The Wobbly Goblet Playground Options

[ImperialSnob]

"Well,time to get to bussniess" Glenius said aloud,he pulled his hood down.

He looked happier now,I think you'd be able to guess why if you saw the dopey look on his face,he was clearly drunk.

"Does anybody here know how to track someone?" He said aloud as he stood up and looked around.

[King Coin]

Aravi smiled at Irvana’s humor, but she was afraid she was going to have to cut the conversation short. The food and drink made her very tired, especially after the fighting she did. The pain in her ear added to that fatigue.

The strange man stood, rather unsteadily, and made an announcement. He wanted to know if anyone could track someone.

Definitely not at this time of night, Aravi thought to herself.

To Irvana she said, “It was nice talking with you, but I am very tired. Maybe we will see each other in the morning.”

Aravi finished her goblet and set it down. She stood up. Whoa. She wasn’t drunk, but she was feeling the effects of the wine. That last gulp was more than she thought. Definitely a good time to go to bed. She yawned again and wished Irvana a good night. She glanced at the unusual man before turning and heading up the stairs.

On her way to a room, she saw what could only be Kayla’s underwear on a door handle. She blinked and walked past to her room, closing the door behind her.

She undressed, leaving her clothes on the floor and not the door handle, and fell into her bed, asleep in moments.

She looked towards the window and saw two red eyes looking in. Panic took her and she bolted upright, until she saw the enormous black wolf sleeping in front of the window. The panic fled her body. She was safe, until it was time to feed the wolf. As she laid her head back down on her pillow, a stray thought told her this was a dream. It didn't make it less real.

[Elisabeth Hollow]

The headache woke Kayla up sooner than she would have liked. She cringed and pulled the covers over her head, then threw them off of her, her hand covering her mouth. She made it to the washroom and leaned over the urn, but nothing came out, much to her dismay. Vomiting would have relieved her of the nausea for a short time.

She regretted not drinking more water, or pacing herself with the alcohol. The events of the night before were fuzzy. She remembered Irvana, and being presented with food and snowberry muffins. She swallowed, then gagged before her stomach relieved itself.

Godsdamnit.

She cleaned herself up, shuddering from the purge. She brushed her hair and washed her mouth out, brushing her teeth and making sure her breath smelled nothing of vomit. She walked out of the bathroom and made a beeline for her pack of clothes. She started to slide on her undergarments when she heard a noise coming from the bed.

"AUGH! What are you doing in my bed?!"

Laegon looked sleepily back at her, confused at the look of surprise on her face.

"Well, if you don't remember, then perhaps I've become lax in my performance."

"What?! What do you...oh." She noticed her state of undress, then looked at Laegon, grinning at her with his arms behind his head.

"How drunk were you?" She asked him.

"Not at all."

"Then why are you in my bed?"

"Showing my appreciation for your skill."

"What?"

"The vampires. I felt a song wouldn't do."

Kayla blushed a deep red and slid on her pants and shirt. "Well, thank you. I'm...flattered."

"Round three?"

Kayla gave him an incredulous look, stopping in the middle of buttoning her pants. "Are you serious?"

He pulled back the covers to reveal he was.

"Augh! Uhm...maybe later. Feel free to stay in here, I need to get my armor repaired in town."

She blushed a deeper red and grabbed her armor, leaving her shirt halfway buttoned as she closed the door. A piece of fabric brushed her forearm, and she glanced down.

"Is that my UNDERWEAR?!"

She could hear Laegon's laughter from the other side of the door before hurrying downstairs.

[Grits]

Riad

Morning light slanted across the floorboards in the tea room. Riad paused on his way to the kitchen. A hooded figure sat slumped at one of the tables, head pillowed on his folded arms. The drunk from last night, or someone else? Riad wondered. The man was causing no trouble in his current position, so Riad left him alone.

Footsteps sounded on the stairs as Riad passed Dar’muktah in the corridor. The Khajiit’s arms were stacked with platters, and he carried a filled pitcher in each hand. They exchanged an amused glance over the situation. With Lleris taken down by fever and Bograk brooding over the lad, Yetta needed help running food out to the tavern. No mystic in Tamriel could have predicted that the two of them would end up serving breakfast together at a roadside inn, but Riad could think of many less pleasant outcomes.

Yetta pulled a tray out of one of her ovens and kicked the door shut. “I’m doing a Leyawiin breakfast this morning,” she announced. “Fried rice and sprouted beans, cold fish soup and noodles, and Blackwood pudding with curdled cream.”

