RP:Acquiring an Arsenal

Part of the Surface Tension Arc

Synopsis: Skylei finds two unlikely allies in the form of the Orc, Helix, in Cenril Market and the half-drow, Slytheria in Kelay Tavern. Both assist in, somewhat unwittingly, helping the half-elf acquire two of the final items in her assault arsenal; a heat reflecting cloak and some of the paralytic herbs only found in the Underdark. Two RPs for the price of one!

Open Market

As is usual for a lunchtime in Cenril Market, the streets are packed with patrons and there is little room to move within the fray of people. Many of those people are headed to the fish market, a little closer to the shore, hunting out their midday meal at a reasonable price. Others are taking the time to peruse the wares (some legal, some not) that the vendors of the market have on offer. Skylei’s dealing today is almost certainly not legal. She’s hidden away in a corner of the market speaking with a duergar. The only reason that a self-respecting wood elf such as Miss Lucindio would be speaking with one of those vile dwarves can only indicate less than pure motives. Should anyone approach the duo it would become clear that they were haggling over a price.

Helix keeps his eyes on the heads of those scuffling about below him. The large Orc trying to tip toe through the crowded streets as Cassie weaved through their feet like it was an art form. The packed crowd didn't help aid against the beating heat of the blaring sun as the wiped sweat from his forehead with the back of his arm. The man growing frustrated as more and more people pushed into him. Fed up, the knight does something that is rare, he roars. The gutteral shout causes those around him to freeze for a moment in fear before dispearsing out of his way. His chest falls in relief as he shakes himself off and continues down the road. He doesn't make it too far when Cassie manages to catch scent of something familiar. A sharp whine causes Helix to look down to his companion with emerald eyes, "What is it pup?", The goberian begins moving to the corner where Skylei resides with the dark dwarf. The pup moving right up to the duo with her tail and head hanging low. Helix catches sight of them and immediately recognizes the half elf. "Hmm." He bellows lowly before moving close enough to the two of them that the giant literally towers over the Dark Dwarf. "Beautiful day, isn't it?" He states loud enough to draw attention from passers by, his arms crossed with a look of authority about him as he shifts between the half elf and the shady looking fella. It was clear something was amiss, and the orc was happy to get involved. Cassie, is quick to lay at Skylei's feet and lick at her boot hoping to prevent the woman from fleeing.

As Helix approaches, Skylei is shouting obscenities at the duergar, “That’s not business, that’s daylight flipping robbery! Who do you think is going to have that amount of money?! The people of Cenril can barely afford to buy food half the time! Have you not seen the- oh!” Skylei is startled from her tales of Cenril’s slums by the appearance of a large orc blocking her line of view. Looking up to his face, it takes her a few seconds to assess if she knows him. She thinks that she doesn’t (all orcs look the same to Skylei) until that familiar dog comes and lies alongside her feet. She sighs. “Don’t sell it yet,” Skylei utters in a near growl to the duergar, “We can discuss this later, once you’ve learnt the way that bargaining works.” Clearly whatever business she has with the dark dwarf, she’s unhappy to continue in front of the orc. Or she’s hoping to make him stew whilst she debates whether her purchase is worth the outrageous sum he has asked her for. Once the duergar had left the vicinity to make th Helix would maintain his stern stare to the Duergar and Skylei until the former made his leave. Skylei bends down to give Cassie her love and attention and even takes the extra step to address Helix. However, it would seem fate had an odd twist today as Skylei wasn't awarded the same curtosy. "What's a racist half-elf doing speaking with a Duergar in a shady corner of a shady city? A Duergar, may I say again, one of the races who have earned a valid reputation of being outright hated for their own vile souls?" A brow is lofted as the stern voice bellows out, it's force likely strong enough to strike fear into Skylei's heart, forcing the truth from her.

