"Oh, even just being able to watch and practice would be lovely. Thank you."
... And Hornet effortlessly won their contest. Vusker's hand was slammed down on the table instantly, to the cheers of the onlookers, who were now throwing jeers at the big man. He rubbed his hand and looked a bit embarrassed. "Look, ya all can't expect a man to take on a monster like her in a test of brute strength, a'right?". Several people gave Hornet congratulatory parts on the back.
He was still trying to soothe his own pride when Joran sat across from him. "Joran, lad, come to let me save face have ya?" He smiled hopefully. The young man had certainly grown up big, but Vusker could still recall the gangly youth he once was. Surely he could take him...
[Dice=Athletics] 1d20+4
The veins in Vusker's neck stuck out as he stained against Joran's grip. Their hands began tipping in one direction, then the other. The crowd hushed as it went on, both men gritting their teeth and trying to prove victorious. Finally, after what felt like forever, Vusker summoned the last drop of strength he could muster, and slowly... slowly... he pressed Joran's hand down into the table.
"Gods, son! Ya've grown into a right monster yourself! I'll buy ya a drink." He clapped Joran on the back.
Even after losing, Joran can't help but grin. "Next time, Vusker, next time. Take it easy on the gnoll but make sure you show up for Joran, hm?" he winks, grinning wryly. "And I'll take that drink. It's the least you could do for besting me again. My table is right over there, friend," he motions as he makes his way back before noticing the halfling out the window. "Hold that drink a moment, Fadelby!" he hollers, turning back to him and holding up his forefinger. "Hold that! I'll be right back." He then heads outside...
Fadelby Vusker grinned at Joran, his pride restored somewhat. "Oy, Trin! Give us a pair to wet our whistles, aye?" he called. He turned at Joran's plea to hold a moment, only to see Dario striding up. "Oh, another challenger, eh? And a free drink if I win? Ha! It'll save me the coin I were set to spend on Joran's. Ya got a deal."
He sat across from Dario and grinned at the smaller man, winking at his comment about pretty folk watching. Yasami counts down, and...
Vusker makes a show of it, for Dario's sake. He can tell in the first moment he'll be able to manage a win, but no sense embarrassing folk that are aiming to do the town a good turn shortly. He lets things play out for a while, then grunts dramatically as he 'finally' manages a win. "Well fought!"
Trinil walks over with the pair of drinks, for him and Joran, and Fadelby grins merrily at Yasami, tossing one copper to Trinil for Joran's drink and waiting for Yasami to pay the other half.
"A moment, please.", Yasamina excuses herself and walks over to Trinil. She takes out a silver coin, and puts it in the owner's hand. She leans in, and whispers something before turning back to her original spot.
Lisi raises an eyebrow at Cevendyl. "Desna? Ah, you'll cross the bridge at Monument Circle and go to the Great Dreamhouse. Pleasant walk; I sit in the Circle from time to time to reflect."
Lisitsei tries to figure out what someone clearly not of Desna's faith would want from the Dreamhouse. Alas, he is merely a druid. :D
Lisi raises an eyebrow at Cevendyl. "Desna? Ah, you'll cross the bridge at Monument Circle and go to the Great Dreamhouse. Pleasant walk; I sit in the Circle from time to time to reflect."
[dice=Religion]1d20 + 6
Lisitsei tries to figure out what someone clearly not of Desna's faith would want from the Dreamhouse. Alas, he is merely a druid. :D
"You have to imagine a house of faith being simply that. Here, even simpler: imagine an acolyte of both the natural laws and the most unnatural of laws ... oh wait, we have that already."
Cevendyl winks at the manBreachill is a flock with several shepards; I would give respect to each and hope it is returned in kind. No one here is a stranger to a good drink, so when the time comes, we should all find another shrine to the Accidental God as well."
"That I can direct you to as well: Cayden's Keg. Although, wherever a glass is raised, it's said, so is He here. ...not sure if there's enough alcohol in the kvass for Him, though," says Lisi, raising his own cup again.
