RandomWiki | ShadowWorld / Session May 142007 browse

Holmes: Tez and Agnes find themselves on a staircase spiraling down, down into a deep pit. It is so far across that their quarry is only one half rotation ahead of them... but this is a good quarter mile or so. From below the sound of drums beat out a rhythm that speaks of war and conquest.
Agnes: "We should cut him off."
Tez gives one last look behind her, "How?" She starts moving down the stairs
Agnes studies the stairs.
Agnes: "Maybe we can just drop down to the next level."
Tez nods "come on." and swings herself over the edge of the railing without thinking further about it, dangling perilously over the edge for a fraction of a second before the momentum of her swing propels her, hopefully, onto the stairs below.
Agnes: In surprise, Agnes swings over the railing after her brash friend and aims to land on the head of some twisted grotesque below.
Holmes: The fall past walls tinged with the red of iron.
Holmes: Using mental advice from Agnes, Tez does as she describes and lands on some squat demonic form with a painful crunch. Pushing the pain aside, they both spring up. Just in time to see the man they pursue decide to see if he can accomplish the same task.
Tez grins wildly, and laughs. "The first lesson is Pain." she watches the Praelector, with narrowed eyes, "Dagger," she suggests, pointing at his back
Holmes: He lands on a similar creature, also killing it, but momentarily regaining the lead
Agnes: Agnes summons both verbal and mental voice and calls a booming "Look, the 'mighty' praelector of Z'tarr is a coward!"
Holmes: The Praelector, about to try to pass underneath them, turns his head up toward them momentarily.
Holmes: The sight of the two women, and the affront to his god as his honor is insulted causes him to stop and await their approach.
Agnes obliges the resting warrior with an advance.
Tez follows her down, still laughing, and preceded by a light shower of blood.
Holmes: As they descend, several of the fat squishy beings like the ones they landed on are in their way.
Holmes: Closer up, and unsquished, they look quite inimical.
Tez grins, drawing sword and shield. "Out of the way." she demands.
Agnes: Drawing dagger and staring the creatures down, Agnes stays close to Tez, stabbing, kicking or passing unmolested as the demons require.
Tez cleaves through the creatures as if she were born to it, taking every opportunity to fight them just for the sheer joy of killing. The last one she lops the head off and tosses it to the Praelector. "I hope you weren't counting on THESE to protect you."
Agnes: As Tez takes the brunt of the attack, Agnes kicks one of the malformed abominations off the stairway and if falls away into the indistinct distance.
Holmes: The Praelector's face is all controlled rage, and he seems to be channeling his power internally. He starts to change shape, becoming larger...
Holmes: His skin darkens as he seems to become enmeshed with some other being. His muscles bulge impossibly, and his armor seems to become some sort of mail made of huge, rough black links. His sword grows in proportion as well, also becoming rough, yet somehow sturdier than a finely crafted weapon.
Holmes: The transformation is not yet complete, however. If Tez can only get there in time...
Tez laughs, "I wonder, will your blood taste the same when you're ugly? Because, the first taste of it was sweet with your fear." She slides towards him on a sheet of the blood of his guardians, the tethium blade gleaming wickedly, the blood of the Praelector still sticky on the edge.
Holmes: Distracted by her approach he almost drops his mental shield for a moment....
Holmes: But then he shrugs off her assault on his mind, recalling the hero he's emulating and his stolidity on the battlefields, and he finishes the transformation. Just in time to catch Tez and Agnes nearly crashing into him, putting them at a disadvantage.
Holmes: Before them the completed form of the hero that the Praelector has become in part dwarfs the pair.
Agnes: "Fuck that." Agnes continues to bash at the freak's mind, but only in support of her dagger which glistens eerily in the dim light.
Tez lifts her shield up above her head to protect herself and Agnes, and provide cover to hide their movements from the immensely tall creature that was the Praelector. She uses her momentum to drive the blade towards his gut, not bothering to try to get out of the way.
Agnes: As the blades of the two women flash at the bulky warrior's bottom half, many small punctures are made. The enchanted armor and muscle is tough and he lands solid blows on Tez' shield, but eventually the pain becomes too much. The Praelector's Hero Form ? wavers and then drops away as he returns to the still impressive stature of his natural self and soon he's been beaten and lies no the floor at the mercy of his opponents.

