Ex Marquess the Spot, part 3
Log Info
- Title: Ex Marquess the Spot, Part 3
- Emitter: Jinks
- Characters: Aryia, Jinks, Paenitia, Seyardu
- Place: Airstrip Alexandria, Airship Firmament
- Time: Tuesday, December 21, 2021, 8:02 PM
- Summary: In the aftermath of the airship pirate battle, the ship crew makes repairs while the adventurers go back to their watch and sleep. During the day, they speak with various crew members. Paenitia speaks with the Rhiaw, the egalrin medical purser. Aryia exchanges handsigns with Kasdratin, and Seyardu speaks with the Captain. The young female gnome, Starresstarrvelys, is not doing well. The daughter of the marqess will lose status if her mother resumes control of her holdings. Her husband, a military commander, is not well liked and could have promised then withdrawn the troops to make it more difficult for the Firmament to be guarded. The decided to ask a few more questions, of the old gnome, who turns out to have worked for House Larkennian, and is on a mission from the daughter. He has one of a paired device, the second item is unknown, but there's a safe bet.
-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- Appearing -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= Aryia 4'8" 110 Lb Shadow Elf Female A heavily scarred mul with a resolved look about her. Jinks 3'4" 39 Lb Gnome Male A gnomish fellow in fancy garb and jewelry. Paenitia 3'0" 34 Lb Halfling Female A Lucht knight, dark skinned in bold feathery finery. Seyardu 5'6" 150 Lb Sith-Makar Female A friendly silver sith-makar with a perpetual squint. -=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--= -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- NPCs of Note =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= Rhiaw Egalrin Female The Firmament's medical purser, A Daeusite. Kasdratin Blessedshaper Tai Gnome Male A retired majordomo of House Larkennian Spence Pinwon Starresstarrvelys Gnome Female A maudlin young gnomess, possibly Jinks' daughter. -=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--= -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- As the GM -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= Jinks 3'4" 39 Lb Gnome Male A gnomish fellow in fancy garb and jewelry. -=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=
Pandemonium retreats, a red-burning pair of blasting torches spewing brackish coal fumes. It bobs and shifts drunkenly, swerving away until it becomes two tiny pinpricks of light swallowed, ultimately, by the dark clouds.
The battle's wake arrives quite suddenly.
Truly, the engineers and supporting crewmen are the only ones with much of anything to do after the battle has resolved. A single electrical blast was the sum-total of damage sustained by Firmament's Caravan and what little injury her crew had suffered has been mended by Althea's gifts. Aryia intercepting the boarding party along with Edinaz and Paenitia (and Ramirez!) meeting the corrupted-construct wasps has made the aftermath quite simple.
Edinaz is still feeling sluggish and a bit uncoordinated but that's not a terrible result considering how many times he'd been impaled by the glistening, shortsword-sized stinger.
Truncheons and bows are collected and re-packed into their trunks but the trunks are secured to the deck instead of being returned to the armory below. Just in case.
The captain thanks his crew-- and his hired guard-- and returns to bed after only a few minutes taken to confirm nothing is out of the ordinary. When a crewman arrives to announce the guests are accounted for and safe and the cargo unmolested and intact, Oyenusi commends the men and women once more before retiring to his cabin.
Taalkee is up and working with her assistants, deciding not to put off to tomorrow the mending of the deck that can be done tonight. Kasdratin returns to bed alone, only looking somewhat annoyed at the gobber's singlemindedness. Ath surrenders the wheel to the half-oruch woman who was on ship and retreats below decks along with Boonclaw.
The remainder of Aryia's shift passes without incident.
Aimarra's four hours are uneventful as well though the shift does find a particularly cold portion of the sky. Visibility decreases and rain turns to snow and ice. There's some talk between the furnace and helm and, ultimately, the pace of the ship is slowed subtly for safety's sake.
The ship is through this and into warmer weather-- warm sun in the sky and all-- by the time the bells chime for the start of Edinaz's shift.
The aftermath of the battle finds the little lucht and her giant peacock-andalusian in the animal compartment, once the lightning damage is repaired enough they can land and get inside.
She takes his armour and saddle off, and brushes him down from beak to tail. Her valiant ivory steed took many injuries, and while he has been fully restored she feels responsible and distracts herself by brushing away her concern.
