Still, not one to let even the sea claim her so easily, Vara swims against the current as it pulls her out into the ocean.
*Cough! Hrrblrrbl! Cough! Cough!* *Deep breath!* "Lady Nel? Vark? Everyone! Where are you?" She cries out as she breaks the surface, struggling against the wave. Vara looks around, and feels with her foot for the ground beneath the water, to see if she managed to resist the wave's current, or if she has been pulled into the harbor.
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Vara is able to resist the pull of the current and, as such, only moves five feet backwards from the original wave.
Vark sees a young child crying further inland.
The rest of the beach continues to operate in chaos, as families begin reuniting and an number of shopkeepers leave their buildings to survey the wreckage. Gabratlar causes as small amount of chaos as he bolts through the gathering crowd. On shore, a number of people are starting to walk into the sea, obviously looking for any people pulled in by the tidal surge.
Holding Vark securely, Tamiro stands fast against the rushing water. Coughing and gathering his breath as it recedes, he hears the chaos around the beach.
Setting Vark back onto the ground, he helps those he can around the beach before turning to Nel, "Motto nami ga aru kamo shiremasen. Wareware wa, kanōnakagiri takai jimen ni dekirudake ōku shutoku suru hitsuyō ga arimasu."
Following his own directions he begins roaring to the crowd and herding people away from the beach, inland.
"High ground! Go to high ground! More could come!"
Relief melts the ice in her heart as Vara feels the solid ground beneath her feet. "I am not so rooted in these waters.." She murmurs as her breath returns. She is doubly relieved to see that the wave has not carried her off- there is Nel, Mazra and Vark, and Tamiro up ahead trying to quell the chaos.
As her hearing returns, she realizes Nel is calling for her. Feeling a slight blush, she cries out, "Lady Nel, I am here too! The wave pushed me back a little- are you well? Let's find the lost ones, and then hurry away from here!"
She does her best to divide her concentration between the waters in the harbor, watching for another wave, while also searching for the same lost boy Vark is looking for- and anyone else in need of immediate help.
Oddly, the smells of the surging tide reminded Vark of home, as Thistledown's lakefront held many happy memories from his childhood. The screams and the chaos, however, most certainly did not.
As Tamiro sets Vark back onto the ground, he immediately speeds over to the crying child. If able he will help him/her to his/her feet, brushing the soggy hair out of his/her eyes. "There, there. Everything'll be alright."
If he can spot the distraught mother, he will call out to her, "Over here! Your child is over here!"
As the mother returns to her child, he will look out for the other members of the party. If they seem safe, he will attempt to help the other citizens, keeping out of the deeper, darker water.
Seeing that Vark has found the child, Vara does her best to sooth chaos reigning on the flooded street. She decides to try and get one of the shopkeeps to offer his or her store as shelter for those scattered in the streets.
"People are scattered! That was the first of many waves. Would you be so compassionate as to offer some of them shelter to however many you can, at least until the waves pass?" She pleads in a sweet soprano.
"Meet back up at the Goblin! I have to go after Gabraltar!" Nel shouts over the calamity to Mazra and Vara, before sprinting after her horse in an attempt to catch up to the Shoanti bred animal.
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The chaos dies down over the next hour or so, and no additional waves hit the wharf district. Some panic still shakes the inhabitants of the street, but it is mainly out of concern about how to rebuild their livelihoods. With the help of Mazra, Vara and Vark's search, as well Tamiro's shows of leadership, the majority of citizens are rescued and brought to safety, though a few are likely lost to the water forever.
As Nel returns prematurely to the Gold Goblin after finding her horse, she stumbles into Saul and Bojask talking quietly in an alley outside the gambling hall. They look quite startled to see her, and Saul says, "Back so soon? What have you found out? Did you kill the rat, Lymas Smeed, that killed Larur?"
