Vengeance of the Heart

[Rob-hin]

"We were just about to join you at the table Gurdio." replayed Gurney. “Nothing big, though I do wish to talk about the woman from earlier this night.”

He took another step towards the table where Magus and Mursalin still sat, and then he turned back and nodded towards Gurdio and Acolytus. “Are you gonna stand there all night or what?”

[Rudar Dimble]

"Hey, hey, take it easy mister. If it wasn't for your help earlier this evening it would have left...."

Muttering and cursing, Gurdio took a chair, joining the others again.

[Tybaltus]

He took another step towards the table where Magus and Mursalin still sat, and then he turned back and nodded towards Gurdio and Acolytus. “Are you gonna stand there all night or what?”

“Yes. I suppose you’re right,” Acolytus replied.

Acolytus, while making his way towards the table, pondered why he has been brought to this inn at this time, as opposed to spending the night at his friend’s house on the other side of the river. Why on this day, with these people, with the incidents that have all occurred so fast?

“Hey, hey, take it easy mister. If it wasn't for your help earlier this evening it would have left...."

Acolytus thought, and said aloud, “It?….What are you referring to, frien…” Acolytus paused. “....Sir?”

Acolytus took his seat again.

[Rudar Dimble]

"It....like in, the gnome you are looking at right now". For Selune's sake, do I really have to justify everything I say or do. First the incident, now my vocabulary. Where will this end? Me justifying breathing?". sighted Gurdio.

[Magus]

Magus noticed Acolytus’s jaw clench angrily. He quickly broke in. “Easy there, friend,” he said to Gurdio, at once sympathetic and admonishing. “No need to get excited. It has been an eventful night, and your slip simply aroused a bit of curiosity, is all. One inquisitive person can’t begrudge another, can he?” he finished smoothly, nodding at Acolytus. Then he took a sip of wine and with a gesture invited Gurdio to take a seat.

[Tybaltus]

Acolytus took note of Gurdio’s strange defensive position.

“Hrm…I was not interrogating you. I am a foreigner to referring to one’s self as it. I am sorry if you feel I was attacking you. I think you’ve had a harsh night. Maybe a few drops of ale and a nights rest will return you to a more sensible mood.”

Acolytus motioned for Gurdio to sit down after Magus’ invitation and nod.

[CM]

Completely shocked and confused by the whole incident. Mursalin was curt and to the point. "What in Helms name was that and why are people so calm about it? And what is the bloody noise?"

[Rob-hin]

Unsure to what noise Marsalin was referring, Gurney decided not to respond. In fact, he decided to leave the matter for what it was and change the subject in an attempt to lighten the mood.

“So… what did you guys make of the lady earlier on? I thought she was pretty hot, in a queen on the undead type of way.” He laughed and leaned back in his chair. “I wonder what she was up to though.”

[Rudar Dimble]

"Well, it seemed Harnan knows more about it. May be we should invite him to our conversation."

Gurdio nodded to Harnan, who came over as quickly as possible.

"Now, please tell us, what do you know about that lady."

[Rob-hin]

Nervously Harnan moved from one foot to another, staring at his shoes the whole time.
"Euh... what lady? Many women come in here on a night like this.. I...I don’t know nothing." He looked across the room “Look, people want to order, I got work to do.”

Hoping he had talked himself out of it, Harnan tried to walk away. Quickly Gurney grabbed him by his arm. “Come on now Harnan, tell us what you know.”

Unable to leave, Harnan looked at the men at the table, only to get one and the same response. “Answer the man’s question Harnan.”

“Alright, alright. I’ll tell you what I know.
Her name is Serena. And a long time ago, when I was still young, I worked as a cook at the de ‘Arnise Hold. Her father worked there too, as a guard that is. A respected guard too, a lieutenant or something; I’m not sure. Sometimes he even got the privilege of acting as the personal guard of the countess, the lord’s wife.
Since he was close to her so many times, he started getting feelings for her; couldn’t blame him about that, she was a very attractive woman. The countess was smart too and she noticed this change in him; told him that they could never be. She loved the lord much, I know she did. She never told the lord about the man’s feelings though.

Time had gone by and he grew and both rank and status. But he started misusing the trust the lord had put in him. He started stealing from the lord and he abused his status outside of the castle walls; abusing the peasants and all… pretty nasty stuff. He got away with all of it, and like with all wrong do’ers; he thought himself to be untouchable. Until in the end, he went too far.

When the countess went on a hunting trip, he acted as her guard; like he had done many times before. This time was different though, his unanswered love had taken serious forms and a twisted thought swirled around in his sick mind. In an unexpected moment he overpowered the poor woman, and as he was far stronger then her; there was nothing she could do to stop him. He took advantage of her that day; you know what I mean… He thought that he would get away with it. Thinking his lord would never act against him, of course the lord did; justice had to be served.

