The Wobbly Goblet Playground Options

[King Coin]

"A vampire hunter. I'm a bit of an expert on the subject of vampirism myself," Draken began. He cleared his throat and continued about The Order of Virtuous Blood. He then spotted Kayla and commended both of them.

An expert he says? I wonder what he does? She would have liked to ask, but the window of opportunity closed when Kayla appeared and spoke to him.

He was involved with the Order? She looked at him in a new light. They attracted his type, she admitted to herself. While she was away doing the bloody work, the “experts” sat inside their lavishly appointed estates and did… What? She never really knew what they did. She never observed them doing anything more important than drinking and gossiping, and yet they always seemed to know where a scourge of vampires had set up. Not one of her assignments had turned up dry. Always blood.

And yet they had all been clueless about vampires. She learned more on her own than she found from them. You could learn what they knew from anyone on the street. They had been wrong on nearly everything that wasn’t already common knowledge, except where to find them.

She began paying attention again, and learned that Kayla already met him. When Kayla was done speaking, Aravi gave her a smile and a wave. Aravi didn’t want to interrupt.

Sethyas introduced himself and Aravi mentally smacked herself. I didn’t even notice him! So absorbed she was in this… handsome Imperial.

She stepped back from Draken as he had lots of people demanding his attention. She stepped over to Abiene and Darnand. She gestured to an adjacent table, close that they could participate in the unfolding conversation if they wanted to, but far enough to afford a small amount of privacy. She whispered to them, “Care to join me there?”

Without waiting for their decision, she recovered her replacement bottle and sat, listening.

[Darkness Eternal]

Draken was on the verge to shake the alchemist's hands to properly introduce himself to him when Kayla rushed in to speak with him.

"I'm glad to see you made it out alive! I thought you'd died! How did you escape? I asked the guards to go back and look for you, but..." head head shook. "No one's told me anything."

His eyes showed fear, perhaps a sign or something that might have been regret. Then, after a moment, they shifted bright to show joy and surprise. "I honestly believed you dead all this time. You had me worried." He said, and then replied to her question. "When the ceiling crumbled I was able to crawl my way to freedom through the caverns that led to a small cave just outside Fort Carmala. I warned the guards of what happened and told them you were there after I failed to find you." A chuckle came. "It would seem you escaped that dreadful place quicker than I have."

He touched her shoulder this time. "It matters not. We are both here, drinking and socializing, eager to put that dark mess behind us. I refuse to allow such thing to tramautize me."

He looked at Abiene, Darnard, Sethyas, Aravi and lastly Kayla again. "It has been splendid meeting you all, but I apologize for my haste. I must tend to something right now. If we could continue this conversation another time . . . I would be delighted. Farewell."

Draken said, and parted from the group.

This post has been edited by Darkness Eternal: Sep 4 2013, 09:04 PM

[Grits]

Abiene excused herself from the group without interrupting Draken and Kayla, turning aside to Aravi. Her friend had apologized for the earlier incident and promised an explanation. From what Abiene had seen of Darnand’s hands all over her right before she fled, it was the Breton who owed the apology.

She gave Darnand a sharp look as he turned away with them. He looked miserable, caught between curiosity at Kayla’s announcement and the remembered humiliation of his earlier performance.

Abiene schooled her own expression. Listen first, she scolded herself. You have no claim on him and no grounds for judgment. Jealousy is not just cause for anger.

[King Coin]

When the other two joined her, she saw that Draken was already leaving. She waved to him and then turned her attention to her companions.

Darnand looked miserable, and Aravi suddenly felt uncomfortable as well.

She spoke to both of them in a quiet tone so that others would not overhear. She did not wish for word to spread.

“Darnand’s behavior was my fault,” she began. “Kayla and I met Irvana at a trader’s stall. Do you remember the one we met with Sethyas?”

They nodded and she continued. “We went there to look at the armor he had mentioned, and while we were there, Irvana convinced us both to buy Telvanni bug musk.” She paused to let that sink in.

“I put some on; I didn’t remember the effects of it being so strong. I began to attract… attention from random people. I didn’t feel safe. I wasn’t thinking when I spotted Darnand and went to him.”

She turned to Darnand. “I’m sorry I put you in that situation. Can you forgive me?”

Then she gestured to the bottle of wine she had been carrying. “I brought this to replace the one that you spilled.” She didn’t really know what she had bought, except that it was white and fairly expensive.

