Overview

I think Krivo provided the cue for Solomon to plunge everything into chaos! 😆

Seren couldn’t help but smirk at Apsalar’s quick wit, appreciating the playful mockery of the street vendors’ cries. She watched the woman with an easy interest, seeing beyond the lighthearted banter to the subtle signs of someone seeking distraction. Apsalar’s storytelling, though brief, carried a charm of its own—simple, yet engaging enough to satisfy the surface-level curiosity of a room full of strangers. Seren had met many like her before: people who wore their past lightly, as though their stories were too fragile, too dangerous, to be shared. Seren shifted in her chair, her gaze wandering for a moment before settling back on the woman across from her. “The Fish that Walked… seems fitting for a city like this. A place where the impossible becomes mundane, no?” Her voice was smooth, the kind of tone she used when navigating delicate conversations. Seren’s perceptive nature hadn’t missed Apsalar’s quiet reluctance to speak of herself, and she respected it. Champoor was full of ghosts, after all, and it was rarely wise to drag them into the light. She took a sip of her tea, the bitter warmth grounding her before she answered the question directed her way. “Just arrived today, in fact,” Seren replied, her lips curving into a faint smile. “News? Not much of interest from where I came, I’m afraid. My ship’s been hugging the coast, hopping from port to port. Most places are quiet, for now. But the further east you go, the stranger the tales become. I’ve heard whispers of sea monsters, disappearing islands, even rumors of the Wyld stretching its claws into the ocean. But nothing concrete. Just stories.” She leaned back slightly, her eyes flicking to Yuren as he spoke of his travels. His tales of exotic beasts from far-flung islands were intriguing, and she listened attentively, though she found herself wondering if he, too, was leaving certain parts of his story untold. It was rare for someone to travel so far without a deeper purpose. Seren had learned long ago that everyone who came to Champoor had something to hide—or something to find. When Yuren finished, she inclined her head slightly, the diplomat in her keenly aware of the importance of keeping the conversation fluid, balanced. “Tigers that dive… I’d love to hear more about that someday. I find myself drawn to the tales that seem too wild to believe. Maybe that’s why I enjoy Champoor so much. It’s a place where even the most outlandish stories could be true. Why, I heard one just the other day about a group of strangers in a bar that became traveling companions after an eruption of utter chaos. Not that such things are likely to happen here, but it is an interesting thought is it not?” Her eyes returned to Apsalar, a soft invitation to continue, but Seren didn’t push. If the woman wanted distraction, she would find it here, among the stories and strange company. It was all too easy, after all, to let one’s guard down when surrounded by strangers who had their own reasons for keeping certain things to themselves. And Seren, for her part, had no intention of prying deeper than the surface—for now.

@DarthAnthrax Real life happens! We are excited to have you! @Solomon Black We are in 3 separate groups in the scene atm, but me and Echo are the only ones upstairs. If you need us all to wind up in the same room we can make up an OOC excuse to send our chars back downstairs for the sake of getting the scene rolling :D Just let me know if you require that. @namo If you (or anyone else) needs to check something in the abyssal book or one of the books you don't have, message me with your discord and I can fill you in on things like what necromancy spells are like/do etc. Me and @Auberdine have access to most of the books!

Sorry for the weak start, work was killing me last week, and I spent most of the day today just recovering. I´ll look over my sheet and see if I´ve missed anything I should fix in short order, otherwise I´m happy to be aboard :)

Khazim stopped for a brief moment as he entered the Red Roofed Pavillion, taking in the environment. As expected, the place seemed to contain a variety of patrons, both foreign and domestic. He looked around for a moment to find an empty table, and in short order took a seat at a small table near the back. As he was approached by a server, he asked for some water and whatever light local specialty they could recommend. This was what he liked about travels, seeing new places, trying new food and occasionally meeting new people. He had arrived in the city earlier the same day, and had spent most of the time since trying to catch a glimpse of what it had to offer. While his travels had seen him visit places far and wide, this was the first time they had taken him to this particular region, and he was looking forward to seeing what it had to offer. He had heard the rumors and legends of course, but he was looking forward to seeing them with his own eyes and determining what level of truth they held.

