Flip of the Coin (For Mistral, closed)

[250]

OOC: I made a stupid mistake!! dumb me! oh well, I will let you pass, it aint your fault.

A mechanical tickle sounded behind the stonewall, a previously concealed slided open.

A stairway descends into darkness ahead of you, it went downward. the stairs are dry.

You reached a library of some sort. The room is dark, and covered in dense dusts. On your left hand side rested numerous chests and boxes. Ahead of you is another door. Next to the door is a bed. In the center of the room sat a table, several parchement and papers lay scattered. A candleholder was set on one corner. On your right hand side is a big bookshelf.

Mistral's reply:

quote:

---

Svetlana takes a step forward gingerly, then another, then another... reaching
the
shelves, she peers at the books to see if they are of any value. That done, she
walks towards the table, again examining the books and parchment.

Her search yields...

---

[ 01-24-2002: Message edited by: 250 ]

[250]

The books are dusty and decayed. You lifted one page randomly, the rest of the book fell off. Disappointed, you walked to the table. The silver candleholder caught your attention. It has five seats to hold candles, they are set in such positions to form a five-triangle star. The candles are, interestingly, wooden carvings. They are only decorations. You wonder why they are not real.

You also noticed the canldes' heights form a curious ratio. The shortest candle is one third of the one to its right, one half to the one on its further right, one fourth to the one on its left, and one fifth to the last one.

You failed trying to lift the candleholder, even though the whole thing doesn't look heavy.

Mistral's reply:

quote:

---

Svetlana studies the shape of the candleholder and decides to mark the seats as
follows:

1
__/ \__
2 3
\ /
/ \
4 5

As for the fake wooden candles, she names them in accordance with their lengths:
A(5 units), B(4 units), C(1 unit), D(3 units) and E(2 units)

I wonder if these candles will have any effect on the candleholder... in
particular, whether I would be able to lift the latter if I placed them in the
right
order... whatever that is...

There seems no harm in hazarding an attempt. She places A at 1, B at 2, D at 3,
E
at 4 and C at 1.

---

[250]

OOC: sorry the candles are already in the candle holders. it appears as following

1

4----------3

5-----2

need a hint?

you cannot 'lift' the candleholder

Mistral's reply:

quote:

---

IC: Svetlana frowns on discovering that the candleholder cannot be lifted.
Curious, her hands now reach out to twist the candleholder instead (OOC: If
nothing happens, she tries removing all the candles. Hehe, just to save time
).

---

[ 01-24-2002: Message edited by: 250 ]

[250]

As you twist the canldeholder, something moved on one level of the bookshelf. You heard the sound of wooden cover slide against the wall. Curious, you walked over to the bookshelf, and withthe help of faint light, you found a secret drawer on the second level behind the books.

Cautiously, you moved aside the books, and looked into the drawer. You found a necklace and an earring. The necklace piece looks like a five triangle star, in the middle of the star is a carving of a watchful eye. The necklace piece if brown, and feels very soothing. It is smaller than half your palm's size and weighs very light. You are not sure of what metal it is made of. If you hold the bottom of the eyepiece, the star can be rotated. You rotated randomly a few times, but nothing happens.

The earring has a similar design with the necklace piece, but only much smaller. The watchful eye is delicately attached in the center of the five-triangle star. The earring glows a faint purple light, it looks very pretty in the dark.

Mistral's reply:

quote:

---

Svetlana gazes at the earring and necklace dubiously, chewing her lips
thoughtfully
~ Stranger and stranger...just what am I supposed to do with this? ~ Now
gripped by a sense of adventure as well as danger, she holds the earring with
her
left palm and the pendant with her right, both pieces having the watchful eye
faced
upwards. After some deliberation, she hesitantly turns her palms inwards such
that
both watchful eyes now face each other.

With bated breath, she watches to see if there will be any effect, determining
that
she will check the chests next if nothing happens...

