[NSFW] Of Snakes and Souls (Zazutobi & Red-Scarlet)

[Zazutobi]

Saresh Longfang sighed softly as she slowly walked through the streets of Tahakara City. Rumors were already abuzz from the embarrassing robbery of the Longfang ancestral vault The Longfangs were old blood nobility, their family having a position as Daimyo after earning great renown in war several generations ago. They have proved to be as competent in domestic affairs as war. Their vast territory was productive, peaceful, and provided a good deal of resources. However a recent blemish to their honor had occurred. The Longfang ancestral vault was very old and nearly forgotten about. Built in Tahakara city back when it was the capital of their territory before it was moved two generations ago. Now it just served as a repository of family heirlooms one of which was stolen.

The theft itself was a shame to the Longfang family and no doubt it would be be used against them by their rival nobles or within their own clan. Even now the position as the next heir was not set in stone. While Saresh had the backing of her sisters, her uncle had long coveted the position after losing it to her father in an honor duel long ago and with her father sick there was no guarantee her uncle wouldnt try to sway more of the family retainers towards his side.

But Saresh had an idea. Namely that if she could solve the issue of the robbery of her family's ancestral vault. It would regain honor for her family and sway more retainers to join her side. It was a gamble since it might keep her away from the family estate and resources for a long time. But her sisters could hold down the fort and keep her uncle in check for now.

Still, Saresh would need help. Skilled in magic as a sorcereress as she was, the Yuan-ti lacked much of the experiences of the outside work. Or had experience with investigation of potentially dangerous artifacts. Looking up the noblewoman saw the tavern sign and sighed. "Slumming with commoner adventurers. Father would have no end of worries. But I am doing this for my family." she reminded herself before stepping inside.

 

[Red-Scarlet]

Callie Goldi was in the tavern at the moment the noblewoman walked in. She was sitting on a stool at the bar, her hair pulled back and her normally armor-clad body dressed in a simple tunic and britches. She was finishing a story, eagerly being listened to by a few onlookers. "-bleeding, but I didn't let that stop me. There were people I needed to keep safe. So, I pulled myself deeper onto the blade-that bastard was fast, but he wasn't smart enough to let go. All it took was a moment against him, and I managed to snap one of his legs. He, naturally, tried to finish killing me, but unlike me, he wasn't used to dealing with pain. Couldn't manage to get a decent blow in, even though I was fading fast. I managed to feign being dead enough to get him trying to run away, and he was easy pickings for the cavalry when they came."

"How the hell did you live through that?" one of the crowd asked.

"With a scar to prove it, of course!" Callie boasted, lifting her tunic and revealing an only somewhat-healed scar, easily five or six inches wide. A few others are visible, but she seems to heal well. "Just ask at the temple-some of the refugees are there and can vouch for me."

The bartender, a lanky man, nodded his head. "Believe her-she's saved enough people who came through here that I don't doubt her stories. Also why she drinks for free."

By now, a few of the other patrons noticed Saresh, and gave her a bit of space and respect. The crowd for the story looked along with Callie in her direction, with Callie saying "What brings you here today? Don't usually get your lot here."

 

[Zazutobi]

Saresh adjusted her kimono, the noblewoman wearing a traveling outfit albeit of still fine materials and ornate patterns. As she walked in the first thing to catch her attention was the Gnome woman seemingly in the middle of telling a fantastical tale. Such things were common enough, though people of her stature tended to hire professionals for such things when it suited the occasion. Still, it was an interesting story and Saresh put her hands int her sleeves idly as she listened.

Those that noticed her first seemed to recognize her aura of authority giving her some space and signs of respect. Though the gnome spoke to her first. Normally a commoner addressing a noble would require certain honorifics but it did not appear like Callie was a local. Nor was Saresh acting as a noblewoman of house Longfang so such disrespect could be ignored for now. "I am in need of assistance in regards to the recent theft from my family's ancestral vault." Saresh said in a commanding and authoritative tone.

"The artifact must be recovered. And after going through the records I am of the belief it was targeted very specifically." Saresh said keeping the specifics to herself for now at least.

 

[Red-Scarlet]

Callie nodded. "Well, good luck with that. Sounds like a you problem." She turned back to the bartender, who had a look of shock on his face. "What? I help those who can't help themselves," she explained. "She's clearly well-off and just looking to hire cheap help. I'm not going to risk my life for some fancy trinket, no matter how much family history it has behind it. I'm sure it's very important to her," she continued, "but shiny rocks don't save lives."

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Slightly shorter post, but I really want to hear Saresh's response to "Sounds like a you problem."

She's gonna have to make it an us problem to get Callie on her side-but explaining the potential dangers should be sufficient.

