"Mmm. We didn't fast, no. Our philosophy is to feed the body that the mind and spirit may thrive. Much of the food was eastern in origin...it gave me an appreciation for certain spices that I wouldn't normally have had! In many ways, I'm quite lucky, I suppose. I certainly have had a, shall we say, nonstandard upbringing. Sometimes I wonder what life would have been like if things had been different. Learned a trade, become...I don't know, a cobbler. Found a woman, settled down. I suppose those are all possibilities in the future. The simplicity of it is alluring sometimes, to be sure, but the things I can do...the things I've seen...the things I might see! I wouldn't trade that for anything."
With a mouthful of stew, Ratimir smiles, leans back and looks at Shae. "If it isn't the little ray of sunshine that was missing from my day," he greets her sarcastically. "Girl, you worry too much. With your 'father', the trick is 70% on choosing the right words, 20% on bringing the right leverage, and 10% on having swift feet. We don't have the leverage."
He swallows the stew, cleans his mouth with the back of his sleeve, and continues. "But I was planning to suggest that they leave us alone. I have a way of getting into people's minds... but we might need to stop at the Feathered Serpent before the meeting, or if we're lucky we'll just bump into Vorvashali, the store owner." He puts down the spoon and drinks from the goblet in front of him. "And tomorrow might be a better day for that, if possible. Unless, of course, you're still planning on running away, in which case it would be just rude not to introduce yourself to your soon-to-be travel companion." He looks at Serolt, still smiling, eager to see how that conversation plays out.
"Well, I have the swift feet, and that's why I'm 90% sold on running," the young woman tells Ratimir. She looks like she wants to say something mean or belittling to the Varisian, but her mouth opens only to close again a moment later; it's pretty clear she has no idea how to deal with the fellow.
So she turns her attention to Serolt with a winning smile. "Right--where are my manners? My name's Shaedeen. I wield a rapier with some skill and am a decent shot with both sling and crossbow. I would not be too much of burden on your travels."
Turning back to Ratimir, she says, "I don't even know your name, come to think of it--I was just given your description along with that of your sharp-eared ladyfriend. What happened to her? She was to be my excuse for being unable to seduce you away for your reckoning this evening. By the gods, will nothing go right this day?"
A bit of a lie there about not knowing your name, yet no hint of deception about having just been given your description and that of Vanea. Could the sneaky little minx have been digging into your past?
Shae has barely finished her question when Ratimir pulls out a card from the deck. He contorts his mout and replies "Apparently not." He shakes his head in disappointment while putting the deck away. "Name's Ratimir. My 'ladyfriend' wasn't to keen on waiting while you and I talked before, and I haven't seen her since." He pauses and looks at Shae for a moment. "It's cute how you think you could seduce me if not for her," he says in amusement. He seems to genuinely enjoy teasing Shae.
"And tomorrow might be a better day for that, if possible.
"No--there's no putting off this reckoning. I was ordered to lure you someplace isolated once the bonfire's lit tonight. If you've got some master stroke to play, it needs to be played tonight."
"It's cute how you think you could seduce me if not for her," he says in amusement. He seems to genuinely enjoy teasing Shae.
At this comment, Shae's eyes narrow and again she opens her mouth to retort and again closes it up quite comically. She turns her attention to Serolt, choosing to ignore Ratimir for the moment.
(For the Feathered Serpent place Ratimir mentioned.)
Also...anything of interest from the pickpocketed merchant? :)
Serolt watches the two spar with words and wonders just how many women Ratimir knows. This one seems to be in some sort of trouble though he can't quite wrap his head around the whole issue.
"Greetings Shaedeen, I'm Serolt." he smiles and shakes her hand.
"Sounds like you're in some trouble. I need to be back in town in a few days, but I could see you as far as a day's walk north, maybe two, before I'd have to turn back. Wouldn't get you anywhere I think, but I don't know that country well I'm afraid - could be wrong."
"I'm just in town, and though I hope to stay some little while and work the country, I need to learn it first. So I might not be as much use as you might like. You might do better with local guides for this if it's experience you seek."
