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Adventure in the Open Skies: The Liralen Irregulars (Eberron, Updated 5/10)
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<blockquote data-quote="PhoenixAsh" data-source="post: 1975798" data-attributes="member: 18230"><p><strong>Update #13: Dinner with the Family</strong></p><p></p><p>Ruel gasps for breath as he leans against a crate at the dock, intently searching the crowded streets behind him for any signs on his attacker. The sun is setting in Fairhaven and the clouded sky is awash with vibrant hues of red, orange and violet. Gradually Ruel’s breathing slows and his pulse stops hammering in his tapered ears. Aside from a few curious but fleeting glances, no one seems to be paying him any special attention; his attacker has been lost. Gradually his fingers unclench from the handle of a dagger that had been thrown at his head not minutes before and he studies it for the first time since recovering it. He recognizes its distinctive style and the identity of his attacker hits him like a hammer blow. Struggling for calm, he replays the events of the last day over in his mind.</p><p></p><p>***</p><p></p><p>While the rest of his friends animatedly discuss the wonders of Fairhold court, the banquet, the motherly charm of Queen Aurela and the Knight’s Honor Tokens hanging around their necks, Ruel lags behind. He had spent plenty of time and effort on making certain his approach to the castle went undetected.</p><p></p><p>But he had not counted on the Queen hiring nearly a dozen members of his House to perform during the banquet.</p><p></p><p>Not one of the House Phiarlan entertainers had given any sign of recognizing him, but Ruel knew well that the Queen could have been having an affair with the King of Karrnath right before them and they would not have batted an eyelash. Well, perhaps one eyelash.</p><p></p><p>Ruel suddenly realizes his friends are all waiting for him to lead them back to the dock. Absently, he gives them directions, “Take this road until you reach the docks, turn right and follow the docks until you see the ship. I have some errands I must run… the items we decided to sell.”</p><p></p><p>His friends look surprised. Loki raises his voice, “You mean we could have just walked straight here!?”</p><p></p><p>Ruel shrugs, his voice wooden. “I thought you might like a brief tour of the city.”</p><p></p><p>“There was nothing brief about it!” Alexandre snorts.</p><p></p><p>Audric is watching him intently. “Perhaps I should accompany you, none of us should wander the city alone.”</p><p></p><p>“I know Fairhaven like the back of my hand. I will be fine, believe me.” He manages a smile. It hardly seems to satisfy Audric, but the rest move off down the road towards the dock and the monk follows in turn. Ruel can hear their conversation turning towards their coming assignment before they pass out of earshot.</p><p></p><p>Fairhold, the impressive seat of Aundair’s government, is not far from his new destination: The House Phiarlan’s compound, and it does not take him long before he sees it looming down a familiar avenue. But he is not about to walk in the front door; instead he turns into a florist’s shop a couple blocks away.</p><p></p><p>The florist recognizes him immediately and beams a smile. “Ruel! Well isn’t this a pleasant surprise? It’s been awhile, someone serious this time?”</p><p></p><p>Ruel’s demeanor is immediately casual and friendly with the matronly owner of the small shop. “Not yet I am afraid, Mara, actually I need an arrangement delivered to my mother…”</p><p></p><p>Mara smiles. “Oh that’s sweet! What did you have in mind?”</p><p></p><p>Ruel spends the next few minutes with Mara creating a fairly elaborate arrangement for his mother. A handwritten note is soon to follow:</p><p></p><p><em>Ishesethe,</em></p><p><em></em></p><p><em>I enjoyed your performance the other night. Will you come and meet me, at our favorite restaurant for dinner at sunset, the one we went to after the Spring Festival? I am only in town for a day and I need to talk with you.</em></p><p><em></em></p><p><em>-Ole Osiris</em></p><p></p><p>Ruel nods as he re-reads the note. It would seem harmless to a casual glance, another letter from one of his mother’s ‘devoted admirers’. A renowned actress and renowned among men for other reasons as well, it should only stand out to her. The reference to his father’s last name would stand out like a sore thumb to her, but most prying eyes at the Phiarlan compound would think nothing of it.