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 Posted: Mon Dec 15, 2014 5:10 pm
Keionx frowned at the overly complicated book of plants she'd tried to make her way through, frustrated. Science-y botanical texts were not her thing – Keionx was a creature of adventure and honor and chivalry and the sort of old stories that were considered treasures and kept at the back of the Chittentown library.
It didn't help that she was thirsty, but that – mere physical discomfort – she could endure. She was trained by her lusus to be strong in the face of adversity. Frustrated, she set it at the librarian's desk – Vremea was out somewhere, likely seeking water – and walked out of the library.
She turned her head to the chanting crowd, audible even from the library. She'd tried to read that book, struggling over its words, but nothing told her what the plants in the distribution center could mean, or what they had to do with the sudden dryness of chittentown.
Keionx grimaced in frustration. She wanted a monster she could kill, a foe she could fight. So she could save the people of Chittentown. She was sure such a thing existed...
”But where?” she said, aloud, to herself, ”Where doth mine blade need be turned?”
There were trolls in trouble, and there was nothing worse for the hero than being helpless...
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Posted: Mon Dec 15, 2014 5:37 pm
Athene didn't normally find herself in Chittentown, or anywhere outside of her hive really. It had been awhile since she'd left, yet she found herself in the dusty and dry city, clutching a (rather nice smelling) letter written in Jade ink. This wasn't the place to go, not yet, but she had another goal in mind. There was someone she needed to find, before she left, and she strode towards the Chittentown library, peering in to see if she could see Vremea. No such luck though, she was gone, and Athene grimaced in response.
She turned, trying to scan the surroundings for the troll, and bumped into one in her search. The letter fell out of her hand, fluttering to the ground, and Athene looked at the other she'd bumped into. A small orangeblood, a kid, it seemed.
"Excuse me, I'm sorry." She said politely, the letter absent from her mind for a moment as she looked to make sure the other was ok.
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Posted: Mon Dec 15, 2014 5:50 pm
Keionx was more surprised than injured when her semi-heroic monologue was interrupted. She stumbled, regaining her balance and turning around quickly. But the teen was no threat, and obviously... probably... was not the cause of the dry disaster.
She picked up the letter that fluttered to the ground, catching a glimpse of jade-green ink before she handed it back to the teen. ”My apologies!” she said grandly, almost apologetically
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Posted: Mon Dec 15, 2014 6:12 pm
The teen took the letter, her object of her quest returning to the front of her mind as she glanced over the jade ink. "It's okay." She replied, staring at the kid for a moment. They seemed familiar to the town, perhaps they knew Vremea? Or at least where she had gone, she was sure the troll was hard to miss.
"Uhm. I don't mean to trouble you further," Athene started, sounding a little flustered instead of her usual monotone, "But have you seen a troll named Vremea around? Yellow blood, long black hair."
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Posted: Mon Dec 15, 2014 6:36 pm
Keionx was glad that the other troll hadn't taken offense or anything. The town was on-edge, and unecessary conflict – even a good-natured heroic brawl – was not a good idea. It felt like a tinderbox – literally like a tinderbox, dry as it was. A spark could ignite it.
She perked up at the familiar name, smiling. ”Vremea... I have not seen the lady around, no... Alas, for I seek her, too...” Vremea would be able to make sense of what Keionx had seen inside.
She looked towards the crowd and sighed at their distant sound, not once thinking that the elegant troll would be among the protesters. They deserved water – water was essential for life – and Keionx did not understand why the royal military was not providing it. Surely, they had a reason, but Keionx did not see it. She hoped to take matters into her own hands, but things grew more dire by the hour and she still had no direction to take herself in...
”Perhaps she fetches water, for her lusus?” she suggested, ”The town is dry, as I am sure thou hast heard...”
Another grim look towards the crowds.
