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Post by Horsie on Jan 6, 2015 18:42:36 GMT
A story by Canuovea about his RP character from Book 2. My understanding is that this is still somewhat of a work in progress, so it's been brought over post by post so Canuovea can organize it to his liking during further edits.
The Adventures of Ayzebel and Elyssa: In Utopia City...
Ayzebel was listening and watching intently, hoping to ensure she did her job. The Zadakine woman seated on her left looked calm and relaxed, the Zadakine man seated to her right looked nervous. 'As he probably should, I doubt he has done any of this before.'
“Well,” the young woman flicked her brown furred hand in annoyance, “I suppose we should get this started. You say your mother sent you here to negotiate? Does she think so little of this deal that she would send her son to the negotiation instead of coming herself?”
“No ma'am.” The boy responded quickly. “She is just not feeling well, somewhat sick, it is very important to her or she would have rescheduled.”
The woman gave a barely perceptible glance towards Ayzebel.
'Right,' the Truth Sayer thought. “Truth.”
“In that case I have no problem bargaining with you, even if you're so... handsome.”
Ayzebel nearly sighed. Yes, the woman was telling the truth, but she was clearly playing with her food, as it were.
The poor lad was flustered. “Um, yes, well, mom, er, mother ah she said she wanted to sell for thirty.”
Ayzebel nodded, preempting the question.
“I see. Thirty. I feel that is somewhat expensive, does it feel expensive to you Truth Sayer?”
Ayzebel blinked, she hadn't expected to be brought into this, after a moment of collecting herself she managed to respond: “I don't believe it is my place to say.”
“Truth Sayers, always so professional.” The woman gave the boy a winning smile.
“Is, uh, is she telling the truth?” The boy asked Ayzebel.
“Yes, we are supposed to always be so professional.” Ayzebel teased, and then seeing the perplexed look on the boy's face she relented. “Yes, she was telling the truth about thinking it too expensive.” She immediately began to evaluate the position herself. 'She wouldn't have dared say it if she wasn't telling the truth, because that would have given her position away. Of course, she didn't say that it was too expensive for her to relent, but I can't tell him that.'
The woman looked a little bit impressed. “Of course, I could go for twenty five.”
“Only if you married me, my mother would skin me otherwise.”
This brought a gush of laughter from the woman. “Yes, given her reputation I'm sure she would. Twenty seven.”
This managed to make the unfortunate boy relax a bit. “And I was really hoping you'd go for it.” He paused, horrified for a moment, “I mean, I was joking. I mean, uh, I mean I wasn't expecting you to-” He glanced pleadingly at Ayzebel.
Ayzebel just nodded, trying hard not to smile as the other woman laughed more.
“So, uh,” he continued, “twenty eight?” His voice went up an octave as he spoke the price.
“Well... only if they're healthy. Good and healthy, I don't mean just surviving healthy, I mean thriving healthy.”
“Oh, oh yes, yes, they are. Very healthy, actually.”
Ayzebel nodded, once again indicating truth. Proud that she had kept up her part of the bargain, preventing deception. 'All seems to be fine and... wait a minute.'
“Very well,” the woman nodded, “it seems we ha-”
“Wait.” Ayzebel interrupted. “He was telling the truth when he said they were healthy, but...” She looked at the boy. “How do you know they are healthy?”
“Why, my mother told me.” He sounded confused. “Why?”
Ayzebel suppressed a sigh, ignoring the second part. “You did not see them yourself?”
“Well, no, but mother sai- Oh.” He blinked. “I see what you are getting at, but can't you tell if someone is lying regardless?”
“I can tell if you believe you are telling the truth or know you are lying, but if someone else tells you a lie that you believe as truth, then I would miss it. Do you have any reason to believe that your mother may have lied to you about the condition of your wares?”
He paused, thinking. “Well... I don't know, but if they were sick or something she might try something like that, but I don't think she did.”
'Hmm. Seems to be telling the truth.'
“Tell me,” the other woman cut in, “When did your mother inform you that you would be attending this negotiation?”
“Oh, uh, well, last night? After dinner she summoned me to her bedchamber, she seemed pretty sick.”
“Ah. You see, I had insisted that a Truth Sayer be present for these negotiations a bit before tea time yesterday. Interesting, considering I had been setting this up for at least a week, and illnesses do not just spring out of nothing.”
“Oh, so... so are you saying the deal is off?”
“No, in fact... lets make a bit of a wager. This Truth Sayer and I will interview their keepers and, if necessary, your mother personally. If all is well, I'll pay twenty nine. Nice round sum. Should I find that they are ill, then I will buy them still, but for twenty six. That is unless they are dying, in which case I will not buy them at all.”
“Ooooh.” The boy was clearly intrigued by the idea of a bet, and apparently had good faith in his mother. “Well... I know I'm just a male, but I'm not so stupid as to enter a bet that is skewed against me. Do you know something that I don't?”
“Plenty that you don't, but if you mean to say do I already know the condition of your animals? No I do not.”
He looked to Ayzebel, who nodded, so he contined. “Fair enough, I only know what my mother has told me about their condition, so if my mother is lying to me it will be a surprise.” Ayzebel nodded again. “So, I accept the bet.”
“Then let us be off! We must be quick about settling the bet, can't have too much time pass!” She jumped straight up and grabbed Ayzebel by the arm, pulling her up too. “Come along, you've already been paid for the proper part of your assignment, but I'll make sure you get a bit of a bonus for helping me out here.”
“But, but I... okay.” Ayzebel shrugged.
As they scurried off out into the rain, the woman properly introduced herself. “I know my mother was the one who did most of the talking with you and your people, but I set most of this up. That is the hard part, you know. My name is Elyssa, and you are?”
“Oh, I'm Ayzebel.”
“I'm Cyprio.” The boy cut in.
Ayzebel had to mentally chastise herself for thinking of him as a boy, he was nearly her age. 'He just seems so... young and... well... not particularly experienced. Then again, all three of us actually seem about the same age, so maybe it is providential? Heh.'
“Neat.” Elyssa continued, “and I want you to know, if I lose the bet I won't hold it against you. Really.” She nodded cheerfully and appeared to be telling the truth. “What say we all get together later tonight and go out for some fun? Music, clubs, betting. Wonderful stuff like that. And some food, of course, but watch your drinks, you never know with where I'm going to take you.”
“Well...” Cyprio hesitated then relented. “If you know the places, I don't get out much.”
Ayzebel was half about to say she couldn't go, but remembered that she wasn't supposed to lie. After all, Jrinni had said there wasn't much for the next few days. “Well... oh fine.”
“Wonderful!”
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Post by Horsie on Jan 6, 2015 18:47:26 GMT
“Ah, this is Frist. He is the keeper in charge of our stock. He'll know if they're healthy or not. We even caught him before getting home, we're in luck.” Cyprio pointed at a man walking just ahead of them on a road just on the outskirts of Utopia City. “Hey, Frist! Come over here!”
Ayzebel watched as an older, greying, Zadakine man turned towards them, slowly and deliberately. “Cyprio?” Frist asked, sounding surprised. “What are you doing here?”
“I want to know, how are the ones we are selling doing?”
“Oh, hmm. Well. They'll live, though it was a close call. They'll take some extra care, and the milk they produce won't be particularly good for a couple of months. But I bet with some investment they'll be good as new.”
“Uh, oh. Okay.” Cyprio groaned.
“Well, he is telling the truth.” Ayzebel added, unnecessarily.
“It's okay, Cyprio.” Elyssa patted him on the shoulder, which seemed to shock him into standing ramrod straight. “Everyone loses a bet now and then. And I'll admit, your mother has quite the reputation for trickery, so I figured I had a good shot at it.”
“Right. Mother isn't going to like it, but it sounds like the price is fair anyway.”
“Excuse me?” Frist asked, “what is this about?”
Ayzebel naturally began to explain. “His mother didn't tell him that they were sick, so he thought he was negotiating for healthy... uh, what exactly do you raise?”
“Gwes.”
Ayzebel nearly choked on her own saliva. “Gwes?! Aren't those things fucking horrible murder monsters?! And poisonous at that?!”
“At least they're not Veth.” Cyprio offered helpfully.
Frist seemed surprised at the outburst, but began to explain as Elyssa looked on with an amused smile on her face. “Well, they mostly just look like horrible murder monsters. They're basically these soft gooey insides inside this chitinous plating.” Ayzebel blinked at the use of a word she didn't really understand. “Except out from the top of their armour the they have these four tendrils that come out from where the two main plates come together. Two are bigger and have stingers, two are smaller eye stalks.”
“Yes, I know what they look like.” Ayzebel shuddered.
“Well, it is important.” Frist continued. “They sit around not moving most of the time, unless they decide to hunt. When they do strike, they move very quickly and stick the longer tendrils into whatever they are hunting. It paralyses it immediately. Then they hop on top of their victim and the vicious saw toothed mouth underneath the chit-”
“Yes, I know.” Ayzebel grit her teeth, feeling a bit queasy.
“Almost done. It rips up the victim and sucks it in, bit by bit. So you really don't want to get hit by the tendrils.”
“Yes. Thank you for that advice.” Ayzebel sounded faint.
“Thing is, they use the smaller tendrils to see... Without them, they're kinda helpless. So you just have to throw some water with diluted lemon juice at them, and they curl up.”
“Oh, actually, that is good to know. Thank you.”
Frist nodded. “Though you should hope you don't miss, they've been known to paralyse five plus people before settling down to eat. So you're right to call them murder monsters, I suppose. But if you can milk them, well, an ingredient needed for the best of baking. Quite profitable, though we only really breed the things.” He shrugged. “Also, that poison is rumoured to be used by some assassins if they want to kidnap or otherwise paralyse their targets or the guards or whatever it is assassins do.”
“They do sound similar to Veth. In a terrifying way.” Elyssa mused, almost to herself.
“Oh no, not really.” Frist added. “They don't roam, they're usually smaller, their poison doesn't last quite as long, they aren't as usually aggressive or tenacious unless properly infuriated, and they look entirely different. Oh, and they can eat plants, they're omnivorous. Aaaaand they aren't solitary. And live in completely different environments.”
“Right.” Elyssa sounded unimpressed. “Anyway, Ayze, you should probably wait here while I go confront Cyprio's mother with him. I'm not particularly pleased with this, but I'll still be buying the gwes, or gweses, or whatever. As promised. And I think it best she doesn't have a chance to put a face to the person who spoiled her scheme, losing her a considerable sum.”
Ayzebel frowned at the shortening of her name, but was just fine with not being dragged into it further.
