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"net.rptools.maptool.client.ui.zone.ZoneRenderer.getZone()" because
"zoneRenderer" is null error executing expression imp =
getImpersonated().
Error trace : powerBarEx@lib:BS <<< macroLink
Server started; please wait for map to refresh.
=^v^= has connected.
Ganaroth has connected.
Ganaroth is disconnected.
Ganaroth has connected.
|
Io stares down his Bizzaroverse
counterpart.
|
|
|
Io:
Sup?
|
vonel has connected.
|
|
=^v^=:
chillin,
sunburn sucks, etc
|
Riot has connected.
|
|
Ganaroth:
Yo.
Sorry to hear about the sunburn, Akaiku!
|
|
|
Ganaroth:
Oh,
shoot! I didn't see you up there, Von!
|
|
|
Ganaroth:
I
must have been tabbed.
|
|
|
Ganaroth:
How
is everyone?
|
|
|
=^v^=:
brakes
still broken, sunburn day after unplesentness, other then that okay
|
|
|
=^v^=:
the
new gate anime has less fox then I would like and I think it's
detracting from its strengths right now
|
|
|
Ganaroth:
Boo.
I'm glad you're doing well, though, Von.
|
|
|
Ganaroth:
How
are you feeling, Riot?
|
|
|
Riot:
covid
is getting better
|
|
|
Riot:
Also
Furiosa just dropped onto the high seas so I'm gonna finally get
to watch that
|
|
|
=^v^=:
not
even really being shitty bout it, the anime is better as a slice
of life/exploration thing instead of an action thing
|
|
|
Riot:
The
site I use does not allow cams or Telesyncs
|
|
|
=^v^=:
it
was all cam rips 8 hours ago
|
|
|
Riot:
720p,
1080p, and proper 2160p
|
|
|
Ganaroth:
Well,
I'm sure it will have been sorted, regardless, by the time I
decide to watch it, in 2028.
|
|
|
Riot:
It's
halfway done downloading, I'll check quality when it is
|
|
|
Ganaroth:
Neat.
I honestly know nothing about it; I only estimate when I see it
based on my abysmal rate of consumption lately.
|
|
|
Ganaroth:
But
I would like to see it eventually.
|
|
|
=^v^=:
ah
ya still all ts
|
|
|
=^v^=:
if
it's not 1337.to it's not real xp
|
|
|
=^v^=:
or
it's anime and nyaa
|
|
|
Ganaroth:
Well,
do you folks want to start? And, if possible, could someone look
at logfox, and maybe find the stuff that Korrath's rep said? I'd
like to know the wording I used.
|
|
|
vonel:
Korrath's
representative is fairly small dragonborn woman with brassy scales
and a low, quite voice. She looks about the room, noting the
relative sparseness of the furnishings, but her eyes linger on the
crisp uniforms and well-used martial accoutrements in evidence.
"Hello. My name is Jasse, ambassadorial seneschal to Lord Korrath.
I will be as clear as possible from the outset: My lord owns a
part share in a mining village, alongside the Emirate of Si En
Kelar. Given the volatility of current events, he is concerned
that it might be seized, or the citizens subjected to abuses by
the Emir's people, intends to purchase the Emir's share. He would
like to hire you to guard the site and oversee it while the
handover is being finalized. He has reason to believe that you
might be fair in this matter."
|
vonel:
(( good to go as well ))
=^v^=:
(( sure I'm good ))
|
|
Ganaroth:
(Thanks!
Very much appreciated.)
|
|
|
Ganaroth:
(I
didn't even know anything had happened, but I'm glad you're back.)
|
|
|
Riot:
lost
output to my main monitor for a minute, turned on the second
monitor and the main came back with it. Was very strange
|
|
|
Riot:
I've
stopped using both at the same time because it was screwing with
my eyes to have my main be 120hz and my secondary be 60hz
|
=^v^=:
(( probably hdcp handshake fail ))
|
Jasse continues. "Of course, my lord
has no intention of asking you to unlawfully engage Emiral
Soldiers. Indeed, the contract, outlined in the documents I have
brought with me, stipulates that, should my lord engage begin
hostilities first, you would be free to abandon the contract with
full payment. So I hope you take this as evidence of our intention
to conduct business fairly, and that our only concern is the
safety of the workers, villagers, and guards living there."
|
|
|
Jasse:
(Oh.
Should probably make sure, but that connects okay, right? I now
realize a pitfall of ending with a new statement.)
|
Riot:
(( looks fine to me ))
|
|
Jasse:
(Cool.
Okay then.)
|
|
|
Jasse:
(typos
yadda yadda.)
|
vonel:
(( only part of that that triped me
up was 'should my lord engage begin hostilities first.' had to read that
a few times ))
|
|
Jasse:
((See
above, typos yadda yadda. Sigh...(cries)))
|
Incidentally, Perra, you don't recognize this Jasse. She must have been
hired to the position after you left.
|
Kris:
"Sounds
fair, he attacks were off the hook, and if the Emir's forces
attack us first we knock them around and keep the people safe."
|
|
Ra'ven:
"Who
all else would be there for an attack to be started by his forces
anyways?"
|
|
|
Jasse:
"Both
my lord and The Emir have a small guard contingent stationed
there, in order to protect their specific interests. However,
before coming here, he had received rumors that some of the new
workers sent by the Emir over the last year or so were actually
soldiers in diguise. Our own soldiers believe they've seen more
unique faces than they should have." She pauses. "The garrisons
are not encouraged to fraternize, and the soldiers mostly do not
know each other. But they've said that there are too many new
faces in uniform, even if the size of the patrols are no
different. In any case, if this is true, my lord worries about the
implications, especially after what he has heard here. Thus he
swiftly negotiated the full purchase of the village and mine.
However, the Emiral soldiers stationed there have not yet been
informed, and without a neutral party to ensure the peace is kept,
we cannot guarantee that harmful misunderstandings will not occur.
In other words, the potential targets would largely be Enseladar
guards, workers, and equipment. However, as any fight would risk
the safety of the resident villagers, ensuring that a fight does
NOT occur would be protecting them as well."
|
|
|
Jasse:
"There
is one additional consideration, also recent in nature. What
appears to be a group of bandits has recently taken root in the
area. Unfortunately, they've so far eluded capture by either side,
and have continued to raid our warehouses, and even murder our
men. We are afraid, considering the fact that the normal soldiers
will be distracted during this period, that they will become more
aggressive, with more awful results."
|
|
|
Jasse:
"Your
roles in all of this, therefor, would be to act as detterents and
peacekeepers. If all goes well, you'll never see battle at all.
Hopefully, when the Kelarans see you disembarking, they'll think
twice before starting a problem at all. The same with the bandits."
|
|
|
Kris:
"We
can hope."
|
vonel:
(( brb need to get laundry going. ))
|
Lucky:
"I'm
not opposed to the idea of smashing a few Kelaran heads together,
if they decide to get squirrely."
|
|
|
Jasse nods. "I will, of course, answer
any questions you have for me. I have copies of the contract ready
for you to read as well, if you wish." She pulls a leather folio
from her bag, and places it open on the table, so that you can see
the surprisingly thin document inside. "We aren't opposed to that
either. In fact, that IS part of the contract. If THEY unlawfully
begin hostilities, you will be contractually obligated to assist
in the defence of the village, Enseladar personnel, and Enseladar
property."
|
|
|
Jasse:
"The
standard reason we're asking you, rather than a troupe of
convincing actors."
|
|
Rai Patience Cantor:
"Oh,
some of us ARE convincing actors, believe me. But I do understand."
|
|
|
Rai Patience Cantor:
"Now,
you say a small contingent. How many is small?"
|
|
|
Jasse:
"Our
agreement stipulates no more than 30 soldiers, and their
commander, for each side."
|
|
|
Jasse:
"We
think there might be as many as 50% more on their side, now, which
is problematic."
|
|
Sera:
"Do
you have any idea if the bandits have struck both sides? Or only
yours?"
|
|
|
Jasse:
"We
do exchange information on a basic level, and we are quite
convinced that the bandits have struck both sides, as much as we'd
like to blame the Emir for everything at this point."
|
|
|
Sera:
"Okay.
Just wanted to be sure, since that would have lent an easy
plausible deniability for the Emirate."
|
|
|
Jasse:
(Gonna
wait to post.)
|
|
|
Kris:
"Doesn't
mean there not in his pocket, pay them to hit both sides but when
they hit his side they don't do as much damage or just hit things
that arn't as important."
|
|
|
Jasse:
"Definitely
a possibility. And even if not, we'd like to, for instance,
prevent the extra soldiers from simply dressing as bandits, and
commiting whatever acts they wish, deflecting the blame."
|
|
|
Kris:
"Indeed."
|
|
|
Jasse:
"If
they know that a well armed and skilled mercenary group, easily
capable of dealing with their own soldiers, is watching to prevent
such a thing... well, you understand."
|
|
|
Rai Patience Cantor picks up a copy of
the contract, and scans it, nodding. "Hmm. Of course, I'll want to
look this over before comitting, but you've been quite kind in
keeping this short."
|
|
|
Jasse:
"Cor
Falcan law dispenses with most of the frills you foreigners use.
