"I wonder what she means." Zizi flicks an ear dismissively, "So, what do you know of the starstone?"
Aemon raises his eyebrows.
"The Starstone? More than most, I would guess. Were you hoping for an answer to a specific question, or simply making conversation?"
"Making small talk mostly. My master was researching it, preparing to go for it eventually. What about you, why do you know so much?"
Kierana finds a coach and helps Korihor into it, directing it to the Pleasure Salon on the other side of the Ascendant Court. She waves to another woman from the temple, and together, they get Korihor inside the temple and into a richly furnished bed in Kierana's quarters. As Korihor settles in under the coverlet, Kierana gently caresses her arm. "Rest well. You're safe here, and on the morrow I'll find out what's chased you to Absalom." She waves to two of the acolytes as she exits. "See to the woman in my quarters; make sure she's cared for, and if she wakes, tell her a friend was looking out for her, and that I'll see her upon my return."
Climbing back into the coach, Kierana makes her way back to Cayden's Hall, its crowd beginning to die down, if only barely. She rejoins Aemon and Zizi. "I've settled her into my quarters for now; if you like, when you depart you can take her with you to your flat. I've set two of our girls to care for her in the meantime. So, what have I missed?" She leans an elbow on the table and rests her head on it, looking at the odd duo.
"Not much. We just started discussing the starstone really. Do you know much about it?"
"I know of it - I live in the shadow of the Cathedral, after all. But I don't know much of the more esoteric lore; I'm not much of a scholar. I've certainly seen enough fools fail in their attempt to chase it, though, and enough of them simply in getting to the Cathedral's front steps."
She takes another sip of the drink bought for her by Aemon before her departure. A little flat now, but I wouldn't want to be ungracious. "Have you heard about the new upstart preaching in the square? The 'Last Disciple', they're calling him. He must be a better con man than most; he's got a bit of a following now, claiming that he's actually able to perform miracles. My clients can't stop talking about him - I've even had some of my regulars cease their visits completely, caught up in his sermons. I wonder if he's going to be the next to try for the Test."
"I've heard rumors. Some not very good."
"Well, we'll see what comes of it all. I've half a mind to go on the morrow and listen to him speak, see what all the fuss is about. It won't last, though; it never does. And the disappointment of his fall should be good for business - so many seeking consolation for their lost hopes." She gives an impish smile. "So tell me, Mistress Zizi, what is it you hope to find in Absalom?"
A female voice saying the words, "Last Disciple" catches Ahto's ear from a nearby table. He quickly hits the fellow he was fighting with an elbow to the jaw, timed with a sweep of his back foot. The man goes down in a heap.
"Sorry to end it so fast. You can keep the five silver you owe me," he says, as he turns his attention to the small group.
They're talking to a cat...about the Last Disciple. Well, its gotta lead to something. Too weird not to...
Grabbing a tankard off a passing serving wench's tray, he plops down roughly in an empty chair.
"Evening gents, and lady," he says, giving the woman an appraising look.
"Visitors to Absalom? Just so you know. This town's a rough place, and the local ruffians will pick you clean like a devilfish on a dolphin carcass. Savvy folks like you would do well to hire a hotspur: a city guide. That's me, that's what I do. I can get you anywhere you need to go in Absalom, any district, any street without fearing for your coin-purse or your virtue." He again looks at the woman. "I can even find sweetmeats for your little friend, here, so it won't have to be eatin' alley rats or kitchen slop." He reaches out to give the cat a scratch behind the ear.
"So what do you say, gents? Have we got a deal?"
I am relatively new to the boards and have been invited to 3 PBP campaigns. I am not sure how much time and effort I will need to put into each game, so for now have decided to limit myself to 3 games and bowing out of this one. Have fun all!
Aemon, who has been listening quietly to the back and forth thus far, sighs and gives Zizi a look when Ahtos seats himself.
"There seems to be a trend of rudeness at my table this evening; you are the only guest to actually introduce yourself with a name thus far. In fact," he says, turning to Kierana, "I didn't even catch your name before you left with my friend."
He turns back to Ahtos.
"I respect your entrepreneurship, lad, but I'm afraid you've been presumptuous tonight. We are, neither of us, visitors to this city. I can't speak for the young lady--other than to say that she's been here long enough to establish herself at Calistria's Salon--but I knew this city since long before you were born. But, please, introduce yourself properly and be welcome at our table. I am Aemon, and that," he says, gesturing to the cat Ahtos is petting, "is Zizi."
"Ah, locals...better yet! The name's Ahto. Well met, Master Aemon," he replies to the man, offering him a thick, calloused hand. "Callistria, eh?" he says, giving the woman an even more appraising look. "My kinda people, Callista's crew. They're always up for something new and exciting. Speaking of which, I couldn't help overhearing you lot talking with the ca...uh, Zizi, is it?...about the fellow they're calling the 'Last Disciple.' Lot of buzz around town about him. What do you know?"
Zizi dodges the reaching hand, "I'm not entirely new to this city. Visited plenty of times before and have been living here for awhile now. I can also afford my own sweetmeats, thank you for offering though."