[Grits]

Abiene

Telvanni bug musk? Abiene’s hand crept up to cover her open mouth. I wonder who else is wearing it?

“I,” said Darnand, “uh. Gods. Apologies!” He pinched the bridge of his nose. Then his eyes widened as he absorbed the rest of Aravi's meaning. “You sought me out when you felt unsafe? Aravi, I… deeply regret having fallen short of your trust, regardless of the circumstances.” He waved his hand in a vague gesture. “Please, let us forgive ourselves and one another and put it forever behind us. And I beg of you both by all we hold dear, let no word of this incident pass to the Nord.”

Abiene thought through the folk she had spoken with, trying to remember if any had seemed unnaturally attractive. Too many to consider, she though ruefully. Stress has gotten the better of me. Thankfully I managed not to lift up my skirt. She glanced toward the wrestling pit, a flush heating her neck. I wonder…

Darnand placed his parcel on the table and accepted the bottle from Aravi. His features were relaxed again in the expression that on other faces would be a broad smile. “An excellent choice, and much appreciated. I hope you will allow me to pour.”

Abiene seated herself at an angle that invited the others to join their company if they should wish.

“Shall we discuss our common goals?” Darnand said, handing out the goblets. “I have some gems to fill, and it occurs to me that a supply of Welkynd stones would also be welcome. You have the funds for the project you outlined,” he said to Abiene, “but not for the additional purchase of Welkynd stones.” He glanced over at Aravi. “Any ideas where we might go hunting?”

[Darkness Eternal]

If there was anything that peeved Lycus to the bone, it was poor leadership and the lack of reverence for the hunt. True, there was no rule that stood against the act of bringing many men into a single hunting trip. Hircine himself hunts with his hounds in oblivion. But this?

This is ridiculous, Lycus thought as he eyed each and every of the ones eager to join. Three bosmeri archers, four Redguard spearmen, a hammer-wielding orc warrior, five men of the north, two Imperial mages and approximately ten simple folk. There was nothing against the men personally and only a few of them seemed capable enough to join the hunt with Khan and the giant Nord. But the rest . . . the number was bad enough.

Around twenty-five men . . . Piss on that. There's to many men for a single hunt in the Great Forest.

Hjalbir spoke out his thoughts before Lycus could, and the Imperial found himself agreeing with him on every front. He's right.

I will not lie," the Nord said to Khan. "Most of us seem well-suited for war rather than hunting prey."

Well-suited is something. Being capable is something else. These men wouldn't hit water if they fell out of a ship.

Though Lycus stood in agreement, the mages who the Nord spoke against seemed to think otherwise. One of them, obviously drunk by the way he moved and the glassy eyes that were to slow to move as a sober person would, began to brag about his magic powers, and summoned a fiery projectile that exploded from his hands and through the air, nearly burning Lycus' face if it had a few but a foot.

The heat and smoke that passed by his face was enough to tell him the danger he was just in.

"I, uh, sorry. I meant to aim it upwards," he said. "But I can surely burn the living blazes out of the game."

Lycus had enough. "You'd ruin the meat."

"Oi, what do you mean?"

"Plenty of ways to kill prey," Lycus said gruffly. "Plenty of ways to fell the animal before it can even realize what happened. You send one of your flaming spells, you'll burn the animal alive. Its fear and stress sours the flesh as its muscles tenses. You'll be feasting on gamy remains."

"Not my problem."

Lycus angled his spear. "It will be if you plan on ruining the sport for others."

The second mage chimed in. "What's your problem, Imperial?"

"The problem," Lycus began. "Is this lot for simple game. You think a deer won't sense your presence, mage?" He pointed at the four redguards. "And you four? That armor of yours will slow you down and will make your steps heavier. You'll frighten the animals." He turned to the others, specifically one of the imbibed Nordic men. "You smell of mead, too much of it. You can barely hold onto your own cup, let alone run a few paces before you'll eat dirt. You'd pass out in the middle of the hunt, alerting all potential prey to our location and even slowing us down."

"Bah, you think you're a good hunter, half-naked man?" one of the drunken mages asked. There was a deep challenge in his voice and though he wasn't completely overwhelmed by the beer, he was still affected by the alcohol. He still retained much of his conscious.

