[Outside Vers] Ludstone Manor

[Odyleon]

Outdoors was indeed much better than indoors – and Ody had no need to mask his fear of being trampled by the newcomer, Drake, as cautiousness. It was fear, plain and simple, and did not make him any less of himself, for having no fear means having no brain to speak of. Let's not even mention his 'pet', coiling around his body like a snake, which was exactly what it was, a snake. A snake, hmm, like the Oroboros, symbol of Alchemy and token of endless wisdom, but the Oroboros was always shown as eating its own tail, whereas this particular snake was not – and arguably interested in devouring body parts other than its own. The snake-owner sounded friendly enough, though, and Ody wasn't distrustful by nature, despite all the times he had been backstabbed before.

"Serale, sir Giant" he replied, waving a hand clad in a grey, fingerless glove, its fingers long and pale and its nails perfectly clipped – a most stark contrast to the rest of his sloppy figure, especially the uncombed, spiky hair "I'm Odyleon..." So many titles to enumerate, so little time – and Ody chose the vague route "... and I'm someone... come from somewhere to do something? Seriously, all we know is that Lord Ludstone needs a beast by the name of Aboleth captured." His gaze turned to the Versian nobleman, his pitch black pupils narrowing ever so slightly as he scanned him from head to toe. 'And let's hear what the man himself has on his mind – he and his Dwarf, apparently.'

Could the so-called Professor be a fellow Alchemist? It didn't really matter if he was, because in the end, most Alchemists kept their colleagues in very low regard, calling them charlatans and witch doctors when not actually accompanying such statements with actions usually far from proper for a scholar. Ody was bound to know – his own Master Alchemist had made it very clear just how good an Alchemist he thought the Problem Solver was. The slightest hint of a sigh escaped his pale lips as he listened the short oddity butcher the common tongue like all self-respecting Dwarves were supposed to. 'What do we want? Pracenda! When do we want it? Now! ... no fish though...' came the usual mental tangent.

[Rygan Nebarska]

Rygan had been neither impressed or scared by the Giant's size, or the snake, he had seen one or two giants before and had no unfounded, or founded for that matter, general fear of them. Now, if one was coming at him in a rage..., Rygan broke that counterproductive line of thought and greeted the giant who had at least so far proven himself quite friendly.

"Serale Drake," Rygan began, "I am Rygan Nebarska, and all I know at this moment is we will be trying to capture an Arboleth, but I'm sure you already know that much from the ad in the Herald," the man said with a small grin, "Not to worry, Lord Ludstone will tell us all more shortly."

After he had said this, the Lord Ludstone and the dwarven professor, most likely the man Lord Lumbridge would have lead the expedition, emerged. Upon further examination, Rygan noticed how oddly dressed he was, a detail he had, strangely enough, overlooked when Lord Lumbridge and Professor, "Conrad, he just didn't pronounce the "C" due to his accent," Rygan thought, appeared. He had been more interested in Lord Lumbridge and the more important aspects of the dwarf than his clothing.

Rygan then chose this moment, while they were all waiting for the others to come out, to enter Clara again to get a feel for this place and the people around him with his sense of the arcane.

[Nimh]

ooc: ouchies - didn't realize how long it'd been since I last posted. Sorry guys! At least it gave you some time to interact with one another. I'm going to try to push this thread to a close as soon as possible so we can open up the actual adventure part

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Alexander Ludstone was not the sort to allow oddities to ever make him look twice or appear astounded. He specialized in rarities and strange things, of course, finding them to be of an extreme curiosity, but he always liked to give off the impression that they were more mundane and commonplace to him than they ever were to others. While his wife had found the small group a bit of a surprise, he did not, however, seem that distracted or overwhelmed by the variety of races and men that stood around him. It may have been quite possible that he had seen a thelyri before, given his brief sweep of the visitors, but given their rarity, it was doubtful. Giants, too, were not all that commonplace, particularly in Vers where they stood out like sore thumbs. These, however, were easier to spot than a thelyri. Still, he gave them all the same smile as he strode forward, placing himself at the head of the group exiting the manor home and the giant that could not even begin to start fitting himself inside of the structure. The time that lulled between conversations and the easy-going atmosphere allowed for both Drake and Rygan to enter clara as they waited for something of significance to occur.

