[CoC/Eberron]Morgrave Gambit-Ex Oblivion, Eberron! IC

[Old Fezziwig]

{OOC} Nope, I'm fine as is. As a side note, I know that Calach does not know the names of the men surrounding him, but for sake of clarity and style, I'm going to refer to them by name in descriptive text here and there. {/OOC}

Calach stops humming and smiles benignly at Velious. "You're correct. And, no, I'm not a priest. Just a peasant and pilgrim." He pauses and then offers a hand. "Calach Adran."

In response to the shifter's nod, Calach blinks and nods back.

 

[Desdichado]

{OOC}I'll attempt to be discrete and not give away the fact that I'm moving to keep him in sight.{/OOC}

 

[Mark Causey]

'eezer tracked the gnome like a jungle cat on the prowl. The gnome failed to notice him, despite constantly looking around for others. Others like him.

'eezer noticed this, and the pattern became obvious. Erudite scholars and pompous nobles were being herded, and scoundrels, freaks, and adventurers were delegated to surrounding the columns about the room.

'eezer found himself looking for a moment at the women on the dais. A young scholar, smiling often with sun-weathered wrinkles, wore a broad-brimmed hat over her close-cropped dark hair. Her clothes were practical, including may pouches hanging from her belt. She faced a striking middle-aged woman, possibly with elfish blood, wearing chains of platinum and gold around her neck, a silver diadem on her brow, and a black and orange cloak covering the rest of her features. This second woman looked back at 'eezer in this split second, and went back to her conversation.

That woman was directing this all.

{OOC}I bought the gnome some stats and skills, and made opposed rolls. You beat him fairly well, even though he's looking all around during this time.{/OOC}

 

[nonamazing]

Velious takes Calach's hand and shakes it briefly. "I am Velious." The slender elf looks out at the crowd, marking the progress of the Shifter. "What an odd gathering this is, so filled with possibility and chance. Might I ask what brings a pilgrim such as yourself to the city of Towers and to this yet mysterious meeting?" Velious indicates the sword strapped across the blond human's back. "An interesting weapon, by the way. Judging by the wear on the hilt, I would say that it is quite old, by human reckoning. Bequeathed by your ancestors, perhaps?"

Velious glances around the room once again, slightly frustrated. There is more here than even my well-tuned Elven senses can rightly take note of. The Shifter's eyes and ears are much sharper than mine, but he pursues his target with the single-minded focus and passion of the hunter. Will he bring a broader perspective to his hunt? As for Calach, I can readily tell that the human is not slow-witted in the least, and quite obviously no mere peasant, but he remains very...inattentive. I do not believe he will shed much light on these subtle circumstances.

What I need is the help of someone clear-eyed and intuitive, Velious thinks, someone much like the insightful inspector whose invaluable aid allowed me to break the case of the Imp Murderer. What was his name? Oh, yes...Malthian. Actually, this gathering might be just the sort of thing to pique the jaded investigator's interest. I wonder if Mister Lockwood might, in fact, be nearby?

 

[Old Fezziwig]

Calach nods. "You could say the sword belonged to an ancestor. As for why I'm here," the young man shrugs, "I feel that I need to be here now. There's something I'm supposed to find." He returns his attention to his meditations.

 

[Desdichado]

Upon ascertaining the gnome's pattern of movement about the room, 'eezer stops for a moment and rubs his chin thoughtfully, weighing the value of following him further. Clearly he's not likely to be misinterpreted as anything other than a rather rough and ready adventurer, so he's no longer concerned about making sure the gnome is giving the assignment to anyone else while he's not looking. On the other hand, the two women on the dais are more than a little intrigueing. He pauses for a moment, looking hard at the one who gave him a glance. If she does not turn back to look at him again, he will return to the pillar to report his findings to the talkative elf. Might as well find someone to partner up with in this venture, he thinks, picturing the strangely masked fellow and the taciturn humming songbird who stood next to him. They look like they might at least be capable enough to tag along, although hopefully that guy isn't too religious. The last thing I need is a journey into the wild with a missionary assaulting my ears with his preachings at every full stop...

