|
#61
07-02-2007, 09:51 PM
|
|||||
|
|||||
|
In a corner of the room Mule casts her spell and begins to question the large wolf, which causes the wolf to tilt his head in an almost baffled manner. Rokhea then responds in a series of barks and movements to convey her meaning. Rokhea puts his head down as if he had made himself perfectly clear. |
|
#62
07-02-2007, 10:27 PM
|
|||||
|
|||||
|
"The short one lives in this city, and challenged me." Mule's eyes went to Gragham to indicate which "short one" she spoke of. "The tall one seems even more of the city than the short one." Her eyes went to the Almar. I'm surprised he doesn't wear perfume. Now that would make Rokhea complain all the worse.
__________________"Not all who live in cities are of the same pack together. Some human packs hunt wolves. Some do not. Your nose will adapt. It will be less overwhelming. We will be able to protect each other, as we should. I will tell the one who challenges you," her eyes went now to Carlyle, "to lower his gaze from yours. He doesn't have a tail or ears to show submission. Will this suffice, little brother?" She turned to Carlyle, and spoke now in the tongue of humans. "If you wish to get along better with Rokhea, there are a few things you must do. He sees me as his alpha. He sees you as part of a pack that has hurt and hunted his kind before. You will have to show some signs of submission to him. Lower your eyes, don't look straight at him. It's either that, or beat him in a bare-handed fight." She grinned crookedly. "And I wouldn't let you win that, you know." |
|
#63
07-03-2007, 03:49 PM
|
|||||
|
|||||
|
Gragham raised his eyes and glanced at the wolf, catching himself weighing his chances in a one-on-one with the animal. Hm. I could take him, I think. Not that I’m going to, but I could…
__________________He had assured Faun that she could always return if she wanted a more ‘legal’ job… As he wasn’t planning on having her arrested or forced to leave town against her will, it was the only thing he could do for her. All his instincts told him that the girl had been genuine; if she had hoodwinked them, her acting skills were astronomical. Plus, she wasn’t the wiser about anything whatsoever… ”Well… Now we be ehlone ehgain, I tink I need ter get sumtin… Can ye make sure we be really ehlone, lads? We outta go ter eh more private room den dem kitchen.” The dwarf stood up and turned, intending to look for Mazo. |
|
#64
07-04-2007, 02:12 PM
|
||||||
|
||||||
|
Carlyle had been following the conversation closely but had chosen not to interrupt the two females. He was content on just listening and watching the girl closely trying to read her expressions for any hidden meanings. In his observations he could definitely see that if it weren’t for the dust, dirt and shabby clothing that the girl would turn the eye of most men……except those that don’t like girls.
__________________Quote:
“I know of this man…Keeg…did ya say? Don’t know much more that, except to say that what tha girl say about ‘im hangin’ out at tha Dryad is true enough.” The rouge says nodding. He goes back to watching the girl as she continues on, his eyebrow raise slightly at the mention of the rod…his mind like Gragham’s instantly jumps to Natasha…even though the only thing that he knew about it was that Grag had foud it a Sharl. yep just as I thought Vranq’s whore is involved Quote:
Quote:
Taking a deep breath he tries to calm himself, then without looking at Rokhea he makes his reply trying to stay level headed. “My dear Mule…ya know what ya just said…I ain’t lowerin’ my eyes to no Do… stopping short he corrects himself “Wolf... "…What I meant about makin’ things better was more along tha lines o’ givin’ him some meat or somthin’ as a peace offerin’ ” he finishes off by taking another deep breath to calm himself again. Last edited by Sombrero; 07-06-2007 at 12:05 PM. |
|
#65
07-04-2007, 06:45 PM
|
|||||
|
|||||
|
Mule couldn't believe how stubborn the human was. She stared at him incredulously. "He is not a dog to be bribed and scratched behind the ears. You may certainly try to feed him, but I would not, were I you, and if I valued my hands. All I am asking you to do is not to threaten him. Don't look at him directly. Don't stand over the top of him, or he will take it as a challenge. I'm not even asking you to do anything. I'm asking you not to do these things." She spread her hands, looking deeply confused. "Am I being completely unreasonable here?"
