Post by eyri on May 16, 2015 8:30:09 GMT -8
Dear Diary,
Well, we returned to the citadel with the wanted guy. I feel like we should have interrogated him for information a little first, but I don’t feel like I have a right to make any important decisions. I've never been in these sorts of situations before. I really don’t know how to act. I can think for days, I guess I’m good at that, but expressing that into words or actions is nigh impossible. Regardless, we reached the office of Cressida Kroft, the Field Marshal of the City Guard. She was in the middle of a conversation, I couldn't be bothered enough to eavesdrop as I was deep in thought. After a few moments, Hannelore knocked…then opened the door and crashed in. What an entrance; what is this person? We entered upon Cressida conversing with a grizzled older man by the name of Vencario Orisini. Apparently he is a quite skilled swordsman, infamous in the city even. To be honest this is the first I’ve heard of him, but I haven’t been in the city long enough I suppose. I doubt I could ever be educated on the art of swordplay. My steps may be graceful, but I can barely use a crossbow well, let alone participate in a melee with someone.
The conversation continued, Cressida introduced us, thanked us for bringing in the wanted guy, and offered us our reward. She then asked us for another favor; it seems the city still hasn't calmed down if there’s this much to do. I’m sure the guards could do more than they are instead of hiring random people like a band of mercenaries to do their dirty work. But everyone loves pushing their actual work onto others, or at least that's what I've gathered thusly in this city so far. And it sure sounded like dirty work. The ambassador from Cheliax was apparently up to some unneeded things; humans and their greed…their sins. They don’t know true sin…like existence. Such peculiar and foolish desires they have; I don’t suppose I’ll ever understand. My mind mingled in and out of the conversation, only picking up bits and pieces in betwixt my deep thinking. But I was able to deduce that we were going to a guy nicknamed ‘The King of Spiders’ to gather dirty information on the Ambassador. Though, Cressida's tone sounded strange to me. Like, she wanted disposal, but couldn't specifically say because the guy hadn't done anything wrong. He paid his taxes and didn't make trouble for the most part, or at least not enough to warrant a reprimand. But she knows that he’s crooked, and I think I was picking up on a personal request. However, I have no self confidence in my own deductions made about the human nature, so I was more than likely wrong; no need to voice any sort of opinion.
We made our way to Orisini's academy since it was close to the pier. It seemed like Hannelore knew this man. Maybe not personally, but they were talking about a man named Grau, probably a mutual friend. Orisini apparently isn't on good terms with the queen. Seems like he doesn't trust women of that nature, which is understandable. I felt like he spoke from personal experience, but he shrugged it off, so maybe not. Like I said, I’m terrible at understanding people.
When we reached his academy, he offered us accommodations for the night. Beds…again. I almost mustered up the courage to ask him if he had a coffin lying around anywhere, but I decided against it for a few reasons. Firstly, this was an academy for swordplay, not a church or a mortician’s, or even a carpenter’s. Secondly, I’m sure these people I’m with would have thought it weird, maybe even means for my destruction. There’s nothing wrong with beds, but i feel more contained; safer, in a coffin. I’m so exposed in a bed. The night passed. The scarf girl and elf went out for dinner, and to gather information. The cleric went to sleep, Hannelore cleaned her weapons, and I studied.
I’ll fast forward a bit. I don’t sleep much, so I’d be writing a lot more if I continued with the things that happened in the middle of the night. I was born during the day, and was no stranger to the sun or its light, but I feel so much more alive and awake at night. I usually cook up a polypurpose panacea just to help me sleep.
Orisini came to the room early, asking us to vacate. We thanked him for his hospitality, and Hannelore and he shared a few words about their friend. Then, we were off to the pier. As we drew close I immediately smelled it. Shiver. The air was thick with it. I immediately pinched my nose and gagged slightly as the others conversed with the guard. The cleric seemed different as well, more stiff and quiet. Mayhaps he knew of shiver about as much as I had. I let go of my nose as I handed the guard my ten sails for entry into their compound. My head began to hurt; I felt my body growing weaker. What is this feeling? Before I knew it, the cleric had returned to us, asking us to come into the big ship. I presumed the so called King of Spiders was inside, and I was correct.
I took up my place at the back of the room. I wanted to remain quiet and clear my head so I could think about the goings on. Thankfully the smell of Shiver was almost gone inside the cabin, or at least dispersed enough to bring clarity back to my mind. Negotiations began, it seemed like this King of Spiders cared more about good entertainment than he did about gold. The thug ‘recruits’ started moving a table into the center of the room, and one stood up on it. A game called ‘Knivesies.’ This was the first I’d heard of it, but the rules seemed simple enough, and were easy to understand. I kept quiet, this was obviously not a game meant for a frail woman such as myself. I almost laughed out loud when Hannelore stepped up onto the table and began wrapping her arm together with the thug’s. This wasn't going to end well…for the thug. I threw a sail onto the table with everyone else, unsure of how this ‘gambling’ worked.
