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Derp
Like the cacophony before an orchestra tuning, Oatha appears in the silence. The semi-ordered chaos reigns for a time before the steadying hand of the conductor appears. The first note rings true, the buzzing of the oboe becoming the anchor as the others snap to.
First the woodwinds...
In the cold mountains of the east, a child is sneaking a peek into her father's office. From the keyhole she can see her father holding a battered journal, flipping through it before ripping out certain pages and tossing them into the fireplace. And, just for the briefest moment, he lingers on one torn page revealing a hand drawn portrait of a beautiful woman with curved horns before that too burns...
Then the brass...
The youth had probably started this fight by speaking out of turn, but none of that mattered before the Code Duello. And in Etenia nothing matters more than the Code, even if the duel was between two strangers come down from the mountains. So when the youth turns a stumble into a deft stab beneath his opponent's chin the matter is settled, even if there was a Crown beneath that chin...
Next the strings...
The planks of the shipyard creak under the combined weight of a tribe in diaspora. They have sold all they have to pay the Black Powder Price, but they still find solace in memories of their lost home. Though one of their number has already started to forget...
Finally the percussion roll their thunder...
Another village is burning, the waterlogged rice patties indifferent to the plight of the buildings. There is no more screaming, there never is after Iyu the Blackhearted has finished. Yet one figure remains. Gripping his axe, the tall shadow vows the end to a tyrant he has never even seen...
The conductor taps his wand on the stand...
A ghost has wandered these halls for an age and a day. Each day she discovers new halls, only for them to be forgotten and rediscovered the next. She suspects she has forgotten a great many things that once were hidden here. However, today is different, someone has moved a statue in one of the shrines, and when the ghost reaches out to touch it there is a pulse of warmth. And suddenly the ghost opens her eyes...
Silence...
Somewhere, someone pulls out a simple brass pocket watch. The second hand ticks monotonously before suddenly stopping, hovering anxiously betwixt moments before beginning again. The stranger nods, hums, and marvels at a job well done, mind imagining a minuscule crack appearing on the impenetrable. Now all that is needed is time...
The symphony begins.
July 13th, 880
It is hot. There are probably better ways of describing the weather, but none are as viscerally accurate as hot. Moreover, the streets are crowded, a press of life as vibrant as it is irredeemably sticky. And the stench... But, unfortunately, that is the way of Sedahi in the summer, and people must continue about their lives here in the Center of the World.
Which is exactly what you have all done; braving the hot, the sticky, and stench to wind up at The Tusked Tapir, a Chakanese restaurant. The appointed time for the meeting draws close, and you know waiting in the corner farthest from the door is a long table with a little placard reading, “Reserved for Valen and Guests.”
Zohar wanders into The Tusked Tapir in a way best described as ass backwards. Confused he walks to a maître d'.
"Pardon me bartender, I seem to have forgotten whom I am here to meet".
High atop a building, a lone figure stands. He gazes out upon the streets of Sedahi, his mighty fists clenched to the flag pole so he can keep his balance. He stands completely unaware of the massive collateral damage he left in his wake as he climbed up to reach his perch, and even more unaware of amount of spectators bellow. His hulking grey figure looking somewhat like a meaty eclipse as his shadow casts down upon the masses. He waits silently for his partner to give him the signal, and then, only then shall he show the true scope of his ninjustu.
A young woman wove through the crowd with a furrowed brow, tugging at her lacy white apron. It is hot. Far too hot for layers, but one must keep up appearances.
“Excuse me,” she said with a pleasant smile as she squeezed between a particularly tight group of people.
She looked up and squinted in the blinding light of the sun and saw Kumo’s silhouette.
“Ah, there he is!” she exclaimed as she pulled a burgundy dishtowel from the pocket of her apron and waved it.
The Signal! Channeling all his strength in to his legs, Kumo leapt from atop his perch, throwing all caution to the wind.
His training had served him well. A true ninja does not fight gravity; a true ninja uses gravity to his advantage.