__________________ |
|
#66
07-05-2007, 10:05 PM
|
|||||
|
|||||
|
As far as Carlyle can tell, Faun is genuine. Rokhea is genuinely confused about Mule's explanation of city dwellers versus non-city dwellers but is happy to accept her guidance on the matter. Will listen to wise sister. Mazo comes into the room and leads them to the study. It appears to all to be secure and private. |
|
#67
07-06-2007, 12:49 PM
|
||||||
|
||||||
|
The tension eases out of Carlyle’s body when Mule explains further… “Well, now that ya spelled it out more clear, I think that I can keep my distance and not look ‘im in tha eyes…” he says just before Mazo enters the room. As they follow the dwarf, Carlyle make sure he stays a comfortable distance from the wolf adding “Ya can also tell ‘im, that I mean no harm ta him or ta you, so he can quit growling at me.” The rogue’s word end there but in his mind also adds ‘cause ta me that is a challenge, and I will do what I have ta, ta defend myself…
__________________ |
|
#68
07-06-2007, 01:09 PM
|
|||||
|
|||||
|
Gragham entered the room with the items cradled in his arms, wrapped in a piece of cloth. After making sure all doors and windows were secured, he placed the bundle on the table and unfolded it, revealing the diary, the shield and the rod. He looked at each of the others for a moment before starting to speak.
__________________”Well, ‘ere we be ehgain, like two days ehgo. We all ‘ave seen dis b’fore, ‘cept ye o’ course, Ellesaria. We awready found dat dis keeps ehn intriguing tale hidden, but it be seemin’ dat it be more important den usselves imagined… I be needin’ me pipe fer dis.” He retrieved the pipe from his belt pouch, together with a small bag of tobacco. ”Lemme start from dem beginning: I found dem ‘ere items when Carlyle an’ meself escaped Sharl Fortress: Dem three items be linked according ter eh lad named Percy. He be dem writer o’ dem journal ‘ere.” The dwarf tapped the journal with the butt of his pipe, then started to fill it with tobacco. ”Percy came from dis town, from Asylum. He got inter him head somehow ter go out inter dem world an’ learn ‘imself dark magic –dun’t ask meself why. Ter pay fer him new education, he stole dis ‘ere shield from him brother, eh craftsman named Clem. Ye can undehstand dat dis nay ‘elped dem relationship wid him brodder, but he also mentioned eh bloke named Shyloe.” Gragham took a moment to gather his thought and light his pipe, then continued. ”Dere be eh lad in dem town council called Shyloe… Lord Shyloe Lassiter, in fact. Now I dun’t know if dere be more Shyloes round ‘ere, cause dis ‘un be ehn important bloke in dis town, from what I undehstand… even got eh library named after ‘imself ‘ere.” He puffed on his pipe in thought for a few moments, sending billowing clouds of smoke into the room. ”Anneway, Percy gets him trainin’ from him “Dark Master”, he dun’t say who dat be. He do mention eh familiar name in passing though: Natasha.” His face darkened. ”Aye, Natasha… dat name seems ter be poppin’ up all round us, aye? What her role be in dis nay be written ‘owever, so back ter dem story.” ”Percy lets ‘imself be controlled by him master an’ trudges on an’ on, doing him bidding… until he encounters eh minstrel, Maximillian Silvertongue Dis be shakin’ im up good. Max be ehn agent o’ Ha’Mos, an’ now it be him turn ter influence Percy. Max persuades Percy ter search for sumtin really powerful called dem ”Witness Text” he dun’t say what it be or what it outta do, but ye could tell dat it be sumtin big… Anneway, he seems ter ‘ave found it. He also found dis ‘ere rod.” He picked up the rod with one hand, studied it for a moment, then offered it to Ellesaria, along with a ringlet of smoke. ”As ye can see, dis be what dat lass, Faun, be lookin’ fer: eh rod wid gold bear printin’ on it.” ”Rahn an’ meself went ter dem sages’ hall an’ spoke ter eh bloke called Tweed. Real scholar. Adores anneting related ter history. He told us dat dem rod be eh No’Mos communication rod, used only by dem most important ranks ter transport dem most important messages. Dis partic’lar rod be from dem Dracu fam’ly: dem Dracu line died out ‘bout ehn ‘undred an’ fifteh year ehgo; dere manor lies in Darkholme.” ”Tweed said dat ye can only unlock dem message inside dem rod wid sumtin he called eh communication dias. He also said dat ye can reuse dem rods fer new messages an’ dat dem Horde ‘as possession o’ such eh device: therefore, dis ‘ere rod can ‘ave dem original message related ter dem Dracu fam’ly, or it been used by dem Horde ter transport eh message.” Gragham fell silent again, taking a moment to puff away on his pipe and let his information sink in. He started pacing the room to collect his thoughts. ”So, waddawe do