RandomWiki | ShadowWorld / Session 91 browse

Holmes: Teodric considers his surroundings. It had been a long journey since the men had ambushed him on his constitutional about Green Lake last night. Now the sun shone in through his dirty cell window high above and out of reach. Some sort of pit he was in, the window far too high out of reach for him to even climb to.
Holmes: The trip had been rough, apparently involving sailing down the Daluj river. By now, with the current, they could be as far away from Green Lake as the coast.
Holmes: The cell he's in seems to be connected to a series of such pits, and through crevices he can make out others like it one on each of four sides.
Holmes: As he looks through one of the crevices, he sees a Rhiani woman, youngish, and pretty bent over, biding her time in her cell.
Holmes: Looking further, Teodric notes that - to all appearances - the trap door to his cell seems to be ajar above. Shouldn't be too hard a climb.
Teodric: Teodric attempts to scramble up to the trap door. Just inches from his goal, his foot fails to find a purchase and he plummets solidly to the floor his foot twisting painfully under him.
Teodric: Teodric mutters to himself "Well that went predictably wrong." He slowly pulls himself to a standing position and dusts off his clothing. He clears his throat loudly "Ahem. Excuse me, but could you tell me where we are?"
Holmes: The woman seems startled at Teodric's command of Rhiani - Teodric had noted that his captors spoke a language with which he is unfamiliar - and comes over to speak to him through the crevice. "Who are you? If you're honest, I may tell you where we are."
Teodric: "I am Teodric. I am a diplomat from Green Lake. I was captured there and brought here against my will."
Holmes: "Green Lake?" she says. "I have relatives there. I am of the river tribe. Do you know Suteh? The water mystic?"
Teodric: "I am Teodric. I am a diplomat from Green Lake. I was captured there and brought here against my will."
Holmes: ...strike the above...
Teodric: "I am glad to hear that you have relatives in Green Lake. I do know Suteh, the water mystic."
Holmes: "Is he still as spritely as ever?" she asks, knowing full well that Suteh is an old man. A test.
Teodric: "heh. Suteh has not been spritely for many years. I'm afraid you will have to do better than that ... uhm... I must apologize. I have been very rude, and not asked for your name?"
Holmes: "Nula," she replies. "And it is I who must apologize. I am amongst enemies, and I have offended you greatly by questioning your honesty. I ask that you consider the situation, and forgive me."
Holmes: "We are at the mouth of the Daluj."
Teodric: "Nula, do you know who our captors are?"
Holmes: "I believe they are Vajaari," she says, "But I think that they are working for somebody else. They paid their way down the river, and I think they used some foreign currency."
Teodric: "hmmm. How long have you been here? Do you know why they took you?"
Holmes: "Well I'm...my father is an important man. That's probably got something to do with it. And you?" she says.
Teodric: "Well it probably has to do with some recent deals that I've negotiated recently."
Holmes: Her tone changes, "What were you trying to do before. When I heard you grunt. Sounded like you fell?" She asks.
Teodric: Teodric blushes "Well I was trying rather unsuccessfully to climb out of here. It appears that the door to my cell is open."
Holmes: "Really?" she sounds excited. "Maybe we can open up this crevice between us. It's just packed clay. Might take a while. But if I can get to your cell, maybe I can help you up?"
Holmes: The task seems daunting, but if they have time, it might work.
Holmes: "I think they plan to ship us out from the Daluj quays soon to...well I have no idea where," she says. "But if we work hard?
Holmes: "
Teodric: "It sounds like an excellent plan Nula" Teodric begins to work at the clay trying to widen the gap.
Holmes: They dig like mad, and get the gap open enough for Nula to crawl through. She stands up, smiling, and looks up considering how to make the climb. Just then, the trap door opens up, and a man looks down, brown faced. "Going somewhere?" he mocks them in rough Rhiani.
Holmes: "Time to go anyhow."
Teodric: "Go where?" Teodric demands
Holmes: The man talks to somebody else, "Are these both going on the ship? Or is one going on the launch?"
