Agreed.
It was a pleasure gentleman and ladies.
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Good enough. Damn...I wish I had Eftil around... Evengi smiles and flips the lady a silver, not waiting to see if she catches it, but whirls away on his boot-heel and heads out of the alleyway. Lyrian Rising...the family must be fairly debauched if the Lady is wasting time in a sheesha den. Nothing like rotting the brain and sapping the will...well at least I know where this place is...its been the talk of the stock-room for the last few days. Evengi made his way down the streets, his boots rapping on the cobblestones. Soon he stood across the street from the den. It was tucked in what was an old boarding house on the edge of the district, right were the houses of the upperclass turned to the shops of the middleclass. The building was nondescript, what looked like a normal house. Evengi wouldn't have even known it existed but for some deliveries of furniture and oddities from the shop, and the wagging tongues of the workers setting up the Lyrian Rising bragging to the stock room boys. I don't think barging in going to work this time. I should just keep my eyes open for a few days until I see her go in. Evengi found a doorway of a closed shop a bit down the street and tucked in to wait...patient as a hunter in the woods.
Evengi smiles jauntily at the woman. "Well you look like a woman who knows how to have a good time. Tell me, if I were a rich sot like one of them Falrins, where would I go to grab a drink?"
Undeterred, Evengi moves on, looking for the loading or servant's entrance to any upscale inns or eateries in the area.
Evengi stops and talks to several footmen and servants as he walks through the upper class district. A scullery maid:
Where would a rich snob drink....perhaps The Lion, or one of the other smoking clubs. Evengi makes his way across town into the upscale district. The roads change from cobblestone to smooth flagstone, regularly swept clear of dirt and detrius.
Noticing the return of the management, Evengi simply shakes Mr. Farin's hand. "Good day to you sir." he says and returns to the back room. I cannot follow him now...but I have a name, and I should be able to find his house in the city without much problem, the porters and footmen in the taverns after work will be able to point me to him. Plus I don't want to get fired today...I still have to eat!
For a moment, there is the sound of rushing blood in Evengi's ears, and the anger boils up. Focus on the hunt Evengi...do not let the prey know you are a threat. Don't move from the blind until it is time to take the shot. "Ah. Well. I am not certian that I knew any Empire sympathizers here in the city, everyone I knew was solidly for the rebellion. But it sounds like you and your family are true heroes of the rebellion." Evengi pauses and thrusts out his hand. "If I may shake your hand sir? Also, if I may, I would like the opportunity to buy you a drink sometime, perhaps this evening if you have the time."
"Falrin family? I am sorry that I do not place the name sir. I know that I have heard of your family, so you must be someone of some importance, but I cannot recall how. Do you mind refreshing my knowledge sir?"
"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."
"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."
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...."
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.
Expecting denunciation, or accusations, Evengi is put off for a moment. "Ah, I, uh. You are welcome. I did only what a man of honor would have done." Evengi grimaces, getting colder in the rain. "If you don't mind, I am going home. This day has been exciting enough for me and I don't want any part of an interrogation. I have to get some rest (and a beer) before going back to work tomorrow."
Evengi stands in the rain, water pouring down his face. He had considered slipping away, but only for a moment. It wasn't honorable, nor was it appropriate for a man of his lineage. Hunters knew when the time was to turn and make a stand. For all he knew Jobe was the man that had ordered his family slaughtered...or allowed it to happen. At the very least, he had connections, connections that he could not afford to dismiss if he was going to proceed in his quest. His hands clenched and unclenched in quiet anger, waiting for Jobe, rain soaking him to the skin.
Fighter, average.
Khallans...why? Why would they chose such a cowardly and wretched...this makes no sense, this must be a setup by Jobe to get the agreement that he wants...possibly. Except the diplomats would have been dead if I hadn't chosen to go with them. What is going on? Evengi trails behind the diplomats as they move upstairs and out of the temple.
Evengi moves off to the side of the chamber to stay as inconspicuous as possible. Moving smoothly and calmly he puts the knives that he was using to fight down on the lid of one of the tombs and shuffles near the pack of diplomats, schooling his expression back to its vacuous normality.
