Tradesfolk
IS OFFLINE
9
Renown
Female
Crescent Isles
Act with love and sincerity.
320 POSTS & 0 LIKES
|
Post by Beak on Jun 9, 2024 1:11:55 GMT -5
Lilicors Village. In an open market, on a busy day of buying and selling, one may find Rekkel, a short, red-scaled lizardfolk street vendor peddling what he claims to be the finest fruits and vegetables one can find in the entire continent. They are not, of course, but proper salesmanship would not reward him for acknowledge this.
That said, Rekkel's remarkably average wares are, in fact, unremarkable. Ultimately, this is not his story.
Word has traveled through various gossip channels that Rekkel has a favor to ask those who would seek to right a wrong, or save the innocent, or any of that "hero" stuff. One would think he could submit a more formal and above-the-table version of this request to the various guilds if he weren't asking for anything shady. What noble venture begins with him demanding hushed voices as though he were about to strike a deal to sell contraband?
Nevertheless, he does need assistance... or so the whispers say.
|
|
Adventurer
IS OFFLINE
10
Renown
Male
317 POSTS & 0 LIKES
|
Post by Marion Aurea on Jun 9, 2024 1:33:10 GMT -5
Marion was never one to turn down a request for help. That will surely be his downfall someday, but the young elf as of now have not yet experienced many of the perils of the world- and so, trusting and somewhat naively, Marion agreed to do what he can.
He had only recently returned to the Marsh Flats on a roundtrip from Moonglade, passing Moonveil forest, to take up an offer from an encounter from earlier adventures for a voyage abroad his ship to reach Sol City- but Marion was not in a hurry. He had enjoyed taking his time on his journey thus far, taking detours and often staying in places he found welcome in- now that he had acquired a Dragoonfly mount from the Eclipse city marketplace, travelling had been made much easier for him than going on foot- much safer, for one, and Kweh had been excellent company through the vast wilderness.
That being said, his ability in self-defense is still lacking, even if now that Idun had been fully woven into a functional staff, there is not much he could do except say whack people over the head with it. He could only hope that the following circumstances would not become necessary for violence- or that he could meet some teammates that could help in that aspect.
|
|
Adventurer
18 POSTS & 0 LIKES
|
Post by carter1284 on Jun 9, 2024 19:53:57 GMT -5
Tarkin was always in the mood to explore, so long as he had one of his naps. When he heard about a local posting that gave quite a bit of money, and the chance to explore the area, Tarkin couldn't say no. Why should he turn down such a perfect opportunity?
So, he took the bait. He saw someone there, already, though. The elf that was talking to the shop keep, back in Stargazer Village. He wasn't sure whether or not he should be scared of the petite elf, but he still wanted to be cautious. He revealed himself to the shop keep, and proved his mettle with a firebolt. He got the job.
|
|
Tradesfolk
IS OFFLINE
18
Renown
Crescent Isles
ring ring ring ring ring ring ring, BABY CROWS
646 POSTS & 0 LIKES
|
Post by Rena Brighteyes on Jun 9, 2024 20:22:55 GMT -5
The Blackfeathers are…not the sort that come to mind when one imagines heroes, or even adventurers. No, between the pair of living skeletons, the specter of smoke and embers, the two armed fledglings, the glowing eyes and the simple fact that they’re all crows, this little family more resembles the sort one might find holed up in a decrepit castle or tower, venturing out only to terrorize the surrounding countryside…
…despite this, six short crows - and a raven, though that one remains unseen, unheard, forgotten even by those who love them most - find themselves answering the whispered call, Rena and Bell soaring through the air ahead of their children, who rest on the back of Hanehiko, the Celestial Manta who’d once lived with Shitakibo, but who now spends most of her days in or around the clearing the Blackfeathers call home…
…down, down, down, the three fliers circle. Down, down, down, slowly coming in to land just outside the clearing, the children sliding from Hanehiko’s back with giggles and chirps of glee as their mother furls her wings back up against her back. Loci trills happily, moving to give Hanehiko one of the honey-biscuits Bell had made and gently scritching under the manta’s jaw as she eagerly snaps up the treat and lets out a pleased trill of her own.
