Nikolai wakes late, feeling as if he had barely slept.. having one of those nights where he couldn't quite tell if he was half awake and dreaming or just hallucinating. He recalled vivid dreams, but when he chased after the substance they evaded his memory and slipped away like a fist grasping at mists. He splashed some cool water from the small pitcher in the room on his face before heading down for breakfast to join the others. Once he finally comes down the stairs, everyone is already gathered and eating. "Ah, there they are! I see you could not be bothered to wait for me." He winks at his companions and drops into a seat as he grabs a hunk of crisped bacon. "When do we start? I say we scout the area first, see if there's a way to bring in some sunlight to aid us."
Caio nods along at the information Ling shares, and greets Nik as he joins them. "As soon as we finish breakfast I'd say, we have a lot on our plate so it's best to act with haste." Not satisfied with the biscuit, Ghoul attempts to sneak some food from his master's plate, and is met with dissolution as the ranger sends him back to whatever plane he was summoned from. "Scouting sounds like a good first step. Hopefully the bird will be stealthier." he says with a smirk.
Shiva greets Astrid and Nikolai respectively as they enter. She eats quickly, as she hadn't realized that she went to bed hungry last night, she was much too tired to notice.
Between mouthfuls of food "I'd be happy to go in and get a good layout of the interior."
"Breakfast waits for no man, only for cute women." Ling teases Nikolai, letting off Astrid for the time being. "First thing should be to get our hands on some silver. Maybe ghoul can do some scouting for us, I can also do a fly over if you're worried they may go for him? And are we doing bats in the morning, addicts at night then? Since Alaris insists on checking that out, even though I doubt there's any money in it." She stabs her knife into the table. "Speaking of which, anybody see Alaris this morning?"
"Yes. I sleep well,"Astrid replies to Ling. "The bar would certainly not be my preference for a night out. But don't be putting words in my mouth... mmmh" She playfully mocks back and cocks her head to the side and looks up her nose to the tiefling. "Everyone is free to do as they wish. Just because I don't partake doesn't make those who do 'undesirable.'"
Ling dislodges the knife from the table again as she chats with Andrei: "Did Alaris say to wait here, or what? Of course they got up early, sounds just like them. And I thought I was the first one up!" Turning to Astrid, she raises an eyebrow and points the knife at her. The tiefling's dark eyes glint dangerously. "Oh 'certainly' not, I could see that. And not everyone is free. Freedom is a privilege, but you probably wouldn't know that like we do." The knife hovers in the air for another moment, then Ling breaks the tension by stabbing it into the table again, breaking into an easy grin as if she had never looked at Astrid as the enemy. In a much lighter tone, she continues her mocking: "So, you prefer watching then? I may know a guy, if you're lonely..." She bursts into giggles. Catching her breath, she adds: "I know, I know! Caio, you should lend her ghoul!"
Shiva puts her fork down as she swallows a bite of sausage. Reaching over, she gently pats Ling on the back of the hand
"Freedom is the right of all who draw breathe. A right that is tragically stolen from some." Her tone is gentle and somber as she sympathetically regards Ling, then Astrid.
The dwarf twists in her seat and her gaze falls to the floor feeling the embarrassment fall over her.
Suddenly, the cleric almost growls something in dwarvish. Her eyes flare with silvery blue flame and tremors shake the table. She points a stubby finger back to Ling. "Listen! I may be a bit naive but I know when I'm being made fun of! And I don't take kindly to someone pointing a knife in my face!"
Nikolai sighs as he looks up from his breakfast. "Ling, put down the knife. Astrid is new here and I'm sure she doesn't appreciate our... uniqueness. If we treat those who openly accept us the same way we have been treated by others, then we are no better than them. I was a bit abrasive with Astrid last night, because you caught me in a bad moment. You are of course welcome to join us and I feel your knowledge of time will be very valuable."
Ling observes Astrid like one would a performing juggler, nodding. She then leans forward and meets Astrid's finger with her own, very softly saying: "poke" Leaving her finger touching the dwarves, she calls up the dust from the table and creates a little man and woman, dancing very suggestively on the point where their fingers meet. Watching them for a few seconds, she adds, still clearly amused: "I can make it two girls, if you like?"
Without moving her hand, she looks over to Nikolai: "I don't know her, do I? Some people are very fond of knives, present company included. And how do you know she won't come to appreciate me, maybe I'll grow on her. We could work on her naivety, mhh Shiva?"
