Noble
IS OFFLINE
40
Renown
Half-Halfling, Half-Goblin
Arrived in the Booba Stratosphere
766 POSTS & 0 LIKES
|
Post by Veliky on Nov 12, 2022 23:39:45 GMT -5
Afternoon on the docks of Sol City. The wind is strong, and so the waves must be too. They carry about their meagre existences under a dull sky, crashing against the pier's timber supports before returning to the sea. It's a quiet day, as far as days in Sol City go. Rather than being crammed with pedestrians like a barrel of fish, the docks are merely dotted with them like heads on a stargazy pie. A slow business day; a slow day altogether. It's a strange day for a myth to visit harbour.
It casts a shadow over the adjoining street: a vessel so massive as if seeking to blot out the sun. It could hold a small castle on its expansive deck, or house more people than the entirety of Skypeak Village. It is a monster in image, it is a monster in reputation and it is a monster in name: 'the Black Sun'... or so sailors and pirates have come to call it in tall tales. Few know its true name, only that it has demolished every vessel that's dared to insult it with audacious attacks. For this reason, it has earned the adoration of seafaring merchants and other sailors whilst being a figure of nightmare for pirates.
And, indeed, this is a ship that demands respect. With its massive size and array of cannons, it's a wonder that any pirate would even consider challenging it. But now it rests on the water, dormant but terrible, like a sleeping dragon.
Although, one oddity about this vessel: such ships are normally renowned for their captains and vice-versa, but nary a word is spoken about the owner of this dreaded galleon, leading many to wonder who could afford - let alone command - such a terrifying beast.
"Wuler rit nna? (Got any 2s?)"
Veliky sits cross-legged on the dry planks of the dock. She's lazily holding four cards in her hands. Sitting across from her is Veliky[1], holding five and doing the same. Meanwhile, Veliky[1] and Veliky[1] are playing a game of checkers nearby, using barrels as chairs and a crate as a table. Veliky is winning, and Veliky doesn't seem too pleased about it. All the while, Veliky[1] and Veliky[1] are wrestling in the middle of the pier while Veliky[1] referees (in this case, 'refereeing' entails sitting back and eating an anchovy sandwich).
"Le. Shan nin. (Nope. Go fish.)"
Four-card-liky squints skeptically, switching to Common. "I've gone through every number. You can't expect me to believe you aren't cheating."
Five-card-liky seems mildly offended by the accusation. "I don't see you fishing, yet."
Four-card-liky grits her teeth and snatches one of the cards from the other Veliky's hand... It's a business card. She looks up with exasperation. "I hate you." She puts her cards - also business cards, all - back into her coat pocket and leans against a barrel. Frustration brews in her heart, but it isn't quite as strong as her boredom.
Another damn half-hour they need to wait. If she were religious, she'd be praying for something interesting to happen...
1. Replicant
|
|
Mage's Guild
IS OFFLINE
18
Renown
Half-elf
534 POSTS & 0 LIKES
|
Post by Sarris on Nov 13, 2022 19:37:37 GMT -5
The day was a day of lazy strolling. The wind blew hard making breaker crash against the pier and stones of the wharf. Ships rocked and bobbed as the waves with their miniature tides pulled and pushed all that dared to be in the water.
Pulling a strand of hair out of her mouth in a loosing battle, Sarris strolled the dock after a Sarne and his soldiers were having drills which meant there was extra work to do and it also meant that she would be extra in the way a thing she did not want to be. She loved her life at the Grey Citadel, her family and friends. She had an almost melancholy feel, a restlessness that can with the change of the seasons.
Walking up she noticed Veliky in multiple places and doing different things. She chuckled as she watched them for a while. Sarris strolled up looking to see what was going on.
|
|
Noble
IS OFFLINE
40
Renown
Half-Halfling, Half-Goblin
Arrived in the Booba Stratosphere
766 POSTS & 0 LIKES
|
Post by Veliky on Nov 15, 2022 17:16:33 GMT -5
Aside from the waves, the only sounds on the pier are the grunts of wrestling Veliki and the taps of checkers on their board. There's also the occasional mew of seagull, though even the winged bandits tend to avoid the vessel in harbour.
Truly, the only distinguishing features between the Veliki are what they're doing. This makes the wrestling ones especially difficult to tell apart. The one leaning against the barrel - upon which a Checkers-playing Veliky is seated - lets out a bored sigh, when...