With a thunderous crash Kumo landed behind Lucile on what remained of a large stone wall, the ground beneath him reduced to a small crater of ruble as he arose from his ninja pose.
“Do not fear Lucy-san. It is only me, Kumo, your companion.” He said as a crowd began to form to see what had caused such a commotion. “Have you found the location we seek?”
"Naturally. Come. We have many people to meet," she said with a wave of her hand. "Let's get out of this wretched heat."
Valen paced excitedly back and forth, his foot steps echoing against the wooden floors of the Tusked Tapir. He remained so distracted by his racing thoughts that he didn't notice the familiar cleric stepping up to the bar, that was,until he heard his voice. Valen's head whipped around at a break neck speed (he'd ask for a massage later) as he rushed over to the man at the bar.
“Zohar you forgetful bastard!” An affectionate pat on the shoulder followed his words. “It's your good friend Valen! I'm sure you rememb... never mind that! You're sitting at the wrong table!” He made a grand gesture towards the reserved section of the tavern, before a nagging issue caught the adventurer's eye.
“Wait just a moment...” He scampered towards the sign, leaning in with squinted eyes to make sure they weren't deceiving him. Unfortunately for all, they were not.
“Wrong, wrong WRONG! I gave them one job. Ari, check your notes! I remember clearly that I demanded the sign read 'Reserved for Valen and Associates!'” Valen let out an exasperated sigh, it was an issue he would have to deal with later.
In what seemed like one clean motion, Valen rolled up his sleeves and slammed his hands down on the table, preparing for a grand speech... to his current audience of one. He stared blankly ahead for a long moment before his hand whipped out expectantly to his right.
“Ari! My script!”
A crumpled piece of paper was dropped into his hand with the enthusiasm of a feigning opossum.
"Valen I'm not your secretary, I shall have you know."
The lithe woman, clothed in a variety of thin robes, stepped forward from the wall she was leaning against patiently to provide the paper with a drop of her hand, seemingly having had it in her grasp the entire time.
"If it's to be a source of frustration, I can change it myself," she adds, sounding both vaguely bored and helpful at the same time as she fishes through the bag at her waist and produces a vial of darkly colored ink.
"Of course you aren't! It's just a bonus you provide!" He smirked as he uncrinkled the wad of paper, not seeming at all phased by its current state. "Yes well, the sign should have been correct in the first place, but I suppose it is better that we change it now. We have a certain image to protect after all!" He smoothed out the paper on the table before glancing around the room.
"Wait a moment... weren't there supposed to be two more?" He gazed over his shoulder at Arizandra with a furrowed brow, "Perhaps we got lucky after all and we won't have to deal with the bumbling orc and his female friend. Can't say I'm too upset about that, given how he threatened our life and all." He spoke more to himself than anyone else, mumbling insults under his breath; life threatening or no, the lack of professionalism was astounding to him!
Ari sighed at Valen's comment and simply crossed her arms as she looked over at the ever-lost tengu who still, at least to her, seemed to not recall Valen or herself, when a mere few hours ago they were speaking about this very meeting.
"I doubt that Valen, I'm pretty sure they are going to waltz in the door and make a scene," she said with a sigh prior to walking to the table, letting her arms slowly unfold as she pulled a quill from her bag and then struck a line through the word 'Guests' and wrote 'Associates'
Lucile opened the door Tusked Tapir and held it open for Kumo.
"After you, my dear friend," Lucile beckoned with a wave of her hand.
Zohar looked to Valen
"Valen my good friend! yes, yes. I thought we were going to go for bagel's!"
Zohar started delightedly looking for bagels and schmear.
"Why thank you, my dear friend," said kumo in a slightly mocking tone. How humiliating. Me Kumo, a master ninja not only having a door held open for him, but by a woman. Oh if the clan elders could see me now. Oh the same of it all. Kumo thought to himself as he walked into the establishment like a mere civilian.
