Rhost shoots a quick angry look at Alaric, and steps toward Melinda. "This should wait."
Alaric breaks off his glare to turn to Rhost. "You're right."
Rhost shoots a quick angry look at Alaric, and steps toward Melinda. "This should wait."
Myri, is a bit worried about group dynamics and cohesiveness. Her mouth opens...and shuts again. She turns to continue on as soon as the others are ready.
Rhost glances over to Hrithik. "Later," he says.
Rhost is clearly ready to continue on.
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Alaric shrugs, but his eyes turn hostile. "Believe me, that was the nicest way I could think to describe you. Of course, now 'spy' seems far more appropriate. I'll have to remember that you respect privacy as much as you seem to respect the female members of this group."
Hrithik laughs. Once. "I am not the one disrespectfully and misogynistically struggling with disbelieving laughter over a man curtsying. I am not the one who apparently believes that a man curtsying is somehow hilarious and degrading where a woman bowing is not. I am not the one conflating youthful emotion and possessive comments in Halfling about the assets of the young women around me with respect for them as people and minds rather than lust-inducing bodies."
Hrithik looks directly at Alaric, and his pupils glow white. "As for 'spy', perhaps you have forgotten the town square where you said those words, and where exactly you were standing when you suddenly began muttering weirdly to yourself. I have not."
Hrithik nods respectfully to Rhost, then concludes his remarks. "The time for this, as has been wisely noted, is later. But that would require you, unlike every single woman on this team, to at some point seek me out and respectfully address me."
Hrithik clearly has a lot more he would like to say, but he keeps it inside. He bows to Melinda, then curtsies to Alaric, then goes off to discuss things sotto voce with Kalimac.
Alaric shakes his head, face somewhere between baffled, amused and angry. To Rhost: "Lead on."
Myriana sighs leaning against a nearby wall. Her words, spoken softly under her breath are meant only for herself, but neither are they meant to be hidden. "Team cohesion? No chance in h@ll. Dad would certainly fail us on that one." She decides to leave unsaid several other things on her mind.
She smiles weakly at pretty much anyone nearby. Removes herself from the wall and is ready to follow the others.
Mel turns, nods to Rhost and heads to the door Lio has been guarding.
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Lio looks very serious as she interrupts Hrithik as he turns away, asking a question... "Wh'r ye ah palladen en a pahst laife?"
Hrithik shrugs. "Would that I were in this one ... my detection of evil might be taken less dismissively. Regardless, that is what I struggle toward. My rearing was the Hellknight's Code, not the Paladin's. Telling me to ignore respectful protocol to colleagues is telling me to go back to that. I will not go easily."
Hrithik then turns to Alaric as Kalimac approaches.
Lio thinks for a moment. Defferent dairection dunna meahn bahckword," she offers.
Having finished breaking off the Pazuzu parts of the Desna statue, Hrithik offers that he'd like to explore the last room across the hall, return to the feast hall, and make way to Zaiobe's Tower.
Hrithik speaks to Liothonae in Thassilonian for a time as exploration continues.
"I was raised to see a gruesomely effective Path being walked that worked. It got everything done, covered every case. I am trying to walk an alternative Path to that, one I have seen less of but which has been proven to work in the lives of others. It is also a formal, strict, courteous Path."
"I keep hearing from many here that I should jettison the strictness of that Path to walk ... something. Something ill-defined and frequently out of control. So I use the Druid aphorism: "You shall know a tree by its fruits.". I have exhaustively seen the fruits of the Path of Asmodeus. I have also seen some of the fruits of the Path of Torag, which I greatly prefer ... but I have also recently seen the fruits of the Path of Whatever. I have thus far not been impressed. They taste fragile, poorly disciplined, constantly distracted, overly emotional, and completely incapable of any kind of long-term cohesion, as Mistrix Bayden noted earlier."
"Until I see something of a coherent Path of Whatever that clearly works, rather than muddling through and depending on luck, all the yelling and berating and annoyance at me aren't going to be convincing. They're just going to make me think that people walking the Path of Whatever are rude, thin-skinned, and immature."
