"what precisely do you offer? Do you plan to test us in some way before bringing us to meet your leader? Will you assure us that you and your leader are willing to give us the information that we seek regarding our lost janni?"
The she-elemental utters a rumbling laugh; she seems pleased to see that some of you are apparently second-guessing allying with Iyasset and the Ainsi.
"You have already made it through the Sandflow Source and that is enough of a test to suit any member of the Goanron," she answers back. "And the word of the Goanron is immutable - ally with us and I, Elsharon, give you my solemn vow that we will help you in your search for the wayward janni."
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She walks over to the three red-haired half-elves, and says, "My sister and I also perform. We'd love to jam with you. Five red-headed musicians of elvish descent? We'd be a sensation. I am so glad that you three are free now, and that you help free others. We haven't yet heard what our mission here is today. Maybe we''ll be assigned to help you!"
"I'm Damiar, by the way, and this is my twin, Iovo. We're from the elvish homeland!"
"No. Freaking. Way!" Kaba squeals as Damiar comes over to introduce herself and join the conversation. "What are the odds!? I don't know if it's just fate or maybe Desna smiling down on us but this has got to be a good omen! Even if you don't end up helping us, we'll still have the best jam session ever."
"Oh yeah, like our own mission," Kaba chimes in. "We're here to play for the party, that's not a lie, but we're here as official Pathfinders, too. Our job is tracking down slaves who were illegally smuggled out of Absalom after manumission by greedy underground slavers who didn’t want to lose their 'stock'..."
Her cheerful expression darkens for a moment, as do Kitt and Kora's.
"They earned their freedom just like we did. If things had turned out just a little differently it still might've been us in chains somewhere, instead of them. We owe it to them to bring them all back - each and every one. And who better to track down slavers than three former slaves? Accepting this job wasn't even a question for us."
Unwilling to take just anyone's word for it that the siblings will be okay, Lauranna pushes her way through the crowd gathered around them to examine them herself.
"It's...it's Kaba..." the red-headed flutist coughs as she tries to focus her eyes on Lauranna. "Um...looks like two. D-definitely two."
Then, in a smaller voice, she adds, "Um...why do you have rubber chickens?"
As for Kaba's state - and that of her siblings - Lauranna is able to confirm that they do seem to be out of the danger zone. And also that they've been stricken by a poison that drains vitality, such as dark reaver powder or wolfsbane, rather than something that affects cognitive functions such as bloodwine or brain rot.
"Nope, I didn't even know his name until you said something," Kaba replies, nodding at Santiago. "But I agree, he's definitely a sourpuss! It doesn't take a crystal ball to see that he's got some sort of beef with that woman over at the bar."
”Wymarc, at your service. Sorry, first time in Katapesh, and I have a question...I’ve seen more than a few half-Elves since my arrival but, for all I can tell, I’m the only Elf in all of Katapesh...can you tell me why this is so?”
Though Santiago had been making his way in the general direction of the stage - or had at least been planning to - he's beaten to the punch by a rather tall, quiet drink of water that enters the inn and quickly makes a beeline for the stage where the half-elves are setting up.
All three look up at the sound of his approach, their expressions friendly and curious. There's a distinct family resemblance here, making the trio likely siblings or at least close cousins and this is further evidence by the amused and perplexed look all three share as Wymarc introduces himself and poses a rather unusual question.
Joe Public wrote:
"It's cuz you, like, need to open your third eye, man," drawls a prone figure from a nearby bench. He sits up and slips on a pair of spectacles before running his fingers through his dark tangled hair. "Like, when you think about it, aren't we all elves? And, like, we're all humans, and dwarves, and frogs, and trees, man. All bound together as one cosmic mind. But we can't handle the truth, so we pretend you're an elf and I'm a frog because it's easier to live a lie. You gotta stand up for yourself, man! Wake up and fight the system!" The faint aroma of yesterday's ale and pungent spices hangs on his breath as he speaks more and more animatedly, his more energetic movements causing him to sway slightly.
All three of the half-elves burst into laughter at this and one the two women nods in agreement, her lips curving into an easy and teasing grin.
"What that guy said! Today I'm a half-elf but tomorrow...tomorrow is another day, full of new possibilities! Maybe tomorrow I'll be a cat or a human or a handsome king's pillow."
