Eftil wanders aimlessly through the streets, feeling rather diminished without his longspear.
"I'm guessing a little bit of both. She'll be able to charge extra for this cause it's clean. She'll probably be upset she didn't hire us to clean the other places too," she said cheekily as they left, hiding the key under the mat like they were supposed to when they were done with the place.
"Alright, let's see how lost we can get on the way to where we're going," she said with a wink.
"Worst case scenario, we have to ask for directions." Arry says hopefully. "Let's go!"
Rodrik asks around several bars, but no one has heard anything of his daughter.
Arry and Lysi are able to find Jobe's home without much effort. Not a large home by any means, but not small either. Two floors, but probably no more than two bedrooms. When they knock, Jobe answers after a few moments. He looks a little weary. "Hello, children. Come in, come in." He gives you a small tour of the cozy home - the pantry, his office, the sitting room, and your bedroom. "This room is yours. I... you may help yourself to anything in the pantry [b], and if you need more blankets, this closet has some. If you need anything else, do not hesitate to call me. I have to return to work though, I have many letters to write tonight.
The Coraillan Capitol - Lord's Landing - 4 years, 257 days after the defeat of Chronarchus:
The day dawns sunny and clear, if a little crisp, a sign of the winter so recently gone by.
The Temple of Oranna (Milena)
The sisters at the temple have spent their evening cleaning and organizing, and the Goddess of Spring would be proud of their efforts. The temple shines brightly, and the spring air wafts in the open windows, bringing the scent of newly blossoming flowers with it. A knock comes in the morning.
Boward's Imports (Evengi)
Evengi is hard at work in the morning, dealing with a recent shipment of sake from The beleaguered land of Talcanthos. The price of the sake has increased sharply since the war with it's neighbor, Thadania. He can hear an argument from the front of the store.
City Park (Eftil)
Eftil is awakened by a prodding in his side. He had found a nice tree with a bush to block the wind under which to sleep. He opens his eyes to see a dark skinned man dressed in leathers prodding him with the blunt end of his scythe. He has tattoos across his face in intricate tribal patterns. His accent in thick. "Y'know, th' park ain' ent'rely safe."
Jobe's Home (Arry and Lysi)
Arry and Lysi awaken to find Jobe gone from the house, though a small breakfast of bread and cheese has been left out on the counter.
Rodrick's Apartment (Rodrick)
Rodrick is awakened by Xander barking at a pair of women arguing loudly outside his door.
Vandrake's Residence (Vandrake)
As Vandrake goes about his morning rituals, there comes a knock at his door. He opens the door to find Jobe standing there. "Good Morning Vandrake. Am I interrupting?"
Vandrake lives in a small apartment in the city. The furnishings are austere. A simple bed, table, two chairs, and a small wooden shrine in the corner. He smiles slightly at Jobe, "Please, come in. You are welcome in my humble abode. My apologies for the scarcity of extravagance. I have not yet risen to the level of my ambition." He extends his arm in gracious invitation.
Eftil gets up and wanders off.
Evengi brushes down the front of his shop clothes and moves to the front of the store to see what the disturbance is.
Arguments are not good for business...it always seems to scare off the sheepish customers.
"So what are we gonna do today?" Arry asks as he grabs some bread and starts eating. "Looks like we're on our own for a bit anyway. You think he left us behind 'cause we're kids?"
Lysi nibbled at a piece of cheese. "Probably. You know how adults get. Well, we don't really know where he went, so we can't follow. We'll have to take steps to make sure we don't get left behind so much in the future."
"I dunno, Arry. I don't feel like busking today. The mask guys might recognize us. And since Mr Jobe is giving us food and a place to stay we don't really need the money just now. Maybe we should go to the park and play?"
"Okay! Should I call Diri? I know he got hurt yesterday, but he can come back now and tell us stories when we get tired."
"I think that's a great idea. That way we won't be wandering around alone. And Diri definitely tells the best stories. Plus, after yesterday, I'd like to see that he's okay."
Brushing his hair away from the rune on his forehead, Arry starts the chant that summons Diricawl Gryph to this plane. After the usual amount of time, mist begins to collect and solidify into the flightless bird Arry knows so well.
"You are okay?" Diri asks, head darting all around the children looking for injuries.