Ramirez is perfectly happy, having fought with an equal foe, and in his eyes defeating it. Even more pleased to have all the careful attention from his tiny rider. He nuzzles and chews at her hat with his beak, making happy whickering noises.
Eventually, they are both ready to bed down, and Paenitia removes enough armour to sleep comfortably tucked under his wing. She doesn't return to her hammock. The bells rouse her, and she drifts off again, several times, finally feeling like she should wake up at the end of Edinaz's shift.
Aryia is there helping the rest of the crew ensure that not else was remiss with the ship, her watching her handiwork vanish into the night. She can't help but have a smirk plastered on her face, that whole ordeal certainly inflated her ego to critical mass. Which was promptly deflated when she realized she'd have to tell Violet about it later, and get scolded for it. Seyardu already kind of helped with.
Glad she was that nothing else was to go on her shift. Though she couldn't stop but wonder, looking at the place where a javelin had impacted the wall: who was that doing the singing?
It's a question she'd have to learn the answer to later.
Because she crashes once her shift is over.
Once Aryia mentions that someone vanished, even though they left with the ship and was highlighted by faerie fire, Seyardu wants to do an invisibility purge on the Firmament. The foxheaded lady driver of a Gunahkarite raiding vessel will be a problem if she's still around. Better safe than sorry, in case there were any sneaking aboard before contact as well.
GAME: Seyardu rolls sense motive: (15)+11: 26 GAME: Seyardu rolls sense motive: (5)+11: 16 GAME: Seyardu rolls sense motive: (1)+11: 12 (EPIC FAIL)
Seyardu's sleep was interrupted, but the adrenaline of the situation was enough to keep her up for some time. Lots of fretting over those poisoned, and those injured, to make sure everyone was okay. But it seemed everyone was alright more or less, even Edinaz after some further healing magic. Aryia did mention something that concerned her, and once the ship was being worked on, she offers a short prayer, before she takes a sweep of most of the ship, the cargo areas, most of the place, just in case.
When she reaches her hammock again, she does not bother taking off her armor before collapsing into it, and falling asleep not long after.
Watches. 0800-1200 is free run. Then Pae will be on duty at 1200-1600. Aryia has a big sleep during the morning.
GAME: Jinks rolls 1d3: (1): 1
The clouds are a constant companion in the skies above Myrddion even when they break apart enough to let the warmth of the sun bleed through. The ship speeds over land with water to the portside before entering Rosalia-proper during Paenitia's shift. Bertrand has called in a favor to pull duty with his old comrade, taking his spot on the opposite side of the deck to call back and forth with the flamboyant Lucht.
The porthole windows into the guest suite is empty during the paladina's first pass on Ramirez but the second time around she draws the attention of a tiny shadow. In short order Antaunas has scampered up onto the bench by the window and leans so hard against the glass marveling at mount and rider that one might worry at him falling through. He doesn't seem to have any such concerns as his breath fogs up the pane and he's forced to shift his gaze through the next section over. He waves and claps happily until he's called away.
When Paenitia returns to the deck she finds 'Vyga and Starresstarrvelys atop the poop with Rhiaww, the ship's egalrin medical purser. The butler holds a respectful distance away, guarding the top of the stairs to the deck below while the other pair speak in confidence. The exchange is over shortly after the paladina notices it and gnome and 'nar return to their suite below.
Little else of note occurs through the beginning of the dog watches.
Ath comes to the assigned berths shortly before supper bell. He has the look of a man who didn't bother sleeping after the attack. He's unburdened of his satchel from previous encounters but carries a weighty tome in the crook of his left arm. He clears his throat and fusses briefly with his chaotic mop of hair.
"Someone set the pirates on the 'Caravan. That group is from Isobar; we weren't even over Rosalia when they attacked. I haven't been able to find any record of their actions this far east..."
Aryia finally rolls awake in the afternoon, her blearily going through motions to help with the ship's upkeep, should they have her. A moment is afforded to look out the portholes, the sea-faring sailor raising a brow at the waterfront, not entirely recognizing the place from the bird's eye view they held.
She doesn't bother much other folk, primarily keeping to herself aside from the party that she knows. She checks up on them, making sure yesterday's gambit yielded no further harm.
