Warehouse Gossip
Hot, humid, veiled in mist. A story never ending - and so is the beat and heart of the city, it seemed, the ports active with hustle and bustle.
A ruddy-scaled sith-makar was weaving his way through the crowd. A large box was balanced atop the leatherpadded shoulder and he was leaning to the side; the Dragoon, Aelwyn was grunting and heaving as he pushed on through. The typically free flowing red loincloth was now tied and moisture clung onto those autumn shaded scales - especially around his maw and neck.
It was hard work after all - one needs his drinks.
The many-ribboned glaive was strapped around his back, held high as if it were a flagpole of sorts.
A story never ending. Or with highs and lows. Birds flock about in the sky, though one is far larger than most, and way more colorful than them (in her biased opinion). Slix, with feathered wings spread wide, glides down from up on high, her looking positively brimming, like she was going to explode into an energetic sprint. Talons clack onto the ground, and she's smoothing her robes down. A glance aside. Perk up. "Oh heeeey!"
From within the Ox-Strength doorway the Bard appears, her coat and instrument case carried by hand and arm as she steps off into the roadway. Eyes ram, the morning crowd and busy streets showing the port is as active as ever. It's good then that Aelwyn makes himself easy to spot, his colors and work efforts making him standout amongst the sea of faces. Then it's Slixvah, and the gliding. Oh, that's a wonderful site, the bard all smiles as she watches the two. She had been about to call out, her feet carrying her that way, but she pauses. A flush, and smirk replacing her smile now unsure if she should interrupt that meeting.
Aelwyn was breathing in and out steadily, pacing himself as he tried to carry the heavy box. It's wood was worn and splintered in places; thick ropes wrapped around it along with some seaweed. At least one can hope it was seaweed. It was all a distraction enough to distract himself from the distraction that just landed somewhere besides him - and then he suddenly stops. "Oi! Wahh it!" A few-toothed big fella shouts and then annoyedly waves his hand, moving past the Dragoon.
"Ribbon." The Dragoon grunts and attempts to -in a very difficult fashion- bow his head towards her. A toothy grin soon follows. "Was that her the skies graced?"
Slixvah snickers, unaware of the bard's snooping as she side steps the big fella with a side eye. She snaps a finger gun towards Aelwyn. "Absolutely was, sugar!" she coos, turning around and flaring her wings out. She swoops from side to side, showing off all the thick feathers as the ribbons clatter softly. "Look! Look! They came in! They came in!!"
Each twist narrowly misses passerbys.
"I am sure everyone noticed. I did." Patch muses at the talk of feathers, deciding she might as well say 'hello'. Her feet carry her towards them, her tight-lipped smirk still on her features as the small woman weaves through the crowd. "Careening through sky with ribbon and grace." a nod to her own words, reaching them quickly. She is the bard who marches.
"And hello to you both." The bard dipping her head, and glancing to Aelwyn. "Consumed in work? Looks heavy."
Aelwyn looks over the feathers with an appreciative eye, and his smile keeps widening in. "Hmmh, how could they not?" He rumbles a little, or at least tries to from under the weight, "Very few, this one would imagine, could resist adorning her."
A hand moves to grab the edge of the box he was holding and he heaves, dropping the box down in front of him. Well, supposed he was trying to put it down, but it mostly just fell off his arms. Taking in a deep inhale and rolling his shoulders, he looks over towards Patch. "Consumed? Hmmh, this one saves those for more savory moments." Toothy grin.
Slixvah's face feathers floof up a bit at the voice that announces itself. "Why hello there," She looks over, wings staying splayed out like she was showing off.
Because she was.
She turns her attention to the box that was placed down. "Y'all are too kind. Whatcha got this time, Flutter?" she hums then inquires, taking a half step towards the two of them.
Patch tsks playfully, a hand rising to smooth the feathers on one side of Slixvah's cheeks as she draws near. "So cute." the balancing act causing her to shift her case and coat to one arm for it, but she does. "All, fancy and strutting. I like it." she muses, turning back to Aelwyn with a grin. "More savory moments? Well... that tongue does..." pausing and looking back to Slixvah and going quiet. "I won't finish that in public. Apologies." a slight flush as she is easily reminded of the crowd as people pass and weave around them.