Holmes: He gets his answer, and nods. "You are lucky, man of Green Lake, you get to ride on the comfortable launch, while she has to go on the ship with the rest of the slaves. They must need you intact. She'll probably succumb to disease."
Teodric: Teodric straightens himself to his full height, wincing slightly at the sudden pain in his ankle "I'm afraid I can't allow that. She will come with us, or I will not cooperate."
Holmes: The Vajaari starts to say something, but can see that it's no use after a moment. Wanting nothing so much as to get these captives off his hands, he agrees, and Nula and Teodric are both loaded onto the launch. The ship, with launch trailing, sets sail as the sun sets across the water, and the ship sails towards the oncoming darkness.

Holmes: Okhfels rests on the far, far too comfortable divan profered to him after the very decadent meal that he'd been presented at the home of Isadora's mother.
Holmes: The woman, despite her many years and large size, seems to be no closer to passing on than she did when Okhfels met her 20 years ago.
Holmes: As he sits there, a stately man approaches, not sure how to address Okhfels.
Okhfels: Okhfels smiles his winning smile and nods to the man. "Good evening to you!"
Holmes: From the other room, still mingling with some other guests, Isadora sees Promurno, the historian, being addressed by her husband.
Isadora keeps half an eye on the situation, trying to remember if Promurno is anything to worry about.
Holmes: "Good evening!" the man spurts out, too loudly, trying to respond in kind. "I am Promurno, and I work at the library of Valris. I was wondering..."
Holmes: He seems to be considering whether or not the question he wants to ask is some breach of etiquette. Okhfels recals that Valris is the wife of Kuor.
Okhfels: Okhfels waves vaguely at a seat nearby. "Sit, sit. I don't offend easily."
Isadora: Whether to please her mother or for reasons of her own, Isadora came to the dinner party in a stylish dress, spent an hour on her hair, and isn't even armed. She tries to keep Okhfels in the corner of her eye while talking to an uncle she never much liked.
Okhfels: Okhfels, on the other hand, has a completely inappropriate broadsword on his hip. Well, HAD it, anyways, until it became clear that it was too unwieldy to recline on a divan with it... whereupon he slung the baldric over a bit of ornamentation so that it hangs down alongside the chair.
Holmes: "Ah, yes, excellent," says the man taking a seat. "So, I write about cultures. And I'd so very much like to hear about Green Lake. And...if I may say so, you're not Rhiani?"
Okhfels: Okhfels smiles and nods. "Yes, I'm from Teth. There are a few of us in Green Lake, what with the goblin wars and all."
Holmes: "Ah, Teth, that's it," he says. "You see, so little is known of Teth, that, now that it's been over-run, it would be a coup for me to be able to be the first to do a thorough recording of what it was like. Would I be imposing???"
Okhfels: Okhfels looks around... he's not really the focus of much attention, and it's certainly less boring than just sitting here getting drunk. "Sure, why not?"
Holmes: In the other room, Isadora's uncle is telling her something important, "So, you see, the Marquis Greensward, who was backing Marvars locally, he got off scott free. Though, from what I hear, there's something odd going on about his estates of late. Some disappearances."
Isadora: "How droll. Disappearances with money and small valuables, or something more mysterious?" Noticing a lack of shouting on Okhfels' part or cringing on the historian's, Isadora turns her attention more fully to her uncle.
Okhfels: Okhfels' perspective on Teth is less about governments and religions, as much as it is about how different living there is than Kaitaine, or even Green Lake. He starts talking about his childhood home, a set of tunnels and chambers cut into the wall of a great cavern.
Holmes: The historian starts writing, daring not to interrupt this gold.
Holmes: Isadora's uncle says, "Well, at first it was just commoners, but then a couple of nobles disappeared at parties up there - or, well, going to and from them, or when near the estate. I believe that he city has sent some people to investigate. There's a party going on tonight, in fact. Something important."
