HLoM: The Firebird, Chapter 1

[DeepShadow of FoS]

Lena cast a sidelong glance at Richard and Renhalt, before turning her attention back to the Boritsi. Vasili's explanations were going to be fascinating.

"I wasn't expecting a woman," Vasili says apropos of nothing, finally allowing himself to blink but not turning his head in the slightest. "I mean, I was expecting a woman when they said your name was Elena. I can't imagine a man would care for that name. But before I knew your name, I expected that they would send a man. Women don't tend to get involved in mining and refining ore. How long have you been in the trade?"

As he speaks, a small lithe shape curls around his ankles and then suddenly expands to half his height. "Vasili, darling, don't babble. Remember what we talked about?" Leila purrs with a sympathetic glance at Elena. "If you fail to make a good impression this time, who knows how long it will be before they let you off the mountain again?"

The lynx resumes housecat size and leaps to his shoulder, the better vantage point to address the Baroness. "He's brilliant in matters of mining and minerals, but social graces are a struggle. I'm Leila, by the way. I'm his eidolon, here to make sure he doesn't embarass the Jarenberg too much."

[Kaitou Kage]

"I am Altan," a soft-spoken voice piped up.

A strikingly handsome Mulani man approached. He had the shaved head common to Mulani, and an image of a dark feline creature covered his scalp. Its eyes sat just where Altan's hairline would be, creating the image that the Mulani watched with two sets of eyes. The tattoos crawled down across his neck and shoulders, feline imagery interspersed with runes and Hazlani script. The markings seemed to shift and swirl whenever one tried to read them, as if they were evading others' eyes. Altan wore the green and gold of the Isfahani family, but his attire sported the vibrant crimson that only Red Academy graduates were permitted to wear.

"You must be Richard Blackwood," Altan smiled and bowed. "I am Altan Isfahani. You are a past associate of my cousin Darius, yes?"

[NeoTiamat]

"I wasn't expecting a woman, I mean, I was expecting a woman when they said your name was Elena. I can't imagine a man would care for that name. But before I knew your name, I expected that they would send a man. Women don't tend to get involved in mining and refining ore. How long have you been in the trade?"

The explanation was getting more fascinating with every passing minute, really.

"Only a few weeks." Lena said politely, ignoring Vasili's oddities and taking the young man at face value. She did give him a rather winsome smile -- a dimple formed when she smiled in that particular way. "But I've spent six years in Gundarak dealing with trade concerns, and I've done treaty negotiation in Kartakass and Nova Vaasa. I'm here as a private citizen though."

"He's brilliant in matters of mining and minerals, but social graces are a struggle. I'm Leila, by the way. I'm his eidolon, here to make sure he doesn't embarass the Jarenberg too much."

"'Enchantée." Lena may have been a Barovian, but her own social graces were quite firmly Dementlieuse high society. She turned that kilowatt smile onto Leila, this time having it turn impish. "Well, I won't carry any tales if you don't."

Ushka, in the meantime, was sniffing Vasili's feet and wondering if she could get at Leila. First one giant cat, now another giant cat (even if it was presently a small cat). The fox seriously wondered what they put into the cat food around here.

"And this is Bystroushka, my own familiar." Lena introduced the fox. Ushka sat back and preened for a moment, gorgeous in her russet fur, and well aware of the fact.

[Isabella]

"But since Darius is my kinsman too, well, I bid you welcome to Hazlan on his behalf. I'm not surprised he couldn't come; they've kept him on the hop since his promotion."

"I-I thank you," Richard replied, warmly. "I-I am not surprised to hear-hear he has been promoted. He was always-always a dedicated man - I-I am sad he could not meet me here, but I-I-I am glad to hear he-he has been recognized."

"He's brilliant in matters of mining and minerals, but social graces are a struggle. I'm Leila, by the way. I'm his eidolon, here to make sure he doesn't embarass the Jarenberg too much."

"Well, I won't carry any tales if you don't."

Richard, for some reason, gave a low chuckle at the peculiar conversation, from the surprise over Lena's gender to the rather familial scolding the small cat gave Vasili. He did murmur an amused "Oh come now" to the eidolon's assessment of her master, but it was softly spoken, and likely not heard by anyone over the crowd, save maybe Renhalt. His eyes lingered on the cat-like creature for a long time.

"You must be Richard Blackwood," Altan smiled and bowed. "I am Altan Isfahani. You are a past associate of my cousin Darius, yes?"

"C-Cyrus and Darius. I-I am," Richard said, bowing back. He took a moment to regard the man, running his eyes over the intricate tattoos - they were fascinating and beautiful, but difficult to focus on, which kept Richard staring a bit longer than was proper. "I-I am most pleased to finally make your acquaintance, and I-I thank you for-for coming to meet me."

Maya made a small grunting sound, distracted from the conclave of small fuzzy animals by the confusing new arrival. Richard smiled.

