Post by Nic on Jul 19, 2024 20:32:56 GMT
Co-written with Tom M
After returning to Daring Heights from the Angelbark forest, Lylara'din follows Kem to a tavern - one he isn't barred from. Feeling a little out of place, she orders a glass of wine and sits down at a table in the corner of the room with him, her back to the wall.
She takes a few minutes to survey the room, taking in the scene. Races she's never seen before, languages she doesn't understand, the way sunlight reflects through the windows.
Turning to Kem, "Is the whole surface like this?"
Kem, a little more familiar with the local customs, has already got himself something in an opaque tankard before she joins him at the table.
“I wouldn’t know Spiders. I haven’t seen it all yet, but what specifically do you mean?”
Lylara'din scowls at the nickname. "So... big. The sky is huge. Nothing like I could ever imagine."
“A beautiful world full of wonders, mysteries, and stories. Maybe one day I’ll get to see the Underdark and have the same feeling.”
"I doubt it. A weak creature like you wouldn't last an hour."
Kem laughs, “And there’s me thinking I saw a momentary wistfulness in you there Spiders.”
“You may be right, but I’d have you to pick me up again if I fell down right?” He winks.
"Unlikely."
“Because you wouldn’t help me a second time or because you don’t want to go back?”
"I see no point in helping you again. I will go back when it is deemed I have done enough."
“Well that just hurts my feelings. Why are you sat at this table then? I was daring to hope for a minute that you liked me.”
Lylara'din is silent at the question, and sits for a moment thinking for a response. After an awkward pause she gestures her head to Kem's cards. "I saw you fiddling with them in the forest. Are they magical?"
Kem shuffles through cards as he speaks, “Isn’t everything? These cards are part of the world. Connected to it like anything else. Maybe they are magical or maybe my magic runs through them. There’s only one way to find out.” He holds the deck out for Lylara’din to touch.
Lylara'din frowns and raises an eyebrow. "Ah. A charlatan. Of course. Let's see how far you can bluff." She reaches out and touches the deck.
“I’ve been described as worse and with less accuracy, but we’ll see if you feel the same way once we’re done here.”
He deals three cards face down on the table, keeping eye contact with Lylara’din as he does so.
“The first. Your past.”
“The Beast - a major arcana. Inverted. Something inhuman, animalistic, filled with rage.” He looks across the table at her, “Not you I would guess from the inversion. This card speaks of someone, or some people, close to you.”
Lylara'din listens carefully to Kem's words. As he finishes her lips set into a thin line and she glares at the card. Her fists clench and unclench as she tries to school her emotions. "I see." She grits out "There is certainly some truth one could gleam from that card."
Kem smirks, “A story I hope to hear one day. Maybe that’s in your present?” He flips over the second card.
Kem allows Lylara’din to study the card herself for a while. “Another major arcana and not a good omen Spiders. The Broken One tells me of someone lost, defeated, and incomplete.” He looks into her eyes, “You feeling okay there?”
Lylara'din aggressively shoots a look up to Kem at his question. "I'm fine. Are you trying to imply I am weak?"
“I’m just reading the cards. If it helps, I’m incorrigibly attracted to anyone who I think could kill me without thinking twice about it and my eyes are resting on nobody else tonight.” He smiles waiting for the inevitable insult.
She scowls and snaps back "The little house spider should think twice before playing with the steeder. What's the final card?" She demands.
“The final card represents your future.” Kem smiles and puts a hand down firmly on the last card as he begins a well used patter, “And seeing as the cards knew your past and present, how much is your future worth to you?”
Lylara'din slams her hand down on the table beside his, loud enough that some of the patrons in the tavern jump at the sound. Her red eyes meet Kem's, and she narrows them as she speaks in a growl. "I think I've paid it. Or should I have let you bleed out on that forest floor?"
Kem holds her gaze steadily, not obviously reacting to the sudden noise. He smiles, “A fair point.” As he turns over the card.
“Not a major arcana this one so perhaps less about a major life event and more about the day to day. An inverted three of swords, The Soldier… now that would normally mean sacrifice, enduring hardship, but the inversion… Perhaps again, you are not The Soldier. I would say you can expect another to take on a burden on your behalf.”
Kem smirks, “Maybe it’s that sparkling personality that’ll win someone over?”
Lylara'din furrows her eyebrows in confusion and frowns. A seed of doubt enters her mind. "No. This is incorrect. My path is clear. Redemption comes through Lolth." She shakes her head as she speaks.
“Redemption? Well I was hoping to get the story behind how you reacted to The Beast.” He sits back in his chair expectantly.
Lylara'din straightens in her chair. "That is not a story for now."
Kem raises an optimistic eyebrow, “Oh, have you got other plans for how we spend this evening?”
She scoffs "Are you suggesting we spend the night in your caravan?"
“I don’t think you’d like my caravan.” He nods toward the stairs, “I’m suggesting we’re in an inn.“
Lylara'din looks Kem up and down, then looks across the tavern at the patrons hoping for another option. Realising there is none, she sighs. "Fine."
Lylara'din stands and makes her way towards the stairs.
Kem watches her walk away in a state of shock that that worked before coming to his senses and swiftly following her up the stairs.
