Acknowledged, Pagusel turned her head fully to gaze upon Saldrin and his company. Even from a distance, in the dim, dirty light, her eyes could be seen to be watery.
She pivoted on the balls on her feet to face the group, then simultaneously extended her right arm and her right leg back, bending her knee so as to touch her toe with her fingertips behind her back. She leaned forward slowly until her torso was parallel to the floor and her right arm and leg formed an arc over her back. Then she placed her left palm on the dusty ground and stayed poised for a moment before executing a slow cartwheel forward. In the darkness, the momentary slip of her dress hem to her hips did not result in much of a view at all. Pagusel landed softly on the balls of her feet and proceeded to walk towards Saldrin.
She paused as a newcomer came up to the old man and jabbered excitedly. She glanced at Myrriah and then at the gentleman who had recently been a rat.
"Saldrin, good evening," she said, having given sufficient pause after Asiona's eager entry. "I'd have asked you not to be so forward in naming names. I was of the impression that this improvisation of a gathering was intended to be . . . less forward . . . in naming names." Pagusel's voice was low and husky. She spoke clearly, without haste, but occasionally let herself lose momentum, as if distracted. Her eyes did indeed look watery, and they carried a slight reddish glaze.
Before speaking again, Pagusel gave a glance around to the others. She looked a bit reluctant to say anything more, but she found one matter particularly pressing. "Knowing I'd come here tonight, I visited earlier, I left a pipe," she said, addressing Saldrin. "I've . . . forgotten where I placed it. Somewhere I'd be sure to find it, I am sure. Have you happened to see it?"
To be a Mage
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Anonymous
Dargoth nodded his head as the others spoke. Names were something he would rather not use, Gods knew who else might be listening. His hood tended to keep his tell-tale eyes covered in darkness so he knew it would be hard for someone to recognize him from such a meeting. Secrecy was the key to survival, magic was outlawed after all, and it had taken years for Dargoth to master his magic (before arriving here) and he did not want to lose everything he had gained.
"A pipe? I think i saw it on the other side of that debris pile..."
"A pipe? I think i saw it on the other side of that debris pile..."
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Saldrin Brinlli
- Outsider
- Posts: 14
- Joined: Sat Jul 23, 2005 3:02 am
(( well dont' I have egg on my face? just assume he said it before she got up. My apologies for the rushed post. ))
"So sorry my skittish friend," the old man said to Pagusel, "sometimes I forget myself. But worry not, this place is quite secretive. I don't see how our beloved judges would know to find us here. And besides, they have no proof of any wrongdoing. We are just here to talk, are we not? This ball over my head, heaven knows how it got there. Been following me around all day, darnedest thing.
And speaking of little things following us around, this is Myrriah, our newest friend."
He shifted slightly to present the girl who had been practically hiding behind him so the others could get a good look at her.
"As for your pipe, you know smoking those dwarven herbs will ruin your lungs." He said with a grin.
Just then Asiona, one of the more adept mages, came stumbling in, already talking to him in a hurry.
"So strange that even I wouldn't believe?"
"So sorry my skittish friend," the old man said to Pagusel, "sometimes I forget myself. But worry not, this place is quite secretive. I don't see how our beloved judges would know to find us here. And besides, they have no proof of any wrongdoing. We are just here to talk, are we not? This ball over my head, heaven knows how it got there. Been following me around all day, darnedest thing.
And speaking of little things following us around, this is Myrriah, our newest friend."
He shifted slightly to present the girl who had been practically hiding behind him so the others could get a good look at her.
"As for your pipe, you know smoking those dwarven herbs will ruin your lungs." He said with a grin.
Just then Asiona, one of the more adept mages, came stumbling in, already talking to him in a hurry.
"So strange that even I wouldn't believe?"