Aelwyn's own chest heaves up and he seems to adopt a bit of a pose himself - a proper preen needs a proper respect. Or maybe he was just tad jealous of the egalrin's display. Tail whipping around behinds himself, he rumbles, "A crate to there," He nods his head towards the large open warehouse nearby. Boxes were shuttled back and forth - mostly by manual labour. Good thing working such long hours is that very few minds if he flat out moves to sit atop the crate in the middle of the street. "How are the new feathers? Mind giving a closer look, Ribbon?"
Hoisting one leg atop the box, the other left hanging, Aelwyn tilts his head towards Patch. "This one thinks she wanted to finish right there and then," He rumbles in amusement.
Slixvah's feathers don't smooth out at the affection, in fact, they grow more floofy as half said words have full implied meanings. She coughs into the crook of her elbow, "Duly noted..."
A look to both of them. She raises both hands. Then lightly bonks both on the forehead. "Y'all need a cold shower," she laughs. She extends a wing out towards Aelwyn, the other towards Patch. "Oh they're absolutely lovely. They're everything I've always wanted to be once they came in. Lotta my folk look forward to the day when they can!"
The plumage and limb is thick and hearty, ready for takeoff.
Patch laughs, Slixvah's blush and bonk taken with stride as she looks off from them with a bobbing nod. "Well, it's fun to tease you all the same." her mirth still on her features as she looks back to take in that display of wing, and flex of growth. "And you were looking forward to them too. I remember when you were just flexing and pining on the bluff." a laugh. "Oh, when will I fly? When will I have such feathers?" smirking as she makes the questions sound a little dramatic, but it's all in play. "Clearly you were just feeling the itch of it. Your body knew what was happening. Good for you, Girl. Fly on!" a firm nod.
"And we probably do need showers." Patch's glance following to Aelwyn after. "I was out all night, and poor Aelwyn is being a pack mule." shrugging with a grin back to the Sith-Makar.
"Hmmh, a cold shower? Tch, Ribbon is not as gentle as she seems..." Aelwyn lightly reaches out to run his fingers across the feathers in the offered wing - rumbling quietly by himself as his fingers find those ribbons, especially running along one of the red feathered ones. There was a bit of a distant look on his orange eyes when Patch was ribbing Slixvah about the flight - but he soon gets back up on his feet.
Stretching an arm out, he grabs his bound glaive above his head and twists his body outwards; the joints quietly cricking as he cracks them open. "Don't be so gentle on the Bard, Ribbon." He rumbles, moving to step besides Patch. He leans in close to breathe into that pierced ear. "This little coy maiden is still finding her wings to fly." He rumbles and gives Patch's hip a little bump with his own.
Slixvah sticks her tongue out at Patch. "I was! Prayed every night ta all of em ta make em nice and pretty like!" she giggles, going along with the theatrics. "Thanks hon! I basically haven't stopped flying around for the past couple days!"
She just rolls her eyes at this point, chuckling and smug as others inspect her wings. "I can be gentle. Or not," she hums in faux innocence, a light wink towards Patch.
She watches Aelwyn's antics with her head tilted to the side. Only able to catch bits and pieces from her proximity, but she quips, "As she may, she's ahead of us on years combined."
Patch is bumped by Aelwyn, staggering a step with a laugh. It seems she's in a good mood, but at Slix picking up on Aelwyn's tease she flushes and darts the Sith-Makar a look. "I am sure she'd figure that out on her own, Sir." her eyes rolled, but if there was real annoyance, it's lost as she smiles again, offering a shrug to the Egalrin in return for her teasing words.
"Everyone assumes I'm old... you know there are young elves too, right?" Patch's words warm as she shifts and sighs at their teasings, eyes still roaming Slix. "If I could fly, I'd be strutting it too. So, keep being beautiful, yeah?"
Aelwyn tilts his head, teeth sharp and shark-like, glancing at Patch. "This one is just glad for the break with such rousing company," The draconian rumbles, giving Patch another tap with his tail. His fingers seek Slixvah's feathers though, trying to give them another light graze through. "But Bard is right, these features are beautiful." There's that odd faraway look again, before he rolls his head towards Patch. "And what is the Bard doing lurking around here in this neighborhood again?" A grin, and then he steps to stand next to Slixvah. "Looking for company?"
Slixvah reaches over and pats Patch on the head. "I'm not assuming, I know the truth," she coos, smiling before looking smug as hell, ego inflating. "I ain't stop being beautiful."
It's gone all to her head, she's gonna explode.
"Oh brother," Fiadh chirps within her robes.