Riad’s jaw dropped open. “Woman, have you lost your mind? There’s already a rumor of illness about, we can’t have a bunch of hung-over guests spewing up when they hear the menu! What in hells is Blackwood pudding?”

The Nord shot him a grin. “No idea, I’m jesting. Dar’muktah is putting out the pastries and coffee. I’ll have eggs, bacon, griddle cakes with jam, hash browns, and biscuits with gravy for anyone who wants a hot breakfast. Bograk usually writes that down and leaves it on the bar. Some folk don’t like to be talked at first thing in the morning.”

Riad was certainly in that group. He left Yetta’s inexcusably cheerful company and headed out to the tavern to make the menu.

[King Coin]

Aravi woke up with sunlight shining through the sheer curtains that hung in front of her window. What strange dreams… She used to have nightmares after fighting vampires, brought on by their disease. Ever since she accepted the curse of lycanthropy, the nightmares vanished. Something else replaced them, they weren’t pleasant dreams, but neither were they nightmares.

Her ear was throbbing with pain. She was going to Chorrol this morning to get that fixed.

Aravi got out of bed and dressed. She cleaned up at the wash basin and smoothed out her fur. I should really brush it today. Perhaps later though. She examined her ear in the mirror. The tear was uglier now that her body really started healing. It was slightly swollen and the surrounding skin was red where she could see it under her fur.

She left her room and saw Kayla’s underwear still on the door handle on her way down. I wonder how she’s feeling right now. Aravi’s stomach was slightly sour from the wine, and she had a lot less of it than Kayla did.

In the main room, Aravi sat at the bar and ordered blackberry tea and some breakfast.

[ImperialSnob]

Glenius got up off the floor,he seemed to have passed out,he had a headache and began rubbing his head.

"And no one helped me?" I muttered to himself.

He waddled outside still holding his head,made his way to the stable to pick up his Horse and Dog,then he want off about his bussiness in the woods.

[Grits]

Abiene

Abiene stepped into the tavern, tucking her riding gloves into her belt. She nodded to the hooded man who passed on his way out. A familiar figure sat at the bar eating breakfast.

“Aravi!” Abiene sighed in relief. “Did—”

“A word,” Riad interrupted. He did not look pleased to see her.

Abiene found herself steered by the upper arm past the bar and into the corridor. “Good morning,” she called back to Aravi. “If you don’t mind, I’ll join you in a moment.”

The grim look on the Redguard’s face told Abiene most of what she needed to know. “How many are ill?” she asked.

“Just Lleris. He’s had a potion. What kind of healer goes around making other folk sick?”

Abiene glanced at the big hand around her arm and then pointedly back up at the Redguard’s face. “I’d like to take a look at him.” She didn’t think this man meant any harm, though his manners could stand improvement.

“He’s finally fallen asleep. Bograk gave him a potion.” Riad let go and crossed his arms over his chest, scowling.

Abiene let the Absorb Health spell fade away from her hand. “I see that you’re upset. I’d like to look in on Lleris before I go, with your permission. I assure you I did not know I was infected until long after I left here. You have my apologies for Lleris’ discomfort, and you have my discretion. Any rumor of plagues didn’t originate with me.”

Riad’s expression did not soften. “He’s in Bograk’s chambers on the third floor.”

“Thank you.” Abiene took a big breath and a small step backward. “Also I should mention that I was poisoned here yesterday morning. I’ve not spoken about that incident apart from a small circle of trusted friends.”

Riad’s mouth opened and then closed again.

“Do you suppose someone else here could have been the target?” Abiene asked. “Maybe even the inn itself, if someone wanted to damage your reputation?”

He shook his head. “You must have pissed someone off. No one with any sense would target the inn. That’s all you need to know about that.”

He seemed sure on that subject, so Abiene moved on despite her curiosity. “Did all of the vampire hunters make it back here last night?”

“Yeah. You want to know more, ask them yourself.”

Abiene took that opportunity to scoot back into the tavern.

“Aravi,” she said, moving to sit beside her friend. “It’s so good to see you. I’m sorry about the dramatic note.” Abiene’s eyes went straight to the wound on Aravi’s ear. She clasped her hands to keep from reaching out to examine her right there at the bar.

[King Coin]

Aravi was surprised when Yetta placed a plate in front of her, with an enormous muffin. “I made these special last night,” she explained. “They’re snowberry. I’d be happy to make something else for you as well if you like.”

