IC: Commoners

[JbeJ275]

”Fighting has a way of finding me, so far at least. And I’ve got nowhere to go after running from the last fight, hell running from the last fight just made a lot of things worse. If I’m going be doing it I want to be doing it in a way that helps people, and that’s right here."

For a second, Dufandir takes a long breath, and wishes he’d gone to the innkeepers for a drink before this, his hands still shaking from the earlier violence.

“If you’ve got a destination, a home out there to get to, I’d say you ought to get there quick as you can. But I’ve got to learn to fight these battles, that’s what I’m doing here.”

[Ripptor]

With Twinforge disarmed, Skittles takes the rest back up the stairs for identification by the Bard, and redistribution: Satria taking Twinforge's Crested Belt (apparently magicked to make her dwarf-like, or make Dwarves like her? She didn't exactly follow that part...), Rhubarb taking the Runed ring of Protection, and Dufander taking most of the weapons and Twinforge's nice leathers.

Skittles' new cloak is apparently magicked as well, to protect her from mishaps... Which seems lucky for her current track record. Hearing the other two's misgivings and possible work-arounds with Dufander's hellbent on joining the Resistance, Skittles ponders more.

"I've got my family shop downtown, been there for a generation... It's well-known enough, but a hotspot for the Rangers as they buy my wares. So long as we keep this under wraps, we could use that as a base for operations, with Satria keeping up her traveling sales. The Rangers wouldn't expect their longtime local store to be an immediate threat..."

Having finally interacted with the Bard for the first time, she notices the Pink and Purple Ring he's clearly trying to offhand onto someone else. Asking after the story, she hears that the others were "pure of heart" and takes the ring in hand, reading the inscription within.

"There is nothing good nor bad
Thinking makes it so...

Well, no-one would call me pure of heart, good or bad. I'm just me." And with that, she slips the pretty, colorful ring onto her finger, admiring the pink and purple against her red scales.

[NihilisticGnome]

Coral, briefly enraptured by all the strange sights and experiences, turns back to look at Inanna. This time a good, long look.

It seemed both girls were in consensus.

They agree to swim deeper into the cave, provided there is still some light to see.

Spoiler: ooc

Show

And I had almost forgotten. I bet Inanna can see better than Coral here too.

All marine creatures
Swim in the same direction
When paths both left and right open
All travel together
When choices are many
Only one choice is made

Inanna takes Coral by the hand
Following the crowd
As the light disappears
Coral swims in darkness
Broken only by the occasional pulse
Of purple or orange bioluminescent light

The creatures all stop
Within an immense underwater cavern
Nearly spherical but appearing
To have been carved by nature

At the centre
Seated upon a narrow elevated pillar of volcanic rock
Surrounded by underwater vents
Is a humanoid creature seated in meditation
All life circles the individual
With reverence

The one in the centre
Is blind
Or more accurately
Has no need of eyes

Fins upon its arms and legs
Through gills it breathes
Skin translucent like a jellyfish
Glows upon command
An aura of blue-white light
Illuminates the surrounding environment

[NihilisticGnome]

"So long as the Baroness doesn't know I was involved I can still run trade. But that being said, her supporting such a lawless man suggests much about her."

Satria's features are grim annoyance as she speaks, grabbing a few of the items and keeping the ones she'd already nabbed. It had been the wildest night of her life, and yet things weren't over quite yet.

