:)
Amar and tesliin and jolial
The three of you walk out from the Inn and merge with the group, easily getting lost in the crowd. The hawkers, merchants, and laborers make an incredible racket that rattles your nerves. Tesliin and Jolial each fall back upon their training to maintain that stoic calm that each group is best known for. A'mar reflects upon himself and is able to center himself, thus letting the noise and jostling roll off. As you walk, you see a man juggling large, strange curved knives. These blades look almost as long as a shortsword, but about halfway up they turn out at a severe angle. The way the juggler tosses them about shows his mastery with them. As if to drive the point home, he catches one out of the air and pivots on his foot, acting as if he is throwing it infront of him, but infact holds the blade too long and throws it behind him, blade chopping savagely into a wooden block with a large gold piece nailed in the center. A yelp draws your attention to a man who is holding his hand to his chest, leading you to presume that his hand was stretched out for the gold coin moments earlier.
As you walk past, the juggler begins to stretch, but stops as his gaze falls upon you three, or is it Tesliin that he stares at?
The surge of the crowd pushes you past before you can confront the guy. Around a couple streets and suddenly you stand before Lord Jareen's mansion. The property covered in men walking about, holding pikes, shields, and swords, and some with simple staves. The staves draw attention to you, because they have the same coloring as the axe shaft that Amorial has in his posession.
A cough brings your attention to a simple lady wearing a gray dress with red stripes. Her hair kept in a bun, gray whisps falling across her face highlight it and show that this woman is a remarkable beauty, one that should be married to a noble, not standing in a woolen dress.
She snaps off before you can say anything Lady Tesliin i presume? I am Selee, Lord Jareens personal servant. I have served him for the last 20 years, and he has given me this great honor to accompany you and to help you find these fiends that dared take the life of Jareen.
rhoekk
Barely sweating from the heat, and the mirth from making fun of your wetlander companions, Rhoekk walks in the opposite direction from the trio. While the crowds are tight, the masses press a little wider of you than normal, giving you a little bubble that curves around you, and the other Aiel that patrol the street. As you walk along, and bieng midnful of your surroundings, you hear the distinct sound of sword clanging against sword, and the noise of people shouting in fear and anger and lust. Pushing through the mob of onlookers and gawkers, you realize that what sounds like battle is instead a small play on the side of the street. Five people stand in a semicircle, swords flashing about in a coreographed dance of blades. The steel swings about, barely missing a mans neck, only to have it connect on the wrist guard of a third person. A boot strikes out from the fifth, only to have it blocked by a woman whose arm was being swung down for a killing blow; her own blade swinging wide and out, slicing across the shield of another. Pivots, thrusts, kicks, punches, headbutts, feints, all done with perfect precision. Until something goes wrong...
A simple feather flutters on the wind, torn from the wing of an angry chicken being taken to slaughter by a man dressed in leathers. It floats on the wind, held aloft for mere moments, the up surge of blade swings holding it up. Suddenly it decends, falling fast, only to be driven forward by a kick. The feather slashes to the right, and is suddenly floating again, as the kick is stopped by the hilt of a sword. the hilt swings around the ankle, and a stray string of leather snaps out, catching the feather. This strand snaps around driving the feather around the weilders arm, and into the face of the weilder. The weilder of the sword, the only female, panting from her exerction, breathes in the small feather. Startled, she stands up suddenly. Her blade that was supposed to stop another blade from her "foe" instead carries upward, and enters below her chin, only to exit the top of her skull. The man, shocked by the crunch, jerks his body to the left, hoping to miss the coming kick, only runs his own head onto the blade of a sword held out to deflect a shield strike. With the sudden weight on his hand, the third performer lets go and slide to his right, avoiding the falling body, only to have his head impaled upon another sword that was thrust behind by the fourth performer. The fourth, stands still, wondering what has just happened, only to have the blade of the fifth performer drive his sword into the fourths skull, a sickening crunching sound. The fifth, and final performer, who had just started his spining thrust, is unaware of his impending doom. Rhoekk can just barely say NO as the man turns and thrusts, only to meet his end at the end of longsword, whos grip is held by the female performer in a horizontal position. The blade, as has happened to the others, enters the mans head with a crunch and a gush, and hangs limply off of it.
