The Wobbly Goblet Playground Options

[Black Hand]

"I'm okay for now." Seth said holding his half-full tankard.

He hated being waited on, though he knew it was her way to want to help. She came from a place of compassion, whereas he came from a place of fierce independence and self-reliance. The two dispositions did not meet on good terms all the time.

"I told you! I could handle it! Why would I say that unless I meant it?! I don't speak in emotional codes like you do!"

"Don't you dare try to turn this on me! I did nothing wrong but try to help! And now you're angry with me for that?!"

"No, I'm upset because you didn't listen!"

"Fine."

Oh Gods...the 'f' word. I'm in trouble."

His distant memory seemed to bring the old argument a new perspective.

She snuck a peek at him from the bar, he returned it.

I always watch. You always listen. They shared.

Serene's mauve gaze broke with him and looked over at Kayla's entrance. Darnand rose to assist her and had some sort of reaction to her face covered by her hand.

"...Shall we seek out Abiene?” He could faintly hear Darnand state.

Is she hurt? Serene sent, and Sethyas could feel the immediate compassion and empathy behind it. That overwhelming desire that would have her heal the world if she could.

Yes. She took a nasty blow to the face from one of those rock-smashers. Got his pants lit on fire too..it was pretty funny. he returned.

I should help her! She needs me....she sent.

No. He commanded.

....why not?

She chose this. Let her suffer the consequences on her own. It will make her stronger in the long run. This is what: 'Too much of a good thing' means. You cannot heal all the pain in the world. A baker cannot feed all of creation. Nor is either a duty. You help someone too much and you merely weaken them...

...but.

By Mephala, Serene! These people are not our friends! They are associates at best. You don't know them. I certainly do not. They do know one another and know how to help one another better than we could...but...the choice is yours....they're passing you now. He set his tankard down and broke his gaze.

He mused how she was the light to his darkness.

This post has been edited by Black Hand: Sep 11 2013, 09:35 AM

[Uleni Athram]

If there was one thing Ylenno hated in brawls, -which was saying a lt, since he absolutely theived in it-, it was those godsdamned grapplers. His fighting style was a combination of fast and blinding strikes, dirty finesse, cheap tactics with some wrestling here and there added for some takedowns or even dirty boxing. Suited for his athletic but thin frame. But against an opponent who is well-versed with the proper techniques and counters of Nordo-Cyrodillic wrestling, and with the body of a bear, Ylenno would be in a disadvantaged situation. He could counter with his speed and low-blows, oh yes, but once he's been held, there's no esaping for him. He just wasn't physically strong enough to get away.

And that is why, he was there, on the hard dirt floor, concussed and dazed, but cursing those godsdamned grapplers with all the fibre of his being. That splex nearly broke his neck, if one could simply scale it on the pain Ylenno experienced. Added with the resurgence of the effects of his earlier injuries, Ylenno simply had to stay on the ground and recover his bearings. But that all changed when Westley with his monstrous strength, effortlessly hoisted Ylenno on his feet. The elf, unprepared from the sudden motion and its accompanying motion sickness, simply fell flat on his face again, muttering in pain. Then he was hoisted up again, and this time, Ylenno gritted his teeth and soldiered on through, following the blurry backs of both Westley and Kayla on-

KAYLA?!

What the hell was she doing here?!

The ehadache thrummed a beat so vile in his head that Ylenno simply couldn't care at the moment. He just went into the tavern and collapsed face-first beneath the feet of Kayla, who was now being attended to by a soapy-looking pencilneck.

"Mmm'phnn. Mmm'mmphh," Ylenno said, mouth on the floor, "Mm'nntt mmrreee mmm'tt mmm."

He tried to pick himself up, but the muscles on his arms suddenly atrophied, and he failed. He simply resorted to roll on his back and laid his bruised eyes on the upside face of a dunmer with a black hand for a face. Or was it a tattoo? Ylenno's vision can't be trusted at this point. He smiled stupidly at his red-eyed counterpart.

"I smell some hackle-lo on you," he said, words slurred. "I prefer the wa-warm ones from Tel Aruhn me'self. Leave the .. leaves to dry up and then..hit, hit, boom."

An arm slithered up, weakly, like a snake slowly ascending, reaching out to that tattoo on that face.

"Mind if.. I have... some? I could use some ... numbing down at this point."

The arm fell, a thud, and the festivity all around them were still ongoing, oblivious to the bloodied Ylenno sliding into unconsciousness.

