The First Blight: Curse of Dumat [RP/Closed]

[FortyThree]

"Ironface."

Diocles wasn't quite sure where the others were going with the current conversation, but he didn't like it. He decided to attempt to change the topic while gathering himself a meal from the assembled plates. He raised a cup to the knight briefly.

"Jarrik's trying it, huh? Good. He could be a welcome addition."

He raised a cup to the knight briefly.

"I'm sure dear Thaedrin will sniff some out with minimal effort. Jarrik, my friend, I have tales of valor and conquest you'd scarce believe. Hmm. as a youth, I once became fortunately but dangerously acquainted with a beautiful daughter of a Tevinter magister wh-Mm. actually, I'll tell that one another time.. I should eat."

 

[Cinnonym]

Ghil grinned at Jarrik de Avalos, ?You want to be Warden? ?You have drunk too much.?

Thaedrin was last to dinner?one might call it fashionably late. He was dressed simply and elegantly in deep blues and dark greys reminiscent of the Warden order, though he looked much more at home in these robes than he ever had in the uniform. A new pair of gloves hid the lesions of his palms.

?You?re all here. Good. I have news.? The Constable took the seat at the head of the table, naturally, and served himself from the platters on the table as he spoke, ?After some negotiation, it has been decided that the wares abandoned by those who fled Antiva City during the Darkspawn assault will be appropriated to the Grey Wardens? cause. Armor, weapons, poultices? All that we need, we will take, and the rest that is useful will be sent to Weisshaupt.? The merchant lord would keep what the Wardens left behind, of course, but that was none of their business. ?There is news that the Rivaini have already set upon the ships that fled the bay. I believe there is potential in grooming such a people to join us in our fight, but after what befell us among the Ciraine, we need time to make preparations to meet with them. Surely, they know what diplomacy is.?

He paused, fixing his eyes on ?iron-face? at the end of the table, ?To that end, perhaps our new ally could make himself useful.?

 

[ShadowFolk]

Sulahn'nehn rolled her eyes. You can take a man out of Tevinter...

"You should. Do be sure to chew thoroughly. It will give you time to think about a change to the end of that story."

Upon seeing the blood mage, Sulahn'nehn began to hear the same coaxing voice she'd heard after the defeat of the demon once more. He must be dealt with for the benefit of the others. It was the only just way to deal with a man like that. The elf stared him down, not entirely listening to him as she reached for her silverwear. Her knife disappeared under the table.

 

[duckflesh]

Alrik leaned over and gave Thaedrin a well-meaning slap on the back; Thaedrin was lucky that the full force was blunted by the fact that both were seated.

"Is very well done, Thaedrin; Warden Commander very pleased, no doubt. Good thing he not send just me-- could not have accomplished this. Would have been run out of city; end up having to burn down. Well, already rubble. Still, burn down rubble."

 

[Slycne]

"Aye, I may be of help there. To treat with the Rivani, there is need to understand them." He swirled the glass of wine while contemplating how to relate.

"While the Tevinter value their magic and Alamari tribes a strength of arm." He nodded to the magister and barbarians. "The Rivani place importance on ones ability to contribute to the community." Jarrik brought an arm forward to display for all to see. "With the tattoos and piercings being a sign of ones rank and value. Heh, a few of the old crones are tattooed from head to toes."

"Those matriarchs will be the key though, nothing truly moves in Rivain without their say so. But come, we have fine food and finer drink, can not politics be saved for 'nother time?"

 

[FortyThree]

Diocles chewed thoughtfully, politely swallowing and washing down his food with wine before deigning to speak. He eyed and listened to each of his comrades, as well as the intriguing Jarrik, but his focus remained on Sul in the end. He spoke softly, his eyes resting on the arm which led under the table.

"Come now, pretty starling. You might have cause to request my fidelity for the future, but the past is beyond our reach. No need to get upset over an untimely tale."

 

[Rosen2012]

Ulrin's mind was else where. Yhiugh he did eat as his friends commanded he did not feel well. And listening to Theadrin only made him sicker. More Wardens, more joinings, sitting longer in this filthy rich mongrel murchants house. He started driking the wine offered if only so his thoughts would stop. Tomorrow they'd be gone from here. He wouldn't have to be served again. Tomorrow was what was on his mind, not new armor or weapons.

Though the thought of his knife did prick at his mind. Even more so when the elf across from him took one. Curious he leaned back in his seat. Trying to follow the blade under the table. He then sat up and held up his own knife, "Sulahn'nehn, is something wrong?"

 

[ShadowFolk]

Fasta-

Sleight of hand was harder than she thought. Sulahn'nehn attempted to laugh off the situation. "OH. No, no, no. I swear it isn't- I know none of us can change what we've done. I...I just think it would be to my advantage to, um, have something else to defend myself with. F-For emergencies. You know my magic is a bit... unpredictable. "

The elf reached for a glass and busied herself filling it with wine. "I'm fine, Ulrin. I'm fine."

 

[FortyThree]

".. Of course. You should ask me to train you in the use of a knife or dagger sometime."

Diocles frowned. Sul was acting quite oddly. He briefly glanced at Ulrin, wondering if the other elf had any idea what was wrong with her.

