Rissada - Session 30.2

Exhausted from the combats and rescuing Melodi, Astrid and Pitch head back to their current home, attempting to catch their breath.
As they return, however, they see an unfamiliar, well-dressed foxkin talking to one of the beastkin they rescued.

Antille: "Rai itane kazuri itaza?"
Female Catkin: "...?"
Antille: "Tch. None of them..."
Astrid: "Nn...so much bloodsh--hmm?"
"...State your business, you're on private property."
Melodi Ryuji Naabe flops onto the floor once entering the guild, utterly exhausted.
Antille: "I know. I am a contractor, on loan from the Rogue's Guild, on behalf of one Engir Gythel."
Astrid: "I see. Mind telling me your name?"
Antille: "Antille."
Astrid pauses to rest Melodi against the wall, turning back to Antille.
Pitch: "..I'll carry her to her room."
Astrid: "Well Antille...may I ask why Engir asked for your...services?"
Antille: "It's about managing these folk, the other beastkin you rescued."
Astrid: "You said you were from the Rogue's Guild, correct? Were all of you seriously unaware of what was going on this whole time?"
Antille: "Lady, don't be blind. We have to abide by the laws as much as you do."
Pitch picks up his sister, carrying her to her room
Astrid raises an eyebrow slightly. [Lore (Guilds) check: 21]
Astrid: "Tch."
"...What will become of the Alchemists', then?"
"Has that goblin been apprehended?"
Antille: "Not my problem. I was hired to keep my kin safe. Nothing more."
Antille: "There is, naturally, assumed to be a cost here. I can manage everything for you, but buying the resources needed to care for so many refugees that don't so much as understand their native tongue is not going to be easy."
Astrid: "I can imagine."
Pitch: "Definitely."
Astrid: "Although, this isn't really just the Thaumaturge's problem, either."
Antille: "Fortunately, Valesian activity in the city is quieting down. So that makes guard duty easier."
"But hiring workers that are open to taking care of demihumans is going to be tricky, especially when we need to ensure they won't rat."
"I can cut corners if you want to make things cheap, but as things are now I'm going to be expecting 100 gold per day you want me to be taking care of them."
Astrid: "I'm guessing you've discussed this with Engir, then?"
Antille: "There was a bit of a rush. Engir was not able to finish negotiations."
Astrid: "I see, well, he should be back soon."
Astrid lowers her head.
Astrid: "Miss Orz, she..."
Antille: "Hey. Tiefling."
"You own the manor above here, right?"
Pitch: "She does."
Antille: "Okay. I had to make some minor modifications to ensure it can house so many refugees."
"It cost 250 gold."
Astrid widens her eyes suddenly.
Astrid: "...Go on."
"In fact."
Antille: "So that's where we stand."
Astrid: "Let me find my sister quickly."
Antille: "250 gold for today. 100 gold each day you intend me to babysit your refugees."
Astrid hurries down the corridor abruptly.
Antille: "How about you, big guy?"
Astrid: "Terita?"
Antille: "I'm afraid I'm going to be needing that money in advance."
Terita Estion: "Ah, sister?"
Pitch: "When i get the goahead from the gal who owns the house, sure."
Terita Estion: "I was just doing some reading."
Pitch: "I've got enough, likely."
Terita Estion: "No more guild business has left the day... quite open for me."
Astrid: "By the Star...you're alright..."
"Did any V-Valesians come by the guild earlier...?"
Terita Estion: "Hm? No, things have been quiet. Melodi stepped out in the morning to get some food to restock our supplies, and Hilra's been in her room since a letter arrived for her."
Astrid winces.
Astrid: "S-So that's why..."
Astrid slumps into the chair beside her.
Astrid: "Terita, so much has happened today, you couldn't believe..."
Terita Estion: "You look absolutely exhausted..."
Astrid: "You remember how we went to the Alchemists' guild this morning, correct...?"
Antille shrugs, and helps the catkin woman through the tunnel.