Turns out, I was right. Hannelore smashed her fist into the guy’s head. He cut her with the dagger a few times before she reared back for another punch. The sound of something shattering echoed through the room as she smashed into his ear. He slumped over, falling off the table and dragging Hannelore with him. Did she even try to fight it? All I heard was her laughter as she fell and they untied her from the thug. Who is this woman? Does battle truly give such a sense of ecstasy for her?
Another thug stepped up onto the table, and the varisian girl with the scarf stepped up to take him on. After winning the last round, I threw ten sails onto the table for the next. Gambling was fun! You apparently throw money onto a table, and then get more back. How peculiar! The scarf girl won quickly, knocking the thug she was tied to out. She managed to not get dragged down, so perhaps Hannelore just rolled with it in her bloodlust when she had fallen?
Negotiations continued, and he offered us another game. Throwing daggers at a pseudo dragon he had captured. The cleric immediately protested, not wanting so see the dragon come to harm. I stared at the dragon, was it truly worth paying that much more gold for? As the cleric tried negotiating with the king of spiders I asked it how it became caged. It spoke in my head, telling me it had been snuck up on, poisoned, and captured. It asked me to free it. I began looking around the room. We were outnumbered almost two to one. It wouldn't have been good if we just started attacking. Not to mention there were guards still outside.
Next thing I knew, the cleric was taking off his armor, and his clot- WAIT! His c-c-clothes?! What had I missed? Why was the cleric now in his skivvies? They put a small vial of liquid on his head, it looked alchemical but I was too far away to deduce its contents. Scarf girl threw a knife, shattering the vial with deadly accuracy. Then the king reared back to throw, but what was he aiming at? No vial had been replaced on the cleric’s head. The sound of slicing muscles filled the room as the dagger dug into the cleric’s thigh. WAS THIS GUY AN IDIOT?! WHY WAS HE LETTING PEOPLE THROW DAGGERS AT HIM? To prevent harm to the dragon? That doesn't make sense. This being had obviously been tortured, and would continue to be, surely. Why would he risk harm in himself to protect a being whose fate was already doomed? There was more talking I missed while I was trapped in thought. But before I realized, the king of spiders had returned with a stack of documents. This was what we needed; the information we had been trying to pry out of this man. Scarf girl and the elf quickly exited the cabin of the boat, I apologized in draconic as I stepped out; and right back into the smell of Shiver. It took a few minutes for Hannelore and the cleric to come back out, and once they had I immediately expressed my desire for haste away from this place.
We returned to Cressida, giving her the documents, which she began reading over. Her cheeks blushed. It seemed the contents were quite lusty. She thanked us, rewarded us, and that was that; seems like we've really been helping the city out. I guess I’ll do some more studying, I think I’m on to something good.
Well, we returned to the citadel with the wanted guy. I feel like we should have interrogated him for information a little first, but I don’t feel like I have a right to make any important decisions. I've never been in these sorts of situations before. I really don’t know how to act. I can think for days, I guess I’m good at that, but expressing that into words or actions is nigh impossible. Regardless, we reached the office of Cressida Kroft, the Field Marshal of the City Guard. She was in the middle of a conversation, I couldn't be bothered enough to eavesdrop as I was deep in thought. After a few moments, Hannelore knocked…then opened the door and crashed in. What an entrance; what is this person? We entered upon Cressida conversing with a grizzled older man by the name of Vencario Orisini. Apparently he is a quite skilled swordsman, infamous in the city even. To be honest this is the first I’ve heard of him, but I haven’t been in the city long enough I suppose. I doubt I could ever be educated on the art of swordplay. My steps may be graceful, but I can barely use a crossbow well, let alone participate in a melee with someone.
The conversation continued, Cressida introduced us, thanked us for bringing in the wanted guy, and offered us our reward. She then asked us for another favor; it seems the city still hasn't calmed down if there’s this much to do. I’m sure the guards could do more than they are instead of hiring random people like a band of mercenaries to do their dirty work. But everyone loves pushing their actual work onto others, or at least that's what I've gathered thusly in this city so far. And it sure sounded like dirty work. The ambassador from Cheliax was apparently up to some unneeded things; humans and their greed…their sins. They don’t know true sin…like existence. Such peculiar and foolish desires they have; I don’t suppose I’ll ever understand. My mind mingled in and out of the conversation, only picking up bits and pieces in betwixt my deep thinking. But I was able to deduce that we were going to a guy nicknamed ‘The King of Spiders’ to gather dirty information on the Ambassador. Though, Cressida's tone sounded strange to me. Like, she wanted disposal, but couldn't specifically say because the guy hadn't done anything wrong. He paid his taxes and didn't make trouble for the most part, or at least not enough to warrant a reprimand. But she knows that he’s crooked, and I think I was picking up on a personal request. However, I have no self confidence in my own deductions made about the human nature, so I was more than likely wrong; no need to voice any sort of opinion.
We made our way to Orisini's academy since it was close to the pier. It seemed like Hannelore knew this man. Maybe not personally, but they were talking about a man named Grau, probably a mutual friend. Orisini apparently isn't on good terms with the queen. Seems like he doesn't trust women of that nature, which is understandable. I felt like he spoke from personal experience, but he shrugged it off, so maybe not. Like I said, I’m terrible at understanding people.
