An Unfamiliar Prospect (Solo)

by **Shai** on November 22nd, 2011, 5:25 am

Timestamp: 76th of Fall, 511 av.

Shai stared down the foppish blonde man. On the counter between them lay a red cloak and match mask, they were of middling quality but the spider needed to push some wares. The last few days had been scarce for her larcenous ventures. With Winter fast approaching, if the weather was anything to judge by, she needed to keep her stock piled capitol strong. Even thievery was lean during the coldest season. Unfortunately when she had walked into the Delicates and Dandies this obnoxiously sunny morning, Shai had encountered the only member of the staff who made chills slither up her back. It always seemed like he saw much more than she ever intended to show.

Her misgivings about his eerie presence were put away as soon as it became clear she wouldn’t fetch a decent price on the goods. Admittedly the items were beneath the establishment but she thought this might be her best chance regardless, besides she had shopped here twice before. Perhaps her loyalty might count for something? Who are you petching kidding? This is Sunberth Shai’s eyebrow quirked upwards in a minute display of her agitation at this pretense of negotiation. Only a pretense because she suspected by now it was going nowhere and eating up time with astonishing rapidity.

“Do not act as though these items are degraded. They are not; the weave is stout and the fabric of lasting quality. Certainly no one will be dancing in this cloak but that-" She clicked her claws together as the proprietor interrupted her pitch.

The thief indulged in a dramatic sigh, “How is a woman supposed to make a living off these heathens! Anything they have you will not buy.” The man started to speak again but Shai cut in, rather rudely in fact. “There must be better opportunities out there; clearly someone must be wealthy enough to care to purchase fancy clothing”. She gestured at the walls lined with just such garments. “It is only a matter of finding someone willing to tell those secrets; unfortunately finding such secret-tellers requires knowledge of different secrets”. Shai grumbled inwardly, It’s just some gentlemen’s society really. Only allowed in if you’re already in.

by **Archelon** on February 2nd, 2012, 6:50 am

Killjoy, a businessman of Sunberth's Gated Community looked at the symenestran woman like she had two heads.

Where had she picked up these garments? Were they off the backs of some hapless orphans... honestly this was becoming quite troublesome. Sure, she seemed a fine higher personage that had graced his establishment before... but then she had been with a rather pleasant looking young man.

Of course he'd remember her; for being with that delightfully fit white haired man... honestly the thought made him jealous. It was only after the hope of seeing him waltz in here after her cute derriere that hadn't made him throw her out yet. Somewhere around the mid - twenties... easy on the eyes. But still... filth was filth! There was no way he'd pay so much for this stuff. She was becoming troublesome, so troublesome he might just pay the male to take her away. Where was this man now?

'Who knew?'

All that was here was this woman, who was chattering like a chipmunk and not letting him get a word in edgewise. Finally he had enough, if the male wouldn't come and deal with her he'd just have to find another way to get rid of her. Besides, he had seemed deadly enough, this little spider not so much.

Still... appearances could be deceiving.

Wrapping his fist forcefully upon the counter, his actions would make the woman take pause as his eyes narrowed. In that short while, he would gaze at her, as the small bird on top of his hat twittered. "My dear, you appear to want to at least make some coin, and you certainly seem to be a bit valuable." In sunberth valuable tended to mean dangerous... "So let me give you a hint. You will take this five Silver for these worthless pieces of trash you brought to me: all thirty of them, gods you must have raided a warehouse getting goods for the orphanage, I'll have to give them back as a sign of charity of course, but that's not the issue. The issue is this... I'm going to let you in on something you might think more valuable then this clop trop, whether you survive however is up to you of course."

Would she die, or prove as dangerous as he thought she might be? She was a spider after all... what would he get from this besides a bit of entertainment? If she failed, he was sure he could buy her lovely man another symenestran woman or two... or three.

He turned away from the counter and walked towards a small chest to withdraw a small strip of paper, on it were a series of a cryptographed message. "It said there's some value in dealing with nuits, and those that wish to make a bit of profit can pawn their talents out to them. But only if they figure out where to go. This message, if you decipher it is an invitation of sorts to a nice warehouse down by the river docks on the far side of the river. Perhaps you might actually find something of value to me there? You might have to make your own way though."

