Intrigue In Candara

[Jemal]

OOC : This will be the IC thread for posting in my Political 3E game. the OOC thread is the "New D&D 3e Game starting" thread. Those that have made their characters (You know who you are) may start posting here. IF you're NOT in this campaign, OR If you want another campaign similar to it, I suggest checking the "Breaking of Gavar" thread, in this same 'in character' folder. It's pretty good.

 

[National Acrobat]

It was a lovely evening in Candara, as many of them were. The sun was just beginning to set. Two figures sat on the balcony of the upscale eating and dining establishment, tending to work off the weariness of the day.

"Ahh," Ariel thought to herself as she took a sip of the hot, spiced wine, "what a lovely treat after a hard day 's work, instructing the new class of acolytes in the tenet's of the faith of Aphrodite.

"You look, shall I say, bored, mejhana?" Elsbeth, Ariel's friend and Sister in the faith, took a sip of her beverage. Elsbeth stared at her friend. The two had known each other since they were young teens, having come to the Temple as Acolytes at the same time. Elsbeth was always in awe of her fiery red-headed friend, who while having a knack for finding trouble, always seemed to get involved in interesting and exciting things, from adventuring to intrigue. It never was a dull moment hanging around with Ariel. Sometimes Elsbeth swore that Aphrodite convienetly placed Ariel in the path of trouble. As far back as she can remember, Ariel had the knack for turning the simplest problem into a disaster, but always managed to find a way out, that was unique.

"Not bored," replied Ariel, "but looking for something interesting to come along. I haven't had a real adventure in awhile and I do grow bored teaching Religion and Oratory to the Acolytes in the Temple. There isn't any excitement in that."

Elsbeth frowned a bit. "What do you expect? We aren't exactly a martial or adventuring faith. I mean, sometimes our clergy are hired out as healers and what not, but that is about the extent of it." Elsbeth took another sip. As with all sisters of the Faith, Elsbeth was also a picture of beauty, Black hair, fair skin and Blue Eyes. "Besides, if I know fate, Aphrodite has something planned for you in the near future. Probably just around the corner..."

Ariel smiled at her friend. "I hope that you are right. Let's just sit here and watch the sun set and you can help me with tomorrow's Oratory Class preparation."

 

[Argent Silvermage]

Enter the Mage

Talisian bent low to the earth to pick up Spook the cat so he woudn't lick the blood off the body. He had heard of a ghost that had been plaguing the town of Fazen in Chandra, but it had turned out to be a Gnoll with a bad sense of humor and a taste for human flesh.
“Well” Tal thought to himself, “at least it wasn’t an true haunting. Perhaps I should drop in on Elsbeth. I have not seen her since she was last at Quinath. Besides, I look a fright covered in all this blood.” The mother of the little boy that the “ghost” tried to eat came up to Tal and thanked him and tried to hand him some coins. “Please madam, I did what was right and there is no need for recompense. Save the money that the Gnoll has taken and make sure your son gets to a mages academy within the next 3 years. He is a mage born if ever I saw one.” The boy who was about 9 years old leapt into the air and started asking all manner of questions of Tal. “I am not the teacher you want or need child. Please take care of your mother. I must be off.”

Tal boarded his small rented coach and requested of his driver to take him to the temple of Aphrodite. It was a days ride from Fazen but the ride was pleasant and gave Talisian time to think. He could feel destiny calling but could not tell from where. Perhaps Elsbeth could help answer that question. Elsbeth and Tal had had a talk many months ago and decided that even though Tal worshiped Mystra; He was obviously under the spells of Aphrodite. That was the only explanation for his love affair with the barbarian princess Anngel. Tal could only nod his head and agree.

When he reached the temple, Tal asked to be led to Elsbeth and found her sitting having a drink with another priestess, one of surpassing beauty…..

 

[National Acrobat]

Ariel was just about to say something pithy and wise to her friend, when an elf that was unknown to her came to seek her friend out. "Elsbeth, I think you have a visitor."

"Ahh, Tal, so good to see you, I was just talking about random events with my friend Ariel when you arrived." She gave Ariel a rather smug smile, "see this proves my point. When you are around, the unexpected happens."

Ariel motioned to an empty chair. "Please, Tal, sit down and join us." She stood up and offered her hand to Tal, "I am Ariel, humble servant of Aphrodite. Pleased to meet you." Her long, lustrous red hair was flowing across her shoulders, and a faint glit of metal could be seen underneath her clothes.

 

[Argent Silvermage]

"Well met Priestess." Talisian said as he took her hand in friendship. Spook jumped on the table spilling the creamer and lapping the spill with gusto.
"Spook! Manners. You know better than that!" Tal said. "We do not impose such on thier hospitality. What Anngel allows you to do at her home does not apply here." The black cat with the white skull marking on his face obeyed and jumped into Ariel's lap, insisting on a few pets for being good.
Using the end of his cloak to sop up the mess Tal continued "Elsbeth dear one it has been some months since I have seen you and thought a surprise was in order." The wry smile on his handsome face offset by the blushing of his pointed ears. As nomal Tal was dressed in traveling clothes of darkest black and his grandfather's hand hidden under his shirt.
"Anngel sends her love and wants me to tell you that the 'thing' you talked about is very good. Whatever that means. Sometimes I wonder if it is easier to understand the dead than women." He joked.

