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Martin "So by that standard, I suppose you've done quite well for yourself in finding a man who does," replies Martin with a smile. "And I am not sure we ever set the stakes earlier today anyway, we just set what we were wagering on. I do think I'm more than likely quite willing to accept such an offer, if only to keep our minds alive for the ride back to Noah, but what did you have in mind for the ante, dear?" Fraction Jackson fucked around with this message at 04:52 on Dec 10, 2013 |
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Dec 10, 2013 04:43
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Lette Lette scowls at the talk of an ambush. "Ugh, you think so? drat it all..." She continues to mutter curses under her breath. "I guess we'll just be asking for it if we take the most direct route. Maybe we should go roundabout, and chance moving past nightfall?"
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Dec 10, 2013 05:40
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Isit "I think an 'I told you so' would suffice. That or wine. And Lette, it isn't all that bad, sooner or later we'll be ambushed, won't we?"
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Dec 10, 2013 05:45
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Lette "So what are you saying? 'Let's just get it out of the way?' I'd rather we not even-... no, you know what? Let's keep talking about it. Maybe we'll jinx it and it won't happen."
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Dec 10, 2013 05:54
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Martin "So, two I-told-you-sos, then. And wine will happen anyway, I am quite certain. Thus: I accept." His tone is quite intentional in its joking over-seriousness. Actual seriousness only arrives when Martin addresses Lette. "Perhaps. This road is quite well-patrolled, especially these days, so that might be a bit unnecessary. On the other hand it's certainly much more difficult to set an ambush if you don't actually know where the targets are going to be, so you have a point." After a short pause, he adds: "I suppose I haven't much preference, as I think for once we might be fairly safe either way. Odd as it sounds."
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Dec 10, 2013 05:55
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Lette "I say we pick the least sensible route we can. Patrolled routes means patrols, and the sort of people who mean us ill have no trouble playing dress-up. Better to arrive later and have assholes think we're bad navigators than to blunder into another ambush with those loving arrows." Jet eyes regard Celan with concern. "Whichever way you pick, um... I know I don't need to tell you to avoid arrows, but please be extra careful, okay? There are maniacs in the region with something much worse than poison." She gives his hand a squeeze. She hopes he'll stick around, but to insist would just be selfish, and this is precisely not the time for that. And yet, when the time comes to release his hand, no such thing happens. "Stay with us," she hears herself say. It sounds enough like a command to surprise even her, but whatever part of her recoils at the tone does not otherwise contradict it. Aeolius fucked around with this message at 15:02 on Dec 11, 2013 |
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Dec 10, 2013 08:19
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Celan watches the byplay, feathers coming slowly under control as he gets used to the banter- and perhaps with knowing they wouldn't actually make a decision with him present, just in case. He doesn't seem particularly put out by that. He doesn't react, just looking a little worried, until Lette tries to command the man to stay, at which point the young harpy straightens up. "If I were the kind of guy to do that," he manages to bring out without stammering, "I wouldn't be the kind of guy who should." And with that, he nods to the others (and only Isit can see that he's shaking very, very slightly) and takes into the air, leaving poor, slightly drunk Lette behind. There doesn't seem much else to say; after a bit of hurried consultation, they make their way under loose escort out of the forest with Naantali's guards watching, and once free break trail as best they're able back over to Noah. Nobody, for a wonder, ambushes them, and whether it's choice of route or some other factor preserving them, the gates of the city are soon before them- wall construction, they see, has sped up. Significantly. Anyone want to do anything before reporting to Roland?
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Dec 14, 2013 04:12
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Martin The ride across the plain to Noah is marked, at least to Martin's ear, by near-silence. So too is he himself silent almost the entire way, eschewing his usual roadside chatter. It's not until the grey, shadowed bulk of the city walls is finally right before them that his silence breaks. "Well. How about that," he says, and despite the dearth of remaining light thanks to the passage of time, his wide smile is obvious, gleaming. "I will save any further comment until we've got other business out of the way, and wine in front of us. For now, I think we had best go see His Lordship."
