An Overture (Part 19)

As you escape from the mob spurred on by Skribbles'... skribblesing, you're quickly able to dodge it.

The reality is that, while you're being chased by gnomes enraged by a Goblin, there are plenty of gnomes who think 'hey, screw that crowd', especially thanks to Auranar and Davienne's quick thinking and soothing words.

You're off the street quickly and, before long, actually have better accomodations than you were going to at the inn, even if the rooms are still kind of small. Nice gnomes are nice.

And you'll be staying with them instead.

This is a huge relief for Davienne. And probably Auranar more so as the half-syl had little problem sharing a room. With profuse thanks and being on her best behaviour, she does still share a room so as not to burden their guests. Keeping an eye on Tonyon since he's been snagged while asleep -twice- now.

Skribbles walks triumphantly into the Gnomes home, knowing that, once again, she has overcome the Gnome conglomerate and remains unscathed. Then she walks into another Gnomes home and she slaps her forehead and sighs but doesn't do much else. She can tell the others want a place to sleep and so she will keep her thoughts about the filthiness of Gnome residences to herself.

Auranar is simply glad to have a room to herself. In fact, she's not even /that/ irritated with Skribbles given that their current accomidations are far superior to the ones that they had been about to stay in. Though she does give Skribbles a short look that clearly says that if the other woman manages to ruin /this/ stay that there will be no such forgivness on the other side.

Tonyon is panting. HE is definitely panting. It's gonna take him a bit to calm down from that! He retires to his room for the night without much to say. HE's stressing over tomorrow.

Morning rolls around to the delicious smell of bacon and eggs. It is time for the festival. This is the big day. The climax of your long mission! The moment that counts!

Tonyon emerges from his room, seemingly having slept better than he had any right to, pleased to get the day underway. Seems he's ready. At least as ready as he can be. Breakfast is looking and smelling excellent, though again, it's a tight fit. Gnomish quarters.

Skribbles wakes up groggy, yawning widely due to a bed that was too soft and a night without explosions or gunfire in the streets. What kind of town doesn't have these things? A Gnome town, that's what kind of town. Still, she remains optimistic that some sort of explosion will occur as she comes down to breakfast.

Davienne is of slight enough height that the low ceilings aren't that big of a deal. And boy is she full of smiles. It seems despite keeping an eye on their charge she also slept well. Settling in to eat she asks, "So have you decided on what you're performing today?"

Auranar is also well-rested and seemingly chipper in spite of the lack of much space. Possibly because she too is short enough that the quarters aren't as confining as they might have been for someone of larger stature. She comes down to breakfast with a soft smile on her lips and immediately sets into breakfast with thanks to their hosts for the fine meal that they've provided. The elf clasps eyes Tonyon for any irregularities, but he seems in a fine enough mood, so she leaves the questioning to Davienne.

"Yes, I'm going to do it! You've all been amazing. Howe could I let you down after all of this? I don't see any other way but forward. This is my path and I'm perfectly prepared." He totally is not even slightly prepared but he's putting on a brave game face. The gnomes clap.

Davienne grins in what she hopes is an encouraging manner and reaches out to clap him on the back. "Well good. I wish I was that musical. I just appreciate it. So I am glad I was able to help you achieve your dream. Is there anything else we can do to help you?"

Skribbles looks at Tonyon and then to the Gnomes and sighs a bit more for she can smell a disaster coming, and this is how a Gobbo dies...to thunderous applause.

Auranar buisies herself with breakfast. She doesn't seem particularly inclined to assist the poor man any further than they already have. But then, they've gotten him this far haven't they? What more can they do?

"So, the performances aren't until later tonight. Why don't you spend the day enjoying the festival?" suggests the head of the gnomish household, a stern looking woman who never the less has a smile on her face.

"It's quite lovely."

"Sure, we can go and enjoy the festival. That sounds like so much fun!" Inner monologue...I'd rather burn in the pit of a thousand hells while drinking hot tea and being doused with hot sauce and dancing the jig. Outer monologue, "Can we go, guys?"

Davienne cannot help but look over at Skribbles, however briefly, when enjoying the festival comes up. The smile stays in place though it is more of a smirk now. "Seeing the festival sounds great. Though maybe we should keep the drinking part of enjoyment to a minimum." That last is said in an amused tone. She flashes Skribbles a smile and a wink before sipping her tea and gnoshing the last of her bacon.

