The Wobbly Goblet Playground Options

[Grits]

“May I present my friends Kayla and Aravi?” Abiene made the appropriate gestures. “Kayla is also an alchemist,” she told Seth.

She gave Aravi a tiny tilt of her chin toward the bag. Got it.

“I’m Abiene Metonne,” she said to Thals, shaking his hand in the Cyrodiil manner. “I’ll certainly come looking for you later. Chorrol lacks an eastern trader.” She stopped herself before asking if Nally was the guar. For all she knew he could be referring to his wife.

[King Coin]

Aravi gave a tiny nod to Abiene and smiled. She turned her attention to the pair of Dunmer as they introduced themselves. Sethyas and Thals. Sethyas’s face was either painted or tattooed with a black hand. She squashed her natural nervousness when she was around Dunmer, a reminder of her years as a slave.

When Abiene introduced her she smiled. “Good to meet you both. I’m Aravi.”

[Elisabeth Hollow]

Kayla grinned at both Dunmer and shook both of their hands, gripping them tightly, but not too tight. "It's nice to meet a fellow alchemist! I'm not quite a master yet, but I'm working on it." she said to Sethyas. She tapped her own face where Sethyas' tattoo was. "I like your tattoo." She gave him another friendly smile and turned to Thals.

"Exotic goods, huh? Wait til I get more drink in me, and I'll come and check out what you've got. One of my...mentors is from Morrowind. She'd had all sorts of trinkets with her. Told me a few stories, too. Who's Nelly?"

Kayla was excited to meet more elves, though the only other Altmer she had seen was Laegon, and he was busy with a buxom blonde over at a table. She imagined if he got shot down by her, he might come over, but she wouldn't push it. She might find her own, fresh company tonight, but she doubted it.

Though with all the drink...

[Black Hand]

Sethyas gave as warm a smile and geniality as he could to Aravi. Being a Dunmer living in Morrowind likely gave him a reputation he most certainly did not like to be associated with. "A pleasure Sera Aravi. Sethyas Velas. Originally from County Cheydinhal, lately where ever I find myself." He jested slightly.

Thals seemed to be completely indifferent to anyone's race in any way, shape, or form. As a true Hlaalu, any potential paying customer was equally worth his investment of time.

"Also a pleasure on my part, Saer Aravi!" Thals grinned, and Sethyas shot him a weird look.

That's an Argonian form of address, not Khajiiti! He thought.

"I like your tattoo." Kayla complimented.

Sethyas raised an eyebrow and replied good-naturedly. "My thanks, but it wasn't my choice. I certainly would never choose to apply a tattoo to my face at the very least. Some Dunmer tradition for a few weeks after birth..." he trailed off and into his beer.

"I've dabbled in Alchemy nearly my entire life, so I suppose I'm more self-taught than not." He shrugged.

...who's Nelly?" Kayla asked Thals, to which he choked into his drink. "NAlly is my companion on the road." He said with a slight shock to his tone. "She's a very loyal and hard-working guar, whom I've entrusted to the care of Lowren for the time being."

Sethyas swallowed his laughter into his drink.

Just a Guar, Serjo. He rolled his eyes out of sight.



This post has been edited by Black Hand: Aug 24 2013, 09:16 PM

[Elisabeth Hollow]

Kayla's blush traveled from her face down her neck.

"I am so, SO sorry!" She said, covering her mouth. "My Cyrodiilic isn't as great as I'd like it to be. Excuse me wile I spit my boot out and drink some more." She held her tankard to her lips and took a long drink, keeping her eyes averted.

[Rohirrim]

"Indeed, as have you. We were just on our way to recruit some volunteers to join our little adventure. Select whatever gear you want from the chest, it's all battle-tested, so you needn't worry about breaking it. As for our destination, we'll go through the forest, winding up on the shores of Lake Rumare. There's a temple to Dibella there that's been overrun by Minotaurs. So, yes, get yourself fed and ready, we depart at noon. Come on Hjalbir, the sooner we get the word out, the more people we have to take on those monsters." Khan turned, his cloak flowing behind him as he walked toward the inn, parchment and hammer in hand.

[Black Hand]

Sethyas started to chuckle out loud, and Thals shot him an indignant glance, but than started to laugh himself.

"Ahhh! Forgive me dear Kayla! I just spend so much time on the road with her, I suppose she's become like a family member to me." He shook his head. "I can get a little defensive. My sincere apologies." He said rubbing the back of his neck.

"Plus I literally just got here. Give me an hour to unwind and some more drink in me, maybe I'll get that rock out of my shoe, huh?" he grinned.