As Ath comes down to reveal some information, Aryia is back in her hammock again, upside down with a book in hand with a red quill on the spine. She peers from over (under?) the edge of it, and raises a brow at them. She raises (lowers) a hand, and makes a 'what?' gesture as her head cocks to the side.
The Pandemonium pirates are known to take on contracts. They aren't always the most reliable at sticking to specifics.
Midway through Paenitia's shift, before supper was called for, Seyardu is back awake, looking around a bit blearily, moreso than usual, until she is able to finish waking up. She waves to Aryia, and to Paenitia, though she finds more unsettling news from the group forming.
The silver makari sighs. "Something was bothering the butler of Jinks' family when I was looking around." She offers with a long yawn that would unsettle any not used to it with the amount of sharp teeth on display. "The newly weds, it seemed as if they slept through all the commotion, I know not if they were involved. And the gnomish man, he seemed happy to have someone to speak to, as usual. Very curious about what the commotion was about."
"But,I do not know if it was any of them, or someone else on the ship. If it is as you say, that is concerning."
On her shift, when the Red Knight notices she has an audience she makes sure to perform, taking Ramirez through a few of his tricks. Barrel rolls, loop de loops, and sudden mid-air turns. He's happily challenged and calls often.
On board, with him stowed and her on deck, the far scene doesn't escape her eyes. The little lucht pretends not to be paying much attention, easy when one's face is a mask, and makes notes for later.
"They will take the contracts." Paenitia replies to Ath, "they are not good for the kidnapping or precision strike, but the mayhem and pandemonium, that is the name."
"So, it very good chance they hired." Grinning mask faces nervous man, "someone that know about the trip, without the much time."
"The military escort was called away at the very last minute." Ath adds, shifting where he stands. He shifts the book into a cross-armed grip and mutters to himself while inspecting the floorboards. "... the captain almost considered flying without guard because of the Marquess' demands..."
His mop flops as he shakes his head, falling deeper into the hints of conspiracy. Growing more agitated. The navigator lowers his hand and fidgets until he's holding the astrolabe in hand. He deflates visibly with a sigh.
Aryia glances to Seyardu, to Paenitia, to Ath, then to the book in his hands. "... so... someone's being a weaselly little bitch and trying to off the ship in the military somewhere? You think it's to knock the popular captain down a peg or two?" she gestures with her book in the other hand, pages flopping against one another as she does so and adding to the conspiracy. <Handspeech>
The Red Knight continues to gaze at Ath, finally resting her guantlet on one of the nearby beams and tapping her fingers. "Well, who the passengers are? The newlyweds, the old man, and the Marquess and the family. I think the valuable treasure is obvious."
"Except, who know? This the fast planned trip, yes?" She looks at Aryia, then Seyardu. The pair seemed much more in the know, and were the ones to identify the potential parentage. "The magic could talk to Isobar, this the possibility."
"Yes, that was strange. I do not know the specifics, but them being called away so suddenly, when important passengers are on board, that is concerning." Seyardu agrees. She catches some movements form Aryia, and smiles just a bit. "It is too early to say who is at fault, and for what reason, Aryia. Perhaps it was a crew member, looking to earn some coin. Or, it could be some of the nobles, for other reasons. But perhaps the guards being called off, and the attack are linked? It may be the first thing worth looking into. Who made this order, the reason the isobar people gave, and the like."
"I have been too long from Isobar to know the recent politics." The Red Knight admits, "And the people, we are together for our homeland, but not the governing. Each town the mining town with the local lord."
"The Marquess arranged for the trip through her daughter, Birfarlata Larkennian stipulating that-- ah-- "adventurers" were not to be employed. Lady Larkennian's husband is an officer in the Isobari military and knew of the captain from when he still held his commission." Ath raises the compass-shaped navigational equipment and rubs the side lightly against his temple in thought.
"The captain had made a request considering the station of the family being relocated and was granted the men... until he wasn't.
"The arrival in Alexandria was announced; arrangements had to be made for a berth at the Airstation. We also booked passage with the other guests and arranged to transport cargo. The Marquess' contract was considerable but we don't often travel outside the Gust Furrows. The captain wanted to make sure the long trip was appropriately profitable."