Slixvah gives Aelwyn a side glance. Then looks to Patch. Yep. Totally would, she thinks to herself on a past conversation.
There's more than one bird around these parts. That's evident from looking up at the sky, as a white-feathered friend coasts in the wind. Pothy seems to be searching for something as he looks around at all of the people...
Then he makes a happy coo as he spots Patch. The bird changes course and lands down on the ground next to the group. "Hello!" he chirps in Cor'lana's voice, before he preens his feathers.
"Pothy! Where'd you go?" comes the actual holder of that voice as she turns a corner, wearing a long, black dress with short, puffed sleeves. Cor'lana looks rather relieved as she sees three friends she knows standing next to Pothy. "There you are. Hello, you three!"
A little light becomes visible some distance down the street, and a song is also heard. As both light and sound approach, the song is song recognized as a bawdy, Khazad drinking song, sung in fluent Dwarven, with a slight lisping accent.
As the light gets close enough to defeat the clinging mist, a wee form limps into view, that of Irshya, clad in her holy vestements and robe. Still belting out the Khazad rude drinking song.
Patch huffs in play, eyes flicked away from the two as her free hand rises to brush a strand of stray hair from her face. A casualty of Slxvah's teasing. "Oh.. the 'truth'?" she says with inflection and a laugh. "Gods, if we went by 'truths'." her smirk suddenly coy. "We need to find Irshya! Another bath." a lot of context missing as she speaks to Slix. Then as if on cue... Patch notices that song. "Irshya!" waving to her.
Patch's glance then goes to Aelwyn, shaking her head. "You do realize... I like the Ox, right? It's charming." charming meaning violent and lively. " And, no company today. At least the dancing kind. You should see my feet... and it's not just the last time! I had to wrap blisters. Blisters!" this annoying the bard. "But tomorrow? We can dance more. I just need a break."
Oh wow, it's busy, but the good busy. With a glance down at a familiar 'hello' a bird is spotted. "Pothy!" and the brid's owner. It's like the tales of old. Adventurer's crossing paths... just. More casually. "Wow, I am humbled. To find so many friends at once in one place, and then to realize? I have this many friends?"
Aelwyn tilts his head lightly, but he is not surprised he is missing a lot of context. Patch seemed to be in a real 'mystery' mood today, which makes the draconian grin a little, giving a glance towards Slixvah. "This one wonders which one of you cannot contain themselves." He rumbles, sliding a chewing stick between his teeth.
Irshya's familiar voice makes him stop, and he moves to stand besides the box laying in the middle of the street, the one he was supposed to be carrying to the warehouse nearby. "Boss," The Dragoon bows his head, "Good mood as always." Sliding to sit on the crate, he looks towards Pothy and Ravenstongue. "Raven." The draconian rumbles in greeting, as well.
Slixvah laughs at Patch's joking, remembering a time before at the bathhouse. "Sadly, me and the Ox are at ends. Don't like the place. But. Yeah, we certainly would- oh! Heya!" she chirps out to the little gobbo.
Fiadh rustles in Slix's robe, which meant something unknown as the master's gaze goes up...
"Ah, Pothy! And-" she looks down to see Ravenstongue. "Heya girlie, what's good wit'cha?"
The elf gets a soft pat on the shoulder. "It's coo', ain't it? Already got so many connected threads tying up here."
Slix just makes a tut at Aelwyn, shaking her head a she hugs a wing protectively and runs a hand over it.
The Gobbo pauses in her journey to genuflect before a small statue mounted high up on a building wall. Her voice is heard in prayer, and then her holy symbol glows. The light then transfers to the statue, causing it to glow brightly. Irshya stands then, grunting in an unladylike fashion.
Her expression takes on a cheerful expression then, and she squeaks. Waving enthusiastically at Patch, she jogs towards the woman. "Hiiiiiiiiiiii!"
Irshya slows and blinks at Aelwyn a few times. "B.boss? Irshya is Irshya! Even if she is the boss." She stretches up to pat Aelwyn on the shoulder. "You are well?", she wonders, as she continues on to Patch's side. She grins broadly and waves to Slixvah, then stops to peer at Pothy. "A talking bird!"
"Are we talking about the Ox? I'd really recommend against it. There are disgusting men who go there," Cor'lana says with a bit of a smirk on her face. "Or, if you believe all the sordid rumors about someone, you'll get seduced by a woman with violet eyes and she'll steal all of your precious valuables."
