Pezzle

The Five Senses

Whew hey guys! Thought I would just pop in. Hawaii has been keeping me busy lol. Might have time today for a post as it will probably be mostly a rest day.

Additionally I thought I should add some input on the last two post to help guide the rp In such a way that all the characters will have things to do.

I think waiting till after everyone rest will probably be the best way to proceed particularly since a single event in this rp usually takes a month or more. So in my next post, I'm going to wrap some things up, and do a time skip to the next morning.

The Five Senses

FYI, I might not be on too much for a while. Got a trip coming up and just got Kingdom Hearts III. Being a die hard fan of the series, most of my free time will probably be dedicated to that over the next few weeks.

The Five Senses

So right now Org and Fetzen are plotting out plot points for their characters down the line. You're welcome to join them when they head out. Afterall, what gets Fetzen's character caught will be the cult looking for DB. As for the conversation between Chres and Octavio, depending on what's said in Hokum's next post, I'll be wrapping that up in my next post.

The Five Senses

So in my most recent post, I bring up an in-world game that I've mentioned in a few other posts, The Senses. I have a vague idea for how the game works. It's like checkers except piece movement changes with each turn. Turns are represented by one of the five Senses and depending one what Sense it is, movement of game pieces will change.

In a typical competitive game, the sense that is represented each turn will alternate in a consistent order. Sight > Touch > Taste > Hearing > Smell > and then back to Sight. The player who goes second chooses which Sense to start the game with on the first round of turns. In other forms of the game, people randomize which sense is represented on each turn through a deck of cards.

I may modify the rules slightly as I get a more cohesive idea for the game's mechanics. perhaps even allow for up to four players. Feel free to ask questions.

The Five Senses

&
Chres Sansus

---

Chres arched his eyebrow in amusement, paying the fancily dressed man half a glance. "Not a stranger, you say?" Chres said, opening the curtains and closing the door behind them. The room became pitch black save for moonlight shining in from the window. The lack of light made it easier to see out the window, but it also left Sil's form dimmer than usual, making her barely visible to the naked eye.

"Quite the sweet talker, are you?" Chres said taking a seat by the window. It wasn't the most ideal place to keep watch. If he had it his way he would have men stationed outside, kept hidden. "Perhaps even a heart breaker?"

Chres smiled fondly as he reminisced on his own youth of skirt chasing and love making. As he stared out the window, at the odd green moon shining in the distortion's purple night sky, he thought about the trail of tears left in his wake. It lead him down the road he took. The marriage that defined him. In the end, it was his heart doing the breaking. His tears in the making.

Chres's smile slowly faded from his face as he began to unconsciously finger his wedding band. Realizing what he was doing, he stopped himself. "If we are lucky, tonight will be just as dull as you suggested... Fortunately for you,-" He said pulling out his flask, filled with lemon flavored water, and uncorking the top. "I know a few ways to pass the time."

Chres took a quick swallow of the water. Then, catching Octavio's eye, he gave the man a friendly smile and offered him a sip.

---

The softly darkening room brought with it a greater sense of stealth to their actions, reminding Octavio of his past heists and adventures. It had gotten to the point where being in the dark instinctively made him more alert rather than the opposite, a quirk that would have been funny to share if doing so wasn´t completely suspicious.

Chres had responded to his theatrics in a similar tone, making him feel at ease. Octavio didn´t dislike Chres, but he certainly thought less of those who were friendly and oblivious to the hardships of life. However, in the small time that they had met Chres had proved him wrong as no stranger to adversity, which left Octavio to ponder what it was that kept the man so friendly. Chres had offered one answer in the form of a flask. He accepted.

The flask´s citric flavors made for an interesting and refreshing experience, even with his muted sense of taste. "Shockingly delectable. But then again, it might just be fatigue clouding my thoughts." He made his way over to his high quality leather bag and withdrew a large bottle, to reciprocate the offer.

