Chapter 7: Unconscious Revelations

[Dave W.]

Jul 31, 2010 13:24:35 GMT -4 Ken said:

No problems, Jeff!

I'll second the "no worries", Adamant may be doing something useful but he's not the focus of this scene.

Dave: Adamant cracks me up. Great straight man.

Yeah, he surprises me sometimes too...

[Darren]

Jul 31, 2010 12:10:21 GMT -4 Jeff said:

Varna winks and pulls away from Kal. "I'd rather not," she says sweetly, then heads over to the bar with the others.

"As you wish, my Lady," Kal says as he spins on his heel to follow her. Seating himself at the bar, he looks over at Orval and says, "Do the gangs have much of the Lower City divided amongst themselves, these days?" His eyes drift over to Varna as he speaks, but his attention quickly returns to Orval.

[Ken]

Belarin wanders over to Varna and says softly, "So, have you seen the newcomer with the flashy clothes sense before? She's been watching us, and I sense it goes beyond any sort of celebrity status we've acquired."

[Mike]

Jul 31, 2010 9:34:01 GMT -4 Brian said:

"I mean, did you see them? The were pretty scruffy too. It would be easy to mix up the words. Right?"

"Absolutely," Syrdan says gravely, without a hint of a smile. "Very easy. To be honest, I think Varna's pulling your leg. I think 'scruffy' is supposed to be a horrid slur in the gnoll tongue, if I'm not mistaken."

As Condign re-enters the Eatery ahead of Syrdan, though, the elf silently rolls his eyes and mouths the word ... scruffy?

"Do we think they'll be back?" Syrdan says to Condign and Varna. The elf takes a seat back at one of the tables, and instantly winces as Esthryn shoves thick wedges of fresh baked bread and a bowl of strawberry preserves in front of him. "If they were passing, through, I say let them pass. But if you think they'll be back for more trouble, maybe we should find out what they're up to."

The elf takes his dagger out of his boot, and starts spreading the preserves on a slice of bread. "They shouldn't be too hard to find. I could probably track them just by the smell," he says with a grin.

[Jeff]

Esthryn delights at the invitation to teach Adamant about cooking. Despite his genuine interest, the well-meaning warforged finds himself locked into a culinary curriculum he wasn't quite prepared for. "No, no," the halfling matron says. "For one, spices can be expensive. Using handfuls in a single meal will both ruin the meal and cost you the eye from your head." Adamant finds Talentan idioms to be a bit odd. He's fairly sure this one's not literal, but then in theory a warforged could remove an eye and have it replaced again.

Meanwhile...

Kal:

"Do the gangs have much of the Lower City divided amongst themselves, these days?"

Varna gives Kal a burning look, as Orval merely makes a puzzled expression. "Gangs? Well, I...do you mean like knaves—"

"No, Kal," Varna interrupts. "They mostly keep to themselves. So..." She changes the subject: "Where do you need to go today? To find Deneith heirs, I assume? I can certainly tell you where to go, if you're nice about it. So on the list is a Deneith house, Gerus's shop, Little Plains (that one's mine), Shae Lias, and....anything else? What am I missing?"

The elf takes a seat back at one of the tables, and instantly winces as Esthryn shoves thick wedges of fresh baked bread and a bowl of strawberry preserves in front of him.

"Now eat it all up, Syrdan," Esthryn says, leading Adamant with her. She turns, continuing her lesson to the warforged. "Bread is fine. Important, realy, Adamant. But you'll find that strawberry helps to 'sweeten the pot.' Especially for children, or young people. Think of it like sweetmeat. Who would turn it down?" She looks at Syrdan again. "Clean that plate, all right? There are starving children in Karrnath...I think."

Syrdan:

"Do we think they'll be back?"

Varna shakes her head, but doesn't say anything, seeming to wrestle with some dilemma.

Belarin:

"So, have you seen the newcomer with the flashy clothes sense before? She's been watching us, and I sense it goes beyond any sort of celebrity status we've acquired."

Varna looks at him, brows coming together. "I..." Her eyes flick over to the blonde woman at the table by the window. She reddens. "No...I hadn't noticed. Sorry, wasn't paying attention." Another glare at Kal. "What's your take on her, Belarin?"

