Selvia

Selvia stared at the Imperial man with unblinking eyes.

"I was here before anyone." She said, her voice accentless, but precise. "I was just not discovered until a few moments ago. I am Selvia. Petra's lover. Or was, rather, until his untimely death. Though, perhaps not quite so untimely, given how he was. Even in his sixties, he was a risk taker."

She smiled slightly at the memory. "And you are either Aranios or Marcellus. You don't look like a seasoned Arena fighter, so I will assume Aranios."

"You assume correctly," Aranios said, filing away that little tidbit of information about the other Imperial being an Arena fighter. Guessing from the looks of the girl, she couldn't be out of her twenties, and if that was the case then the only reason she was attracted to Arce-to Petra was become of his money. Typical. "It's a pleasure to make your acquaintance, madame Selvia. Seeing as you're a member of the house, I'm assuming you won't be a rival of mine in this little game Petra's set up."

Selvia

Selvia gave him a little bit of a wry smile.

"Competition? Not exactly. I haven't been formally invited to this get together. Belladonna didn't approve of me, so she conveniently left my name out of the stack of letters she sent out."

At that moment, Anaya rushed out of the kitchen with a small silver tray and a single cup of tea. She ran upstairs hurridly. Selvia clucked her tongue.

"Poor girl. She deserves better than this." She looked back to Aranios. "Petra begged Belladonna to release her servants after his death, but she seems to follow in the footsteps of her ancestors. Did you give you the formal tour, or did she reveal what this house was used for?"

"Just the formal tour," Aranios said. "I heard of no dark secrets when she was showing us around. So what is this mansion hiding, then? An ancient shrine to the Daedra where virgins were sacrificed in the dead of night? An ancient barrow filled with hungry Draugr? Sounds dreadfully exciting; I love a little bit of history, especially the messy parts."

Selvia smiled at him and walked into the study. She closed the door behind them and leaned a shoulder against the wall , looking out the window. The rain pattered heavily against it, and she watched the droplets run down.

"This house is cursed." She said, looking at Aranios, and smiled again, briefly. "Two hundred years ago, it was prosperous. The jarl praised the owner for providing much needed lumber for the city and nearby towns. Fishing was good, too. Somehow the mill didn't disturb the waters much. The fur trade was thriving. There were stories, though,as with any other rich family. The Guillouxs were cruel to their servants. They had twenty of them. always. And when one showed up, another disappeared. Always twenty.

"They say one of the servants feared for her life, and for her child's life, since her child was the twenty first. One night, she took a torch to the owner's house, this house, and set her on fire as she lay sleeping. When the home was discovered later, a gruesome sight was found. Servants, men, women, and children alike, chained in the basement underground. Beaten, tortured, body parts ripped off and sewn on where they weren't supposed to be. She was experimenting with Necromancy, and trying to satisfy her sadistic desires in secret.

"As a show of good faith, the jarl pardoned all the remaining servants. The ones who survived the fire, that is. The sister of the owner had the house rebuilt, and eventually, Petra came into ownership. Determined to remake his family's good name, he set out upon Nirn to change as much as he could. Judging from the interesting company he kept, I'd say he did just that."

"How very gruesome," Aranios remarked, a faint hint of relish in his voice. "Petra certainly did seem determined to make a stir, and if it's to clear the family name of a reputation like that then it's no surprise."

A thought occurred to him.

"You mentioned a curse, by the way," he said. The flippancy in his voice was gone; a curse suggested danger, threat, something that could get him what he wanted so desperately. "Do you mean this place's history is the curse, or is there something more specific we should watch out for? Angry ghosts, hauntings, that sort of thing. Had to deal with ghosts before; never fun."

Enarvy couldn't help but smile at Angelina's briek squeeze of his shoulder, but still noted the calculating gaze of this "Selvia". He had seen a similar look from summoned daedra, trying to guage his power at a glance. Was she studying everyone in such a fashion? His curiousity got the better of him.

"Forgive my rudeness, Sarde of House Dres, but if I might divert the conversation briefly? Angelina, could you perhaps tell us a little about this new arrival, Selvia, I believe you called her?"

Selvia

Selvia smiled and brushed an errant lock of red hair from her face. "I see you caught that. The people in this line seem to be drawn to necromancy. In one way or another. Petra was no different. I loved him just the same, though."

Her blue eyes were suddenly on his own eyes, a serious look on them. "But it's the house. The members of the Guilloux line are tainted because they come to this house. There's something...off about this house."

The room seemed to tighten at her words, then relaxed.

