"It's a pleasure - I am sorry for said lady that you haven't visited her more often, I am sure she would have liked that." She responded with a bright smile and enjoys to look at him for a moment.
Then she add with her typical breathing voice but a a more thoughtful tone. "I find it sad to see the best always going to the crusade. I had thought about joining them; there is a lot we Calistrians can do for the spirits of the troops which have to fight and die to defend the world from the demons. And I am not just talking about the obvious. But I couldn't yet find the courage in me."
She fixes Morthos eyes again. "Though some people seem to be inclined to inspire the courage to face any evil."
She listens to the dirge for the professor. Hardly audible she whispers: "He was a good guy. Whish I could have..."
"A mere pup, by some, Morthos. I know one fellow who is twice that. He avoids mentioning his own age of 120. Best not scare the locals, yes?
"True enough." Morthos responds to Narah, not breaking her fixed stare.
"Not all in war are soldiers, and there are many forms of courage. I have seen the help of the Calistran priestesses on the frontlines, many a common foot soldier wears a token of some priestess or another, their beauty inspiring men who would have been farmers otherwise to fight the foul spawn of the abyss." He brushes a golden strand of hair behind his ear.
"As for the lady whom I visted, my last visit was to her deathbed. She died at the age of 80, she was a human not blessed with the long life my kind enjoys." he looks sad at the talk of the passing Calistran priestess.
Glade responds, Sorry to bring it up, the though and similarities seem to disturb you. changing the subject back to the dead guy So how well did you know him, and how did you know him? back to common all this is.
Narah smirks as she continues to change. "I rarely speak about how well I knew a men, especially after he's gone. I can tell as much as I was primarily his client, not the other way around." She avoids to look at Glade. "The encounter with a devil I mentioned earlier. Well, I think the good professor was an expert in this regard. Sometimes a bit indecent towards women*, but not to me. Not sure whether I was able to help with his ins..." She interrupts herself and makes windy sound which seems to be her equivalent of clearing her throat. "I was subject to a lot of magic and... imprints of infernal presence, as he called it. He studied it, but also helped me understand and remove the traces on body and soul."
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* http://paizo.com/campaigns/v5748p75hoj5p/discussion&page=3#117
Present time, public room.
@Morthos Did you say you were 115?
Narah laughs heartily before she covers her mouth and glances to the musician who plays a song for the late professor. When she caught herself she says with a smirk. "I won't talk about my age, other than that I am younger than our radiant knight here. But I am also probably older than you think I am."
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"A mere pup, by some, Morthos. I know one fellow who is twice that. He avoids mentioning his own age of 120. Best not scare the locals, yes?
If he recognizes you he will stare at you for a second like, god don't kill me.
If he does not, he will just notice your pale skin and know you aren't human, but what you are won't bother him and neither does he know what you are unless you tell him.
Morthos looks at the sharp featured man. "I imagine sir that he is an elf or dwarf?" Studying the mans nature, the pale skin, lythe body.
"Or perhaps another sort of creature." he says in a stark voice that is heavy in undertones like "Vampire"
"I myself have seen my greatgrandfather in my dreams, an immortal angel of heaven. He speaks words of order and kindness to me on occasion, and exalts my actions in battle."
"Bartender, could I have another round for everyone and some food for me please kind sir?" He raises his voice to be heard by the bartender.
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Narah laughs heartily before she covers her mouth and glances to the musician who plays a song for the late professor. When she caught herself she says with a smirk. "I won't talk about my age, other than that I am younger than our radiant knight here. But I am also probably older than you think I am."
Glade just smiles It doesn't bother me, you do seem to have a heart and you are very pretty. Not to mention I've been around elves a good portion of my life as well as a few other unique races
"True enough." Morthos responds to Narah, not breaking her fixed stare.
"Not all in war are soldiers, and there are many forms of courage. I have seen the help of the Calistran priestesses on the frontlines, many a common foot soldier wears a token of some priestess or another, their beauty inspiring men who would have been farmers otherwise to fight the foul spawn of the abyss." He brushes a golden strand of hair behind his ear.
"As for the lady whom I visted, my last visit was to her deathbed. She died at the age of 80, she was a human not blessed with the long life my kind enjoys." he looks sad at the talk of the passing Calistran priestess.