The man would look at the symenestran coldly, as he deposited the five silver on the countertop, then extended the small scrap of paper to the woman, who after a moment's pause to glance back and forth between the five silver and the strip of paper itself. Hesitantly, her decision was made as she was soon reaching to gain the piece of paper, pick up the five silver, and silently leave his shop as a smiling Killjoy stayed behind to watch her go. "Do come back now my dear girl, and bring that handsome man back with you. I'd be happy to fit you anytime if you wanted something a little special."

Just what he meant by special he would leave up to the imagination as his hand flicked towards the lingerie he kept for Ruby's girls and Brega's bunnies. He, sighed she really was a lucky woman if she spent her nights with that man.

The tiny bird on his hat would chirp once or twice as the pleasant silence of peace descended back upon his shop as he clapped for Mr. Cotton to come and pick up the disgusting things she had brought into the store. If he couldn't have them delivered to the orphanage soon he might just ask them to be thrown on the slag heap to burn. Such was the price of being part of the true higher society of business owners in Sunberth.

by **Shai** on February 16th, 2012, 3:47 am

Shai took her coins the missive on the way out; she knew a deal when she saw one. Curious that the owner of a tailor shop would have such information though she admittedly inwardly and stored the knowledge away for another day. She considered what might be in the note as she traversed the streets back towards the gate. The most secure of her cloak’s pockets now held the note just above her breast; a very difficult place for a pickpocket to reach without alerting the target. Not that pick pockets were a concern in this particular quarter of the city anyways. The crime here was just as prevalent and equally oppressive but the prominent ne’er do wells were the businessmen and the Dragoons, no other gangs were tolerated. Now, a businessman would swindle their prize away and you’d be down mizas before you ever realized it. The Dragoons, on the other hand, operated more like thugs only there was never any opposition. The only saving graces about the brutes were their breastplates. You could see a Dragoon coming two blocks away due to the reflections thrown from their armor.

The thief had yet to actually open the note and the curiosity burned through her senses leaving room for naught but curiosity and caution. Leaving the Gated community was a far less bothersome affair than entering. So long as no one had tried to steal from a resident, that is. Apparently there was no such active incident because she managed to exit without even a searching of her pockets; a good day. Shai trotted directly towards a nearby alleyway. Kicking off her boots, she deftly knotted the laces and slung them over her neck. The spider scampered up the walls before the alley’s residents could cause her grief.

Upon the rooftop highways was perhaps the safest place in all of Sunberth for the Symenestra. Expect for the Crimson Edge camp… she mentally rebuked herself. It would take more than a handful of days for her to really internalize that she no had somewhere to belong to again. For a moment her curiosity abated, Or belong with someone. Such a shame he is a human though. Killjoy was right; Shai couldn’t deny she found Antar handsome. A breeze rippling across her cheeks and brought her back to reality, and back to the puzzle secreted in her pocket. Running and leaping from rooftop to rooftop Shai made for the Eastern Bridge. There was a name for the crossing but whatever it was the agile woman had never heard it. The path was familiar to her muscles by now, especially true in the southern half of the city where she tended to roam.

As expected, Shai met no resistance on her path; such disturbances were rare to begin with. Only a handful of times had she encountered others who could traverse the derelict roofs of Sunberth as well as she could. Still she always kept a wary eye out for archers, especially during the day. Her gear not include armor, the dexterous woman was loathe to limit her abilities for protection. Consequently, an arrow could do real harm or even be fatal if it hit at the wrong point in a umping and threw her off course and plummeting into the streets below. The prospect sent a shiver up the, now, stationary spider’s back. Perched upon the final rooftop before the bridge, she surveyed the crowd briefly noting the ebb and flow.

The bridge would be only the second riskiest landmark on the way to the library. At night the Symenestra could simply crawl along the underside and avoid the thugs altogether, but during the day it would draw far too much attention. So her choice was to cross with the masses assuming she wasn’t injured by the bustle she would still have to chance the strong-arms. Gauging the architecture Shai noted a key pathway that she, and indeed most of the other adults, had not considered before. There were children scampering along the stone railings as they were a secondary roadway. Most adults take a spill into the murky river beneath if they tried to mimic the feat, but Shai was not just anyone.

