"Well Francesc, I must say I'm pleasantly surprised. Granted, I don't know you, but my experiences have left me with a monochromatic portrait. I"m glad to know that you are different, thank you for your honesty in this regard."
Nikolai shakes his head to Ling. "I'd rather take all payment right here, right now. He's already lied to us once. I don't trust men like him to keep his word. I also don't trust men like him to stay alive for long enough to keep his word. So I'll take my cut in coin. If you all want yours in a favors, that is your choice. I want payment and I want it now."
Alaris glares at Nikolai, then shakes their head and looks at the ground. "To be so intelligent..." they mutter. "Split my share amongst yourselves, since a fifty-mark favor is hardly worth the energy spent to collect it."
They turn to follow Caio, but stop and pivot back when Shiva asks her question. The paladin waits, holding their breath, to see the effect Francesc's answer has on the wild tiefling warrior. When Shiva relaxes, Alaris exhales with a soft whistle.
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
Eshuvenniel Kazander Ravid,Valor Bard and Acolyte of the Goddess of Luck Caradoc Langham, Halfling Rogue - Lost Magics - Epic of Pre-made Proportions! I'm not looking for heaven or hell... just someone to listen to stories I tell...
Does this "skazka" mean something more evil could be the cause of Grandmother's disappearance? Has her spirit been under her control when she has contacted me?Astrid ponders on Franscec's reply to Caio and fails to notice the others begin their departure. After a moment she breaks from her thoughts and glances to her side. She gives a half bow to the "court", backs away and turns to follow the others.
Just before Shiva gives Clarissa a bit of her trademark flippant attitude, mention of Ling's father freezes her in her tracks. Her head quickly darting to look over at Ling, she takes two steps closer to her tiefling friend as she regards Clarissa much differently than she did a moment before, "It seems that you have us at a disadvantage, Madame Morgenstern. Could you tell us a bit about yourself? Or your brother perhaps?"
Alaris instinctively moves along with their distressed companions. Even frustrated and out of sorts, the instinct to protect their friends is too powerful to ignore. They don't rush, nor do they crowd the tieflings, but they stay close enough to support any of them.
The paladin raises an arm to invite Ghoul to perch. Hopefully the cormorant's movement will alert Caio to the increasingly tense situation developing below.
Eshuvenniel Kazander Ravid,Valor Bard and Acolyte of the Goddess of Luck Caradoc Langham, Halfling Rogue - Lost Magics - Epic of Pre-made Proportions! I'm not looking for heaven or hell... just someone to listen to stories I tell...
Upstairs, Caio is already sat with his usual stout and akvavit. Interacting with Clarissa had been almost painful, and he is eager to leave the establishment entirely. It wasn't just the woman's hair and attire, it was her demeanor: playful, clearly enjoying the power she has to leverage, dangerous. It's impossible not to dwell on the parallels between this woman and his quarry, but it seems that he has no option as he receives the warning signal from Ghoul. The shift in his jet black eyes is almost imperceptible, but there is a slight iridescent shimmer as he shifts his vision into his familiar. The cormorant is perched with wings partially outstretched on Alaris' arm, pointedly staring at Clarissa.
"I am nothing like -" Ling hisses, then stops mid-sentence. "You don't even know my family. You're just taking stabs in the dark." She tries to be subtle as she squeezes Shiva's arm when her friend brings up Jonathan, but her eyes widen and briefly dart over to her. No Shiva, that was a mistake. Instinctively, Ling looks around and checks the positions of her friends, just in case.
Clarissa smirks smugly at Ling's reaction, but her expression twists into a look of distaste when Shiva poses her own question.
"Oh, you've met Jonathan, have you? That's interesting. Francesc here was just telling me how he hasn't seen him in some time."
She shoots Francesc a penetrating glance where he sits besides her, prompting him to throw his own dark-eyed glare towards Shiva.
"Alas, my brother has been missing for many weeks. My father and I do miss him so. There're nothing quite like a father's love. It leave its mark on us for all our days, just as your father's touch has lent you your gifts, Ling."
