While the incident with Fendros was worrying, the awkwardness wore off after a short while. Janius dismissed the vendor, noting that it really wasn't his fault anyway, and the pack sat to observe the rest of the competition. It was slow, and some of them found it boring, but when it was too boring, they had a quick wander to find something to eat. It's not like there was a shortage of food.
Even though Fendros really didn't want to be an inconvenience, he had a feeling that Ahnasha wasn't going to be convinced to go back to the festival until he was at least safely in their room. Not lifting his foot quite high enough for the first step of the staircase made him grateful that she was there to steady him. Soon enough, they found their way to a bed and Fendros laid himself down. "Ahna, my skin was crawling so much back in the square. I felt like I was being accosted by insects." Fendros said tiredly, his eyes drooping, but still looking at Ahnasha, "You remember that time I told you that I tried skooma? It was like that, except with the skooma it lasted for the entire night. I was terrified that it would be the same with the moon sugar once I found out." He turned his head to face Ahnasha properly and put his hand on her arm, "The insects won't return again, will they?" By Fendros' tone, he was still slightly delirious, but at least he seemed to be past the worst of it. His eyes then started to droop shut as if he were about to fall asleep, but before he succumbed, he opened his eyes slightly and took another look at Ahnasha. "I love you, Ahna," he said.
Back at the square, the winners had been selected by the judges, and Rukeewei came in with a well earned second that was a nose away from first. "That Rukeewei may make a sadistic cocktail, but sure knows his way around wine as well." Janius remarked, crossing his arms, "I say he should have come in first place."
"The Altmers' wine was a fine one as well." Ariel added, "Did you get a chance to taste any, Sabine?"
Sabine kept looking at the stage and shook her head.
"Did you want to? I think there are some samples left." Ariel asked.
Sabine looked back at Ariel, her pause implied consideration, but she shook her head again.
"Which did you think would be the winner, Meesei?" Ariel turned to Meesei.
Muttonhawk Member
Let Slip the Corgis of War
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Dear Mr Curly,
I have done little travelling lately because I have been so dreadfully weary. Can it be true as the old Ecclesiastes said; that all things lead to weariness? Surely not. Perhaps the opposite is true: that all nothings lead to weariness. I have a peculiar feeling, Curly, that I am worn out from something I haven't yet done and the more I don't do it, the more exhausted I become. How strange. Could it be something I haven't realised? Perhaps it's something I haven't said? Something I haven't finished! It must be very large and true whatever it is and a lively struggle in the doing but I look forward to it immensely. I know I need it. First, however, I must curl up in my chair and sleep deeply with the duck. Perhaps I'll dream of this thing and wake up refreshed and do it. My fond wishes to you Mr. Curly, and to all Curly Flat.
Yours sleepily,
Vasco Pyjama
xxx
P.S. Not having breakfast can make you weary. That's for sure!
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Fendros' breathing was still shallow and fast. He heard Ahnasha's voice and opened his eyes enough to see her face. She was worried, but it was grounding and reassuring to see her. He was distracted from his crawling skin enough that he didn't even notice Janius releasing him. He complied with Ahnasha and stood up with her help and before he knew it he was walking. To her words, he weakly nodded. He did his best to focus on Ahnasha despite all the blurs and the noise around him.
Janius rubbed the back of his head, not knowing what to do, but worried for Fendros' health. At least Ahnasha knew what she was doing. As they walked away, Janius turned to Meesei, Sabine and Ariel. "Is there some kind of healing magic or remedy that can help him?" He asked.
Ariel and Sabine exchanged a glance, then Ariel replied. "I don't know, something to cure poisons, maybe? I haven't had much experience with moon sugar except with ways to mitigate its narcotic effect in potions, not in people. Even then, it was hard to get. It was illegal in Morrowind."
The vendor leaned in and added his own words, "With a dose that small, the effects shouldn't last too long, even if he had a strong reaction." He sighed, "If anything goes wrong, however, I would be willing to give compensation."
