RP:Scouting Exhibition Part II

Part of the The End's Not Near Arc

Part of the Put Up Your Dukes Arc

Summary: Vestra, has a run in with Yozenra and meets Pilar! During their discussion about the recent events in Chartsend, Vestra feels empathy for their current situation and lets slip a little of her inner world!

Chartsend Market

It was the day after the attempted destruction of Chartsend. A week after the treasury had been nearly emptied. There was no money left to repair the city gates. No money to pay the guards. The defense of the town had been all volunteer, and that volunteer force was all that was keeping the peace now. The town had not yet descended into chaos, but things had definitely started to go downhill. After the riot at the festival, no one was sure who to trust anymore. The Patron was missing (really hiding in Kelay until the heat died down), and the man he'd left behind to handle things wasn't handling them. Most of the town worked in some capacity for the Patron, and with neither Patron nor money, there was an economic recession to deal with in addition to anarchy. Pilar and Yozenra were at the market, looking at food. Pilar was one of those now out of a job—or rather, was now doing her job voluntarily. She worked at the clinic and couldn't simply leave the town without a healer. A few other healers were also volunteering, along with two of the witches she'd brought from Larket, Naomi and Elle. But they couldn't handle everything, and they had to work real jobs too, to bring in income. Many Chartsenders had taken to trying to find work in Venturil and Craughmoyle, the two closest towns. Pilar had chosen to take on odd jobs; babysitting, dog-walking, whatever she could do. Yozenra, when she wasn't a volunteer guard, went to Venturil to sell the figures she carved out of wood. Pilar had some savings stashed away, but they had to be frugal. Pilar had stopped eating food for enjoyment, something Yozenra had tried to insist wasn't necessary.

Vestra does not meander or move from stall to stall within the market. Instead almond brown eyes engorge themselves upon the sights of this place. Fascinated by the ongoing of this particular city; Chartsend. It seems that something had happened here recently, though what she cannot tell. In fact, she is mildly irritated that Siroche had taken leave before she was ready. Hopefully, Siroche wasn't causing issues or bringing too much attention to herself. The pint-sized Ha-Naga stands at only six feet, her tail being just a fraction longer. As the mousy council member, she often slips past Jaize's radar. I mean honestly, who would ever think that poor little Vestra despises her current queen? Blonde tresses of intricately braided hair sways with every twist of her delicate facial features. In fact, over the course of a few minutes, she nearly loses her glasses, twice! So clumsy, though like the glasses she wears - its only a ruse. Flashy robes of whites and golds adorn her lithe body, whilst a very beautiful emerald necklace dangles freely. The mage did look out of place, but she is so obviously Ha-Naga. Truly, most transformed their shapes and at least tried to blend in; Vestra does not. "Excuse me," she interrupts a random civilian. "What happened here?" Her voice is serene, like grass gently blowing in the wind. Its calm, cool and collected.

The random civilian looked at her with tired eyes. “What hasn't happened here? Wilhelm left, dragon destroyed the manor and stole the town's gold, the apocalypse almost happened yesterday... Take your pick, lady.” He wandered off, toward the vegetable stall. It was slim pickings today. Pilar and Yozenra were across the way, the latter in her naga form. Her long, ebony tail was kept close to her body, so as not to trip anyone up. They were looking at seafish, the only industry in town that was doing well. The local fishermen had brought in a haul of lobster recently, and some stalls were selling them cooked. Others were selling them live, for home cooking. Pilar hadn't the stomach to kill her meat herself, so they were looking at the cooked ones.

Vestra goes to raise a single digit as if to interject more, but the civilian seems to be in a bit of a rush. She was hoping for a conversation where she might be able to ask a few questions. She is rather disappointed, nearly losing herself to mild agitation. Obviously, he is -far- too busy with his own daily life to stop and talk to a stranger. Those same almond eyes shift to a couple nearby, looking at seafish; one is even a Naga! Oh, she couldn't pass such an opportunity up. The mage finds herself slithering this way and that, both dodging a random here or there and keeping her tail from tripping others. However, in doing so, she pays far too much attention to what's going on behind her and nearly crashes into Pilar and Yozenra! "Oh," She raises a digit to reaffix her glasses. "I'm so sorry!" Her words come across as genuine; Vestra the gentle Ha-Naga. Which is partially true, she doesn't like to offend others, but she was clearly in the wrong here. "Please forgive me!"

Pilar nearly dropped the lobster she was inspecting, startled as she was. She turned to Vestra and smiled. “Oh, it's no trouble at all.” Yozenra turned to look and her eyes widened in recognition. “Lady Vestra? What... what are you doing here?” The warrior kept her voice even, unwilling to betray whether she was pleased to see her or not. She wasn't sure whose side Vestra was on, after all.

