Bardic Defenestration

Log Info

• Title: Bardic Defenestration
• Emitter: Ashes
• Characters: Braelnoir, Aryia, Lanier, Seyardu, Jinks, Mikilos, Cesran, Stjepan
• Place: Collosseum/Ox-Strength Tavern
• Time: December 19th, 2021
• Summary: Following after a less than savoury colosseum event, Firestarter is pulled away from Seyardu by the colosseum guards to speak with her. Which breaks the suppressing effects of the anti-magic field coming from the silverscale, and the 'Star runs off to find Lars once more as the charm returns. The group yells at the guards for their stupidity, now armed with a Braelnoir who joins in on the pasttime. The group quits the place to speak over drinks at the Ox-Strength Tavern, Lanier sharing the scheme that Lars is pulling with mages in the colosseum. More information is shared: what Lars is capable of, what he's done in the past, things to ask the lamia and who to bring to understand her. Others come and go to chime in their insights. But for the most part, the general energy is that Lars should be tossed and suplexed out a window.

Previously

Jinks and Munch linger to try and get to the bottom of the colosseum event, where a lamia is presented as a medusae, and sentenced for the Medusa's crimes. The two are joined by Aryia and Seyardu, briefed, and speak with Lars. The bard explains that his involvement was brining the Lamia to Alexandria and introducing her to the bosses. He wasn't aware of why she was put in the medusae helmet, and thought it might have been part of the show. His job is to wind up the crowd; he's good at winding up others. Aryia and Jinks find that truthful enough, but Seyardu distrusts him and wants to speak to Firestarter to check his story. Lars tells her off but takes them to his 'girlfriend' anyhow. Jinks and Munch go seeking the mages, expecting more informative answers. They're able to locate one, Priscaelyn, who admits to casting the petrification spells to further the 'medusae' ruse. She explains that the colosseum bosses see adventurers as a renewable resource. Jinks asks for an introduction and she agrees to give the charismatic bard an introduction. Aryia and Seyardu meanwhile, speak to Firestarter and get into a wrestling match with her. Seyardu uses an anti-magic field to suppress the charm on Firestarter, and tells her she's charmed. The hobgoblin was aware, and was waiting on Braelnoir to rescue her with some secret plan. She asks if this is the plan. It isn't, but now it is.

The separate groups get back together, and make a plan.

Munch is ready. Just point an say 'Fetch'... wait, we're trying for that 'subtle' thing... maybe Munch should sit this one out... but if you need a body to disappear...

Aryia can't help but scowl. Yep. That guy is totally going to get a taste of the dirt if they ever managed to get him alone. She gives a reassuring smile to Star. She didn't know her well, but Aryia has her back.

"You can not keep putting yourself through this. We will find a way." Seyardu offers, putting one hand on the arvek-nar's shoulder. "Braelnoir has not given up, neither should you. And I will not give up hope. There is a way to be free of him, and it will be found."

Seyardu looks around, and sighs. If only she could trust the guard enough to come forward about the situation, but that likely would not happen. "He is overconfident. I know magics that can help against being charmed, and spells for dispelling them."

"The nethercite dungeons." Jinks suggests after he's returned and heard of Star's plight and Lars' magical manipulations. "We need to go there to talk to the lamia, anyway. Come with us and seek asylum with the Arcanists. It might not be the most glamorous of accommodations but it takes you off the board until we have a proper plan.

"I have a few friends in the dormitories. I'm sure we can fix it up so you're comfortable." The gnome looks between Aryia, Munch, and Seyardu. He'll describe the colosseum's scam en route. "We can try and find a way to deal with Lars as quickly as possible."

Now

The guards can be trusted, to show up and derail things. They intercept the group as they are leaving the colosseum. Nothing is wrong, of course, no one is being arrested or detained. They simply want to speak to Firestarter for a moment.

