Unti Family/Nerta/A1S3

Quiet Drink
Roleplay from Nerta the Weaver Message sent to Everyone entering Agyr City The journey back to Agyr with her new companions proved more cheery than the trip down to Fronepu alone. Shocking no one; Mulki filled every silence longer than a breath once they were out of the city. Though Nerta still struggles woman's strange cadence, thankfully the otherwise quiet Wren steps in smoothing over any bouts of frustration. The Tribe sister seemes intent to absorb everything about the journey, and Nerta’s situation, asking pointed questions in every lull. Neither of them had spoken much about their homes, not with Mulki bouncing between them, it was something to address but… when? Certainly not during the back road scuffle in Rengo. They’d been avoiding the militia, but that meant more monsters, and Mulki’s ignorance meant Nerta was fighting with, well, ‘an arm tied behind her back.’ In the end they’d pushed through and made it: Agyr - the Jewel of the North. Nerta the Weaver (Foederati)
Roleplay from Kevan the Deaf Message sent to Everyone in the Agyr Docks The smell of grilled fish filled the air, a smokey salty scent that drifted through the crowded bustling city streets of Agyr. The city itself was a gem, a bastion of civilization in tucked away in the roguelands. More civilization in fact than Kevan had ever seen before in his life. The largest structure he had ever seen before was Black Castle in the Ash Wastes, or perhaps its counterpart in Lastfell. He had heard and read about the cradles of civilization, and the ancient cities that dotted the lands of Beluaterra, but it was another thing to see one in it's enormity. He was shocked at the sheer size of the mighty walls and structures, in amazement at the throngs and crowds of people rushing around. It was very quickly however that Kevan realized he hated it. The streets were no cleaner than the wastes, and he felt closed in by the large crowds that surrounded him at nearly all times. How could anyone live like this packed so close? He thought as a stranger bumped into him and said something animatedly. Kevan pushed past him and continued desperately for the fish that he knew would be around the next corner. Fish and fear kept him moving ever onwards, among other things. His mission was a purposeless diversion from the goal, but Mistress Flame he knew could not be displeased. The others had seen his face and seemed menacing and capable in their own right. He had no doubt she could find him if she wanted to, and would. But if she found out about the Pale Man he would need something in his pocket to keep him alive. Little and less to go on, O' beautiful and terrible Lady, flames are bright and orange and red, as your crown, what would you have with Flames of Violet? His thoughts were interrupted by the growling of his stomach. Fortunately he had reached his destination. At least the destination right in front of him. The next one would be a lot harder than finding a simple fish stand. The man tried fruitlessly to chat with Kevan, but Kevan was lost in his own thoughts, too much so to try and read what the fishmonger was trying to tell him. He paid the man who threw his hands in the air in frustration and waved him off. As Kevan returned to the crowded street, he felt something unusual. Like when a gnole-man is watching you from beyond an ash dune. He shuddered as he tried to see what it was that was watching him. But the crowds were too dense. The streets too dirty and trodden for tracks and the smell of fish too strong. It's probably nothing. Kevan wanted to believe. But he knew better than that. It was never nothing. Something, or someone, watched as Kevan took a bite of grilled fish and continued his search for the lost Flame. Kevan the Deaf (Adventurer)
