Considering the week.

[DM Bob]

All minor goals are accomplished over this time. If there was anything you wish to buy or sell, feel free to get me a list in the OOC folder and I'll make you an offer.

Laahk is scheduled to speak with a beast handler of Balic's arena, Klemynt the half elven... the soonest he could meet?

When everyone else had summed up their errands. In spite of the ominous warnings and noncommittal advice from the Altaruk, Kleys and Mak get their work done as well. The urns are whole and divined. They were ensorcelled with protections against evil and rendered permanent. The two spirits were commanded by their dead liege to enter the obsidian prisons and then capped by other ancient wracked souls. Any enchantment now needs to be recast if they were to be used for the same deed (ie protection vs evil and permanency).

Mak regrows a grove and brings the neophyte druid to the Troll Grave Chasm. His divinations were true and the spirit does not take her life.

Hurk contemplates adding steel to his weapon. If this is to be attempted? He could leave both the weapon and the ore with the young noble and see if he makes any progress until they next meet...

He also tries to curry favor from the Cerebrum. The goliath is largely ignored and stonewalled for the time being. Iphignea has been dealing with increased patrician observance. Perhaps something to do with the recent activation of the Legion and their bloodless return.

Speaking of...

...as Laahk walks to his meeting, he sights three roc riders flying towards the city walls from the west. They wear lacquered white masks, strange dark armor or chitin and carry gigantic black, lacquered black lances. The psion scout is perhaps a block or so from his morning meet - the rest of the crew elsewhere in town. The dark red sun is subdued today, the silt thick in the sky; the wind moderately blowing from north to south.

[Niachi]

Without breaking his momentum or his appearance, Laakh Mindinks the team "Roc riders inbound": Rolls: 20,18, 14, 16, 9. and retrying the first fail: 13

first attempt fails, 4 successes, than retying the first fail: success.

He pauses as if looking for an address, to finish comms before knocking at Klemynt's place.

[Coden Rokos (Jesse H.)]

Since Shanav has never heard Laakh's mind-voice, she shuts him out as an unwanted contact. Probably someone trying to reach her about her wagon's extended warranty.

[Skrye [AC3; 48/48HP]]

Dec 15, 2021 9:36:29 GMT -12 Niachi said:

Without breaking his momentum or his appearance, Laakh Mindinks the team "Roc riders inbound": Rolls: 20,18, 14, 16, 9. and retrying the first fail: 13

first attempt fails, 4 successes, than retying the first fail: success.

He pauses as if looking for an address, to finish comms before knocking at Klemynt's place.

- 'Where from? I don't remember any montare in the Arena riding one of these before - mentally replying to Laakh and looking around in the sky for their position and also to the local militia, expecting some defensive reaction

[OOC: No observation NWP, so I rolled a plain 17, which I suppose to be a failure]

[Niachi]

Laakh maintains Mindlink to Kem:


"These roc riders are the Dragon's emissaries. Not their first time here. So far, neutral to our concerns. Tyr is under their control..."

[DM Bob]

Anyone outside is able to see, as the trio of flying warriors make a show of entering Balic's airspace unaccosted.

They fly about the Criterion - the massive sail flanked arena and then land somewhere abouts the Megaleneon (the civic hub of Balic).

Laahk gets a great view as he's close to the arena on his way to meet Klemynt at an eatery often frequented by those who work the fights. The savory smell of roasted crodlu eggs and bitter herbs greet the psion as he sums up his mental communication. He does a quick double take as he sees a familiar face... no, this isn't her. At first glance, the half elf sitting outside the eatery looked to be a spitting image of the Order psion, Shammu (who you fought!). But there's more of a male cast to his silhouette and a deeper red tint to his hair among the mass of freckled cheeks. He sits with a clay mug, a matching teapot and a roasted egg topped with what looks to be a tumbleweed of pickled nopale and red cacti grubs. He smiles and nods...

"Are you the kanksdwur's friend? Come, sit. Tea?"

[Niachi]

Laakh nods and sits with the half-elf, within view of the bar and the main entry.

"Klemynt? Yep I would like some tea, and a plate of what you're having," -Indicating the whole table "-all on my bill. You remind me of someone."

Casual scan of the room.

He'll run Poison sense on the whole table when everything arrives, while unwrapping a wheel of Berg's cheese and offering a slice.

[Niachi]

Poison Sense on our table:

Rolled 8.

[Coden Rokos (Jesse H.)]

Shanav decides to strike up a conversation with Kleys once the business is done.

"All right, so you've been on the prowl for certain rare and hidden members of society. What specifically are you looking for? Maybe I can ask around and help," says the widecracking half-elf. "Even if this isn't exactly my home territory. I'm pretty good at meeting people and making friends, especially when we're not continually dodging templars."

[DM Bob]

Laahk detects no poison as the conversation continues. The tea is herbal, grassy (but not unpleasant).

"Maris told me you wanted to train cilops? That's templar work, unless you have the "knack". I have a knack, so what you want to know?"

***

Conversation with Kleys is perfectly fine, time can be made to be properly discreet about it.

[ascieszl]

Kleys looks to the new half-elf - untested and untrusted: "Contacts and resources, Shanav. New 'friends' to cultivate and interesting new 'things' to learn." He waggles his fingers at the word 'things'.

[Coden Rokos (Jesse H.)]

"Let me just clarify that I, too, am familiar with how one keeps concealed and safe as the sandstorm passes," says Shanav to Kleys as she draws a hand across the lower half of her face.

[DM Bob]

"Well. Laahk... was it?" The arena trainer posits.

[Niachi]

Resting his chin in his hands to obscure his lips, Laakh delivers his pitch:

"I have a knack, as well. Complete control, to mitigate the obvious risks from wrangling. without the Way or any training. Perhaps a business arrangement between us? But, as knacks sometimes go, I'd need more information: about the market for these animals, how they are procured, who are the big players in this market? My companions (waves his hand to indicate the entire bar) can ensure my word.

..and as knacks often go, there might be some heat involved so risks must be considered. I just do not know what the potential is for ensuring these beasts do exactly what is needed of them, in any arena..."

[DM Bob]

"Hmm. Cilops be used for slave hunting more often or not. Not seen so much in the arena, as they're too useful outside of it. The patricians (templars) can charm 'em, but the nobles... they're the ones that need outside training. You would make your money catering to the nobles that don't want government favors on their slate. The few cilops that come into town though? They generally come from the trading houses that traffic the salt flats south of Nibenay."

"I have a favor to ask you though. One of my babies, pets... needs a place to stay for a bit. You grok jarbos?"