With their Baroness back in Sangris, the city-state is all a bustle to show Calla that they haven't been idle without her and a sprawling market has been set up in the main city square, much more than usual. Of course, being Sangris, the stalls are utilitarian over attractive, each pretty much the same. The wares are displayed neatly and efficiently, most are selling useful items, from mundane cuttlery, to Sangris style armor and weapons. Spring isn't as oppressive as the summer, but still the heat is much higher than back in Arx when they left. Calla is leading a group of her guests through it, Sangris guards following at a respectful distance, just keeping a general eye on things. The people are respectful, not crowding, waiting for the Baroness or one of her guests to approach before speaking. Calla is dressed in a simple toga like dress of deep crimson as she wanders up to a young woman who is selling small figures carved out of calderan bloodstone, a wide variety of animals and warriors, all detailed. "Oh these are lovely." She complements the artist with a smile.

Pasquale has called for a check of luck at easy.
Critical Success! Thea is spectacularly successful.
Domonico is successful.
Graziella is successful.
TIE: Ember is marginally successful. Calla is marginally successful.
Martino is marginally successful.
Botch! Medeia catastrophically fails.

Domonico checks luck at easy. Domonico is successful.

Deep, there is a heavy sigh from Martino as he steps along with the Baroness Calla and the group. Thumbs of his tucking within his trousers' belt as he quietly sighs to himself, "Should have worn comfortables. But nooo, wear armour she said. Stay say, she said. If you come back hurt... there will be trouble." Muttering at the back, the strong vampish scent of Martino's perfume likely washes over the general crowd before he turns his chin to one of the stalls before smiling smooth, "Oh... that is nice." Turning on his toes, Martino steps across to one of the stalls and leans over it slightly. Fingertips of his reaching to touch a piece of the cutlery, "Oh this is very nice." Glancing aside, Martino flicks his sharp greens to the weapon stall with some disinterest.

Domonico, on the other hand is ignoring the majority of the stalls and instead is noting the walls, guards, weapons seen and other factors that a military mind like his would pay particular attention to. Attired in his fine sculpted leathers and fireweave, he mutters to Martino. "Please wear the armour. They'll

Princess Graziella Pravus strikes a stunning silhouette in layers of steelsilk and lace, the dress she wears is as soft as it is severe with particular touches of stygian and mirrorsilver. A shiny set of decorative pauldrons cause the shoulders of the dress to stick out dramatically and a lightweight umbra cloak catches the breeze in her wake; causing those behind to retain a distance of several paces. She is holding a parasol made of black lace and it keeps the bright Saffron sun off of her pale milkwhite skin. Due to the parasol being lace patches of light shine through casting intricate shadows across her features. She was silent for much of the journey across the sea and she spent days at a time reading or staring listlessly at the epiphanite ring she wears as if waiting for a glimpse of something to come...

Domonico, on the other hand is ignoring the majority of the stalls and instead is noting the walls, guards, weapons seen and other factors that a military mind like his would pay particular attention to. Attired in his fine sculpted leathers and fireweave, he mutters to Martino. "Please wear the armour. I don't want to have to explain you getting hurt to Kaia." He glances around, "This Sangris reminds me of Southport somewhat. I approve."

Venturing with the others, Thea looks quite at ease and is comfortable. Yes, comfortable! Eyeing her brother, she smirks. "Those are supposed to be like second skin to you by now,"a slight grin appearing on her lips. Possibly teasing. Maybe. Taking in the new people, the youngest Malvici starts to look at stalls and such, asking,"Think the Duchess would mind if I brought home anything else with legs?" Taking a deep breath, she starts to enjoy the warmth of the city.


It's been entirely too long since Baroness Ember Redreef and Baroness Calla Vaevici met at the inaugural gathering of the Arvani League and made talk about the Sea of Skulls. Whatever Ember's interest in such a place -- it's entirely possible she just found the name intriguing -- she's been focused on other endeavors in the months since... but now, with more urgent plans having come to fruition, the so-called 'Bloody Baroness' has time to indulge herself a bit.

Ember is dressed glamorously, but still behaves like she's a general and the rest of the group is her army. Her hands are clasped behind her back and her gaze is intense and baleful in an ambient, unfocused way -- she looks angry, but not angry AT anyone or anything in particular. A Calderan bloodstone gleams at the center of a choker she wears, and her dark hair is pulled back into a chignon that perhaps makes the stone more obvious. She takes in each stall and each vendor as she passes, walking in step with the group, her posture so painfully straight that one could probably rest a paving-stone atop her head and it wouldn't fall no matter how many paces she took. "Mm."