Over there. Without the party of adventurers present. They won't take no for an answer. She's taken away from the group, in particular Seyardu and her antimagic field. There's a brief discussion with them, she looks once at the group, off at a shadowy alcolve, and then bounds off into it. She's gone.

"Her husband wanted to know where she was going," is the explanation, when the guards are understandably asked 'what-the-fuck?!' Colosseum guards, private security guards, not Alexandrian guards. Still, from the same cloth it seems.

It makes sense at this point to have a drink, or find Braelnoir, or punch a face.

Fortunately there's a place that all three can be done.

Having stated once, well to any of present company, her opinion of certain percentages of the guard population, Braelnoir isn't particularly shocked, then, to find herself emerging from one of the side halls that leads to the battle grounds proper in time to catch the nimbus of 'what the hell is wrong with you!?' between the guards and certain of her acquaintances.

Head cocking a smidge with a twitch of a silvered eyebrow, the Korite gives the tableau a moment's contemplation. It isn't -that- there's static between the two groups, of course, it's more that she hasn't got enought o glom onto the 'why'.

So, with a roll of her neck to pop out a little tension, she starts to stride over toward her fellows, raising a spikeshod hand with a, "Yo!, 'sup, m'luvs?"

Private guards. Colosseum guards.

Colosseum knows how one expresses themselves. Not with words of 'what-the-fuck', but with actions. As others vent their frustrations, Aryia gives each one a shoulder check as she moves on by. "Kor rot your weapons and blue ball your victories," she curses at them in sign walking backwards as she goes.

Fuming, she whirls around to join the group, and eventually runs into Braelnoir. She smiles weakly, but raises a hand in response and pats the Korite on the arm. "Bullshit, that's what. We should talk over a drink." <Handspeech>

Today is not going the way Lanier intended it to go when he signed up for the Colliseum. As the guards allow Firestarter to get away, Lanier has a couple choice words for them before he takes a few cleansing breaths and then starts to look around. Finding a Korite at the Colliseum shouldn't be too weird, but as it turns out, it's fortuitous.

Turning his eyes towards Braelnoir, Lanier narrows his eyes for a moment and then deadpans, "You'll never guess who I shot today." He looks towards Aryia, and then back towards Brae without much comprehension of the words, "We should have a drink and talk it out."

Seyardu is, much less than pleased. Her arms are crossed, and she is squinting even more at the guards than usual.

"Yesss. Her HUSSSBAND, who we have sssubstantial evidence is controlling her mind with magic to make her believe ssshe iss, asss I wass trying to sssay." She states to the guards. "And you just took her out of the magic keeping her from running back to them, charmed again. Do you Alexandrian guardss love ssslavery, and jusst will not outright ssay sssuch?" She asks. "I am beginning to think that Am'sshere having trade with thiss place is a misstake."

And then Braelnoir was there, and she just sighs. "I am ssorry, Braelnoir. Thesse idiotss jusst let Firessstarter back to Larsss. I wasss trying to bring them to you sso we could figure out a plan."

"Hey everyone knows Lars and 'Stars got that rocky relationship energy." One of the colosseum's finest says, with a laugh and a rude finger and circle 'handsign' gesture towards Aryia. "Breakin' up and and gettin' back, him showing up with black eyes and a broken nose because he 'happened' to walk into a door."

"He's an idiot for staying with her." Or they're idiots for believing the story, but it's clear a foundation has been laid.

Brae's expression becomes more a study in contrast as she gets more and more of what's being said. Curiosity in the highlights, calculation in the midtones and the shadows are draped in pessimism and the gallows.

She looks to Aryia as they share proximity, clapping her shoulder before she signs, "That isn't a casual invocation. What'd they do?" <handspeech>

Looking over the Mul'niessa's head toward the gaggle of armsmen for an indiscrete appraisal before Lanier's hail pulls her focus his way. She brightens a bit, "Another o'those damned Witchcrows?" she quips, as she obliterated the one she was actively worried about since then, though the perk of her eyebrow doesn't leave.