Again, assuming no reaction from the lady, the shifter makes his way back to Calach and Velious {OOC}Not that my character knows their names yet...{/OOC} "Well, looks good," he says to them. "The gnome is separating the obviously incapable from the more adventurous sorts, and we all seem to be on the right side of that split. Something about those two fine madamoiselles on the dais makes the hair on my back stand on end, though. They're clearly running this soiree, and I think it's more profitable to keep an eye on them than on the gnome."

 

[nonamazing]

"You are remarkably observant, Wild One," notes Velious with a nod in the Shifter's direction. Certainly more observant than I had given him credit for, he notes. "Of the two women, it seems the taller, cloaked one is in charge. The younger has the look of a student or scholar; here to consult, perhaps, but not the dominant one of the pair. It is with the taller one that the gnome communicates in their silent fashion."

"But it is only fit that I should introduce myself, esteemed scion of the Wild. I am Velious, representing the will of the Undying Council. The trail of an assassin has led me here, perhaps by coincidence, perhaps not. I do sense that something of importance is happening here, however. Will you work together with me to investigate this?" Velious speaks just loudly enough to include the wise human in the conversation, motioning with his left hand to indicate that Calach should consider the question opened to him as well.

 

[Desdichado]

"Ebeneezer Goode," says the shifter, extending a friendly hand towards both of the other two. "Call me 'eezer." After a brief pause while he listens to the elf's story, 'eezer speaks again.

"Indeed, I'm very keen on finding out what's happening here. Since the end of the war, I'm finding it more and more difficult to keep my talents meaningfully occupied without looking into extremely unusual situations, such as this meeting is shaking out to be. I confess my curiousity is more than a little piqued.

 

[eabha]

Puzzled, the young woman in peasant garb watches the perspiring gnome trot off into the crowd. He had seemed to know her and where she belonged. But how could he?

So, is that it? Have I been chosen, then?

Glancing down at the crumpled bit of paper in her hand, she silently rereads the words that drew her here. Lost Knowledge, Hidden Treasures, Lost Empires, Forbidden Arcana. A gust of wind had blown the scrap to her feet just yesterday - her first day in Sharn - and now here she is. The promise of adventure all around her.

She starts to raise a hand to brush a wayward lock of dark hair from her face, but stops herself. She will not, for all the world, betray her feelings now with a nervous gesture. Lifting her chin and standing just a little straighter, she turns to look toward the column the gnome had indicated.

Three males stand there already: a young, attractive human; a hulking shifter; and a mysterious, masked elf.

Interesting.

Her blood very nearly sings with excitement as she heads toward them, but still she feels something quite unfamiliar - is that doubt? - tug at her mind. As she approaches, she resolves to say something, establish herself in this group. She opens her mouth but finds it dry and her voice missing. Besides, something in the masked face of the elf, the lack of visible eyes, catches her off guard and she instead quietly takes a place by the column.

{OOC} Aalin takes a few moments to calm herself...unless she cannot (i.e., if she is interrupted, spoken to, etc.). If she does have the time to settle herself a little, she then studies the two women on the dais. Perhaps she notes something magical in the way they communicate with the gnome? Knowledge (arcana) check? {/OOC}

 

[Old Fezziwig]

The young man doesn't seem to hear Velious's question, but happily introduces himself to 'Eezer. "Calach Adran. Nice to meet you." Then, a pause, and a vague idea of something comes to mind. "Say, are either of you two curious about what's going on here? Why we're here and what for?" He seems completely oblivious to the fact that both of the men suggested this to him only seconds before.

Calach doesn't seem to notice Aalin when she arrives. If she introduces herself, he gives smiles in a distant way, happy to continue his humming/meditations.