The Workings of the Mad (Tiffanian and Shrike)

[Tiffanian]

Re: The Workings of the Mad (Tiffanian and Shrike)

"Uhhh… ‘kay" Zahra replied, blinking as she watched Huldah walk to the stairs and call for Sacrimony in her own way. "Ya kin prob’ly ask ye dog ‘steada doin’ ‘at" she continued, kind of convinced that the dog was a bit more than a mere dog, and that it could understand a little better than most what was being said and happening. If that got resolved and Sacrimony followed along after the Gemini she would turn to Verja and shrug, following him up the stairs to help him clear out space.

 

[Tassadar]

Re: The Workings of the Mad (Tiffanian and Shrike)

Spoiler

Zahra: HP = 60, PP = 44, EP = 41, Status = Fine

Huldah: HP = 72, PP = 40, EP = 40, Status = Fine

Verja's ears flattened as Huldah suggested that she could handle everything on her own, but didn't seem to think of any way to convince her and Zahra to not split up. Sacrimony rose his metal-clad head as Huldah whistled to him, and would glance at Verja for instructions. "Go on then," the old man said with a sigh, and the mechanical dog would promptly follow Huldah down the stairs. "Well... Follow me I suppose," he continued, and then turned and walked toward the stairs leading up. If Zahra followed, she would go up two more floors, passing a room with dozens upon dozens of shelves holding books and jars and boxes and all manner of other containers, before going up to the top floor of the tower into what seemed to be a mixture of a library and a bedroom. It was already fairly tidy, but also slightly cramped, and there was a desk with a number of small broken looking machines and papers on and scattered around it a short distance from the large four poster bed in the center. It was noticeably cooler up here, for some reason, and Verja gestured towards a corner with a bookshelf between it and his bed and said; "Will over there work for you?"

Huldah, in the meantime, would be escorted back through the loud mechanical maze by Sacrimony until they reached the bottom floor. The mercenaries were still packing up outside, having left the doors open, but they had vacated the tower. Everything belonging to herself and Zahra had been left next to the door, along with a small cloth sack that had been tied closed, seemingly filled with coins.

 

[Tiffanian]

Re: The Workings of the Mad (Tiffanian and Shrike)

Zahra was having just a little trouble reading Verja’s expressions; he seemed like a nervous guy, perhaps a little shy, and she couldn’t figure out quite why. It was almost like he didn’t want to be alone with her. Still, he ultimately approved, and Sacrimony followed Huldah down the stairs to guide her. The old cat motioned Zahra to follow him up the stairs then, and she quietly nodded and walked along behind him. There were two more stories to the tower, one that looked kind of like a library mixed with a simple storage area. Shelves upon shelves of books and jars and things, as far as she could see into the room. That was probably where he had proposed that they sleep earlier… At the very top was his room, which looked a lot like a library as well. How many books could one person have, and why? There wasn’t that much space, but what was there was pretty neat without their intervention. A lot of the space, of course, was taken up by a pretty huge bed. The archer noticed something strange as she surveyed the room; it was quite a bit cooler in this room than the others. Was that how that normally worked? She didn’t think so. Probably magic of some kind. "Yea, it’ll work" she replied, looking at the corner, "jus’ gotta make sure Aulda’ an I got room ta not touch."

 

[Shrike7]

Re: The Workings of the Mad (Tiffanian and Shrike)

The gemini kept a hand on Sacrimony as the dog lead the way through the machine maze, letting out a small sigh once she was through and into the open air again.

Huldah waved at the few kobolds who were around to see her step outside, though none approached to talk, which was okay by her. starting with the smaller items, she hefted all their stuff, passing back to the tendrils behind her to grasp before hefting the last two packs, on in each arm. "Guess we're back inside, now." She said to Sacrimony, turning and starting inside again. The pouch of coins jingled behind her ear as she walked, the sound oddly comforting to her.

 

[Tassadar]

Re: The Workings of the Mad (Tiffanian and Shrike)

Spoiler

Zahra: HP = 60, PP = 44, EP = 41, Status = Fine

Huldah: HP = 72, PP = 40, EP = 40, Status = Fine

Sacrimony would let out a metallic bark in response to Huldah's statement, and would then lead the gemini back upstairs. It was a long, tiring trek, up stairs and then back through the maze and then up many more stairs, before she would be reunited with Zahra. Verja, having simply nodded to the former slave's words, had gone over to his desk and started rifling through papers while she examined the corner that they'd been given to sleep. There was plenty of room, allowing for a corridor through which whoever slept closer to the wall could walk past the other if they slept parallel to the wall, or enough room for both bed rolls if they slept the other way, though that way would be a little bit cramped. Sacrimony would return to his master once Huldah was back upstairs with their gear, leaving them to have words on their own.

 

[Shrike7]

Re: The Workings of the Mad (Tiffanian and Shrike)

Despite being used to trekking across sand dunes for days on end, the sheer mass of steps Huldah had to traverse up and down took their toll, the gemini woman panting heavily by the time she made it to the top floor. Sacrimony darted off to the old mage immediately, leaving her to meander over to Zahra in the corner.

