real bad week. will look things over this weekend.
Search Posts
"I really don't mind walking until I fall into my bedroll. I want to sleep under the stars. It's gorgeous out here, the further we go out from that city." Sheska smiles and looks around at the others.
Sheska fits her bedroll and sack of extra rations on the wagon bed and then starts walking just to the right of the wagon. "And we're off!" she exclaims gleefully.
Sheska
"A small-time half-elven merchant, for the who. The what is a lot more interesting, but we can fill you in on the way." She takes a last, long swig of water. "And then there will be plenty of time for you both to tell the rest of us anything you found out about that old man."
Sheska arrives at the inn and slaps a few copper pieces down on the bar for some bread, cheese and water. Then, spying Aelina and Duatha, she goes to join them. "You're all done? Great!" Sheska punctuates her comment by taking a big bite out of her bread. "We managed to get a wagon, contingent on delivering some goods at our destination. The others will be here shortly, once they snag the horses." She gnaws at her cheese and takes a swig of water. "Oh yes, of course." From her satchel, Sheska produces Duatha's charred spellbook. "Thanks again. I'll return the favor along the journey. And, oh my, am I ready to leave this city."
Sheska arrives at the inn and slaps a few copper pieces down on the bar for some bread, cheese and water. Then, spying Aelina and Duatha, she goes to join them. "You're all done? Great!" Sheska punctuates her comment by taking a big bite out of her bread. "We managed to get a wagon, contingent on delivering some goods at our destination. The others will be here shortly, once they snag the horses." She gnaws at her cheese and takes a swig of water. "Oh yes, of course." From her satchel, Sheska produces Duatha's charred spellbook. "Thanks again. I'll return the favor along the journey. And, oh my, am I ready to leave this city."
Sheska finishes her inspection and starts the hike back to the inn. GM: You typed "you have never seen this material before. and your detect magic/knowl arcana does" and was the last word "nothing" or?
Sheska halts her exit when Zak reveals the hidden stones. She is quite irritated with the merchant by now, but she holds her tongue. Sheska tries to think if she has seen any of this rock occur naturally in her wanderings.
Then she focuses on the largest stone she can see and casts a spell to try and discover whether it emits foul sorcery.
Today just as bad. Post this weekend. Sorry.
Might be another day before I post. Am under the weather.
Sheska peers into the open trunk. Such strange-looking implements, she thinks.
She hasn't ever heard of the drug that is mentioned, which surprises her. Always room for more in the world. Sheska focuses her mind, gestures with her left hand, and says "Arilosu". The wizard focuses for maybe 20 seconds on the bars.
That done, she says, "Well, let's go get the mules to haul the wagon and then head back to the inn, where the others are, hopefully."
Sheska chuckles at Bander's remark. "True. But I think any guards at a gate will be a lot more curious about a heavy cargo box than the contents of your pockets." She looks back at Nareem. "I don't mean to be dramatic. But, understand that knowing what is in the cargo box goes beyond any idle curiosity, for those who propose to travel with it."
"You are going to let us see what's inside. I'm not hauling contraband around anywhere; jail doesn't agree with me." Sheska tilts her head toward the cargo box. While Nareem's desperation has certainly played a part in Sheska's assenting to this, she knows that same desperation might have caused the woman to make poor choices. Sheska's generosity ended at exactly that point at which it brought woe to her, or any she called companion. "Trust us fully or not at all."
"Good thought, Fuma. Saves us walking," Sheska says.
"Let's wait at the inn and have some quick lunch. I'm sure they'll be along shortly," Shaksa says. She turns to the half-elf. "We'll pick up your wagon on our way out of the city."
"Why don't we go back to the inn for some lunch and wait for the others?" Sheska asks. She tells the half-elf, "We will swing by on our way out of the city, to get the wagon."
Sheska grins at Fuma and Zak. "Thank you, both. These are things I know nothing about," she admits. She glances over to Torin. "You have a point. But if a time comes when the cargo is in peril, it seems likely we will be in peril ourselves." Turning at last to the merchant, she says, "Just let me know any details or special instructions we may need." Sheska thinks, Why am I so sympathetic to her plight? Maybe it's just I know what she may be reduced to if her business fails.
"Aeleni and Duatha left on their errand, and we were left to get a wagon. And we have. I see no need to wait for their permission." Sheska peers up at the sky. "Assuming they get back soon, we could actually cover some miles today." Sheska tells the half-elf, "I'll take the job." She looks over at the paladin. "You drive, and I'll care for the mules in the evening?"
Sheska, too.
"Look at you, Bander, finding us honest work," Sheska says, smiling down at the kender.
Sheska thanks Duatha for entrusting her with his spellbook. "I will keep it safe as my own." She casts read magic and leafs through the spellbook before finding one spell she does not currently know. Taking an hour to attempt to learn its intricacies, she attempts to scribe it into her own.
Satisfied, Sheska puts Duatha's rather charred looking spellbook in her satchel with her own immaculate red one.