"Highly exaggerated," Pothy chimes in, copying Cor'lana's voice again.
Cor'lana looks to Irshya and smiles. "Oh, Irshya. You've never met Pothy, huh? He's eaten plenty of the snacks down at your establishment, though."
"Snacks!" Pothy says brightly. Then he takes wing and... lands on Patch's shoulder. Apparently it's her turn to be the roost. At least his talons aren't sharp.
"We were just walking through," Cor'lana explains. "I had a fit of... whim, and decided to take a different way home."
"Oh, I know it's all a trick of luck." Patch teases Slix with a small smirk as she flicks a glance up to the Egalrin. "Mine this time. I think."
To Irshya, Patch glances with a nod. "Sorry. We just had a conversation that made me think of you, and 'poof' you're here. It's the best kind of magic."
Aelwyn gets a smirk, but with Irshya setting a record straight, Patch holds her teasing. It's Cor'lana who got her attention with words, and descriptions, that and Pothy's demand for snacks as he lands. For once, she's prepared. Peanuts in a pocket, taking one out with her free hand, and offering it to the bird. She had been at the Ox all night, which is now why she's flushed. "It's like a second home! Aelwyn. I met Aelwyn there on a stakeout." Yep, she did follow a disgusting man all over town. "He just didn't know what I was doing."
Aelwyn bows his head towards Irshya. "Naturally. This one will work later in the bathhouse, Sharky?" The Dragoon asks with a casual voice, cracking at the stick between his teeth. Rumbling at Ravenstongue's words, he shakes his head with a toothy grin. "The scales are not that disgusting, one can hope." The Dragoon grunts at Ravenstongue, and gives a whip to the pavement. Then that sneak tail moves to give a firmer pat at Patch's backside. "Careful with her eyes, Bard."
The crate he was sitting on is then slowly, but steadily, hoisted up and against his shoulder. Momentarily, he needs to crouch - before he heaves with a heavy grunt. "Peace upon the nests." He bows his head - quite awkwardly - and begins to steadily make his way towards the warehouse; all those poor muscles on his back having to work overtime. Life is hard by the docks.
Slixvah raises a brow to Corlana, but she just ends up shaking her head at the whole business with the Ox. "They tied me to the ceiling for cheating in a card game. I didn't cheat!" Card games with Slix with those that know her sounds like a terrible idea. "Yours for sure," she hums to Patch before crossing her arms and leaning back on a leg.
A side glance to Aelwyn, and a scoff with a chuckling shake of the head. "Later Flutter."
Irshya grins at Ravenstonue. "He has?" She waves enthusiastically at the Half-Elf, and laughs. "Irshya does not mind. She has peanuts and other small snacks for guests, so he's welcome to eat some."
The Gobbo turns and hugs at Patch's waist, burying her face in the woman's stomach. She says something short that's muffled and possibly in Goblin-Talk.
Aelwyn's question causes her to raise her head up. "Yes, Irshya would like to give all the baths and tiles a scrub. She also has a good dinner planned for you as an extra reward." She glances at Slixvah. "They did?" The Gobbo's expression sours. "You show Irshya who, and she'll ensure seasickness for all of them."
"No, your scales are not disgusting, Aelwyn. Peace on your nest," Cor'lana says in farewell to Aelwyn with a smile, although the way she informs him about his scales is like stating a rather rote fact. After all, they are relatively clean. They aren't disgusting.
Pothy happily accepts the snacks that Patch feeds him, taking the peanut and... Well, he just swallows it whole. It's somewhat like watching a raven who has learned how to horf things down like a snake.
Because that's almost exactly what it is.
"Really, tied to a ceiling?" Cor'lana huffs, appearing to have a similar opinion as Irshya's regarding Slixvah's plight. "Even if the accusation was true, is that really proper treatment for cheating at cards? Was there any money on the line? People act ridiculously when money's involved, I've found."
"Always, Dragoon. Peace be on your nest." Patch says after Aelwyn, a nod given as her attention lingers as she watches saunter off with his hard work. Irshya's hug and snuggle is met with a laugh, even adjusting her coat and case she carries in an arm.
"Well, then it can get tossed." Patch relents with a sigh at Sixvah's words, relenting and looking back to the woman. "If they did that, it's no good. Irshya's right. Let them barf." her free hand dropping from giving Pothy a snack and resting on Irshya's head, caressing fingers through her green hair. "I renounce the Ox. I only was there for work anyways." which... is true.
