Helo

Neo Genesis: Chronicles of Eberron

Race: Aasimar
Class: Paladin
Location: Stormrider; Top Deck - Sick Bay
Interactions: Liana @PapaOso
Equipment: His longsword; Retribution and a healing amulet. A backpack with supplies and his lute.
Attire: Clothing and gloves
Gold Balance: 53
Injuries: Old injuries include a missing eye, numerous iridescent scars, and a knee that aches when it rains.

---

She did not acknowledge his question.

She neither gave a name nor offered a reason for withholding her name. There was only silence, and Ezekiel followed her anyway.

She moved like a ghost. Her feet barely touched the ground, her hand barely touched the banister, and she carried herself with a certainty beyond confidence. Her eyes held the weight that her movements did not: piercing, detached, and watchful. A gaze that lingered too long.

A collection of traits that were strange but not concerning.

His footsteps echoed down a quiet corridor. Hers made no sound. They ended up in a secluded part of the ship. Quiet enough thet you couldn’t hear the noise of other passengers. Enough mechanical sounds in the background that the stillness was comfortable and isolating.

“There are two people in the cargo hold. A man and a woman.”

She spoke so softly he had to lean in to hear. The cargo hold was off limits. The heavy security there made that very clear. The closeness was uncomfortable.

“They’re very sick. Fevers. Coughing blood. Too weak to move.”

A vague collection of concerning symptoms that was probably beyond what he could heal. Coughing blood wasn’t good. Very possibly contagious. He thought of numerous plagues that had popped up during the war. Disease that consumed a person inside and out. Fevers that burned too hot and caused blood to flee from the body. The faded and ill who spent their last moments hollow-eyed and gasping.

“They’re not on the manifest. Stowaways.”

Ezekiel’s expression shifted into disappointment but didn’t fall enough to become a frown. Stowaways. Just another type of theft. Less forgivable than what a bored child does. Not even understandable, like stealing food to survive. This airship was a luxury. There were cheaper ways to travel. He could guess what she wanted his help with.

“That’s why I haven’t gone to the ship’s medics. I’m afraid if I report them, they’ll be thrown off at the next port or left to die in a locked room. But if someone like you… someone with healing hands and no need to judge… were to help them quietly…covertly”

Her eyes found his again, she wore a look so certain that she was about to hear something he wasn’t going to say. She and her parents are criminals. Their crime was not severe enough to deserve death, but being dropped off at the next port was not so bad. Ports had medics and facilities better equipped to handle contagions. The cargo hold was going to need to be thoroughly cleaned. The crew had to know.

"Please...they are my parents.

It stung, knowing he was probably about to disappoint her.

“That is likely beyond what I can heal. It would be best to allow the ship’s medics to handle this. The consequences for stealing passage on this vessel is preferable to…allowing this illness to go untreated.” Ezekiel picked his words carefully, said them with enough weight that it was clear he thought this could be fatal if allowed to fester. From what Scratch had said earlier, he was certain they weren’t going to be tossed off ship or left to die out of spite.

“And it could be contagious. Could put other passengers at risk if this stays hidden. What I can offer is to make sure the crew treats your parent compassionately.”

Neo Genesis: Chronicles of Eberron

Race: Aasimar
Class: Paladin
Location: Stormrider; Top Deck - Sick Bay
Interactions: Liana @PapaOso
Equipment: His longsword; Retribution and a healing amulet. A backpack with supplies and his lute.
Attire: Clothing and gloves
Gold Balance: 48
Injuries: Old injuries include a missing eye, numerous iridescent scars, and a knee that aches when it rains.

---

“And here they say the age of good men has come and gone...”

Although Ezekiel had not heard her approach, he was neither surprised nor unsettled by the cloaked woman’s sudden appearance. “Then they are incorrect.” His response was soft but spoken in a tone that matched hers - a statement of fact. He had met many good men, they simply did not clamor for notoriety the way evil men did. Acts of goodness required no audience, did not need to be made a spectacle, and were not done for fanfare. Instead, they were often quiet, rarely noticed, and the only reward required was the warmth they gave to the recipient.

A simple dip of his head acknowledged her words, ones that might have sounded like a compliment from another’s lips but from her sounded as dry as data that had been observed. Ezekiel returned the amulet to its proper poctet, one near his chest that buttoned closed. Too close to him for anyone to steal it without his notice. He then slid his hand back into his glove; the familiar leather was far more comfortable than the open air.