Aryia scratches her head. "I just know the captain was nervous about her seeing us," she signs, rolling over to be upright on the hammock now. "What, you think she's being weird about this shit?" <Handspeech>
The marquess, she the great upset, that look of the true fury that she find us and not the military." Paenitia says, putting some thoughts out, "her husband has not been dead longer than the children have exist. So he the papa."
She looks carefully at the others, was that a wink behind her mask. Ath remains present, "That not in doubt... Hmm. I am not the expert in the noble secrets and intrique, not when she hide in her room the whole flight. The Pandemonium, not good for the kidnapping, only the destruction."
"Which back to, who benefit, the sister? The sister-husband?"
GAME: Aryia rolls sense motive: (18)+17: 35 GAME: Paenitia rolls sense motive: (6)+13: 19 GAME: Seyardu rolls sense motive: (17)+11: 28
The daughter does stand to not be nearly as important if her mother is returning to her holdings.
"Was it the marquess that did not wish for adventurers to be employed, or, was it perhaps the daughter?" Seyardu asks, rubbing at her eyes some as the conversation takes more of her focus. "Because, if they did not wish adventurers, perhaps that would give the daughter leave to call back the men, and leave the ship without any guards."
"I do not believe a child would kill their parents for gold, but softskins have such a fascination with it sometime. That, and their standings."
Aryia closes her eyes and kicks her feet, lips twisting to the side. As others put forth their speculations, the mute extrapolates off of the silverscale's insights. "... and the daughter probably had a big ass grudge against the mother, and has a lot to gain if everyone accidentally fell off an airship..." she motions. <Handspeech>
"Aaaaaah..." Paenitia answers, considering whether she should share observations and experience. Certain ones can be horrible. "The daughter would be much diminished, if her mother come back to the holdings. The social climbing, the ones to inherit..."
"Sometimes they are not too minded if the parent dies. They make the promises to never keep, then find they are about to. That the parent will have the room and space in a house that they gift to them, that they will pay for the retinue."
She waves a gauntlet, "There is the famous Myrrish play, about the dying patriarch, King Liar, who blind to the way he family play him. So, there is the gain there."
"The marquess reiterated her insistence on a military escort when I confirmed the voyage details with her," Ath comments, raising his chin enough that he might actually be looking at around Paenitia's armored chest-level instead of the trio's feet. "... and she was very unhappy at dinner. The captain had to make every assurance that you were all well-established, reliable, and that there were, uh... no gnomes among you. She was very serious about that. 'I will turn this airship around myself...'
There's a wet sound from beneath the strange man's hair and it takes some time to realize it's from him blinking in thought. He rubs the back of his hand against his face and mumbles. "... but the lady arranged the military escort for her mother. Why would she do that if she would only call it back..?"
"To keep the lady make her own arrangements?" Paenitia asks, tilting her head to the side, "maybe the daughter act true, but the husband change mind? No... he would say no, or yes, but not do the take-back, that the weak looking man. The higher up, might say no, for a great dislike of the lower rank, or the lower ranked wife."
She sighs, the air whistling through her mask, "This a puzzle with too many pieces missing. If we know the pieces in Isobar, if there a competing noble, if the daughter much resent, it easier to determine."
Aryia looks at the others, and pinches her brows. "Why are you wondering why the daughter pulled military escort? It's kinda obvious, she'd inherit whatever comes after them getting blasted out of the sky? This is like, Charn politics 101." She blinks, then rubs the side of her head. Damn memories.<Handspeech>
"This one thought that gnomes were supposed to be woven securely?" Seyardu offers, shrugging just a touch at the mention of no adventurers. "Unless, it was so there was a very specific gnome not present."
"And, as for the guard? Yes, to make it so there are not other guards seems the most likely. If they are taken suddenly, then the captain knows adventurers are not liked by the marquess, and hopefully does not replace them. It was perhaps an attempt to leave it unguarded. But the captain decided against that."
"We could talk to the captain more about what he knows, or speak to the marquess. See what their view on the matter is. But we should figure this out, as it would not do to save the Jinks', I am not even sure what they are, and his kids, only to have them disappear mysteriously at a welcoming banquet."
"Yes. I think the bet was the Firmament fly with no protection." Paenitia nods. "Well, we can try. I have the few things to ask the few people. I go do that now!"
