Destiny's Tears-Prologue: A Jewel in the Shadow Part I

[Brother Shatterstone]

Molpe Lilypetals: Limnad/Female (Siren)

[sblock]“When your mother says you can and not before,” Molpe replies softly and smiles as she dodges the repeated question but it fades away as she hears more about Esperanza’s mom, “Oh? What’s wrong with mommy’s leg?”[/sblock]

 

[Rystil Arden]

Molpe:
[SBLOCK]
"I dunno. Mommy's always walked funny with her leg dragging behind like it was tired and didn't want to go to work with her, not like any of the other people. Mommy says that if I'm a good girl and try real hard, I could be a dancer like she was when she was little, and maybe some day we could dance together, but I don't think she can on account of her draggity tired leg that doesn't like to be all bendy like a dancer."
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[Brother Shatterstone]

Molpe Lilypetals: Limnad/Female (Siren)

[sblock]“Well, that’s possible, little one, you just won’t know till then though.”

* Molpe had replied sort of distracted, her thoughts where one of worry, Wei-Han seemed like he had been gone for a very long time, and of uneasiness. Molpe wasn’t sure what to do with Esperanza, the girl needed to run around and play but Molpe knew that leaving the area would just give Wei-Han fits when he returned. Finally an idea sprang forth and Molpe felt foolish for not thinking of it sooner. *

“Hey! Esperanza? How about I teach you to play the lyre and we can sing for awhile?”

* Molpe held Esperanza tightly, afraid she would fall off her lap, as she reached for the lyre already having an idea that the young girl would like that idea. *[/sblock]

 

[Rystil Arden]

Molpe:
[SBLOCK]
"Hmm" Esperanza thinks for a split second and then grins, "OK!"

*Molpe feels somewhat dubious about attempting to teach the lyre when she doesn't actually know how to play it herself, exactly, relying entirely on her inner emotions to guide her hands, but she makes do.*

*As the Limnad continues playing, some people impressed her skill drop a few Dolathi Shiftcoins at her feet. As little as Molpe knows of money, she remembers hearing advice from the Rowaini captain that in Eldiz, everything is so expensive that even the paper credits aren't worth much, and the shiftcoins even less.*

"Wow, you're good at music!" Esperanza says, awed by your playing, "Some day, do you think I be as good at music as you and a dancer like mommy too?"

[OOC: You gain 13 Dolathi Shiftcoins (which are worth less than a copper piece each). Fairly worthless, but at least its something]
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[Brother Shatterstone]

Molpe Lilypetals: Limnad/Female (Siren)

[sblock]* It took a moment for Molpe to figure out that the coins were for her, or she corrected herself, Esperanza. Having never seen a need for currency, Molpe still didn’t see much of them and she surely didn’t need them, Molpe gave no thought of taking them. *

“Maybe!” Molpe exclaimed in enjoyment, “only time will tell but you’ll need to practice and be a dedicated young girl to do so! Would like you to play some more?”[/sblock]

 

[Rystil Arden]

Molpe:
[SBLOCK]
*Esperanza nods eagerly*

"Sure, This is fun, Miss Molpe! You're a fun friend to play with, even though you're all grown up."

*Molpe reflects on her worry about Wei-Han, but then she realises that his delay made sense. Even if he had found the guards immediately, the two of them had been walking through those dreadful 'arreys' for quite some time as Molpe squinched her eyes shut, so it would take this long just to bring the guards to the lizard-beast and then walk back to the Festive Ward.*

*As if thinking the sedulous Martial Artist's name in her thoughts was a summons, she saw Wei-Han approaching her at a rapid walk, significantly faster than most people could muster, seeming nervously driven by his concern to return to Molpe's side as soon as possible and yet prudent enough not to draw attention to himself by running.*

*The Larakese man immediately notices the large crowd around Molpe's music, and he seems to nod at this as if to say that drawing everyone's attention was quite possibly the best way to avoid being attacked by outlaws on the streets. Then, as he politely pushes his way through the crowd towards Molpe, he notices Esperanza on her lap, and his eyes shift quizzically. But then he is at her side again.*

"Plaise the Spil-u-rits, I am oveljoyed that you are indeed unharmed. I kept terring myserf that thele should be no danger hele, but I couldn't shake the suspicion that something awfur would happen whire I was away. It seems rike you've made a new fliend? Cale to inloduce me to this fine young rady?"

