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Post by Q'tar on Nov 12, 2017 8:15:13 GMT -5
The sun was high on its zenith when the Kur'asi Esquire made the short walk to the small, dark building that housed his livelihood. He stopped for a brief moment and looked upon the Lounge with cold, tired eyes, and sighed. After a brief moment he reached around his neck and brought out a small silver key, and easily slipped it into the large lock that held the oak door closed.
Better than any circle of power these days. Q'tar smiled to himself as the heavy door creaked open, showing only darkness within the building.
Stopping for another moment, he collected his thoughts as he placed the silver key safely around his neck once again and stepped into the abandoned lounge and inn.....
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Post by Q'tar on Nov 12, 2017 9:44:35 GMT -5
The loud creaking of the oak door echoed through the long quiet hall of the main room. He glanced around, frowning. The hearth where he made the meals for his beloved town dark and cold. Tendrils of dust billowing slightly off the floor from the first breeze in the building in a long time.
But it was the quiet that unsettled him. Even when the Lounge was empty of patrons, there was still background noises that made it seem like home. Now there is only the quiet...
It seems that a lifetime has passed. So much has happened. It seems almost alien to him now.
With an old instinct he reached over to a small shelf near the door and grabbed a dusty lantern and lit the candle, allowing the small beacon of light to shine into the room, making it seem even more ominous.....
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Post by cjsolo on Nov 13, 2017 11:53:29 GMT -5
From one task to another, the closed up Lightning Lounge was something she saw almost everyday. She almost passes it by as she has done so many times since Cynderfall had been evacuated in anticipation of a large scale attack on the town by the Kregen. It was the glimpse of a faint light or possibly the creek of wood or the building breathing that caused her to pause and give the building some consideration. It appeared that someone had gone inside.
She steps up to the doorway in. "Q'Tar?"
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Post by Q'tar on Nov 14, 2017 5:53:01 GMT -5
The Esquire moved towards the bar, allowing his light step to creak the floorboards. His hand reached around, hoping to find the decanter of the good whisky he got on that last caravan delivery, so long ago. He held his breath.
There it was, right where he left it. He let out his breath and smiled. He grabbed a glass and moved to a table, disrupting the heavy layer of dust on everything he touched.
He sat at a table and opened the decanter, allowing the aroma of the aged alcohol to waft into his nostrils. Then he poured a small amount into his glass.
He brought it up to his lips when he heard a familiar voice coming from the slightly opened front door.
"Yes, Sharara. I am here. Come on in." Q'tar said silently, and downed the glass of whisky. It felt good. He finally started to relax a little.
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Post by cjsolo on Nov 14, 2017 6:56:42 GMT -5
Sharara's muscles relax a little as she hears Q'Tar's voice answer back. She hoped he was the source of the disruption of the place, but one never could be too sure these days. Moving into the shadowed and dusty gloom, she soon steps into the area where Q'Tar sits. "I was wondering how long it'd be before you ended up here."
With one hand, she pulls out another chair at the table and sits down. Sharara is quiet for a few moments seemingly waiting for something or possibly gathering her thoughts, but she does speak again. "Now that you've seen how much has changed around here, and how much is still the same, are you going to be staying a while?"
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Post by Q'tar on Nov 18, 2017 7:00:12 GMT -5
Q’tar regarded the question with a scowl as he felt the feeling of calm melt away. He filled the glass once again and rose to his feet, moving to the cold and dark hearth, regarding the question.
“You know, Sherara, I had some high hopes when I set foot into this settlement years ago. I thought it would be….I don’t know…..something better than this.” He swept his free hand out across the empty room.
“When I ran the Lightning Lounge, there was good people here. My word meant something. YOUR word meant something. Cynderfall was a town worth fighting for.”
“Now as a noble things are worse. Our words have no gravity because there is nothing for us to base it on. The laws we are supposed to enforce mean nothing. We have a Knight who has always been more interested in women than his territory, a Baron that cares nothing for our town or her accomplishments, only bloodshed from its own citizens for sport. I mean, you FOUND the Nexus. Fought to secure it, and the reward is some coin and forced to watch one of the heroes of that day fight his apprentice to the DEATH? This is our leadership? This is what we are supposed to represent as Nobility? Murderers roaming the streets free and unchallenged. No one speaks truths anymore. Thefts going unchallenged. Our own citizens cannot even sleep safely at night because of the fear of getting murdered in their own bed…. This town has lost its honor.”
He moved back towards his chair and sat heavily back into it. “They still do not even care enough to call this town by its name.” After a few seconds he looked at the other Kur’asi with heavy, sad eyes.
“Tell me this, Squire. Would you stay?”
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Post by cjsolo on Nov 19, 2017 22:03:55 GMT -5
Sharara slowly takes in a deep breath and releases it just as slowly as Q'Tar speaks. There was so much that she has thought about that gave his question so much weight. Her answer is simple, however, her tone quiet even in the emptiness of the room. "Yes."
There is a momentary pause. "At least, for the time that I have left."
"I was never prepared to become Squire. It was never something that I had aspired for. But, I am here. For whatever reasons, Sir Jacob saw me as the one worthwhile of taking the place of Seth who was not only his Squire, but a man that he cared enough to take in as a son. I... think that if there was no care in who was to step in for Seth, then I would not have been the one chosen. I didn't even ask for the position."