Medeia checks dexterity at hard. Medeia is marginally successful.

In usual good cheer, Medeia is close at hand for Calla as they move through the market. She's wearing a fairly modest aeterna dress and has a satchel with basic medic supplies and a few other things slung across her body. It's a decidedly simple, and not at all typical, look for the Saik Lady - but the white material keeps her cool. She is making mental notes, as well as the occasional murmured note to ther assistant, as they go. Her eyes never seem to stay still as she looks around at everything.

At least Martino and the other armor clad visitors fit in even if the sun is threatening to bake you alive in a metallic tomb. It seems that everyone wears armor of some sort or another ranging from a relatively simple cuirass, tunic and sandals combination all the way up to beautiful muscle cuirasses and silken cloaks. Even the fashion of those who go unarmored seems to call armor to mind. The whole lay out of the city is a defenders dream with wide streets, well laid out houses, and almost no blocked lines of sight anywhere. Most of the time you can even draw lines of sight all the way through two or three buildings in a row. And in the background, ever present, are those distinctive blood red walls.

The market however, except for its neatly arranged rows of stalls, is much the same as markets anywhere. Away from the group merchants call out for people to come see their wares. Close to you however they fall into an expectant hush, clearly respectful of their Baronesses presence and her visitors, although gossip erupts in your wake.

You hear shouting from the stalls around the corner of you but can't make out the details above the general furore of a marketplace in full swing and then a young man comes hurtling around the corner with a cloth wrapped bundle in his hands. Spotting your group he ducks and weaves between the guards, almost falling several times, before trying desperately to avoid colliding with Medeia. Its one of those moments where everyone can see the collision happening and time slows to a crawl only to burst into motion again as he impacts. Somehow they both stay on their feet, although the youth is forced to place his unburdened hand down onto the paved street, before getting his feet under him and taking off like a hare in the other direction.

And in his wake a merchant runs red-faced towards your group yelling that eternal demand. "Stop! Thief!"

Ember checks dexterity and athletics at normal. Ember is marginally successful.

Thea checks dexterity and athletics at normal. Thea is marginally successful.

Grumbling still to himself, Martino replies to Domonico and Thea, "Yes, fine. Fine... no complaining." With his left hand patting upon the stall twice, Martino peels away before replying on to Thea, "I want to say yes but..." Curling his lips slight, Martino pauses as the rush of youth and the calls about the place for a thief, "Mm?" Martino's chin lifts before stepping quickly across cobblestones to approach Medeia, "Oh Saikland Delight. Is... is everything okay?" Resting his left hand upon Medeia's back, Martino's head tilts as he asks.

Graziella has only a moment or two to appreciate how well her dress choice fits in with the vibe of the city when chaos breaks around them and the theif runs into sight heading for their party. Grazi sidesteps out of the street even as her retinue moves into formation, the six guards creating a small wall around the princess as she protests with a demure, "Honestly, now." She baps one of her guards on the back of the noggin with her parasol (twice) as she protests in her demure airy monotone, "How am I supposed to see anything if you lot are playing wall of flesh." She baps another one of her poor guards who is just doing his job, "I want to give chase too." Ultimately though, she does not and her guards make sure she remains a safe distance from the chase.

"I understand the caution, but you all are quite safe in here, I assure you," Calla replies with a bright smile flashed at the siblings before she takes out her purse to pay for a small figurine of a horse from the vendor, insisting even as the artist tries to refuse payment. Ember and Graziella are then offered the same broad grin. "See anything that catches your eye? I know Sangris is a little more mutred than Arx, but I assure you, our wares are well made." She's just about to turn to show her new purchase to Medeia when her fried is knocked into by the fleeing youth, blinking before moving to react. The call of thief has her motioning for her guards though she stays to to offer help to her friend should she need it. "Medeia? You ok?"


Ember steps up to one side of Calla and, as a matter of placement, Medeia. "The walls surrounding the c--" the Bloody Baroness begins to say in her clipped, blunt tone of voice, when suddenly someone nearly runs Medeia over. the 'stop, thief' makes Ember's eyes fix on the fleeing person, and it's as though she doesn't even need a moment to consider. Perhaps by sheer reflex alone, Ember is giving chase, her high-heeled sandals being kicked off of her feet with her very first steps -- only slowed down /very slightly/ by the heat of the pavement against her soles.