*Esperanza giggles*

"He talks funny Miss Molpe!"
[/SBLOCK]

 

[Brother Shatterstone]

Molpe Lilypetals: Limnad/Female (Siren)

[sblock]“Now, now, Esperanza… I’m sure your mother has raised you better than that,” scolded Molpe, but her voice lacked the punch of a true reprimand and her smile at Wei-Han showed she wasn’t truly angry at all, “little one, why don’t you practice your lyre playing a little bit more while I talk to Wei-Hon.”

* Sliding out from underneath the young girl, leaving her and the lyre behind, Molpe smile hinted at worry as she took a few steps away from the young girl. *

“I’m glad and relieved to see you too Wei-Hon, how did it go with the guards?”[/sblock]

 

[Rystil Arden]

Molpe:
[SBLOCK]
*Esperanza puts on her most innocent expression.*

"I'm sorry Miss Molpe. I didn't mean to make you dispointed. I was just saying what I thought cuz mommy always says to tell the truth."

*As Molpe asks her question to Wei-Han, the Martial Artist frowns slightly and speaks softly to ensure that his words will not carry to the seated girl.*

"They were quite preased that we had captured one of the notolious Rosethornes, that they were, but they told me that thele has been an unusual surge in Rosethorne activity recentry, incruding reports of the bandits masquerading as guards or state-oldained bounty hunters and talgetting newcomer Offwollders, who they figule wirr have rots of exotic goods, in an attempt to convince victims to surrender theil weapons, making it easier to simpry kill them without a fight. It should not be a plobrem as rong as we keep our wits about us and make sure to check first befole tlusting any guards who terr us to sullender, that is if you didn't scale Arire off back thele in the arrey with youl most excerrent magic, which is celtainry possibre, that it is."

*Molpe doesn't see anything strange, but suddenly Wei-Han turns around abruptly at the end of his speech, and you shift your gaze to where he was looking to see Esperanza standing behind you with the lyre.*

"Uh, hi," the little girl waves, "This is too hard without your help Miss Molpe. My fingers get all stuck on the strings without making pretty sounds. By the way, who's 'Arire' and why is he killing people? I'm not sure what it is, but Mommy says that killing people is really really mean! Is he a bad man?"
[/SBLOCK]

 

[Brother Shatterstone]

Molpe Lilypetals: Limnad/Female (Siren)

[sblock]* Molpe frowned, but not in anger towards Esperanza, she was mad at herself. There had been no reason to expose the child to such news, it could put her in danger. Though as she bent down and lifted the little girl up, resting her upon her hip like a mother would, she had to admit that if someone was masquerading as city guards than she had a right to know also. *

“Yes, little one, Arire is a very bad mean person, but he is a she, and she’s killing others out of greed and not much else. Now be quite for a few, Miss Molpe and Wei-Han need to talk about adult things,” Molpe smiles apologetically to Wei-Han, “well, I’ll have to be sure to follow your advice in that regard. Did the lizard creature offer any interesting information?”[/sblock]

 

[Rystil Arden]

Molpe:
[SBLOCK]
*Esperanza nods*

"Yes ma'am."

*Wei-Han shakes his head good-naturedly at the child's antics, then ponders.*

"They don't ret chirdren wander about rike this in the Festive Ward, that they don't, but she is fal too crean to be from the Labourer's Ward, so I can only assume that your most glacious generosity is involved hele."

"As for the rizard, I only wish that it did have answels, but it was still out cord from the beating we gave it..."

*Esperanza seems excited at this, and she makes a high-pitched sound as she strains to suppress her enthusiasm and succeeds, showing her newfound friend that she can refrain from speaking when she is told.*

"But they said that we would be arrowed to attend the cleature's tlial in two days if we wished. The odd thing is that I couldn't herp but be suspicious that the vely guards to which I spoke might be bandits in disguise who wanted to rescue theil comlade, even though they were the ones who walned me of bandits disguised as guards, but they seemed to be the rear thing, that they did."
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