Flick lets out a few choice curse words and rubs his face checking for blood.
"Right, so next time the boss lady challenges you to insult her better, don't actually take her up on it" He says with a wry smile.
"I can keep my mouth shut, no problem." He says by way of simple agreement.
Mirandi blinks, and then laughs, a tinkling pealing laughter. "Well I guess I did tell you to insult me better, didn't I? I never said it was a safe thing to do though. If it will make you feel better, you can punch Kalvant on the chin to make up for it. It's his fault you got roped in anyway."
Kalvant raises an eyebrow, but shrugs with a grin and sticks his chin out.
Flashing his own grin, Elrohir quips "I don't hit things...with my fist"
As the older elvavians left the room, Connor checked Elrohir for a broken nose.
"You'll live, Newbie. You won't have to worry about a crooked nose the rest of your life." Connor told him. "Actually, I think you've graduated from being a newbie with first blood there." he added wryly.
Connor looked at the male elfavain, half-elf, and blonde female elfavain on the other couches. "While our Mintakian employers discuss our futures, let's go around the room introducing ourselves. I'm Connor, formerly of Clan McIntyre. They didn't like my lack of direct fighting and brains-over-brawn thinking, and kicked me out. So I ended up in prison with these two," Connor told them, indicating Alister and Reaghar, "and Elrohir here joined in the fray just before we busted down Kol's door two nights ago." Connor looked the half-elf in the eye. "You appear to have some powers, Wingless," he started, "and don't take the stereotypical shorthand as a slur. It beats 'hey you' or 'newbie'. Maybe we can compare mind-training and complement each other's talents." Connor finished, holding up one hand to stay any protest from the half-human. He looked around the room. "Anybody else willing to make an introduction?" the humanavian asked.
Hero, Connor sent telepathically, as he was talking, if I find you in a jewelry box again I'll make a fancy, colorful bowtie clasp out of you! Grow some legs and get out of there! Do some exploring. Tell me where you are.
"Reaghar." he says, tipping his head. "Born into Donough. Left them. Here I am."
Connor's hand would feel a painful but otherwise harmless shock. "Or you could wait to hear my name, pigeon, which is Sammark."
Alys, whose mind only now begins clearing up properly, after hearing snippets of what seemed like a conversation consisting mostly of a cavalcade of insults and legal jargon, looks around the room, seeing the two elfavians leave her two companions as well as four people she only recognized after a few moments as the people whom she met at Kol's hideout.
She begins talking slowly: "Can... can some- someone explain what is going on?", she shakes her head becoming a bit clearer: "What's all this talk about Mintakia, punching people and insults? Also, and more importantly: who the hell were those two, where am I and what are we all doing here?"
"You see, that wasn't -yeowch!" Connor replied, holding his hand. He grinned sarcastically back at the half-elf. "Oh, I bet you're a barrel full of monkeys, Sammark." Connor retorted.
Connor turned to the female elfavian on the other couch. "And the blonde beauty wakes again!" Connor said cheerfully. "We really must stop meeting in this way. My name's Connor, we appear to be in a Clan Mintakia enclave, we were absconded here unwillingly to listen to our secret employers berate our tactics, and now we are introducing each other in the hopes we get to live and fight another day alongside new compatriots." the man said in a rush. "And you appear to have a worse reaction to the knockout gas or powder they used on us than I did. How are you feeling?" Connor asked sincerely.
"I'm Alister, of Mcintyre of McRauth. Didn't fancy I'd see you fellas again after we'd parted ways," he says, looking at each of the people he didn't already know in the room in turn, followed by an extension of his hand in an attempt to shake hands. "Looks like we might be working together then, eh? Might as well start getting friendly."
"Alright, seems like there is no need in keeping secrets at this point. I'm Alys. And thank you, I think I'm fine.", she turns to Selvan and Sammark, "Did you know those two elvavians? I heard Mintakia, but as far as I know I was recruited by an assassin."
As everyone is talking, a pixieish halvavian comes flying in from an entrance on the third floor of the library, and flutters down to the main area where everyone is. "Sorry, bossman and his wife were on their way back when something important came up. They'll be delayed even longer than they planned. Since I know about you lot, they asked me to let you know and see if anyone wanted anything. Drink? Food?" She asks, head tilted as her butterfly wings beat to keep her floating in the air.
