Rigvald looked on with a mixture of disgust and amazement at Mirana's display.
"I'd rather you didn't destroy anything more than you need to." Saigar replied, "I may have use of that tower yet, as well as the things that may be inside. The main thing is the sorceress, however, so if you have no other recourse, do what you must."
Saigar yawned, "Decide amongst yourselves whether you're going to Styos or straight to the tower; I need to make some preparations either way."
Flesh is a design flaw."I would sooner go to Styos," Colm said, "But I would be content to burn the place and bring slaughter on all who leave, save the sorceress. So, should this plan not speak to the rest, I am content to leave early; barring another plan of the same nature."
edited 26th Jul '14 7:11:30 PM by Fauxlosophe
"I agree with going to Stygos," Weyland said. "We need to find out more, if we can. Perhaps we discover if she ever leaves her tower, even if it is for a walk in a garden. It would be much preferable if we do not have to assault a magic-wielder's fortified abode."
Nihil assumpseris, sed omnia resolvere!"Splendid," The old Tarulan said with a smile. "and you, Emberglare, you have no problem with going to Styos, yes?" For all it is phrased as a question, the intent is clear- the course of action have been decided, as far as Alaeddin's concerned.
Turning to Saigar, he continued. "Tell me more about this go-between. Their appearance. Their vices. If you'd not disclose your methods of knowing far more than you should, then atleast afford us ways to use your knowledge- for your quest."
"You think me omniscient, Alaeddin. I hate to disappoint you, but I only know so much about the manservant."
Saigar placed the fingertips of one hand on his forehead, "I think his name is Gerard, or Gerhardt or something. He's Pyrian - short, brown hair, small-statured, though fairly muscled, if memory serves. That's about all I can tell you on short notice."
He nodded as the others came to a decision about their destination,
"Good, I'll tell the coachman. Now get some sleep, there are six rooms upstairs already paid for," Saigar informed. "I even got Rigvald here to clean them up nice, if you can believe it."
The barkeep sneered, "It'll be for naught with this lot."
edited 27th Jul '14 7:26:38 PM by StygianEmperor
Flesh is a design flaw."Then I'll surely see you in the morning when you come to fetch us," Mirana said, taking another long drink from the barrel. She put the lid back on, and heaved the slightly-lighter objected into her grasp.
"Now if you'll excuse me, I have to share a drink with a friend," she added, heading to the front door.
Colm nodded, "Best of luck then and may fortune smile on this endeavour."
He thought for a moment that little else might, but he pushed it from his mind and finished his drink.
His head shifted towards heavier thoughts, both for good and ill; his fears and faith were both calling him away from this land though he knew that it was his duty to change that. He turned his thoughts gradually to fire and its nature, and the nature of the land. He looked at lamps by which the bar was light and stared passively at them.
The separation of spirit from ashes was a part of the doctrine of Pyr; certain, he believed that the soul was too pure and too mighty to be contained within ashes. Yet, without true fire, without Pyr, ashes and soot remain in smoke. Only a smoke too pure and white to see was that of Pyr; all else was corrupt and bore with it the taint of earthly matter and lesser gods. In this, one must despise and scorn all else; in it is only distraction and lesser being. What there was without it, he could only know through what it was not.
He looked as well towards the dripping wax of the slowly extinguished candle; one was in part a thing of lesser Gods. Pain and suffering preceded triumph; one put all into the flame to come out whole and complete without impurities.
Soon, this fire would spread and it alone would judge what precious stones hid amongst the kindling; whether he was right or wrong about the demons, his duty was only to spread the flames. Pyr would decide the rest.
"Well, I guess I'm done for the day," Weyland said, making for the stairs. He knew it would probably be a long time till he fell asleep, as the question of how Saigar found him, a question the man had refused to answer, would be nagging him in the back of his head.
Nihil assumpseris, sed omnia resolvere!Colm eventually retired to his room, still deep in his reverie. When he found his bed, however, he felt the presence with him again. His doubts temporarily vanished from his mind as a wave of ecstasy washed over him - this was Pyr.
Before he could speak, or even think, it was gone. But he had felt his god there with him. Or at least, the loving aspect.
He had felt others too, before: wrath, purity, sorrow; even logic and order, uncharacteristically cold in its objectivity. In times of crisis, Pyr would find him in one of these forms, and Colm would be encouraged to new heights of faith, unfaltering before the heathen masses.