She bit her lower lip as he still holds her look. She seems to enjoy that. "Yes, sometimes, in the presence of being such as you and I, it eludes me how quickly those who were not touched pass by us. The head priestress who lead the temple in Katapesh I hail from used to be my childhood friend... well, in a way. But I am by no means sorry my training was concluded by elves. I like the elven perspective on Calistria better." She pauses a moment. "Where were you trained?" She takes only a sip from her mead but enjoys the taste of honey in her mouth before she swallows it.
Shush hears the word "entertainment" from the young Varisian man who just walked in.
Bartender, that gentlemen's meal is on me.
Shush listens intently to Blik's story. I met the Professor when he was visiting my...uuh...former employer. The Professor treated me with the utmost respect and gave me a book to keep hidden. I still have that book. It's what's called a Pathfinder Chronicle, I suppose. I'll never forget the evening we spent smoking a pipe while my, em, employers slept. He told me tales of yore and opened my imagination up to something more than the life I was living. If his demise has come by prematurely, I think it prudent to investigate.
Having downed his glass, he winks at the bartender. I'm gonna owe you something for such hospitality. What have you heard of the Professor's death?
Glade just smiles It doesn't bother me, you do seem to have a heart and you are very pretty. Not to mention I've been around elves a good portion of my life as well as a few other unique races
She breaks her shared gaze with Morthos briefly at that with an a slightly sad not to him.
As she turns to Glade however she beams at him. "Thank you. That's the kind of honest compliment that would make any woman's heart melt. What drives you to this... old land, actually?" She emphasizes 'old' as though she actually meant something different, less polite.
She takes a moment to look around at the other guests giving each one a direct look, that may very well be an invitation.
Having finished his tea, Morthos now drinks the stout ale. "I was trained in Mendev by the church of Iomedae. But I have learned from many people from many walks of life. One must always be open to new experiences and learning of new cultures." his smile radiant.
"The light of the inheritor can help people from all places not just zealous crusaders."
Morthos looks at the sharp featured man. "I imagine sir that he is an elf or dwarf?" Studying the mans nature, the pale skin, lythe body.
"Or perhaps another sort of creature." he says in a stark voice that is heavy in undertones like "Vampire"
"I myself have seen my greatgrandfather in my dreams, an immortal angel of heaven. He speaks words of order and kindness to me on occasion, and exalts my actions in battle."
"Bartender, could I have another round for everyone and some food for me please kind sir?" He raises his voice to be heard by the bartender.
The women chuckles knowingly at your ability, and turns a merry turn for you as she passes.
Taking a short leave before continuing his conversation with Sirsi, Daniel walks around a bit, taking in the several newly arrived patrons.
Walking past the sylph he overheard her.
"I was subject to a lot of magic and... imprints of infernal presence, as he called it. He studied it, but also helped me understand and remove the traces on body and soul."
His interest was sparked. He walked up to the conversation.
In his echoing voice and with his vacant yellow eyes he might make an odd-as-ever impression;"Excuse me miss, i couldn't help but overhear that part of your conversation about removing the infernal taint from your body and soul.
Could you tell me what the professor did to help you with such a procedure?"
Having finished his tea, Morthos now drinks the stout ale. "I was trained in Mendev by the church of Iomedae. But I have learned from many people from many walks of life. One must always be open to new experiences and learning of new cultures." his smile radiant.
"The light of the inheritor can help people from all places not just zealous crusaders."
"That sounds most intriguing." She returns with smirk. "I'll drink to new experiences and the light."
She lifts her tankard and looks around to include people she hasn't directly addressed yet. More calmly she adds: "And I do hope to learn more from you."
Shush hears the word "entertainment" from the young Varisian man who just walked in.
Bartender, that gentlemen's meal is on me.
Sandalero turns to the halfling and responds quietly.
Thank you my good man. Are you also a hundred and thirty something? I've never met so many unusual people in all my life, and this room is filled with them. I knew elves and dwarves live a long time, but these folks mostly look more-or-less human. Of course undead "live" forever, but I doubt they keep track of their birthdays.
His interest was sparked. He walked up to the conversation.
In his echoing voice and with his vacant yellow eyes he might make an odd-as-ever impression;
"Excuse me miss, i couldn't help but overhear that part of your conversation about removing the infernal taint from your body and soul.
Could you tell me what the professor did to help you with such a procedure?"
