Su

Blades of the Blood Coast

Lupita Nereva

Lupita studied the worn, slightly blood stained map as she whistled a pleasant tune. The worn gravel road beneath her feet crunched as she walked, only ceasing when she need to step over a branch or in light of recent events, entire trees. Indeed, it was quite a shock when she saw two gigantic demons fall out of the sky and crash into the earth. Or what she assumed to be demons anyway, Lupita never paid much attention to things like spirits and whatnot. Despite being a half-elf she wasn't all that gifted in magic and never really cared to learn any. The middle aged woman brushed a gray lock of her hair behind her ear and tucked the map away in newly acquired pack. While the demons falling from the sky is certainly a startling event, it gave Lupita enough time to steal her traveling partner's dagger and drive it into his neck. The two had met shortly after Lupita was tossed unceremoniously from the wagon that brought prisoners like her to these lands.

Now she normally didn't make murder a habit but the bard had a very strong suspicion that her greasy wayfarer was planning to bed her. With or without her consent. Which obviously wouldn't do so measures had to be taken. The sleazebag had been selfish with his belongings anyway so who knows if she would have froze to death that night? Now she had a very nice pack, a somewhat ill-fitting green tunic and leather vest, and a...rustic dagger.

"Hmm, rustic indeed. Lupita muttered to herself as she inspected the knife. It was chipping and rusted in places along the blade, but it would do in a pinch. Or a...stab, more accurately. She sheathed the blade and gazed at the horizon, a small sigh of relief crossing her lips as Varone came into view. It would take her another half hour to get to its weathered gates. Not that she was complaining. Lupita was frankly surprised that anything was standing at all after that explosion. As she made her way through the streets, the familiar din of the city assaulted her ears. And so did the smells. Most bad, but there was a particular scent on the breeze. It almost smelled like...

"Bread!" Lupita said aloud, to no one in particular. Her stomach grumbled angrily at the scent. She was about to follow her nose when she realized that she was flat broke. Unless she stole the food or mugged someone, neither seemed to have a high chance of success, she would need to get some money together. Which meant she needed people to entertain so she could coax the coins out of their purses. Lupita began to scout out the best dives around town. She didn't have her violin and couldn't afford one, so she needed to find a place low class enough to...there!

She spotted a stone built inn with some charming archways. The sign swinging above the doorway said "Ubrico Soldati". Might as well start there. Lupita opened the door and was pleased to find that the establishment was actually clean and staffed. This also put a damper on her plans, as it would be harder to convince them to hire a self-proclaimed musician off the street. With no instrument. Lupita smiled to herself. She couldn't help but think back to her early twenties all those decades ago, when she was trying to make a name for herself on nothing but her skill as a musician. And her silver tongue, of course. Lupita sauntered in and gave a quick once over of the faces of the bar's patrons. They seemed grim enough. A little energy could really pump up business. A sea shanty, maybe.

The half elf made her way over to the counter and signaled what she assumed to be the tavern keeper. As they approached, Lupita took on a concerned look.

"Excuse me, my friend. I couldn't help but notice that your lovely establishment seems to be a little dreary this morning. Ah, but have no fear, for I am a quite seasoned entertainer. Now you're suspicious and you are right to be so. Very astute. But I offer you an olive branch. All I ask is for breakfast and lunch. In return, I whip this gloomy atmosphere into something a bit more festive, eh? What say you to that?" she asked, flashing her most charming and confident grin.

Rolls

Charm: 8+1= 9 - Lupita wants to sing for the tavern in exchange for meals.

Mass Effect: Vigil

Kaya and Tamás on the beach

Havana, Cuba

Febuary 7th, 2187

Afternoon

“Canlius!”

Still chasing after his lover, Tamás made his way through the crowd at the security checkpoint without much trouble. He didn’t give the pursuit up even if the turian always seemingly vanished from the corner of his eye. It seemed never-ending as if Canlius wasn’t even paying attention until he went into an alley. Tamás followed without any hesitation. The alleyway was somewhat dirty with trash bags scattered around and trash cans filled. But just near one of them was something strangely familiar. Upon a closer look, Tamás realized that it was… a kuwashii visor sliced in half.

And when he reached for it, Tamás was back on the war-torn Citadel as the chaos was unfolding all around him. The broken visor lay beside a well-dressed turian that wore an expensive armor set with his colony markings painted on the chest piece. It didn’t protect him from the Reaper forces. He was one of the many victims that were caught off-guard by an explosion caused by one of the oculi occupying the skies. But, he wasn’t Canlius. Tamás felt relief and then guilt for thinking so selfishly.

