IC - Village of Limm

Danill leans in to the run, and when they are just a few steps away, he leaps at the whirlwind cloud of claw.

He closes his eyes and holds his breath as he hits it.

"Well done, sirs!" Quintus Quail shouts after the pair, loud enough to be heard over the spirit's terrible din. "Try yourselves in the crucible of vengeance, and may the gods favor the innocent!"

As Danill and Podreg run toward the spirit, Ognimir asks Quail and Damir:
"What if Tiyem actually deserved what he got? Just because a spirit feels the need for vengeance doesn't mean . . . "

But then the drama of what is to unfold distracts him, and he doesn't complete his thought.

"Very good, sirs!" Quintus cries. "I applaud your bravery." If he could clap his hands, he would; as matters stand, the pair from Limm will have to settle for verbal plaudits. "We know now that this spirit of vengeance will spare the innocent, who cannot bring it rest."

And, of course, they know that they can safely drag any suspects out here and toss them into it. This Quintus does not say, for the next suspect on their list is Podreg's brother Dommic. It would be indelicate to sully the youth's family name so soon after such a bold gesture.

"Shall we return? The good people of Limm should hear our report."

Danill sits stunned in the icy water for a moment. He responds to Podreg's exclamation. "Aye...so you did."

He wades after the bowman, ringing out the bottom of his shirt. The chill of the evening already causing him to shiver.

He listens to Quintus as he hits solid ground and nods in agreement at his plan. He's ready to follow the Guardian back to the village.

Ognimir plods down to the waters to help Podreg and Danill.
He then turns to the swirling spirit mass and shouts as best he can with his empty voice.
"Who, then?! Who did this to you?"

He doesn't expect anything other than more keening, but he figures it is at least a try.

Ognimir approaches.
"I trust Tiyem received a good funeral? Any activity here while we investigated the . . . "
He shrugs his shoulder in the direction of the keening. He fumbles for words that could describe what is out there.

Upon their return to Limm, Quintus goes to find his tethered horse. He returns his crossbow and quiver to their places, affixed to his saddle pack, then makes his way by torchlight back to Ognimir and the remaining villagers. By now the brand is burning low, almost at his fingers. Soon he'll have to toss it aside.

He nods to the folk from Limm and awaits their answer to Ognimir's question.

Danill hustles back to the inn, through the dark village. He's going upstairs to grab his cloak and the rest of his gear.

"I don't understand it, myself. We feared an aspect of The Veil. But it seems, Tiyem's spirit -- in some sense-- remains."

Ognimir tries to explain what it is and what it demands, but his dry throat and exhaustion get the better of him. When he feels like he's not making sense he turns to Damir and Quail to save him.

Damir takes over in a calm manner. The man again appreciates Ognimir at his side. They both work well with each other and he can easily emphasise the gravity of the situation after Ognimir's initial explanations. He informs the villagers of the demands as well as the dangers of refusing the cursed apparition. The Guardian asks for a town meeting and sincere information on Tiyem's standing in Limm before his tragic death.

The well being of many depends on what happens in the next hours, on who is willing to come forward.

Danill has returned to hear the tail end of Damir's explanation. He raises his voice in cooperation with the Guardian.

"It's relatively painless." He holds is arm up to show small punctures. "See? You have nothing to fear, to prove your innocence. "

Quintus abandons his sputtering brand and steps up to Ibic Panwol. In the darkness, he speaks aside to the village headman, softly so that Podreg won't overhear.

"If I may, sir, we have some concern regarding a young man named Dommic. I do not accuse him, but it remains the case that he has shown an interest in your Ciara, and may therefore have had cause to resent Tiyem for the girl's own interest in that unfortunate musician. When you announce to the village that the spirit cries out for justice, you would do well to observe the lad's reaction. And, perhaps, stand ready to arrest his flight."