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Post by Myst on Jun 19, 2020 11:46:07 GMT -5
She would easily find a way to get this done should the women decline. It would take longer, but she would get what she wanted no matter what. Still, even if she said nothing, if the blonde took the dagger than she would take that as acceptance. Simply holding it out, she watched as the other looked between herself and her companion. It was only a moment or so later the weapon was being removed from her hand. Well then, the deal was sealed. She watched at her prized possession was tucked away for later use, hoping she wouldn't have to resort to other means to get it back once the job was done.
The princess merely listened as Tempest began to list off things that she would need to complete her new task. She didn't ask what the very last thing was, it wasn't her business how the thief operated. Was she curious? Of course, but she knew better than to ask. As far as she was concerned, she was already overstepping some boundaries by asking this of her. She'd found herself nodding along slightly until Oswald spoke up.
She cast the prince a sideways glance, unsure of what he was trying to imply here. If she wanted help then it should be provided, no questions asked. Or, that's how she saw it. Then again, she supposed it was because this was something she absolutely wanted to be done. As she answered, Kiran looked to her once more. An extra week or two? That wasn't exactly ideal... When the question of 'how long' was posed though, she resigned herself. "I'd like the documents as soon as possible. So, however long it takes you to get it done properly. Still, I'd like to speed up the process if I can..."
Turning slightly, the freckled woman summoned her guard to her side with a simple wave. He complied without question, coming to her side with just a few steps. She pulled a small knife from her belt, making a small cut in her thumb. The demon took a knee in front of her, and she pressed her now bleeding thumb to his forehead. "You will never tell a living soul of anything done for this job. Nothing of her materials, her methods, her process. Nothing you collect for this job will be shown to anybody but her. Until her task is complete you will do what she asks of you if she so chooses. Do we have an understanding?"
Cruva listened to her words, eyes closed as her blood practically burned into his skin. It was interesting. For her to impose such a set of rules, it had been quite some time. To bound him to secrecy is what truly surprised him, though. She was probably one of his most curious summoners to date, and part of knew that she would want to know how the thief worked. And yet, she was binding him to never speak a word of what he saw or heard of the other's process. It seemed she wanted this done more than anything.
As she finished up and removed her thumb from his forehead, the bloodied area glowed faintly before seemingly dissolving. "Yes, princess." The rules were clear and seemed as though he was bound for the rest of his days to never speak of the blonde's process. As he stood, he merely watched as she wiped her hand on her pants.
"Get those maps to her by tonight." Her demand was met with a nod and disappearance as she turned to face Tempest. "You have no obligation to use him, but if he makes this any easier please feel free." Pausing, Kiran looked to Oswald for a moment. "We need to figure a way to get on their good sides... We should start with the Dovers."
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Post by Amber on Jun 19, 2020 21:45:34 GMT -5
Kellan, the Reluctant Thief "Still, I'd like to speed up the process if I can," the princess muttered. That was probably code for within the next week or two. Kell sighed. It could be done, though that would involve her having to ask for help. That would either fall on Ga-Julei or her companions and she wasn't entierly sure which she preferred. For now she just focused on Kiran and her guard. The princess pulled out a small, ornate knife. It wasn't anywhere near as decorative as Dagger of the Sun, but it was still clearly well-made. Drawing it across her thumb, she pressed it aganist Cruva's forehead. Kellan watched the pair with interest.
The man almost tensed for a moment, as if the mark was hurting him in some way. She didn't focus on it for long as the princess began to give him orders. The thief's eyes widened as Kiran spoke, commanding a vow of secrecy about her methods. Of course it was probably to avoid causing any arguements. They would only serve to waste time and time was something they didn't have a lot of. Cruva eventually answered the royal before the woman removed her thumb from his head. There was almost a faint glow that seemed to takw the place where her thumb once was. It dissipated in an instant. Maybe it wasn't there at all and simply a part of Kell's imagination. She didn't bother asking as the other woman ordered the demon to find her some maps. Hopefully he doesn't cause too much trouble, she thought. Something told her she might not be that lucky.
As she thought about it, she found herself almost feeling bad for the guard. Did he have no free will at all when it came to following Kiran? What if she ordered him to do something that went again his morals, assuming he had any. What if there was a request that made him uncomfortable? Could demons even get uncomfortable? Kellan wasn't sure. Despite spending close to two weeks with the group, there was still much she hadn't learned about demons and their mysterious ways. Kiran's words returned her focus to the room.
"Right, good to know," she replied quickly. It was unlikely she would use his skills, but perhaps he could prove to be useful if she was in a pinch. As the woman address Oswald, Kell began to leave the room. She had work to do.
Oswald, the Mithran Prince The half-orc watched the ceremony or pact or whatever it was between Kiran and Cruva. It was quite interesting. The blood seemed to tie everything together, maybe as a way to make sure her orders were followed through. The scholar in him wanted to ask questions, write down notes about all her saw, and try to figure out how the process worked. The princely part of him knew better than to do just that. After the princess finished her commands, she gave another order to the gaurd and he soon disappeared from the room. Kiran explained something to Tempest before turning to him and mentioning the Dovers.
Right, they needed to figure out how to make allies out of nobles. As Oswald thought it over,.Tempest began to leave. "Where are you going?" He questioned. The blonde looked back at him, eyes narrowed in apparent displeasure.
"I thought you couldn't wait to see me go," she retorted. She paused for a moment, as if waiting for him to answer. When the half-orc stayed silent, she contiuned. "I don't have much time to wait around for for maps or whatever. I need to find out where these nobles live so I can start planning. It took me nearly a solid month scouting out the Zaestrin castle before I could enact my plan," Tempest explained. Oswald glanced at Kiran, wondering how she would react before looking back at the thief.
"Well, the city's around two hours from here closer to the mountains if I remeber right. Many of the nobles, especially the major nobles, have some sort of housing there as most live full time in the capital. They likely conduct business from those houses, so it shouldn't be diffcult to find what you need," he explained. He didn't like Tempest in the slightest, but if he was going to make the alliance with Zaestro work, he needed to try and be civil with her. The blond agave a small nod, but paused again. She was likely waiting for Kiran's input. Once she got what she wanted, she fianlly left. Oswald turned back to his friend. They needed to discuss the Dovers.