“I watched you. Not just now.”

Even as he kept his gaze fixed on the space around her, avoiding the discomfort of direct eye contact, her eyes still met his. She did flinch from it like those seduced by wickedness so often did. This earned a bit of trust, despite her admittance that she had been watching him. A weird thing to tell a stranger, but he wasn’t unaccustomed to being watched. An Aasimar was a rare encounter in any part of the world, and most beings were naturally curious.

He, too, occasionally liked to people-watch, but he doubted she was here to tell him about a rather dull hobby. Entirely comfortable with silence, he simply waited for her to speak whatever it was that was on her mind. Her words were carefully chosen - she spoke with purpose.

“I have a task. A sensitive one. And I find myself in need of someone… like you.”

“And I find myself with time to spare.” He answered in a warm tone. Being asked to help brought him comfort and made him feel useful. It was the next best thing to feeling at home. “Lead the way.” He added, and followed the woman without hesitation.

“I am Ezekiel. And you are?” He asked as they walked.

🗡 Roses and Daggers 🎕

Time: 6 pm
Location: Castle Dinning Hall
Interactions: Hala, Kira
Attire: Red like the other cool kids

---

Rohit, enthusiastic with everything he did, grabbed Hala’s hand, pulled them close, and gave a few shoulder pats that caught the jealous eye of Nadim. A moment was then dedicated to the dog, whose ears and wrinkly jowls received a proper scratching and squishing, respectively.

“I would’ve invited you, if I knew you were here.” He teased.

“Bored? I am never bored. No, today, I met,” His neck craned as he tried to spot Milo. The artist wasn’t hard to find - St. Claire naturally stood out. Like one of his painting’s, Milo’s captivating presence kept eyes on him. Ironic.

“Milo St. Claire. Definitely a talent worth writing home about. Look at that suit. Nothing says ‘Hey, look at me’ like being decked out in eyeballs, huh. As if anyone needs to be reminded to look at him.” He watched Milo for few moments longer than necessary.

“Anyway, fantastic artist. Invited me to his VIP party during his gallery showing. Great time. Oh, I wonder if Mina’s here.” He looked around the table again and spotted a couple of redheads but no sign of Mina. He would’ve thought she’d be here.

“Guess she’s not here. But we were both deemed VIP worthy. She’s fascinating, hair like fire too. New development, I am adored by redheads.” He bragged and looked around for Olivia, who he also pointed out to Hala. He attempted to wave at Olivia but wasn’t sure if she saw.

“I helped her pick out an owl today, after the gallery. How was your journey? Have you been bored without me?” He continued; the atmosphere was vibrant and loud and Rohit naturally met the energy in the room.

He glanced to those in their immediate vicinity, table neighbors if you will, and took note of the faces he recognized. He flashed a quick smile toward Farim and Ana.

“Bey Rohit Amar, nice to meet you.” He introduced himself to Kira, the woman directly across from him whom he didn’t recognize.

Neo Genesis: Chronicles of Eberron

Race: Aasimar
Class: Paladin
Location: Stormrider; Top Deck - Sick Bay
Interactions: Meiyu@Tae, Scratch & Val@Apex Sunburn
Equipment: His longsword; Retribution and a healing amulet. A backpack with supplies and his lute.
Attire: Clothing and gloves
Gold Balance: 43
Injuries: Old injuries include a missing eye, numerous iridescent scars, and a knee that aches when it rains.

---

“That’s just Scratch!…” Vallena spoke up, defending the surgeon as Scratch and The Breaker of Arms casually discussed their interest in poisons and preferred wounds. Because, of course, the Yuan-Ti had a thing for poison. The connection there was just a bit too poetic not to notice, but not worth commenting on.

“I swear he’s not bad! He’s just strange. And a little–”

“I agree, Scratch is good people.” He softened his expression and tone for the child apprentice. He wasn’t concerned with how the dark elf spoke, only that the surgeon helped when he was needed. Actions mattered over words. He glanced back at the two as they continued their grim conversation. For the most part, it was easy enough for him to tune out, but it was likely disconcerting for someone like Val to hear.

