[Game Thread] A Pulse

[Nasrith]

17th Day of the Lucky Moon in the Year 628 - Quarter Past Two - The Official Gastian Public Library

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This was the kind of day Port Gast had become famous for: a salty, cool breeze blew over from the ocean, making the otherwise blazing day bearable. A few puffy clouds were all that adorned the otherwise clear azure sky. The calls of gulls echoed across the sky as their wings caught the air-currents above the bustling port city which had, over the years, developed into a home and hub of tens of thousands of humanoid creatures from all walks of life.

On this day, thrust between Gast's Department of Civil Service and the corner of Alastar Lane, a large building of appealing brick and stone sits quietly. It looks like something that belongs in Andris, or maybe somewhere in the richer Mirithian districts, but not Gast, the upstart city that was growing in renown far more quickly than its older counterparts on other continents. The elegance of the building seemed wrong in the city, and it overpowered, both in stature and design, the smaller but far busier buildings next to it. In thinly gilded letters, the building was presented as the Official Gastian Public Library.

The library's inside is about as similar to its neighboring buildings' as it is their outsides. The lighting is dim, with a deep, plush red covering the floor and ceiling. The same red can be seen in slivers on the walls in the small spaces between rows of full to the brim bookshelves. The curtains are drawn on every window, allowing in only meager amounts of sun from the outside. Most of the illumination is from candles, which are placed strategically at desks and on various walls.

To the left of the entrance is a counter that measures in at a respectable fifteen feet in length. Behind it are an old halfling, his attention so diverted by the job of reorganizing files in a drawer that only his gray-haired head is visible, and a tall, brisk looking woman with black hair pulled back in a ponytail. She lifts her hand to her face to adjust her thick rimmed glasses, though it would be safe to presume that the gesture was really to hide her surprise at who had just walked through the oaken double doors.

People like this do not belong here, she might very well have been thinking as she lifted a finger to gesture further into the library. "You must be looking for Mr. Folcey."

Her finger pointed to a table near one of the back windows, half hidden by a shelf of books. There were six chairs in all, two on one of the broader sides, three on the other, and then one seat framed by the window at the table's head. Books of all sizes littered the table, some open and covered in note-covered leaflets. Others were closed and marked with thin bookmarks so as not to lose the page. An immense stack of books boasting names like The Mystery of Elara's Gape, The Truth of the Moon's Cycles, and Creation: What the Churches Don't Tell Us rested under the leftmost lip of the table. Even the table's candle had been moved to the windowsill.

Evidence of the letter-writer's existence could not have been any clearer. However, where he was at the moment was a complete mystery.

[The Iron Dragon]

As Varudo stepped in the library, his eyes took a moment to adjust from the bright sunlight to the dim interior of the book-filled building. He proceeded to removing his black hood and stowing away his white mask, revealing his short brown hair and clean shaven face. His eyes immediately locked onto the tall woman as he looked to the left. He smiled amicably and approached the desk, not paying much attention to the halfling lost in his work.

"Well hello..." he said, expecting to follow up with another line, but to his surprise, the woman retorted before he could continue.

"You must be looking for Mr. Folcey," she said while pointing to the back of the library.

Shocked that she seemed to be expecting him, it took him a moment to gather his thoughts before he could reply. "Well, that might be what I'm looking for, but I'm definitely happy I'm looking at something else right now," he says in a pleasantly none too flirtatious manner, hoping that the compliment would

Dice Diplomacy:

1d20+23

(12)+23

Total = 35

open her up to more discussion. "I don't suppose you could fill me in on what sort of person my gracious host is by any chance, could you? It would be so nice of you." he said, ending with that familiar amicable smile.

[Paul the Bald]

Gavin stands outside the library and looks up and down the street, then at the building again.

'This must be the place,' he thinks as he looks down at the invitation. As he does this the hood of the cloak he has just bought slides down a little and blocks his vision. He pushes the hood out of the way with his leather gloves, shifts the full backpack so that it's a little more comfortable, and tentatively opens the door. It is very dim and he can't see anything, but he takes a step inside and lets the door close behind him.

After a minute his eyes have adjusted and he sees a long counter on his left. A handsome clean-cut man in a black cloak and with the hilt of a rapier protruding from it seems to be flirting with the woman behind the counter. At first she looks annoyed with him. Should he say something? He approaches with small, slow steps, trying to listen in.

[Nasrith]

A few things happened simultaneously at the end of Varudo's question. From out of the library, a tall man, exceptionally handsome and obviously of noble birth came with a book in hand. "Lisa," he summoned simply, calling her attention away from the changeling in human form.

Lisa excused herself cooly from the conversation and went over to help the customer. "Ah, thank you," he said as she took the book from him. "One of Aluna's latest works. A friend told me it is a brilliant commentary on how societal development over the past hundred years has begun to skew the balance of nature."

Almost at the exact moment the woman moved over to take care of her customer, the halfling that had been buried in his work darted up a stepping stool to converse at face level with Varudo. He was short and plump even for a halfling, and a cascade of white hair fell down to his shoulders. His voice was fittingly high and squeaky, and words erupted from him at a breakneck pace. "Mr. Folcey you're wondering about? You must be one of the ones he's hiring to do field research for him. Not surprised he had you meet him here. Scarcely ever leaves the library, not since he arrived from Andris. Young, smart, ambitious, and a bright future ahead of him."