"They call this fine wine Bloodwater, made by the same family for generations. They say it was so rich that it staved off the cravings of their kingdom´s prince, who was covertly a vampire." Octavio wasn´t sure if the tale he had overheard at his last gathering was truthful, but it sounded interesting and nothing mattered beyond that. When it came to captivating humans, truth was one of the least important tools that were required.

Although it was a premium wine, it would taste the same as any other wine to him so there was no point in fretting over details. He offered it to Chres, having made no serious effort to perform his role as a guard.

---

Chres chuckled to himself. "Not quite the reaction I expected." He said with, a calm smile.

Carefully, Chres took the bottle in two hands. "From a land once ruled by a vampire, you say? Now that's something I haven't seen before... You know, were it a year ago, I would have been intrigued enough to want to venture out to such a land... Now, however..." He paused, smiling sadly and eventually shaking his head. "Funny how quickly things change..."

As careful as before, Chres handed the bottle back to Octavio without taking a sip. "You're quite the funny one, offering wine to a man who no longer drinks... Tempted, though I am, I fear I should restrict myself to the taste of flavored water these days." He finished, emphasizing his statement with a smile and another sip from his flask.

---

Out of all the possible things Octavio had envisioned his conversational partner responding with, revealing that his flask had flavored water and that he didn't drink alcohol hadn't been one of them. He had just assumed that it was some sort of weak beverage and was surprised that there were people who willingly avoided alcohol. Then again... if this man relied heavily on concentration or had frequent run-ins with trouble, it had made sense to avoid ingesting anything risky.

Octavio smiled. "You abstain from drinking alcohol? I've seen plenty of strange magics today, but that somehow astonishes me just as much." He gently placed the bottle back where it had come from. Being the only one drunk during any sort of event was in general a terrible idea. He thought of his earlier heists when he had first discovered alcohol and quickly suppressed the thoughts.

Chres had slowly begun to reveal more of his character and had proved to be a bit of a veteran when it came to danger. Octavio knew that everyone in this party had more or less been chosen for their prowess, but it had still managed to surprised him that he´d been somehow lumped together with such people. He had felt the opposite of what Chres felt. He had considered himself to be a flight over fight kind of combatant, but if recent events proved anything it was that he was just as capable of holding his ground. Not with the same amount of grace mind you, but enough to be alive and consider getting drunk. It was the little things in life.

---

Chres chuckled again at the man's words. So he hadn't noticed that it was water then? A tad odd...

"Yes..." Chres nodded in agreement. "Yes, I suppose it is strange..."

"How come you never offer me a drink from the puddle filled bottle?" Sil asked, hovering between the two men. Her form looking almost ghost-like in the darkened room.

"Because," Chres said "when somebody offers you a drink, it always ends up in someone's face."

Sil 'hmmmed' to herself, spinning upside-down as she did so. "That does sound like me..." She said thoughtfully.

"Yes... yes it does..." Chres sighed. He took another sip of water. He then sealed up the flask and pocketed it inside his shirt.

"Octavio, I believe I promised you a way to pass the time." Chres said, reaching into his travel pack. He pulled out a circular wooden board and a pouch filled with square tiles colored black and red. "How about we play a few rounds of The Senses?" Chres asked setting up the board with the tiles from the pouch. "You at all familiar with the game?"

The Five Senses

Happy New Year everyone!

I'm currently working on a collab with @HokumPocus right now. If you all have the chance. Try to wrap up your conversations within the next few weeks. I'll be moving on to the next day in February at the latest.

The Five Senses

Well you were saying that you wanted to get captured the following day, correct? So I was thinking then. I have no set plans for when exactly. but after or during the time you are relaying the message.

The Five Senses

So I've got Tayla's post done. It's a monster of a post, but it sets up for later plot. I probably should have just made it a plot point.

@JerkChicken I'm thinking that Tayla will fail at her task to bring you in, but will capture @Fetzen's character instead as already planned. Sound good to you?

