Settling slander

Log Info

• Title: Settling Slander
• Emitter: Seldan
• Characters: Ronin, Acedia, Seldan, Kira, Zeke, Cryosanthia, Braelnoir
• Place: A10: Temple District
• Time: Tuesday, May 26, 2020, 5:36 PM
• Summary: Acedia and Seldan are in a discussion with a giantborn, Ronin, regarding uncharacteristic behaviour of their sith-makar friends, Zeke and Cryosanthia. The pair of sith arrive and describe their side of events, with the giantborn still insisting they were hostile. Kira suggests it might be a misunderstanding, which Zeke rejects stating the words were quite provocative, but Cryo diplomatically accepts in a roundabout way by saying she was unaware of the cultural norm of giantborn to 'break the ice' in conversations so to speak by being as rude as possible. Ronin does not admit fault but does explain he only recently escaped captivity, demonstrating by his scars and the others remark that many have scars. The giantborn then reverses his assertation that ex-slaves should stick together, saying he will go it alone relying on his own strength, and departs. Braelnoir observes that he'll learn the importance of a group, if he survives long enough. The group decides to relocate to the room set aside in the Temple of Daeus, so they can sit.

-=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=<* A10: Temple District *>=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=-

The air of solemn, heavy divinity in the area is often broken by laughter. The dual presence of the deities Althea and Daeus, man and wife, stand towards the center, with their children and their children's temples positioned around them. The presence of the divine is felt not only by their temples, but also by the actions of their worshipers. The great plaza is as a social center, paved in brilliant, white flagstones and covered in benches and sitting areas. Priests, acolytes, and servicefolk of all stripes roam the plaza, going from one task to the other.

At the front of the temples of Daeus and Althea, at the Plaza's centermost point, rests a great fountain, the cheerful waters reflecting the Sun during the day, and the Moon and Stars at night. The fountain is strategically centered, and is oft a place for wisdom and lesson-giving. It is not uncommon for a priest of some stripe or the other to stand there, surrounded by the curious and faithful, delivering messages of hope or contemplation. At other times, it and the plaza become a landscape of celebration of the holy holidays.

Few vendors are seen in the plaza--the nearby temples provide most food or services. Towards the west, the great Bridge stretches across the river, and towards the east, the Redridge mountains. The plaza rests in the midst of it all, the temples massive and grand on the Alexandrian scale.

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-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-  Appearing, in Order  -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
Ronin        7'7"     330 Lb     Giantborn         Male      A giantborn with long dark brown hair and a muscular body
Acedia       3'4"     39 Lb      Goblin            Female    An ebon-skinned Goblin in leather armor.
Seldan       5'11"    187 Lb     Human             Male      Ginger-blonde human in armor wearing Eluna's symbol.
Kira         5'0"     120 Lb     Human             Female    Blonde woman in simple robes with an eye patch.
Zeke         6'8"     239 Lb     Sith-Makar        Male      A blue-scaled sith-makar in white Daeus vestments
Cryosanthia  6'9"     267 Lb     Sith-Makar        Female    A dashingly tall, elegant white-scaled lizard woman.
Braelnoir    5'11"    246 Lb     Sivery Chimera    Female    An armored silver chimera with four arms.
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"There are more heroes than they, within Alexandria, but they are among them." Seldan is standing near the fountain, fully armed and armored, staring up at Ronin, Acedia hiding behind him, on a cool and misty day in the Temple District. He wears a cool and polite reserve, his tones even. "More than once have I felt Cryosanthia's claws, and yet would I do so, for the sake of all those here. Zeke serves the Draco Solis, and I think it unlikely that he intends you harm. Would you defend others?"

Kira approaches the trio, blinking as she hears a growl. She only now hears anything of the conversation and looks between the three of them, her smile turning a bit confused and concerned. "Hello, again, all of you. Is everything alright?"

It's one of those moments in which it seems that simply talking about someone summons them. Zeke comes into the temple square with Cryosanthia at his side. He notices Seldan immediately, and shifts to head toward the paladin, though after a moment he slows. Noticing the man that Seldan is talking to. The sith-makar slows down and then nods low to everyone politely. "Peasssce on your nessstsss."

"...I like the place with the plaster ceiling. Well, I liked the ceiling. It was interesting to look at. Entirely too low though. My horns scraped it accidentally, that will keep happening. I don't want to be always wearing popcorn plaster." Cryosanthia is saying, as she walks with Zeke. She didn't actually notice Seldan, navigating off her mate, but she catches the last little bit of what he was saying.

