Once upon a kingdom

[youngaberration]

It is a warm Oathdays night. The air is filled with excitement and pierced by a cacophony of music. The great hall of this mighty mansion has been decorated to invoke visions of grand adventure and remind the invited guest of the history of the land. Tables have been set out with name templates next to them. Light refreshments have been set on the tables and are quickly refilled by the servant's of the noble Aldori house. The leader and the person who sent out said call to adventure is not here as you arrive. The room is lit by a mix of magical light and candles.

Edited September 14, 2023 by youngaberration
Setting the scene (see edit history)

[TheRaconteur]

Davos "Scrag" Kir - Exiled Baron

---

AC: 18  |  HP: 20/20 | Fortitude: +9 |  Reflex: +8 | Will: +4 | Perception: +4

---

One of the first to arrive, “Scrag” wandered the tables idly until he found the one with his nameplate sitting on it. The man didn’t even look like he could read, let alone find his place within the Noble House, but looks could be deceiving. Oh, it had been well more than a decade since he’s enjoyed such finery (save when he'd "liberated" it from some rich merchant's caravan), and in those long years he’d forgotten more rules of the rules of Aldori aristocratic etiquette than most would ever know. But he wasn’t a slack jawed yokel staring open mouthed at the wealth on display either. He'd tasted this before, and knew the cost

He’d never been a handsome man, with thin black hair receding and going to gray, a square shaped face, and a flat nose. The last twelve years of rough living had done little to improve his features. A curious affair, given that he appeared to be born of Restov blood, and his mixed Aztanti, Keleshite, and Elven heritage should have produced something much more pleasing to the eye. His tan skin and green eyes should have been exquisite, mesmerizing even. Yet like so many of his particular Noble House, there was something rotten within him, something that spoiled his fair looks and instead filled the space he occupied with an uneasy aura. of middling height, albeit a rather thin build, there was no shortage of muscles on his ripcord lean body. He wore canvas breeches and black vest over his dueling leathers, leaving his chest bare. He bore a mismatched set of daggers at his hips, but otherwise had no weapons, no real indication of his station.

His most distinguishing features was the three bright red scars across his throat, souvenirs of an assassin's garrote that he only just managed to limp away from during his twenties. He was glad he’d given his nickname and not his family name, for if his nameplate had said "Dovas Kir" he might have added a few more lines to those red marks. Instead, he just settled down with his back to the wall and waited for the others to arrive.

 

 

Edited September 14, 2023 by TheRaconteur (see edit history)

[dtspurrier]

 

Druknar was not thrilled about coming to his "hoity toity" party. His partner Davos told him about these stuffy events and some snobbish people attend these. However, this was a call of adventure which means money and fame and that excites him. Besides it's a change of pace versus the game of robbing merchants. Looking around he sees his partner Davos and walks over.

Druknar is average in height and weight for a hobgoblin. He has short brown hair, green skin and green eyes. He did his best to tidy up his animal hide armor and remove some of the bloodstains from the morning star he carries. He then says to Davos in an accented common, " wow you weren;t kidding about these parties. I am a little under dressed. Hope the food is good. "

 

 

Edited September 14, 2023 by dtspurrier (see edit history)

[Starhawk]

Haughaloogie

AC18 HP 19/19 Fort +6 Ref +8 Will +3 Speed 25' (Mounted 40') 

Haughaloogie (Alchemist 1) 

AC 18 Fort +6 Ref +8 Will +3 HP 19/19 Speed 25 feet

Perception +3 (with Darkvision)
Languages Common, Goblin, Orcish, Draconic, Dwarven
Skills Acrobatics +6, Arcana +7, Athletics +0, Crafting +7, Deception +4, Diplomacy +4, Intimidation +1, Lore: Engineering +7, Medicine +0, Nature +0, Occultism +7, Performance +1, Religion +0, Society +7, Stealth +5, Survival +0, Thievery +5
 

Str +0 Dex +3 Con +1 Int +4 Wis +0 Cha +1

Items Chain Shirt, Mace, Light Crossbow, Saddlebags, Bolts (20), Backpack, Bedroll, Chalk (10), Flint and Steel, Rope, Rations (2), Waterskin, Torches (10) Soap, 1gp, 1sp

Weapons
Melee Mace +3 (Shove), Damage 1d6 B

Ranged (30') Bomb +6, Damage Special Varies

Ranged Light Crossbow +6 (Crossbow), Damage 1d10 P
 

Quick Alchemy Cost 1 batch of infused reagents Requirements You have alchemist’s tools (page 287), the formula for the alchemical item you’re creating, and a free hand. You swiftly mix up a short-lived alchemical item to use at a moment’s notice. You create a single alchemical consumable item of your advanced alchemy level or lower that’s in your formula book without having to spend the normal monetary cost in alchemical reagents or needing to attempt a Crafting check. This item has the infused trait, but it remains potent only until the start of your next turn.
 