"Alright. We need to figure out how to get on their good side and how we plan on doing this. Do you have any ideas?" Oswald certainly had some floating around in his mind, however he wanted to hear what Kiran had to say first.
(I would've gotten this up sooner, but I recently got a job. Just as a headsup, replies may be a bit spotty here and there at least until I get used to it.
Also I just made up something for that bit about the city that seemed plausible. If you want me to edit it, just let me know~)
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Post by Myst on Jun 19, 2020 22:40:04 GMT -5
The Angered Princess She wasn't exactly happy with the presented time frame, though in the scope of getting it done properly she didn't quite care. If waiting meant no further problems were caused, then she would simply have to wait. When it came to obtaining physical preparations, however, that was something she could get done fast. So she did. Her guard was off with his new orders, and it seemed the blonde was off to get started.
Kiran had been ready to begin discussing getting in with noble's when the prince addressed the other woman instead. What sort of question was that? She now had her own thing to take care of, and by the sounds of it, she had a lot of preparation to do. Even without the thief's retort, it was clear they didn't like each other. This dislike was something that the group didn't really have time for right now, as it would only cause problems and possible setbacks. The comment of her own palace, however, drew her attention more. "The palace is rather ornate... Impressive you made it to the vault," she murmured, thinking back to that night for just a moment. Cruva had informed her of what had happened later, and truth be told she had almost been upset she'd missed it.
Still, her attention returned to the conversation at hand as Oswald detailed where the houses were likely to be. She herself wouldn't know, honestly. She always slept during the last stretch of her meeting travels here, and by the time she was aware of her surroundings, she was staying on castle grounds. With this in mind, it was good to hear somebody knew something about the area. When he finished though, she realized Tempest was still here. She relaxed slightly, having not realized how tense she'd been. "Please don't let my impatience get in the way... and be careful."
With that, the woman was off.
Hazel eyes turning to the half-orc, she hesitated before shaking her head. "I was sort of hoping I wouldn't have to speak with them at all so I don't have anything in mind... Do you?"
------
The Summoned Guard Cruva was quick to make his exit, finding himself outside on grounds they'd been made to stay on for at least the next three weeks. It was a rather nice place, he'd admit, though he'd become rather accustomed to the heat of the sands and the breezes the oasis brought. Still, he'd admit that the enclosures he'd created for the animals he had were rather impressive. Rather accurate as well.
He made himself scarce, though, and quickly made his way back to the shop he and the prince had originally obtained the enchanted ring. He didn't feel like talking to the elf as she was much more interesting. That, and he supposed simply asking his seer for the documents wouldn't be as fun as taunting the half-blood. And he would start by simply appearing within her shop. When he did, he found himself just by a window and quickly made himself at home leaning against a wall.
"I do have a business to run, you know," Thistle muttered, glaring at the newcomer. "I also have a door."
"But that wouldn't make you angry now would it?" his words were smug, and her glare only deepened. For a brief moment, he reveled in it, but he knew he had things to do. "I'm looking to obtain maps of the nobles' houses. Do you have any?"
The half-blooded gumiho hummed lowly, glancing at her shelves for a moment. She did, and she knew that she did. She also knew there was no use in lying to a demon, certainly not one with such a powerful presence. Who was he... "Do you have anything for me? Gold, trinkets, information? My time isn't free."
"I've been alive for a few centuries. What do you want to know?" Cruva was unwilling to guess and check what information she may want. If she wanted objects, he could surely conjure a few from his personal storage. Not that he wanted to give up anything he owned, but he supposed he would if he had to.
Thistle grinned slightly, leaning against her counter as she eyed the man in her shop. "Tell me who you are, demon."
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Post by Myst on Jun 19, 2020 22:41:02 GMT -5
(Ahh I'm happy for you!! also don't even worry about activity I totally understand
I think it's good! Honestly, it makes a ton of sense that it would be like that so it's cool with me c: )
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Post by Amber on Jun 20, 2020 1:16:41 GMT -5
Oswald, the Mithran Prince The thief left without another word, off to do whatever she did. Her panther-like feline followed silently behind. The beast hadn't left her side since she got it, though whether that was her doing or it's natural instincts wasn't clear to the man. Turning his attention back towards Kiran, she offered some words, which ultimately amounted to nothing. Oswald nodded, but didn't mind the lack of ideas. He had a few up his sleeve. All were based off what they knew about the high ranking family, though a few of his own expierences helped him plan.
"Yes, actually," he hummed in reply. He could barely hold back the prideful smile that tugged at his lips. "As I've said a few times already, the Dovers are full of accountants, advisors, and most importantly, scholars. You see, their value of scholars is our way in, I think. Firstly, no one would expect a scholar to do anything nefarious. Most scholars I've interacted with, myself included, are too wrapped up with their studies, teachings, and research to really want to do anything else. Next, there are many perfectly logical reasons for scholars wanting to speak with each other. That wouldn't raise any suspicions. Lastly, most scholars crave new information. Few back down from the promise of learning something new or different from their chosen area of study." Oswald paused for a moment to catch his breath. He let his mind wander briefly at the thought of learning something from Ereva's many skilled scholars and researchers. Maybe when this is all over, I can do just that, he wistfully hoped.
"The only problem is how do we approch them? I think we need to figure out some sort of social event to interact with them at or find another way. Nobles live for their parties, but I've heard that it's especially true for Erevan nobles. If we can figure out when a party is and who's attending, maybe we can approch them then. Another idea is waiting for some other social event. A festival, maybe some sort of special announcement or ceremony that they have to attend. Another idea is maybe posing as an apprentice looking to expand out knowledge. However, we all may appear to be too old for that so maybe we use that idea as a last resort. If none of those ideas pan out, we can reach out to them in a letter. Though I'm not sure how foolproof that is. Then there's the problem of who exactly we would use for this idea. What do you think?" Oswald rambled enough. Now he was curious to hear Kiran's input of his ideas thus far. Maybe they were terrible suggestions or perhaps he had just stumbled onto something worth looking into. Whatever the case, he hoped it helped them.
(Ah thanks! I really love it so far, my bosses are great. And good to know!
Also sounds good! Just wanted to make sure~)
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Post by Myst on Jun 23, 2020 14:41:57 GMT -5
The Angered Princess Honestly, she was thankful to hear that Oswald had some ideas. Truth be told, she was beginning to air on the side of using force to get what she wanted while she was here, though part of her knew that it was a poor idea all around. Thankfully, it seemed it wouldn't have to come to this. So she focused on taking in his words, nodding slightly as he restated exactly what the Dover family was made of in terms of jobs. She did remember that from the information he had put together for the group, though she herself wasn't really sure what to do with that.