He measures her, "But if you just need a companion to hedge off whatever trouble dogs your steps, I'm willing to help. No fee. As I said, I need to learn the country anyway." he stretches, feeling over full.
"We can leave tonight if you need to. I have no where to sleep anyway. Ratimir, care for a walk about?"
On the way to the Temple, Vanea answers Cyrdak with a seductive smile
In fact, the weapons on my hips are just concealing that my hips are my greatest weapons...Did you know the Temple has a cart with crates full of butterflies? I just checked earlier. And I would be happy to join you, just because you find me talented. I came to this town just to meet you so you could teach me to become even better at singing!
Vanea
Cyrdak raises an eyebrow artfully, his warm grin never faltering for even a moment. "Well in that case, I hope you find ways to put your weapons to good use. Whichever weapons those might be," he says with a playful wink as he escorts the beautiful Calistrian into the open area, much to the dismay of the same tittering girls who gasped and giggled earlier at the playwright's entrance onto the stage that morning.
As the ceremony proceeds, Cyrdak appears to be scanning the crowd rather than paying attention to the tale being told, before turning his gaze back to Vanea. "I have seen this ceremony so many times before, I could recite it myself. Albeit with much more flair than the good Father up there."
Once the butterflies have been released and people begin to proceed toward the feast in the streets, the playwright turns to Vanea and lifts her hand to his mouth in a kiss. "Alas, I must be off due to other commitments this afternoon. Please come and see me at the theatre in the next few days. Whilst I regret that I have no positions available for The Harpy's Curse for now, I believe my next production could very easily make use of your considerable talents."
"Unfortunately, it appears I have a rendez-vous set for tonight, so I'm afraid I can't make it to your lovely promenade," Ratimir says putting down the goblet. He puts one arm over the table and leans forward in Serolt's direction, narrowing one eye. "But if you really want to help this girl, you might as well help me, since I'm already helping her—I hope I didn't lose you there. You want in on a little secret?" Ratimir looks to the sides and then signals for Serolt to bend forward, closer to him.
"Young Shaedeen here and I are both through with some former friends. Problem is, they are quite fond of us and are having a hard time letting go, so I'll have to meet them to tell them that they should stop bothering us. I think I can put them to sleep fairly quickly, and a good rope will make them more willing to pay attention. However, if you two can hang in the shadows in case things go wrong... well, let's just say I didn't last this long by being reckless and stupid, even if it may sound like it." He sits back, putting some distance between his face and Serolt's.
"If it comes to worse, a well-placed arrow to the knee would send a clear message to our 'family', and from what I saw on the archery tent, you're just the courier I need." He turns to Shae "And you... well, if they let you hang out there, it means you must be good at this."
He shrugs and gets back to the stew. "Or we part ways before the bonfire, whatever you prefer."
As the three huddle together over the stew trying to work out what to do about the predicament that Ratimir and Shae currently find themselves in, a slight lull in the conversation around them allows Ratimir, Shaedeen, and Serolt a chance to hear the sound of a high-pitched giggle float into their ears on the briefest of moments. The sound is menacing, sending chills up their collective spines, and if it weren't for the fact that they all react at a similar time, they could be forgiven for thinking they might have imagined it.
"If it comes to worse, a well-placed arrow to the knee would send a clear message to our 'family', and from what I saw on the archery tent, you're just the courier I need." He turns to Shae "And you... well, if they let you hang out there, it means you must be good at this."
He shrugs and gets back to the stew. "Or we part ways before the bonfire, whatever you prefer."
Serolt does indeed lean in during the conspiratorial discussion and then leans back again to think. "Well I can't say I understand you, but I understand you and the lady are in some distress - and I'm quite willing to help out. That said it doesn't seem like you're both in agreement as to the plan."
I wish I had gotten some of those blunt arrows. No need to kill anyone you don't have to old boy.
"Is there a fletcher in town? I might get some supplies if I can find them." he gestures to the crowd "Of course with the party on, might not be open anyway..."
Giggle...