Roleplay from Nerta the Weaver Message sent to Everyone Entering the Agyr Docks The trek through the twisting streets of Agyr’s Plebeian District was fraught with a different danger than the wild lands. Sharp teeth were replaced with biting words, shadowy shapes eyed coin purses rather than jugulars and the Old Man constantly flickering into view as the trio pass windows. Nerta tries to keep her companions close, pulling the curious Mulki from a shifty peddler at least once, and clearing out a rug merchant badgering the skittish Wren. But then it is the grumbling shepard's turn to be ambushed by familiar drunken singing. “Neee-air-taaaa! Girl, I thought that was you! And you’ve got shome new friends, aww but thish time you got clothesh! Dishappointing but we’ll always have the winter harvesht…” Cringing at the shouted exchange, Nerta shields her eyes from the crowd and hisses at the man. “Will you shut up.” The staggering blond lush wore an old set of leathers with more patch than material and sported a scraggly beard. Staggering over from the doorway of his ambush his still hefty wineskin sways and thumps against his chest while some discarded bits of fish linger in the rubbish. “Oh, right riiiiight. Hush hush all a shecret. I-I ghots you.” His ice blue eyes seem to sparkle with more wit than his sour breath imples. With another slosh of wine he wavers toward Wren. “You’re like her right? Un'er the clothesh bunch a extra curvsh. No! No. Bitsh. Bitsh 'n... stuff.” He starts plucking at Wren’s cloak, peering underneath leaving Nerta to shove him off the petrified bird. “Knock it off!” The lush tumbles to the ground as Nerta pinches the bridge of her nose and turns to the others with a pained expression, “Uh this is Vedens… he helped me after I escaped Mhed. He’s not too bad once you get to know him." She glowers and reaches down to help the man up. “Despite all evidence to the contrary. What are you even doing here?” Batting the wineskin out of the way, “And where’d you get so much to drink?” Scrunching up his face the man waves a hand between them and answers exactly none of the questions. “You shmell more like monster. When wazz the last time you had a bath?” Nerta scowls and shakes the man hard enough to set his teeth clattering. It apparently encourages the drunk to cough up answers. “Okay, okay. I sh-old a quiet guy a fish or two and got shum coin. Took a little trip to the bar with my new frand... “ Scratching at his chest Vedens gestures, seemingly at random, singling out a man entering a tavern with a trimmed beard and a mop of brown hair, “That’sh the quiet guy actually! Hey-o thanksh for the wine! You like the fish yes?" The figure doesn't answer and instead heads inside. "Ooo right. Come-on!” Veden's tug drags the unlikely quartet inside after the retreating figure. Nerta the Weaver (Foederati)
Roleplay from Kevan the Deaf Message sent to Everyone in the Agyr Dockside Tavern Kevan watched the room carefully, as he often did in strange new places. In the wastes, a single moment of lost focus while scavenging often meant an ash crawler's stinger or a dune bug's claws would catch you. He read the body language and counted the drinks of all the patrons here, trying to figure out what they were thinking, or better what they knew. Most seemed to be the honest sort, but from the atmosphere and the handful of shadowy pairs in dark corners it was likely not all were so. He sipped the ale idly. He didn't like it, but he wanted to blend in. There was no telling how these sorts of folks took to foreigners and he did not want the hassle of finding out. He scanned the room again for anyone new. A simple head count. The innkeeper (zero), the waitress (three), the woman who was clearly a whore (one) but was pretending to flirt with a stern looking mercenary (three), the two in the back corner exchanging something (two, one), the four sailors (six, six, five, two), the fish-monger who had tailed him to the tavern (seven), the laborer passed out on the table still holding his ale (He'd only had two, must be work not the drink), and the pair dicing at the side table (three, three). A small but a motley crowd. Kevan spotted movement from the entryway as a quartet of figures entered. They had their hoods up but were immediately spotted by the bearded fish-monger who, now drunk, had seemingly forgotten about Kevan. Part of him wanted to take the opportunity to escape the man who followed him, but he stopped himself, deciding to watch to see if he could piece together why. The Fish-monger reached for one of the visitors, which seemed to upset one of the other ones who shoved him down and shook him. They knew each other he realized. This could be a bad situation. Reaching for his bag, Kevan began to leave when the drunken fish-monger pointed directly at him. Damn. He thought, looking for a quick exit only to find none. What is he telling them? Blasted rock! He swore under his breath as the trio looked his way. He kept his bag as he met the eyes of the one who shoved the drunk. Kevan gulped and sat up in his chair, sliding the bag a little closer, and placing his hand in the pocket of his longcoat. His hand was warmed as he pressed it into the crowded pocket, time slowed and he felt Silence as his heart thudded, watching them cautiously as they approached. Kevan the Deaf (Adventurer)
