Fira-Nar and Nairn Tuckamore
Fira wasn't sure how they'd ended up on guard duty. Rather, specifically, how they'd ended up on guard duty together. The tall pale woman leaned against the wall across from the cell, reading a book. Fira could have sworn she was a sleeping or maybe some sort of statue but for the pages that fluttered from one side to the other apparently all on their own. Did she even blink? Breathe?
"Staring does not make me read faster. Just wait your turn."
The argonian jumped, flushing and looking away, rubbing the back of her neck. Stupidly, she had almost forgotten that Nairn was not, in fact, a statue and her voice had startled her as much as the fact that the Norn had noticed her staring. Equally discomforting was the idea that she'd thought she was wanting to read the book. Fira was most certainly not interested in reading material, but she was left with a question as to why she was staring in the first place. Ulga's arrival was a great relief in many ways.
"Oh good you're here!" That had sounded a little too enthusiastic. Fira cleared her throat and spoke in a lower voice. "This vampire, Devrin, was harassing Sellia. He said that he was part of group who are experimenting on people trying to make stronger vampires. I thought it best that we detain him. And well, I thought you might be able to help get more information out of him..."
"Because when he speaks, she draws her blade. It is an ineffective questioning technique." Nairn intoned, still standing in her corner, still staring at her book.
Finding Home
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Monkey Kitty
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Re: Finding Home
Ulga gra-Shatul
For a moment, Ulga was puzzled. She had no particular expertise with interrogation; why did they think she would would be effective at the task? She realized only belatedly.
Because I'm an Orc. Nasty, brutish, savage. Either they're hoping my presence will intimidate him, or they assume I have no moral qualms about doing whatever it takes to get information out of him.
She should be used to this by now.
"Very well," she said. "I'll try."
It didn't go well. The vampire, having spilled his guts earlier in his fit of pique, had apparently decided his words were spent now and had no further desire to enlighten them about his plans.
When she threatened to take his head off, he stared at her coolly. Smugly. "You aren't going to do it," he said.
And he was right. Ulga wasn't going to injure a captive, no matter how much he might deserve it. They were at an impasse.
Finally, an idea came to her. She turned to Fira and Nairn. "Alright, we're going to just leave him for awhile."
Devrin sneered at her. "You would leave me to starve to death?"
Ulga shook her head. "Oh, no. We're going to feed you. We're just going to bore you to death."
The vampire raised an eyebrow. "Bore me to death? I don't follow."
"Well, you're clearly desperate for attention. Sellia's. Ours. I think you're loving this. All our focus on you, trying to get answers out of you while you dramatically turn away. Well, we're done. You can cool your heels for awhile. See how you feel then. Maybe you'll be a little more ready to talk when having an audience depends on it."
Ulga hoped that would work. From his stricken look, she thought it might.
"We'll still want to keep an eye on him," Ulga told Fira and Nairn discreetly. "Subtly, of course."
Maybe once they had dealt with the elf situation, the imprisoned vampire would have rethought his decisions.
For a moment, Ulga was puzzled. She had no particular expertise with interrogation; why did they think she would would be effective at the task? She realized only belatedly.
Because I'm an Orc. Nasty, brutish, savage. Either they're hoping my presence will intimidate him, or they assume I have no moral qualms about doing whatever it takes to get information out of him.
She should be used to this by now.
"Very well," she said. "I'll try."
It didn't go well. The vampire, having spilled his guts earlier in his fit of pique, had apparently decided his words were spent now and had no further desire to enlighten them about his plans.
When she threatened to take his head off, he stared at her coolly. Smugly. "You aren't going to do it," he said.
And he was right. Ulga wasn't going to injure a captive, no matter how much he might deserve it. They were at an impasse.
Finally, an idea came to her. She turned to Fira and Nairn. "Alright, we're going to just leave him for awhile."
Devrin sneered at her. "You would leave me to starve to death?"
Ulga shook her head. "Oh, no. We're going to feed you. We're just going to bore you to death."
The vampire raised an eyebrow. "Bore me to death? I don't follow."
"Well, you're clearly desperate for attention. Sellia's. Ours. I think you're loving this. All our focus on you, trying to get answers out of you while you dramatically turn away. Well, we're done. You can cool your heels for awhile. See how you feel then. Maybe you'll be a little more ready to talk when having an audience depends on it."
