Welcome Guest ( Log In | Register )

5 Pages V < 1 2 3 4 5 >  
Reply to this topicStart new topic
> The Lunacy of the Guilloux Mansion Playground
Callidus Thorn
post Dec 22 2013, 08:38 PM
Post #41


Councilor
Group Icon
Joined: 29-September 13
From: Midgard, Cyrodiil, one or two others.



"You give yourself far too little credit, Angelina. Most would not look beyond the money, would ignore the people you want to help, and would sleep soundly. They would grasp at every coin that fell to them, and never think beyond them. It is something I often try to impress on students of magic: It is not enough to want power for the sake of power. If you do not have a reason, a purpose for that power, then you do not deserve it. It is, I think, something that contributed to the fall of the old Mages Guild. Too many grasping at power without purpose, without thought beyond themselves.

It is the same, I find, with money. And, like with magic, it is a test that all too many fail, yet prosper nevertheless. And that is why I say that you have a noble heart. Because your goal includes others, others to whom you owe nothing, but are still willing to help. Because you are willing to lose coin to aid those less fortunate, a thought that many simply would not understand.

To see the world as being better than it is is indeed foolish, but to want to make it better, and to be willing to try to make it happen, that is nobility."


--------------------
A mind without purpose will walk in dark places
User is offlineProfile CardPM
Go to the top of the page
+Quote Post
SilenceFalls
post Dec 22 2013, 09:21 PM
Post #42


Retainer

Joined: 12-June 13



Jeanstar left his room and started towards the sounds of people congregating, murmured voices, the occasional clink of wares. It seemed strange that he would socialize with his competition, but that was the point wasn't it, Arcenne?

On top of being eccentric, the man was a shrewd businessman. He rarely went inside for negotiations and meets; rather, staying in the quarters and areas intended for the help. On the once or twice he did go in, he would see the man sitting by himself with a drink or cup of tea, as relaxed as one could be on one end of the table.

On the other side, it would be the merchant, noble or person of wealth with their small group of scribes, attorneys, and other professional accessories looking utterly defeated against this single Breton who took them on and won each time. Jeanstar knew he was nowhere's near as clever as Arcenne, but even he realized that going in alone was a tactic that upset his counterpart's expectations and why he refused an escort each time.

Passing by a room, he heard the faintest sound of a drawer opening. Assuming it was yet another guest's room he paid it no mind at first, until he heard the sound of glass breaking.

Quickly entering, he opened the door wide to let the halls light illuminate the inside. Scanning the room quickly, he saw that a lantern was the source of the noise, and realized that the room wasn't quarters, it appeared to be a small study of some kind.

The desk drawers were open and a couple of cabinets as well, but no one but he was inside. He checked underneath the desk and behind the couch, but there simply wasn't a person that could be connected to the source of the disruption.

He sighed and muttered: "Just getting old I guess. The sound of the drawer must've been the lantern sliding off the desk." He shook his head in resignation and exited the study.

As his head moved from the down-turned position inspecting that the door was closing, into an upright one, he was met with the unexpected sight of two blue eyes staring a hole through him.

He startled visibly, and brought a hand to his chest as he offered his apologies.

"Forgive me lass, ye gave me a bit of a fright there. I thought someone had been hurt in there. Jeanstar Lelltal is meh name. Are ye one of the guests as well?" He asked.

She was slight of frame, and dressed from head to foot in black. It made the paleness of her skin, the azure of her eyes, and the radiant red of her hair red contrast even more against the drab, dulling colors of the house.

"Selvia Valieu, Maester Lelltal." She spoke with a preciseness that did not seem to match her age. "Yes. I'll be joining you all in this little scavenger hunt. I've only just arrived myself. I was told that I could find quarters and the others up here."

"Yes, lass. I was just heading over to the library mehself, if you'd care to --" He was cut off as she gave him a slight smile and took her leave towards the library.

He shrugged and started to follow her. It was then he noticed the scent, in the same manner one could pick up a waft of perfume from the still air in a hallway as one passed he noticed that she smelled ever so faintly of lamp oil.