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Posted: Mon Dec 15, 2014 6:51 pm
Vremea wasn't around? Well, that was helpful. Internally she grimaced, this was an utterly useless trip then. Maybe she would find her later, then, talk to her about his letter. Surely she had gotten one, since the... incident with the jade troll awhile back. The kid before her was looking for her too, maybe about the letter? Athene's interest was piqued. While she had figured out the riddles quickly, maybe the kid was having trouble. Or maybe didn't even know at all, although it didn't matter much. The letter said she could bring friends.
"Are you looking for her because of this letter?" Athene replied, offering the paper back to her. In any case, it wasn't so bad to have someone come along. They seemed friendly enough anyways. "Oh, I'm Athene." She added quietly, it was about time she offered her name. It was on the letter anyways.
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Posted: Mon Dec 15, 2014 7:17 pm
Keionx frowned at the letter she had picked up moments before, reading it and the name – Athene... wasn't that the name of an ancient hero? Or similar? - and the riddles beneath...
Riddles... Keionx's heart-like organs began to beat a staccatto rhythm. Riddles meant adventure, and it was the only thing close to a lead that she had.
”No...” she said, finally, handing the letter back with more reluctance this time, ”I seek her advice, for I – and mine allies – hath seen a sight most strange. Plants, from the pipes and latrines of yon water station...” another glance towards the pumping station – the crowds bothered her, not because of the crowd then the anger even she – ever oblivious – could feel brewing. ”I hoped that Vremea could aid me in making sense of such... but she is elsewhere...” Keionx hummed, determined, ”Shall thou and I check her hive? Mayhap 'twill giveth us a hint.”
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Posted: Mon Dec 15, 2014 7:38 pm
Oh, she didn't have the letter either. That was a little disappointing, but what she said after did make Athene think. That was what was happening? The plants... she thought back to before and the thought was somewhat unpleasant. Were they related? But she came back to the troll before her, asking a question about visiting Vremea's hive. While the option seemed ok, she didn't know if she'd have enough time to do so and check elsewhere if she wasn't there before needing to go to where the letter said. An idea slowly came to her.
"I don't know if she'll be there, and if not I don't know if I can look elsewhere before I need to go." Athene said, gesturing to the paper in her hand. "We could split up and meet at the location the letter says later. One of us will find her and that will help. Do you have any spare paper on you? I can copy the instructions for you." That could work and while Athene wasn't totally sure, it did look like the kid before her was interested.
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Posted: Mon Dec 15, 2014 7:50 pm
The location? Hmm. The location was a riddle, a riddle the greenblood seemed to have figured out. Keionx was tempted to ask, but her pride demanded she try to figure it out herself... First. And then ask Vremea or Ephias for help. Help could be sought after a valiant effort, after all.
Keionx had a tattered letter that had appeared on Ephias' door, a call to order from the empire itself. He had seen it, and she had contemplated, and had decided that her path was for chittentown, and its citizens... not the empire.
She turned it over and offered it to the greenblood. ”I hath no implements of writing...” she admitted. Her brother had commandeered all her pens, and she had little need to write anyway.
”Where shalt thou seek her?” she asked. Vremea's hive would, in Keionx's mind, be a good place to start. Next would be the water caravans by town – the oppurtunists who sought to profit on the misery of Chittentown.
Disgusting theives... but water was water, and Kei supposed she should be grateful that they had brought the water to the town in the first place.
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Posted: Mon Dec 15, 2014 8:06 pm
"Perfect. That's fine." Athene murmured at the offered paper, digging around in her bag to find a pen, before quickly copying the information. The handwriting was neat, practiced from her years of running a store and keeping copies of her inventory, and she handed it back as she capped the pen and tucked it away.
"I'm going to try the crowds, I think that she might be in the mix. Also if not, I'll at least probably hear some information just from everyone standing around." She smiled a little, before her face slipped back into her general mask of calm. "I'll see you soon then. I hope one of us finds her." With that Athene turned and started towards the crowds, hoping to find Vremea or at least some information and feeling reassured of the plan.
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Posted: Tue Dec 16, 2014 9:33 am
Keionx nodded. Vremea was not likely to be among the crowds, but – indeed – they might have heard something. She pocketed the note and started towards Vremea's hive, more thoughtful than usual...
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