"Well I don't know if you could experience the effects of ale but if I had not lost all of my money I would buy both of use a round just to see."
"Money?"
"Money?"
Ruuz reaches into his coat and pulls out the leather purse he is left with and empties the three copper pieces on the table.
"These are copper pieces the smallest amount of money hence why I have them. There are coins that are the color of a sword, silver pieces, the color of the sun, gold pieces, and finally the platinum piece shines like the moon Eyre."Ruuz gathers his life savings up and puts them back in his purse and puts it in his coat.
"Everyone needs money to buy food, shelter, and entertainment" he adds with a smile, "Well except maybe for you since you really don't need any of that."
"Oh."
"I've been here six moons. I started coming here many days ago, not sure how many." Ruastikin's answers are short, although Beren doesn't sense any curtness, just a man of few words.
"I do not know. That woman over there gave it to me." He motions to a lovely waitress. He holds on to the drink like its a precious treasure. "She's nice." He quickly changes the conversation. "Where are you from? Why are you here?"
While conversing with Raustikin, Beren reestimates that the few drinks he imbibed are probably just making him a minor bit philosophical and the silver braid most-likely does not have any other-worldly significance.
He examines the drink again realizing it is one of the glasses that would contain a higher-end liquor. Then glances at the attractive waitress again. Surprised and a little annoyed, he states, "Well, it seems that you are better with women than you think."
Then noticing that this is not a conversation his shifter friend is interested in having, and also coming to the conclusion that he has no right to be annoyed, or why he even feels this way, inwardly shrugs it off and responds to Raustikin.
"My home is in Breland, at Fort Orcbone on the Droaam / Breland border." His eyes scan the sky, momentarily lost in memory, his forearms resting on the table, and he wonders how his adopted father and his tutor's family fair. Then remembering why he is truely here, takes his hand off of his drink, now resolute to stay lucid. He looks back down at Raustikin with new determination in his eyes and growls, "I am in Stormreach for revenge and justice." Then with a toothy grimace, "Have any female orcs recently at his place within the last few nights caught your attention?"
Surprised and a little annoyed, he states, "Well, it seems that you are better with women than you think."
Raustikin reacts surprised by this statement.
He looks back down at Raustikin with new determination in his eyes and growls, "I am in Stormreach for revenge and justice." Then with a toothy grimace, "Have any female orcs recently at his place within the last few nights caught your attention?"
Raustikin looks around, leans toward Beren and asks, "What does this female orc look like? Speak softly - there are many frightened people here who don't like questions."
Raustikin looks around, leans toward Beren and asks, "What does this female orc look like? Speak softly - there are many frightened people here who don't like questions."
Caught in the moment of his new found determination, Beren didn't realize how loudly he was speaking or exactly what he was asking. He secretly admonished himself, blaming his indiscretion on too much drink. He was getting sloppy. During the war, he would hide in the bush for hours studying the enemy and waiting for the perfect time to strike. Now he was completly tactless. He didn't even really know this shifter that well. 'What if he knows his quarry? Now he could warn her.' he thought.
Bending his head toward Raustikin, speaking quielty, "You are right. My error. This probably isn't the best place to speak of such things. Maybe we will speak about this another time, in another place."
Hoping that now Raustikin is placated, Beren attempts to redirect the conversation. He sits back with a more leisurely posture and asks casually, "So my friend, what do you do in Stormreach? Also, I will need lodging tonight. Can you recommend a good inn?"
Hoping that now Raustikin is placated, Beren attempts to redirect the conversation. He sits back with a more leisurely posture and asks casually, "So my friend, what do you do in Stormreach? Also, I will need lodging tonight. Can you recommend a good inn?"
Raustikin leans back and intensely studies Beren. He's not sure of Beren's motivations. It's not often one strikes up a conversation at the Tethered Wench unless a person wants something...or somebody. He begins to get a little paranoid as he thinks of the strange events of the night. What if it is just a set up? He remains silent for a moment before continuing.
