Quest [Winter SQ] Alliance

[Nemesis]

The walk was at a relatively brisk pace, for Acolyte Grey (and those she was escorting) was well aware of the need for haste. Having not been in the summit itself, she was not sure what, exactly, they were after, but she knew why they were heading to the poison crafter’s shop and lab. The monster in the depths of Lake Ravok had been at the forefront of the minds of all in the Black Sun; and they had struggled greatly to develop a solution to the problem which was slowly destroying the city. When she had heard whispers of an attempt at ridding the city of the best, Evelyn had stepped forward and offered her services instantly. “Yes, it has been noticed that you have a… penchant for instructing novices in your crafts, soldier,” the woman replied, “I have wondered of the benefits of those practices… do they outweigh the efforts on your part?”

With entire focus on the task at hand, the Acolyte did not notice the shadow that they had gained as they walked along the narrow paths by the canals towards the docks. All three in the group knew of individual quick ways to reach Ino Vations, and Evelyn bickered with the poisoner as to which routes they might take, until finally conceding with a wry smile. “What, exactly, are we here to collect? Does this poison just need to be collected, or must we create it?” She asked as they arrived, pulling open the door to the shop and allowing the two men to step in before her, where they would be greeted by a most flustered Burke.

“Oh, you’re here, you’re here!” Burke instantly approached Inoadar, his tone quite obviously desperate, “When you left, Vera was creating… something, I don’t know what. But it went wrong. There isn’t too much damage, but something is eating away at the work surfaces. She’s gone to look for you.” He directed the group through to the lab, where they would notice a sizeable amount of damage to an area around one of the burners. Outside, a small girl, having seen her master, enter the shop rushed forward and, in her haste, barrelled into the shadow of the group. “Oh no, I’m sorry Sir! He’s going to kill me! I’ve made such a mess!”

—
The Dhani was not impressed at the tone with which Stephin spoke to them, and pursed her lips as she followed behind. She was here a the behest of her elder, and would not answer to the human… moreover, she was here to assist, and her advice should have been well heeded, rather than ignored and silenced. As the slave girl continued to speak beside her, she bristled in silence. Entering the ravosalas - of which there were three taking the larger group to the edge - of the city - she gently steered the slave to the boat farthest from the Acolyte and slumped herself down, despite the warning look that she got from Yeuse.

“You do know what fissshes look like, no?” There was a slightly incredulous tone to the young Ivyess’ answer, “With the… what you call it? Finsss? You are right that there might be a ssspike or sssomething on it. But I have not ssseen anything like that.” Her eyes went wide at the image of watching the girl try to remove the object from her arm, “w-what? Why do you wear it? How did you get it?” The world of the land-walkers was a strange one, she decided, that his girl, who seemed to belong to another human, would be limited by such a painful looking, pointless object. The ravosalas were travelling at more speed than they would normally travel at, evidently the Acolyte had either persuaded or threatened the ravosalamen to move as fast as possible. “Who doesssn’t want you to eat meat? You?”
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[Clyde Sullins]

Clyde did not meet the gaze of his questioner, instead looking ahead as he walked. He spent a few moments pondering his answer, not fully sure himself. “Yes, it has been noticed that you have a… penchant for instructing novices in your crafts, soldier. I have wondered of the benefits of those practices… do they outweigh the efforts on your part?” “Well, I suppose I'm an instructor at heart, there's that bit too it. I mean, I even held a teaching position for awhile in Zeltiva. Admittedly it was meant as a cover while I was there on mission... But I got the job regardless, and on my own skill and merit. Glyphing... Its a special thing to me.” Clyde paused for another moment, thinking back to Zeltiva. At that time he'd been working in secret on a venture of his own design... Trying to get a Glyphing/Reimancy device sent to Syliras. In the end he'd succeeded, and it had been a roaring success. They'd only recently heard of its outcome though, right after the start of winter. Though, Clyde thought to himself, few knew of his connection to that event that had been celebrated in Ravok, the magic attack on Syliras that had resulted in rioting and looting in the city of peace. Perhaps this person knew, or perhaps not. Clyde wasn't sure. But he knew at least certain people within the Stryfe knew from his report back when he'd first returned to Ravok. “Honestly though, I turn away more than I accept. And I only teach those who I truly see have potential... Unfortunately they don't seem to have the highest survival rate. Most of those I've taken on are dead or have disappeared not to be heard of again. But I have hope. Though if I do take on another, I'll probably steer clear of some of my more... Dangerous crafts.” At this point Clyde did turn to his companion of the moment, a small smile on his face. His speech was off hand and perhaps a bit flippant, even if his topic was serious if not somewhat morbid. “And if I do get a good apprentice... The reward would be worth far more than the energy I spend in training them. I think of them as investments, perhaps risky ones albeit, but ones with a high payoff if they do pay off.” After their short discourse they arrived at the shop, and not to good news. Quite the opposite if anything. When they arrived it seemed to be with the news that some kind of accident or disaster had occurred in the shop, something involving poisons. Clyde wasn't totally certain what had happened, or what needed to be done. If worst came to worst he could always assist in summoning some additional Vilemoss, and it could be newly prepared. Likely faster this time since it wouldn't be the first attempt. But first he needed to know what exactly needed to be done. “Calm down girl! Now what exactly has happened, and what needs to be done? Is it isolated, or has it gotten into the other prepared poisons and things?” If worst came to worst, Clyde could burn the poison, and try to stop it from spreading... But that would be a last resort... At that moment though he found himself wishing he'd spent more time working on his voiding. It would be a much cleaner and simpler method of dealing with and disposing of any such thing.

