The Wobbly Goblet Playground Options

[Darkness Eternal]

“Abiene.” Draken’s words came out smooth as silk and sweet as honey. He brought her warm hand to his lips and kissed it. He released it gently and saw the surprise in her eyes upon discovering the fact about him and her mother. “I am pleased to make your acquaintance.”

He knew she was related. Their appearance was so close that there was no other explanation to it.

“We’ve met on seperate occasions, yes,” he told her. “I met her and a few other aristocrats at Castle Leyawiin sometime ago in both dinner and certain affairs. Ambitious woman, you’re mother. I have seen your sister just about everywhere there, quite the social one. I truly did not expect to meet a Metinne here.”

She looked at the Breton and the Dunmer, and then right back to Abiene. “Might you introduce me to your friends, here? I trust these are the ones who emboldened you to take your stand against possible violence, if so I must also congratulate them as well.”

His hand extended to them, too. It would be disrespectful to exclude a woman’s company in the conversation.

[King Coin]

Aravi toweled herself off, relieved to be rid of the bug musk that caused so much trouble. I will never wear it again!

She brushed her fur so that it would lay flat and then dug into her pack for something more suitable for a festival than the traveling armor she wore previously. She reflected that it was fortunate she delayed changing, else her nice dress would be ruined. Leather armor was relatively easy to replace. A dress tailored to suit a Khajiit was more difficult to get. It was a deep green, and made of velvet. The sleeves were sheer and it was trimmed with lace. As usual, she wore no shoes. She left her weapons behind.

She set out from the inn at a much more sedate pace than she entered it. I need to find Darnand and Abiene and explain what happened.

She made her way to the table she last saw her friends at. On the way, she spotted a table selling wine, and on a whim, turned towards it. She wasn’t knowledgeable of wines and simply selected a white that was relatively expensive. Hopefully this will be sufficient replace the one lost while Darnand was… fumbling. She closed her eyes and took a deep breath, and let it out slowly.

When she made it to the table, she was relieved to see her friends still there. Sethyas is with them, and who is this? A well-dressed Imperial was with them as well.

Aravi approached cautiously, “May I join you?”

[Grits]

Abiene

Draken’s mouth on her hand sent a shiver straight through her. He’s so tall for an Imperial, she noticed. His hair looks so silky… She felt a flush warming her cheeks. And elsewhere.

Of course he remembers Sidette. Abiene immediately felt guilty at the trace of sourness that often accompanied thoughts of her beautiful and vivacious younger sister.

“I’m afraid I don’t share my mother’s interest in Leyawiin society,” Abiene confessed. “Nor Sidette’s. Like my papa I’m more concerned with my own occupation.” She laughed. “Ambitious, that’s one way of putting it.”

Abiene turned and introduced Darnand and Sethyas. She saw Aravi as the men were shaking hands.

“May I join you?” Aravi asked.

“Oh, Aravi, you look beautiful,” Abiene murmured, low enough so as not to draw the men’s attention. Her friend wore a velvet dress that set off her slender build and lovely coloring, even bringing out the green of her eyes. “We must keep an eye out for Jerric’s return. I should hate to see you soaked in whatever horrendous mess he has surely coated himself in by now.”

At the appropriate moment she gestured to Draken. “May I present my friend, Aravi? Aravi, this is Draken Decumus. We have only just met.”

[King Coin]

“Thank you,” Aravi whispered to Abiene. “I’m sorry about earlier and I’ll explain later.”

She set her burden on the table. Her hands were wet from the sweaty bottle, and she quickly wiped her hands together to dry them.

She was introduced to the Imperial. Draken Decumus.

“Good to meet you,” Aravi said. She found it difficult to take her eyes from him; something drew her attention like a moth to a lantern. He's tall, like Kharjo, Aravi noted. She felt like his eyes were drawing her in.

This post has been edited by King Coin: Sep 2 2013, 05:22 AM

[Darkness Eternal]

Draken held her gaze as she spoke about her personal differences. She wasn't ambitious as her mother, or a social creature to the degree of her sister. Her focus was to her own occupation. What was that? An illusionist? A healer, perhaps?

"To each their own," he said. "We would live in inspid times if each of us held the same interests."

The four-century nosferatu was going to press for more information on the woman and her companions when another woman entered his line of sight.

The woman was a lithe fur-dotted khajiit garbed in a green dress, she also had a painfully obvious scar by her cheek that no doubt came from battle. Like Abiene, she did not seem to take her eyes off of him for the passing seconds.