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Dec 14, 2013 22:53
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Lette "Sure," she responds, a bit more clear headed than a couple hours ago. Part of this difference is merely sobriety. The rest derives from having had the whole ride to ruminate on Celan's response. Sure, she'd known better than to demand his presence, but is it so wrong to be sick of seeing friends depart, of having no idea whether she'd ever see them again? But his words ring true in ways perhaps he himself hadn't intended; Lette finds no quality quite so unattractive as spinelessness. If anything, his choice had lent more clout to Nadym's 'ship,' such as it is. But as the likeness of Noah grows to fill her vision, she sets these thoughts aside as she is able. "The sooner the better. Got the feeling tomorrow's gonna be busy. Before I face any such thing, first things first: a long bath and a soft bed." Nothing comes to mind Aeolius fucked around with this message at 12:02 on Dec 15, 2013 |
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Dec 15, 2013 11:51
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Isit "We could still be ambushed in the city. I live in hope. At least with my relatives Lette and I could get a good night's sleep." With that aside, she checks in on Larisa, who had taken to sleeping near her flask. "Anyways, its only a matter of time before the next mess."
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Dec 16, 2013 06:55
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Indeed, as the gates loom, the guards seem just a bit jumpier than normal, though they completely fail to pull their weapons out and attempt to run Martin through as he passes; just another sign of their lack of professionalism that they'd pass up such an opportunity, assuming they ever wanted to. Aside from the work gangs thickening up the walls and adding protected roundels for archers to fire from, the tension in the air only increases as the party passes through town. People are out shopping, and are out doing their normal business, but... lips are thin, mouths set and muscles bunched at the corners of jaws as eyes dart around. The tension is thick enough to swim through... at least to everyone but Larisa curled around a now suspiciously lighter flask, at least, but perhaps that too is just another sign of tension. Guards seem as ready as they're ever going to be, and after the usual perfunctory checks that they are who they say they are the path up to the Mayor's office opens before them, and clerks- some of whom are visibly red-rimmed around the eyes and drawn more than most around town- barely even acknowledge the group. Lord Roland's sitting at his desk, and- physically, at least- seems to have mostly recovered. He looks up and rises, face a little tense but nothing particularly unusual, rounding the desk with a hand extended. "It's good to have you back." He says immediately. "How did your hiring tour go? Things have gotten... less positive, here. One of my clerks went missing a few days ago, and the rest of them are worried that spies are trying to get into... but never mind that. Paranoia doesn't help the decision making process. So. What news?"
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Dec 16, 2013 15:36
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Lette Drawing her cloak around her, Lette gazes off at nothing for a few moments after the mention of the clerk. "I didn't like the mercenary leader, 'necessary evil' or not. The terms on the table are not obscene, as I understand it, but I don't remember the specifics; I'm not much for haggling, so I sat it out." She shrugs, waiting for her companions to deliver a more detailed report. "Your fiancée was well, at least, and the Freehold has been fortifying every bit as hard as Noah. I wouldn't chance a guess at the full extent of her forces. And the mercs probably couldn't gather intel over there as they could here, which I understand they did. "When you're responsible for the lives of others, does subterfuge cease to be a matter of choice," she asks the lord mayor abruptly, "and become one of duty?" She appears fairly wracked by the matter.
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Dec 17, 2013 17:48
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Dolan Dolan offers a small bow before producing a small parchment. "The terms," he says, handing it over. "As was already said, not obscene. Certainly higher than I'd be willing to part with under ordinary circumstances, but in all honestly that doesn't say much, and these are hardly ordinary circumstances. How go the preparations?"
