Koming Klean over Kvass

Emblem of Ea - Monday, August 29, 2022, 8:54 PM

In the wake of the spectacle of their last mission, Zofija opts to take the opportunity to get to know Elyanna via a post-job drink, an invitation the reserved hobkin accepts. Ordering drinks and an appetizer at the TaRrAcE they briefly touch upon the consequences of the mission, and talk drifts toward a topic of a previous, stunted conversation: The Siege of Stone Talon. Elyanna reveals some pertinent details of how it played out as she understood it, and her own role in same when they are joined by Slixvah, who is acting as waitstaff under a glamor. She joins them in conversation as things continue, and the darker aspects of Elyanna's relationship with the forces of Blar and Bludgun who were contetsting ownership of that city come to light, though she is soon to return to work. Zofija relates more of her own motivations toward adventuring for hire, so far from their mutual home, and with some more discussion, touching on their mutual acquaintance, Ashes, over several rounds of Kvass, they part company, with the expectaction that more such encounters would occur.

-=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=-<* The TarRaCe *>--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=-

Inside, this two-story structure has been almost completely opened up. Generous windows on both stories allow daytime sunlight and cooling night breezes to flow in as needed, while the brick walls have been whitewashed - contrasting with the dark-stained beams and supports, and the rich polish on the wooden floor. A broad strip of stone runs from the entrance to a framed doorway set into the opposite wall, with a sign above the lintel declaring that the baths are to be found that way.

The ground floor is sprinkled with tables and chairs of assorted sizes, offering welcome to guests both large and small. One whole corner of the building - into which guests are not permitted entry - has been given over to the kitchen, which serves as the domain of the famed monster chef Ligum Serforus. Mundane meals are available, but the chef delights in offering up obscure dishes made from the freshest of monster ingredients.

Opposite the kitchen a small bar runs in front of an array of shelves, displaying a broad selection of beverages (most of them alcoholic). The bar-top has been fashioned from what looks to have been old pieces of armor, fused and welded together before being polished to provide a near-smooth finish. Set above it, three human-sized statues have been built into an alcove in the wall: Tarien, Rada and Ceinara jointly keep benevolent watch over the room and its occupants.

To the right of the entrance, a small stage offers a platform for a handful of performers at a time. To the left of the door, a spiral staircase of wrought iron winds its way up to a balcony dining area, that is chiefly reserved for special events and parties.

-=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=-- Contents --=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=-
 Elyanna         A grim, Arvek-blooded woman in raven feathers.        0s   8m
 Slixvah         A rust red and white Egalrin (disguised as a human) 8s   2h
 Zofija          A well-dressed Arvek-Nar with a big hammer.           2m   4m
-=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=-

The Tarrace, late afternoon.

Zofija really wasn't expecting her offer to go out for drinks after to be accepted, but she certainly wasn't going to turn it down, either. So it was that after making sure that her mount was cared for and stabled, that she made her way through the city, down to the lower districts where the majority of the drinking establishments were. Down in the colosseum district, the arvek-nar stepped into the Tarrace to take a look around, and see if Elyanna was already there. The hobgoblin's armor was stowed away, but they still remained mostly in their military dress.

The aftermath of their mission certainly touched a few spots, particularly as possibilities, ambition and moralities were aired out amongst the group.

Elyanna had, in the interim, swapped out her damaged adventuring threads for a suit of militant cut, though in her family colors, emblazoned at breast and shoulder with the von Diesel coat of arms. A more common black cloak stands in for her feathered affair, though aside from her buckler, the halfbreed is yet fully armed.

The von Diesel scion awaits her countryman not far from the door, affecting the regimented poise of her inherent(if tenuous) station.

Upon sighting Zofira, she begins to move that way with a soft, "Greetings." <goblin-talk>

Zofi scanned the room until she found Elyanna wasn't too far away from the start. The cavalier chuckles, removing her hat and offering a bow.

"Hey Elyanna, good to see you, and see you didn't leave me out to dry." She chuckles. "Should I find a table, or did you want to find a seat at the bar? I hope I didn't keep you too long, I had to make sure Screech was okay and not hurt by everything." <goblin-talk>

Elyanna's return bow is precise, "Is that a common thing, here?" she asks upon it's completion, even as she pivots on her heel to accompany Zofija into the dining area, proper.

She gives the question a couple of paces' consideration, then, "A table would be better, I expect. My status within the eyes of the masses is... complicated."

Selecting one, she reaches out to draw a chair for them, "It's good that you care for him(...?)" <goblin-talk>

"Hm? Nah, just felt like it'd be polite. Didn't need to return it, but I appreciate it that you did." Zofi chuckles, waving away the notion before she follows Elyanna into the room. "Ah, I don't care what they think seeing you or me for being with you. I invited you out for drinks after all, but if you're more comfortable at a table, then fine by me." She adds with a light snort, before she takes a seat down at the table.

"Here, it's a bit hard to tell if you don't know them. I'd be a pretty horrible cavalier if I didn't care for my companion. Speaking of which-"

Zofija reaches into her coat, and pulls out a vial she sets down on the table. "Drink this, please. You're worrying me a bit trying to put on a stoic face the way you did, it doesn't pay to ignore your injuries." <goblin-talk>

The red woman arches an eyebrow briefly at the beginning of Zofija's reply before her lips part in a silent 'ah' of epiphany.

Once the two hobs are properly situated, with Elyanna making certain her view affords her line of sight to the entrances, she clarifies, "I'd meant the 'leaving you out to dry', though it's well to return respect with same, no?"

There is a little nod as the fullblood affirms proper concern for her mount, but she lifts a hand as the bottle is brought forth, "Thank you, but you will need that at some point. I will see Ashes soon enough." <goblin-talk>

"Ah, that. Well, depends on the day and how people are feeling. It's not a common occurrence, but it stings enough that sometimes it creeps into the back of your mind, you know?" The arvek-nar chuckles weakly, rubbing the back of her head. "Are you sure? It'd mean you can relax a bit more here, but I guess I should save it if that's the case. They're not cheap, but I'd say you're worth spending it on to make sure you're okay."

The cavalier grunts once, and sighs, before she looks for a menu that was at hand. "Well, at least you're able to see her again. Hope she's doing alright." <goblin-talk>

Elyanna nods thoughtfully, "I see." she replies in a soft volume.

She settles in, then, glancing at the menu for a moment, then, "She was hale last I saw her."

A pause, then she alights her steel eyes upon the other hob's and, not wishing to spill what may be personal details of her friend, turns toward, "You are... alright... about that business with the scroll??" <goblin-talk>

"That's, good. I tried to check up on her a quite a few times, but seems like she was always somewhere else or just away, so it's good she's okay at least. I was a bit worried about her." Zofija sighs. She looks up from her menu, and catches Elyanna looking at her, and the cavalier sighs once again.

"Yeah I'm, alright, thanks for asking Ely." She grunts. "Sorry that's, I couldn't help but see the parallels with everything that happened, and what the artificer was proposing. I shouldn't have made as big a deal of it as I did." <goblin-talk>

"I will convey your well wishing next I see her." Elyanna affirms with a small dip of the chin. The familiar abridgement of her name strikes an odd note in the back of her mind, but she is too composed to make overt note of it. Instead, she pushes on with the topic at large, "We aren't familiar, but I doubt the artificer has seen the cost in such... innovation. For her martial readiness, I scarce expect she's encountered death on any grand scale."

A pause, then, "It isn't like you cut her throat. I've done very few guild jobs, and most of them have involved some form of... discord within the bands sent forward."

A ghost of something touches the corners of her expression, "Humans have a... tendency toward innovation." <goblin-talk>

"Appreciate it, if she isn't going out to see me or I can't find her, then so be it, but I still wish her well." Zofija nods, offering what could pass as a smile, if it didn't waver so much. "Sorry, don't feel like talking about that so much right now." "Probably hasn't, or thinks they can do a better job of it. Little of both maybe, but I can't read someone's mind." Zofija grunts. "It happens, and I try to avoid it usually, not be at the forefront of it. Not good for morale or just getting the job done in general."

"Humans do, but so do 'nar. After all, it's that Deaztor scum who caused all that trouble. Now if there's anyone who's throat I would cut, it'd probably be her." <Goblin-talk>

A grim nod, and, then Elyanna returns, "Then we ill discuss it no more." with a a brief lift of her hand in a placative posture. <goblin-talk>

She turns toward a server that, by now, has deigned to approach the table with the usual, "Greetings, ladies, welcome to the Tarrace. Can I interest you in an appetizer, or perhaps some drinks?"