She examines the warrior before she answer but has trouble to keep her calm, suggestive demeanor up and even evades his look briefly. "I don't know what exactly he did... but he tried all sorts of things. Sometimes we would just talk and he'd cast a spell out of nothing in the middle of the conversation. Sometimes he would just stand there and stare at me - but not even realize that a woman stands before him but look at something entirely different. A variation of detect magic or detect evil, but not exactly the same. Then he would create potions in all kinds of tubes, put a tiny drop out of a big bottle onto a spoon with sugar and let me test it. He managed to touch me in more intimate places than many lovers without stopping to be a scientist or a perfect gentleman, when he did." She pauses briefly at that with a smirk as though there was more to say on the topic. "And what he did... helped. Some scars I didn't even know existed disappeared."
Narah pushes her chair back, stands up and uses her left to adjust the bands of silk of her dress, which hardly conceal her body but for some reason still let one make out no intimate bits. Her right covers a yawn.
"I am sorry, ladies and gentlemen, but it has been a long journey and I need to be ready for the challenges to come."
She gives everyone a quick look but then she turns to Morthos as she speaks and though her words address of everyone her eyes do not. "I wish you all a most pleasant night. I'll be in my room... Calistria's blessing over you all." Her words sound solemn and she spreads her hands to include everyone in the tavern.
As she turns around her eyes keep contact with Morthos for a moment longer and then she walks away, her hair flowing behind her as though a windy breeze rushed through it and the impression was carried on down the thin layer of silk covering her back.
Speaking to the Bard, I am not a hundred-something...more like thirty-something. You are correct, there is quite a motley crew here this evening. It seems our esteemed Professor got around and influenced many lives. How did you come to him? I'm called Shush, by the way. And you?
Sandalero. He got my father killed a few years ago.
Deivon looks around the room, shaking his head some. Most of his compatriots in the order would be able to detect the taint of undeath. Sadly, he had no access to said power at the moment. But unlike them, he could stand being in daylight, even if he had to squint just a little.
"Yes, Lorrimor made his way around. Feel like my time with him I saw half of Ustalav, spent a season in Lastwall and outran a few followers of Blackfinger. And he paid well." Enough for me to return to my real work...
"I'm sorry to hear that your father was killed Sandalero." Morthos says with sincerity.
Morthos watches as the beautiful Narah retires for the evening,her gaze subtley beckonin him to follow. He finished his meal.
What to do. He had known many women in his life, some more intimately than others. Some kind and quite others passionate and forward.
What I seek is real. he decided for himself. Connections with real people, real love of all who are good and deserving. Was that what was before him? A loving women to be sure, genuine as far as he could tell and blessed with an inner grace that few could match.
Morthos was a gentleman, neither forward or boarish. He thought about how he ought to proceed.
This needs time. Time to grow before I rush in. He wanted to rush in, A slyph would live long, like him, unlike the other women, mostly humans he had loved. Taken so often by the forces of evil or the cruel nature of the world.
He continued to talk amongst his new friends. He waited hours til the candles burned down and most had gone to sleep. He paid the barkeep for room and board and went up to the room with the four beds and watched Narah slumbering peacefully for a moment. He then made sure she was covered for warmth and decency and kissed her on the forehead. Stripping out of his armor he slept in the bed nearest her bed, but his own bed all the same.
As the common area fills, the young woman who first entered to find it still seeks out a corner table, if any are to be found. Smiling genially, she sets food & drink before her as she rests her chin on her hands to listen as so many seem here to pay their respects to the man who brought her both pain & self-knowledge.
Deivon stands and looks around. The room is rather full now, and he decides to seek a secluded corner somewhere. By some odd stroke of luck, the Professor's associates all seem to have congregated into this small tavern. Man knew a lot of people, but it feels like half of Ustalav is here...
Time evidently gets away from Borden as he talks and laughs with Sephrina... also gets away from you when the drinks are free and the barman playing silly buggers with some sort of weird concoction invented by Lorrimor.
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Sirsi drinks deeply as the time wears on, she's always struggled somewhat with restraint.
"Nice to see the slip of a Sylph getting so much attention, wonder if I should go get changed into my nightwear?" Sirsi giggles somewhat at herself.
"Now where'd my Chelaxian go, he was promising"
Sirsi looks around, notes that the tavern gets fuller each time she looks around.
Daniel is lost in thought.
Removing the infernal taint from one's body and soul. If only i knew how to do that, i'd be rid of the taint myself.
He returns back to his seat next to Sirsi.
"My,...you're looking around frantically."
He smiles as he says it.
She smiles at Daniel, "I think I may have drunk a little too much my friend, can you look after me and make sure I don't get in trouble."
"Luckily i'm not a heavy drinker. I'll keep an eye out for you.