Pitch: "...oh cool, you get a secret tunnel."
Terita Estion: "You wanted to deliver a warning, yes? About Valesia?"
Astrid: "Tch, if only...The guild was completely overrun by them."
Astrid turns round slowly, staring Terita in the eyes.
Terita Estion: "Is that so..."
"I did not think the Valesians so keen on consorting with goblins."
Astrid: "...Th-They've been running a slave trade...all this time...for nearly a century..."
Terita Estion: "S-slaves?!"
"That's reprehensible."
Astrid: "Beastkin...from Nubaros."
Terita Estion: "...Beastkin?"
Astrid: "Father, he...t-tried to expose them but...Ferrand..."
Astrid rests her face in her hands.
Terita Estion: "...Father knew about it...?"
"And that's why they killed him..."
Astrid: "Well...he suspected. That was enough of a reason...for them to k-kill him."
Terita Estion: "How horrid..."
Astrid: "Then..."
"While we were fighting in the guild, Melodi, she..."
Astrid: "...Was arrested. By the Valesians. To be executed."
Terita Estion: "E-executed?!"
Astrid sighs exhaustedly.
Terita Estion: "So Melodi is..."
"I haven't known her for long, but she's been a kind soul for all of us."
Astrid: "She's safe..."
Terita Estion: "Safe?"
Astrid: "In her room."
Terita Estion sighs.
Astrid: "...We had to halt the execution, outside the castle gates."
Terita Estion: "You need to frame narrative better, Astrid."
Astrid glares at Terita.
Astrid: "I can barely string a sentence together at the moment, cut me some slack..."
Terita Estion: "I apologize."
Astrid: "...Sorry, I just..."
Terita Estion: "The day must have been incredibly difficult on you."
"After all, she's your fiancé's little sister, so of course you'd be worried."
Astrid reaches out for Terita, sobbing.
Terita Estion hugs Astrid.
Terita Estion: "She's safe. You're here. We're all okay."
Astrid: "Yes..."
Terita Estion: "I swear, we're going to stop these Valesians."
Astrid: "...S-Speaking of which..."
Terita Estion: "We're going to do our best to fix these twisted laws and make the kingdom safe for demihumans."
Astrid: "The King...the p-prince have returned...the city is safe, for now..."
Terita Estion: "That's a relief..."
"Hopefully things will start improving..."
Pitch: "In fact, we've been invited to the palace tomorrow, from what I gather."
Astrid: "I truly...hope s--"
Pitch stands in the doorway
Astrid: "Ah...Pitch?"
Pitch: "The fox person went down a tunnel, and I heard you talking so...I came here."
Astrid readjusts herself, looking slightly embarassed.
Terita Estion: "A-ah. Hello, Pitch."
Astrid: "The palace...my, my..."
Astrid gets up, wearily hugging Pitch.
Pitch hugs Astrid
Astrid: "I'm so glad everyone's safe..."
Pitch: "...I'm glad everyone's okay too...not sure what I could do without Melodi."
Astrid: "Sister, Pitch...promise me, that we'll protect each other..."
Pitch: "Of course, why wouldn't I want to protect my family and my girlfriend?"
Terita Estion: "I'll do my best. After all... we're family now."
Astrid: "Will Melodi be alright, Pitch?"
"I wanted to give her something of mine yesterday, but with everything that was going on..."
Melodi begins to stagger into view, awake now but looking shaken.
Astrid: "Ah...Melodi..."
Astrid approaches Melodi, opening the door to her room slightly.
Melodi Ryuji Naabe: "I-I'm sorry if this is a bad time."
Pitch: "What is it?"
Melodi Ryuji Naabe: "I just... heard you guys talking about family from my room."
"And I thought I should be... here..."
Astrid: "Here, come inside, Melodi..."
Melodi Ryuji Naabe goes inside Astrid's room, sitting on the side of her bed
Astrid enters her room, as she begins to search through her chest.