"Was she in....?! No. No...just getting old." He thought to himself.
User is offlineProfile CardPM
Go to the top of the page
+Quote Post
Rohirrim
post Dec 22 2013, 10:34 PM
Post #43


Mouth
Group Icon
Joined: 18-January 13
From: Greyhawk



The tour was somewhat uneventful, and Sarde was bored for most of it. Until, of course, some girl came and grabbed his weapons. Say, baby, I've got another sword you can look at...

He threw his backpack and cloak in an upstairs room, next to the beggar's. He went over to the library, in case there was something interesting there.


--------------------
User is offlineProfile CardPM
Go to the top of the page
+Quote Post
Elisabeth Hollow
post Dec 23 2013, 01:53 AM
Post #44


Ancient
Group Icon
Joined: 15-November 12
From: Texas



Anaya

The thin Dunmer looked startled. "M-me?" She stammered, and she dared to look him in the face briefly. "I-I...yes, muthsera. I will make haste to the library." She hurried off and eventually met with Aranios in the study.

OOC: Let it open, Colonel Mustard, so you can head there at your convenience. And also if anyone else wanted to stop her, they could.


----------



Angelina

"You're too kind, Enarvy!" Angelina said before the other Dunmer joined them. her face brightened a little at the sight of his swords.

"Why do you carry those around? Are you expecting danger? The most dangerous person here is probably Belladonna, and she's just a bag of wind." She laughed, another light, tinkling sound. She stood up and peeked at his sword. "They're steel, aren't they? But the shine looks silver, almost."

She looked over at the door as it opened again to see a freckled redhead open the door. Angelina's face was one of complete surprise.

"S-Selvia?! You can't be here!"

Selvia's unblinking eyes crinkled as her full mouth smiled. Her deep blue eyes studied the two Dunmer men briefly before looking over at the blonde.

"Petra would've wanted it. Belladonna can go to Oblivion."

"She won't give you the money."

"I don't care about the money."

"You must be thirsty. Shall we find Anaya?" Angelina said, nervously changing the subject.

Selvia shook her head, her straight red locks, chopped in an odd style swaying with her head.

"No, I'm fine."

Thunder shook the house, making Angelina jump. She laughed nervously.

"I hate thunder."


--------------------
User is offlineProfile CardPM
Go to the top of the page
+Quote Post
Callidus Thorn
post Dec 23 2013, 08:45 AM
Post #45


Councilor
Group Icon
Joined: 29-September 13
From: Midgard, Cyrodiil, one or two others.



The arrival of the other Dunmer brought the conversation with Angelina to a close, but before Enarvy could return his attention to the shelves of books, another "guest" walked in. A freckled redhead, apparently she was called Sevlia, and unlike the other guests, she seemed to be well known to Angelina.

Enarvy's suspicions, banished during the conversation with Angelina, returned threefold. There was now another guest, one not invited, and who by her own admission had no interest in the gold.

So what was this Selvia here for? And why would Petra have wanted her here?


--------------------
A mind without purpose will walk in dark places
User is offlineProfile CardPM
Go to the top of the page
+Quote Post
Colonel Mustard
post Dec 23 2013, 05:41 PM
Post #46


Master
Group Icon
Joined: 3-July 08
From: The darkest pit of your soul. Hi there!



The Dunmer girl arrived a few minutes later, looking as nervous and unsure of herself as always. She had her eyes averted, and almost seemed to be hiding behind the tray she carried, held up against her chest like a shield.

"You w-wanted to see me, muthsera?" she asked.

"Indeed I did," Aranios said. "Though before I go on, I don't think I got your name."

"A-Anaya, muthsera."

"Anaya," Aranios nodded, rolling the word around on his tongue. "What a lovely name. I'm Aranios, by the way. Now, about that offer."

He gestured for her to take a seat, and leant against the desk.

"Now, the thing about me is that, at the end of the day, I'm not a very good sport. Never have been, if I'm honest, and I'm very interested in getting this chest of gold," he said. "Now you are in the perfect position to go just about anywhere and hear a lot of things without anyone really noticing you or caring that you're around; after all, you're not a competitor, so why would anyone need to keep things from you. So, in exchange for a cut of the winnings, say, enough for you to get out of this mansion and make your own way in this world, you act as a spy for me. How about it, Anaya? Or do you want to stay cooped up as a maid in this mansion in the middle of nowhere forever?"