"Hello, yes, a pitcher of Kvass, if you would?" the red woman requests, then turns her attention to Zofija, "And you?"

"Thanks, appreciate it. Came out here to enjoy myself and some company, and get to know you after all." Zofija grins. And speaking of enjoying themself, there was the waitress! <goblin-talk>

"Kvass sounds good, make it a big enough pitcher for both of us. Don't worry, I'll pay for it." Zofija says. "Some garlic bread or something to snack on would be good too, do you want anything Ely? Oh! And, just, something fruity, whatever the bartender feels like making otherwise."

"That sounds sufficient, thank you." Elyanna returns as the ball is returned to her court, and her hands rest atop each other.

As the waitress seems satisfied with that, and assures the two that it will be coming right up before venturing to the back to see that done.

A soft exhale through her nostrils, then, "What would you care to know??" <goblin-talk>

"Never even thought to ask if they have kvass here, but that's good, thanks for pointing it out Ely." The cavalier grins. "And get to know you, not just get to know things. Though, if I did want to know something, how do you keep your hair like that? I don't know many Arvek-nar with hair like yours. It looks really nice, though." <goblin-talk>

"The menu list is fairly expansive." Elyanna replies, "There is also Ma Rosie's, in goblintown."

A sigh, then, "I'm not allowed there, anymore." she amends, managing not to show any embarrassment over the affair, "But that story is not merely my own."

The course change to her hair brings an eyebrow up with a glance toward the bangs on her right side, "My hair? What... about it?" <goblin-talk>

"Yeah, those chefs here are some wizards in the kitchen, in the metaphorical sense. At least, pretty sure." Zofi chuckles, raising one brow at the comment. "Oh? Well it sounds like an interesting place. Sounds like there's a story there, but you don't have to share if you don't feel like it."

Zofija stretches and resettles into the chair, grinning to Elyanna. "Yeah, your hair! It's well, it's long, but it's still real pretty and well cared for. What's your secret for keeping it looking so good, or does it just come natural to you? I suppose that wouldn't be that surprising." <goblin-talk>

"It may embarrass other parties if I go into it." Elyanna explains with a slight shrug, "It has dancers, gambling and drinking."

Her hand lifts to gently rub her tresses between thumb and fingers, "Nature plays a fair part. The rest is an aspect of my limited arcane talents."

Glancing to her countryman's mane in turn, "Will you trust me?" <goblin-talk>

"Sounds like it has all the makings of a good story to me. But I get it if you don't want to implicate others." Zofija snorts, taking her drink as it arived, which looked icy and orange. "Thanks, appreciate it." She nods to the waitress.

"Well, seems nature was real kind to you, Ely, and if the magic is something you know, that's just part of you, isn't it?" The cavalier chuckles. "Even after getting out of the bathhouse, mine's just back to being unruly the moment all the water is gone."

"Course I trust you, I came out here with you, didn't I? Didn't come to throw you under suspicion." She replies quickly, as if the thought didn't even cross her mind.

Elyanna smiles faintly and dips her head, "Very kind, thank you."

She, too, looks up to the waitress with another quiet, "Thank you."

A short hesitance, a silence allowed to linger until the server is gone, then, "In so much as a skill, yes."

She considers the woman a few moments more, then, her fingers flex and twist in several postures as she begins to whistle a short, intricate diddy. Her eyes drift up toward Zofija's scalp and a subtle, if slightly peculiar sensation begins at her pate', it then changes a mild touch and works it's way down to the woman's feet as any perspiration, dirt or other such surface contaminations are cleansed in the power of her invocation.

Zofija swirls her drink around for a bit until she finally takes a sip of it with a happy sounding noise. "Well, magic is different, you gotta have an aptitude for it, and it drains you in a way labor doesn't usually tend to." She notes, before she sits a bit still and watches Elyanna as she seems to be working some form of magic. The cavalier blinks, then grins, shaking out her head and hair once. "By the gods, that feels great, what I wouldn't give to have a spell like that on some of my marches." she grunts. "Appreciate that, really. How do I look? At least half as good as you do? Bit more?" <goblin-talk>

Despite her generally dour demeanor, Elyanna seems somewhat amused by that, "It does. I've never heard the difference properly put into words."

She cants her head, then, "I could show you the techniques, but depending on your aptitudes, it may take a while for you to grasp that particular spell."

A beat, "I can even change the color for a time, if you wish." <goblin-talk>

"Well, I spent a lot of time thinking about that. Little brother has magical aptitude you know, so I was always trying to figure out how to help out where I could." Zofi chuckles. "Maybe I could have learned too, but I never had the time to. Maybe I could pick it up with enough time, who knows?"

"What's that about changing the color? Sure, why not!" Zofija laughs. "Sounds like fun, change it to whatever you want it to look like, that sounds fine with me. Might learn your favorite color in the process as a bonus!" <goblin-talk>

"It's as much an ear for tune as force of personality, more than appeal to higher powers or gifts of the blood..." Elyanna begins, seems to have another thought, then, "Rather, gifts such as sorcerors get."

Her head cambers a little to one side, a brow aching as some glimmer of... something touches her eyes, "Your brother is a caster, then?"" she speculates.

Even as she does so, she flicks a glance to the other woman's short tresses, and the strands' hue transitions from root to tip into a rich, shimmering auburn.

"What do you think of this, then?" the hobkin inquires. <goblin-talk>

The two Hob born are settled in at a table with a pitcher, tankards and an appetizer between them, situated to give the ruddier of the two a view of the entrances, neither is visibly armoured, though she, herself is still quite armed.

You never know /when/ they're around. But sometimes things just...

"I'm terribly sorry, ma'am, I forgot that those come with /two/ umbrellas. Here is another on the house. And some water," a silky toned human woman hums as she drops off a fruity drink to the table (with two umbrellas!) and a pitcher of water. They're dressed in slacks and a vest, with her rust red hair slicked back and a red headband keeping it in place.

She reaches behind her back, pulls out two empty glasses, and sets them down. "Don't want to get a hangover now, do we?" she chirps. <Goblin-talk>

Her sky blue eyes crinkle with amusement.

"Yeah, there's all sorts of magic, aren't there? Sorcery, druidic magic, divine prayers, you know the lot." Zofija chuckles. "Ah, yeah, he's a spellcaster, or at least he wants to be. That's why I'm saving up so I can get him into a good wizard's college, away from Blar probably. Don't want them drafting him into the military when they thing they don't have enough or something like that."

The Arvek-nar blinks, and chuckles to the woman who stopped by. "Another example, some people just get adorable little birds who tell them 'hey, you can do magic now.'" She laughs, before looking up to her hair, and smiling. "Looks real nice Ely, you think it looks good reddish like that?" The Arvek-nar asks. "And what do you think, Slix? Thanks for the drink by the way, appreciate it. You aren't going to get in trouble offering me that, are you?" <goblin-talk>

Elyanna takes in the woman's retort with a thoughtful reserve, a glimmer fading a touch before she nods, "You don't think much of our homeland." <goblin-talk>

She lets that hang for a moment, perhaps to percolate, when her eyes flit toward the arrival of a... supplementary server and she straightens just a little.

There's probably something there, though the congenial response of her tablemate seems to somewhat mollify whatever paranoias were at play under her poised veneer.

"It seemed a viable choice. Not quite so dramatic or extravagant as some, but, I can keep making adjustments for quite some time, should you wish." the red woman explains, switching to her somewhat stilted Trade and chasing that with a polite, "Hello."

The bartender raises a brow, glancing between the two with a soft smile. But she rubs her neck as her serving tray is held under an arm. "By house, I mean me. I'm a house. A brick house. Anyways," she thumbs her nose, leaning on a back foot. "What do I think? Uh... magic stuff? It's pretty rad, though most have a hard time getting a wrap around it." <Goblin-Talk>

She drops the tongue, clearly not her native one as she switches to something more local. "Oh?" she hums, looking the attire over. "I think it looks quite nice! I'm partial to red-" she swishes her hair- "but it goes well together!"

Her smile is broad and winning. "Why hello!" she coos back to the unknown hob. "Slixvah Unmesi, I'm bartending!"

Something tweets in her pocket.

"Oh shush I know I'm not tending the bar right now, let me pester my friend," she stage whispers to said pocket.