"Entirely undeserved each time Seldan. This one apologizes. I wish I could undo them, it makes me sound bestial. Peace on your Scabbard." At this point the whitescale female looks at the paladin, and the small group, and who he's talking to. "Oh. Hello."

Ronin looked to the sith and he watches them intently. He then turns his head to look to Seldan. "I will defend others. I will not however support those who believe themselves above rules." He says as he uncrosses his arms and looks to Kira, nodding to her.

Acedia appears from behind Seldan, darting out to hug at Kira. "Hi!", she says to Kira, in a faux whisper. "Everything is fiiiiine. So. Uhm. Yeah. How're you doing?" When Zeke and Cryo arrive, the Gobbo's face brightens considerably, and she waves at the two Sith from behind Kira. Looking back to Kira, she wonders, "So, you have completed your bread giveaway, yes?"

"I would ask no more than that." Seldan turns as Zeke and Cryosanthia approach, and his smile reppears. "Peace upon the nest that shall be," he greets the pair. "It is well, Cryosanthia, no lasting harm was done." He looks between Ronin and the sith-makar. "Are these the two of whom you spoke, Ronin?

"Hello!" Kira adds Cryosanthia and Zeke to her greeting, with a broadening smile. "Peace on your nest." She then nods to Acedia's explanation, and trailing question. "I did... but I have one loaf left if you or anyone would like one?"

Zeke tilts his head slightly to the side, his green eyes careful on Ronin. "Thisss one isss curiousss what wasss sssaid about thisss one." His tail gives a gentle flick behind him.

Cryo nods, leaning towards Kira and holding out her hand, "I'd like half a loaf please." She's wearing her layered, white wizard robes with the glacial highlights. Acedia gets a large grin, full off teeth, as she understands goblins smiles to be that way. Several glances keep happening in Seldan's direction. She waits and listens.

"They are." Ronin says as he glares at the two sith and he simply moves his hands to his 'skirt' and he looks to Zeke. "I was explaining about how you tried to lure me into attacking and I didnt." He says as he watches the blue scaled sith. "I am being dishonored, you kept treating me like I was a threat and it was your friend who tried to lure me to agttack." He says calmly

The Gobbo growls again, clinging to Kira's leg. She peers up at Kira, and reaches into the bread basket. Biting into the last loaf, she breaks off half and offers it to Cryosanthia. Crunching noisily and swallowing, she grins at the woman. "All gone!"

Kira nods to Cryosanthia and starts to reach for the loaf... only to be outdone by the hyper-helpful Acedia. She blinks at that, then again at the giantborn's words. "I can't speak for anyone but myself, but I don't think that Zeke or Cryosanthia would do anything like that. Maybe it is a misunderstanding?" Kira then looks back to Acedia to find the half-loaf vanished, as if by magic. "Would you like me to get more?"

Seldan simply listens to this, arms crossing as he looks between the two. "Sunguard ... what say you?" The question is simple, even.

Zeke looks at Ronin and shakes his head at the man. "He threatened thisss one, ssso thiss one took the threat ssseriously. Thisss one of courssse did not try to lure him into attacking, but thisss one isss fairly scertain that he wasss trying to lure thisss one into ssuch. Thisss one informed him that if he did not leave thisss one would call the guard." His own words are quite calm as well, his gaze serious.

Cryo takes her half of the loaf from Acedia. She breaks off a small piece and pops it in her mouth. There isn't much chewing and she swallows soon after. Another small piece follows and it's clear she's going to eat it all that way, a small piece at a time.

"As Zeke describes." The whitescale female says, pulling another small piece of bread off her loaf, "Kira has a point. This one has not spoken with many giantborn. If raising the mating preferences of hypothetical females of other races who might resemble a male's mother, indirectly implying inadequacies in the mating choices of those being addressed, is the normal way jotuns join a conversation they weren't invited to, this one will admit to misunderstanding that cultural norm. Especially when it includes sharpening a large axe over tea and picking it up to show off as part of the introduction."

She eats the small bit of bread, then shakes her head at Kira, "This is lovely, thanks. This one does not need more."

