Beyond the Sky - Session 22

-7th of Autumn's Third-
The sun sets on the second day in Everwood, and in the evening, Valaire calls both Arkune and Night Eyes to her room, wishing to talk to them.
Valaire looks at the two women entering her room, closing her ornate spellbook and incanting a spell, causing it to vanish in an aetheric mist.
Arkune waves kindly. "You called for me?"
Valaire: "Ah, just in time. I think I have a few toys I'd like to try on the troublesome little mark on dear Natalia, here."
Night Eyes: "Ah? Go on."
Arkune looks around, finding a spot to sit down near Valaire
Valaire tries incanting an elaborate spell, looking at Arkune's cheek. [Greater Detect Magic]
Valaire: "Such tiny flourishes... I won't forget you, little trickster."
Valaire grins, before turning to Night Eyes, addressing her and Arkune both.
Valaire: "I do apologize for leaving you out. But I think I found an interesting tactic to flushing out our would-be 'hunter'."
"Your ring for a moment, Dhaltra, dear?"
Night Eyes: "Right."
Night Eyes nods to Valaire, raising her ring.
Arkune: "Are you going to remove the mark? Or... something else?"
[Valaire: casting Greater Detect Magic]
Night Eyes raises her ring, absorbing the spell into it. [Spellcraft: 30]
Valaire: "Well, removing it comes later. First... tell me if you can see the magical signature, darling?"
Arkune tries to hold her head as a good angle for Valaire, unsure if she's asking her or Night-Eyes.
Night Eyes invokes her ring's power, casting the spell she just borrowed.
Night Eyes: "I read it. This is an interesting tracking spell."
Arkune: "Does it do more than just mark me?"
Valaire: "It's as easy to tell the spell signature of a person as identifying one's face, with the right trick. And I don't forget faces, loves."
"Now, the mark itself is probably a nuisance now that it's no longer of value to us, so let's see what we can do about it..."
Valaire traces a claw gently over Arkune's cheek, tracing along the arcane runic lettering. [Erase, CL Check: 18]
Valaire smiles, as the runes vanish from Arkune's cheek.
Valaire: "I do not think this will deter those tracking you, but it will certainly throw them off your trail."
Arkune: "So... this buys us a little time, right?"
Valaire: "They certainly aren't words you do not want marked on your cheek for all mages to see in the open, in any event."
"It buys you time. Even if they see the underlying magic, they have to pick it out from the crowds, and as both Dhaltra and I use significant amounts of magic ourselves..."
"Which addresses only one more weakness to shore up."
Night Eyes: "The bounty hunter himself?"
Valaire: "Indeed. The last thing we want is for him sneaking up on us again."
"So, Natalia, sister dear, as the mysterious mercenary Arkune seems to have vanished and Adrian's investigation is still pending, it would make sense that her room at the inn is no longer held by her, yes?"
"But my darling sister needs a place to sleep, so perhaps I should simply let her sleep in this room alongside me. I have a nice little ward I can put up, because the last thing we want is any naughty hunters sneaking up on two innocent girls in the middle of the night."
Arkune: "Thank you, Val- I mean, Sis."
Valaire: "Hmhm~"
"Do make sure Lord Adrian knows these plans, darling Dhaltra. I'm going to help my half-sister be settled in here, and manage the rooms with the innkeeper."
Arkune: "Thank you again for all of your help."
"I wouldn't have been likely to survive even this long after this without you."
Valaire: "Do thank Lord Adrian for this opportunity, not me."
Arkune: "You are willingly offering your services in helping though~"
"That shows you care, on some level at least."
Night Eyes: "I'll inform him of these events. And of your gratitude."
The party retire to bed soon after, their nighttime seeming peaceful, and the morning, they awake and prepare to leave.