Holmes: Alquas returns to Thrakelust's estate. Walking in along the colonnade on the hot fieldstone walkway, he sees his brother standing near the door, talking with one of his servants.
Alquas: "Kani." he hisses.
Alquas: "I have a plan."
Alquas: "My family are here. Unfortunate but to be expected. Undoubtedly they are trying to pawn more serving girls onto local chieftains for some imagined political gain."
Alquas: "My brother is an oaf and will not look at servants twice. They know you are mising, but with a headscarf and a hurried motion you could easily pass him without raising alram."
Alquas: "I want you to go in and rouse the lady Slaya, get her to come out here and meet me."
Alquas tries to smile as he relates his plan, but his eyes betray fear. "You would do this for me, Kani? Then we can be truly free of my family, with the lady Salya free from their clutches."
Holmes: Kani does as she is told. Since her return she seems a bit distant, so Alquas can't read her response. But as they approach the house, the ruse works, and Kani goes inside.
Chimrea: It's been a number of minutes--maybe an agonizingly long time for Alquas, waiting outside--but finally he sees Kani's disguised form coming out, followed by Salya. As they're passing through the door where Jaffar stands, he says something to Salya, who hesitates, then turns aside to speak to him. At the same time he makes a curt dismissing motion to Kani, apparently not recognizing her.
Chimrea: She hesitates too, then walks toward Alquas' position, stopping to adjust a pot of flowers as if she was about some normal duties.
Alquas: "Kani!" Alquas hisses.
Alquas: "What is my oaf of a brother doing? Get Salya away from him!"
Chimrea: Kani throws a furtive look back at the doorway, then ducks out of sight to talk to Alquas. "I can't, master!" she hisses back, her face a picture of worry and fear. "He'll recognize me if I speak to him. He said he needed to speak to her about her father."
Chimrea: Up at the door, Salya's expression turns alarmed. Jaffar has his hand on her arm in a grip that's somewhat stronger than friendly.
Alquas: "Her father?" Alquas thinks back to his scattered memories of the Seyjii ei-Kardish. "What of him?"
Alquas peers at the two of them having their conversation as best he can.
Chimrea: Trying to remember what she overheard, Kani says, "He said that she'd regret defying her father in coming to see you--that you wouldn't be able to help her soon." Her face goes pale. "Master, what does it mean?" At the door, Jaffar is pulling Salya back inside.
Alquas: "I don't..."
Alquas rises in anger. "Wait here."
Alquas: Brazen as day, Alquas strides toward the door.
Chimrea: No one's around who would try to stop him. Inside, Jaffar's voice is audible from a room just down the hallway. He's saying, "Waharr has promised me much if I put a stop to my brother's troublemaking. And now I learn that you've thrown your lot with him--this will go badly for you, woman."
Alquas rounds the corner into the room. "And now I learn you have fallen in with the Wahaiya? This will go badly for you, brother."
Chimrea: Jaffar turns, momentarily surprised but then smiling with ugly joy. "You think so? And I always thought you were the smart one." He pulls a long curved knife from his belt, letting go of Salya's arm to advance on Alquas.
Alquas curses momentarily, wishing he had thought of an actual plan instead of a witty comeback.
Chimrea: Salya, who apparently doesn't feel like being taken lightly by Jaffar anymore, rips the belt from her waist and wraps it around Jaffar's neck, trying to choke him from behind.
Chimrea: "Hurry, Alquas!" she gasps as Jaffar slashes back at her with the knife. Apparently she's assuming Alquas has a plan, too.
Alquas whips out a vial from his robes and touches the top of it, causing a small flame to sprout. He mutters a single word...
Alquas blows a sheet of scorching flame directly at his brother. The result isn't pretty. He screams and yelps, quickly releasing the lady Slya, who is merely singed. Alquas watches with an oddly detached and horrified fascination as Jaffar burns, and screams.
Chimrea: "Come on!" Salya says, batting out sparks of Jaffar's clothes that light on hers. "He'll bring the whole house down on us."
Alquas collects himself, grabs Salya's arm, and dashes out of the building at speed. He rushes back to meet with Kani, praying that none of his father's guards are about...
Chimrea: He eludes the guards long enough to meet Kani, who's nearly frantic at the entrance, and they're able to escape in the confusion.

Holmes: Chimrea gets up and hears her brother Osalder downstairs.
