The Wobbly Goblet Playground Options

[mALX]

Maxical turned, surprised to see fierce looking Orc by her side...no, that must be a trick of those tusks. Her eyes showed a gentle kindness that gave lie to that expression. Maxical hadn't even heard her approach, the woman must be athletic despite her size.

"Yes please, if you don't mind and I can afford it. I'd love a bath. If you don't have heated baths I can heat my own, but...it is better if someone else does it. I have a tendency toward clumsiness with fire spells. If I have enough left over...I'm really hungry. I have some ingredients and a pelt to sell if you'll barter for my bill, I don't have much gold on me. If I have enough to do it, I'd rather spend the night here than the Gray Mare, if you know what I mean."

She caught Aravi's arm before she could leave. "Wait just a second, I think you'll remember me if I show you something."

The large Orc woman nodded, stepping back to wait.

"Oh. I didn't want everyone to see this...er...Aravi, remember me and Buffy dancing? It was over a year ago..." Maxical started dancing, to the accompanying sound of Kayla spewing her drink at the sight.

A familiar loud braying sound interrupted Maxical mid-dance. She looked up surprised to see Eyja's boyish grin. Eyja finished laughing and glanced around at the assembled crowd in the breakfast area of the tavern.

"What the hell is going on here? Looks like an army preparing for battle. Trouble's afoot, you'd best come with me. I'm staying at a friend's house in Chorrol, there is plenty of room for you too. Come on."

Maxical smiled her apologies to the large Orc woman, and gave Kayla a warm hug before following Eyja out. "Let me know you've made it back safe, I'll be in Chorrol a few days."





This post has been edited by mALX: Jun 8 2013, 01:38 AM

[King Coin]

Aravi smiled. Yes she certainly did remember that… unusual dance. Maxical. She would be sure to remember that name now.

Then one of the other patrons stood up and interrupted Maxical’s silly dance, saying they should leave. See you later, Aravi thought in silent farewell.

She looked at Kayla. “I suppose we should go too. Vera’s outside already.”

Aravi opened the door and stepped outside.

[Elisabeth Hollow]

Kayla was still wiping off the remnants of her cider when Aravi stood up.

"Yeah, let's go." She stood up as well and shouldered her pack, giving Maxical a tight hug. "I'll see if I can visit you in Chorrol, then. I've never been inside the city gates, and it looks lovely." She mimicked Maxical's earlier greeting and gave her a kiss on the cheek in farewell.

"See you later!"

She followed Aravi.

[Grits]

Abiene

A breeze rustled the tree branches above Abiene’s bench, sending white petals drifting down. Summer should be pleasant here, she thought. I won’t miss the Gold Coast heat.

The chapel bells rang over in Weynon Priory. She picked out Brother Piner’s robed form striding up the road toward Chorrol.

I should start soon, she thought.

The sound of the tavern’s door made her turn. A line of folk stepped out into the morning.

Abiene rose and walked toward them.

[Darkness Eternal]

Vera headed off into the path that would lead to the cave. She didn't have a map, but she read and registered the location in her mind. What was left was simply heading off in the direction. The map, in this case, was her mind and the landscape.

The breeze came in, rustling her blond hair aside. She strode toward her intended location with her crossbow set just above her shoulder. A pack of silver quarrels carefully tucked in their compartments bounced from her hip.

She was ready to claim her blood tribute this day, and have some peace in mind after hunting. The hunt always calls to me . . .

It clouds the mind, and everything else is focused on the act of the chase, the drag, the kill. Even in her sleep her dreams are plagued of such things and she always found herself asking the same question over and over.

Am I wolf or woman?

Both the wolf and the woman were in acceptance of each other; each would stand incomplete without the other. Yet the open spaces of the Colovian Highlands called out to the beast's heart. Deep inside she wanted to turn her face into the gentle breeze, to dissapear into the tall grass and into the forest and remain a beast among beasts for all eternity.

But the woman that was Vera knew better. The woman understood and knew that morning would come after those hours and she would find herself nude and defenseless. For better or worse, her destiny was forever linked with her ancestors and her life reflected the sphere of her Lord. Hunt by night, be hunted by day.

