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BAIRNELL'S FOOTHOLD - LATE MORNING
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Ninell steps through the port town with purpose, having disembarked from a ship at the harbor just an hour previously. Where he walks, he no doubt draws many a curious glance as people pass by, as he's wearing a full set of angular armor, the chest of which bears a crest unknown in this part of the world, and carries an unusual hooked halberd with the air of someone that knows how to use it for maximum effectiveness. All that aside, he also looks like nothing from Vamas, Sarn or Orela, being an almost wolf-ish creature with a long snout, a flexible and lizard-like tail, viciously-clawed, four-digit hands and feet, and white and black-patterned fluff everywhere not covered by armor. The pack on his back also points at his status as something of a traveler at the moment, stuffed as it is with travel gear for all sorts of occasions.
Itzcali had been hanging out in Bairnell for a while, the gold he'd started with had gone a long while, and in the meantime, Itzcali had found a trade in, well, "Wealth Distribution" from the rich to the poor. Since he qualified as poor in his estimation, it was pretty easy to do, and he was much better at not getting caught these days. He did help out though, he ran a small service of 'repossessing' stolen goods, and returning them to their original owners, and just, in general, being a pain. The small serpent now needed to lay low, and blend in, so he sidled up next to Ninell. One outsider looking sort was noteworthy, two, with one of them clearly just passing through, blended in much better! "Hey! How are things? Just passin' through? Good, Good, Want a companion for the road?"
Ninell blinks and raises an eyebrow as he senses someone sidling up next to him. It's not until he's addressed, however, that he looks to the side with a curious expression. When he speaks, his voice is low and rich. "Hm? A... companion? Perhaps, if you might know anything about my reason for being here, or else if you have information about places further inland."
Itzcali: "Uh, Intrepid adventurer, explorer of far off lands, am I close?" He looks aside, and moves just a little bit up so that most of him is blocked from view of a rather hefty looking canine going the other way, without even breaking 'stride' (As much as someone serpentine can 'stride') "And sure, I know a bit about what's going on inland. Roads have been pretty spooky lately though, so you might not be wanting to head out there...though I hear they're a bit quieter now"
Ninell nods. "Close. I'm here to investigate the origins of some strange goings-on in my homeland." He doesn't break his stride at all as Itzcali moves to use him as a shield, "The roads have been having trouble as of late? Do you know why? Any information you could give might be helpful."
Itzcali: "Something about dinosaur folk trying to do like raider stuff. I'm not sure of the details, but apaaaarently they've sorted it mostly? Not sure, I don' keep on top of the news much. If you want to investigate weird stuff, Respite might be a good place. Loaaads of weird shi' going on down there. Start there, you'll probably trip into something weird before long"
Ninell hums thoughtfully, digesting the information, then nods as he digs into a small pocket on the strap of his pack and flips Itzcali a coin. Unfortunately, it's a foreign coin. "Respite, hm? Thank you. If these dinosaurs are related to what's happening back home, then I'd best pursue this lead."
Itzcali catches the coin, and checks it out "You should probably get these changed. Travellers are an easy mark, and you're drawing enough attention as it is" He looks back, and considers the number of angry people who want to talk to him, then beat him up "Hey, if you want a guide, I can do that. Get you to Respite, nice and safe, make sure you get a good deal on the supplies and stuff"
Ninell chuckles and flicks a nail against the haft of his halberd. "I would love to see someone try to steal from me. I'd commend them on their guts, before letting them get a good look at it all up close." He does, however, flash a smile at Itzcali, "Though what you're saying is true. A guide would be welcome, rather than trying to explore for more leads alone."
Itzcali: "Confident! I like it!" He gives Ninell a friendly thump on the arm, fingers trailing off slowly "You're very intimidating, I'm sure that nobody would dare to rob you" He flicks his tail thoughtfully "But yes, I'm happy to work for you" He holds out Ninell's money pouch, and pointedly opens it it in front of him "How much then?" He then holds out a signet ring "I'm guessing this is too valuable though?" He flicks it back to him
Itzcali: "Good thing you can't be robbed though"
Ninell seems unbothered by the thump on the arm, and even chuckles at the commentary. However, the moment Itzcali holds out the money pouch in his line of sight, his smile very quickly vanishes. He stares at the pouch in disbelief for a moment, but it's not until the signet ring comes into view that he actually reacts. He's in the middle of turning towards Itzcali when he catches the ring, and he puts on a dissonantly cheerful, and perhaps unnervingly wide, sharp-toothed smile as the hand gripping his halberd tightens. "How much, hm? I'd say free, after a stunt like that. You're mistaken, though. I didn't say I can't get robbed; I said I would commend them for their bravery before showing them their guts." He leans over and pats Itzcali's cheek, still grinning rather horribly wide, "You seem a good sort, though. I'll give you this one chance."