"What the hell was that?" Serolt wonders. He checks Regin for a reaction and stands to look around.
Serolt
Regin appears to be quite sedate, unworried by anything and is more interested in getting a piece of the curried fish than in noises on the wind.
It becomes obvious that Shaedeen, too, heard the ominous laughter, for she shamelessly hikes up her dress and draws a dagger from the sheath strapped to one thigh. Seeing Serolt's smart reaction inspires a similar flash of wisdom in the usually-impetuous girl: she looks at other townsfolk at the same table and the nearest neighboring ones to see if anyone else seems to have heard the sinister chuckle.
"Nothing good," Ratimir retorts, remembering the card drawn earlier in response to Shae's worries about the course of the day. The Sickness... what danger plagues this day? Maybe the card was not about the Sczarni at all, he ponders.
Ratimir stands up on the bench and looks over the crowd, searching for the source of the malicious giggle.
Serolt, Shaedeen, and Ratimir
Looking around, there do not seem to be any others reacting to the sound of the malicious noise heard by Shae, Serolt, or Ratimir. People are still laughing and eating their fill of stew and fish and conducting impromptu toasts to the beautiful afternoon, oblivious to anything in the area that may want to cause harm.
Effortlessly slicing the ties of the pouch, Shaedeen finds a total of six golden dukes , fifteen silver beauties, and a small glass bulb filled with a burbling green liquid within the merchant's pouch.
"No one else hears it!" Shaedeen hisses quietly to the two men. "We are being targeted!"
Shaedeen green eyes widen like a plant bud opening in spring, but fear and panic are reflected in them. "Is Vhiski a wizard as well as a thief?" she asks Ratimir in an awed whisper. "Has he an imp familiar to spy for him? Oh--we're doomed!"
Then another thought strikes her and her eyes narrow. She searches the crowd again, this time for a certain redhead with pointy ears.
It will be both a pleasure and an honor to sing in your theather. May Calistria brings you the opportunity to satisfy every kink you have... and let you discover a few new ones.
"No one else hears it!" Shaedeen hisses quietly to the two men. "We are being targeted!"
"Strange to target us only, and with a sound." he shakes his head trying to figure out the angles.
Giving up he suggests, "Let's walk. If it is some sort of attack, I'd rather have some room to maneuver - too many innocents here." he looks for some open space away from the crowd where he can stand his ground with Regin against whatever they may face.
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Although her brain doesn't quite process things the same way Serolt's does ('Too many innocents here' is instead 'Plenty of potential alternative targets or shields here' in Shae's mind), the young woman quickly follows the Shoanti away from what she feels is the protective crowd. She keeps her dagger in hand but tries to hide it by shielding its blade tight against her wrist and lower arm.
You need to get on his good side, her inner self stresses.
Vanea
Eyes widening slightly at the mention of the Savoured Sting, Cyrdak nevertheless keeps his winning smile in place. "And may Shelyn allow you the opportunity to see the beauty in a simple embrace," he quips back, kissing Vanea's hand once again. "I look forward to seeing you audition at the theatre soon."
He then spins around and saunters into the crowds, leaving Vanea once again to entertain herself. As she begins to make her way back through the streets, she can see Ratimir and Serolt both walking towards her, serious expressions on their faces. They are accompanied by a young Chelaxian girl with short black hair.
Haelvor and Zhu
Finishing their meals, Haelvor and Zhu both proceed to stand from the table. As they do, the invisible forces that surround Haelvor decide that now is the perfect time to cause some minor havoc, flinging a half-full stein of ale towards a Shoanti bowman (who appears to be accompanied by a firepelt cougar), missing him by inches. The other diners nearby seem slightly perturbed by the oddity, but soon after go back to eating.
Zhu is surprised by this.
"What the...how did that happen? Are you all right sir?"
Shelynites.. I like to tempt them.
answers Vanea as Cyrdak kisses her hand
I'll go to the theatre later to get an appointment for my audition.
Then Ratimir, the Shoanti and an unknown girl walks toward the bardess.
