036.3 Wayland, Branna and Noel

[Corwin]

[21:09] <Kotono> Training. The scent of sweat mixes with light bruises. The flash of steel in the afternoon sun, meeting palm to parry the blow. Back and forth in a seemingly limitless dance do the three go, until at last Noel stumbles and ends up on his ass. Branna falls back at that, taking a long breath, "Think that's a break point, right boss?"
[21:12] <Wayland> Wayland nods. "You two take fifteen minutes then."
[21:14] <Kotono> "Good," Noel plops back and groans, while Branna puts his sword away. He gets a drink of water and dries his face, "So boss," he begins casually, "I heard about that game. Was that Valkyrie really that strong?"
[21:17] <Wayland> "She handed us our behinds with little difficulty. Things looked promising until sahe slipped the hold that Aaeru got her into. After that, she was too wily to get caught like that again and we were picked apart quickly."
[21:18] <Kotono> "Damn," Branna's observation is to scowl and cross his arms, "She sounded like a grade 1 bitch."
[21:20] <Wayland> "She was rude about it, too. She kept taunting us and she called Janson vile."
[21:21] <Kotono> "Vile? LIke a potion vile?" Noel says with a completely puzzled look. "LIke she wanted to drinks omething out of him?"
[21:22] <Wayland> "Like he was evil, I think."
[21:26] <Kotono> "Different word, same sound," Branna says, shaking his head as he cracks a wry grin. "Vial, not vile."
[21:26] <Kotono> "Ooooh," Noel rubs the side of his head, "He isn't, is he?"
[21:27] <Wayland> "Well no, of course he isn't evil."
[21:33] <Kotono> "Right," Branna goes on, "So anyway, boss. I got a friend of a friend who's interested in Whimisical Sweets. You interested in talking to him? It might be a job."
[21:34] <Wayland> "Sure. Any idea what we could be looking at?"
[21:38] <Kotono> "Well," Scratching his cheek, "He works in scuplture and spends a lot of his time in the west. His name's Urian."
[21:45] <Wayland> "Sculpture huh? Well, doesn't sound so bad."
[21:47] <Kotono> "Yeah. So if you're game, we'll go see him 'fore the end of the day?" Branna says.
[21:51] <Wayland> "Sounds like a good plan. How far from here is he?"
[21:52] <Kotono> "He's off in the Old City, so a bit of a walk," Branna says, "May as well get going then."
[21:53] <Wayland> "So eager to be done for the day, are you?" Wayland grins.
[21:59] <Kotono> "I have enough bruises," Noel grumbles, as the day slips by. Going onto the Dawn Pointe Inn is without incident, going to a second story room therein. Inside is an older, squat and short man. He has a gray beard, crow's feet around his eternally squinty eyes. He wears simple, new clothes and has his arms crossed. "You're Whimisical Sweets?" He gives Wayland a once over.
[22:00] <Wayland> "Indeed, I am Wayland. What can I help you with?"
[22:06] <Kotono> "I need an associate found," he begins, "A dwarf, his name is Rubri'Granit. If you're familiar with Kelara, you might know him from the gargoyles he made for the temple of Mystra there. His trail has taken me here, but I'm stymied on proceeding."
[22:21] <Wayland> "Well, what can you tell me about him?"
[22:25] <Kotono> "He's from the far west, past the lands of Kesse." So beginning with a curt nod, "He follows Moradin, a dwarven god. He's older, a skilled cleric of Moradin and a brilliant craftsman. About two months ago he came into possession of a puzzle-box, one that I'm certain is enchanted now. He became fascinated by it, attempting to find the solution. As he did he grew more and more obsessed,
[22:25] <Kotono> eventually fleeing. I'm chasing him to find him and restore his right mind."
[22:32] <Wayland> "I see. No ideas where he was headed from here?"
[22:33] <Kotono> "No. I'd like to hire all of you to find him," he says, "I don't have much money, but I can promise you something better. Once Rubri-Granite is back in his right mind, he'll make all of you something to compensate. How would you like to have your own gargoyle protector?"
[22:38] <Wayland> "We can look into it. I don't believe that dwarves are too common around these parts, so someone should be able to point us in the right direction."
[22:42] <Kotono> "Thanks," Urian takes Wayland's hand and gives it a good shake, "Good hunting."