Itzcali tosses back the pouch "Well, if I wasn't your guide, the first time you'd have found out was when you tried to buy somethin'" He chuckles "But, if you don't want to pay me, I'll go about my merry way, and I'm totally sure that you'll do fine!" He winks brightly "You're very scary though, so I'll give the smallest bit of a discount, just because having scary friends is always a benefit" He is worried, naturally, but keeping up the bravado is key in his line of work. Always at the very least you have to seem like everything is under control.
Ninell takes a few seconds to affix his coin pouch where it belongs and put his signet ring back on, still eying Itzcali. "And if you weren't my guide, we would not be having such an amicable conversation right now. More likely, you would have a halberd in your chest, and your blood on the street." He tilts his head a bit, though, "As for your 'discount', how much are you asking for?"
Itzcali: "Hmm, you can easily afford 50 gold! And, again, if I was just trying to rob you, you'd never have even caught me to put the halberd anywhere" He rolls his eyes "You can be scariest, most fiercesome warrior in the world, and yeah, I think you might be up there, buuuut it doesn't actually matter if you don't see the tricks coming"
Ninell nods. "True, I can certainly afford 50 gold. Though, you may wish to appraise your targets a bit more accurately before springing into action." He leans to the side and wraps Itzcali in a friendly, if perhaps slightly overly tight, one-armed 'hug', inadvertently lifting the snake up some inches higher onto his tail as he talks. "Because you never know when you may run into someone faster than you. Your point is taken to heart, though, my friend."
Itzcali erps gently "Well, glad we're friends then!" He wiggles in Ninell's arms, and considers his options. He'd probably have to do something dramatic to have a solid chance to wiggle free, and that would cause a scene, which he wants to avoid "Oh, don't worry! I'm great at picking targets!" He wiggles gently "Sooo, you can put him down now, right?"
Ninell pats Itzcali's shoulder and releases him from his grasp. "Of course! It would be a shame for such an auspicious beginning to a friendship go sour because of any... mishaps, yes?" He digs through his coin pouch again and glances up at Itzcali with a suspicious look, "Though, I must ask. While you were relieving me of my pouch and ring... did you already take a cut of your guide fee?"
Itzcali: "Actually! No. I'm an honest thief, and not to mention, I don't steal from people I plan to be within arms reach of at any time in the near future. Just bad business, yanno?" He coils back to his natural position when he's released "Besides" He winks "If you have to ask me, that suggests you're not able to tell"
Ninell chuckles a bit as he finishes fishing out a handful of coins, which he holds out to the snake. "Or perhaps my coins are of different worth from what you normally trade in. Here, this should cover your fee."
Itzcali takes the coins, and considers them briefly "Sure, that'll do for now. So! Now what" He rubs his own claws together "Do you have enough food for the road?"
Ninell reaches up to pat his pack once Itzcali takes the coins. "Yes. I have enough rations to last about two weeks away from a town before I need to restock. About how long of a trip will it be from here to Respite?"
Itzcali: "Oh, that's plenty of time. Should be a week, tops. We can just head out now, if you want, and we should really. Nothing to stay in Bairnell for really" Especially people looking through his pockets for stuff that he has 9/10s of the law behind his owning of
Ninell hums and takes a moment to look up towards the sky to gauge the time of morning. "Hm... now, you say? Very well, then. Do you... need to get your gear from somewhere, or do guides such as yourself normally travel without a pack of some manner?"
Itzcali: "Oh, I'm travelling light! I wasn't planning to head out today, so, you can just stay at the gates, and I can grab a few things of mine, and then we can go?"
Ninell nods. "Very well, then. To reach the gate, do I just follow this road all the way through to the end?"
Itzcali: "Yup! This is the main street, so head down there. There's a pastry stand near the gates that's well worth checking out as well"
Ninell raises his eyebrows at that, seeming interested. "Perhaps I will, at that. I won't say no to a sample of local treats before leaving." He flashes a light grin, "Just don't take too long, or else you may have to rent a cart or a wagon to transport me to Respite."
