Then, aside to Spivey: "When the helmet complained about an avatar of chaos, I assumed it was talking about me."
you embrace anarchy. i am made of it, Spivey replies.
don't get any funny ideas, though. you notembracing the personification of chaos unless you buyingher dinner first.
Although the mood among the staff at the Inn is somber, breakfast is as well-prepared as it always is.
Mel's thinks about Lio's words, looking at the feather in the elven woman's hand. "ನಾನು ಅದರಿಂದ ಏನು ಔಟ್ ವ್ಯಕ್ತಿ ಎಂದು ಆಶಿಸಿದರು. ಆದರೆ ... ನಾನು ನಿಮಗೆ ಗರಿ ನೀಡಿದ ... ನೀವು ಗರಿಗಳು ಫಾರ್ ಕೇಳಿದಾಗ ಕಾರಣ. ಇದು ಒಂದು ದೊಡ್ಡ ಗರಿ ತಂದೆಯ."
K: aracana
K: Local
K: Planar
K: Religion
A pause, and a teasing smile, "And a reminder that you're always welcome to embrace me. Don't even need dinner... Apparently I'm easier than the personification of chaos."
"I can see the ... similarities," Ameiko admits. "But I think there is a vast difference in, in degree."
Mel's thinks about Lio's words, looking at the feather in the elven woman's hand. "ನಾನು ಅದರಿಂದ ಏನು ಔಟ್ ವ್ಯಕ್ತಿ ಎಂದು ಆಶಿಸಿದರು. ಆದರೆ ... ನಾನು ನಿಮಗೆ ಗರಿ ನೀಡಿದ ... ನೀವು ಗರಿಗಳು ಫಾರ್ ಕೇಳಿದಾಗ ಕಾರಣ. ಇದು ಒಂದು ದೊಡ್ಡ ಗರಿ ತಂದೆಯ."
Lio quietly considers for a moment, she looks at the feather she is holding out towards Mel, then pulls her hand back, still holding on to the feather. Quietly, she says, "ನೀವು ಮತ್ತು ಜೆಡ್ ಒಂದು ನಾನು ಓ ಬೌ ಇ ನನ್ನ ಮತ್ತು ಬಹುಶಃ ಶಾ ಲೆ ಲು ಜೊತೆ, ಟುನೈಟ್ ಊಟದ ಎಂದು ಬಯಸಬಹುದು ಯೋಚಿಸುತ್ತೀರಾ? ನಾನು ಸಹಜವಾಗಿ ಶಾ ಲೆ ಲು, ಕೇಳಲು, ಆದರೆ ಅವರು ಆಸಕ್ತಿ ಇದ್ದರೂ, ನಾನು ನಿಮ್ಮೊಂದಿಗೆ ಕೆಲವು ಸಮಯ ಕಳೆಯಲು ಬಯಸುತ್ತೇನೆ."
Although the mood among the staff at the Inn is somber, breakfast is as well-prepared as it always is.
Mel's own mood is more somber through breakfast, which is light for her, but she makes sure that Kei eats a full meal.
After she seems eager to get moving.
Once outside the inn, "Well... I need to buy some furs." For some reason this simple statement causes Mel to blush a light mint color. "And if we can figure out where some of the better dress stores are? I promised Amieko a shopping trip... but I don't know where we should go."
There is a long, long pause before Ameiko answers you.
"I can see the ... similarities," Ameiko admits. "But I think there is a vast difference in, in degree."
"Yer raighte. An' ahs no one desagread weth 'is assessment uf 'e setuation, ahm muste be mestaiken. Ahpologies." Lio says, her quiet voice is very level and emotionless.
Although the mood among the staff at the Inn is somber, breakfast is as well-prepared as it always is.Mel's own mood is more somber through breakfast, which is light for her, but she makes sure that Kei eats a full meal.
After she seems eager to get moving.
** spoiler omitted **
Lio goes straight up to her room, she does not come down for breakfast.
