The day dawns bright and clear in the city of Magnimar, the sound of chirping birds and the general hustle and bustle of a waking populace greeting you from outside your window at Heidmarch Manor - Varisia's first Pathfinder Lodge and the base of operations for all Society activities in region. Some of you might take it as a good omen, especially in light of the note each of you received at dinner the previous evening - a personal request from Venture-Captain Sheila Heidmarch to meet this morning after breakfast concerning a matter of great importance. Surely this can only mean one thing - an assignment!
With eagerness, curiosity, or perhaps even trepidation, you all rise that morning and after your morning rituals make your way downstairs to the dining room where a hearty breakfast awaits - for it wouldn't do to send agents out on empty stomachs, would it?
______
|
Dalen stretches the kinks out of her shoulders as she walks into the dining room and sees the spread. Her mouth begins to water as she spots the bacon and the flapjacks, then frowns when she doesn't see any pecans or walnuts.
"Oh well," she says to herself, her mood immediately brightens as she returns her focus to what was there. "Flapjacks!"
She begins to pile her plate high with them, slices of bacon, and lotsa of fruit before pouring two different kinds of syrup over it all. She takes a moment to admire the monstrous stack of food and licks her lips as the smell invites her to tear it apart.
Remember, Lady Heidmarch is a noble lady and this is a fancy manor. Try not to wreak too much carnage, she reminds herself as she begins cutting off the first, large bite.
|
|
Seeing that she's sharing the table with someone, Dalen lowers her fork and trims about three-quarters of what she had on it off. She then sheepishly eats the much more appropriately sized bite before taking a sip of the glass of milk she'd fixed and turns her attention to Eamon in full.
"Um, hello? are you a Pathfinder as well," she asks, her cheeks colored slightly in embarrassment.
|
|
Eamon sniffs audibly at the intrusive remark, Careful Eamon, you must keep up appearances with common folk, if your truly wanting to climb the ranks of the Pathfinder society. Eamon examines the young lass with a scrutinizing eye. He carefully looks away at her un-polished boots and colony dress style. He musters his most winning smile...all teeth with no humor in the eyes, I'm Eamon Valda if you must know. Eamon reluctantly offers his hand, And yes I'm a new recruit to the Pathfinders society..much like yourself. Eamon says the last part as if their were little doubt who this young lady could be.
Eamon spots someone with insignia coming through the door; If you'll excuse me, I've maters to attend to.. He leaves the young ranger lass in mid sentence without even asking her name.
|
Two men are in a bar .. err, Pathfinder lodge when a dwarf enters...
Hello, Young ones.
Without taking much interest in the couple, he select a few things to eat and takes his breakfast at a table nearby, giving a few scrumbs to a small furry creature
Don't eat too fast, Lybna, you'll choke yourself! Where are your table manners?
THe weasel doesn't listen to much, and tries to eat a parcel a little too big for its maw
|
| 1 person marked this as a favorite. |
A immaculately dressed human male steps into the dinning room. His clothes are a dark grey and he has a walking stick that he carries more for flair than actual support. The man must be in his early twenties.
When he sees the others he stops just inside the room. After a moment of hesitation he moves towards the two humans and dwarf. He shows a wayfinder and bows slightly "Well met. I am Karayan Ionacu and am here for the briefing of Miss Heidmarch"
|
|
| 1 person marked this as a favorite. |
Dalen, who'd just taken a large bite out of her stack of pancakes, hopes that the dwarf, who'd yet to introduce himself, would help fill the silence as she chewed as quickly as she could without choking herself.
Ahhh! This isn't good! Seems like I'm oh-for-three a good first impression.
|
| 1 person marked this as a favorite. |
Shelya strides into the dining room, her stomach growling. Her eyes slowly scan the room, noticing the humans and the dwarf engaged in conversation. She makes her way to the food and puts a small serving on her plate. She makes her way to the table, "Hello, do you mind if I sit with you? I would enjoy some company." She mainly speaks to the humans, as Shelya has always been fascinated by them. She sets her plate on the table and sits down. "My name is Shelya and this is Nikita," She lightly touches the viper that is draped around her neck.
She made sure to sit next to the humans as she knew that you could never trust a Dwarf. They always turn on you, even when you think they are the best their kind has to offer... She shoves the memory out of her mind. Now Shelya, you know you cannot present yourself in a rude manner. You don't know who these people are, she attempts to dismiss her views on Dwarves.
|
|
| 1 person marked this as a favorite. |
"Pleasure to meet ya, Eredur," Dalen says before turning to the two newcomers, and sees trouble with a capital E-L-F.
