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Tales of Alethrion

And that settled that. As she watched the thief making his escape, Arusi was fairly certain that Amon had been saved. No map meant no payment.

But... Everyone had seen what Amon had done. Hell, if she was his father she'd boot the young man out of the family at the first chance. Leave him in the street with the rats and the fools. He deserved it, he really did for shooting his mouth off without thinking.

She could see it all and she was just going to let it happen...

She was letting it happen.

/Uuuugh.../

"Hey Amon. Watch my stand. I'm going for the map."

With that she was off and running, scooping up Rook and Hargh along the way. Her longer strides could keep pace better and the extra weight didn't really bother her. Hauling all her pottery from here, to the kiln, and back again made her more than capable of keeping up in a long distance race.

"Rake I'm going to need you and... you... your friend to help me corner the thief when he gets to the canyon. You think you can do it?"

Protea - The Ebon Flow

Sorry for the wait. Weekends are when I work, a lot... Still, can't beat four days of free time afterward.

Protea - The Ebon Flow

"Explosives..." Ghurst murmured, as he reached read through another section of the notes while the others talked. The ones in his hands at the moment concerned the under-works of the city with passing references to the stonework.

"We need explosives. Nothing fancy or cruel. But ones precise enough to shape the blasts. Something like this."

Turning one of the sheets over he traced out a pattern with a stick of coal. It also showed the shaped of the explosive forces and their direction.

"Anything more than this and we stand a good chance of either bringing more of the city down around us and less will barely do anything. While our breathing conduits wold be helpful, we should plan on making our own exit. Beneath the earth time is elusive and trusting our own sense of it could lead to disaster. This could also give us a more direct path should subsequent trips become necessary."

---

"Honestly, it was never a consideration on my part that I should go below," with the strange sewer pirate gone Eresa managed to feel a little more at ease. The fates certainly did want to make this trying for her though. While Ghurst's suggestion was sound, it meant that she would be shackled with all these others. Her usual methods of persuasion would only alarm or anger some of these righteous pawns. On the other hand it would give the morally ambiguous among them... "ideas."

Tales of Alethrion

"Ek kan nie glo jy het dit gedoen ..."

That was the most shocking thing she'd ever seen. It was like two wagons crashing into each other full bore. She couldn't take her eyes off the carnage of someone ruining their life.

Protea - The Ebon Flow

"Margaret, you wound me. How could I not arrive in your city's time of need. I too have a great deal to lose should this madness continue."

It was true. Eresa had spent a small fortune investing in Ebb's various civic projects. Money, like any other drug, tended to addict those who enjoyed it. She knew there were plenty of officials who liked to skim a little off the top and oh how agreeable they became one there was any hint that their fix might be lost. Do things no moral person would consider. Greed truly was a marvelous thing to behold.

She would have continued to reminisce, but Aron's display was alarming to say the least. With each crunch she only imagine what it would be like if the man turned his hunger on her. It was a rare feeling these days, feeling threatened.

---

As Eresa was trapped in a little bit of existential horror, Ghurst focused in on the task before them. As Levi arrived he absently motioned for her to come and join them as Ash recounted his efforts. Though Rhastulah disliked the man's theatrics, he could not argue with the results. He was even a little envious in fact.

Grabbing a small portion of the collected work, he set aside Ash's conjecture and instead focused on the the few facts they had.

"Who is in charge of the plumbing in Ebb? I see mention of some dwarves, but not much beyond that. I do have a theory and a proposition, however. My theory is based on something I've seen in the field a few times, the points where magic and the mundane meet are usually the weakest points in a mystery of this nature. Whatever is at work here is too consistently vague to not have some help in its progress or obscurity. If we can find a trace of mortal element, then we might have a way to peal the layers of this mystery."

"I believe that the weak point might be those dwarves I mentioned earlier. In interacting with the water, but not disappearing with it the pipes themselves represent that edge where we can find a weakness. At the very least a clue."

"This brings me to my proposal. We form two sub-teams. One follows the plan and delves into the depths below. I already volunteer for that. The other half remains up here to chase leads and eliminate lingering red herrings. I have a strong suspicion that the Ankou are a red herring. But I feel as if I can't be certain. There is also a bit of prudence in this plan as well. Should we suffer the fate of the last expidition, then we still have a few people capable of succeeding where we failed."

Tales of Alethrion

Just like that she was shut out of the bidding war. It seemed like she'd also opened the floodgates and been drowned. Even Vella and the little hand thing were joining in. Though Arthur had bet a ludicrous amount for a map that no one could confirm was genuine, she knew it was pointless. That pansy Amon had entered the contest and could outbid them all. Well, maybe.

She still had her pottery. If she was being honest, it was all worth about 30 gold. If she was being dishonest then it was worth 50. But like before, there was no way to know the map was genuine. No, she decided to shush and watch the proceedings.

Protea - The Ebon Flow

To say that the entire situation bothered Ghurst was a joke made in the worst taste. With no time for study or investigation on his own terms his colleagues in Fogi bid him to do this favor for them. Of course he knew why they asked. Rare materials and access the private libraries cost both influence and money. It was only natural that he needed something from them and they needed something from him. It was the spirit of the free market, but still... Every time he departed from his quest for the Panacea it felt like he was daring fate to take his mind as it had taken his father's.

Beyond that morbid thought he wasn't too hopeful that he could do much to help at this point. Going in blind to an investigation was an invitation for all sorts of misinformation and assumptions to be regarded as fact. So many times he'd come in as an impartial observer and managed to see what others had dismissed out of hand. Today he only knew as much as anyone else did, that Ebb was drowning. This lack of perspective was going to get him or someone else killed. Not that it would matter much if the Ankou were right.

