No problem - I've got a busy weekend but let's make a plan to pick this up on Monday and try to post more often from then on :)
Any luck with your vignettes?
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Hi - sorry for vanishing, minor family emergency. I will post in gameplay in the next day or so and then be back more regularly. How are you doing? I think the next section will have some PMs so if you can let me know whether you are up to that, would be helpful :)
Thanks for letting me know you're still around :) Must be nice to reconnect with people and I get your SO demanding your time as well.
The young men start to shuffle their feet slightly as Mira gives them a telling-off, and their faces redden slightly with embarrassment at the directness of her talk. "Yeah, we should get going." One of them gives Breeze a quick nod. "Sorry about our friend there, he didn't mean anything by it. I hope you're ok." Two of the others approach Alexiad, giving the priest a pat on the shoulder as they take their friend back. "It's ok mate, we've got it from here. C'mon, Ludo, time to get home." They stagger out of the tavern and you hear a retching sound from one or two of them as the alcohol catches up with them. Tace comes back in, drawn by the sound of the shouting. She's carrying an evil-looking cudgel in one hand, but the trouble has gone by the time she arrives. She catches Breeze up in a hug. "I'm so sorry that happened to you, I should have kicked them out a while back but they were quiet and they paid well and I didn't think they'd cause trouble. Come on, let's get you upstairs, it's been a long day." She gives Mira a grateful nod.
I'm liking the new posting rate, hopefully it's sustainable :D How are you doing with the vignettes?
Breeze is still blushing, but she nods gratefully at Mira's help. "Thank you. They're all paid up, I was just clearing away." She makes a face. "I should probably have just waited until they'd left, but they seemed nice enough earlier, you know, polite and well-dressed. They tipped well too."
"Owww! What are you doing, you maniac? Get OFF me!" The youth squirms in Alexiad's grip but isn't able to free himself. He continues to shout all the way to the door. His friends are confused by the suddenness of Alexiad's assault, but do recover their wits enough to stumble to their feet. Their mood is uncertain - if they build up their courage, they could try to free their friend. On the other hand, they might be sufficiently wary to just go. It hangs in the balance...
It's pretty late by this point, the two of you have been talking most of the evening and the room is now mostly empty. The only other remaining visitors are a small group of well-dressed youths huddled in one corner. They're not local: Trail's End has a reputation for being poor and seedy without being too unsafe, so it occasionally attracts richer kids who like to pretend they're slumming it without putting themselves at the sort of risk they'd find if they went somewhere truly bad, like Thieves Camp or Old Korvosa. Tace has been slowly tidying up and wiping down the bar, and has disappeared into the back room to help clear up in the kitchen. Breeze is collecting used glasses from the table when one of the youths, his face flushed red with alcohol, wraps a drunken arm around her waist and whispers something to her. Breeze turns bright red and hastily pulls herself away and there's a chorus of laughter from the rest of the group. "Aw, come on, don't be shy, we're only being friendly..."
That works for me, I'm fine with prioritising the gameplay :) 2-4 posts a week is something I'm pretty sure i can stick to as well. Thanks for the update.
No problem, the last 12+months have been horrendous for everyone and I'm glad you're still around. With that said, when do you think you'll be able to get a post up, and what sort of posting schedule do you think you can stick to? (Don't make wild promises here, I'm just looking for some sort of idea of what we can reasonably expect)
Just checking in: how are you doing?
Get well! I appreciate the update :)
Thanks for the update. As long as you are around, that is the main thing. Go deal with RL and we'll pick this up when you can :)
...assuming we are live?
Hope you are doing ok. I'm posting in gameplay to keep this game live :)
Thanks for the post. Honestly, after the last 12 months we've all had I'm just glad to know people are still around!
Understood, thanks for keeping me updated :)
How's things? Still around?
Merry Christmas! Perhaps we can pick this up again in the new year?
No worries! Still here ^_^
I'm going to hold off on posting more, to give you time to write your vignettes :)
Good to know you are ok.
Hope you are doing ok. if you need some time after what happened in Vienna that's fine.
Ruan nods. "That sounds like a lot of wisdom. And I agree with you about slavery. It sounds as though Deyanira and her sister value you for who you are, too. I do not think you will have trouble finding friends, if you know where to look."