It's Seyardu's interjections, however, that briefly bring it's twin up an instant, just long enough to bring the first down to 'glower' level and she snarls a hateful, "WHAT!!??" in a rumbling bellow that scarecly sounds like it belongs to the throat producing it, the woman's amber eyes at once a solid, slit pupiled gold. <Draconic>

The Korite stalks past the smaller woman like a stormcloud passing the mountains, her limbs slightly larger, the sinews more tightly corded than the'd been not long ago and she is awash with the accumulative scent of dragon's rage, "D'YOU SONSABITCHES KNOW WHAT THE FUCK YA'VE DONE?"

Aryia wheels back and out of the way for the stormcloud, her feeling quite vindicated as the Korite woman bellows at them. "Next time I train here, I'm fighting one of you fuckers," she threatens, pointing at the guards. <Handspeech>

She steps up to Braelnoir, the glowing-gaze firm and determined as she lays hand one an arm, gesturing sharply, different dialect. "Come. Regroup with us. We have intel." <Merctalk>

"Don't know, don't care, Braelnoir," One of the guards says, the Korrite known. Not surprising really. "It's /Domestic/. Don't get involved with domestic problems. They sort themselves out and you get screwed."

"Sure." Another signs back at Aryia, "We'll make sure it's someone that can hand your ass to you. Consider it a date!" Followed by the circle and stick 'handsign', again, directly pointing at the mul'niessa. <handsign>

"Good luck with your intel." The guards are heading off. It's a big colosseum however, lots of dark corners. However, lots of wide open space and witnesses in this particular part of it. <Merctalk>

It's highly unlikely the exchange escaped notice.

Seyardu stares at the guards as Braelnoir yells at them, and listening to them, she growls under her breath. "What? Are you putting it on someone else because you do not feel confident enough to fight Aryia?" Seyardu asks, one brow raised. "So, you must know what she is capable of. And likely what I am capable of. Which means that we likely had a valid reason for acting as we did."

"If this is domestic, then you are painting an incredibly poor view of softskin relationships. Just know that when we prove this correct, we will make it known the role you had in dealing with it. And I will have no sympathy for those consorting with slavers."

"It's MAGIC, YOU DRIPPY-ASSED-!" Brae begins with a snarl, breaking off and twisting toward the sudden clasp on her arm with her face a twisted mask of fury..... stippled here and there with surprise.

She seethes there for a second, her skin peppered with tiny flecks of silver, taking in the communicative gestures before she seems to 'relax'.

She blinks, eyes returning to normal as the twinkling disruptions of her human veneer recede into nothingness, the cordage set to a more typical 'slack'.

She doesn't seem any less swole, though.

She spits to one side, sneering, "Kor-forsaken REMF's, may you lot wither long an' grey in Kor's wake."

In case her fond valediction isn't enough... well, she makes a note of their faces, "... They'd gone b'now, regardless....." a pause and shake of her head, "Sons a bitches....!"

"Lars? A slaver?" The guards genuinely laugh at that, "He's wuss that can't take a punch. We all know how well he fights."

Looks are exchanged between them, they don't have a good opinion of his martial prowress. "He's a bard, can't fight his way out of a sack. He's worked here for years. He's harmless. You don't know how many times we've had to stop someone beating his ass."

Another guard chimes in, "Look, miss understands-softskins-better-than-softskins, it's how they are. He likes women who can punch his face in, she's a woman who can. He's a saint for staying with her after what she's done to him. Broken. Bones."

There's another, that gives Seyardu a look, a sympathetic one, "We have intervened, before, and 'Star always admits fault. Some people aren't good people, and she's one. There's only so many times you deal with a reversing story before you give up."

"Yeah, everyone's got magic, you were using magic. Who are we supposed to believe."

Aryia scowls heavily at them as they go. "Coward," she signs, making a skittering motion with her hands.

