When the artist extends a helping hand to Dev, the teen accepts it gratefully, and, continuing what he’d been thinking about when he was caught spying while still up in the tree, not without great curiosity.
“Oh, thank you,” he says, now up on his feet. At that moment Dev’s tongue seems to completely lose its ability to form words, though his mind races. He has horns like me, but look at how long and graceful they are compared to my little yellow stubs. Like his eyelashes. But his complexion… the color is like violets or even what is that flower called? Lilac. Yet darker too, and his eyes are black, but also, is there violet in them too?
While these thoughts float, almost at a remove, Dev stands there, speechless, a not unpleasant smile revealing white teeth, and it takes a moment to realize that he is still holding the man’s hand.
“Oh,” he whispers, letting go and stepping back a few inches.
He hears Lokilia’s voice and turns to see her approach. He answers her that yes, he’s okay.
“I… I lost my balance. Thank your for…” but his eyes, like magnets drawn to iron, return to the artist. “I’m sorry I was staring. I am new to Whitestone and its… beauty.” The statement, ending in a hushed whisper, lingers in the air. For Dev’s rebellious tongue again chafes against further employment.
"Ok, I'm quite relieved Dev," Lokilia says softly when Dev replies. But she can see his fascination with the beautiful tiefling. As tempted as she is to introduce herself, she can only imagine how thrilled Dev must be to meet one of his own kind. And one that seems to be an artist! She quietly attempts to slip away from the two, heading for the Ashsari she had spotted.
She has absolutely no clue who that Air Ashari might be, but she approaches all the same. "Hey, excuse me," she says as she gets closer to them. "I'm sure I recognize you from Zephrah! It's kind of nice to see a familiar face in the city."
Normont has to stop abruptly as he almost runs into the Commissioner.
"Thank you, Ma'am", he replies to her welcoming him back, but she had already about faced and was heading back out towards her office with his report in hand by then.
"Come on, Quinn. That's the boss here in case you couldn't tell", he whispers to Quinn as he scurries after her. Normally he would have had to jog a little, but with his new boots he kept up just fine for the first time.
Once in her office, he tries to remain at attention, which was quite difficult in the oversized-to-him comfy chair. He lets her read and speak, not interrupting unless he has something meaningful to interject.
He nods solemnly at her point about undead, and inclines his head as she offers to contact the Cobalt Soul representative.
"The information we were given by the Adjudicant Expositor was that it was a Cerberus Assembly expedition, and those that turned up certainly sounded Dwendalion", he answers when asked about the Cerberus Assembly. He nods again at mention of Her once being a member. He understood exactly who she was talking about. Lady Briarwood, the necromancer who caused so much pain in Whitestone. It was very slightly before his time here though, having come as a refugee from Emon just after the de Rolo family had taken back the city. The devastation was still apparent though, if you knew where to look.
"Yes, Ma'am, I have collected samples from the Far Gate Portal, as well as some personal items from the body of the mutated individual. I do wish to present these to the Grand Mistress myself, along with my companions who were crucial in neutralising the source of the threat, if you think it appropriate", he says formally, hoping that she agrees having suggested it. To gain an audience with the Grand Mistress would be quite an achievement for a low ranking member of the Pale Guard, and certainly positive for his career.
"It was an unfortunate necessity, the outcome at the tower", is all he says on the matter. He just hopes that Lord de Rolo thinks they made the right choice to keep it from the Cerberus Assembly at all costs.
When she goes on to give her condolences, he merely give. weak smile and a nod of his head.
"I have no questions, I will await word from you. Thank you for your time, Commissioner", he says formally as he shuffles off the chair and gives her a salute.
If Quinn is ready to leave, he will head off to the desk to collect his back pay.
She catches Normonts eye with a strange look then shrugs and passes a green bound pass across to him, " Head out to the eastern ruins and try not to get in too much trouble, not sure if the Mistress is in town but one of the Hunt should find you out there......or maybe you'll find them? Some ambition there I think."
Heading to the front desk he collected his back pay ( 150 gp) and looked to Quinn to plan their next move.....
( Report and meeting took a while so Normont and Quinn are about 30 minutes ahead of Lok and Dev currently.)
When the artist extends a helping hand to Dev, the teen accepts it gratefully, and, continuing what he’d been thinking about when he was caught spying while still up in the tree, not without great curiosity.
“Oh, thank you,” he says, now up on his feet. At that moment Dev’s tongue seems to completely lose its ability to form words, though his mind races. He has horns like me, but look at how long and graceful they are compared to my little yellow stubs. Like his eyelashes. But his complexion… the color is like violets or even what is that flower called? Lilac. Yet darker too, and his eyes are black, but also, is there violet in them too?