A quizzical look crosses Nel's face as Saul confronts her. "Huh? Vara told me this morning that Larur was missing, not dead. We haven't found anything conclusive on what happened to Larur, unless you sent me on this wild goose chase specifically to murder Mr. Smeed." Tightening her grips on Gabraltar's reigns, Nel's other hand finds itself on the hilt of her sword.
"Am I to be your private hitman, in addition to a junior partner, Mr. Vancaskerkin?" Preparing to draw her sword, the previous bone weariness that had set in after the wave was replaced with adrenaline. "Because, I don't recall that being part of my duties." Straightening her back to her full height of 6'1, Nel prepares for the attack from Saul and Bojask.
As things settle down around the docks, Vara does her best to gather together with Mazra, Tamiro and Vark. "Lady Nel said she'd meet us at the Golden Goblin. It appears we have done all ve can here- and folks have accepted all the help they're willing to. Let's go back to the house." After speaking she turns to take several paces in the direction of the Goblin, then looks over her shoulder with a hopeful expression.
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Saul stammers, "I, ah, just assumed - he's been gone for a while, he had to be dead. I don't expect you to be my hitman, of course, but I figured this was an extraordinary circumstance. Please, accept my sincerest apologies. I was just sure he was the one responsible. If he's not, and I'm sure you found good evidence, I must thank you for not killing him. He's a valued partner of the Gold Goblin."
Vark follows the rest, heart still racing from the traumatic event.
Just realizing they still had a job to do, "So are we still planning on visiting Mr. Smeed's residence? Maybe later today. I think it wise to return to the Goblin to check on our fiends."
He thought of Samaritha whom he had grown particularly fond of. He hoped she was alright.
"Let's hurry!"
Vara smiles back at Mazra over her shoulder, and then skipping ahead, looks down to see Vark hurrying along at her side, asking about- the money lender? She raises an eye brow with a confused expression.
"Smeed? Do you mean Larur Feldin's home, our missing floor manager? Smeed's the pig-eyed money lender, my dear!" She cries as the three hurry along. "We shall visit the home- and find a trail- today hopefully. But we would be wise to do so with all of us together... Aye, and if one of our own has gone missing..." She trails off, hurrying along in silence.
Best not to broken off, severed from the clan... She twirls around to see if Tamiro has been following all this time. "Tamiro, are you there? We are away, back to the Goblin!"
Raising an eyebrow at the pair, Nel removes her hand from her sword before leading Gabraltar to the stables. "Ah, I see. I'm sorry about the misunderstanding." Pausing just before she rounds the corner, Nel turns back.
"Also, there was a terrible wave that just hit Wharf Street. The rest of the junior partners should be on their way back. We got separated when the wave hit." Nudging Gabraltar forward, Nel shoot back over her shoulder. "I talked to Mr. Smeed on your behalf Mr. Vancaskerkin. I told him to expect the first payment of your loan by the end of the week."
Smirking to herself, Nel goes to the stable to ensure that her horse is put away safely before heading back into the Gold Goblin to dry off and clean her armor while waiting for everyone.
As Nel begins to leave, Saul quickly commands, "Once you and the other junior partners have gathered any substantial leads, come visit me. I'll be in my office. We have the profitability of the Gold Goblin to discuss."
Saul glares at Nel as she walks away, then retires to his office with Bojask. As they walk through the casino floor, they keep their heads close together and talk in low voices, nearly impossible to hear above the racket of the business's early hours.
Tamiro trudges up after them from the beach, helping to herd people inland.
"Hai! Hai! I am behind you." he replies gruffly, trying to wring himself off as he walks, and pulling his blades from their scabbards, holding them openly.
"I need a rag soon as can. I don't want rust."
Vark nods to Vara's correction, too exhausted both physically and emotionally to garner a response.
Well, that's one thing my underground hovel didn't have. Tidal waves. Sheesh! And these clothes! Brand new and now ruined...
Vark lets out a quiet sob for his lost finery. He follows soggily along with the others, keeping to himself and quiet for the first time any of you can recall.
