Vengeance of the Heart

[CM]

After a moment of silence, Mursalin gets impatient. "Well? Is anybody gonna answer the question or should I have the lot of you locked up for the fight?"

[Rudar Dimble]

After some hesitation Gurdio decided to tell his story. He took a deep breath, filling his small gnomish lungs with fresh air, and started:

“I think I’d better tell you the story, if I don’t want to go where those barbarians are now.” Gurdio was quiet for a moment; he looked around to see whether he got everyone’s attention. He had it, as usual.

“It all started two months ago when I was in the Green Griffon Inn near the city of Port Llast. I did my show there, which was pretty similar to the one I just did here. Nothing was wrong, nice crowd, some beautiful ladies and the best ale of Sword Coast”. The bartender looked a bit angry with Gurdio. “The second best ale”, said Gurdio and he smiled at the bartender, who seemed satisfied with the correction.

“As I was saying, everyone was ok. But in the end I made my remarks on humans and there was one fellow in the back of the inn that was angered by that. I didn’t notice it at first, so after I was finished I drunk an ale or three and I went upstairs to my room. At the moment I entered the room, a bag was thrown over my head and three or four guys were punching and kicking my everywhere they possibly could hit me. After a minute or three I was knocked unconscious and when I woke up I was alone, but still in my room.

At first I didn’t knew who ordered those guys to beat me up, but after a small talk with the innkeeper, I knew that it was a man named Frederick Simons, a very wealthy man, who lives near the Neverwinter Woods. I decided to play a little game with the poor old bastard. I made sure everybody knew I would perform again the next evening. The news reached its goal, the Neverwinter Woods.

That night mister Simons was in the crowd again, probably checking if I still made my remarks on humans. But I didn’t. Instead of cracking jokes I caste a spell. I let one illusionary dragon attack Frederick Simons. Just for a few seconds. Then I let the dragon disappear again. The dragon has only been in the inn for a second or five, but it was long enough for mister Simons to wet his pants, making him look like a fool in front of the entire audience.

Ever since then he tries to kill me, but he never succeeded, not even tonight.”

[Rob-hin]

The door of the Inn opened up and allowing the rain to blow in. In the opening stood the young woman, soaking wet and dripping all over the floor. “Come in quickly!” shouted Harnan. “It’s raining inside!”

Not even bothering to closing the door, she slowly made her way towards the bar, making a huge impact as she did. Everybody inside stopped what they were doing and looked at her as she walked by. Her shoes made soggy noises as she walked and she left a trail of mud behind her; Harnan muttered to himself a bit since he had to clean the place up again.

After sitting down at the bar, she commanded to Harnan: “Wine and food, now. And clean up a room for me.” Somehow Harnan felt himself unable to resist. “Of course my lady. I’ll get right on it.”

The atmosphere had taken a nose dive after the fight, and had just gotten worse. The whole Inn was silent, with only a cough here and there once in a while. She was the centre of attention, and she didn’t like it one bit.

“What are you looking at?”

Nervously, people turned around on their chair and started talking to each other on a soft tone; hoping she couldn’t here what they were talking about.

Satisfied, she turned back around. Harnan had just placed her food and wine on the bar in front of her. “Enjoy your meal my lady.” Paying no attention to Harnan, she started eating; her hunger made her forget all her table manners and one could notice she hadn’t eaten for days.

[Tybaltus]

Acolytus acknowledged the gnome’s story. “Sounds like a bit of miscommunication that has accumulated into chaos…typical,” Acolytus took a giant swig of ale when the strange woman made her way in the inn.

“Wine and food, now. And clean up a room for me.” Somehow Harnan felt himself unable to resist. “Of course my lady. I’ll get right on it.”

Acolytus stared at her undivided attention. Greppun looked up to his master, and nudged him on the side, as if trying to break a spell that has been put on him.

“What are you looking at?” Said the strange woman.

Acolytus broke his attention and looked at, the, now frantic, Greppun. “Whats the matter, friend?” Acolytus swayed his hand through the fur on Greppun’s back.

Acolytus shook his head as if the woman had put a spell on him and it had worn off. “This is not good…I sense…” Acolytus paused. “No…no….no,” whispered Acolytus.