"So, how's the Pothy doing?" she asks, a glance flicking then to Cor'lana. "I know. I agree. Coin can make some people... crazy"
Slixvah rubs her neck. "There... was money on the line, yeah. Was new to town, needed cash, ya dig? But yeah. Tied. Eventually wormed my way out, but..."
Her eyes glimmer with mischief. "...I gave em problems for later, Irshya. Don't worry." She ominously chuckles. She rolls a shoulder and smiles at Patch's renouncement before looking over for the Pothy update.
Irshya, too, watches Aelwyn swagger off, and she giggles and sighs. "He's quite the character.", she says quietly, and then glances up at Patch. "Irshya sees why you are taken with him." The hand in her hair causes her to smile, and she squeezes fondly at the Sildanyari. "You know, if you need work, Irshya can offer you some coin in return for playing that weird and wonderful instrument.. Or if you just need a place to crash, she can offer a small, but comfortable, room and cot."
Her gaze goes to Slix next. "The same for you, Slixvah. You can work in the kitchen, or perhaps the bar? Or if you have skills for entertainment? Or perhaps creating things to relieve people's ailments and aches?"
The Gobbo laughs, nodding in agreement with Raventstongue, and then eyeing Slixvah doubtfully. As if her 'revenge' wasn't enough punishment. "Still. Irshya thinks that they need a lesson in not angering people who have friends in priestly places."
Pothy looks like he wants to volunteer himself for a very venerated and honored position: taste-tester in the TarRaCe kitchen. But any plea for his case dies in that little bird-brain of his when the question's asked of him by Patch. "I'm okay," he says in Cor'lana's voice. He seems happy enough. His blue eyes are bright.
"The instrument /is/ wonderful," Cor'lana agrees. "And Pothy is just happy to be out and about. He never seems to mind hot and humid days nor cold and damp days, lucky bird."
She turns to Slixvah and nods. "Well, it somewhat explains their behavior, but does not excuse it," she says. "I am just glad you got out of that situation before it could turn worse."
"He's a good friend, Irshya. The Autumn Dragoon is as unique as each turn of season." Patch muses, and smirks down at the smaller Gobbo with another affectionate stroke of hair. "I do have a room... I am not /that/ vagrant." the woman's words making her laugh. "But I do need work. I find I suck at this adventuring thing, and it's been slow." her admission coming with mirth.
"Oh, the Hurdy?" Patch genuinely surprised. "I'm glad you all like it. She's very precious to me." looking between the group. "I'll play her for you all soon. That's a promise." her free hand going from Irshya, into a pocket, and producing another peanut for Pothy. "Another snack?" offering it. "Okay is good. Okay is better."
A noisy and busy district like this means that any one person isn't all that easy to notice. Dolan steps out of one of the warehouses nearby, followed by a dockhand or two and some sort of red-faced lucht official, dripping pompousness like jewelry. "I'll have you know that that shipment cost me three hundred and twenty eight gold pieces!" he huffs, loud enough to be heard.
The human to whom he is talking up is dressed in nondescript grays and browns, sleeves rolled up as a nod to the heat. "Yes, of course, although you did leave it unguarded," Dolan points out. "I'll see what I can learn. I'm sure that much in goods has not gone far."
"Hmph. You'd better."
Shaking his head, he turns away and strides up the street, careful to keep his right side clear and not too close to anything.
Slixvah raises a brow at the gobbo. "...I can bartend," she says. "But my schedule is .. weird. I'll raincheck that wit ya."
She steps by Patch and elbows her in the side. "Ey, who knows, maybe some day we'll get ta work together on something? Besides, I still need to hear that thing sing."
She looks to the sky, rolls her shoulders, then looks to everyone. "Speaking of, I gotta get my ducks in a row. Catch y'all on the flip. Quack." A giggle leaves her before wings unfurl gloriously, she crouches, and launches off to gods only know where.
"Irshya is glad to find another who thinks the same.", the Gobbo says to Cor'lana. "It is unique, among all the flutes and lutes and such that people use here. Irshya thinks her act would attract a good crowd."
Glancing up at Patch, she grins toothily. Her smile is slightly marred by a black spot in the corner, evidence of a missing tooth. "Irshya is not so sure. She thinks there might be more than .. just friends." Her eyebrows waggle suggestively, before she laughs. "But... Irshya would love to host your playing in the Tarrace. Let others hear you, and offer you coin!"