Angelina

"Oh, her? She was my uncle's girlfriend for the longest time. Then Belladonna caught her in bed with Anaya, and Uncle Petra tossed her out on her rear. She's been sniffing around ever since. Don't listen to her, she's not all there." She tapped her temple with a delicate finger. "But Uncle Petra did always like the crazy ones."

She looked at the clock. "Oh wow, it's half past six. Belladonna will be crashing out of her room soon. Which room are you staying in? Mine is the one near the library."

Sarde bowed. "Not at all." He walked thought the stacks, until he picked out a book, "Famous Morag Tong Operatives". He flipped through it until he reached a page entitled "Edras". He checked to make sure nobody was around, then tore it out. Better safe then sorry, he thought, crumpling the page up and putting it into his trouser pocket.

Enarvy's eyes widened slightly at Angelina's brief account of Selvia.

"I've also claimed a room near the library, the middle one of the three on this floor. I must admit I hastened to claim one after the tour, I'm likely to spend as much time in here as I am looking for the treasure." He replied with a sheepish smile.

"It seems Selvia has quite the history with your family, I can see why she wasn't invited. If she's not of sound mind, you don't think she could be dangerous, do you? I've had the strangest feeling since I arrived that something isn't quite right here."

Angelina

Angelina's face brightened with a genuine smile. "So we're next to each other? How lovely! I love being in this library."

Enarvy couldn't help but smile back at Angelina. "I can see why. It's a marvellous collection, the finest I've seen outside of the College of Whispers in fact. Truth be told it puts my own library to shame, though I'd wager that in one or two small areas mine's superior. Provided one's interested in those areas of course."

He cast a hungry gaze about the library, as if to devour the books wholesale. When he turned back to Angelina, the faintest trace of that look remained, softened by a warm smile. "I imagine I'll have to be virtually dragged from here for meals." He said, followed by soft, mellow laughter.

Angelina

Angelina laughed with him, putting her hand on his arm. "If you'd like, my own library is nearly as vast. When this is over, provided you don't find the gold and leave me alone in the dust, perhaps you'd like to come see it?" She gave his arm a gentle squeeze before letting it fall.

Enarvy couldn't help but laugh at this. "I doubt I'll find the gold Angelina. Like as not I'll end up getting my nose in a book and forgetting about it. Gold can pass through a person's fingers like water, but knowledge is a greater treasure by far, and one easier to hold on to. But even were I to find it, I doubt I coud find it in me to pass up such a library. And I am certain I could not refuse the continued pleasure of your company."

Aranios' gaze flickered to the corner as she spoke. For a moment, he could have sworn that something had moved in it, shifted position imperceptibly, but there was nothing. Just some talk of necromancy and curses and he was already letting it get to him. Ridiculous.

"I'm the observant type," he said in response to Selvia's first remark. "And the weather certainly seems to be acting the part if the place really is cursed."

He looked thoughtful.

"Half a dozen guests combing this place from top to bottom," he remarked. "All sorts of ugly things might come to light with that happening, don't you think?"

Angelina

Angelina smiled brightly at this. "That makes me feel very nice, Enarvy. I really wish you would give the search a chance, though. Uncle Petra only named the ones he saw fit for the gold. Did she tell you how much the chest is worth?"

She leaned in, the sparkled in her eyes becoming brighter. "Five-hundred thousand septims. That could last a man the rest of his life, and his children's lives."



Selvia

Selvia nodded, a smirk on her face. "Definitely. Let me give you a hint. If she says don't go in there, go in there. But make sure she's occupied. A bath, a distraction, something. I hope you've got light fingers." She wiggled her own digits and laughed.

Enarvy stood frozen for a moment, captivated by the sparkle of Angelina's eyes, even as a tinge of sadness came into his own. His warm smile fell a little, and it seemed suddenly that his years weighes a litle heavier on him. "Five-hundred thousand Septims? Had I known that, I would have sent my apologies, and declined the invitation." He paused a moment, then explained; "I'm an aging Mer, though I may live for centuries yet. I've no family, and precious little besides my work and research. Such a sum is far too vast for me, too vast for any one person, to my mind. A little extra gold would be of help, but such a sum... I do not know what I would do with it. There are finer things in this world than coin, rare treasures than gold, and I would rather focus my attention on those than chase more money than I know what to do with."

"Besides," he chuckled, "after my small lecture about not seeking power for the sake of power, and that the some holds true for gold, I could hardly start frantically searching for it now, could I?" A trace of humour found it's way back into his sad smile, and his eyes took on a slight mischivous gleam.

The clock struck seven, and Angelina shrunk a little when Belladonna whirled past them.

"Dinner!" She called out. "Be there, or you do not eat!"

