Talking Work Shop

Log Info

• Title: Placeholder

• Emitter: Placeholder

• Characters: Aelwyn, Schara, Simony, Telamon

• Place: Artificer's Guild

• Summary: Schara is trying to clean out her workshop that is covered in dust from disuse. Aelwyn is out making deliveries, and Simony and Telamon are looking for him to discuss important matters.

Artificer's Hall, Early Afternoon.

It had been several months since Schara had been in Alexandria proper. What had not changed however, was that the artificer continued to have one of the workshops rented out from the main building. Contrary to the artificer's eccentric nature, the room was meticulously organized, with everything not actively worked on in the crucibles, forges and workbenches crudely labeled and stored away. The heavy layer of dust covering everything was a giveaway that it had been some time, however.

So it was that the brown haired elf had the door to the workshop wide open. Only with one wooden arm on her left side, she braced the broom she was using to clear the place out, shoving the bottom with her opposite foot towards the door.

It had also been several months, since the sun had shone into the wet and cold streets of Alexandria. At least that is how it felt to Aelwyn, who was keeping his flaming glaive _real_ close to him this afternoon. On the other hand, the warm bindle he was carrying over his shoulder kept a good cheer on him. Especially with a half eaten bread in his mouth.

"Bwahh!" The Dragoon calls out, swallows and then flashes a toothy grin at her. "This one is glad to see one resettling. How is the trade?" The sack of delicious scent is set onto the floor.

The Goblin rarely has cause to heads to the Artificer's hall, but she is on the trail of a certain Sith. Which is why she is currently aloft, flying through the chilly wind. Simony is bundled up snugly, though, covered from head to toe in furs, including a woolen hat that covers her head and has most of her hair tucked into.

"Going to go check the Artificer's Hall.", she calls out to her flight companion. "Maybe he's checking something out?"

Presently, she is stalking the Hall, and then turns a corner, plowing into the Dragoon as he stands at the doorway of Schara's lab.

Her companion is a familiar (to some) half-elf, clad warmly as well, though it's more for show these days than any comfort. A knitted sweater-vest in black over a white silk long-sleeved blouse, black trousers tucked into boots, and a sable cloak trimmed in gray fur wrap around the form of Telamon Lupecyll-Atlon, as he descends alongside Simony.

"If you say so, Simony. You lead the way though, I don't exactly spend a lot of time here." Indeed, Telamon has a vaguely curious and uncomprehending look as he moves along in Simony's walk, managing to stop before he piles into her and Aelwyn. "Whoa!"

Scara stops her sweeping after a moment, tiltig her head just long enough to tuck the end of the broom underneath her chin. "That is a strange way with which to greet someone Aelwyn, but your greeting is welcome all the same Aelwyn, as it is good to see you." The artificer responds. "You are carrying something that smells very good, which is why I am hesistant to have you leave it on the floor here. If you need to place it somewhere, I just replaced the sheets on the cot in the corner, and I can mostly guarantee no chemical contamination."

The one armed artificer peers around Aelwyn to see what was causing all the movement, doing her best not to have the broom she was carrying clatter to the floor. "Oh, hello Simony, are you in a rush to go somewhere? And is that archmage Telamon Lupercyll-Atlon behind you? What brings you all here today?"

Aelwyn puts his hand on his hip, leaning against the glaive. "There was something strange in this one's greeting?" The draconian asks with a tilt of his head. He glances at the floor. Was there something poisonous? He flexes his toeclaws, testingly. "Ah, the sack is rugged enough." He gestures dismissively. "More importantly, this one was interested in how Brass was resettling in-"

A moment, fwoomh, and the Dragoon is knocked onto the ground. "-tch! What in the sands-!"

A little, mittened hand is all that can be seen of the Goblin as Aelwyn topples on top of her. Then the Dragoon begins to hover off the floor as he is lifted. "Could... you stand up, Aelwyn?", she asks quietly. Simony peeks her head out. "Did you lose an arm? Two arms?", she wonders of Schara. "And no, I was looking for Aelwyn. Have you just returned?"