Elyssa mistook the frown for wanting to be dragged into it further. “Oh, don't worry, I'll be sure to rub it in her face for you.”
“No need, really.”
“Well, I also fully intend to tell her that Cyprio here was responsible for making me agree to buy them even if they weren't up to snuff.” She leaned in and whispered, “don't want you spoiling that for me.”
“Gee thanks! That'll actually make me look good.” Cyprio sounded pleased at least.
Ayzebel gave Elyssa a blank look. 'Oh, yes, you're up to something all right. But hey, I don't mind, in fact, I like it. That bitch tried to fool me, so if Elyssa is going to be fooling her, I won't complain. And I'm technically not being paid to monitor that discussion, so yay.' She sighed.
“Good good. Now, off we go. Wait for us.”
Ayzebel watched as Elyssa skipped off with Cyprio, looking pleased as pie. “Well, today's gone well so far, I suppose.”
“Oh.” Frist began chattering again. “Forgot to tell you, the front two legs are forward oriented and end in these large claws. Have to watch out for those. The back four legs are smaller, close together and...”
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Post by Horsie on Jan 6, 2015 18:47:51 GMT
"...So the Tsung-Dao warrior led the Nameless through the swampy domain of some gwes. It's both plural and singular, by the way. And the gwes attacked the Nameless! Didn't eat them though, I guess they just didn't like the tramping about and weren't particularly hungry. But the Tsung-Dao came back and killed each of the Nameless after the frenzy was over. She was clever, that one. I think it was a she, probably was, the clever ones usually are..."
"Thank you Frist." Ayzebel said, half actually interested and half bored to tears. "It looks like Cyprio and Elyssa are back."
"Oh, right then, I'd better be going back. See you young ladies later."
As he, finally, paced away, Ayzebel turned to look at her approaching... 'What are they anyway? Accomplices? Acquaintances? Lets go with acquaintances...' acquaintances. "How did it go?"
"Perfect." Elyssa crowed triumphantly. "I even got poor Cyprio here out of hot water. Took some effort, but it was worth it I think." She smiled, evidently pleased that she had successfully cultivated a favor for her efforts.
Cyprio, on the other hand, looked a bit less happy, but that was to be expected. He also seemed to be well aware that he was quite in debt to Elyssa. "What I don't get, though, is why you settled for twenty six, when it is clear that is paying more than they are worth, twenty five would have been fair."
"Oh, I got as much less from my first offer as you would have gotten from yours, I like the symmetry, that is why I bet that way."
"So..." Ayzebel cut in, "what now? I stood here for an hour listening to Frist tell his stories about gwes, including the one that allegedly ate through Darsai plate armour, so I'm ready to start moving."
"Ah, well..." Elyssa seemed to think about it for a moment. "If we leave now we should be able to get to the place I had in mind on time."
"And what place is that?" Ayzebel asked, not entirely convinced.
"Oh, I can't spoil the surprise. Come along Cyprio!" She then, for the second time that day, grabbed Ayzebel by the arm and dragged her off in a random direction.
'I'm not entirely sure...' Ayzebel thought to herself, '...if she isn't a Darsai.'
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Post by Horsie on Jan 6, 2015 18:48:42 GMT
When they arrived at the location Elyssa had in mind they were, thankfully, back in Utopia City proper. The building they were standing in front of was grand and impressive, taking up more space than it should have. Elyssa just dragged them right up to the door and a very impressive looking bouncer.
"So, three, here for the downstairs." She announced, happily.
'Downstairs? But everything looks like it is going on upstairs...'
"What? Are you daft? What possible-"
"It isn't your job to ask questions, just to let us in."
Cyprio and Ayzebel exchanged worried looks. Which relieved Ayzebel because it meant that at least Cyprio wasn't insane as well.
"Actually, my job is to keep obnoxious brats out." The bouncer's voice lacked any type of humor, not that Ayzebel blamed him.
"Aww, how cute. You like your job, yes?" Elyssa gave him an innocent grin. When the bouncer didn't respond, she continued. "Well, tell Chiara you didn't let Elyssa in and I have more fingers than the amount of seconds it will take her to fire you. And since you clearly know so much, that firing might take the form of knife to the neck."
The bouncer blinked, Ayzebel blinked, and Cyprio, probably, blinked. "Er, you know Chi-"
"-Not so loud you idiot!" Elyssa hissed at the man, quickly looking to her left and right. "Just let us in and down."
"Right." He nodded, slowly, and walked inside. The three of them followed him, Ayzebel getting more panicked as she went along.
"Must be new here." Elyssa muttered, seemingly to herself but loud enough for all of them to hear.
They took a left, went through a door, and began to descend the stairs. Once they reached the bottom, the bouncer grunted and returned to his post by the entrance. Left in front of a door, the three of them paused. "Now," Elyssa began, "make sure to keep your head down Cyprio, but not you Ayzey, you're albino, so you'd be hard to hide anyway. Plus, I think most of the patrons will give us a wide berth with you here. And for the love of the All Mother, don't speak unless spoken to or I give the all clear."
'What the heck have I been drawn into?' Ayzebel thought as she nodded quickly.
"You'll both be fine." Elyssa turned and opened the door. "Just follow."
The room was circular in design, on the side farthest from the door was what appeared to be a bar, where a variety of, probably, alcoholic beverages were being served. There were a few people there, but most of the patrons were surrounding the circular pit in the very centre of the room. Elyssa made a quick dash for the bar, dragging the rest of them around the pit.
Ayzebel took note that there appeared to be a large Brorg-Dao trying to catch and, presumably, kill a smaller lithe Zadakine woman. The Zadakine was making a difficult job of it, teleporting away whenever the Brorg-Dao got close. Ayzebel suddenly felt ill, not liking this particular type of betting game. 'I'm not an Ivos!' She thought, justifying her dislike of the murder sport.
Still, Elyssa got them past the pit quickly and had them sit one on either side of her by the bar. They were able to get past so very quickly because, it turned out, most of the patrons of the downstairs seemed inclined to not be near Ayzebel. This suited her just fine.
"So," Elyssa said to the barwoman, "tell that dumb gimbit Chiara I want to see her. Oh, and first, a drink. Just for me, not for my friends. One of the small ones. Small like Chiara is not. Thank you."
The barwoman seemed shocked at this, and slightly angry, but she did as she was bid, putting a tiny little solid looking shot glass filled with an amber liquid in front of Elyssa before scurrying off.
"Dinner time, Chiara is stuffing her face, and she won't come without bringing her food, but she'll definitely come because I was so rude."
"Uh, Elyssa?" Ayzebel asked, hesitantly, "are you trying to get us killed?"
"Nope, trust me Ayzey."
Ayzebel had turned her truth telling ability on, so knew that Elyssa at the very least thought that she wasn't going to get them killed, but... "Trust you? Why should I trust you! I just me-"
"Shhhh, later." Elyssa put a hand palm up towards Ayzebel's mouth, forcing her to shut up. "Cyprio, you go and put a medium sized bet on the Brorg-Dao. Then watch until I call your name."
"What? But isn't the assassin going to win?"
"Nope, the assassin thinks she is going to win. Off with you."
Cyprio did as he was bid, looking somewhat confused. Ayzebel managed to compose herself just fine, but inside she was panicking. "Are you going to drink that?" She asked Elyssa.
"Oh Goddess no, most obviously poisoned drink I've ever held." Elyssa said as she dumped a small amount of the liquid on the floor, leaving enough to make it appear as if she had drunk only a little bit of it.
"Okay, so what do you want me for? You obviously want me here for something."
"I'm sure you can figure it out." Elyssa shook her head and gave a slightly nervous laugh. "No, if the fat one lies, kick my foot. That is all I ask of you. And be ready to run, of course. There are lots of armed patrons here and it could get messy."
Ayzebel gulped nervously.
And Chiara, one of the fatter women Ayzebel had ever seen, sauntered over to the bar and sat on the other side. She was carrying a plate with some kebabs on it, Ayzebel didn't recognize the meat off hand.
"Who are you?" Chiara asked.
"I'm the woman whose purchases you've been trying to poison, Gwes are expensive and I've been losing money with ones that turn out sick after word gets out that I want to buy them. Now why would that be?"
"I'm not having any Gwes poisoned."
Ayzebel kicked Elyssa's foot, perhaps a little harder than Elyssa had intended for.
"Of course you are, you've got the poison, and your little cutthroat in the ring back there, she's got the means. Now, do you know who has been hiring you?"
Chiara realized that there was a Truth Sayer next to Elyssa. "No I haven't." Chiara took a bite out of one of the kebabs. "No idea." She put the piece back on the plate, "and you've just made the biggest mistake of your life."
Ayzebel refrained from kicking Elyssa's foot, as all those statements were true. Ayzebel glanced worriedly at her now accomplice.
"What a shame." Elyssa stood up. "Cyprio!"
Ayzebel turned around to see Cyprio look at Elyssa then come scurrying over. At that moment there was a roar from inside the pit, followed by a roar from the crowd. When Ayzebel looked back towards Elyssa she noticed that Chiara and the barwoman had both stood up to try to get a glimpse of the commotion.
"Snapped like a twig, you stupid filthy Zado coward!" Came a shout from the Brorg-Dao inside the pit.
"That looks like it went badly for your poisoning accomplice." Elyssa said contentedly. "It would be a shame if that were to happen to you. Now, sit down and tell me all you know about whoever is having my purchases poisoned."
Chiara sat down, picked up the kebab and shook her head. "No, I don't think so. I've got the people to make sure you don't leave this place alive. In fact," she took another bite, "you're already dead. the amount of poison you ingested will kill you in the next five minutes anyway."
Ayzebel glanced in confusion at the now empty glass Elyssa was holding. "Oh." Elyssa said, beginning to shake. "Ay- can y-you and Cyp get me outside? I don't think I can move."
"Just," Chiara gulped down another piece of kebab, "make sure not to die on the premises, it creates such a mess." Gulp.
Ayzebel and Cyprio, both confused, helped Elyssa get to her feet and up the stairs. As Ayzebel looked back, Chiara was saying something to the barwoman, who then left the bar. By that time they got outside and partially down the street, Elyssa collapsed.
"I don't understand!" Ayzebel shouted. "You said you knew the drink was poisoned!"
"I'm so sorry my pretty albino, so sorry. I must have forgo-" Elyssa shuddered and then slumped to the ground.
Cyprio and Ayzebel looked at each other. "We are so dead." Cyprio muttered.
"That's right." The barwoman said as she appeared behind them. "Can't have you go squawking about this to someone important." She drew a long knife as Ayzebel and Cyprio jumped forward, spun around and both reached for the weapons they had brought with them.
