[Syliras] No Questions Asked (Xira)

by **Radiant** on April 17th, 2014, 5:54 am

Sir Grenfell was obviously not seeing Xira is good favor, but when the man acted with submission and a heartfelt tone of regret, Gren's expression slightly softened. He truly didn't expect this 'thief' didn't bolt out of the apartment since if he was fast enough, no one in the house could catch him, his guard was large and bulky, but rather slow. "Alright, let us conduct ourselves like civilized men," Grenfell then motioned for them to enter the guest room, then he sat on a chair while gesturing for Xira to sit across him, "I have not made my decision regarding your offense yet, Sir Xira, however, I will listen on what you have to say."

As the courier explained, Grenfell raised an eyebrow, "I shall be blunt, I'm not satisfied, tell me everything, why were you here? If you were ust returning payment, you can speak with one of my servants, it doesn't excuse your actions of intrusion," Grenfell then cleared his throat, his initial anger deeming down somewhat, he was a nobleman and he should act like it and being a successful merchant, he learned that there was always something more that what it seemed, "I'm the offended party here and as such, I demand every explanation you can give me," Gren then politely refused Xira's coins, "Keep the mizas, I paid your fair and square."

"Punishment?" Gren was taken aback, what kind of thief expected punishment so willingly? Perhaps Xira noticed he had no way out of this and opted guilty? He shall see, "Whether you are to be punished or not is not for me to determine, though I want you to feel the consequence of your actions, Sylirans conduct themselves by law, and the law say you are to be presented before the Council of Three to be judged." Gren nodded then crossed his arms, "However, like I said, I wish to hear your side of the story first."

All this time, Mina gave her rather fake concerned look at the situation, but if Xira noticed, a drop of sweat falling from her forehead indicated she was nervous and might not expect Xira to act so calmly.

by **Xira Hezmek** on April 21st, 2014, 1:34 am

It appeared that Grenfell was both a shrewd and hard man. Important qualities for a merchant. Xira had been in the wrong, no matter that he hoped to save lives. Perhaps the man would take the full story into consideration and would not judge his actions to be so unsavory, despite his attempted thievery. He nodded to the man before him as he spoke, keeping silent and watching Sir Grenfell.

At last it was Xira's turn to respond. "Of course M'lord. Unfortunately, I refuse to speak anymore of it unless it is for your ears alone." He looked towards Mina briefly, pondering over her actions. Would she insist on staying? Or would she go meekly if her lord commanded it. In either case, the courier turned thief would not open his mouth a moment more until they were alone.

Once they were he let out a soft sigh and pulled out his liquid filled glove. "In truth, this evening had not gone as planned in any way. My job was simple, deliver you the vial and get paid." He rubbed his temples for a moment and looked up at the merchant. "But I was intrigued at the unusual reaction your wife had when I came to deliver. She sought to take it from me without paying me at first. When she let me in to discuss the delivery she seemed afraid. I was truly moved with pity and wished to help. So she asked me to meet with her at the wishing well. She explained the situation like this: That you and ursula have not seen things eye to eye and thus hate each other. She has grown sick and that the bottle, the contents now in that glove" He motioned towards the glove. "Are a poison. She claimed that you were to use me as a scapegoat. She then proceeded to ask for my help to steal it. Which I agreed. I replaced the contents of the bottle and it seems that the lady Mina wishes to betray me. That I had simply refused and gone on with my evening is my folly. I should not have attempted to steal from you. But regardless of my foolishness, it has been done."

He paused again and looked at the man, "I apologize for the subterfuge of earlier. All of what I said was true, but it was the intent of the truth. But, if I might ask, is there any truth to what Mina said? anything at all."

He shook his head in disbelief of his own actions. "I will go willingly if you wish to hand me over to the council. I have transgressed the law, something I had never thought I would do, and hope that my sentence will at least not be overly harsh." A thought crossed his mind and he blushed, "Oh, M'lord... Please do not administer the contents of the vial. It is harmless but a foul concoction. It would neither harm nor help Ursula."

My words.

Their words.

by **Radiant** on April 23rd, 2014, 4:21 pm

As Xira requested for private company with Grenfell, Mina visibly flinched, she looked at her husband then whispered at him, seemingly begging to refuse and just hand over this 'thief' to the Knights. Grenfell, however, shook his head then motioned for Mina to leave the room. The young woman scowled for a bit, a flash of fear on her worried expression, then she obeyed, leaving the room with a huff.

