Tea with the Vouivre
Log Info
- Title: Tea with the Vouivre
- Emitter: Cryosanthia
- Characters: Sabina, Jinks
- Place: Scalehaven not Ashenvale
- Time: Thursday, November 24, 2022, 11:42 AM
- Summary: Sabina returns to speak with Retzi and Yolo, to be eventually joined by Jinks. He reveals that the three are one being attempting to lord it over a town, and the two proceed to give the vouivre a reality check on governance. This doesn't put them off attempting it, but there is clear chaffing in the roles. Still, constant supervision is having an effect.
-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= Appearing -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= Jinks 3'4" 39 Lb Gnome Male A gnomish fellow in fancy garb and jewelry. Sabina 5'4" 130 Lb Human Female Tsuran woman of dark hair and green eyes. -=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--= -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= NPC of Note -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= Yaree Vouivre Female An emerald scaled, oversized SwiftClaw Retzi Vouivre Female An orange haired, autumn themed draco-eflin Woman Yolotl 'Yolo' Vouivre Female An green haired, spring themed draco-eflin Woman -=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--= -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= As the GM -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= Cryosanthia 6'9" 291 Lb Sith-Makar Female A dashingly tall, elegant white-scaled lizard woman. -=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=
The Tarienite priestess returns from her short venture away from the food tasting a day later. She slips back in as if it was just a lull of conversation. The others have long since roamed about or departed.
She moves up to the pair of scaled women and engages the two in quiet conversation. Just them, their beast of burden and a peacock.
"Ladies. I couldn't help but notice that you two have.. some difficulty dealing with ..the other races of peoples. A certain lack of knowledge that you have called out for others to give you insight with?"
Once again, heads turn. The twins, exceptionally alike except for colour schemes, and the swiftclaw, all look at Sabina. It's Retzi who speaks first.
"Yes! Exactly. We're so far above everyone it's hard to relate. It's not like they're snakes."
"Yes. What's more aloof than elves and dragons, and we're both. So it's very hard to relate." Yolo, the green haired, lightly green-scaled one echoes the sentiment. "Are you skilled with 'the peoples'? You said you ran a Tavern before? We're looking for lots of help."
The swiftclaw simply snorts loudly.
"An advisor, or a high priest, or a magister, or a marshal, oh wait we need a general before a marshal, and a head jailor." Retzi adds, making an oddly hypnotic sway of her body, "or you could stay for dinner."
Yolo shakes her head, "No, that's _later_."
Lord Emp squawks loudly as if to interrupt the two women and Bina shushes the bird absently. "Ladies. It's not that you're so far above the others it's that you're so far behind the others." She looks at the pair to let that sink in. "You've lived as you've lived for so long that you don't know how the others in this world live day to day. Perhaps rather then jumping right into trying to ..rule the other races you should first live like them for a time? While rebuilding this place, of course."
They are still as Sabina's observation sinks in. There are glances shared, between Retzi and Yolo, and the both of them staring at the Swiftclaw. Some awkward undulation occurs as they crowd the windows of their Vardo.
"Well..." Retzi starts, "Assuming what you say is true. What do you mean by 'live like them'. Are we not sufficiently embodying our roles? I'm the major! All high level officials direct, they don't 'Do'."
"Right! And I'm her advisor. I advise her how to delegate." Yolo says proudly. "All of us do nothing. Except Yaree, she pulls the cart."
Bina just sort of blinks at the pair. She glances over at swiftclaw and then talks to him. "You have more sense then them, don't you?" She asks of the 'beast'. She then steps over to the vardo and pokes her head in between the two ladies, looking in. The Tarienite doing as Tarienites do, sturring the pot of trouble.
GAME: Sabina rolls will: (4)+11: 15
Or trying too..
The 'beast' returns Sabina's glance with an altogether knowing stare. There is no other response besides a low rumble. The twins simply watch the Tarienite as she stirs the pot, leaning in between them.
