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Post by carnackiArdent on Oct 14, 2018 1:29:12 GMT
Maela was back to her usual expression, the polite neutral-verging-on-smile one. Well, nothing ventured, nothing gained - what good was a knight who wouldn't at least risk something now and then?
Besides, this one claimed there were no strings attached to this offer, and being able to see who she was talking to sounded like an excellent plan. Despite the somewhat unsanitary method - if that really was blood in the cup.
"Very well then. I'll admit I feel a little rude, not being able to look at someone I'm speaking with," Maela said lightly. She stepped forward and dipped her fingers into the cup to do as she was bidden. She still kept an ear cocked toward the bandits - evidently they'd had some run-ins with this creature before. Which only made sense, if this was its territory.
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Post by birdy51 on Oct 14, 2018 4:00:43 GMT
Queasiness came unbidden as Maela dipped her fingers into the goblet. D-did she not know where that came from? Does he say anything about it? She certainly seemed to know what she was doing. Maybe Maela noticed something that he didn't. Yes. Yes! That must be the truth of the matter! Hahahaha! Ha...
He turned his focus back to the conversation at hand and tried to ignore what she was doing. If this creature was telling the truth, and it did mean them no harm, then perhaps proper salutations were in order. Turning to both parties, he spoke quickly and decisively. "As we continue, it may be prudent dispense with some basic introductions. You seem to know quite a bit about us, but we know only but a little of you. My name is Morgan, archer, squire, and humble servant of the king, but what would you have us call you?" He asks.
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Post by Zephias on Oct 14, 2018 6:33:40 GMT
As her vision suddenly cleared, the being gave Maela a deep bow in salutation.
"Ah, a trailblazer. I thank you, for your nugget of trust. Although already given, it perhaps requires a repeat. I am known to these lands as Keen, although I have been forgotten for many years. If you wish to know more, it would be more prudent to ask Anarawd. She, young Morgan, is the only one who remembers"
At the remark, the burned woman's face seemed to shift in slight sadness.
"But no matter. Well met, Morgan the Archer. Shall you bargain for the knowledge I keep?"
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Post by carnackiArdent on Oct 16, 2018 22:31:53 GMT
Maela blinked as her vision cleared and she could finally look right at their interlocutor. She sort of wished she couldn't, now - her smile slipped a fraction. But the whole point of this was to be able to talk to it. And Morgan just introduced himself after all, so she supposed she may as well do it too and be polite.
"It's a pleasure to meet you, Keen. My name is Maela." She bowed again, then looked up at the being somewhat warily. "I wonder what sort of coin we would be bargaining in, for this message. What do we have that interests someone like you?"
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Post by amillaiara on Oct 20, 2018 18:21:52 GMT
O., seeing that Maela seems unaffected by the liquid in the goblet, walks forward himself to put some in his eyes. Not being able to see Keen would probably be a downside if any tricks were to be played, or the discussions turned bad. He tunes into however Keen answers Maela's question because depending on the cost, O. thinks he will bear the burden to protect his friends and allies.
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Post by Zephias on Oct 21, 2018 7:34:27 GMT
Keen's head twisted in owl-like fashion.
"Normally, I would ask for a simple promise of visits. My curse makes things horribly lonely, you see... and you are all interesting young fledgelings in quite the path. However... there is something else here that is of greater value"
It looks at Morgan.
"As payment, I ask for a single favour from young Morgan, to be disclosed after the deal is done. Nothing more, nothing less"
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Post by birdy51 on Oct 21, 2018 19:28:31 GMT
"I was quietly hoping it would be my bow that you wanted, or something along those lines." Morgan replies in his best attempt at sounding dry and casual. This might had done well to hide the panic welling up in his heart, had an incredibly graceless chuckle not croaked out a few seconds later after he had done speaking. A favor owed? To a creature this... Ugly? Oh my oh no oh my. That would never do.
"I-I am sure we can come to agreement, but ah.... Only with a few conditions. And perhaps a moment to speak to my ah... Comrades?"
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Post by Zephias on Oct 21, 2018 23:09:37 GMT
It nodded.
"But of course. Do take your time"
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Post by birdy51 on Oct 24, 2018 12:25:27 GMT
Morgan flashed his pearly whites, slowly lifted his arms around the shoulders of his companions, and then dragged them into a sidebar circle with wide eyes of fear. "Ok, so I do not want to do this. This creature is detestable. What do you even think it wants from me?! My blood? My first-born? A favor could be anything, and I don't really know if I'm up for being woke up in the night to go gallivanting about in the name of this... Keen."
