With the two of them almost to the manor, Nahia let the conversation rest. She wanted to say something to try and bring her around, but that seemed unlikely at best. No, better to let things lie for now, let passions cool, and to move on with things.
Besides, soon she would have to deal with the Baron, and that just made her skin crawl.
@Drownington
The group ventures into the Drownington. They is amazed to see, displayed in the open, shops with trinkets and symbols from other deities other than Mitra.
The place is a chaos. Crowded with temporary structures, water-logged shanties and traveler’s tents. You receive more than your share of hostile, lewd stares, as you walk by, in your newer clothes, but no one makes any move against you.
Drownington is a maze of transients and cast-offs. Fights and muggings are common; you see several as you pass by. Illegal goods unthinkable to trade up on the hills are openly trafficked here. You saw in one tent, what you think that may be a human heart into a glass pot, and other not so nice things to describe.
Desperate prostitutes peddle their wares besides drunken river sailors. They almost try to take you by force.
==//==
After escaping this maze, you head for the Lord Drownington’s Manor. The only permanent structure in Drownington.
A crudely made sign in front reads “Lord Drownington’s Manor”.
You enter the place, and immediately take in the scene. It’s a large place, several tables with drunken regulars, at your left, you see a fight reaching its peak, when a huge dark skinned man, punches a fat drunken into unconscious, and keep hitting the man after he is down, no one makes any move to stop, more than that, they seem to be cheering for the big one.
At your right, you see several ‘barmaids’, half naked ‘attending’ to customers in the open. Some with more than one customer. At another corner, you see what appears to be a small market, of illegal goods, signs says: “Poisons, curses, assassinations”.
On top of that, there is drink and a loud music. The place filled with the worst you can get.
You see in addition, there is stairs; leading to what you reckon is the second floor. Two tugs stationed at it.
Rather bold here considering the Mitrians come down so hard on this sort of thing.
Nahia glanced from sight to sight, both amused and slightly disgusted at all of the raucous behavior.
Now this looks like a party... Though if I was going to have to put up with being in a city it would be nice to not have to tread through a swamp as well... One or the other is all I am asking...
Oh, oh! Is that a minotaur femur! And gnome's eyes! Such a lovely shade of green... No, focus... it's going to be expensive enough to get the Horn defensible... no frivolities...
She lets out a heavy sigh as they approach the manor, wishing that she had either more money or less responsibility at that moment. But when she enters the tavern she giggles and blushes softly, both at the lurid displays and at the shop in the corner.
Curses huh? I wonder what kind of curses?... I'm really going to have to come back to this place once our task is done...
Shaken out of her thoughts by Hounds words, she nods and adds "People will do as they are want to do. After a while it is easier to give them outlets rather than continue to stifle them. Especially when those oppressed people are quite skilled with their blades..."
She glances over at one particularly busy waitress with a raised eyebrow. "...among other things..."
A young and beautiful woman that has long, dark red hair and hazel eyes, she projects a look of curiosity and uncertainty from behind the corner.
The woman is a half‐elf, though her heritage is diluted and is apparent to those enjoying intimate contact with her. Her hair is long and light red, and she likes to hang it free. She dresses in bright, revealing dresses, and wears lots of jewellery and wears a tiara.
When Mysty approaches and asks for a poison, the woman smiles looking curiously at the group.
”Oh my, my. So young and already in right path!” she says brightly. ”Of course we have it dear.”
"It's 130gp per dose." the woman says smiling. "Avaliable I have: Swampseer, Azure lily, Lich dust, Arsenic, Id moss, Indigo dreams, Greenblood oil, Small centipede poison. If I have time, I can acquire any other you want." she says finally.
The woman, even if she resembles a lot a half elf, you see traits of another race: Changeling.
Nahia glances around the little shop Mysty was standing at but nearly gives away her interest when her head snaps back to look at the woman running the shop.
Hmm, pale skin... the sharp looking nails... and those eyes...
She saunters up to the woman's shop, letting her illusion slip when it comes to her eyes. Reaching the counter, she smiles wide and stares into the merchants eyes. "Greetings, sister... would you be willing to describe your curses to me?"