She looks between all the guards, then the party, then back to the guards before gesturing widely. "Can we please quit this place. These pricks aren't helping with jack shit, they've got sticks up their asses so far they're choking on it." <Handspeech>

"How about I bring a gnome here with me some time, get him to cast a spell on you, make you absolutely fawn over them and talk about how wonderful of a person they are for staying with you." Seyardu snorts. "But I get it, there is no changing your minds unless forced to by magic. Sstrange thing, that isss."

"But I get it. I could show that they are being controlled with magic any time they are around, asss they would never be around him otherwisse and you would sstill say sso." The cleric states, before turning away. "Let us go elsewhere, yes."

There are no responses this time, just further chuckling from the guards as they move on. And possibly, a word with official.

Leaving the group to themselves, and a better locale, such as the Ox Strength.

---

The Ox Strength Tavern

It's early in the night. Patrons have only just started drinking and haven't selected their dance partners for the inevitable brawl.

Walking into the Ox Strength Tavern, Lanier has very quickly opted to leave Spud outside, as he may draw more attention than wanted in an establishment like this. He walks through the common room with a gaze that sweeps across the room, trying to be aware of as much as possible. He finds them a table large enough to seat all of them, with enough noise happening around them to drown out the conversation. Sliding out the chair, the ranger drops onto it with a huff.

Aryia runs to get some drinks for all, her coming back with a large pitcher of beer and mugs for everyone. She passes it out for them, pours herself a drink, then flops into a chair with a long sigh.

Brae is.... well, she's uncharacteristically quiet during the walk.

Well, outside the creaks of her equipment and leather attire, anyway, though she doesn't seem to be dressing for the weather, as it were.

Maybe she's born with it?

Maybe it's Merkabahn.

In any case, she is clearly in her own head as they walk, though she glances about as habit along the way, perhaps to stave off potential ambush.

Or, perhaps to gleefully invite the protocorpses in for a little soiree'.

Scythe propped blade down against the wall close to hand, the silvermane slumps into a chair beside Lanier before she removes the spiked gauntlet from her hand and sets it on the table.

It isn't until after the Korite intones a steely, "Talk to me." that she reaches her now bare hand out to claim a tankard of 'maybe not kill someone'.

Seyardu joins the group in leaving, letting the last of the frustration vent before they get to the tavern. When they reach the building, she steps inside, to the table Lanier picked out, and Aryia supplied. The magic was dropped before they got farther, as they likely were not going to run into firestarter or Lars in the hour, and starting more of a commotion would not be ideal. She finds a stool to pull to the table, and sits down finally.

"I am sorry, Braelnoir, it is my fault." She states when she take a mug for herself. "Firestarter was with me, I was using magic that would subdue any present. But I could not actually dispel it while doing so, I was not prepared."

Aryia sighs, shaking her head as she drinks on her beer. "You didn't know you were going to get into this, Seyardu. We did what we could during that. Not your fault the guards are pricks. There was something about 'the plan'. What plan?" <Handspeech>

Mikilos sighs, exiting from the kitchen, and grabs himself a bottle from behind the bar. "It's a DISH washer. Dishes. Not clothing, not veggies, not pets, certainly not people. DISHES. How can it be so hard to understand?" The elf takes a swig of the claimed bottle, and regrets the choice instantly. Ox Strength Tavern, where learning to read labels is a survival trait.

The Korite puts a significant hurt on her beer before she sets it back down.

Brae wipes the beer mustache from her face with the back of her currently bare fist, then, catching Aryia's signs, she signs, "No... ya cain't be prepared fer everythin' all'time."

Her voice is really halfheartedly selling that, she could just as easily be blaming herself for having met with so many delays and dead ends, "I can't warn'nough people about ath son of a bitch fast enough. Hell, he done got me again, twice since that first time." 'That first time' comes with a look toward Lanier.