Pitch: "You're more than welcome to talk with us, sister."
Astrid lifts out a small, yet surprisingly pristine doll, reminiscent of an elf, handing it to Melodi.
Melodi Ryuji Naabe: "H-huh?"
Astrid: "My father gave me this when I was small..."
"He said it would protect me from nightmares...I'd like you to have it."
Melodi Ryuji Naabe: "A-are you sure? Something so valuable to you?"
Astrid sweeps her hair back, smiling.
Astrid: "Of course, you need it more than I do, after everything you've been through..."
Pitch: "Big brother will also burn all the nightmares, too."
Melodi Ryuji Naabe: "If you're sure..."
"I'm really lucky, huh? I have a big brother AND a big sister that will protect me."
Pitch: "...wait, big sis? But don't we need to be...?"
Astrid giggles.
Melodi Ryuji Naabe: "You two obviously are going to be!"
Astrid blushes a little, glancing at Pitch.
Pitch: "Um, well..."
Melodi Ryuji Naabe: "...We should make it official."
Astrid: "...H-Huh!?"
Melodi Ryuji Naabe: "A ceremony, While we're still in town."
"I know who to ask for officiating it, I just need to ask Mister Engir for one of those letter birds."
Pitch is visibly stunned
Astrid: "C-Ceremony?"
Melodi Ryuji Naabe: "Alright!"
Melodi Ryuji Naabe hops off Astrid's bed, holding onto the doll.
Pitch: "U-uh..."
Melodi Ryuji Naabe: "I'll go handle everything, okay?"
Astrid: "W-Wait, Melodi...!"
"Nn...there she goes..."
Melodi Ryuji Naabe: "Don't worry! It'll work, I'm sure!"
Melodi Ryuji Naabe runs down the hall, looking for Engir.
Terita Estion giggles.
Pitch: "Well..."
"Um..."
Astrid: "How embarrassing..."
Pitch: "You're tellin' me..."
Astrid sits back down on the bed beside Pitch.
Terita Estion: "There, there."
Pitch: "....she means well."
Terita Estion: "It'll work out, I'm sure."
Astrid: "P-Pitch, what did she mean...'ceremony'...?"
Pitch: "Um...well..."
"....I think she wants us to...well..."
Pitch seems to be struggling with the words and looks at Terita for aid
Terita Estion: "She clearly wants Astrid as her big sister forever."
Astrid: "I-I see..."
Pitch: "...yeah, that."
Astrid: "So s-soon...?"
A crash is heard outside the room and down the hall, along with a faint yelp of pain.
Astrid: "Su--Hm?"
Pitch: "huh?"
Astrid gets up abruptly, hurrying out of the room.
Melodi appears in the corner of the hallway, having apparently fallen onto the floor.
Pitch: "...Melodi?"
Melodi Ryuji Naabe: "Oww... ran too fast..."
Pitch runs over to Melodi and helps his siter up
Melodi Ryuji Naabe accepts Pitch's aid, getting to her feet and sweeping dust off her skirt.
Astrid: "Tsk...are you alright?"
Pitch: "Try not to run in your state, please."
Melodi Ryuji Naabe: "I-I just tripped, okay? It's because Miss Ara passed out and I didn't want to hit her, and I wanted to get back to you guys to tell you the news and..."
Pitch: "Tell us news?"
Melodi Ryuji Naabe: "A-and it's not like I'm injured! She didn't hurt me, you know. She only locked me up."
Astrid: "Ara!?"
Melodi Ryuji Naabe: "But yeah!"
"Turns out I didn't need to wait for Mister Engir!"
"The fluffy guy had a couple and he sold me one!"
Pitch: "....huh?!"
Melodi Ryuji Naabe: "So I was able to send out my letter♪~"
Melodi Ryuji Naabe looks proud of herself.
Astrid: "M-Melodi...don't you th-think it's too soon?"
Pitch: "...it's barely been a month..."
