Muttonhawk

Call of the Hunt [EliteCommander and Muttonhawk]

At first, Ariel was too distracted to pay full attention to Meesei and Juseich in regards to the jewel, but once she processed Meesei's Jel describing it, she had a double take and looked to each of them in turn with surprise.

"You are correct. It is merely a trick." Juseich said through a grin, "Perhaps ironically dishonest of me, but surprisingly effective." She looked at the Jewel as Meesei held it. "What I said about it being a gift from the Psijic Order and studying it all my life is true though. One of my ancestors was a talented mage and wanted to join their ranks, but they deemed his mind to be too closed, and refused him until he could unlock the jewel's secrets. He died without ever finding out, but the jewel has been passed down through the family. I worked out that there is a point in the woven enchantment where the magicka that flows in sort of... goes someplace else before it flows into the portion that makes the gem glow. I have tried many methods of working out where it goes and what it is doing, but I have had little luck thus far. My family has been using it to detect lies much the same as I have for as long as it has been with us." She looked back up, "The only hint I know of from the last century was when my mother had it around her neck when a powerful conjurer came to court. She was observing an audience with the count, and charged the necklace to see if the conjurer was telling the truth. At that point, the conjurer's Dremora servant clutched his head and began to yell in pain. He had to dismiss it to continue the audience, it caused quite a stir."

Ariel lifted her hand and interrupted in Cyrodilic, not quite keeping up with Juseich's Jel, "I'm sorry, Meesei, did you just say that the jewel doesn't detect lies?" She looked quite confused at the situation.

Call of the Hunt [EliteCommander and Muttonhawk]

When you charge it, it glows regardless of lies, truth, or anything. But it has another passive purpose that Juseich has been trying to find out. I'll have Juseich elaborate in my next post, just got to actually think of something :I

Call of the Hunt [EliteCommander and Muttonhawk]

Well, okay, it can still be a gift from the Psijics, but yeah. Only flickers every now and then on its own, and Juseich can charge it with magicka to make it glow more intensely if she suspects a lie. It could have some other purpose etched into it though, one that Juseich is aware exists, but doesn't know exactly what it is.

Call of the Hunt [EliteCommander and Muttonhawk]

I was tossing up the idea of the jewel basically being a placebo and not really detecting lies, just flickering every now and then. What do you think?

Call of the Hunt [EliteCommander and Muttonhawk]

Ariel took the time to read and reread the contract in front of her. Thankfully it was not too dense, but still clear. There were a few points that were of minor concern, but were likely for those who were swindlers. Otherwise, the repayments were reasonable, as was the amount and property. It was all she could have hoped for. "I believe I have enough for the furnishings, I gathered some savings before moving here." Ariel mentioned as she picked up the nearby quill and scratched her signature onto the agreement. Once it was signed, she felt a rush wash over her that made her realise just how shallow her breathing had become in the interview.

Hasyat took back the contract and produced a small, clean scroll bound by a green cord. He opened it up and wrote a few details in it, before sliding it over to Ariel. "This is your deed to the property. Welcome to Thorn, Ariel Montgrave."

"Welcome tooo Thorn, Areee-el." Juseich said in Dunmeris, then to Jel, "Hist guide you." She extended her hand again.

Ariel took the deed and read it. It didn't quite seem real. She was so excited that she could have jumped for joy, but she restrained herself and merely smiled, before shaking Juseich's hand again. "Thank you. Thank you so much." Ariel replied in Dunmeris. Neiseed did not need to translate.

"Now, I believe our business here is concluded," Juseich said in Jel, prompting Jumps-Over-Turtles, Neiseed and Hasyat so rise from their seats and say their goodbyes. Juseich remained though. Once the others were out of earshot, she looked over to Meesei, "Meesei, was it? There is an opportunity to inspect the jewel as I wait idle for my next appointment." She picked it up off the table and handed it towards her, "I always welcome a different perspective of it."

