View source for A table's day at the TarRaCe

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== Log Info ==
*Title: A table's day at the TarRaCe
*Emitter: Sabina
*Characters: Sabina, Seldan, Aya, Cryosanthia, Mikilos, Jinks, Aryia, Seyardu, Strike, Galidor, Stjepan
*Place: A03: The TarRaCe
*Time: Monday, August 02, 2021, 3:44 PM
*Summary: A table at the TarRaCe hosts a rotating group of adventurers, starting with Sabina and a disguised Seldan who are discussing a particular temptation the Tarienite is offered. Aya, then Cryo and Lily arrive and join in, the dockworker leaving. Mikilos arrives in time for the conversation regarding temptations to continue, he and the Sith'makar offering their perspectives. Cryo advises that her advice contradicts her actions, and she's spent a lot of her life on hopeless causes. They move to spells, both for creating refuge and escaping. Lily anisilates Aya and loots her body like a proper adventurer, and then Aya and Mikilos vanish. Cryo heads into the back to work on the books as Jinks arrives and joins Sabina and kobold at the table. He is not in the mood for Kobolds, and both pick up on this. Sabina takes Lily into the kitchen leaving Drinks jinking alone at the table. Aryia arrives, asks for an update on the rescue mission, and the get into an argument regarding Seyardu's tactics. The silverscale arrives just as the gnome is storming out. She updates Aryia and the two discuss their adventuring partners. Strike arrives and gets into a discussion regarding her origins and Aryia's abilities, as Stjepan and Galidor join the table as well. This leads to some deep history, the Crown Wars and the Sorceress Wars, of which Strike was involved. Stjepan is absorbed in his meal then leaves, as do Galidor and Aryia, leaving Strike and Seyardu to discuss their difficulties in reading physical cues. Finally the table is abandoned and some time later as Cryo is leaving, she cleans and marks it.</div>

-=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=-<* The TarRaCe *>--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=-

Inside, this two-story structure has been almost completely opened up. Generous windows on both stories allow daytime sunlight and cooling night breezes to flow in as needed, while the brick walls have been whitewashed - contrasting with the dark-stained beams and supports, and the rich polish on the wooden floor. A broad strip of stone runs from the entrance to a framed doorway set into the opposite wall, with a sign above the lintel declaring that the baths are to be found that way.

The ground floor is sprinkled with tables and chairs of assorted sizes, offering welcome to guests both large and small. One whole corner of the building - into which guests are not permitted entry - has been given over to the kitchen, which serves as the domain of the famed monster chef Ligum Serforus. Mundane meals are available, but the chef delights in offering up obscure dishes made from the freshest of monster ingredients.

Opposite the kitchen a small bar runs in front of an array of shelves, displaying a broad selection of beverages (most of them alcoholic). The bar-top has been fashioned from what looks to have been old pieces of armor, fused and welded together before being polished to provide a near-smooth finish. Set above it, three human-sized statues have been built into an alcove in the wall: Tarien, Rada and Ceinara jointly keep benevolent watch over the room and its occupants.

To the right of the entrance, a small stage offers a platform for a handful of performers at a time. To the left of the door, a spiral staircase of wrought iron winds its way up to a balcony dining area, that is chiefly reserved for special events and parties. 
                 
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<pre>-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=  Appearing, in Order  =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
Sabina       5'4"     130 Lb     Human             Female    Tsuran woman of dark hair and green eyes
Seldan       5'11"    187 Lb     Human             Male      Ginger-blonde human in armor wearing Eluna's symbol.
Aya          4'7"     105 Lb     Shadow Elf        Female    Mul'niessa. Braided hair. Simple clothing.
Cryosanthia  6'9"     291 Lb     Sith-Makar        Female    A dashingly tall, elegant white-scaled lizard woman.
Mikilos      6'8"     180 Lb     Dawn Elf          Male      Tall male dawn elf, rosey blonde and handsome.
Jinks        3'4"     39 Lb      Gnome             Male      A gnomish fellow in fancy garb and jewelry.
Aryia        4'8"     110 Lb     Shadow Elf        Female    A heavily scarred mul with a tired look about her.
Seyardu      5'6"     150 Lb     Sith-Makar        Female    A friendly silver sith-makar with a perpetual squint.
Strike       5'11"    155 Lb     Half-Elf          Female    A dusky grey half elf girl in grey and black clothes.
Galidor      6'9"     265 Lb     Sith-Makar        Male      Sith-makar with golden claws.
Stjepan      8'0"     534 Lb     Giantborn         Male      Big, blonde jotun.
=-=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=

-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=  NPCs of Note  -=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
Little Fang 'Lily'               Kobold            Female    A pinkscale youngling in a bathing suit, Cryo's daughter.
=-=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=</pre>

''we join a scene in progress'' '''Seldan has the beginning and can upload'''

The casual pose remains, but the set of the young man's shoulders tenses, squares just a little more. It relaxes, then, with an effort, and his gaze remains even and cool. "No law against such acts exists, Luckbringer, and thus does court not apply." His lips tighten into a thin line at the mention of court. "Nor will I bear you ill will for the attempt. Say rather that I wish to ensure that you are not ensnared, and are freed, do you so become."

Aya returns Sabina's greeting with a nod of acknowledgment as she takes a seat at the bar. She does not otherwise call out to the woman as she also noted that she is occupied in quiet conversation. With one that may be becoming more tense, as well.

Bina's smile turns to something warmer. "Thank you. The thoughtfulness as well as the allowing me the choice is heart warming. As is the care. Even if you'd rather I did not and thus the care would not be needed. I know you must think me foolish for giving it even a thought." She pours the steeping tea into cups and then slides one towards the younger man.

"There are reasons to risk such things," the young man answers Bina carefully, looking up and around and nodding politely to Aya by the bar as well. "It is well to know full well the risk one takes. Your choice is made, and I shall say no more." He carefully leaves the matter of foolishness unanswered, instead picking up the offered tea, sniffing carefully at it, then sipping experimentally. "I feel certain that Zeke would enjoy this."

As if summoned a Sith'Makar appears, entering through the door, accompanied by a random tune on a harmonica. Not the one named, but close and in a partnership of a different sort, Cryosanthia ducks her partial wings under the frame. The music comes from her foundling, riding on her backpack and blowing away at the gift instrument.

She looks around, and crosses towards Sabina and her dockworker friend, "Peace on your nests!" She says cheerfully, then halts. She tilts her head, inhaling carefully, staring with featureless reaction.

Cryo turns to look at Sabina, "Didn't mean to interrupt. It's end of the month and I thought I'd give your books a second set of eyes, if you wanted." She bounces on her toes, "See if you had some leftover bones in the kitchen you weren't keeping for stock."

Lily meanwhile, has notices Aya. The harmonica notes trail off in a quiet whine, and she starts digging in the haversack for something.

The tea is light but the aftertaste is flavor filled. Bina raises a brow just above the upper edge of her mask. "Would he now?" The smile returns in full. "I shall have to offer him some the next time he comes in." And then Cryo arrives and Bina grins and waves from her seat. "Cryosanthia. And Lily. Come and sit and have some tea. I was just having a most serious talk with this young man. He has wisdom. Good to see in the young, yes?We were speaking of temptations."

Aya appears momentarily engrossed in her request for wine and bread. She does not turn towards the whitescale nor does she seemed to have noted the source of the music was due to the ever-prepared passenger. It may well be that the mul'niessa's arch-nemesis' intricate plans have come to fruition and granted the carnation carnivore the ultimate advantage!

<pre>GAME: Seldan rolls perform/act: (7)+8: 15
GAME: Cryosanthia rolls sense motive: (4)+0: 4
<OOC> Cryosanthia says, "Seems legit"</pre>

The young man tries so hard to play it cool. He really does. He even smiles. It might fool some people. For others, he just looks bashful, his eyes wandering towards the floor at his feet and the table in front of him. "Uh, I'm flattered, but don't let me keep you away from your friends, miss." The slurred Tsuran accent isn't bad, but it's clearly forced.

Cryo looks at the dockworker, making a short nod, then back at Bina. She reaches back to feel what Little Fang is up to, as she feels motion. She finds a small claw hand, pushing back, "Is it a topic safe for very young ears?"

"This one is not known for wisdom, or being resistant to temptation. The People tend to eat what is placed in front of them. It comes from growing up not knowing if there will be a next meal or one will be it."

