Vannevar sees nothing other than the occasional overly drunk patron, too drunk to even stand let alone be a threat and the constant flow of various people in and out of the Cracked Mirror.
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Lianna smiles coyly back at Jess "That'd be nice, I've been alone on the road an awfully long time..." then her voice drops to a whisper.
As the night winds down, people begin to return to their homes. Those that have rented rooms begin to make their way drunkenly to their beds. Soon, it is only you few who remain.
Head buzzing pleasantly, Aeyra grabs her things and begins making her way up to her room. She gets about two steps up and stops, turning to the dwarf behind the counter. "I'll be up early, and would just love a hot breakfast being ready for me." With a smile and a drunken wave she continues on her way, locking the door behind her and collapsing on the bed.
Amused at the odd exchanges occurring at the bar, Akasha watches the interactions with interest.
Blaze offers his hand to Silian in return. "And I am Blaze. I am pleased to make your acquaintance."
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After a quick moment to make themselves look as...inviting as possible. Lianna and Jess grab a freshened drink for Vannevar and each sidle up to one side of him while he's not paying particular attention to them.
"I'm not familiar with the game, but am willing to learn. You'll forgive me if I decline to wager money on it, though."
Jess follows Lianna's lead, she has the forethought to be certain to not place herself between Vannevar and the one he guards. She is content to stand near him and twirl her hair around a finger while looking at him doe eyed.
Mrogab shuffles some things around behind the bar and produces the deck Silian requested.
Blaze listens intently to Silian's instructions. As the cards are dealt, he comments "The soldiers - the born ones, that is - in my unit often played this game. I recall one game that got so out of hand all but one of the players were relegated to latrine duty for an entire week."
Jess takes Lianna's hand and and says, "Seems he's not interested in women. Good thing I am, come on, let's go to bed."
Chuckling to herself at what she assumed was a proposition, she smiles as the stunning sorceress is lead upstairs by the oddsmaker. Someone will be celebrating tonight
She makes her way up the stairs to her rented room, settling her gear before undressing and getting into bed.
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Silian smiles as he deals cards to himself and Blaze. He addresses Vannevar softly.
Gambit 1 (using INT)
Gambit 2
Gambit 3
Gambit 4
Gambit 5
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As Blaze finishes his third flight in the first gambit. "Beginner's luck, my friend. Ask away. Anything you wish to know about me?"
Silian continues to play the cards with the warforged, enjoying the company and conversation.
"So, how old are you?" the elf inquires.
"What did you do prior to hearing the divine calling?"
"You are striving to find your place, how do you feel about other warforged?"
"This gambit is yours, Blaze."
Blaze finds contentment for the moment in the simple task of choosing and playing cards, chatting with Silian. From time to time he glances at Vannevar and wonders about the strangely quiet elf.
"I am quite young by the standards of the born races - just an infant by yours. I stepped out of the forge and into consciousness seven years ago. What is your age? "
*****
"I was created a soldier, but spent more time working in the armory. Since the war, I've worked in a smithy in Highhold. I suppose you could say that I was always a servant of Onatar - I just didn't know it yet. And that even now I still remain a craftsman.
You said that you lead a life of idle wealth, but I note by your attire that you appear to be well prepared for...difficult situations. Do you have any avocation you follow?"
*****
"Perhaps the best answer to your question would be to ask how you feel about other elves. There is no one answer - as with all others I judge each of my brethren on the merits of his character. I've known good ones and bad ones. I've heard rumors of a leader for our people in the Mournland. Calls himself the Lord of Blades. I cannot say that I approve of his aims and methods, if what I have heard is true."
*****
"Your friend has been very quiet." He looks over at Vannevar. "What is your story, if I may be so bold as to ask?" Blaze lays down a winning hand. "Ah! It would appear that either my 'beginner's luck' has returned or I have finally begun to grasp the essentials of this game. Thank you for your patient instruction and the diversion."
The soft moans of women in the thralls of passion can be heard coming from one of the rooms late into the night. Aeyra, in a drunken slumber hears nothing. Akasha is woken by the noise once or twice.
In the early hours of the morning just before the sun rises while most of the patrons are still slumbering there is an urgent knocking sound coming from the back of the building. A moment later, Mrogab can be heard cursing by those in the commons room, "Alright, alright! I'm coming."
The sounds of a hushed conversation can be heard coming from the back for a moment before Mrogab leads a cloaked woman into the the commons. "You can tell that mistress of yours that I'm not going into Fallen for that blasted statue. She can think of another way for me to repay our debt." He goes about heating water to make the woman a cup of tea, all the while the both remain silent giving each other vile looks.
Aeyra yawns and stretches like a cat, coming down into the commons rather loudly. She sits at the bar and upon smelling the tea smiles. "I'd like a cup of that with just a touch of brandy in it Mrogab." She leans against the bar, yawning and glancing at the cloaked woman. "Morning, bit early for a hood, isn't it?"
Mrogab nods at Aeyra's request and sets out a second cup, pouring in a bit of brandy.
The woman looks at Aeyra, her agitation is clear. "It's never early for a hood." She lowers her hood nonetheless, revealing her long, straight, blond hair and delicate elven features. She turns back to Mrogab, "You made an arrangement with Mistress Tela. She will not be pleased if you do not keep to your end of the agreement."
"I never said I would do anything she asked. I have an inn to run here, I can't go running off into Fallen on a job that might take days - if I'm lucky enough to return at all - to retrieve her property. She can find someone else."