Decisively she clanks off. Slowly...
GAME: Paenitia rolls heal+4: (10)+13+4: 27 GAME: Paenitia rolls sense motive: (16)+13: 29
"I have the question I want to ask," Paenitia says, having cornered the Egalrin purser and looking up Rhiaww, "because you are the doctor and not the bird, but when Ramirez do this, what it mean?"
The little knight goes on to describe a certain chewing of her hat by his beak, demonstrating by rotating her wrist, using that as lead in to ask if she goes flying when the airship is underway, and if not, would she later when the knight and peacock-andalusian are on watch.
Also, she couldn't help but notice a serious conversation when she was landing earlier. Is someone on board sick? She's able to assist, and her friend dragon the silver scale cleric of Althea.
Paenitia's careful enquirers draw some fruit.
Rhiaww is a little cagey at first but ultimately admits to being fascinated by Ramirez. She's even stolen into the animal stowage to admire the mount and was a bit embarrassed about not asking permission beforehand. She's quite impressed by the specimen and the care Paenitia obviously takes of her mount.
The Red Knight will laught off such impropriety, explaining that she now understands why Ramirez watched the doorway so intently even when she present. She'll go on to invite the doctor to examine him more just before her shift, and go into further details. She has a great number of stories regarding Ramirez, and clearly loves him.
The additional things Paenitia is told will concern her.
The purser is convinced to admit that the girl is not physically unwell but deeply depressed and sought to talk to Rhiaww as a sunguard of Daeus and not a healer. She was enjoying quite the rise to fame with her performances and is upset that she's had to give up the only home she's known so suddenly. Her and her mother are at odds but she won't go into further detail there.
She understands, as a lucht, and with her own personal history, the conflicts that can occur between mother and daughter. This leaves her sympathetic, but without deeper understanding, and a few things to share when she regroups.
GAME: Aryia rolls profession/sailor: (8)+17: 25 GAME: Aryia rolls sense motive: (13)+17: 30
Aryia seeks out the first mate, Taalkee. First to lend a hand where it was needed, the shadow elf was quite adept at ship work, be it on the sea or air. And a bit later when the task was done, she would return with a few questions penned out in her journal. Questions such as:
Is there any cargo I need to worry about?
Are the weapons I saw meant for the military that was supposed to be here?
Are there any weird arrangements for the passengers?
And so on.
Innocent questions, but they would tell a lot. If the equipment was meant for the military, then that means they were supposed to be here, but got pulled last minute. And if there was airship wreckage, on the books would be military equipment everywhere, so it would be written off as a military loss, but with no real losses.
Man, those memories coming back really has her thinking some conniving stuff as of late.
Aryia returns with a bit of a dour look on her face.
It was nice she leant a hand, but there wasn't much to get gained. Taalkee mentioned that the weapons on the ship were theirs, but they are locked up out of training habits, to prevent mutinies, (though, the loyalty to the captain was rather high, it might never happened here).
The passengers turned up dry from her, aside from the disdain for the noble marquees. Though, Kasdrat mentions that the old gnome was a bit odd. Up and leaving Alexandria to go to Isobar after having lived in the city for years, and was worried about losing his luggage to pillagers.
"And that's all I found," she gestures to the party. Even those that couldn't understand her after showing her notes to them are given a shrug, which explained all.
At least she was on the First Mate's good side now. <Handspeech>
"The young gnome girl, she is not happy leave Alexandria, very unhappy." Paenitia adds her findings, "She talk to Rhiaw because she the Sunguard, and help."
GAME: Seyardu rolls diplomacy: (6)+18: 24 GAME: Seyardu rolls sense motive: (7)+11: 18
Seyardu did not find out too much new information, but a second opinion on what was already know was certainly a good thing, especially when they matched up with what was already known. Seyardu explains to the others how they were caught off guard waiting at the Gust Furrows, where they found out the detachment would not be arriving. And with recent events in Alexandria, no other guards were there. Likely for the best, as the Alexandrian guard may be bribed to throw the marquess and other passengers overboard for enough coin.
The new information of note however, is that Lady Larkennian's husband is not the most likeable person. Whereas the captain fought with honor for Isobar, the husband was mostly there foor the prestige granted by his rank, not having been through much to earn such a spot due to his birth.
