Strife in Sokara - A solo game for Brother Shatterstone

[Jarval]

"We might as well come along." Hestia says. "It's not everyday we get a guided tour of the Lyceum." Ged stands awkwardly behind his charge, studying the painting wall of the auditorium with forced interest, a hint of red still coloring his cheeks.

"Well, I'll let you get on with your business." Mariele says. "I'd better get back down there and supervise things before we have a disaster. Good luck with your hunting, and Aymara watch over you all." She nods a farewell to each of the group, then makes her way back down the stairs towards the stage.

"Lead on, then." Hestia smiles at Brystasia. "We'll get your equipment, then see what we can do about this phantom of the theater."

 

[Brother Shatterstone]

Bryastasia Purelove: Half-Nymph/Female (Gestalt:Holy Warrior/Rogue)

As Mariele departs Brystasia smiles at her, "And may Aymara watch over you and the play dearest sister."

Turning her glowing smile to Hestia she gives a slightly embarrassed look. “I apologize now as your guide is still awe struck by the Lyceum but when time is on our side I will make sure to get you two a proper tour."

She turns from the others and walks slowly but elegantly through the crowd allowing for her to companions to fallow her with out issues. As they head down the corridors she points out various objects that she knows more than a little about. Once through the ground she walks closely to them and it’s obviously to all she quite fond of her new friends and with a pleased smile she takes the time to speak of the closeness that she feels, “If neither of you have issues with being less formal I would be happy to be called me by first name and would love to have the honor to be able to do the same.”

Finally they arrive at her chambers and she invites them in, “Please help yourself to a chair or anything that you need.” As she picks up her surprising light armor and walks behind privacy wall she giggles at her own thoughts as she continues to address them over it, “and theirs no need to worry about my modesty theses walls are more enough privacy for someone from a forest.”

Sliding the armor over her head she struck with curiosity, “So how long have you too been traveling together?”

As she makes the final to adjustments in her armor she walks over to Ged, who happens to be the closest, and she turns her back exposing a strap or two as she lifts her slivery blonde her from her graceful neck, “If you don’t mind could you adjust that for me?”

 

[Jarval]

"Calling me by my name will be fine, Brystasia. After all, if we use our titles all the time, we'd never get anything useful said." Hestia says cheerfully. Ged nods in agreement, following behind the two women as they make their way into Brystasia's chambers.

Hestia takes a seat on one of the chamber's fruitwood chairs while they wait for Brystasia to change. Ged takes a position beside the door, falling immediately into a guardsman's stance. Despite Brystasia's assurances not to be concerned about her modesty, Ged none the less turns his back to the privacy wall with a single, slightly flustered, cough.

"I have been Hestia's protector for four months now. We've both only recently finished the training to become full members of our orders, and in truth, this task of ours will be first time I will have drawn my sword for real combat."

"Oh, you'll do fine Ged. I've seen how well you handle yourself on the training field, and you dealt with those looters easily enough." Hestia casually dismisses Ged's concerns. "Besides, we have Morwyn's strength in this, and what more could we need?"

"Sister, your faith is still a lesson to me. I doubt too much..." Ged leaves the rest of his sentence unfinished as he turns to help Brystasia. Again he coughs nervously, quickly pulling the straps on the armor tight, then stepping back from Brystasia.

"Ah, perhaps we should make a start towards the Compass." He says quickly, opening the chamber's door and stepping into the hallway outside.

Hestia gets to her feet, winking at Brystasia as she passes her.

"He's just a bit shy. After all, you are the only nymph the poor boy's ever seen." She says with quiet mirth. "He'll get over it once we find this ghoul."

 

[Brother Shatterstone]

Bryastasia Purelove: Half-Nymph/Female (Gestalt:Holy Warrior/Rogue)

Brystasia nods her head in agreement and quickly grabs her weapons and gear, “We have two goddess and are faith in them protecting us… I imagine we will be fine.” As Hestia passes her she returns the wink and a small smile as she corrects her, “I’m only a half nymph, my father was human, and to be honest my mother’s beauty puts me to shame but he has nothing to be ashamed of. Its a natural reaction and one that I'm still adjusting too myself.”