It is still before the break of dawn
Satria’s cart loaded with barrels of ale
In addition to what she purchased
Along with sacks of flour
Waits in an outbuilding
Her mule
Rested and fed

A cargo still waits for Satria in Needlemeer

Casa the innkeeper greets Satria
With a common elven greeting
Warm and sympathetic to the merchant’s plight
An alibi she offers
None need know what happened

She has an order for goods
To provide her with official business
Along with a note
Taken from the body of the thief
Marked with official seals

[NihilisticGnome]

With a thankful nod to Stringfellow, Rhubarb likewise begins to absentmindedly pick up and stash away a couple of smaller, lighter items. She likes to think she's earned them and she'd be ready to fight for some, such as the lead ranger's survival kit, useless as it may seem to the others. Didn't mean to stay, here or with the lot here. ahe admits somewhat nervously while at that. You're bad luck, both of you. she looks at Satria and Dufander in turn. Not sure what I'd do instead's the issue. This place is much. More than I can handle. Alone, I'd have died twice. she laments. You really want more fighting, dwarf?

The dwarf intends
To join the rebellion
Against the Baroness’ authority
Along for such folly
He would like Rhubarb to join
Skilled they were
A fighting chance they might have

Their meeting is interrupted
By a most insistent villager
With a message

Ug-Ton, [Ranger level 2]
Demands to die
By the hand of the fearsome warrior
Who defeated him
Rhubarb

[NihilisticGnome]

[COLOR="#FF0000"]”Fighting has a way of finding me, so far at least. And I’ve got nowhere to go after running from the last fight, he’ll running from the last fight just made a lot of things worse. If I’m going be doing[ it I want to be doing it in a way that helps people, and that’s right here.”/COLOR]

For a second, Dufandir takes a long breath, and wishes he’d gone to the innkeepers for a drink before this, his hands still shaking from the earlier violence.

“If you’ve got a destination, a home out there to get to, I’d say you ought to get there quick as you can. But I’ve got to learn to fight these battles, that’s what I’m doing here.”

Stringfellow the bard
Swears he was uninvolved
In the entire affair

His recognition
Can not be tarnished
With the hint of disloyalty
For his is a name that shall be spoken for a thousand years
Of this he is quite certain

Appreciate that his life was spared
By their heroics
He offers only platitudes
And the strange suggestion
To widely publicize
The deeds done

[NihilisticGnome]

With Twinforge disarmed, Skittles takes the rest back up the stairs for identification by the Bard, and redistribution: Satria taking Twinforge's Crested Belt (apparently magicked to make her dwarf-like, or make Dwarves like her? She didn't exactly follow that part...), Rhubarb taking the Runed ring of Protection, and Dufander taking most of the weapons and Twinforge's nice leathers.

Skittles' new cloak is apparently magicked as well, to protect her from mishaps... Which seems lucky for her current track record. Hearing the other two's misgivings and possible work-arounds with Dufander's hellbent on joining the Resistance, Skittles ponders more.

"I've got my family shop downtown, been there for a generation... It's well-known enough, but a hotspot for the Rangers as they buy my wares. So long as we keep this under wraps, we could use that as a base for operations, with Satria keeping up her traveling sales. The Rangers wouldn't expect their longtime local store to be an immediate threat..."

Having finally interacted with the Bard for the first time, she notices the Pink and Purple Ring he's clearly trying to offhand onto someone else. Asking after the story, she hears that the others were "pure of heart" and takes the ring in hand, reading the inscription within.

"There is nothing good nor bad
Thinking makes it so...

Well, no-one would call me pure of heart, good or bad. I'm just me." And with that, she slips the pretty, colorful ring onto her finger, admiring the pink and purple against her red scales.

Now that the danger has past
Stringfellow strongly urges
Skittles not to place the ring upon her finger
Not needing to take such a risk
Even recommending she return it to him
He cringes when Skittles cavalierly slips it upon her finger

She does not die
Several tense moments pass
She does not die

Stringfellow feels an enormous weight lifted
Thice a pattern
Twice only coincidence
He releases his guilt

The ring
Such a pretty stone
Swirls organically with light
Alive
Perhaps even intelligent
The stone
Desires to be touched

To look upon it
Would cause Stringfellow
Far too much pain
He wishes well
To its new owner

[WindStruck]

Were it not for Coral's comfort with swimming, she would not be wanting to be swimming in such darkness at all, though the occasional faint lights and Inanna's hand guide her.

