Swords and Socialites Part 1: The Forgotten Forge

[ShaggySpellsword]

To Korenmalekh:

Spoiler

You have received an invitation to Lady Areyndee d'Thuranni's weekly dinner party, a common enough thing in the social circle's you frequent. You keep in touch with this well-to-do heiress of the Thuranni household because your contacts have hinted that she might be able to get you information concerning the movements of the Dreaming Dark. Unfortunately, when she met you, you were currently involved with the (unknown to you at the time) changeling Lin. You know your invitation was based on the fact that Lin and Lady Areyndee hit it off at a number of parties. Lin isn't totally over the break-up, but the two of you have remained friends, and she agreed to help you in your politicking and even you must admit, she's good at it. You have hired the services of two friends of yours, Grim and Palol, for three reasons. First, they are competent warriors that can protect Lin and you in the streets of Sharn. Second, they know that they should run as much interference between you and Lin so you don't end up killing each other. And finally, Lady Areyndee loves keeping people of overtly exotic stature about her parties and an Authentic traditional Valenar Spirit-Soldier and a Mror Warrior in full combat regalia certainly qualify. The money in their pockets is the money you paid them for the evening.

To Lin:

Spoiler

You have received an invitation to Lady Areyndee d'Thuranni's weekly dinner party, a common enough thing in the social circle's you frequent. You keep in touch with this well-to-do heiress of the Thuranni household because, quite frankly, the two of you hit it off at a number of parties you attended with the Kalashtar, Korenmalekh. Korenmalekh and you have remained friends after working through the initial bitterness of your breakup, and you know he values your effectiveness in charming those who he needs charmed. The two of you have a fairly mutual respect for the social prowess you each can display, and whenever he asks you to reprise your role as his lady-consort, you generally agree, as you have tonight. Koren has hired the services of two friends of his, Grim and Palol, for a couple of reasons. First, they are competent warriors that can protect you in the streets of Sharn. Second, Lady Areyndee loves keeping people of overtly exotic stature about her parties and an Authentic traditional Valenar Spirit-Soldier and a Mror Warrior in full combat regalia certainly qualify.

To Palol:

Spoiler

You have received a request from your friend Korenmalekh to watch his and Lin's backs at a dinner party being thrown by some well-to-do elf in Sharn. You have been instructed both to run interference with Koren and Lin, letting Korenmalekh work on his own as much as possible, and to dress in as obviously Valenar war-gear as possible. The money in your pocket is the money he has paid you for the evening.

To Grim:

Spoiler

You have received a request from your friend Palol to watch the backs of two of his friends at a dinner party being thrown by some well-to-do elf in Sharn. You have been instructed to run interference with the Kalashtar Korenmalekh and the changeling Lin, letting Koren work on his own as much as possible in the game of politics. Your other, less usual instructions are to dress in as obviously Mror war-gear as possible. The money in your pocket is the money Palol has paid you for the evening's guard duties.

To All: The four of you have met up and are traveling to the evening's festivities. Curtains of water fall from the sky as you traverse the labyrinthine walkways of Sharn. The stone and wooden paths wind around and between the towers and spires high above the ground, forming a complex latticework that can be very confusing on evenings such as this. The rain falls hard, running off higher walkways and balconies in drenching waves, making it difficult to see much more than a few feet ahead of you. The distant glow of everbright lanterns, barely visible in the soaking gloom, does little to light the paths on this warm, wet evening.

OOC: Feel free to socialize some at this point, get to know each other, etc. when the mood is right, in will I jump.

 

[Karl Green]

Grim, Dwarven Fighter

Under a well-oiled all-weather cloak, Grim strides as only a dwarf can, slow and steady. Occasionally he grumbles about the weather, the rain, and parties in general...but he doesn't talk much to his companions.

 

[Eluvan]

Lin walks lightly, happily along with one arm linked delicately through Koren's. Tonight she wears one of the faces she is most accustomed to, the young human girl with the soft, delicate features and just the right touch of the exotic in the contrast between her light blond hair and flashing violet eyes. It is in this guise that she mostly socialises in the higher echelons of society, and it was in this guise that Koren knew her when they were attached. For some time she gazes off into the distance, marvelling silently at the great waterfalls that fall down through the city.