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Dec 17, 2013 18:28
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Martin "I did get the impression that they were fairly eager to get a deal, for what it's worth. Might be a good sign - that they wanted to take this side," Martin adds, after a short and perhaps uncharacteristically curt bow towards the Lord Mayor. The remark about the clerk goes past without any further comment aloud, though it does not pass without a strong feeling of guilt. "Though it's hard to say, and as Lette says...well, I would say their leader is 'interesting' and leave it at that. The lot of them did seem rather reliable to me, but I'll leave that judgment to the experts." He gestures towards Isit and Dolan. "Aside from that, Naantali's scouts report that the faster elements of the Queen's forces are already south of the swamp, and in the area by now. Most of the rest of her van is moving much slower and is supposedly quite strung out as well." Laughing, Martin adds, "But I'm sure you knew most of that already, your Lordship."
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Dec 17, 2013 22:53
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Isit She shakes her head once, trying to gather thoughts. "I'd say they're useful if somewhat limited to traditional warfare. No magic, but good skirmishers. Question is, will they stay useful before, during, and after the battle? If they've got spies about, we need to set about convincing them that we're the best business deal."
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Dec 18, 2013 03:23
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Lord Roland takes the terms, nodding to various pieces of news as he scans towards the bottom line. "Good to hear, and we'll need every last one of my erstwhile bride-to-be's army," he says briskly. "Not sure them fortifying is an entirely wise use of their resources, given that the decision will almost certainly be here, but I can't really blame her for being careful. And these terms are- surprisingly not as bad as I'd feared." He puts the paper down on his desk, crossing back over and sitting in his chair once more. And if they've done their scouting... which, given that this is a town and not a military camp, I can't really stop... well, that's actually encouraging that they're eager to be on our side instead of the other. At least they're giving us a decent chance to win- people who fight for money rarely do well on the losing end of a war." Tapping the desk, he abruptly nods. "We'll hire them. I'll see if we can't figure out who's spying for them, get some clerks on it and try to feed... more accurate information to them. I'll handle getting them a messenger with acceptance of turns, too, so don't worry about that. Now." He leans forward, steepling hands under his chin in a familiar gesture. "The other news, though... I'd gotten some indications that something was happening to the northwest, but confirmation? You'll understand if at the same time I'm glad and not glad to hear that from you. Damnation. I'd really hoped to have another week or two, but one rarely gets to fight wars on the schedule you'd like. We're not entirely ready, but we're not unready; the wall's complete, but we're trying to thicken it, grow it, put some better firing positions on top. Same with everything else. We've got a militia, it's just not as well trained as I'd like. You see how it is? We're able to fight. Are we able to win? We'd better be, but we don't have enough to be sure." Lette's question draws a slightly confused look that clears up as he continues studying the troubled woman's face. "The answer to that," he says gently, "is something you have to consider for yourself. If you're in a position where a lie can save a life, what's more important- your ability to look yourself in the mirror in the morning or someone living instead of dying? The hard part isn't deciding between subterfuge and honesty, it's not enjoying the subterfuge for it's own sake. That's the occupational hazard of a ruler, I'm afraid."
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Dec 18, 2013 15:55
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Lette Her expression softens. "That's... helpful. Really, it is." And it had come quickly enough to leave no doubt it is a matter to which he had devoted no small thought. Indeed, his answer simplifies — and, more importantly, thaws — the sentiment Naantali had expressed. "Thanks for the perspective." With her posture relieved of some tension, she speaks more casually. "I'm glad the wall is done, at least. And I don't think we've got anything pulling us out of Noah for a little bit, now. Any urgencies around town that could use our attention?" Aeolius fucked around with this message at 15:43 on Dec 20, 2013 |
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Dec 19, 2013 18:28
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Martin He nods slowly at intervals, listening carefully, but his mind catches on one particularly odd turn of phrase. A pit of worry slowly builds. "I agree, we have some time here in the city at least. Hm." Martin scratches his chin. "I, ah, do have a question though, your Lordship. You said: 'my erstwhile bride-to-be'." He looks straight at - almost through - Lord Roland. "Is there something we have not been told?"
