Czlaplon Quest

[arcomniflash]

Gudrun is always a very terse and to the point individual, so I'll keep it brief. "I received a Light Sprite from Torana. She said that Skrag the beastmaster and the Fist of Lochost have arrived at Claw Ridge, and that meeting with and/or recruiting Skrag would be advantageous for us. She's too busy to Light Sprite us there though, so I..."

I'll glance at Aston, I guess he did say he wanted to come. That shouldn't really be a problem, I don't think. "...so we were going to ask if you could. I don't view this as top priority, though he would be handy to have along..."

[TarlimanJoppos]

"Skrag Hammerfist is a Questor of Lochost, not a Lightbearer or a Horror hunter," Gudrun says. "While Torana might see the usefulness of a Beastmaster in our group, and he has a weapon that is specifically effective against Horrors, convincing him to turn aside from his Quest to assist us is likely to require more effort than we can spare at this time." She closes up the STORE crate. "Is it safe to assume that by light sprite, what you meant was astral shift?"

[arcomniflash]

"That's exactly what I meant. Hm, I think I need to get some rest...I'm mixing up my words." I'll move over and lean against a wall. "No, you're right, of course. That's why I didn't see it as a top priority."

[TarlimanJoppos]

Gudrun nods, once. She picks up the STORE crate. "It does not appear to be such. Also, I am not sufficiently advanced as a Lightbearer to perform an astral shift. You should rest. You have tomorrow morning to finish whatever business you have in the city, and then we board the riverboat. We have a reception tomorrow night, and you must be prepared to deal with that." And she walks out with the crate.

[arcomniflash]

Rest, she says. That's all very well and good, but Horrors do not rest, and neither should I. I'll sigh and close my eyes for a moment, there will be time enough to sleep fully later, right now I'm going to head out and get some training done with Shaliko. If nothing else that'll provide some fuel for future meditations. I draw my cloak about myself and nod to Alston. "It seems we'll be leaving Skrag alone for the moment, there are other things we must do. Chief among those being to prepare ourselves...our foes may be closer than we think."

With a tip of my hat, I'll head downstairs and out of the inn. Shaliko said he was heading for the docks, so I'll go there first. If he wants to train alone then that's fine, I can find somewhere myself, but I do believe having a sparring partner is better than having none.

[Kasbak]

Well, with that side goal thoroughly put on hold for now, it seems the primary directive for the night is going to be preparation and rest. It's not quite late enough to simply go to bed at this point. I'll offer to give Kolbeinn a hand wrapping up with the map, and after that go to do a karma ritual. I'll probably need to step outside and find a crate or something to wrap up, since I'm sure it wouldn't be appreciated shooting arrows into the walls of the inn.

[TarlimanJoppos]

Isaac, you head down to the dock, and find Shaliko at the same spot he used last time, a pier with no ship in port. He's working through some sort of unarmed combat routine, looks somewhat ritualized, like a form or kata. He pays no attention to you when you arrive, his focus entirely on his routine. There's a couple of dockworkers watching from a seat on a nearby packing case, more for lack of anything better to do than any real interest.

Alston, Kolbeinn waves you off. "Sorry," he says in Sperethiel, "but she has a way she wants this done." The third-level meanings suggest that Gudrun is acting like she's royalty and issuing decrees, a bit more arch than Kolbeinn usually is, but then Gudrun is well out of earshot by this point. Stepping outside doesn't work so well, as it's a busy street, but the docks are close by, and you recall Isaac and Shaliko both saying they were heading out that way.

[arcomniflash]

Since I don't want to interrupt Shaliko while he's performing his katas, I'll train on my own for a while. I'll simply find a vacant spot and practice my swordsmanship. First, I'll make sure it's out of the way so I'm not scaring anyone by swinging a sword around, then I'll just go through the motions. Bringing it back to the basics of combat, I'll perform a few swings and moves with the sword without going into any of the flourishes that a swordmaster would. Once Shaliko finishes, assuming I notice, I'll ask him if he wishes to spar. Otherwise this will continue for a while.

[Kasbak]

"No need to apologize, just wanted to offer a helping hand." Double-checking that Gudrun is indeed out listening distance, I'll add, "One mustn't argue with those ranked above them." I'm fairly sure the unspoken message of 'don't piss off the troll woman' should get through regardless of what language is used.

To the docks it is then. I hope I won't be seen as nosy, though like Isaac and Shaliko, I'll be keeping to myself to get my business handled. I'll just need somewhere quiet with a little bit of space for me to fan my arrows out for a short while and meditate, and somewhere to fire a few to finish off. I can fly up on a low roof for the first section if need be, since that would get me away from any traffic, as well as keep me from getting in the way of the physical training. The side of an unused shipping crate should suffice for the latter.

[TarlimanJoppos]

Isaac, the dock workers on the crate shout encouragement to you. "On your left! Oh, got'im right through the gizzard! Watch out! Nother one behind you!" They seem very amused by this. Also perhaps more than a little drunk.

Alston, when you join the workout, one of the dock workers shouts up to you, "Fire one over here! I need a toothpick!" His friend finds that hysterically funny.

Shaliko agrees to spar once he's finished his form, but holds up a finger in a wait-a-minute gesture. He focuses for a brief moment, then reaches into the air, his hand vanishing in a ripple, and when he moves, one o the dock workers jerks forward, yells, and grabs at the back of his head. He yells at his friend for slapping him upside the back of the head. By the time either of them think to look over at the two of you, Shaliko has taken a guard position and you're in the middle of a sparring match. The dock workers both grumble something about adepts, discover that their growler is empty, and stroll off, arguing about whose turn it is to pay to have the growler filled.

The three of you finish your workout with no further heckling. By the time you're done and get back to the Breaching Sunfish, the evening meal is being served in the common room. You spot Gudrun, Kolbeinn, Mekhitar, and Garsevan at a table by the fireplace.