"Curses." Evengi strips out of his shirt, rips a couple of long strips off of the torn fabric and then binds the assailant's hands behind his back, looping them repeatedly and tying multiple knots. It may not work well, but it might slow him down a minute or more. Now for the woman...Tesla? What was her rank? Evengi leaves the man and moves over to see how he can aid Tesla. "This would be easier if I had supplies...or a healer's kit. This may sting a bit lady, but I will do my best."
"Anyone else have any skill with healing?"
Evengi moves like a shot, tackling the remaning assassin and bearing him to the ground. "Quick! I need something to tie this villian up! You there, boy, see if you can find something to bind this man. The girl will be fine for a moment or two."
"If you can get that beast over here, we can form a line and keep the assassins away from the wounded." Evengi shouts to the children
Evengi parries the assassin's weapon away with a clatter, sending a spit of sparks into the darkness from the clashing blades. Seizing the opening, he strikes, carving a deep slash across the warrior's chest.
Evengi focuses on the man before him, looking for any opening he can find.
While the attack keeps the assailant focused on Evengi, it does nothing to wound him or stop his assault.
The sudden burst of light and color causing Evengi's eyes to swim, he blinks furiously as he dodges a lunge from one of the attackers. As he weaves to the side he spots the outline of the child at the end of the stairwell. For a moment, she merely looks familiar, then Evengi realizes that she is one of the local children who were at the banquet. "Dammit child! I cannot protect you against these odds, run and get help!"
"Oh well, nobody lives forever." Evengi mutters as he lunges at one of the men, trying to keep them off of Tesla.
"Lady, how are you doing? Are you going to be able to hold on until we stop the rest of these villains?" Evengi asks as he turns and looks to see how many of the enemy remain.
Evengi disengages and takes the best path that he can find to assist Tesla, avoiding any other engagements where he can. Flanking the warrior engaged with Tesla, he presses his advantage in a furious flurry of stabbing cuts.
"Quick, now that he is distracted, blast him with your magic!"
No joke. Bump.
"Damnable stairs! Push them back!" Evengi flips the dagger in his hand and launches it at the wounded assassin, he then switches hands and tosses the remaining dagger to his right hand.
"Thank you.", Evengi says over his shoulder, keeping his eyes on the advance of the masked men.
"You back there, shut up. If you have a weapon, get over here and stand ready, someone is coming down the stairs, and it is uncertain if they are friend or fiend." Evengi draws his daggers and stands ready.
I am fine. Thank you.
Evengi looks around for a way out of the catacombs. I certainly don't want to get trapped down here if the whole temple comes down...or if the attackers come down the stairs. I could use a better weapon too. Evengi looks ruefully at the sharp dinner knives that he filched. [i]Let's see, if I was a way out, where would I hide?[/b] Evengi starts poking around the tomb, pointedly ignoring the delegates.
"Eftil, you know that I don't have any skills that can help you. I will have to go to the catacombs with the delegation." Now I wish I had my bow... As he stands to follow the delegation, Evengi grabs two of the nearest knives off the table and puts them in his belt. He then dashes after the delegates.
"What is to trust? As long as the trade items are worth while and both parties agree, trade continues. I wouldn't trust the smelly tribesmen at my auntie's for dinner, but if they bring trade-goods, I am willing to work with them."
"Lethondi are brutes, but to assume that they will be able to get themselves organized to be a threat anytime soon is a bit much. Unless you have heard anything? We certainly don't know of any warload riling up the tribes." Evengi pauses to break a piece of bread. "There is a fair amount of trade with the tribes, it would be a shame if it stopped. Saurian bone does make nice decorative accents on woodwork."
Evengi is oblivious to the goings on of the twins, as he continues to talk about trade with the Ambassador.
Evengi thinks furiously, Where is he going with this question? Is this a trap of some sort? He has no idea who I am nor should he care... "Ambassador, I think that there are several factors at work that aided Corail. As you said, the sea-lanes are open. That is of huge benefit as it allows trade to take place, um, unhindered. Secondly, the merchant class was left largely untouched by the rebellion. As you saw when you arrived, Lord's Landing was barely harmed by the, um, recent unpleasantness, and therefore the vast majority of the wealth was still available and undamaged. Essentially, the removal of nobility forced the movement of trade away from the extreme luxury goods favored by some of the Khallan upper classes and to new markets, wherever they could be found." Evengi dips his bread in a manner similar to the Ambassador. "This is really good bread." The melange of flavors is unfamilar to Evengi and he isn't sure he really likes the taste. "People have become enterprising and started taking risks where once they would have not." He takes a sip of wine to cleanse his mouth. "That is what my boss says anyways. I think that people are just happy to be free of the Khallan yolk and are enjoying the moment like grasshoppers. After watching Mr. Jobe a bit, I think that he is probably the ant of the parable."