There is little reason to define someone who has betrayed us to
the other side, for instance, when anyone who looks can plainly
see. Similarly, if you have done your job well, there is little
recourse for us to cheat you. Our reputation would become dross."
|
|
|
Rai Patience Cantor passes out a few
other copies of the contract, to anyone who care to take a look.
|
|
|
Kris takes one to read over
|
|
Perra takes one as well
|
|
|
Rai Patience Cantor:
(Magically,
through the power of reading, you are able to gain information!)
|
|
|
Rai Patience Cantor:
(obviously
meaning that you can either ask Jasse or try to find info in the
contract itself, if you want to know something.)
|
Riot:
(( Neither Lucky nor Sera take one, as
Lucky lives on vibes alone and Sera trusts that Patience wouldn't put
them in an untenable position ))
|
|
Rai Patience Cantor:
((Lives
on vibes alone. I love that.))
|
|
|
Rai Patience Cantor:
(Regardless,
does anyone have a question, or a comment? I'm not sure how long I
can carry this conversation with myself.
)
|
Riot:
(( Negatron from me ))
vonel:
(( I've got nothng else at the
moment. ))
=^v^=:
(( Not particularly? Ra'ven and Vul
would both defer to the Rai on if a contract isn't dumb ))
|
|
Rai Patience Cantor:
"Well,
absent any other factors, your bid isn't disappointing. I'm sure I
can find out easily enough, but it would be faster to ask you;
what is Lord Korrath and the Emir's interest in this... Kiyyan
village? A mine, of course, but of what? And who lives in the
village? Without knowing the situation, we can't serve you well,
after all."
|
vonel:
(( brb again ))
|
|
Jasse:
((wb))
|
|
|
Jasse:
"The
village is about seven hundred people, about two hundred of which
work directly for one side or the other. None of the villagers
have any significant combat training, however. At best, a few
hunting bows, so your only real danger would be the Kelarans and
the bandits. The villagers are mostly dragonborn, humans, dwarves,
and a number of human-dwarf crossbreeds. Information on the
bandits is, obviously, more difficult to obtain. As for our
interests, we owned, prior to two days ago, a 50% share in an
Orichalcum mine." The name of the substance is familiar, but the
properties don't come to mind as readily as metals that are merely
incredibly light, like mithral, or incredibly tough, like
adamantine.
|
|
|
Rai Patience Cantor:
"I'm
not completely familiar with the substance. Do any of you...?" She
looks around at the rest of you.
|
|
Vul can make a metas knoledge check
|
Riot:
(( I have no idea if either of mine
would know it ))
|
|
Rai Patience Cantor:
(Yeah,
ok. Um, so is there a reason nobody is saying anything? I mean, if
this isn't at all interesting, I can try to think of something
else.)
|
|
|
Rai Patience Cantor:
(Ok
then.)
|
vonel:
(( sorry I just got back from
chanaging around my laundry load. ))
Riot:
(( Would that be something like an
artificer should know of? I genuinely have no clue ))
Riot:
(( Or I could roll something, just not
sure which skill ))
|
|
Rai Patience Cantor:
((You
could ask to make a skill check, yeah.))
|
|
|
Vul would like to
|
Riot:
(( History maybe? Or whatever you
suggest ))
|
|
Rai Patience Cantor:
(If
you say so. I dunno, dungeoneering or history, whichever you want.)
|
|
|
Sera:
|
Riot:
(( Woohoo +17 lol ))
|
|
Rai Patience Cantor:
(give
me a sec, ok. I really need to pull my enthusiasm back up. take 5.)
|
|
|
Vul:
|
|
|
Vul probably only knows where it falls
on the 'how shinny is it'' index x.x
|
Riot:
(( Sorry, I just didn't have any good
inputs at the moment ))
|
|
Perra:
|
:
Rolled
25.
Dungeoneering
|
|
|
|
Rai Patience Cantor:
(No,
it's okay, I was a little passive aggressive just there. I just
got really, really self-conscious about talking to myself for so
long. I'm sorry about that.)
|
Riot:
(( No worries ))
Riot:
(( Also after having Sera and Lucky
have that extended interaction the other day, I get how that can make
you self conscious ))
Anyway, actually Vul isn't even positive how shiny it is. But both Perra
and Sera know about it. It's a rare metal that, while not weak or heavy,
is only about as good in those regards as steel. Further, it can only be
worked effectively when alloyed with copper, a process that must be done
at extreme temperatures, so the metal is expensive to use in
manufacture. However, it has a very curious, and very important
property, in that it allows almost any kind of energy or power to pass
through it, not only unimpeded but enhanced. In fact, small amounts of
orichalcum are used to line the functional runes on top-grade skyship
components, such as warships, as well as high-quality magical
implements. An interesting use, considering Enseladar's traditional
views on the practice of arcane spellcasting. They tolerate the craft of
ritualists, of course, since it's impossible to really conduct life
without wards and ships, but actual casters are viewed with definite
suspicion. That the city's ruling family is openly admitting to owning a
mine of a substance that can be used that way is a bit surprising.
|
|
Rai Patience Cantor:
((It's
a little awkward! But just because I feel awkward doesn't mean
that I should be a dick.))
|
|
|
Vul would absolutly ask Perra for how
shiny it was if she knew then
|
|
|
Sera looks toward Patience, "They use
it for skyships and magic stuff. It basically focuses and enhances
magic. Kinda odd that the 'we don't like casters' Emiratis have a
stake in a mine of it."
|
Both of the winning rolls are very aware that Orichalcum is a reddish
metal than actually seems to glow warmly, as though burnished, rather
than become shiny, no matter what you do to it.
|
|
Lucky:
"What
don't
these dicks lie about?"
|
|
|
Rai Patience Cantor:
(To
be clear, it's not the Emir that has the problem with casters.)
|
|
|
Rai Patience Cantor:
(It's
Enseladar, Perra's family.)
|
Riot:
(( Ahhhh nevermind, I got that
backwards ))
|
|
Rai Patience Cantor:
((Is
okay.)
|
Riot:
(( please retract those statements ))
|
|
Vul is rather molified that the metal
he didn't know is not, in fact, shiny
|
|
|
Rai Patience Cantor:
(no
problem, totally understandable.)
|
Riot:
(( mind wipe a la men in black ))
|
|
Rai Patience Cantor:
((Wait,
why would you mind wipe me? What happened?))
|
Riot:
(( And of course it's Enseladar, I
forgot that aspect about them, which is ridiculous since it's like
Perra's big thing ))
|
|
Rai Patience Cantor:
((Well,
it's part of Perra's big thing that she dipped because of it.))
|
Riot:
(( just lop off the last bit of what
Sera said and pretend Lucky didn't speak ))
Riot:
(( exactly ))
|
|
Perra:
"Even
if they don't like magic, it's still nessary for... well
everything to function. You can dislike something but still make
use of it else were."
|
|
|
Lucky:
"Either
way, innocent people don't deserve to get hurt or killed over it."
|
|
|
Ra'ven:
"Plus
it sounds like it's valuable anywas, so even if they didn't like
magic, the ore doesn't sound magic, just good for it..."
|
|
|
Perra:
"Exactly."
|
|
|
Perra seems to agree to both Luck and
Ra at the same time
|
|
|
Ra'ven looked a tiny bit unsure of
what she was saying but nods to Perra's exactly
|
|
|
Jasse nods appreciatively. "Thank you
for your understanding. We are not crusaders for an antimagic
cause. We have opinions about its proper use, true, but we have
not outlawed it, or anything of that kind. Of course, we prefer
not to advertise our stake, but we'd much rather the risk in
bringing you in than the risk of an incident."
|
|
|
Jasse:
"Accordingly,
you will see a section in the contract concerning you
misrepresenting our involvement. After the conclusion of the
contract, consider yourself free to relay any truths you wish
about our actions there. However, deliberate misrepresentation or
falsehood will result in us taking actions you hadn't previously
seen. We don't need to define misrepresentation. We'll all know it
if we see it, both you and I. On the other hand, we won't be able
to complain if you speak unflattering truths. It's very simple. So
if you wish to speak about our involvement in Orichalcum
production, you may. However, suggesting that we directly profit
from the business of spellcasting is a different matter entirely."
|
|
|
Jasse 's lips twist slightly. "And if
we give you one copper less than owed, or gave you one jot less
than the support promised you, you may tell that story too."
|
|
|
Perra:
"We
don't care if you tell everyone what you see there, but don't lie
about it, makes sense."
|
|
|
Jasse:
"We
prefer to conduct business in the open. Kelerans and Lansiri hide
behind their walls of ink and paper, constructing castles of
illusion on ground as unsteady as sand. The letter of the law in
always suspect; all that you can count on is the spirit."
|
|
|
Rai Patience Cantor 's face is
carefully impassive, but some of you can tell that there is a
serious disagreement forming in her head that she has no intention
of letting loose.
|
|
|
Ra'ven stifles a giggle regardles
|
|
|
Rai Patience Cantor:
"Well,
that's encouraging. To know that we won't have to worry about
lengthy text creating uneccessary ambiguity, I mean. So, in my
judgement, the promised reward seems within an acceptable range,
given what you've said, and there doesn't appear to immediately be
a moral issue either. What is the timing like?"
|
|
|
Jasse:
"We'd
like to begin the official handover within two weeks. Of course,
technically the purchase is already complete. We own Kiyyan
village, and the mine outright, already. But we don't intend to
proceed with the actual handover until we can be confident in the
physical safety of doing so."
|
|
|
Rai Patience Cantor:
"I
see. Well then, unless my compatriots have further questions for
you, I'd like to take a moment to confer with them." She looks at
the rest of you, questioningly.
|
|
|
Rai Patience Cantor:
((Anyone
know which of my characters I said were in the room? Or even if I
said?))
|
Riot:
(( Don't think you said ))
vonel:
(( yeah ))
|
|
Perra:
"I've
nothing else."
|
|
|
Lucky:
"I
mean, I'm in. Like I said. Smashing heads. Protecting people. It's
my favorite thing."
|
|
|
Sera eyes Lucky a bit oddly, but
smiles and nods. "Same. I trust your judgment on the contract."
|
|
|
Rai Patience Cantor:
(Okay,
well my only other character in the room is Hector, in that case.
