Round Two
Daen didn't like the outcome of the previous round, and didn't like that Ellie was down on the ground as well. Switching hands with his sword, he made a slash at the nearby thug.
Round 3
Daen noticed Ellie on the ground, and knowing she had the only healing capacity for the group made a tactical decision and looks for a safe place to cast his spell. Casting the infernal conjuration spell, he knew it wasn't ideal, but he also didn't want his companion to bleed out. Perhaps she'd forgive him later.
With his companions dead, and his weapon in Kassara's hand, the final bandit--who had already partially withdrawn--turns and flees. The sound of bootsteps on the rooftops can be heard and, presumably, the crossbowman flees as well for he can no longer be seen up there.
Elyssa leans against the statue and sits down. "...who were they..?"
Immediately brightening up at the mention of Sarenrae, Ardis's exclamation is enthused with surprise and a bit of excitement. ”Its Sarenrae! Allie worships her too! Although most of us follow Iomedae, she's the Knights of Ozem patron goddess. She was once one of us! She was made a herald to Aroden after the Shining Crusade and took up his mantle when he fell.” He pauses and folds his hands, both index fingers pointing toward the ceiling. ”All glory to the Inheritor,” he speaks quietly, reverently.
Vorin nods, gesturing toward the hallway. He motions with Zohruk to walk first. If the half-orc does, he takes up just a q uarter step behind and to his side. Ardis simply walks on Zohruk's other side. ”Jalen and I were heading over there. I wanted to see if anyone was in the dormitory, was hoping to invite the two Tilernos girls along or the other new boy...he makes Jalen squirm. Hah!” Vorin looks over at his companion, who reluctantly joins them.
Jalen sighs and shakes his head. ”Don't, Vorin. I dislike such issues in the cohort and wish they had sent him elsewhere. I do not like the prospect of facing him during Challenges.”
The friendly scrub shrugs. ”He doesn't like anything fun. I'm the exciting one, I know all the good taverns...although Ardis knows the cheaper ones, which are probably a better idea with the amount of gold most of our parents send, or don't send, to us. Did I hear that Durante brought you in? That's impressive, he must have seen something good in you.”
Here, Vorin stops walking, his lips curling into a smile, his eyes narrowing slightly. ”Perhaps we should have a quick contest.” He steps forward again, motioning for the group to keep walking. Jalen, however, doesn't.
”Don't start causing trouble with him, Vorin.”
The half elf crouches next to his fallen companion with a bit of a concerned look in his eyebrows and a slight frown. She can't cure herself, and it didn't look like she would quickly rouse herself. In fact, he had no idea how hurt she actually was, or if she was still dying. He had told himself earlier that he wouldn't use this without permission, but he'd rather break his own word than have to explain to Kassie later that he could have saved her but did not.
Daen reaches in his his pouch for something and gave it a small squeeze. Then he reached out and placed his thumb in Ellie's blood, mixing it with the blood on his own hand. There was a surge of arcane power, and then nothing. He'd hoped he wasn't too late. He also hoped no one was paying attention. He'd rather not discuss how he got this power.
As the Sczarni turn and run, Kassie lets her rapier drop to the ground and drops to her knees, cradling Allie's head in her lap as tears begin to stream down her face. Looking up as Daen drops down beside them she chokes out "Please. Please can you do something to help her? I'll do anything! Just don't let her die." She continues sobbing as Daen reaches into his pouch and does,... something with her sister's blood. For a moment she feels a sense of,.. foreboding, but, as Aliie's wounds stop bleeding, she returns her attention to her sister, stroking her hair and sobbing gently as she whispers. "Please be alright Allie. Please don't leave me all alone."
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"As long as she's breathing, there's hope." Daen backed off from the sisters and turned to the rest. He shook off a wave of nausea. Whether it was from his wounds from today or yesterday, or possibly from what he'd just done, he couldn't tell. He was no cleric. Of that he was painfully aware. He'd also just taken a life, but for that he did not feel pain. The damn fool chose his own stupid death. This bastard was just an instrument after all.
"Can everyone else walk? If we work together, I'm sure we'll get everyone back to the Bonewatch. Hopefully we've scared off anyone stupid enough to fight Cohort Two tonight." He turned to the dark streets, feeling a slight rush of darkness as he spoke into it. "And if there's any other petty idiots out there, looking to throw their lives away, we're at our leisure to receive you. Come anytime." He sheathed his glowing blue sword, still glistening in the torch light, still covered in blood. "Or better yet go out and earn something for yourself, like self respect, or a clue of who's really at fault here. Some criminal kills people you know, and you say you are getting revenge by killing people the criminal might know? People who are even looking to bring that person to justice? Where's the sense in that?"
He realized at this point that he had been affected by the alcohol a bit more than he'd realized. It might be that he was still a pint low on the amount of blood he should have in his system. He turned back to the team to notice Ellie stirring awake. "Come on, let's go."