"She-she likes you, I-I think," he said, looking between the panther-like tattoo on Altan's forehead and the living panther on the ground. The panther curiously looked at Altan.

[Kaitou Kage]

Altan smiled and bent down to let Maya sniff his hand.

"Many felines find me agreeable company," he said gently. "I believe they recognize a kindred spirit. Is this your pet?"

"Ah, but I am supposed to deliver a letter."

Altan stood upright and rummaged in his satchel, then proffered Richard the letter. "Darius extends his greetings, and I personally bid you welcome. A friend of my cousin is a friend of mine."

[Isabella]

"Many felines find me agreeable company," he said gently. "I believe they recognize a kindred spirit. Is this your pet?"
Altan stood upright and rummaged in his satchel, then proffered Richard the letter. "Darius extends his greetings, and I personally bid you welcome. A friend of my cousin is a friend of mine."

The panther sniffed cautiously, seemingly uncertain of what to make of Altan. Eventually, she rubbed her cheek against his hand, baring her teeth slightly.

"She is-was-is a-a gift," Richard stammered. He put a hand behind his head, suddenly looking a bit chagrined. "For-for Darius. Ah... if-if I'd known so many of his-his kinsfolk would, ah, were to meet-meet me...I-I, meet us, I-I-I must-must beg for-forgiveness..."

"Ah, thank-thank you." Richard shut up and took the letter.

[Kaitou Kage]

"Please," Altan patted Maya and smiled, "it is no concern. You could not have known. I think Darius will be greatly flattered by this gesture. How did you come by such a marvelous creature?"

[Isabella]

"A Valachani merchant, at-at Mordent-by-the-Sea," Richard answered, still mildly embarrassed. "Though-though she was ever so much smaller then. I-I-I am not entirely certain, but I-I think she was meant to be turned-turned into a hat. There isn't so much call for, ah, very-very large cats in Mordentshire. Saving, ah, me."

[DeepShadow of FoS]

"But I've spent six years in Gundarak dealing with trade concerns, and I've done treaty negotiation in Kartakass and Nova Vaasa. I'm here as a private citizen though."

"As private as a Baroness can be, I suppose," Leila says archly. "You turn heads wherever you go, madame, and your name magnifies your presence even more. We expect the other families will be clambering for a bit of gossip about your presence among us." She turns to Cattia and smiles at the prospect.

She turned that kilowatt smile onto Leila, this time having it turn impish. "Well, I won't carry any tales if you don't."

"I expect we're going to get along just fine," Leila agrees.

Ushka, in the meantime, was sniffing Vasili's feet and wondering if she could get at Leila. First one giant cat, now another giant cat (even if it was presently a small cat). The fox seriously wondered what they put into the cat food around here.

Leila drops her head a little to watch the fox. As Leila and Ushka examine each other, anyone who cares to notice will see that Leila's ears are on the sides of her head rather than the top, and her eyes are not slotted like a cat's, but round like a human's. While the blending between features is seamless, this only makes the effect more incongruous and (to some) unsettling.*

Richard, for some reason, gave a low chuckle at the peculiar conversation, from the surprise over Lena's gender to the rather familial scolding the small cat gave Vasili. He did murmur an amused "Oh come now" to the eidolon's assessment of her master, but it was softly spoken, and likely not heard by anyone over the crowd, save maybe Renhalt. His eyes lingered on the cat-like creature for a long time.

Whether feeling his eyes on her or hearing his murmur, Leila looks up at Richard and squints, but says nothing. Vasili, tuned to the eidolon's thoughts, looks directly at Richard with his intense gaze. "Leila really does keep me straight on things," he says at Richard. "She used to be my nanny, but then she died and became something else. Whatever she is, she watches over me."

Maya made a small grunting sound, distracted from the conclave of small fuzzy animals by the confusing new arrival.

At Maya's discomfiture, Leila slinks back to the ground and arrives as a human-sized lynx, which may unsettle the panther more or less.*

"Many felines find me agreeable company," he said gently. "I believe they recognize a kindred spirit. Is this your pet?"

"Felines, and proto-felines," Leila purrs, rubbing up against Altan. "After all, that's a displacer beast on your skull, not a normal panther. I hope you haven't downgraded your taste in wildlife."

* Leila has the Aura of Menace special quality when in her small form, which means the starting disposition of humans and halflings is never better than Unfriendly. Of course, she's been alternating between her two forms to ameliorate this effect. Everyone is welcome to decide how or whether their characters/familiars/pets reacts to it, but there it is.

[Isabella]

"Leila really does keep me straight on things," he says at Richard. "She used to be my nanny, but then she died and became something else. Whatever she is, she watches over me."

"I-I will believe it, for she reminds me a-a little of one of my sisters," Richard replied, with that same low chuckle.

