#211
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__________________
Last edited by ekidnu; Jan 26th, 2018 at 12:24 AM. |
#212
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On hiatus while I figure out my gender. Checkout my games at itchio. my mailbox is full, but you can reach me on twitter: @goatmealery |
#213
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He feels a sense of relief of not having to witness the battle within, even if they had become monstrous undead creatures the fact they were just children at the time of their death doesn't escape him. So he stands motionless outside and does what he does best; he observes.
As the warcry is heard from within he looks around, hoping for something darker to give itself away, for something to move, to shimmer, to... to do something. He puts a finger to his lips motioning for Fido to stay as quiet as possible and when the howl can be heard from within, echoed by the screams of anguish outside he holds his breath. The other children and something else? He closes his eyes, focusing on that something else, what can it be? Where can it come from? More than that he focuses on the tone and emotions behind the screams, are they of anguish? Of rage? Can he learn anything from it? For now the rugged detective doesn't even think about his own safety, standing out in the open in the middle of a haunted village with his eyes closed. He merely observes through listening. |
#214
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Mara does none of the work and Hrani has to make three trips up the stairs carrying evidence. To any of the other men in the group it might have seemed like the songstress was abusing her status as a woman to get them to do all the work. But to Hrani it was just someone else around here FINALLY displaying a healthy sense of paranoia. He had always liked Mara the most of all of his companions, so it is unsurprising she seems to be the most reasonable. Perhaps the fact that she is not human helps her be less of an idiot. So, glad to have Mara keeping an eye on things, Hrani runs up and down the stairs repeatedly, a smile on his face.
He lets the soprano do most of the talking when it comes to presenting the evidence, only rarely interjecting a thought. Mostly, he is busy pondering what they have brought back, Dice Intelligence Check to infer anything from the evidence:
He is unsurprised to hear there has been no word from Carlo and Adrzej. He IS surprised when one of the Varisians turns up almost an instant later and even more surprised when he hears the mans words. "Woah, woah, woah, hold on. I'm sorry, I must have misheard, could you repeat that? Are you saying while we were gone...you...you...did actual work? And you actually...It's been a long time, but if memory serves correctly IC Hrani threw out that Carlo and Andrzej could raise some awareness for the beast after they were done researching at the university. I can edit this last line out though, if I'm wrong...did what I asked you to do?" The elf is utterly stunned and confused. He turns to look at Mara: "Are we sure this is the real Carlo? This behavior seems really suspicious. In fact...hold still." Paranoid, the magus Detect Magiccasts a spell to reveal magical auras in the air, carefully examining the Varisian for any traces of either enchantments controlling his mind or illusions hiding the fact that he is actually someone else. Only once he finds neither is he satisfied to a certain extent. He then turns back to Mara, remembering her last query, which was interrupted by Carlo's arrival. "No, I do not think you are being unreasonably paranoid. I do not trust the two strangers either, especially with the recent events at the gate. And something was wrong with that dwarf's shadow. As for Pike's judgment...well, honestly, Pike has been acting a little weird lately, hasn't he? The way he just ran off on us...?" |
#215
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#216
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__________________
Playing - High Risk, Heist Reward | The Grand Tour
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#217
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With her head tilted slightly to one side, Mara observes Carlo's hasty entrance with the pitying exasperation reserved for an awkward cousin. There is no hello, no proper etiquette, no how-was-your-dreadfully-long-trip-why-you-must-be-nauseous-from-the-journey.
The singer returns the elf's look with raised eyes. “Yes,” she sighs, “this is definitely Carlo. His style is ... inimitable.” She turns to face S'Jeer, Prince Zar, and Lidia, according them a pleasant smile and a formal welcome. “Greetings; it is so good to see you all again, and thank you for taking such an interest in Sulliviani. However, I must admit to some confusion. While I am certain that Sulliviani will be pleased by your generous offer, is he ...” she looks at Jamir and Kaple with a puzzled expression, “... is he not still in prison?” Clearly she doesn't quite understand how the Beast can be a member of a travelling troupe while he remains confined to his cell. “And hello to you too,” she adds with barely a glance at the Varisian. “Where is Andrzej?” Hrani's last remark about Pike elicits a somewhat troubled look. “That ... that is a good point. Pike did not seem himself. Do you think that his behavior has something to do with Fido or Signy?” Her lips purse into a light frown. “Perhaps we should investigate their background more thoroughly later? After all, they seemed to know a good deal about our affairs; it is only right that we return the favor.”
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#218
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he/him\his
In Repose Last edited by Sassafrass; Mar 23rd, 2018 at 01:25 PM. |
#219
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Carlo basked in Hrani’s adoration, beaming with pride as the elf seemed flabbergasted by his ability to convince people of something when he so chose. All he’d wanted was a bit of validation from someone, and it felt good to be getting that, especially from the secretive elf. But of course Mara had to come along and pour cold water on the whole thing. Everyone else had forgiven him, it seemed, but Mara. Something about her attractiveness made him feel powerless around her, which was all the more infuriating. He hardly realized his own status as a native surface dweller (not to mention his connections with the mob) put her in far more danger around him in every situation they’d ever been in together than vice versa.
To her question he just shrugs in reply, but his mind retraces the choices of the night before…
When Mara’s gaze doesn’t relent, he simply averts his eyes and says “He wasn’t really part of this plan. Not a big fan of the Crooked Kin, for whatever reason.” And then, turning to Lidia and smiling, “but not me, I think they’re great people.” When Kaple seems to grant permission, he turns towards the stairway, “Shall we?”
