016.1 Seira

[Corwin]

[22:09] <Kotono> --------------------
[22:12] <Kotono> The rain continues to drizzle and trickle down around noon. Seira goes to Luna De Stronger, the magical shop. Inside a liveried servant is talking to Countess Stronger, as the latter idly eats strawberries and kicks back on a chair. "Yes, yes," she is overheard saying, "Tell your madam that magic isn't cheap, nor is to to be taken lightly. If she thinks she may have the gift for magic, tell her to think good and well about it." A fiery sn
[22:14] <Kotono>  A fiery snort as she waves a handa way, "Or you'll end up in the Guard or army, away from your cushioned estate."
[22:16] <Seira> "Serving in the Guard is most fulfilling," Seira comments, approaching the woman. "Hello, Countess."
[22:17] <Kotono> The servant scoffs at those words, but nods respectfully to Seira. "I'll convey your words," she says, before bowing and turning away.
[22:18] <Kotono> Countess Stronger rises, "Good tos ee you," she says as the servant exits out, "Here for lessons today?"
[22:19] * Seira dips her head briefly. "I consider myself stronger now, magically, albeit nowhere near the level of a serious mage. Enough to learn what you would teach me without the efforts being wasted, however, I believe."
[22:24] <Kotono> "Good, good. Should I teach you how to turn your enemies into flies, or to burn them alive," With a lazy stretch back, Countess Stronger cracks an eye open. "Do you have a preference on anything?"
[22:26] <Seira> "My first priority would be magic to compliments my other talents," Seira responds instantly, having given it thought previously. "Either at interrogation or by concealing my presence. I have already made some small inroads into these fields," she says, detailing the spells she had learned recently.
[22:29] <Kotono> "Invisibility is really the best one of the lot," she agrees somberly. "A normal person can do almost nothing agaisnt it - only a seasoned warrior or mage can counter it effectively. I suppose it depends on how you want to conceal yourself."
[22:33] <Seira> "Passing through an area without leaving a trace, or concealing such a trace," Seira muses. "Confounding the senses of those standing guard without alerting them to danger. Hiding within a myriad of afterimages, forcing my opponents to waste time to seek out the real one, should I be discovered." She shrugs, then. "And as preparation is also an important part in the missions that demand such skills, a better control over Divination would aid greatly as well."
[22:36] <Seira> a better control over Divination would aid greatly as well."
[22:40] <Kotono> "Mirror Image, Pass without Trace and...mmm." Nodding to herself as she listens, "Go take a look in the scrolls a moment while I go check something," Stronger asks, rising and dusting off her skirt.
[22:41] * Seira nods, and goes to take a look as requested.
[22:45] <Kotono> As Seira looks, Countess Stronger searches fora  few. She comes out with a few scrolls, whistling to herself. "Seira," shea sks, peering over. "Which one are you looking at?"
[23:05] * Seira points out the scroll of Spectral Hand, admiring it. "Quite a spell, I must say. It may not seem much at a first glance, but the possibilities held within...."
[23:08] <Kotono> "Indeed, indeed," Plucking it up and passing it over, "It's worth studying, don't you think?"
[23:09] <Seira> "Of course."
[23:13] <Kotono> "Now then, since you're doing so well - are all the rumors true?" Countess Stronger asks after Seira responds. "I hear a lot coming from all of you these days."
[23:15] <Seira> "Which rumors in particular?" she asks curiously. "It always entertains to hear some of the more outlandish ones."
[23:16] <Kotono> "Let's see...the one with the demon tiger - I'll lay money that the other resident wizard is up to his eyes in that. More horrors, flying, wall climbing guardsman, invisible guardians, all of that. It's not just one rumor, and I imagine some of them are even true."
[23:18] <Seira> "Probably," Seira allows. "None of these really involved me, I'm afraid, even if the events took place as the rumors claim, by chance. Except for the... demon tiger, was it?"
[23:20] <Kotono> "Mmmhmm. A tiger from the sounds of it, most of the rumors wouldn't know a tiger if it bit them." Stronger casts her head back and laughs ab it, "I declare, I reckon it to be a dire tiger or even just a normal one, butit's the most widespread 'rumor', an dI suspect it to be true."