Formula Book Peshpine Grenade (Lesser), Alchemist's Fire (Lesser), Ghost Charge (Lesser), Elixir of Life (Minor), Drakeheart Mutagen (Lesser), Cheetah's Elixir (Lesser), Lesser Tanglefoot Bag, Giant Centipede Venom
 

 Alchemical Crafting 

Burn It! Your spells and alchemical items that deal fire damage gain a status bonus to damage equal to half the spell's level or one-quarter the item's level (minimum 1). You also gain a +1 status bonus to any persistent fire damage , Far Lobber (30' throw), Unbreakable Goblin

Additional Specials Advanced Alchemy, Alchemy, Formula Book, Infused Reagents, Research Field (Bomber)

Prototype Construct Companion "Gizmo".

Size Medium

HP 17 AC 18 (unarmored) Speed 40' (upgraded)

Str +3, Dex +3, Con +2, Int –4, Wis +1, Cha +0.

Perception +4

Saves Fort +5 Ref +6 Will +4

Senses precise vision, imprecise hearing, and vague touch senses, but no sense of smell or taste.

Immunities Construct is immune to bleed damage, death effects, disease, healing, necromancy, non-lethal attacks, poison, doomed, drained, fatigued, paralyzed, sickened and unconscious.

Skills Acrobatics +6, Athletics +6

Melee Paw Slam +6, 1d8+3 Bludgeoning

Melee Bite (finesse/agile) +6, 1d6+3 Slashing

A goblin comes in, or rather slowly rides in, mounted on a metal contraption that resembles a bear, at least in part, and a tiger, at least in part. Being of the small races, the goblin, and mount, barely takes up the same space occupied by Druknar all on his lonesome.

Said goblin is astonishingly well dressed, at least for a goblin, as in not dressed in rags. More astonishingly, he's clean too, indeed smelling faintly of lavender soap. The earrings in his ears could be gold, but are more likely to be brass. He has a cigarillo clenched between small sharp white teeth and has the look of someone who has drunk way too much Kav. There's jars and bottles here and there about his person, marking him as one of those gobbos who delights in throwing things that go bang.

Eyeing the occupants his red pupilled eyes alight on Druknar, and delight lights up face.. "An' here ah'll be hobnobbin wi' the Hobgobs... Druknar, ye'r a sight fer sore eyes n' no mistake, am ah right, or am ah right?", he announces in a veritable rush of joyous verbiage, somehow managing to speak without loosing his teeth's grip on his cigarillo.

His beady little eyes then alight on Davos.. "Davos! Champion of champions, howzitgoin' ma main man?"

Haughaloogie is one wired goblin, but then.. nothing new about that.

Edited September 15, 2023 by Starhawk (see edit history)

[Synny]

Synthy would enter in grand Chellaxian fashion. The woman had an athletic barbaric build to her and a mane of curly black hair hanging past her shoulders. A sensual dress of black and gold silk hanging from her confidently contrasted against her red skin. She wore it in only the way a Chellaxian could ignore the social norms abroad. Heads would turn and the more conservative would snub her for a myriad of obvious reasons.

 

She was whispering courtly intrigue with any noble who would dare publicly entertain her. The next she was drinking and singing hunting songs with soldiers and adventures. Slapping backs and laughing with the first person to mess a verse up, the penalty would be drinking. Which just seemed to make the drinking game spiral out of control to a quick end.

 

Eventually she'd find her arranged seat. Belying her barbaric frame, she'd settle and meticulously neaten her skirt and then she'd attempt to sit down delicately. Only for her chair to complain under her solid frame with a groaning creak. A contrasting blush would darken her cheeks. Attempting to carry on as if nothing had happened.