"Star'ad a partner, the other Arvek from my swimming lesson, 'member? They been 'estranged' since Lars got's magic inta Star, an' I been tryin' ta find a way ta protect myself from that kinda mojo so I can put'm down an free her."

A sigh, "I promised. Then, everyone I ask about defenses against mind whammies just... doesn't quite get me there."

Lanier shakes his head to Seyardu, "That was more the guard's fault than yours." He then looks back to Braelnoir and frowns, "I'm starting to understand a little more about how Lars' operation works. I was able to track down one of the mages." He takes a moment, as if collecting his thoughts before he goes on to say, "Evidently these people are sourcing these creatures from monster hunts contracted through the Explorers guild as contracts to subdue them and bring them in. Then there were also direct bounties through the colosseum for monster hunters. I can't help wonder if this Lamia was an adventurer, which coincides with these people's opinion that adventurers are a renewable resource. They're used, milked for gold, and then discarded just like that. As a matter of fact, the Lamia wasn't captured. She approached them, looking for work, and then..."

The ranger trails off, his eyes narrowing, "They constructed a narrative regarding her being a medusa, and then the mages themselves turned those adventurers to stone, and cast other spells to 'even the fight'." He looks up, his emerald eyes going between those gathered, "They can burn, for all I care."

Looking towards Braelnoir, his eyebrows knit together, "Any of that sound familiar based on your experiences?"

"No. I need to put my foot down with these guards. Seems no matter where you go, they're either crooked or incompetent, and sure completely of themselves in spite of that." Seyardu sighs. "I would not be surprised if Lars has them in his pocket, or convinced everyone of the narrative he wishes." Seyardu sighs. "I was hoping to figure out what spell he used on her. If I knew that, I could stop it. But now she is gone."

"Firestarter told me a bit about what they were doing. Lars keeps people charmed to work for him, usually people that can get hit instead of him. They're convinced while under the magic that he is a good person, and that whatever feelings they have are genuine."

"So, what you say sounds in line. I hope that Lamia will be okay, and is not going to be silenced somehow."

Aryia nods in agreement with Seyardu, and nodding as well with Lanier's story. "I need to do that too, Seyardu. I need to kick their assess."

She spies Mikilos, her blinking and raising a hand, waving them on over. She sighs heavily, shaking her head. <Handspeech>

Mikilos sputters a little, discarding the bottle of swill, and grabs another, after a moment thought tossing a few coin to the man acting as bartender. A cautious swig, an accepting frown, and a look around the room has the wizard heading towards the table of adventurers, nodding politely to the familiar faces. "What's this about a Lamia? And Lars is back?"

"He... does that." Brae growls softly, then, perhaps hearing the timbre in her voice, reaches for her beer and kills it.

She looks to Lanier as he splices the previous affair with this new perfidy and she shakes her head, "The Lamia coulda been like I was... she turn back ta someone else when ya got her in the cells?"

Her knuckles float as she briefly clenches her bist, then, "I... dunno how he gotta hold o'me last time. I thought where m'sister set me up was gonna be secure, hell, she thought it was secure, but there I was."

Bread or circus?

You decide!

"He does end up havin' a lotta mages around fer his spectactles, though."

She murmurs something under her breath about crooked guards, then, "I seen'm do teleport spells, on top'v his mental whammies, an' he can use music ta stir folk up. Amongst other things... I never saw him put the whammy on me, but he did, a lot."

The new interjection brings her up ta Mikilos, "Yeah, 'parantly there's a new thing since the summonin' magic's been poofed. I didn't think much of all the guild bounties fer the Collosseum fer 'interestin' critters ta bring in. Had too much shit on m'plate as it was. Anyway, yeah, m'fav'ritest person still breathin' is back in action. They just had a run in with'm an somehow he turned a lamia to a medusa'r some shit."