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RESPITE FALLS - PLUME'S CLINIC - LATE AFTERNOON
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Nesseth rests in one of the beds at the ward, one of the newest arrivals among the injured still recovering. His burns and other assorted wounds have been tended, and a plan of treatment has been set up with Plume, Tarbin and Melia. He's already offered to head home and heal there, but, perhaps understandably, Plume insisted he at least spend the night at the clinic before ceding space for another. Currently, he's just resting, gazing up at the ceiling in a slight haze from a combination of pain and painkillers.
Narrator: Next to Nesseth lies Lianne. Greatly weakened by her time at The Abyss, then struck by Dyvirsse's lightning followed by extensively pushing herself and getting shot by Gareth, she's been in Plume's care since returning. Her extensive, full bodied electrical burn on her entire left side has mostly healed, however the scarring left behind is extreme and her nerves are deadened. Her strength however hasn't returned nearly as fast. While her recovery has included a proper diet and physical therapy once she was capable of moving without great pain, she still looks sickly and unhealthy. As she wakes, she looks around the rather dull clinic, many new faces around from the Respite Crew's return.
Lianne Sparr glances over to Nesseth. Out of boredom mostly, she speaks up. "Nesseth, right? You look worse for wear. What happened?"
Nesseth blinks and turns his head to look at his neighbor, only to hitch up a little smile upon seeing Lianne looking over at him. "Oh, hey there, Lianne... I wound up on the business end of the Whisperer's magic more than a few times, once we got to the Prominence." He sighs a bit, shaking his head, "Almost didn't make it, just from how many hits I took, I think."
Lianne Sparr: "Well. . .So long as that fucker is dead. He is dead, right?" Lianne questions. "And the others? Chicken Little and Spheroid?"
Nesseth nods. "I shot him myself. He also had the entire mountain come down on him, even if he survived the bullet." He gives Lianne a curious look, "Usid's still around, and he's helping the rest of the Saurs settle in around town. But, uh... 'Spheroid'?"
Lianne Sparr nods, satisfied at The Whisperer's death, though unsatisfied that Usid is still out there, alive, not behind bars, and even settling around town! ". . .You mean Nugget Feather is in town? Allowed, even?" Lianne scoffs, moving on. "The walking Van de Graaff generator that shot me. Owned the Abyss." Lianne knows her name, but refuses to give the respect of airing it.
Nesseth nods. "Oh, her. Dyvrisse... She's out there somewhere, helping other Saurs settle a new place to live. Usid's helping to get Saurs settled until they get accustomed to things, and then he's coming in to receive whatever punishment the guards feel is proper." He shakes his head, "Not sure what that'd entail, though. You might want to ask Louma if you see her."
Lianne Sparr 's disappointment and anger seethes below her surface for a moment, before she reluctantly sighs. She's still obviously ticked off, though. "Yeah. . .Reckon I will." She nods.
Nesseth keys in on the anger, since he'd spoken with Lianne before she'd been sent back with the rest of the wounded after the guards secured the Abyss. "Dyvrisse, at least, you won't have to see at all anymore. She's probably never going to be showing up here or anywhere nearby." He shrugs, "And, of course, if something happens out that way, not like we can do anything about it since she's not living under Respite jurisdiction."
>Lianne Sparr raises a brow at Nesseth's insinuation. It's an interesting suggestion. However, his insinuation has a second part to it - That Usid is protected. Grr. "I see. Well. . .That's at least one less unpleasant person to bump into." She takes in a deep breath, letting it out slowly to get her outward composure back in check.
Nesseth nods. "And thankfully, with all of the Chosen accounted for..." He furrows his brow slightly, remembering that one Chosen hasn't been seen yet, but the problems caused by them seem to have self-resolved, "And with the Prominence a smoking crater, there's no more danger to the town or anyone living within it."
Lianne Sparr: "Wait. A crater? So when you say the entire mountain came down. . ."
Nesseth hums in acknowledgement. "Yeah. The Whisperer managed to wake up Yzzayt. There was a huge storm that went overhead here, and that was caused by it." He shakes his head, "And Yzzayt was sleeping under the mountain. When it emerged, the entire Prominence got wiped off the map."