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Myrriah Thornsinger
((All is forgiven. ;p))
The scowl on Myrriah's face (from being reminded of her parents) had no time to linger as she watched a hurrying woman nearly fall on her face as she narrowly avoided tripping over an errant pipe on the floor. The corner of Myrriah's mouth twitched. How many times had she done the same thing as a little girl before learning to watch her feet? She never kept track, but she could remember the way her knees smarted when she didn't manage to catch herself. The woman didn't seem to even notice, though, and her rush of words barely contained excitement. Myrriah felt creeping curiosity start raise it's head. Would she be allowed to stay and hear about this seemingly exciting bit of news? She barely dared hope so, though honestly she was surprised she hadn't been thrown out already. Still, the old man seemed kindly...
The woman Myrriah could barely make out before, the one the old man called Pagusel, stepped into the light too. Her appearance was...strange. Myrriah didn't think she'd ever seen anyone who was all one color like that before, and Myrriah found it appealing. She watched Pagusel and the other woman, relieved to be able to ignore the rat-man that had her so uncomfortable. Still, she was quite nervous, and didn't have the heart to even giggle when the old man joked about his ball of light. And when he introduced her, well, she blushed furiously again at his words. Nonetheless, she didn't want to seem the child she was, so she stepped forward and bowed a proper bard's bow, though she didn't have the cape to flourish.
"Myrriah Thornsinger, my ladies." She said, and was glad her voice didn't quiver the way her nerves were at the moment.
The scowl on Myrriah's face (from being reminded of her parents) had no time to linger as she watched a hurrying woman nearly fall on her face as she narrowly avoided tripping over an errant pipe on the floor. The corner of Myrriah's mouth twitched. How many times had she done the same thing as a little girl before learning to watch her feet? She never kept track, but she could remember the way her knees smarted when she didn't manage to catch herself. The woman didn't seem to even notice, though, and her rush of words barely contained excitement. Myrriah felt creeping curiosity start raise it's head. Would she be allowed to stay and hear about this seemingly exciting bit of news? She barely dared hope so, though honestly she was surprised she hadn't been thrown out already. Still, the old man seemed kindly...
The woman Myrriah could barely make out before, the one the old man called Pagusel, stepped into the light too. Her appearance was...strange. Myrriah didn't think she'd ever seen anyone who was all one color like that before, and Myrriah found it appealing. She watched Pagusel and the other woman, relieved to be able to ignore the rat-man that had her so uncomfortable. Still, she was quite nervous, and didn't have the heart to even giggle when the old man joked about his ball of light. And when he introduced her, well, she blushed furiously again at his words. Nonetheless, she didn't want to seem the child she was, so she stepped forward and bowed a proper bard's bow, though she didn't have the cape to flourish.
"Myrriah Thornsinger, my ladies." She said, and was glad her voice didn't quiver the way her nerves were at the moment.
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Blood Ravenous
- Battlemage
- Posts: 385
- Joined: Sun Jun 05, 2005 9:23 pm
- Name: Ryxa
- Race: Human
"So strange that even I wouldn't believe?" Saldrin asked.
Asiona thought a moment and shook her head. He was really old so he had probably seen quite a bit! At that moment Myrriah was bowing and Asiona smiled quickly at her before replying to the old one.
"Not really, Mr. Saldrin.” Her next words were rushed. “I was trying a new spell from one of those old books, you know, and instead of a bunny some weirdo appeared with orange eyes and everything… His name is Lateus and he seemed so sad so I used another spell and now he can stay and I have it all under control! I am having a bit of a problem getting him food though. He’s always hungry and doesn’t like my cooked food and I’m not sure what to do about that, actually. He keeps asking for live animals but that’s gross…”
At a loss for what else to add, Asiona paused looking at her feet in nervousness. Was it bad if you got involved with demons? Teachers always said so. She chanced a peek at the others assembled but they were the usual sort of group that appeared. The girl knew for a fact that if she had met them on the streets she would immediately recognize them and it was a wonder they remained inconspicuous in day-to-day life. That was what was so exciting about these meetings, though, other than the magical talents displayed: the people were so interesting and unusual.
