Arty Fox

Avonshire - D&D Based Adventure

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Baronfjørd "Blackberry" Chedgusah Dragon Born, Monk (Astral self), Level 03 HP: 24 / 24 Armor Class: 15 Conditions: N/A Location: outside Bed & Breakfast Action: N/A Bonus Action: N/A Reaction: N/A Ki: 3/3

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“Oh.”

Madame Cicily L’Rose; Aunt Ceecee. His fears had been confirmed. He looked back into the gloom of the B&B, and then shooting a glance upwards through the awning, hoping that Lizbeth wasn’t listening in from some unseen corner.

There wasn’t anything else BlackBerry could say when Victoria explained the meaning behind the axe. But still he tried to hunt for the right words to say, something he could do to at least ease their fears a bit if not rid them entirely, he opened his mouth a few times but without any luck of finding the magic words.. He took a quick step back to allow Lady Kathryn to rip the axe from the wood. It was an awful thing to watch, even from behind the closed helmet BlackBerry had no doubt of the expression of anguish and fury written on her face.

His own looming sense of dread was not helped in the slightly by Kosara seemingly losing the plot as she descended into giggles, which then morphed into a concerning hysterical laughing fit. BlackBerry had turned, at Victorias direction, just in time to see a rat scamper into the shadows. He managed to restrain a flinch when Kosara came skipping over to them all, still wearing a giddy grin as if she had won a prize, and handing a note to Marita.

“Is she quite all there?” He whispered, leaning to the side closer to Lady Kathryn. “I know some diseases could cause hysteria, if she had been bitten, but to happen this fast…”

BlackBerry tried to lock eyes with the rest of the party for their reactions to see if this was just a ‘normal’ Kosara occurrence or something else entirely. He had already gathered that the woman wasn’t entirely…there, or at least she was just very excitable at every opportunity to cause violence and chaos. He wasn’t sure which he preferred. Admittedly though, he was also excited by the prospect of a fight, of the opportunity to get his revenge on those ruffians who had managed to beat them all earlier and get away with it.

He quickly gave Kosara a visual once over and couldn’t see any fresh bites, plus he hadn’t heard her cry out in pain at all. So decided that she likely hadn’t been bitten.

“The middle of town. That would be by the fountain would it not?” Jabbing a thumb in his best guess-timate of the firection. “If we head now we can get these quickly, and in good time too.”

He let the words hold for a moment, and then in a much quieter voice, trying hard to make sure only the party around him could hear he said. “If we are to try anything else I suggest we keep our voices down.” He cocked his head to the side at the sound of scuffling from outside their meager circle of light beneath the awning. “Im certain our Audience is still about. Call me paranoid but I suggest we follow Mr Mallards advice and be wary of any prying eyes or ears in the shadows.”

Avonshire - D&D Based Adventure

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Baronfjørd "Blackberry" Chedgusah Dragon Born, Monk (Astral self), Level 03 HP: 24 / 24 Armor Class: 15 Conditions: N/A Location: outside Bed & Breakfast Action: N/A Bonus Action: N/A Reaction: N/A Ki: 3/3

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BlackBerry waited. He waited some more, hearing his heart pounding furiously in his chest. And yet, nothing happened. It became apparent to him that nothing was going to happen, at least not yet anyway. He let his arm fall from his cheek, and pulled up from his slight slouch he had curled up into in preparation for the absent fight. He looked to the others with a frown and expecting similar looks of confusion.

Once again, it was Kosara who was the first one to act. BlackBerry sucked on his teeth as she damn near bounced out the door, with the loud warning outside still ringing in the air. But at the very least, he felt a little safer not being out in the middle of the street just that moment. His limbs were tense and he felt like a spring coiled far too tight, he needed something to punch, something to do to get all this frantic energy out of him.

“Kosara, please wait a moment for the rest of us.”

He hurried over and out of the door, but something embedded in the door frame caught his wandering eyes . Not getting past the porch he spun to a stop to investigate the what had caught his gaze. It was an axe embedded in the wood of the door frame.

“Well…Someone was definitely here.” Tentatively he reached out a hand to the axe handle, but then quickly pulled it back. Instead choosing to look back into the room around the door frame. “An axe has been buried in the door frame. What are the odds, do we suppose, it is a warning from our Audience?”