[Davkas]

Valeria | HP 17/17 | AC 16 | Fort +4 | Ref +5 | Will +6 | Speed 25 ft | Perception +6 | Hero Points 1

Condition Normal

---

"You know, I heard a rumor there was somebody here all the way from Cheliax. You're a long way from home, aren't you?" The young woman who made this comment was nearly as tall as Synthy, but thin, willowy, and shockingly pale - even her hair was almost white. She'd taken up a spot leaning on the back of the seat next to Synthy's, long hands crossed over one end of the instrument case propped up in the chair. The card on the place setting read Valeria Krysova.

It was a noble name, if a minor one, but the purple dress was clearly an imitation of more expensive noble finery. Valeria regarded the tiefling thoughtfully - and with mismatched eyes, one almost golden amber, the other a stormy gray. Which might explain why she'd only been hanging around the periphery of the nobles Synthy had been hobnobbing with earlier; sometimes people did just have heterochromia, but it was sort of the calling card of a changeling. In fact, she'd probably been more conspicuous earlier in the party when she'd joined in with a few of the hired musicians with a violin that most likely occupied that case now.

Even if she'd given up trying to establish ties with her father's family, she'd still used his name on the application - she didn't have another to replace it with, after all. "You've certainly made an impression so far. I'm Valeria."

OOC/Mechanics

Go here

[dtspurrier]

Druknar: HP 17/17 | AC 18 | Fort +4 | Ref +7 | Will +5 | Speed 25 ft | Perception +5 | Hero Points 1

Condition Normal

 

Druknar sees Haughaloogie ride into the feast a little surprised security let him ride his pet in. Druknar says, " good to see you made it. Your inventions and alchemy will be needed. Hope there is not much competition for this calling of heroes. Not sure about me being a hero."

 

Pointing at the red skinned woman in the nice dress, " wonder where she is from? I heard her last war story so she must be a soldier but I guess she knows the finer of things, typical."

Edited September 15, 2023 by dtspurrier (see edit history)

[Starhawk]

Haughaloogie

AC18 HP 19/19 Fort +6 Ref +8 Will +3 Speed 25' (Mounted 40') 

Haughaloogie (Alchemist 1) 

AC 18 Fort +6 Ref +8 Will +3 HP 19/19 Speed 25 feet

Perception +3 (with Darkvision)
Languages Common, Goblin, Orcish, Draconic, Dwarven
Skills Acrobatics +6, Arcana +7, Athletics +0, Crafting +7, Deception +4, Diplomacy +4, Intimidation +1, Lore: Engineering +7, Medicine +0, Nature +0, Occultism +7, Performance +1, Religion +0, Society +7, Stealth +5, Survival +0, Thievery +5
 

Str +0 Dex +3 Con +1 Int +4 Wis +0 Cha +1

Items Chain Shirt, Mace, Light Crossbow, Saddlebags, Bolts (20), Backpack, Bedroll, Chalk (10), Flint and Steel, Rope, Rations (2), Waterskin, Torches (10) Soap, 1gp, 1sp

Weapons
Melee Mace +3 (Shove), Damage 1d6 B

Ranged (30') Bomb +6, Damage Special Varies

Ranged Light Crossbow +6 (Crossbow), Damage 1d10 P
 

Quick Alchemy Cost 1 batch of infused reagents Requirements You have alchemist’s tools (page 287), the formula for the alchemical item you’re creating, and a free hand. You swiftly mix up a short-lived alchemical item to use at a moment’s notice. You create a single alchemical consumable item of your advanced alchemy level or lower that’s in your formula book without having to spend the normal monetary cost in alchemical reagents or needing to attempt a Crafting check. This item has the infused trait, but it remains potent only until the start of your next turn.
 

Formula Book Peshpine Grenade (Lesser), Alchemist's Fire (Lesser), Ghost Charge (Lesser), Elixir of Life (Minor), Drakeheart Mutagen (Lesser), Cheetah's Elixir (Lesser), Lesser Tanglefoot Bag, Giant Centipede Venom
 

 Alchemical Crafting 

Burn It! Your spells and alchemical items that deal fire damage gain a status bonus to damage equal to half the spell's level or one-quarter the item's level (minimum 1). You also gain a +1 status bonus to any persistent fire damage , Far Lobber (30' throw), Unbreakable Goblin

Additional Specials Advanced Alchemy, Alchemy, Formula Book, Infused Reagents, Research Field (Bomber)

Prototype Construct Companion "Gizmo".

Size Medium

HP 17 AC 18 (unarmored) Speed 40' (upgraded)

Str +3, Dex +3, Con +2, Int –4, Wis +1, Cha +0.