Heh. They were all opressed one way or another I bet. Funny that Jobe basically stacked the deck with a pack of victims. "oh woe is me..." well except for Eftil and myself... Evengi stands to address the dignitaries. "Evengi Kooper your honors. It is a great pleasure to meet such august personages, such as yourself. I can say with great honesty that the guilds of Lord's Landing are always in favor of, ah, having favorable ties with our neighbors, especially if that favor warns off, ah, rapacious powers such as the Khallans, allowing for our nations to grow in peace and prosperity. If you are, ah, interested in finding some momento of Corail before you, ah, depart on your return trip, than I would like to suggest visiting Boward's Imports. Thank you." Evengi sits down.
Evengi sat calmly at the table, leaning back and slightly relaxing. Nobody was jumping up on the table and denouncing him, and there was certainly no way a Nethysian would know him. The event was looking more and more enjoyable. He smiled and sipped his wine and watching the delegation approach. Interesting that the leader is so young.
"It isn't as if you cannot find work, its that you cannot find work that suits you. Which is why I can consider you a friend. Come on, let us sit down before all the chairs are filled."
We are Khallans, by blood, if not by honor. Evengi thinks with fury. He sips at his wine to hide the look on his face, giving himeslf a moment to calm his mind and compose his visage. "Sir! I ah, is there anything specifically that you need us to say or do? I have dealt with important clients, but never with foreign dignitaries.", Evengi asks, sounding obsequious even to himself.
Evengi smiles, "I am happy that you have heard of us, of course we are the finest purveyors of fine imports here in Corilia and especially here in Lord's Landing. Do you keep a house here in town? If so we just brought in a shipment of silks from Xoltia that would make some impressive furnishings. I of course would be happy to show them to you."
Evengi shakes Rodrik's hand. "Evengi of Boward's Imports." he says with gusto, as if he were advertizing for the company. He continues in a slightly more subdued voice,"I am not aquainted with a Mr. Jobe, sir. I was instructed by Mr. Winthrop to attend. He said that I was to go and represent the merchant class or some such. I would hazard a guess that Mr. Jobe knows one or more of the partners at Boward's." "von Nassau is a very interesting appellation. Is it a familial name, or title or merely represent the town that you are from?"
Evengi's face is like an ivory mask for the barest of seconds, then he sips his wine. "We all love freedom Eftil. Otherwise we wouldn't be here today."
A young, well appointed man enters the hall and stands in the entry, looking about at the alterations before looking across those who have gathered before him. His clothes are finely made, though without significant ostentation. He has black hair held back with a simple clasp and brown eyes. As he moves across the floor his eyes light on a certain noctal, and a wry smile plays across his lips. "Eftil, good to see a familiar face, I do say. Though I certainly never expected to see you in a place such as this. I would have expected you to turn down a summons to such a public place." Evengi's eyes are drawn to a particular bottle on the table. Grinning he cracks the wax on the bottle and pours two glasses. "Now I know that this is a good occasion, otherwise why would there be a bottle of 6 year old Aurelian Highdale on the table. This is something to enjoy! We certainly won't be getting much wine out of Aurelia with the revolts going on." Evengi presses the wine glass into Eftil's hand. Seeing that he is being watched by not a few of the other guests, he bows slightly, then raises his glass, "To Corellia, the strength of her arms, and the wisdom of her leaders." he toasts. Turning back to Eftil he looks at his noctal drinking companion. "How is it that you are here Eftil? I received the notice from Mr. Winthop, the senior partner, while I was still at work at Boward's Imports. We had an incoming shipment of wines and spirits coming in that I had to turn over to an assistant so I could make it in time."
Am I cleared to jump into the game?
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