Chimrea: Between sneaking out to visit Kerem and staring at the ceiling trying to solve the whole mess, Chimrea didn't get much sleep for the second night running. When she drags herself downstairs to catch Osalder, she looks exhausted, but she made herself presentable in a gloomy-prim sort of way.
Chimrea: She'll scout to see if he's alone--no sense in trying to talk when Aspasia is around, she suspects.
Holmes: Fortunately Aspasia's snores can be heard from her mothers' old room.
Chimrea: Hoping the coast will stay clear, Chimrea steps out from around door to where Osalder is getting breakfast in the kitchen. "We need to talk," she says softly.
Holmes: Osalder pretends not to notice that he's being spoken to as he prepares a bowl of porridge.
Chimrea stares over his head for a second, counting jars on the shelf as she tries to keep her temper and remember how hard these last weeks have been for him. "Please. I need your help, big brother."
Alquas: Osalder grunts.
Alquas: "I saw your dance, little sister."
Alquas: He continues to prepare porridge without looking up.
Chimrea: "And?" Chimrea invites, grabbing an apple and perching on a stool to watch him. She wants to know his reaction to decide if she has any hope of convincing him she needs her freedom.
Alquas: Osalder prepares porridge in further silence.
Alquas: "I hope," he says at length "that you realise what you are doing."
Chimrea: Chimrea, who was braced for a fight, sags a little in relief. "There's more since the Dance," she says carefully. "Two nights ago I took the test to become a shaman, although I'm young. There are bad omens, and I needed to hurry."
Alquas grunts again. He looks profoundly uncomfortable.
Chimrea: "You don't have to tell me what she would have said," Chimrea adds quickly, meaning Isadora. "I know it already." She heard it at the Dance, in fact, but bringing that up doesn't seem wise.
Alquas: "I had took," he says, "your interest in these spirits as... childish foolishness."
Alquas: "But now..."
Alquas: He flashes Chimrea a look, for the first time.
Chimrea watches him warily, swallowing a bite of apple that's become a lump in her throat.
Alquas: "Now, I am scared for you."
Alquas: If anything, he looks hurt.
Alquas: He looks back to his porridge quickly, as if wishing to pretend the last few moments hadn't happened.
Alquas: "Your grandmother is upset, Chimrea."
Alquas: "She worries for you, you realise. We both do. And you cavort with spirits." He tenses a fist slightly, still looking down.
Chimrea looks away when he does, staring down at her hands like all the answers are written there. "I'm scared too. But there are bad things coming--spirits, I mean--and I might be able to help. I don't want to hurt you or grandmother, but I can't *stop* being what I am."
Alquas: He grunts again, and there is an almost imperceptible nod.
Alquas: "That," he says "is what I thought you would say."
Chimrea looks up quickly, wary again.
Chimrea: "Well, do you believe me?"
Alquas: He looks down, intently. "I don't think you're a liar." he says, flatly.
Alquas is now known as Osalder
Chimrea: Chimrea's eyes narrow a bit. "That's good, 'cause I'm not." She reminds herself to be an adult, not get in one of the usual arguments.
Osalder puts down his spoon and glares back at her. "What do you want from me, then, spirit dancer?"
Chimrea: "I want you to tell grandmother I'm an adult. I have work to do, and she wants to confine me to the house. She'll listen to you if you say it." She holds herself straight, trying to look determined rather than tired.
Alquas: This time, Osalder holds her gaze. He shakes his head, though. "She will not agree. She is set in her mind. She would see you back in Kaitaine."
Chimrea: "Kaitaine's in ruins, and Green Lake is under the eyes of the goblin High King and Akalatan. My work is here," Chimrea says flatly, then she sighs. "I don't want to hurt her--she's lost so much already--but I'll leave home rather than go off to Kaitaine now."
Alquas: Osalder is silent for a while.
Alquas: "Then she will hear that, sister. And perhaps she will soften."
Alquas: Osalder turns back to his porridge for a while. "Was there anything else?"
Chimrea wants to ask if he knows that Beliria, mother of the girl he loves, is dead--but that news probably hasn't spread around yet, so she'd be as much admitting she knew something about it. So she shakes her head, saying only, "Thank you, big brother. I know it's been hard." She slips off the stool and comes up behind him, hugging him briefly and a little hesitantly.
Alquas: He stiffens at the hug, and then relaxes almost imperceptibly.