When the group had finally gathered into the dining room, Antoine and Anaya began serving everyone. The succulent smell of roast mutton and fowl filled the air, along with a warm smell of buttered rolls and steamed vegetables. Goblets were brought out, and water, milk, juices and wines were served. Belladonna was noticeably absent the first few minutes of the meal. When she arrived, she had Selvia on her tail.

"Gentlemen, this is Selvia Valeiu. She was my father's..lover." She grimaced and sat down. "She has made a point to have me tolerate her presence, as much as I'd like to toss her out."

Selvia poured herself a glass of wine, shooing Anaya away. She began serving herself. Anaya served those who allowed her to serve them, putting on the meat and vegetables of their choice. Outside, the rain and wind raged on, battering at the house.

(OOC: Alright, dinner banter!)

Enarvy took a seat at the dinner table, smiling warmly at Angelina as she sat beside him. As Anaya moved to serve him he stopped her. "Thankyou, but no, I will serve myself. I've never been able to abide being waited on. And I shall be more than happy to aid Angelina, should she wish it." As Anaya moved on to serve the others, Enarvy frowned briefly in concentration. Seconds later, a platter of roast mutton rose from the table, and began drifting gracefully towards Enarvy. He placed a few slices of mutton on his plate, the platter of mutton still floating before him, and turned to Angelina. "Mutton?"

Then he realised what he must look like. "My apologies, the meals at the College tend to rely on this sort of thing. It's considered an exercise in delicacy and finesse, and is something of a bad habit I suppose." Enarvy trailed off there, a faint blush finding it's way onto his cheeks. Despite his discomfort and embarrassment, the plate didn't move so much as an inch.



(OOC: Let me know if there's anything you would like me to change, Liz)

Sarde took a seat opposite Enarvy, and let the Dunmer maiden fill his plate with cabbage and roasted beef. He grinned when Enarvy blushed.

"Perhaps I could help, kinsman?" He took the plate from the air and laid it gently down on the table. "So, you're a student of Alteration then? Do tell."

Enarvy turned as Sarde spoke, hastily recovering himself. "Alteration? Telekinesis is from the school of Mysticism, lad. The College of Winterhold is the only institutein Tamriel that did away with Mysticism. Before the Oblivion crisis, while then Arch-mage Traven was holding the investigation into necromancy, there were those that tried to defend it. They argued that it was akin to Mysticism, but those arguments were mostly dismissed. It seems in Skyrim the arguments held some weight, which led to the College of Winterhold's stance on Mysticism. Or so I gather at least."

At this point Enarvy caught himself, and sent a dish of potatoes and a couple of buttered rolls floating over towards him. The rolls landed beside his plate, and after taking a few potatoes for his plate he offered them to those nearby before sending them back.

"Haha, there I go lecturing again, please, forgive me. Teaching is a hard habit to break. But to answer your question, I am indeed a student of Alteration, though some might appraise my skill higher. In fact, I am a student of all schools of magic, save those of necromancy, for obvious reasons, and illusion. I'm not comfortable with altering people's minds, whatever the cause."

Enarvy took a sip of wine, and continued, a mischeivous grin now lighting his features. "I take it, Sarde, that you've had a little magical education here in Skyrim then. A little telekinesis to help your juggling perhaps? If you'll pardon the jest."

Sarde grabbed a potato and split it, dressing and seasoning as he spoke.

"A funny story actually. In my youth, I came here to study at the Bard's College. Skyrim not known for being a place of higher learning, I simply asked for 'the College'. Now, this was just over the border from Morrowing, up by Windhelm, so they took me to the College of Winterhold. Having spent my carriage money, I had no choice but to stay there until I could earn the money for safe passage to Solitude."

"After two and a half months, I finally had enough septims for a bodyguard, and I continued on to the Bard's College. In my time in Winterhold, I picked up a few basic spells, and this one was a favorite of mine. It helps when doing things like...you know those traveling shows where one man plays an inordinate amount of instruments? Well, I can do it without the need of rigging more suited to a pack mule."

Percival

Percival heard the distinct ring of the dinner bell, then Belladonna calling out that dinner was ready. He departed from the library and made his way down to the dining room. He sat at the table and smiled at Anya as she served him, then began eating. After a few minutes, he looked up from his plate and glanced around the table at the others. He cleared his throat a bit

"So...how is everyone doing so far?" He mumbled. twiddled his thumbs

That's right. Make things awkward, just like you always do.

He sighed and looked down at his plate

Maybe nobody heard me.

He glanced around the large dining room and nonchalantly took a bite out of his food as he glanced around the room. He sighed and looked to the person next to him and gave them a warm smile

"Hello. My name is Percival. What's yours?"


(He's not sitting next to anyone specific, anyone can interact with him.)