"I'm training. For an inn, I would recommend the Harbor. A lot of people stay there." Actually, this is where Raustikin stayed when he first arrived in Stormreach. "It's out of the way and a good place to keep secrets."
Raustikin leans back and intensely studies Beren. He's not sure of Beren's motivations. It's not often one strikes up a conversation at the Tethered Wench unless a person wants something...or somebody. He begins to get a little paranoid as he thinks of the strange events of the night. What if it is just a set up? He remains silent for a moment before continuing.
"I'm training. For an inn, I would recommend the Harbor. A lot of people stay there." Actually, this is where Raustikin stayed when he first arrived in Stormreach. "It's out of the way and a good place to keep secrets."
"The Harbor. Thank you, I will keep that in mind" Beren, now without a purpose until he restarts his hunt, is at a loss for words. He sits there for a little staring at his glass on the table which he is turning in circles with his left hand, making a bigger water stain from the containers condensation.
The shifter was curt with his answer that he was training. 'Training for what?' he wonders. He decides not to ask, though; to keep the meeting casual. One question could lead to another, and then Beren may say something about his mission that should remain unsaid.
So he sat there thinking. Then Valessa came back into his mind. 'Where was she going to stay tonight? Should he care?' Then he concluded that it doesn't matter if he should care. The only thing that matters is that he does care.
Looking back at Raustikin, he asks, "I came here with a friend. Would you mind if I invited her over?"
Ruuz tips back his mug again getting every little drop out and then lays it no the table and pushes it away. Ruuz scans the crowd and notices a gnome talking circles around two attentive and confused orc at a far table and his gaze stops on the lone women drinking not far from them. Nobody should drink alone it always leads to a boring experience and an all around bad day.
"Brick do me a favor and watch my gear" he asks. When he notices the women is not looking his direction he takes off his long coat and his hair turns dark brown and his face turn into that of a women. As he looks a Brick he can see him glance between Ruuz and the women sitting alone with a confused look or aleast as confused as a warforged can look. With a smile and he asks "How do I look, close enough?" Without waiting for an answer he walks over to her table. Well either this works or I end up treading water over the edge of the boat.
As she looks up Ruuz enjoys the look of shock on the womens face as she see a duplicate of her self looking back at her.
Before the she recovers Ruuz reaches down and takes her drink and says "Follow me" and starts walking back to his table shifting back to his normal form as he goes.
Looking back at Raustikin, he asks, "I came here with a friend. Would you mind if I invited her over?"
Raustikin finds the strangeness of the night continuing to develop. Now a female might be sitting at his same table. His paranoia increases. However, he doesn't want to be rude, so he nods. Then he realizes he answered the question incorrectly. "I mean, I do not mind," he says outloud. But his hesitation is apparent.
"I mean, I do not mind," he says outloud. But his hesitation is apparent.
Now with Valessa back on his mind, Beren is too focused on deciding how he is going to approach her, and what he is going to say to notice the obvious discomfort of his current host. He practically jumps out of his chair with anticipation, using his powerful legs to propel him to a standing position. He says with a wide grin, and a spring to his step, "Thank you, I will be back shortly. You will really like her." he assures Raustikin. Turning around and moving quickly, he is totally unaware of an almost collision with a waitress. He jaunts right in front of her, and she has to suddenly stop. The glass on the tray she is carrying slides off and smashes to the floor. Beren misses this entire encounter and the many expletive deletives that followes, oblivious to the world around him. It's funny how a woman can make you so focused and yet you be so unaware.
Ruuz tips back his mug again getting every little drop out and then lays it no the table and pushes it away. Ruuz scans the crowd and notices a gnome talking circles around two attentive and confused orc at a far table and his gaze stops on the lone women drinking not far from them. Nobody should drink alone it always leads to a boring experience and an all around bad day.
"Brick do me a favor and watch my gear" he asks. When he notices the women is not looking his direction he takes off his long coat and his hair turns dark brown and his face turn into that of a women. As he looks a Brick he can see him glance between Ruuz and the women sitting alone with a confused look or aleast as confused as a warforged can look.
