Ednyss is still laughing as she returns with the War Picks and as she shows him the first one, he almost sobers up seeing it. It really is a magnificent piece of work and Ednyss lets out a low whistle. When she hands a copy to Ednyss, he is taken aback at first, but after stepping back and weighing it in his hand, he realizes how perfect it is. Turning to Ingrid he says, "Ingrid, this is beautiful." He then breaks out into laughter at the seriousness of his voice and tipsily goes to give her a hug. He puts the Pick off to the side and says, "Let the celebration continue!" With that, he drinks into the night with Ingrid, and turns in just after midnight to ensure he can wake up in time to head to the temple of Takal Demesh for a bit in the morning.

The next morning, when he is done packing, he gives the new Pick a couple of swings and it balances perfectly. Shaking his head in disbelief he picks up his pack, shield, and new War Pick and heads downstairs where Ingrid is probably already heating her forge up. In Dwarvish he says, "Hey, I know I didn't get a chance to thank you properly last night," he smiles at the memory, "you know, being drunk and all. But I wanted to thank you for this. Seriously, thanks. It must have been expensive to make, and I'll make sure that I make the most of it. On the plus side, this way I'll be more likely to make it back so that I can tell you more stories." He adds the last part with a wink and clasps her arm and gives her another hug. Giving another smile he steps backwards out of the smithy and into the street. Right before he spins around and walks out of sight, he gives a mock salute and shouts, "See you in a month!"

(OOC: All of Ednyss' actions for this morning are posted in Post #376)

(OOC: Added to my inventory!)

Varielky

When Varielky arrives home to her room near the city wall, above a different smithy, she closes the door, and is gripped from behind, one arm around her waist, another over her mouth. She struggles of course, until she hears, whispering harshly in her ear, the voice of Benita la Cass. “Be quiet! You are being followed. So am I!” She relaxes her grip, and motions for Varielky to move out of view of the window, whose rush blinds are down but slightly cracked. Varielky can see she has more to say.

(Well, saves her the trouble of looking for her or leaving a note the day after.)

Varielky stops struggling. She feels multiple emotions within her, but she also knows not to let them surface. No such things allowed in a fight, and they were definitely fighting someone. Still, surprisingly even to herself, almost uncontrollably, Varielky briefly hugs Benita la Cass and then moves away from the window. Confused, she tries to make a motion that will signify to continue or explain. Was she being followed? She's not sure. She didn't notice anything out of order. Maybe she was wrong. Maybe someone does hold a grudge against her. Who could it possibly be though?

Varielky

Benita motions for Varielky to be silent, and to peek with her out the window into the mist from the unlit room. Across the street, a dark, cloaked figure stands near a corner, away from streetlights looking up at your door. After a few moments, it backs into an alley and into the shadows. Benita tells Varielky, “I think I threw them off. That was not the same chimp I saw earlier following me. But I saw him when you got to the door.”

If Varielky seems to be ready to charge out for a confrontation, Benita holds her arm. “Before you get any ideas, think about how Bali died. Do you want to be poisoned twice in one day?” 

Then she shudders, you can see she is fighting back emotion. She slips to the floor, crumpling, as you keep one eye out the window and one on her . “Bali told me something. Yesterday.” Fighting emotion, you can see her force out the words. “He...said he would throw the match. He said he would be paid to do it, magnificently. And that we would retire, live quietly in a villa in Indallia. He would tell me nothing else.” She awaits your response, bravely looking you squarely on, while even in the near darkness, you see guilt written across her face.

Varielky clenches her fists. She speaks very quietly, controlling her temper. "Throwing the match is one thing. Not parrying that strike..." Then, seeing Benita's face, she stops. "It's not your fault. Neither is it his. It's the ones who poisoned him who are responsible. Usually, when someone dies in battle and I see their loved ones grieving, I tell them that he who lives by the sword dies by the sword. Bali didn't die by the sword though. Not really. He was dead before we hit him. You did not kill Bali, Benita." Varielky pauses, thinking for a moment. "I want to get revenge for Bali and the others," she continues, "but I won't be able to do so soon. I'll be leaving town for a while. I... got a job..." She knows it sounds awful. She cannot even justify it for herself. "Listen, don't do anything rash while I'm gone. I'll be back soon after Beauty ends. Then, together, we'll find and strike the culprits down. In the meantime, be careful. Don't you dare go meet Bali in Hallvala before I'm back. Don't worry. Up there, time is meaningless. For him, only a moment will pass before you'll join him, even if you live three times what you lived by now. Don't you dare move on before me."

Varielky

Benita continues in a harsh whisper. “You are right, you are right. But...whoever he made this deal with. Maybe they know that I know. They must, otherwise why are they following me?! It is not safe for me in Ishi Ammah! Or for you! I do not know where to go, but I must get out.”