Mel smiles, "ನಾನು ತುಂಬಾ ಬಹಳ ಹೆಚ್ಚು ಇಷ್ಟಪಡುತ್ತಾರೆ. ನೀವು ನನಗೆ ಕೆಂಪು ತಲೆ ಕೇಳಲು ಬಯಸುವಿರಾ? ಸುಂದರ ಮಹಿಳೆಗೆ ಚರ್ಚೆ ತನಕ ಅಥವಾ ನಾನು ನಿರೀಕ್ಷಿಸಿ ಮಾಡಬೇಕು?" She pauses, hesitant at her next words. "ನಾನು ಇದನ್ನು ಮಾಡಿದ ಬಹಳ ಸಂತೋಷ ಇದೆ. ನಾನು ಹಿಂದೆ ನಿಮಗೆ ಬಿಟ್ಟ ದ್ವೇಷಿಸುತ್ತಿದ್ದನು. ಆದರೆ ನಾನು ಸುಂದರ ಮಹಿಳೆ ನೀವು ಉಳಿಸಿದಾಗ ಎಂದು ತಿಳಿದಿದ್ದರು."
I am very happy that you made it out. I hated leaving you behind. But I knew Shae would save you.
Mel smiles, "ನಾನು ತುಂಬಾ ಬಹಳ ಹೆಚ್ಚು ಇಷ್ಟಪಡುತ್ತಾರೆ. ನೀವು ನನಗೆ ಕೆಂಪು ತಲೆ ಕೇಳಲು ಬಯಸುವಿರಾ? ಸುಂದರ ಮಹಿಳೆಗೆ ಚರ್ಚೆ ತನಕ ಅಥವಾ ನಾನು ನಿರೀಕ್ಷಿಸಿ ಮಾಡಬೇಕು?" She pauses, hesitant at her next words. "ನಾನು ಇದನ್ನು ಮಾಡಿದ ಬಹಳ ಸಂತೋಷ ಇದೆ. ನಾನು ಹಿಂದೆ ನಿಮಗೆ ಬಿಟ್ಟ ದ್ವೇಷಿಸುತ್ತಿದ್ದನು. ಆದರೆ ನಾನು ಸುಂದರ ಮಹಿಳೆ ನೀವು ಉಳಿಸಿದಾಗ ಎಂದು ತಿಳಿದಿದ್ದರು"
** spoiler omitted **
Lio says, "ಅವಳ ಕೇಳಲು ಮಾಡಿ. ನಾನು ಶಾ ಲೆ ಲು ಜೊತೆ ಪರಿಶೀಲಿಸುತ್ತಾರೆ... ನೀವು ನನ್ನ ಬಗ್ಗೆ ಚಿಂತೆ ಇಲ್ಲ."
She hesitates, then adds, "But if I can say so, you might have better luck with it if you didn't start off by charging in with weapons out, so to speak."
Mel frowns slightly, "ಹೌದು, ನಾನು ಚಿಂತೆ ಹೋಗಿ ನಾನು. ನೀವು ನನ್ನ ಸ್ನೇಹಿತ ಇವೆ. ನಾನು ನೀವು ಸುರಕ್ಷಿತ ನೋಡಿಕೊಳ್ಳುತ್ತಾರೆ ಎಂದು ಲವ್ಸ್ ಯು ಯಾರೊಬ್ಬರು ಎಂದು ಕೇವಲ ಖುಷಿಯಿಂದಿದ್ದೇನೆ."
** spoiler omitted **
Mel frowns slightly, "ಹೌದು, ನಾನು ಚಿಂತೆ ಹೋಗಿ ನಾನು. ನೀವು ನನ್ನ ಸ್ನೇಹಿತ ಇವೆ. ನಾನು ನೀವು ಸುರಕ್ಷಿತ ನೋಡಿಕೊಳ್ಳುತ್ತಾರೆ ಎಂದು ಲವ್ಸ್ ಯು ಯಾರೊಬ್ಬರು ಎಂದು ಕೇವಲ ಖುಷಿಯಿಂದಿದ್ದೇನೆ."
** spoiler omitted **
"ನಾನು ಅವಳು ನನಗೆ ಅಗತ್ಯವಿದೆ, ನಾನು ಅವಳ ತಂದೆಯ ಹೊಂದಬಹುದಾದ ಆದ್ದರಿಂದ ರಕ್ಷಣಾತ್ಮಕ ಮೇಲೆ ಜೊತೆ ಸುಗಮ ನನಗೆ ಇಲ್ಲ ಯಾರು ನಾನು ಪ್ರೀತಿಯನ್ನು ಯಾರಾದರೂ, ಮತ್ತು ಬದಲಿಗೆ ನಾನು ಅವರ ಬೇಕಾದಾಗ, ನನ್ನ ಹೊಂದಿದೆ ಸಂತೋಷವನ್ನು ಹಾಕಿರುತ್ತೇನೆ." Lio muses. More reserved, "ನಾನು ಝೆಡ್ ಜೆಡ್ ಒಂದು ನಾನು ಓ ಬೌ ಇ ಬಂದಿತು ಮತ್ತು ನೀವು ಔಟ್ ಹಾರಾಟವನ್ನು ಸಂತೋಷವನ್ನು ಹಾಕಿರುತ್ತೇನೆ."