Lianne Sparr: "Yeah I. . .Heard him. And was told. Didn't exactly get to see him myself though." Lianne gestures to her bed. "Go figure that their god was real." She pauses, "So. . .Literally gone. Huh." Good riddance to their shitty culture. A. . .Culture which is now apparently here. In Respite. Fuck.
Nesseth nods. "Yeah, completely gone. A lot of the Saurs that joined us here are more than a bit lost, since their faith just got completely shattered. Kind of hard to stay true to a religion when their god is the reason for their home no longer being there, hm?"
Narrator: Even if Lianne could empathize, she wouldn't want to anyway. She can fake it though. "Mm. Can't imagine what that must be like."
Nesseth shrugs. He doesn't seem too bothered by the destruction of the Prominence, considering, but he does at least feel for the Saurs being aimless now. "No idea..." He sighs a bit and turns a bit onto his side to better face Lianne, "...All that aside... how've you been recovering?"
Lianne Sparr: "Like shit." Lianne replies with a forced chuckle. "But. . .Almost capable of leaving soon. Then I can start working on my body, get my strength back properly. . .The scars though. . ." Lianne looks to her left side, visible to Nesseth between them. Her luminous white skin now marred from shoulder to toe. At least the sword scar on her right side wing was sexy. But this?
Nesseth 's eyes trace along the scar, then sighs and turns a little further to show his own burns along his chest and arm. "For what it's worth, Lianne... I'm sorry you even got those scars in the first place. Tarbin and Melia might be able to help, but I don't know how their magic would really works." He'd normally have a little more propriety, but it's kind of clear from his lingering gaze that, even scarred, he still has an appreciation for Lianne's figure.
Lianne Sparr looks at Nesseth's injuries, nodding solemnly. "You're not the one that should be sorry." Lianne replies politely enough, though with an undertone of venom. Nesseth got revenge on his at least. . .
Nesseth hums and nods a bit. "Maybe not, but still. Seeing injuries like yours, if we'd just moved a little faster..."
Lianne Sparr: "Maybe, maybe not. Worse might have befallen us. I'm more concerned about your rescue team shooting the people they were there to rescue."
Nesseth tilts his head. "Shooting... the..." He blinks, remembering one of the reports, "Oh. Right, what Gareth did to you." He gets a rather sour look on his face as he takes a few seconds to recall the incident, "What happened with that, anyway? I saw the report, but I'd like to hear your take, too."
Lianne Sparr: "Mm." Lianne hums. "He shot me to stop me from attacking Pheasant Fuck."
Nesseth nods. "The report was at least clear about that. He'd said it was the safest way to subdue you, since you got hold of a knife." He offers Lianne an understanding dip of his head, "Though, considering no one but the army knew Usid and his clan switched sides, I'm not surprised you reacted like that. I probably would have, too."
Lianne Sparr: "The Fowl that captured me showing up with a known ex-pirate? Yeah." Lianne replies. Of course, it's also Lianne's mentality at fault here. Emmeline didn't jump to the same conclusion.
Nesseth shrugs a little at that. "Well, ex-pirate maybe, but Louma and the other captains wouldn't have hired him on if he was prone to backstabbing. I would have preferred he let the guards with the blunted bolts stop any trouble, but... I wasn't there, myself. I can send word to Louma about reprimanding Gareth for that conduct, if you like."
Lianne Sparr: "Please." Lianne snerks. "He regretted having to do it, but that won't make him take a formal complaint seriously. If anything he'll just make fun of me for taking it so personally."
Nesseth hums quietly, nodding. "If you're sure, then. At the very least, if it comes to a situation like that again, he won't be part of the scouts. Knife or not, there are better ways to subdue someone than shooting them."
Lianne Sparr: "Personally hoping there won't be a next time. Not for a couple of years, anyway." Lianne replies.
Nesseth: "Of course. Better that this be the one and only time. At the same time, I think I'll put a recommendation in at the barracks to ensure that if there's a second time, it doesn't unfold like it did the first time. Just in case."
Lianne Sparr nods back to Nesseth, falling into silence, having nothing else to really say.
Nesseth just watches Lianne for a few moments, then nods once it's clear there's nothing else to really talk about at the moment. Grimacing a little, he takes a few seconds to turn back over onto his back, then sighs as he goes back to gazing up at the ceiling and just listening to the general quiet chatter in the ward.