Asiona squinted at the tall one in the cloak trying to see his face and wondered if he had come to previous meetings. She waved in a friendly manner at him when she realized she had been staring at him too long and tried not to look sheepish.
Asiona thought a moment and shook her head. He was really old so he had probably seen quite a bit! At that moment Myrriah was bowing and Asiona smiled quickly at her before replying to the old one.
"Not really, Mr. Saldrin.” Her next words were rushed. “I was trying a new spell from one of those old books, you know, and instead of a bunny some weirdo appeared with orange eyes and everything… His name is Lateus and he seemed so sad so I used another spell and now he can stay and I have it all under control! I am having a bit of a problem getting him food though. He’s always hungry and doesn’t like my cooked food and I’m not sure what to do about that, actually. He keeps asking for live animals but that’s gross…”
At a loss for what else to add, Asiona paused looking at her feet in nervousness. Was it bad if you got involved with demons? Teachers always said so. She chanced a peek at the others assembled but they were the usual sort of group that appeared. The girl knew for a fact that if she had met them on the streets she would immediately recognize them and it was a wonder they remained inconspicuous in day-to-day life. That was what was so exciting about these meetings, though, other than the magical talents displayed: the people were so interesting and unusual.
Asiona squinted at the tall one in the cloak trying to see his face and wondered if he had come to previous meetings. She waved in a friendly manner at him when she realized she had been staring at him too long and tried not to look sheepish.
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Anonymous
Dargoth just nodded his head in response to the wave, causing his hood to flutter and his yellow eyes sparkled in the darkness. Those of them he knew him only knew he could shape shift into any form he had seen or touched, and his shifting also allowed him to use some of the powers (if any) of the forms he shifted into. His most powerful form, one that he could not control when enraged, was that of a Demon. Not only was he granted a Demons strength in such forms, but also some of its powers. The major setback of this was when he shifted back into his human form he would be very weak and vulnerable for a while and unable to defend himself. This he would keep a secret for as long as he could, least this group of people who had come to accept him for he was (or pretended to be) would cast him out.
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Saldrin Brinlli
- Outsider
- Posts: 14
- Joined: Sat Jul 23, 2005 3:02 am
(( Alas pagusel has asked me to skip her for personal reasons. ))
Saldrin's eyes widened when he heard Asiona's words. His mind was already lost when she mentioned the food and the live animals, no longer listening to her as her story came out in a rush. A demon? The girl had summoned a demon here in Thar? That was the sort of thing that he didn't expect to have to deal with, especially not from her. Granted, she was a promising student of magic, and he had high hopes for her from the beginning...
While most of the parlour tricks he taught his students were against the law, they often weren't followed by death sentences. Summoning a demon was a different matter entirely. He tried to remain unconcerned, downplaying the severity of the issue around the others who were watching. It would be best if they didn't know, or didn't understand, what he was hearing. Something like this should be quietly swept under the rug...
"Lateus you say?" He straightened up and took on a thoughtful expression, pursing his lips. "He must be an illusion, a twist on the illusionary rabbit trick. Your mind must have been elsewhere, perhaps thinking about a boy again? Clearly your other thoughts interfered with the spell. You'll have to take me to him later so that we can get rid of him. Pesky things to get rid of sometimes, illusions."
Perhaps he was right. Perhaps it was just an illusionary spell after all, and not what he feared. But if it was something from the astral plane, something that threatened the stability of the seal, it would be a much bigger problem. He tried to push it out of his mind. Whatever it was she'd created, it would have to wait.
"I'm not sure who else will be arriving so maybe we should get down to matters at hand?"
Saldrin's eyes widened when he heard Asiona's words. His mind was already lost when she mentioned the food and the live animals, no longer listening to her as her story came out in a rush. A demon? The girl had summoned a demon here in Thar? That was the sort of thing that he didn't expect to have to deal with, especially not from her. Granted, she was a promising student of magic, and he had high hopes for her from the beginning...