"That I can direct you to as well: Cayden's Keg. Although, wherever a glass is raised, it's said, so is He here. ...not sure if there's enough alcohol in the kvass for Him, though," says Lisi, raising his own cup again.
"Thank you friend! So we will raise a glass at Cayden's Keg? After we answer the Call perhaps?"
Cevendyl goes over to Trinil, "How much do I owe you? I appreciate your help so much, I really am going to take a walk to the Dreamhouse before we assemble at Town Hall."
Dario appreciates the man's showing, playing off the local's strength with exaggerated wincing as he returns back to the bar to finish his meal and drink. The place was quite lively and there was enjoyment in just sitting back and watching the play play itself out in front of him.
As Cevendyll heads out of the tavern towards the Dreamhouse, he can see a few early birds already gathering at the town hall across the street. He heads that way, following the directions Trinil and Lisi gave him, and a few excited Breachtons wave at him as he passes. Around the other side of the town hall is Monument Circle, dominated by a statue of the savior and founder of the town, Lamond Breachton himself. There's a little informational plaque on the statue, should Cev wish to read it. Around the perimeter of monument circle, he sees six wells the town uses for their clean water needs. The Dreamhouse is further down the road.
Folks at the Grace eat every last bowl of soup Trinil had prepared, and use the festivities of the day as an excuse to get a touch drunk before lunchtime. Stories are shared of past Calls, with exaggerated tales of the heroics that followed, tales that grow taller each time they're told.
As the time for the Call approaches, folks begin to filter out, heading to the town hall, or to squeeze in other business before heading there. The tavern begins to empty.
"Sulee, I am seeing people leaving for the Call meeting now. Have we fulfilled our social obligations and can follow?"
"Go speak to Trinil first. Then yes, let's go to the town hall. Be sure to get good seats."
Caiten walks up to Trinil. "Trinil, the food is excellent as usual. It seems that you are not requiring coin in payment, though it is difficult for me to assume that. Will you at least accept as a token of appreciation some of my smaller toys that you may hand out with the meals for your younger patrons in the future?"
After talking to Trinil, Yasamina wishes everyone good luck. "Alright everyone. I have some errands to run. See you in the town hall."
With a fleet step, she moves into the streets, turns a corner, and disappears.
Lisi bows to Trinil with a knowing smile. "Good fortunes, Trinil, and thank you for the delicious meal."
Lisi, having no such obligations, waves to his fellow adventure seekers and heads straight to the Hall. He eyes the Monument Circle wistfully, and the unclean water of the Breach with a mix of hope and regret.
I wish I had time to just clear my mind...some magic staff to rid the Breach of the taint of mining and char. Adventure? Killing some beast twisted by civilization or displacing goblins and poor peasants as we ram through the countryside, despoiling tombs? ...but this is the way to finance something greater for the area. You made this choice, Lisi; you could have taken hermitage up in the rocks and cared for pika and lichen. Now go through with it.
With a sharp exhalation, he heads into the Hall, putting on his best face.
** spoiler omitted **
** spoiler omitted **
** spoiler omitted **
Folks at the Grace eat every last bowl of soup Trinil had prepared, and use the festivities of the day as an excuse to get a touch drunk before lunchtime. Stories are shared of past Calls, with exaggerated tales of the heroics that followed, tales that grow...
"Many many thanks my lady, I will repay this kindness. I hope you would let me return and bless your kitchen one day."
Cevendyl smiles braodly and waves back at the villagers, this town seems excited to have guests. He really only wanted to stand in Desna's Temple and thank her for her guidance. He also did not want to be late.
Cevendyl stops at the statue and looks down to read the plaque ...
It’s not far to the artisan’s temple, and the place is still busy, despite the approaching town hall meeting. Time spent idle is time wasted, after all. Yasami makes her way to the section of the hall where the carpentry guild resides. Folks from town come here to request custom furnishings or hire folks to help build houses and the like.
Yasami’s contact, Meebo Biddybink, was a gnome woman with short, brown, curly hair. She smiled. ”You’re just in time! I was getting ready to head out. Got a delivery for you.” She handed Yasami a small, ornately carved jewelry box. ”As ordered!” She winked.
