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XOCHI'S HOUSE - MIDDAY
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Gareth received word from Xochi that she's returned home after having spent much of her time lately helping the Saurs get settled as well as possible. He reads the note as he walks, vaguely aware that this is probably something to do with the mysterious box that Xochi received some time back. Once he arrives at her house, he walks up to the front door and smartly knocks.
Xochi answers swiftly, having mostly been resting these past few days. She still looks somewhat exhausted, but certainly less so than during her time on the trip out west and back. No more disguise, the Coatl at the very least seems more at home with herself as she opens the door with a smile, "Ahh, Gareth. You came. Excellent, come in."
Gareth smiles as the door opens, and he lifts the note up into view. "Aye, I got yer letter, Xochi. I'm guessin' this is fer that box we were talkin' about?" He tilts his head a bit as he gets a look at Xochi's face, "Ye feelin' up fer it, though? I don't mind comin' back later if ye still need to recover from all the runnin' around ye've been doin' since we got back."
Xochi chuckles, "I appreciate your concern, yes. I have simply been having difficulties in sleeping, but I have made time for this." She waves the wolf inside and closes the door, slithering around him towards the side closet. "I placed the box somewhere secure, since I have no idea what it contains, along with the note."
Gareth steps into Xochi's house at her invitation and looks around as she heads towards the closet. "A nice place ye've got here, Xochi. And a smart idea fer keepin' that box tucked away fer later."
Xochi opens the closet, reaching in to remove one of the floorboards before lifting up the parcel, still wrapped, the note on top. "It is humble, but enough. I never really needed anything fancy. Sometimes I miss the books of my old... home, but little else." She replaces the floor board, and presents the package to Gareth.
Gareth turns towards Xochi as she presents the package to him, and he carefully takes hold of it as he begins to examine it in detail. He looks around for a moment, then heads over to a nearby table and sets the wrapped box down. "Hm... books, eh? Ye might be able to get somethin' from Aurelius, now that the library's gettin' better established."
Xochi nods, "I do hope so, yes. I shall certainly be investigating. Now then," She presents the letter, "This is all I have examined."
Narrator: The note that came with the package, a simple message on a slightly thicker than usual parchement used for letters, the yellowed paper is ink blotted, with a simple message reading 'Open this if you have need' No signature follows, only a wax stamp of two snakes entwined with one another.
Gareth takes the note and reads it over, though he spends more time scrutinizing the seal at the bottom. Now that he's able to see the exact design of the emblem, a bit of familiarity flashes across his expression. "Hm... ye know, this does look familiar... Can't place it at the moment, but I'm sure I've seen this emblem before... and definitely back durin' me piratin' days."
Xochi nods slowly, eyeing the package curiously. "...I encountered this symbol twice before. These pirates, I never met them, but they were hired to aid me in... escaping Orela and coming here."
Gareth hums thoughtfully as he sets the letter aside, now feeling like he might need to make a trip out to Bairnell and see if he can pull some strings for information. However, more immediately, he looks at the wrapped package. "Then whatever is in there can't be dangerous to open, right?"
Xochi takes a deep breath. "I cannot say... I do not know their motivations in any of this. They have access to strange magic. But, I do not think they mean me harm... but I do not have the need, and so... I have not opened it. Despite my curiosity."
Gareth nods at that. "Aye, well... if ye would rather keep it wrapped up, that's fine. All I really needed to find more information's the emblem, which this letter has. I'll leave it up to ye if ye want to see what's in it."
Xochi slithers to the table where Gareth placed the package, setting a hand upon it gently. Her tail coils up around her and she considers. "I have no way to sense magic if this is a trap... it would simply be a guess that they mean no further harm after aiding me before. I simply say this so that you can brace yourself." She smiles tiredly. "Just in case."
Gareth chuckles and smiles at Xochi. "If ye intend to open it, then maybe let me do it fer ye. If it's a trap, I've a better chance o' survivin' whatever it is, if only because I'm better rested than ye are right now."
Xochi laughs, "Am I really so sorry looking? Kira was right..." She takes her hand off the package and backs away from it, rising up as her tail pushes her back, then lowering her back down as she settles into place. "Go ahead, then, Gareth. Thank you."
Gareth smiles a bit and shakes his head as he kneels and pulls a dagger from his boot, which he uses to start carefully opening up the wrappings on the package. "Nah, ye look fine overall, but yer eyes. I can see yer exhaustion plain as day there, Xochi. If anythin' happens, though, I'd appreciate ye gettin' to the good doctor's clinic quickly, and then maybe lettin' Fiora know what happened, too."
Xochi bows her head, "I shall do both, though I shall first pray that neither are necessary."
Narrator: As Gareth cuts away the package cover, the box inside the package is a simple, solid wood crate, sealed with tar and painted black as if intended to survive at sea. The lid is hinged, with a small hook swinging down into an eyehole clasp. Once unhooked, the lid pops open, revealing a carefully padded container holding a crystal vial, with a purplish-black liquid inside. There is no other note or marking.
Gareth is especially careful to lift the lid up, doing so at arm's length and assisted with the tip of his dagger. When the lid pops open and nothing happens, he relaxes a bit and slowly peers in, only to blink at the container within. "...Huh."
Xochi waits, maintaining a cautious smile, trying not to let the tension get to her. When Gareth pops the lid, she lets out a breath she didn't realize she'd been holding, then slowly creeps forward, "What is it?"
Gareth sets the dagger aside and reaches into the crate, carefully extracting the padded container for Xochi to see. "Looks like some sort o' potion? Part o' me wants to say its poison, but I can't tell without poppin' the vial open. Wouldn't want to do that indoors, though."
