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When Gravus begins his work on the lead tablet, Valka stays close. She watches him work but the way she does its kinda obvious she is trying to find a moment or timing to say something to Gravus, or has something in mind. If he notices, Gravus sees Valka has that same kinda weird look he saw before. At a really off moment, she says: "Where you always a slave? Or did you become one?" Valka will also make sure we get everything ready to go (loot, food, etc).
Valka thinks about what Gravus just said: "We should settle things here fast and forget this village. Valeriana ... uhhh ... I mean Cassia is right: we shouldn't give Severina another chance to be in her power." Valka thinks about ways to get this done: "The best I think is to make our move before Ballio reports, while no-one knows what's really going on yet. We have to sneak to Nikanor's place or send word to him so we can meet and settle this fast. After getting paid we move fast to Loutharnium."
Valka takes the 5 denarius from Titus (or if he doesn’t give it, I’ll take it from my own purse without Ballio looking), many select scrolls (she asks Gravus which ones to take, you’ll understand when you read below!) and the curse lead tablet. She walks over to Ballio and says: “Listen to me VERY well okay? You will stay by the well over there”
“until we have left this valley and you can’t see us understood? After you will directly go back to the villa. You will give these coins to Severina Berenia. They are from the Legionnaire Titus Albanus who wishes to give this for any trouble BORROWING her property may have cause her. But it was necessary because we needed you to help carry Veleda and this is what happened as you can see with your own eyes.” Valka makes sure she takes Ballio to every spot of the place, showing her the blood, the weapons, the hag, the cauldron and witchcraft stuff and finally Diagoras and his cut throat. “We came to Eburacum, the two Coruskian heroes of Pulvis Pontum, heroes that our nice EMPEROR’s OWN BROTHER Strychanius liked so much he personally vouched for me, a simple peregrina, to own a slave of quality like Gravus. So us two Coruskian HEROES along with a brave DUTIFUL legionnaire of the Empire we went to help Severina Berenia rid her village of many curses that was hurting the good tax paying citizens of the Empire.” Valka shows him the square lead tablet of the curse that says 3 times "Tamilia Ferta" on it. “You see that name? Tamilia Ferta? She should get better now. Because of what we did here.” After, one by one, she shows to Ballio the scrolls talking about Ferto’s wife, Vilmia and any other scrolls that s got names of locals that was cursed. “What we did here today: that was for the good of Eburacum, for the good of the Empire. And Now, All of us we’re returning to Pulvis Pontum, with ALL of this.” Valka points to all the scrolls and stuff.
“In Pulvis Pontum we’ll hire entertainers and criers and make sure Strychanius knows what happen here today. That we came here to HELP Severina, the sister of a FINE governor of this GREAT Empire we live in!” Valka tries to catch her breath, cuz she is badly hurt, and her thoughts, and she continues: “Of course if your Severina Berenia tries to say ANOTHER story, we also have this!” Valka shows him a scroll or two that talks of Severina as patroness to Diagoras. After she points to the rest of the scrolls: “and we have a lot more scrolls that Priest wrote you understand me? Make sure Severina understands this too!” Valka, who s getting weak and tired from all that talking, ends by taking out a special Medallion of Nerull she had hidden beneath her tunic. “And if this Priest of Hextor has ideas to come after me, after us, for whatever reason. Tell him this belong to a Priest of Nerull, a herald who was sent to our village of Segesta at the start of spring to kill us all. He had Praetorians with him. Not small village toy soldiers: PRAETORIANS. Well me and big Bjarturius over there, we killed all of those sons of bit@hes who came at us. And I killed the Priest of Nerull that guided them. I killed a priest of Nerull, and I killed this one too, a Priest of Erythnul." Valka grabs the head of Diagoras to lift it and show the cut throat. “So I won’t hesitate to kill a Priest of Hextor. The stonemason Meneus Anacreon is from Segesta: he will know we speak the truth about Segesta. I am VALKA SPARTACA: remember that name. Now go to the well and wait for us to leave and be out of sight.” When Ballio is gone and for sure out of hearing range, Valka turns to Bjarturius: “Don’t let anyone”
Valka talks to Titus and him only. But she doesn’t go like out of her way to keep the talk hidden so if someone, even Valeriana, is close, she still says it: “This Valeriana is probably a liar. Or at least she isn’t telling us the entire truth. But lets be honest: she is smart and knows a lot too. And she did ask for your help. It looks like YOU are the only one who can talk to her, can you do that and see if she can help with that Manricus story? If she helps us try to cure Veleda I can promise to try and help her with her problems.” Finally, to Gravus: “Valeriana had a great idea. Can you take a lead tablet and fake it so Nikanor will think we cured him? I want us to get paid and we will need money to go anywhere, especially with sick Veleda!”
