The Shattered City: Chapter Two

[lostboy]

"Blind?" Nicholas asks with a little confusion "Ezra's sainted bosom, are you serious? It wasn't some of that illegal potato grog from Tepest was it?" He leans over to take a closer look at the man.

Downing his own drink he plays the good host and pours out some more ale for everyone, cigarette clamped tighly in hsi teeth as he does. "Hell last time I saw you it was books you were mumbling about, I didnt imagine they were that life changing or so lucrative. But do go on, seems like a story and a half to lighten up a dark evening."

Perception 24 Insight 21 Heal 8 - is he really blind and really drunk or is something else going on with him if so any clues?

[yalenusveler]

The revelation of Warden Lecanu's rather unsavory contact's blindness actually brought a touch of sympathy from Kerrian. The thought of having any sense permanently dulled was utterly terrifying to the young shaman, but there was always the possibility that this was a trick. After all, if men will swallow toads for a few bits of coin, there's always the chance that they'll pull more elaborate ruses.

Thus, while remaining close to the two ladies that were with their group, despite Tomas' demonstration of his distaste for spiders having done quite a bit to remind the crowd that a little respect went a long way, Kerrian tried to see if Latour was truly blind, or simply trying to blind others to the truth, opening his own perceptions to that of the spirits for what aid they could give him.

OOC:Heal of 30

[Rock of the Fraternity]

"Is there any way to ascertain when these alterations were made?" Lia asks.

[NeoTiamat]

The Mutinied Sailor, Quartier Marchand, Port-a-Lucine; Evening of March 24th, 770
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"Blind?" Nicholas asks with a little confusion "Ezra's sainted bosom, are you serious? It wasn't some of that illegal potato grog from Tepest was it?" He leans over to take a closer look at the man.

Latour, while possibly blind drunk, was certainly not blind in any other sense. He laughed, a slow, resonant chuckled, then thrust his head forward and made a cross-eyed face at Nicolas.

"No you... idiot... not that kind of blind." Latour chuckled some more. He picked up one of the triangular Hazlani coins. "The kind of blind... that comes from too much silver. You know..." The sailor waved the coin around in a vaguely inviting gesture. "I get... shel-eck-tiff-lee... blind. I don't see... anybody... come on board, and I get more of these beauties... to help with my eyes. Help keep them shut."

Latour chuckled again, then pocketed the little coin. "Next rounds on... you."

Museum, University of Dementlieu, Port-a-Lucine; Evening of March 24th, 770
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"Is there some sort of movement to seek for past signs of Ezran presence throughout the civilizations of the Mists?" This last is asked in Richard's general direction, apparently on the theory that as an Ezran priest-in-training he will know if anyone here does.

"That would, would be the Dementlieuse sect of Ezra, if, if anyone," Richard said, running his fingers down the alabaster holy symbol he wore. "There, there are some other splinter sects, and, and heresies. Yet seeking Ezra's presence and, and purpose was the reason, the reason this country's sect was founded."

He folded his arms, looking deathly serious at Darius. "It does seem to be another, another remarkable 'coincidence', given, given who we're looking for."

"Is there any way to ascertain when these alterations were made?" Lia asks.

"I'd, I'd imagine the museum experts would, would know, if anyone did," Richard answered.

Petrik sniffed, still baring her teeth. "If the museum experts were competent, it would be labeled."

Richard gave Petrik the type of wide-eyed, slightly distressed look that said he was a nice, normal Mordentish boy that was used to nice, normal Mordentish people, and not band teachers who seemed ready and able to kill over typos. Even so, he seemed to be adapting to his new surroundings admirably, mostly by not trying to argue. "Doctor, Doctor Poincare told me she was returning to the University with, with the icon," he suggested, shifting uncomfortably at the mention of the stained glass window's dismantlement. The restoration process was obviously not something that sat well with the young anchorite-in-training.

[yalenusveler]

Kerrian nodded, moving closer to their object of inquiry. "Perhaps...a miracle cure could occur...then a relapse?" He reached for his own coinpouch, intentions pretty obviously clear...even to the "blind", as twenty golden miracle cures found their way to Kerrian's hand, with the promise of more.

[Rock of the Fraternity]

"Yes," Lia says, appearing unperturbed by professor Petrik's venom. "She did say that, did she not? But possibly we may find out a little something about the alterations to these items before then. There should be a catalogue of every item added to the Museum's collection, with an exhaustive description. That would be a starting point, would it not? We would need to visit the Curator, I imagine - or rather, her assistants. Where-a-way to the Curator's offices again ...?"

[lostboy]

Nicholas rolls his eyes and makes a wincing face "Yes the being able to see gives it away somewhat..." he mutters beckonging the bar tender over. "You wouldnt happen to have any of that potato stuff from Tepest.... ah on second thoughts maybe not, just make it the same again."

