Test Drive Meme #006

[khuimods]

KHU IODUAN; TEST DRIVE MEME #006

I. AROUND AIFARAN - Getting The Perfect Shot! This month in Aifaran, there's a contest being held on the popular social site Xa Xa, which Earth-based Dreamfolk may recognize as vaguely Instagram-like -- it's all about the pretty pictures! With a top (and substantial) prize of 500 hhinn per category, lots of people are getting into the game. Prizes will be handed out for awards like Best Composition, Most Creative Angle, Best Use of Lighting, etc, and this means that it won't be uncommon to see people in unusual places (even some risky ones) trying to score the perfect shot. Maybe they're bumping accidentally into you on the street, or slipping off the edge of a rooftop, or not paying attention to that train heading their way?? II. TALENT IS A MISNOMER - You Didn't Need That Wall Right? There are a lot of Dreamfolk in the city, and all of them are dealing with their own newly gifted Talents in their own ways. Some, especially those who are used to extraordinary abilities from their own worlds, have some idea of how to train on them safely, learning the ins and outs of their new gift. And then you have some whose only exposure to "magic" is through stories, fairy tales, or really entertaining TV, and pointing a finger-gun at a target and saying "boom!" has never actually worked... until now. "Uh," the other Dreamfolk says, staring dumbly at the car-sized hole in the wall, and then glances at you who just happened to be the closest person. "That's... new. Yikes. Should we run? Wait, I've got a better idea--" Cue loud voice and frantic pointing in your direction. "IT WAS THIS ONE! THEY DID IT!" III. WE HAVE REGULATIONS ABOUT THIS - Munga on the Loose! Munga are ill-tempered, rat-sized spiky lizards with a gift for camouflage, and whose venom in their spines and teeth is also highly hallucinogenic. And... they're on the loose. Fortunately, keeping them is highly regulated, and pretty much everyone in Aifaran knows about them, but loose Munga are uncommon enough that the reaction is more likely to be startled flailing at a hint of spines and skittering. Today someone's exotic pet has slipped out of their hands, and it's trailing a harness and lead as it zigzags away, prickling and hissing and going for the ankles. It's given a wide berth, except by those who don't notice until it's too late or those too preoccupied by something else. Hopefully the proper authorities have been notified to catch and return the creature, but maybe someone helpful can keep it from getting too far away? IV. A SURPRISE WINDFALL - Officer, This Isn't Mine... There was a loud thud as someone tosses a heavy bag from the window of a dilapidated building. Five seconds later there’s smoke pouring out the windows and your holding what seems to be someone else’s luggage. Opening it, you find carefully wrapped bricks of some very illegal drugs, and someone down the side alley is pointing at you and yelling. A mounted Sentry officer is giving you a rather peculiar look as well while he calls in the fire brigade. And among the people fleeing the building, there are five Kin’nal looking at you, wide-eyed, as it suddenly dawns on them that they messed up. Take your new prize and split before reinforcements arrive? Try to explain the mistake? Take note that the building is still on fire? V. KNOWLEDGE IS PRECIOUS - Accosted By Monks The Tariken monks are out in full force today, their orange and green robes making them easy to spot in a crowd, and there's a high chance you might be approached by one. Their sect values knowledge above everything else, so recording information from Dreamfolk, who are transient to Konryu, is something they see as imperative. Some of the questions are standard ("what's the name of your world? is it anything like Konryu? do have have any special position there?") but sometimes they move into stranger territory, like what's your favourite bath soap scent and how many times you wear your socks before washing them -- all of which are asked with the most studious attentiveness, just in case your answer holds the secret to the multiverse. VI. WILDCARD - Because You're Not The Boss Of Me Anything else that doesn't fit the above prompts is welcome, just keep it within the game setting please! Applications • Reservations • Taken List • Game Navigation

Comments

chade fallstar | realm of the elderlings

[thepockedman]

II ▸ TALENT IS A MISNOMER | open

"IT WAS THIS ONE! THEY DID IT!"

Chade immediately adopts an affronted look - which is not even a lie, truthfully, as he has not witnessed such dishonesty since the time he convinced a minor lord that accepting a small contingent of servants from Buckkeep would in no way compromise the integrity of any clandestine operations he was involved with.

He knocks aside the pointed finger and scolds, as though to a child, "Get that thing away from me! You'll be far less satisfied when it's my guts spilling out all over the floor instead of bricks and mortar, I daresay."