Thankfully, he continued. It made sense that there were tons of reasons for scholars to simply speak with each other with no underlying intentions and that they craved information. They were scholars, after all. Even still, it was something that she herself wouldn't have thought of because she didn't put a lot of effort into her studies. She liked strategies, battles, horseback riding, and everything that her father hadn't wanted her to do. She took after her mother in this way, always looking for excitement from other things.
As he continued on to describe the ways that they could even establish contact, she honed in on the idea of a party. She was good at those! While not a scholar, she was a highly sociable person, so this was something she could help him with. "I think attending some sort of party would be perfect! I don't know anything about studies or whatever but I know parties. We should try and see what parties are happening within the next couple weeks," she responded, grinning slightly now. "I think we should consider disguises - you could pose as a high-end Mithran scholar. I don't know what I'd be but we can figure that out."
Running a hand through her curls, Kiran thought on it for a moment. "What kind of stuff do you think they want to know about? They don't come to the deserts often, so I'm there's a lot they could learn. I don't know if they come to Mithra." She still didn't know enough to know what they would like. "... Do you think Valiri would know what they're studying currently? Or if there's another way to find out?"
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Post by Amber on Jun 23, 2020 20:43:25 GMT -5
Oswald, the Mithran Prince As Oswald finished speaking, his eyes drifted towards Kiran. She nodded along to the information, hanging onto his words. The prince lightly smiled. The woman spoke up, enamoured with the idea of a party. Of course it wasn't surprising. In the weeks leading up to and after the treaty signing, she had been very instant on a party to celebrate the new peace. It also helped that nobles liked their celebrations. In his expierence, at least concerning his family, the royalty didn't have much time for such things beyond birthdays, holidays, and other rare special events. Even then, they weren't always public events. Unlike the Mithrans, the Erevan nobility and royalty appreciated their parties. Eventually the man nodded at her suggestion.
"Honestly, that would probably be the easiest solution and it should be easily enough to find out. I'm sure there's plenty of gossip and news about upcoming events such as that a party. It doesn't even need to be one thrown by the Dovers themselves. Perhaps that's something we can have Cruva find out for us or even Ga-Julei if we just don't hunt for this information ourselves." He paused as she suggested disguises, smiling. "That would probably be for the best, but how far do we have to go? Some sort of magical charm to change our hair, eyes, and maybe even our skin or body shape? Or maybe something a bit more accessible like, I don't know, wigs? Anyway, we can worry about that as whatever deadline gets closer. I'm always happy to play the role as a scholar. As for you, maybe a solider or some minor noble would work if we want to mess with paperwork."
As Oswald thought about it, he wondered how they would pull it all off. Not only was there the disguises they had to consider, but he was left thinking about how he would handle the situation. As he had proven when first meeting with Ga-Julei, he was a nervous fellow. How could he handle that when pretending to be something he wasn't? Well, that wasn't entierly true. He was a scholar, just one who would have other interests in a meeting than talks of their studies. Kirn spoke up once more, wondering what things the Dovers- at least those who were scholars -were studying. The prince shrugged.
"I'm not sure, though there are a few ways we can find out. Asking around is one, though I'd be concerned about raising any suspicion. Although it may be unlikely, they might find it insulting or feel threatened if another scholar is trying to find their work without asking them. They would appreciate a more direct approch. With that said, I would be concerned about doing something like that because tensions may still be high between our nations. It might be different for scholars, but we should still tread lightly." He paused as he considered her suggestion of Valiri. She would be useful and was probably trustworthy considering she had some past relationship with Cruva. However, he also wasn't sure how much she knew or could do. "I'm not sure about her, though it's worth asking whether it's one of us or Cruva. With that said, I do know there's someone who'll be at one of the Dover's homes soon. Maybe we can ask Tempest if she can find anything on their current studies. House gossip, actual paperwork, things like that could be useful to us."
He wasn't sure how she would react, nor did he even care. Despite his dislike for the woman, he would be foolish not to acknowledge her usefulness.
(Pft, I just had a possibly terrible idea. What if the Erevan royalty showed up at this party? Now that would be chaos. And if they all went, that would probably up the chaos.)
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Post by Myst on Jul 7, 2020 15:53:59 GMT -5
(shoutout to my life being a mess resulting in untimely disappearances - I have to get a tooth pulled soon so hopefully I'll be on more
Also dude hell yeah that's a wonderfully chaotic idea)
The Angered Princess She nodded as he decided it would be the easiest solution. Honestly, she rather agreed with this statement, and at least even if they didn't find anything they could have a smidge of fun along the way. When it came to finding a party, she was sure that it was something she could accomplish. After all, she was a highly sociable person and people tended to find it easy to hold a conversation with her. From there, they tended to simply tell her whatever it was she asked if it was within their realm of knowledge. "I'm sure I could find a party easily enough - after all, people love bragging about how they got invited and their peers didn't when it comes to noble parties." She also just didn't want to speak with the elf for something so simple.
As he continued, Kiran realized she hadn't thought much of it. Disguises... a minor enchantment wouldn't hurt, right? Perhaps the witch they had visited could help them with such. "Cruva was telling me Miss Claiborne was part gumiho - the species is well known for their abilities to look like anybody. Maybe we could talk to her about it." Then there was the matter of what they would be disguised as. Naturally, he would go as a scholar as he said. After all, he truly was one, and she would be no good in such a role as she never remembered enough to participate in studies - the information had always been trivial in her opinion. When it came to her, however, she couldn't help but grin slightly. "Mother always said I'd have made a good soldier had I had an older brother. I would've led all of our forces. I could pose as your guard."
Soon enough the conversation shifted to what the Dover's were studying. As Oswald went through the ways they could figure this out, she justed nodded slightly. She didn't really understand the idea of feeling threatened in this aspect, but she also wasn't studying anything so she supposed she had no way to. So, she would just take his word for it. As he continued, she nodded. She was going there anyway, after all. Still... "I don't know, I feel like I've already asked so much of her just now..." She trailed off, thinking on it. The woman had essentially been forced on the trip, and part of her had hesitated to ask her for the task she was preparing for now.