Slowly scaling down the wall from her perch and into an at least relatively unoccupied alley, Shai tried to hide her descent. Attention of the common people was one thing a thief never wanted. Keeping to the edge of the crowd funneling onto the bridge, the little woman tried to blend in but also keep an eye out for trouble; more difficult than it might sound once her stature was accounted for. Nearing the bridge Shai climbed onto the barrier and began to skitter across with the children. Although hersize was nearly childlike her cloak, of course, gave her away as an obvious ‘toll’ evader.

A hand grasped her cloak taking the spider by surprise. She pulled out the slender indigo fan from the confines of her cloak. Skipping back a step to stand upon the absolute edge of the bridge, Shai reached out with her right hand grabbed her attacker’s. Positioning her reach so her fingers landed upon his palm and her thumb wrapped around the back of his hand. With a cruel twist she completed the wrist lock. The thief got her real look at her assailant; he appeared to be little more than a common thug. He was outside of both Daggerhand and Dragoon territory so most likely he was a nobody. A nobody was expendable and the best way to end this tiny encounter was to disable the man. He was struggling to get out of the Symenestra’s hold but leverage and pressure points were both on her side. Time was dragging though, nearly a chime had past since he’d grabbed her; soon they would attract attention. If she simply released him the thug might still come after her. Some acute dissuasion was called for. Striking down with her closed fan just above the man’s elbow she cause a sickening crack and a pained scream from the thug. As soon as the man was down, clutching his arm, Shai took off eating up lengths of bridges on deft feet. Whenever she had to pass a child she took the outer edge to assure she didn’t knock them off.

One cursory glance over her shoulder was all the time the spider wasted before hopping down onto the northern bank. It seemed likely the man’s friends might pursue but she couldn’t spot them. The changes were slim that they could follow her across the roofs anyways, and for where she was headed there was no other route the thief would hazard. Stumble alley was no palce for a lone woman, on the streets at least. If the precise establishment she was headed for wasn’t one of the safest places for an unaffiliated person Shai wouldn’t risk the ‘alley at all. As far as anyone outside the Edge knew, Shai was unaffiliated; those that even knew of her at all.

While the danger was lessened on Stumble Alley’s rooftops it was completely negated. The buildings that lined the alley were so tightly packed almost anyone would run them, but it was a more common occurrence at night than in the day. Shai lopped across the mismatched architectures unmolested towards her destination. If there was a code then she would need somewhere quiet to think. There weren’t any appropriate places back at the camp, in fact she had doubts about the literacy of a few of the gang members.

Sliding down the nearest wall Shai arrived at the library, encountering the librarian first thing upon entry she purchased a blank book, a vial of ink, and a quill. The Symenestra was rusty on her Common penmanship but she would manage; even if it was blocky and unattractive for a written language.

by **Shai** on February 28th, 2012, 2:56 am

Quickly claiming a table in one of the more secluded alcoves of the library, Shai unrolled the missive for the first time. At first her mind was utterly blank, the message made absolutely no sense. The strange hue of ink wasn’t helping her concentrate either.

Secret :

Common wasn’t her first language, and so a code in Common amounted to gibberish for the Symenestra. Luckily, the numbers were a completely different aspect of common comprehension and so it wasn’t nearly as difficult. Quickly counting the groupings, Shai surmised there were a total of twenty-six groups with every number from one to twenty-six represented. Shai flipped open the blank book she’d purchased and used one corner to keep the missive open. Very slowly she penned each of the number-letter sets in numerical order in the book.

Secret :

Leaning back in her chair Shai eyed the new code; it didn’t make any more sense. Comparing her rewritten script beside the original missive she noticed a small difference. The red text had capitalizations. Scrunching her eyebrows Shai hovered back over the book and began to copy the message again, this time keeping the notations.

Secret :

The task was beginning to frustrate her at this point. Shai truly enjoyed puzzles, but having rewritten it twice now she seemed no closer to understanding it. Calm down, you’ve solved more complex riddles than this silly message. Closing her eyes the spider refused to look at the work in front of her for a time, she let her mind wander. Mentally she pictured the different forms she knew for practicing with her fans, imagining her limbs flowing through the forms. In her mind she moved with more certainty that she could yet achieve in reality. It was how she meditated and so slowly she moved beyond the forms and into the mindset she took when she worked with them. Briefly she waded in brilliant nothing until she heard, what seemed so far away at the time, the library door open. Snapping back to reality she looked down at the code with somewhat refreshed eyes. Of course, if I assume the numbering is the order then it’s redundant clutter…

Once more the spider bent over the table and rewrote the letters.

