The Wobbly Goblet Playground Options

[Uleni Athram]

Hjalbir confessed to himself that he wasn't really surprised to know that Lycus hunted all of his life. He went to Nature to support himself, and Nature embedded a part of itself to him. But there was something dark about Lycus, something that fell outside the jurisdiction of Kyne. Hjalbir shrugged; people were people, to each their own.

"I am a wandering mercenary," Hjalbir rumbled with that soft star-metal voice of his. "Been travelling far and wide for a while now, just coming down from Bruma. There's no shortage of contracts for men such as myself, so competition's cutthroat tough."

Circumventing the massed crowd wasn't that hard; people would naturally make way for three of the biggest looking men in the festival, and those that were too slow to get out of the gangway were gently smashed aside.

"You could say the mercenary world's a poisonous pit of vipers; a pack of dogs all vying for the barest scraps of meat. So yes, I'm a sellsword."

[King Coin]

Aravi listened to Sethyas’… unusual response.

“I’ll see what Thal’s has brought then, though I doubt I’ll recognize anything useful. I’m only familiar with the plants that grow in Skyrim and Cyrodiil. I came here on a personal matter; it’s just a coincidence that I got here in time for the festival.” She took a sip from her over-large mug and watched him. Sethyas’ eyes seemed to dart through the crowd constantly. Maybe he had something to do with the attempt on Abiene’s life? Probably not, she mused.

Aravi’s thoughts were interrupted when Kayla received a gift, the very same necklace that she and Abiene got. She traded a confused look with the healer. Now what? I suppose she will have two.

Thals and Kayla started discussing a type of armor that Aravi never heard of. I would like to see this as well.

She spoke up. “I would like to see this armor too. And do you have any jewelry? I lost an earring in a recent fight.” One ear had a pair of golden hoops in it, the other only had one.

[Elisabeth Hollow]

Kayla suddenly paled and looked at the beer. "I'm not sure I feel so good. Must have a grain I'm allergic to. I'll be in my room." She departed quickly and went to her room.

[King Coin]

Kayla expressed sudden illness and left. Aravi watched after her, trying to decide if she should follow or stay. I'll check on her later, deciding to give her some privacy. The last thing she would want is people hovering around her if she were truly ill.

[Grits]

Abiene restrained her urge to trot after Kayla asking about her health. She knows you’re a healer, don’t push yourself on her. She’ll ask if she wants your help. She almost stifled another burp. Besides, your head is swimming. No casting while intoxicated. Not even an easy little spell.

Thals had mentioned a number of ingredients that Sethyas had used in her potion. The least I can do is replenish his supply.

When she smiled at him the Dunmer trader looked briefly taken aback. Abiene clapped a hand over her mouth, guessing at the cause. Chewing charcoal in a vain attempt to alleviate her symptoms had left her mouth blackened. Her Debride spell had removed the stain from her lips, but her teeth remained a fright.

“My teeth,” she said to Thals. “I’ve had a… mishap. Do you have any ectoplasm?” She bared her grey teeth in a grimace, pointing at them. “See? I won’t say it’s an emergency, but I would have mercy on anyone who has to look at me today.”

[Darkness Eternal]

Lycus figured the man for a mercenary. He had the size, and the demaneour. There was something different from him, however. Most Nords were loud and boisterous, and frequently brute-minded. From the brief moment of knowing him he seemed quite detached and aloof. Grim.

He has seen many men like him in his years, and came to understand that they were shaped by the cards given to them in life. Being a bounty hunter and mercenary for the Companions, Lycus knows all too well.

Mercenary work was far from an easy job, but it paid well. His woman, hardened beyond her years by tragedy, sought to surround herself in that manner of lifestyle.

Years after his slavery and his very brief gladiatorial career in Cyrodiil, he'd sought to continue wielding the sword for profit in just that area of freelancing. Competition were everywhere, for Tamriel is a violent arena. To make a decent or well-enough living, many took to thieving, killing or otherwise. Violence always seemed to be in the picture.

"Blood for coin," Lycus murmured. "For most men out there, a man who fights for septims is only loyal to his purse."

It was true for the lot of them, including Lycus himself. Coin speaks to a man, just as their sword. Lycus nodded his head in agreement.