She slashed at them, but tripped, falling flat on her face. Ayzebel and Cyprio shared a confused look, something Ayzebel was getting tired of.
Elyssa had grabbed the woman's legs and was now jumping on her back and hitting her in the side of the head with the shot glass she still clutched in her hand. Once the assassin stopped twitching Elyssa stood up and sighed. "Basic thugs, think they're actually of any use because they can teleport. Really."
"But... but... but..." Ayzabel stammered, totally surprised. "You're fine? I mean, I'm glad you're fine, but..." She then composed herself and started to shout. "You almost got me, us, killed!"
"Hey, I promised you a night of partying, betting, food, not that we were the ones eating the food, and a need to watch your drinks, didn't I? You got it. I never said it would be safe."
"We've got to get out of here!" Cyprio interrupted, "Chiara's people are going to be coming after us any moment!"
"Nope." Elyssa smiled and patted them both on the shoulder. "Chiara is dead. One kebab too many. See, I'm afraid I spilled my drink on them, you know, while they were distracted by my Brorg-Dao ripping her assassin in half."
"Your-" Cyprio began, but Ayzebel interrupted.
"You planned all of this out, didn't you? From the beginning." Ayzebel snapped.
"Well, no, not quite. I had intended to stop by Chiara's after the purchase, but I didn't think I'd be bringing you two along. That was really clever of you, catching the deception during the bargaining, Ayzebel, I didn't actually think about it myself. I thought maybe they hadn't been poisoned yet. After that, I just had to bring you along. Come to my place, we'll relax and I'll tell you exactly what has been going on."
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Post by Horsie on Jan 6, 2015 18:49:09 GMT
Elyssa looked quite pleased with herself as she explained. “A principal part of one of my family's businesses is gwes trading. Especially if we can provide their milk, which takes some careful setup to get from them and we happen to have one of the only three facilities on this island of ours. There are another two on the mainland under Zadakine control. So you can see it is a pretty strong market.”
“And you noticed that some of the ones you were buying were ill?”
“Yes, exactly Ayzey, just so. And my mother and I immediately suspected foul play of some kind. After all, we are this,” she held up her hands to about the width of her snout, “far from a monopoly. Very intense competition. So this type of sabotage has been affecting the bottom line. It didn't take me long to realize who must be behind the poison. A wide variety of facts pointed directly to Chiara, but I knew she wouldn't be the principle actor. So while I've managed to stop the sabotage for now...” She shrugged. “It is only a matter of time before they try again.”
“Woah.” Cyprio sat back. “Real cloak and dagger stuff here.”
“The actual heart of Utopia City.” Elyssa smiled pleasantly. “Some business requires a cloak and dagger. But you have to be careful. Too much of this kind of thing really does get bad for business, and I mean that in a general sense. There has to be some underlying stability. Sure, a little of the back alley dealing is actually a good thing, but too much and things stagnate. While this was... particularly personal... I'm not the only one who has been targeted in a similar fashion. And I think by the same person.”
Ayzebel watched Elyssa stretch out, far too content looking for having just killed three people. "So," she interrupted, "you're implying something?"
Elyssa winked. "I am. My jobs aren't only gwes related, you know, I'm a very talented young lady, in many ways, and, lets just say that I've got quite a free reign with all of this. Officially."
'I see...' Ayzebel thought. "So... you're somewhat freelance?"
The brown furred woman shrugged. "Sure, why not? But right now, it's personal, I'm just well placed. And I really want to... stop these people from creating any more havoc. It just lines up very nicely with one of my official jobs." She winked at Ayzebel. "Very very official."
Ayzebel was smart enough to check this statement for truth, and it came up clean. "Shadow Council?" Ayzebel whispered.
"Well, no of course not." She flashed a grin to accompany the lie.
"She's, uh, she's lying isn't she?" Cyprio asked Ayzebel.
"Yes, lying." Ayzebel nodded.
"About... not... working for the Shadow Council?" Cyprio was clearly in awe.
"Yes, Cyprio." Ayzebel made it as clear as she could.
“So you've got suspects?” Cyprio asked, clearly excited and energized.
Elyssa, ignoring the blatant explanation of one of her principle jobs, snorted. “Oh, yes, plenty of those. I had even entertained the notion of your mother, but poisoning your own gwes? Not good for business once word gets out they're sick. She'd lose as much money as me. So no.”
“Oh good.” Cyprio sounded relieved.
“So, your rivals? A prospective rival? The rivals of your rivals?” Ayzebel jumped in, the temptation too great avoid speculation. “I mean, there are so many possibilities. Your family is well known to be dangerous, and anyone looking to cause trouble for one of your rivals could easily set up the poisonings in the hope you'd blame them and retaliate. Hope you go for the obvious target. Then again, it could be the obvious target. Or maybe someone who just doesn't like you, and not a business rival at all.”
For the first time Elyssa looked tired. “Precisely. It is making me no small degree of angry. And whoever it is, they're smart. I was hoping they'd slip up and reveal their identity to Chiara, but no dice.” She sighed. “Anyway, if you'd like to get involved it could be fun.”
“Well...” Cyprio looked pensive with a finger to his lower lip, “I owe you one. That and the bastards poisoned my mom's gwes. I need to get them back for that. So I'll help.” He seemed very pleased with himself.
Ayzebel thought about it. 'I'd rather stay alive, but...' There was something undeniably attractive about the idea, a bit of fun, investigation, an exercise in mind. Most of all, a chance to put her talent to more... unorthodox use. 'Well...' “Okay. I'll help.” 'It'll be good practice for my freelancing anyway. Plus, connections, big time connections!'
Elyssa perked up. “Excellent. I'll put the names of some of the people I don't like in a hat, then we draw one and discuss what we know about them. Then we create a map of likelihood and place the names on it. Then we move on to another hat filled with the names of people I like, and do the same. And then into the unknowns, and so forth.”
“If you think that will help...” Ayzebel muttered as Elyssa got into motion.
“Of course it will. It might be a strange way to see connections, but one has to have some kind of organization to one's thinking, mustn't one?”
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Post by Horsie on Jan 6, 2015 18:49:48 GMT
Ayzebel woke up completely unaware of the time. Judging from her surroundings she had just plummeted into sleep. So, it appeared, had everyone else. Cyprio was curled up on one of the recliners, still sleeping. Elyssa was also solidly asleep, but in a far less dignified position. The right side of her head was squished up against the wall with all the suspect names on it, with her right arm resting on one particular name. She was also snoring.
'Almost like she just shut off halfway to putting something on the board.' The board, which Ayzebel, embarrassingly and vaguely, remembered a far more sleep deprived version of herself naming the Wall of Nasty Gwes Poisoning Creeper Possibles.
'Oh well.' Ayzebel checked the name Elyssa's arm was resting on. 'Huh, Katara, I don't know if I've heard of her.' She then realized that she was horribly hungry and went to locate wherever Elyssa stored her food. 'Awfully empty, no servants or anything.' Ayzebel noted. Though it was perhaps odd, it wasn't that much of a surprise. 'Elyssa just seems a little strange. And she did mention something about this being a sanctum of hers or something like that, so maybe she just doesn't like bei- ah, here we go. Food. Now, what to make...'
By the time Ayzebel had made enough food for everyone Elyssa was awake and Cyprio's nose seemed to be waking him up nicely.
"Oh, by the All Mother, my face is numb." Elyssa rolled her head from side to side and then rolled her right shoulder. She winced at the cracking sounds. "So, I wake up and my hand is pointing to Katara, clearly providence, eh, Ayzey?"
"Not really, no. General consensus is that the All Mother watches over us, but likes letting us be independent. We generally get to figure things out ourselves."
"That makes sense." Elyssa nodded, slowly. "Oh, and you made food. Not kebabs I hope, eh?"
"Uh, no."
"Hah! Of course not. Thanks Ayzey." She took her plate. "Let me see, I narrowed it down to... one person I want to investigate. Sir Timeon." She thrust a wayward hand at one name as Ayzebel handed Cyprio his plate.
"A Darsai?" Cyprio asked as he took the plate. "Thanks, smells good."
"So, is he in the liked or disliked category?" Ayzebel asked.
"I'm not sure, all I know is he seems to handle quite a few gwes milk shipments, but not from my family. In fact, it seems that my family is the only one that doesn't work through him."
"Who does your family work through?" Cyprio quickly qualified his question, "if you don't mind telling."
"Depends, recently some Ivos with a maritime trade business. Not that important, I think." Elyssa shrugged. "I know, it doesn't seem to make sense. A Darsai, of all peoples, possibly playing ball with us Zadakine in the game of business trickery? Or, more likely, he works with a Zadakine partner that we don't know about."
"Well... the motive makes sense." Ayzebel began to eat her breakfast. Or lunch, she couldn't be sure. "I mean, your business suffers and that increases demand for the milk which increases his shipping since you're the only one that doesn't use his services so getting the milk from anywhere else... well, you follow."
"I think I get it." Cyprio informed the ladies. "So, we just straight up ask this guy if he has a partner and is involved with poisoning the gwes?"
Elyssa remained quiet on the subject for a moment. "Well..."
"Oh I get it." Ayzebel cut in. "I get it, yes I do. That would actually work. The Darsai would probably deny it, and if I'm there I can know if he is telling the truth or not. You want me to just hop on up to the possibly ruthless feudalite and ask him dangerous questions?!"
"Well..." Elyssa shrugged apologetically. "I mean, that is one option, you did admit it would probably work."
Ayzebel closed her eyes and thought. 'Why am I actually involved in this again? It just kind of happened, didn't it? But...' She opened her eyes. "You'll both have my back if I do this?"
"Of course! He might have poisoned my mom's gwes, so he could be dangerous."
"That would be the plan, yes. C'mon Ayzey, you know you want to. I bet you've never done anything like it before. Well. Knowing about it the whole time, I mean."
'She is way too familiar with me for someone I just met yesterday.' "Well, fine then." Ayzebel threw her hands up, in a bit of a huff. "But the temple better be getting paid for this!"
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Post by Horsie on Jan 6, 2015 18:50:57 GMT
Ayzebel found herself standing down by the docks, waiting for a thin Darsai man to return to his boat. 'Right, so how am I going to do this?' Ayzebel thought to herself, as she stood by the dock and looked bored to hide her nervousness.
So she nearly jumped a foot in the air when the exact Darsai she was looking for appeared behind her and asked "hello luv, waiting for someone?"
"Nnnn-yes." Ayzebel nodded, "Hey, you're the Darsai who owns the shipping business, aren't you?"
"Why yes I do! How do you know that?"
