Quest Disinclined to Acquiesce (Open)

[Iosha]

Seeing how Red reaction to her bout of sudden craziness put her mind at ease. She relaxes and gives him a half smile as a reward. She listens to him explain his current condition, and she thinks to herself, “If he is telling the truth, no he is telling the truth. He seems like a man of honor. Yes, look at his eyes he is not lying. I don't think he has a concussion, but I want to be sure.” Iosha nods as she listens to him, and when he asked her if she seen the assault first hand. Iosha shakes her head and looks at the ground for a moment trying to think of something to say. She looks back up at him and says to him, “At that particular moment Red, I had my hand in a bowl of nuts. I didn't see anything, but I sure did hear it.” Iosha mentally face palms at her lack of elegance. Remembering time volunteering at the clinic in the spires, Iosha reaches to comfort him by taking his hand in hers and says quietly to him,”Listen Red, I don't think you have a concussion, but I want you to take care of yourself. In the next few days, I want you to take it easy if you feel any of the symptoms I described or anything out of the normal come to the Infirmary right away.” She gives him a smirk when she stand up and playfully says to him, “Now, I will shut up, so you can figure out the mastermind of this heinous crime.” She reaches up and puts the stray behind her ears, and she looks for a serving Dek when she spots one, she turns back to Red, “I'll be right back Red. I just need a couple things to clean your cut. Oh one more thing, Red. Let me clear your head.” Iosha walks behind him, and gently puts her hands on the both sides of his head. She closes her eyes, and she speaks softly to her Goddess in Kontinese, “Rak'Keli please take pity on this man. His injuries are not his doing. They were inflicted on him by a cowardly man or woman. Please take away his pain, so he can find the fiend, and bring him to justice.” The gnosis mark on her forearm starts to glow a soft blue, and the pain clouding Reds head seems to fade away as the glow disappears. Iosha opens her eyes and whispers to her in common, “Thank you Rak'Keli...” She lets her hands fall to her sides, and she walk into front of him once again. She kneels down and says softly to him, “Now Red. Rak'Keli took away your headache for now, but I will be back to finish your treatment. Promise me you will be careful otherwise it will be a busy night for me.” Iosha pauses for a moment and gives him a playful smile. He is definitely a handsome man, and she figured the party will go long into the night. Wanting to do some other than working on her night off, she moves a piece of her silvery blond hair behind her ears and she says softly to him, “You know Red once you find the man who did this to you. You should ask me to dance, but I got to warn you. I am terrible dancer, so I understand if you wouldn't want too.” Iosha turns her head, and she sees the serving Dek disappears into the crowd. Iosha stands up, puts her hands behind her back and she flashes him another smile, “Promise me Red. You won't forget will you.” Before he can answer, she back up away, giggles to herself, and turn around and hurries after the Dek.

[Red Daghul]

The pain in Red's head left almost as soon as she had placed her hands on either said of his head and said a few words. The Endal had kept quiet not seeing reason to say anything else before she had finished, and before he could thank her again she had already started to speak of dancing. This was a surprise he hadn't expected, but then again that was the nature of a surprise.

Daghul sent him a feeling that seemed to say 'told ya' and then was silent. I guess a dance wouldn't hurt, and plus she had given him a great gift surely it would almost be expected. This was not one of Red's strong points. Talking to girls, flirting, dancing, and all that just wasn't really his thing though most told him other wise, and most being Daghul.

Anyways Red would have given it a few more moments of thought, which was odd because you would think he would have been back on track, but the strange healing of his head ache had him lost for a moment. Well that is till he was wakened back to real life by a young Inarta.

The Inarta boy talked at a amazing speed, and Red only seemed to catch tibits of what he was saying, but he thought he had the idea of it down. "slow down, I need you to tell me exactly what you saw". This was it, this had to be it. Something more then just a single attack made perfect sense, and now thinking back there were more and more things that fit. after the attack there were few Deks left, which he had assumed was because a Dek was being targeted as the attacker... but then again he hadn;t seen the one who had called out that it was the blonde Dek, which might mean he was decided to be a fall guy.

It was time, even though he was sure the boy might give him some more information he needed to gather people together and start a search they might not have alot of time before another attack is started. "never mind my question before, what is your name boy?" he would use the boy to help gather people then start a search "I need you to help gather people to help me find these Dek, we must be quick though". then he left it at that.

Looking around he wanted to ask Iosha to help he had a feeling that she might be useful on this trek even if only just in case some one got hurt. Looking over to Telk, and the other man he offered "if yall want you can join us well" then he scanned about to see if anyone else looked as if they would be able to help the search.

[Ardal]

Catching his breath he started to calm down slightly even though he still felt on edge. “My-My name’s Ardal, sir.” Once asked to help find people he started to question himself. Social interaction had always come difficult to him. “Who should I ask?”

That’s when he noticed Kanri studying the ground walking towards his direction. “Mystery girl?” he walked up to her. “Hey,” he asked timidly “how are you?” He quickly remembered his mission snapping to reality and asked, “I think I know who’s behind the attack and I need help catching them. I need help getting a team together. Do you know anyone who can help?” pausing for a moment and nervously added “Not to say you wouldn’t be any help or anything.”