Aravi looked at the massive muffin sitting in front of her. It was even warm, Yetta must have placed it in the oven briefly to bring it up to temperature.

“Thank you, but this looks like it will be plenty. It smells so good!”

Yetta returned to her kitchen smiling while Aravi ate the muffin and drank her tea.

Then she heard a familiar voice. Abiene was there, and was intercepted by one of the tavern staff. Aravi frowned, but remained where she was.

She felt a touch on the shoulder when Abiene returned. The healer sat next to her and greeted her.

“I’m glad to see you too Abiene, I was about to leave for Chorrol.” Aravi produced the note that Abiene had left her. “Are you ok? What happened while we were gone?”

[Grits]

Abiene

“Well, it was an eventful day. First I infected some folk with a frightening and highly contagious fever, but the outbreak seems to have waned. I’ll check on young Lleris before I go to make sure he’s completely cured. He’s the last case I know of.” Except for Maxical. But Eyja’s secrets are not mine to share.

“Then I was poisoned by an unknown person. I’m told it was in the,” Abiene glanced at the cup in front of Aravi, “tea. But Riad assures me that the inn is completely safe from assassins and the like, so I’m sure we needn’t worry about the breakfast.” She touched the potion bottle tucked carefully under her clothing. “Thankfully there was a Master Alchemist here at the inn. He made the potion that will cleanse the poison from my blood. I ate some scamp skin last night trying to do it myself. That didn’t work out so well. I don’t recommend it.”

Abiene remembered sitting on the bench under the Great Oak swearing a vow to Eyja, but the details were hazy. How much am I allowed to tell? By the Nine, I was so ill! “And you remember Maxical and her friend Eyja were here yesterday morning. Well, they lost track of each other somewhere between here and Chorrol. I’m helping Eyja look for her.” Abiene placed the crystal ball on the bar. “Which reminds me, I’ve been trying to reach Darnand. But tell me how you fared against the vampires! I see you are injured, may I offer you my help? Did Kayla and Vera also return?”

[King Coin]

Aravi held up the note that Abiene left for her. “If someone was trying to kill you, leaving exactly how to find you in a note is not a good idea,” Aravi said pointedly. I hope that the fact she’s here without any escorts means that will not be another attempt… She decided to bring that up at another time.

“Everyone suffered some injuries, but Vera and Kayla fully recovered from them already. I do need help with my ear. I’m afraid the tear isn’t going to heal correctly on its own or with my magicka. My hearing is fine,” she elaborated, “I just don’t want it to look like this permanently.”

“And in the vampire cave we found a map that we would like Darnand to look at. Can you really contact him through that?”

[Grits]

Abiene felt her face flush at the mention of her note. “I suppose you’re right. With everything else that’s on my mind I can’t seem to believe that someone tried to kill me. I told half of Chorrol where they could find me last night in case they needed help, and then I spent most of it…” Abiene glanced at the enormous muffin on Aravi’s plate. She’s eating her breakfast. Don’t make her queasy with your healer’s talk, Abiene. “…ill. It seems that the poison was rare and quite specific, so I hope whoever put it in my tea used up all they had. Anyway I’m being careful what I eat and even I don’t know quite where I’m headed next, so that should buy me some time.”

White mist drifted lazily inside the crystal ball. Abiene rested her fingertips on it. “This isn’t the kind that mystics use for scrying, it’s a simple communication focus. Darnand gave it to me for Saturalia. He has its twin.” A spark of light ignited in its center, growing stronger until the glow touched her fingers. “Now Darnand’s should be just as bright. I can’t cast the spell to connect us, but he can. If he sees the light. I don’t know where he is, or if he even has his with him. We manage to talk a few times every month. He usually tries at nightfall, but my schedule is irregular so we miss each other more often than we connect.”

Abiene gazed into the crystal for a quiet moment. She kept that empty place inside her filled with work and the needs of others, but now she could only feel the familiar lonely ache.

The mist didn’t clear. “He must be busy,” Abiene said. “That’s a shame, I know he’d want to see your vampire’s map. I’ll tell him about it when I speak to him. Hopefully soon.” Disappointment made her confidence waver, and fear trickled back into Abiene’s mind. Darnand always listened and provided counsel rather than rushing to solve every problem himself. His belief made her feel stronger. She had to guard against letting his absence make her feel weak.