OOC: Hope you don't mind that I took control of Anaya a little bit, Liz. Just wanted the conversation to move at a halfway-reasonable pace.
User is offlineProfile CardPM
Go to the top of the page
+Quote Post
Callidus Thorn
post Dec 24 2013, 12:11 AM
Post #47


Councilor
Group Icon
Joined: 29-September 13
From: Midgard, Cyrodiil, one or two others.



Enarvy turned his attention to the other Dunmer. "If you don't mind me asking, kinsman, why do you carry those swords? I understand being cautious on the journey, but do you really think it's still necessary?"


--------------------
A mind without purpose will walk in dark places
User is offlineProfile CardPM
Go to the top of the page
+Quote Post
Rohirrim
post Dec 24 2013, 01:17 AM
Post #48


Mouth
Group Icon
Joined: 18-January 13
From: Greyhawk



"Well, as I am a bard of sorts, these come in handy for other things. For instance, if the lady doesn't mind," he stepped back and began tossing the swords over hand and under, "I can juggle with them. I can also perform various dances with them, and, blunted, they're rather good for all sorts of plays and pantomimes."


"I'm Sarde of House Dres, by the way. Good to meet you, kinsman. Well, I have not truly met you until I know your name, yes?"


--------------------
User is offlineProfile CardPM
Go to the top of the page
+Quote Post
Elisabeth Hollow
post Dec 24 2013, 04:20 AM
Post #49


Ancient
Group Icon
Joined: 15-November 12
From: Texas



OOC: That's fine, CM, and everyone else is allowed to do it, as long as it's nothing too out of the ordinary. CM has picked up on Anaya's reluctance to look people in the face and her timidness and has gone along with it, which is fine. Taking control for the sake of cutting out time is totally cool.



Anaya


The Dunmer woman pursed her lips in thought.

"I would very much like to get out of here...but Madame Belladonna has forbidden consorting with guests. But..." She gulped and dared to look at Aranios in the eye for a brief second. "If it pleases you, I will do my best without going against my mistress' wishes."

The clock rank six times, and Anaya jumped in surprise. "Six bells?! Oh no! She'll skin me alive!" Anaya hurried off into the hallway, let let out a shriek.


----




Angelina and Selvia

"This is Enarvy," Angelina said to Sarde, putting a hand on the older mer's shoulder lightly. She gave it a gentle squeeze and smiled up at him before looking over to Sarde.

"You're a bard? And you juggle? How wonderful! I'm much too clumsy to juggle."

Selvia was studying everyone in the room with an intense gaze. Her nose twitched once, then she swept out of the room without a word, passing by Jeanstar, Percival and Boots as she went downstairs. She stopped, then turned to Percival and Boots. She stared at them both for a brief moment, her deep blue eyes seemingly searching every inch of their clothing, then she turned back around and walked downstairs.

Anaya let out a shriek when Selvia's pale hand gripped her wrist.

"S-Selvia? I mean-" The maid stuttered. Selvia put a light finger on the other woman's lips, shushing her.

"Where is Belladonna?" Selvia asked, loud enough for Aranios to hear.

"Madame is upstairs." Anaya's words had a stiff preciseness to them, her eyes traveling to the open door of the study. Selvia looked in, her face expressionless as she saw Aranios. She gently held the maid's hands in her own.

"I will meet you in your quarters tonight." She said softly. The maid gulped and hurried off into the kitchen.


--------------------
User is offlineProfile CardPM
Go to the top of the page
+Quote Post
Colonel Mustard
post Dec 25 2013, 08:10 PM
Post #50


Master
Group Icon
Joined: 3-July 08
From: The darkest pit of your soul. Hi there!



Well, that could have gone worse. It wasn't idea, but the compromise that Anaya was willing to give him was something. Useful, certainly.

She hurried out, and ran into a red-haired Breton woman who had just appeared out of the study. They exchanged a few quiet words, one which Aranios missed, and the dunmer hurried off.

"Hello there," Aranios said, sauntering out of the room without a trace of guilt or self-consciousness. "Don't think I recognise you. You a latecomer to this little gathering?"
User is offlineProfile CardPM
Go to the top of the page
+Quote Post
Elisabeth Hollow
post Dec 26 2013, 01:41 AM
Post #51


Ancient
Group Icon
Joined: 15-November 12
From: Texas



Selvia

Selvia stared at the Imperial man with unblinking eyes.