Auranar winces at her companion's enthusiasm and puts on an expression of pleading. "Please no. Can't we enjoy a nice, quiet day indoors? Somewhere we don't have to worry about him being abducted by someone." She's the voice of reason it seems. "/Please/."

Skribbles narrows her eyes when Davienne says they should go easy on the drinking.

"Well... fair point. I have to keep my wits about me today! I'm gonna perform! Can't do that while I'm drunk as a skunk as the saying goes. Ha! COme on, let 's go!" Tonyton is UTTERLY oblivious to Auranar's wince or expression of pleading. He wasn't even looking at her.

Poor Auranar.

Davienne glances at Auranar with sympathy. "You should practice before tonight. So maybe a couple hours then come back here? Have a little rest maybe? Limber up those fingers before things get started."

"Oh yay....no drinking...how...fun...yaaaaayyy.." She waves her hands in the air a bit and grabs a sausage, taking a bit. Then Davienne makes the comment about limbering up fingers and she slams her sausage on the table a few times. The sausage...slamming on the table...as she glares at Davienne.

Auranar sighs, but finally nods. "Fine. A couple of hours." She gives Tonyon a short look. "And you /swear/ not to go wandering off anywhere without ALL of us understand?"

"Hm? What? Go wandering off? When have I ever gone wandering off?" says TOnyton to Auranar. He looks faux-offended!

"I didn't say -no- drinking. I said -limited-," Davienne says to ease the Gobbo's grousing. Though she is trying to keep a straight face in the face of that glare. She snorts into her tea and maybe giggles a bit. Turning to look at Tonyon she smirks and doesn't comment before looking at the host. "So, what would you recommend we absolutely see in the festival?" Because that is obviously what they should go to first.

Skribbles looks at Davienne and says, "Limited drinking IS no drinking." She stands up and grumbles yet again, sticking her hands in her pockets. "I get to bring my big hammer though!" She starts heading to her room to get her big hammer.

Auranar meets Tonyon's gaze firmly with her dark eyes lacking any amount of humor at all. "Either you swear, or /I/ swear I'll tie you to a bed until I'm ready to drag you down to your debut." She sounds /entirely/ like she means it. There's no wiggle room for the would-be bard to be found here.

Davienne almost looks like she is going to say something when Auranar mentions tying the bard up, but instead just finishes her breakfast quickly.

Tonyon pauses. He looks at Auranar, "... okay but that sounds like more fun than you'd let on. Anyway, uh," He clears his throat, blushing faintly, "I promise! Let's go." Post breakfast, you do indeed set off for the festival. You remember from your arrival that things were *already* happening in the city. There were airships and balloons in the sky, the city packed with gnomes having travelled from all directions. So many gnomes!

It's a whole gnomish TOWNSHIP, after all.

There's songs, parades in the streets, demonstrations of artifice. Why, there's even reported to be the Gee-Gnome Project in town! What's that? WEll, apparently, *some* gnomes believe that gnomes were originally capable of defying gravity and its an attempt to reclaim that lost legacy!

...it never works. Just so you're all relieved.

The ale is flowing, but true to his word, Tonyon doesn't partake, but you're offered plenty as you move.

Skribbles looks at all these happy Gnomes, these filthy...filthy Gnomes...drinking their water they call beer and having a good time. HOW DARE THEY! Skribbles walks through the crowd, making sure not to touch the Gnomes who only seem to want her to have a good time, but she's not buying it, they're up to something. She grabs a nearby beer and takes a drink, shaking her head a bit, "I've had juice that is stronger."

Auranar doesn't look happy to be out and about, but she keeps her opinion to herself and keeps Tonyon in sight. She doesn't even /think/ about taking a drink. Nope. Not happening.

Davienne indulges in a single cider as they wander around. Keeping her arm companionably linked with Tonyon's is a great way to make sure the bard doesn't wander off as well. Thus keeping him hopefully out of trouble. A lack of flying Gnomes is applauded louder than flying ones might have been and probably with more laughter. Davienne tending towards liking displays of artifice to parades.

"It isn't about the strength, it's about the taste," She says. "I for one find it pleasant. Oh! Look, Tonyon, Pastries in the shape of beasties!" Because of course there is food treats as well. And Breakfast was awhile ago. "What is that cookie supposed to- OH! Hey, it's a Mimic cookie. I'll take that," And she pays for it and promptly hands it to Tonyon. "

The Gee-Gnome project, though, is essentially a cannon.