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"There, there my little friend. At least you don't need to worry about your clothing rusting," as Mazra tries as best he can to shake the water off the chain links to his shirt. "Maybe there a good launderer in this town? Of course, I think I will be looking for some good oil to coat my Chain Shirt, the Rapier could use some too," Mazra is very pleased with his company, though he misses Nel's steady presence.
"You will be able to polish your blades when we get back to the house." Vara reassures Tamiro as he steps forward from the people he was herding from the docks.
Turning forward again, she resumes her brisk walk, leading the men through the streets toward the Gold Goblin. She notices Vark's unusual silence and hears his quiet sobs over his fine attire. Then she listens to Mazra's words of laughter and smiles to herself. This is a good group. "And surely one of our weavers can fix our tatttered clothes as well- and if not perhaps Samaritha can use her magic to mend them," she sugggests helpfully with a warm smile down at the gnome.
Vara continues in silence thinking on the strange suddenness of the waves. "That was a sudden wave... She muses suddenly, "it is usually the moon that carries the tides, and in a natural rhythm. Though I suppose we should be used to such strangeness by now." She stops to look up at the blot for a moment, holding a hand up to it as if to shield herself from its influence. She clicks her tongue and then continues to hurry toward the Goblin.
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The Gold Goblin is unusually quite when the rest of the party arrives. Word of the tidal wave spread quickly throughout Riddleport, and many of those who normally spent their days gambling found themselves occupied with checking on family members, or earning a quick buck by looting damaged buildings. A few people continue to gamble, of course, and Samaritha is in the front room, as well as a few of the croupiers, Gildi the scullery maid, and Bojask, the floor manager. The staff sit idly by in most cases, and Bojask is asking staff who would best like to go home for the rest of the day. A few of the croupiers volunteer, and Bojask sits back in his chair, obviously satisfied with his day's work.
"Ĭntr'un pic! I smell like the harbor sea, and I am dripping wet like a half-drowned snow leopard! I go to the baths- to get out of these salty rags, and wash. Then when I return we can byór drekka saman," Vara sighs in response to Mazra's offer. She tends to get lazy with her languages when she is tired.
As she glides away she can be heard muttering in her native Skald, "Ég vona lykta eins varin hefur ekki gert mig myúkur..."
She takes a moment to check on Gildi, and then goes to the stables to check on her mule, Heidrun. After that, she at last heads to the baths, and spends a good hour or so to unwind and bathe.
She returns later refreshed, in a change of clothes, with her tattered, wet ones in a bag for Samaritha to clean with her magic. She looks for Lady Nel before sitting down with Mazra to share a drink.
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When Vara approaches Gildi, she smiles wide and says, "Oh, thank you Madame Vara. You saved my life, and I could never repay you. If you have any need in the future, please let me know. I'll be happy to assist you in anyway." Gildi presses a handkerchief in Vara's hand embroidered with "Vara" in green-and-gold stiches. She blushes and says, "I'm working on the rest of a set for you, and then I'll get started on some for Sir Mazra."
Getting suddenly serious, she then whispers to Vara.
After removing her armor and changing into her only spare garment, a creased and wrinkled turquoise and white country dress, Nel reattaches all of her adventuring gear over the garment, before heading downstairs to meet the rest of the party. Quickly able to find Mazra, Nel approaches him at the bar. "Mazra, seful vrea să ne vadă . Unde sunt ceilalți?"
Placing one silver and six copper down on the bar, Nel orders two mugs of applejack. One for her, and the other for Mazra. "Am avut o întâlnire ciudată cu Saul. Vorbea cu Bojask în alee, când mă voi întoarce cu calul meu. El a cerut să știe dacă aș fi ucis Smeed pentru uciderea Larur. Avem nevoie pentru a viziona spatele."
"I had a strange encounter with Saul. He was talking to Bojask in the alley when I return with my horse. He demanded to know if I had killed Smeed for killing Larur. We need to watch our backs."
As Vark returns to the gambling hall with the others, he spots Nel, "Lady Nel! I'm glad you're okay. I see you managed to recover your steed, that's good."