Lanier shakes his head, "No. None of us have seen the Lamia back in the cells yet." He then considers it for a moment, "The mages are always around the Coloseum to summon creatures for gladiators to fight. With the antisummoning in place, they're casting spells in support of the creatures they send to slaughter against adventurers who are in turn being sent to slaughter. The only one winning here is Lars."

"So we know that he can not teleport away, either." Seyardu notes, then she sighs into her drink. "Mother preserve me, it is Altay all over again. The guards are useless, and convinced he does nothing wrong. Is killing him the only solution? Since he has chased you down after to use the spell again, apparently. It is not safe for him to be around."

"And no one thinks he had anything to do with this situation, either. Could bring it up to those at the colosseum that it is like what happened before. But while he is still around, he will just find someone else to twist to his bidding."

Aryia gestures, her nodding with Lanier. "Don't know either. We still have to talk to her. I think she's a good heart, but Lars mind blasted her too."

The mute regards Seyardu, her pursing her lips. "You know good and well about half this table would love to have a private, dark alleyway with him for about one minute then leave no trace. He's smart, has too many eyes on him at all times. If he's like Altay, then we can skip all this dumb shit with justice and what have you, and break his spineless spine." <Handspeech>

Mikilos frowns, unclear the details of events, but catching the general trend. "I havn't seen the contracts recently, but mages in the Colluseum used to be contracted just to conjur monsters and keep the audience safe. Announcers had their own spells for volume and special effects." He smiles to Aryia. "A minute? I doubt we'd need that long... though suppose would be nice to linger."

"We best get out thattaway an' make sure she doesn't trip over a suicide or somethin'." Brae suggests, reaching out for refill her beer. With a look to Lanier, she reaches out to gently pat his hand, "I'ma guess he's the one ya shot, luv. That puts a smile'n m'heart. Thanks, Lan." Her smile is genuine, if somewhat vindictive, then it's back to business.

"I run into'm the second time in th'Ox. I coldcocked'm, but I wasn't payin' attention, and he put the mojo on me, then had me an' Star throw down while he skipped out."

She takes a swig from the newly fill tankard, then, "Second time I's tryin' ta run interference, stop some adventurers from fallin' fer his bullshit an' he gets me again. Got me, Star and some others inta some hot shit, but we come through... Think I scared th'shit outta him after dustin' them two fire lizards way I had."

"Really love ta off th'motherfucker m'self, but knowin' he's dead with no remains ta bring back.... well, I could learn ta live with that too."

"We need to go see them. Seeing how I was acting at the colosseum, no doubt he is on edge, and may seek to correct matters, it is true." Seyardu offers. "And I know, Aryia, I just wish it would not come to that. That perhaps either they could see reason, or that the guard would do their job. As it stands now, we just finished making sure they did not kill a kid as a suspected spy from Charn."

"Which is to say, that I doubt they will help, and what we do will not garner any good will with the city. But, I do not think that the Celestial Mother would forsake me going through with this."

Aryia looks up at Seyardu with a slight frown, her signing slowly. "Seyardu, I appreciate you trying to find the good in some people. Or at least right their wrongs. But some people are just are pricks, and need to have their dues taken. Braelnoir here has given many reasons. Like you said, this is like Altay. And this guy fucking deserves it. I can feel Braelnoir's anger from here, and she is entirely justified felling the blade for it." <Handspeech>

Mikilos nods. "Most people have a bit of good in them, and should try to bring it out. But some people are just rotten to the core."

Cesran comes into the Ox-Strength Tavern and shuts the door behind him. He heads over to order a drink and he gives a polite nod to those that he knows and those that know him. He looks around the room for a moment before he gets his drink and goes to find a seat at a table.

Brae nods, then to Seyardu and Aryia in turns as they speak before she settles back for a moment in her seat, tankard in hand.

"I might b'able ta talk ta the guards o'those cells. They... had mer fer a while after the Colloseeum thing, maybe I could use that ta talk'm into letting us by. Unarmed, all likelyhood."

