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"I could use a few more coins in my pocket, but I work for myself. I do not answer to you, nor will I accept you presenting such a fallacy to those I have not met. If there is money to be made, I am willing to do so together, with any who can hold their own weight, but express lordship over me again and The Cracked Mirror will show your bloody reflection." Silian's hand rests upon scimitar.
"Yes yes, we all know you are a free spirit and won't be held down and blah blah blah. Fine, call it working for yourself, it makes no difference to me as long as you get the job done." Aeyra pats Sillian on the head, looking towards their guest for her answer.
The woman's eyes roam over each of you, pausing a bit longer on those with evident dragonmarks. "Yes, well perhaps this might work. I cannot give you the specifics, or even offer any form of payment until I have spoken with Mistress Tela but perhaps... I should warn you it would be dangerous. She would have you travel into the Fallen District to find and recover something that was stolen from her. I will speak with her and send word for you here at the Cracked Mirror Inn by midday. Whom should I leave the message for?" Her eyes move between Silian and Akasha, clearly believing that they must outrank Aeyra in this ragtag group.
"That's perfectly alright, dangerous jobs pay well! You can leave the message for Tessara." She whisks back around, finding her chair again.
Her eyes flicker to Aeyra and then back to the others, uncertain even more about the group dynamics. "Mrgoab, perhaps something to write everyone's name down so that I can present it to Mistress Tela?"
When Silian speaks up she nods as if that is wisest, but accepts the paper anyway intent to bring names to her Mistress.
Mrogab hides a smile when the woman turns to look at him, but fetches her something to write with. She sits down at a table and waits for everyone's name, looking to Aeyra she writes down 'Tessara'.
Blaze remains silent through the altercation between Aerya and Silian, trying to determine if his confusion about what is going on is due to his general lack of understanding of social interactions or if this is an elven culture-specific instance. When the paper comes out, it gives him something much easier to grasp. "You may tell your mistress that the warforged known as Blaze will be happy to provide assistance."
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Vannevar says to the elf woman, "Vannevar of house Thuranni."
"As for you," he says, turning towards "Tessara","We are not your crew, we barely know you, and if you place your hand on lord Silian once more, I will see to removing it."
He hefts the well-used greatsword from his shoulder and holds it with both hands at throat level of her.
He re-sheaths his weapon and returns his attention toward the other elven woman.
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"All three of you will learn to contain yourselves or I will convince Blaze to join me in putting you all in separate corners. You are showing a great deal of disrespect both to this lady and to Mrgoab, and those of you who claim to have been raised in a noble house should know better." Lianna's voice is level, though obviously irritated and during this whole thing she never looked away from her tea.
Hands itching on her cane, Aeyra restrains herself to rolling her eyes at the huge clumsy weapon. "Overcompensating with that? If you're going to threaten people indoors at least have a decent weapon to do it with, not that great tree feller of yours." LORD Silian. This is going to be pleasant, it better pay well.
Jess comes skipping down the stairs and stops in her tracks as her eyes first land on Vannevar with his drawn weapon and then the woman sitting at the table. She pauses only for a moment before continuing down slowly. "Problem?" She asks Vannevar before stopping before the woman, who stands to greet Jess with a warm embrace and a kiss on the cheek, which Jess returns. "Lady Neris, to what do we owe the pleasure?"
Neris replies, "Lady Tela has had her personal property stolen. She thought to have Mrogab retrieve it for her, but he has refused. These... people, have offered their services in retrieving her... property, should Lady Tela agree to hire them."
Jess glances at Mrogab who looks rather chastised by Jess' look. He goes about busying himself at the bar.
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Bowing to the elven maiden. "A thousand apologies. The fair Lianna is right. My... personal feelings on Tessara's poor choice of wording should not reflect on my capabilities of performing your mistress' task."
Silian ponders for a moment, and says mostly to himself, "Speaking of performance, when does the Race begin?"
Jess answers Silian's question automatically, without thought, as if she's already answered the same question a hundred times. "The festivities will begin just after first light. There are usually a few quick stunt rides to begin, and then late morning the actual races will begin."
"Akasha d'Denieth, I would be happy to assist your lady."Akasha responds, pointedly ignoring the bickering.
Neris rises after writing the last name and a couple of quick notes. She nods to Jess and glares at Mrogab before leaving the inn. Mrogab has set out some cold leftovers, bread, and fresh fruit for you to eat. He disappears quietly into the back of the inn, Jess hot on his feet. You expect to hear raised voices, but instead only silence.
