Kayn grabs the decanter and begins to fill his goblet, his hand slightly shaking as he does. Finally, he says a curse in goblin and just takes the whole decanter. He sips it silently as he watches the spectacle unfold... again his presence (and speech) lost in the shadow of those more powerful. It's a normal place for a goblin to be. Its rightful place. Kayn hates that place. He sips his decanter, not willing to voice that opinion. 

Vesra felt the air knocked out of her lungs. She didn't want to believe what the vampiress had revealed, but the truth was in her sister's eyes. You can trust me, she wanted to tell Vasha as she ran off, crying. By the suns, that broke her heart even more. The druid could count on one hand the number of times she had seen her sister cry. Whereas Vesra could cry because a sunset was just too pretty, Vasha had been able to withstand years of physical and mental abuse completely dry-eyed.

Nobody hurt her Vashie.

"Enough," she slammed her hands against the table and rocketed to her feet. "Vielara, with all due respect, I would appreciate it if you didn't go traipsing around in the memories of my sister. We have gone through the ringer of your personal games and passed with flying colors. I doubt you could find a more capable crew in all of Zendikar. So stop toying with us."

The beginnings of flames began to crackle between her fingertips, as if the energy was itching to break free. For all of her sweet exterior, Vesra had a temper that she had to work constantly to keep at bay. When she wasn't in control, she could fly into a destructive rage and burn everything. Deep breaths, she reminded herself, clenching her hands into fists. In and out. She couldn't take Vielara, especially not in her own home. No, she had to be smart and use her words.

"We learned what it takes to survive," the kor said darkly. "Just as you wanted. I'm sure a person such as yourself appreciates my sister's conniving and resourceful ways. Let her be."

"She save our lives more than one time," Kayn says as he stands from his position at the table. He looks longingly at the bag of gold he just tied to his belt, unties it, and places it on the table in front of him. "I trust her actions," Kayn's voice is low, a whisper. Finally, he turns to leave the table, stumbling over his chair and landing flat on his face. There's a small whine before Kayn comes back up with his hand out in front of him, revealing another broken claw. He exits through the same exit that Vasha took. 

She frowns at Vasha's quick exit, though makes no effort to stop or retrieve her. With Kayn's leaving, she sighs and calls out, "You don't even know where you're going! You'll only get lost!"

Shaking her head, she lets out one last sigh before focusing her attention on Vesra. Countering Vesra's words, she barks back, "And I don't like those who don't know their place. I can't do anything with someone who doesn't know the role they play and where they fit in. They're unpredictable and chaotic... as we just now saw. I had hoped this would be more exciting, but now I have to send someone to go find her.. and probably the goblin too." Massaging her temples, she continues, "Conniving means nothing if you end up getting yourself killed because of it. You don't know how close both she came to dying by Orel because of her stubborn pride. You're the one who should either be worried about her or get a leash. There's far bigger threats and ordeals going on than one person's inner struggles." 

She calls out for a slave, mentioning something in Vampiric to her before the slave quickly departs. "This shouldn't be too long. My slaves know this place and how to search it." She taps her fingers on the table impatiently as she waits.

"I swear to you, I will keep her from jeopardizing things in the future," Vesra offered her hand to Vielara. "On my own life, I swear it. If she acts out again, you can do whatever you want to me. But let her be."

Vesra's promise put a smile on Vielara's lips. "It takes great courage and trust to offer a hand to a vampire, and I respect that, Vesra Flamespirit." She extends her hand too, firmly grabbing Vesra's hand and holding onto it. You feel her cold, smooth skin, making your hand tense from the unexpected temperature. "Each of you have proven yourselves to be worthy of my trust and admiration.... despite your flaws, I believe they can be worked through and refined. You've shown me you're willing to learn, and that you have learned. My tests were meant to show at least four characteristics: patience, caution, adaptability, and unity. You showed patience by waiting. You showed caution by not partaking of the food... though there was nothing wrong with it, things will not be the same as you explore Zendikar. You showed adaptability and unity by staying together and overcoming the obstacles set in your path.. as conniving and devious some of means you used were. If a member of a group lacks any of these four qualities, the group will become weak like that member. To have these is to have strength, and to have strength is to have success."

She releases Vesra's hand after an uncomfortably long monologue. "I have accommodations made for each of you, though if they're not to your liking, Affa is filled with hostels and inns which might suit your tastes and preferences. We vampires indulge ourselves in decadence and pleasantries... as grotesque and bizarre as they might be to the unaccustomed." She claps her hands together, summoning another slave. "This will be your personal servant while you remain in House Tekentlar. He will see to whatever needs you have, and will lead you to the gates if you would prefer. It should fast be approaching nighttime if it hasn't already." She looks at the left bags of gold, gesturing to them. "And someone take these with them too."

