The Annulment at Dairsmuid

[foxsays]

WHO: Araceli Bonaventura, Korrin Ataash, Malcolm Reynolds, The Outsider, Aleron Darton, Kas, Anders, Malcolm Reed, James Norrington, Ellana Ashara, James Kirk; Rivaini npcs
WHAT: The Annulment at Dairsmuid; arriving at Rivain to meet with Araceli and her mage contacts that requested aid from Templars hunting them down. When Araceli goes to bring the group to her contacts, they're informed that the Templars have abducted the mages forcing the team to return to the Circle at Dairsmuid to rescue them and kill the Templars responsible
WHEN: 15th-20th Solace
WHERE: Rivain; Dairsmuid
NOTES: OOC posts here and here, sending crystal announcement; violence, discussions of annulment, probably going to need warnings for language; I'll edit as I go, if people can bring things to my attention, I would appreciate it
Starters will all be below, subjects in headers

We of the Dairsmuid Circle wait now, behind barricades. I have sent word to our brother and sister mages of this outrage. When they break through, we will not die alone.

—Final journal entry of First Enchanter Rivella, slain in Dairsmuid, 9:40 Dragon

Contents;
Arrival at Dairsmuid
Meeting the Mage Contacts
Team Dungeon Crashers
Team Templar Crushers
Aftermath of the Rescue
Timestamp; Dairsmuid Adventures
Epilogue

Comments

1

[universal_charm]

Watching Malcolm, Kirk gets the idea he doesn't like water. And after a bit, he remembers encountering him in the Fade. How he had been near drowning - or actually was, he was still fuzzy on that, only that he had been in distress. He imagined it did not make this journey comfortable.

So he decided to try and offer a distraction, making his way to Malcolm and holding up a pack of cards he'd put in his pack. Journeys had down time, so something to pass the time was required, yes?

"Care for a game?"

[tactical_alert]

There's a moment of recognition, that Rifter from the Fade, who helped haul him out of the water. A twinge of embarrassment at being seen in such a state. It was...unpleasant at the very very least.

But it passes with a tense small smile. "I haven't much to bet, I'm afraid, so a friendly game will have to do."

[universal_charm]

Kirk had the good sense not to bring that episode up. He hardly wanted to talk about his experiences there, so he highly doubted anyone else would either. He was happy to let it go and let the mutual recognition take care of itself in an unspoken way.

"Works for me," he looked around and found a place for them to sit so he could deal cards between them. "Do you know how to play poker, or do you prefer - what's the game? Wicked Grace?" Thank god Korrin had taught him that game. He wasn't a bad hand at it, but not near good enough to be betting, so a friendly game worked in his favor in that at least.

[tactical_alert]

"Ah, you've been taught the ways of Wicked Grace? It's not so hard, once you get a feel for it, though it takes ages to master. I promise not to trounce you too soundly." Malcolm settles himself in, Milady resting her head on one of his feet protectively. "I can't say I know poker, though. Sounds dwarven. Or is that a game from where you are from?"

[universal_charm]

"By none other than Korrin," he chuckled, motioning off in the general direction of the woman (or hoping he did, he wasn't looking over his shoulder to check). "I'm still a rank beginner, but it's fun."

Which was true, and he was smart enough not to bet real money, or at least much of it, on the game. Not yet. But he was sure he'd get a better grasp of it soon enough if he spent enough time in the tavern.

"It's a game from my world," Kirk nodded, shuffling the cards. "It's a betting game, like Wicked Grace, and there's some similarities, but it's simpler on the whole," he laughed. "I can teach you, or we can just play Wicked Grace, if you don't mind playing with a beginner."

[tactical_alert]

"I'm a quick study." Is that ego or is that a warning? Could be both. He inclines his head, motions to the makesift table while his other hand rests on Milady's head. Anything to ignore the roll of the boat. "Tell me how it works, and then you can play with a beginner instead."

[universal_charm]

Kirk raises his brows, taking it as a bit of both. Malcolm doesn't strike him as the type to let his ego do all the talking, or to have an ego he has not earned. It wouldn't surprise him if the other was a deft card at hands - a lot of people seemed to be. But the notion excited rather than repelled him. He liked a challenge.

"Right, well, it's pretty simple all told -" and he launched into the explanation of five-card stud. He thought it was the simpler poker method to learn, over all. Another time he would show him Texas Hold 'Em.

"Okay, any questions?" he asked, giving the cards a good shuffle after the demonstration.

[tactical_alert]

Even if it's just a simple game of cards, Malcolm is focused and attentive to the explanation. And not just because he's trying very hard to ignore everything else awful in his head, just outside the boat, and out past the horizon. He nods. "Sounds simple enough, you're right. Go ahead, let's see what the cards deal us."

[universal_charm]

Well, it can be simple, but once you're in the game, if you don't concentrate, things can go poorly. At any rate, he hopes that it will help serve a small distraction for Malcolm.

He grinned at the other and shuffled quickly before dealing out a new set of cards. "Do you want to try betting this round? We don't have to do coin, we can do - oh, I don't know, facts about ourselves or something like that." He thought those were more fun than coin anyways, even if it was nice to earn a bit of spending cash now and then.