lurker
Hentai Master
- Joined
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Lazy and slow lurker is lazy and slow. With that said, this is the thread for stuffing all the chat logs relating for characters to see the events of the game sessions, whether to catch up if they missed scenes, enjoy scenes over again, and so on and so forth. BEGIN!
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Part 1 - Introductions
Session - 1
Location - Ritzerite, Kalifer
Shadows flickered across the faces of the goddesses, mere facsimiles staring down from their vantage point, painted on the high vaulted ceiling of the Capitol Hall of Kalifer. Their gaze fell upon two groups of petty mortals. At the far end of the hall, upon a raised dias, the monarchs of the human realms of Kalifer quietly took in the measure of the other group. The Rashiah, or Highking, lounged to one side of his throne, his brow furrowed in a thoughtful glare. To his right, the Grand Matriarch of the Wood Elves, arrayed in the finest of green garb, scanned the assemblage before her with her customary stoicism. To his left stood an elf with skin as black as night; her dyed leathers matched her complexion, and her fingers absently stroked a whip at her side. A few feet beyond the dusky-hued elf, a dwarf with a ruddy complexion quietly grumbled to himself, leaning to his hammer and casting the occasional dark glance at the elven nobles. At the dais steps, an orc with a wolf headdress sat hunkered on the steps, clutching a staff adorned with animal skulls, his eyes shut in silent contemplation.
The assembly, standing at a respectful distance from both earthly and divine rulers, was even more diverse. Some four dozen, all told, standing in no particular order. The only thing they seemed to have in common at this particular point was location… and perhaps their interest in the mission. The Rashiah scanned the crowd. A woman with green skin and long, braided hair. The green-skinned beauty wore fine linens, tapping her fingers on crossed arms and steadfastly ignoring the man in the duster coat behind her, casting her dirty looks from beheath a wide-brimmed hat. There was a cubite dressed in a short dress and jacked, bouncing on her heels and humming to an unfamiliar tune. A snow elf stood near the humming cubite, attempting to read and to veil her growing annoyance at the tune. There was a massive bear of a man with an even larger sword strapped to his back—the group gave him plenty of distance, the king noted. A scarred orc was looking balefully at the high shaman, leaning against one wall. An under elf eyed the scarred orc with barely contained hostility. Perhaps it was best that they view each other as competition. Yes. This might work.
The king also noted a harpy, latched on a short ledge and casting nervous looks at the assembly. A massive, four-armed creature, hewn from the rocky earth itself, stood watch over a white-haired woman. The construct created its own light, a white glow coming from its eyes and from the runes that covered its form. A dwarf woman nursed a hip flask. A poorly-disguised (or not trying to disguise itself, perhaps) werewolf was clearly more interested in the flask than in the proceedings, only to have a ranger in thick furs slap its hands away. Flanking the doors was a Shiriti islander, a riot of feathers and cloth and bright paints her only attire. A jet-black plate of armor flashed from beneath the cloak of another figure near the back. So many had answered the summons. The king pondered… how many of them would survive this quest? A dozen? A handful? One? Or would they all perish?
Dressed in her cleanest white lab coat, Kaylia stood among the scholars, scribbling notes furiously. Her red hair hung down, partly obscuring her face.
Alkaia stepped forward. "I will!" A busty dragoness clad in revealing and nearly see through silks stepped forward. Her body moving with a sensual grace and thanks to her attire, and an almost sexual air. The soft tinkling of crystals can be heard as she stepped forward to be the first.
Zizth listened silently, before stepping forwards. She had a large cloak concealing her body, a holster for javelins kept over the back. The face is mostly obscured by a head wrap and face scarf, but orange eyes glowed from within. Zizth simply looked out levely but silently, keeping the cloak fairly tight around her body. She wasn't used to all this attention or this strange setting. All strangesince leaving. She glanced briefly to the side at the walking reptile creature before turning her eyes back to those speaking.
Laani dressed to be like a ball. "Too cold, why isn't it heated? Peh, they must not be rich. . ." The goblin girl puffed with actual breaths being seeable even through the temperature is only 55 degrees. For her, that was cold, but not too cold to where she'd be buried deep into her clothes. Seeing a strange sex dragoness step forward, she shrugged and basically waved a hand upwards shouting "Me! Me! I wanna find a shard!" Her voice carefully calculated to sound to annoy all those around and make their ears want to shut down. Oh she just loved being an irritating bitch.
As many figures stepped forward, some of the king's aids moved forward to help orginize the sorting teams. While Alkaia, Zizth, and Laani all had come readily, Kalia would find the man in the wide-brimmed hat walking behind her as he moved forward, shortly followed by a hard pinch to the backside before he walked behind the plant woman he was clearly escorting. One of the aides, another Kaliferian, glanced between Alkaia, Zizth, and Laani before looking past them. "Right, stand over near that wall for a second, please?" she asked, gesturing towards a bare spot in the east wall, while rapidly ushering other figures around.