“Excuse her jabs, Astrid. She’s just cranky because Shiva and I were the belles of the ball, and her suitor seemed more interested in her battle prowess than whats between her legs.” Caio punctuates with a bite of his breakfast and chews through a smug smile.
Ling's mouth hangs open for a second, lost for words. The ashen dancers crumble and fall onto their fingers, her magic having left them. Entirely forgetting about Astrid, she points a sooty finger at Caio and narrows her eyes. "You! It's terribly rude to eavesdrop, don't you know that?" Recovering quickly, she adds. "But then, maybe you do and know that you can get away with murder, mh? Also, my battle prowess is very impressive, you are right about that." She pouts and stares at Caio as he eats, but does not pick on Astrid again for the rest of the meal. When the conversation picks back up, she stands to stretch and leans back down between Shiva and Nikolai. Slinging her arms around both their shoulders, she whispers first to Nikolai: "There's something I need to talk to you about, but it can wait until we get going. I don't trust the new girl yet." and then to Shiva: "The new girl has more fire than I thought, I think I'm warming to her. And Caio hurt my feelings, but oh he's so hot when he's mean." She hides her laugh in Shiva's hair and watches Caio some more, who does not appear to care at all.
Nikolai eats the rest of his meal in silence, his bloodshot ears betraying his terrible sleep, perking up a bit once he's had some sustenance and good food. As Ling throws her arms around him and whispers to him, he smiles and nods his understanding and tries to make it appear she was whispering something conspiratorial. "Indeed. Shiva, do you feel comfortable scouting them out alone? These creatures sound like that can detect anything around them within a certain range, including invisible creatures. I feel like perhaps we would be best to find their location and see if there is a way to open it up to direct sunlight by knocking a hole in the building perhaps?"
Alaris slips a note under a coin and leaves it in a prominent place for Andrei to find, then slips out of the Black Sheep as morning light begins to limn the world in soft radiance. This was always their favorite time of day, and they walk towards the Temple of Freja in Piotrgrad with unhurried vigor, soaking up the sounds and scents of early morning. The scent of the freshest of fresh breads, the quiet sounds of shopkeepers rattling about and preparing for the day, the gloom fading and the light filling the spaces with wonder and life.
The light exposes more than beauty, too - the paladin stops more than once to make sure someone laying in a corner or a doorway is sleeping and not dead or wounded. The alms-seekers have not yet queued up i in front of the Temple, and Alaris can pause to take in the light glimmering off of the simple stonework. Not the elaborate finery of the Father's or the Smith's sanctuaries, and certainly not the conspicuous extravagance of the Lord's Castle, the Lady decorated herself with a gentleness and quietness and a self-control that acts as a prism to allow the inner beauty to radiate in all its manifold facets.
Alaris grins as they pass through the entryway, past the lovely fountain where the water chuckles softly over the Lady's form. Better not disturb the chapter head this early - I'll just go straight to see Anatoly. Maybe he won't have stored away the gear we used against the wererats just yet...
Entering the quartermaster's hall, they see a tall form testing the balance of a new blade. There's a desk, a bit like at a cloak room, where you pass things over and check things in and out. He's behind it in what is his workshop-come-training-area, practicing sword form. He looks up and sees Alaris approaching. "Dzień dobry, Alaris! What brings you back to my door?"
"Hey gorgeous... you'll never guess,"Alaris taps their glaive on the ground with a grin, watching the quartermaster take a break in their exercises.
"I don't have to. Any day the Lady sends you to me is a fair one." He picks up a circular blade from a table and holds it out towards Alaris. "Chakram?"
"That looks... interesting. What do you hunt with that? And HOW!?"
Anatoly shrugs."Anything you can hit, I suppose."He flicks the blade through the air and it spins twenty feet across the room before embedding itself in a wooden panel."A friend of the Empire brought this all the way from Rajan. You like?"
Alaris gapes, eyes widening in child-like wonder as the weapon whizzes through the air and thump-thrums into the wood."I DO like... how many are there and do they come in silver?"
The quartermaster laughs infectiously."It's always silver with you, isn't it? Sadly he only left me with two - a paired set, forged of the finest western steel. Maybe we can work out how to make some ourselves..."he trails off, musing on the thought, before glancing back up at Alaris."So what did bring you to me today? You don't look like you were expecting chakram."
"Well, I may need to borrow that silver gear again - heard rumors of some escaped fleder nesting under an abandoned church in Petrowsky quarter."