Still, she didn't know much about scholars and she knew that. The prince, on the other hand, had first hand experience with them. "If you think we should ask her, then it's fine by me."
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Post by Amber on Jul 7, 2020 23:32:06 GMT -5
Oswald, the Mithran Prince "So a party it is," Oswald hummed with a faint smile. That was probably the best environment to approch someone in. It was unlikely any suspicion would be raised and if anyone did suspect something, there likely wouldn't be a confrontation. If one could be avoided, that would be good for everyone. Besides, it was a perfect place for gossip and finding information on the noble houses. If not secrets- it was unlikely they would find some anyway since no one would openly share them -at least things like house alliances, contacts, and events. Oswald nodded in agreement. Kiran's logic made sense and even if she couldn't find anything, though he doubted it, they could always find the news elsewhere.
"Hm...I'm not sure how much I trust her, but seeing as she probably has shapeshifting abilities it probably wouldn't hurt to talk to her. I would assume she would have good advice on how to create a believable disguise and maybe even have some sort of enchantment we could use." He paused as Kiran suggested what she could disguise herself as. The half-orc scratched his chin, nodding along. "That's a good idea. A traveling scholar who doesn't care for the squabbles of the kingdom would need to have some sort of protection with him if he were to cross the borders safely. I think that's perfect! I could find out information from scholars and maybe even nobles. Meanwhile, you can talk to othe guards and see what they know."
Oswald began to talk to himself about the nature of scholars, not wanting to step on any toes. The Zaestrin princess quietly nodded along. Either she didn't entierly understand how scholars work or just didn't care too much. The Mithran man didn't mind either idea. As he suggested using Tempest, he could see the hesitation in Kiran's expression. She wasn't entierly onboard with the idea. Oswald frowned as she spoke. The woman trailed off before finally agreeing. The half-orc lightly smiled. "Alright. I can ask her, if you want." The thought soured his mood some, it wasn't fair to have Kiran do everything.
"Now that we have that settled, is there anything else we need to discuss?"
Kellan, the Reluctant Thief There wasn't a lot to work with at the mansion. Kellan knew she would have to get some field work done before she could really go forward with the planning. For now, Oswald's notes were enough to start from. As she closed the door after Magnar, the thief took a quick look around the room. Nothing seemed out of place, which was a good sign. The large, comfortable bed sat unmade at the center of a wall, an ornate nightstand at either side of it. In front, there was a chest she used to store her few belongings she wasn't worried about hiding. A desk sat near large windows with deep green curtians pulled open for the day. Near that, was two doors. One led to a small cloest, which she hadn't bothered to use, and the other led to a bathroom filled with everything she could need. It was all so lavish. Too lavish.
It was weird having her own room and a proper room at that. It was even weirder to have one filled with expensive furnishings and decore that she wasn't there to steal. The theif still hadn't gotten use to having somewhere she could call her own. In her youth, she always shared a room with at least two of her siblings in whatever abandon house they managed to find. It wasn't like a group of runaways and orphans could do much in the first place. After she striked out on her own, it had been a life of inns and more abandoned buildings. She had never stayed anywhere like the masion before and probably wouldn't again. Kell sighed and pulled away from her thoughts. It was more important to focus on how she was going to get two weeks worth of work done in a few days.
(No worries, it hasn't been too long. I hope pulling your tooth goes smoothly. Sucks that is has to happen, but at least a problem was identified and now it'll be fixed.
Honestly, every good story needs at least one of the following A heist or a rescue mission A tournament A fancy party so the characters can get all dressed up A festival or celebration with contest, games, and the like
I can just imagine the pure chaos. Oswald tries his best to keep his cool as he's talking, and lying, to some scholars. Kell might be trying to steal something. Or is messing with some nobles. Or sneaking around. Whatever it is, it's trouble. Kiran may be trying to keep everything going smoothly, but no one else is having it. And maybe Cruva is trying to stop himself from killing someone stupid.)
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Post by Myst on Jul 13, 2020 16:43:27 GMT -5
The Angered Princess She supposed he had a right not to trust her. After all, he had met her in person, she'd only heard about her. Still, it was a place they could get help and possibly avoid any hang-ups when it came to their disguises. As he continued, she grinned a little as he seemed he liked her idea. Good - she honestly wasn't sure what else she would be able to go as. "I'm sure the guards hear a ton of gossip - mine do, anyway..." Thankfully they were all too scared of the demon who was often at her side to speak up. Few had been removed since he'd started working.
With the idea of asking the thief settled, she thought on his next question. Anything else... No, not now. Without information, nothing else really came to her mind. "Not right now - we should probably get started. Who do you want to talk to first?"
----
The Summoned Guard The demon had spent at least an hour with the half-blood, earning his fair share of information from her. He detailed his own life, the cold-blooded murder of his two elder siblings, his leaving. Essentially anything she asked of him he answered. Within the hour, he'd earned more in return than what he currently needed, and she knew almost as much as he did about demons. A more than fair trade, in his eyes.
"You know, I'm surprised that such a high ranking demon has been downgraded to nothing more than a guard," She hummed as she collected the maps he requested from one of her back rooms.
He huffed, looking at the door she'd gone into. "It wasn't by choice, and I still do whatever I please." He glanced down to the open notebooks on the counter, each with enchanted quills scribbling away, likely recording everything he'd told her. It was interesting to watch, though he wouldn't say it's impressive. "You still owe me."
"I'm aware," Thistle responded as she finally returned, handing him a set of rolled-up maps. "You've given me so much information... What else can I offer you? A deal's a deal, after all."
He took the maps, looking over each briefly before sending them back to the mansion. If his estimations were correct, they were meant to appear somewhere in the thief's room, though he couldn't promise where since he'd never been in her room. "I want all documents detailing daedric summons burned."
She glared, eyes blazing. "Burn them? You're asking I burn my precious documents?"
"No, I'm telling you to do it." Cruva snapped. "You're still just a half-blood, and I promise I'll tear you apart if you don't." For a second, he was still met with defiance. Still, she knew just as well as him that he was bound to his word so after a few moments, she turned to collect the specified documents. Good - he would've gotten his way regardless, but now it was less work on his part.