Secret :

Finally, finally, something stood out. Near the center the pairs ‘wE tA rE’ for some reason the letters rearrange so easily before her eyes into ‘water’. There was an extra ‘e’ but maybe there was a chance the pattern was right. It meant the letters were reversed. With an irrational need for swiftness she wrote down the message one final time. And this time, it was something anyone could read.

Secret :

Shai shoved the stopper back on the vial of ink, the original note into the pages of the book. The ink would smear but it didn’t matter, she’d solved the puzzle. Third warehouse on the waterfront before midnight after dusk the spider thought happily to herself and she quickly left the library. She’d spent bells inside apparently because outside the sun had already set; not a good situation for a woman in stumble alley. Without leaving the time for muggers to catch on to her presence the thief scampered up the nearest wall and into the relative safety of the rooftops.

by **Shai** on March 16th, 2012, 3:47 am

Like many abandoned bodies that fell each night upon the streets in the city of sin, the desiccated warehouse radiated a sense of desolation. A thief noticed guards; it was simply part of the profession. From her neighboring rooftop perch Shai’s mental warning bells tolled, for she couldn’t spy even a single soul. All of the warehouses were occupied to her knowledge, some with goods others with squatters but both would have people.

Scuttling down the wall the spider approached from a building-thrown shadow. As far as she could perceive the building was completely empty which seemed spectacularly ominous. Running her hand along the old brick surface speculatively the spider considered her next move. Anything worth stealing was most likely long ransacked but then again Killjoy had said invitation, and the missive certainly implied as much. Someone or multiple someones were inside and if the code was to be believed they were inside right now. Walking quietly, with conscious steps and the building’s shadow to hide her, the thief walked the perimeter until she found a window. The window itself was long gone but the gaping hole so resembling empty eye sockets would fit her through nicely.

Slinking up the wall, Shai first picked over the window’s ledge to get her first look. Initially it had seemed the building was unoccupied but true to the letter, a light flickered somewhere her sight was obstructed from. Pulling herself through the portal the spider skittered along the wall and up on to the ceiling. Quiet as the animals so often associated with her kind, the thief crept along the rafters searching for a suitable perch. When finally she could view the inhabitants she couldn’t comprehend it.

A robed man, pale perhaps more so than she was, sat upon a box with a book in his hand. The only light which afforded him the ability to read was a small make-shift fire pit. These things were not what confused the Symenestra. Besides the man there was a strange blue-tinged gem in the shape of a diamond prism. The curious bit was that the gem stood upon one pinnacle, defying everything she knew of gravity. Shai might have managed to rationalize this feat if the thing hadn’t moved. The crystal moved and fire light reflected off each of its many surfaces. Within a blink of an eye the man had closed his book and was staring directly at the hidden spider in the rafters.

by **Shai** on March 17th, 2012, 4:21 am

Frozen in place, her mind spun between flight and confrontation. All day she had worked towards this moment but now it seemed a bad situation. Her conclusion came as soon as she admitted to herself. Shai shifted her stance to turn around upon the beam. Mid-spin she was stopped by the echoing voice beneath. “That’s unexpected; a Widow.” Stopped again the spider peered speculatively at the strange man. No human should be able to see such definition in the dark, even a particularly creepy one. “Yes, what a waste if it left so quickly.” Furrowing her brow Shai couldn’t help but note it seemed he was speaking to some third person, she had certainly asked no question. ”Come come little spider and sit down beside her, bring our read missive to me.”

Shai’s jaw dropped, he was mad. Stark raving mad, which made him dangerous but also potentially gullible. Her larcenous soul hesitate, she could take advantage of the mentally infirm and walk away profitable tonight. After all there was something of value here, she just wasn’t sure what. Creeping down on to on to a precariously stacked tower of crates the cagey Symenestra crept a bit closer to get a better look. “Jewel-eyed Lady, so apt. You’ve uncovered our code and that brought you here, don’t you want your reward?” Halting again the spider grew suspicious a promised prized seemed too easy. Resolving to stay in her spot she gave the stranger the initiative, only it was he who took it. The crystal twisted again and then began to float, in her direction. The strange reflective object didn’t moved terribly quickly, certainly slower than she could run, but it moved definitively towards her.