Okhfels: Okhfels continues, talking about the smithy where he worked as a young man. At a question from his interviewer, Okhfels pulls the chain out from under his tunic, and shows off the tethium links in it.
Isadora: "I wouldn't expect an invitation to Greensward's parties, coming from Green Lake," Isadora says with an innocent smile, "but I do hope they send someone up there who can take care of things. No one from our family has vanished, I hope?"
Holmes: "Well, one was a fourth cousin, I think..." he replies.
Holmes: Lady Aspasia, in all the Ikaiti splendor she can manage, returns to he daughter.
Holmes: Intentionally loud so that Okhfels can hear, "So, darling, I don't suppose you ever get giant clam souffle at Brown Lake?"
Okhfels: Okhfels throws an "Is she for real?" eyebrow at Isadora.
Isadora turns, smiling bravely at the amount of Ikaiti splendor it takes to clothe her mother. "No, but there's an absolutely darling thing they do with giant snake. Uncle Donicus was just filling me in on some of the latest--can you think of anything I've missed?"
Isadora: Behind her back, she waves her hand in a quick "Never mind" gesture at Okhfels.
Okhfels: Okhfels dutifully turns his attention back to Promurno. He starts extolling the superiority of Tethium blades.
Holmes: "Well, the Duke's son was just married. Pretty girl, but not as pretty as you, Isadora. To think of the wealth that you could have brought our house, had it been you, instead," she says, trying to be sly and failing miserably. "But you have your Okhfels, and what a specimen he is."
Holmes: She smiles the falsest smile imaginable.
Holmes: Isadora's uncle, understanding what's going on with her mother, ignores Aspasia, and continues, "If there's some problem with the Marqui's position on the seat of the Dye Cartel, I'm wondering if it might be possible for you to find some way to come in with a new product from Green Lake."
Isadora: "I'm delighted that you share in my happiness--you and father are still sleeping in separate rooms, I take it?" Isadora nods to Aspasia and turns away, taking her uncle's arm and saying to him, "We're a diverse place. Tell me a little more about what you have in mind--or we could have you over for dinner soon, if you prefer."
Holmes: Aspasia blanches at the mention of Isadora's father. "Your father's condition still necessitates that he sleep in his own chambers, yes. You know that very well isadora. The healers have not been able to effect a cure."
Holmes: "What with your children, there's no doubt that you and your husband keep to one room," she says, trying to imply that there's something dirty about their love life.
Holmes: "Why don't we recline along with your husband?" Aspasia adds. "Too much time on one's feet can take the wind out of you."
Isadora squeezes her uncle's arm regretfully, and says to him, "I'll send a messenger by tomorrow." She steps away with Aspasia, saying, "Yes, please. I've no doubt that sitting with Okhfels will refresh us both."
Okhfels: Okhfels is now sitting on the edge of his seat, miming sword-strokes and making funny faces as he describes the goblins and trolls that he's encountered.
Holmes: Isadora notes Aspasia rolling her eyes, as she sees Okhfels' antics.
Holmes: Then her mother notes somebody, "Oh, Isadora, there's somebody who wants to meet you."
Isadora looks around in the indicated direction, suppressing a fond smile at Okhfels.
Holmes: Isadora sees a face she hasn't seen in 20 years, a face that's changed much but is essentially the same as before. Only now she wears a rather stately and ornate regalia. It takes her several moments to recall her name, but does before the woman reaches out her hand to take Isadora's. Elle.
Okhfels: Okhfels leaps up, and as he tells about a terrible troll that he faced on the plains of Elmardge, he mimes a huge swipe at Aspasia's lumbering bulk, and then describes how the blood smelled...
Isadora: "My lady, the years have treated you well," Isadora says to Elle, keeping her back turned on Okhfels' story with a titanic effort of will.
Holmes: Elle considers Okhfels act with an appreciative smile, "I am the ambassador to Kaitaine for Sarnak, and the head of one of the great houses as well."
Holmes: She smiles and says, "I see he hasn't changed."