The inside of the Vardo is very tightly packed. There's an open area of sorts in the middle of the wagon, while there are crates, boxes, cloth bags, wicker baskets and various other storage items packed against the sides. They reach to the ceiling near the back, but there's a lower, shelf sort of arrangement on the opposite side and near the front, covered with blankets. Rough 'beds' on top of the junk.
Retzi and Yolo frame the window, one leg against the wall, the other stretched towards the open area. Almost instinctively they 'help' Sabina in, grabbing arm and hip and heaving, lifting her over the threshold.
"Oh..." Retzi says, releasing her grip.
"You wanted in, Yes?" Yolo asks.
They're not maliciously blocking the window, they're just in the way and there's a perfectly good back window and door that's wide open.
Bina is pulled in and does not complain. "Ladies. Retzi, Yolo. I think you have a gravely mistaken idea about what high level officals 'do'. The do indeed 'do' things. They actually work hard in a normal situation. The more things that are wrong with the situation around them that affects the people they're overseeing the harder they have to work and 'do'. There is a certain level of delegation. But the fewer people they have the more and more they actually have to get out and work to cover. And even if they had a million souls in their city or country or what have you..they'd still have to work hard to keep everything in line."
She straightens herself up and looks directly at the pair. "So how hard are you willing to work?"
"They don't just order 'off with her head' or go jousting?" Yolo asks, leaning against the window-frame.
Retzi leans in a similar manner against the opposite side. "We've already spent a lot of our money. What do you mean by 'work' and 'hard'?"
The Vardo rocks gently as the oversized Swiftclaw adjusts position. The floor is uneven and weak, the planks seeming to dip or move when weight is put on them.
"There is only so much we can do."
"Don't step over there, you'll fall through." Yolo says, indicating a section of floor which looks perfectly normal despite the Vardo's questionable integrity.
"Of course, we'll make some tea. What would you like? Nettle? Ivy? Fan-leaf? Hemlock? Hemlock is very relaxing." Retzi says, moving away from the window and finding a kettle. She discovers a stove, under a basket and some blankets. There's something odd in the way she moves, her steps and how she crouches seems too smooth and controlled.
"We love stories, and we can ask questions too?" Retzi continues, "Other perspectives are interesting."
"Dragons did make the world." Yolo insists, "Everyone who isn't a dragon is a little bit delusional."
Bina smiles, used to deceptions and guile. The ladies can have their disguises as far as she's concerned.
"I'm afraid hemlock would put me to sleep. The forever sleep. If you have normal tea leaves I'd love some. If not, don't worry about it."
She finds a place to lean against the wall and gives the women their space. "You may have noticed that the rest of the races have rules and regulations. Things that help them get along without coming to violence as often as they might out in the wild places. This is a thing that is /needed/. A place that is just in it's laws and rules will be a popular place for the races to visit and live. Unjust or tyrannical rules and laws or acts will cause them to leave or flee."
Retzi nods, opening a tin that's labled 'black tea' and filling up the strainer bowl of a teapot. With the fire started and the kettle on, it's only a matter of time. "We've noticed there are rules, and the person in charge is making them. It seems needed, especially as a lot of them need to be told what to do."
"I understand what you're saying," Yolo interrupts, "but we've heard of other places, like Bludgun and Charn, that are tryanical, but the people don't flee. Don't they enjoy oppression? Or at least, oppressing others and watching their misery?"
"Well, being better than one of the worst places is an option." Retzi thinks aloud, looking at Sabina, "well, so, what would make a place popular then, the sorts of laws and rules? The silver-scale was very adamant we don't make up rules that aren't Alexandrian rules, and that we use all theirs, and that seems like too many already."
A new day, a new outfit. Jinks' spectral pony is becoming something of a signature conveyance at this point, its speed and ability to fly cuts travel time down to half. Atop the roiling shadows and half-smothered lightning, the gnome is in his dark green longcoat and his bejeweled face is half-hidden by a treated woolen hood and shawl.