Yasami knew this was not merely a jewelry box, as she hadn't, in fact, ordered one. When there was not much worth reporting, they would simply sneak it into their casual conversation. When news was a little more lengthy, they hid messages by tucking them away inside various furnishings. Meebo would deliver ‘new’ orders, Yasami would bring things in for repair. Doubtless there was a hidden panel in the box with a letter.
Lisitsei makes his way into the large hall where public meetings are held. There’s a wide aisle, with eight long rows of benches to either side, enough to seat nearly two hundred people. It’s still fairly empty, but a couple dozen folks have taken seats. Lisi notices a goblin woman, well-dressed in academic apparel, pacing back and forth nervously in the back of the room, off to his right.
“Lost, were our forefathers, their memories empty, wandering and cold in 4520.
Then a savior arrived, a wizard most wise. Lamond Breachton his name, he came to advise.
The people he gathered, the people he taught, how to build, how to cook, and how game could be caught.
A year he spent with us, then he left as he came, but he gave our town life, so we give it his name.”
- Poem written by Cecily Gardania, age 11, AR 4621 centennial celebration
When the tales get too tall and too long, Dario rises from his seat and leaves a small collection of coins for Trinil. With a tip of his hat, the man swaggered out of the tavern and slipped his arms back within the long coat he wore. Taking a breath of that autumn air, he would still be out on the business's steps when Caiten and Sulee make their way outwards. Once more, he found himself staring but corrected himself quickly enough to speak up.
"You heading to the town hall? Might I join you? Punctuality is also a good thing to show a new community." Dario smiles as warmly as he can despite the marring on his face.
Oren was silent during the meal, more content to listen and watch the others than participate himself, but when it's time to head to the town hall for the Call for Heroes, the big man stirs again.
"I suppose that's my cue as well. It was nice meeting you all."
”Oh, the children would love that! Got any that make noise? I’ll save those for the families that let their kids run amok through here.” She winked. ”A bit of revenge on bad parents would not go amiss.”
"Tee heee. I'll make sure you get a slide whistle. As well as some things for the better behaved families."
Caiten and Sulee head out of the tavern.
"You heading to the town hall? Might I join you? Punctuality is also a good thing to show a new community." Dario smiles as warmly as he can despite the marring on his face.
Caiten turns as he is addressed. "Certainly. Dario is your name, yes? I am Caiten and this is Sulee. I have been to the town hall very few times and would appreciate the company. I am not entirely sure what to expect. For example, I was not expecting so many people to be arriving at the meeting under arms. Though I suppose unarmed people can be just as dangerous as armed ones, so it wouldn't make much difference to the actual safety of the meeting participants."
Caiten enters the town hall. To the ceremonial attendants he says, "First door on the left, yes? If I overheard you correctly."
Hornet eventually heads out to the Call as well, but not before stopping by her workshop. There, she grabs her axe and armour - both of which might look rather crude to an untrained eye, but on closer inspection would show a high degree of work put into their design, even if it still favours function over form.
"Dario of Clan Zuz. A pleasure to meet you and Sulee." He says sincerely. They were an odd sight but the world was filled with strangeness if you knew where to look. Looking at the weapons on his side, the dueling dagger and the firearm, he would give the slightest shrug. "Travel into town is dangerous. You never know what can happen out there on the road. You have to trust your skills; mine is the blade and pistol." Dario says with a slight shrug. Looking down at the poppet, curiosity finally gets the better of him. "Sulee, you're animated by...some kind of magic? The Mana Wastes are a dead zone of magic, nothing works there. I don't mean to be rude but I ain't never seen anything like you before. Did Caiten here craft you?"
The door behind them opened and out stepped the impressive form of Oren Strelov. Noticing the large man, Dario would tip his hat to him. "We're making our way to the town hall. You're welcome to join us, if you'd like."
"Yes, my skills are more into spellcasting, so lacking my weapon is not a terrible detriment. Though I tend to focus more on protective and improving magic rather than damaging."
"Sulee is my familiar. I did technically craft the body she currently inhabits, but I definitely did not create the spirit that animates it."