Holmes: "Oh, really!" shouts Aspasia, exasperated by Okhfels behavior. "Do I have to put up with this in my own home, Isadora? The man is an oaf!"
Holmes: Elle, despite the ruckus, says to Isadora, "I need to talk to you about a trade agreement. I think I can offer you a great deal..."
Holmes: She trails off, unable to ignore Okhfels and Aspasia.
Okhfels: Okhfels, still smiling, bows low, then turns back to Promurno.
Isadora: "I'll find you later to ask about it," Isadora says to Elle, bowing to her with a suppressed smile of her own, then turns back to her mother and Okhfels. "Gracious, mother, I'd expect you to have kinder words for your son-in-law. I am appalled at your manners."
Okhfels: Okhfels gives Isadora a smile and a wink and then goes back to his stories.
Holmes: Elle looks disgusted at the complete lack of restraint on all sides here, "Perhaps...perhaps it's not such a good deal."
Isadora: "Come now," Isadora says. "You remember Green Lake--it's the same politics as everywhere else, just more explicit. It's always been part of our appeal."
Holmes: Elle agrees to meet with Isadora later, smiling at her comments. It would seem that Elle does recall her time at Green Lake.

Holmes: As Agnes begins to perform her mental insights into the elven ambassador's mind, Rahkleth notes subtle hand gestures and an ever so faint glow (probably would have been invisible during the day), that tells him that she's doing something to the elf.
Holmes: The lighting in Thrakelust's residence are set low, probably to try to put the elf at ease in the negotiations.
Rahkleth: Rahkleth begins to cough as if he's breathed something that irritated his throat. He claps a hand on Agnes's shoulder for support and gives her a subtle but pointed look... well, if he were any good at acting it would be subtle.
Thrakelust gives Rahkleth a pointed look; he was curious what Agnes was trying, and doesn't appreciate her being interrupted.
Holmes: Even before Agnes could even respond to Rahkleth's interference, she gets a clear vision of something inside of the elf's head. It's a vision of the mirror, just what she was looking for. And what she sees is some horrible incoming spell that the elf fears - a spell of unknown nature - and it hits the mirror, and reflects back off in the direction from whence it came.
Agnes raises her eyebrows at the vision and turns to see why Rahkleth is pawing at her shoulder.
Rahkleth: "Sorry." Rahkleth mutters a bit sheepishly. "Something in my throat." He removes his hand and gives one last little cough.
Thrakelust* realizes the elf might figure out what happened at any moment, and starts questioning the elf about a minor point regarding the treaties established earlier.
Agnes holds Rahkleth's (pointed) gaze -- in a friendly way he thinks, like she's asking a question.
Rahkleth: Rahkleth leans forward slightly and whispers in Agnes's ear. "Your... activity was becoming obvious. I thought you might want to know before others noticed." He looked rather unsure of himself. "Hope I didn't... interfer too much."
Agnes shrugs, "It doesn't matter" and turns back to the negotiations.
Thrakelust on the point of his question, ignoring their little conversation.
Rahkleth: "Maybe." Rahkleth returns to his normal post an watches the proceedings. He notes the elf's look and smiles at him.
Holmes: As he does so, Rahkleth notes somebody coming through the night. A small group of people...looks like a woman, veiled, followed by a retinue of maidservants.
Agnes interrupts the diplomats blithely. "So, I thought the negotiations were done. Weren't you going to come to an arrangement on the mirror and the other salvage? Or is that just waiting for your correspondence with The Princess?"
Rahkleth: Rahkleth looks towards the approaching people and asks, "You expecting more visitors, Governor?" He probably just interupted a conversation but he doesn't seem to really notice that kind of faux pas.
Thrakelust: "A question had just occurred to me, and I wanted to make sure the ambassador and I were on the same page. We are; I expect no further problems. As for the mirror and The Rebuilding, that awaits the Princess."
Thrakelust turns to Rahkleth. "I am not," he says, rising. "But when I dine on my patio, I always welcome petitioners. If you'll excuse me, Ambassador..."