</p><p></p><p>Lifting his gaze Ruel smiles ingratiatingly. “Mara, I know this is a big favor to ask, but could you have this delivered right away? We had a bit of a fight and I feel really bad about it…”</p><p></p><p>“Oh don’t you worry about a thing, I’ll see it’s in her hands before the passing of the hour. So Ruel, is there any chance of a woman in your life? You need to settle down, its about time you started a family…”</p><p></p><p>Ruel thinks that over a moment. Elaydren is a member of House Cannith, nothing is happening there, he is among a gaggle of Lyranders, in fact the only one onboard the Liralen who seems available to him is Kashandi. He has to repress a derisive snort.</p><p></p><p>“Not yet, Mara, not yet.”</p><p></p><p>Ruel leaves and picks a meandering course through the streets of Fairhaven. As much as his relationship with his mother has been strained in recent months, she’s the only one he can really trust among his House. But he cannot tell even her everything.</p><p></p><p>***</p><p></p><p>A worn cloak once again hides Ruel’s glammerweave clothing, and he could pass for any poor face at The Riverside Inn. A bowl of thick soup and a mug of ale sit nearly untouched before him as his eyes dart around the inn, examining each patron for the tenth time. A glance out the window shows the sun nearly submerged beneath the mountains. Doubts eat at the wizard. She could be out of town or she could have not read the note yet. Perhaps he should not be doing this at all… he wrestles with the idea of standing up to leave, when he sees another figure shuffle slowly into the inn.</p><p></p><p>If it were not his mother and were she not wrapped in one of his father’s old cloaks, he would not have recognized her. In one of her most popular performances she played a woman who dressed as a man to learn more about a man that she had fallen in love with. Now she had applied similar mannerisms, makeup and hairstyle, which with the concealing cloak, produced an unbelievable disguise. Ruel cannot help but entertain the thought that no one else here knew they were being treated to a caliber of performance that most would have to pay over a year’s wages to see on the stage. Ruel settles back down in his seat and takes half-hearted sips of his soup while she slowly makes her way to his table and sits down across from him heavily. They lock eyes for several long moments before Ishesethe speaks, her voice thick and not with an attempt to conceal her gender.</p><p></p><p>“Its good… very good to see you again. Your grandfather got the request for information from the Lyranders, he took care of it but I didn’t hear much else. Your working on an airship now?”</p><p></p><p>Before he can respond, a waitress comes to take their order. Ruel orders the same thing that he has for his mother, bread and soup, while she makes a show of studying the wall. The waitress takes the order and moves off to the kitchen without a second glance. Briefly, Ruel scans the inn one more time. No one seems to be paying them any attention.</p><p></p><p>“Yes. Mother, do you remember Paramyx? He knew I was in Stormhome as soon as I arrived.”</p><p></p><p>“Paramyx? Paramyx... yes I remember.” Her expression clouds.</p><p></p><p>“He knew whom I was and what I was trying to do before a day had passed! How did that happen?” Ruel’s words come out as more of an accusation than he intends.</p><p></p><p>Ishesethe reaches a hand out for Ruel’s but he jerks it away, nearly knocking over his ale. A few patrons glance their way and conscious of that, she scoops up her own ale and drinks a little from it while her eyes fix on her sons. She speaks quietly when she lowers her drink.</p><p></p><p>“Ythilus was discreet Ruel. I don’t know how they knew what you were doing. We took every precaution, but the eyes of our House are many and some of them are turned inwards. I was not happy that you left the way you did, but I think you were right to do it. Why don’t you tell me everything that’s happened?” She smiles sadly. “I would like to know what my son has been doing for the past month and a half.”</p><p></p><p>Ruel deflates with a slow breath, and gradualy starts relating everything that has happened to him since leaving Fairhaven, with some small but notable exceptions. As he finishes, his mother smiles softly.</p><p></p><p>“You remind me of your father Ruel, I’m proud of you.” She sighs slowly and glances behind her. “I cannot linger any longer. I want you to contact me in three weeks Ruel, I want you to use the south side sending stone in Lathleer, I have a friend there, her name is Melindra Tanner. Will you do this for me?“</p><p></p><p>Ruel’s nod is hesitant, but he reaches out and squeezes her hand. Her smile is tight as he let’s go and she rises to leave. Ruel makes a quick series of gestures and mutters a distinct arcane phrase as she turns and slowly ambles out the door, the gestures and arcane phrases disguised in pitch, tone and motion to look like nothing more than grumbling murmurs and restless shifting in his chair.