He immediately rushes to check on the rest of the staff, particularly the other performers, before approaching Sam about his clothes.
"Dear, do you have a moment to help a friend with a soiled set of finery?" Even though he himself knew the spell innately due to his blood, he preferred to depend on the kindness of the beautiful lady.
After Sam obliges in prestidigitizing his suit, Vark shoots a sly smirk at the others who were forced to return to their chambers in order to change. On a whim, he begins waggling his fingers and whispers a few arcane words. Four lavender colored orbs appear and begin to lazily circle around Sam, after which Vark summons a small harp and plays her a sweet little number, in thanks and appreciation. The orbs dance and spin mimicking the tempo of the song. As the song concludes, the orbs cease circling and shoot out in a line out of a nearby open window.
Vara is both pleased and flattered by the surprise gift from Gildi. "Why thank you dear, it's lovely!" She leans closer to the woman as she whispers her warning, Vara's angular eyes narrowing as she nods slightly. When Gildi is done speaking she looks at her in a way to show her understanding and whispers back.
Vara spends less time in her bath after hearing the warning, though she does enjoy the alone time.
Originally, Vara only had only her Northern travel clothing and druidic vestments for clothing. Since shopping with Vark, she had purchased a number of Varisian style outfits.
She returns to the commons wearing a green skirt and a slightly high cut green sleeved blouse with an orange bodice. The lower part of her abdomen shows, exposing what appears to be a weaving vine like image of a tatoo on her mid-section. The new handerkerchief is neatly folded into a light green sash tied around the top of her hips.
She carries her leather armor on a hanger anointed with olive oil, and requests Samaritha to give her armor a quick prestidigitation before she dons the armor over her fresh attire. Seeing that she is busy with Vark, she saves the request for her other clothes for later, giving Vark an encouraging wink.
Placing a silver down on the bar, "Applejack please- heated and with a touch of spice!"
Vara slips into a seat nexts to Nel with her drink. She discreetly casts detect poison on her drink as she listens to any conversation between Nel and Mazra. Showing her embroidered handerkerchief, she says, "look what Gildi gave me!" Then looking around, she murumurs in Varisian, leaning over the table, "Ea a avertizat-mi Saul a fost vorba de noi 'pensionare'. El este supărat pe noi pentru un motiv oarecare. Nu știu de ce."
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Sam stares at Vark skeptically as he conjures images and plays a song for her. "Thanks," she says as she hands him his clothes back. "I wasn't expecting the show. It was, um, nice." Her eyes dart around the room before she mumbles, "Gotta get back to cleaning" and walks off to dust the Goblin statue.
Vark visibly wilts at Sam's reception to his display. Deflated, he joins the others at the bar.
"Red wine." He says, straight-faced and sullen.
Considering his past with the drink, you take that as a very bad sign.
Vara is so intent on the conversation in Varisian, she is almost surprised to see Vark appear at the table. She notices the red wine and looks at him an expression of motherly concern. "Be careful with the wine dear," she warns him. She then speaks very softly, watching to see if anyone is listeng. "We are at a passing vhere ve vwould be wise to keep our wits about us." She notices Samathia has vanished somewhere out of the commons. "Is somthing a'miss?" She asks gently.
Putting a hand up to cancel the order of Vark's wine, Nel gives Vara's new acquisition a glance. "Vara, that would be my doing. I gave Mr. Vancaskerkin some attitude when I got back. My apologies."
"Varknarnost, I thought that you knew. Sam's in a committed relationship. Anyway, the boss requested that we see him after everyone was cleaned up. It had something to deal with the business side of the goblin. You may want to keep your wits about you." Giving the floor a glance for Tamiro, Nel purses her lips. She didn't want to go into the meeting without the other swordsman, but if he didn't show up, then she would have to start the meeting without him.
Tamiro walks through the floor, his clothing matted to him under the armor, his blades held out as he grumbles in tien. Stomping to his room, he removes his armor, and clothing replacing it with a pair of pants, drying his blades, and sticking them without scabbard into his belt before strolling back onto the floor, letting his long hair down to dry better.
