Logs > Gamma Logs > All For Kaezar

All For Kaezar

[Silver Plum, Smoking Room]
Large soft leather easy chairs placed randomly around small coffee tables invite visitors to kick off their shoes and relax awhile. Against the far wall, a large portrait has been placed over the mantle of a stone fireplace. Soft light from a crystal chandelier filters through the smoke to make the room seem ethereal and highlights the kirchewood bar. Looking through the glass windows of the french doors is a view of the dining room. You see Yrael the bartender. Also here is Xelian.

Billowing clouds of sweet-smelling tobacco fill the air.

Papers rustling and glasses clinking makes a comfy atmosphere.

Xelian says, "Pour me out a brandy, please, Yrael."
You act: Jurion carefully balances his plate on his arm.
You smile at Xelian.
Xelian smiles at you.
You say, "Evening, Xelian, Yrael."
You say, "Erm, you'll pardon me, I haven't had dinner yet and the main room is so noisy tonight."
Xelian says, "Ye brought a bedtime snack, I see."
You walk over to a large easy chair.
You chuckle.
You put a rack of baby rabu on a small table.
Xelian hands Yrael the bartender some money.
Yrael the bartender turns to the shelves behind him and pours a shot of brandy into a snifter. He hands it over to Xelian and says, "Enjoy!"
You ask, "Well, it's a rather small platter, isn't it?"
You sit down on a large easy chair.
You put an etched goblet on a small table.
Xelian says, "Oh but big enough to share."
Xelian grins.
You chuckle.
Xelian walks over to a small table.
You nod agreeably.
You say, "Please, by all means."
Xelian sits down on a large easy chair.
Xelian shakes her head.
Xelian says, "I tease."
You act: Jurion carefully rolls up the sleeves of his doublet.
You get a rack of baby rabu from a small table.
You lean back while sitting on the large easy chair.
You take a small bite of your rack of baby rabu.
Xelian crosses her ankles.
Xelian sips some plum brandy from her brandy snifter.
Xelian says, "Mmm..."
You say, "Mm. I'm starving. Blasted long walk to Never."
You take a large bite out of your rack of baby rabu.
Xelian asks, "What's goin' on up there?"
You ask, "Oh, Vurlak wanted an armet to match his sabatons, can you imagine?"
You say, "Gharkin fashion."
You get an etched goblet from a small table.
You gulp down some dry red wine.
You swish a bit of red wine in your mouth, enjoying the delicate bouquet.
You put an etched goblet on a small table.
Xelian snickers.
You take a large bite out of your rack of baby rabu.
You savor the flavors rolling them around on your tongue.
Xelian says, "Vurlak doesn't strike me as the type to care about such things."
You say, "Apparently, if it's armor it's got to match or you look like... how did he put it..."
You say, "Like a stinking mercenary."
Mmm. So delicious and tender!
You slowly savor the last bite of your rack of baby rabu.
Xelian laughs softly.
You open an embroidered velvet pouch.
You get a black silk handkerchief from an embroidered velvet pouch.
You act: Jurion wipes his hands thoroughly.
You put a black silk handkerchief in an embroidered velvet pouch.
You close an embroidered velvet pouch.
Xelian says, "What is amazin' about this brandy..."
Xelian gazes at her brandy snifter.
You get an etched goblet from a small table.
You lean back while sitting on the large easy chair.
You look crossly at your well-worn black leather boots.
You ask, "Hm?"
Xelian says, "Is that I never see him heat it, yet it seems to have a heat of its own."
You say, "I'm tempted to kick these off, but the maid gets so irate."
You glance at Yrael the bartender.
Yrael the bartender ponders your existence.
Xelian licks the rim of her brandy snifter.
You ask, "I wonder if it's some trick of Yrael's, or a feature of the vintage?"
You sip some dry red wine from your etched goblet.
You swish a bit of red wine in your mouth, enjoying the delicate bouquet.
Xelian says, "Aw, go on. Be comfortable."
You chuckle.
You shake your head.
Xelian smiles sweetly at Yrael the bartender.
You say, "Sinjinn and the ghost of my elocution and deportment tutor would shriek."
You say, "I have to maintain some semblance of civility."
You sip some dry red wine from your etched goblet.
The wine has a dry yet fruity flavor.
Xelian chuckles.
Xelian sips some plum brandy from her brandy snifter.
You say, "Well, pleasantries aside, there was a reason I wanted to see you tonight."
Xelian nods to you.
You ask, "Have you heard anything from Saebra regarding the latest news from Ghuk?"
Xelian folds her legs under herself.
Xelian says, "Mm..."
Xelian shakes her head.
Xelian says, "Wasn't aware there was another meetin'"
You furrow your brow slightly.
You say, "Ah. I thought..."
You say, "Hm. Seems she's decided to keep this to herself."
You say, "Bloody foolish if you ask me."
You sip some dry red wine from your etched goblet.
You swish a bit of red wine in your mouth, enjoying the delicate bouquet.
Xelian says, "Ghuk and a few of his warriors did come out to help the other night, durin' the orc attack."
Xelian leans forward while sitting on the large easy chair.
You say, "Before that, she came looking for me and took me to Kemstead with Jayden and Illuriel and Tracker."