She sighs, looking at the wall, remembering an invitation to paint something on it and becoming distracted by the thought of what. She is oblivious to the subtleties in progress. Cryo looks back at the table, her daydream finished, "I'm also worried: discourage her too much and she returns to living in fear, but encourage too much and she becomes the next Artificer-Queen of Merkabah."

Lily meanwhile, is not listening. After fending off her Ssassa she pulls a red sphere out of the haversack and tosses it in the air. It turns blue, at which point she stares at it diligently and it floats quickly towards Aya. Silently.

Aya takes up her arriving wine and takes an evaluatory sip. After, she does turn to cast a glance towards Sabina and her tablemate before looking back towards the barkeep. The return is slow, as she takes in other patrons at tables and seats en route. None of which is, alas, in the direction of Lily nor her machinations, thus Aya appears to remain unaware of the approaching silent sphere of cerulean doom.

Ominous, like the unbridled scorn of an irascible mother-in-law, the blue sphere looms larger and closer. There is no warning, no scent, no waft of air as it drifts in like an air-shark.

-Bomp-

It lightly bops the back of the Mul'niessa's head. Immediately turning red.

"Annnnillsssslate!" Lily cheers loudly in tradespeak.

Aya is no easy foe, yet even she can only resist the power of anilslation so long. Perhaps it was the bomping prior? Even so, Aya survives only -just- long enough to set down her wineglass atop the bar before slumps over next to it with a gasp.
Anilslated.

Cryo observes the scene.

"You've killed your aunt, Lily. Now go loot the body like a proper adventurer and remember to steal her pants." The whitescale says dryly, able to keep a straight face largely because hers is covered in scales.

The carnation-scale Kobold clambers down, then runs over to Aya, and is bopped by her own 'Sphere of Anilslate' on the way over. It follows after, as if it's stuck to her head, "Tia Ay-ayyss." Little Fang's little claws paw at her thigh.

Cryo's dry humor elicits a grin from the otherwise quiet dockworker, who'd turned to watch all this. He might not know what anilslate, or a sphere of annihilation, is, but he knows the entertainment of a child when he sees it. "So that's how adventurers get rich."

Bina returns from the bar with both a chuckle and a new platter. This one with fruits and cheeses. She setes this down along side the tea and then offers Cryo a hug. "You are most welcome to go over the books. You always seem to catch my mistakes." 

She slides into her seat again and hmms. "What if they're not wearing pants?"

"Well, I did say I was bad at temptation." Cryo curls the edges of her long mouth at the dockworker, a safe Sith'Makar smile for strangers. "It's not how 'good' adventurers get rich, but it's out there."

She looks at Sabina and taps at her lips thoughtfully with a fingertip, "Check the 'thief' in your party. They might have beat you to the looting."

The dockworker stands up hastily at the arrivals. "Look, I really shouldn't keep you from your friends. Thanks for hearing me out." And with that and a brief wave, he is headed for the door.

The point that Bina makes is an excellent one. Quite applicable given that Aya's wrap is effectively a dress. While that makes theft difficult, it does afford no protection from pawing claws. Yet, she is defeated, so there is no initial reaction. For a heartbeat or two.

And then pawing claws are stayed with a dark hand about a wrist whilst another darts down to snatch yup the youngling. Continuing the motion, Aya sits abruptly upright, now holding her arch-nemesis in her clutches.

"You grow ever more resourceful, little one."

There is a brief hum near the stage, a small flash of light, and a puff of violet smoke as the wizard Mikilos appears, looking faintly annoyed and slightly lost as he peers about.

"Yasssssss." Lily hisses, snatched, lifted, in the clutches of the evil one. Whom she attempts to hug, pressing her small head against her chest. "Miksssoss makesss." She looks up, "for thinkingsss."

The Blue-turned-Red Sphere continues to stick to the pair like a static balloon, rolling around as they move but remaining in touch.

Cryo raises a hand, waving as the dockworker departs.

She jumps! Wings snapping in their bindings as Mikilos appears. Panic, then pleasure, "Mikilos! Oh! This one is glad it is you. Peace on your Nest. Why the sour face?"

The Tarienite is chuckling at Ay and Lily and then waving to the dock worker as he leaves with a sigh and shake of her head. She's got her tea to her lips when Mikilos appears in his startling way and Bina jumps, tea spilling to the tabletop. She sets the cup down and relaxes as the wizard is spotted. "So. No using the door?" She asks the mage with a wry grin and setting about cleaning up the tea.

Mikilos looks to Cryo and smiles, waving vaguely at the last wisps of smoke. "Smoke and mirrors, and personal taste. Some magi like the flash and bang, I tend to find it gaudy. But, one takes what one gets when making use of someone else's teleport." Stepping over to the table he looks to the now red ball with an arched brow. "The training orb still working alright?"

Aya's torso twists as her head snaps toward the sudden arrival, Lily shifted slightly towards her back in the process. She relaxes promptly, however; afterall, sudden unexpected appearances are something with which she has a great deal of experience.
"The orb seems to be working quite well, as is her control over it," she affirms as she shifts Lily back to a more comfortable position.

Cryosanthia nods, gesturing at Lily and Aya, "She's anisilated Aya already today, and enjoys using it in the market. I hope it won't encourage her to do reckless things with a real Sphere if she runs into one, but she's a lot less distracted."

"Or more distracted, depending how you count it."

"Yaaaassss." Lily agrees, holding onto Aya as she's moved around, ready to play 'climb the parent'. Once she's stable, she squints. The ball turns blue and hovers towards Mikilos. She warns him, "Comingsss!"

Bina chuckles as things turn lively in the Tarrace once again. "Ahh I do love to have guests in. More so when the guests are friends, hmm?" She says to herself rather then to th room, but loud enough to hear.

Mikilos grins. "The true artifact might be unique, or at the least very rare, so chances of encountering it are small. But admittedly, not zero." Turning his attention to the orb, he brings it hovering before his chest. In theory, is a contest of wills for control, but archmage versus youngling isn't really a contest. The ball turns red for a moment as Mikilos grabs it, then white as it shuts down, a ball of silk and wood dowels, painted with red and blue runes, which the wizard inspects with a critical eye.

Plus, the orb knows it's Maker.

The Mul'niessa vanishes in a moment of reptilian distraction. The carnation-scale falls, lands on the bar stool and grabs on. She looks about in confusion. Tia Ay-ays is gone, and her toy shut down.

She scampers across the floor to clutch Mikilos' robe and stare up at him, "Wasss wrrong?"

Cryo sways her hips, then turns a chair around to sit opposite Sabina and picks at the fruit. She pops the pieces in her mouth, and while there isn't much chewing she is crushing them against the roof of her mouth to drink the juice first. "So, temptation?" She asks.

"I had a few questions when you were done there Mikilos too."

"Yes, temptation. To do the wrong thing for the right reasons even if that may be hubris. It seems the young man had experienced a few things like that himself and we had a short discussion about it." Bina grins. "Tea?" She offers the pot and a new cup.

Mikilos ignores the little one for a moment, finishing his inspection before re-starting the ball and tossing it into the air, the magics catching it before it can fall. Kneeling down, he smiles to Lily, giving a quick hug. "Nothing. I was making sure noting had broken. Everything is working. You've done a good job taking care of it." 

Staying kneeled, he looks up to Cryo. "How may I be of assistance?" He glances to Bina. "If something is done for the right reasons, is it really the wrong thing to do?"

"Oh yes please," Cryo says, picking up her cup and holding it with both hands, "Well this one's many mistakes aren't easily explained beyond it seemed the right thing at the time."

Lily returns the hug enthusiastically, closing her eyes and holding onto Mikilos.

"Well..." Cryo turns in her seat, to face the mage, "This one was wondering if it's possible to make a weaker version of a spell, the Magnificent Mansion, that this one could cast, maybe only a room with food for 5. I fear I'll never have the power to cast the full spell on my own."

"And also, I was researching escape options. I can move fairly fast, but ... nothing like you managed with the Demon Duke. There's been more demon activity, and... this one still has no real way of calling for help or getting out."

Bina's grin twitches into something larger as Mikilos asks his question and then the talk turns to demons. "Has there been more activity? I believe Seldan mentioned the may be after certain items in the city. Is that true?" And then to Mikilos. "For example. If I were to kill a person because I knew they were a murderer and were about to kill again I would be...? A hero or a murderer myself?"

Mikilos gathers up Little Fang and stands, moving to a seat as he nods seriously to Cryo. Making a mental note of what pockets are in reach of quick little fingers. "You might recall that despite all my tricks and power, he still caught me in the end. Anyway, there are other spells that give a similar effect on a smaller scale. Tiny Hut, Sancturary, Rope Trick. Might find one that suits your needs while staying in a reasonable power range. But the Mansion is honesty pretty extra." 