Condign feels like the newcomer may be looking at him more often. Perhaps she's never seen a tiefling before? He's gotten such looks before. More curiosity than scorn, at least.

But Esthryn soon swishes over to the woman, leading Adamant again on his food-making-and-now-food-delivery lesson. Esthryn smiles at the human. "Good morning, dear. Would you care for some breakfast? We have fresh bread, strawberry preserves, and a variety of omelets and has available. You're new here, aren't you?" She indicates Adamant. "Don't mind Adamant. He's just shadowing me for now."

[Mike]

Aug 1, 2010 8:36:21 GMT -4 Jeff said:

Varna shakes her head, but doesn't say anything, seeming to wrestle with some dilemma.

Syrdan notes her reluctance, but chooses to say nothing.

He takes a large hunk of bread smothered in preserves, and quickly holds it under the table, hoping Tangat will eat it. The bread's delicious, as all the halfling food is, but Syrdan's already fit to burst.

"By the way, Varna," Syrdan asks, "how did you become so well versed in the gnoll dialects? That's not something most halfling's know well, I suspect." He reaches over the table for a plate of sausages, plucking one with the tip of his dagger and placing it on his own plate. "Just curious ... if it's something you wish to talk about later on our trip to Shae Lias, that's fine."

[Dave W.]

Adamant follows Esthryn, making mental notes, "Strawberries for youth, but Syrdan is an elf, he's likely the eldest creature in the Inn, how do you tell who require strawberries?"

"When I first learned about eating it seemed very simple, the body demands fuel, you provide it with food. But the more I learn the more complex it becomes. Lady Esthryn, you are like a potions master."

When they reach the stranger's table, Adamant is silent and takes the slouching pose to make himself appear smaller and less threatening. With limited success, the height difference between the warforged and the halfling he's hiding behind is too stark.

When Esthryn makes reference to him, Adamant will bow to the customer but says nothing.

[Darren]

"I gave you a chance," Kal says to Varna. Bringing his voice lower and leaning towards her, he says, "I think perhaps darkness found you because you so often invite it on yourself." He leans back again casually, pressing the issue no further.

Kal turns, still in his casual pose, and studies the room. He pays particular attention to the well-dressed woman, and if she notices him looking, he doesn't try to hide it, instead offering her a smile and a wink.

[Brian]

Standing with Belarin and Varna, Condign notices the woman in red often glancing at him. She seems . . . uncertain. Curious. Not at all menacing.

"That woman who just walked in," he says to Belarin. "She keeps looking at me." He leans in and whispers. "I often get that from human females. It's the horns, you know. They think the bigger the horns, the bigger the . . . you know." He looks down. "That is, of course, a myth." Then with a smile, he adds, "Most of the time."

[Jeff]

Esthryn blushes at Adamant's remark. She takes the blonde's order—nothing more than a drink—then heads back into the kitchen.

The woman clearly sees Kal's wink, but doesn't acknowledge it. Her eyes drift, then, into space.

Varna shakes her head at Syrdan. "Dialect? No, no. That's just street talk, for the most part.". She lowers her voice, looking to make sure her mother and father are out of hearing. "Their real language is demonic, with bits of the Common tongue."

When Esthryn brings the blonde her drink, the woman thanks her then stands up and approaches the tiefling at last, hair and coat swaying. She stops 5 feet from him and inclines her head. "Condign," she says simply, the slightest hint of guesswork in her tone. "That's you?"

[Jeff]

Also, Tangat gladly accepts Syrdan's furtive offerings (and he doesn't tell). He seems to have followed Esthryn's and Syrdan's differences of opinion regarding food intake and consequently has taken to remaining at the elf's feet to benefit from the conflict.

[Brian]

The woman thanks her then stands up and approaches the tiefling at last, hair and coat swaying.

"See what I mean," he says to Belarin.

"Condign," she says simply, the slightest hint of guesswork in her tone. "That's you?"

Surprised, Condign stands. His hand drifts to the hilt of his longsword.

"My Lady," he says with a slight bow. "You have me at a disadvantage."