She tucked the ball into its velvet pouch and turned her attention back to Aravi. “I’m relieved to hear that Kayla and Vera are in good health. I’m sure I can heal your lovely ear.” It looked as if an earring had torn through. “You’ll need to pierce it again once it’s healed, though. I could do that for you if I had my full kit with me, but right now I’d have use your other earring. Not the neatest solution.” Abiene glanced around the tavern. A few other guests had made their way down for breakfast. She guessed that Aravi might like more privacy than a public room allowed. And though she was reluctant to bring up the subject herself, she hoped Aravi might want to discuss the more personal matter.

[King Coin]

Abiene explained about the poison that was used on her. While Aravi was happy there was little chance of more poisonings, she was a little concerned about other measures.

She looked at the healer’s crystal ball. She lifted her tea to her lips, and after a short hesitation, she drank. I hope she’s able to contact Darnand soon.

Then Abiene discussed healing Aravi’s ear. Aravi thought a moment. “Actually I would like you to pierce my ear. It’s probably safer for you to do it than someone else. When would you like to do it? And thank you very much, for everything.”

[Grits]

Abiene

Abiene breathed in relief at Aravi’s words. She had worried that failing to meet her first commitment might have fractured Aravi’s trust, but now she felt forgiven.

“I’ll tend your ear as soon as you like. After breakfast, of course. It will be quick and simple, and I don’t anticipate a mess. Still we should probably go upstairs. Healer’s business and food service are not a good combination.” Abiene always had trouble fitting her emotions into words. Too many could make folk uncomfortable, and too few could seem indifferent. She reached out and touched Aravi’s arm. “Aravi, I’m so glad we’re friends.”

Aravi still had tea in her cup and some pastry on her plate.

Abiene rested an elbow on the bar, settling in for a chat. “You mentioned you were planning to go to Chorrol this morning. Do you still have business there? Are you familiar with the city? I don’t know if Darnand mentioned it, but Chorrol is his home town.”

.

This post has been edited by Grits: Jul 30 2013, 02:22 PM

[King Coin]

“Darnand’s home? I don’t think it ever came up actually. And I was going to Chorrol to find you. I wanted to get this healed,” she gestured to her ear. “And I decided.”

She said nothing else on that subject. She didn’t want to risk getting Abiene in trouble. She’ll wait until her ear’s been healed to let the Breton woman know what she decided.

She took a bite of her breakfast, suddenly eager to have it done with. “I’ve been to Chorrol before, but it has been a long time,” Aravi said in between bites.

[Darkness Eternal]

The trip back to his own body was intense.

Lycus’ stomach cramped. His gorge rose. He gagged. Then leaned over to one side and vomited a puddle of dark green fluid on the floor. Another puddle of yellow liquid lay just beneath him. His body stood the torment of needing to empty its bladder most of the night. When it became unbearable, it let go.

He opened his eyes. The room reeked to both the wolf and the man’s nose, so much that his nose wrinkled in utter disgust then it felt warm and wet. Droplets came at first, and then it seeped through as a leak. Lycus touched his lips to feel blood coming down from his bleeding nose.

Spirit journeys were never meant to be like this, he reflected as he uncrossed his numb legs and struggled to get to his feet. His eyes searched the room and found a pair of clothes that weren’t there before. He could smell them from the short distance, and he recognized Vera’s distinct smell. She returned.

He searched around but could not find her anywhere, and if she isn’t in the room . . . then she’s out there. Did she shift? She couldn’t. It wasn’t the full moon and she wouldn’t risk turning voluntarily in an area such as this. She wouldn't make an unwise decision like that.

As Lycus sought to search for clues, pain struck his mind and pounded against the walls of his head and he staggered. His thick jaw clamped down every few minutes at the back of his skull. The travel to Oblivion using the soul only and not the body was a dangerous process and it had repercussions. The aftereffects lingered, sporadic bursts shooting out like a thousand miniature blades stabbing at the recesses of his mind.

He paused when the pain left, and discarded his stench-filled clothes and tossed them aside. He would wash himself but the bath was emptied.

Sighing deeply, he headed over to the window that was left open over night. It wasn’t unlike her of using the window rather than the door . . . but it was odd that she didn’t turn up at night unless she’s been out on a hunt.

Lycus felt the pain return, slowly but surely, and the pain was so immense that he held both sides of his skull as everything seemed to spin out of control. The large man fell back to the ground with a large thud, rolling over to the side as his nose poured out more blood.

He needed his healing herbs! He needed them now!