Sethyas took a swig and glanced at Kayla.

"You've known him as long as I have, so I can't say he's always like this." He glanced back at him, and turned to refill his tankard.

[Elisabeth Hollow]

Kayla covered her mouth and let out a short laugh. "You had me going there!" She lightly slapped Thals' arm, grinning. "I understand. I had a dog back in Skyrim. Best companion a Nor- uh, Elf, could ask for. He was a good dog. Good for hunting, and listening. It gets lonely out on the roads." She finished her drink and crossed her arms, letting the tankard hang loosely from one finger.

[Black Hand]

Thals reached out to take her tankard.

"May I?" offering to refill.

"Yes, pets can become quite the prized companions. Asking nothing more than our own companionship and well,...food." Thals joked.

"You have any pets, Sethyas?" He asked while refilling Kayla's flagon.

Seth looked up in thought. "Hmmm. No, not really. The only one that qualified as such would flay me alive if I called her that." He recalled his former daedric cohort.

Thals returned the drink to Kayla.

"Yes, it can be lonesome out on the roads..." Thals continued, and Seth slowly sauntered into the background, sensing a change in the priority of conversation.

[King Coin]

Saer Aravi? What sort of title is that? She smiled politely at the trader until his attention was diverted to Kayla.

Aravi was somewhat relieved when Sethyas said he was from Cheydinhal. Not every Dunmer owned slaves, she told herself again.

While Kayla talked with Thals, Aravi talked to Sethyas. She decided to leave out her origins; that would only be awkward. If I say I’m from Morrowind it would be clear I was a slave. “I’m here from Skyrim. I know a little alchemy, are you here to sell ingredients?”

Aravi recalled Abiene said he was an alchemist. He doesn't look much like a merchant. The light armor and pair of swords at her side marked Aravi as a fighter of some type. She'd just arrived at the inn, and hasn't changed out of her armor yet.

This post has been edited by King Coin: Aug 24 2013, 10:27 PM

[Elisabeth Hollow]

Kayla gratefully took the refilled mug from the Dunmer with a smile. "You're sweet, thank you." She took another sip. "I've never seen a Guar in person before. Just drawings. I'll be she's huge!"

She looked around momentarily before resuming the conversation. "Yes, the roads can get lonely. Such is the life of an adventurer." She shrugged. "People at inns like this make it worthwhile, though. Show me your wares when you're ready."

[mALX]

*

Maxical:

Maxical heated the coffee and sipped a cup while watching the crowd through the suite window. To her surprise she saw Kayla, back from her vampire kiilling mission. She hadn't seen her since the first morning here, when Abiene was poisoned.

Maxical watched her fingering a necklace, the desire for it clear on her face; but for some reason she walked away from it. Maxical tapped on the window, but over the noise Kayla hadn't heard. She cranked the window open, but Kayla had already moved away from the booth; and too far to be heard.

Lleris was scooting by under the window. Maxical called to him and signaled him to come in. A minute later a knock came on the back door of the suite.

"Eyja and I will be leaving here today, but I wanted to leave a present for my friend before I go. Her birthday is tomorrow. Hurry to that jewelry booth, and ask the woman what the tall Altmer girl with the scar was interested in. Make sure you find out the price of it, and ask her to hold it back so no one purchases it before I send you back with the gold."

She watched through the window while he hurried to the jewelry booth. Lleris loped back and quoted a price.

"Can you count gold?"

At Lleris's nod she handed him her sack of gold. "Well, here is my purse, make sure you count it out to her. Get that necklace, and be careful no one robs that purse from you."

When he left Maxical scribbled down a quick note and waited for his return. When Lleris returned she wrapped the necklace in tissue paper and folded the note into it; then gave Lleris instructions on how to deliver it.

"This five Septims is for you, Lleris, for all your help." She handed him the gold and slid a box of sweet candy in front of him.

"Eyja and I are leaving within the hour, if you have time will you play one last game of 'Capture the Ogre' with me?"




*



Eyja:

The noise of the crowds is what woke Eyja. She sat up with a scowl and called loudly. "What's going on?" Voices were coming from downstairs.

Maxical hurried up carrying a cup of hot coffee and handed it to Eyja. "Some beer festival. It's drawn people from all over, I saw what must be a Guar riding into the stables."

Eyja went to the window and looked out. "This is too dangerous. A crowd like that could have fifty assassins, we'd never be able to keep track of them all."

Maxical pointed to their overly stuffed travel packs sitting side by side, and the fact that she was armored up for travel already.