-8th of Autumn's Third-
The next day, the party makes camp near the river, on a hill, and eating well from the free food they were given from Everwood.
[Arkune : Fortitude Save: 25
Valaire : Fortitude Save: 20
Night Eyes : Fortitude Save: 8
Adrian : Fortitude Save: 7
Mikolotov : Fortitude Save: 25]
The food seems to have a bad effect on both Night Eyes and Adrian, making them collapse, unconscious.
Arkune: "Um..."
"This seems bad..."
Arkune attempts to wake the nearby Night-Eyes, nudging her with her hands, and pouring a small handful of cool water on her.
Arkune: "Come on... wake up!"
Valaire: "Tch... why now of all times?"
"Mouse, do you have any medical training? I'm afraid this is not my field of expertise."
Night Eyes: "Nnngh, something I ate..."
Arkune: "Unfortunately... not much training in anything beyond the most basic scratches. I've seen poison though... and I doubt she's drunk or drugged."
"Err... as in, having an overdose from something. She isn't that."
Valaire: "Do tell me it wasn't in the free food we were given..."
Night Eyes moves her hands, tying to find the floor.
Mikolotov tries shaking Adrian awake.
Arkune: "Why only now though?"
Valaire: "Slow acting? Or perhaps only a couple of the portions were poisoned?"
"Rest assured, I'm going to be examining them more thoroughly in the morning."
Night Eyes: "Good idea."
Adrian shudders, sitting up against the nearby tree slowly.
Adrian: "Stupid... should have checked..."
Valaire: "I wonder if the 'hunter' snuck something into our rations..."
Arkune: "Bastard... that's playing dirty..."
"How bad is it?"
Adrian: "I'll live, it's just dizziness... still, I should have known better."
Night Eyes: "Just pressuring us into being more vigilant is enough of a problem."
Valaire: "Perhaps we all have been too lax and trusting with this hunter afoot..."
A voice can be heard from all around the party suddenly, loud.
Hidden Voice: "It seems you have done well to evade sleep, criminals."
"It seems I should've used a stronger dose."
Arkune: "We're no criminals!"
Valaire rises to her feet, her clawed hands bursting in flames.
Arkune stands, pulling out her mace.
Valaire: "Darling, if I'm a criminal, I'm ready to turn myself in, if you would kindly show yourself?"
Adrian stands up, trying not to show any sign of fatigue.
Adrian: "Exactly who do you think you deem a criminal?"
Night Eyes stands, blade drawn.
Hidden Voice: "I've made observations of all of you. You continue to safeguard a renowned criminal, and for that, I will have all of you tried by the law."
Valaire: "Curious. I know of no renowned criminals in our fold. Your accusations of us knowingly committing this crime are fraudulent."
Adrian: "If you say so. At least I don't need to hide."
Hidden Voice: "Your protests matter not. I will apprehend the criminal Arkune Mulvery, and she will pay for her crimes against the Sleeping Isle."

[The Hunter : Initiative: 16.04
Night Eyes : Initiative: 16.03
Valaire : Initiative: 15.03
Mikolotov : Initiative: 10.01
Arkune : Initiative: 9.02
Adrian : Initiative: 6.01]

The Hunter becomes visible, shooting an arrow of blue-grey energy, which explodes into a hail of stones around the party. [Stone Call, Damage: 6 Nonlethal]

Valaire claws her way through the rocks, her eyes glowing as she raises a hand, then makes a slamming motion downward with it. [Create Pit, DC 16]
[The Hunter : Reflex Save: 8]
The Hunter falls into a spontaneous pit. [Damage: 6]

Night Eyes channels an augmentation through her legs, beginning to chase down the assassin. [Expeditious Retreat, Arcane Pool]

Mikolotov tries to move through the hampering terrain, taking out his weapons.

Arkune moves forward as fast as she can.

The Hunter suddenly appears away from the pit, manifesting in a purple mist, before solidifying into his form, moving to a more strategic position. [Lesser Dimension Door]

Valaire flings the fire emanating from her claws at the hunter, seeking to scorch him.
[Valaire : Mystic Bolt
Attack: 18 Touch, Damage: 7 Fire
Attack: 12, Damage: 4 Fire]
The Hunter is slightly hit by the attack, his cloak becoming a little singed.