 

[Uriel]

Finnegan sipped the last draught of ale from the mug. Bitter, like life, he mused. Finn laughed softly,'Aye, Bitter, yet there is always room for another ale, another bit of hope'.
Finnegan gestured to the server.
What the woman saw, however was Crolmyr Mac Brogyln, a modest actor in the local theatres, one given to poems and a bit of acrobatics. Brogyln was a crowd favorite among the common folk, as he often talked for hours after performances and it was rumored that he gave generously to the poorer folk living in the city.
The woman returned with a smile and a frothing Dark Ale. 'This'n is on me, Brog...'
'Bah, Katarina, I can't take free from you or this fine establishment, you are too kind, M'Lass.'
Brogyln put a silver coin on the table for the drink and stared at the matronly woman.
'Lass indeed, you Knave.' Katarina laughed as she took up the coin,'I'll bring yer change in a moment Brog...'
'That's for you my fair Lady, put a bit away for that son of yers, he is a bright boy and he deserves some new shoes or what not.And bring him by on Weeksend, I'll make sure you two have good seats at the theatre.'
Katarina smiled and turned to go, which gave ample opportunity for Brogyln's loud smack on her rather full bottom.
'Knave!' she laughed again as she ran back to the kitchen, her one hand on the serving tray, the other on her stinging bottom.
Brogyln looked about the restaurant, there were several soldiers at a table, young officers in the Watch: men glad to be off duty and enjoying a pint of fine ale and a slice of the best pie in Candara. Nearby, two merchants busily engaged in business
(Finnegan looked closely 'as I said 20 is far too much for them, how about 10?') Finn could not read the other man's lips,as his back was to him, though from the raise in volume, he was not ammused.
Nearby 2 women sat and chatted, one bore a striking resemblance to Gwynaera, his childhood Love. The young man sighed inwardly, his Firey haired sweetheart might be dead now, or enslaved, or living as the Emperor's Concubine.
Finn shook these thoughts from his head as a man, no...an Elf approached and sat down. An elf and a cat. Odd for the elf to bring a cat with him to have dinner...Finn laughed aloud as the cat spilled the cream on the table. 'Well, no use crying,' he thought. Smiling again, he listened to the conversation with interest.

 

[National Acrobat]

Interesting Cat you have there...

"What a charming cat you have here," Ariel began to scratch Spook behind the ears. "He seems to be rather friendly." Ariel glanced at her friend. "You told him about, the thing, I see."

Elsbeth giggled. "Actually, that was Ariel's advice. I asked her. She seems to be rather, um, knowledgeable about those things."

Ariel continued to pet Spook. "So, what brings you to our fair city, Tel? You haven't decided to come join our Temple staff have you?" A slight giggle erupts from her lips. "Seriously, though, pardon the intrusion, but we don't see many elves here in the city. Several of my elven sisters in the order say that all of the stone and brick buildings make them claustrophobic, the lack of open spaces disconcerts them to a degree."

 

[Argent Silvermage]

Spook purrs and starts swatting at the tassle that holds Ariel's robes closed. Tal tries not to look but it obviously overcompensating.
"I came see my dear friend Elsbeth. Spook came for the wonderful catnip she grows in the gardens here." That said the obviously intellegent cat got up, hopped to the table and streached. As Tal reached for him Spook darted off in the direction of the gardens. "I actualy grew up in a much more enclosed environment than this. I love looking at the architecture and the beauty in the bas-reliefs." He said "Spook is far more than a cat by the way. He is my familiar. I am a Necromancer." Tal waited for the inevitable round of questions starting with "your evil?"

 

[National Acrobat]

"I am glad that your cat," Ariel grins mischieviously, "likes my tassles. I am also glad that you like our fair city. The architecture and the city itself are lovely. There are many things to like here in Candara." She pauses, takes a sip of her wine, then continues. "Necromancer, eh? Rather an interesting choice of occupation. I suspect that you are not like many of your brethren who practice the same art. You seem, rather interesting. Your mannerisms are much different that others who delve into those mysteries. I would not be far off the mark, correct?"

 

[Argent Silvermage]

Tal Looks at the priestess and replies "I am not like the dark magi that most people associate with the spirit path. I am not a life hateing evil cretin if that is what your asking." His eyebrows raise in mock iritation. "actualy I'm a fairly nice. I help the elderly and don't kick puppies or anything nasty at all."
He finally sits and orders a glass of water with lime in it. "Actualy I was born and raised in the city of Quinath in the valley of sorrow's end. My mother was a necromancer as were both of her parents." He sips at the water and thinks about the marble city with houses and mosuleums intermixed.
"I was just in the area traveling on a matter of no real importance for the Vizier of the king of the Realms of Ukko. I had heard from one of the villagers that a ghost had come to the town of Fazen and I went to investigate. The 'ghost' happened to be a Gnoll with a sorcerous streak and a like of illusion spells. Rest assured There is no longer a ghost in Fazen."