Alquas: "Sister..." he says.
Alquas: "This thing you do. The spirits."
Chimrea: "Yeah?" she murmurs, chin resting on top of his head as he sits.
Alquas: "It is a thing that... you do... yes?"
Alquas: "it is not a thing which is..." and here he stiffens "...done to you?"
Chimrea pulls away to look at him better, leaning on the table. "What do you mean? I see spirits, on some occasions I enter their world. I awakened my fetch. Every step of the way, I made a choice to go on."
Alquas: He nods, as if he understood only half of what was said.
Alquas: "So you... talk. To the dead?"
Chimrea nods.
Alquas: "Do you...?"
Alquas: "I mean..."
Alquas: He looks down at his porridge.
Alquas: "Can you? Do you?"
Chimrea: "Can I what?" she asks, afraid she knows what he means but determined not to put the thought in his head if she's wrong.
Alquas: "I mean.. we never really got to.. say goodbye."
Chimrea slumps into a chair at the table, resting her head on folded arms as if too tired to stay standing while she answers. "I... it's part of why I pushed ahead, because Fahd said he couldn't find them on the paths of the dead. I'm going to make sure they've found their way to rest. I... mother came to me, during the Dance of the Dead."
Alquas: "Did she."
Alquas: Osalder is now looking straight ahead.
Alquas: "And what did she say?"
Chimrea looks down and nods, dully surprised that the memory doesn't even make her cry now. "She said I was wasting my time. She said she'd tell me not to come after her, but she knew I wouldn't listen." Looking up at him, she tries a smile. "So, she sounded like herself to me."
Alquas is shaking slightly.
Alquas: Osalder shakes slightly
Chimrea reaches out to squeeze his arm in comfort.
Alquas: As he speaks now his voice seems a little broken, hollow. "So there are.... bad things coming? Spirits. To Green Lake."
Alquas: "It seems there is never any rest."
Alquas: He seems smaller, somehow, as he stares at the wall.
Alquas: "I will talk to grandmother, Chimrea."
Chimrea: "The city's had twenty years of peace," Chimrea says, some of her old energy coming through in her voice as she keeps her hand on his arm. "There's rest, but we have to earn it."
Chimrea: Her voice is firm, but inside she's wishing that she had different friends to help her through it.

Chimrea: Chimrea thinks that Osalder will get through to her grandmother, but just in case she waits until the cover of nightfall again before heading out to the inn. This time, she knocks on Alquas' door--even if Kerem is around, she's not sure she trusts herself to talk to him right now.
Alquas: There is the sound of muffled conversation on the other side. At length, the door opens.
Alquas looks a bit worse for all the events of the last fw days - being temporarily dead, fending off assaasination attempts of all stripes, running through spirit worlds and setting fire to close family have all given him a weary look, and a certain unusual shabbiness to his appearance. Notably, he hasn't had time to shave.
Alquas: "oh... Chim-reah. Such a suprise to see you."
Chimrea matches him for exhausted looks, though minus the facial hair. She's dressed in black, as usual, bag of supplies over her shoulder and fresh bandages on her left hand. "I doubt it's that much of a surprise. We need to talk."
Alquas: Behind him the lady Salya looks as poised as she can manage. Kani stands, deferentially, against one wall.
Alquas: "Ah? Well, I was just... In eeeded to see the inkeep about a new room for... well, introductions! Zhanjiir Chimrea, this is Ajarr Salya ei-Kardish, a noblewoman of my country of my.. aquaintance. She is to be staying here in Green Lake for the... duration. And Kani... you know, of course."
Chimrea curtsies to Salya. "Pleased to meet you, my lady. And yes, Kani and I had quite a chance to talk." Chimrea fixes Alquas with a pointed stare. "Can your talk with the innkeep wait?"
Alquas: "I, ah.. the lady Salya should have accomodations.. it would be improper to.."
Alquas is looking everywhere but at any of the three women, who are all looking at him.
Chimrea: "You're weaseling. Please stop."
Chimrea: Chimrea's voice is soft, but she doesn't step out of his way at the door.
Alquas pauses at the slight, aware of the lady Salya watching him. He draws himself up for a moment, but can't bring himself to actually rebuke her. If nothing else, he's tired.
Alquas: "I, ah... if you will excuse me, Salya. Kani."
Alquas: He slips out of the room and closes the door behind him.
