Squinting at Spirdor, Jevan could still hardly recognize the man who stood before him. The sides and back of his head were nearly shaven in an undercut while the top was straight and combed backward neatly. He wore the armor and regalia of a common house soldier, no piwafwi in sight. But he was tall, currently at attention he seemed a hair taller than Jevan though it may have been the boots... in addition to the height, we was much more thick both in torso and in his appendages, having apparently both put on some muscle and failed to skip any meals since last Jevan saw him.

As Jevan spoke, Kerrigan circled around the other side of Spirdor, a conspiratorial frown on her face. Just off to the side of Spirdor where Jevan knew he would be aware of her presence in periphery but unable to see her clearly, Kerrigan lifted her hand to his shoulder. Out of one long black sleeve slipped a tiny, ruby-red spider that crawled with purpose off of her hand and onto Spirdor's shoulder.

"Yes, he's grown quite a bit. Still has much to learn and strengthen with, of course" Kerrigan said flatly, watching carefully at Spirdor's reactions as the spider crawled upon him.

"Why is he in the house livery like a common soldier?" Jevan inquired as he watched the spider step onto Spirdor's shoulder. "There's nothing common about his blood."

"He's the second son of a second line. Hardly a step away from common blood; if he does well, he can earn a place as a captain of the house guard..." Kerrigan said callously, watching Spirdor's reaction to the spider crawling. "Any better than that and well... who will have to worry first, you or Welverin? Hmmm..."

The tiny ruby red spider crept its way over Spirdor's collar, lightly touching his neck before beginning the vertical ascent. Spirdor, to his credit, only tensed slightly and managed to remain at attention.
This message was last edited by the GM at 04:24, Tue 15 Mar 2022.

Jevan's gaze followed the spider's ascent. His cheek tensed only slightly at Kerrigan dismissive remark.

"If he does well it will be for the betterment of House Freth," Jevan replied tactfully. He wasn't willing to let Kerrigan pit him against Spirdor. Not yet, at any rate.

The spider continues its ascent, veering perfectly off course as it takes its first steps directly onto Spirdor's face; which manages to remain stoic passive even as the ruby arachnid traipses across his cheek.

Kerrigan however now only had eyes for Jevan, sneering at his likewise passive response. "Well? Didn't you say you had some other business to attend to Jevan? Spirdor may be here for a while. That or a very, very short time."

"Indeed I did," Jevan said, with one last look for Spirdor.

"We must be off. Good to see you as always, Kerrigan. Welverin."

"I'll see you tonight, I'm sure. Come along now, Alystia."

Jevan turned on his heels and headed for the door, only too pleased to be out of his sister's view. Bryndalyn was next in line. Hopefully that would prove to be a more enjoyable encounter.

Welverin nodded dutifully towards Jevan before turning to Kerrigan; "May I be released as well, your mistress?" he asked flatly. Kerrigan broke her stare at Jevan to turn to the weapons master and gave him a short nod at which Welverin took a deep bow and headed further into the complex towards the armory.

As they strode away, Alystia fell in step with Jevan. After they walked in silence for a bit and were well out of earshot she piped up; "She's scary. I'm glad she isn't here most of the time."

"Where does she go when she isn't here?" Jevan asked with legitimate interest. "Do you know?"

Alystia screwed up her face with thought. "I've tried following her but I'm not supposed to leave the fence. She takes lots of weapons though, and is usually gone for several cycles."

"Curious," Jevan remarked. "This is a regular occurrence then?"

Alystia bobs her head, nodding. "Yes, I've seen her less than Bryndalyn, even though she only came home last year. I think she only came home because of your return, I hope she leaves again soon."

"I'll tell you what, Alystia," Jevan said, leaning in conspiratorially. "If you come and find me the next time Kerri leaves, I'll see if I can find out where she's going."

"I'm allowed past the fence after all," he concluded with a wink.

Alystia gives a mischievous smile to that; "And you'll take me with you, right?" she says with a suggestively leading tone as if the concept was a forgone conclusion.

"We'll see about that," Jevan said with an equally mischievous grin. "Your mother would certainly never approve of it. Not if she knew anyway."

"That's what makes it fun" Alystia responded with a wink.

The drow child sprinted off ahead without giving Jevan a chance to respond, pushing through what he knew to be the doors to the kitchen. As Jevan caught up, entering the kitchen he found a busy scene before him as servants rushed about to and fro, preparing various dishes as well as things simple as eating implements meticulously picked out and carefully prepped for the evening. In the midst of it all was a woman Jevan had never seen before; currently kneeling down as she embraced Alystia.