Once in the large spherical chamber, Coral has no clue what is going on. But perhaps it is best to simply stop among the other marine creatures, finding their own place in that circle, and wait. Coral finds herself holding her breath.. not due to being underwater, but simply from anticipation.

Where had her imagination brought her, and to whom?

[NihilisticGnome]

Were it not for Coral's comfort with swimming, she would not be wanting to be swimming in such darkness at all, though the occasional faint lights and Inanna's hand guide her.

Once in the large spherical chamber, Coral has no clue what is going on. But perhaps it is best to simply stop among the other marine creatures, finding their own place in that circle, and wait. Coral finds herself holding her breath.. not due to being underwater, but simply from anticipation.

Where had her imagination brought her, and to whom?

Pulses of light
Move towards and past Coral
Once or twice a minute
Leaving her in darkness
Otherwise

All oceanic minds
Harmonize as one
Clicks and song
Flashes of colour
And pulses of light
Becomes a living language
All around her

Coral can Speak with Animals
An ability Inanna lacks
“Peculiar, most peculiar”
An octopus leans in closer
To examine Coral
A lesser life-form
Somehow able to communicate

[WindStruck]

The clicks and lights were incomprehensible to Coral at first, but in retrospect, perhaps it was just as much unintelligible as the din of a chattering crowd.

When one focused on one particular thing... Coral hears the octopus nearby. Was the octopus a lesser life form at all? (I hear they can be very smart!)

Coral doesn't move much as the octopus draws closer to examine her, only a bit closer to Inanna if they had separated. Coral was as curious about the octopus as it was of her.

"Hello," she tries to say, but maybe speaking underwater was a bit different than in the air. She slowly waves a free hand as well.

"Please don't mind us, we are only visiting."

[NihilisticGnome]

The clicks and lights were incomprehensible to Coral at first, but in retrospect, perhaps it was just as much unintelligible as the din of a chattering crowd.

When one focused on one particular thing... Coral hears the octopus nearby. Was the octopus a lesser life form at all? (I hear they can be very smart!)

Coral doesn't move much as the octopus draws closer to examine her, only a bit closer to Inanna if they had separated. Coral was as curious about the octopus as it was of her.

"Hello," she tries to say, but maybe speaking underwater was a bit different than in the air. She slowly waves a free hand as well.

"Please don't mind us, we are only visiting."

Coral may not consider the Octopus
To be a lesser life-form
But after a short conversation
It becomes obvious
The octopus most certainly
Considers Coral lesser than he

With a patronizing vocabulary
He does declare Coral to be
Welcomed into their assembly
Yet the dragon must leave

The octopus unravels one of its long tentacles
In the direction of Inanna
She refuses to harmonize
Her chaos
Would cause too much distortion
For all to be heard

Coral may stay but the dragon must go
Declares the cephalopod
Folding its tentacles
In a bunch before it
As a person might fold their arms

[WindStruck]

"Dragon..? What? Coral asks, looking behind her, over at Inanna, confused.

What was this crazy octopus on about? Or perhaps, there was more to Inanna's heritage in the waking world? Coral couldn't know for sure, but she didn't want to leave her friend far behind.

"She is my friend," Coral says. "How far does she need to go?"

[Metastachydium]

Rhubarb's little face twitches slightly when Dufander makes his intent even clearer than before. To the halfling, this grim resolve appears almost spiteful and certainly reckless, far too reckless. On the other hand, ever since she was snatched away from home, the world's been quite consistently trying to kill her, one way or the other. The last few days were harsher than any before and by quite the margin, but if it was the land and its lady, from what she've heard, she'll likely have to travel the same land for a while now. And she doesn't have Mica. And she doesn't know the way.

Her mouth half-opens as she weighs her options: she knows she'll have to say something; but that only makes the sudden distraction so much more welcome. Will come back, to speak more. she assures the conspirators as she stands to follow the messenger outside, strange and ominous as the request made may sound.

