Aftermath of Arden's Fall
Lady ir'Daga listens with wide eyes and a startled expression as Shenystari, Rayni, and Mel tell the tale and back up Opal's story. She listens intently, not trying to interrupt, and finally looks deeply into her daughter's face, searching for something. She finally sighs and hugs Opal to her. "This story is rather fantastic... but my daughter does not lie. And I do not know you, but my daughter has a good heart. And your worlds are almost so fantastic that they cannot be dismissed. So I thank you for what you have done... but I don't know what else to say. Thank you for being honest, and for coming to me directly, and I thank you for Opal," she says with great intensity, catching each of the four's eyes in turn.
~~~~
Something Fishy in Sharn's Welcome
As Hxaptos pulls out his mace, there's a general outcry from the crowd. A mace is a rather obvious weapon, and him brandishing it puts him in the center of attention, even down here. The violence in Sharn's Welcome is more of the cut-purse variety, or the mugging in an alley or theft in a tavern room. Hxaptos' is ready to bash someone's brains in in full view of a hundred witnesses, and that's a little too much this early in the evening.. "Hey! What're ya doing! What's going on? Calm down! Put that away! Get 'em!" Various cries erupt from the crowd as Hxaptos tries to push through it to his two former employees.
A burly stevedore, along with a few others of his brethren, grab the excited Hxaptos with much encouragement from the agitated crowd. In the chaos and confusion, Hxaptos loses sight of the two toughs, right before he's lifted halfway off his toes. "Wot yer doin'? Din't come 'ere t' get see m' mates heads bashed in. Simmer down, yer scarin' me lady friend," he says with a sneer, his breath redolent with cheap ale. A scantily-clad woman hangs on his arm, a smirk on her face.