Aeyra nods. "Aye, true that." She examines the elven woman carefully out of the corner of her eye. "What agreement is being spoken of?"
After the card games and conversation die down, Blaze moves to a chair near the fire (he has learned that the born races find it unnerving when he stands for hours on end). He doesn't need the warmth, but finds the glow soothing. He watches the dancing of the flame and strains his ears for that half-heard voice from the forge. No voice comes, but he is content.
Soon comes that time on the border between late and early, when it seems as if Blaze is the only being left in the world. He spends that lonely hour of the night reflecting on the experiences of the previous day - sights seen, new faces, friendly conversations. And, indeed, he is not truly lonely. He can almost feel the pulse of city's life around him and notes a stirring sense of excitement in himself as that pulse begins to pick back up to the steady rhythm of the day.
Blaze is stirred from his reverie by the commotion of the hooded woman's arrival. He notes her agitation and readies himself to intervene should things get too heated. When Aerya enters he greets her with a nod and continues to keep a watchful eye on the bar.
Used to rising early from years in the military, Akasha rises from bed,moving to her belongings to gather her spellbook, she cannot help but grin at the memory of the moans that went on into the small hours of the night. The two elven women definitely weren't shy.
Sitting cross-legged in the center of the bed she begins her study, a unique combination of intense reading, meditation and contemplation that allows her mind to grasp the nebulous forces of magic and mold them into the form of spells.
An hour later her awareness again acknowledges her surroundings, the room around her, the sights and scents, it was always odd coming out of her spell selection trance.
Going over to the washbasin in the corner of the room, she cleans the previous day's dirt and sweat from her body, then don's her armor and gear, making her way downstairs well ahead of many of the inn's drunken inhabitants.
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"I am quite young by the standards of the born races - just an infant by yours. I stepped out of the forge and into consciousness seven years ago. What is your age? "
"I have been in this waking world for one hundred and twenty four summers now. Though I wouldn't claim all of them as spent productively."
*****
"...You said that you lead a life of idle wealth, but I note by your attire that you appear to be well prepared for...difficult situations. Do you have any avocation you follow?"
"Despite my position of nobility, I find the open roads and sky much more desirable... as long as I have city brandy with me."
*****
"Perhaps the best answer to your question would be to ask how you feel about other elves. There is no one answer - as with all others I judge each of my brethren on the merits of his character. I've known good ones and bad ones. I've heard rumors of a leader for our people in the Mournland. Calls himself the Lord of Blades. I cannot say that I approve of his aims and methods, if what I have heard is true."
"I find the company of elves to be most preferable, my people are among the oldest of these lands, save for the savages. I may not always agree with political decisions, but I appreciate the long-tempered fervor we elves possess. We, more than most, can afford to be patient."
After the cards have been played Silian will shake Blaze's hand and head upstairs, taking a few moments to disrobe before falling onto the bed and allowing the reverie to claim him.
*****
In the morning Silian takes proper time to brush his hair and make himself presentable again before finally stretching and opening his door to an awaiting Vannevar. Smirking Silian will glide down the steps, giving a nod to Blaze before scanning the room.
The woman glances at Aeyra when she asks her question but does not answer. Mrogab serves Aeyra her alcoholic tea and says, "Nothing you need to worry about lass."
He turns back to the woman and hands her a steaming cup, she takes it and nods, but keeps her stern expression in place. They stare at each other for a moment longer before Mrogab says, "No. That's final. She'll just have to find someone else willing to do it, perhaps she can hire someone. You're free to ask around here, I'm sure you can find someone wanting to put a few extra coins in their pockets."
The woman looks at exasperated, brings the tea cup to her lips and then sets it back down on the counter. She looks around the commons momentarily, "I shall inform Mistress Tela of your refusal. Good day." She pulls up her hood and heads for the door.
Aeyra nods a few times, slowly drifting off her chair...Extra coins!? She sits up abruptly, smoothing down her bed head and rushing over to the elven woman. She grabs her by the wrist. "Hey now, I believe we should talk for a little longer. I'm actually in the market for some work right now!" She gives a flat smile as her hair sticks out sideways from sleeping on it.
"Unhand me woman, or loose that hand." Her voice is calm, and her expression is stoic, but Aeyra is quite certain that she means what she says.
"Doesn't that mean the same thing? Unhand...lose a hand..." She ponders it for a moment before snapping back to reality, letting go of her wrist. "Anyways, what are the chances of picking up this job?"
The woman studies Aeyra head to toe for a long moment. "I hardly think that you are capable of handling this particular task alone. Nevertheless, I would much rather return to my Mistress with another option than completely empty handed. Have you anyone willing to take on the task with you?"
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BlazeSilianVanevvarLianna... Aeyra whisks over and throws one arm around Blaze and the other around Silian. "Course I have my own crew, some jobs you just can't do solo!"
"Depending on the job I may be able to help you M'lady. I've served in a professional capacity before."
As she descends the stairs, the Mark of the Sentinel is clearly visible on Akasha's thigh, under the short skirt of her armor.
"Forgive me for overhearing"
Blaze steps into the conversation. "I don't know whether I would call myself an employee of the Lady here," he nods to Aerya, "but if your mistress is in need, perhaps I can be of assistance." He jangles his nearly empty purse. "A few coins would also not be amiss."
Halfway through talking Aeyra cuts Silian off. "Yes, my crew, and they know when there's easy money to be made!"