"Yes, some tea would be nice thank you." Twinkleblossum has the 'pixie hand' receive the cup of tea and takes her time drinking it, not in any rush to finish or appear to have anywhere important to go right at this moment.
"This party may be just the thing to keep me from taking a rest until later after the High Flamekeeper arrives." Twinkleblossum remains on the ground but the playful pixies that flit about her remain hovering in the air. "I feel tired but not to the point where I feel I will drop from exhaustion."
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
"A rightful place awaits you in the Realms Above, in the Land of the Great Light. Come in peace, and live beneath the sun again, where trees and flowers grow."
— The message of Eilistraee to all decent drow.
"Run thy sword across my chains, Silver Lady, that I may join your dance.”
Sarűmir, still holding Sanimar against his side, smiles warmly, something he rarely does. "Thank you for the offer Athalie, but I believe we are fine for now, unless Sanimar or Twinkleblossum here need anything else."
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
Hi there! My name's Elk. I'm NoiSilverheart's doppelgänger. I'm a demi/grayromantic, socially awkward Okie who may or may not be a pyromaniac. *random confetti blast*
I'm a warlock of the Archcrone, and my patron is TheFriendlyArchfey. I was nicknamed AchatesCervus8337 by VitusW and given the titles "Swashbuckling Scorcher", "The Unpredictable Jedi", "Burning Fury of the Ancients", and "Combustion Knight" by DrummerBoyDragonSlayer.
"I'm fine just waiting for the High Flamekeeper. It wasn't my intention to tax Hanna's strength, I didn't know she was pushing herself so much lately." Twinkleblossum will remain sitting on the pew and wait.
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
"A rightful place awaits you in the Realms Above, in the Land of the Great Light. Come in peace, and live beneath the sun again, where trees and flowers grow."
— The message of Eilistraee to all decent drow.
"Run thy sword across my chains, Silver Lady, that I may join your dance.”
Athalie nods, still forlorn, but with a sincere kind of quiet she focuses more on those around her now. "Would some music help?" she asks Twinkleblossom. "I've brought my viol and my lute with me, and I can get one for you while we wait for the High Flamekeeper. Which one would you like? What kind of songs are your favorite?"
She shakes her head at Vervidia's description of Mephits. They sound wretched, but if Lara's wounds were anything to go by, they certainly aren't the worst thing in the ruins. But her eyes widen as she hears the knock at the door. "The Reeve?" she says, suddenly flustered, "my goodness... I..." for a moment she again seems lost, all her prior day's plans and expectations that had been shattered and tossed about, but there was still a party to play for, and it wasn't going to wait. "Are we late for the party?"
"Perhaps some music would help in passing the time but I have little talent for playing instruments myself."
Twinkleblossum will try to brighten the mood a little by encouraging Athalie to play.
"If that is the Reeve some cheerful music might be appropriate for his celebrations, even if your heart isn't quite in it."
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
"A rightful place awaits you in the Realms Above, in the Land of the Great Light. Come in peace, and live beneath the sun again, where trees and flowers grow."
— The message of Eilistraee to all decent drow.
"Run thy sword across my chains, Silver Lady, that I may join your dance.”
"No, uh, he's about an hour early..." Vervidia explains. She looks up at the stairs then down at you all. "Yes! Of course, tea would be nice." She blinks, almost forgetting what she had said earlier before going out of the way and heading towards a small kitchenette in this pretty dank (though bright white) basement room. There she lights a small flame in a tiny fireplace and sets a tea kettle on top of it.
She stands by the stairs for a second, "It's okay, Hanna has been all over the place lately. It isn't just because of the Reeve but just," she sighs then looks over at Athalie, "it's not even about the scepter either though. It's just- there's not been enough money around lately. Most of our parishioners have been moving over to the new faith and- it's not the same as it was and with Reed's mother moving in. There's just... just been not a lot of time." She shakes her head.
"FLAMEKEEPER HANNA!" Rapid knocking then a more calmer voice, "Why is this door closed?!"
"Ah right, that." With the interruption, she is off. She climbs the stairs diligently.
Another acolyte who had been with you guys silently just sort of stares then hands Twinkleblossum her tea once the tea kettle announces it is ready. She is amused by the display from the pixie hands and also grateful she doesn't have to touch you, though she tries to play it off as sweetly as possible. "Here's your tea."
Athalie only gets a few minutes to sing to Twinkleblossum, playing the most heavenly music from her viol, before someone comes stomping in. "Oh! Wow you're really good. Athalie," Vervidia looks up the stairs then back, "you're needed upstairs."
The acolyte takes you by the hand and drags you along to where you come face to face with the man she's been talking about all morning, Mr. Kosta Stravos himself. He is nothing more than a tall older man with a sallow face and thinning hair. He wears a monocle, his usual rich blue wardrobe (which you know because Vervidia exclaims 'wow I haven't seen you out of blue in years') has been switched out for an all white version of the same attire: a vest and doublet. He is accompanied by his wife and two twin young daughters. His son hasn't arrived yet because, well, that would just be bad luck! The ceremony goes as scheduled.
You recall your own Light-Heart birthday. It was much like this one. It had the same flair, decor, and music, except now you were on the other end of it. Vervidia has ushered you to a spot between the piano (which she plays) and the choir. You play the traditional lute to welcome in Dimitris Stravos to a new age. The young teenager looks just like his father, except more scraggly looking. He swiftly walks over to the tabernacle, all hunched over as if unsure about himself, something that Mr. Starvos comments is something he is deficient in and unsightly for him to be as a nobleman of such an age. He will have a talk with him later, he murmurs.
Flamekeeper Hanna does the blessing accordingly. It is always a sight to behold when a six-winged amalgamation of light descends upon someone, the light that is believed to be the soul of the griffon that Saint Tarna rode herself, Atark. The flames wings contort into the shape of a candle with the two on top point up and the other four down. Dimitris looks on in awe but squirms in place. He keeps looking back at his father, his family, then back at Hanna. He seems to shrink at the pressure of it all. The other children, the two twins and some others who were introduced as cousins (all of which had been squabbling or playing with each other), suddenly gawk and point. The spirit dissipates soon after.