But should you wish for me to chain you down for that...", he slightly lifts part of his upper vest, revealing a spiked chain, wrapped around his torso and waist.
"Don't worry though, i'm not such a sadist as some of the devils."
He smiles jokingly, finishing what remained of his meal.
That's a bit extreme friend, says Borden somewhat drunkenly. It hasn't gotten to the point where the bar is holding him up but if he doesn't switch from the heavier drinks to something lighter he's gonna be in trouble.
I caught a lot of yer background in dribs and drabs. Its been a hard slog fer ya... family betrayal, diabolical torture - I mean, Hell - you know, the place, not the word. Sheesh., he shakes his head in disbelief... or perhaps to clear his thoughts.Daniel? Right?
Sirsi raises an eyebrow, "Chains? I don't think I'll get in that much trouble... Unless I'm lured astray." She smiles mischievously.
Torak eats his meal in silence, his hand occasionally straying to an amulet with an antler and spiral motif. So many strange people gathered in one place, and they all know Lorrimor. Some seem as mad as the bog cultists of my homeland, uttering mad cries to the Tapestry in the darkness. Maybe I should have let the crocodile eat the old man after all...
Daniel raises an eyebrow at Sirsi, before chuckling.
She is quite something.
Turning his head towards Borden he nods.
"Yes, that's right.
Hindsight i would say i was lucky, if that can be said of being in hell. My labor was in Avernus.
There was this devil, Hellbach. A paperpusher, unsatisfied with administration of the arrivals. He made a deal with me, he'd cause a riot and send me back up. In return he would get to see my experience of Golarion."
Daniel modestly laughs.
"The thing though, seems his superiors found out, and killed him. It nullified the deal, but the taint of it still sticks onto me as you can hear and see."
He looks up again, "When i got back a minor servant-devil chased me. That was oddly the moment the late professor's college-lecture on devil anatomy helped me. Indirectly, the late professor kind of saved me, so when i happened to hear of his passing i headed this way. Not so much an invitation as it is my opportunity to show my respects."
Deivon stands and looks around. The room is rather full now, and he decides to seek a secluded corner somewhere. By some odd stroke of luck, the Professor's associates all seem to have congregated into this small tavern. Man knew a lot of people, but it feels like half of Ustalav is here...
Seeing the grim & pallid fellow looking about for a quiet corner Ysmerelda waves invitingly, nodding to the empty space at her own table.
Borden seems stuck between doubt and being impressed. His general befuddlement only seems to lengthen the time spent in indecision.
Need a drink but may... maybe a small beer... this time barkeep
"Ah,...not as far as i know. That certain servant-devil is dead. I was told my family got a rowdy visit with the message i got out, so unless my family finds out where i am and sends an assassin, nope i'm perfectly fine. Those people were only interested in power, they didn't know where i was most of he time, just got angry when i showed up again."
Popping the interest towards Borden and Glade; "What events got you to travel out here?"
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Learning to fight, that is my main motivation. Give back what people gave to me. How they protected me from a very powerful very evil Demon for five long years. It would take a million years of protecting others before I can give back what they gave to me. The Demon was so evil and so powerful that any evil aligned thing that wasn't working for Morbane wanted him dead just as much as any good aligned thing. The Demon that have lived for over 4 long centuries. And his constructs, his number one guards at his castle but he did have just about every race on his side. Too many people died trying to defeat him and his army. I wish to be the type of hero the people in my town were. I helped kill that Demon, as I delivered the finishing blow, but I am far from a hero. My adopted parents sacrificed their own house to kill about 30 to 40 soldiers working for Morbane, and they did this in about 1 round of combat.
For a moment Narah leaned back at the table and just listened to the conversations, discarding the words and only paying attention to the tone, mimics, gestures and the true meanings.
As she let her thoughts drift and wondered what remarkable a man the professor must have been to attract so many people to his funeral, her eyes inevitably fell on the bright white lady knight in the corner, sitting all alone while having. She certainly wasn't quite human, but Narah still couldn't place the woman. Dispite the bright skin she wasn't sylph like herself, she was sure of it. She might be an aasimar...
She noticed the symbol she wore. The Eternal Rose. Narah couldn't help but snarl. Shelyn's followers and those of the Unquenchable Fire were connected in rivalry, careful respect and resentment alike. Well, as far as Narah's own faction in the clergy of Calistria was concerned anyway - others were just too afraid or too blind to believe in love at all.
