Post by redcoat on Mar 27, 2022 12:46:58 GMT -5
Username: Opiii
Upon finishing dinner and their meeting, the conference room grew less populated as one by one people left to prepare. The tiefling ranger, Verdi, along with her beast companion, Natasha, were quick to leave- feeling both the strain of dealing with strangers, and the necessity to speak with the commission councilman Norixius Torrin. Perhaps to her surprise, or not, she discovered that the dragonborn was there waiting on the other side of the conference room's sturdy oaken doors.
The tall and dark scaled commission leader stood fifteen feet away, where the corner of the hall met the fork between entrance and kitchen. His blue eyes caught hers. Briefly he nodded toward her, before hooking his head toward the left, beckoning her to follow him as he turned and made his way toward the kitchen.
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Username: CautionCat
Verdi was tired, and their head was buzzing with questions. Why would the Tabaxi attack? Why were they black? A new subspecies..?
He was glad to have come back when he did, and survive this trip even. This, so far, seemed to be the most stressful time back to the island in a very long time for them.
As they went to leave, Natasha following her master's movements, their eyes caught the dragonborn's. Right. Business. She moved up the hall, eyes on the worn wooden floor boards, as they followed him, thoughts buzzing about.
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Username: Opiii
Following the Dragonborn's familiar gliding gait, he lead Verdi briskly through the kitchen and into a room that appeared to be for grain storage and cleaning supplies. He moved toward one of the large crates in the unlit, dusty room, then turned to face her.
He was an imposing figure. Tall and physically stout. As thick as his neck was, it was also long- more similar to a true black dragon than the generally more stout humanoid dragonborn folk. His blunted snout betrayed no particular feeling- He was either cold, or had a well trained poker face. Observing Verdi's entrance, he inclined his head. His voice was low and gravely.
"Thank you for your promptness. The Deliverance crew along with out new hires should be arriving shortly, and I am expected to be present to brief and orient them. Time to speak… candidly is short."
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Username: CautionCat
Verdi glanced around the kitchen as they moved, scolding Natasha with a flick of their tongue when the panther went to smell what was on a counter top. Once in the storage room, she glanced around, and quirked a brow at the black dragonborn, Torrin. "Right."
They cleared their throat, and folded their arms. "You cleared up some questions, but the Tabaxi, Bones… Why is she so important? Your crew was shifty and odd when I asked to come with. Awkward, we took the same wagon here."
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Username: Opiii
Candid and to the point. He inclined his head appreciatively. "You have been gone from Te’Kaal for some time, but you’ve still been in touch with the commission as a whole, which I’m glad to see. To the point, then." He folded his arms beneath his cloak, causing it to part slightly down the middle. Beneath he wore dark colored leathers, sneaking gear. At his hip were dagger holsters. Several of them.
"The situation is a delicate one. One that risks a shift in relations with our neighbors, the Darkmoon tabaxi clan to the east. To that end, I have need of a skilled guide who can maintain the utmost discretion. You want answers, understandable. And i know you can keep a secret."
He eyed the tiefling carefully after saying that. A knowing look? It was hard to say. A pause later, he carried on.
"Before we move forward, I need to know you will keep your lips sealed about this matter. At least for the duration of this investigation." There he waited for the tiefling's answer, watching their demon-like eyes carefully.
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Username: CautionCat
Verdi nodded, their tail twisting and coiling around their right calf. "Yes, the commission is a lifestyle I don't think I'll fall out of." A pause, and another nod. "You know as well as I do that I seldom speak unless it's important to. Particularly strangers." Verdi was social enough- and that was it. Enough to pass as friendly and trustworthy. "I'll keep your secret, as I have before."
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Username: Opiii
He watched Verdi for several long moments after before inclining his head. "I will trust your word, then."
Away from the shipping crate he stood near and toward Verdi he moved. Soon he stood close enough to speak quietly. In the growing din of the kitchen rush, he wouldn't be heard by anyone but them. "The Tabaxi situation is only the tip of the iceberg. This whole island is moving, the status quo is changing. The undead are restless, migratory patterns of beasts are off, even that… thing in the ocean is an outlier. Things are changing, and with our lines of communication between ports and research settlements, information is even more scarce than ever."
His eyelids came to squint before he took his piercing blue eyes off of the demon's own striking hues. Toward the ground and away from Verdi he glanced. "OId Rhogar would have told me to go with my gut on something like this… My gut tells me it’s all related. It’s obvious that there are moles among our agents, and someone has been giving out black powder, weapons, and intelligence to hostile neighbors. My gut tells me that Nyanzaru was attacked for reasons we do not yet suspect, however."