"May your heart by light and your path ablaze," Hanna says before handing Dimitris a book, which she blesses. It glows with an ethereal light. "You will do great things in this life, and only you know the way. The right way."
He looks as if to say something but then silently nods and takes the book before walking down to the pew. The family then asks for a portrait to be done, and so a servant artist (apparently who had been sitting in the pews along with them) comes to pose them by the tabernacle with Hanna.
The others (Sarűmir, Twinkleblossum, Sanimar, and Aster) stay downstairs to rest or either joined the party. Athalie's music floats softly down the stairs. You can hear it even from between the granite floors. The Silver Order rooms were comfy. They got only a single bed and a desk, but it was better than the hardwood of the caravan so if you took a nap you slept soundly.
Everyone (including Hanna) gets two hours of short rest equaling two short rests (and two rolls of the dice for HP). This has been reflected on your character sheet.
Vervidia nudges Athalie at the end of it, "You did great!" Then her smile falters as she looks onto you sadly, "Thank you so much for doing this. It means lot. Especially after... Lara." She rubs the back of her neck, "So what you suppose you're doing now? You know you don't have to take the job right away... Take some time...you know-"
Hanna yawns in the middle of portrait-taking. Two knights in silver plated armor etched with golden trim walk into the chapel. Each carries a weapon (one with a lance the other a shimmering sword) alongside a broad shield engraved with the symbol of the Sacred Flame. "Ser Virgil Underwood! Ser Cassandra Wyatt!" Hanna exclaims, pushing out of the portrait-huddle to go to them, "Sorry, excuse me."The Stravoses and the artist stare a bit dumbfoundedly. "Where... where is High Flamekeeper Reed?"
Vervidia steps out of the piano bench chair she was sitting on and motions over for you to follow. She joins in with her sister and a small crew of other acolytes. One of them signals for the other to go get your crew downstairs. The rest of you come up to hear this.
"Good morning, Flamekeeper Hanna," one steps forward. She is a lanky human and holds a lance, "Unfortunately, High Flamekeeper Ophelia Reed will not be joining us today." She realizes she just retold what the other had said but with much more formality. "There has been new developments on the scepter case. It has been stolen." She grimaces. "We suspect it is one of the Queen's Men."
"We received this,"the other man shoves forward and unwraps a bloodied playing card, then promptly puts it away, "tacked to the front gates of Dawn. Flamekeeper is doing her due diligence and staying indoors but she is working with us from afar at Camp... Our other team..." they look at your crew, "told us they couldn't find it."He clears his throat.
"We have reason to believe that there is an auction going down at Buckledown. Tonight"
((sorry this is so late and also just watched The Union so uhh spy vibes idk))
(Will post as soon as I can. Little busy right now.)
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
Hi there! My name's Elk. I'm NoiSilverheart's doppelgänger. I'm a demi/grayromantic, socially awkward Okie who may or may not be a pyromaniac. *random confetti blast*
I'm a warlock of the Archcrone, and my patron is TheFriendlyArchfey. I was nicknamed AchatesCervus8337 by VitusW and given the titles "Swashbuckling Scorcher", "The Unpredictable Jedi", "Burning Fury of the Ancients", and "Combustion Knight" by DrummerBoyDragonSlayer.
Athalie fetches her viol and lute and plays for Twinkleblossum for a few minutes before Vervidia comes to get her to begin the celebration. She feels strangely relieved at the sudden hubbub, the arrival of the Reeve's family, and she is quick to introduce herself to Count Stravos and thank him for accommodating her last minute at the Red Lion Hotel last night, and brimming with confidence that Dimitris' special day will be that much better with her musical accompaniment. Athalie is clearly practiced at winning folks over even before she starts playing, though there is a weak luster to what would normally be fluid and practiced engagement with her audience. Though she has pushed the grief of Lara's death into the background for now, it still haunts her like a shadow, hopefully not discernable to the celebrating family as she throws herself into her performance. At the end of the ceremony, she profusely congratulates Dimitros, shaking his hand and giving him a solemn, and large-eyed gaze, "I can see it in you, Dimitros, you will accomplish great things one day. This is only the beginning. Your father must be so proud of you!"
Athalie beams gratefully at Vervidia's compliments, though her cheeks are flushed with the exertion of keeping her emotions under control. "Thank you," she says, "the show must go on, after all, and I owed Mr. Stravos a debt for my stay at the Hotel last night. I'm so glad they had a good time."She sighs, closing her eyes. "I don't want to wait to take the job... although I could use a little rest... but I can't sit still knowing that Lara's quest is yet unfinished."
She has hardly finished speaking before the paladins arrive. Athalie automatically snaps to attention out of habit, offering a salute to Ser Underwood and Ser Wyatt. Her demeanor moving from the engaging performer into the obedient and disciplined paladin, a role she holds up fairly well, with a little uncertainty, though certainly not as well as her sister Lara did. She feels just a little self-conscious in her traveling clothes and armor, knowing she owns nothing like fancy silver plate. I can only hope my heart will make up for the difference. That is what the Flame values more, anyway. But she is quickly distracted by the news of the scepter. "Oh, no, by the Flame!" she gasps. "The scepter, stolen? Noble knights, my name is Athalie Keenflow, and I will retrieve it. Please, tell me what I need to know. You believe the scepter is being auctioned off?" She looks at Flamekeeper Hanna, having no idea where Buckledown Row is.
Sarűmir, who had slept like a dog (on the floor) in his Sliver Order room, walks up to the party above, not saying anything to the others. He stands at the far corner of the room, out of sight of anyone else.
He takes out his longsword and begins to clean it with his tunic, attempting to rid the blade of any gunk that it may have collected. As he does so, thoughts of regret about how distant he was from everyone else drifts through his head. He guiltily wishes that he could've gotten to know Lara better before she passed.
He becomes so enamored in his thoughts that he forgets what he is doing, and ends up nicking his finger on the blade of his sword. He curses in response. "Son of an ogre—", he says.