Acolytus stared to the open door, and it seemed so inviting. Temptation leaned on Acolytus. It is obvious he realized there was something not right with this traveling woman. The door grew closer and closer in his mind. Fleeing from this disturbance and returning to the grove was a few steps away. And yet, Acolytus couldn’t take those steps. Something was keeping him here. Something was keeping Acolytus in the presence of the other wanderers.

“Grrrr… RAUGH! RAUGH!” The hollering of Greppun broke Acolytus’ stare at the doorway. Concern grew on Acolytus eyes and his focus was diverted back to his half empty mug of ale.

[CM]

Mursalin was about to comment on the gnomes story, when the door burst open and in the opening stood the young woman, soaking wet and dripping all over the floor. “Come in quickly!” shouted Harnan. “It’s raining inside!”

Mursalin watched her somewhat bewitched. He was aware he was staring at her and he couldnt stop himself. As she said “What are you looking at?”, the trance broke. He had no clue what had happened, just that he was bewitched by her prescene. Something he did not like at all.

Instinctively Mursalin moved quickly to the hungry maiden to see if he could be of any assistance and to further investigate the source of the bewitchment.

[Magus]

The door of the Inn opened up and allowing the rain to blow in. In the opening stood the young woman, soaking wet and dripping all over the floor. “Come in quickly!” shouted Harnan. “It’s raining inside!”

The inn grew silent. Curious, Magus glanced over at the newcomer as she walked by. The glance soon became a stare. What was it about her that held his gaze, as if by compulsion? She was beautiful…yes. But no…that wasn’t it. It was something else. It was the dark shadow that seemed to cling to her like a cloak. A cloak…of death. The sudden insight surprised as much as it unnerved him. But he hadn’t come this far by ignoring intuition. Whatever the reason, this woman was trouble—that was for sure.

A sharp poke in the eye brought him back to his senses. Celestia hovered in front of him, looking annoyed, and a little frightened. Embarrassed, he held out his hand for her to land on. “What do you sense?” he whispered.

The little pixie settled down a little. “Don’t like her, not at all. She scary. Very scary. Think we should be leaving this place,” she said in her soft little voice. She shivered.

Magus wanted to agree, but something deep inside wouldn’t let him walk away. He had to know. He wouldn’t leave until he knew what was going on.

His eyes on the dark-clad woman, he muttered a cantrip to detect evil.

As he finished the spell a flash of lightning illuminated the room, followed by a tremendous thunderclap. Seconds later, a ragged-looking man holding a book stumbled through the doorway. He fell to the ground and lay still. He was smoldering. The book lie next him, dry and untouched.

Magus grimaced. It seemed his guest had arrived…

[Rob-hin]

Mursalin disturbed the woman as she was eating, and just when she was about to send him away; one way or another, she felt a release of energy aimed at her… nearby, in this every room… Sensing for it’s origin, she didn’t pay much any attention to the man stumbling through the doorway. A quick glare at it was enough to determine its insignificance.

Aggressively she rose from her chair and looked across the room, her eyes rapidly jumping from one point to another; until her eyes saw a man dressed in blue, he seemed to be hiding something in his pocket. Seconds she stood there, observing this man; looking for any indications that it was him who had released the magical energy. He had a magical aura and the appearance of a man familiar with the arts of magic.

Uncomfortably Magus sat in his chair trying to look casual as he could, awaited the effect of his spell. The result confused him, as he felt a great evil within this woman, but he also felt good. As if something drove her to being this way, something powerful and more intense then she could or wanted to resist; it was unlike anything he had felt before. Even though he was confused, he struggled to keep his cool and not to stand out of the crowd.

Tired of searching, she stopped and relaxed. “It matters not; tell them of your findings for all I care. It can not, will not save them from my wrath. Hah, if they can not stop me themselves, what chance do you think you have?”

She made her way towards the door of the Inn, once there she kicked the body out of her way, only to turn around afterwards. As she stood there in the opening of the door, it was obvious to all that she had vengeance on her mind… vengeance on a massive scale. “I’ll rest on my way then. Don’t follow me, and don’t try to stop me. Next time I won’t be so.. nice.”