“...But my favorites? The ones that mimic a fatal wound. Make the body believe it’s dying…”

“She is scary, isn’t she?” He agreed with Val’s earlier hushed statement as his focus returned to the girl. The Yuan-Ti would be far from his first pick if he got to choose his enemies. “But not stupid. Certainly not stupid enough to get on Scratch’s bad side. I think you’re safe.” He added in a hushed tone.

Ezekiel followed Val’s direction to Sick Bay. Down a flight of stairs, past the bar, and towards the forward most end of the ship. Sick Bay ran like a well-oiled machine, an oasis of order amongst a relatively chaotic ship. Nothing against Scratch and Val; they provided a speedy triage and stabilized the arm, but the medics at Sick Bay handled everything else without a single detail overlooked.

Someone was sent to find the boy’s parent(s) or guardians. Someone set the kid up in a bed. Someone kept careful watch over the young man’s vital signs while he remained unconscious from the ether.

Ezekiel removed a glove from his right hand and affixed his healing amulet to his wrist. It rested against the back of his palm while his palm rested on the break in the bone. With his eye closed, and the rest of the world almost non-existant, he prayed to the Silver Flame. He chanelled those prayers into the amulet. Light leaked out from behind the cloth over his missing eye. His focus remained unbreakable.

🗡 Roses and Daggers 🎕

Lord Leo Smithwood

Time: 6 pm
Location: Castle Dinning Hall
Interactions: Thea, Drake, Kazu(mentioned)
Attire: “Why was I not told red was the color for tonight?”

---

Leo gave a curt nod of approval to Drake as the lord pulled out a chair for Thea. He watched, his attention subtly shifting from Drake to Thea until he finally smiled. He noted none of the uncomfortable energy or defeated annoyance in Thea’s eyes at Drake’s approach — a stark and welcomed contrast to what he’d seen when Prince Felix had been around.

Drake was already an improvement.

“You may call me Leo.” He accepted Drake’s handshake with a stern grip meant to test the other man. “Pleasure’s all mine. I’ve heard nothing but high praises anytime your name is mentioned, Lord Drake. You’re quite the talented pianist.”

There was a mild ruckus. A few plates and goblets clattered. A man in the most horrendous suit Leo had ever had the misfortune of looking at seemed to be the cause. He pulled his hand away from Drake.

“Gods, look at that! It’s like a rainbow vomited all over him. Guess they let anyone into these things nowadays.” He whispered as he watched the monstrosity of clashing colors and patterns make his way to his seat.

🗡 Roses and Daggers 🎕

Time: 6 pm
Location: Castle Dinning Hall
Attire: Winners wear red & black!
Interactions: Alexander, Olivia, Dutchess Edwards, Ariella, and Edin

---

Clarence turned his head and flashed a wide and enthusiastic smile at Wulfric. He liked this sibling: a presence that commanded attention, a dark wit, and who was, without a doubt, the most regel of the Danroses. He dipped his head respectfully, returning the nod.

His gaze flickered to a woman who addressed him. He neither recognized her nor did he note anything about her that said she was important. Just the opposite, in fact. She entered the dinner with the Vikena family; neither Edin nor Wulfric held that ilk in high esteem. So he followed their lead, giving nothing more than a single glance their way.

“I fancy the suit, Prince Callum. To think we share the same tailor is quite the honor,”

Clarence smiled at Alexander. “There’s a reason for that.” He said, straightening his bow tie. “Men like us, only accept the best.”

Alexander. Works for Black Rose, our allies. Clarence studied him, a far more put-together and composed ally than he’d ever expected Callum to have.

Mischief twisted its way into his smile. He watched the Edwards entrance, noted the major snub as the Dutchess failed to bow before the royal family.

“Dutchess Edwards, do you think yourself our betters? I noticed you did not bow, or curtsy, before your king and his family. Are you too proud to submit before His Majesty?” Clarence asked, his voice carrying across the dining hall with ease. As he spoke, he watched Ariella’s clumsy entrance.

Clarence lifted a hand and blew a kiss her way, the gesture smoothly turning into a wave. Then his eyes moved to Kazu as the puppet from earlier made his entrance.

“Oh, and look father, your jester has arrived." Clarence spoke as he watched the puppet boy knocked over food, plates, and goblets. A jester indeed, the puppet's colorful eyesore of a suit absolutely screamed court jester. The anticipation was thrilling - what would the king do with his new toy?