"Fleder, hmm?" Anatoly replies with a raised eyebrow. "I haven't heard anything about that. Do you know when that was posted?" He sidesteps over to the desk and begins to flick through a ledger.
"Don't think it was," Alaris replies, the tiniest bit sheepishly. "This isn't a contract per se - more of a chance to build up some goodwill for ourselves in the city."
He nods, and there's a subtle, but distinct crumpling noise as a piece of parchment is removed from the ledger and tossed into the hearth to his left."You know... I don't seem to have your return papers here. Just make sure the gear is back by Friggsday."Anatoly reminds Alaris with a conspiratorial smile.
"Or else what?" Alaris asks, eyebrow cocked and with a hint of a smirk. "Will you come and get them?"
"I might," he considers, as he wanders over to a barrel of to-be-sorted items."If only for the pleasure of your company-"there's a slight heave as he hefts a bundle of weapons and lugs it over the desk, where he sets it down with a resoundingclank. "-but my babies always find their way back to me one way or another,"Anatoly concludes with a shark-like grin.
"I know, I know - you have eyes and ears everywhere... Speaking of which, have you heard anything about disappearances from the Bednik camps?"
Anatoly looks back at Alaris with a shrug of resignation."I assume you mean something beyond the bodies they regularly pull out of the river? No, I've not heard anything unusual. Take care not to wear yourself out, Alaris. The Lady's mercy is infinite, but you are not. One warrior cannot save the world alone."
"I must shelter the Light, Anatoly. You know this. I serve at the pleasure of the Lady."Alaris spins their glaive, enjoying the balance and the swooshit makes through the air."I interrupted your practice, my friend - would you like a better sparring partner than that dummy?"
"Do I want to face Hope's Edge? No. No, thank you." Anatoly replies with another laugh, holding up his hands in innocence."We can train though, if you have time."Crossing the training area, he gathers a pair of plain wooden staves from against the wall. A variety of practice weapons are stored here."I favour a blade, but I think these suit you more,"he suggests, offering Alaris a staff.
"Time enough to whip you? How long could it take?" Alaris cracks wise with a broad smile, before turning towards the weapons. "Don't be jealous, Hope - it's not cheating, it's respect," Alaris murmurs as they lean the glaive against the weapon rack. They take the staff from Anatoly and bang it on the ground a couple times, feeling the integrity and strength of the wood. "Your choice, brother - I know you have training blades over there as well."
Anatoly grins, but keeps the staff and takes a fighting pose opposite Alaris in the ring. "Drop your bag," he advises. "The extra weight will slow you down."
"If you insist..."Alaris nods back and sets the bag down by Hope's Edge. The paladin rolls their neck and shoulders and then slips into their own fighting pose, a one-handed grip with the staff along their right arm, left arm cocked in front for balance.
Andrei lunges forwards, much faster than Alaris is expecting, and thumps them hard in the centre of their breastplate with the tip of his staff. The blow is tempered for practice, but solid enough to send them stumbling backwards a step. He pulls back into his ready stance and grins at Alaris, waiting for them to strike in return.
"Nice! Did your babushka teach you that?" they grin, with a nod that shows respect above the quip.
Alaris pivots their front foot and snaps the staff across, feinting a spinning strike. Instead, they lock the end of the staff under their armpit and lands a solid strike to the quartermaster's muscular solar plexus. The blow knocks the wind out of Anatoly's sails with a thump, and he bucks for a moment as he catches his breath. "Przeklęty, Alaris. I always forget how strong you are," he gasps, before quickly sidestepping and thrusting towards paladin's side. However, when they turn to face him, he's already elsewhere, swinging at the back of their knee following the feint. Absorbing the blow, the paladin unleashes a full spinning strike of their own, flipping Anatoly onto his back and whacking him in the stomach with brutal strength. However, he does manage to wedge his own staff in between at the last moment, absorbing some of the force. He flips back onto his feet with surprising dexterity. Normally Alaris would be able to strike in that time, but he doesn't even give them a chance, twirling his own staff in circles and landing a solid blow to the ribs as he pushes towards the paladin.