Everyone else is either really unusual, or can't be trusted to act
right in this setting.)
|
|
|
Ra'ven:
"Do
you
want
to help them, Perra?" Ra would ask out of earshot
of guest
|
Riot:
(( Sera was nodding and speaking to
Patience ))
|
|
Rai Patience Cantor:
(You
know, like having Abner, Fallen, Yltheria and Kaylen all try to
talk to this representative of a noble house...)
|
|
|
Rai Patience Cantor:
((Righto,
Sera.))
|
Upon hearing that there are no further questions, Jasse leaves the room
with Hector, to keep watch over her and run interference with the more
socially challenged members.
|
|
Perra lets out a heavy sigh as she
slumps down in her chair.
|
|
|
Rai Patience Cantor:
"I'm
interested in that too. I can understand why you might not want to
associate with them. But there are arguments for going along with
it."
|
|
|
Rai Patience Cantor:
"I'd
like to know your opinion."
|
|
|
Ra'ven:
"I
mean they are rich and important and powerful, but they are also
somewhat mean to Perra and also this is a bit hypocritical related
to that."
|
|
|
Rai Patience Cantor:
"Yes,
it is. No arguments."
|
|
|
Lucky:
"Good
point."
|
|
|
Perra:
"Of
course I'll help."
|
|
|
Perra:
"I
don't... hate father for what he did, and I'd like him to
eventualy see that magic isn't as bad as he thinks."
|
|
|
Rai Patience Cantor smiles. "I hope
you'd say that." Her eyes go distant for a moment. "There's a
saying... I can't remember where it's from, honestly, but I think
it might apply, in this case. "When the choice is between bad and
worse, it is our responsibility to do BETTER."
|
|
|
Rai Patience Cantor:
"The
Emir and, frankly, certain aspects of your family, Perra, are not
what we would call sterling individuals. But we can, perhaps, do
some good there nonetheless. And get paid while doing so."
|
|
|
Perra:
"I
want to go help those people, some of the guards might know me,
but I'm not going to go in shouting my name and family relations
to everyone."
|
|
|
Ra'ven gives an uncomfortable chuckle
at that
|
|
|
Rai Patience Cantor:
"Hopefully
what we do will help bring your family closer to something that
will accept you. At the very least, we can help make sure that the
Emir doesn't gain full control of it. But no, I don't think we
should probably announce your identity too loudly."
|
|
|
Perra looks down, "I've actually tried
to avoid using my family name sense I left home, I wanted to show
I could make it with out relying on my name to carry me..."
|
|
|
Sera smiles slightly at the "it's our
responsibility to do better" comment but says nothing about it.
|
|
|
Ra'ven:
"You
have your looks and talent carring you just fine anyways."
|
|
|
Lucky:
"Not
that I know anything about Enseladaran nobility, but you've
definitely shown you're capable of holding your own."
|
|
|
Lucky:
"You're
strong on your own."
|
|
|
Perra:
"Also
cause of the whole 'hates' magic thing. I didn't want to drag our
name though that muddy hole until I had a chance to... I guess
talk with him again."
|
|
|
Rai Patience Cantor:
"Heh.
Actually, I think it would be very amusing to praise your family's
foresight in investing in this valuable industry, and bringing the
benefits to his people, once we help them do exactly that. If we
say it loud enough, they might even have to agree. And wouldn't it
just be further poetry if their own child's magical prowess
contributed to that." At your words she frowns, and reluctantly
says "Well... I suppose we can hold off on something that drastic."
|
|
|
Perra smiles at Rai's words, "Like I
said, some of the guards father has there might know me, so even
if I.. we don't say anything word is likely to get out any way."
|
|
|
Ra'ven hmms, "But does he know you as
the you you are? Perhaps he'll brush it off? Does he know you are
as good as you are?"
|
|
|
Perra:
"Probably
not. I mostly practiced in secret after he found out, so what he
would have seen before I left would be differnt then what I can do
now."
|
|
|
Perra:
"Or
more focused I guess... less random stuff catchign fire or
frezzing over."
|
|
|
Rai Patience Cantor:
"I
won't say anything without your permission, no matter how much of
a wet blanket it makes you seem. So. Are we agreed, then? It
should help with building our reputation amongst the wealthy and
powerful. Hmm, though we'll want to be careful of appearing to
cater too much to them. Hm. There are institutions that help
subsidize worthy requests as well. We should really form some
associations with them..." She shakes herself. "Sorry. Gold
dreams. Well, I think that you should build up a history of great
deeds and a portfolio of incredible skills, and then come back to
rub his face in it. But that's me."
|
|
|
Ra'ven nods, "So you'd be someone who
resembles his view, instead of matches."
|
|
|
Rai Patience Cantor:
((Realistically,
of course you shouldn't HAVE to beat someone at their own game
like this. But Patience... she has particular views of the world.))
|
|
|
Rai Patience Cantor:
((Ganaroth
issues a disclaimer.))
|
|
|
Perra:
"I
mean I'd still stand out, as pretty as it is I'd rather not go
around painted blue or what every color the whole time."
|
|
|
Ra'ven:
"Vul
stands out a little, but still has some people who look similar.
Plus, I'd not really be certain except nobody would
pretend
to be him."
|
|
|
Vul:
"Hey...."
he pouts
|
|
|
Perra:
"Well
I've never seen another dragonborn with scales like mine so..."
|
|
|
Rai Patience Cantor:
"I'm
hurt. But very well, so be it. Honestly, as far as anonymity
goes... Once we're there, who cares? Nobody will be able to lay a
hand on you amongst the rest of us. And what is he going to do
when we complete the job? Not pay because it was you?"
|
|
|
Vul:
"The
messanger said speciifcally we could make fun of them if that
happened."
|
|
|
Rai Patience Cantor:
"Indeed."
|
|
|
Perra:
"He
wouldn't not pay regarless unless we really screw things up. It
would look bad on him."
|
|
|
Vul nods, "Plus I mean he sounds like
he had a lot on his plate, maybe investigating if a reported white
scaled magic user was actually his daughter would be, I don't
know, low? Does he have anyone out looking for you?"
|
|
|
Perra:
"Probably...
I'm actually a bit shocked I haven't run in to any one looking for
me."
|
|
|
Rai Patience Cantor:
"Even
if he does, I don't give him good odds of being able to take you.
And, importantly... if they only find out there, it will take some
time to send a message, and come back with a response. By then, we
might well be done and gone."
|
|
|
Perra nods
|
|
|
Rai Patience Cantor:
"I
don't know why you haven't run into anyone. It's not as though
we've been particularly secretive. But perhaps the sheer size of
the city and the density of the crowds helped to shield you."
|
|
|
Rai Patience Cantor:
"And
of course, Vul's right about how much pressure must currently be
under."
|
|
|
Perra:
"Well
even before then, it was just me an Eileen for some time before we
came here."
|
|
|
Rai Patience Cantor:
"Hmm.
Well, I don't have an explanation, then. Perhaps he'll have one."
|
Riot:
(( there's secretly a Perra clone and
he doesn't know she's gone ))
=^v^=:
(( it's not a clone it's just a poor
servent panted up white ))
|
|
Rai Patience Cantor:
(
:D :D
_
|
|
|
Rai Patience Cantor:
(Fucking
love it.)
|
|
|
Perra:
"He's
probably just trying to keep it quite, wouldn't suprise me if
everyone back home just thought I was away on a study mission or
something like that."
|
=^v^=:
(( oh shit we misplaced his daughter!
Quick get the oils! ))
|
|
Rai Patience Cantor:
"I
suppose that would be less embarassing, wouldn't it... I mean...
he would... Apologies. That came out wrong."
|
|
|
Perra shrugs
|
|
|
Perra:
"I
was suposed to go learn about runes and the magic they hold before
my own magic came about, so that kind of explation would make
sense."
|
|
|
Rai Patience Cantor:
"Oh,
of couse. The kind of magic that's respectable. Well, I'll go and
tell Ms. Jasse that we've decided to take her contract, then.
