Maudril chuckles at Whirrun's comment, Hehe, so this is where the phrase 'fighting tooth and nail' comes from. Don't worry, I mean no disrespect, I just never thought I would see someone literally fight tooth and nail. Maudril looks at the beefy mans arms, and back at his own and frowns, I may not be as 'convincing' as you are, but I find that acquiring information can be a little difficult if you don't understand the language your mark is speaking.
Whirrun smiles "I like that. Although the way you say it implies using them is a last resort. I find them rather effective if you know where to aim" he leans closer to the man "And you know what I've found out? Screaming sounds the same in every language"
Kedrick doesn't look up from his book, but he smiles at the assimar's backhanded complement. At least he's got balls for an old guy.
"Too friendly might be just as bad as unfriendly," Shula says thoughtfully, sipping plum wine and resting the flat of her dagger on Kedrick's wrist. She turns the blade so the edge presses against his skin, not breaking it. She whispers to him. "Patience, pretty man. A glass of wine and a chair are a good start, but only a start."
She tucks the bloody knife back in her boot sheath and looks at Natalia, wondering for a moment who she would feed to her wolves' hunger and who to her own.
"There are only two things I need to know to trust someone on a job," she says to the witch. "What they want, and that they don't want to betray me. The curious part is that it's the first part that's harder to discover."
Indeed, with the proper placement and the right arm behind them, the hand be a most deadly tool; but in my case, Maudril pauses and examines his own rounded nails, it just isn't practical. I prefer a little more subtlety. And as for the screaming, you are right. It does sound the same and you can scare most anyone when they are well placed, but if you don't understand his blathering, how will you get the information you want?
Martil looks at the beastly man called Whirrun and then over at the assimar, tiefling and the gnome, Intriguing brute strength on one hand...always necessary, then there is intelligence which is also needed to save your bacon. Her eyes move over to Shula strong and fearless, someone who would be loyal to no end and die for you...a wonderful necessity. Finally, she gazes at the gnome...odd, uniquely clever but quite unusual and dangerous to his prey. All worthy companions in their own way. She sucks in a whisper of a breath barely audible.
Whirrun leans back and lets his cruel smile fall away "I won't pretend I can go head to head with an intellectual in a language test" he lowers his voice and switches tongues to infernal "But I am not simply hired muscle. It's amazing how quietly and incognito you can kill somebody when there are no weapons to tie you to the crime"
Kedrick smiles again at the tiefling's words. While holding his book and reading with one hand, he licks her blood off of the wrist of the other. Yep. Definitely like her.
Ragra laughs quietly at Lady Natalia's words.
Well put, my Lady, well put.
As the big man speaks to him and flashes those pointy teeth of his, Ragar simply nods.
Ahhha, and your are a biggun', huh? A man after my own heart, but I prepare to use my Orc Axe to cut em' up. It is a bit more civilized than my bare hands.
As Kedrick reads on, Ragar leans in closely.
I am thinking that the Drow or Tiefling would have done well with tracking down the Captain, but the others do have their positives. Lady Natalia hit it right when she said that our benefactors would make the right call.
Zexil strides across the room and hops onto a bar stool, starting a nervous tap on the bar top. "A glass of Absinthe barkeep!" After taking a swig the tap stops as he seems to calm the nerve.. "Sorry if I came off as rude, as I'm not an overly nice, cheerful person in general. Going through what I have doesn't lend itself well to it, but I'm working on it I assure you" After downing the rest of his drink he takes out a pipe and begins to pack it with some sort of weed..
Natalia laughs, a thought amusing her, "What ever shall we do for their initiation? Some sort of hazing perhaps?" She eyes the candidates with fierce intensity.
Shula's head snaps towards Ragar so abruptly that she almost tips her chair over. Her golden eyes blaze as she stares at the big half-orc for a long moment. She slips off the chair and stalks towards him, circling slowly but moving closer with each step.
"What can you tell us of these benefactors you speak of?" she says softly, and then looks around slowly. "Are they watching, or will you be making your report later."
Natalia's laugh catches her ear and she grins her sidelong grin again. "Hazing? That sounds painful." There is no mistaking the hopeful edge in her voice.
Martil's long fingers curl around the black firewater glass, then she lifts it to her full lips letting the black smoky liquid soothes her parched throat.
"Of course, I enjoy being the center of attention if need be, like now, but don't let that fool you, for I am a team player inherently suited for the shadows." Her eyes focus on the Natalia. "I value my life and those I work with. My divine gift is especially suited for deception and support, however I'm pretty quick with a blade as that was my focus before the divinity possessed me." She coolly shifts her attention to the Ragar, "My heritage permits me to handle death's nectar without fear, so when a job needs discretion a prick from my blade could bring about the desired results."