Her ears perk up slightly at the sound of someone yelling about money, and Irshya peers at the upset Lucht. "Hmm, odd that someone would leave shipments of goods unguarded... even Irshya understands big cities better than that.", she muses aloud. "Missing goods?", she asks of Dolan as he strides close. "We've been here a little, and can certainly say there's been no disturbances here..."
Her gaze wanders back to Slixvah. "Okay, Irshya will be happy to have you." Her expression registers some disappointment as the birdy-lady makes to leave. "Be well!", she calls out as Slix takes to the sky.
"Have a safe flight!" Cor'lana calls after Slixvah as she takes off into the sky. It seems like an appropriate farewell.
Cor'lana smiles brightly at Dolan as he approaches. She gives him a little wave. "Redeemer Dolan," she says. "I'm so happy you're walking around just fine. That injury the other night was awful."
Pothy takes Patch's offered peanut, meanwhile, and flaps over to Cor'lana's shoulder. He holds out the peanut... to Cor'lana? She takes it and puts it away in her pocket, which gets a rather sad little noise from the raven. "I'll eat it later, Pothy," she says.
Irshya earns a wide grin, dipping to speak in the small woman's ear as she's distracted with Dolan. "Oh, I know... I do." she teases. "Though have you ever seen the color of rust against a clear blue sky? Contrast. It's beautiful." she muses about Slix. Then something suddenly grabs her attention as Pothy flees her shoulder to Cor'lana to offer snack. "Hey buddy, I have to take care of something." Patch says quickly, looking to the others. "Speaking of dumping the Ox, I think I left something. I have to go check." fumbling in a pocket, and muttering as she bids Irshya farewell with another soft pat. "I'll be back... well. Hopefully!"
The brown-clad man with the golden gem where his right eye ought to be flashes a cheeky grin at Cor'lana. "Andie set me right. She always does." Pure good-natured affection and good cheer reside in the words, and in the smile, with which he favors RT's companions as well. "Just tell me why we walked clear to the Defense again?"
He turns his attention next to Irshya, and shakes his head, the cheeky grin turning wicked. "He's lying. Either he's trying to steal it from someone else, or he's trying to pin its loss on someone. I haven't worked out which yet."
Irshya's cheeks flush a deep lavender in colour, and she rubs at them. "Oh my!", she says, "What are you suggesting here, Patches?" She giggles and shakes her head. Her giggle fades as the Sildenyari has to fade, and she offers a wave as Patch gets away. "Stop by the Tarrace later, okay?" Pothy's antics has her giggling again. "Aww, he just wants you to eat it, he went through all that trouble to get it."
The Gobbo blinks at Dolan, her ears perking up. "Oh? He's lying? Has he said where he thinks it is? Shall I prod him with lightning bolts to make him tell the truth?"
"He's a sweetheart," Cor'lana murmurs about Pothy. She ruffles his little feathers with an affectionate pat. "Especially these days."
She looks back to Dolan and shakes her head. "Really, I admire your dedication to her--I am in one of those happily dedicated relationships myself--but I felt bad when I realized after the fact we'd walked all the way from the Nobility District to the Soldier's Defense just so you'd get patched up. You bore it like... Well, like a hero. But I guess that's what Daeus's servants do."
Dolan just snorts his good humor. "That's where Andie was, so it all checked out. Plus we had those poor people to help out. It's no big deal, Lana. I'm fine. I just hope they will be." The smile has vanished.
As for the pompous jerk he'd been talking to, Dolan shakes his head. "Nah. That's not on. If he can make himself look like the victim, he will, and I'll be the one answering to the guard, not to mention the Knight. I know that type. Better to let him hang himself with his own rope. I just have to figure out the truth and prove it."
Patch was not in the Ox long, re-emerging with something in hand. "Ha!" she calls back over her shoulder, and into the bar. "Thanks! I thought I'd lost it." some small notebook in hand. She tries to stuff it into her coat while it's in arm, walking towards where the others still remain, raising a brow to Dolan as she takes in his features, gem-eye included. Her own a tad strange, a stain of flesh under a cheek, falling near her neck. "Apologies." excusing her prior behavior. "I... oh, I don't think I've met your friend." she says to Cor'lana. "What did I miss?"
Irshya earns a smirk, something thought about while she had stepped away. "Many tales, but... did you call me Patches?" smirk broadening, a nose wrinkled in play. "You flatter me. Charmer with teeth."
