Session 15

October 30th

The party heads to the Black Stag. They talk to the barkeep, and she is in fact exhasperated when they ask about Iban. She asks why their group keeps going back to Durz, and Eden explains how, on the contrary, they keep getting sent back to him. She sighs and explains his reputation is that of someone who meddles by words only, never action, and Iban has involved himself with him every since Durz showed up a few years ago. They're led into a kitchen room and once inside, Neevan picks up a pitcher, pours liquid into another glass, and after moving these around reveals a door in the wall leading down.

They walk through. The door closes behind them. They follow the stairs into something that seems akin to a sitting room on one side, and science lab on the other. It's there where they see a young man at the table who resembles Neevan heavily. He takes them in and identifies them as V's friends, noting the fighter's abscense. The man who seems to be Iban doesn't know where V might be, and Ophelia is in this moment convined he is a liar and possibly murderer. Eden trusts him. Della is just happy to be here. Iban explains what they talked about, and how V left intending to return with the party. Ophelia is very, very clearly untrusting of Iban still and he notes that outloud. Eden offers then to cast a zone of truth to put everyone's (Ophelia's) mind at ease. They both agree to this.

Iban looks between them all and says: "I do not know where V is, he left here soundly, I did not harm him, nor do I have plans to."

Ophelia believes this outcome, but she isn't happy. It's not often she's so wrong about something she's so sure about. She presses Eden, stepping into the zone herself to ensure the magic is working, and even with that confirmation isn't assured.

Eden drops the zone and Iban pulls out a brass pocket watch to check the hour, and then finally asks why exactly they're there. For some reason, Della pipes up that Durz said Iban may be able to help them. He squints at them, and does manage to determine that Della has lycanthropy. He grows incredulous with the lot of them and starts to wonder aloud if Durz is losing his mind. With a sigh, he offers them tea and a seat, much to Ophelia's annoyance. As he does, he tells Della to say what they will say about their affliction. They take a deep breath and described a time, long ago, when the beast passed by near their town. They hadn't seen it but they simply...went missing while out in the woods. They were gone for years and taken for dead. They don't know what happened in that time. Della had always been a druid, but after returning their magic was corrupted and slowly became moreso, until every form they shifted into was a strange, twisted animal.

At this point Iban distributed the tea. Ophelia doesn't trust it, still, but Eden drinks his.

Della goes on, describing their encounter with Artem and his pack. Iban asks if they remember the first time they shift and Della falls silent. After prompting, Della admits they don't remember what happens when they shift, willing or unwilling. Iban asks about their plans for that night, and they explain. Ophelia thinks he doesn't believe in them. Della knows he is being sincere. To their collective surprise, Iban asks if he can join them. Della and Eden are on board, and Ophelia is seething. Eden takes the opportunity to describe the previous night to Iban, including knocking Della out reverting them. He also mentions their plans to investigate the east wall where the bag lady has been spotted. Iban does not know what the bag lady is. The group agrees to meet at the North gate in two hours. As they end the conversation Iban says he hopes whoever Della hurt is dead. The notion cuts Della deeply, and Ophelia gets a nervous inkling that maybe he has been sincere this entire time.

Once they stand together in the bar, Ophelia asks Della if they're alright to keep going. They try to insist they are, but they're visibly shaken and Eden suggests that instead of investigating they try to relax for the evening. Della is almost frustrated at the suggestion Eden makes, but he presses the matter, saying they all should recoup before leaving. He points out that with V gone, it's important to stay sharp and focused. When they mention not having their journal or tea, he suggests they leave early to go retrieve their things from the wolf pack. This idea perks them up consierably and after some convincing, Ophelia agrees it would be fine for them to go alone to retrieve it. She does go with Della outside of town, at least, to check in on Basil and ensure they leave safely.

Della picks up their pace to a brisk run, much to Basil's delight, and they let their anxieties leave them as they follow the path by memory. When they reach the crevice in the cliff-face, they find their pack just inside. They consider seeking Artem out, but decide they don't want to talk to anyone. Instead they take a meandering path back to town with Basil drifting more off course until they have to direct the lion away from his deer.

Eden tells Ophelia he's going on a stroll, one that does happen to take him back to the house of healing. Durz is sitting outside again and expresses his surprise that Eden returned so soon. He explains the change in plans for the evening, and that he wanted to spend his free time here, getting his hair braided. Though surprised, he accepts this and invited Eden back to the small dorm he calls his home. He begins braiding Eden's hair and a silence settles between them for several minutes. Durz asks about Eden, if he ever does anything for himself. Eden replies he isn't sure. Durz asks if anyone else has ever done things for him, as Eden the person, not the prophet. Eden tells him about Enoch, how he was a good friend, and he worries a bit that he may not still be Eden's friend after a mistake he made. Sensing a shift in the tone of conversation, Durz changes the subject.

Eden tries to ask Durz about himself, how multiple people know of him, and Durz says Iban is the one who comes to him for his strange knowledge. He asks Durz what his home was like, and Durz explains he's from one of the last remaining elf cities tucked away near the base of the very mountains they're on. He tells Eden he hasn't returned in a long time. All while speaking he works methodically on Eden's hair, leaving lingering touches along his neck and shoulders, until announcing that his work is done. Durz stands then, retrieving a hand mirror from the closet and handing it to Eden before pulling down a sheet pinned over the rooms floor length mirror. A memory comes to Eden from the hand mirror, though—frustration, anger, grief, and Durz's expression, with longer fangs flashing beneath his scowl. He seems to be trying to look over his shoulder before slamming the mirror down in frustration. Eden blinks, and the moment is gone.

Durz noticed his change in demeanor and asks about it, to which Eden explains his ability, and notes that Durz has had the mirror for some time now. He seems surprised by this information, but brushes it aside as he takes the mirror from Eden's hand. Rather than keep talking, he moves to kiss along the cleric's neck. Although uncertain at first, Eden agrees he'd like to stay until his time runs out.