Café de Nuit

After his brief talk with Caitlin fails to elicit any help, Varian thanks her and goes back to the stables, where he has already popped open a window (as described in the post above).
With Xavril's help, he checks on the animals (as described in Raf's post above).
He then attempts to open the door from the inside/breaks the lock or chain/pulls the door hinges (whatever is necessary and seems the fastest way out).


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"There, there. I know you are scared, boy. It's going to be okay. I'm taking your away from this accursed town. Now."

The gnome merely nods and follows Varian, not even looking back.

Varian will find that it is easy enough to enter the stables.

The air here is colder, spicier than outside.

Button will take a moment to calm down, under the guidance of his master, but then, after two or three long minutes,
allows Varian to take him out of the stables.

All along, the mule's head seems to spasm uncontrollably.


When Varian goes outside, to address Xavril, he will find that his voice is gone.

His lips move, but no sound comes out.

Nicodemus had just smiled at Varian, meeting his gaze directly. But the odd condition of the horses pulls his attention away from the belligerent duo. He watches the animals from a distance but speaks to Caitlin, his tone even.

"Caitlin, this man basically started the argument with your uncle that drove him into anger. Why are you concerned with whether he comes or goes?"

With that, he looks back at Ammanas. "With that innkeeper yelling, we are going to have some visitors soon. What do you want to do from here?"

The odd situation with the horses draws Ammanas’ attention and he only half hears Nicodemus’ question. Not soon after he noticed Varian not speaking as his lips moved. “…I stole their voice…” he mutters to himself reminding himself of the voice.

“I’d advise no one wander into the dark without a light, I’m wondering if this thing’s power only affects those in the dark…” said Ammanas moving a little bit closer to Boiros’ light source while not trying to make it obvious he acts like he was stepping forward to address Nicodemus. “Did you find tracks that might be…. Well with a hint of pitch or something? With the keeper we have two choices, we can press the investigation here at night when this seems to be active, or leave and forget we ever saw this place like those two seem apt to do. I’m not convinced, it’s safe to leave. I think that horse is from earlier someone who was sent out of the village, they may be heading into even more danger than here presently.”

Ammanas leaned on his scythe seeming to weight the options before them. “Let’s escort these two to the edge of town, and decide from there, I’m open to suggestions if anyone has any.” Said Ammanas wondering if his theory on the ‘supernatural silence’ was correct or not.

"Well, there seems to be a lot of tracks around the inn. But one set seems deeper than the others. That could be the flaming horse. If we need to, we can pick that trail back up after escort duty."

Nicodemus takes a quick minute to bring Boiros up to date in Mordentish.

"No doubt from it running quickly, heavier foot falls yes?" asked Ammanas nodding in agreement to his assessment that they could do it after escort duty.

Caitlin makes no reply to Varian, but as her uncle continues to remain in the inn after sending her out a flicker of anger briefly crosses her face, making no reply to Nicodemus either, but staying close to him, hefting her lantern in one hand and gripping her short wooden stick in the other.

Varian grabs Button's rope, waves to Xavril to follow, and immediately leaves town.

"Indeed this horse is from one of the messengers sent to get help. I recognized it as well. I'm afraid the messengers had worse fate though...If you agree I would like to go search for them. Maybe follow the tracks Nicodemus saw, or just wander a bit outside the village hoping we don't encounter the one who did this. That reminds me, does any of you know any monster that has telepathic abilities? Because as you remember we all heard the voice in our heads...Also I'm not sure if the sourse of light is protecting us or was a spell casted in the stables that took the animal's voice away. Yes I know the stables were locked but I still want to try something."

Getting close to the stables but not inside Boiros gets his holy symbols and makes a quick prayer to Ezra. Then concentrated on the stables.

ewancummins wrote:Varian grabs Button's rope, waves to Xavril to follow, and immediately leaves town.

Xavril frowns but follows his friend. He unslings his hammer from his back.

Nicodemus turns to watch Boiros approach the silent stables.

"I'm not an expert on magical creatures but that's an interesting thought. Boiros, if you understood the words that were spoken..."

He lets the words trail off as Boiros gets close to the stables.

Varian and Xavril

You are still in sight of the stables when you reach the end of the village...

And the end of the street.

Something has transformed the ground before you into a muddy paste of street bricks and wet earth.

This shouldn't be like that.


All along the way, the village has been dead quiet. No signs of life, whatsoever.

You passed by an empty watchpost, a modified tree stand, better suited for a hunter than for a guard.

Empty.

Where are all the people?



The Stables

Something wet falls on Boiros' face.

It's a piece of cloth.

Varian takes a swig from his waterskin, gargles, and spits into the mud.

He keeps his lantern raised to light a path across the mud and bricks.

If he is still unable to speak, he says nothing, of course.

Xavril frowns."Is there a god here who does not want us to leave this hellhole of a village, Varian?"
The road before them perplexes him.