Selvia

Selvia absently listened to the conversation as she began eating. Her ears picked up on Angelina's giggle as one of the Dunmer, the older one, served himself using telekinesis. She knew Anaya would appreciate the gesture of the guests serving themselves.

Angelina clapped at a remark the younger Dunmer made. "Oh, you can play? That's lovely! I've always had a soft spot for bards. There was this one that use to come by once a month and play for me. Sadly, he was elderly once I hit eighteen and couldn't travel anymore. I haven't seen him in a few years."

The young man next to Selvia spoke, and she turned her sharp eyes over to him.

"Selvia." She said simply. "How did you know Petra?"

She wasn't sincerely interested, since she already knew everyone here from Petra's stories about his adventures, but the young man looked like he was going to vibrate through the floors, he was shaking so much from nervousness. She supposed conversing with him was the nice thing to do. She gave him a small, friendly smile.

"If you want to tell me, that is."

Percival

Percival returned the warm smile

"Oh, he bought me a few new pairs of clothes and some food once. I didn't think he considered me a friend though." He laughed "I'm just a common beggar after all, I'm not usually associated with the rich, so I'm pretty surprised I was even invited here. I thought he just pitied me."

He served himself a second helping of food and began nonchalantly filling his mouth with food. He swallowed

"Are you a resident of the mansion, or just another guest?"

Boots sat quietly for once. His goblet was empty, and he regretted leaving his flask in his room. His head began to hurt already. The chatter of the others went in one ear and out the other while he massaged his temples.

He had little appetite, but helped himself to some expensive cuts of meat regardless. Might as well eat off of someone else's septim he figured.

Selvia

Selvia shook her head at Percival's question. "Neither, actually."She shot a look at Belladonna, a slight grin on her face as the dark-haired woman gave her an unamused sneer.

"I snuck in, and she's angry about it. I wasn't even supposed to know about this party she's doing." She ran her fingers through her red hair and gingerly picked up a fork and stabbed a cut of meat. She slid her knife across it gracefully and cut it quickly, then popped a piece into her mouth.

"So, where do you think she hid the money?"

Boots overheard the beggar and a red headed and beautiful woman speaking. He eavesdropped on their conversation and didn't even hide it.

He laughed aloud when he heard this woman had sneaked into the party. "You're a woman after my own heart," he remarked. He tried to take a swig of wine, forgetting his goblet was empty. He glared at it and set it down forcefully.

He reached over the table and switched his empty goblet with the beggar's half full one.

Selvia

Selvia turned her head to see the old and grey lizard speaking to her. She laughed loudly and traced the rim of her cup gently with the tip of her finger.

"I'm very, very good at sneaking. Sometimes you can't even hear me." She grinned at Boots. "I'm Selvia."

"Is that so? I'm Boots," he replied around a mouth full of wine. He dabbed at the dribble on his chin. "So how are you involved with this little," he burped, "gathering?"

Selvia

Selvia laughed. "I'm observing. Petra was my lover for years, and since he didn't see the need to give me his money, I'm making sure it's going to the right place." she leaned in a little closer to Boots and Percival. "As long as Belladonna doesn't keep it, I'm fine with that."

"As long as I get it, I'm fine with that," Boots said. "Unless you would like to share it," he gave her a suggestive look.

He delighted in the disgusted look he received when he hit on women of other races. He waited for hers.

Selvia

Selvia let out a genuine laugh.

"You are bold, old man!" She patted his arm as she laughed harder. "I think you'd have better luck with Belladonna than you'd have with me, though. She likes reptiles."

Belladonna briefly choked on a piece of meat, then quickly stood up, her large belly knocking her plate upwards and spilling the remainder of the food on the table. The plate clattered on the floor as she hurried out, and Selvia whooped in laughter as the door slammed.

"She...oh, her face!" Selvia's eyes began filling with tears of laughter. Angelina frowned.

"Selvia, don't tease her about that, it was one time!"

"She kissed a turtle! A TURTLE!" Selvia slid down a little in her chair, losing her breath from laughing so hard. Angelina giggled a little, then looked at her hands.

Boots’ was surprised when she laughed, usually he was slapped when he suggested that.

He gave Belladonna a hungry look as she hurried from the table, then roared with laughter at the scene that Selvia caused.

He raised his, no Percival’s, goblet in toast and downed the rest of its contents.

“Ahhh that might have made this whole trip worth it. I like you. You aren’t as stuck up as the rest of them.”

Enarvy didn't quite know what to make of all this. Between Selvia's peculiar explanation for her presence and Belladonna's dramatic reaction to Selvia's teasing, things were starting to get a little weird. He chuckled as he leaned towards Angelina, "Well that was unexpected. All of a sudden I find myself missing the peace and quiet of the library."