Melodi Ryuji Naabe: "But relationships can bud and grow really fast under the right circumstances!"
"I read of relationships that only took a week to blossom, especially in war-time scenarios."
Astrid looks at Pitch awkwardly out of the corner of her eye.
Melodi Ryuji Naabe: "And we're probably going to have a war soon and..."
"Well, if she approves you two, then it would be great, right?!"
Pitch: "Um....Astrid?"
Astrid: "Sh-She...?
"Pitch...?"
Melodi Ryuji Naabe: "Don't worry, I have it under control!"
Pitch: "(What do we do, dear?)"
Astrid: "(D-Don't look at me!)"
Pitch: "(I-I mean, I-I'm not totally against it, but...i-it's been a short time...)"
Astrid: "(I agree...)"
Astrid turns to Pitch, staring him in the eyes expectantly.
Astrid: "What do you want...dear?"
Pitch: "....well...I'll go along with whatever you think, well..."
Melodi Ryuji Naabe: "Oh! I should prepare!"
Melodi Ryuji Naabe runs off again, away from the pair.
Pitch: "Wait, hang on!"
Melodi Ryuji Naabe tries to stop from hearing Pitch, and ends up stumbling, falling over again.
Pitch: "Y-you haven't even asked for our consent on the matter, sis..."
Melodi Ryuji Naabe gives Pitch a sly look.
Melodi Ryuji Naabe: "It's pretty clear you two are crazy about each other."
Pitch: "Yeah, but... that ...isn't it moving way too fast, sis?"
"(Astrid, back me up here.)"
Astrid: "Melodi...Pitch is right."
Melodi Ryuji Naabe: "B-but..."
Astrid: "We want to enjoy this time together, while still having some space, you know?"
Melodi Ryuji Naabe: "But... big sis..."
Melodi Ryuji Naabe looks at Astrid with pleading eyes.
Astrid sighs, averting Melodi's gaze.
Astrid: "Pitch...?"
"Tell her."
Pitch: "...I'm with you, Astrid."
"Melodi, now is not the time."
"I definitely want that sometime, but now...now's not the time."
Melodi Ryuji Naabe: "...I already sent the letter though...."
"I don't know how to recall it..."
Astrid facepalms.
Melodi Ryuji Naabe: "Sorry... big bro... big sis..."
Pitch: "...it's fine. You meant well, didn't you?"
Melodi Ryuji Naabe: "I'll take the blame when she comes, okay?"
"Of course I meant well!"
Astrid: "Wh-Who...?"
Melodi Ryuji Naabe: "I want you two to be together!"
Pitch: "...wait, yeah, who DO you know that could do that?"
Melodi Ryuji Naabe: "You remember our tribe's customs, right, Pitch?"
Pitch: "Um....isn't it done by the priestess?"
"Which would mean...."
Astrid: "The Red Mother...?"
Pitch: "I think it's our mother."
Astrid grimaces.
Pitch: "Who's....the head priestess...."
Astrid: "By the Star..."
Melodi Ryuji Naabe: "Only if the Mother is unavailable. But, yeah, it's not likely for her to come all this way, huh..."
"I doubt anyone would..."
Pitch: "And bringing the Red Mother to Rissada City isn't a good idea either."
Melodi Ryuji Naabe: "Sorry. I guess it was just a silly dream."
Astrid tilts her head.
Astrid: "I'm incredibly confused."
Pitch: "....the Red Mother is a giant red dragon the tribe reveres."
"And our mother is the high priestess of it all, pretty much the leader."
Melodi Ryuji Naabe: "Pitch, being her eldest child, is first in line to inherit the title."
"...But he hated the studies, so he decided to skip town instead."
Pitch: "...and so Melodi is the next in line."
Melodi Ryuji Naabe: "...except I skipped town too."
Pitch: "....who's next in line, after you?"
Melodi Ryuji Naabe: "...We don't have any more family members."
Pitch: "Right, unless..."
