Coyote Meets Phoenix

Having been informed by Sandy that she needs to meet Jibbom, Jessa has a run of luck (?) outside of the Temple of Tarien. Coyote meets Phoenix and egos collide.

The thing is....the thing is, in general, even when you are a Priestess of Ceinara, if you are a halfling? You have a soft spot for Tarien. Jessa Hartose certainly does and thus it is that she arrives atop her brown mastiff, patting the side of his neck gently as she surveys the temple circle. Checking her bag, she looks about but alas. No Double Rainbow in sight. Ah well, that will have to come at a different time. It is always acceptable to mock Agril, after all.

Either way, she directs her dogs through the crowds, occasionally shouting at the giants who can't be bothered to watch for halflings--though why one wouldn't in a place like this? Is a question for the ages. Either way, she seems to be headed for the front of the Tarien temple space. Jibbom has grown used to the crowdings of giantborn and other very tall people during his time in Alexandria. He darts around and between such people while navigating the crowd, occassionally shouting at particularly stubborn obstructions. "Out of the way! Local hero coming through! Make way for the Bane of the Night! I... ooof!" Apparently, skills at avoiding looming giants do not extend to avoiding dogs, and he nearly collides while en route to the very same temple. Curses!

"Now look!" Jessa's voice is high, loud, and (lucky) rather pleasnt to listen to, even when raised in annoyance. "I expect behavior such as that from the giants but -really-, you should know better." She moves her dog to one side and glares around, causing slightly more room to open up about them. "And--did you call yourself the Bane of the Night? That isn't just some sort of terrible rumor?"

'Jibbom remains poised even in the most ungraceful of situations. Completely ignoring Jessa's entirely justified annoyance about his stumbling, the halfling beams with pride, grinning ear to ear. "Indeed! Behold, it is I, Steel Von Ironblood, Bane of the Night! Hero of Alexandria, savior of the Quarry Nymphs, slayer of drakes and humbler of bandits!"

"You, sir, clearly have grasped the proper manner in which to market yourself," Jessa says with a laugh, her annoyance fading in the face of his declarations. "I applaud your creativity. Do you have an actual name, in addition to all those titles?"

"The cultivation of the Steel Von Ironblood legend is essential to the morale of the peoples of Alexandria." Jibbom explains, prideful grin going nowhere. He leans against a nearby lamppost as he talks. "Some also call me Jibbom Taribree. Or simply 'The Jibbom' for those who prefer brevity. What of yourself?"

Sliding down off her dog, Jessa settles her hands on her hips before sweeping into a graceful (and theatrical) bow. "You have the distinct privledge of being able to speak with Jessa Hartose, Muse and Beloved of Ceinara, the Phoenix and Watcher of Alexandria. Veteran of the Whitefoot War, lover of Song, Dance, and Art and newly returned to the city. Sandy said I should meet you."

Jibbom raises his eyebrows. "Whitefoot? I believe I heard tales of that... some sort of ghost pirate lord who laid siege to the city, or somesuch?" Clearly, some of the details have been lost or forgotten by the halfling. He seems impressed regardless. "A pleasure to meet a fellow hero... and as always, a pleasure to meet one of the Storyteller's." At the mention of Sandy's name, he grins even brighter. "Oh, did she? How fantastic! Ah, did she happen to mention whether she's divorced me yet or not? I keep trying to ask her, but she always gets upset and shoves me in a barrel or somesuch. She's got a temper."

"Something like that. The city was rather lively for a time." But forget the past. Jessa's sharp little features light up into a wide, pleased smile. "She had not even mentioned that the two of you were -married-. Oh this is far too delicious. Come, come. You must tell me everything." She waves a hand, snagging the reins of her dog and heading for the steps of the Temple of Tarien, intending to plant herself there so that she can hear the whole, hopefully-sordid tale.