She sticks out her hand. "Name's Kaba. This is my sister Kora and our brother, Kitt," the half-elf explains, gesturing to the other two. "And I'm sorry, couldn't help but tease a little. Not sure I've got any good answers to your question for real, but I'd say that most elves probably have better places to be than here!"
As Altha waits patiently by the entrance to the Great Library Valais takes a moment to step forward and fold each of you - and Kitarlo - into a hug. And she gives Akarah a thankful smile.
"Thank you, my friends," she whispers. "No matter what Altha says, I couldn't have gotten this far without you. Thank you again for everything and I'll see you all again soon, alright?"
After you say your goodbyes Valais turns to Altha and nods, her expression resolute and full of hope for the future.
"Oh..." Valais murmurs as you explain the predicament she still finds herself in as well as your own. "I'm sorry," she sighs, shoulders slumping, "I didn't mean for this to cause everyone so much trouble. I'm so thankful for everything you and Kitarlo have done for me but I never wanted anyone to risk getting kicked out of Heaven!"
______________
For a moment, nothing seems to happen. But then as you watch, the soul of Valais seems to regain some degree of solidity and a bit of color returns to her cheeks. She blinks - once, twice, three times.
And then she looks around at everyone.
"Oh...you...I remember you..." Valais speaks, her words slow at first but then more rapid as she seems to regain more of herself. "We were going to go to Heaven, to try and find a cure for my troubles...right?"
Her gaze shifts beyond you to the beautiful fields and vistas beyond and her eyes widen with wonder.
"Is this it? This must be...this is Heaven!"
With the two demon souls excised from her own, Valais seems much less fearful of this heavenly realm than she was when you first arrived. Her smile does falter slightly as she glances down at her more-solid-but-still-misty form.
At the sound of your footsteps Valais looks up and whistles when she sees you.
"Wow, did you find all of them? One, two....five, six, yes, that's all of them - if I remember right."
She smiles wanly. "Sometimes it's difficult to remember the words of others. They get all t̷̡̧̕͘w͏̢̀͟i̵̕s̵̵͜t̴̶̡͏e͟d̵҉̴ ̴̡͘a̶̶͘͜n̶҉̢͘͡d҉̷͞ ̛͢͜͞c͘͢͢o̴͘̕͜͡n͘f̷͢u͞͏ś̷̸͜e̵̢͞d̸̷̡́͠. in my head, you see."
"Kitarlo..." Valais looks around, "...he should be back about any time; he's been zipping around here and there. And Akarah's over by the door over there."
Valais looks around, fidgeting anxiously. "I’d better wait here with Akarah. There’s probably not much I can do to help right now and even though they let me pass through the gates I don’t think the powers that be would like for me to be wandering around, even in a library."
She then leans in close to the rest of you.
"I heard what Kitarlo said, but...I hope you're able to find these books with enough time left to help him if he needs it," she whispers. "Be careful in there, okay?"
______________
Valais raises her eyes from her own stack of paperwork.
"I swear I will buy you all as many drinks as you want once we get back to Absalom," she whispers, looking at Hepsubia but her words clearly meant for everyone. "No one told me anything about paperwork!"
"I too am concerned about our entrance to Heaven," Valais admits, having regained her composure somewhat. "Kitarlo assures me that as long as we obey the rules and stay where we belong, since we are not ourselves evil, we will not be punished."
She pauses.
"We could try...s̺̖̝̹̖ͅnęa͍̭͘ki̷̬͍̬n̫͍̘̣g͇̀ ̻̜͉͢a͔̫͠n͔̟d̲̝̻̜ ̴̩͍̻͖̠ͅs̴̖l͇͡i̝̱̻̼͝ṭ̢̘̹̩͚h̷̝̰̘̲ȩ̳̮̙̼r̮̱̟͓͚͙̳͡i̠̲͓̯̕n̷g͖̩ ̷̰o̡̩̜̪̳̜u҉̜r̫̘̜̺̹͍̠ ̮̗̲̤͔̟̯w̝͙̻͖̺a͚͓̞̤̱̮ͅy̮ ̱͡i͚̞̹̳ṉ͍̻̘͓̟͜..."
Valais quickly shakes her head. "No...stealth and deception are likely to cause more problems than they solve."
Valais' eyes flash for a moment as she sees Maria tense up, a look of pure malice flickering across her face. But then her expression twists into a grimace which then fades into one of embarrassment and apology.