"Oh, and if anyone's wounded, I can do some healing..."
Connor looked at the incoming halvavian. Purplish hair. "And I got stuck with the annoying little purple shtockty." the male elfavian had said. It wasn't too hard to add the beads together on the row and guess the identity of the female halvanian. Connor mentally focused himself, choosing the spark, the same as Sammark. Connor only saw halvavians rarely. They hadn't taken the same trade school he graduated from, even though the smaller humanoids were competent fighters, especially onboard skyships with their cramped corners.
Connor smiled a friendly smile at her. "I'll never turn down free healing." he responded, "And Elrohir here could probably use some mindpower-to-heal before his nasal passages clot up." Connor sat up straighter on the uncomfortable couch. "But the 'hunting dogs' could really use some information. What's the bossman's name? Our lady host's name? Just how far up in Clan Mintakia are they? And most importantly, just how suicidal a mission did they abduct us seven into?" Connor narrowed his eyes. "Just how bad is their success rate on missions like these, Miss-?" he finished.
As he talked, Connor concentrated. A few feet away from the fluttering halvavian, a glob of ectoplasm appeared in mid-air.
N Small construct
Init +2; Senses darkvision 60 ft., low-light vision, Perception -
DEFENSE
AC 18, touch 13, flat-footed 16 (+2 Dex, +5 natural, +1 size)
HP 15 (1d10+10)
Fort +0, Ref +2, Will +0; Immune construct traits
OFFENSE
Speed Fly 20 ft. (Average)
Space 5 ft.; Reach 5 ft.
STATISTICS
Str 15, Dex 15, Con —, Int —, Wis 11, Cha 10
BAB +1, CMB +2; CMD 14
Feats -
Skills: Can perform any simple task of DC 10 or less for its' duration.
SPECIAL ABILITIES (One option from Menu A; one option from Advanced Constructs Menu A)
Fly (Ex)
Utility (Ex)
Craft (Sculpting) check:
Connor's fingers twitched as the astral construct added ectoplasm to itself. Wings formed and became more diaphanous as they beat back and forth; the body became feminine-shaped; the head grew hair matching the halvavian's style. But try as he might, Connor couldn't make the face match the real thing. Mirror her movements and follow her. Connor commanded the construct. He sat back to judge the halvavian's reaction.
Hey Hero, he sent. You're missing out on the blonde elfavian, another blonde, and now a female halvavian. Don't you wish you were here?
I hate you. Go away. I'm in another freaking box, and I hate you.
The halvavian watches as Connor makes a duplicate of her, and orders it to follow her around and mimic her activities. The halvavian watches as it raises it's hand just as she does, wiggles it's fingers just as she does. Then she flies a few feat away from Connor, and the construct follows suit, ending up directly in front of Connor. Then she reaches out her hand to start rubbing empty air, and the construct reaches out and begins rubbing Connor's crotch.
As she rubs mid-air, the halvavian speaks to everyone else in the room, but avoids Connor's gaze. "So, I'm Alsatia von Mythvida. The boss is Kalvant Malranva 'tel Mintakia and his wife Mirandi Selstravi 'tel Mintakia. I'd say you're doomed, and you might just as well commit suicide at this point."
Reaghar chuckles to himself at her construct-fueled antics, and then laughs outright at her comment about him killing himself.
Connor quickly sent new mental commands to the construct to stop its' actions, causing it to fall back behind Alsatia. He racked his memory on the names of the elvavians.
Nothing with that roll, sorry.
"As to Lord Kalvant's success rates... he's survived every one up till now." Purple eyes twinkle at Connor. "The cannon fodder, on the other hand, not so much." She walks up to Alister, who seems the most hurt looking, with Alys a close second. Her eyes blaze as she lays hands on him, and then a burst of energy comes off her.
Alister's wounds heal over, skin patches together, abrasions heal over, bruises fade, and he feels as good as ever. As the burst of energy washes over all who are present, they gain back 3 hp (and 3 subdual, for those who have subdual *cough* Elrohir *cough*).