"I'll give you a heard start and you'll find out." Lycus managed to say in a threatening voice. His eyes flicked to the other men, the archers and the large group of lowborn. He didn't believe their lowly status meant they were terrible hunters, for he was a farmer and a peasant himself and yet every week he brought home game.

The problem lay in their incapability for responsiblity. They'd sooner poke their own eye out or injure another man than kill their quarry.

Khan, having issues with having his leadership challenged, stepped up to confront the Nord about making perfect sense.

"Do you not trust my judgement," he spoke with contempt, "sellsword?" "If you wish I can fight you right now, you uncultured rebel scum."

Lycus sighed in frustration, keeping his rage in check. First, he summons a pack of swine-herds and a mob of peasant sots and now what does he plan to do? Bring down a giant mercenary? Has he found his bravery after shedding tears a night ago?

What is he doing?

"What in sixteen hells has gotten into you?" Lycus seethed. "You want to spill blood here, is that it? Has the Legion fallen so low?"

He knew the answer to his latter question. Men of the Legion sometimes never held any honor and were more corrupt than thieves masquerading as heroes. He'd known this since before he was beaten by a group of them and stuffed into a ship to be sold in Morrowind, and days after when a group of former legion soldiers held him a mock trial for the justificable massacre of the Crimson Dinner and for crimes he did not commit such as the assault on a Dunmeri orphanage.

Despite the sour mood, he would still hunt, though without these men. He would not waste his time and devotion to a single trip with men who'd both pose a danger to others as well as ruin his own efforts.

[Rohirrim]

Khan looked slowly away from Hjalbir, turning to Lycus. He walked toward the Imperial, his movements full of purpose. He calmly stepped in font of him and crossed his arms. He spoke in a voice that was almost a whisper, but his pupils were still dilated with rage. "I understand your taking issue with these men. You must understand, this was only a preliminary recruitment, I put a notice on the door and asked men to show up. Whether or not they shall qualify is another matter altogether. Now, if you'll excuse me, I have some business I wish to settle."

Khan walked back over to Hjalbir, threw down his helm and lance, and laid his hand on his sword hilt. "I"ll kill you here and now, if you wish. Shall we settle this like men, or are you going to correct me to death?"

This post has been edited by Rohirrim: Sep 3 2013, 09:11 PM

[minque]

Serene

Serene stayed in the background, letting Kayla reconcile with the Imperial. Seth actually did join, introducing himself to the stranger. She took one more step backwards.

There is no reason to feel unsafe...but Draken reminds me of a wolf among sheep Serene could hear Seth's thoughts, apparently he forgot to block his mind

So that's why I feel awkward in his company she thought and decided to test the man a little bit. Since noone introduced her she stepped forward;

"I'm Serene Catraso-Velas, mage and healer" she said.

The good looking man didn't take any notice of her..so she started to reach out for his mind, just a tiny subtle try to get in, normally her "victims" didn't ever notice her trials...so it should be safe.

Slowly she went into his mind.....and found NOTHING!! Just a grey mist...

Serene gasped and immediately stopped..

Something is wrong with this man

Then realization struck her....

[Colonel Mustard]

Salyan

The day had been a good one, the festival that had roared and seethed with intoxicated joviality around the Wobbly Goblet, wrapping it in a boisterous swaddling, and for one of her trade, it had been perfect. Her performances, busking by stalls, playing her lyre and singing, had netted Salyan a bounty of coin and with her spoils in hand, she headed into the actual tavern itself. She had earned herself a good meal, she decided, and with that in mind, she decided not to head to the stage at the far end of the room just yet. She glanced at it, where a pair of Nords with flutes were making an attempt at The Gambol of Lord Kulvin, and shook her head. Amateurs, the pair of them, and they had the gall to play drunk, too.

She decided that showing them how to do it could wait, and headed to the Tavern's bar. It was busy, heaving with people, and she glanced at one of the Bills of Fare that had been pinned to a wall.

"Could I get the slaughterfish and the comberry wine, please?" she asked as soon as she was able to shoulder her way through the crowd, placing the coin she needed on the counter, a small portion of the day's spoils. In response, the drink was placed down almost immediately and the food slid across to her scant moments later from where hot plates were waiting fresh from the kitchen for the crowds. The breton behind the bar was gone already, tending to another customer amongst the horde, and Salyan blinked at the sheer speed of the service. "Erm, thank you?"