Once they were alone, Grenfell clasped his hands near his chin as he listened to the man's words. Whether it was surprising or not, Grenfell didn't look surprised or at least, shocked enough to give a visible reaction at his wife's apparent betrayal. He was a shrewd merchant and an expert negotiator, he would approach this matter with tact and logic, leaving no room for emotions, this was what made him the man he was today, "I see..." The merchant then paused, in deep thought, thirty ticks later, he looked up then kept his voice low, "I should have known..." The man then procured a pouch filled with twenty gold mizas, "For your trouble and my apology, this is no longer your concern, Sir Xira, I will take it form here."

The man nodded as he held out his hand, "This whole deal never happened, walk away, I do not wish to burden you with my family troubles." Would the Courier accept? He could walk away and leave this all behind him, saving himself the trouble and possible risk of delving into a conspiracy.

by **Xira Hezmek** on May 3rd, 2014, 3:56 am

There was a lot to be said of the physical effects of relief on the body. Xira's body in particular. Corded muscles along his back and neck slowly unbound as the merchant Grenfell spoke. Muscles were taut that he did not even knew existed, such that his relief made him miss the full meaning the words that Sir Grenfell told him for a few ticks. Xira blinked a couple of times before it sank in just what he was requesting.

"Sir. Whether you like it or not, between the two of your antics these past couple hours, I am involved now." He frowned. "Let me be plain. I am not sure what is going on, but I certainly would like to. The two of you seem to be opposite sides of this situation." The courier had likened the situation to a board game between the two in his mind, Mina and her husband the players and himself and the others chips, pawns or pieces on the board. " I may have done a foolish act, but I learn quickly. How am I to know that my involvement stops here should I leave, even if I wanted it to be? I have been dragged into this now, so don't I deserve just a little bit of an explanation?"

A black and white job had suddenly tipped onto its head and was shades of colors and greys. By this point he could not but help suspect the merchant of nefarious deeds. He did not offer help... yet. The man before him could easily be just as Mina said, a man who would easily use underhanded means to hurt this Ursula. Or, since Mina had decided to turn Xira into a scapegoat, this man could be the victim of a nefarious plot by the traitorous woman. Even scarier, the thought that Ursula did not even exist and that this was a convoluted political and power game between the two caused Xira to shiver.

He leaned back into his hands still wrapped around the fluid filled glove. It sloshed in the leather pouch and was beginning to leak. Not much, but the moist fur lined side of the glove would soon begin to drip. He sniffed the fluid and wrinkled his nose at the scent. Foul. "Is this truly medicine?"

My words.

Their words.

by **Radiant** on May 3rd, 2014, 4:47 am

At the courier's refusal to her offer, the merchant didn't look surprised, he merely nodded and retracted the leather pouch, "I see..." He clasped both of his hands near his chin, "I understand your concern." Unlike Mina, he didn't give any visible negative reaction, the man was either really innocent, or really good. Then after about thirty ticks of contemplation, Grenfell leaned in to examine the fluid, "This substance..." He looked up into Xira's eyes, completely serious.

"Is an antidote..." Ser Grenfell then continued his explanation, "Mina... she..." He bit his lisp, obviously trying to form his words in a manner that a stranger would undertand, "Has been subtly poisoning me, with a slow-acting poison, slipping it into my food, day by day... I heard that this poison is very hard to trace and cause immediate heart attack-like death if enough dose are given over an extended period of time." Grenfell then took the glove, "If you do not believe me, your decision, but I'm not going to die in the hands of that little back-stabbing whore." Grenfell then promptly opened the love as he drank the content, wincing at the bitter taste.

"There, Sir Xira, I gave my explanation... now, you want to help? Then help me, tell the Order about this, I... cannot for personal reasons I won't disclose." Grenfell then closed his eyes then rubbed the bridge of his nose, seemingly in disbelief on how he just told a stranger about his own family's conspiracy.

"As for 'Ursula', it's an anagram of my first name 'Saurlua', I am Saurlua Grenfell." He revealed the truth, now it was the courier's decision on which sides he took.

by **Xira Hezmek** on May 10th, 2014, 3:41 am

The courier kept his eyes on the man in front of him. Never before had he been in a situation where scrutinizing another man would likely save him. Even then he could deduce nothing from that expression. Yet he watched the man, he tried to make a note of any mannerisms or expressions that might betray Sir Grenfell's thoughts, sincere or not.