<... um, ever.>
Lio goes straight up to her room, she does not come down for breakfast.
Shalelu follows Liothonae upstairs.
"I'm sorry for not speaking up," Ameiko says. "I'd been trying to handle it privately. I didn't realize it would make you feel ... unsupported. Next time I notice it happening I'll say something, although be warned I'm a little oblivious sometimes."
She hesitates, then adds, "But if I can say so, you might have better luck with it if you didn't start off by charging in with weapons out, so to speak."
Lio starts, and stops herself, about 5 times before she manages to actually say something she isn't going to regret later. She isn't trying to hurt her friends, she's just really upset. "Ameiko." She says, trying really hard to think, "'e wouldnna lesten no matt'r whot ah saide, baught yer raighte. An ye dunna needta d'fend me ef ye dunnaken aime raighte." There, she is able to say the truth as she sees it, hopefully diplomatically
Lio goes straight up to her room, she does not come down for breakfast.Shalelu follows Liothonae upstairs.
Lio starts, and stops herself, about 5 times before she manages to actually say something she isn't going to regret later. She isn't trying to hurt her friends, she's just really upset. "Ameiko." She says, trying really hard to think, "'e wouldnna lesten no matt'r whot ah saide, baught yer raighte. An ye dunna needta d'fend me ef ye dunnaken aime raighte."
Ameiko simply looks surprised. "Who said anything about defending you when you were in the wrong? I was talking about speaking up the next time I notice Hrunndalf being a paternalistic blowhard to you."
Once in the room, Lio puts her things down. She leaves the door open since Shae is right behind her. Her expression is as it has been for much of the way back here, guarded, hard to read. She takes off her armor, and sits on the bed, starting to mend it with magic.
Shalelu leans in the doorway, the empty suite behind her. "Were you still planning on going jewelry shopping this morning? It appears that there is time for it."
Ameiko simply looks surprised. "Who said anything about defending you when you were in the wrong? I was talking about speaking up the next time I notice Hrunndalf being a paternalistic blowhard to you."
"waite, whot?" She thinks about that really hard. "Soue whoye dinna annyunne else say annyken?" She thinks some more. "Ah dunna unn'erstand human enterakshun aht all summataimes." Another pause, "Ah thoughte thot saince no unne saide anneken, thot meante ye all agreede weth 'em an' thos aye must beh wron' but ah dinnaken aie wos wronge. May'aps uneplomatek baughte naught wronge."
Shalelu leans in the doorway, the empty suite behind her. "Were you still planning on going jewelry shopping this morning? It appears that there is time for it."
Lio looks up from what she's futzing with, probably it isn't working anyway. She meets your gaze, expecting to see anger or worse.
Sense Motive: Not sure what she sees in your gaze, she looks vulnerable. "I will leave if you want me to." She answers in Elven, without actually answering the question.
Bluff
She doesn't want to leave. She wants you to pull her into an embrace and kiss her like you did after the two of you got safely to shore. But she thinks maybe you think she was wrong, since not even you spoke up in front of Hrunndalf. And even knowing that as a leader in the group you really shouldn't take sides, that still really hurts.
"waite, whot?" She thinks about that really hard. "Soue whoye dinna annyunne else say annyken?" She thinks some more. "Ah dunna unn'erstand human enterakshun aht all summataimes." Another pause, "Ah thoughte thot saince no unne saide anneken, thot meante ye all agreede weth 'em an' thos aye must beh wron' but ah dinnaken aie wos wronge. May'aps uneplomatek baughte naught wronge."
"Wrong? I've been b!*%%ing at Hrunndalf for a solid week because he actually tried to tell me that I shouldn't be risking my precious, precious, t+@#-and-vagina-laden body in melee combat. He finally apologized to me this morning after enough arrows hit him that he realized, hey, life is actually dangerous for all of us! Amazing!"
"The truth is, most people simply won't jump in when two people are arguing, even if they agree with one side or the other. It makes them uncomfortable, I think. One reason I'm suggesting diplomacy is that if things stay calm, more people are sometimes willing to say something."
Lio looks up from what she's futzing with, probably it isn't working anyway. She meets your gaze, expecting to see anger or worse.