[Ken]

Aug 1, 2010 8:36:21 GMT -4 Jeff said:

Varna looks at him, brows coming together. "I..." Her eyes flick over to the blonde woman at the table by the window. She reddens. "No...I hadn't noticed. Sorry, wasn't paying attention." Another glare at Kal. "What's your take on her, Belarin?"

"Not a threat," says Belarin, "but someone with potential to create one. Judging from her look and attitude, she has influence but little experience... which is often an unfortunate combination. I could, of course, be completely wrong."

Aug 1, 2010 21:21:22 GMT -4 Brian said:

The woman thanks her then stands up and approaches the tiefling at last, hair and coat swaying.

"See what I mean," he says to Belarin.

"Or perhaps she's a religious fanatic," says Belarin softly to Condign and Varna. "Don't let her convert you, Condign."

[Joe]

Streko goes over to the table that the woman left behind, inspects it casually, as if ready to bus some dirty utensils. He then makes his way near the woman, slightly behind her. In his experience, halflings are easy to dismiss, especially by humans and their...height advantage. Tieflings, big horns or no, appear even taller. Streko listens in, acting all the while as if he's working.

[Mike]

Aug 1, 2010 20:15:19 GMT -4 Jeff said:

Varna shakes her head at Syrdan. "Dialect? No, no. That's just street talk, for the most part.". She lowers her voice, looking to make sure her mother and father are out of hearing. "Their real language is demonic, with bits of the Common tongue."

Syrdan nods in understanding at this. He seems ready to ask another question - then are you versed in demonic as well? - but holds his tongue, deciding that perhaps Varna might be more willing to talk on their journey to Shae Lias, rather than in the confines of the Eatery.

He glances over at the woman in red, silently paying attention as the woman moves over to Condign. He doesn't particularly listen to the words being exchanged; rather, he watches the facial expressions and body language, looking to see if the two are friends, foes, or strangers.

[Jeff]

"Then I have the right man," the woman answers. "Good. My name is..." She hesitates, looks away, then shake her head as if concluding some private debate. "Soneste."

"That's her!" Esthryn exclaims nearby, in too loud a whisper. She grabs onto Orval, but directs her words at the others: Kal, Varna, Syrdan. Belarin, Adamant. "The...the inquisitive."

The woman glances once at Streko as he moves around, not fooled—he thinks—by pretending to be merely a waiter.

"I'll keep this short," Soneste goes on, meeting Condign's eye. "I was hired yesterday to find someone in this city with your name. The description was vague, but I was able to rule out the other two. One was a warforged in the Cogs, serving what he believed was penance—hence the name. The other...was a woman." Soneste smiles. "I'm confident you're the one, but I'm embarrassed it took me a day to find you." Despite her tone, there's a slight conceit to her tone, as if she knows how hard it should be to find one person in the hundreds upon hundreds of thousands of Sharn's occupants. "And I have something for you."

Soneste holds out a tightly rolled scroll, sealed with wax in the symbol of a manticore. "This is a bank note. For Kundarak. This, along with your name and ideally some identification papers, will grant you access to something in their bank vaults. I have no idea what. I was just hired to deliver it to you."

Syrdan decides the woman does not know Condign personally, but her recognition of him is very confident. She has a very careful manner about. She's a professional.

[Ken]

Aug 2, 2010 8:55:21 GMT -4 Jeff said:

"That's her!" Esthryn exclaims nearby, in too loud a whisper. She grabs onto Orval, but directs her words at the others: Kal, Varna, Syrdan. Belarin, Adamant. "The...the inquisitive."

Belarin looks from Esthryn to the red-garbed woman. His posture relaxes into one of amused appraisal. "As I said, I could of course be completely wrong."

_____________________
It is supremely cool to meet one of the folks from your novel!

[Darren]

"Why hire an Inquisitive to be a messenger? I'm sure you don't work cheap."

[Jeff]

"A messenger?" Soneste looks at Kal, a slight irritation in her eyes. "Hardly. If someone told you to find someone named 'Equitable' in this city, and quickly, would you know right where to go? If so, perhaps you've got the wrong dragonmark."

She pauses. "In any case...right now I'm happy to do some small, easy work."

[Darren]

"No, my dear," Kal says with a smile, "but then, I'm not a messenger."