Ahnasha and Fendros managed to make their way far enough that they were away from the crowds of the square and from the busiest part of the streets. Fendros was just taking it in little steps, still trying to focus on Ahnasha as she led him through. At this point, Fendros' breathing became deeper, but still uneasy. He walked with his mouth slightly open and his skin was starting to pale to a lighter purple. "Ahna, I don't feel..." Fendros couldn't finish his sentence before his entire upper body had a wave of tension, ending at his throat with a retch. His focus was broken as his eyes darted around until they found a drain near the road's gutter. He broke away from Ahnasha and stumbled to the drain just in time to empty the contents of his stomach through the metal grate.
A few minutes later, once the last of his breakfast and the wrap he had eaten earlier were in the sewerage system, they were able to head back to the inn. Fendros didn't look as pale by the time that they arrived, and he had regained his senses back for the most part. He was just completely fatigued now. "Ahna, I'm so sorry. I should have seen the sign, that was so stupid of me," Fendros groaned, "I didn't want to ruin the day. I just need to lie down, you go back to the festival and enjoy yourself."
Janius rubbed the back of his head, not knowing what to do, but worried for Fendros' health. At least Ahnasha knew what she was doing. As they walked away, Janius turned to Meesei, Sabine and Ariel. "Is there some kind of healing magic or remedy that can help him?" He asked.
Ariel and Sabine exchanged a glance, then Ariel replied. "I don't know, something to cure poisons, maybe? I haven't had much experience with moon sugar except with ways to mitigate its narcotic effect in potions, not in people. Even then, it was hard to get. It was illegal in Morrowind."
The vendor leaned in and added his own words, "With a dose that small, the effects shouldn't last too long, even if he had a strong reaction." He sighed, "If anything goes wrong, however, I would be willing to give compensation."
Ahnasha and Fendros managed to make their way far enough that they were away from the crowds of the square and from the busiest part of the streets. Fendros was just taking it in little steps, still trying to focus on Ahnasha as she led him through. At this point, Fendros' breathing became deeper, but still uneasy. He walked with his mouth slightly open and his skin was starting to pale to a lighter purple. "Ahna, I don't feel..." Fendros couldn't finish his sentence before his entire upper body had a wave of tension, ending at his throat with a retch. His focus was broken as his eyes darted around until they found a drain near the road's gutter. He broke away from Ahnasha and stumbled to the drain just in time to empty the contents of his stomach through the metal grate.
A few minutes later, once the last of his breakfast and the wrap he had eaten earlier were in the sewerage system, they were able to head back to the inn. Fendros didn't look as pale by the time that they arrived, and he had regained his senses back for the most part. He was just completely fatigued now. "Ahna, I'm so sorry. I should have seen the sign, that was so stupid of me," Fendros groaned, "I didn't want to ruin the day. I just need to lie down, you go back to the festival and enjoy yourself."
Yet another shady meeting place. Standing outside the softly lit building, Ilario wondered whether a noble looking and clearly secure house would soon become the less predictable area for staging such a rendezvous some time in the future. Still, at least the pattern left many opportunities for hidden mechanisms and explosive contingencies. Or perhaps Hawk just decided to buy out an old tavern for the night, who knows? If he were honest, Ilario didn't much care. Hawk had informed him of another assignment and this was likely to just be a briefing.
As Ilario stepped up to the door, he pulled out a small ear trumpet from behind his cape and pressed it to the door, listening through the other end with his ear. There was no immediate noise, but he was listening not to what was on the other side of the door, but the door itself. Still listening, he knocked the coded knock clearly against the door with his free hand and scrutinised the sounds of the locking mechanism. It opened immediately and Ilario walked in, quickly hiding the trumpet away. The mechanism was... satisfactory, but he would rather change the code soon. Hopefully the engineer who constructed the thing allowed for such an action.