Skylei sighs and rolls her eyes. She doesn’t want to explain what she is doing as likely Helix will tell her that she’s being foolish. But even so, she offers him an edited version of the truth – though it is highly convincing, “You know my people hail from Sage, aye? And you’ve heard of the recent attacks in Kelay. Seven drow dead, they say, all prompted by this monstrous half-drow half-something else.” She shakes her head and then rests her forehead against the dog’s back for a few moments. Then, looking, directly to the orc, Skylei sighs near wistfully, “I want to go back to my forest. I want to sit in the trees and live in my house. But I was reading that drow have this innate ability that allows them to see on the heat spectrum and so, with the tensions being heightened as they are, I know that should they sense me in Sage, I’ll be dead before I can blink.” Still sat on the floor, Skylei lifts a hand from Cassie’s back to gesture in the direction of the disappearing dark dwarf, “That’s where the duergar come in. They’re renown for being able to mix metal, cloth and I assume some form of magic in order to create a cloak that reflects heat inwards. There’s no way of detecting the heat output of the person within the cloak. You understand where I’m going with this…” Finally, she offers the orc a small and near desperate plea, “Help me?”

Helix remains quiet for the entirety of Skylei's story. His only movement the occassional shifting of his eyes between her own. As she concludes the tale with the plea for help the Orc is left with a shifting jaw that echoes his bone popping as he grunts a low, constant "Hmm...", He ponders for a moment on other matter, Gualon and his people. Though a swift reassurance of Nothrobalug's leadership brings him at ease. He looks to Cassie as if asking the canine companion for her opinion, the dog looking only with her eyes straight up from her laid position as if trying to stay out of the conflict. Nothing is said as Helix pulls his gloves from his hands and tosses them on the ground. He then unfastens the belt strapping his buckler and broad sword to his back and lays them gently on the ground as well before pulling the leather tunic and placing it by the rest of his things. Turning his head either way his neck pops loudly and he rolls his shoulders to loosen up. The knight then moves out of sight and disappears for a few moments, leaving Skylei alone with Cassie. The bustling sound of the market the only source of noise pollution. It isn't long before Helix reappears, the collar of the duergar Skylei had been speaking with gripped tightly in his left hand as the tiny being cursed and shouted as he was drug down the street being half strangled by his clothing. When the duo returned to the corner, Helix swings his arm around and slams the tiny dwarf into the wall with brute force, knocking the wind from the creature as the Orc's demeanor is no longer that representing a knight of honor, but instead, a beast with a thirst for violence. Helix's palm tightens on the duergar's shoulder as he digs down into his collar bone. The dark dwarf crying out in pain as Helix, 'speaks', to him, with saliva and bits of blood and bile flinging from his maw as he makes his demands. "Fol'Kor SMASH LITTLE MAN! GIVE LADY CLOAK! GIVE LADY CLOAK NOW!" He roars as his free hand thrusts into the wall beside the duergar's head, cracking the foundation and echoing a loud crack of bone and cement. The entire ordeal, was of course, an act. Helix had literally bit his tongue to cause the blood and help 'stupify' his speech. Though it would be a hard time not to buy it. Cassie, however, wasn't impressed as she simply yawned and rolled on her side.

Skylei assumes that the way Helix is going to help her is in the civilised manner that he has always presented himself. She is wrong. Instead Skylei is offered a cartoonish depiction of the way in which she has always believed orcs to act. Frankly, she’s not even sure if it is just an act. Indeed, when she opens her mouth to make a comment about the perceived violence, the blood and the strange turn of speech, all that leaves her mouth is a shaky ‘uhmm’ sound, before she promptly shuts her mouth and casts her attention away to Cassie who looks frankly bored by the whole display. With violence the norm on the Cenril streets, none of the patrons of the market react in any way, other than turning their heads and pretending they can neither seen or hear the assumed angry orc. ‘Don’t get involved’ might as well be the unofficial motto of the Cenril slums. Helix seems enraged when the little man simply continues to moan in pain, so the orc provides him a real reason to complain and pulls him back and slams him into the wall four times, stopping only when he hears the shoulder of his victim snap in half. It is at this point that he moves the sniviling dark dwarf to the side and places him down beside Skylei. "Now, negotiate a very, -very-..." his eyes narrow to the short one, "price. Unless you want the other one gone." Helix clears his throat and wipes the sweat from his brow, pushing his hair back before to his pile of belongings, pulling the tunic on first. The dwarf seems willing to talk now as he stares to Skylei, tears rolling down his sud caked cheeks. Cassie moves to sniff the broken little man, sneezes and then rolls over to let Skylei rub her stomach.