Whereas normally Domonico might have set off after said thief/collisioner, the fact that Medeia was hit stops him giving chase and he instead moves alongside Martino, letting them see to Medeia while his eyes sweep the immediate area for any further potential threats, the safeguarding of his family (and Medeia) his primary concern... just in case.

Thea agrees with Domonico, saying,"Talking to the Baroness,"her eyes drifting to Calla, she continues,"It sounded like home, yes. Im glad I finally got to--," Thea's words drift as she watches Deia fall. Well, more like a solid brick wall. Road Runner, Coyote anyone? The Malvici hurries over and kneels next to her friend, asking,"You alright,"asking the rest,"What--just happened?"

Waving off the concern, mostly embarrassed for the collision than anything, Medeia motions after the thief. "I'm fine, fine..." Her cheeks are slightly pink from the attention.

The young man running in front of Ember is fast and small and nimble but he doesn't really seem to know the city. He runs through a house, turns around, and repeats the process, each time trying to shake Ember off his tail without much success. He glances back over his shoulders once, narrowing his eyes, and then attempts to jump and grab the edge of a roofing tile. He manages it. Barely. And Ember arrives at the bottom of the wall just in time to see him hauling himself up over the edge. What next?

For the rest, in their cocoon of alarmed guards, they find that Medeia hasnt suffered any real harm and that the merchant is still huffing in an attempt to catch his breath enough to speak. Eventually he manages. "Magistrix. I'm so." huff. "Sorry." huff. "I had no" Puff "Idea. This would." huff. "Happen. Please. Forgive me."

He's fat enough that the rings on his fingers look like they would take pliers (or a saw) to remove.

Ember checks strength and athletics at normal. Ember is marginally successful.

"You... sure. I mean, truly, I would be quite distraught." Martino's Lycene tones roll smooth to Medeia as his perfume lingers near before stepping from the Saik Lady. Left hand of his withdrawing from Medeia's back, he rests it upon his chest before dipping his chin to Calla, "I... shall see about getting this thief on back." Nodding firm once more, Martino goes before walking brisk upon the floor and very slowly building up his pace and glancing around to try and catch sight or sound where the young man is going in the unfamiliar city, "Now mm... which... way."

Graziella makes a path between two of the ivory shields by closing her parasol, shoving it between them and sharply opening it as she announces, "I /said/ step aside." The corset wearing princess with her faux armor fashion moves with a determination as she makes her way back over to Calla and the others with a neutral expression. "Does this mean the shopping trip is over?" Such scandal. "I hardly had time to find anything..." Her pale blue eyes drift away and out across the stalls without a hint of worry for the problem with the criminal.

Thea lifts her eyes to Martino, snorting,"Because you got dirty,"climbing back to her feet as her brother helps Deia up. The medic in Thea starts to visually check the woman for any obvious injury but tells her,"I KNOW you're a physican too, but if you start feel pain or anything, let me know." Looking about, she considers,"Should we talk to the merchant until the others come back, or look around.."

Martino checks dexterity and athletics at normal. Martino is marginally successful.

Martino checks strength and athletics at normal. Botch! Martino is simply outclassed. This is monumentally beyond them and the result is ruinous.

Domonico growls as he watches Martino head off to start chase as well and nods to Thea, "I'll watch after him," he before setting off as well.

The Harlequin is no delicate flower and has suffered far worse in spars she intentionally entered or bar brawls she - less intentionally - founsd herself in. Martino's fussing has her flustered, but Thea quickly recenteres her. "I will," she promises, while looking at the huffing merchant. "Messere...? What did he take?"

When Medeia looks to be fine and well cared for by others in the group, Calla straightens and turns towards the winded Merchant, her smile no longer making an appearance. "How could you know?" She asks with a little shrug, though brows knit together with mild concern. "What is it that was stolen exactly?" she asks, before nodding to Martino when he offers to go after the Bloody Baroness, she really hopes Ember doesn't live up to her name right now.

Fell off the roof. Did not bounce. 20 inflicted and Martino is harmed for moderate damage.


The elegant bun of Ember's hair starts to fly apart, locks splaying this way or that as she runs, stops, runs again, and so on, always staying just behind the fleeing thief. Her instincts as a hunter are just good enough, it turns out, and when the criminal begins scaling the wall, Ember pauses for the briefest of moments. She looks down at her seasilk gown -- hardly suitable for climbing. "This is a /Selene Whisper/, you /cur/," Ember growls before giving chase, the thought of her fine dress being made shabby by this pursuit providing a fresh dose of anger to urge her onwards.