Uh-oh, didn't Eredur say he didn't like elves? This just got more interesting in a bad way, she thinks before recovering and nodding to the newcomer. She takes another bite of her breakfast, half-way through the large stack of flapjacks, fruit, and bacon even with the interruptions for introductions.
When Shelya asks if she could sit next to her, Dalen manages to not embarrass herself too much with her response.
"Oh, yes! I don't mind at all," she answers, "The name's Dalen. It's a– Is that a snake?!"
The young woman leans away from Nikita, completely unprepared for having a snake that close to her.
|
|
"Wel met Eredur" he steps back as the weasel tries to bite the wayfinder. "I am good at befriending people and getting information"
He waits until the elf has joined them more pets, why do people need so much company?
"I am Karayan. Now let me get a bite and I will join you later." he quickly returns with a platter with some sausages and baked bacon.
"What is your area of expertise Shelya?"
|
|
| 2 people marked this as a favorite. |
Lybna hisses when she sees the snake.
Eredu catches the female weasel before things got ugly, but he doesn't seems too happy to see the elf.
Damn bloody elf! She had to get a snake, of course! Probably a Calistrian courtesan too, with their unsatiable lust and undecent ways. You would NEVER see a dwarf doing the things I could only barely imagine they do!
Calm down, Lybna...And don't try to bite me either! Eat my food, that would be better. but don't gorge yourself, this time!
Eredur gives a cold hard stare to the snake.
He doesn't even looks at the elf
|
|
"Dalen, do not be afraid of her! She's a sweetheart, I promise. Do you want to hold her? She loves meeting new people." She takes a bite of her food. Her eyes shift towards Karayan, "I wish I could say that a little bit of everything was my expertise, but it's more fun to show you on the adventure if we are all given an assignment together." She smiles sweetly, ignoring the glare from the Dwarf.
Nikita moves her head to watch the Dwarf's pet. She flicks out her tongue and determines that it would not be a threat.
|
|
Last to the table, and briefly taking in the scene, a young man - bronzed and weathered from many summers in the sun - sits himself down. His accent is difficult to place, seemingly caught between at least two nations, but he seems friendly enough, "Good Morning all... anything on the table particularly good today? The name's Guillaume by the by..."
...the small sword pendant hanging from Guillaume's neck makes it obvious that he is a worshipper of Iomedae.
|
|
| 1 person marked this as a favorite. |
After having been brushed off by the two higher ranking Pathfinders, Eamon navigates his way back to the table where the newer recruits were. Those two that snubbed me were probably not important anyway. Just like back in school, I can see how this organization is going to be..the seniors always lording it over the under class-men. Hmm... appears there's been a couple new arrivals; one appears to be of the Inheritor's children... I best introduce myself.
Eamon walks up to the young man wearing Iomedae's pendant and offers his hand. Greetings! may the Lady of Valor's favor shine upon you this day! I'm Eamon Valda, a fellow clergy member of The Inheritor, I'm pleased to find a fellow worshiper of our Lady of Justice among this rabble... realizing he had gone too far, Eamon quickly interjects, present company excepted I mean.. He flourishes his hand in a manor meant to include everyone at the table. His smile as broad and bright as The Light of the Sword.
must watch your tongue you dolt! These vagabonds could be useful to you someday!
|
|
| 1 person marked this as a favorite. |
Karayan and then Guillaume had caught Dalen at that awkward point where you already have the fork in your mouth, but haven't closed your mouth to chew. She hesitates, and decides that it was better to finish what she started.
Unfortunately, that allows Eamon time to return and open his mouth.
"Definitely Taldane," she mutters darkly under her breath behind her glass of milk after swallowing her food.
"It's nice to meet you Gulliaume," Dalen says with a smile, determined to be polite even with the pompous blowhard back from wherever he'd gone. "Dalen's the name."
Then turning her attention to Karayan, she gives the man an apologetic smile.
"Sorry for not introducing myself earlier, Karayan. It's a pleasure to meet you as well. I think you brought up a good point. If we are going to work together as Pathfinders, we should at least know what we're capable of," she says, then turning to Eamon, she asks, "does my lord wish to go before or after the rabble."