While these thoughts float, almost at a remove, Dev stands there, speechless, a not unpleasant smile revealing white teeth, and it takes a moment to realize that he is still holding the man’s hand.
“Oh,” he whispers, letting go and stepping back a few inches.
He hears Lokilia’s voice and turns to see her approach. He answers her that yes, he’s okay.
“I… I lost my balance. Thank your for…” but his eyes, like magnets drawn to iron, return to the artist. “I’m sorry I was staring. I am new to Whitestone and its… beauty.” The statement, ending in a hushed whisper, lingers in the air. For Dev’s rebellious tongue again chafes against further employment.
The artist tieflings lips curled into a not unkind smile, " Well, this land has a lot of beauty to offer......forgive me. Balaran Almiji, late of Kymal and Emon and settling rapidly into Whitestone.""
"Ok, I'm quite relieved Dev," Lokilia says softly when Dev replies. But she can see his fascination with the beautiful tiefling. As tempted as she is to introduce herself, she can only imagine how thrilled Dev must be to meet one of his own kind. And one that seems to be an artist! She quietly attempts to slip away from the two, heading for the Ashsari she had spotted.
She has absolutely no clue who that Air Ashari might be, but she approaches all the same. "Hey, excuse me," she says as she gets closer to them. "I'm sure I recognize you from Zephrah! It's kind of nice to see a familiar face in the city."
The two fire Ashari stepped back, their bronze skin, orange wrap and copper earrings marking them out from the Ashari Lokalia addressed, an older woman of uncertain ancestry having a slightly dwarven cast to her features with a broad nose and wide chin though her ears were very long and tapered.
" Vaelphins little one ain't you? Loki? Haven't you grown! Been an age since I seen you."
" Bunter Kooloi. Friend of the family. Here on AHU business. This is Naiche and Baishan of Pyrah."
Lokilia blinks at the older woman. "Vaelphins' little one?" She isn't exactly thrilled to be addressed as though she were just a child. And it takes her a moment to recover. "Oh. Yea, I'm Lokilia. It's good to see you Bunter. And to meet you Naiche and Baishan." She is a bit enthralled by the orange wrap and earrings of these other two Ashari. "AHU business you say? That's very interesting."
"I am actually here with some traveling companions. A member of the Whitestone Guard is reporting on something we found out in the Alabaster Sierras. One of our companions, a member of the Cobalt Soul, didn't make it." She pauses a moment, realizing for the first time that perhaps now that they're in Whitestone they probably ought to let someone know. 'Hopefully Normont took care of that,' she thinks. "There were, umm, Dwedalians there. What did Normont call them? Cerberus Assembly maybe?"
(History check to see if she knows what the AHU is: 19, unless it is common knowledge she already would know!)
Normont meets the Commissioner's gaze, and when she mentions ambition his lips curl ever so slightly into a smile. His dream had always been to become a member of the Whitestone Rifles, but that was before he truly knew what dangers lurked outside the walls, and how he could perhaps make a difference not just to Whitestone.
He gives another salute, and heads out.
When he receives his back pay, he is a little taken aback, forgetting for a moment how long he has actually been away in Drynna. His smile now is broader as he looks to Quinn whilst checking the weight of the pouch he is given.
"Dinner is most certainly on me, my friend", he says looking way up at the Genasi.
(OOC: @DM - I am assuming as nothing was said about going to the Eastern Ruins alone, that Normont believes taking the others is ok? That is his plan anyway, once they have re-united. He is too excited to wait. Unless of course it is very late by the time the re-unite?)
“Dev.” Maybe tieflings are more formal than other people?, Dev wonders, and quickly fills in, “Dev Hornd. I am pleased to meet you, Balaran Almiji. Oh, you’re not from here, either?” Dev begins to recover himself and the more he expresses his curiosity in words, the more his awkward furtiveness diminishes. He nods to Lokilia when she walks away to the other Ashari, I’ll be okay.
“I was in this theatre group back in Drynna, and I wish you’d been there. Or an artist anyhow, to do the scenery. Ours was pretty bad. But I loved it anyhow,” he reflects, his expression bittersweet.
He looks at Balaran’s canvas, expecting to see a perfect rendering of the tree from this vantage point.
"If we stay in the city for a day I can give you pretty much the full tour. I mean, it's no Emon, it's a very small city really, and a lot of it was built recently to house refugees like myself and my grandfather. Oh, you will get to meet my grandfather. He runs a tinkers shop, and I have my own little workshop there as well", he says excitedly.