"Nah, it's not that I don't think much of our homeland, Ely. It's more so, I've seen the absolute bottom I guess. It'll be home no matter what, and gods I want things to get better there, but there's a lot of growing to do." The arvek-nar corrects, and sighs. She takes a sip of her drink, followed by a stick of garlic bread that hangs slightly out of her mouth. "Don't worry, this is my friend Ely, she's not going to cause you any trouble. Less you ask for it." She says. <goblin-talk>

"Well, that's only fair you like it Slix, you're the most positive person about themself that I know. I don't see you taking odd jobs around that often, but seems like a good fit for you. And everyone's body is a temple, as they say."

"I just invited out Elyanna for food and drinks, so we're relaxing here. How are you doing?"

Elyanna bows her head slightly, "I am Elyanna von Diesel, well met." she returns, still reserved.

She's had wanted posters posted not long ago, which may have something to do with it.

She sighs a moment in thought as Zofija's words come back her way and she nods once again, "I have seen it as well, but I've also seen us reach higher, at Stone Talon."

Stone Talon does prompt a troubled flicker in her expression, but she continues, "I've not spent a lot of time there, and I would know more of it, as time permits." <goblin-talk>

Slix's mouth runs faster than her brain. "Good thing I like a good temple." Pause. Face smack with the serving tray. It rings with a solid >ding!<. "Nice ta meetcha, Elyanna von Diesel" she murmbles behind it.

Pulling the tray away to reveal a tomato red hue plastered against a normally pale complexion, it doesn't seem like she's recognizing them from anything other than some vague comradarie between Elyanna and- "Zofi! Doin' good! Been on an odd job streak as of late! A little here, a little coffee sellin' there, fixin' boo boos over yonder. Ya know the dig."

She looks between the two for a moment, the blush having faded away by now. "I see, I see. Well, Muscles here is a good woman. Been with in many-a-scraps with her. We've been friends fo'... a bit now? Yeah, quite a bit."

The talk of Stone Talon is understood clearly, but she doesn't comment on it, the 'human' knowing well when to keep her mouth shut and just watch.

"Von diesel? I thought those clothes were looking a bit fancy with their markings." The arvek-nar grunts. "Then you know where I'm coming from, yeah? I'm not sure about stone talon. Still feels like the bottom to me, at least in some ways."

Zofi stops, and chuckles, patting the not-egalrin on the shoulder. "When they say a body is a temple, means you have to take good care of it, you know? And what's this about selling coffee? I guess bartending isn't that far from that."

The cavalier sighs, and nods to Elyanna. "You said you can keep changing my hair color, so you can keep doing that if you want, I like seeing what you come up with. As for stone talon, I think I talked about it a bit on that job. S'where my sister died. Deaztor's still alive you know, they carted her off to blar. I don't even know if they're punishing her for what she did." <Goblin-talk>

Elyanna arches an eyebrow at the bonk that seems to have left an interesting hue on the human's face, "We have only worked together once, though we had met, previous." she offers in counter. A glance to Zofija, then, "She is capable, and generous as I have seen."

With the other hob's return, her eyes swivel that way and she considers that, or, at least, how to answer that.

"I know... there are things our people need to unlearn, as I did." she begins, "Stone Talon was the desperate grind of progressively darker and darker wills against each other. Blar is not so long divorced from Bludgun, after all."

Here, her eyes lower, half lidding and she sighs, "The Doktor was defeated by others, before I arrived with a medical relief force of sorts, and returned to our homeland after I returned to Alexandria, but I know neither the circumstances of her capture, or her final disposition."

She shrugs a little, "It would be a mutiny, driven by conscience, that would lead us to ultimately break the siege."

Slixvah bemoans, lulling her head back dramatically. "I knoooooow, I'm just bein' a dumb bird." She recomposes herself easily, giggling behind a hand. An expressive sort, this one. "Yeah, sellin' coffee at a lil' place near the University."

The bartender twists her lips off to the side, listening to them go back and forth (with a little sad twinge at the mention of Zofi's sister, eliciting a memory from that). Whatever this history being spoken of was clearly being drank in by the 'human'. But at this, she speaks, "I know what'cha mean about tryin' ta unlearn stuff. My people have a history of screwin' up pretty bad, and have been strivin' ta fix that."

Zofija looks up and raises a bit of hair with her fingers and makes a 'huh' sound. Then her attention is back on Elyanna and Slixvah. "Well, I'm just glad I'm dependable enough. I just like looking out for my friends, too." Zofija chuckles. "Maybe I'll go over there some time for coffee if that's the case, would you want to come with, Ely?"

It was distraction from the topic somewhat, furthered by a long drink of her beverage. "Yeah, we aren't that far from Bludgun, even if we do everything we can to make it seem like it. Still a lot of growing to do, you're right. I think you're doing fine fitting in now, Ely, but some things take time. I'm sure you made a big help in Stone talon, I mean, given the job we just went on, you're really tough."

The red woman's introspective air doesn't seem to abate much as the conversation around her continues, though as her eyes seek each speaker as their due, she's still paying attention. She takes a moment to digest appraisals and offers both before she reaches out to pour some of the vaguely raisiny Kvass into her tankard from the pitcher.

"The commander in charge of the siege was... focused on victory above all..."

The von Diesel scion takes a slow sip of her Kvass to wet her pallatte, as this is likely going to be an involved telling, and she slips into her father tongue for the comfort of it as both the speakers are familiar, "Her subordinate, a leftenant Colonel, would take command with the help of a Jotun Warrior named Thurid, and a Sith hunter, named Tenoc, as well as a pair of holy blades, a human named Brand, and a Mul'niessa, Shalethista."

The tankard settles back upon the table, yet doesn't leave her hand, "The battle was brief, but fierce by all accounts, with the human felled and in dire straits. The paladins returned via airship with a shipment of wounded, as well as the Doktor, and deposed Colonel." <goblin-talk>

Slixvah, the 'human' bartender, gestures towards Zofi. "I do make a pretty mean cuppa', I've learned," she grins widely before her attention shifts to the red woman.

Her weight slides over to her back foot, head cocked to the side with her lips quirking in the same direction. "So that's what happened," she relays back in the same tongue, genuinely curious of this facet of history, and perfectly okay with hearing the to hobs go back and forth on it. <Goblin-Talk>

Zofi finishes off her first drink, and moves to her second, taking out one umbrella so she had room to drink. The cavalier however, kept her focus on Slixvah and Elyanna.

"Yeah, that sounds in line with how a commanding officer would think." Zofija sighs. "You know, I was happy to move out and work in the Myrrish kingdoms, to an extent. But it wasn't my choice either, and it meant I had to leave my family behind for that. Least the pay was better, still."

"I hope the leftenant was more sensible. Hopefully those people you're talking about were able to help them see a bit of reason. Shame someone had to die as part of that, though."

"It's just, you know, someone like that shouldn't have been able to get in charge in the first place, and Deaztor should have been stopped sooner. Lot of checks just didn't work the way they were supposed to, or that was the first time they should have been put into practice, and they were lacking." Zofija sighs.

Elyanna sighs, her forefinger peeling back only to tap against the tankard several times, before the halfbreed brings the vessel to her lips for another swig, nodding to the words of Slixvah, then anew to those of Zofija, "She was, and with the Gods' grace, she still is."

She decides to continue her recitation, though there is a flicker of something in her eyes before she finally goes on, "A human named Hades and I accompanied the airship's return flight with medical supplies donated by Alexandria. The change at the reins wouldn't be immediately felt until after we'd arrived."

The red woman's eyes hold steady as she goes into this next part of the story, though her other hand joins the first in keeping the Kvass from wandering off, "The Leftennant Colonel, Gadranay, would have our support to her claim when the Commander's other chosen returned. Thurid's stature as a Jotun, and again one of the Mountain's Warriors, would sway the others to falling in line... as would my own, less glorious reputation."

She turns to look down to the heraldry emblazoned upon her breast and a hand lifts to trace a cinnibar fingertip along the embroidered edge, "I was born in Blar, to the House von Diesel, a proud family. One much inclined to martial discipline, and the sanctity of choosing one's life."

The steel eyes close for a pregnant moment, then open anew, "Stolen in the night... an enemy of my father would have me raised in Bludgun..."