Valka gets up very slowly using the wall to help her. She says to Titus: "Titus, do you have 5 Denarius on you?" She walks up to Gravus slowly, looking at what he's done (if he found valuable or interesting stuff): "Gravus, what did you find? Is there a cure for the poison? Anything about the Curse? Nikanor? Severina?" Finally she takes a random dirty scroll and the wood box and walks over to Ballio. She shows him both: "Can you read this?"
Valka tries to REST as much as she can!!
"You can tend to my wounds if you have skill in that. Just ... uhhhh ... watch the hands! Also if you can check the place for proof about the curse of Nikanor: I want to get paid for all this! And while your at it make a inventory of all that can be worth something that we can take with us." To everyone: "What do we do about that tiny creature? Gravus said we have 6 days to go until that goblin poison does its thing, right Gravus? That means we can't sit around and do nothing. And I don't want to stay here longer then I have to in case Severina wants to make a move."
Valka, when Bjarturius hits the RIGHT target (she thinks to herself quickly "WAY TO GO BJARTURIUS!!!"), sees a chance she can't pass up, no matter how hurt she is! Using all the strength she has left, she puts aside defense and makes a full attack on the "Priest" that Bjarturius just hit, imagining and hoping it HAS to be the right one!!!
Valka try to finish the maul one that Bjarturius hurt but still cautious, back to the wall and defending with her shield.
Valka continue her drunk-like barely alive move all the way inside the room . With her back to the wall, Valka slowly, cuz she’s in pain, holds her shield and gladius up, looks at the Priests (all 3 of them!) and says in a weak, having difficulty breathing, voice: “You … want … to kill … me? … I’m … right … here … what you …waiting for …COME ON!!!” That last thing I SHOUT as loud as I can!!!
Valka continues her drunk-like barely alive movement forward! She goes on the other side of fallen Titus
When Gravus starts to put ANYTHING in Valka’s pelvic or groin area, that totally SNAPS Valka’s head back up (imagine a zombie coming back from the dead suddenly!!). She looks at Gravus with big wide eyes and a “What the HECK do you think you’re doing???” kinda look. Her head then gets all woozy from all the blood she lost and cuz she’s BARELY ALIVE! Pushing Gravus back (sooo ungrateful!), she makes a GREAT effort to get up using her gladius and shield for help and support. “Don’t just … stand there …” she says to Gravus with difficulty For a sec Gravus thinks she’s gonna drop back down again, but she doesn’t. Valka makes her way slowly, moving like a drunk, in the direction of the tarp, ending in front of Bjarturius
Valka try her best to get by that last hobgoblin while I attack it with my gladius and shield!
Valka moan with pain when that big creature hit her. Part of her really want to run after the Priest now, but that hobgoblin need to go down! She attacks him with both her weapons and try to move to go around him too at the same time to get just a little closer to that Priest!
Those hobgoblins are nasty, but Valka has got one target in mind: the Priest of Erythnul! Its the Second time he poisons her, and now he's gonna pay for it!
ATTACKS: Gladius 5 damage 3, Shield 21 damage 6
Valka is seriously freaking out at having spiders and centipedes crawling all over her legs!!
With that numbing feeling starting to feel REAL bad, Valka tries to FOCUS, get out of that swarm and attack Mister insect breath with her gladius AND spiked shield!
Valka throws her javelin at the heart of the Hobgoblin with the axe Javelin Damage if it hits After throwing Valka moves to the stairs (at x20y12) taking out her gladius quickly.