Xira's ability to be shocked was quickly being diminished with each revelation. Into the heart of this web he delved and all he found was shades of grey. In truth, after Mina's attempted betrayal he did not find it out of her character to poison this man. He watched the man swallow down the fluid. Just that act lent credibility to his claim. What sane man would swallow down a poison? It had to be the medicine, an antidote even. Would he get yet more twists in this dark plot?

The man could not tell the order for personal reasons... Huh He nodded to this slowly, "I will tell the order. But if I am to go to the order wouldn't they ask on how I found about this conspiracy? I might have to disclose the full details... including that you are the source of it all." He pursed his lips in disapproval of any sort of subterfuge, despite the hypocrisy in the action. "Perhaps if you came forwards with myself as your witness? Surely the knights will see the credibility in your claim."

The courier paused a moment then continued, "I am here to help, Sir. It is the reason I work the job I have. I will do what I can, but I do not want to risk the law anymore. The guilt is too much." Xira almost shook his head in disbelief, he had been naive to trust Mina, was he being naive again to trust Saurlua? Both had given explanations as to the situation, both had treated him as a savior to their cause.

A thought occurred to him. Grenfell, whether he was aware of it or not had leverage over him. The man could easily blackmail him with the attempted robbery if he wanted to. This made the courier sigh. Of course, this day could not get any better.

My words.

Their words.

by **Radiant** on May 10th, 2014, 12:55 pm

When Xira exclaimed that he will tell the Order, Grenfell sighed, it seemed no matter what he did, he would not convince this courier, how odd... a courier willing to infiltrate one's home could be so rigid when it came to the Knights. Some people were indeed odd, Grenfell had his fair share of odd people as a merchant, but Xira was truly one of a kind. The man cleared his throat as he leaned back then eye the courier, "It is as you said, explaining this whole shyke to them would be tedious, I rather not have that, bad for business... for obvious reasons." Grenfell waved his hand once then rubbed his forehead.

"Yes, you don't have to risk anything, and you don't have to help me further, your part is done here. Please, I politely ask you to leave," Grenfell gestured to the door, "You don't have to take the mizas if you don't want to, I only implore you to leave me alone, I have a lot to think right now..." Then the merchant seemed to read Xira's features as he confirmed, "Worry not, I will not a single soul about your part in this." It was obvious that Grenfell didn't want to discuss anything further as he stood up then exited the room.

The house's guard came into the room then rather rudely gestured to the door, "Leave. Now." The large man spoke in simple words, he preferred his fists to do the talking.

by **Xira Hezmek** on May 10th, 2014, 9:08 pm

Xira nodded and stood to leave even as the burly guard came in to make sure he did. There was not much left to do. He was indeed taken aback by the man's change in demeanor, but such things were beyond his control. The courier was someone to deliver messages, even to the Order and by himself if he had to. However this whole affair had gone sour the moment he knocked on the Grenfells' door.

He bowed to guard and left without a word. On the way out he passed Mina, she had her backed turned to him and was distracted with something. Possibly worrying over Saurlua who likely just went up stairs. Behind him the glowering guard trailed after the courier to make sure he left. Xira and his escort made it to the door without incident. The man was free and despite the drama that had ensued, he had emerged unscathed. He hoped his reputation would too.

As far as he was concerned, that night hadn't happened. He never met a Mina or Saurlua and he certainly did not get lured into the plot between the two. On the bright side... he was walking away with a decent amount of gold. He could buy a horse after all.

That evening the courier's dreams were plagued with dreams of shadows and daggers, plots and intrigue, poison and antidotes.

My words.

Their words.

by **Radiant** on May 11th, 2014, 11:52 am

Xira :

Notes :

My radiance is not bright enough?

If you have any questions or concerns regarding your grade, beam me a PM and we can work it out.

Skill	XP Earned
Observation	+5 XP
Socialization	+5 XP
Rhetoric	+4 XP
Persuasion	+4 XP
Interrogation	+3 XP
Intimidation	+2 XP
Stealth	+3 XP
Subterfuge	+4 XP
Investigation	+5 XP
Intelligence	+5 XP
Acting	+2 XP

Completed [Syliras] No Questions Asked (Xira)