Ch 4: Part 3: House Vonnarc: Session 59

[15:50] <Kilarra> *****Second Darkness*****
[15:50] <Kilarra> ~~~Chapter 4: Endless Night~~~
[15:50] <Kilarra> \Part 3: House Vonnarc/
[15:51] <Kilarra> -Sesson 59-
[15:54] <Kilarra> Four hours after the interview, the party, if not already awake, can hear footsteps approaching their room.
[15:56] * Kilarra sits up, not used to her new body not really requiring actual sleep. She prods Aluthyra as well.
[15:58] * Aluthyra stretches, ending her meditation. Her ears twitch as she hears the footsteps. "Hopefully we did well."
[15:58] <@Aluthyra> Kahree is leaning against the head of her bed, idly fiddling with her fingers as the time goes by. She looks to the door, smirking, and nods. "Course we did."
[15:59] <Kilarra> Kjell sits up, wakened by the sounds of the others. Although he hadn't really been asleep per se. "Curious," he says simply. Though he was referring to the non-sleep, he didn't want to risk saying anything with someone approaching that might be revealing
[16:02] <Kilarra> UNdamesta enters the room without knocking or announcing herself. She presents each party member with a ring. The rings contain the house Signet, and have the wearer's name inscribed on the band.
[16:02] * Kilarra takes hers and waits for an explanation.
[16:03] <Kilarra> Kjell slips his on immediately, figuring that was expected of them.
[16:03] * Aluthyra and Kahree follow in putting on their rings.
[16:05] <Kilarra> Undamesta announces to the party, with little ceremony or pomp, "The signet marks you as servants of House Vonnarc," she explains, "and must be worn at all times. They will allow you to come and go through the house as your duties demand, and show your peers where your allegiances lay."
[16:05] * Kilarra slips hers on at that point. She hoped it wouldn't interfere with her other rings.
[16:07] <Kilarra> Undamesta continues, "A servant caught once without their ring will recieve a flogging. Being caught twice without it merits execution. As does selling or loaning it to anyone, for yourself and the reciever. Altering the inscription or changing the ring in any way also merits executuon."
[16:08] <@Aluthyra> Kahree nods, looking to the ring around her finger. Lotta rules for a simple ring...
[16:10] <Kilarra> "In the morning and at periodic times throughout the day you will be expected to display your signets to your superiors. I suggest you simply not take them off."
[16:10] <Kilarra> Undamesta's voice is tinged with false sweetness
[16:15] * Aluthyra nods, remaining silent.
[16:18] * Kilarra dares to ask, "WHat duties shall we be assigned Revered SLavemother?"
[16:20] <Kilarra> Undamesta points to Kjell and Kahree first, "You two will be taking Guard Servitor positions, and will report to Paingiver Drovoanis immediately." She then looks to Kilarra and Aluthyra, "You two will be house servitors, and will follow me to see your duties."
[16:22] <@Aluthyra> Kahree shrugs, looking to Kjell. Better than being with one of the other two. "May I ask where Paingiver Drovoanis is?" She holds her normally sarcastic tone, eager to be assigned away from the Slavemother.
[16:23] * Aluthyra nods. "Very well." She smiles faintly to Kilarra. "And thank you for allowing us to serve."
[16:24] * Kilarra nods, "We are most gracious." She then stands and follows the Slavemother. This would be interesting.
[16:25] <Kilarra> Kjell stands by Kahree and waits for directions.
[16:26] <Kilarra> Undamesta directs the two of them to the barracks before dismissing them curtly, then leads Aluthyra and Kilarra for their assignments
[16:27] * Aluthyra follows alongside Kilarra.
[16:27] <Kilarra> Aluthyra is assigned to basic maid duties, while Kilarra is assigned to running errants for other House Servitors. Kahree is assigned to lookout duty while Kjell, the Guard Leader curious about his seemingly unique magic-martial blend, has him demonstrate with a duel.
[16:31] <Kilarra> Aluthyra chores, while tedious, are simple enough that they require no real effort. Kahree's lookout duty is a bit of a strain on her eyes, but she can handle it. Kilarra's errand running is a bit more exhausting, but she pulls through. Kjell performs rather impressively in his duel.
[16:32] <Kilarra> Each of them has an eight hour shift, stricly rotated by Undamesta. Working slaves round the clock was one thing, but Sertivors were simply not treated that way.
