Quote from stormchaser6 >>

"The gap of Hirn..." Andrei muses. "You know, it's not just the weather that's cold on the coast. I've heard rumours that the Seraskier is gathering his forces. Some say in the Koncowy hills, others in Ostroga forest. Relations with the Dwarves have been... frosty," he adds with a wry smirk. "If you do make it all the way across the border, say hello to my cousin for me. He runs a bar in Paragon called Buidéal Dóchais. You mind bringing him a letter?"

"Of course not... it would be my pleasure. What's his name?"

A wry smirk spreads across Andrei's lips.

"Andrew. It's a family name."

"Please tell me you're not twins. With all the weirdness going on lately, I don't know that I can handle twins," Alaris grins back before starting to walk over towards the companions. Looking back over their shoulder, they say, "We leave Sunday early, so get your letter to me before then."

Andrei nods to Alaris as the paladin walks away.

"I'll leave it in your room..." he replies as he goes back to work.

Elodia considers Shiva for a time before saying slowly, "Things were...complicated for us, in Beaufort; there were many who made it difficult for us to be together there. Francesc was meant to take up the del Toro legacy, and I was promised to someone else. I don't know who hated the idea of my belonging to another more: me or him." A grim smile curves her lips before it fades. "We tried for as long as we could, but there was no escaping either fate, and we were running out of time. So we ran." 

She pauses for a long moment, weighing the situation. She doesn't know if she's ever told anyone the story before; there's never been a need. But Shiva had told her her dark tale, and a return of that trust seems called for if there's any hope of them working together. And she has to believe that for Shiva to be down here at all of her own volition, there has to still be a chance of that. Of ending the Morgensterns. Of being free.

She looks down at her hands and the rings that rest there. "We made it most of the way here before they found us – I was actually naive enough to think we'd escaped them. Or even more foolish, had managed to talk sense into them. But when the time finally came, I'd known the man who slashed my back open all my life, and he didn't even hesitate." The bitterness in her voice is unmistakable, and her manicured nails curl into her palms atop the table. Taking note, she quickly pulls them to her lap and takes a deep breath before continuing. "When I was young I used to have this silly, romantic notion of being carried into my marital home. And so I suppose maiming me was his idea of a wedding gift. His blade was poisoned; I would have died but for Francesc. As it was, I was left in agony for nearly three months while he healed me. I told Ling already that there are few who know of me in this city, and that's in part to why. I could barely walk, and by the time I was well again there were other reasons to stay hidden."

Her gaze is dark and shining as she focuses back in on Shiva from the nightmare it had drifted to. "I mentioned I'd wish very few to die as horribly as Monsieur Degoutant, but the man who poisoned me is one of them; I hope you'll be nearby when he finds us again, as he inevitably will. I'd value your creativity." Slowly, her hands return to the table and her expression softens. "All that to be said, I may not know how it feels to be hunted for what I am, but I do know how it feels to be hunted for who I love. And I wouldn't wish either on anyone."

Shiva takes on a softness that only those close to her have seen as she listens intently to Elodia's story. She leans forward in her seat as the tale reaches its end, "You risked everything for one another, and you were severely punished simply for falling in love. For wanting a life of your choosing." She reaches out and rests a hand on Elodia's, strong emotions dwelling beneath her mellow tone. "You didn't deserve what happened to you, and I'm sorry that you had to endure it. As I said, you've done me a great service, and I will repay it in kind. No harm will come to you while I am near. And who is this man that harassed and maimed you? He will suffer as few ever have."

Alaris walks up in time to hear, "...man that harassed and maimed you? He will suffer as few ever have." 

"Are we adding to the hunt list?"

"Thank you. Truly. I would gladly have you at my side." There's warmth and sincerity to Elodia's voice as she lays her free hand gently atop Shiva's. What a change in their dynamic from only a few moments ago - a stark and welcome difference that could only possibly be accomplished by pursuing friendship, not fear. She makes a note to tell Francesc as much when her smile instead falters at the mention of one of the few banes of her existence, and she squeezes Shiva's hand lightly before releasing it, glancing to Alaris as the paladin walks up. "Gabriel," she enunciates in obvious distaste. "He's a petty, violent man, who, if they hadn't met, likely would have gotten along splendidly with your Monsieur Degoutant. I don't know if he sought to hurt me, or simply knew it was the best way to get to Francesc. But the del Toro don't easily let go of their own, and bitter is the war between brothers." That same bitterness is evident on her face before she looks from Shiva to Alaris. "But he's not the one I'm here about."

"Gabriel..."  Shiva sounds out the name as if she were tying a noose around it, then turns to Alaris. "Yes, it seems that I have new quarry, Ari. On behalf of Señora del Toro." She looks back to Elodia with a conspiratorial smile. "And I've agreed to assist her in her endeavors. The deaths of vulgar men always provide the most satisfaction." 