Taking a second to regain focus, she moves to Alys, and lays a finger on her forehead, and again her eyes blaze a purple light.
Again, everyone with 15 ft gains another 3 hp (and 3 subdual return, for those that have it, again, cough cough Elrohir).
Alsatia looks around, and most everyone seems to be all healthy again. "There, anyone still feeling under the weather?"
"I am Selvan Kilvani'tel Mintakia. And yes they are high up. Quite high and quite dangerous in their own way." Finally relaxing Selvan takes a moment to sit. "I briefly contemplated suicide before quickly coming to the conclusion that it would not be any better. So I chose alcoholism instead. I've no plans on dying yet. Besides I deeply suspect Lord Kalvant would stop me just to kill me himself. I will take the hardest drink you can offer thank you."
"I've been told, on pain of having to listen to Lord Kalvant sing children's songs, that you are not to have alcohol. Given he is tone deaf, I will kill you myself before I let you have alcohol. However, I have a pot of Klah freshly made, that will make your hair stand up straight before it dies, so strong is it." Alsatia offers Selvan.
Selvan frowns. "Very well"
Alsatia nods. "Do you like sugar, honey, or kerant extract for sweetner? With cream, chocolate, or neither?"
"Actually I think I could use some klah.", Alys cuts in. "With honey.", she decides not talking about suicide would be more beneficial to her current state.
"Black. With cinnamon."
Alsatia nods. "Sure, Alys right? Oh, that reminds me." She digs in her coat and drags out a sheaf of papers. "The gentlemen all had records, and we recruited them directly." Alsatia sighs. "Unfortunately, Kalvant went through an old... uhm, hmm... acquaintance to recruit you? So I don't really have anything other than what the Assassin's Guild sent us on you. Which was basically, your name, your age, and an appreciation of your aptitude for murder and mayhem." She dimples. "You scored really high on the mayhem side, but really low on the murder side. Anyway, if you could fill out these papers please?" She hands the sheaf over, and nods at the various tables scattered around the library, most have ink wells and pens. "Don't have to do it now, just before you leave. I need all your i's dotted and t's crossed, we want to make sure you're all legal and everything, and that any pardons you might need are handled. By the way, is there any word you'd like me to send to your father? He's out of the clinic and back at his job."
She then nods at Selvan. "Black with cinnamon, got it. Any food? I can bring a sandwhich plate if you like."
Alister smiles as the little halvavian heals him. "Mighty nice of you, but I'd started looking forward to the scar that was gonna leave me," he says, patting his chest over the former wound.
"Cup o' klah sounds good right about now, yeah, he says as the others ask for their respective drinks. "Straight'll be fine, thanks. And a sandwich or two doesn't sound too bad, neither."
Alys takes the papers and reviews them, curious as to what kind of information these people would want from her.
"Tell him... I didn't mean for things to happen the way they did."
I'll pass on the klah. Smells great, but it tastes like muddy water." Connor said. He sent the astral construct up to the ceiling, but had it continue to keep its attention on the original. Connor would have to endure his cracked lips a while longer. He paid attention as the male elfavian finally introduced himself. Another setup with alcohol - but for real this time. Connor pondered the makeup and talents among the expanded team members.
"But if you have any water, or spiced cider, I'll take that." Connor asked Alsatia.
"Well this is just cute." Reaghar says with a sarcastic smile. "I could go for some food though. Klah ain't as good as some scotch, but it's better than water."
Alsatia flutters off to get drinks and food.
While she's gone, about 10 minutes later, Kalvant flies back in and lands with a thump on the hardwood floor.
"Sorry about that, Mirandi's Chief of Force came by to give her a rundown on your little explosive encounter in South Quarter." The man drops on a couch and lounges while looking off into the distance. "He's got a fairly good description of Selven, Connor, Reaghar, Alys, and Alister. Sammark and Elrohir managed to stay incognito, but that's not really worth anything. He's already identified Connor by name, and Reaghar. Selven as well. Won't take him long to ID the rest. That makes keeping you around a major pain, I either have to go squash Mirandi's chief, which she won't like, or I have to go to the Council and explain who you are. The problem with that of course is I don't know how high up the rot goes. And even if the council is clean, it'll leak, it always does."