The conjured mount 'lands' without a sound, hooves breaking apart into thick mist a hair's breadth above the wet ground. It stoops and the black-eyed gnome dismounts, gnimble and well-balanced in spite of the smart little pack strapped to and bulging behind him.
Glittering fingers wave and the phantom trots a few quick steps, taking up a place at the edge of the camp to idle. The bard stops and smooths his goatee, thinking long enough for the lighting and colors to shift subtly beneath his hood, and then quirks his head to listen at the conversation inside the wagon
It's not long before the kettle boils. Retzi pours the water into the teapot. She finds a crate to sit on, Yolo selects a barrel.
Bina listens and nods. "Bludgeon works because it's people were already used to that sort of government. Even as tight fisted as it might be now it was even more so earlier. And more violent, I believe. People want to feel safe. They want to know their voice matters. I heard there was a vote for leader here. Hopefully that was on the up and up or there will be troubles later on." She eyes the tea and hopes black tea isn't some sort of root of poison cut up for the tea.
"You should use Alexandria's laws and rules because they control this land even if you do not wish to believe so. And people will go and report their feelings to the city if they think you're running things here badly."
"There was!" Retzi says cheerfully. "Three to two. We held it twice, the second time there was an abstention. As there were only three residents, there were only three votes. Maybe we'll have another election in a year or two. Tyrant Kings are for life, right? So as long as we have another sometime we're better than that."
Yolo simply hisses quietly, barely heard beneath the steaming kettle, and holds out her cup for tea.
Retzi pours a cup for Sabina, holding it out, "You're a friend of our little golden boy? So you should feel safe. He'd notice if you went missing."
Speak of the devil.
Jinks sniffs and steps around the wagon, turning his head to squint up at the gloomy grey heavens without fully exposing his face to the rain. Even with the promise of druidic aid, the rain can only be a good thing for the wilderness' recovery.
Leather straps strain as he steps past one window, moves along back towards the open door. He stops and puts on a quick smile, nodding hello.
"I can't keep track of anyone." He smirks and shrugs. "But Sabina can look after herself and the three of you working on your benevolence and welcoming mien can only benefit your venture here."
Bina accepts the tea without reacting to the threat that isn't a threat. She looks over as Jinks arrives and gives the gnome a smile and nod. "Coyote laughs, Jinks. I chuckle. Welcome back to the mess that is inter-species interactions." She then sips the tea with care and makes comment on Retzi's words. "Every two to four years, Retzi. The city won't put up with a 'mayor for life'. And it won't put up with someone claiming a bit a land as their own nation and trying to rule it like a dictator either."
"Mein?" Yolo asks, turning to smile at Jinks.
"Like veil, or illusion, an outer appearance." Retzi clarifys, leaning against the stove, a lounging that lasts about a minute before she flinches back from the heat. Her clothes were starting to catch, and she pats at them. "Well, you seem to know all the laws, do you want to be in charge of laws? What does Alexandria's say about Vardos being parked in the street over night?"
There's a grumbling rumble outside and the Vardo cants the other way as the Swiftclaw stands, then lies on the opposite side.
GAME: Cryosanthia rolls 1d20+10: (18)+10: 28, "Retzi is amazingly well informed regarding Alexandrian laws..." GAME: Sabina rolls knowledge/local: (13)+7: 20 GAME: Jinks rolls Knowledge/Local: (10)+22: 32
"Also, demeanor or bearing," interjects Jinks. "How you're perceived. It's not necessarily dishonest." He considers the two 'women' and the floor of the vardo he knows to not actually be there. "... but none of us are stranger to illusions."
The gnome squints his eyes shut and nods before dropping his hands into his coat pockets. He smirks again and considers his fellow before venturing "Magistrate Sabina" and having a quick laugh in spite of himself.
Jinks sucks at his teeth.
