The Black Jewels

[Forum Explorer]

Gareth

Lets go Gareth replies without hesitation.

[Bangles]

Araneshyi

"We're in.

And just before we set off i'd like to say;

I call the final hit on Leena Dreyas, at least for whats left in her pitiful existence on this plane.

Before she becomes yours of course."

She says this inclining her head towards the high lord.

[Arcane_Snowman]

Vox

Letting out a slight sigh, Vox trudged after Areneshyi, his footsteps echoing thorough the halls. "one of these days, you're going to get yourself killed" sighed he.

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Bangles, what is your character's name Areneshyi or Areneyshi, you have spelled it both these ways, and I'm actually confused as to which is correct.

[wxdruid]

Kadyn

Kadyn walks near the rear of the group and remains silent. He already said what he needed to say and he'll let the Queen worry about interacting with the High Lord of Hell.

[Cespenar]

Daros

Marching along Kadyn in the back of the group, Daros shows a brief grin as the Lady claims the finishing blow on the target, but keeps otherwise silent.

[playswithfire]

Rotem

Rotem accepts the scrolls, bows once more and follows the others as they begin to leave, resolving to look over the scrolls at his first opportunity.

[MistressBaerne]

Departing from the Hall proves to be as unusual a process as entering it. The unaccountably powerful butler escorts you all to an upper-floor room overlooking the drive leading to the gates of the titanic fortress. It is appointed in the same sumptuous and vaguely intimidating manner as the rest of the house, with a tremendous oil painting depicting the souls of noble Blood descending into Hell.

Perhaps fifteen minutes later, a crack of thunder and a brief flash of blueish light herald the arrival a Wind-using Coach. It hovers outside the window, perhaps thirty feet above the manicured grounds. Gold has been worked into baroque ornamentations around the roof of the Coach, the designs, like so much else in this house, indicative of subtle power and discreet violence. A glowing bridge extends from the door of the oversized carriage to the floor-to-ceiling window of the room you're in - placed there for exactly this purpose, you realize - and a bundle of tattered robes floats out from the driver's compartment at the front, gliding across to hover motionlessly beside the window, which slowly swings open of it's own accord.

You enter the Coach, walking quickly across the force plane that serves as a gangway. Inside, the carriage is even larger than it's outside indicates - magic at work, no doubt. It's interior decoration fits the elegant-but-disturbing theme of the rest of the High Lord's domain. The spectral figure glides back to it's compartment, directing the Coach onto the Opal Wind and towards the Dark Altar in Nharkava. The trip is not long, perhaps an hour, and the ritual itself uneventful: Black rods of marble set ablaze with witchfire, a wall dissolving to mist, and yourselves stepping through to the Bright Realm, currently fallen to shadow.

******************
Shalador would be pleasant, in a better world. Pastoral beauty abounds, lanes lined with pear trees and the occasional blossoming hedge adding to the peaceful scenes of magic-strengthened beasts pulling farm implements and a few clockwork and necromantic constructs standing in for living field hands. These sights cannot, however, quite excise the taste of terror from the land, not completely block out the screams that rise from inside many a manse. The small city of Westgate serves as the capital, and it is to that place that you make your way. You arrive slightly before dinner, about 8:00 in the evening, by the illusory clock glowing above the city.

Results: Proceed as you will. You'll need to find lodgings and stuff, and there are too many ways to go about that for me to write it up.

[Bangles]

Araneyshi (apologies, other times its just fingers typing too fast - y first.)

{{Sorry i've just had 2 big coursework assignments due, ill get something up as a placeholder for now. }}

"Well here we are.

Kinda small really, but thats too be expected.

I would suggest finding a tavern, the best the town has to offer to spend the night, or at least a couple of hours.

Whoever is the best at getting information out of drunks, I would suggest talking to them about our targets place of residence, how big, how many guards, or anything like that.

I can do it, but im not best suited to it."

[wxdruid]

Kadyn

Kadyn nods, Yes, my Lady, perhaps it'd be best to send in one of the lighter jeweled males. More inconspicous, more easily overlooked and forgotten after the fact.

Perhaps another of the higher ranked warlords or princes in the group should also be in the Tavern? In case a fight or brawl breaks out?

[Forum Explorer]

Gareth
Gareth is clearly angry from the screams they had heard and is breathing deeply in order to calm himself. Please excuse me. I need to go for a walk. He says curtly, I'll meet you all in the best inn. Gareth then walks off.

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So how am I going to get a room in the best inn without spending money?

[Cespenar]

Daros

Hearing the talk about sending a lighter jeweled male, Daros quickly moves forward.

"I would be willing and able to do that, if my Lady wishes," he says with a monotone voice.

OOC:

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Mind you, he doesn't have any ranks in Gather Information, but he is willing nonetheless.