[23:20] <Kotono> "Considering no fatalities or injuries, it was some sort of tiger that Shamal had under influence?" Stronger considers after just a moment more. "That's the only thing that makes sense."
[23:23] <Seira> "There was an incident in a taxidermy shop where some incorporeal presence was able to animate a long-dead animal," Seira muses out loud. "It felt similar to something we encountered before while going after that bear. At the time, a certain item was left behind." She briefly details what she had found back in the forest. "Strangely enough, nothing similar could be found at the more recent scene."
[23:25] <Kotono> "Strange." Countess Stronger agrees, "I don't know if they're related, but 'those hero guards' were mentioned. That narrows down the field a lot, so if you weren't there, why don't you ask one of them yourself?"
[23:27] <Seira> "It's worth a try," Seira agrees.
[23:32] <Kotono> "As for that?" Frowning as she thinks a moment, "Some sort of ghost? Do you still have that object?"
[23:34] <Seira> "No, but I could draw a reasonable approximation, and it had no aura of magic about itself. Perhaps, though, that was due to me breaking it to cancel the effect it was having on everyone around it."
[23:37] <Kotono> "Could be, let me see it?" Stronger goes back to sitting, "It may have been a vessel or something of importance to it, or a focus. Odds are that if it was broken then it's not of much use, especially if the driving force behind it was subdued or dispelled."
[23:39] * Seira takes several minutes to carefully reconstruct it from memory, paying attention to detail.
[23:41] <Kotono> OOC - Go ahead and describe it, then?
[23:45] <Seira> It shows a small piece of bone, drawn in detail on a one-to-one scale. An all-seeing eye is prominent on it, as well as various enscriptions Seira didn't try to decypher, merely copying them from memory.

[Corwin]

[21:43] <Kotono> roll 1d20+12
[21:43] * Hatbot --> "Kotono rolls 1d20+12 and gets 16."12 [1d20=4]
[21:43] * Corwin is now known as Seira
[21:45] <Kotono> Countess Stronger peers at it a good long time, thinking. "Hm. I'm...not sure. Dammit. I'd guess it was some sort of vessel it was in, or something of importance to the spirit."
[21:46] * Seira nods, having no better idea herself.
[21:47] <Kotono> "If the spirit's dispelled, it's probably of no particular use. If it's still remaining, it could be useful to bind it." At that, the Countess goes back to sitting.
[21:49] * Seira nods once more. If further mischief occurs, she'll have to try and research it in-depth, but for now she's given it enough thought and it's time for a change.
[21:50] <Kotono> "Hmmm..." Stronger sits back down again, "Anything else on your mind, Captain?" A small smile at that, "That cad giving you problems again?"
[21:51] <Seira> "He deserted, it seems." Seira frowns. "How annoyin-- I suppose he is."
[21:53] <Kotono> "...he did what?!" Stronger's relaxes, easy smile shattered, into a look of pure annoyance. "That little jerk! Just when I thought he might not be a complete, manipulative bastard, he ran off? "
[21:55] * Seira shrugs.
[21:58] <Kotono> "Urgh! Why is it always the nice look...Ugh." Stomping her foot in a bout of pique, "Today was just such a nice day until that, too."
[21:58] * Seira shuffles uncomfortably.
[22:00] <Kotono> Sighing as she mutters a few other unkind things, "Sorry, you look like I just punched you." She sighs slowly, her body deflating like a burst balloon in slow motion. "...did you have a thing for him, or something?"
[22:01] * Seira shakes her head. "A most intense apathy, all things considered, only occasinally tinged with dislike."
[22:02] <Kotono> "Oh. Well." Pausing a few moments, eyeing Seira, "Let's just let this matter go and get to business instead?"
[22:03] * Seira nods again.
[22:03] <Kotono> "Before we begin, anything in particular you're going to want to ask or study about?" STronger asks.
[22:05] <Seira> "I trust in your judgement and skill, Ma'am,"  Seira responds, looking up to the older woman.
[22:06] <Kotono> "Oh come on. That's the most suck up line I've ever heard," Snorting as she eyes Seira, "Don't you have any preference? You were just talking about what spells you wanted to learn, after all."
[22:08] <Seira> "I was," Seira agrees. "But I have no special preference between the various things I want to learn. As someone who knows these spells well, you would know best how to approach their study."
