Cold Trail

Log Info

• Title: Cold Trail
• Emitter: Tae
• Characters: Tae, Aya, Cryosanthia
• Place: W01: Wayfarer's Inn
• Time: Friday, October 23, 2020, 9:52 PM
• Summary: Aya has an update to share with Cryosanthia. The mul finds the sith at the wilderness pointe inn. She's there to ensure a safe and warm night for her kobold foundling. Lily has been making things with some building blocks from goblintown. As Aya approaches, she activates a trebuchet trap, throwing the sharp blocks at her. The little pink kobold is carefully taken upstairs by Kamaria, while Aya reveals what she's found out. Activity in a swamp in the Felwood, multiple graves, and loyal mercenaries who focus on kobolds. Cryo ponders options, exploring as soon as possible is risky, but has a better chance considering the trail is three weeks old. They make arrangements to go as soon as possible.

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The inn's main room is large yet cosy, with plaster walls and a low ceiling supported by sturdy oaken beams. The decor is sparse: there's little other furniture save for a few rough-hewn wooden tables and chairs, and the only real object of 'ornamentation' is the large, moth-eaten moose head that's set above the kitchen door at the far end of the room. Still, the inn is pleasant in a simple, rustic way, and the delicious smell of food cooking makes it all the more inviting; the place seems to be more of a restaurant than a tavern, and a bar is nowhere in sight.

The innkeeper's counter sits in the east corner, within a few paces of the main entrance. Behind the counter is a small storeroom where one can purchase traveling supplies. The west corner of the room is occupied by a spiral staircase that leads to the second storey.

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-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=  Appearing, in Order  -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
Tae          6'2"     135 Lb     Half-Orc          Female    Female half-oruch, lean, black hair
Aya          4'7"     105 Lb     Shadow Elf        Female    Mul'niessa. Braided hair. Simple clothing.
Cryosanthia  6'9"     291 Lb     Sith-Makar        Female    A dashingly tall, elegant white-scaled lizard woman. 
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Ma Rosie's

"So what I'm trying to tell you," says Tae, raising a hand to touch her lip, stifling a giggle, "Is that I saw them again, but.. you know.." She looks down at her wine glass. It's empty. Funny. She turns then to a bottle in front of her, but it, too, hasn't a drop left. It is obvious that she's had her share and it is no less obvious that her laughter isn't quite right. It's manic, touched by a desperate mix of sadness and failure. "They got away. I know what I can and cannot do. It's one thing to kill a few mercenaries in the wilds, quite another to face them in that damned forsaken swamp." With some prompting, she is able to share with decent accuracy exactly where that swamp is and how large it is. Three days walk to get around its growing circuit. She mentions strange sounds at night, how only a few creatures dare to enter, and none has she seen come out of it again, save the mercenaries.

With some long stretches of silence, she adds a detail. She saw no less than ten fresh graves near the edge of the swamp's north end. "Maybe there you can find.. something. I haven't been back since, and that's going on.. ten days past now.. or wait.. two weeks? Maybe three." She sighs and takes hold of her ear, her index fingertip tapping on each of her silver studs.

"And yes, two dens were emptied first, but since then another three have turned up. No survivors at any, and no messages or clues, other than an obvious struggle," explains Tae. She calls out for more wine, but at this point the staff know that she's had enough. What she gets now is so watered down she'd have to drink an ocean to sink deeper. "The ones that Shade and I intercepted had little of use to say. I can be.. persuasive when I must be. Whatever they serve, it scares them more than anything. More than fire, water, and death itself." Her words earn a couple dark looks as they are overhead quite easily. When Tae has a few drinks in her, she has no sense of volume control.

Aya may be one of the few sober people in the establishment. Technically, she is a very poor customer here: she isn't drinking, gambling, nor throwing coin or attempting to stuff them into what the dancers may or may not be wearing. Aya is, however, a very good listener, and takes note of Tae's mention of the mercenaries. It seems unusual to her that they are so focused, though their apparent devotion, even if by fear, is one more growing concern.

While she doesn't offer coin, she isn't unaware of the dancers, to include the arvek and other 'volunteer' entertainment. They probably won't remember it in the morning, but Aya will. It's mentally filed away for potential future use, if just out of habit or genetics.

"I think you should consider less drinking and more rest, for this eve, at least. Thank you for the pleasant conversation." She bids Tae a good eve, leaving her to Chippen's capable (and many) hands/feet. It is a significant lead to follow, but time is already working against them, so she is off for the wilds. First and foremost to attempt to locate one white-scale, both to update her and to seek her wisdom. Travelling the wilds is not Aya's forte' and she prefers the city; at least here the predators are more known to her.

Wayfarer's Inn

One white-scale sith'makar can be found at the Wilderness Pointe inn, with a carnation-scale in tow. She's there to visit Elly, Kami, and Tae who occasionally drops in. Also, it's a nearby room she can rent when that would seem like a good idea. It can get cold around Mictlan, and she hasn't managed to impress on her kobold foundling that the warmth cuts off suddenly. She doesn't want her wandering in the cold forest at night, it's dangerous enough for normal sized people.