[playswithfire]

Rotem

I am likely to go unnoticed, but my people skills aren't what's needed to get information out of a drunkard. I will gladly position myself to aid in a fight, if one better-spoken would like my help.

[Arcane_Snowman]

Vox

Musing a bit at the prospect of any of these people, including himself, trying to find someone amongst them who were "better spoken" as the good lord Rotem had put it, it all seemed amusing, in a twisted sort of way. "whatever you deem fit Milady" says he, directed at Areneyshi: although his voice, and eyes suggested that he wasn't interested in anything other that making sure that she was safe. Plus, if he was to be sent in there to "gather information" it would most likely not end well.

[wxdruid]

Kadyn

Kadyn nods to the other men, Sounds good. He nods to the Queen, Let's get off the street and someone where less conspicious. He looks around and if no one says anything to the contrary, he'll head towards the area where several inns/taverns are and look for an appropriate one. He does hope that someone else has a bit of money, since he's rather lacking in that aspect. He already feels uncomfortable enough, in the past 12-24 hrs he's been yanked from his previous life and thrust into this one with a Queen he doesn't yet know how to gauge and other males of who he's unsure of their reactions or attitudes.

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Would rather not see this die, so posting to try and move things along again.

[Bangles]

Areneyshi

{{Sorry the Forums have been on a mjor fritz for me, and the one day I get access its down because of a new comic - so apologies.}}

"Well lets get settled in first, perhaps a few of you could talk to a group of natives. I doubt i'd be able to, because whilst I do have people skills, i'm thinking i'm not that unconspicous."

Walking down the main road, looking for the finest inn she will not break stride and just walk in the front door.

Looking immediatley for the barkeep she will bark a few orders, as she is used to.

"You there, I want 5 of your best rooms. A warm dinner and fine breakfast for each of my companions plus one more, and two rounds for everyone."

This should hopefully loosen some tounges allowing the males job to be easier"

She will turn and whisper very very quietly to the group, when the barkeep has turned away also.

[wxdruid]

Kadyn

Kadyn follows one step behind on the street, adjusting his shirt before he follows her into the Inn.

He stares around at the patrons in the Inn, letting them know plain and simple that he is a warlord prince and they should watch their step when it comes to their party. It's a role he's grown unaccustomed to, but his instincts tell him to protect the Queen.

[playswithfire]

Rotem

Rotem follows the group in staying a bit off to the side so that he can see past them and survey the whole room. After Areneyshi makes her demands, Rotem separates from the group, grabs two beers from the bar that Areneyshi has just paid for and heads for one of the corners of the room, one hopefully occupied by a man of a similar mindset to his own, whose eyes are also sweeping the room for potential threats. If he finds such a man, he sets both beers down on the table. "She can be a bit forceful, but, can you think of a better way to generate some goodwill in a new city?"

[Cespenar]

Daros

Not especially skilled in gathering information, Daros decides to take the straight route and walks over to the bar. Ordering an additional round, Daros visibly plays with two gold coins on his other hand, while gulping down the drink.

"Say," he addresses the barkeep with a nod. "Heard anything interesting?"

[MistressBaerne]

Gareth:
Taking care to avoid the occasional patrols tramping through the streets, you make your way towards the central square of the city. Rather, towards the enormous crystal spire rising above it - the top of Queen Leena's palace. It's visible opulence is at odds with the rest of the city's more subdued architecture. Recent construction? You don't know enough about engineering to be sure, but it seems likely. You decide to make your way back to the rest of the group.

Araneyshi and Kadyn:
The innkeeper, and indeed the entire patronage of the inn, seem largely distrustful of you. You gather that Queens and Warlord Princes are not much in evidence hereabouts - and that when they are, it's usually to cause someone pain.

Rotem: You find yourself facing a dour man in stylishly-cut leathers, carrying a smoke-blackened sword. Setting his drink on the table, he smiles wanly. "That's the question, isn't it? Ten years ago, I'd say: Go do some good, earn some gold, make a place for yourself. Now, with that Dreyas bitch in her fancy new palace, who's to say? My apologies if you're her man, it's just that I've lost my whole life's work this morning, thanks to her."

He slumps forward, cradling his head in his hands. You suspect that this is not his first drink of the evening.

Daros:The innkeeper looks at you shrewdly. "You'll be from out-Territory, then? Come in with Her Ladyship over there?" He gestures at Araneyshi, the light from several everburning lanterns scattered through the room glinting off his shaven scalp. "There's not much to say. I've had better business than usual" he gestures to the man Rotem is talking to "More sorrows to drown, you see? But everyone else is suffering under our new queen. Ten years she's been here, and in that time she's undone three lifetimes of progress."