"I c-can...I c-can walk. W-what happened? D-did anyone else get hurt? Are any of our attackers still b-breathing?"
Eilidh sits up, gingerly poking at her wounds. "W-what did you use t-to f-fix these? This d-doesn't s-seem...doesn't seem...divine." Standing, she casts her own spell, following it up with another for Daen and Kassie. "I h-have to see if any of our attackers are a-alive."
"We,.. we killed these ones but the others got away." Kassie replies, helping her sister to her feet as she does so. "Are you sure you're OK? That man," she nods at the fallen Sczarni. "he got you with his sword but,.. Dean killed him. I killed the other one... I've never killed anyone before... Its strange but, but I'm not sorry. They attacked us! They almost killed you! But Daen, he,... he saved you with magic." turning to the half-elf she smiles and, stepping forward, envelopes him in an embrace. "Thank you so much! You saved her life!"
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As the shock and adrenaline from the fight passes out of him, Grimold starts to feel the wound in his side. Dropping the daggers, he holds his arm to the gash. The blood pounds in his head, keeping him from thinking or concentrating on anything until Allie heals him, bringing sudden clarity.
Taking in the sight of the bodies again, his anger turned on the dead Sczarni. He wanted to kick the faces in, to stomp on their skulls, to punish them for their part in this. Clenching his fists, he falls to his knees and pounds them on the ground in agonized frustration with the cycle of violence. Why did this keep happening to him? For the second time in as many weeks this scene played out, and for the second time Grimold thinks he'd be better off as one of the bodies. How many more times would this happen before he would be one of the bodies?
His eyes fall to the daggers that had suddenly appeared in his hands after he had been wounded. One was still slick with blood. Violence only begat more violence. It was unfortunate, but it was necessary for protection against the forces that threaten to corrupt and destroy civilization, whether they be supernatural hordes of zombies and demons, bestial armies of orcs, or the seedy underbelly of society itself. He couldn't prevent the violence, but he could protect himself and others. Those who chose to live by the sword would die by the sword. These executions were not pretty... but they were just. The Sczarni had brought it upon themselves when they drew steel, seeking revenge in the wrong places. It occurs to Grimold that, had circumstances been different, he might have become like them.
Grimold sighs wearily, his soul heavy. Picking up the violin he must have dropped during the fight, he checks it for damage. Satisfied that it's unharmed, he retrieves his dagger and, after a moment's pause, takes the unfamiliar dagger as well. It would serve as a good reminder for him of what he had been saved from, and why the Knights were necessary. Cleaning off the blood, he takes an empty sheathe from one of the bodies. Joining his friends, he realizes that, instead of mourning, it would be better simply to celebrate that he was still alive.
"Yeah, Durante seems to be the real deal. Quite the dragontongue on him, too, because my chief, she doesn't listen to anyone, 'cept Yhrrilka, her volokh. That's like an aide or advisor...
Zohruk trails off for a second thinking of Yhrrilka. First Urgir, now this; it makes me wonder if the chief's purposely trying to keep me away from her...
He snaps back to the here and now with the exchange between Vorin and Jalen. Well, you suspected someone was going to get into it with you right away; here we go. Zohruk's eyes narrow and he tries to mentally catalog where everyone is, Don't lose track of anyone. Staring down Vorin, he asks, "Whatcha got in mind? A challenge is one thing, but I'm not looking to get busted out of here on my first day."
Despite the blood and the lack of movement, only one of the men at your feet is dead. Of the one that Elyssa set alight on the rooftop—you have no idea. Allie finds that the quick battle did not give the criminals time to bleed out on the ground. Simple bandages might keep them from bleeding out until others arrive—if others do arrive.
Elyssa moves to Kassie's side and picks up the rapier, cleaning it off slowly, a look of distaste at the amount of blood. ”...trouble follows you lot, doesn't it? ..We..shouldn't stay here long. I think. Will they come back with more? Should we head to the Bonewatch's infirmary? Do we report about this or try and keep it hidden? I'd rather avoid Fisk's angry glares...can..can we just keep it secret?”
She actually turns and seems to direct the question at Grimold's shocked expression. While waiting for an answer, she pulls out a vial of thin, lavender liquid and drains it—some of her wounds knitting together.
”You're number one in more than rank, I think, Daen.” She smiles weekly and pats him on the shoulder while Kassie embraces him before moving to pick up one of the flickering torches, blowing on it to bring it back to life.
I think both of you passed the previous Knowledge(local) check. This part of the city is a little out of the way, but its close enough to major thoroughfares that you can figure out your way home.
The sound of fighting will likely result in guards being sent at some point. Vigil tries to keep a close watch on crime—especially in areas like this one where pilgrims come to visit.