There's a shrug, then, "Only good in Lars is he ain't dumb enough ta just send folk otu ta th'front without supportin'm in a fight, an' he's got good instincts. Wasn't such a Turd custard he'd probably be a decent officer somewhere."

She kills the beer, then sets the tankard aside, "I wanna tear's balls off, jam my hand up through the hole an' see if I cain't make him sing along to a song like one of those socks with the googly eyes ya seen in the lower market sometimes."

"Jinks said they may be able to do something similar. I do not know where they are now, if they escorted them to the arcanist dungeon. I never am certain what exactly they are planning." Seyardu offers to the table. She sighs at Braelnoir's speaking. "Just because I think that they are better off dead, does not mean I condone needless torture in the process. It is a means to an end for the benefit of the city and many people, and nothing more. I do not see the city guard finding reform in time to deal with him, so it is what it is."

Mikilos nods. "Getting into the warded cells typically isn't too hard, they're more worried about people getting out. They are particular of what materials you take in, but nothing unexpected. No lock picks, no weapons, things like that,"

Stjepan ducks in under the lintel of the Ox-Strength. Tonight, apparently, he's after something harder than usual. So? Here he is. He scans the room, heads for the bar, and orders whiskey -- safest drink in the house.

Cesran nurses his drink as he sits at the table. His staff is with him but silent at the moment as Cesran continues to scan the room. Apparently not seeing who he was looking for he takes out a book and opens it up before he sips his drink and starts to read as he just listens right now to what's going on.

Aryia shrugs at Seyardu. "I guess."

She regards Mikilos, her grinning a bit. "... no weapons you say..?" she silently chuckles. "Well, I can attend. And in the fucker is there, there's nothing that will help him against me." <HAndspeech>

To Cesran, it looks like the table is venting frustrations and conspiring about something or another. <Handspeech>

Stjepan leaning up at the bar, he turns around, noting familiar faces as he leans back on an elbow. The whiskey, well, he's at it right away. A needful thing.

"... sink like a stone that's been thrown in the ocean," Jinks walks in beneath the dancing lights of his multi-hued pastel will-o'-wispsm bundled up in a heavy coat and fine shawl. "My logic has drowned in a sea of emotions..." He runs his beringed fingers down the cowl of his drape, pushing it back off his shock-white hair and pulling the wrap open to let it drape like a bundled stole.

"Stop before you start..." the gnome carries the tune with him even as the wisps cavort apart and fade into the warm hearthglow of the common room. He's in white-trimmed greys with matte, platinum buttons dotted with onyx settings. His lips are dusted white, his eyes lined similarly, and both give him the appearance of stepping from fresh a snowbank outside.

-Ting- goes the coin. Jumping from a flicked pinky, caught on the tip of his index-finger to roll like a drunk between his nimble digits. He's found the bar and with a -clack- the coin finds countertop. A finger indicates a choice bottle from the topshelf.

"... be still my beating heart."

Mikilos shrugs again. "My experience is mostly from the black ooze plague, the people there wanted to stay, mostly, so not a standard time. But lack of magic makes things different. Can only guess how much of Lars charm is arcane enhanced."

"My transformation was supressed when I's there, so I was me again." Brae returns, then shrugs, "I ain't been back since I... well, since whatever I am, now. I ain't... sure what'll happen."

Stjepan glances over and nod, and nods, as Jinks rolls in. He wasn't so picky about his whiskey, though, and now he wants another. The glass slides across the bartop.

"Whatever happens, we will sort it out." Seyardu sighs, finding the bottom of her mug afterwards in the process. "But, it is magic he uses. It stopped working when I used magic to disrupt all active magics around me."

She waves to the gnome who makes their way in, and chuckles. "Hey, Jinks! I have a job for you, if you are interested in it."

Aryia waves to Jinks and Stejpan as they enter, her bobbing her head at the mention of a job for the gnome.