Neither wolf nor woman, she thought, but something greater, perhaps so, damned. Either her fate would be to die by being set aflame from the church, or at the end of a sword by a knight. Or perhaps stoned by mortals fearful of her tremendous power? Her enemies have always been so since before the days of the Bloodmoon and henceforth. That she had survived this long was an open challenge to the accepted order of this world— a challenge to fate. And she doubted she would live from old age, and disease would be impossible. She would breathe until the life would be torn from her. In the end, all that mattered was living.

She would never surrender the woman to save the wolf, or the wolf to save the woman. She would live to be herself. Both. To be free or perish. After a lifetime of living as a beast . . . she had all eternity to hunt in paradise.

Vera looked to the sky, and to the sun, and could tell what hour it was. It wasn't late, but the lacking presence of her hunting companions made her wonder if they decided to remain back in the tavern and let her do all the hunting. If they come along, fine. If they don't, that's fine too.

She would have plenty of ways of dispatching these vampires. Kill them as they sleep, pick them off one by one. Send one of her spectral bone-hounds in to flush them out into the sunlight, and collect their dust as trophies to put into some old jar. Sure, that would be suiting. As the case with her companions, it didn't matter either. Trophies or no, hunting techniques or not, the hunt is the hunt. And in the end, that's all that truly mattered to Vera.

This post has been edited by Darkness Eternal: Jun 8 2013, 07:09 PM

[mALX]

*

Maxical nearly bumped into Eyja's back, she'd stopped short to conduct an outrageous flirtation with a little Bosmer that had hurried over at the sight of everyone leaving. He was trying to determine if any horses were needed, Eyja's sallies back to him about needing a mount lit his eyes with mirth. He responded readily to her suggestive tone with mischievous innocence in his voice, but every phrase could easily be misconstrued to have a different meaning and his expressive eyebrows were just as mobile as Eyja's.

Without being able to see her face, Maxical could readily imagine Eyja was using her sultry eyes on him by the interest quickening in his. There was no way to determine whether Eyja was seriously interested or not. She always said no men could match a Bosmer when it came to flirting, but with Eyja this could end in her going for a roll in that stable with him.

Maxical moved around them, meandering to the nearby bench set under a tree. It was occupied, a woman was sitting there just as Maxical had before going into the Inn. Maybe she was enjoying the peace of this place, that was what struck Maxical when she was sitting there earlier. It had a different feel than a city inn, that was sure. It was a lot bigger and busier than the Faregyl, but out here it had the same feeling the Faregyl did; peaceful.

As she was moving down toward the bench the chapel bells rang from what looked like a Priory across the way from the Inn yard, and for a split second Maxical wondered if that was the Weynon Priory she was supposed to be going to on Morndas. It couldn't be. There were monks out in the yard tending sheep, it looked as peaceful as this Inn. If the Blades were holed up in there surely there would be the feel of a military presence, some practice targets set up in the fields or something.

Maxical was about to sit down beside the pretty Breton woman on the bench, but as she did the woman stood up as if to leave. Maxical pounded her chest lightly in a combination salutation and apology, then flushed embarrassed at the road dust that rose from the action.

"I hope I didn't disturb your peace. I liked sitting on this bench earlier, and it looks like my friend is tied up for a while. I'll go pet the sheep if you'd prefer to be alone."


*

This post has been edited by mALX: Jun 8 2013, 09:31 PM

[Grits]

Abiene

Abiene turned to find a white Khajiit with a gorgeous red ponytail standing there.

The Khajiit made a gesture and spoke. “I hope I didn't disturb your peace. I liked sitting on this bench earlier, and it looks like my friend is tied up for a while. I'll go pet the sheep if you'd prefer to be alone.”

“Not at all,” Abiene said quickly, reaching out to clasp the woman’s hands. Then she realized she still held the empty mug. “My, you startled me! It is peaceful. I’ve just been watching the road and thinking I should head back to town, but my feet never got the message. Here I still am.”

She smiled, embarrassed by her runaway tongue. “I’m Abiene. I’m going to go say farewell to my friends, but then I think I’ll come right back here if you don’t mind me joining you. Would you care for some kahve or some tea from the inn? I could bring some out for us.”