Her hand lowers beneath the table before the coils of a lash are laid upon it; this a thing braided from multiple hues of hair, culimating in a scintilating popper of silken silver tresses, "As Otilla Silverlash." <goblin-talk>

GAME: Slixvah rolls knowledge/local: (9)+5: 14
GAME: Zofija rolls knowledge/local: (15)+8: 23

Slixvah's brows raise to new heights as the story goes on. Her head tilts this way and that, keeping track of the names and filing them away. "Jeez, it's like I'm reading a drama, so much going on..." Unfortunately, Slix's history and local knowledge of such ongoings were nil, as she didn't grow up anywhere near this stuff, as she lived much, much further to the north.

This is reflected by her lack of surprise of this revelation. Or, rather, a glance to Zofija to see how she is supposed to act. <Goblin-talk>

Zofija had her second drink and was sipping it much less quickly as she listened to the story being shared. Her expression was unreadable for some time.

"You did some good work there by the sounds of it, they all did too. I don't know many noble families in Blar, though." "That though, shit, I thought I had it rough growing up, but that's pretty bad, Ely. I'm sorry you had to go through something like that. At least you're out now, and, that's certainly a way to kill your past, isn't it? no one's looking for them now I hope."

"Me? I'm just some 'nar who was always one or two steps away from being on the streets." Zofija grunts. "Mom died in the uprising against the crimson templars, dad got his spine cracked for his troubles. So, you know, as the eldest daughter, it was my job to step up and do what I could to make sure everyone was still fed and clothed. I've told Slix about it before, but I guess what I'm trying to say is, I'm not sure. Sorry you had to go through things like that I guess." <goblin-talk>

Zofija turned to Slixvah after a moment, and sighed. "Otilla was at Stonetalon mountain too. I'll let Elyanna explain, if she wants to. Not my place to say something like that, if she has her reasons for not mentioning it."

The human's return ticks an eyebrow up for a moment, before her words seem to set a response on pause. It was entirely possible the Hobkin was going to end up wearing at least one drink, after all.

As it seems, however, with Zofija's take on the affair with some familiarity with at least some of what happened sets Elyanna to slightly less alert.

"It's good... to see to your family, though for your loss, you have my condolences."

As Slix still seems a bit less afluent in the background information, the red woman deigns to continue, "In Bludgun, I was a Keeper, one who captured, broke and managed slaves." her tone grave, but her expression level, "Once Gadranay conferred with us about strategy, I chose to lead a unit to clear the Collosseum of prisoners and slaves. That is what she means, Slixvah." <goblin-talk>

Slix reaches up to scratch the side of her cheek, blatantly obvious her having no earthly idea what was being discussed with names and houses and nobility. She nods along with Zofi about being told of this stuff on Zofi's side before.

The extra explanation from Zofi makes a brow raise. "Double double..." she murmurs, looking back to Elyanna. She winces from the revelation. But laxes as she hears that folks were freed. "So... ya helped out on breakin' folk out when the time was right? Yeeesh. That right sucks for the lot. Sorr' loves." <Goblin-Talk>

"Easy, easy, Elyanna. I know who Otilla was, I'm not gonna string you up over the past." Zofi offers placatingly, one hand held up. "You're trying to make a change, and it wasn't your choice to do what you did. You got out of it, and you're trying to get better, that's what matters."

"Bludgun is, there's a reason why Blar wanted to break off. Things like slavery, like that." Zofi adds to Slixvah, lowering her voice somewhat to avoid being overheard. "Otilla freed a bunch of slaves there. As far as the reports go, she died fighting one of Bludgun's champions, alongside Thurid. Least that's what I heard."

"So, you've got your opening to go make what you want of your life now. How's that going?" Zofija asks with one raised brow.

Elyanna bows her head a touch in a nod. That is... close enough, she supposes.

Kvass raised, it hesitates for a moment for her to offer an awkward, "Thank you." before taking a healthier swig.

She reaches out to return the whip to her belt, then, "I did what I could, but, we liberated the city in the end. Not dead, but only just, thanks to a Mourner named Vibibi. If you are ever in the Temple to Angoron, Thurid could tell you more of the final battle. I had fallen before she could triumph."

The question brings a vague disquiet to her generally composed demeanor, but she answers, "I've struggled to adapt, though.... it seems Alexandria isn't always so different from what I knew. Not falling back into old habits is sometimes... challenging." there is a look into the surface of her beverage, then, "Perhaps... talk of lighter things, then...?" she proposes.... <goblin-talk>

"The bartender lets out a breath of air. "Jeesh. I'm glad at least ya able to relax a touch and adapt here in this city, yeah?"

Slixvah shifts a bit on her feet, up on the toes of her boots as she shifts the serving tray to be under the other arm. "So... how'd you two meet?" she inquires.

"I uh, yeah, sorry, didn't mean for it to come out like that, Ely. I'm sorry." Zofija grunts, rubbing the back of her head and giving the hobgoblin an apologetic smile. "Sometimes I put my foot in my mouth when I don't think things through. Habits are hard to break, otherwise they wouldn't be habits. And it's a concious effort, but, I think you're up to the task. You seem pretty strong, after all."

"Talking of lighter things is good, yeah." She agrees, taking a sip of her drink. "I don't know Ely that well to be honest, something I was hoping to fix, at least a bit, coming here. One of Ashlee's friends, so I met her at the Fernwood a couple times. As for now, first time I saw her out in a while was on a recent job, so, figured I'd invite her out, yeah?"

There is a nod, and Elyanna replies, "To some measure." in regards to adaptation, but doesn't expand on the principle any further as such.

She takes another swig of the fermented rasin beverage and nods in affirmation of Zofija's summation, "It was a welcome thing, and perhaps a chance to come to know more of my countrymen."

She glances between the women, and, "And yourselves?"

Slixvah's brows rise high. "Ooh, one of Ashlee's friends," she coos, rocking on the balls of her feet. There's a watching look to Zofi before she smiles warmly. "I see, I see, that's pretty cool. I'm glad ya'll wantin' ta hang."

The question makes her perk up. "Oh! We met on a mission heading ta Blar, actually," she laughs. "Went in a teleporting circle, got goofed up! Fought stuff! It was great!" Stage whisper: "It was terrible." Perks up. "But we lived!"

"Well, if you ever need help, feel free to hit me up. Seriously, I'm not great with things sometimes, but if you ever need someone to talk to, I try to be around." Zofi grunts. "Be happy to, really."

"Well I'm glad it was welcome, or I'm welcome, kinda like Slix said. Hope I still am. Not many arvek-nar around to hang out with." The cavalier chuckles. "Yeah, that job went to the hells from the get go. Teleported wrong way off course, into an old abandoned guard tower. Something had gone wrong with what they were storing there first hand. But we were alright, even if a bit worse for wear. I don't recommend trying to get a gryphon out of a cellar."

There comes a little shake of the head, then, "No, there is not. There was a male, Gregor, whom I had worked with briefly shortly after my.... defection." Elyanna replies, "But, I have not heard much of him in the years, since."

She spends a moment considering Slix's story, then, with Zofi's addendum, she actually snorts at the visual of it, "I bet that was fun!" <goblin-talk>

Slixvah smacks a hand to her forehead. "Ugh, yes, getting Screech out was a /pain/."

She rubs her arm. "Fun is a word! We all walked out bleeding and barely breathing!" The grimace on her face belies it was anything but. "At least we got drinks in Blar."

"Well, I'll keep them in mind, I suppose. Least you and Ash are nice. And, yeah, fun was certainly a word for it. Honestly, if it was a horse, it'd probably be impossible, least they can get some purchase with their front talons." Zofi chuckles. "Way was clear once we were out though, and getting into the city was easy enough. Found out that Slix was fun to be around, so I suppose we've been friends since then. We've been through a fair bit."

Elyanna nods, her humor sobering as her eyes half lid, "I am... learning." before reaching out to the pitcher to top off her tankard.

With that done, she takes it up and, "A toast to friendship."

A pause, and her head tilts a smidge as she glances between the others, "This is the local custom, yes?"

Slixvah giggles behind a hand, an elbow nudging Zofi in the arm. "Yea, been through a decent bit of trouble. Good thing I'm good a fixin' people up! And I'm fun!"

There's a blink as there a toast, and the human bartender whirls around to steal a glass behind her from a busy patron. There's a 'hey!' before she raises her glass. "To friendship!" she chirps happily.

"Learning's good. And it's nice to see ya laugh." Zofi grunts, nudging the not-egalrin back. "Yeah, handy to have someone who can heal around, what with the fact I'm the one most likely to get injured on a job."