She stood upright as Jevan approached, playfully shoving Alystia away by the top of her head as the little girl batted at her arm. Bryndalyn grew her hair long, worn up in a high ponytail yet the tips still flowed almost to her buttocks. Two bangs hung freely and framed her round face with the snow white of her natural hair, while her amber eyes studied Jevan as he approached. She was of a height with her brother, and a bit more broad-shouldered though otherwise a bit more thin in her curvaceous body. She wore functional if plain leathers at the moment, rustic brown pants and a jacket laced up to her neck. She gave Jevan a nod as he approached.

"So, should we introduce ourselves or simply pretend we've always known one another since we are family after all?"

Jevan smiled familiarly. "As the younger sibling I feel as if I almost have always known you," he remarked. "The family's favorite topic of conversation is family after all and I was the one here to hear all the stories while you were away. Speaking from some measure of experience though, the reverse is considerably more jarring. I for one was not suitably forewarned about Kaggan," he added with a wink.

"Its nice to make it official though. Hello, Bryndalyn."

"Making it official would be formal introductions, but we can do it your way. Hello, Jevan" Bryndalyn sad with a cool nod. "If it is any consolation, I knew not about Kaggan either; I find myself grateful that you have but two arms. Kaggan surprised me so fully that I banished him on instinct alone. The spell only lasted but a minute but mother's scorn went on for a week."

Jevan chuckled. "I stepped through the ether behind him and levitated into the air. You wouldn't believe my surprise when he rose up after me."

"Alystia here speaks glowingly of you," he said, gazing down towards his niece. "So far I have found her to be a remarkably good judge of character."

"Flattery, dear brother? And from that statement am I meant to reverse the engineering and assume that since she is currently accompanying you, that logic would extend back upon yourself?" she responded, her mouth turning up on one side as she let out a small laugh herself. "Alystia will think the world of anyone who will let her get away with what she wants" she added, giving the child a sideways look and wink while Alystia pouted in protest.

"That would make her a very good judge of character," Jevan grinned. "When I was her age, I wanted the same thing."

"She is accompanying me because I have stolen her away from her mother for the afternoon - with her mother's permission of course. I thought I could do with a young assistant while I get ready for tonight and her talents seemed so woefully underutilized scrubbing the chapel apse. It is a mutually beneficial arrangement."

"Learning how to manipulate males already, little Alystia? You will go far" Bryndalyn said, covering her mouth as she giggled. She then dropped the hand and gave the girl a stern look; "You'll go further though if you can tell me what's wrong with what your uncle just said."

Alystia's jaw dropped with surprise, but she quickly bit her lip in recovery as she considered it. "It is sacrilegious for him to imply that his own needs are elevated above that of tending to Lloth's sacred chapel" the young girl delivered in a lowered voice, looking down at the ground.

Bryndalyn nodded approvingly, then looked upon Jevan and raised both eyebrows as though curious to his reaction though she said nothing as of yet.

---

19:48, Today: Fate, for the NPC Alystia, rolled 15 using 1d20.  Wisdom Check.

"Well learned, Alystia," Jevan said. "Although I might suggest that in this one instance and one instance alone, both aims are the same. The goal tonight is to impress Baenre, and that is a house affair."

"To that end parading the guard, arranging the banquette and overseeing the meal preparation are all vitally important. As is presenting a refined face. Perhaps none are as rarefied as tending to the Dark Mother's rites, but without them the evening will fail. I assure you, Bryndalyn, I was entirely scrupulous and forthcoming with Faemyra when I begged Alystia's assistance."

"The chapel is in good hands, as are all of our affairs. Forgive me if it seems I implied anything more."

Bryndalyn considered Jevan for a moment, chewing her lip. "No harm is done, but I would be in a poor position indeed if I did not assure that Alystia was capable of recognizing such slips. We all want her to succeed when she inevitably joins Arach-Tinilith, no?"

Bryndalyn then turned, sweeping her gaze out around the kitchen at the various staff tending to a myriad of tasks all attempting to act as if they were invisible yet useful to the nobles. "Your flattery on the other hand is appreciated if misplaced."

"As is only expected and proper," Jevan said, bowing his head in acknowledgement.  "We all want the best for young Alystia."

He had been away at Melee-Magthere altogether too long, it seemed. Now that he was home he would have to be more mindful of his tongue again. It was a good thing Jevan was just as good at getting himself out of trouble with it as he was at getting into trouble in the first place.

When Bryndalyn turned, Jevan did as well. "Why do you say that?" he asked. "It hardly seems as though there is a dish out of place."

Bryndalyn turned back to Jevan, looking him straight in the eyes though without the usual sneer or superiority that most high priestesses adopted. "I graduated top in my class, Jevan. And I lived, when a quarter of top priestesses do not survive the final ritual. No offense meant to your ranking in Melee Magthere, all credit is due, but Arach-Tinilith is a different beast altogether. Yet I have hardly left the house in the year since my return, mother finds no use for my talents. Do you think the kitchen is a place of much honor in the duty I can provide?"