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[h2][color=598527][i][b]Kathryn Pyke[/b][/i][/color][/h2][i][b][color=598527]Human, Fighter (Rune Knight), Level 05[/color][/b][/i]
[color=598527][i][b]HP:[/b][/i][/color] 49 / 49	[color=598527][i][b]Armor Class:[/b][/i][/color] 19	[color=598527][i][b]Conditions:[/b][/i][/color] N/A
[color=598527][i][b]Location:[/b][/i][/color] Coach House Tap Room
[color=598527][i][b]Action:[/b][/i][/color] N/A
[color=598527][i][b]Bonus Action:[/b][/i][/color] N/A
[color=598527][i][b]Reaction:[/b][/i][/color] N/A 
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[right][img]https://img.roleplayerguild.com/prod/users/7884b36a-e3f0-48fb-9689-1a8fd4af7f5a.png[/img][/right]
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	Warming up was a slow effort, but one that was much needed. She was thankful Lizbeth had her things with her now so she could be a little more comfortable while she stayed with the party. Kathryn wished she hadn't been so caught up in the moment and wished she had offered the items to the young girl. So when Kathryn was offered tea from the young Lizbeth she let out a warm smile to the girl. "[color=598527]Thank you so much my dear. I swear its getting colder by the minute out there.[/color]" Kathryn said trying to lighten the mod around Lizbeth. As a whole, she worried about the girl. She worried about the tone of things when she walked in, she worried about what Cecily said when they were in private. And she was torn on what of that she should share with the party. Or even to Lizbeth herself. She did seem to be a bit better with the return of her belongings, so small victories for now. They needed something big. Not only to keep everyone safe, but because the wear that it was taking on Lizbeth was getting worse. The heart of a child could only take so much, and she'd need something big to happen to be a reassurance that everything would be okay.

	When Lizbeth had offered to assemble some food for them, Kathryn felt guilty that the girl left in their charge was acting in place of a servant to them. Kathryn stood up to offer to help, but they had severe problems to focus down. She had to be present for this. "[color=598527]You've had a long day Lizbeth, no need for anything too complicated. Easy and simple okay?[/color]" She also figured this was Lizbeth trying to get out of the current conversation. Otherwise she would insist on not needing anything. The girl probably just wanted to feel useful with a chance to escape the horrors going on around her. Kathryn told herself she would make Lizbeth a treat or few when given the chance herself. Tonight was not likely to be one of those nights. 

	Blackberry had begun to bring up several points of concern as well. Also, growing more concerning and more relevant as things began to progress. Or degrade depending who was asked. "[color=598527]Do we even have a way to give an answer? Or how to figure out what it'll cost?[/color]" There could be something in the study, but even then it was a bit of a stretch. But BB was also right, there was no telling what would happen if they didn't act on this information. Blackberry did have a decent idea of asking the staff of any other hidden old places like the distillery. Kathryn nodded with approval to this idea as she tried to think of more herself. "[color=598527]I like that idea, lets begin interrogating the staff as soon as we can. As for the study, we can look for a key, learn how to pick locks, or worst comes to worst I'll deal with the door the good old fashion way.[/color]" Kathryn said determined, but with a light undertone of humor to soften the seriousness of the situation. Maybe she could force the door off its hinges, or maybe she could dismantle it piece by piece until they could get in. Cecily may have to be asked for forgiveness later. With time very much not on their side, they would soon have to push the ask forgiveness later motion if they were to save lives. She hated that, but she was getting more and more concerned of the situation. The lack of keys would also prove problematic. 

	Kathryn listened to his last point, but wasn't sure if there was a finer point that he was trying to get too. "[color=598527]So our suspects likely speak a language that so few speak, that knowing it is enough for us to put someone on a suspect list. How would we confirm such a thing though? Unless you had another idea in mind.[/color]" Kathryn was far from a language expert. Even her attempts to learn goblin have proved to be a major pain in the ass. Not without some merit or progress, but it was slow going and difficult. She wondered a bit what the dragonborn's point was, if there was something comically obvious she was missing. 

	Hearing from Victoria that the study may already be unlocked with the help of her trade master eased one area of problems. Kathryn didn't really want to go smashing down doors until they had no other choice. Victoria showing she made up a large amount of the brains of the team explaining how the language may be relevant. Kathryn had to hide her awe and shock from being so side stepped from the knowledge. But it was a fun bit of trivia to learn from the bard. "[color=598527]SO whatever the source of this magic, it is probably old. Or follows old roots.[/color]" Her mind came to a lich, but all she knew of them were from children's stories. Super old wizards corrupted by the power of undead magic. Always evil, always stabable by the hero knights of her story books. But they normally had a super obvious hideout in those books and stood no chance against the epic hero of the tale. 

	"[color=598527]So we have the study, we have this deal that is proving problematic, and we have the concerning connections of an old nearly dead language that thankfully a few of us know about. But that no one in living memory should be able to do these sort of abilities. With an increasingly impatient dangerous foe.[/color]" Kathryn debated bringing up her theory but as her knowledge stopped at children's story books she wasn't so sure on it. "[color=598527]We could try and involve the Sheriff. He has more local knowledge, and is an experienced adventurer. As well, we need to start considering a list of suspects. And how much we can trust each individual while we sort out who is who.[/color]" She visibly hesitated before speaking again. "[color=598527]Blackberry, Victoria, you may know more than me so I will run it by you two first. Could we be dealing with a lich of some kind? I can't say I am an expert but at a surface level glance I can't rule it out with my own knowledge. Or Kosara, you have some familiarity with this dude's name. Could he be something... more?[/color]" Kathryn asked posing the question to her team.