"Diri! I am so glad to see you. Yeah, we're okay now. Though I'd like to not repeat that particular experience. We're staying with Mr. Jobe for a while. But since he isn't here, we're going to go play in the park. That sounds like fun, right? And you can tell us some stories later? You know all the best stories....and I'm just so relieved that you're okay. Arry said you were, but I was afraid he was being overly optimistic so I'm really glad he was right." Stops for breath. Smiles. Bursts into tears.
Rodrik dresses himself quickly before stepping outside.
"No crying, Lysi." Diri tells the little sorceress, pressing his beak against her shoulder. "Diri is fine now. You have a good plan for today."
"Well, looks like we're off to the park then!" Arry sounds a little relieved. He had thought Dircawl would still look hurt, and while he could tell the great bird was still injured, he was glad Diri had come. He grabs the basket of basket of cheese and bread. "Sis, you think we should leave a note? You know, in case we're needed or something?"
Lysi wipes her eyes, feeling better for having had a good cry. "Yeah, we should definitely leave a note. We don't want Mr. Jobe to worry about us....although if those guys know where Mr. Jobe lives we might want to be extra careful when we come back," she added thoughtfully. "And all the more reason not to hang out here by ourselves all day."
Looking around, Arry gets a piece of parchment and scribbles down a simple message.
"If you need us, we went to the park." -A and L
"Okay, that should be good enough, right? To the park!"
Vandrake's Apartment (Vandrake)
"Not always such a bad thing." Jobe says with a tired smile. "When you're important, sometimes you must stay up all night writing letters, even if you have a beautiful woman waiting for you in bed."
Jobe follows Vandrake to the table. "I can't stay long, I just wanted to tell you where to come today for the interrogation. It's a prison just off the harbor, here." He had spread a map of the city on the table and pointed to a fair-sized building a couple blocks in from the harbor. "Be there an hour after the sun's zenith."
The Temple of Oranna (Sister Milena)
"Good morning, Sister Milena. You'll have to excuse the guards, extra precautions are being taken after the events of yesterday." The cardinal is being followed by four burly men dressed in the uniform of Lord Landing's city watch. "I trust I am not late?" she adds.
City Park (Eftil, Arry, Lysi)
As Arry and Lysi make their way towards the park, they spot Eftil making his way away from the park.
Boward's Imports (Evengi)
As Evengi moves into the front of the store, he can hear the argument more clearly. A rather large red-haired man is complaining to the clerk, apparently about a sword he purchased here. He is holding a katana in it's sheath aloft, and is saying loudly: "Listen here you, I was promised excellent Dracuti craftsmanship with this sword, and yet upon further examination, the steel is soft. Useless as both a display piece and a weapon. I demand a refund."
Rodrik's Apartment (Rodrick)
Xander tags along behind Rodrik as he opens the door and steps out. The women seem to be arguing about the noise level in the taller's apartment.
Seeing the two siblings, Eftil makes his way towards them.
"Hi, Mr. I've forgotten your name," she says cheerfully. "I'm Lysi and this is Arry. Were you able to find a new spear yet?" she asked with wide-eyed curiosity.
Vandrake dresses in priestly garb. He ensures all his clothing is clean and in good repair. He washes his face and hands and dabs a bit of cologne about his upper neck. He goes to the prison early to ensure he misses none of the interrogation.
Eftil shakes his head. "Not yet. I'm hoping Jobe will be able to provide one. Until then, I'll have to use the boar spear, and it's more designed for fighting boars. And other things that charge, I guess."
"Well, I guess it's still useful then, huh?"
"Yes. I like the boar spear. I just like to have a longer weapon, too. Don't like to get held at bay, you see? I fought some bandits with ranseurs once, and I didn't have a longspear. It...didn't go well."
The group gets a sense that something or someone is watching them, but they don't spot anything.
Evengi approaches the red-haired man, ready for signs of trouble. He signals to the attending clerk to step back, moves past the display of carved whale bone and steps behind the desk, interposing himself in the conversation.
"Excuse me sir. I believe that you are absolutely correct. That particular sword is representative of Drakuti manufacture. It is a display piece. As you can see by the store, we do not sell weapons here, but rather items of interest, consumables and pieces of high interest. We would of course discuss the return of the item, if it is not damaged...."
"Why not? You just gotta get close. Maybe grab the ranseur so they can't whack you with it. I don't know a lot about weapons, but that seems like it would work."
The Temple of Oranna (Sister Milena)
"But of course, Nethys sees the value in all religions. The Goddess of Spring is the one who honours us by allowing this visit. I hope I am not interrupting morning rituals?" she says with a polite smile.