"I knew you'd say that, readied everything while you were sleeping. Better dress before you come downstairs, Lleris is here. I've been spoiling him with sweet candies and playing 'Capture the Ogre' with him before we leave; I promised him I would."

Eyja conjured her armor. "We're leaving right now, give Lleris a draft from my banque account to bring to Bograk."

She came down to find Maxical hugging Lleris goodbye. "I'll come back and see you first chance I get Lleris." Maxical promised the boy, loading him up with the rest of the chocolate candies, three more Septims, and Eyja's banque draft, before tucking Kayla's gift in his pocket.

"Make sure you deliver that to Kayla." Maxical kissed him on the cheek.

Maxical turned back to Eyja. "I instructed Lleris to have Bograk add an appropriate tip to the draft."

Eyja nodded. "Let's go." She cast chameleon, Maxical did the same. They both hefted their packs and slid out the back door.





*



Lleris:


Lleris tugged at the tall Altmer woman's arm. She turned around too quickly, and with what looked to him as a fierce look. He took a step back, then realized it was a trick of the scar. Her eyes were friendly enough, at least after she saw who had interrupted her.

"Are you Miss Kayla? I was given this to deliver to you, and told to say 'best Birthday wishes to you' when I handed it over."

He reached in his pocket and withdrew the tissue wrapped necklace and folded note. "Here you are, Miss."



Dearest Kayla,

I was tied up in an emergency and missed your return. I've not forgotten your Birthday falls tomorrow, I hope you'll like this small token from a friend who loves and misses you.

M.


Necklace:


http://images-cdn.ecwid.com/images/1086090/137781694.jpg



*





This post has been edited by mALX: Aug 25 2013, 12:55 AM

[Black Hand]

"No. I'm here for...personal reasons." Sethyas replied. "Recently completed in spite of,...rather odd occurrences." He shot a rather bemused glance at Abiene. "While my profession came in handy for others' personal matters, I'm happy to say those matters seem resolved and I am merely here to enjoy Harvest's End." He took a large swig of beer as though too exemplify the point.

"That being said, if you have need of any particular ingredients I may be willing to part with some. Though I suspect Thals will have quite the haul of Eastern ingredients. I may even replenish my stock from his." He said, realizing the opportunity at the same time he said it, looking upwards in thought for a moment.

"Anyways, what brings you here to the Wobby Goblet? You mentioned you were coming down from Skyrim?" He glanced at her swords, but any good traveller had a weapon at the ready.

____________________________________________________________

"Oh yes! Nally was definitely not the runt of her litter!" Thals laughed in confirmation to Kayla's comment upon the guar. "Most guar's are probably the same volume as your average horse, maybe a little bigger in the head, but that's just because guars are twice as smart, twice as strong and twice as hardy! Horses can't survive long in the Morrowind area, unfortunately. The vegetation is to harsh to digest, and their respiratory systems get worse and worse with all the ash." He shook his head.

"But, I'd be more than happy to show you whatever your heart's desire is." He said with a friendly nod.

Suddenly, the little Dunmer kid came running up and handed Kayla a wrapped present.

Thals raised an eyebrow as her face seemed to melt into an outpouring of emotion reading the note.

Whats' all this then? He thought.

[Elisabeth Hollow]

Kayla was confused for a moment.

M? Who's M?

It dawned on her. Maxical! Her eyes briefly filled up with tears before she blinked them away. She pulled the necklace out and blinked in surprise.

"How did she know I wanted this necklace?!" She cradled the glass eye in her palms for a moment before slipping it over her head. She carefully folded the note and put it in one of her many pockets. She saw Thals' odd look of slight confusion as she tucked the necklace into her bosom.

"A friend of mine was here, but had to leave. She just gave me my birthday present a day early, since she knew she wouldn't be here to give it to me tomorrow."

[Black Hand]

Thals nearly groaned. "Ohhhhh. Your Birthday?! Why didn't you say so? Come by my stand later! There'll be no charge for you! I won't take no for an answer!" He smiled.

"I mean...within reason...Happy Birthday and all that, but a Mer's gotta eat all the same." He said with a grin.

Sethyas looked over with a slight interest. He motioned to Thals that he'd cover whatever the cost was.

One of those 'Live for the day' types. Sethyas thought. Doesn't mention it, until it arrives. Not sure if they'll live to celebrate it. Not always a bad mode of thinking.

For the first time, he actually noticed the scars on her face. Not as an object of pity, or awe. He certainly was used to carrying an odd looking thing upon his face as well. No, he saw them as he did everything. A clue. A page to be read in someone's book.