Waiting his turn, Jinks pivots and nods acknowledgement of those seeking his attention. He's standing with one foot on a stool rung and the other on the bar rail, balancing his elbow on the bartop. When the thin measure of amber liquid is set before him he takes a brief moment to tilt the glass and inspect the drink before swallowing it in one. Back goes the glass and he slaps out a few more coins for gratuity.

He crosses the floor, eyes squinting shut as he cups both hands over his mouth and yawns. Blinking, he stops and folds his arms.

"'A job,' you say?" he asks as a whisper-thin eyebrow quirks.

"A job, yes. Turns out there are more guards here that don't understand slavery." Seyardu grumbles, refilling her mug with more from the pitcher. "Or how someone can be enslaved for magic that lasts for a day to like someone. So, I was thinking, you could go over to the colosseum, use some magic on the guard to make them like you, until they get the point."

Seyardu takes a long swig of her beer, then sighs. "That was a joke, do not actually do that. Is the Lamia from earlier alright?"

"They wouldn't take the lesson, even if it was a good idea." Brae replies grimly, "The Lamia's background might give us a timeframe, way o'guaging how he much ground he can cover, or what other assets he might have on tap."

Stjepan waves towards Aryia, picking up his whiskey glass again. He nods briefly, then comes off the counter to amble over towards the conversation. "Lamia. That's a rare-thing."

Aryia gestures, "I still think it'd be a good idea to know what those colosseum guards feel like if they get their asses mind blasted. I think it'd be funny to boot." <Handspeech>

Mikilos frowns. "Normally the mind kinds shrugs away mental magics. It's only if you do something you later regret that it really gets noticed it was cast at all. You'd have to get the guards to do something they end up regretting for the feeling to stick."

"I thikn th'way Lars does it requires ya ta be careful in what ya ask." the silvermane notes, "It ain't a vice an puppet strings on yer mind like when them demon bitches done me at the river." There's a glance at the pitcher of beer, but she doesn't make another sortie into it's contents, "That getcha a lot more o'stuff folk normally wouldn't do."

"Ah," Jinks says, blinking once and putting on a smile. "Such a spell is beyond me, believe it or not; I can make someone forget a bad first impression but I can't use the Weave to make someone like me.

"That's up to my winning personality... or poor judgement on their part." The gnome grins and winks. "I suppose Coyote scampered through my life's tale in the Hymn and decided my physical endowments were enough to stand on their own merits."

The minstrel lowers his chin and offering the briefest of sultry gazes as his mouth opens a sliver and he licks the underside of his upper teeth. He's barely throw the act before he's laugh, eyes shutting as he crosses his wrists over his chest. "... oh my."

"She's comfortable enough... but upset," he finally answers, growing a bit more sombre as he considers Seyardu's latter question. "Halani's promised to join me and translate... we, uh, both need to apologize."

"Well, you could read a scroll, perhaps?" Seyardu suggests. "Could be good, it would be even more obvious. But ah,yes, it would need to be very obvious. And the guards may secretly hide their feelings for Jinks, so it may not be strange. That would not be a surprise, either."

Seyardu sighs. "Just so you are aware, Firestarter is gone Jinks. Guards were convinced Lars is a doting husband concerned where she was, and got her to leave. They would not take no for an answer. But, it is good the Lamia is alright, at least."

Mikilos says, "If you need aid in translation, I'm rather good with languages."

Brae has setted somewhat into herself as the others go into the finger points of linguistics and apologies. She isn't sure what Lamia speak, but notes, "Magic won't work where she is."

Aryia signs, "Hence Halani. She can do something that's not magic, right?" <Handspeech>

And with that, the group conspires to figure out what to ask the lamia, as well as what to do should they encounter Lars once more.

Sometimes, some things have to be done above the law.

Especially when the law doesn't do anything to help.

Time to get busy.

-End Scene-