Luaghing loudly she stepped into the darkness of the night; it made it impossible for anybody to find her out there right now.

Harnan stood uncomfortably behind his bar, as if he knew something.

[Aegis]

The sudden change in weather only hastened the pace of Lilth and Ae'siir. They both knew that avoiding the onslaught of rain would be impossible, and did little to shield themselves when it did. Instead, as the first drops of the cool liquid fell from the skies, they merely continued their pace. As they walked, the beads of water seemed to roll off the leather curiess of both elves, tracing the fine curves of Lilth, and the defined build of Ae'siir. Lilt continued her care-free walk, seemingly ignoring the rain, still holding the same mischeivous grin that had become part of her image. Behind her, Ae'siir followed, a similar, emotionless exterior being presented to the world about him.

They had long since entered the hilly region of Umar, and had followed the path along, and the lights of the Umar Inn were now in sight of the pair. Sloshing through the last few meters of mud and water, the came to the doors of the Inn. Ae'siir cast a knowing glance towards Lilth, as if her telling her to mind her behaviour. Lilth shrugged in response, and gave her shoulder a brief squeeze.

Ae'siir then made a grab for the handle of the door, but as he came close to it, the large wooden door crept open on it's own. The light seemed to flood out into the empty, dirt streets of the town, leaving Ae'siir and Lilth looking into the silhouette of a woman. Ae'siir stepped off to the side of the door, in order to allow the woman to leave. She seemed to have been leaving the commons in a sense of commotion, albeit a dulled one. As the woman passed Ae'siir and Lilth, she cast both a glance from the corner of her eyes. For a breif moment, time seemed to stop for the pair of elves, the only movement was that of the woman drifting by them as if caught in some sort of time-delay. As fast as the feeling came, it passed, and Ae'siir turned his head to follow the womans path back into the rainy weather, and into the darkness. The gentle touch of Lilth beckoning him into the warmth of the inn snapped his mind back. Somewhat dazed, he hesitated one last look at the darkened figure of the woman, then turned, and accompanied Lilth into the Inn.

It was a few seconds before Harnan realized that the pair had stepped in, still being distracted by the scene the woman had created only moments before. When he finally noticed the elves, he stammered and returned to his regular duties, trying to look as if nothing happened.

"What'll it be?" He said professionaly, then muttered under his breath "Least they ain't the damned woman again..."

"Nothing." Ae'siir said to the bartender, and continued to follow Lilth's lead to a table by the fire.

Both sat down, glancing breifly to the fire. Beads of water fell from their matted hair, their leather cuiress' seemed to have become tighter to their bodies, and their clothing clung needily to their elven frames. Lilth took her long, black hair in both hands, and swinging it about her shoulders, she rung the loose moisture out, and to the floor. Ae'siir only pushed his hair back, over his forehead, and let it hang in the warm air to dry. Both seemed unconcerned with the mixed stares and low murmers that seemed directed towards them.

[Magus]

Aggressively the dark woman rose from her chair and looked across the room, her eyes rapidly jumping from one point to another; until her eyes settled on Magus. Seconds she stood there, observing him; looking for any indications that it was he who had released the magical energy.

Uncomfortably Magus sat in his chair trying to look casual as he could, awaited the effect of his spell. The result confused him, as he felt a great evil within this woman, but he also felt good. As if something drove her to being this way, something powerful and more intense then she could or wanted to resist; it was unlike anything he had felt before. Even though he was confused, he struggled to keep his cool and not to stand out of the crowd.

For a brief split second their eyes met, revealing what the simple spell could not; in her eyes burned the fire of vengeance, hot and smoldering as it consumed her very soul…

At last she looked away, and after a few cryptic announcements, she left, leaving Magus to ponder what had transpired. Her words lingered in his mind. It can not, will not save them from my wrath, she had said.
Who was she, and what was she up to?

He wondered what he should do. He was tempted to let the matter pass. After all, he was no paladin. Curious by nature, he nonetheless knew that sometimes it was wise to mind one’s own business. He knew well that meddling in other’s affairs could only result in a knife in the back down the line…

Yet he felt that this was a matter that couldn’t just be ignored. After careful consideration, he decided it was worth looking into. The barkeep looked like he might know something.

