Edgewalkers Campaign Thread

"If I purchase ustah for you, will you answer some questions for me?" 

Laisok narrows her eyes. "If your questions are what I think they're about...sure. If you buy me a jug of Myrinn's dark spiced specialty stuff."

"Of course." Meiara puts down as many silvers as she needs to for the specialty stuff.

It costs eight silvers for a full jug of the specialty ustah, which the half-giant Myrinn sets down. Laisok pours herself a mug, eyeing Meiara with an unreadable expression. "Ask your questions, shackled. Judging from your prior question, I'm guessing they'll be about my past?"

"They will, I'm afraid." Meiara says, not betraying any emotion to being referred to as shackled. "I have been sent here to investigate why the Kalaak have been pushing south."

"Fascinating," Laisok deadpans, one hand reaching up to toy with the bone piercing her ear. "How about this - because the Kalaak are a cult of insane, feral scourges who believe that anything even resembling an order is something to be ripped apart and destroyed." Her mouth spreads into a completely humorless smile. "And they've already sown the seeds of chaos in the north. Just time to keep moving on and finish the Tundra, throwing it into chaos for their master. Then they can go after the most rigid order on the continent." She chuckles darkly, the sound just as devoid of humor as her smile. "Riedra."

As the least interpersonal of the Edgewalkers, Vusgaar simply chose to listen to his fellow patrons patrons, and quietly take notes on the discussion. Not for any malevolent reason, but seeming genuine interest. If any of them show concern, or get agitated over the writtings, the Ursine Shifter offers pay for a round of drinks. But after a while he cannot help but asks, "My ap-.... Sorry, but I'm curious if any of ya heard of the name Lirika before?"

Vusgaar: You find that people don't seem to particularly mind you listening in, and the few uneasy looks or scowls about your notes are quickly smoothed over with your round of drinks. Upon your question being asked, there are a few questioning glances exchanged, culminating in several negatory head shakes. "Sorry, might've heard it in passing at one point or another, but I haven't met anyone by that name that I can remember," the eneko says with a regretful shrug.

"And who is their master?"

"Some...thing they call the Corruption," Laisok growls, voice lowering. "A power, on the Krertok Peninsula. Its voices travel with every band. Tells them where best to go to drive the next spike into order's coffin."

Talaak stands behind Meiara, peering at Laisok, "And this Corruption just let you go?"

Insight!: 19

Laisok snorts with laughter. "Serpent's eye, no. My band came across a larger than expected camp of shifters. The others died, I ended up collapsing outside some Akiak camp. They didn't kill me on the spot, for whatever reason, I recovered away from the words of the Corruption, and then made for Syrkarn. Kalaak all probably think I'm dead. If they suspected otherwise, they'd send someone for me." She gives you a slightly challenging gaze.

Lore: The Akiak are a tribe of dwarves that live in the Tashana Tundra in decentralized camps scattered across the tundra. They are ancient enemies of the Inspired. Centuries ago, the Akiak helped the Inspired to build the hanbanali, but betrayed Riedra and fled into the Tundra, where they still make occasional attacks on Riedra. They are ruthless and merciless in their war against the Inspired.

Ani would remain quiet throughout the exchange, focusing on listening to what Laisok has to say and watching her body language as she says it. Noticing the challenging gaze, the changeling would flag down another drink for the woman as a gesture of appreciation for the information she has been able to share with them thus far.

Talaak leans forward, meeting her gaze, “The Corruption is more than mortal, then? Or is it just another of your kind? Have you ever seen it, or merely heard its voice? And where did you meet these Akiak?”

"The Corruption is some...power." Laisok shakes her head, downing the new drink. "Not mortal. Never saw it, only heard it once. Usually the voices are the medium between it and Kalaak. And the Akiak were on the plains to the east of the Tundra. They moved on, though, you won't be able to hunt them down." She chuckles.

Talaak grins, somewhat maliciously, at Laisok, “A shame, that. These voices, they’re literal voices speaking in your heads? Not some sort of title for those who ‘interpret’ the will of this Corruption?”

"No, voice is both the title and role of a certain member of each raiding party," Laisok explains. "I don't know how they're chosen, they just sort of...end up in each raiding party."

Talaak looks at Laisok, commenting, “Corruption, what a ridiculously evil name. Still, the threat is real. Your people are being taken advantage of, being dragged further into savagery by this dark influence. If you wish to save them, join us. We can reclaim what has been lost, and give you and them so much more.”

Laisok shrugs. "That's what its voices call it." She narrows her eyes. "And I only managed to escape the Kalaak last time through sheer luck. I ran all the way to Syrkarn to escape them. I'm not going back, and they're not my people anymore. I've got a life in Syrkarn now."

Talaak stands up straight, looking at Laisok before shaking his head and turning away.

"So be it. Continue running, if you can. We will fix this problem, as is our duty. Enjoy your," he scrunches his face in disgust, "bars and your drinking. We have work to do."

So long as none of the other Edgewalkers do anything, he'll head for the door, leaving a gold piece on the table before he goes.