With your solemn faces, I guess you're not looking forward to a foursome?
leaving Vanea once again to entertain herself
Haelvor rolls his eyes before rushing over to Serolt. I should never let my guard down. I need to remember they're always waiting for the right opportunity to humiliate me.
"Sorry, sorry, sorry ..." he rushes to the Shoanti, dodging slightly to give the bowman's pet a wide berth. "I think that was me. I'm terribly sorry. I meant no harm."
The words are almost as much directed at Zhu as they are at Serolt.
Ratimir is about to reply to Vanea when he too ducks to avoid the stein that almost smashes against Serolt's head. Initially worried that someone might be attacking them, he laughs when he notices that it was just an accident. "Don't worry, the good man is getting used to it by now, I believe. But how on heavens do you lose control over a mug like that? Perhaps the fact that it was half empty is telling," he says jokingly.
Haelvor blushes. "Oh, er, no. I don't drink. I have an ... er ... condition."
He stretches out his hand (partly to change the subject). "My apologies again. I am Haelvor Thawne. And this is Master Zhu."
Serolt half draws his bow as the stein comes within sight and passes harmlessly past his head, but he settles back quickly.
"No harm done." he mumbles, eyes scanning the crowds - and the gaps between them. Looking for something...
Finding nothing, he looks back at the new folk and mumbles something polite. "I, ah, excuse me. My mind's on something else. Name's Serolt."
He holds out his hand, but his eyes dart this way and that.
As the group make their introductions to one another after the stein incident, they notice that fewer and fewer people are replacing those who are leaving the tables as they all finish their lunch meal. Many people appear to be singing the praises of Ameiko Kaijitsu, proprietor of the Rusty Dragon Inn and the mind behind the delicious curried salmon dish that is the champion of the feast. As the platters and bowls of food are finished, citizens wearing aprons and carrying baskets in their hands appear as if from thin air and start collecting the used dishes, steins, mugs, and cutlery in the baskets before disappearing back into the houses and alleyways that line the streets.
Ever the charming young lady, Shaedeen passes her narrowed eyes back and forth between Vanea and Haelvor.
"Are either of you responsible for the wicked laughter the rest of us just heard?" she demands, looking decidedly stressed and jumpy.
Don't know what you are speaking about. My laughter is beautiful and harmonious, not "wicked". Mischevious, perhaps, sometimes.
Haelvor looks nervous. What does she know?
"Er, not responsible as such, milady. No. What did you actually hear?"
"A high-pitched laugh or giggle--one that only I, Ratimir, and Serolt heard--one so evil it sent a chill down my spine!" Shaedeen says, looking around anxiously. No--she's beyond anxious--she's very nearly panicking.
Ratimir gently grabs Shae by the arm and takes her to the side, speaking quietly, away from foreign ears. "Calm down, kid. It's not Jubrayl, I can tell. For all we know, it might be nothing at all, but even if it means something, you won't help yourself by losing it. Just breathe and buckle up. The family knows better than to recruit a scaredy-cat, so I know you can do it, alright?" He looks at her with concern, trying to build up her confidence.
He gets back to the group and says "We don't know what it was, but it was something amiss. We're taking a look around just in case." Ratimir then turns his attention to Vanea, already distracted from the task at hand. "I was accused you of having lost you to a better man... probably one that doesn't keep you waiting, aye? A capital sin on my part!"
Serolt calms as time passes and the hour grows short to the consecration ceremony.
"Shall we head over to the Cathedral? I don't want to miss the ceremony and with Regin here," he ruffles the great cats neck, "I need to be well positioned."
Assuming folks assent, he heads over and finds a spot, ideally along a building or alleyway, where he can protect Regin a little from the hoards of people. Then he waits, chatting with the group.
"Are you folks residents here? Or just passing through?"
The panic reflected in Shaedeen's eyes diminishes as Ratimir speaks to her. How can he be so damned calm? the girl wonders, but the fact was that the ex-Sczarni was calm, and that deep-rooted confidence rubbed off a little on shaky Shaedeen.