Bypassing a Local save; this is for Grimold's prior interactions with Jorge. These sort of “hits” aren't unusual to demoralize someone that the family has felt done something wrong. However, it is extremely rare for them to do something like this against an organization as powerful as the Knights of Ozem. It is unlikely that the family's leaders in Vigil approved such a thing.
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Daen was unaccustomed to the praise of beautiful young girls. Despite his depleted stores of blood, a fair amount of it gathered in his cheeks and ears during the grateful hug from Kassie. He felt more nervous than he ever had in battle. The encouragement from Elyssa affected him as well, but in a different way than the one that happens when a lithe young woman presses her body against a young man with a historical lack of physical intimacy.
He didn't really know what to do with his hands at this point. His instincts were shouting at him to do one thing, and his brain was shouting just as loud. Reason triumphed and he simply patted one hand on the middle of her back. "I did what I could. That's all I expect from anyone."
Somewhat dodging Ellie's questions, he answered Elyssa first. "I think the best thing for us to do is just head back. If no one has any injuries that are life threatening, let's skip the infirmary too." He turned then to Ellie, who was busying herself with curing people in the group. "Do what you have to do with these, but we need to get moving fast if we don't want to suffer repercussions just for defending ourselves."
”I don't really know him..but my father spoke highly of him. And anyone who gets that sort of praise must have earned it.” Jalen's voice is rigid and gruff, like that of a drill sergeant. When he walks, its with a proper upright posture and his hand is never far from the hilt of his sword. While Vorin seems confident, practically arrogant, in his swaggering stride Jalen shows the confidence of a swordsman with a slight humble air.
Vorin seems more interested in the slight tone Zohruk has when mentioning the aide. ”Advisor? She pretty..I mean, for a half-orc.” He doesn't seem to notice Jalen's harsh look or Ardis's slight intake of breath at the off-handed, seemingly accidental, comment. ” And I wouldn't do anything to get kicked out! That'd be social suicide. Do you know what happens to those who fail here? They go on to be soldiers with Lastwall. Not Knights. Not adventuring wanderers where bards sing songs of. They get to be guardsmen and grunts and..well, probably at least a dekarchos or lochaghos, but still not the sort of position I want or the ladies fawn over.”
Ardis lets out a small laugh at Vorin's tirade and doesn't notice Zohruk's subtle change in positioning. Jalen rolls his eyes at the duelist, smiling for a brief moment as he sees how the half-orc maneuvers himself. He takes a small step away, not too far, but enough to provide the sort of distance a swordsman gives to an unarmed fighter. If Zohruk glances his way, Sturgis will incline his head quickly—like a fencer acknowledging a point in a duel.
Vorin doesn't seem to notice, although he does slow his step to not have Zohruk behind him at all. If the two continue to change their pace to try to stay a step behind the other, the entire group ends up coming to a halt in the hallway. Throughout this whole unvoiced exchange, Vorin continues to chatter.
”I was thinking something simple. Arm-wrestling at the dinner table..maybe followed up by a game of some kind. Maybe Seige? What kind of games do you play in Belkzen?”
Siege is a deeply strategic game using black and white beads. Think of it as Golarion's Go.
Grimold shakes his head in response to Elyssa's question. "Telling Fisk would just make things worse. These men were probably acting of their own accord. The Sczarni bosses will see to it that they learn their lesson if they want to avoid going to war against the Knights."
Zohruk lets the inquiry about Yhrrilka pass unacknowledged for now. "I'll give you that arm wrestling match if you'd care to follow up with a game of darts. I'm not all..." Zohruk gestures with his arms in a "flex"-style motion, "...like a lot of my kin. You want an arm wrestling match, we go home, I'll introduce you to my cousin Haazek. I swear he could probably tear the tail off a Rull-cat. Then you can show me this 'Siege'."
Zohruk acknowledges Jalen's glance with one that he hopes communicates, I'm not looking to start anything here.
Forgot a die roll, sorry. :D
"Yeah I've heard of it, never had a chance to play."
Elyssa nods to Daen and turns with the rest back to the Bonewatch. "Is that who you used to run with, Grimold? The Sczarni? And..I'm glad no one else feels like telling him. Fisk'd do something mean and pointless." As they exit the square, she pauses and looks over her shoulder. "..Will you hate me if I'm tempted to run back and take their purses? They probably stole it all anyway..."
The Bonewatch
The cafeteria is lined with the same magical orbs of the hallways and dormitory. They shed bright light across the area, banishing most shadows and making it look as day. Long wooden tables line the hall with two great fireplaces to either side. An elevated platform holds more tables for the actual Knights and a second elevated platform for Knights of higher rank. Scrubs from all four cohorts as well as the three cohorts ahead of them by a year are scattered through the tables--although it seems they all stick to their own cohort. Zohruk is not sure if this is due to habit or something that is intended.