He nods to Sabina. "I've heard rumor, but seen no evidence first hand. As for killing, both are possible. Depends on the person and your own abilities. If they are beyond redemption, then ending them is best. If they might be redeemed, but you can't contain them safely, may still be for the best. But if you could help someone redeem themselves, but choose to kill because it's easier, that is not heroic."

Cryosanthia nods, listening to both answers and keeping an eye on Little Fang. Her youngling has gotten better, but still has issues regarding ownership especially among friends who 'won't mind'. A thought process that needs discouraging.

"I think there's a lot more context that is missing. How do you know? Someone said or you're in their mind? Where are you located? In a city is vastly different from wilderness where you might be the next victim if you don't act. Is it... something they're talking about, or are they standing over an altar, chanting, with a bound victim and a horde of followers."

She smiles lightly, "Even... bringing them to the authorities is... not an option, if the authorities are corrupt, or weak. Dropping a Lich off with a local sherrif wouldn't work."

The whitescale face Mikilos next, "but, do those protect from scrying, or forced entry? There have been more, 'Bina, a bunch of devils attacked Seyardu and that scarred Mul'niessa, if you know her. Aryia. They seem interested in the Resurrectionists, and Shards, from what she's been able to determine. There was an Explorer's log of these demon worms that went into people and controlled them, and they escaped and that was months ago. They could be anywhere, in anyone."

Cryo sits back, "I did find something almost affordable. The Obsidian Steed Figurine. It turns into a horse that can take the rider ethereal, or to other planes."

Bina takes up a bit of cheese and eats while the others speak of spells. She's sipping her tea when Mikilos gives her a return answer. She ahhs softy and then nods more so to Cryo's response. "So many different niggling little facts and supposed facts, yes? Now. What if everyone you know just assumed that the person was beyond redemption but you thought they could be 'saved'? Even if you could not keep them penned in to keep others safety assured, would you try? Or is it too hard a task? Is giving up on a hard task in itself an evil act?"

Mikilos frowns mildly, and nods. "One of the many problems, you can never be totally sure. You work with what you know and suspect, do your best, and then live with the consequences, whatever they turn out to be." He nods to Cryo. "One of the Figurines of Wonderous Power. I crafted a set of lions long ago, but never a steed." He frowns mildly. "I'd have to check, but have the impression the steed is a bit of dark magics."

Lily squirms on Cryo's lap. Food is within reach, and then her Ssassa positions her so she can get at it. She grabs a lot of pieces. She doesn't grab all at once, but she pops melon cube and orange slice after apple slice and cherry into her mouth.

"Ssssss... slow down." The whitescale hisses, rubbing her chin on Lily's head.

"There is an answer this one should give, Sabina, but my actions speak. This one spent four-fifths of her life trying to get through to an indifferent immortal fey, and now raises a daughter that has been called..." she mouthes, 'vermin', over Lily's head where she can't see, then continues, "... absolutely delightful. Some might say my choices should not be emulated."

"Can you live with yourself, perhaps, if you do," the white lizard stares at her friend, "and if you don't."

Her head turns to Mikilos, "I think the steed tends to drop good riders off in the lower planes, which isn't ideal. It's... barely more expensive than a scroll of either Ethereal Jaunt, or Plane Shift, and does both."

She grins widely at both, "Perhaps a temptation of a different sort. My practicality versus my greed and poor funds."

Bina sighs but then nods, smirking at Lily's greedy antics. /Best to listen to your Ssassa, Lilyfang. Even if you are hungry./ she says in Draconic. "So best choice and live with consequences. Very well. But like you Cryosanthia I'm not sure my choices are the best ideal as far as others go? I seem to ..skew.. odd directions. At least others think they do." Another larger smirk. "You seem to be doing reasonable well as far as funds go. You've outfitted yourself nicely I think?"

Mikilos considers. "Maybe the steed is trying to make the lower planes a better place by filling it with good people? Not that it works, but can't expect too much from the planning of a horse." He grins, and shrugs to Sabina. "I've yet to meet an Adventurer who's life could really be called 'normal'."

Lily slows down. She's still taking two pieces for every one that Cryo does, until her Ssassa gives her a cup of tea to work with. The little pink-scale smiles up at Bina and Mikilos, largely looking to see if they're paying attention.

"Thank you Sabina, this one strives to have nice things." Cryo says, exhaling a little and sinking on her chair, "My experiences with Her, and the Demon Duke have left a mark, this one will never feel strong enough, or well armoured enough."

She stares off at the wall, clinking her cup, "She was better than me in every way, and Zeke, and never stopped reminding us. This sinks in."

She takes a step, "I was taller. Heavier. That's something I guess." She grins at Mikilos, "Best laid plans of horses eh? I think I'd try Sabina, I don't know what would make me give up. Letting someone down that was counting on you... that would be evil. Yes."

"Knowing when to let go so they don't drown you..." The whitescale doesn't complete the thought.

Sabina says, "Hmmm.. I think I still have time to ponder upon it. If not then I will make my choice and live with it. As I have always done even if I didn't know that was what I was doing." She chuckles into her tea. "Interesting about hindsight, hmm? Things are clearer afterwards and you can always beat up on yourself for actions that have already been made. One of my earliest lessons was about letting go those things that wish to cling." Bina reaches out and takes up a piece of orange, handing it over to Lily politely. See? Paying attention."

Mikilos is watching. Always watching. He has Scrying, you know. And eye in the back of his head. All wizards do. True fact. "learning from your mistakes is one thing, but dwelling upon them is quite another."

"It was a long time Mikilos." Cryosanthia stares at the Dawn Elf, in that moment she shows her age, heavier scale ridges, her large horns, a thinning of her cheeks and throat. A century plus a couple years, "A long time. It's hard to let go, to forget."

"This one dreams sometimes she's still there, this is the illusion, it's another trick of hers."

Lily has turned around on her lap, and squishes a wet chunk of orange up against Cryo's jaw, the juice running down her arm and into the whitescale's lap. "Eattsss."

"Yes Lily, thank you." She smiles at Sabina, "this one is sure you'll make the right choice, and will help if need be, though I will not be the comedy relief animal person if you are running about in capes."

Some-scale has been to a theatre lately.

Bina blinks and then laughs. "Capes and comedy relief? Goodness no, Cryosanthia! You would most certianly be my percussion section. Everyone needs a fine beat to move about too. Even if it's just in their head. A good song to keep in mind. A dance that guides the feet." She offers Cryo a napkin before reaching over and poking Lily in what she hopes is a ticklish spot. Then she eyes Mikilos. "Hmm.. Are you a good dancer, Mikilos? Does music about in your head?"

Mikilos nods seriously to Cryo. "I sometimes forget how long you were gone from your perspective. Was in there long enough myself, though little more than fragments." He frowns thoughtfully. "Reminds me, fall equnox isn't too far off,still need to plan something for the Wee Queen. Plenty of time, but not something to put off until the last minute." He turns to Sabina and smiles. "I can't say I'm a great dancer, but I do well enough. Have a ballroom to practice in when the mood strikes. As for music, I do get the occasional earworm, but more pondering formuli takes my attention."

A brief bit of brouhaha at the door as Jinks arrives simultaneous to a gobber attempting departure. The pair become one and then part for a moment of stunned silence capped with succinct suggestions of behavioral modifications and expletives. They're moving in opposite directions before the paint of the colorful phrases is dry and the door is closed on the matter. Literally. The door closes. The gnome adjusts his coat with a jerk at the lapel and issues a long, suffering sigh before scanning the establishment interior.

Lily squeals and flails, all arms, legs and tail as she's tickled. Cryo has to hold onto her. She takes the napkin and wipes her neck down, then stands and sits her pinkscale in her cool seat. She tilts her head.

"Thank you Sabina, this one is good at drums, but also has great comedic timing." The commotion at the door draws a look, and she cautions, "Lily, try not to destroy two nemesi in one day, you'll be all out of work."

Moving over to Mikilos, she leans in and hugs him around the shoulders, "This one doesn't mean to belabor. You've helped me put it away, you all have. It's... just there, if I look. I will give any assistance with the Wee Queen you might wish."

Taking another step, she looks at Sabina, "This one will go check the books, and for some bones? If you would keep Lily out of trouble?"

