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Post by Uathach Blackmantle on Apr 19, 2008 23:16:17 GMT -5
Wraith passes through the afternoon traffic with Aerin in tow. It had been a long night for her at the Weary Spirit; beginning as soon as the sky darkened, and not finishing until a few hours before dawn. She didn't arrive at the Open Shell until first light, dismissing the hired nursemaid with her apologies and a few extra coins for her trouble; falling asleep as soon as her head hit the pillow.
She was still tired, even now, but because she had the afternoon to herself, she decided to take her son for a walk; in the hope that some quality time together might enable the child to open up, and draw him out of his shell.
Her chosen course wends through the orderly streets of the Clerk's Ward, past the familiar and awe-inspiring, until she passes Tensar's Employment service. It is purely by chance that she stops here to extract the stone from Aerin's shoe. The bright sign tacked to the clean window soon catches her eye.
Frowning thoughtfully, Wraith grabs Aerin's hand, and leads him into the building. She nods her head in greeting at the Guvner sitting behind his desk. "Are you Mister Tensar?" She asks politely. "I'm interested in applying for the task advertised in the window. Although, I should point out now, I'll need to take my son with me."
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Post by Stix on Apr 25, 2008 4:42:35 GMT -5
Tensar nods, greeting the woman and her son politely.
"To Ysgard? I cannot conscionably allow that." The old Guvner looks to Aerin with great concern.
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Post by Uathach Blackmantle on May 10, 2008 5:19:58 GMT -5
[OOC: I'm genuinely interested in pursuing this plot arc. I'll try to get up a convincing post by the end of next week.  Also I'm waiting to see how the important story in the Open Shell plays out, cus I believe what happens there will affect her, and what she says to explain herself here.  ] |
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Post by Uathach Blackmantle on May 19, 2008 1:32:59 GMT -5
Tensar nods, greeting the woman and her son politely. " To Ysgard? I cannot conscionably allow that." The old Guvner looks to Aerin with great concern. Wraith hesitates. Sodding Hells. I should've expected as much... Turning the situation over in her mind, trying to decide what to do next, she almost blurts out her reasons for wanting to take Aerin with her. But she couldn't do that. Not when she feared that the Cult may have eyes and ears everywhere. They may be watching her... "I understand Mister Tensar. I wouldn't even consider this if I didn't believe myself and my son to be in grave danger the longer we remain here." She winces, cursing herself for revealing even that much, but what other choice did she have? She couldn't lie to such reputable man. "Would you consider hiring me if I could find a suitable nursemaid for him? Perhaps you could recommend someone trustworthy, a priest or other influential figure capable of protecting him, in the event of my absence?" It was a long shot. She doubted the idea would sit well with the old guvner at all. |
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Post by Stix on May 20, 2008 15:20:32 GMT -5
"You... don't look the minder type, I must say," Tensar says, giving his best effort at diplomacy while still expressing reluctance.
After a short pause, he decides to give her a fair chance. "...But I've been surprised before. Your combat experience? Planewalking and wilderness skills?"
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Post by Uathach Blackmantle on May 20, 2008 23:13:47 GMT -5
" You... don't look the minder type, I must say," Tensar says, giving his best effort at diplomacy while still expressing reluctance. After a short pause, he decides to give her a fair chance. " ...But I've been surprised before. Your combat experience? Planewalking and wilderness skills?" Wraith bows her head with an appreciative smile. "I am a surgeon, an embalmer, a musician and a spellslinger, Mister Tensar." She begins humbly. "I have never left this city, I'll confess. My duties have kept me confined to the Mortuary, and the Weary Spirit, where I have been investigating some rather... disturbing disappearances - deaders mutilated in the most bizarre manner - and an outbreak of Abyssal Pertussis.
As for combat experience... She pauses thoughtfully, fingering her lower lip and labret stud. "I've stopped a tavern brawl with a few well placed words before the situation turned ugly; dissuaded potential muggers; and with the aid of magic and friends, lured three hostile men elsewhere before they could harm us.