The trio lead him to a long table with several others seated--a bearded Taldan, a pudgy boy with glasses reading over a book, a tall boy with bulging muscles who eats hunched over his meal hurriedly (very much like an orc), two girls chatting quietly and feverishly with each other and a frowning boy sulking near the end of the table.
When a few look up and see Jalen, they move over to make space for him. Except for the blonde, who purposefully seems to ignore Jalen.
Vorin waves to one of the servants wandering around with plates of food. "Four of us! Bring lots of meat! Extra! We have a hungry new scrub."
Zohruk's exotic looks draw more than one look--in fact everyone at the table except the sulking boy is staring at him or sneaking glances. The long-haired blonde glares at him. "An orc? Seriously? Are we opening the gates to Belkzen now?"
Both Jalen and Vorin ignore him. Ardis sticks his tongue out at the noble. "Let's see what your cousin has taught you then, Zohruk!" Vorin leans over the table and holds his arm out, grinning widely.
"Indeed, let us see..."
Zohruk seats himself, reaches over the table, and bears down.
Eilidh shoots Elyssa a look. "Are...are you certain th-they stole w-what they had? If th-they did, it sh-should be returned to it's owners, and if n-not, they h-have families and the s-streets are harsh...m-much harsher than I r-realized. C-could we d-do something useful w-with the c-coins, if you must take them?"
Grimold frowns at Elyssa with distaste. "Leave their purses alone. Even if they did steal it, that doesn't make it yours for the taking. We have done enough already." The Knights were supposed to be his chance at a better life, not just power to abuse for personal gain. He was too tired to rant at Elyssa, but there was no way he would let that kind of corruption pass unchecked.
"Also, we don't know when the guards will show up. If they catch us, it will be much more trouble than it's worth. We know we didn't do anything wrong, but taking from them will make it plausible that we attacked them." Crime usually is. They'd already caused enough trouble as it was. Out in the field, when they needed such things to survive, that was another story. But in the city, where they all had all they could eat, a clean place to sleep and jobs if they wanted or needed them, it didn't make sense to rob the dead.
Walking down the streets, he realized his heart was still pounding. That was something that definitely needed to be addressed later.
She sighs and shrugs. "Allie's probably right..I do quite think them attacking us counts as making it ours for the taking--but we don't want to make it look like we're roving bandits either. I was mostly thinking of buying a healing potion but.." She glances over her shoulder. "I don't want to meet up with any more of them in the dark after that misunderstanding. They wouldn't even listen to what Kassara had to say!"
The scrubs quickly return to the Knights' headquarters. As they do, they pass several servants up late murmuring to one another--it seems like another group of cohorts got into a fight with each other or something similar.
The Bonewatch; Cafeteria
Zohruk grips Vorin's hand and easily pushes the other youths hand down to the table with a loud thump. Vorin pulls his arm back, rubbing the muscle and scowling a little. "Damn...your cousin would probably tear my arm right off!"
Releasing Daen, Kassie nods in agreement with him. "Yeah, we should head back. I think I know the way from here. I think it'd be best if we tried to keep quiet about all this though. Gods know what Fisk'd do to us if he found out. We'd better make sure to fix and clean our clothes too. All this blood might raise questions we don't want to answer."
As they make their way back through the streets, Kassie stays protectively close to her sister. Once back she will head straight to the barracks, trying to avoid meeting anyone and doing her best to stay out of sight. She recommends to the others that they do likewise.
"Damn...your cousin would probably tear my arm right off!"
Good job, don't rub his face in the victory.
Zohruk smiles at Vorin, doing his best to play it cool despite being pretty pleased with himself.
"Yeah, he might at that. Haazek's a good guy but 'enough is enough' just isn't a concept that gets through to him." He lets his gaze float down the table, anyone of the assorted others who were there when the four of them entered will get a glance full of That's right, that's a thing that just happened.
"So, after we eat you mentioned that game, 'Siege'..."
The Bonewatch; Cafeteria
The group is served salads of arugula and a honey-balsamic vinaigrette, a soup of shrimp in white wine and garlic, and meat and quinoa stuffed yellow peppers. After the meal, Vorin reaches into a satchel and pulls out a slim, dark wooden box. Gold filigree of battling chariots ring the edges. Within lays a wooden board on hinges and an array of ivory and obsidian beads. He starts laying out the pieces and explaining the rules of the game.
"Siege has various rules. But, basically, we alternate placing the black and white stones. The goal is to surround your opponent's stones and have more stones on the board then they do."
"It's kind of late, so I'll just show you a little bit. We'll play a quick game."
For example. If Jalen rolls a 10 and Vorin rolls an 18, vorin's success increases by 8. A typical game of Siege goes until a target of 40.