Alaris opens their mouth to reply, then closes it again and rubs their face, looking a bit tired and out of sorts. Their silvery eyes appear pewter or even storm-cloud grey rather than their typical metallic radiance. Their shoulders sag with tension before they gather themselves and smile at Elodia.

"I need to ask you a question, Lady Elodia, but I may already have imposed too much on your good graces..."

Elodia looks utterly pleased at Shiva's declaration, and is still smiling when she looks back to Alaris. The reluctant expression on the paladin's face causes her own to flicker, and she swiftly reassembles the courtier poise she had momentarily let drop speaking to Shiva; Alaris' words are enough to let her know she may not like the inquiry that's coming. "My graces extend further than most," she notes, carefully choosing her words. "Please, ask it. Though I make no claim I will be able to help."

When Shiva finally returns to her normal form, relief washes over Ling and she is, for once, lost for words. She hugs her friend as she comes to in the Black Sheep and listens to her account. At the mention of the rainbow boobs, the spell finally breaks and Ling shakes of the eerie feeling. This was Shiva, her Shiva, again. She lets her leave without comment, but throws Nik a telling glance. Once their friend is out of ear shot, she turns to Nik and quickly brings him up to speed with what she has so far learned about Elodia. "If they don't kill each other down there, what do you think? What if she's on their side?"

Nikolai sighs heavily. "If she is, she's doing a good job covering for herself. She didn't have to help us with Shiva. Hell, she could have actually made things worse for us it would seem. She could have interfered with our attempts to redirect the guards or even called more attention to the situation. From what I can tell she genuinely hates that woman. We can work with her, but keep your guard up. Work your magic on her, let her think you have dropped your guard around her. And if she is here to turn on us, she might slip up and reveal her intentions early to you." He takes a drink. "You did good out there. Ultimately that was you who calmed Shiva. She responded to you much better than to me. She is really angry about what happened in the bath house. I do not think I have ever seen her like this before."

Quote from sansasnarke >>

Elodia looks utterly pleased at Shiva's declaration, and is still smiling when she looks back to Alaris. The reluctant expression on the paladin's face causes her own to flicker, and she swiftly reassembles the courtier poise she had momentarily let drop speaking to Shiva; Alaris' words are enough to let her know she may not like the inquiry that's coming. "My graces extend further than most," she notes, carefully choosing her words. "Please, ask it. Though I make no claim I will be able to help."

"I understand. You see, your husband gave us a job - a job we think someone else had brought to him. I'm hoping you might know who brought the problem of the fleder to your husband's attention. That person nearly got us killed, and as a general rule we don't like nearly getting killed." Alaris shrugs and grins through the tension and tiredness, letting hope color their features with a touch of excitement.

Caio returns Nimue’s glance with a devilish smirk before taking a swig of ale. He stays quiet for awhile, watching the other group of Elodia, Shiva, and now Alaris talking. “I don’t think she means us harm. She is extractive at worst, she wants to use us. Nothing new, nothing we can’t handle.” He responds to Nikolai.

"So," Nimue sits upright from her lounging position. She looks first at Astrid, then at Caio. "Who's Clarissa?"

     "To me, she seemed to have some power over this Franscec - who is the one that gave us the job of clearing the church of those monsters... and that one's husband," Astrid replies slowly making sure to put all the new pieces into the right place and giving a nod in Eloida's direction. "Though it sounds like it's Clarissa's father that runs things down there. She also offered to help our lower-plane touched friends  here with clues to their ancestry, but that didn't pan out to well... Right, Caio?"

From his table over the way, Nikolai perks up when Astrid speaks of the fleder job Franny had given the group. "Alaris, what did you just say?" he nods to Ling as he takes his drink and wanders over nearby. "This is new information to me. I was told that he had given us a job to do, no one made mention of a third party." He grinds his teeth as his jaw muscles flex out against his cheeks. "This changes much."

Caio nods to Astrid. "She's an insufferable *****. She's keeping tabs on Francesc for her father, and she is after her brother who is out to take down both of them. In a couple days we are undertaking a quest to help the boy's efforts. Elodia can speak more on her husband's relationship with the Morgensterns, and Ling here can speak more on Clarissa's brother, Johnathan. It's not clear what her own goals are, but we are certain that her schemes will only cause trouble for whoever deals with her."

"No, I don't imagine you do," Elodia replies, the tension in her shoulders seeming to lessen slightly at the question. She sees Nikolai circle closer and sweeps an appraising look around the tavern, where the others seem to have trickled in. "Yes, that's something I can help with. It might be best to gather everyone, if we're able, as it will inevitably lead to a larger discussion."