Afterwards, we should probably plan what we
|
|
|
Rai Patience Cantor:
Dammit
|
|
|
Sera:
"Does
the contract say when we would be leaving here?"
|
=^v^=:
(( sometime in the next 2 weeks I'd
assume? ))
Riot:
(( I wasn't sure if that was the time
that we were contracted to work or the time we would be getting there ))
|
|
Rai Patience Cantor:
"plan
what we should take with us." Patience responds to Sera. "The
contract stipulates that assignment have commenced no more than
two weeks from now. We can arrive any time before then."
(Considering the complications of long-distance travel, making
plans for a window of time, rather than an exact appointment, for
something like this isn't uncommon.)
|
|
|
Rai Patience Cantor:
(I
mean, if you don't know if it's going to take 5 or seven days,
because it's cloudy with a chance of meat devourers...)
|
|
|
Vul:
"Wonder
if that's enough time to do the other thing too?"
|
Riot:
(( lol ))
|
|
Lucky:
"Which
one?"
|
=^v^=:
(( the meat devoureres are also
clouds ))
|
|
Vul:
"The
Mekanis one."
|
|
|
Lucky:
"Oh
yeah, that one."
|
|
|
Rai Patience Cantor:
"Our
next appointment is with Krak Yon, of Mekanice, yes. I've sent a
message to Pasha Phelgon..." She subconsciously wipes her left
arm, where he once touched her. "...and he responded by telling me
that the messenger with the specific details of the job will not
arrive for five days yet." She raises her eyebrow. "Apparently the
Silverfang cult really can send messages quite long distances. We
shouldn't be surprised, considering their portal device. Sending a
message ahead for a day or two of travel, fine. Five days? During
an Argent Cycle? Impressive."
|
|
|
Sera scowls at the mention of Phelgon
|
|
|
Rai Patience Cantor:
((Kay,
guys, I want to run a thing by you. What if I tried to post stuff
in IC concerning the other jobs? We could make it a sort of
continuous thing over this week, because now I have a better idea
of how long these convos take, and surprise surprise, it's longer
than I thought! If I wrote stuff, would anyone respond?))
|
Riot:
(( Sure, sounds like a good plan to me
))
vonel:
(( When I'm up and have time I would.
))
=^v^=:
(( I mean I would but I sorta sit in
front of discord for about 8 hours of my work shift ))
=^v^=:
(( so my discord avaialbity is
probably higher then most ))
Riot:
(( I compulsively check discord on my
phone or my desktop whenever I'm awake so ))
|
|
Rai Patience Cantor:
"I'm
not happy to see him again. Actually, I was thinking of handing
someone else the responsibility, if anyone wants to try their hand
at it. Time for me to prove that this really is a shared
enterprise... and also for me to avoid him looking at me."
|
|
|
Rai Patience Cantor:
"Now...
I'll go make the final arrangements with Ms. Jasse. I think we're
off to a beautiful start." ((And if that's okay, I'd like to leave
it there for now.))
|
Riot:
(( works for me ))
vonel:
(( kay ))
|
|
Rai Patience Cantor:
((It
would just be me starting the next phase if we kept going, which
seems easier if I just do it in IC, since that's where it's going
to mostly be. :/ ))
|
Riot:
(( no worries! ))
|
|
Rai Patience Cantor:
Anyway.
Thanks, all.
|
Riot:
(( thank you! ))
|
|
Rai Patience Cantor:
You
know where to talk to me.
|
Ganaroth is disconnected.
|
|
Vul:
hm
|
|
|
Ra'ven prob would end up telling teh
group about her self-findings regarding herself at somepoint not
particularly far from the time
|
Riot is disconnected.
vonel is disconnected.
=^v^= is disconnected.
Riot has connected.
Ganaroth has connected.
|
|
Rai Patience Cantor:
((Feel
free to start it off however you'd like.
))
|
|
|
Riot:
also,
when are we deciding this takes place? Before the meetings with
the representatives or after?
|
|
|
Rai Patience Cantor:
(Before,
if that's ok. I don't really want to assume outcomes for those
meetings, and it makes more sense timeline-wise.)
|
|
|
Riot:
That's
what I assumed
|
Riot:
(( Also this is assuming Hector is
still with Sera, even if this is a little later ))
|
|
Rai Patience Cantor:
((I
assume that as well. He'd like to see it through.))
|
Riot:
(( Where is Patience at this point? ))
|
|
Rai Patience Cantor:
(Well,
she's wherever you want her to be, but for the purposes of this,
let's say that she's doing some paperwork in her office.)
|
|
|
Sera walks with Hector to Patience's
door, knocking softly but deliberately
|
A tiny sigh, quickly stifled. "Come in." She dabs gently at her lips as
you enter, though you don't see a drink in evidence. "Sera, Hector. How
can I help you?"
|
|
Sera looks slightly nervous, but
forces herself to be calm. "Uh, hi. I've got kind of a... weird
question? And maybe an answer, too."
|
|
|
Rai Patience Cantor stops writing, the
scritch-scritch of her pen on paper ceasing as she places down her
handkerchief. "Sera, I think I've been very accomodating in
putting aside our past animosity, since you clearly care for me. I
haven't asked too much, and I've ceased attempting to avoid you.
So, between us, do you think I deserve to be spoken to directly?"
|
|
|
Sera straightens up, hardening her
features. "Fine, yes. Fair enough. The question is simple: How are
you feeling? As in, how do you
really, really
feel. I get
the feeling that you're searching for something. Like something's
missing, and you're trying to figure out what it is."
|
|
|
Rai Patience Cantor:
"..."
She looks up at you, and at Hector as he stands stolidly in the
background, with a hollow flame in her gaze. "Well, I did ask for
it, didn't ? Very well. Sera, Hector, do you know who you are
supposed to be? I don't mean simply your names, or who you are
now, but do you know what your aspirations are? Do you the person
you are attempting to transform into?" She continues almost
without pause, the question rhetorical. "I don't. I came into
wealth, and didn't know what to do with it. I have a talent for
violence, but nowhere to aim my blade. I know there was something
I wanted out of my life... something I wanted to accomplish. But
everything I try ends up being a pale shadow of what I had hoped."
She groans. "Does it feel better? To know that I'm lost, and
flailing? That my real reason for beginning this venture is that
I'm trying to find something that I can care about? Something that
I mind meaningful, to devote myself to?"
|
|
|
Rai Patience Cantor:
(several
typos, sorry.)
|
|
|
Sera:
"It
does not feel better. Not to me. I don't
want
you to be
lost, or flailing. I want you to feel whole and be the person you
want to be. Whoever that is. And... I might have a way. At least
somewhat. It may do nothing to calm that feeling, but... Maybe
there's a chance. A chance to help you feel like something
more
.
And if you have that chance, will you take it?"
|
|
|
Rai Patience Cantor:
"I'd...."
Her expression is cautious. "I'd want to know what the chance is.
I've taken risks to heal myself before, and not all of them have
worked out."
|
|
|
Sera slowly pulls the wrapped sword
from behind her back, stepping gingerly to Patience's desk, where
she lowers the still covered blade to the desktop. Carefully,
delicately, she begins to unwrap the sword, until what sits in
between them is a blade that is clearly magical. The base metal of
the blade is dark, clearly Adamantine, but spreading out from the
hilt are veins of Mithral, spreading up as if following the flow
of stains in wood. The hilt itself is simple, a darker steel with
a handle covered in a well-worn, deep red cloth.
|
|
|
Sera:
"This
sword, it- it tells a story. Not through words, but through
feelings
.
At least as it was described to me. But there is a risk- and don't
ask me how I know this, but there is a risk that the reaction is,
well. A
little
like the feeling of dying. Or maybe exactly
like that. But if that happens, it should pass quickly, and both
Hector and I will be here to help. Hopefully, either way, it will
give you something more toward understanding yourself."
|
|
|
Sera:
"The
last thing I want is for anything to hurt you. I told you before,
I would burn the world before I let that happen. But this is a
chance to feel something
different
. It's up to you if it's
worth the risk. I won't force you. I never would."
|
|
|
Rai Patience Cantor reaches forward,
as far as you can tell completely subconsciously, with a kind of
desperate yearning, but her hand stops just short. "I... why do I
feel like this is so important?" She glares at Sera, and at
Hector. "This is something about... about before, isn't it? From
before you found me." She nods to Hector. "From before you started
following me." She nods at Sera. "I'm not stupid, you know. I'm
aware that there are gaps in my memory. I do understand that,
somehow, I must have known you, and that you're trying to... well,
I assume you're trying to bring me back." She closes her eyes.