[Kanri]

It was him again. Kanri felt tension in herself drain away. She still felt that coldness inside that scared her, that told her someone was after her. But here was one person she thought she could trust a little. Maybe she placed too much faith in others too easily. When she was by herself, she remembered that fear and distrust. But then, the moment someone talked to her, that distrust melted away because their kindness would make her feel safe again. She shook her head. She barely knew herself at times.

"Mystery girl" he had nicknamed her. It was sweet. She smiled. "Hello, Indecisive boy."

How was she? Much better, now that he was talking to her. A little worried but overall, not too bad. But she didn't say this. She didn't say anything, in fact, because he hurried along the conversation. She smiled at his clumsy wording, even though it was no laughing matter.

"I do not know a lot of people from around the city. There is a Kelvic I know who is a giant cat. He might follow a scent, but I don't know if he would be able to smell in all of these people. And I don't know where he is but he has blonde hair so he might be fairly easy to find," Kanri suggested uncertainly, avoiding eye contact. She looked over his shoulder.

Then she noticed a man standing nearby, watching. The way he stood, with such confident and poise, he either had a ego the size of Mount Skyinarta or was an Endal... or both.

"Hello, sir," Kanri nodded to him, looking up.

[Farlen]

Farlen had spent his time hovering in the area close to Red. It was in his nature after all. He had taken a liking to the man for his kindness and understanding and basically saving his life. So in return the least he could do is watch his back, just like the beautiful bird did. To make sure that no one talked a tray to his head again... or worse.

After hearing Ardal's news, something became frighteningly clear to Farlen. It was as if a massive puzzle had suddenly become solved and a great shame came over him. He knew! He didn't quite realise it, but he knew this was going to happen! How could he be so stupid and not act upon his knowledge earlier?

Of course he didn't exactly know that Red would become the victim, nor did he know that this party would be the crime scene. In fact he knew very very little, for he had not been in wind reach for long and such complex social structures made little sense to him. but he had heard whispers among the Dek. Not all, just occasionally some had an ugly habit of saying something strange. Something out of ordinary.

But whom could he have told? What could he have said?

He had once again approached Red with a solemn look on his face. "Is it ok if I help?" he asked quietly.

[Red Daghul]

Now having three people who either offered the services or seemed as if they would be willing to help Red made ready to answer them "Farlen of course you can help" then looking towards the girl who had walked up he said "hello, I am Red, I take it you are here to help?" he left the question there hoping it was a yes.

Time was starting to tick away, and Red was really hoping he would be able to find others to help. There just didn't seem the time to do so. Looking over to Ardal that was just a little ways away he called out "Ardal I think you best show me where you saw these two Dek, i fear we best not wait any longer" and with that he gave one more quick scan to see if Iosha was around her request still swimming in the back of his head, but there would be time for that later.

[Iosha]

Looking over the crowd, she notices a server standing off to the side of the courtyard holding a tray of wine. Iosha gently makes her way through the crowd to the server. When she gets closer, she notices him eying her, he wasn't a native Inartan with his scruffy brown hair and his bushy beard. Thinking he must be a foreigner. She walks up to the man, and she can smell the alcohol emitting from his dirty Lontev. Not liking the way, he watching her as she approaches him. Feeling uncomfortable, she decides to make this quick, so she can get back to Red and treat his wound. She stops about five feet away from him and ask quietly, “May I get a glass of wine and two clean cloth napkins?” The man looks her up and down and says suggestively, “Yes, but what is in it for me?” Iosha just stares at him, frowns to herself, and says sternly, “Nothing except for my thanks...can I just get the things I need, so I can just go.” The man gives her a wide toothless grin, “Sure thing sweetly, but my only price is a kiss.” Iosha balling her fists looks at him in the eyes and says to him trying to keep calm, “Listen, I normally wouldn't pull rank on you, but it seems you are stupider than you look. I am a Avora and you are a Dek, so give me what I need, so we can both go on our ways.” The man just looks at her and his face darkens. He sets down the tray and says to her with a loud snort, “Oh I know your a Avora, girl. You don't think word spreads around in this backwater rock about a Konti and a foreigner to boot. Being elevated to Avora caste as soon as she walked into the city, so what didn't you have to do get your standing in society? I am guessing you had to slept with the Valintar for your status. You must be a good lay being elevate to Avora...” Iosha face turns red with anger. She raises her hand and tries to slap him, but he catches her hand in mid flight and tightens his grip as he pulls her too him. He leans his face close to hers and whispers softy, “It been a long time since I been with a woman. Why don't we have some fun..” Feeling the alcohol breath on her face, Iosha snarls at him, brings back her head, and with all the force she can manage, she crashes her forehead right into his face. The man lets go of her arm and stumbles back holding his now bleeding nose. On the other, she stumbles back too holding her head when the grogginess clears moments later. Looking at her attacker, she sees he is trying to regain his senses. Deciding this will be the best time to take action, she runs over and boots him in the crotch. The man eyes widen for a moment, and he drops to his knees holding his stomach. Iosha steps back proud of her accomplishment. She walk over to him grabs him by the hair, jerks his head back, and says loudly to him, “Don't you ever touch me again!” After saying what had to she lets go of his hair, and she retrieves the things she needed from his tray. Feeling a sharp pain on her forehead, she reaches up and feels something warm and sticky. She looks at her fingers and sees blood on them. Iosha shakes her head and says to herself, “Great now I am bleeding...” Feeling a aching in her heart, she looks back at the man, and she kneels down next to him and says softly, “Here let me stop your bleeding.” The man looks at her trying to figure out what to do next, but Iosha grabs his head and looks at his nose. It wasn't broken, but there was a lot of bleeding from the cut above his nose. She grabs a cup of wine and dips a clean cloth into the wine. She brings up the wet cloth to his nose and starts cleaning the shallow cut with the damp rag. When it is clean, she brings her hand to his face, closes her eyes and silently prays to her goddess, “I know I was the one who injured him, but I can't just let him bleed on the floor my goddess. Can you grant me the power to heal his injuries?” She opens her eyes and she sees the soft blue glow illuminate her mark, and the cut slowly starts to close on his face. She gives the man a expressionless look, nods to him, and she stands up. She looks around and sees some party-goers looking that them. She leaves the bloody rag on the ground beside the Dek, and she grabs a fresh glass of wine, two new napkins, and she walks back to Red and the others members of his group. Iosha makes her way through the crowd, and she sees Red and a few other people starting to get up and leave. She winds herself through the crowd, and she says loudly to Red, so she gets his attention, “Sorry, I am late Red.... Can I ask what is happening?” Iosha gets to the group smiling at all of them not sure what is going on, but she will definitely help if they need the help.