"Forgive my rudeness. Kierana Doran, good sirs," she answers, nodding mostly toward Aemon. "And I've indeed been here four years or so, and grown quite familiar with the city. Though deals of a different sort can always be arranged, if you care to accompany me somewhere." She follows with a cheeky wink.
"Nothing much, just that he's terribly bad for business."
"How so? Is this 'Disciple' like one of the Erastil-folk who want all of us to do nothing but work and marry some keg-bodied hagfish?"
Kierana lets out a short giggle. "No, I meant bad for my business; it seems many of my clients have suddenly grown some misguided morality. They're too distracted hanging on the words of this upstart to remember their previous source of holy pleasures." She runs a hand idly over the curve of her hip.
"I find it fascinating that he's gained such a following so quickly. If he was going about things differently, I'd be a little worried that we have another Razmir on our hands, but I've heard nothing about claims to his own divinity."
Aemon frowns into his cup.
"I've studied the Starstone and the Ascendants for a long, long time, and I don't know that there's a precedent for anyone coming to the Ascendant Court to perform miracles in someone else's name. That he's claiming to perform them in the name of Aroden is troubling. He must know that no one would believe him. No priest of Aroden has been able to call on his power for over seven hundred years, so anyone claiming to do so must be a fake."
He looking around the table.
"What can be the endgame of a man that can't possibly be who he claims to be?"
"That's the thing, though - people are believing him. Many want desparately for Aroden to return, and this man is using Aroden's name and legacy to fuel his own rise. He may not attempt the Ascendancy, but a man does not need to Ascend in order to gain quite a following, if he gives them precisely what they desire." She laughs. "Why, I should know. Sustaining men on what they want to hear is my stock and trade, after all."
"Aroden? The dead god? That's his angle? There really is a fool foaled every minute," Ahto chimes in.
He takes a swig from his mug.
"Oh, I'm certainly not denying that. But desire is a powerful tool. It may profit this man much. Only time will tell, I suppose." She shadows Ahto's sip with her own. "It will be interesting to see if he does attempt the Test. That tends to weed out the false prophets quite efficiently."
Aemon frowns and nods.
"Kierana is right. We may think he's a charlatan of some kind, but he doesn't need the educated and powerful to believe--he just needs enough of the downtrodden. After that, all he needs is a cause, and then we have riots in the streets."
He broods for a minute, then shakes himself, chuckling.
"I am getting old. Listen to me, defaming someone without knowing anything about him. Has anyone heard what it is that he's actually preaching? What he advocates, what he asks of his flock?"
"He's all the scuttlebutt from the Puddles to the Coins, but I haven't heard him speak, or met anyone who personally has. It's like everyone knows somebody who knows somebody who's heard him, though." Ahto shakes his head to emphasize the absurdity of it all.
Aemon glances at the empty seat where Korihor was sitting and frowns.
"I'm enjoying this conversation, but I'm a little concerned about my friend. I hate to be an inconvenience," he says, turning to Kierana, "but could we take a stroll to your rooms at the Salon and check on her?"
"Of course, sir. I'd also like to be reassured of her care. A touch unrefined, but endearing, your friend is." Kierana turns to the others at the table. "Feel free to join us if you care to - the Salon really is quite stunning, even if you aren't coming to experience the full range of its delights." She smiles and offers Aemon the crook of her elbow. "Shall we?"
"I shall join you. I've got nothing planned tonight, and I'm curious about your companion. I'm also curious about your salon."
Alright everyone, open recruitment is closed, and for the most part I think I have the party selected. I've sent out the PMs I'm going to send, and after I hear back (or don't) from those who I've contacted, I'll publish the final list. Expect it some time tomorrow, likely in the evening. Once I've got that finished, I'll open the discussion and likely get the first post going in gameplay.
:(
I was just about to post too. I just had be extra busy today.
I'm finished with all my choices, so I am just filling in derived stuff and bg, though a fair bit of the BG is known from the mini RP.
Best of luck to everyone involved!
May the best cat win!... or humanoid. Whatever fits.
My bg got erased! I'm so sad. I hates internet. :(
Ugh, I hate that. :( I'm hyper-paranoid about selecting and copying my text every time I hit Save Changes on a profile now, and I probably hit Save Changes at least every two minutes or so. X)
That is the bad part of working on a phone. Limited or no C&P.
I've got some BG up if you want to read it.
Well, given who I've heard back from, I'm going to go ahead and call it. Will the following players please report to discussion:
Aemon Grahame
Brand Hornblower
Crack-Jawed Ahto
Kierana Doran
Pyrrha
Zephyrion Starset
Congratulations to those accepted, and my apologies to all who applied but did not make it in. I'll have Discussion up momentarily, and Gameplay will open tonight or tomorrow.
Grats to everyone that got accepted.
Grats folks!
Now I'll just slink off somewhere over the rainbow. Maybe a leprechaun over there will GM my character.Humans don't seem to be into it.
:)