Answering the Call (Open)

[Andraste Longo-Drom]

The night had passed much like others, the rumble of whispers keeping her awake from the dreams that were endless. In those dreams, at least she could take solace in the fact she could see… though the images there were not kind. It was to the sanctuary of Maria’s Obsidian Heart Inne that she took that solitude and welcomed the chance to simply feel.



The introspective Andraste stood before the hearth, feeling the change within the building every time a patron came through the door or left. Allowed for her senses to feel the reality and wash away the nightmares. In truth, it was difficult to see the toll it was having on the woman, she had returned to keeping majority of her face covered, only that below her nose was laid bare where the rest was covered with violet and the gold symbols of the Six, that of Kanesh primary over her eyes. She shifted, herself, turning so she was facing the doorway as if awaiting something. Her chestnut locks had been braided back and up, keeping them under the bindings along her face. For those who knew her… it was a sign of the fact she didn’t stand as Andraste the Farseer… she was the warrior, the protector, the guardian.



How long could she stand on guard? She wasn’t sure. Her endurance had never been tested in such a manner, she had stood on watch before within the temple, but that had been many years now. How many years? Long enough, it seemed, that the Temple of Zyon was no longer truly her home. She had invested herself here, in these people, in those passing by with their simple lives, some not so simple, and she stood as the balance.

[Ellis Strata]

It was wonder when Ellis actually slept, because it seemed often that he was always about, always doing something, whether for good or for ill. Currently, he was coming down the stairs from the upper floors of the Heart, but whether he was leaving the bath, his room, or someone else's room was never certain, nor did he tell. He had some principles, after all. He wasn't particularly trying to be quiet, or stealthy, but he always wore boots and he made an effort not to stomp around everywhere, particularly on the stairs.

The first thing he saw was a lovely blind woman, standing by her lonesome, staring into the void of space between herself and the front door. Though 'staring' was metaphorical, at best. He sauntered on over, not trying to sneak up on her, as he might another, for not only were her senses keener than most, but it was very rude to sneak up on the blind, and well, he didn't want to get a stick beating upside his head.

He stood next to her, not saying anything for the moment, instead leaning his head on her bicep in a comforting manner. Cookies were retrieved from a pocket, oatmeal with little rasberries in them, and he munched on one intentedly. Then he raised one towards her face. "Cookie?"

[Branwen O' Rinn]

Branwen had been lost in a sea of her own research and study beyond meeting the new blood. A select few knew of the struggle that she had been facing since the full moon of Braman's Dawn.  The Winter Games had given a small reprieve from worrying as she got to play with Than and Behr in the snow, but now the competition was over and she was back to handling her every day duties, which didn't seem to keep her brain from wandering.  Riding from the Order's temple, Bran moved to place Toirneach away with the help of Thomas from the stable.  Shaking her head as she made her way inside, certain she was imagining the look given to her by the lycanborn.  Just a figment of her overactive mind.  

Making her way into the Heart, she paused after opening the door to see the two of them semi staring at the entrance.  Even if Ellis didn't look like he was particularly interested with his cookies.  Her gaze once just the steel blue of gunmetal now flecked with hints of gold moved over to watch the pair as fingers worked the clasp of her cloak so it could be removed. "What are you two staring at?" And yes she knew that Andraste couldn't see but it didn't change the fact that the woman's senses were possibly trained on the door.  

One thing that had not changed about Bran since her becoming independent under Maria's employ was the fact that she still refused to change her style of dress.  A simple gown cut to keep most of her body hidden, even the backs of her hands.  The only reason it had a waist was the cloth belt she wore. Light steps were taken so she could pass near Andraste.  The pair of them had never been the sort of people that enjoyed excessive touching but she knew the pass would be seen as a greeting much like a hug or a squeeze of a hand to the shadow's flower.  

[badger]

A snort and a grumble sounded from floor level, a fuzzy shape moving about from beneath a table that had something of a direct line to the hearth. Out from a messily constructed nest of old clothes a badger wriggled, unearthed from its warm nap by the promise of treats and snacks. The fact that they had been directed at someone else was irrelevant.

''zzzz'm'nzaycookhee ….''

Eyes blinked beadily in the light of the tavern, snout wriggling as the air was sniffed to source out the snack. It was a Sarkotan variant with the greyish black body, white head and distinct black stripes through its eyes, fur mussed from sleep and movements still sluggish. It eyed the treats, but the brain caught up with the rest of it and it merely resigned to sniffing the air before turning and waddling over to the bar, round ears twitching slightly. After reaching the wooden construction and pulling itself up onto its hindquarters, the badger's body lengthened (but not by much, let's be perfectly honest) and filled out, the muffled sounds of bone cracking and flesh warping until a halfling druid still groggy from an impromptu nap was stood there scratching her arse (thankfully clad), and rubbing her eyes. There weren't many other halflings involved in the Heart, but she'd spent so much time secluded in the commune over the last few years that everyone she had known had been replaced by people she did not: so even her distinctive partly shaven and dyed head possibly wouldn't ring any bells with the current crowd. But at least the Inne staff remained the same.