The grotesque performance scene generated in a couple of seconds, frightens everyone around it, some shouting aes sedai and Ta'averen as they run through the streets in panic, not wishing to be caught in the Dragon's business.
amorial
I do want to treesing in the back as part of the lure for Ogier is to have Ogier worked furniture in the Inn. I want to keep the weapon nearby. I also want to think further about the things we have learned.
Knowledge Age of Legends (Plus bonus +18 = 36)
A'Mar guards Tesliin's back; snarling at anyone who gets too close; gripping his shield and blade <in scabbard> ready to draw at a moments notice, his everchanging cloak rippling as he looks a bit like a disembodied head.
Tesliin
"Selee, I am Tesliin Sedai, and while I would like to thank Lord Jareen and yourself for your generous offer of assistance, such will not be required at this time. If we should require assistance how best shall we contact you?"
A visible flinch overcomes Selee at Tesliin's name correction. A full fledged Aes Sedai?! her voice quivers, and takes an unconscious step back. Closing her eyes momentarily, she breathes deeply, her chest rising and falling as she appears to calm down.
Rhoekk looks stonefaced at the bizarre web of men and woman standing impaled on each other's weapons. Such an unlikely series of events had little precedence. However, while this series of events was ludicrously unlikely, a single accident resulting in a death or maiming would not have been unusual. Given that, why were they using live blades in their demonstration? To increase the appeal to the audience? Was such a small factor worth risking the loss of fingers, a hand, or your life? While they never could have expected this to happen, what they were doing was foolishness nonetheless.
Rhoekk moves up to the bodies and checks each one, careful not to touch the swords.
Either way, Rhoekk calls for aid from the local Aiel. He sees medical aid given if it is of any use, and sets a crew of men extricating the bodies of the deceased.
Once everything is in hand, he'll ask the men here if any have seen the Ogier we are looking for, and then move off to find the leader of the Red Shields in order to ask the same question.
Feeling no signs of life, Rhoekk calls for aide from a passing Aiel patrol.
Although they are wetlanders, they all wake up from the Dream at some moment an unknown Aielman says, almost like a blessing.
Helping to lay the bodies out, Rhoekk and the other Aiel refuse to touch the swords. Help is found from a few undertakers, who releive the Aiel of this unholy burden.
Rubbing his hands in the dirt, Rhoekk cleanses himself of the filth of the honorless wetlander dead.
*****
a brief walk later finds him inside the area held by the Aethen Dor. A short Aiel, short for Aiel standards greets Rhoekk. I see you Rhoekk of the Tarraad, I am Geischel of the Goshein clan. he voice sounds odd, like a satin whispering across the skin. A closer look at the man shows an off color patch of skin cutting across his neck, stretching from just below his chin to his right collar bone.
Amorial
Your thoughts, as you sit in the back garden of the inn take you to more youthful days, where you sat at the stump and listened to the Elders talk about the breaking, the Longing and its effects, and a particular class about the age of legends. It centered around the idea of cause and effect, and how one thing beget another, and so on. It was written on a single page during the age of legends that one could use the thought process of cause and effect to affect great change amongst the world. The paper was signed Ishar Morrad Chuain
"Please, remain calm. You may well cause yourself harm in this heat." Tesliin turns to anyone nearby, "Fetch Selee some water." Her tone indicates it's not a request.
Tesliin and party
The guardsman fixiated by tesliin to get some water for selee blanches at her look. With a slurred shout of Marath'Damane, the guard turns and flees inside, shouting at the top of his lungs.
Selee shakes her head and puts a hand out onto Tesliin's arm. Thank you, but there is no need. Just a momentary fague to work through.