"I've wanted to ask, of course. But... I need more than truth. I
need to know who I am, but I also need who I am to be worthy. Do
you understand?" When she opens her eyes, there actually seems to
be a glimmer of real tears. "What if I touch that sword, and I
don't like my answers? What if I touch that sword, and something
terrible happens?" Her voice drops down to a whisper. "What if I
touch that sword and nothing happens?"
|
|
|
Sera:
"Then
we'll find another way. I followed you for
two years
and
now that I'm here, I promise you I will not stop until you feel
whole again. One way or another. If nothing happens, so be it. And
if something does, I will be here for you. Whoever you feel like
you are or choose to be. But, and I need you to hear this, because
I've never,
ever
known anything more than I know this: You
will
always
be worthy."
|
Riot:
(( how you gonna make me tear up at my
own OC, damn G. That hit hard. Poor Patience. ))
Riot:
(( and she's as much yours now as she
was mine but still, you know what I mean ))
|
|
Rai Patience Cantor:
(How
about I say 30% mine? I'm filling her in, sure, but in many ways
it's still your story for her that I'm chasing, and happy to do
so.)
|
Riot:
(( lol okay fair ))
|
|
Sera whispers, barely audible enough
for anyone to hear, "I've followed you my whole life."
|
|
|
Rai Patience Cantor coughs, though
it'd be as accurate to say that something had caught in her
throat. "Well. Sometimes-sometime I feel..." With a sudden jerk,
she leans forward, and touches the hilt.
|
Some part of you expected a shout, or convulsions. Perhaps even a
scream. Instead, after a moment or two, you see tears leaking from
beneath her closed eyelids, and she withdraws her hand. Slowly, she
draws back into herself, wrapping her arms about her as her shoulders
shake. She looks up at you, tears streaking the makeup that's always
looked so strange on her to you. "...Sera?" Her voice is a hoarse creak,
as though she's having trouble finding her vocal footing. "...I'm
only... I'm only here... for a sec, ok?" The voice is Patience's. The
voice is Lucky's. But for the first time in a while, the voice is also
Resena. Even broken and faltering as it is, the diction is unmistakable.
"...we did it, huh? It all... It all worked. But I'm..." She shakes her
head, narrowing her eyes in effor. "...all slipping. Away. And...
dangerous." She suddenly grabs your arm, her firm grasp like a firelit
warmth on your skin. "Sera. You keep coming after me, don't you, no
matter what I tell you to do. Stupid." She smiles. "You've gotta...
gotta get it back. I can still... I'm not... gone." She shakes once
more, when she looks at you again, they are Patience's eye, but with a
sense of wonder to them. "Sera... I remember what I said and felt just
now, but I don't remember why I said or felt it. All I know is that it
wasn't my imagination, was it? I'm really not whole."
|
|
Sera stares at Patience, tears pooling
in her eyes. One side of her mouth crooks downward, and if her
ragged breathing weren't enough of an indicator, she's fighting
everything in her not to break, right here, right now. After a few
moments where it seems like she might collapse, or lose every
single shred of whatever it is that's still holding her together,
a smile breaks across her face, and it's clearly genuine. She
shakes her head, and the words she speaks are wet, clumsy things,
but there's a certainty to her voice that shines through, "No,
you're not. But you will be. And no force in this world, not even
the wolf itself, will stop me. Stop us. Because we can do
anything, if we do it together. Maybe you're not sure of why you
said those things, but I am. Because behind everything, every part
of you is strong, and good, and cannot,
will
not be
broken. Not for real. I- I watched you
die
. And somehow,
you brought
yourself
back.
You
did that. You are a
force, Patience. We will make you whole again. As long as there's
breath in my lungs, and blood in my body, I promise you."
|
|
|
Rai Patience Cantor draws in a long,
shaking breath. "It's all receding, now. It's like the ghost of
pain, and the echo of hope." She quirks a bitter smile. "Poetic
nonsense. But I suppose that means that there is something to work
towards then." She breathes again. "Sera... you must understand,
that I am not yet the person you... you want. And I don't know
when I will be. I don't... I CAN'T feel all the things you may
want from me, not yet. But because of you, a path back to that
person is visible for the first time. So..." And here she looks
down at her own hands, staring as though momentarily puzzled at
the manicured nails. "...so, will you wait for me? For a while, at
least?" She laughs suddenly, wiping her eyes. "I'm not sure why I
said that."
|
|
|
Sera:
"I
know you're not. And that's okay. I don't expect you to be her. I
will wait for as long as it takes. And maybe it sounds like poetic
nonsense, but nothing I said is anything less than the truth. And
for what it's worth, keep this in your thoughts: You are worthy."
|
|
|
Sera clearly fights the urge to hug
Patience, her arms coming up slightly before she changes her
direction and moves to rewrap the sword. "You're welcome to keep
this, if you want. We can hang it on the wall, and you can
remember there is hope. There is a way." She takes one last, long
look at the familiar old blade, a friend if she's ever had one.
"Or, I can take it with me. No matter what, Iann Aistrithe is
almost home, and it is safe."
|
|
|
Rai Patience Cantor:
"I
tried to keep you away, because I thought you'd be painful to
touch. I was right, but also wrong, I see. No, I'd like to hang it
in my room. I think I could do with a bit of contemplation. I...
want to hear it." She looks at you, and while she doesn't move to
hug you, you see a flicker of yearning in her eyes for just a
moment. "Sera, thank you." She coughs. "I will try to be less
prickly from now on. Now that I know what you've been trying to
do. And... well, since you're trying to help, I'll have to tell
you something about myself soon." She looks down. "Soon. I never
expected to tell it at all, so I'll need time."
|
|
|
Sera:
"Whatever
it is, I'll listen. Whenever you feel like telling me."
|
Riot:
(( brb taking dog out ))
Riot:
(( back ))
|
|
Rai Patience Cantor:
"Right.
Well then." She clears her throat awkwardly. "Erm... is there
anything else? I'm still drafting some letters..."
|
|
|
Sera:
"Actually,
yeah. I don't think it's anything to worry about, at least not
yet, but still. I want everyone, you especially, to be aware.
Someone from the Reach is here. Maybe they followed me, I don't
know. But they had tried to tamper with that sword. Where I had it
hidden. They failed, but they tried to put an old Reach alarm
spell on the lock where I hid it. It was very basic, like when
they teach it to beginners. I don't think there's any way they'll
get past the wards on this house, but still. Just so you know.
I've got Lucky looking into it as soon as she's able, so hopefully
we'll know more about who they are, and
why
they came here.
And like I told Hector, I don't think anyone from the Reach would
be stupid enough to fuck with a Vanguard Lance Sergeant and Lance
Captain."
|
|
|
Rai Patience Cantor:
"Lance
Captain... so odd to think that of myself." Her eyes lock onto
yours. "So how would that information be out here, then? And why
would it be USED in this way? After all, this little alarm told
you far more than it told them, thanks to their lack of skill. A
foolish decision, or perhaps a message?"
|
|
|
Sera:
"I'm
not sure, yet. That's the frustrating part. I know I was never
particularly cautious about hiding my identity," she gestures to
her recolored uniform. "But I also didn't expect someone from the
Reach to leave the Seclusion, let alone follow me. I should
know
who all is outside of it, unless something's happened that I'm
unaware of. The only people outside should be Vanguard, and I'd
expect them to come to me directly, not leave some bread crumb
that tells me they're here."
|
|
|
Rai Patience Cantor:
"Only
them... There couldn't have been someone left? Or... would their
memories have been removed as well? I'm not sure how it works."
|
|
|
Sera:
"You
mean someone left outside the Seclusion who knew Reach magic? I
doubt it. But maybe? And I'm not sure how it works, either. Above
my paygrade."
|
|
|
Rai Patience Cantor:
"Damn.
We may need to examine the possibility then, because either
someone has emerged behind you, or someone has been out here the
whole time. If what you told us is correct, all specifically Reach
knowledge should have otherwise vanished. Unless there is another
possibility I don't see."
|
|
|
Rai Patience Cantor:
"Still,
it's a question for another time. Even if we had the capability, I
don't think we have the TIME to immediately attempt to flush this
person out. There's just so much to do."
|
|
|
Sera:
"Yeah.
Agreed. And right now I think I need to go lie down for a bit.
G'night, Patience. And... thanks."
|
|
|
Rai Patience Cantor:
"...wait
until the end before thanking me. Good night, Sera."
|
|
|
Riot:
She
and Hector will have to discuss that "gotta get it back" thing at
some point. Figure out what "it" is
|
|
|
Rai Patience Cantor:
(nodnodnod)
|
|
|
Rai Patience Cantor:
(I
mean, I can't let this subplot just immediately end, right?)
|
|
|
Rai Patience Cantor:
Anyway...
thanks for the rp.
I had fun.
|
|
|
Riot:
Yee
me too. You made me cry a little bit (in a good way) lol
|
|
|
Rai Patience Cantor:
Woo!
|
|
|
Rai Patience Cantor:
Hopefully
I can do so again.
|
|
|
Riot:
I
believe you can and will lol
|
|
|
Riot:
You
also made Faye cry lol
|
|
|
Riot:
They
were online so I sent them transcripts as they happened
|
|
|
Rai Patience Cantor:
Aw.
Sorry, Faye!
|
|
|
Riot:
So
we've got three things going on here
|
|
|
Riot:
Getting
"it" back for Resena (whatever "it" is), figuring out the
mysterious Reacher, and Patience telling Sera some secret she's
never intended to tell anyone
|
|
|
Rai Patience Cantor:
Correct!
|
Riot is disconnected.