While most of the parlour tricks he taught his students were against the law, they often weren't followed by death sentences. Summoning a demon was a different matter entirely. He tried to remain unconcerned, downplaying the severity of the issue around the others who were watching. It would be best if they didn't know, or didn't understand, what he was hearing. Something like this should be quietly swept under the rug...
"Lateus you say?" He straightened up and took on a thoughtful expression, pursing his lips. "He must be an illusion, a twist on the illusionary rabbit trick. Your mind must have been elsewhere, perhaps thinking about a boy again? Clearly your other thoughts interfered with the spell. You'll have to take me to him later so that we can get rid of him. Pesky things to get rid of sometimes, illusions."
Perhaps he was right. Perhaps it was just an illusionary spell after all, and not what he feared. But if it was something from the astral plane, something that threatened the stability of the seal, it would be a much bigger problem. He tried to push it out of his mind. Whatever it was she'd created, it would have to wait.
"I'm not sure who else will be arriving so maybe we should get down to matters at hand?"
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Anonymous
As if destiny had a sense of irony, just moments before Saldrin assumed the end of new arrivals, Myx Otysis stood, looking at the door leading to the inside of the textile factory with a blank face. A small cat with fur to match Myx's hair rubbed itself along Myx's boots and meow'd lightly. He could not make out much through the door-way; but he had very little in fear of what was inside, and even less when it came to the choice of facing it. With that final reminder to himself his face lit into a confident, feline grin. He shoo'd the cat to wander in some darker corners of the textile factory before he entered the factory.
He walked in and around the factory with light steps, unhurried and relaxed but not unnecessarily loud. He soon came upon a small gathering of people around an old man with a ball of light floating near him.
"I'm not sure who else will be arriving so maybe we should get down to matters at hand?"
The old man said, and Myx's grin took on a slightly playful note to it as he came into range of the ball of magically lit light as if on cue. Myx had on him his dark green cloak hung about his left shoulder, which he brushed to the side, doing a slight, jesterly flourish that matched his grin as he greeted the group. He raised an out-stretched palm and with a short bout of concentration, created a ball of light similar to the old ones' own, a small joke and his own way of explaining his sudden entrance.
"I hope that I'm not interrupting anything, but I've overheard that this is where I need to be, if I was interested in the practice of magic... outside the influence of the city guards," he said through his grin, in a light tone that carried only as far as it needed to.
"My name is Myx, but do go on to the business at hand if you're in a hurry," he finished, looking around at all with a friendly smile and ending at Saldrin.
He walked in and around the factory with light steps, unhurried and relaxed but not unnecessarily loud. He soon came upon a small gathering of people around an old man with a ball of light floating near him.
"I'm not sure who else will be arriving so maybe we should get down to matters at hand?"
The old man said, and Myx's grin took on a slightly playful note to it as he came into range of the ball of magically lit light as if on cue. Myx had on him his dark green cloak hung about his left shoulder, which he brushed to the side, doing a slight, jesterly flourish that matched his grin as he greeted the group. He raised an out-stretched palm and with a short bout of concentration, created a ball of light similar to the old ones' own, a small joke and his own way of explaining his sudden entrance.
"I hope that I'm not interrupting anything, but I've overheard that this is where I need to be, if I was interested in the practice of magic... outside the influence of the city guards," he said through his grin, in a light tone that carried only as far as it needed to.
"My name is Myx, but do go on to the business at hand if you're in a hurry," he finished, looking around at all with a friendly smile and ending at Saldrin.
)-
Blood Ravenous
- Battlemage
- Posts: 385
- Joined: Sun Jun 05, 2005 9:23 pm
- Name: Ryxa
- Race: Human
As Saldrin replied, Asiona frowned deeper and deeper. "He must be an illusion… You'll have to take me to him later so that we can get rid of him..."
