Open Working to Learn: Research Part 2

Having found leads at City Hall, Salara now proceeds to the Wright Memorial Library

(This is a thread from Mizahar's fantasy role playing forums. Why don't you register today? This message is not shown when you are logged in. Come roleplay with us, it's fun!)

Center of scholarly knowledge and shipwrighting, Zeltiva is a port city unlike any other in Mizahar. [Lore]

Working to Learn: Research Part 2

Postby Salara Kel'Halavath on February 27th, 2017, 7:42 pm

Day 10 Winter 516 AV
Afternoon
Zeltiva


Inspector Fallon, she shakes her head in admiration of the woman’s subterfuge, had suggested that to be good, ‘one of intelligence and operations’ should remain an unknown. She had advised, ‘No one but your patron must know. If others know then you must rid yourself of them.’ Further warning that otherwise, ‘your value and use decreases.’ Salara wasn’t certain she would ever be capable of ‘ridding’ herself of someone; yet she suspected that much more could be lost than ‘value and use.’ Becoming known by the wrong people could mean an abrupt and unwelcome end for herself or even her patron by association - if her patron didn’t kill her first. Then again, kill or be killed? In her experience nearly any cornered animal would fight back. She didn't expect it would be different for her because the key element to natural selection – survival of the fittest - was the code her animalistic side followed religiously.

If she hadn’t already, the seneschal would surely recognize her from her visit yesterday even though today Salara had been all dolled up; but from here on out when working she would need to claim an alias. A proper alias should have aspects of fact that curious people could relate to without causing undue suspicion. Rather than choose a name willy-nilly she would need to develop a good backstory that could survive at least a cursory inspection. Perhaps something appropriate could be found within the histories at the Wright Memorial Library.

Upon entering said building Salara removes her lace bonnet, pinning its broad lapel-like ribbons around her waist as a sash allowing the cap portion to hang as a makeshift pocket for her quill and inkbottle. She twists her long locks up into a somewhat frowzy bun to grant her more an appearance of age and professionalism. Walking into the main room she grabs the first two books she sees left upon a reading desk to tuck her notes and blank parchment haphazardly within their pages then tucking all under her arm. She approaches the officially titled ‘Help Desk’ where a rather bored looking young student librarian looks up from her studies with interest; perhaps hoping Salara would ask for something more engaging than what she had been assigned.

“Good afternoon. I’m the new university instructor brought in to teach the history class, ‘Local Economics: The Rise and Fall of Esteemed Houses.’” With exaggeratingly wide and sparkling eyes, Salara’s tone all but gushes passion while she pretends not to notice the librarian’s eyes glaze at such a mundane topic. “I’m researching content to develop the first semester’s lesson plan and would like everything you have on the houses of Wright, Melroy, and Falconer.”

“Yes, ma’am,” the librarian pushes away from her desk, “If you would kindly wait at that desk there I’ll see what I can pull for you.” As Salara waits she looks about the massive two-tiered room with stacks upon stacks of shelves full of tomes wondering how anyone could find anything here in its vastness. The recessed areas are end capped with displayed statuettes on pedestals. The nearest one to her was of Eyris. Salara steps up to the figurine to examine the likeness in stark alabaster. So this goddess walked Zeltiva little more than six years ago? She wonders briefly if a goddess would be easy to recognize if approached on the street. Would there be some aura of goddess-ness that would make her stand out? For the next few days she would catch herself eyeballing the people she passes to wonder before realizing many – god, goddess or otherwise - did not welcome such scrutiny. Next she finds a plaque identifying the library’s name, ‘In commemoration of Kennabelle Wright, a Zeltivan navigator who travelled throughout Mizahar.’ Perhaps more on this Kennebelle Wright would be found in the books the librarian was rounding up for her.

It took a while but eventually the student returned struggling with a large pile of books held between stretched arms and chin. “This is all you have?” The young lady’s eyes hood behind a polite façade to cover unappreciated annoyance and on a whim Salara requests, “Should you come across the surname, ‘Eyvino’ please bring that as well.” The student’s eyes brighten and she begins to gabble something about completing an assignment for ‘Religions 101’ for which she had chosen her topic - of course - the Goddess Eyris. Apparently this deity was Goddess of Wisdom, Knowledge, Learning and History and this student was a firm believer. She even pulled her sleeve up to proudly show a marking upon the top of her hand that she explained was her Gnosis - some kind of granting from the goddess. It's shape reminded Salara of the interlocking bow of two keys. It was Salara’s turn for eye glazing until the young lady began enthusiastically speaking of research for an impressively large report where she had located rare documentation identifying not only the names of magically endowed off-spring of the goddess, but also those not magically endowed - from whence she recognized the surname.

