Frangipani's Frustrations

[Atklana]

Chapter One:
Frangipani sat among various plants surrounding a fountain in one of the Keep’s many gardens. She found peace with the gurgling of the fountain and the perfumes released by the flowers and herbs among the other foliage in the garden. She started to notice as the chilled, and the sky darkened that there was tension in the air and that a few magi were whispering in hushed tones. Brushing her hair out from her ears she cast a charm of listening to allow her to eavesdrop from her hidden position in the garden.

“Did you hear?” said a short, slightly chubby, magi woman with a swirled winged cat weaving in and out of her legs silently.

“Al got into a spot of trouble” replied a tall, lanky, magi man who was accompanied by a Tropical Tarsier that was starting to doze off in the magi’s cloak pocket.

“Does anyone know what happened exactly?” asked a young, bright eyed, magi man with no seen companion about him.

The other two magi shook their heads and looked around themselves before quickly exchanging goodbyes and heading on their way.

Frangipani furrowed her brow.

“Al?” she thought to herself.

“Who is Al?” she pondered to herself as her faithful red Vasant beetle returned, crawling onto
her after helping to flower some of the garden.

Fidgeting as the Vasant beetle traveled its way up her arm, causing goose-pimples, Frangipani stood abruptly.

“Do they mean Alethin?” she said aloud before quickly covering her mouth. She looked around and realized there were just magical creatures and plants surrounding her. Most magi were heading towards their homes and dormitories or even the pub to wind down from the normal bustle of the Keep. Frangipani decided to investigate the possible situation and look for clues. She looked down at the Vasant beetle to ask if she could move the beetle to her cloak pocket and then brushed herself off and left the gardens just as silently as she had occupied them.

[Atklana]

Chapter Two:
Frangipani decided to head towards Remy’s Inn first as she knew Remy wasn’t particularly fond of Alethin but they treated each other with a common decency. Upon entering Frangipani noticed the cheery yet busy atmosphere and the larger crowd of magi than usual. Remy was so busy he didn’t notice her enter. She made her way to Remy and greeted him.

“Afternoon Rem!” she said, raising her voice to actually cut through the sound of the Inn so Remy could hear her.

“Ah afternoon Fran!” replied Remy in a cheery tone and taking his time to finish polishing the mug in his hand before turning his full attention towards Frangipani.

“I currently only have my Special Brew available, and I’d be happy to make some if you’d want? Unless you’d like a new companion to take care of?” he asked as he gestured towards a table behind the bar that had a collection of eggs of magical creatures.

“I’m all good, I was wondering if I could ask you a question?” Frangipani asked.

“What kind of question” Remy replied with a smile.

“About a specific store again” Frangipani responded, dropping her voice and changing her tone from cheery to serious.

Remy’s face changed, and he also became serious.

“Now you listen here” Remy pointed towards her.

“I don’t have any dealings with him and I’m staying out of anything dealing with him.” Remy stated firmly.
Frangipani nodded. “I was just seeing if you might’ve heard anything that might’ve happened.”

Remy slid a piece of paper across the bar to Frangipani along with a mug filled with his Special Brew.

“And that would be 200 gold” Remy responded in his cheery tone and a quick flash of a smile.

Frangipani took a quick sip of the drink and quickly slipped the message into her other cloak pocket. Half an hour passed for her as she took her time drinking her brew and surveying the rest of the patrons. She left and quickly dipped her hand into her pocket to get the note. As she grabbed the note, she noticed how cold it was outside and thought about stopping by her abode to pick up a warmer cloak or tunic.

“If ye want to find out more, ye know of the spot to check fer him.”

“Hmmm.” She thought to herself.

“The alley.” She said and quickly made her way to Alethin’s meeting place while holding her cloak closer to herself.

[Atklana]

Chapter Three:

Upon reaching the alley Frangipani notices Alethin’s cart. She decides to inspect it and discovers it’s locked after prodding it. After backing away from the cart Frangipani watches as a large black Raza cobra slithers out.