Caiten goes to find a seat in a corner of the room.
Impeccable timing, my little friend!, Yasamina looks at the box from several angles, and smiles. "As usual, exquisite craftmanship. And the rest of your commission, as agreed...", she reaches into herlayered dress, and produces a wax-sealed note as an exchange for the jewelery box. "I'll make sure to check whether I can fit all.my stuff into this, and get back to you in case of any problems. Thanks again, and have a good night, Meebo!". She turns towards the street again and disappears.
Dear uncle,
thank you for your letter. I am well, but I have not heard of the imp colony that you mentioned. I look towards the sunset over the rolling hills. The skies are clear as usual this time of the year, and the red hue is oddly calm. If there are such malicious creatures in the area, they are well hidden.
There is a Call for Heroes tonight, as I mentioned in my last letter. I am planning on looking into it, to see what ails the land around Breachill these days. Perhaps, the pernicious creatures you mentioned will be one of the topics. Wish me luck!
- Your favourite niece Yasamina.
PS: No, I did not marry. Where have you heard that?
With some time left before the Call starts, Yasami hurries back to Shelyn's Smile. She politely, but briefly, greets the other Shelynites, but retreats to her bed - a relatively simple room, if you could call any temple to Shelyn simple. A relatively small living space with a table, bed, night stand, chair, and a flower pot. The small window lets in the last rays of light through stained glass picturing several birds of various colours on a cherry branch. She closes the door, lights a candle, and pulls out the jewelry box. After poking the boxes walls a few times, a panel opens up on the side, containing a circular hole. She pulls out her nose ring, and tries to fish out the document within. She reads it a few times, and as usual - puts the scroll to the candle. Once it catches fire, she drops the scroll on top of a clay plate, and waits. She crushes the remains of the paper, and empties the plate into the flower pot.
Yasami scrubs the soot off with a rag, lets the smoke clear by partially opening the window, and heads for the Town Hall.
"No, not back here silly. Up towards the front. I want to be able to see."
Caiten begrudgingly heads towards the front of the room instead.
"And you may have also seen Guba, Lisitsei's familiar - who is a small animated plant."
Yasami moves through the temple towards the town hall with a brisk pace. Once she arrives, she looks for familiar faces in the crowd. Hornet, the Shelynite tinkerer stands out as one of the obvious choices - she moves in closer to greet the gnoll.
"Hey there! Exciting, isn't it?", she starts off with a question. "Great work in the arm wrestling match, by the way. Are you alone here?”, Yasami looks around for Hornet's companions.
Lisi approaches the goblin woman and bends down slightly. "Good day...are you all right, miss?" He speaks quietly so as not to reveal his conversation to the people already seated.
While Lisi is well known in some parts of town, and vice versa, he's mainly dealt with goblinoids in the forest. He tries to place a name to a face.
It was the right choice, to come to a temple, just for a touch of divine peace before the meeting. He entered the temple, and quietly sat down in the back.
Cevendyl looked down at the silver bracer on his right wrist; by now someone in Kyonin may have commissioned another, but at the time, it won him high praise for having it created. It had cost him a great deal of his earnings in life, all worth it. It looked completely normal, that is, until you pressed the hidden catch and the cover panel slide back. Within the revealed space the symbol of The Wise had been rendered exquisitely: the synbol began to glow softly as Cevendyl prayed ...
He prayed for a few minutes, and then turned to head back to Town Hall
"Dario of Clan Zuz. A pleasure to meet you and Sulee." He says sincerely. They were an odd sight but the world was filled with strangeness if you knew where to look. Looking at the weapons on his side, the dueling dagger and the firearm, he would give the slightest shrug. "Travel into town is dangerous. You never know what can happen out there on the road. You have to trust your skills; mine is the blade and pistol." Dario says with a slight shrug. Looking down at the poppet, curiosity finally gets the better of him. "Sulee, you're animated by...some kind of magic? The Mana Wastes are a dead zone of magic, nothing works there. I don't mean to be rude but I ain't never seen anything like you before. Did Caiten here craft you?"
