RP:Solutions
Part of the Put Up Your Dukes Arc
Summary: Vestra returns with "evidence" of Chartsend's defenses, which she plans to present to Jaize. Pilar is pleased and invites Vestra to her home for food and drink.
Chartsend
Pilar had been bored all day. She couldn't leave the clinic, in case someone needed her, so she had Yozenra send off letters to the Mage's Guild in her stead. They had yet to hear back. Meanwhile, no one was coming in for healing. Which, granted, was a good thing, but it still meant she had nothing to do. She was most of the way through her book and getting ready to switch shifts when Vestra returned. Pilar looked down the street for some sign of Naomi, the other witch who worked there, before turning to Vestra. “My replacement will be here soon. We can talk at my house, if that's okay.”
Vestra had spent the better part of this day investigating the ongoings of Chartsend, and had gathered as much information from the locals as possible. She took that info and twisted it to what she needed. Sewed together a great tale of discord to present her royal snake majesty, Jaize. The filthy ruler. This would be good. Though her nerves were something altogether different, she places a stoic face upon her features and marched towards the clinic where Pilar might be found. Before entering, Vestra reaches into her pouch to make sure all that she had crafted were still there. This should be enough to fool Jaize or any other mage. They weren’t much, but scraps of a wall, a small piece of a statue, and something that looked like hardened mud. All three had the trappings of magic. Bits of enchantment after Vestra had forced arcane into the objects and then skillfully dismantled parts. Without further warning, the pieces are placed back into the pouch, and the Ha-Naga mage enters the facility. When Pilar looks up and voices to Vestra asking to speak somewhere else, she shakes her head. Had she never conspired against someone like Jaize? “I do not trust any other location as of yet. And, I’m too weak at the moment to cast another spell to shroud our discussions. If your replacement comes, I fear we must ask them to wait outside.” The bag that carried her evidence is set on the table nearby Pilar. “Look, but do not touch the items inside.” She gives an ominous warning.
Pilar nodded in understanding. “Okay.” She made sure the door was locked before taking a look inside the bag. She could sense the magic within the items. Pilar wanted a better look, but she couldn't touch, so she had to make do with just tilting her head and trying to angle the bag to get the light better. “Is that... That looks like rubble. But it's enchanted. This is what you're bringing to Jaize, yes?”
Vestra nods to Pilars short questions. “It is. I enchanted two items here in Chartsend, the first being a wall, granting it resistance to fire.” She folds the bag over to give Pilar a better view. “It might seem small, but it shows that the area has had magical workings that Jaize and Siroche knew nothing about. It’s only a piece of the wall I enchanted, but it will do the trick.” She points to the bit of a statue. “Do you remember my remark about statues coming to life?” That’s what this piece represented. “The last is a complete lie, I only had a small amount to try and craft it, but with the other two backing it, Jaize might fall for it. It’s basically, the remains of an alchemical Golem. But, I could only make something that stood a few inches. After its creation it has been dispatched.” Obviously enchanting and alchemy had been something Vestra held dear to her heart, beyond just the Arcane. By the sounds of things, she is actually well versed. “All of these will tell Jaize that something is wrong with Siroche’s report. In fact I plan to use the stories I have learned here, to help me with selling these items.” She grins again while thinking about it all.
Pilar smiled. “That's good! At least something got done today. I haven't heard back from the Mage's Guild yet, so I have no idea if they'll be of any help.” She blew a strand of hair out of her face. “I can only hope--” The doorknob rattled, and then there was a knocking. Naomi. Pilar looked to Vestra. “Is there anything else that has to be discussed here? If not... would you like to come have dinner at my house? It's the least we could do for your help.”
Vestra turns to look at the door, nearly reaching to summon her staff and cause mass panic and mayhem. However, she remembers that Pilars replacement was coming. “I would like that.” She smiles, grabbing the bag upon the table before Naomi is let in. Perhaps Yozenra would be there? Who knows. Vestra readies herself to leave, once Pilar has finalized her switch change.
Pilar allowed Naomi in with a quick apology. Naomi didn't ask questions, naturally assuming Vestra was a patient. The witch gave Pilar a bottle of red liquid and explained that Mary, another witch in the small coven, had wanted to donate some blood to keep Pilar's energy up, since her sister Elle had told her Pilar looked exhausted. Pilar took the bottle with a smile and asked Naomi to send her thanks. With pleasantries out of the way, Pilar led Vestra back through town, to her house. It was a nice enough home; two stories, new door, though it needed new paint. Before Pilar opened the door, she looked to Vestra. “I have a few pets. You don't have any allergies or fears, do you?”