Then it hit him, the smell of freshly made bagels and schmear assaulted his nostrils like a rotting corpse. A restaurant this may be, but it would not deceive Kumo. Only someone of great dishonor would order such a dish while attending negotiations. He looked back to Lucile and motioned for her to stay close.
"Schmear is in the air Lucy-san. Someone at this meeting is either a great fool or is announcing their intent of betrayal. We must have our wits about us." The two cautiously made their way to the maître d'station.
Lucile confidently approaches the maître d'.
"Excuse me," she asked with a smile, "I am looking for Valen. He is the healthy male specimen who has presumably beautiful organs. About this tall..." Lucile said as she held her hand up to his approximate height.
"I shall retire to the table Valen"
Leaves to the table not noticing the above Schmear comment.
"Come now Lucy-san, presumptions only make an ass out of you and me," said Kumo with a slight giggle.
"We don't know if his organs are by any means ascetically pleasing, yet. Not to mention you got it all wrong, he was this tall...." lowering one of his mighty fists in an unflattering approximation.
Valen cleared his throat to draw the attention of the new guests, "So... wonderful that you were able to join us!" HIs eye gave the subtlest of twitches as he processed the statement about his organs, but on the other hand, she had called him a healthy specimen. Judgement would be reserved for later time.
He gestured his hand over the table once more, "Please, come make yourself comfortable, order some food or drink! We can't begin our business proceedings on an empty stomach now can we?" He continued his display of politeness as he reached for a scroll carrier strapped to his back. He tapped it gently against the surface of the wooden table.
"I believe this is what we are here to discuss?" A small smirk appeared, his own curiosity and excitement getting the better of him. In truth, he hadn't studied the map yet himself, he was waiting for this moment, where they could all view it together. His fingers drummed on the canister excitedly as he waited to make sure everyone was prepared to witness the unveiling.
"Now, Zohar, I promised you that if I ever stumbled across something big I'd let you in on it, after all of the grand adventures we've already been on together. The slaying of trolls, the freeing of slaves! The slaying of dragons!" He chuckled, patting his old friend on the back, "Not that it would matter, I could say that we got drunk and married a Queen and you wouldn't remember!"
He then turned his attention towards the two new arrivals, "As for you two, we had a deal yes? You kindly let me keep the map, my life and my organs, and I let you in on this adventure as well. We still have an understanding... yes?" He brandished the scroll in a more protective fashion now, testing the waters to make sure they could be trusted. "I should also mention that, this deal applies to my lovely assistant and the forgetful one as well." He motioned towards Arizandra and Zohar in turn. "Unless, of course, they give you permission themselves."
"I'm not so foolish as to commit a folly such as that," Ari hummed quietly as she gazed across the table at their companions. She trusted Valen knew what he was doing, but regardless failed to trust the two newcomers to their haphazard adventuring troupe.
"Zohar, I don't believe you have had the opportunity to recall these two... eccentrics before us. They are Valen's latest additions to our travels. They pursued the same map you see laid upon the table before us here. Primarily, they are organ hunters by trade," she declared in a brief introduction. It was a play upon Zohar, who had not yet met these two characters. Convincing him that they had met previously would amuse her at the very least.
"It's a rough business. Collecting is rather easy; it is the selling that's difficult. Lucile complained as she turned to Kumo.
"I am Lucy and this is Kumo. It is good to make your acquaintance again, Zohar."
"Now, Zohar, I promised you that if I ever stumbled across something big I'd let you in on it, after all of the grand adventures we've already been on together. The slaying of trolls, the freeing of slaves! The slaying of dragons!" He chuckled, patting his old friend on the back, "Not that it would matter, I could say that we got drunk and married a Queen and you wouldn't remember!"
Zohar ruffling Valen's hair a bit as though he were a younger brother
"I know you would never leave me out of another wacky adventure. Tell me, Valen, what is our next adventure and how does it pay?""Zohar, I don't believe you have had the opportunity to recall these two... eccentrics before us. They are Valen's latest additions to our travels. They pursued the same map you see laid upon the table before us here. Primarily, they are organ hunters by trade,"
Zohar looked at Arizandra with bemusement playing along the sides of his beak.