</p><p></p><p>As the <em>Message </em> spell takes effect, Ruel whispers into his mug. <em>“Did you like the flowers?”</em></p><p></p><p>Her voice is clear as day in his ears alone as she replies. <em>“Oh yes, very much so. Ruel, do not forget your heritage. And stay safe, please be very careful.”</em></p><p></p><p>Ruel ponders her last remarks while leaving payment on the table for their untouched meal, like so many remarks from his extended family, it could mean any number of things. A few minutes later, he too rises and walks out the door. Starting down the road towards the dock, he sees a shadowy figure making a quick gesture, as if to throw something his direction. Reacting quicker he turns and casts a Grease spell under the figure, while running behind a stacked pair of crates. He hears a muffled curse, a female voice he cannot quite place and feels a dagger sail less than a foot over his head and lodge in the wood above him. Quickly he yanks the dagger free and turns to sprint down an alley to a busier street, ducking behind foot traffic and weaving his way towards the docks, and the safety of the <em>Liralen</em>.</p><p></p><p>***</p><p></p><p>Ruel turns the dagger over in his hands. The quality of the dagger is very high and the distinctive pattern on the handle mark its owner clearly. His sister Cailya. He has seen her practicing throwing it more times than he could count. His mind racing, he remembers his still active Message spell, whispering <em>“Mother, are you safe?”</em></p><p></p><p><em>“Yes dear, why?”</em></p><p><em></em></p><p><em>“Where is Cailya?”</em></p><p><em></em></p><p><em>“I don’t know, I think she is at home, why?”</em></p><p><em></em></p><p><em>“I’is nothing, never mind.”</em></p><p><em></em></p><p><em>“Don’t lie to me Ruel, what happened?”</em></p><p></p><p><em>“How does she always know?”</em> Ruel thinks to himself, and then whispers aloud, <em>“Cailya, she just attacked me. She threw a dagger at me but missed, is she still spending a lot of time with Dysinth?”</em></p><p><em></em></p><p><em>“Oh, well are you sure she wasn’t just trying to scare you? You know she does that and she usually hits what she aim...”</em></p><p><em></em></p><p><em>“No, mother, this was serious, do you know why Cailya would try and kill me …Mother? Mother!”</em> Ruel curses, the spell must have expired. He suddenly jabs Cailya’s dagger into the crate behind him. “Mothers!” His sudden shout causes a few passerbies to jump. His thoughts whirl, but he yanks the dagger free and hurries back towards the airship. Home is no longer safe for him, now more than ever he is certain of that.</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="PhoenixAsh, post: 1975798, member: 18230"] [b]Update #13: Dinner with the Family[/b] Ruel gasps for breath as he leans against a crate at the dock, intently searching the crowded streets behind him for any signs on his attacker. The sun is setting in Fairhaven and the clouded sky is awash with vibrant hues of red, orange and violet. Gradually Ruel’s breathing slows and his pulse stops hammering in his tapered ears. Aside from a few curious but fleeting glances, no one seems to be paying him any special attention; his attacker has been lost. Gradually his fingers unclench from the handle of a dagger that had been thrown at his head not minutes before and he studies it for the first time since recovering it. He recognizes its distinctive style and the identity of his attacker hits him like a hammer blow. Struggling for calm, he replays the events of the last day over in his mind. *** While the rest of his friends animatedly discuss the wonders of Fairhold court, the banquet, the motherly charm of Queen Aurela and the Knight’s Honor Tokens hanging around their necks, Ruel lags behind. He had spent plenty of time and effort on making certain his approach to the castle went undetected. But he had not counted on the Queen hiring nearly a dozen members of his House to perform during the banquet. Not one of the House Phiarlan entertainers had given any sign of recognizing him, but Ruel knew well that the Queen could have been having an affair with the King of Karrnath right before them and they would not have batted an eyelash. Well, perhaps one eyelash. Ruel suddenly realizes his friends are all waiting for him to lead them back to the dock. Absently, he gives them directions, “Take this road until you reach the docks, turn right and follow the docks until you see the ship. I have some errands I