After the events of The Grey Beyond Black
After returning to Daring Heights from the Angelbark forest, Lylara'din follows Kem to a tavern - one he isn't barred from. Feeling a little out of place, she orders a glass of wine and sits down at a table in the corner of the room with him, her back to the wall.
She takes a few minutes to survey the room, taking in the scene. Races she's never seen before, languages she doesn't understand, the way sunlight reflects through the windows.
Turning to Kem, "Is the whole surface like this?"
Kem, a little more familiar with the local customs, has already got himself something in an opaque tankard before she joins him at the table.
“I wouldn’t know Spiders. I haven’t seen it all yet, but what specifically do you mean?”
Lylara'din scowls at the nickname. "So... big. The sky is huge. Nothing like I could ever imagine."
“A beautiful world full of wonders, mysteries, and stories. Maybe one day I’ll get to see the Underdark and have the same feeling.”
"I doubt it. A weak creature like you wouldn't last an hour."
Kem laughs, “And there’s me thinking I saw a momentary wistfulness in you there Spiders.”
“You may be right, but I’d have you to pick me up again if I fell down right?” He winks.
"Unlikely."
“Because you wouldn’t help me a second time or because you don’t want to go back?”
"I see no point in helping you again. I will go back when it is deemed I have done enough."
“Well that just hurts my feelings. Why are you sat at this table then? I was daring to hope for a minute that you liked me.”
Lylara'din is silent at the question, and sits for a moment thinking for a response. After an awkward pause she gestures her head to Kem's cards. "I saw you fiddling with them in the forest. Are they magical?"
Kem shuffles through cards as he speaks, “Isn’t everything? These cards are part of the world. Connected to it like anything else. Maybe they are magical or maybe my magic runs through them. There’s only one way to find out.” He holds the deck out for Lylara’din to touch.
Lylara'din frowns and raises an eyebrow. "Ah. A charlatan. Of course. Let's see how far you can bluff." She reaches out and touches the deck.
“I’ve been described as worse and with less accuracy, but we’ll see if you feel the same way once we’re done here.”
He deals three cards face down on the table, keeping eye contact with Lylara’din as he does so.
“The first. Your past.”
“The Beast - a major arcana. Inverted. Something inhuman, animalistic, filled with rage.” He looks across the table at her, “Not you I would guess from the inversion. This card speaks of someone, or some people, close to you.”
Lylara'din listens carefully to Kem's words. As he finishes her lips set into a thin line and she glares at the card. Her fists clench and unclench as she tries to school her emotions. "I see." She grits out "There is certainly some truth one could gleam from that card."
Kem smirks, “A story I hope to hear one day. Maybe that’s in your present?” He flips over the second card.
Kem allows Lylara’din to study the card herself for a while. “Another major arcana and not a good omen Spiders. The Broken One tells me of someone lost, defeated, and incomplete.” He looks into her eyes, “You feeling okay there?”
Lylara'din aggressively shoots a look up to Kem at his question. "I'm fine. Are you trying to imply I am weak?"
“I’m just reading the cards. If it helps, I’m incorrigibly attracted to anyone who I think could kill me without thinking twice about it and my eyes are resting on nobody else tonight.” He smiles waiting for the inevitable insult.
She scowls and snaps back "The little house spider should think twice before playing with the steeder. What's the final card?" She demands.
“The final card represents your future.” Kem smiles and puts a hand down firmly on the last card as he begins a well used patter, “And seeing as the cards knew your past and present, how much is your future worth to you?”
Lylara'din slams her hand down on the table beside his, loud enough that some of the patrons in the tavern jump at the sound. Her red eyes meet Kem's, and she narrows them as she speaks in a growl. "I think I've paid it. Or should I have let you bleed out on that forest floor?"
Kem holds her gaze steadily, not obviously reacting to the sudden noise. He smiles, “A fair point.” As he turns over the card.
“Not a major arcana this one so perhaps less about a major life event and more about the day to day. An inverted three of swords, The Soldier… now that would normally mean sacrifice, enduring hardship, but the inversion… Perhaps again, you are not The Soldier. I would say you can expect another to take on a burden on your behalf.”
Kem smirks, “Maybe it’s that sparkling personality that’ll win someone over?”
Lylara'din furrows her eyebrows in confusion and frowns. A seed of doubt enters her mind. "No. This is incorrect. My path is clear. Redemption comes through Lolth." She shakes her head as she speaks.
“Redemption? Well I was hoping to get the story behind how you reacted to The Beast.” He sits back in his chair expectantly.
Lylara'din straightens in her chair. "That is not a story for now."
Kem raises an optimistic eyebrow, “Oh, have you got other plans for how we spend this evening?”
She scoffs "Are you suggesting we spend the night in your caravan?"
“I don’t think you’d like my caravan.” He nods toward the stairs, “I’m suggesting we’re in an inn.“
Lylara'din looks Kem up and down, then looks across the tavern at the patrons hoping for another option. Realising there is none, she sighs. "Fine."
Lylara'din stands and makes her way towards the stairs.
Kem watches her walk away in a state of shock that that worked before coming to his senses and swiftly following her up the stairs.