Kaylia yelps at the pinch and stumbles forward, finding herself among the volunteers. She looks about. "Aw, crap," she mutters under her breath.
Alkaia nodded at his instruction. She sashayed over to the wall, her hips and tail swaying as she went. A soft tinkling once more filling the air.
Zizth nods silently and walks over to the gestured spot, standing still as she scanned over the area. It seemed she was going to be placed with others. she wasn't sure how she felt about this.
The goblin took one look at the Kaliferian and pouted at her. "Awww do I have too? Can't we just stand where were at?" The goblin gal tapped her foot on the ground, not complying until given a reason to do so. Unasked was the question "Why do I need to go stand exactly THERE?"
"If you wish not to comply you can be stuck here with the other researchers, then. You're the one that vollenteered," the aide reminded the goblin, her face changing from slightly impassive to sour before turning to point to Kaylia. "You too, Miss!" Meanwhile, also joining the wall was the young harpy, skidding in on her talons slightly on the tile and flushing lightly, flicking her brown feathers on her wings idly.
Kaylia finds herself sorted into the weird group with the annoying goblin and the cloaked figure and the nearly-nude dragoness, her blustering protests ignored. "But I... he pinched... dammit." She sighs, nervously tucking her shoulder-length hair behind an ear.
Zizth looked at the harpy, blinking. she'd never seen something remotely like that before. she crouched a bit to try and get a better view of it, staring curiously. Lizards, green skins, these were not new to her, though lizards that moved like people were strange to her. Funny bird people though...
Alkaia gave the protesting woman a kind a reassuring smile as she looked her companions over. Not bothering to hide the fact that she was putting herself on display as she did so. Stretching and unfurling her wings a bit to help ease the tension of the room. The stretching only put her bosom on display more.
Laani tilted her head and said "Why didn't you say that to begin with? Yeesh. Always depending upon seeable body language and other people knowing the context. You should treat all of us as completely retarded and unable to parse what you mean unless you spell it out!" The goblin spoke loudly and annoyedly. She didn't want no stupid double talk going on or stupid body language needing to happen! She wanted straight up words and directions! So with the explanation completed, she stepped over the group. Giving the half naked dragonness a look she asked "How can you stand the cold in this room? It is freezing! And how are you wandering about in that little of clothing? I can practically see frost forming on your bare skin!"
Smiling anxiously, the red-haired human gives a nervous chuckle at the angry female goblin. Then she realizes that the goblin wasn't joking, and claps a hand over her own mouth.
Alkaia looked as if she had descended from a ice dragon at one point if her snow white scales weren't evident enough. The dragoness looked as if she would be content in a much colder environment. "I am Alkaia Rune Scale." Offering her hand to each of them.
With the mouthy goblin seemingly placated for now, the aide rushes off into the crowd, eying them and ushering more to the group. As well as the harpy, soon skipped over the young cubite, still readily humming to herself as her small wings and tail flicked behind her. As well as the short leather jacket, halter top and pleated skirt she wore, thigh-high boots and all sorts of jewelery and bangles adorned her arms, to the point that even her short horns had studded caps on them. As she leaned onto the wall near Alkaia, still humming the strange tunes from before.
Zizth looks at the offered hand a bit warily, seeming to be gauging it for hostile gestures, before looking up at the dragon, standing back up from her crouch. "...Zizth.," she said haltingly, her voice having a strange hum to it.
Kaylia takes the offered hand, giving the dragoness a warm smile. "Doctor Kaylia Smythe, at your service."
"A-alkaia? Rune Scale? Rune? Scale? Alkaia Rune Scale." Laani spoke, rolling the name on her tongue like one sucking on a lolipop. Hearing that strange humming voice, Laani looked at the creature standing up from the crouch. "How do you pronouce your name?" She asked, quite bluntly, towards Zizth. Looking at the two, she placed a finger on her mouth, tapping it there for a moment before saying "M'names Laani. Pronounced La-a-NI."
Zizth looked at the greenskin, staring flatly. She never understood the endless chattering of the small ones. So loud and divisive. She watched before simply said again, "Zizth." She wasn't sure what the goblin was trying to do. She looked over at Kaylia now, blinking. Human, didn't look like a slaver though.
Alkaia gave the wary cloaked woman a kind smile, looking quite small and frail compared to Zizth. "Nice to meet each of you." Smiling at the others in turn.
Kaylia nods politely at the cloaked figure and the goblin. "Zizth. Laani. Doctor Kaylia Smythe, at your service." She turns to the harpy. "And you are?"
As introductions continued, two more figures came to join them- a massive man, with his blade resting over his shoulders, dressed in just a simple leather shirt and trousers with ropes holding it onto his frame. As he arrives, he gives a bit of a sniff with his nose, his tanned skin nearly bronze and long black hair scraggled, like he hadn't kept it neat for a while. Shortly after, the white-haired woman, dressed with a chestwrap and loincloth, followed by the large four-armed machina nearly as tall as the man before. She glanced between the many figures, before deciding to deadpan herself, "I swear if I didn't know better this was the start of a joke."