Skylei grimaces at each slam into the wall and actually cringes at the sound of breaking bone. When she had asked for help, this had not been the help she had been hoping for. Of course, she should have remembered, you can take the orc out of the swamp, but you can’t take the swamp out of the orc… She would negotiate a price quickly; seemingly now that he had been bashed to pieces the dwarf was happy to accept a modest three figure sum rather than the extortionate four figures he had been demanding earlier. Skylei almost feels sorry for him. Sorry enough that, as she slips the gold from one pouch into another to allow the duergar to take his payment, she slides a couple of extra gold coins in. She’s not going soft, she would tell herself, she’s simply playing her debts and giving the man enough money to get himself fixed up, Those injuries were, after all, her fault. The duergar didn’t linger for long once the payment had been processed, choosing to half limp away, likely in the direction of the nearest healer. Once he had gone and Skylei had put her remaining gold away, she would bite her lower lip and glance at Helix for but a few seconds, “You know… that wasn’t exactly what I had in mind. But, thank you?”

Helix continues dressing himself and getting his weapon and shield back into place. "I can hear the distaste in your voice, Lady Skylei of the Sage and I must say it's quite irritating. Nothing else on the face of this great planet would have swayed the dark dwarf so quickly or effeciently. If you believe I take pride in being a monster, then you madam, are an imbecile." Helix allows himself to look over to Skylei in her still seated position as he fiddles with the belt around his torso. "You asked for help and your lucky you got it. You say that's not what you had in mind but I'm left with the burning curiosity, what did the racist elf possibly have in mind for the savage, brutal, stupid orc?" Helix bends down to snatch his gloves and as he's sliding them on, takes notice of his ill temper and would sigh before stopping to face Skylei once more. Kneeling down he shakes his head, "Look, I'm sorry. I'm happy to help. Had this been Gualon, you would've been on your own. I over stepped my line of authority, I'm no one to these people and I owe them no favors nor they me." He pauses and searches for a response in her eyes. "The drow presense in the sage is an abomination and that's why I helped. I don't know what the hell you've got going on up here.", He points to his brain, "But I hope it's damn well worth it. The drow are a powerful enemy. So powerful that they've managed to get governments across the globe in alliance through fear or as they call it 'respect'" He states with the use of air quotations. Guilt begins to wash over the orc for hurting the dark dwarf so badly without proper motivation and he allows himself to fall back onto his bum, elbows locked around his knees as he lowers his head shaking it at the same time. "Look, you've got what you're after. That's all that matters, right?"

Skylei is almost moved to an apology. Almost. The insults combined with the fact that she’s still shaken by the display that she has witnessed renders her silent for once, and she keeps her eyes pinned either on the ground or on Cassie at her feet. Once he had finished his ranting tirade of apologies, accusations and probing questions, Skylei would get up from where she had crouched in order to pet the dog. Rearranging herself, she wipes some of the orc bile or blood (or perhaps both) that had splattered her sleeve without question or contempt, “I’ll find a way to repay you for what you’ve done for me.” Slinging the newly acquired cloak across her shoulder and turning away, Skylei pauses, “I have no plans,” she lies, although she at least has the decency to finish on a truthful note, “I just want my home back. You would do the same if they took Gualon from you.”

Helix watches her rise and listens to her bold statement of his home. His lips part to speak, to decline her offer of repaying him and to warn her of the dangers of the path she is walking. Though they quickly fall back shut and instead she receives a very short, curt nod before his eyes fall back to the cobbled path and Cassie.

Kelay Tavern

Slytheria sits in a too-dark corner, easily seen but deceptively hard to make out any real details. She works alone in silence, her wing splayed before her and a spool of string and a needle at work. Occasionally an intake of breath might indicate discomfort but she carries on. Before her, on the table, is a kit of her own making. Various instruments, mostly homemade it seems, are placed with great care within the small case, along with dozens of herbs and liquids and other remedies. Though some are very similar to what one might find on the surface, many are found only in the deep recesses of the Darkness below. She bites the thread, breaking it, and then begins applying some of those herbs upon the tear in her wing.