"Aye. The world is a wilderness of horror, built by killers," he gently shouldered a man out of his way as he walked in the crowd. "Yet is is the only place of opportunity that men such as ourselves can hope for."

Lycus stepped out of the crowd and into the roads that would lead to the forest. The morning was still young, and they had the entire day to go hunting. Plenty of things could happen until then. Lycus was curious to see how these men would fare in hunting. Vera and him hunted everytime; it became a routine and he knew his woman's skills and habits intimately that they're partnership became second nature. Everything in the hunt was the same.

Now with these men things could be different. He looked at Khan.

"Khan. Anything you'd care to inform us about the chapel of Dibella. Have any of the priestess' survived?"

[minque]

Serene Catraso-Velas - Markarth, Skyrim


..............and we are sorry to inform you that she has not been seen since.

Yours faithfully

Hannibal Traven
Guild Master, The Synod
Arcane university,

Serene took a deep breath...

This really was disturbing news, Rianne obviously had disappeared from the University, a thing she wouldn't do volunteerly, something must have happened to her. She was so happy when she got the opportunity to study at the Arcane University and be a novice at the Synod, it was a long way from home but if you want to become a mage, that was the place to be!

So why should she leave? there was absolutely no reason for it, so Serene decided she had to investigate it deeper.

She packed a few shirts, an extra pair of trousers and wrapped her grey wollen robe around her shoulders and went out to get her horse, Shadowstep, saddled.

Before she left she paid a visit to the neighbor, Sigrid Fafnesbane, asking her to keep an eye on the house and lands. Sigrid was a tall Nordic woman of few words, but was reliable as a rock.

"Aye Mistress Velas, you go, I watch out here"

"Sethyas....where are you now when I need you?"

[Grits]

Marcus Inventius

“Hey, watch this!”

By the Nine, thought Marcus, is that idiot really going to jump?

“You’ll never make it!” shouted a Redguard man.

“I’ll take that wager,” came another voice from the crowd.

The Nord on the stable roof pointed at Marcus. “Are you getting this?”

Perhaps I shall finish it with your blood, thought the painter. He raised his brush at the Nord. “I am ready!”

Marcus’ brush was a blur as the Nord hurtled through the air. A resounding squelch announced his landing in the grape vat.

What fool thought this was a good way to sell wine? Marcus wondered, putting the final touches on his work.

“How are you able to paint so fast?” asked a lovely young Breton at his elbow.

Marcus paused to cast his spell with a special flourish. “Like so,” he declared.

“Oh my, a spell to dry the paint! What’s it called?”

He struck a pose. “It is called ‘Dry Paint.’” Marcus set the canvas aside and replaced it on the easel with another. The background had already been filled in. “Now, who’s next?”


The Artist At Work

.

This post has been edited by Grits: Aug 26 2013, 02:12 AM

[Rohirrim]

Khan looked at Lycus as he hammered the notice to the door, resulting in more than one tankard being thrown down from the rooms of hungover patrons. He spoke to Lycus as he did so, saying: "There's no way to no for sure, though it seems very likely. The Minotaurs moved in very recently, and the temple featured a secured inner sanctum where a few priestesses could still be. I'm sure they'd reward their saviors with a...religious enlightenment. " Khan stepped back from the door, surveying his handiwork. The notice read:

To Be Held During the Harvest's End Festival at High Noon:
A Great Hunt, encompassing the Great Forest and Lake Rumare, Led by Tribune Khan of the First Legion. Equipment Will Be Supplied If Need Be.

[Elisabeth Hollow]

Kayla had rushed up the stairs in a hurry, weaving through the patrons and dodging trays of food and drink. She slammed her door to her room and rushed to her urn.

Moments later, she felt better. She'd have to steer clear of the beer. Something in it had made her ill. Probably the way it had fermented, probably the brew. It could have been any number of things, but she vowed to not take another drink of the beer.

She wiped and rinsed out her mouth, brushing her teeth and splashing water on her face. She rested on her bed momentarily, then stretched and went back downstairs. She sauntered outside in time to see a great splash into the wine vats and covered her mouth, stifling the laughter.

the deep purple liquid spewed out in a wave, splashing anyone nearby. She spotted Abiene and Aravi and jogged over to them.