Perception +4

Saves Fort +5 Ref +6 Will +4

Senses precise vision, imprecise hearing, and vague touch senses, but no sense of smell or taste.

Immunities Construct is immune to bleed damage, death effects, disease, healing, necromancy, non-lethal attacks, poison, doomed, drained, fatigued, paralyzed, sickened and unconscious.

Skills Acrobatics +6, Athletics +6

Melee Paw Slam +6, 1d8+3 Bludgeoning

Melee Bite (finesse/agile) +6, 1d6+3 Slashing

"Ach, it's guid to see ye too Druknar, since ah wouldnae trust these prancing prissy pimpled ponces to reliably put one foot in front of the other.. replies Haughaloogie, in a whisper, while still atop his mount. Haughaloogie, very much in character, is characteristically indulging his love for alliteration, which always seems to come out when insulting folk.

Haughaloogie's mount, being mechanical, can doubtless be relied upon not to piss on the rich folk's polished floors. In truth, it's no larger than a large dog, and somewhat smaller than the wolfhounds some of the more elite folk, as in much much more elite folk, are showing off. It simply stands there, looking like a metal statue.

"Hero? Ye mean the one who fights fer the greater good.. giving up their share of the loot by dying first?", he snorts, still chewing somewhat on his unlit cigarillo.

He then looks at the red skinned Chelaxian that Druknar is referring to.. "Ah like her subtlety, her talent fer obfuscation and misdirection, the way she fades into the background so she can plunder the rumor mill by ... osmosis. A faceless spy if ever there was one." he offers up, layering the sarcasm so thick and heavy, it could be used to repair fortifications. "Ah like her style..."

[TheRaconteur]

Davos "Scrag" Kir - Exiled Baron

---

AC: 18  |  HP: 20/20 | Fortitude: +9 |  Reflex: +8 | Will: +4 | Perception: +4

---

Scrag made a sour face when Haughaloogie used his real name, waving the words away with one hand.

“Ehhh… heh…. ”

His voice was a torn ruin, another relic of his past. Given the angry red marks at his neck, there was no need to guess what had wrecked it. It rasped like a file over hardened iron, a stage whisper that nevertheless carried exactly as loudly as he needed it to.

“Masks up around these types, aye?”

He gestured to the finery around them, ending on the Chelish noblewoman who had just entered.

“I’m just ole Scrag here, see?”

He tapped his nameplate, which read “Scrag” in a fine script. It was dangerous for the Goblin to be using his real name, and the sooner the little bugger stopped the better. Scrag liked the little alchemist, but not as much as he liked his own hide.

 

[Starhawk]

Haughaloogie

AC18 HP 19/19 Fort +6 Ref +8 Will +3 Speed 25' (Mounted 40') 

Haughaloogie (Alchemist 1) 

AC 18 Fort +6 Ref +8 Will +3 HP 19/19 Speed 25 feet

Perception +3 (with Darkvision)
Languages Common, Goblin, Orcish, Draconic, Dwarven
Skills Acrobatics +6, Arcana +7, Athletics +0, Crafting +7, Deception +4, Diplomacy +4, Intimidation +1, Lore: Engineering +7, Medicine +0, Nature +0, Occultism +7, Performance +1, Religion +0, Society +7, Stealth +5, Survival +0, Thievery +5
 

Str +0 Dex +3 Con +1 Int +4 Wis +0 Cha +1

Items Chain Shirt, Mace, Light Crossbow, Saddlebags, Bolts (20), Backpack, Bedroll, Chalk (10), Flint and Steel, Rope, Rations (2), Waterskin, Torches (10) Soap, 1gp, 1sp

Weapons
Melee Mace +3 (Shove), Damage 1d6 B

Ranged (30') Bomb +6, Damage Special Varies

Ranged Light Crossbow +6 (Crossbow), Damage 1d10 P
 

Quick Alchemy Cost 1 batch of infused reagents Requirements You have alchemist’s tools (page 287), the formula for the alchemical item you’re creating, and a free hand. You swiftly mix up a short-lived alchemical item to use at a moment’s notice. You create a single alchemical consumable item of your advanced alchemy level or lower that’s in your formula book without having to spend the normal monetary cost in alchemical reagents or needing to attempt a Crafting check. This item has the infused trait, but it remains potent only until the start of your next turn.
 

