Pendar - Session 8

42 Merrysest, Earthsday -
After taking some time for light amusements, the conversation with Valdya turns back to more serious matters again.

Valdya: "Getting late... you leave tomorrow?"
Maximilian: "I'm afraid so."
Sana: "...we do."
Valdya: "Coming back after tomorrow?"
Maximilian: "Ah..."
Maximilian pauses in thought, momentarily.
Maximilian: "It's possible, but not likely."
"We want to make the prince win. But that means going far."
Valdya: "I get to come with you?"
Maximilian: "Valdya, we spoke about this."
Valdya: "You have to go to the capital? And I should stay here and wait because it's dangerous?"
Maximilian: "That's right. And if we take you with us, people will think we're the bad guys."
Valdya: "But you're the good guys."
Maximilian: "Exactly. So we can't afford to be seen as baddies."
Valdya: "Even if Sana teaches me fighting?"
Sana: "(I want her to come...)"
Maximilian: "The people who would fight us would be the good people, though.."
"(I want her to, as well. But do you have any idea how to make it work?)"
Valdya: "Good people fighting good people..."
Maximilian: "We can't let that happen."
Sana looks down, demoralised.
Valdya: "You'll come back after the prince wins?"
Maximilian: "Absolutely!"
Valdya: "But Sana's sad I'm not coming?"
Maximilian: "Nngh."
"I'm sad, too."
"But how sad will your father be if you snuck out for days?"
Sana: "Weeks, or months..."
Valdya: "Mmm... depends on where I was? He doesn't want me here in the way.."
Maximilian: "He doesn't want you exposed to kidnappers, either."
Valdya looks thoughtful, and hauls the sleeping Atremis out of the pillows to pet him absentmindedly.
Atremis is startled by being pulled out, but begins to purr from Valdya's attention.
Atremis: "(Mmm...)"
Sana: "I wonder if Atremis is comfortable with..."
Valdya: "He's just been in the pillows. Nice and comfy~"
Maximilian: "That does look very comfortable."
Sana: "...no not that, but... nevermind."
Sana tries to reach out a hand to stroke Atremis' tail gently.
Sana: "Mmmr..."
[Speak With Animals] "{Atremis...am I allowed to tell the people about your special speech powers, would you talk to them? They are trusted...}"
Atremis doesn't resist, still nuzzling in Valdya's embrace.
Atremis: "(Mmm... just let me sleep a little more...)"
Atremis mumbles to himself sleepily, unaware that he's responding in Common rather than vulpine speech.
Maximilian: "(Oh, so that's...)"
Sana: "Y-yes, M-maximilian?!"
Maximilian: "I'd been hearing another voice around you."
"Once when I was trying to sleep, and again in the cave."
Sana: "U-um... insanity?"
Maximilian: "No, I definitely heard that. Did you hear the fox, Valdya?"
Sana: "That's not... please be nice to him... he's my friend..."
Maximilian: "Eh? When did I say I wouldn't?"
Sana: "(He's... more than other foxes... he thinks like a people...)"
Maximilian: "Fate has granted us a friend to treasure here."
"Well, that I already suspected."
Sana: "(...let him sleep a bit more, please, before you bombard him with questions...)"
Valdya: "...wasn't that mister foxie?"
Maximilian: "It was."
"I suppose Sana is right though,"
Sana: "Valdya, remember before Maximatthias came in, I wanted to share a secret with you?"
"Um... this was the secret..."
Valdya: "A secret? Atremis is a secret?"
Sana: "Atremis can talk like a people... but it's something only we know."
"...it should be kept that way, please."
Valdya: "So don't tell Papa, don't tell Mallery, don't tell anyone?"
Maximilian: "That makes sense, will do."
Atremis: "(Please... don't burn me... I'll get better, promise... I'll be a good fox...)"
Sana: "...Maximilian, apologise to Atremis and reassure him that you won't burn him."
Maximilian: "...huh."
Valdya: "You're going to burn him?"
Maximilian: "I'm sorry, Atremis, did I worry you?"
Valdya stares at Sana, eyes wide.
Maximilian: "I am certainly not going to burn him."
Sana: "Yes, you are not going to burn any foxes, are you, Maximilian."
Maximilian: "I should hope not! T-That's the last thing I want to do! W-What are you insinuating here?!"
Sana: "I want you to say it loudly and clearly that you will never burn any foxes, especially Atremis."
Atremis appears to have fallen back asleep in Valdya's arms, but isn't having the most restful sleep.
Valdya: "...sleepy..."
Maximilian: "That's fair, Valdya."
Valdya curls up with Atremis, burrowing further into the pillows.
Sana: "I'm... I'm exhausted..
Maximilian: "All this worry has me restless. Shall we split here, and regroup tomorrow?"
Sana exhaustedly slides over to Valdya and rests her head on her shoulder, going into the pillows with the duo.