The door behind them opened and out stepped the impressive form of Oren Strelov. Noticing the large man, Dario would tip his hat to him. "We're making our way to the town hall. You're welcome to join us, if you'd like."
Oren can't help but feel a sense of foreboding upon seeing Dario's face with all of it's scars and it reminds him of the urgency of why he's come to Breachill and what he hopes to prevent from coming to pass.
"It can't hurt to have companions for this Call to Heroes. I'll join you and the others. Thank you for the invite."
"It can't hurt to have companions for this Call to Heroes. I'll join you and the others. Thank you for the invite."
"Hi. I don't think we have met. My name is Sulee. How are you doing?"
"Caiten, would you please stop doing that. You have been jumping at shadows all day and the feedback through our link is driving me batty. I really don't think that anyone is going to try anything stupid in a room full of adventuring heroes."
"Hey there! Exciting, isn't it?", she starts off with a question. "Great work in the arm wrestling match, by the way. Are you alone here?”, Yasami looks around for Hornet's companions.
"Hey! Yeah, big day." She claps Yasami on the shoulder in greeting. "And I imagine we'll be seeing more of the others from the tafern, but no partners, no. Unless that's an infitation."
** spoiler omitted **
"It can't hurt to have companions for this Call to Heroes. I'll join you and the others. Thank you for the invite.""Hi. I don't think we have met. My name is Sulee. How are you doing?"
"Caiten, would you please stop doing that. You have been jumping at shadows all day and the feedback through our link is driving me batty. I really don't think that anyone is going to try anything stupid in a room full of adventuring heroes."
"My name is Oren Strelov. Pleased to meet you Sulee, I'm looking forward to being let into Call."
As the big guy makes his way back inside, he heads toward the bar while mindlessly avoiding the dispersing crowd who are making their way to the Call. So lost in thought, he just manages to remember something. Looking around, "Hey, Fadelby! Save that drink for next time, will ya, pal? Don't worry, I won't let you forget you owe me one," he points and shoots him a wink before continuing on to the bar. "Hey, Trinil, thanks again for the stew. It was fantastic as always," he tells her, smiling. "Anyway, I'm headed to the Call. And seeing how I can't get you to go out with me, can I at least get a 'Good luck, Joran', from you? That's it. Just a 'Good luck.' No harm in that, right? I figure if I can get you to say those three words, maybe just maybe that's one small step in the right direction in getting that date with you," he says, grinning playfully as he waits a moment to she if she'll at least humor him.
"Oren? Sounds like a dwarven name. Strong." Dario mentions, walking beside the others as they enter into the town hall immediately. He catches the hesitation that Caiten has in being around others, the android instinctively moving towards the corner away from all the business in the front. It didn't last long though as his familiar chided him into moving up towards the front. The sight gave him a grin as he leaned down towards Sulee. "You sure that he ain't the familiar? He seems awfully twitchy."
The knowledge that Oren was going to be in the Call put a wider smile on Dario's face. No firing line survived without a frontline to hold off the worst attackers. Oren had the look of a warrior and was built like a small mountain.
"I'm looking to perhaps working alongside you. I don't know much about magic but I know it is quite useful, I can dance with the best of them at range or upclose, and you have a jawline that says you can chew actual rocks. The four of us together would be a hell of a team." There was no shame in trying to get a good team together. He would have to remember that ambitious woman from the tavern too; can't let the familiar be the pretty face among them all.
"You sure that he ain't the familiar? He seems awfully twitchy."
"Tee hee hee."
"He's fine. He just hates crowds."
"There is so much data to process. So much noise and people moving and doing seemingly random things."
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The note on the parchment was clearly written by Meebo's hand. The gnome put extraneous flourishes on everything -- curlicues on her s's, hearts and stars and even butterflies on her i's... It was cute but distracting.
"Still no clear location for the imps, but may have found something bigger. Signs of a new organization on the rise, unconfirmed evidence suggests slavers. One of their agents caught in Kintargo mentioned a contact in Breachill, after a lengthy... conversation. Keep your eyes peeled, only identifying detail we have to go on is they seem to wear red as a symbol of their membership. Idiots. Lousy way to keep a secret cabal secret. Take care!" She ended the note with a bunch of little hearts.