Brick, taking Ruuz's comment literally, begins to stare intently at the changeling's gear.
Beren advances quickly toward his old table. He notices Valessa to his side walking back from another direction. She looks a little different some how, 'Did she change her clothes?' He sees her take a glass from someone. 'Wait, that's Valessa!' Beren stops, stunned and unable to move, his jaw drops.
Well into her first beverage and about to start on her second, Valessa looks up at the sound of a female voice talking to her – looks up, and starts in surprise, seeing herself looking back at her. As her mind scrambles to catch up, she peers critically (if somewhat stupidly) at her mirror image. Is my hair really that unruly? Do I really hold my eyebrows in that position?
“Follow me,” the other her states, and turns away, changing form – into the handsome man she saw earlier – the changeling.
“Hold on just one moment,” states Valessa loudly, angrily, standing. “What on Eberron do you think you’re doing? You can’t just steal someone’s appearance! You can’t just steal my appearance! And not even get the hair right…”
She advances on the changeling, then stops as a thought comes over her. “Wait a moment,” she says, the anger draining, slightly, from her voice. “Could any changeling impersonate me like that? How closely would you – they – need to study me?” An unpleasant thought, related to Ein’s earlier proposition, is beginning to occur to her.
At that moment she notices Beren standing nearby, mouth hanging open, staring at her. “Beren!” she exclaims.
Brick calls from across the room.
"Ruuz? Can I stop watching your stuff yet?"
"BEREN!" the second Valessa shouts, knocking him out of his trance. He shakes his head, then looks again. There is now only one Valessa, the second Valessa with the clothes that she wore on the ship. Instead of seeing the first Valessa, who now has the drink, standing there, he sees the changling who he was scoping out earlier. At least he believes it is the same changling. They all look alike. Unless, of course, they look like someone else.
Valessa is looking at him with a seemingly distraught visage. Piecing it all together, he opens his cloak showing the hilt of his longsword while he advances to Valessa's side. When he arrives, he looks directly at the changling and booms "What is going on here?" Looking back at his friend, he says, " Valessa, are you all right?"
When he arrives, he looks directly at the changling and booms "What is going on here?" Looking back at his friend, he says, " Valessa, are you all right?"
Ruuz looks back as the shifter shouts at him, he smiles slightly at the shifters poor attempt at impressing him. To much chest puffing and nostral flairing, almost looks laughable. The shifter looks compitant with the sword and should be better at staring people down, it must be the women, they have a tendency to complicate situations.
Ruuz turns back and puts down the drink and looks a brick staring intently at his coat and gear, "Thanks Brick you can watch something else now". Ruuz slowly puts on him coat making it a point to iqnore the shifter and them turns to face him. "I see you two are no longer giving each other the evil eye, glad to bring you to together again."
Ruuz turns to the women, "I am sorry but your hair does really look like that, don't know what to tell you. I was hoping that you would join me and my friend instead of drinking alone. Since is seems the playing nice doesn't seem to work for you" Ruuz's looks quickly to the shifter "I thought I would try the shock and amaze routine."
Ruuz turns back to the shifter and takes a step forward "Now that is seems you and your friend are back together he can join us to." Ruuz's easy stance suddenly tences and his smile vanishes. "Unless of course you want to make something more of the situation."
Valessa turns to look at Beren, and rolls her eyes in a mock theatrical manner, then flashes him a quick grin and a wink. She’s never been much good at apologies, but she hopes that he will gather her meaning.
Then, hearing the changeling’s tone towards Beren suddenly change, she grabs the stranger’s arm. “Alright, enough with the macho posturing. I get it, you’re both tough. And I’ve just gotten off a ship from Sharn alright, so enough with the hair.”
She turns back to Beren, releasing her grip from the changeling’s arm. “I think you were right Beren, this is a party, and I wasn’t really wanting to do anything fun was I? Well,” she gestures with her mostly empty glass, “I am now. Do you want to join these two? Or whatever you want. If I get another few of these in me, I might even want to dance!”