She approaches the bound half-orc cautiously, with her eyes narrowed, her grip on the spear's smooth shaft tightening somewhat. They tell me you'd die? A stupid death too. she addresses the ranger, her voice betraying more suspicion than she intended to reveal. Why's that?

[bladescape]

"If any of you want I'll be happy to take you on as guards. We can help in more subtle ways. Don't need to fight direct." Satria knew a few for some days, and even with the slight encouraging success with her bow, she didn't want to be alone on the road.

[Ripptor]

Skittles stares at the small ring on her smaller finger, swirling colors as the Bard sighs relief and smiles at the burden now lifted. At his suggestion to publicize the night's events, Skittles looks back up. "It's likely best we keep this between ourselves, for now. The Baroness and her men won't much fancy heroic tales of their own deaths. Keep yourself safe, now."

As Rhubarb leaves to deal with her own Ug-ton issue, she remarks, "Those rangers face death if they return, now. Better to die here than die slowly later. Or," looking to the now battle-crazed Dufander, spoiling for war, "Perhaps they would look for this Twinhammer fellow with you, as well. Signing up for the only side which may take them, if they could even be trusted." Looing back down at her new ring, she almost absent-mindedly adds, "Or just kill them and be done with it. Safer, too."

The swirling colors seem to call to her, as she looks down into them once more. Raising it up into the light of the rising sunout the window, she touches the stone with interest...

Spoiler: OoC

Show

In for a penny, in for a pound... If this thing is intelligent, she'll be happy for the Will save boost.

Lets activate the ring, pointing it out the back window. In case it matters and/or rips her hand/arm off, she's wearing it on her right and touching it with her left.

Fingers crossed...

[NihilisticGnome]

"Dragon..? What? Coral asks, looking behind her, over at Inanna, confused.

What was this crazy octopus on about? Or perhaps, there was more to Inanna's heritage in the waking world? Coral couldn't know for sure, but she didn't want to leave her friend far behind.

"She is my friend," Coral says. "How far does she need to go?"

The octopus expands its body
Reaching out with all its limbs
Grabbing hold
Of Coral’s wrists and ankles

A million shades of colour
Does its body cycle through
His gigantic red eyes
Showing a highly evolved intelligence

Reaching out for Coral’s temples
Suction cups latch on
Gripping her head tightly from both sides
Harmonizing with her mind
The message is delivered as clearly as possible

The dragon is

“AN INVADER”

Inanna is shaken awake by Caretaker Olum
There is no time
Fighting can be heard
Many voices shouting
From the grand hall below

Caretaker Olum
Places a pair of delicate slippers before Inanna
Woven from spider silk
Instructing his ward to quickly put them on
And follow him out the window

Inanna receives
Slippers of Spider Climbing: When worn, a pair of these slippers enable movement on vertical surfaces or even upside down along ceilings,
leaving the wearer’s hands free. Her speed is 20 feet.
Severely slippery surfaces—icy, oiled, or greased surfaces— make these slippers useless.
The slippers can be used for 10 minutes per day, split up as the wearer chooses.

Faint transmutation; CL 4th; Craft Wondrous Item, spider climb; Price 4,800 gp;Weight 1/2 lb.

[NihilisticGnome]

Rhubarb's little face twitches slightly when Dufander makes his intent even clearer than before. To the halfling, this grim resolve appears almost spiteful and certainly reckless, far too reckless. On the other hand, ever since she was snatched away from home, the world's been quite consistently trying to kill her, one way or the other. The last few days were harsher than any before and by quite the margin, but if it was the land and its lady, from what she've heard, she'll likely have to travel the same land for a while now. And she doesn't have Mica. And she doesn't know the way.