Ulga hoped that would work. From his stricken look, she thought it might.
"We'll still want to keep an eye on him," Ulga told Fira and Nairn discreetly. "Subtly, of course."
Maybe once they had dealt with the elf situation, the imprisoned vampire would have rethought his decisions.
Re: Finding Home
Fira Nar
It seemed like Ulga was a bit off, but Fira supposed that getting news that vampires were trying to make super vampires would make anyone upset. She did her best to back up the orc by standing behind her, hefting her blade while staring at Devrin. It was like the guy didn't think they could send him to Cold Harbour!
Nothing. A sense of dejection mixed with desperation threatened to overwhelm her. Ulga's surprising idea caused her to lift her head and smile. When they'd stepped away from Devrin's cell, Fira couldn't help but share her enthusiasm.
"I never would have thought of that! I knew you were the right person to ask for help!"
She side-eyed the tall woman, who was still reading despite now standing near the two of them. If anyone could bore someone to death, it'd be her.
"Good. We can get on with saving the elves then and come back to him later." the Norn intoned and proceeded to walk away without glancing up even once.
Infernal woman. Fira gave her retreating back a stink eye before returning her attention to Ulga.
"So, Melar has seen the evidence? What does he think?"
It seemed like Ulga was a bit off, but Fira supposed that getting news that vampires were trying to make super vampires would make anyone upset. She did her best to back up the orc by standing behind her, hefting her blade while staring at Devrin. It was like the guy didn't think they could send him to Cold Harbour!
Nothing. A sense of dejection mixed with desperation threatened to overwhelm her. Ulga's surprising idea caused her to lift her head and smile. When they'd stepped away from Devrin's cell, Fira couldn't help but share her enthusiasm.
"I never would have thought of that! I knew you were the right person to ask for help!"
She side-eyed the tall woman, who was still reading despite now standing near the two of them. If anyone could bore someone to death, it'd be her.
"Good. We can get on with saving the elves then and come back to him later." the Norn intoned and proceeded to walk away without glancing up even once.
Infernal woman. Fira gave her retreating back a stink eye before returning her attention to Ulga.
"So, Melar has seen the evidence? What does he think?"
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Monkey Kitty
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Re: Finding Home
Ulga gra-Shatul
Ulga was a trifle surprised that Fira liked her idea - she had thought the two might find it a little anticlimactic - but she was pleased. "Thanks. We'll just have to see if it works. Hopefully he'll talk eventually."
The question about Melar was a complicated one. "He believes the evidence is strong, as far as it goes," Ulga said. "We're able to prove pretty incontrovertibly that the elves were stranded here against their will, and are not trying to invade human lands. For some, that will probably be enough. It's certainly reason to be sympathetic. But for others..."
She sighed. "The fact remains that there are a handful of elves who are trying to tear down the Veil and destroy the world in the process. I can only assume that's why the refugees were deposited here - to create enough chaos to confuse the issue. Melar and I think the evidence we've obtained may be enough to broker a temporary truce. That may not be enough for lasting peace, though. Fortunately, we have another avenue to pursue. An artifact we may be able to use to keep everyone safe - and once they're safe, there will be no excuse for further bloodshed."
An idea occurred to her. To pursue it, she needed to catch up with the retreating Norn. "Nairn, our next objective may call for your skills again, as a matter of fact. We don't know where the artifact is, but there is undoubtedly some archival record. Are you up for another book scouting mission?"
Ulga was a trifle surprised that Fira liked her idea - she had thought the two might find it a little anticlimactic - but she was pleased. "Thanks. We'll just have to see if it works. Hopefully he'll talk eventually."
The question about Melar was a complicated one. "He believes the evidence is strong, as far as it goes," Ulga said. "We're able to prove pretty incontrovertibly that the elves were stranded here against their will, and are not trying to invade human lands. For some, that will probably be enough. It's certainly reason to be sympathetic. But for others..."