Her smile is warm, even sweet, but her tone is like a wickedly barbed arrow.
|
|
| 1 person marked this as a favorite. |
Karayan nods at Dalen
hmm, there is some group dynamics at work here that will work against us if allowed to foster
"Why don't I grab a pot of tea for us all to enjoy while everybody thinks about his strengths. Don't be shy, but you also should not embellish your story. It is likely that we will face combat in our mission, so we all need to be able to rely on one another.
|
|
"does my lord wish to go before or after the rabble."
Eamon purse his lips at the girl's slight, it appears the brat took exception to my comment...hmm better make nice. Forgive me Ms....? Eamon bows formally as the honeyed words pour from his lips. I've meant no disrespect to you or anyone else at the table. There are er..certain elements of this crowd that I find undesirable. However, being in the presence of such lovely company as yourself and this lovely Elven maiden, has made these droll moments more tolerable. Eamon pulls out a chair and begins to sit, suddenly jerking himself from the seat before, his bottom touches the chair. Oh...please do forgive me, I forget my manners...may I join you?
|
|
”Well, my lord,” Dalen says, her voice sharp and barbed with sarcasm, ”I must say that I’m flattered that I am now worthy of your notice, seeing as you left almost as soon as you saw me last time. Dalen Stonestep, at your service.”
She stands and gives Eamon a curtsy, her smile is still pleasant, but her eyes are cold and hard as they stay fixed upon the pompous Iomedaean.
|
|
| 1 person marked this as a favorite. |
Mi lady,.. Eamon bows again his eyes wandering toward the handsome Elven maiden. I apologize for the abrupt departure, I thought I saw an old acquaintance leaving and I wanted to speak with him before he departed. Eamon takes a breath while flopping down in to the chair informally Alas, more to my shame, it was a case of mistaken identity and I'm more the fool for departing such... Eamon pauses for a moment while searching for the correct word. .... Interesting company. Eamon's eyes again dart to the exotic elf maiden with the snake coiled around her wrist.
After the briefest of moments Eamon gathers his wits again and says Dalen how's the food here? Eamon reaches over the table and offers his hand to Guillaume Eamon Valda of Taldor and your name fellow parishioner of the Inheritor?
|
|
Dalen rolls her eyes and sits back down. She didn't believe it for a moment. His manners screamed that he was nobly born, and more than likely, she suspected, it was the "commoner stench" that had sent him running after someone else.
Still, at least he was making an effort to apologize, even if he was making eyes at Shelya.
"The foods pretty good. No pecans or walnuts though," she says before she continues her meal.
|
|
| 1 person marked this as a favorite. |
The discord that had threatened to bubble to the surface here cuts a jangling resonance with Guillaume - whether he had caught the source correctly or not, there was a sense of the friction between noble-born and commonfolk here... the same discord that had run so violently through his home country and set him fighting against people that he would call brother... The Iomedean puts his discomfort to one side though.
We are a long way from Galt now...
...and extending his hand in friendship to those who will take it, "Honoured to make your acquaintance... I am Guillaume of the Iomedean faith. You will forgive my tardiness? I arrived only last night and it has been a long journey".
|
|
Thankfully, Dalen's timing is a little better this time and her fork is only on its way to her mouth. She puts it down and turns to accept Guillaume's offered hand, grasping it by the forearm in the style of the ulfen. She'd picked it up in Absolom after seeing it and finding she rather preferred the northerners' way of greeting one another.
"There's still flapjacks and other goodies. I'd say that makes you right on time," she says cheerily. His manners are formal, but at least he seems to be a more friendly fellow than Eamon.
|
|
Eamon is a bit perturbed as Dalen quickly leans over the table grasping the offered hand that was clearly meant for him. musn't make an issue of it. how could she have anything but frontier manners? Eamon still can't resist taking a veiled barb at her expense though, Well, Guillaume I'm pleased to meet you as well! Tardy or not, it seems you already have ladies all too eager too make your acquaintance! Eamon smiles and winks at Dalen. Your accent seems reminiscent of our northern neighbors..you are from Galt if I'm not mistaken?
|
|
| 1 person marked this as a favorite. |
Shelya watches Nikita move her head towards Dalen's extended hand. She brushes against it in a way that a cat might. Satisfied from the contact, she snuggles around Shelya's arm.
"See? I told you she was friendly. The next step will be to hold her." She winks at Dalen, Oh how I love humans. They are scared of such small things. There are creatures much worse than a little viper out in the world. Her attention snaps back to Karayan as she hears her name being mentioned.