Telamon just reaches up and rubs the side of his nose. "Easy now, Simony... see what happens when you run and don't watch where you're going?" He smiles though, as he reaches down to help both Aelwyn and Simony get up, lending a hand; the archmage is deceptively strong despite his slender stature.

"But to answer the question, Simony came seeking Sir Aelwyn, and well, I came along for the flight." The sorcerer's eyes twinkle. "I do enjoy being out and about with friends."

"Well, usually one is not greeted by someone shouting bwahh. At least, I don't believe so, if it is a custom with which I am unaware of, then I apologize."

But then Aelwyn was completely toppled over. "Oh, that is quite the lifting capacity, but, I'm afraid I can't do much to get Aelwyn off you you." She admites. "I do not currently have any lost arms, unless you are referring to the absence of living arms, in which yes, I am missing two. What did you want to speak to Aelwyn about? I should offer you all some tea, it is nothing special but it is the polite thing to do, after all."

Aelwyn grumbles, as his back is now smeared against the cold ground. And he didn't have his fancy cloak yet. Still, he quickly gets back onto his feet without any help - pointedly without any help - after Simony is lifted off him. "One can find this one often enough in TarRaCe, can one not?"

The ruddy sith-makar brushes his back and sides off, before giving Simony, then Telamon a look. "Canvas is looking for more paints or why the rush?" And finally, back towards Schara. "As long as it is hot to tongue, it shall serve this one fine." He flashes his teeth.

Simony likewise dusts herself off, and moves to stand at Telamon's side. She looks around at her surroundings, and shrugs. "You were not there just now.", she says quietly. She nods to Schara then. "I would enjoy some tea, please and thank you."

She turns to face Aelwyn, and bows deeply. "I am sorry that you did not get the opportunity to witness, or participate in, the slaying of the fiend whom I shall never name again. It was beyond my power." The Goblin then leans against Telamon.

"Tea is always a good thing," Telamon says with a smile. "To calm the hands and soothe the soul. And if you're curious about branching out, I can recommend some blends to you."

When Simony leans against him, he reaches down to put a hand on her shoulder reassuringly. "If it helps, Simony," Tel remarks, "I showed Aelwyn what had happened, through my eyes. I understand what it's like to want to -know-, to see it done by your hand, but rest assured there is one less great evil in the world. Sometimes it's less about who completes the work, and more about the work being completed."

"Oh, right, to answer your questions, I am settling back in to the city now, and I didn't return just now, but I was helping my family at the orchard for harvest season, and selling some of said harvest here in town for them, so I haven't had time to clean this place out just yet" Schara responds, turning back into the room, dragging the broom along beside her, until she reaches where what little foodstuff were prepared in one corner. "I appreciate the offer, but I don't know if I can afford any esoteric teas. But don't worry, I do at least have a few that are nicer than just pine needles today." She explains while fiddling with one of the devices that had a kettle on it, eventually giving up and headbutting one of the switches with their nose. "You killed something dangerous? That does sound good, at least!"

Aelwyn turns a sharp gaze towards Simony and Telamon. He could have guessed what their arrival meant - but he doesn't answer immediately. Instead, he turns towards Schara. "Ah, one could trade for those apples of one. This one can still taste them, and surely there stands a figure of taste."

Speaking of which, the Dragoon then turns to look towards Simony and Telamon. He bows his head. "It is I, who has to tell this one's brother, when the fear of the fiend, the imagined voices, that the fiend is truly dead." There's fire in his eyes. "I can only pray to the skies, that when I say that, that it is true, and my brother shan't catch onto the uncertainty of my heart."

He walks over the sack he brought and then hauls it up with one hand to a more appropriate table. "This one brought the bread that was ordered." That was not ordered. Shh. "It was some kind of 'gift' delivery!"

The Goblin hides behind Telamon momentarily, peeking out a moment later.

"Why pray to the skies? Telamon can tell you... he was there. He slew the fiend."

She steps out from behind the Half-Sil. "I cannot tell you whom slew the fiend, but I can tell you the fiend is dead. The fiend stole years of my life. I felt my strength falter. My joints began to ache." She falls silent. "And I know with certainty an ailment will visit me in future."

