Re: 00.00: The Shared Srory... (Everybody!)
After hearing the news about the princes, Etzagith, finally over his shock, had a million questions. He started sputtering, trying to ask three questions at once, when Menkliia waved him to silence. "Just keep it shut until we're all here," he snapped.
The door opened and two women walked in. Etz immediately recognized the foreigner who had arrived with lots of hoopla two years ago -- her unusual appearance gave her away, but she had a different air from the more carefree woman he had once observed prancing behind the carriage she was supposed to be inside. The other woman he had seen at large court functions, but he didn't know who she was. A countess, I think, or maybe a sister to one of the duchesses?
The door had barely closed when it opened again and Garland Rhaine walked in, followed by a woman Etz had never seen before. Though he was already standing with his back to the wall, Etzagith unconsciously tried to take another step away from the powerful man and glanced around again for another exit from the windowless room. I had heard that he was "out," but what's he doing here? Garland started to speak, but Menkliia held up a finger for silence.
The group stood awkwardly for only another few minutes, though it seemed like hours, when the door opened one more time. Etz recognized Stefen, the ancient potion master, and another man who looked familiar. Stefen looked to the Viscountess and Menkliia, nodding silently to the pair of them before he looked back to the newcomer. "Here's the Mage the Queen has secured, he will help us." he said, matter of factly, leaving no room for argument.
Silence filled the room then, before the man looked back from the rest of the group to Stefen. "Perhaps you should tell me what I am helping with."
Finally it struck Etz who the man was, and he struggled to remember his name, Azure? No. Cerulean? No. "Indigo! It's good to see you again." To the man's blank look, he continued, "Years ago, you came to my father's keep and made him understand that the creature with the impenetrable shell was not a threat. Your solution to surround it with a power circle that will alert us if it moves, that was brilliant."
"Rugulusen! I said shut your yap!" snapped Menkliia. Taking a breath, he nodded to the countess and to Garland's escort, who both left the room silently. Then he gestured for everyone to take a seat about the table. "This is Stefen. He's going to be your contact on this mission, though he and I will have to stay mostly out of it. We want your hands free if you have to get messy, and we may need to claim no knowledge of what you're doing. Rest assured, however, that you have the full backing of the Queen."
The room was silent as the implications of "have to get messy" sunk in. Stefen took over the narrative, "Some of might know this already, but we are trying to keep it as quiet as possible. Prince Liam and Prince Lucas are missing, they have been kidnapped ... or worse. We are putting this team together to recover them if they are alive, or to avenge them if they are not. Use whatever force is necessary, but bring those boys back unharmed!"
Before anyone could ask any questions, Menkliia jumped in. "We think that this team has a combination of skills that should be successful ..." Etzagith noticed an odd emphasis on the word 'should' and he studied the huge man's face. "... with the exception of a close-in fighter. Rhaine, here, is unmatched with a blade, but you really need a second person, someone who could fight in a crawlspace, or if you have to give up your weapons." He turned and glared at Etzagith, leaning in with a tiny smirk on his lips. "What about you, Regulusen? Do you know anybody like that?"
Etz shrank back, uncomfortable with everyone's eyes upon him. "I, uh, I... Yeah, I, umm, know somebody," the rogue stammered. He expects us to fail, Etzagith realized. He wants to make sure he has a scapegoat. Etz found his courage and locked eyes with the soldier. "In fact, he'd be perfect, and I'm pretty sure he is still living here in Druvir. I'll ask him if he's interested."
"You don't ask," said Menkliia, "you tell."
Stefen had a more cooperative tone, "Etzagith, go find him, convince him he needs to help. All of you, go get whatever gear you need and be back here an hour before sunset. I'll show you the nursery, and we'll go over what rituals we've already tried, unsuccessfully, to locate the boys." He looked up, as if he were checking the position of the sun, though the room had no windows. You have two hours.
Etzagith stood slowly. His first desire was to find a way to get to Jia, to reassure her and get her take on it all, but now he was committed to finding Manaolana and getting back here in two hours. He didn't think he could make it. He walked away from the castle, towards Chapel Road, and slipped into an alley. After dusting himself off, he flipped his cloak around to the nice side, eased out the collapsible hat, and popped it open on his head. Feeling a little more presentable, he stepped into the side entrance of Marko's Jewelery.
Marko looked up as he entered, then quickly glanced around to see that the store was empty. "Chameleon," he whispered as he hobbled over to close the window shade, "did you bring me something? It's full daylight!" Again he looked around nervously.
"No," Etz replied, "I'm just looking for information." He slid three coins across the counter. "I'm looking for the guy they call 'The Monk.' Manaolana is his real name. He's the guy who was with me that time I bought you and your friend drinks at the Dirty Duck." They both knew he referred to the pub 'The Silver Goose.'
"Him? Yeah, he's working for, uhh, old Geraff Potter. Something about the purity of crafting useful things with your hands. He's probably there, now. Now me, I like a piece of porcelain to be beautiful as well as just functional. It's a ..."
Etzagith cut him off. "Yeah, thanks a load, Marko." He slid a fourth coin across the counter. "You've been a real help." Stepping out the front door, the rogue strode across the street as if he had an important business engagement. While turning the corner, he casually collapsed his hat and tucked it into the lining of his cloak without breaking stride. At the next corner, he took the cloak off and folded it over his arm; and around the next he put it back on, reversed this time. Fifteen minutes later he was in the pottery studio, standing over the former monk who was pumping the wheel rhythmically with his foot as he centered a lump of stoneware on the wheel.
Etz coughed quietly to get his attention, then said, "Manaolana, we have to talk."
This message was last edited by the player at 21:21, Wed 08 Apr 2020.