[22:08] <Kotono> "Alright then," Countess Stronger nods, settling down and in. "Let's get started on those spells, then!" OOC - Skip ahead?"
[22:09] <Seira> OOC: Sure
[22:09] <Kotono> OOC: What spells did you ask for?
[22:09] <Seira> OOC: Let's cover it later?
[22:10] <Kotono> OOC: Okay, then moving on?
[22:12] <Kotono> The afternoon wears on, the rain lingering. It only gets worse today, a steady pelting as you approach the Dawn Pointe Inn. Not many people are out, but the inn's warm door is still open for visitors and patrons.
[22:13] <Kotono> The butcher's shop next door is dark, forgotten, closed. No signs of anything from it, only a now forbidden fragment.
[22:14] <Seira> The inn it is!
[22:16] <Kotono> Seira heads towards the inn. Inside she can smell food cooking, the scent of meat, vegetables and pungent garlic in the air. The front is manned, the innkeeper yawning into her hand as you enter. "Oh...good evening!" A quick look up to Seira, a nod.
[22:18] <Seira> "I'm here as a customer, this time," Seira tells her, smiling.
[22:19] <Kotono> "Yes, yes. Sir Febras is upstairs at that window he likes. Go sit down if ou like, dinner will be served in a few minutes." An easy nod at that, yawning after. "Too many strange things going on lately, hm?"
[22:20] * Seira returns the nod. "Are they keeping you awake at night?"
[22:22] <Kotono> "Oh...I just don't sleep well lately..." The innkeeper pales, looking away. "It takes a toll on me."
[22:23] <Seira> "If there is anything I can do..." Seira offers. "To repay for all your assistance this far."
[22:24] <Kotono> "Hahahaha..." Quickly laughing and shaking her head, "It's fine. I'll just drink wine with dinner tonight, that will help me sleep."
[22:29] * Seira nods, as she seems to be doing a lot today, and waits for Febras.
[22:31] <Kotono> Yawning, the innkeeper leads you to a nice, quiet room with a medium sized table, six seats. Soon she goes to finish the meal, and after a moment or two of wait, Febras enters. He wears a dark cloak , his hat worn even inside. "Good evening," he murmurs, as he goes to sit.
[22:33] <Seira> "Evening," Seira responds. "If you wear your hat to protect your eyes from the sunlight, why do you still have it on now?" she asks curiously, though unapologetically bluntly.
[22:36] <Kotono> "Habit," Febras chuckles, "I'm used to wearing it."
[22:38] <Seira> "You might look better without it," she mentions casually. "Maybe not. It's hard to say. But worth a try, probably."
[22:45] <Kotono> With a light shrug, Febras puts the hat down. His eyes are a sharp green, face somewhat...feral. Quite alert, tight, taunt. "Well?" he asks, waiting.
[22:46] <Seira> "Not bad," Seira tells him. "Clothes might need better coordination, but I'm not the person to speak to about that part."
[22:57] <Kotono> "Pfah," Laughing a little at that, "When is the last time something you've fought has cared about your clothes?"
[22:59] <Seira> "It is yet to happen. But I know it will, some day!"
[23:10] <Kotono> "There are always firsts," Febras settles back in, adjusting the plain ring on his finger. "An animated coat rack and clothes closet, perchance?"
[23:15] <Seira> "I would rather fight an evil gnome," she says with a snort.

[Corwin]

[22:01] <Kotono> Despite the way he looks, lean and quick, there is something else to his posture. Rigid but comfortable, commanding. His eyes stay on Seira, "You have an interest in gnomes? The subject recurs over and over."
[22:03] * Seira raises an eyebrow, returning his look easily. "As you've said, the subject does recur."
[22:06] <Kotono> His blonde hair is short as he stays focused. "..heh. It has nothing to do with my work," he confesses, as  you see the innkeeper enter. She bears a stew pot, putting it down with a smile and going back out. "If you're interested in such a matter, do you think this matter ties to it?"
[22:08] <Seira> "Perhaps," she allows vaguely. "What sort of rumors have you heard? It is best to clean up all the minsunderstandings in advance, I believe."