Sana: "Tomorrow... Maxy..."
"Don't -yaaawn- be in a sleeping girl's ro....."
Maximilian takes the opportunity to escape the room, shaking his head.
Halfling Servant blocks Max's way just outside the door, watching him unnervingly.
Halfling Servant: "Sir Maximilian, I need to speak to you and Miss Sana. Out here, if you please."
Maximilian: "O-of course. Though, Sana's just gone to sleep."
Halfling Servant: "Then I must ask that you convey my words to her. You are both welcome to stay here tonight, it should be little trouble."
Maximilian: "Oh, thank you!"
Halfling Servant: "I overheard what you said. Regretfully, it is best that Lady Valdya stay here for now. When this danger is past, I am sure you would be allowed to escort her back to Karaminia, or perhaps she could even be granted more freedom than that. But I will not allow her to be led into dangers she can't begin to understand."
Maximilian: "Yes, I must agree with your concern here."
Halfling Servant: "You've stated your intent to leave Seskesa in the morning, have you not?"
Maximilian: "We need to visit a couple places first, but yes."
Halfling Servant: "Leave after doing so, and I will ensure this secret stays between us. If you remain here, I'll have to report this, for Lady Valdya's sake."
Maximilian nods slowly.
Maximilian: "I understand."
Halfling Servant: "Good. Besides, I have my own ways of dealing with problems~"
Halfling Servant takes a small dagger from her belt and twirls it, revealing it to be more than just a simple work knife.
Maximilian's eyes widen.
Maximilian: "I-Impressive."
Halfling Servant: "I'm glad that Lady Valdya has friends. I hope they care about her safety, and she can keep being friends with them."
Maximilian: "Here's to that."
Halfling Servant: "Rest well, Sir Maximilian. Safe travels on the morrow."
Halfling Servant heads back downstairs with a grin at Max.

43 Merrysest, Firesday -
The rest of night passes without incident, and the party rises early the next day, Valdya apparently still asleep in the pillows.
Maximilian takes the opportunity to attempt to sneak out.
No one interferes with Max's departure, the guards paying no particular attention to him.
Atremis attempts to sleep in, spending as much time as he can with Valdya and Sana until it's time to wake up.
Maximilian happily meets with his horse, and after concluding it's too early to visit the mage just yet, he should get some of the baker's first batch of pastries.
Halfling Servant knocks on Valdya's door quietly, before entering and shaking Sana awake.
Sana: "H-huh..."
Halfling Servant: "Your companion seems to have left, and you have a lot of errands to run. I got word from the blacksmith's apprentice that your armor would be finished by noon."
Sana: "Armour... keep fox safe... pastries..."
"Need more garlic..."
"PASTRIES?!"
Sana jumps awake suddenly.
Halfling Servant: "Miss Sana. I can pack some food for you to take with you, but the morning is passing."
Sana: "A-ah... what time it it..?"
Halfling Servant: "Near an hour past sunrise."
Sana: "Ah, sorry... I seemed to have spent the night here...."
Halfling Servant: "Do not worry about that. But I think you ought to catch up to Sir Maximilian."
Sana: "Mm... fox..."
Atremis continues to sleep, occasionally nuzzling Valdya.
Sana gently picks up Atremis, doing her best to let Valdya sleep.
Atremis stays asleep despite the movement, and continues to look peacefully content.
Valdya mumbles something about monsters in her sleep.
Sana cradles the fox in her arms, not bothering to don her armour, as she'll get more later, and arranging her bag.
Sana: "...may I come and say goodbye to Valdya before we depart, please?"
Halfling Servant: "...I think that would be best, yes. Finish up your errands, return here just before leaving. I'll see to it she knows to expect you then."
Sana: "Thank you... Miss...?"
Halfling Servant: "Mallery Quickstep. I think you'll thank me less after you meet up with your friend."
Sana: "Thank you, Mallery Quickstep, please continue to keep our new friend safe and happy."
Halfling Servant: "I will."
Halfling Servant escorts Sana, along with Atremis, outside, handing her a small basket of fruit and rolls, before stationing herself outside the manor, watching Sana sharply.
Sana heads off in search of Maximilian.
Sana: "Bakery... bakery... honey bread..."
"(Wait... where was the bakery?!)"
Atremis: "Mmm... miss Sana... is it morning already..."
Sana: "(This way...?)"
Atremis: "...Where is miss Valdya...?"
Maximilian knocks politely on Jen's door.
Sana: "It's morning, Atremis, and we're preparing to leave..."
Atremis: "Miss Valdya is coming, right...?"
Sana: "...Valdya decided she didn't want to come... it's too dangerous for her..."
"She made the choice, little one, she should be allowed to stay if she wants... right?"
Somber Woman: "Ah, you're here again. Come inside. I think it was good timing."