As they make their way out of the Lyceum Brystasia confesses to Geb with an apologetic smile, “I could probably make it their on my own but I’ve spent very little time out of these scared halls so why don’t you lead and I will fallow?”


With a huge friendly grin Brystasia elegantly falls in next to the other woman, “Hestia, this will be my first act in arms also but I heard you two talking about looters. Do you have time to tell the story now or will it need to wait till later?”

 

[Jarval]

"Certainly." Ged looks cheered by being given a task, and sets off at a brisk pace. "We're only a short distance away from the Compass anyway. This temple is very conveniently sited for today's task."

As you make your way out of the Lyceum and through the narrow streets of the dockyard district, Hestia starts to reply to Brystasia's question.

"Really, there isn't much of a tale to tell. Just under a year ago, the General's troops decided to raid several establishments they thought to be sheltering royalist sympathisers. They were a little heavy handed, shall we say?" Her expression speaks volumes of disapproval. "Anyway, there were riots the following day, and a small band of troublemakers tried to break into our temple's treasury. Ged was on hand at the time, and managed to 'persuade' them not to take anything. Needless to say, we've taken steps to better protect ourselves since."

"Here we are." Ged calls back.

An imposing, if slightly dilapidated building stands in front of the group, a sign hanging over the golden double doors proclaiming it to be The Compass Theater. It is readily apparent that the building hasn't been used for years, as a small pile of earth sparsely covered by grass leans against one of the doors, the remnants of some long finished building work nearby.

 

[Brother Shatterstone]

Bryastasia Purelove: Half-Nymph/Female (Gestalt:Holy Warrior/Rogue)

Brystasia smiles takes on an impressed look as she looks at the faithful son, “Ged, that is simply amazing! Hopefully, you be so kind as to just as persuasive today as I hate to have missed out on it.”

She gives an more seriously but confused look to Hesita, “Its terribly that anyone would try to harm those whom heal all.” Frowning she continues, “but I’m afraid that politics are simply beyond me.”

Brystasia shakes off the unpleasant thoughts as she looks upon the massive former theater and she responds to Ged’s statement, “So we are… Does anyone know why it was abandoned?”

As she pulls out her everburning torch, hoping that Ged has a free hand, she turns to Hestia and gives a smiple nod at Ged and with a small but serious smile address her, “I offer what protection I can provide to you too Hestia.”

When the others look ready she offers the torch to Ged, “Shall we try the front door?”

 

[Jarval]

"Well, I think they were mostly a rabble without a real goal. Any sign of authority and they would have fled." Ged replies modestly, beaming with pride at Brystasia's compliment.

"I think Ged had it right. I doubt there was any real malice behind the attack on our temple, more frustration at the situation of the time." Hestia adds. "Still, Ged is being too humble. We could easily have lost hundreds, if not thousands, of gold that day, a loss which would have sorely effected the healing halls across Sokara.

"I'm sure the politics of our country must be a puzzle to you. I'll bet life in the forest was a lot simpler than life in Sokar can be." She finishes with a hint of envy.

"Marlock City, Sister, not Sokar." Ged corrects her absently. He pushes at the front door, which refuses to move. Unslinging his shield from his back, he passes it to Hestia, and puts his shoulder to the door. Grunting with effort, he slowly inches the chipped door ajar.

"Even before the Protector-General ordered the theaters closed, many had started to loose money. People tend to care less for the arts when their lives and homes are at risk." Hestia explains. "The Compass's owner simply ran out of money. I think he tried to sell the place at the time, but no-one wanted to buy a building this grand while fighting still ran along the streets. It's a shame, really. My father took me here a couple of times when I was younger."

"I think we can get in now." Ged cuts across Hestia's reminiscence, slightly out of breath. "Gods, you'd think someone had glued the hinges shut, given how stiff that door is." Taking his shield back from Hestia, he cautiously moves into the Compass.

"I'll take the torch. Ged needs both hands for his sword and shield." Hestia take the enchanted torch from Brystasia, then steps to one side to let her follow Ged.