[mALX]

*

"Abiene?" Maxical glanced at the stone walls of nearby Chorrol, then back to the unusual beauty of the Breton woman's face. "Jerric's Abiene? I mean...I mean, a friend of mine Jerric knows an Abiene that lives in Chorrol now. It must be you from Lildereth's description...I mean, she said you were very pretty. I must be chattering like a magpie, I'm sorry."

Maxical shifted from one foot to the other, unsure if by startling her the woman meant she really had disturbed her thoughts. Her expression flittered between warm and welcoming and tension, maybe her thoughts were better disturbed if they were stressful. Maxical pointed at a butterfly lighting on a flower petal in the small bed of Primrose beneath the tree.

"There's a butterfly! Isn't that supposed to mean luck? It is peaceful sitting here, isn't it? I like seeing the people passing on the road. I saw the Countess of Leyawiin pass with her Guard and Handmaiden when I was out here a little while ago, they were heading toward Chorrol. The Guard stopped his horse and greeted me just like I wasn't a Khajiit!"


*

This post has been edited by mALX: Jun 10 2013, 06:46 AM

[King Coin]

Aravi stepped outside into the sunlight. It was a glorious morning that promised a beautiful day. Too bad we are leaving to hunt some vampires in some cave. I would have liked to spend the day here. She inhaled deeply, the smell of fresh grass clippings sweet in her nose.

Vera was ahead of them, making her way down the path towards the road. Over by the stables was the woman that grabbed Maxical, quite obviously distracted by the ostler.

Sitting on a bench nearby was Maxical and Abiene. Aravi stepped off the path in their direction but did not approach. She didn’t want to intrude on their conversation. But perhaps she could wave or give them a quick farewell if they noticed her.

[Elisabeth Hollow]

Kayla followed Aravi out the door. She spotted the cute Khajiot and the pretty Imperial woman and waved to them.

"See you later!" She called, in a much more cheerful mood, now that they were on their way to kill some vampires.

[King Coin]

Kayla, behind Aravi, shouted to Maxical and Abiene. Aravi waved to both of them and then continued walking down the path. Vera, was still well ahead of them, but in easy following distance. She seems to know where she's going.

[Grits]

Abiene

Jerric’s Abiene. Her stomach still fluttered every time she heard his name.

“Lildereth is too kind, but I’m the very same Abiene.” She had a realization. “You must be Maxical, the Arena fighter! I seem to miss all of the fun, but I do get to hear some of the stories. Though I suspect that Jerric sometimes exaggerates.”

Kayla called out, “See you later!” She and Aravi both waved farewell as they walked down the path.

“Good hunting!” Abiene called, waving back at them. Take care, my friends, she thought. May you return safe by nightfall.

Maxical pointed out a butterfly. “Isn’t that supposed to mean luck?” she said.

Abiene laughed. “I’ve heard it’s good luck if a bird ‘goes’ on your head. I like your version of luck much better!”

[Elisabeth Hollow]

"Maybe we should catch up to Vera," Kayla said to Aravi. "She seems to know where she's going, and my map is a bit worn out. I think if I touch it again, it'll fall apart." She looked around at the gorgeous scenery, and smiled when the sun hit her golden skin.

"The sun isn't quite this warm in Skyrim," She said absently.

[King Coin]

"The sun isn't quite this warm in Skyrim," Kayla said.

Aravi kept her eyes on the path. She reluctantly increased her pace and the distance between them and Vera shortened. “No it isn’t. It gets close near Riften, but not quite. Where do you live? I have a home on the southern shore of Lake Ilinalta. The nearest town is Falkreath, but I prefer going to Riverwood or even Whiterun for supplies.”

[Elisabeth Hollow]

Kayla easily kept pace with Aravi, her long legs making one stride while Aravi's made two or three.

"Whiterun," she answered, looking at the Khajiit. "I'm not there very much, though. I'm usually out and about, doing...well, this." she laughed. She sighed. "I miss it."

[King Coin]

Aravi thought of her own home. She was only ever there for a few days at a time before she and Kharjo were on the road again.

“My friend takes care of my home. It’s probably more her home than mine, even if the deed is in my name. I’m almost never there. She even jokingly pretends to not know me when I come home. ‘I hope you aren’t here to cause any trouble,’” Aravi mimicked.