”Oh sure why…” the woman stops as she see the different color in Nahia’s eyes. She blinks in surprise, and quickly gets back to business.
”…why, it depends on what you want. Cursing someone is a form of art, usually it takes time and patience, and based on what you want to happen, I’m pretty sure everything is possible. If you are looking for something less elaborated…” she trails off, fiddling with a bag that was nearby and removing a beautiful golden necklace, made of gold and fire jewels … I’m pretty sure this will do.
”Hey lads, look what we got ‘ere!” one of the drunken thugs says walking towards the mostly female party that just entered the place.
”Aint you a pretty thing, eh?” he says with an appraising look to Rose ”Bet ye squeal like a pig when ye’re in the bed with a proper man.”
The others laugh and give approval comments to what the thug said.
Hound moves to the fore. Go away and find yourself someone else.
At the sight of confusion, Hound stepping forward, Mysty handing over her dagger, the fat tarvern keeper starts yelling ”No blasters! No blasters!”
With that he rushes over and points to the ‘arena’ inside the tavern. ”If ye got anything to settle, that’s the place.”
Nahia doesn't pay any mind to the possible fight developing behind her; Rose and the others could handle some common, lecherous thugs just fine. Instead she just smiles at the girl and responds "Hmm, that's pretty. What does it do? Also, do you happen to know how to make it so that a man can only, hmmm, stand at attention in the presence of a male goat?"
Hound looks expectantly at the men.
The woman, unfazed by the nearby disturbance adopts an absorbed expression. Then she smiles and says ”I could do better. What about if he things the Goat if the love of his life and develop a murderous rage of anything trying to separate them?” she looks at your group and continues ”Won’t be easy though, nor will it be fast or cheap.”
Rose looked at the man, then the arena and smiled like a child on... whatever the hell that stupid Mitran winter holiday was called.
You have to speak the local language. her mother's voice echoed in her head. Among lions, bed the biggest male around, fast. Among dogs, establish dominance.
"I got this." she said with a hand on Hound's arm.
Stepping forward she got close to the idiot who'd spoken to her.
"You and me. In there." she said loud enough for people nearby to hear the challenge, nodding to the arena. "Now."
Hound shrugs and lets Rose unleash pain.
Kitara smiles, watching Nahia as she speaks to the lady about curses and potions. She seems mildly interested, though perhaps a bit distant. Brutes and savages. Let's see how Rosie deals with these boys. Perhaps we can yoke their strength, and use them to our advantage. An active criminal element inside the city would do us well to distract the guards and ne'er do wells from striking out to the Horn.
She seems to be passively taking in her surroundings, and casually lets her glance fall to the bout about to take place, whilst also trying to inspect the wares of the woman Nahia is talking to.
Nahia smiles at the girl's suggestion and nods for a moment, thinking.
A nice addition... now what might she be thinking... time to test her...
"Hmm, let me guess... A raw oyster rolled in salt peter and, hmm, normally I would say ginseng from the far east or yohim bark from the far south mixed with fairy wings... the plant, not the piece of anatomy... but down here you probably just use plaster of pine instead... am I right?" she says with a bit of an excited smile.
The man smiles widely, the sour breath washing over the party.
He then goes about removing his already dirty shirt, revealing some muscles and scars.
”Too easy!” he laughs and stars muscle-flexing, showing off his not-so-good-body to the ladies.
”I’ll be promptly back ladies, ” he says looking to Nahia and Kitara ”After I put a lash in this other here.”
Rose challenge was heard and the crowd gather to see the duel.
The thug enters the ring as a king greeted by the drunk, dirty and despicable crowd.
Before Rose steps in, however, another one block her path and says ”No weapons, no armor.” and by his voice, it is clear he was not fooled by Rose’s illusion.
Hound is not surprised, he was never weaponless and could fight with his hands but did not know how well Rose could do.
@Nahia
The woman blinks in surprise smiling genuinely ”I would use raw oysters, hot chillies, pomegranates, with a special salve, made of Mandarin. I don’t usually do Faery wings, I prefer dark lilies instead.”