She does ask Paenitia about this, if he may have the sway to cause the detachment to be recalled elsewhere.
GAME: Paenitia rolls knowledge/military theory: (19)+10: 29
It is possible that the husband made arrangements for the unit and then reassigned the same unit to leave Oyenusi in the lurch. If he has sufficient clout in the military (by rank or political affiliation) it would be a simple enough task. It's possible this was done to embarrass Captain Oyenusi or to force him to fly without escort and expose the marquess. There are certainly tales of infamy where "allies" are abandoned and left to die without reinforcements due to political intrigue.
"Hmmmm." Paenitia sounds thoughtful, her mask grins widely. "The husband to Lady Larkennian, he could have make the arrangements, then reassign the same unit to cause the problem."
"Leave the Captain Oyenusi in the lurch. High up enough, he have the clout, it simple. It maybe to embarrass Oyenusi, expose the marquess." She moves, her armour creaking, "Or, he is the one to abandon the ally, to leave to die without reinforcements, much intrigue. If he want to keep the holdings he get by marriage, that the reason there."
Aryia rubs her chin, and looks to her friends. With all the information there, plus what Paenitia mentions, she snaps her fingers. "Ah, so there's /two/ weaselly little cowards in this. Now this makes more sense. Daughter has grudge with mother, daughter asks husband to pull the plug, husband wants to anyways so he shares less valor." <Handspeech>
"We can not say for certain, yet, but it seems a possibility. We do not actually know what the daughter is like. Perhaps this was the husband's idea himself, or they are both involved." Seyardu suggests. "We should see if we can learn more about them from the Marquess. And, you said that the older gnome was acting odd? We should find their reasons for leaving Alexandria. If he is trustworthy, he will certainly share many stories about why he is."
"Okay then, we go ask the old gnome if he have the good reason to leave Alexandria," Paenitia suggests, "After, the marquess."
Aryia nods in agreement, stashes her journal into her jacket, and makes ready to head that way.
The door to the ancient gnome's cabin is open and he's quite ready to ambush you when you come into view through the doorway from where he sits on his chair. The 'room' is more of a closet with a bed big enough to be comfortable for the smaller folk, a tiny table, and a round, porthole window. The bed is built into the wall with space underneath for stowing luggage and a three-rung ladder to climb into it.
The fellow is pale and thick, with sagging old skin that tells of a comfortable, well-fed life indoors. He has a tiny, waxed mustache underneath a red nose. His eyes are small-- especially so for a gnome-- and ice blue in color. He dresses like an Alexandrian.
"Ooh, hello. Yes. Welcome, Miss, um... Seyardu, yes? Of, mm, Althean faith, yes? So wonderful for you to come back and visit. I quite enjoyed your company last night. So kind of you to put my silly old mind at ease. I was quite said that you had to go to do... well, you didn't say why you had to go but I'm sure it was important!"
"Hello," he smiles at Aryia. "Hello," he waves at Paenitia. "That is quite the mask, miss! Quite elaborate and wonderful. And your eyes are remarkable. Even for an elf! You know I have always been quite fond of your people. I think your reputation for being aloof and unwilling to talk to us other races was misplaced..."
And this is why you walked a little faster past this doorway...
"Hola! It is true, the eyes are to the soul. I am much fond of the mask too." Paenitia says cheerfully, "We have the time for the company too, and the desire to talk. I am from Isobar, del Harnna, at the front of the gusts. I have miss home much, but thought to go back. It is the quest that keep me in Alexandria. The quest to find the most miserable man."
She laughs, "Ha ha, it is not you! You have already left the place. I am curious what make you go, there the many things of interest to see there."
Aryia was mentally fortifying herself to get her ears talked off, and she stands next to Seyardu if the old man needed any translations. Torch-bright gaze swings from the old man, to the rest of the room.
The compliment to the mute elf, to be quite honest, threw her off her game. She blinks a few times and raises a hand up, touching right underneath her eyes. "Oh. Thank you," a hand motions slowly, a ghost of a smile on her lips. <Handspeech>
The strange little man smiles genuinely and clicks his heels together before jerking a nod and bowing. Well, it's part of a bow, his old back isn't what it used to be. "You are most welcome, miss. And be assured it is not flattery; I speak only the truth!"