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"Team cohesion? No chance in h@ll. Dad would certainly fail us on that one." She decides to leave unsaid several other things on her mind. She smiles weakly at pretty much anyone nearby.
Hrithik returns Myriana's smile more warmly. He nods respectfully. "Your Father sounds like an insightful man." He decides to leave unsaid several other things on his mind.
Myriana's smile broadens. It appears to be honestly felt. "Insightful? ... Maybe, maybe not. Well trained, disciplined and somewhat knowledgeable on military strategy, tactics, philosophy and how to get teams motivated. ... Yeah, I think that's probably a bit closer."
As to why Alaric is reacting as he is, that would require a sense motive roll directed towards Alaric, or asking him, or some such. :)
Alaric falls into step next to Mel. After a moment, he clasps her with a comforting hand, then lets her go.
You go through the final door off the corridor.
You enter a round chamber where the furniture — couches, drawing tables, and empty bookshelves — lie in disarray, with the exception of one writing desk and chair in the center of the room, its surface heaped with pages of parchment and paper. A set of stairs along the north wall lead down to the briefing room, while a set of stairs on the south wall lead further up, the only stairs going up you have found on this floor. It is clear you are one floor below the top of the taller tower you spied from the Gatehouse.
The pages on the desk turn out to be covered with dense scribblings and revisions in messy Tien writing. Those who can read it determine that it seems to be the script for a nonsensical play in verse about a family of crows that turn into bitter, insane humans.
Upstairs, you can hear someone or something moving around.
Mel goes over to the stairs, and calls up in a friendly tone, "Excuse me, we are looking for Zaiobe. Buttersnips said we could find you here?" As she starts to go up the stairs.
Myri follows.
When Mel gets to the top of the stair, she knocks on the door.
As Alaric takes the cursed statue, he grimaces. To himself, with the hint of amusement: "Very cute. Koya is going to love this."
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Myriana's smile broadens. It appears to be honestly felt. "Insightful? ... Maybe, maybe not. Well trained, disciplined and somewhat knowledgeable on military strategy, tactics, philosophy and how to get teams motivated. ... Yeah, I think that's probably a bit closer."
Hrithik's warm smile broadens to match. "There is natural insight to be gained from practiced skill and trained knowledge. In time, experience will automatically reveal what Truly is, to those trained to see it. He sounds like an admirable man. I presume one of your adoptive fathers? What is his name?"
As Alaric takes the cursed statue, he grimaces. To himself, with the hint of amusement: "Very cute. Koya is going to love this."
Mel looks over at him, "It's what you get for wanting the ugly thing." Her voice light, teasing.
Mel looks over at him, "It's what you get for wanting the ugly thing." Her voice light, teasing.
He grins back. "So true. A simple removal of the curse and I'll be right as rain. I think whatever obeisance Koya plans to subject me to will hurt far worse."
Hrithik's warm smile broadens to match. "There is natural insight to be gained from practiced skill and trained knowledge. In time, experience will automatically reveal what Truly is, to those trained to see it. He sounds like an admirable man. I presume one of your adoptive fathers? What is his name?"
Myri raises an eyebrow, "Jakardros Sovark. You should ask Shalelu about him sometime. I think they've had more...eye to eye talks than I have."
The door is opened by a gorgeous woman with flaming red, feathery hair. Broad golden wings arch from her back, shading to crimson at the tips of the feathers. Her legs and arms sprout a soft-looking layer of small, paler feathers.
Beyond her, you see a semicircular room lined with bookshelves, although the majority of the books lie in disorganized piles on the floor. A large nest of grass, branches, and strips of cloth is tucked in the northeastern corner of the room. To the northwest, an open wooden door looks out onto a balcony with a panoramic view of Bunyip Bay.
She does not seem surprised to see you.
He grins back. "So true. A simple removal of the curse and I'll be right as rain. I think whatever obeisance Koya plans to subject me to will hurt far worse."