Melodi Ryuji Naabe: "Um... I... think I was told what happens if this ends up happening..."
"But I can't remember it right now."
Pitch: "...but we're eventually going back there, aren't we, anyway?"
Melodi Ryuji Naabe: "I kinda like being free though."
Pitch: "Still...I worry about mother..."
Melodi Ryuji Naabe: "Yeah..."
Astrid: "I see...do you have any other siblings?"
Melodi Ryuji Naabe shakes her head.
Pitch: "Those message birds will be invaluble in being in contact with her now, though, right?"
Melodi Ryuji Naabe: "Yeah."
"I might get a response."
Pitch: "At least she can know we're safe."
Melodi Ryuji Naabe: "Yeah."
Pitch: "....probably shouldn't mention today, though, we don't want to scare her."
Melodi Ryuji Naabe: "Still..."
"I'm sorry, big bro, big sis..."
Astrid: "Your mother...what is she called?"
Pitch: "Anata Ryuji Naabe"
Melodi Ryuji Naabe: "The Red Priestess."
Pitch: "...or that works too."
Astrid shakes her head slowly, sighing.
Astrid: "Will she accept me...?"
Melodi Ryuji Naabe: "I don't know..."
"B-but I'll stick up for you!"
"We learned a lot since we left!"
"The world is huge!"
"Our tribe should be free, not cooped up."
Pitch: "I agree."
Astrid: "It would be...mocking her were I t-to...be betrothed to Pitch without her permission."
Melodi Ryuji Naabe: "The Brass are too secluded, and the Gold are too pent up with the 'traditional ways'."
"It's no fair."
Pitch: "(The Red are the best anyway.)"
Astrid: "How many tribes are there? Is there...more than one 'Mother'?"
Melodi Ryuji Naabe: "There are... twelve kinds of dragons."
Pitch: "There are...five villages."
Astrid: "My my..."
Melodi Ryuji Naabe: "Of the four outlying villages, each one has three lineages."
"Our names hint at these, too."
" 'Ryuji' means of the Red Lineage, and 'Naabe' means from Naabe village, which is the home of the fire-affinity dragons."
Astrid: "How have you managed to stay away for so long? Haven't you seen any other tribesmen in all the years you've been away?"
Melodi Ryuji Naabe: "Even 'Ryuji' is from the components 'ryu', fire, and 'ji', first."
"And no, we haven't seen anyone else..."
"Nobody's supposed to leave the villages other than to go to other villages."
"Not even the Mothers or the elders."
"Which is why they're not really going to respond to my letter..."
Astrid: "A-Ah...a shame."
Pitch: "...Some do leave the villages, but only rarely, and only those from the fifth village."
Melodi Ryuji Naabe shifts from her prone position to lying down completely, despondent.
Astrid: "They do? Why only the fifth village?"
Melodi Ryuji Naabe: "That's... Tiamat's village."
"Every year, Tiamat, our goddess, chooses one of the dragonkin from among the tribes, and they move from their original village to hers."
"There's no real say in the matter..."
"Our father was chosen... while our mother was still pregnant with me."
"He couldn't stay to see me."
Astrid: "So...you're father is still in Tiamat's village? Or did he leave...hrm."
Melodi Ryuji Naabe: "He's not even 'Naabe' anymore..."
Pitch: "And I barely knew him...I don't even remember his face..."
Melodi Ryuji Naabe: "Because they move villages, they become 'Eturu', the fifth village..."
Astrid: "Eturu? Hmm, I see."
Melodi Ryuji Naabe: "Anyone from the Eturu village is... bad news."
"Tiamat only picks the strongest."
"And... every decade, she picks a 'champion'."
"Nobody knows why..."
Astrid: "What happens to the champion?"
Melodi Ryuji Naabe: "They leave the fifth village."
"We don't know anything after that."
"Nobody's ever seen a champion return for Tiamat's service, in all our tribe's history."