______________________
I've got wireless access here and varying minutes of downtime, so I'm throwing these short posts in here when I can.

[Brian]

Soneste:

Soneste holds out a tightly rolled scroll, sealed with wax in the symbol of a manticore. "This is a bank note. For Kundarak. This, along with your name and ideally some identification papers, will grant you access to something in their bank vaults. I have no idea what. I was just hired to deliver it to you."

Condign takes the scroll from the Inquisitive. He holds it up and looks at the seal imprinted upon the wax. He is unfamiliar with the heraldry, if it was heraldry at all. He tilts his head slights as he addresses her: "This is an honor. I have heard speak of you. Something about a murdered Brelish ambassador . . . ." He slides the scroll into his belt. "My thanks. Are you by chance at liberty to say who hired you?"

[Jeff]

Soneste looks away from Kal, done with him.

To Condign, she says nothing of his comment about her. She says, "Normally, it depends on the client. In this case...well, it's unclear. My agency handles that sort of thing, but the job itself—to find you—was anonymously placed. Sorry. There's nothing more I can tell you, even if I wanted to. Perhaps you'll learn more at the bank."

She turns to go. "Good luck, Condign. If you ever need to find someone or some thing, try my agency: Investigative Services in Warden Towers. Just make sure you're in the right first. We don't do dirty cases." Her tone is matter-of-fact, nothing suggestive about Condign. "And right now, I'm taking a break from murdered ambassadors. They're...more complex than they let on." She offers a tight, humorless smile. She glances at Adamant, and the ghost of a real smile touches her lips.

[Brian]

As the Inquisitive walks away, Condign raises one thin eyebrow. "Facinating."

He turns to his friends. "Well, my curiosity is piqued. Does anyone know where this Kundarak bank is?"

[Dave W.]

Adamant turns to look when Esthryn identifies the stranger. "Oh, like in the news story." He continues to observe the interaction with Condign.

When Soneste smiles at him, Adamant cocks his heavy metal head as if to ask have we met? But in the end he merely nods and says "My Lady."
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Fantastic!! I love Soneste! I would love to engage her but Adamant has no real reason to do more than this. I get the smile but Adamant wouldn't.  Still wicked cool!!

[Joe]

Streko frowns and stops bussing. He merely stands at the table and listens.
____________________________________________________

Streko should have pinched her on the behind. DAMN MISSED OPPORTUNITY!

[Darren]

"Hm," Kal says at being dismissed. "Boring conversation, anyway," he says as he turns back to the bar. "Well, it seems we now have more to do than we can handle. Shall we tackle these in order, or split the party?"

_______________
Look! I asked an OOC question in-character!

[Jeff]

Condign:

"Does anyone know where this Kundarak bank is?"

Orval fields this one. "Well, there are Kundarak posts throughout the city, but if you're looking for their real vaults, you'll want to go where they're guaranteed to have some 'marked members: to their enclave in Dragon Towers." He smiles and looks at Kal. "Not far from the Deneith enclave. You were wanting to go there, right, son? Something about wanting to find another 'marked kin?"

Varna shrugs. "I'm set to go, and although we have no real schedule or hurry, right? Where's it going to be?" Quieter, to Belarin, "You'll want to come with me to Little Plains." She winks.

[Ken]

Belarin says, "Well, my original plan was to accompany Syrdan and Varna and see what knowledge I can pick up around this enormous place. But if, as Varna points out, nobody is in any hurry, then I'd be just as happy staying together for the moment.

"Syrdan? I'll leave that up to you. If you have any obligations that need tending to now, then I'll go with you."

[Dave W.]

"If no one objects, I would like to continue with you. I will not be offended if there are objections, traveling with a warforged might generate unwanted attention."

"We work together in a pleasingly efficient way... And I would recommend we do these tasks together as much as possible."

[Mike]

Aug 2, 2010 22:36:52 GMT -4 Ken said:

"Syrdan? I'll leave that up to you. If you have any obligations that need tending to now, then I'll go with you."

"As long as I'm able to make my way back to the Gates of Passage sometime today, that's fine with me," says Syrdan. "No need to us to split apart. I wouldn't mind seeing some other parts of Sharn first."