The inside was warm and cosy, not to mention far cleaner than the outside would suggest. Hidden decadence as always, I see, Ilario thought. It was only when the red flare of a pipe lit up the face of the shadowy figure on one end of the set dinner table that Ilario noticed he had company. It was something of a shock at first, he was so still that it was like he was a part of the furniture. After looking across the room awkwardly for a few moments, Ilario closed the door, hung up his cape, and spoke in his heavy Colameri accent, "Good evening." He then proceeded to the table and read the note. His eyes looked up from the note to the man, "We are to be colleagues then? What do you do, sir?"
As Ilario stepped up to the door, he pulled out a small ear trumpet from behind his cape and pressed it to the door, listening through the other end with his ear. There was no immediate noise, but he was listening not to what was on the other side of the door, but the door itself. Still listening, he knocked the coded knock clearly against the door with his free hand and scrutinised the sounds of the locking mechanism. It opened immediately and Ilario walked in, quickly hiding the trumpet away. The mechanism was... satisfactory, but he would rather change the code soon. Hopefully the engineer who constructed the thing allowed for such an action.
The inside was warm and cosy, not to mention far cleaner than the outside would suggest. Hidden decadence as always, I see, Ilario thought. It was only when the red flare of a pipe lit up the face of the shadowy figure on one end of the set dinner table that Ilario noticed he had company. It was something of a shock at first, he was so still that it was like he was a part of the furniture. After looking across the room awkwardly for a few moments, Ilario closed the door, hung up his cape, and spoke in his heavy Colameri accent, "Good evening." He then proceeded to the table and read the note. His eyes looked up from the note to the man, "We are to be colleagues then? What do you do, sir?"
"I-I th- that pastry had moon sugar, I didn't know." Fendros managed to reply. It was the last he could interact with the world before it seemed to close in and become hard to see, then to hear, then to smell. Eventually he couldn't even feel. Well, he could, but it was as if he had forgotten how to discern textures. But for all the fear he had anticipated, he seemed to just float in space for a while, completely relaxed. He was so relaxed he couldn't move at all. He just slumped forward. Even though he could hardly feel anything, he felt warm and comfortable. The whole experience became pleasurable. He lost track of time, but it must have been a few minutes that he was in that state.
Back on conventionally perceived Mundus, the pack observed Fendros to take care of him. For the first few minutes, it seemed benign. Though he didn't respond to much, he just seemed to sit leaning on his knees with his head slumped forward. The vendor, still looking mortified, understood that Ahnasha was informed of the substance but wanted to take responsibility for what he had done. "I am so, so sorry. I will wait here until he recovers."
Unfortunately, the high was short lived. Things started to take a turn when Fendros' sense of touch came back. A tingling all over his body became a full-on crawling. He itched his arm with one hand, and the crawling spread and intensified. He felt as if he was covered in eels and ants and kwama. He felt like some of them were burying into his skin. His breathing sped up and he began to swat and swipe at random places of his body. "Ahnasha!" He shouted beyond where his senses were clouded, "Get them off!"
At the shouting, the rest of the pack moved in. Fendros had started itching and hitting himself in such a way that it looked like he might hurt himself. Janius caught one of Fendros' hands, twisted it, and pinned him to the ground. The vendor moved in to help, but Janius put up one hand "Hold on, stay back. He's stronger than he looks." Despite Janius' words, Fendros didn't appear to struggle directly against him, but he was clearly still distressed. "Come on, Fendros, back to the real world now, come on." Janius hit Fendros lightly on the cheek a few times with the back of his free hand to snap him out of it. There wasn't any clear signs of him recovering, so Janius looked up at Ahnasha, "How long does this part generally last?"
Back on conventionally perceived Mundus, the pack observed Fendros to take care of him. For the first few minutes, it seemed benign. Though he didn't respond to much, he just seemed to sit leaning on his knees with his head slumped forward. The vendor, still looking mortified, understood that Ahnasha was informed of the substance but wanted to take responsibility for what he had done. "I am so, so sorry. I will wait here until he recovers."