"It is custom here, something like that." Zofija grins, taking a mug for her share of the kvass and filling it up. "To friendship!" The cavalier cheers, raising her mug up and jostling Elyanna's slightly, avoiding the one she wasn't sure would be returned to the patron from before or not.

Since the toast went well, Elyanna takes a sip once things are joined and sets the tankard aside. She considers the human's antics for a curious moment or two, then, "Those who can heal are sometimes all that keep a team from standing before the Fieu of the Tears."

Cheerful thought, that, but there have been entirely too many close calls of late for her not to share at least that wisdom.

Slixvah totally downs the stolen drink. She grimaces. It was something rough. The way she drinks it though is odd, the cup touches the corner of her mouth and its poured in sideways. She sighs in relief after shuddering, and gives the glass back to the patron. "I'll make ya another one," she excuses to them, waving their complaints away. "Ye ye, don't wanna let folks chat up Fieu just yet. They got stuff ta do. That's my job! I make sure tha things go smooth, and I gotta little stuff ta nudge things the right way."

"Ah, that's the danger of taking someone else's drink, not sure if it'll turn out to be something you like." Zofija laughs, patting Slix on the back after downing her own drink. "Yeah, close calls are, part of the business. That's why it always pays to have a healer on hand. And I guess that's why I'm trying to live a bit more, too."

"Yeah, sometimes a bit of a nudge from a spellcaster can make things go right, specially Slix. There are limits though. Like, if I wanted to ask you to go out dancing or something Ely, it wouldn't have much of a bearing on that."

"You're a bard, right? Do you sing or something like that? I bet you'd put on a great performance, whatever it is." Zofija notes, refilling her drink from the pitcher.

The human's idosyncracies draw a bit nore of those steely eyes and a pronounced arch of an eyebrow, "One day, perhaps we will work together." she muses thoughtfully. There are probably questions bbeginningto form, even if the prioritization hasn't quite congealed.

The conversation turns back her way, though, and Elyanna nods toward Zofija, "I... believe that is the closest term, here."

She glances down to the side whence her braided lash resides, "I sing, though a lot of my rrhythmcomes from my whip."

Slixvah wave it off. "I can handle a drink. One."

Though, she blinks at Zofija. Gets a large grin. "I... can actually make work a bit in your favor," she says coyly, swaying from side to side before winking.

A glance to the lash, she smooths her hair behind an ear. "Hot," <Auran> the human all but chirps in a different tongue. "That's pretty cool though! I bet the beat is sick!"

"Hopefully. Slix is real dependable, it'd be good to work together with her, or me with the two of you." Zofi grins. "Though uh, maybe not Slix, I appreciate your help, but it wouldn't be right, you know? If a compliment I give works, I want to know it's because I did something right."

"That does sound really cool though, I agree." She agrees with Slixvah. "You've got a nice voice, but people sound different when they're singing, too. I'd love to hear you perform sometime, sounds like quite the show, yeah?"

Elyanna smiles a little thoughtfully, eyes lidding some again, "It has... proven to help in the pinch as they say."

Ahem, "I have not seen anyone in Alexandria use the whips my way, and I have not met a Keeper in Bludgun who was my equal in that regard."

Slixvah pats her friend's shoulder. "I know, I know," she giggles. "Just know I've improved since then~"

She tilts her head to the side. "... a... whip performance? Now that sounds really freakin' cool. Do you set it on fire? Does it use lightning?" She's very interested.

"No? Well, now I'm even more interested." Zofi grins after sipping on her drink and pouring more. "Get to see something new, hear you sing, sounds like a good time to me."

"Can't just leave us both there now, can you tell us more about it? I said I wanted to learn more about you and what you do, and I meant it, after all."

With a glance about the crowd, "This is hardly the venue, but, perhaps soon." Elyanna declares. She squares herself up in her seat and reaches for her tankard again, "Other Keepers may have more sway of personality, or a..... firmer hand. We each have our own aproach."

With a swig, her eyes settle into the faraway, "During the final battle in Stone Talon, the Ogre Chieftan Bozug strode out to meet Thurid. Yapping at his heels was a Gnoll Keeper, Ilazz of the Lash, who deigned to... call me out(?)."

A shrug, another, more sedate sip, then, "His preference was a whip capped with blades. As Thurid and Bozug, Colonel Gadranay and an Ogress witch named Kuzria joined in battle, I, at first would find myself dancing with the mangy fool as I worked my bolstering song."

Her lips draw back into a slightly smug, almost wicked sneer, "And, within several short chords, I had sent him to the ground, disarmed him and cleared several large swaths of fur from his hide."

Slixvah blinks her shifting on her feet as the names from the battle before come up to light. She's a bit uncertain of herself if the topic was light or not, her watching Zofija for a proper reaction.

But still, she can't help but give a light little clap at that story. "Damn, that sounds like an explosive kind of fight with a weapon crackin' like that, yeah?" she grins. "What wonders just a bit of braided rope can do, eh?"

"Perhaps soon then. Another time? I'd be happy to make plans to see you again." Zofija grins. "You too, Slix, I don't think you'd want to miss it, would you?" She adds with a grin to Slixvah before she settles into the story.

"Well, that keeps with your saying that you were without equal in Bludgun, huh? Sounds like it was certainly a fight to remember. Me? I'm just strong, so I carry a big hammer. Nothing fancy like that."

"It was something... to remember." Elyanna remarks, an odd humor touching her face for a moment, then, "I was forced to move in to reinforce Thurid, whilst keeping Ilazz occupied. Ultimately, he had reclaimed his weapon for all the good it did him, but I had opened a stripe in Bozug, trying to get his attention." A shrug, then and, "I succeeded, and the Ogre managed to kill Ilazz, and nearly kill me in short order."

A somewhat awkward, perhaps haunted smile, "It was enough... it inspired Gadranay, though in her words, she would only stay him for so long before being felled in turn, while Thurid marshalled herself for the final clash."

She looks to Slixah for a moment, "Most whips are made of thin stripes of leather, braided together, I have not noted rope being used, but perhaps it is the Alexandrian way?"

Toward Zofija she nods, "Without equal with the lash is still.... somewhat short of without equal at all, but perhaps we can find a day when I can show you how my music is made."

Slixvah nods. "Yeah, another time. Maybe I could see. Maybe I might miss it and let you be a lone observer," she snickers to Zofija before she turns her attention to Elyanna.

"Ah," she hums, making a clicking sound in her throat. "Sounds like it was by the skin of ya'lls teeth, that one. Least ya show gave the inspiration ta push it over the edge?"

She blinks. "Oh. Leather? Huh. Didn't know that. Today I learned! I ain't from Alexandria at all!"

She makes a glance towards the bar. "Well, I think I'm gonna leave you two cuties be, aight? I totally haven't been neglecting my job at all for the past gods know how long. Catch ya'll on the flip, have fun you two!"

The human bartender gives a wide, charming smile as she pats Zofija on the back before heading on back. "No, I didn't forget about ya drink! Chill!"

"I uh, wouldn't mind it being that, but you'd still be welcome to hang around, Slix." Zofi chuckles weakly from behind her mug. "Hey, it sounds like you did good, that's what matters." The cavalier notes. "Things worked out, you dealt with them. Even if you needed help."

"And I'm not either, but uh, yeah. Actually kind of hard to make a proper whip, takes a specific curing of the leather and the weave has to be just right, so it can have the right tension in the movement. Least that's what I heard from some leatherworkers I knew."

"Yeah, I kept you here long enough, or Ely did, best not to lose your job or pay Slix." Zofi grunts. "Well, equal or not, sometimes you can learn from someone who's better than you, and, I dunno, I'm not ashamed to admit that."

The red woman bows her head some with a slightly contrite look in her eye, "Pardon, I had not meant to keep you from your task."

Ahem, "But, yes it was... a very near thing."

As it becomes near that the human is to depart, she offers a pleasant, "It was nice to meet you, Slixvah, have a good evening."

Then, after a new swig of kvass, the hobkin turns her aattentionback toward Zofi, "Life is full of... lessons, only a fools denies them, else they find themselves on the other side of the veil."

"Near isn't all the way, is it? That's good, isn't it? Means you're here, and I get to meet you, Elyanna." The Arvek-nar grins. "But, yeah, there's a lot of things to learn, and you should never stop learning or training. It's the best way to keep on top of things, after all. And these muscles don't keep themself in shape." She adds, chuckling and flexing one of her arms slightly. "I try to be open minded about things, keep opportunities open."