Hardly missing a beat, she looks back at the changeling. “And you haven’t answered my question.”
Hardly missing a beat, she looks back at the changeling. “And you haven’t answered my question.”
As the tension seems to fade Ruuz looks at the women "Well lets sit and I will maybe answer your question once I learn you name." Ruuz pulls out a chair for the lady and gestures towards the one next to Brick for the shifter to sit in if he is interested.
"You may call me Ruuz and this odd looking warforged is Brick, for know until he proves otherwise" The last part raises a small smile on his thin lips at the private joke as he takes a seat.
Ruuz looks to the shifter "Your friend over there watching us, you should invite him over. He definitly looks like he needs to work on his people skills and I am sure he has all kinds of things he wants to tell me."
Valessa looks warily at Ruzz and the proferred chair - she isn't sure she trusts this person yet, especially after the look alike stunt.
"Well ... my name is Valessa." She turns back to Beren. "What do you think Beren? Shall we join them? Who's your friend anyway?" She peers over his shoulder, looking for his companion. Normally Valessa would make up her mind herself, not wanting to seem like she is beholden to another, but she is still trying to tread lightly, wary of Beren's feelings and not wanting to lose her only friend in this place.
Beren stands there realizing his failed attempt at staring down the changling. He looks away. Beren thinks, 'The changling must have realized that it was an empty threat. That he would never truely want to draw steal, unless it was absolutely necessary, with Valessa standing right there, potentially getting caught in the middle.'
Then the changling gets threatening,
"Unless of course you want to make something more of the situation."
Normally, Beren would feel an adrenaline rush through his body and the impulse to draw steal from a threat of this nature, but the changling spoke with such power and confidence, Beren instead backed up a step, moving his hand away from his sword hilt.
Everything occurs so fast. Then Valessa quickly steps in, takes control, and deesculates the situation. Beren lets out an inward sigh of relief. He is definately out of his element in the city.
Then Valessa changes the subject regarding an apparent question she asked the changling which Beren must have missed. The changling introduces himself and promises an answer if she chooses to join him and his warforged companion. He pulls out a chair for Valessa and gestures toward another chair for Beren. The changling also offers a spot at his table for Raustikin.
She turns back to Beren. "What do you think Beren? Shall we join them? Who's your friend anyway?"
Realizing that the changling apparently meant no harm, and now thinking back to how the changling's skills may be useful, he grunts and nods his head.
Then looking at Valessa, "You are right this is a party, and we should have fun. The more the merrier", he says with a toothy grin. Then his face gets serious for a moment. "Valessa, I am sorry for before. For acting like a shifter pup being the last one fed."
"I have met a friend. A fellow shifter named Raustikin. Please excuse me and I will invite him over." He turns back to Ruuz, "My apologies for before, sometimes I act too quickly. I will return shortly."
Beren turns away and reapproches Raustikin. "Hello again my friend. It seems there has been more of a develoment on this strange night. Would you care to join myself, my companion, and a couple of other patrons at the table over there?" Beren points toward the trio.
Hardly missing a beat, she looks back at the changeling. “And you haven’t answered my question.”As the tension seems to fade Ruuz looks at the women "Well lets sit and I will maybe answer your question once I learn you name." Ruuz pulls out a chair for the lady and gestures towards the one next to Brick for the shifter to sit in if he is interested.
"You may call me Ruuz and this odd looking warforged is Brick, for know until he proves otherwise" The last part raises a small smile on his thin lips at the private joke as he takes a seat.
Brick blinks.
"Hello. Who are you?"
Beren turns away and reapproches Raustikin. "Hello again my friend. It seems there has been more of a develoment on this strange night. Would you care to join myself, my companion, and a couple of other patrons at the table over there?" Beren points toward the trio.
Raustikin stares at Beren, then at Valessa, then Ruuz, then Brick. Is this a con? he wonders. But why would they con me? I'm not rich, I have no money with me. Perhaps they are friends of one of my enemies, Nosthashad perhaps.
