Tea and Trumpets
Log Info
- Title: Tea and Trumpets
- Emitter: Whirlpool
- Characters: Merek, Aryia, Auranar, Seyardu, Paenitia, Jinks, Halani, Cesran , Venom, Stjepan
- Place: A03: Colosseum District
- Time: Wednesday, September 01, 2021, 9:42 PM
- Summary: Griva and Farland are giving out Tea and spreading the purpose of their organization. Merek, freshly back from the Dead, says the Shards are harmless and supports Griva in her mission, somewhat. Aryia, is tired of all this God-stuff, and is only present to hear that Taara won't be given Shards. Auranar, gets into it with Griva and Merek, questioning their knowledge, motive and intentions. Seyardu, laments that accord can't be reached and feels uncertain about these Shards and what they might entail. Paenitia, inspired by Jinks' observations, declares that this is the perfect ludicrous quest to sign on for, so Tarien approves and she is in like Flink. Jinks is somewhat paying attention, but mostly paying it to Halani as they have been in the Colosseum again, and the question of cheating has come up. Cesran, back only from the Sea of Mana, like Griva, is recovering and largely present to find out what, where, and when their next task is. Venom, expresses her trust in Angels acting as their god's hand, more than mortals, and ponders interrupting the arguments that continue around. Stjepan jokingly reminds Halani of 'that time in Dragonieer' and she kills him with a look and harsh words. Figuratively. Imane, Lars and Firestarter were so much in the background they never actually appear to interact, but to be sure, they were there watching in spirit.
-=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=-<* A03: Colosseum District *>--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=-
The earth trembled where the Champion once trod. Legend by some states that His strength was so mighty that He naturally clove in two, creating the twin gods of Angoron and Kor. Other legends tell other tales, too, and the tour guides are quick to spin them, while at the same describing the history of the Colosseum, a tribute to both gods as well as the glorious and competitive spirit of all creatures and even Alexandria, Herself.
The structure stands imposingly massive, a great stage crafted from a time when the oruch and khazad worked in tandem. It displays perfectly the contrasts and strengths of each culture in its carved stonework, from the oruch's tribal frenzy to the khazadi strength and solidarity.
Vendors, shops, surround the arena, and turn this into a place of commerce. At any time, a number of Warriors, Heralds of Angoron or Kor may be seen, offering advice and the wisdom of the Twins. For all its serious, it is a place of laughter as well. Tarien's taverns and trickery makes its home here, and the too-proud warrior may quickly find him or herself on the opposite end of a banana peel or practical joke.
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-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= Appearing, in Order -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= Merek 5'10" 215 Lb Human Male A black-haired, dusky male with golden eyes. Aryia 4'8" 110 Lb Shadow Elf Female A heavily scarred mul with a resolved look about her. Auranar 4'8" 123 Lb Wild Elf Female A wild elf with dark skin and a red dress. Seyardu 5'6" 150 Lb Sith-Makar Female A friendly silver sith-makar with a perpetual squint. Paenitia 3'0" 34 Lb Halfling Female A Lucht knight, dark skinned in bold feathery finery. Jinks 3'4" 39 Lb Gnome Male A gnomish fellow in fancy garb and jewelry. Halani 5'4" 120 Lb Human/Xian Female Shortish, dusky skinned woman with almond shaped eyes. Cesran 6'1" 185 Lb Human Male A tall dark-skinned man. Venom 5'6" 130 Lb Human Female A woman(?) about 5'6" in a ragged black veil and poncho. Stjepan 8'0" 534 Lb Giantborn Male Big, blonde jotun. -=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--= -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= Busy Handing out Tea =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= Imane 5'6" 105 Lb Dawn Elf Female A blonde elf in a white tunic and black boots. -=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--= -=--=--=--=--=-- NPCS of Note -=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--= Griva Brassbringer Khazdi Female Head of the Alexandrian Chapter of the Resurrection Society Farland Gnome Male Companion and assistant to Griva -=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--= -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= As the GM -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= Whirlpool 5'0" Otyugh I am stinky! -=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=
It's a fine evening for a meeting of the Resurrectionist Society in Alexandria! Seems they're doing good deeds for the day! Handing out free food to the hungry, cleaning the streets. You know, the kind of things people do as a positive relation. Today, this is exactly what they're doing. Offering free slices of pie, even, in a variety of kinds.
It's all very non-threatening for a group dedicated to restoring the fallen God of Magic.
Griva Brassbringer herself is present, the older Khazadi woman with the startlingly blue eyes and greying hair, as is her associate Farland, a fabulously dressed gnome who is also not Jinks.
Of course, Merek would take the time to put on his attire. It's a dark shirt and pants, decorated with silver. He has on a cape, and overall seems to be in formal wear. He notices Griva and nods, "Good to see you again." To those about, it looks like he is back from the Halls. Aryia and Seyardu will probably notice that he doesn't look anywhere as well as when he was visiting Aya, when they dropped in. To anyone else, well he just looks tired a bit, though it's clear he's masking it.
Aryia had heard of the meeting not too long ago, her coming from the temple with a fresh journal in one arm. She was dressed a bit better than usual: black slacks with a shimmery silver vest and a white button up. Something that wasn't (gasp) Sandy supplied. Gods forfend if she ever found out.