“Hello Adela” says Frangipani as she greets the snake.

Adela turns her beautiful head as a way to make Frangipani notice a slightly torn note secured by twine around the Raza Cobra’s neck.

“Oh, look what we have here!” exclaimed Frangipani as she quickly unfastened the twine and received the note. As a thanks she rubbed Adela’s head and backed away as a low hiss emanated from Adela. Within a blink Adela was gone, but the low hiss took its time to dissipate.

“...Love Potions. Got caught.
...bet he thinks this is funny.
...knew they were illegal.”

Frangipani read the note. Her face scrunched up in confusion as she tried to understand what was written.

“So Alethin got caught. Someone thinks this is funny. Did Alethin get set up by someone?” She thought. Frangipani decided to return to her home for the night.

[Atklana]

Chapter Four:

The Next Day

Frangipani rested well and burst out of her house with newfound vigor so that she could continue finding clues. She had to decide on where she wanted to go.

“Well Remy’s Inn is ruled out.” She thought.

“That leaves the Trading Post and Klara, the Artificer’s Association, and the Merchant’s Guild.” She stood still and decided to head to them in the way she thought them up.

Frangipani spent a good hour weaving through the early morning foot traffic and the carts on the many streets. She finally came upon the Trading Post which was an official trade station set up by the shopkeeper, Klara. The shop was inside a giant globe (made to look like a snow globe but had real ice and snow flurries set in the globe that wouldn’t disturb anyone as none of the inside of the globe was exposed or open) and Frangipani made her way to the shop’s entrance and stared about the snow globe with wonder. It was just like some of the aquariums the Keep and other magi kept (including herself) but was immersive and themed for the Trading Post. She took a moment to compose herself and entered. A chime rang and a darker toned woman (like those up north like Arkene) in a light cloak and furs greeted Frangipani.

“Welcome to the Trading Post!” greeted Klara

Frangipani nodded her head in acknowledgement.

“Thank you. I wanted to check your wares and maybe ask you a question.” Frangipani asked.

“Of course, feel free to have a look about this sanctuary to the frigid lands” Klara said excitedly.

Frangipani looked at all of the beautiful, colder hue coloured eggs with admiration. She waved her hand to feel the cold exuding from some of the eggs. Her attention was quickly reined in by two hooded customers in the corner that were whispering in hushed irritated tones.

“Oh, don’t mind those two.” Assured Klara.

“They keep babbling about a jet black snake slithering towards the Keep's gardens, but everybody knows black snakes only live in the South and never wander elsewhere.” Stated Klara confidently.

“Oh” said Frangipani as she took the moment to assess the new information. Without asking any questions, like she had planned to, she left the Trading Post with a quick goodbye and headed towards the Artificer Association. She had remembered something about a contraption that was snakelike and wanted to mark off her initial plan before following the lead on the black snake.

[Atklana]

Chapter Five:

Frangipani had made her way to the Artificer shop, located all the way in Synara city. She had decided on using one of her most faithful companions, a beautiful and pale pastel Aurora Puvia, to fly to Synara. After touching down in Synara and squaring away the location to keep her Puvia, Frangipani walked to the Artificer Shop, the Artificer Association’s pride and joy. It was now noon and Frangipani debated if she should get lunch after as she entered the shop. The bell rang and she glanced to the counter to see no one currently in the shop.

“I’ll be with you in a moment” yelled a familiar voice.

Frangipani decided to walk among all the brilliantly crafted animals. She keeps in mind to look at the tables as well as the walls as there could always be a wonderful invention that she had not yet seen since her initiation into the Artificer association.

“Ah, its you.” Said Birchoff as he settles next to Frangipani, with his arms behind himself and looking like he attempted to tidy himself as he was a bit disheveled.

“Up to your inventions again, I see” replied Frangipani with a bright smile.

“At least this time you aren’t yelling at me when I enter” she added as she turned her focus towards the shelves on the wall.

“Find anything that catches your fancy?” asked Birchoff with a smile as he remembers the incident and panic that led Frangipani to join the Artificer’s Association.