"Ah, in a-a complimentary fashion, madame," he said to Leila, his eyes returning to stare at the cat, then quickly flicking away. He examined Vasili for a moment at the explanation, but simply shrugged it off as something he wouldn't understand. "Your devotion to your charge is-is admirable."

VIEW CONTENT:

Ho ho ho. The poor Paladin is attempting a Sense Motive at Vasili's tale, to see if he honestly thinks this horrible creepy thing is his old nanny. Given that the poor paladin has no Wisdom modifier and is surrounded by Charisma classes, this will be a sad, sad display. Ready for it?
[dice]0[/dice]
+8=26
Probably the best showing you'll ever see from the man. Will it be enough? I'm betting no.

[NeoTiamat]

"As private as a Baroness can be, I suppose," Leila says archly. "You turn heads wherever you go, madame, and your name magnifies your presence even more. We expect the other families will be clambering for a bit of gossip about your presence among us."

"Really. I never would have expected such a fuss over little old me." The Baroness said dryly. She glanced down at her fox, who flicked an ear. "Ushka and I will just have to be interesting enough to be worth all the trouble."

"I expect we're going to get along just fine,"

"Oh good. I do so like making friends." Lena said, her smile turning downright triangular. There was something of the fox in the woman as well, something vulpine in her manner, and most particularly in her smile, which was mischievous and a little predatory. She tapped an index finger against her chin. "Though I have a dilemma now. While I know how to address everyone from a Rashemani Guildsman to the Autark, my education was a bit vague on the proper honorific for an eidolon."

"Leila really does keep me straight on things," he says at Richard. "She used to be my nanny, but then she died and became something else. Whatever she is, she watches over me."

"Revered Thanatocrat... no, probably not." Lena mused. She tossed her hair in an absent gesture that just so happened to highlight her raven locks. "Well, you have both my congratulations and my condolences, Mistress Leila. You seem to be keeping busy in your post-mortem retirement, I must say."

[Kaitou Kage]

"My cousin is certain to like her, even if she is no longer a baby." Altan gave Maya one last pat, and then surveyed Leila. He gave no outward signs of agitation, though his smile wavered just a touch.

"I find even the more exotic felines take a liking to me," he murmured. "Including the displacer beasts, though they are difficult to keep as pets. One can never be too certain where they are."

[Revka et al]

As everyone has been going on about pets and old friendships, Cattia has withdrawn to greet friends among the passersby, and after brief exchanges with four of them, she has been chatting with the fifth one in particular. She holds herself apart from the group and keeps her voice low. **

As the conversation winds around to Vasili’s dead nanny, Cattia scrunches up her face and steps forward again. “Everyone must be travel worn--why don’t we get you all settled at the inn and go have a meal?”

**Sense Motive check DC 26 will reveal that she is not pleased with her company.

Anyone with the ability and inclination to eavesdrop (Perception DC 31) will hear one of the following specifics:
--Lena looks like an overgrown child with her long hair and plain (non-tattooed) features.
--Renhalt should have better taste than to fawn over a foreigner, or at least --better decorum than to do it publicly.
--Vasili belongs deep inside the mountain with his dirt and his calibans. He’ll learn manners when pigs dance.
--Leila teaching Vasili not to embarrass the Jarenbergs is like a fish teaching pigs to dance.
--The Isfahani must have lost his mind to invite a heretic!
--Altan is an odd choice for an escort, after what happened to him at the Red Academy....

In true Mean Girl fashion, Cattia’s worst bile is reserved for Lena. Cattia doesn’t understand why she is so confident and full-of-herself. or why the men seem to ogle her.

[NeoTiamat]

Vasili belongs deep inside the mountain with his dirt and his calibans. He’ll learn manners when pigs dance.

True to her nickname (Ushka meaning simply 'ears' in Balok), Ushka's ears were her most noticeable feature. They were very large, and they swiveled around constantly, and while foxes did not have very good eyesight, they had excellent hearing. So when Vasili's name came up, Ushka trotted over to investigate. The honor of people who have familiars must be defended!

Which was how Cattia had the unique experience of, first, noticing that there was a bright, fluffy red fox staring at her. Once Ushka had Cattia's attention, she turned her pointy little muzzle towards Vasili, back to Cattia, back to Vasili, and then back to Cattia again. Then she cast her eyes downward and shook her head, even covering her muzzle with a paw for good measure.

“Everyone must be travel worn--why don’t we get you all settled in the inn and go have a meal?”

"Now that is an excellent idea." The Baroness smiled at the younger Mulani woman -- Lena got a general feeling that she wasn't loved, so she responded the way she always did. By being very nice. "Where will we be staying, Freyin Jarenberg?"

[Revka et al]

Cattia ignores the fox. She politely corrects the Baroness, "It's Freyif Falssen Jarenberg*, or you may call me Cattia, Baroness von Zarovich. Right this way." She moves to direct the party toward the Burning Scroll.

*I think this is right, eek. I should probably learn my own name and correct form of address.