"Can anyone tell me how to pronounce her name? Cause when I asked that aide from earlier to treat me like an incompetent, I'm not kidding. I don't read into social cues at all!" She beamed a smile at all of them. Then to be spoken to by the red-hair hummie! "Ah! Your at my service? Can you pronouce the big one's name for me? Like drag out each syllable?" Laani looked expectantly at Kaylia.
The harpy gave a bit of a jump when she was adressed, though she turned to face the woman. "M-Mona Spotfeather..." she stammered, clearly looking uncomfortable.
Alkaia turned to the humming cubite woman and offered her hand to her and the newcomers. "Hello, I am Alkaia Rune Scale."
Kaylia raises an eyebrow at the harpy's discomfort. "I guess I'm not the only one who's nervous to be here, Mona. Pleased to meet you." She turns back to the goblin. "As for our cloaked friend's name, I believe she said it was... Zizth? Am I pronouncing that correctly?"
Zizth noted the newcomers, staring over them, before glancing at the strange feather person again. So many here. Zizth's attention was drawn back to the human named Doctor. She tilted her head. again this wording and such. Evidently this was going to be a thing important to them. "...What iz it you are trying to zay?"
"I just wanted to make sure that I was saying your name correctly." Kaylia smiles reassuringly.
The goblin turned and looked at the white haired woman and smiled, showing teeth in a dazzling display, "We all are in for a big joke! Yes! This will make a fantastical story! And if you haven't heard me before, I'm Laani! Pronounced La-a-NI!" Hearing the red head speak to her and answer her question had Laani looking over at Zizth and say "So, Siz-filth? Is that how it's pronunced? Or Zz-Iz-Lith?" As Laani horribly managled the way to state Zizth's name due to that strange muscial hum of Zizth's words created a strange resounding in her hearing.
Zizth blinks, staring at the women, before giving the goblin a flat look before looking back at Kaylia. "...Cloze enouz." She went back to her vigil, studying the creatures surrounding her. So many unusual things. At least she was used to the greenskins. Confusing as the tiny chatterer's were.
The cubite finished the corus of her humming before finally taking Alkaia's hand in both of her own and shaking vigourously. "Oh! I forget that not a lot of people know me around this parts. Jewel Antania, I work in music. Nice to see another one of Cubite blood on the trip!" The white-haired woman was unimpressed, her face giving a half-frown at the goblin's words. Before much else could happen, however, another aide scurried up to the group. "If I may interupt, sirs and misses, your briefing room is awaiting you. Please, follow me," the Orc woman was dressed similarly to the other aide from before, and bowed before going to direct them gathered force onward.
"Jewel Antania! Oh wow. I didn't think that could be you! I'm a big fan of your work, particularly that last album, 'Breeder!' But we'd better go to this briefing room." Kaylia shakes the cubite's hand eagerly.
Zizth looked up, a greenskin asking them to follow. She nodded and walked the way she was directed, finding it easy to follow and listen to this. It was not as brief or succint as she'd have preffered, but she understood. If she wanted to help, she had to listen to the strange humans here. Simple.
Laani purposefully kept a beaming smile up towards the white haired woman and then slid behind Kaylia, walking behind the red-hair woman and purposefully eying the red-strands of hair.
Alkaia chuckled at the vigourous shaking of her hand. "Not many can tell I am half cubite. I am a dancer and singer. Though I do have some practice as a sorceress." Smiling at the other a moment. "Though I guess this outfit is sort of a big clue." Following after the aide as she spoke. Turning to the goblin. "Try saying sisth, but hum it instead. Zizth." Nearly nailing Zizth name perfectly, though had she known Zizth native tongue, it might very well have been.
The goblin looked at the dragon lady that made her burn in envy at the way she could dress in this COLD weather! Then she stated something and her smile disappeared, a frown on her face as she said "What?"
Alkaia simply smiled at the goblin. "Sis-th. Hum the first part. "
The goblin cocked her head and spoke "Slither? You want me to hum slither? Okay!" "Sliitheeerrr! Slittheerrr! Slitherree! Slitheerree!"
Jewel beamed a bit at Kaylia from her recognizing the starlet, but she didn't reply more than a short nod and a flick of her own tail. The party was quickly ushered into a side hall, the palace's architecture matching the hall in splendor and detail, before soon moved into a meeting room. The large golem following the white-haired woman was a bit too broad for the single door, but everyone else managed to get into the short room, with a wide banquet table running across it, forming a barrier from the other side of the room. Sitting there, flanked by guards, was the Rashiah and Grand Matriach, looking across the group. "Please, sit down..." the king offered, giving a direction at the many chairs on their side of the table. Almost immediately, the large man on the group stood near the wall instead, giving the bare glance at the small chairs clearly not built for his bulk.
Alkaia shook her head. "Like so. Zizth." Speaking the word with a soft hum.