"Sorry," she apologized. "I think there's something in the beer that made me ill. Must be an allergy I didn't know I had." She shrugged. "I feel better noooooo..." She saw Abiene's gray teeth.

"Now....I feel...better now." She gave a great big grin at Abiene, then covered her own teeth with her sucked-in lips.

Don't show your teeth! Don't make her think you're making fun of her!

She pressed her lips together and raised her brows, a tight-lipped smile on her face.

"So. That guy jumped into the gray vat. GRAPE VAT!" She turned red and covered her mouth with one hand, her eyes wide.

[King Coin]

Some commotion caught Aravi’s attention. A Nord leapt from the roof of the stable. Aravi’s stomach lurched, expecting a cry of pain, or worse nothing from the man at all.

A cheer went up from the crowd around him. He must be fine.

As suddenly as she left, Kayla was back. She’s looking better, Aravi was happy to see. Kayla explained it was something with the beer. Aravi looked at hers and took an experimental sip.

“So. That guy jumped into the gray vat. GRAPE VAT!” Kayla said.

“Let’s go see who it is?” Aravi looked at the two other women with her. She was curious.

[Black Hand]

Thals looked around.

Allergic Altmers. Wine vat jumping. Incredibly potent painting techniques. Healers that apparently ate charcoal?

"What in Sotha Sil's Secret Sanitarium did they put in this stuff?" Thals looked down into his flagon. "I've got to get the recipe!"

__________________________________________________________________

Sethyas looked into his. "Ever had a drink so bad, you wanted to kick yourself in the rump?" He raised an eyebrow.

Suddenly, he had a premonition.

His left ring finger itched.

"Uh oh." He rasped.

[minque]

Serene, arriving to the Wobbly Goblet Inn

After three days in the saddle, just made a few stops for Shadowstep's sake Serene finally spotted the walls of Chorrol. This made her smile, Chorrol was her favorite town in Cyrodiil, despite being brought up in The Imperial City she had always cherished Chorrol. She knew she had relatives there but something told her she wouldn't have time to pay a visit just now.

She had had this premonition for the last 24 hours. She knew he was not so far away, she could just feel it, the tickeling sensation down her spine was a sign...

She spotted the new Inn from far down the road, it looked nice and she felt that she needed to rest and get some fortification, besides the feeling she had became stronger.

The stables looked very nice and she left Shadowstep in the custody of young Lowren and headed for the entrance.

It was the Harvest End festival and of course there were a free Beer Stand

She saw him standing there idling with another Dunmer she didn't recognize. Her amethyst eyes met with crimson.

"Where else would I find you, but drinking?"

Her voice was weak, the passion raged in her body..

Sethyas turned around and looked at her, amethyst eyes met red....

[Black Hand]

He turned his head slowly. His expression didn't change. It didn't need too. She knew what he was thinking whether he wanted her to or not.

They stared at each other for a moment, neither making any motion.

Thals began too fidget nervously. "You,...uh...two know each other?" he asked.

Sethyas did not answer, but rather kept his gaze locked into hers.

"It's free." he shrugged. "What did you expect during Harvest's End?"

The smile rose slowly as she came closer, and they embraced following with a passionate kiss.

Thals started coughing, and commented that apparently they did know one another.

"I would hope so. Or I'm kissing someone else's husband." Serene jested.

"That can be arranged." Sethyas retorted, earning an elbow in the gut.

"I told you I wished to do this alone..." He started. "...but that isn't why you're here, is it?" He said, seeing a different kind of concern behind her eyes.

[minque]

"I know, dearest, and i would never interfere with your business, that you know!" Serene touched his shoulder ever so lightly

"No I came here because I need your help, or advice on this matter" She handed him the letter from the University.

"Rianne would never just leave without saying, I have a very bad feeling about this"

Serene sat down and asked for a beer. She was tired and thirsty, but above all she was worried, even if it felt better now when Sethyas was present.


ohhh I want you Seth, I want you more than you can imagine

[Black Hand]

Sethyas grabbed the parchment and his brows furrowed.

...and we are sorry to inform you that she has not been seen since.

Yours faithfully,

Galnius Prego, Secretary of Admissions
Arcane University

What in the Twelve Moonshadows of Oblivion is that Child thinking?! He nearly crumpled the paper.

Breathe. He commanded himself.