Natalia looks at Martil intently waiting to catch the young drow's eye. Once she has it, she waves her over, patting the seat beside her. She crosses her legs and waits for Martil to take the offered seat.
Martil glides out of her chair, her spiked heels clicking firmly on the flagstone, then she sits in the offered chair. The cool aura of winter witch sends goose chills over Martil's body as her soft subtle flesh awakens. "Yes, this seems like an inviting spot next to you."
Natalia leans forward towards Martil and lightly grasps her around the neck. She intently studies the drow woman. "A creature of the divine, and a drow to boot. I have not seen one such as yourself before..." She caresses her cheek with her thumb before whispering in here ear.
"The Blood Knives demand loyalty. Will you put us before your god and face the fall out? Would you swear your life for ours? Would you ever back stab one of us for your own twisted goals?"
Whirrun laughs loudly "An orc telling me how to be civilized! Oh that's rich" he takes another drink "There's something rather seductive about feeling somebody die. To use a piece of steel is...detached, cold, like a job" he gives another hint of that dark smile "I find it a pleasure" As he eyes the others he leans closer to Ragar "Is this how it always is? Entertaining at the least...at the best..." he chuckles
"Of course my darling, the Blood Knives before ALL else." Her pinkish tongue seductively rolls over her lips. All but the Mistress of Deception, that is.
Natalia smells, seemingly satisfied with the response, She's a deceitful one, but then again, so am I.
She lets go of the drow's neck, "Loyalty is all we ask, I would lie down my life to further the goals of the organization and we must make sure we find like minded people"
Martil is clearly attracted to the seductive witch and she simply nods in agreement. Leaning forward, "yes, I can absolutely agree with those terms." Finishing her pledge with a kiss.
Listening intently, a sour look comes upon Zexil's face. "I think Ive heard enough.. I came here for a job thats just not to my liking. I bend my knee to noone save my Master. Certainly not to a bunch of fools who think themselves better than me.. Have fun groveling Martil.." And with that the gnome utters a few arcane words and vanishes from sight..
⇒ (14) + 33 = 47
Just wasn't what I was expecting, have fun yall
Ragar tilts his head back and laughs heartily at Whirrun.
Yes, this is about as it always is...fun, but we do get serious when the job is at hand.
He turns to Shula, and more seriously intones.
Yes, our benefactors are certainly watching, and they will depend upon our reports as well.
Natalia purrs at Martil as they seal the conversation with a kiss, she then turns to Ragar and smiles at him. "Our reports will also determine who is on our teams as we usually split up to achieve separate goals at once!"
She empties her glass of wine and looks at Ragar with pleading eyes for another.
Sense Motive
No surprise there, normal people are liars and thieves
Whirrun smiles, one a little less unsettling than his last one "I like that. Work hard, play hard. Get the job done quickly and efficiently, but make sure u drink and celebrate afterwards." he slaps Ragar on the shoulder "You know I'm liking you more and more, I think we should have a go sometime. Been quite a while since there's anybody that I think could stand up to me"
As the ladies continue their convesations, Whirrun waits until they pause and clears his throat "Perhaps sometime in the future I may devote my life, as for now I'll trust myself when I'm in a den of assassins. But if you're everything your reputation says, my undying loyalty is a powerful tool" he finishes his drink "You see, I have a very distinct set of rules for myself. Pretending I'm something I'm not is one of them. Of course I'll take on an alias for a job or something, but when I'm Whirrun I tell you how it is. No lies, no s$@* cover up, what you see is what you get"
Martil looks towards where the gnome was packing his pipe, then shrugs her shoulders, not giving him a second thought.
Shula blows a kiss towards the benefactors (actually, the ceiling, but her meaning is plain) and then leans closer to Ragar, with a glance over her shoulder to where Martil and Natalia are getting friendly with each other's faces in the ordinary way.
"All this talk of loyalty until death is very interesting," she says, her tone suggesting that perhaps it isn't, "but surely you do not accept the words of fools who offer their unending devotion without a question for what it gains them in return, other than the company of such pretty playthings." Her glance includes nearly everyone remaining in the room. "I don't doubt that all of this fidelity has its compensations, I just wonder what on or under earth they are."
"Or are we simply supposed to ... ah ... trust you?"
Trus between comrades is earned on missions, as Lady Natalia and Kedrick can attest to, but as for loyalty to the Blood Knives, in general. Yes, mine is without question.
"I do not question your loyalty to the Blood Knives," she says, resting a friendly hand on the hand-orc's arm, "I simply wonder what that loyalty gains you?"
All the benefits of membership, of which you would be wise to seek.
He smiles at the Tiefling and then focuses his attention on the barkeep.