The big man rubs his chin. "You lot ever want to see the world? You know, travel, see the surface? Find interesting and exotic place, meet new people and shoot them?" He laughs, and the group is pretty sure that last bit is mostly a joke. "Seriously though, it would be easier to keep your cover if you all vanished for a month or three. Your contacts would totally understand you vanishing, what with Security looking for you by name and face." The man continues to rub his stubbly chin thoughtfully. "I know a guy who knows a guy with a ship..."
Connor got up and started looking at the books when the halvavian left. He set the astral construct at a ledge. Plenty of time to send it after Alsatia later.
Kalvant's introduction startled Connor. This one likes flashy introductions. he thought to himself.
They know our names already? But I made sure to not use our names. Connor thought, annoyed as he listened silently. Somebody's paid for a clairvoyant, a seer. That means major money after us.
The Surface. Always the Surface. Where magic users dueled each other in the streets on a daily basis, unknown races were always warring over land or a godling's whim, and strange creatures like dragons interfered with everyone and anyone. Connor thought at the end of Kalvan'ts monologue. Like we have a choice.
"Do we leave now, or can we grab our stuff from our rooms first?" Connor asked drily, over by the stacks.
Hero, Connor sent through their personal link, get outta that box or be prepared to be left behind!
Kalvant waves a hand. "It's been impounded. If there's something you especially need, I'll get someone to sneak it out. Otherwise, it can wait until you're rehabilitated. I'll dip into the privy purse to re-outfit you all prior to that. That's actually help, now that I think about it. All new equipment, some new haircuts, hair dye, keep you from looking like yourselves until you get out of town."
"And yes, you always have a choice. You should work on your poker face, Connor. It reads you like a book. If you all prefer not to leave the islands, I have some other things I could use done, but they're fairly nasty things. I was going to try to give you an easy duty if I could. But if you prefer being up to your knees in blood and vermin, I can do that as well." The big man shrugs, seeming happy either way.
I did you idiot, you know where I am? I'm in a safe! I was in a box, the box was in a SAFE! I DO NOT LIKE SAFES! I DO NOT LIKE SAFES! I DO NOT LIKE SAFES!
"Now that you mention it, Connor began, "I do have something I need. A gemstone. But this one grows legs and moves around on its' own. I keep finding it secured in lockboxes for some reason. I'd like it back." Connor looked up at the stacks of books in the library. Not enough time to read them all. "I have a sudden urge to travel. To breathe in some clean free-sky air." Connor said. "The sooner, the better." Hero, Connor sent, pick the lock if you can. Yes, from the inside. You have my skills, and I've been practicing. Move the tumblers until you hear the right clicks.
After several minutes, the rock responds. You need to practice more. I can kind of feel the tumblers, but they don't move right. You need to find someone TO GET ME THE SHTOCK OUT OF THIS THING! The crystal then begins to complain about the safe. From his complaints though, you can figure that the safe is only about 2 feet deep and a foot wide and foot high. Probably not a safe, but more like an inner safe box in a vault.
"I'm staying on the island," Sammark suddenly spoke up. For the first time he was not tormenting or mocking anyone. If anyone knew him better it would almost sound like he was deadly serious.
"I'll muck around with whatever you need me to, but I'm staying here."
"Sammark, what's your concern? We'll never come back? You just heard Herr Kalvant - this will just be another temporary job. If we do get to the Surface, our advantage" Connor said, spreading one of his white feathered appendages for flair, "will make the rest of us stand out. You'll be able to walk around with the other Wingless in town, blend in with them. And on the skyship, don't worry," Connor jerked a thumb upwards at the halvavian-like construct looking at them with unblinking eyes, "I'll make sure one of these follows you around in case you fall off."
"I don't know your history - so I don't know if you murdered anybody, or are making sure somebody doesn't leave the islands - and I don't want to hear, yet." Connor declared, looking at everyone. "I got beat up and thrown in jail because I wouldn't follow my family into 'glory and honor' - do you think I want to be on a skyship, which is where I'd be right now as a midshipman if I had obeyed them?" Connor snorted. "After our raid on Kol's hideout, we proved we can do something others won't - and came out alive! If I went back to Clan McIntyre right now I'd win several pouches of gold because every cousin, brother, and sister of mine bet I'd die in my first battle. I don't care anymore. I can beat them, and not on their terms - mine."