Alaris snaps off a rapid series of moves - low-high-low-low-high. One cracks Anatoly across the bridge of the nose and Alaris' eyes widen as they shuffle toward for the knock-out. But Anatoly recovers with a deft shuffle, just side-stepping the attack and delivering a sharp riposte to Alaris' hip that stops them in their tracks. With a loud grunt of effort, Anatoly feints for the ribs again and pivots to slam his staff against the side of Alaris' head. Ears ringing, the paladin refuses to give ground and instead pushes forward, moving uncomfortably inside the other's reach. Stepping on Anatoly's foot to keep him close, Alaris hammers again with the short end of their staff against his torso.
He yanks his foot out and shuffles back several steps, eyes wide. Alaris takes a deep breath and maintains their position, arching an eyebrow at the talented armorer. Anatoly lowers his staff slowly, breathing heavily. "Next time, I take the blade," he laughs between breaths, and reaches forwards to shake the paladin's hand. "You fight well, Alaris! Good luck on your hunt."
The paladin clasps his arm and pulls him in for a strong hug. Kissing his sweaty cheek, Alaris declares, "I'll be back before Friggsday - let your eyes and ears collect what they may learn about unusual disappearances in Bednik - please?"
A healthy glow and lightness in their step marks their return to the Black Sheep, familiar heavy leather bag slung over their shoulder.
Eshuvenniel Kazander Ravid,Valor Bard and Acolyte of the Goddess of Luck Caradoc Langham, Halfling Rogue - Lost Magics - Epic of Pre-made Proportions! I'm not looking for heaven or hell... just someone to listen to stories I tell...
Shiva fails to stifle a laugh at Caio's catty comment, turning away from the table as her hand comes up to cover her wide grin.
As Ling speaks into her ear, she leans in to whisper back "Yes, take it easy on her. Nik is right, the fewer enemies we have the better." Shiva then laughs at Ling's comment about Caio"You are truly incorrigible, and its one of my favorite things about you."
Regarding Nik, Shiva leans back towards the table "I'll do what I can as far as scouting, but not being able to employ my usual methods is a real *****."
"I don't like the idea of Shiva going in alone when her invisibility won't protect her. I think ghoul and me flying over, maybe ghoul directly and me circling at a distance, is better... Both ghoul and I can get out quickly if we need to. Besides, why should Shiva get to have all the fun!" Ling speaks easily, but her eyes keep flicking to Shiva, worried about putting her into the crossfire alone.
When Alaris returns, smile upon their face, Ling gets up and grabs her things. "You got us some silver then? Ready to head out?"
Astrid let's out a sigh of relief as Ling relents. She can't help bit to smirk from the barb delivered by the ashen elf, who she gives a nod of thanks to for drawing some if the attention away. She returns to her seat and smooths out her robes. You're really testing me here, aren't you? The dwarf rolls her eyes up towards the sky. She sits quietly while their task ahead is discussed.
Alaris nods and spreads a mass of silver weapons on the table. Everyone grabs what they need; Ling takes six daggers for herself. After they have all stowed their new gear, they leave The Black Sheep.
Stepping into the fresh morning air, Ling pulls her hood up to cover her horns. From underneath, she whispers: "Time to kill some bats, haha!" They walk for a little while and when the streets are more quiet, Ling asks Caio: "I'm thinking we get close enough that we can see what the area is like and then send ghoul ahead, mh?"
Petrowsky district lies across the city centre on the southern side of Piotrgrad. It's a foul day and the sky is full of dark, foreboding clouds. However, so far it has remained dry. There's a crisp, bitter taste on the wind, that fails to mask the putrid stench of the streets. Too many people in too little space.
This is an older part of the city, which lies mostly within the tall, stone walls that Piotrgrad has long since outgrown. However, its southernmost tip spills over the edge where it runs up against Bednik. The temple in question is nestled against Petrowsky district's east end, looking across its own bleak graveyard towards Frunzensky district. What little grass grows is more grey than green.
The temple itself extends backwards from an impressively large bell tower that has fallen into disrepair. Empty scaffolding runs up it's sides casting the tall, arched entrance in shadow.
Nikolai wakes late, feeling as if he had barely slept.. having one of those nights where he couldn't quite tell if he was half awake and dreaming or just hallucinating. He recalled vivid dreams, but when he chased after the substance they evaded his memory and slipped away like a fist grasping at mists. He splashed some cool water from the small pitcher in the room on his face before heading down for breakfast to join the others. Once he finally comes down the stairs, everyone is already gathered and eating. "Ah, there they are! I see you could not be bothered to wait for me." He winks at his companions and drops into a seat as he grabs a hunk of crisped bacon. "When do we start? I say we scout the area first, see if there's a way to bring in some sunlight to aid us."
