Lucidus Magus - "The Frisky Falcon" Inn and Tavern

[Valyrian Steel]

The Frisky Falcon

A Middle Class Inn and Tavern in the lower districts of Lucidus Magus. The outside of the structure is of medium size, and average for a tavern and Inn. Inside, one would grow accustomed to the smells of fresh cooked meals, ale, and a hint of sweat. Many middle class nobles come here to escape the burdens of life with a few mugs of fine ale, and even a stray off duty Lucidus Knight may come here every now and then. Travelers also tend to pick the Frisky Falcon, mainly because of its soft beds, and good wine. The building has a total of 10 rooms for rent, and is three stories tall. The main area has a bar, and plenty of Ale and Liquors to go around. Enjoy your stay at the Frisky Falcon.

 

[Son of the Harpy]

In one of the darker corners of the Frisky Falcon, sat a cloaked man sipping silently on a mug of ale. The pale brown cloak was dirty, and hadn't been washed in what looked like months. The hood of the cloak obscured the features of the man's face, overshadowing all but his unshaven jaw. Underneath, he wore a faded set of light armor, and his longsword "Vynthos" was strapped at his hip.

He took another sip, pretending to watch the rest of the inhabitants of the tavern, while his mind was elsewhere. He had no information as to the whereabouts of Lady Aaren, despite the months he had spent searching for her, and was no closer to finding her than when he started. He glanced down at the mug of ale for a brief moment, silently contemplating. He overheard a man talking to some friends about this new leader Triesten. Emer's eyes glanced towards the source of the conversation.

"I personally believe that this man could be the solution to all our problems!" The man was drunk, but not so drunk that he couldn't speak clearly. At his words, his friend chimed in, "Oh, s'that so? You would just forget about Lady Aaren then, and blindly follow this self proclaimed "savior" who 'as no business taking up tha position, and lead us all ta war?" the man spat out the word 'savior' as if he had suddenly tasted cow s**t in his mouth. His enthusiastic and drunken friend scoffed, and retorted, "Lady Aaren was weak, and in her condition, she made a terrible leader! Not to mention that she has disappeared, probably dead!"

Emer frowned, slowly looking back towards his mug of ale, suddenly aware that he had a tight grip on the mug that turned his fingers white. He loosened his grip, but the anger in him did not subside. Normally, if he were still serving under Lady Aaren, he would have broken the man's jaw for speaking such insulting words about Lady Aaren. However, he was in hiding, and drawing attention to himself and getting thrown out of the Inn for hitting then man would do little to improve his situation.

He glanced back over at the pair, who were now shouting at each other, arguing over who Lucidus needed more: Lady Aaren, or this Triesten. The man who was taking up for Triestan had his chest puffed out slightly, abviously taking pride in his words. "Lady Aaren never took action! Aes has been a thorn in our side for years! Triestan knows that, and he is taking action against them!"

The other man snorted out a chuckle. "Foolish boy, tha last thing Lucidus needs is a war 'gainst Aes right now! Have you forgotten what that Witch Queen did to the estate? You're as empty-headed as the bastards who let Triestan into tha position!" He finished his statement with a hack in his throat, before spitting phlegm into the face of the younger man who insulted Lady Aaren. Suddenly, half the tavern was arguing loudly about the same subject, as if the original argument was witch fire, spreading from table to table, and conversation to conversation. The two men were in each others face, a hairs length from letting their argument get violent.

Emer was stunned at what he saw. Over the loud shouting and cursing, he could hear that more than half of the Tavern's residents were still in support of Lady Aaren. The realization made him smile silently to himself. Suddenly, there was a loud bang, followed by a blinding flash of light. Emer turned his face away from the source, so as not to be blinded, and his hand instinctively went to Vynthos at his side.

