Czlaplon Quest

[arcomniflash]

I rub my temple. "So give him a bath!...." With a great sigh, I concede. "Very well, it's your inn, and we don't want to cause trouble. We'll have our friend talk with him outside. Shaliko, could you get Gudrun, I'll take the professor out." I regard the innkeeper with a worn expression for a moment. "Come on the, professor..." Then as I leave, whispered under my breath. "Cretin." There was a time when I'd have been treated in exactly the same way if the lightbearers hadn't found and helped me, worse even. With that I take lead the old t'skrang outside and patiently wait for Gudrun while keeping the professor as sedate as possible.

- Isaac

[Kasbak]

Different people have different targets, not difficult to understand. At least it gets settled with just words; anything else would be awkward to take sides on. Since I'm given at least some semblance of an introduction I'll leave my cup on the table with the innkeeper and make to follow Isaac. "I'll of course need to give a proper introduction with the rest of your companions, but I've been referred over to your group by the Lightbearers. I'm Alston Yahi, 5th Circle Archer." He's probably not going to be able to do much for a handshake if he's handling the professor, so I'll skip it for now unless it's offered first. I'll fly ahead and do what I can to get the door open for them. "I'd offer to lend a hand with your... friend there, but I don't think I'd be much help, considering." Bit of a size difference there, and I especially can't do much if the professor is struggling at all.

[arcomniflash]

"Ah..." I'll offer the windling a small bow in place of a handshake. "...nice to meet you. My name is Isaac Himnerith, 4th circle horror stalker...but you probably already knew that from the looks of things." Regarding Alston for a moment, I'll relax a bit - the professor probably isn't going to run away or anything, he just has a habit of talking at people and writing on things he shouldn't be writing on. "Have you been briefed on our current objective?"

- Isaac

[TarlimanJoppos]

"Stop right there." Gudrun has emerged from the inn, followed closely by Shaliko and Kolbeinn. For Alston's benefit, this is a big scary troll woman in black robes embroidered with Nethermantic sigils, the Vorst guy, and a rather worn and frazzled looking elven man in Elementalist's robes. "This person has not been verified."

"I'm with Gudrun on this one, Isaac," Shaliko says. "Verify before you trust."

"Who is your contact with the Lightbearers?" Gudrun asks of Alston. She doesn't demand, but she doesn't seem to have an adjustment for her intensity level.

[arcomniflash]

I use my now free hand to tug my hat down over my eye - perhaps I was getting too lax with trusting people ever since I had been freed of the Horror's mark. "Of course..." I'll whisper in response to Gudrun's comment.

- Isaac

[Kasbak]

I'll regard the newcomers for a moment, checking their features and verifying them in my head with the descriptions I was given. "Don't worry, we've only trusted each other with basic introductions so far." Though their point is correct, it's a bit of an over reaction since Isaac hasn't given away any secrets yet, nor by his words has he announced intent to, so I don't feel bad offering him at least a little defense. Overall though, the reaction doesn't bother me; some might be put off by the lack of manners in favor of security, but as an Archer I'll definitely appreciate the directness more. Better to know to start with that I'm not trusted yet than to hide it with kind words and gentle demeanor.

"Alston Yahi, 5th Circle Archer," I'll repeat for the newcomers, this time adding, "Rank 2 Lightbearer." As I present my lit symbol (forgot to bring that up beforehand, but I'll have made an arrow specifically for putting the symbol on. Blunted broadhead and thicker shaft, so it'll only be suitable as a target arrow and obvious to the touch from everything else in my quiver. The Lightbearer symbol will be on the side of the head, and the shaft will have carvings on it, including two notches to indicate current rank). Once I give the name of my contact, I'll add, "Please, go ahead and verify now. I'll wait." I'll match her tone so that I'm also not making any demands, just insisting. Trust goes two ways, after all, and my contact's reply will also verify for me that the sender is who they say they are.

Also, if I notice that Kolbeinn (of course Alston won't know his Name yet) is having a hard time keeping up in Throalic, I'll repeat my words for him in Sperethiel while we wait for the reply. Just in case you want a Perception roll to notice that, I got a 25 (triple roll up on one of the d6's).

[TarlimanJoppos]

Gudrun sends off a light sprite to the Lightbearer Alston cited as his contact, and quickly gets back a reply verifying that yes, Alston has been sent to the Floating City. The reply also describes how he carries his symbol. She squints briefly at Alston, in that way that says she's checking him out astrally, then nods. Once. "Verified." She displays her Lightbearer symbol - it's scarred into the palm of her left hand - and says to Alston, "You can verify me with Seryl Jeheira or Jaran Ganbatar." Wow, she's Named two of the Swords of the Light to vouch for her.

Then she turns her attention to the Professor, and gives him the same astral once-over. "Not an adept. No obvious Horror taint. No active magic. Who is this person and what use is he to us?"

Alston, the elf Elementalist gives you an appreciative smile when you repeat in Sperethiel. "My apologies," he replies in Sperethiel. "I'm still learning Throalic."

The professor, meanwhile, is digging around in a belt pouch, muttering to himself as he sorts through a lot of ragged bits of parchment. A couple of dockside workers have paused to watch the foreign adepts from a safe distance.

[arcomniflash]

"Well..." I regard the professor for a moment. "..he came to us a few times in the street and seemed to desperately want to tell us something. Since he was babbling incoherently, I didn't know what he was talking about. I wondered if he might be under some sort of enchantment or if he's merely talking about things beyond my comprehension. The locals call him the professor, and they say he's been like this for a while. Honestly, I'm not too sure what to do with him, or if what he's saying has any relevance, but I couldn't simply dismiss him without checking whether or not it did."

- Isaac

[Kasbak]

"No worries." I'll reply to the Elementalist. "I'm more comfortable with Sperethiel myself. Throalic is my third language." And probably my last until I can learn them the easy way.

Well, that certainly puts a different spin on things. Even if I haven't been a Lightbearer that long, I'm sure I'll still know the significance of Gudrun's references. My initial thought is not to waste the time of someone so high up with something so trivial. However, security is obviously a primary target here, and If I am to eventually integrate with the group, I need to share in their targets. I'm also fairly certain she wouldn't drop those Names without having the credentials to back it up without incident. "Very well, I shall do so. Please, carry on." No need to interrupt their business on my account. I'll try Seryl Jeheira first, keeping the message short and to the point, but making sure the tone indicates it's out of respect for her time (I personally am not entirely familiar with the correct format here to type out the dialogue, but I'm guessing that would have been reviewed with Alston upon joining. He could also use Gudrun's message as a template).

Though I'll make sure to pay attention to the conversation, I don't plan on getting involved in the discussion regarding the professor at all unless asked. That business is for the group to decide, and I have not yet been made part of the group. Not only is it hazardous to interfere with someone else's shot unbidden, it's just plain rude.

[TarlimanJoppos]

Isaac:
Gudrun raises an eyebrow at you. "What has he been saying? How does it appear relevant to our work?"

"His suggestive observation concerning the relationship between the politics of the marginal and the culture of commodified objects will meet with a cool reception," the professor says.

Gudrun raises her eyebrow further at the professor.

Alston:
Seryl replies quickly. "Oh, yes, Gudrun. Yes. She's one of ours." Her tone sounds a bit diffident. She gives you a few words describing Gudrun's symbol and how she carries it.