"Oh!" He stops and considers Paenitia, then the top of his doorframe as he cups his elbow and taps his chin in thought. "Endrenn Daykniels," he nods, confirming. "He could be your man. Poor fellow was sixty before he met his wife! Pretty little thing far too young for him-- but you don't question Telmentar-- this is to say: Althea; you don't question Althea when she brings two people together. Did I mention he was Acanian? No? I don't think I did... but that's important because sixty is old for a human but for a gnome? We're still quite in the middle of sowing our youthful oats!" He laughs and pats his sagging stomach.
"Um... oh, yes, sixty. Wife. Pretty little thing. She dies giving birth to his boy. Then the boy dies, too." He frowns. "And then his horses got sick and died. He was a driver, you see. At sixty! Again, he was human so that is impressive. But now his wife and son are dead. And his horses. But he won't give up. Tries to go and take what's left of his money to buy new horses and--" he claps his hands together suddenly-- "run right over! Lost his leg! And it was his planting leg."
"Did I say he loved darts? 'My friend I drive for a living but live to dart,' he would say. Until he ate some berries from the Jade Islands and his tongue swelled up so big he could hardly move his face..!"
"Yes, peace on your nest, you told me so many stories last time, but I did not even get your name, last time." Seyardu greets from the door, smiling from the frame when he launched into story before she could even speak up. "My friend here has many stories, but she speaks with her hands. I can speak for her, if needed. We were wondering what brings you out of Alexandria. It sounded like you had a wonderful life there for many years, so I was wondering why you might be travelling elsewhere."
The Red Knight nods vigorously, remaining silent for the time being, watching a master at work.
Aryia blinks once more, in surprise again as the smile comes to life. Both that he could understand her, and that he was being genuine. She silently giggles.
The mute lets the speaking folk take over as she pulls out a journal to scribble things down. Perhaps to show instead of sign?
Nah, it was to take notes from the long winded man, needing to keep track else she'd lose focus.
"Tai," he answers. Another click of the heels, another short ghost of a bow. "And I can understand your friend quite well! I was the majordomo for House Larkennian in my younger years. I can speak twelve languages comfortably and have been complimented on speaking no fewer than seven as if I were born to a mother of the people that do so natively! Why, when the Wizar Lords of the Mythwood would come to visit to advise on our harvesting and processing of our Mana Crystals they would say 'stop, Tai, stop! The sound of Sildanyari from your lips is so beautiful and pure it makes the wine of our wives speaking turn to vinegar in our ears! You really MUST. STOP. TALKING!'"
The gnome's eyes squint shut as he laughs, shaking his head at the fond memories. "But of course I could not. Why would I deprive them of an art I'd practiced so hard to share with the world? A host above all else. To make any and all feel at home. To serve every waking moment and dream of serving in my sleep. I was quite good.
"So when my lady called on me to deliver an item from Alexandria to Dalton by hand?" He waves a finger up to pierce the sky and clicks his heels. "Here I am come. With all due haste. Ever the most humble of servants."
In summary, He is a retired servant of the noble house this all centers around and he has been tasked with bringing something from Alexandria to Dalton. Which he was asked to do by the Marquess' daughter, a thing that may be worth stealing.
The story about the Acanian was likely a tangent, because Paenitia mentioned finding the saddest man in Alexandria.
GAME: Paenitia rolls bluff: (4)+12: 16
"That is the very important task! You are the wise and loyal servant, I see why the Lady Larkennian trust you so. The honour of your great many years of service, to then transport the item she ask you to bear." Paenitia says pleasantly.
There's a sound of shock, one might almost imagine she has an opened 'O' of a mouth, but her mask hides all. "It is secure, yes? You have check it? It is safe to look now, we are the secure guards hired to take all people and cargo to the destination."
"You should check now."
Aryia does her best to take more notes. More names. More... long names. With roots in languages she's not familiar with. She tries to do them phonetically in Kulthian. But then that turns into not paying attention, due to Kulthian needs quite a bit of brain power to work. Which makes her lose focus on the conversation.
The mute has started to doodle a little flower at the bottom of her journal in the midst of the old man's rambling.
She blinks, looks to Paenitia, then bobs her head a few times, closing her journal.