But first, to retrieve what he’d been waiting here for. Without a word, he rose from the table and walked toward the door. He stopped by the body of the ragged man sprawled in a heap on the floor, wisps of greasy smoke still emanating from singed hair and tattered rags. He kneeled down and checked for a pulse. Nothing. He shook his head, sadly but without remorse, and picked up the book that lied next to him.

“Should have put it in a better place,” Celestia admonished him, crawling out of her hiding place to get a better look. Perched in his lap, she watched intently as Magus flipped through the spellbook. She was absolutely fascinated by her master’s magic, and they often had long discussions where Magus explained the theory and execution of each the many spells he had collected over the years. Though Magus didn’t realize it, she secretly wanted more than anything to be able to weave magic just like her master. Often, when he wasn’t looking, she would try to imitate the spells she had seen her master cast, trying her very hardest to make the wonderful things appear for her like they did for her master.

“Yes. I suppose you’re right.” Satisfied that everything was in order, Magus closed the book and tucked it in his robe, where it promptly disappeared. Disappointed, Celestia climbed back into her pocket as Magus rose and returned to the table, sitting down calmly as if nothing had happened.

He took a sip from his wine glass and looked around the table as a pair of elves entered the inn. “So, what do you gentleman make of the young woman that just passed through?” he asked pleasantly, as if it were typical dining conversation. If he noticed the elven pair walk by, he didn’t show it.

[Tybaltus]

Acolytus paid no attention to the wanderers that entered the inn; there seemed to be something more on his mind.

“So, what do you gentleman make of the young woman that just passed through?” Magus asked pleasantly, as if it were typical dining conversation. If he noticed the elven pair walk by, he didn’t show it.

Acolytus’ already cold face grew sterner. At that moment, he dropped his ale on the table, threw his cloak over his head and made a fast walk towards the door. Greppun quickly followed. On the threshold of the doorway, Acolytus stopped suddenly. He quickly peered to the right. His muscles eased, but in a disappointed manor. Acolytus knew the woman was gone. Relaxed, he looked toward his left.

“THWACK!”…In a flash, something had leapt onto Acolytus from the left. Acolytus fell straight to the wet grass as his legs gave way from the mysterious leaping creature. Greppun, in confusion, leapt at the creature that had attacked Acolytus. Acolytus threw a punch at the creature, trying to push it away. The creature, discouraged it was now out numbered, attempted to bring Greppun down. Acolytus reached for his spear, which lay inches away from him on the ground. With the rain pouring, it was very difficult to make out what the creature was and where anything was. The creature dug its teeth into the chest of Greppun. Greppun, in pain, still attempted to push back the creature. Acolytus knew this gave him an opportunity for an attack. With the butt of the spear, he hit the chest area of the creature. The creature grimaced and howled as it was pushed back by the blow. Acolytus twirled the spear so that the head of the spear now pointed at the creature. In the darkness that befell Umar in the rain, it was difficult to see, but the light illuminating from the inn made it possible to make out a sketchy body part that appeared to be its head. Acolytus noticed this, and jammed the head of the spear down the throat of the creature. The creature gave a cry of pain before it fell limp on the wet grass.

Acolytus sighed and stood up. He saw his friend had taken a bit of damage, and was breathing harder then usual, but was still standing and ready to protect his master and friend. Acolytus quickly ripped a piece of his shirt so he could bandage the cuts on Greppun’s chest. “Ah, good…but a few scratches. You’ll be fine.”

Acolytus, in desperate curiosity, dragged his sudden foe towards the doorway of the inn so that the light could show what type of foe this was. Acolytus looked down at the dead body.

“Worg,” Acolytus said with anger.

[Rob-hin]

“Are you alright?” As Acolytus looked up, he saw Gurney standing in the door opening casually, looking back at him his hands in his pockets and his ballist on his back. “That was a pretty though fight, judging by the sounds of it at least; couldn’t see it myself.”

Unable to identify the creature on the ground in front of him, Gurney curiously leant over to take a look at the dead thing. “What did you call it again… a worg?”