[22:10] <Kotono> The innkeeper returns, this time with a tray of steaming warm bread. She puts it down and exits again, smiling. Once she is gone, "Nothing solid. Old whispers here and there. A human's recollections of a war that may have invovled the gnomes." He just shrugs, "The matter bears me very little concern. As far as I've ever dealt, the gnomes have passed on peacefully into seclusion or extinction. I deal with what won't leave in peace."
[22:14] <Seira> "I know a bit more," Seira tells him, partaking of the stew. "Their deaths were quite violent and chaotic... anything but peaceful. I would not be surprised if someone -- or something -- lingered on. And now might be a good time to act, with the gods and elves in seclusion and the trouble brewing with our neighbors."
[22:20] <Kotono> The stew is fresh, uncursed meat with vegetables and garlic. "If they return as cursed undead, they'll be sent back." Febras shrugs at first, going for the soup and slowly taking a few sips from a spoon. Just a few, passing. "Still, you raise a very good point. Malmuth is in dissent and recovering, and the United Baronies are new. The only other counties in the area are the secluded elves and the faraway Desert Fiefdoms."
[22:22] <Seira> "Where do you hail from?" Seira asks curiously.
[22:24] <Kotono> A pause, as the innkeeper brings a plate of pastries out, placing them down last. She bows and sits, "Please, go on," she smiles warmly, smothering a yawn after.
[22:26] <Kotono> Febras nods to her absently, a bare glance. He slowly pops his finger joints, rubbing the golden ring he wears. "Quite far away. I'm a traveller - does Gulden mean athing to you?"
[22:33] <Seira> roll 1d20+5
[22:33] * Hatbot --> "Seira rolls 1d20+5 and gets 9."12 [1d20=4]
[22:34] <Kotono> Seira draws a blank on it.
[22:34] <Seira> "Maybe if I had a general direction..." she hedges.
[22:36] <Kotono> "Gulden...lies across the sea," A light, easy shrug at that. Febras stays looking at Seira, "Funny. Everyone's usually content to simply accept things on face value. You might have the makings of a good investigator."
[22:37] <Seira> "It's part of my job, maybe," Seira says with a shrug, allowing herself to be diverted off the subject. "Speaking of questioning anything and everything, has your gracious host been this sleepy from the moment you've first met her?"
[22:38] <Kotono> "Oh!" The innkeeper looks down, eyeslids black and baggy. "There's always so much going...on..." she mumbles.
[22:44] <Kotono> "She's been busy," Febras admits plainly, "I'm afraid I keep her up at times - I keep hours that are not normal to most, and she finds it regretable to leave me alone and not talked to."
[22:45] <Seira> "I suspected it was your fault, somehow," Seira says chidingly. "You should be more considerate to other people!"
[22:46] <Kotono> "Oh...it's my fault..." The innkeeper murmurs, looking down more. "Isn't it?"
[22:47] <Kotono> "She should rest more," Febras agrees, casting a gaze to her. A distant gaze, idle. "Not everyone is suited to walk the night."
[22:51] * Seira nods, eating in silence for a length of time, before asking suddenly, "Hey, how come you wrote about that Donald guy in your scroll?"
[22:52] <Kotono> The Innkeeper eats at a steady pace, while Febras only takes a few faint sips of his soup. "...hm? Oh, that." He suddenly snorts in amusement, leaning back in his chair. "The scroll's a notepad on what I had. I felt I should record my observations about this, as it looks that the wild magic relates to the troubles in Balmuria."
[22:53] <Kotono> "Donald was...merely a hotheaded, ill timed youth. I would think a warrior who hunts undead would have more discipline, but I was mistaken." Another snort, this one louder.
[22:54] <Seira> "He's still young," Seira says, immune to irony.
[22:56] <Kotono> "Are you saying that as an excuse or as sympathy?" Febras challenges back, now starting to laugh. A hard, sharp laugh, as sharp as daggers flying in the air. The innkeeper looks down at all, this closing her eyes and working on her meal. "No matter. If he grows, he may be a good hunter yet."
[22:58] <Seira> "He'll grow," Seira says decisively. "I peg him as too driven to simply die."
[23:01] <Kotono> "The irony is that the drive to do so can bring one back from restful eternity," Febras remarks, rather amused but letting his laugh die down. He pauses a moment, expression dropping. "Seira, that raisesa point. Have you considered what to do if that fate falls on you, if you continue to search after the problem here and fall?"