Frangipani’s eyes scan the shelves filled with knickknacks and other wares until her eyes settle on an empty shelf.

“Looks like someone found something they liked here.” She told Birchoff.

“Ah yes, that is where one of my older prototypes, a small snake like automaton that could, under certain conditions, turn into several keys was held.” Said Birchoff pondering as to what may have happened.

Frangipani looks towards Birchoff, but before she can, she catches something in her peripheral. A single black scale on the floor in front of the empty shelf. She excuses herself from the store and wishes Birchoff a good day and tells him to tell his granddaughter that she said hello before merging into the bustling cobble streets of Synara. Her last stop of the day would be the Merchant's Guild.

[Atklana]

Chapter Six:

After buying lunch for herself and her companions, feeding her Puvia and mounting up, Frangipani thought about all the details that she discovered.

“I still have no clue what happened, or what’s going on” she said worriedly as she turned to lay on her back on her companion. Frangipani grasped at the air and looked towards the heavens.

“Maybe we will find something out at the Merchant’s guild.” She stated as she turned to lay on her stomach and viewed the treetops as they traveled closer and closer to the Keep. Luckily Synara wasn’t so far from the Keep.

It was well into the afternoon when Frangipani had returned to the Keep. She switched her Puvia at home for the companionship of a handsome Nandi Bear, Grimbol. He grunted and accepted the invitation (which was also an enticement through the use of some fish) and proceeded to follow Frangipani through the streets of the Keep. The crowds of magi were dying down as the rush of the day was winding down and followed by the oncoming chill of the night.

Meeting with representatives of the various guilds with bases in the Keep wasn’t fruitful in clues nor answers. Frangipani was met by scowls and pursed lips from those allied to specific guilds, only leading her thoughts to the possibility that maybe the Merchant’s Guild (or someone in) had a hand in messing with Alethin.

[Atklana]

Chapter Seven:

Frangipani had wandered through the streets of the Keep with her brows heavily furrowed. She knew Alethin could take care of himself, but everything was concerning. She did hear some rumors whilst wandering but kept herself in her thoughts instead of listening in on what was being said. Frangipani realized she had forgot about something else that she had wanted to do that day.

With a gasp, Frangipani exclaimed “the sighting in the gardens!” which drew the attention of a few magi quietly enjoying their night.

She quickly looked towards the cobblestone ground and hurried her way down the street she was currently on.

“Adela is wandering the Keep, as well as traveling around Synara. Is she gathering something?” she thought to herself.

“I should head to the alley and see if Adela is at the cart again. Thankfully I have the cover of night again as well.” She pondered confidently.

It took Frangipani a short while to arrive back to the alley, the cart still appeared to be untouched. She gestured to the cart to let Grimbol know to investigate the cart. Grimbol sniffs and moves around the cart while also scraping the stone with his claws which had caused Frangipani to giggle at the sight of her Nandi bear investigating. Grimbol grunted and stood up before growling at Frangipani in annoyance. Frangipani yawned and rubbed her arms as she became aware of the chill in the air. Her peripheral is triggered by a little tan coloured thing by the wagon’s wheel.

“It must’ve gotten moved when Grimbol bumped into the cart” she thought to herself.

“Is that what you smelled Grimbol?” she asked him.

He only grunted, while Frangipani swooped up the parchment and opened it.

"...planning my escape.
Someone must have figured out ... route.
...reaching out to all my ...
... may ...to lay low for a while."

“I knew Alethin can handle himself.” She said quietly.

“It seems like someone was helping him” she added as she thought back to Adela’s appearances all over, as well as the disappearance of Birchoff’s old prototype snake key.

Frangipani felt she had reached the end of her rope and retired for the night with Nandi bear in tow. She had faith in Alethin returning but decided not to do much more just in case she got in the way of someone or even getting into something dangerous without any way of having prior safety measures set up. Alethin will turn up sooner or later. The events afterwards left Frangipani increasingly frustrated.

[javalady]

Very descriptive. I liked it a lot! Good job!