Intermezzo: chatter between II and III

[Tllith]

{A thread for players who want IC conversation en route to scene III. If you don't care about that, ignore this thread.}

Tllith -- who, as the monster manual says, cares about conversation almost more than treasure -- asks anyone nearby, "How did you come to be involved in this quest? And tell me anything else about you!"

[Shadow]

Not one to pass up a chance to learn - or make a potentially powerful ally - the half-elf cheerfully begins chatting with the little dragon. "Pure curiosity my little hatchlin'. A friend o' mine lanned me 'bout the incident between the bebilith and deva, as well as some chant 'bout a power's rise - The Song, the monk called it - and I couldn't not look in t' it." Waving his right hand toward Tllith to show off the signet ring, he continues. "As for me, I'm an Indep, and soddin' proud t' - " he cuts off with a curious look at the little dragon. "Do... do you know anythin' 'bout the Factions or Sigil?"

[Tllith]

Oct 14, 2009 15:39:40 GMT -5 Shadow said:

Not one to pass up a chance to learn - or make a potentially powerful ally - the half-elf cheerfully begins chatting with the little dragon. "Pure curiosity my little hatchlin'. A friend o' mine lanned me 'bout the incident between the bebilith and deva, as well as some chant 'bout a power's rise - The Song, the monk called it - and I couldn't not look in t' it." Waving his right hand toward Tllith to show off the signet ring, he continues. "As for me, I'm an Indep, and soddin' proud t' - " he cuts off with a curious look at the little dragon. "Do... do you know anythin' 'bout the Factions or Sigil?"

Tllith wriggles her useless wings, glad that someone at least isn't dour and doomy-quiet. "No, nothing is what I know. This is weird: I've been here at the monastery since I hatched out. I'm their Long, Turning Vestment. I'm turning into a big dragon, but it takes a long time. Tell me about the Factions and Sigil, please!"

[Shadow]

"Well, let's start with what we have here," Vahn says, nodding. Once again the street accent seems to vanish from his voice. "I'm an Indep - a member of the Free League - which we'll get to later, because it's a bit of an oddball among the others. Your friend over there," he motions to John, "is a member of The Fated, also called a Taker. They believe in fending for themselves, refuse to take handouts, and generally take whatever they want. Thus, the term 'Taker'." He pauses briefly, looking considerately at John. "Everyone has their own reasons and ways of course, but the general beliefs of each Faction are shared among it's members. That's why people join a Faction, because they share the beliefs and mindset." He pauses, glancing at Tllith to see how much the dragon has managed to pick up and how much is over her small scaled head.

[john]

"It's a bit more complex than that. Everything has a price, be it cheap or expensive. I always insist on paying that price, and demanding it of others. This is why I am helping the deva, and indirectly, the Bebilith as well. I would not hold others to a code that I do not uphold myself, after all. That's the sort of hypocrisy that would drive me to kill."

[Tllith]

Oct 14, 2009 17:19:45 GMT -5 Shadow said:

"Well, let's start with what we have here," Vahn says, nodding. Once again the street accent seems to vanish from his voice. "I'm an Indep - a member of the Free League - which we'll get to later, because it's a bit of an oddball among the others. Your friend over there," he motions to John, "is a member of The Fated, also called a Taker. They believe in fending for themselves, refuse to take handouts, and generally take whatever they want. Thus, the term 'Taker'." He pauses briefly, looking considerately at John. "Everyone has their own reasons and ways of course, but the general beliefs of each Faction are shared among it's members. That's why people join a Faction, because they share the beliefs and mindset." He pauses, glancing at Tllith to see how much the dragon has managed to pick up and how much is over her small scaled head.

Tllith is young and naive, but quite clever. "He's the Taker of Blood... do they have the Taker of Bones, too? And the Taker of Olives? ... and he's paying the deva back for saving his life, because he won't let the deva do it for him for free. And he paid for his breakfast because he wouldn't let us give it to him for free. Um, I wasn't eavesdropping at breakfast."

