AClockworkEd

-ˋˏ ༻ 𝔗𝔥𝔢 𝔏𝔞𝔰𝔱 𝔉𝔢𝔯𝔯𝔶 ༺ ˎˊ-

ALERIS MONFERRAT

Interaction: @pkken@Moonberry

Aleris hushes himself when he hears the guards speaking. No matter how riveting the conversation may be, it is not worth being discovered. A fruitless endeavor though. The soundward bubble served to protect them. But Aleris is every careful. Especially so early in this endeavor. He has reason to be silent beyond the guards' presence. He must consider. Three options ahead of them to traverse. None of the three look particularly promising. Two of them feeling like very likely paths towards a brawl. And one being sub optimal for their goal of getting to the cells as quickly as they can. He weights the options, carefully contemplating each.

The sounds or roars and screams making the contemplation harder. Both due to the added horrors and challenges that such things present, and also because the noise is simply difficult to drown out. He finally comes to a conclusion though. One that he knows that will be a difficult sell. And while he can deceive people fairly easily, he isn't quite as versed in persuasion. He will need to make his suggestion sound.

He hefts his large rusty hook on his shoulder to make holding it more comfortable as he turns to Mikhail. He whispers to the Elf, "Are you a risk taker?" He asked. Not waiting long for an answer, he continues on by explaining the purpose of his question. "I would venture to suggest that if we follow the sounds of screaming and monstrous rage, that there will be very minimal resistance left behind. And that creature may not be inclined to back track. Behind it, might be the safest path forward, as paradoxical as that may sound."

-ˋˏ ༻ 𝔗𝔥𝔢 𝔏𝔞𝔰𝔱 𝔉𝔢𝔯𝔯𝔶 ༺ ˎˊ-

ALERIS MONFERRAT

Interaction: @pkken

"It depends one the fate. And the holder of the string." Aleris responded, continuing the conversation on philosophy as they reach the sewer. "I have smelled of worse. Tell me, have you ever had the displeasure of knowing what the gallbladder of a Hobgoblin smells of? I shudder at the memory."

He hugs the wall and moves closely behind Mikhail just as suggested. He had no issues following Mikhail's instruction, he is but a hired goon for this mission. There is no displeasure or contention from him in the slightest.

"To continue our conversation," He begins as they get deeper into the sewer. "One can never truly know whether their actions come from the twisting of their strand of reality's fabric. Or if instead, it is their own will that pulls themselves from the weave. The fate can be considered defied none the less, no? The perpetrator of the defiance does not quite determine whether it is or is not a defiant act." Aleris explains, quite enjoying the dissection of the topic with Mikhail.

-ˋˏ ༻ 𝔗𝔥𝔢 𝔏𝔞𝔰𝔱 𝔉𝔢𝔯𝔯𝔶 ༺ ˎˊ-

ALERIS MONFERRAT

Interaction: @pkken

Aleris nodded, the Elf's conviction on its own is enough to make him see merit to Mikhail's statement. He would not argue further. To even attempt to do so would be to risk sharing secrets to his faith that he would not dare to spread to those who do not follow his Lord of Death. Instead he looks towards Mikhail and answers his question plainly. "Fate? Well, yes to an extent. We are all fated to die, are we not? Fate however, can be defied. One need only find a Lich for proof of that." He explained, with clear vitriol and ichor tainting his tone when he utters the word 'lich'.

"Understood." Aleris replies firmly as he followed the Elf onto the vessel. "Limited options is quite the builder of trust." He added, knowing good and well that every moment going forward, he will be watching these two sailors. Any errant action would pique his interest and attention. As who knows if these men will even truly row them to where they say they shall? With no better choice though, Mikhail is right, discussing it only risks the lives of these friends of his. "Let us not waste another moment."

-ˋˏ ༻ 𝔗𝔥𝔢 𝔏𝔞𝔰𝔱 𝔉𝔢𝔯𝔯𝔶 ༺ ˎˊ-

ALERIS MONFERRAT

Interaction: @pkken

Aleris tugged at his hood. Mikhail had a good point. Though he did not care much for it. Especially at a time when his hood protects him from such heavy rains. He is about to pull the hood off when Mikhail exclaims his confirmed preconceived notion.

"To be quite fair," Aleris began, "can you call a lone worshipper a cultist? Does a cult not need multiple members?" He asks with a somewhat cheeky tone. Though he was happy to have his offer accepted. Finally having found some work and people to align with. A goal for the short term, something to give him the paths towards his goals in the long term.

With the drinking and revelry completed, Aleris follows the rest out of the bar. His hood firmly back up, perturbed by the severity of the storm. "I have not seen weather like this inland before. It does not feel natural." He comments, though he would freely admit to not being particularly familiar with the region. He was made quite happy for the bubble of protection that Mikhail provided.

"I understand." Aleris replies to the instructions, following closely to the sound of the strumming. He waited until they go a decent bit away from the men at the docks to ask, "Can those men be trusted? Forgive my ignorance, but seems quite the risk to trust our only method of escape to them."