Hi there! My name's Elk. I'm NoiSilverheart's doppelgänger. I'm a demi/grayromantic, socially awkward Okie who may or may not be a pyromaniac. *random confetti blast*
I'm a warlock of the Archcrone, and my patron is TheFriendlyArchfey. I was nicknamed AchatesCervus8337 by VitusW and given the titles "Swashbuckling Scorcher", "The Unpredictable Jedi", "Burning Fury of the Ancients", and "Combustion Knight" by DrummerBoyDragonSlayer.
Sanimar sleeps like a hibernating bear who is slow to rise and slowly heads up with a look that meant she was not quite awake yet. She picks up a few words about some auction and then tries to blink the sleep out of her eyes. Saniimar nudges Athalie after letting out a yawn "What did I miss what is this about an auction?"
Twinkleblossum awakes from her nap feeling a little rested but also not quite 100% and catches enough of the tail end to wonder, "Should we go to this Buckledown tonight and try to recover the scepter?"
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
"A rightful place awaits you in the Realms Above, in the Land of the Great Light. Come in peace, and live beneath the sun again, where trees and flowers grow."
— The message of Eilistraee to all decent drow.
"Run thy sword across my chains, Silver Lady, that I may join your dance.”
Count Starvos brushed off the expenses for her stay at the Red Lion in almost a flaunt ("it was only one day") and smirks at her enthusiasm but doesn't say much more. By then end though, he remarked back that the she (and the chapel staff) did indeed exceed his exceptions though (despite the damper at the beginning). While taking he portrait, he continues to tell Hanna he doesn't understand why one would close doors at a moment like this especially since he was one to be so willing to open his, which leaves Flamekeeper Hanna a bit flustered.
This occurred just after you had just spoken with Dimitris who took to your comment with a side-eye. He lightly shakes your hand, sliding it out faster before fiddling with the collar of his gown. "Yeah... thanks. I guess so."He turns his head to look after longingly at his father who is chatting it up with some other ceremony-goers. "Maybe." He waves goodbye to walk towards his sisters before he too soon get shuffled towards the artist taking the portrait.
"You did good," Verivida small smile wavers, "Okay. I... understand." She nods, "Do it for her." The acolyte puts her hand on your shoulder before your attention gets swayed over to the knights who came barging in.
The paladins in armor nod when they see Athalie's salute and perform one of their own onto Hanna on their way in.
"Paladin Keenflow," the one with the lance bows, "Ah, I've heard great word about you. First in your class. I am Ser Underwood," she gestures over to the man, "And this is Ser Wyatt. Delighted to make your acquaintance, though, unfortunate it is under these times. Yes, we believe the scepter has been stolen."
"By the Queen's Men," Ser Wyatt jumps in, "the Rose 'n Thorns specifically."He shows the playing card again, this time it can be seen there is a decorative silhouette of a rose clipped out of it in the middle where the Jack should be. Then cut out too is the words 'by sundown' underneath it and a silhouette of a belt buckle.
"Honestly one of the most blatant heists ever known,"Underwood gestures with her wrist how surly it was, "Which is why we must be careful. They're confident, but they know we know they're confident, which is why they could trick us. We don't know what they could be planning..."
Catching Athalie's look, Flamekeeper Hanna interrupts, "Wait, wait, wait-"She then sidesteps back, looking a bit sheepish, "why an auction? How would we know?" Sanimar also asks the question. "The scepter. The one from St. Brenna's. It's gone,"Underwood replies again. She sighs, "We don't."
Putting her hands on her hips, the paladin explains, "But this is not the first time this happened. Not the least with any of our artifacts, but our eyes and ears have spotted that they have started ramping up some sort of business. Things have reportedly gone missing from the sight of the Lanterns, so it is only a matter of time that it was ours. But this- this is unbelievable! Buckledown Row..."
Then Sarűmir cuts his finger on his own sword. "You, you alright there, sir?" Ser Underwood stops and turns her attention onto you (you had been quiet so far, this almost startles the two knights). Even Ser Wyatt tries to reach out. "Is something the matter?" They look to you a bit suspiciously.
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
<---- me irl slow reader, even slower writer easily jumpy thanks for being patient
DM: Drakkenheim Mind and Matter + Blood Secrets + What's in the Here and Now;
Using his unusually good hearing, Sarűmir had attempted to pick up on the conversations around him earlier. At the mention of the Queen's Men, he had growled softly.
After being confronted by Ser Wyatt and Ser Underwood, he quickly cleans the blood off his sword and resheathes it. "Yes, sir and madam, I am quite fine. Just got caught up in my own thoughts, and in my distraction I cut my finger. It is nothing serious." He rips a small piece of cloth from the hem of his tunic and uses it to bandage the wound, then pulls up the hood of his fur cloak. "Please excuse me, but I am going to head out. Perhaps a local tavern will have a nice ale for me." He turns to Athalie, and just before walking to the exit and leaving says, "Tell me if I miss anything."
Hi there! My name's Elk. I'm NoiSilverheart's doppelgänger. I'm a demi/grayromantic, socially awkward Okie who may or may not be a pyromaniac. *random confetti blast*
I'm a warlock of the Archcrone, and my patron is TheFriendlyArchfey. I was nicknamed AchatesCervus8337 by VitusW and given the titles "Swashbuckling Scorcher", "The Unpredictable Jedi", "Burning Fury of the Ancients", and "Combustion Knight" by DrummerBoyDragonSlayer.
"I was awaiting the arrival of the High Flamekeeper myself so I'm not so sure that I'm in a position to bring anyone up to speed. Athalie was attending and playing for the ceremony so probably she would be best to recap."
Twinkleblossum walks over and joins Aster, standing next to her so that whoever decides to do a recap won't have to face or address anyone lounging in random locations and can focus their attention on the matter at hand.
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
"A rightful place awaits you in the Realms Above, in the Land of the Great Light. Come in peace, and live beneath the sun again, where trees and flowers grow."
— The message of Eilistraee to all decent drow.
"Run thy sword across my chains, Silver Lady, that I may join your dance.”