[Black Hand]

Oh, for Saint Arkay's Second Burial! Sethyas thought as the rebellious-looking Bosmer he'd seen outside in the brawl collapsed near their table.

He reached down the Bosmer's neck and felt for a pulse. Still alive, and bearing the marks of his fracas outside, the unknown person was an enigma to Seth. A sort of looser grip on life, when compared to his own rigid self-control.

He shook his head and sighed to himself. I'm going to end up helping you anyways it would seem.

He pulled out a small vial of his own custom healing elixir that he always carried regardless of circumstance, and poured a little directly onto the bruising on his face.

Then he poured some into the mouth, not trying to make him swallow it, but rather have it absorbed by the gums.

"Hey." Seth said, lightly tapping the side of the Bosmer's face. "Did you still want some Hackle-Lo? I hope you brought your own pipe."

[King Coin]

Aravi heard a thunk behind her. What the…? She looked and saw Kayla’s friend passed out on the floor in rough shape. Sethyas poured some sort of remedy on him and then asked him something about a pipe.

Darnand seemed to be handling Kayla ok, though Aravi wondered if it would be better to find Abiene and bring her down instead of bringing people to her.

Aravi went to Sethyas. “Is he going to be ok?”

She kneeled next to the Bosmer and put her hand on his body, near where his heart would be. She sent a trickle of healing magic into him. It wouldn’t heal everything, but between it and Sethyas' potion, the worst should be taken care of. When he wakes he could find someone better suited to take care of his injuries.

This post has been edited by King Coin: Sep 11 2013, 11:05 PM

[Colonel Mustard]

The conversation was interrupted with quite alarming thoroughness by two things; Kyala stumbling semi-conscious nearby them and falling by Darnand, who immediately started tending to her, and a bosmer collapsing by their small group. Salyan blinked in surprise as he fell to the ground, and after a moment he recognised him; the unusually tall one who had known Kayla. And Sethyas as well, it seemed.

He was already being looked over by Aravi, and Salyan knew that she wouldn't be much use; beyond the most basic of healing spells that could soothe a minor bruise or close a small cut, she knew no restoration spells. There was, however, a small crowd of gawkers beginning to gather, so she hopped up with her arms outstretched, waving them back.

"Come on everyone, give the man some room," she said. "Nobody's going to help by staring at him with slack jaws, you know."

[minque]

Serene

Now she was cross with Seth. He didn't seem to really understand her eager to help everyone...

Then again the darn dunmer was RIGHT! He was always right and that was somewhat annoying...

So whan poor Kayla showed up, in much need of a healer, he told her NOT to intervene!! Now Kayla was assisted by her friends

"Yes they know each other...I don't, I'm a stranger and so is Seth..somewhat"

But when the tall Bosmer fell over just at their table she just couldn't stop herself, she made her way from the bar and arrived at the table just as Seth poured some alchemical potion over and into the poor man.

Serene felt the familiar trickling sensation in her hands, those hands that have healed so many wounds, especially on the dunmer standing beside the fallen man ...then she noticed the Khajiiti woman...Aravi was it..was performing a healing on the fallen bosmer

"She's good" Serene thought while kneeling beside her

" Do you need help, Aravi? He's badly hurt so maybe we need to cooperate here"

Sethyas, what did you give him? he's high as White Gold Tower

[Darkness Eternal]

Draken’s face was pallid, his skin deathly pale. His hair a brighter shade of black and his nails were longer and almost cracked. His lips were of a different texture from his skin, they were silken and delicate as any other healthy person, only grey.

Irvana wasn’t unnerved. She felt drawn to him and him to her.

“I need to rest,” Draken explained to her after their time together. “It would be safer if I remained here.”

The Imperial woman didn’t nod, but she acknowledged his decision with a long stare. The two came together, their lips met and then she left from the darkness of his chambers.

As Irvana headed out back into the festivity, Draken couldn’t get over how beautiful of a woman she was; a cold, black-haired woman with an unblemished face, free of scars, bruises or any pustule whatsoever. She didn’t require any natural herbs or oils to maintain her looks.

A pity I never gave her a bite.

There was a solution for that, one that would be going to his room anytime now.

Stefania.

Draken remained behind, and retreated into the shadows that were his temporary abode.

He closed the door shut.

There, in the room, Draken stared at his own reflection in the mirror. He gazed into the dead eyes that were only sparked by embers of gold, red and orange. His eyes moved to his skeletal hand and his pale flesh, given the color from time without proper diet.

With the telepath out there, he couldn’t bring himself to go hunting. It was only natural that clueless prey had a habit of venturing into a lion’s den. It was just a matter of time.