Night Eyes dashes towards the cloaked figure, blade ready.
[Night Eyes : Rapier, Frost
Attack: 24, Damage: 6 + 3 Frost]
The Purple clad warrior is struck by the weapon, taking a small amount of damage.
[Night Eyes : Reflex Save: 24]

Mikolotov advances further, trying to block the escape routes.
Arkune circles around to surround The Hunter, mace at the ready!
The Hunter: "Still trying to evade justice? It seems I will need to use more extreme tactics."
Night Eyes: "It is easy to listen to the honeyed words that come with coin, isn't it?"
Arkune: "You're barely better than a bandit."
The Hunter: "The money matters not. I am here directly on the Elder Council's command."
"Those are lofty words, coming from a bandit herself."
Valaire: "One would think you would be better at making sure you have the right target, then..."
"This girl looks nothing like the one in the wanted poster."
"Or does that mask obscure your vision?"
Arkune: "I am a retainer of Lord Adrian, not some thug."

Adrian carefully steps over the scattered stones, turning to gaze sternly at the hunter.
Adrian: "Do they usually send agents to poison associates of their targets and break into inns? I wonder what they would think of being associated with your tactics, scum." [Hypnotic Stare, Blistering Invective, DC 16, Damage: 2 Fire: Intimidate 39]
[The Hunter : Reflex Save: 21]
The Hunter endures the words, managing to ward off the fire.

The Hunter starts preparing a spell. [Lesser Dimension Door, Concentration: 31]
The Hunter becomes temporarily ethereal, and in a split second, the purple mist travels up to another point in the battlefield.
The Hunter: "You think me a fool? I can see who that girl truly is, and if poison and breaking and entering are the means I need to capture you, then so be it."
Valaire: "Oh? You mean that little knack?"
"The real Arkune Mulvery left Everwood days ago, in a direction opposite ours. I just put this little lure on Natalia here specifically to fool you." [Bluff: 31]
Adrian: "She left the night before we saw the posters. A shame I didn't get a chance to confront the little sneak." [Bluff: 20]
The Hunter: "Then she must have fooled you, too." [Sense-Motive: 10]
"This girl matches my exact description of the criminal who murdered Councilmember Vitus. I can see though your little illusions and tricks."
"If you are innocent, then you will turn yourselves in for this to be resolved in court. If you do not, I will take you there by force."
Valaire: "We'll see who's brought where by force~"
Arkune: "We are on a diplomatic mission from Zeltria, we cannot take the time to travel so far at the moment."

Valaire moves further through the rocks, launching a barrage of white-hot embers at the hunter. [Magic Missile, Damage: 7]
The Hunter draws his cloak around him, managing to only take a small amount of damage, his eyes, glowing with blue flame.
Adrian: "Perhaps if you approached us about Arkune's guilt originally, rather than attacking us. As it is, I have very little reason to turn myself in to a common thug purporting to uphold the law."
Valaire: "You know what they say, loves, you catch more flies with honey."

Night Eyes dashes towards the assassin, her enhanced speed keeping up with the assassin's magic.
[Night Eyes : Rapier, Frost
Attack: 27, Damage: 6 + 1 Frost]
The blade cuts into the Hunter, chipping him again.
Night Eyes: "I can see why the Earth Mother decided to stop spawning your kind."
Mikolotov: "This stupid stone..."

Mikolotov wades through the stones again, trying to reach the bounty hunter.