"Mistress Veliky, repor-" "Wah!" Out of thin air, Stalker, the little arachnid-bot appeared in the dock to deliver some report. Wholly unexpecting, the startled Veliky leaps to her feet, jostling the barrel behind her and, finally, causing it to fall into the water below... with another Veliky on top of it.
The eyes of the Veliky swarm move as one, first to the splash of a barrel and its rider, then to the perpetrator. Even the wrestlers have paused their scuffle, with one practically lying on top of the other. None of the Velikies seem terribly surprised or concern; at the risk of using overly informal terminology, an accurate term might be 'miffed.'
"Way to go. I was about to beat her," sarcastically says the Veliky that, up until now, had been playing Checkers with the one that now lies somewhere beneath the water's surface. "Take her spot. You're playing me, now."
The Veliky that stands as the centre of attention crosses her arms in overstated defiance. "Like I'm going to join a game on the losing side. Restart, and we'll play."
"Hey, your fault for disrupting, clumsrit wane. You deserve the handicap," another Veliky chimes in.
And, at this point, the conversation becomes truly chaotic. All the half-baked merriment of before has devolved into hostility, insults are flung in three languages and at least one Veliky receives a slap to the face. The only nonparticipants are Stalker, who remains motionlessly clueless as to how to deal with this scenario; and the Veliky that's still eating a sandwich, and who's easily the most content of the bunch.
Her cheeks are stuffed with an inordinately large quantity of bread and anchovy. A wiser or, at least, less gluttonous soul would've taken a bite half the size. But she's faring well enough - in fact, it's somewhat impressive.
It's about midway through her battle against the sandwich (more specifically, that bite of the sandwich, which is only one battle in a long and arduous war) that she notices Sarris' approach. She's surprised; it's subtle, but noticeable, mostly through the sudden lack of dourness in her expression. Still, it would be another ten seconds of chewing before she finally swallows, allowing her the chance to speak.
"I know you. Sarris Olaric; I hired you for a job in Dragon's Cradle." In spite of the skirmish around her, her voice is as calm and mature as it was on the night they'd met. "You're well-travelled. Still doing mercenary work?"
|
|
Mage's Guild
IS OFFLINE
18
Renown
Half-elf
534 POSTS & 0 LIKES
|
Post by Sarris on Nov 16, 2022 13:32:30 GMT -5
Sarris watched the chia break loose on the dock. It made he laugh as her orphans acted the same way. Something was always going on and there was constant motion, bickering, and an occasional fight. Normally, she would put an end to the worst of it. She was not use to watching one person doing so many things at one time. Moving towards the one who spoke to her. “Well met,” she said smiling. Looking around at the rest of the chaos, “I would off you you peace…”
Out of the corner of her eye she noticed something, turning she nearly yelled in a very maternal tone, “No hair pulling!!” She blushed as it was not her place to get involved. “Sorry. it is a habit. I travel a a fair amount. I have not done much mercenary work. More currier work and item recovery,” she said. She looked up the coast and pointed to the citadel rising up on the coast. “That is home for me,” she said as if it was just a shack like most people lived in.
|
|
Noble
IS OFFLINE
40
Renown
Half-Halfling, Half-Goblin
Arrived in the Booba Stratosphere
766 POSTS & 0 LIKES
|
Post by Veliky on Nov 26, 2022 23:36:54 GMT -5
Veliky turns her assuming gaze to Sarris' distance, but it takes her a moment of squinting to see what Sarris is referring to. She hasn't been to that area before. It seems nice enough: scenic, defensible, could make good use of the river for commerce. A little cut off from the city, though; getting groceries would be a hassle. In fact, the place almost looks like a castle. Maybe some lord or lady is renting out rooms to folks like Sarris? Veliky's never heard of that happening before, but it'd be a pretty lucrative business. Novel. She can imagine the posters: "Stay in a castle for a night!"
...Silly. Good tagline for folks with adventurous tastes and too much time and money on their hands, but not a no-nonsense achiever like Veliky. She wouldn't have any interest in something that immature[1].
"Hm." Her unimpressed tone belies total misunderstanding.
She idly eyes her anchovy sandwich. If she's paying any attention whatsoever to the battle beside her, she doesn't show it.
"'Item recovery' is an interesting phrase. If you want another one, try 'acquisitions agent.' People don't ask as many questions when you use fancy words; they think they'd look stupid if they did."