"Let's catch up with the others and go finish up my reports at the Eastern Ruins, and then we can get some food and find somewhere to stay. My grandfather's place isn't really big enough, and the barracks are a little drab", he says thinking through logistics before getting back to the more interesting aspects of showing Quinn and the others around.
"Do you have anything in particular you want to see? The street lights will be coming on soon. There is the Sun Tree, but we are going there now. The clocktower. If you fancy some pastries we can go to the Slayer's Cake. We can go towards the castle itself to get a better look. There are some temples and a public park. There is the Greyfield, but that is a little morbid and the odd shambling corpse after dark can sour the mood".
Lokilia blinks at the older woman. "Vaelphins' little one?" She isn't exactly thrilled to be addressed as though she were just a child. And it takes her a moment to recover. "Oh. Yea, I'm Lokilia. It's good to see you Bunter. And to meet you Naiche and Baishan." She is a bit enthralled by the orange wrap and earrings of these other two Ashari. "AHU business you say? That's very interesting."
"I am actually here with some traveling companions. A member of the Whitestone Guard is reporting on something we found out in the Alabaster Sierras. One of our companions, a member of the Cobalt Soul, didn't make it." She pauses a moment, realizing for the first time that perhaps now that they're in Whitestone they probably ought to let someone know. 'Hopefully Normont took care of that,' she thinks. "There were, umm, Dwedalians there. What did Normont call them? Cerberus Assembly maybe?"
(History check to see if she knows what the AHU is: 19, unless it is common knowledge she already would know!)
( AHU is the Ashari Herbalist Union, it's relatively well known in Zephrah.)
Bunter looks immediately crestfallen, " I'm so sorry for your loss, you poor dear. Oh, that's terrible, so terrible."
" You've been in the mountains? You are an adventurous one. Dwelldallans? I don't know them or this Syllabus Sembly but it sounds like you've been through the wringer."
She fidgets around in her purse for a moment and then presses a small glass bottle into Lokilias hand, " Take this, I think you'll need it more than I do."
" Any messages you want taken back home, I'm heading back in the morning."
“Dev.” Maybe tieflings are more formal than other people?, Dev wonders, and quickly fills in, “Dev Hornd. I am pleased to meet you, Balaran Almiji. Oh, you’re not from here, either?” Dev begins to recover himself and the more he expresses his curiosity in words, the more his awkward furtiveness diminishes. He nods to Lokilia when she walks away to the other Ashari, I’ll be okay.
“I was in this theatre group back in Drynna, and I wish you’d been there. Or an artist anyhow, to do the scenery. Ours was pretty bad. But I loved it anyhow,” he reflects, his expression bittersweet.
He looks at Balaran’s canvas, expecting to see a perfect rendering of the tree from this vantage point.
" The theatre......most interesting...."
As Dev walked around he was somewhat puzzled by what he saw on the canvas, it was a painting but not as he expected the image did somewhat resemble the sun tree and the square but it was almost as if the tree had been depicted without form.....impressions of its physicality were there but the image seemed to depict its.....aura? and the living essence of the people and plants around it......
" So what brings you to Whitestone, Dev? Business or....pleasure?"
"If we stay in the city for a day I can give you pretty much the full tour. I mean, it's no Emon, it's a very small city really, and a lot of it was built recently to house refugees like myself and my grandfather. Oh, you will get to meet my grandfather. He runs a tinkers shop, and I have my own little workshop there as well", he says excitedly.
"Let's catch up with the others and go finish up my reports at the Eastern Ruins, and then we can get some food and find somewhere to stay. My grandfather's place isn't really big enough, and the barracks are a little drab", he says thinking through logistics before getting back to the more interesting aspects of showing Quinn and the others around.
"Do you have anything in particular you want to see? The street lights will be coming on soon. There is the Sun Tree, but we are going there now. The clocktower. If you fancy some pastries we can go to the Slayer's Cake. We can go towards the castle itself to get a better look. There are some temples and a public park. There is the Greyfield, but that is a little morbid and the odd shambling corpse after dark can sour the mood".
Normont let his question hang in the air as the two men exited the building and examined their options.
Dev stares without comprehension at the canvas. At first. He does not understand the connection between the abstract images Balaran has painted and the tree which the artist had plainly been facing, taking as a subject. What… is this? But, slowly, it dawns on him that there is every connection between the colors and their placement and the sun tree and its admirers. Dev lets out a slow gasp. He continues absorbing the painting as he speaks, his voice colored with eerie intensity.
“It’s almost as if the tree is there, but without form..... It’s like a dream version of its shape but it’s like… the tree’s soul. And the same for everyone around it.”