The vampire reached out for a silver pitcher, and poured human blood into a silver goblet, and then drank away. The blood, though not fresh from a mortal source, changed his skin quite a bit.

Yet.

Yet he still looked the man who’d just awakened from a grave, or a young lad who'd seen a ghost.

The red nectar from Stefania would certainly change that.

Soon.

First he must concern himself with his well-being, and then all the other problems that had piled up in the recent hours.

Kayla, first and foremost. That infernal blade of hers was the bane of the undead and he would not find peace as long as she’s rotting in the dirt and that blade is sent back to the pits of oblivion were it belongs.

The mystery telepath Irvana warned him about; a dangerous one. He or she could be anywhere, still invading the minds of others for whatever reason. If Kayla was to somehow appear dead or missing and if they were even acquainted . . .

He could leave before he was discovered.

No, that wouldn’t do. Last thing he needed was rumors circulating in the Black Horse courier or in the political stations that he was a vampire. That would simply not do.

This wasn't the first time he had risked public exposure.

The history behind him was vast and daunting and in the eye of that storm of plots and schemes he could hear the faraway voices of all those who had laid the groundwork of the Order Vampyrum— And those who risked to destroy all it stood for as well.

Though with the guidance of his relative, he was able to save himself and his people from certain doom.

Draken interlocked his fingers and pondered. Raven would know what to do . . .

This post has been edited by Darkness Eternal: Sep 11 2013, 11:38 PM

[Darkness Eternal]

Vera.

“You have given me hope, though fulfilling it will not be up to my skills alone. Now I at least know what questions to ask, how to guide someone who needs help. And most importantly now I know what I can’t promise. I am glad to have met you, Vera. With all of my heart, thank you.”

Vera, after a few passing seconds, gently pulled her hand away. She was the last person one would go to for hope . . . well, excluding her grandfather who had dropped the entire survival of her family and generations of history and legacy upon her shoulders. Ever since then it was only Lycus who had ever placed his trust on her, and he's all that she needed. A human's concern rarely had an effect on her.

Even if fifty people were to thank her from the bottom of their heart, it wouldn't change what she had done to just get by in the world. What she had to do to make sure she would last another single day in this world. Countless people dead by claw and fang, others by axe, sword or arrows and bolts and even her bare hands and snares for money. If she saved a woman and by some chance be the one who helped bring the child into the world, it wouldn't compensate for the lives of the young ones she's taken away under bestial hunger.

She wanted to feel something, anything, for aiding Abiene but in the end she only felt . . . hollow. Even if by chance Abiene was a woman who could not reproduce and by chance used the lycanthrope guise to cover her own issues or if she really had known one who suffered from infertility, there was nothing she could do to express any joy.

"I've done what I can," Vera replied to Abiene. Face neutral. "You're gratitude is wasted on me."

There was a slight knock on the door, and Vera could smell food from far off.

That must be Hethilion.

This post has been edited by Darkness Eternal: Sep 11 2013, 11:32 PM

[Grits]

Darnand

The giant Bosmer staggered in and collapsed at Kayla’s feet. The rest of the group tended to him while Salyan provided crowd control.

“Up or down?” Darnand asked Kayla. “I would suggest that either Serene or Abiene look at your injury. I have seen the results of Jerric’s brawling often enough. When he displaces someone’s cheekbone like that it often produces a fracture in the floor of the eye socket. Were you by any chance punched by a Nord?”

.

This post has been edited by Grits: Sep 11 2013, 11:35 PM

[Elisabeth Hollow]

It took Kayla a moment to realize Darnand was talking to her. Her face throbbed, her neck throbbed, gods, even her hair hurt! Darnand spoke in a matter-of-fact voice, not unkind, but very detached. In control. She realized that she liked that about him. In the short time she'd known him, he was concerned for her well-being, even though he had no personal interest in her.

She tried to smile at him, which sent a shot of pain through her head. She held back a wince and sighed.

"I don't know what happened. The last thing I remember was...buying chitin armor from Thals, feeling ill, then waking up from Westley nearly dunking my head underwater. Wait, Up or down? Why would we go down?"

[King Coin]

“Do you need help, Aravi? He's badly hurt so maybe we need to cooperate here.”

Aravi looked up. It was Serene that offered. “I can use some help yes. I am not a healer.”

[Black Hand]

“I can use some help yes. I am not a healer.”

