Completed Crossing Into the Unknown

[Dovinya]

22nd of Summer, 513 AV

Secluded at a table far from the entrance of the Hunter’s Gather, Dovinya enjoyed his steaming bowl of Bruka while passively listening to the idle gossip of a group of patrons nearby. To anyone intent on observing him though, his casual air would be seen for what it was, a ruse, for alone at his table, he held himself stiffly and cast more than the occasional glance at a nearby table. Of course, Dovinya realized none of this, with most of his attention on the task at hand. He sought to discreetly bargain for training with a lash, which he’d prudently neglected to bring with him here, yet all anyone seemed to be concerned with talking about was the latest exploits of a recently returned hunter. It was all so very dull to him, and he found more than a small bit of difficulty following the conversations at hand.

Still, Dovinya felt compelled to all the same because he desperately needed this information, especially after the previous day’s events. He was sick of feeling so powerless when it came to the terms of his fate, and he needed more than anything the means to defend himself. More importantly, he needed to do it in secret for if his brother caught wind of his intentions, well Dovinya wasn’t exactly certain what that would push the young Aconite sibling to do, but he knew that he wanted to avoid such a scenario till he was good and ready to deal with the brash symenestra.

A pronounced sigh interrupted him from his contemplations, and looking up from his meal, he regarded the server who stood before him impatiently. Had he missed what she said amidst the idle chatter of the tavern? “Water” he said, taking a stab in the dark at her intentions, and at that she seemed satisfied, for she quickly moved off to fulfill his request.

Once again more acutely aware of his surroundings, he turned his attentions to other patrons, keen on overhearing something that would prove at least moderately useful.

[Dovinya]

“If Versave was nearly as good with his bow as he was at wagging his tongue he would have came back with that buck”

“I think he just likes the sound of his own voice, the way he-”

Dovinya shook his head in disgust at this new turn in conversation, a peculiar sort of gossip about gossiping. Useless, everyone of them, he couldn’t help but to sourly think of those gathered around him, for the bells he’d waited here had proven largely useless. He could have, and should’ve spent this time pursing through the tomes within the Cribellum, and yet he found himself here, the apparent birthplace of rumors. Suppose with the Ochya about, all were loathe to speak about one in their presence he mused, briefly entertaining the idea of inviting himself to a peace keeper’s table, before he remembered his reasons for secrecy.

The recollection made him more than a bit uncomfortable, and shuddering at a ghost of a chill, he drew his cloak tighter about himself, obscuring his face further from view. It was as if the eyes of his brother were on him at this very moment, and though rationally he knew they were not, he couldn’t shake the feeling. It made him long for the quiet solace of his home, and looking around he decided he’d spent far too much time in this place today. As quickly as he could manage, he left the place, quite unaware of a pair of golden eyes following him out of the Hunter’s Gather.

[Dovinya]

24th of Summer, 513 AV

In striding into the Hunter’s Gather, Dovinya’s expression to say the least was uncomfortable as the internal battle waged in his head on the merits of even coming here again after his previous visit had failed so miserably. Not only had he not learned anything, but he’d managed to start the rumor about himself that he’d been stood up by a supposed love interest. It was ridiculous how fast things seemed to spread from this place.

“Dovinya” A familiar voice rang out behind him, and at it, he felt his blood run could, for he certainly recognized whom it belonged to. Vadas!

Turning on his heel, he regarded his younger brother with ill disguised contempt. “Following me brother” He practically spit out that last word, for it left a bad taste in his mouth just calling this one that, whom’s actions were not worthy of such a honorific. To his further irritation he found that his brother hid his emotions better than he did his own, as the young Aconite simply chuckled at his words and clapped him on his back. “Come Dovinya, let us take this conversation to a table that offers more privacy” Vadas whispered evenly, gesturing to a table far separated from those most seemed to favor in the tavern.

Begrudgingly, he took the lead, still reeling at the fact that Vadas had been here, quite possibly waiting for him. How had he known?

“Why are you here?” Dovinya immediately demanded when they both found their seats across from one another, the sour look on his face not having diminished in the slightest. He seethed visibly with rage that his brother would dare approach him so, and in a public place no less.

“Only looking out for you my dear brother, I heard Sanaya left you here wanting two days ago, here in this very spot” Vadas smoothly replied with the smallest of grins, only looking away from Dovinya briefly to wave away the Aven girl that had been coming to offer them service.

“Believing gossip now are we? Suppose next your going to tell me you sympathize with the plight of the surrogates?” He couldn’t help but mock his brothers reply, if only to wipe that cocky smirk from his features. “Oh, but they must have some merit for you obviously seek to wound this day” His brother managed to keep that silken grin of his but there was a unmistakable tension in words, He’d have done well on the harvest Dovinya couldn’t help but to disparagingly admit to himself. “Did you meet her in the temple, is that what it was. Did you connect spiritually on matters of--”

“Enough!” He growled unexpectedly, pounding his fist firmly against the table. Others looked on from nearby tables but he did not care. His petulant brother had irritated him beyond reason.

“You should have been an actor dear brother! I’ve no doubt you’ll convince him with that display” Vadas announced loudly at his display, provoking a confused look from Dovinya until he realized it was for the benefit of those ears now intently tuned towards them. As if to confirm the conclusion he was starting to come to, his brother leaned in to whisper, “Everyones always looking to buffer their pointless talk with new content, lets not overly give into their desires, yes?”

At that, Dovinya settled down somewhat, coming to recline back in his chair as he regarded his brother with continued suspicion, still at a loss for the true reason for this meeting. To do something himself to add to this casual meeting between blood, he waved the Aven girl over before locking eyes once more with Vadas. “So, what will it be blood of mine?” His tone implying he still resented to obvious dodge to his question.