Ludstone didn't really flinch when the giant's booming voice broke out over them. He merely peered up at the giant, his smile stretching and his eyes narrowing as sun rays swept over them. "Serale, goodman Drake," he responded with a small chuckle, his voice projected loud enough so that the larger figure could hear him. "I haven't told them much, no," he continued with a small cant of his head as he pivoted to include the others in the conversation. "So why don't we get to that? I was planning on doing this over some pracenda, but it seems we'll have to wait for the dining tables to be brought outside, as we don't want to exclude anyone, do we?" He looked back up at the giant as if to make sure Drake had specifically heard this. "So while we wait for the meal to be moved, why don't we talk business, hmm?"

Clearing his throat, Alexander clasped his hands behind his back and positioned himself so that he was half-facing the giant, half-facing the group that had joined them from inside. "I am Alexander Ludstone, as many of you have presumed. I am sorry I have kept you waiting, but Professor Conrad and I had to have a discussion about the venture before I broached it to my volunteers." Here, he paused and smiled again, glancing briefly at the dwarf that had joined them. "He will be leading the expedition. Conrad knows the area better than myself and seems to have an interest in the aboleth, so he seemed just right for the job, you understand. There is, after all, a considerable risk in pursuing this creature, as I am sure many of you are aware. For those that are not, what you need to know is that the aboleth is an aquatic creature. It dwells in the lake here, thrown there by some local monstrosity, I've been told. The aboleth has been known to possess a power of sorts. It naturally has the ability that many mystics strive to learn. How powerful it is, I'm not sure, but it is rumored that they have the strength and knowledge possessed by a master mystic. Of course, because of the risk, I am willing to reward all of you handsomely...if it is brought back alive. If it isn't...well...I won't apologize, but you won't be getting a single silver from me." Here he paused, closely examining expressions to take note of their reactions. "You see, I don't want to harm the creature, but I also don't think it wise to allow it to roam the countryside threatening the well-being of the locals. That's rational, isn't it?" He posed the question with a smooth smile, a hand lifting to rub the cleft of his chin.

[Holland]

Holland stood quietly at the back of the group. His ears listened for the intonation and inflection of Lord Ludstone’s words. He appreciated the man’s candor. Holland pondered the difficulty involved. Holland did not have knowledge of an aboleth….a lake dwelling, mystic creature that roamed the countryside harming villagers. Did the creature have legs? How could Lord Ludstone hope to keep the creature in captivity? Holland realized that transporting a captured aquatic creature would be a difficult feat. Yet….Ludstone did not want the creature harmed. Holland found this fact reassuring. Perhaps the dwarf called Professor ‘Onrad would answer Holland’s questions when the expedition was explained.

[Odyleon]

Alexander Ludstone's first speech sounded less than enjoyable to the Human's ears, certainly far less enjoyable than Kataryzna's company had been, just a few minutes before. Not because of the money, for Ody was a pauper by choice, not necessity – his talents were developed enough to earn him a living, if only he wanted to. It was because Ludstone had, frankly, no idea of what he was sending them against. Rumor had it, the Aboleth had the power of a Master. Perhaps the lordling did not know the full extent of a Master's power?

Well, 'immense' summarized it pretty well. Just because most Masters one came across at the various Universities were generally friendly and well-behaved, did not mean they couldn't be very deadly. A Master could annihilate a town or city of decent size by tapping into their full potential. And even worse, because Ody himself was a Mystic, he knew the impressive repertoire of tricks, deceit, and terror that the Aboleth, if the rumors had some truth to them, could wield. His own Sphere; capable of horrors beyond the horrors of Necromancy.

While Holland nurtured doubts, Ody chose to actually voice them out. Words could only tell so much, though, and even if he was ever loathe to use his scrying abilities on people, he felt that the safety of the gathered party came first. Odyleon had been betrayed before, losing his companion Jackal to the treachery of one Christine Salmarky, turtle soup lover and rogue captain extraordinaire, her smooth-talking bosun Fantam and a crew of assorted Gaol faces. Not this time.

Staring off into the distance, he allowed himself to enter Clara once more, this time to actually cast. He drew Mana by Focusing and Channeling it into reality, shaping it through the familiar ways of Divination into two identical Reveal spells, crafted from the same energy stream as they were but Initiate spells. The first one he attached to Ludstone's mind, the second one to Professor Conrad's, fueling them with enough Mana to last for a while.