from ‘ere?”, he started, waving his pipe around, ”We could find dis brodder, Clem, we could go ter Darkholme an’ find out what be so ehmportant ‘bout dis rod, which may or may not ‘ave ter do sumtin’ wid dem Witness Text. I tink it be wise ter search fer dis Witness Text as well. We need ter consider if we wanner talk ter Shyloe Lassiter an’ how we outta approach ‘im. And, o’ course, dere be dis new base o’operations fer Vranq. Dem help we promised ter dem lizardfolk. Gunder an’ Fhurman at Sharl. Dem alliance wid dem Akili…” Something popped inside Gragham’s head. I didn’t mention anything about the tunnels under Sharl or the Akili before… Stupid dwarf. Last edited by Vintar; 07-06-2007 at 01:11 PM. |
|
#69
07-11-2007, 12:05 PM
|
||||||
|
||||||
|
Having not yet read Percy’s journal, Carlyle had know only bits and pieces of the story, and Gragham’s explanation has cleared up some things in the ex-smuggler’s mind, but it also raised many questions also. Carlyle was not sure of the best course of action needed to get the answers to those questions, but for now he did lean in one particular direction, and based on the events of this morning it is now evident that this rod held some sort of valuable information that Vranq and Natasha are keen upon getting. I seem ta recall that she wanted ta make a deal back at tha temple regarding information that she wanted us ta get…
__________________“I’m with ya Grag…” “In my mind, findin’ out what information tha rod holds would be a good start, but that would take us farther away from Vranq’s activities in tha south. And as far as this Lord Shyloe…I don’t know how ‘e fits in ta all o’ this and until I do, I wouldn’t trust ‘im…an about Clem, don’t really know, but I would think that Vranq’s men would have already gotten ta ‘im or at least are keepin’ an eye on ‘im.” “I don’t think that Natasha would have any reason ta suspect that we would go ta Darkholme…an we might be able ta get some help from tha Lizards too…anyway that’s my thinkin’ on tha matter.” |
|
#70
07-12-2007, 10:10 AM
|
|||||||||||||
|
|||||||||||||
|
OOC: Masterly summary, Vintar. You've put all the pieces together so clearly, I think I finally have the first inkling of where we are, where we're going, and why we're in this handbasket!
__________________Mule nodded to Carlyle in gratitude. "Thank you. I will try to explain that to him. Keep in mind, no matter how intelligent he is, he is a little brother. He is not as quick to learn as a human child, but he is capable of learning." Her lips curved up in a hesitant smile, wondering if Carlyle would accept a little joke. "It's nice to see that humans, too, can learn. Makes training you easier, aye?" She closed one eyelid in a bit of a wink, really hoping he'd take it the right way, but not knowing him well enough yet to say yes or no here. After explaining to Rokhea the basis of his and Carlyle's "miscommunication" and that the man would not challenge him by looking directly at him, if he didn't growl at him in challenge, either, and that Carlyle meant no harm, and would prove it in his actions, she settled down on the floor next to the wolf, letting closeness reassure him, and listened. Mule remained utterly silent, listening to the story in fascination. Now that she'd finally been let in on some of the details, it seemed that she had more of a reason to help these people than simply havig given Dahl her word to do so. She studied the rod for a moment, looking at the bear tracks on it. "Interesting that they chose the prints of the bears, not the outer form. I wonder if this family thought of themselves as hunters," she muttered. "Witness text. Huh. Witness text. What an odd name. But while I think that going to Darkholm sounds inevitable, I think we'd be wise to gather as much information about the place before we go as we can. Ask the brother what he knows, ask this Shyloe, hunt in his books before we hunt over the land. And hide that rod somehow, since it seems that this Natasha seeks it so fervently." Arcane knowledge, for the heck of it, on Witness Text. Dice Roll:
|
|||||||||||||
|
#71
07-12-2007, 03:30 PM
|
|||||
|
|||||
|
With Mule nearby, Rokhea can finally relax and lowers his head. After a few moments into Gragham's speech the wolf's eyes are closed as he takes a quick nap. Mule tries to remember anything about a Witness Text, but it doesn't sound even remotely familiar. |
|
#72
07-15-2007, 07:16 AM
|
|||||
|
|||||
|
Gragham sat back and listened carefully to the responses made by the others: they were along the same line as his own thoughts on the matter. This is good… we seem to have a consensus on what needs to be done. Their responses also sparked a few new thoughts in the dwarf’s mind, however.