From the rear window of the cab he rode in he could see the tower of their sub descend back into the puddle from whence it came. No doubt the parasites had another boatload of the gullible or the desperate. It was pitiful, but Ghurst couldn't bring himself to morn them, they had made their choice.

As the cab pulled up to the mayor's door, Rhastulah, left the driver a generous tip and dashed for the door's overhand. Each blood red droplet made him curse the fact that he'd left his umbrella behind. As the door opened Ghurst rushed in and nearly ran into a rain soaked man. Beyond him the parili could see a gaunt revenant, and elf maiden, and a clean(ish) goblin. As his eyes fell on the wolf though, some part of his brain that still belonged to his deer ancestors insisted that he flee. Instead Ghurst fought the feeling and inclined his head respectfully to the group as a whole.

"My name is Rhastulah Ghurst, but I would prefer to be called Mr. Ghurst. I assume that you were all summoned here as I was."

"I think you assume correctly," came a hollow, yet feminine voice behind him, "Now if you would kindly move aside so I may enter..."

As Ghurst moved a slender, metallic form slipped underneath the too-short door frame and into the waiting room. Obviously a golem and a woman, she glided across the floor. Entering with her, a fairly nondescript, elderly manservant moved to deposit her umbrella in to the umbrella stand. Once hers was deposited, she turned to regard the small gathering. In that entire time her face hadn't moved an inch, frozen in a look of bemused contemplation. As she began to speak again, it remained that way.

"It seems dear Margaret's endeavors have born fruit once again. Since introductions are in order, I am Eresa Aedon. I'm looking forward to working with each and every one of you."

As she finished the mask finally moved as her eyes narrowed slightly. While it was most likely meant to seem affectionate, it managed to push her look from amusement into something closer to predation.

Tales of Alethrion

Language

I used Afrikaans and Google Translate for the other language Arusi speaks. If someone can come up with a more elegant solution to displaying it, I'm all ears.

"Wat de hel is verkeerd met jou ?!" she shouted at her father through the bars, the cell door rattling as she shook with rage. "Dobbel helder oordag ? Jy het om te weet dat dit sou gebeur !"

It was the third time this month. Behind all the anger, that was the thought that filled Arusi's head. Paying off Geldin's bail had cost her one whole month of toil and trouble, so far. Paying this one would mean their finances would be shot. Along with Nontle, Kunto, and Deka, she would be out on the street and starving soon.

"You know how they lie Arusi, the people of this town," Geldin approached cautiously, his mandibles twitching as he wondered if his stronger daughter would try to lunge at him through the bars, like last time. "They just want to keep us poor and licking their boots. Wees kalm my kosbaar ..."

"No... We're done here father. I'm already late for the market. I'm going to sell some pots and try to convince myself that I even want you out again."
---

All she could think about was the way Geldin had called after her. Now that she'd had some time to cool off, Arusi knew that Geldin was afraid. Always afraid. As much as she wanted to deny it, Geldin loved his family. Every theft, scheme, and con was designed to gain a little bit of security for the future.

The real question was what to do now? No one was buying any of her pottery, not while the stranger with the map was putting on his show. She'd also made the mistake of setting up shop near Rook and his little helping hand. Now the little twerp's luck was rubbing off on her.

Despite this, an idea started to form. The map was the prize of the day. If she could get wrangle it into her possession, then maybe she could generate some interest in her stall and even sell off the map later for a profit. The Backpackers had a thing for maps, she could probably sell it to one of them. So with the last two gold coins to her name, she called Arthur's bluff.

"I bid two gold to his one."

Tales of Alethrion

Name: Arusi Ekene Ayo

Age: 25

Race: Prith

Gender: Female

Appearance:

Other than her large, black, beetle head, like most prith have, Arusi is rather plain. Neither too fat, skinny, tall, or short. She's exceedingly average, taking after her father, especially when compared to the ethereal beauties that are her mother and sisters.

Arusi wears a simple white linen dress that falls to her mid-calf and a dark red cowl. For shoes a simple pair of work sandals have always sufficed. The only extravagant parts of her ensemble are the jeweled bracelets and necklaces she wears. Glittering in the sun with all manner of metals and stones, Arusi has a weak spot for jewelry in any form.

Backstory: Arusi's family hails from a village close to the cursed sands of Kahltofal. There they would have remained if not for her father and how he "borrowed" the Caliph's favorite horse. Their flight took them to Fireside, where they settled in. That was two years ago.

Now Arusi works as a potter, much like she did before. Unfortunately all her funds are being siphoned away by the expensive habits of her mother and sisters or to bail her father out of jail once again. Maybe her father will clean up his act and maybe her sisters can finally find someone else to provide for them, but frankly Arusi isn't going to hold her breath. No, she's just about ready to give up on all of them.

Aspirations or Desires: To do something worthwhile with her family name.

Skills prior to adventuring: Arusi is a potter and has been for as long as she can remember.

Personality: Arusi is a real Type A personality and planner. Everything has an end-goal and contributes to the whole. Frustrations don't cause her to despair, they cause her to rage. She's also fairly loyal and bull-headed (that was a terrible joke and I apologize), causing her to put up with the ridiculousness of those she cares about for far longer than is probably healthy. Last, but not least, she tends to slip into the Kahl language when he gets excited or flustered.

Tales of Alethrion

Yay! I'll get a post up later.