Not sure what she sees in your gaze, she looks vulnerable. "I will leave if you want me to." She answers in Elven, without actually answering the question.
"... Wait, what?"
She doesn't want to leave. She wants you to pull her into an embrace and kiss her like you did after the two of you got safely to shore. But she thinks maybe you think she was wrong, since not even you spoke up in front of Hrunndalf. And even knowing that as a leader in the group you really shouldn't take sides, that still really hurts.
Immediately you are in her arms. Immediately she is kissing you.
"Lio, I'm sorry," she says when she draws back to take a breath. "I assumed you wanted to fight your own battle with him."
"Forgive me?"
"A winter storm is both beautiful and dangerous," Shalelu observes. "But then, so is my sister, scourge of the undead. I am confident you will be able to make your own judgments."
On the paper, painstakingly scrawled in appalling handwriting, is the following:
SILLMMEER
A POME BY ATATOK
ZANDRGHOUL PROMISSES POME NOT HAV TO RIME
"SLLMEMMEER -"
"YU SMELL GUD"
"REEL REEL GUD"
"AND YOOR PRETY"
"I LIEK YU"
The expression Lio turns towards Hrunndalf is unusually blank and unreadable. "Yer klearly naught treaten 'e men uf thise expedetshun weth moare r'speakt thon 'e women." She turns and begins to walk away.
Hrunndalf is at a loss to interpret the nuances behind Lio's mask, so he must take her words at face value. "Not sure what you mean. Certain men in the group are certainly treating me with more respect than certain women are, though."
The exchange leaves him in a pensive mood. After a while, he seeks out Shalelu for a word in private.
Hrunndalf removes the boilt-leather cap and scratches the blond mane beneath. "Is she right about me? Am I being a chauvinist? I don't see it, but then again I am often rather... oblivious... to the finer nuances of social interplay. I know I am a rather... shall we say, loud, personality. I make no secret of my opinions, and have my share of strong convictions. I can see how that could be taken the wrong way by people with a... troublesome history... with loud people."
"Or is this about Ameiko? I know I overstepped my bounds there, but for other reasons than Lionothae's assumptions. Ameiko and I have resolved the issue privately in the meantime."
"But maybe I'm making excuses for myself here. is there more to it? I need an external perspective on this."
”Allow me to first respond to your question with some questions of my own,” she says.
”Had Sandru Vhiski enjoined you to keep your voice down on the ship, rather than Liothonae Cromvathar, would you have paid more attention? Had Rhost Mab-i-Gof told you to abandon ship immediately, rather than myself, would you have done so with greater alacrity? Had Tollin Elere suggested that splitting the party in groups of four was still relatively safe, rather than Melinda Sorn, would you have felt less compelled to argue? Had Kalimac Proudfoot been discovered to be the true ruler of Minkai, rather than Ameiko Kaijitsu, would you have refrained from telling him to avoid melee combat?”
”If the answer to all of those questions is a sincere, ‘No, of course not!’, then we can, if you like, discuss why your manner and bearing is sometimes making you appear chauvinistic, especially to those with a troublesome history with loud people.”
”If there is another answer to some of those questions, then we should discuss actual prejudices, rather than appearances.”
Is Helgarval more a helm or a helmet? More to the point, can Rhost eat with him on? That will determine whether he stays on at breakfast.
After splitting up to spend some time shopping, chatting, or engaged in unknown activities beyond the ken of mortal understanding that would drive you mad if you merely contemplated their existence, the party reconvenes at the Inn to discuss the next step.
Kalimac reads the poem. He looks at Attatoq. Somehow, he thinks, this should shock me. But he just takes it in stride. After a morning of undead, ninjas, and a flying helmet that has been performing its own investigations, how shocking can a poem writing wolf be?
"This is pretty good," he says at last. "I'm not sure she can read, yet. So do you want me or Myri to read this to her?"