The businesswoman leans back and looks up, over the buildings, at the sky. Her big eyes are full of... well, not much.
"And if they do ask, just look at them like you're weirded out. Sort of judgementally. That'll keep them awake at-"
She's interrupted as a little machine catches her eye, on the ground beside her. The same spider-golem that had ultimately caused the skirmish in the first place has now strolled up to the side of the barrel she's sitting on, awkwardly lingering like a child waiting for their turn to speak.
"...Go ahead, Stalker."
It wastes no time in complying. "Mistress Veliky, report: your meeting with Capt. Danger has been been cancelled."
This news is, evidently, not welcome. Veliky looks up again and rubs her eyes. "Ugh, kien-naa..."
It's an awkward and drawn-out silence that follows. And that discomfort isn't aided when Veliky eventually uncovers her face, stares at Sarris and narrows her eyes. The bot remains, unmoving, all the while.
But, then, the tension softens as Veliky yields with a sigh.
"You know what? Screw it." She hops off her barrel - a drop easily higher than she is tall, but it doesn't appear the phase her much, nor does the rolling pair of combatants barreling past her. "Sarris, I know it's early in the day, but do you want to grab a drink somewhere? Apparently, I don't have anything important to do. Might have some business to talk about, too."
1. Smooth Talking
|
|
Mage's Guild
IS OFFLINE
18
Renown
Half-elf
534 POSTS & 0 LIKES
|
Post by Sarris on Nov 27, 2022 21:18:25 GMT -5
Sarris listened intently to Veliky. Nodding her understanding. “The talking with animals and turning into one ‘Weirds people out more’ a lot more than what I do,” she added with a bit of a blush. “Most of the time I just say I am a courier,” she added as she did do a lot of that type of work.
Sarris watched Stalker with some awe. She had not seen many devices but had watched some of them fight before on the Lightning Plains. Some of them gave there all to protect people.
At the invitation to go someplace seemed like a good one. New people had new opportunities and new things to learn. Kicking at a stone, Sarris agreed, “That sounds like a lovely idea!”
Sarris walked with Veliky listening to her talk about things and answering when questioned.
|
|
Noble
IS OFFLINE
40
Renown
Half-Halfling, Half-Goblin
Arrived in the Booba Stratosphere
766 POSTS & 0 LIKES
|
Post by Veliky on Dec 9, 2022 3:52:36 GMT -5
"Good. I could use a drink."
Now standing on two feet, she stands on her tiptoes and reaches both arms above her in a full-body stretch; evidently, she was sitting for some time.
As she does, the spider-bot sidles up, beside her. It's a beastly thing, as far as spiders go, with its iron mandibles chittering at Veliky's thigh-height.
"Mistress Veliky, recommendation: the establishment Tooth 'n' Nail, situated only six minutes away, is a reputable tavern with reasonable prices. Query: Would you like me to direct Unit Vampire-04 to escort you and Civilian Sarris?"
Releasing the tension, Veliky lets out a long breath and allows her arms to flop at the sides of her coat. It makes an audible, dual thwap. It's strange to see her acting so casual after how serious and intolerant she'd been in Dragon's Cradle.
"Do it. And inform the bots that I'll be gone for..." She eyes some nondescript point on the Nin Hloth's hull, trying to formulate a reasonable time frame. "About an hour."
An extremely conservative estimate as far as tavern visits go. Though, Veliky is a busy woman... and one that doesn't seem like the tavern-going type. In fact, she doesn't look like she's spent more than 'about an hour' in a pub in her entire life. But, if she's at all hesitant, she doesn't show it.
Letting out a chirp that's even less befitting of a spider than Common speech, the spider-bot turns and skitters away. It's at this point that Veliky realizes that she still has the remainder of an anchovy sandwich in her hand, so she abruptly stuffs it in her face - a rather impressive feat, given the sheer size of the bite.
"Alrighth. Wet'th go." she manages to say in spite of the bread and anchovies filling her cheeks. Seems there isn't much time for chewing in her busy schedule.
At a light push of her hand, the door swings open, into the interior of a tavern that can best be described with three words: lukewarm, dingy and cheap. The inclusion of barrels in the seating arrangements could be interpreted as a stylistic choice were it not for the fact that there are also regular chairs (whether this is the result of a shortage of chairs or barrels is unclear). The ceiling tapers and slopes in an odd way, making some areas of the room seem far more claustrophobic than others. It's also surprisingly busy for an Autumn afternoon; and, judging by a salty scent of seawater among the redolence of taphouse stenches, the vast majority of the patrons have either returned or arrived from voyage. Of course, one wouldn't need a nose to know that they're dressed for sailing... and some of the more violent aspects thereof.