A scarred, dapper mul'neissa woman meanders the streets, attempting to find where this meeting is supposed to take hold so she could take notes for her mentor. The quality of such notes is to be determined. She takes note of Merek, her waffling about nearby.
A red dress proclaims Auranar's presence, the elvish woman is almost dark enough to be mistaken for mul'niessia, particularly with her black hair and eyes, but the bubble-gum pink of the lower portion of her hair, suggests either a really good dye or perhaps... not mul'niessia. She has her own notebook in hand, as well as a pencil for taking notes. A soft smile touches her lips as she motions greetings to the various people that she doesn't know.
Seyardu was passing by the colosseum district to reach the TaRaCe, but the gathering of some familiar faces gives some pause. She waves to those she knows, stepping closer out of curiosity. "Peace on your nests." She greets once she is closer. Merek gets a second glance and a squint, but she doesn't push it around all the unknown people.
"Those clothes look nice on you." She adds to Aryia, something she had heard passerbies mention on occasion, when someone was wearing a particularly fancy set of clothes.
A Red Knight astride an Ivory Steed is traveling between the Colosseum and the Tarrace. The knight, Sister Paenitia, a dark skinned lucht in red armour, with a wide brimmed hat and a mask; the mount, brave Ramirez, a peacock-gypsy-andalusian hippogryph, in white with crimson eye-spots.
He trots in with a slap-clop gait while she looks around at those assembled. A few draw longer gaze than most.
Jinks exits the Colosseum of all places. One of the side doors leading into the smaller practice and preparatory wings opens to expel the battered-but-smug gnome. He's half-dressed after crawling back into his coat and busies himself producing rings, bracelets, studs, necklace, clasps and so on from assorted pockets and reassigning them to the appropriate digit, nose, ear, neck, et cetera. His rapier bounces against his back, sheathed and hanging from the belt looped over his shoulder temporarily. One eye is swollen half-closed and there's caked blood in his goatee but the glittering fellow seems in high spirits. "... and you thought I should practice," he comments to his shadow.
That shadow coalesces into a shortish Xian woman with the look of an Islander who shrugs, though her grin shows she's pleased with the outcome of the gnome's bout. "Eh. I still say that, yeah? Either your coyote finally took pity on you, or she let you tap her, yeah? And grandfather always said... the world's best fighter doesn't fear the world's second best fighter. He fears the world's worst fighter because he never knows what the fool is going to do."
Cesran is traveling via flying carpet today and he's sitting on it. He's got pillows around him to help prop him up with his staff next to him. He's making his way towards one of the TarRaCe to get out and enjoy some fresh air and hopefully good company. He nods to others that he knows as he slowly directs the carpet through the traffic.
"Welcome, welcome one and all," says Griva Brassbringer.
"Join us, have some tea." A gesture towards a table erected with clean cups and a piping hot decanter of tea ready to go. "We're always eager to help our comrades, and to dput at ease the fears some have of what our goals are stated to be."
She smiles, warmly, but it's hard to hide the sheer exhaustion that she visibly is enduring at the moment.
Auranar hesitates, but after a moment joins the table. She doesn't grab a cup of tea immediately, but she does arrange her writing materials and her skirts before settling into her chair and looking attentively at Griva. She knows some of the rumors that are swirling around, but she is more curious than anything else.
In the outskirts, to human eyes a ripple of shadow, though to others, simply a dark shrouded figure moving through the night between mana lamps, arrives at the periphery of the gathering. Head to toe in black, veils and poncho obscuring most of Venom's silhouette, the figure lifts a hand to the first eyes turned her way in a silent wave before her arms fold beneath her oilcloth shroud.
Merek lifts a hand up to his face, coughing into a glove. He quickly hides the hand, dropping it down next to him. "Tea would be wonderful." He doesn't state what's on his mind, instead he walks to the table to pick up the tea and will take a moment to look at it. He nods, a little bit to Aryia and Seyardu, then to Cesran.
Aryia gives a nod towards Seyardu, her smiling at the compliment. "Thanks," she gestures with one hand, pulling a pair of shaded spectacles off of her collar and sliding them on. She was uncertain of exactly who was conducting this, but they looked important, so she pulls out her journal, sits at the table, and holds a pen in hand, looking to scribble. She looks around the crowd gathered, surprised by the turnout.
But she does spot Venom, her giving a large wave towards them along with a smile.<Handspeech>
"Thank you, the tea would not go unappreciated." Seyardu nods as she takes a cup. "Are you, alright, however? It seems this has taken a lot out of you, or you were already tired." They continue questioningly.
The movement out of the corner of and eye makes her sniff the air, and she turns to see the shrouded woman, who gets a wave as she steps away so others may get something to drink.
Paenitia stays in the saddle, up on her high hippogryph where she can watch the crowd. Aryia, Seyarud, Venom, get a short wave of her guantlet. Others in the crowd get a longer look, the man in black, the one on the carpet, the gnomes. Her attention then turns to Griva.
Cesran carefully makes his way over to get himself a cup tea and he sets his carpet down off to the side so he can be bit out of the way but still hear Griva. He gives a nod to Merek as he takes a sip of his tea and he reaches into his nearby pack to take out a small plate of baked goods.