Soon, the city is abuzz with activity and the commons room is once again crowded.
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Silian addresses the others, "If Lady Neris and her mistress think we are qualified to tackle... whatever task Mrogab has declined, I believe we need to know what to expect from each other. Strengths, weaknesses," He looks at Aeyra, "Lethal allergies. That sort of thing." Silian idly eats an apple in between conversation.
"Intuition, nothing, and stupid people, in that order." With her next job set up, Aeyra finishes her thin morning drink and heads upstairs.
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Lianna gives a sidelong glance at Aerya "Considering your behavior in that little instance that would indicate a lethal allergy to yourself." she takes a sip of her tea "As far as strengths go I have magic, social manipulation, and an unflabbly sarcastic and occasionally condescending attitude. Weaknesses include I'm not that great in hand to hand combat, and people who think that loud garish colors are a viable fashion choice. And the only lethal allergies I have are ones that make me lethal to the allergy."
Aeyra snorts, laughing with a bit of a cackle. "Despite the flawed paradoxical nature of that remark, that was pretty good."
"My strengths are military experience, combat ability and battle magic. I also have an understanding of how Nobility works in this city."
Shortly after the sun rises the crowded streets become even more crowded. Horns can be heard both near and far along with the excited ooh and aah's of the crowd. The aerial stunts have begun, and some of them can be seen simply by stepping outside of the inn.
Jess seems excited and props open the door where she leans against the frame watching the skies. Mrogab soon joins her.
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As the door opens, Silian will sit down, removing his boot, and place his coin pouch in the bottom of his shoe before pulling his boot back on. He puts his gloves over his hand with his signet ring, tightens his belt and sheaths, smiling and winking at anybody who pays him attention. "Large crowds. Can't be too careful." Silian will make his way towards the door, allowing Vannevar to exit first, and try to find a position against the Cracked Mirror with vision not too obscured by towers.
"This... should be worthwhile."
Aeyra takes a break from her work, going downstairs to get something to drink and to stretch her legs. Jess catches her eye and she comes to the door to look at some of the stunts, her lip curling a bit. "I might go after all, research can wait."
Jess smiles at Aeyra, "It's really a wonderful experience. Even if you've seen it before, each year they do something different."
"Haven't seen it at all actually." She stands for another moment, then pushes off the frame. "Ok than, let's go see why this little event is so popular."
Jess smiles, "I've got to stick around here for a bit today, go have at it though."
Silian's coin draws the attention of several "rapscallions". In the mix are a couple of halflings - one male and one female - whom seem to be working together, a smattering of humans, and a female half-orc.
The halflings bear no marks that Silian can see.
With a scowl from the half-orc woman, several of the humans walk away. Apparently it isn't worth the fight for them. The half-orc woman shoves past the rest and says, "I'll be your guide. I know all of the best places, near taverns even."
The halfling woman snorts and wiggles past the half-orc, "Yeah, go with her and loose your purses." The half-orc shoves the halfling back behind her and receives a kick to her calf for her effort. She pays it no mind.
One of the two remaining humans speaks up, "You'd be a fool to trust either of them." He looks to be no more than 13-years of age, but that doesn't stop the half-orc woman from shoving him to the ground. He rises quickly, though, dagger in hand.
Observing ther "guides" reacting like sharks in bloody water, Akasha quietly studies them for insight into ulterior motives.
The half-orc woman draws a blade of her own, a very nasty looking dagger with ruins etched along the hilt. She slashes out at the boy, but proves to be too slow for him as he easily steps past her strike and returns one of his own, slashing at her forearm and causing her to drop her dagger. She howls out a few choice orcish expletives and squats to retrieve her dagger. The boy kicks the dagger, sending it clattering across the street.
The second human, having been quiet up until this point, steps past the scuffle and extends his hand to Silian, "I am Geoffery. I would gladly guide you to where ever you wish, if it pleases you, M'lord."
The half-orc woman growls at the boy, sneers at your group and goes off to retrieve her dagger using it to cut a piece of her tunic to sop up the blood and bind the wound. She returns shortly, but lingers at the back of the group leering at the boy who caused her so much embarrassment. The boy keeps his body turned in such a fashion that he can watch you to await your decision, while keeping and eye on her.
"We've made our choice. We choose them," Akasha says indicating the human boys, while warily watching the half-orc woman.
Something subtle about her shift in stance, the sword beltad at her hip, the dragonmark, all come together to make it clear that interfering in their business would be a dangerous mistake.