Lighting another cigarette (and handing one to Etienne) he slouches against the bar, waiting for the drinks and regards the man levelly. "Sounds like a sweet deal you have there, still theres always a sweeter deal to be had. As I said my lucks changed, if you're blind for silver, how do you feel about gold?" He says glancing meaningfully down towards Kerrians outstretched hand, all the time flicking a coin of his own across his knuckles.

[Nerit]

Nerit perked a brow at Tomas. He really was something. Although it was clear she didn't believe she needed the protection from either Kerrian or Tomas, she appreciated the gesture by giving the Lamordian a faint smirk.

"Alice, my dear," she leaned into the woman's ear, "do you think perhaps we should have waited outside? We can't pose as much but dressed-up companions." She offered a significant look at the last word, eyebrows raised. "Unless perhaps one of our men has taken to spiritual guidance?"

[The Whistler]

"We would need to visit the Curator, I imagine - or rather, her assistants."

"A most promising stratagem, Professor Mourneswaithe!" Celeste, as usual, looked pleased to be going anywhere to do something. "If the reading habits of Warden Lecanu simply reflected a desire to explore Our Lady's influence in lands uncommon to her Faith--even such a feigned influence as that we see before us!... Why, I should not know whether to be pleased at the good priest's lack of skulduggery, or disappointed that his interests do not constitute a proper Clue!"

"Nevertheless, the question may only be settled with further research--of that, Professor Mourneswaithe, I pronounce us to be of the utmost agreement. If I knew where we should be able to encounter the offices of the Curator, I declare that I should lead the way thence with all speed!"

[Isabella]

"We would need to visit the Curator, I imagine - or rather, her assistants. Where-a-way to the Curator's offices again ...?"

"If you, you already had an answer to your question, professor, you hardly, hardly needed to ask us for ideas," Richard replied, with a good-natured smile.

[Cronax]

Agale visibly tenses as Mr. Mauganson's gesture portends to alienate their witness, then relaxes when de Castigne interjects. "Y'see my friend." He said, sidling around to the stool on the opposite side of Latour, "the thing about selective blindness is that it works both ways. If you were so inclined to take the gentleman up on his offer and tell us a tale, we can just as easily turn a blind eye to where we heard it from, and you are none the worse off you were a minute ago save the weight in your pocket." He taps the side of his nose subversively.

[NeoTiamat]

The Mutinied Sailor, Quartier Marchand, Port-a-Lucine; Evening of March 24th, 770
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"Alice, my dear," she leaned into the woman's ear, "do you think perhaps we should have waited outside? We can't pose as much but dressed-up companions." She offered a significant look at the last word, eyebrows raised. "Unless perhaps one of our men has taken to spiritual guidance?"

"Not of any sort discussable in polite company," Alice murmured back, glancing toward the unruly men in the back of the bar. "That would have been a better thought for when we agreed to venture into this place. Now that we're here, I think us to be far safer remaining with our intimidating and well-armed friends, than standing outside by ourselves. We shall have to comfort ourselves, dear Sister, in knowing we shall have the last laugh, when we finally reach the bottom of this. They may think of us what they like."

[DocBeard]

"I'm a very spiritual man." Tomas adds, despite being a self professed agnostic, glad to see that privacy has been secured with a minimum of fuss. "And I wouldn't say that too loudly, Sister, if I were you." Tomas jerks a thumb behind him, "I've seen lady sailors draw steel over less."

There's a bit of a moment as Tomas winces at Kerrian's Eisenwaldian lack of savvy and the fact that now the man knows there's more than one or two coins in this. Still, not all that much he can do, so, a bit abruptly, Tomas asks the girls, "Is it that bad?"

Another moment. "I mean, it is not being precisely delicate Borcan love poetry, a crackling fire, and little confections shaped like tiny baby angels, but a couple people being attracted to you?"

[Rock of the Fraternity]

"If you, you already had an answer to your question, professor, you hardly, hardly needed to ask us for ideas," Richard replied, with a good-natured smile.

Lia shrugs. "I have found it is as well to get consensus, Mr. Blackwood," she replies. "Attempting to impose one's will without consensus is prone to lead to ... problems."

[NeoTiamat]

The Mutinied Sailor, Quartier Marchand, Port-a-Lucine; Evening of March 24th, 770
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Still, not all that much he can do, so, a bit abruptly, Tomas asks the girls, "Is it that bad?"

Another moment. "I mean, it is not being precisely delicate Borcan love poetry, a crackling fire, and little confections shaped like tiny baby angels, but a couple people being attracted to you?"

"A couple of people thinking I am a woman of ill repute, you'll forgive me if I say yes. Remembering the women who I've seen in the hospice, caught by sailors who wouldn't take 'no' for an answer... yes, very much yes." Alice paused for a minute, staring into the distance, before her thoughts turned and a small smile curled at the sides of her lips. "A couple of people being attracted to me when I have taken vows of chastity... perhaps someone else could answer that for you better than I. You have never had an unwanted advance, Mr. Eisenwald?"