Arkune runs through the rubble, trying to close distance.
Adrian stays behind the others, focusing silently on the man, projecting a telepathic idea toward him. [Conceal Spell - Sow Thought, DC 16 - "Staying at a distance this way isn't working very well"]
[The Hunter : Will Save: 24]

The Hunter: "...very well, you have left me no choice."
The Hunter steps back, raising his hand, and then closing it into a fist as a small ball of fire appears next to Mikolotov.
The Hunter concentrates, detonating the ball, it exploding in a bust of fire.
[The Hunter : Fireball, Damage: 23 Nonlethal, DC 18]
[Night Eyes : Reflex Save: 28
Adrian : Reflex Save: 21
Arkune : Reflex Save: 16
Valaire : Reflex Save: 14
Mikolotov : Reflex Save: 21]
Arkune is shaken by the fire, but continues to stand, her coat helping to absorb the worst.
Valaire: "Oh, you call that fire? That's barely even lukewarm."
"Sigh, I tried to be merciful... I really did."
The Hunter: "As am I."

Valaire steps up towards the hunter, the runes on her arm glowing underneath her clothes, as she fires a coil of inky blackness at him. [Blindness, DC 16]
[The Hunter : Fortitude Save: 12]
The Hunter: "Hmph. You may have stopped my vision, but I can still see."
The fiery eyes of The Hunter shift from blue to red.
The Hunter: "You... will not evade me."
Night Eyes: "To hell with your magic."
Valaire: "You may find none of us are even trying to evade you."
"To flee your pretend play-court justice is to treat it as valid when it very clearly is not."
Night Eyes advances, getting a read on the man's movements, and striking. [Studied Combat]
[Night Eyes : Rapier, Frost
Attack: 13+4, Damage: 9 + 2 Frost]
The Hunter senses the blade, catching and parrying it with his free hand.
The Hunter: "I am only a single person. I use what methods work. I track, I subdue."
Valaire: "You can do what works, but don't delude yourself into believing it is in any way just or legal."
"Hypocrisy is quite unbecoming."
The Hunter: "I am not a good person. I do what I must to subdue people worse than I."
Valaire: "Hmm~?"

Mikolotov finally manages to reach the bounty hunter, thrusting his spear at him.
[Mikolotov : Lance
Attack: 11, Damage: 9]
The Hunter parries the lance, too.
The Hunter: "There are horrible people in this world. Those who maim, murder, rape, and corrupt. It is my job to see that these dangers to society are behind bars."
Adrian: "Worse than you? Perhaps. Perhaps not. Not for the reasons you think, at least."

Arkune moves in, swinging at last with her mace.
[Arkune : Heavy Club
Attack: 16+4+5, Damage: 19]
The Hunter takes the hit to the shoulder, grunting.
Valaire: "While I must applaud your dedication, I am appalled by your indiscretion."
The Hunter: "Gh. Even if I fall here... the Elder Council know where you are. You'll no longer be able to evade the law."
Valaire: "Let us hope at least one of them actually knows what laws are."
The Hunter: "I know murder is illegal everywhere. And stealing, battery, assault, and treachery against the ruling body."
"There are quite a few things you're wanted for, girl."
Arkune: "I am no murderer."

Adrian: "And I intend to address their grievances. But not like this. Not as a captive of a criminal too stupid to know where they stand."
Adrian approaches, keeping a careful distance, speaking with magic-imbued disgust. [Blistering Invective, DC 16: Intimidate: 32]
[The Hunter : Reflex Save: 7, Will Save: 20]
The Hunter grunts again, his cloak being set on fire.
The Hunter: "Do you have proof, girl?"
Valaire: "How deranged must you be to seek to prove a negative?"
"My lord has already stated that he would address the grievances. If there are crimes against the girl known as Arkune Mulvery, those will be addressed."
The Hunter: "Lord?"
Valaire: "But by law. Not poison and subterfuge."
Adrian: "If you researched your targets so well, surely you know who we all are."
The Hunter: "My target is Arkune Mulvery. I only know that she is travelling with people."
Valaire: "Your willful ignorance is impressive."

The Hunter steps back, imbuing himself with powerful magic, as he seems to have his image distorted, moving around at random. [Displacement]
The Hunter: "Who is your supposed Lord?"

