What Swims in Stone
22st of Lamashan 4707 A.R. (Absalom Reckoning)
"Kori, are you sure?" Mina asks for what must be the eight or ninth time since you had come up with the plan last night. Some might indeed consider it unwise to linger in the company of a man who had proven himself willing to tangle your thoughts and was interested in tomes of blackest magic.
"Yes, he needs us," you answer firmly
By 'some' you of course mean all four of your companions. Even Sirim, with whom your logic ran truest, pointed out that in the world of form between the Spheres Conceptual and Elemental, many things may yet happen that are not logical. But those arguments have already been made and it would not do to huddle conspiratorially in the middle of the street. They depart and you are left with the company of Loric Gavhaul and your own thoughts... or at least that is what you think until you spot a lithe shadow peering out from between 'saltbush' branches by the side of the road.
When he emerges from the inn, Gavhaul seems too distracted to pay any attention to lurking dreams given form. In fact, he almost does not seem to notice
you.
"Ah... Master Akorian, what can I do for you?" There is a weariness to those words, that tries to make itself sound merely busy but in truth bites deeper.
"I was wondering if you had read anything of the book?"
"No, as I said it is not my primary interest. I'm off to talk with some interested folk from Oppara, hopefully tie things back together. Captain Leontas will be joining me. You are welcome to come along as well." The imposing square faced sellsword who had come out in his wake grunts what might charitably be called an affirmative, though he seems to have as much goodwill to the sunny morning as you do.
"The Captain was just telling me of his experience with the imperial legions. Your own companion wields a Taldan officer sword, yes? To hear his accounts, it is in better hands." Smiling, the mage pats himself down, shakes his head in annoyance, and declares that he had forgotten something before sauntering back inside.
Gavhaul Bluff vs Akorian Sense Motive: 15 vs 23 (Success)
Rather than try your hand at unwelcome small talk, your gaze wanders up the handsome limestone cladding of the inn, up to Gavhaul's room. There, for just a moment, you spy an eerie glow fighting against the light of the sun, yips and clattering just barely reaching your ears. Then, clear as embers on cold stone, you see a pair of bony spikes protrude
from the stone of the building, slipping down, and away on the other side.
Akorian Perception (DC 15): 1d20+9-4 (Distance) = 24 (Success)
"What in Heavens and Hells was that?" Leontas asks, his hand rising instinctively to make some kind of warding gesture, which he doesn't finish.
That, you rather strongly suspect, is Cob's 'birdy, bony ghost'. Looks like you'd found who had been following Mina and the others around yesterday, though having shared perhaps a dozen words since you left Augustana with the Captain you certainly are not included to do more than shrug. "Whatever it is, that's someone else's trouble now."
??? Stealth: 1d20+14 = 15 (Critical Failure)
Had Gavhaul forgotten to send out his watcher or... had he set it out to follow
you today only to discover that you would not be going with the others, which required its recall and sending out again?
"You see rather fond of solving other peoples' problems," the sellsword says, the tips of his mustache twitching in what might have been either smile or grimace.
"When then pay me," you agree.
"No heroics then?
Knew what grandee was going to pay you, whatever they call them around here, Grand High Jabberers?" He obviously doesn't have any particular love of those who would play hero.
What do you say?
[] Admit that you had talked rewards with DeVorge before going against Breolia in full
[] Keep to your story, you just happened to luck out
[] Write in
OOC: Enjoy. 