Wandering the market, she finds the shop wherein she can buy more scribing ingredients. Sheska asks at the counter for one of the special inks that and is delighted to hear they have that in stock.
Afterward, Sheska wanders through the market, eventually running into the others. She finds herself not really concerned with the state of wagons but is eager to get on the road.
After slugging down some alcohol (a cure she calls "a whore's toothbrush"), Sheska assists Torin--with her money and her energies--in prepping for the journey. She has felt better, but she is determined to be of use. "If you don't mind having me along?" she asks the dwarf. "Or do you need to send me out to buy something?"
In Sheska's brief conversation with Duatha in the morning, she replies:
In Elven:
"Of course, it can wait. I hope it does not disturb you that I focus on evocation magics. I am so sorry to hear about what happened to your homeland." Then, when the party goes shopping, Sheska digs around in her money pouch and produces 100 steel pieces. "I hope this can help go toward something that heals."
oops, have no UMD; that was an earlier iteration of my character. on the bright side, I have 100 st.p. to throw down toward healing stuff.
Let me pick through equipment again and see what steel I can spare. Sheska does have UMD at +8, so she has a chance on using said wand on healer if healer is not conscious.
By the time she quaffs her ninth ale, the wizard's dialect is really starting to show through in her Common speech. Sheska tells Zek, gesturing with a flourish down at his mug and heavily trilling her "R"s, "Heeey now, my ferrriend, you'rrre subbosed kehebing ub!" She laughs. Rather than be slowed down by the alcohol, Sheska finds a dizzying happiness in following the conversations of her new-found companions, regardless of whether she understands the language. To Torin: "A wagon? Are weee trrraveling incognitoo? Brrrilliant!" At the mention of everyone learning the minotaur's native tongue, Sheska is effusive. "Koosian. Yeees, teach us someh worrrds! Blease." She does not desist until she has managed to mangle the Kothian words for "kender", "cider" and "elfmaid". Drink ten: "Baaanderrr, what maps you have? Any maps. I want too see oone." Sheska smiles. Drink twelve: "Duasa, what yourrr favorrrite spell? Iiif you could only choose oone." Her hands gesture grandly. Drink fourteen: "Fuuumaaa. So quieht. Yoou should neeever drink zis much. You have to bractice firrrst." Sheska holds up her sixteenth ale in salute to Aeleni. "Saay what you wiiill, she's got a smile too drrrown sailorrrs. And I will be fine for the morrrow, zank you for yourrr concerrrn. So sweet!" She downs her final drink just as Zak is dragging her back to the rooms. Sheska waves her hands at herself. "I drrrank morrre. You lost. Simple maaas. And you are eight times biggerrr." She trills a laugh. ----- Next morning, Sheska emerges from her room with both eyes open the merest slits. She marches directly to the innkeep and starts counting out steel pieces into his hand until he brings her some form of alcohol. The wizard chugs it, wipes her mouth and sighs. She then collects her possessions and tries to figure out what she can chip in on a wand and a wagon. When Sheska first sees Duatha, she asks him: Elven: "Is there any certain spell you might wish to perhaps copy from my spellbook, as we travel?"
Sipping a little bit more liberally from her cup than she probably should, Sheska pipes in, "I took the main road to get down here. It's efficient. Though I must say I am curious to see the Rhin." In reply to Duatha, in Elven: "Yes, Algat. He's a bit of taskmaster, but he is generous in sharing his learning. I met him on a ship to Caergoth. Pirates attacked us, and Algat saved all of us with his spells. While he was otherwise occupied, a stray burning arrow sailed into the passengers' quarters. I managed to save his spellbook from combustion. So he ended up offering me a chance to pursue a calling I had never dared before dream of. I owe him everything. "With whom did you apprentice?"
Sheska invites the rest of them, especially Zak--whom she knows could really use a drink---back to the dive-bar serving the inn where she's staying. The wizard manages to keep her seat pretty steadily while pounding back ales, though her laugh gets progressively louder. "I don't indulge much. But let's cel-e-brate!" Sheska's ready to head out the next morning, her relaxed brown gaze undimmed by the night's revels. "You quite ready to leave, Bander?" she asks the kender. She's changed out of her city-wear into a thick, dull-red tunic and a well-fitted gray traveler's cloak. Her backpack is burdened with provisions and topped with a bedroll, and she clutches her satchel to her side. The only apparent weapons she carries are two daggers sheathed right next to each other on her left hip. Sheska seems able to carry the whole ensemble without looking weighed down. "Exactly what route were we thinking of taking, Duatha?"
Thank you everyone for your believable characters! This is already my most fun pbp game.
Thank you everyone for your believable characters! This is already my most fun pbp game.
Sheska just looks back at Aeleni with a straight-lipped, completely unexcited expression on her face. "The joy." Later, after having their possessions returned to them, Sheska's mood turns back to the positive: she is finally re-united with her spellbook! Bound in burgundy-red-treated leather, this one of her two most valued possessions measures 12" by 15". Sheska hefts its familiar and solid four pounds. She encloses it carefully in a water-resistant wrapping before sliding it back into her satchel.