Needless to say, the 2-foot-tall businesswoman that just minced through the door is an incredibly out-of-place sight to behold, even for Sarris. Her tidy clothes, her tiny size, her stoic demeanour, her cherubic appearance and even the way she walks make her stick out like a sore thumb, yet her stern expression portrays the same bold statement that it always does: 'I own this room; and, if I don't, I know who to talk to to change that.'
She scans the room with narrowed eyes, taking in every cruddy detail. She meets eyes with several of the rough 'n' tough patrons, but pays no heed to their bewildered faces.
"'Reputable,' huh?" she remarks to Sarris. "Looks like Stalker needs some tuning. Whatever; let's grab seats at the bar. Makes drinks come quicker."
|
|
Mage's Guild
IS OFFLINE
18
Renown
Half-elf
534 POSTS & 0 LIKES
|
Post by Sarris on Dec 10, 2022 10:20:04 GMT -5
As Veliky gave her instructions, which seemed more like orders, the bots started moving and so did Veliky. Like a puppy, Sarris tagged along intrigued by the bots.
“Can any of these bots read?” She asked Veliky.
The Tooth ‘n’ Nail[\i] was someplace even Sarris had not been before. She had frequented many of the are establishments along the docks as that is where the smugglers and thieves tended to hang out. Much of the time she lived vicariously through some of their stories.
Sarris had the making of being an exceptional thief, the problem was she did not do much rouge work. Well she trained the new guild members in some of the basics of the craft, though her independent nature tended to make her loose rank as soon as she gained it. As they entered the tavern Sarris noticed the “filth” and then the smell hit her. Unwashed sailor, spilled fermented ale on the floors. Sarris lifted her skirts, not wanting to drag it through the ick on the floor. Back at the Citadel, her floors were always raked and swept. Eventually she would have stone slabs laid for the floor.
It was not like she was opposed to dirt floors, she lived in a stable. The place was not really that bad for what it was, It was just her childhood upbringing as a “Lady” and the elf in her.
Sarris pulled her hood up covering her red hair, with sailors being a superstitious. Redheaded women were considered bad luck. One that could turn into a bear or large cat also have that influence on sailors too. She hoped she did not need do that.
As they walked in and up to the bar Sarris looked around, she did not have Veliky’s I own this place look. Just like the “I am sexy look,” Sarris’ “I am scary look” did not have the impact she wanted till she was truely scary. She sat on a barrel next to Veliky towering above the bar top trying not to make the barrel wobble much.
|
|
Noble
IS OFFLINE
40
Renown
Half-Halfling, Half-Goblin
Arrived in the Booba Stratosphere
766 POSTS & 0 LIKES
|
Post by Veliky on Dec 14, 2022 8:10:27 GMT -5
The bar is easily the most hygienic fixment in the room and, probably, the entire building. This should be a positive, but it acts as something of a double-edged sword; while the cleanliness is welcome, the sheer contrast makes it somehow uglier than even the sticky tables and crusty seats.
Veliky, too, approaches the bar and climbs onto a vacant barrel ('climbs' is an apt term, as the barrel stands half-again her height). For every confident step she takes, it seems that Veliky has some height-related eccentricity that makes her rather difficult to take seriously. It's difficult to tell whether this makes her determination more admirable or simply laughable. Perhaps it's a matter of perspective.
The bartender - a willowy half-orc - is facing away. A curt gesture is his only acknowledgement toward their arrival.
Veliky is barely able to peek over the bar, but it doesn't seem to bother her much (living in Sol City, she's assuredly used to it by now). Unable to rest her arms on the countertop, she instead just runs a hand through her dirty-blonde hair and laxly leans back.
"Still not as bad as that tavern in Skypeak, if only for the fact that it isn't in the middle of a lightning-blasted wasteland." She adjusts her gloves. For a moment, it looks like she's about to take them off; instead, she just tightens them, a weary look in her eyes. Suddenly, her expression lightens in epiphany. "Oh, right. I never answered that question about reading. Generally speaking, if a bot can talk, then it can also read. But they're extremely finicky with bad handwriting. Same with people who don't speak clearly. As it turns out, even getting them to think isn't as difficult as just getting them to see and hear properly."