Everything had been going well enough, and in a heartbeat, chaos. It was to be expected that there was yet another test, always something more required to satisfy the vampire. Yet who would ever have expected such a seemingly innocuous question to be the thing that had pushed Vasha past her breaking point.

As he watched the scene unfold, he got a glimpse into the bond between the sisters. So strong that they put themselves under such terrible pressures to protect the other. He couldn't imagine having that sort of connection to another person, and after so long relying upon no one but himself, the thought was terrifying, to be honest.

After Vielara sent her slaves after Vasha and Kayn, he rose to his feet. Head down, eyes closed at first, he gathered his thoughts, before turning to face the vampire. "Patience, caution, adaptability and unity. Four fine traits. And I'm sure you are correct, they are essential for a group of such disparate individuals to succeed at the challenges before us. We all strove together today,  came together to overcome your tests, individuals who are far from perfect. It was our flaws, the spark of chaos inside each of us though, that allowed us to win our way to this table. Vasha did what needed doing to ensure our survival, despite knowing full well the price to be paid when her sister learned. Those flaws, hers and all of ours, are what make each of us who we are and perhaps one shouldn't be so quick to try and eliminate them."

Kayn leaves the dining room and looks around. Easy to get lost. Doesn't help that the room spins.

"Sear," he says, "Come here and help me find my friend." A small black bat, gloriously tattooed with white ink, materializes on Kayn's head. It sharpens its claws on his head plates for a moment before it takes flight through the halls. Kayn follows, stumbling after it. Legs can't seem to find the right floor. That's a sign of too much drink. He clicks his teeth. Teeth numb. Yes, this goblin had too much. 

Finally Sear stops and roosts in a corner. That is not my friend, Sear. That is a wall. The goblin tilts his head as if listening, "Oh... ok. Why didn't you just say something." He waits a moment and two goblin slaves pass by. These slaves are looking for Vasha. They will find her. 

Kayn follows the goblins into a large Ziggurat-type chamber. There, he saw the goblins approaching Vasha as she was slumped against a pillar. Stupid goblins will probably get killed. "Hey!" Kayn yells to the goblins in goblin, "Get the **** away from her and give us some privacy!" 

""Master wants kor lady to come back," one responds. Stupid goblins.

In goblin Kayn responds, "Look, give us a moment or she'll probably just kill you both. You can take us back afterwards." He stumbles forward towards Vasha and, despite already at her face level, kneels in front of her. The two goblins moved away, babbling something stupid.

He could tell the Kor was eyeing all three of them. He says, "I trust you Vashi...a. You save us a lot of times. We need you in there." Silence.

Kayn takes a deep breath to try and compile his thoughts before saying, "There are a lot of things worse than killing for someone you love. Even if you don't trust us, you are needed here." A small black bat, tattooed all over, lands on Kayn's head-plates as he talks. It looks at her quizzically. "And sear likes you," He adds.

Vasha watches him, still very guarded. "Where's my sister," she asks quietly. "Why are you here and she's not?"

Real question is why did you leave her alone, he thought. "She was where you left her, I think." He holds in a belch, but you smell the scent of wine, flowers, and pork on his breath as he continues, "You left her alone with a vampire."

Vasha frowns. "I was going to tell her. She probably hates me now," she whispered. She wiped away the last of the tears, and took a deep breath. "I guess I should go back."

"She'll never hate you. You are a rock in the roil that is inside her." He tilts his head at her, and his bat does the same, "How are you not more wise?" She is a monk. A monk of the White Forge. He's seen them, dealt with them in negotiations. How is she not more wise?

Vasha stood with a half-smile. "Vesra is the smart one." 

That explains it. Kayn stands as well, a slight smile on his face, "Lets go together. I don't think I can find the way back."  He stumbles backward as he takes a step back.  "I think I drank too much."

Vasha simply nods, her face going expressionless once again.

Kayn snaps his claws and frowns when he sees he's now missing two. Sear disappears. He gestures for the goblin slaves to lead them back, and the two follow.

Seeing the group's desire to remain until their friends return, Vielara nods her head in agreement. "Very well. You may wait here until they return." She mentions something to the slave in Vampire, before excusing herself. "I have another meeting to attend to in regards to your first assignment as Tekentlari, in addition to.... other things. Our next meeting will be tomorrow evening. That will give you a day to get your affairs in order and properly equip yourselves for your first expedition."

She smiles, "If you'll excuse me, I bid you all goodnight and good fortune tomorrow. Meet at the Tekentlar Expedition House when the sun begins to set."

OOC: You may all level up to two.

Flamespirit.

Perhaps she hadn't earned the name in the best of circumstances, but she had earned it nonetheless. And the name was her's, no one else's.