Vestra suddenly realizes that she's been holding her breath until Pilar speaks and then visibly softens as she sighs. It only took a moment, and that's all that was needed really, to recognize Yozenra as well! "Yozenra?!" She is far too shocked to see her, and lithe hands work to smooth away the wrinkles in her robes from her near collision. Finally back-pedaling to give the duo a little space. Here stands Reginaes body guard, in Chartsend whilst poor Vestra had been stuck wallowing in Jaizes' rule! "I can't believe you're alive!?" She is excited to find a familiar face, but she is forgetting herself and the questions being asked of her. However, it's becoming apparent that Vestra loves to converse in a friendly manner. Sometimes she hated the titles afforded to her as a Ha-Naga. "Well, things aren't going too well back home." Almond eyes shift to look around the civilians again. That's really all she would state of it. She wouldn't tell Yozenra that Jaize wanted her to assess Chartsends ability to deter an invasion. In fact she wanted to give Jaize a false report. "So, I thought I would take a bit of a breather." Things haven't been the same since Reginae died. It was surprising to see Yozenra here, but who was her friend? "I'm sorry, my name is Vestra, a Ha-Naga council member," her attention flicks to Pilar whom she doesn't already know. A more serious tone registering in her voice. "And you are?"

Pilar looked between the two nagas as they conversed, patiently allowing them time. Yozenra had done the same when an old friend of Pilar's had shown up. This information that Alithrya wasn't doing well brought a frown to Pilar's face, but at least it sounded like they were in the company of a friend. Yozenra, stoic as ever, merely nodded grimly. “I feared as much.” As Vestra was introduced, Pilar placed the lobster down and offered a hand to shake. “Pilar. Nice to meet you.” The vampire looked from the duo to the stall owner, then back. “Um, we're kind of in the way. Let me buy this lobster, then maybe we can sit down? Or you could come over, share a meal.” Yozenra nodded. “Pilar was kind enough to offer me refuge after... you know.” Reginae's death.

Vestra nods to Pilar, "It's a pleasure to meet you." Delicate features stretch into a genuine grin. Before she can even speak about the topic of food, her stomach begins to rumble. When was the last time she had anything to eat? "Actually, give me just a moment," She had a voracious appetite. Seriously. Many questioned how such a little thing could put away food like she does. "If you find a place to sit I'll join you momentarily." She moves around the duo and purchases a cooked one for herself, thinking that Yozenra knew of her appetite. This would perhaps give Yozenra a moment to discuss Vestra with Pilar, if such a thing is needed.

Pilar purchased her own lobster, and the trio found a bench to sit at. Pilar had a bag with a few foods in it to make that night's dinner. Couldn't really buy in bulk for the week anymore. “How do you like Chartsend, Lady Vestra?” Pilar asked. “Sorry it's... not in its prime at the moment.

Vestra picked out a spot at the same table, hoping that she could sit across from the duo. Eye contact makes conversation so much better! "Well," she states in between bites. You'd think that with her manners she might not really be a council member. Though in reality, she's just trying to shut her stomach up. "I'm not too sure yet." Almond eyes twist to look around the area yet again. "I've only just arrived, and it seems like something rather disastrous has happened here." By her statement its quite safe to assume that she had no clue. "Just before talking with you two, a man said something about Wilhelm leaving, a Dragon destroying a manor and gold being taken?" If Vestra was correct at recalling his words that is. "I don't even know who Wilhelm is?" She really is an Alythrian home-body. Usually stuck within the confines of her working facilities. Practicing this spell, or pushing this person out of her research area. Vestra is really just a home body, though seems to be perky enough to try and fit in with most.

Pilar and Yozenra glanced at each other, then turned their gaze back to Vestra. “Wilhelm is... was... ruler of Chartsend. He was chased out of town, then a few days later, a dragon was seen bursting from his manor and flew over town, with gold falling from the sky. Turned out that dragon stole Wilhelm's... and by extension, the town's gold.

Vestra gives a sort of half frown. A dragon stealing from the town? What?! She had only read about such fairytales in books; not once had she ever heard about it happening for real. Life, it seems, is much closer to those books she had found herself buried in when she was much younger. However, Vestra cannot escape this inner feeling she has about their leader being gone. It's enough to get her thinking upon Reginae, mostly because she is in Yozenra's presence. It's one that does not help her thought process at all, and beyond those almond eyes, one might see genuine empathy. "Wilhelms gone," she mutters to herself more than the other two. "Sounds like things are very close to home." She actually missed Reginae. Jaize is just a royal pain in the tail end region of her posterior. Do this, do that, appease my pride. Yuck. She wished Jaize would slither off a cliff! For a moment, her posture alludes to that inner world, before she realizes what's happening and snaps out of it. "I'm sorry. I really must be going." If Jaize caught her like this, who knows what would happen? Poor little Vestra, who has done so well to hide her thoughts about Reginae, would most certainly be made an example of. The Ha-Naga gives no time or warning for the duo, no further excuses and removes herself from their company. She needed to be rid of these thoughts. Perhaps she could find a water garden nearby? Before either could complain, the Ha-Naga is gone from sight.