"I'll hold that man over the highest damn ledge if he's let anything happen to her." He whispered harshly. "And if she's gotten into any trouble, I'll hold her over that same damn ledge!"

Her hand on his shoulder sent the unspoken signal he knew meant two things. The first was to calm down.

The other....

"Well, look at that. I've spilled beer on myself." He said putting his half-full flagon down.

"I'm in need of a bath. Do be so good as to give me hand, would you, dear?" He said grabbing her wrist and making an assassin-level speedy entrance to the Inn.

[Grits]

“Gray vat!” Abiene laughed from her belly. She linked her arms with Kayla’s and Aravi’s. “I could stand to meet whatever fool did that.”

“I’ll catch up with you when you’ve had a chance to settle,” she said to Thals.

She gave a discolored smile to Sethyas. Dibella knows I’ve looked worse. “I hope you enjoy the rest of your morning,” she said.

It wasn’t hard to find the jumper. The Nord stood barefoot in a puddle wearing only a pair of soaking drawers. Grape skins clung to his skin. He was passing a double handful of coins to a lavender-clad Imperial. That’s the artist they were talking about, Abiene realized. She hiccupped.

The Nord spied the three of them and threw his arms out to the sides, grinning. “Abiene! Aravi! KAYLA! IT’S YOUR BIRTHDAY!” he roared.

.

This post has been edited by Grits: Aug 27 2013, 03:51 AM

[Elisabeth Hollow]

Kayla's jaw dropped and she grinned widely. She threw her arms up excitedly.

"JERRIC! What are you doing here?!" She jogged to him and punched him on the arm. "You're covered in grape juice! No one's gonna buy that wine now!" She laughed.

"Where's-eek!" She let out a squeak as the drunken Nord pulled her into a bear hug.

"Spine! Cracking! SPINE!"

[Black Hand]

Meanwhile, in the Man-Cave.....

________________________________________________________________

She was tired, and had been riding for three days straight. Her concern for their daughter had been the driving force to it. But beneath that, like a guilty pleasure; or a dark desire one did not acknowledge for fear of it making them a 'bad person', her passion for her husband.

He left on these mysterious missions, brooding all the while. Refusing to share with her the pain that he carried across centuries now. It seemed there was no end to his internal capacity. Ever watching over her, out for her. She was strong, and he knew it. Her hands were that of a healer, and they did not tremble either.

"I'm tired." She said, as he held her at the door, and unlocked the door and kissed at her neck.

"That's what the bed is for." He said, pulling her in.

"I'm sweaty." She said, as he shut the door and locked it.

"That's what the bath is for." He said, as he pulled her travelling cloak off.

"My muscles ache, and look like a mess." She said, as he slowly stripped the two of them down.

"That's what my hands are for, and don't you dare tell me that." He whispered in his Dunmer rasp, and pulled them into the bath.

Their hands did not tremble in either of their professions, except when they held each other. As they did across centuries now.

[Rohirrim]

Khan stepped away from the notice, walking towards the fairgrounds. "Be prepared. We leave at high noon, oh, and Hkalbir, your composite bow's in the chest. Yew, if I recall correctly." Khan walked over to where an Imperial was putting the finishing touches in what looked like a painting of a man jumping off the inn roof. He wondered for a moment if the man was an assassin or some like, then walked over the the artist. "You do portraits, right? Good. I want one for the house, me in my battle dress. Oh, damn I didn't bring...hold on...." Khan dashed inside the inn and ran back out to the stable, with a woman in Imperial armor in tow. He recalled her name being Nora or something. Didn't matter. They could socialize later, he needed this portrait. They stepped behind the stable, where a heated debate could be heard:

"Are you serious?"
"Quite, now,off with it, I'll give you my coat."
"But what if-"
"That's an order, Auxilary!"
At this point a few grumbles, along with the clanking of armor and swooshing of long garments, were heard. Khan ran back to the painter, wearing a woman's set of Imperial Cavalry plate. The artist, though a bit shocked, began painting, as Khan struck a dramatic pose on top of a stool. "Feel free to take some...artistic liberty on the breastplate, especially the er...breast."

Behind the stable, the reddened face of the armor's owner could be seen, looking like she wanted to be anywhere on Mundus but here.

This post has been edited by Rohirrim: Aug 27 2013, 04:38 AM