Maximilian: "Ah, that's good to hear!"
Maximilian steps inside obediently.
Sana: "...it's kind of sad... but... we shouldn't endanger her, and she is okay staying home and waiting for us to return..."
Jen of Xanthas: "Morning, lad. You still looking to trade away that coin?"
Maximilian: "Yes, I am. We've earned a fair bit of coin at that, too!"
Atremis: "But..."
Jen of Xanthas: "Quite handy. I found a few scrolls I had around saved up, and fixed up a wand for you that should help with any more magic goods you come across."
Atremis: "She wants to be free..."
"Why can't she be free?"
Jen of Xanthas: "500 gold and that coin sound a fair deal to you?"
Sana: "But being free right now would be dangerous of her, so... we're going to make it safe for her, and then she will be free and she can travel with us and we can eat pastries together."
Maximilian: "Oh, that does sound interesting. May I ask what the scrolls are for?"
Atremis: "But... we'd protect her... right?"
"...I guess I'm not strong enough."
Sana: "We are not strong enough yet..."
Atremis: "I'll try to get strong enough to protect both her and you, lady Sana."
Sana: "...but when we're stronger, we'll come back, and protect her, right?"
"And then we can have fun together~"
Jen of Xanthas: "Just odds and ends. Illusions, finding secret passages, one or two that should help with any enemies your magic doesn't work so well for."
Maximilian grins with excitement.
Maximilian: "Now that just reeks of adventure!"
Maximilian offers a hand.
Maximilian: "That's a deal to me!"
Jen of Xanthas shakes Maximilian's hand, and hands him a small bag overfilled with scrolls.
Maximilian palms Jen the coin, and slides over a couple of small sacks of gold.
Sana: "Oh! Marigold is here!"
Jen of Xanthas: "Much appreciated. I'd been wondering what to do with all of those."
Atremis: "(Does that mean...)"
Sana trots up to Marigold, putting down Atremis and rubbing her... nose?
Marigold snorts, and nuzzles.
Jen of Xanthas looks around at his desk very carefully, before setting the magic coin down apparently at random among the other trinkets.
Jen of Xanthas: "Anything else before you go?"
Sana: "That means Maxy is here..."
Marigold: "Hm, good question."
Sana peeks into the house.
Sana: "Um... Maxy, are you in here?"
Atremis barks.
Maximilian: "Ah, Sana!"
"Was there anything you'd want from the wizard?"
Sana: "...Wizard? What sort of things?"
Jen of Xanthas gazes at Sana steadily, seemingly musing over something.
Sana: "...what does he provide?"
Maximilian: "Scrolls, wands and other exciting tools!"
Atremis: "(Does he provide pastries?)"
Sana: "...Potions?"
"Extracts... and how powerful are his scrolls?"
Jen of Xanthas: "Alchemy isn't my specialty, I'm afraid."
Maximilian: "(I got you a fresh batch of pastries this morning, actually!)"
Jen of Xanthas: "Do you know druidic magic, girl?"
Sana: "Um... druidic magic... um... why do you ask?"
"...aren't druids specially connected with animals...?"
Jen of Xanthas: "Something that might be of interest to you."
Sana: "...would you show me?"
Atremis barks again.
Sana: "(If it's something that would help my fox friend... then I would love to see it...)"
Jen of Xanthas: "It might. Would you be interested in another wand, with a spell to let you talk properly with your fox there?"
Sana: "...specifically with my fox... no... if it were one that let me speak to all animals, I would appreciate that, though... could be useful for Marigold."
Maximilian: "Honestly, it's a little uncomfortable."
Jen of Xanthas: "Right, then. How about another 500 gold, do you have that much to spare?"
Maximilian: "We very much do, actually."
Sana: "...do you not want to speak to your beloved horse properly, Maxy?"
Maximilian: "What's between us is far closer than words!"
Maximilian pouts.
Sana: "But now you can have that, and words~"
Maximilian: "I... suppose."
Sana: "...and... if it's nor too much to ask... are you capable of creating a polymorphing spell?"
"I have heard powerful people of arcane magic can do that..."
Jen of Xanthas: "Would that I could, but while I may be the most powerful in this place, my skill isn't yet to that level."
Sana: "....what sort of alteration spells can you manage?"
Somber Woman: "What do you want with something like that?"
Sana: "...changing one's appearance is useful sometimes..."
Atremis barks.
Somber Woman: "Rarely for good purposes."
Sana: "Um..."
Sana hides behind Maxy. [Stealth: 7]
Maximilian: "Hear hear."
Jen of Xanthas: "A simple disguise spell would be easy enough, but anything more... come back in a couple of months, perhaps."
Atremis whimpers.
Sana: "..."
"...I see, thank you."
"We will, um, take the wand, please."
"(Maxy, please pay the nice 'Wizard'.)"