"Will you take me with you? You know I can handle myself! After today, I will vow to fight by your side." (OOC: There were two more employment contracts Tuff Blueschist returned to his pocket, you recall...)

Whatever you decide, Benita suggests that for tonight you run for it  so no one bursts in with a poisoned dagger while you're asleep. "We can sleep on the temple steps -- not Takal Demesh, -- I know where, taking turns guarding each other."

Varielky considers Benita's request. She knows she cannot break the oath of confidentiality, but it does seem like a perfect opportunity. "I... I don't know. It's not up to me. I'd take you if I could. I can't tell you anything either - I'm under oath to reveal no further details. I could recommend to my employer that you'll join us, but cannot do anything beyond that. I think they did plan on recruiting one or two more people for the job, maybe. In the worst case, no one could blame me if you just happen to follow the same route we do if we leave the town, right?" Varielky considers Benita's suggestion for a while. Sleeping under the roof of a different god seemed impudent but the reason was obvious. She hoped that Takal Demesh will be able to understand if it's to help save the life of another warrior. "You're right. Staying here is a bad idea. I'll take what's necessary and we'll go." 

Varielky quickly sorts through her stuff, setting aside anything that she can't afford to take right now. That even includes her armour. Less protection seems like a bad idea, but it'll take too long to put on, and it makes too much noise - be it in her backpack or on her person - to be able to shake followers while walking. Maybe she could get something later, but she didn't count on it too much. Hopefully, her shield will be enough, or maybe her training in the last two weeks in the arena will make the difference. (OOC: In practice, all she's leaving behind is the armour and the set of playing cards. Tbh, I didn't even want these cards.)

Once she's done, she puts the backpack on her back and then puts shield over it in a way that's easy to pull into the hand in a moment's notice. She also wears her belt and inserts her sword into its sheath and her two handaxes into their frogs. "I'm ready." She says.

Varielky

Benita leads the way, quickly and quietly down the stairs. Then, “Run!” she whispers, and you take off after her. She makes a loop around the block, knows a shortcut under a corner of the arena, looping again, then over the river to The Crossings. Just as you get to the other side, you think you see a cloaked figure framed in the gate to Champions District, but you quickly turn and are lost in the North Crossings, where Benita stops before a blackened and vacant 5-floor building, quickly looks around, and darts up to a middle floor.

“If this doesn’t collapse on us, it should work perfectly. There was a fire here two days ago and the residents -- squatters -- perished. I saw it and tried to help fetch water but it all happened too fast. Flock, I can still feel the poison in my system. Can take the first watch? Varielky. I'm sorry. For...everything today.” And she conks out almost right away.

What do you do the next morning?

Varielky takes the first watch, making it a bit longer than it should be. Benita has lost way more than she did, she needed to sleep.

In the morning, Varielky decides not to do all that she planned to do. She already found Benita, which was the most important of what she wanted to do. She'll find the meaning of the symbol another time; it was not worth risking their lives.

Instead, Varielky decides to go to her employer's house  hoping to be able to recommend Benita for the job. She asks Benita to stay in the temple until she's back and promises she'll come back whether or not the emplyer agrees to hire Benita as well. Varielky takes a long route to avoid being followed. She also tries to look around occasinally, searching for possible pursuers.

(OOC: Should I use the passive score since it's done repeatedly? If not, Perception: 16)

Mittens

Haniah smiles again, brushes an errant hair from her lips, turns and stands, and walks up to the temple doors, where the other acolyte stood waiting for her, and they both enter the temple's internal corridors.

Mittens heads back across town to River Glade, and when he arrives home, Nightsprinter and the kits are in bed already. Threadbinder and Sungazer are up, and they’ve been waiting for him. Theadbinder hears Mittens’ news, and then says, “We’ve written letters to The Estates, but it seems no one will be able to make the long journey here for your naming. I...am sorry.”

Sungazer says, “You are too old to bear a child’s name. Return after your travels. Your adult name...we think you must decide for yourself. We will hold the ceremony -- just us -- then.”

Dolkum

Late one night in the First Month, by Dwarven reckoning, or, the first night of the month of Beauty, according to the Jenghen Imperial Calendar, Dolkum Torunn, sitting in his small chamber in the winding crypts under the Temple of Idiwala in Ishi Ammah, has just said a night prayer and, sitting on his pallet, yawning, he blows out his candle, lies back and looks at the cobwebbed ceiling above him in the darkness. It had been an interesting day, to be sure. He’d made a bargain with one of the other acolytes to cover for each other's duties, allowing each to see one half of the Arena Games from a spot on the steps of the Temple of Takal Demesh, where he could view and hear the huge three-dimensional image of the goings on ‘maged from the Eyes in the stadium to the four Dominion projecting chests imbedded in the plaza between the arena and temple. He’d enjoyed what he saw and reluctantly gave up his space, then returned to the Temple of Idiwala to finish chores when the other acolyte, a human youth named Hammat, arrived in time for the second half of the Games. 