“What?” she said, and shook her head. She caught the drift, but wasn’t sure why. Was Lateus a problem? He seemed pretty pitiful… well, not in looks, but the way he had begged her to stay… (What did he mean, thinking about a boy! She thought she might be blushing.)
The girl sighed and turned at the sound of footsteps, blinking a bit as the light in the room increased. The man was much taller than Asiona and had the weirdest expression on his face. He was slightly familiar, and she thought she must have seen him before, but could not remember where. Having not known any spies or been in much trouble with the law she didn’t think twice about his entrance into their group; therefore, Asiona smiled pleasantly in a polite manner at the newcomer in response to his own.
Most of the group was familiar, especially Saldrin since he was always here, but she wasn’t sure about the one in the cloak. She cast him another look, hoping to see his face had been more uncovered by the new light source.
“What?” she said, and shook her head. She caught the drift, but wasn’t sure why. Was Lateus a problem? He seemed pretty pitiful… well, not in looks, but the way he had begged her to stay… (What did he mean, thinking about a boy! She thought she might be blushing.)
The girl sighed and turned at the sound of footsteps, blinking a bit as the light in the room increased. The man was much taller than Asiona and had the weirdest expression on his face. He was slightly familiar, and she thought she must have seen him before, but could not remember where. Having not known any spies or been in much trouble with the law she didn’t think twice about his entrance into their group; therefore, Asiona smiled pleasantly in a polite manner at the newcomer in response to his own.
Most of the group was familiar, especially Saldrin since he was always here, but she wasn’t sure about the one in the cloak. She cast him another look, hoping to see his face had been more uncovered by the new light source.
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Anonymous
While the party discussed their various matters of magic amongst themselves and another joined their numbers, Pagusel slowly turned to gaze upon a pile of debris. Just beyond the stack of broken wooden beams and rusted bits of metal there indeed sat a stout-bowled wooden pipe.
The slender woman stepped around the pile and knelt to retrieve the piece. "It's not a Dwarven blend," she murmured vaguely in response to Saldrin's rebuke. She didn't thank Dargoth for the information he had given her; she in fact did not even acknowledge that he had been the one to tell her.
She stepped back to the spot she'd had in their loose circle. Pagusel's mood was considerably calmer than that of some of the others present. She was no giddy teenager. She was also not particular eager to show off her magic tricks. She didn't seem particularly eager about anything, for that matter, except perhaps the matter of tamping down the contents of her pipe with her thumb.
She spoke up with little regard for the rest of the conversation that was going on. "Saldrin, would you do me a favor? Will you give me a small flame for my pipe please?" She placed the stem of the simple pipe between her lips. It was a short piece, a straight, narrow stem of four inches or so poked into the side of a round, wide wooden bowl.
With the pipe held in place between her teeth, she spoke once more as she waited for Saldrin, or someone else whose services she could ignore again, to come forth to light the contents of the bowl. "Are we planning to make introductions around, then?" Speaking through her teeth, her subdued voice took on a funny, almost surly sound; she had to work hard to articulate cleanly enough to be understood. "I'd like to know the identities of those at any meeting that might be risky, so that if they cross one of us, they may be killed." She didn't smile, but the corners of her eyes crinkled for a half a second into crow's feet; it was unclear whether she was making a joke.
The slender woman stepped around the pile and knelt to retrieve the piece. "It's not a Dwarven blend," she murmured vaguely in response to Saldrin's rebuke. She didn't thank Dargoth for the information he had given her; she in fact did not even acknowledge that he had been the one to tell her.
She stepped back to the spot she'd had in their loose circle. Pagusel's mood was considerably calmer than that of some of the others present. She was no giddy teenager. She was also not particular eager to show off her magic tricks. She didn't seem particularly eager about anything, for that matter, except perhaps the matter of tamping down the contents of her pipe with her thumb.
She spoke up with little regard for the rest of the conversation that was going on. "Saldrin, would you do me a favor? Will you give me a small flame for my pipe please?" She placed the stem of the simple pipe between her lips. It was a short piece, a straight, narrow stem of four inches or so poked into the side of a round, wide wooden bowl.