[23:03] <Seira> "There is little point of thinking about what comes after failure," she responds, pursing her lips. "In the event that I die, I would not exactly be in a position to do something. And if the key to avoiding such danger is letting the matter drop and abandoning the civillians I am sworn to protect, I do not find such safety to be worth it."
[23:08] <Kotono> "Is there little point? What if you wake up after death, in a decaying body that never fades away?" A serious, pointed question, the humor present before now gone like a puff of wind. "Not to run, but to...be prepared. To have someone who promises to release you from that state should you fail."
[23:11] <Seira> "Knock yourself out putting the zombified me to rest," Seira tells him with a snort. "Do make sure I'm actually irrevocably dead beforehand, please."
[23:12] <Kotono> "Of course." Febras just smirks at that, "Hope that it never happens, of course."
[23:12] <Seira> "I'll be sure to return the favor, if there's any need," she adds happily.
[23:13] <Kotono> "Heh, heh," Just chuckling with warmth, Febras returns for another faint sip of his soup. "Oh yes, you asked about a certain matter the last time we met?"
[23:14] <Seira> "I ask many things," she agrees noncommittally, waiting for Febras to continue.
[23:35] <Kotono> "The matter close to your heart," Febras continues, pushing on. "You asked about a certain mage?"
[23:35] <Seira> "I did."
[23:41] <Kotono> "I do remember one thing of interest," Febras goes on, "It was several years ago. An elven wizard was looking to purchase a type of gemstone in particular."
[23:42] <Seira> "One imbued with a spell?" Seira asks, sounding moderately curious.
[23:44] <Kotono> "No. Just plain gemstones. What he was to do with them, I don't know." Febras pauses his foot, pushing his barely touched food away. "This man, he matters to you?"
[23:45] <Seira> "He might. Describe him for me?"
[23:48] <Kotono> "An elf wearing a loose shirt and a dull red jacket. He had scales in golden thread on the jacket." Pursing his lips a moment, "He wore jewelry as well, but not the t ype for value. The casual way that it's worn when it's to protect and aide, not just to look expensive."
[23:49] * Seira nods thoughtfully. "Which gemstones was he interested in, then?"
[23:50] <Kotono> "Diamonds that time. Oh yes, he traded magic for a few of them. Little things here and there." Pausing a moment more to think, "Small diamonds of all about the same shape."
[23:51] * Seira thinks back to whether any of the imbued gems she had encountered so far had been small diamonds.
[23:57] <Kotono> The gem Celebrimbor had was a diamond.
[23:57] <Seira> "Makes sense," she muses. "Do you remember anything else from the encounter?"
[00:00] <Kotono> "Nothing of direct importance." A small shake of his head, "It was to the west, in the deserts."
[00:01] <Seira> "That also makes sense."
[00:02] <Kotono> "...Seira." Febras considers things a moment or two, "I ask of you, answer my question - are you looking for this man. For I feel that as long as you ar here, leaving this town a short while may be acceptable. I am a tracker, and I would offer to attempt to find this person."
[00:04] * Seira doesn't respond immediately, mulling over the offer. "I have another lead to follow up on, first, but after that...." She tilts her head slightly. "Are you offering to try and take me to him, or asking me to watch over the city as you go on your own?"
[00:05] <Kotono> "The latter. I travel best alone. If I find him, I can bring him to you, or bring back what information I find." A short, momentary nod at those words.
[00:06] <Seira> "Alright, then. I'll try to avoid becoming a zombie in the meanwhile."
[00:08] <Kotono> "I'll leave in a few days...there is a matter I must attend to, but..." STanding and half bowing to the quiet innkeeper, "A wonderful meal."
[00:09] <Seira> "Indeed," Seira agrees, likewise standing. "A personal matter, or something I could be of service at?"
[00:10] <Kotono> "Personal, just a minor matter, but thank you," Bending to pick up his hat and put it back on, "...until then, when there shall be good news, fate willng?"
[00:12] * Seira nods. "Feel free to use force if you find him and he refuses to come. Make it extra painful, if you can. As long as he lives without permanent injury, it's all good."