Roleplay from Nerta the Weaver Message sent to Everyone in the Agyr Dockside Tavern Her brow storming, Nerta leaves Vedens with the others and stalks to the strange man standing amidst the tables. She didn't mince words and lays into a most, aggressive apology. "I'm sorry if he's been a bother. Vedens is... often odd and, well: I'd be careful of anything he sold you. He's not much of a fishmonger…” Glancing back over her shoulder she sighs and shapes move under the cloak, “Uh anyway sorry for disturbing you. I guess I can... pay for your drink or something and then leave you be.” Icy words from the spectral reflection in the window curl around Kevan. "Oh I would not dismiss this one so eagerly lass. I have a feeling there is something more to this man than mere chance. Athough he may not know it yet himself." Nerta the Weaver (Foederati)
Roleplay from Kevan the Deaf Message sent to Everyone in the Agyr Dockside Tavern The woman approached, and he tapped his finger in his pocket. Kevan gave her skeptical look as she stopped in front of him and said something. He watched her speak carefully, but her words were quick and he caught only a few of them. "Sorry... careful... fishmonger... sorry... pay... be..." So she knows the fishmonger, I gathered that already lady, he thought as his eyes fall to her cloak beneath which something moved. Strange... Just then something caught the corner of his eye and he glanced behind him. The gambler's die had fallen from the table and rolled across the floor. He noted the new mug of ale on the table in front of one of the gamblers. Four then He turned back to the cloaked woman before him who stood there scowling at him. She's not going away. Maybe she wants something. Kevan sighed in annoyance. Blasted rock. He spoke carefully, trying to be mindful of what he remembered of his pitch. "Can you read?" Kevan the Deaf (Adventurer)
Roleplay from Wren the Watcher Message sent to Everyone in the Agyr Dockside Tavern Wren was on full defense after Nerta’s booze-reeking acquaintance had been familiar enough to pluck at her. Hiding under her cloak, the birdly woman follows Nerta out of grabbing range. Nerta began addressing a young fellow who was wide-eyed, observing everything. Wren in turn observed the young man. He seemed to be watching and not listening. Then he sighed and spoke, oddly and carefully. "Can you read?" Wren cocked her head to one side. He seemed sensible, not drunk certainly, and not aggressive. She nodded, looked to Nerta and back, blink-blinked, and skirted around a table to be nearer the newcomer and further from the grabby ‘fishmonger’. She caught the young man’s gaze and blink-blinked. “You write something? Need me to, read something?” she asked, much more slowly than her usual, though still a high and faint soprano. Wren the Watcher (Foederati)
Roleplay from Kevan the Deaf Message sent to Everyone in the Agyr Dockside Tavern The other approached from her accosting by the drunken wretch who had followed him. She blinked aggressively at him and stared him down. Two now... Kevan made a mental note about where on his pack he left his weapon, though he knew better than to look down at it. “You write something? Need me to, read something?” she asked, much more slowly than her usual, though still a high and faint soprano. Kevan watched her lips carefully as she spoke. He nodded once and stole a glance at the Stern Woman before slowly reaching down towards his bag. He ruffled through the various items and pulled out a sheet of parchment and a raggedy feather quill. He dug around some more for his inkwell, which by now was mostly empty. He frowned at the little jar but set it on the table and uncorked it, dipping the pen inside and scribbling quickly onto the parchment: You are not too good at tailing you know. Generally if you're trying to follow someone you don't walk right up to them. What do you want and why did your fishy friend lead you here to find me? He glanced to the Stern Woman, her cloak still shifting in the front. Something is not right about these folk. He thought looking back at the Blinking Girl and tapping the sheet twice as he pushed it across the table towards her. Kevan the Deaf (Adventurer)