Jibbom follows along to the temple steps, taking a seat so that he can properly explain, in his own vague and confusing fashion. "Well, to be honest, the whole thing's a bit of a mystery to me. These Alexandrians have some very odd matrimonial customs. I went to the courthouse to deliver a petition I'd been circulating to demand various public works and improvements to the city. Sandy was there at the time, and I can only assume the marriage occured thanks to a combination of her infatuation with me and general paperwork confusion. It is difficult to say. She seems more fond of shoving me into barrels than discussing our marriage."

"She has always been one with a decided love of violence. Ah. So no attempted love, no strangely bizarre yet appealing courtship?" Jessa looks almost disappointed, lifting her eyebrows hopefully. "Are you sure you did not have to get married to cease feuding between two aggressive factions? One of which may have been Sandy herself?"

"Alas, no. Though perhaps I should add that to future retellings. That sounds far more entertaining." Jibbom seems to ponder this for a moment before nodding, pleased with the notion. "In any case, it is ultimately to the benefit of the many ladies of Alexandria. While Sandy is impressive, if the Bane of the Night couldn't be persuaded to dwell in the underground pleasure palaces of the quarry nymphs, it is unlikely one could ever forever capture him."

"That's darling. That you automatically assume that all women would benefit from your being single. Also, using the third person to talk about yourself." Still, Jessa's laughing faintly. "Perhaps you were trying to spare the city potential fights over you but it seemed the weeping of the various maidens of the city at you being taken off the market broken your heart."

"Thank you." Jibbom replies with a proud grin, evidently detecting no sarcasm or mockery in the other halfling's words. Or if he does detect it, he certainly choses to ignore it. "I like that take, too. I shall have to add it into my future retellings."

Sandy will try to kill Jessa. When she eventually hears, assesses, and figures out just who would be reckless enough to start rumors like that about her. Only a halfling would be -that- fearless. "Yes. Something told me that that would appeal to you."

"Indeed! You do your lady proud, Hartose." Jibbom is quite thrilled with the idea of furthering such rumors, despite the abuse he has apparently already suffered at Sandy's hands. "Perhaps I shall work it into the announcements at the next Arena night. Always a good time to share information with a captive audience."

"Well. Since it is clear that you enjoy living dangerously," Jessa says, starting to laugh again. Ooh, how the whole situation appears to amuse her. "Goodness. Sandy married. I truly cannot imagine such a thing."

"Have you known Sandy long, then? Despite our matrimonial entanglement, she has not seen fit to share with me many details of her past." Jibbom remarks, stroking his chin and pondering for a moment.

"Well, I was gone for a time. I know her as well as anyone can." Which isn't very well at all, her tone implies. "As long as I have known her, she has been rather...cantankerous. Yes."

"Indeed. She remains a mystery even to her husband." Jibbom replies in a voice which sounds far more long-suffering than he could possibly be. "But the heroes of Alexandira can be an odd bunch. We all have our eccentricities. I myself have been known to be too modest."

"Is -that- the term that has been applied to you? Eccentric -indeed-." Jessa's back to grinning widely. "A shame that people should cast such aspersions on you."

"There will always be those who seek to tear down figures of myth and legend. All one can do is stay resolved and resolute within the face of such baseless slander." Jibbom says with a quick nod of his head.

"So brave. So selfless." Jessa's voice? So very dry.

Dryness aside, it clearly doesn't take much to reinforce Jibbom's already considerably puffed-up ego. He just nods again and grins. "Indeed. So! As a veteran of previous conflicts, no doubt you'll be signing up with the Explorer's Guild, eh? Perhaps we'll be embarking upon adventure together in the future."

"Oh, I already have. They are always after clerics to join since Adventurers do end up hurt so very easily. It is a good way for some entertainment and some money. Nothing like outrunning a pack of rabid cultists or escaping the confines of a deep dank cavern to get the blood flowing." Jessa claps her hands together, nodding for emphasis.