Additional: Having ranks in Knowledge (Martial Lore) or Profession (Soldier) gives a +2 to this check. For every 5 ranks in Knowledge (Martial Lore) or Profession(Soldier), this goes up by another +1. If you have both Knowledge(Martial Lore) and Profession(Soldier), gain benefits for both.
Jalen and Ardis lean in close, watching. Jalen shakes his head slightly. "I would never have expected you to play strategy games, Vorin."
Vorin grins at Zohruk and starts placing stones.
Characters: Daen, Eilidh, Kassara, Elyssa, Grimold
As long as the others follow Kassie's advice, they arrive back at the Bonewatch with no fanfare and can return to their dormitory without issue.
Grimold bristles at Elyssa's attitude, but he's too tired to let himself get riled up. He plods along with the others, looking forward to collapsing in his bunk. When they arrive back at the Bonewatch, he heads straight for the dormitory for bed.
Zohruk sits and tries to concentrate on the game.
Daen used a cantrip to clean himself and everyone else up of the bloody patches. The holes would have to be mended manually, but it wasn't too hard to manage, but it would have to wait until later. As everyone went back to the bunks, Daen found that he could eat, and probably should because his body needed more materials for mending itself.
After announcing he was going to head on down to the cafeteria, he went down the hall, secretly hoping that the sisters and Elyssa wouldn't come along because he had trouble calming down that beating heart of his. He mustn't allow himself any hope. He was just a bastard half-breed after all. He'd been teased a couple times by courtiers before, and darned if he was going to be made a fool of here.
As he arrived at the cafeteria he grabbed a plate of leftovers before they put everything away from the kitchen and went in to sit by the other members of the cohort he saw there with some half-orc, probably from a different cohort. They were playing siege, and Daen always liked such a game, so he watched quietly, not wanting to break the concentration of the players.
Jalen looks up as Daen enters and waves him over. Most of the cohort has trickled away, leaving just the four surrounding the siege board. Vorin looks up and nods his head slightly, his brow furrows and his ever-present smile looking forced. "Evening, Daen."
Evening it is." He didn't want to distract Vorin, especially since it looked like he was in a bad spot, then again if he gave him a bit of a hard time during the game, he could blame Daen for it. Instead, he sat next to Jalen and whispered to him.
"I haven't played this game in a long time. Who's game is it, yours?"
Sturgis shakes his head. "Vorin's, surprisingly. He admitted to being an amateur player though..I am surprised he would play something like this. It does not strike me as something he would do. He is...reckless."
Well, this guy at least didn't open with a snotty comment, that counts for something.
Not looking up apart from one quick head turn before focusing back on the game Zohruk says, "Hey, how's it going?"
"I've ears, Jalen. I'm not as reckless as you think. Just wait until you have to face me in the arena--you and Daen."
Vorin picks up a few tiles and places them with increasing speed, going back and forth with Zohruk. And I'm not that far behind."
He barely notices as a pair of rats chase one another beneath the tables, making Ardis lift his feet up cursing.
"Damn rats."
Day 20; Starday
Characters: All
The following morning is the same as the past two stardays. Bells ring to wake up the cohort, most of whom are up before the bell anyway. It is a weekend day, giving each of the scrubs freedom to do as they wish.
During breakfast, you realize that Flint and the others from the night before look almost as roughed up as those who went out. Flint's arm is in a cast and Timon's sporting a bandage over his cheek.
"Damn." To the fellow who just sat down, Zoruk says (eyes still on the board), "Hey, I'm Zohruk. I was supposed to join you guys, but now I'm thinking I ought to go back to Belkzen and kick my cousin's ass," that last with a grin at Vorin.
"Ooof! The Black Walker* clearly went on ahead without me..."
If any rats go directly underfoot, Zoh will take a stomp without even giving it a look or a second thought.
Eilidh wakes up, gently prodding at her wounds. They've healed up nicely with whatever Daen had done to them, but when she'd looked at them last night, something had seemed...off. Whatever it was, though, they're fine this morning. Strapping herself into her armor hurts a bit, and there's a tender spot near her kidney where the sword had gone in, but she can certainly live with that.
Making her way to breakfast, she eats a quick meal, glancing occasionally at Flint and Timon. It seems they'd not been the only scrubs to get in a fight the night before. She stares for a moment, trying to determine if it's safe to talk to them, and wanders over. "Dawnflower bless you two, you look worse than I feel!"
Starday
Kassie wakes up still feeling the effects of the ale from the night before and clambers out of bed, her shoulder, feeling oddly stiff from the crossbow bolt, complaining at the movement. Gingerly she dresses, and then follows her sister to breakfast. In her wooly-headed state she fails to notice the new arrival asleep in his cot.