Skylei frequents Kelay nervously. The changing and ever volatile situation regarding the drow occupation of the surrounding forests has her on edge. First she checks for drow. None in the near vicinity. But there’s a figure in the darkness. Skylei’s all too human eyes have to work hard to make Slytheria out in any real detail. All she gets is the darkness of the creature’s skin and the outline of those wings. She’d glance back to the newspaper pinned to the wall. Surely not, she muses; surely the creature who sits in the corner of the tavern cannot be the one responsible for the ‘atrocity’ outside of these very walls. Curiosity compels her to move towards the creature and sit one table over, sucked into the abyssal darkness of that portion of the tavern. Eventually her eyes would adjust. Now, Skylei assumes that the creature in the darkness may be the one the board refers to – or certainly, it is one of her kin. What attracts her attention most is the instruments, herbs and other delights that litter the table. Now, Skylei Lucindio is not known to acquaint herself with drow, half-drow or those who call drow friends. This once is an exception – she promises herself that as she opens her mouth. With a quiet clear of her throat, Skylei would attempt to attract Slytheria’s attention, “…excuse me?” Likely too quiet. Once more, a little louder, “Uhm, excuse me?”

Slytheria looks up at the voice addressing her, the bright yellow eyes cut through the gloom in an unsettling fashion for most. The woman's wing, not well on it's way to being mended thanks to the herbs, falls away and down until they appear nothing more than a fanciful cloak. "Do you have words for me?" she says simply, as if unaccustomed to the niceties of society.

Skyleiwrinkles her nose at being greeted in such a way. It’s an uncomfortable reminder of exactly why she doesn’t interact with those of drow descent. “I do, yes.” Clearing her throat, Skylei gets up from her chair and moves towards so that she might converse more easily. However, she is certain not to get too close; after all, she’s fairly convinced that she knows just who this creature is. “Those herbs. At least some of them are from the underdark, no? Is that,” Skylei would pause and swallow, “I mean, that one there looks like bloodroot and that other looks to me to be like lobelia? Am I wrong? Do you pick them yourself? They don’t grow on the surface do they?” Skylei and her hundred questions come to a halt as she awaits Slytheria’s answers.

Slytheria narrows her eyes in a suspicious fashion. "My herbs?" she says absently, conspicuously sheathing a wicked looking blade after realizing the girl poses little threat. "I know the ways of the dark, and within them are many secrets." her head cocks, "You must excuse my... I am not one who speaks to others often. Beyond an occasional barter, I find solace in silence."

Skylei dips her head, “I understand. Should you wish, I will leave you in peace. I was just most impressed by the range and scope of your collection. My apothecary is an elven woman and being of that descent myself neither of us have the ability to travel to the underdark, so some of these herbs I’ve never laid eyes on, save in books. Thus my research is so oft hampered and progress slow…” Skylei tests the waters here. If her assumptions are correct then the dragon-drow hybrid that sits at the table is responsible for the death of multiple drow and so, “Of course, herbs of most kinds have been hard to come by since the invasion of Sage.” Here she pauses before adding a quiet, but audible ‘after thought’, “Drow bastards.” If Slytheria is who she thinks she is, then Skylei is in no danger insulting those of drow kind. If she’s not, then Skylei is ready to run as fast as she can.

Slytheria breathes deeply as she considers the woman's words, "Sit then, and break words." she says simply. "I find it curious how easily the Drow move about on the surface." Her words are bitter, but controlled.

Skylei’s voice is lowered to mere whisper as she speaks of things she expects Slytheria to know, “You heard of the attacks on the Way, I assume?” Skylei is flat out bluffing now; she knows the creature knows, “Well, I got word from the refugees in Frostmaw that the elves are unhappy with how it was managed. Unhappy with the drow presence on the surface and in their forest. I expect action will come soon, it is a mere matter of time before the revolt begins.” With new verve and increased volume, Skylei turns back to the herb collection, gesturing her hand across the table, “Did you know, of course I expect with a collection of your quality, that the herbs of the underdark are said to be the most potent of all the herbs known to man and elf? Funnily enough, some of the herbs that only grow around the Trist’oth borders are said to be particularly toxic to drow. Ironic, don’t you think? To have that vulnerability on your doorstep. Convenient too, you wouldn’t want your enemies to get hold of any of that.” All she needs now is for the woman to join the dots…