"But all that went away some days ago. There's a spring in my step again. Strength in my arms. No joint pain. And I have time to have a family. That beast IS dead."

"Not just Simony. Every living victim of the fiend's touch had their years returned to them. Such was the judgement of the Historian." Telamon's expression is serene. "A fitting end."

He looks down at Simony. "Don't judge him harshly. In his shoes... well, figuratively speaking," he adds with a bit of a grin, "I would want to see it dead, to have no uncertainty even if the gods themselves assured me it was gone. It's hard to banish nightmares; only time will help heal those wounds."

He watches as Schara fiddles with her kitchen devices, and tilts his head. "I can call up an unseen servant to keep cleaning while you work, if you like. It's no hassle, really."

Aelwyn turns his head towards the other two. His expression then softens, as he looks on towards Simony. "This one will be glad that the fiend is dead, and this one is aware of the debt accrued, due to combined efforts to those who hunted it down. If the fiend was hunted down, and not merely disappeared." The Dragoon says, but he shakes his head. "Yet, this one barely knows this one," He gestures towards Telamon, "Or the historian. His words sound like from an act of a cruel comedy."

The ruddy sith-makar settles the pile of freshly baked bread to some appropriate corner and then picks up his glaive. And finally, he looks at the other two. "This one shan't have the satisfaction nor the certainty." The flame of his glaive picks up. "Let us leave it at that." With the glaive balanced over his shoulder, the Dragoon then heads off along the street.

The Goblin peers at Aelwyn. She frowns at his words, and huffs as he turns away. She leans against the Sorcerer, and sniffles. "I tried. I really did.", she says sadly.

Telamon looks like he wants to launch some rejoinder at Aelwyn, but thinks better of it. Instead, he places his hand on Simony's head lightly. "His brother was used foully, Simony. He wants certainty, and he wants revenge. And unfortunately, because the fiend was going around making enemies of -everyone-... well, sins do have a tendency to catch up to a sinner."

"You can't force him to believe. So let him come to his own peace. Hopefully winter will be a calmer time for the city, to cool everyone's blood and encourage some introspection."

Schara , finished with the device. "A trade for some food? Sounds fair, I have some left. And you're welcome to a good deal in return." The artificer offers. "A gift from someone? Not sure what I did for a gift, but I'll have to look into that. If only to make sure it's safe."

"But such musings were only there to catch the dragoon on the way out. "I appreciate it, but this is my place and my work, and I can't rely on the help of others to keep it in order." She answers Telamon. "I hope you're all alright. I know it would be hard for me to believe someone would never bother me or my family again if I didn't kill them myself."

The elf pours out a few mugs of tea, letting them sit for a moment. "There's always a worry when you don't have the certainty, and you have to be concerned of some horror from your past resurfacing in spite of your best efforts to hide from it."

A few tears trickle down her cheeks, and Simony pulls her mittens off to dab at them. "When do you ever have certainty in this world?", she says, sounding both angry and upset. The Goblin takes up Schara's broom and begins to sweep the room, carefully avoiding knocking anything with the handle.

"It was my duty after all, and I failed to complete it. I do not know what will become of me, it was an oath to my deity. Though His servant." Brush brush sweep. "Do we need to witness every last deed done in order to believe?"

Telamon carefully sits down on whatever looks like the simplest chair. "Simony," he says patiently, "You are not listening to the Historian's wisdom. He tasked you with its destruction, but He can hardly hold you accountable when the fiend had managed anger so many others. Do you think Lana or I would sit idly by when Verna was abused?"

Tel snorts. "No. When I used that wish to rend the fiend, I invoked Navos in his capacity as the god of time. I knew, surely, that some victims of the fiend would not have survived -- would not have been as strong as you, or Verna. And so I asked Navos to take those unclaimed years into his care. And He answered."

Schara was looking more than a bit lost for the moment. "Alright, you can sweep the floor since you're likely looking for something to occupy your hands. I understand, and the tea should be ready in a moment.