"If she let the blow land than the deal is already done," Jinks laughs briefly, bracing his ribs and half-turning to look up at Halani through a wince. "And better to be a bet-won fool with dinner plans than the any-best fighter sweating away in a dank practice cellar; it's almost as if the Strongest hasn't heard of proper ventilation."
The gnome slows as he approaches the edge of the gathering, going to tip-toe and craning his neck to take in the scene. He sniffs at the aromas on the air and then tilts his head at the islander woman. "Well, see, there's Coyote having a laugh you'll enjoy; celebratory 'tea' of all things."
Venom cocks her head a touch as she notes some familiar faces. A gloved hand emerges anew and repeats the wave with more enthusiasm this time before returning to shelter. With only the faint sound of foot upon the stone, the shrouded figure drifts over toward Aryia and Seyardu, waving to the little Knight and her huge steed along the way.
Halani lifts her chin just a bit and gives a little sniff at Jinks's remark. "There are worse things to offer than tea, and few bad things ever came from drinking tea," she tells him. Though upon recognizing Griva there is a subtle shift to her expression... her gaze going just slightly distant, the faint lines in her forehead disappearing.
Tea is always appreciated, and people who've had a long day getting free tea, working commoners and more, are hardly opposed to free tea even if it's from a source they're as wary of as the Resurrectionists. It's just tea.
Griva is hardly alone, either, and the handful of members of the society with her are busying themselves amongst the commons, trying to assuage concerns about their nature. It's of limited success: you can only say you want to bring back a dead god so many times before people 1) believe you and 2) get very concerned about the consequences of the act. Animus dying was bad enough to shake the foundations of the world -- what might bringing him back do?
Still, Griva and her friends seem implacable about it. They're committed to a cause, even if it might end in abject failure. Nothing will be done without a great deal of study.
Assuming the world doesn't fall apart, first
That's what Griva says, of course, when she's speaking to one of the city guards who's keeping an eye on the mess, who inquired.
Auranar takes avid notes as the explanation is given. Blinking several times at the consideration that these people wanted to bring back a god from the dead. She supposed that it might be possible, but wise? Her hand veritably flies over her page, but she is too busy to get into any tea.
Aryia somewhat already understood the premise, despite not really caring too much about god-related things. At least Animus would be better than Taara, for what it's worth. One hand scribbles notes down as well, just like Auranar does, though her other one pats a seat next to her, inviting the veiled figure over.
"Yes, you are going to try to bring Animus back?" Seyardu asks from where she stands, sipping on her tea. "This one does not know how gods work, if it is possible."
There was also the matter of fiends planning something around their plans, but that was best not brought up with so many around. "Has something like that even been done before?"
Merek looks at the back of his glove, perhaps thinking about the borromean rings within. To anyone looking, they might notice a dark crimson patch stained into the front of the palm he coughed into. Then he's taking a look to Griva, "Will it be a while before we look for the next task?" he asks. Then he's looking to Aryia, "You been doing alright?" then to Seyardu, "And you?" It looks like a lot changed for him, "Did we ever find anything else about the... Demons, from the house?" he asks. Mindful always of the task at hand.
Memories, the man thinks what it would be like to have met one of them for once and not been pulled into all of this. Then he notices Auranar taking notes, curious about it. Well, he's not taking notes.
Aryia merely just gives a thumbs up to the question directed towards her.
The little red knight has heard some of the rumours, been involved in searching for some of the shards and the other efforts to renew the pact. It's helpful to her to have it all explained concisely.
"It sound like the mage effort. What aid you need from knights and boxers?" Paenitia calls out, with another guantlet-tip wave at Halani and Jinks.
Venom settles in silently with a nod to the invitation, giving the mute woman a little knuckle bump to her arm and a quick signed, "Thank you. How long has this been going on?" <handspeech>
After that, however, her hands vanish under her poncho to emerge with the fixings of her own notecraft. After all, meddling in the Gods' Domain on such a scale can't be anything but a fascinating topic.
Scribble-scribble, scritch-scriiiitch-scrble-scribble.....
Cesran just sits and listens for the moment to all the questions that are coming. He sips his tea as he waits for the answers. Jinks lifts his flask up in return-salte to Paenitia when the paladina offers greetings. He's content to find a spot under a mana-lamp and lean against the post, unscrewing the flask's cap as he thinks. "I'm sure I can come up with a tragedy that's happened over tea... but I'll need a moment," he counters before tipping back his spirits.
"...it's an effort for everyone," says Griva to the knight. "We share this world. If you believe in our cause, take up our pin and put it on your collar. It's not enchanted. It's just a sign of support." People can be wary of dealing with wizards, after all, and Griva seems to understand that.
"We don't know how Gods work either. Our hope is that if we can gather enough of the shards, pieces of fallen divinity, we can learn if its even possible. It may not be, and that would be a sad day indeed to learn such, but even magic has its limits. We don't presume to know the workings of the Gods. Even their followers can only interpret their will through a prism of their own minds and fears. We limited mortals must take great care in assuming we know their will, even as they speak to us." She shrugs her shoulders, offering a tired smile.