-ˋˏ ༻ 𝔗𝔥𝔢 𝔏𝔞𝔰𝔱 𝔉𝔢𝔯𝔯𝔶 ༺ ˎˊ-

ALERIS MONFERRAT

Interaction: @pkken

"Salt and brine, I am most familiar..." Aleris replies longingly, yet almost cryptically as he thinks off to his first memory in this world. Waking up in the depths of the ocean to the wonderous horrors of his Lord's visage. "It is more the crowd that I am less equipped for. As you say it yourself, I hold no illusion to my lack of social conformity. And you are well right to be weary. I am... Strange. But that is also precisely what I am able to offer you. What use is a man that offers skills and qualities too similar to your own? I cover what you might not." He explained, his tone not changing in the slightest. "As for specific capabilities, I carry with me a breadth of knowledge and skills. Namely, power that my Lord has granted unto me to strike, and restrain those that need it with great efficiently. I am a mage of Rapture. To what weight such title carries, I am not certain. But it is what I am." He explains relatively thoroughly.

-ˋˏ ༻ 𝔗𝔥𝔢 𝔏𝔞𝔰𝔱 𝔉𝔢𝔯𝔯𝔶 ༺ ˎˊ-

ALERIS MONFERRAT

Interaction: @pkken@Moonberry

"Opportunity, is all." Aleris replies to the elf in the pointed hat. "I have recently found myself wanting for coin. So I have traveled in search of an opportunity to earn some. Or at least, if not coin perhaps earn some favors. Anything that can enrich me would be of great benefit. But frankly, I do not know this region well. So I sit here before you know in hopes that... well, in hope of anything really. I heard lamenting. So if I might help in alleviating it, who am I to turn my nose an such a chance?" Aleris speaks in a consistent and cool tone. Just barely enough emotion is spliced within as to prove that he does in fact feel, something. His words fly from his mouth with the speed of certainty but laced with the ichor of deception. As if every word is a half truth. Not for sake of the lie, but for sake of the self. Omission in the name of a guarded self. Armor forged through careful choice of words.

He listened closely to the men speaking around the tavern. Eavesdropping some more. Though still listening to Mikhail so he does not miss what the elf says in reply. Once there is a lull in the conversation though, Aleris took the opportunity to note what he has heard.

"It would seem that fortune is smiling upon your comrades as well." Aleris notes. "Far be it for me to suggest anything unlawful. But if you wish to relieve the castle of the burden of caring for prisoners, then we might just have an opening. I'm sure the murmurs of this tavern have hit both of your ears as well. A lack of guards presents quite the opportunity for you." He pauses, taking a deep breath and scratching the nail of his middle finger with the nail of his thumb. "Perhaps an opportunity for us, if you find need of my services." He smiles warmly, a stark contrast to his previously neutral expression. The wide smile almost not seeming to fit his face. He patiently awaits their answer, hoping for them to go out on a limb for his own sake. Whatever the compensation might be. If there is any to be had at all.

-ˋˏ ༻ 𝔗𝔥𝔢 𝔏𝔞𝔰𝔱 𝔉𝔢𝔯𝔯𝔶 ༺ ˎˊ-

ALERIS MONFERRAT

Interaction: @pkken@Maverick Six

The past weeks had been troubling for Aleris. Memories of times gone from his mind. Seemingly entire people that he knew, wiped away from his memory. And even odder, in one such case he felt better off for it. Medness, every thought and lack of thought about it driving him closer to an edge that he cannot afford to reach. He must do well for his Master. His Lord, who granted his powers upon him when he came to this world, must have their wishes fulfilled. And every lost memory feels like a failure. A piece along the path towards his final goal that Aleris had stripped from him. A scar on his chest that he still remains unnervingly lucid of the fact that he does not recall what caused it. Waking up in a swamp, surrounded by redcap corpses, with no recollection of why he was even there to begin with. Were these merely isolated events? Or had he lived an entire life unknown to him now? Any every possibility in between are equally possible. All flash through his mind like a horror film. One even greater than any fear of the deepest depths that one might experience.

He could not wallow in it. He needed to progress. He was stronger than he was at his start. That much he knew. But not strong enough. Not wealthy enough, nor had he begun to attract followers to his Lord's flock. Failures, all of them, in his eyes. As he surely believed they were in his Lord's. He marched on, stomping through the rainy and stormy weather. On a path for his next job or opportunity. Anything that would allow him to earn coin or anything else along the way. Though as the storms pick up, Aleris' hood is becoming less sufficient in keeping him protected from the weather. Luckily, he stumbles upon an inn. 'The Last Ferry', as the sign out front named it. Seems to Aleris that it is more for sailors than the typical traveler. But in a storm like this, Aleris can't rightly afford to be picky. He enters, The large rusty metal hook slung across his back bangs against the doorframe as he enters as he is still getting used to carrying it on his back. He wastes no time in moving towards the fireplace to warm himself and attempt to get a little dry.

Looking around the room, he sees quite the odd collection of people. The Bunnykin, and the Elf with what appears to be metal arms stand out the most to him. He eavesdrops, listening in as they discuss their situation. It seems like his best opportunity to offer his services. Or at the very least, it may lead to something greater in the future. He stands, walking over towards their table and placing a hand on the top of a chair, preparing to pull it out should they allow him to join them.

"Apologies for listening, uninvited. But I heard you two speak from by the fire. I'm sorry to hear about the imprisonment of your comrades. My name is Aleris. May I sit?" He asked, introducing himself in a neutral tone. His expression is curious, and very calm. Almost too calm for someone still standing in a cold and rain soaked cloak.