Connor glanced at Reaghar, Alister, and Elrohir for support. "I don't want you stuck in a pig cesspool while the rest of us prove to the elders here that they've got a traitor in their midst. And besides," Connor argued, "if you didn't care about your teammates you wouldn't have tried so hard to keep Alys alive when I was holding a crossbow at your back." Connor looked at Alys with his last sentence.
Reaghar just rubs his temples and says nothing.
Sam stared at the humavian for a moment, opens his mouth and then closes it. For the first time in a while, he actually looks like he is thinking about what he is going to say.
"You like your speeches, don't you? Must think you're pretty smart too, the way you carry on. Heh, maybe you are, the Hells would I know? Schoolin's fer clanners like you after all." With a spark of psionic power he summoned his cup from one of the nearby tables and drank from it.
"You're right about one thing, boy, I got a stake in staying here. The rest of it couldn't be farther from the truth. Weeping gods would I like to go to the mainland to get away from all the self-important flying todgers in these parts but I've got one and only one aspiration left in my life and it involves staying here. Redemption? No thanks. I'm guilty and I'd do it all again if given half a chance. Been paying the price for my crimes, happily I might add," he looked to Alys.
"Wanna know why I tried to save Alys when you were busy pointing a crossbow at me? I figured if you were going to use it, you would have but you weren't dressed like the other mooks and tried talking at me instead. Either way, at the time it looked like if she died I was going to be stuck with bug-boy over there for the rest of the mission. That's about as much fun a prospect as getting a tooth pulled and I frankly didn't care if you did take a shot at me. If you missed, you missed, and I was going to cook you inside your own skin. If you killed me, then none of this would be my problem anymore."
"Wonderful. More events like this in my life and I'll go from disgrace to the family to disowned and reviled." Selvan says with a frown.
Selvan waves off Connor. "Let him do as he pleases. He thinks whatever vendetta or debt he has here is more important than being alive and out of prison long enough to accomplish it."
Kalvant frowns at Selvan. "You know, as bad as things have been, they could certainly have been worse. I would like to thank you, Selvan, for showing us things can always be worse." He comments dryly, before turning to Sammark. "Is this about your will?"
Alsatia comes fluttering back in with a tray of food almost as big as she is, raising an eyebrow at Kalvant. Then she glares at Selvan. "I suggest you get your brain out of your arse, Kilvani." She says pointedly, not even sure what he did, but figuring he was wrong based on past experience.
Once that is done, she begins handing out mugs of Klah, as requested by those who wanted them. "I brought a pitcher of fruit juice for those who may have changed their mind." She also hands a glass of amber liquid to Reaghar. "Thirty year old malt scotch, on ice. Do not give any to Selvan, he's being a shtock brain again, and he only gets worse when he's drunk." She tells Reaghar. "I had to follow him around for 3 days from one bar to another, and watch him insult every person he possibly could. I think he has a death wish, and is hoping someone will club his head in one day." She then begins passing out sandwhiches to those that wanted food. "I have spicy fish sandwhiches, herdbeast with horseradish, and for those of you with no tastebuds, I have watercress and chicken." She holds up a small bottle with a skull on it. "Hot sauce for those who want some."
When done, she hands Kalvant a large mug from which he takes a long swig. The interruption was suspiciously perfectly timed to give Sammark a chance to recover...
Sam waits for Kalvant to finish wetting his palate before meeting the eyes of his ostensible superior.
"One aspiration Mintakan, just one."
Reaghar's mood visibly lightens when the food arrives.
"Oooh, you're my new favorite in here!" he says playfully, taking the glass of scotch. He takes tilts it and inhales slowly. "Don't you worry, I won't be sharing this. With food and drink like this, hell, I wouldn't want to leave either." He takes a herdbeast and horseradish sandwich with his spare hand and leans back comfortably in the reading chair he is sitting in.