"I would say that organ hunters don't belong in the treasure hunting business; however, seeing as we lack the" *clear's throat* "muscle. they may in fact be helpful."
"I am Lucy and this is Kumo. It is good to make your acquaintance again, Zohar."
Zohar waves lazily at Lucile
"Nice to meet you two as well. I am sure we will have a wonderful adventure together."
Valen smirked a bit, tapping the scroll tube once more against the table before finally letting the map out of the case, "If my hunch is correct this could lead us to a treasure of unimaginable wealth, power, and discovery!" His grandiose statements were falsified, he really had no idea what was on the scroll. He had heard rumors of the map it contained, but nothing concrete. In truth, he just needed a new adventuring party after the last had met its untimely demise. Long story short, you shouldn't fish with dynamite.
"Ladies, Gentlemen, and Ari... feast your eyes on our next adventure!"
He chuckled as he unrolled the scroll out onto the table for all to see, his own eyes glazed with curiosity and excitement at what it may hold, his surprise and shock at its contents clearly betraying his previous statement about having a 'hunch' at all.
((DM INTERVENTION NEEDED HERE I edited my response to fit the poor roll, hope that works))
Ari stayed back to let Valen do most of the talking. Typically speaking he had the way with words, and she had the way with noticing things. It was better that way, she could keep an eye out for both of them like she was doing now.
Her typical gaze about the room paused as her stomach sank. Crap, he's going to screw the whole thing up...
"Like Valen said, could lead to unimaginable treasure. How lucky would we be if that was the case right? she tried to laugh it off as if it were nothing.
Her eyes slipped down to the scroll as she spoke and she noticed some of the content within, clearly indicating nothing that she or Valen had predicted.
Released from the scroll tube is a long strip of vellum yellowed with age. It strains against its unrolling, but when Valen finally coaxes it open the table is treated to a gruesome sight. Stapled to the vellum is a long swath of human skin, ragged at the edges from the process of flaying an unwilling victim. And tattooed upon this skin is the map, inked in a delicate hand contradicting its indelicate origins.
The edges of the tattoo are a veined with roiling serpents, each emblazoned with a script of seeming nonsense. They spiral in as a border to the map proper, a chunk of landmass surrounded by water on three sides. The land itself has sytlistic marks for topography and four landmarks marked in the same nonsense script. Finally, that which draws all your eyes the most, the X.
It is red, as it should be, and bold, as it also should be. The X sits in the middle of the landmass, crowning a stanza written in another foreign script.
મારા જૂના અને સન્માનિત નીચે,
મારા ભોંયરાઓ શ્યામ અને ઊંડા માં,
મારા રક્ષકો જ્યાં તેઓ ઊંઘ પાસ્ટ,
ત્યાં તમને મળશે-
The language is Slyvan.
You believe with a couple hours and access to a library you could decipher this stanza.
Zohar notices the thinly veiled deception dribbling from Valen and Arizandra's lips, and chooses to ignore it decidedly focusing on the map.
Zohar recognizes the language and his eyes widen.
"This language is recognizable, with some time I could decipher it. Provided you haven't already my good friends."
Ari's eyes widened with excitement upon seeing such an esoteric treasure.
The gears of her mind moved quickly as she gazed upon it and she immediately reached down to snatch it from Valen, holding it in front of her to examine it more directly.
"Sadly we have yet to take it to a library, but I agree with Zohar. Between the two of us, we should be able to determine what it says and perhaps even learn somewhat of its origins.
The young woman kept examining the human hide, searching for hints as to its origin or construction that may lead her to a potential clue of what they were looking for.
"Hmm... gross!" He chuckled with excitement despite his words, staring intently at what may as well have been hieroglyphics.
"Well, I can't make heads or tails of it, but that's why you all are here!" He grinned as he listened to Zohar and Ari, already hard at work as they glanced the work over.
"All I know, is that it must lead to something great! After all, you don't tattoo a map onto someone's back unless it is important, right?"