Valaith "Rimehand" Kalukavi - Chronicles of Arden
Caio nods along at the information Ling shares, and greets Nik as he joins them. "As soon as we finish breakfast I'd say, we have a lot on our plate so it's best to act with haste." Not satisfied with the biscuit, Ghoul attempts to sneak some food from his master's plate, and is met with dissolution as the ranger sends him back to whatever plane he was summoned from. "Scouting sounds like a good first step. Hopefully the bird will be stealthier." he says with a smirk.
Chronicles of Arden: Sheercleft - Vark Galestone | Half-Orc | Storm Sorcerer
Chronicles of Arden: Hunters - Caio Cypherien | Shadar-Kai | Inquisitor Ranger
Shiva greets Astrid and Nikolai respectively as they enter. She eats quickly, as she hadn't realized that she went to bed hungry last night, she was much too tired to notice.
Between mouthfuls of food "I'd be happy to go in and get a good layout of the interior."
"Breakfast waits for no man, only for cute women." Ling teases Nikolai, letting off Astrid for the time being. "First thing should be to get our hands on some silver. Maybe ghoul can do some scouting for us, I can also do a fly over if you're worried they may go for him? And are we doing bats in the morning, addicts at night then? Since Alaris insists on checking that out, even though I doubt there's any money in it." She stabs her knife into the table. "Speaking of which, anybody see Alaris this morning?"
"They left early," Andrei interjects, without looking up from what he's doing. "Said something about the temple and supplies."
The Chronicles of Arden: Sheercleft - DM for Aiden, Bründir, Jex, Thurston, Valaith and Vark
The Chronicles of Arden: Hunters - DM for Alaris, Astrid, Caio and Shiva
"Yes. I sleep well," Astrid replies to Ling. "The bar would certainly not be my preference for a night out. But don't be putting words in my mouth... mmmh" She playfully mocks back and cocks her head to the side and looks up her nose to the tiefling. "Everyone is free to do as they wish. Just because I don't partake doesn't make those who do 'undesirable.'"
Ling dislodges the knife from the table again as she chats with Andrei: "Did Alaris say to wait here, or what? Of course they got up early, sounds just like them. And I thought I was the first one up!" Turning to Astrid, she raises an eyebrow and points the knife at her. The tiefling's dark eyes glint dangerously. "Oh 'certainly' not, I could see that. And not everyone is free. Freedom is a privilege, but you probably wouldn't know that like we do." The knife hovers in the air for another moment, then Ling breaks the tension by stabbing it into the table again, breaking into an easy grin as if she had never looked at Astrid as the enemy. In a much lighter tone, she continues her mocking: "So, you prefer watching then? I may know a guy, if you're lonely..." She bursts into giggles. Catching her breath, she adds: "I know, I know! Caio, you should lend her ghoul!"
Shiva puts her fork down as she swallows a bite of sausage. Reaching over, she gently pats Ling on the back of the hand
"Freedom is the right of all who draw breathe. A right that is tragically stolen from some." Her tone is gentle and somber as she sympathetically regards Ling, then Astrid.
The dwarf twists in her seat and her gaze falls to the floor feeling the embarrassment fall over her.
Suddenly, the cleric almost growls something in dwarvish. Her eyes flare with silvery blue flame and tremors shake the table. She points a stubby finger back to Ling. "Listen! I may be a bit naive but I know when I'm being made fun of! And I don't take kindly to someone pointing a knife in my face!"
Nikolai sighs as he looks up from his breakfast. "Ling, put down the knife. Astrid is new here and I'm sure she doesn't appreciate our... uniqueness. If we treat those who openly accept us the same way we have been treated by others, then we are no better than them. I was a bit abrasive with Astrid last night, because you caught me in a bad moment. You are of course welcome to join us and I feel your knowledge of time will be very valuable."
Valaith "Rimehand" Kalukavi - Chronicles of Arden
Ling observes Astrid like one would a performing juggler, nodding. She then leans forward and meets Astrid's finger with her own, very softly saying: "poke" Leaving her finger touching the dwarves, she calls up the dust from the table and creates a little man and woman, dancing very suggestively on the point where their fingers meet. Watching them for a few seconds, she adds, still clearly amused: "I can make it two girls, if you like?"
Without moving her hand, she looks over to Nikolai: "I don't know her, do I? Some people are very fond of knives, present company included. And how do you know she won't come to appreciate me, maybe I'll grow on her. We could work on her naivety, mhh Shiva?"