Draken often had a habit of thinking how one might taste. Each race had their own distinct flavor, most khajiits he'd fed on had a sweet taste, almost as if their blood were mixed with sugar. There was a small comparison to rats, vermin he had to survive when boarding ships to other provinces.

He looked down on Aravi, and reached out to shake her hand as he did Abiene. "A pleasure, Aravi."

He studied her green clothes and nodded in approval. "My, you look fabulous in that dress!"

Bringing his wine cup to his mouth, he took a sip from the blood-red liquid and allowed it to give flavor to his tongue before swallowing it down. "You mentioned concerns with your own occupation. What might that me?" he asked Abiene, and then looked to Aravi as well to show he was also quite interested in what she did for a living.

[minque]

Serene, talking to Kayla

She's beautiful....she has marks of life in her face, Oh I like her...really

"Well" Serene answered in Nordic "I wouldn't call mind reading a spell..it's rather a gift, and I'm sure I got that from my nordic ancestors on my mother's side, I think I always have been able to read minds.

Serene squeezed the tall woman's hand

"Now i can shut it off, some doesn't like me poking around in their heads, Sethyas for example, he used to get totally furious with me, so I had to teach him to block me"

"Gah, now I'm ranting, I felt some uneasy waves emanate from you, and I would very much like to help ...that is if you'd let me. Or I can be your friend,... If you need protection Sethyas and i will be there for you"

Serene looked her straight in the eyes.....

[Elisabeth Hollow]

Kayla smiled genuinely at the woman and grasped her shoulder gently. "I'm not in any danger, I just get embarrassed. I can defend myself pretty well, even without a sword. I didn't mean to cause a fight, and ruin the party."

She sighed and looked back at the party, untouched by her inner hysteria. "Maybe we should get back. I'll walk with you."

[minque]

Serene nodded, she couldn't exactly figure out what the problem was but she was happy to walk back with Kayla...maybe it wasn't such a big deal....but still!

She's good at this....

"Ok then let's walk back" Serene smiled, Sethyas already knew this woman, maybe he's better suited to help her

"Damn it, I hope she will be my friend" Serene thought....in Nordic

[Grits]

Abiene

“I’m a healer at the Chapel of Stendarr,” Abiene said, nodding toward Chorrol. “I’m here at the festival to celebrate Harvest’s End, though, not on business.” She lifted her goblet with a smile. “I certainly hope it stays that way.”

Draken’s manner put her at ease, but Abiene didn’t want to monopolize the conversation or bore everyone with healer’s talk. She took a sip of wine and glanced at Aravi.

[Elisabeth Hollow]

Kayla navigated through the brush off the beaten path with Serene, a small smile on her face at the meeting of a new friend. Once their footwear hit the gravel of the path she spoke to Serene in Nordic.

"So, you're Nordic on your Ma's side? Ever been to Skyrim?"

[King Coin]

Aravi shook Draken’s hand, and she was struck by how cold it was. Something in the back of her mind took note and decided that there was something wrong.

But then the alarm she felt faded away as he spoke. “A pleasure, Aravi.”

“Likewise,” she replied.

Then he complimented her dress and she felt her cheeks heat up. Had she been of another race, a blush would have been visible. “Thank you!” she managed to say without stammering.

What is wrong with me?

Before she could compliment the gold trimmed finery he wore, he asked another question.

Aravi waited while Abiene answered and then provided her own.

“I am a vampire hunter. I used to work for a small order that based itself in the Imperial City. Now I live in Skyrim.”

She didn’t mention that she was almost turned into a vampire herself and that’s what prompted her relocation. She still occasionally had the nightmares. The wolf keeps those away for the most part, but then it brings its own problems into the mix, doesn’t it? She still had doubts that she made the right decision, to accept one curse to be rid of another.

This post has been edited by King Coin: Sep 2 2013, 07:05 PM

[minque]

Serene smiled and answered also in Nordic:

"Kayla my dear I live in Skyrim, or rather Seth and I do, we live in Markarth. Actually I kinda felt like coming home when we moved there"

Serene went silent for a short while, she wasn't quite sure how to explain to Kayla the fact that she actually wasn't completely sure about her maternal heritage, it was just some features that she had that those who know had told her she has to have nordic blood in her veins. And as she very well knew, her fathers bloodline was solely imperial warriors.

Her amethyst blue eyes were the most obvious thing that was unusual about her....

[Elisabeth Hollow]

"You live in Markarth? I live in Whiterun." Kayla said, grinning at Serene. She saw the odd expression on the shorter woman's face and pursed her lips. "I was raised by Nord parents after my own Altmer ones abandoned me. No one knows what happened to them." She sighed. "I don't even consider myself an Altmer, just a very tall, thin Nord." She covered her mouth and barked a small laugh.