"The curse has been in my family long before my father wed my mother, my lady. Can't exactly say it's all his doing..." Ling sighs and shakes her head. "I wouldn't say she's met the guy, but... we may have seen him around. Say we had some information about him, what's it worth to his dear, dear sister?" Looking back up at Clarissa now, Ling's usual grin has returned. She's out to strike a bargain.
"Poor girl," she marvels half to herself. "All that power burning in your veins and you really think that it came from some dirty provincial peasant? You were born a lion amongst sheep. Destined for strength by birthright... and yet still you cling to their pathetic existence as though it is all you are, all you can be. Learn to see beyond what you've been told you are, little country girl."
Clarissa pauses to let this sink in, before continuing.
"As for the prodigal son... he will return home. He always does. Thank you for the confirmation that he was indeed in the city," she adds, once more flashing the same sickly sweet smile.
Astrid detects some tension rising in the encounter as Lady Morgenstern attempts to goad the two tieflings. She halts her departure, stopping near Alaris's side, to ensure things don't escalate any further. She startles a bit as the large bird lands on the arm of the paladin, then returns her attention to the conversation. Her gaze passes between the parties to gauge the reactions of each response.
Shiva's posture shifts, finding herself genuinely unsettled by this abrupt talk of power and birthrights. All too suddenly, a sickly dread creeps over her as she stares at Lady Morgenstern.
Ling's frown deepens as she tries not to let her confusion show. Unsure, she looks to Shiva and the others, but none of them seem to know whether Clarissa is simply leading her on if she's telling the truth. Stepping closer to Shiva, she cups her hand by her mouth and whispers in Shiva's ear: "Hold still." As quietly as possible, Ling speaks her incantation and discreetly drums her fingers against her palm, hiding her hand behind Shiva's back. What is Clarissa thinking?
As Ling completes the incantation, Clarissa's surface thoughts begin to echo through the sorceress's mind as though they were her own.
-did come to Piotrgrad, but why? What drew you here Jonathan?
However, her train of thought is soon interrupted by Shiva's demand.
"Only what I see before me," Clarissa teases in return. "A snake, a regent and an usurper, none of whom know what they are."
...or the power that lies in their blood. Ling hears the woman think to herself. As she describes the snake, regent and usurper a series of images pass through her mind. The snake is connected to Shiva, the regent to Ling and the usurper to Nikolai.
"Enough," Francesc declares, his patience for Clarissa's games clearly wearing thin. "Our business is concluded, yes?"
"Only what I see before me," Clarissa teases in return. "A snake, a regent and an usurper, none of whom know what they are."
Ghoul croaks and flaps off of Alaris' shoulder as the paladin moves forward. "Why Miss Morganstern, what an ugly thing to say..." Alaris says as they step closer with one smooth stride, putting themselves between the tieflings and the fiendish woman.
"Enough," Francesc declares, his patience for Clarissa's games clearly wearing thin. "Our business is concluded, yes?"
Alaris reins in the burst of anger and continues, to Francesc, "You've compensated us for a job well done, and you have my thanks. Feel free to call on us again if you have any additional pest control needs." Their silver eyes flicker towards Clarissa before returning to Francesc with a nod.
"Come, friends, let us away..." they pivot away from Francesc and Clarissa, and reach out to allow Ghoul to take their perch again.
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
Eshuvenniel Kazander Ravid,Valor Bard and Acolyte of the Goddess of Luck Caradoc Langham, Halfling Rogue - Lost Magics - Epic of Pre-made Proportions! I'm not looking for heaven or hell... just someone to listen to stories I tell...
Nikolai tenses as this woman starts speaking about Ling's heritage, then his anger flares as she has the audacity to make the declaration she did... especially about his friends! He starts towards her with a glare. "Now listen here you---" He stops abruptly as Alaris interposes themselves into the situation before tempers take hold and cause another situation like in the bathhouse. 'You need to learn control.' The voice speaks calmly.
'Quiet. Not now.'
Nikolai glances over at Francesc with a smidge of newfound respect for this Clarissa's irritating behavior. He sets his jaw and nods to the man before turning away from the pair and looking at Alaris. "Yes, let us. I suddenly find myself with a terrible taste in my mouth and need to wash it away." He walks protectively for Shiva and Ling to move first, imposing himself between them and Clarissa.
