The Nightingale, Act II: A Village By Night

[Trike]

Nicodemus is crouched, searching along the ground.

In Mordentish, "Thanks, a small light would help."

[kintire]

Caitlin emerges uncertainly, alongside the others, but not with them. Feeling more than a little awkward she moves away, listening for a patrol, torn between the desire to call out for them and reluctance to give away her position.

The Voice decides that dilemma firmly in favour of the latter and she recoils back towards the inn.

As Varian approaches she turns and looks warily at him, nervously hefting a short but sturdy-looking club until he gets close enough that she recognises him in the darkness, when she relaxes slightly.

"I thought you'd gone?"

[ewancummins]

Caitlin emerges uncertainly, alongside the others, but not with them. Feeling more than a little awkward she moves away, listening for a patrol, torn between the desire to call out for them and reluctance to give away her position.

The Voice decides that dilemma firmly in favour of the latter and she recoils back towards the inn.

As Varian approaches she turns and looks warily at him, nervously hefting a short but sturdy-looking club until he gets close enough that she recognizes him in the darkness, when she relaxes slightly.

"I thought you'd gone?"

''We mean to be gone soon-- but your uncle has locked all the animals in the stables. I'm worried about my mule, Button, and the other beasts too. Come and unlock the door for us, please. Look,"
His voice softens.
"I am sorry if my angry words with your uncle hurt your honor. None of this is your doing—and you are welcome to come with us if you don’t want to get in trouble with the mayor. We could take you far from Ottery. But whatever you decide, I'd appreciate it if you could open that door. If some madman is setting horses on fire, we need to make sure that the animals are safe. And those beats are not your uncle’s property—keeping them would be stealing from his guests—or former guests, as it seems that he’s kicked out everyone. I may not like the way he has dealt with us this night, but I don’t think he is a flat-out thief. Don’t let his anger make him one, Caitlin. “

[Zilfer]

"Yes well... they say there's power in numbers," said Ammanas to Nicodemus giving a side glance at Boiros curious of his own gesture. They said there were many gods, but the only gods that held true power were the dead ones. As Boiros summoned light with his hand, Ammanas wondered if this 'Ezra' was dead as well. "I can only 'pull rank' if the people believe I hold that rank. Thus far it will take some convincing. Hopefully we spot any patrols before they spot us, we could also claim to be another patrol. Any sign of tracks from where the horse came from?"

Ammanas watched as Varian runs off towards Caitlin's direction. His thoughts still hadn't left the scene he had seen. He was certain she had cast something at that horse before the Ax had landed home.

[Trike]

Nicodemus notices Varian before he finds any tracks. "We should find out what the others intend to do. We seem to be building a group. If the consensus is to leave, I'm fine with that. We should at least see what they intend..."

He continues searching for possible tracks from the burning horse, thankful for the addition of Boiros' light.

[kintire]

Caitlin looks nervously around again.

"Your worried about your mule? After all that? and you're planning to head out there, in the middle of the night? Uncle has the key to the padlock, I don't work in the stables I've never needed it. I can ask him, but he sent me out for the patrol. We might need to wait for him to calm down a bit..."

[ewancummins]

"

"Yes, of course I'm concerned for Button. He's my responsibility. As for the night; I'll take my chances like a free man. I know when it's time to leave where I am neither wanted, nor needed. But since you are worried about being out at night, maybe Xavril and I should escort you back to the inn. You can get the keys. After we leave, go ahead and fetch the patrol--if you still think it's wise to do so. At the very least, I'd feel better if I knew that somebody went with you. If your uncle is afraid of the dark, maybe you can ask one of the guests he kicked out into the night. If any of them choose to remain in this town much longer, that is. That seems dubious, given the welcome they have received. If any of them do decide to stay you might want to make friends with them, especially if Father Ammanas stays. He has power that he has withheld using—for now. Calling down a patrol on the priest and the others just because your uncle expelled them in a fit of anger isn’t going to go over well. Heck, it might even get your uncle in trouble with the mayor. If we aren’t supposed to be out—neither are you. And if your uncle is responsible for so many people breaking curfew—which he is…Just think about it before you make a mistake, please."


Varian pauses to let all that sink in.

[kintire]

Caitlin looks depressed and a little annoyed. But mostly depressed.

"Free man? Who do you think you are? Or perhaps I should say, Where do you think you are? There is exactly one 'free man' in Darkon, and you are not he. And speaking as the one who has been working as hard as she can since she got here to give you the best welcome possible, I appreciate your gratitude!"

The annoyance fades, leaving just the depression

"My uncle's too angry to give me anything and he won't be happy if I come back with no patrol. Why did you have to do this? Why couldn't you just stay inside for the night, and flounce out in the morning? Who tries to travel at this hour anyway?"

She shrugs

"Well it doesn't matter what I think. Never has, never will. You don't care, uncle doesn't care, no one cares. I'm the penniless orphan niece, and if I want to keep eating, I do what my uncle says. Right now he says 'get the patrol'. If he gets into trouble, or gets me into trouble, there's nothing I can do."

[ewancummins]

Varian blurts out-
''I wish that you'd stop talking like that! You aren't a slave. People do care about you. If I didn't care what you thought, would I waste time talking with you? We're asking you to make a choice to help. Not demanded. Asked. Because you are free, Caitlin."

The intense look on his face melts, replaced by a blush that shows even by night.

[steveflam]

Xavril looks around then at Varian, eagerness in his eyes. "You know, those elves I told you about? Would this be a situation warrant something similar?"

[ewancummins]

Xavril looks around then at Varian, eagerness in his eyes. "You know, those elves I told you about? Would this be a situation warrant something similar?"

''It might-- I'm not sure. I don't know if this is a job for militia.''

[Trike]

Nicodemus' attention is drawn to the conversation between Varian and Caitlin. But he remains uninvolved in the exchange. He simply glances at Caitlin from time to time, as if to keep track of her.

[ewancummins]

Nicodemus' attention is drawn to the conversation between Varian and Caitlin. But he remains uninvolved in the exchange. He simply glances at Caitlin from time to time, as if to keep track of her.

Varian takes a good look at the foriegner (who has apparently abandoned his efforts to track/find something on the ground near the inn and is now transparently eavesdropping on a private conversation occuring some distance from his previous location ) , and asks-
"Can I help you? Are you lost or something? "

[steveflam]

Xavril merely looks at Nicodemus but says nothing. His arms are folded over his muscular, though small chest.

[Le Noir Faineant]

This is the horse of one of the messengers.

You are so embroiled in your discussion, it takes the thought a moment to catch up.

One of the horses that left the village earlier today, to seek help.
And somebody just lit it on fire.


Varian doesn't manage to break the lock. But he manages to open one of the wooden windows next to the door.

"What the hell are you doing there, you morons!?"

You hear Caitlin's uncle yell from back at the destroyed inn door, an angry fire through a silent night.

The innkeeper shouts, but he doesn't come out.


Inside the stable, you find all animals unharmed - at first sight. What is so strange about them? Do they move their mouths and nostrils, nervously, but...?

You suddenly realize what's wrong.
All of the horses, all of the mules, even the pigs, fattened for the winter, they all should make some sort of sound with their voices.

They don't.


Tracks on the ground are plenty, this is a public place.
...Though you might think one particular set of hoofprints is deeper, stronger than the others.

The track leads outside of this barnyard, towards the center of the village.