With Hiko happily munching on a biscuit, the emerald eyed skeleton joins his siblings in encircling their parents as Rena consults the mental map she’d constructed during their descent from the sky.
“...let’s see…north from the market square, third house down on the leftmost side of the rightmost road…” the silver eyed crow murmurs once, twice, and again before bobbing her head and gesturing for her family to follow as she sets off into town, leaving Hanehiko with the suggestion to spend some time exploring the skies above town as the family of corvids murder of crows set off to meet their latest client…
…so it is that six aviankin crows and an unseen, unheard, forgotten raven, only three living and not a one breaking above four feet, file into the building, shining eyes of various hues glancing about before they all zero in on the middling merchant who’d put out the request for assistance.
|
|
Tradesfolk
IS OFFLINE
9
Renown
Female
Crescent Isles
Act with love and sincerity.
320 POSTS & 0 LIKES
|
Post by Beak on Jun 10, 2024 11:05:14 GMT -5
The merchant turns his attention to the small crowd gathered before him, speaking with the same overly enthusiastic friendliness he uses to move his overpriced goods. "Ah, welcome! Welcome! Rekkel welcomes you to the finest--"
He locks eyes with one of the small skeletal children accompanying their mother, and the surprise is enough to shock him out of his feigned friendliness. He recovers quickly enough, but for that one moment, that one second between when the mask of politeness slipped and when he put it back on, one could see the briefest flash of distaste, the look as if he'd just smelled something foul. "T-the finest... goods... you'll find in all of the Marsh Flats. Yes. You have never tasted fruit like... you... you are not here to purchase fruit, are you."
He looks around his stall with no small amount of wariness, as if wanting to ensure no one else is watching or listening. They can't know of this.... He sighs, his voice lowering enough that most of the assembled crew must draw closer to hear him, as though he is about to reveal some grave secret. The fact that he catches himself and speaks up again the exact moment those skeletal children start to approach--as if they can stay right where they are, thank you--must be coincidence, surely.
"I... I wasn't sure whom to reach out for. My situation is... sensitive. There's this... customer, you see. Very rarely stops by, always seems to be wearing some sort of disguise when she does. You know the type--always the spooky mask, never seen her face, when she is here it's only for...." Now there's an interesting thought this humble merchant just started before apparently changing his mind about finishing it. Is there something here he sells besides food?
"... Never you mind that. The point is, she's trouble. I just know it. I have this daughter you see... the poor dear was helping me with my stall a month back, and this witch came by, asked about things she shouldn't, and then just... looked at her. Not a word spoken. She just fixed her with this glare, and my poor daughter's taken ill ever since. I tried everything, but she's getting worse by the day... my poor girl...."
Clearing the lump in his throat, he dismisses every last trace of that false smile he once had, his expression now grim. Determined. Vengeful. "I need this witch... taken care of. Watch yourselves, now--if she can curse on my daughter with just a look, no telling what she'll do to you. This will be dangerous. Best you all stick close. But... good news is, I have her cornered, I think. She was here just yesterday, wanted to know where to find a certain herb. Still extorting me even now, without so much as a "how's your daughter?" As if she didn't know. I didn't dare cross her, of course, lest she punish us even further. But I tricked her. I sent her off to this trail..."
He pulls out a very crude map--a sketch roughly implying the shape of a map, at best--with a few locations he's already marked, and places it on the counter of his stall for the nearest would-be hero to take. "She thinks the herb she's looking for is here, in a bit of woods a few days south of here. Doubtless that's where she's gone. It's a dead end, of course. And you're going to ambush her while we have her cornered. Find out what she did to my daughter, if we can break the curse... stop her before she hurts anyone else. Please. I... I'm but a humble merchant and I have a sickly daughter to support, I'm not wealthy... but whatever wealth I do have, all my life savings are yours if you rid the land of this menace. I'll do anything to keep my family safe...."
|
|
Adventurer
IS OFFLINE
10
Renown
Male
317 POSTS & 0 LIKES
|
Post by Marion Aurea on Jun 10, 2024 11:47:45 GMT -5
It was surly an unexpected reunion- with the crows from Stargazer village, the elf waved to them rather enthusiastically in greeting. While he had managed to secure what he had promised to find- quite luckily in the city, seeds of the shepherd's weatherglass- he did obtain them from talking to adventurers that boasted their expeditions into the realm of fae. Marion listened to them as if listening to a sailor's tale, and traded for the seeds- but he would have to put this off for later, as the merchant began explaining his situation.