[minque]

Serene laughed, "A very tall thin Nord! oh aye you certainly are, but you are strong and fit like a Nord and you aquired much of the straight honesty that Nords have...ehh btw you drink Mead right? I love it, and that must be proof of my nordic blood ...I hope!"

The two women had now come back to the others, Serene took Kaylas hand and headed for the bar

"you think they have Mead?" she asked smiling

In the corner of her eye she spotted Sethyas, giving her that "look"

"come on silly assassin, join us for Nirn's sake, and yes I'm poking around in your head right now"

[Elisabeth Hollow]

Kayla followed Serene to the bar, thankful that her face wasn't red anymore. They had their attention on someone. Kayla followed their gaze.

Drathen!

She wanted to leap up and hug him, or slap him, or something, but her concern seemed out of place somehow.

I thought he was crushed beneath the cave-in. The guards must have found him.

She shot him a wide grin and waved. He saw his gaze flicker to her, yet there was something different about it.

He doesn't recognize me.

I DO have all of my clothes on this time...

[minque]

Serene noticed Kaylas reaction on a very good looking imperial man, she raised her eyebrows..

Hmm those two have a history...I wonder..


Then she decided to just sit calm and see what's going to happen.

"can I have a mug of Mead please" she asked the barkeep

[Darkness Eternal]

“I’m here at the festival to celebrate Harvest’s End, though, not on business.” With a smile, she lifted her cup. “I certainly hope it stays that way.”

Draken's lips widened to a grin. "My dear Abiene, if you continue to prevent violence rest assured it will be so."

Aravi seemed flattered by his comment. As she should be. If he saw clothes he liked, he would make no effort to conceal his true opinion. He didn't think much of the woman, not until she revealed her life's work.

Vampire hunter.

Draken would have frowned at the two words but centuries of discipline and previous encounters with these people only created a genuine smile. Though loathsome as these mortal murderers may be, Draken and his elite kin could not deny the usefulness of these people and he would be a hypocrite not to admit he was also a seperate breed of vampire hunter, too. He's hunted his own lesser barbaric kin for the safety of his people's identities and of course to prevent food shortage. Like them, he wanted what is best for those who deserve it.

There was a popular saying for any vampire of the clan. Want your enemy dead? Put a two-bladed sword in his hands. Want to rid yourself of your enemy? Outlive them. Why raise a finger against them when they can be the instruments of their own downfall? Or be victims of the real enemy; time.

The small order Aravi mentioned stationed in the Imperial City could've only been the Order of the Virtuous Blood, a vampire hunting faction who he has funded before with coin for weapons to fight off vampires. Numerous occasions had he also fed them information on rumored locations of vampires in the Imperial City sewers and other places, though the faction itself were commited to rooting out the undead blood-drinkings in the city.

Amateurs, at best, failing to detect Jakben Earl of Imbel and his nest of broodlings, or Seridur, a vampire hiding in plain sight. It was tragic as it was humorous.

Draken had nothing to fear only because wasn't the same blood of those wailing monsters dwellling in caverns. With that reality, he could put the vampire hunter's anger and hatred for his kind to his and the Order's benefit by using them to hunt rivals or baser creatures who taint the name.

These hunters never realize that a vampire can manipulate them into hunting other vampires . . .

He regarded Aravi with a less warm look and more of a icy stare. "A vampire hunter. I'm a bit of an expert on the subject of vampirism myself."

He cleared his throat. "The Order of the Virtuous Blood," Draken said to her. "If I am not mistaken, of course. I funded the organization to further aid them in their crusade against the vampire menace. Truly an honor to meet one member who yet holds her work to heart. The vampires in the north are no jest, of course."

This was true, but they weren't the only ones with pureblood running through their veins. He, too, was descendant of Lamae, and given the gift by Molag Bal himself. He'd paid the heavy price just to acquire such eternal blessing.

The Imperial lowered his wine cup and saw in the reflection someone in the backround waving at his direction. He turned, brow raised, lips curled. It was Kayla. She's returned, free of evidence of her mawkish behavior.

If that creature so much as has Dawnbreaker by her side, I'll send Meridia my regards.

Draken did not wave but after awhile he did smile at her with an inviting smile, one sprinkled with shock and pleasant surprise.

Was it, that she and Aravi were acquainted already? Two vampire hunters in a single area? This could be both dangerous and useful, as they could eliminate the infected brethren all about the caverns. He didn't doubt they would've been used to kill other vampires already . . .