"This may not be the most reassuring thing, but I guess it might be in some way." Schara considers, taking a seat down on the edge of the cot. "But the gods can be very forgiving even for those who do not deserve it and what I am trying to say is that I am sure they will understand in the case of an actually good person like you miss Simony."

"Did I do enough?", she replies to Telamon. "That's the question I ask myself. He brought destruction and chaos to so many people. And I don't think I did enough. I ran around chasing my own tail, it seems, the whole time. While good people got hurt. Friends. Family. Innocents." The Goblin's hands wring at the handle of the broom, and it creaks. "Some who died might not have, had the fiend been dealt with sooner. I should have been more direct in my investigation... instead of sending others in my stead."

"No longer will I do that. I shall be first in. I will fly in where other's fear to tread."

She glances then, to Schara. "It is not just about being good. It's seeing out your duties when they are impressed upon you. It won't be other gods, it will be Navos, the Raven, who judges me. Compassion is not in His wheelhouse. Cold, hard facts. The proper use of time and knowledge. In that capacity, I have failed."

"Simony, have you eaten today?" Telamon's tone is a trifle stern. "Because you are second guessing yourself. Again. Now, put the broom down before you break it; I don't want to have to mend it for Schara here." The half elf picks up his tea cup.

"See, I think you -did- do enough, as much as you could. Your error -- if you could call it that -- was that you didn't think anyone else would pitch in." Tel sighs. "In honesty, I would have tried to confine the fiend in Leca'fi Amdamu, if I hadn't had guests present. I wasn't willing to risk their safety just for experimentation. You know how it is. Sometimes the situation demands a heavy hand -- and I wasn't willing to let it escape."

"I've had thoughts like that before, but what I was told is that people acting like that are not your fault. They're are the ones being terrible, not you, especially if you're trying to stop them." Schara offers, hooking one of the mugs and offering it in trade for the broom. "Just like the cleric I knew does not make every other follower of the gods a terrible person, even if it's hard to see at the time."

"And Daeus is known for justice. So I ask, since you're a follower of a god of logic, I don't think it's logical for a person to be punished after one mistake that isn't their fault."

The Goblin pauses, and her stomach growls. "Uhm. Maybe? Maybe not.", she says with a sigh. The broom is left to lean against the wall, and she sits on the cot with a thump. "No. It's not that I didn't think others wouldn't pitch in... I thought for once I could handle a big thing without needed others to pitch in. That I could be the big damn hero, for once. Pull the world out of the fire, save the maiden, and make it home for breakfast."

Simony looks to Schara then and shakes her head. "Perhaps not. But one could make an argument for not using time or knowledge well enough. Things that may get people killed..." She sighs and mumbles. "Maybe I am second guessing myself."

Telamon reaches into his haversack, and pulls out a large, green-yellow apple which he offers to Simony. "Here. Something to tide you over, at least till you get a proper meal."

He sits back on his chair. "Being the big damn hero is overrated, Simony. When Lana got kidnapped by that lowlife necromancer, I didn't just sprint out without a plan -- I found my friends, and they backed me up. Same principle here. I mean... I asked the moon dogs to help, and while they supplied some information, they didn't do much either. But they did answer the call. Just like you did."

"I'm sorry, I don't really have any food here. I have some bread, bbut it's really quite stale and not suited to be offered to guests." Schara sighs. "Good thing he's prepared, I should get some more food to have on hand for guests, since sometimes I have guests now."

"Yes you are second guessing yourself, and that's alright since it's only natural for people to think about what they could do better. I didn't know if I would be able to kill the man who was trying to imprison me and torment my family, even with help but Aelwyn and Warrick helped me so much to be able to face some of the worst experiences in my life."

In true Goblin form, she inhales the apple in several greedy bites. Seeds and stem and all. "Thank you.", she mumbles between bites.

She lets out a lengthy sigh. "I really wanted it though, Telamon. This was important."

Rubbing at her cheek, she peers at Schara. "Well, I am glad they were there for you, and helped you out."

"Well, yes, it was important. But one battle isn't the war, and you know this fiend's demise isn't the end." Telamon looks to Schara. "Suffice to say that the late, unlamented target of our ire had a patron -- one we are going to take issue with. But I won't say more here."