Jen of Xanthas plucks another wand from his desk, jots a label onto it, and presents it to Sana.
Maximilian passes Jen another stash of coin.
Atremis continues to whimper.
Somber Woman: "Is that creature well?"
Sana takes the wand, and stows it away, before picking up Atremis.
Sana: "I'll... um, attend to him, he will be fine."
Maximilian rubs his head sheepishly.
Sana moves out of the store, and around the corner
Sana: "(What is wrong, Atremis? Are you okay?)"
Atremis: "(I wanted something...)"
"(Everyone was asking for stuff...)"
Jen of Xanthas: "Be careful following that message, lad. It doesn't sound like it leads anywhere good."
Maximilian: "You're right about that.
Sana: "What do you want? I can go back and ask for you."
Maximilian: ...Undead, secret messages..."
Sana: "Anything you want, I'll try and get for you."
Atremis: "(Anything that might make me stronger or faster... maybe just for emergencies but something we can use?)"
"(I don't know magic...)"
Sana picks up Atremis and returns to the shop.
Sana: "Ah, Mister Xan of Jenthas?
"I'd, um... like to request an additional thingie."
Jen of Xanthas: "...Jen. Xanthas. 'Thingie' is rather... poorly spoken as well. You really are Ataletan, aren't you?"
Sana: "Do you know any spells that might help my fox friend become... stronger, or faster, or more agile, powerful..."
Jen of Xanthas: "How much more do you have to trade?"
Sana: "We have a bit of money left..."
Maximilian: "A good couple thousand coins, come to think of it."
Atremis wanders over to Marigold, while the humans are busy bartering.
Jen of Xanthas: "I guess I can spare that one, too. 250 more."
Jen of Xanthas takes another scroll from the desk, scribbling a quick label of "Cat's Grace" on it before presenting it to Sana.
Maximilian: "Hmm, fair enough. It must be a good scroll."
Maximilian tosses the wizard another satchel of coin.
Maximilian: "Right, that's us sorted, then!"
Sana: "Yes, okay."
"Next is... the blacksmith's?"
Maximilian: "Mhm, yes!"
Atremis tilts his head at Marigold.
Somber Woman: "Good luck with your journey."
Marigold bends over and sniffs Atremis.
Atremis tries barking at Marigold, to see if the horse can speak fox.
Marigold tilts her head.
Marigold proceeds to lick the fox in defiance.
Atremis panics!
Atremis runs at Sana!
Sana picks up Atremis and holds him protectively.
Maximilian: "Hmm-whoa! What's up with him?"
Sana: "..I don't know, Marigold looks like she's being mean."
Blacksmith's Apprentice: "Hey, right on time!"
Marigold snorts in Sana's direction, hearing her name.
Maximilian: "Nonsense."
"Also, good to see you, friend!"
Sana: "Then you tell me why poor little Atremis is running away from her..."
Blacksmith's Apprentice: "What's the little guy doing to your poor horse?"
Maximilian: "I'm not... really sure. She seems okay, at least."
Sana: "...um... anyhow, um, Armour!"
Blacksmith's Apprentice: "Well, your armor's finished, anyway. And I think Pop's a little too interested in your quest, he scribbled up a bunch of scrolls for you."
Maximilian: "Yes, we did a fair bit of trade."
Blacksmith's Apprentice points out two of the suits of armor set up in the smithy.
Maximilian: "Oh, marvellous!"
Sana sets down Atremis safely inside the smithy, and rushes over to the armour, eager to try it on.
Atremis looks around, not willing to try to cause trouble by being on the counter like last time.
Maximilian: "I've been looking forward to this."
Blacksmith: "That's all you needed, right?"
Sana: "New Armour~"
Maximilian: "Yes, pretty much! My lance is in good shape, and we found an extra sword for close quarters combat."
Sana: "(Atremis, what do you think about my armour~?)"

Maximilian admires his new look as he approaches the gate.
Valdya: "Max! And Sana, and Foxie!"
Maximilian: "Valdya!"
Sana: "Ah, Valdya~ We've come to say goodbye before we depart."
Valdya: "Oh..."
Sana: "...yes, it's tomorrow, today, so we are leaving to make the world safe for you, Valdya."
Maximilian: "It is tragic that we must part so soon."
Valdya: "You are coming back, right? Even if it's not for a long time?"
Maximilian: "Absolutely! Look at us, all kitted up! We could only return as your heroes!"
Atremis barks.
Sana: "We promise we'll come back, no matter what, Valdya."
Valdya: "Alright! I'll wait for you. Promise!"
Maximilian: "I promise I'll come back, too."
Sana: "So does Atremis!"
Sana bows to Valdya, and starts making her way north.
Atremis follows, trotting along in his comfortable armor.
Maximilian salutes Valdya with his right hand, resting his left on Marigold.