Valaire flings another barrage of flames at the man, intent to silence him.
[Valaire : Mystic Bolt
Attack: 22 Touch, Damage: 6 Fire - Concealment: miss
Attack: 11, Damage: 3 Fire]
Adrian: "Funny how you didn't think to ask that before trying to kill me. You speak to Adrian of Black Hills. Arkune was formerly in my employ, yes - I didn't expect to be attacked over it."
The Hunter: "I have no intent to kill you, firstly. Secondly, I have heard of this Adrian. An adviser to the royals. Perhaps if I had researched Mulvery's allies, this could have been resolved less violently."

Night Eyes wordlessly pursues the assassin, growling.
Night Eyes: "Then yield now."
[Night Eyes : Rapier, Frost
Attack: 21+5, Damage: 7 + 5 Frost - Fearsome Guise: Intimidate: 17 - Concealment: hit]
The Hunter: "Gah, commanding me to yield, then attacking? That's incredibly counter-intuitive."
Valaire: "You could have conceded ages ago."
Night Eyes: "Consider it encouragement."
The Hunter: "Hmph. I'm already backed into a corner and blinded, what more is left to do?"
Valaire: "Oh, I could dispel that blindness on a whim if I wanted to."
"Wouldn't that be nice? Being able to see again?"
The Hunter: "Return my sight, and we may speak peacefully, then."
Valaire: "You are mistaken who has the edge on negotiations here."
Adrian: "Drop your weapon and stand down. Then we can talk peacefully. *Then* we'll decide whether you get to see again."
The Hunter: "Then give me a chance to drop it."
Night Eyes: "Very well."
Arkune moves, readied in case The Hunter is bluffing.
The Hunter drops his bow on the floor.
The Hunter: "My weapon is dropped. As much as I hate it, I concede."
Valaire: "So you can show wisdom."
"Well, as my lord wishes, I shall show my benevolence, and not harm you further. You should put that fire out, though."
The Hunter: "I plan to."
The Hunter briefly casts a spell, bumping himself with a wall of water. [Hydraulic Push]
Adrian: "Speaking of fire, you've gone and ruined my good cloak with that spell of yours. I'm not very happy about that, you know?"
The Hunter: "The same can be said for mine. I don't know what you want me to do about your cloak."
Valaire: "Now, why don't we just go back to the camp and talk this over like civilized people over some water and poisoned food?"
The Hunter: "The water is poisoned, too. I would suggest against that."
The rocks start to fade into dust as the party stop fighting.
Adrian: "Pardon me if I don't care very much about damages you incurred with your own ambush."
Arkune: "How many resources did you damage of ours?"
Valaire: "I imagine I could patch your cloak up in the morning with the right spell, Lord Adrian."
The Hunter: "Only around half of your food and water."
Adrian: "That would be helpful, Valaire. Well. Then we can go talk it over at camp like civilized people without making me any more cross with you, for now."
Mikolotov: "At least you're thorough, I guess."
Valaire sighs and returns to her bedroll, clearing rock dust away from it.
Night Eyes brushes off her burns, cleansing away the damage. [Cure Light Wounds: 9]
The Hunter: "...I believe talking will be much easier, should I be able to see normally."
Adrian: "Is there any reason you need to be able to see while we talk?"
Valaire: "Oh, that's a shame, then. I did not prepare the countermeasure to undo the spell this morning." [Bluff: 39]
Arkune returns to the camp, sitting down and tending to her wounds with her rune. [Cure Light Wounds: 13, 6]
The Hunter: "...I am at least thankful I can see without sight."
Adrian: "Mikolotov, could you see to my own injuries, please?"
Mikolotov: "I can see to all of our injuries, Adrian."
Mikolotov focuses and creates a pulse of faint light, emanating from his holy symbol. [Channel Positive Energy: 10]
Night Eyes raises a finger, brimming with positive energy. [Cure Light Wounds: 13]
Valaire: "Oh, I am unscathed, just dazed."
Adrian: "Now, about Arkune; yes, she is with us, and has been for some time. I have sufficient reason to suspect she is not guilty of many of the crimes she has been accused of."
Night Eyes: "Very well."
The Hunter: "That is quite a bold statement to make."
Valaire: "Perhaps we can ask her, then, because I am curious as well."