"I was here before anyone." She said, her voice accentless, but precise. "I was just not discovered until a few moments ago. I am Selvia. Petra's lover. Or was, rather, until his untimely death. Though, perhaps not quite so untimely, given how he was. Even in his sixties, he was a risk taker."

She smiled slightly at the memory. "And you are either Aranios or Marcellus. You don't look like a seasoned Arena fighter, so I will assume Aranios."


--------------------
User is offlineProfile CardPM
Go to the top of the page
+Quote Post
Colonel Mustard
post Dec 27 2013, 05:08 PM
Post #52


Master
Group Icon
Joined: 3-July 08
From: The darkest pit of your soul. Hi there!



"You assume correctly," Aranios said, filing away that little tidbit of information about the other Imperial being an Arena fighter. Guessing from the looks of the girl, she couldn't be out of her twenties, and if that was the case then the only reason she was attracted to Arce-to Petra was become of his money. Typical. "It's a pleasure to make your acquaintance, madame Selvia. Seeing as you're a member of the house, I'm assuming you won't be a rival of mine in this little game Petra's set up."

This post has been edited by Colonel Mustard: Dec 27 2013, 05:40 PM
User is offlineProfile CardPM
Go to the top of the page
+Quote Post
Elisabeth Hollow
post Dec 27 2013, 06:38 PM
Post #53


Ancient
Group Icon
Joined: 15-November 12
From: Texas



Selvia

Selvia gave him a little bit of a wry smile.

"Competition? Not exactly. I haven't been formally invited to this get together. Belladonna didn't approve of me, so she conveniently left my name out of the stack of letters she sent out."

At that moment, Anaya rushed out of the kitchen with a small silver tray and a single cup of tea. She ran upstairs hurridly. Selvia clucked her tongue.

"Poor girl. She deserves better than this." She looked back to Aranios. "Petra begged Belladonna to release her servants after his death, but she seems to follow in the footsteps of her ancestors. Did you give you the formal tour, or did she reveal what this house was used for?"


--------------------
User is offlineProfile CardPM
Go to the top of the page
+Quote Post
Colonel Mustard
post Dec 27 2013, 06:42 PM
Post #54


Master
Group Icon
Joined: 3-July 08
From: The darkest pit of your soul. Hi there!



"Just the formal tour," Aranios said. "I heard of no dark secrets when she was showing us around. So what is this mansion hiding, then? An ancient shrine to the Daedra where virgins were sacrificed in the dead of night? An ancient barrow filled with hungry Draugr? Sounds dreadfully exciting; I love a little bit of history, especially the messy parts."
User is offlineProfile CardPM
Go to the top of the page
+Quote Post
Elisabeth Hollow
post Dec 27 2013, 06:57 PM
Post #55


Ancient
Group Icon
Joined: 15-November 12
From: Texas



Selvia smiled at him and walked into the study. She closed the door behind them and leaned a shoulder against the wall , looking out the window. The rain pattered heavily against it, and she watched the droplets run down.

"This house is cursed." She said, looking at Aranios, and smiled again, briefly. "Two hundred years ago, it was prosperous. The jarl praised the owner for providing much needed lumber for the city and nearby towns. Fishing was good, too. Somehow the mill didn't disturb the waters much. The fur trade was thriving. There were stories, though,as with any other rich family. The Guillouxs were cruel to their servants. They had twenty of them. always. And when one showed up, another disappeared. Always twenty.

"They say one of the servants feared for her life, and for her child's life, since her child was the twenty first. One night, she took a torch to the owner's house, this house, and set her on fire as she lay sleeping. When the home was discovered later, a gruesome sight was found. Servants, men, women, and children alike, chained in the basement underground. Beaten, tortured, body parts ripped off and sewn on where they weren't supposed to be. She was experimenting with Necromancy, and trying to satisfy her sadistic desires in secret.

"As a show of good faith, the jarl pardoned all the remaining servants. The ones who survived the fire, that is. The sister of the owner had the house rebuilt, and eventually, Petra came into ownership. Determined to remake his family's good name, he set out upon Nirn to change as much as he could. Judging from the interesting company he kept, I'd say he did just that."