He rested well that night.
Dawn broke with the sound of hooves approaching the Dark Days Tavern. The coach had arrived.
It was a sizable carriage, drawn by four gray horses, and big enough to seat six inside, if uncomfortably. On the outside, the white-bearded coachman had enough room to seat a guard by his side, though he had no such protection with him currently.
Saigar roused anyone who might have still been asleep with several knocks on their doors, "Rigvald has some traveling food laid out, but you'd best leave now if you want to reach Styos by nightfall."
edited 29th Jul '14 10:17:24 PM by StygianEmperor
Flesh is a design flaw.Mirana showed up next to the carriage, empty barrel under her arm. Besides her was a rhino who had the closest thing to a buzzed grin a rhino could have, the lid of a barrel stuck on his horn, and the smell of alcohol on its breath. The animal lay down next to the horses, and she pried the lid off of its horn as it licked its lips.
"Hey barkeep, one more for the road," she shouted at Rigvald as she went through the front door of the tavern, setting the barrel down on the floor and pulling a coin out of her pocket, which she flipped his way.
Coin bag in hand, Devlin skipped up the stairs in his haste to get to his bed, and thus rest.
Woken by the hooves, and instantly alert, Devlin relaxed as he realized it was just the coach. Washing his face, Devlin inwardly sighed as it appeared his time in the tavern would be cut short. His bags having remained unpacked, he quickly shrugged on some clothes and headed downstairs, collecting the traveling pack Rigvald had laid out. Asking for some loaves of bread for a quick breakfast, if the traveling supplies didn't already have some, Devlin walked to the stables where he had left Shadow, his horse. Giving a nod of thanks at the groom, and paying him, Devlin led Shadow back to the Dark Days Tavern, behind Mirana.
edited 30th Jul '14 3:18:18 AM by Tricksen
If you're reading this you have 5 seconds to...Weyland exited the room he had spent the night in, rubbing his eyes. He had not had a good night. As he walked outside, he couldn't believe his eyes when he saw the sight of Alistair. Instead, he walked up to Mirana. "I must ask, is that horse supposed to have a horn on it, or am I still half asleep?"
Nihil assumpseris, sed omnia resolvere!Colm took the food with a gesture of gratitude and laid out a bit of coin; either enough to pay for what he took or a generous tip but the bar man had earnt at least that much.
He turned to the ongoing conversation and said; "A unicorn would not be the strangest thing in this company, though yours certainly seems to be of a different stock than any horse I have seen. A breed of Elephant, perhaps."
With that, he took to the carriage, though he was tempted to sit by the driver in the guard's seat; he decided against it and sat in the main cabin.
edited 29th Jul '14 9:53:43 AM by Fauxlosophe
Rigvald supplied Devlin with a few hard loaves, and nodded his appreciation at Colm as he left.
The four gray horses drawing the coach clearly became nervous as the rhino came near.
"Good gods!" The coachman exclaimed. "Keep that monster away from the horses, or who knows what they'll do!"
The man muttered something under his breath about orcs and improper steeds.
Catching the ranger's coin, Rigvald poured another flagon for Mirana. He didn't seem too worried about whether or not he'd get it back, clearly relieved to have the party out of his establishment.
edited 29th Jul '14 10:00:39 PM by StygianEmperor
Flesh is a design flaw."Cheer up, when I come back with great riches, I'll buy every last drop in this place," Mirana told Rigvald as she heaved the new barrel onto her shoulder.
She went the few steps back out and shoved the container into one of Alistair's side pouches. "Oh don't worry, Al doesn't like the taste of horse," she said with a grin.
Vythlian took the seat next to the coachman, clearly to the old man's horror, and Saigar waved them off.
The road between Dusk and Styos
Alistair had trouble keeping up with the horses, and Mirana eventually lost sight of them amongst the brushy landscape. The road had been clear of travelers, and she wasn't concerned about getting lost, but the ranger was unable to scout ahead. Vythlian seemed distracted at the front of the cart, fingertips on the sides of his helmet as if nursing a migraine.
So it was Devlin who noticed several horsemen, waiting, just visible over a hill not far up ahead.
edited 30th Jul '14 10:17:51 PM by StygianEmperor
Flesh is a design flaw.

"I said nothing about touching," Colm corrected, "If it is a remote tower, we might to well to smoke them out and forget the rest. Maybe salvage what we find in the ashes."