At that point Salara didn’t have to feign sharing the student’s passion for Eyris as she claps enthusiastically. She wanted her hands on that document. “What an extraordinary find! I’ve heard that an Eyvino had business dealings with the houses that might pertain to my lesson plans. If you could provide whatever you’ve found I would consider it a grand favor.” She winks conspiratorially, “Perhaps I’ll see you in my class so that I can return the favor?” The student’s stutteringly polite response and rapid exodus to retrieve the requested documents causes her to chuckle expecting that the last thing this avid student would want to do is participate in the dull topic of ‘Local Economics’ even for an easy A.
Image
User avatar
Salara Kel'Halavath
What would She do?
 
Posts: 283
Words: 225508
Joined roleplay: December 12th, 2016, 8:26 pm
Location: Sunberth
Race: Kelvic
Character sheet
Storyteller secrets
Medals: 1
Overlored (1)

Working to Learn: Research Part 2

Postby Salara Kel'Halavath on March 6th, 2017, 8:54 pm

Salara’s head dips low over her notes as the quill breaks with a slight snap and she startles awake to the rip of ink-smattered parchment. “Petch,” not the first time to swear under breath tonight. Cramped ink-stained fingers uncurl to rub smudged circles against her temples to release a tension headache. The evening was late and the young librarian long gone. It seemed at least a quarter of the books in Wright Memorial Library were about Mizaharian history and volumes of ledgers and books were unevenly stacked in various heights as if a fortified wall were about her – titles of Zeltiva, Wright, Falconer, and Eyris predominate. Upon the desk an inkbottle tipped haphazardly but for it’s emptiness and several fray-tipped quills were scattered about.

Standing to stretch her legs and roll her spine she reflects over the last several bells. The librarian had retrieved many chin-stacked piles; yet disappointingly, had been unable to procure the source confirming that Eyvino was of Eyris’ bloodline. In her own research Salara had learned more than she ever cared to know about gods and goddesses. Apparently deities could appear normal if they chose but have a goddess-ness or divine presence that could be amplified to induce awe in others. The offspring from mortal and divine interaction were the ‘children of the heavens’ or Alvina. Learning about the mysteries of the Nymkarta dynasty and suspected culling of weaker children to strengthen the magical bloodlines might explain the rarity of naming the less-gifted as references indicated that only Alvina with divine influence were named; yet the librarian remained confident she had seen recent genealogy for Alvina who did not show signs of active divinity. Would Eyris have walked Zeltiva to destroy or protect her less gifted progeny? Was this the clue behind the enigmatic Zachiel? The lore further indicated that offspring of the Alvina were Araka and were granted superior traits over normal mortals. But their mixed heritages often resulted in extreme personality traits presenting as egomaniacs, sociopaths and zealots. Araka also were inclined to use magic and were know to be world explorers.

Eventually Salara had located the volume naming magically endowed Alvina; but the next volume, genealogically listing the non-gifted siblings, remained unfound. To support her claim the young lady had been more than eager to share her report. Work critiqued by a ‘university instructor’ was a real boon, especially for an assignment required for admission into a student’s chosen field of study. Bittersweet it was to see ‘Eyvino’ in the list just as recalled; but there was no way Salara would share such information as anything more than unsubstantiated. There could be no cutting corners or manipulation of fact here. Getting Inspector Fallon’s support was too critical.

She learned about Eyris' Lykata as the power of Gnosis granted to her followers beyond the gift of higher intelligence, a passion for knowledge, and acute clarity of thought. In her findings a quote by a dead follower of Eyris was reminiscent of her interaction with the Inspector, ‘The easiest way to remove wisdom from the picture is to invoke emotion.’ Now she easily recognized it as a tactic of manipulation as well as a lesson. The quote continued insinuating a deeper meaning for the Lykata, ‘Emotions are important, but can be distracting in the pursuit of truth and the reclamation of history. I can imagine the achievements we’ve made lost - in an instant - who then would look to recover them? Only those with a passion for History and a willingness to rediscover what was lost. And to those we leave breadcrumbs like the fairy tale of two children lost in the woods. Because in everything we touch we leave an impression. And that impression can be everything.’

Negligently dabbing symmetric fingerprints along a ruined page Salara considers the investigative mission of SWI, the inspector’s expressed zeal for information, her seemingly knowing more than was spoken. She begins to wonder if Fallon wasn’t also a follower of Eyris. It made sense. Did the Inspector cover a Gnosis mark under those gloves? Could she really detect the impressions of history from an object or person? Without a doubt there certainly seemed to be much more to the inspector than a woman hardened by a tragic past.