"AYE YOU DRUNKS, YOU WILL ALL SIT YER ASSES DOWN, AND ACT LIKE CIVILIZED FOLK, OR YE CAN GET YER ASSES OUT OF MY TAVERN!" The voice of the bartender boomed over the sound of the arguing, and suddenly it was quiet. He had used a spell on one of the lanterns at the bar, causing the lantern to bust, but also causing it to emit a second of blinding light that was meant to stun everyone that was shouting and causing an uproar. Emer glanced at the bartender, and saw that the man's face was red, with veins popping out of his neck with anger.

Everyone was silent, the effects of the blinding light slowly began to wear off, and they proceeded to sit down, some of them muttering curses under their breath. A few got up and left the tavern, but the majority stayed and went about their conversations. Emer realized that there might yet be hope for his faction, and with a slight grin on his face, he took another sip of his ale.

 

[Valyrian Steel]

Ben moved silently through the streets of the lower districts of Lucidus Magus, dressed in a nobles guise, and covered in a dark green cloak. As he made his way towards the entrance of the Frisky Falcon, he heard men shouting inside. His brows furrowed at the unusually loud shouting that grew louder as he got closer to the entrance, wondering if this was how all Lucidus citizens were when they were drunk. He stopped at the entrance, but before he could reach out and open the door, a loud bang echoed from the inside of the tavern, followed by a blinding flash of light that left spots in Ben's eyes from where the light escaped out of the small glass window on the door. Startled, he whirled to the right, and pressed his back against the outside wall next to the doorway. He gripped his long dagger firmly, waiting for a sign that there was a fight inside.

The bartenders voice boomed throughout the tavern, and was heard even outside where Ben stood. He relaxed at the sound, realizing that the bartender was the source of the blinding light, more than likely to stun all the drunken men inside who were clearly shouting and arguing. The bartenders actions were effective Ben saw, for the bar was now silent. Several men exited through the entrance, all of them looking irritated and drunk. None of them even stole so much as a glance at Ben, however, who was still pressed up against the wall next to the entrance. He let go of his long dagger that was sheathed on the side of his thigh, and strode into the tavern quietly. As he entered, his eyes instantly began scanning the wide variety of patrons. His eyes fell on a man in the back corner who's figure was hidden in a dirty cloak, with only his unshaven smirk in view.

Ben's face grew a smirk of his own, and he approached the table where Emer sat. Without even asking the knight if he could join him, Ben seated himself across from Emer. "Hello, Ser Emer, Knight of the Lucidus Magus Council." He spoke matter-of-factly, and didn't bother to lower his voice, nor did he say it loudly however. He wanted to make it clear that he knew all about Emer, and that he was in control of this encounter. He knew that Emer had been in hiding since the incident in the cave with Judith.

Ben stared at Emer with his intense gaze, a smirk slightly playing at the corner of his mouth. He had been keeping track of the Knight, and knew that Emer had been looking for Lady Aaren for the past few months. He also figured that Emer wasn't too happy about the installation of a new Leader, especially when this leader was almost as much of a war-mongerer as Vossler had been for Aes.

Without taking his gaze off Emer, Ben spoke in a now quieter voice. "So, how has the search been going? I take it by your appearance that you are no closer to finding her than you were a few months ago?" Lady Aaren's disappearance was of great concern to Ben, as were a few other issues that had also arisen around the same time. 3 faction leaders dead, and one missing, which put the world in an interesting place. Ben knew much about Lady Aaren, Vossler Stone, Queen Judith, and the Armatus Leader. Knowing much about the leaders always helped keep him one step ahead. However, now that three of these people were dead, possibly four, his advantage was gone for the moment.

He had started a chain of actions, which tell him many things he needed to know about these newly installed leaders. Just earlier that evening, he had gotten confirmation that his message had been delivered to Alfred, the new leader of Ater Nox. His next person of interest was this Triestan, who fancied himself as Lucidus' Savior.

Savior or not, he bleeds like the rest of us, and can die just as easily.

The thought made his smirk grow slightly.