With the other half of the Order present.

"My applaud goes to both of you, for such work makes this world more tolerable." He sighed, and looked at Kayla. "My, there is Kayla!"

[Elisabeth Hollow]

He did recognize me. I guess it wasn't that dark after all. She waved at him, then grabbed a mead like Serene. She sippsed it, the chilled, honey-sweet liquid cooling her throat.

Ahhh.

She walked over to Drathen with Serene in tow.

He was with me in the caverns of Hackdirt, she told Serene in her head. The innkeeper forced us to share a room, them had us dragged below where we were to be sacrificed to soe sort of underground god. i thought he was crushed beneath the cave-in, but he escaped somehow. He can't fight at all. She briefly allowed the scene where she was being gutted by the Brethren play in her head and he just watched with his icy stare. He was in shock. Useless in a fight.

She smiled at him and gave him a brief squeeze on his shoulder. "I'm glad to see you made it out alive! I thought you'd died!" Her eyes showed true concern as she looked at him. She realized they were eye level.

"How did you escape? I asked the guards to go back and look for you, but..." she shook her head. "No one's told me anything."

[Black Hand]

Sethyas did not like people he liked immediately.

The features, clothes and mannerisms of the Imperial were impressive, and he suspected that his baser instincts were being manipulated towards social attraction. Perhaps some of the Telvanni bug musk that Thals had been selling.

Sethyas was also no one's fool. He read body languages as keenly as one's words. He made his choice on how to deal with people based upon his observations, rarely upon instinct. Everything about Draken Decimus spoke of high-breeding and constant refinement to achieve elegance in everything from speech to a simple gesture of a hand.

It was those hands that began to rile his suspicions. There were always tell-tale signs in any mortals hands. The ever so-slight tremble that was involuntary. Draken did not seem to have it. Indeed, his movements seemed to be as rigid as they were fluid, like a fulcrum.

The light of day was plain, so he threw out his suspicion of Vampirism. He'd never heard of a strain that could walk in the day without a great deal of pain and smoke. In fact, he'd killed his fair share in Morrowind, and they had three clans that constantly fought for dominance. The Quarra, Berne and Aundae Clans, each specializing in steel, shadow and spell, respectively. Despite this, he was no vampire hunter.

Rather, he must be a mage. Very old. Much older than the pretense he'd put up. Likely dabbled in Necromancy a bit. If the Telvanni Mage-Lords could live several millenia, there was no reason to suspect that an Imperial would not have also learned some craft of a similar; if not identical nature.

His observance of Abienne's and Aravi's reactions to him furthered his suspicions of the man. No one spoke and moved the way he did without a lifetime of practice. A certain swagger that men just didn't have until they reached a certain age, or level of experience.

Kayla and Serene walked past and his wife sent him a telepathic message.

Come join us you silly Assassin.

He gave her a look that was a mixture of annoyance and concern.

There is no reason to feel unsafe...but Draken reminds me of a wolf among sheep. He thought in private.

I didn't just go through the last two days to see more victims.

Sethyas stepped forward and offered his hand to Draken.

"Forgive me, Sera. Sethyas Velas, Alchemist. The wife and I are visiting old climes down here from Skyrim."

This post has been edited by Black Hand: Sep 3 2013, 02:30 AM

[Grits]

Abiene

While Aravi and Draken spoke about their common interest, Abiene took a moment to situate herself. Darnand wordlessly took her goblet while she fiddled. The incident earlier had brought pickpockets back to mind. It would not do to have Jerric’s jewelry stolen while in her keeping. She slipped his ring onto her thumb and dropped the necklace over her head. The claw pendant fell between her breasts. She tucked it under her gown.

Darnand’s face wore the polite mask that told her part of his mind had wandered away. He was rarely a willing participant in large social gatherings. It was a testament to his friendship that he had lasted this long without a strategic withdrawal to the library. I’m sure he’s pleased to see Kayla and Aravi, she thought.

Seth’s expression was similar, but she suspected he was engaged in their surroundings rather than some internal landscape. Just as she couldn’t help mentally diagnosing the possible afflictions of passersby, she imagined that he didn’t stop watching for danger just because he was at a party.

When Darnand handed back her wine his fingers brushed against hers in silent camaraderie. His quiet smile brought lines to the corners of his eyes. How I’ve missed you, she thought, smiling back at him.

Kayla approached the mead table with the Imperial woman at her side. Up close she was even more beautiful, dark-haired with unusual eyes that looked like amethysts. She exchanged a look with Sethyas.

Abiene glanced away into her goblet, then quickly back up as things suddenly got more interesting.