So, Cryosanthia is sitting at a table, near the fireplace, watching Lily play with some interlocking blocks and build things. She'll have to pick up more kits from Goblintown, their toys are amazing.

Be warned, though, that they might explode. Everything else in that district seems likely to. Aya enters the inn; a familiar face to Cryosanthia, but not a common one in this establishment. She takes a cursory glance about and promptly spots the whitescale and heads directly towards her. "I have news..." she begins, only then casting a glance to the Lily at play.

In the back of the inn, Elleandra is working away in the kitchen. She's never hard to find, should people want to find her. She's probably going to lose her druiding license if she doesn't go out more. The general buzz of the place is quiet and calm, though, and it's a great place for friends to speak without being disturbed and for little ones to play under the gaze of many friendly eyes, whether the children be soft skin or scaled seems to make no difference here. An older couple is fascinated by Lily's work, clapping when she assembles something they take to be a house.

"Aaa-aaa!" Little Fang, 'Lily' cries out happily, spotting Aya instantly. Pointing at her nemesis in a threatening way so she knows she's been spotted, the little pink kobold bangs her small fist triumphantly on the table beside one of her block constructions.

Well, it doesn't explode.

It does flip open, and a small trebuchet mechanism launches a small collection of blocks at the mul'niessa. It arcs through the air, lands and bounces to end up towards her feet.

Lily laughs and claps, as Cryo stares. "Lily! Aya! This one is sorry. I had no idea it could do that. Lily, say sorry."

"Peassse!" The kobold foundling cries, her mouth wide open in a toothy laugh. Her first trap! A success!

Aya blinks and takes a step back at the unexpected launch, though is quick to echo the toothy laugh with a slim, bemused grin. She dips in a bow to acknowledge her defeat before turning to Cryosanthia. "She is quite sly and cunning. A bane to her enemies one day, and to those raising her until then."

Lily squirms out of her seat and feet slapping, dashing over and hugs Aya. Her mouth opens and she's about to chew on her hip when Cryo cautions, "Lily, not on softskins. No."

The white sith smiles at the older couple, then at Aya, a knowing expression, "News she shouldn't hear? This one can ask Elly to mind her. She is nearing her bed time." She also stands, circling around the other side of the table and approaching Aya, "Thank you for making the trip out."

"Elly," Cryo calls to the kitchen, "Can you come out?"

Elly hears, but it is Kamaria who comes out, first. "Is it bedtime?" the half-sil asks. She pauses and looks to Lily with a grin, "Or perhaps I should say.. story time?" She combs a hand through her dark hair and offers a smile to Cryo and Aya both, "Grown-up talk time, is it? Or perhaps you'd like something to eat or drink?"

Aya gives a vague roll of one shoulder, leaving that determination to those with scales. Admittedly, Aya is not the direct target of curiosity. Nomming, it appears, yes, but not the endless stream of questions that seem common to young. She offers a nod to Elly, the potential interim caretaker to acknowledge. "I would have a few words with her, yes," she offers as an answer.

"Yes, story time and bed time." Cryo sweeps gracefully in, detaching Lily from Aya, then walking around the mul'niessa as she repeats that in draconic to her foundling. A lot of thigh and tail is the near view. Lily squirms and climbs, draping herself over Cryo's shoulder and making a farewell, headsquishing wave at Aya. Her hunt continues.

Carefully, the white sith hands her to Kamaria, "Grown up talk time. Things this one does not want her to hear. Once she's settled, some food and drinks. Thank you so much.

"Ssa!" Lily shouts. Cryo says, "Yes, I'll get your toys, don't worry, go with Auntie Kami."

"Tika!" Lily decides, crawling across to the other woman.

Kamaria laughs gently, accepting Lily. She makes a soft coo at the little kobold. In moments Lily seems quite busy playing with the half-sil's hair. It's a routine that is quite familiar now, and it troubles Kami not in the least. A short time later and they are up the stairs for story time.

Aya watches the departing pink kobold, even offering a parting squishing gesture in return. Once the other two are out of earshot, she comments, "I learned more of the mercenaries in that area. They are, or were, working heavily in a particular swamp. They seem to be focused on kobold denizens there."

"Okay," Cryo says, after watching Kami and Lily go upstairs. When she turns to Aya she's focused for business. She smiles at briefly at the near tables, collecting all of the toys, including the blocks on the floor. These go into her haversack.

Out of her haversack comes a map tube, and Cryo unrolls a rather large one that covers Alexandros. It's been heavily marked up, and seems primarily concerned with the Felwood. "Do you know which swamp? Any details on the mercenaries? Adventurers, Brazen Stride, some other unnamed group?" She exhales, hearing they predate kobolds primarily is unsettling.

"I didn't get a name of the group," Aya admits as she looks over the map and begins tracing a finger across it, "nor of the swamp, which may not have a formal name. 'Damned' and 'forsaken' could apply to most any swamp, I expect." She isn't an expert, of course. In fact, she normally works hard to avoid swamps.