Sheska sighs deeply as the case is overturned for what sounds like the final time, and then her full lips curve into a wide smile. She listens to the offer of a paid job to sojourn back to Palanthas. I have reason enough as any to travel with this group, Sheska thinks. Besides, the minotaur said the first couple rounds of drinks were on him. "I'm in." She looks around to see if all the rest are willing. As Duatha assents, Sheska feels pleased for some odd reason. Then it occurs to her that his intelligence seems perhaps more formidable than her own. And that means my favorite elf will be along as well. But, too, the paladin. Sheska had meant it when she said she admired Fuma's creative thinking. When Bander calls out his question to the old man, Sheska can't help but listen to see if there is any reply.
Sheska Kune blinks her deep brown eyes four times. "This has gotten absurd. Not what you are saying, Fuma. Although what you're saying is very strange. But, when we get released this time, we have to lodge a formal complaint against the old man. Or maybe even offer to testify in court this time that he is making unfounded accusations." She looks over at Torin. "Probably better than threatening him at home." Turning to the jailor, she asks, "How long until we have to be in court?"
Sheska squints her eyes. "Fuma, you're saying if we had a nice bit of tea first, we could just wait and go later? That doesn't make sense, as Jorin is the one telling us that it's time. And even if it made sense, I don't think I can humor you." The conjurer scrunches her brow. "If it's a time loop, then why do weeks pass out there in the city just fine? I really don't see your hypothesis holding up." Sheska smiles slightly. "But please, keep that creativity at hand. It might yet prove useful."
"Oh, Jorin, how that must soothe your conscience to say you don't want to use that monstrous device on Bander." Sheska says as she stands up. "But you're willing to, which makes you no better than the next jailor." She bites her lower lip a moment and then asks, "Is there any way I could take responsibility for the kender?"
When Aeleni the beautiful but fierce delivers her jab at Sheska, the magician just laughs. "Oh, but I know what I am." Sheska walks over to the nearest stone wall and slides down with a sigh. Then, she asks the minotaur, "Zak, if they bring ale, can I please have one?"
Do note that all the things Sheska says are purely in character. *smile* And, just maybe (it's unclear), she does want to... share her spellbook... with Duatha. *laugh*
"I don't see calling someone out on racism as 'bickering', Fuma." Sheska takes a deep breath. "Of course your intention is pure. It's just that I was thinking of tagging along with Duatha for some conversations about magic, after we're done with all of this. If you're amenable to that, Duatha. And I would be quite put out if someone were not watching my back because I am merely human."
Sheska has been watching the conversation volley back and forth. She looks straight at Aeleni and says clearly for all to hear--with no accent--"I won't think all elves rude just because some are." In Elvish: "Or one."
"Well met, Duatha Sunshear, Zak, Bander Drunkensquirrel. Where are my manners? I am Sheska Kune, most recently from Palanthas, though I admit to traveling a bit." She holds up her hand and says, "Irthsimane." A tiny green flame springs up from her palm. "I am a conjurer of some small magics, but I have yet to take the Test."
I'm at GMT -7.
At the paladin's speculation, Sheska can't help but snort. Then she holds up her hands. "Don't get me wrong. Traveling together would be a delight. You are all certainly more interesting than the drunks at the inn I've been staying at--in between incarcerations." Her brown eyes shift over to the Qualenesti. "I would even get a chance to practice my Elvish," she says in that same language. Sheska manages the correct grammar, though her somewhat harsh accent shows through. "I just don't believe that perversity is entirely the realm of the divine." Sheska's brown-eyed gaze drops to Bander, and she gives a slight smile. "Or the theater, for that matter."
OK, started re-reading Chronicles last night on Kindle. 3 chapters in! hahaha.
I vote rated R. That's just me. (And, being bipolar, I get the whole depression suckage. All good.)
Sheska Kune leans against the rough stone wall of the room, looking down at her brown hands and spinning a silver ring around on her right index finger. She's dressed in men's clothing: a loose, light red buttoned shirt and long, white breeches which she somehow manages to keep inordinately clean. Except for her lush lips, her brown face looks boyish, too, under her short-trimmed black hair. Looking up, Sheska says to everyone in a gentle but firm voice somewhat strangely accented, "I used to think I was a patient woman, but this is pushing it." Wandering over to the wide window, she takes in a deep breath of air. It's almost worth it; I've just wanted to travel here for so long, she thinks. She spins around again and asks, "Who's up to visiting the market, after all is said and done?"
*chiming in* Thanks for the pick, Rizzen. Really looking forward to this. What was the posting rate again? I forget. Once or twice a day shouldn't be a problem for me. Just weekdays or weekends, too?
Hey, everyone. I'm a wizard! *smile* Not a monk. Name of Sheska Kune (rhymes with rune). She's from Taman Busuk. So, RIZZENMAGNUS, here are my stats/equipment in my profile. Should all be complete except some tiny details on mundane equipment. Most of my gold went to scrolls to add to my spellbook and scribed scrolls. Also, anyone, what are some good regional languages? I have a couple slots open. |