This post has been edited by Darkness Eternal: Jul 31 2013, 04:09 AM

[Grits]

Abiene

She decided. Abiene took a deep breath to slow her pulse. Calm down, you don’t know what she decided yet.

“Well, I doubt you’ll find the city much changed. Seed-Neeus runs Northern Goods and Trade with her daughter, the Oak and Crosier is still a cleaner place than the Grey Mare, everyone says Rasheda does good work but she’ll take all you have in the bargaining…”

Aravi was making her way rapidly through the rest of her breakfast. That ear must be sore.

“Contumeliorus Florius offers recharging services at the Mages Guild Hall. He spends a lot of time at the Oak and Crosier, though. If it’s past midday that’s the first place I’d look for him.”

Abiene twisted her fingers together, hoping to hide her tension.

.

This post has been edited by Grits: Jul 31 2013, 04:42 AM

[King Coin]

Aravi listened as she ate to the little details Abiene offered. She noticed the healer fidgeting. I shouldn't have said anything yet. She took one of the Breton's hands in her own and squeezed it briefly.

"Are you hungry?" Aravi asked. She had just assumed that Abiene had eaten before coming here, but if she had stayed at the Grey Mare... I wish I had thought of that before I finished my own breakfast, she thought, looking at the empty plate.

[Grits]

Abiene

Aravi’s warm gesture made Abiene smile. She was used to being the source of calm and control, but uncertainty and her own emotions had her knocked off balance. Aravi had a quiet way of knowing that she recognized. No wonder their friends spoke so highly of her.

“I ate my breakfast standing in the street like a Nord,” said Abiene. “Thank you for asking, but I’m not hungry.”

The inn was quiet. Riad stood behind the bar still giving Abiene hard looks.

Abiene gave Aravi’s fingers a grateful squeeze in return. “Shall we go upstairs?”

[Elisabeth Hollow]

Kayla pressed two fingers on the sides of her temple, regretting drinking so much the previous night.

Leave it to me to get drunk and spill nearly every secret I've been entrusted with. Irvana had sat and listened to everything Kayla had said, most likely soaking up all the knowledge she was being fed. Not many knew about the Cult of Meridia, and most who found out about it were recruited immediately to keep the secrets kept in the group.

She sighed in relief when the sun's warmth hit her as she stepped out of the inn. This time, she was out of her armor and in her regular clothing. She'd heard Chorrol was one of the safer cities, unlike Bravil or Leyawiin, or even the Imperial City. Places riddled with poor or criminals were rarely safe, though that was a given.

Looking first to the left, then to the right to see if anyone was coming her way, she then turned down the path towards the city, lugging the pieces of her armor that needed to be repaired. Most of it just needed to be cleaned off, but the hole in the torso where she had been stabbed with bothersome.

She didn't meet anyone on the path, but waved to whomever was in the priory yard. Once she was in the gates, she stopped and smiled at the sight of the city.

I better drop off my armor so I can look around.

[Darkness Eternal]

Irvana walked along the edge of the road, passing away at the wilderness with a singular focus to Chorrol. The carpet of green grass around her was bejeweled with flowers such as motherwort and Viper’s bugloss.

The ground was also carpeted with ferns that bent over her gentle footsteps before springing up once more, then sprang back again, leaving no evidence of her passage. The walk took awhile but to Irvana, a night of wandering her home countryside was a welcome hobby aside from strolling the Imperial Palace building or her castle.

It was twilight and the darkness comingled with the day, and so it was that she reached Chorrol during the night. Her hood still covering her black hair, she entered the city after greeting the guards.

Irvana was meandering without clear purpose through the town, far from the city center, when she set her eyes on the store named Northern Goods and Trade, and as she stepped at the door she realized the shop was closed. Of course, at this forsaken hour, which storeowner would want their establishment open after working the entire day?

And so Irvana waited. Patiently. Sitting herself by the statue at the front of the city. She simply observed the quiet town, and save for a few loud drunks leaving the local tavern, everything else seemed quiet. After a few hours of speaking to locals and guards, the sun had just peeked through the horizon and out into the sky.

The sunlight hit her skin and she felt the warmth of it striking body. She got to her feet and headed toward the shop when the gates opened and a familiar face walked through.

Oh how fortunate . . .

Kayla.

Irvana bit her lip. She was planning on making purchases alone, but Kayla wouldn’t be a nuisance. The black-hooded Imperial waved at Kayla from afar and beckoned her to come over.