"Serale, Master Ludstone. I have a few questions for you, if you don't mind..." Ody then announced, his tone bright as his eyes refocused after the casting, and naturally calling the Lord by the wrong title "Assume we can do what you ask of us. First, how do you plan on transporting the Aboleth to this Manor once it is captured? Second, how do you plan on controlling it if it can actually wield magic? And third, since I'm not an avid reader of the Seedling, what kind of crimes has this creature committed to make you think it should be stopped?"

Now it was just a matter of waiting for answers, some of them public and some very personal.

[Rabid]

Professor Conrad coughed, and stepped forwards as if to answer the question. As he did so, the trinkets and glass containers on his vest gave a quiet tinkle sound. Everybody here thought they had been forgotten? Did they really think they were going to be kept in the dark?

"I 'ink, 'ir Ludstone, it should be 'y privilage to answer 'is question." He looked around at all the men, short and tall. Of course, they were all taller than he. Much taller. He stepped over to the man named Holland, putting his face fairly close to the man's chest, and looking up into his eyes. Letting out a grunt, he walked over to Odyleon. "'Oy; You 'ave been hired to work for Sir Ludstone. O' course we'll tell yah what's goin' on. Jus' not right now. You 'ave been 'ired to do a job, which includes stopping tha creature. Tis not your business tha reason Ludstone 'ere 'ants it."

He turned around, and walked back to the spot he had been standing. Pulling out a pipe, he looked back at Oyleon. "I 'ill tell yah how we'r gonna catch tha beast later." Professor Condrad pulled out a small stick of what looked like licourice, putting one end into the pipe. Instantly, a red glare emitted from the pipe, and it started to smoke.

[Rygan Nebarska]

Rygan had dropped out of Clara, his attention drawn by the conversation that was taking place. He listened to the speach his new employer, the Lord Ludstone, very attentively, showing some of the focus that he had demonstrated while learning Thaumaturgy, the same focus that, when fully used, blinded him to some of the other details around him, along with how stubborn he was, it was his blessing and his curse.

All in all, the Thaumaturge was not at all surprised by the Lord's oration, he had expected or already known the majority of it, and was sure they would know the truly important information a little later, this was just a preliminary briefing, if you will.

What interested Rygan more was the actions of the presumed Mystic Odyleon. Rygan could tell he was casting a spell or spells of some kind, though he did not know the exact details. The somewhat odd human then engaged in conversation with Professor Conrad as if nothing had happened, and got pretty much nowhere with it. "So much for that," Rygan thought, as he kept his silence and waited for more significant action.

[Drake Stormbringer]

Drake amused himself with his Sphere of light, passing the time as the guests slowly moved from the room they were in to the outside. Watching in amusement as his snake's eyes followed the orb's movements the Giant quickly let the glowing ball fade away as other means of interest and passing one's time became available. Looking at the two figures that came out of the mansion together Drake was faced yet again with one of the smallfolk. Not to say Humans and their like were big in Drake's eyes.

But unlike most of the smallfolk Dwarves always had a different place in Drake's view, for while they were small and fairly edible, they lived and fought with a temper much like Giants, and this specific Giant had a liking to the hairy race. "Serale mister Conrad, Lord Ludstone" he said, stroking the scaly body that was coiled around his torso.

A reassured smile crept to his face when he had heard none was said until that time he listened to the ostentatious Lord, with his clothes as any other Versian, colorful and impractical for the most part. Soaking in the information the best way he could Drake was slightly reluctant to go through this as he heard that the creature possessed Mystical powers the way he did, despite of common belief Giants were not stupid, and Drake was not going to go after a master of any sphere just yet.

But the fact that there were other people around made him relax, the creature was bound to have some weak spot and it was up for the new formed party, if indeed all would stay in it, to exploit them and cash it in for what Ludstone called a handsome reward. Seeing the reasons for Drake's travel to the magical capital of the empire he was hoping for a big reward of the monetary kind but one could never know.

"Erm, Conrad, may I inquire as to what is the field in which you are a professor?" he asked. Professorship was all nice and dandy but the Giant could not see how a professor in poetry would aid them in this cause, and it was good to know what his party members were capable of doing.

