Monday; 4th of Muvay, 1024 (cont)
Upon entering the cave, something shifted. The world turned back and white, and in the distance a manor cropped up, forest surrounding us. Local. We weren’t transported across the world but still... a strange happenstance.
We decided to get a look at the area, gather our bearings. Decided climbing to the top of the building would be our best bet. They volunteered me. So I did. On top of the pergola I heard a baby crying. All of this rings bad news. I tied a rope for the others to climb up after me.
The two rabbits jumped up like it was nothing. Of course. Make me do the work when they could have done it themselves, easily. Weren’t even polite enough to pretend it was worth me doing. At least Aggma used the rope, though I bet she could have also just hopped and climbed without it.
Oris suggested maybe dancing would get us out of this illusion. He began to play on a flute to get us to do so. I went inside the building disabling pressure plates I saw along the hallway.
On the second trap I made a mistake and got myself shocked for the trouble. Christopher grinned down at me.
I am leaving this party after this task. Why would I bother staying? None of them treat the rest like companions. I suffer the worst of it. I can just go back to guarding the manor peacefully.
At the end of the hall there was a room with ghostly figures about the room. The crying baby is in the cradle. There’s a woman, covered in blood from the waist down, unconscious or dead on the floor.
As I went back to fetch my rope and tie it to an arrow, intending to shoot it at the cradle to pull it out... The illusion seemed to shatter and we were faced with these dancing lights again. I was pulled into a compulsion to dance, frustratingly.
The fight was a blur. Over in under a minute. I was gravely wounded by energy arcing through them. Christopher disappeared and didn’t seem much help... however, when he saw my state he stood like a sentinel by my side. As frustrating as it is I didn’t see what he did - I didn’t see what he didn’t do. I can’t hold it against him and can appreciate what I know.
Zachary was haggard but alive. The body of a woman lay across the way, she didn’t make it. I searched for any kind of trinket or memento for her family. There was a jeweled dagger that seemed pretty important, but beneath her was a small orb that hummed and moved. I took it and gave it to Aggma who inspected it - she hadn’t seen anything like it. We decided to bring it to the Bells for a closer look by experts. I’m carrying both on me. Not that I distrust the others, but I trust myself more.
I brought the dagger to the tavernkeeper, Julie, and she told me that it belonged to a Cladia. She disappeared about a week back and nobody found her. They assumed she disappeared off to have a better life. No family in town. However she does have family in Blind-by-Sea. I asked her to send along the dagger with the unfortunate news of her passing.
I have the money out split evenly among everyone. Even if I’m not exactly pleased completely with this group, we are a team. I will not be the weak link. I will not be the reason it falls apart.
On the way back to town we heard an announcement that the Hunter’s Guild was holding a fundraiser. On the same day as the orphanage’s. Sounds like Harris wants revenge, indirectly, on Christopher. Could be wrong.
Lady Trudgeon was none too pleased to hear about this. She didn’t seem to have any idea as to why he would target her. Likely has some sort of plan, she thinks, but no specifics. She asked us to figure out what his plans are.
Oris started coming up with some kind of plan. Wanted me to find out where and when. Aggma was supposed to get sticky goo... for some reason. Oris said they didn’t want to sabotage Harris’ fundraiser but it seems like we don’t have the same opinion on what counts as sabotage.
I head off, but Aggma caught up. We head off to the Bells to ask what that orb is.