As the group turns to leave, Shiva lingers, her eyes still fixed on Clarissa. Confusion swims through her mind, her face likely betraying her begrudging interest in Clarissa's words. Eventually turning to depart with her group, she whispers to herself, hoping to be answered, "What is she talking about?"
A pause, then an ethereal voice at the back of her mind, "..I don't know. It seems that you have abilities similar to the ones that I did, and I was doing research into just what provided those abilities. But yours look different, they're colored by your rage and....something else. The little that I was able to uncover pointed to our lineage being connected to something....unique. But nothing I found was concrete."
Ghoul circles overhead, wings flapping noisily. He takes a harrying swoop just out of reach of Clarissa, and squawks as he flies back to Alaris to herald the group's exit. Once the gang emerges from the lower level, Caio is at the bar watching their return. "What the **** was that woman talking about? Snake, regent, and usurper? What does that mean?"
Clarissa holds Ling's gaze as Alaris drags their companions away from the dais, her emerald eyes sparkling in challenge and her lips twisted in an arrogant smirk.
Mark my words, little tiefLing, she thinks. The day will come when you will seek me out. You want power? To never have to fear again? To know the minds of others? I could show you how to unlock all that and more. All you have to do is accept who you truly are...
With this, Shiva relaxes and crosses her arms
"Well Francesc, I must say I'm pleasantly surprised. Granted, I don't know you, but my experiences have left me with a monochromatic portrait. I"m glad to know that you are different, thank you for your honesty in this regard."
Alaris glares at Nikolai, then shakes their head and looks at the ground. "To be so intelligent..." they mutter. "Split my share amongst yourselves, since a fifty-mark favor is hardly worth the energy spent to collect it."
They turn to follow Caio, but stop and pivot back when Shiva asks her question. The paladin waits, holding their breath, to see the effect Francesc's answer has on the wild tiefling warrior. When Shiva relaxes, Alaris exhales with a soft whistle.
Eshuvenniel Kazander Ravid, Valor Bard and Acolyte of the Goddess of Luck
Caradoc Langham, Halfling Rogue - Lost Magics - Epic of Pre-made Proportions!
I'm not looking for heaven or hell... just someone to listen to stories I tell...
Does this "skazka" mean something more evil could be the cause of Grandmother's disappearance? Has her spirit been under her control when she has contacted me? Astrid ponders on Franscec's reply to Caio and fails to notice the others begin their departure. After a moment she breaks from her thoughts and glances to her side. She gives a half bow to the "court", backs away and turns to follow the others.
"Oh, now that's no fun," Clarissa remarks with a pout. "Won't you give us a little demonstration of your skills, Shivala?"
"...and what of you, little Ling?" She adds. "You know, you're every bit your father's daughter."
The Chronicles of Arden: Sheercleft - DM for Aiden, Bründir, Jex, Thurston, Valaith and Vark
The Chronicles of Arden: Hunters - DM for Alaris, Astrid, Caio and Shiva
Just before Shiva gives Clarissa a bit of her trademark flippant attitude, mention of Ling's father freezes her in her tracks. Her head quickly darting to look over at Ling, she takes two steps closer to her tiefling friend as she regards Clarissa much differently than she did a moment before, "It seems that you have us at a disadvantage, Madame Morgenstern. Could you tell us a bit about yourself? Or your brother perhaps?"
Alaris instinctively moves along with their distressed companions. Even frustrated and out of sorts, the instinct to protect their friends is too powerful to ignore. They don't rush, nor do they crowd the tieflings, but they stay close enough to support any of them.
The paladin raises an arm to invite Ghoul to perch. Hopefully the cormorant's movement will alert Caio to the increasingly tense situation developing below.
Eshuvenniel Kazander Ravid, Valor Bard and Acolyte of the Goddess of Luck
Caradoc Langham, Halfling Rogue - Lost Magics - Epic of Pre-made Proportions!
I'm not looking for heaven or hell... just someone to listen to stories I tell...