He turns to Balaran, suddenly smiling with modest awe. “You are probably a famous artist, and you’ve heard all this from your patrons since you first picked up a brush!”
“What brings me to Whitestone?,” Dev repeats, slowly. His answer is not immediate, and a cloud of emotions flash over his face. “It’s… kind of a long story. I guess business?” Dev’s glance finds Lokilia for a moment, as he continues, his mind shifting to a question that had dwelt at the back of his mind for some time. The artist's recent move seems to pull the thought into the light. “It’s not easy to leave your home is it. And move to a different place. I mean, you probably have many friends or family in Kymol. And Emon?”
“Well…," he turns to the artist again, smiling. "I don’t want to interrupt your painting. Where, who… I mean… I’d love to see it when it’s finished. If it isn’t already finished?,” he asks rather timidly. The painting already communicates a lot. But the artist was still working on it, Dev remembers.
Lokilia takes a quick look at the glass bottle pressed into her hand then looks back up at Bunter. "That is most generous of you. And yea, the Syllabus folks were a bit scary." She isn't sure that's the right word. But she didn't want to correct the woman. And she also wasn't totally positive she had repeated the name Normont used properly. "I'm not quite sure where we might be headed next. But I'm sure I can put your gift to good use."
Her eyes drift to the two other Ashari. After a bit of hesitation she asks, "Are your companions from Pyrah? Have they come all this way for the AHU?" She's still quite intrigued by the pair and again glances over at them. "I've always dreamed of being able to travel to the other Ashari tribes. See what their lifestyles are like."
Suddenly though, her mind recalls that she was with Dev here too. She quickly looks about to see how he's doing. She feels a bit of relief when she sees he's still chatting with the other tiefling. But she tells Bunter, "I thank you for your kindness. If you're headed back to Zephrah, just let my family know you saw me here in Whitestone. And that I'm doing well! Um, I should probably catch up with my other companions." Very slowly she backs away, intending to catch back up with Dev if they have nothing else for her.
Dev stares without comprehension at the canvas. At first. He does not understand the connection between the abstract images Balaran has painted and the tree which the artist had plainly been facing, taking as a subject. What… is this? But, slowly, it dawns on him that there is every connection between the colors and their placement and the sun tree and its admirers. Dev lets out a slow gasp. He continues absorbing the painting as he speaks, his voice colored with eerie intensity.
“It’s almost as if the tree is there, but without form..... It’s like a dream version of its shape but it’s like… the tree’s soul. And the same for everyone around it.”
He turns to Balaran, suddenly smiling with modest awe. “You are probably a famous artist, and you’ve heard all this from your patrons since you first picked up a brush!”
“What brings me to Whitestone?,” Dev repeats, slowly. His answer is not immediate, and a cloud of emotions flash over his face. “It’s… kind of a long story. I guess business?” Dev’s glance finds Lokilia for a moment, as he continues, his mind shifting to a question that had dwelt at the back of his mind for some time. The artist's recent move seems to pull the thought into the light. “It’s not easy to leave your home is it. And move to a different place. I mean, you probably have many friends or family in Kymol. And Emon?”
“Well…," he turns to the artist again, smiling. "I don’t want to interrupt your painting. Where, who… I mean… I’d love to see it when it’s finished. If it isn’t already finished?,” he asks rather timidly. The painting already communicates a lot. But the artist was still working on it, Dev remembers.
" Thankyou. I am pleased you understand the piece.....at least in the way I intended...."
" Friends......and Family......no...not so much....my mother.......does not approve of my artistic endeavours.....she is the Margrave of Kymal and would rather I were more....martial in my interests."
" Finished.....almost....Perhaps a little crimson....on further reflection....."
" I'm staying at the Lilac Inn in the Northern Ward, a few streets north-west of here...."
He returned to considering his art, with a half smile...
Lokilia takes a quick look at the glass bottle pressed into her hand then looks back up at Bunter. "That is most generous of you. And yea, the Syllabus folks were a bit scary." She isn't sure that's the right word. But she didn't want to correct the woman. And she also wasn't totally positive she had repeated the name Normont used properly. "I'm not quite sure where we might be headed next. But I'm sure I can put your gift to good use."
Her eyes drift to the two other Ashari. After a bit of hesitation she asks, "Are your companions from Pyrah? Have they come all this way for the AHU?" She's still quite intrigued by the pair and again glances over at them. "I've always dreamed of being able to travel to the other Ashari tribes. See what their lifestyles are like."