Then he turns to the few civilians around that bore witness to the event - far too many for the shifty Dreamfolk's plan to do much good (or evil, as it were) - and looks each one in the eyes, his words diplomatic and somewhat heavy on his aged and frail nature.

"And anyway," he continues, "but I would never participate in the wanton destruction of such fine property without good reason. I hardly know how! I mean, look at me. My body could hardly handle lifting one of these bricks, much less destroy an entire wall."

IV ▸ SURPRISE WINDFALL | open

Sloppy, sloppy work, Chade notes with disgust dripping from his internal monologue. He's not sure what's in the bag, but it's clearly very important if it was worth setting a fire for and tossing out the window to save; what should have been a clandestine operation had turned into a spectacle quite worthy of his idiot apprentice. Such clumsiness was beyond redemption.

Moments after hanging up on the fire brigade, but still before sirens can be heard in the distance, the Sentry approaches Chade with an expression too curious for Chade's health. "Excuse me," the Sentry says, "is that your bag?"

With some regret - he really would have liked to know what exactly is in the bag - Chade sighs and offers it to the Sentry. "Not anymore, I'm afraid," he says. "It is unfortunate that what fate bequeaths to us it snatches again so easily. This parcel befell me at the moment smoke poured from the window and darkened the sky. It is those gentlemen, I believe," and here Chade gestures directly to the Kin'nal who have not the good sense to make themselves scarce, "that you are looking for."

The Sentry spaces out a little during Chade's monologue, but comes to as soon as Chade refers to the Kin'nal. Some people take forever to get to the point.

VI ▸ WILDCARD | open

[ whatever you can come up with, Chade will find some way to squirrel his way out of it! ]

II! (surprise)

[afoolsgold]

"...My body could hardly handle lifting one of these bricks, much less destroy an entire wall."

Oh, but he may regret those words soon.

"My dear grandfather!" The shocked exclamation comes from someone--clearly Dreamfolk--near the back of the crowd, but his bright, melodic voice carries over the muttering din currently surrounding Chade and his accuser. Then, decked out as brightly as a peacock, the Fool cuts a smooth path through the crowd to approach Chade with wide-eyed (and clearly theatrical, to Chade at least) concern. "There you are! Shall I have to make fast the locks on our doors even during lunch now? What will we do if you fall on your hip again?"

He links his arm with Chade's whether the old spymaster likes it or not, clucking his tongue in insufferably patronizing disapproval as he begins to lead him away from the scene. Around them, the temperature of the audience has shifted from suspicion to something mortifyingly closer to pity for Chade. To the Sentry, the Fool snips snidely, "Is this how you treat the elderly and infirm of your city?--Oh, do be careful of that loose bit of pavement there, Grandfather, your eyes are so poorly now."

wow i wonder who that could be

[thepockedman]

A chill could not have run through Chade's blood faster if he'd dived naked into the sea of Aslevjal when he hears that voice chirrup over the ruckus. A voice that, regretfully, he would know anywhere.

"My dear grandfather! There you are..."

Never shall it be said that Chade cannot take a hint. When the Fool expresses sickly sweet concern about his hip, as any grandson worth his salt would, Chade lets his tongue fumble the reply for a minute before saying quite clearly, "Well, boy, I imagine you would give me that lovely sleeping draught and then stay out all night, as you so enjoy doing."

As the Fool whisks him away with hardly a care for the delicate hip, Chade makes a great show of limping and treading all over the Fool's garishly expensive clothing (excellent taste, actually; perhaps Chade will happen upon the tailor). "My eyes may be poorly," he allows, "but it hardly matters when I can smell my way across the street. Or is that your perfume? You know my facilities are going, child; help an old man, will you? How very thoughtful; truly, I am blessed..."

They are halfway across the street when Chade really does trip - over nothing; he's simply very good at tripping - and grasps hard at the Fool's sleeve as he goes down, collapsing in a heap in the middle of the road. He cries out in pain and does so only louder if anyone tries to move him. "Oh, by El and Eda both," he declares. "My hip. You were right all along, my grandson; if only we'd the money for a doctor..."

The show is quite convincing if you don't know Chade. Fortunately, no one does.

[afoolsgold]

A clever bit of theatre, this, but whose play are they acting in now?

The Fool yelps, nearly dragged down into the dirty street alongside the conniving would-be grifter Chade, and fixes him with a look of seething outrage that, thankfully, no one else can see. "You are unbelievable," he mutters tartly so that only Chade can hear, then turns to look back at their small audience with an expression of utmost regret on his face.