She was about to stand up and engage the competition in a friendly barter and see whether she could seduce her to some fencing over a man, when the white lady knight waved for a man at another table. Hardly audible she breathed: "Calistria's blessing over the two of you... whether you want it or not."
She faked attention to what was going on at her own table, but closely watched what else may transpire regarding the white knight of the rose and the strange man she had waved; he was an interesting choice, as Narah had to admit and just as the woman herself, there was something about him she just couldn't place.
Having finished his meal (and seemingly shut down any conversation with his explanation of how he knew the professor), Sandalero retreats to an empty corner and begins quietly playing a melancholy song on his vielle.
Blessing of Calistria is a wonderful thing. You two should be honored to receive it.
Glade then claps at Sandalero's performance.
Narah twitches as he seems to have heard what wasn't meant to be heard by any but divine ears.
"You have... remarkably fine ears. I should be careful what I say near you!" She winks at him and listens to the music for a moment, trying to recall what he was talking about from her memory.
"You seem to have great courage, that honours you", she starts carfully, "but be careful to honour your people's sacrifice by prevailing; there is so much evil in the world, within and without ourselves. Forgive me if overly concerned, but promise me to consider you're not alone and look to the people around you, rather than dealing with everything that haunts you alone, out of misplaced pride..." She cast a quick glance over to the white lady knight of Shelyn but then her bright blue eyes look straight at him as though they tried to read his thoughts from his and her typical half smile plays around her lips.
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Bran looks at his flask, now filled with the Pharasman brew, to admire the craftsmanship. Then his eyes light up as he jumps up out of his seat and breaks into many of the ongoing conversations with his story of his time with the professor. LOOK at the quality of this flask! Some of the patrons in the tavern jump at the boom of his voice. A few others spill their drinks as they attempt to take a gulp. A man sitting near the door gets up quickly and rushes out the door, visibly shaken. Dozens of eyes are on Bran as he speaks. Professor Lorrimor gave me this flask as a token of appreciation for the time we spent together in the wilds of Varisia. Bran, realizing that had all but silenced the crowd, brings his tone down. I was trekking through an area I had never visited before, the Brinestump Marsh, just outside of Sandpoint. I had stopped for the evening and set up camp. I think I was drifting off.. suddenly I heard a twig snap and turned just in time for the horse chopper to shave my head right down the middle. That's where I got this haircut. I was able to out-muscle the two goblins that planned on having me for dinner, destroying them in my rage. Bran touches his hair and then turns his attention back to the flask. Little did I know, professor Lorrimor saw everything. While I was packing up to leave I heard a voice, I turned, and saw him standing there. My first instinct was to take him apart with my axe, but then he told me that he had seen the whole thing the night before and he wanted to offer some advice. Bran smiles. Advise from him?! But it turns out he knew what he was talking about. He could have killed me before the goblins ever got there. He had been studying me. We decided to travel together and I served as his bodyguard and guide throughout Varisia. One day we came across a pair of Stone Giants near the Stony Mountains. They did not want to have a conversation. My instincts, thanks in part to the professor, allowed me to get the jump and quickly take one of them down. The other pummeled the professor until he was unconscious and then proceeded pick him up and flee into the mountains. I was able to catch him, and after a brutal battle, I removed his head. The professor gave me this flask as a thank you for saving his life. If it wasn't for his guidance, we both may have died that day. He taught me to be aware of my surroundings and strike first. Bran sits back down, looking sort of weary from the monologue. Yep, kept this haircut and flask ever since as reminders. Bran begins eating the delicious meal Heather brought him and tosses a few gold coins onto the bar as payment.
Deivon stands and looks around. The room is rather full now, and he decides to seek a secluded corner somewhere. By some odd stroke of luck, the Professor's associates all seem to have congregated into this small tavern. Man knew a lot of people, but it feels like half of Ustalav is here...Seeing the grim & pallid fellow looking about for a quiet corner Ysmerelda waves invitingly, nodding to the empty space at her own table.
Seeing to motion, Deivon moves over and, with a little bow, accepts the seat. "Thank you, madam. I'm afraid I don't do to well in the growing crowd here. So I understand you and the Proffesor knew each other as well? That seems to be the common thread of connection here, after all." He gives her as warm a smile as his pale face can muster.
"It does indeed.". Ysemerelda replies, dimpling in response to her smile's return. "I suppose you could say he initiated & helped me through a rough time in my life. I wanted to be there for his daughter in similar circumstances if I could."