Auranar pauses in her note taking, but simply shakes her head. Dismissing whatever question she'd had and instead writing something down. "So... you really don't know much of anything." She says, not unkindly, and without any venom, but rather... disappointed really. "You just want people to go out and collect these things for you at the risk of their own lives for a god who's already dead." It's fairly clear that she's not about to put any pin on.
"I'm sure you can, yeah?" Halani says, though her eyes never leave Griva. Not for long, anyways. Jinks's gestured response to Paenitia has her scanning briefly, and spying the the knight.. a smile, only slightly tight, is offered, along with a two fingers to the forehead flicked away gesture.. but her eyes quickly return to the ressurectionist spokesperson. "But I bet the tragedy wouldn't have been because of the tea." A pause. "Poison doesn't count. Because if it's been poisoned, it's no longer tea."
"...no?" says Griva to Auranar, gently.
"The shards already exist. The people who are retrieving them are paid to do so, and know the risks. They are dangerous, especially if allowed to fall into the wrong hands. It's best they not be left out in the open. We are learning about the Shards. Our goal is to restore Animus, but it may be impossible. We are merely unafraid to consider the impossible."
"I have been, as well as can be." Seyardu replies. "The house, there were many, the fiends are busy. Haven't directly encountered any in a while, which may be good, may not be."
Another loose end. The silver sith-makar sighs. "So, you do not have a plan yet, but hope to? Are you concerned about the process of gathering them all? Having such objects all in one place may attracted unwanted, and unpleasant attention."
Aryia frowns at the thought of showing open support to any divine, be it dead or alive. Instead she nudges Venom back, her gesturing back a, "A few minutes."
She just shakes her head, letting out a sputtering sigh and a shake of her head as she writes. "Better you all than others." Wait. Her head events out, pointing at Griva. "Explain the Taaran Priestess and her involvement. She tried to persuade some to give a piece to her." <Handspeech>
Cesran moves his carpet up, "Regardless of whether we bring Animus back or not, these shards are powerful artifacts and we need to be united in finding them and keeping them out of the wrong hands." He starts to move his carpet forward, "These aren't just mage problems or cleric problems it's everyone's problem. If we let nations like Charn or petty warlords get them because we don't want to be bothered with them, then we'll be in for a bad time." Cesran moves to take a pin and to put it on his collar before he goes to sit back down.
"The pieces are pretty dangerous. I personally am not excited to bring back Animus. Especially given what the servants of Eluna actually said to me," Merek will mention to everyone. Then he looks to Cesran and nods a bit, "At least one was used to power ancient Kulthian technology." Then he looks to everyone, "And the quest to find the Shards did... End up saving the entire world in one case. At great cost." He then looks to be a little bit distant. He doesn't mention the other things. "Anyway. It's important we find all of them anyway."
Jinks opened his mouth to say something but then Halani offers her caveats and qualifiers and he closes his mouth, frowning. He had something. Tucking the flask away, he pads towards the tea table, selecting a tallman-sized cup that's more a bowl in the gnome's hands. A brief pause to linger and consider fancy Farland allows for the ozone shock of a budding rivalry to fill the air before bejeweled Jinks snatches up one of the pins and walks back to Halani and holds up the tea.
"The Khazadi don't tend to bite. At least not the house-trained ones." States the gnome, mildly, before he busies himself with examining the pin he's acquired.
Jinks says, "Enough of Animus' followers didn't go blind the first time he died. Bring him back. Kill him again. It's all a conspiracy by the red-tipped cane and sunglasses industry."
"...Belvade," replies Griva, uttered somewhere between a curse and a sigh. "She has her own agenda. As a Taaran, I doubt I need to tell you what it is, no matter how much she'd like you to believe otherwise." A glance towards Merek. "Eluna's servants are, however, *not* Eluna. Let us not assume that the Servants of the Gods speak with one desire and one voice anymore than *we* do. As for the disposition of the Shards, let me assure you that we're not careless. We're not bashing them together to see what happens."
The elf tilts her head, writing something down in her notes but looking quizzically at Griva. "Even if you're paying people, you're paying people to put their lives at risk. You just said yourself that these things are dangerous. And you said you want them collected for your cause... so for Animus. Rather than say... give the shards to Eluna." Auranar waves a hand. "And what guarantee do you have that you are the best ones to give them to? Rather than say... a temple." She side-eyes Merek.
"Who says we don't cooperate with the temples? I can hardly *directly* confirm that, of course. Such a direct confirmation *might* place a temple under threat, but we're operating in coordination with the local governments and faiths as to their disposition and their study." Griva offers to Auranar.
"Ha! Do not worry! The Tarienite Temple is prepared as always." The Red Knight says proudly, swiftly followed by, "Oh! I should not have said and give away the hiding spot."
This is said with... whatever facial expression she might be having completely hidden by a mask with a stylized grin. And a Man's face. Possibly everything she says is a joke.
Her thunderstones are calling.
Venom is not far out of reach if anyone needs some.
The questions probably draw her shielded eyes, but only the closest would be likely able to see through the obfuscation. Meanwhile, her scribing continues, a doodle here and there.
She looks up and nods to Seyardu, setting her pen down and reaching up to lightly clap-clap her shoulder.