Grabbing herself a plate of deliciously oily bacon and eggs, she finds a seat and almost inhales the meal. Only after she finishes does she push the plate away and look up at the others seated at the table. "I want to head to the marketplace down near the Tower of Scholae to see if I can track down that Josica boy. Anyone want to come with me?" leaning in so that not too many people can hear, she whispers "I don't think we should go out into the city alone for a little while, given what happened last night, but maybe if we find out what happened to those men in the prison it won't happen again?"
Fireday
"I don't know, Jalen." The half elf said between bites. "He seems fairly calculating to me. I suppose time will tell." When Vorin makes his statement, Daen points his fork back at him in what he figured was a playful manner to before poking his meal again and taking another bite.
Finishing off his food with record speed, Daen raised an eyebrow at the new. "Join us, and you're from Belkzen?" It took him a second with a bit of the fog still around his head from his blood loss until it all clicked together. They sure did live a bit recklessly, these knights of Ozem. At least, inviting a spy right inside their revered training grounds seemed that way to him. "Why the hells not? I'm sure your cousin can wait. Welcome to Cohort One. Make sure you keep up on your studies and I'm sure you'll do well."
Starday
"I'll go with you." Daen said it without even thinking, and just as immediately thought to himself that it was a bad idea. He still had to work at his job that afternoon, and it wouldn't be good to not get back in time to do that. But there was something about that girl he just couldn't say no to. That in itself was a bad sign. He decided to make the most of it though, as he hadn't heard back from her on the issue he'd asked her about earlier that week. "I've been meaning to talk to you about that rat problem anyhow."
Kassie finally notices Zohruk at the table and, when Daen welcomes him, she turns and waves. Hi there. I'm Kassie, and this is my sister Allie," she says, poking her sister in the ribs." I had to learn some orcish from one of my tutors. Mother thought it'd be a good idea." for a moment she thinks and then, in a harsh guttural tone says "Hach-ka geer ekke Belkzen, Gar ekke Sekken. Dakkar ak'ar geer ekke kazen."
although her accent is strange, and her voice isn't able to form quite the right guttural sounds, her orcish is quite good and her greeting is normal, if a little archaic in word choice.
When Daen offers to go with her, Kassie grins widely. "Excellent! Its a date. Tell you what. I'll just go clean up and get stuff and meet you in the training yard in an hour? We can talk about rats on the way." With that, she pushes back from the table and heads back to the barracks, returning to the training grounds somewhat later, freshly bathed and wearing her armour and with her sword at her hip.
Fireday
Despite giving up the advantage early on, Vorin wins the short game in a few quick moves. He smirks and leans back, folding his arms. ”Better. I don't know what I'd have done if I lost..” Leaning forward and extending a hand, Vorin's smirk turns into a more authentic smile. 'You didn't do bad for the first time.”
Assuming Vohruk accepts the hand, Vorin will start picking up the pieces. ”Calculating how I'll end up in your rank, Daen! Just don't compare me to those nobles you grew up with, we of Lastwall are a different breed.” He starts to pack up the board, the other tables empty and the hearths burning down to embers. The room was starting to grow cold. The hallway and warm beds beckon, a summons that Vorin and Ardis both stand to respond to. However, before they can leave the room, Jalen speaks up.
”Daen, what did you get up to tonight? You look like you may have run through some brambles..or something else.”
Starday
Characters: Eilidh
The table quiets at Allie's approach, Septima scowls and rolls her eyes while Flint blinks a few times and speaks up before Cane can say something snarky and rude. ”Be careful if you're going out at night.”
Septima elbows him roughly and shakes her head. ”We don't have to say anything to--” Flint lets out a small growl and pushes her back roughly. Timon and Braxton both let out a laugh and even Padraic smiles at the flabbergasted expression on her face.
”Yes we do. Leo already told Luca. Outside attacks are a problem.” Timon speaks up. This seems to be a rare thing for Flint, Braxton and a couple other faces at the table give him a weird look. ”We uh...got into a fight with some Sczarni thugs yesterday. We beat their faces in, but they were carrying steel weapons.”
”So..watch out if you guys go out at night, alright?”. Padraic's mild voice pipes in, the thin boy smiling at Eilidh. ”And uhm..tell your sister I said to watch out too, yeah?”
Characters: Kassara, Daen (others)
Kassie's charm and general upbeat personality have a way of inspiring helpfulness. Elyssa leaps at the opportunity, waving one of her hands in the air as if answering a question in class. ”Oh! I will! I want to know what's going on with that. Everyone deserves justice with their deaths..and its not like I have anything else to do today.”
Starday
Grimold wakes to the tolling of the bells. Opening his eyes, he lazily stares at the ceiling, mulling over the events of the night before. For some reason, he doesn't feel the same sense of peace and resolution that he had. Something about it all sticks like a splinter in the back of his mind, but the source of the unease eludes him.