Only after the halfling had completed the quick onslaught of speech did he notice Gavin standing behind Varudo at the door. "Well I suppose you're with this one. Might as well head over to the table over there. No point in keeping him waiting."

The old quick-talker, aided by the stool, manned the counter admirably as he awaited the others of the group who he assumed would be coming through the door post-haste.

[The Iron Dragon]

Varudo couldn't help but smile as the halfling gets up on the stool to address him.

"My apologies for not having greeted you earlier, you seemed so preoccupied by your work that I didn't want to disturb you. Thank you very much for the information, it's exactly what I had hoped to hear." He gave the halfling a quick salute using two fingers, and turned around to greet the individual that had appeared behind him.

"Greetings friend!" he exclaims as he extends his hand to shake Gavin's. "I was under the impression that I may have been the only one to receive the invitation to meet here. Glad to see I'd have some company if we decide to take his offer!"

[Oceanic]

Aetius looked at the building noted on the invitation and frowned. While the quiet atmosphere enveloping the library resonated with the quieter corners of his mind, the architectural design of the building seemed alien and garish to him. Nevertheless, he opened the door, entered and let it close quietly behind himself.

Inside, he could dimly make out the shape of a halfling man amidst the sunspots in his vision, to his left, behind a counter. He approached and spoke plainly but politely. "Excuse me sir. I am looking for a certain Mr. Folcey. Perhaps you could help me find this person?

Now that his vision had cleared, he could see a young man and a woman, both obviously of the academia, talking nearby, as well as a pair of well-armed men further down the hall. He looked around, trying to find any other people that he should be aware of.

[Nasrith]

The short halfling turned to the third member of the de facto party to enter into the library. "You too? He should be at that table back there." He gestured to the table that the other librarian had indicated earlier. "Or if he's not there, he's probably scouring the library for more books to add to that stash of his. In any event, just follow those other two and you'll be in the right place."

There were a number of other people scattered amongst the rows of books, though the building was by no means busy. Two other library personnel worked between the lined shelves. A bald gnome balanced at the top of a rolling ladder to Aetius's right. Through his spectacles, he examined and reexamined the topmost shelf of books. At the far end of the library, a stout young man had emerged from a discreetly placed door pushing a small cartload of books.

At another of the tables sequestered away between the shelves, an elderly scholar drawled on from behind a tome to his young, dark haired pupil, who paid no attention whatsoever. The boy was dressed in simple finery and looked to be in the midst of hitting puberty. His head lolled backwards off the chair out of boredom. When Varudo, Gavin, and then Aetius had entered through the double-doors, his eyes had sprung open, providing him with an upside-down view of the library, and far more interestingly, its newest entrants, which his eyes followed restlessly.

The center of the library was an open area comprised of nine evenly spaced tables. On the end of the arrangement farthest from the door sat a man with slicked back black hair who wore a deep-purple shirt, tight dark pants, and a number of gaudy rings and other expensive ornaments. He poured intensely over some kind of ledger or other personal writing. At his side, not even allowed to sit down, was a goblin - presumably a servant or slave - who was dressed in an attempt to look like anything but. Also standing, but facing outwards instead of towards his master, was a grizzled looking lizardkin.

At the table directly adjacent to them sat a trio of wizards belonging to The Clouded Hand, one of the two mages' guilds in Gast. The man and two women were busied with rapt conversation, and seemed oblivious to anything going on around them. The lizardkin cast the too close for comfort triumvirate the occasional weary glance, and the rest of the time contented itself with flexing and unflexing various muscles on its scantly clad body. When the first half of Folcey's group entered, he whispered something to the slick-haired man, who waived off the new arrivals as of no consequence.

Most likely, there were a few others in the large library as well, though they were protected from Aetius's searching gaze by the thick rows of books. Every once and awhile, the sharp-eyed ranger would catch a glimpse of figures flitting between shelves in the establishment's half-light. Whether it were one single person moving rapidly around or multiple ones going about their work, he could not tell.

[Paul the Bald]

Gavin smiles nervously as the stranger shakes his hand. 'What am I getting himself into,' he thinks, 'maybe I should just leave while I can.'

When he turns he sees someone else stride confidently into the library. From his armor and cloak, similar to Gavin's own, the man must be a ranger. 'Oh gods, I've been caught,' was his first thought, and he considered dumping his heavy pack and making a run for it. But then the ranger asked the halfling about Mr. Folcey and Gavin realized that he was just here as part of the meeting.

'How many others?' he thinks as he walks awkwardly to the table indicated by the halfling. He feels foolish that he has brought all his equipment with him, but he wasn't used to this adventuring thing.