Astrid: "That sounds...ominous to say the least."
Astrid massages her temples.
Melodi Ryuji Naabe: "I'm sorry I can't be of more help."
"But I really don't know..."
Astrid: "Nn..It's fine, I'm just out of it..."
"I'll be in my room...you coming Pitch?"
Pitch: "In a moment...I should talk money quickly with the Foxman."
Astrid: "Ah, of course. You should get some rest too, Melodi."
Melodi Ryuji Naabe: "...Mmm, right."
"Sorry I was such a hassle today."
Melodi Ryuji Naabe gets up and starts trying to help Arastalia into her room.
Pitch: "It's okay, I'll take her to my room"
Astrid: "Goodness, poor Ara..."
Melodi Ryuji Naabe: "U-um, no, brother!"
Pitch: She can rest in my bed, and I'll...sleep in Astrid's room."
Melodi Ryuji Naabe: "She shouldn't be in a boy's room!"
Astrid approaches Ara, assisting Melodi in lifting her.
Melodi Ryuji Naabe: "Okay!
"Good night, big brother, big sister!"
Astrid: "Sleep well, Melodi."
Melodi Ryuji Naabe: "I guess if you two are going to share rooms anyways we should look into the bed situation, huh?"
Astrid: "Yeah, r-right."
Pitch has already departed to the foxman
Pitch: "Hey, Mr. Fox, I'm ready to talk money."
Astrid: "Ah, Terita, I'm turning in for the night."
Antille: "Got the go-ahead from the owner?"
Terita Estion: "Sleep well, sister."
Pitch: "Yeah, so..."
Astrid: "You too."
Pitch hands out five hundred and fifty gold pieces in a small bag
Pitch: "This should do for now, right?"
Antille: "Good for three days. ...Probably five if I cut corners but it's really best we make sure we're getting good care for these refugees."
"I think the cost will go down over time though."
Pitch: "How about 600 to make sure?"
Antille: "We won't have to hire as many laborers once some of the refugees start understanding language."
"Who knows how long that will take though."
"Not even the halves can speak a word."
Pitch: "Yeah, that's tough. Not even our Gnome could get through to them in speaking like an animal..it'll certainly take some time."
"When we leave the city, I'll try to talk to you guys more aobut this."
"But for now...that should do, right?"
Antille: "(Maybe I should treat him like an animal...)"
"Yeah. I getcha. Five fifty for now, and I'll keep them taken care of for a few days."
Pitch: "Thank you kindly, now, I guess I'll take my leave then. See you some other time....Mr..?"
Antille: "Antille. Didn't you hear me introduce myself to your girl?"
"Not a fan of repeating myself. Your tongue is difficult enough as is."
Pitch: "Sorry, man, was more focused on my sister collapsing."
"But anyhows, take care."
Pitch departs and heads down the hallway to Astrid's room
Antille: "And theeere he goes."
"Guess I'll go check on the refugees now, get some supplies for 'em."
Terita Estion: "Ah? Pitch?"
Pitch: "...ah, hello, Terita."
"I'm just, well....going to spend the night in Astrid's room, tonight."
Terita Estion: "... ..."
"... ...I see."
"Does she know you're doing this?"
Pitch: "Yes, she... asked me to."
Terita Estion: "...I see."
Pitch: "....what do you see?"
Terita Estion: "If you hurt her, I will hurt you."
Pitch: "...of course, and I have no intention of ever hurting her."
"....though, It's natural for you to be protective of her."
Terita Estion: "I expect you to take responsibility of anything else you might do to her, as well."
Pitch: ".....I'll take total, full responsibility."
Terita Estion: "I'm glad we have an agreement."
Pitch: "You have my word."
Terita Estion heads to her own room, shooting a quick glare at Pitch before entering it and closing the door.
Astrid: "(Pitch, are you there, dear?)"
Pitch: "(....Yes, I'm here.)"
Pitch enters Astrid's room, closing the door behind him