Yuren - Health Levels0 0 -1 -1 -1 -2 -2 -2 -2 -4 Incapacited - WP 6/6 - Personal Essence 13 / 13 - Peripheral Essence 33 / 33 It seemed Yuren was in some luck this evening, as both the Lady of the Veil and the Grand Captain were from Champoor. It was good enough for now for the Volivati, and he savoured his glass of wine a little longer this time. It tasted better than mere minutes ago. The giant shifted in his chair and pushed it an inch back to better view both ladies at the same time. He didn't know if any of them could give him the information he needed, and he didnt' want to give the cold shoulder to any of them. "(Flametongue) I look forward to hearing more of the famous Champoorian folklore, there must be tales in spades, for sure, and that's what I am here for, after all. Please humour me ! As for tales from far away, if here there are Fishes that Walk, I could tell you of Tigers that Dive, if you would like. Far to the East of here, I was once on a small archipelago, no more than spots of rocks anymore, but it sported the most surprising fauna you could believe... (/Flametongue) " he didn't hold the spotlight for long, giving them only a couple of striking examples like the platypus before resuming sipping his glass of wine and waiting to hear from the ladies.

Apsalar "Champoor tea is best tea!" Apsalar replies facetiously to Yuren, imitating the street sellers hawking their wares in sometimes broken tongues, as they try to speak Flametongue, Forest-tongue, Low Realm, and several others besides, to capture their potential customer's attention. "But no, she is right." Since Seren awarded her a title, she will do so in return. "Grand captain, I'm afraid you're mistaken. I am not one they tell stories about... but I can entertain you with Champoorian folklore, for sure. Do you know the one about the Fish that Walked? One day it came out of the sea, and walked its way to the bazaar..." She's just a passable storyteller, so she keeps it short and sweet. "Did you just arrive in the city?" she then asks her in return. "Any news of distant lands?" If Seren is perceptive in social settings, it'll be clear to her that Apsalar is looking for distraction, an escape from whatever her day-to-day routine is, rather than to talk about herself or her life. OOC

@Solomon Black I stand corrected, thank you for the explanation.

Cool! I'll make sure I don't have bonus exp for either one, thanks!

@Phylactery The keyword is "appropriate" as the idea was to not point tax things that most likely won't come up. Coming from Volviat and Mount Namas Shiro speaking Flame and Forest would be appropriate so 0 cost. @Thot If you look at a map of Creation we're way down in the corner. The rivers Riverspeak refers to are north and west of us going upstream from their mouth at Lookshy until you reach the vast forests beyond Vaneha. Riverspeak is also the language of the Guild so it is the most widely spread tongue and the closest to Common in Creation... but it is still not and the Dreaming Sea is one of the places that don't. Anyways Volviat being in the Dreaming Sea would speak Flame and Forest. I intend to use Flame as the main lingua franca for travelers everywhere but Forest may come up.

Seren’s eyes flickered with faint amusement as the two newcomers settled at her table. It wasn't the quiet respite she had hoped for, but the evening was certainly taking an intriguing turn. First, the giant from Volivat, his presence enough to deter most would-be troublemakers. And now, a veiled woman in black with the look of someone who knew how to navigate Champoor's shadows. If Seren was a believer in luck, she might even consider herself fortunate for the company. As Apsalar deftly ordered her wine and turned her attention to the giant, Seren watched, taking in the interaction. This wasn’t the first time she’d found herself surrounded by strangers with secrets, and experience had taught her to move carefully, like a dancer threading between spears. She took another sip of her tea, letting the warmth and bitterness anchor her before she spoke. “Well, it seems I’m in the company of interesting travelers tonight,” she said smoothly, her voice cutting through the din of the tavern with practiced ease. Her gaze shifted between Yuren and Apsalar, assessing their reactions while keeping her expression open and inviting. “Volivat to Champoor is quite the ride, if I remember correctly. And no, there is nothing special about the tea. I'm not myself after enough wine, though, and today was a bad enough day that I don't desire to make it worse by waking up in a jail cell tomorrow.” She turned her focus to Apsalar, who had slipped into the conversation with an ease Seren recognized. This was not someone who liked to stand out, but rather someone who could blend into the city’s fabric when needed. A useful trait. “So big men come from Volivat,” Seren continued, addressing the other woman at the table more than the big man now. “Well, Champoor has a way of finding its own reasons to keep people around. Or drive them away.” She raised her teacup slightly, a silent toast to the unpredictable nature of the city. The tea warmed her fingers as she rested the cup against her lips, her eyes glancing over the two. "But perhaps tonight isn’t about reasons,” she added with a faint, charming smile. “Perhaps it’s simply about enjoying the wine, the company, and whatever stories we choose to share. So tell me, what stories do you bring to this table, lady of the veil? You look like you've handled yourself amidst a grand story or two.” She means this as a compliment to Apsalar, though she doesn't know the woman's name yet.