"He seems like a nice birdy bird.", the Gobbo says to Ravenstongue. She takes in the conversation between RT and Dolan, her expression growing curious. "Do... do they need more help at the Soldier's Defense? Irshya is an adherent of Rada, and would offer her healing capabilities to those who need it."
The return of the hurdy gurdy bard distracts Irshya from the conversation she was listening in on, and she hugs at Patch once more. "Irshya did indeed!" Her grin is broad, exposing more of the missing tooth. "It is a suitable nickname, yes?"
Cor'lana gestures to Dolan with a smile. "This gentleman," she says, "is the Redeemer Dolan. Dolan, meet a recent friend of mine, Patch. She plays a lovely and curious instrument called a hurdy-gurdy."
"Hurdy-gurdy," Pothy echoes very helpfully.
She looks to Irshya and pauses a moment, looking thoughtful. "They could always use volunteers," she says. "Especially with the refugees seeking shelter in our city from the wights, that means more people in need of the healers' services than ever. They get hurt and need aid just like the rest of us do."
Cor'lana has a sad smile as she says, "If I had any healing capabilities, I'd volunteer, myself, but all I have are my poems and my magic capabilities of a different kind."
"Huh. Never heard of that." Dolan's easy, cheeky grin suffuses the mobile half of his face, and even shows some in the scarred half, although the thickness of the flesh provides for only limited movement. "Brightest of days, Patch. I'm not sure who can help these people, though." The grin, again, fades and goes ragged. "Undead got ahold of them and stole their faces. Was toying with them like a cat does a mouse. We took them out, but I'm hoping there's a way to get their faces back. Still, Lana's right, they can always use help."
Patch pauses at Cor'lana's words, nodding slowly. "I am often in engrossed in work, or...more work." she says in soft tone. "I forget that others are having a harder time of it as I chase clue. I can devote some time and magics."
To Pothy, and partially to Irshya. "He's a marvelous bird... a pretty one too."
Though a missing tooth catches Patch's eye, speaking quietly to Irshya with a hushed tone. "Did you lunch fight back? Those octopods look tough enough." she muses, but Dolan's words and demeanor catch her off guard, and she's soon looking to him.
"Yeah, that greeting followed with.... 'stole their faces'." Patch making a face at that tale, and sighing. "You're well met Redeemer Dolan. I wish I could of come during better conversation, but... I have good word you're a man of integrity. Nice to have a face with a name."
Irshya steps towards Ravenstongue, her small hands patting at one of the Half-Sil's. "But people need emotional healing as much as physical, yes? A smile is a powerful thing, and if you have the capability to make people smile, you should definitely offer your poems. And Pothy would probably be the center of attention, such a smart bird."
She blinks at Dolan's words, and she goes from cheerful, to sad, and then angry. "Stole... their faces? This should not stand!" The Gobbo stomps one of her little feet, which is accompanied by a jingle sound. "Where does Irshya sign up for wight smashing duty?"
Blinking at Patches, the Goblin gestures for the Sildanyari to move closer, and she opens her maw for inspection.
"Totenmaskes did that, not the wights," Cor'lana corrects gently. "Those were the undead that Dolan and I searched for and destroyed, along with my fiance Telamon and the druid Shilde. The wights drove people out of their homes in the countryside to flee to Alexandria, however, so they must be destroyed, as well. The Explorer's Guild has no shortage of contracts handling them."
She does smile afterward, however. "I suppose I might try and see if people might like to hear my work," she says, "even if they're almost entirely written in Sylvan. It's much easier to write beautiful and lyrical form in Sylvan and Sildanyari compared to Tradespeak, sad to say. I've tried it a few times."
Pothy, meanwhile, puffs up all of his feathers in pride. He /is/ a pretty bird!
Dolan ducks his head at Patch's compliment, an _aw shucks_ move if there ever was one. Interestingly, he turns fully towards her to speak. "Hey, just trying to do my job. It's gotten a whole lot crazier since I got here." He nods soberly to Cor'lana, as if corroborating her words. "Wights are no joke either. Go ranged if you can, because all they have to do is touch you." Something serious seems to have settled down over him, but when Pothy puffs up his feathers, some of his smile comes back to at lease the mobile side of his face, and he rummages in his belt pouch, coming up with a few pieces of dried fruit. "Snacks, Pothy?" He holds up the piece of dried ruit to his left shoulder.