Motioning with her hand, she says Please, let us walk and talk. I wish to know more about what you have learned concerning Lord Jareen's assassination attempt
*****
a brief walk later finds him inside the area held by the Aethen Dor. A short Aiel, short for Aiel standards greets Rhoekk. I see you Rhoekk of the Tarraad, I am Geischel of the Goshein clan. he voice sounds odd, like a satin whispering across the skin. A closer look at the man shows an off color patch of skin cutting across his neck, stretching from just below his chin to his right collar bone.
"I see you, Geischel of the Goshein. May you find water and shade. I am looking for Juranai. Is he here?"
The clan chiefs had their own gathering, of sept chiefs and representatives from the societies. Rand recognized some of them. Dark Hearn, chief of the Jindo Tardaad, and Mangin, who gave him a companionable nod and the Tairens a contemptuous grimace. Spear slender Juranai, leader of the Aethen Dor, the Red Shields, on this expidition despite a few streaks of white in his pale brown hair, and Roidan, thick shouldered and gray, who led the Sha'mad Conde, the Tunder Walkers. Those four had sometimes joined him in practicing the Aiel way of fighting without weapons since leaving the Jangai Pass.
Shaking his head, Geischel says Juranai is not here at the moment. He has decided to patrol the city today, ensuring the peace between wetlanders is kept. Bah, a fools errand if you ask me. I have had 12 different wetlanders brough in, majority of them struck with the heat madness, but a couple claiming their are giant shadowspawn in town, walking about.
A'mar selects a likely person nearby to reinforce Tesliin's order
you, get bring some water, quickly!
Tesliin considers cautiously, "There is much I will not say." She does follow Selee.
"Giant shadow spawn? That might have something to do with the errand that brings me here. I have made acquaintance with an Alantin recently, and he has heard complaints of other tree-brothers here in Cairhein who are acting in a rude and very atypical manner. Since these tree-killers are as ignorant as children and many do not even know the Alantin, perhaps they have mistaken these ill-tempered giants for shadowspawn. I am trying to find out where they came from, and where they are now. Have you heard of anything, either to do with these supposed giant shadowspawn, or if there are other tree-brothers staying here in the city?"
A'mar walks a few paces behind Tesliin with hand on hilt of sword in scabbard giving intimidating glaces at anyone who comes close.
Nodding along with your comments, Geischel replies. Yes, i know from where these Alantin were last seen. I do believe it was a couple days ago. Reports from the wetlanders say that they were by the great Library and then seen entering a Mansion, though i know not which one.
Selee looks at Tesliin from the corner of her eye and sniffs. Will not say? By the Empr- she cuts off with a cough, and pauses to take a drink from a water skin that had been rounded up by A'mars pursuit. My thanks, guardian. What i mean to say is why not? I am sure that a fresh set of eyes, and a new thought, may reveal much to who would attack the Lord.
"Do you know who took the report, or saw the Alantin? It may be important, and so I would seek them out and find the answers, if I am able."
"Yes, but reveal to who? You nearly faint at the sight of an Aes Sedai, what would happen if those who meant you harm were to take you. For your own safety, and for your lord, the less you know the better." Tesliin allows herself to soften, if only so slightly. "If you should know anything you think may be useful, let it be known, only so I know how much danger you and your lord may be in."
Nodding along to what Tesliin says, Selee speaks. Alas, your words make sense. If you wish to keep me excluded, fine, but i do have one request. I would to know if you have made any progress. Even if its a simple "yes we have a lead" or "nothing yet"; i wish to know so that i can report to Lord Jareen. Bowing slightly to Tesliin, she continues. I ask that for tonight, you, and your guardian over there she points to A'mar, Join me for dinner tonight. Or perhaps i could join you at where you are staying? Pointing to Jolial, she says in a dark tone You do not need to come. I do not like, your kind and i will not sup with you.