Valka reacts with shock and says something unintelligible: "ohh tabbba ...." She raises her Javelin, aiming at the heart of the one with the axe, using her entire body movement and strength to give her throw all she can! Initiative
Valka, really REALLY hoping to get some payback from almost being killed by poison, takes her javelin in hand, her spiked shield is in the other arm as usual! She follows Titus almost side by side, glad to have finally found someone not running away from a fight or using backstabbing and lying ways!! She also makes sure Gravus stays behind her, maybe by like 5 or 10 feet, but she won't like go crazy if Gravus does something else on his own (her non verbal is more like: I'm here to protect you, stay behind me)
Valka's face turns a shade of red, she blurts out awkwardly: "I am a warrior! If I had wanted to stay behind and live a quiet life I would have gotten married!!!" Calming down a bit, she looks at who's left and says: "I am taking Gravus too. We don't know really what waits for us there, maybe some crazy old priest! Gravus can also serve as a messenger in case. Valeriana and Ballio will watch over your sister ... right?" She says that looking at Valeriana to make sure they are staying. She goes with Titus and Bjarturius, making sure Gravus is with me but a few steps behind her.
Valka grabs a piece of bread and cheese from the bag and gets something in her stomach. She is happy to feel a bit better but looks at Veleda feeling bad that the poison meant probably for me affected Bjarturius’s innocent sister! “I think I’m getting better, but we have to do SOMETHING for Veleda! And do it NOW! So what are our options? Going to the villa and see if Severina has a cure? What about that stone here, what’s THAT about? Are you saying Severina drew this? Why? And why do you say it points that way and what does that mean?” Valka is angry at this point.
When Gravus talks to Valka, she gives him that kinda weird look she gave him just before. She opens her mouth to say something .... buuuut ... doesn't. Valka feels sick, and Bjarturius hitting that lead tablet is starting to give her a BIG headache. "If its AT ALL possible, where do you think we can find something to cure the poison?" Valka also looks at Valeriana when she says that!
A sick Valka leave the house with all her stuff and says with some difficulty: "I say we go into in the rocky hills east of the Bereni vineyards, where that Priest of Erythnul Diagoras took refuge somewhere once! In rocky hills the Priest of Hextor and his men won't be able to get us easily! When we are sort of safe we can see how bad me and Veleda are and decide what to do!!" If nobody object and we go, Valka will do her best even if she's sick to use her skills in nature to find a safe way to go in the hills and hide there (its survival skill right?)
Valka is FAR from been at her fashion best, doing her best to get rid of puke breath by gurgling my mouth with wine or water and spitting after! Valka puts on her chain shirt and other stuff she owns FAST!!! She looks at Veleda VERY worried, at Bjarturius with sadness imagining how even more worried he must be even if he tries to hide it! She also gives Gravus a look that's hard to say what's in it. When Titus returns, Valka agrees and says: "You're right: let's get all our stuff and move fast!" Valka will help Veleda unless Bjarturius prefers to take care of her alone. Thinking of the baby she tells Domitilla: "Get the baby some clean cloths (did they have diapers back then?)and milk and food and anything else you think he may need!!"
“I agree about Vilmia! But Nikanor we need to know: he’s the one who’s paying us and we have to find out if he has a curse tablet like that at his place too!” “So you need to know what the relationship is between Timoneus Nikanor and this Dominius Viusenius? I can ask Nikanor but it would help if I knew more about who this Viusenius is!” “And for Severina she isn’t getting my Dwarf! He’s MINE! Let her get her own Dwarf!” Valka is VERY upset about all THAT part!!! Unless there is like MAJOR objection Valka goes directly to ask Nikanor about Viusenius, because Valka wants to
With Nikanor Valka will be super direct: asking him to his face who that guy is and what is their relation. If he ask why I'm asking I say its very important for me to know to help rid the curse. If Nikanor need more convincing I tell him we already made great progress in very little time and got already rid of Ferto's curse but I don't give him details how yet, just that we have with us a priest and a sybil who know how to rid curses.
