Whispers Of The Vampire's Blade Ic

[kpenguin]

Its late morning in Sharn and outside a small rainstorm pours down. You all are resting inside of the Broken Anvil, taking a rest after an adventure. The day is bleak and slow, but your companions and the warm fire keep you content. Suddenly, the door creaks open to reveal young man dressed in blue and silver:

(Posted Image)

His face is plastered with a broad smile that defies the weather. His silver brooch is marked with the image a unicorn, the symbol of House Orien. The young man approaches your table and drops a wax-sealed envelope in front of you.

Message for you, kind sirs

His voice is bright and cheerful. After depositing the message, he stands there, expectantly.

[Memnarch]

Espen

Looking at the young man, he asks "Was there anything else that went with this letter?"

[kpenguin]

The young man frowns a bit

I'm afraid not sir

[Mechafox]

Ambrose watches quietly. He has his hood up and hides his arms in his cloak, (as is his custom).

[Memnarch]

Espen

"Might as well open it. Anyone want the honours?"

[Szilard]

Krutt

"I'm good with you opening it."

[Tired N' Drowzy]

"Go ahead," says Elundiar without paying much attention, playing a finger-nipping game with Beakums in the corner.

[Memnarch]

Espen

"Here, you open it," he says and spinning the envelope to Oliver.

[kpenguin]

The young man watches the exchange with growing distress.

"Sirs, I'm quite sure that the envelope isn't booby trapped in any way."

[Zweanslord]

Eric Hunt

Amongst the members of the group, there is one man watching Espen take the envelope. Eric Hunt shook his head when Espen asked if anyone wanted the honours of opening it. Eric's eyes went back to the young man and glanced for a while over the silver brooch marked with the image of a unicorn, the symbol of House Orien. It made him smile for a moment as he was leaning against the back of his seat, with his arms behind his head. Eric seemed to be relaxing in his seat, having his legs stretched out and one leg over the other.
He was wearing dark boots and practical garments. A rugged vest with a shirt under it, some tough boots residing over his feet and a some plain pants and next to his seat was a manly and sturdy backpack. The clothes had seen better times, but all in all it gave Eric Hunt a rugged and tough look. He himself looked like a fit young man, ready to strike towards adventure. His dark hair reached barely to his shoulders and his face was in a humoured expression. He laughed as the young man who had given the envelope said there was no booby trap in the envelope.
"The man is right, somebody open it up already." Eric said with a grin. He looked in specific towards Espen and Oliver, as the envelope was currently near either of them.

[Szilard]

Krutt

Krutt turns to the messanger and takes his legs off the table where he was resting them.

While these guys open this envelope thing, why don't you tell me where you are from and who you are? :)

[Shades of Gray]

Oliver sighs.

What's with-th with you guys?

Oliver opens the envelope using his dagger as a letter opener. He reads from it.

[kpenguin]

OOC: Once again, you people are hilarious.
-------------------------

The envelope contains two sheets of papaer. Four platinum coins are attached to the first sheet with red wax. On the second sheet, a few sentences have been scribbled in a cramped style:

These coins have many friends who would like to meet you. Come to the northeast stairs of Myriad Tower, upper city, at noon. Bring travel gear and those you trust. Also bring your sense of urgency and a knack for discretion. Give this parchment to the gaurd near the stairs and he will let you ascend.

The note is signed with an elegant "R" next to the black silhouette of a stylized Lantern.

As Oliver reads the letter, the young man who delivered it speaks with Krutt.

"I'm Jaran d'Orien. I... uh... I'm a courier for House Orien. I grew up around Sharn and I've been a courier my whole life."

The young man maintains his smile, but seems anxious, as if waiting for something.

[Tired N' Drowzy]

Elundiar sits up when the letter is finally opened. He throws Beakums into the air, who proceeds to fly next to him. He makes his way towards Oliver, poking his head over his shoulder. He reads the letter quickly.

"So... We're supposed to meet these people who befriend inanimate objects...? And we're supposed to bring theoretical concepts..."

[Szilard]

Krutt

Seems cool, anything exciting ever happen?
Krutt looks over Oliver's should to read the letter while waiting for Jaran's answer.
What's a knack for discretion? Some kind of snack? :huh:

[Memnarch]

Espen

(to Jaren after he responds to Krutt) "You waiting for something?"

[kpenguin]

Jaran makes a small laugh.

"Not really. I've mostly been relaying messages here in Sharn. I haven't been out of the city in a long time."

Jaran pauses to think for a moment.

"Oh... once this guy on a pegasus swooped right over my head during the Race of the Eight Winds. That was exciting!"

When Espen asks Jaran if he's waiting for something, Jaran blushes and puts one of his arms behind his head.

"Gee, well I... you see I was just... well I was waiting for a tip. B-but you don't have to give me one if you don't want to, its just that its customary and it'd be a really nice thing to do."

OOC: By the way, its an hour and a half till noon.

[Szilard]

Krutt

A pegasus!?! :o Awesome! When was this race? Krutt wanted to know more, it might come in handy one day, being a bard and all.

Krutt starts to go through his haversack, making sure he has traveling stuff urgency, and a knack for discretion, whatever those may be.

[kpenguin]

"You... uh... you aren't from around here are you? The Race of the Eight Winds is a big event here in Sharn. It takes place every year on... when was it? I know its somewhere around... the twenty-third of Lhavion. Yeah, that's it. Its a race where the competitors ride flying beasts of all sorts. The winner gets a bag of gold and and some land."

OOC: Lhavion's a month, by the way.

[Memnarch]

Espen

"Oh, of course. It's been a while since I was in my home city and I haven't needed to use the mail in a while." He opens his haversack and takes out a few coins (5 silver) and hands them to Jared.