"Keep Lily out of trouble?" Bina asks looking confused. "Why would I do that?" She then grins to allow for the joke to be 'gotten'. "Yes, Cryo. I'll watch after her and sic Mikilos on her should things get desperately out of hand. Certainly if fires are set." She purses her lips tightly trying not to laugh. Instead she turns to see what all the fuss was a the door and finds one of the fuss makers. "Ahhh! Welcome back to the Tarrace."

Mikilos smiles. "Mostly a matter of getting something meaty to roast and a keg of drink for the Wee Warriors who come along. But thank you for offering." He looks to Sabina and smiles quietly for a long moment. "It's adorable you think I'd be on the helpful side of things."

Lily hisses in a laughing, snickering sort of way as her Ssassa leaves for the kitchen and the accounts.

The food is undefended!

Also, there is that... gnome. She peers at him, and concentrates, sending her blue sphere on a long circuit of the Tarrace so she can sneak it up on him.

Jinks spots Sabina and offers a curt little nod. He doesn't have his flashy little cane today and he's surprisingly light on assorted jewelry but his vest looks especially smart with flowing designs that twinkle when they catch the light. He seems lost for a moment as continues to scan the crowd and scowl, eventually surrendering his place near the entrance and making for the bar.

Bina laughs lightly and then asides to the distracted kobold. "Did you hear that, Lily? Mikilos thinks I'm adorable! There may be hope for me yet. I may get a dance in his ballroom if he's not distracted by formuli dancing in his head instead." She sighs overly dramatic. Enough to do a bard proud. "What's a poor Tarienite to do?"

Mikilos grins. "Come dance, obviously. The ballroom realy does sit unused more than it should. Are a few grounds that use the space but I don't promote it like I should. At least is simple to clean if it does get dusty."

"Uh huhhh!" Lily answers, staring at Bina with the power of youth and lizards. She's been given a complex problem to solve. She enjoys such things, although her solutions tend to involve traps, and aren't interpersonal. Usually.

"Foo..." The pinkscale is about to suggest, except Mikilos doesn't eat. This is a severe handicap. She looks over at him, head bobbing slowly, then back at Sabina, "He hasss a... sssweetie?"

She's reaching for words. Her blue sphere is heading back towards her. She concludes, "Dansssing."

Leaving the bar results in another collision, though this one if less dramatic. The rotund tallman doesn't even miss a stride when Jinks' shoulder clips his meaty thigh and the gnome is satisfied simply staring daggers for an appropriate duration before continuing on his way. He stops to one side and turns this way and that. Looking for... something, a bottle in one hand and glass in the other. Finally he'll come to join Sabina and Mikilos, gesturing at a seat with the neck of the bottle and quirking an eyebrow inquisitively.

Sabina clutches lightly at her chest. "He has a sweetie?! Alas!" Ahh drama. She quickly shanges back to her normal tones. "But he did just say I could come use his ballroom. Hmmmm." She goes to conspiring mode, hunching close to Lily. "How many people do you think I could fit into his ball room do you think? A hundred? How many until he noticed?" She looks out of the corner of her mask and catches Jinks verbaless question and nods, motioning to a seat.

"Allssss." Lily says, looking around the Tarrace, and then there's the follow-up question. How many would he notice? She taps the back of her head, "Onesss."

He does have an eye back there, she knows!

The little pink lizard watches as Jinks approaches. She's on a regular seat which leaves her head just clearing the edge of the table. A problem she solves by getting on top of it.

The blue ball circles the walls.

Mikilos frowns thoughfully. "Come to mention it, been a while since Val dropped in. Typically a couple weeks as she ranges around doing ranger things, but might give a scry to double check everything is okay. Anyway, ballroom can fit a hundred without crowding. Notice, really depends on the day. Belhan might notice, but may not say anything, as I said there are groups who use the space, and the schedule isn't as updated as well as it should be." Nodding to the gnome, the wizard inquires "What have you been up to of late?"

Jinks looks from Mikilos to Lily and back to Mikilos. His nostrils flare beneath black-ringed eyes but he just shrugs and offers a simple, "Working." He reaches up to set the glass and bottle down on the table top, then climbs into a seat. There's a faint smile sent Sabina's way and then the gnome sets to the business of drinking. Aside from the earlier look he's very pointedly not paying much attention to the little pink kobold.

"One!?" Bina sighs again most dramatically for the kobold. "Alas once again!" Then back to normal. Flip flopping rapidly. "I suppose I shall have to throw a party in a ball room then. Something.. fun! Something to stur things up. Honor Tarien and all that." She turns to the kobold and sage-nods wisely. "What do you think, Lily?"

Mikilos suddenly seems distracted. "I'm sorry, I must go." He vanishes, teleporting without extravagant effects.

"Yesss." Lily says, looking at Sabina, seeming to agree with all the suggestions. This is followed by glances back at Jinks, at Mikilos, at Jinks.

Once again she's facing a people-problem, and screwdrivers don't work with them.

She decides that more pieces of fruit are the answer.

Jinks is at the very important business of drinking. The warmth of the first finger like a soothing balm. His drawn features relaxing ever so slightly. When he opens his eyes he glance between wizard and hostess. When Sabina asks Lily a question he can't help but glance her way and the sight of the kobold eating ruins everything. The color drains from his face and the muscles in his jaw tense.

Bina's senses are strange. Discomfort and unease make their presence known easily and her face turns towards the gnome and her eyes stay there. "Lily? How about you and I take a trip to the kitchen. See if we can't help saasaa find those things she was wanting hmm?" She offers arms to the young one and stands. Scooping her up if Lily moves too slowly. She nods to Jinks and heads into the kitchen.

The pink youngling has arrived at the same conclusion. Mikilos has left. The gnome is not showing his playful wildness, the scheming she remembers from the other night. There's something more murderous in his gaze. She doesn't understand, but she's seen that look before, and leaps into Sabina's arms the moment it's offered.

As she's carried off to the kitchen, she watches around the side of the Tsurian's body, absolutely silent.

Table of one, now.

Jinks sits at a table drinking alone. All by himself. The table is a mess, though, with obvious sign of previous occupants including (one would guess) a child. The gnome is clean and well-dressed but looks exhausted as he crawls into the bottle.

A scarred mul'neissa steps out from the bathhouse, a bag in hand with her usual simple clothes on. She casts a cautious glance towards the stage, her sighing in relief before passing by Jinks. 
 
She stops by his table, her looking down with a brow raised. 

A long, slow sigh precedes the gnome lowering the glass and gradually re-opening his eyes. There's another moment before he feels the gaze on him, turning to consider the mul for a short time before recognition dawns. "Ah," Jinks greets, nodding his head once. "You did make it back." The glass gives a little tink when the bottle's neck bounces against it during the subsequent pour. "Uneventful return, I hope?"
 
Aryia gives a slow dip of the head. "I ran a lot to get back. They didn't really believe me when I told them about the dragon. Did you all come back here?," she gestures languidly. <Handspeech> 
 
She looks about. "Where is S-E-Y-A-R-D-U? Did she make it back?." <Handspech> 

Jinks shakes his head and shrugs, gesturing around him with the bottle. "The Leutnant mentioned the others returning before me. We were separated." His jaw tightens when he clenches his teeth, sitting the bottle down with a fair bit of force. He leans down and does his best to push out one of the chairs with his gnome-sized leg. "Your silver... friend is a problem." He has another drink, color starting to come back into his pale features.

Aryia's brows pinch together. "Explain." <Handspeech> 

"Sit." Jinks waves a hand curtly at the chair he's pushed out. "Craning my head all day to look up at you tallmen is bad enough when we're standing." The gnome occupies a table with a bottle and single glass for company. Three places show signs of being recently vacated with one especially messy sitting. His eyes are sunken into dark rings and he's still showing signs of wounds from the road; bruises and cuts about his face and hands. "We found the camp. The lizards were..." His black eyes scan the table. "Well, they were monsters. We all nearly died. Your friend was more interested in talking than putting the vile things down."
 
The shadow elf frowns a bit at the curtness, but she straddles the chair and dangles her elbows over the back of it. "She likes to spare. Makes sense considering the... whatever it is she follows," Aryia waves a hand to the air, as if the topic brought up was of no interest to her. "But monsters? What do you mean? Elaborate." <Handspeech>

Jinks adjusts in his chair, pulling his legs underneath the seat to brace his boots against the leg rungs and leaning forward over the table. He pushes both sets of fingers around the glass. "We found one of the four we were looking for. They'd cut him up. Pulled him apart. They were carving him like a holiday feast. Eating." He takes a breath, holds it, and pushes it out through his nose. "I-- well, I was close enough to see them doing it. In disguise." He shifts, uncomfortable, and drinks again to squelch an omission.

