duty. When the wind blows, one can almost hear the marching of troops and orders of officers... if ever a place seemed right for ghosts, this is it. [area 6]

Passing through the gate across the yard, the two soon find themselves in Lower Skald. This section of town ranges from slum areas near the river and walls to a nice park surrounded by clean, well-kept shops in the very center. People are briskly going about their chores and you can hear workers singing off in the distance from several directions. Sheep are being herded along the main street that leads from the Old Fortress to the Kartakan Road. It is somewhat curious that you never seem to come across the source of the distant singing. Those nearby seem to hedge a little away from the pair, though they do not stand out too much.

===

Del will be able to tell that Esker has some skill in stealth, but doesn't quite understand the thieve's cant