__________________
On hiatus while I figure out my gender. Checkout my games at itchio. my mailbox is full, but you can reach me on twitter: @goatmealery |
#220
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Mara graces Gundargrin with a pleased look, cordially extending the back of her hand to meet his formal kiss. His courteous display of etiquette is not lost upon the soprano, and clearly elevates the gentledwarf in her esteem. Any lingering wariness she might have had of his presence evaporates, and her suspicions about Fido and Signy are similarly deflected by Kaple’s personal experience with the investigators, though the dwarf’s subsequent question redirects her misgivings to the duo’s mysterious employers. She exchanges a meaningful look with Hrani.
“Nothing serious,” she reassures Jamir when he asks about Pike running off, “just … peculiar. And secretive. It seemed as if he wanted to be alone.” She pauses as a memory triggers a tight, hard smile. “You should ask Pike when he returns,” her gaze shifts to include Kendra, “and make sure that he cleans your carriage properly.” When Klovar reveals the provenance of the silver surgical tools, Mara exchanges another look with the elf before flashing a warm smile at the dwarf. “Your presence is proving to be quite serendipitous. If this Hora could identify the owner of these tools, we might have a tangible lead as to who is really behind the murders in Morast.” The songstress turns to Kaple. “May we borrow these tools to show to Zbraslov Hora? His knowledge may strengthen our case considerably.” “But first,” she looks at Carlo directly, “I should like to visit Sulliviani as well.” The singer had tacitly accepted the mage’s non-explanation of Andrzej’s whereabouts, knowing better than to press him for further information. She remembers Andrzej’s intense dislike of the Crooked Kin—the clowns in particular, if she recalls correctly—so she doesn’t doubt the truth of Carlo’s words, only their completeness. At any rate, with a sudden flash of insight she realizes that they may have the better half of the Varisian duo. Hearing Carlo’s unabashed acceptance for the menagerie of deformities that is the Crooked Kin, Mara understands that maybe he truly accepts her too, for who she really is instead of who she appears to be, and that the contradictions in his actions are merely reactions to the contradictions within herself. With a broad sweep of her arm she politely gestures for Carlo and the Crooked Kin to go first, echoing his words with a genuine, conciliatory smile. “Shall we?”
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#221
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Hrani listens as the dwarf introduces himself, and he remains silent for a while after that, mulling over what exactly a live-in roommate was and why it made Kaple giggle in a ways the elf had come to associate with human girls. Once more the intricacies of human and dwarven and all other non-elven social protocols elude him. Oh well. He has other things to focus on, for they finally seem to have a solid lead with this Hora fellow. And then there is still the matter of Signy and Fido. Mara seems to take Kaple's reassurance at face value, finally trusting them and instead becoming more curious about their employers. But things are different for the Magus. The barrister's answer had been just a little...too convenient. To absolute. Leaving no room to doubt their new companion's integrity. Almost as if someone out there wanted to make Hrani trust them. So, naturally, the elf's suspicion of the pair redoubles. Which does not mean he doesn't agree with Mara's assessment about an investigation into their employers being a good idea, however. "If you have any ideas how to go about investigating our new...friends'...employers, I'd be moooore than happy to assist."
One thing after the other, however. And they already have two rather pressing issues on the agenda. Visiting the beast, and investigating the surgical tools. "This Hora fellow...will he give us the name of his client, or will he prefer to keep his client's identity a secret? If he seems like the sort of person who wouldn't help us strangers, perhaps you could accompany us, Gundargrin, if you have previously done business with him? Or at least write us a letter guaranteeing our trustworthiness and the importance of our business...?" Whatever the answer, Hrani follows the others to visit the so-called beast. He is curious, of course, having missed the visit the first time around. What sort of creature awaits him in the cell down below? |
#222
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__________________
Father of proud children. Expect the next 18+ years to be erratic and/or chaotic.
Last edited by Thorsten; Feb 12th, 2018 at 03:05 AM. |
#223
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Pike steps in line with Runa and Signy on their way to Elssa's "Something howled in anguish and rage nearby when you disposed of the spirit, let's see what happens when you dispose of the next one. Maybe we'll find a way to go directly to the source." he says no more, allowing the grim pair to be on their business. Kneeling down by the corpse for a quick investigation he pockets any valuables and snatches the thong from the dead man's neck, throwing it to Fido "This tell you anything?" he doesn't wait for an answer, time is of the essence here so he moves forward to the path leading down to the creek beyond. His thoughts go back to the painful howl he'd heard a moment ago and the terrifying screams wrought by the spirits of the dead children, surely Herstag is a cursed place, one that can never be made whole again.
"Come, might as well make ourselves useful out here, hey?" He lights a cigar before they go on, offering one to Fido while his piercing eyes remain on the oddity by the creek "Our client told us he'd lived near Elssa's house, let's see if he's telling the truth shall we?" With careful steps he moves down the path, eyes on the ground in case any more traps are upon it. The fate of the thief is a grim one indeed and Pike, for one, has no interest in sharing it with him. |
#224
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__________________
Playing - High Risk, Heist Reward | The Grand Tour
Last edited by PopCultureBard; Feb 13th, 2018 at 08:32 AM. |
#225
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Last edited by Blackfyre; Feb 17th, 2018 at 12:32 PM. Reason: formatting |
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