“Excuse her jabs, Astrid. She’s just cranky because Shiva and I were the belles of the ball, and her suitor seemed more interested in her battle prowess than whats between her legs.” Caio punctuates with a bite of his breakfast and chews through a smug smile.
Chronicles of Arden: Sheercleft - Vark Galestone | Half-Orc | Storm Sorcerer
Chronicles of Arden: Hunters - Caio Cypherien | Shadar-Kai | Inquisitor Ranger
Ling's mouth hangs open for a second, lost for words. The ashen dancers crumble and fall onto their fingers, her magic having left them. Entirely forgetting about Astrid, she points a sooty finger at Caio and narrows her eyes. "You! It's terribly rude to eavesdrop, don't you know that?" Recovering quickly, she adds. "But then, maybe you do and know that you can get away with murder, mh? Also, my battle prowess is very impressive, you are right about that." She pouts and stares at Caio as he eats, but does not pick on Astrid again for the rest of the meal. When the conversation picks back up, she stands to stretch and leans back down between Shiva and Nikolai. Slinging her arms around both their shoulders, she whispers first to Nikolai: "There's something I need to talk to you about, but it can wait until we get going. I don't trust the new girl yet." and then to Shiva: "The new girl has more fire than I thought, I think I'm warming to her. And Caio hurt my feelings, but oh he's so hot when he's mean." She hides her laugh in Shiva's hair and watches Caio some more, who does not appear to care at all.
Nikolai eats the rest of his meal in silence, his bloodshot ears betraying his terrible sleep, perking up a bit once he's had some sustenance and good food. As Ling throws her arms around him and whispers to him, he smiles and nods his understanding and tries to make it appear she was whispering something conspiratorial. "Indeed. Shiva, do you feel comfortable scouting them out alone? These creatures sound like that can detect anything around them within a certain range, including invisible creatures. I feel like perhaps we would be best to find their location and see if there is a way to open it up to direct sunlight by knocking a hole in the building perhaps?"
Valaith "Rimehand" Kalukavi - Chronicles of Arden
Alaris slips a note under a coin and leaves it in a prominent place for Andrei to find, then slips out of the Black Sheep as morning light begins to limn the world in soft radiance. This was always their favorite time of day, and they walk towards the Temple of Freja in Piotrgrad with unhurried vigor, soaking up the sounds and scents of early morning. The scent of the freshest of fresh breads, the quiet sounds of shopkeepers rattling about and preparing for the day, the gloom fading and the light filling the spaces with wonder and life.
The light exposes more than beauty, too - the paladin stops more than once to make sure someone laying in a corner or a doorway is sleeping and not dead or wounded. The alms-seekers have not yet queued up i in front of the Temple, and Alaris can pause to take in the light glimmering off of the simple stonework. Not the elaborate finery of the Father's or the Smith's sanctuaries, and certainly not the conspicuous extravagance of the Lord's Castle, the Lady decorated herself with a gentleness and quietness and a self-control that acts as a prism to allow the inner beauty to radiate in all its manifold facets.
Alaris grins as they pass through the entryway, past the lovely fountain where the water chuckles softly over the Lady's form. Better not disturb the chapter head this early - I'll just go straight to see Anatoly. Maybe he won't have stored away the gear we used against the wererats just yet...
Entering the quartermaster's hall, they see a tall form testing the balance of a new blade. There's a desk, a bit like at a cloak room, where you pass things over and check things in and out. He's behind it in what is his workshop-come-training-area, practicing sword form. He looks up and sees Alaris approaching. "Dzień dobry, Alaris! What brings you back to my door?"
"Hey gorgeous... you'll never guess," Alaris taps their glaive on the ground with a grin, watching the quartermaster take a break in their exercises.
"I don't have to. Any day the Lady sends you to me is a fair one." He picks up a circular blade from a table and holds it out towards Alaris. "Chakram?"
"That looks... interesting. What do you hunt with that? And HOW!?"
Anatoly shrugs. "Anything you can hit, I suppose." He flicks the blade through the air and it spins twenty feet across the room before embedding itself in a wooden panel. "A friend of the Empire brought this all the way from Rajan. You like?"
Alaris gapes, eyes widening in child-like wonder as the weapon whizzes through the air and thump-thrums into the wood. "I DO like... how many are there and do they come in silver?"