"ನಾನು ಅವಳು ನನಗೆ ಅಗತ್ಯವಿದೆ, ನಾನು ಅವಳ ತಂದೆಯ ಹೊಂದಬಹುದಾದ ಆದ್ದರಿಂದ ರಕ್ಷಣಾತ್ಮಕ ಮೇಲೆ ಜೊತೆ ಸುಗಮ ನನಗೆ ಇಲ್ಲ ಯಾರು ನಾನು ಪ್ರೀತಿಯನ್ನು ಯಾರಾದರೂ, ಮತ್ತು ಬದಲಿಗೆ ನಾನು ಅವರ ಬೇಕಾದಾಗ, ನನ್ನ ಹೊಂದಿದೆ ಸಂತೋಷವನ್ನು ಹಾಕಿರುತ್ತೇನೆ." Lio muses. More reserved, "ನಾನು ಝೆಡ್ ಜೆಡ್ ಒಂದು ನಾನು ಓ ಬೌ ಇ ಬಂದಿತು ಮತ್ತು ನೀವು ಔಟ್ ಹಾರಾಟವನ್ನು ಸಂತೋಷವನ್ನು ಹಾಕಿರುತ್ತೇನೆ."
Mel nods, a small smile, "ನಿಮಗಾಗಿ ನಾನು ಸಂತೋಷದಿಂದ ಹಾಕಿರುತ್ತೇನೆ ಏಕೆ ಮತ್ತು ತಂದೆಯ. ಮತ್ತು ... ಹೌದು."
Then she chuckles, "ವಿಂಗ್ಸ್ ಲಾಗಿನ್ ಧನ್ಯವಾದಗಳು ಆಗಿದೆ. ಅವರು ಆಹ್ವಾನಿಸಿದ್ದಾರೆ ಎಂದು ಹರ್ಷ ತಂದೆಯ."
Zaiobe is in. Thank you. She's excited to be invited.
"Getting off the ship? I would have ignored anyone's command in that situation. I felt my life was in far less danger than those of the people still trapped under the flaming planks. I still think I caught more than my fair share of lucky arrows."
"Keeping the party together: That was my opinion, and I felt it deserved to be spoken. End of story."
"As for Ameiko... no, I would not have treated Kalimac the same. I would be lying if I claimed otherwise. I'd still be concerned for our mission, but I'd take it less personally. If it's any help, though, I would not have treated you any different from Kalimac, either. We are military. It is our calling to dance with death so others won't have to. Ameiko can fight, no question, but she is not a frontline grunt. I felt she was putting herself in too much anger. I do realize now that it's more complicated, and that I was out of line."
A guilty grin comes to his face. "That's not the whole story, of course. I do care about Ameiko in a different way than I do about the rest of the group. I am not ashamed of that. Can you say you would remain your usual rational self if Lionothae were the last heir of the Amatatsus, and mortal enemy of the Jade Regent?"
portable writing desk for Lio (50 gp?)
body paint (50 gp)
fur dye (50 gp)
amber/gold jewelry set (100 gp)
Furs, a bunch of them like 10 about personal blanket size to be described later in more detail (5 gp ea)
Two person fur sleeping bag (15 gp)
chocolate ~50 servings (1gp ea)
big honey jar (1 gp)
honey combs (~1 cp ea, 5 sp worth)
fresh pomegranates (not a clue if even available)
exotic Tien or Ulfen delicacies? (don't know what's local)
Running total: 396.5 gp
*does not include Kei's money :)
"... Wait, what?"
Immediately you are in her arms. Immediately she is kissing you.
"Lio, I'm sorry," she says when she draws back to take a breath. "I assumed you wanted to fight your own battle with him."
"Forgive me?"
Lio holds on to you, even after you come up for air. She still looks a little conflicted, although you're really quite convincing. You're pretty sure she believes you. She nods, looking into your eyes, trying to explain.
"I... I do not need you to fight my battles. I... it's just several people spoke up for him, and I, I felt that maybe no one thought he was wrong, and since no one supported me... maybe that meant you agreed with him."
"Wrong? I've been b@*+~ing at Hrunndalf for a solid week because he actually tried to tell me that I shouldn't be risking my precious, precious, t*+*-and-vagina-laden body in melee combat. He finally apologized to me this morning after enough arrows hit him that he realized, hey, life is actually dangerous for all of us! Amazing!"
"The truth is, most people simply won't jump in when two people are arguing, even if they agree with one side or the other. It makes them uncomfortable, I think. One reason I'm suggesting diplomacy is that if things stay calm, more people are sometimes willing to say something."
Lio thinks about what Ameiko said silently. After a moment, "Aye s'ppose ah dunna reakt w'll ta loude o'erbearen menn. Aye'll worke on keepen kalme next taime ah feal 'e nead ta saye summathen." After another moment. "Vahgahna ladden? Et musta maike et 'ard ta wolk. Ye kenn ye nead a l'ttr tah bear ye?" Is that an attempt at humor?
At some point during the morning, Kalimac goes up to Ameiko. He gives her shy smile as he works up to say what he's been rehersing in his mind.