At breakfast, he eyes the scrubs from Cohort 2, noting their injuries. It doesn't take a genius to guess how that happened; they looked too roughed up for a simple barroom brawl. He eats sullenly. The food smells good, but he barely tastes it. When Kassie invites others to join her, he shakes his head. "You just go looking for trouble, don't you? Maybe think about letting things blow over before you go stoking the coals again, eh?" These scrubs had a knack of finding trouble no matter where they went. Grimold wanted to help, but perhaps it was better if he conducted his business separately. Besides, there were some angles left for him to work that required... delicacy.
Before going out, Grimold changes into his street clothes. They may be shabbier, but he was less likely to be bothered, especially if he didn't look like a Bonewatch scrub. The shirt was long; after a week of wearing clothes that fit, he'd forgotten what his old clothes felt like. Don't forget what your old life felt like, too. The feeling of fullness in his belly was something he was starting to get used to, and the old clothes were a good reminder not to take the small luxuries for granted. At least the shirt was long enough to conceal the dagger on his hip. He thought about taking the other, but decided against it. Nobody would look twice if he only carried one weapon, but more than that and he risked coming across like he was asking for trouble.
Starday
Date? An involuntary rush of blood to the tips of his ears showed him that Daen forced himself to calm down. After all, it couldn't be a date if others were coming along. When Elyssa volunteered, it only stemmed the foreboding feeling a little. She also had a high opinion of him, or at least she indicated it last night. Spending the morning with two precocious girls might be something of which Vorin might be jealous, but it was simply means to an end. At least, that's what he was telling himself.
"I'll meet you there, but there's a few things I need to get in the dorm as well." He managed to speak without sounding too nervous. Nodding to both ladies with proper manners, he left to go study his spell book. It was likely he'd need something as a bit better of a distraction than he normally kept. He used his magic to clean himself up, not being particularly fond of being without his weapons and armor with his cousin nearby and met the girls at the training grounds in due time.
As the group went out to get information, Daen prepared himself to give whatever aid he could to help find Josica. Once they got to the place they were going he took Kassie's lead, and used some of the same phrases and questions she was using, although without the shameless smiles and flirting. He figured that would prove to be much more detrimental than helpful.
Eilidh nods to Padraic, trying to keep the relief out of her voice. They didn't seem likely to start a fight in the mess hall, so she was probably safe. "I w-will. W-we got jumped on our w-way home t-too, but I th-think the d-d-dawn...the Dawnflower will p-protect me t-today. I d-don't think anyone's g-going where I am, anyways..." She trails off, shuffling away from the group and toward the Bonewatch's gates.
Kassie meets Daen and Elyssa in the training yard, greeting both of them with a broad smile. Together they head through the streets to the Tower of Scholae and then to the market. Once there Kassie will, with the others, begin by looking around at the stalls that have been set up.
Starday
Characters: Daen, Kassara
The Tower of Scholae is named after a the elite bodyguard of the Preceptor Martial and the Watcher-Lord. The group was formed over two-hundred years ago during the fall of Harchist's Blockade. It generally consists of learned soldiers using their shields to protect not only themselves but others. Scholae work in cohesive groups when at battle, relying on strength of companions over any individual power. However, it has been decades since the Scholae have been in a fight as few attempt attacks on the Prceptor Martial.
The Tower itself is an imposing structure of dull grey stone. Carvings of skilled magi encircle the lower reaches and the parapets resembles swords striking toward the sky. Across from it sits an unnamed tower with no distinguishing characteristics and between them the Scholae's Gate rests—the iron doors bearing only a pair of swords coated in lightning bolts. The road from Scholae's Gate leads south toward Castle Everstand where it meets up with trade from Nirmathas.
The marketplace is easy to find from the tower, overflowing the road and butting up against it. Wooden stalls lay scattered around the gray cobblestones. Guards keep the cloth-covered merchant areas away from the main thoroughfare which runs straight through the gate. The smell of spiced lamb and beef fills the air with a thick, heady scent overlaid with the smell of people, horses and fresh cut lumber. The marketplace here features plenty of wood shipped from the Fangwood, much of it being cut to request as various craftsmen come by requesting different lengths and quantities. The sound of shouting merchants is loudest, cut with the rub of saws, the whinies of horses and the loud bickering of customers.
Kassara wanders the stalls and finds mostly wooden goods and food. Surrounding farms always fill the markets. Sweet watermelons and honeydew, piles of cherries, oranges and figs as well as cabbages, beets, mushrooms, fresh-cut spinach and drying herbs line many of the stalls. Carpenters sell raw wood, furniture and small knick-knacks alongside a few cloth and leather merchants. The clothing sold here is rough and mostly cotton, none of the finery that can be found just a little while down where the road to Vellumis enters the city.
Crowds are thick this time of day, for the sun has yet to rise to its zenith and is not yet beating down on them. There are numerous people running and walking about—including quite a few kids who seem to be without guardians.