The Cardinal is actually quite tense, and a little jumpy. That should be no surprise, given the events of the previous day. The guards are doing little to ease her tension, likely because they aren't Nethysian men.
"Why not? You just gotta get close. Maybe grab the ranseur so they can't whack you with it. I don't know a lot about weapons, but that seems like it would work."
1d20-1
1d20+4
"That's what I did. That's why I didn't get my head chopped off. But you have to get in close first, and that means you have to move very fast. I don't always move fast enough, so I need to be able to beat them when they want to keep at a distance."
Boward's Imports (Evengi)
The red-haired man smiles at Evengi handing him the sword. "Finally, a man with some sense. You can see that it isn't damaged. I don't care much to argue, I'd just like my money returned." Upon inspection, the sword doesn't appear to be damaged. "I paid 1,000 gold marks for it."
Lysi has become distracted by a butterfly with colorful wings and has wandered away from the conversation.
Vandrake waits patiently praying quietly and contemplating the visions he has received that guide his faith. His thoughts burn with fervor, If we first admit that perfection is unattainable and subjective, how might we then define the quest for perfection as a worthy undertaking? We first define perfection as an ideal vision of perfection for an individual. A seemingly unobtainable vision of a flawless ideal alike to a perfectly flawless diamond, a rarity. The path to achieve this ideal is more important than the ideal itself. For if an individual sets forth on the path that leads to the flawless ideal, the individual will become greater for having done so. That individual will walk in the shadow of the shining, beautiful, enlightening light of the flawless ideal, thus becoming closer to enlightenment and perfection. Even if one does not wholly become the ideal, even to see one's shadow illuminated in the glorious light of perfection will make them far greater than those that choose to dwell in the darkness of sloth, contentment, gluttony, ugliness, and all the imperfections that plague the world. Glorious is the quest for perfection and glory will come to those that set forth on the quest. Not only shall they gift to themeselves the benefit of their quest, but others shall greatly benefit as well. The victuals of the cook that walks the path shall surpass those that do not. Doctors that walk the path shall heal ills thought incurable. Warriors that walk the path will find easy enemies in those that do not and greater glory defeating those that do. Greatness breeds greatness. A world walking the virtuous and glorious path towards the light of the flawless ideal shall shine a brighter light than a world seeking to walk in the darkness cast by the great who seek to keep others from seeking the same.
"If you do not mind, please allow me to inspect the sword a moment." Evengi turns the sword over in his hands but is quickly frustrated when he realizes that he cannot identify the blade nor place it in his mind when it was sold in the store.
"Sir, we seem to have a problem. I cannot identify the blade. If you are certain that you bought it at this particular store, then we will have to check the ledger. We had some difficulty a bit of time ago, so now, we have a ledger where our customers sign when they purchase something worth more than 50 marks."
Nothing like a bunch of thieves trying to pawn goods through a store to get you to tighten up procedures. My ears are still ringing, over a year later, from that crazy old lady screeching and hollering about her stolen necklace sitting on display.
"What is your name sir, and when do you say that you bought the sword here? Also, I have to get the senior manager to come out and look at the sword for damage. I don't know enough about this particular style of weapon to know what to look for." Evengi turns and addresses the clerk. "Ayala, please go and ask the younger Mr. Boward to come out, and bring the ledger with you when you come back."
Boward's Imports (Evengi)
The red-haired main visibly starts to sweat. He clears his throat. "Yes, it was about a week ago if I recall correctly. I may have exaggerated slightly in my report of how much I paid for the piece."
Ayala returns from the back after a few moments carrying the ledger for the last week, followed shortly by the younger - though taller - Mr. Bowden. "What seems to be the problem here Evengi?"
"Sis, stop chasing the butterflies!" Arry says as he and Diri chase after her. "Why do you want to chase them anyway? They don't do anything cool!"
"But they have so many pretty colors!" she protested.
"So do newts, and you thought those were gross!"
"So do newts, and you thought those were gross!"
"But I still spent a whole day helping you find the slimy things. I just don't want to repeat the experience."
Eftil watches bemusedly.
"But I still spent a whole day helping you find the slimy things. I just don't want to repeat the experience."
"Good thing salamanders are next!"
"Sir there seems to be some confusion going on. This gentleman here says tat he bought this blade from our store. I am checking the log to see if we can locate the appropriate price for the refund. The gentleman has not introduced himself, so I cannot give you his name sir."