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Dec 19, 2013 23:20
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Isit Isit snorts. "I'm guessing erstwhile means former? Or am I missing something only nobles know?" Or perhaps he had found a match for love. Or perhaps for a more substantial army. "Besides marriages, we need to worry about Eagles. Is there a plan for that eventuality? Because a war is a lovely time to try and assassinate you again."
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Dec 21, 2013 04:57
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Lord Roland first looks quizzical, and then his face opens up when Isit speaks. "Oh... must not have quite learned the correct definition of that word, my mistake. No, she's absolutely still my- fiancee is the term, I suppose." He pauses, half-turning to look out the window before continuing to talk of Eagles. "Now. There's not much I can do about being a target for the Eagles, unless their purpose was just to scare me and not kill me in which case whatever I do might be playing perfectly into their hands. I can work in an inside office- I really should start that- but the more a leader isolates himself the less leading he's actually able to do. I... well, I am not likely to choose to hide every waking hour." He sits once more, and adds, "There's little of surpassing urgency here. Be ready for the army to show up- I'd expect the Queen to show up with the very vanguard to show off how confident she is to not need her entire army with her for the meeting. Given that, what else do you plan to do?"
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Dec 24, 2013 06:17
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Martin It was hard to know whether to be reassured or concerned further. There'd be time to discuss that later, at least. For now, Martin can only do his level best to ensure the true depth of all their suspicions wasn't out in the open. "I suppose it is impossible for even the Gods to know every word in every tongue. No need to worry about it, your Lordship." He shrugs it off. "In any case I think we first plan to shake off having been traveling almost non-stop the last few days..." "After that, I expect our business will keep us in the city for now," says Martin, as though it were the most obvious thing in the world. "We are of course intending to be involved with the mercenary matter. Outside of that, there are a few leads on a few separate things that we should like to look into, but nothing concrete enough to bother you about just yet, I should think." After what Naantali said about the Eagles and Lord Roland - and after Roland's own oddness - the Baron did not see it fit to even mention the Eagles again, here. Perhaps, too, his tongue was held by the mention of the missing clerk earlier. But there was no way to take that mistake back, and there was only the hope that they could find out enough in Noah, or do enough good in the coming days, to somehow atone. "So if there is nothing further, I suppose we should be out of your way for today."
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Dec 28, 2013 19:39
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Isit "I suppose there are other leads to pursue, we never did follow up on that sun cult after all. But I doubt that particular rumor would lead us anywhere. And it would be too much to ask for more allies at such a late date. To be honest, I'm mostly at a loss. Suppose luck is what we need at this point, and not more factions."
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Jan 2, 2014 03:53
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"That's fair," Lord Roland allows when Martin speaks of their desire to rest. "You've all done quite a lot, and things aren't so far over towards a crisis that we can't spare you for a day or two. We'll need you at your best when the Queen gets here, anyway." With another smile, he adds, "Your inn burnt down, didn't it? The clerks will be able to find you another place to sleep. If you come up with any other ideas to help defend the city, please, let me know."
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Jan 2, 2014 22:42
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Martin "Naturally. And I for one appreciate your concern over our room and board. If we discover anything else that needs to meet your ears, be sure that it will, your Lordship. And be well." Martin gives a customary but curt bow, satisfied that they had gotten this part of the business over with. The next part, then, was in essence to vet Lord Roland, an idea to defend the city that would certainly not be given to meet Lord Roland's ears. He wheels around to leave, and gives a brief and perhaps slightly conspiratorial nod to the others. "Let us find somewhere suitable. Enlightening and most vital conversations I predict, and good food, drink and beds I demand," says Martin, the meaning of the emphasis hopefully obvious enough to the rest of the group, given conversations already had.