Her mouth half-opens as she weighs her options: she knows she'll have to say something; but that only makes the sudden distraction so much more welcome. Will come back, to speak more. she assures the conspirators as she stands to follow the messenger outside, strange and ominous as the request made may sound.

She approaches the bound half-orc cautiously, with her eyes narrowed, her grip on the spear's smooth shaft tightening somewhat. They tell me you'd die? A stupid death too. she addresses the ranger, her voice betraying more suspicion than she intended to reveal. Why's that?

Ug-ton speaks In a loud voice

“The boy is innocent
Impressed into service
Three nights ago
By Twinforge
I saw it with my own eyes
He could be anyone of you
Allow him return to his family”

Rhubarb comes upon the captured ranger making this plea

His eyes never leave hers
A sign of respect
To the victor

“I was Ug-Ton
Now, I have no name
You have taken my name
I demand you accept my death
In exchange for my name
For I must die as Ug-Ton

I have nowhere to return
Here or in the afterlife
Without a name
I can not be at peace”

He pauses for as long as possible
Before adding

“If my death is of no value
I have much I can share”

Raising one eyebrow
Hoping to intrigue the halfling

[NihilisticGnome]

"If any of you want I'll be happy to take you on as guards. We can help in more subtle ways. Don't need to fight direct." Satria knew a few for some days, and even with the slight encouraging success with her bow, she didn't want to be alone on the road.

The road to the east
Is a proper road
Though fields and estates
Banditry though not impossible
Is kept to a minimum

Along the way are country houses
Ready to receive and open to trade
If time is used efficiently
Satria may make it to Needlemeer
Before sunset

[NihilisticGnome]

Skittles stares at the small ring on her smaller finger, swirling colors as the Bard sighs relief and smiles at the burden now lifted. At his suggestion to publicize the night's events, Skittles looks back up. "It's likely best we keep this between ourselves, for now. The Baroness and her men won't much fancy heroic tales of their own deaths. Keep yourself safe, now."

As Rhubarb leaves to deal with her own Ug-ton issue, she remarks, "Those rangers face death if they return, now. Better to die here than die slowly later. Or," looking to the now battle-crazed Dufander, spoiling for war, "Perhaps they would look for this Twinhammer fellow with you, as well. Signing up for the only side which may take them, if they could even be trusted." Looing back down at her new ring, she almost absent-mindedly adds, "Or just kill them and be done with it. Safer, too."

The swirling colors seem to call to her, as she looks down into them once more. Raising it up into the light of the rising sunout the window, she touches the stone with interest...

Spoiler: OoC

Show

In for a penny, in for a pound... If this thing is intelligent, she'll be happy for the Will save boost.

Lets activate the ring, pointing it out the back window. In case it matters and/or rips her hand/arm off, she's wearing it on her right and touching it with her left.

Fingers crossed...

WOOSH
A great gust of wind
Swirls around the room
Knocking everything from its place

The inn shutters
As a whirlwind is contained
Within an upper bedroom
There are shouts of panic
As debris circles about

The whirlwind does slow
Condensing into the form of a dwarf
Old, grizzled, with a long grey beard
He carries a knotted staff taller than he

“Greedy mortal
Now you’ve done it
If you ever
Take that ring
Off your finger
I’ll kill you”
Speaks Enki the Djinni

[JbeJ275]

"Well ****." Says Dufandir in response to the creatures sudden appearance. "Who the hell are you and what are you doing here?"

[NihilisticGnome]

"Well ****." Says Dufandir in response to the creatures sudden appearance. "Who the hell are you and what are you doing here?"