---

[mistral4543]

OOC>>> Thanks, 250! Shall I post the rest, or are you doing it? [img]smile.gif[/img]

EDIT: Okay, I'll wait till it's my next real turn

[ 01-24-2002: Message edited by: mistral4543 ]

[250]

The two pieces glow in unision as the watchful eyes matched their gazes. You felt warmth in your hands. Aside that, nothing else happens. The faery light playfully danced, drove away the darkness in front of you. You face were shrouded by the purplish light, and your cheeks reflected the glow. Breathing a little faster, you were startled by the lights. You heard tales of magical items that can glow in the dark but never have you seen one of those.

You check the chests, and found a bag of coins of small value. A set of quill and ink. The ink is already dry and the pen is no longer usable. In one of the chests, several jars lay scattered. Most of them had markers, but unreadable due to age. The chests smelled like bitter and strong medicines you saw in Aunty Wennie's house.

The last thing you check is the bed. You saw rottened sheets with holes all over. Apparently, if someone once lived here, it was a long time ago. The kitten rested in your arm with ease.

Mistral's reply:

quote:

---

Svetlana's untrained eyes are unable to discern the value of the items ~ [i]I
think
I ought to keep all these while I can carry the weight (OOC: Stats for her
strength
= 10). Her inventory now consists of: comb, locket, charm from Pa, necklace,
earring, ink, quill, bag of coins and jars.

As the kitten continues to purr contentedly in her arms, she glances at the door
uncertainly ~ "Do you think I should be foolish enough to attempt that,
Tatiana?" ~
it is a rhetorical question; she knows there is no escape, so caught up with the
spirit of adventure and her immense curiousity overrules the underlying currents
of
fear.

Blinking involuntarily, she steps towards the door and reaches for the knob.
Inhaling deeply, she turns it...

---

[250]

The door opened ghastly. You were very disappointed that there was no undead guardian or fiery dragon behind it. Instead, you found a dull stairway leading upwards like the one you used when you came. Completely in the darkness, you picked your steps carefully as you moved up. You reached the end, just before you search for a buttom of some sort to open the door, you heard people talking.

"... don't have enough yet."

Your heart almost leaped out your mouth as you recognized the voice "Pa?"

Another man snickered "We heard you lost your job, old man."

"I told you I find one soon!"

You could swear you see the stubborn face vividly.

"Soon?" someone else spoke, apparently there were more than one person. "How soon is soon? Don't you have a daughter, heh heh heh"

You heard foot shuffling, and men yelling, then a sickening smashing sound which could be nothing but a fist landing hard on someone's face. "Damn the son of a dog, keep him away from me!!" someone shouted. then your heart skipped a beat as you recognized a steel clashing sound, they drew weapons.

Panicing, you almost break the stonewall to join the old halfling. But before you could react, you heard pa speaking.

"Back off ye dogs!", he shouted atop his voice: "I still have one week!"

There was a moment of silence, the air was thick and filled with gunpowders, ready to explode. Then someone whispered something you couldn't register.

"Alright, ye goblin faced dog, listen." someone threatened with a harsh tone "we will come back in a week. If you still don't have the money, you know what will happen."

If you go out now, you will be in an abondoned house in the back of the little temple. Out side the house if the an alley behind Briggs' shop. You will also find Eri Konn sitting on the dirt, angry, worried and scared. If you wait for a while, the halfling will leave, which can be found in your house.

Mistral's reply:

quote:

---

Svetlana waits for a moment for the sound of footsteps to die off, before
emerging
from her obscured spot. Sneaking out slowly now, Tatiana trotting along
daintily,
she finds herself once more in familiar ground ~ Well, I'll be! ~
Glancing
around, she sees that she is quite alone.

Pa! He needs money! ~ Hastily, she lifts her skirts a little higher so
that
she can now sprint along the streets, her anxious eyes hunting for the halfling
and
spying for unwanted company. Rounding off the corner for the second time in the
day, she decides to return home to sort out her thoughts...

Home

"Pa!" ~ The sight of that beloved rugged face erases her exhaustion and she
flings
her arms around his neck ~ "You're alright! I'm so glad..." ~ Feeling his body
stiffening, she draws back a little, peering into his weary eyes ~ "I... I
overheard
your little conversation, Pa... no, don't look at me like that! It wasn't
intentional..." ~ Her cheeks flushing ~ "I was just exploring that temple, and
chanced upon you..."