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Post by Amber on Jul 13, 2020 20:59:02 GMT -5
Oswald, the Mithran Prince Oswald nodded. That was good, and unsurprising, to hear. It made sense for guards to be avid gossipers, especially those who were around royalty or nobility. When all they did was walk around, watching people all day, it made sense they would learn things and chat about them later. The topic shifted about until it settled on who they were going to talk to first. Claiborne or Valiri? The half-Gumiho who enjoyed keeping people's secrets or a demon who knew Cruva personally? Should they venture into the den of a woman who he didn't trust, or talk to a woman they didn't know at all? After a moment, the half-orc spoke up.
"I think we should probably talk to Valiri first. We're already here after all and I assume she's here at least. Though with that in mind, maybe we should see Calibourn first instead. The demon will be here after the Gumiho's shop closes and I don't think this should be something we hold off," the man pointed out. "Ultimately, it's your call."
While he wanted to see the perpetrators of the attempted assassination brought to justice, the mission primarily belonged to Kiran. It had truly shaken up the woman and she was determined to see it all through.
(Sorry this is shorter than usual. Any ideas on where to go from here? I'm thinking maybe we have Oswald and Kiran have a conversation with Calibourne/Valiri and then maybe a timeskip or something?)
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Post by Myst on Jul 13, 2020 21:07:07 GMT -5
(yeah I'm fully fine with that - do you prefer Claibourne or Valiri?)
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Post by Amber on Jul 13, 2020 21:14:27 GMT -5
(I'm thinking Calibourne because it would be interesting to see what Kiran thinks of her and have Thistle develope more as a character.)
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Post by Myst on Jul 13, 2020 21:16:26 GMT -5
(sounds good! we can do that c: )
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Post by Myst on Jul 13, 2020 21:29:24 GMT -5
(do you want to start or do you want me to?)
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Post by Amber on Jul 13, 2020 21:32:11 GMT -5
(If you don't mind, could you?)
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Post by Myst on Jul 13, 2020 21:34:01 GMT -5
(no problem! it'll be a minute tho lol)
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Post by Amber on Jul 13, 2020 21:35:02 GMT -5
(No worries~)
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Post by Myst on Jul 13, 2020 22:06:01 GMT -5
The Half-Blood The day had been... Eventful, to say the least. She forced the demon to settle for only burning the documents with his name in them, and while he hadn't seemed too happy about it, he agreed. He stayed until every single document was in her fireplace, which typically housed small flames, and set alight. Each paper gave way to odd, vibrant colors as they burned. Bright reds, blues, greens, and the like. It was because of their nature, and normally she would find the display wonderful, however, she was angry and her eyes mirrored the colors all too well. By the time she finally looked away, the demon guard had taken his leave. Not that she would complain about it - she was done entertaining him.
After that, a few magic users made their away in, and for nothing. They lacked the coin to buy any of her wares and nothing of value to her. One was sentenced to death after becoming rowdy and grabbing her shoulder. She had faced him, jaw unhinged like a snake with all new rows of teeth she'd grown just for the occasion. He'd had his head ripped off and heart torn out, his body instantly incinerated after she was done with the still-beating organ. Unfortunately, it left her with the blood to clean up.
By the time the bell indicating the door opening rang, she had taken to enchanting a set of rings while a mop was taking care of the blood on the floor and wall. "Do not interrupt me, you'll break the incantation," she stated quickly, knowing the door hadn't even shut behind whoever it was yet.
The princess had entered first and had been looking around in awe at all the books and trinkets lining the shelves. It wasn't until the other spoke that her eyes landed on her and her five tails that all seemed to be swaying in their own directions. While her ears were turned towards them, the woman was clearly focused on whatever was in front of her. Rather than speak, she stepped away from the door so her companion could get in as well. She watched for the next minute or so as the woman spoke her words of magic and a faint glow emanated from in front of her. It stopped as she wrapped up and she whipped around to face them.
The fire was still burning its odd colors and the quills were still writing in the notebooks. "Half-orc, you're back. And you've brought a different friend. Here for another trade?"
"Are you a gumiho?" the princess blurted. She'd only read about the species, and part of her had believed them to be fake. Seeing this woman with her tall fox ears and five tails, bright amber eyes that weren't quite human... it was amazing. Her own eyes were glittering with wonder and amazement while a slow grin was creeping across her face.
Thistle raised an eyebrow, looking at the small woman. She was tiny, and could likely be mistaken for a teenage boy. While her species was a rare one, it still surprised her how amazed some people were when they learned what she was. "... Yes, I am."
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Post by Amber on Jul 13, 2020 23:36:10 GMT -5
Oswald, the Mithran Prince They left the mansion without incident. Well of course they did, it wasn't like the royals were prisoners of Ga-Julei. Neither bothered to tell the thief, though they did decide to leave word about their excursion if she asked for them. It was unlikely such a thing would occur, though. They left their whereabouts vague. If the elf informant wanted to know what they were up to, he could just ask them. The short trip to Westford was uneventful. In fact, the two had only seena few people coming or going into town. After finding a place to keep their horses, the pair went towards Calibourne's shop. Oswald led the way, remembering the path he and cat-Cruva took a few days ago. After pointing it out to Kiran, the woman took the lead. As they entered the shop, the half-Gumiho spoke up.
"Do not interrupt me, you'll break the incantation." Oswald kept quiet. He didn't want to face the woman if she were interrupted. There was no telling what she could do. Her ears were turned towards them. Even if she wasn't activley watching the pair, she could hear their every move. After a few minutes, the woman turned towards them. She recognized Oswald, of course, and noted Kiran. Before the prince could get a word out, the princess had asked if Thistle Claibourne was a Gumiho. The woman stared at her for a moment before answering. A silence followed and after a few moments, Oswald awkwardly cleared his throat.
"We were hoping to, er, learn about disguises. Or get some from you." He glanced at Kiran. Did the woman want him to tell her so soon? She liked being straightforward and getting what she wanted as soon as possible. Unlike her, he took longer to get to the point, often rambling before reaching it. Usually, it led to people losing interest or worse, led them to stop listening. Oswald pushed those thoughts from his mind. He glanced between the woman, wondering if he said the right thing.
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Post by Myst on Jul 14, 2020 22:33:48 GMT -5
The Half-Blood She'd let the silence stay, watching the young woman before her as the excitement seemed to roll off her in waves. Why was she so excited? Sure, she was quite the sight, but it seemed there was no reason for this sort of reaction. It was... unnerving, in a way. For a moment, part of her thought she was here to simply gawk and ask a ridiculous amount of questions, but she quickly reminded herself of the other's presence. He was still a bit on the nervous side, but that meant he would know better than to bring friends to simply bother her with nonsense. Well, at least she knew she would be getting something out of this visit.
