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Knightfall's World of Kulan: Tales of the Companions Story Hour (Final Update: Sep 20, 2014)
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<blockquote data-quote="Knightfall" data-source="post: 2813566" data-attributes="member: 2012"><p><span style="color: DarkOrange"><strong>THE ALLIANCE – PART II (cont.)</strong></span></p><p></p><p><em><strong>Alliance Epilogue (Part One):</strong></em></p><p>Dabuk felt like a salted fish stuffed into a barrel. Nothing he had experience over the last few weeks was nearly as uncomfortable as his current surroundings. Dressed in Onan finery and trying to nod politely to people who had been hunting him only days before.</p><p></p><p>The irony was the only thing keeping him entertained.</p><p></p><p>Dabuk let his eyes wander around the room to the faces he knew, both friend and foe. Of course, his cousin and his other companions were all there, as well as Bren and Onans known as Claris and Vestin who had been assigned to Bactra after they first arrived in the city-state. Claris had become close to Bactra over the weeks, and Dabuk knew that his cousin had tried to win over the ex-guardswoman, romantically.</p><p></p><p>Dabuk smiled at the thought of Claris’ initial reaction. She had been both flattered and mortified. Elves were looked upon with scorn in Onaway and arcanists were outright distrusted. Claris had thought Bactra was a good person for an elf and a wizard, but that hadn’t meant she’d ever consider a romantic relationship with him. Dabuk watched with amusement as the Onan woman now clung to Bactra’s side. Events had changed her opinion about Bactra, and about arcane magic.</p><p></p><p>Events had changed many an Onan’s mind. However, not all such changes were for the better. Vestin, Claris’ former partner, avoided Bactra like an unknown plague about to infect him. Dabuk couldn’t blame the guardsman, of course. Vestin had been one of the most determined members of the guard to catch Dabuk, Bactra, and Mesik when they had gone underground. And as a result, Vestin had witnessed Bactra’s magic in action. It had scared the Onan out of his wits.</p><p></p><p>Of course, the fact that his then partner had been secretly aiding the trio escape detection throughout the city, along with the help of the Tanglewalkers, hadn’t helped matters either. Claris’ involvement had been uncovered after Senator Hammervein’s crimes had been exposed, and she had been forced to quit the guard. The decision hadn’t been hers, but Bactra convinced her she could help the city better as a freelancer.</p><p></p><p>Bren and the Tanglewalkers involvement had not been uncovered and the companions had agreed to never speak of it. Dabuk’s father hadn’t even been able to prove that Bren had helped the trio escape justice. Dabuk’s heart groaned at the thought of his father’s betrayal. He had known that Garth would oppose any clandestine activities in Onaway, but the half-elf ranger had hoped that his father would have seen reason once they had lain out of the evidence against Senator Hammervein.</p><p></p><p>He had not, and Dabuk would never forgive him for that.</p><p></p><p>Dabuk caught a stern look from Garth out of the corner of his eye, but instead of returning the gaze he simply turned away and walked through the mingling crowd. A troupe of musicians began playing a haughty tune on pipes, zithers, and drums. The Lords’ Hall’s dance floor filled with a throng of gaily dressed Onans whirling and twirling to the indulgent music. Several Onan ladies tried to seek him out, but he dodged them as he had dodged the guardsmen for weeks.</p><p></p><p>Dabuk quickly slide between one of the hall’s pillars and a large marble table filled with sweetmeats, fruit, breads, and bottles of fine wine. He deftly pinched one of the bottles off the table and quickstepped his way towards the hall’s marble, spiral staircase, which would lead him up into the gallery. Mesik appeared out of nowhere next to him as he began climbing the stairs.</p><p></p><p>“I see you’re avoiding Lady Carolette and her brood again.” Mesik climbed the stairs with his friend and companion.</p><p></p><p>“And that surprises you?” Dabuk grinned at the mention of Mesik and his nickname for the noblewomen of Onaway.</p><p></p><p>“Hardly,” Mesik chortled. “I just don’t think we should leave Bactra and Hugh to fend for themselves.”</p><p></p><p>“Funny.” Dabuk reached the top of the stairs two steps ahead of the hairfoot, stretched out his sore back, and proceeded to flop down on the nearest divan. “Bactra is having the time of his life, and everyone down there knows it. And Hugh has nothing to worry about when it comes to the brood. There isn’t a single woman down there that could handle him, if you get my meaning.”</p><p></p><p>Mesik couldn’t stop laughing.</p><p></p><p>“I’m going to be so glad to get out of this city, full of sycophants and highbrow criminals.” Dabuk yawned.</p><p></p><p>“I hope you don’t include me in that group,” the voice carried up from the landing of the stairwell. “I’d hate to have to kick you butt across the dance floor.”