Avonshire - D&D Based Adventure

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Baronfjørd "Blackberry" Chedgusah Dragon Born, Monk (Astral self), Level 03 HP: 24 / 24 Armor Class: 15 Conditions: N/A Location: Inside Bed & Breakfast Action: Insight (22) Bonus Action: N/A Reaction: N/A Ki: 3/3

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“Ah, of course not. My mistake.” The ridges of his brow rose with the animated apology to Lizbeths response, and he mentally crossed out that idea. Turning to Lady Kathryn he added. “Made of some pretty stern stuff, is she not?”

BlackBerry was glad to see Lizbeth managing to hold firm against the situation, but understandably still distressed. Momentarily BlackBerry wondered if she had gone through something similar before, his smile tightening a little at the thought. He watched her red eyes, clearly still raw from crying earlier dart between the three of them who had come to reassure her. It was heartwarming to see the party come to the childs aid. With the other two now chiming in with their own reassurances he took a step back from Lizbeth hoping to not overwhelm her any further. It looked to him that Marita was currently having the best luck with the child, in any case.

“Silver?” He repeated the word. Then realisation smacked him harder than any blow before. “oh…yes.”

Were-rats and Were-wolves…the two were similar in nature and clearly that also meant their weaknesses and possibly even their strength as well. BlackBerry covered his mouth and let out a long, drawn out breath through his nose as the five stages of grief rolled through him. Did that mean werewolves were also resistant to being stabbed? He stashed the question away for later.

The boom at the door hooked and drew his gaze. His heart nearly stopped with fright, his nerves were well and truly being tested this evening. Kosara was the first to react and lead the charge to the door, meanwhile BlackBerry snapped his attention back to Lizbeth. If there really were more of those ruffians outside trying to break in then he didn’t want the child to be anywhere near the oncoming fight.

“Upstairs. Now.” He barked at Lizbeth, grabbing and spinning her around by the arm, urging the child towards the stair banister he could see looming in the darkness. “Under no circumstance do you come down till sunlight. Understand?”

The last part wasn’t much of a question, and BlackBerry didn’t wait for an answer or to see if Lizbeth had in fact gone upstairs. Instead he turned back to face the door and took the moment Kosara offered to re-wrap his scarf back tightly into place around his neck; he didn’t need the loose fabric either restricting his movements or becoming something to snatch. Finally, with a nod to Kosara, he was ready.

Avonshire - D&D Based Adventure

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Baronfjørd "Blackberry" Chedgusah Dragon Born, Monk (Astral self), Level 03 HP: x / 24 Armor Class: 15 Conditions: N/A Location: Inside Bed & Breakfast Action: Attempting to Calm Lizbeth Bonus Action: N/A Reaction: N/A Ki: 3/3

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Victoria’s answer gave him some relief and BlackBerry visibly relaxed a little in the shoulders; wandering into a lodging house filled with rodent-thropes or were-rats or whatever was the last thing they needed tonight. Granted it was one of many things they didn’t need tonight.

But it was the conversation drifting over from Kathryn and child, Lizbeth, that held his attention. Casting rapid glances at the others he could see they were connecting a few dots, a few pieces of the puzzle as well. The picture it was painting was not a good one, he chewed his cheek with worry. Were-rats becoming more active, people going missing, screams echoing around the town, and a hoard of rats following them. A worrying fear that they had all just put a big target on this place and everyone in it suddenly came to mind.

“I think that would be the best idea.” Whispering a reply to Victoria. He turned round to cast an eye at the door almost expecting it to be broken open right that second. “If you have any spare silver or any weapon at all to give her. Let us take a moment to reassure her though.”

BlackBerry stepped forwards gently towards Kathryn and Lizbeth, hoping he wouldn’t scare the poor child any further. He had to keep calm, or at least keep an air of calm about him in case Lizbeth picked up on the worry and fear currently ruling his thoughts. The best thing to do, in his mind, was to find something to keep her occupied and safe inside for a while. Or at the very least away from their following conversation. Maybe he could ask her to check on the other guests?

“Hello there, Lizbeth? My Name is BlackBerry. I must say it does sound like you have had a scary evening. Were you scared?” BlackBerry asked, looking to watch how Lizbeth reacted and figure out the best way to keep her calm. He continued, in a stage whisper like it were a big secret he was about to say. “You can tell me, I shan’t tell anyone If you were.”

