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"How... interesting. A talking head. Would you... would you mind if I studied it? I'd be very interested in having a look at Munjo," Alia asks, the wonder brighter and alive in her eyes. "So many odd things to see in this city! I wonder if it's some discard from the Cyphermages, though. You can't really trust them, and the magics that may or may not be affecting your Bunjo may or may not be dangerous ones."
Alia just watches the exchange, a look of wonder in her eye, "I'm sorry... but Jungo is an actual head? Like, an actual, animated head of some deceased person? I thought it was just a construct, but never got a chance to examine it..."
"Huh. How odd. It's black hail originating from the Blot... I should chronicle this!" Alia says as she pulls out her notebook and starts making sketches and diagrams with notes in the margins, oblivious to the danger around her.
Waking up later than she intended, Alia sits up to the sounds of hail outside. Curious, she wanders out to see what's going on, talking to herself as she goes, "I should see Liara. Compare notes. Wonder if they'd let us into the Cyphermage tower to gather more information... can't hurt to... well, I guess it could, with them." Stepping outside, she peers about to see what the ruckus is all about.
Alia smiles gratefully at Alfsigr, but seems unsatisfied with Saul's refusal to answer her question, "Saul, you know why I'm here. This... partnership... will not interfere with my research, will it?"
"Umm, what exactly would our jobs be? I mean, I didn't come thousands of miles to Riddleport looking for a job, Saul, you know that. I'm researching that shadow in the sky that nobody around here seems to care about. Would this proposal interfere with my research? I feel as if I'm on the cusp of a revelation!" She rubs her chest, "And I'll need some time off to heal, of course, before I could start any serious work. A few days, at least. That Angvar did a number on me with that missile."
Alia just watches as the man is escorted out, dumbfounded, "But... finally someone... he was about to... wheresmyjournal" She grabs her journal and quickly scrawls the name Tammerhawk down, Now for the more difficult problem of actually getting in to see the Cyphermage's... "Hmm? Oh, yes, yes. We helped. I think. I don't know. I was too busy hiding from orbs of pure arcane energy to see what was actually going on. You know me, Saul. Just here about that shadow in the sky. Thanks for the ticket, by the way. Looked like a great turn out. Well, until the end. Guess it didn't end the way you expected it to," Alia remarks to Saul. Turning to Alfsigr, she asks, "Oh, do you know how to treat arcane blunt trauma? If so, I could use a hand here. I'll have to look for Angvar later and thank him properly for that."
Dropping her concentration on the wall, Alia steps through the illusion, sighing as the others get away. Slowly, she walks towards the wizard that her companions have surrounded, weaving her way around the varying gaming tables. A short while later, the illusion finally fades from view as she finally reaches the small group, "Might want to relieve him of his component pouch. Won't stop him entirely, but couldn't hurt," she offers, trying to be of some help. "It wouldn't hurt to cooperate, you know. I mean, looking back? Doesn't it seem kind of silly to rob a casino on opening night in the middle of Riddleport? Especially one with a demon theme? I don't know, seems a little... out there, to me. But I'm sure you guy's had a great plan. You seem like a knowledgeable man... have you noticed the shadow in the sky lately? Ever paid any attention to it, maybe noticed how it..." A small blue and gold thrush pops it's head from under her robes and starts trilling loudly at the man on the ground, "He's the one who hurt us! He's the one who hurt us!" Alarmed, Alia stuffs him back inside, shooting a look at the giant cat at Liara's side, "Hush!"
Alia continues to concentrate on her wall, keeping the facade going for as long as it takes for her allies to either intercept the pair or for the pair to make their escape. Otherwise, she continues to kneel behind the Bounder table, using it for total cover, "Angvar! I have some friends that would like to ask you a few questions, if you don't mind!"
Rubbing her chest where the missile hit, Alia mutters under her breath, bringing her hand up high and then dropping it sharply, just as a large stone wall appears, cutting off the would be bandit's exit, "Jerks."
As the man throws his wild jab at her, Alia takes an opportunity to follow the clumsy punch with a more lethal jab of her dagger.
Continuing to back away from the man swinging wildly, Alia continues to look around for something to help her, spotting the man in green robes running at her with a wand in hand, Uh oh, must be something with a limited range... With a motion of her hand, she chants and an invisible but tangible field of force surrounds her.
"Ow, ow, ow, ow! Damnable evokers!" Alia backs up from the man swinging at her, pointing at the ground below him and chanting, conjuring a pool of grease below his feet as she moves back five feet and then drawing her dagger, still using the tables for cover if possible.
Alia pokes her head back above the Bounder table, examining the scene before her, whispering to herself, "I can't believe we're being robbed in Riddle... oh, wait, I guess I can believe it..." With a flick of her wrist, she causes the shadows around the woman to surge to life, weaving a net of webs around her, hoping to trap her inside if even for a short amount of time while everyone regroups. She remains behind the Bounder table, using it for cover.
Alia sighed, It's almost as if they were novice practitioners of the lesser illusion schools with their blinding rays... so easy to read... In one sweep of her hand, she grabs her journal and her chips, "...and the shadow might not even be a shadow but a cloud we'll talk about it later excuse me I must go now this is my journal sorry about that you might want to cover your eyes..." She ducks behind the Bounding table and covers her eyes, hoping to avoid what happens next.