"Well, I found out about it yesterday, you're rather successful aren't you? Especially for a Darsai working by himself with Zadakine! It is rather impressive."
"I am rather successful, true." He smiled. "I do have some help, I must admit though."
"So you have a business partner?"
"Oh yes, he's frightfully clever. I keep telling him he shouldn't bother being so secretive sometimes, but apparently I'll never be able to understand. Or so he claims."
'This Darsai is remarkably truthful and talkative.' Ayzebel thought to herself. "Well, to be fair, Sir Timeon, men don't tend to be taken very seriously by Zadakine. At the most, your partner would be lauded as an exception. But probably not."
"That is very well put, I've noticed a little bit of that. Though, I must say, I wouldn't expect a priestess to be posing as a prostitute."
"You thought I was a what?" Her voice piqued up at the end of that.
"Prostitute." Ayzebel blinked as that came through as a complete lie. "Though I must say, I'm confused at your... surprise. I would have thought such behaviour would be accepted in a society like this."
"Ah, well yes, but for a women it is a bit of a mark of ineptitude and inability to progress through society in other ways. So it could be taken as an insult." Ayzebel frowned. 'Why am I bothering explaining this? Get to it Ayzebel!' "So, does your business partner have a name?"
"Nah, no name." Lie. He laughed at her look of confusion. "So you are using your truth power. Rather interesting isn't it? Look, of course he has a name. But we both know why you're here, so let me cut to the chase. My code of chivalry forbids me from harming a lady, but you Zadakine don't really count. Now, I would prefer if I don't have to, but if you resist I will. Come with me, and please, don't call for help, your friend has been captured already."
Ayzebel looked around in a bit of a panic. It just dawned on her that the Darsai had been talking only until there were no other Zadakine around. 'After all, seeing a foreigner attacking a Truth Sayer would get him mobbed.' She sighed, realized she had no choice, and nodded.
Ayzebel was brought onto the ship and below deck into a large room filled with boxes of many varieties, some large, some small, some large and covered in a canvas. She was then tied to a chair next to a beaten and bloody looking... "Elyssa?" Ayzebel asked in surprise after the Darsai left. She had expected to see Cyprio.
"Hi Ayzey." She spat out some blood and tried rocking back and forth in her chair as well. "Fancy seeing you here."
"You fought back?"
"You didn't? Were afraid to get your pretty white fur red?" She winked, seeming to indicate jest. "I wouldn't have if I had known there were more of them. I thought I could take the five of them, but it turned out there were ten."
Ayzebel groaned. "You thought you could take five?"
"Well, three aren't coming back and another one of them mightn't make it through the night."
"Are... are you an assassin?"
"Oh, no no, not at all. I mean, not in the professional sense. I did kinda assassinate Chiara, didn't I? Unfortunately though, I really like my current career too much."
"So, was this part of your plan?"
"Well... nope. Though I did think it possible, I didn't really prepare too much for it. In fact, I'm completely lost, no idea what to do now. I'm tied to the chair quite snugly and even I can't get myself out."
The door opened and Ayzebel turned on her truth telling power as soon as the Zadakine man with patches of messy white fur scattered amongst his mostly brown fur began to speak. "Well, hello to my guests. I must say, I was surprised by your move against Chiara. That put me back. But it also tipped me off. That guard was even kind enough to give me your name, Elyssa."
"Oh, fu-"
"Wait." He held up a hand. "Mrs. Truth Sayer. If you want to keep your... lets say fingers... you will tell me when Elyssa is telling the truth or lying. And I'll be sure to ask, so don't think of just remaining silent. Understand?"
"Yes." Ayzebel nodded unhappily.
"Good. You may continue, Elyssa."
"I hadn't expected that you would react so quickly." Elyssa muttered gloomily.
"Truth." Ayzebel said.
"Well, I normally wouldn't have, but I was due to give Chiara further instructions that night, so I was informed rather earlier than I would have been otherwise. You were remarkably quick. Which reminds me, you don't have means of escaping?"
"No, she has no idea what to do now. Can't even get herself free of the chair." Ayzebel said dully, in order to avoid wasting time.
"Oh, good good." Patches, as Ayzebel thought of him, looked quite smug. "So-" the ship began to move, "Urgh, I always hate this. So, what should I do with you?"
Elyssa groaned. "I don't know. Normally this is where you'd expound your reasoning, but that seems rather unimportant as I know everything already. Money, the usual, is the motivation."
"Yes. Basically. Though I suppose I might as well explain about the whole Darsai thing..."
"Already know about that." Elyssa cut him off. "You use him as a front to get around the disadvantage being a man gives you when doing business with Zadakine. Him and his crew also make good muscle."
"Well." He sounded somewhat deflated, "is there anything about me you don't know?"
"Your name."
"Truth." Ayzebel supplied in as dull a way as she could muster.
"I'm not that dumb. You don't get to know my name. Not yet."
"And what you want." Elyssa added. "I don't know what you want from us."
"Truth." Ayzebel added again, dispassionately.
"I don't want anything."
"Lie." Ayzebel said automatically.
Patches stopped and turned towards her, then walked over. "I never said you were to be reading my lies out loud, did I?" He punched her in the face, knocking her chair down in the process. "I might as well say so now, I suppose."
Ayzebel wiggled a bit to get a better view of the situation, only to find herself looking at Elyssa's hands tied behind the chair. To Ayzebel's utter surprise, one of them looked about free, and the other was getting there. 'But... she... she told me she couldn't get them loose? But... that means she lied to me? And I didn't know because I wasn't using my ability at th-' The full implication of this dawned on Ayzebel. 'And he also believes she is helpless. Because I lied without lying. I told him she didn't... oh my.' Things were looking up. And Ayzebel felt a little bit queasy about the fact she sort of lied. 'Thankfully the All Mother is the understanding kind.'
"See, there is one ambition that is considerably beyond me." Patches continued. "As a male, I don't see myself ever getting on the Shadow Council. It has been a dear ambition of mine. And clearly, Timeon can't help me there either. I think, just by looking at half the things you've been up to Elyssa, that we share that particular ambition."
'Huh?' Ayzebel thought, surprised. 'Well, I suppose. I mean, what I know about her family is fairly impressive.'
"Really? You're proposing to me?" Elyssa sounded the least impressed Ayzebel had heard her to date.
"Lets face it. I'm at the very least as clever as you, probably cleverer, you're not going to find a man as clever as that around this place. But even without that, I do hold some very lucrative... assets. I'd be the main husband, of course, the real power behind the shadowy seat, as it were, but if you want more I don't mind."
Elyssa sighed. "Two proposals in as many days, and at least the first one had the grace to be a joke. I'm about as likely to accept one as I am the other."
"Truth." Ayzebel muttered before she realized something. "And what about me in all this?"
"Hmm. Well, that isn't an actual answer, is it Elyssa?" He then turned back to the fallen Ayzebel. "You'd be nice to have around. A Truth Sayer on our side would pretty much get us to the Shadow Council immediately."
"No. I am not lying for one side, or favouring one side. Not happening."
"Well. Too bad." Patches shrugged. "You want to know what happens if you refuse my offers? I suppose you can guess. We drop you in the river. Weighted down with something. Sure it is a strong river, but quite swimmable if you're good enough, and I'm not taking risks. I'll give you five minutes to reconsider." He paused. "If you don't wish to marry me outright, you can sign an agreement. No marriage, but you will represent me. At the very least, consider it. I'm being generous."
He walked away and stood by the door, watching them and whistling a bit. The whistling stopped as soon as Elyssa started untying the knots holding her feet to the chair with her now freed hands.
"Hey! Timeon! Help!" A shocked Patches shouted as he rushed for Elyssa.
Unfortunately for him, Elyssa got her feet free before he could reach her. She jumped to her right, spun to her right, grabbed the chair by the back, and then reversed direction with her spin, succeeding in clobbering their host with the bottom of the chair as she did so.
"Idiot." She snapped.
"Urf!" He cried as he was thrown sideways past Elyssa and into the wall.
Elyssa quickly began untying Ayzebel from the fallen chair. "Sorry about lying to you Ayzey, I just figured it was necessary."
"Well..." Ayzebel started to untie her left foot with her free hands as Elyssa moved from Ayzebel's hands to her right foot. "I feel a bit dirty about how I lied, indirectly and without actually lying, but.... you probably saved my life, so I can probably do a bit of penance later. Just to be safe. So thanks."
"Don't thank me yet, we still need to get off the-" Timeon burst into the room, partially covered in plate armour, he immediately magicked a burning purple sword into existence. Elyssa gave Ayzebel a bemused look. "Purple swords? Darsai are weird."
"You think about that now!?" Ayzebel shouted as she stood up. "We've got to get out of here! We can't fight him!"
"I beg to differ." Elyssa grinned as they all heard a thump like sound from above deck. Even Timeon looked up. "Wonder what that was?" She asked as she picked up Ayzebel's chair and slammed it into a large rectangular object, covered with a thick black cloth, that was located behind Ayzebel. There was a reverberating sound.
"What are you doing!? You madwoman!" Timeon shouted as he rushed forward, lunging at Elyssa as Ayzebel scrambled out of the way. Elyssa dodged and grabbed the attacking Darsai's arm, shoving it towards the shrouded object. The sword cut the fabric away to reveal a cage. Inside the cage was, of course, a now very angry gwes.
"All Mother!" Ayzebel scrambled to her feet and, in a moment of panicked clarity, picked up the broken leg of the chair Elyssa had used to smash their captor.
Timeon pulled his sword away and stumbled backwards as the gwes, it's body coming up to the lower portion of Timeon's chest, lunged at the bars with both stinging tendrils and the front two snapping pincer feet. He swung wildly towards Elyssa with the sword, nearly catching her in the face. In dodging the attack, though, she fell to the floor. As his followup slash came down, Ayzebel put all her strength into a desperate swing of the chair leg at the side of his unarmoured head.
There was a thunk as the wooden chair leg connected and the impact, in addition to a particularly fortuitous dipping of the boat, sent Timeon slamming against the bars of the cage. The gwes gleefully took advantage of this, it's pincers digging into the Darsai's shoulders as it hauled itself up and stabbed the man's head with the stingers. Thankfully, this cut the screaming short as Timeon slumped into paralysis, and, with the amount and location of the venom, unconsciousness.
"Oh no!" Ayzebel immediately grabbed the helpless knight's legs and pulled, having no effect against the insanely strong grip of the grews' pincers until Elyssa smartly smacked one of the things with another piece of chair. They then managed to get Timeon away from the infuriated creature. Elyssa gave Ayzebel a questioning look. "Hey! I didn't want to just let the thing eat him!"
