The Tinkertons
IS OFFLINE
26/53
Renown
Dragon's Cradle
We're gonna get Zarius back.
1,872 POSTS & 0 LIKES
|
Post by Lady Astrid Stormstone on Apr 23, 2024 19:50:44 GMT -5
It’s been a long time since Astrid stepped foot in the halls of the Fighter’s Guild, and even now she’s more a guest than anything after helping Gerhart with a task for the guild. To her, it feels a bit strange being back here. There’s a melancholy to looking at the halls now more than a year after losing Vikram. They joined the guild together, and sadly, in a way, they left it together. Cantio’s voice reminds Astrid in the back of her head that Vikram made a choice, and in the end, he chose to go out on his own terms.
In the end, the Fighter’s Guild gained a great member in the form of Leandros, and the Mage’s Guild has some research projects that fall in line with Astrid’s particular interests. Still, it would be nice to walk these halls as a member again one day. Maybe she and Shaa can help stir up some change and put to rest old rivalries that no one probably even remembers.
Besides catching a glimpse of him during the assault on Vulcadreaus, Astrid hasn’t really seen Shaa; she hasn’t really faced him since running away scared. She still doesn’t quite feel ready for it, but how can she tell Cyran to face up to the thing he fled if she doesn’t do the same? The only way to really heal is to move forward, and in her experience, Shaa tends to be the kind of person who does exactly that. Talking will be good for her.
So, Astrid seeks out the minotaur. “Shaa?” she calls hesitantly, having no idea where exactly to find him. The guild leader’s office honestly seems like the least likely place to her, but she gives it a shot, and he’s not there, she moves on.
|
|
Fighter's Guild
IS OFFLINE
24
Renown
King’s Valley
1,121 POSTS & 0 LIKES
|
Post by Shaa Rhunn on Apr 23, 2024 22:23:23 GMT -5
Shhhhhh! Shaa waves a large hand at Garrett his wirey under secretary at the guild. Garrett was a tall, thin human with long spindly fingers, raven hair and a clean shaven face. He dressed smartly with dark slacks and a well pressed white shirt like he worked in a typical office. Despite being in the guild, Shaa didn’t think that Garrett was much of a fighter, if he was being honest, but his organizational skills bordered on the magical. Shaa left the guild hall frequently and it was the quiet unassuming bookkeeper who kept the lights on while he was gone. It also meant that Garrett usually had an absurd amount of paperwork for him when he got back. We have been combing through logs and rosters for like three days! Surely someone can like enchant a pen to sign things for me. My hand is cramping. Garrett just smiles, utterly immune to the fighters whining. Almost done sir. Look, we’re already through the “T’s”. He grunts and throws a lead paperweight hard into the wall. Ummm maybe we can take 15 minutes. But be right back. Shaa huffs a bit and slams the door behind him as he stalks out into the hall.
Garrett had insisted that they catch up on their work in one of the far towers to minimize any disruptions. There was a standing order from him that the two of them shouldn’t be disturbed but Shaa was determined not to be that kind of guild leader. If someone needed him, he would be there, in the thick of it. The guild had dealt with missing leadership for too long and he needed to be seen. Paperwork or not.
His hooves clip clopped loudly as he strides through the old stone halls. He has a passing thought about how many guild leaders before him paced these very halls, weighed down by the problems of their age. What would they say about his current predicament? What kind of advice would they give him? They would probably tell him to retire early and start that bakery. Nahhh. They would tell him to get down to business and start kicking faces in. Get the muffins later. How long had he been walking? Probably way past 15 minutes. He would need to get back soon and deal with the “T’s”.
He turns a corner and almost runs head first into an unexpected but familiar friend.
|
|
The Tinkertons
IS OFFLINE
26/53
Renown
Dragon's Cradle
We're gonna get Zarius back.
1,872 POSTS & 0 LIKES
|
Post by Lady Astrid Stormstone on Apr 25, 2024 22:05:43 GMT -5
The loud clopping of the minotaur’s hooves against the tile tells Astrid where she needs to go. While her approach is nervous at first, especially having heard the door slam in the distance, she has no reason to go back now. If things go poorly, she’ll just leave. Maybe her sense of how far away something is isn’t great or the echoing of the halls throws it off, but when Astrid rounds a corner at the same time as Shaa, she bumps right into him. Despite this, she doesn’t stumble at all and just stands there like a tiny boulder.[1]
“There ya are!” she says as chipperly as she can. Astrid takes a step back to look up at the minotaur who stands about twice as tall as her (unless he’s gotten taller). Figuring he must have been cooped up all day, she jokes, “Office life ain’t exactly yer speed?”