To Grazielle, Calla offers a reassuring smile, "I am sure this will be dealt with in a moment. I'm sure we'll be able to resume the shopping soon."

Jogging somewhat quicker, Martino's chin lifts up as he catches the sound of Ember's voice and of the hustle of the thief. Glancing further ahead, Martino's lips curl easy as he notices a ladder and a path to try and cut them off, "Oh... ahhh there we." Nodding to himself, quickly hand-foot-hand-foot up he goes before wobbling slightly on top of the roof, "Mmm... so that way." Narrowing his eyes, catching the sight of Ember's seasilk caught in the wind and the guard, Martino nods and charges over the roof with his heavy feet.

That is until coming to the end and not having any balance... down he falls over the edge to land in an alleyway as a crumbled heap, "Ugh... mmm. Th-Thea?" He calls, somewhere in some part of the city.

Looking somewhere down the street, Thea pauses. "Is that Martino already? Did he get stabbed or find some material bring home?" She's really hoping it isn't the latter. "I should probably go check on him. If mother's favorite dies, I'll never be forgiven and I'll lose all change of that woman ever liking me,"glancing at the man.

The young man has no idea what a selene whisper is nor that the woman chasing him has a rather fearsome reputation. Its yet to be seen if that is a good or a bad thing. He runs to the end of the rooftop and leaps across to the next one. He fumbles his landing and barely manages to cling onto the edge before tenaciously beginning to pull himself back up.

The merchant starts wringing his hands as questions are turned his ways. "Its an egg Magistrix." he says. "A crystal egg."

Ember checks dexterity and athletics at normal. Ember is marginally successful.

Domonico quickly gets to the downed Martino, going to one knee beside his older brother and looking over him swiftly as he moves to help. "Hmmm... What happened there then?" he asks as he checks for obvious injuries.

Thea kneels next to her OLD brother, exhaling,"And see, you wanted to be COMFORTABLE!" Examing her brother, she glances at Domonico, the other old one,"Don't move anything just yet." And here, Thea starts to fix up brother. Chances are, the man is broke. OLD AND BRITTLE BONES!

"Please do. I hope it's the latter." Calla replies to Thea with a worried look cast in the direction of Martino's call for his sister. Turning back to the Merchant, the Baroness fully frowns at this point. "A crystal egg? Seems a strange choice. It's valuable I assume?" she asks the man as she casts a glance around at her guests, making sure everyone else seems to be doing alright for the moment. "I do apologize again for this, thievery is not too common place in Sangris, I assure you." Of course she would say that, the first time she brings friends home and she's supposed to put on a good showing.

Graziella lingers near Calla and the assorted party members with a vacant loft to her perfect brows as she listens to the information unfold concerning the crystal egg. She may not be giving chase but she has a shrewd mind for investigation and Graziella maintains an unreadable expression as she listens to all the details, passively absorbing the 'crime scene' but letting the others react first. The hint of scrutiny can be gleaned from the way her eyes draw in ever so slighly at the mention of the egg.

"Mmm it is..." Exhaling as both Domonico and Thea find him somewhat propped up by the wall with his right arm over his stomach, Martino's eyes crinkle as he lifts his chin up dazed, "Only some brusing, really. It is not too bad." Heavy, a coughing laugh escapes before offering out his left hand to both Thea and Domonico, "Just ran a bit too fast and forgot to jump. That's all... did you bring salve?"



Ember's reputation hasn't carried to Sangris -- knowing her luck, the 'Princess of Parties' part of it is what will spread through the Saffron first -- but she's rather banking on her general ferocity to speak for itself. She runs across rooftops and doesn't pay a second thought to the perils of doing so barefoot. When the thief leaps, and barely makes it, Ember is a pace behind... but she lands on her feet and turns to face him, just as he's pulling himself up. "I could kick you over," Ember says, sounding dead serious and not even a little smug. "And no one would ever know that you didn't slip. So. What was so important that Lady Medeia Saik nearly got trampled over it, you oaf--?"

"Yes." The merchant starts, still wringing his hands. "But." he starts and is about to falter into silence when one of Graziella's guards gives him an oh so accidental nudge with the edge of his shield. "But not really. I'm a jewel merchant and there are more expensive, more easily resold, stones than that one in my shop." he gives the group a somewhat hopeful look. "Maybe you'll all visit afterwards?"

Cornered, with Ember between him and freedom in one direction, and a fall in the other, the youth cringes and takes a step backwards, almost seeming to prefer the falling option. All the time he has the bundle clutched to his chest as if its somehow more precious than his life. His eyes dart around, searching for a gap that isn't there, and then his shoulders slump in defeat and he whispers. "Please. You dont understand."