"Large enough to take several days to circumvent, and home, or was, to several dens of the smaller scaled..." She draws her finger along to a point that fits best with the rather detailed description she received. "Here, I believe. As to the mercenaries, they seem not only focused but loyal; whomever or whatever they serve has those few questioned to be tight-lipped in the face of threats."

From the kitchen, unbidden, comes a server with a laden tray. A warm, slightly sweet drink in a large carafe, a pair of glasses, a plate of various local fruit and vegetables, and a few sweet bits that were likely meant for Lily have a place there. With great efficiency, these are set out for Cryosanthia and Aya. "If you need anything else, please let me know. The kitchen is closing, but with Elly cooking that never really matters much. Nobody wants to try to sleep when they're hungry!"

The icy sith watches, leaning over the map and nodding as details are given. "They are usually driven to the inhospitable extremes. Any easily accessible local is too dangerous. They have a preference for mines, some swim very well so amphibious environments will do. They also move into vacated goblin lairs if they can find them." She pauses, "Loyal and focused mercenaries are... unusual."

The food is a welcome interruption. "Here, Aya, eat please." Cryo smiles at the server, grinning, "her food is comforting and good for a night's sleep. Give Elly my thanks." She sets the sweet bits aside, planning to run them upstairs soon. "Do you think more questioning in town will prove fruitful, or should an expedition there be organized. This... seems too dangerous a place for me to go alone."

Aya compromises by pouring herself a cup of the drink, at the least. Away from the map, of course. "In my experience, they can be quite loyal, so long as one is the highest bidder. From what I've heard, there could be something else at work. They could be zealots of some faith or group and -also- happen to be mercenaries, or vice versa. It is still a concern."

She studies the map again, looking to the indicated swampland and then others comparatively near, perhaps checking her work. "It isn't a great deal of information, and it is two or three weeks old, but it is something. If we want a chance of further information from it, speed would be of the essence; time is already stacked against us. They could have moved on, and any witnesses might also. Tracks or sign would fade away, and so on."

Cryo gets her own drink. She is both careful with it and cavalier, holding it over the map but setting it down beside it when she isn't taking a sip. She traces some of the areas with her long fingers. "We could get here in a few days, if we left in the morning. This one would have to make arrangements for Lily. Professor Waywalker or Elly will watch her, Sabina or Irshya in a pinch. Perhaps a scouting mission, then bring more if we found evidence."

She exhales, her neck straightening, "Are you good in the forest? This one... has been inside a long time. The swamps here are not the same as Am'shere." Aya takes a sip to test her drink. A bit sweet for her tastes, but acceptable. "I know enough of what to avoid, but I expect that you're far more at ease there than I. I am neither trailblazer nor tracker."

Cryosanthia nods. "Well, before you said you could conceivably shadow-walk me to hell, would this be easier? Otherwise I should make some plans, we should make some plans, and we could leave in the morning."

"Ah, that," Aya nods, perhaps having failed to recall that she'd shared such before. "I could get us to the area more quickly, yes, and make the chance of encountering random beasts or brigands quite low. That could take much of the threat and discomfort from the venture." "Would that be a better idea?" Cryo looks at Aya, "We can both see in the dark. I'm still hesitant to tempt the night denizens. It would make creeping up on a normal camp easier."

Aya considers this. Time IS a strong factor, and the whitescale makes a good point. "We could reach it in hours rather than days, and I always prefer the night." That should come as little surprise. "If you are able and willing, we could depart as soon as you're prepared. Should these mercenaries happen to still be present, we don't need to engage them head on."

"This one can be ready quickly. I need to see Lily to bed, leave her toys, inform Elly and Kami, then we can go." Cryo stands, her hand resting on the table. She looks down at Aya. "I appreciate all you done and found out. Thank you. This one is indebted."

Aya nods to Cryosanthia. She doesn't ask if the sith intends to bring any others; either she would mention that, or they will return with her. "See to what needs done. You can thank me after we've returned. With any good fortune, we will have discovered a great deal more."

Elly has stepped out of the kitchen, allowing another to wrap things up this night. She stretches her back and lets out a relaxed sigh. The druid makes her way casually over to the planning table where Cryosanthia and Aya are talking. "Is everything going well tonight?" she asks. "Is there anything else you need? I'm about to seek my rest, otherwise. I imagine Kamaria and Lily fell asleep in our room by now."

The white sith'makar turns and flows over to Elly, she hugs her, "It is. Your food was excellent. Oh, only about a dozen adventurers to clear a swamp, but don't worry, this one will figure something out.

She mounts the stairs, "They may be asleep, but Lily waits for me to kiss her goodnight, and this one must leave her toys and tell her I will be away for a few days."

"She pauses halfway up, "Oh, this one is going to be away for a few days. You and Kami, can watch Lily, this will be ok?"

Aya leaves Cryo to her parental concerns. Her focus returns to the map as she quietly sips more of her drink. It could be reflexive, or perhaps the sweetness is growing more palatable.

"We will be delighted," replies Elly. She can't deny that she's excited by the prospect. She follows up the stairs in Cryosanthia's wake. "She's such a delight to spend time with. And she's brilliant, as well." Not to mention charming. Even the more reserved of customers seems to find the little kobold's play irresistible.