When Valeriana asks Valka for my Pugio, she looks at her with big eyes and says: "Gravus, give her your pugio!" (does he have one Rico? if he doesn't I make sure he does, mine for now and I will buy a new one) Valka is fascinated by all this but doesn't look scared. She also doesn't freak out to learn about Valeriana having strange powers: for her its all part of the natural order of things! When Gravus talks about the other victims, she says: "Let's go check the houses of the apothecary and Nikanor, see if we find the same thing there!"
Valka is now REALLY upset!!! "Severina wants to have MY Dwarf? How DARE she wanna try and take what's MINE! And to INHERIT I guess I would have to be DEAD right? " Valka tries to calm down and think. "You say Severina asked to approach me? Well it makes sense you spend time with me to get to know me right? So before we do something too crazy like having her try and put a curse on me, why don't we first all follow that lead Titus found and see if that gets us anywhere! Gravus can tell Ballio we'll bring you back to him or to Severina before it gets too late!" Valka starts to go see that guy Titus was with! "Titus can you tell us about this lead of yours as we go?"
Valka looks a bit impatient after all that talk that went nowhere. She answers Titus as they start to walk: “Gravus belonged to a warrior called Valerius Morulus. He tried to have me turned into a slave gladiator, so I killed him and took what was his: that’s how I got Gravus. The Emperor’s brother, Strychanius of Pulvis Pontum, vouched for me, a peregrina, to own this slave because I did well at the banquet bloodbath and the people cheered for me.” She says all this in a very factual kinda way, without any exaggerating or trying to make it sound better (she isn't really a good talker anyway!). Valka suddenly stops, looks at Titus, looks at Valeriana and back to Titus, still looking impatient in her movements and her eyes: “Valerius was a good talker, and handsome. Kinda like YOU. Look Titus, I kinda trust Bjarturius cuz we are both Peregrini from the North, we come from the same village and have been through some stuff together. But you, you are a legionnaire, and I don’t know you at all: I am taking a chance in trusting you. I say we take a chance and trust HER!!” Valka makes a head gesture at Valeriana. “Even if I don’t like her.” Valka walks back fast to Valeriana with a warrior’s determination and says: “Look. You told Titus: you are willing to aid if we can give aid in return. Did I get that right? Now here is the thing: we are trying to solve this curse problem here in Eburacum. Maybe you’ve heard of it, maybe not. It involves Severina, Nikanor the Innkeeper and other people from this village. Helps us and there can be something in it for you: maybe coin, maybe us helping you back, maybe both. We are going on a lead Titus found. Maybe with what you know about Severina you can help. So now you know what WE want! What do YOU want?” To Titus and the others: as you start to get to know Valka, she looks obviously not like the patient kind of person! You can say THAT part of her is really far from “wise”!!! But she makes up for it by being more wise in the way she tries to be attentive to what people say and observing what goes on around her and trying to make smart decisions. Just FYI stuff :-)
Valka takes a step back, detaching herself from the conversation as she sees Titus and Valeriana look like they understand each other and "speak the same language". She listens to everything attentively and keeps her eyes open.
“The 2 Coruskians, so you know, survived the massacre of our home village of Segesta and the banquet of the Adrini beast in Pulvis Pontum. The Emperor’s own brother declared us heroes for that last one! And that’s not it: this smooth talker, called VALERIUS, …” Valka makes a BIG emphasis on the similar sounding name Valeriana-Valerius (funny coincidence Rico!!!) “… tried to have me enslaved to become a Gladiator. So in ONE SINGLE season, patricians and social betters have lied to me, tried to use me for their entertainment, kill me and turn me into an undead. So you will forgive me if my tolerance to crap is running short. So you wanna stop with the questions? Fine! This is what I know for sure: I sent Gravus to find out about this Severina. He comes back and tells me that slave of yours was just pretending to be one, going along in some deception, and that you are probably not who you claim to be. Gravus may be just a slave, but I think he’s pretty smart. I trust what he says.” Valka takes a deep breath …. and …continues: “Now if you’re here to deceive Severina, maybe we can be allies. We’re not her enemies, but not her friends. Maybe we can both get what we want here.” (whewww, that was wayyyy longer then I expected!) (One more thing: I've decided to use "Spartaca" not "Spartica", but dont know how to change it on the forum!)