“But.” He raised a finger to emphasise his next very important point. “You did the right thing keeping the door closed until someone you knew came along.” He gestured to Lady Kathryn, and then back to the other party members who had entered. “And I bet your guests would think so too. In fact, I wonder if they might be a little bit scared. Perhaps you could check on them and make sure they are doing alright as well, in a bit?”

A thought came to him in that moment. He paused for a moment and tapped his finger tips with his thumb as he wondered whether he should ask his next question, knowing it could cause the poor girl even more worry if he didn’t smooth out the thought fast enough.

“The note your Aunt left…does it appear to be her hand writing?” He tried to keep his voice calm, make the question sound innocent with a small smile, as if the answer wouldn’t hold a terrifying thought. Hurriedly, he lay down a little lie for the girl to hide in “Or perhaps one of her friends wrote it for her when they came to fetch her?”

Avonshire - D&D Based Adventure

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Baronfjørd "Blackberry" Chedgusah Dragon Born, Monk (Astral self), Level 03 HP: x / 24 Armor Class: 15 Conditions: N/A Location: Outside Silversmith -> Bed & Breakfast Action: N/A Bonus Action: N/A Reaction: N/A Ki: 3/3

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Blackberry followed after the group without stopping. He no longer needed, or wanted, to guess that the noises he still heard surrounding them belonged to the rats scuttling outside the party’s zone of light.

Marita confirmed what he had feared; the ‘Camp’ was now completely out of the question.

“Then just where could we go?” He moved alongside Marita and matched her strides. “Wandering the streets all night is hardly a sound idea, even without our…audience. I worry a decision may be made for us before too long.”

The scream splintered the nigh. BlackBerry nearly jumped out of his scales, the unease churning in his stomach boiled into a moment of panic. His gaze snapped towards it, somewhere further down the road and out of sight. He took a few steps forward, past the sliver o flight coming from the openening door, and past the party before he checked himself just at the edge of the party’s circle of light. He wanted to help. His fingers began tap, tap, tapping upon the hilt of his sword betraying the churning anxiety he was trying to hide. Two other scream quickly went up from another direction, he couldn’t pinpoint it even as he turned his head this way and that.

Kathryn slipped into the building, pushing past the child that had opened it. From what he had overheard the child was possibly all alone at the moment. He pushed down the flabbergasted anger that rose in him; someone had left the poor child alone on a night like this? In a town filled with were-rats? Whomever her guardian was had better have a bloody good reason for wandering off. Through the open door he could hear Kathryn trying to console the child. She sounded young, and it made his heart twist at the thought of her all alone, in a place like this.

Following the example of the others, he slipped into the building, and let out a breath at the relief now being awayy from their unwanted audience. At least for now.

“Guests?” He had caught the Victoria's comment just as he came in. “Guests as in…” He gestured with his chin towards the door, hoping she understood what he left unsaid.

Guests like our audience outside?

Avonshire - D&D Based Adventure

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Baronfjørd "Blackberry" Chedgusah Dragon Born, Monk (Astral self), Level 03 HP: x / 24 Armor Class: 15 Conditions: N/A Location: Outside Silversmith Action: Checking if Rats are likely to to attack (nature): 19 Bonus Action: N/A Reaction: N/A Ki: 3/3

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Nature, see if they’re looking to attack or just following: 19
The rats are massing in the open, which isn't normal under usual circumstances. Many of them appear to be very curious about you guys, but they don't seem to be massing to attack, so far as you are aware.

“Hm, wonderful.” Victoria confirmed his worst fears and BlackBerry near chewed upon his feigned happiness, dripping with sarcasm. “Always a pleasure to have happy guests dropping in unannounced.”

He let Kosara to do her work to apply the spell; twisting around slightly to avoid being in the way of her movements. This time, he learned not to look at the object as the light burst from it. Staring down at it he couldn’t help but think to himself, with a small smile.

I have a magic weapon. How delightful. The others will be so pleased to hear of this back home.