"Sad." Mel says with an impish smile, "I don't think I'm good enough in her graces to get to watch."
The door is opened by a gorgeous woman with flaming red, feathery hair. Broad golden wings arch from her back, shading to crimson at the tips of the feathers. Her legs and arms sprout a soft-looking layer of small, paler feathers.
Beyond her, you see a semicircular room lined with bookshelves, although the majority of the books lie in disorganized piles on the floor. A large nest of grass, branches, and strips of cloth is tucked in the northeastern corner of the room. To the northwest, an open wooden door looks out onto a balcony with a panoramic view of Bunyip Bay.
She does not seem surprised to see you.
Mel smiles and puts her hand out, "Hi, I'm Mel. Buttersnips said you have to touch to communicate."
K:relgion
K:local
"Sad." Mel says with an impish smile, "I don't think I'm good enough in her graces to get to watch."
The real affection in his voice, both for Mel and Koya, is impossible to miss: "I'm certain if you explained your situation -- to witness my justified humiliation -- she'd be happy to include you."
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As Alaric takes the cursed statue, he grimaces. To himself, with the hint of amusement: "Very cute. Koya is going to love this."
Hrithik smiles and hands over to Alaric the heavily wrapped unholy symbol used by the Pazuzu Priestess. "If you want to change your mind and claim it before we sell it in some town. I believe the Black Wing is looking for new Faithful after today, you are not far from meeting His worshipper requirements, this is exceedingly tolerant company, it will give you new material to spar with Seer Koya about, and I'm glad to be rid of the tainted thing. Why be shy about the price for the enchantment?"
Hrithik's voice is completely serious.
Hrithik smiles and hands over to Alaric the heavily wrapped unholy symbol used by the Pazuzu Priestess. "If you want to change your mind and claim it before we sell it in some town. I believe the Black Wing is looking for new Faithful after today, you are not far from meeting His worshipper requirements, this is exceedingly tolerant company, it will give you new material to spar with Seer Koya about, and I'm glad to be rid of the tainted thing. Why be shy about the price for the enchantment?"
Hrithik's voice is completely serious.
Without missing a beat: "Kindly blow it out your @$$, Mr. Ranbhir."
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"Sad." Mel says with an impish smile, "I don't think I'm good enough in her graces to get to watch."The real affection in his voice, both for Mel and Koya, is impossible to miss: "I'm certain if you explained your situation -- to witness my justified humiliation -- she'd be happy to include you."
Hrithik nods hopefully. "Perhaps if we brought popcorn, she'll let everyone be present."
The real affection in his voice, both for Mel and Koya, is impossible to miss: "I'm certain if you explained your situation -- to witness my justified humiliation -- she'd be happy to include you."
"Don't think so, she likes you." Mel smiles, "And as such would want to savor your humility privately no doubt." A pause, "It's so rare that she gets to, after all."
"Don't think so, she likes you." Mel smiles, "And as such would want to savor your humility privately no doubt." A pause, "It's so rare that she gets to, after all."
"She gives as good as she gets, I assure you."
"She gives as good as she gets, I assure you."
"Oh, no doubt." She smiles, the remainder of the comment kept to herself.
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Hrithik's warm smile broadens to match. "There is natural insight to be gained from practiced skill and trained knowledge. In time, experience will automatically reveal what Truly is, to those trained to see it. He sounds like an admirable man. I presume one of your adoptive fathers? What is his name?"Myri raises an eyebrow, "Jakardros Sovark. You should ask Shalelu about him sometime. I think they've had more...eye to eye talks than I have."
Hrithik's smile grows smaller, more impish. "I may, but my expectation is that she would likely direct me to where to find him, give a terse assessment of his worthiness, and leave it at that, even if she knew the man his entire life."
Hrithik nods deeply to Myriana, bordering the edge of bow territory. "My likelihood to see and know the man's care and influence is more likely here."
The winged woman reaches out and touches Melinda’s hand.
Her glance flicks over the rest of the group below.
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Without missing a beat: "Kindly blow it out your @$$, Mr. Ranbhir."