[mALX]

*

Maxical blew a kiss to Kayla and made a sign of catching it and holding it up to Kayla. "That's for luck, you come back safe, you hear?" She waved at Aravi and then plunked down on the bench, waiting till Abiene had said her goodbyes and seated herself before answering her. Something Maxical said had caused Abiene pain, but since she'd chattered so much it was hard to tell what.

"If bird poop on your head was lucky, I'd be the luckiest person in the world, and I'm not. Whoever told you that was probably saying it to save embarrassment in one way or the other."

While Maxical talked she plucked one of the primroses and tucked it into Abiene's hair where it curved over her delicate ear. Her neck was magnificent, Lildereth was right in describing her as a rare beauty.

"I don't think Jerric exagerates, I think he just sees things others don't sometimes. Lildereth never exagerates, half the time she doesn't say half what's on her mind. She said you had an unusual beauty, she was right. You must know Darnand too. He barely talks, but when he does he's worth listening to. I only see them a couple times a year, but with good friends it's the time you get to see them that matters, not how long goes between. Do you know what I mean? I'm chattering like a magpie again, I'm sorry."


*

[Darkness Eternal]

Vera kept her regular pace, and maintained focused on the path but her ears still oveheard the conversation Kayla and Aravi had some feet behind her. She recognized the names of the places.

Aravi lived near the shore of Lake Ilinalta, a water source near the town of Falkreath. Small world, Vera mused. Lycus built himself a cottage a few miles off of there when he left Cyrodiil in a self-exile. She's practically neighbors with him . . .

Odd that she wouldn't noticed a large copper-skinned Imperial man chopping wood and hunting, then again he rarely ventures out unless he needs coin.

Whiterun was yet another place she was familar with. It is the home of the Companions. A group of mercenaries who work in Skyrim. Ever since the Fighters Guild, she 'never longed to work for another guild. But her husband already worked for them. The honor and glory of the companions called to a warrior, and the freedom and coin it gave, as well as the brotherly fellowship was too good an opportunity to pass . . . especially with the elite members of the Companions. The Circle. Lycus fit right in, and Vera knew the jobs paid well. The food was free, and she was the right person for the task,

Vera came to a stop as the smell of ash came to her nostrils, and she inhaled the smell and it was smelled of smoke and burnt flesh. The same scent she smelled when she killed vampires. She turned around, and began searching for the source of the smell and at last after thirty seconds or so, she came upon it. A pile of dust and burn cloth and few pieces of coin that must have belonged to the slain vampire before he was killed. But by who?

She knelt over the pile, and picked up the coin and put it in her pocket. "Well, what do you know. Didn't need to declare open season on the suck-heads and one's already dead." She said, mostly to herself. She stood up and gazed around, at the footprints, at the branches. She she stared at each of the signs for a long time before folding her arms at her chest.

[Elisabeth Hollow]

Kayla barked a laugh. "Ha! Suckheads! That's a new one!" She grinned momentarily at Vera before remembering they were tracking something. She knelt and sifted through the dust with a thin stick, then sighed. "Damn. I wish I had a vial for the dust. The fresher they are, the better they work." She stood up and glanced around.

"I see..." She cursed in Nordic. "I'm a terrible tracker. I only see two sets of footprints, and that's because one set is larger than the other. Judging from the slides in the mud, there was either a scuffle or a badly-planned dance routine."

She frowned. "This can't be the vampire I killed, or the one Irvana killed. The dust is dry. The rain would have washed it away a long time ago." She sniffed. "And it smells kind of fresh. What do you think, Aravi?"

[King Coin]

“It’s definitely fresh. The breeze hasn’t even disturbed it yet.” The fact that there was activity so close to the inn last night worried her. “I wonder if this one died because of the sunlight. It almost looks like someone pulled them out of the shade of the forest to where the sun would kill them. Either they couldn’t get out of the sun, or they didn’t notice until it was too late.” Some of the feral ones are dumb enough to not take note of something like burning to death if there is something they want to eat nearby. I don’t think that’s what happened here though.

“Do we want to follow their tracks back where they came from, or follow the other set of tracks and see where the survivor went?"