Raustikin resolves to immediately stop drinking so he might get his barings, and tells himself that he is not to leave with these people. "I'll join you shortly," he says to Beren. He looks at the scratch marks on the table and gets an idea. He discreetly makes more scratch marks. When finished, he adds his chair to the changling's table and sits.
For those who examine the table:
Beren makes his way back to the table and sits down in the chair previously offered. He offers a sheepish glance and smile at Valessa before turning to the warforged apparently named Brick. Not having much experience with warforged, being that Fort Orcbone was sort of an out-of-the-way stronghold to receive those kind of reinforcements, he says, "So Brick, is that club you carry attached to you?"
“That’s alright,” Valessa murmers as Beren turns away. Then, responding to Brick’s question as she leans against the table; “You’re blunt, aren’t you? Okay, I can work with that. I’m Valessa.”
“So,” she says, settling back against the rail and half raising her glass, “I’m here, I’m determined to enjoy myself. So what’s your story?” She rolls and nods her head, indicating Ruuz, Brick, or both, smiling in return at Beren as he gets back to the table.
Beren makes his way back to the table and sits down in the chair previously offered. He offers a sheepish glance and smile at Valessa before turning to the warforged apparently named Brick. Not having much experience with warforged, being that Fort Orcbone was sort of an out-of-the-way stronghold to receive those kind of reinforcements, he says, "So Brick, is that club you carry attached to you?"
"Club? Is that what it's called? What's it for?"
“That’s alright,” Valessa murmers as Beren turns away. Then, responding to Brick’s question as she leans against the table; “You’re blunt, aren’t you? Okay, I can work with that. I’m Valessa.”
“So,” she says, settling back against the rail and half raising her glass, “I’m here, I’m determined to enjoy myself. So what’s your story?” She rolls and nods her head, indicating Ruuz, Brick, or both, smiling in return at Beren as he gets back to the table.
Immediately after answering Beren's question with another series of questions, Brick turns to Valessa.
"I'm from a place north of here. I walked south, got put with a bunch of rocks on a big flying thing, dumped into the big water place, and walked here."
Beren looks at Brick bewildered. Then turns to look at Ruuz, eyebrows raised with silent questions. Mouth slightly agape. Shakes his head and smirks at Valessa.
When Raustikin arrives he nods his head in greeting and slides a bit to make room. "Welcome, everyone please meet Raustikin."
Valessa raises her hand in greeting to Beren’s shifter friend, then turns to critically appraise Brick’s scored and dirty carapace. Raising her voice slightly to be heard over some sudden raucous laughter from a nearby group, she asks “Were you damaged in the war?” – just as the noise nearby dies down, making her question sound unnecessarily loud – and probably rude to boot.
She quickly looks around, hoping she’s not blushing … and turns to Ruuz, trying to change the topic. “Anyway, that thing you did,” she draws a hand over her face in a vague gesture, “looking like me. How closely would you need to study someone to do that? How long can you keep it up?” She hasn’t known all that many changelings – nor shifters or warforged for that matter either.
Ruuz nods to Beren's shifter friend Raustikin and scans the ever growing group around him, and he thought the evening was going to be boring.
and turns to Ruuz, trying to change the topic. “Anyway, that thing you did,” she draws a hand over her face in a vague gesture, “looking like me. How closely would you need to study someone to do that? How long can you keep it up?” She hasn’t known all that many changelings – nor shifters or warforged for that matter either.
Ruuz smiles as Valessa tries to hide her discomfort at questioning Brick "Well the appearance is fairly easy to pull off, I can look just like anyone except for their cloths." Ruuz changes to look like Raustikin and smiling at his obvious discomfort in 'stealing' his face.
As Ruuz changes back he continues "The hard part is acting like the people I change to. This of course all depends on how well I know the people I am stepping in as and how well the people I am around know them. Languages can get in the way and it might take me a while to get the Aundarian accent you have just right."
"I know of some changeling that have fooled close family for years but that take dedication and a high amount of knowledge to pull that off." Ruuz stares off over Valerra's shoulder lost in thought. "Really the first month is the hard part and then they don't notice the small mistakes." Ruuz quickly looks back to the group realizing he is saying to much.