He reaches over to grasp Simony's hand in his. "There will be other tasks to come. I'm glad you're here to help me with them." Tel gives her a happy smile, before nodding at Schara. "Seen that before. Well, you know, there's really only one thing to do about that."

His eyes twinkle mischievously. "Would you like to dine-in some place, or should we get takeout?"

"Oh I am extremely glad they were there for me and my family, I don't want to think what would have happened to me if I tried to deal with them alone. I'd either be dead or forced to be their wife, and I think being with them would be worse. I don't like hurting people, but I do not care as much about their death as many other people." The artificer responds, taking the mug left for Aelwyn and having a sip of it. "Oh, well, I don't know that many good places to eat in the city since I don't eat out often."

"Did you tell Aelwyn that, Telamon?" She straightens a little bit. "It would have mollified him somewhat, and maybe he will get his chance at revenge, and certainty." The Goblin rubs at her chin a moment. "Oh, I thought you might have brought out the boots." Simony snorts. "He is asking, Schara, if you'd like to dine-in or get take out. This is code for... I know how to teleport and I'm not afraid to use it frivolously to cheer up friends with a hot meal."

Telamon shakes his head. "I'll broach it with him when he's had a day or so to cool down. But yes, the prospect of taking someone's head as a consolation prize might make him feel better." He takes a breath. "I'm trying to avoid discussing it too much outside of secure places."

Tel clasps his hands together. "Well then, Schara, you're in luck, because not only am I a good cook, I also know a number of the best places to eat here in town." He gives Simony a grin. "Don't be silly. Everyone knows teleport doesn't work here in Alexandria. We'd have to walk to get there." His eyes dance merrily. "So, Schara, do you like seafood?"

"Aelwyn would probably like that, and I won't bring it up to him since it's not my place to say, and it seems to be a sensitive matter." The artificer nods. "Oh, I thought he was asking about eating, that's why I was saying that I don't know many places here. It's much cheaper to buy food right before it goes bad and cook it the day of in a lot of cases after all."

"I like seafood, it's usually quite cheap to get in a city like this, and fresh, and you can get it for free if you're lucky sometimes too." She answers. "I've done enough here for one day and I'll get back to fixing my arm later, I can eat with one or none anyways."

Simony frowns lightly. "I don't think that it's a good idea to let him stew, Telamon. Take him to the Castle, and talk to him about it. As soon as you can. I get that it's sensitive, just... you know it's important, and you know how people can be when they get themselves into a dark place in their mind. I can do it if you like, I can bring him there."

A smile slowly spreads across her expression. "Are we having crabs?"

Telamon nods soberly. "You may have a point, Simony. I'll see if I can grab him, or you can do so. I'll leave word with the Castle servants to let you in. You are, after all, an honored guest."

He nods sagely to Schara. "When Lana and I were starting out -- especially living together -- we ran into a lot of that. Easier and cheaper when you're neophyte adventurers on a budget." He makes a face. "Gods, that sounds like we're old boots, doesn't it? But in any case... when I was hosting a certain golden dragon I learned some of the tricks of seafood shopping, too. Also how useful it was to store fish in snow."

Tel gets to his feet, chuckling. "Why don't we go over to Corman's? I took some friends there once. No worries about cost -- I'll foot the bill for this one." He grins at Simony. "They do have crab on the menu, and lobster as well."

"Probably a good idea to let him know sooner rather than later. He can be very impulsive so it's a good idea to be mindful of what he might decide to do." Schara agrees. "Oh, well I had very little gold for food on account of taking care of my armor, workshop fees and taking out a predatory loan with a money lender in alexandria, but it got bought out by someone else and no one has asked in... at least six months and four days, give or take, so I think I might be okay to spend some of the money I set aside for emergency payments."

"I've never eaten a crab before, aren't they really hard? Maybe the texture is an acquired taste, but I'm willing to give it a try." The artificer considers, leaving the bed and stretching. "I'll clean up the tea later, no one else uses this workshop after all.