[playswithfire]

Rotem takes a pull on his own ale, then sets it on the table. No need for apologies; I've no allegiance to this Dreyas; just made it in to town, after all. Surely there's still some way to do some good in this town, though? Paying better attention to the man's mood But, that's hard to see when fate turns against you. Tel me, what did you do? And how was it taken away? If it's not too painful, that is. If it is, I'll leave you to your thoughts and enjoy the free beer that the lady just bought.

[Forum Explorer]

Gareth
Eventrually finding the inn the others were at Gareth enters the inn. Looking around Gareth makes his way to a table with a couple strangers at it. Mind if I sit down? He says politely.

[wxdruid]

Kadyn

He folds his arms across his chest and watches the patrons while keeping an eye on Areneyshi. He won't take a seat until she chooses where and then, he'll only eat something, he hasn't had alcohol in years and doesn't trust his temper after even having one.

[Cespenar]

Daros

"Why? What has she been doing?" Daros asks, in a rather naive way.

[MistressBaerne]

Gareth: "Sure, why not?" says the man closest to you. He's wearing a mail hauberk under a ragged cloak, and there are several weapons stacked against the wall. His companions scoot over to make room.


Kadyn:
"Have something to drink, stranger?" says an attractive woman sitting near you. She smiles brightly, her golden hair and emerald cloak complementing each other magnificently.

Rotem:
"I was a merchant. Silks and sandalwood, mostly, but other things too, it all came down the river on my barges. About six months ago, they started disappearing. `Pirates`, they said. And it was true, but the pirates were working for our dearly beloved Queen. I went to ask her for protection, and what did I see on the wall of that damned palace? A tapestry I'd ordered specially last week, that ought to have arrived on the most recent ship to be taken. Today, my house burned down, but it wasn't any ordinary fire. 'Twas witchfire, I tell you - "Blazing green and unquenched by water", just like the stories. Damned bitch-Queen." He takes another long draught of wine, then collapses into a sobbing wreck.

Daros:
There's sadness in the man's eyes, but also a glimmer of suspicion. "Where have you been, under a rock? Her soldiers have the run of the Territory. Whatever they want - food, coin, magic, women - it's theirs for the taking. Anyone who objects disappears. Dreyas claims it's the work of Kaeleeri raiders, and it's not that the Shadow Realmers wouldn't do it, but that it's such an obvious lie. There was a mage in here the other week, claimed he'd found a way to test people's guilt magically. He's gone now. It's all like that, for the past ten years." He shakes his head mournfully, glancing down towards the polished wood of the bar. "We had a chance to be a model Territory once. Industry, farms, magic, everything we'd have needed to stand up to Dorothea. All gone now."

[wxdruid]

Kadyn

Kadyn's smile is brittle as he looks back at the woman. No thank you lady, I am fine. He doesn't trust that look and doesn't trust her and would rather not have anything to do with her if at all possible.

[Forum Explorer]

Gareth

Thanks Gareth sighed in relief as he sat down. Relaxing he looked closer at the armor and weapons. Are you guys part of the guard? He asks calmly.

[Cespenar]

Daros

Listening to the man quite attentively, Daros ponders on what he had said for a few seconds. Then, again with his naive tone, he replies.

"So... you were thinking of standing up to Dorothea... but you don't think of standing up to her?"

[Arcane_Snowman]

Vox ((My apoligies for being so late, I've been busy))

Feeling a faint unexplained displeasure, Vox let the others walk into the establishment, while he waited outside, tossing up what to do: on one hand there were already enough nobles in there to make the people suspicious, and Vox considered himself odd enough for ten, but he did not want to leave Areneyshi alone either, even though he knew that she could more than take care of herself, most of the time.

Finally duty overwhelmed his sense of foreboding, like always, which left no alternative than to go in after Areneyshi, sullenly he trudged into the inn. Wordlessly, he took a seat in a corner, best not to let them think he was with everyone else, they already seemed like a suspicious lot. So he sat there, in his little corner, maintaining a view of the entire room: especially Areneyshi, there was no telling what she might get herself into, but even so, and although it annoyed Vox to admit it, life would be that much duller without it.

[MistressBaerne]

Gareth: "Well, that depends on what the master of the Guard decides, doesn't it? A man needs work, and we've just applied for some. Hey, how'd you know about that?"

Daros: "Yes. You see, we-plural would've been able to resist Hayll. I-singular dan't resist Dreyas, because she now controls we-plural. You see how this goes?" Sounding sarcastic and cynical, the man fills a glass with purplish liquid, which he slides down the bar to another customer.

[wxdruid]

Kadyn

With no further response from the woman, Kadyn turns his attention to looking at the other people in the room. He's trying to determine if any are Blood, Jeweled or Landen. Also the general wealth level of people in the room and if there are any particular dangers he should look out for.