[Alea Davenport]

The bracelet clenched firmly in her fist, Alea stared at the hissing woman with an expression of startled confusion. "I can take it off..." she said. Then, realizing this was self-evident, she elaborated, "It doesn't work when I don't have it on. I can eat meat if I'm not wearing it." She shrugged nervously and explained, "I just wear it because it's easier not to lose it that way. I...got it from a sailor who was killed by a mage, so...I feel like it would be...I dunno, wrong somehow to lose it carelessly."

With a distasteful glance at her clenched had, she muttered under her breath, "'Course it could just be the curse, makin' it stay with me til it kills me." She wasn't sure whether the "curse" of the bracelet was imagined or real, but circumstances surrounding its passing into Alea's hands had been awfully indicative of that sort of thing, and now Alea was more than half-convinced that whoever possessed the bracelet was doomed to die. Of course, she was a bit fuzzy on the details, and she figured there must be some way to evade the curse, but in stories like these it was either do something noble and pure of intent, or trick some unlucky bastard into taking the damn thing willingly.

And yet, she felt hesitant to part with it. It could be that it was really the only possession she still owned. Or, it could be the curse taking hold of her brain. She had no way to be sure, so she would just have to let fate decide. If it could be useful here today, she would offer it up to help, but she wasn't going to just give it away for no good purpose.

Of course, these superstitious musings she kept to herself. She'd seen enough of the world to suspect that her concerns would be dismissed if she spoke of them too openly. Still, the woman was being uncommonly kind for a Ravokian, and Alea felt an impulse to make a connection before the chance slipped away forever. In a friendly voice, she said, "I'm Alea Davenport, by the way. I don't think I've heard your name yet." If she had, Alea probably wasn't paying attention.

[Bartholomew]

What did Light know? He knew that there was a sudden growth of Dhani and he knew that they came from the lake and stayed on land out of fear, not because of a planned takeover, maybe. He also knew that the Dhani were fearful of a monster that lived in the lake. Thanks to the open forthright of the Dhani he had just overheard, Light knew that a team was going to be sent to deal with the 'monster.'

Although, he had skeptics of it all. There had to be a greater reason than a monster in the lake... Right? Were monsters even real? Stories were told of many powerful beasts, but there was a fine line between fiction and factual evidence.

Light played the question in his head over and over again. Were the Dhani's telling the truth or was there a conspiracy at foot? He wanted to believe that there was a conspiracy, but even he would admit the possibility of a monster, only due to the surmount evidence presented. However, the thought of a monster frightened him drastically. Light knew how to make life and he knew how to take it, but how would anyone possibly take the life of a giant monster?

Since the group he was following had gone into the poison shop, Light had forgotten all about stealth and stood openly against the building next to the shop. For a moment he was unconsciously thinking, however he was forced into consciousness when a girl ran into him. She wasn't strong enough to knock him over, but he wished her to be more careful. If someone other than Light had been hit by this girl they would probably have not been as forgiving as he. Quick to rebound, the strange little creature said, "Oh no, I’m sorry Sir! He’s going to kill me! I’ve made such a mess!”

Light's heart began to soar. He looked over the girls head, and moved his fingers to the handle of his blade. He was prepared for any man who thought of hurting a little girl. As long as it was within his power he would protect her.

However, when he saw no immediate threat, he let loose his call for action and knelt next to the frantic child. "What do you need me to do?" Light said. He didn't care for the situation too much. He knew that there was a little girl that needed his help, probably a slave from the way she used the word 'Master.' If she was looking for his help then she probably knew what was needed to be done. And all Light had to do was what was needed to be done.

[Crow]

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