Arkune: "I suppose it's okay to drop the guise by now."
Valaire: "Arkune, darling mouse, have you ever in your life heard the name of this... Council Member Vitus?"
Arkune: "Yes, of course I have, but I did not kill him. I know who did though."
Adrian: "I had already planned a trip to Lunar Isle to make sure she received a proper trial to prove her innocence. However, I do not consider this to be of sufficient importance to delay *preventing a war.*"
Arkune: "That as well. I would wish my innocence proven, rather than to just flee forever... but time is of the essence between Ashdale and Zeltria."
Valaire: "Indeed. Lord Adrian is on a mission far more important than one single council member."
"As much as it may pain you to hear, 'hunter', this matter is greater than you or even I."
The Hunter: "Be that as it may, I am still duty bound to take Mulvery to Lunar Isle. I suggest... a compromise."
"I shall accompany, or stay close to your party, during your business with Ashdale, and after your business is concluded, I will escort you to Lunar Isle. You will likely gain some measure of goodwill if someone such as I witnessed your deeds, if they are as good as you claim."
"In an exchange of goodwill, I will provide you with whatever information you seek, within reason, but in return, you will come with me after your business is finished, for Arkune to face trial."
Valaire puts a claw to her lips in an expression of curiosity, eagerly awaiting Adrian's reply.
Adrian: "...Just how closely do you plan to accompany us? I trust the discretion and behavior of my retainers - you, less so."
The Hunter: "I have ways of changing to look less conspicuous."
Night Eyes: "Tch."
The Hunter: "You seem displeased with that, Masked Woman."
Valaire: "(Always with the damn shapeshifters...)"
Arkune: "(This is... the second? Third?)"
Night Eyes: "Not the compromise. I have reason to visit the isles."
Adrian: "You will keep your distance, not interfere in any of my business, and you will let any of your associates know that Arkune does not need to be bothered by them. In that case, I suppose it would be acceptable."
The Hunter: "This is acceptable. I will know where Mulvery is at all times, and I will relay this to the council."
Adrian: "Good. Is there anyone else you're working with here?"
The Hunter: "No, I work alone."
Adrian: "Dhaltra, what do you think?"
Night Eyes: "I think the Deepborn's promise is reasonable."
The Hunter: "Ah, so you know what I am?"
Night Eyes: "Shapeshifting, masks, magic, and an excess of self-reliance. Yes, you're deepborn."
Adrian: "Are there more of them left than the books say, or are we just incredibly unlucky?"
The Hunter: "There are very few people who know what we are... presumably as there are less than a thousand of us purebloods remaining."
Valaire: "Your life just seems full of unexpected twists, Lord Adrian."
The Hunter: "I would say the odds of running into another pureblood are very low."
Valaire: "(And yet this is the second time in one month...)"
Arkune: "Let alone within weeks of each other?"
Night Eyes: "We have certainly more trouble on our shoulders this time."
The Hunter: "It seems you are very unlucky to meet two purebloods within a month."
Valaire: "To speak nothing of these other events... alas, it seems my life may never go to how I used to know it."
The Hunter: "I imagine your odds of meeting any other pureblood are very low. We are very much a dwindling race."
Adrian: "I hope so. Or at least to be on better terms with any more."
The Hunter: "If your words speak true, and Mulvery is indeed innocent, then you and I will be on good terms."
Adrian: "Don't get ahead of yourself, now."
The Hunter: "Is there anything else you want to ask, or can I have my sight returned and leave now?"
Adrian: "I don't suppose you would be so helpful as to identify which of our supplies you poisoned? I can check myself, but it would be rather tedious to go through everything instead of just verifying after you've already done the sorting."
Arkune: "I would rather not risk passing out from a sedative meal."
The Hunter: "If I'm able to take a look at them, I will be able to immediately identify the tainted food."