@HokumPocus I'll work on a Chres post later today or in during the week.

The Five Senses

Tayla

---

Tayla stood inside the lounge of the Shimmering Fin, the giant inn near the center of town. The Clan had procured the building early in their venture of Shimmer Town. It had become a sort of... 'Church' for the Clan. A center of operations.

They had been quick to decorate the place appropriately. With tapestries displaying the Distortion's Green Sun and Moon. Paintings of men and women scratching out their eyes. A Muriel, made of tiny tiles, depicting Vetius, the Wisest and most ancient of all Sightless. And at the center of it all, a statue of a Shadowy Eye atop what appeared to be on top of a vine-like pillar of some sort. It's white unseeing pupil in the shape of a slit.

Tayla stared uneasily at the unseeing eye, as she sat waiting in one of the lounge's cushioned lavender colored chairs. Her mind replaying the day's events over again.

Tayla placed her right hand over her bandaged wound the damned woman had left her with. A cold rage bubbling beneath her skin at the thought of her. It begged to be unleashed. It cried out to her. Calling her name. Taunting her!

Tayla grit her teeth and pressed down on the wound with two fingers. Welcoming the paint that flooded her, using it to wash away the rage. She refused to let it take control! Well, at least for now... She would save her rage. Let it simmer. Let it grow. And then, when the white haired woman revealed herself again, Tayla would unleash it upon her.

"Tayla Li'Vaire." Said a familiar voice at the foot of the stairs. Tayla turned her head to face the woman she had been patiently waiting for. De'laire, an Clan member like herself. "What makes you think a runaway like yourself is welcome here any more?"

De'laire was a step away from becoming Sightless herself. A restricted magic user with more than a few screws loose from an over usage of her of magic. To become Sightless would mean to give up the cursed magic De'laire had been born with. A cure, De'laire hoped, to the ailing state of her mental capacity.

Tayla pressed on her wound more intensely. It allowed her to clear her thoughts and not let anger get the better of her. "Sightless to be, De'laire." Tayla said with a bow. She did her best to act polite. Unfortunately, her actions did not reach her words. "They tell me today has been one of your more saner da-"

Tayla meant to complete her sentence but found herself unable to. Her voice left her, enveloping her. A vibration in the air. Panicking, Tayla glanced wide eyed in De'laire's direction. A wicked smirk upon the woman's face. Tayla knew what came next.

The vibration buzzed around her for half a second longer before rushing into her ears. It attacked from within. Vibrating her eardrums, making them feel as if they were about to explode. Tayla fell to her knees screaming in pain. Clutching her right ear with her only good hand.

"Is that what they've been saying?" De'laire said with a cock of her head and a cruel smile.

"PLEASE... FORGIVE ME!" Tayla screamed in-between cries of agony. "I'M SORRY! I...I WAS WRONG..."

"You're sorry, are you?" De'laire said with a giggle. "Well I suppose that makes it all better then."

The vibrations immediately stopped. Tayla found herself on her side with tears streaming down her face.

"Sightless Nieffar says he is displeased with your actions. Something about abandoning your family, and Sightless Syella as well? He would like to know why we should allow one who cares only for herself to reside among us. Would you like to explain that to-"

"I-" Tayla felt her voice leave her yet again. A familiar terror shaking her as she heard the vibrations of De'laire's magic.

"I DON'T BELIEVE I WAS DONE TALKING YET!" De'laire screamed, eyes wide with madness.

The buzzing entered Tayla ears yet again. She prepared herself for the pain-

"That's enough!"

The buzzing stopped immediately. Tayla looked up to find Sightless Syella at the top of the stairs.

"It is not fitting for a Sightless to act in such a manner to her followers."

"Sightless Syella." De'laire said with a bow. "Please forgive me. I was only following Sightless Nieffar's orders."

"Oh? Sightless Nieffar instructed you to torture and kill one of our more promising new followers?"

