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

[Slycne]

"Ser Komnenos." Jarrik whistled to catch the archers attention before motioning him over. "A moment, if you have the time." From his limited experience with the man, Diocles seemed the frank sort so a frank question seemed suited.

"Perhaps it isn't my place, only known your lot for 'few days now, but is this normal for wardens?" He let the question hang for a moment before continuing. "You all seem to fight the 'spawn well enough together, but outside of that it's foxes and hens."

 

[Rosen2012]

Ulrin himself was struck with horror at the story. It certainly reaffirmed his belief that the male barbarian had to go if they truly planned to be rid of Theadrin. Any attempt they tried would be a folly if he caught them before or after. And he was just so happy about the destruction he could bring to another person. What a horrible pet the Bloodmage had watching over him.

But it only made sense that he would. Why would a Blighter keep anyone for company that wasn't as appalling as themselves.

Ulrin finally finished off the last of his ration and looked to the girls, "Are you two ready to go above deck?" He knew he was ready to put as much distance between himself and the other two at the table as the boat would allow.

 

[Cinnonym]

"As Alrik will no doubt struggle to contain his enthusiasm for discipline, I expect the lot of you to place as much effort into behaving professionally and with respect for our command. What you do in your resting hours will continue to be your own business, so long as it does not damage the quality of your work, but when you are on duty you will remind yourself that the Grey Wardens are yet a military organization and we have grievous responsibilities."


He eyed Ghil, who was staring at him with a tightly set jaw, Ulrin, who appeared to be attempting to leave, and lastly Sulahn'nehn.


"Surely, even an elf can draw the line between what benefits the realm and what is pettiness."

 

[FortyThree]

"You got it, Ironface."

Diocles gave Jarrik a much reduced version of his typical grin, approaching him with light steps. His eyes stayed active, apparently examining the rigging, though he continually glanced back to the warrior.

"Not really. The Wardens are a bit more relaxed in structure and operations than the Tevinter army, but not to this extent. Most of our number are extremely fresh recruits who were never given real military training. Ex-slaves. They'll shape up soon enough.."

He shrugged as casually as he could make it look as he finished the unpalatable thought.

".. Or they'll die in battle. That's the just the way it goes."

 

[ShadowFolk]

?Of course, Constable.?

Perhaps it was her conscience, but she felt that Thaedrin?s last quip was directed at her. Alrik had to have opened his gaping maw to him last night or the Constable was just being a jerk. Either was plausible, but she still did not like it.

Sulahn?nehn firmly felt she knew the difference between the two. Ridding the group of the man who was going to get them all killed would benefit everyone. It was foolish to even consider anything else. She stood up from the table, giving Ghil and Ulrin a nod. She then left, heading to the deck, glad to be away from both Constables for a while.

?Excuse me, Ser Jarrik. I don?t mean to interrupt.?  Diocles was preoccupied and she really hadn?t been listening, but she wanted to speak to him briefly so she placed a hand on the small of back to call his attention for a moment, ?You are unwell, lath. Please do try to allow yourself some time to recover.? She then left the men to chat and find something to keep herself occupied.

 

[Rosen2012]

Ulrin turned his head away from Theadrin so the man would not see him twist his expression in distaste. How dare that bastard imply that they would put pettiness over the saftey of the realm. When it was the pettiness of his own kind that put them all in danger in the first place. He looked back at the two men once he was able to calm himself, "We will try our best, Constable."

With that he pulled back from the table and made his way out of the galley. He didn't wait for Sulahn'nehn she'd catch up to him to talk when ready. When it was not so specious. Instead Ulrin made his way to the deck and took up a post near the railing to watch the waters and think. To think about how if Sulahn'nehn could not do away with Theadrin because of Alrik then he would. The barbarian may kill him, but he supposed that was a fair trade for ensuring the other elf wouldn't be hurt.

But of course that would be up to what she decided.

 

[Slycne]

"Fair enough, but why would your commanders send so green a unit to field? Seems to tempt..."

The arrival of the young elf cut short the thought and he waited for her to finish. "Aye, if you're still feeling unwell, you needn't listen to my rambling and musings." He feigned swatting at the air as if that could dismiss the thoughts. "Perhaps the young lass could help you below deck, she seems 'bit taken with you."

 

[FortyThree]

Diocles gave Sul a weak smile, then turned back to Jarrik.

"..Yeah. She's a sweetheart, isn't she? Beautiful, too. ... One of these days I have to ask her what that 'lath' translates to."

He dismissed his sullen expression with a flare of willpower, giving Jarrik a more characteristic grin.

"And she might not be much of a sailor, but she does -fantastic- work belowdeck."

 

[Slycne]

"Lath?"

Jarrik flashed the younger man a mischievous smirk. "Heh, surprised a sauve man like yourself doesn't know it. Though Rivain has a slightly more relaxed nature towards elves than the rest of the empire." He had picked up a few words and phrases in Elvish while growing up.

"Means 'love'."

 

[FortyThree]

"Huh. Well."