The quartermaster laughs infectiously. "It's always silver with you, isn't it? Sadly he only left me with two - a paired set, forged of the finest western steel. Maybe we can work out how to make some ourselves..." he trails off, musing on the thought, before glancing back up at Alaris. "So what did bring you to me today? You don't look like you were expecting chakram."
"Well, I may need to borrow that silver gear again - heard rumors of some escaped fleder nesting under an abandoned church in Petrowsky quarter."
"Fleder, hmm?" Anatoly replies with a raised eyebrow. "I haven't heard anything about that. Do you know when that was posted?" He sidesteps over to the desk and begins to flick through a ledger.
"Don't think it was," Alaris replies, the tiniest bit sheepishly. "This isn't a contract per se - more of a chance to build up some goodwill for ourselves in the city."
He nods, and there's a subtle, but distinct crumpling noise as a piece of parchment is removed from the ledger and tossed into the hearth to his left. "You know... I don't seem to have your return papers here. Just make sure the gear is back by Friggsday." Anatoly reminds Alaris with a conspiratorial smile.
"Or else what?" Alaris asks, eyebrow cocked and with a hint of a smirk. "Will you come and get them?"
"I might," he considers, as he wanders over to a barrel of to-be-sorted items. "If only for the pleasure of your company-" there's a slight heave as he hefts a bundle of weapons and lugs it over the desk, where he sets it down with a resounding clank. "-but my babies always find their way back to me one way or another," Anatoly concludes with a shark-like grin.
"I know, I know - you have eyes and ears everywhere... Speaking of which, have you heard anything about disappearances from the Bednik camps?"
Anatoly looks back at Alaris with a shrug of resignation. "I assume you mean something beyond the bodies they regularly pull out of the river? No, I've not heard anything unusual. Take care not to wear yourself out, Alaris. The Lady's mercy is infinite, but you are not. One warrior cannot save the world alone."
"I must shelter the Light, Anatoly. You know this. I serve at the pleasure of the Lady." Alaris spins their glaive, enjoying the balance and the swoosh it makes through the air. "I interrupted your practice, my friend - would you like a better sparring partner than that dummy?"
"Do I want to face Hope's Edge? No. No, thank you." Anatoly replies with another laugh, holding up his hands in innocence. "We can train though, if you have time." Crossing the training area, he gathers a pair of plain wooden staves from against the wall. A variety of practice weapons are stored here. "I favour a blade, but I think these suit you more," he suggests, offering Alaris a staff.
"Time enough to whip you? How long could it take?" Alaris cracks wise with a broad smile, before turning towards the weapons. "Don't be jealous, Hope - it's not cheating, it's respect," Alaris murmurs as they lean the glaive against the weapon rack. They take the staff from Anatoly and bang it on the ground a couple times, feeling the integrity and strength of the wood. "Your choice, brother - I know you have training blades over there as well."
Anatoly grins, but keeps the staff and takes a fighting pose opposite Alaris in the ring. "Drop your bag," he advises. "The extra weight will slow you down."
"If you insist..." Alaris nods back and sets the bag down by Hope's Edge. The paladin rolls their neck and shoulders and then slips into their own fighting pose, a one-handed grip with the staff along their right arm, left arm cocked in front for balance.
Andrei lunges forwards, much faster than Alaris is expecting, and thumps them hard in the centre of their breastplate with the tip of his staff. The blow is tempered for practice, but solid enough to send them stumbling backwards a step. He pulls back into his ready stance and grins at Alaris, waiting for them to strike in return.
"Nice! Did your babushka teach you that?" they grin, with a nod that shows respect above the quip.
Alaris pivots their front foot and snaps the staff across, feinting a spinning strike. Instead, they lock the end of the staff under their armpit and lands a solid strike to the quartermaster's muscular solar plexus. The blow knocks the wind out of Anatoly's sails with a thump, and he bucks for a moment as he catches his breath. "Przeklęty, Alaris. I always forget how strong you are," he gasps, before quickly sidestepping and thrusting towards paladin's side. However, when they turn to face him, he's already elsewhere, swinging at the back of their knee following the feint. Absorbing the blow, the paladin unleashes a full spinning strike of their own, flipping Anatoly onto his back and whacking him in the stomach with brutal strength. However, he does manage to wedge his own staff in between at the last moment, absorbing some of the force. He flips back onto his feet with surprising dexterity. Normally Alaris would be able to strike in that time, but he doesn't even give them a chance, twirling his own staff in circles and landing a solid blow to the ribs as he pushes towards the paladin.