As usual, Astrid is wearing her mismatched suit of armor, not wanting to stand out so much in a guild hall full of people who are well-armed and armored (even if the arms are their fists and their armor is their tough skin). It somewhat disguises the new metal arm taking the place of her left arm, but it doesn't do so entirely as evidenced by a cool blue glow peeking out between the metal plates.
1. Immovable Bastion
|
|
Fighter's Guild
IS OFFLINE
24
Renown
King’s Valley
1,121 POSTS & 0 LIKES
|
Post by Shaa Rhunn on Apr 26, 2024 7:47:01 GMT -5
The big Minotaur catches himself after bumping into the tiny boulder so he doesn’t trip over himself like an oafish clod. He had been so distracted and bogged down with paperwork that he did not even see the scrappy fighter coming. As she cheerfully greets him, he stands there dumbfounded like his brain was having a hard time processing the image. It was Astrid. An emeritus guild member that he had not seen in a long time. Since…that day.
As he stood there blinking waiting for his brain to catch up, the realization that this was actually happening creeps in. After a pause, he crouches down to be more at eye level with her. It was Astrid alright. Still short, still spunky but with experience behind her eyes. A couple new scars and…a new arm? Yes, but it was definitely still her. And he thought today was going to be boring.
After confirming for himself and his poor administratively addled brain that the person in front of them was neither a Spector or an illusion, Shaa gives a broad smile and rubs her head playfully. Astrid? What in the world are you doing here kid? Finally figured out that we are the best guild and are ready to come back? Or are you just here to visit your old beleaguered Minotaur friend and save him from the slow death of unending paperwork? Sir? Sir!? Shaa can hear the quick and clear footsteps ticking behind them. Speaking of which, come follow me. You can catch me up. He stands up and motions for Astrid to follow him as he starts down an offshoot hallway.
|
|
The Tinkertons
IS OFFLINE
26/53
Renown
Dragon's Cradle
We're gonna get Zarius back.
1,872 POSTS & 0 LIKES
|
Post by Lady Astrid Stormstone on Apr 28, 2024 17:47:23 GMT -5
When Shaa doesn’t say anything and instead crouches down to Astrid’s level and looks over her with a studious expression, a mild wash of panic starts to set in. Oh no. She shouldn’t be here. She’s not a member, so she doesn’t deserve to be in the halls. Sure, Shaa has never exactly been a stickler for the rules, but maybe something in him clicked to be the most rule-respecting man in the world or something. Astrid nervously watches his eyes, and then…
His big hand lands atop her head to ruffle her hair. It takes a second for the tension to leave her shoulders, but it does when she sees his smile, and the half-dwarf peeks up at him from beneath his hand. “I was helpin’ Leandros an’ Gerhart with some stuff fer the guild an’ thought it’d be alright if I dropped in ta say hi,” she explains. “Hope that’s alright.”
When Garrett starts calling for Shaa in the distance, Astrid curiously peers past him only for the minotaur to motion her to follow him. Ah, yeah, Shaa’s still the same. That’s nice to see. With a giggle, Astrid hurries after him. Each of Shaa’s strides takes two of hers just to keep up, but she has a lot of energy and doesn’t mind. “Can’t say Fighter’s Guild is the best guild in Charon anymore,” she starts with a teasing tone. “Sorry ta say me own guild has taken that title.” Her nose wrinkles with how big she grins up at him.
|
|
Fighter's Guild
IS OFFLINE
24
Renown
King’s Valley
1,121 POSTS & 0 LIKES
|
Post by Shaa Rhunn on Apr 28, 2024 23:35:52 GMT -5
The fighter looks at Astrid with a bit of a smirk. Your own guild? Did you get it half off? He snorts as they take a turn down another hallway. Shaa had always known that Astrid was capable. He probably wouldn’t have guessed however that she would start her own guild but he felt a sense of relief that she wasn’t out there running around alone. It wasn’t ideal but at least it was something.
In all honesty, I’m glad that you came. I told you before, you may not be part of the guild anymore but you’re always welcome. I mean crud, I’m officially in charge now. If I can’t have friends over as a perk, what’s the point? They turn another corner and find themselves in on one of the larger hallways. A few of the guild members can be seen walking around but not really paying attention to them. Shaa walks over to a small table that has various snacks on it. He picks up a couple packages wrapped in brown paper and string and tosses one of them over to Astrid. He pulls on one of the strings and the the package falls open in his hand revealing a tidy sandwich. A friend of mine runs a cafe and sends these to things to us periodically. Not often enough really. The bread they use has these seeds that add a nice little crunch. And then they soak the veggies in beer and sugar. She’s kind of a mad genius.