The return nudge from Aryia warrants a nod, and her now-free hand signs further, "That's a good point." <handspeech>
"Actually.." Halani starts, but then Jinks adds his own qualifier, so she shrugs instead. "They do have big teeth, though, yeah?" she says instead, somewhat lamely. "Eh. Just wondering if what she's doing is linked to the other stuff, yeah?" She wills her attention away from Griva after this, maybe taking Jinks's words as a cue that she's being too obvious about her staring.. and by doing so, opens herself up more to the questions the dwarf is being assailed with. "Crowd seems a bit... I don't know. Not tense. But.. something."
"That's true enough, I'm only saying to be mindful of the dangers. Though, I'm sure you're aware. And I'll assist anyway to keep them away from the dark gods," Merek offers. Then he's looking to Auranar, "They're safe. And won't bring any issue to the citenzry directly. I can say that much." Then a look to Griva, "With that in mind, where did the Resurrections come up with the idea? Why wait until you know... All these things, why not during that Rune War? You all said you presented it because you believe it's why everything is getting crazy. What made you all think that?" To Venom he does look, if only because he notices that she's signing like Aryia, and looks along to Cesran.
"I don't know if you noticed but we were sort of at war at the time," says Griva to Merek, dryly.
Aryia scribbles down the name of the priestess and circles it, a frown appearing on her face. Still she writes more, her hand cramping some as she glances over at Venom's own notes. And doodles. A corner of her lip raises in a smile, her nodding and reaching over to the notebook with her own pen and making three quick strokes.
"I meant right after it, apologies," Merek clarifies.
Auranar has the grace to look a bit embarrassed. "Well, nobody said you did either." She writes a few notes down for good measure and then, staring at her notes inquisitively she offers a few statements mostly to herself. "That being said, it does seem that these things will be trouble unless they are brought somewhere. Together seems a dangerous location, but if you're working with the local government and temples..." She shrugs thoughtfully, not looking up from her notes. Not until she feels Merek looking at her and then she looks at him. "You can say with certainty that the shards are completely safe? That sounds like arrogance to me. I heard that someone used a number of cantrips to steal an item from one of the temples not two months gone."
"I would not be surprised if the Taaran has other plans. I would expect it honestly, but the question is how deep do they go, and how much goes unknown." Seyardu notes. She looks up to the lucht knight after feeling a hand on her shoulder, to whom she nods and gives a smile. This was all quite a bit going on, and she sighs.
"So, the shards, at the very least, should be kept safe. Even if they cannot be brought back, they should not be allowed to be taken by others."
This comment from Merek makes her tilt her head. "This deceased god may have something to do with recent events? That is certainly concerning."
"Take the damned tea, tallman, I just wanted a pin to look at." Jinks pushes to hold the cup a little closer to the islander woman. He takes his arm out and rolls his shoulder once the cup is accepted, then pockets the miniature Animus holy symbol. "The adventuring guild is full of people who've learned not to trust doors and they're talking about piecing a god that's been dead for a decade back together from shards that all seem to be tied to some horrible tragedy or malicious power. There might be a few dubious minds in the crowd." The gnome remarks with a glance towards the main body of the gathering.
Halani blinks at Jinks, looking at the tea in his hand blankly for a moment. Then, smiling sheepishly, she takes it from him and raises it to her lips, sipping slightly from it. "S'pose. I was on one of those missions, though... and trust me," Halani tells Jinks, her face grimacing. Either bad tea or a bad memory. "Those things can't be left lying around, yeah? And at least her group is actually doing something about it. And has the resources to find them."
Venom's expression is unreadable, though her chin lifts from her notes to pivot toward the assurance of safety for the general populace. She might be staring for a time, then shakes her head and starts to renew her notetaking.
And gets smiled at.
The little sigil prompts a cock of her head, perhaps a blink or two, before she turns to Aryia and makes a similar mark in the corner of the Mul's notes.
Paenitia looks at Jinks, her mask fully grinning at him. "When you put that way, I am sold! Ramirez! I dismount." Her hippogryph extends his wing and she slides to the ground to clank over to the table with all the pins.
"The crazy quest offered by the fanatic mage to seek the impossible and restore the unknowable, performed by the ignorant is just the thing for a Paladina of Tarien."
Said self-proclaimed Paladina arrives at the table with the pins. Of course, the excessive had to build a table too tall, so the Red Knight collects a chair and then climbs on top of it. Now, she may place on hand on the table lean over to the collection of pins and takes one. It is attached to her cloak to her collar. "Tarien, he will not even be jealous I am seeing other God-Men. This, I think he will approve."
"Mm, no one said it was at a Temple. Nothing is 100% safe. I can tell you that it's not a thing to be concerned about at the moment," Merek tells Auranar. The man takes a cigarette from the pocket, places it into his mouth and with a flint, he lights it, takes a drag of the smoke. "Because of the Resurrections, I will admit, they've made the world safer, finding the Shards."
Aryia looks between all as they converse, a confusion across her visage. This all sounded very insane to her. She had a lot of words in her head that, in no way, should be shared, else that'd grate on all present. Back to taking note-
She squints at her page, back to Venom, then back to her page before breaking into a small snicker of a silent giggle and nudging the veiled woman back with a knuckle to the arm.
"...fanatic?" says Griva, lightly offended.