Adrian: "As I said, I can verify it."
"Valaire, what do you think?"
Valaire: "Hm... the terms he mentioned do seem quite equitable. Our goals are not overly impeded, and he gains a trial for Mulvery; one with actual law involved."
"I do not know how inherently trustworthy or untrustworthy deepborn are, so I will leave that to those more experienced with them."
"So I am fine with the stated terms if you are, Lord Adrian."
Adrian: "Yes, it will do."
Arkune: "If it aids your trust, I could name the real killer... not that he's likely still using the name."
The Hunter: "I am not the judge. It makes no difference to me."
Valaire: "Perhaps we can save that for the Lunar Isles, so he will have a new quarry to hunt."
Arkune: "Alright."
The Hunter: "If you can prove this other guilty, I would love to hunt him down."
Arkune: "But until you are free of your duty to watch me, there's little use, no?"
The Hunter: "There is little use."
"...now, again. Please restore my sight, so I can leave."
Valaire: "Oh?"
"I heard your proposed terms that Lord Adrian agreed to."
"'Restore my sight' wasn't in them."
Arkune: "Valaire, we are trying to show our trust, don't be so mean to the poor man."
The Hunter: "I think you will find writing to the Elder Council will be quite impossible. If they do not hear from me within a week, they may send military force. And none of us want that."
Night Eyes: "The 'poor man' nearly killed our lord because of his own overconfidence and lack of research."
Valaire: "Oh, but your mask fixes that, doesn't it?"
Adrian: "Don't threaten me. You're in no position to do so."
The Hunter: "I'm not threatening you. I'm simply saying what will happen, should I find myself incapable to communicate with them."
Adrian: "I doubt you're worth military force, in any case. Not to mention that the queen would certainly be unhappy if anything happened to me."
Valaire: "And what would have happened if Lord Adrian would have been forced to manage peace talks on poisoned rations? I think you may find we have been greatly inconvenienced by your feud."
The Hunter: "Two of you have been knocked out for a few seconds, and you need to throw some food away. I can't see. I think you are the ones who are being cruel enough to toy with me so."
Adrian: "Still, go ahead, Valaire. He could be inconvenient to have around that way, anyway."
Valaire: "As you wish, my lord."
Valaire waves a hand indignantly towards the hunter, dismissing the curse.
The Hunter: "There is a chance you may not be criminals... but criminal or no, you are quite sadistic people."
The Hunter turns his back on the party, walking away.
Adrian: "Hardly a new accusation..."
Night Eyes: "I hope you do your research, next time, hunter."
Valaire: "Such high praise."
Adrian slumps to the ground, holding his head wearily.
Valaire: "That was quite the tedious night."
Arkune: "(Will... we really be safe in our slumber?)"
Valaire writes some runes in the ground, which begin to glow blue once she has finished. [Alarm]
Valaire: "Safe enough that if he interferes, we will know."
Night Eyes: "Is there any way I can assist your recovery, Adrian?"
Valaire: "You succumbed to the poison too, girl. You are also resting."
Arkune: "I've... always had a pretty iron stomach."
Valaire: "You do not aid our lord by working yourself ragged."
Arkune: "But there's no shame in succumbing to poison."
Mikolotov: "You all need rest after that fight."
Adrian: "She's right. Take care of yourself too."
"Dizziness isn't gone. That took far too much magic."
Valaire shrugs, pulling out a quill and examining the back of her hand inquisitively.
Adrian: "At least he's out of our way now..."
Night Eyes: "Alright..."
Adrian: "Probably it's best we keep up the disguise for a while in any case."
Valaire: "After all, he did put up a poster, and other people may be after you."
"Besides, there is so much I still have to do with my little sister."
Arkune: "True. We don't know how many-"
"Ah, that's right. I... forget the story. It'll be... good to get to know you, 'sister'."
The group try to recover and consider their next steps towards Kyaro with their new information, sorting out poisoned food as they do.