Kaylia produces a small notepad and pen, taking a seat at the far end of the table.
Alkaia sashayed over to a chair and sat down. She looked across at the others already seated.
Zizth glanced back at the chatter box then looked at the big lizard trying to instruct her, the creature seeming to be very good at talking. Soon they ended up in a new room though, it having strange things in it. Shaped rocks everyone was sitting on, and the two leader humans with their warriors. She looked at the awkward shaped seating rocks and simply crouched by the floor instead, not well suited for sitting.
Laani sat on the table.
The others quickly seated in no particular order, Jewel almost immediately leaning back a bit in her chair, while at least Mona and the white-haired woman having found sutable seats and respectfully looked to the royals. The king glared a bit at Laani before giving a short shrug, clearly used to goblins by now. "Right then... As you are all aware by now, I'm sure, these new sightings of Blackshards was found in the coastal town of Spire of the Abyss. Your task that you have been gathered for is to head to the town and try to surmise both why the shards showed up there, and if perhaps the shards actually came from that location in the first place." He paused for a moment, waiting if perhaps anyone had any questions.
"Your Majesty, if I may. Doctor Kaylia Smythe. Do we have any specific contacts or other persons of interest in the town?" Kaylia rises to address the monarch.
Alkaia waited for him to continue, having no question at the moment. Her tail idly playing with her skirt as it sat in her lap, clearly an unconsious gesture on her part.
"IF we run into any shards, do we get to keep them?" Laani asked hopefully. Before blinking for a moment and then continuing with her questioning "How quickly is this suppose to be done? Minimal Fanfare? Lots of Fanfare? Do we need to strip search the town and surrounding area? Salt the ground and make it unhospital?"
Zizth reached into the bag on her belt under the cloak and pulled out her map, looking over for where this Spire of the Abyss place was. Her arms, now visible easily are thick and covered in brown chitin, well suited to blending with wasteland rocks and cliffs, though marred by white scar lines. If anyone moved to in front of her and went low enough they;d likely be able to see further within the cloak.
As Kaylia asked her question, the king nodded in respect back at her rising. "Your best contact there would be discussing things with the mayor and the townsfolk of the area. It is a small town, and the only reason we were informed was the scyer located there. Antoria Rystweaver by name, I believed. We don't have much details beyond that on the situation." At Laani's question, the Grant Matriach frowned heavily. "We would suggest discreetness at the very least," she replied, her soft voice having a bit of a harsh tone while addressing the goblin. "There is no need to disrupt the settlement more than you are already are. You are seeking information more than anything." After those two questions, Jewel waved her hand a little, the jangle of bangles filling the air. "How's transport options? I have a airship if that helps!" The king focused on her and shook his head a little. "The town doesn't have a dock suitable for much larger airships. The nearest dock capable would be Cradleforge, and that would be a even longer trip than just traveling from here."
At those words, the goblin wilted. "So we have to be subtle, sneaky, and thiefy. Oh this isn't going to end well. There are going to be others just like us there, and probably already set up and their going to use us and throw us into the dangerous places and use us as a distraction. But if you are going to pay us more to be discreet, then sure!" The goblin spoke happily and also tacking on payment.
Kaylia smiles, resuming her seat. "Guess I'll have to get used to riding saddle again."
Zizth put her map away, before looking over and nodding. She understood discretion. Discretion was survival. She looked over and spoke simply. "Azter we zind the zhardz, what then?"
"Transport will be provided, as will payment upon the completion of your tasks," the High King remarks, leaning backwards in his seat and crossing his fingers. Jewel does seem to figit a bit more and looks to her toes, clearly getting upset at hearing she couldn't travel in style. The Grand Matriach looks over the table slightly at hearing Zizth's question, though. "If you are to find the shards, try to contain the situation, and request for aid as quickly as possible. We need to keep the situation from spreading, and even worse, ensure that no cults get ahold of the creatures, should try try to replicate the Blackshards from the Rift Wars with them."
Zizth nods at the orders. Made sense. Contain, destroy, deal with. No more slave monsters. She settled down, knowing all she felt she needed to now.
Alkaia nodded. "Alright. Anything else we should know?"
Laani rolled onto her back on the table, the large amount of clothes she is wearing serving to make her roll around like a ball. "Okay, so call for aid okay okay. So! When do we leave? Now? I hope it's now! Screw any thinking and let's go immediately!" As the Goblin bounced off the table and hit the floor before getting up and looking around for one of those nifty little servants to immediately direct them to transportation.
The man standing behind the others gave a groan and clutched his face with his free hand, mutting about 'annoying pipsqueaks.' The Helius woman spoke up real quick before the rest of them commented from there, however. "And what of the people? Are we allowed to give a proper burial to the victims?" The Grand Matriach nodded slowly. With their questions sated, however, the king nodded again himself. "In that case, it is time for you to depart. Feel free to familiarize yourselves with your companions, I will have an aide to deliver you to your transport shortly after. Good luck," he states, giving a respectful bow of his turban before leaving in the door behind him, shortly followed by the elfqueen.