Hopefull something violently entertaining. The spirit thought. How long could the puppet keep dancing?

Neo Genesis: Chronicles of Eberron

Race: Aasimar
Class: Paladin
Location: Stormrider; Top Deck
Interactions: Meiyu@Tae, Scratch@Apex Sunburn
Equipment: His longsword; Retribution and a healing amulet. A backpack with supplies and his lute.
Attire: Clothing and gloves
Gold Balance: 38
Injuries: Old injuries include a missing eye, numerous iridescent scars, and a knee that aches when it rains.

---

The doctor carried on as expected. He did not care about motives and reasoning but focused entirely on getting the job done. It was only slightly concerning to hear that the dark elf occasionally tested out his own supplies on himself, but Ezekiel supposed they had to be first tested on somebody. Honorable, if he really thought about it, that Scratch would risk his own safety first.

“I would’ve preferred you use words instead of violence to correct a child.” His reply to the Yuan-Ti was flat and his eye did not bother to travel in her direction. His full attention stayed on the boy, the dark elf, and the human girl.

Despite the caution the duo used when handling their ether, as soon as the amber bottle was opened, its scent wafted through the air. Sickening. A little sweet. Pungent enough that Ezekiel felt his developing headache grow stronger. It certainly did the trick though; within a few breaths, the boy was out like a light. His eye never moved from the sparse rises and falls of the kid’s chest once he’d slipped out of consciousness.

“Already planned to.” Again, he answered the woman without a glance in her direction. Of course he’d offer the child some guidance, the only logical next step after healing the arm. “I'll find out why he has resorted to theft and correct it. Likely desperation or idle hands. You said he wasn’t a very good thief. Means it’s a new habit. Easy to break.” A teenager who just started trying to pick pockets, that wasn’t some irredeamable spree, and hardly a wicked act. “Things that make life worth living are worth more than things that only keep you alive.”

He watched the young assistant set the bone, wrapping it with the various bandaging materials. It was neither too loose nor too tight, a well-done job. Ezekiel gave Scaerthrynne a nod and accepted the box of pills. “Thank you for your time.“ He glanced first at Scratch and then at Val. A quick nod of his head. “I’ll get him to sick bay.” He kept his response to the point, Scratch seemed like a busy guy.

The surgeon lightly poked the snake. The snake struck back with a venomous barb. She joked about her next victim. His eye flickered back to the Yuan-Ti. “That’s awfully dramatic.“ Ezekiel scoffed as he scooped up the now sleeping child and looked around for the route down to Sick Bay.

“Chastised. Sure.” He said as he headed off. “What did you expect? You snapped a child’s arm; did you think anyone would praise you for that?” It was a rhetorical question. He didn’t wait for an answer.

Neo Genesis: Chronicles of Eberron

Race: Aasimar
Class: Paladin
Location: Stormrider; Top Deck
Interactions: Meiyu@Tae, Scratch@Apex Sunburn
Equipment: His longsword; Retribution and a healing amulet. A backpack with supplies and his lute.
Attire: Clothing and gloves
Gold Balance: 35
Injuries: Old injuries include a missing eye, numerous iridescent scars, and a knee that aches when it rains.

---

“Apologies,” He answered as the woman corrested his assumption that she was the boy’s mother. The word lingered in the air, the beginning of an unfinished statement, as Ezekiel found himself confused and concerned by the rest of her words.

Merely an unfortunate soul who stumbled into my path.

It was a strange way to describe an injured child. His focus returned to the boy as the child spoke up.

“Only once before?” Ezekiel gave an impressed nod to the child. “And you’re already too tough to cry about it.” He gave a light tap of his fist to the uninjuried arm of the youth.

The Stormrider’s surgeon and his young assistant soon arrived. Ezekiel moved out of the way so Scaerthrynne could properly examine the boy. The doctor’s bedside manner, or lack thereof, reminded him of the battle-hardened medics and healers he’d encountered during the war. It was familiar, and familiar was comfortable and easy trust.

“You might want to knock him out first, otherwise the pain might kill him.”

Well, maybe not comforting for the young boy, but the more Scaerthrynne spoke, the more confident Ezekiel became in the dark elf’s skills. The doctor and his assistant not only relayed a plan to set the boy’s broken bone, but the trusth of the situation.

This was no accident. Someone had intentionally snapped this poor kid's arm.