"...and if it's shown up in the past at regular frequencies, then perhaps we're just seeing a continuation of this cycle, but one that is undocumented... he rolled what? Oh. Um, sure let it ride," Alia murmurs as she rolls again. "But... let's see... cycles! If this is just a continuous uncharted cycle, it might date back for many, many..."
Still chattering away to the man about the shadow in the sky, Alia places another silver chip down and rolls the dice yet again, determined to stay in the game if only to continue to gather information on the shadow in the sky, though she seems to be the only one talking...
Alia will put down another silver chip and roll the dice again, "...to determine if the birds avoid it. See, if they do, then that might mean that it could be dangerous, as some migratory birds have shown a natural sense of self-preservation when faced with..."
"...and if the shadow moves, does it move in a... what? Oh, it's my turn? Umm, I'll raise, I guess. That seems to be what everyone else is doing. Why are they all smiling and laughing?" she says as she throws another five silver chips down.
"Where was I? Oh, right! So, if you've witnessed the shadow moving, would you say that..."
Walking up to a table, Alia briefly looks it over, a bit confused on the layout, but sits down next to a younger man and picks up the dice for a nice game of Bounder, placing five of her silver chips down. As she rolls the dice, she keeps her journal on the table nearby, and turns to the man, little interest in what's happening on the table, "Greetings, sir. My name is Alia. You look like a well traveled man. Might you be here for that shadow in the sky? I have traveled far to study it, you understand, and the locals have been of little help. What do you know of it? Can you tell if it cast's a shadow upon the land when the sun passes behind it? Or does the sun even pass behind it?" She continues to ask questions about the mysterious shadow, trying to gather all the information she can on it from anyone who might show even the slightest inclination of interest.
From beneath her robe a quick chirp sounds forth before Alia can silence it, casting a quick and sharp look at Karry before whispering into her neckline, "I know, but now is not the time to be out and singing. There's danger below and above. Stay there until I say it's safe to come out, you hear?" Walking slowly towards the imp, Alia looks up at it, studying it, Such things never end well... Shuddering, she moves on with the others to the games, reassuring them about the contracts, "They're just silly props, do not worry. Your souls will not be in forfeit if you lose. Well, not anymore than they would be otherwise... Though that imp up there might cause trouble if it breaks free." She looks about the room, looking for someone who might look a bit more... scholarly, to discuss the shadow in the sky, maybe someone from out of town since everyone in town seems to not care anymore, This is, of course, the only reason I came to this... And Saul did give me that pass for free... Might as well make the most of it!
For a moment, she studied the creature in the cage. It seemed somewhat familiar from the books she'd read. Something about the horns and the long, pointy tail. The leathery wings, too, of course. What was it...
The document didn't look right. It read more like a prop made up to excite the "rube" into thinking they were joining something bigger and more dangerous. The age of the papyrus lent an authentic note to the tale spun within the wording. But there was something else about it she couldn't quite put her finger on. Something just on the tip of her tongue...
Alia follows behind the group, and well behind the cat. As they move to the Goblin, she keeps casting a watchful eye to the sky. Entering the Goblin, she immediately looks about for Saul and is surprised by the sudden difference in style and scenery the place has assumed since she left this morning. The gaudy decorations, the cages, the contract, even the bodyguards that could have been plucked right off the street of her hometown. Hmm, something about this seems off
"Yes, thank you...", Alia manages as she accepts her honeyed mead, "Are you sure your cat doesn't want more meat? I don't want for it to be hungry..." She slides a plate of cheese between herself and Karry as she watches the feline, taking in every line and tuft of fur, every nuance of coloration and glance.
Alia just stares at the cat as Liara talks, Oh, dear... I hope it's not hungry. Is it staring at me...? I didn't know such large animals were allowed inside... oh, dear... She seems to be nodding as Liara speaks, but completely oblivious to everything she is saying, her eyes riveted on the giant cat, clutching her journal close to her in some sort of defensive position.
Alia smiles when Alfsigr comes in, "A pleasure to meet you. I... have no idea if they are hiring. I imagine they might be, since they are freshly opening, no? Perhaps there is still a position or two still available!" When Liara comes in and sits down, speaking of the shadow in the sky, "I know, right!? The insanity. It seems as if they have just accepted it as part of their everyday lifestyle. Tell me... hold on," she says as she redips her pen. "Tell me, when you see the shadow, can you see objects moving through it? Perhaps at night, do you see the stars beyond? I'm new in town, you understand, so have not had much time to study it myself. And, of course, the streets are not very... well, safe. Especially at night. But, I'm not studying that. Does this shadow seem to... move or swirl... when you watch long enough? You can tell me anything. It's for research."
Alia smiles at Devon and replies in a thick Osirion accent, "Alia Talin. I'm... not sure what my game is. I'm not much into gambling. Saul invited me. You know Saul? Owner of the place?" She grabs a well worn journal and places it on the table. She then rummages about in a small pouch on her side and brings out an inkpen and bottle of ink, "Tell me, Devon... what do you know about that strange shadow in the sky. Don't hold anything back. Have you seen it maybe move with the wind? Like this?" she asks, motioning a hand to a stray crumb of food that moves with a breeze coming from no obvious source.
If you don't mind the breeze that seems to follow her around, I'm sure the fair-skinned, innocent looking sylph wouldn't stand out in a Riddleport crowd at all! And fresh from the lands of Osirion, too! |