"No, please," he entreats a few of the spectators who are already reaching into their pockets for whatever loose change they might have on hand, "you mustn't be taken in by his pageantry--our household would be waist deep in nothing but antique bibiru figurines if you gave him a single rhinn, for that is all he spends his money on. No, you do not need to worry, I shall get him to a hospital immediately."

He heaves Chade up off the ground with a surprising amount of wiry strenght. "Come along, grandfather. Time to get you taken care of." You bloody menace to society.

[thepockedman]

Would-be grifter? You do him a disservice, Fool.

It's always a bit surprising to find how much strength the Fool has in him, though from him Chade has come to expect the spectacular. It's part of what makes him such a thorn in Chade's side, as useful as he can sometimes be.

Chade leaves off the act when they've made it some ways away from the street corner, a wry grin still tugging at his lips. He stands and pats the Fool on the shoulder, then straightens his clothing. "I do thank you, dear boy," he says cheerily. "I would never have thought to find you here, and so amenable to helping me out of a tight spot. The loyalty to the Farseers you've shown this day will not be forgotten."

His words are jovial and only slightly sarcastic; the glint in his eye adds whether you like it or not. He has not forgotten: the Fool is a wonderful ally, and better not left to his own devices.

[afoolsgold]

As soon as they are out of sight of the crowd, the Fool directs Chade down a nearby laneway that is not peopled by more than a handful of shift workers out for a smoke. Then he yanks his arm free of Chade's and rounds on him with a scowl, immediately tugging his beautifully ornate tunic straight after that presumptuous clap to his shoulder.

"Oh shut up," he snaps and folds his slender arms tight across his chest; Chade's part in Fitz's ploy to leave him behind in Buckkeep is still fresh in his memory, though his mistrust of King Shrewd's assassin and spymaster has older roots than that, those seeded much closer to his heart.

He's quick to dart a glance out the mouth of the alleyway to ensure no spectators have followed them, then fixes his eyes on Chade again. "Consider that bit of ill-conceived kindness the last favour I shall ever do for you, or the Farseers--none of which shall be remembered by either of us, once we've left this place."

IV

[redlightgreenlight]

Valdis' interest in the fire easily redirects to the man who sounds like he walked out of a Shakespeare play. Her partner clearly cannot be bothered to listen to the man's monologue, but as soon as the gentleman points him in the direction of the Kin'nal, she can clearly see what occurred. Her partner, however, seems uninterested in them and more interested in what is in the bag and the person he feels he caught red-handed.

"Deran," she says, "I think we have more important matters on our hands than this elderly gentleman. I don't think he looks like a criminal, do you?"

Deran looks at her, then back to Chade, and back to her again. She offers a knowing smile.

"You know I can sense a lie," she adds, her tone smooth despite the chaos going on around them. "If he says it was them, it was them."

[thepockedman]

"My dear lady," Chade begins, throwing in a respectful bow for the flourish, "I can see that you truly are wise. Do not be too hard on your companion, for he was doing his duty as a soldier should. I am quite willing to forgive."

He's really laying it on thick, but Valdis is right: he's not guilty of anything more than standing in the wrong place at the wrong time. (Terrible thing to make a habit of.) What's interesting is Valdis's comment that she can sense a lie - she declares it in such a way that Chade half believes she means it as truth, rather than a throwaway trust for an old, pockmarked man.

As the conversation continues, the Kin'nal finally come to their senses and scramble away, tripping over each other to get away from the scene. Chade sets the bag down on the ground and then stands again. For an old man, his height is quite something. "I am loathe to tell you how to do your job, but perhaps there is quarry you should be chasing."

[redlightgreenlight]

Valdis glances from Chade to Deran, the later of which seems to have accepted her expertise. She's unimpressed by this older man, or well, younger she's sure, though she hasn't bothered to check. What is interesting is how the man's curiosity rises. Deran snatches the bag from the ground before she can make any more notes on the matter. Her attention shifts to the Kin'nal, letting her sight moves onto the Soul Plane and marking the two souls in her mind.

"They won't get far," she replies, completely unconcerned. Valdis can always track them if the sentry coming around the corner miss the two criminals, but she whistles and points, directing them to the two. Once the Kin'nal have been apprehended, she turns back to Chade. "We are somewhat competent."