When we reached his academy, he offered us accommodations for the night. Beds…again. I almost mustered up the courage to ask him if he had a coffin lying around anywhere, but I decided against it for a few reasons. Firstly, this was an academy for swordplay, not a church or a mortician’s, or even a carpenter’s. Secondly, I’m sure these people I’m with would have thought it weird, maybe even means for my destruction. There’s nothing wrong with beds, but i feel more contained; safer, in a coffin. I’m so exposed in a bed. The night passed. The scarf girl and elf went out for dinner, and to gather information. The cleric went to sleep, Hannelore cleaned her weapons, and I studied.
I’ll fast forward a bit. I don’t sleep much, so I’d be writing a lot more if I continued with the things that happened in the middle of the night. I was born during the day, and was no stranger to the sun or its light, but I feel so much more alive and awake at night. I usually cook up a polypurpose panacea just to help me sleep.
Orisini came to the room early, asking us to vacate. We thanked him for his hospitality, and Hannelore and he shared a few words about their friend. Then, we were off to the pier. As we drew close I immediately smelled it. Shiver. The air was thick with it. I immediately pinched my nose and gagged slightly as the others conversed with the guard. The cleric seemed different as well, more stiff and quiet. Mayhaps he knew of shiver about as much as I had. I let go of my nose as I handed the guard my ten sails for entry into their compound. My head began to hurt; I felt my body growing weaker. What is this feeling? Before I knew it, the cleric had returned to us, asking us to come into the big ship. I presumed the so called King of Spiders was inside, and I was correct.
I took up my place at the back of the room. I wanted to remain quiet and clear my head so I could think about the goings on. Thankfully the smell of Shiver was almost gone inside the cabin, or at least dispersed enough to bring clarity back to my mind. Negotiations began, it seemed like this King of Spiders cared more about good entertainment than he did about gold. The thug ‘recruits’ started moving a table into the center of the room, and one stood up on it. A game called ‘Knivesies.’ This was the first I’d heard of it, but the rules seemed simple enough, and were easy to understand. I kept quiet, this was obviously not a game meant for a frail woman such as myself. I almost laughed out loud when Hannelore stepped up onto the table and began wrapping her arm together with the thug’s. This wasn't going to end well…for the thug. I threw a sail onto the table with everyone else, unsure of how this ‘gambling’ worked.
Turns out, I was right. Hannelore smashed her fist into the guy’s head. He cut her with the dagger a few times before she reared back for another punch. The sound of something shattering echoed through the room as she smashed into his ear. He slumped over, falling off the table and dragging Hannelore with him. Did she even try to fight it? All I heard was her laughter as she fell and they untied her from the thug. Who is this woman? Does battle truly give such a sense of ecstasy for her?
Another thug stepped up onto the table, and the varisian girl with the scarf stepped up to take him on. After winning the last round, I threw ten sails onto the table for the next. Gambling was fun! You apparently throw money onto a table, and then get more back. How peculiar! The scarf girl won quickly, knocking the thug she was tied to out. She managed to not get dragged down, so perhaps Hannelore just rolled with it in her bloodlust when she had fallen?
Negotiations continued, and he offered us another game. Throwing daggers at a pseudo dragon he had captured. The cleric immediately protested, not wanting so see the dragon come to harm. I stared at the dragon, was it truly worth paying that much more gold for? As the cleric tried negotiating with the king of spiders I asked it how it became caged. It spoke in my head, telling me it had been snuck up on, poisoned, and captured. It asked me to free it. I began looking around the room. We were outnumbered almost two to one. It wouldn't have been good if we just started attacking. Not to mention there were guards still outside.
Next thing I knew, the cleric was taking off his armor, and his clot- WAIT! His c-c-clothes?! What had I missed? Why was the cleric now in his skivvies? They put a small vial of liquid on his head, it looked alchemical but I was too far away to deduce its contents. Scarf girl threw a knife, shattering the vial with deadly accuracy. Then the king reared back to throw, but what was he aiming at? No vial had been replaced on the cleric’s head. The sound of slicing muscles filled the room as the dagger dug into the cleric’s thigh. WAS THIS GUY AN IDIOT?! WHY WAS HE LETTING PEOPLE THROW DAGGERS AT HIM? To prevent harm to the dragon? That doesn't make sense. This being had obviously been tortured, and would continue to be, surely. Why would he risk harm in himself to protect a being whose fate was already doomed? There was more talking I missed while I was trapped in thought. But before I realized, the king of spiders had returned with a stack of documents. This was what we needed; the information we had been trying to pry out of this man. Scarf girl and the elf quickly exited the cabin of the boat, I apologized in draconic as I stepped out; and right back into the smell of Shiver. It took a few minutes for Hannelore and the cleric to come back out, and once they had I immediately expressed my desire for haste away from this place.
We returned to Cressida, giving her the documents, which she began reading over. Her cheeks blushed. It seemed the contents were quite lusty. She thanked us, rewarded us, and that was that; seems like we've really been helping the city out. I guess I’ll do some more studying, I think I’m on to something good.
Sera Winter