Obviously, being from Volivat, Yuren speaks Riverspeak, right ? And not the Forest-Tongue ? That's what I assume.

Yuren - Health Levels0 0 -1 -1 -1 -2 -2 -2 -2 -4 Incapacited - WP 6/6 - Personal Essence 13 / 13 - Peripheral Essence 33 / 33 While he had seated in silence with no intention to disturb anyone, it didn't faze Yuren to talk to either. He was used to talk with women, after all, and it may mean leads as early as the first evening, with some luck. otherwise it may not be too bad either. "(Flametongue) It is wine because I can have it only in cities, when tea is usually easier to get anywhere. Unless the tea here is anything special, of course, but only a local would be able to tell me since I come from Volivat and know not the lay of the city (/Flametongue) " and that was probably their cue to vaunt their origins...

So to be clear, we get Flametongue + 1 free regional language through our background. I need to double check my sheet, I MAY have bought that second one. I bought a lot of languages either way though >.> Let me know if I'm misunderstanding!

Ah. Will change my post and update character sheet for Flametongue. Thank you for clarifying!

From House Rules: Languages: Every character starts knowing Flametongue and may know one additional Language from an appropriate background. Scavenger Land natives know Riverspeak for example. Additionally one may speak the four directional tongues, Riverspeak, and Low Realm even if you do not know them albeit at a -3 penalty to all rolls. High Realm is considered an 'accent' of Low Realm and mutually understandable, but only Dynasts (or Dragon Caste) really get the knack for speaking it automatically. Old Realm, Guild Cant, Dragontongue (Shogunate), and obscure languages like Gigante should be purchased Not the most 'realistic' maybe but I always hate my characters getting taxed for not being locals which feels like a very... American... design decision. Though nobody is actually from anywhere that wouldn't speak Flametongue either.

Oops. I put Seatongue because of pirate theme, but yeah if the local languages are Forest-tongue and Flametongue I will probably need to change that as well.

Apsalar Apsalar knows Champoor like her beating heart: its beauty, not found in palaces or ornamentation, and its vices. But lately she has become too famous for her own good. Lately she has had to hide more than she likes. But it's still her city, and so tonight she is out and about, to enjoy cheap wine and take the pulse of the city. So she can check who is gouging whom, which nobleman or noblewoman has distinguished themselves through cruelty, and perhaps some news of the wider world, brought by sailors. Her head is veiled when she arrives at the Red Roof Pavilion and while she would prefer a table for herself in a corner, she knows it's nearly impossible to obtain at this hour - except in exchange for some precious silver, which she doesn't have, since she gives away what she steals. So she follows the general motion towards the newly freed table, and finds herself seated next to the giant. Dressed all in black, with a dagger visible at her belt, likely for self-protection, she appears self-effacing at the moment, making herself small and nearly vanishing in the shadow of her neighbour. Without glancing around much, she still seems to be very aware of everything happening around the tavern. "It will be wine for me" she inserts herself in the conversation. Without looking, she raises her hand and gives a very Champoorian twist of fingers to indicate the waitress ought to come now. Craning her neck to look at the giant, she asks: "Where do you hail from? Where do they make men this big?" The question is teasing, but it's still just small talk, not flirting, and the question could be brushed away without consequence.

In the previous game, the DM had noted Forest-tongue and Flametongue as the local languages; did that change? I'm asking because @Krivolacarticus mentions Seatongue and Low Realm, so I'll need to tweak my sheet if either of those is better. We really need 1 or at most 2 languages that can be used to communicate to the whole party. 😆 Translation mishaps can be fun as long as they're infrequent.