With the pipe held in place between her teeth, she spoke once more as she waited for Saldrin, or someone else whose services she could ignore again, to come forth to light the contents of the bowl. "Are we planning to make introductions around, then?" Speaking through her teeth, her subdued voice took on a funny, almost surly sound; she had to work hard to articulate cleanly enough to be understood. "I'd like to know the identities of those at any meeting that might be risky, so that if they cross one of us, they may be killed." She didn't smile, but the corners of her eyes crinkled for a half a second into crow's feet; it was unclear whether she was making a joke.
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Saldrin Brinlli
- Outsider
- Posts: 14
- Joined: Sat Jul 23, 2005 3:02 am
(( Whoever has something to say just post right away. Remember there is no posting order, just respond when you can. Sorry if I've been slow. ))
Saldrin spun around to look at the new man who had entered so abruptly. It was as if, of all the sudden entrances thus far, his had startled the old man the most. The others had been practically expected based on Saldrin's responses. Even Myrriahs arrival had been met with pleasantness. But not this man's. Saldrin still smiled, but there was a hint of apprehension in his voice that hadn't been there before.
"Ah." He blurted, more of a startled sound.
The old man's glassy eyes looked carefully up and down Myx, as if they were trying to read him but failing.
"Well... That all depends..."
Pagusel interrupted everything, speaking out of turn with her air of superiority that Saldrin had come to expect. He raised a finger at her, pointing at the pipe with a wavering hand.
"Do watch your manners Pagusel. I'll not light anything for you until the meeting is through. Now put that smoker away."
As he spoke his mind wandered over the newcomer and the growing number of peculiarities of the meeting thus far. He was well accustomed to dealing with people who were quirky, magical or just plain eccentric, but his intuition was beginning to give him some warnings. Where were the others anyway? Tadin hadn't shown up yet, which meant he wasn't going to since he was never late for anything. The young Illianre wasn't here either, but Saldrin had just assumed he was out drinking and had probably forgotten, or would just be tardy again...
But now there were two strangers, one of whom knew about the meeting in advance from sources Saldrin was unable to guess. Everyone he could think of who knew about the meeting would have told him before inviting a stranger. Even if the man was telling the truth, Saldrin was starting to smell fish.
"Now then, who sent you here... er... Myx?"
Saldrin spun around to look at the new man who had entered so abruptly. It was as if, of all the sudden entrances thus far, his had startled the old man the most. The others had been practically expected based on Saldrin's responses. Even Myrriahs arrival had been met with pleasantness. But not this man's. Saldrin still smiled, but there was a hint of apprehension in his voice that hadn't been there before.
"Ah." He blurted, more of a startled sound.
The old man's glassy eyes looked carefully up and down Myx, as if they were trying to read him but failing.
"Well... That all depends..."
Pagusel interrupted everything, speaking out of turn with her air of superiority that Saldrin had come to expect. He raised a finger at her, pointing at the pipe with a wavering hand.
"Do watch your manners Pagusel. I'll not light anything for you until the meeting is through. Now put that smoker away."
As he spoke his mind wandered over the newcomer and the growing number of peculiarities of the meeting thus far. He was well accustomed to dealing with people who were quirky, magical or just plain eccentric, but his intuition was beginning to give him some warnings. Where were the others anyway? Tadin hadn't shown up yet, which meant he wasn't going to since he was never late for anything. The young Illianre wasn't here either, but Saldrin had just assumed he was out drinking and had probably forgotten, or would just be tardy again...
But now there were two strangers, one of whom knew about the meeting in advance from sources Saldrin was unable to guess. Everyone he could think of who knew about the meeting would have told him before inviting a stranger. Even if the man was telling the truth, Saldrin was starting to smell fish.
"Now then, who sent you here... er... Myx?"