Yeah, this year is doing a number on people. I'm hanging in there and will keep posting as I can.
"No. I think Breeze may have a bit of a puppy crush on my brother, but Deyanira is all about you.", Mira reaffirms him when Ruan voices his worries. Ruan gives a friendly laugh at Mira's description of Breeze's crush before giving her a piercing glance. "And what of yourself? I briefly saw your tattoo, I know what it means. I hope it hasn't soured your view of men. I hope you have someone who values you and cares about you and doesn't think they can buy you." When Deyanira returns, Mira listens, smiles, laughs, then withdraws, casually finding her way to Breeze:"Hej Breeze - my brothers holding a Vigil all night. I think you'll find more sleep tonight if you come up to the attic and sleep next to me - that and I'm sure your sister would appreciate the privacy." Breeze is still grinning at her sister, but pays attention when Mira approaches her. "Oh, thanks - but Ruan has a room of his own here if they're going to, you know." She reddens slightly. Gradually, the evening breaks up and people start to go home or make their way to their beds in the tavern.
Ruan looks puzzled, and then slightly amused at Mira's comments. "Oh. I wasn't sure if - it's just that I-" Realising that he isn't making much sense, he smiles and starts again. "Sorry. I have wanted to approach Deyanira for a while, but I wasn't sure if there was something between her and this priest - your brother. The way she talks about it, he saved Deyanira and Breeze from some very bad stuff, and I was wondering if there was any feelings there. When I first started becoming famous, a lot of the local girls were suddenly very interested in me and I had to make it clear I wasn't going to 'steal' them if they were already in a relationship. So I have been trying to work out whether Deyanira and your brother are a thing." "But from what you tell me, it sounds like they're not - she just talks about him a lot because she's grateful. It can be hard to tell. And I didn't want to get in the way." He smiles again. "Although it sounds like I have got in the way of myself!" At the question of gangs, his face darkens slightly. "Most of the guys I was with are now dead, or in jail. The smart ones and the lucky ones got out. Gangs change so fast around here, I don't know any of them, they know me well enough to keep out my way." When Deyanira returns to the table, Ruan pulls out a couple of tickets and hands them over to her. "I've been meaning to do this for a while, but I wasn't sure if you were with someone. Would you like to come to the opera house with me one evening? Not when I'm performing, I mean, that would be... tacky. But there are some friends of mine putting on a show and I think you might like it. And then after, if you like, we could-" He doesn't get much further because Deyanira kisses him soundly. (Breeze wolf-whistles in the background, but they aren't paying her any attention)
Oof, where did the last 6 weeks go?! Still here, sorry again for dropping off.
Deyanira thinks it over, and the blush quickly fades, replaced by a look of distress as Mira's words are taken in a different direction. "But what if friends is all he does want? I mean, maybe he's glad to have someone who doesn't expect anything from him apart from his company. What if I'm looking for something that isn't there? If I try and move things on, I could mess up what we do have. I'd just be another girl who wants something from him." You are spared further anguished words from her when Ruan makes his way back to the table, carrying a bottle of wine and three glasses. He opens the bottle, and pours out a glass for the two girls and then one for himself. "Cheers, to both of you. Mira, it's a pleasure to make your acquaintance. So, how did you two get to know each other?" After about five minutes of casual conversation, Deyanira politely excuses herself. "I should just go and check whether they need any help in the kitchen. Won't be long." Ruan watches her leave, speculatively, before leaning forward and refilling your glass and his own. "Can I ask you something? The priest that I keep hearing so much about from Deyanira, from her sister, from Tace - he's your brother, right? Or have I completely misunderstood things?"
Deyanira looks slightly awkward. "He is nice - really nice. He makes a point of spending money here and trying to get people jobs in the city. The local tradesmen and carpenters get lots of work building stage props and so on, work they just wouldn't get without his influence. But - we're not together, exactly. Or at all, really. We met when I was serving here one evening and he came in, I had no idea who he was so I just treated him like any other stranger and he sort of liked that I was nice to him just because, rather than being after something. And every time he comes here, he spends time with me and we catch up, but..." She sighs. You get the impression she's been wanting to talk this over with someone for a while now. "I don't know, honestly. I've just been waiting for him to make a move, and he never does. Maybe he actually prefers girls who fawn over him? I could do that, I guess, but I don't want to. If he's not interested in me for who I am, then I'm certainly not going to throw myself at him."