Seren looked up as the large shadow crossed the table. Her eyes narrowed slightly, more out of curiosity than suspicion, as the towering man lowered himself onto the chair opposite her. The table creaked under his weight, but he managed to settle in with a surprising lightness for someone of his size. Seren’s sharp gaze took in his features, the careful way he moved, and the nod he offered. Interesting. Champoor had its fair share of strange characters, and she had learned to read each one with a practiced eye. This one, though, was different. Not just his size—there were many oversized brutes in the docks—but the way he carried himself. He had the air of a seasoned warrior, one who had seen and endured much, yet there was no immediate threat in his manner. It made him both intriguing and worth keeping an eye on. As he settled into the chair opposite her it creaked in protest, but Seren made no move to object. Instead, she offered a faint, calculated smile, her posture easing into a more welcoming demeanor. It was always wiser to make the first move with such people; a large man in Champoor could be either a threat or an opportunity, and Seren knew which she preferred. "Yar. I appreciate your presence, and the troubles it deters," she says in Seatongue, though she will switch to Flametongue and repeat herself if the stranger does not seem to understand the first time. Whichever he understands, it will tell her something about him. "Do you prefer wine over tea? Or has today been a day that simply demands such a drink?" She also asks, unless he indicates that he does not wish to speak to her.

Yuren - Health Levels0 0 -1 -1 -1 -2 -2 -2 -2 -4 Incapacited - WP 6/6 - Personal Essence 13 / 13 - Peripheral Essence 33 / 33 From red herrings to leads that hadn't panned out, Yuren was finally finding himself in Champoor, hoping to find He Who Lulls The Streams To Sleep this time. The Giant Volivati had arrived just a couple of hours before, and with no clue to start his investigation, had decided to postpone its start to the morrow. A couple of locals had pointed the tall man to this place as quiet and peaceful, which suited him just fine. Leaning a bit to fit his huge frame inside the door, he then towered above most of the patrons and searched for a place where he could stretch without bumping into three persons around him, and immediatly noticed a fairly empty big table, sailors walking from the place, and a lone lady with regal features sitting alone there. The place may have been described to him as fairly safe, but if experience served, her kind of looks often called for unwanted attention and troubles. Perhaps a man his size close by could bring the lady some peace, and anyway it was the biggest space available so it only made sense he would seat there. With quiet, long strides, the quiet Solar made his way through the crowd and sat lightly on a chair that barely contained his massive frame, send a silent nod to the woman, and waited for a waitress to order some wine.

"Heavy is better," he said with a grin, patting his belly. When the three trays arrived with his appetizers he sat up straighter than a cobra to the tune of a pungi in the streets of Gem. He rubbed his hands expectantly as the trays were organized in front of him, then plucked up a few of the octopus fritters and savored the delightful crunch they made in his mouth. "Not bad," he purred as he pointed to Echo. "Try something." He leaned back and took a sip of his wine.

Echo fought shy of imported goods, eager to try the cuisine of each culture they intended to visit. Her meal, however, could hardly be called so, consisting only of puffed bread and spiced almond milk for dipping. “Perhaps they sit strangely because you eat such heavy foods.”

"Hours ago - and insufficiently as previously noted. I can very easily tell if a cut is garbage or gold by the way it sits in my stomach. Spices can lie; the belly always tells the truth." He tilted his nose a little higher and all but glided with her back to the matron hostess. When she ushered them above, he was pleased to find their private table had an open window design and looked out over dark, benighted waters ever twinkling with a constellation of artificial and magical lights. It was the closest thing to stars the City of Secrets could offer. He thumbed through the wine selection before settling on a rustic dry red for which the outer vineyards of Prasad were popular and also ordered about three different appetizers. Each of them them were meat based, of course: crisped dreaming blue hermit octopus fritters, savannah aurochs skewers, and spiced deepwood turkey wings from further northeast. "What do you think? Anything here suit your palette?" He asked of his traveling companion.

She latched on to his arm and was willingly ushered despite her protests. “But you’ve just eaten.”