</p><p></p><p>“Ha!” Dabuk knew that voice like he was family. “Bren, you scoundrel you. You know I didn’t mean you and the rest of the Tanglewalkers.”</p><p></p><p>“Aye, as you Easterners like too say.” Bren appeared arm-in-arm with his wife.</p><p></p><p>Dabuk and Mesik both stood and bowed to her, as if she were a princess from the Eastern Shores. They did this to honor their friend and to snub their noses at the true Onan noblewomen, several of who were now watch from the other side of the gallery.</p><p></p><p>“You two really like to live dangerously, don’t you?” Teresa shook her head in disbelief at the honor they continued to show her, a lowborn woman.</p><p></p><p>“It’s a calling,” Dabuk grinned.</p><p></p><p>Bren’s loud laughter echoed across the hall to mingle with the rest of the merriment going on down below. Soon they were all laughing and chatting together and the night flew by. They stayed away from the more dire topics that had been their lives over the last few weeks.</p><p></p><p>Teresa hadn’t liked Dabuk or his companions at first (except for Thessa), but she had warmed up to them after she saw the respect they showed to her and her husband. Even when Dabuk, Bactra, and Mesik had gone underground to avoid capture, and that they had relied on Bren’s knowledge of the city’s streets to do so, she’d still stood by them as friends. She had been mortified when Thessa had been taken away in irons, while visiting in her home, and Teresa had visited the gnome priestess as often as she had been allowed.</p><p></p><p>“Oof, these stairs are murder.” Thessa appeared, as if on cue, lifting her Onan-styled robe above her ankles as she climbed the last few stairs. “So this is where you’ve been hiding all night, Dabuk. Lady Carolette has been asking for you whereabouts for hours.”</p><p></p><p>“And?” Dabuk worried that Thessa had decided to give Dabuk up in order to spare herself Lady Carolette’s insane need for attention.</p><p></p><p>“I told her I saw you in the lily garden, outside, at the other end of the hall. She’s been swooping up and down the pathways ever since looking for you.”</p><p></p><p>“Not to bright, is she.” Mesik laughed.</p><p></p><p>“She’s as dense an onion, sir.” Bren smiled.</p><p></p><p>The conversation picked up again, twisting and turning onto the news of the day, as well as rumors circulating throughout the city-state. Several of Onan’s less uppity citizens joined them. Wine flowed freely, but not enough to get anyone too drunk, and a serving tray found its way up into the gallery, along with a musician playing a reed flute.</p><p></p><p>These were the Onans that Dabuk had come to respect, if not call outright friends. There was Telis the Clockmaker, a man known not only for his mechanical clocks but also for his fine clockwork locks and toys. There was Sylvania, a local priestess of Hela, who likely had some elf in her veins, shoal elf perhaps. There was Ten Balm Hillim, a local hairfoot hedge healer and rogue who had developed a business relationship with both Thessa and Mesik, but for different reasons. There was Lord Connor Kassadine and his wife, Julia, one of the nicer more down to earth noble families in Onaway.</p><p></p><p>And there was a man known to the city-state simply as Beasley, who is, in fact, head of one of the lesser thieves’ guilds in Onaway. It was Beasley who hid the trio on their first few nights on the lam, and who had agreed, in theory, to an alliance with the Tiger Guild. Beasley was known, in Onaway, as a gentleman, a merchant, and a champion of the downtrodden. In truth, he was those things, as well as a thief. His small guild was known for protecting the innocent from the actions of Senator Hammervein’s minions, as well as stealing back from the more cruel noble families of the city-state.</p><p></p><p>All these sat and talked together. Most didn’t realize the others’ secrets, but Dabuk knew them all. His flawless memory cataloged each face and personal story, and he knew he would spend over a month telling his grandfather all he knew about these people and their behaviors.</p><p></p><p>“Well, it time for us to retire for the evening, sirs and ladies.” Bren stood and held a hand out for Teresa. “But before I go I have news for my friends.”</p><p></p><p>He addressed the entire group, but Dabuk knew it was meant for him, Mesik, and Thessa. “Garth Tigerstorm offered me an opportunity to travel with him back to the Eastern Shores, shortly after I met him. After discussing it with my family, I have decided to accept the offer and move my family to a city in the east known as Tian.”</p><p></p><p>“Well, what intriguing news. I thought the Tanglewalkers had agreed to reinstate you?” Lord Kassadine’s family had known Bren’s family for years. Connor felt he was losing a friend.</p><p></p><p>“They did, my friend, but the Senate wouldn’t even allow a vote on the matter. Some wounds just cannot be healed in Onaway.” Bren sighed.</p><p></p><p>“I will miss you, Teresa.” Julia reached out and held her old friend’s hand. “Thessa, you and your companions must look out for them on the journey back to the east.”