"A fanatic would not embrace the uncertainty of the goal in question. It's an idea, a hope, a dream. It may be an unachievable one, almost assuredly unachievable, but that does not mean we dare not try, dare not dream, dare no the impossible. Daring the impossible is the essence of magic, is it not? And is not the pursuit of a dream the promise of Eluna?"
Griva spreads her hands, shaking her head with a bit of a sad expression on her face. "I can not speak to the safety of the Shards. All involved in their security are doing their best, but to say they are completely safe is, of course, a promise no one can keep."
Cesran rises up a bit above the crowd, "Thank you for the information Griva, do you have any updates on possible shard locations or a plan to get back those shards we know are in the wrong hands?" He asks.
"You dream the impossible dream." Paenitia says, laughing cheerfully, "That is why I give you the support."
Seyardu seemed like she was going to ask another question when she saw Aryia and Venom scribbling in the books. The books seem to make her pause as she remembers one she has on her, and suddenly she is looking all around the area, still listening. "Well, as I said, even if unachievable, then ensuring they are in safe hands is a priority. And if it is not possible, then longer term solutions can be devised. It is not a bad dream, no, but one that could be taken by those with bad intentions. Which is why making sure what can be done is done, is so important." They add, still looking around themselves.
Auranar stares at Merek, and it's clear that she's decided that she's not very fond of him. His platitudes are off-putting, but she nods acknowledgement to Griva's truthful admittance that they can't know for certain about the safety of the shards. Though the rest of the woman's statement... Well. That she can but stay silent on. People need their illusions. "Yes, why are we here? Or is it just to ensure that people do not think ill of your organization?"
Stjepan came, though he took his sweet time doing it. He focuses on Griva, from afar, considering her and the floating-Cesran.
Venom rocks a little, very little on the nudge and, veils lightly swishing as she turns back to paying attention to the proceedings, resumes her scrible-scritchy-scritchy. Her notes require a new page soon, and her new notes become a pidgin of several scripts.
At one point, perhaps to work a writer's cramp out of her hand as well as communicate, she signs, "We may have an argument, soon." <handspeech>
"Conceding the merits of collecting the Shards and keeping them from malefactors," Jinks turns from Halani and speaks up to be heard from the back of the crowd, voice half-muffled behind his hand momentarily as he smooths his goatee. "But what if the essence of Animus is irrevocably tainted by the circumstances of His death? Your efforts succeed but He takes a seat at the darkest table with Bauglir and Mulria? Death and rebirth isn't often an uneventful process." This has been quite the hot topic with the gnome, recently.
Aryia bobs her head in agreement with Venom, her passing off her to the other hand to stretch out the other one as eyes bounce from person to person, them narrowing at some others. Though, Ceseran's statement sets her at ease some. The question that really needed to be asked, right there.
She frowns a bit more at some extra additions some others say, the mute elf reaching over to scribble another something into Venom's new page.
"The Shards are being studied and examined. I would imagine that would look into the taint," Merek will note along to Jinks. The man seems to content in then relaxing while he watches the place. "I just hope that we can take a break for a while."
By Top Men.
Halani swirls the tea around in her cup, watching inside... maybe trying to divine the future with what she sees. Islanders have weird beliefs, after all. She does glance back up towards Griva, though, when Jinks voices his questions, the monk's expression making it plain she hadn't considered that. "I mean.. that wouldn't happen, right? If He came back.. he's a god. They don't just change like that." A pause. "Right?"
Venom straightens a little as her notetaking is invaded in progress and she looks to the silent Mul. A glance down at the new entry on her cypheric puzzle, the cant of her head, then she sets her pen down again to flick a quick, "Who??" <handspeech>
The shrouded one turns her head back to the discussion at large, taking up her pen as the various views on this affair, and it's permutations start to flower.
Stjepan swings his head around. "You might be better placed to answer that, Halani, than anyone else. Do you remember what that presence felt like?"
Top men!
"Was the free tea not subtle enough?" says Griva, chagrined, by Auranar's comment.
"It's to talk. What we're doing is dangerous, no doubt about it, and we're asking people to take a big risk, as you've said yourself. The least we can do is be as open about ourselves and intentions as we *can* be, and seek support from those willing to grant it."
Halani says, "Stjepan. We don't talk about what happened that night."
Stjepan says, "What happens in Dragonier, stays in Dragonier?"
The Toppiest! At least tallest. Nothing tops a Jotun.
Auranar shakes her head. "I don't know about anyone here, and while I agree that the shards need collecting... I can't say that I'd hand them over to you. Doing a few good deeds does not good make. Nor does it mean that bringing back Animus is the right thing to do." She folds her book, the last of her notes written. "Better to hand the shards to the gods of light and let them decide what should or should not be done. Not a bunch of mortals. As you yourself said."
Aryia simply points a subtle finger towards Halani before returning to her own note taking.
"You have my warhammer." Paenitia says decisively to Griva, glancing at Ramirez and his saddle full of weapons, "And my sword, and halberd, and bec-de-corbin, and glaive, and guisarm, and glaive-guisarm, and bill, and bow."
She holds up a finger, marking the air, "The crossbows still to buy for the ones that never bring them."