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Part 1 - Introductions
Session - 1
Location - Ritzerite, Kalifer
Shadows flickered across the faces of the goddesses, mere facsimiles staring down from their vantage point, painted on the high vaulted ceiling of the Capitol Hall of Kalifer. Their gaze fell upon two groups of petty mortals. At the far end of the hall, upon a raised dias, the monarchs of the human realms of Kalifer quietly took in the measure of the other group. The Rashiah, or Highking, lounged to one side of his throne, his brow furrowed in a thoughtful glare. To his right, the Grand Matriarch of the Wood Elves, arrayed in the finest of green garb, scanned the assemblage before her with her customary stoicism. To his left stood an elf with skin as black as night; her dyed leathers matched her complexion, and her fingers absently stroked a whip at her side. A few feet beyond the dusky-hued elf, a dwarf with a ruddy complexion quietly grumbled to himself, leaning to his hammer and casting the occasional dark glance at the elven nobles. At the dais steps, an orc with a wolf headdress sat hunkered on the steps, clutching a staff adorned with animal skulls, his eyes shut in silent contemplation.
The assembly, standing at a respectful distance from both earthly and divine rulers, was even more diverse. Some four dozen, all told, standing in no particular order. The only thing they seemed to have in common at this particular point was location… and perhaps their interest in the mission. The Rashiah scanned the crowd. A woman with green skin and long, braided hair. The green-skinned beauty wore fine linens, tapping her fingers on crossed arms and steadfastly ignoring the man in the duster coat behind her, casting her dirty looks from beheath a wide-brimmed hat. There was a cubite dressed in a short dress and jacked, bouncing on her heels and humming to an unfamiliar tune. A snow elf stood near the humming cubite, attempting to read and to veil her growing annoyance at the tune. There was a massive bear of a man with an even larger sword strapped to his back—the group gave him plenty of distance, the king noted. A scarred orc was looking balefully at the high shaman, leaning against one wall. An under elf eyed the scarred orc with barely contained hostility. Perhaps it was best that they view each other as competition. Yes. This might work.
The king also noted a harpy, latched on a short ledge and casting nervous looks at the assembly. A massive, four-armed creature, hewn from the rocky earth itself, stood watch over a white-haired woman. The construct created its own light, a white glow coming from its eyes and from the runes that covered its form. A dwarf woman nursed a hip flask. A poorly-disguised (or not trying to disguise itself, perhaps) werewolf was clearly more interested in the flask than in the proceedings, only to have a ranger in thick furs slap its hands away. Flanking the doors was a Shiriti islander, a riot of feathers and cloth and bright paints her only attire. A jet-black plate of armor flashed from beneath the cloak of another figure near the back. So many had answered the summons. The king pondered… how many of them would survive this quest? A dozen? A handful? One? Or would they all perish?
Dressed in her cleanest white lab coat, Kaylia stood among the scholars, scribbling notes furiously. Her red hair hung down, partly obscuring her face.
Alkaia stepped forward. "I will!" A busty dragoness clad in revealing and nearly see through silks stepped forward. Her body moving with a sensual grace and thanks to her attire, and an almost sexual air. The soft tinkling of crystals can be heard as she stepped forward to be the first.
Zizth listened silently, before stepping forwards. She had a large cloak concealing her body, a holster for javelins kept over the back. The face is mostly obscured by a head wrap and face scarf, but orange eyes glowed from within. Zizth simply looked out levely but silently, keeping the cloak fairly tight around her body. She wasn't used to all this attention or this strange setting. All strangesince leaving. She glanced briefly to the side at the walking reptile creature before turning her eyes back to those speaking.
Laani dressed to be like a ball. "Too cold, why isn't it heated? Peh, they must not be rich. . ." The goblin girl puffed with actual breaths being seeable even through the temperature is only 55 degrees. For her, that was cold, but not too cold to where she'd be buried deep into her clothes. Seeing a strange sex dragoness step forward, she shrugged and basically waved a hand upwards shouting "Me! Me! I wanna find a shard!" Her voice carefully calculated to sound to annoy all those around and make their ears want to shut down. Oh she just loved being an irritating bitch.
As many figures stepped forward, some of the king's aids moved forward to help orginize the sorting teams. While Alkaia, Zizth, and Laani all had come readily, Kalia would find the man in the wide-brimmed hat walking behind her as he moved forward, shortly followed by a hard pinch to the backside before he walked behind the plant woman he was clearly escorting. One of the aides, another Kaliferian, glanced between Alkaia, Zizth, and Laani before looking past them. "Right, stand over near that wall for a second, please?" she asked, gesturing towards a bare spot in the east wall, while rapidly ushering other figures around.
Kaylia yelps at the pinch and stumbles forward, finding herself among the volunteers. She looks about. "Aw, crap," she mutters under her breath.