BlackBerry knew the effect was temporary but while it lasted it did make him a little be happy nonetheless. He just didn’t realise how temporary it would be as he watched, feeling somewhat disappointed, Kosara quickly move the magical light over to Maritas shield. The light disappearing from his shortsword as it bloomed from the shield. It made more sense though as Marita could still wield the shield for light and defence in a fight, which would be a darn-sight more useful that he could have done with the sword against their foes.

Wanting to stay useful he turned back again towards the fog behind the group to where Lady Kathryns thrown torch had landed, loudly, a few moments ago. His stomach dropped in time with his jaw. That was a lot of rats. In the spluttering torch light there was no where for them to hide. No Mercy from the sight of their writhing, scurrying, bodies crashing over each other.

A strained whisper escaped. “Oh no.” He dropped into his usual fighting stance and grabbed his shortsword ready to fight.

But when nothing more came from the rats, aside from the panicked squeaks or argumentative squeals to each other, they hopped in and out of the circle of light from the torch he came to realise something.

“I…I would wager they’re not here to attack us. At least, not yet anyway.” BlackBerry locked eyes with one, that squealed and then ran back into the darkness. Repressing a shiver he continued. “Rather more likely keeping an eye on us, for now. Reporting back to their masters, no doubt.”

Avonshire - D&D Based Adventure

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Baronfjørd "Blackberry" Chedgusah Dragon Born, Monk (Astral self), Level 03 HP: 24 / 24 Armor Class: 15 Conditions: N/A Location: To the Silversmiths -> Outside Silversmith Action: N/A Bonus Action: N/A Reaction: N/A Ki: 3/3

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BlackBerry nodded along to Lady Kathryns assessment, and possible wishful thinking. He sent a few silent prayers out towards the unseen folk of the down wishing for their safety for the evening, and beyond hopefully. He was glad to hear however that there was an intention to ‘hammer out the plan later’.

“We can only wish for their safety at least.”

Following after the party, again Blackberry felt something stir at the back of his neck, a feeling he assumed to be like hairs rising on end. He kept stopping every few steps trying to pinpoint the noise of scuttling feet, or claws, or what have you, cocking his head to the side in a futile attempt to hear better, he glared down the side passages and at the shadows trying to pick out anything from the abyss. But frustratingly, worryingly, each time he tried to listen to the noises, or pull apart the shadows with his eyes they all stopped. It was like trying to hold sand between his fingers so that each time he thought with triumph, or horror, he had seen something only for his eyes to then adjust and reveal that it had simply been a rag or piece of litter. He sneered at his latest imagines monster, a collection of stray cobbles, and then hastened after the party again. He had only fallen a few paces behind but anxiety made him hurry to stay within sight of them all.

While he arrived in time for Lady Kathryn to begin banging feverishly upon the Silversmiths door, looking as stoic as ever and leaking an orange glow from the cracks, it was Kosara’s casting of magic that held his attention. He hadn’t had the chance to witness properly earlier, in the midst of the skirmish, to notice her gestures she weaved in the air.

“Ah how wonderful. Thank you, Kosara.” Blinking away the spots in his eyes, he had been looking at the sword when light had burst from it. “I could take charge of one, if that is agreeable? Perhaps using my own sword as a light source as well? If it cannot cause harm to others, then it may as well bring light to us.”

Looking to Lady Kathryn confirmed he wasn’t the only one on edge. The circle of light he huddled in with the others provided some meagre sense of safety for him.

“Has anyone else the notion they are being watched?” BlackBerry again turned to look down the way they had come.

Avonshire - D&D Based Adventure

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Baronfjørd "Blackberry" Chedgusah Dragon Born, Monk (Astral self), Level 03 HP: 24 / 24 Armor Class: 15 Conditions: N/A Location: To te Silver Smiths Action: N/A Bonus Action: N/A Reaction: N/A Ki: 3/3

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Without any apparent word from Lea Blackberry assumed she had either not heard him or otherwise busy at the moment in the kitchen. Part of him wanted to go in and check, he bounced back and forth on his feet as his thoughts wrangled with each other, just to make sure the woman was okay and that she knew they had head off but with everyone else leaving he felt it would be best to follow after.

Lea would realise they had left whenever she came back into the room. Probably. Hopefully.