Xelian asks, "Has somethin' gone awry?"
You say, "Well, she told me that Ghuk had seen her earlier and had brought some bad news."
You say, "Seems the orcs found out about the red sash ruse and distributed similar sashes to their own jhakor allies."
You say, "So now all the jhakor are wearing them, good and bad."
Xelian rolls her eyes.
You say, "Except for some reason Saebra hasn't seen fit to mention this to anyone."
You say, "You'd think she'd want to tell the guards or the Lady Ambassador at the very least."
You frown at your etched goblet.
Xelian asks, "How long has she known about this?"
You say, "Since the night of the attack."
You ask, "Which was what? Yestereve or the night before?"
You say, "Sartday, I thought it was."
Xelian says, "Two nights ago, aye."
You say, "There's a bit more, and this is why I asked you about Jayden."
Xelian nods to you.
Xelian sips some plum brandy from her brandy snifter.
You say, "Ghuk's come up with a new signal by which the 'good' jhakor can be distinguished from the bad."
Xelian pats her head with one hand and her stomach with the other. How coordinated!
You grin at Xelian.
You say, "Close."
Xelian chuckles.
You thump your chest with your fist twice, and glance at Xelian.
You lean forward while sitting on the large easy chair.
Xelian blinks.
Xelian thumps her chest with her fist twice.
You nod to Xelian.
Xelian asks, "Like that?"
You say, "Exactly."
Xelian asks, "That's what the good ones will do?"
You say, "I'm not sure how it's to be used, exactly."
You say, "I'm telling you because I don't bloody trust Jayden as far as I can throw him, and I don't understand why Saebra's been keeping it quiet. We're all in danger from the jhakor if we can't identify which ones to trust."
Xelian asks, "But what does Jayden have to do with it all?"
Xelian glances at a stone fireplace.
You say, "Saebra taught the signal to him..."
You say, "And I worry, I suppose."
You say, "I mean... P'raps it was all a mistake and he's innocent as a baby rabu."
Xelian shrugs slightly.
You say, "But if it wasn't, and he teaches the wrong people..."
You say, "Tracker I know is at least loyal to the Imperials, and Illuriel doesn't seem to have a mean bone in her body."
You say, "So I thought it would be wise to teach it to someone I trust."
Xelian asks, "Ye have suspicions then that Jayden may be an orc spy?"
You say, "I wonder sometimes over it, aye."
You act: Jurion rubs the back of his neck.
You lean back while sitting on the large easy chair.
Xelian says, "I do as well."
Xelian furrows her brow.
You say, "I suppose that's an odd thing to hear, coming from me."
Xelian says, "I do not think it so odd."
You say, "It seems it can be more difficult not to care than I thought."
You smile ruefully.
Xelian grins at you.
You say, "Eh."
You say, "I prefer to think of this as my way of making sure enough people have the knowledge to do what I don't want to."
You say, "I know how you feel about the city, and how Shala feels."
You say, "And I begin to fear Saebra's only got her own glory on her mind."
Xelian gazes upwards to the heavens.
Xelian leans back while sitting on the large easy chair.
Xelian says, "I do know know what to make of her anymore."
Yrael the bartender wipes down the bar.
Xelian says, ""All for Kaezar, m'lady. Anything to save Kaezar, m'lady.""
Xelian says, "So she says to me again and again."
You nod to Xelian slowly.
Xelian glances at you.
Xelian leans over the arm of a chair.
You ask, "If that's so, why is she keeping this so far under her cloak? Why not tell Khregen about the sashes?"
Xelian asks, "Did ye ever learn why the jhakor came after ye, that night in Kemstead?"
Yrael the bartender wipes down the bar.
You shake your head slightly.
Xelian sips some plum brandy from her brandy snifter.
You say, "I've seen and heard naught about it."
Xelian says, "Hrm."
Xelian scratches her neck.
Xelian says, "And as for your question, tis true. Seems the kind of information she ought to spread widely."
Xelian bites her thumbnail.
Xelian says, "I'm still uncertain how this signal is supposed to be used..."
You say, "She didn't seem to know herself."
You swallow some dry red wine.
The wine has a dry yet fruity flavor.
Xelian says, "I do think however, the reason and need for it will become apparent."
You say, "I hope so."
You begin to move but hesitate.
You say, "I'd best get up to Sinjinn, it's got to be past ten already."
You gulp down some dry red wine.
Ah yes! The wine is perfect!
You drain your etched goblet dry!
Seeing that it's empty, you set your etched goblet aside.
Xelian nods.
You rub your temple wearily.
Xelian says, "I'm going to finish this and go up myself."
You nod to Xelian.
Xelian furrows her brow.
You stand up.
You ask, "Keep an eye on them, won't you?"
Xelian says, "Thank ye, Jurion."
Xelian nods to you.
You say, "I worry that she's picked the wrong person... or people... to trust."
Xelian says, "I always do."
Xelian nods.
You chuckle.
You say, "Good night. I'm sorry I'm so rushed, but I promised Sin I'd be up by ten."
You walk over to a large easy chair.
You kiss Xelian's hand.
Xelian smiles.