A nod, then, "You are certainly more... flexible than most of the fullbloods I have met in all my travels." Elyanna observes with a little shrug. A pause, then, "So, how did you find Screech, if I may?"

"Well of course I am, I never skip out on my stretches before exercising." Zofija notes, setting down her drink to stretch her arms out over her head and to one side, before she bursts into laughter for a moment. "Ah, but seriously, I think it was just my upbringing, or lack thereof in many ways. Didn't have a choice to be picky about work or jobs, if it meant my family would be going to bed hungry. Not proud of everything I did, but, it put a perspective on things."

"How I met Screech though? That's a fun story." The cavalier grins. "Rite of passage for all the aspiring skyguard I know of. Gotta go out on your own with a single veteran of the guard once you've proven you know what you're doing. Climb the sky curtain mountains, to the caves where they make their nests near the peaks, and take one."

"It... sounds kind of cruel, and in some ways it is, but they'd die without doing that anyways in most cases. Most pairs of griffons can only feed two young together, three on a good year, so you're only allowed to take an egg from one that had four or more eggs." Zofija explains.

At first, Zofija's initial return seems to somewhat puzzle Elyanna, though as things become less playful, there is a nod, then, and the red woman sighs, "I see. In that case, I understand in many ways."

As the story begins, however, she clams up and stacks her hands upon the table, staring intently though perhaps just less so than their mutual acquaintance, Ashlee.

Another nod comes, as the elaborations come forth as the selection of whence to sieze prospective mounts, "That makes sense." she notes.

Zofija stops and pauses for just a moment as she explains, tilting her head and looking a bit concerned. "Everything alright Ely?" The cavalier asks. "I don't want to be making you uncomfortable or anything like that."

"It's, yeah, it's the only way things can really work at the moment, but the skyguard is working on pairing up the griffons they raised, with a fair bit of success. Hopefully it'll be gone away with soon. But it's certainly a journey, too. Sky curtain is remote, save for a few dwarven settlements, and some temples and the like. A few weeks trek to get out there. And then you have to climb them. One of the things they teach you in the skyguard, is how to get up and down from high places without the ability to fly."

"So after all that, you've got your kit to scale up these mountains, camping out on the sides, and keeping watch for where the griffons are moving to and from. And you have to move when they're out with enough time to get in and out without being spotted by them. I got lucky, the first den was perfect, and the knight there with me checked over all the nest to make sure they were healthy before we departed. And, I've been raising Screech ever since. Well, I say raising, but even if they can't fly yet, they're still more than capable of hunting."

Elyanna shakes her head, "No, nothing like that." she replies, "I simply noticed some parellels."

With a sip of her drink, she gestures back toward the other Hob, then, "Pardon if I have made you uncomfortable, Zofija."

With the tankard returned to the table, and her hands restacked, "I expect the bond to be quite strong, and... you have already shown that you care properly for your mount, I do not imagine flight will be too far off."

"Parallels? With what or whom?" Zofija asks, letting a brow raise, before she stops and shakes her head. "No, no, you aren't making me uncomfortable Ely, far from it. I just, I wanted to make sure I wasn't talking too much, or saying something wrong, to make _you_ uncomfortable, that's all. I don't mind you looking at me, that's for certain."

"Yeah, it won't be too long know. Been practicing some gliding with them, and most of their adult flight feathers are coming in, enough to slow their descent. Won't be long until the primaries are too, and the muscles develop to support the movements and weight. We've been together for a long time, so I've been keeping an eye on things like that. That's the thing with the skyguard, they're a knightly order, so most of the people there were well educated nobles and the like, so I have to keep up with them. Which, I managed, but you know, still not entirely welcome I guess."

Begining to recognize that they were somewhat circling through a back and forth of conciliation, Elyanna allows that to lie with a nod. Instead, she continues to listen to her new comrade's tale, and assimilating it in her growing understanding of the world outside of her two homelands.

The last prompts another contemplative nod, however, and a, "Sometimes, we must prove ourselves above the norm."

"It's, yeah, that's about right, isn't it?" Zofija chuckles a bit bitterly, raising her drink and taking a swig. "They won't be happy with nothing but the best, because you're already on the back foot, and they're going to judge anything you do a notch down to begin with. Even if it sucks, you don't have a choice but to rise to the occasion."

"And you know, that wasn't even counting the fact that I was still working to make sure I was sending enough gold back to cover the family's expenses. Making sure that my dad and siblings were taken care of. Not a lot of time for just relaxing."

"Indeed." Elyanna replies softly, though she doesn't go any further into the parallels as such, as the required context would take more elaboration than the halfbreed cares to go into at this juncture. She does, however, feel compelled by those divergent contexts to advise her, "When the time to prove yourself beyond comes to pass... be certain you look.... past the immediate, that you can still accept you must do in the days and years to come."

Whatever explanation Elyanna gives takes the cavalier some time to parse, already a bit addled by the drinks, and more than a bit of emotions. She goes to take a sip, grunts, and sets the mug down instead.

"I don't know, Elyanna. Slix told me it wasn't my fault, but I still don't believe it. As much as I talked about Deaztor, well, still feels my fault at the end of the day. If I was able to make a bit more gold, my sister never would have felt like she needed to join the military. Makes me think what I would have been willing to do, what I wouldn't."

"But you're right, Ely. I need to remember to stay conscious of my actions, and keep what I can do sustainable in the long run."

"Yes." Elyanna replies simply, settling back in her seat, "Ultimately, you must be able to bear the weight of your actions, and the consequences that come from them."

The red woman's expression is her typical coached reserve as she reaches for her tankard anew, then, "Based on our discourse with the artificer, I imagine you have your bearings, already." <goblin-talk>

"I'm not unused to bearing the weight of my actions, but it doesn't make things feel better. Rather me than my family, that's how I always thought." Zofija sighs, picking up her mug and pouring some more Kvass. "Just... lot of stuff I wish I didn't have to do, still feel like shit about. But making sure things were taken care of made things worth it."

"Yeah, I guess I do. Like I said, I just want things to be better. What I can do myself to make things better, that's what I'm not sure of. Platitudes are great and all, but I need to be able to back up what I say, you know?" The arvek cavalier shrugs.

There is a nod chased with a slow sip of Kvass, then in turn by Elyanna's considered, "I do. Too often, words and proclamations are thrown forth as if sufficient..."

A derisive scoff, "Daylight theater."

Another sip, then, "Anyone can act virtuous under scrutiny, the truth is who you are, alone, in the dark."

Steel eyes half lid for a moment in further contemplation, then reaffix upon the cavalier anew, "Even now, I respect an honest monster more than a trumpeting cretin." <goblin-talk>

"Yeah, I've met more than my fair share of self righteous folk in my time, that's for certain." The cavalier grunts. "That's what pissed me off so much about Blar. Mom gave her life for it, Dad can't even walk anymore, and what did they do? Happy to leave their family to starve. Probably best if they did, so they can sweep the cost of freedom under the rug. Course, those same scum were plenty happy to pay for services in the night."

Zofija growls slightly, and empties her mug. "Reminds me what Ash said, she said you and her were monsters. I don't see it. Good people can be put in bad situations, doesn't make them bad."

"Ashlee's mind is a keen one." the Lady von Diesel replies , "Otilla was the creation of my Bludgunni upbringing, the pressures of life under Ogress rulership, trying to compensate for my thinned blood, Highborne or not, to transition to the other end of the lash."

Unwavering, she looks into Zofija's eyes and continues, "My 'human' ingenuity saw me succeed, by proving another form of creative cruelty so novel, I was gifted with Maidenhead."

Anew, the coil of tightly braided tresses is set upon the table before the red woman, "Even Ottilla's ssobriquet 'Silverlash' came from her. From my talents and inclination with using her."

"Being show the truth, that I was a von Diesel, that I was born Elyanna, and -not- Otilla only revealed another path."

The tankard is set back upon the table, "Nothing I have done since, the slaves I have freed, the lives I have saved, the sacrifices I have made will change the fact that even under those pressures, those pretexts, Otilla's sins are still mine."

She doesn't speak to the confidences of her friend's mind, not with so recent an acquaintance. <goblin-talk>

Zofija shrugs, and shakes her head once she hears the story, not missing a beat, or shying from the gaze.