"There has to be some fun in adventuring when you can face your death at any moment, Karayan. What's the point of living if you're serious all the time?" Before she could say another word, a young man interrupted. "Good day Guillaume. Welcome," She smiles warmly at the newcomer. Another newcomer approached. Rabble? Oh human.
She listened to the exchange between Dalen and the newcomers. Well these humans have spunk at least. This should be entertaining if we adventure together. She notices Eamon's eyes drift towards her, "Please do join us, Eamon."
She did not miss Eamon's jab at Dalen for accepting the offered hand. "The gentlemen are even more eager to make your acquaintance Guillaume. You must be an interesting person."
|
|
Dalen smiles as the snake brushes against her hand. She wasn't about to pester Nikita, but she was glad that the snake did indeed seem friendly.
"Sorry, most of the time when you run across snakes in the Border Wood, it's not a good idea to mess with them. I was just surprised to see one as a pet or companion is all," she says before turning back to her breakfast.
Dalen couldn't help it. Shelya's barb was too well timed and she lets out a giggle before she manages to get herself under control. She isn't too bothered by Eamon's jab, but it is a reminder that if they were going to be working together, it is going to be unpleasant at times. Shelya's remark reminded her that, perhaps, things wouldn't be so bad.
"Well, I think it's safe to say we're all happy to have you," she says before letting go and turning back to Karayan, and then realizing he's gone.
"Oh, he left to get some tea," she says, now feeling a little awkward and ashamed. She wasn't proud of giving into her cattiness when Eamon had rubbed her the wrong way, but it had happened and she'd have to live with it.
"Well, it seems that Eamon and I are from Taldor, what about everyone else," Dalen asks. "Are you really from Galt, Guillaume?"
|
|
More hungry than he had thought himself, Guillaume lets the conversation wash past him for a few minutes saying little more than he does indeed hail from Galt and that he, as some of the others here are, is a long way from home... and despite himself, he blushes several times when the talk moves towards him. Attempting to deflect any interest in himself, he tries to steer the conversation away with banalities, "This is a fine breakfast... I had heard that our host has travelled extensively - it would seem her larder journeyed with her".
|
|
| 1 person marked this as a favorite. |
The gentlemen are even more eager to make your acquaintance Guillaume. You must be an interesting person.
Eamon's eyes narrow slightly at the vulgar attempt at humor on the elf maiden's part. Since he only stood up to grasp Guillaume's hand in greeting...Eamon, cannot readily find a reason, to excuse himself from the table. The beautiful elf maiden may be comely but, her tongue was sharp and ..much as Eamon hated thinking it, He may be over-matched. If you insist kind mistress, every man must rest with snakes from time to time if he wants to get ahead in this life, it is said. Eamon lets that last part linger for the briefest of moments before hurriedly interjecting, I of coarse refer to your friendly little companion! Eamon is once again all smiles...feeling triumphant.
You see in this life you find yourself associating, traveling, and working with all kinds of people and things. You must offer your resources in order to receive the possible aid they may offer to your cause. Sometimes, those people and or things take up the most unusual and un-expected forms..like snakes! Eamon is looking directly at Sheyla when he says these things. Wouldn't you agree mistress ..er...I didn't catch your name?
|
|
"I thought you had to travel to Absolom to be confirmed," Dalen says with a shrug, "Traveled there from the Borderwood and spent a few months working for a local brewery before sailing here. I did my confirmation at the lodge in Absolom, which I guess is a good thing. I'm not sure what I would have done if my mother managed to find me in Oppara."
She gives Guillaume a warm smile as she adds, "there's no need to worry. We're all friends here, right?"
|
|
Shelya smiles as Eamon speaks. "You do have to be careful with which snakes you lay with. Some of them are very deadly beneath their friendly exterior." She kisses Nikita on top of her head, "But I do agree. Some things take interesting forms... Like humans. I am Shelya, my good sir." She smiles warmly, enjoying the exchange.
She returns her attention to Dalen, "Does your mother not approve? Ahh, the tea is here! I do enjoy a good cup of tea. It is quite hard to find one that is perfect though."
|
|
But I do agree. Some things take interesting forms... Like humans. I am Shelya, my good sir.
Pleased to meet you fair maid..I um look forward to working with you? Eamon nods and smiles at the elven woman's politeness. He sits down awkwardly wondering who got the best of whom? His eyes fall on a basket of bread and he quickly grabs a piece, stuffing it in his mouth; for the first time in a while, at a loss for words.