The pugilist makes a somewhat disgusted face at the idea unfolding before her, but- "And?" she asks rolling a hand for more information. "They probably eat each other too." <Handspeech>

"What lizards do to each other in their backwater dungheeps doesn't interest me." The gnome sneers, his voice raising a little in frustration. "The vermin tribe is at our gate, capturing tallmen, vivisecting and torturing them. Would you enjoy a life without eyes? Do you enjoy it without your--" he stops, abruptly, biting back whatever was to follow and balling one hand into a fist instead. "We could've killed so many of the things. Put a dent in at least... we wasted so much time."
 
Aryia frowns, huffing. "No. I'm from Aby'ssa, I know these things and what they do. Can you get to the point or are you going to pussy foot around the fucking problem? You talk a lot but say nothing so far." <Handspeech>

"We need to go back. Cut every last one of them down before their force grows any larger." Jinks answers, "And if the silver Sith is truly some friend of yours I'd suggest a long conversation on the realities of the world. 'These things happen,' you say. I say we find the people with the conviction and strength of arm to make sure it doesn't continue close enough to hear the screams in the night."

It's clear that Aryia is not the most educated individual. But she has wit. Her hands are still for a long, long few tens of seconds. 
 
"So let me get this straight. You want to commit mass death for acts of torture? You... do realize that you have a godly sith that teaches kindness and empathy. And you're... surprised she tried to do the right thing her god teaches? Frustrated?" <Handspeech> 
 
: ... 
 
: ... ... 
 
"You're kind of a fucking idiot," she bluntly gestures with a crossed fingers to her forehead, an unsurprised look on her visage. "Apply that same logic to Charn. That means I die too from your wanton felling of blade. Dumbass." <Handspeech> 
 
She glances to the side, catching silverscales but uncaring about it. "Yes she can be naive, but at least she has more brains than tits like the others." <Handspeech>

"It's a gods damned army," Jinks is gobsmacked. "I want to see the army routed and destroyed! Coyote laughs, this isn't women and children. We're not marching into the lizard homeland and smashing eggs in a nest. If Charn had an army camped outside Alexandria how much time would you waste trying to decide which soldier was really kind-hearted but just in an unfortunate place with their life choices?" He snatches his bottle by the neck and hops out of the chair, shaking his head. He passes Seyardu on his way out, "You two make quite the pair."
 
"Don't kill any hatchlings on your way out," Aryia smartly signs back as Jinks leave, a decent bit of apathy on her visage. Her home wasn't Alexandria, which had caused her a decent number of issues already in her short time here. 
 
She pauses for a bit. Waiting for something. "And just like that, he didn't even ask what I think we should do. Fucker," she signs to herself, rolling her eyes. <Handspeech> 

<pre>GAME: Seyardu rolls stealth: (6)+0: 6</pre>

Taking some time to relax after recent events, though not having come out of it in too rough shape herself, once the prisoner had been taken to the healers and the reports had been made to the adventurer's guild, the next day she decided to make use of the warm baths at the Tarrasque, where she had been for a while. Long enough for Jinks to have not seen her enter, but short enough for them to see the silver sith-makar leave as he was speaking to Aryia. She was making her way a bit closer after offering a wave to the mul, though one of the lights she walked by caused a bright flash to shine off one of her arms, surely giving away where she was that moment to the gnome. Just when she reaches the table, she stops. There was a moment before she forces herself to frown, and she sighs. 

"This one distinctly remembers you speaking to the commander at the gates how smashing nests was a good idea, Jinks." She states before he walks off. "And this one doubts you could tell the women and children apart from the rest, given your disguise. Whatever you mean by that statement is unclear, however." 

"Peace on your nest, Aryia, apologies for that. What would you think best done, then? I assume he was talking about what happened after you left."

"Sounds like things went cock up after I left to give a report," she shrugs before snatching up one of the left bottles and drinking it. Aryia makes a face, but she didn't complain. Free booze. "Oh I'd say kill the leader and keeping fighting them until they give up. Or run away. It's kobolds, not a trained fucking army. They'll piss themselves before they figure out anything new." <Handspeech>

Table of two.

Seyardu sighs again as she turns around one of the chairs so she can sit down, and clears off a space in front of her. 

"There was no leader shown up until afterwards. I can understand Jinks and their views to some extents, as they could not understand what the kobolds were saying, or what I was saying. And it is partly my fault for not elaborating more, but I was trying to speak with them as much as I could." 

"As for not being a trained army, it is as those we met previously said, someone is training them. When the black kobold who seemed to be a leader of sorts showed up, he was able to bring them into a defensive formation." 

"I tried to get them to stand down, but there were already some dead when I attempted. I wished for them to at least allow use to leave in peace, as many had no desire to fight."

Perhaps some.... pampering is in order? On a whim, some time after the warehouse fight, a tall half Mul steps into the TaRrAcE, clad in worn, but well maintained clothes of grey wool and soft leathers, though her glittering ear adornments are still in place. She considers the clientelle with a sweep of her eyes, noting a gleaming limb perhaps belonging to someone of recent acquaintance ad so she starts to make her way over that way.

The dustup was somewhat hasty, and the aftermath a little muddled for the discoveries made, and so she begins to approach the somewhat plundered table to solidify their introductions in more... leisurely climes. The hands flying into sign do take a certain percentage of her attention on her approach, but her only remark as she nears a respectful conversational distance is, "Hello, again."

Aryia shakes her head, rolling her eyes and sighing. "Probably that dragon training them. Maybe it was a stupid move to talk with them, maybe it wasn't. But if you got blood thirsty fuck over there and tits for claws being just as thirsty, good luck getting them to cooperate with you. I don't know enough of what is going on, but you aren't stupid." <Handspeech> 
 
The heavily scarred mul'neissa turns towards the newcomer, her brow cocked in confusion. Her disfigured throat bobs, but nothing comes out. She gives a simple wave in greeting.

"Dax was, surprisingly not as bad to work with as I expected, though I feel she holds little remorse for her actions, either. But when I asked her to stand down, she did. And Jinks, for a time seemed to attempt to not kill them as well, using more illusion magics." The silverscale continues. "It seemed alright, they were unsure how to proceed, most were not attacking until the leader seemed to show up, and forced them to. While I do not believe all of them are good, most seem to work for the witch-queen and dragon due to fear of the repercussions, even if they do not agree. There was an attempt before, and many other tribes were wiped out." 

Seyardu turns to the newcomer as well, and she offers a wave and a smile. "Apologies if the discussion is not a good one, but peace on your nest, Strike. How are you doing this day?"

"She over does it a lot, trust me, I've worked with her before," Aryia waves off before sighing and shaking her head. "So the two need to die before the kobolds stop. That sounds far better than whatever the fuck J-Y-N-K-S was on about." 
 
Dropping the topic, she turns her attention to the tall half mul.

"I'm well enough, thank you." Strike replies with a certain wry bemusement, "I must have bathed a half dozen times to get rid of the smell, how are you?"

She looks to the silent one's hands again, arching an eyebrow, then, venturing from Seyardu's responses aloud the sign is merely the answer to one issue, she answers, "Hello, I can leave if I'm intruding, but..." A brow arches, "What has Jinks done?"

"Jinks... makes me realize that the leftennant at the western gate may not be a completely unique individual." Seyardu sighs. "Perhaps at some point I will do what I can to see them stripped of their standing, as they would kill guards at a bridge due to being kobolds, who were not harassing passerbies, but asking for supplies and gold to continue guarding the bridge from bandits." 

"And he was there when we were rescuing a prisoner from a Kobold tribe at the nearby lake, but it seems he holds no sympathy or empathy for their situation, and would rather see them all slain."

The sith-makar continues, more to Strike.

Aryia nods along, emptying out the stolen bottle before sliding it back onto the table. She wasn't sure if the newcomer could understand her, so she keeps up her signs. "Yes, the situation is kind of complicated, but whatever. Mountain out of a gnome hill, or whatever humans say." <Handspeech>

Strike glances sidelong to Seyardu at first, no note of recognition at the reference, then, "I'm not fami-!"

Blink.

"Kobolds are guarding a bridge?"

What the hell's been going on in Alexandria while she's been handling business?

She shrugs, noting the hands again, "He could have a vendetta. Family slain by kobolds or the like. Or a long standing feud between his clan and a neighboring clutch."

At last, to the fulblood Mull, she bows her head, "I'm Strike." she says politely.
 