Patch does lean to inspect Irshya's maw, smirking as she notices what's going on in the Gobbo's mouth. "Ah! Wow. I had no idea." she notes in casual fascination, but unable to focus long.
Patch's attention is back on the dour conversation, flicking a dull glance between Dolan and Cor'lana. "Yeah, the Totenmaskes make more sense. The face stealing didn't sound like the mad-piper. He has a distinct 'vibe' to his crazy and wights." pausing then. "Admittedly... I don't know if the piper is the only source of the wights. He is just /one/ of them." she corrects.
"Cor'lana and Telamon speak highly of you. You shouldn't be so modest." Patch says to Dolan, shaking her head. "Plus you're feeding the bestest bird. So I'm convinced."
"Well, then they'll get their comeuppance too.", Irshya says firmly. "The explorer's guild? Irshya will go and sign up!" Another stomp of her foot, followed by more jingling. "Irshya finds necromancers to be so tedious to deal with. Hmmmph. Messing with things that ought not to be messed with." She chuckles then, at Dolan's reaction. "A man of integrity, and bashful too!"
Pothy takes the bait--err, hint. He flaps over to Dolan's shoulder, as he's done before. "Snacks!" he crows happily, and he takes the dried fruit, eating it very quickly. His tail wags up and down again, especially as Patch calls him the bestest bird.
"He is the bestest bird," Cor'lana agrees, looking at Pothy very fondly. "He's helped me through a lot of things, and I love him very much. And yes, Dolan is greatly appreciated, as well. There's a reason why Telamon asked him to be one of his groomsmen at our wedding, whenever the wights finally are cleared out. A dear and good friend."
Dolan's smile brightens at that, the easy grin making a comeback as Pothy's weight settles onto his shoulder, the talons not digging enough to hurt as long as he doesn't move too much. Pothy hasn't been his usual self lately, and it's good to see him be a little more like the cheeky and self-aggrandizing bird he remembers. "Yeah, when he's not stealing." He offers the rest of the handful to Pothy, turning his face fully towards the bird. "Lana, I'm glad to help. You know that."
"I'm glad to help too." Patch says to Dolan, flashing a smile to Cor'lana and then Irshya, each in turn. "I have some places to get too, and some work to attend, but I will catch up with you all soon."
Patch lets her hand drop to ruffle through Irshya's hair. "I'll take your offer... I've always wanted a regular place to play." she affirms.
"Redeemer Dolan, I will find time to meet with you, or well... you know now where I will be. We should chat." smirking as she turns and waves as she passes Cor'lana and Pothy. "Bye to you two. Be safe on your way home." having bard business to do.
"Well, he's the best bird Irshya knows.", the Gobbo says with a grin. "And he's welcome to fly by and eat snacks at the Tarrace. We do have peanuts, he seems to love those." She pouts lightly as Patch makes to head out, and she nods. "Definitely come by and play for us at the Tarrace. Free food and drink for you, plus you can keep the tips the crowd offers! And Irshya will make the deal sweeter with her own coin, too."
She looks to the two remaining people. "Would you be willing to share with Irshya what information you have of this... wight situation? Irshya could see what her fellow adherents know of such things, and also organize more assistance in the matter, yes? At the very least, you have one more cleric on your side."
"I don't have much, honestly. The Guild knows a whole lot more than I do." Dolan shrugs, and shudders. "I took one of those jobs. It - didn't go well. I was in bed for days. You be careful, yeah? But you can ask at the Guild."
Cor'lana gives Patch a wave and a farewell on her way out before she looks back to Dolan and nods. "I also was on a job related to the wights," she says. "My friend Stjepan seems to think it has to do with void dragons, as he'd seen something like this happen before, but I'm not so sure about that one."
She clicks her tongue at Pothy and the bird takes flight, coming back to her shoulder. Cor'lana leans in and kisses Pothy on his head--which causes all of Pothy's feathers to puff up, like a happy feather-cloud--and she smiles at both Dolan and Irshya. "Do be careful, as Dolan said. Now, I have to return home, lest Telamon begin to wonder where I've scampered off," she says with a grin. "And... Let's try this one one for size again, why not. Muse's verse in your hearts."
There's a moment where Cor'lana just grins. "I think it's a keeper," she murmurs, before she walks away, Pothy in tow.
Irshya nods solemnly to Dolan. "Irshya will take your advice and not go off on her own in search of trouble." Ravenstongue gets a smile, and the Gobbo offers a curtsey. "May your roads be sunny and straight!"