[Red Daghul]

The group seemed set and just as Red turned to start away he heard the cool voice of Iosha asking if she could know what was happening. The Endal turned to look at her, and gave her a small smile and was about to answer her when he noticed a bit of blood running down her forehead.

"I... um... yeah" the sight of the blood made him stumble over his words as he was trying to figure out what she could have done in the few moments she was gone to get into trouble "This young man has over heard some Deks talking about the attack, and maybe something bigger... anyways are you alright?" there was a hint of concern in his voice, though he was still a bit thrown off by her request earlier. Red hadn't really dealt with to many females, and even less that wanted to dance with him, or that were not from the reach.

Mentally shaking his head in his mind he while waiting for Iosha's response sent a request for Daghul to come closer so he could get his sword from the Wind Eagle. It had been a compromise with the Wind Eagle for Red to leave the blade behind, and that was a hard fight even. The Wind Eagle jumped over to another perch close and Red jumped up swiftly and pulled the sheathed blade off from the Eagle. Then as swiftly as he had climbed up was back done on even level with Iosha hoping she didn't think him rude for leaving after asking a question.

Strapping the sheath and blade onto his side he gave his focus back to the woman and the rest of his group as they prepared to begin their search.

[Kanri]

Kanri answered Red's question with a nod and he continued on with the conversation. A few others came over too. And Farlen was among them. Kanri felt a little flicker of excitement and reassurance, seeing another person she knew. She shot him a quick smile, then focused on the matter at hand.

"If the attack is part of something bigger, then why are they waiting? Why not just have all their events trigger at once in quick succession? Either they are waiting for us to react a certain way or something has gone wrong during their plan and they pulled out to regroup," Kanri observed as the group came to a focus. "Do you think they were waiting for us to form a search party and then let us all disappear at once?"

Kanri's spine tingled at the idea. Kill them all off at once and dispose of the corpses so it looked like they vanished mysteriously, like they were cursed. Or even worse, hang them up as an example. It was not a pleasant train of thought.

She felt a little wary of the non-Inarta in the group. She liked Farlen but he could still be in on this plot. He might be a nice person, but even nice people had to do things for themselves every now and then. He might want to help himself escape the Dek caste. The Dek could easily enlist him to help. He could even steer the group to do one thing or another to play along with the plan! That would be bad. Or that Konti woman. A beautiful, clever woman might easily change a man's mind. There seemed to be more Outsiders in Wind Reach lately and, while Kanri loved to hear their stories and learn of the outside. However, they also brought in their ideas of how the world should be and, with all of that, they might easily be in league with the rogue Dek.

Kanri watched them carefully, observing their responses to their questions to notice any slight change. She didn't see anything but nods and contemplation. She was probably being paranoid and overly protective of her city.

And why not? Someone was trying to corrupt it from the ground up!

[Ardal]

Watching the group assemble the gravity of the situation was starting to loom over his head. He started to get scared of what may lay ahead. But seeing the others so ready to aid he put on a brave face and took a deep breath. “We need to hurry; there are a lot of places to hide in the Warrens.”

He leads the group to where he saw the men were talking at a hustled pace. “This is where I heard them talking.” He takes a few steps forward and pointed down the corridor, “then they went down that way.”

He then noticed that he didn't even bring his bow how was he going to help fight without it? even if he didn't think he could turn it on another person anyway. However, he kept quiet on the issue not wanting to bring up such an over site on his part to the others.