"Here it all is. They gave us these, as well." She told her companion, passing the bag of jingling coins over before continuing to unload her back, keeping the few items belonging to either of them in seperate piles. "We'll sleep here? Looks nice. won't have to try and cover against the sun, either. I always feel so smothered like that."

 

[Tiffanian]

Re: The Workings of the Mad (Tiffanian and Shrike)

Zahra looked over the corner of the tower Verja had indicated for her and Huldah to sleep in, finding it quite adequate. There probably wasn’t enough room to spread out both of the bedrolls in the preferred configuration, but that was fine. She had slept on worse floors she was sure. The old cat seemed to be going through the papers on his desk for whatever reason, though the archer wasn’t sure what he was doing. He certainly didn’t need to be hiding anything from the two of them. After a bit Huldah and Sacrimony returned, the dog walking over to his master while the Gemini came to her. Apparently the two of them had been paid by the mercenary company just for their participation in that one battle. Zahra wasn’t expecting much when she carefully took the bag from her friend, though it felt… heavy. "Seems nice ‘nuff. Less ‘ot’n’cold" she replied idly as she opened the bag and began to count through it. She was actually pretty astonished by it… In the resistance she hadn’t really been paid, or rather was paid in the supplies that were necessary to fight on. Food, water, arrows. That sort of thing. This was 80 daric all told. 80 whole daric. It was more than she had ever held in before in her life, possibly more than she had interacted with over the entire course of her life. "Well fuck" she muttered, "lotta bronze. Ya want ‘alf?"

 

[Shrike7]

Re: The Workings of the Mad (Tiffanian and Shrike)

“I uhh, I guess so.“ Huldah aanswered. “Should we give him some, for having us?“

 

[Tiffanian]

Re: The Workings of the Mad (Tiffanian and Shrike)

"Hmm?" Zahra murmured as she looked over at Huldah, having not really thought of paying the old cat to stay in his tower. She thought about it for only a few seconds before shrugging and turning to Verja, jingling the bag of coin. "Ya wan' sum? Can pay ya if ya want fer keepin' us up 'ere" she asked. She didn't care too much about the money anyway, because what would she spend it on in this devastated desert?

 

[Tassadar]

Re: The Workings of the Mad (Tiffanian and Shrike)

Spoiler

Zahra: HP = 60, PP = 44, EP = 41, Status = Fine

Huldah: HP = 72, PP = 40, EP = 40, Status = Fine

Verja, who was at that point across a fairly large room and had a book case between them and him, nonetheless seemed to know what they were talking about, possibly thanks to the jingling of the coins. "No," he said simply, "I have no use for money and plenty of it already."

 

[Tiffanian]

Re: The Workings of the Mad (Tiffanian and Shrike)

Well, that was a point in Verja's favor, at least in Zahra's opinion. She almost didn't know why they had been paid, because money didn't mean a whole hell of a lot anymore, with civilization just a memory. "Suit yerself" she said, setting the bag of coin on the floor. "As fer us, we can jus' keep it all inna same place" she continued with Huldah, "no sense wastin' two bags. I ain't met no one sellin' nuttin' fer a bit noways."

 

[Shrike7]

Re: The Workings of the Mad (Tiffanian and Shrike)

"Okay Zahra." The gemini said with a nod, her gaze drawn down to the jingling purse. She didn't know why, but she felt drawn to the coins. "Can.. Can I carry it, though?" She asked, hesitating slightly.

 

[Tiffanian]

Re: The Workings of the Mad (Tiffanian and Shrike)

Zahra shrugged, replying "sure, keep 'em." She wasn't sure why Huldah wanted to carry them, or why she seemed hesitant to ask for the privilege. It wasn't a big deal either way, and really it just made her own load lighter. That said she curled up on her bedroll facing her friend and the bed, sleeping nearer the wall. She had had an eventful enough day, and she was about ready to get to sleep so she was ready to face the next one.

 

[Tassadar]

Re: The Workings of the Mad (Tiffanian and Shrike)

Spoiler

Zahra: HP = 60, PP = 44, EP = 41, Status = Fine

Huldah: HP = 72, PP = 40, EP = 40, Status = Fine

Though it was only early afternoon still, there wasn't much for the two women to do at that point unless they wanted to start looking through Verja's library, as the eccentric old man eventually wandered back downstairs, leaving Sacrimony to watch them from the entrance of the alcove they'd been given to sleep in. He would return some ours later, muttering under his breath but not loud enough to disturb them unless they happened to be a light sleeper, and plop onto his bed for some sleep. Morning would come, and this time Verja would silently sneak out of bed, his lack of presence not noticeable until he stuck his head up the entrance to the level on which they were quartered and banged a massive, loud gong that forced both of them to awaken. "Wake up! Wake up! Breakfast! Pancakes!" he declared loudly, and then vanished back downstairs.

 

[Shrike7]

Re: The Workings of the Mad (Tiffanian and Shrike)

Huldah remained where she was for most of the afternoon, idly glancing around the room and occasionally playing with some of the tendrils sprouting from her back, almost combing the mass with her hands like it was a long mane of hair. Eventually she grew tired, slipping into her bedroll and shifting a bit to get comfortable before falling asleep.