"The western districts are used to impermanence but your appearance may draw enforcement interest even if your housing doesn't." He raises a hand and brushes a finger along his cheek where the women are scaled. "The high districts will assume you're a brigand and have you towed, impounded, and detained for questioning."
Bina blinks at Jinks and then laughs loudly. "Coyote howls with laughter at that idea." She turns to Retzi and shakes her head. "I'm a priestess of Tarien. Don't put a priestess of Tarien in charge of laws. You're regret it soon after. And what Jinks says is the truth. I can't see your true shapes but I can tell it isn't humanoid? To rule over humanoids you must at least pretend to have their best interests at heart. That means having to support them in at least a more then minimal way. If your people are unhappy then you will soon follow after them into unhappiness as they find ways to make their displeasure known and spread it to you."
"Exactly! Not _necessarily_ dishonest." Yolo says triumphantly. Odd, what she latches on to, or not so odd after all. She stares at Jinks when he mentions illusions, and winks.
"Oh... so no Magistrate Sabina." Retzi grins, showing fangs and sharp teeth, inappropriate dentation for someone seeming so elfin. "You would be able to indulge any innate instincts to judge. Well, what about High Priestess then? Wouldn't you fill the place with laughter then? Do people feel safe when they're laughing?"
"We weren't planning to go to Alexandria, but we were wondering if we should duplicate that law." Yolo explains, "it seems pointless, since that would be an upgrade for almost everyone here. Also, we're humanoid, see?" She moves over in the strange sliding-walk way, then grabs Sabina's hands and presses them against her ears, her sides, her hips. Everything feels like it appears, even the dress. "What do you mean by 'spread it'?"
"They've been known to fling excrement." Retzi elaborates with a scowl.
"They're a vouivre, Sabina. A remarkable mutation, three-in-one. They have some impressive magical talents and have made poor choices in allies in the past." Jinks explains matter-of-factly. His amusement was short-lived. "We have a long and embattled history... but we're both trying something different now."
Black-eyes consider the sky one more time and the gnome takes a step back.
"I'm headed into the Desolation for the college. I just wanted to tell you that the dwarves will be back in two days' time to explore the tunnels further. It might be worth employing an escort."
There's a cant of his head to say good-bye before he moves out of sight and back towards his summoned pony.
Bina raises a brow but nods as Jinks spills the beans and then announces his departure. She turns back to the creature..creatures..and smiles. "Very interesting. I shan't be telling anyone. First off you're actually trying to build something. That's more then most folks are willing to do. Second of all, Jinks is watching over you. He can be misguided at times but so can we all. Even the most noble of paladins."
GAME: Sabina rolls will: (5)+11: 16
"Hey! We didn't say you could go to the desolation!" Yolo shouts angrily as Jinks departs.
"It's okay. She means 'we're worried about you and stay safe'." Retzi calls even louder, waving, then turning back in and glancing at her twin, "mein. Remember?"
The orange-themed woman turns to face Sabina, and nods, intertwining her fingers and twisting her hands, "Yes, our own place to rule... benevolently... over."
"Well since he keeps giving away our secrets, he's really a ko..." Yolo starts to say, before Retzi interrupts her, "No, he's _ours_. If anyone else finds out they'll want him."
Both nod in stereo at Sabina, "Yes. Jinks is watching."
Bina looks between the two of them and laughs hard enough to cause tears. "Oh..oh you two really need to work on not speaking your minds quite so often." She continues to laugh and wipes at her tears while Emp gets flustered and flaps his wings angrily. "Jinks won't be the only one watching. The city will start watching as well if it hasn't already. They're going to want a share of taxes for providing this land safety in time of need. Like, say, if more wights start roaming through the land. Ruling over the humanoids also means you can't be eating them. That is if you have in the past you can't any longer. As the old saying goes..'don't poop where you sleep'."