"I dont threaten." Ronin says as he watches the sith. He then approaches the two and studies them. He looks to the two. "Being former slaves, we three should be allies." He says as he offers a hand to them. "I am not used to being civil and ettiquette. If I made you feel threatened it wasnt my intention." He says as he watches them.

Seldan doesn't move, continuing to watch the three intently. "Threatening those who should be allies is not wisdom, and but emboldens and strengthens the enemy," he agrees. "With so many of different cultures and races here in Alexandria, it is civility and etiquette that keep us from tearing one another's throats out. Those of Alexandria will take sharpening an axe in their presence as a threat, and disparaging talk of mothers and mates as insult." Again, that even, reserved tone.

"I'm sorry that there was a misunderstanding," Kira offers, "but I can understand how your size and words could be seen as threatening, even if you didn't mean them so." She steps closer to the trio, now that Acedia has vanished (maybe to get more bread?). "Any can, and should be, allies for many reasons. I think the foremost is that we are all neighbors, here."

Her smile is shared with all, brightening more at Cryosanthia's enjoyment of the bread. "You are very welcome. I would ask a favor of you, Cryosanthia, if and when you are able to speak more privately for a few minutes."

Zeke stares at Ronin, but does not take the man's hand. "Perhapsss it wasss misssunderssstanding. Thisss one will sstate, that we of the People take sssuch wordss about our femalesss very ssseriousssly. Asss we do wordsss about violensce." The sith-makar nods to Seldan, accepting his wisdom.

Meanwhile, the picture of civility makes her way along the thoroughfare, glancing about for any murderchickens lurking amongst the urban poultry perched on the overhangs, tail lashing between steps in agitation. A hand rides in a loose curl over the pommel of Brae's shortsword, while the crossbow at her belt hangs precocked, just awaiting a quarrel for full readiness. Sight of the gaggle of armed folk of various levels of acquaintance catches the chimera's eye and in turn draws her course like another fishing hook in her hair.

Don't ask.

"Of course, yes." Cryosanthia says, either agreeing to the favour or to meet to talk about it. "There's several I want to speak to privately." She looks in Seldan's direction.

"Alright then, it was a misunderstanding." The whitescale takes the giantborn's hand and gives it a squeeze and a shake. She seems about to say something more, but the recent arrival draws her attention.

"Braelnoir?" The female sith blinks, "Can you speak now or must we handsign?" She'll need hers back from the handshake if so.

Ronin crosses his arms after shaking the white scales hand. He then looks to the group and he watches Seldan. "I grew up in the desolation. In some bandit fortress. I made the weapons for the bandits and fought in their arena. There were a few times where female bandits made me sleep with them." He says as he watches the others. "I gained my freedom recently."

"Your words suggest that perhaps some part of you remains there, whether you would have it so or no." Seldan's eyes go to Zeke and Cryosanthia, his demeanor softening, even as his words are directed at Ronin. "Things here are not as they were in your fortress. There are those here who would be your allies, did you permit them to be so." He looks over as Braelnoir joins them, wincing when he sees her. "I shall speak with you soon, Cryosanthia."

Kira nods to Cryosanthia. "Thank you. Whenever you are able. It won't keep you long, I don't think." She turns back to Ronin. "You must have endured terrible things. I regret that. I understand that it may take time to heal and recover. There are many here who might be able to help you with that, and I doubt that any in this city would wish you harm."

Braelnoir steps closer and gives a little shrug at Cryo's question, even as she lifts a hand to wave to each of the group. Seldan's wince almost dims her mood, but she soldiers on and steps in with wide spread arms to hug the palescale tight, mindful of her gauntlet spikes, "Missed ya, luv!" finally breaking her month of silence with a hint of an odd lisp, tail lashing happily. There are a couple looks to the others as they speak, to the huge fella, "Ss'ain't a bad time izs't?"

"To free others from slavery will bring me peace." Ronin says calmly as he turns to Braelnoir and he tilts his head at her. He studies her intently as he turns to Zeke and Cryosanthia. He remains silent as he crosses his arms, letting his hair blow in the breeze.

The blue-scaled sith looks at Ronin, shaking his head again. "You will find that you need othersss to free thossse who have been enssslaved. You can not take all the Charneth by yourssself, nor thossse othersss that are alike to them. You will need sssome measssure of peassce in your ssoul ssir. You will need othersss. There isss much going on in thisss sscity, and you are not the only one who hasss endured pain." He looks away from the other man finally, but he has one eye on him. Constantly.