Vestra has already assumed what Pilar was, and the bottle handed off to her is only further evidence. She only smiles to Naomi revealing nothing about why she had been there. Nor does she even discuss that the building had been enchanted. That could be a conversation Pilar has with her at a different day. A wave is given to Pilars replacement and Vestra does indeed follow. Eyeing the house as she speaks in response. “I have no issues with animals.” So long as they stayed on the other side of the room, but thats neither here nor there. Vestra is a guest, not the owner. She would happily deal with pets for a little while. “No allergies or fears.” She gives another grin revealing those ivory snake teeth.
Pilar smiled and opened the door. The dog immediately jumped off the couch to greet her master. Pilar bent over to pet the old harrier, whose tail was going a mile a minute. The dog then looked at Vestra and cocked her head. She was a good dog, and didn't jump onto the guest, instead taking a tentative sniff in the naga's direction. “This is Medli,” Pilar said. “Medli, go lay down.” Medli spun and trotted off back to the couch while Pilar began lighting the lamps. The kitchen was to the immediate right of the doorway, and the living room was directly ahead. Pilar got a fire going in the stove to chase away the chill in the house. “Yozenra should be home soon,” she said. “Would you like something to drink? We have water, milk, apple cider, and whiskey.”
Vestra had never spent any time inside a house outside of her home city. It’s a new experience, one which she takes in stride. The dog, is a mild amusement for a moment before it takes off after Pilars command. “What’s apple cider?” Suddenly Vestra is curious once again. She had never heard of such a thing! “I’d like to try that!” She moves through the entrance and shuts the door behind her, eyeing a seat that she might snag while Pilar goes about her business. Vestra, is not one for alcohol. Never has been. The thought of trying something new however, has her warming up to her new surroundings.
There was the aforementioned couch, a couple armchairs, and of course, the chairs around the kitchen table. No shortage of seating! Pilar fetched the cider (non-alcoholic) from the cabinet and poured it in a pan. She put the pan on the stove, heated it for a few minutes, then poured the cider into a mug and delivered it to Vestra. While she was doing that, Yozenra showed up. The naga looked just as tired as Pilar did, and the normally stoic warrior did a double-take when she saw Vestra in the kitchen. “Lady Vestra? It's nice to see you, but what are you doing here?”
Vestra took the offered drink and smiled, “Thank you.” She managed to murmur before Yozrenra bursts through the door. “Well, Pilar and I had a chance to talk today.” She looks over to her hostess, “I’m sure she will fill you in on the details later. But she offered me a drink and some food. Never mind any formalities that you might cling to. Just be yourself.” She gives another smile, squinting her eyes before sipping on her apple cider. Her mouth falls agape. Her eyes change from the steamy fluid and flick to Pilar. “I.” she stammers for a few moments. “This is delicious.” Truthfully she had never tried cider, and Pilar might have just turned Vestra on to her favorite drink.
Pilar smiled at Vestra's reaction. “I'm glad you like it.” Yozenra placed her trident by the door and shrugged off her coat. “Oh, that's right, she did mention you were here on 'business.' Glad we've still got friends in high places.” She and Pilar embraced in greeting and shared a quick kiss. Hopefully Vestra didn't have a problem with lesbians.
Vestra thought her words curious, friends in high places. Rather silly that a high place means scrapping the fallings off the ground as Jaize moves past. Staying off her radar is difficult enough. She loathed. As for Pilars and Yozenra’s greeting, Vestra doesn’t even seem phased. In all honesty, love who you love, who cares what others think. A smile crosses her lips before she finishes the drink. “Though I really can’t stay long you too. I do need to go back to Alithrya to deliver what I’ve gathered.” It was her way of giving a polite exit, informing them of what she intends to do. “Thank you again Pilar. Be sure to fill Yozenra in for me?”
Pilar nodded. “Alright. Do come back soon, I'll be sure to have more cider for you!” Once Vestra was on her way home, Pilar and Yozenra sat down to dinner and the vampire explained all that had happened that day.