[Rabid]

ooc: I know you're usually not supposed to post before others do, but i guess here I have to? Not too sure... pm me if you wanna behead me for doing so :P

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Professor Conrad took a deep breath of his pipe, and blew a large smoke ring into the air. His eyes looked through the ring as if it were a target, and looked directly at Drake. "I'd ask yer name, 'ut to tell you th' truth, I don' really care." He walked over, and blew a small breath of smoke at the giants shins. The hight of the man didn't really impose apon the short dwarf, seeing as how so far the short man seemed an arogant snot.

"I study chemistry. 'n alchemist, you might call 'e." He looked up at the giants face, of which he could hardly strain his neck to do so, studying the giants strong body. "You'll be a good body to 'ave."

[Nimh]

Alexander Ludstone stared with a bland, rather unsurprised expression, his blue eyes bearing into Odyleon as he posed his question. With his spell Reveal set both on Alexander and Conrad, it wasn't entirely difficult to read the thoughts of the young master of the manor and his employee. Questioning me? Only my father ever questioned me like that. Of course everything will out. He's probably just incompetent. Just trying to make me look incompetent. Oh, bother, when was pracenda going to be ready?

He cleared his throat, a slip of a smile spreading over thin, red lips. "I was planning on leaving the transportation of the Aboleth up to Professor Conrad here. He's been after this creature for a while and through all of his research, I'm sure he's come up with an adequate isolation for the Aboleth, I assure. As for what crimes it has committed, I'm sure there's a vast number of them. Conrad has assured me that this beast is very dangerous and that we would all benefit by keeping it out of the wilderness where small children might happen upon the thing. Would you want your children snatched up by this monster? I sure wouldn't." Ludstone paused here, a little distressed. It seemed to have just dawned on him that his wife was pregnant and that he would have a child of his own in the near future. No, no, that won't do. They need to get this thing caught. We need to confine it.

"I'm not asking that we kill the creature..." he trailed off, about to address the man and realizing he had no idea what his name was. "Hm. Anyway, it's far more humane if we merely confine it and make sure it's needs are taken care of in a manner that keeps it from preying on the people of the countryside. We've been devising ways to keep it from breaking lose, my good man, no worries."

At that moment, a servant strode forward, gesturing to Alexander. Alexander belied no traces of relief on his face, although Odyleon could tell he was relieved to have this little interruption. "Pracenda is ready just around the corner. If you'll all follow me, you can seat yourself at the table." He paused, glancing up at the giant. [b]"I'm afraid we don't have chairs big enough for you, sir, but you can still sit with us. We'll try to accommodate you with food as best as possible.

Ludstone led them on a short walk around the side of the manor home where a long table covered in a pale yellow table cloth had been set up over-looking the lake. The table was littered with a variety of food, which consisted of local fruits such as apples and pears, several different types of rice dishes, and a small assortment of vegetables. There was a scant amount of meats, most of which were small ducks and sliced fish. The fruits had been sprinkled with cinnamon or sugar, while the meats had been roasted and spiced. There was enough variety that just about anyone would have found something to eat.

Ludstone's wife had been escorted outside, although she did not sit at the table, but on a small patio that was connected to the home. She sat in a well-cushioned chair with her lute awkwardly arranged upon her belly. She strummed a few notes, nothing akin to a melody, merely tuning the thing for now.

[Holland]

A smile formed on Holland’s face. Ludstone and the dwarf were a gaggle of contradiction that wouldn’t confuse even the slowest of creatures. Professor Conrad said they were hired to do a job. Ludstone said the expedition wouldn’t see one silver if the creature was not brought back alive….yet the party was not priviledge to the ability of Professor Conrad to keep the creature alive if it were caught. Ludstone was “sure” the professor had come up with adequate isolation for transporting the aboleth. But Conrad had said, “ O' course we'll tell yah what's goin' on. Jus' not right now.

Holland felt amusement at the comedy. Would the hearty members of the expedition undertake such a dangerous task basing their reward on the unknown prowess of an eccentric dwarf?

Holland smelled the food. At least he was eating good…and he hadn’t done that in a month. If the rations he would prepare for the expedition were a fraction as good as the current food, Holland’s time would be worth it. Holland realized his need for money was negligible. The adventure seemed a good way to pass the time. Besides…he was amused by the odd dwarf and was sure the quest would be interesting if not profitable.