"I...I'm sorry..." Valais sighs, quickly looking away. "The demons grafted onto my body normally only affect my speech and even that only sometimes. Usually the thoughts are mine, but the demons sometimes get to choose the words. Since the kalavakus demon that I share grafts with," she nods at Zithembe's astute observation, "was slain, things have improved..."
She shakes her head.
"But occasionally I still have m̻̐̃ͩͩ͠u̮͝ṙ͈̦̮̙̦̘ͬ͜d̾͌e̽ͤ͒ͬͯ̈́ro̶͓̠̪̺̪ͬ̾ͣ̉̎͒ǘ͙̥̓̀ͧ͊̓͑͡s̩̬͔̳̦͕̝̉͢ ̙̦̲̓̏̀ͬ̓̉ẗ́h̺̫̝̪͕̖̣ͦ̀̈́̓̍́o̗̱̟͔̩̣̺ͯ͘ŭ̊҉̤̫̲̟͍̘g̵ͥͧͣ̿̽̓h̡̪̻̳ṱ͇̝̙̪ͫs̶ͭ̔͛."
The woman nods in agreement. "Yes, though I’m sure you can understand that I wish the circumstances were different," she remarks wryly. "I’m Valais Durant. Thank you, all of you, for being willing to aid me. Kitarlo will be transporting us to Heaven by way of a plane shift once you’re all prepared and ready to depart. Before that though, are there any last questions you might have for either of us?"
Although I did manage to finish a rough submission late last night I'm afraid that I'm going to bow out as well; not really feeling the character when it comes down to it and I don't have the time to come up with another one that speaks to me.
Hi! Dotting for interest with this character here, a Lamplighter investigator. The profile is complete except for the character description and answers to the questions, which I should be able to finish tomorrow evening :)
Submitting this character for consideration; an alchemist that's aimed at being a controller and secondary healer. Everything relevant should be on her profile, but please let me know if there's anything missing or that needs to be adjusted. I may do some tweaking of her background and personality sections before the deadline but she's more or less complete.
I'd rather not have it on her profile, so here's an RP sample from another character from a game that finished last October:
RP Sample:
As Nef squeezes her hand, Jacinth's first instinct is to pull away. Lying, putting on a mask, these things had always come easily to her. But ever since leaving Port Shaw, she had found it more and more difficult to consistently hide her feelings from these people that had been hired to be her new crew. Although she had braved the transparency that Nef's truth-telling spell had brought, she had told herself that it was a one-and-done deal, something to endure in the interest of reaching her own goals. Except her transparency had brought her something unexpected - respect. Respect that then brought...
Her eyes flicker over Reknar, Oren, Lani, and Aikane.
Camaraderie?
Her gaze then shifts to the young priestess.
Friendship?
Finally, she steals a glance at Rata.
Maybe something more?
Once again, she feels a sudden and surprising surge of affection for the people standing around her. Despite her efforts to maintain her distance she had formed a bond with these people, one that was being tested and strengthened even now by their shared ordeals. Though in many ways she had more in common with those lying on the litters, she had never felt as close to any of them as she did now to the six individuals who had agreed to do their utmost to help her fix her mistake.
Is this what Uncle and my parents wanted for me to learn?
She squeezes Nef's hand in return. "Thank you, Nef," she says quietly. She offers Reknar a smile. "And you as well. When we return to Port Shaw, we shall all go out to celebrate and to sight-see. Though...the places I am familiar with might be too...restrictive for you. However, I suspect those three," she points at Oren, Lani, and Aikane, "might know some places that would suit splendidly!" she chuckles.
Sense Motive: 1d20 + 6 ⇒ (20) + 6 = 26
As the group prepares to hoist the litters and make the last push to the beach, Jacinth's more experienced eye is immediately caught by Nef's startled and confused reaction to Reknar's affectionate pat on the rump. Though she was fairly certain that the warrior had meant nothing untoward by it, it was clear that Nef was not. She sighs to herself wearily as she watches the priestess quickly climb astride Wedjat and take to the skies with Elizabeth once more.
Oh Reknar you poor fool, what have you done? You meant well but that was the last thing that Nef needed right now.
She then risks a glance in Oren's direction, wondering if he had picked up on Nef's confusion and discomfort as well.