As he spoke up, she raised an eyebrow. Disguises? "I would assume this has nothing to do with the fact that I suggested you change your clothes the other day, hm?" Surely he hadn't taken the comment so to heart that this was his new solution. After all, he was some sort of nobility, and the woman beside him seemed the same. Perhaps she was some sort of personal guard or mercenary based on the leather armor she dawned. Regardless, it would be ridiculous for him to be so worried that he wanted to procure an entire disguise. Not that it was truly her business what they wanted them for, but her curiosity had already been piqued. She wanted to know, now, and the selfish side of her said that if she was to provide a service then she deserved to know. "What do you need them for? My teachings nor my enchantments are free, you know."
"Ah, if you don't mind, we'd like to keep the reason private," Kiran murmured. While she was curious and amazed by the woman and the enchanted objects around her shop, she was unwilling to tell all. After all, the situation was rather delicate.
Thistle's eyes hardened slightly with a challenge. "Are you telling me no? You come in here, you ask for my help, and then you tell me no?" With each word she took a step closer to the princess until she was less and an arm's length from here. From here, she could tell she had a few inches on her, and a clear advantage due to her nature of being. "Do you understand what an upset gumiho is capable of?" She was a shifter, she could dispatch both of them with ease and nobody would know what had occurred here until it was far too late. Did she intend to? No, of course not, but she wanted to know how she would react, if the pair was even worth her time. The half-orc seemed to be a never-ending well of information, which was always a benefit to her, but the woman seemed too curious for her own good. Her level of curiosity needed to be backed up with strength.
Hazel eyes narrowed slightly as she stood her ground, grin fading slightly. "If I survived a basilisk I can survive you."
The gumiho held her gaze for a moment longer before she threw her head back with laughter. She spun on her heel, making her way behind the counter and picking up her reptilian companion as little giggles escaped her. "I like the both of you. A fighter and a man who values knowledge." Eyes landing on the pair, she saw the relief on the young woman's face. She'd been ready to fight to the death, and part of her valued that. A pity, though - part of her felt as though the woman's heart would've been the best of the best. Ah, oh well. Back to work then.
"Tell me about this disguises, hm? I need to know what and for how long. Then, well, you know the deal," Thistle murmured, nodding slightly towards Oswald. "I like the knowledge you have to offer."
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Post by Amber on Jul 15, 2020 0:42:26 GMT -5
Oswald, the Mithran Prince "I would assume this has nothing to do with the fact that I suggested you change your clothes the other day, hm?" Oswald blushed slightly at the woman's comment. No, of course he wouldn't go to such extreme measures if it was that. Thistle studied the pair for a moment, though her focus was mainly on Kiran. That wasn't surprising, of course. She had already met the half-orc before and knew a little about him. The princess was a new person, which seemed to interest her. After another brief silence, the half-gumiho asked what the disguises were for. He wasn't terribly surprised by her need to know. She thrived off of information and collecting the secrets of others. The latter he assumed, at least. It fit with what he knew about her.
Before Oswald could answer her, Kiran spoke up. She wanted to keep the reason between only a few people. He found himself agreeing with her statement. There were other facts and bits of information they could give Claibourne instead of their reason for wanting the disguises. Unfortunately, the woman was dissatisfied with the suggestion. With narrowed eyes, she asked if the Zaestrin royal was telling her no. Though her tone was more accusatory than questioning. With each word, she edged closer to the pair until she was only an arms length away. Her focus was entierly on Kiran, ignoring Oswald for now. Her words took on a threatening edge as she outright questioned if the princess knew what she was getting into. Kiran was unfaultering. She stood her ground, ready for whatever the half-blood had in store next.
"If I survived a basilisk I can survive you." Oswald stared at Kiran for a moment. She was strong, unafraid of Thistle and her threats. Stronger than he could ever hope to be. The women locked eyes, like they were in some sort of game of wills. The gumiho move...and bellowed out a laugh. The prince stared at her, wide eyed. Was it some sort of test and Kiran just happened to pass? Claibourne finally spoke up again, mentioning how she liked the both of them. Well, that seemed to be a step in the right direction. It was certainly better than making an enemy out of her. The woman contiuned on as though nothing had happened, asking for details of their disguises.
The prince opened his mouth to reply, then paused. That was a good question, what kind of disguises were they looking for? Did they want to dramatically alter their appearances, perhaps going as far as becoming completely new people? Or would something a bit more subtle suit them? They were important enough people that the former probably would fit better. If something only like eye or hair color was changed, there was always a chance they could be recognized.
"I think more, erm, detailed disguises would fit our needs. We need something to become new people if you will. Maybe nothing too dramatic, I'm not looking to impersonate a dwarf or anything, but we need more than just our skin tone changed." That seemed like a fair enough description- and assumption -of what they wanted for the disguises. Now it was just a matter of if they could get it done. "What kind of information would you want for that?"
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Post by Myst on Jul 23, 2020 13:12:53 GMT -5
The Half-Blood As she made her way behind the counter once more, she eyed the pair as she waited for the answer to her question. She closed one of the three journals as a quill finished transcribing the information she'd been given, slotting it away on her personal bookshelf to be read later. By the time he answered, another quill had laid itself down on the counter and she was closing the journal it had been working on. Detailed disguises... Well, that was her specialty by nature. It was something she could produce with ease, though it would run them quite the price.
"I suppose I could make that happen," Thistle murmured. She could enchant something, a small article of clothing or jewelry. Something nobody would really think of as being enchanted. "It's costly. Though, I assume the two of you have the means to pay, do you not?"
Kiran nodded to her words, though was unsure of exactly how much she could offer in terms of knowledge. Oswald had already asked what sort of information she wanted, and for a moment, she seemed to mull it over. Hopefully, it wasn't anything too detrimental as she wasn't fond of the idea of spilling everything to the spirit despite how interesting she seemed.
The gumiho, on the other hand, had already made up her mind. They needed disguises, and while they were free not to tell her what sort of event they were needed for, she wanted to know something else instead. "I'll make it simple - tell me who you are. Surely you must be important if you need my services, hm? Especially based on what you were wearing last I saw you."