Call of the Hunt [EliteCommander and Muttonhawk]

Ariel knew that the real reason she had come this far was to be out of the sphere of influence of the coven. They would not bother tracking her down beyond Vvardenfell. Apart from that, she knew the consequences of the more dangerous rituals she knew, and would not practice them here. No harm would come to the city from her as far as she could help it. As for the benefit to the city, she intended to follow the law and pay her taxes. She was still sure that she could make things that the other apothecaries could not. For this answer, she knew she had to be confident, so she sat up straight and kept a calm expression. "It will not. I promise that I will be a boon to the city." She said quickly and surely.

Juseich looked between the jewel and Ariel's face for a short and silent while. With no telling feedback from the jewel, she leaned back and looked either side to Hasyat and Leaps-Over-Turtles. "Are there any more questions?"

Call of the Hunt [EliteCommander and Muttonhawk]

This blasted jewel. Ariel could tell that letting them know about her past had hurt her chances. She thought carefully for a moment about how to respond, wringing her wrist in her hand. "I guess you could say that they did commit some acts that most would find... questionable. I didn't understand them to be immoral until I was banished though." She took a deep breath through her mouth, "No, I was banished because... well there was a point where I realised a suffering I was causing, and I picked the lesser of two evils to stop that suffering. This was against the will of my... superiors." Ariel was not looking at her interviewers directly at this point. With a glance at Meesei, Ariel decided not to divulge further, but she looked up with a quite serious face at Juseich. "I promise, I have no intention of hurting anyone in this city, or endangering it by any means. I'm..." she looked down, "I'm not really a witch anymore. I left that life behind."

There was only a flicker in the jewel as Ariel thought that they might disagree to bringing a pack of werewolves into the city, but Ariel knew the pack meant no harm.

Ariel could see skepticism from Leaps-Over-Turtles still, she had a feeling he would want to investigate further. Juseich, however, leaned forward and looked over her, still thinking. "And what has made Thorn your new home? It seems a long way in any case." Juseich asked.

Ariel started to answered with a similar tone to her previous answer, but she was glad for the moment that not all of them had decided to shun her away. "It was a few things. I had read about Black Marsh before and was quite astounded by the diversity of life here. Both plant and animal. As an alchemist, I've always been interested in discovering more about the properties of possible ingredients in this place." Her hand moved from holding her wrist to holding her fingers, "Additionally, I had heard that Thorn was reputed as a beautiful city, one that I had always wanted to visit." She managed a smile, "This festival has proven its reputation, I must say." She sniffed and her smile faded, "My friends here were travelling down this way anyway, so I took the opportunity to accompany them."

Ariel hoped that the change of topic would detract from her past, but she doubted they would all let it go that easily.

Final Fantasy: Awakened Souls

Hmm, well that's disappointing. Thanks for letting us know, Crimson :(

Call of the Hunt [EliteCommander and Muttonhawk]

Here's a few possibilities I suppose, not sure which would be most characteristic, but one or more could occur:
- None of them really know much about witches and they inquire further.
- At least one of them has heard bad things about witches and argues with the others.
- At least one of them has heard bad things about witches, but recommends that they trust her, otherwise hexes and toads and all that might happen.
- At least one of them knows a few things about witches and inquires into how exactly she got banished, which might open up more cans of worms, because she had declared that she hadn't committed crimes in Morrowind and that might be up to interpretation.
- Juseich, being the scholar that she is, knows a great deal about witches and sees Ariel's worth.

Their reaction doesn't have to include any of these, these were just thoughts. After this bit, I only really feel like "why have you decided to come to Thorn?" should be answered, then we can wrap it up.

Again, sorry for leaving things vague. I probably should have thought this entire interview scene through a little further.

G'night!

Call of the Hunt [EliteCommander and Muttonhawk]

Hmm. Yeah. I now realise I might not have left an obvious response open. I'll think of some options...