Alquas: "Come, then. We will talk as I procure a room."
Chimrea: "All right." Chimrea walks with him. "What did Kani tell you about our trip?"
Alquas: "I have not spoken of it. The matter seemed to trouble her, and I had to see that the lady Salya was safe."
Alquas: Alquas is studiously avoiding Chimrea's gaze.
Alquas stands at the bar in the hope of eventually attracting the barkeep. He hasn't the energy to demand service.
Chimrea: "We found a way back, but it wasn't free. And your god is looking for Kani." She pauses a moment, then adds, "Since she's apparently your *property*, it would seem to be your problem."
Alquas blinks as he tries to process this.
Alquas: He tries the first sentence first. "You needed... money?" he says, already knowing it was a stupid thing to say.
Chimrea: "Since I wasn't trying to *buy* her, since someone apparently already *owns* her... no, money wasn't involved." There's a bright, brittle smile on Chimrea's face.
Alquas i working up, slwoly, to the heavy subtext of the conversation.
Alquas: "And... Z'tarr is involved?" he says, weakly.
Chimrea: "That's what Old Man Spider said. We found our way back by hidden paths, so whoever is looking for Kani didn't find her, but these problems don't generally just go away."
Alquas: "I see." says Alquas, who doesn't.
Alquas: "I do not see," says Alquas "why gods would concern themselves with Kani. She is just a girl."
Chimrea: "There are very few times in my life that I wish I was my mother," says Chimrea through clenched teeth. "This is one of them, because she could hit you right now and make you feel it. I started down that path hoping to bring Kani back for your sake. Now, I'm almost ashamed I've delivered her back to you."
Alquas looks at Chimrea, slightly, but not utterly, stunned by her anger.
Alquas: He pauses a moment. When he speaks, it soudns as though his voice is coming from a long way off.
Alquas: "I do not wish to seem ungrateful, Chimrea."
Chimrea: "What do you see when you look at me?" she asks. "Do I look like property to you?"
Alquas: "I..." He looks bemused at the question.
Alquas: "That is.. no, Zhanjiir Chimrea."
Chimrea: "That sounded an awful lot like you starting to answer, stopping, and then finishing with what you think I want to hear." Chimrea's eyes are glinting, unwavering from his face.
Alquas: "If this is about Kani, Chim-reah... the situation is complex. In Vajaar..." he begins.
Chimrea: "Go on. My appreciation for complexity has grown by leaps and bounds in the last two days."
Alquas wonders how much sociological exegesis it is wise to attempt in the circumstances.
Alquas: "She is a Shadjirr." he says. "She is of.... the working classes?"
Alquas is aware this is lacking as an explanation, and tries to plunge on, awkwardly.
Chimrea: "We have working classes here, except that they don't love me for commanding them to have sex with me."
Alquas bridels at this one.
Alquas: "I commanded her no such thing!" he yells, hotly. "It is considered immoral even to engage in such... relations, with one of lower birth!"
Alquas: "You understand nothing of my culture, girl, and you understand nothing of myself or my position."
Chimrea: "I think I understand a bit. I think you're not used to people saying no to you, and you've had a bellyful of it since you got here. I think you're used to taking women for granted, if Kani is any indication."
Chimrea: "I really want to like you, Alquas, but you're making it awfully goddamned hard."
Alquas fumes silently for a while.
Chimrea looks like she's stuck between anger and sympathy herself, and hating it.
Alquas: "I do not take women for granted, Chimreah. I have the greatest respect for women. They are beautiful, delicate creatures."
Alquas tries to attract a barmaid's attention. He needs a drink.
Chimrea steps toward Alquas, getting in his personal space, hand on her father's knife she wears at her belt. "I took Kani to see Old Man Spider. You don't know who that is, because he's not in your books, I'm sure. He's the taker. He's large enough to swallow us whole and never even notice, and he's always hungry. To guide Kani back, I made a deal with him. For her life, I have to bring him a spirit who should go to his rest."
Chimrea: "Instead of riding the plains forever with the Stallion, someone is going to lie down in the quiet with the spiders, and listen to them whisper over his bones until the stars go out. I agreed, and then a spider crawled up from my stomach and out of my mouth to seal the oath, and if I ever go back on my word it will crawl back inside and lay its eggs in my womb until the children of my lies hatch and eat me."