Suddenly though, her mind recalls that she was with Dev here too. She quickly looks about to see how he's doing. She feels a bit of relief when she sees he's still chatting with the other tiefling. But she tells Bunter, "I thank you for your kindness. If you're headed back to Zephrah, just let my family know you saw me here in Whitestone. And that I'm doing well! Um, I should probably catch up with my other companions." Very slowly she backs away, intending to catch back up with Dev if they have nothing else for her.
" Yes, from Pyrah. No.....well.....not yet....but if I get my way then perhaps."
She dropped her voice a little, " They're a tough lot in Pyrah with the trials they've been through the last decades and the harsh environment.....but good folks."
" I'll pass that on, look after yourself!"
The older woman gave a smile and a handwaved and turned back towards her companions.....
“Oh… yeah, Margrave of Kymal, hmmm,” Dev flounders. He hasn’t been able to help but smile, his stomach is fluttering so joyfully. But now, in his heart a shadow appears. What would a noble’s son ever want to do with an urchin of the streets of Drynna. (By the way, approximately how old does Balaran appear to be?)
“I think my parents—my adopted parents—would be happier if I stayed closer to home. Or maybe, I’m the one who would be happier, for I worry about them, even though my friend looks after them.” He doesn’t share that they, the Hornds, had never shown him anything but tendrr words and support and would never stand in his way if he loved something as much as Balaran plainly loves to paint.
“I am lucky. And… I’m lucky to have met you, Balaran Almiji.” Dev sees Lokilia approaching. “If you… don’t mind, I will look for you at the Lilac Inn, if, um, business allows.” His face shines with a warm and friendly smile like a setting sun after a day to be fondly remembered as he says goodbye. He forces his feet to move, and by the time he reaches Lokilia, his expression is serene and a little pale, though the corners of his lips turn up and his eyes sparkle like the first stars after sunset.
Lokilia waves as the older woman leaves. She turns to see how Dev is doing and meets him part way as he too moves to join her. Seeing the slight smile on his face, and the look in his eyes, she too smiles broadly at the tiefling. "I take it the conversation went well? You did get his name right?"
( Agewise Balaran is hard to pin down exactly........late teens-early twenties.....an outside possibility goes as far as late twenties-early thirties but he'd have to moisturise a lot...its kinda hard to tell really...)
Lokilia waves as the older woman leaves. She turns to see how Dev is doing and meets him part way as he too moves to join her. Seeing the slight smile on his face, and the look in his eyes, she too smiles broadly at the tiefling. "I take it the conversation went well? You did get his name right?"
“He’s called Balaran, and oh boy, did I really fall off of the tree? I might have kicked over his easel,” he worries, but quickly a smile flies back. “Did you see the painting? It’s almost beyond words to describe, but I didn’t feel lacking for words. The sense of the painting by itself is enough, words, words, even music would be transparent and dull in comparison.” Dev continues in this vein, beaming and hardly stopping for breath, though he eventually catches himself.
”He said he’s staying at the Lilac Inn, in the North Ward, just a few blocks north of here. I mean…, we don’t know where we’re um, lodging yet, right? Maybe we should stay there too.” His expression is pure and easy to read. To Dev, a more reasonable solution would be hard to find.
When the artist extends a helping hand to Dev, the teen accepts it gratefully, and, continuing what he’d been thinking about when he was caught spying while still up in the tree, not without great curiosity.
“Oh, thank you,” he says, now up on his feet. At that moment Dev’s tongue seems to completely lose its ability to form words, though his mind races. He has horns like me, but look at how long and graceful they are compared to my little yellow stubs. Like his eyelashes. But his complexion… the color is like violets or even what is that flower called? Lilac. Yet darker too, and his eyes are black, but also, is there violet in them too?
While these thoughts float, almost at a remove, Dev stands there, speechless, a not unpleasant smile revealing white teeth, and it takes a moment to realize that he is still holding the man’s hand.
“Oh,” he whispers, letting go and stepping back a few inches.
He hears Lokilia’s voice and turns to see her approach. He answers her that yes, he’s okay.
“I… I lost my balance. Thank your for…” but his eyes, like magnets drawn to iron, return to the artist. “I’m sorry I was staring. I am new to Whitestone and its… beauty.” The statement, ending in a hushed whisper, lingers in the air. For Dev’s rebellious tongue again chafes against further employment.
DM for Candlekeep Mysteries // Dev Hornd in Curious Critters // Eclipse Faraway in Gallows Dancer
"Ok, I'm quite relieved Dev," Lokilia says softly when Dev replies. But she can see his fascination with the beautiful tiefling. As tempted as she is to introduce herself, she can only imagine how thrilled Dev must be to meet one of his own kind. And one that seems to be an artist! She quietly attempts to slip away from the two, heading for the Ashsari she had spotted.
