Ladies Night (Scene/Episode 2) Tajuri/Jael/Kris

Dressed in black leathers and leaving her nature white hair visible, Kris does a half-hearted turnaround for her two evening's companions. "I am bringing along my Oracle deck in case we find the time and the right place to do a reading." She tells them and moves to join Tajuri and Jael on the stairs.

Retracing their footsteps of early in the day, Tajuri and Jael lead Kris and Blue the short walk to the entrance of The Runeblade. Several of the faceless denizens, common to T'Lorn it seems, are witnessed descending into the entry stairway, as they approach. At the bottom of the long steps they see Peri at the desk.


The freckled-faced Eldren girl's face lights up when she recognizes Taj and Jael from earlier. She whistles as they close to the counter. "Wow! You look even more lovely than before." She gushes and stands from her seat. "And...you brought friends I see. Who is this pretty and her little blue friend?" She asks. "I'm Peri. Welcome to The Runeblade! If there's anything you want or need...and I mean anything, I am here."

She turns back to Tajuri and Jael. "Perfect timing ladies. The night's events will be beginning soon. Grab a drink and enjoy!"

"This is the Lady Kris Amani and her companion, Blue." Tajuri introduces the new ones to Peri. "Don't let the youthful beauty of this one mesmerizes you too much, Peri. She is quite formidable an opponent in battle, I assure you."

"Hello Peri." Kris greets the easily excited woman. "Excuse us while we seek out that drink you mentioned."

Peri waves the three ladies and Blue on into the Runeblade. "I will catch up with you three later I hope."



Unlike in their previous venture to The Runeblade earlier in the day, the doors at the top of the sweeping steps into the VIP section are open directly into the bar. There is more ambient noise from the tavern's patron's this evening, but the sound of the violin is noticeably missing to Tajuri and Jael.

An unfamiliar, brunette server, holding a tray of drinks and food, crosses their path headed for the dining and pit area north or the bar, as Logan sees them enter.


"Welcome! Welcome back!" He calls out and waving them forward to the bar, wiping the counter down as they approach. "Nice to see you two back so soon...and with friends I see." He extends a hand to Kris. "Name's Logan. What may I get for you each tonight?"

In addition to the bartender, Logan, behind the counter is a young woman with auburn hair who is currently pouring drinks from tap, on a large keg, and placing them on a serving tray.



Seated around the L of the bar to the left are two very attractive females, both wearing quite diaphanous cover-ups and nothing else. They converse quietly to each other and occasionally cast furtive glances over at their fellow barmates. The nearer has pale blue skin and a long tight ponytail, wrapped in bows, that nearly touches the floor. The other, is a light-skinned Eldren woman with blonde hair, bound up in a high ponytail.

"A fine half pint of ale for me, please." Kris tells the bartender.

"And... two pints of the same." Taj interjects and takes in the presence of all the new faces nearby. She smiles at the two barely clad individuals at the bar and gives the server behind the bar and acknowledging nod.

The woman behind the bar serves up the ladies' drinks and leans slightly against the bar. "There we go darlings. I'm Em. Haven't seen you three..um four...in The Runeblade before. Are you some of the important guests to the palace I have heard rumors will be arriving soon?"

Tajuri draws the drinking vessel closer and then takes a sip. "Hello Miss Em. We are some of the contingent that Lord Orb and the Council have brought in. We arrived last night. At least I think it was night. Not easy tell really with the cloudy skies always over the city." She takes a quick glance toward the adjacent area with the table seating, then back to the auburn beauty behind the bar. "I am Tajuri and these are Jael, Kris, and Kris' companion, Blue. Jael and I were in earlier and have returned, curious to experience some of the night life that was teased us before. Will there be music and maybe fights tonight?"

"Oh! That's so exciting." Em responds to the confirmation. "Yes. Yes, Our featured minstrel will be starting her first set of the evening very shortly and then, between the musical sets, pairings of the House's Deathdansers will be performing in the pit, for those with a taste for a bit of bloodsport."

Scene Cutaway

Kris discreetly gestures with one hand for Em to draw closer to her across the bar. "Not to seem too nosy or naive, but those two women over at the other side of the bar: Are they—well, prostitutes?" She is very careful not look over or make movements as a tell to anyone who may be looking her way at the moment. "No judgement. I am simply looking for validation that my intuition is correct."

Tajuri takes a drink of her ale and looks toward the opening into the dining and fighting pit area. In the distance she sees the vaguely familiar figure of Sanguinor seated at a table. As her eyes continue to search the spacious area, they meet that of the closer of the two females at the bar briefly, before moving back to focus on her lover, Jael. She smiles and casually leans over to place a light kiss on the demoness' perfect lips.

Em leans in across the bar and takes Kris' hand lightly in her own. She whispers into the young Champion's ear, "Nothing wrong with your intuition, Miss. Those two are Almondynne and Nym. They're Master Kleg's girls. He runs the flesh trade within the establishment. Both are high coin mistresses and willing blood dolls as well."

As Em withdraws her hand and straighten up again across the bar, the air over the whole area is suddenly immersed with the sound of a violin. The tune is familiar to Kris and immediately floods her mind with fond memories of her days at the academy.

Taj perks up and grabs her drink off the bar. "Let's move into the other room closer to the music. Jael and I heard this violinist practicing earlier. She is amazing."

Kris allows herself to be swept up by Tajuri's enthusiasm. She picks up her own drink and follows in the gliding Moonfolk's wake.

Entering the dining and event area of the elite portion of The Runeblade, Tajuri and Jael see the same young Human female playing violin, as they had seen earlier. She has pale skin and jet black hair, except for a couple long white streaks in her forelocks. She is playing near a table to their immediate Left.

💀

Kris, on the other hand, sees her friend, Tamblyn, in the violinist. She has not seen Tamblyn since graduating the academy nearly five years ago and thought she would never see her again. The realization of the familiar tune now makes complete sense.

Stopping dead in her tracks, Kris stares in disbelief. 'Tamblyn'. The name falls from her lips. With all her restraint to keep from rushing directly to the playing minstrel, Kris moves forward and sits down at the table closest to the young violinist.

Tajuri takes Jael's hand and they join Kris at the table. 'I have the feeling the two of you have met before?' She whispers, leaning in to the young woman's ear. 'Call it intuition.'

Kris nods. She is all choked up and fighting back tears. Seeing Tamblyn again is a miracle. Kris expected to never see her roommate from the academy ever again after the teleportation incident that had transported her to from the realm she had been brought up in with the hag and flung into the one where she had met Killian. It had been nearly five years since she and Tamblyn had said their goodbyes the night after the graduation ceremonies.

Now, here in this city out of time, the impossible was reality. Tamblyn was standing only feet away from her and playing as sweetly as always. She looked up and tried to catch the violinist's eyes in her own. Would her old friend recognize her?