"I'll have to take your word on the rabid cultists. I've encountered cultists, and I've encountered rabid animals, but never the both at once." Jibbom says, pondering. "Though I can agree on the cavern bit. So many bad things seem to happen in caves. I wonder why that is."

"Lack of sunlight and perhaps the inhabitants endeavoring to meet the adventurers expectations," Jessa says with a faint laugh. "I mean, at this point if I went into a cave and encountered no resistance at all, I'd begin to feel cheated."

"Too true!" Jibbom agrees with a bright grin. "Venturing into an empty and boring cave would be a waste of an opportunity that could otherwise be used to add to the legend and inspire Alexandrians."

"Yes. Yes, that should be the motivation, yes." Jessa narrows her eyes slightly as she considers him, one finger lightly tapping the holy symbol on her chest.

"Well, a Muse such as yourself no doubt knows the value of an inspiring legend to people. Particularly those beset by as much frequent and bizarre trouble as Alexandria seems to be." Jibbom ponders for a second. "Then again, I suppose everywhere is, in its own way."

"Alexandria has always had a certain theatrical nature to its disasters. I suppose that is why I end up here, in the end, every time I travel away for a bit." Jessa nods at his words, sighing faintly. "I mean, you can see problems everywhere. But they really do seem to go the extra mile here."

"You certainly seem to be onto something there. I've lived as something of a traveler myself." Jibbom says, likely to no one's surprise. "But the city has a certain pull to it. I haven't felt any desire to move on yet, which is unusual for me."

"Well, as an adventurer you certainly get your share of time outside the city on assignments. That may well take care of some urges. And with the people coming and going here, it certainly is not possible to get -bored- unless you are refusing to leave your room." Jessa considers that. "And some people would be able to entertain themselves there as well."

"You have a point there. Travel is part of the job, and I might well go stir crazy without it." Jibbom says with a wide smile. "One lucky bunch actually got to go on an adventure to the moon the other day, if you can believe it. I've been kicking myself for missing that posting. It's just a matter of staying busy and entertained."

"...the moon? Really? From Alexandria?" Jessa is impressed. "Well. I've time before I am ready for one of -those- adventures but. That does sound promising."

"You'll have to ask one of the lucky bunch about it. From what I understood they all returned in one piece. Or alive, anyways." Jibbom says with a wide smile. "No doubt a good story in that one."

"Hopefully one of the bards or one of my flock will get to them and make a good song about it." Jessa makes a mental note.

"I look forward to hearing it. Have you met Jinks? He might be a good candidate for penning such a ballad." Jibbom says with a broad grin.

"No. But I've only been in town for a few days. Give me a week and I'm sure I will have met the most important figures about now." Jessa nods firmly to punctuate that.

"Well, you've already met me, so that's the most important one taken care of. Sandy's somewhere up there, too. So you're ahead of the game." Jibbom assures, grinning. "You just need to meet Jinks. Oh! And the Mighty Donk. Have you met him? He is Steel Von Ironblood's closest friend, another hero of great importance to the city."

"Are you talking about yourself in the third person again? Or do you consider Steel Von Ironblood to be a persona, so to speak?" Jessa is eyeing Jibbom again.

"Yes." Jibbom answers, not making it the least bit clear which of those questions he was answering affirmatively. He smiles anyways.

"Oh. Lovely." Jessa has a smile on her face but it is the vaguely fixed one. "Well, perhaps I shall run into them on my rounds. I am rather busy."

"Indeed! Steel Von Ironblood keeps quite busy as well." Jibbom says, standing up straighter. "Speaking of, I must be off. But it was a great pleasure meeting you, Muse. Hopefully the Coyote shall cause our paths to cross again soon."

"Time will tell, Jibbom." Jessa smiles faintly. "Time will tell. -Do- take care, hm?"

"I always do." Jibbom replies, smiling and gesturing as if he is tipping a hat he doesn't appear to be wearing. With that, he scampers off.