[Tllith]

Oct 14, 2009 17:48:05 GMT -5 john said:

"It's a bit more complex than that. Everything has a price, be it cheap or expensive. I always insist on paying that price, and demanding it of others. This is why I am helping the deva, and indirectly, the Bebilith as well. I would not hold others to a code that I do not uphold myself, after all. That's the sort of hypocrisy that would drive me to kill."

Tllith flattens her ears fretfully. "What do I owe you for protecting me today? I don't like spending my hoard away ... I need it lots ... maybe I can cast a spell for you?"

[john]

"It is part of my debt to the Deva, everything I do until his life is saved has to be in his service. Your life is necessary as the keeper of the chalice for this to be undertaken. You owe me nothing."

[Tllith]

Oct 14, 2009 18:57:42 GMT -5 john said:

"It is part of my debt to the Deva, everything I do until his life is saved has to be in his service. Your life is necessary as the keeper of the chalice for this to be undertaken. You owe me nothing."

Tllith nods her head, and, knowing that John doesn't like talking quite as much as she does, gives him a smile and then is silent for at least three and a half minutes. Which might be her record.

But she can't stay quiet for long, and she is curious."How did the deva save you?"

[Shadow]

Vahn chuckles slightly at the exchange, clearing his throat to reclaim Tllith's attention. "Moving on, you've got the Bleakers," he continues, jerking his head toward Hadrian, "formally known as the Bleak Cabal. They believe there's no purpose to the multiverse, no reason, and handle that belief in different ways, ranging from perpetual depression to a 'why the hell not?' attitude." He shakes his head sadly. "There ain't many beliefs I flat-out disagree with, but the Bleaker view is one o' 'em. My life is a search for the meanin' o' everythin', and personally thinkin' there's no meanin' seems like the lazy way out." He raises his hands to forestall arguments. "T' each their own though. If a body'd rather try t' cope with a pointless existence than find a purpose in it, it's their choice to make." He chuckles suddenly. "Which I suppose brings us to the Free League. Most of 'em go on about how we ain't a real Faction, and t' some extent, that's true... no leader, no representation, no rank, nothin', just a bunch of different bodies who don't like bein' told what t' do. Some call use cowards," he grimaces for a moment, then continues, "but the truth is, we just don't buy into any o' the other beliefs. We each have our own thoughts, goals, opinions, and we support each other while going about our lives. For me, as I've said, I search for the truth. I don't think it's as simple as experiencing everything possible or becoming one with mind an' body. I think it's a combination o' things, maybe even somethin' unique to each and every being. Could be this journey that helps me solve the big puzzle, could be another, and it could never happen, but I'm gonna soddin' try." He looks around suddenly, blushing slightly and wearing a carefully blank expression. "Anyway..."

(OOC: Done for the night, so if you guys pull waaaaay ahead of me, not my fault =P Bunches of posting lately it seems...)

[exile]

"You suppose this is the easy way, Indep?" Hadrian interjected with a wry twist to his lip that might have been a smile. Not normally one to proselytize, the aasimar also did not suffer fools lightly - except for those committed to his care of course. For those poor sods he had nothing but patience. He laughed (a bitter, worldly sound) but said nothing more of it. What did he care if the man was blinded by his own importance - all men sought the Gatehouse in time.

Or else they didn't.

It made no difference in the end.

[Tllith]

Oct 14, 2009 20:46:35 GMT -5 Shadow said:

Vahn chuckles slightly at the exchange, clearing his throat to reclaim Tllith's attention. "Moving on, you've got the Bleakers," he continues, jerking his head toward Hadrian, "formally known as the Bleak Cabal. They believe there's no purpose to the multiverse, no reason, and handle that belief in different ways, ranging from perpetual depression to a 'why the hell not?' attitude." He shakes his head sadly. "There ain't many beliefs I flat-out disagree with, but the Bleaker view is one o' 'em. My life is a search for the meanin' o' everythin', and personally thinkin' there's no meanin' seems like the lazy way out." He raises his hands to forestall arguments.

"You suppose this is the easy way, Indep?" Hadrian interjected with a wry twist to his lip that might have been a smile.

Tllith waddles along between Vahn and John, listening with her ears spread wide. "I don't know if it's easy. But Hadrian is very brave. Is that why Hadrian is very brave?"