A thoughtful expression comes over her features, a small touch of something in her own eyes; sadness or wariness it was hard to say. "I have been doing a lot of reflecting. This last gather,I think, has taught me a few things. Something I was going to talk to you about."
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Post by Q'tar on Nov 20, 2017 4:54:05 GMT -5
Without saying a word, but nodding his head in agreement, he moved to the bar and grabbed another flagon. Knowing his friend does not drink spirits, he went to the well and drew her some water, thankful that the pump still works.
He then sat in front of the Squire. "My apologies. I had almost forgotten that you share in this frustration. In some ways even more so." He sat back in his chair. "What were you reflecting on, Sharara?"
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Post by cjsolo on Nov 20, 2017 9:51:30 GMT -5
"I have continued to do things as I always have, being Squire was just another thing; a new series of tasks and responsibilities to add to what was already there. I have tried to maintain my relationships with others as though I were still an adventurer, that nothing has really changed despite the banner of a title." Sharara accepts the water from him. "Not wanting to ask or order others to do something I wasn't willing to do myself, I've always been right out there with them be it the adventurers or the town guard."
Sharara takes a drink of the cool water. "It's all wrong, Q'Tar. We aren't the same anymore. I'm not one of them anymore, they don't see me as one of them anymore. I am the Squire, I am a noble, I am accountable for everything.... good or bad. That's how they see me now; even those I would call friend. I'm separate from all of that now and forcing it to be anything else only causes trouble. This is what I have to accept and I have to act accordingly." She releases a small sigh. "My actions, my decisions... even the smallest of them are scrutinized and carry far more weight now."
Sharara falls into a short silence before continueing. "I... also have been thinking of the future. There's so much to be done still to ensure the stability and continued existence of Cynderfall, but I don't think that I will have enough time to see it all done."
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Post by Q'tar on Nov 20, 2017 14:35:06 GMT -5
The Esquire listened intently to his friend. It seems they both felt the same way. He listened to the gravity in her voice when she spoke of her responsibilities, and the change in the townspeople toward her because of her position.
He also thought of the last thing she said, the bit about not being there to see it done. He had a slight inkling of a feeling that the flame will start calling for her soon, as he was sure it will call for him eventually also.
"So it would seem, Sherara, that we need to stop thinking as being a citizen, and distance ourselves from the townspeople. I cannot think of any way to resolve this situation." Q'Tar pondered for a moment. "This is definately not something I thought we would have to face, but we do. You are right. We are the Nobility of Cynderfall. I guess I myself needs to start acting like it, of step down."
He forced a smile. "Besides, I have to make some meaningful memories before the Flame calls for me."
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Post by cjsolo on Nov 20, 2017 15:57:08 GMT -5
"I believe that this is the point where each of us decides if being a noble is what we want. Going forward, things will have to be different. It may be that the adventurers here in Cynderfall may never entirely be in favor of either of us." She rotates her glass in her hands a little. "I won't fault you if you decide this isn't the path for you, but make your choice carefully."
"I will be carrying out operations from the barracks and will be putting together a group outside of the town guard that I can send to do things. That's where I'll be typically found."
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Post by Q'tar on Nov 20, 2017 17:17:55 GMT -5
The Esquire looked longingly at his friend.
"We started this together, my friend. I told you then that I will always have your back. And I will stay true to my word."
He sat back again against his chair and started rubbing at his chin in thought, tendrils of lightning eminating from his arm and circling around his head. After a few minutes it stopped, and he leaned forward again.
"I wonder if Jacob will allow us to appoint a sheriff?" he asked the Kur'asi Squire.
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Post by cjsolo on Nov 20, 2017 18:19:01 GMT -5
Sharara smiles a bit at that. "Thank you, Q'Tar."
She then shrugs a little. "I'm not sure. I'm not sure, still, that designating a single individual to be in such a position would help the current situation. With the current temperament of the adventurers in town, all that may happen is that they become associated with us and treated and viewed the same as we are. Someone that they may have once worked with before, they no longer will. I think we need to set ourselves before we put title and responsibility on another's shoulders."
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Post by Q'tar on Nov 20, 2017 18:41:45 GMT -5
Q'tar nods his head in agreement.
"I agree, my friend, but three murders happened at the same time Raphael's family rolled into town. Now, I can say they are responsible, but I am unable to because the evidence seemed to disappear."
He straightened up in his chair. "We need fresh eyes, Sharara. And we need fresh eyes that are loyal to the Noble family. The two of us cannot make these changes alone. We need at least one person we can trust."
"If we don't, then who knows how far that family will drive this town into chaos?"
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Post by cjsolo on Nov 20, 2017 19:04:38 GMT -5
Sharara is quiet for several seconds, seemingly lost in thought. At last, she releases a soft sigh. "I doubt having a sherriff instated during the event would've changed the outcome. Given how events took place, I think we got the best result possible. There was lack of evidence, lack of witnesses. Ultimately, Sir Jacob's decision was fair given what was at hand. A sherriff would've made no difference, there was no time provided for us or anyone else to do anything more thorough."
She lifts her glass to take another drink of water. "I believe that rectifying all of this begins with us. If there are those that are willing to provide information on what is going on, then certainly that should be acknowledged. A title isn't, nor should it be, required for people to come to us with things. On our own, we should have the respect of people enough for them to be willing to do it without attached privalidge. Even if we're not personally liked, we need to have that much."
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