=^v^= has connected.
Riot has connected.
|
|
=^v^=:
alrightish,
brakes still fighting me probably have to pay the 120dollars to
have it fixed by a machine
|
vonel has connected.
|
|
Ganaroth:
Them's
the brakes, Akaiku. (sympathy)
|
|
|
Riot:
oh I
was wondering why I wasn't getting pings when tabbed out
|
|
|
Riot:
Forgot
to turn my headset on lol
|
|
|
Ganaroth:
Me
all the time.
|
|
|
Ganaroth:
I'm
too dumb to set it so that my sound automatically swaps between
headset and speakers, and too lazy to fix that situation, lol.
|
|
|
Riot:
lol
I don't have speakers so if my headset isn't on I'm just wearing
ear muffs
|
|
|
Riot:
Very
expensive ear muffs
|
|
|
=^v^=:
get
cheaper ear muffs so your expensive ones can feel fancy
|
|
|
Ganaroth:
True.
Gotta treat your earmuffs right.
|
|
|
Ganaroth:
Build
up their confidence by tearing down someone else's.
|
|
|
Ra'ven:
conservation
of confidence theorm
|
|
|
Ganaroth:
So
you doing well, Von? You showed up after the last time I asked.
|
|
|
Ganaroth:
Well,
good! Are you ready to start?
|
|
|
Ra'ven:
yes
|
|
|
Ra'ven:
it's
time to d-d-d-d-d-d-dnd! *random flashy jumpcuts to different
angles
|
The meeting for the final job request takes place the day before the
cycle is slated to drop back to Silver, and the cusp of that
transformation seems appropriate as you enter Pasha Phelgon's estate,
given his allegiance. You're lead back through his odd, assymetrical
parlor, and those of you who were previously here at the manor. note
that the large, prominent wolf statue that you remember has been either
replaced by or disguised as a bronze dragon statue instead. Kaylen looks
around, calculations clearly running in her head as she looks at the
decor. In short order, Phelgon's stocky form descends the stairs. He
seems slightly put out when he realizes that Patience isn't with you,
but quickly recovers. "Ahem... I have been asked to put you in touch
with a representative of The Howling. NOT one of them, but someone who
works directly for them is almost as bad to have angered, so I beg you
not to..." He sighs. "I beg you not to drag me much further into it.
She's not from your sect, or Vayak's. I gather they do things somewhat
differently, but The Howling has told me that they wish you to
cooperate. Please don't let your disagreements cause damage to my home.
I already have a cover story for the "task" I hired you to perform.
Nothing that will bring renown, but you can do worse than being credited
for a perfect performance on an unexceptional job. I'm sure that her
superiors will find some way to reward you enough that it looks as
though you've actually been paid, as well." He pauses. "Good luck, and
serve the great pack well." He claps his hands, and a servant comes to
retrieve you, leading you to a sitting room, heavy in red leather and
time-polished wood, centered around an elaborate Ludus table. The
servant bows to you. "She will be along shortly." You notice as the man
turns away that his movements are somewhat stiff, his reaction time just
a fraction of a second behind.
=^v^=:
(( who all went anyways? ))
|
Kaylen Fisher:
"You
know, I think this is the first time I've been inside an actual
rich person's HOUSE. Like, okay, the Observatory is amazing, but a
house is an easier thing to compare."
|
vonel:
(( Ra, Kay, and Eileen as far as I
know ))
=^v^=:
(( Lucky maybe? ))
Riot:
(( sounds right. Sera was only going
if Patience did ))
=^v^=:
(( no worries ))
|
|
Kaylen Fisher:
((I
thought Lucky was going. If that's not true, Patience is
definitely going.))
|
|
|
Kaylen Fisher:
((I'm
super not going to have you sit there all night.))
|
Riot:
(( Either way is fine, if Patience not
going is less work for you then Lucky can go ))
|
|
Kaylen Fisher:
(It
is a little less work, plus I'd honestly like to see what happens
if I don't have Patience as a tool to lean on.)
|
Riot:
(( Sounds good then. Lucky it is ))
|
Eileen:
"It
felt a bit tacky last time we were here, but then I don't really
do material stuff so who am I to say."
|
Riot:
(( Also probably best not to push that
particular button with Sera right now after all that, even though I said
she'd maintain her (bleh) bearing lol ))
|
|
Kaylen Fisher:
((Nah,
I'm with you.))
|
|
|
Lucky:
"Ostentatious
as hell, I agree. What? Don't look at me, I can know words."
|
|
Itzen:
A
tallish elf, though not as tall as many of the other ladies in
attendance walks in the door. She has a black cape with gold
geometric patterns, a black eyepatch with a wolf eye embroidered
on the outside, plus what looks to be an ornate sword at her side,
she looks across the party, briefly frowning as she spots Kaylen,
then shakes her head and sighs, ""Well, this is a bit of a
complication, but no matter. You do seem to be the representitives
of the heroic saviors of the Silverfang at least." Her voice isn't
particularly imposing, however it has a delebrate sense to it.
|
|
|
Kaylen Fisher:
"I've
got no clue what "tacky" means. As far as I can tell, it's a word
that rich people use to explain why their diamond encrusted
underwear is better than your diamond-encrusted underwear."
|
=^v^=:
(( Itzen is 5'7" fwiw ))
|
|
Kaylen Fisher:
"Oh
for fuck's... So, guys, this is a little embarassing..."
|
|
|
Kaylen Fisher:
"Heh.
Yup. As you well know, instructor. Long live Garmera, in a
non-scientific sense of the term..."
|
|
|
Kaylen Fisher honestly looks like she
might want to die.
|
|
|
Eileen cocks her head but shrugs,
"Saviors, sure. So what can we do for you?"
|
|
|
Itzen clears her throat, "Well. As I
was saying, your heroics have been made known. As well as some
other specifics." She gives Kaylen a sharp look then looks to the
others, "Let me start with a question, first. Does anyone except
Ms Fisher there happen to know the Orb of Ayla?"
|
|
|
Lucky:
"Not
a clue."
|
|
|
Kaylen Fisher 's expression gets a
little worried.
|
=^v^=:
(( dunno prob religon check? ))
|
|
Kaylen Fisher:
((A
religion check would, in this case, be appropriate.))
|
|
|
Eileen:
|
|
|
Ra'ven:
|
|
|
Lucky:
|
Riot:
(( Like I said, not a clue lmao ))
=^v^=:
(( good call lol ))
=^v^=:
(( sorta sad I rolled a 22 but had
private checkboxed ))
|
|
Kaylen Fisher:
(It's
all okay, because Eileen has heard of it! It was in an old story
you heard back when you were first woken up in Evenbough.
Something about one of Garmera's blazing tears from a restless
dream being blown through cold winds until the terrible fire
within froze over.)
|
|
|
Kaylen Fisher:
((Hard
DCs ftw.))
|
|
|
Eileen nods, "I've heard something
about it, one of Garmea's tears."
|
|
|
Kaylen Fisher:
"Powerful
stuff, yeah."
|
|
|
Kaylen Fisher:
((.
))
|
|
|
Kaylen Fisher:
(Dangit.
Always do that.)
|
|
|
Kaylen Fisher:
(ignore
me)
|
|
|
Itzen nods, "Well, that is good you
have heard of it. However, that is a later quesiton.. Before that
let me then point out why percisly it is
me
you are talking
to then. From the reports I have, you seem to have saved our poor
foolish Silverfang group, more or less, all the while also
completing their mission better then they happend to have been
planning, such as it could be called that." She looks away and up,
"And the second part is that while you claimed to be a secret
group of our orginization, you were so secret you don't actually
show up in the records." a pause, "This is not actually a problem,
since you ALSO have refrained on turning in any of those you saved
or our 'gracious' host here."
|
|
|
Kaylen Fisher:
"...So,
to be totally clear, I wasn't actually hanging out with them full
time when they pulled that, and also is it too late to take back
some of the stupid crap I just said?" Kaylen seems oddly nervous
at the idea of Itzen being upset, and smiles weakly.
|
|
|
Lucky is blatantly watching the
dynamic between Kaylen and Itzen with obvious interest, her
expression smug as she does so
|
|
|
Eileen:
"You'll
have to explain about how you know each other later Kay, but in
the mean time..." She turns back to Itzen, "I assume you want our
help finding this orb?"
|
|
|
Itzen:
"Miss
Fisher, please realize that
they
are not in trouble before
you try to distance yourself from it." She turns back to Eileen,
"No, I know where it is. The request is... well... I wish you to
help be retrive it, and if possible save some more of us."
|
|
|
Kaylen Fisher hangs her head,
chastised.
|
|
|
Kaylen Fisher:
"Um...Instructor,
by "us" you mean the cult, right? So... some of them are in
danger? From what exactly? Uh, if you don't mind telling us."
|
|
|
Itzen:
"
"Us' being people from
my
sect. You accomplished the
'fangs goals with minimal bloodshed, which is laudable. Were it up
to me, ones that rely on Garmera's Grestest Gift and sorely lack
her Lesser ones would never be given something important, but it
isn't." She sighs to herself, "But that gift has led you all to me
when I have need. "
|
|
|
Itzen:
"We
do more of the freeing the people from being exploited by those
with wicked hearts and deeds causing oppression. Though our main
calling is to help those forwarned by her of the Disasters she
signals."