[Szilard]

Krutt

Yeah, the race must have happened before I got here.

Ooc:What month is it now?

[Shades of Gray]

Oliver

Bring Urgency...

Know I feel bad that it took us so long just to open it He jokes.

What are we waiting for, let's be on our way.

Oliver hefts his handy haversack over his shoulders.

[Mechafox]

Ambrose stands up and nods to Oliver. His cloak bunches around him; it's several sizes too large. Ulrica the wolf perks up, noticing that the group is moving. She gets up and walks over next to Ambrose.

[kpenguin]

Gee, thanks sir!

Jaran cheerfully skips out of the tavern without another word.

OOC: Its Aryth. For reference, Aryth is the equivalent of April and Lhavion is the equivalent of July.

[Szilard]

Krutt

Krutt also puts his Haversack on and leaves his remaining silver pieces on the table. (All nine of them.)

Edit:Ooc: Thanks.

[Zweanslord]

Eric Hunt

"Hey, want to share the contents with the rest of us too?" Asks Eric, as he has yet to hear or read the letter. He kicks up from his seat and grabs the backpack that stood beside his seat. With a firm sling and a quick manoeuvre, he puts the pack where it belongs; his back.
"So far I understood we have to bring a snack for discretion, urgency and other theoretical concepts and we are meeting a friend of inanimate objects." For the moment, Eric shrugs. "Well, I've met less colourful persons and had to bring less interesting things, so I'm ready to go." He does walk towards Oliver, raising an eyebrow and looking at the letter for a moment, hinting that he wants to read it as well. If Oliver gives it, Eric will swiftly read over the letter and then swing the letter between two fingers back to Oliver, handing it back. "Oh, those kind of friends." Eric nods for a moment and then walks towards Krutt. Still, I am quite fond of that discretion snack, Krutt." He says, patting Krutt on the shoulder. "Let's go look for that, shall we?" Eric gives a friendly grin towards Krutt and looks to see if the rest is ready too.

[Szilard]

Krutt

I wonder if a discretion snack will make me any smarter... says Krutt as he stands up, ready to go now.

[kpenguin]

OOC: Moving along then...

You arrive at the Myriad Tower after a little over an hour of walking. The Myriad Tower, a nondescript tower in a nondescript part of town, rises up into a story sky. You can see the northeast stairs, but the entrance is blocked by a strong iron gate. The surrounding area is all but abandoned.

[Szilard]

Krutt

I wonder if these gaurds know where to find discretion snacks, wherever those gaurds are...
Krutt looks around the area for the gaurds they have to give the letter too.

[Memnarch]

Espen

"Suppose that's the guard over there? he murmurs to the group. "The person who looks like a beggar?"

[Szilard]

Krutt

What beggar? Where? :huh:
Krutt turns and looks around.

[Tired N' Drowzy]

Elundiar stays relatively silent, listening to what everyone else has to say. After Krutt's last mention of "Discretion Snacks", he lets out a long sigh. "No, Krutt, it's not a snack. A knack is a natural ability or skill for doing something. Therefore, a Knack for Discretion means Skill at being Discreet."

[Memnarch]

Espen

"In the alcove over there." Espen indicates the direction with a small nod of the head.

[Szilard]

Krutt

So, there is something that makes people discretful?

Edit:

I still don't see any beggars...

[kpenguin]

OOC: I rolled a spot check for everybody to spot a beggar in an alcove nearby. Ambrose, Espen, and Krutt all spotted it and I sent a PM to their respective players. Szilard apparently doesn't check his PMs

[Mechafox]

Ambrose

"Odd ch-choice of attire for a g-g-guard."

[Szilard]

OOC:oh, I haven't ever looked over there except when I change my avatar. I guess I'll have to keep an eye out for it later.

Krutt

Oh, that beggar, why didn't you say so. :P

[kpenguin]

As you turn your heads to look at the beggar, the beggar holds up a little wooden collection bowl pleadingly.

[Szilard]

Krutt

He walks over to the beggar and sets his haversack down. From it, he pulls out a trail ration and his waterskin. He holds the skin out to the beggar indicating he can drink from it. He also holds the trail ration out to the beggar.

[Tired N' Drowzy]

Elundiar pulls a gold coin from his pouch and flips it to the beggar.

[kpenguin]

The beggar shakes his head

"Wrong key"

His voice is firm and robust, quite unlike any regular beggar would sound.

[Memnarch]

Espen

"Hey, Oliver. You still got the letter with those coins?"

[Szilard]

Krutt

Krutt puts the waterskin and trail ration away, and then starts looking for a key, wondering why the gaurd would say food, drink and gold, are a key.

[Tired N' Drowzy]

Elundiar looks insulted. "What do you mean? You asked for money, I gave you money."

[kpenguin]

The beggar stares blankly at the elf.

[Szilard]

Krutt

He never actually asked for money, he just held a bowl out...

[Mechafox]

Ambrose looks at the man.

Th-this is no b-b-beggar.

[Szilard]

Krutt

That's because he isn't begging, not even asking, just telling. Do you suppose we should go find a key? Or do we already have one in the metaphorical sense somewhere?

[Memnarch]

Espen

He takes the letter from Oliver and opens it up to the platinum pieces. "This what you are looking for, Mr. 'Begger'?"

[kpenguin]

"Just the letter"

The beggar takes the parchment with the letter on it from Espen, but leaves the sheet with platinum pieces in the rogue's hands. He then slips the parchment into his ragged clothing.

Getting up, he strides over to the gate, unlocks it, and pulls it open. The way to the northeast stairs are now clear.

"Go up. The captain is waiting for you.