[Red Diamond] Speaking of Spelunking

by **Sliver** on April 29th, 2013, 9:14 pm

The Kelvic was quite unused to this amount of company in such a social setting. She was constantly surrounded by fellow members of the Icewatch, certainly, but this was a new sensation, interacting with multiple people that she didn't know...not even in the slightest. A strange motley crew they seemed to make, and she sat their silently, chuckling at Garran's aside and sipping her tea.

She could well imagine the blind Vantha accompanying them as Levhanti described, blazing her way through tunnels she couldn't see, which made the Kelvic chuckle lightly into her mug.

The conversation seemed to dim then as Garran rose to get more drinks, and silence won over curiosity. Sliver's gaze fell on Jesslyn, watching the way her eye color, though dulled, seemed to shift just as any Vantha's eyes would. Fitting it would seem.

She elbowed Jesslyn gently, leaning over to whisper into her ear. "This Levhanti and you seem to be close, aye, anything there?" Sliver was not much for gossip, yet the tavern mood seemed to have sunk into her skin in a way that she couldn't describe, especially seeing as how she didn't partake int he foul liquid that got one intoxicated. She liked the spunky female Vantha, however, and was interested to see how she reacted.

Her gaze turned back to Ronan, curious. "So what brings a merchant up to the Northern Reaches of Taldera? It seems like a long cold journey to make, was there anything specific you were hoping to gain from coming here?" Perhaps he was simply traveling the world of Mizahar, Sliver wasn't to know. Being as he was the true outsider here, however, she was more than a little curious.

by **Garran Frostfawn** on April 30th, 2013, 4:42 pm

Garran caught Jesslyn’s last little comment – or was it a request? A suggestion? In any case, when he reached the bar counter, he ordered a refill of ale for himself and another two cups of tea, one with double extra honey. He had no idea if Sliver would even want yet another cup, but he thought it was only polite to bring something for both…ladies. He kind of had to smirk at that appellation – neither Sliver nor Jesslyn struck him as being especially demur or feminine, as one might conceptualize when using that term. As for Levhanti and the trader, well – they could see to their own thirst, he concluded, perhaps a bit ungallantly. But there it was. He wouldn’t have minded standing the groom another ale, but he’d be damned before he bought the Syliran a drink – even tea! When the server behind the bar produced the requested beverages, Garran took both mugs in one hand and his own tankard in the other and returned to the table, carefully setting down the one the server had indicated was plain tea and only a dab of honey in front of the blind woman, saying, “Here you are Jesslyn. Careful – it’s hot.”

He sat and tried to inconspicuously slide the other steaming mug over in front of Sliver, without saying anything directly to her. Without meaning to barge into whatever the topic of conversation had become, he did observe, “Well, if we did mount an expedition to the hot springs, we might actually come back with something in hand. Thought there’s no telling – maybe the new ice cave has a direct line to, oh…Ahnatep? Or maybe…Kalinor?” He made a mock grimace. “Maybe that’s how those sneaky bastards get in here and steal our women.”

He was, of course, talking about the mysterious way in which items and messages had been found to be transported back and forth between Avanthal and the Spires, via one of the hot spring pools – which was now off limits to any but the elders of the city. No person had yet to be sent whizzing to the home of the Jamoura – but – who knew? It could yet happen…

by **Jesslyn Skyglow** on May 11th, 2013, 5:09 am

Jesslyn had almost moved out of the way when Silver's blur came closer to hers and molded with hers but stopped when she felt a slight nudge. As Silver whispered in Jesslyn's ear she couldn't help but smile a snow-fox of a smile. turning her head to whisper back Jesslyn smirked, "Ff by something there you mean our first time meeting being me being a fool and him being embarrassed then yes."

Jesslyn could hear Silver practically perfect, as if she was regularly talking, but she knew that was because her senses were a little well more tuned. Jesslyn did worry though about her own voice. She could whisper but sometimes it would be talking to her and barley anything to the person she's talking to. Sylvia had tired to beat that out of her but it never seemed to work.

Jesslyn smiled and winked, "I made him run across the main street without his pants." Jesslyn slowly pulled back to Garran putting down her tea. She nodded at his manners but mentally put them off. She might be blind but she wasn't stupid. Jesslyn had started to loose herself in her thoughts of snow and painting as she sipped her tea when she was brought out of it.

And by brought out of it she means almost chocking on her tea was she caught the end of Garran's statement, "...sneaky bastards get in here and steal our women." Setting down her drink and coughing a couple times Jesslyn fought over the words, "What in Morwens name would bring you to say that?!"