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Post by Amber on Jul 24, 2020 9:39:14 GMT -5
Oswald, the Mithran Prince Brown eyes shifted between Kiran and the half-blood as the latter closed a few books. She began to speak after thinking it over. She could get it done. That was a good sign. Of course, the idea of it being costly was concerning. They probably had enough to pay for the enchantments. That didn't worry the half-orc. What did concern him was the nature of the pay. What kind of information would she seek for such a request? Oswald glanced at his companion, curious what she was thinking. Thistle moved around again, drawing the prince's attention to her.
"I'll make it simple- tell me who you are. Surely you must be important if you need my services, hm?"
Oswald felt his blood freeze and heart stop. She wanted to know who they were. He glanced at Kiran once more, this time for reassurance. Glancing at her didn't give him any boost in confidence or answers. The prince looked back at Claibourne. The situation proved to be quite dangerous if they weren't careful. Giving her news of two royals in Ereva was bad enough. If they found out they were now staying- and working with -Ga-Julei, that could prove even more detrimental for them. It was bad enough they had an informant to worry about. Did they really want to watch their backs for a trickster spirit too? Oswald swallowed hard, trying to come up with something.
"Yes, we are important people," he began. It was a good start to confirm something she already suspected. "We also have ties with the Zaestro and Mithran royal families." That seemed like a good confirmation. It wasn't a lie in the slightest, they did have ties with their respective royalty being the heirs. Oswald paused, glancing between the women. His eyes lingered on Kiran, wondering what she thought once more.
(Do you think Dagger of the Sun would react to Kell in any way considering she's a demigod of a different god? Like maybe if she tried to tap into its power it would reject her or something? Or do you think nothing would happen?? It's been something I've wondered for a bit. Also, How are you doing?)
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Post by Myst on Jul 30, 2020 10:29:44 GMT -5
(I'm really tired! I'm trying to adjust to a new schedule cause I just went full time at my job and it's really weird lol how are you doing??
As for the Dagger of the sun, its base ability no matter who wields it is that the blade is on fire. In the hand's of Vistri's champion, it throws lines of fire if it's swung and doesn't make contact with anybody/anything. I think if she tried to tap into it, it would reject her and possibly cause a minor or medium explosion. Or it would simply stop doing anything after x amount of times of her trying to tap into it almost as if it was 'broken')
The Half-Blood It was clear her demand didn't sit very well with either of them. They had shared a glance, perhaps trying to draw confidence from one another, though it didn't seem to work. She could've been wrong, but she rarely was. Reading people was a talent of gumiho as a whole, and she'd worked especially hard to match her full-blooded brethren. Still, there had been a couple occasions where she had been wrong, though she was sure this wasn't one of them.
A few more moments had passed before she received her answer. An insufficient one, as far as she was concerned. "I don't care for ties, I want to know who you two are,"[/b] Thistle responded, eyes narrowing slightly. He was trying to get around something, and that something was what she wanted. If they wanted something for her, she would get what she wanted first. "Keep in mind you came to me for help. I may like you, but I won't do so much for so little in return." She could just as easily tell them to leave empty-handed if they no longer had anything interesting to offer. After all, she worked for nobody but herself and collecting remained her main focus no matter who was involved. After all, having a plethora of knowledge meant she could better make others do as she needed if the time ever arose.
Kiran frowned slightly, looking to Oswald for a moment. She had hoped it would be enough, but these hopes were quickly dashed. Looking back to the woman behind the counter, she hesitated, though decided to try and go with it. "I'm sorry - we really aren't anything more than people with simple ties to the royal families."
"Sure you are!" The corners of the gumiho's mouth turned up slightly as she eyed the pair, gaze lingering on the half-orc for a moment. "Last your friend was here, he came with a demon friend, a very powerful one, and they seemed to have ample information on the attack Zaestro's lands during a peace celebration. I'd say you hail from there based on the design of your armor," she added, nodding towards the princess. Thistle watched as the woman's eyes widened slightly, and she seemed to swallow thickly. Ah, so she was on to something here then. Good, she'd get her information yet, she just had to press a bit more. "Only the most important people went if they didn't already live in the area. If I didn't know any better, I'd say the two of you were in attendance." Her tone had turned coy, almost mocking. She'd already made up her mind, knowing that at least Oswald would have been there considering he'd so readily offered information on it last he turned up.
"Well, I don't know-"
Thistle cut her off with a huff, waving a hand dismissively. "Why lie?" While she was confident in her skills, this was still a gamble. Unlike demons, gumiho didn't have the innate ability to detect lies. Rather, they had to use physical cues and tones to figure it out. Still, they were good at it, and she liked to think she was right. "He and his demon friend also gave me information on Jaree, though I'm sure you know him as Ga-Julei." The curly-haired woman looked to her partner, almost as if she couldn't hold eye contact any longer. She was wearing her down, though couldn't speak for the other just yet. "We aren't the same, you know. I don't care much for what he does with the information he collects. For him, all he knows is a tool. For me, it's a one-way currency. You give me information, I give you spells. Simple, hm?" Eyeing them once more, she let a moment of silence settle between them before speaking again. "One more time now, tell me who you are, then we can get to work."
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Post by Amber on Jul 30, 2020 18:31:32 GMT -5
Oswald, the Mithran Prince The answer didn't satisfied her. Oswald wasn't entierly unsurprised. It was foolish to think that would be enough, he thought with a supressed sigh. The woman went on, pointing out how they went to her first and that her services weren't free. Oswald already knew that from the ring they got for Ga-Julei, thpugh he didn't dare voice it. Kiran glanced at him and he glanced back. Was that worry in her expression? The man swallowed hard, unsure what to make of it. Getting the disguises weren't as easy as he once assumed.
The Zaestrin royal lightly protested, unwilling to reveal anything else. She repeated Oswald's words. Thistle wasn't amused, snapping back with a half smile. She pointed out Kiran's armor and figured out they had been at the party. Or maybe she she already knew that. The thought made Oswald shiver. What else could she know? The princess tried to speak again, only for the half-blood to interrupt. "Why lie?" She asked with an annoyed wave of her hand. Without giving them a chance to answer, she began talking about Oswald's previous visit. Jaree? So Ga-Julei did have another name. Of course, there was always the chance it could be fake, thougb the prince didn't bother speculating. The prince silently listened as Claibourne continued. Her patience was growing thin and it would be only a matter of time before she kicked them out or attacked if they annoyed her too much. The former seemed far more likely, but the half-orc wasn't looking to find out. They had one more chance to speak. It seemed they couldn't continue to lie their way out of the situation.