Athalie's face flushes red as the paladins recognize her name and call her first in her class. I most certainly was not! Oh, Flame, they've mistaken me for Lara...Still quite red in the face, she manages, with an adroit smile, "You may be thinking of my older sister, Lara Keenflow, a truly commendable paladin if ever there was one... I am her younger sister. She... I'm sorry, she... met with an unfortunate end in the ruins while attempting to retrieve the sceptre for the Silver Order. I came... to take her place." Although Athalie's voice broke momentarily, her confidence and firmness of purpose is impossible to miss by the end of her last sentence. "I'm honored to meet you, Ser Underwood, and Ser Wyatt. By the grace of the Flame, I hope I may live up to my sister's reputation."
She listens carefully to the description of the heist. She looks at the card with its cutout symbols and messages. "If the Queen's Men have sent you a message like this... and knowing they have something you want, or knowing that you are likely to think that they do, then, of course we must respond. This is terribly impertinent of them; to take coin for a holy relic, whose blessings belong to all, is most certainly a sin."
As Sarumir storms past her to go find a stiff drink, she nods, murmuring, "Yes, I will come find you... but before sundown, Sarumir!"
Athalie turns back to the paladins. "Forgive my boldness in speaking for my companions, who were until recently Lara's companions, but we will do this for you. If they are unable or unwilling, I will go myself. We will leave as soon as possible. Have you a map, or directions, to Buckledown Row?"
She turns to Aster and Twinkleblossum. "We have a sacred quest, to retrieve the Sceptre of Saint Vitruvio. In honor of Lara, who vowed to retrieve it for the Silver Order, would you help me accomplish this? Perhaps, after the High Flamekeeper arrives, we should follow Sarumir, and I can fill you all in at one time, then. We have until sundown." Gone, for the moment, is the grieving teenager, replaced by a confident figure who uncannily does remind you of Lara, in this moment.
Sarűmir exits the chapel, heading straight toward the Bark and Buzzard. As he walks over there, he pulls out his maul and begins to clean it as well.
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
Hi there! My name's Elk. I'm NoiSilverheart's doppelgänger. I'm a demi/grayromantic, socially awkward Okie who may or may not be a pyromaniac. *random confetti blast*
I'm a warlock of the Archcrone, and my patron is TheFriendlyArchfey. I was nicknamed AchatesCervus8337 by VitusW and given the titles "Swashbuckling Scorcher", "The Unpredictable Jedi", "Burning Fury of the Ancients", and "Combustion Knight" by DrummerBoyDragonSlayer.
"I can go with you Athalie but I have no spells besides some simple cantrips as I need a much longer rest to recover the strength to cast the stronger spells." says Sanimar. She goes not for the Sceptor but to keep Athlalie safe as a sort of repayment for what Lara sacrificed.
"Oh. Okay,"Ser Underwood nods, "very well then."She watches as you get it taken care of. The duo nod when he's on his way out. Aster comes up the stairs soon after. "Good morning, Mr. Ferris."They restate their names once again then they turn to Flamekeeper Hanna. "We were seeking to know if Madame Reed was okay. With the Queen's Men cutting this so close, it may not be just artifacts with this one."
Hanna gasps at them in shock. "Her mother's here, yes of course, we've been taking good care of here!" She steps back and points to the room by the archway. She stands tall. "What do you mean? That there's more to this than just the scepter?"
"In retaliation. Yes, that's why we have been seeking paladins that High Flamekeeper has sent out - for this is no mere matter of artifacts - and at least we have one of them, Paladin Keenflow-" Ser Wyatt sticks a hand out towards Athalie. They both take a stand back when Athalie starts hesitating. "I... am... sorry," Ser Underwood's voice takes a drop at that downturn, hand reaching up for her heart. Her eyes widen and her face softens and so too does Ser Wyatt's.
"We did not know that she 'came deceased." They looks over to Hanna who seems to already be back on the verge of tears. She waves off her signs of emotion and the knights go back to looking at Athalie.
"It is definitely not beneath them. We knew it would come to this. It truly was only a matter not of if but when?" Ser Wyatt explains, "That is why Highest Reed sent you- uh, them, out all in the first place, when we first got the letter. Anyone who's willing would sure come fighting."
Ser Underwood looks solemnly to Athalie and Aster in deep understanding. "It's worth more than its weight in gold."
"It is to be understandable,"Ser Wyatt waves off Athalie's apology on Sarűmir's suddent exit, "The wounds are fresh... though it is best not to let them fester."He mumbles out that last part, almost as if he were losing wind while lecturing to a child at Monday (the holy day of obligation) school. "But yes, I guess you are new in town- yes, yes you are- the best way towards Buckledown Row would be by taking the Drann. You'll know it when you see it. It is truly that type of place."
"Filled with old townhouses. Past the fourth bridge.
"Though," Heholds her hand up, "I should warn you to take your own watercraft."Ser Wyatt ends the conservation there, turning back towards Flamekeeper Hanna and Vervivida, "May we see her?"
"Yes, course,"Hanna resigns, giving you all a weak smile before showing Ser Underwood and Wyatt to the Reed's mother's room. Vervidia puts one last hand on Athalie's shoulder before taking her leave as well.
"Camp Dawn, their base, is two miles out west of the city. I'm sure they'll give you passage.... Good luck." She waves you goodbye.
The stunned Stravos family wait at the altar for Hanna to finish, though sure enough Count Stravos gestures for the painter for finish and he does so without Hanna in the picture. The music from the party begins to die down.
@Sarűmir
You exit the chapel, pushing past the large arched doors. You do not stop at the Red Lion where the dwarves were staying, so they have no idea where. You sulk past Caravan Court, past the boarded up well, through the street corners of the measly shops, and head on your to the Bark and Buzzard. The atmosphere there was just as lively as you've left it. Now instead of a group of halflings at the one large rectangular table is a group of elves and one half-orc-human. They chat it up with one waitress, the owner you saw before (Karin).
You see three people behind the counter. They are mixing drinks or they look to be doing it at least. They seem more to be laughing than actually working. There's a halfling holding a cocktail shaker who hands it over to a bugbear where it slips out of his hands. A human woman goes to pick it up, pats the bugbear on the back, and gives it back over to him. "Butterfingers."The bugbear seems so nervous about this so much so that he ends up with hiccup. Then it turns out to be more than that, he can't stop hiccuping. They all share another laugh, including Karin who straight up snorts.