She has absolutely no clue who that Air Ashari might be, but she approaches all the same. "Hey, excuse me," she says as she gets closer to them. "I'm sure I recognize you from Zephrah! It's kind of nice to see a familiar face in the city."
Rabbit Sebrica, Sorcerer || Skarai, Monk || Lokilia Vaelphin, Druid || Liivi Orav, Barbarian || Vanizi, Warlock || Britari / Halila Talgeta / Jesa Gumovi || Neital Rhessil, Wizard
Iromae Quinaea, Cleric || Roxana Raincrest, Rogue || Meira Dheran, Rogue || Qirynna Thadri, Wizard || Crisaryn Melkial, Sorcerer
She catches Normonts eye with a strange look then shrugs and passes a green bound pass across to him, " Head out to the eastern ruins and try not to get in too much trouble, not sure if the Mistress is in town but one of the Hunt should find you out there......or maybe you'll find them? Some ambition there I think."
Heading to the front desk he collected his back pay ( 150 gp) and looked to Quinn to plan their next move.....
( Report and meeting took a while so Normont and Quinn are about 30 minutes ahead of Lok and Dev currently.)
The artist tieflings lips curled into a not unkind smile, " Well, this land has a lot of beauty to offer......forgive me. Balaran Almiji, late of Kymal and Emon and settling rapidly into Whitestone.""
" And you are? Dev? Your elven friend said?"
The two fire Ashari stepped back, their bronze skin, orange wrap and copper earrings marking them out from the Ashari Lokalia addressed, an older woman of uncertain ancestry having a slightly dwarven cast to her features with a broad nose and wide chin though her ears were very long and tapered.
" Vaelphins little one ain't you? Loki? Haven't you grown! Been an age since I seen you."
" Bunter Kooloi. Friend of the family. Here on AHU business. This is Naiche and Baishan of Pyrah."
" What are you up to here in Whitestone?"
Lokilia blinks at the older woman. "Vaelphins' little one?" She isn't exactly thrilled to be addressed as though she were just a child. And it takes her a moment to recover. "Oh. Yea, I'm Lokilia. It's good to see you Bunter. And to meet you Naiche and Baishan." She is a bit enthralled by the orange wrap and earrings of these other two Ashari. "AHU business you say? That's very interesting."
"I am actually here with some traveling companions. A member of the Whitestone Guard is reporting on something we found out in the Alabaster Sierras. One of our companions, a member of the Cobalt Soul, didn't make it." She pauses a moment, realizing for the first time that perhaps now that they're in Whitestone they probably ought to let someone know. 'Hopefully Normont took care of that,' she thinks. "There were, umm, Dwedalians there. What did Normont call them? Cerberus Assembly maybe?"
(History check to see if she knows what the AHU is: 19, unless it is common knowledge she already would know!)
Rabbit Sebrica, Sorcerer || Skarai, Monk || Lokilia Vaelphin, Druid || Liivi Orav, Barbarian || Vanizi, Warlock || Britari / Halila Talgeta / Jesa Gumovi || Neital Rhessil, Wizard
Iromae Quinaea, Cleric || Roxana Raincrest, Rogue || Meira Dheran, Rogue || Qirynna Thadri, Wizard || Crisaryn Melkial, Sorcerer
Normont meets the Commissioner's gaze, and when she mentions ambition his lips curl ever so slightly into a smile. His dream had always been to become a member of the Whitestone Rifles, but that was before he truly knew what dangers lurked outside the walls, and how he could perhaps make a difference not just to Whitestone.
He gives another salute, and heads out.
When he receives his back pay, he is a little taken aback, forgetting for a moment how long he has actually been away in Drynna. His smile now is broader as he looks to Quinn whilst checking the weight of the pouch he is given.
"Dinner is most certainly on me, my friend", he says looking way up at the Genasi.
(OOC: @DM - I am assuming as nothing was said about going to the Eastern Ruins alone, that Normont believes taking the others is ok? That is his plan anyway, once they have re-united. He is too excited to wait. Unless of course it is very late by the time the re-unite?)
“Dev.” Maybe tieflings are more formal than other people?, Dev wonders, and quickly fills in, “Dev Hornd. I am pleased to meet you, Balaran Almiji. Oh, you’re not from here, either?” Dev begins to recover himself and the more he expresses his curiosity in words, the more his awkward furtiveness diminishes. He nods to Lokilia when she walks away to the other Ashari, I’ll be okay.