Chimrea: "I woke from the dead with the Taker's promise still on my lips. Tell me again how delicate I am, you effete book-reading son of a bitch."
Alquas stares mutely, mouth agape at Chimrea. Some of the other patrons are doing likewise.
Alquas: "Chimrea, I..."
Alquas: He shuts his mouth again.
Alquas: "Chimrea..."
Chimrea may be mortified later, but right now she's staring at Alquas like they're alone in the room.
Alquas: "I... I did not know."
Alquas: He's aware that isn't enough, that possibly nothing ever could be, or will be again.
Chimrea: "I wasn't going to tell you, either," she says tiredly, all the venom draining out of her voice. "I'm not looking for your pity; I'd do it again. I can stand almost anything, Alquas, but not being dismissed by my friends."
Alquas: "I.. I would not wish to dismiss you, Chimrea."
Alquas: Again, the voice is from far off.
Alquas: "I..."
Alquas: "I am sorry."
Chimrea: "Oh, hell. Don't... I wasn't trying to make you apologize, at least not like that. I just--I need to know if you're a friend, or if I should cut my losses now."
Alquas: All the charm and smoothness has drained from Alquas' voice, leaving... nothing. A flat monotone.
Chimrea: Winding down from her enormous outburst, Chimrea is looking increasingly tired and small.
Alquas: "The last few days... my life has changed beyon dthe knowing of it, Chimrea. There is much... I do not understand."
Alquas: "But..."
Alquas: "I am willing to learn."
Chimrea lets out a breath she didn't realize she was holding. "If you're willing to do that, I'll try to meet you halfway." She smiles, a real one this time even if it's brief, and stands on her toes to kiss his cheek.
Alquas touches his cheek and looks at her, baffled again.
Alquas: "Truly, I do not understand women."
Alquas: His drink having finally arrived, he drains it.
Alquas: "This.. deal, then. With the arachnid. You must bring him a soul? For Kani?"
Chimrea nods. "I was hoping it might be the man who tried to kill you--but that may not be possible."
Alquas: "The Praelector?" Alquas is struck, suddenly, by the thought of the two women who went in pursuit of him.
Alquas: "His soul would be no loss to anyone but Z'tarr. And it seems we have angered him enough already."
Alquas: "Your friends. Tez... Agnez. They went in pursuit of him. I hope... I hope they knew what they were doing.
Chimrea: "But if Tez gets her claws in him, I doubt there'll be enough left. She and Agnes are going through everyone in their path." Chimrea is already editing Kerem out of that part, in her mind.
Alquas: "You think Tez a match for the Praelector?" Despite himself, Alquas does smirk a little a t the idea "But she is just... well... she seemed.. that is, she was perhaps not of soundest mind?" he finishes, finally.
Chimrea: "If you mean she's raving mad, that's at least half true. But she's the chosen of Akalatan, and Agnes has another god behind her. You might not have noticed," she flashes a grin at him, "with them being so beautiful and delicate."
Alquas nods, slowly. "Akalatan. The... blood god? If I recall."
Alquas: "And Agnez is a woman of... facility, yes, but backed by a god?"
Alquas takes a long sip of another drink.
Chimrea nods. "Some goblin spirit I don't know anything about. She calls him the High King, says he's coming to conquer Green Lake."
Alquas: "A popular occupation." Alquas says, gravely.
Chimrea: "We've stood up to that before," Chimrea says, pride in her hometown lifting her shoulders for a moment. "But things are going to get bad."
Alquas: "As a military task, taking Green Lake is more taxing than linear arithmetic would seem to indicate." He smiles wryly, the alcohol beginning to take effect.
Alquas looks into his glass meditatively for a moment, drains it, and then pulls out a small roll of something from his robe.
Chimrea: "Akalatan has been sniffing around here before. He has... a place, of sorts, because of an old pact with the Stallion. I think he's trying to expand the deal, and that's what Tez' great ordeal is for. We have to stop her without making the city too weak to withstand the High King."
Chimrea looks at him curiously.
Alquas: With practiced ease, he forms a cylinder filled with a herbal substance, lights it with a trace of his fingers, and blows a large and healthy smoke ring. He seems to relax significantly.
Alquas: "It has been, " he says, ".. too long."
Alquas: "Blood goddesses and goblin kings." he says, to the air in general.