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Username: CautionCat
Verdi's eyes stayed on Torrin as he spoke, taking in the information. Even with their pale complexion, the color in their cheeks faded as he delved deeper. "Yes… the Sea Fury was way off course. It wasn't aggressive, but… likely hungry. None of it's food sources would be this far…" She frowned, looking down. "Why would the fauna be acting like this… there has to be something out there disrupting it…"
And they paused, looking to Torrin as he spoke of Rhogar. Verdi looked away, taking a deep breath. "Yes. It has to be… Maybe I will be able to find more information when we arrive at Nyanzaru. Or even on the way. Detouring into the wood, hopefully I can find some evidence." She rubbed her chin.
"Do you know what has been sighted recently? Something to expect on the journey."
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Username: Opiii
There was silence. He was thinking, but his face betrayed nothing. After some time, he broke that silence with that low, growling whisper. "…There is a general push to go north." He began, folding his arms behind his back. "The undead common to the deep jungles to the south have been sighted farther north. Small numbers, but what were typically aimless nuisances have showed signs of aggression. We have not been able to make contact with the ancestor worshiping tribes to consult them on the matter."
He paused before continuing, recalling additional notes for the tracker. "Large predators- primates and and apes, theropods, jungle snakes, and the like- have made reconnaissance difficult in the weeks leading up to Nyanzaru's attack. I cannot currently get word from anyone further south of the Steading to confirm any additional movement, but the pattern suggests a rise in territorial behavior. Normally I would think overbreeding or predation to be the cause, but…" He shook his head.
"There have also been rumors of a Goblin Settlement somewhere in the jungle following the Old Road. And with settlements comes raiders. One group of refugees reports being harassed by a small force of bandits while on the run. We have not found any such settlement, before or since nyanzaru's attack, but there are enough reports to suggest credibility. We may have a nomadic tribe on our hands."
Content with that much information, he shifted again to look at Verdi. "I trust your skill as a hunter and a tracker. You know when to defend yourself and when to run, and I'll trust you can instill that wisdom into your new team- and for your team to listen to reason when it's being offered. That's the reason why I'm not sending someone like Leonard Monte on your expedition."
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Username: CautionCat
"Quite the mix of trouble." Verdi sighed, but nodded. "It is up to someone who takes their job seriously. If you were to ever group me with Leonard again… I don't think he would make it back alive." A small smirk, and they shook their head. "I will keep the party safe, and your secrets safer. Karn… I thought that was a myth. Seeing that warforge in person has redirected my perspective of this. I wonder… what will come of this." Verdi chewed the inside of their lip some, eyes unfocused.
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Upon finishing dinner and their meeting, the conference room grew less populated as one by one people left to prepare. The tiefling ranger, Verdi, along with her beast companion, Natasha, were quick to leave- feeling both the strain of dealing with strangers, and the necessity to speak with the commission councilman Norixius Torrin. Perhaps to her surprise, or not, she discovered that the dragonborn was there waiting on the other side of the conference room's sturdy oaken doors.
The tall and dark scaled commission leader stood fifteen feet away, where the corner of the hall met the fork between entrance and kitchen. His blue eyes caught hers. Briefly he nodded toward her, before hooking his head toward the left, beckoning her to follow him as he turned and made his way toward the kitchen.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Username: CautionCat
Verdi was tired, and their head was buzzing with questions. Why would the Tabaxi attack? Why were they black? A new subspecies..?
He was glad to have come back when he did, and survive this trip even. This, so far, seemed to be the most stressful time back to the island in a very long time for them.
As they went to leave, Natasha following her master's movements, their eyes caught the dragonborn's. Right. Business. She moved up the hall, eyes on the worn wooden floor boards, as they followed him, thoughts buzzing about.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Username: Opiii
Following the Dragonborn's familiar gliding gait, he lead Verdi briskly through the kitchen and into a room that appeared to be for grain storage and cleaning supplies. He moved toward one of the large crates in the unlit, dusty room, then turned to face her.
He was an imposing figure. Tall and physically stout. As thick as his neck was, it was also long- more similar to a true black dragon than the generally more stout humanoid dragonborn folk. His blunted snout betrayed no particular feeling- He was either cold, or had a well trained poker face. Observing Verdi's entrance, he inclined his head. His voice was low and gravely.
"Thank you for your promptness. The Deliverance crew along with out new hires should be arriving shortly, and I am expected to be present to brief and orient them. Time to speak… candidly is short."
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Username: CautionCat
Verdi glanced around the kitchen as they moved, scolding Natasha with a flick of their tongue when the panther went to smell what was on a counter top. Once in the storage room, she glanced around, and quirked a brow at the black dragonborn, Torrin. "Right."
They cleared their throat, and folded their arms. "You cleared up some questions, but the Tabaxi, Bones… Why is she so important? Your crew was shifty and odd when I asked to come with. Awkward, we took the same wagon here."