Valka takes the change from Gravus and checks what kind of deal he got! (do I know if he got me a good price?) Valka looks at Titus and Bjarturius in a obvious way to grab their attention and goes directly to see Valeriana Pia (Valka will wave at them to come if they dont "get it" with the obvious look!). She looks at Valeriana in a very direct way: "We meet again. What happened to your slave? And I don't mean the one that got killed at the villa. But that wasn't really your slave right?" Valka gives Gravus a quick look.
Valka gives 2 Denarius to Gravus and says: "Buy the items if you think the final price is right. Be quick about it: I'll wait for you outside." Valka, a bit upset, turns to the merchant and says: "You wanna speak trade only? This is what I have to say about that: you know nothing of women's clothing." Valka leaves the store.
"Thank you for your advice about Severina Berenia, I heard rumors about a curse and I wanted to be careful so I wouldn't offend her and end up like Vilmia." Valka checks close how he reacts to that. Unless he reacts super defensively or aggressive, Valka will also say: "Of course if you can give me some information about this curse, so I don't do anything I shouldn't do, I would be very grateful to you." Valka will examine something EXPENSIVE in the store, like she would MAYBE buy it if she was happy with what she hears!
Valka first looks around and tries to find a few items she may need: a belt pouch, a sewing needle and some thread, a few sticks of chalk. If she finds any of that she puts them in Gravus's hands and says: "See what price I can get for this". After she continues by looking at the dresses, sees what may fit her and also look good (avoiding all grays, beiges and maybe even browns: they won't go well with her long blonde hair and skin tone). She says to the merchant: "I am thinking of getting something new to wear to see Severina Berenia. She invited me to her villa and I need to look good for that. Can you give me some advice about her? What she is like? I hear she can get upset at people easily is that true?" Valka will take her time asking all this while she looks at dresses, touch the fabric, things like that. She also ask: "I hear she has a guest, Valeriana Pia, do you know who she is? Is she from here or close?"
Valka thinks about Titus's words and says: "If we don't take some chances we won't get anywhere. Plus Nikanor said no-one likes Severina in the village and even if I don't think much of Nikanor I kinda believe that! Look Titus, 'Audentes Fortuna Iuvat' I heard recently: its a good saying, we should follow it!" Valka thinks of a plan, looks around and says: "This is what I propose: Bjarturius cuz you're a Priest you talk to that philosopher, you Titus you're a warrior you talk to the smith who's also a warrior. Me I'll go to the general store. We ask about Severina, about Valeriana and the curse if we feel its ok. We'll meet back here then go talk to this Valeriana." Valka starts to go to the general store and tells Gravus: "Come!" When Valka and Gravus are alone she says to him: "If you have ideas about what's going on here or what we could do I want you to speak and say what's on your mind. I don't know if you are a well trained slave yet but in stores or when there is money involved you take care of speaking about prices! Got that?" Valka goes to the general store and enters. She is gonna look for something simple to buy to give her a reason to be there (something useful but not too expensive). But she's also gonna look around, specially if there is women's clothes to buy: she's basically gonna be shopping! And when she does that she's gonna try to get an idea about the merchant.
Valka thinks of something else: "Also if you can tell us about who this apothecary Vilmia was, how she died and if she had links to Severina?"
Valka agrees with her head at Titus's words and looks a bit restless anyway: "I agree. There is always risks but that one is the best one. Let's go and see this Valeriana and talk about this more along the way if we need to. We'll just have to be careful in talking to her." Valka starts to go but thinks of something and turns to the 2 brothers and says: "You both should stay here. But beside Nikanor, the Temple of Hextor and Severina, who in this village you would say is important or has knowledge?"
She takes the money back from Gravus except 3 Sestercius: "Keep this for the drinks with the slaves tonight and make sure you loosen their tongues a bit so they speak." To everyone: "From what Gravus says, maybe this Valeriana can help us find out more on Severina if she is not who she says she is. She did drop some hints just now with helpful information. But I am not sure if we can trust her."
Valka waits until Valeriana and Ballio are gone and says: "Gravus, now that she's gone tell us all what happened and if you have learned some information about this innkeeper's curse."