"Oi!" you hear someone shout, "lad! Holg, Cora, hold up." In a few seconds of panting, the bugbear is upon you. You realize now he was talking to you. This is that bugbear bandit you all rescued, the brother who was incapacitated most of the time. "Why the lo- oh?" He tilts his head down at you, "you alright, mate?"
"Yes, some tea would be nice thank you." Twinkleblossum has the 'pixie hand' receive the cup of tea and takes her time drinking it, not in any rush to finish or appear to have anywhere important to go right at this moment.
"This party may be just the thing to keep me from taking a rest until later after the High Flamekeeper arrives." Twinkleblossum remains on the ground but the playful pixies that flit about her remain hovering in the air. "I feel tired but not to the point where I feel I will drop from exhaustion."
@ConstancePhokas
Sarűmir, still holding Sanimar against his side, smiles warmly, something he rarely does. "Thank you for the offer Athalie, but I believe we are fine for now, unless Sanimar or Twinkleblossum here need anything else."
Hi there! My name's Elk. I'm NoiSilverheart's doppelgänger. I'm a demi/grayromantic, socially awkward Okie who may or may not be a pyromaniac. *random confetti blast*
I'm a warlock of the Archcrone, and my patron is TheFriendlyArchfey. I was nicknamed AchatesCervus8337 by VitusW and given the titles "Swashbuckling Scorcher", "The Unpredictable Jedi", "Burning Fury of the Ancients", and "Combustion Knight" by DrummerBoyDragonSlayer.
Extended sig
"I'm fine just waiting for the High Flamekeeper. It wasn't my intention to tax Hanna's strength, I didn't know she was pushing herself so much lately." Twinkleblossum will remain sitting on the pew and wait.
"I am fine with Sarumir's help. Though I thank you for offering " says Sanimar as she clings to Sarumir.
Athalie nods, still forlorn, but with a sincere kind of quiet she focuses more on those around her now. "Would some music help?" she asks Twinkleblossom. "I've brought my viol and my lute with me, and I can get one for you while we wait for the High Flamekeeper. Which one would you like? What kind of songs are your favorite?"
She shakes her head at Vervidia's description of Mephits. They sound wretched, but if Lara's wounds were anything to go by, they certainly aren't the worst thing in the ruins. But her eyes widen as she hears the knock at the door. "The Reeve?" she says, suddenly flustered, "my goodness... I..." for a moment she again seems lost, all her prior day's plans and expectations that had been shattered and tossed about, but there was still a party to play for, and it wasn't going to wait. "Are we late for the party?"
"Perhaps some music would help in passing the time but I have little talent for playing instruments myself."
Twinkleblossum will try to brighten the mood a little by encouraging Athalie to play.
"If that is the Reeve some cheerful music might be appropriate for his celebrations, even if your heart isn't quite in it."
"No, uh, he's about an hour early..." Vervidia explains. She looks up at the stairs then down at you all. "Yes! Of course, tea would be nice." She blinks, almost forgetting what she had said earlier before going out of the way and heading towards a small kitchenette in this pretty dank (though bright white) basement room. There she lights a small flame in a tiny fireplace and sets a tea kettle on top of it.
She stands by the stairs for a second, "It's okay, Hanna has been all over the place lately. It isn't just because of the Reeve but just," she sighs then looks over at Athalie, "it's not even about the scepter either though. It's just- there's not been enough money around lately. Most of our parishioners have been moving over to the new faith and- it's not the same as it was and with Reed's mother moving in. There's just... just been not a lot of time." She shakes her head.
"FLAMEKEEPER HANNA!" Rapid knocking then a more calmer voice, "Why is this door closed?!"
"Ah right, that." With the interruption, she is off. She climbs the stairs diligently.
Another acolyte who had been with you guys silently just sort of stares then hands Twinkleblossum her tea once the tea kettle announces it is ready. She is amused by the display from the pixie hands and also grateful she doesn't have to touch you, though she tries to play it off as sweetly as possible. "Here's your tea."
Athalie only gets a few minutes to sing to Twinkleblossum, playing the most heavenly music from her viol, before someone comes stomping in. "Oh! Wow you're really good. Athalie," Vervidia looks up the stairs then back, "you're needed upstairs."
The acolyte takes you by the hand and drags you along to where you come face to face with the man she's been talking about all morning, Mr. Kosta Stravos himself. He is nothing more than a tall older man with a sallow face and thinning hair. He wears a monocle, his usual rich blue wardrobe (which you know because Vervidia exclaims 'wow I haven't seen you out of blue in years') has been switched out for an all white version of the same attire: a vest and doublet. He is accompanied by his wife and two twin young daughters. His son hasn't arrived yet because, well, that would just be bad luck! The ceremony goes as scheduled.
You recall your own Light-Heart birthday. It was much like this one. It had the same flair, decor, and music, except now you were on the other end of it. Vervidia has ushered you to a spot between the piano (which she plays) and the choir. You play the traditional lute to welcome in Dimitris Stravos to a new age. The young teenager looks just like his father, except more scraggly looking. He swiftly walks over to the tabernacle, all hunched over as if unsure about himself, something that Mr. Starvos comments is something he is deficient in and unsightly for him to be as a nobleman of such an age. He will have a talk with him later, he murmurs.
Flamekeeper Hanna does the blessing accordingly. It is always a sight to behold when a six-winged amalgamation of light descends upon someone, the light that is believed to be the soul of the griffon that Saint Tarna rode herself, Atark. The flames wings contort into the shape of a candle with the two on top point up and the other four down. Dimitris looks on in awe but squirms in place. He keeps looking back at his father, his family, then back at Hanna. He seems to shrink at the pressure of it all. The other children, the two twins and some others who were introduced as cousins (all of which had been squabbling or playing with each other), suddenly gawk and point. The spirit dissipates soon after.
"May your heart by light and your path ablaze," Hanna says before handing Dimitris a book, which she blesses. It glows with an ethereal light. "You will do great things in this life, and only you know the way. The right way."
He looks as if to say something but then silently nods and takes the book before walking down to the pew. The family then asks for a portrait to be done, and so a servant artist (apparently who had been sitting in the pews along with them) comes to pose them by the tabernacle with Hanna.