That's... not right.
Brows furrowing in concern, Marion opted to ask- he always opted to ask, instead of keeping it to himself to brood over. No, communication- well, he had learnt to believe in it, and it had worked out so far for him-
"Have a physician seen your daughter? Even if the illness was, say, caused by a curse, knowing her condition and symptoms could be of help- and they may be able to ease the discomfort for her as well. No, if it is a curse, then we must have medics on standby on her end!... what if, the witch, as you say, could manipulate it remotely? She could very well threaten us with your daughter's life, if it really came down to it- "
His words picking up speed, as the young elf visibly got more and more anxious with where his train of thought is leading him, Marion combed his hands through his hair, distraught with nothing more than genuine worry for the shop owner's blite- and for the daughter's wellbeing.
"I am no healer, not yet... "
|
|
Adventurer
18 POSTS & 0 LIKES
|
Post by carter1284 on Jun 10, 2024 18:38:18 GMT -5
Tarkin sneered to himself. Why did they have to show up? He decided it best to keep his distance from them, and always keep an eye out. He simply stated to the merchant that he was able to cast attacking magic. but couldn't heal with them. He also said he could kill the witch with his spells, once he found them, in broken Common, of course. He was curious as to exactly where the witch was. He stood to himself thinking about how best to continue the situation, and decided that the best course of action, as of right now anyway, was to sit back and let everything unfold.
|
|
Tradesfolk
IS OFFLINE
18
Renown
Crescent Isles
ring ring ring ring ring ring ring, BABY CROWS
646 POSTS & 0 LIKES
|
Post by Rena Brighteyes on Jun 10, 2024 19:54:03 GMT -5
The crows trill softly to eachother, heads tilting this way and that as they listen to Rekkel’s story before something more mundane, the raven suggests, despite knowing that they remain forgotten the silver eyed crow speaks, “...what sort of symptoms has your daughter been experiencing? Petrification, rapid necrosis, hallucinations…? Anything ye can give us t’ narrow down the specific curse would be immensely helpful, and could point to whether the witch might be able t’ accelerate it from afar, or whether any threats thereof might merely be a bluff…” In truth, Rena has her doubts about the merchant and his tale - it would be far from the first time someone’s tried to trick her and her family into taking out someone who’d hardly deserved it, let alone been worth the effort…there’s a reason she’s taken to charging so much for assassination missions, which this one was looking like it turn out to be, “...on the other side o’ things, Mr Rekkel, it’s entirely possible that the curse might accelerate if’n we take out the witch without gettin’ ‘er t’ reverse it, so any information ye ‘ave as t’ the lass’s ailment would be most helpful in determining the appropriate course o’ action…” …she’s got a hunch here, and if she’s right then she may wind up adding another mark to her tally, should things go sour…
Bell tilts his head slightly, those amber eyes flickering gently as the specter of smoke and embers idly browses the stall, “...mmm, soil’s poor here just by the look o’ these…but I s’pose that’s t’ be expected, given the area…marshland doesnae lend itself well t’ things that’re meant for consumption…” the phantasmal crow flicks those eyes of amber flame up to meet Rekkel’s, and the little lizardman gets the distinct impression that the ghost knows something, but is choosing not to say it. ...Bell always did enjoy his little games…perhaps that’s why we all clicked so well…playing with one’s food is one of the finer pleasures in life, after all…
As for the chicks, well…little Wind lets out an unhappy trill at the distaste in Rekkel’s expression when the little man spots her, those rose gold eye lights deliberately focusing on other, more interesting things, like Tarkin’s star, all glowy and shiny and making her want to start another carving despite having already done one of the man. Oh! She knows! She’s been wanting to work on this little project for a while now…she hasn’t carved bone yet, after all, and the elf took well to her elder brother’s offering…trilling happily to herself, the youngest skeleton of the Blackfeather family pulls a carving knife and a small femur from the bag on her hip, heedless of the stares she gets from passersby as she begins to slowly, meticulously carve the bone…and spares a moment to mentally thank her father for forging her carving knife so it would be utterly silent. Metal on bone is not a fun sound.