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Jan 3, 2014 03:46
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Lette "I'll think on it," Lette says, offering the mayor a small curtsy, "but honestly I'm stumped for good ideas. Y'know, for now. "And you be sure to rest up, too," she adds. She rolls her eyes at Martin's remarks. "Fine, fine, we'll get you more of that opium." She hopes the place from last time isn't the only such establishment in town; they'll probably remember her. Besides, that place is all the more laden with baggage for a certain friend's absence. Lette ambles out the door and down the stairs. "And khat for Isit. And wine for me. And... whatever Dolan uses to unwind. Dolan?"
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Jan 4, 2014 13:03
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Isit "Thank you sir, we'll keep our ears to the ground for ideas." With a slight bow, she turns to leave with the others. "I do wonder, will any place we stay just burn down?"
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Jan 4, 2014 19:59
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Dolan Dolan bows as he exits, thanking the mayor for his time. Preparations needed to be made, contingencies checked and rechecked. It had been many years since Dolan had been involved in a siege, and many centuries since a memory of such had been formed, let alone one that would be as brief as they were about to face. "I prefer to stay wound," he says. "Keeps me alive." He intentionally doesn't look at Lette when Isit voices her fears. "I think they've made their point. Anything further from them will not strike until we're distracted by the other foe." And let's hope it strikes that foe instead. As much as these Eagles seem hell-bent on killing us, they should at least be focusing some of their energy on the abomination they see in the queen.
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Jan 4, 2014 20:29
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Martin "If the pattern holds, perhaps the Queen will decide that holding Noah is no longer worthwhile. Victory by misadventure." A bitter laugh follows, straight from the gallows. But then, gallows humor was about the only kind that really seemed appropriate and proper anymore. Any victory would be a costly one, any peace a hard-earned one, and there were still a multitude of threats out there besides. "At some point between diversions we will need to discuss a few things, look into a few things, such trivialities," Martin says after his macabre mirth subsides. "But I suppose that goes without saying. ...until it is said, at which point, it goes with saying."
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Jan 5, 2014 23:30
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Lette She strolls out the door, listening to Martin wax Martin on misadventure and meeting agendas. One point in particular stands out, though she does not address it until better than a block away. "Are you suggesting," she asks frivolously but nevertheless in hushed tones, "that it might be possible to save the city by razing it? 'No longer worthwhile'..."
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Jan 6, 2014 15:10
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Dolan "That's a backup plan."
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Jan 6, 2014 17:34
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Lette "Oh, right!" She giggles just a little louder than she intends, enjoying this little joke, however dark. Yes, that's what it is. "But that wouldn't be a very good backup, would it? If other plans have already failed, the army would already be at the gates. Then we'd just be joining their assault. No, I suppose if we want to save the town, we'd pretty much have to start right now, wouldn't we?" Aeolius fucked around with this message at 20:53 on Jan 6, 2014 |
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Jan 6, 2014 20:49
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Martin "Well I did not quite mean it that way," Martin replies cautiously. "Hardly a plan we should want. Though I confess the thought of how the army would react to see the place abandoned in such a way would be quite comical, don't you?"
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Jan 7, 2014 02:35
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Lette Lette hesitates, then quickens her pace, rounding the corner. "Haha! That is a hoot." She pauses at the entrance of an alley beside an unfamiliar tavern. "Of course, the folks here can't all just go nowhere. And we can't assume civilians will outrun a mobile army. What'd be really funny is if there were a way to get them far out of sight while keeping them near as possible." She folds her arms, staring at the cobbles. "Might be a real rib-tickler, but for now it's a punchline in search of a setup."
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Jan 7, 2014 05:14
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Isit "Why stop at a city? If we really applied ourselves, we could ruin a nation."
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Jan 7, 2014 05:33
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Lette "That's the spirit! "Gosh, imagine what we could have accomplished if we'd met before the brothers' war..."
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Jan 7, 2014 15:33
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Martin He manages a chuckle at that description of their gains to date, but then his face darkens slightly. "On that subject, in a sense - of ruining," Martin says, before his voice drops. "I do believe we have one particular thing at the top of our agenda. The real agenda, not the recreational one," he clarifies. "But we have not given much thought as to how we want to go about it. I think we should find someplace suitable for that discussion."