As the halfling's face grows gloomier, she adds hurriedly ~ "Pa! What's
happened?
Why do you owe those rogues money?... Here, I've some." ~ Naively, she draws out
the
pouch of coins she had earlier found and shoves it into his unwilling hands ~
"And
if you need more, Pa, I'll go earn some! I swear... I've grown up and I'll earn
my
keep, even if if kills me."

Her lips tremble, so gripped by the intense emotions coursing through her frail
body
~ "Pa... please, let me!"

---

[250]

"Where did you get the money?" the old man drew back rigidly, and repeated almost harshly "where?!" Angered, he punched the table "A girl don't go around earning money, ye hear me! And there be no thief in my house!"

Startled by his rage, you couldn't find a word to reply.

Looking at you, a regretful expression took over. He stared over you for a long moment, and you did not dare to move. Then with a bitter smile, he shook his head "Come over here, girl."

Fearfully, you inched close to him. Gentlely, the old halfling put you in a warm hug as he said "I am sorry for getting so mad, it ain't at you." Then he let you go, and hold your arms while he spoke wearily "what can you do, girl? what can you do?"

Before you found a word, he continued with a great sigh, as if talking to himself "There is nothing you can do. So many places aint even hiring a strong man like ye pa. Those outsiders, dumb and stupid adventurers took all the business on themselves. I am not one step slower or weaker, they say I am old." desperately, he asked "am I getting old?"

Again, before you could answer, he continued, stroking your hair "and those damned dirty thieves, their pathetic little war did much good to us then!"

Suddenly, you felt the grip on your arm tightened, the old halfling lowered his head, not looking at you "I am sorry, girl, I am sorry. ye don't deserve a life like this, it is my fault, it is all pa's fault. I am sorry..." Choking lightly, as if something stuck in his throat, he couldn't continue.

[250]

The old halfling sat quietly. The kitten you adopted sat away from you, resting near the door. Finally, the half was able to look up. He studied your fair features and lovely hair for a moment and his lips moved slightly, as if trying to tell you something, but then a defeated look bared on his face. Sighing, he looked away from you

"Don't talk about earn a living, ye silly girl. I be damned useless fool if I can't feed ye, and it aint time for you to worry about pa yet." as if an after thought, he added "and don't you be bothered by those dogs. Pa lost his job three weeks already, had to borrow some money. Your Aunty Whinnie barely lives each day herself. Pa knows how to take care himself. You just be careful these days yeself, al'right?"

Mistral's reply:

quote:

---

"Pa..." ~ She emits an involuntary sob, running towards him and embracing from
behind ~ "Please don't ever say that, again!" ~ Before he can respond, she
breaks
into a hearty cry, gulping and sniffing occasionally ~ "Y..you're not to
blame...
you're my beloved Pa..." ~ Gripping him more tightly than before ~ "... you're
the
most wonderful Pa in the world..." ~ She buries her head against his nape ~ "...
so
don't ever say...(sniff)... you're sorry to me..."

The halfling gently disengages her arms and turns round to give her a proper
hug.
For a moment, the room is silent, safe from the soft purring of the puzzled
Tatiana
who continues sprawling on the floor watching this strangely moving scene.

Yet something is not quite right. She feels it, and for the first time in her
life,
stubbornness writes itself across her pale face ~ "Pa, you're hiding something
from
me." ~ Looking quite serious now, despite the tear stains on her cheeks ~ "You
must
tell me." ~ Her leaf green eyes glittering brilliantly ~ "I must grow up one
day,
and it might as well be now."

---

[250]

The halfling seemed to be a little nervous all of a sudden. He shuffled about uneasely, not meeting your yawning gaze.

"Ye talking silly again!" he grumbled "now lets eat something afore ye hit the bed, and don't think too much, hear me?"

You rest a full night. Tell me your next day's plan, if you want to do something particular