Elyssa smiled. "Okay Ayzey, here, lets put him over there so he doesn't roll back to the thing."
As they did that, their former captor stood up from where Elyssa's chair had sent him sprawling, shook his head, and bolted for the exit.
"Oh no you don't you gimbit you!" Elyssa shouted, chasing him while brandishing a chair leg. Ayzebel made sure Timeon wouldn't slide back towards the raging thing and then followed her accomplice.
'What about the rest of the crew?!' Ayzebel thought desperately to herself. 'Why is Elyssa being so damn stu-' "Oh." Upon reaching the upper deck, Ayzebel saw several unconscious Darsai sailors, and Elyssa confronting their captor near the railing.
"I don't think you want to try swimming for it, looks pretty bad." Elyssa commented, happiness creeping into her voice. "I think you'd better come with us. We'll turn you over to the authorities, I'm sure they'll love the attacking a Truth Sayer part the best, but they'll probably be amused by the whole poisoning my gwes thing too. And that is only what I can get you with right now. What will a little questioning reveal, I wonder?"
He smiled. "Well, turns out I'm a really good swimmer." He turned and dove over the side, just as Cyprio emerged from the shadows armed with a blowgun and sent a dart straight into their host's back. Patches didn't even get a chance to yelp as he hit the water.
All three of them looked over the railing, failing to find his body. "Whoops." Cyprio remarked casually. "He wasn't supposed to fall overboard. Oh well." Elyssa and Ayzebel looked at him in unison, both somewhat surprised. "What? I use gwes poison on darts, I mean, my family breeds them, what else would I use?"
"So..." Ayzebel gave her head a shake. "You, you're an assassin?"
"Well, ah..." Cyprio chuckled nervously. "M-maybe kinda a little. I mean, I'm only just getting trained up a bit. Sneaky stuff, that is all at the moment."
"Uh huh." Elyssa nodded, sounding somewhat interested. "Neat how this all came together."
"Oh, funny thing. I saw a Brorg-Dao in a little boat following us." Cyprio added, "while I was clinging on to the back of the ship, you know, for dear life."
"That... Well, that was probably just Thurfric Haggardson. Or something. Brorg-Dao have big, confusing, long names like that. He's clever and quite useful. He understands the value of money and loyalty at the same time. Rare in a merc. So I keep him around for the things he's good at. You met him yesterday in Chiara's gladiator pit."
"So... you had him following us?" Ayzebel asked, impressed.
"Well, I had him watch the boat. He must have seen you on it, Cyprio, and not intervened. I thought he had come on board when we all heard that thump, but it must have been you dealing with the other sailors."
"Yeah, one of them fell forwards instead of backwards against the wall due to the ship lurching. Thankfully he was nearly the last one."
"Oh, Elyssa, how did you know that box was a gwes cage?" Ayzebel asked, out of the blue.
"It made sense, they ship milk but I could see them shipping gwes as well... and that was the same type of cloth we use to make them docile. Doesn't take a genius." She shrugged. "We should probably start tying the sailors up now, they might begin to awaken soon. Then we can convince them to turn the boat around."
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Post by Horsie on Jan 6, 2015 18:52:39 GMT
Sitting together in Elyssa's little sanctum, they relaxed. "Good to be alive." Elyssa announced. "And I'm pleased at how quickly the Darsai came around."
"All I know is, I want to go back to the Temple and sleep this off. I'm tired and overall jittery."
"Oh Ayzey, you'll get used to it. Dangerous? Maybe it was so, but you have to admit you had a bit of fun."
"Fun?" Ayzebel glared at Elyssa. "Fun? I nearly got killed! More than twice in two days! I think. And I was panicked silly for mo-, well, a good deal of the time."
"But you did find it fun, didn't you?"
Ayzebel sighed. "Yeah, it was exciting. Terrifying, but exciting."
Cyprio, for his part, was just leaning back, eyes darting between the two women as they spoke.
"Well, I'm glad you had fun." Elyssa gave a quick grin before standing up and pacing about some more.
This silence caused Ayzebel to notice something. "Wait a minute. Hold on. You said that I'll get used to it? What do you mean by that?"
"Oh, nothing much." Elyssa stopped pacing and fiddled with an olive before popping it into her mouth. "Just that I suspect you'll be finished paying your debts to the Temple sooner than you thought. I mean, I do pay quite well, and I think I'll be having you around again if I decide on further escapades like this."
"Wait, what?"
"You're just so fun, and useful, to have around."
"Oh no. You're just going to end up getting me into serious trouble with someone someday, I know it. And I don't have the resources you do. I can't afford to make important people angry at me!"
"Don't worry, I'll take care of you. Anyone ever gives you any trouble and I'll put a stop to it. And believe me, I know how to deal with these people. Such a promise is well worth having a Truth Sayer along for the ride, I can assure you. And you can tell I'm telling the truth?"
"Well, I didn't have my ability turned on there, but I'll believe you anyway." 'Mostly because that is fairly true. I can see how having a Truth Sayer along would be greatly useful.'
"We'll just have to make sure you know how to use that sword of yours..."
"-I do so know how to use it! I'm better than anyone else at the Temple."
Elyssa burst into laughter. "Of course you are! That isn't saying much, is it? I mean, what do a bunch of priestesses know about killing things?! But don't worry, I'll give you some real practice."
Ayzebel scowled, but knew Elyssa was probably right.
"Hah, you look so cute when you do that! Scowl again, please?"
Ayzebel couldn't help but chuckle instead.
"There we go. Now, let me see-" They heard a knock at the door, at which point Elyssa sighed. "Oh, I almost forgot. My date for the night. He's the son of someone important, I'm sure. Play the game, play the game. So, you like the idea?"
"What? Well... oh sure. Why not? I do need to pay off the Temple and it would be nice to do so quickly."
"Lovely. Oh, you too Cyprio, if you'd like to come along from time to time, I wouldn't mind. You're handy in a pinch. Though sometimes I'd like just a girls night out, if you don't mind?"
Cyprio blinked. "R-really? Sure! I'd love to. I mean, connections, connections. Wonderful."
"Thanks dear. Something to drink, anyone?"
"Your date though?" Ayzebel asked, feeling slightly confused.
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Post by Horsie on Jan 6, 2015 18:53:09 GMT
Ayzebel collapsed from exhaustion. "Well, at least I hit you six times."
"Out of twenty seven tries, yes, I suppose it could have been worse." Elyssa was having a good deal of trouble hiding her grin, in fact, Ayzebel was convinced she wasn't really trying to hide it. "You'll get better at hitting unarmed opponents in no time."
"Oh psh. I'm a Truth Sayer, I don't need to hit people."
"It would have come in handy last time."
"Hey, I did hit him. Right in the back of the head too."
"Fair point, fair point." Elyssa giggled. "Okay, get into something suitable for investigation! Something came up and I want that assistance we agreed on."
"Fine fine. But just what kind of investigation? Crawling through muck? Blending in at parties?"
"What you arrived in will do. I'll change in that room, you can change here, and then off we go!" She moved away and disappeared from sight.
"Right. So tell me, how did it go last night? With the son of someone important?" Ayzebel had been surprised about being called over again so soon after her first brush with Elyssa's particular brand of problem solving, but she was pleased about it anyway. 'I'm getting the sense that I'm going to be very busy.'
"Oh, that. Same as usual. Give em a little cuddle, a peck on the cheek, and they either think they've won or realize how horribly they've lost. This one was no different."
"Hmm." Ayzebel finished with removing the training clothes and gladly put on her proper night outfit. "So, this one thought he won or lost?"
"Oh, he knew the stakes from the beginning, came out of the gate swinging. Tried everything he could, including, near the end of the evening, listing his credentials. He was probably the most qualified one they've thrown at me yet."
"Qualified?"
"Oh, dumb as a brick, but he's been schooled by the best in making women... happy."
Ayzebel blinked. She had momentarily forgotten that some women invested a very good amount into that type of thing in the hopes of, basically, being able to sell their sons off to the highest bidding powerful woman out there. "I see."
"I don't care much for that, though. I mean, I'm much better served by letting the mothers sweat and think I'm still looking. As I said, all about playing the game."
"So he knew he hadn't gotten anywhere?"
"Oh yeah, wasn't pleased either, but there was nothing he could do." Elyssa laughed. "How were things for you?"
"Oh." Ayzebel shrugged, forgetting that Elyssa couldn't see her. "I did have to explain to Jrinni why I looked so beat up."
"Jrinni?"
"She's the priestess involved with organizing those of us paying off our debt. Quite important."
"Ooooh. What did she think?"
"Uh, well, she wasn't pleased when she heard about you."
"Hah! I wouldn't be if I were her either! I mean, you're going to be paying the Temple off sooner!"
"Well, that probably has something to do with it." Ayzebel chuckled. "She said that from what she's heard about you, you're dangerous and crazy. Said I probably shouldn't be doing any of this."
"I am a little crazy. But you're here, so I figure you think it is worth it?"
"Yeah. Against some of my better judgment."
Elyssa laughed out loud. "Ready?"
"Yes. Lets go. Oh, where are we going again?"
"My mother's place, you get to meet the family. It really is a family matter too, so some discretion please."
"Yes, of course."
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Post by Horsie on Jan 6, 2015 18:53:31 GMT
Elyssa's mother was a dour looking woman, serious and uptight. Ayzebel and Elyssa were sitting beside each other, facing the matriarch across her desk.
"I am glad you've brought a Truth Sayer with you, daughter, as I believe we'll need her." She kept her hands folded tightly together on the table and turned her attention to Ayzebel. "My son has been kidnapped, taken, I believe, by the family I was attempting to have him married into. That is before their fortunes took a radical turn for the worst, so I obviously cut it off."
"I see." Ayzebel nodded. "So you think they took offence to this latest blow to their fortunes and decided to strike back?"
"Precisely." The matriarch nodded solemnly, telling the truth as far as Ayzebel's ability could determine. "You're quick."
"Do you think there could be any other explanation for this? Or are you entirely settled on this particular one?" Ayzebel asked to follow it up.
"That was less intelligent of you."
Ayzebel felt her mouth twitch. "And that was you avoiding the question."
Elyssa snapped her head to the side in surprise. "Ayze-"
"You want me to help find your brother, Elyssa? It makes sense to have all the information." Ayzebel did not mention that, in addition to needing information, she was getting the sense that she didn't really like the mother.
The Matriarch harrumphed. "Fine. No I don't think there really could be another explanation for this."