Fine. Rose said. She hadn't brought her full kit into town anyway. She passed her belt back to Hound and peeled off her spit-skirt riding dress down to the equestrian's breeches and doublet she wore beneath.
She rolled her neck, smiled to the catcalling crowd, and stepped into the ring.
Nahia looks down in contemplation for a moment while muttering "Hmm, hot chilies... yes, yes when mixed with the mandarin..."
She looks up at the girl again and excitedly adds "Very, very clever combining the two effects of more common plants... that should be more effective than plaster of pine... though be warned, the use of dark lilies will both increase the toxicity of the brew and have the side effect of making him attracted to ibex as well... by the way, I'm Nahia, daughter of Anahita, and it's a pleasure to meet you!" She offers he hand in a gentle grip of greeting.
"Dun worry honey. I'll be gentle." the man says with a ugly smile.
Somewhat losing her tempo, the Thug takes the initiative to raise his arms and hand hit his scarred chest. He moves about interacting with the crowd, making a show, before turning to Rose and… waiting?
What would he wait for?
"Jack, I don't think you know any other way." she said with a raised eyebrow. "You going to come over here, or do I have to leave and go get someone who isn't afraid to hit a girl?"
@Nahia
”Oh well, I can live with that. Poisoning and Ibex.” the woman giggles
The Hag’s names rolls of your mouth and the woman doesn’t notice it as well. Extending her hand she says ”Deanne Huyn Veneer.”
The Veneer family are merchants, very rich and well established. While rich, Hagbard Veneer desired more for his family – so he arranged for his daughters to marry local nobles, insuring noble blood would enter his family. While the youngest daughter, Aserra, was married to Lord Vederian Soulbright, the eldest daughter, Deanne, married the much older Lord Huyn.
Deanne was reported as missing for some months ago.
The man pales significantly as he yells ”Ain’t scaring me b+&@&!”
He moves then, to prove his superiority using his fists.
but shaken as the man is, his attacks offers no danger.
Nahia grasps the girls hand gently and adds "ANd, once again, a pleasure to meet you. Say, are you here pretty frequently? I'm fairly busy for a little while, but I'd love to talk over some wine and food some time... It is just so rare to meet another like myself."
Rose slips to the side and lets the blow pass as she retaliates with swings of her own.
Kitara smiles as Nahia talks to the woman and giggles softly. She whispers to her though loud enough that the other woman can hear. "It is especially rare, though she must have found some time in these last few months. I wonder what her husband would think? Or does he even think any longer?"
Kitara flashes a disarming, but knowing smile at the woman that Nahia is talking to.
@Kit
“Really, why should I dedicate my life to one person, pledged to love and cherish till the day I die, when I can use at my whim those who desire me?” the woman smiles back.
"Gettaway from me, b!@!%!" the man yells, trying to kick you off your feet, which fails.
Rose tagged him with shot to the breadbasket to double him over and then a sidestepping hook to the side of the head that dropped him in a heap to the floor in front of her. Then, just because she wanted to drive the point home when he woke up, she swung her riding boot into the front of his ugly face, pulping his nose, splintering teeth, and destroying his jaw.
Without a scratch on her, she looked around to the audience. "Anyone else want to run their mouth?"
Hound nods his approval and hands Rose her things back.
Instead of being intimidated by Rose, the crowd wells and cheers. It then begins chanting, stomping the group with their feet, hitting the table a walls with their hands, mugs or anything that can be used to make noise, with each hit, a same word said, over and over again.
"Kill! Kill! Kill! Kill! Kill! Kill! Kill! Kill! Kill! Kill! Kill!"
|
Mysty grins like a maniac.
So, Rose. You seem to have won them over. The only question now is...kill him slow or quick.
She looks at the helpless human, and thinks of the times she was helpless before his like. Of her family helpless but still stuck in that "you must be good' rubbish. Fools!
This is power! The strong rule the weak and infirm.
Mysty glances at Rose, in admiration and envy. Not me, not yet. But one day soon, all who oppose me will bow or die. The Mitrans, humans,priests, all! Maybe even you sister dear.
She looks at the chanting crowd, her expression merry, cloaking the thoughts below.
I could kill him, if you want?