[Odyleon]

"I wouldn't know, Master Ludstone" Ody jested, replying to Ludstone's (rather weak) responses. "I have no children myself." If the Aboleth could really enslave people to its will, it had no need to snatch children, who would make weak servants compared to a grown man. That and kids could annoy someone to death. This he knew because he had been one of the most annoying kids ever. Aeternia, he still annoyed people to death.

Well, it turned out the spells did not prove as successful as in the caster's wishes, as most of the thoughts crossing Ludstone's mind were little more than a bunch of meaningless junk, and Conrad's were even less revealing. But while the contradiction between the Dwarf's statements and Ludstone's 'truth' were alarming, Ody had never doubted the task would be a dangerous one. In the worst case scenario, a strategic retreat at the very last moment would number among his options – he owed nothing to the lordling and less than nothing to the rude Dwarf. "Well met, professor, and gorgeous outfit if I may add..." and then, little more than a whisper but still loud enough for the Dwarf to hear "... it makes you look taller..."

Ody turned his attention to the meal as the nobleman's servants served it outside. With so many people around here, no-one would notice if he abstained from food altogether. The meat was spiced and the fruits sugared, meaning he could have neither. He gave a slight sigh, waiting for the uncomfortable feast to end, for it reminded him of the hanged man's last meal before the gallows. One more reason to fast.

[Rygan Nebarska]

Rygan watched the various conversations, not taking part in any, just watching and taking note of what was going on, he had learned by experience that in these moments, you learn more by listening and paying attention, though he wondered how much more he may learn if he were able to read minds like his mystic cousins, but no use wasting time and thought on "what-ifs", he would have to ask this Odyleon later what sphere he actually praticed, and, if he was a mystic, what he was able to gather beyond Rygan's knowledge.

This was because he was not able to gather all that much from the conversations, they were mostly small talk and questions with scantly useful answers, the thing of most worth that Rygan heard was that Professor Conrad, the arrogant, rude, and very oddly dressed dwarf, had been studying the Arboleth for a considerable amount of time and that he had been, "Probably?!" Rygan thought, "That isn't much of an assurance considering the creature we are dealing with," devised a way to capture and hold the Arboleth. It was cold comfort, he would just have to wait and see in more detail later.

Pracenda being ready was welcome news to the young Thaumaturge's ears at this point, having only eaten a couple of sandwiches earlier since the morning, he was considerably hungry. He politely selected himself some of a rice dish, some of the pears, some vegetables, and a considerable amount of the meats, though he lamented that there was no steak there, as it was his favorite dish.

[Magus Syfer]

Magus marvelled at the stunning architectural ingenuity splayed before him. He had indeed heard townsfolk gossiping about the lavishly built manor in words of praise and wonder, but he did not think he would be so inspired by the beaty of an inanimate building. Money, riches, they do indeed count for a lot in this world. Here, adventurers from all across Alleria would be gathering to discuss how to hunt down an Aboleth, a monster of the deep. Already he could hear bantering coming from within, and he feared that he had come too late to partake in the hunt.

Magus walked up to the large wooden doors, the only barrier preventing him from seeing the interior of this magnificent manor. Rapping smartly at the door, cursed and sucked in his knuckles. He had knocked too hard.

Presently, the door was opened by a cether, the butler of the manor.

"Serale, my name is Magus. I have travelled afar, and have heard of the hunt for the Aboleth. I seek to join in the hunt, if it's not too late."

[Carly Jr'ana]

Carly travelled with the group from the relative stiffled comfort of the intereor to the bright and bleached surrounds of the gardens, lemonade still in hand she feigned passing boredom towards the giant. Curiosity gnawed at her, having never seen a giant before, and she kept flitting looks at the incredibly tall creature. Whales she had seen, but such a thing as this on dry land was somewhat incredible.

Curtseying to Lord Ludstone and murmurring a formal greeting, the youth of the young nobleman sparked an even greated curiosity in her than the vastness of the giant. Hopes that perhaps she too could rise to the power and social status of a noble flared again within the little heart of the child. Keeping one eye on the noble and another on the giant she returned to her lemonade, letting the talk between the adults filter into her conciousness in drips and drabs.

Once her lemonade had finished they were all directed to the veritable feast, to a little girl like Carly leastways, being laid out on the lawns. Carly took a seat with a certain level of fussing around her summer dress and settling herself so she was just rightly posed in her posture. Looking about herself Carly sought out some form of fish and determined herself to remain quiet until someone directed a comment her way.