She sighed. "The fact remains that there are a handful of elves who are trying to tear down the Veil and destroy the world in the process. I can only assume that's why the refugees were deposited here - to create enough chaos to confuse the issue. Melar and I think the evidence we've obtained may be enough to broker a temporary truce. That may not be enough for lasting peace, though. Fortunately, we have another avenue to pursue. An artifact we may be able to use to keep everyone safe - and once they're safe, there will be no excuse for further bloodshed."
An idea occurred to her. To pursue it, she needed to catch up with the retreating Norn. "Nairn, our next objective may call for your skills again, as a matter of fact. We don't know where the artifact is, but there is undoubtedly some archival record. Are you up for another book scouting mission?"
Re: Finding Home
Fira-Nar
The lanky Norn stopped midstride and for the first time since arriving at the jail, lowered her book. When she turned toward Ulga, there was a hint of a smile on her face. Fira thought that was the most alarming thing she'd seen all day.
Nairn's pleasure was Fira's disappointment. Of course the solution to the biggest crisis the worlds were facing would be down to reading books and scholarly nonsense. The argonian's shoulders slumped. Belatedly she realized what a terrible person that made her. Why wouldn't it be good news that the solution could involve less bloodshed?
Because it would leave her out of it? Selfish. Or was it a worse reason - that she wanted more bloodshed?
Nairn Tuckamore
With any luck this archival trip would be a solo enterprise. Preferably a long one. It did not occur to Nairn to be concerned about the length of time required to dig up said information before the end of the worlds. If she found it in time, good. If she didn't, well, hopefully someone had a Plan B.
"Of course. When do I leave?"
The lanky Norn stopped midstride and for the first time since arriving at the jail, lowered her book. When she turned toward Ulga, there was a hint of a smile on her face. Fira thought that was the most alarming thing she'd seen all day.
Nairn's pleasure was Fira's disappointment. Of course the solution to the biggest crisis the worlds were facing would be down to reading books and scholarly nonsense. The argonian's shoulders slumped. Belatedly she realized what a terrible person that made her. Why wouldn't it be good news that the solution could involve less bloodshed?
Because it would leave her out of it? Selfish. Or was it a worse reason - that she wanted more bloodshed?
Nairn Tuckamore
With any luck this archival trip would be a solo enterprise. Preferably a long one. It did not occur to Nairn to be concerned about the length of time required to dig up said information before the end of the worlds. If she found it in time, good. If she didn't, well, hopefully someone had a Plan B.
"Of course. When do I leave?"
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Monkey Kitty
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Re: Finding Home
Ulga gra-Shatul
That was a great question. Partly because she wasn't entirely sure where Nairn was leaving for. How did you find a book about something that might even be in a different world? What library would contain all the information they sought?
Ulga had an idea.
But she didn't like it.
"I want to make sure you're fully aware what you're getting into," Ulga said. "There's only one library that I'm confident will have what we need. It's called Apocrypha. It's... uh... not just a library. It's a plane of Oblivion, the realm of a Daedric prince."
Hastily, she clarified, "That's not as bad as it sounds. We're not talking about an evil Prince. Just Hermaeus Mora. He's... well, I wouldn't say he's good, either. More sort of neutral, really. But he doesn't generally stray outside of his own interests, and his interests are rather particular."
Casually, Ulga added, "Plus, he kind of owes me a favor. And I know some people in Apocrypha. So it should be relatively safe. If I can negotiate passage... are you in? Or is this too much to ask?"
That was a great question. Partly because she wasn't entirely sure where Nairn was leaving for. How did you find a book about something that might even be in a different world? What library would contain all the information they sought?
Ulga had an idea.
But she didn't like it.
"I want to make sure you're fully aware what you're getting into," Ulga said. "There's only one library that I'm confident will have what we need. It's called Apocrypha. It's... uh... not just a library. It's a plane of Oblivion, the realm of a Daedric prince."
Hastily, she clarified, "That's not as bad as it sounds. We're not talking about an evil Prince. Just Hermaeus Mora. He's... well, I wouldn't say he's good, either. More sort of neutral, really. But he doesn't generally stray outside of his own interests, and his interests are rather particular."
Casually, Ulga added, "Plus, he kind of owes me a favor. And I know some people in Apocrypha. So it should be relatively safe. If I can negotiate passage... are you in? Or is this too much to ask?"