|
|
|
Eileen:
"So
yout less murdery then the other guys I take it?"
|
|
|
Kaylen Fisher speaks slowly. "So...
you're related to the ones that did the throat slitting... but not
exactly the same. Could you maybe clarify?"
|
|
|
Itzen:
"Murdery.."
she contemplates, "Such things are but one tool. We are more
discriminate on it. Merely killing a corrupt person does nothing
to fix the underlaying problem. Talking back what is owed helps
those exploited. Bringing ones wrongdoings to Light of the Wolf
allows the Anger of the Masses to consume them."
|
|
|
Itzen:
"We
try to be noble in both deed and calling, instead of merely the
latter like the Fangs."
|
|
|
Eileen:
"I
already like you better."
|
|
|
Lucky nods
|
|
|
Itzen nods, "However, this causes a
problem, as many find that to be
more
dangerous then mere
murderers. As such my cohorts who were captured
would
normally be put to death as a message."
|
|
|
Kaylen Fisher sighs. "Oh, thank
goodness. Wow, instructor, I was just about shitting myself. I
thought that your whole persona from before might have been a
fucking act. You almost made my guts freeze and shatter inside me."
|
|
|
Lucky:
"I
assume the 'but' is that you want us to free them before that
happens."
|
|
|
Itzen:
"They
currently are alive because those that captured them
also
captured the Orb of Ayla from us and are currently asking
impolitely how to use it."
|
|
|
Lucky:
"Ah."
|
|
|
Itzen:
"At
this point my given task and personal feelings diverge slightly,
so I will start with the former: The Orb can NOT remain in
blasphemos hands. I was given the task to retrive it at whatever
methiod I can find, destroy it leaving it is the only other
choice." she frowns, "I personally wish to save my colleagues, as
they will ikely learn from this collosal screw up."
|
|
|
Itzen:
"There
is another complication to this, however."
|
|
|
Eileen:
"Oh?"
|
|
|
Kaylen Fisher smiles slightly.
"Usually is, yeah..."
|
|
|
Itzen:
"The
Orb is not stable on it's own. It has rituals... Safeguards..."
she gestures, "It
contains
a flame that burns all the
wicked till there is no more. It's a rather large possiblity that
the authorities experements will
break
that container, then
a rather large portion of Adhikaar will instead become the vessel,
as it were, to a great determent to those currently enjoying not
being on fire."
|
|
|
Lucky:
"Adhikaar?"
|
|
|
Kaylen Fisher 's slight smile vanishes.
|
|
|
Eileen rubs her eyes, "Of course..."
|
|
|
Kaylen Fisher:
"Uh....
yeah. You're from out in the boonies, right? Adhikaar used to be
part of the league. Then it sorta... exploded from within, had a
change of management, and ended up getting taken over by Lansir."
|
|
|
Lucky:
"I
mean I'd want to stop it anyway, because I don't want innocents
getting hurt or killed, especially for someone else's greed,
but... my best friend is back there, running my stupid bar. And I
don't give a fuck about the bar, but if something happens to him,
I..." She goes quiet, brows furrowed.
|
|
|
Ra'ven:
"Why
exactly should we let
you
have a Orb that can blow up a
city then?"
|
|
|
Kaylen Fisher:
(Strike
my statement. I thought it was a question, lol)
|
|
|
Kaylen Fisher:
((My
bad!))
|
|
|
Ra'ven has been quiet for much of this!
|
Riot:
(( all good lol, I had to go check our
DM's because I was thinking that but had to make sure ))
|
|
Kaylen Fisher:
((Me
not remember all thing.))
|
|
|
Itzen sighs, "Because it has remained
safe in our hands since it first fell. Also because even if it
comes to destroying it, there is a proper way and every other way,
most of which end in ruin."
|
|
|
Kaylen Fisher:
"A
proper way, and every other way. That is honestly pretty
convincing phrasing to me. So, not that you're the type to let
someone just twist, but can you provide any cover or protection?
We'd be running up against Adhikaar law. They attack first and ask
questions with speak-with-dead rituals."
|
|
|
Kaylen Fisher:
((She
says this idiomatically. Clearly they don't literally only do
that, or this job wouldn't exist.))
|
|
|
Itzen:
"I
personally will accompany you on this task, if you choose to help
me. I also would independantly offer my assistance on any
prepatory tasks, but would remind you there is an uncertain time
limit." She hmms, "Ah yes, unlike your first task for the Wolf,
this one comes with a rather large monitary reward, plus an
addtional benefit if you want, though I disagree on witholding it
till then."
|
|
|
Eileen:
"We'll
need to talk it over with the others first."
|
|
|
Kaylen Fisher:
"I'd
sure love to know about the additional benefit, though."
|
|
|
Itzen:
"That
benefit being that your 'fib' as it were, becomes true; you would
be an actuall branch of our orginization though independant to an
extent. No order would be given to you, you'd remain determining
if it is worth it to you. And you would have acees to our
networks."
|
|
|
Kaylen Fisher:
"Ohhhh....honorary
status, basically."
|
|
|
Eileen:
"Cult
deniability as it were, I know there's a couple that already don't
like the thught of being in it."
|
|
|
Itzen:
"No,
that stunt these people pulled was rather more impressive then any
initiatiate rights I am privy to, aside from informational ones."
|
|
|
Itzen:
"You
all, Miss Fisher famously excluding, seem to possess Garmera's
Greatest gift in quantity," she shakes her head remembering the
lack of scriptures, "Luck."
|
|
|
Kaylen Fisher:
"....Well,
she's not wrong," she says to the air, a wry expression on her
face.
|
|
|
Itzen contemplats a bit, "However, the
problem with relying on luck is why it's a gift, you can do little
to change it. Perhaps your luck willl be in other places? Your
talents are somewhat wasted by being an example at the
Observatory."
|
|
|
Kaylen Fisher flushes with some
embarassment. "I've told you... the research... isn't worth it
anymore, huh? It probably won't even be happening soon, not
really. I guess I have some thinking to do." Her eyes and voice
are suddenly VERY sad. "So they'd get some of the perks going
forward, but wouldn't actually get orders... more like just
preferred status on available jobs?"
|
|
|
Eileen shakes her head, "Fine with me,
Ra there was the only one in a wolf cult in the first place. Even
if it was just a cult of one."
|
|
|
Itzen:
"You
seem to misunderstand, none of the cults get 'orders' as it were.
They are given tasks that those above them expect them to accept;
if they don't it's because those above have failed to explain,
reward or task. The Silverfang... their orders tend to come with
more obvious threats, but the main downside of turning down a task
from above is dissapointment and a re-estimation of your use."
|
|
|
Itzen:
""Official'
groups are merely the ones known for accompishing the most, they
usually have this chain down well, but it offeres a bit of safety
and secrecy this way."
|
|
|
Kaylen Fisher looks interested. "So,
at the risk of being poetic... the leaders are expected to
persuade and inspire, not just give orders? Like, there's not a
requirement to follow anyone... it's just that if nobody follows
you, you weren't worth following, and if you can't be lead then
you weren't worth leading? That kind of thing?"
|
|
|
Itzen nods, "There are different
styles of leadership and some I find particularly unkind, but that
is a function of who they are; while my cohorts are nominally
expected to give their lifes for the cause, I personally would not
be much of a leader if I did not attempt to rescue them."
|
|
|
Itzen:
"They
are expected that, however, because they swore that, not because
it's inherent."
|
|
|
Itzen:
"We
are held together by
loyality
"
|
|
|
Kaylen Fisher:
"Ok,
I think I can see what you're saying. I actually think I can see
why your people have enough servants coverted to you to be sure of
being able to cut a throat on cue." Her eyes widen. "Oh, fuck me.
There goes the semester. Uh, look, I REALLY didn't mean it that
way. I meant that it's appealing!"
|
|
|
Kaylen Fisher:
"That
I can see why it would be widespread. Among servants. And other
poor people..."
|
|
|
Itzen sighs, "That was a Silverfang
operation.. They likely recruited people who were willing to wait
for a cue to slit their master's throat."
|
|
|
Itzen:
"I
was not t old who ordered that operation for them, but I wonder
how much of that loyality they retain after this."
|
|
|
Itzen sighs and shrugs her arms, "They
are rather lucky, however. Their plan was
so
bad that it
made people think of other ways to explain it other hten "They are
just that dumb."
|
|
|
Kaylen Fisher:
"Sorry.
I don't really understand the different divisions yet. But Eileen
is right. We'll need to talk it over with the others. If we agree,
can you commit to getting us a basic level of aid? I mean names of
contacts to see in town or other useful info. Things like that."
|
|
|
Kaylen Fisher:
"It
might be hard to just go to Adhikaar with nothing and break out a
bunch of your people and steal an artifact."
|
|
|
Itzen:
"If
you agree I will personally be at your disposal as is the
information I have, with the caveit that if the orb goes off I
will go try to pick up the pieces."
|
|
|
Kaylen Fisher:
((Durr.