[16:35] * Kilarra finishes her shift and heads back to the room first to see if anyone else was coming. She also wanted to send a message to Crying Leaf to let them know their progress.
[16:37] * Aluthyra heads back to the room as well as soon as she finishes maid duty. She waves to Kilarra as she enters. "How was your day? Mine... rather boring." ]
[16:38] * Kilarra nods, "Well, can't say mine was any fun, obviously, but I was actually surprised at how regular it was. Apparently..." she closes the door to make sure there's no eavesdropping, "in spite of the murder and backstabbing and torture and demon worship, their society isn't that different form Riddleport's."
[16:38] * Kilarra notes, "I was doing a deskload of paperwork myself."
[16:39] <Kilarra> Kjell, a bit ragged after his duel, goes to kind Kahree up on the lookout post along the wall. "How have you fared?" he asks her. He sports a few bruises.
[16:39] <@Aluthyra> Kahree shrugs. "Nothing much going on. Bit hard to concentrate." She looks Kjell over, smirking. "Looks like you had fun."
[16:40] <Kilarra> Kjell rolls his eyes, "Apparently my unique style was something new to them. Not sure if they were impressed or worried though. Then again, considering this house is known for its mages, perhaps they think my style uniquely appropriate for those who serve here."
[16:41] * Aluthyra frowns. "Alarming, if you think about it." She sighs. "Maid duty was fine. The tedium I am used to. In fact, it reminds me of the daily chores I once had at the Monastery."
[16:41] * Kilarra chuckles a bit, "Well, at least its going well so far. I was about to do a sending to Eviana."
[16:43] <@Aluthyra> Kahree nods. "Good for you, and us, then. I guess." She smiles. "So, I was thinking of nudging along our information gathering. Seems the drow here are used to being intimidated. What better way to fit in but scare the information out of them, right?" She grins.
[16:43] * Aluthyra smiles. "Well, I will leave you to it. Once that is sent, and the others return, shall we explore the city?"
[16:44] * Kilarra pulls out a loop of copper wire. "Ten minutes of casting for twenty-five words is a bit much, but I figured I should only do this occasionally, when we make big progress or if we need advice." She nods to Aluthyra's question. "Hopefully their guard duty wasn't too bad."
[16:45] <Kilarra> Kjell nods, "I would agree, although I might suggest we take that out of the House. We seemed to be free to come and go as we please when not on duty. If we are to be asking questions, it should be in a place where we can more eaily lose ourselves."
[16:45] <@Aluthyra> Kahree's grin widens and she adds, "Want to tag along?"
[16:46] <Kilarra> Kjell nods, "I would suggest it. Going out into an unknown place alone is inadvisable enough, but this city particularly so."
[16:46] <@Aluthyra> Kahree nods. "Great! So, should we go back to the room first, or just head out?"
[16:47] <Kilarra> Kjell thinks about that a moment, "Well, if their shifts were as ours, then they would likely be back at the room by now. It would certainly do to tell them where we're doing and what we're planning."
[16:48] <@Aluthyra> Kahree shrugs, walking towards the room. "Sure. Let's hurry though... the shift was boring, and I want to have some fun."
[16:48] * Kilarra begins casting the sending, motioning for Aluthyra to watch the door and make sure she wasn't disturbed.
[16:49] <Kilarra> Kjell chuckles, "Be careful what you wish for." He heads back with her.
[16:49] * Aluthyra nods, watching and waiting for any possible disturbance. If she hears something or someone, she plans on exiting and distracting them-- as well as someone who cannot tell a lie can.
[16:52] <Kilarra> Kjell arrives back at the room with Kahree to find Aluthyra standing in front of it. "Ah, so you are back."
[16:52] <Kilarra> [redact]
[16:53] <Kilarra> Kjell returns to the room and knocks on the door, hoping the simple polite gesture would make it known that it was a friend.
[16:58] * Aluthyra blinks, quickly moving over to the door. The knock... odd. She opens the door, a slight bit, peeking through it to see Kjell. She smiles, opening it fully and moving out of the way. "Hello Kjell, Kahree. Were both of your days uneventful as well?"
[16:59] <Kilarra> Kjell motions to his bruises, "Not exactly, but at least it was only a spar."
[17:00] * Aluthyra frowns. "I see. Well, it is good you are relatively unharmed."
[17:00] * Kilarra casts a quick glance at the entrants without breaking her concentration on the casting. Stupid ten minutes.