“I was in this theatre group back in Drynna, and I wish you’d been there. Or an artist anyhow, to do the scenery. Ours was pretty bad. But I loved it anyhow,” he reflects, his expression bittersweet.
He looks at Balaran’s canvas, expecting to see a perfect rendering of the tree from this vantage point.
DM for Candlekeep Mysteries // Dev Hornd in Curious Critters // Eclipse Faraway in Gallows Dancer
Quinn nods and says to Normont, "Maybe I will feel more comfortable in the city if you could show me around."
"Yes, of course", Normont replies to Quinn.
"If we stay in the city for a day I can give you pretty much the full tour. I mean, it's no Emon, it's a very small city really, and a lot of it was built recently to house refugees like myself and my grandfather. Oh, you will get to meet my grandfather. He runs a tinkers shop, and I have my own little workshop there as well", he says excitedly.
"Let's catch up with the others and go finish up my reports at the Eastern Ruins, and then we can get some food and find somewhere to stay. My grandfather's place isn't really big enough, and the barracks are a little drab", he says thinking through logistics before getting back to the more interesting aspects of showing Quinn and the others around.
"Do you have anything in particular you want to see? The street lights will be coming on soon. There is the Sun Tree, but we are going there now. The clocktower. If you fancy some pastries we can go to the Slayer's Cake. We can go towards the castle itself to get a better look. There are some temples and a public park. There is the Greyfield, but that is a little morbid and the odd shambling corpse after dark can sour the mood".
( AHU is the Ashari Herbalist Union, it's relatively well known in Zephrah.)
Bunter looks immediately crestfallen, " I'm so sorry for your loss, you poor dear. Oh, that's terrible, so terrible."
" You've been in the mountains? You are an adventurous one. Dwelldallans? I don't know them or this Syllabus Sembly but it sounds like you've been through the wringer."
She fidgets around in her purse for a moment and then presses a small glass bottle into Lokilias hand, " Take this, I think you'll need it more than I do."
" Any messages you want taken back home, I'm heading back in the morning."
" The theatre......most interesting...."
As Dev walked around he was somewhat puzzled by what he saw on the canvas, it was a painting but not as he expected the image did somewhat resemble the sun tree and the square but it was almost as if the tree had been depicted without form.....impressions of its physicality were there but the image seemed to depict its.....aura? and the living essence of the people and plants around it......
" So what brings you to Whitestone, Dev? Business or....pleasure?"
Normont let his question hang in the air as the two men exited the building and examined their options.
Dev stares without comprehension at the canvas. At first. He does not understand the connection between the abstract images Balaran has painted and the tree which the artist had plainly been facing, taking as a subject. What… is this? But, slowly, it dawns on him that there is every connection between the colors and their placement and the sun tree and its admirers. Dev lets out a slow gasp. He continues absorbing the painting as he speaks, his voice colored with eerie intensity.
“It’s almost as if the tree is there, but without form..... It’s like a dream version of its shape but it’s like… the tree’s soul. And the same for everyone around it.”
He turns to Balaran, suddenly smiling with modest awe. “You are probably a famous artist, and you’ve heard all this from your patrons since you first picked up a brush!”
“What brings me to Whitestone?,” Dev repeats, slowly. His answer is not immediate, and a cloud of emotions flash over his face. “It’s… kind of a long story. I guess business?” Dev’s glance finds Lokilia for a moment, as he continues, his mind shifting to a question that had dwelt at the back of his mind for some time. The artist's recent move seems to pull the thought into the light. “It’s not easy to leave your home is it. And move to a different place. I mean, you probably have many friends or family in Kymol. And Emon?”
“Well…," he turns to the artist again, smiling. "I don’t want to interrupt your painting. Where, who… I mean… I’d love to see it when it’s finished. If it isn’t already finished?,” he asks rather timidly. The painting already communicates a lot. But the artist was still working on it, Dev remembers.
DM for Candlekeep Mysteries // Dev Hornd in Curious Critters // Eclipse Faraway in Gallows Dancer
Lokilia takes a quick look at the glass bottle pressed into her hand then looks back up at Bunter. "That is most generous of you. And yea, the Syllabus folks were a bit scary." She isn't sure that's the right word. But she didn't want to correct the woman. And she also wasn't totally positive she had repeated the name Normont used properly. "I'm not quite sure where we might be headed next. But I'm sure I can put your gift to good use."
Her eyes drift to the two other Ashari. After a bit of hesitation she asks, "Are your companions from Pyrah? Have they come all this way for the AHU?" She's still quite intrigued by the pair and again glances over at them. "I've always dreamed of being able to travel to the other Ashari tribes. See what their lifestyles are like."