Serene gave her requisite angry look to Sethyas over the collapsed form of the tall Bosmer, and summoned forth her powerful grasp in the College of Restoration.

It didn't matter to her what the cause or even who the person was. She'd have healed a person worthy of death if she was in the position.

The blue and yellow energies of Restoration flowed forth, illuminating and surrounding her, moving the air slightly, and she directed it down to the Bosmer

____________________________________________________________

Sethyas watched the display and glanced over at Darnand and Kayla. She seemed in pretty bad shape.

"I know for a fact Abiene's a good healer. So is Serene, and she's here now if you need her. She won't refuse help if asked. Ancient code and all that." He explained to them.

[Grits]

Abiene

As Vera slid her hand away she also seemed to draw back into herself.

“I've done what I can,” she said. Her voice was emotionless. “Your gratitude is wasted on me.”

Abiene had sometimes felt that way when someone overwhelmed her after a healing. Don’t thank me for doing my job, she sometimes wanted to say. It’s not about you personally, it’s just what I do.

Some women would want an elaborate dance of insistence and refusals to follow such a declaration. Abiene believed that Vera was not among them. She took the woman’s words to mean what they said.

Abiene returned Vera’s neutral gaze with a soft smile of her own. But you have my gratitude just the same.

A knock on the door was swiftly followed by the meal they had ordered. Abiene resisted the urge to tear into it like a wild animal. She tended to forget she was hungry until nearly faint with it. Today was no exception.

[Grits]

Darnand

“I know for a fact Abiene's a good healer. So is Serene, and she's here now if you need her. She won't refuse help if asked. Ancient code and all that,” Sethyas explained.

Darnand gave Sethyas a curious glance. He wondered what had transpired between Abiene and the Dunmer. Someone had been hurt it seemed, but there had to be more. There was much in her eyes that she had not explained.

Kayla’s confusion was not a good sign. Darnand eased her into a chair. “I propose that we amend our plan,” he said to her. “If you will permit I will mitigate your discomfort while we await the attentions of Madame Velas.”

He cupped her uninjured cheek in his hand, sending healing light to close broken blood vessels and ease the swelling.

The cheekbone was more than he should attempt with his limited skill. Perhaps now that the swelling is gone I could move it into place using telekinesis. If I was gentle…

Darnand took his hand away before temptation got the best of him. It was wrong to experiment on one’s friends. Even just a little.

He glanced up at Salyan, nodding to indicate the fallen brawlers. “They might have been part of your illusion,” he said. “For a moment I thought I must be back in Skyrim.”

[Elisabeth Hollow]

Kayla sighed in relief as the pain in her face eased a bit. Out of reflex, she leaned her head into Darnand's hand and looked up at him with grateful eyes.

"Thank you." She said softly. "Do whatever you think is best. I'm tired."

She knew that sleepiness generally wasn't a good sign after taking a punch like she had, but gods, she was so damned tired. She inhaled deeply and closed her eyes and let it out slowly, leaning more on Darnand's hand.

[Uleni Athram]

Ylenno could feel the hurt all over him being awashed away by an aetherial wave of.... something. It was beyond mortal comprehension to grasp the immense empathy, the pure-hearted intent to heal Ylenno felt now... It was like experiencing the warmth of a mother's love for the first time.

So divine.

So otherwordly.

So... mushy.

Ylenno disentangled himself from the tendrils of unconsiousness, and found that he was being tended to by two women. One was Aravi, the earlier Khajiit, and the other... Ylenno squinted through the candelight of the tavern and focused on her eyes. She was an Imperial, no doubt about it, but those eyes were... something else.

Ylenno gently detached himself from the healers and stood up.

He didn't know who the main healer was between the two of them, but even Ylenno, a punk who knows nothing of magick, had to admit that the kind of healing he received just now was in a league of its own.

He dusted himself off with the flourish of a rogue and smiled widely at them. Even at the black-handed face of the dunmer who he distinctly remembered trrying to knock off for some Hackle-Lo.

"Normally I'd snark and quip some whips at you for healing me, but I'll just settle with a heartfelt thanks!"

He nodded to Aravi, stretched an offended arm and offered it to the Imperial woman.

"I'm afraid I haven't catched your name, miss. I'm Ylenno Sasalonia, rogue-thug supreme, and you are...?"

[minque]

Serene

Serene smiled, her healing of the big Bosmer was successful. The man slowly rose to his feet, stood there trying to focus for a bit, then with a big grin he stretched out his hand to her;

"I'm afraid I haven't catched your name, miss. I'm Ylenno Sasalonia, rogue-thug supreme, and you are...?"