"So, the whole arsenal of the Mad Dogs." She faces Griva with her grinning mask, hands on her hips.
Aryia says, "pffft."
Auranar resembles that remark about forgetting to bring vital weapons to the battlefield. She feels called out
"Talking is good. Getting concerns and questions out before they are left to stew." Seyardu nods. The talk was much, but she knew that it was important. "So, there will be concerns, no matter what. As for the temples versus other hands, this one is not sure. While clerics tend to embody their god and their ideals, they are still people. As fallible as others, this one knows well."
Jinks glances back at Halani when she's addressed by the third party and offers a questioning look. He gestures vaguely with a fist and then puts both hands together before fanning out his fingers to mimic an explosion, one eyebrow quirked.
"Giving the gods more power is not a good idea, no matter which of the sides they are on," Merek will note to Auranar. "Everyone has an agenda with the Shards. I've not met anyone that doesn't really."
A hand moving at the bidding of it's Maker is as reliable as it's Maker.
Venom's attention doesn't seem to be changing focus all that much as people speak, though her annotations and formulae are certainly spiderwebbing over the pages under her pen.
Cesran nods in agreement with Auranar, "I agree with you I'd much rather find a way to give these shards back to the gods of light or even the gods of neutrality as Animus was one of them and let the gods sort out what to do with them all. However I think that we should combine all our effects in getting the shards. If we work all together we can retrieve and safe guard the shards, better and faster then if we all worked in separate groups. I'm happy to work with Griva if it mean keeping the shards out of the hands of those that would abuse them."
Auranar arches an eyebrow at Merek. "Your statement is as true to the point of /not/ giving the shards to anyone trying to resurrect Animus as it is anything else. At least I trust the gods of light to have my best intentions at heart. I thought you a Seer, but it seems I am mistaken."
"Yeah... that's one way of putting it," Halani mutters to Jinks as she puts a hand over her eyes as, a shield against potential attention shifting her way. She gives it a moment, spreads her fingers just enough to look through them... then sighs and lets it drop. Her eyes shift to Stjepan, mouthing the words, "We. Don't. Talk. About. That. Yeah?"
"The Gods can't take the shards, of course, only their followers," remarks Griva, quietly, "or their servitors. And any servitor of a God merely represents a *part* of that God," says Griva, quietly, shaking her head.
"We can 'trust the Gods of Light', but each will not merely have one perspective on things, but many."
She smiles, then adds, "ALl things with due caution. Recklessness helps no one."
"Did you not notice the part where I said I don't agree with the Resurrectionists. The Shards aren't being controlled by them, or currently used," Merek will note to Auranar. He seems about to speak, but the stress makes the man cough into the glove of his again, this time trying to keep the blood from really being noticed, while he places the hand to his side. "Being confrontational benefits no one."
Stjepan looks back at Halani, and gives her a significant look. He mouths, 'why you ask question when you know answer?' back at her, but it's probably too long and he's just flapping his gums. That look, though. He's not cowed at all.
Aryia, with her own chicken scratch notes, raises a massive brow at everyone's back and forth. They're talking about a god coming back, and here she was sitting thinking mostly everyone here was out of their minds entertaining the idea. For a mere moment, she thought she agreed with Merek for once, but instead she blinks at his most recent statement.
She pours some tea for herself, and downs it. Damn, it wasn't spiked. Shame.
When no one is directly observing her, Paenitia takes one of the teapots and a large bowl and heads over to Ramirez. She pours him a truly tremendous amount of tea, the whole pot essentially, then gets a second to top it off.
Whatever remains, she pours into a cup for herself. She then digs out a metal straw, taps the rim of her hat and points it at Seyardu in recognition, then uses it to sip away.
~~Slurrp~~
Cesran can feel himself getting weary, "Griva if you had need of me to either study or to secure one of the shards please let me know. I should be fully recovered in another week and ready to go out adventuring again." He slowly has the carpet lift up and take him home
Auranar gives Merek a very short look that offers the man no sympathy for his condition. "Are you calling me confrontational? Why? Because I disagree with you?" She snorts at him. Rakes him with her black eyes and rises to her feet. "If you can't handle the heat stay out of the discussion. I've said my piece, and I'll say it again. Trusting these people is unwise. If they can 'give' these shards to their god... they can be 'given' to another."
"I'm sorry you feel that way, but we haven't even given the shards to our God," replies Griva, gently, to Auranar. "Even if they *are* pieces of him. It's our hope that He is able to make his wishes known. Who can truly say what is 'death' for a God?" Venom still has some thunderstones...
Still, the break in the agitated timbre would likely be either a) brief, or b) redirected to her.
Neither is an outcome the veiled one really requires in the fullness of her day.
Her notes continue...
"Maybe if Merek coughs up a piece of his lung they'll all stop looking at you," Jinks mutters at Halani from the corner of his mouth. The silent exchange between Xian and Jotun is over his head... but that's almost everything in this city. He pulls out his flask again and gives it a shake, sucking his teeth and the tinny splashing of mostly-emptiness. "I think I need a steam before my... appointment tonight." He cants his head towards the Tarrace and quirks that dancing eyebrow up at her. "What say you, tallman? An excuse to scurry away?"