Chimrea: Perched on her stool, resting her chin on folded hands and watching him, Chimrea smiles. "We can take them. We're too dumb to give up."
Alquas shrugs. He offers the roll-up to Chimrea.
Chimrea blinks, shrugs herself, takes it and inhales deeply. She promptly starts coughing, handing it back to him while she pounds her chest.
Alquas grins at her, slightly, then thinks the better of it.
Alquas: "Do you think they will win? Tez and Ag-nez?"
Alquas: "The Praelector came for me. Dealing with him was my responsibility. I should have gone with them."
Chimrea: "S'okay," she croaks, grinning at him herself. At his question, she shrugs. "I'd give them at least even odds against the Praelector, if that's what you mean."
Chimrea shrugs--in her tired state, she can't think of an honest way to disagree. "They can take care of themselves," she settles.
Alquas: "I wanted to see that Knai and Salya were safe. They are my responsibility too."
Chimrea: "Speaking of which, they may be wondering where you are," Chimrea points out.
Alquas blinks. "Oh, of course."
Alquas goes over to hail the barkeep, and finally secures two additional room keys.
Alquas walks back over to Chimrea.
Alquas: "What happened to Keyrrem? I have not seen him of late. I thought he was lodging here."
Chimrea: "Uh, he is," Chimrea says, deciding it would sound funny if she adds 'at least last night.' She adds, "I was going to go check on him, now that I've had it out with you."
Alquas raises an eyebrow. "indeed?"
Chimrea: "Last he heard, I was in serious trouble with my family," she explains. "It's over, at least for now, so I wanted to tell him not to worry."
Alquas: He runs his fingers through his unkempt beard. "I should retire. Kani will... that is, I will need time to prepare the lodgings for thelady Salya, and Kani will need to move to her own room."
Chimrea thinks about saying something about his wording, then decides that she's done enough fighting for one night. "Sweet dreams," she says instead.
Alquas: "Likewise, Chimm-reah."
Alquas wanders off in a gust of thick and exotic-smelling smoke.
Chimrea rubs her temples for a minute, gives up on getting rid of the headache, and goes up to see about Kerem.
Kerem 's door is unlocked, and his room is empty, his possessions strewn about in much the same way they were when Chimrea last saw them. The only thing different is a hastily scrawled note that sits on the nightstand.
Chimrea: Feeling a little guilty about snooping, Chimrea nontheless checks the note. It might be for Tez, but maybe not...
Kerem: "Chim, Tez:"
Kerem: "I'm sorry I haven't done right by you."
Kerem: "I'm going to find a way to make things better. I've gone to free the slaves of Klahador."
Kerem: "Pray for me."
Kerem: "love, Kerem"
Chimrea reads it several times, until she's sure she can remember every word. Then she takes the corner and carefully, so carefully, tears until the piece with her name is gone. She puts the scrap in her bag, puts the note back on the stand, and then leaves in a hurry--so much for sleeping tonight.

Holmes: Kerem, after asking some well placed questions, has rapidly tracked down his fat Ikaiti contemporary, apparently having some sort of luncheon on the shore of Green Lake. He is with a Rhiani woman, and his man stands off trying not to watch the goings on. Kloto is apparently trying to be charming by consuming a roasted chicken in record time.
Kerem walks up to the bodyguard and engages him in a little idle conversation, flashing a few cult signs to Kloto. ::Hey. I need your help right away.::
Holmes: Kloto slows his eating, and between bites says, "Nice to see you Kerem. This is Sulahna." His hands, after they're clear of chicken, flash back (helped by a furrowed brow), :: This had better be important.
Kerem: "Oh, hey, it's nice to meet you." Kerem engages in his usual adorable smiling. ::I've decided to take your job offer. But I need some help from you first.:;
Holmes: Kloto excuses himself from his company, and he and Kerem head down the shore of the lake. Across the lake from them, the skeletal remains of the White Wood stand making that shore seem deceptively near.
Holmes: "So, you've reconsidered?" says Kloto rhetorically.
Kerem: "You could say that."
Kerem: "Here's the deal, all right?"
Kerem looks out over the lake.
Holmes: "Of course you realize that I can't offer you the same amount as I had before," says Kloto, trying to take control of the negotiation.
Kerem: "I've got a friend who's in a bind. She's in the thrall of a god. I told her I'd help her."
Kerem: "You're...invested, right?"