Alkaia nodded at his instruction. She sashayed over to the wall, her hips and tail swaying as she went. A soft tinkling once more filling the air.
Zizth nods silently and walks over to the gestured spot, standing still as she scanned over the area. It seemed she was going to be placed with others. she wasn't sure how she felt about this.
The goblin took one look at the Kaliferian and pouted at her. "Awww do I have too? Can't we just stand where were at?" The goblin gal tapped her foot on the ground, not complying until given a reason to do so. Unasked was the question "Why do I need to go stand exactly THERE?"
"If you wish not to comply you can be stuck here with the other researchers, then. You're the one that vollenteered," the aide reminded the goblin, her face changing from slightly impassive to sour before turning to point to Kaylia. "You too, Miss!" Meanwhile, also joining the wall was the young harpy, skidding in on her talons slightly on the tile and flushing lightly, flicking her brown feathers on her wings idly.
Kaylia finds herself sorted into the weird group with the annoying goblin and the cloaked figure and the nearly-nude dragoness, her blustering protests ignored. "But I... he pinched... dammit." She sighs, nervously tucking her shoulder-length hair behind an ear.
Zizth looked at the harpy, blinking. she'd never seen something remotely like that before. she crouched a bit to try and get a better view of it, staring curiously. Lizards, green skins, these were not new to her, though lizards that moved like people were strange to her. Funny bird people though...
Alkaia gave the protesting woman a kind a reassuring smile as she looked her companions over. Not bothering to hide the fact that she was putting herself on display as she did so. Stretching and unfurling her wings a bit to help ease the tension of the room. The stretching only put her bosom on display more.
Laani tilted her head and said "Why didn't you say that to begin with? Yeesh. Always depending upon seeable body language and other people knowing the context. You should treat all of us as completely retarded and unable to parse what you mean unless you spell it out!" The goblin spoke loudly and annoyedly. She didn't want no stupid double talk going on or stupid body language needing to happen! She wanted straight up words and directions! So with the explanation completed, she stepped over the group. Giving the half naked dragonness a look she asked "How can you stand the cold in this room? It is freezing! And how are you wandering about in that little of clothing? I can practically see frost forming on your bare skin!"
Smiling anxiously, the red-haired human gives a nervous chuckle at the angry female goblin. Then she realizes that the goblin wasn't joking, and claps a hand over her own mouth.
Alkaia looked as if she had descended from a ice dragon at one point if her snow white scales weren't evident enough. The dragoness looked as if she would be content in a much colder environment. "I am Alkaia Rune Scale." Offering her hand to each of them.
With the mouthy goblin seemingly placated for now, the aide rushes off into the crowd, eying them and ushering more to the group. As well as the harpy, soon skipped over the young cubite, still readily humming to herself as her small wings and tail flicked behind her. As well as the short leather jacket, halter top and pleated skirt she wore, thigh-high boots and all sorts of jewelery and bangles adorned her arms, to the point that even her short horns had studded caps on them. As she leaned onto the wall near Alkaia, still humming the strange tunes from before.
Zizth looks at the offered hand a bit warily, seeming to be gauging it for hostile gestures, before looking up at the dragon, standing back up from her crouch. "...Zizth.," she said haltingly, her voice having a strange hum to it.
Kaylia takes the offered hand, giving the dragoness a warm smile. "Doctor Kaylia Smythe, at your service."
"A-alkaia? Rune Scale? Rune? Scale? Alkaia Rune Scale." Laani spoke, rolling the name on her tongue like one sucking on a lolipop. Hearing that strange humming voice, Laani looked at the creature standing up from the crouch. "How do you pronouce your name?" She asked, quite bluntly, towards Zizth. Looking at the two, she placed a finger on her mouth, tapping it there for a moment before saying "M'names Laani. Pronounced La-a-NI."
Zizth looked at the greenskin, staring flatly. She never understood the endless chattering of the small ones. So loud and divisive. She watched before simply said again, "Zizth." She wasn't sure what the goblin was trying to do. She looked over at Kaylia now, blinking. Human, didn't look like a slaver though.
Alkaia gave the wary cloaked woman a kind smile, looking quite small and frail compared to Zizth. "Nice to meet each of you." Smiling at the others in turn.
Kaylia nods politely at the cloaked figure and the goblin. "Zizth. Laani. Doctor Kaylia Smythe, at your service." She turns to the harpy. "And you are?"
As introductions continued, two more figures came to join them- a massive man, with his blade resting over his shoulders, dressed in just a simple leather shirt and trousers with ropes holding it onto his frame. As he arrives, he gives a bit of a sniff with his nose, his tanned skin nearly bronze and long black hair scraggled, like he hadn't kept it neat for a while. Shortly after, the white-haired woman, dressed with a chestwrap and loincloth, followed by the large four-armed machina nearly as tall as the man before. She glanced between the many figures, before deciding to deadpan herself, "I swear if I didn't know better this was the start of a joke."