Hrithik's smile broadens, and he curtsies to Alaric. "I sadly must decline your thoughtful offer, Mr. Graff. If it is any consolation, it is quite likely that the Priestess blew it out hers on several occasions, given the state of the Courtyard."
Mel smiles, her eyes touched by the beautiful sound of the woman's mind. "That would be nice, thank you." And pointing towards each person in turn. "This is Myri, Alaric, Lio, Rhost, Kalimac, Tollin, Hrunndalf, Kelda, and Mr. Ranbhir." Then her voice drops,
Hrithik's smile broadens, and he curtsies to Alaric. "I sadly must decline your thoughtful offer, Mr. Graff. If it is any consolation, it is quite likely that the Priestess blew it out hers on several occasions, given the state of the Courtyard."
Alaric looks completely baffled and turns his attention back to Melinda. With whom he had been talking.
Zaiobe steps back from the door and indicates with a gesture that you are all welcome to enter the room.
Alaric shuffles in on legs that seem to weigh fifty pounds a piece.
Mel steps into the room as to the side of the door, staying near Zaiobe, "This is definitely the best view I've seen in this place." She looks at the woman, "Most of this castle is quite depressing." She pauses, "I'm sorry, but..." an abashed pause, "But we are trying to help a friend, and we need to find a disk about yea" holding up her hands to indicate the size of the disk they already found, "big. I've been assuming that Kikonu possesses it... and it was indicated to us that you could help us with him..." Mel voice trails off, and she looks the woman in the eyes. "Can you help us?"
Zaiobe puts her hands on Melinda’s shoulders and returns her gaze.
She seems to be studying Melinda.
Mel looks at the woman, worry for the woman clear. And whispers,
The woman pauses in turn, and then finally answers your last question. <He stole my voice.>
Alaric looks completely baffled and turns his attention back to Melinda. With whom he had been talking.
Mel's eyes flash between the two men briefly, focus on Alaric. "My guess is singing... or some other display of art forms." She finishes with a smile, trying to encourage one for the uncleric.
Mel looks at the feathered woman, "Bastard." Her voice sincere and very angry.
She turns to the rest of the party, "Zaiobe is willing to help us. If she calls to Kikonu he will come... And stay until either he or she is dead. He has the other disk on him." She smiles at the group, "Time for buff spells?" As she pulls out the wand that they took from their last combat.
She turns to the woman, "Can he be damaged by fire?"
Mel's eyes flash between the two men briefly, focus on Alaric. "My guess is singing... or some other display of art forms." She finishes with a smile, trying to encourage one for the uncleric.
Though it's obvious that Alaric does not understand the comment, it's equally obvious that pretty much any kind comment from Mel will make him smile.
She turns to the woman, "Can he be damaged by fire?"
She nods.
Though it's obvious that Alaric does not understand the comment, it's equally obvious that pretty much any kind comment from Mel will make him smile.
She steps a little closer to the cleric, "Koya's requirements for your curse removal. Public display of your chosen art?"
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Hrithik glances through the abysmal play on the desk. "Kikonu's work, I'd stake my life on it." He glances to the stairwell in the room. "Fitting that they are still neighbors."
Hrithik carefully wraps the first pages of the play manuscript around his flask of alchemist's fire.
Hrithik looks around the room. His expression at the condition of the books in the library is less than placid, but he is not shocked either, and he says nothing about it. He looks Zaiobe over carefully, and asks her at a time she seems to not be focused on Melinda, "Any knowledge you can share about Kikonu's true race and weaknesses would be appreciated, as would any insight into unusual strengths, or tactics we should expect. If you do not wish to oppose Kikonu directly, out of fond memory, that would be understandable, but if you have access to any healing, preparatory magic, or other boons, they would be most welcome."
Knowledge (whatever) roll for Zaiobe, including +4 for double-Int bonus from cognogen: (up to 4 less depending on skill involved. +17 is the best skills - local, history, nobility). Hrithik isn't doing a readout now, but it would be good to have it for later, should it prove necessary.