It moved too slowly to be a proper projectile so Shai waited to see what the strange magic would do. If he lesson a few days ago had taught her anything it was that if magic was chasing you, it would catch you. It stopped right before for a moment, as if in contemplation before growing exponentially sending the spider sprawling back against the crates trying to get away. Given no chance the crystal brush the thief off the crates as though she was a true spider. Reacting quickly she twisted and prepared to land, rolling on to her shoulder and into a full tumble to take the impact; something only an acrobatic could manage.

Coming to her senses the Symenestra looked around, the first thing she nooted was a pair of robed legs. Following the legs up she noticed it was the man standing uncomfortably close and he looked... dead, like a corpse walking. Rolling away, coming to her a feet she skipped back frantically trying to keep the man and the magic crystal in her sights. Unnervingly, the man’s face seemed to lack genuine emotion as he spoke, “Much better, it’s obnoxious to shout don’t you think little jewels? So you’ve reached the end of the little treasure hunt, why would you leave so soon?”

Widening her eyes Shai had an epiphany, “You are one of those Sohavans…the dead ones…” The corpse-like visage made more sense now.

“Well, you’re observant at least. A little slow to connect it, but we can’t all be brilliant.” He remarked as the crystal returned to his side, once again a small size. “So let’s get down to business.”

Cocking an eyebrow, Shai couldn’t resist anymore the chance for gain was clearly coming. “Yes, we should.” The spider paled, if that was even possible; as a revolting smile unfolded on the nuit’s face, its first expression and it filled her ever inch with the urgency to flee. She hadn’t the time though just as soon as she backed away the crystal zipped away and the nuit faced her again blankly. Staring awkwardly at each other several long moments past. Opening her mouth to break the awkward silence she was cut off. The crystal returned... with a potato?

by **Shai** on March 30th, 2012, 3:42 am

Eyeing the strange creatures, Shai kept her feet planted though every inch of her wanted to flee. Obstinacy, inquisitiveness, and greed kept her there against best wisdom. Magic was to be feared, spiders used hypnotism routinely but the rest… elements existed in every society. A deep breath to steady and the turned and surveyed the room, her back to the stranger and his stranger creatures. Her eyes fell upon an appropriate crate which she promptly relocation nearer these potentially lucrative beings. All the while, the hairs on the back of her neck stood on end and miniscule portions of frigid sweat prickled her spine. Every part of her needed to flee, but flight would show weakness. Meetings in Sunberth were akin to gang relationships, when your confidence faltered you failed. Your place was the bottom bitch and that is where you stayed. On measured muscles, Shai delicately crossed her legs as a lady should when sitting, even if it was a musty old crate.

Always the Nuit was in her peripheral vision, but amethyst eyes trained on the strange magical constructs. Meandering around the matter at hand the spider tried to fathom what exactly ‘business’ meant. Pondering cut short, her lips formed a surprised ‘o’ as the potato spoke. “This the dame?” The tiny creature ought not to have been able to talk and certainly not so rudely or swiftly; Shai could hardly comprehend. Unnoticed in her confusion the Nuit had paused listening to something beyond the spider’s hearing.

“It is called a kirt and he—“

“Name’s Tieg and I…Hey, Why’s she gawkin like that?”

Shai snapped her mouth shut, scrutinizing the strange rock creature while the Nuit explained that he was the first familiar candidate to be presented to her. Familiar. The word rang through her thoughts; it was an utterly unknown term but it seemed rather concrete, as it had meaning to others beyond this insane building. Returning from her sojourn among her thoughts the spider realized the rock was still talking, eagerly in fact. “-ny better. Rock solid and even if I break a bit of metal and I’m all patched up. Low low maintenance and…” The creature cut off again which is what caused Shai’s focus to pinpoint on him. “Not even listenin are ya?” It’s tone had done a backflip and fallen to the completely other end of the spectrum, no longer quick and quirky but mired and malignant. Evaluating quickly the Symenestra quickly came to the obvious conclusion that this little creature had something to do with a business. Was he just outlining his own good qualities? Blinking, she hadn’t intended to assign it a gender; even though it had nothing to designate male or female she felt it seemed like a masculine personality. "No, yeah, it's alright, go on day dreaming. It's not like I'm sayin anything important. I'm sure you have a good reason for wasting my time."