Thea carefully helps her brother up, nodding. "I don't feel anything broken. Just stop trying to jump off shite and why--,"her nose twitching. "Why do you smell so---I think I want to drown you." That said, she walks off with Domonico, leading Martino back to the group.

Medeia's brow knits together at the mention of a crystal egg. She looks around the immediate surroundings, thinking. "Is there anything special about it, or is it just a bauble?" Her gaze lands back on the merchant. It may not even matter why the thief stole it, but it is the thing she can focus on. "Is there some story to it?"

Domonico lets Thea take lead in this, quickly glancing around to check the three of them are safe before assisting his younger sister with tending to the old Martino. "Remind me to run you through some basic drills later. One time you might not have Thea or myself around to pick you up." He wrinkles his nose in agreement with Thea, taking the main load of Martino's weight if needed. "Perhaps he uses scent as a herald of sorts?"

"Alright... alright." Exhaling deeper as he is aided back to his feet, Martino's lips twitch into a faint smirk as he glances from Thea to Domonico before nodding, "Well it... I tried. Let's find where the cute Baroness is and... who's the Pravosi Princess?" Martino's voice is hush with Domonico and Thea, a slight cough as he composes himself, before guiding back to the group around the merchant.

Graziella's dress alone is worth piles of silver and when the jewel merchant mentions his shop she offers him a cheshire grin and speaks with more of a lilt than she's used this entire trip, "Perhaps we will come to see this shop, before we do though..." The curl at the corner of her smile lessens and her words carry weight as she intones softly but still over the din of the market somehow, "You must realize information is worth more than stones and silver?" Medeia already asks for the story and Graziella nods to that, adding, "Stories have value."

"Just a curio." The merchant claims. "I was going to make it into a matching ring, necklace and earring set."


"So make me understand," Ember says, stepping closer, narrowing the young thief's options even further. "Start by sharing." Ember reaches out to take the bundle out of the youth's arms -- she's a very strong and very angry woman, and struggling over it would almost certainly risk the thing getting hurled over the edge of the roof. So Ember takes it, holding it with one arm, and uses her other to grab the boy by the wrist and squeeze, hard. "I will tell your Baroness that you saw reason," she says, her voice still cold and threatening. "That is -- if you continue to be reasonable. Now come."

"We would be glad to come and have a look at your wares," Calla responds with an ingratiating smile to the jeweler, "Once we are sure all of this is cleared up and I've given my guests a chance to recover, of course." She considers the rest of what he said though quietly, as others ask their questions as well. She nods a bit in light of Medeia and Graziella's comments. "Indeed, if there are other more valuable and easier to resell items, there could be a reason for why this egg was his target." The merchant's answer doesn't seem to please her much. "Where did you come to get this item?"

"What did we miss,"Thea asks now that her brother is safe and back in tow. The Malvici straightens, gold-flecked green eyes skimming the merchant. She can be intimidating when she chooses!

Medeia gives Graziella an appreciative look. Information /is/ valuable. And a nod is given at Calla's inquiry about the egg's source. Further, she wonders, "You were going to break up the crystal?" She turns and looks in the direction the thief ran off. "Did he know that?"

The young man hangs onto the bundle almost to the point of losing his balance and falling off the roof before finally relinquishing it. His eyes follow the bundle in the same way an alcoholic watches the alcohol. "It shouldn't be here. I just want to take it back. Please. My people will be lost without it."

Back at the market the merchant continues to answer questions as best he can. "One of the prospecting teams sold it to me three months back." he looks at Graziella. "I was told it came from the slopes of the Caldera, up near one of the passes that cant be crossed."

The young man follows Ember with only the occasional wild look for new routes of escape. He looks defeated.

The merchant shakes his head at Medeia. "I dont see how he could have."

Domonico stays close to Martino, wary of his brother deciding to fall down again but otherwise says little, merely listening to the interrogation of the merchant who looks like he has interrogated many, many pies in his time.


Though she was prepared to drag the boy back down immediately, Ember pauses for a moment, and then releases his wrist. She starts to open up the bundle to actually look at what's inside, curiosity getting the better of her. "For a moment, young man, pretend that I am the Baroness of Redreef Shores, and as such not at all acquainted with the Saffron Chain or its local politics. Now, while pretending to do that, tell me what the hell is going on, and THEN I will drag you back to your Baroness with that in mind."