The inn was packed, the long tables filled with people, but she spotted a gap, next to a small gathering of an altmer, a khajiit, and two people who were either bretons or imperials; at the current distance it was impossible to tell for sure. Balancing her plate and wine goblet in one hand and carrying her lyre case, precious instrument tucked within, she made her way over to the small group.

"Hello there!" she smiled as she approached. She nodded to the small gap where she might sit. "Is anybody there right now? I can't find a seat in the house."

[Elisabeth Hollow]

Kayla had slid into a seat next to Aravi and across from Darnand. She saw Serene slipping into the crowd, blending in easily. She bit her lower lip and frowned, then listened quietly as the others conversed.

"Any ideas where we might go hunting?" Darnand asked.

She wouldn't press for details. If they wanted her to come along, she figured they would ask. Anything she touched lately seemed to crumble beneath her fingers; the mission to Hackdirt, the bug musk, even the mission to the vampire caves where Vera drowned the thrall. She patted Aravi's hand and gave her a brief and friendly smile.

She listened to the details of the mission for a moment before a brown-haired girl came up. She indicated the spot next to Kayla and asked if there was anyone sitting there. Kayla smiled up at her and shook her head.

"No, please, go ahead and sit. Is that slaughterfish? It looks delicious." She took a drink of her mead and smiled at the girl again.

[Colonel Mustard]

Salyan

The Altmer gave her a smile and when she informed Salyan that the seat was free, the bard sat, placing plate and goblet on the table and sliding her lyre beneath the bench. She had a Nordic accent, Salyan noted, a strange thing to hear from an altmer, and Salyan would not be surprised if there was a story behind that.

"Thank you," she said. "It's slaughterfish, yes; I'm thinking the poor fishermen must have risked their necks a lot to get enough for all the customers who want it today."

She was looking forward to the dish, actually; the closest they had to Slaughterfish at home was rubbery baliwog meat, and that was nowhere near as good as the plate of fresh-caught fish luxuriating in the rich, creamy sauce she had before her.

"I'm Salyan, by the way," she added.

[King Coin]

“Any ideas where we might go hunting?” Darnand asked.

Kayla joined them at the table, and Aravi was glad she missed the story behind what had happened with her and Darnand. I should have gone inside like she did. She honestly didn’t know what she was thinking, and in the process she made Darnand look like a fool. I didn’t know he was attracted to me… She blinked at the thought.

She came back to the present and returned Kayla’s greeting. Then she addressed Darnand and Abiene.

“You both are going through this effort for me; I hope you will allow me to provide what money you need for this.”

A newcomer looking for a place to sit appeared. Aravi smiled at her, Salyan and introduced the table quickly. "Pleased to meet you, I am Aravi." Then she gestured to the Altmer and the two Bretons. "That's Kayla, and they are Darnand and Abiene."

Before she could lose her thought, she addressed Darnand's question. “I had somewhere in mind actually. It’s in Skyrim, but not far from the border. It is an extensive network of caves that the locals call ‘Lost Knife Hideout.’ There should be all manner of creatures in there to soul trap.”

She looked at Kayla. “Want to go back to Skyrim?”

[Elisabeth Hollow]

Kayla could barely contain her excitement. Her eyes grew wide and she grabbed Aravi's furred hands.

"YES! Oh, sorry." She said to Aravi as her ears flattened slightly at her sudden exclamation. Kayla thought her heart would explode from joy. She liked being in Cyrodiil, she truly did, but she was a Nord at heart, despite her Altmer body. she missed the chill, the fires, the furs. She missed the way the snow glistened off the leaves in the mornings.

In Cyrodiil, she wasn't sure how to dress, how to act. In Skyrim, she was in her element.

Before Salyan felt left out, she turned back to the Imperial and smiled. "I'm from Skyrim, and I've been gone from it for nearly a year. I miss it so much. Where are you from?"

[Colonel Mustard]

"A pleasure to meet you all," Salyan said briefly after Aravi made her introductions. She took a few bites of her meal as the khajiit mentioned plans for an expedition of some kind in Skyrim.

Salyan blinked in surprise as Kayla started at the suggestion, the altmer absolutely ecstatic at the suggestion, though once she gave the reason as to why it made Salyan. And then she asked her a difficult question; where was she from?