Vesra felt a wave of energy be released from her the moment Vielara took her hand. The stress and terror of the day was washed away, replaced by sheer fatigue. But she remained standing stoically, not wanting to show weakness in the face of Vielara. As soon as the vampire left, however, the druid sank into her chair, unsure of her legs could honestly hold her up for much longer. 

As soon as the doors opened, Vesra was on her feet. Her sister was there, safe and in one piece. She launched herself at the monk, enveloping Vasha in a tight squeeze. "You're ok," she murmured into her sister's ear, unwilling to let go. 

"Come on," she said softly, pulling away so that she could look her sister in the face. "Let's find our room."

Kayn was relieved to see his gold was still sitting on the table. Still a little awkward on his feet, he walks around the table, past his fallen chair, and gathers it up again. "We have rooms?" He asks Vesra. He rights his chair and pushes it in, like a good guest. "Did Vielara leave already?" His second question was obvious, as she was no longer in the room. It was more an observation in the form of a question. "I was hoping for at least a little bit more gold," he says, pinching his fingers together, "Maybe as advance." 

"Take what you need from mine," Vesra tossed her gold sack at him. "She's gone for the night." The druid placed her sister's pouch in her own robes, and then asked the slave if they could take the twins to their room.

The mansion was a maze, Vesra realized. There was no way she would be able to retrace her steps from the room back to the dining hall without getting lost. The slave took them to a room that was clearly meant for one, but the Kor denied his offer to take one woman to a different room. They always shared a room.

The second the door clicked shut, Vesra turned back to her sister. "Is it later yet?"

Ato was relieved to see Vasha and Kayn return.  Despite her words, he hadn't been so sure that they'd be allowed to - their defiance perhaps a failure of the final test in Vielara's eyes.  Still, she had said she'd expected more to survive, so she hadn't had much choice but to keep everyone. Even his own words to her had been on the verge, and he didn't have Vasha's bravery to back them up, not really. His heart was still pounding as he sat there, and his hand shook a bit as he reached for more wine.

The sisters left together and he didn't bother them - after Vielara's reveal of Vasha's secret, they obviously need time alone together to work through that.  He had his own secrets, no doubt they all did, and he has relieved that she hadn't somehow known those as well.  Kayn...he seemed unfazed, and Ato chuckled at his comment about the gold. "I fear that our employers won't be offering much more.  We'll get our share of our findings, but will need to earn ever coin we receive from her."

"I think we all need to find our rooms and get some rest.  We can gather here in the morning and take stock of the situation. Decide what other preparations we need to make, before we're sent to the god's know where."  He rounds the table and approaches Veythe. In a low voice, he makes a request of the young woman. "Would you mind joining me briefly before we retire for the night? I have a... favor to ask of you, and believe I can count on your discretion in the matter."

The evening was still early, and Kayn now had two bags of gold. Vesra had no idea how much he appreciated this. He'd be sure to repay her! "Thank you Vessie!" he calls out as the slave escorts them away. Time to go out into town. His grin widens as he stows the gold. Before leaving, he offers, "Anyone need to go to bazaar before it closes? I might be able to get discounts." He gestures for anyone willing to follow him.

Ato waves off Kayn's offer. "Not tonight, I think.  I have other things to attend to, and we shall have all day tomorrow to prepare.  No need to rush off as night falls." It felt odd to say those words - so much of his own "business" had been best achieved under cover of darkness.  

Vesra fell asleep curled up with Ember, but as soon as she wakes up she grabs Vasha and asks her to come with her.

"Kayn seemed to know what I was before I did," she says as they walk down the hall looking for someone who can take them to the goblin's chambers. "Ember only confirmed his theories. I want to talk to him and see what else he knows."

Vasha follows her sister, eventually realizing they've been going around in circles for a while, passing the same rooms.

Vesra knocks on all of the doors, and then apologizes if someone other than Kayn answers them. Eventually, she knocks on the right one.

Kayn opens the door, rubbing the sleep from his eyes. His chamber is a complete mess. It seems he's been writing diagrams nearly all night. Ink, pens, and scrolls are all scattered around the once clean floor. One inkwell has tipped over, but sits ignored. In the corner of the room lies a dog, its fur seems to be dyed in dark, cryptic runes. It lies motionless and you can't tell if it's breathing. "Oh... uh... good morning?" The goblin says.

Vasha leans against the door frame, and gives her sister a look.

"Good morning!" Vesra says cheerfully. "Did you sleep well?"

"I think? Yes?" Her obviously cheery demeanor catches him off-guard. He's not used to so much cheer in the morning.

"That's good, can we talk to you a little? It's-" Vesra suddenly notices the dog. "Do you have a dead dog?"

Vasha raises an eyebrow and peeks in.

"Dead? No... maybe. Kind of dead." Kayn takes a step back into his room and invites the others in, "I can explain."