must run… the items we decided to sell.” His friends look surprised. Loki raises his voice, “You mean we could have just walked straight here!?” Ruel shrugs, his voice wooden. “I thought you might like a brief tour of the city.” “There was nothing brief about it!” Alexandre snorts. Audric is watching him intently. “Perhaps I should accompany you, none of us should wander the city alone.” “I know Fairhaven like the back of my hand. I will be fine, believe me.” He manages a smile. It hardly seems to satisfy Audric, but the rest move off down the road towards the dock and the monk follows in turn. Ruel can hear their conversation turning towards their coming assignment before they pass out of earshot. Fairhold, the impressive seat of Aundair’s government, is not far from his new destination: The House Phiarlan’s compound, and it does not take him long before he sees it looming down a familiar avenue. But he is not about to walk in the front door; instead he turns into a florist’s shop a couple blocks away. The florist recognizes him immediately and beams a smile. “Ruel! Well isn’t this a pleasant surprise? It’s been awhile, someone serious this time?” Ruel’s demeanor is immediately casual and friendly with the matronly owner of the small shop. “Not yet I am afraid, Mara, actually I need an arrangement delivered to my mother…” Mara smiles. “Oh that’s sweet! What did you have in mind?” Ruel spends the next few minutes with Mara creating a fairly elaborate arrangement for his mother. A handwritten note is soon to follow: [I]Ishesethe, I enjoyed your performance the other night. Will you come and meet me, at our favorite restaurant for dinner at sunset, the one we went to after the Spring Festival? I am only in town for a day and I need to talk with you. -Ole Osiris[/I] Ruel nods as he re-reads the note. It would seem harmless to a casual glance, another letter from one of his mother’s ‘devoted admirers’. A renowned actress and renowned among men for other reasons as well, it should only stand out to her. The reference to his father’s last name would stand out like a sore thumb to her, but most prying eyes at the Phiarlan compound would think nothing of it. Lifting his gaze Ruel smiles ingratiatingly. “Mara, I know this is a big favor to ask, but could you have this delivered right away? We had a bit of a fight and I feel really bad about it…” “Oh don’t you worry about a thing, I’ll see it’s in her hands before the passing of the hour. So Ruel, is there any chance of a woman in your life? You need to settle down, its about time you started a family…” Ruel thinks that over a moment. Elaydren is a member of House Cannith, nothing is happening there, he is among a gaggle of Lyranders, in fact the only one onboard the Liralen who seems available to him is Kashandi. He has to repress a derisive snort. “Not yet, Mara, not yet.” Ruel leaves and picks a meandering course through the streets of Fairhaven. As much as his relationship with his mother has been strained in recent months, she’s the only one he can really trust among his House. But he cannot tell even her everything. *** A worn cloak once again hides Ruel’s glammerweave clothing, and he could pass for any poor face at The Riverside Inn. A bowl of thick soup and a mug of ale sit nearly untouched before him as his eyes dart around the inn, examining each patron for the tenth time. A glance out the window shows the sun nearly submerged beneath the mountains. Doubts eat at the wizard. She could be out of town or she could have not read the note yet. Perhaps he should not be doing this at all… he wrestles with the idea of standing up to leave, when he sees another figure shuffle slowly into the inn. If it were not his mother and were she not wrapped in one of his father’s old cloaks, he would not have recognized her. In one of her most popular performances she played a woman who dressed as a man to learn more about a man that she had fallen in love with. Now she had applied similar mannerisms, makeup and hairstyle, which with the concealing cloak, produced an unbelievable disguise. Ruel cannot help but entertain the thought that no one else here knew they were being treated to a caliber of performance that most would have to pay over a year’s wages to see on the stage. Ruel settles back down in his seat and takes half-hearted sips of his soup while she slowly makes her way to his table and sits down across from him heavily. They lock eyes for several long moments before Ishesethe speaks, her voice thick and not with an attempt to conceal her gender. “Its good… very good to see you again. Your grandfather got the request for information from the Lyranders, he took care of it but I didn’t