Roleplay from Mulki Laraak Message sent to Everyone in the Agyr Dockside Tavern Mulki cautiously observes the proceedings as Nerta and Wren engage with odd strangers, finding the entire scene incredibly bizarre. Mulki likes Nerta and Wren. Mulki does not like these new strangers. Turning her nose away from the offensively fish-stained drunk which Nerta addressed as an 'old acquaintance', and at one point coming close to stabbing him in passage, Mulki sauntered over toward Wren just as a quiet yet intense-looking stranger struck up conversation. A parchment shifts - a quill scribbles. Squinting sidelong at the hazy cascade of letters, she speaks up to Wren; loud enough to be heard by the sitting stranger. "Wren safe-keeping? Mulki not trust strange fish-man... Feel badness making approach..." Mulki Laraak (Adventurer)
Roleplay from Nerta the Weaver Message sent to Everyone in the Agyr Dockside Tavern Nerta’s confusion is answered by the Old Man in the tavern window, “Deaf to even the spirits. He is touched by the Gods, but I wonder why?...” Moving to look over Kevan’s ale the ghost mutters, “Ugh they’ve given him ale like he’s a southerner.” Scowling at the Old Man, Nerta pointedly ignores his words and focuses on Kevan, "No I can’t read….” Finding first Wren and then Mulki close at hand, Nerta listens to the translation with a sigh. “I don’t understand any of this. I wanted to apologize for Vedens and be on my way, but it’s turning into quite the mess now.” Nerta points out the ghostly figure with one handa and adds, “The Old Man thinks we’re here for a reason, but I just want to go home. Somehow that’s required me to wander all over this land and collect…” she glances from Wren to Mulki, “companions. Are you telling me he's another?” The ghost of Aldo makes a show of taking the seat next to Kevan, leaving him reflected in the centre of the window, “Companions indeed. I’d say he’s perfect for you my girl: He can’t understand you and you can’t understand him.” Continuing undeterred by Nerta’s withering glance, nearly everyone in the little party can hear the old specter through the glass. “You know girl, some people go their entire lives wanting to know the purpose of it all. They struggle with the big questions, prostrating themselves in an effort to gain the attention of the Gods. And if I were with any of them we’d not be in some second rate bar that doesn’t even serve ichor while you angrily feel sorry for yourself.” Pointing at Nerta through the reflection, “You have a mission, the kind of mission that needs companions, friends and perhaps even disciples. You’re certainly not there yet but you’ll learn, eventually.” The ghost waves a dismissive hand. “Take the boy with you to the library, if he’ll come. He might even find the answers to his questions while you scratch around desperately for yours.” Nerta the Weaver (Foederati)
Roleplay from Wren the Watcher Message sent to Everyone in the Agyr Dockside Tavern Wren had read aloud the message on the parchment, then pulled out a chair and perched on it as Nerta again became frustrated. She felt sad for her friend, who was always so troubled by the ways things happened. Mulki was afraid. Wren nodded calmly to her friend. Then the Old Man’s voice sounded, coming from nowhere in particular. Wren jumped up on her chair and craned her neck around to see where he was reflected. She caught sight of his spectral image in the window showing he was in the chair between her and Kevan, and nearly upset the chair in her scramble to move away from him. She stood behind the next chair over, breathing hard. The strange voice continued. “You have a mission, the kind of mission that needs companions, friends and perhaps even disciples. You’re certainly not there yet but you’ll learn, eventually.” “Take the boy with you to the library, if he’ll come. He might even find the answers to his questions while you scratch around desperately for yours.” Wren scratched behind her ear for a moment, and stared at Aldo’s reflection like someone who was trying to open a box with her eyes. I never know what he is talking about, ‘mission’. She blink-blinked, shook her head and shoulders as though to cleanse the confusion, and reached across the table for the parchment. She produced a charcoal stick from her pouch and began to write with delicate, bony fingers. Nerta not answer this question. I not think we following you. Nerta has mission. Old Man says ask you, come to library? She began to slide the sheet back to Kevan, stopped, and added to it. I am Wren. Wren the Watcher (Foederati)