"Can anyone tell me how to pronounce her name? Cause when I asked that aide from earlier to treat me like an incompetent, I'm not kidding. I don't read into social cues at all!" She beamed a smile at all of them. Then to be spoken to by the red-hair hummie! "Ah! Your at my service? Can you pronouce the big one's name for me? Like drag out each syllable?" Laani looked expectantly at Kaylia.
The harpy gave a bit of a jump when she was adressed, though she turned to face the woman. "M-Mona Spotfeather..." she stammered, clearly looking uncomfortable.
Alkaia turned to the humming cubite woman and offered her hand to her and the newcomers. "Hello, I am Alkaia Rune Scale."
Kaylia raises an eyebrow at the harpy's discomfort. "I guess I'm not the only one who's nervous to be here, Mona. Pleased to meet you." She turns back to the goblin. "As for our cloaked friend's name, I believe she said it was... Zizth? Am I pronouncing that correctly?"
Zizth noted the newcomers, staring over them, before glancing at the strange feather person again. So many here. Zizth's attention was drawn back to the human named Doctor. She tilted her head. again this wording and such. Evidently this was going to be a thing important to them. "...What iz it you are trying to zay?"
"I just wanted to make sure that I was saying your name correctly." Kaylia smiles reassuringly.
The goblin turned and looked at the white haired woman and smiled, showing teeth in a dazzling display, "We all are in for a big joke! Yes! This will make a fantastical story! And if you haven't heard me before, I'm Laani! Pronounced La-a-NI!" Hearing the red head speak to her and answer her question had Laani looking over at Zizth and say "So, Siz-filth? Is that how it's pronunced? Or Zz-Iz-Lith?" As Laani horribly managled the way to state Zizth's name due to that strange muscial hum of Zizth's words created a strange resounding in her hearing.
Zizth blinks, staring at the women, before giving the goblin a flat look before looking back at Kaylia. "...Cloze enouz." She went back to her vigil, studying the creatures surrounding her. So many unusual things. At least she was used to the greenskins. Confusing as the tiny chatterer's were.
The cubite finished the corus of her humming before finally taking Alkaia's hand in both of her own and shaking vigourously. "Oh! I forget that not a lot of people know me around this parts. Jewel Antania, I work in music. Nice to see another one of Cubite blood on the trip!" The white-haired woman was unimpressed, her face giving a half-frown at the goblin's words. Before much else could happen, however, another aide scurried up to the group. "If I may interupt, sirs and misses, your briefing room is awaiting you. Please, follow me," the Orc woman was dressed similarly to the other aide from before, and bowed before going to direct them gathered force onward.
"Jewel Antania! Oh wow. I didn't think that could be you! I'm a big fan of your work, particularly that last album, 'Breeder!' But we'd better go to this briefing room." Kaylia shakes the cubite's hand eagerly.
Zizth looked up, a greenskin asking them to follow. She nodded and walked the way she was directed, finding it easy to follow and listen to this. It was not as brief or succint as she'd have preffered, but she understood. If she wanted to help, she had to listen to the strange humans here. Simple.
Laani purposefully kept a beaming smile up towards the white haired woman and then slid behind Kaylia, walking behind the red-hair woman and purposefully eying the red-strands of hair.
Alkaia chuckled at the vigourous shaking of her hand. "Not many can tell I am half cubite. I am a dancer and singer. Though I do have some practice as a sorceress." Smiling at the other a moment. "Though I guess this outfit is sort of a big clue." Following after the aide as she spoke. Turning to the goblin. "Try saying sisth, but hum it instead. Zizth." Nearly nailing Zizth name perfectly, though had she known Zizth native tongue, it might very well have been.
The goblin looked at the dragon lady that made her burn in envy at the way she could dress in this COLD weather! Then she stated something and her smile disappeared, a frown on her face as she said "What?"
Alkaia simply smiled at the goblin. "Sis-th. Hum the first part. "
The goblin cocked her head and spoke "Slither? You want me to hum slither? Okay!" "Sliitheeerrr! Slittheerrr! Slitherree! Slitheerree!"
Jewel beamed a bit at Kaylia from her recognizing the starlet, but she didn't reply more than a short nod and a flick of her own tail. The party was quickly ushered into a side hall, the palace's architecture matching the hall in splendor and detail, before soon moved into a meeting room. The large golem following the white-haired woman was a bit too broad for the single door, but everyone else managed to get into the short room, with a wide banquet table running across it, forming a barrier from the other side of the room. Sitting there, flanked by guards, was the Rashiah and Grand Matriach, looking across the group. "Please, sit down..." the king offered, giving a direction at the many chairs on their side of the table. Almost immediately, the large man on the group stood near the wall instead, giving the bare glance at the small chairs clearly not built for his bulk.
Alkaia shook her head. "Like so. Zizth." Speaking the word with a soft hum.
Kaylia produces a small notepad and pen, taking a seat at the far end of the table.