Perhaps they were gotten in battle. She had mentioned her Cyrodiilic was rough, the slip of the tongue that she did not consider herself an Altmer, and the fact that she had Skyrim deeply within her accent. A Nordic Altmer. Interesting to say the least...then again, he was a Cyrod born and raised. It was merely circumstance that had him end up in his ancestral lands. But Cyrodiil would always be home.

[Uleni Athram]

Lycus arrived, clad in an outfit of a hunter, a spear poking over one shoulder. With his arrival, Khan spoke a brief outline of their path. Cut through the Great Forest, probably hunting small game along the way, and wind themselves up to a Temple of Dibella near the shores of Lake Rumare. Thinking about it, perhaps they could even catch themselves a mudcrab or ten. The Highlands of which Chorrol, and by extension the Wobbly Goblet Inn, were situated in were bereft of any large lakes or bodies of water that could nest large mudcrabs, and the ones near Lake Rumare were known for their unusual size and sweet, succulent meat.

It would certainly be a treat and a respectable addition to this feast, the gigantic Nord thought.

Hjalbir broke up from his revelry and looked up at Khan heading towards the Inn with hammer and notice in hand.

"Perhaps we'll have a good hunt today," he rumbled to Lycus. "Its been a while since I've last been in one."

He then trailed after the Khajiit.

[Elisabeth Hollow]

"Thals, that's not necessary...unless you're selling some nice armor?" Kayla grinned to show she was teasing. She shifted her weight to her left leg, making one hip pop out. A nervous habit, but this time she wasn't nervous. She was at ease. For the first time in days, she was at ease. She then took another long drink of her beer and let out a sound of satisfaction.

She caught the Dunmer named Sethyas looking at her. She gave him a genuine smile before turning back to Thals.

"If you sell alchemy ingredients, I'll be extremely happy."

[Black Hand]

Thals rose an eyebrow in thought, and his head cocked to the side a bit.

"I do a have a shipment of Chitin Armor...if you're the type that uses lighter armors." He stroked his chin in thought.







"But, you can take a look for yourself. I do have plenty of foodstuffs, however...plenty of use in alchemical ingredients out here. Scrib Jelly, Scrib Jerky, Kwama Cuttle, Ash Yams, and of course Saltrice!" He chuckled, pressing down each finger as he counted out a mental inventory.

___________________________________________________

Kayla returned his look and smiled. Sethyas analyzed everything. It was just his way. Ninety nine percent of his judgements, he kept to himself. Most of them were likely the results of an overactive, paranoid mind.

What was the closest entrance and exit?

Who was most likely to be a blade in the crowd?

The beer helped to keep those types of thoughts from overwhelming his head however, and he helped himself to some more.

[Darkness Eternal]

Lycus nodded at Khan as his eyes analyzed the various weapons, most of which he could tell were enchanted by the magic flowing from them and the certain glow that some of them had. He wasn't a fan of magic-altered weapons. Though potent as they could be, he always relied on his own strength and speed and his mundane array of weapons. There had been many times where he imagined he would die at the end of an enchanted blade, but in the end it was the flaw of the man wielding it, not the blade.

All a man needs is a bow, an arrow, or a spear, a sword or a shield, Lycus told himself. Or in most desperate cases, his own hands or a stone.

"I'll settle with my spear and my dagger," Lycus said. "I must thank you for the offer."

Khan told him to get something to eat, and he might as well put something light in his stomach. He was hungry, but sating hunger gave way to exhaustion and he would need all the energy(even supernatural energy) that he needs.

The path was set, and the trek through the Great Forest would be a long one. The land was large, and offered a beautiful list of game; boar, deer, fox, hare and many more.

"If the prey dies, it'll be a good hunt. If the prey escapes, it'll still be a good hunt," Lycus managed a faint smile. "Sport is still sport."

"I've been hunting all my life," Lycus confessed to the large Nord. This didn't fall only to hunting game, but everything else in life. He wouldn't know if the Nord would understand it.

"What do you do for a living?" The Imperial finally asked the human as he walked behind the feline tribune, spear still upon his shoulder.

[Grits]

Abiene blinked in surprise when Kayla put on her new necklace. Didn’t we buy one just like that for her a few moments ago? She checked to make sure no one had taken it from her bag.

A glance at Aravi revealed she was equally confused. She gave a little shrug. Maybe Kayla can wear them as earrings.

The talk turned to armor. Abiene burped into her hand as delicately as she could manage, realizing she had finished the beer. That wasn’t half bad, she tried to tell herself, but a shudder betrayed the lie.

She refilled her tankard just the same.