It wasn’t until later that Dolkum learned that his friend Hammat had got the better end of the stick. Hammat came back for the evening meal, eyes wide, telling tales of a near riot at the arena. Now, in the darkness, Dolkum is, yes, glad for his fellow acolyte to have such an interesting tale to tell. But too, he wonders when something interesting will happen to him. And with a stifled groan, he wonders if he will have the patience, after today’s excitement, to study the Great Writings throughout the daylight hours tomorrow, as he is scheduled to do. 

As he begins to drift to sleep thinking on these subjects, he’s surprised to hear one of the other acolytes, a chimp named Belisto with large intelligent eyes and caring features, knock, and poke his head through the door, sleepily holding his nightcap on his head. He says in his melodious baritone, "Dolkum, are you awake? The Keeper has asked to see you, in the Small Library. Something about a letter."

Quote from FireCat5 >>

 

Instead, Varielky decides to go to her employer's house  hoping to be able to recommend Benita for the job. She asks Benita to stay in the temple until she's back and promises she'll come back whether or not the emplyer agrees to hire Benita as well. Varielky takes a long route to avoid being followed. She also tries to look around occasinally, searching for possible pursuers.

(OOC: Should I use the passive score since it's done repeatedly? If not, Perception: 13)

 (OOC: I wasn't clear: you spent the night not in the temple Benita had mentioned, but in a burned-out tenement instead, which presented itself. If you ask Benita why, she explains that the temple is farther away and she got spooked when the cloaked figure appeared on the bridge and changed her mind about where you should stay, opting for the first & closest likely spot. You were unbothered during the night. Yes, for passive score. We can say you make a careful scan of the street too, when you arrive at villa Safi Meknes. There are a few people out this morning wearing cloaks, but nothing seems out of place or concerning. What time do you arrive to the villa, and when the gate greets you, what do you say? )

(Ah, I see. I thought it was a burnt temple.)

Varielky stands in front of the gate. It's only 8 bells - much earlier than appointed and she hoped they're not all asleep. "Could you open the gate?" She asks the gate, not shouting this time. She hoped the gate really does transfer the sound because she doesn't want to attract any attention to herself. "It's me, Varielky, the woman with the shield from yesterday. I have something urgent I need to discuss with you." She stands with her back to the gate, watching for danger. If someone really was following her, it seemed likely they'd keep watch on the last place she was in. That's the worst part about these kinds of killers. One moment of distraction and you fall dead, without even knowing what hit you. When you can see your opponent's sword, it's much easier to focus on it.

Perception: 2 +2, if it matters. Forgot to add to the initial roll. (Weird, it changed, but it doesn't even say it did. It was 9 earlier, but now it says 20.)

Dolkum's eyes pop open, thinking quickly of any letters he's encountered recently, wracking his brain while he climb's into his acolyte's robes.  <Think Dolkum!>

Intelligence 2

"Belisto, my good fellow, do you know what sort of letter they mean? Personal, academic, historical?" This last as he finishes getting changed and as they move out of Dolkum's cell into the hallway.

Varielky

After you speak, the gate flutes its pleasant metallic tune, and it takes a couple of minutes for the lock to click open and for the calm female voice to reply again, in Jenghen. “Please enter and follow the path to the cottage.” 

It is foggy, especially over the river when you crossed it on the way here, and in The Docks, but as you climbed the Promenade hill, the fog started thinning, getting patchier, and you can now see the sun, low in the east, starting to break through. 

When you get to the cottage door, one of the brothers is there, dressed just as you saw him the night before. His axe is ready at first and he eyes the gate behind you, but seeing nothing, he lowers his weapon.

“Follow me. You'll have a room upstairs,” he says, and he walks you inside, into the courtyard, and then right, toward stairs to the second level, instead of to the salon.

With Hania:

Mittens is surprised when she hands him the shoes. He stammers, "Thanks, but I can't take these. You should keep them." ((Assuming she would insist.)) Mittens fumbles around in his bag and and pulls out a slightly battered book. He tries to give it to her and says, "At least take this in return. I know it's not as cool, but please take it. It's a book of riddles and puzzles my parents gave me." Once he gives it to her, he thinks her again and says, "Hope I see you soon." ((Removed "book" from my inventory))

At the house: 

Mittens smiles gratefully at the news. It was unprecedented for someone to choose their name, but whatever works. He says, "Thank you. If there's any way I can repay you in the future, just let me know."

 He then does the rest of the stuff in the previous post.

((Sorry about that delay. My schedule has been crazy lately.))