Stepping into the Compass, Brystasia brushes aside several loose strands of cobweb, dislodged by Ged's entrance. The floor is covered with a surprisingly thick layer of dust, clearly showing Ged's large footprints. Gold and silver paint glitters undulled beneath the spider's webs, and several chairs line the lobby.

"This would indeed be a beautiful place if restored." Ged murmurs quietly, brushing some of the grim from one of the wall's painted panels.

At the far end of the lobby, there is a door in each of the side walls, and a staircase leading up facing the entry. Other than the occasional skittering sound of mice moving within the walls, the Compass is silent.

 

[Brother Shatterstone]

Bryastasia Purelove: Half-Nymph/Female (Gestalt:Holy Warrior/Rogue)

Brystasia grins at the humble Ged as she giggles in agreement with Hestia’s assessment, “I agree.” She winks and grins wickedly at Hestia as she continues, “Shy and modest, he most have a some flock of girls chasing him.”

Brystasia looks sad at the discussion of politics, “Lets leave politics be for the time being.” She gives a friendly but apologetic look, “Not that I don’t agree with you two it just seems upsetting to all involved.”

Her usual smile returns as she thinks about the forest home she loves and misses so much, “There is both good and ill in the forest but nothing can compare to bathing in a cool forest stream. Maybe if our travels take us in the same direction I can show you just how lovely the forest can be but you still need to be careful as the potential for danger still lurks around.” She pauses as she considers her words carefully; “Then again I imagine that the same can be said for the city so I imagine the two of you would do well enough.”

As she steps through the doorway she pulls her two swords and move quietly about as she looks reflectively at the room, “Indeed even the grime can not hide this place’s beauty.” The reflective moment passes as she concentrates on the task at hand, “I can scout ahead if need be, the torch is mostly for your two. I guess one could say I have my mother’s eyes.”

She waits for their replies before advancing too far, “Do you want to try the doors or stairs first?”

 

[Jarval]

"Oh, he does, but he'd never admit it." Hestia giggles as Ged frowns at her in annoyance.

"And you're right, I should stop talking about politics. It just gets me irritated. If we ever get the chance, I'd love to visit your home. I've only been out of the city twice before, and I've never been into a proper forest."

"Dearest Sister, would you please be quiet for a moment?" Ged asks in an exasperated tone. Hestia starts to say something in reply, but thinks better of it, settling for answering Ged's request by sticking her tongue out at the young warrior. Ged rolls his eyes, shaking his head in tolerant disbelief.

"I must apologise for the Matriarch. She gets a little excitable at times." He jokes to Brystasia, before returning to the rather more serious business of the task at hand.

"I have no real preference when it comes to which way we go first, but I think it would be better if we stuck together. If the ghoul catches one of us alone, it could easily paralyze that person. If we are together, we can protect each other from such dangers."

"How good is your vision, Brystasia?" Hestia interrupts curiously. "Can you see in the dark like the dwarves?"

 

[Brother Shatterstone]

Bryastasia Purelove: Half-Nymph/Female (Gestalt:Holy Warrior/Rogue)

Brystasia turned from her searching just in time to see Hestia stick her tongue out. Brystasia steers in shock for a second before she starts to giggle at her. She smiles fondly at her two companions, “Theirs no need for either of you too apologize. Your both well, I’m unsure of the word…” Her thoughts trail of as she searches for the right word. She frowns unable to find it but it quickly turns into a glowing smile as she continues, “but one does not need to apologize to a friend and I consider you both to be just that.”

She turns back to hallways looking for some sign, “I have no real preference either but I imagine we would have a better chance of hearing something coming down the stairs than if it came out of one of those doors and went out the door. I agree we should stay together, we face the positively of real danger here but try and listen for something behind us. I don’t want to live with the knowledge that some poor child died cause we failed them.”

She looks to Hestia with a reassuring smile, “I’m not sure how a dwarf sees the dark but generally speaking I see about twice as well as a human from the same light source.”

She steps forward but allows Gab to take the lead if he wants it, “I say we go through the left door.”

OOC: A big douse of Spot /6, Listen /6, Search /6. I meant to post it last round, if something catches her eye my actions may change.