He takes a bite of the sandwich and closes his eyes for a moment to try and save the memory. It was nice little memories like this that helped keep him grounded when things got complicated. He chews the bite thoughtfully and motions for them to continue walking with what’s left of the tasty package. So tell me, what’s this new guild all about anyway? Now that we are both guild leaders we can commiserate and get secret decoder rings or something.
|
|
The Tinkertons
IS OFFLINE
26/53
Renown
Dragon's Cradle
We're gonna get Zarius back.
1,872 POSTS & 0 LIKES
|
Post by Lady Astrid Stormstone on May 2, 2024 10:59:31 GMT -5
Astrid stifles her own snort as she relaxes more and matches Shaa’s energy. “I s’pose ya could say that,” she says. “I repurposed an’ old buildin’ outside of Sky Peak fer it, which Count Thadda weren’t opposed ta ‘cause havin’ stuff fallin’ into disrepair ain’t a good look. Good ol’ dwarven construction, too.” Somehow this kid manages to be proud of her dwarven heritage despite her mostly negative experiences with dwarves. Maybe it’s because it’s the only part of her heritage she knows of.
Her feet scuttle after the much larger minotaur as they enter a hall with a snack table. That’s a new (and very Shaa) feature. “I appreciate that,” she says with a smile. “An’ aye, Gerhart told me yer the leader now, so I kinda wanted ta come congratulate ya on that too.” She nearly fumbles with the sandwich, but she keeps it in her hands. When Shaa unwraps his, her eyes light up, and the half-dwarf quickly peels hers open and takes an excited bite. She will never turn down free food. “Whoaaa…. This is really nice… I like the crunch. Bit a’ sweet an’ bitter at the same time… That’s good.”
The sandwich is gone within a minute, and, feeling comfortable enough to do so, she reaches for another.
“Oh, it’s a craftin’ guild,” she explains. “Well, that’s the meat a’ it, but I want folks ta learn skills that’ll help others. Buildin’ stuff ta better the community an’ whatnot, if that makes sense. Lots a’ people need help, an’ it ain’t always just fightin’ monsters.” Astrid starts unwrapping the second sandwich while explaining, “Fer instance, some a’ the smaller farmin’ villages need tools ta make thin’s easier on ‘em when they can’t keep up with their harvest. So I wanna teach people how ta use their heads ta build somethin’ practical. Weapons an’ armor are the bread an’ butter a’ any smith in an adventurin’ town, but outside a’ that, it’s tools an’ horseshoes an’ nails.”
|
|
Fighter's Guild
IS OFFLINE
24
Renown
King’s Valley
1,121 POSTS & 0 LIKES
|
Post by Shaa Rhunn on May 2, 2024 15:28:00 GMT -5
Shaa considers the concept as he licks his large fingers to clean off large bits of sugar. A craft guild? That’s not a half bad idea. Considering how much stuff we break on the regular, we should charge you guys a finders fee. As they continue to walk, they pass by one of the many open windows. A ray of sun pours in and illuminates the hall ahead of them. Shaa casually watches the bits of dust and debris as they flit through the soft luminous glow.
Well, if you are here to congratulate me, I appreciate the sentiment but I don’t really deserve it. I am sure that Gerhart mentioned it but we found Athena finally. Turns out she had been kidnapped by this dude. I found him, turned him into goo, blah blah. Anyway, even though we got her back, she never really came back if you know what I mean. She needs to take some “me” time. That means retirement around here. So..she handed the reigns over to me. Mostly because the other guys who want it have other agendas. I am the best option so that should say something about the situation we are in. Still working out some of the kinks to be honest.
As the continued the conversation, something odd caught the Minotaurs attention. On a random side table, a 5 candle candelabra sat quietly. There was nothing particularly special about it except all of the candles where white and used except the last one. It was brand new and scarlet red. Shaa walks over to the table and picks up the odd candle and turns it over slowly in his hands. He snaps his fingers near the wick and, as he expected, the candle does not ignite like a normal candle would. He smiles and turns to Astrid. Huh, looks like you caught us on auspicious day. You see this? Shaa holds the candle aloft slightly. This means you are about to participate in a tradition that goes back to the founder of the guild himself. Hope you brought some money.
Shaa walks down a couple more halls and pushes a certain stone on a non descriptt wall. As he does, the wall fades back revealing a set of stairs heading down. You coming?
|
|