Upstairs, Caio is already sat with his usual stout and akvavit. Interacting with Clarissa had been almost painful, and he is eager to leave the establishment entirely. It wasn't just the woman's hair and attire, it was her demeanor: playful, clearly enjoying the power she has to leverage, dangerous. It's impossible not to dwell on the parallels between this woman and his quarry, but it seems that he has no option as he receives the warning signal from Ghoul. The shift in his jet black eyes is almost imperceptible, but there is a slight iridescent shimmer as he shifts his vision into his familiar. The cormorant is perched with wings partially outstretched on Alaris' arm, pointedly staring at Clarissa.
Chronicles of Arden: Sheercleft - Vark Galestone | Half-Orc | Storm Sorcerer
Chronicles of Arden: Hunters - Caio Cypherien | Shadar-Kai | Inquisitor Ranger
"I am nothing like -" Ling hisses, then stops mid-sentence. "You don't even know my family. You're just taking stabs in the dark." She tries to be subtle as she squeezes Shiva's arm when her friend brings up Jonathan, but her eyes widen and briefly dart over to her. No Shiva, that was a mistake. Instinctively, Ling looks around and checks the positions of her friends, just in case.
Clarissa smirks smugly at Ling's reaction, but her expression twists into a look of distaste when Shiva poses her own question.
"Oh, you've met Jonathan, have you? That's interesting. Francesc here was just telling me how he hasn't seen him in some time."
She shoots Francesc a penetrating glance where he sits besides her, prompting him to throw his own dark-eyed glare towards Shiva.
"Alas, my brother has been missing for many weeks. My father and I do miss him so. There're nothing quite like a father's love. It leave its mark on us for all our days, just as your father's touch has lent you your gifts, Ling."
The Chronicles of Arden: Sheercleft - DM for Aiden, Bründir, Jex, Thurston, Valaith and Vark
The Chronicles of Arden: Hunters - DM for Alaris, Astrid, Caio and Shiva
"The curse has been in my family long before my father wed my mother, my lady. Can't exactly say it's all his doing..." Ling sighs and shakes her head. "I wouldn't say she's met the guy, but... we may have seen him around. Say we had some information about him, what's it worth to his dear, dear sister?" Looking back up at Clarissa now, Ling's usual grin has returned. She's out to strike a bargain.
Clarissa gives Ling a patronising look of pity.
"Poor girl," she marvels half to herself. "All that power burning in your veins and you really think that it came from some dirty provincial peasant? You were born a lion amongst sheep. Destined for strength by birthright... and yet still you cling to their pathetic existence as though it is all you are, all you can be. Learn to see beyond what you've been told you are, little country girl."
Clarissa pauses to let this sink in, before continuing.
"As for the prodigal son... he will return home. He always does. Thank you for the confirmation that he was indeed in the city," she adds, once more flashing the same sickly sweet smile.
The Chronicles of Arden: Sheercleft - DM for Aiden, Bründir, Jex, Thurston, Valaith and Vark
The Chronicles of Arden: Hunters - DM for Alaris, Astrid, Caio and Shiva
Astrid detects some tension rising in the encounter as Lady Morgenstern attempts to goad the two tieflings. She halts her departure, stopping near Alaris's side, to ensure things don't escalate any further. She startles a bit as the large bird lands on the arm of the paladin, then returns her attention to the conversation. Her gaze passes between the parties to gauge the reactions of each response.
Shiva's posture shifts, finding herself genuinely unsettled by this abrupt talk of power and birthrights. All too suddenly, a sickly dread creeps over her as she stares at Lady Morgenstern.
"...What do you know of us?"
Ling's frown deepens as she tries not to let her confusion show. Unsure, she looks to Shiva and the others, but none of them seem to know whether Clarissa is simply leading her on if she's telling the truth. Stepping closer to Shiva, she cups her hand by her mouth and whispers in Shiva's ear: "Hold still." As quietly as possible, Ling speaks her incantation and discreetly drums her fingers against her palm, hiding her hand behind Shiva's back. What is Clarissa thinking?
As Ling completes the incantation, Clarissa's surface thoughts begin to echo through the sorceress's mind as though they were her own.
-did come to Piotrgrad, but why? What drew you here Jonathan?