 

[Son of the Harpy]

Emer watched as a man in a green cloak entered the tavern, then made his way towards his table without skipping a beat. Emer narrowed his eyes, and his hand went toward Vynthos at his hip. However, as the man sat down at his table across from him, he realized it was Benjamin Black. Benjamin then proceeded to state Emer's full name and title nonchalantly, as if Emer wasn't trying to be inconspicuous. His eyes slightly widened as Ben spoke his name and title, and he hissed a hushing sound at Benjamin. He glanced around to see if any attention had been captured at the his name, and thankfully no one had heard Mr. Black.

Returning his gaze to Ben, he scowled at him, taking in his appearance. He looked a little different, aside from the nobles clothing he wore. His mannerisms were almost....darker?.. than he last remembered. Perhaps this was who Mr. Black really was underneath that mask as the head of the Thesaurum Merchants Guild. Seeing Ben for the first time since the fight against Judith in Ater Nox caused a flood of memories of that night to come back to him, remembering the Witch Queen and her summoned demons. He blinked, realizing that Ben was speaking to him again.

His eyes narrowed once again.

"I suppose that since you're the Head of the Agency, I shouldn't be surprised that you know where I am and what I've been doing." He took a sip of his ale, without breaking eye contact with Mr. Black.

"So, what brings you to the newly reformed faction of Lucidus Magus?" He could only guess that Ben had something up his sleeve. Why else would the man come here of all places to visit him?

 

[Valyrian Steel]

Ben cocked an eyebrow at Ser Emer. He could see troubles of the Knight's past few months etched along the skin on his face. Part of him was sympathetic to Emer's problem. Benjamin had grown a little fond of Lady Aaren himself, and he disappearance had occupied his thoughts from time to time. He even had alerted his many agents placed throughout the Factions to keep an eye out for a women with her description. He could only hope that Lady Aaren was still alive, and that she had the girl with her.

He blinked, and returned his attention to the conversation at hand. "What else? I wanted to have a look at this Triesten myself. He's the subject of much gossip these days. Matter of fact, so is this new Commander of Aes, as well as the man called Alfred who is now running the show in Ater Nox. It's unclear what direction Alfred will lead Nox, but its fairly obvious that both the new leaders of Lucidus and Aes are as war-mongering as Vossler was." Ben was glad the man was dead. Vossler would have destroyed all the factions that opposed him, if it would make him any more powerful. Ben only wished that he could have done the deed himself.

"Funny enough, you're the only person still alive that I've been able to locate since that incident with Judith. Lady Aaren and the girl disappeared, as did that mage, Maliarc." He paused, remembering the mage and his odd interest in Lady Aaren. The fact that Maliarc had been from the west made it difficult for The Agency to gather much, if any, intel on the man. He was a mystery, and Ben hated mysteries. Though, on the other hand, Maliarc had been invaluable in the fight against the Witch Queen, so perhaps the mage was not a threat to the good of the realm.

He refocused his eyes on Emer.

"So, speaking of Lady Aaren, what have you been able to find?" Ben doubted that Emer was any closer to finding the whereabouts of Aaren then he himself was, but there was always the possibility that information might elude Ben, and not Lady Emer's best friend and personal guard.

 

[Amiimii]

Maliarc disliked the journey he was required to make in order to use this spell. It always left him disorientated and wishing for death. However, it was better than being stuck on a ship, surrounded by technology he knew nothing about. As his surroundings filled in, he knew he was in a bar. Where, he did not know. He kept his mind open, and his hands free, just in case he had to defend himself. As his surroundings finished their spinning trick, he steadied himself and was almost relieved to see the two men in front of him. Ser Emer, and Mr. Ben, as he thought he should call him.

"So, it seems that I wasn't the only one to survive that fiasco." he said as he pulled a chair up to their table and sat down with them. He noticed Ben dressed in attire that was noticeably different from what he had been wearing when he first introduced himself to Lady Aaren, but then, people changed. Especially if he disliked what happened in that cave as much as Maliarc himself did. "Sorry to barge in, but I wanted to get off of that damned contraption in that god forsaken place." he grumbled, looking at the two men.  