Xochi frowns. "Poison...? I... can tell you the last thing I received with this signet was indeed a potion. Transformative in nature."
Gareth hums and frowns a bit as he gently lifts the vial out of the container and holds it towards the sunlight shining through a nearby window while listening to Xochi. "Hmm... definitely not a fancy drink o' some sort..." He raises an eyebrow and looks at her, "A transformation potion? Rare, that. Extremely rare, far as I'm aware."
Xochi nods, "It is how I escaped my previous... home. As you might imagine, thirty feet of snake covered in feathers, it is difficult to 'sneak'. They sent a potion, with instructions. When to take it. And where to meet afterwards. I was ready to leave... I took the potion. Those memories are strange, almost fuzzy... but I became a small bird of some kind, and flew out to escape. My only flight. When I awoke, I was very far away. I cast illusion magic upon myself to hide my identity, and made my way to the nearest port... and there I found my transport here had already been arranged."
Gareth gazes at Xochi for a few moments, then nods as he looks back at the vial, trying to discern if the thing held in his hands is a potion, a poison, or just some overly fancy alcohol. Out of curiosity, he jiggles the vial side to side to swirl the liquid about a bit. "Quite an adventure, Xochi. And all o' that was arranged by these same folks? They must've had some sort o' reason fer goin' to such lengths."
Xochi: "I... do not know. I was seeking a way out. They... provided one. Perhaps I was a fool to trust them. I don't even know who they are."
Gareth sighs a little as he carefully lowers the vial again, setting it back into its box, having been unable to discern much more beyond the fact that it's definitely something meant to be ingested, but not a "normal" drink in the least. "Well... if ye don't mind me hangin' onto the letter, I might be able to help ye figure out who these folks are."
Xochi bows her head, "Do what you will with it, yes. Perhaps I shall simply place the vial back into its hiding spot. Be it a potion meant for escape, or a poison meant to... ensure I am not recaptured. I'm afraid I have little wealth, but I can give you some coin for your aid in this matter."
Gareth waves a hand. "No need fer that, unless Aurelius decides to charge us fer some reason." He spends a moment just looking at the box, then carefully seals it shut again and places it back in its crate, "With the emblem, I can just ask him fer anythin' about known flags on the seas. Shouldn't be too hard to find out the name from there."
Xochi smiles as she lifts her head up. "Thank you, Gareth. I shall be meeting with Sammi soon as well, preparing some long awaited ritual for her that I hope shall help ease my sleep. I owe the two of you a great deal."
Gareth chuckles and smiles as he picks the crate back up and passes it back to Xochi. "Don't thank me just yet, lass. We've only just found out what was inside the box, after all. I've not helped ye find out who these folks are yet."
Xochi chuckles, "Nor has Sammi's ritual, ah, but I have faith in you both."
Gareth dips into a small bow as he folds the letter up and tucks it away into a pocket on his overcoat. "Then we'll just have to make sure that faith's not misplaced. We'll figure this out, Xochi. I'll be sure to keep ye posted."
Xochi moves back towards the closet with the hidden floorboard and carefully replaces the now opened package. "Much appreciated. I shall buy you a meal to celebrate whatever you find, this is a deal?"
Gareth nods with a grin. "I won't say no to a free meal, so I'll accept those terms, aye."
Xochi closes the closet and claps her hands, "Ah, wonderful! I admit, despite my hesistance, the concept of solving the 'mystery' is surprisingly exciting."
Gareth laughs a little as he takes a moment to get his gear back in order, including stowing his dagger back in its sheath. "Nothin' quite like a mystery to solve to pique one's interests, aye? A fun bit o' adventure to liven up the day."
Xochi laughs along, "Oh, and I had quite thought I was too old for 'adventure', but this is... the third such thing I have endured? I find this one to be more pleasant in intention and outcome than the last."
Gareth shrugs a bit, smiling easily as he stands back up. "All sorts o' adventure out there, really. War's... never fun, even if some folks revel in it." He pauses, but nods, "But a mystery benefactor? Intrigue like that is good fun to figure out."
Xochi: "Ah, yes. And in this, no one shall get hurt." She glances back towards the closet, and the mystery vial. "I hope..."
Gareth shakes his head. "Just information gatherin' out o' curiosity. I doubt we'll be doin' anythin' that gets folks hurt."
Xochi nods, "Good. Good. I have enough regrets as it is. Good luck, Gareth."
Gareth smiles as he gives Xochi a bit of a salute and turns to make his way out. "Thank ye kindly, Xochi. I hope ye have a relaxin' rest o' the day. And I'll keep ye posted on anythin' I find out."
Xochi slithers to the door, opening it for Gareth. "I shall do my best. Perhaps I shall go to the bath houses? Before I go to find Sammi, that is."
Gareth hums and nods. "Not a bad idea, that. A good soakin' in the waters does wonders fer unwindin', I find. I'd offer to join ye, but I'm afraid I've got some things to take care o' before I can take a break today."
Xochi chuckles, "Oh, I am quite sure I can make do by myself. I'm long enough that I typically need one of the baths all to myself anyways."
Gareth takes a moment to look at Xochi's tail as he steps out onto the path outside of her house and smiles. "Aye, that's a fair point. Have yerself a good day, Xochi."
Xochi moves her tail carefully to keep it out of the way, smiling at Gareth's sidestep. She nods, "And you as well, Gareth. Thank you again." She waves as the wolf heads out, then closes the door.