Breeze shakes her head in reply: "No, it's ok, we got some help in for this evening. Just enjoy yourself." And indeed, it's true: there are several people serving behind the bar and helping Tace prepare and serve meals to the assorted guests. The crowd is much bigger than normal, so it makes sense to bring in some extra hands. Deyanira smiles up at Mira as she arrives back at the table. "Hey, good to see you. This is my friend, Ruan. Ruan, this is Mira." The slim man gives a friendly smile, the sort of smile that you get used to delivering when you're used to meeting large numbers of people: not fake, but clearly well-practiced. "Pleased to meet you. Are you staying here at the inn? Sorry for invading your home - I'm sort of the local boy made good, so every time I come back for a visit they all want to fuss over me." Deyanira rolls her eyes. "He's being modest again. He's not just the local boy made good - he's really famous. He's the best player of the ocarina in the entire city, he gives concerts and performances at the opera house all the time." Ruan almost visibly winces. "Actually, tonight I'm trying not to be Ruan Mirukova the Varisian virtuoso. I'd much rather just be plain Ruan, back among my people and having a nice evening with friends." He gives Mira a much more genuine smile this time, before standing up. "I'm just about to get us some more drinks from the bar. Would you like anything?"
When you return home (or rather, back to the tavern - which is probably as much home as you have had, ever) you find that there is a party in progress. It's the drunken singing that can be heard from the other end of the street that's the first clue. The second clue when you step into the taproom is the lights - lanterns hang from every beam - and the crush of people. It turns out that one of the local boys-made-good has returned to say hello to his old neigbourhood and is being given a hero's welcome. Tall, vaguely handsome in that classical Varisian way, the man is in his mid-twenties and sits with a friendly smile as people insist on buying him drinks and telling him news of what's been going on in his absence. He has one arm around Deyanira, Breeze's sister, who looks flattered by his attention. Deyanira sees you as you enter and waves you over with a smile - behind her back, Breeze points at the couple and mouths the word b-o-y-f-r-i-e-n-d with a smug grin.
Hope you are ok. Let me know where you want to go next :)
You spend some time with the girls, although you never learn the blonde one's name. The redhead is called Jenni, and she enjoys talking, but enjoys other things more. Once you're finished, it's easy to slip away, especially now that the day is gone (it's late autumn and night falls early now). You can easily make it back to wherever you're headed.
Hi - sounds like you had a crappy time that is now much better! Am struggling slightly here but am still around and will get us moving again this weekend :)
Sorry to hear that, but I'm glad to hear from you. Take the time you need and we'll resume when you're ready :)
I hope you and your family are keeping well, whatever is going on. These are scary times.
Don't worry - things are pretty busy here too. Just wanted to make sure it wasn't one of those "waiting on me, waiting on you to post" situations :)
Hope you are doing ok - think I'm waiting on your reply to my PM?
Oops, I thought I said already: it's a masked ball with Halloween (or Golarion equivalent) themes. That probably got lost somewhere along the way this wasn't meant to be a complication!
It takes you a while, but you eventually find what you are looking for: the post has been delivered to the butler's office, but it has not yet been sorted and sent up to the right rooms. Picking up the various envelopes, you eventually find one addressed to the Hon. Jan Astille, inviting him ("and Guest") to the Carowyn's festival celebrations. A handwritten note is pinned to the front of the invitation by a pair of badges in the form of gilded lilies: Dear Jan, I look forward to seeing you there. Bring someone young and pretty (not that you need to be told that!). As before, wear the badges to gain privileged access. --A.C AC is of course Lord Ausio Carowyn himself. Black Asp has never met him, but Mira has had that unpleasure on more than one occasion.
"unh..." The redhead succumbs to your touch as much as to your force of personality/suggestion. She leans in to you, pressing her lips against yours - her tongue slides into your mouth for the briefest moment, tasting of wine and desire - before firmly grasping her blonde companion. "Don't make me have to look for you, 'kay?" Leaning against each other and giggling, the two of them set off presumably towards the bedrooms. You are left alone to explore the mansion at your leisure.