However, her train of thought is soon interrupted by Shiva's demand.
"Only what I see before me," Clarissa teases in return. "A snake, a regent and an usurper, none of whom know what they are."
...or the power that lies in their blood. Ling hears the woman think to herself. As she describes the snake, regent and usurper a series of images pass through her mind. The snake is connected to Shiva, the regent to Ling and the usurper to Nikolai.
"Enough," Francesc declares, his patience for Clarissa's games clearly wearing thin. "Our business is concluded, yes?"
The Chronicles of Arden: Sheercleft - DM for Aiden, Bründir, Jex, Thurston, Valaith and Vark
The Chronicles of Arden: Hunters - DM for Alaris, Astrid, Caio and Shiva
Ghoul croaks and flaps off of Alaris' shoulder as the paladin moves forward. "Why Miss Morganstern, what an ugly thing to say..." Alaris says as they step closer with one smooth stride, putting themselves between the tieflings and the fiendish woman.
"I abhor ugliness. Does this me--"
Alaris reins in the burst of anger and continues, to Francesc, "You've compensated us for a job well done, and you have my thanks. Feel free to call on us again if you have any additional pest control needs." Their silver eyes flicker towards Clarissa before returning to Francesc with a nod.
"Come, friends, let us away..." they pivot away from Francesc and Clarissa, and reach out to allow Ghoul to take their perch again.
Eshuvenniel Kazander Ravid, Valor Bard and Acolyte of the Goddess of Luck
Caradoc Langham, Halfling Rogue - Lost Magics - Epic of Pre-made Proportions!
I'm not looking for heaven or hell... just someone to listen to stories I tell...
Nikolai tenses as this woman starts speaking about Ling's heritage, then his anger flares as she has the audacity to make the declaration she did... especially about his friends! He starts towards her with a glare. "Now listen here you---" He stops abruptly as Alaris interposes themselves into the situation before tempers take hold and cause another situation like in the bathhouse. 'You need to learn control.' The voice speaks calmly.
'Quiet. Not now.'
Nikolai glances over at Francesc with a smidge of newfound respect for this Clarissa's irritating behavior. He sets his jaw and nods to the man before turning away from the pair and looking at Alaris. "Yes, let us. I suddenly find myself with a terrible taste in my mouth and need to wash it away." He walks protectively for Shiva and Ling to move first, imposing himself between them and Clarissa.
Valaith "Rimehand" Kalukavi - Chronicles of Arden
As the group turns to leave, Shiva lingers, her eyes still fixed on Clarissa. Confusion swims through her mind, her face likely betraying her begrudging interest in Clarissa's words. Eventually turning to depart with her group, she whispers to herself, hoping to be answered, "What is she talking about?"
A pause, then an ethereal voice at the back of her mind, "..I don't know. It seems that you have abilities similar to the ones that I did, and I was doing research into just what provided those abilities. But yours look different, they're colored by your rage and....something else. The little that I was able to uncover pointed to our lineage being connected to something....unique. But nothing I found was concrete."
Shiva reflects on the words in silence
Ghoul circles overhead, wings flapping noisily. He takes a harrying swoop just out of reach of Clarissa, and squawks as he flies back to Alaris to herald the group's exit. Once the gang emerges from the lower level, Caio is at the bar watching their return. "What the **** was that woman talking about? Snake, regent, and usurper? What does that mean?"
Chronicles of Arden: Sheercleft - Vark Galestone | Half-Orc | Storm Sorcerer
Chronicles of Arden: Hunters - Caio Cypherien | Shadar-Kai | Inquisitor Ranger
Clarissa holds Ling's gaze as Alaris drags their companions away from the dais, her emerald eyes sparkling in challenge and her lips twisted in an arrogant smirk.
Mark my words, little tiefLing, she thinks. The day will come when you will seek me out. You want power? To never have to fear again? To know the minds of others? I could show you how to unlock all that and more. All you have to do is accept who you truly are...
The Chronicles of Arden: Sheercleft - DM for Aiden, Bründir, Jex, Thurston, Valaith and Vark
The Chronicles of Arden: Hunters - DM for Alaris, Astrid, Caio and Shiva