"Wait, I have to meet Blueschist, as soon as possible. People's lives are on the line here. That's also why I came this early - there's no time for delays. The matter might also benefit him, in a way, if he chooses to lend a helping hand." Varielky knows Benita is capable of defending herself, but she's worried about the way the poison was applied. If it was on the arena's weapons, that means even a small scratch would be lethal. If it were administered a different way, that's even more bothersome. That's why she cannot wait here any longer than is necessary.

Varielky

The ‘brother’ stops and looks at Varielky. “Your room is at the top of the stairs, to the right, third door. Mr. Blueschist is in the study.” Varielky turns left into the courtyard, to a doorway next to the salon the dwarf points to before himself exiting through the front door.

Varielky finds Tuff Blueschist, fully dressed, involved in writing letters and with an open ledger in front of him, in the villa's study. Dwarven artwork hangs upon the walls, dark velvety paintings whose subjects, primarily landscapes showing the Dwarven Isles and their subterranean cities, which Varielky has only heard tales of, draw the viewer into their canvases with deft use of perspective. There are low bookshelves too, filled with various texts, small statues, and the like. 

Blueschist looks up and says, “Varielky. An early riser, I see. You may ask Strata for something to eat in the kitchen. Then she will fit you for your livery.”

He goes back to what he was doing, dismissively.

"There's no need for that. That's not why I came. Listen, I have a favour to ask of you. One of most importance to me, but it might benefit you as well, maybe." She waits until he turns to face her, or at least make some motion to show that he's listening. "I don't know if you've heard by now, but there was a big disaster in the arena the other day. Many of the participants in the show were lethally poisoned. A friend of mine was among them but she survived. I was too. Last night, after leaving here, I found that both she and I are being followed. We believe someone is trying to finish the job they started. I told her I'm leaving town for a while, but as per our contract, I did not tell her anything else. None the less, she asked to join me because she can't stay in town. I told her I'll ask for her. What do you say? I saw that you had two more pages like the ones you handed to us. She is as skilled a fighter as I am, so she'll probably be no less useful than I will. Maybe you've heard her name before - Benita la Cass?"

Dolkum

Belisto shrugs slowly and dramatically, his pursed lips seeming to curl almost fully around his head, his hands coming up to frame his face in a gesture of helplessness, and his eyes seem to look in different directions. He has a way of making the other acolytes laugh. “I know not, friend. I heard a messenger at the gate while I was on final rounds, but it was the Keeper of Histories who answered. I’d say he must have been expecting someone, but,” and you repeat together, “‘to guess is not to know.’” 

When Dolkum arrives a minute later at The Small Library, which doubles as the Keeper’s salon, the Keeper is there, poring over letters, and writing and answering requests. The young dwarf has learned this is the Keeper’s habit, to read or write late into the night. The Keeper motions for Dolkum to come in, finishes what he was doing, and adjusts his spectacles. 

An old dwarf, Kiluni Greyshaper has always kept his upper-level accent, showing him to be what surface dwellers here on the Continent call "salt-of-the earth" at heart. Yet Dolkum knows him as a determined scholar and stern teacher. On the other hand, Dolkum has come to think that Greyshaper finds him, Dolkum, to be a disappointment due to his preference for the exercise yard as opposed to scholarship. He wonders if he’s to be chastised for having snuck out to see the Games. Half of the Games, that is. The boring half, Dolkum remembers.

In a rumbly voice reminiscent of a gentle earthquake, the Keeper clears his throat and addresses the young acolyte over his shoulder. "Aye Dolkum. Aye, Dolkum...tis good, tis good, I think tis good news for ye. Hrrrrmmmhh." He rumbles again, which doesn't sound completely hale to Dolkum's ear, but the Keeper is very old and a bit frail for a dwarf. He turns in his chair to look at the young dwarf and motions for him to stand before him. 

"Dolkum, I'm sending you out, back out, aye. Back out into the world. I know you'll do well. It's yer choice though, yer own choice if ye want it. One of ours, from the Isles, is here. Granophyre Strewn, the great scholar. He needs another guard while he travels on the Continent. Opera fan. Hmmmmhhhh." He stops for a very long moment, and Dolkum wonders if he's fallen asleep. But he starts up again presently. "In the morning. First thing. You'll need to go to the villa Safi Meknes. In Harbor View. Speak to the Master's valet, Tuff Blueschist. He'll tell ya more.

"I'm givin ye me blessing. And, take this letter of introduction too. You'll need it to get in, and you’ll sign a paper. In the morning. Go at 10 bells.” (OOC: meaning, 10am. Bells are rung at the public fountains.) “You’ll need to bring your things, whatever you have. And ye can always come back if ye wish.” 

Greyshaper looks at Dolkum for a long moment, takes a slow breath, and with a peaceful countenance, exhales and says, “Remember Idiwala. Keep your mind full of the truth of things Dolkum. For it is written,” and joining in his formal farewell, you say together, “‘they who tell the tale shall hold the past in hand, and days to come shall, too, be known to them.’”