"I don't know. That's complicated, really complicated. Some people would condemn someone for that, but I'm not too sure. Doesn't sound like you had too much of a choice, and your thinking might have been warped by the upbringing. Because I know the struggle of having to do shit you don't want when you're trying to escape a bad situation."

"If you continued to act like that, then that would be easy. But if you're willing to change upon seeing other options and do good? Like I said, a good person can do bad things, a bad person can do good, too. It's a matter of perspective, and deciding what someone really is. It's why it bugged me so much when Ash called herself one."

"It doesn't change the good you do today, either. Without the context of the past, you're just a good person doing good deeds today, I guess." Zofija shrugs.

Elyanna nods a touch, then returns Maidenhead to her place and reaches for her Kvass for another swig, "There's always been a choice."

She sighs, kills off the Kvass in her tankard, then leans forward to take up the pitcher and refill it, "Perhaps. Ashlee's perspective is colored by her life, and I would not do any ill justice to our... friendship, by deigning to speak what I know of it to another without her leave."

She likely has thoughts in that regard. <goblin-talk>

"Easy to say in hindsight. Easy to let it eat you up inside worrying about how there would be another way." Zofija chuckles sadly. "Like me, wondering how much more I could have done so my sis wouldn't feel she needed to shoulder the burden of carrying for the rest of the family herself. Heat of the moment, sometimes it doesn't feel like there is one."

"Ash is, I do worry about her. Wanted to make sure she was taking care of herself, eating enough, stopping to rest and not overworking. But I kept going back to the Vardaman temple for months, never saw her around, no one said where she was. I know a bit about her, but I respect that, wanting to respect her privacy. After a while, I just sorta gave up, since I was making no headway, and I'd just kill myself with worry if I kept that up." The arvek-nar grunts. "What's the hang up? You seemed like friends to me, when I saw you both." Zofi asks.

"The dealings that led to our flight from Alexandria have been... lengthy, and certain details required we be kept under watch." Elyanna replies more quietly, "Our relationship has stabilized, though it isn't one I am... greatly familiar with."

She considers the ripples spreading to the ring of foam in her cup, and continues, perhaps as deflection, "In time, should you find comfort in the notion.... while the ritual costs are... profound, it is possible to entreat the Fieu of the Tears to afford your sister another chance at life."

Her eyes flick up to Zofi's face, a new firm intensity within them, "A proper life, not some necromantic parody of same." <goblin-talk>

"Well, I guess you wouldn't be used to friends, at least not how they would be outside of bludgun. It'll get easier over time." Zofija smiles, something that passes quickly at the mention of bringing her sister back.

"It's something I considered, and I'm trying, hard as I can. Doing as much work as I can manage to try and save up gold, but I still need to make sure my brother and dad are taken care of." She sighs. "They burnt the body, because of the plague. It'd be hard to do that, like you said, thousands upon thousands of gold, and then I'd actually need to find someone to do it."

"If someone did that to her, I'd never forgive myself, and I'd crush whoever even attempted to raise the dead like that. That's a certainty, though." She adds with a low growl.

Elyanna is silent for some moments as Zofija responds to her words, affording a mute nod about their friendship.

The more familial musings are considered, but any doubts she has to the advisedness of having brought up the matter are locked behind her coached airs.

There is a second nod at note of the pyre, though it's only once the other woman is done speaking that she has words of her own, "The girl I was seeing to, the night we met, had never gotten to live. She was a spirit when we'd met, when Ashlee freed her from the vilest bonds. There was no body for her either, but, she lives and breathes and eats as any human would, now. I... hope that possibility gives you some... hope."

She thinks back to the nights with the then-free Valenthor sister she and Ashes had been trying to buoy through her crisis, their results, "I am not... talented in encouraging such things." she confesses. <goblin-talk>

Zofija drains the last of her mug and sighs, setting the drink down for a moment so she could listen. "That's... huh. I can see why Ash would want to help with something like that." The Arvek-nar muses. "Yeah, it's something that I can think about, keep me going when things are feeling dark. Family's the only thing that's kept me going a lot of nights. It's, a bit lonely, to be honest."

"But that's enough of talk like that." Zofi chuckles. "It's okay, you're doing your best, I appreciate it. Something to keep in mind, that's all, and I'll make the best of it. Maybe you just need practice, if you're getting better at it, or I just want to believe you. Could be a bit of both maybe." <Goblin-talk>

"That is.. relatable." Elyanna replies, taking another sip.

A slow breath through her nose ripples the rasinous beverage before another quick sip preceeds the tankard returning to the table, "It could be both. We'll have to see, with time."

With a faint smile that could be just the tiniest bit wry, the hobkin hefts her tankard and offers it toastward with an almost casual, "Here's hoping." <goblin-talk>

"Yeah, it's why I tend to find myself in a lot of bars, it's something to do with the evenings when I'm too tired for anything else." Zofija chuckles. "Could be both. I think it's true at least, but I'll need to see you around again to prove that hypothesis correct, won't I?"

"That is the custom around here, isn't it." The cavalier snorts, filling up her mug and raising it in toast too, with a grin. "Though, you're supposed to be the one inspiring hope, not hoping, aren't you? Suppose you can do both. I'll hope for you too then, and it should probably work out."

"It's a curious hobby, though... finding new sources of diversion since leaving Bludgun has been less a priority." Elyanna replies with a faint shrug.

Perhaps an oversight, that.

She takes a generous pull from her tankard ere it's returned to the table again and she settles back into her seat, "You could be right." she muses. <goblin-talk>

"People have their reasons. For me, it varies depending on why I come here." Zofija shrugs. after taking a swig from her mug with a satisied sigh. "Finding ways to enjoy yourself in a new city, it's important. I've kind of pushed it to the wayside for a while, but you know what? If you want help finding more things to do, just hit me up. I'm sure we could find some things to do."xn

"Well, if I'm right or not is up to you in the end, so, That's a matter of believing in yourself, innit?" The cavalier snorts. "So do that, I think you can manage it. Confidence is usually a good thing when it's earned, and it helps with all manner of stuff. Wanna spire hope? Be someone you'd want to believe in, after all."

There's a nod from the red woman, then a brief pause before she replies, "The recommendations would be appreciated, thank you."

Her steely eyes scan the crowds around them once again, then reaffix upon Zofija, "I will keep that in mind, though I am still learning." <goblin-talk>

"Well, this place is a good start. The baths are great, and when they have musicians or dancers on stage, the tavern area is even better. If you like the arts like that too, there's always shows in the theatre district to catch, street performers and the like too for something more casual." Zofija suggests. "I like fishing down by the tornmawr or the port sometimes, helps with feeding Screech. I could take you for a glide down from the airstation too, that's always fun, in addition for being good training for them."

"Good thing to keep in mind. Life's always about learning, you'll get it." Zofija grins. "Long as you're willing to learn, the world's your oyster, s'what I always told my brother." <goblin-talk>

Elyanna considers the more expansive entertainment options as Zofija lays out the spread, another sip of kvass, then, "The violinists were interesting."

There is a little shrug, and, "It's been a while since I've listened to the music, here."

Another moment's thought, then, "I've... never flown." There's a little snort, then, with a finger splaying roll of her wrist, "I've crossed the veil twice, now, but, never left the ground... in a controlled manner." <goblin-talk>

"Yeah? Violin music is pretty cool. Pretty unique sounding as far as stringed instruments go, probably because of all the upkeep that goes into those things." Zofi chuckles. "I'm a bit surprised though, I would have thought a bard like you would want to expose yourself to new music, when you can."

"You've never flown? I'm, kind of surprised, to be honest. You seem pretty well traveled, Ely." The arvek-nar remarks, taking a pause to sip her drink. "Well, Screech can't fly, not yet at least. It's mostly a controlled fall, but you can still get some distance. You'd be welcome to join us some time, if you wanted. Or we could go catch one of the performances in the theatre district? If you wanted to, at least."

There is a little cant of her head and Elyanna's eyebrow arches, "I had a great deal on my plate once I'd arrived in Alexandria. Most exposure to new instruments were.... happenstance." she begins, "It's... only very recently that things have relented this much." <goblin-talk>

"Yeah, I guess there has been a lot going on here, sometimes it feels like one impending disaster to another, with no sort of in between on matters. At the very least, for the moment, things seem a bit more relaxed." Zofija sighs, rubbing the back of her head. "It's just a bit surprising is all. But then again, it feels like I've learned a lot about you, but also, not that much, so I can't make judgements on things like that so willingly."