Looking around he finds Nel on the floor fairly easily.
"Sword woman, you find your beast?" he queries as he walks up, ordering a drink from the bar as he walks by.
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"Datorită Nel. Calul dvs este bine?" Mazra takes a gulp of the Applejack. The warm sensation of the fermented liquid was most welcome. "Foarte bun!"
"Ceilalti sunt schimbarea lor hainele astea ude," Mazra responds to Nel's question.
Mazra will lean in toward Nel and whispers, Saul Nu este de a fi creditat. VOI urmaţi-vă conduce, dar mai rapid ne-am muta departe de relaţiile noastre cu el, cu atât mai bine.
Upon hearing Vara's comment, Mazra whispers"Avem nevoie pentru a găsi o cale de a rămâne împreună. Set ceasuri până în timp ce noi dormi ca desi am fost in mediul salbatic." Mazra's tone is as serious as you have ever heard from the young Cleric.
"Şi aceasta ar putea fi chiar mai frenetic," Mazra rolls his eye and take another gulp of Applejack.
Vara cocks her head and wears a pensive expressive. "Did this begin nuhr today?" She asks, then straightens slightly as she listens to Mazra's Vairisian. She leans a forward a bit with her chin her palms. When he grows serious she leans forward, then straightens up. Her eyes contain a feral, wild look, like the blazing lights of the Northern skies.
"Acest lucru este sălbăticie. Suntem cu toții, întotdeauna vălătorii ..."
"Shi Saul este ca sălbatic de Nord..."
She glances over her shoulder, she looks back, with a strange grin and her eyes even more ablaze, appearing almost beastial. Yet her lips tremble with emotion. There is pain in her voice. She switches to the common tongue.
"I have known much worse than him. I have known those who had the strength to tear you apart, and would do it without hesitation should they think they might gain from it. They look like men and women, but they have generations of wolf and leopard blood in their veins- more beasts than human, bred to hunt dragonkin, though they appear human... the Ulfen- or Skalds."
She looks at each of the people around the table. "It was such that slaughtered near all me kin." She blinks hard, taking a deep breath as a tear rolls down her cheek. The fire in her eyes is softer, less like blue-green flame and more like glowing moons.
She speaks softer to avoid any off the table over hearing. "I sense a similar treachery in Saul- though he doesn't have half the spine of a Northern thralling... I feel he only cares about his own gain, at whatever price... and he believes- in mine luck... as they did..." She seems to spit the word luck. She stops speaking there, looking around again. Her expression is now quite frightened, as well as strangely ashamed. Blonde tresses fall over to cover one eye as she bows her head slightly.
Vark huffs as Nel waves away his wine. Responding to Vara, "Hmph. Let's just say, we all can't have nice things."
After the quieted subject of Saul's intentions comes up, "You can't say I didn't warn you. You all made light of me when I brought up Saul's dark past. And now look where it has gotten us."
He softens a bit, "I'm sorry. I'm just in a mood of sorts. I'm confident that the five of us can get out of any situation if we work as a team. We have a party flag after all. If that won't inspire us to greater deeds, what will?" Vark finishes the last bit with more of his usual self shining through, a slight grin on his face.
His grin fades as Vara details her troubled past, "You lost your people to these savages in your homeland? That's terrible. I could never imagine something like that happening to Whistledown. Although, I haven't heard from back home for many, many months." Vark turns introspective for a bit.
Quietly, he continues, staring deeply into something unseen on the bar top, "When I had finally settled into my hovel on the edge of the Fogscar, I experienced many dark, dark nights. My livelihood was ripped from me, and I was struggling to find meaning in it all. Then I saw that calamity in the sky, and realized that sometimes we have to look outside ourselves and realize that there are bigger things in this world, and potentially dark forces at work. I realized that sulking in my cave, I wasn't only not helping myself, I wasn't helping others."