Then, before he had the chance to leave, Tamás realized, to his horror, that the turian was still alive and alert. He stared at him and said, “Get me up. I can’t feel my legs.”

Tamás was so startled that he remained speechless for a second. That explosive should’ve killed him in all honestly. But, instead, the turian was alert and still insisting on helping him back up. There wasn’t much left to ease his suffering nor time before the Reapers found them. Tamás knew that he had to keep going. He tried his best to avoid the pleads for help from the dying turian as he went for the emergency exit. But, it proved incredibly difficult to do so.

Outside, and with the image of that dying turian seared into his mind, Tamás was more determined than ever to find Canlius—alive or… dead. But then, he saw someone going down into the lower wards. Without a second thought, Tamás gave chase assuming that it was Canlius, and then called him out. “Canlius?!”

“Canlius is that you?! Canlius!!”

“Excuse me, are you alright?” Kaya asked, waving a hand in front of the shell shocked human. The smell of the ocean wafted up pleasantly from the sea, the breeze carrying the sounds of laughter. Kaya recognized him as one of the new additions to the team. One of the ones replacing Sigma. He hadn’t said much of anything to the man but still invited him out. Albeit via omni-tool. Kaya was horrible with introductions.

Tamás was surprised by the salarian’s presence and the fact he wasn’t on the Citadel anymore. Instead, he was staring at the ocean with someone staring at him rather awkwardly. He took a moment to compose himself before speaking with a weary tone. “It’s… It’s nothing.”

Kaya doubted that. But he was a complete stranger and the look on the man’s face told the salarian this was a scar on his soul. He knew what that was like, so he didn’t pry. Instead he steeled himself to make a formal introduction. Kaya would have felt more comfortable braving machine gun fire. He stuck his hand out, his arm a little too rigid.

“This is the customary human greeting, yes? I am Erinle Laka Greengrove Voten Kaya...but you can just call me Kaya, it’s far easier to remember.” he said a little sheepishly.

Tamás couldn’t help but chuckle at the question. It reminded him of Zrartak back on the Citadel, but a little least awkward and a lot older. Tamás took his hand and shook it before introducing himself. “Tamás Zsolt-Cox. Don’t worry about mispronouncing it, a lot of people often do. Just call me Bolt or Tamás, if you can.”

Kaya let go of his hand and immediately had to idea what to do with them. So he put them behind his back in what he hoped was a more dignified stance than it felt like. “Okay, Bolt. How are you finding the team so far? I believe there are some more of us scattered about. I think I saw Karnoc yelling at some water earlier.” he commented. Kaya began to casually walk along the shoreline, hoping Tamás would follow suit.

Upon being asked about the team, Tamás realized that he knew nothing about them nor there were already others. All he got was just the notification for SRN to leave for Earth immediately without any notes or dossiers. But he didn’t blame it on them since the network connection between the Citadel and Earth was still terrible. Although, it didn’t take much for Tamás to figure out that Kaya was part of the team.

“I assume you’re talking about SRN, right?” Tamás followed the salarian. “I actually don’t know anyone else. I… just got here.”

“Right, of course. Well, you have Karnoc, like I mentioned earlier. He’s a bit...aggressive, but he’s a great fighter. I happen to quite like him. There aren’t many people who are unapologetically themselves. I think Janiri is around here somewhere too. She’s an Asari. Between you and me I think she’s a little...out of her element here. She’s kind, however, I’m sure you’d like her.” Kaya explained, letting the waves wash over his feet. The sensation was nice. Nicer than a gust of arid, desert wind anyway.

“The others are a bit more...mercenary, I suppose you could say. Keslia mostly keeps to herself, I don’t think we’ve traded more than a few words. Kysar is...interesting. I don’t particularly trust him but he’s competent and I suppose that has to do for our purposes. Then there’s Katya, our leader of sorts. She’s a human like yourself. She’s kept us alive so far which is more than some.” he pondered aloud, sidestepping a laughing couple playing in the tide.

“Then of course, me.” he added awkwardly as an afterthought. “I’m a sniper. All the rest are a mix of biotics and gunmen. “I think I read your dossier before you got here, you’re an...engineer, correct?” he asked with genuine curiosity. “You… you read my dossier?” Tamás asked with a subtle hint of shock in his voice. “Then, you know about…”

Kaya glanced at him with some confusion, then realized this must be connected to his incident earlier. “I know very little of your personal history. For team members, the dossiers are just a record of your skills. The SRN keeps their member’s privacy. Um, so no and you don’t have to speak about it if you don’t wish to. I’m sure all of us have some dark shadows in our past.” Kaya said gently, silently scolding himself for not clarifying such things before.