Re: Finding Home
Fira-Nar
"Um, doesn't he also try to make all smart people his servants or something? And I heard the library is full of ghosts." Fira was unable to surpress a shudder at the latter. She trusted Ulga's judgment, though the 'relatively' in 'relatively safe' worried her more than she thought it should.
"Sounds like home." The Norn shrugged, "The Priory library is full of ghosts. If one is polite, they may help you find what you're looking for. I will go to this Apocrypha." She glanced at Fira before returning her gaze to Ulga. "I will collect my writing materials."
With that, the pale woman ducked her head and left the the other two behind.
FIra blew a gust of air out of her nose, letting the silence swirl back in around her before she spoke. "I hope he owes you a big favour, Ulga. Hermaeus Mora will eat a nerd like her for breakfast - and possibly lunch. And she probably wouldn't even be mad about it." The proud bookworm would probably love to be locked forever in a deal with a knowledge demon. Crazy woman.
"Um, doesn't he also try to make all smart people his servants or something? And I heard the library is full of ghosts." Fira was unable to surpress a shudder at the latter. She trusted Ulga's judgment, though the 'relatively' in 'relatively safe' worried her more than she thought it should.
"Sounds like home." The Norn shrugged, "The Priory library is full of ghosts. If one is polite, they may help you find what you're looking for. I will go to this Apocrypha." She glanced at Fira before returning her gaze to Ulga. "I will collect my writing materials."
With that, the pale woman ducked her head and left the the other two behind.
FIra blew a gust of air out of her nose, letting the silence swirl back in around her before she spoke. "I hope he owes you a big favour, Ulga. Hermaeus Mora will eat a nerd like her for breakfast - and possibly lunch. And she probably wouldn't even be mad about it." The proud bookworm would probably love to be locked forever in a deal with a knowledge demon. Crazy woman.
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Monkey Kitty
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Re: Finding Home
Ulga gra-Shatul
Ulga shrugged one shoulder when Fira asked about the favor.
Yeah, it was a pretty big one.
But she didn't say it, because that wasn't really the point, was it? If she listened to what Fira said, without emotion, without ego - Fira was right. The whole idea was too dangerous. Ulga realized she had gotten complacent. All the adventuring she'd done, maybe, and then the Twin Lamps, dispatching slavers with extreme prejudice... she had gotten too casual about danger. That was fine for herself. But it wasn't fair to her friends. It wasn't fair to ask Nairn to face a risk she might not fully comprehend until it was too late.
"Thank you for your counsel, Fira," Ulga said. "You're right. Apocrypha is just too dangerous. I'll think of something else."
There was only one other option she could think of. When Nairn returned, Ulga said, "Change of plans. We can go to Summerset. They have an excellent library at Crystal-Like-Law. If anyone on this plane has information about something from another, surely it will be them." To sweeten the deal, she added, "I'm sure they'll have plenty of other books of interest to you also."
Surely that would work. If not, Ulga would travel to Apocrypha alone. There was no need to put anyone else at risk for what might turn out to be a fool's errand anyway. If they were lucky, the Crystal Tower would have what they sought.
Ulga shrugged one shoulder when Fira asked about the favor.
Yeah, it was a pretty big one.
But she didn't say it, because that wasn't really the point, was it? If she listened to what Fira said, without emotion, without ego - Fira was right. The whole idea was too dangerous. Ulga realized she had gotten complacent. All the adventuring she'd done, maybe, and then the Twin Lamps, dispatching slavers with extreme prejudice... she had gotten too casual about danger. That was fine for herself. But it wasn't fair to her friends. It wasn't fair to ask Nairn to face a risk she might not fully comprehend until it was too late.
"Thank you for your counsel, Fira," Ulga said. "You're right. Apocrypha is just too dangerous. I'll think of something else."
There was only one other option she could think of. When Nairn returned, Ulga said, "Change of plans. We can go to Summerset. They have an excellent library at Crystal-Like-Law. If anyone on this plane has information about something from another, surely it will be them." To sweeten the deal, she added, "I'm sure they'll have plenty of other books of interest to you also."
Surely that would work. If not, Ulga would travel to Apocrypha alone. There was no need to put anyone else at risk for what might turn out to be a fool's errand anyway. If they were lucky, the Crystal Tower would have what they sought.