[17:00] <@Aluthyra> Kahree nods. "Boring, yeah." She shrugs, moving past Kjell and into the room. She looks to Kilarra, still in concentration. "Casting a spell?" She sighs. "I guess it can wait 'til you're done."
[17:02] <Kilarra> Kjell looks to ALuthyra, "What's she casting?"
[17:03] * Aluthyra sits down on her bed. "A spell to send a message to Eviana. She still has several minutes left, so not too long."
[17:03] <@Aluthyra> Kahree groans, tapping her foot.
[17:05] <Kilarra> Kjell chuckles at Kahree and waits patiently, keeping his eye on the door.
[17:06] * Aluthyra returns to watch as well.
[17:08] * Kilarra spends the rest of the casting time concentrating, then, when the copper wire looks like its glowing, she speaks: "Eviana, it's Kilarra. Made it into Zirnakaynin. Got lucky, met drow noble servant and got employed. Risky business, but useful shortcut. Information gathering off hours."
[17:08] * Kilarra waits a few moments for a reply, if any.
[17:13] <Kilarra> "Understood," comes a reply into Kilarra's mind. "Well done. Your efforts are grealy appreciated, as is the risk you are taking. Report back major findings occasionally please. Good luck to all."
[17:14] <@Aluthyra> Kahree raises an eyebrow. "...That's it? All that effort for... that?"
[17:14] * Kilarra looks back to the group as the glow fades from the copper wire. "Eviana wishes us luck, and wants us to report major findings. Considering we still have eighty-nine days, I think we're in good shape. We may not even have to stay here the whole time."
[17:18] <@Aluthyra> Kahree shrugs. "Right, well, making this go along faster, I figured we should go out and force some information out of some drow. Seems they're used to intimidation, so it'd help us fit in."
[17:18] <@Aluthyra> Kahree smiles. "And it'd be fun."
[17:20] * Kilarra nods, "I wouldn't be opposed to that. If we're going though, we should either all go, or stay in our splits. People might get suspicious if we're always wandering off as a group, but there is safety in numbers in a place like this."
[17:21] <@Aluthyra> Kahree nods. "Well, then we might as well split. Maybe you two can find out some info around the city too."
[17:24] * Kilarra nods, "Alright then. You two head out, then we'll go out ten or fifteen minutes later."
[17:25] <@Aluthyra> Kahree turns to Kjell, ushering him towards the door. "Finally! Let's go before I die from boredom."
[17:27] <Kilarra> Kjell chuckles a bit and follows Kahree out.
[17:27] * Kilarra looks to ALuthyra, "So... now what?"
[17:30] * Aluthyra shrugs. "I suppose we wait. Do you have any ideas once we go out into the city?"
[17:30] * Kilarra shakes her head, "Not really. My usual method was just going where Shorafa sent me and just having whoever I was sent to meet tell me what she wanted to know. I did very little actual persuading."
[17:32] * Aluthyra nods. "Well, exploring around the city may be the best, then." She chuckles. "I would not be much use for interrogating someone."
[17:35] * Kilarra chuckles, "We might not be able to interrogate people, but we could get started on some cultural osmosis. At the very least, we can get a better idea of where things are around here. Particularly shopping, in case any of us need anything."
[17:39] * Aluthyra nods. "That will work. I do not have anything in mind to shop for, but perhaps we will find something."
[17:40] <Kilarra> Kjell and Kahree go about their business in town. Unfortunately, even though her methods aren't scrutinized by other drow nearby, Kahree is unable to get anything major in regards to the drow of Celwynvian or the elf gates, which were the two main things Crying Leaf was interested in.
[17:42] <@Aluthyra> Kahree huffs. "Guess we'll try again later..."
[17:43] <Kilarra> As Kahree goes through the drow city, she noticed the typical sights of any city, including beggars, street fights, and merchants and businesses advertising. One particular beggar lurches awfully close to her, only for Kahree to be pulled away from him by a random drow on the street. "Watch yourself," he says wit ha stern look at the beggar, "that one's diseased."
[17:45] <@Aluthyra> Kahree scowls, slapping away the hand of the stranger as she turns. "Don't touch me," she growls.
[17:46] <Kilarra> The stranger drow shrugs, "Alright then." He shuffles on, while the 'diseased' beggar recoils.