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Post by amillaiara on Oct 25, 2018 15:30:59 GMT
Looking at Morgan's fear filled eyes, O. takes a calming breath. "I do have a counter offer that I don't like, you all won't like, but Keen might like. If you really don't want to go through with it, and no one else has any suggestions."
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Post by birdy51 on Oct 26, 2018 0:15:18 GMT
Morgan pursed his lips. "Well, as much as I don't like it, this creature does seem to have information. Go ahead and lay your idea on the table. It can't be much worse than having to do a favor for a fae."
"Ah... No offense." He adds hastily.
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Post by carnackiArdent on Oct 29, 2018 6:49:03 GMT
Maela invited herself into the huddle and glanced at O. warily. "I don't like offering it a blank check either. I do wish we knew more about it so that we could make a more specific counteroffer... but we can't exactly ask the bandits about it without Keen knowing. Assuming they'd even tell us. Just what is this idea of yours?"
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Post by amillaiara on Nov 2, 2018 18:19:24 GMT
O. shoots Morgan a slightly annoyed look, "I take no offense as depending on the fae I would be reluctant to accept any favors as well. Now I have two ideas one better than the other but I doubt Keen will go for the better of the two. The worst is i'll take on the favor for you Morgan, and as I am not you, i'll throw in another owed favor on top of that. The better idea I have is seeing if Keen would be willing to part with the information for a promise of whenever we are in the area, we come meet him to give him company that he so rarely has.
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Post by snark on Nov 3, 2018 20:41:18 GMT
"If you offer it a favor, you should make it clear that your duties as a squire come first," Elys chimes in. "It should understand that, from what I know of the fae. If it doesn't, then I don't think we have any business bargaining with it. I would make the offer myself, but it does not seem interested."
She glances at Morgan. "Why are you so wary? It is one of the fair folk, but it's been courteous so far."
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Post by birdy51 on Nov 4, 2018 21:55:36 GMT
"W-well, you've heard the stories! Morgan replies to Elys. His hands dart about futilely in front of him. He had heard some stories from his mother, but unfortunately he had forgotten most of them. Shaking his head, he continued. "Well, at any rate, I'm not going put any of you at risk for a favor that he's asking of me. I think... As long as I make it clear that I do have other duties I just can't run off from, it should be... Relatively reasonable to assume that he's not going to, say, ask for my blood under the light of a pale blue moon."
He pauses. "But ah, your idea is sound as well O. The second idea, the one about meeting him whenever we're in the area. That ah... Just might work."
Clapping his hands, Morgan breaks the huddle. "Mr. Ah... Keen! Would we perhaps be able to make a deal where we visit you whenever we're in the area? It sure can be ah... Lonely in the woods."
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Post by Zephias on Nov 7, 2018 5:49:05 GMT
Keen scratched his chin with his long, bony fingers.
"In most other circumstances, as I said earlier, that would be what I asked. However, I believe there is more to be learned from this favour. Yes, it's simply too interesting to pass up"
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Post by birdy51 on Nov 7, 2018 22:22:22 GMT
Oh. Right. He had said that, hadn't he? It was a bit foolish to think that he could get off the hook so easily. Yet, he couldn't allow anyone, let alone an ally like O. take and carry this burden. That would be simply ignoble of him! But what was that about learning? Learning. Morgan gave a hesitant smile. "W-well, if it's just information and not something that conflicts with my ah... Duties, then I think we might be able to arrange something. Would I know the honor of what you might ask of me?"
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Post by Zephias on Nov 12, 2018 20:32:00 GMT
"I am afraid not. Although I can guarantee it should not interfere with your duties in the least, I reckon. It should be something quite in line with your place as a squire, or a knight, in fact" Keen said.
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Post by birdy51 on Nov 14, 2018 22:20:30 GMT
"Well, if that is the case, then I think we can do business." Morgan says with a small, but certainly hesitant smile. "Do we ah... Need to do anything to complete the deal, or will my word do?"
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Post by Zephias on Nov 16, 2018 20:38:04 GMT
"The terms are set. The words are spoken. May the Law be our witness" Keen said. Two small ribbons of light seemed to float out from between the trees. One wrapped itself around Keen's upper arm, discoloring the featherlike surface and turning it white as snow while the other wrapped itself around Morgan's bicep and seemed to vanish into his clothes.
Keen then stretched out his arm, a speck of light forming in it.
"Come, and receive what was entrusted to me"
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