Unfortunately, the high was short lived. Things started to take a turn when Fendros' sense of touch came back. A tingling all over his body became a full-on crawling. He itched his arm with one hand, and the crawling spread and intensified. He felt as if he was covered in eels and ants and kwama. He felt like some of them were burying into his skin. His breathing sped up and he began to swat and swipe at random places of his body. "Ahnasha!" He shouted beyond where his senses were clouded, "Get them off!"
At the shouting, the rest of the pack moved in. Fendros had started itching and hitting himself in such a way that it looked like he might hurt himself. Janius caught one of Fendros' hands, twisted it, and pinned him to the ground. The vendor moved in to help, but Janius put up one hand "Hold on, stay back. He's stronger than he looks." Despite Janius' words, Fendros didn't appear to struggle directly against him, but he was clearly still distressed. "Come on, Fendros, back to the real world now, come on." Janius hit Fendros lightly on the cheek a few times with the back of his free hand to snap him out of it. There wasn't any clear signs of him recovering, so Janius looked up at Ahnasha, "How long does this part generally last?"
Ah, there's the rest of the opening post.
Unfortunately it is getting late for me. I'll post in the morning.
Unfortunately it is getting late for me. I'll post in the morning.
I see an empty tavern?
Only 995 words to go in that picture to possibly get the rest of the context...
Only 995 words to go in that picture to possibly get the rest of the context...
"Hmm, well we probably don't have to worry. It's not like they would just leave them out for anyone to take, right? I mean, there are so many different people here." Ariel assured herself.
Janius held a slightly clueless expression, not knowing the context of the situation. "So, what exactly has happened?" He asked, then craned his neck down with a frown at Sabine, "And what's amused you so much, Runt?"
While her tiny laugh had subsided, Sabine's smile was still slightly visible. She decided not to answer and looked away.
After taking another sip of ale, Ariel answered Janius. "Well, Sabine and myself found a vendor which sold this lamb with a very spicy sauce in these small bread wraps. They were tasty, very tasty, but I couldn't finish mine, too spicy. Fendros finished it. I think the spice might have hit him hard as well. He's going to get something to wash it down, if I'm not mistaken."
Deesia nodded to Meesei as she explained. Her reply seemed friendly enough, but there was a spark of interest in her eyes at the mention of Meesei being a mage. "I've always had respect for mages. I wanted to become one myself, but..." she looked at her palms, "Well, I learned a few things on my own, but it's really more of a hobby. There are so few places to learn it around these parts, and most are filled with tree-minders, I'm no tree-minder." She looked back up, "It's no matter though. I'll definitely have a look at your friend Ariel's shop though."
With a snort, Saabo-Ma added his own opinion. "Don't you talk yourself down Deesia." He said with a grin, before looking to Meesei, "She's found a talent in restoration magic. I always encourage her to do what she enjoys. I said we can sail to a place where there is an Imperial temple, they generally have healers that are willing to teach."
"Saabo, please. I told you no." Deesia said, turning to Saabo-Ma and taking on a somewhat tired and dismissive voice. "I like it here. Close to the Hist. No more of that talk, okay?" Deesia turned around again to Meesei and tried to brighten up again. "I'm sorry, my husband here-" she glanced back and nudged Saabo lightly with her elbow, "-keeps bothering me about it. Anyway, I think we should try some samples before they run out." She smiled widely, "It was nice to meet you, Meesei. Enjoy the festival!"
Before they walked off to the wine samples on display, Saabo offered the opening to the chestnut bag again. "Another? I have more than I can finish, I'll be sharing them all day I think."
Fendros returned and sat down next to Ahnasha carrying a light looking pastry crown in one hand with a bite taken out of it. He had a much more relieved demeanor and was still chewing. Despite looking less like he was going to breathe fire, his eyes were wide and giving an expression of thinking hard. His chewing was slowing until finally he swallowed.
"How is the pastry?" Ariel asked in absence of any other words.
It took a while for Fendros to respond. He looked up slowly and tensed up as if he was going to burp, but swallowed it down. He spoke slowly and quietly, "I think there was something in it. I feel odd."