I’ve been here the whole time
I saw what you did
“Ruthlessly efficient”
He smiles maliciously
“I’m here to serve
As long as you follow my rules

The ring must be worn
By one who is not bound by morality
Once put in place
It can never be removed
Or she’s dead
If she has a change of heart
She's dead
If she tries to do good or bad
She's dead”


An outburst from Stringfellow
“You killed my beloved”
The bard lunges forward
But begins twisting and turning
As he catches flame
And does scream in a most horrible way
As his body is reduced to ash

“I want nothing to do with mortal affairs
You’re all so conflicted
You have no idea what you want
Why don't you just leave me alone

I won’t do it anymore
Can you imagine
How often I’m called upon
To undo some evil
The very evil
A warlord used me to accomplish
Its exhausting”
The old man takes a seat

“Be your greedy
Little mortal selves
And I’m at your command”
With but a minor demonstration of his power
He does produce an abundance of fresh food
"Enki
Djinni of Fortune"

Enki uses Scorching Ray on Stringfellow
Evocation [Fire]
Level: Sor/Wiz 2
Components: V, S
Casting Time: 1 standard action
Range: Close (25 ft. + 5 ft./2 levels)
Effect: One or more rays
Duration: Instantaneous
Saving Throw: None
Spell Resistance: Yes

Enki uses Major Creation
Conjuration (Creation)
Level: Sor/Wiz 5
Casting Time: 10 minutes
Range: Close (25 ft. + 5 ft./2 levels)
Duration: See text

[JbeJ275]

As the Djin burns the entertainer to ash, Dufandir backs slowly out of the room, and proceeds at a quick pace out of the inn, warning the people downstairs to leave as well for magic beyond their understanding had happened and threatened to do great harm.

[NihilisticGnome]

As the Djin burns the entertainer to ash, Dufandir backs slowly out of the room, and proceeds at a quick pace out of the inn, warning the people downstairs to leave as well for magic beyond their understanding had happened and threatened to do great harm.

Many common folk do flee
With Dufander
Strange magics afoot
Away from the inn
Into the cold night

Rhubarb
Stands before a pair of captured rangers
With a group of villagers
Skittles for now
Remains upstairs in the inn

None having taken her offer
Satria hears commotion
While attending to her cart

[NihilisticGnome]

"Dragon..? What? Coral asks, looking behind her, over at Inanna, confused.

What was this crazy octopus on about? Or perhaps, there was more to Inanna's heritage in the waking world? Coral couldn't know for sure, but she didn't want to leave her friend far behind.

"She is my friend," Coral says. "How far does she need to go?"

At the temple of the dead
High atop the Felinian mountain
An event most strange
When Coral’s body
Prepared for burial
But without proper ritual
Does resume her mortal existence

Opening her eyes
Sitting up upon the stone table
For the druids much confusion
But Wave does embrace her friend
Happy to see her again

Behind Coral’s eyes
Inanna does live
Masquerading as her naive friend
In full control
Of what once was Coral’s body

[WindStruck]

Inanna, or Coral (?). The one with the elf body in the great tree, awakens with a start, bleary, disoriented, utterly confused. Then the "reality" dawns on her. She puts the slippers on, as she is told, and follows Olum out.

As she's doing so, a thought occurs to her. Much like before, when she was awoken one time, her naivety, trustfulness, panic being preyed upon.. could what she was being told be trusted? Head whirling from side to side, Inanna first skitters to the central of the chamber near the stairs, looking down. Something in her had to be sure whatever this emergency was, was really happening.

Though in hindsight, perhaps later she would think that leaving this place was exactly what she would have wanted anyway.

[JbeJ275]

Wanting to leave this inn behind before any more violence emerged Dufandir struck off into the woods. He knew of one bandit campsite, perhaps the signs of that would could potentially lead him to finding others. On the way he attempted to spot the rangers, with it being night and then being human they’d have a poor chance of spotting him before he spotted them, and no reason to ambush his either way. He made sure to sheath Twinforge’s weapon at least for the moment.

[Ripptor]

Suddenly alone with the suddenly Djinn, Skittles takes note of Rhubarb and their two prisoners below before addressing the Outsider, weighing her words carefully in her head before she speaks.