--------------------
User is offlineProfile CardPM
Go to the top of the page
+Quote Post
Colonel Mustard
post Dec 29 2013, 11:39 AM
Post #56


Master
Group Icon
Joined: 3-July 08
From: The darkest pit of your soul. Hi there!



"How very gruesome," Aranios remarked, a faint hint of relish in his voice. "Petra certainly did seem determined to make a stir, and if it's to clear the family name of a reputation like that then it's no surprise."

A thought occurred to him.

"You mentioned a curse, by the way," he said. The flippancy in his voice was gone; a curse suggested danger, threat, something that could get him what he wanted so desperately. "Do you mean this place's history is the curse, or is there something more specific we should watch out for? Angry ghosts, hauntings, that sort of thing. Had to deal with ghosts before; never fun."
User is offlineProfile CardPM
Go to the top of the page
+Quote Post
Callidus Thorn
post Dec 29 2013, 09:33 PM
Post #57


Councilor
Group Icon
Joined: 29-September 13
From: Midgard, Cyrodiil, one or two others.



Enarvy couldn't help but smile at Angelina's briek squeeze of his shoulder, but still noted the calculating gaze of this "Selvia". He had seen a similar look from summoned daedra, trying to guage his power at a glance. Was she studying everyone in such a fashion? His curiousity got the better of him.

"Forgive my rudeness, Sarde of House Dres, but if I might divert the conversation briefly? Angelina, could you perhaps tell us a little about this new arrival, Selvia, I believe you called her?"


--------------------
A mind without purpose will walk in dark places
User is offlineProfile CardPM
Go to the top of the page
+Quote Post
Elisabeth Hollow
post Dec 30 2013, 12:44 AM
Post #58


Ancient
Group Icon
Joined: 15-November 12
From: Texas



Selvia

Selvia smiled and brushed an errant lock of red hair from her face. "I see you caught that. The people in this line seem to be drawn to necromancy. In one way or another. Petra was no different. I loved him just the same, though."

Her blue eyes were suddenly on his own eyes, a serious look on them. "But it's the house. The members of the Guilloux line are tainted because they come to this house. There's something...off about this house."

The room seemed to tighten at her words, then relaxed.

Angelina

"Oh, her? She was my uncle's girlfriend for the longest time. Then Belladonna caught her in bed with Anaya, and Uncle Petra tossed her out on her rear. She's been sniffing around ever since. Don't listen to her, she's not all there." She tapped her temple with a delicate finger. "But Uncle Petra did always like the crazy ones."

She looked at the clock. "Oh wow, it's half past six. Belladonna will be crashing out of her room soon. Which room are you staying in? Mine is the one near the library."


--------------------
User is offlineProfile CardPM
Go to the top of the page
+Quote Post
Rohirrim
post Dec 30 2013, 05:17 AM
Post #59


Mouth
Group Icon
Joined: 18-January 13
From: Greyhawk



Sarde bowed. "Not at all." He walked thought the stacks, until he picked out a book, "Famous Morag Tong Operatives". He flipped through it until he reached a page entitled "Edras". He checked to make sure nobody was around, then tore it out. Better safe then sorry, he thought, crumpling the page up and putting it into his trouser pocket.


--------------------
User is offlineProfile CardPM
Go to the top of the page
+Quote Post
Callidus Thorn
post Dec 30 2013, 12:49 PM
Post #60


Councilor
Group Icon
Joined: 29-September 13
From: Midgard, Cyrodiil, one or two others.



Enarvy's eyes widened slightly at Angelina's brief account of Selvia.

"I've also claimed a room near the library, the middle one of the three on this floor. I must admit I hastened to claim one after the tour, I'm likely to spend as much time in here as I am looking for the treasure." He replied with a sheepish smile.

"It seems Selvia has quite the history with your family, I can see why she wasn't invited. If she's not of sound mind, you don't think she could be dangerous, do you? I've had the strangest feeling since I arrived that something isn't quite right here."


--------------------
A mind without purpose will walk in dark places
User is offlineProfile CardPM
Go to the top of the page
+Quote Post

5 Pages V < 1 2 3 4 5 >
Reply to this topicStart new topic
1 User(s) are reading this topic (1 Guests and 0 Anonymous Users)
0 Members:

 

- Lo-Fi Version Time is now: 19th March 2024 - 10:50 AM