Alkaia sashayed over to a chair and sat down. She looked across at the others already seated.
Zizth glanced back at the chatter box then looked at the big lizard trying to instruct her, the creature seeming to be very good at talking. Soon they ended up in a new room though, it having strange things in it. Shaped rocks everyone was sitting on, and the two leader humans with their warriors. She looked at the awkward shaped seating rocks and simply crouched by the floor instead, not well suited for sitting.
Laani sat on the table.
The others quickly seated in no particular order, Jewel almost immediately leaning back a bit in her chair, while at least Mona and the white-haired woman having found sutable seats and respectfully looked to the royals. The king glared a bit at Laani before giving a short shrug, clearly used to goblins by now. "Right then... As you are all aware by now, I'm sure, these new sightings of Blackshards was found in the coastal town of Spire of the Abyss. Your task that you have been gathered for is to head to the town and try to surmise both why the shards showed up there, and if perhaps the shards actually came from that location in the first place." He paused for a moment, waiting if perhaps anyone had any questions.
"Your Majesty, if I may. Doctor Kaylia Smythe. Do we have any specific contacts or other persons of interest in the town?" Kaylia rises to address the monarch.
Alkaia waited for him to continue, having no question at the moment. Her tail idly playing with her skirt as it sat in her lap, clearly an unconsious gesture on her part.
"IF we run into any shards, do we get to keep them?" Laani asked hopefully. Before blinking for a moment and then continuing with her questioning "How quickly is this suppose to be done? Minimal Fanfare? Lots of Fanfare? Do we need to strip search the town and surrounding area? Salt the ground and make it unhospital?"
Zizth reached into the bag on her belt under the cloak and pulled out her map, looking over for where this Spire of the Abyss place was. Her arms, now visible easily are thick and covered in brown chitin, well suited to blending with wasteland rocks and cliffs, though marred by white scar lines. If anyone moved to in front of her and went low enough they;d likely be able to see further within the cloak.
As Kaylia asked her question, the king nodded in respect back at her rising. "Your best contact there would be discussing things with the mayor and the townsfolk of the area. It is a small town, and the only reason we were informed was the scyer located there. Antoria Rystweaver by name, I believed. We don't have much details beyond that on the situation." At Laani's question, the Grant Matriach frowned heavily. "We would suggest discreetness at the very least," she replied, her soft voice having a bit of a harsh tone while addressing the goblin. "There is no need to disrupt the settlement more than you are already are. You are seeking information more than anything." After those two questions, Jewel waved her hand a little, the jangle of bangles filling the air. "How's transport options? I have a airship if that helps!" The king focused on her and shook his head a little. "The town doesn't have a dock suitable for much larger airships. The nearest dock capable would be Cradleforge, and that would be a even longer trip than just traveling from here."
At those words, the goblin wilted. "So we have to be subtle, sneaky, and thiefy. Oh this isn't going to end well. There are going to be others just like us there, and probably already set up and their going to use us and throw us into the dangerous places and use us as a distraction. But if you are going to pay us more to be discreet, then sure!" The goblin spoke happily and also tacking on payment.
Kaylia smiles, resuming her seat. "Guess I'll have to get used to riding saddle again."
Zizth put her map away, before looking over and nodding. She understood discretion. Discretion was survival. She looked over and spoke simply. "Azter we zind the zhardz, what then?"
"Transport will be provided, as will payment upon the completion of your tasks," the High King remarks, leaning backwards in his seat and crossing his fingers. Jewel does seem to figit a bit more and looks to her toes, clearly getting upset at hearing she couldn't travel in style. The Grand Matriach looks over the table slightly at hearing Zizth's question, though. "If you are to find the shards, try to contain the situation, and request for aid as quickly as possible. We need to keep the situation from spreading, and even worse, ensure that no cults get ahold of the creatures, should try try to replicate the Blackshards from the Rift Wars with them."
Zizth nods at the orders. Made sense. Contain, destroy, deal with. No more slave monsters. She settled down, knowing all she felt she needed to now.
Alkaia nodded. "Alright. Anything else we should know?"
Laani rolled onto her back on the table, the large amount of clothes she is wearing serving to make her roll around like a ball. "Okay, so call for aid okay okay. So! When do we leave? Now? I hope it's now! Screw any thinking and let's go immediately!" As the Goblin bounced off the table and hit the floor before getting up and looking around for one of those nifty little servants to immediately direct them to transportation.
The man standing behind the others gave a groan and clutched his face with his free hand, mutting about 'annoying pipsqueaks.' The Helius woman spoke up real quick before the rest of them commented from there, however. "And what of the people? Are we allowed to give a proper burial to the victims?" The Grand Matriach nodded slowly. With their questions sated, however, the king nodded again himself. "In that case, it is time for you to depart. Feel free to familiarize yourselves with your companions, I will have an aide to deliver you to your transport shortly after. Good luck," he states, giving a respectful bow of his turban before leaving in the door behind him, shortly followed by the elfqueen.