 

[Zazutobi]

Saresh took a breath at the impertinent gnome and let it out slowly. She had already swallowed a great deal of pride to enlist commoners to her cause and getting angry now would not solve anything. "First of all, I am acting on my own. Thus I do not have access to my family wealth, only my private funds. Second, I would be going and putting my own life into this endeavor. But third this artifact was but one of many within the vault and hardly the most valuable. Which means it was chosen on purpose and not because it was easy." The Yuan-ti said her serpentine eyes landing on Callie like an predator appraising her prey.

"The artifact is very potent and magical. It can compel the the dead to speak and answer questions with absolute truth. That implies whomever stole it did so with a very specific purpose. There are many old corpses in this land with very powerful secrets."

 

[Red-Scarlet]

"Huh. You took that better than I expected," Callie said, dismounting the stool. "But, with that little tidbit out of the way... I'm willing to hear you out the rest of the way. I'll walk with you outside. David," she told the bartender, "just give my drink to whoever looks thirstiest."

The two women stepped outside, Callie holding the door for Saresh. Outside and after closing the door, she introduced herself. "I'm Callie Goldi. Trained at the Monastery of the Stony Egg. Hero to come, bane to others, and someone trying to do my best. You are?"

After getting whatever introduction she gets from Saresh, she said "So, you think someone stole this because they're looking to unearth secrets best left forgotten. I follow you on that-but why not get your family to help? Or kingdom's forces? You've got an ulterior motive," she stated plainly, "so what is it?"

 

[Zazutobi]

Saresh regarded the gnome with a bit of annoyance but as much as it might pain her to admit it. It wasnt like Saresh had a ton of options in regards to help. Her family was a nest of snakes, literally since they were Yuan-ti. Any retainer could relay information to her uncle whether by accident or on purpose so until she had the accomplishment of returning the heirloom it was best not to make use of her family's assets.

"Saresh Longfang, daughter of Tobunaka Longfang, Daimyo of the Longfang Province." she replied once Callie had introduced herself. "For one thing my family is in a deep internal struggle at the moment. And thus a stolen heirloom is of little importance to them even if it is a black mark against our honor. And as for why I myself am involved. This is in regards to the internal struggle as well, and not relevant to the investigation at present." Saresh said. Having no wish to air her family's dirty laundry with a stranger. And it was true the struggle for the position as next head of the clan was not relevant to the case.

"Suffice it to say, I will acting on my own for the time being without my family's backing."

 

[Red-Scarlet]

Callie shook her head. "I don't believe that's it. I don't think you're lying, but you're not telling the whole truth. You might be cut off from the family, and looking to get back into good graces. Maybe you want to use it to gain an advantage in some internal politicking. Or," she continued, looking directly at Saresh with steel in her gaze, "maybe you want it for yourself, for the power it has."

"You won't sway me with money either-I'd rather help a penniless peasant who's truly in need than someone like you. So unless-" she said, but cut herself off, her hand reaching for her waistband. Saresh, as she realized something might be up, immediately became more vigilant. Callie's eyes scanned the area, looking for a so far unseen adversary, and they settled on a rooftop not too far. "Behind me!" she said, drew a knife, and shoved Saresh back, all at the same moment the assassin shot their dart.

As the noble stumbled from the shove, the dart sailed through the air. It hit Callie, right on her shoulder and where Saresh's leg would've been. "Bastard," the paladin muttered, ripping the dart out. She began to run towards the perch, but she moved slowly, stumbling, and soon falling to the ground.

Saresh was faced with a choice-pursue the assassin, who had a vantage point but might not be prepared for the sorcerous barrages she could muster. Or help Callie-given the tail end of the story she had been telling earlier, she obviously had one hell of a constitution. But even that might be little match for a poison meant for a yaun-ti.

 

[Zazutobi]

Saresh was very much regretting partnering up with this gnome. She threw around accusations to her superiors far too easily for Saresh's liking. "You are replaceable..." Saresh began to retort before Callie began to draw a knife from her belt. The yuan-ti was very much prepared to kill the gnome in that moment. Before a dart shot out and Callie shoved her away catching the dart herself in the shoulder.

Stumbling back a step or two, magic already began to flow through the yuan-ti before Callie collapsed. Dropping to the ground as the assassin who's ambush had been foiled ran away. Looking between the gnome and the place the assassin had come from, Saresh let out an annoyed growl before going over to Callie kneeling next to the gnome. "You are lucky you are more beneficial to me than the assassin." she said.

The yuan-ti took off her sash loosening her kimono, allowing her bust to be more revealed, and tied it around Callie's shoulder before picking up the gnome to carry to a healer. As a sorceress, healing spells and the like were not her usual repertoire and while she had a potion of lesser healing or two. They would be stopgap measures against poison.