Eventually returning to reality, she daintily slips free of Koren's arm and darts back to where Grim is trudging. From behind him she puts both arms around his shoulders and bends down so that her face is nearly brushing his as she speaks in a playful, goading tone. 'Grimmy, you're living up to your name even better than usual tonight. Does the weather not agree with you?' Without waiting for an answer, she swings round and, grabbing the dwarf's arms, does a little dance with him for one full revolution before skipping back to Koren.

Not looking where she was going as she returns, she skips straight under a solid sheet of water falling from above and is drenched to the skin. Coming out the other side of it she gasps in shock, left speechless for a brief moment. It quickly passes, however, and she starts giggling at her own misfortune as she returns to Koren and links her, now sodden, arm back through his own. 'It's rather wet tonight... had you noticed?' she quips with a grin.

 

[ValenarJaeldira]

Palol, huddled under his rain-cloak, observes Lin's antics with Grimm and winces. Knowing Grim, if she tries that again, she's likely to pull back a stub...at least she soaked herself. That's worth a laugh.

"It never rains this much in Valenar" sighs Palol, looking around at the dreary cityscape, a brief expression of obvious homesickness hidden beneath his spirit-mask.

Oh well...at least the pay is good.

Palol walks on, through the rain, slightly ahead of the rest of the group.

 

[Erekose13]

Korenmalekh

Korenmalekh's distant, noble attitude reasserts itself as the tall Kalashtar replies to Lin, "Yes it is indeed rather wet this evening." Koren says looking at Lin's now soaked form before taking her arm again. "It used to rain like this in my homeland, though in the mountains it was quite a bit colder. It is almost peaceful this evening, with the noise and bustle of the city drowned out by the rain. If only we weren't on our way to another party I would take time to enjoy it." he continues, pausing for a few moments in the rain for effect.

"But irreguardless Lady Areyndee is not one to keep waiting. Come if we are to make any entrance but a soggy one, we had best hurry a tad." Koren picks up his pace, but is careful not to out pace Lin at his side, doing his utmost to maintain the face that they put on for these type of events. While he may have serious issues with Lin and their past, she certainly does get him into some places even he might not yet have access too.

 

[Eluvan]

Lin wonders briefly to herself how she's going to pull off the feat of turning up at a society dinner party drenched to the skin and make it seem respectable, but she is confident that she'll think of something. Improvisation had always been her greatest talent, after all. Through these rather self-congratulatory thoughts she finds time to give an amused smile to Koren's dry observations. She keeps him walking just a little slower than he would obviously like.

'Oh, come one now - it never hurts to be fashionably late, particularly so long as you have such a girl as me on your arm to make sure everybody thinks you must set the trends. Besides, under the circumstances, I think so long as I stay clear of any more waterfalls the net result of a little light rain will actually be to make me drier.'

 

[Karl Green]

Grim, Dwarven Fighter

Grim huff a bit and shakes his head. Thinking to himself Foolish female... not even watching out for an ambush or an attack that could come from around any corner... and the rest an't much better. Best keep my eyes on the lot of them, lest some thief make off with their coin pouches or better yet slits their throats

To the rest he says "It don't rain at all underground... much better then up here higher then any non-winged being has a right to be, iffin' yea ask me"

 

[Erekose13]

Koren remains a little distant, though all have gotten used to his strange mannerisms by now. He slows his pace a little trying to compromise with Lin at something a bit faster than she in her obstanancy has set. "Yes steering clear of these waterfalls is a good idea. Still you had better wear this until we get there." Koren says, removing his jacket and placing it over Lin's shoulders.

Turning his head a bit, he addresses Grim, "While I am sure that the architecture of the Holds is a sight that I must eventually see, I for one really enjoy these lofty heights. My homeland held even more spectacular views from a top the mountain aeries. The rain may have deafened the noise of the city, but it has unfortunately also disturbed the view as well. This city is truely an inspiring sight."

 

[Eluvan]

'My, what a gentleman...' Lin murmurs as Koren puts the jacket around her shoulders, and pulls it round so that it's secure. She seems detached, however, having gone back to staring at the rain drenched view.

 

[ShaggySpellsword]

As you continue on, the skybridge ahead spans the distance between platforms attached to the sides of two different towers- from the Dalannan Tower from whence you are travelling, across to the Kelsa Spire. About sixty feet ahead, a body lies on the floor of the bridge, and you can see a mixture of rain and blood pooling around it. A leather satchel, still clutched tightly in the body's hand, lies in the expanding puddle of water and gore.