The others (Sarűmir, Twinkleblossum, Sanimar, and Aster) stay downstairs to rest or either joined the party. Athalie's music floats softly down the stairs. You can hear it even from between the granite floors. The Silver Order rooms were comfy. They got only a single bed and a desk, but it was better than the hardwood of the caravan so if you took a nap you slept soundly.
Vervidia nudges Athalie at the end of it, "You did great!" Then her smile falters as she looks onto you sadly, "Thank you so much for doing this. It means lot. Especially after... Lara." She rubs the back of her neck, "So what you suppose you're doing now? You know you don't have to take the job right away... Take some time...you know-"
Hanna yawns in the middle of portrait-taking. Two knights in silver plated armor etched with golden trim walk into the chapel. Each carries a weapon (one with a lance the other a shimmering sword) alongside a broad shield engraved with the symbol of the Sacred Flame. "Ser Virgil Underwood! Ser Cassandra Wyatt!" Hanna exclaims, pushing out of the portrait-huddle to go to them, "Sorry, excuse me." The Stravoses and the artist stare a bit dumbfoundedly. "Where... where is High Flamekeeper Reed?"
Vervidia steps out of the piano bench chair she was sitting on and motions over for you to follow. She joins in with her sister and a small crew of other acolytes. One of them signals for the other to go get your crew downstairs. The rest of you come up to hear this.
"Good morning, Flamekeeper Hanna," one steps forward. She is a lanky human and holds a lance, "Unfortunately, High Flamekeeper Ophelia Reed will not be joining us today." She realizes she just retold what the other had said but with much more formality. "There has been new developments on the scepter case. It has been stolen." She grimaces. "We suspect it is one of the Queen's Men."
"We received this," the other man shoves forward and unwraps a bloodied playing card, then promptly puts it away, "tacked to the front gates of Dawn. Flamekeeper is doing her due diligence and staying indoors but she is working with us from afar at Camp... Our other team..." they look at your crew, "told us they couldn't find it." He clears his throat.
"We have reason to believe that there is an auction going down at Buckledown. Tonight"
((sorry this is so late and also just watched The Union so uhh spy vibes idk))
<---- me irl slow reader, even slower writer easily jumpy thanks for being patient
DM: Drakkenheim Mind and Matter + Blood Secrets + What's in the Here and Now;
Player: Dragonlance
(Will post as soon as I can. Little busy right now.)
Hi there! My name's Elk. I'm NoiSilverheart's doppelgänger. I'm a demi/grayromantic, socially awkward Okie who may or may not be a pyromaniac. *random confetti blast*
I'm a warlock of the Archcrone, and my patron is TheFriendlyArchfey. I was nicknamed AchatesCervus8337 by VitusW and given the titles "Swashbuckling Scorcher", "The Unpredictable Jedi", "Burning Fury of the Ancients", and "Combustion Knight" by DrummerBoyDragonSlayer.
Extended sig
Athalie fetches her viol and lute and plays for Twinkleblossum for a few minutes before Vervidia comes to get her to begin the celebration. She feels strangely relieved at the sudden hubbub, the arrival of the Reeve's family, and she is quick to introduce herself to Count Stravos and thank him for accommodating her last minute at the Red Lion Hotel last night, and brimming with confidence that Dimitris' special day will be that much better with her musical accompaniment. Athalie is clearly practiced at winning folks over even before she starts playing, though there is a weak luster to what would normally be fluid and practiced engagement with her audience. Though she has pushed the grief of Lara's death into the background for now, it still haunts her like a shadow, hopefully not discernable to the celebrating family as she throws herself into her performance. At the end of the ceremony, she profusely congratulates Dimitros, shaking his hand and giving him a solemn, and large-eyed gaze, "I can see it in you, Dimitros, you will accomplish great things one day. This is only the beginning. Your father must be so proud of you!"
Athalie beams gratefully at Vervidia's compliments, though her cheeks are flushed with the exertion of keeping her emotions under control. "Thank you," she says, "the show must go on, after all, and I owed Mr. Stravos a debt for my stay at the Hotel last night. I'm so glad they had a good time." She sighs, closing her eyes. "I don't want to wait to take the job... although I could use a little rest... but I can't sit still knowing that Lara's quest is yet unfinished."
She has hardly finished speaking before the paladins arrive. Athalie automatically snaps to attention out of habit, offering a salute to Ser Underwood and Ser Wyatt. Her demeanor moving from the engaging performer into the obedient and disciplined paladin, a role she holds up fairly well, with a little uncertainty, though certainly not as well as her sister Lara did. She feels just a little self-conscious in her traveling clothes and armor, knowing she owns nothing like fancy silver plate. I can only hope my heart will make up for the difference. That is what the Flame values more, anyway. But she is quickly distracted by the news of the scepter. "Oh, no, by the Flame!" she gasps. "The scepter, stolen? Noble knights, my name is Athalie Keenflow, and I will retrieve it. Please, tell me what I need to know. You believe the scepter is being auctioned off?" She looks at Flamekeeper Hanna, having no idea where Buckledown Row is.
Sarűmir, who had slept like a dog (on the floor) in his Sliver Order room, walks up to the party above, not saying anything to the others. He stands at the far corner of the room, out of sight of anyone else.
He takes out his longsword and begins to clean it with his tunic, attempting to rid the blade of any gunk that it may have collected. As he does so, thoughts of regret about how distant he was from everyone else drifts through his head. He guiltily wishes that he could've gotten to know Lara better before she passed.
He becomes so enamored in his thoughts that he forgets what he is doing, and ends up nicking his finger on the blade of his sword. He curses in response. "Son of an ogre—", he says.
Hi there! My name's Elk. I'm NoiSilverheart's doppelgänger. I'm a demi/grayromantic, socially awkward Okie who may or may not be a pyromaniac. *random confetti blast*
I'm a warlock of the Archcrone, and my patron is TheFriendlyArchfey. I was nicknamed AchatesCervus8337 by VitusW and given the titles "Swashbuckling Scorcher", "The Unpredictable Jedi", "Burning Fury of the Ancients", and "Combustion Knight" by DrummerBoyDragonSlayer.