Good sir, I believe that Lady Natalia needs another beverage post haste.
"Should I just trust you on that, or can you tell me anything about what they are?" she asks, but knowing the answer, she steps away.
Martil's ears perk up listening to the Ragar and Shula talk. I doubt we learn anything substantive about the Blood Knives crime family until after the selection occurs. That's probably best for those not selected perhaps, less chance of being murdered.
"Whirrun it is good to know you're loyal. In a business like this loyality is a must, trust must be earned." She stops for a few seconds, "Snapping someone's neck has a certain powerful appeal, never done that myself..." her voices trails off as she thinks about it, "...is that something you can teach?" Even though she is a magic user, there is certainly a solid muscular tone under her leather vest.
Natalia takes the offered glass of wine with a smile "Appreciated Ragar, you know how to treat a lady. Especially one as rapid like me!"
Whirrun smirks sideways "I do some other things with my hands that I could teach you too" He gets a little more serious and looks at Martil, taking her in for a moment "The technique is easy enough, but I doubt you could kill anything bigger than a chicken without a weapon. Besides, I have a feeling that if I stood up and put my hands around your neck to show you half of the patrons here would have a knife in my back" he seems pleased that somebody is interested in his fighting style
A smirk crosses her face as she looks around, then she speaks to the large man, "We're all talented in our own special ways, I'm sure that is why we were all recruited, and our gifts extend to efficiently taking lives." Sipping her drink, "I'm not asking for a demonstration on me, I was simply inquiring if you could teach such a valuable technique."
Her long black lashes blink slowly over her charcoal eyes as she looks at her empty glass, "Some of my skill sets can be taught, such as how to use poison properly." She swirls the lonely ice in her glass.
In a friendly voice she asks, "Bartender may I have another, it seems that my ice is missing it's friend."
Whirrun turns to her "You know I've never had the chance to use poison before, I'd rather like learning about it. The monks despised such things"
At the mention of poisons, Maudril seems to perk up. Oh, now there's a topic I could go on for hours about! I do enjoy watching the side effects of rare poisons taking effect. Do you have a standard preference or do you like to experiment as well?
Kedrick sits up at the mention of poisons as well. Now you guys are thinking! It is not all about brute force. He sets his book down and gets up to head over to the bar. Another for you old friend? Directed toward Ragar. Keep...I'll deliver Martil's as well.
Her left eyebrow raises when Maudril interjects his interest. hmmmm, finally get them to open up a bit learn their likes and dislikes....so poison is his thing.
"Well, drow poison is second nature...it's good on a blade or a hand cross bow bolt, but unfortunately, not overly effective." She blinks and sips her smoky black firewhiskey when Kendrick delivers it, "Insanity mist in a small glass vial can be delicious." Her eyes sparkle when she mentions insanity. Letting the dark liquid glisten on her lips, "And what is your flavor?"
Kedrick grins charasmatically. It is charm of course. He pulls a chair up next to the drow flips it around backwards and sits down facing her. Someone has got to maintain the poor mark's attention while you sneak up and apply the poison. You think the look of pain from poison is exciting...you should see the look when they realize the person they loved just betrayed them.
Don't mind if I, Kedrick...thank you!
A warm tingle shoots up her spine as the charismatic man speaks. In a near breathless whisper she shudders, "The look....the look in their eyes, it's intoxicating. If performed properly you can even suck out the last touch of life from the victim's lungs." The twinkle in her eye glows.
Hehe, this could get interesting. At this Maudril pulls out a small vial of gooey purple mush and twirls it between his fingers. You might find this to your liking. I haven't fully tested it yet, but preliminary trials seem to be very promising.
Natalia becomes intent when the conversation turns to poisons and watching their victims die. "I'm afraid I don't show the same enthusiasm for poison. Why only have a few second of pain on their faces when you can freeze them to death, preserving the look for decades" She smiles at the thought of an ice statue garden.
Don't mind if I, Kedrick...thank you!
Before sitting down with Martil:
Kedrick places a pint of Three Devil Ale down on the table infront of Ragar with a shot of Chelaxian Pepper Whiskey. He holds up his own shot of whiskey and toasts Ragar. To the knives my friend. He gulps down the whiskey and slams the glass upside down on the table.
Natalia becomes intent when the conversation turns to poisons and watching their victims die. "I'm afraid I don't show the same enthusiasm for poison. Why only have a few second of pain on their faces when you can freeze them to death, preserving the look for decades" She smiles at the thought of an ice statue garden.
Looking around Martil, Kedrick addresses the Ice Princess. Sweet always spoke highly of you Lady Natalia. I hope to see your work first hand soon. Speaking of the old crew. Has anyone seen Rupert?