Moments in the Sun

[Ginrai]

"Glad to hear that."

After tapping the top of the jar, as if beginning some sort of ritual, Ginrai takes out a needle and pricks a finger, allowing a drop of blood to fall into the jar.  He then hands both items to Devin.

[Brian]

Devin mumbles something under his breath, while moving the needle close to his finger.  You get the sense that he's lying, whatever he's saying.  A drop of blood falls from where he made it look like he pricked himself, into the jar.  He passes it to Astryd, who does the same thing, and then passes the jar to Serril.  "Your turn," she says solemly.

Serril accepts needle and jar with trembling fingers, nearly looking away to prick himself -- he looks more squeamish than Astryd first was.  But he pricks a finger and squeezes a drop of blood into the jar, then turns to look at you expectantly, now holding a jar with four drops of blood in it.

[Ginrai]

Nodding, Ginrai takes the jar and taps it again as it to end the ritual.

"Now that that's done let us begin with the questions.  First, please tell us your name and where you're from."

[Brian]

Serril looks like he's about to explode for a minute, turning from a human to a solid ball of living tension.

Then he sighs, and hangs his head.  "I'm not really Serril Dewer," he says, quietly.  "I'm a traveler from another world, inhabiting this body briefly.  My real name is Stephen Riley."

[Ginrai]

"I see....  It's obvious that you're telling the truth.  Can you please further elaborate?"

[Brian]

"Realistically, I shouldn't say more than that," he says, shaking his head.  "I ... I can assure you that my purpose here is to defend this keep from the enemy, though.  I'm not a traitor."

[Ginrai]

"Unfortunately due to the situation, a few more things have to be explained.  Do not worry, this information will only be known to a few people, but it is important that they know it.  Who else among your group is within this castle?"

[Brian]

"What?" he asks, frowning.  "How did you know there was anyone else?"  He frowns at you, narrowing his eyes, and then sighs.  "You're from the Order of Symetry?"

[Ginrai]

Ginrai nods.  "Yes.  At this point I probably wouldn't have been able to get anything more unless I got that out of the way.  I take it that you're a part of Pax Arcana?"

[Brian]

"That's right," he says, nodding.  Astryd and Devin look a little out of their depth.  "So.  Now what?"

[Ginrai]

"Well, first I want to know why one of your members left the castle the past day or so."

[Brian]

"What?  Oh."  Stephen frowns.  "Liandral went to watch over Nathan and Bloom," he explains.

[Ginrai]

"..."

Stunned over what he just heard, it takes Ginrai some time to think of what to ask next.  "Okay... that I wasn't expecting, especially since Liandral was with us since we first got here.  Just when did you guys come over here?"

[Brian]

"Uh, for us, it was a few days ago," he says, squinting.  "But time seems to work funny here."

"Time runs differently in your world?" Astryd asks, looking faint.

[Ginrai]

"I believe so.  As for when you arrived, was it when we were already situated within the castle?"