The kimono-clad woman chastised the crowd, insisting that none of the onlookers cared what was happening and merely wanted some form of entertainment. Most of them had dispersed by the time the woman admitted to breaking the child’s arm in retaliation for an attempted theft.

Had the thief been a grown man and not a child, Ezekiel would’ve been inclined to agree with her choice in punishment.

“I care.” He corrected the serpentine woman’s early statement. “Someone breaking a child’s arm is not some minor misfortune. It is an intentionally cruel overreaction to petty theft.” He commented, and from the woman’s comments, he could assume the boy wasn’t some expert thief but a child who merely strayed into lawless behavior. Children were malleable, this boy could be swayed back to a better way of life, one not reliant on theft.

“A lesson that the world is cruel and unforgiving does not inspire a child to be better.” He added. If anything, it taught the wrong lesson, that wrongs should be met with greater wrongs.

“But what’s done is done,” he looked over at the surgeon. “Where’s your office?” He asked Scaerthrynne, “I can help move the kid there, and once you’ve got the bone set, I help speed up the healing for him.”

🗡 Roses and Daggers 🎕

Time: 6 pm
Location: Castle Dinning Hall
Interactions: Hala
Attire: Red like the other cool kids

---

“Presenting Bey Rohit Amar of Kimoon!” The herald announced.

Rohit was one of the last guests to arrive, late and seemingly unbothered by his lack of punctuality. His eyes widened slightly as he took in the sights: a sprawling feast that covered multiple tables, the collection of nobles from all over wearing only their best, and the lavish decorations that surrounded it all. The royal family had gone to great and impressive effort here.

What was significantly less impressive was the sight of Caesonia’s king, and he tried his best to keep a neutral expression as he watched Edin shovel food into his mouth with all the gusto of a ravenous hog. Then again, who could match the grace and charm of Alidasht’s Sultan? Perhaps the bar for a royal presence was simply set too high by those from his own home. Rohit spotted the Grand Vizier taking his seat and he flashed him a bright smile and gave a small wave.

With a plate of food in hand, Rohit headed to his assigned seat only to find a surprise to end all surprises.

Here he was, smoked up, dressed in his finest silks, and ready to feast on the finest offerings in the city. Rohit mistakenly thought today could not get any better. But he was wrong. He saw the big, dark-furred pile of muscle first. A wide grin overtook his face as he recognized the dog immediately.

Home, most often, was a place but deeper than that, it was the place filled with the people who made you feel welcomed and comfortable. In lieu of the place itself, to see someone who was basically family was just as precious. All lingering traces of homesickness vanished.

“Hala?!” His voice, a touch too loud but unmistakably delighted. “When did you get here?” He asked, taking his seat.

🗡 Roses and Daggers 🎕

Lord Leo Smithwood

---

Time: 6 pm
Location: Castle Dinning Hall
Interactions: Thea
Attire: “Why was I not told red was the color for tonight?”

Leo arrived at the castle shortly after Thea had; his timing was just right to continue avoiding a conversation with his mother. The harold, shouted his arrival, ...Lord Leo Smithwood of Stravy,” as he entered the dining hall. His suit, one of eye-catching emerald green and ornate gold design, now seemed a mistake. Apparently red was the color for the evening! Leo spotted the cardinal-clad Lorenzo looking as dapper as ever, Charlotte echoing her father’s red scheme in her own dress, and Alexander in a striking crimson suit. Even the notoriously poorly put-together Prince Callum was decked out in red as were a handful of others.

Green was quite literally the opposite of red, and Leo could feel his finger slipping from the constantly beating pulse of the latest trends. It was a maddeningly frustrating realization. Well, at least his shoes matched and looked significantly more expensive than a pair of slippers.

“Look at this feast. Seems the Danroses’ have gone all out for your birthday.” He whispered to Thea as he took a seat beside her. He looked around at the feast spread out across the various tables and breathed a small sigh of relief. If everyone was eating the same food like this, there was little opportunity for any mystical pranks to be played solely on him. Either everyone was going to have some magical weird side effect, or the food was untainted. It was a huge relief not to have to avoid eating and potentially offend Edin.

“Why are half the guests wearing red? Is that the new trend?” He asked, noting her orange dress. What was orange except a softer version of red. Still close enough to fit the theme. Unlike green.