</p><p></p><p>“Do not worry, dear wife.” Lord Kassadine beamed at the love of his life. “Bren and Teresa could not be in better hands.”</p><p></p><p>“Agreed, Dabuk and the others have proved their worth to my family and to myself. We will be safe with them, I know it.”</p><p></p><p>Dabuk couldn’t help but worry that Bren was giving him and the others too much credit.</p><p></p><p>* * *</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="Knightfall, post: 2813566, member: 2012"] [COLOR=DarkOrange][B]THE ALLIANCE – PART II (cont.)[/B][/COLOR] [I][B]Alliance Epilogue (Part One):[/B][/I] Dabuk felt like a salted fish stuffed into a barrel. Nothing he had experience over the last few weeks was nearly as uncomfortable as his current surroundings. Dressed in Onan finery and trying to nod politely to people who had been hunting him only days before. The irony was the only thing keeping him entertained. Dabuk let his eyes wander around the room to the faces he knew, both friend and foe. Of course, his cousin and his other companions were all there, as well as Bren and Onans known as Claris and Vestin who had been assigned to Bactra after they first arrived in the city-state. Claris had become close to Bactra over the weeks, and Dabuk knew that his cousin had tried to win over the ex-guardswoman, romantically. Dabuk smiled at the thought of Claris’ initial reaction. She had been both flattered and mortified. Elves were looked upon with scorn in Onaway and arcanists were outright distrusted. Claris had thought Bactra was a good person for an elf and a wizard, but that hadn’t meant she’d ever consider a romantic relationship with him. Dabuk watched with amusement as the Onan woman now clung to Bactra’s side. Events had changed her opinion about Bactra, and about arcane magic. Events had changed many an Onan’s mind. However, not all such changes were for the better. Vestin, Claris’ former partner, avoided Bactra like an unknown plague about to infect him. Dabuk couldn’t blame the guardsman, of course. Vestin had been one of the most determined members of the guard to catch Dabuk, Bactra, and Mesik when they had gone underground. And as a result, Vestin had witnessed Bactra’s magic in action. It had scared the Onan out of his wits. Of course, the fact that his then partner had been secretly aiding the trio escape detection throughout the city, along with the help of the Tanglewalkers, hadn’t helped matters either. Claris’ involvement had been uncovered after Senator Hammervein’s crimes had been exposed, and she had been forced to quit the guard. The decision hadn’t been hers, but Bactra convinced her she could help the city better as a freelancer. Bren and the Tanglewalkers involvement had not been uncovered and the companions had agreed to never speak of it. Dabuk’s father hadn’t even been able to prove that Bren had helped the trio escape justice. Dabuk’s heart groaned at the thought of his father’s betrayal. He had known that Garth would oppose any clandestine activities in Onaway, but the half-elf ranger had hoped that his father would have seen reason once they had lain out of the evidence against Senator Hammervein. He had not, and Dabuk would never forgive him for that. Dabuk caught a stern look from Garth out of the corner of his eye, but instead of returning the gaze he simply turned away and walked through the mingling crowd. A troupe of musicians began playing a haughty tune on pipes, zithers, and drums. The Lords’ Hall’s dance floor filled with a throng of gaily dressed Onans whirling and twirling to the indulgent music. Several Onan ladies tried to seek him out, but he dodged them as he had dodged the guardsmen for weeks. Dabuk quickly slide between one of the hall’s pillars and a large marble table filled with sweetmeats, fruit, breads, and bottles of fine wine. He deftly pinched one of the bottles off the table and quickstepped his way towards the hall’s marble, spiral staircase, which would lead him up into the gallery. Mesik appeared out of nowhere next to him as he began climbing the stairs. “I see you’re avoiding Lady Carolette and her brood again.” Mesik climbed the stairs with his friend and companion. “And that surprises you?” Dabuk grinned at the mention of Mesik and his nickname for the noblewomen of Onaway. “Hardly,” Mesik chortled. “I just don’t think we should leave Bactra and Hugh to fend for themselves.” “Funny.” Dabuk reached the top of the stairs two steps ahead of the hairfoot, stretched out his sore back, and proceeded to flop down on the nearest divan. “Bactra is having the time of his life, and everyone down there knows it. And Hugh has nothing to worry about when it comes to the brood. There isn’t a single woman down there that could handle him, if you get my meaning.” Mesik couldn’t stop laughing. “I’m going to be so glad to get out of this city, full of sycophants and highbrow criminals.” Dabuk yawned. “I hope you don’t include me in that group,” the voice carried up from the landing of the stairwell. “I’d hate to have to kick you butt across the dance floor.” “Ha!” Dabuk knew that voice like he was family. “Bren, you scoundrel you. You know I didn’t mean you and