Gathering up the products of her effort she reviews her meager inferences, notes and next moves. Of the elite houses in the Ancient Quarter that Zachiel Eyvino may have been associated with she had confirmed the three that stood out. Wright Manor reportedly had essentially been vacant since 459 AV with the disappearance of Kennabelle Wright; which was 34 years prior to Zachiel arriving in Zeltiva. Not even a long shot there. Melroy Manor showed a lot of promise in various ways; but with it’s enhanced security and high walls, it would require observation first from without and then within those walls before she could make any real progress there. She was drawn to the idea of making the acquaintance of someone within the household, perhaps even of Hadley Melroy, the orchard’s overseer. Stylizing a solid alias around such a relationship could be very beneficial if she found the time to begin cultivating it. As for Falconer Manor, finding that it housed the most expansive private library in Eastern Mizahar Salara hoped that if she could gain access she would find more information about her quarry there. What facts couldn’t be found in Wright Memorial might be found at Falconer Manor.


*Word Count 1,886
Image
User avatar
Salara Kel'Halavath
What would She do?
 
Posts: 283
Words: 225508
Joined roleplay: December 12th, 2016, 8:26 pm
Location: Sunberth
Race: Kelvic
Character sheet
Storyteller secrets
Medals: 1
Overlored (1)

Working to Learn: Research Part 2

Postby Karyk on June 7th, 2017, 10:10 pm

Image
 
Salara Kelhalavath
Skills
Disguise: 1
Subterfuge: 1
Observation: 1
Writing: 1
Intelligence: 1

Lores
Disguise: Hair Buns Make Women Seem Older
Eyris: What Her Gnosis Mark Looks Like
Favored Owed to Student of Eyris
Gods Can Appear Normal, Often With Aura of Awe Inducement
Alvina: Children of Gods and Mortals
Eyris: Goddess of Knowledge and Intelligence
Mystery: Is Fallon Marked by Eyris?


 
Notes and Comments
CS Checkmarked: ✓
CS Reviewed by Me: ✓
Previous Season Expenses Paid (Spring 517): ✓


Who knew that Salara was such a bookworm? What other secrets is she hiding? Well done, and please mark your post in the queue as Graded
Follow your heart, and the plot will follow.
User avatar
Karyk
Player
 
Posts: 326
Words: 273057
Joined roleplay: April 4th, 2017, 4:34 pm
Location: Zeltiva
Race: Human
Character sheet
Storyteller secrets
Plotnotes

Working to Learn: Research Part 2

Postby Wymez on March 17th, 2018, 6:23 am

Image

ImageSalara Kel'halavath
Image

Skills
● Philosophy - 1XP
● Disguise - 1XP
● Acting - 2XP
● Investigation - 2XP
● Observation - 1XP
● Socialisation - 1XP
● Rhetoric - 1XP
● Writing - 1XP
● Intelligence - 1XP
● Deduction - 1XP

Lores
● Spycraft: Importance of anonymity
● Philosophy: Kill or be killed
● Disguise: Using cosmetics to alter appearance
● Acting: How to craft a believable alias
● Location: Wright Memorial Library
● Disguise: Using hair styles to alter appearance
● Acting: Creating a character on the fly
● Investigation: Using historical sources to find information
● Kennabelle Wright: Famed Zeltivan navigator
● Wright Memorial Library: Named in honour of Kennabell Wright
● Eyris: Goddess of Wisdom, Knowledge, Learning and History
● Lykata: Eyris' gnosis mark
● Lykata: Characteristics and abilities
● Gnosis: A Mark of the Gods
● Rhetoric: Using encouragement and jests to earn a favour
● Writing: Quills are easy to snap and ink is easy to smudge
● Gods and Goddesses of Mizahar: Can blend in but possess a special aura
● Alvina: Offspring of Gods and mortals
● Nymkarta Dynasty: Infanticide practices and history of magical bloodlines
● Alvina: Not all blessed with divine abilities
● Araka: Offspring of Alvina and mortals
● Araka: Characteristics
● Deduction: Narrowing down options in order to form a conclusion
● Melroy Manor: Place of interest
● Hadley Melroy: Melroy Manor orchard overseer and person of interest
● Falconer Manor: Place of interest and home to the most expansive private library in Eastern Mizahar

ImageComments
Image

Another lovely thread! You always manage to pack so much info into your threads and its a smorgasbord of lore!. I hope I managed to get everything you were after. Thanks again for the read!
Image
x
User avatar
Wymez
salt & earth
 
Posts: 94
Words: 41837
Joined roleplay: October 15th, 2017, 6:25 am
Location: Sea of Grass
Race: Human, Drykas
Character sheet
Storyteller secrets
Plotnotes
Medals: 1
Donor (1)


Who is online

Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 0 guests