"Ah." Graziella nods with a tranquil understanding as she adds, "So what you mean to say, is you do not know its story? And the one who stole it? Did you know him?" She looks as though she already knows the answer and then she adds, "Had it occurred to you... before screaming thief? That your egg may have belonged to someone else before it was yours? That, in truth, it never really was yours to sell?"

Thea glances at the merchant, adding to Graziella's words. "Sort of making you a thief, yes. Now all eyes are on you..."

Cradling his right arm against his chest, Martino returns with his sister and brother back to Calla, Medeia and Graziella. Smiling slightly, he flickers his eyes from them before tilting his head slight to the merchant, "Oh, how much did you pay them for it? That is -quite- the find from them isn't it?" Upon his face, a few scuffs upon his face before flicking his eyes once in Calla's direction.

Ember discovers a roughly shaped egg of what looks to be a type of quartz. Its a muddy red sort of colour and doesn't seem to have been worked on at all. It fits in her hand so its not especially large either.

Looking relieved when the siblings returned, and they are all walking under their own power, Calla continues to look perplexed by the man's answers. She shoots a troubled look at the Pravus Princess before holding up a politely halting hand in Graziella's direction and then everyone else. "Please. I think this has become more complicated than we can handle here in the middle of everything. Let us find somewhere more private to retire to, out of the sun, with refreshments maybe. I can leave a guard here to tell Baroness Ember where we have gone when she returns." She's tryingt o be as authoritative as she can before turning to her guards to relays orders and try to think of somewhere they might go.

Conversational twists and turns are the sort of chase Graziella prefers but she offers a demure inclination of her head at Calla's words and wait for the relocation.

The merchant looks between them as they all talk before letting his jaw drop at Graziella's comment. "But thats what they do M.." he doesn't seem to know exactly what to call her and just skips over it after a few stumbles. "They have licenses. I buy things off them all the time! I have a license!"

When Ember releases the young mans hand he sullenly rubs it and trails along behind her. They arrive back at the main group at about the same time that Martino asks how much it cost. "Five thousand silver. If it will" he looks between them all, once again rubbing at his hands, "I could sell it to you for six."

Domonico checks composure at normal. Domonico is successful.

(re)The merchant looks between them as they all talk before letting his jaw drop at Graziella's comment. "But thats what they do M.." he doesn't seem to know exactly what to call her and just skips over it after a few stumbles. "They have licenses. I buy things off them all the time! I have a license!"

When Ember releases the young mans hand he sullenly rubs it and trails along behind her. They arrive back at the main group at about the same time that Martino asks how much it cost.

"Five thousand silver. If it will" The merchant says as he looks between them all, once again rubbing at his hands, "I could sell it to you for six."

The young men just turns pleading eyes onto Ember.

"I was only asking questions, not making accusations..." Graziella sends the merchant a wry smile as she intones, "I'm unfamiliar with the local legal customs and I was merely curious..." She trails off as her airy voice drifts into silence slowly and starts up again with a musing quality, her head in the clouds but her feet on the ground, "We can pay six."

One would be hard pressed to note Domonico's instinctive dislike of the merchant, masked by military discipline and etiquette training. His eyes leave the man and instead looks over the thief Ember has brought in tow. The Baroness gets a single nod of respect as he resumes listening.

Medeia holds up a hand to the merchant as Ember and the 'thief' return. "Hold it." She gestures to Calla, who has offered a relocation and set about handling some arrangements. "Talking price is rather absurd at this moment, messere. I would hear my wouldbe trampler's tale. I believe I am owed that, at least, for my trouble."

Calla checks command and diplomacy at normal. Calla is successful.


Ember's brow furrows at arriving to some kind of... bidding war in the making? She doesn't hide her confusion, or the fact that confusion makes her annoyed. She returns the nods that she's given. When Medeia asks to hear from the youth, Ember gives him a firm shove forward, as though to put him in the spotlight. "Speak," says the Redreef.

"Mmm six thousand isn't bad and then..." Martino's chin turns to the group as he smoothly continues the roll of his Lycene tones, "We can choose what we do ourselves about it." Lifting his shoulders up slightly, wincing for a moment, Martino creases his sharp greens forming the wrinkles in the very corners of them. HIs chin dipping low in agreement with Princess Graziella, "Astute bartering, fair Princesss..."