Geischel squats on his heels and stares at the floor for a long minute, thinking. The silence begins to drag out when he suddenly nods and looks up at Rhoekk There was a peddler pushing a cart. He reported it to the patrol. He usually hovers around the larger dwellings, having dealings with the house servants. I dont have a name, but he is easy to identify. Report said this guy is missing his nose.
As you sit in the back garden, enjoying the shade, thinking about what you have puzzeled together, you feel a presence behind you. Turning your head, you see a man standing near you, watching. A feeling like a viper ready to strike comes to you as you look at this man. He wears fine clothes, silken shirt and pants, a short sword at his waist, a matching dagger tied to his thigh, and sun darkened skin. Bowing deeply to you, he begins Greetings, friend Gardner. I am Tsoran, merchant from Tear, and I have just arrived in this fair city. If I may confess, good Gardner, I didnt choose this inn at random. It has always been a hope of mine to meet one such as yourself, and i must say, it truely is an honor. Again bowing he steps up and pulls out a chair. May I he asks as he sits.
Pouring a glass of water from the pitcher on the table, he drinks heavily. Tis a fine heated day, isnt it? Too hot for my blood, especially to do work. I think today is a day to relax. Wouldnt you agree, Gardner? Glancing about the area, he spots the large Axe propped up against the wall. A mighty weapon, Gardner. I hadn't heard that you travel so heavily armed. I thought it was bad luck to strike one of you. Standing up, he walks over to the heavy weapon and puts his hand around the shaft, grunting a little as he lifts it. Much to heavy for me. I prefer something light and fast. Quick and deadly, thats what my master has told me Nodding, he drops the blade with a thunk, but leans down to examine the weapon.
"Tsoran eh? Well met then. Tell me to what do I owe the pleasure of your visit?"
Amorial stands and leans on his treesung staff eyeing the man's examination of the weapon.
Joliar chuckled at the woman's words. I sup where I please. Maybe I'll see you tonight, maybe I won't.
Tesliin turns and gives Joliar a sharp look, then turns back to Selee. "I will gladly join you for dinner tonight. Though I would rather dine elsewhere this evening. Did you perchance have a recommendation?"
Tsoran stands up from his examination of the axe. Why, as i just told you, Gardner, i had never met one of your kind before. And i specifically stay at this Inn when my travels bring me to Cairhein, just so that i may meet one of you.
Leaning the axe back against the wall, Tsoran steps back up to the table and sits down, motioning amorial to sit down as well. Please, friend. Sit. Tell me about yourself. Where are you from?
Selee purses her mouth at Jolials retort. Crossing her arms under her bosom, she takes on the look of a stern school teacher, about ready to flay the skin off of Jolial with her tongue. Before she can start, Tesliin cuts in, in an attempt to pacify the two. I will gladly join you for dinner tonight. Though I would rather dine elsewhere this evening. Did you perchance have a recommendation? Tesliin asks.
Selee turns her attention to Tesliin, and thinks for a moment before answering. Let's meet here, in the back gardens. In spite of this heat, Lord Jareen was lucky enough to have a spring on his property, and it still feeds the gardens, making the bushes look very green, and the flowers are vibrant with colors. Would that suffice?
Sense motive on Selee wonder if this dinner is a trap; divide and conquer; old tactic.
Knowledge Nobility
Amorial will heft the axe and lay it across his lap sitting in a chair across the table so as to not be too close to this strange man. is treesung staff he will prop next to the table. Amorial will examine the axe and look up at Tsoran, "Fine workmanship no?"
"I spend much of my time here in Cairhien. I enjoy spending time amongst humans. I find you and your interactions quite fascinating. I am of course from the Stedding but as you may not know the Ogier change very little, there is no fast paced excitement such as one would experience in human cities. So what wares do you sell friend Tsoran? Is this your business or that of your master?"