Wind, meanwhile, steps forward just enough to keep himself between the merchant and his undead twin, the crossbow-wielding chick’s golden eyes flashing a dangerous, almost electric yellow as he impassively stares down the little man, idly twirling a long crossbow bolt in his hand.
|
|
Tradesfolk
IS OFFLINE
9
Renown
Female
Crescent Isles
Act with love and sincerity.
320 POSTS & 0 LIKES
|
Post by Beak on Jun 10, 2024 23:47:39 GMT -5
Rekkel may be an overall average peddler of average goods, but he can play the "unspoken messages" game as good as anyone. Fine, he might have... lost his composure, briefly, upon seeing the... unique customers his attempts to solve his little problem have attracted. The chick looking him directly in the eyes while playing with that crossbow is nothing short of a threat, though, and he will not... actually, scratch that; he totally will. He's quite the expert at putting up with things and backing down from challenges, actually. Perhaps that's how he let this accursed customer of his have her way for so long.
Besides, he started that whisper campaign to reduce the number of enemies he has, not raise it.
"... Fine." He makes less of an attempt to mask the displeased facial expression than he did before, but he receives the message and concedes once more. "My daughter... ah, the poor thing. She's been wasting away... I believe it to be some sort of curse that drains one's very life essence. She is fatigued by day, sleeps... fitfully, at best, by night, perhaps troubled by nightmares of some sort. Can hardly keep anything down. She's... fading, is the best way I can think to describe it. Her strength fails her, she remains abed for longer and longer periods, as if threatening to never wake again if this decline continues...."
Sure, the story is sad and any parent would fear for the worst were such a thing to happen to one of their own, but the way he reaches for and brandishes a cloth to dry his eyes at that moment might have been just a bit theatrical.
"She's being seen to by the best physicians in... well... the best physicians that we can afford. For now, I fear our biggest enemies are time and unwanted attention. The witch won't drain her essence any further so long as she doesn't know that I sent her into a trap. Once she finds out, well... let us pray you strike fast, true, and unseen." He shakes his head. "With any luck, my sweet daughter's vigor shall return once the one stealing it is no more. Until then, I live in fear... she mustn't know I am defying her. Any person in this square could be among her spies. I cannot be seen plotting against her like this, and you only have so much time before she discovers the place to which I sent her doesn't have whatever she's looking for. Pray for my entire family if she... retaliates...." A full-body shiver with, again, perhaps just a little too much effort and exaggeration put into selling it, the way he would his wares. Speaking of which....
"And so with my deepest apologies, I must return to selling my FRUITS! FRESH FRUITS AND VEGETABLES, THE FINEST TASTE AND FAIREST PRICE IN ALL THE LAND!" His voice returns to a loud boom as he calls out his wares, boasting of their exceptional value to anyone within earshot. This is a perfectly average, perfectly innocent street vendor, after all, and certainly not the type of person who would meet up with hired blades for any other purpose. Let no one in Lilicors imply otherwise!
|
|
Adventurer
IS OFFLINE
10
Renown
Male
317 POSTS & 0 LIKES
|
Post by Marion Aurea on Jun 11, 2024 0:20:48 GMT -5
That sudden change in subject had thrown Marion off quite abit- who flattened his ears against the boom of the vendor's voice in such proximity unwarned. It seems like the conversation was over- at least, on the other's part.
Taking a look around, Marion figured that continuing standing in front of a merchant's stall would not be the best etiquette, despite everything.
"I think- we should discuss this somewhere else. We do have a little catching up to do as well!" Turning to Rena and Bell, and the fledglings, and the unfamiliar figure- Marion offered such.