Roleplay from Kevan the Deaf Message sent to Everyone in the Agyr Dockside Tavern So fixated on reading the parchment, Kevan missed the gesture to the window behind him. It left him skeptical as he studies the Blinking Woman. He inked the pen again and scrawled in his usual poor penmanship: Kevan. He considered them all again, they did not seem hostile. But neither did a Witherskin. Three to one meant careful moving forward. Who is the Old Man, and what is the library. A library. Could be useful. He thought back to the temple, broken and drowned in ash. Somehow the books had remained. Reading was slow, and the thought of reading without her was a saddening thought. Still... It could be useful to help finding the Violet Flame. He didn't trust these strange ones, but if they could help, the sooner he could get back to his mission. He slid the paper to the Blinking Woman, and slid his hand back into his pocket. Kevan the Deaf (Adventurer)
Roleplay from Wren the Watcher Message sent to Everyone in the Agyr Dockside Tavern “Kevaaan. Keeevan. Nerta, his name is Kevan.” Wren relayed to her irritated-looking companion from her awkward perch on the chair. “What is the library?” She blink-blinked in confusion at Kevan, then looked questioningly to Nerta for several seconds before scrawling on the parchment again. That answer was obvious, why didn't he know what a library was? He could read and write. Library has books, Old Man says go. Old Man is Aldo. You see him only in window, or in pond. A spirit of old times. He has plans. She looked up meaningfully at Kevan, round birdlike brown eyes seeking to meet his. She spun the page to face him, pointing out the last sentence with one tapping finger as it seemed the most important to her. It was the Aldo man who had plans that Nerta was following, and so it was he they all were following. She did not fathom yet where they were going, but it was Important. He spoke in the Wise way, with thoughtful words, of mystical forces and long ago times. It had to be right. Wren the Watcher (Foederati)
Roleplay from Kevan the Deaf Message sent to Everyone in the Agyr Dockside Tavern Kevan furrowed his brow as he read the message. Cryptic nonsense, who are these people? They didn't seem as if they intended to hurt him, but there was something very very wrong about these people. Still there was nothing normal about his mission and this library was the best lead he had since he arrived. Kevan grimaced and scribbled back on the parchment handing it to the odd woman as he picked up his bag. Lead me to this library. I will speak to your old man. Your friend have a problem with me? Kevan glanced at the Stern Woman after he handed Wren the parchment. He slung the bag over his shoulder, and looked at the strange people expectantly. Kevan the Deaf (Adventurer)
Roleplay from Wren the Watcher Message sent to Everyone in the Agyr Dockside Tavern Wren smiled brightly and stood up on her chair. She announced happily to her companions, “Nerta! Kevan will come to library, to help with Aldo plans! Can we go now?” She leapt lightly from the chair and covered far more distance than one should in that movement, appearing beside her surly friend and avoiding the grabby fishmonger. She nodded encouragingly and started toward the door. Passing the window she paused, and looked into the reflection to address the smirking old man. “Aldo man, I don’t know if you read. Kevan is coming to library too! We all go.” Wren the Watcher (Foederati)
Roleplay from Nerta the Weaver Message sent to Everyone in the Agyr Dockside Tavern For her part Nerta seemed lost in thought during the exchange, only occasionally glancing up as Wren smoothed the ruffled feathers. Eventually the matter is settled leaving Nerta to sigh and cast her gaze around for Mulki. It comes as no surprise that she's nowhere to be found. “Yes Wren, let’s… get out of here and find our 'friand'.” Nodding to Kevan, the woman moves back into the street. Summer in the ancient northern city is so much warmer than winter. She'd arrived dressed in scavenged clothes and barely armed with only Vedens at her side but now she has a growing fellowship of sorts. Pausing amidst the crowd, Nerta frowns. Was that a scream? Nerta the Weaver (Foederati)