Comments | antivan_leather: [OOM] Settling In

antivan_leather

[OOM] Settling In

Apr 25, 2010 02:44

The room that Zevran leads Zak to, number 715, is much like the Antivan himself. Small, neat, clean, yet cheerful in its own way and a far cry from the rooms he keeps in Antiva City. Those are nothing more than a place to stay and a place to work, a place to keep the more sinister tools of his profession, not a place to really share with others. ( Read more... )

zaknafein, #715, milliways, oom

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Interesting place you have here... whipped_weapon April 25 2010, 23:39:22 UTC

This room is far different from Zaknafein's own rooms at home, well lit, brightly colored, cheerful, warm and welcoming in a strange undefinable fashion. It seems to reflect its owner's nature, or what of it that the drow's seen so far. Zak feels profoundly unfit to stay here and somewhat like his presence is an intrusion ( ... )

Re: Interesting place you have here... antivan_leather April 26 2010, 00:04:40 UTC

Zevran's apartment in Antiva City is far from elegant. It's inconspicuous, out of the way, with cracking plaster on the walls and foggy glass in the windows. But it's safe and his own, at least, and a nicer alternative to spending all of his time in safe houses. Still, he doesn't waste time or precious coin on furnishing it nicely, or decorating it attractively to cover its shabbiness. Doing such things only fosters attachment. As things are, he could leave in an instant and feel no loss or sense of displacement, even with no idea where he would go next ( ... )

Re: Interesting place you have here... whipped_weapon April 26 2010, 03:19:47 UTC

"I would hardly say that." Zaknafein replied, after a moment's contemplation. While the pile he had pulled out was... adequate to deal with hook horrors, or other UnderDark denizens, the drow didn't consider this pile adequate to handle everything he could come across ( ... )

Re: Interesting place you have here... antivan_leather April 26 2010, 03:36:44 UTC

"Then you must have some rather interesting things down in your caverns. Me, I find myself opposing considerably softer targets." The Antivan got too his feet again and stretched, shoulders and back popping, before turning back to his guest.

"Certainly you may use it, if you like," he says. "You will find soap and towels nearby, and you are welcome to borrow clothing if you wish, though..." Zevran arches an eyebrow as he looks Zak over from head to toe, before searching out the largest tunic and pair of leggings that he has. "I am afraid that it might be on the small side, for you."

Re: Interesting place you have here... whipped_weapon April 26 2010, 05:24:11 UTC

"Interesting." Zak agreed dyly, though it was an understatement. "Also poisonous, mean and ugly."

The clothing Zevran offered him surprised the drow yet again, and he looked at the shorter elf with complete puzzlement before choosing his words carefully, "I had planned to wash my own clothing, and had not expected your offer but I am grateful for your assistance and your offer of clothing."

Tomorrow, Zak decided fervently, he would change the insignia at the bar. Before he could dig himself even deeper into debt.

Zaknafein then went to explore this place's bathing facilities, closing, and if possible, locking the door behind him, the clothing still in hand.

He laid the clothing off to one side, where it would not get wet, stripped off his own spidersilk clothes and then stared in utter dismay at the lack of water in the tub. The drow did notice the knobs and cautiously fiddled with the strange objects, startled as the water poured out.

...This was strange magic. Very strange. One of the knobs ensured the strange spigot poured ( ... )

Re: Interesting place you have here... antivan_leather April 26 2010, 05:36:57 UTC

Zak has three choices regarding clothing at the moment: dry and too small, wet and the right size, or naked. And while Zevran certainly has a preference for which one he chooses--and there's little need to say which that is, because it's his preference for any attractive woman and some attractive men--the middle ground is probably Zak's best bet at the moment.

By the time the drow has finished bathing, the assassin has lifted the wine down from the fire and is kneeling at the hearth, straining it through a fine cloth into a heavy, glazed clay pitcher. He's humming quietly to himself as he works, a pleasant little melody, and once he has the spices strained out, he adds honey from a small container to the wine and stirs it until it's well mixed.

Then he gets back to his feet and brings the pitcher with him, setting it on the room's dresser--definitely not on his work table, given some of the things on it. A quick look in the storage chest yields two mugs, plain but heavy and serviceable, and Zevran sets these out next to the pitcher ( ... )

Re: Interesting place you have here... whipped_weapon April 26 2010, 06:30:25 UTC

Zaknafein sighed in resignation.
The wet clothes would have clung to him anyway, would have chilled his skin, and he prefers to be dry, which tips the balance in favor of the slightly too tight clothing he borrowed from the other male.

The drow folded the wet clothes up, cleaned after himself as best as he could, and then unlocked and opened the door.

He was made marginally more comfortable and rather fascinated by the scent of the spiced wine, unfamiliar and sweet.

"I'm done with the bath." The drow stated cautiously, feeling uncomfortably exposed, as he left the bathroom and went to clean and organize his armor and his other belongings, as quietly as possible.

Re: Interesting place you have here... antivan_leather April 26 2010, 07:04:42 UTC

The Antivan looks up when his guest leaves the bathroom. He certainly has no complaint about the tightness of the drow's attire, but he's also careful not to give any indication of that fact.

At least the tunic is a long one, if only for Zak's sake.

"Ah, that is good. Come, have some of this while it is still hot." Zevran pours a healthy measure of the drink into one of the mugs and offers it to Zak. He takes a sip before he does so, however. It's not an uncommon custom in Antiva, a country that's crawling with assassins, to prove that a host isn't offering anything... impolite, to a guest.