“Good.” Tamás breathed a sigh of relief while looking up at the Citadel. It was so beautiful to witness even though it had seen better days. Hell, it was the first time seeing the outside of it before the war. So, he marveled at the space station while forgetting about his surroundings for a minute. Then, he felt sorrow upon noticing the scars of battle for a war that seemed eternal. It was way worse within the station.

Kaya watched him for a moment. “Have you been there? The Citadel, I mean. I had lived on Erinle my whole life. I only left because the reapers showed up so I haven’t really had the chance to visit. I imagine it’ll be a while before the opportunity presents itself.” he said, now also gazing up at the floating station in the sky.

“Yeah, that’s… that’s my home.” There was sadness in Tamás’ voice upon answering the question. He kept on walking along the beach leaving behind the salarian for a moment of peace. Kaya watched him walk on and got the sense he was finished talking. That was fine with the quiet salarian. He understood the comfort of silence.

Avonshire - D&D Based Adventure

Previous post was unnecessary. Have a good one.

Avonshire - D&D Based Adventure

@Lewascan2

I did let him know and he threatened to boot me off the RP because I didn't wait for "permission" to fix a non consequential error. If I had just done it and not said anything this wouldn't be a situation. When the rules are this strict it stops feeling like a game and more like a job. And I already work enough in my real life. So I appreciate the effort, but I'm good. Nothing against anybody, but its just not my style.

Avonshire - D&D Based Adventure

@Sigil It was already a part of my character sheet, I just misinterpreted the item on my DnD CS. Its not like I'm adding anything to my inventory. This is the second time you've had an issue with me making an incredibly minor change. If it's such a hang up, I think it best that I leave the RP. I like the group, but if I have to tell you every time I make a small edit, I'm not going to enjoy myself.

I hope everyone has a good time, thanks for having me.

Avonshire - D&D Based Adventure

@Sigil Changed handheld to normal crossbow. For some reason I thought it was just one handed.

Avonshire - D&D Based Adventure

Made a few grammar and spelling edits like a minute after posting.

Avonshire - D&D Based Adventure

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Alastor Shore Tiefling, Fighter (Champion), Level 03 HP: 31 / 31 Armor Class: 16 Conditions: N/A Location: Darenby, The Infamous Pear Action: N/A Bonus Action: N/A Reaction: N/A

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Alastor could almost hear his uncle scolding him in the back of his head as he watched Victoria stifle a giggle. She wiped away the wine at the corner of her mouth and he saw a charismatic little smile.

'Shit.'

She was pretty. Really pretty. Alastor was certain Uncle Richan could feel a disturbance, he could already hear him. "Don't get involved with necromancers, boy! The witches of Lapai were buxom, were they not? Did you feel the same way when you saw them raise a horde of monsters that tore our men apart!?"

He was always very theatric. But he wasn't wrong. The Lapai Coven was a veritable wasps nest and every necromancer in there was fine. Not that Alastor knew for sure whether or not Veronica was a necromancer. It was just a feeling. Mostly from the hog. If she didn't have that Alastor probably wouldn't have suspected anything amiss. He cleared his head of these thoughts by downing the last of the mead. Thankfully he was distracted by another new arrival, another attractive ('DAMN IT!') woman with a sprite dancing around on her shoulder. She was dressed like a holy woman but she at least seemed a bit more relaxed than the grim creature sitting across from him.

”Don’t think I’ve seen this many ladies work on a single quest before.” she comments as she looks around the party. 'You're telling me lady.', Alastor thought to himself. She locked eyes with him. ”Not to forget you, of course. Just a… serendipitous encounter.”

"No of course, I quite agree. It is a pleasant change." Alastor replied, surprisingly diplomatic. They didn't have much time to think on it though because yet another person was joining them at the table. A man, thankfully. Not like that changed anything for Alastor's apparently rampant horniness today. An elf too, which was turning out to be a peculiar weakness for Alastor if Victoria and Veneth were anything to go by. Luckily, this half-elf wasn't really Alastor's type. For one he was incredibly small. Alastor had almost mistaken him for a tall dwarf for a brief second. Secondly, there was a coldness about him. Alastor had seen it in some of the veteran soldiers he served under back on the Crescent Coast. Seen too much death and not enough love. It can curdle the soul. Like spoiled milk.