__________________”Aye, agreed, me tinks we outta go ter Darkholme ‘s well, soon as poss’ble. Ellesaria also be right dat we need ter prepare usselves… From what I ‘eard from tales, dat place nay be eh pleasant ‘un.” He puffed a few times on his pipe, which was starting to burn out. ”I undehstand yer concerns about talkin’ ter dis Clem, Carlyle, but me tinks it be worth dem risk: We be able ter present Percy him brodder wid him lost shield, We ‘eard Natasha say Percy be eh pris’ner… so he still be ehlive. An’ we be dem good guys. He might be willin’ ter give us infermation dat he withheld from odders.” ”I laid nearly all me cards on dem table in us battle wid Natasha last day, ter keep her occupied, ter throw her off balance long enuff fer us ter finish her off… But we failed, she got out. Flip side o’ dem coin be dat Natasha nay can know much more ‘bout us den she awready do, so dere be few secrets left ter guard. We be able ter reveal Clem dem large part o’ dem story without worryin’ bout leakin’ delicate information. We even be able ter go ter dem authorities: ter dem jailor, Wolfgar, ter Walthas Kang, commander o' dem guard, at dem barracks or even try ter get ehn audience wid Lord Mayor Timertikos. Dey prob’ly be wantin’ ter know ‘bout Vranq buildin’ up him forces like dis.” Gragham paused for a moment and frowned. ”Natasha dun’t know dat we know ‘bout dem second base. She be nay fool however: dem ruddy spies prob’ly know ‘bout dem orc pris’ners by now, an’ she be recognizing dem possibility dat we cracked s pris’ners fer what dey know. Still, I nay be sure if we outta bring everyting out in dem open righ’ now. It would give Asylum time ter prepare itself an’ raise its defences, an’ it definitely be makin’ life difficult fer spies. On dem odder side, it might force Vranq ter play him hand.” The dwarf sighed, stood up and knocked his pipe out in the fireplace. ”So, we need ter talk ter Clem, read up as much we can on Darkholme an tink ‘bout what we say ter dem city officials… We prob’ly dun’t want ter confront Shyloe jus’ yet, p’haps jus’ feel ‘im out eh bit if dem situation persents itself… Rahn, I tink yer vocal talents be perfect fer dat cause…” Gragham hovered over the items on the table for a moment, his fingers trailing over the surface of the shield. ”As fer hidin’ dem rod… I tink it be safe fer today if Mazo locks it up again an’ I give ‘im ehn extra warning ter keep it guarded at all times… But I nay know if dere be eh place good enuff ter hide it from Natasha, an’ I nay want ter bring me staff in danger… Dem sooner we take it ehlong wid us an’ unlock its secret, dem better.” Last edited by Vintar; 07-15-2007 at 07:23 AM. |
|
#73
07-15-2007, 02:28 PM
|
|||||
|
|||||
|
Mule nodded and munched at her breakfast. "So, this Clem first, if I understand a-right. Well enough."
__________________When they were all done eating, she'd follow the rest to whatever location they needed to go, pulling the hood of her cloak up over her face to avoid as many hostile reactions to her features as she could. |
|
#74
07-16-2007, 11:09 AM
|
|||||
|
|||||
|
Rahn had stayed unusually quiet for most of the conversation. He had contented himself to just listen and taken in all of the opinions that had been going back and forth. Finally he decided to chime in. Starting with Clem sounds like an excellent idea. He might be able to tell us more then the journal does as well, or at least a different perspective. You said this man is a craftsman? He must have some skill looking at that shield. The Anvil is technically the blacksmiths guild right? Then someone here must know him. Rahn then shakes his head. But I do think you should keep that Rod close to you. This time they sent a young girl to investigate. Next time they might send someone a bit more dangerous. Perhaps they even meant for her to be discovered. Afterall, why send someone so young and inexperienced on such a supposedly important task. The entire might of the horde at their disposal and they send a young girl? And we know that whatever is on that rod is important enough that someone as high up as Natasha is kept abreast of the situation. Is it possible that the horde wasn't behind the attempt? It might be worthwhile to talk to this Keeg. Or maybe even just keep an eye on him? Find out what they are all about? Rahn sits back and rubs his chin for a moment in thought.
|
|
#75
07-16-2007, 04:49 PM
|
|||||
|
|||||
|
Mule considered it all. "Why not just break the damned thing?" she finally asked out loud. "Render it unusable by the Horde that wants its contents so badly. Sure, you might not get whatever's so important, but they won't, either."
__________________She looked from face to face, then sighed. "Someone had to make the suggestion. . . " she added. "As to Keeg, I'd say yes, we should hunt him, talk to him. But we should have more information before we approach him. Never go into a predator's den without being absolutely prepared. And from Faun's reaction in speaking of him, it seems clear that he is indeed a predator. But finding out more about him might be more in Carlyle's. . . field of expertise. . . than mine." |
 |
| Thread Tools | |
|
|