"If you know a dry place we can sit down, I have food to share- and we can talk about what we'd do about this whole commission. I mean, despite... I don't know, he sounds odd to me, but I do want to help. Do you really think the witch could have caused all this with a single look? I'm not familiar with those fields of magic, but- "
Sighing, Marion rubbed his cheeks with the palm of his hands.
"- we do need to talk to her, by any means. The witch, I mean- hopefully it'd all be a misunderstanding. She didn't sound like she did anything explicitly harmful, and it's all just his own assumptions... "
|
|
Tradesfolk
IS OFFLINE
18
Renown
Crescent Isles
ring ring ring ring ring ring ring, BABY CROWS
646 POSTS & 0 LIKES
|
Post by Rena Brighteyes on Jun 11, 2024 1:44:56 GMT -5
“...he’s hiding something…I can smell it on his putrescent scales” the wraith of ink and starlight hisses, eyes of cobalt fixed on the merchant hawking his wares from far too close, “...but it’s always best to gather as many sides of the story as one can before acting…” the forgotten raven’s wings shift a little as they glance back toward their family, those cobalt eyes shifting from a sort of malicious curiosity to the sort of misery particular to one looking upon those they adore while knowing that they themselves remain unseen, unacknowledged…forgotten… there’s a momentary chill that passes over the merchant’s form, as though he’d just been dunked in frigid ink…
Rena blinks a couple times to clear the shifting black splotch from her vision as she glances toward Marion with a soft smile in the ruffling of the feathers around her beak “...that sounds lovely…and some strategy talk certainly seems to be in order…” a quick series of chirps has Loci, her emerald eyed, undead son darting forward to snatch up the crude match before retreating to her side to examine before the little skeleton pulls out his sketchbook to begin copying down and refining said map as his mother speaks again, “...I believe I know a spot near where we arrived. She's just this way,” and with that soft smile and shining silver eyes, she gestures for the others to follow as she turns and strides away on unnaturally silent feet.
It’s rather quickly that the silver eyed crow leads the group out into the outskirts of Lilicors Village, a series of melodious whistles carrying out over the swamp…and then there’s a responding melody that resonates from over the trees and that is an enormous Celestial Manta, black and blue and speckled with stars and constellations and gently shining nebulae, soaring over the treetops and gently gliding down with another chiming melody, circling in around the group before coming to a stop about two feet in the air and happily snapping up another soft honey biscuit that Loci tosses her, the treat getting mushed into crumbs in the manta’s mouth as she lets out another series of chimes.
Rena chuckles, whistling her own melody back to Hanehiko as she gently scritches the Celestial Manta’s head before trailing that hand along the edge of the manta’s form as she moves around to step onto Hiko’s back. The children follow, chirping happily as they clamber onto the unbothered Manta’s back.
Bell glances around, amber eyes full of loss and grief confusion as he tilts his head, then shakes it and mumbles something to himself - no, no, NO! I'm right here, why won't you just look at me?!
Once the Blackfeathers are all on the Manta's back Rena lets out another soft series of whistles, eliciting another response melody from Hanehiko before she slowly lurches into motion, wings skimming just above the marsh as she soars up above the treetops, turning in response to gentle nudges on the front of her dorsal ridge until she's headed in the direction of the point the dubious merchant had pointed out to them...
|
|
Tradesfolk
IS OFFLINE
9
Renown
Female
Crescent Isles
Act with love and sincerity.
320 POSTS & 0 LIKES
|
Post by Beak on Jun 11, 2024 12:35:21 GMT -5
(OOC NOTE: Carter/Tarkin's turn this round has been skipped after discussion and full consent from all parties, due to Carter opting to take a break from roleplaying at the present time.)
Even with the supposed witch having a full day or two's worth of head start, her persuers have little trouble catching up with her; she left on foot, after all, and they have the luxury of pursuing her by air.
The spot marked on Rekkel's map is a small patch of forest with an even smaller clearing. Sunken at parts due to the marshland terrain, it makes for a sort of natural bottleneck: The clearing appears to have but a single easily accessible entrance and exit, with swamp, foothills, and other manners of difficult terrain in all other directions. This must have been Rekkel's plan: Corner the witch there, and she should have no means of escape.