the rest of the Tanglewalkers.” “Aye, as you Easterners like too say.” Bren appeared arm-in-arm with his wife. Dabuk and Mesik both stood and bowed to her, as if she were a princess from the Eastern Shores. They did this to honor their friend and to snub their noses at the true Onan noblewomen, several of who were now watch from the other side of the gallery. “You two really like to live dangerously, don’t you?” Teresa shook her head in disbelief at the honor they continued to show her, a lowborn woman. “It’s a calling,” Dabuk grinned. Bren’s loud laughter echoed across the hall to mingle with the rest of the merriment going on down below. Soon they were all laughing and chatting together and the night flew by. They stayed away from the more dire topics that had been their lives over the last few weeks. Teresa hadn’t liked Dabuk or his companions at first (except for Thessa), but she had warmed up to them after she saw the respect they showed to her and her husband. Even when Dabuk, Bactra, and Mesik had gone underground to avoid capture, and that they had relied on Bren’s knowledge of the city’s streets to do so, she’d still stood by them as friends. She had been mortified when Thessa had been taken away in irons, while visiting in her home, and Teresa had visited the gnome priestess as often as she had been allowed. “Oof, these stairs are murder.” Thessa appeared, as if on cue, lifting her Onan-styled robe above her ankles as she climbed the last few stairs. “So this is where you’ve been hiding all night, Dabuk. Lady Carolette has been asking for you whereabouts for hours.” “And?” Dabuk worried that Thessa had decided to give Dabuk up in order to spare herself Lady Carolette’s insane need for attention. “I told her I saw you in the lily garden, outside, at the other end of the hall. She’s been swooping up and down the pathways ever since looking for you.” “Not to bright, is she.” Mesik laughed. “She’s as dense an onion, sir.” Bren smiled. The conversation picked up again, twisting and turning onto the news of the day, as well as rumors circulating throughout the city-state. Several of Onan’s less uppity citizens joined them. Wine flowed freely, but not enough to get anyone too drunk, and a serving tray found its way up into the gallery, along with a musician playing a reed flute. These were the Onans that Dabuk had come to respect, if not call outright friends. There was Telis the Clockmaker, a man known not only for his mechanical clocks but also for his fine clockwork locks and toys. There was Sylvania, a local priestess of Hela, who likely had some elf in her veins, shoal elf perhaps. There was Ten Balm Hillim, a local hairfoot hedge healer and rogue who had developed a business relationship with both Thessa and Mesik, but for different reasons. There was Lord Connor Kassadine and his wife, Julia, one of the nicer more down to earth noble families in Onaway. And there was a man known to the city-state simply as Beasley, who is, in fact, head of one of the lesser thieves’ guilds in Onaway. It was Beasley who hid the trio on their first few nights on the lam, and who had agreed, in theory, to an alliance with the Tiger Guild. Beasley was known, in Onaway, as a gentleman, a merchant, and a champion of the downtrodden. In truth, he was those things, as well as a thief. His small guild was known for protecting the innocent from the actions of Senator Hammervein’s minions, as well as stealing back from the more cruel noble families of the city-state. All these sat and talked together. Most didn’t realize the others’ secrets, but Dabuk knew them all. His flawless memory cataloged each face and personal story, and he knew he would spend over a month telling his grandfather all he knew about these people and their behaviors. “Well, it time for us to retire for the evening, sirs and ladies.” Bren stood and held a hand out for Teresa. “But before I go I have news for my friends.” He addressed the entire group, but Dabuk knew it was meant for him, Mesik, and Thessa. “Garth Tigerstorm offered me an opportunity to travel with him back to the Eastern Shores, shortly after I met him. After discussing it with my family, I have decided to accept the offer and move my family to a city in the east known as Tian.” “Well, what intriguing news. I thought the Tanglewalkers had agreed to reinstate you?” Lord Kassadine’s family had known Bren’s family for years. Connor felt he was losing a friend. “They did, my friend, but the Senate wouldn’t even allow a vote on the matter. Some wounds just cannot be healed in Onaway.” Bren sighed. “I will miss you, Teresa.” Julia reached out and held her old friend’s hand. “Thessa, you and your companions must look out for them on the journey back to the east.” “Do not worry, dear wife.” Lord Kassadine beamed at the love of his life. “Bren and Teresa could not be in better hands.” “Agreed, Dabuk and the others have proved their worth to my family and to myself. We will be safe with them, I know it.” Dabuk couldn’t help but worry that Bren was giving him and the others too much credit. * * * [/QUOTE]
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