Arachniaphobia

[Lirimana]

Resplendent Wood, 10


*Lirimana sighed and shook her head after the transmission with Arachnia. Giant killer spiders in Kideshen? Wonderful... How come she hadn't been alerted yet? She hoped that the people weren't afraid of her or thought she was to blame. She had always hoped that out of all of the Exalts here if they couldn't talk to anyone else they could talk to her. Well, it looked like she had some investigating to do. She made her way outside the Manse and started looking for the nearest citizen. When she found one she walked over to them, trying not to startle anyone*

Excuse me, could I ask you a few questions?

[Lirimana]

* A passerby stopped and looked to this pretty woman... realizing quickly that this was in fact the Exalted overseer, Lirimana. He opened his mouth... yet nothing came out. His cheeks flushed slightly as his silence continued. eventually, he spoke up*

" Yes.. the.... there was a warning left up in spider webs.... it says to get out... We have heard it is happening in other cities as well"

Oh? Well, I have to say I don't really like that. Rest assured, though, that the Empress had nothing to do with it despite the obvious spider connection. She's actually looking into it herself. Could you show me this order?

" Yes of course"

* He took her by the hand, mostly as a blatant opportunity to hold Lirimana's hand, until they got there. he then pointed out the sign in old realm, made from spiderwebs.. large spiderwebs*

" There it is! I am not sure what it says exactly, but as around the time it showed up, people had been disappearing"

*she smiled a little to herself when the guy took her hand. She might be some "all-powerful" Solar but she liked human contact as much as the next person. It was nice to see someone more nervous about her appearance than offending her. When they got there she looked the embroidered thread over and frowned. The "note" said "Get out of our home" and she sighed a little to herself*

Well, apparently they think of this place as their home *she turned to the guy and addressed him*

Have any of the missing people returned in any condition?

*he shook his head, looking away from the web, as it seemed to frighten him. He once more took her hand in his*

" No.. nobody has returned... the vendor brothers said that its something called Aunkbut that made this.... but they also say they are not hostile. But if they are eating us, they are indeed hostile"

Assuming that it is the Aunkbut that are removing our fellows. Unfortunately there are lots of things that are spider-shaped and some aren't friendly. Did the vendors mention how they figure this is the work of the Aunkbut?

"Because they saw them do it. they say the Aunkbut are master Geomancers and were created to do maintenance on the empire when needed... but I suspect the wyld mutated them into monsters"

* He shivered a little, still holding onto her hand*

Then I suppose I will be making a trip to see those brothers

*she patted the man's hand and smiled at him as she extricated her hand from his*

Thank you very much for your help, sir

*now headed in the direction of the vendors she had met before Lirimana remembered the map she had given Ress and wondered what had come of it. As soon as she was in the market she looked to where the stall had been the first time, figuring that it probably hadn't moved*


* The vendor brothers were now standing at a mostly empty shop, looking a lot happier than three vendors with almost nothing left to sell should. Mostly, they just spoke with one another.. until Lirimana arrived. they got up and stood at attention, the middle brother giving her a wave before speaking up*

" Hello, Lirimana.. you come back to get a date with a rich man?"

*she grinned and cut short a girlish giggle*

Maybe afterwards...

*with a new blush to her cheeks she tried to look professional*

I actually came here to ask about the Aunkbut but if you're all hungry we could speak over a meal...

* The two brothers patted the middle one on the back, as if urging him to go, and of course, he stepped forward*

"Alright, that sounds like a date then" * He stepped forward and gave her a kiss on the cheek, then put an arm around her waist and began walking her over to a local eatery*

*she glanced back at the others, crazy dirty thoughts going through her head that she tried to stifle*

You don't like to share?

*she looked up at the middle brother and chuckled, not really minding either way*

So I take it you know just as much as they do about the Aunkbut or is there something else afoot?

*she raised a brow at him, giving him the option to claim whatever he wanted*

"The Aunkbut? Yeah, I know about them. There is no reason to be afraid of them, they are harmless. They were made by Emperor Bo-Ki-Sa-Chi and his circle to help with maintenance. whatever is taking people is not them"

That's what I figured. Do you think that it was the Aunkbut or another spider-something that made that web-letter?