Taking in the hint, Vadas turned with a disarming grin. “Water for the table if you would-”

“and a pitcher of something strong.. I’m in a celebratory mood” Dovinya hastily added, before looking once more to his brother. “Best to keep up deceptive appearances” He whispered to his brother to answer his surprised look once their server had left. “Interesting, I did not think you one to indulge so” Came Vadas’s infuriating answer, and Dovinya had to bit his lip to resist lashing out. Had he always been so petulant.

“Then there is a lot you do not know about me”

“I could say the same about you”

“I’m quite tired of these games, I would have the truth” Dovinya pressed, leaning in close so as to not have their words unintentionally overheard.

“Curiosity” Vadas replied simply, and at his tone, Dovinya realized that it was as much as he was going to get out of his brother, at least at this time. For the rest of the time, they talked idly of the recent event of a harvester returning among other more mundane things, until at last Vadas excused himself, leaving Dovinya alone to his thoughts. This meeting had been so much more than mere curiosity, Dovinya knew, but his brother meant by it, he struggled to fathom. It did not bode well, whatever the reason..

[Dovinya]

Several bells later, and two empty pitchers, Dovinya was a miserable sight to behold, his head resting tenuously on his crooked arm as he stared out dismally at the tavern before him. His brother was onto him, he was certain of it, and that fact deepened the uselessness he felt at even being here in the first place. Why didn’t he just go right out and ask it? Vadas already had his suspicions, already had his eyes on him, what did he have to lose? Dignity? No, he’d lost that long ago when Nalessa trapped him in that abandoned house. What then?

He started to move to pound the table in frustration, but the sudden movement revealed to him just how inebriated he was, and to battle the wave of nausea, he slumped against the table, his eyes turned towards the entrance of the establishment, blessedly away from meeting the lurking eyes of those seated nearby. How had he fallen so far?

Suddenly, a figure passed in his view, or more particularly someones waist for that was all Dovinya could make out from his unceremonious position. He might have just ignored it save for the unmistakable sight of a lash wrapped around an ornate bone hilt. More than a bit intoxicated, he struggled to rise from his seat, let alone form a coherent sentence, so what he thought he said was ‘wait up’, actually came out “whuts umph” as he came crashing back to the floor, to the sweet bliss of unconsciousness.

[Dovinya]

Cold water splashing against his face brought him back to consciousness, and the first thing he saw was that Aven’s girl standing over him, looking all sorts of uncomfortable.

“Past time to turn in Dovinya” She mumbled, but he was hardly paying attention, instead choosing to spare a glance around the tavern, and seeing he’d gathered quite the collection of gawkers, he could see why the girl was so uncomfortable. Couldn’t have been often something like this happened here, what with the places popularity with the Ochya.

As if on cue, a man he recognized as a part of the peace keepers walked up to hoist him to his feet, roughly propping him up against the wall. He’d have protested the treatment save the pounding headache that made it hard to think, so he offered little resistance when the man firmly grabbed his chin and forced him to make eye contact.

“Think you can make it yourself, or are you too in your cup to manage” The man, a fellow by the name of Lorvenous, mocked, patting him on the back for good measure, and thusly betraying his lack of balance when he had to be caught before he crashed into the floor, which the Ochya deftly managed. “Going to need some help I see, Sesalya hold off closing up the place from my return if you don’t mind” Lorvenous said as he turned to regard the Aven girl, whom nodded reassuringly. So that was her name..

“The man with the lash, who is he?” He asked not caring to think of the consequences, cause the Aven girl had sparked a memory within him, and he’d wasted his time for far too long to let this chance slip through his fingers.

“What, he’s speaking nonsense, come lets see you ho--” Lorvenous started to say, before Dovinya broke free of his grasping hands to stand more pointedly in front of Sesalya. “Certainly you noticed him, tell me what is his name?” He inquired more pressingly, to be met by a confused look from Sesalya.

“I don’t know.. lots of people-”

“A name!” Dovinya asked more firmly, twisting around to get to the other side of her, and placing her between the Ochya itching to get him out of here. He had to know, whatever the repercussions.

“It had a special handle, quite decorated!” He slurred.

“Dovinya! I didn’t see.. I don’t know..”

“Guess!” He managed before the none to kind hands of Lorvenous got ahold of him, tearing him away from the Avens girl as the Ochya dragged him towards the tavern’s exit.

“Anice! Selaria Anics’s older brother has been known to carry such a weapon” Sesalya at last blurted out, to the amusement of Lorvenous who turned him about roughly.

“Demyan? What do you want with him?”

“Merely to know who did the relief on the bone hilt of his lash, my own is rather.. ordinary” Dovinya replied suddenly gone quiet with his curiosity sated, and leaning heavily now against Lorvenous’s grip.

“All that for a lash, you certainly have drank enough” The Ochya laughed, before putting his arm over his shoulder, and guiding him out of the tavern. Still, Dovinya managed to loll his head to the side to mouth ‘thank you’ to Sesalya before he was practically carried out of the Hunter’s Gather, and despite the potential implications of disturbance he had just caused, he wore a small smile on his face. Perhaps he was still drunk, he mused.

[Ensnare]

Dovinya Skill XP Gained Observation 3 Investigation 1 Persuasion 1 Lore Gained Nagging Thought: Vadas is Hiding Something Deceptive Appearences are Best Demyan Carrys an Ornate Lash Items/Consequences: -4 SM (2 Pitchers of Mead) If you feel I have graded you unfairly, or if you have any questions, please send me a PM and we'll work the problem out. Notes : I wasn't too sure what alcohol Dovinya ordered, if it was something other than mead then send me a PM and I'll change it to what he ordered. I'm not familliar with the different potencys of alcohol. As for the thread itself, it t'was very amusing, I chuckled at Dovinya during certain moments.