Diocles' grin disappeared instantly. He nodded dismissively and began to walk towards Sul, looking like a man popping in for a friendly visit with his executioner.

"Sulahn'nehn. We-I need to speak with you, please.."

 

[Cinnonym]

Ghil's hand clapped the elven girl's shoulder before Diocles could quite reach her. "Soola. I have talking to do with you." She glanced at the archer, nodding stiffly in his general direction. Her eyes passed over him, and her brows furrowed. He didn't need to hear this. "You do not look so good, skinny man. Maybe go for finding a bucket."

 

[ShadowFolk]

Sulahn'nehn was looking out at the water trying to convince herself that if she saw it enough, she'd he less bothered by it. It was something to focus on to keep everything else off her mind.

The elf heard Diocles' voice, but not what he was saying. She turned to him and nearly toppled over when Ghil's hand found her shoulder. Her attention diverted to the barbarian, "Oh. Yes, of course." Just as her friend did, she gave Diocles a once over. "You should listen to her, you look awful, lath. Ghil, what is it you need?"

 

[FortyThree]

"..Yeah, alright. We'll talk later."

Leaving the women alone, Diocles decided to head back belowdecks. He was sick of being told to rest. Perhaps he'd come back up to take a lookout position later, but for now he decided use his time sharpening his new blades.

 

[Cinnonym]

Ghil waited for the man to leave before turning back to the elf, hunching her shoulders somewhat to even out their disparate heights. Her voice was hushed when she spoke.

"I was in surprise to see the blood mage at the table for the meal. Ulrin said he would help you. Did he fail?"

 

[ShadowFolk]

"I told him to speak of this to no one! How do you-"

Sulahn'nehn was no criminal mastermind, that much was clear. She quieted herself and calmed down. If she knew and wasn't scolding her or turning her in, it was a fine. The elf gave Ghil a searching look, slapping herself mentally. What did she have to worry about? Ghil was good to her, she could be trusted. She'd already proved that. "There were...complications. Diocles had been speaking with him so he was still awake by the time we arrived. And the blighter that did this to me must have heard us. He came before we could rethink."

 

[Cinnonym]

"He made Alrik say apologies. Maybe the skinny man gave him a good threatening, yes? Roughed him up."

She punched her fist into her palm, to illustrate, but soon her smirk became serious again. Ulrin had confided in her, and now her Soola was as well. That was good. But the climate among their superiors was changing, and she was uneasy. Either they were up to something, or someone's gods were finally up and answering prayers.

"I wanted to tell you to being careful. I do not think it will be easy or good. Maybe... if it was accident..."

 

[ShadowFolk]

Sulahn'nehn smiled softly at Ghil for her concern. It was touching, really. However, it faded when she thought of how inappropriate it was to smile when conversing about how to end a man's life without detection. "I am sure you will have no trouble believing that I am making plans as I go along. But, you raise a good point. If it were an accident, I would have less to worry about. Anything else may easily point back to me, my views of him are not quite so secret."

The greater good, all for the greater good.

 

[Cinnonym]

"I will not mourn his passing."

Ghil gave her shoulder a reassuring squeeze before she moved away. The barbarian had long lived a life of dueling on equal footing where disagreements were concerned, but her time in the coliseum had taught her how Tevinters played the game. Gambling upon matches rigged by poisons, shoddy equipment, fearsome beasts. Thaedrin had rigged a game, too, when he brought Diocles back from his well-earned death. Such matters must be reconciled, and she would far rather keep the archer than the Constable.

She nodded her acknowledgement to Jarrik, standing near him at the railing, "Getting dark. How do boats hold up to storming? Well?"

 

[FortyThree]

The knives wouldn't get any sharper. They'd cut the wind already. Still, Diocles was hardly ready to head back up with the others. He had to speak with Sul and get this off his chest.. Didn't he? He decided he had best talk to Thaedrin after all.

Or Ulrin. He could confess to Ulrin, and the elf would stab him, and he would be done worrying. Unless Thaedrin decided to bring him back again.

That.. Wasn't why he brought me back the first time, I hope.

Sheathing his knife, the archer went to find the blood mage.

 

[Rosen2012]

Ulrin watched the two girls chat from his place on the deck. With all the wind and the sound of the waters crashing against the boat he couldn't hear what they were saying. However he was trying to understand form Ghil's actions. Seeing the female barbarian pound her fist into her palm made him wonder. They must have been talking about fighting. Perhaps more training to make the female else a bit more durable, should Alrik go back on his word. Or maybe Ghil was offering to hit the man so hard one of his eyes fell out of his head.

The elven rogue chuckled that was an amusing idea.

As soon as Ghil moved away from her, he moved to stand next to the other elf. He felt it wouldn't have been wise for them to all congregate together for a while. Seeing as how Theadrin was determined to keep them in line one way or another.

"How are you holding up?" He slowly leaned on the railing looking at Sulahn'nehn. He didn't quite mean her injury, just her state in general. All of this had to be hard on her.