He straightened his back again and sighted. “God what a night, I came to the wrong town in the wrong time.” Then he turned around and looked back into the Inn and wondered what to do next. Should he find out what the lady was up to, find out more about this last fight or not interfere at all?
It all became a bit too much to him. He was entertainer at first after all, not a real adventurer. He could take care of himself though, being on the road had though him that much. Something about him wished to see the girl again, even though he knew that it would most probably be a bad idea.

Suddenly Acolytus jumped up and dashed forwards to Gurney. “Get inside! Quickly!” Acolytus pushed Gurney though the door with force, Greppun followed right behind him. Without understanding what was going on, Gurney allowed himself to be pushed into the Inn easily, thinking that Acolytus probably had a good reason.
“Worgs travel in packs, huge packs in these parts. We had best stay inside.” Once inside he quickly turned around and slammed the door shut.

A couple of seconds later, sniffing and growling could be heard on the other end of the door. Howling sounds filled the air but residential farmers and maidens soon got back to what they were doing. Apparently they had gotten used to this and it didn’t matter to them that they most likely had to spend the night in the Inn.

[Rudar Dimble]

Still stunned by the woman who just left the Inn, Gurdio sat on his chair. Suddenly Gurney and Acolytus came running back inside. Apparently something outside had scared them off. Gurdio could guess what is was. Worgs dwell in the city from time to time, scaring of the commoners and, apparently, sometimes hardened adventurers.

Gurdio thought about the past, while he was bringing an ale to his mouth. The fight had made him thirsty. Back in the early years, when he stilled lived with his parents in his home town, Archenbridge capital of Archendale. Many times the people he once knew there appeared in his dreams. His mother, fair and beautiful, Sydia was her name. Gurdio had never understood why she had ever married a man like his father. His father was…..Gurdio didn´t even want to think about him. His brother, Lucas, a strong fighter, one of the few among gnomes, left home when Gurdio was only a child. Would he ever see him again? A family driven apart by one man, his father. Sometimes it made Gurdio cry when he thought about how it could have been, if only….

For some time Gurdio kept dreaming about Archenbridge and his old friend. When he finally looked up, released from his dreaming, he needed some time to reorientate. Where was he again? His eyes, which had a strange red glance over them, searched the room, looking for something familiar.

[Rob-hin]

Forced back inside the Inn, Gurney decided he’d join the table again where Magus, Gurdio and Mursalin still sat talking; Gurdio looked like he was thinking about something else though. “Are you joining us?” He asked Acolytus.

Then he made his way over to the table, he passing by a few newcomers; both elves, a male and a woman. He winked at the woman in a playful manner, just for the fun of it. “You’re stuck in here for tonight too eh?”

[Tybaltus]

Acolytus had finished cleaning off the mud off his cloak from the scuffle outside. Greppun, still with a slightly heavy breath, seemed like all was well again. Acolytus looked ready to call it a night, and head to a room and enjoy solitude.

“Are you joining us?” Gurney asked Acolytus.

Acolytus paused. It seemed at that moment, that his heart, cold from pain and troubles, was ready to warm over. Thoughts raced through Acolytus’ mind. These people may have been strangers just a few minutes ago, but who were they now? These people were not strangers. Could they be friends? No…no….friends are found in the grove alone. But wait….

There was a different element here. That woman that walked into the bar a minute ago…something unique has happened.

Acolytus glanced at the eyes of the tavern patrons. There was fear and confusion in many of their eyes. Acolytus then looked into the eyes of Gurdio, Magus, and Mursalin quietly talking at the table. His eyes panned further and saw the eyes of Gurney. There was something different within their eyes. A different sensation was felt. A feeling of contentment, almost…maybe companionship was felt within Acolytus.

“I suppose I am joining you, Gurney. I suppose I am,” Acolytus calmly said.

[Rudar Dimble]

Seaching the room, Gurdio noticed Gurney and Acolytus talking to eachother. His keen eyes saw that they were discussing something important. A few seconds later his ears confirmed that assumption:

“I suppose I am joining you, Gurney. I suppose I am,” Acolytus calmly said.

Slowly but determined Gurdio got on his legs again, leaving the other two at the table alone. He walked towards Gurney and Acolytus.

“Sorry, I overhead you two. You talked about ‘joining’. Joining what?,” asked the gnome illusionist curious.