Finally, the bartender turns around, but maybe it'd been better if he hadn't. He flashes an amused grin at Veliky, showing off a distractingly visible pair of wisdom tusks.
"Well, ain't your outfit just precious?" His voice has the harsh, guttural quality that's often associated with orc-kin, but with a grating whistle in tow. "How about a glass of milk, little miss... uh..."
All the humour drains from his face and tone when he glimpses the insignia - a cog over a feather and sword - by Veliky's collar. His jaw slacks and hangs in what can only be the horror of knowing too much - or just enough.
"U-Uh, sorry I- I didn't realize..." A cold sweat trails down his forehead.
Veliky's stare is cold, severe and utterly unmoving as she watches the half-orc struggle to apologize. Her eyes are those of the jury, the executioner and most certainly the judge. Her face is statue-still for what feels like an eternity, before she finally opens her mouth to speak.
"Milk sounds fine. Thanks."
There isn't a scrap of irony in her voice. The half-orc is clearly flabbergasted, but not enough to override his terror.
"Um... yeah. Right away." He turns his uneasy eyes to Sarris. "And, uh, what about you?"
|
|
Mage's Guild
IS OFFLINE
18
Renown
Half-elf
534 POSTS & 0 LIKES
|
Post by Sarris on Dec 24, 2022 11:34:55 GMT -5
"Milk would be fine with me too," Sarris said then added, "if it not a lot of trouble."
Prince hand her drinking more milk. Having a cat, who thought her was the king, with you much of the time did that to you. Changing into a cat to sneak around also had some impact on her tastes.
Sarris was impressed by Veliky. She did not understand the look she received, but that was okay.
Sarris understood that Veliky had connections and was involved in a lot of different things. Turning to look, she noticed that to room had gone back to drinking.
"Where would you recommend, I go if I was looking for armor, not that bulky ugly stuff," Sarris asked.
He hip was still sore from that crossbow bolt and being fashionable was important to here. Even though she lived in a stable.
|
|
Noble
IS OFFLINE
40
Renown
Half-Halfling, Half-Goblin
Arrived in the Booba Stratosphere
766 POSTS & 0 LIKES
|
Post by Veliky on Dec 25, 2022 4:42:12 GMT -5
The bartender's expression is undeviatingly bemused as he looks between the polite, rather attractive, half-elven girl; and the stern-faced businesswoman, so tiny that she could probably fit in one of his larger steins; both of whom just ordered a glass of milk. He can't tell which one's order was more bizarre.
"...Uhhhh yeah, okay, I'll get right on that."
He turns, and vanishes through an empty doorway; there are kegs and taps behind the counter but, evidently, the milk's in the back. As he does leave, a similar expression can be seen on Veliky's face, her usually smooth complexion wrinkled by a pointed concern that she aims at Sarris. Of course, it seems to have been sparked by Sarris' order, but this would be a peculiar and downright hypocritical skepticism. Then again...
"Why do *you* need milk?" Her tone is one that borders on interrogation, but the absurdity makes it difficult to take seriously. "You're only 18, but you're already decently tall and good-looking. And you're a half-elf; you've got... what, another century to go? Trust me, you're good."
She turns in her seat and leans against the polished bar. Someone Sarris' size would rest their elbows on the counters, but she's consigned to resting the back of her head on its edge. Her posture relaxes... a little, but it's something.
"Well, at least you aren't taking any of that poison they serve. I swear, I can't understand why people *like* getting drunk. If I wanted to be stupid and socially inept, and wake up with a splitting headache, I'd just insult a minotaur." There's a certain, earnest sourness in her voice, the flavour of actual experience in the field of drunkenness (not so much the field of insulting minotaurs). "Not to mention being *around* drunk people. I like my business partners gullible, but not hot-headed and half-conscious."
Her somewhat unprovoked venting subsides with a quiet sigh, or perhaps a half-yawn. For some odd reason, she seems much more tired than before, as if her complaining was some ordeal.