Now, the party needs only to find her, but that proves simple as well. There are no other living creatures--besides various small forest animals, anyway--for a good distance around. With the aereal view, one need only look for the only moving object on the ground, and... aha, yes. There she is.
Features are hard to make out from this far above, but the rough general shape appears to match Rekkel's description: tattered gray robes, a hood with a skull mask concealing her identity. She's alone, on foot, and possibly unarmed as well. She does seem to be carrying some manner of makeshift staff or walking stick, but only passively--carrying it in an off hand, paying little attention to it, almost like a sword tucked away in its scabbard. It looks... ordinary, rough and gnarled and more like some old fallen branch than anything with any sort of magical power. Then again, if it is a simple walking stick, she sure appears to be moving around just fine without it, at least from this height. The merchant did provide plenty of warnings about the danger she poses with her magical abilities, too, armaments or no.
Her greatest disadvantages, though, are precisely what the merchant said they woul be: She is walking directly into that cutoff point in search of... whatever it is he told her was there, and the surrounding trees and marshland provide ample cover to land without being seen, should one wish to employ an ambush. If the young avian is a sufficiently good shot with that crossbow, it may even be possible to snipe her all the way from the air, ending this battle before it even has a chance to begin. Of course, one would have to be wary of drawing her ire if a missed shot alerts her, and a direct hit would silence her before getting to hear her side of this whole sordid affair. Any information she may have about the nature of this supposed curse or how or whether it could be lifted would die with her, as well. Still, if she is as dangerous as Rekkel swears, then that might be the only way to avoid a possibly deadly battle... but that's if she's as dangerous as he says.
Still, the witch's pursuers at least have the advantage on several levels: She's trapped as soon as she enters the clearing, and it'd be almost impossible for any shot taken at her not to be a considered a sneak attack at this point. Dubious as the rest of Rekkel's presentation may have been, he was not wrong about where the witch would be, what she would look like, or how he meant to gain the upper hand against her. His plan seems to have worked to utter perfection and he has all but giftwrapped his quarry for those he hired to hunt her down. What her pursuers do with this present, though, depends on what they decided in those strategy meetings on their way to this spot.
|
|
Adventurer
IS OFFLINE
10
Renown
Male
317 POSTS & 0 LIKES
|
Post by Marion Aurea on Jun 11, 2024 17:57:21 GMT -5
While the blackfeathers rode on the celestial manta, Marion rode on Kweh, his own Dragoonfly mount- the morph being fluffy and having brilliant golden wings which sun shined through like stained glass. During the flight the elf excitedly introduced it to the others- while the moth-like Dragoonfly did not seem like it had the capability to vocalize, it tilted its head waved its feathery antennae at the others. An insect-like face is hard to read, but you could guess it is either just feeling you out, or that it was waving.
They also established some basic idea of what to do. It was agreed that no, we don't really want to start a fight with her if anything could be helped- and Bell would go ahead and negotiate, while Rena and the others stays a while behind in case of it having to be resolved in combat. Marion opted to tag alongside Bell- he would also much prefer a non-violent outcome.
Thus when the figure was spotted, Marion had Kweh land, and caught up to her from behind-
"- Sorry, excuse me!" While the moth-like creature was quiet in their flight, it and Marion travelling on the ground certainly wasn't. through the foliage and all that. The sun elf waved as he called out like he would... to basically anyone, actually. It becomes apparent that he had very little idea of what negotiation is supposed to be.