Seyardu sighs. Her point was lost in whatever arguments were being shared. "Whether or not it goes to the resurrectionists or not, to the potential resurrection of a god, the importance remains. If these are, a significant threat in other hands, then they should remain out of them. For the safety of everyone. Even if Animus can not be brought back, they could still do some good. Or at least, they will not do bad?" She suggests quietly. It was another time where her voice meant very little. She was beginning to step back and away from the main group.
"I've seen the Shards, I've DIED for the Shards, I've had part of my soul taken to do it," Merek then tells Auranar, "And all you do is come in making assumptions and being rude. Snort all you want, assume you know better. They are safe where they are and being used by no one. Even the servants of Eluna have said the followers of gods on BOTH sides have their agenda for it. If you would like to go and tell the angels bound to truth through rites that they are wrong, I would like for that to be the case. This world isn't a peaceful one. It can't just be handed to people with the 'best intentions'. Celestial politics aren't that simple." He takes a drag of the cigarette, and looks weary, "Be well Cesran." The man wipes the blood upon his hand onto a towelette.
Halani just shakes her head, very firmly, a few times at Stjepan, then looks away. Towards Griva. "I.. yeah. I think I need to go too," she tells Jinks. "I'll see you to the baths, there, then find my way home."
The Kulthian formulae in one corner has a hastily scribbled sigil for 'Zombie' added to it's matrix as Venom continues on her notes. Others are flagged with various applicable modifiers, with a fervent enough pace that it doesn't leave her time to reply 'aloud' to anyone.
The Thunderstones still insist they're a good idea.
"One drink wouldn't hurt..." Jinks begins, making some gesture as he and Halani skirt the edge of the gathering and make for the pub.
Auranar stares at Merek. "One might think that a /Seer/ would have more faith in his deity, but I see I am wrong again. I came in with no assumptions, but questions. Which have led me to these conclusions." She looks at him harshly, then pointedly to the blood on his hands. So that he doesn't think she missed it. "You should have that cough seen to." With that she picks up her book, turns, and heads for the door. She doesn't stop on her way out.
Aryia glances to the silverscale's quieting tone, her just barely able to pick it out amongst the crowd. She closes her eyes, inhales, and stands. Her journal drops against the table with a solid thunk to announce her stepping in. "Look," she gestures, a V-handshape tapping below her eye. "Seyardu is right. Ignoring what I think about this, this is just about trying to keep bad people from having it. Are these Ressurectionists-" she gestures to the representative, "good people? Fuck if I know. But would you rather have a Taaran have it? A Tyrant? Charn? One of you chuckle fucks? At least with them we know WHO has it." <Handspeech>
"Hurry up Ramirez," Paenitia coos, encouraging him to drink. Quick quaffing all that caffeine might not be the best thing, but she pats and he laps. "I come with you for the drink, small man and punchy woman. No, you go. I catch up."
Paenitia grabs another pin, perhaps for Ramirez's baldrics, and finishes slurping down her tea.
She mounts her hippogryph, and seems to be headed for the Tarrace, even if she's not going immediately.
"Faith in a deity does not mean that all of Her angels are perfect. As Griva said, the servants of the gods often have their own goals," Merek will note to Auranar. "Anyway, take care. And I apologize," he then watches while she's through the door. He nods a bit to Aryia's thing. "She's right," the man notes. "The cough is fine. I've been resurrected enough times that I think I should probably apply to get insurance." A look then to Griva, "I think we all need a break. You look tired."
Seyardu looks to the thunk, nods, and gives the Mul'niessa an appreciative smile. "I will work with you, where I can, to help with this. Though I would hear about what your plans are after the shards are recovered more when they can be shared, as they can be shared." She says to Griva. "Trust is both ways. We must make sure however things go forward, it is as safe as possible for all."
"Well," says Griva, "I believe we've had enough of the drama for one night, anyway! Still, you're all welcome to enjoy the tea. It IS good tea," she offers, warmly.
Then there is tea, and more tea. And much more tea to be had.
...and of course pastries. Who can forget those?
Stjepan gets tea, because its free tea. He stands there, relaxing, considering Griva without saying anything.
Having said her piece, Aryia huffs and picking up her journal, shutting it with a snap. Unsure if she changed any minds, she looks at one of the pins out and about, glaring at it in only a way that a mul'neissa could. Perhaps something she picked up from Aya. She sighs heavily, shakes her head, and puts a hand on Venom's shoulder as she gets out of her chair. She leans over her shoulder, pen again finding a blank page on the veiled woman's journal and scribbling something down.
The veiled one continues to keep her own counsel about all the assorted personalities in conflict over this affair, and as much so the affair itself. She gives a quick look to Aryia as the Mul starts to scribble into her notebook again, and, as it seems the discussion for now is over, gives a little nod before she starts to square herself away to leave.
After her items vanish beneath her poncho, she gives a neat bow to the gathered, then turns to make her way into the night.
Aryia follows after the veiled woman, not bothering to wave goodbye to anyone aside from Paenitia (Rameriez, of course, handsome Rameriez), Seyardu, and Stjepan.
Seyardu watches everyone leave, waving to Aryia and Paenitia among others. She pours herself another cup of tea. With most of the heated arguments finished, it was a decent enough time to relax, something that had been in poor supply of late.