"Anyway, you asked about armour? I would, too, if I took a bolt like that. The highest-quality place is, indisputably, the Blue Barding. Ignore the name, they make stuff for people too. But 'highest quality' doesn't mean best; even if you have the solars to meet that sun-elf's gatkahn prices, you'll be put on a waitlist longer than the list of the King's mistresses. For you, the best place is Gruck's, by the west docks. It *seems* expensive there, but the guy - an aviankin, if you can believe it - crumbles at haggling. Talk smooth and don't back down, and you can get decent equipment for a third of the-"
She's interrupted, but not abruptly. Rather, she stops talking when she notices that the half-orc has returned and, until now, was patiently waiting for her to finish monologuing. Having now been seen, he practically freezes, only barely able to utter "Uh... Your drinks." before stiffly placing two glasses of milk on the counter. Then, he takes to farthest corner of the bar, not hiding his eagerness to keep a distance.
Veliky regards him little, but doesn't drink quite yet. Instead, she produces a little flask[1] from her pocket, uncorks it, and continues to speak as she goes about the careful process of transferring the milk into the flask.
"But if you want my real advice? Don't bother with armour. Sure, it can stop a bolt, but there are a lot of things that aren't bolts. Armour won't save you from a water elemental, a drake's breath, a succubus' charm, a wizard's enchantment, poison, a curse or just a bad idea."
The flask is finally full, though some milk remains in the glass, over-capacity. Only now does she raise the lip of the flask to her own and drink.
...
Slightly sour: about what she expected from this place. She furrows her brow at the taste before continuing.
"Instead, invest in things to keep you out of harm's way. I know you're talented with magic; pay for a tutor, learn a few spells, become more unpredictable in combat. And if you *really* want to keep yourself safe, hit the shadows and hire some good mercs. It's costly, but it's worth it; when you're on a job, more eyes and more arms are your greatest assets."
1. Purifying Flask
|
|
Mage's Guild
IS OFFLINE
18
Renown
Half-elf
534 POSTS & 0 LIKES
|
Post by Sarris on Dec 25, 2022 22:24:38 GMT -5
Being polite she did not want to say that the glasses she saw him pulling out were not the cleanest thing she had seen.
"When I was eight, I got drunk and Sarne ended up having me carried to bed by a knight then he watched over me till I really fell asleep. I may have a glass of wine or ale from time to time. But normally when I come to a place like this I am working. I had to learn make it look like I was drinking. I even had to learn to act like I was drunk," Sarris said.
She did not mention it was the day that her mother died and her life unraveled.
"You would be amazed how many pockets you can pick when people think you are drunk," she added.
Sarris kind of had the feeling that Veliky would not approve of pickpocketing.
"I do not always steal things... Sometimes a client wants a document passed or picked up. It is just part of business," She added as a defense as she was watching patrons drinking and talk.
There were the technical aspects of trying to see if you are smarter than someone else. That did push her to do things.
As the half-orc returned, Sarris thanked him. Sarris smiled and pulled Prince from her pocket. "It is not for me!" Sarris said to Veliky. "Though If I change into cat, I crave milk for a couple days," Sarris added.
"You are right," Sarris replied after a little bit. "about the armor...," she said with a little sheepish look. "I do better to fight with spells and tricks than trying to draw blades with someone," she added. Looking up Sarris said, "It was my mistake that got me shot by that crossbow. Prince and Fireclaw tell me I am an animal that needs a pack. I fight best with others to protect and to help create opportunities. I should have stayed with you all rather than trying to ambush them."
"I am glad that the man I attacked died so he could not hurt anyone else," She added. Closing her eyes for a moment she said, "I can still smell his blood." This too was a side effect of being a druid.
|
|
Noble
IS OFFLINE
40
Renown
Half-Halfling, Half-Goblin
Arrived in the Booba Stratosphere
766 POSTS & 0 LIKES
|
Post by Veliky on Dec 26, 2022 5:16:46 GMT -5
When the little kitten is produced and revealed, Veliky squints at it, as if trying to view it from a distance. She continues to do so, even when the little ball of fur is shown to be clearly and unequivocally a cat. It's only at the revelation that milk is, in fact, for the cat (not for Sarris) that Veliky's expression softens into a stranger arrangement, like the expression of someone that Sarris had just caught reading a particularly smutty novel.
"...Right." is all she answers, eyes subtly averted. She looks at the flask of milk in her hands. She does not drink.
Her embarrassment, slight in the first place, fades as Sarris speaks, replaced by a familiar dourness. This severity grows with every syllable, until the word 'blood' is spoken and the little condotierre is looking through narrowed slits. Her gaze is... accusatory? Interrogative? Hateful? Her expressions are deceptive at the worst of times and inscrutable at the best; where this falls, only she knows.