Serena’s father got punished in a horrible way. But the seed had already been sown. For her mother was the countess…

The lord didn’t acknowledge her as his child though; he had her locked away deep in a dungeon specially build for her, Serena was his greatest shame. No one was allowed to see her, no one but me. I was the cook and after all, she still needed to eat.
There was nothing for her to do down there, no friends or stuff to play with… nothing. All she did to keep herself busy involved magic, making magic figures in the air; I think she was very gifted. But I know nothing of the matter. No one told her how to do it or anything, I think she taught herself.

I couldn’t bear to live with it, so I left. I’m still ashamed of that. I should have stood up against the lord about this injustice, but I was too afraid. She was too young to still remember me, but I remember her like it was yesterday. She’s a lot older now, but I recognised her. I’m sure it’s her.

I have no idea how she got out of that hell or what she is up to now though.”

During the story, Gurney had released Harnan’s arm. And right after the story Harnan took a step back and turned around. “That’s all I know. Please, leave me be now.” Then he walked over to the bar and sat down behind it burying his face in his hands. The memories made old feelings live up again.

“So much for lifting the mod a little.” Gurney thought to himself.

[Tybaltus]

Upon hearing Harnan’s story, Acolytus lost all focus of his surroundings, as if the only thing worthy of attention was that woman and what could have possibly gone wrong.

“Gods…,” Acolytus said in shock. “If this woman had such a traumatic life early on, then the repercussions could be astoundingly horrendous. Only one with strong willpower and a strong soul can endure such pains. Believe me….I know. I have seen treachery. I have seen pain. I have seen death upon death. Loves lost. I hold on to what I can,” Acolytus paused to pet Greppun on his head. “But this woman…she has seen horrors; been through horrors. She lived in a nightmare.” Acolytus stopped his movements and petting. “What happens if she couldn’t handle what she saw?”

Acolytus gazed into the eyes of Gurney. “What happens?” Acolytus swayed his head towards Mursalin. “Well what? What could this woman do?”

Acolytus shook his head in disbelief, while he gathered his composure. “She is a disturbance to the balance, if she is what I fear.” Acolytus stopped. “I fear we have breached a point where we are far beyond the point of return.”

[CM]

As Acolytus rambled on, Mursalin was preoccupied with other thoughts. He had been doing something before the woman walked in. Ah yes he finally remembered, the barbarian was still tied up outside, what had become of him?

Mursalin left his set without a word and strode outside to see what had become of the barbarian.

==========
OOC There is a worg outside right?

[Rob-hin]

As Mursalin gently opened the front door to a crack, he saw no sign of the barbarian. He had given up hope about the poor guy being alive when he noticed that there was no blood spilled or chewed on bones anywhere.

Many of the worgs had gathered far enough from the Inn, they were eating a cow which hadn’t been locked in safely. This allowed Mursalin to venture outside a bit, there was no sign of the barbarian to be seen anywhere.
One of the wors remained in front of the Inn though. It didn’t seem to notice Mursalin though; it was interested in something else. The beast jumped up snapping with his big muzzle at something.

Curious to what the worg was interested in, Mursalin looked up and saw the barbarian pressed up with his legs and his back between two pillars supporting the roof in the Inn. The barbarian stared at Mursalin in panic, unable to speak because of a gag in his mouth.

It was quite an effort getting way up there all tied up, but it was the only way for the barbarian to stay out of the range of the worg.

[Rudar Dimble]

When Gurdio thought Mursalin was taking a bit too long to come back, he ran outside to see what kept him busy all this time.

He noticed Human Paladin staring at two pillars that hold the roof of the inn. What Gurdio saw there was both sad and comical. The tied up barbarian was trying to save his own life in a very unusual manner, pressed up between the two pillars.

Curious about how a paladin would deal with such a delicate problem, Gurdio stood there, waiting and trying to conseal his laugh...

[Magus]

A sober feeling lingered in Magus as the tale ended, though he wondered as to its truthfulness. He had heard far too many tall tales in such places to trust such a story on faith alone. Yet it had the ring of truth, and in the barkeep’s eyes shone the sorrow of painful memories, and the unmistakable grief of regret. Either this man was a phenomenal performer, or the tale bore truth. Or, Magus corrected himself, he thinks he tells the truth. For even amongst the guileless the mind was a slippery thing, and memory was not always faithful. But if the story was true…then that woman could be dangerous. Given what the woman herself had let slip, he couldn’t afford to ignore this new evidence…especially if, as he suspected, this woman was not out for mere retribution…but for blood. There was no question now as to what had to be done. One way or the other, more innocents could not be allowed to come to harm.

As the last of his wine dwindled, Magus watched as first Mursalin and then Gurdio disappeared through the doorway. Curious, and finding his wine glass thoroughly empty, Magus followed. As he stepped outside, the irony of the situation immediately struck him, and he couldn’t keep from shaking his head, a small grin on his face. Nonetheless, he couldn’t just stand by and watch such a pitiful spectacle. All serious, he looked at the paladin, who seemed ready to charge the vicious-looking worg. “Wait.” Magus whispered, grabbing his arm lightly. “You lure it away, and I’ll get the guy out of there.” Mursalin looked skeptical. “Hurry!” Magus added. “Before the commotion draws more of them.”