Slytheria blinks at all those words. "Oh, I would think it is the nature of things that puts such dangers in our midst." she says cryptically. "I have no love of drow, despite my own connection to them." Her clawed hands betray her feelings by digging into the wood of the table. "I am of two minds on the subject. On the one hand, the drow are like an invasive species in an unprepared ecosystem. They should be purged lest the repercussions be grave. Additionally, I have found few things more satisfying than gutting one so perhaps I am a bit biased." She pours a glass of wine for the two of them, and passes a glass to Sklyei. "On the other hand, a people so weak... so shortsighted that they would allow such evil in their midst unfettered, perhaps they deserve to be ruled by them. Who can say." She sips the wine, shaking her head at the fruity flavor, a decent drink is not to be had here.

Skylei would lift the glass of wine to her lips but not sip. It’s enough to, under the illusions provided by darkness, make it appear as if she is drinking and that is enough for Skylei. She needs to seem polite, but she will not drink. Slytheria may claim and may have proved that she has no love of drow, but with skin that dark, Sky will not and cannot trust her. Ever. “Like I said, I feel the tides may change. But that is for people other than myself. Like I said, I am naught but a scholar with an unfulfilled interest in the plants that grow beyond my reach. How often do you travel down below the surface?” Skylei is hinting as hard as she can, but she’s reaching the point where she thinks the only way to win Slytheria to her cause is to come right out and say what she wants. “I mean, were you to be planning a trip in the next few weeks, I’m sure there is something that you would willingly trade for a couple of herbs, nay?” Everyone has their price, and Skylei is confident that she will be able to find Slytheria’s.

Slytheria considers before she speaks, "The underdark was home, but it is no more." she says as if trying to convince herself as much as Skylei. "Although I must admit, I have been considering a trip to replenish my reserves. I find the herbs on the surface... less than satisfactory for my needs." She drinks more of the wine, "I would be willing to procure some for you, if that is what you wish." Her mind wanders. Could she return? Avoiding the drow would be easy, but the underdark is full of dangers even the drow fear. Still, her ignorance of the herbs on the surface was a problem she had not considered when she left and she felt quite vulnerable without a fresh supply. Mother was an entirely different matter. Steps would need to be taken. Still, this was as good an excuse as any, and frankly she had run out of reasons not to go. "A list of what you would need would be all I require.

Skylei nods at Slytheria. There is a pang of almost pity (she is too sentimental) for the drow without a home. The plight of her people is reflected in Slytheria and Skylei cannot help but have her unwilling heartstrings tugged. “You’re doing my research a great service. Should there ever be anything that I might be able to do for you, do let me know.” False promises, but spoken with a smile. Skylei has a gentle enough elven tone that even the wickedest of lies allow her to come across as though she is being sincere and honest. She does, for a brief moment consider explain to the drow who no longer claimed the underdark as home just what her plans were. But Kelay Tavern is not the place to spill your secrets. Pulling parchment and quill from her bag, Skylei writes down the names of five herbs. Two are the paralytic agents she had first enquired about. The further three are herbs that, as far as Skylei knows, possess no ill effecting agents. “Just a small amount of each should suffice, of course, should you not be able to source them all, I will completely understand.” Once that is done, Skylei writes her initials at the top of the page and her address, “That’s where I am most of the time. Once you return, perhaps you could let me know and I can arrange to meet with you in a location of your convenience?”

Slytheria takes the parchment with a nod, "There is little I require." she says, clearly uncomfortable with the interaction. "Perhaps sharing your knowledge of surface herbs and fauna might be welcome." she says, clearly uncomfortable with the idea of needing help from anyone. "I shall contact you upon my return."

Skylei and Slytheria are clearly near equals when it comes to discomfort in regards to unnecessary human interaction for as soon as their business is concluded, Skylei starts to feel equally uncomfortable. “Agreed,” she mutters, “Thank you for your time.” Because it feels too awkward for her to get up and go and sit at another table, Skylei makes the decision simply to leave the tavern all together. Stepping out of the shadowy corner, Skylei would blink twice as her eyes readjust to the light and then leave without uttering another word.