To call it 'silence' is difficult, as it's filled with the clinking of glasses and conspiratorial murmurings of the patrons, but the lull in the conversation is a jagged one, one that offers little token of why...
That is, until the halfling turns her eyes to the grimy floor and speaks.
"His death didn't mean anything. He was one of a group of professional, organized hitmen. All of the jobs he would've taken in the future, all the people he would've hurt? Now they're just someone else's. No change."
Her voice is bitter and unpleasant, like bad liquorice. She leans forward, sweeping her eyes across the room, across the dirty-clad and grim-demeanoured patrons. Between the lines of their whispered conversations, she can hear the spoken shorthand of unsavoury exchanges, clandestine meetings and dark intentions.
"Want another bit of advice?" Though her tone is still bleak, there's an unexpected tinge of earnesty. "If you want to do good, don't try striking out on your own. Those fairytales about debonaire heroes single-handedly bringing about peace are all gatkahn; real change can only come from organized effort... It's what I've been trying to do for years."
|
|
Mage's Guild
IS OFFLINE
18
Renown
Half-elf
534 POSTS & 0 LIKES
|
Post by Sarris on Dec 26, 2022 12:23:27 GMT -5
Sarris nodded she was not going to argue with Veliky because in one way, she was right another would step up and take his place.
"It is a lot like the Fae, The Summer court fights Winter while Spring and Fall play their games everyone trying to gain power. It just tends to be a lot more deadly than in this world." Sarris added.
Looking down herself she said, "I was tricked into the Winter Court.." "The winter magics pull at me, but like the court they do not care about hurting innocent people," She confessed.
She had not said this aloud not even to Sarne. She was lucky to be alive. She figured that he may have a clue, the ties between Elfs and Fae are strong.
"I am not a vigilante, and I am not one to try to save the world on my own, maybe a child here or there," she added.
She scuffed at the floor with her toes which were not much cleaner than the floor.
"My Grandfather says that I am dangerous. Too impulsive, too much of a 'wild card', too 'unreliable'," Sarris said as she drew in the dirt with her feet and getting quiet for a moment.
Looking at Veliky, Sarris spoke, "I would work with you. There have been some attacks on my family. They have all failed so far. But someone will get lucky and get through. That is what a thieves' guild does for a big target. They test and try till someone makes it through."
"The new order has unbalanced old alliances and things are changing," Sarris said.
|
|
Noble
IS OFFLINE
40
Renown
Half-Halfling, Half-Goblin
Arrived in the Booba Stratosphere
766 POSTS & 0 LIKES
|
Post by Veliky on Dec 27, 2022 22:23:23 GMT -5
Veliky listens intently, even as she stares, with absence, at the flask in her hands. She listens as Sarris reveals what sounds to be a dark secret; as she speaks of her wish to do good for children, even if only on occasion; as she speaks of her grandfather's judgement; and as she rather unexpectedly makes an offer for business. Much as said and much is heard, and the information revealed is fascinating indeed...
'...What the heck's she talking about?' Veliky thinks. She maintains a level-headed seeming, but, on the inside, she's puzzled. 'Summer Court, Winter Court, Spring and Fall? Some sort of foreign organizations, warring with each-other? Who the heck names their groups after seasons? And isn't a fae what Cheche is? Wait... Sarris isn't from the other realm, is she?'
She wonders a moment longer before dismissing the the train of thought entirely. She can ask about it later; for now, this offer of temporary alliance is far more prominent and far more within Veliky's field of expertise. She takes a shallow sip of milk - the first in a while - to wet her lips before answering in a coldly serious tone.
"It's possible that I could help with that. But understand that I'm a busy woman; I don't give my time or resources for free. That doesn't mean I'd ask for pay, but it does mean we'd need to establish rules - a lot of rules." She shifts in her seat to more properly, more sternly face Sarris. "First and foremost, I work by the books: if it gets us in trouble with the city, I'm out. Second, no killing unless absolutely necessary. Third, I need to get something out of this - not money, I already have that; otherwise, I can't excuse dividing my attention."
With every stipulation, her demeanour becomes more severe. The cordiality from before, however slight, has vanished. Some mode changed in her head; now, it's all business. Finally, she rips her eyes from Sarris' and turns them back into the room, scanning suspiciously about the corsairs.
"There'll be more rules once I know more, but if all that is fine with you then we can talk. Just somewhere else, less public. Guilds like that have lots of eyes."
|
|