"Thanks Seldan, I'll appreciate it." Cryo says. She's not sure what to say next, and her advice isn't all that good, but she tells Ronin, "That's a good goal. It's best not to think about it too much, what happened when you had no choices, you'll get stuck there. There are some healers at the temples that are good to talk to."

Kira gets a smile also, and then she's embracing Braelnoir. It's a good powerful hug and from the way Cryo is holding on, seems like she's needed one and missed her transformed friend. "You're back like you, the Chimera you! And you have the cute little hatchling scales. Don't worry, they'll grow big and thick soon! It's good to see you. It's a better time than it was. So much has happened!"

"People betray. Too many give in to darkness. In the end it is better to be self reliant then be in need to someone." Ronin says with his growly voice as he turns to Braelnoir and watches her. "The gods only help those who help themselves. And relying on others makes you weak." He says as if his mind wont be changed.

Braelnoir grins from an array of savage teeth, "Thhink ssomething burnt out, again." She releases her embrace and shrugs, "Can talk, I'll take it!" she laughs, then looks around at the others, noting the studious look she's warranting from the big man. She looks him over, "Godss gave ya everythin' ya needed when ya'ss born. Up ta you t'uzse it, proper." she replies with a shrug, then continues, "Y'aint ssellin' it, ssweetheart. Ya really felt that way ya wouldn't think o'helpin' out folks sstill chained. Chainss, whipss, ain't all that holdss folk, an I sseen worsse by far, an thosse need more'n one ssoul willin' to fight."

"We can't make choices for others," Kira suggests to Ronin, nodding with Zeke's words, "but we can show them what we think is a good path, share it, and maybe inspire them to find that path for themselves." A pause before she adds, "I must disagree with you. I think that the gods help us to help others, and standing together, for and with one another, is when we are the strongest."

She now, late and a bit apologetically, dips in a curtsey to Braelnoir. She may not know her, but any friend of Cryosanthia's... "Hello, and I'm glad that you are better."

"I fight to help others because I rather my darkness be used to benefit something good." Ronin says as he watches the group. He looks to Braelnoir. He studies her and he simply turns to Kira. "If you wish to see the treatment of my masters, then look at my back." He says as he turns. His entire back was nothing but scarred tissue. From blades, whips and others, the scars stretching along his sides but not covering his front.

Seldan watches impassively, he has no words.

"Kira is right. The godsss do much for usss. We do not alwaysss ssee it, but it'ss true." Zeke glances with one eye toward Cryosanthia. Like Ronin, her scars are clear. Marks on her scales from someone who had called themselves her master. Many of them. The blue-scaled sith touches his chest. His are easily hidden under layers of cloth, but they nonetheless exist. "You are not the only one that bearsss sscarss from thosse who thought that they could chain sssomeone down and make them a ssslave. Asss you yoursself ssaid, you ssshould make alliess of thosse not unlike yoursself. Rather than choossing to fight with them."

"Well, I'm sure you'll find some who'll agree with you, although they won't party up. So you will all still be acting alone. You'll want to start carrying everything you own with you all the time, in case you are accidentally kidnapped for three-quarters of a century. Your choices are your own now." Cryo says, adjusting the straps on her small white leather haversack. She smiles back at Zeke as he glances at her, seeming casual. When Ronin shows off his back she comments, "Those are some scars. It's possible to find healers to make them go away. Ironically it hurts almost as much as getting them, and then you have nothing to show for what you went through. With a lot of people the surface heals fine but the damage underneat stays."

There might be a deeper meaning to what she's saying, or it's all there at first glance. She looks around at the small group, "We've had a tiring day house hunting. You know what they say, easy to sneak up on, difficult to put down. This one would like to sit down, stare at stone walls and imagine something else. Kira, Brael, this one would want you along. Especially you Braelnoir... this one is curious how the last transformation went. I've been so busy, I'm sorry."

Kira winces at the scars shown, and is saddened by them, though she then voices her assuring agreement with Cryosanthia. "Scars of all types can fade, given time and care that they don't fester or grow." She follows Zeke's glance to Cryosanthia, but thoughts of others' suffering or scars are momentarily put aside at the news and invitation. "Seeking a nest?" She isn't sure if that would be the sith equivalent when 'house hunting' was mentioned, but she tries? "That's wonderful news! I didn't know it would be so tiring, but I'd be happy to sit with you both."