"He..." De'laire paused and put her finger to her lips as if thinking. "No... He told me to scold her... Though, I don't think he told me not to hurt her..."

Syella tsked audibly. "No, of course he didn't."

"Sightless Syella?" De'laire asked questioningly

"No, it nothing... De'laire, you are dismissed. I believe one of the prisoners upstairs requires more... questioning."

"Ah, questioning... I do love questioning." De'laire said absentmindedly. "I do so enjoy their screams..." De'laire placed her finger to her lips again, thinking to herself with a smile. She seemed as if she had completely forgotten about Tayla.

"De'laire..."

"Ah... Yes, yes. That's right... I've been dismissed."

Sightless to be, De'laire, gracefully bowed goodbye before proceeded up the stairs. She hummed to herself happily. Her next torture victim just around the corner.

Tayla got to her knees as Sightless Syella strode down the stairs calmly. "Sightless Syella, please allow me the chance to redeem myself. I desire nothing but to serve."

"Do you now? Funny, that was not the impression I received from today's failing."

Tayla's blood boiled at the words. She wanted to scream in rage, to blame the white haired woman for the day's failing. It was her fault that Tayla ran. It was her fault! Not Tayla's! "I was... distracted. Reminded of my past."

"That is a very poor excuse for your failing."

Tayla said nothing. Sightless Syella stared her down before smiling. "Come." She said, nodding towards an empty nearby room. Tayla followed Syella into the room, closing the door behind her. The room was lit with candles. The Sightless would talk to people in this room when they didn't want other Sightless using the Insight to spy on conversations. Being unable to see in the candle's light, Sightless Syella traced her hand along the wall to help guide her through the room.

"Tayla, my poor Tayla. You were but a filth covered girl when I first found you cowering in the street. I gave you a home, a family to call your own. And when I became Sightless, you vowed to serve me in my ascension. Today you failed to serve, and in doing so you failed our Lord. I am deeply disappointed, to say the least. Tell me Tayla, how is it that you plan to undo this mishap?"

It took everything Tayla had to keep it together as she listened to Sightless Syella speak. She pressed ever harder on her wound as her she felt her temper flare. "Unless I'm mistaken, Sightless Syella, I would imagine that I am not the only one being blamed for what happen today."

Sightless Syella frowned coldly. "Blaming your superior is not a good way to gain favor." Syella said in that raspy dry Sightless voice of hers.

Tayla smirked. It appeared she hit a nerve. "Sightless Syella, you know that I would never blame you for what happened. Sightless Nieffar, on the other hand... Well, we both know how he is. He will tell all who will listen how much of a failure you are. He'll claim you are undeserving of the title of Sightless. Raise doubt in your capabilities. Anything he can do to gain more power and control within the Clan. Am I wrong, Sightless Syella?"

Sightless Syella said nothing for a long moment. "You propose that I fight back and prove him wrong." It was a statement not a question.

Tayla simply smiled and said, "Give me the chance and I'll find the heathens for you. I'll track them down and kill every last one!" Or just the white hair woman at the very least. Tayla didn't say that part though.

"Very ambitious of you." Sightless Syella said with a smile. "Unfortunately, we are not to kill them."

"But why?!" Tayla cried out in frustration.

"That is none of your concern. Do not kill them." Tayla was about to object but was was stopped when Syella raised her hand. "That said, I like you're way of thinking. The one who fought against me, the man covered in filth. I wish to know who he is. Find him, and bring him to me. Can you do this for me?"

Tayla's heart leapt at any chance that might lead her back to the white haired woman. "Yes!" She said eagerly. "Yes, I can this for you." And should Tayla find the white haired woman with the filth covered man and then accidentally kill her...

"Very good." Syella said with a smile. "Now then, get to work."

The Five Senses

@13org Just edited my post to make it more clear that Chres's comment towards Karina was not a hostile one, but one of understanding.