[17:49] <Kilarra> Kjell frowns, "Perhaps we should turn back for now. We don't need any more close calls."
[17:50] <@Aluthyra> Kahree frowns, turning back to Kjell. "Fine." She sighs. "Let's move."
[17:53] * Kjell shoots a glower at the retreating drow, then follows Kahree back.
[17:57] <Kilarra> Travelling through the bustling streets of Zirnakaynin, Kilarra and Aluthyra find that the merchants here are rather pushy. Especially the mad Derro. However, this experience also shows them that, though the drow are definitely in charge here, they aren't the only ones who walk around freely.
[17:58] <Kilarra> One particular merchant sees Kilarra whip, and begins attempting to display a number of slaves he thinks she might be interested in procuring.
[17:59] * Aluthyra frowns at the merchant, but holds her tongue, not wanting to give off the impression that they do not agree with slavery.
[18:00] * Kilarra attempts to be a bit more blatant, but chooses her words a bit more colourfully, "Pah. None of these welps would be worthy of even a single lash." She makes a flippant hand-gesture and walks off in disgust, hoping it was percieved as for the merchandise rather than the practise.
[18:02] * Aluthyra shakes her head and follows. She sighs, whispering, "I feel sorry for them."
[18:03] * Kilarra moves in close to Aluthyra, "Would that we could do something about it, but even if we bought one to set it free, they'd just be a target all over again down here. There's really not much we can do about the way things are down here."
[18:04] * Aluthyra nods sadly. "Yes, I realize."
[18:06] * Kilarra notes, "That said, if we're successful in our mission down here, we can prevent the plots of these things from spreading beyond their own little world down here and poisoning the world up above."
[18:07] * Aluthyra frowns. "Hopefully." She shakes her head. "Do you have anything else you would like to do before we return? I do not think I can handle much of this place without feeling sickened."
[18:08] * Kilarra shakes her head, "No. Let's get back to the room. At least there we can be ourselves."
[18:10] * Aluthyra nods, turning back.
[18:12] <Kilarra> Aluthyra and Kilarra return to find Kahree and Kjell back before them. Kjell seems to be going over his spellbook, but looks a little bored.
[18:13] <@Aluthyra> Kahree waves a hand. "Before you ask, no, didn't find anything. And I was pickpocketed, but only lost one gem." She huffs. "Not a very successful trip out."
[18:14] * Kilarra frowns, "That bites. Did you not notice the guy?"
[18:16] <@Aluthyra> Kahree shakes her head. "Shoulda thought more of it, but yeah, I did. Pulled me away from a beggar, saying the beggar was diseased."
[18:17] * Kilarra rolls her eyes, "I've seen cons like that in Riddleport. Good policy is to not let anyone within a foot of you if you can help it."
[18:18] <Kilarra> Kjell looks up, "WHat about you two? Anything fortuitous?"
[18:18] * Kilarra shakes her head, "Lots more depravity than I ever experienced in Riddleport. Frankly, I'm considering holing up here any time I'm not on duty if every trip out is gonna be like that."
[18:20] * Aluthyra nods with Kilarra's statement. "I cannot believe that their life is possible as it is." She sighs. "I as well."
[18:28] * Kilarra shrugs, "Maybe we should just stick to the basic work, keep our ears open as our noses are to the grindstone."
[18:29] <@Aluthyra> Kahree shakes her head. "That's fine for you all, but I think that roughing someone up every day or two could help, if we get some extra info."
[18:30] <Kilarra> Kjell nods, "I would be willing to serve as her escort if the two of you would prefer to stay here and keep your ears open then."
[18:32] * Aluthyra nods. "I think that will do."
[18:32] * Kilarra nods, "No complaints here, so long as you don't get yourselves killed. Which I'd really like you to try not to, considering it might mean bad things for us, and our elven friends upstairs."
[18:32] <@Aluthyra> Kahree rolls her eyes. "I'll try my best."
[18:33] <Kilarra> Kjell nods, "Perhaps then, for now, we should cut our losses and get a full night's rest... not that it's ever not night down here."
[18:34] <@Aluthyra> Kahree can agree with that! She flops onto her bed.
[18:35] * Kilarra looks to Aluthyra, then rolls into bed with her. "We'll have to find some other way to entertain ourselves during our off hours."
[18:36] * Aluthyra blushes as she slips into the covers. "Perhaps."
[18:37] <Kilarra> -End Session-