Taking a deep breath, she quietly announces to Ratimir: "Very well. Tonight we make a stand--together." Looking down at her clothing, she adds, "But not wearing a dress. I'll return after I've better equipped myself for a confrontation."
With that, the girl slips into an alley and begins her trek back to her closet in the Pixie's Kitten, where a suit of studded leather armor, her trusty crossbow, and the rest of her possessions are hidden underneath her bed.
Haelvor, still somewhat shaken, welcomes the change of subject, following Serolt over to his seating place. "I came here from Magnimar, I am an assistant to our local sage here." he says, conversationally. "It's an interesting animal you have there - what is it?"
Haelvor, still somewhat shaken, welcomes the change of subject, following Serolt over to his seating place. "I came here from Magnimar, I am an assistant to our local sage here." he says, conversationally. "It's an interesting animal you have there - what is it?"
"Regin here is a fire pelt. Very nearly full grown as you can see, but still young. They're more common to the east than around here, but you can find them if you look hard enough." he smiles relaxing further.
"What are you studying here? Seems a bit out of the way from anything, if you don't mind me saying so."
"Ah," says Haelvor. "Yes, yes, fair point. I am a professional librarian. I came here to help the sage, um, reorganise his books."
Although, most of the time he spent near the books he was closely watched, and as a result spent little time on actual work. Once again, Haelvor curses his career choices.
"It's a bit of a backwater, indeed. But Master Quink has an excellent selection of books, and there are some very good booksellers here as well."
He pauses.
"You are ... from the east?"
Zhu sat quietly, eating his food and raptly soaking up the conversation. Given his cloistered upbringing he'd never seen such a diverse collection of people before, and he was fascinated
"You are ... from the east?"
"Yes, from the Storval Plateau. Not so far really for me, but far for some. I like it here though, and hope to spend some time here if I can manage it."
"Does anything in particular bring you out this way?"
"Does anything in particular bring you out this way?"
"Oh, I've been meaning to visit western Varisia for some time, but a family debt brings me to this particular town. Nothing major you understand, just a trifle between my uncle and the local stable master, Daviren Hosk."
"But it's made me feel an appreciation for the town. Besides, how often does a whole town turn out to celebrate the arrival of a guest!" he laughs and sweeps his hands broadly as if all this was for him.
Zhu grinned.
"I know the feeling! I just arrived today as well. This town certainly has its charms."
From the shadows of a nearby alley, Shaedeen flicks a pebble at Ratimir; it bounces lightly off the Varisian man's hand. When the man approaches, Shaedeen, now decked in form-fitting black studded leather with a crossbow slung across one shoulder, hisses, "My plan was to lure you to Junker's Edge, somewhere near the ruined lighthouse. What is your plan for dealing with Vhiski and his men? Do you think Serolt and perhaps the others will help us? Should I go there now to get the lay of the land? Perhaps find a place to lie in wait?"
Distracted by the conversation between Serolt and the other visitors, Ratimir is taken a bit by surprise by Shae's pebble. He puffs, stand up and discreetly walks up to the girl. Before he can even say anything, she is already bombarding him with questions. When she is done, he starts to answer, hoping to remember them all. "Ok, close to the cliffs. That could work. We need to prepare for two scenarios: one, Jubrayl attends in person. In that case, I'd be less prone to shenanigans, and we might as well just negotiate and come to a settlement that suits both parts. That scenario worries me the least, to be honest; in the end, Jubrayl is a business man, and if he goes there himself it is because he wants to close."
He looks away for a moment, imagining the second scenario. "The other possibility is, there'll be just his thugs. In that case, they'll be there to deliver a message—probably a violent one—and convince me that returning to the family hurts less than broken ribs. If that happens, the plan is to send a stronger message back, but we don't need to go down to their levels; my writing is more elegant than theirs," he says snapping his fingers. Immediately, three globes of light start dancing around Shaedeen.