The door ‘clunked’ close behind him, and the cold air hit him like a brick wall snatching the breath from his lungs. The horrid chill would have brought up a rash of goose-bumps if he were a creature of skin instead of scales. He sucked on his teeth and let out a chattering ”ooh” and his breath, turned to vapour, joined the darkening fog.

“Gods above!” He unravelled his scarf a turn attempting to cover his shoulders and arm. “I swear, the weather worsen by the hour.”

He trotted along with the party. His eyes turned this way and that over the eerily empty streets decked in garland and streamers hanging forlornly in the still air. The whole place seemed a world away from the town in the middle of it’s celebrations he had enjoyed the previous days, and more like one abandoned and left to rot. He narrowed his eyes at a nearby shadow his mind tried to turn into a monster.

“It may make us stand out but a touch of light would do wonders just now. If it is no trouble, of course. I must admit that I can’t dark.” Piping up, he did a quick spin mid step to again see no one else about. “It has become rather lonesome out here all of a sudden, hasn’t it?”

The discussion of the plan still rattled in his skull; while they had all settled on an idea of what to do for now there was still the question of what to do after. Or perhaps he had missed it? Regardless, BlackBerry had noticed the discussions earlier bouncing rapidly between the two main sticking points; to lure the ratmen out OR to go straight to them.

“Pardon me if it had been decided earlier, I may have missed it. But was there a plan for tomorrow?” BlackBerry lamented, rubbing his brow. “If we had yet to decided then perhaps a vote, later? Best not discuss details in the open but I simply wished to double check.”

Avonshire - D&D Based Adventure

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Baronfjørd "Blackberry" Chedgusah Dragon Born, Monk (Astral self), Level 03 HP: 24 / 24 Armor Class: 15 Conditions: N/A Location: Public house Action: N/A Bonus Action: N/A Reaction: N/A Ki: 3/3

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Having said his piece BlackBerry let the party discuss the finer points of the plan, as he slunk into the background as quietly as he could. While normally he would have been more inclined to do some meditation somewhere a bit more private, he had thrown a glance towards the door to the backroom that been pointed out to them all earlier in the evening, but he wanted to stay near to the fire as much as he could where it was warm and dry. Standing around and talking had given him some time to relax after the fight, and the warmth, food, and conversion about sandwiches had done it’s work to rejuvenate him giving weight to the phrase ‘Food for the Soul’.

He settled towards the southern corner of the building out of the way, and where he had enough room to at least do a few movements. He could feel the conversation around him drawing to a close as the others finished up their own meals so decided against doing a full routine, he didn’t feel like he need to to at this point anyway, and instead chose a few quick ones he run though without much effort.

Closing his eyes he settled into a simple standing pose as he began his movements. Others at home found their centre through prayer, humming tunes, or otherwise sitting still for a period of time, BlackBerry found his ‘centre’ through slow and controlled movements following forms and positions he had seen in old texts or taught by passing travellers. He begun by tilting forward from the hips, reaching down to his toes and feel a good, warm ache start in his lower back and ham strings. He liked Lady Kathryn's idea of instead luring out the ruffians on a wild goose chase. And her kindness extending to offering the L’Roses a place to stay impressed him further, it seemed whoever these folk were had left a lasting impact on the other members of the party.

He continued through the movements; back up to standing, down into a plank, a low lunge, and then up into a warriors pose pushing his arm high up to the ceiling and titling back a little bit to get a good stretch across his stomach. After a few breathes he switched to lunge through his opposite leg. He could feel it now, the energy that moved across the world as part of it’s endless journey, constantly ebbing and flowing as steady as the tide. His eyes stayed closed so he could focus on letting in that energy, pulling it into his core to replenish his reserves. Another movement brought him back up to standing and then to a simple Tree pose balanced on his right leg. Still listening in on the others, he begrudgingly nodded in agreement to the idea of laying low for the evening and holing up at their ‘camp’.

BlackBerry’s concentration was shattered then, smashed to smithereens by Kosara shouting, and he toppled out of the pose and to the floor.

“And we are all happier for it.” BlackBerry grumbled to her comment on learning to heal and pulling himself back up by the tables edge. “Bluntly put, Kosara, I shudder to think of the damage you could cause if you leaned into more…violent schools of magic.” The very thought cast an image of burning ruins into his mind, and Kosara dancing gleefully at the centre as she spun a wicked web of destruction around her, blasting beams of solid light from between her horns. He banished the nightmare with a shake of his head.