Lie. Ayzebel made sure she didn't show she had noticed though. What she did do was gently tap Elyssa's foot with hers, hoping she got the message. Elyssa showed no sign of acknowledgement. 'Which is probably a good thing.' Ayzebel thought. "I see. Elyssa knows all the pertinent information?"
"Yes." No lie.
"Then I will trust her to get me to the people I need to be speaking to."
"At least you get down to it quickly. Go." She finally moved one hand, her right one, to make a singular shooing motion.
Ayzebel and Elyssa left quickly. Once a good distance from the house, and certain there were no servants around, Ayzebel slowed to a stop and exhaled. "Is she always that unpleasant? And clearly underhanded?"
Elyssa stopped too. "Everything I have is because of her... but I can recognize her flaws. So usually, yes, that is so."
"Do you want my honest opinion on what just happened?" Once Elyssa nodded in response, Ayzebel continued. "She told me what she wants to have happened. No doubt to undermine this family more. That makes her missing son more of a means to an end, not someone she actually cares about for his own sake."
"She has... put significant work and money into him and his upbringing generally."
"Oh, I'm sure, and that is what I think she is worried about losing. She isn't concerned with his well being, so much as possibly losing an investment."
"Yes. I think you're right."
"And you approve of that?" Ayzebel asked a little more... harshly than she meant to.
This elicited a smile from Elyssa. "No, I don't. But she could, in theory, be right, and if she is, my brother is in danger. I want him out of that."
"So. First we check out her story."
"Correct, Ayzey. Follow me!"
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Post by Horsie on Jan 6, 2015 18:53:47 GMT
"Okay Ayzey, plan time. I do the talking, unless I've missed something, and you do the lie testing. Good? Okay, lets go."
"Hold on. First of all, names and relations please?"
"Oh, right, fair enough. The important woman is Til-Eyh-Tah." Elyssa was careful to pronounce each syllable separately. "Most people just call her Tila."
"Til-Ah-Teh?"
"No. Til-Eyh-Tah. Just say Tila, it's better that way. What of it?"
"Just seems... oh well. An odd name."
"Hmm." Elyssa smiled.
"You know something!"
"Oh definitely. And so will you, shortly. Anyway, she's married to Eliphas and Zoastas. One is more serious, one is a younger boy toy."
"No wife?"
"No wife."
"How many children?"
"Three. All girls."
Ayzebel crinkled her brow in surprise. "I see. So they really were after your brother seriously then. Three isn't much to work with."
"Yup. She's not exactly a major matriarch."
"You're being less talkative than normal."
"Don't worry, nearly all will be revealed."
"Have you got a bet on what my reactions will be? What I'll find out?"
"Well no... not in the conventional sense. I do have a bit of a bet with myself, though."
"Uh huh. Well... what do they do?"
"Trade. Mostly with the Nymus Republic."
"Right, and so I can follow along, what is your brother's name?"
"Why? Got your eye on him? Love my mom so much you want to be family?"
Ayzebel gave Elyssa her best annoyed look. "Definitely not. I like you, Elyssa, but I've got more than enough sisters already. And your mother? No thanks."
"Hahahahah! Good answer." Ayzebel opened her mouth, but Elyssa cut her off. "I know I know. His name is Trhuvael. Now, we've wasted enough time. I'll knock and talk, right?"
Ayzebel nodded and they walked up and Elyssa knocked.
"Hello?" A sour sounding middle aged man asked as he opened the door to their business. "Oh hell." He groaned as soon as he saw Ayzebel. "Creditors!" He slammed the door.
Ayzebel and Elyssa exchanged worried glances. "I knew it was bad for them," Elyssa commented, "but not this bad."
"If your mother really wants to just pin this on them, she's even more heartless than I thought."
"Yeah. Me too." Elyssa seemed genuinely concerned, which surprised Ayzebel. After all, Ayzebel had only really seen her confident and secure up to this point. "Hah, and that is saying a lot." The smiling Elyssa was suddenly back.
The door opened again and a Nymus woman stepped out, looking all apologetic. "So sorry, really, it has been a particularly bad day for us and I'm not sure if we can afford to... wait. You're Ahiradah's daughter, aren't you? Has she reconsidered?"
The sudden hope in the woman's voice was considerable, but all Ayzebel could really think was: 'Wow, so that is what a beak looks like close up. Its all... kinda boney and... hard looking... weird. Er, hold on a moment. That must be Tila! She's a half caste! That actually makes sense.'
"I am, but I'm afraid not, though that subject is what I've come to discuss." Elyssa sighed. "Look. Trhuvael has gone missing, and we were hoping that you'd be able to provide some information about-"
"You'll get nothing!" The same crotchety man from before shouted from inside the store. "If Ahiradah's little investment piece has gone and got himself disappeared then good says I! She has it coming!"
"Zo dear!" Tila shot back, "please be quiet!"
"Why? Huh? I'm glad this has happened. Tila here shows up, bringing in new contracts, making money, doing well... suddenly everyone is her friend. Business is good, everyone prospers... and then, poof, oh look, a little misfortune in the shipping and suddenly those friends are actively trying to impoverish us! This goes beyond your average backstabbing, this is just for fun now this is!"
An annoyed look crossed Tila's face. "Ahiradah... she thinks we kidnapped Trhuvael, doesn't she?"
Elyssa glanced at Ayzebel, so Ayzebel responded. "So she claims, yes."
"Oh." This came from Zoastas. "Oh just come in. I really put my foot in it, didn't I?"
"Yes dear." Tila said as she ushered Elyssa and Ayzebel inside. "Look... Elyssa, is it? Maybe I would have considered having your brother kidnapped. Maybe... under normal conditions. These are not normal conditions. I have neither the money nor the time to spare."
"Truth." Ayzebel nodded.
"Oh thank the All Mother!" Zoastas exclaimed as he remembered Ayzebel. "You brought a Truth Sayer! Lets set this totally straight. I've had nothing to do with kidnapping, or murdering, or in any way harming your brother, Elyssa, nor do I have knowledge of any such plan."
"Truth."
"Well. That is good to know. What about you, Tila, would you say you are in the same state as your husband?"
Tila frowned. "I've never trusted Truth Sayers. But yes. Yes I have not been involved in or had knowledge of any plot to harm your brother, Elyssa."
"Also true." Ayzebel smiled.
"Oh. I hadn't expected that. I thought you'd just lie and try to back up your employer's story to screw us more." Tila became considerably warmer sounding.
"I take my vows of truth very seriously." Ayzebel responded sourly.
"What about Eliphas?" Elyssa asked.
"Oh, uh, right." Tila nodded. "I'll call him down." She went to where some stairs reached up to a second floor and yelled: "Eliphaaaaas!! Come down here!"
Zoastas preemptively closed his eyes and began to massage his temples.
"Just a moment love muffin!" A young looking, far too spry, Zadakine sprang down the stairs. "What can I do for you, your loveliness?"
"Oh, bugger." Elyssa muttered under her breath to Ayzebel. "One of these."
"Looks like Zoastas agrees." Ayzebel responded just as quietly. "Personally, I'd be worried about how he'd behave with his step-daughters."
Elyssa chuckled, barely containing herself.
"Oh, you should be jealous of Tila, I'm a married man after all! So none for you!" Eliphas flashed a winning smile at Elyssa but glanced at Ayzebel.
Elyssa's chuckle quickly turned into a gag. Ayzebel, for her part, also felt a little sick.
"Eliphas, did you have anything to do with the disappearance of Ahiradah's son Trhuvael?"
"Nah. Was a boring sort anyway."
"Truth."
"Great. Back to nothing." Elyssa muttered, glancing at Ayzebel.
'She's giving up here too easily.' Ayzebel thought to herself. 'Does she know something that I don't?' Ayzebel shook her head. "Not quite yet. Your daughters. What about them?"
"Oh, well, two are married and on the mainland now. And Starah is... out still. She'll be back later this evening. If you want to talk to her she should be meeting a Nymus merchant named Lek about something. Debts. He should be... let me think, I've got it..."
"I know where Lek is. I've been... dealing... with him recently." Elyssa cut in, saying dealing in a disdainful tone.
"Oh, good then."
Ayzebel nodded, more to herself than anyone else. 'This is all truth, so far... though some of the wording seemed odd.' Ayzebel looked towards her apparent friend and employer. "Alright, shall we go Elyssa? Put an end to this idea of kidnapping by Tila's family? Because after the mother, the daughter is the most likely suspect for something like that." 'Not to mention,' Ayzebel thought, 'the only remaining suspect.'
"Yes, lets do that." Elyssa nodded thoughtfully.
As they left, Tila couldn't help but give out some parting words. "Look, I liked the boy well enough, I mean him no ill will personally. But you know what? If this hurts Ahiradah, then I can't really say I hope you find him."
Elyssa gave the woman a cold look and they left. "Well, so far this is at least looking good for Tila's family."
"Yeah. Elyssa? She was telling the truth about that. How many people don't like your mother like that?"
"Oh, lots. But just as many like me." Elyssa managed to sound rather morbid about it. "Anyway, Lek. He's this way."
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Post by Horsie on Jan 6, 2015 18:54:18 GMT
"Yes," the tall, almost handsome, Nymus man nodded as he answered the question, "Starah was here. She paid back the principal but not the interest, unfortunately." Lie. "But I gave her a bit of an extension." Also a lie.
Ayzebel caught Elyssa's eye. 'Clearly, this Nymus doesn't know about Truth Sayers.' She thought, careful to keep the thought to herself.
"She was here about an hour ago," he continued, truthfully at least, "and said she had some errands to run." That was also truthful. "So if you're looking for her, I don't know where she is now." Truth.
"Did she mention any clues as to where these errands might be?" Elyssa seemed annoyed with the Nymus already. He had a smooth, overly sleezy way of speaking.
Lek thought about it for a moment, but looked more like he was calculating something than trying to remember something. "Well now. I do believe that as she was leaving she muttered something about an Onrapa named Tra'vin." Truth.
"Right." Ayzebel looked at Elyssa and shrugged. "Lets go find this Tra'vin person."
"What use," Lek continued, "she might find in these Onrapa barbarians I have no idea." He certainly believed that, which, as far as Ayzebel was concerned made him somewhat stupid. What a Zadakine woman might want with an Onrapa was quite clear. "Anyway, if you see her, remind her that she owes me money. I want that money back, and would very much like to be paid." Lie that she owed him money, but truth that he'd like some more.
"Of course." Elyssa turned and dragged Ayzebel out of the place. "So, what was he lying about?"
As Ayzebel filled Elyssa in, she thought: 'That was strange. She apparently paid him, but didn't... oh... maybe...' Once she had finished she added: "So, Tra'vin, is he an apothecary?"