Re: Interesting place you have here... whipped_weapon April 26 2010, 07:40:33 UTC

Indeed, Zak was very grateful for the fact it had been a long tunic. He was also grateful for the wine.

Zaknafein understood the concept and appreciated the sentiment,though in the Underdark, one tended to cast 'detect poison' spells on everything instead, since someone might have drunk an antidote potion beforehand.

"Thank you." The drow said quietly, leaving his items as they were and taking the mug in hand. The wine was good. Very good. Definitely better than Morimatra*.
"This is delicious."

*The drow equivalent of spiced wine. Dark in color, the flavor is harsh, strong and biting.

Re: Interesting place you have here... antivan_leather April 26 2010, 07:51:18 UTC

Thedosians tend to drink any antidotes after the fact, although there are some poisons that can be blocked by a hefty swallow or eight of oil beforehand. Then you just have to hope that a) it was enough, b) that it won't make you vomit, and c) that Maker forbid you don't start digesting it, which can lead to a whole new set of potentially, and extremely, embarrassing problems ( ... )

Re: Interesting place you have here... whipped_weapon April 26 2010, 08:01:01 UTC

"No, most alcohol where I come from is fermented from mushrooms, lichen and possibly moss. They're fermented more for the primary purpose of getting someone thoroughly drunk enough to drown out his woes.. and in the case of some mushroom wines, drunk enough to hallucinate, rather than to be savored. Drow wine is meant to be drunk quickly before the taste burns the tongue." Zak admitted, sipping from his wine and savoring every drop. "Some of the wines we have are rather... poisonous. They may even have spider blood or venoms mixed in to provide a 'kick'."

"Surface wines are much better, really. But that tends to be expensive to get, far beyond the means of someone not a really rich noble, partly because surface merchants don't want to come to the Underdark often enough to trade, when at any moment, the Matrons could suddenly decide they want to have them tugged in and tortured... and partly because surface raids, which would be the only other means of acquiring something without a merchant, are rare ( ... )

Re: Interesting place you have here... antivan_leather April 26 2010, 08:11:57 UTC

Zevran looks partly disgusted and partly intrigued. "I suppose the hallucinogenic ones might be... interesting, at least?" he hazarded. "If one was not in particular danger from others at the time, of course." The Antivan has never been one for intoxicants of any description, and rarely drinks to excess, but he has no moral opposition to the idea and admits that it could be fun under the right circumstances ( ... )

Re: Interesting place you have here... whipped_weapon April 26 2010, 08:59:38 UTC

Zaknafein gave him an amused look. "Yes, interesting. The Underdark has too many hallucinogenic agents as it is. In incense, in wine, in some poisons... "

The drow contemplated his glass for a moment. "Do these wine-making families attempt to exterminate these interlopers to the last child? Just asking." The drow thought the obsession with status seemed very much like a drow noble family, or a strong merchant clan. Except Zak hoped the children were left out of the feuds, at least.

"Your land's wines must be very good then... What I had earlier was considered a sacred wine to the surface elves of my home world. Very hard to brew, very highly valued." The drow flashed Zevran a slightly wicked smile. "It takes 420 years to age to its full strength. If the Bar takes it from someone's established supplies, then I suppose that somewhere out there, a surface elf is bewailing the loss of his precious ritual's focus. If so, then I am doubly pleased."

Re: Interesting place you have here... antivan_leather April 26 2010, 09:12:55 UTC

"To the last child?" Zevran looks a bit shocked. "No, of course not. They send messages, certainly, and make very clear points, but few are wantonly cruel. And I doubt that even the richest family could afford to remove a rival in its entirety. Besides, the Crows would never stand for such a thing. If we were to eliminate an entire family, down to the children, then that would be one less family with the means to hire us, yes? It would be very unsound business practice, and what is to say that family won't wish to have us exact revenge upon the one that hired us in the first place ( ... )

Re: Interesting place you have here... whipped_weapon April 26 2010, 09:28:42 UTC

"Truly? Then I am rather happy to hear that your ...Organization has such standards, to spare the children, at least. Among the drow, a noble family can only gain higher status by ruthlessly exterminating the entirety of any family higher ranking than they. Right down to the infants."

Zaknafein contemplated his wine gloomily. "The winner of the conflict takes in the loot, the remaining commoner soldiers and mages of the fallen House. Should any nobles of the fallen House survive, the aggressor House is also murdered to the last infant. House Do'Urden rose in rank rather quickly when I was in charge of its armed forces." He refers to this obliquely at first. Then he reluctantly elaborates.
"I enjoyed killing their clerics and their Matrons, but the slaying of children was never something I could do, or stomach. I am very glad the people of your country are more... merciful as to offer warnings or absorb the other family in a more peaceful manner. Or at least they have the decency to discriminate ( ... )

Re: Interesting place you have here... antivan_leather April 26 2010, 09:38:52 UTC

"Slaughtering children would be poor business practice on behalf of the families who hold power," Zevran says, taking another gulp of wine. "Depending on who is made an example of, a child may be the next in line to inherit the business. This puts the family in a very precarious and unstable position, as you might well imagine, and they become easy prey for the 'attacking' family.' Many good acquisitions have been made over the Ages by one powerful family absorbing another recently come under the control of an inexperienced child or young adult. Indeed, most of the large vineyard families, bankers, merchants, they have all done such things to acquire the knowledge and reach they currently possess ( ... )

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