The Dreamhouse is a place of peace, serenity, and healing. Cevendyll passed through the front doors, into a smallish entryway that had ornate, vibrant beaded curtains on the other side. He passed through these, the sound of the beads giving way to the sound of running water.
Before him was a large indoor garden, with a large glass dome for a ceiling. A manmade waterfall cascaded down the far wall, carefully arranged stones made to look natural, though nature was rarely so symmetrical. Everywhere there was greenery and flowers. But it was the butterflies that really sold it.
Hundreds, if not thousands of butterflies made their homes here. The trees that lacked blooms looked to be covered in them anyway as the insects rested on their leaves. The whole room was alive with them. He realized the curtains were a way to keep them all from flying out when the doors opened.
Already, a few settled on Cevendyll's shoulders and hair. Desna surely granted her blessing for this venture. It was a good sign. He basked in the moment, said his prayers, and joined the others at the town hall.
"Oh! Knife-ears is having startled Warbal. She-" The goblin cut off with a start as Cevendyll joined the conversation, speaking her native language, which she promptly switched to. She was more fluent in goblin, of course, though the language often lacked kind words for things. "Well! I don't usually meet longshanks who speak our tongue. Warbal Bublebrasher. I won't stab you today!". It was as close to 'nice to meet you' as it got, in goblin. "I'm a bit cowardly right now. I'm about to ask for help in the Call.". The last word she spoke in Common, as there was no translation.
Trinil smiles and walks over to Joran. She leans close... very close. Standing on tiptoe to get closer to his face as though she might grant him a kiss, she whispers. "Good luck...oaf.". She backs away with no payoff and gets back to cleaning up. Let him stew on that a while, she thinks.
Cevendyl takes 2 of his daggers, smiles, bows his head and holding them by their blades, begins to speak again:
Cevendyl offers one to Lisitsei and one to Warbal
"Hey! Yeah, big day." She claps Yasami on the shoulder in greeting. "And I imagine we'll be seeing more of the others from the tafern, but no partners, no. Unless that's an infitation."
"I mean, if teaming up is permitted, it is an invitation now.", Yasami extends her hand for a handshake, and looks around. "I had no idea we were allowed cluster together. First time here, so ... Yeah. Let's find a few other people to form a squad? The more, the merrier, right?"
She immediately looks around the room again, but needs to find a vantage point with her height. She takes a chair, and stands on it.
"I see the mister Zuz over there.", she points towards Dario. "The one from the inn with the odd weapon you were smelling. I'll go chat them up."
She walks over to Dario, and just now notices the little figurine "Mister Zuz, hello! I was wondering- oh, Sulee! You are here as well? Where is your friend? Caiten?", she turns her head a few times, trying to find the toymaker, then turns back to the pair.
"Anyway - me and Hornet over here decided to team up. We were wondering whether you would like to join our little, although slowly growing, coterie. Word of the day - 'cooperation'. Sounds like a good pitch to you?"
Caiten, who was sitting bent over double and had his head buried in his folded arms, raises his head and replies, "I'm still here. I am just trying not to melt my nanites completely before the meeting even actually starts."
"Teaming up would be acceptable to me. I'm not entirely sure what we are doing yet, so I don't know how necessary that will end up being. But if it involves danger and combat - which I am somewhat expecting considering the label of 'Heroes' that are being asked for - I would much prefer to have allies beside me than not."
"Oren? Sounds like a dwarven name. Strong." Dario mentions, walking beside the others as they enter into the town hall immediately. He catches the hesitation that Caiten has in being around others, the android instinctively moving towards the corner away from all the business in the front. It didn't last long though as his familiar chided him into moving up towards the front. The sight gave him a grin as he leaned down towards Sulee. "You sure that he ain't the familiar? He seems awfully twitchy."
The knowledge that Oren was going to be in the Call put a wider smile on Dario's face. No firing line survived without a frontline to hold off the worst attackers. Oren had the look of a warrior and was built like a small mountain.