Valka gives Gravus a knowing glance and says: “So, Gravus, we discover in you some talents of entertainer to patrician ladies. Why don’t you tell us all what you did to amuse the Domina Berenia so?”
Valka returns Veleda’s hug, she feels all tiny and squeezed but happy to see her! “Your brother should have told you I was alive and well!” She breaks away from the hug (some air please!) and smiles at Veleda: “Look at you! Are you ever gonna stop growing?” When Valeriana stares at her and says what she says, Valka looks at her directly, blood rushing to her face. She gives her a polite forced smile and says: “Ha! It’s good to see our bad fortunes in life and our …”
Valka is happy to leave the tavern. When they are out she turns to all and says: “This is really because I need some gold! That innkeeper looks and sounds like the scum of this world! I’m gonna try to find my slave, see if he found out anything. Until I do any idea about what to do and where to look? Do you really wanna wait until tomorrow to ask your God for signs Bjarturius? What about you Albanus any ideas?” Valka looks around where they are now. There is the big temple but is there anything else that looks important?
Before we entered the tavern, Valka answered Bjarturius about her slave. She speaks in a very serious voice: “My slave is NOT to be sent into battle. It is MY property and I DON’T want a scratch on my goods! Gravus will certainly be of use to me in other ways.” ---- Inside the tavern, Valka stays very neutral, silent and observant when Nikanor makes his entrance. “My heart is disgusted at this entire thing and place but the cold blood in my veins will answer this quest.”
Valka returns Titus’s look with a challenging one of her own: “Until we have shared things together, do not presume to demand anything from me, not even my name. Anyway if you where there, you know the name the crowd gave me that day: Valka Spartica. Why I left Pulvis Pontum? Too many bad memories! Where I am going next? I don’t know! Here I may be interested in this Innkeeper’s story if there is gold to get! I just sent my slave to ask questions.” To Bjarturius: “Why don’t we talk to this innkeeper in the meantime, see what’s the deal.” To Titus: “Are you interested in earning some gold too Titus Albanus? An extra sword can’t hurt!”
Valka opens her coin purse and before this Titus guy answers says to Gravus: "Gravus! Put the food somewhere safe! After, go talk to local proles and slaves to find out all you can about all this! Take these coins if you need that to make them talk." Valka takes out a denarius and 5 sestercius. She gives them to Gravus and says, trying to sound like a Mistress: "I WILL ask how the money was spent!" Valka looks at Titus and waits for his answer.
Valka turns to check out this soldier Titus (is he armed? handsome? anything distinctive she can spot?). Looking at him very suspiciously, she says: "Were you at the Pulvis Pontum feast? If yes I didn't see you in the Atrium where the fighting took place! Are you one of Prince Strychanius's soldiers?"
Valka’s deliberately slow voice, raised chin, fixed eyes and all around ceremonial attitude disappear slowly as a more practical side of her shows itself, specially when "Gold he vill pay" is mentioned! “With things being what they are these days, one cannot spit on gold. Can you give me some details?” She is talking to Bjarturius when she says that, but her eyes keep going to Anacreon regularly, it’s difficult to see if its because she checks his reactions, wants to keep him involved in the conversation or just doesn’t trust him (or anyone she doesn’t know in this decadent Empire!).
If Bjarturius looks for Valka he finds her easily: she is with her slave getting water and food from locals. Valka is a young 5’2”, 105lbs, fit perigrina with blonde hair and green eyes. She is wearing a typical plain white Aerdian-style tunic, laced sandals and a white hooded cape-cloak with grey motifs along the borders. Over her tunic she has a chain mail shirt. She holds a spiked scutum and has a weapon belt with a gladius and a pugio. She carries a pack with a Javelin, a bedroll and a waterskin. When she sees Bjarturius, she recognizes him right away of course! She walks up to him. The way she walks is slow, almost like in a ceremony. She holds up her chin high, eyes fixed on Bjarturius and speaks in a careful clear voice: “What a coincidence to see you again! Or is it fate?” Valka looks up at the sky now, as if she is looking for some sign of the Gods. “What has brought you ad your clan to this place, Priest of Kord?” |