It was at that moment that a noisy shouting was coming closer. "Hey! Hey wait!" A heavily accented Argonian voice was coming from behind Fendros. When they turned to look, they saw the Argonian man that Fendros recognised as the vendor of the stall he had just collected the pastry from. He was dodging frantically between seated people as he rushed towards them. "That pastry, it's for Khajiit only! It-" he stopped by them, breathing heavily. His heart sunk as he noticed the bite in the pastry. "Oh no. I'm so sorry I didn't catch you taking that pastry. It was in a section labelled as moon sugar treats." He pointed at the pastry, "That isn't for eating by Dunmer, sir. Was it you who took that bite?"
Fendros nodded, but he had his mouth slightly open, and his eyes were still wide and confused. "I was in such a rush I didn't see it," he said, again very slowly and deliberately. It was as if he was fighting a battle in his mind. "Oh, by Azura..." By the quickening of his breathing it seemed like he was becoming anxious in the realisation of his mistake. Fendros started to groan his words, "That would explain the sweetness... and the tiredness... and why I feel slightly sick..." Fendros' eyes darted around. He didn't intend to eat the moon sugar, and by the only other exposure to the substance he had -a small dose of skooma- causing him nothing but nightmares, he was on the brink of utter terror at that moment.
Janius held a slightly clueless expression, not knowing the context of the situation. "So, what exactly has happened?" He asked, then craned his neck down with a frown at Sabine, "And what's amused you so much, Runt?"
While her tiny laugh had subsided, Sabine's smile was still slightly visible. She decided not to answer and looked away.
After taking another sip of ale, Ariel answered Janius. "Well, Sabine and myself found a vendor which sold this lamb with a very spicy sauce in these small bread wraps. They were tasty, very tasty, but I couldn't finish mine, too spicy. Fendros finished it. I think the spice might have hit him hard as well. He's going to get something to wash it down, if I'm not mistaken."
Deesia nodded to Meesei as she explained. Her reply seemed friendly enough, but there was a spark of interest in her eyes at the mention of Meesei being a mage. "I've always had respect for mages. I wanted to become one myself, but..." she looked at her palms, "Well, I learned a few things on my own, but it's really more of a hobby. There are so few places to learn it around these parts, and most are filled with tree-minders, I'm no tree-minder." She looked back up, "It's no matter though. I'll definitely have a look at your friend Ariel's shop though."
With a snort, Saabo-Ma added his own opinion. "Don't you talk yourself down Deesia." He said with a grin, before looking to Meesei, "She's found a talent in restoration magic. I always encourage her to do what she enjoys. I said we can sail to a place where there is an Imperial temple, they generally have healers that are willing to teach."
"Saabo, please. I told you no." Deesia said, turning to Saabo-Ma and taking on a somewhat tired and dismissive voice. "I like it here. Close to the Hist. No more of that talk, okay?" Deesia turned around again to Meesei and tried to brighten up again. "I'm sorry, my husband here-" she glanced back and nudged Saabo lightly with her elbow, "-keeps bothering me about it. Anyway, I think we should try some samples before they run out." She smiled widely, "It was nice to meet you, Meesei. Enjoy the festival!"
Before they walked off to the wine samples on display, Saabo offered the opening to the chestnut bag again. "Another? I have more than I can finish, I'll be sharing them all day I think."
Fendros returned and sat down next to Ahnasha carrying a light looking pastry crown in one hand with a bite taken out of it. He had a much more relieved demeanor and was still chewing. Despite looking less like he was going to breathe fire, his eyes were wide and giving an expression of thinking hard. His chewing was slowing until finally he swallowed.
"How is the pastry?" Ariel asked in absence of any other words.
It took a while for Fendros to respond. He looked up slowly and tensed up as if he was going to burp, but swallowed it down. He spoke slowly and quietly, "I think there was something in it. I feel odd."