Formula Book Peshpine Grenade (Lesser), Alchemist's Fire (Lesser), Ghost Charge (Lesser), Elixir of Life (Minor), Drakeheart Mutagen (Lesser), Cheetah's Elixir (Lesser), Lesser Tanglefoot Bag, Giant Centipede Venom
 

 Alchemical Crafting 

Burn It! Your spells and alchemical items that deal fire damage gain a status bonus to damage equal to half the spell's level or one-quarter the item's level (minimum 1). You also gain a +1 status bonus to any persistent fire damage , Far Lobber (30' throw), Unbreakable Goblin

Additional Specials Advanced Alchemy, Alchemy, Formula Book, Infused Reagents, Research Field (Bomber)

Prototype Construct Companion "Gizmo".

Size Medium

HP 17 AC 18 (unarmored) Speed 40' (upgraded)

Str +3, Dex +3, Con +2, Int –4, Wis +1, Cha +0.

Perception +4

Saves Fort +5 Ref +6 Will +4

Senses precise vision, imprecise hearing, and vague touch senses, but no sense of smell or taste.

Immunities Construct is immune to bleed damage, death effects, disease, healing, necromancy, non-lethal attacks, poison, doomed, drained, fatigued, paralyzed, sickened and unconscious.

Skills Acrobatics +6, Athletics +6

Melee Paw Slam +6, 1d8+3 Bludgeoning

Melee Bite (finesse/agile) +6, 1d6+3 Slashing

"Whatever ye say.. Scrag. Ah'll use whatever name ye want, if'n ye work in the introductions first." replies Haughaloogie, in a whisper, wondering if he'd missed a memo or some such.

[dtspurrier]

Druknar: HP 17/17 | AC 18 | Fort +4 | Ref +7 | Will +5 | Speed 25 ft | Perception +5 | Hero Points 1

Condition Normal

 

Drukanr says to Haughaloogie in goblin " lets not totally give our full introductions as some of us are not liked by the higher ups . Besides you never know when someone saw us on a certain post board about our business that we do. Wonder who the girl with the violin is, never see her in any tavern i was at." Druknar then translate that for Scrag as well in common

Edited September 15, 2023 by dtspurrier (see edit history)

[Synny]

Synthy would smile back to her. Offering her hand back to the lady greeting her. Her hands were in direct contrast to the rest of her soft skin. She had the leathery mitts of a soldier and the perfumed scent of cinnamon, vanilla, and a citrus note mixed with cherry. Her molten golden eyes looking to her and her purple dress, "My name is Synthy. It's a pleasure to meet you Ms?" Gesticulating with a roll of her wrist encouraging her to introduce herself.

Edited September 15, 2023 by Synny
Bolding speech (see edit history)

[youngaberration]

The table the group is sat at still have plenty of open seats with name plates set up. A woman dressed like one of the guards who occasion step into the room and we're seen patrolling the grounds takes a seat. She gives a small nod to everyone as she gets comfortable. "Hello. It's a pleasure to meet you all. My name is Valerie." She extends her hand to each person at the table. Anyone who takes it will find she has a strong grip for someone who's hands feel incredible soft.

[Starhawk]

Haughaloogie

AC18 HP 19/19 Fort +6 Ref +8 Will +3 Speed 25' (Mounted 40') 

Haughaloogie (Alchemist 1) 

AC 18 Fort +6 Ref +8 Will +3 HP 19/19 Speed 25 feet

Perception +3 (with Darkvision)
Languages Common, Goblin, Orcish, Draconic, Dwarven
Skills Acrobatics +6, Arcana +7, Athletics +0, Crafting +7, Deception +4, Diplomacy +4, Intimidation +1, Lore: Engineering +7, Medicine +0, Nature +0, Occultism +7, Performance +1, Religion +0, Society +7, Stealth +5, Survival +0, Thievery +5
 

Str +0 Dex +3 Con +1 Int +4 Wis +0 Cha +1

Items Chain Shirt, Mace, Light Crossbow, Saddlebags, Bolts (20), Backpack, Bedroll, Chalk (10), Flint and Steel, Rope, Rations (2), Waterskin, Torches (10) Soap, 1gp, 1sp

Weapons
Melee Mace +3 (Shove), Damage 1d6 B

Ranged (30') Bomb +6, Damage Special Varies

Ranged Light Crossbow +6 (Crossbow), Damage 1d10 P
 

Quick Alchemy Cost 1 batch of infused reagents Requirements You have alchemist’s tools (page 287), the formula for the alchemical item you’re creating, and a free hand. You swiftly mix up a short-lived alchemical item to use at a moment’s notice. You create a single alchemical consumable item of your advanced alchemy level or lower that’s in your formula book without having to spend the normal monetary cost in alchemical reagents or needing to attempt a Crafting check. This item has the infused trait, but it remains potent only until the start of your next turn.
 