"Yes well does that answer your question well enough?" he asks Valessa with a wide smile.
Beren, listening intently to the consversation, becomes self conscious about his many mannerisms and resolute to say as little as possible to the changling. Now very wary about the company, thinking identity theft can be scary. He steals a tight-lipped glance at Valessa in visual warning.
Valessa glances sideways at Beren and raises an expressive eyebrow. “Yes…” she replies slowly to Ruuz. “Yes, it does.” She looks around at the crowd, and the tethered waitresses. “So that creep Ein wouldn’t even need to hire me. Just make sure one of his hired changelings got a good enough look.” She unconsciously adjusts the neckline of her tunic. “No wonder he was so free with his coin,” she mutters, and starts in on her second drink.
|
Results:
Listen:
10+
14+
16+
18+
25+
Gather Information
12+
16+
20+
Survival
18+
Knowledge Local
18+
22+
Spot
15+
20-24
25-27 NOT THE ABOVE, INSTEAD:
28+
Valessa raises her hand in greeting to Beren’s shifter friend, then turns to critically appraise Brick’s scored and dirty carapace. Raising her voice slightly to be heard over some sudden raucous laughter from a nearby group, she asks “Were you damaged in the war?” – just as the noise nearby dies down, making her question sound unnecessarily loud – and probably rude to boot.
"What war?"
“So that creep Ein wouldn’t even need to hire me. Just make sure one of his hired changelings got a good enough look.”
"Yes I wouldn't be surprised if we see you tied to a pole tomorrow." Ruuz looks at Raustikin and adds "The best part is you don't even know if the women bringing your drink is actually a women. I would say most are but you never know."
What war?
Ruuz raises an eyebrow at Bricks question, I really shouldn't be surprised with the questions he asks even now he thinks. "As you all can see Brick is very new to this world and I am afraid my history is not the best, I can of course explain the War but details I am not great at. We were discussing the Daelkyr earlier and maybe one of you could tell him more about them and the War we have been involved in for the last hundred years."
"The best part is you don't even know if the women bringing your drink is actually a women. I would say most are but you never know."
Not one to be an idle listener, Beren attempts to change his voice moderately to confuse the changling. He says in an overly husky, snarly voice "I thought some of those waitresses smelled funny. They just didn't smell human." Beren taps his nose and gives three quick sniffs. "But there were too many different smells to be sure." he shrugs.
Then to Beren, the conversation turns serious again.
We were discussing the Daelkyr earlier and maybe one of you could tell him more about them and the War we have been involved in for the last hundred years."
At the mention of the word Daelkyr, his head snaps up and his eyes widen. He really did not know much about them, but he did know that they were bad news. Then the discussion turned to something that he was far too familiar with. The Last War! Not wanting to think about his father, slain tutor, & Orcbone, he tries to change the subject.
"So Ruuz", Still speaking in his fabricated voice, "What do you do here in Stormreach?"
Valessa is about to launch into an indignant tirade at Ruuz’ comment about “seeing her tied up”, when her attention is distracted at the word “Daelkyr”. They were discussing Daelkyr? What sort of party was this. She turns to catch Beren’s eye, and as she does so a flash of movement from the sea snags her attention. What was that? Sahuagin? Their captain had negotiated with a tribe of sahuagin guides on the way over from Sharn, but she knew that the creatures were not always friendly … the sleek green body she had momentarily glimpsed certainly reminded her of one of the aquatic humanoids.
She leans over and puts her hand on Beren’s forearm. “Did you see that?” she asks quietly, gesturing with her head towards the water.
She leans over and puts her hand on Beren’s forearm. “Did you see that?” she asks quietly, gesturing with her head towards the water.
Beren leans in close to whisper in Valessa'a ear. "Aye, I have been seeing similar sightings for the past hour. Put down your drink, loosen your weapon, and remain cautious. And keep an eye, or in my case, a nose, out for who is behind you. Trust no one!"