"We would like to talk, if it's alright for you now? It's about the fruit vendor's daughter- she really isn't in the best shape now, and we were told it was a curse. To be honest, though, the way he told it sounds alot like the wasting disease... it is uncurable as of now. He would talk about you being a witch and you putting the curse on her daughter, but- I think he is just... grasping at straws. That I assume, since he didn't let us check up on her- "
|
|
Tradesfolk
IS OFFLINE
18
Renown
Crescent Isles
ring ring ring ring ring ring ring, BABY CROWS
646 POSTS & 0 LIKES
|
Post by Rena Brighteyes on Jun 11, 2024 18:17:57 GMT -5
While Hanehiko circles around to deposit Rena and the fledglings at various points around the edge of the clearing, Bell is floating down besides Marion and Kweh, the specter of smoke and embers looking over the supposed witch as he trills softly, “I will say that Rekkel was…particularly unkind toward my own family, when we met with him, so I’m inclined to give you the benefit of the doubt here…”
Rena tilts her head, watching the witch from her perch in a tree. the inky wraith stares back up at her, eyes of cobalt filled with longing - she shakes her head, grumbling something about needing more sleep even as a tear rolls down her feathered cheek. a slow, calming breath in, a cloud of icy fog out…a soft melody whistled, and then she dives forward off the tree, wings tucked in close as she streaks through the air, down, down, down until she’s rolling to stand mere feet behind the supposed witch…and then she speaks, her silver eyes slightly glazed and yet razor focused on Beak - the wraith tilts their head, their own cobalt eyes similarly glazed as they speak, ”...you’ve got someone willin’ t’ pay a tidy sum for that head o’ yours…” - ”...you’ve got someone willin’ t’ pay a tidy sum for that head o’ yours…” - ”...care to give me your side of the story?” - “...care to give me your side of the story?”
|
|
Tradesfolk
IS OFFLINE
9
Renown
Female
Crescent Isles
Act with love and sincerity.
320 POSTS & 0 LIKES
|
Post by Beak on Jun 11, 2024 18:47:05 GMT -5
At some point or another, the supposed witch must eventually have heard or seen the approaching company, and immediately converted that stick of hers from something she was carrying to something she is now leaning on, as if to support her. She has hunched shoulders and moves slowly and unsteadily... unlike Rekkel's ridiculous overacting, this impression of a feeble old woman is surprisingly convincing, and she might even have gotten away with it, had the group not seen her standing up straight and walking around unaided before she saw them and switched to "old woman" mode. She must not have noticed that you saw her before you approached her, or she'd surely have realized that all she's doing now is making it clear that she is being dishonest with her posture and mannerisms. That's... not a great first impression to make to a group that was warned about her supposed misdeeds, of course.
Nor does she do herself any favors with her appearance; Rekkel was correct in the physical description of this truly bizarre "old woman." Road-worn gray gloves and boots emerging from a tattered gray robe, the skull serving as her face, she looks... well, like a spooky old witch, to be honest. She seems remarkably tall even after accounting for the hunch, let alone when she was standing up straight just moments before.
"Ah, hello!" Her greeting is cordial, even friendly, but it's also peculiar in the manner in which it is delivered: She does not speak. Not... physically, anyway. If one was looking to see whether the jaws on that skull moved to determine whether it was really a mask, she instead projects her words with a minor form of telepathy. Her "voice," then, is... largely open to perception; the sort of "inner narrator voice" in which one would "hear" words when reading a book. Between the perception of her given by Rekkel's warnings, her feigned physical mannerisms, and her own attempts to project--she must still not be aware that the others have seen her before she slipped into the act--her "voice" does sound somewhat like the stereotype of an old woman... somewhere between "sweet little old granny" and "witch," depending on whether one trusts her.
"So rarely do I find company in these lonely lands. How can I--oh!"
Well. That escalated quickly. Just as she was about to respond to the first two figures with the same politeness they offered her, she now finds herself approached from behind with a direct threat on her life. "... Ah. I... I see. I... to answer your question, I have no idea why someone would put a price on my head. I... to the extent there is a story here, I would love to give my side of it, but I am afraid you have me at... something of... a disadvantage?" She likely didn't mean the physical disadvantage of her now being surrounded by potential enemies on all sides with nowhere to run or hide, but... honestly, that too. Still, if she is to be believed or trusted, she is... at least acting as though she genuinely has no idea what her accusers are talking about. "What's this about the merchant's daughter, now..?"
Whether it's because she is truly innocent or merely afraid for her life, she is taking no hostile actions whatsoever, as if hoping for the chance to properly explain herself if everyone could just calm down and give her the chance to do so.
|
|