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Username: Opiii
Candid and to the point. He inclined his head appreciatively. "You have been gone from Te’Kaal for some time, but you’ve still been in touch with the commission as a whole, which I’m glad to see. To the point, then." He folded his arms beneath his cloak, causing it to part slightly down the middle. Beneath he wore dark colored leathers, sneaking gear. At his hip were dagger holsters. Several of them.
"The situation is a delicate one. One that risks a shift in relations with our neighbors, the Darkmoon tabaxi clan to the east. To that end, I have need of a skilled guide who can maintain the utmost discretion. You want answers, understandable. And i know you can keep a secret."
He eyed the tiefling carefully after saying that. A knowing look? It was hard to say. A pause later, he carried on.
"Before we move forward, I need to know you will keep your lips sealed about this matter. At least for the duration of this investigation." There he waited for the tiefling's answer, watching their demon-like eyes carefully.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Username: CautionCat
Verdi nodded, their tail twisting and coiling around their right calf. "Yes, the commission is a lifestyle I don't think I'll fall out of." A pause, and another nod. "You know as well as I do that I seldom speak unless it's important to. Particularly strangers." Verdi was social enough- and that was it. Enough to pass as friendly and trustworthy. "I'll keep your secret, as I have before."
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Username: Opiii
He watched Verdi for several long moments after before inclining his head. "I will trust your word, then."
Away from the shipping crate he stood near and toward Verdi he moved. Soon he stood close enough to speak quietly. In the growing din of the kitchen rush, he wouldn't be heard by anyone but them. "The Tabaxi situation is only the tip of the iceberg. This whole island is moving, the status quo is changing. The undead are restless, migratory patterns of beasts are off, even that… thing in the ocean is an outlier. Things are changing, and with our lines of communication between ports and research settlements, information is even more scarce than ever."
His eyelids came to squint before he took his piercing blue eyes off of the demon's own striking hues. Toward the ground and away from Verdi he glanced. "OId Rhogar would have told me to go with my gut on something like this… My gut tells me it’s all related. It’s obvious that there are moles among our agents, and someone has been giving out black powder, weapons, and intelligence to hostile neighbors. My gut tells me that Nyanzaru was attacked for reasons we do not yet suspect, however."
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Username: CautionCat
Verdi's eyes stayed on Torrin as he spoke, taking in the information. Even with their pale complexion, the color in their cheeks faded as he delved deeper. "Yes… the Sea Fury was way off course. It wasn't aggressive, but… likely hungry. None of it's food sources would be this far…" She frowned, looking down. "Why would the fauna be acting like this… there has to be something out there disrupting it…"
And they paused, looking to Torrin as he spoke of Rhogar. Verdi looked away, taking a deep breath. "Yes. It has to be… Maybe I will be able to find more information when we arrive at Nyanzaru. Or even on the way. Detouring into the wood, hopefully I can find some evidence." She rubbed her chin.
"Do you know what has been sighted recently? Something to expect on the journey."
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Username: Opiii
There was silence. He was thinking, but his face betrayed nothing. After some time, he broke that silence with that low, growling whisper. "…There is a general push to go north." He began, folding his arms behind his back. "The undead common to the deep jungles to the south have been sighted farther north. Small numbers, but what were typically aimless nuisances have showed signs of aggression. We have not been able to make contact with the ancestor worshiping tribes to consult them on the matter."
He paused before continuing, recalling additional notes for the tracker. "Large predators- primates and and apes, theropods, jungle snakes, and the like- have made reconnaissance difficult in the weeks leading up to Nyanzaru's attack. I cannot currently get word from anyone further south of the Steading to confirm any additional movement, but the pattern suggests a rise in territorial behavior. Normally I would think overbreeding or predation to be the cause, but…" He shook his head.
"There have also been rumors of a Goblin Settlement somewhere in the jungle following the Old Road. And with settlements comes raiders. One group of refugees reports being harassed by a small force of bandits while on the run. We have not found any such settlement, before or since nyanzaru's attack, but there are enough reports to suggest credibility. We may have a nomadic tribe on our hands."
Content with that much information, he shifted again to look at Verdi. "I trust your skill as a hunter and a tracker. You know when to defend yourself and when to run, and I'll trust you can instill that wisdom into your new team- and for your team to listen to reason when it's being offered. That's the reason why I'm not sending someone like Leonard Monte on your expedition."
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Username: CautionCat
"Quite the mix of trouble." Verdi sighed, but nodded. "It is up to someone who takes their job seriously. If you were to ever group me with Leonard again… I don't think he would make it back alive." A small smirk, and they shook their head. "I will keep the party safe, and your secrets safer. Karn… I thought that was a myth. Seeing that warforge in person has redirected my perspective of this. I wonder… what will come of this." Verdi chewed the inside of their lip some, eyes unfocused.
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