It was at that moment that a noisy shouting was coming closer. "Hey! Hey wait!" A heavily accented Argonian voice was coming from behind Fendros. When they turned to look, they saw the Argonian man that Fendros recognised as the vendor of the stall he had just collected the pastry from. He was dodging frantically between seated people as he rushed towards them. "That pastry, it's for Khajiit only! It-" he stopped by them, breathing heavily. His heart sunk as he noticed the bite in the pastry. "Oh no. I'm so sorry I didn't catch you taking that pastry. It was in a section labelled as moon sugar treats." He pointed at the pastry, "That isn't for eating by Dunmer, sir. Was it you who took that bite?"
Fendros nodded, but he had his mouth slightly open, and his eyes were still wide and confused. "I was in such a rush I didn't see it," he said, again very slowly and deliberately. It was as if he was fighting a battle in his mind. "Oh, by Azura..." By the quickening of his breathing it seemed like he was becoming anxious in the realisation of his mistake. Fendros started to groan his words, "That would explain the sweetness... and the tiredness... and why I feel slightly sick..." Fendros' eyes darted around. He didn't intend to eat the moon sugar, and by the only other exposure to the substance he had -a small dose of skooma- causing him nothing but nightmares, he was on the brink of utter terror at that moment.
Khajiit pastries? They would be sweet enough to get rid of the spice. Fendros considered waiting, but couldn't stand the burning for much longer. He replied slowly as he got up, "I think I might just go and get one." Fendros said. Once he was up, he walked off in a hurry to find the stall Ahnasha had mentioned.
At first Ariel was confused by Fendros' behaviour, but seeing Sabine's smile, she understood and stifled a laugh herself. Another realisation came to her when Fendros was out of sight. "Er, Ahnasha?" Ariel asked, "Exactly how... authentic were those pastries you spotted? They didn't have any moon sugar in them, did they?"
"What's this about moon sugar?" Janius interrupted as he arrived back to watch the competition properly.
Deesia seemed pleased to hear about Ariel's shop. "Ah, very nice. Saabo dear, we will have to see this place for ourselves. They might have something to get those oil stains off your sleeves."
"What? Only for new ones to come back the following day? I'm a chef, Deesia, it wouldn't be right without it." Saabo-Ma replied with a laugh.
Deesia simply shook her head with a smile before returning to Meesei. "So, Morrowind and Cyrodiil? You must be well travelled. I wish I could visit those places. What is it you do for a living?"
At first Ariel was confused by Fendros' behaviour, but seeing Sabine's smile, she understood and stifled a laugh herself. Another realisation came to her when Fendros was out of sight. "Er, Ahnasha?" Ariel asked, "Exactly how... authentic were those pastries you spotted? They didn't have any moon sugar in them, did they?"
"What's this about moon sugar?" Janius interrupted as he arrived back to watch the competition properly.
Deesia seemed pleased to hear about Ariel's shop. "Ah, very nice. Saabo dear, we will have to see this place for ourselves. They might have something to get those oil stains off your sleeves."
"What? Only for new ones to come back the following day? I'm a chef, Deesia, it wouldn't be right without it." Saabo-Ma replied with a laugh.
Deesia simply shook her head with a smile before returning to Meesei. "So, Morrowind and Cyrodiil? You must be well travelled. I wish I could visit those places. What is it you do for a living?"
Yecch, I say that I'll be more available and all this other crap suddenly comes up. Apologies, slow posting might last for at least the rest of this week.
Even though he didn't exactly spot who threw the concussion stick, the explosion it caused was enough for Tazzak to scream and open fire. He shot wildly with one hand outstretched and holding his blaster, while he shielded his face turned away face with the other hand. He had his eyes closed and stumbled back until he fell over. He didn't know whether he had hit anything, but he quickly rolled around to assess the situation. The two armoured women were happily scuffling amongst themselves, and the rest of the bounty hunters were either still dazed or running for cover. The fat human wasn't moving anymore. It caused a wave of reality to pass uncomfortably over Tazzak's mind. He simply panicked now. Wherever one of the bounty hunters revealed themselves, he would open fire. He wasn't even aiming, he was too scared to hit anything now. A lucky shot seemed to clip one of the Niktos though at least that was something.
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