"T' each their own though. If a body'd rather try t' cope with a pointless existence than find a purpose in it, it's their choice to make." He chuckles suddenly. "Which I suppose brings us to the Free League. Most of 'em go on about how we ain't a real Faction, and t' some extent, that's true... no leader, no representation, no rank, nothin', just a bunch of different bodies who don't like bein' told what t' do. Some call use cowards," he grimaces for a moment, then continues, "but the truth is, we just don't buy into any o' the other beliefs. We each have our own thoughts, goals, opinions, and we support each other while going about our lives. For me, as I've said, I search for the truth. I don't think it's as simple as experiencing everything possible or becoming one with mind an' body. I think it's a combination o' things, maybe even somethin' unique to each and every being. Could be this journey that helps me solve the big puzzle, could be another, and it could never happen, but I'm gonna soddin' try." He looks around suddenly, blushing slightly and wearing a carefully blank expression. "Anyway..."

Tllith flaps her wings, accidentally swatting Vahn but without much force. "This is weird! I think I'm a Free League too. Only up here we call it chaotic alignment, because we don't have factions. Like the Reverend Conductor won't let me help singing very much, because I always do harmonies by mistake in the unison sections. How big is the big puzzle? Does it fit on a table?"

[Shadow]

Glancing at Hadrian, Vahn visibly seems to struggle to find the right words. "For myself, internal discovery, such as comin' t' terms with my own place in things, is easier than external exploration. Goin' out, gatherin' knowledge, makin' sense o' everythin' and tryin' t' fit it together... t' me, that's the harder path. Just sayin' "there's no point and it's all a soddin' joke" has it's own complications, and for some berks it might be harder t' deal with, but me... well, ya get the point by now, I'll not go 'round in circles." He chuckles suddenly and grimly. "'Course, might be in the end the Bleakers have it right... but that's exactly what I hope t' learn."

Hoping he's cleared things with the Bleaker, the half-elf turns his attention back to Tllith. "Might be part. When nothin' matters, I s'pose there're those who'd not care life 'r death either way. Think it's different for him though..." He smiles at the dragon's energy. "Chaotic and Indep ain't necessarily synonymous. Myself, I prefer doin' things in straight lines so t' speak... makes it easier t' put together later. At the same time, a leatherhead tries t' tell me what t' do or how t' think, and we're not gonna get along. Indeps think alike though, and while we're not exactly organized, we support each other however we can. There's still cooperation and workin' together as much as any 'real' faction... we just do it our own way."

[exile]

"I have seen death, child," the Madman absently mused, though he said it in such a fashion as to convey an especially personal connection to that state of being. "And it pales in comparison to the oppressive nature of existence. I am not brave at all, child - I am simply no longer disillusioned. The greatest fight of all is the one I wage against the multiverse every morning: To greet another day or else succumb to the siren's song of apathy. Next to the Grim Retreat, I ask you what is death?"

The indeps comments he had seemingly not heard, or else they had become lost amidst his churning thoughts for the present time.

[john]

John shrugs his shoulders, but looks at Hadrian, understanding him a little better with those words.

[Tllith]

Oct 15, 2009 18:05:08 GMT -5 exile said:

"I have seen death, child," the Madman absently mused, though he said it in such a fashion as to convey an especially personal connection to that state of being. "And it pales in comparison to the oppressive nature of existence. I am not brave at all, child - I am simply no longer disillusioned. The greatest fight of all is the one I wage against the multiverse every morning: To greet another day or else succumb to the siren's song of apathy. Next to the Grim Retreat, I ask you what is death?"

Tllith thinks about that for a minute, clearly very much out of her few-year-old's depth. "Death is ... um ... what happens to you if you get bitten or roasted too much? Or jump off a tower when your wings are too young. Or if someone accidentally breathes on you if you step on her tail. Or why you should never play a wrestling game with a human child. Or if you get too old and your body doesn't work anymore. ... Right?"

Rather perplexed, she turns to Sirocco. "Do you know any siren songs? This is weird: I don't know any. I know monk songs and kid songs."