"She lies to protect us," the half-orc blurted. The man drew in a deep breath as Thistle's eyes fell on him. He uneasily met her gaze. "I...I am Prince Oswald Warrick, heir to the Mithran throne. Along with the Zaestrin heir, I was to be assassinated during the party a few weeks ago. We're trying to figure out why." The prince drew in another breath as he let himself steal a glance at Kiran. He hoped he didn't reveal too much. The part about their investigation was probably unnecessary, though that was the least of his concerns. He was unsure how the princess was going to answer or if that's how she wanted things to turn out. He left room for her to spin some sort of lie if she wanted. He wasn't going to reveal her identity, that was all up to her. If they were lucky, perhaps the gumiho would be satisfied with his reveal and maybe Kiran wouldn't have to say anything.
Kellan, the Reluctant Thief In the few hours since the papers had suddenly appeared, Kell had worked nonstop on her plans. She went over the maps of the city and the nobles estates, making note of anything that stood out or would be important to her mission. A corner of the room near the desk was dedicated to her work. Pages of notes, the maps, information on the families, and details of her job scattered the floor, walls, and nearby desk. In order to get a clear picture- as clear she could get without physically scouting out the buildings -she needed to have everything spread out in front of her. As Kell looked down at her papers, a knock came from the door.
"Come in," she absent mindedly called, not looking away from her work. As they entered, she continued studying the layouts. She could hear her cat stirring nearby and the approch of footsteps as the person entered. "Careful of my papers, don't need you messing anything up."
(Left Kell's thing a little open ended in case you wanted to do anything with any of your characters.
Anyway, I'm doing good. I've been reading a lot more, which is great. Unfortunately, fantasy can be a hit or a miss, but most of the stuff I've found is good. Anyway, hope that the adjustment continues to go well. I can imagine going from part time to full time takes a bit to get used to.
Thanks for the insight. Now just to figure out what to do. On the one hand, it exploding in her face would kind of be funny. She just tries to be sneaky and decides to use it only for things to go horribly wrong. On the other, the idea of her freaking out after thinking she broke it would also be funny as well as fun.
Also, I wanted quick clarification on the timeline. It's been two/three weeks since the party, right? They left the night after, then it took about five days/a week to get to the town (I called it Westford a few posts ago, but we can seriously consider a different name later), then they spent two days there looking and then meeting with Ga-Julei, and then it's been about a week since then, right?)
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Post by Myst on Aug 2, 2020 23:26:07 GMT -5
(I had half a reply done and then my browser crashed (((: I'll reply sometime tomorrow cause now Im just frustrated lol)
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Post by Amber on Aug 3, 2020 10:49:37 GMT -5
(Ugh, rhat really sucks! Sorry to hear that. Anyway, take your time with it because that sort of thing is really annoying and good luck.)
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Post by Myst on Aug 5, 2020 22:30:52 GMT -5
The Half-Blood It wasn't as if she was stupid. No, she was far from it. If they were going to be unwilling, then why had they come? Still, she did like them a bit, much more pleasant to deal with than other customers she had as of late, so she gave them another chance to answer. Yet, the pair shared a look, possibly one of worry if she had to guess. That was fair considering the situation they found themselves in currently. Still, they hadn't turned to leave yet, so it seemed they were still keen on receiving her services.
It seemed they were considering her words. As easily as she could, though not as well as a demon, she could have lied. Did she? No, she didn't have time for that. While she didn't have to disclose anything to them, she did not lie. She kept her information for herself so she knew what she was dealing with, so she could keep herself safe. Collecting information was in her nature, it was never a tool, simply a one-way currency for her. She simply liked knowing things and at most helped her convince others to give her whatever she wanted. She wasn't the type to use it to keep others in line or to blackmail. No, she had spells for that sort of thing and was otherwise decently threatening when she had to be.
It was only a few moments more until the half-orc spoke up again. Protect? Well she supposed she couldn't exactly fault the girl for that. As he continued, she raised an eyebrow. Prince, hm? He did bear a striking resemblance to the royal couple in that region, though he just didn't quite seem the princely type. But that was no longer her focus. "Assassinated, hm? How interesting... And so shortly after a declaration of peace. A tad more than convenience, I'd say," She murmured. Despite her desire to do so, no journals moved. No, they would surely be unhappy with her blatant recording of information - it could wait.
Amber eyes turning to the freckled woman, she eyed her. "And you?"
She could have lied again. She had looked on as the prince beside her told nothing but the truth, and it dashed her hopes. She'd already lied once, and she couldn't expect him to vouch for her again despite thinking that he would. Hazel eyes looked to the witch, watching her tails sway with interest. Right, she was waiting. "I'm Kiran Lishan, Zaestro's false prince. Otyx was set ablaze before the assassination attempt, my people are in panic and Mithra will quickly follow. We want answers."
Thistle nodded just slightly, leaning forward on her counter. "False prince? You know, I doubt there'd be much trouble after your mother. After all, it's been nearly ten years without a king," she murmured, standing up straight once more. Turning to face the bookshelf behind her, she reached just on the side of the fixture to press a button. There was a dull click, and she swung the shelf out. "Let's go, then. There's work to be done."
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The Summoned Guard For the time being, he had reserved himself to the manor. Valiri wasn't here, so he couldn't ger her to do anything with him. There wasn't much else for him to do right now, though he was considering getting some sleep. While not necessary, he'd grown to like it. Although, he didn't know if the maps made it here. He'd never been in that room, so he supposed he would check.
When Cruva reached the door, he realized the thief was already inside. Right, that made sense considering how large the task she was given was. So, he knocked once, figuring she either wouldn't answer or would request to be alone. He received neither, and she instead invited him in. Opening the door, he listened as she warned him of the papers. Right - they were strung up everywhere by now. It seemed she worked fast. "I see maps were well received," he murmured, glancing around. Interesting... "Will this suffice in place of physical scouting?"
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Post by Myst on Aug 5, 2020 22:31:18 GMT -5
(also yes I think it's been about 3 weeks for them)
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