“Do you think something’s going on?” Valessa looks around at the laughing, dancing crowd, the commotion up on the upper deck. “Something more sinister than all this I mean.” She glances at her half finished drink, beginning to wish she had not chosen this moment to let her hair – and her guard – down. Is Beren just getting paranoid, or is she soon going to have an opportunity to put that weapon training to the test?
“Do you think something’s going on?” Valessa looks around at the laughing, dancing crowd, the commotion up on the upper deck. “Something more sinister than all this I mean.”
Still whispering, "All is not always what it appears." He flashes his eyes briefly towards Ruuz. "I do not mean to worry you, but just be prepared." He lifts up both of his hands, palms toward her patting the air, "Now, I know you don't like that macho crap, but if something does happen, stick by me OK." Before Valessa could interject with her stubborness, "Yes, I know you can take care of yourself, but we make a good team, and we should stay together."
Then acting more at ease. "Besides, it could be nothing. Whatever is in the water," Beren gestures towards the sea, "could be a common occurence. They could be here for trade" lifting his coin bag and jingling the contents. "If you havn't noticed, all types of trade is going on tonight at this place. I am actually surprised you didn't pick up one those treasure maps that weasly goblin was selling. Probably fake, but even falsehoods sometimes start from facts."
"Agreed though, at least for tonight, if something happens, we work together as a team?"
“Yeah, you’re right, we make a good team. To be honest though, I don’t know that I’d be much use if it came to a fight – despite the archery lessons. I mean, I can hit a guy where it hurts, but…” She trails off and shrugs. “Anyway, I’ve got no problem sticking by you if things get rough.”
She pats his arm, then turns back to pick up the thread of an earlier conversation with Ruuz and Brick. “Daelkyr? Well I’m not sure how much I know of the creatures themselves, but it was an invasion of them and their minions from Xoriat that effectively ended the Hobgoblin empire in Khorvaire, paving the way for…” Her history lesson drones on, and is probably quite boring to anyone not really interested in the topic.
Ruuz half listens to Valessa's history lesson. Atleast I am no longer giving them but I don't know how much of this Brick is going to retain.
I wander what Beren and Valessa were whispering about? Wells they seem to want to keep their own company and I can definitely understand.
Feeling very shy, Raustikin doesn't add much to the conversation. However, he notices Beren and Valessa whispering. Perhaps if he can overhear them, he could get a better idea of what is going on.
Raustikin studies the sea to find what Beren and Valessa are talking about.
“Yeah, you’re right, we make a good team. To be honest though, I don’t know that I’d be much use if it came to a fight – despite the archery lessons. I mean, I can hit a guy where it hurts, but…” She trails off and shrugs. “Anyway, I’ve got no problem sticking by you if things get rough.”
She pats his arm, then turns back to pick up the thread of an earlier conversation with Ruuz and Brick. “Daelkyr? Well I’m not sure how much I know of the creatures themselves, but it was an invasion of them and their minions from Xoriat that effectively ended the Hobgoblin empire in Khorvaire, paving the way for…” Her history lesson drones on, and is probably quite boring to anyone not really interested in the topic.
Brick leans in closer, soaking up the information like a dry sponge.
Relief settles around Beren. He finally found a way to word his requests to Valessa and not get stabbed by her feminist tongue. He sits back while she gives her history lesson in silent satisfaction.
He frequently peers around checking for danger. His glances always seem to end on Ruuz. Beren never really met a changling before, but with their heritage they could cause a mess. 'Ruuz doesn't seem to mean any harm, in fact, he is quite the host' Beren thought. He did not want to fully trust him, but he found himself enjoying the company and awed at his shapechanging abilities. Beren decides at this moment,'If I am going to spend time at his table, I better get to know him better and find out what he is all about.' Beren listens intently to all conversations, paying close attention to what Ruuz says and Ruuz's reactions to what others say.
At the next break in converstion, Beren gauges his timing then asks, "So Ruuz, what brought you to Stormreach and how long have you lived here?" While Ruuz answers, if he answers, Beren will try to feel out his changling companion.