"Of course. I shall meet you tonight, Selee." A'mar feels a tinge of anger, and resignation, flow through the bond as Tesliin takes her leave of the woman, returning not to the inn, but rather to the markets.
"Thank you for your help Geischel of the Gioshien. I will try to find this peddler. May you find water and shade."
Rhoekk leaves and heads for the area of the mansions and manor houses near which the Ogier were sighted. He keeps an eye out for the peddler with the missing nose, taking a second look at every cart and driver to make sure he doesn't miss him, for any Ogier that might be about, and for anything suspicious, as always.
He'll start asking around as well, with other peddlers and house servants, asking for the name or directions to the peddler with the missing nose.
Tsoran opens his hands wide, a large smile splays across his face, his gaze lingering on the large blade. Indeed it is, Gardner. If i would hazard to say, with such crasftsmanship, i would expect it to be power wrought. Magnificent Glancing up at amorial, He chuckles as if Amorial has made a joke.
A better question would be what don't i trade in. Bah, the only thing i dont trade is humans. I leave that to those filthy Sharaan folk. Savages they be. Cant stand dealing with them...thats why i sit. HAHAHAHA he barks out a loud laugh, echoing off the back walls.
gather info time
Having left Selee, Tesliin makes to head towards the market, as though to do some shopping. Stopping at any stall where she believes she might not be overheard, she beckons Joliar to speak with her, as though to look at what she is looking at.
"So this trap that we are expected at tonight. What are your feelings about it?"
Joliar shrugs as he pretends to eye the wares around him. I say we spring it and find out. Better the trap we know than one we don't.
gather info time1d4
Rhoekk, suspicious of treekillers at the best of times, is thinking brooding thoughts as he searches, 'I wander what the odds are that these rude treebrothers end up having some connection to Jareen's manor house...'
a peddler with no nose? ugha man says as Rhoekk inquires to this peddlers whereabouts. And for the first half of the morning, that seems to be the answer to those questions. Until a break
Hmm, no nose. Yeah i saw him, down on Drewy lane, talking to the muffin man. A thumb point over his shoulder gives the direction to this lane.
A brief talk reveals that the peddler is on his way to the nobles just now, ..and if you hurry, you could catch him before he starts working on them
A quick jog through the streets brings Rhoekk up behind a peddler pushing a cart. Walking up along side him, Rhoekk is surprised to see that indeed this man is without a nose. Stopping his cart, the man turns and whines Look, short stack, I dont do any dealings with your kind, especially after what you did to my half brother, and to me. So please, leave me alone!
Without waiting for an answer, he turns and starts pushing his cart again.
"Short stack? I do not understand; I am quite tall by wetlander standards." "I must ask a question of you, and it has to do with protecting your city and the people here from further harm. I am a Red Shield, and tasked with protecting this city and its people."
.
Shouting loudly so that others can hear, the peddlar sets in on a rant...
HA! first you invade 20 years ago, cut off my nose, and kill my brother! Then you invade again, burn the Foregate, and plunder the surrounding areas, and now you say you protect me. Begone, you wretch of a thing, you son of a wench, you dishonorable lowlife. You claim that you have honor, you claim to live some weird way, and yet you just kill.
A mad look over takes his eyes, his lips purse together, and his face flushes red. Raising himself to his full height he reachs up and pokes Rhoekk in the chest with his finger. I think that the Darkfriends have more honor in their own wicked ways than you ever will achieve in a thousand lifetimes!
Rhoekk replies in a slow, stern, and even voice, but one tinged with anger he is thus far keeping in check.
"My father went over the wall 20 years ago in order to punish the Oath Breaker for his sin; he may have been the one to cut off your nose. The Shaido burned your Foregate; they are fools who have abandoned the ways of the Aiel. I did neither of these things, though I would have been proud to come over the wall with my father had a I been of age. And had you tried to protect the Tree Killer, I'd have done far more than cut off your nose in order to get to him."