With a barely-audible click, the lock gives way and you glide through, shutting the door carefully behind you. The inside of the house proves the truth of the saying: "While the cat's away, the mice will play." There is dust everywhere and no sign of any servants: no butler, no housekeeper, no footmen... You are just getting used to the silence when an upstairs door you are about to try suddenly bursts open and two young women (perhaps a couple of years older than you) run headlong into you before you can react. They seem to find this hilarious. "Whoops! Shorry." One of them, a redhead, apologises drunkenly - it seems they have clearly been in the wine cellar (and judging by their dishevelled clothing and hand-holding, that's not all they are up to). The other one, blonde, squints at you with one eye closed, trying to focus. "Are you Millie? Don't recognishe you with that mashk on. Oh! Are you a brug - a gblug - a thief?" They both seem to find the idea hilarious. "There'sh nothing here to shteal, they took it all with them." Blondie sidles around you. "I love your hair, it's sho fine." Redhead gives a pretend-scowl. "I shaw her firsht - but it's not her hair I was looking at." She steps in even closer, her hands travelling over your body. "We're gonna go find one of the master bedrooms, and have a play. You're lovely, way too nishe to be a thief. Come play with ush, maybe we can show you round after? You'll shee there's nothing to shteal." The combination of drinks and libido has left them unafraid of your sudden appearance. On the other hand, if they were sober and in their right minds they'd probably have run screaming for the guards outside, so there's that...
The Astille Estate is located somewhere on the 'border' between The Heights (full of wealthy upper-class snobs) and South Shore (which is where the truly wealthy and entitled live). It's about a mile or so from where House Carowyn live, but that mile makes all the difference in social terms. It also makes a difference to you: South Shore is ridiculously paranoid and secure, while The Heights for the most part tends to rely on the (heavy) presence of the Korvosan Guard. The Guard are - mostly - good at what they do and - mostly - incorruptible; but they wear armour and like all guardsmen everywhere, they don't tend to look up. It's fairly straightforward for you to avoid them. When you get to the Astille Estate, it's very obvious that the Astille family aren't home: there's a minimal guard presence at the main gate, and they're mostly focused on staying out of the damp Autumn rain. Skirting around the wall to avoid them is easy, and climbing the wall is not a problem. Getting inside the main house without being noticed might be another matter...
Glad you're still around and want to keep going. Let's just post as we can and see how it goes :)
Happy Easter - hope you and family are safe and well. I'm really sorry for lack of posts. My other half works in our healthcare system and I've spent the last couple of months supporting them and being worried about them which hasn't left much time or energy for anything else. It's got to the point now though when I do need something to act as an escape. If you're still interested in this I will get back to posting - let me know and sorry again for disappearing.
Congratulations! Take the time you need XD
Hope all ok and everyone safely back home!
Congratulations! I really hope it goes well for all of you. See you on the other side :D
The city is quietly in turmoil - there is nothing too obvious, but as you move and look around, you see signs of things being badly out of place: graffiti on the main streets insulting the King and his Queen - in ordinary times nobody would dare be that bold, and even if they were the Korvosan Guard would have it cleaned up almost immediately. It suggests that the Guard have other things to deal with. Also, there are more obvious mutterings - people you talk to who would normally not say anything are clearly unhappy with their rulers. But that is someone else's problem, provided you don't get caught up with any of the politics - and really, you have other things on your mind right now. Like revenge. Most of the people you still trust aren't very important in the grand scheme of things, which is one of the reasons you still trust them. But it does mean that they don't have much information about the doings of the nobles. After a frustrating few hours, one of your contacts directs you to a "fixer" that they know. The man leers at you as he talks, but in return for some unspecified future "favour" he is willing to tell you of a family he knows - the Astilles - who have had to leave town in a hurry due to a family emergency in Cheliax. The fixer gives you another leer: "They're proper posh, that lot, family ties in the Old Country, you know. Think they're better than we are. If there's any noble event anywhere in this town, they'll have been invited, for sure."
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