[Son of the Harpy]

Emer glanced down at his now lukewarm ale, staring into for a moment, as if it would reveal the answer to his problems. Nothing, as expected. He sighed and took a sip as Ben continued speaking. The ale was good, but not when it was room temperature. His mouth twisted into an unpleasant curl as he set down the mug, slightly pushing it to the side.

The knight glanced up towards Ben, and replied with a rude, curt statement. "Wouldn't you like to know?" Truth was, Emer had found nothing, and knew nothing about her whereabouts, though even if he did, he would not share such knowledge with a man like Ben. Ben was the head of an organization that manipulated world events, and was also a man who always hid behind a mask. Who could trust a man like that?

Suddenly, he realized thats exactly the type of man he himself was becoming, always hiding from officials, sneaking around, and keeping his identity as much of a secret as he could. The realization made him feel a little remorse.

"Perhaps that was a little rude of me... Truth is, I haven't found anything worth-"

Suddenly, Maliarc appeared next to their table, and pulled up a chair nonchalantly and sat at their table. Emer stared at Maliarc, a little stunned that the mage was suddenly here at the Frisky Falcon. Forgetting entirely what he was saying to Ben, he looked at Maliarc.

"So it would seem, and quite a Fiasco it was." It was an odd coincidence that the three of them would meet like this, though it gave him a bit more hope that Lady Aaren was still alive. If this many people could have survived the encounter, why not Lady Aaren? Then he remembered Lady Aaren's condition, and his hope drained a little. He sighed and grabbed his lukewarm Ale, and gulped the rest of it down, welcoming the warmth it brought to his stomach, despite its undesired temperature.

Ale was becoming more and more of a regular beverage for the Knight. It made the uneasy nights of hopelessness more bearable.

He wiped his lips with his hand, and set his mug near the edge of the table, a sign for one of the tavern wenches to refill his mug.

"A contraption, you say?" Emer's curiosity rose a little. He was curious as to where Maliarc had been for the past few months. As expected, a Tavern wench came to their table, and refilled his mug.

 

[Valyrian Steel]

Ben smirked at Emer's sudden hostility that was followed by an apology. The knights honorable way of going about things would get him killed someday. Before Ben could reply, however, Maliarc suddenly appeared next to them, and pulled up a chair and sat at the table. Ben leaned back, his smile growing a little at the impossible chances of the three of them meeting at the same tavern.

"No need to apologize, we were just talking about you as a matter of fact. Glad you could join us."

The Tavern wench that refilled Emers ale stepped towards him, and whispered something in his ear. After a moment, she pulled away, still looking at Ben. Pleased with what he heard, he nodded at her as a dismissal. It was no secret that Ben had his agents everywhere, and the Frisky Falcon was no exception. She had just confirmed that his agent was successful in delivering his message to Alfred. Now that Alfred knew what was going on behind the scenes, what would the man's next move be? He still had quite a bit to live up to, to get the people of Ater Nox to accept him.

Regardless, the ball was now in Alfred's court. Ben had multiple plans that were all being set in action. Toward what purpose, however, was anyones guess besides his own.

He leaned back again, his smirk starting to dissipate. "Well then, it would seem that a toast is in order. It's not everyday that three men escape an encounter with a powerful Witch Queen." As if on cue, two more ales were set in front of Ben and Maliarc by the same wench that had whispered into Ben's ear a few moments earlier. She smiled and winked at the trio and walked off. Ben had no doubt that the two men might have had their suspicions where Ben was concerned, however, he hadn't shown any malevolent intentions, nor did he have any.

He grabbed his ale by the handle, feeling its cold surface in his grip. He then raised it up, and said, "To Lady Aaren. May the Gods keep her safe, wherever she may be."