Formula Book Peshpine Grenade (Lesser), Alchemist's Fire (Lesser), Ghost Charge (Lesser), Elixir of Life (Minor), Drakeheart Mutagen (Lesser), Cheetah's Elixir (Lesser), Lesser Tanglefoot Bag, Giant Centipede Venom
 

 Alchemical Crafting 

Burn It! Your spells and alchemical items that deal fire damage gain a status bonus to damage equal to half the spell's level or one-quarter the item's level (minimum 1). You also gain a +1 status bonus to any persistent fire damage , Far Lobber (30' throw), Unbreakable Goblin

Additional Specials Advanced Alchemy, Alchemy, Formula Book, Infused Reagents, Research Field (Bomber)

Prototype Construct Companion "Gizmo".

Size Medium

HP 17 AC 18 (unarmored) Speed 40' (upgraded)

Str +3, Dex +3, Con +2, Int –4, Wis +1, Cha +0.

Perception +4

Saves Fort +5 Ref +6 Will +4

Senses precise vision, imprecise hearing, and vague touch senses, but no sense of smell or taste.

Immunities Construct is immune to bleed damage, death effects, disease, healing, necromancy, non-lethal attacks, poison, doomed, drained, fatigued, paralyzed, sickened and unconscious.

Skills Acrobatics +6, Athletics +6

Melee Paw Slam +6, 1d8+3 Bludgeoning

Melee Bite (finesse/agile) +6, 1d6+3 Slashing

Haughaloogie, clearly minding his p's and his q's, does Valerie the honour of getting off his metal bear-cat mount, something he does so rarely, those who know him joke that his feet think the ground is lava. The construct, motionless, appears like a sculpture at that point. With his short arms and short stature he has to stand on his chair and reach across the table to shake the hand Valerie extends in friendship. Needless to say he looks abashed while he does this, a look the hyperactive little goblin doesn't get to convey very often.

"Pleasure tae meet ye too.. ah Lady." he replies, smiling with a set of sparkly white pointed teeth that would look excessively large in a head double his size. "Name's Haughaloogie, gobbo cavalry artillery n' chemist, n' am at yer service.. ah M'am."

[Cloudy Summers]

Blake made sure to arrive long before the hall could fill with chattering guests and the incessant buzz of anticipation. As with any event, it was crucial to get a good lay of the land sooner rather than later. Assigned seats that laid bare the names of every guest for all to see made his task simpler even if the lion's share of them were unfamiliar to him. He had a list of names in mind when attendance began to pick up - now came the time to begin his search in earnest.

He effortlessly navigates the crowds, plying empty small talk and the compliments that hung low enough for anyone to grasp. Some mistake him for his modest dress as another of the house's servants, paying him only enough mind to snobbishly request another drink before turning away; he gladly avails himself these opportunities to observe without fear of reprisal (or worse, inclusion) as he gradually matches more faces with names and reputations.

Having made diligent rounds about the hall, Blake finds himself near his own table at the same time a certain tiefling takes her seat there. So Synthy Ksyamen is the Chelaxian who not long ago seemed firmly intent on drinking the whole of the manor's watch straight out of their jobs. A woman like that is certainly worth his consideration, if for the novelty alone. He moves closer, intent on striking up fruitful conversation for the first time that night, and his eyes fall upon the rather striking figure at Synthy's side. Stark white hair, mismatched eyes of bright amber and dull grey; why did this woman seem so familiar? As a name passes her lips he is suddenly reminded of some gossip on House Garess his lord had shared with him some time ago...

 

"--Krysova, isn't it? Valeria Krysova. And you would be Synthy, of course."

A man appears from the crowd to stand before the two, looking for all the world as if he should be asking after the state of their refreshments. He offers a sheepish smile.

"I beg your pardon... I happened to notice the name as I was searching for my own seat -" (he gestures to that across from Valeria, unoccupied) "- and I couldn't resist my curiosity when I saw its owner present." He offers his hand to Valeria then Synthy in turn. "Blake Osbourne, retainer to his lordship Elsverd of House Surtova. It's a pleasure to make your acquaintance, my ladies."

Edited September 16, 2023 by Cloudy Summers
making the text color slightly less eye-searing (see edit history)