Finally looking up into the eyes of his friends, "That was when I decided to come into the city to see what I could do to help. And, as luck would have it, our little troupe, hee hee, came together and I believe we are all destined for greater things."
He seems to trail off for a moment, then continues, "And the first step along that path may be to end Saul's dark schemings once and for all..." His voice finally falls on that last cryptic statement.
Tamiro grunts at the last statement, "A boss is boss. He is predictable. No one in this city is 'nice'. You are delusional. At least you know your enemies."
Downing his drink, he shakes his head angrily, "Great things, I heard that before. When Oni turned my entire government, the people killed in the streets, an enemy you could not fight, could not see, a great nation brought to it's knees from an enemy you could not see or fight. Survive the Crown of the World and the horrors that reside there. Tell me then what greatness is, what good is, what evil is, when good and evil die around you without cause. I have seen the Crossroads of Hell. This city is far from evil. This city is predictable, if you are not naive. Leave your good and evil outside. The only thing you need here is a sword. It is best you all remember that."
Leaving his mug on the table Tamiro, turns, looking at Nel as he leaves, grunting a chuckle, "Lady Nel."
Tamiro returns to the floor looking for people to throw out of the gambling hall, roaring, "Boss! Point me to something I can punch!"
Taking a moment to crack her neck, Nel listens quietly as Vara shares her origins, keeping an eye on Kubali as he desperately attempts to not to draw attention to himself. Clapping her hands together just after Tamiro cries for something to take his aggression out on, Nel stands up. "Alright, now. We all need to go talk to Mr. Vancaskerkin, he requested a meeting as soon as we were all available. Personal feelings aside, he is the reason behind my paycheck and I'm not about to let that ship set sail."
Sending a level-headed look at the three at the bar, Nel continues, "In the future there may be a time and place for us to go our separate ways, but that is not now. As Varknarost has stated, Saul is not the most upstanding of individuals, so take what he says with a grain of salt. Okay?"
Meandering over to Tamiro, Nel puts a hand on his shoulder, "Watashi wa, watashitachiha jōshi no otoko to hanashi o shita nochi ni nomi, anata wa panchi no tame ni nanika o mitsukeru koto ga dekimasu." Flashing a crooked smile at the samurai, Nel makes her way to Saul's office.
Vara straightens, seeming somehow, strangely taller than she was before. She seems oddly plant-like yet still half-elven. Her eyes blaze with the Northern lights and her face seems ancient as well as so very young.
Her voice seems to crackle with power as if a storm raged within her. Then, her strange appearance fades slightly, her voice is once again her girlish soprano, though still strong, and serious, she continues, "this city is not evil- it is the Wilds. Nature, Ygg'drassil, the World Tree, is the only thing with any real power, and the only thing I shall ever call master. Even the gods move only in response to the secret forces of the world."
She returns to being Vara, even demures slightly. There is nostalgia in her eyes, as well grief and even shame. "Invisible monsters? Like fey, or banshee, or frost giants? All things of my home land, of the Linnorm Kings, where I grew up. My father slew giants and wyverns. In the end, it was other men who killed him." She looks with gentleness on Vark, "Not all the North is so bad. Some clans... in your own clan, if you had trust, you could find a home... if only- I had truly known what that meant- that it is the only thing that matters. Good or evil doesn't matter- only trust and loyalty in your own..." She blinks away tears, and takes a deep breath, trembling. Regaining her composure, her expression suddenly changes to a clever, riddling mood, she speaks very softly again, "How loyal is our so called boss to us? Let us think on that question as we move forward here- though" she sighs, "I have a feeling Lady Nel should do the talking." She smiles slightly, nodding to Nel apologetically in case she had interrupted.
She watches the Wayang bartender. Is her going back to the bar or leaving the commons?
"Hijō ni yoku. Watashitachiha jōshi wa, watashitachi wa tsugi no ya tte iru ka mi ni ikou. Watashi wa sore ga sukoshi bōryoku o tomonau negatte imasu." he grunts, nodding at Nel, and following her toward Sauls office.