"Yes he is. What are you thinking?"
"My turn to be mysterious." Ayzebel grinned at Elyssa, who gave an exaggerated pout in response. "So, we're walking to this Tra'vin now?"
"Yup, he isn't all that far. Right over there, in fact." Elyssa pointed at an apothecary's shop. "Onrapa are so very good with potions and poisons."
"I know. In fact, I think I know what was going on with Lek."
"Oh, you don't say?"
"Yes."
"Hmm. Well, here we go. Since you know so much, you ask the questions." She opened the door and they walked through.
"I'm honoured, Elyssa, truly."
Tra'vin was a middle aged Onrapa, though perhaps getting closer to older than younger. He didn't say anything to them, just looked up as they entered.
"Tra'vin?" Ayzebel asked, careful to break the name up into the two syllables.
The Onrapa nodded. "Aye?"
"We're looking for a Zadakine woman named Starah, she was here a little while ago?"
"Oh, Starah, good lass, aye, not long ago."
"Well, what, uh, did she want?"
"Came in and bought... sairry, nae point in telling ya the name of the ingredients, but it was a potion to prevent pregnancy. Took some right in front of me, lass seemed rather angry if you want my opinion."
Ayzebel looked at Elyssa. "I thought so. That is what happened. She paid the principle to Lek but... well... couldn't pay the interest with money so she..."
Elyssa nodded her understanding.
Tra'vin, on the other hand suddenly grew angry. "Ah should ha kenned it! Tha extortionist beak! If ah see im again I'll break his damn mouth off an stab im with et!"
"Wait, what?" Ayzebel hardly understood every second word the Onrapa spoke, as his accent had gotten much thicker.
"Well," he calmed himself down a bit, "you as clear as said it yourself. That is a right nasty move to make, taken advantage of the poor lass' family situation like tha."
"Well, I suppose. She's just lucky he was willing to make the deal." Ayzebel thought for a moment. "Though, maybe he wasn't, I don't think he wants anyone to know he made the deal, and he certainly doesn't want to actually forget the debt. Some people just don't honor contract. That is why he was lying, in fact, she might even be in danger now. But she must be very desperate or lacking in... Oh..."
Elyssa raised an eyebrow.
"Well, just a moment." She addressed Tra'vin again. "Look, you said she took some of it immediately, but she bought more?"
"Aye, plenty more. Lots more."
"Did she do anything else?"
"After she had composed herself, she gave me a peck on the cheek and left."
"She normally do that?"
"Nae... but it must ha been a tough day."
Ayzebel nodded, "true. Thank you Tra'vin, we must go find her now. Good fortune."
As they left, Elyssa gave her a bemused look. "We don't know where to look."
"Oh, but we do. This explains everything, especially why she was in such a hurry to get payment of the debt to Lek over with. I mean, I doubt she'd offer that particular service unless desperate."
"Okay, time for you to explain."
"Well." Ayzebel could barely contain her smile. "She's eloping with your brother, and running out of time to do so."
Elyssa blinked. "What? How do you know she isn't kidnapping him and leaving?"
"Well, think about it. Do you remember how her father answered the question? He wasn't involved with or had knowledge of any plan to kidnap or harm your brother?"
"Right... but... that doesn't mean she..."
"No no, I don't think so. He acted like he was addle brained about the whole thing, but he chose his words very carefully. In fact, I almost think he was banking on a Truth Sayer being there. I am convinced he, at least, knew about the plan before hand. Your brother is alive and well, I think, and no doubt entirely in on the plan."
"I see."
"Now, and I know I'm going to regret this, back we go. To the docks."
"Why the docks?"
"Well, she's clearly planning for a long boat voyage with the man she loves. Otherwise, why buy the potion in bulk? Takes up lots of space to carry that much, she'd just buy that particular potion as she went along if it were a land trip. Either she's not going anywhere, in which case there is no urgency, or she is planning to leave in a hurry. And if you are planning to leave the city in a hurry, the best means would be by boat."
"Ayzebel, I am genuinely impressed." Elyssa sounded very serious. "I'm not sure I would have figured it out so fast."
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Post by Horsie on Jan 6, 2015 18:54:44 GMT
Rather disappointed to be back at the docks, Ayzebel was on the lookout for suspiscious Zadakine women trying to get onto a ship. Elyssa was hiding because she said her brother would obviously recognize her, which Ayzebel accepted as fair enough.
There always was the chance that she was already at the boat, but it seemed like she probably hadn't finished her errands. This was validated when, a moment later, a woman that matched Starah's description and carrying a bunch of goods made her way onto a ship. A ship that nobody stopped or questioned her about.
Ayzebel tapped the huddled and sleepy Elyssa on the shoulder to wake her up and get her moving. "Here we go. Onto that boat."
"Oh, okay. I do talking again?"
"Sounds good."
They approached the boat and just naturally walked up the ramp. To their surprise there didn't seem to be anyone on board.
Ayzebel glanced to Elyssa. "Trap?"
Elyssa responded by drawing a dagger from her side and taking point as Ayzebel drew her own sword. They then proceeded into the bowels of the ship, giving Ayzebel a feeling of deja vu. But contrary to Ayzebel's fears, they encountered nobody else. That is until they reached a door and heard two people talking.
"Well, it had to be done. I'm just pleased some men are so stupid." A woman's voice. "But we're nearly debt free now and in under an hour the sailors will be back and off we go."
"At least there's that small pity. My aunt will be pleased to see us when we do arrive. She never really liked mother and this is the perfect way to pay her back."
A girly laugh followed that. "Yeah. Oh I'm so happy to be getting out of here!"
"I'm still jumpy."
"No need, we've got everything here now for a long trip. Some extended sojourning before we get to Rhoadira too."
"Well, she did suggest that. Something to blow some time off. A year or something like that."
"I'm thinking up north for a bit, then eventually work our way down to the eastern coast. After that, then we go to Rhoadira. Sound enough like a sojourn to you, dear?"
Ayzebel gave a conflicted look to Elyssa before moving to enter the room. Elyssa put a hand on her shoulder and stopped her.
"Yes. Though..." The man, clearly Elyssa's brother Trhuvael, again sounded uneasy. "The closer we get to the departure time... the more worried I become. Elyssa is... she's good at this. I can't imagine her not finding us."
Now Elyssa gave Ayzebel a mischievous smile and walked into the room. "That is my cue, isn't it, brother? And... are you my sister-in-law already, or do I have to wait a little for that?"
Ayzebel entered the room as well, just in time to see the mood change from joyous elation to horrified dread.
"S-sister." Trhuvael gulped. "How did you find us?"
"I didn't, Ayzebel, my favourite Truth Sayer did." Elyssa gestured to Ayzebel, who was at this point having some decision troubles. "And I want to know precisely what you think you are doing."
"You're going to need more than the two of you if you want to take him back!" Starah shouted at Elyssa.
"I highly doubt it." Elyssa was smiling again.
"Dear... My sister is dangerous. It is best to go along with her." Trhuvael gulped again. "Sister, please, I can't stand this place anymore! And I love her. Just let me go!"
"Are you sure you love her, brother dear? Hasn't she just seduced you into this? As a means to get back at mother?"
"N-no! Look, it was my idea! And we got to know each other over the course of an entire year! Don't give me this. You've seen us together when mother was pushing for the match. You know what we're like, and you know how much I-" Ayzebel got the distinct sense of truth from him, just as Elyssa interrupted him.
"Yes. I know. And I always do look out for the best interests of my family. But mother ordered me to bring you back-"
"No she didn't." Ayzebel interrupted.
"Hmm?"
"I mean, at least in my case, I was to help you find them." The Truth Sayer continued. "And I think... er... I can't help but..." She gave Elyssa another conflicted look. "Look, I know they sound like people in a bad Darsai play, but... they're telling the truth... and..."
Elyssa narrowed her eyes. "You want me... to ignore my mother's wishes, if not her direct command, just because you're feeling a little sappy? Huh. How very... masculine of you, Ayzey."
"Oh well, I can't help it." Ayzebel muttered, looking away.
"Hmm. Fine. No doubt you won't get paid in full for an incomplete job... and you'll owe me a good deal..."
"Whoa whoa whoa." Trhuvael cut in. "I can't have this! We just paid off our debt! You can't-"
Ayzebel raised a hand. "Actually. I have a friend in Rhoadira. A fellow priestess I haven't heard from in a while. When you get there, or when you correspond with someone there, either drop by or ask your contact to meet with her and tell Dahlia that Ayzebel says hello and wishes she would write more often. She's a wonderful type, but often forgets the little things. Just remind her to write to me, would you? And, of course, suggest her services to anyone who could use them. She'll need contacts in Rhoadira, I think, so many non-Zadakine who won't trust her for the life of them. You can help her out, get her into contact with me again, and so pay this off to me. I owe her a little bit anyway, you see, and payment was beginning to worry me."
Trhuvael blinked. "Thank you."
Elyssa gave a light chuckle. "You're lucky I have such understanding friends, brother. And future sister. Also remember that when you do marry in, Starah, even if you are only staying with my aunt in Rhoadira, you are family to me. I'll look after you and yours as well." Elyssa draped an arm overAyzebel's shoulders. "Come on, lets go give mother the news."
"Ah, so," Lek's voice came from the doorway, "I've found you again."
For some, inexplicable to Ayzebel, reason, this made Elyssa smile pleasantly.
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Post by Horsie on Jan 6, 2015 18:55:48 GMT
Ayzebel turned around and saw Lek standing in the doorway with a bow drawn. She also heard Trhuvael move to stand in front of Starah. And out of a sense of distrusting anything the Nymus was going to say, she immediately activated her truth telling ability.
"What do you want?" Elyssa asked, sounding slightly annoyed but unable to wipe the grin from her face.
"Why, I want to ensure that I get my interest payments from her family." Lek said, confidently. "I knew all I needed to do was follow you two!"
"We had a deal!" Starah shouted. "I paid you!"
"Well... yes. But nobody but the people here know that." Lek laughed. "Quite the loophole."
"Not so." Elyssa chirped, happily. "Tra'vin knows, he figured it out immediately."
"And," Starah interrupted, "I delivered a letter explaining everything to my parents before I came here."
This made the Nymus frown. "Well. Maybe, but whose word do you think they'll trust more? Mine? Or the word of a barbarian and the family of a impoverished half-caste they hate?"
Ayzebel stared blankly at Lek before saying: "You are so fucked." For some reason unfathomable to Ayzebel, Elyssa burst into a fit of laughter, doubling over and slapping her right knee. Ayzebel looked at her, confused, before continuing. "You-" she eyed the bow, just now really realizing the danger, "uh, you have no idea what a Zadakine Truth Sayer is, do you?"