"Of course you do." Calla replies soothingly towards the merchant, trying to soothe him with a smile. "Everyone will have their say once we fine a more appropriate place to do so." Then she sees Ember return with the boy and she sighs with relief. "Very well done Baroness, you have my endless thanks. Come. There's a pavillion nearby with shade and seating. We will go there and then every party will have their say and we will decide what is to be done." She motions to her guards to lead the the way to the nearby stone pavillion with plenty of benches, and sending someone off for soem chilled wines and snacks as well. She won't speak again of it tille everyone is settled, and then she will ask the thief to step forward. "I have heard from the merchant. Now I want to hear from you."

Thea elbows Martino's side, hard. Bruises and all,"Stop it! Not the time!" And he's supposed to be the older one. Agreeing with Calla, she simply waits to tag with the others, not speaking just yet.

The merchant nods a few times. "It is very generous. Yes. I offer a very special price for the honored Magistrix and friends. I wish you to have it, for only what it cost me, as payment for your troubles."

As the merchant finishes the young man starts to plead "The Wader has been angry. Very. Very. Angry. It has to go back. Please. I just want to take it back. It has to go back."

Something the young man says however gives Thea pause, her eyes drifting to him,"Who is the Wader, and,"her eyes looking to the merchant,"Why are you so quick to get rid of it right now?"

Domonico perks up a little at this new name, "What is the Wader? Why is it angry?" His eyes focus on the young man, now intensely interested.


*** Ember has called for an opposing check with Pasquale. ***
Ember checks command and intimidation at easy. Ember is spectacularly successful.
Pasquale checks charm and manipulation at easy. Pasquale is successful.
*** Ember is the winner. ***

Calla shoots a warning glance at the Merchant and also Martino. "We will have no more talk of price right now, please." And to the merchant specifically, "If I need to confiscate it, you will be recovering none of your costs." It's a clear warning that he stops talking for now. Back to the thief, she smiles encouragingly. "I'm sorry, you will need to elaborate a bit. We are unfamiliar with what you speak of."


*** Calla has called for an opposing check with Pasquale. ***
Calla checks command and leadership at easy. Calla fails.
Pasquale checks charm and manipulation at easy. Pasquale is spectacularly successful.
*** Pasquale is the winner. ***

Graziella narrows her eyes at the accused's information and very calmly in a voice that floats out of her without any emotional inflection, "Do not be vague in your explanations, we cannot understand your cause without context..." She turns to Calla though to see what the Baroness has to say about local custom and the matter of a Wader. Meanwhile, as she listens, she paces seeming to prefer that to sitting while she's so deep in thought. She paces a comfortable distance away from the others- close enough to hear but far enough to think.


"There will be no need for confiscation, or talk of sales." Ember lifts up from the bench upon which she had only just sat, and strides toward the merchant to glare at him. Her expression is always a glare by default -- but now, it's harnessed into actual wrath. "The Barony of Redreef Shores thanks you for your kind gift, merchant. Your commitment to strengthening the friendship between Sangris and Redreef Shores, and indeed the Saffron Chain and the Mourning Isles, is admirable in its selflessness, especially since you ask nothing in return."

Ember's arm stays around the bundled stone. Her tone of voice is so cold that touching the sound waves might mean losing a finger to hypothermia. Her expression is absolutely the kind of expression someone has before they rip off another person's leg and beat them with it. "You may leave, now, if your Baroness permits."

The merchant purses his lips but says nothing when Calla promises confiscation and Ember hammers it in. Instead he just bows and scrapes. "Of course Magistrix. Of course. Consider it a gift. It is not worthy of your beauty but I want you to have it." In fact he bows and scrapes so much he manages to back his way right out of the conversation.

The young man gulps and then says "The Wader is the God that lives in the lake. It protects and guides my people. The storms have changed, the birds have gone, and we know only that its angry." He bows his head. "But there is a story that my people tell." he lifts his head again and starts to tell you a tale of a person who had been everywhere except the lake and the sad events that followed when they finally saw that place too.

Once led to the pavillion, Medeia settles and quiets, wanting to get the story from the youth. There's a faint curve of annoyance to her lips, but her gaze is immediatey drawn to Ember. That look on her face? That's the look of a lady who might have just witnessed true greatness.

"But..." Martino sighs slightly before dipping his chin and glancing to Thea. His eyes lifting up to the sun at he murmurs hush, "Pavillion sounds much needed." Listening to Calla, turning his chin to the thief, Martino's head tilts as he adds, "Oh, yes. Please good Messere of Sangris. Tales and the wonders of the history here is one of three reasons why I came here... please. I am curious. I have heard of Wardens, spectars, frostspiders and now... what is a Wader?" Tilting his head once more, Martino's attention pours upon the thief.