Vesra steps in and looks around. "Do you need me to heal it?"

He actually thinks for a moment, but then shakes his head profusely, "No, no, not hurt like that. I took out its spirit and put my own in. Then, I spent all night trying to put Sear in, but I killed Sear three times trying it... so I lost some of your gold." He frowns as he finishes.

Vasha actually looks concerned. "You killed Sear?"

"I'm sorry, what?" Vesra says, "Who is Sear?"

"Oh, that's his bat. Apparently Sear likes me."

There's a small screech that comes from the corner of the room. When you look up, you see a pitch black bat with similar runic tattoos as the dog that lies in the corner of the room. "He says Hi."

Vasha looks really confused, but given the things Vesra told her last night, she's willing to let this slide.

Vesra elbows her sister and signs And you thought I had a weird night

Vasha responds with a look only.

Sear flies down and lands on top of the dog, massaging its fur with its feet.

"So which one is Sear?" Vesra asks aloud.

"Both!" He says excitedly. "But not yet..." He frowns, "Soon! Sear is excited to have a new body."

Vasha scratches her head, then shrugs at Vesra.

"It must look bad... sorry." The goblin thinks for a moment, "I can clean up!" He rushes over to start gathering up his scrolls.

No, I'm going to get this. She signs. "No, you don't need to clean up for us!" Vesra reassures Kayn. "So who is in the dog right now?"

Vasha leans against a wall and watches with a smirk.

"I am," Kayn responds as he starts stuffing scrolls in his pack. "Right now I control the dog completely." To emphasize this, the dog stands up from its position, raises a paw, and waves... in a sort of dog way.

"I think I'm starting to understand," Vesra nods. "One more question: why?"

"Because I promised Sear... the first time I lost him." Sear is still standing on the dog and walks to perch atop its head.

"You're an odd one, Kayn," Vasha says with a grin.

"No more odd than the rest of us," Vesra winks at her sister.

"I'm perfectly normal," Vasha says, totally serious.

Once the scrolls are picked up, Kayn turns back around and gestures for you all to come in, "All clean!" The ink and pens are still scattered in various locations around the room, but the dog seems to move from one to another, picking them up in his mouth and placing them in their proper containers.

Vesra laughs. "No im not going to say that... I know, you're hilarious... still not going to say it."

"What brings you to my humble," Kayn looks around, "room?" She never talk to herself before...

"Oh, sorry," Vesra reaches into her pocket and pulls out her adorable little friend. "I think you're right about this Invoker stuff and I feel overwhelmed."

Kayns eyes go wide and you hear another small screech from Sear behind him. "That's amazing Vessie! It's so... beautiful! How did you... how did you summon him?

"I got really upset and shot a bunch of fireballs at the sky while crying?"

"Emotional outburst... focused power? Is he... like Sear? A soul you summoned?" He glances at Sear, "No Sear, I don't even know how I would go about putting you in one of those!" He shakes his head.

Vasha sighs, looking annoyed at all these conversations she can't hear.

"His name is Ember and he says he's a gift from Zendikar."

"Invokers are able to call upon the power of the land, so its been written. This could be what this is!" He thinks for a moment before adding, "Try to send him home. Return him to Zendikar, but ask him to come again when he's called." He senses some hesitation, "I do it with Sear all of the time. Whenever I do not want him in harm's way." You see the bat begin to de-materialize until he's no longer there. Moments later he pops back into existence atop Kayn's head.

"I don't want to," Vesra said protectively. "I like him to stay with me... He also doesn't want to leave, he wants to... no, Ember, I am not going to finish that sentence."

"So he talks too?" Kayn claps his hands in excitement, "Ok... should we try something else then?" The dog hops on the bed and sits, it's watching the group as they speak.

Vasha sits on the edge of the bed, scratching the dog behind the ears, also watching.

"I would have him lick you... but that is weird. I would taste you and it... it... it would be weird. I already licked almost everything here. Lots of strange tastes."

Vasha cocks an eyebrow at Kayn. "Yes, that would be... odd."

"And you smell like a fresh bath, and like Vesra. You slept together last night?" Kayn asks.

"Yes. It's weird that you know that," she responds. 

"The dog's nose is very strong." The dog smiles, showing his canines. It's quite... unnerving.

Not that unnerving to Vasha. She finds it endearing. She scratches the dog some more and says, "Hey, I didn't get the chance to thank you for last night."

"Is ok. You are important here. More than you know. And you looked like you could use a few words." He nods to Vasha, "We all can at times."

"Yes, well," she says, glancing at Vesra. "I guess I'm like a dog now. I've been given a leash."

"Oh no... I'd never put a leash on that dog. He's me." Kayn seems repulsed by that idea.

Vasha diverts her gaze, and gives the dog a pat.

Kayn turns his attention back to Vesra and Ember.