"I'm looking to perhaps working alongside you. I don't know much about magic but I know it is quite useful, I can dance with the best of them at range or upclose, and you have a jawline that says you can chew actual rocks. The four of us together would be a hell of a team." There was no shame in trying to get a good team together. He would have to remember that ambitious woman from the tavern too; can't let the familiar be the pretty face among them all.
"I don't know anything about Dwarven names and I don't think that my name is a Dwarven name, but I'm glad you think it is strong nonetheless. And I know little of magic either, but I am skilled in close combat. Not so much when it comes to fighting at a distance though."
A lot of data?" Dario says, thinking the words over for a moment. "I reckon I know what you mean. The first day I was in Master Thordren's workshop, I ran around like a chicken without a head. I was exhausted, overwhelmed, and didn't accomplish a damn thing. Ain't nothing like the efficiency of a dwarven shop, let me tell you." Being a bright-eyed human thrown into a dwarf's smithy where everyone had already been working for a decade? That was being thrown into the lion's den. Dario couldn't keep a smirk off of his face as he patted the pistol on his hip with a nod.
"Well Oren, you don't have to worry about that. Anyone tries to get away from us and we'll make them regret it. Fair?" It was at this moment that Yasami made her way over to the group of them, a bit of blush spreading to his cheek as was referred to as 'Mister Zuz'.
"I'm only a mister to my employers, Yasami. Please, call me Dario. Now...I've already offered my services to these fine gentlemen here. If you and Hornet wish to join our venture, we can consider it depending on how dangerous and lucrative the call is." While his words sound transactional, the mirthful look in his eyes says otherwise. The more, the merrier and the safer they would all be. "I'm amenable to it, if my new comrades are as well?"
You all eventually enter the council chamber, a large auditorium-style room with long wooden benches to either side of a carpeted walkway. At the front of the room, the carpet leads to a small set of stairs and a raised dais. On this dais is a large desk, separated into five parts, where the Breachill Town Council’s five members sit as they wait for the crowd to finish trickling in and find seats.
Quentino Posandi:Owns the most successful business in town, the Posandi Bros. masonry company. He doesn’t speak at meetings often, but when he does he is shrewd and an effective problem solver.
Trini Sprizzlegig: Immigrated to Breachill from Brastlewark as a baby, she is deeply kind and empathetic, if a little manic. She always looks out for those in need and loves adventurers.
Greta Gardania: She traces her lineage back to one of the town founders, and tirelessly aspired to her position from a young age. She is the council president and breaks ties on contentious issues.
Melma Ann Sendari : A Chelish noble whose family fled to Breachill after the Thrune Ascendancy. She understands diplomacy and statesmanship better than any other council member.
Jorsk Hinterclaw: Hails from Kraggodan, he was an adventurer who once answered the Call, and decided to remain in Breachill.
Several of you gather and converse, and eventually the flow of townsfolk becomes a trickle. The stern, dark-haired woman with a deeply furrowed forehead and kind eyes seated at the center desk gives a sharp rap of her gavel to bring a hush over the crowd. Folks quickly wrap up their conversations and take seats.
”Welcome, neighbors and friends,” she begins, her rich voice washing over the room. “Welcome to the Breachill Town Council’s monthly Call for Heroes. For those who do not know me, I am Council President Greta Gardania, at your service. On behalf of my colleagues, I promise you that we will hear and consider today’s petition with the utmost discretion and care. There is no existence without community, as our town charter says. Today, our agenda includes but a single petition.”
Greta paused as there were sounds of disappointment from the crowd. The Call often presented a larger number of petitions, and nosy folks liked to hear what was plaguing their neighbors – not to mention hearing all the tales of excitement from the returning heroes.
”As I was saying…only one petition, but it will be no small feat. Miss Warbal, ambassador to the Bumblebrashers of Hellknight Hill, requests the help of heroes for a matter of utmost importance. Let’s hear her concerns in her own words, shall we? Miss Warbal?”
Cevendyl invites Lisitsei to sit with him in the 3rd row with him.
He wants to be able to support Warbal as he promised.
At the sound of the gavel, Caiten unfolds himself and sits up straight in his seat again.