Alaris snaps off a rapid series of moves - low-high-low-low-high. One cracks Anatoly across the bridge of the nose and Alaris' eyes widen as they shuffle toward for the knock-out. But Anatoly recovers with a deft shuffle, just side-stepping the attack and delivering a sharp riposte to Alaris' hip that stops them in their tracks. With a loud grunt of effort, Anatoly feints for the ribs again and pivots to slam his staff against the side of Alaris' head. Ears ringing, the paladin refuses to give ground and instead pushes forward, moving uncomfortably inside the other's reach. Stepping on Anatoly's foot to keep him close, Alaris hammers again with the short end of their staff against his torso.
He yanks his foot out and shuffles back several steps, eyes wide. Alaris takes a deep breath and maintains their position, arching an eyebrow at the talented armorer. Anatoly lowers his staff slowly, breathing heavily. "Next time, I take the blade," he laughs between breaths, and reaches forwards to shake the paladin's hand. "You fight well, Alaris! Good luck on your hunt."
The paladin clasps his arm and pulls him in for a strong hug. Kissing his sweaty cheek, Alaris declares, "I'll be back before Friggsday - let your eyes and ears collect what they may learn about unusual disappearances in Bednik - please?"
A healthy glow and lightness in their step marks their return to the Black Sheep, familiar heavy leather bag slung over their shoulder.
Eshuvenniel Kazander Ravid, Valor Bard and Acolyte of the Goddess of Luck
Caradoc Langham, Halfling Rogue - Lost Magics - Epic of Pre-made Proportions!
I'm not looking for heaven or hell... just someone to listen to stories I tell...
Shiva fails to stifle a laugh at Caio's catty comment, turning away from the table as her hand comes up to cover her wide grin.
As Ling speaks into her ear, she leans in to whisper back "Yes, take it easy on her. Nik is right, the fewer enemies we have the better." Shiva then laughs at Ling's comment about Caio "You are truly incorrigible, and its one of my favorite things about you."
Regarding Nik, Shiva leans back towards the table "I'll do what I can as far as scouting, but not being able to employ my usual methods is a real *****."
"I don't like the idea of Shiva going in alone when her invisibility won't protect her. I think ghoul and me flying over, maybe ghoul directly and me circling at a distance, is better... Both ghoul and I can get out quickly if we need to. Besides, why should Shiva get to have all the fun!" Ling speaks easily, but her eyes keep flicking to Shiva, worried about putting her into the crossfire alone.
When Alaris returns, smile upon their face, Ling gets up and grabs her things. "You got us some silver then? Ready to head out?"
Astrid let's out a sigh of relief as Ling relents. She can't help bit to smirk from the barb delivered by the ashen elf, who she gives a nod of thanks to for drawing some if the attention away. She returns to her seat and smooths out her robes. You're really testing me here, aren't you? The dwarf rolls her eyes up towards the sky. She sits quietly while their task ahead is discussed.
Alaris nods and spreads a mass of silver weapons on the table. Everyone grabs what they need; Ling takes six daggers for herself. After they have all stowed their new gear, they leave The Black Sheep.
Stepping into the fresh morning air, Ling pulls her hood up to cover her horns. From underneath, she whispers: "Time to kill some bats, haha!" They walk for a little while and when the streets are more quiet, Ling asks Caio: "I'm thinking we get close enough that we can see what the area is like and then send ghoul ahead, mh?"
Petrowsky district lies across the city centre on the southern side of Piotrgrad. It's a foul day and the sky is full of dark, foreboding clouds. However, so far it has remained dry. There's a crisp, bitter taste on the wind, that fails to mask the putrid stench of the streets. Too many people in too little space.
This is an older part of the city, which lies mostly within the tall, stone walls that Piotrgrad has long since outgrown. However, its southernmost tip spills over the edge where it runs up against Bednik. The temple in question is nestled against Petrowsky district's east end, looking across its own bleak graveyard towards Frunzensky district. What little grass grows is more grey than green.
The temple itself extends backwards from an impressively large bell tower that has fallen into disrepair. Empty scaffolding runs up it's sides casting the tall, arched entrance in shadow.
The Chronicles of Arden: Sheercleft - DM for Aiden, Bründir, Jex, Thurston, Valaith and Vark
The Chronicles of Arden: Hunters - DM for Alaris, Astrid, Caio and Shiva