[Lixy Parmenter]

Larissa entered the library, blinking and squinting as she adjusted to the dimmer light. The sounds of the streets of Port Gast faded as she shut the doors behind her, her visual senses temporarily replaced by a deep quiet and the smell of age, paper, and parchment. Larissa looked around the library, tasteless ostentation mixing with an atmosphere of academic sterility in the darkened building. This, she though to herself, was why she had left academia. Gathering her bearings, Larissa decided that the alert looking halfling at the desk nearby would be the best source of directions, and strolled over to him wearing her most charming smile. "Hi, I'm looking for a Mr. Folcey..."

Following any directions given by the halfling, Larissa moved deeper into the library, aiming for the appropriate table in the back. She scanned the room as she walked over, smiling and nodding at the group of wizards regardless of whether or not they noticed her, but her main interest was in the group assembling at Mr. Folcey's table. Once she was close enough that she felt comfortable speaking, she asks the others around the table in a quiet but firm tone, "You're here for Mr. Folcey as well?"

 

Not wearing armor, dressed in her most modest/conservative/dull courtesan outfit. Carrying dagger and wands. Other gear stashed somewhere else in the city. Mage armor cast about half an hour before, 3 1/2 hours left on duration.

[The Iron Dragon]

Varudo's chit chat was cut short with Gavin as they were joined by two new faces. The first man, also sporting a cloak, looked more concern in what was going on elsewhere rather than make conversation with them. The woman however, didn't hesitate to address them. "As a matter of fact, yes, we both are. This is starting to prove very interesting! At first I had thought this was going to be a rather small operation but it seems our employer has much grander plans for us."

He leans against the table's edge, arms crossed non-chalantly as he gives the Tiefling a stare from head to toe with no discretion whatsoever. "Pardon my gaze m'lady, but it's quite rare to see one of your kind around these parts. You'll have to forgive me for being struck by awe. I assure you I mean no disrespect however."

He reaches into one of his pouches, producing the letter of summons he had received. "I trust you all received this same letter?"

[Oceanic]

Aetius dipped a slight bow to thank the halfling man. "You have my thank. I hope today finds you well." Then he turned and walked straight toward the table in the far end, where the helpful man just pointed to. Although he kept mental notes of everyone he could perceive, he showed no outward signs that he was aware of their existences.

As he walked, the dim candle lights, the towering bookshelves and the constant whispering of the library's patrons encroached upon him like an oppressing, suffocating blanket. He eased the pin holding his cloak in place and the straps for his quiver a little bit. How could anyone spends days in this place without turning mad? With all the curtains, I doubt they are even aware of the gorgeous day outside. Before his train of thoughts could derail down one of the painful tracks, he redoubled his focus on the two men in front of him.

They have just reached the designated table. One of them is a brown hair, well-dressed man in black who looked strangely nondescript. The other, a blond-haired human, was outfitted with garments much like Aetius's own. From his weapon, it seemed he also had a passion for the art of the bow. He bowed formally and spoke in what (he would like to think) was his most friendly voice.

"Salutations, good Sirs. I am Aetius Serafeim, here by means of Mr. Folcey's letter of invitation. Are you both, per chance, here for the same reason, Sir....?" He aimed the questions at both men.

[Paul the Bald]

Gavin stares at the ranger for a moment, then realizes he's being addressed.

"Uh, yes, hello, good to meet you good sir. My na--I mean, I'm Ga-- uh Artren Felbright. It's nice to meet all of you." He bows and his hood falls over his eyes again. He shrugs it back into place and tries to take off his backpack, but ends up knocking into Varudo and then falling into a chair--backpack still on.

"Sorry. Just a little nerves I guess." He smiles and then realizes nobody can see it under the darkness of the hood.

[Lixy Parmenter]

Larissa initially seemed to be simultaneously irritated and flattered by Varudo's attention, until it became clear that he was staring at her because of her unusual eyes. Furrowing her brow and glaring at him, she asked rhetorically, "Really? Do you mind?" As Aetius began speaking, Larissa decides not to get involved in the conversation and steps a bit away from the table, scanning the titles of nearby tomes while listening in on the conversation and keeping an eye out for any other newcomers.

[Oceanic]

Aetius nodded toward "Artren". "Good to meet you, Mr. Felbright". Then, turning toward the woman behind his back, whose eyes, he could not help but noticed, was that of a tiefling, he made a similar bow. "My apology, ma'am. I don't believe we've had the privilege of knowing your name?"

While he was waiting for the responses of the two others, he noted that the number of chairs indicated that they were waiting on another adventurer beside their host.

[The Iron Dragon]

Varudo's eyes widened as he realized he had insulted the dame, only to have his focus disrupted by Gavin bumping into him. "Nerves eh? Had you not said anything I would of thought you had visited the tavern a tad early this morning there, Artren."

An uneasy smile at the corner of his lips, he turned to Aetius to address him before he reconciled with the lady. "Varudo Beaumont, it's a pleasure to meet you, and yes, as a matter of fact, I'm holding the exact letter that Mr. Folcey sent me..." his speech trailed off as he got up from his position on the table and approached Larissa.

"M'lady, I deeply apologize if I offended you, I meant nothing by it. If we've been gathered here to work on the same task then the last thing I would want is for us to start on the wrong foot." Varudo extends his hand in hopes of shaking hers.