Holmes: As the women approach, the elf stands looking somewhat shocked (well, for an elf), and says, "The lady Islitarialind approaches."
Thrakelust, "Governor, I present my wife."
Rahkleth: "Well, isn't that interesting." Rahkleth comments... probably a little too loudly.
Agnes stands, prepared to greet the new arrivals.
Thrakelust shoots a look to Rahkleth again; does NOBODY know how to keep their tongue? He then greets Islitarialind with all the proper protocols of elf society.
Holmes: The lady approaches, and her husband notes that the veils might need explaining. "My wife...must remain veiled. I apologize for the unusualness of this."
Holmes: He offers no more.
Holmes: The lady bows, and replies in dulcet tones indicating her delight at being in the court at Green Lake.
Agnes: As the governor's ritual greeting wind's down, Agnes barges forward and attempts to shake the elf matron's hand. "Hi!"
Rahkleth: Rahkleth's eyes widen at the sudden move. "I'll bet that wasn't the correct thing to do.", He thinks.
Holmes: She bows, shaking Agnes' hand. Her husband rushes forward and says, "This is Agnes, beloved. She's a...friend."
Holmes: Then to Agnes, "Please, you must understand that her veils must not be disturbed. Please tread gently with my wife."
Agnes: "...Of course, I'm facinated by your traditions." Agnes smiles to the happy couple, turns to take a step away from the center of things -- winks at Rahkleth, and resumes a more demure role in things.
Thrakelust can see why he keeps his wife veiled. He thinks she's too beautiful for humans to behold. He thinks that, should humans be exposed to her, they would fall in love with her immediately.
Rahkleth: Rahkleth rolls his eyes heavenward at Agnes's wink. Women are going to be the death of him. He just knows it.
Thrakelust: "I am honored to have you join us for the meal. Please, let me ensure more food is brought."
Holmes: "So, tell me husband," says the voice from behind the veil as the maids seat their mistress to enjoy the comestibles being brought, "What have the recent days brought you? What business and what adventures?"
Thrakelust, "He's every so much the boy, wanting to see the world."
Holmes: "They really don't grow up until after the first millenium."
Agnes smiles big.
Rahkleth: "He found a dragon..." Rahkleth mentions before remembering that he isn't supposed to talk here.
Thrakelust smiles politely at Islitarialind's small joke. "That's still quicker than some of the men I know. They never grow up."
Thrakelust look at Rakhleth.
Rahkleth: Rahkleth gives the Governor a salute.
Agnes: "In my limited experience, young men lose an important quality when they reach that state where people consider them 'grown up.'"
Holmes: Standing above the group, Rahkleth is the only person in a position to notice the servant bringing the drinks putting something into one of them. A pinch of powder of some sort.
Rahkleth: Being unaccustomly astute, Rahkleth's eyes narrow but he doesn't say anything yet. Instead he watches the servant to see where that particular glass gets served.
Holmes: The servant turns his back to Rahkleth to serve Thrakelust, and then turns back to the elves. Before Rahkleth can figure it out, the elf lady has taken the suspect glass under her veil and appears to be drinking.
Rahkleth: "Stop!" Rahkleth screams and draws a knife hidden under is tunic. Leaping the table and scattering the dishes everywhere he lunges for the servant.
Agnes leans over to the side getting a better view of what the rowdy is doing to the slave.
Holmes: A moment earlier and it would have been cleaner, but he manages to get the servant alive, if unconscious. In the meanwhile, however, Rahkleth has managed to knock over the elf woman, her veil flying aside.
Agnes happens to be in the right place to offer her hand to help the woman up.
Rahkleth: "He's poisoned one of the glasses!" Rahkleth holds the servant down and seems to be going through the man's clothing and pockets looking for something. "I think it's her." He throws a finger at the elven woman without stopping his activity.
Holmes: But then he does stop, as the visage of this woman, elf though she may be, stops him dead in his tracks.

Shadow World

Back to Main Wiki

Heroquest Homepage

Pm Wiki