This is why Jesslyn needs to pay more attention.

by **Ronan Dugal** on May 12th, 2013, 3:51 am

Ronan leaned back in his seat as Garren left the table to order some more drinks. The fact that he didn't ask if anyone wanted something made it quite clear to Ronan the kind of relationship there was between them. None. And the kind of manners in Avanthal were just as non-existent. He sipped from his tea as he watched the two women chat like little girls. Somehow, it didn't fit the Icewatch woman to be doing that. But who was he to mention anything about it. If the protectors of your city wanted to mingle like little girls why should he stop them.

Ronan put his cup down and placed his arms on the table as the Icewatch turned her attention to him. He listened to her question and thought for a moment. There was a silence as he looked back at her. "Well, you know. The usual. Profit, riches, fame, adventure, seeing the sights, freezing. Mostly profit, with freezing being a close second. What else would people come to Avanthal for?" Best not to mention that Avanthal had been a mistake. Everyone took the sea routes or the East route so Ronan had expected the Land route to the west to be more profitable. Now he knew better. He would have to write all of that down somewhere.

Garren had rejoined them in the middle of the explanation with tea for the ladies. At least Chivalry seemed to be alive in Avanthal. The next bit of information was interesting to Ronan. Direct line to somewhere? "What do you mean by a direct line?" The story and the comment about stealing women passed him by completely but the rest was quite interesting for Ronan. If the Avanthalians had a way of transporting things from here to other places in the world, perhaps Ronan's trip here hadn't been such a waste after all. He leaned forward with his question, butting into whatever other comments Garren had drawn out with his mention of the ice caves. Avanthal just kept on surprising him.

by **Sliver** on May 12th, 2013, 4:14 pm

Sliver snorted into her near empty cup of tea at Jesslyn's story, leaning back. It seemed this blind woman brokered a strange relationship with the men around her, but she seemed an honest sort, and Sliver liked her.

Turning to Ronan, she smirked at his joke about freezing. "Yes, I imagine you could have found much warmer places, thought you'd burn in Ahnatep where you'd freeze here, perhaps somewhere in the middle...Riverfall?" The Kelvic had never been there herself, but had heard tell of a great city on the water filled with blue men and Konti.

It was about that time that Garren returned with the beverages, and as Sliver returned her empty mug of tea on the table, saw him sliding a full one toward her nonchalantly. Her lips spread apart, and she gave a nod of thanks, testing the near scalding warm liquid to find it was just as sweet as her previous cup.

"The currents that bring warm water to Makutsi Springs actually flow between the Spires. One can sometimes find small packages in the Springs, and notes, as well as send some. I believe only the elders know precisely how the system works, but a lot of people like sending things down the little holes." She shrugged. "It would be interesting if something like that lay in the cave system, perhaps it would allow for larger items to be sent back and forth"

by **Jesslyn Skyglow** on June 30th, 2013, 4:06 pm

Jesslyn and Levhanti had joined into the actual conversation more as time progressed but it seemed the other three at the table were better at talk of adventure. While the people at the table had thought to simply have the conversation a couple beers or teas and then leave, they were surprised to find that lunch had been switched out for dinner in the tavern.

The conversation had steered from the cave after everyone concluded their thoughts to it. Jesslyn had come to figure out that Silver was a Kelvic and part of the Icewatch, which made her blush. The others had laughed a little when Jesslyn had blushed and apologized at her attitude towards the enforcer.

To the people around them the group was like a group of reuniting friends or an old group of friends who planned to meet here today. While the drinks had stopped coming after Garrans last trip, many of the drinks still lay untouched and cold, the barmaid would still come over and ask. Jesslyn felt sorry for the girl as she was trying to do her job but couldn't really do so with a bunch of loiters.

All too soon the group's laughs and smiles began to dim down. Silver was the first to leave. Saying her goodbyes with nods or pats on the shoulders the Kelvic left for duty. Next was Garran. He simply waved to the group and mentioned meeting them again sometime. Levhanti left next, he told Ronan he'd like to see his stock sometime and he'd love to have another snowball fight with Jesslyn. Jesslyn was next. It wasn't that she wanted to leave it was the fact that it was getting darker and talk of a storm was coming. "It was nice meeting you Ronan. I might stop by sometime. Till next time, happy bargaining."

After Jesslyn had left Ronan had sat there a little before he paid his drinks, stood up, thanked the barkeep and the tavern owner, then left. Laughter once again filled the tavern as the usual crew came in to fill it. The smell of meed, food, and body odor covered the groups once table. Talk of the cave flared a new life.

by **Noblesse** on August 12th, 2013, 5:00 pm

Garran Frostfawn :

Sliver :

Ronan Dugal :

Levhanti Frostfawn :

True nobility lies in being superior to your former self

If you have any questions or concerns regarding your grade, please send me a PM and we can figure it out. Heehee.

Open [Red Diamond] Speaking of Spelunking