 

[Amiimii]

So, it was Mr. Ben who had "summoned' him here. He watched carefully as the woman spoke and set two ales down, one in front of Ben, the other in front of himself. He listened to Ser Emer ask him a question, and planned to answer it as quickly as he could, but a wonderful toast made by Mr. Ben stopped him short. "If I drank, I would drink to that." he said, lifting his mug up and setting it back down just as quickly.

"Yes, a contraption. It was a boat, only metal. Sailed, or whatever a metal boat does, by a....Captain Red. I sent a bird out once I awoke on the beach with a note with my name on it. Quick bit of interesting information for you two, if you say my name, I can choose to appear at the same location as the person who spoke my name. Hence why I appeared when you were talking about me. Anyway, Captain Red said my name when she saw the note, and graciously accepted me into her crew...." he said, sitting back. He looked up towards the ceiling as if contemplating something before continuing. "Though I remember her saying something along the lines of "You can't quit us, we quit you" or something of the sort. So I suppose I've made a powerful enemy." After such a long winded conversation, he quickly remembered his manners. "Ah, I'm sorry. I suppose I went on a bit of a tangent. You'll have to forgive me. Amongst the company of machines, it's good to be back with organic creatures."  

[Son of the Harpy]

Emer eyes Ben suspiciously, but did partake in the toast to Lady Aaren's good health. He felt the cold ale pour down his throat, glad to have another clod ale. He took another long sip, determined to at least finish the ale before it got lukewarm like the last one.

He turned his attention to Maliarc, as the mage gave his account of what had happened since the encounter with Judith, if it could even be called an encounter.

He looked thoughtful for a moment, remembering Captain Red from long ago, back when that despicable man Vossler was sill alive. "Ah, I recall Captain Red. We had an Encounter a while back." He was purposely vague, for he didn't wish to speak of the encounter, for it involved Vossler, and the thought of the man still made him grit his teeth to this day. "Surely she might understand that an emergency could excuse you from her service." Emer knew, if there were anyone who wanted to find Lady Aaren as much as he, it would be this mage. He looked thoughtful for a moment, realizing that he could trust this Maliarc much more than he could trust Ben.

"Maliarc, have you heard anything on the whereabouts of Lady Aaren during your time as Red's crew?" If there was a place he hadn't sought out information, it was definitely around Ater Nox. After the whole incident with Judith, Emer had avoided Ater Nox, hoping that Lady Aaren had chosen to do the same. A Lucidus Council Knight would more than likely receive a hostile welcome in that faction.

 

[Valyrian Steel]

Ben listened intently, taking a few sips from the cold mug in his hand. One thing that aided the Head of the Agency, was to listen more than one spoke. It was the most basic rule of intel gathering. He glanced at his agent, the wench near the bar. She was speaking with a tenant, but then strode towards their table. Ben gave her a quizzical look. She approached the table and once again whispered something into Ben's ear. Ben listened, then his gaze became cold and hard.

It was too soon...

He glanced over at Maliarc and Emer. "My apologies, gentlemen. I must take my leave. It would appear that Aes has launched their fleet to attack. I would suggest you two leave the city as well." With that, he gave both men a nod, and stood up, and without breaking a stride, exited the Tavern.

((Exit))

 

[Piratequeen91]

It had been a mere five minute journey from his base to reach the drinking establishment known as The Frisky Falcon, and Triesten walked in. He had no guards. There was no need for them. Here no one would assassinate him.

The earlier supporter of his looked on in awe as Triesten entered. Coming up to him, the drunk man babbled about the honor and amazingness and some words that seemed to be made up about meeting him. Triesten tried to wave him off. Still the man did not stop talking, spouting off about how he was going to remove the queen and save them all. He raised his eyebrows, before calmly speaking. "I plan not to replace the Queen. I only fight her corrupt council, those who ruled and would spend not a penny searching for her. No if anything I fight for the Queens return." The drunk man started to say something, but Triesten raised his hand, effectively silencing him. "If the Queen asked for my arrest I would turn myself in, not because I believe my actions to be unjust, but because I served her parents, and even her grandparents. I may not agree with all of her decisions, but she is still the rightful ruler of this country. No I merely fight those who would use her name to keep her away from any power." The drunk man, stunned into silence, just stood there as Triesten walked into the inn, searching the man who matched the description given to him as being the one who talked about serving the Queen.

