Kee, of Cormyr

Of Cor-ushed!

[...crushed, maybe?]

[flattened]

To the others, she grunts an explanation, "Some form of mind control, I'd bet anything on it. I hold no rank; calling me Captain was a signal.

We should –uff– we should leave soon. Stryke doesn't see anything else, and I [really] don't care to learn if there's a plan B in their pocket."

and then under the force of Aro's blow. 'I am sorry, who are— ugnh!'

As if on cue, Kee hustles forward to catch his weight over her shoulders, Morris's head from thumping against the ground. She manages a quick nod of gratitude towards Aro.

She always could trust him to know where her mind was.

'W-well, sir, I–'
Morris's gaze darts between Kee and the two strangers, his expression one of pleading confusion. He doesn't notice Aronion's readied strike until his lips begin to form what was dure to be a weak lie; the young wizard crumpled first under Knox's piercing gaze,

||someone is gonna log on for the first time today and be like wtf is going on

Death just can't seem to keep up with us, eh, Stryke?

Her negligible skill or interest in falsehoods hold her from something more daring. She'll have to hope the others catch her meaning.

The light underneath the shop's door darkens and vanishes as footsteps approach.

The door opens, and the young, terrified man they had seen taken enters, smiling.

Hestor almost jumps forward, but she holds her hand up, shaking her head rapidly to the others. A brief moment of focus is spared to bring Stryke to land near the door.

"Well, a little [subdued] in here, but not [hurt too bad.] Why don't you come in while we recover?"

She doesn't often rely on the dart in her hand, but again it's ready. Silence stretches on as five await action. Silence - until a voice outside breaks it.

"Captain? Cap...tain Kee?" A man's voice calls out, then grunts in pain before continuing. "Is it over? Are you two safe?"

the cleric relents, finding a clear view of the door from behind cover. As he shuffles, Kee answers the debate ahead of her.

"I never said he couldn't tell, but Stryke and I [don't] speak. I feel what he feels. Right now... he's not so sure. Knox's instincts are good."

and keep an eye on the shadows. If it's a friend we'll know soon enough."

Hestor glances first to to his leader, then to the hulking warrior with gloom hung over his shoulders. Perhaps he hears them; perhaps he just sees his own pain reflected in the man's posture. Whatever his reasoning,

As the others prepare, the Halfling's hand catches Morris just above his waist - before he can continue his hasty approach to the door. He stops in his tracks, but looks to her almost pleadingly. Her answer is empathetic, but unrelenting.

"The man speaks sense, Rath. Hold the back line for us,

Oh, good! I was worried.

Completely fine...

Well. Fine enough...

Eyes opening, she says, "Someone is outside. Stryke recognizes them and sees no other - though the cult hs many means of staying hidden.

Shall we meet them?"

she cannot keep an uncharacteristic strain from her voice.

Once Knox nears the top, she'll clear space for him and close her eyes, a hand on a rickety table. The wind and quiet sounds of the streets outside will welcome the beating of wings familiar to Morris, Knox, and Aronion.

Knox's comment,

"I stood as you would, I think. You stayed to fight with a stranger and followed her into unknown peril. Not many would.

If I run, the others have no shield. As it was..." Leading her team confidently into an ambush, falling victim to the enemy's enchantments losing Morris;

She leaves one ear trained to the ladder once Aro has passed through, dart readied to throw if another attack should emerge from the shadows below or doorway ahead. Below, Hestor follows Sybella up and takes position near the rear of the shop.

Though she tries to focus, she can't help returning

I refuse to believe kindness is a lost cause.

She emerges in a crouch, stepping carefully around the body and moving with far more caution this time around. As soon as she's satisfied it's clear, she calls down,

"Come on up, I see no sign of stragglers or lookouts."

but halfway up the ladder and finally eye-level with the others, she looks back and adds, "I didn't thank you yet. We might have lost far more if you hadn't acted, both of you. I'll be thanking Tymora for crossing our paths tonight, and that of my mentor besides."

With that, she scurries up.

She'll have to shake the thought off for now. Instead, she ties off the bandage and pulls herself up the ladder first, waving Hestor back as she does. "Take the rear. Clearly, I'll need capable hands at my back if we're ambushed... a third time."

Hestor nods silently and obeys. Her brow creases,

she finds it drawn back to the young woman. She tries not to stare outright as she passes

She can't quite confirm Knox's words yet, but... was [this] the Empress he served? Surely not, not in a place like this, and there was no sense in this serving her needs.

"You got the full brief, then?" She listens to the others as they accept her invitation, winding mundane bandages around her arm where the Withered skin had split from movement.

When she steps through the group and tries to offer Aronion her full attention, though,

||new username

her home. With such in mind, she waves off his worries, meeting his sour look with a sunny smile of her own.

"Well, I can hardly turn down such a gracious request. I take it you'd prefer to set aside titles, or am I being presumptuous?"