The map is heavy in Ari's hands, the combination of vellum and human leather giving it a deceptive weight. Yet it feels even heavier than that should account for.
"Hmm... This geology looks remarkably similar to..." she pauses for a brief moment, to consider not just their current company, but also the particular flavor of characters about them.
Ari leans into the table, lowering her voice to a whisper and then looked about the room for anyone who may be paying attention to their conversation; after all, Valen had a habit of drawing unnecessary attention.
She took her time, carefully gazing about the room as he did so. (Using one charge of inspiration).
It was important for them to avoid drawing attention to this find, especially since this treasure seemed to be as close as it was. If it was truly as old as the map may have led one to believe, it was certain valuable. As such, she wanted to ensure no one was listening in on their conversation otherwise she would request they move to a more private and less assuming location.
Valen smirked a bit, tapping the scroll tube once more against the table before finally letting the map out of the case, "If my hunch is correct this could lead us to a treasure of unimaginable wealth, power, and discovery!" His grandiose statements were falsified, he really had no idea what was on the scroll. He had heard rumors of the map it contained, but nothing concrete. In truth, he just needed a new adventuring party after the last had met its untimely demise. Long story short, you shouldn't fish with dynamite.
Bluff: 1d20 + 7 ⇒ (2) + 7 = 9
With the scent of schmear and possible betrayal still lingering in the air, Kumo found himself weary and slightly unimpressed by Valens words.
He barely had time to even glance at the map that had been so carelessly displayed by the arrogant human before Zohar and Arizandra began there attempts to decipher it's contents. Despite his unwillingness to truly put his trust in Valen, the Tengu and Tiefling had not yet given him any credible reason to distrust them. at least not as much.
They at least seem to be excited about something. He thought to himself in the most ninja of ways possible, that didn't involve him putting his hand to his chin.
At the very least hopefully Lucy-san will signal or at least speak up should she find this a fools errand. He thought to himself yet again, this time in fact putting his hand to his chin in the most ninja way possible. She was not one with the shadows like himself, but she did have a way of reading a room.
You all note the approach of Baxter, the proprietor of the Tusked Tapir. He is an old vanara; heavily stooped with age and fur more salt than pepper. He comes with platters of food, bearing their weights across his palms and biceps while his tail holds a teapot aloft.
His arrival heralds an assault of aromas: the cut of lemon, the punch of curry, a waft of sweet tamarind. He settles the platters heavily upon the table, their surfaces covered in platters of curry, noodles, rice, and flat discs of egg. Finally the teapot settles in as a centerpiece.
"Tea's hot," croons Baxter, his voice bringing to mind broken glass or gravel.
"This looks exactly like what I ordered!"
Exclaimed Zohar so wrapped in the delicious aroma he forgot his original order.
Many Tengu of his stature where not used to this fine of food.
Zohar starts making a plate to eat waiting for Baxter to leave ear shot.
"So , Valen, when do you want me and Arizandra to be done with what seems to be our first step?"
Ari feeling comfortable discussing what she has realized about the fleshy vellum, sets the object down on the table and stretches it out before she takes her seat next to Valen and speaks.
"Everyone," she is quiet to be cautious regardless, "This local has to be the very island we are on. These four markers most logically denote the different districts of the city itself. That said, caution is key when working with this. I can trust Zohar to forget, but I do ask everyone else to refrain from discussing our quarry publically."
As she spoke, the steam from the teapot slowly formed a loose map of the island, swirling steam indicating the different districts growing together into Sedahi proper to visually display her explaination.
The young woman then turns to face Valen, her manner far more informal than her speech as she plucks a noodle from the food placed on the table. She waited for his response, feeling best to defer to his judgment on their next course of action.
Valen followed Ari's lead, leaning in close and examining the steamy map, "Good work Ari! Oh.. and, good job to the rest of you as well." he rubbed his hands together with delight as he examined the positions.