"You know, the last few days of caravan travel to Kalsgard I had visions of a quiet time in the city with time to take you to a nice dinner. But since we've been here it's just been one crisis after another and I haven't had the chance to do the one thing I really wanted to do here." Kalimac takes a deep breath. "Ameiko, assuming we live through the day, would you do me the honor of accompanying me to dinner tonight?"
”Liothonae requested that you keep your voice down as you went into the hold, long before the battle started and while you were still speaking in Common. She made a great attempt to phrase the request politely and respectfully, which is ... an effort for her. I think it is a fair guess that, not knowing you missed the request, she believed you had ignored her, and further that talking to you politely and respectfully would have no effect, which may explain the tone she took with you more recently.”
”As to the rest ... I believe that you are a man with strong opinions, who is not shy about stating them, and a strong protective streak. You should perhaps be aware that the first can, on occasion, make you seem as if you are being argumentative for argument’s sake. And the second can sometimes make you seem overprotective. At times you seem to feel as if you are solely responsible for the defense of the Caravan, rather than that being a shared duty in which everyone is playing a mutual and equal role.”
”It is easy for many women to read that as dismissiveness of their opinion combined with coddling, which can further read as chauvinism. I take you at your word that it is not. In fact, some of the men on occasion chafe at it too – Alaric in particular, I think, but the two of you have found a way of successfully negotiating differences of opinion which have so far eluded you and Melinda, or you and Liothonae. And Liothonae, as you have noted, is particularly sensitive to what she perceives as the possibility of men attempting to control her.”
”It may be worth your while to discuss with them ways in which you can dissent with them freely in a manner that reads as more respectful of their opinions, and vice versa. I warn you that you may have to weather some anger first in order to do so.”
She pauses, then adds. ”One more issue. I am, in fact, responsible for the military defense of this team, by the authority of those I think we both agree are ultimately in charge of this expedition. As you may have noticed, it is not my policy to issue orders in general. I trust in the competence of those I am with, and leave almost all tactical judgments to the wisdom of those in the field at the time. I believe I have issued one actual order, rather than a suggestion, in the past month, and do not expect to issue them very many times in the future, if at all.”
”But when I do, it is because in my judgment as a military officer of many decades experience, everyone’s lives are in danger unless I do so. When I ordered everyone off the ship, it was to save lives, and I believe that by delaying, you were risking lives, and not just your own. Possibly Kalimac’s translation was at fault, but if it was not, I would request that you at least consider that in the hopefully unlikely event that I say something similar at a later date.”
Kalimac reads the poem. He looks at Attatoq. Somehow, he thinks, this should shock me. But he just takes it in stride. After a morning of undead, ninjas, and a flying helmet that has been performing its own investigations, how shocking can a poem writing wolf be? "This is pretty good," he says at last. "I'm not sure she can read, yet. So do you want me or Myri to read this to her?"
He nods decisively when you say Myri's name, apparently thinking that would go over best.
Lio thinks about what Ameiko said silently. After a moment, "Aye s'ppose ah dunna reakt w'll ta loude o'erbearen menn. Aye'll worke on keepen kalme next taime ah feal 'e nead ta saye summathen." After another moment. "Vahgahna ladden? Et musta maike et 'ard ta wolk. Ye kenn ye nead a l'ttr tah bear ye?" Is that an attempt at humor?
"My vagina is a great burden to bear," Ameiko replies gravely. "Yet I will continue to do so, for the good of us all."
While shopping, "So I have to ask. Asvig Longthews... was he as much of an ass as the impression I got?"
"Who's that?" he asks curiously.
One of the things Lio does today is hopefully find Kei, and ask him to take a look for Jorun (for a fee of course). If she can locate Jorun, either on her own or through Kei, she will try to check up on him, hopefully moving unseen and using lots of stealth, before she actually talks to him, so she can make sure she wasn't followed.
Gather information? diplimacy and knowledge local wearing jewlery as appropriate, or taking it off, and talking to lesser people who might not talk to a freed woman otherwise.
Diplomacy on Kei
Stealth
Diplomacy on Jorun
There is probably also shopping with the ladies, though that will be in posts with the ladies... But I'm going to be at work all day, so I just wanted to get that out there... before the time is cut off to make a post in regards to shopping and stuff like looking for people.
Rhost looks no less silly wearing Helgarval than he did earlier in the day.
"Fynn first? Before he becomes rubble?"