Kassie wanders from stall to stall, intrigued by some of the wooden knick-knacks, but not enough to actually purchase anything. Although she briefly glances at the clothes, none of them are fashionable enough for her to give them more than a cursory glance. She does, however, find herself tempted by the smells of spiced lamb, and soon finds herself wandering the market whilst eating a deliciously hot serving of the dish. Coming to a convenient set of stairs, she sits and watches the kids running about. Noticing two children - a boy and a girl who sit playing knucklebones a little way from her, she approaches with a grin and watches for a moment until one of them looks up. "That looks like fun," she says, squatting next to them. "My name's Kassie, what's yours? I don't suppose you'd be able to help me,... I'm looking for a friend of mine, well a friend of a friend really. His name's Josica, and my friend, well, she said that I might be able to find him somewhere around here."
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Starday
Characters: Grimold
There's a saying among the Oathless in Vigil that goes a little like this, “Trees don't grow without spreading their roots.” Its most often said by parents scolding their children for avoiding family gatherings or becoming recluses but the Sczarni are also fond of the saying—especially in a city filled with so many who will willingly turn them over to the authorities. It is a saying Grimolds father was fond of.
In the city's lower quarters, near the docks, there are many fine establishments—the Storm Crow is not one of them. A seedy tavern disguises an equally seedy brothel. The owner is said to be a merchant from Vellumis who has been spreading such places throughout Lastwall's cities. His name is unknown, although Grimold has heard him called Isaak before.
One of the main employees of the Storm Crow is Michael Ducas. Ducas is a legendary figure among the orphans and poor of Vigil. He willingly helps people in need, donating food, time and attention to children with no where else to go. As the manager of the tavern, Michael also knows plenty of people in Vigil's underworld including the Sczarni—who have a veritable monopoly among the brothels. Jorge would often ask Michael for help getting out of trouble or, rarely, about getting into trouble. The tall, well-muscled man would freely give advice about either.
Despite having an incredibly good relationship with his mother, Grimold spent plenty of time listening to Michael's songs and established a good rapport with him. He knew that the man would have information about the goings ons among the Sczarni and would share them with those he trusted.
Some claim Ducas used to bear a shield-mark. His shield hand is scarred over on the back, but he says it was simply reaching into a fire. The rumor claims Ducas wanted to help the poorest of Vigil as well as the prostitutes and that not turning over such people to the authorities interfered with his mark.
Others claim Ducas was once a crusader in Mendev who retired to Lastwall. Others that he was not only a crusader but an adventurer with the Pathfinder Society.
Grimold approaches the ramshackle, three story tall Storm Crow slowly. No Sczarni seem to be around, although business seems to be doing well. There are several poorly disguised soldiers, sailors and a travelling merchant or two. The Crow provides both low and high end entertainment within the secret rooms that Rolando has never seen.
Starday
Characters: Eilidh
At the mention of the Dawnflower, all but Padraic let out a snort and roll their eyes. Septima actually laughs. ”You would worship the Redeemer, Tilernos. I wonder what your mother thinks of that.”
Flint shrugs, eyes narrowing a little as Allie shuffles away. ”Huh..them too..damn thieves are getting brave.”
Astrata seems over-joyed to see you, something that is unusual for her strict demeanor. ”Eilidh! It is good to see you. We have so much work to do!” The Cathedral of Sanctum Iomedae is somewhat busier than usual with acolytes carrying baskets. They seem to be preparing for an influx of individuals. It turns out that the Day of the Inheritor, a festival celebrating the welcoming of Aroden's devoted into Iomedae's flock will be starting in a week. Astrata explains that it is a two-day festival where the first day is dedicated to solemnity and brotherhood. The High Priestess will give a lengthy sermon about the importance of welcoming others and being willing to stand for your beliefs. The sermon is followed by a free feast set in the courtyard before the Sanctum that welcomes all the people of Lastwall to partake.
Her good mood seems to make her more willing to show Allie a thing or two as well. While she does lecture the Tilernos girl about the honor in worshipping Iomedae, she also talks further about touching the divine gift within that is granted to all who are worthy. Even those who are not clerics can access the gift with enough meditation.
Grimold feels a sudden attack of nerves as the Storm Crow comes into view. After the events of last week, he didn't think he'd ever find himself coming back here. Last night only added to his skittishness. But he came early today, in full daylight, and it looked like most of the crowd he'd meant to avoid are off hiding in whatever rats' nests they made for themselves.
Pushing the door open, he bellies up to the bar, ordering and apple cider and asking for Michael. As he waits, he glances around surreptitiously. It had only been a few weeks since he'd been at the Crow, but it seemed a lifetime away now. He had plenty of happy memories of the place, but now he found the nostalgia bittersweet. He almost wishes he had brought his violin, for old times' sake.