That ended when the gong struck though, making the gemini twitch heavily as she was startled awake. Once she sputtered herself into understanding what the cat had said though, her sudden anger faded. "Mmm, food!" She said, wrangling herself free of the twisted bedroll and following him down the stairs.

 

[Tiffanian]

Re: The Workings of the Mad (Tiffanian and Shrike)

Though it was early in the afternoon, Zahra could think of little to do. She could have looked around in the library, but really that was the last thing she wanted to do, especially in this particular library. She could have found somewhere to practice her archery, but that could also be dangerous, and there would be plenty of time to do so in the future. Instead she curled up on her bedroll and lazed about for a bit, enjoying the time for relaxation. She also enjoyed the feeling of being clean for the first time in ever so long, even if the method for getting so had annoyed her greatly at the time. Maybe this crazy old cat wasn’t so bad… She eventually settled in to sleep, though Verja’s entrance awoke her, her ears perking up ever so slightly. When she realized it was only him and that he was going to bed she fell asleep again with no trouble however, a pretty decent sleep.

Until morning, at least. Zahra didn’t hear the old mage sneak out of his bed, nor did she hear him approach… The gong, though, she definitely heard. She jumped out of her bedroll hissing loudly, her fur standing on end, tail sticking straight up and bushy. Her hand reflexively darted to the dagger she kept on her person, though she quickly realized that it was just a prank and eased off. "Fuckin’… ass…" she spluttered angrily, an eye twitching softly as she stood and breathed somewhat heavily for a moment, calming down. "Food better be fuckin’ good" she muttered as she slowly followed Huldah down the stairs.

 

[Tassadar]

Re: The Workings of the Mad (Tiffanian and Shrike)

Spoiler

Zahra: HP = 60, PP = 44, EP = 41, Status = Fine

Huldah: HP = 72, PP = 40, EP = 40, Status = Fine

And the food was most definitely good. There was more of it now, a number of unidentifiable dishes that all appeared to be some combination of various things, all of them smelling excellent and tasting even better despite their often odd appearances. Verja ate heartily, having started before either of them had even arrived, and the two women would find it difficult to not eat themselves sleepy again. The old cat would industriously clean up while Sacrimony nuzzled at Huldah's leg for attention, leaving Zahra to do as she liked, helping clean up or asking questions or whatever she wished.

When he was finished, the old cat would splash water over the piled dishes with a flourish, setting the magic to cleanse the used dishware while he spun on his heal to face his two guests. "So!" he said brightly, clapping his hands together, "today! Today..... Today, we will...." The old cat trailed off for a few seconds, smiling somewhat nervously, before perking up and adding, "go on a trip! Yes!"

 

[Tiffanian]

Re: The Workings of the Mad (Tiffanian and Shrike)

At the very least there was a wide variety of food laid out of them when they got to the dining area. It smelled pretty incredible too, enough to make Zahra’s mouth water a bit despite the fact that it looked like someone had just cobbled a bunch of different food items together into a few different dishes. She saw that Verja had already started, so the archer sat down and picked out a few things, mostly the ones that smelled best, and found them delicious. Again she gorged herself, not sure when she would get the chance to do so again, and by the time she finished she felt a tad bit bloated. Their host had already started to clean up once he had had his fill, so Zahra stood to help gather the dishes and clear the table quietly for a bit while that crazy dog tried to get Huldah to pet him. Crazy dog. Once they had gathered the dishes all together the old mage used his magic to douse them with water, just as he had done with Zahra the other day, and turned to face the two of them. He spoke to them in fits and starts then, finally telling them that they were going to go on a trip today. The archer’s ears flicked downward in annoyance, her right eye twitching slightly. "Ya wanna go fin’ magic aliens, don’tya" she asked skeptically, not fully on board with that plan still…

 

[Shrike7]

Re: The Workings of the Mad (Tiffanian and Shrike)

Huldah dug into breakfast eagerly, mumbling and nodding her appreciation of it as she stuffed her face. Once she saw Verja and Zahra finish, she slowed down, picking at her leftovers while the old cat started cleaning the table, until Sacrimony started nuzzling her side.

She glanced down in surprise at first, then smiled, taking a strip of bacon from her plate and hanging it down for him, rubbing the dog with enthusiasm while the felines talked. They drew her attention a bit when they mentioned the aliens, though she missed the connotations. "Aliens? I don't think there are any more around..."

 

[Tassadar]

Re: The Workings of the Mad (Tiffanian and Shrike)

Spoiler

Zahra: HP = 60, PP = 44, EP = 41, Status = Fine

Huldah: HP = 72, PP = 40, EP = 40, Status = Fine

"Errrr.... Well..... Yeah," Verja replied, adopting a guilty expression. Looking to Huldah, he nodded with a slight frown, "Well, yeah, you and yours killed all of the ones I had outside to test my original designs on. That just means we'll have to go a bit farther to find some though!" In the meantime, Sacrimony would pant at the offered treat until it was within reach, at which point he would devour it as ravenously as any normal canine would.