"They were, from bandits, named Celia the Snake. It is a long tale, but they are one of the tribes driven out by the dragon. And the leftennant of the gates wanted us to kill them all, without a thought. Kobolds guarding a bridge, that the guard is not." She explains, seeming just a touch agitated by the thought. "Can you understand the hand symbols of Aryia? If not, I can translate, if you need." They offer to Strike.

The shadow elf brushes her hair out of her face, satisfied that she didn't have to resort to translating or scrawled words. "A-R-Y-I-A," she answers back. "Do you know a V-E-N-O-M? Some people have these... word names. I don't know the sign." <Handpseech> 
 
She waves off the notion towards Seyardu, thinking Strike could understand the mute elf just fine. 

"interesting." Strike returns, then, "I'll make note of it if I need to travel, thank you."

With Aryia's signing on top of Seyardu's question, she twists her fingers into several quick signs, a first "Venom." to be helpful, then a more elaborate, "I haven't met them." <handspeech>

Now aloud once more, "It's nice to meet you, Aryia." she starts, giving a little smile and glances between the pair so everyone's part of the conversation at once, "I'm glad the Guild is finally taking my suggestion to teach the sign. I've had too many missions go awry because I couldn't discretely warn my team of trouble."

"The guild teaching us?" Seyardu asks, tilting their head somewhat. "They did not teach us, no. This was something I learned alongside Aryia, so that we might be better able to speak. This one knows Venom, somewhat." They admit. "And this one knows little of you, other than your name, and capabilities in a fight." 

She turns slightly to Aryia for a moment. "Just so you are aware, Strike is capable of magic, so you are not caught off guard."

Stjepan enters, ducking under the lintel before straightening up. He scans the room, looking for open tables and also to see what the specials are.

Galidor comes into the TarRaCe and he looks around curiously. He's heard others talking about it and has finally had a moment to check it out. He looks around taking it all in and he moves a bit off to the side so that others can pass by him. He goes slowly so he doesn't miss anything.

Aryia makes a slightly embarrassed face. "No no, I know the sign for venom. But not the name. Different signs." 
 
She canters her head from side to side. "Yes, what she said. The Guild never taught me. I had to learn it from other people around here. I only just now picked it up not too long ago." <Handspeech> 
 
At the warning, the pugilist squints, tilting her chin up and assessing Strike over again. "Just warn me is all. Last time I nearly broke someone's nose." There's a glance stolen to the door, her giving a nod towards the two men that enter. People that she knew. <Handspeech>

Stjepan lifts his hand towards the others, he keeps seeing familiar faces, so he turns the wave into a general wave, stepping aside to make room for Galidor. Then, he starts for a table, thumbs hooking into his belt.

Seyardu says, "Do you know what happened here, by the way? It seems some people left in a hurry." Seyardu asks, looking at the several seats at the table, and the mess she was slowly working on clearing out to make the server's job easier. In one movement she saw Galidor and Stjepan enter, and she waves to them both."

Strike frowns a little and sighs, "Optimism wins, yet again." The assessment of her talents gives her a momentary pause, but she shakes her head, "Not magic not.. as such. It's a more interal force, but it requires a more refined attunement between mind, spirit and body to properly access." There is a little shrug and, "It was a happy side benefit of my recovery, but I'm still learning. The rest was alchemical trickery, commonly available."

She doesn't quite notice the new arrivals yet, as she's still getting acquainted with the women at their large, and slightly plundered table, "I imagine it depends on whether the name is actually the Trade word, or some exotic collection of sounds that sounds like it. For my designation, holding the Symbol a beat longer, or holding your other hand flat over it as you form it will serve."

The mute woman's nod toward the door turns her attention doorward and she smiles a touch, lifting her hand to give a casual wave, but doesn't shout a hail over the dining crowd."

Then it's back to Seyardu on her inquiry, "I'm afraid not, I'd just walked in and saw you."

Aryia shakes her head at Seyaru's question and shrugs. Though, she does scratch her head at Strike's explanation. Of both sign and... huh? "What do you mean by all of that? The... mind, body and... whatever the sign is," she asks, curious. <Handspeech>

Stjepan stands over the table -- I mean, back a bit so he doesn't loom way, way, over -- and nods. "Good evening -- mind if I join you, or is this business?" His tone is easy, light. One eye is half on the specials board again.

Galidor spots the way fro Seyardu and he makes his way over towards her. He nods politely to everyone at the table. "Peace upon your nests. I hope everyone is doing well." He says in a friendly tone.

"Peace on your nests, Stjepan, Galidor, forgive me, this one cannot remember how to state all your titles." Seyardu greets to the newcomers. "Not at all, if the others are alright with it, I am myself. This one is doing alright, all things in consideration."

Strike looks to Aryia for a moment, starting with forming to handsign word for, "Strike." and holding it for a little longer than typical, then holds on hand over the other, the higher hand held open, fingers together over the repeated gesture of, "Strike."

She explains aloud, "The tradespeak word is actually my name. It isn't a homonym." then seems to get a momentary nostalgia or thoughtfullness as she tries to remember how the concept was explained to her all those years ago, "There is an energy that flows through creatures, and most things, to varying degrees. The particulars of the attunement are.... involved, but harnessing this power allows me to attack more swiftly, or run down a swiftclaw, or... so long as I don't overexert myself, to harm creatures with my bare hands that otherwise might take an enchanted weapon to harm." <handspeech>

She smiles again as Stjepan arrives, back in her old threads for some reason, but still rocking her piercings, "How've you been? This is their table, I've only just walked in." With the other Sith offering a greeting, she bows her head and returns, "Peace on your nest as well. I am well enough, thank you, and yourself?"

Stjepan takes a chair, grinning. "I don't remember my titles -- or care, truly. Easier that way. How're you all?" He tilts his head at Strike. "You sure you're not workin'?"

Galidor hmms, "I think she meant my titles I am for those that don't know. Galidor Goldenclaws, Sorcerer of the Second Circle, Scion of the Great Gold Dragons, in service to the Silver Empress, the Destroyer of Smaller Demons, the trolls know me as Andivar the Acid Splasher, the undead know me as the Davin the Disrupter, the plants known me as the Petrocov the Pruner, and the spiders know me as the Mikal the Missiler." He says in a loud voice, "You may call me Galidor though."

Aryia pinches the bridge of her nose, a sigh filtering through. "Yes, I know what the sign for strike is. Just some people don't have a sign and I have to spell it. That's not what I'm talking about. I don't know the sign for S-P-I-R-I-T," she has to elaborate with too many gestures and too many words. 
 
She shoots a glance to Galidor. Like that, too many words. 
 
She gives a small wave to the two joining them before focusing her attention on Strike. She picks at her fingers, parsing the information and pursing her lips. Pensive. "You... do all of that? I can... do some of that. I think. Not all of that. I'm good at hitting things." She had questions to ask, but no words to put them to. <Handspeech> 

"Yes, ah, that. I understand some like many titles, but I prefer to use less." Seyardu nods, chuckling just a bit. "That is interesting, Strike, I have never heard of such capabilities, and it seemed the closest comparison was some manner of magic. You and Stjepan know each other? That makes things easier. What brings you to the Tarrace today? If there is food, you can use this one to order, as I understand it can be difficult to find a table here at times."

Seyardu seems to think for a moment, glancing to Aryia. "Aryia, you say that, but in all my writings before coming here, they stated most sildanyar have some inherent magic. Do you not?"

"Oh, that, my apologies. I misundertood." Strike reples, blushing a little as she bows to Aryia.

Her hand forms the word for, "Spirit." <handspeech>

She watches the fullblood make her question and she nods, "Amongst ther things, but it's taken me a while to learn how to do it, properly. If you can do some of that, we likely have some similar trainings."

There is a little bow to, "Galidor." with a subtle deference, perhaps taing some of his titles as a form of rank, then "I was looking to... pamper myself a little. No particular reason, aside from some new experiences in a controlled environment."

Then, to Seyardu, "Thank you. It's... probably akin, but I don't understand the finer points of magic, itself, so I can't properly say for certain, I'm afraid."

Stjepan nods to Seyardu. "For a good while now, even. I always come here for the food, even when I come for other things." He nods to Strike, "That makes sense -- a controlled environment? Sounds almost promising."

Galidor nods to Strike as she bows to him. "Nice to meet you." He looks around, "I've heard of this place since I've gotten back, but I have not yet been here. I had some time and decided to see what it's all about."