Hugh made his introductions and Kosara immediately started interrogating the poor bastard. She meant well but even Alastor, who was notoriously bad at picking up on other people's feelings, could tell the small monk was getting pissed. He was saved by the cleric, Marita, establishing in a not so polite way that they should discuss their skills. Dead weight, was the words she used.

"Well you're a right firecracker, aren't ya?" Alastor chirped with a cheeky smile, but he respected it. Sometimes it took that sort of firmness to get a group into order. He wasn't sure that attitude would make her many friends though. He waited as the others went through their skill sets. Marita was a healer, which was obvious and Alastor was grateful for it. Too many things can go wrong on a mission and its easy to end up dead. Hugh was more of a rogue type, which Alastor supposed could be useful. At least his skill with a bow would be. Then it came to Veronica. A bard...among other things. Alastor only vaguely recognized one of the names. Jaisdan church...he recalled something about law and death but that barely soothed any of his misgiving.

'Maybe if you paid more attention in seminary, you git.' flared his inner monologue. 'Shut up, me.' he retorted to himself. Again, his eyes flicked to the boar, standing hauntingly silent. He saw her pet it earlier. The damn thing didn't even twitch. Then there was a lull in the conversation and Alastor figured he might as well go next.

"Well I'm sure the lot of you have already figured me out, I'm not that complex. I'm a swordsman, trained as a duelist if you care about specifics. I'm good at handling combatants one on one or in multiples. My style is more speed over power, so I make a right annoying distraction. I've also some skill with a crossbow but if I'm using that, we're in dire straits indeed." he finished with an amused chuckle.

Avonshire - D&D Based Adventure

Did an edit for punctuation in most recent IC post.

Avonshire - D&D Based Adventure

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Alastor Shore Tiefling, Fighter (Champion), Level 03 HP: 31 / 31 Armor Class: 16 Conditions: N/A Location: Darenby, The Infamous Pear Action: N/A Bonus Action: N/A Reaction: N/A

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Alastor greeted each newcomer coolly. It was strange, it was a little like when he left home to pursue this life. Meeting strangers in a strange place to do a probably strange job. It had been a year since he left the Kadosh estate so he had made some friends in Dizar, the city where he met Zern. But coming here almost felt like starting from square one again. Not that he was going to stay. Alastor doubted he would have much reason to stay in Avonshire after this job.

"Alastor, pleased to meet you." he said casually to each of his new teammates. The mead he was drinking was bitter. He supposed he should have expected it to be. He wasn't even sure why he ordered it, he didn't particularly like beer. Alastor guessed he thought he would look more...competent drinking a beer. Gods, that sounded daft even in his head. He instead focused his attention on his new companions. Kosara was the most...eye-catching, one could say. With lovely white horns and dressed in, funnily enough, a belly dancer's outfit. He silently wondered if she was from the coast, the attire was certainly similar. But he kept the question to himself. Best not to get too familiar just yet. Who knows if she'll survive the job. His train of thought was interrupted by the clerical looking woman.

"Any word from the sheriff?"

"Nothing other than his letter. You'd think he'd be here to meet us." Alastor pondered aloud between sips of mead. He didn't know why he was still drinking it. He glanced at the half-elf that had just walked in and gave her his greeting. She carried a violin case on her back. A musician? Alastor had heard of bards who also did some adventure work on the side but he had never met one himself. But there was something off about this bard. A certain feeling she gave him when he looked at her. The feeling grew stronger when he noticed the creature at her side. A boar, covered in wrappings. Alastor knew what boar acted like. His uncle used one to hunt. They're noisy and inquisitive creatures. Constantly snuffling and grunting about. But not this one. It stood silently. Like a ghost. There was something unnatural about it, Alastor could feel it. The elf, Victoria, gave him a polite nod. Alastor was sure his faced betrayed his suspicion. His sword was resting against the wall next to his chair and pack. He pulled it a little closer to him.

Then Kathryn arrived. Alastor was a big guy but this woman was nearly a head taller than him. He raised his mead at her approach, trying his best to look as not intimidated as possible. She seemed nice enough, Kosara was particularly taking a liking to her. Alastor was taking another drink of his mead (he paid for the damn thing, might as well finish) when he heard Kathryn say she was a half giant and she could still grow. He choked on his beer and had to painfully muscle it down to avoid spitting it up on the table.

"Bloody hell, you're gonna get bigger!?" he asked in an incredulous tone.

@Remipa Awesome@Sigil@Dragoknighte