Domonico gives Ember another careful appraisal following her ruthless negotiation skills and he gives a slight nod of the head in approval.

"Pity. We could have played them against each other longer, for more information..." Graziella mutters under her breath as she paces and idly twirls her parasol sending shards of shadow dancing across her face in flashes. She tilts her head to side, in the direction of the group, to show she is listening when the young man mentions a story and a God.

Calla looks at Ember with pure hero-worship in her eyes. She wants to be like Ember when she grows up now. The merchant is offered a grateful smile. "How generous of you. I will be certain to pop in and find a few pieces from your wares to take back to Arx with me." Soothing the man with free advertising hopefully before very clearly dismissing him with a wave at her guards to escort him out. A heavy sigh, then she turns her attention back on the lad and his tale, her expression growing more grim at the telling. "Are you saying this egg is like that egg in the story? Are your people suffering because someone removed it from this Wader's nest, and you're trying to return it there?" She just wants to make sure she has all the facts straight.


Ember doesn't seem to register the approving (or disapproving) looks of her peers as she moves to sit back down, bundle of gemstone moving to her lap -- but still held, protectively. "Mmm," she replies, to the boy's tale, and then she looks to Calla. "It sounds that way to me." Ember hasn't fully calmed down from directing her rage at the merchant, so she still sounds a tiny bit prickly, but in an undirected way.

The young man bobs his head several times to indicate yes when Calla asks her question. "Thats what I try to do."

There are just so, so many questions in Medeia's head. She is powered by curiosity. And also? A really big do-gooder heart. "Can I see it? We should put it back! We... Can..." She shuts her mouth and forces herself to still her chaotic energy.


"Well. The stone is mine, now." Ember glances around the group of her peers, and that slight edge to her voice maybe makes her sound a bit rougher than she needs to. "As such, I claim responsibility for returning it to the Wader. The rest of you are welcome to help, if you like."

Thea mutters,"Merchant should help return it,"glancing at the boy. "I'll go help return it,"she volunteers with no hesitation.

"Mmm, quite." Martino sighs slight at Graziella's comment before walking to sit down in a seat within the pavillion. Exhaling heavy as he leans back and listens to the story, "Mmm." Martino's lips twist slight, tightening for a moment as he suggests to the group, "We should... probably see this site and the S'Ki people in case there is too much inbalance now... or if the Wader has caused havoc. Or what the Wader might even truly be."

If anyone glances her way for input Graziella quips out a matter of fact, "Well, I'll certainly be sticking with the group til the end, didn't spend days on a ship to be sent right back to Arx without any adventure."

"I was rather hoping you would say that." Calla smiles at Ember. "I would like to come with you. I've been meaning to reach out to other tribes to offer assistance and alliances as needed, test out my diplomacy skills and all that." She looks rather excited about it now. "Are you sure that you are up for it?" she teases Martino, finally noticing the contusions to his face. "Very well. I think it is pretty much settled then. We'll need some time to prepare for the trek, but we could probably leave tomorrow maybe? How long is it?" she asks the lad.

Domonico hmmms as he listens before nodding his head in silent agreement with the others.

"Two day." The young man says as he holds up two of his fingers. "Two day from here to S'Ki land. Maybe one more to find people." he looks doubtfully between the group members and then adds "Hard journey. Need lots of rope."

Laughing with a flicker of his lips, Martino replies across to Calla as he shrugs slight, "Oh I might need a helping hand, someone to offer encouraging whispers and tell me it is all quite safe." That is, before latching onto Calla's words about an overnight stay, "Oh we should stay overnight first. Still so much of the city to see, drink and enjoy before... the rope."

Whilst the supplies are put together for a gruelling trek into the Sangris countryside Graziella arranges to do some tests, research and experiments into the properties of the egg..

Graziella checks intellect and occult at hard. Graziella is marginally successful.

Having looked at every aspect of the egg that she can think of (and she can think of a lot) which don't risk damaging the actual item Graziella has found no evidence that it is anything but an egg shaped piece of fire quartz. Maybe if she was to cut some away she might get a better idea.. Will she?


As Graziella inspects, Ember sits off to one side the entire time, watching. She doesn't say anything, and she doesn't make herself a nuisance... but man, can she ever be felt, in her watchfulness.

Thea can't help but check out the egg herself. "Hey, can I take a peek."

The only problem with using alchemy on an item like this is that you have to have a sample from it to expose to all those fancy substances and see how it reacts. Do you still want to?

When asked if his people have access to the broken egg in the story the young man tells Medeia "Its an old story and we gave everything back. I dont think so."