Taken about, Shai was just leaning forward to give a rather sincere apology when she realized what had happened. Having twisted others around her words, the attempt was obvious the little creature was playing her emotions. Scowling, the woman let out a less-than- dainty snort, “Not a chance… Tieg was it? Playing with the emotions of a schemer will sting.” Turning her attention to the Nuit she raised an eyebrow, looking to see what he would do next; this was presumably his transaction. The mage nodded and the crystal and potato disappeared behind his own crate-stool.

by **Shai** on March 31st, 2012, 11:05 pm

“Interplanar travel at its finest! Why thank you Master Torryn, and you as well Irtia! So let’s get a look at the prospect!” the airy, exuberant voice had begun sprouting from behind the box as soon as some small flashy reaction occurred that was beyond Shai’s vision. This time the box was sped around by a cloud, a small burgundy puff that drifted over toward the Symenestra. Without ceremony the puff stopped to hover above Shai’s knee. “Hello, nice to meet you. One day, you and I will RULE THE WORLD. Once I get bigger— Oooh that's a really nice moldy crate you've got there. Can I touch it?"

Shai blinked incredulously as the fluff wafted down towards the box and began... inspecting it she supposed; in the end it just seemed like it was rubbing itself against the box. That was the final straw the spider turned her eyes towards the Nui and finally gave up the pretense, “What the petch is going on?”

“Hm? You weren’t told? How interesting, someone has it out for you dear widow. These are familiar interviews. Regardless of whether you were forewarned you must pick one before the night is over and we take our leave. The consequences are that you would return with us when we go. ” The crystal vibrated with agitation as the Nuit explained. “Cannot leave tongues behind to wag.” Silently, Shai bent down over her crate and placed her hand in front of the cloud. The Avavali gushed around it as she lifted up the familiar it followed her hand. Sitting straight up again, Shai examined the red puff centered around her hand.

Very Well. Shai resigned herself, she would take one of these creatures with her just to be away from the Nuit as quickly as possible. Whatever gain she might have achieved her was clearly out of reach, it was time to cut and run, but only after she discovered her options. When this was done she would brooch this topic with Antar or perhaps Eryss, even though she had no good will towards the sadistic sorcerer, one of the two could surely illuminate this situation. “Little one, what are you benefits? The one before explained his regeneration, so surely you must have some aspect that is exceptional as well?”

With a nauseating dose of perk the cloud replied, “Sure, it’s almost impossible to harm me. Can’t harm a cloud you know. Oh… I guess this too.” The red cloud began to condense upon her palm; it began to take a shape almost instantly. Scrunching her brow Shai watched as the creature became a mouse perched on her palm.

As the spider inspected the new creature the Nuit spoke, “There is time left in the night for one more summons widow. After that you will be allocated a time to accept the contract. We must ready for departure and if that includes one more body it will require extra preparation time.” Shai shivered as the Nuit said body, given the distinct impression it meant corpse. Nodding the woman placed the mouse back on the floor and it scampered away with the crystal. This time though she watched carefully, the Nuit was dripped some liquid from his hand to behind his box. If the Symenestra had known more about Nuits or magic she might have guessed it was his ichor, instead she assumed it was some sort of strange potion. This time her observation awarded her with two brief glows framing the box, presumably one to dispatch the cloud-mouse and another to bring in the final familiar, as the Nuit called it. As the second flash occurred Shai was considering if she’d be able to just run off, but that crystal had moved awfully fast and the spider wasn’t known for her speed just her versatility.

by **Shai** on March 31st, 2012, 11:08 pm

What came around the corner in this final summoning almost seemed anti-climactic, along with the original crystal floated a small orb of similar color. Understanding what was expected this time Shai stood and met the orb half way. This specimen was far quieter than the two before and it was this silence that led Shai to speak first. “Hello, creature. What is it your name?”

The sphere replied almost immediately in a resonant voice, “Incorrect classification. I am an Irylid not a ‘creature’. My name is Chell. Being, what is your classification?”

Shai responded quickly though she felt like she was back in her classes in Kalinor. “Shai, I am a Symenestra.” Nothing carefully the orb moved every so often to force the fire lit to reflect of its surface, it seemed intentional though the purpose was unknown. Clearly the silence was comfortable to the Irylid though as it said no more, finally prompted by a jerk of the Nuit’s hand the spider spoke again. “What are your benefits, Chell?”