Mentally, she scrabbled for an answer; announcing that she had lived most of her life in a daedric realm to these strangers, welcoming as they were, was a bad idea, but trying to evade the question would look suspicious.

After a moment's hesitation, she said; "I'm from Skingrad, originally, but I travel a lot, and don't usually stay in one place for long. I work as a bard, you see, so it's the best way for me to find work."

[King Coin]

Aravi thought Kayla would be happy to go, but she didn’t anticipate the volume. She’s definitely Nord.

After some hesitation, Salyan shared where she was from. Aravi wondered what she wasn’t sharing, but didn’t intrude.

Aravi decided to share, not where she was from, but where she lived now. “Like Kayla, I live in Skyrim. I haven’t been gone from it as long as she has been though.” Mere days actually.

[Grits]

Abiene gave the blue-eyed Imperial a warm smile as she joined them at the table. Aravi’s offer of funds had her mentally accelerating their schedule even as they introduced themselves to Salyan.

Aravi had a plan for filling some gems. “Want to go back to Skyrim?” she asked. Kayla’s joyful assent made Abiene jump in her seat.

Darnand’s eyes were on hers as he answered Aravi. “As it happens I am already packed for such a journey.”

Abiene reached out and squeezed his hand. “Thank you,” she murmured. Darnand’s last trip to Skyrim had included far too much excitement if one could believe his telling. Jerric seemed to have enjoyed every moment, except perhaps a few of the weeks he had spent in prison. She wondered if he would join them.

“Do you plan to stay long in County Chorrol?” Abiene asked Salyan.

Darnand turned to Kayla and Aravi. “I have a mount at the Priory. How much time will we need before we depart?”

Surely at least a day or two, Abiene thought. Please. Don’t go so soon.

She lifted her chin, determined that her smile wouldn’t falter.

[Colonel Mustard]

“Do you plan to stay long in County Chorrol?”

"I'll be staying for however long I wish, really," Salyan said in answer to Abiene's question. "I usually work in one area for a few weeks to raise some coin and collect some stories and songs, then move on again to somewhere else."

Something about the discussion the group was having seemed to have unnerved or unsettled Abiene, and Salyan couldn't help but feel a little curious, both about why she was upset and exactly what it was they had planned for this trip to Skyrim.

"If you don't mind me asking," she said. "What exactly is it that you're planning to do in Skyrim?"

[King Coin]

“How much time will we need before we depart?” Darnand asked.

“I wouldn’t want to leave before the end of the festival,” Aravi replied. “I can be ready to leave in less than an hour otherwise.” She looked at Kayla, “When would you like to go?”

She heard Salyan ask what they were planning. Aravi thought for a moment. The details were personal and she didn’t want to get into them with her friends, much less this Imperial that she had never met before. She didn’t want to be rude either.

“Abiene and Darnand are doing some research for me. It happens that they need a lot of magicka to accomplish it, so we are going to Skyrim and capturing that magicka in soul gems.”

[Colonel Mustard]

There was only one way to capture magicka in soul gems that Salyan knew of, and just by looking at Kayla and Aravi it was obvious that they were skilled in it; their athletic physiques and the scars that they sported were marks of people well familiar with combat. Darnand seemed to be going with them, which seemed an odd thing considering he didn't look like much of a fighter, more of the studious type. Then again, he could be a mage, and it would make sense they would bring him along.

"Sounds exciting," Salyan said, taking a sip of her wine. "The stuff of my most popular stories and songs, really, the small band of heroes venturing far from home in order to do battle and win great treasures. Maybe it's just filling soul gems in this case, but the principal is the same."

Her plate cleared, she glanced up at the stage, where the current act looked to be drawing to a close.

"I think it's time for me to ply my trade again," she said. She looked back over at the others. "Any requests?"

[Grits]

Abiene smiled her agreement with Salyan, though she cringed inside. Fulfilling Aravi’s hopes would begin with violence. In the past she might have turned away from the unsavory details. Now she braced herself to face the cost.

She wondered if Salyan wrote her own songs. Before she could ask the bard spoke.

“I think it's time for me to ply my trade again,” she said. She looked back over at the others. “Any requests?”

Abiene waited a moment before speaking up. “Perhaps something that you enjoy playing?” she suggested. “If it’s appropriate to ask, I’d like to hear one of your favorite songs.”