hear much else. Your working on an airship now?” Before he can respond, a waitress comes to take their order. Ruel orders the same thing that he has for his mother, bread and soup, while she makes a show of studying the wall. The waitress takes the order and moves off to the kitchen without a second glance. Briefly, Ruel scans the inn one more time. No one seems to be paying them any attention. “Yes. Mother, do you remember Paramyx? He knew I was in Stormhome as soon as I arrived.” “Paramyx? Paramyx... yes I remember.” Her expression clouds. “He knew whom I was and what I was trying to do before a day had passed! How did that happen?” Ruel’s words come out as more of an accusation than he intends. Ishesethe reaches a hand out for Ruel’s but he jerks it away, nearly knocking over his ale. A few patrons glance their way and conscious of that, she scoops up her own ale and drinks a little from it while her eyes fix on her sons. She speaks quietly when she lowers her drink. “Ythilus was discreet Ruel. I don’t know how they knew what you were doing. We took every precaution, but the eyes of our House are many and some of them are turned inwards. I was not happy that you left the way you did, but I think you were right to do it. Why don’t you tell me everything that’s happened?” She smiles sadly. “I would like to know what my son has been doing for the past month and a half.” Ruel deflates with a slow breath, and gradualy starts relating everything that has happened to him since leaving Fairhaven, with some small but notable exceptions. As he finishes, his mother smiles softly. “You remind me of your father Ruel, I’m proud of you.” She sighs slowly and glances behind her. “I cannot linger any longer. I want you to contact me in three weeks Ruel, I want you to use the south side sending stone in Lathleer, I have a friend there, her name is Melindra Tanner. Will you do this for me?“ Ruel’s nod is hesitant, but he reaches out and squeezes her hand. Her smile is tight as he let’s go and she rises to leave. Ruel makes a quick series of gestures and mutters a distinct arcane phrase as she turns and slowly ambles out the door, the gestures and arcane phrases disguised in pitch, tone and motion to look like nothing more than grumbling murmurs and restless shifting in his chair. As the [I]Message [/I] spell takes effect, Ruel whispers into his mug. [I]“Did you like the flowers?”[/I] Her voice is clear as day in his ears alone as she replies. [I]“Oh yes, very much so. Ruel, do not forget your heritage. And stay safe, please be very careful.”[/I] Ruel ponders her last remarks while leaving payment on the table for their untouched meal, like so many remarks from his extended family, it could mean any number of things. A few minutes later, he too rises and walks out the door. Starting down the road towards the dock, he sees a shadowy figure making a quick gesture, as if to throw something his direction. Reacting quicker he turns and casts a Grease spell under the figure, while running behind a stacked pair of crates. He hears a muffled curse, a female voice he cannot quite place and feels a dagger sail less than a foot over his head and lodge in the wood above him. Quickly he yanks the dagger free and turns to sprint down an alley to a busier street, ducking behind foot traffic and weaving his way towards the docks, and the safety of the [I]Liralen[/I]. *** Ruel turns the dagger over in his hands. The quality of the dagger is very high and the distinctive pattern on the handle mark its owner clearly. His sister Cailya. He has seen her practicing throwing it more times than he could count. His mind racing, he remembers his still active Message spell, whispering [I]“Mother, are you safe?”[/I] [I]“Yes dear, why?” “Where is Cailya?” “I don’t know, I think she is at home, why?” “I’is nothing, never mind.” “Don’t lie to me Ruel, what happened?”[/I] [I]“How does she always know?”[/I] Ruel thinks to himself, and then whispers aloud, [I]“Cailya, she just attacked me. She threw a dagger at me but missed, is she still spending a lot of time with Dysinth?” “Oh, well are you sure she wasn’t just trying to scare you? You know she does that and she usually hits what she aim...” “No, mother, this was serious, do you know why Cailya would try and kill me …Mother? Mother!”[/I] Ruel curses, the spell must have expired. He suddenly jabs Cailya’s dagger into the crate behind him. “Mothers!” His sudden shout causes a few passerbies to jump. His thoughts whirl, but he yanks the dagger free and hurries back towards the airship. Home is no longer safe for him, now more than ever he is certain of that. [/QUOTE]
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