Suddenly though, her mind recalls that she was with Dev here too. She quickly looks about to see how he's doing. She feels a bit of relief when she sees he's still chatting with the other tiefling. But she tells Bunter, "I thank you for your kindness. If you're headed back to Zephrah, just let my family know you saw me here in Whitestone. And that I'm doing well! Um, I should probably catch up with my other companions." Very slowly she backs away, intending to catch back up with Dev if they have nothing else for her.
Rabbit Sebrica, Sorcerer || Skarai, Monk || Lokilia Vaelphin, Druid || Liivi Orav, Barbarian || Vanizi, Warlock || Britari / Halila Talgeta / Jesa Gumovi || Neital Rhessil, Wizard
Iromae Quinaea, Cleric || Roxana Raincrest, Rogue || Meira Dheran, Rogue || Qirynna Thadri, Wizard || Crisaryn Melkial, Sorcerer
" Thankyou. I am pleased you understand the piece.....at least in the way I intended...."
" Friends......and Family......no...not so much....my mother.......does not approve of my artistic endeavours.....she is the Margrave of Kymal and would rather I were more....martial in my interests."
" Finished.....almost....Perhaps a little crimson....on further reflection....."
" I'm staying at the Lilac Inn in the Northern Ward, a few streets north-west of here...."
He returned to considering his art, with a half smile...
" Yes, from Pyrah. No.....well.....not yet....but if I get my way then perhaps."
She dropped her voice a little, " They're a tough lot in Pyrah with the trials they've been through the last decades and the harsh environment.....but good folks."
" I'll pass that on, look after yourself!"
The older woman gave a smile and a handwaved and turned back towards her companions.....
“Oh… yeah, Margrave of Kymal, hmmm,” Dev flounders. He hasn’t been able to help but smile, his stomach is fluttering so joyfully. But now, in his heart a shadow appears. What would a noble’s son ever want to do with an urchin of the streets of Drynna. (By the way, approximately how old does Balaran appear to be?)
“I think my parents—my adopted parents—would be happier if I stayed closer to home. Or maybe, I’m the one who would be happier, for I worry about them, even though my friend looks after them.” He doesn’t share that they, the Hornds, had never shown him anything but tendrr words and support and would never stand in his way if he loved something as much as Balaran plainly loves to paint.
“I am lucky. And… I’m lucky to have met you, Balaran Almiji.” Dev sees Lokilia approaching. “If you… don’t mind, I will look for you at the Lilac Inn, if, um, business allows.” His face shines with a warm and friendly smile like a setting sun after a day to be fondly remembered as he says goodbye. He forces his feet to move, and by the time he reaches Lokilia, his expression is serene and a little pale, though the corners of his lips turn up and his eyes sparkle like the first stars after sunset.
DM for Candlekeep Mysteries // Dev Hornd in Curious Critters // Eclipse Faraway in Gallows Dancer
Lokilia waves as the older woman leaves. She turns to see how Dev is doing and meets him part way as he too moves to join her. Seeing the slight smile on his face, and the look in his eyes, she too smiles broadly at the tiefling. "I take it the conversation went well? You did get his name right?"
Rabbit Sebrica, Sorcerer || Skarai, Monk || Lokilia Vaelphin, Druid || Liivi Orav, Barbarian || Vanizi, Warlock || Britari / Halila Talgeta / Jesa Gumovi || Neital Rhessil, Wizard
Iromae Quinaea, Cleric || Roxana Raincrest, Rogue || Meira Dheran, Rogue || Qirynna Thadri, Wizard || Crisaryn Melkial, Sorcerer
( Agewise Balaran is hard to pin down exactly........late teens-early twenties.....an outside possibility goes as far as late twenties-early thirties but he'd have to moisturise a lot...its kinda hard to tell really...)
“He’s called Balaran, and oh boy, did I really fall off of the tree? I might have kicked over his easel,” he worries, but quickly a smile flies back. “Did you see the painting? It’s almost beyond words to describe, but I didn’t feel lacking for words. The sense of the painting by itself is enough, words, words, even music would be transparent and dull in comparison.” Dev continues in this vein, beaming and hardly stopping for breath, though he eventually catches himself.
”He said he’s staying at the Lilac Inn, in the North Ward, just a few blocks north of here. I mean…, we don’t know where we’re um, lodging yet, right? Maybe we should stay there too.” His expression is pure and easy to read. To Dev, a more reasonable solution would be hard to find.
DM for Candlekeep Mysteries // Dev Hornd in Curious Critters // Eclipse Faraway in Gallows Dancer