"Well they didn't help with the wights. They told everyone to evacuate, we got rid of the wights." Retzi says, crossing her arms triumphantly, "all that practice with the Witch-Queen, we know how to handle undead."
"We don't." Yolo answers, without clarifying what it is they claim to not do.
A rumbling voice comes from outside, "Capital Punishment for Banditry is allowed. There's some flexibility there, death by beheading, death by colosseum. Death by Swiftclaw could be an option."
"Shhh!" The twins admonish. Retzi adds, "We don't eat people."
"Unless they're really, really, attractive ladies." Yolo says with a smile.
"Inside head voice! That's what she was advising." Retzi stares at her sister, then pats Sabina's knee, "Don't worry, you're ugly."
Bina giggles. "That's good to know."
OOC & Evil
<OOC> Sabina says, "So.. Tablet won't let me read too far back. scroll only goes back so far. However.. Seems like the two ladies are rather clueless about everything Humanoid."
Evil
<OOC> Cryosanthia nods, "It's okay, it's there if you want, otherwise in scene rolls can contribute
<OOC> Cryosanthia says, "I hope you enjoyed."
<OOC> Cryosanthia says, "having a hard time figuring out how they're 'evil', but working on it."
<OOC> Sabina has enjoyed. Evil comes in many forms. So far they seem lawful evil to me.
<OOC> Cryosanthia says, "oh interesting. They're supposed to be Chaotic Evil"
<OOC> Cryosanthia says, "I figured the 'Chaotic' would be covered by having three arguing voices"
<OOC> Sabina says, "Chaotic evil would be eating me for supper while chatting with jinks about money and making up a special meal for him to be the main course of."
<OOC> Cryosanthia says, "aaaah..."
<OOC> Cryosanthia says, "but they decided they own him. And he's useful. They have seen him use a kobold disguise so much they think he's a kobold that diguises himself as a gnome"
<OOC> Sabina says, "Chaotic evil can make plans but normally has a hard time with follow through."
<OOC> Cryosanthia says, "so, that wouldn't entirely stop them eating him, but he's also useful as well as a mobile treasure"
<OOC> Cryosanthia nods, "I figured that's where 'we want to rule a town' came in, then 'hire adventurers to build it', except they're being forced to participate
<OOC> Cryosanthia says, "well they did try poisoning you and managed to lightly poison a few others"
<OOC> Sabina nods
<OOC> Cryosanthia says, "but if you have suggestions for later that would be helpful"
<OOC> Sabina says, "to be chaotic evil"
<OOC> Sabina says, "Or evil in general?"
<OOC> Cryosanthia nods
<OOC> Cryosanthia says, "both are good"
<OOC> Sabina says, "Evil in general. Things start happening in the background. Bad things that they are causing because they are evil even if they want to make this town a reality. Perhaps traps that look natural that cause injury. A disappeaerance of a worker that saw through their illusion. etc"
<OOC> Sabina says, "But if they do evil things then the pcs may throw down at some point."
<OOC> Cryosanthia nods
<OOC> Cryosanthia says, "that would defeat the fun of settlement building"
<OOC> Sabina says, "Thus why I see them as more lawful evil or at least nuetral evil"
<OOC> Cryosanthia nods, "that makes some sense."
<OOC> Cryosanthia says, "well their alignment could shift because PCs are interacting with them."
<OOC> Sabina says, "Bina's not going to try to stop them on her own. She'll try to help them 'see the wrongness' of bad actions. If they do evil in front of her she'll make things happen."
<OOC> Cryosanthia nods
<OOC> Cryosanthia says, "You'd be able to tell after talking with them for a while, that they're about average smarts, and slightly better in the wisdom department, although Retzi has the highest of that. Oddly they all have a certain amount of Charisma"
<OOC> Sabina says, "Heh. Perfect politicians?"
<OOC> Cryosanthia nods!
<OOC> Sabina looks over bina and chuckles. "Good thing she can talk. She's very much a fragile underpowered char."