Meidani grins at Naethalee, and goes to a table while she waits for her 'owner' for the next few days!
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Meidani grins at Naethalee, and goes to a table while she waits for her 'owner' for the next few days!
And Naethalee crosses over to the table after a few minutes, bearing a pair of Black Shadows and a grin.
Meidani smiles at her, taking a Black Shadow! "Thank you, Nymriia. Got everything all arranged?"
"Indeed I do," the half-drowess purrs, taking a pleasantly shivering sip of her own drink. "I assume you have nowhere you need to be for awhile?"
Meidani grins. "Made sure of that before I went up on the block."
Velka nods. "I see." She shrugs and settles back in her seat. Her drink arrives a moment later and she takes a sip of it. "I've never been a huge religious person myself. Nothing's really spoke to me I suppose." As she speaks, a hand sized spider crawls up from her back and perches on her shoulder.
"No? I think Dalachrech would be most interested in you. The spiders accompanying you, for example; are you controlling them, do they merely accompany you, or will they assist you when you fight of their own accord?"
Velka glances at the spider, as if she never even noticed it was there. "A little of both, really. I can direct them, but they still do as they please half the time." She lies her hand on the table, and a moment later, the spider crawls down her arm and onto its surface.
"At this point, some of my colleagues would say something along the lines of how your link with the spiders is proof of how you have been chosen by Dalachrech. I agree with that, however, I think the best people to try and convert are those with no existing connection to invertebrates, and perhaps even those that are slightly afraid of them, because you know the majesty and grace invertebrates are capable of, and there's so many people out there that aren't that I feel should be prioritised." Madame de la Moy reaches into a pouch hanging from her waist and takes out a small-ish block of amber with an iridescent beetle trapped within.
Meidani grins widely. "Sounds good to me."
Velka smiles a bit, having been expecting some of what Gertrude said. She's a tad surprised there the woman wasn't trying to convert her, though. At least, not yet.
The goblin shrugs. "Makes enough sense when your goal is education. I'll be honest, I never thought you were so focused on that over gaining new members." She nods toward the amber. "What's that for?"
Yusa considered a moment. "An elemental may work. Fire elemental would be most appropriate. Might raise a few eyebrows...But..." The demoness mused. "Perhaps."
She turned her attention on Harnel next. "My full, true name."
Harnel stares at Yusa silently for a few moments before scowling something fierce.
"You know, for a second I thought you were actually being serious about this whole thing. Well joke's on us, hardy har." :smallannoyed:
"I tell people about the wonders of Dalachrech and the invertebrate life of the multiverse. That's education, yet a surprising amount of the people whom I educate later convert to His worship. And this is a gift. If every you get in trouble, or need help in any way, throw it to the floor. The amber will shatter, and the beetle will fly out to find me and I'll come as soon as I can." Madame de la Moy is the only person in the clergy that hands out these messenger beetles. Most of the others are too focussed on traditional conversion methods; Gertrude educates and demonstrates Dalachrech's power, rather than preaching and exhorting.
Cessie glances at Harnel and then back to Yusa, "Perhaps you could expand upon that a bit? I'm not sure either of us know what a 'true' name is." She suggests diplomatically.
Yusa's first instinct was to bristle and growl at Harnel's scowl. Somehow, she kept it back, but couldn't help the flash of anger that darted over her glacial irises.
It was a good thing Cessie was there to act as a buffer between the half-dragon and the demoness. Yusa was starting to have a better grasp on why, in her world, they were sworn enemies. Zam had been the only one she'd met previously. Turning to Cessie, Yusa did her best to keep her biting voice calm. "Only my Master and Blood Father know it. To know it gives you power over me." She turned and once more met Harnel's gaze, her voice low with a quiet growl. "To utter it makes me your slave."
Harnel's scowl lessens to a frown.
"Since when have names been able to do that?"
It's obviously a totally alien concept to him.
Still... he can't deny that is reasonable collateral.
"You're welcome. It'll last forever unused, and lead me to wherever you are. If you are stuck in a mineshaft, I'll come. If you're captured by a dragon, I'll come. If you find yourself stranded in a twelve-foot-cube prison demiplane, if there's a way out the beetle can use I'll come." Though it might take a while, and Velka might be slightly dead when she arrives.
"I appreciate it." In all honesty, Velka is a bit suspicious. She just met Gertrude after all. Ah well, she'll worry about it later. The goblin downs the rest of her drink and goes to stand. "It was nice talking to you, but I'd better get going. Maybe I'll see you around sometime."
The beetle will work as advertised. If it's used, Gertrude will arrive as soon as she can, and do what she can to help. She'll show off her power, too, and try to convert Velka that way. "If you need somewhere to stay, there's a place called Silent Sleep that's quite cheap, and most of it's underground. Try to be as close to the surface as you can, though; the best rooms are at the top."
"I'll keep that in mind. Have yourself a good one." And with that, Velka will leave. The several spiders that followed her in depart as well.
"That's quite a risk you're willing to take Yusa, trusting us with such a thing." Cessie replies with a raised eyebrow, eyeing the demoness skeptically. "How exactly will this go down? I don't mean to sound suspicious but during these rather extreme circumstances all we got is your word that you won't leave Harnel there. This 'true name' is the only real guarantee besides that. Could you at least prove it works somehow? I realize you might only have our word we won't abuse it, but it sounds like you have to tell it to us in either case."
Yusa sighed quietly and answered Cessie first. "Exactly." She frowned and looked down at her fingers once more, picking under the nails. Nervous habit. "But I owe it to Zam. He put himself on the line for me. That kind of trust deserves the same in return." She glanced up from under her lashes at Cessie, then Harnel. "Names have always had power in my world. Where I am from, dragons are noble creatures. I realize the same might not be true here, but I'm hopeful."
Harnel taps the table in thought, each digit moving in turn.
"If you really give up such a thing, I'll go with you." Harnel finally agrees. He doesn't like it, but if Cessie would have done it...
The door opens, and in walks a rather good looking young man in a worn red blazer. His hair is a flame red colour, and his bright green eyes dart around the room, taking in the dingy establishment. It seems to meet with his satisfaction, as he grins crookedly and saunters over to the bar.
"A pint of your nastiest, cheapest, most foul tasting ale." Having procured the noxious brew, he takes a deep swig, smacking his lips together. "Just like mother used to make." He looks around at the other patrons, seeking an interesting drinking companion.
The young man might notice a three foot tall creature looking like this except with short arms that end in three-fingered-one-thumbed hands. It's currently on top of a barstool and nursing a mug half it's size and a rather large Reuben sandwich.
"And then I suppose I'll have to follow you to help." And make sure no one breaks the deal of course. "So tell us what will happen now."
Dipsnig, or rather a plotclone of his, strolls into the Den, followed by his wolf mount. He heads through the room towards the bar, his wolf padding behind him.