A man brushed passed him and he turned to he direction the man came from. It took a moment, but then he saw Ser Emer. He didnt know the man personally. He only knew that he was the Queens body guard, or something. His career had first started just before Triesten had stopped paying attention to the military scene. And he was on the council of knights. Thus he approached the Knight, and stood before his table. "Ser Emer, I see you are back in town. My intelligence suggested you were searching for the Queen. Hopefully you have news of her?"  

[Amiimii]

Just as Maliarc had been about to speak with Ser Emer on what he knew-er, rather, what he did not know, someone strolled into the tavern and created quite the buzz. Apparently, this was the man who had taken over power in Lady Aarens absence. That, Maliarc did not like. It didn't matter who he said he fought for, or against, it mattered only that he doubted anyone had taken the time to calm the people and appoint a new ruler in just a few, short days. The man practically made a straight line for Ser Emer, immediately asking questions of the Queen's whereabouts. This unnerved Maliarc just as much as what the man had said of the corrupt council. Instead of speaking, Maliarc decided to wait this conversation out. After all, ears were better than mouths.  

[Son of the Harpy]

It was a series of occurrences that left Emer in utter confusion for a few brief moments. Bens words of Aes launching their fleet for Lucidus unnerved him. So soon? It was an undesirable situation. After Ben left, less than a few moments later, Triesten entered the very tavern Maliarc and himself were in. He glanced away from Triestan, down towards his ale.

How many damned spies had their eyes on this tavern?

He sighed, and kept his gaze at his ale, as he heard Triesten have an exchange with his drunken fanboy who started the fight earlier. Expressionless, yet with a hardened look on his face he silently drank his ale, knowing that the reason Triesten was in this Tavern was to speak with him. Emer never had much of an opinion of the man during his time in the Lucidus Military. Now, on the other hand, Emer didn't much like the choices the man had been making after he asserted himself as Lucidus' ruler, fancying himself as "Lucidus' Savior".

Once Triesten neared their table, Emer didnt even so much as look at the man, even as he spoke and asked him about Lady Aaren. Emer was quiet for a long moment, contemplating. After taking a long sip from his ale, he finally glanced up at Triesten and gave him a hardened look.

"As a matter of fact Triestan, our Savior, I do not." He spoke calmly, but put a little emphasis on the word 'savior', clearly marking his statement as a sarcastic remark. He continued to stare at Triesten after he spoke, but then reverted his gaze back to his Ale, which was beginning to get warm. He took another drink, making it clear that he didnt have much to say to the man that proclaimed himself Lucidus' savior, and took Lady Aaren's position. The man could sugar coat it as much as he liked, but it didnt change the fact that Triesten was quick and glad to assume the highest role of authority in the faction, which belonged to Lady Aaren.

 

[Piratequeen91]

Triesten laughed at the comment. "I take it you are not a fan of mine. Fair enough, I may have called myself the savior, and certain actions are not popular. But I do fight the council. In fact I fight them because of their betrayal of the Queen." In actuality Triesten had only found this out recently. But it couldn't hurt his position to claim he knew this earlier. "I had no proof, but enough of the Army was willing to believe me for us to fight. Of course I now have proof. I found the substantial ties to the former Witch Queen they had. You may not approve of me, but you could not have liked the Council any more." Triesten sat down, looking at the man who hadn't spoken yet. Triesten wondered what he thought of him. But he had more important things to do. "But that isn't why I wish to speak to you. I have a request for you. One that you will almost certainly approve of. But first I will let you decide if you want to hear this offer or not."