House of the Noose & the Mental Affliction

[ascieszl]

(Spear and Shield at ready.)

[Niachi]

Moktli gives the entire room a good look, including the ceiling. He'll then move up to 5 feet of the edge where Hawkins melted downwards.

[Quila Oris (John M.)]

An anxious chortle emerges out of Quila's throat as Moktli moves to the well and Hawkings is out of sight for a time.

"Has any of you ever tried to make rope from hemp or even giant hair?" she blurts out nervously.
Her eyes dart around the room but at the same time try to avoid anyone's gaze.

"This one time, at an elven tribe, I saw them braid together rope tentacles into an amazingly fast and striking whip, as if it was a poisonous serpent." A pause. Another chortle emerges which she half swallows it seems. Then another pause and a whispered "sorry about that, I always do that when it gets exciting."

[Skrye [AC3; 48/48HP]]

- No, I'm sorry, I'm not into the ropework trade.. But which elven tribe are you speaking about? There are quite a few out there - Valmera looks calmy to the new arrived woman - I might not be the best one to talk about passions and likes, but you said you chortle when you are excited. Excited in any specific situation with joy, anticipation or fear? - Valmera is not trying to scare but to investigate from Quila's words - Because it could be either a bless or a curse for those around you, even to yourself, like when socialising or trying to pass unnoticed

[Quila Oris (John M.)]

Quila is surprised by the gentle and calming words that the elven woman uses. Far more gentle than most elves would address her normally.
"Well to be honest with you," she whispers again, "I knew the three stone statues in the road you saw. They were recruited with House Maraneth at the same time as I. The Old City has lots of unseen and sudden dangers. Normally I am quite steady but their demise has made me quite apprehensive. Although I do like to seek out what is often lost to the ages."

She locks gaze with the taller and beautiful elf woman before continuing, "so in answer I am excited with anticipation and also some fear now for what we may encounter. But I'll do my best to be less talkative my dear ...?"
At the end Quila makes it clear by rising her voice in pitch that she expects from her interlocutor to give her name.

[Skrye [AC3; 48/48HP]]

- No, no, I'm not who to tell you to talk more or less - she replies to the attractive black haired woman - I meant that if the chortle arises at the wrong time it might be misunderstood or reveal and compromise position, just that - Valmera smiles - Speaking about, I'm Valmera

[Quila Oris (John M.)]

"Oh okay. Right. Understood. Good advice, that." Quila falls silent for a moment, her chin down, looking at the ground. Her head tilts up again as she smiles (without showing her teeth - maybe that's impolite or threathening) warmly to Valmera. "Well met Valmera, may the winds always be at your back."

[Skrye [AC3; 48/48HP]]

With a sincere smile in the face - I wish you the same, although I'm not sure if I know your name to thank you appropriately - Valmera looks the way the half-elf woman dresses up, to wonder where about is she coming from

[Quila Oris (John M.)]

“My name is Quilla,” the half-elf woman says. “If you are wondering why my clothing is like it is, I traveled a lot. I am a seamstress and have combined some good clothing ideas I know from Tyr, Raam and Balic. Clothing needs to be functional if you want to be traveling and searching for objects in ruins a lot.”

[Skrye [AC3; 48/48HP]]

- Oh, that´s excellent! Nice to meet you - Replies with a relaxed smile in her face - I love clothing, although it is not my field of expertise. I am a ceramist, a potter - Her excitement calms down - Yes, you totally right in relation to the functionality of the attires used in this area. So, a seamstress in a ruin, that's interesting and it seems that we just found something related to your trade - She talks more friendly

[Quila Oris (John M.)]

(Adding this in case it is relevant - posted the first section already when Hawkings ran into Quila at South Bridge - but since Valmera took a good look at Quila and her clothes she can see some more details)

Valmera sees a woman, indeed too tall for a human too small for an elf. She looks as if she's been in this dusty city for a while, judging from the buildup of grit on both her boots and her outerwear.
Her voice sounds soothing but has a hint of tenseness behind it. Her clothing looks well maintained and seems to be a cross between both functionality and swirling looks. There's tight fitting pants running into calf-high sturdy boots and a hooded garnache/vest with several pockets clasped at several places to a baldric all covering a more embroidered undershirt. A pattern of Ral and Guthay moons and elemental illustrations feature at sections of the undershirt.

In addition you can see several elements of the more decorated baldric a bit better. You see several circular elements in there, some seem made of bone, there's a piece of quartz. One disc / circle is a bit larger and is made from white bone with a brown stripe at the bottom that juts out a small bit from the circle. In the white you also see swirls of air, and what seems like wasps. The baldric seems to be connected to both the vest's right shoulder and with a clasp to a neckpiece and runs down to Quila's left hip. On the outside of the baldric you also see several barbed / hooked items that look like darts but also a bit like pulp bees/wasps.

Quila looks downward at her own clothes, then looks at Valmera again, "yes this is all dirty from last month I've been here. But I made most of this myself, except for the boots. And well, Celik does have people and people need clothes and the right shiny thing to impress or woo someone. Good business for me indeed. And I'm close to ruins I can discover. The same can be said about pottery and ceramics. Functionality for water vessels and a nice shiny tile or plate can certainly be used to impress or seek favour."

[Skrye [AC3; 48/48HP]]

- I agree, everything has their functionality, and everything has their strong points to be valuable in one or another way - The elven woman looks at Quila at her eyes - And clothing is, indeed, a need. I'm not going to say anything in relation to it, it's not my field of expertise neither we are in an special occasion of any sort. - Valmera moves to a side after giving a tiny hop to position her backpack in place

[DM Bob]

As the women discuss, Hawkings phases and descends below. After 30 feet, the brickwork is replaced by chiseled out bedrock. After 50' he reaches the water table. There is one issue. The water currently does not hit the bottom of the contraption once used to haul liquid from the depths. This ends at 45-48 or so feet. Due to the nature of the contraption, it takes 2 rounds for Hawkings to clear the machinery as he needs to phase through it every 3-4 feet due to bucket placement.

Would the halfling like to go underneath the water to see if it branches out eventually?

[Attilius]

Nov 1, 2021 11:45:18 GMT -12 DM Bob said:

Would the halfling like to go underneath the water to see if it branches out eventually?

Yes please. Looking for secret passages as well within the walls, which he'll quickly stick his face into to check as he descends deeper.

[DM Bob]

This action slows you as you push through matter (1/4 move). Just a head's up. Instead of 2 rounds - 6 3 are spent reaching the bottom.

There's nothing on the rounded side of the wall you're closest to - mainstreet side (north-ish).

The water only goes down 7 feet before reaching bottom. 3 feet of that is with the same rock wall before you lose your sight as it is extremely murky, stagnant water. Tell me if you continue down, or care to see if there's wall at any given compass point. You pick. Walking through the water will also have the same effect of slowing your movement.