It is a cannon into which gnomes are crawling. One of helmeted gnomes manning it waves Tonyon over, who does indeed go that way...

Oh no.

Skribbles runs after Tonyon and tackles him from behind, "NO!"

Davienne turns around with cookie to find the darned bard wandering towards a cannon. Then being tackled by a goblin. So she strolls up more slowly saying, "You need to be in fit condition for tonight. I don't think being blown up counts." And she proffers the cookie again with a smirk.

Admittedly... If Skribbles hadn't done it? Auranar smiles thinly and moves around Tonyon as he's tackled from behind and peers at him merrily. There's happiness twinkling in her black eyes. "I think it's time to go back now. Yes, well past time. Don't you agree Tonyon?" So sweetly spoken and yet it sounds like a threat.

"AUGH," yells Tonyon when he's tackled. The gnomes look alarmed too!

"I wasn't going to climb in the cannon! Gods! I'm not THAT dumb!"

"You're not?" say the two gnomes near the cannon, who he fixes with a flat look.

Skribbles shakes her head and says, "Do I think you're that dumb? Why...noooooo...not at all. I mean you hired me, so I know you're not stupid." She looks up at Auranar and says, "He made me spill my drink, he owes me a beer."

Davienne helps Tonyon up with a smirk and glances at the gnomes with an equally flat look. Then promptly moves to steer him around and go the other way. "Well, as amusing as you exploding from a cannon may be, I know you are not that stupid. But that said, let's get Skribs another beer and go prep for your debut."

"I'm sure he'll be happy to buy you a new one /back where we're staying/. Right Tonyon?" She gives him the LOOK. But smiles. "Because that's where we're going. Back." She doesn't even /look/ at the gnomes. Nope. She's not engaging /that/.

"I mean, it's a fair point, I suppose that I do owe you a beer for stopping me from... not doing anything." Tonyon looks amused, but he's fine with it, really. Then again, he's got the kind of money where that's not really at issue.

"Right. So, no firing me out of a cannon."

"HERE YE, HERE YE! Do *YOU* want to be a gnome for the day of the festival? We can make that happen with our Brundle and Fythe co gnomifier mark one thousand! Oi! You there! Goblin! Do YOU want to be a gnome for twenty four hours? It'd be a marked improvement!"

Someone may want to hold Skribbles back.

Skribbles is slowly reaching back for her hammer...

"Oh Hells and stars," Davienne can be heard to say as she turns and fully expects to see a furious Skribbles. Her other arm moving to slide around her shoulders, gobbo letting, to usher her away. "NO!. No. Thank you. Try someone else. Just...No."

"Do YOU want to be a gnome? WE can make it happen!" The two gnomes are carrying what appears to be an artificed gun of some kind. It's glowing ominously.

"You'd fit in better! It's only a twenty hour effect!"

Auranar is at Skribble's other side, trusting Davienne to have her other hand around Tonyon. "Don't you /dare/." Yells Auranar at the gnomes. "We do /not/ want to be gnomes! GOODBYE!" She's pushing to get them all moving along faster. Particularly Skribbles.

Skribbles mutters, "Gonna burn this whole fuc!*ng village to the ground...Gnomes screaming everywhere." Her voice goes high pitched, "Oh save me save me, my stupid pointy beard is on fire." She just shakes her head, "And I'll be like, 'oh no...not gonna save you..."

Brundle and Fythe sigh heavily at these horrible insults in their direction! Skribbles gets smiles, though. Gnomes are the worst. They are beginning to move away.

A band starts playing loudly, singing the ballad of 'Happy Valley Versus The Trolls'.

Davienne makes a point for them to stop and get whiskey for Skribbles on the way back to their new hosts. "How about we go get some gingerbread gnomes later? A whole village worth?" Though the music gives her pause, she shakes her head and continues to usher her companions. "But after Tonyon's played. Yeah? We'll make you an entire gingerbread village. It'll be fun."

Skribbles is still grumbling something about being insulted and not being able to murder a whole village of Gnomes with lava and the One True Ring and Nazguls and how Sauron somehow had it right, but then Davienne says gingerbread and whiskey and she smiles, "Ooooo...booze and cookies."

Auranar looks like she might have aged half a decade in /human/ time in the last few seconds. Weariness drips from her and she rubs her face at Davienne's suggestion. "I don't care anymore." She keeps flickering her eyes toward Skribbles and Tonyon. If trouble's coming it's coming from one of those corners she's learned.

-TBC