Extended sig
Sanimar sleeps like a hibernating bear who is slow to rise and slowly heads up with a look that meant she was not quite awake yet. She picks up a few words about some auction and then tries to blink the sleep out of her eyes. Saniimar nudges Athalie after letting out a yawn "What did I miss what is this about an auction?"
Twinkleblossum awakes from her nap feeling a little rested but also not quite 100% and catches enough of the tail end to wonder, "Should we go to this Buckledown tonight and try to recover the scepter?"
@Athalie
Count Starvos brushed off the expenses for her stay at the Red Lion in almost a flaunt ("it was only one day") and smirks at her enthusiasm but doesn't say much more. By then end though, he remarked back that the she (and the chapel staff) did indeed exceed his exceptions though (despite the damper at the beginning). While taking he portrait, he continues to tell Hanna he doesn't understand why one would close doors at a moment like this especially since he was one to be so willing to open his, which leaves Flamekeeper Hanna a bit flustered.
This occurred just after you had just spoken with Dimitris who took to your comment with a side-eye. He lightly shakes your hand, sliding it out faster before fiddling with the collar of his gown. "Yeah... thanks. I guess so." He turns his head to look after longingly at his father who is chatting it up with some other ceremony-goers. "Maybe." He waves goodbye to walk towards his sisters before he too soon get shuffled towards the artist taking the portrait.
"You did good," Verivida small smile wavers, "Okay. I... understand." She nods, "Do it for her." The acolyte puts her hand on your shoulder before your attention gets swayed over to the knights who came barging in.
The paladins in armor nod when they see Athalie's salute and perform one of their own onto Hanna on their way in.
"Paladin Keenflow," the one with the lance bows, "Ah, I've heard great word about you. First in your class. I am Ser Underwood," she gestures over to the man, "And this is Ser Wyatt. Delighted to make your acquaintance, though, unfortunate it is under these times. Yes, we believe the scepter has been stolen."
"By the Queen's Men," Ser Wyatt jumps in, "the Rose 'n Thorns specifically." He shows the playing card again, this time it can be seen there is a decorative silhouette of a rose clipped out of it in the middle where the Jack should be. Then cut out too is the words 'by sundown' underneath it and a silhouette of a belt buckle.
"Honestly one of the most blatant heists ever known," Underwood gestures with her wrist how surly it was, "Which is why we must be careful. They're confident, but they know we know they're confident, which is why they could trick us. We don't know what they could be planning..."
Catching Athalie's look, Flamekeeper Hanna interrupts, "Wait, wait, wait-" She then sidesteps back, looking a bit sheepish, "why an auction? How would we know?" Sanimar also asks the question. "The scepter. The one from St. Brenna's. It's gone," Underwood replies again. She sighs, "We don't."
Putting her hands on her hips, the paladin explains, "But this is not the first time this happened. Not the least with any of our artifacts, but our eyes and ears have spotted that they have started ramping up some sort of business. Things have reportedly gone missing from the sight of the Lanterns, so it is only a matter of time that it was ours. But this- this is unbelievable! Buckledown Row..."
Then Sarűmir cuts his finger on his own sword. "You, you alright there, sir?" Ser Underwood stops and turns her attention onto you (you had been quiet so far, this almost startles the two knights). Even Ser Wyatt tries to reach out. "Is something the matter?" They look to you a bit suspiciously.
<---- me irl slow reader, even slower writer easily jumpy thanks for being patient
DM: Drakkenheim Mind and Matter + Blood Secrets + What's in the Here and Now;
Player: Dragonlance
Using his unusually good hearing, Sarűmir had attempted to pick up on the conversations around him earlier. At the mention of the Queen's Men, he had growled softly.
After being confronted by Ser Wyatt and Ser Underwood, he quickly cleans the blood off his sword and resheathes it. "Yes, sir and madam, I am quite fine. Just got caught up in my own thoughts, and in my distraction I cut my finger. It is nothing serious." He rips a small piece of cloth from the hem of his tunic and uses it to bandage the wound, then pulls up the hood of his fur cloak. "Please excuse me, but I am going to head out. Perhaps a local tavern will have a nice ale for me." He turns to Athalie, and just before walking to the exit and leaving says, "Tell me if I miss anything."
Hi there! My name's Elk. I'm NoiSilverheart's doppelgänger. I'm a demi/grayromantic, socially awkward Okie who may or may not be a pyromaniac. *random confetti blast*
I'm a warlock of the Archcrone, and my patron is TheFriendlyArchfey. I was nicknamed AchatesCervus8337 by VitusW and given the titles "Swashbuckling Scorcher", "The Unpredictable Jedi", "Burning Fury of the Ancients", and "Combustion Knight" by DrummerBoyDragonSlayer.
Extended sig
Aster stretches a bit as he rises from his nap. After writing a bit in his journal at the desk, he made his way upstairs and greets the party above.
"Ah, hello there! Seems like something important's going on. Could someone catch me up to speed? Ah, where are my manners..."
Aster bows to the new faces before him.
"Aster Ferris. Pleasure to make your acquaintance."
"I was awaiting the arrival of the High Flamekeeper myself so I'm not so sure that I'm in a position to bring anyone up to speed. Athalie was attending and playing for the ceremony so probably she would be best to recap."
Twinkleblossum walks over and joins Aster, standing next to her so that whoever decides to do a recap won't have to face or address anyone lounging in random locations and can focus their attention on the matter at hand.
Athalie's face flushes red as the paladins recognize her name and call her first in her class. I most certainly was not! Oh, Flame, they've mistaken me for Lara... Still quite red in the face, she manages, with an adroit smile, "You may be thinking of my older sister, Lara Keenflow, a truly commendable paladin if ever there was one... I am her younger sister. She... I'm sorry, she... met with an unfortunate end in the ruins while attempting to retrieve the sceptre for the Silver Order. I came... to take her place." Although Athalie's voice broke momentarily, her confidence and firmness of purpose is impossible to miss by the end of her last sentence. "I'm honored to meet you, Ser Underwood, and Ser Wyatt. By the grace of the Flame, I hope I may live up to my sister's reputation."