"Why would I care what-"
"You should." Ayzebel interrupted. "You Nymus aren't the only ones who can claim the physical manifestation of their... patron gods, plural in your case, on your people. Some Zadakine are born albino, and raised as Truth Sayers, able to tell truth from lies using mind magic. Judicial matters are one of the Temple's best sources of income."
The Nymus blinked stupidly. "That means you're one of-"
"Yuppers." Elyssa cut in. "This is Ayzey, the Truth Sayer. And I? I'm Elyssa. I'm sleep deprived and feeling murderous. All according to plan. And you are in my way and have the gall to threaten my family."
"I never meant to hurt-"
"Lie." Ayzebel muttered loud enough for everyone to hear.
"I don't see how the four of you can hope to take me. I've got a bow." Lek took a careful look about the room. "And I think that gives me the upper hand."
"Hey, Ayzey, do you recognize the boat?"
"Not, uh, not really..."
"Look around a bit." Elyssa made a wide gesture.
"Oh! It is Sir Timeon's boat, isn't it? I thought I was feeling like it was familiar, but..."
"Yup."
"Why are you ignoring me! I've got a bow! I'm going to shoot you! The albino freak first!" Lek squawked.
"Oh please," Elyssa yawned, "there is no way you could shoot both Ayzey and me before we reached you. Besides, judging by the angry looking Darsai behind you, well, we won't have to." Lie.
"Wha-!" Lek span around and Elyssa lunged forward, closing the distance quickly. "What Dar- gak!" Elyssa jumped up and wrapped her left arm around the Nymus' neck and pressing her dagger to his back.
"I had half a mind to let you live so you would be in debt to me and therefore be somewhat useful." Elyssa mused to the Nymus, though everyone heard her. "But seeing how you honour your deals, I couldn't trust you to pay that debt back anyway. And letting you live? That seems just problematic. You'll cause trouble-"
Lek squawked something unintelligible.
"Of course you will. You threatened my family, you would have shot my brother to get at Starah. And then you threatened Ayzey on top of it all. So I want you to know just why I'm going to kill you. If you weren't going to be a threat, maybe I'd not, but you are and have already been."
He squawked again. "No! Please! I surrender!"
Ayzebel glanced at Starah and Trhuvael, both looked just like Ayzebel felt, uncomfortable. "Elyssa..."
"Hmm?"
"Look! I'll go back to the Republic! I won't threaten you again! I'll not give them any trouble! I'll stay on here and make the trip with them! I won't even try to get back at them!"
"He's lying." Ayzebel muttered, darkly. She turned away and winced, making sure she didn't watch.
"Oh good. I'll at least make it quick." Ayzebel heard desperately flapping wings, then they stopped moving very quickly. There was a thunk as Elyssa tossed the body to the side. Ayzebel turned around in time to see Elyssa jump down, and wipe the dagger on Lek's shirt.
"Ouch." Starah remarked. "Right in the kidney."
Elyssa shrugged. "If the Darsai asks about it, tell him the truth, he'll almost certainly come down on your side. After all, the beak attacked you and was going to try to do so again if I let him live. Probably best to toss the body overboard once you've made it to the open ocean."
Ayzebel was beginning to feel a bit queasy. "R-right. I hope I never have to... kill anyone. Especially like that. I mean, he'd have caused more trouble for new family... and he'd... well... but..."
Elyssa patted her on the shoulder. "Sorry, Ayzey. I'll try to make sure you don't. Come on, lets get out of here." Looking at her brother and Starah, Elyssa gave them a bleak smile. "Enjoy your trip. Have fun and lots of prosperity. Lots."
With that they left, thankfully before Sir Timeon and his crew returned, and made their way towards Elyssa's mother's house. "Well." Ayzebel took a deep breath, trying to relax. "I'll have to think about what I'm going to say to her."
"Oh, you'll do fine Ayzey, just fine. Now, if you'll excuse me..." Elyssa stumbled, falling onto Ayzebel's shoulder and immediately began to snore.
"Huh. Sleepwalking? Well, whatever." Ayzebel supported Elyssa as she stumbled along with her, completely asleep with just her legs moving. 'This must look entirely ridiculous.'
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Post by Horsie on Jan 6, 2015 18:56:43 GMT
Ayzebel managed to get Elyssa home to her mother. Said mother evidently heard they were coming because she was waiting by the entrance, looking terse. 'She probably always looks terse, though.'
"For a moment, I was concerned she was damaged." Ahiradah spoke. "Instead I see she is simply asleep. She always was odd like that. Wake up, Elyssa!"
Elyssa woke up. "Yes, mother?"
"Truth Sayer, you will verify everything."
"Uh, as you wish."
"Elyssa. Where is your brother?"
Elyssa blinked sleep from her eyes. "Oh, probably on his way to the Nymus Republic, or farther north, I'm not sure. He'll eventually go down to Rhoadira to stay with our aunt."
"Truth." Ayzebel nodded.
"I see. And how did this come about?"
"Why, he eloped with Starah. It seems they liked each other so much while you were pushing the match that they didn't care when you stopped."
"True."
"So... Tila did have him kidnapped..." Ahiradah mused. "Well, at least something can be recovered from this, then."
"Not quite." Ayzebel cut in before Elyssa could say something. "Tila, at least, seemed to have no foreknowledge of the event. Starah had to leave a note informing her parents about it. Though I personally believe that her father, Zoastas, may have known something about it beforehand. But it appears to have been Trhuvael's idea."
Ahiradah glared at Ayzebel for what felt like a long time, but probably wasn't. She then, deliberately, smacked her in the face. "Tila had Trhuvael kidnapped, that is what you shall say when asked. It is more than likely true, and she just found a clever way to trick you."
Ayzebel aligned her glasses properly again and returned the glare. "Interesting. You are trying to force a Truth Sayer to break her vow of honesty? Do you know what happens to people who do that? Lets just say it puts them at a disadvantage when it comes to business. So because I like Elyssa, and as a charity," Ayzebel was sure to emphasize the word charity, "I will pretend I did not hear that, unless asked directly and forced to give an answer."
Elyssa looked rather surprised. "Ayzey..."
Ahiradah sighed. "So I've lost this one, then, but I thought it worth a shot. Tila gets off free and I lose one of my better bargaining chips. Very well. Anything else you think I should know?" She sounded tired all of the sudden, and Ayzebel in turn felt a bit sad she had been so harsh.
"Aside from a run in with a Nymus merchant named Lek who tried to get violent? Not really. Elyssa stabbed him."
Elyssa nodded.
"I see. I heard of him. Never liked him." She paused to look at the two of them for a moment. "I'm going to bed. Elyssa, just... go back to your little hide away and get some sleep." She spun around and returned inside.
Ayzebel stood there with Elyssa for a moment until Elyssa turned to her and smiled. "Well, I'm so very sleepy dear Ayzey, make sure I make it home fine." Then she whispered. "And I'll consider your debt to me for siding with my brother... mostly paid."
"Now now, Elyssa, I'm not stupid you know." Ayzebel put an arm around Elyssa's shoulders. "I don't think I actually owe you anything about that. You can lean on me if you like, you're clearly tired now. Did you get any sleep at all?"
"No I didn't." And when they were far enough from her mother's place she continued. "Too busy up partying with my... former date."
"Yes. I think you made yourself tired on purpose."
"Oh? And why would I do that?"
"Well, you wanted to see how I would respond, and I think you wanted to be this tired when you talked to your mother."
"Hmm." Elyssa yawned.
"In fact, I think you set this whole thing up, without even telling your brother."
"Ah, now Ayzey, you're starting to sound crazy."
"You know what I think? I think you heard your brother talking to someone, maybe himself, about wanting to elope. You then made it possible, maybe contacting him anonymously. You didn't want him to know about it. I think you also contacted Zoastas. He knew about the eloping already, as I mentioned, and I think you helped him out."
Elyssa was looking considerably more awake now. "Indeed? And why would you say all this?"
"If you were really interested in following your mother's orders, you wouldn't have been so tired. She must have told you about this earlier. Being tired gives you excuses for things... like not asking about the daughters while interrogating Tila. It also seemed to throw your mother off. And I know you well enough by now that you could have cut your date short by enough time to get some sleep. But pretending to be tired as all hell, that wasn't enough, because I might figure it out too easily."
"You're saying I deliberately deprived myself of sleep... just to fool my mother and you?" Elyssa laughed.
"Yeah, I know, sounds crazy. But interesting, wasn't it, that they were on Timeon's ship? And that Sir Timeon and all his crew were absent at the time? Rather... fortuitous, wasn't it? Unless... you arranged something. Sir Timeon knows I saved him from being eaten by a Gwes, and he owes you for not turning him and his crew in to the authorities after our first run in yesterday. A rather perfect arrangement, wouldn't you say?"
"I see. Well, that seems pretty damning evidence. What is my motive?"
"Well..." Here Ayzebel faltered a little bit. "First off, they now owe you, and I wonder what you got from them? I don't know. Maybe just to pester your mother, even you might need to blow off steam from time to time. Perhaps you also got something from Zoastas. Or even your aunt? And maybe-"
"My main reason, Ayzey, was that I do love my brother. And I want the best for him and for him to be happy. This... this was not making him happy. So... I decided to play gift demon and grant his wish. Though of course I got something out of it, couldn't help him for nothing."
"I was about to say that." Ayzebel grumbled. "And I don't expect you to tell me what you got."
"Well, a little few trinkets, but my main payment came in the form of watching you figure it all out. So you could say I was testing you. I was curious as to how you'd handle yourself. I think you did rather well. Not that I knew I'd be receiving that type of payment when I set it all up. And I am... very pleased that you noticed my role in it."
"Really?"
"Yes, though I'm surprised about one thing. Why... didn't you tell my mother that I was in on it? You kinda lied for me there. She asked you if there was anything else she should know."
Ayzebel bit her lip. "Did I lie? Well... maybe by omission. But... I did answer her question truly. She shouldn't know that you were involved so I didn't tell her. After all, she did ask if there was anything else that I thought she should know. That I thought. Well. For her sake and yours, I thought it was best to leave your part of it out. You were lucky, though, that she phrased it just so."
"Thanks Ayzey. I knew it was a risk, but it went well."
By the time they reached Elyssa's personal house, her burst of energy had failed. Ayzebel got her up and into the main room, then was about to get her to bed when someone in the main room spoke.
"Hello you t-two. I... I think... I think I need some help."
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