"Least you've got time now, too, so that's good. I'm no singer, and I never really had time to learn an instrument, but I can still appreciate good music, at the very least." The cavalier chuckles. <goblin-talk>

The red woman nods, "In so many words." she agrees, "I also lost a great deal of time to the magic plague that had swept the area. It was a wretched experience."

A sigh, and she considers the ripples of her drink anew, "Then things seemed to tumble one over the other once I'd been cured." <goblin-talk>

"Shit, you got that plague too? I thought you were part of the goings on there, but, I guess that would put you at risk, too." Zofija sighs, looking at the other arvek a bit sadly. "Took a lot out of a lot of people, and there were so many going around. At least you're okay now, yeah? I'm glad you're okay, since I get to meet you, after all. Hopefully you'll have time to enjoy yourself now. Sometimes life goes a bit too fast, and you don't have time to stop and figure things out. But making time for yourself does still matter, that's something I'm working on getting into my own thick skull."

There's a shake of Elyanna's head and, "This was before the blights at Stone Talon. The doing of the Fae queen of Winter." There is something beneath the surface, a flicker, then, "I am restored, yes... though by the nature of the thing, I had to endure mostly on my own strength, bolstered by more hollistic means."

She seems uncertain for another moment, then, "Thank you, I'm not... accustomed to so much.... well-wishing." <goblin-talk>

"Ah, another plague? Having to deal with multiple, that's pretty rough." Zofi grunts once, shaking her own head a few times. "Fae queens, and I thought some mad biochemist was bad. Well, no, she still is, but the scale between the two, that's a ways off."

"You're uh, you're welcome though, Elyanna. Especially if you're not used to it." The cavalier grins. "It, not being used to something like that must be hard. You said you're getting used to things in Alexandria, and not everyone is like that, but I at least try to be nice to my friends, you know? Look out for them how I can." She chuckles. <goblin-talk>

Elyanna nods again, then takes a healthy draught of her beverage before setting it back down, "The span is broader than you could imagine." she intones, a her eyes haunted in the corners as a flicker, then, she swallows, half lids he eyes and recenters.

"I've been feared and loathed, justifiably, for a long time. At best, I was a known quantity." She considers the pitcher again, perhaps weighing topping off once more, but for the nonce she leaves it be. <golin-talk>

Zofija notes the effect talking about the experience seemed to have, and she raised one hand over , only to have it drop abruptly to the tabletop. "Easy, it's alright. Sorry for bringing it up, but it's okay here." The Arvek-nar grunts.

"I can see how it would be something you're unused to in such a case. But, it's not a bad thing, is it?" Zofi asks. "And based on your actions, I think you're justifiably someone worth wishing well. I mean, you were willing to test out that scroll over me for one thing." <goblin-talk>

Elyanna straightens a little, then nods, but doesn't remark any further on that point.

Instead, her eyes reacquire Zofija at the outset of her question, then, "It was the wisest course. Still, it wasn't quite the experience we expected, no?" <goblin-talk>

"Nah, it certainly wasn't what anyone was expecting." Zofi laughs. "Hindsight is always good, and that certainly had me seeing it when I went tumbling down from that blast. That is mine not- s'figure of speech, sorry."

The arvek-nar rubs the back of her head and shakes her head. "Seemed like the wisest course, but if there'll be any dangerous tests like that on future jobs, I'd rather be the one taking the brunt of it."

"I imagine your chance will come, the way things seem to happen around here." Elyanna notes drily, then deigns to reach for the pitcher, after all.

Shake-shake-

Hrm.

She sets it down, then, "Though, clearly it'd be best if that particular scenario was prevented entirely from now on." <goblin-talk>

"It's the nature of the work, unfortunately. All I can do is be better prepared for it." Zofi chuckles. "You're right though, I think the takeaway from all that is to not go trying experimental magical scrolls out in the countryside or around Alexandria for the time being. Probably for the best." <Goblin-talk>

Elyanna nods, "True enough." she returns, "Still, there will likely always be an uncomfortable amount of unknowns. I imagine some less... directly interactive scrolls will produce so dramatic an effect, but as quietly as possible, lest we inspire.... further experimentation, we should caution such things in the future."

She looks to something off in the distance, then, back to her " hank you for this evening, Zofija. It was... nice." <goblin-talk>

"Again, nature of the business unfortunately. But, you know, rather be me facing the unknowns than someone else. Least, that's the way I think about it." Zofi grunts. "The less investigation we inspire, the better. I'll be keeping an eye on the goings on in the city."

The cavalier looks out as well, and back, and grins. "Yeah, in spite of everything on my account, it was nice, Ely. Good to meet you and get to know you better. Don't worry about paying if you gotta take off, I'll settle that with them."

Elyanna rises, then with a nod, squaring her chair away and offering her bare hand to Zofija, "Agreed, and thank you, again."

She gives that a beat, then, "Next time, it will be, as they say, 'My treat'. Good evening, and be well." <goblin-talk>

"You're welcome Ely, and I should be thanking you for coming out for drinks with me, too." Zofija chuckles, leaving her seat and stretching, before taking the offered hand to shake it. "Well, I won't hold you to it, but I'd like that. Have a good evening too Ely, and don't forget to give yourself time to relax if you can." The cavalier replies, grinning again.

"I will... try." Elyanna replies as the hands clasp, though with as... uptight as she is, that could be something of an undertaking.

As their hands part, the higborne gives a salute, "Till next we meet." and begins to drift doorward to ends best left to speculation at this point. <goblin-talk>

ELYANNA
Tall, lean and dark, she stands most of six feet, skin a rich, cinnabar tone with a splash of carmine freckles across her cheeks and bridge of her nose. Her face is broad beneath her thick brows and widows' peak, with well defined cheekbones and a firm jaw. Her demeanor is solemn around harrowed steel eyes, though in the odd case of a smile, her teeth are those of a predator. Her hair is raven black, bangs parted by a burnished steel band to frame her face, and the rest allowed to flow to her beltline behind her. Should she speak, she does so in a contralto voice, her accent unmistakably that of Bludgun.

An ankle length cloak of raven feathers, almost matching her hair but for texture, with a fringed leather mantlet layered over that shrouds a chain shirt. The chain is polished to a almost mirror shine with a black suit of cloth, reinforced at the joints with matte leather, under. At her waist, a rectangular, fluted buckler hangs from a clasp on her crimson belt over her left hip, the coils of a whip braided of various hues of hair, to the silver tresses of it's popper, rides on her right on the scabbard of a Blarite falchion, while a punching dagger that curls like a fang is tucked at her back. Polished black leather and blued steel chased in copper make up the gauntlet that sheaths her right forearm, matched by reinforced boots that fold back at the knee. The closest she gets to accessories is the afformentioned steal headband, crafted to resemble a braided leather band with a central 'strand' of polished bronze interlaced with the rest.

SLIXVAH
Average in height, but large in personality, Slixvah is an outrageously decorated Egalrin. Her rusty red and white feathers don't sully her outlandish garb; in fact, it makes it stand out even more. Colorful and plentiful, ribbons adorn her wing joints and arms to make a dazzling display of splendor, especially when those wings stretch out to their twelve foot span. Thick, magnificent feathers fill that massive span, and an entire rainbow of ribbons flutter from her wing spars to accent it all. The red ones are cut to look like feathers.

Loose fitting robes of a multitude of colors rest against her frame while various veils and shawls dangle from different sections of her clothes. One veil even covers her face, but she's quite often pulling it down to give a smiling twinkle in her sky-blue eyes behind her raptor-like beak. A rainbow ribbon is tied around her head like a bandanna, and every second glance it seems like the colors are in different places.

There is usually a white-plumed thrush nestling in one of the many nooks and crannies of her swishy attire.

ZOFIJA
Zofija stands at slightly above average for an Arvek-nar, but she is even more muscular than most, which is an impressive feat for the military minded race. Their skin is a light orange-brown, brightening to almost white at the tip of their nose. Their hair is short length and brow, and just a bit wild when not covered by a hat. The arvek-nar usually has a stern look to them, with yellow eyes that almost seem to be judging the person looking at them.

She is usually dressed much how one would expect arvek-nar cavalry to be. A fur lined black jacket draped over her right arm like a cloak, over top of a dark red coat hiding the chainmail underneath. A pair of cream colored slacks accompany the outfit, but they are covered up partially by a pair of almost knee height riding boots of oiled black leather.