"Well, there are four locations yes? We know where they are, so the solution is simple: We go to the nearest one and do a bit of scouting. If the people we.. 'liberated' the map from have knowledge of what it holds, they could already be there, so we can't just charge in."
He began mumbling to himself, but didn't attempt to hide his speech, clearly deep in thought, "Of course, gathering a bit more information first may be prudent, and it is best that do our scouting at night..."
His eyes moved up and locked with the new arrivals, first Lucile, and then Kumo whom he addressed directly.
"That's where we'll put your talents to use, yes?" He gave a sly grin, "You will be our secret weapon. Of course, we won't have you infiltrating right away, After all, in a game of chess you don't risk your best piece until it is needed." He remembered their first encounter, the Ninja had been far from stealthy, but you wouldn't catch Valen saying that aloud. He had no doubt that the 'ninja' would be a great boon when it came to combat, however.
His gesture turned towards Lucile, his eyes blinking with curiosity be he maintained his charismatic grin, "And the beautiful new addition to the crew, while I admire your... dedication to your chosen craft, is there any chance that you may possess some other useful skills for such a mission?"
He turned his gaze back towards Zohar, Valen's hand reaching up and tapping his own temple knowingly, "You and Ari have a knack for digging up and...remembering information. I want to see what you two can come up with."
He leaned back in his seat, smirking excitedly, "As for me, I'm going to go fishing'
Zohar wave's a hand dreamily at Valen
"Be sure to catch us a big one boss."
Zohar turns to Arizandra a smile playing around the edges of his beak as he extends his feathered arm.
"Shall we?"
Zohar thinks to where the library is and realizes his Goddess had reclaimed the knowledge he was once fairly sure he knew.
"Would you mind leading the way, Ari?"
Kumo remains skeptic, helping himself to the complimentary food provided by his shady host and current employer.
What an overconfident man, Kumo thought to himself as he began to taste the food to check for poisons. Going fishing before a quest might be an acceptable form of meditation, but he sure didn't look like the fishing type. At least, not in the honorable way.
"Of course Zohar. I presume that this will be our place of meeting after our various activities?" she asked, directing the question to everyone as opposed to Valen, seeking their input for the sake of him.
Perhaps they may be useful yet, provided they were fully capable of procuring this vellum, she sat back and then promptly began to serve herself completely, figuring the sooner lunch was consumed, the sooner she could hit the books with the tengu.
"I find this establishment agreeable enough. What do you think Kumo?" Lucile asked as she grabbed a drink.
Kumo nods in agreement, taking her words as a hint that Lucy-san finds the current situation agreeable.
Finishing her serving quickly and without waiting for anyone to say goodbyes, Ari stood and turned to Zohar.
"Well my black feathered friend, I believe we have some reading to do. I trust you don't recall the way to the library?" she was clearly joking as there was a large smile on her face as she started for the door, leaving behind on the table a tip of three gold coins for Baxtar.
Zohar and Ari proceed back out into the muggy mess of summer beyond the threshold. The city revels in its own cacophony and stench, and easily swallows the pair. The crowds push them through the city's arteries, passing from the crowded market streets of the Ochre District to the shaded lanes of the Grove and then back into the crowds around the Alabaster District. Until, finally, they wind up before the only library that ever really mattered in Sedahi: The University of Arcane Sciences.
Ari worked together with Zohar on the first stanza, and hoped it would provide some clues to determine where to look for information regarding the next stanzas when they came to it.
"I guess we got lucky considering they decided to organize their little puzzle in such convenient poetry form, right?" she mused.
"I'm not too sure about this Zohar, what do you think? she asked, offering him her knowledge as well as current translation of the stanza.
Valen gave a wave as he stepped out of the tavern and into the busy streets. First things first, to find more information. He flipped up the hood of his cloak and headed back in the direction of the tavern where he'd first heard of the map.
His plan was to step inside and question the tavern keeper for any information about the thugs whom he'd outwitted previously. Perhaps some loud drunken gossip about what they hoped to find at the places marked on the map.
((Am I gonna roleplay this whole thing out or just make some reference rolls?))