[center][h1][url=https://www.roleplayerguild.com/posts/5157586] [color=MediumAquamarine]Arin von Astastel[/color][/url][/h1][/center] “[color=ed1c24][/color]” Elven ears twitched at the phrase, catching Arin’s attention. He glanced at the dragonborn right as he licked his lips. [color=MediumAquamarine][i]Ah yes, because nothing more says “I am not planning anything nefarious in anyway Bwahaha” than inciting a curse menacingly and then licking your lips as if they were chapped. Could he not be so blatantly obvious about it? … The way he acts makes me think he is an actor playing the part of a classic villain or he is an angsty adolescent in his brooding phase.[/i][/color] Arin paused mid-thought, realizing that he didn’t know how old Vuthaternock was. It had always been difficult to tell with dragonkin. Arin got his derailed thoughts back on track: Vuthaternock’s words. Since Arin couldn’t detect magic being actively used, he was fairly certain that the dragonborn didn’t cast anything. That would mean that Vuthaternock said the words to himself or was reciting what was said to him as a reminder. [color=MediumAquamarine][i]Assuming this is true…[/i][/color] Arin rubbed his chin. If he were to take the words at face value, Vuthaternock’s soul was metaphorically or literally not in his possession at the current moment. If the curse was metaphorical, then it was something Vuthaternock would have to figure out on his own. If the curse were in the literal sense though, Arin could potentially use his expertise as a bargaining chip to strike a deal with the dragonborn. Depending on the nature of the curse, however---… The sudden entrance of Princess Rynn startled Arin out his thoughts, though it was soon replaced with confusion. He bowed deeply as was customary, standing up straight only when Rynn started talking. As Rynn spoke, the elf gradually realized this was the “Lady” they were waiting for, but this raised questions. Why did the guards not just say Princess Rynn was coming to see them? Why did she come alone and not with her parents? There were more questions, but they were, at least at the moment, more of the personal variety and not entirely related to the theft of the Dark Dagger. Besides, based on the princess’s attire, Arin had a sneaking suspicion that he’d have plenty of time to ask those questions later. “I figured now would be the time for questions. I'd rather not waste a moment going over useless information, so tell me what you'd like to know.” Arin waited to see what kind of questions the others would ask. He wanted to see what the others were focused on and gauge how much he could rely on them on investigative matters. He would ask questions if need be, but for now, he remained silent.