''A honeymead if yeh don't mind, luv.''

Yawning, the resulting tankard was retrieved after a little climb and Badger wandered over to where the others were standing, all facing the door like it was some kind of cult initiation. Taking a pull from her mead, she hooked a thumb in her belt and stared at the offending portcullis and attempted to divine enlightenment from its visage, and after failing in that moved to scratch at her brightly coloured head and offer up a grunt.

''Ah give up. What're we lookin at?''

[Cordelia de Clare]

Cordelia was a very busy and important person but every so often, she found it fruitful to mix with the common folk, which was what brought her to the Inne that evening. The dark-haired vixen was in a crushed velvet dress of crimson, with black roses embroidered neatly across the bodice; the ensemble was completed with black boots; black belt (with a silver buckle) and a black choker, with a red ruby in the middle. She was not expecting the small gathering when she stepped through the door, which rattled closed behind her, to be stood there, so vigilantly staring at the opening she now occupied. “Well, if you’re lookin’ for something to stare at, I really don’t mind…” She considered flashing her tits, but in the end decided that was not proper form for a lady.

That very thought of her being a lady made her sneer inwardly, before she brushed the entire idea away and arched a brow. Whatever it was the group was staring at, she didn’t care a jot unless it was going to ruin her immaculate and well placed outfit; every curve of her body was accentuated on purpose, to make people pay attention. “Whiskey, my love.” She said to whomever was tending bar, before she resting her rump upon a stool to wait eagerly for the most precious thing in her world, bar her gold and ship – of course.

[Andraste Longo-Drom]

It was true that it was difficult to sneak up on Andraste, though one or two had done it in their time. Her head turned towards Ellis as he rested his head upon her, she reached over to pat his head, shaking her head in denial of the sweet offered. "Always trying to fatten us up." Her lips curved in humor, her head turning towards the others who started to follow. Of course, Branwen's question caused her a great deal of amusement.

In truth, she was right though, her attention attuned upon the doorway had caused her to miss the others about. Some awaking, some simply stirring from where they had been focusing their own attention. The question was all the same, depending on who asked it. The fact caused her to laugh low, shaking her head in regard to them before she pressed Ellis away with a shrug of her arm.

"I cannot stare... if you all do recall..." Her head tilted, daring any of them to question it before she moved herself, taking a place at the bar. No mead for her, a tea easily taken up as she answered the question in her own way. "Have any of you noticed anyone... strange about? Mayhaps with a badge upon their arms?" The visions had plagued her, a call she must answer that she could not quite find the place she needed to be. The visions changed every time, each of the Safehouses of the Heart caused her to move about them, waiting for them to appear.

The hair on the back of her neck stood on end, a reminder that the sleepless nice were getting more and more frequent. That she wasn't imagining the call of Kanesh, the whisper of Bavol reminding her that she had things left unfinished. She shook her head as if she was shaking away those same dreams in real time. "And, of course, plenty enough stare at you, Lady Cordelia. You hardly need to offer the invitation." It was true, even with her presence the darkness of it washed over her like and old friend. She pressed that too away, forcing herself to focus upon their answers.

[Ellis Strata]

"Well, I like big butts, and I cannot lie." Both true and not, true as in, who didn't like a nice rump, and not as in that was not why he was always offering people things. He was just a bit overly generous like that. He continued to nom the cookie as Bran came up, then Badger, the Cordelia, all familiar faces in some way. He waggled fingers at each, though when Bran asked what they were staring at he shrugged. "You? Vixen? Take your pick." Cordelia got a sassy face though. "Far too dressed to stare at." A simple tease from one charmer to another.

Andraste was moving, and so was he, following her to sit on the counter next to her, the little bag the cookies had been in was crumpled and thrown into the trash. Jerky was then removed and eaten slowly. "Hmm no, can't say I have." Of course, he noticed everything.. most of the time. "Do you suspect that this strange man is after you?"

[Cordelia de Clare]

With the delivery of her whiskey, she settled in to cup the glass within both of her hands, cradling it as if it was a new born, precious and innocent. Her attention drifted towards Ellis and a grin flourished upon her lips, followed by an over exaggerated wink. “I keep tellin’ you, darlin’ – you can come and sample my wares, any time.” Whether that was true or just bravado was a question for the Gods themselves. It was Andraste’s question that made a guffaw escape from between her lips, alongside a snort. “Have we seen someone strange, have you seen the members of the Heart? That’s like asking if we’ve seen a fish in the sea… I don’t think stranger exists than this lot.” She wasn’t making fun of the woman, but the question she posed. “Perhaps if you told us about the badge…” There were lots of different types of badges, after all. “Detail is key when you’re looking for someone, I find.”

It took little time after that to knockback the whiskey she’d been carefully cupping before the glass was pushed towards the bartender again. There was no rhyme or reason to her pretence that she would not drink through the entire bottle that night, still she had to keep up some sort of appearance for her clients and business partners in the area. Everyone knew how much people liked to gossip.