"Serene Catraso-Velas at your service, serjo Sasalonia"

"Married to that dunmer over there, Sethyas Velas, but now then how do you feel? Any dizziness? nausea? Can you walk a straight line?"

She noticed Seth's look, and knew what he was thinking. He always thought she interfered too much, that she would heal the worst assassin in the world if she was in the position to do so

"But I can also kill just about anyone who threatens my beloved ones or my friends"

Then she heard Kayla, Kayla was also hurt but Serene had thought she had been taken care of. Now that man Darnand was tending to her that she could see, but nevertheless the girl was still in pain and sounded disoriented.

That's not good at all, she might have a concussion besides the other injuries, so she has to be put somewhere where she can have some peace

Serene saw that the Bosmer, Ylenno, was as good as ok so she decided to try to help Kayla, also she wished for Aravi to accompany her.

"Would you join me here, Aravi? she asked

Kayla looked terrible still even if some healing had been performed, her cheekbone was dislocated and there was swelling almost all over her face.

"Aravi, could you please lend me your hand? I need a bit more energy to ease the swelling in her brain, and also put her to sleep so we can fix her cheekbone"

Two pair of hands, khajiiti and imperial, surrounded Kayla's head, a mist of bluish energy swirled around them...

"Kayla, stay calm, you will now fall asleep, you are fine you can't feel the pain anymore" Serene intoned in a low voice

It worked, the altmer woman closed her eyes and dosed away...as intended

The cheekbone was broken and dislocated. To gently put it in place was not very complicated as Kayla was fast asleep....Then mending the actual bone tissue was done by normal healing-by-touch.

She just sat there after the healing, totally exhausted....

[King Coin]

“You are welcome,” Aravi replied to Ylenno. Though compared to Serene’s powerful healing magic, she hardly did anything. He seemed to recognize that, and focused his thanks on Serene. She stood up and stepped back as Serene spoke with him. She straightened her green gown.

She was surprised when Serene asked her to join her in tending Kayla. She went with Serene and did as the experienced healer instructed. Her simple healing spell seemed to be effective with the guidance of the Imperial woman.

Just as her magicka was spent, Serene seemed satisfied with Kayla’s condition. Aravi stood up and straightened her gown yet again. She offered a hand to the other woman and hauled her to her feet. Though Aravi was physically smaller than Serene, she had no problem pulling the other woman to her feet.

“Come and sit down. You look tired,” Aravi said and guided Serene to an empty seat. They were back at the bar, next to Salyan. There was no seat for Aravi, so she simply stood. She asked the bartender to bring them both some water.

While Serene drank, Aravi asked Salyan about her magic again. “I live in Skyrim, and the images you showed were very vivid. I recognized some of the land features you showed. I’m going there in a couple of days, and I’m really looking forward to it after your show.”

[Colonel Mustard]

Salyan had to say, by the standards she was used to, the brawl she had just witnessed was hardly impressive. Usually, brawls on the Isles weren't considered to have properly got underway until at least one person had been killed, but aside from some broken noses and nasty bruises this one had stopped before anyone had even warmed up. It was almost disappointing, really.

The onlookers all but dispersed themselves when they realised nothing more exciting than a healing was going to occur and Salyan returned to her seat, unofficial duties as bouncer now complete. Aravi and Serene joined her a few moments later, the khajiit helping Serene down and asking for water for the pair of them.

“I live in Skyrim, and the images you showed were very vivid. I recognized some of the land features you showed. I’m going there in a couple of days, and I’m really looking forward to it after your show.”

"Oh yes, there was expedition you mentioned, wasn't there?" Salyan said. "I hope to visit one day myself; Norse poems and songs are some of my favourites, and I've heard it's an amazing place to see anyway."

She stood and pushed her stool towards Aravi.

"Here, have this," she said. "You've just done all that hard work looking after that bosmer, you probably need a seat more than I do."

[Grits]

Darnand stood back and watched Serene and Aravi work. He offered a hand to Kayla when she woke. Serene looked exhausted, so he assumed that she had completely healed Kayla’s injuries.

Seats were exchanged and positions shuffled. Darnand found himself standing at the edge of the group again. He angled his shoulders in an attempt to separate them from the drunken rabble at his back.

Darnand spoke to Kayla in a low voice, catching her up in case she missed a few remarks while she awakened.

“We are discussing Skyrim in the context of Salyan’s interests and our upcoming expedition,” he murmured.

He glanced around in search of an empty barstool for the bard.