"Oh. Yes. Of course. Surely." Tai turns and braces both hands against the bedframe, groaning as he kneels himself down to the ground. "When I was a younger man this sort of thing took far less time... and there was no chorus! I'm like some hurdy gurrrrrrrrrdy..." he's on an elbow now, reaching under the bed.
The old yellow is sorting things as quickly as he can. He looses a toot at some point but doesn't seem to notice; maybe he's more like a bellows. Eventually there's the sound of wood-on-wood sliding and a fine keepsake box sliders into view. He sits up with a 'phew!' and you can see his face is beet red and sweaty. It takes three decent efforts before he manages to push himself up and lean against the bed. "I... oh, my... oh me, oh my... I am sorry, all. This sort of thing... well, time... time is not the kindest thing... phew."
He bends and collects the box carefully, flicking open the clasp and holding it out. Inside the box, in a bed of crushed velvet lining, is an elaborate compass. The inner plate is not labeled for directions, however, but instead describes a single, artfully-crafted arrow. The dial spins aimlessly at the moment.
GAME: Aryia rolls craft/artifice: (16)+5: 21 GAME: Seyardu rolls knowledge/arcana: (18)+6: 24
It's a paired object built on the concepts of divination magics. There's another just like it. When either is held it'll point towards the other. Handy if you, say, want to locate an airship mid-transit.
Aryia blinks as she sees the object after she offers a hand to the man to help him up. "... where's the matching object? Those things have a pair, and they point to each oth- She pauses, groans with a loud sigh, then slaps her forehead. "F-r fff..." she hisses. <Handspeech>
"Oh, is is very beautiful." Paenitia says, not recognizing the device at all.
Seyardu was listening as well as she could, but many words were going over her head at this point. But at least she manages to pick up on the suggestion to check on the object he was delivering, that he was concerned about losing apparently. The box is opened, and the cleric squints at the object inside. Before she can speak however, Aryia already points it out. "Did you see anything similar in the hands of those who were on the other ship? Perhaps someone who looked in charge, or the navigator?"
She grows silent, and fixes her gaze on the old gnome. "This is very important. Can you tell us who you were to deliver this to in Dalton, and who gave it to you? Or, if you made it, who you gave the paired compass to?"
Aryia shakes her head at Seyardu at the question. "Was too busy dodging. They probably put it away once they saw the ship." <Handspeech>
"No, miss, surely it's just the one." Tai seems confused, pulling the box back and delicately sticking a finger to shift the velvet lining around. Then Seyardu is speaking and he's left to blink his tiny eyes at the sith-makar. "I don't understand. Why would the pirates have this? I've had it the whole time and I have kept it safe. As I was tasked to do..."
He seems lost as Aryia and Seyardu begin their badminton match. The old gnome closes the box and carefully does the latch.
"I had received a letter from Lady Birfarlata Larkennian, whom I've known since she was a babe. She asked that I make passage on this ship but first I collect this package from a collector who had it transported into the city. It was important I confirm its contents as it was the whole reason for my voyage; it was to be a gift for her husband, the Lord Captain Spence Pinwon-Larkennian."
Seyardu looks at the compass, and shakes her head. "Tai, this device is paired with another you were not told about. And when one is held, it points to the other. We were found suddenly by pirates during the trip, and I do not mean to cause alarm, but we have reason to believe that it was what allowed them to track us down."
She looks around, and sighs. "We should see if there is any lead on the ship. I do not know how far out we are still, but they may be able to track us down again with that. But it should not be destroyed unless necessary, as it could be evidence of what is going on."
"You may have known her since she was young, but it may be best to cut ties with her, Tai, if we are correct. She may have left that with you, not telling you it would lead pirates to destroying this ship with you on it. I am sorry."
A lead box is in order.
"I... you think? No... no, that can't be right." Tai gingerly lifts the box and holds it against his chest with crossed arms. "Little Birfy is a good girl. She wouldn't hurt a fly... and she loves me. I would sneak her biscuits fresh from the kitchens when she was only waist-high..."
The old, retired majordomo rambles on weak defenses but surrenders the box. Partnering with the captain it's simple enough to find an appropriate storage place for the item.
The important task done you realize it's the first time you'd left the old gnome's door without having to make excuses or ignore his attempts to keep you locked in conversation.