“Analytics, observations, and memory retrieval. Specifically, logic based deductions, sight on all uncovered surfaces where there is light to reflect, and perfect recall pertinent details.” As Chell elaborated, Shai began to see a profit once again this night. If this creature could do as it said it would be invaluable in planning robberies.

Reaching down she scooped up the orb only to find it was “Ice, you’re made of ice Chell?”

“Incomplete conclusion. My core is liquid in this state.”

“State? Can you transform like the strange cloud before?”

At the mention of the cloud Chell seemed to become agitated and vibrated erratically to show this. “Extreme negative. Irylid are not like Avavali. Irylid take geometric shapes.”

Shai tried not to look confused but she wasn’t sure how ‘geometeric’ translated into Symenos. For all that the spider was mostly fluent some words simply seemed foreign. “Could you demonstrate?”

“Affirmative.” Chell answered before transforming itself before her eyes. The metamorphosis was swift and what it left behind could only be described as a gem. The familiar had taken the shape of a tear drop gem with precision facets though the chill still remained against Shai’s skin.

Looking away from the Irylid she turned her gaze on the Nuit, “I have made my decision.” As she spoke the weight her hand returned and a brief glance told her that Chell was an orb once again.

by **Shai** on March 31st, 2012, 11:11 pm

Torryn nodded, “Excellent.” He announced as he pulled al arge piece of rolled up parchment from the confines of his robe. “Irtia are you prepared?” Though the Nuit’s Irylid did not reply its form change dramatically into an orb approximately the size of a human head. At this point Chell left Shai’s palm and the Nuit rolled out the parchment on a near by crate. With his own hands the Nuit held the paper flat. Shai inspected it to little success; it was strange symbols around one dominating circle. “Widow, provide your blood. It is necessary.”

Shai’s heart leapt into her throat she had been here once before. Blood was a key facet in the worship of Viratas and it was to be used with extreme caution. Her little knowledge of magic, although, afforded her no further knowledge about how blood affected it. The spider did notice that Chell reflected a flash in the contract’s direction, perhaps it would illuminate for Shai at another time. It wasn’t until blood had been requested that the woman became aware of just how long this familiar might be with her, regardless it was better to take the Irylid and run. Let the details work themselves out while she was still breathing. Viratas forgive me. she prayed and pricked her finger with a nail letting the drop fall onto the paper. Following suit Chell dripped onto the paper as well, to Shai it only looked like condensation but perhaps it was some strange form of the creature’s blood?

As soon as both drops met on the contract it dissipated like a wisp of smoke, as if it had never been tangible at all. With the dissipating paper, Shai felt drained as though the weight of the entire night was now upon her shoulders. Though normally nocturnal she had been up a long time but still this seemed more, unfortunately she couldn’t place way. “Good doing business with you Widow. Good luck.” Were the Nuit’s parting words. Apparently Shai had been staring off at the blank crate top for a while now because the Nuit’s things were all back into his rucksack and the fire was smoldering as if just doused.

The Sahovan left but Chell stayed at her side, sinking down Shai wanted nothing more than to sleep but after a moment of self-indulgence she pulled back on to her feet. “Well let us be off, Chell. No use staying here.” Avoiding the obvious problem that now presented itself, the spider didn't want to know what Nuit got out the arrangement, but certainly he received something for he had called it a business deal.

“Agreed.”

Cupping the sphere in her palm, Shai headed out the conventional way instead of through the window as she had entered. “Can you keep up on your own?”

“Affirmative.” The sphere announced before floating in her hood where it could rest beside her neck. Shai shivered at the chill but was content to allow it for now, ascending a wall she regained the high ground. Taking quick stock of her surroundings Shai began to discern the best way back to camp only to have her ponderings interrupted, What is our destination? Freezing she shook her head trying to dispel the thought, of she knew their destination but the voice hadn’t seemed like hers anyways, even though it was in her own head.

Leaping off towards the camp her night run was interrupted by the question spoken again allowed, this time the source was obvious it was Chell. “What is our destination?”

Shai began to quiver though she kept running, if anything with increased speed. “Home, the Crimson Edge Encampment.” She replied quietly, scared to look at exactly what it meant. You spoke in my mind didn’t you Chell? she tired tentatively certain the night’s insanity had just spread she was now terminally demented. Certain there would be no answer when it finally came, the spider let the implications fly into the night far away from her for now…

Affirmative.