 

[Cinnonym]

Thaedrin quirked an eyebrow at the fuss on the other end of the table, but didn't bother to make it a point of conversation. Taking a swallow of wine, he pushed his plate away and gestured to a slave to clear it.

"As tempting as it is to feel secure in our current location, the Darkspawn are still in our realm and pirates harrying our allies. Are you so blind to the threat that you would drink yourself beneath the table for a night of ignorant stupor, or would you like to get the task done?"

 

[Rosen2012]

Ulrin shook his head at thd archer. His expression was grim. Perhaps Sulahn'nehn was not adjusting as well as she seemed. He picked up his cup to drink again only to nearly choke at Theadrin's words.

"You are advising us to be sensable? " he muttered. "I suppose summoning demons is."

 

[FortyThree]

Diocles didn't take his eyes off Ulrin, but the object of his attention did change for the moment. His frown deepened as he analyzed the expression of his fellow rogue.

"..If you could go back to that moment and keep him from performing that summoning, would you?"

 

[Rosen2012]

Ulrin eyed the human. He knew he wanted to hear him say the he was happy the humna was alive. However he considered the human, the elf he was next to, and everything he knew. "You are asking if I could? I suppose my regrets dependvupon the type of human you will prove to be. For now, I am just glad it did cost us three lives for one."

 

[ShadowFolk]

"Oh. Yes. That would be nice."
It would actually benefit her to actually know how to use it properly. However, lying about it didn't feel too great. Nor did the sudden change in mood. Sulahn'nehn tensed, fully expecting a verbal lashing from Ulrin. She knew the elf did not feel anywhere near the same as she did for Diocles and so she was surprised to hear his calm response. One that wasn't completely negative at that.

"Thank you." It was about as much as she could say to Ulrin in her disbelief. Maybe he wasn't a total miserable sack.

 

[Rosen2012]

"You're welcome..." the elf did his best not to frown more than he already was. He returned to his drink silent and seething for the res of his meal. Sulahn'nehn was such an accepting fool. There was no use in arguing with her or pointing out that Diocles' fondness of her can be quickly replaced by a pretty human girl. No it wasn't worth it today.

 

[FortyThree]

Diocles nodded slowly. He had not expected much. Ulrin had given him the minimally acceptable answer: Not wishing the human dead.

"Well. I suppose we'll see, then."

 

[Slycne]

"Huh?"

Jarrik was clearly a third, or fourth, wheel to the whole conversation. Something about summoning darkspawn, who knows. These wardens were powerful fighters individually, but their group morale was terrible, tension seemed in the air whenever they weren't focused on a common foe. Another thought he kept to himself lest he draw any more ire. After the verbal tussle finally had ebbed off, he found the chance to respond to the Tevinter mage.

"What task? Speaking to the Rivani? Even by boat it would takes hours to cross Rialto Bay. So I don't see how a little merriment plays into that." Though he did make a show of finally setting the glass down and partaking in some food for the first time that evening.

 

[Cinnonym]

Ghil made note of the murmurings surrounding Sulahn?nehn as well, giving her attention to the elven girl with quirked brows and alert eyes. She?d finished eating, and was now attempting to catch up to Jarrik in the wine department.

?I am thinking, there is none for me to do with these Rivaini if you are not wanting their heads bashed in. Alrik, even less so.?

?Yes, I can see I have the wrong audience for this.? Thaedrin bristled with irritation. Half of the table was crooning over Sulahn?nehn, and the barbarians?Jarrik included?were not about to separate themselves from the table for the sake of, say, taking inventory of their new equipment or determining whether the ship they take across the bay ought be built for speed or for defense. It was obvious that these decisions would once again fall to him and him alone, and so he stood and took his wine glass with him. ?Do as you like.?

The Constable left for his temporary quarters, and Ghil managed a shrug between gulps.

?Was going to do that anyway.?

 

[Rosen2012]

Ulrin finished his drink and pushed his plate away. "I don't think I can stomach any more of this meal. I'm going to familiarize my self what new weapons were donated and retire. " He didn't say good night to anyone in particular. Not like it really mattered he supposed. "See you in the morning. "

 

[FortyThree]

"Thaedrin left quickly.. Feminine problems, I suppose. Sleep well, Ulrin."

Diocles shrugged, finishing his meal (in typical record time) and sipping thoughtfully on the provided wine. They were growing apart. He himself was making inroads, yes. But the others hated each other, and his own relationship with Sul would strain his already difficult relations with Ulrin and Thaedrin. It was a dangerous way to go into battle. He should likely find a way to appease Thaedrin, but pleasing the blood mage was no simple task. His eyes drifted back to Sul as he wondered if he should have simply remained friends with the girl.

Still, that would have been difficult. She was a beauty and possessed a certain charm he found intoxicating. Yes, remaining platonic was likely never an option in the first place. Idly his hand slipped under the table, moving to curl around hers.

"My lady, excuse my garrulous and loquacious affectation, but in this assemblage my diction allows for a contrivance of obfuscation. I perceived my accommodation of hibernation is excessively ample for my own self, and I diffidently request the acclaim of your esteemed proximity in the event I seclude myself."