She listens carefully to the description of the heist. She looks at the card with its cutout symbols and messages. "If the Queen's Men have sent you a message like this... and knowing they have something you want, or knowing that you are likely to think that they do, then, of course we must respond. This is terribly impertinent of them; to take coin for a holy relic, whose blessings belong to all, is most certainly a sin."
As Sarumir storms past her to go find a stiff drink, she nods, murmuring, "Yes, I will come find you... but before sundown, Sarumir!"
Athalie turns back to the paladins. "Forgive my boldness in speaking for my companions, who were until recently Lara's companions, but we will do this for you. If they are unable or unwilling, I will go myself. We will leave as soon as possible. Have you a map, or directions, to Buckledown Row?"
She turns to Aster and Twinkleblossum. "We have a sacred quest, to retrieve the Sceptre of Saint Vitruvio. In honor of Lara, who vowed to retrieve it for the Silver Order, would you help me accomplish this? Perhaps, after the High Flamekeeper arrives, we should follow Sarumir, and I can fill you all in at one time, then. We have until sundown." Gone, for the moment, is the grieving teenager, replaced by a confident figure who uncannily does remind you of Lara, in this moment.
Sarűmir exits the chapel, heading straight toward the Bark and Buzzard. As he walks over there, he pulls out his maul and begins to clean it as well.
Hi there! My name's Elk. I'm NoiSilverheart's doppelgänger. I'm a demi/grayromantic, socially awkward Okie who may or may not be a pyromaniac. *random confetti blast*
I'm a warlock of the Archcrone, and my patron is TheFriendlyArchfey. I was nicknamed AchatesCervus8337 by VitusW and given the titles "Swashbuckling Scorcher", "The Unpredictable Jedi", "Burning Fury of the Ancients", and "Combustion Knight" by DrummerBoyDragonSlayer.
Extended sig
"I can go with you Athalie but I have no spells besides some simple cantrips as I need a much longer rest to recover the strength to cast the stronger spells." says Sanimar. She goes not for the Sceptor but to keep Athlalie safe as a sort of repayment for what Lara sacrificed.
"Oh. Okay," Ser Underwood nods, "very well then." She watches as you get it taken care of. The duo nod when he's on his way out. Aster comes up the stairs soon after. "Good morning, Mr. Ferris." They restate their names once again then they turn to Flamekeeper Hanna. "We were seeking to know if Madame Reed was okay. With the Queen's Men cutting this so close, it may not be just artifacts with this one."
Hanna gasps at them in shock. "Her mother's here, yes of course, we've been taking good care of here!" She steps back and points to the room by the archway. She stands tall. "What do you mean? That there's more to this than just the scepter?"
"In retaliation. Yes, that's why we have been seeking paladins that High Flamekeeper has sent out - for this is no mere matter of artifacts - and at least we have one of them, Paladin Keenflow-" Ser Wyatt sticks a hand out towards Athalie. They both take a stand back when Athalie starts hesitating. "I... am... sorry," Ser Underwood's voice takes a drop at that downturn, hand reaching up for her heart. Her eyes widen and her face softens and so too does Ser Wyatt's.
"We did not know that she 'came deceased." They looks over to Hanna who seems to already be back on the verge of tears. She waves off her signs of emotion and the knights go back to looking at Athalie.
"It is definitely not beneath them. We knew it would come to this. It truly was only a matter not of if but when?" Ser Wyatt explains, "That is why Highest Reed sent you- uh, them, out all in the first place, when we first got the letter. Anyone who's willing would sure come fighting."
Ser Underwood looks solemnly to Athalie and Aster in deep understanding. "It's worth more than its weight in gold."
"It is to be understandable," Ser Wyatt waves off Athalie's apology on Sarűmir's suddent exit, "The wounds are fresh... though it is best not to let them fester." He mumbles out that last part, almost as if he were losing wind while lecturing to a child at Monday (the holy day of obligation) school. "But yes, I guess you are new in town- yes, yes you are- the best way towards Buckledown Row would be by taking the Drann. You'll know it when you see it. It is truly that type of place."
"Filled with old townhouses. Past the fourth bridge.
"Though," He holds her hand up, "I should warn you to take your own watercraft." Ser Wyatt ends the conservation there, turning back towards Flamekeeper Hanna and Vervivida, "May we see her?"
"Yes, course," Hanna resigns, giving you all a weak smile before showing Ser Underwood and Wyatt to the Reed's mother's room. Vervidia puts one last hand on Athalie's shoulder before taking her leave as well.
"Camp Dawn, their base, is two miles out west of the city. I'm sure they'll give you passage.... Good luck." She waves you goodbye.
The stunned Stravos family wait at the altar for Hanna to finish, though sure enough Count Stravos gestures for the painter for finish and he does so without Hanna in the picture. The music from the party begins to die down.
@Sarűmir
You exit the chapel, pushing past the large arched doors. You do not stop at the Red Lion where the dwarves were staying, so they have no idea where. You sulk past Caravan Court, past the boarded up well, through the street corners of the measly shops, and head on your to the Bark and Buzzard. The atmosphere there was just as lively as you've left it. Now instead of a group of halflings at the one large rectangular table is a group of elves and one half-orc-human. They chat it up with one waitress, the owner you saw before (Karin).
You see three people behind the counter. They are mixing drinks or they look to be doing it at least. They seem more to be laughing than actually working. There's a halfling holding a cocktail shaker who hands it over to a bugbear where it slips out of his hands. A human woman goes to pick it up, pats the bugbear on the back, and gives it back over to him. "Butterfingers." The bugbear seems so nervous about this so much so that he ends up with hiccup. Then it turns out to be more than that, he can't stop hiccuping. They all share another laugh, including Karin who straight up snorts.
"Oi!" you hear someone shout, "lad! Holg, Cora, hold up." In a few seconds of panting, the bugbear is upon you. You realize now he was talking to you. This is that bugbear bandit you all rescued, the brother who was incapacitated most of the time. "Why the lo- oh?" He tilts his head down at you, "you alright, mate?"
<---- me irl slow reader, even slower writer easily jumpy thanks for being patient
DM: Drakkenheim Mind and Matter + Blood Secrets + What's in the Here and Now;
Player: Dragonlance