“Right well, It does appear that we’re making out move at the very least. Should we take any food with us at all for later?” He eyed what remaining food was left on the table and wondered what of it could be taken with them.

BlackBerry dusted himself off and straightened out his robes, glad that relatively thin fabric now that it had mostly dried off again. While he tried to not practise vanity of any sort he did like to think the warm colours of the burning red and warm orange, crisscrossed by small patches of varying similar shades and tracks of stitching from years old repairs, complimented nicely with his blue scales. He gave a few of the fastenings and knots testing tugs to make sure they were all still secure. Then he secured the short sword he had back onto his hip, sitting it upon a chair to be at roughly the right height and then secured the buckle with practised grace with his one hand. Lastly, with his back strapped to his back he was ready.

“Pardon me, Miss Lea?” BlackBerry called towards the bar as he spent a moment stacking some of the cutlery, bowls, empty plates and cups into a neat pile. He wasn’t sure where the Bar maid had disappeared to. “We’re about to head off now. Will you be all right by yourself?”

Avonshire - D&D Based Adventure

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Baronfjørd "Blackberry" Chedgusah Dragon Born, Monk (Astral self), Level 03 HP: 22 / 24 Armor Class: 15 Conditions: N/A Location: Public house Action: History (11) Bonus Action: N/A Reaction: N/A Ki: 1/3

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BlackBerry frowned, and grumbled. “Good point. Good point.” He could almost see the Cheese on the table laying waste to the Apple, making their valiant last stand against the onslaught. He opened his mouth to continue but noticed that Kosara had bolted from her seat to the fire. It took him a moment to find his thoughts again. “Presumably not all the buildings in this town have rooftop windows from which to shoot from.”

BlackBerry scowled at the notion of just leaving Avonshire, leaving the innocent people of this place to fend for themselves while thugs and ruffians turned their home into a nightmare. His opinion of Victoria soured slightly, but he caged a comment behind clenched teeth. He had to remind himself that this party was working for Sheriff Gregory Arbalest with a specific goal in mind and with that goal met, according to Victoria, there really wasn’t much reason for them to stick around and risk their lives. It left a sour taste in his mouth and he began to wonder what his own next move would be should they choose to leave; stay and fight? Or follow after his current trail for help?

He shot a glance backwards Lea hoping she either hadn’t heard or hadn’t been listening to that part of the conversion.

At the very least some semblance of a plan was coming together to tackle the Constable and his cohorts head on, if not tonight then sometime tomorrow once the group had had some time to finish tying up any loose ends. Absently he chewed a knuckle in thought and with worry about how much time it would take, and all the while their enemy was no doubt doing the same, building themselves back up and devising their own schemes.

“Well.” A momentary breath to calm himself, setting his emotions aside for the moment. “I suppose that would just leave attacking the municipal building directly. Regardless I do think we need to get a move on and at least try to lend a hand were we can.” Casting his mind back into his memories of books, bookshelves and many meandering lessons he recalled some snippet of information, and couldn’t hold back a worried grimace. “If these rodent-thropes are anything like lycanthropes then these next few nights will be…difficult. Stories and tales suggest having consecutive full moons tend to make such beings more active.”

Listening to Maritas explanation of her own powers was a fairly informative, and confirmation of her being a woman of faith answered his question about the amulet she wore proudly on her chest; a symbol of the god she followed. But it was an entirely different symbol than the symbol of Tyr he had expected, the Balanced scales resting on a warhammer were missing. He made a note to ask later.

“Agreed, staying at the camp would be safest. Moving on though, I do worry how much time we actually have to find the answers to those questions like ‘who's really been pulling the strings’” He repeated with his attention focused on Marita, but did flutter towards Kosara still kneeling in front of the fire for his next words. “It could perhaps somebody who taught him magic? But anyway, let us not forget the enemy will be doing the same thing were are; licking their wounds and gathering their forces so time could well be of the essence. If the Sheriff could lend a hand that could give us the edge we need to fight.”
He nodded towards Lady Kathryn having heard her suggestion to send someone with word outside of the Town for help. Even if any attack they attempted were to fail then at least the troubles in Avonshire could be revealed to someone else with more power than themselves to do some.