*she looked around the food-place and noted with a bit of amusement that he hadn't taken the opening she had left him*

* He squeezed her by her waist before taking her into the restaurant and getting them a table*

"The web? It was made by the Aunkbut, I saw them do it... they look just like the Aunkbut that live underground. Why do you ask?"

I'm investigating the matter of the disappearing citizens. I like everyone here and I really don't like that people aren't coming home, I want to keep everyone safe

*she ran a hand through her straightened hair, the waves slowly flattening out of it*

So, are we being seated or do we grab our own?

"We grab our own"

* he took her down the way and to a table where he must frequent. The servers and patron's bowed a bit as they both walked by, stepping out of their way when they could. He pulled a seat out for her and offered*

" the disappearances? Yes, I have heard about those.. happening all over the empire, but mostly in Ramoth and here in Kideshen."

Thank you

*Lirimana took the seat offered her and smiled as the people showed him respect*

You must bring many women to this place

*she winked at him as she settled into the seat, glad that she had bought new clothes*

So, Ramoth and Kideshen? At least that gives me a place to start for any similarities. Since it seems that the Aunkbut isn't really the problem I need to figure out what the entity is that is causing the problems

" who, me? Nah, this is the first time I have brought a woman here"

* he rubbed her back a little as they got their water and a basket of bread*

" I don't know... I have not met anyone else who has actually seen the Aunkbut or anything spider-like. if I did, maybe I could figure out what it is they are seeing and why"

Just please don't get yourself in any danger, I'd be really upset if you went and got yourself killed because you wanted to help

*she opened up the menu and immediately thought about the school that was being built*

On the bright side, the hospital is finished and I'm recruiting healers and the like. So now that you've sold almost everything what do you all plan to do?

" I am not sure... We are comfortable for now, but we wont be comfortable being idle for long... we will probably think of something new... unfortunately, we know very little about medicine. And don't worry about us getting killed.. we are not stupid.. whatever these things are, they get you when you are along. the tree of us are always together""

Except for now...

*she looked up at him from under her lashes and smiled a little*

Just stay safe. So.. what are you getting?

*she wasn't really one of those women who ate salads a lot, but at the same time she didn't want to appear distasteful in front of a hot guy, especially one that was nice to boot*

" humm... I think I am going to have the seared Haddock. it is a favorite of mine."

* He nodded, closing his menu and placing it down*

" So, how long have you been Exalted? i grew up hearing stories about how your kind are so destructive and evil, but from what I know of you, you are perfect wife material"

Oh, I wouldn't say that. I'm sure that there are some Exalts who get crazy with power but that's not the story for all of us. I've been an Exalt for a year or so, long enough to develop enough skill to get here without being slaughtered by a stray Wyld Hunt, you know?

*she perused the menu trying to figure out if he would be offended if she ordered something less delicate than a plate of vegetables. She shot him a sly smile*

What have you heard about me?...

" Well.. I know you are smart, strong.. beautiful "

* he reached over and took her hand in his*

"Ambitious, kind and just the kind of person who could end this age of sorrows. and that is all I feel I need to know"

*Aww... Lirimana smiled in embarrassment for all the praise he piled on her, her face flushed and hot. She felt a bit of shame knowing that he didn't know her weakness but at the same time she was a little grateful. She would have to find someone who could be more faithful to him*

Thank you for your kind words, though you've neglected to tell me your name first

*she gave his hand a squeeze and winked, deciding to get a salad with some chicken on top*

" My name is White Sand. and of course, you are Lirimana, Ress' Grand Magistrate."

* he brought her hand to his lips and gave it a kiss*

That'd be me

*she smiled when he kissed her hand and blushed as the server came to take their order. She ordered a roast chicken salad and left it at water since she was perfectly comfortable with that. If this guy wanted to score, she'd be more than happy to oblige*

So, White Sand, how did you and your brothers come to be explorers and traders?

((fades into the group posting))

( XP Spent. .66 [2 posts worth] left over )