"However, I am not here under that circumstance, and I have no reason right now to wish you harm, despite your insolent attitude. At this moment, we are the only thing in this city resembling a guard, and the only ones who will care or act if some hood decides to slit your throat and dump your body in the ally in order to pick over the worthless shill in your cart."
"Now, unless you want one of the enumerable scum who have come to this city to pick over the weak and dying like a buzzard on a corpse, to pluck your teeth from your ally-rotting skull for the pennies they'll fetch, I suggest you start answering my questions!
With each line, the peddler quails before the tall Aielman's anger, madness shocked out of his head from the intimidating figure standing before him.
Dropping to his knees, he raises his hands up to Rhoekk.
Please, noble Aiel. I meant no harm. Just a bit angry over my half brother Laman's death. Please sir, i will tell you anything you wish to hear. I know things, secret things. Secret tunnels under the city that smugglers use. I know of a guy who captures slaves and sends them to Shara. Please sir, just don't hurt me! He wilts to the ground, face in the dirt, crying and weeping for mercy.
"I already told you I don't intend you any harm. Now, get up! I will not hurt you unless you were to attack me first."
Taking a breath to calm his fraying nerves, Rhoekk leads the man out of the main path of the road so he may speak with him without being overheard. Conscious that everyone on the road is likely to be looking at them, he keeps his voice low.
"I am told that you had an encounter recently with a pair of rude Ogier. Some who were not familiar with such things were said to have thought they might be shadowspawn. While they are not this, I would like to know where they went so that I might ensure no one else is accosted by them. Do you know where they are?"
"Sharaans. I am not very familiar with them. They traffic in human slaves? I was under the impression that slavery was outlawed well everywhere".
Joliar shrugs as he pretends to eye the wares around him. I say we spring it and find out. Better the trap we know than one we don't.
"I had hoped you would agree. Better to end these things when we can. And since we are here, we can find you an outfit for this evening. Best to appear as though expecting a dinner party, after all."
it would be wise to have some forces ready for support close at hand, this garden sounds nice; little time for a change of scene; might not be a trap
glancing further down the street, the peddler grunts Oh, those things. Pfah. I thought Ogier were supposed to be these peaceful things, caring for life and the pillars of kindness? Huh? Instead, they talked as if they were drunk and shoved myself and others out of the way, they did. The two up front were the worst; they just pushed and shoved, and if you didnt get out of the way fast enough, they moved you, or stepped on you. I think i saw a fellow get his leg broken by them, but i am not sure. I was to busy staring at them. They were mean! so mean, it was like the Dark One himself touched them. Ugg. And then this other one was carring a bag that looked big enough to hold someone. slung over its shoulder like a duffel.
tesliin
tesliin
a'mar
Jolial
Jolial
As you talk amongst yourselves, discussing if the dinner is meant for an ambush or not, Jolial suddenly feels a male channeling Saidan a half moment before he hears a muted explosion coming from down the street. Glancing further down the road, he isnt able to make out where the noise or the sense came from, aside from the west. Just as he is about to say something, Tesliin feels a huge surge of Saidar being channeled. Before she can attempt to pinpoint the exact location, it is cut off. Tesliin also finds herself facing west.
Laughing, Tsoran speaks Oh you are a delight, gardner. Of course there is slavery going on all over the place. Sure, some call them peasents, or servants, but its all the same, in theory. The difference is when money is exchanged for those souls. Those Sharaans do it all the time, or i would assume so, since ive never seen beyond their tall walls beyond the city. pausing, he drinks from his glass.
Well, enough about me, friend, where you from? what brings you to Cairnhein? How did you come by that axe? Where you off to from here?
Joliar embraces the source before moving off towards the west and the channeling. He glances briefly behind him to see if the others follow although he continues regardless.
A surge of concern flows through Tesliin, who notes Joliar moving the direction she felt Saidar. She resists embracing the source immediately, trying to avoid drawing attention to herself directly. Following the Asha'man, she asks "Did you see something this direction?"