The fullblooded mul'neissa looks left, looks right. Then slowly sinks down into her chair, her face dusted red. "... no one ever taught me so I don't know how to do any of that," she explains with small gestures. "Training? I've... never been trained before." <Handspeech> 
 
Aryia just shrugs at the topic and jabs a thumb over towards the baths. That's the only real reason why she goes here anymore. The other reason was... well, her taste in music changed some. 

"Perhaps some training would be possible? If you had an understanding of how to do so yourself, you may be more comfortable around magic?" Seyardu suggests to Aryia. That was embarassment, she didn't think the mul had had too much to drink yet. "You could ask Aya about it some time, if you wanted to." 

And she turns to the others. "I came here to see what it was about myself Galidor, and found it quite nice. And I agree with Sjepan, the food here is quite good, though much of it is exotic on the regular. The dire boar bacon I had recently was quite good."

Strike blinks as Aryia relates her substantially different education, "Really?" she asks aloud, seeming quite stunned. She takes a moment, then, a little more sedate, "I was taught to fight, unarmed if need be." She shrugs, "After I was..." she trails off, gives a little shake of her head, then, "Anyway, I had to adjust to a great many things, and I was taught by a Elgarin named Kanyk, supplementing my combat training with more.... spiritual notions, ultimately including the abilities I described."

Galidor finds a unoccupied chair and he pulls it up to sit, "Perhaps she needs to see what others can do. I know that's the best way to learn magic for me. I love to listen to others talk about magic and what it can do, but reading a book about it just tends to put me to sleep. I'll have to try it. The burnt meat in the city is quite flavorful."

Stjepan nods sagely. "The baths /are/ nice." He waves for service, and orders up a plate of mixed meat and fruit. It's likely to be pretty... varied, knowing this place.

Aryia tuts at Seyardu. "Sure. And I can find a needle in a city wide hay stack. She's near impossible to find unless she pops out of the middle of fucking no where like usual. Besides, I've never really had a need to use it. Or care." <Handspeech> 
 
She scoots her chair to the side to make room, a bit closer to Strike as their conversation grew deeper. The full elf rubs her neck. "Yes. Is... that weird? I was just kind of thrown into situations where I had to learn how to do it myself. So I don't have any real training." <Handspeech> 
 
She's pensive, a glance stolen to Seyardu. 
 
"... there was a time where I nearly died recently, but I got back up despite quite literally bleeding to death. I can't really explain it." <Handspeech> 

"She tends to be around the fernwood often. Or, if you are Seldan, apparently you can make her aware of bad news so she'll seek you out. Regardless, I won't ask her about it if you care not." Seyardu suggests. The glance revealed as little as usual, it was difficult to tell is she was bothered or not. 

"This is, true. Many who are capable of things such as yourself Aryia, are followers of the various temples here, though they do not channel the divine. It is something inward, but I am not the one to ask about it, though I know it is trained over many years."

Strike settles into a chair as Aryia makes a spot for her and she gives a polite, "Thank you." She waits until Aryia's hands have finished moving before she speaks, never looking away, though something at the end troubles her expression, even her color, but she collects herself and replies "Aya -is- tough to find. You trip over her, or she finds you has been my experience. If I happen upon her, I'll pass on that you're looking for her."

She is silent for a moment, trying to weigh her own experiences against what Aryia is saying, then shrugs just a little bit, "It could be. There is something called natural talent. I imagine if you've been pushed into the situation enough times, and you have the knack for it, you could intuit your way into the tecniques, without consciously knowing the higehr secrets."

She considers her hand for a moment, rubbing thumb to forefinger, then signs with her hands low, "I was.." a pause, then, " destroyed, once. It's why I'm like this, now. That was the action of another, though, I've not heard of restarting on your own." <handspeech>

Stjepan orders a drink as well -- a mug of cider that looks comically small in his hand. "Aya? That is an excellent description. Aya is found when Aya wants to be." He subsides, though, not catching the hand-talk. So, instead, he cleans up plates a little to make room on the tabletop.

Galidor hmms, "Baths?" He asks curiously as he listens to the others as he sits back. He's never met this Aya person so he doesn't know how she can be found.

"I don't know, maybe I have. I just try to keep myself from freaking out when fighting," Aryia further explains. 
 
She glances down under the table. Seeing as their conversation was growing further one on one, she lowers her hands as well. "Like this? What do you mean like this? Or... restarting? Sorry, Tradespeak isn't my first tongue," she further asks, equally confused yet curious. <Handspeech>

Seyardu was still able to follow along. Though she pauses to look to the others at the table. "Yes, there are large baths here, magically warmed and sometimes infused with various herbs and oils. They are relatively inexpensive in spite of that, a few copper pieces to use." 

"I believe, well, when one becomes unconcious, it is not common to exit unconciousness so quickly, without outside aid of healing magic, or some similar, but external care. I was too preoccupied at the time to think too much on it, I will admit." 

"I am curious too, what it is you mean. Though handspeak can be difficult, the words chosen are strange."

Seyardu looks to the others at the table. "Yes, there are large baths here, magically warmed and sometimes infused with various herbs and oils. They are relatively inexpensive in spite of that, a few copper pieces to use. They are quite nice." 

"I'm not sure what you mean by that, Strike. This one is still not sure of some words in handspeech, and tradespeak is not my first either." She adds, taking out one of the menus left at the table to look at.

Stjepan nods. "They really are. And working and magical healing leaves knots in the hardest-to-reach places." As the meat-and-fruit plate arrives, he gestures. "Feel free to join in."

"We were built sometime during the Crown Wars." Strike begins, "But weren't activated until the reign of Altima, as servants and bodyguards. I was destroyed trying to protect my master from an ambush. Ultimately, I failed." She raises her hand, flexing the digits as she affords the table a chance to absorb that, then starts to pinch at her bangs between thumb and forefinger, "My restart, maybe a week later, came with... senses I didn't understand, and bodily needs I only knew from observation."

She gives a shrug and continues, "I have, after consulting others, determined that a druid, for some reason or other, chose to reincarnate me. It's taken me a long time to come to terms with this new body."

Galidor smiles, "Sounds like something I'd enjoy. If you will all excuse me I'll think I'll see about enjoying a bath. Peace on your nests." He says before he heads off.

The explanation only serves to further confuse the full blooded elf even further. Failure of education was proving evident at this point, and she was missing a key point in Stike's explanation. She swivels to to the others, face filled with perplexion. Aryia rummages around in her bag before pulling out a worn out journal. She pops a pen out and scribbles something down before showing it to the others. 

"Defyne reinkarnaye."

Stjepan looks at Aryia for a moment, closes his eyes and opens them: "To be dead and brought back, not in your own body but a different one. Really different."

<pre>GAME: Seyardu rolls knowledge/history: (11)+5: 16
GAME: Seyardu rolls knowledge/arcana: (14)+5: 19</pre>

"Reincarnation is a magic that is closely related to the practices of druidism, and an understanding of the natural world. While most magics that bring back the dead will do so in the original body, it is dependant on the state of it save for increasingly powerul magic." Seyardu explains once she read the note. "A spell of reincarnation, it is hard to explain. Your soul and memories, what truly makes your being is retained, but you would awaken back from the jaws of the Death Singing Dragon in a new body. It could be anything, though there is no controlling what the new form may be." 

"I have heard of the crown wars before, but only in passing. But it is much before the time my people were heading out to much of the outside world."

Strike waves after the golden Sith as he takes off for the baths, then looks down at Aryia's note as she turns it her way, but the others are already answering and she nods in affirmation.

She gives a little shrug, "They were a rather messy affair, though the overlap with the Sorceress Wars muddied some of the finer details." she concedes, "There are a significant amount of politics involved, but it's a somewhat fascinating subject in the abstract. Many of my kind wonder if we have souls like you all do. It would... seem that we do."

Aryia looks like she gets the explanation on a surface level, her attention shifting back towards Strike. It does take her a painfully long time to connect the dots, even as the talks of history were going around her. 

She snaps a finger. "You were a golem?" Aryia asks, utterly dumbfounded that such a thing was possible. <Handspeech>

Stjepan gives a grunt around a mango. He finishes chewing, then points out. "It'd make it difficult if you didn't have one, wouldn't it..."

Seyardu only got the connection when Aryia pointed it out, and she squints more at the half elf. But then she just sighs, and smiles again. 

"Ah! This one understands now, that is interesting to hear of. Though this one wonders why there that was a point of confusion to begin with, considering they are able to be healed with curative magics. But regardless, that is good to know, even if it was something I already accepted."