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Jan 11, 2014 03:08
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Getting out of the palace proves simple enough, and back on the sparsely-people streets of Noah the decision is made to go somewhere where they've never shown sign of going, as to avoid places likely already watched in one way or another; with the temple and market districts well covered, there's little for it but to head for the waterfront. Usually, the river's merely a source of drinking water, with wells cut on both sides of the walls; few boats pass, mostly grain carriers loading at Noah and heading back down the way to the rest of the Empire, although wagon traffic is much more prevalent. The war scare's curtailed shipments dramatically; on a river, while it's problematic to get to you, you have nowhere to evade bandits with rowboats and nobody wants to see what they'd do to merchant crewmen. As a result, of the few piers by the waterside, only one's occupied with a small skiff, and the rest out in the open and empty. Easy enough to hide words, especially with no chance of anyone being within a dozen yards anyway unless the mermaids have decided to travel hundreds of miles further north than ever before in defiance of the remote possibility of a freeze. Wasn't sure if y'all were waiting for me!
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Jan 11, 2014 23:47
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Martin He spares a few glances around, and seems satisfied enough by the environs. Placing his palms together - almost a clap, really, but slow and careful enough that there's no real volume to it - Martin nods affirmatively. "So," he says, "this will do for now, with appropriate care being taken." The one lonely little boat catches his eye, reminds him how easy it would be for the lot of them to leave this all behind, find somewhere else to carve out a more normal life. But they were far beyond the time where such a thing would have been conceivable, weren't they? "I have to say I am no more convinced of us having seen the genuine article today than I was before. 'Erstwhile'. Hmph. But as usual I can't tell if it means everything or nothing," says Martin dejectedly. "Anyway, we need to be sure. Today and tonight, if possible. By now I would expect that certain supernatural sorts are likely to have been able to reach him, but there is no knowing for sure, so we need to rely on what we can do ourselves. And speaking of possible..." He looks to Dolan pointedly. "I should like to know - for surveillance matters - what you think the best option here is with your arts." "Aside from that, there's always informants we could dredge up to find any rumors that could help, and other...more direct methods that we should probably save until the last ditch effort. But we do need to know as soon as possible, else everything may well end up ruined and it won't be our fault this time, save for having been unable to act." He scratches his chin. "I suppose, once we can determine authenticity, then we will know exactly what we need to do." "But of course, if anyone has a different take on it," Martin adds last, "I'll surely listen."
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Jan 14, 2014 05:50
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Lette Lette sits at the edge of the water, folding her cloak and setting it on the ground beside her. She lies back, submerging her hair and allowing the current to gently massage her scalp. She closes her eyes, absorbing Martin's remarks. "He seemed well enough to me, strange as it is to say," comes her response after a pause. "Suppose we've been looking at this wrong, all this talk of impostors and so on? We've seen enough to know that death isn't the only way to camp out of the gods' view. Maybe we should think harder about who or what could have stepped in to help him survive. Or maybe I've just got a touch of, I don't know... intrigue fatigue." She does look a bit worn, perhaps already mentally finding her way into one of those hot baths they'd discussed. Lette sits up, wringing out her hair. "I guess I'm just tired of the speculation, and done with mooning over maybes. If any of us has a real, concrete lead to follow, then I'm all in. But if there's nothing to be done, then I'm about ready to wait and see how matters play out. And respond accordingly, 'course. "So, how about it? Want me to go fetch a lock of his hair or something? Or those informants you mentioned, what threads will we be tugging there?"
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Jan 14, 2014 19:08
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Isit "Lette is right. I think this is a distraction. So long as he is an effective leader, who cares? It'd be nice to know what's going on with some certainty, but I doubt we'll find out. I'm more concerned about gaining allies against the queen."
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Jan 15, 2014 19:03
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