[quote author=shadowofprgfreak board=devaspark3 thread=1203 post=5167 time=1255635245 Hoping he's cleared things with the Bleaker, the half-elf turns his attention back to Tllith. "Might be part. When nothin' matters, I s'pose there're those who'd not care life 'r death either way. Think it's different for him though..." He smiles at the dragon's energy. "Chaotic and Indep ain't necessarily synonymous. Myself, I prefer doin' things in straight lines so t' speak... makes it easier t' put together later. At the same time, a leatherhead tries t' tell me what t' do or how t' think, and we're not gonna get along. Indeps think alike though, and while we're not exactly organized, we support each other however we can. There's still cooperation and workin' together as much as any 'real' faction... we just do it our own way."[/quote]

Tllith nods enthusiastically. "I do things in straight lines! I try to. Sometimes the charcoal sort of slips. It's hard to hold it with claws. But I don't like when people tell me what to do or to think either. It's OK for people I like to try though, like Cedric. And you and John and Hadrian and Sirocco. But those are mostly suggestions really, I think. What's a real faction like? And are there only those three in Sigil?"

[Tllith]

{OOC: Inspired by Tllith's exemplar filking everything in sight today.}

As the conversation fades out, Tllith bounces and waddles along, singing assorted bits of nothing in particular. After a while, she puts them into a vaguely coherent sort of song, which might be charitably translated as:

Got an aasimar and a bebilith,
A yanki who is very gith,
Two tieflings with a lot of class,
A bariaur with horns of brass,
An Indep who is very Free,
A Taker who always takes his fee --
We have no clue about the way,
So off we go! Dark of the Day!

Her singing is excellent, whatever you may think of the words.

[Wavyhill]

Oct 17, 2009 19:29:18 GMT -5 Tllith said:

{OOC: Inspired by Tllith's exemplar filking everything in sight today.}

As the conversation fades out, Tllith bounces and waddles along, singing assorted bits of nothing in particular. After a while, she puts them into a vaguely coherent sort of song, which might be charitably translated as:

Got an aasimar and a bebilith,
A yanki who is very gith,
Two tieflings with a lot of class,
A bariaur with horns of brass,
An Indep who is very Free,
A Taker who always takes his fee --
We have no clue about the way,
So off we go! Dark of the Day!

Her singing is excellent, whatever you may think of the words.

Sirocco joins in accompanying Tilith's singing with his Bandore

"I must bring you to Sigil Tilith! You would be a hit at the Festhall! Perhaps even in the Elloweth Theatre!"

[Tllith]

Oct 17, 2009 21:50:32 GMT -5 Wavyhill said:

Sirocco joins in accompanying Tilith's singing with his Bandore

Tllith and Sirocco sing together happily for a while. Being raised in The Song's monastery is good vocal training for anyone.

Oct 17, 2009 21:50:32 GMT -5 Wavyhill said:

"I must bring you to Sigil Tilith! You would be a hit at the Festhall! Perhaps even in the Elloweth Theatre!"

Tllith shuts up instantly, her crest and ears going flat. In a minute she mumbles, "Are there a lot of people there? I don't like a lot of people at once. What if I breathe on them? What if I breathe heat on them and they all die?"

[Wavyhill]

Oct 17, 2009 21:57:13 GMT -5 Tllith said:

Oct 17, 2009 21:50:32 GMT -5 Wavyhill said:

Sirocco joins in accompanying Tilith's singing with his Bandore

Tllith and Sirocco sing together happily for a while. Being raised in The Song's monastery is good vocal training for anyone.

Oct 17, 2009 21:50:32 GMT -5 Wavyhill said:

"I must bring you to Sigil Tilith! You would be a hit at the Festhall! Perhaps even in the Elloweth Theatre!"

Tllith shuts up instantly, her crest and ears going flat. In a minute she mumbles, "Are there a lot of people there? I don't like a lot of people at once. What if I breathe on them? What if I breathe heat on them and they all die?"

"Don't worry Tilith we can start in a smaller theatre until you get used to it. As far as breathing heat I think you just keep singing!"