I guess you sorta did say that, and I just misinterpreted.))
|
|
|
Kaylen Fisher looks at the others. "Do
you have questions, or do you want to discuss?"
|
|
|
Itzen:
"If
you do not agree I will go attempt to find a different group,
failing that go on my own."
|
|
|
Kaylen Fisher:
"Yeah,
I get that, instructor. But we need to at least do thumbs up or
down. We don't really take orders either."
|
|
|
Itzen:
"I
was preparied to leave you with a way to contact me, but you will
do instead. You know what I do as cover, Please 'pass me a note'
as it were, at your earliest convience."
|
|
|
Itzen looks at Kaylen
|
|
|
Kaylen Fisher:
"...yes
maam."
|
|
|
Itzen bows her head to the group, "I
hope you will accept, if there is nothing else I will leave you to
your delebrations."
|
|
|
Eileen:
"I
don't think there's any thing else."
|
|
|
Kaylen Fisher waits silently until
Itzen has left the room. "Well, that was embarrassing."
|
|
|
Eileen shakes her head, "Going from
fake prretend cultist to real pretend cultists..."
|
|
|
Itzen does and closes the door after
herself
|
|
|
Lucky looks up from her worried
introspection, "Why was that embarrassing?"
|
|
|
Ra'ven:
"You
know her then?"
|
|
|
Kaylen Fisher:
"Well,
you know how it's embarrassing when you try to get a job doing
crime, and the person hiring is your teacher?"
|
|
|
Kaylen Fisher:
"It
kinda makes you feel as though you didn't apply yourself hard
enough."
|
|
|
Lucky:
"Ah,
got it."
|
|
|
Ra'ven giggles, "She sorta looked like
she expected you to know all the answers to her questions."
|
|
|
Kaylen Fisher:
"Sword
teacher, not ethereology teacher, to be totally clear, not that
she demanded less precision."
|
|
|
Kaylen Fisher:
"Of
course, it's not like she's ignorant of that end of things either.
I mean... well, there's obviously some crossover between her
beliefs and my science."
|
|
|
Kaylen Fisher:
"Dammit,
I'm babbling. Sorry, that just made me really nervous, like I was
going to get smacked in the shins."
|
|
|
Ra'ven:
"You
were somewhat far away though...:" a pause, "There... weren't
introductions were there?"
|
|
|
Kaylen Fisher:
"She
doesn't really do those. She never took attendance either. If you
missed class, your punishment was that your ass got kicked by the
person who didn't. I promise, she remembers who you are."
|
|
|
Ra'ven:
"You
don't suppose she's lying or exaderating do you?"
|
|
|
Kaylen Fisher:
"Lying
or exaggerating about what, exactly?"
|
|
|
Ra'ven:
"The
city being destroyed."
|
|
|
Kaylen Fisher:
"Honestly,
I have no idea. Even if it's not really as simple as the whole
city going boom, how much of a city is too much before it's
unacceptable?"
|
|
|
Ra'ven:
"it's
a somewhat large swing from the other wolf cult operation we were
in...."
|
|
|
Kaylen Fisher:
"Well,
she tried to explain some of that." She frowns. "You don't suppose
this is a set up of some kind?"
|
|
|
Eileen:
"I
don't think so."
|
|
|
Ra'ven:
"The
last one really seemed like it, so I'm a bit suspicous of this
one..."
|
|
|
Eileen:
"Despit
her coming off as cold, I didn't get a feeling of dishonisty or
malice from her."
|
|
|
Ra'ven:
"Well,
we likely should consult with the others, except maybe Vul, about
if they want to do this."
|
|
|
Kaylen Fisher:
"I
don't *want* to think that of her... she gave me a lot of really
important instruction during a part of my life when it was
important. But I can't say I've never been fooled, either." She
laughs. "Yeaaaaah. Vul isn't going to say no."
|
|
|
Ra'ven:
"I'm
not entirely certain you couldn't get him to blow up a city with
the tale of "we need to rescue these people and stop the city from
blowing up""
|
|
|
Eileen:
"I'm
on the fence my self, but we'll see what the oithers have to say
about it."
|
|
|
Lucky:
"It
didn't feel like she was lying."
|
|
|
Ra'ven:
"We
likely should check some of it with Kris too."
|
|
|
Kaylen Fisher:
"I
think it's important to get Patience's input too, if only because
she's who I'd ask to recognize a fishy plot."
|
|
|
Eileen nods
|
|
|
Eileen:
"Shall
we head back then?"
|
|
|
Ra'ven:
"Ya,
I am not particularly inclined to stay and drink this guy's wine
when we have a bar at home."
|
|
|
Ra'ven:
"Also
I think perhaps we should return before Patience thinks something
happened long enough it causes her undue worry."
|
|
|
Lucky nods
|
|
|
Ra'ven:
"At
least it wasn't a trap."
|
|
|
Kaylen Fisher:
"...Okay,
guys? Hear me out. But. What if we just fucking ran right now? I
mean, just really booked it right the hell out of here without
even saying goodbye? I mean, what do we need this bozo for now
anyway?"
|
|
|
Kaylen Fisher:
"Sorry,
I just imagine him coming back here and finding everyone gone..."
|
|
|
Eileen:
"Sounds
good."
|
|
|
Ra'ven:
"I
do like running..." she looks at the party, "Would Kaylen's
suggestion offend any of your dignities?"
|
|
|
Lucky:
"I
mean I don't see why we can't just, like, walk out. We did the
meeting he asked for. It's not like he wanted to talk to
us
,
right?"
|
|
|
Kaylen Fisher:
"Lucky,
you are being surprisingly boring. Oh well, I guess it's the smart
thing. I guess I'm just reeling from realizing that I'm going to
probably be leaving the observatory."
|
|
|
Kaylen Fisher:
"Maybe
I have an urge to disrespect authority while I still can."
|
|
|
Ra'ven frowns and pats her shoulder,
"At least you have somewhere to go, right?"
|
|
|
Kaylen Fisher:
"Yeah.
And I'm glad for it, too." She grabs your hand and gives one firm
squeeze before letting go. "Not everyone is going to land on their
feet this way when they realize that everything been sold out from
under them."
|
|
|
Lucky:
"Sorry,
I'm just worried about my friend. Not really thinking of how to
make a getaway when we don't need to, you know?"
|
|
|
Ra'ven:
"See
talk like that makes me think you really
need
a run, then
maybe a stiff drink after reporting back in."
|
|
|
Kaylen Fisher:
"Oh,
oh shit. Lucky, I'm so sorry! I such an ass. Someone you know is
in Adhikaar?"
|
|
|
Kaylen Fisher:
(forgive
typos plsthnks)
|
|
|
Lucky:
"Like
I said, my bar is in a town in Adhikaar, and the way she was
talking, half the damn area was gonna get firestormed? Maybe the
blast wouldn't be that big to reach it, but it sounded like.
Catastrophic level. And the person I left running my bar is my
best friend in this entire stupid world, so. I need to make sure
he's gonna be okay."
|
|
|
Kaylen Fisher:
"Well,
I mean... it's not like I'm going to vote for that option. We'll
get it done, okay? We'll make sure your friend is fine, and I'll
buy a drink off of you while we're there. Okay?"
|
|
|
Lucky:
"Okay.
We should go, though."
|
|
|
Kaylen Fisher:
"Right."
|
|
|
Ra'ven likely would still try to run
out with kaylen with a wave to Lucky and Elieen
|
|
|
Kaylen Fisher:
((Okay.
Well, if you've decided to go back, there's not much else to be
done there. That's not necessarily a bad thing, because dear god,
I have this tooth pain right now. Do you know what sucks? Tooth
pain out of nowhere. You know what doesn't suck? Many things, but
among them is not having random ass tooth pain. I really need to
step away. In the next couple of days, though, I'd like you guys
to decide on a few things: a) Which two quests you'd like to do
first? b) Which order? c) What should the lineup be? Try to divide
your peeps between the two if you can, and pick the ones that you
think might be the most interested!))
|
Riot:
(( sounds good ))
|
|
Kaylen Fisher:
The
sooner I know what quests come first, the sooner I can start
working on all the encounter and token thingses.
|
=^v^=:
(( I, for one, am
against
tooth pain ))
|
|
Lucky does smile at Ra and Kay running
out like crazy people. "Dorks."
|
|
|
Kaylen Fisher absolutely runs.
|
|
|
Kaylen Fisher:
(I
agree. Tooth pain hates freedom.)
|
=^v^=:
(( the only freedom tooth pain hates
is freedom... from
pain
))
|
|
Kaylen Fisher:
(Very
nice, lol. I'll watch the discord.
)
|
=^v^=:
(( if someone heard that in the
Zurkon voice I have done my job ))
|
|
Ra'ven:
anyways
|
|
|
Ra'ven:
opinions?
|
|
|
Lucky:
I'll
talk about them in the discord, I gotta go cook burgers for me and
my roommate
|
|
|
Ra'ven:
k
|
Riot is disconnected.
vonel is disconnected.
=^v^= is disconnected.