Braelnoir shrugs a little, listening to the rebuttals and surveying the damage with an air of casual detachment, "Scarring salve'll get rid o'lotta that, too, luvvie. But I conjure y'aint the ssort t'wipe hisstory. Worthy stories in scars if ya learn from'm." Her scars are hidden under silver, under skull, and Cryo's words case a hand, the one least shelled in steel to brush the sith's arm before she waves off the apology, "Don't sssweat thh little ssshit, sssiss. W'all had uss thingzs t'deal with... Needed t'talk fer a long while, now anyway." A hand extends toward, "Kira. Nissce t'meetcha. I'm Braelnoir." She looks up at the Jotun, then, and wonders, "Whatta we call you, luvvie?"

Ronin nods to them and he begins to leave with his wagon and lets them be. He didnt want to remove his scars, because it would show the hardships he suffered. So he moves on.

Seldan looks after the man in silence, waiting until he is well out of earshot to comment impassively. "That one understands only strength."

Zeke watches Ronin leave, keeps an eye on him until he's gone before turning his attention on Seldan. "Thisss one agreesss. Only undersstandsss hisss own sstrength. Not what he might be with othersss." He shakes his head and sighs. "Thisss one sshould resst ass well. It hasss been a long day looking for a nessst. Thisss one needsss a ssseat."

Braelnoir watches the big man for a few strides, until the fellas begin their musings and she turns to them, "Upbringin'zs all that izs." She gives a little shrug and folds her arms, "Can probably work that out of'm after a couple proper sscrapss. Ssomeone that knowzs chainzs, too." She regards Zeke for a moment or two as he makes to leave and, she unfolds her upper arms to clap her fist to her breast, "Good ssein' ya'round again Zzeke." there's a quick look to Cryosanthia and she smiles warmly his way, "Congratulasshunzs, luv."

Cryo likewise, watches Ronin leave. When he's finally out of sight there is no significant change to her posture, she was relaxed throughout it all. Her head bobs in agreement, "Perhaps we could go to the Room, there's some furniture now, we can stretch out and plan some things. I've got some scale polish for you." She winks at Braelnoir. "Also I don't like standing beside the fountain too long. Let's head inside if you are free."

And the group does so.

Braelnoir

A lithsome figure, this, possessed of facial features fitting an Acanian woman of perhaps twenty years with fine, even features and stern eyebrows over wolflike amber eyes. Two plus feet of black hair, shimmering green in certain angles and violet in another, flows in a manelike strip that runs from the crown of her head to the base of her spine, baring the long, sharp points of her ears. Her torso carries to a human shape, with slightly broader shoulders, suggesting perhaps an additional Aesir heritage though a multitude of miniscule silver scales turns her skin into a somewhat clouded mirror. Further, there are a pair of arms to either side, and and her legs crook past the knee into a format much like the Sith Makar, every toe capped with a gleaming claw. From the base of her spine, a long, slender tail extends four and a half feet before capping with a spaded tip. On the knot of muscle of her upper right arm's shoulder, the tint of the scales is closer to polished copper within the heartlike borders of some kind of howling skull mark that's been burned into her. Her voice is a smokey tennor, accented to the particulars of Stormgarde.

The only 'jewelry' upon her person is a copper earring in her left ear, from which dangles a small brass skeleton and an artfully simple gold ring on the finger of her upper left hand.

A fine, nearly black, breastplate, tempered to an almost iridescent blue violet, is cross strapped at her back. Her right hand is clad nearly to the elbow in a blued, spike-laden gauntlet, while the upper left is protected by a half-fingered leather affair with an hourglassed demi gauntlet over that, stamped with the symbol of Kor, and the lower left hand is clad in a heavy spiked gauntlet of fine, solid make, probably an Arvek design. Her legs are clad in loose trousers of what could have been sailcloth, dyed black in a way that left various whorls and ripples of smoke grey, cut to accomodate her tail. Overknee greaves of black leather are strapped around her altered legs, to the start of her chisel-tipped toes.

Her other accoutrements are manifold and equally diverse. A Khazadi bandolier containing Gods-know-what crosses her torso right-to-left to leave the pouches lining the inward curve of her waist without impeding her sword arm(s). An Aesir warhammer rides double frogs on her right hip, while a short sword rests in a sheath on her left.