Kerem: "You know the story of A'taal freeing the slaves of Klahador?"
Holmes: "I think I recall it," says Kloto, realizing that this isn't going to be a typical negotiation. "What of it?"
Holmes: His eyes squint as he tries to grasp what Kerem is about.
Kerem: "I need..."
Kerem: "I need to do that."
Kerem: "Can you help me?"
Holmes: It takes Kloto a moment to catch on, and then, "Oh, you mean you want me to show you the path? My, I haven't done that in a while."
Holmes: He ponders for a moment, "I think I know the way still."
Holmes: It's half question.
Kerem: "Good."
Kerem: "I don't really...know how this works."
Kerem: "Are there sacred sites, or sacrifices, or things?"
Holmes: Kloto nods, and puts a hand out to Kerem's shoulder, "Yes, yes, all of those things... but first... are you sure?"
Holmes: Turning to look Kerem in the eye, "I wouldn't want to lose a new recruit before I even got the use of him."
Kerem: "I'm sure."
Kerem: "I promised."
Holmes: Kloto tilts his head in a gesture of resignation, "I can tell you're not going to be dissuaded. Fine. Let's talk details."
Holmes: "First, there's the place," he relays. "Since coming here, I've found that these Rhiani, despite their vaunted honesty, have those who take from others, like anywhere. Their sacred place is actually at the rear of the house of the former governor of this town."
Holmes: "Apparently he once stole something important from somebody."
Kerem: "Okay."
Kerem: "That sounds doable."
Holmes: "Then we'll need some items," Kloto starts listing off some things, along with what he thinks may be suitable replacements for those things he doesn't think will be locally available.
Kerem takes mental notes.
Holmes: After a bit Kloto says, "I'll be at risk, too, you know. You're going to owe me. Not just joining me, but you'll still owe me some favor, too. Agreed?"
Kerem: "Whatever you say, boss."
Holmes: Kloto nods, and continues with enumerating the preparations.
Holmes: **
Holmes: *
Holmes: Having told the men at the gate that he knows who killed Beliria, Kerem is taken before Lorvehlk, the forge's floor supervisor, now temporarily heading the operations
Kerem doesn't waste any time. "Listen. The man who killed Beliria is named the Praelector. He's an assassin, sent from Vajaar, to interfere with the negotiations between the Vajaari nobles here and Green Lake, and destabilize your governing bodies where possible -- hence the murder."
Kerem: "After killing Beliria, he went after a client of mine -- Alquas Ei Queddim. I stopped him in time, thankfully, and found this on him." He produces the tethium blade. "Here's the evidence of his crime."
Kerem: "He fled, but a couple of my friends are going after him right now."
Kerem: "I don't expect you to chip in anything for me to deal with this Praelector guy, since I'm previously contracted and all, but there is something you could do to make it a lot easier for me to track him down, if you're interested."
Holmes: Lorvehlk is completely taken in by Kerem's story. "Whatever you need, you shall have it. My brother was slain by the Vajaari on a trading expedition to the south five years ago. I'll do whatever it takes to slay every last one of them!"
Kerem: "Well."
Kerem: "I don't need anything too big."
Kerem: "Just a key. Made of whatever the best material you have is. Probably tethium, though you're the professional here."
Kerem: "As finely worked as you can make it."
Kerem: "Oh."
Kerem: "And could I possibly keep this knife, too?"
Holmes: "For now," he nods. "For a key, certainly gold would be best, no?"
Kerem waves a hand negligently. "You know best."
Kerem: "Thanks for your help." He smiles again. "It's been a pleasure."
Kerem: "Oh. Actually, there's one more thing."
Kerem: "If you have a spare moment, maybe you could say a prayer for me. This isn't going to be easy."

Holmes: Having departed from Kloto from the back of Thrakelust's estate, Kerem wanders between some buildings, getting lost for a moment. At first it's just parts of Green Lake. But then, taking the steps as Kloto has told him, turning at the right places, thing begin to subtly change. And before he knows it, he's in an alley that seems to go on forever, with back doors that lead to all places.
Kerem looks to either side, swallowing.
Kerem: One of his hands holds an intricately worked golden key, while the other bears an ancient coin with the mark of an emperor on it.
Kerem: "I love you," he whispers. "Everything is gonna be all right. I promise."
Kerem walks forward.

Shadow World

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