Strike nods, a somewhat rueful smile on her face. She 'came to terms' with the situation, and maybe it still bugs her just a little bit, "I was. It's been a little over ten years, now."

She shrugs, seeming to square her emotions away, and accepts Stjepan's previous invitaion by reaching for a little piece of meat with a, "Thank you."

His remark warrants a snerk, then, "It'd probably curtail the process, I imagine." she grants.

She looks to Seyardu then and, after a few moment's thought, likely for phrasing, she supposes, "Our frames can still be rendered... unsuitable to house a soul, I suppose. Judging by the state of the battle site, it had been a week since I'd fallen. Perhaps I simply hadn't been found in time."

Aryia just nods as her observation is confirmed, though she didn't have much to add to the conversation. She was no where near here or involved with any of that, so she looks to her hands and traces along some of the old and new lines on them. 

After a few beats, she stands up. "I'm going to go on a walk. Strike, we should talk more later. I have a lot of questions but I'm not good with words, so I don't know how to ask them." <Handspeech> 

She waves to the group, her pointedly looking at Seyardu and speaking in hisses and pops. No voice. "P-s - - n-st." 

Stjepan flashes a grin at Strike. "Just a little." He waves a hand, and continues picking away.

"Peace on your nest, Aryia." The silver sith-makar replies, waving them off. "There is more I would like to speak with you myself, but another time. If you are unsure, you can always stop at the library so you can prepare for what you want to ask her." 

"It is, while unfortunate, good in a way to know the similarities in spite of differences. Apologies if it is a difficult subject." She responds to Strike. "In a sense, though not to the same degree perhaps, I have often felt out of place in these lands."

Strike frowns and nods as Aryia seems burdened with more thoughts than the repackaged soul would have previously thought. Perhaps the concepts brushed something already troubling her? Hmm. A conversation, perhaps, for a more established acquaintance. She offers a considerate, "Alright, Aryia, we can speak another time, be well."

While Stjepan decides to enjoy his meal, she turns her attention to Seyardu to allow him the peace for it, "It isn't a favorite, but ignoring it wasted enough time, already. I am what I've become. All life is change, no? An adult isn't the hatchling she was before. Experience molds us until our time stops, if it stops."

She settles back in the chair and smiles a touch, eyes half lidding in thought, "We all have many of the same basic needs.... but our peoples come up with different standards of acceptability, or... some times our bodies expression our feelings in different ways."

"This is true." Seyardu nods to the explanation, smiling. It wasn't natural, it was forced, yet genuine as she did her best with to express it. "If that is the case, I am glad. Things are quite different, here. Clothing, and understanding all of the social cues. One of the first times I saw someone blush with embarassment though, I thought someone may have punched them hard enough to bruise. And many do not understand how my kin act, or the scents which often accompany emotional states."

"I would not considere myself a safe in the matter, but I have a fair amount of experience, looking at the greater postures, primarily. The set of the shoulders, the way one shifts their weight to one leg or another, tension in the hands, that sort of thing." Strike replies, picking up a strip of green pepper, "I'm afraid my sense of smell isn't refined enough for that sort of reading. Even after a decade, there are some odors that are... baffling." She smiirks a little, shrugging, then, "Shortly after I awoke this way, I understand one could practicly tell what I was thinking, my expressions were so... candid, and my mind was awash in a great many things. I thought expression was a choice, like closing your fist, or taking a step."

"There are still physical expressions amongst my kin, but most are not like the other races. A smile is a learned thing, but a movement of a tail is not in most cases, yet both are often a sign of happiness or enjoyment." They reply, chuckling just a bit, and the tail in question swishing a few times as if to prove the point. "It is only when you are mindful of what you are doing that you realize how much is involuntary, yes? And a frame of reference is difficult when you cannot have a direct comparison. As for the sense of smell, that is still probably strange to most, and it is still possible to be supressed, much like one may hide their smile or anger if they are trying to. But I do rely on my sense of smell quite a bit. Awakening to scent though, it would almost be like suddenly seeing color one day. So I can understand that."

"I'm not certain." Strike replies, "My eyes work slightly different, most significant at night. Thinking to how much detail I lose in the dark compared to before is the closest I can concieve."

She purses her ips a little, eyebrow arching just a touch for a moment, but, instead of asking the question, she starts chewing on the rest of her pepper. A swallow, and, face back to a polite neutral, "Have you been here long?" she ventures, instead.

"Myself? It has not been that long. A few months at most?" They respond, after a moment of thought. "It feels like much longer, with everything which has happened here. But really, not that long in any amount when thought about. And you have been here a while, I would assume." 

The expression did not go unnoticed, and the silver sith-makar raised a brow ridge themself. "Is everything alright? Please let me know if I am bothering you in any way."

Strike hmm?'s, "Ah, no, you weren't bothering me. I had a question, but I've found people may not desire to go into certain things with those they've only recently been acquainted with. I din't want to overtep for curiosity's sake."

She sits forward again and crosses her feet, "I've been here off and on since my conversion, though more the former than the latter."

"Oh, that's not a concern, save for a few topics, I am open to speaking of most matters freely, if there is curiosity, but I do not wish to, then I will simply tell you I do not wish to answer it." They reply simply, with another smile. 

"That is quite a while to be here and not, however. Where were you, if not in Alexandria? I still know little about the lands outside Am'shere."

"I've done a lot of travel escorting merchants, or seeking the last of my sisters. Her remains weren't with my ours when I returned to the site of the ambush, so... I had hoped she had survived, but there's been no sign of her." Strike answers, thoughtful, but she reaches for a piece of meat, next and continues, "Stjepan suggested perhaps she met the same fate and simply... accepted it much faster than I did. Perhaps a new name."

"If they were in the same place you were, and they are not there now, there is a good possibility they were either still alive, or were reincarnated themself." She agrees after a moment to think of what was said. It was hard to read the sith, but the smile was gone, and her tail was still. "This one will believe, for you as well as her, that they are alright. This one, knows, or, thinks they know what it is like to be worried about a missing sibling."

The former war machine affords the sith a smile and bows her head, "As you say. Perhaps she's happy, now." She spends a moment or two sniffing at the morsel between her fingers, then, with a soft, "We can speak of brighter things, perhaps I can explain any of the local social mores, if any are still confusing?" she takes a bite.

"This, I would like to hear more, as I feel in many ways we may have had similar experiences in many matters, though you have had more time to adjust." They nod, reaching to take a small piece of carrot, and chewing on it. They take the half eaten spear, squint some more at it, before finishing it off. "But please forgive me, as much as I would like to, I was not planning to stay so long after my bath, and there are errands I must attend to. Perhaps another time however, as I am sure I will be in the city much longer."

Strike nods, chewing quickly for a few moments, then swallows before a polite smile meets her lips, "Of course, I understand obligations. I have been renting at the Fernwood when I can, though I imagine we'll bump into each other sooner or later." The former construct lifts her free hand to offer a small wave, "Be well until next we meet."

"The fernwood is a good place. I believe Aryia stays there, if you are looking to meet with her again, and I have run into Aya there before. I normally stay at the inn outside the north gates, but I have been at the Daeus temple of late." The silver sith-makar notes, standing up from her seat and stretching, the smile returning again with an accompanying wave. "It was good to meet you outside of the job for the adventurer's guild. I am sure that we will see each other again no doubt. Peace on your nest, and may the Celestial Mother watch over you." She offers, picking up the plates and glasses that had been strewn, then piled up by her earlier, carrying them over to the counter near the kitchens before she took her leave.

Soon the war-machine turned half shadow-elf finishes and leaves as well.

Table of none.

Some time later the door to the kitchen opens, a flood of sound presaging a white-scaled Sith'Makar woman, and her pink-scaled Kobold youngling. Cryosanthia looks at the empty, well used table. "Momentss Little Fang," she hisses in draconic, her old servers instincts taking over. She grabs a bin and busses the table, then loops her hands through graceful gestures which cause her whitescale gloves to glow. After which she magically wipes the surface clean and resets all the chairs.

The undertable is cleaned as well, and she passes the bin of dishes to the barkeep who sends them to the back. "You could wipe those down too," he suggests.

She only wobbles her head with a smile, "can't do everyone's work," and turns to leave. As she passes the table again she pauses, and quickly leaves her Arcane Mark on it, teasing for tips."Homesss. Miksssoss." Lily complains, sounding tired.

"Yesss. We go. That wass a whole lot of number crunching." Cryo says, heading for the door and ducking her wings under the lintel. The pair vanish into the evening.

Table up.

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[[Category:Logs]]
[[Category:Kobolds]]