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Anonymous
"Perhaps a bit of luck, I suppose," Myx said in reply. His story came out, the words dancing on his tone and playing about his easy smile, "I've recently discovered some magical talents that I've toyed with in secret the past few years. I always wanted to know more about it."
"Just last week, in a tavern I was helping out at, I heard about the rumors of a guild of mages. I was interested... I've thought about the likely places an underground organizations could meet, and spent the nights I otherwise would have been doing nothing of importance on searching these places," he shrugged, "I had a feeling it would work out."
Myx smiled wider.
"I did find you, didn't I? Perhaps it was magic leading my way," Myx finished playfully. Somewhere nearby his cat meow'd.
"Just last week, in a tavern I was helping out at, I heard about the rumors of a guild of mages. I was interested... I've thought about the likely places an underground organizations could meet, and spent the nights I otherwise would have been doing nothing of importance on searching these places," he shrugged, "I had a feeling it would work out."
Myx smiled wider.
"I did find you, didn't I? Perhaps it was magic leading my way," Myx finished playfully. Somewhere nearby his cat meow'd.
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Anonymous
Pagusel pursed her lips around the stem of her pipe as the latest comer to the circle spoke a bit about overhearing rumors. She tipped her head to the side; a curtain of thick hair shifted over her shoulder and blocked Saldrin from her view momentarily.
She pinched the stem of her pipe between her thumb and forefinger and pulled it from her lips just far enough to speak clearly. She held it poised there as she spoke after Myx in a low, steady monotone that was not unpleasant, if perhaps sounding a little authored.
"Pardon me sirs, while I have stayed some time in Thar Shaddin, I am afraid my stay has not yet been long enough to know the people's customs and etiquette as if native to the region, and taking into consideration that I have spent most of my days here as a member of the vermin class and have hardly showed myself on two feet longer than needed to exchange words occasionally with a few of you, I do hope you'll understand that I was not aware any of the company might consider my smoking rude or out of place, and that had I been prepared with this knowledge I would have had my smoking before meeting with our company; I'm sure you'll excuse me my ignorance this time, as gracious hosts in your native land."
Pagusel put her pipe back to her lips, shook her long hair off her shoulder, and gave Saldrin a pointed look. "If you don't give me a flame for my pipe, then somebody else here--" at this, she gazed around with the same pointed stare-- "will be kind enough to come forth. And if nobody will, then I will leave the meeting and smoke elsewhere, before introductions are made and any exchange of sensitive information takes place."
She pinched the stem of her pipe between her thumb and forefinger and pulled it from her lips just far enough to speak clearly. She held it poised there as she spoke after Myx in a low, steady monotone that was not unpleasant, if perhaps sounding a little authored.
"Pardon me sirs, while I have stayed some time in Thar Shaddin, I am afraid my stay has not yet been long enough to know the people's customs and etiquette as if native to the region, and taking into consideration that I have spent most of my days here as a member of the vermin class and have hardly showed myself on two feet longer than needed to exchange words occasionally with a few of you, I do hope you'll understand that I was not aware any of the company might consider my smoking rude or out of place, and that had I been prepared with this knowledge I would have had my smoking before meeting with our company; I'm sure you'll excuse me my ignorance this time, as gracious hosts in your native land."
Pagusel put her pipe back to her lips, shook her long hair off her shoulder, and gave Saldrin a pointed look. "If you don't give me a flame for my pipe, then somebody else here--" at this, she gazed around with the same pointed stare-- "will be kind enough to come forth. And if nobody will, then I will leave the meeting and smoke elsewhere, before introductions are made and any exchange of sensitive information takes place."
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Anonymous
Myx seemed greatly amused by the long drawn speech from Pagusel, and decided to repay the diatribe. He raised a hand towards the woman in ready position, then with grand flourish and a bit of concentration, sent a thin line of magic to spark a fire in the pipe; he snapped his finger with perfect timing, making it seem as if the spell was caused by the snapping itself. A trick he thought of a while back, and something he liked to do often when he worked his limited arsenal of spells.