My aim isn't to hurt people, Mister Tensar. It's to stop any needless bloodshed before it even happens. Not all squabbles need to end in fire, or on the tip of a blade." Her piece said, Wraith prays silently it is enough to convince the Guvner of her usefulness, and secure hers - and hopefully Aerin's - temporary passage out of the city. She draws her son close, lightly stroking his hair, while the boy quietly plays with his doll. "If you would kindly permit me to say so, Mister Tensar; whoever this employer is, I believe he or she, would benefit greatly from my skills, because if there are four things I know well - as I have dedicated myself to these pursuits - they are magic, medicine, music and religion." |
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Post by Stix on May 26, 2008 14:00:11 GMT -5
"You'll have short luck using words to stop a fight on Ysgard," Tensar says with a pensive frown. "The employer is looking for minders to protect his person from the potential dangers of the plane -- many of which occur in the form of battle-crazed petitioners or predatory animals."
The old Guvner leaves a deliberate pause for Wraith to reply, wondering what danger could possibly threaten her in the Cage that would make her consider trying to find refuge in such a violent place.
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Post by Uathach Blackmantle on May 28, 2008 22:35:33 GMT -5
Wraith frowns, carefully considering his words, and sighs. Though it wasn't an immediate rejection of her services, she suspected he was beginning to think she may not be suitable, yet was still willing to give her a fair go. But what more could she say to convince him? She didn't believe in bloodshed or taking another's life. What good would she be if violence was inevitable, and her best magics were those she dared not ever touch... not even in an emergency?
She almost considered taking her leave then and there, thanking the old Guvner for his patience, and hesitates. Glancing out the window, then down at her mute son, she wonders; I might have to tell him after all... at least enough that won't provoke a Harmonium inquiry, and dig an even bigger hole than what I'm already in.
Sighing, Wraith makes her decision. What more could she say when she was a pacifist? Moving closer to Tensar's desk, she whispers. "I-I shouldn't be saying this, Sir, as I may be placing myself in even more danger just by my being here." She begins in a low voice, stroking her son's hair and covering his ears as she speaks.
"But there are some men hidden in the city who wish me and my son harm. They've already stuck a low blow by taking my son from me. I only had him returned to me, scarcely two months ago. But his mind was shattered. I-I would do anything to avoid such a tragedy again." Wraith gasps, stifling a teary sob, and draws Aerin even closer to her. She hangs her head so the old guvner won't see her tears, or the fear in her eyes for revealing so much already...
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Post by Stix on May 31, 2008 14:13:09 GMT -5
Tensar watches the woman and child who've come to his door, not so much in need of honest work and wage, he now realizes, as safety from some unnamed threat.
"Madam," he starts slowly in a respectful and concerned -- but guarded -- tone, "I understand your need, but a folk saying about a frying pan and a fire comes to mind. Ysgard is a terrible place to seek refuge from violence and chaos."
Tightening his lips in a terse expression, he considers what he might do in her situation. "Have you consulted the Harmonium?"
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Post by Uathach Blackmantle on Jun 17, 2008 21:23:20 GMT -5
"Sometimes the fire is preferable to the fryingpan, good Sir." Wraith replies with a hint of desperation creeping into her sad voice. She wrings her hands nervously before her, and draws Aerin close to her side again.
"I know it seems odd - barmy even - but I am well aware of the dangers. I'm a smart woman; I wouldn't make such a decision lightly, without good reason. I need to get out of this city, even if it's just for a short time. Enough to give these people reason to think I have left for good." She replies, releasing a shaky breath.
Gently touching Aerin's hair, and pushing it back from his face, she meets the old Guvner's eyes again, and offers a sad smile. "I filed a report with the Harmonium some time ago, concerning the ritualistic murder of my son's nursemaid. Since then a number of bodies, all deceased by the same manner, have passed through the Mortuary." She pauses, chewing on her lower lip.
"I've considered approaching the Harmonium for help again, but given my questionable heritage, I fear that I may be the one placed under suspicion. I mean no disrespect, good Sir, but I'm not so naive to think that I will be given the same fair treatment.
These are powerful men I need to hide from, and... I have said too much already." Wraith breaks out into a nervous sweat and glances anxiously over her shoulder, as though she expects someone might be watching her.
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Post by Stix on Jul 2, 2008 14:34:54 GMT -5
The old Guvner sits in tight-lipped silence for a short time, considering Wraith's story and the boy at her side.
"Elysium," he suggests helplessly. "Mount Celestia. Bytopia. Anywhere but Ysgard. Get yourselves out of danger, don't put a different mask on it."
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Also I'm waiting to see how the important story in the Open Shell plays out, cus I believe what happens there will affect her, and what she says to explain herself here. 
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