"Greedy? Is it greed to accept reward after saving a life?" Sitting down at the well-laden table with him, she takes a bit off a leg of meat before continuing, "Is it Greed to admire the beauty of a diamond? The shape of a well-hewn sculpt? The craftsmanship of a masterwork crossbow? To want such things when it's your due?"

Leaning back in the simple chair, she savors another taste of cooked meat, for the first time in a while. "Greed is evil, but self-interest? Taking care of me and mine? That's just the natural order of things. Survival of the fittest. But a bloated, glutinous greed? That takes more than needs, than it can handle? Unfit. A bird too fat, which can no longer fly. Destined for another's dinner."

And a third bite, taking the last of the meat from the bone before leaving the thigh on the plate. Now full, without getting fat. "If you just want to ride along and watch as I do my best to survive, then you can join the bandwagon..." Raising an eyebrow at the Djinn, "Alas, you must have some self-interest of your own? Something I could do for your-self, such that you would do something for my-self?"

Spoiler: OoC

Show

No Bluff check, these are Skittles true thoughts, to live the best life she can without going overboard. To have nice things, to have good friends and family, and to ensure the security of that life. She knows she has to share to have friends, and to not go overboard or invite enmity and internal rot. True, evil greed (The sin of Gluttony) consumes from everyone around itself, until finally consuming itself.

Hoping to establish a give-and-take relationship with the Djinn... He seems to be trying to take control of his situation, after having no control for so long, used up in a cycle of Good and Evil, undoing his last doing with little-to-no say in the matter. Perhaps I can trade favors, or at least keep him entertained enough to keep him appeased?

[NihilisticGnome]

Inanna, or Coral (?). The one with the elf body in the great tree, awakens with a start, bleary, disoriented, utterly confused. Then the "reality" dawns on her. She puts the slippers on, as she is told, and follows Olum out.

As she's doing so, a thought occurs to her. Much like before, when she was awoken one time, her naivety, trustfulness, panic being preyed upon.. could what she was being told be trusted? Head whirling from side to side, Inanna first skitters to the central of the chamber near the stairs, looking down. Something in her had to be sure whatever this emergency was, was really happening.

Though in hindsight, perhaps later she would think that leaving this place was exactly what she would have wanted anyway.

Inanna steps out the large open window
Onto a thick tree branch
Caretaker Olum offering an hand
The ground
Hundreds of feet below
Is nothing but a dizzying blur

So massive is the branch
It is wide enough to run upon
And run they must
For close behind are their pursuers

Caretaker Olum laments his failure
Pleading with Inanna to trust him
As he steps off the branch
His slippers gripping on to the underside

“You must do the same”
He says
Offering his hand

[NihilisticGnome]

Wanting to leave this inn behind before any more violence emerged Dufandir struck off into the woods. He knew of one bandit campsite, perhaps the signs of that would could potentially lead him to finding others. On the way he attempted to spot the rangers, with it being night and then being human they’d have a poor chance of spotting him before he spotted them, and no reason to ambush his either way. He made sure to sheath Twinforge’s weapon at least for the moment.

Covered by the night
Dufander slips past hovels
Lit with the warmth of home
Traveling through fields of grain
Past watchful shepherds minding their flock

Shunning the road
Dufander escapes
The forest is alive with sound
Nocturnal predators stalk the underbrush
None dare challenge the determined dwarf

Through rough terrain
Moving overland as well as any ranger
All through the night
Until at the break of day
Dufander comes upon
Vultures tearing at the flesh
Of three bandits
Dead in their camp

[WindStruck]

At first Inanna thought they would be rappelling straight down the trunk of the tree. Then she thought they'd simply be running along the branches.

Then she sees the clever ruse, hiding directly under a large branch, with no visible clues to give them away.

She takes Olum's hands, closes her eyes, and begins to walk upside-down.

Spoiler: ooc

Show

By the way, in my last post I may have delayed slightly looking down at the commotion. Did Inanna see anything?