Ha leans forward, whispering in Shae's ear. "I have magic, and I plan to use it." He steps away and resumes his regular tone. "But, like I said before, I'd need to buy a scroll first, so I can hypnotize them and convince them to let us go for good. I might even try that on Jubrayl, who knows. Or I can just put them to sleep, and then we tie them up and scare them off... that's when the cliff can come in handy. I have some other ideas that can make it more fun, but let's not get ahead of ourselves."
He takes a moment to look at Shae's outfit, and his eyes linger on the crossbow. "And if all else fails, I'm glad to see you know your way around a fight. If anyone is left standing after my magic, sneak up on them and knock them down with a blow to the back of the head." Ratimir looks over his hsoulder back at the group. "Now, Serolt says he can help, but these other men, well, we don't know what they can do, and Vanea... she's just a performer. Maybe it's better we don't drag too many people into our little predicament, or it may blow up in our faces. We are, after all, walking outside the law here, and we wouldn't want strangers going to the Sheriff about the whole thing."
"If I'm remembering things correctly, Vhiski said he'd be handling this matter personally," Shaedeen whispers, though her eyes seem more focused on Ratimir's magic than the Varisian himself. The girl also seems quite a bit less skittish than she was previously.
"I theoretically know my way around a fight," the rogue confesses. "I've had weapon training but haven't been in any real serious scrapes yet. I try to talk my way out...or run. I'm good at running.
"I don't have a sap or any rope, but perhaps I have time to acquire them." Thinking that she detects some skepticism in Ratimir's eyes, she quickly adds, "By acquire, I mean 'buy,' not 'steal.'"
By acquire, Shae means 'steal' not 'buy.'
"Good. And I'll need that scroll, so I'd better find Vorvashalli. Let's get what we need and we'll meet here with the others before the ceremony ends. I'll ask Serolt to wait for us." He walks away and, approaching Serolt, puts one hand over his hsoulde, bending over to talk to the sitting Shoanti. "Serolt, I need to slip out for a moment, but I'll be back as soon as possible—hopefully I'll be able to enjoy the opening ceremony with you all," he says smiling. "However, if I don't, do you think you could wait for me here? There's that matter Shaedeen and I need a little help with, and I was wondering if you'd still be up to it."
After Serolt's response, Ratimir wanders off looking for Vorshavali Voon, the local magic items salesman, hoping to find the scroll he needs.
Poor Ratimir just can't be rid of his pretty pest....
Shaedeen suddenly slips into stride next to the ex-Sczarni...slips in close. Giving the man a comely smile, she whispers something in his ear.
"Do you have enough gold to buy this scroll you require? If not, I can donate some of my meager funds to the cause. I have 25 gold to my name...besides what I need for the sap and rope, of course."
When any transaction is completed, Shae again smiles brightly before whispering some more in Ratimir's ear.
"This is in case we're being watched...."
The girl kisses Ratimir lightly on the cheek before scurrying away. She stops, turns, and flashes a wide grin. "Don't keep me waiting tonight!" she gushes. "I promise you a night you won't soon forget!"
Again, the girl scoots off at a good pace, heading south.
Shaedeen makes her way to the Fatman's Feedbag; if there's to be a sap-wielding scumbag to be found in Sandpoint, she'd find him here. Shae scopes out the dive's patrons and, assuming she can find a qualifying mark (the drunker the better!), makes her move, cozying up with her target, smiling sweetly, and saying that she could use a drink.
"I can't take another minute out there with those idiots who can find amusement in games that feature beanbags as goblins and newts as dragons!"
When an opportune moment presents itself, Shaedeen's hands make a grab for her mark's nonlethal weapon .
He walks away and, approaching Serolt, puts one hand over his hsoulde, bending over to talk to the sitting Shoanti. "Serolt, I need to slip out for a moment, but I'll be back as soon as possible—hopefully I'll be able to enjoy the opening ceremony with you all," he says smiling. "However, if I don't, do you think you could wait for me here? There's that matter Shaedeen and I need a little help with, and I was wondering if you'd still be up to it."
"Yeah, sure." he says amiably. He points off to the north where a few lone trees sit off to the side. "I'll be there if I don't see you as things break up."