Salsa Break

Tenebrae - Friday, May 10, 2019, 6:13 PM

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-=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=-<* A07: Fernwood Pub *>--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=--=-

The common room of the Fernwood Pub dominates the inn, spacious and airy because of the high, vaulted ceiling. Ornately carved beams of dark, polished wood form a lattice overhead, supporting the arched roof two storeys above the floor. To the right of the double-door entry is a spiral staircase, winding upwards to a balcony that rings and overlooks the main area. Large windows at this level grant an excellent view of the river to the west and colorful market stalls to the north and east. An air of coziness is salvaged by keeping the pub dimly lit; parchment-shrouded mana lanterns hang at intervals from the base of the balcony, nestled amongst lush, magically propagated ivy and ferns that grow over this false demi-ceiling and the struts that support it.

The bar is sleek and simple, comprised of meticulously polished black lacquer. Tables are set under the darker niches formed by the balcony floor as well as on the balcony itself. A few are deliberately sized to accommodate halflings and gnomes, but the majority are meant for human-sized individuals. A large common table is on the main floor, set before a semi-circular stage situated against the western wall. Beside it, with pipes mounted upon the wall and running up past the balcony and almost to the ceiling, is a refurbished pipe organ made to look like the one lost when the Fernwood was destroyed during the Merkabah Siege.

Mikilos makes his way into the Fernwood, rubbing absently at his eyes as he pauses just inside the doorway for his eyes to adjust. Once mildly certain he's not going to trip over anything, the tall elf makes his way towards the bar proper, nodding to the barkeep. "Spiced wine, please. Heavy on the spice, and a slice of bread, if you've any fresh. Black bread, if there's an option." Order in place, he rest his forhead on the bartop, absently rubbing the back of his neck.

Aaand after the previous group! Kae's helped clean up everything. And there she is at a long table near the bar, with a wierd device... It seems to be making crunchy edible triangles out of corn that Kae feeds into the thing.. Also red sauce out of tomatoes, and other ingredients including some kind of berry, or maybe a pepper? Who knows...

After Kae tries a scoop out of a bowl of red sauce, she flails her arms and immediately goes for a sip of milk of all things before grinning... "Oooh that's got a kiiick!" She tilts her head and labels the bowl 'hot', before she starts dipping from this roasted sauce, which has a strong smokey smell to it, and flavor... she sighs happily, nomming on the spicy snack as she crunches away on chips coated in the stuff.

Mikilos sits up at the exclimation, peering around a moment to find the source, and taking a deep breath of the spice in the air. "....what the heck is that? Smells like good chili, but looks like really bad chili."

Kae blinks curiously and looks up.. "oooh Not chili! Kinda.. it's this!" She holds up several types of peppers ranging from mild to by the gods that will melt your mouth in hotness. "Aaaand theese' Looots of tomatoes... "And this!" She holds up a green herb, and garlic, and other spices, and onions too...... "I has programmed a few recipes into my artifice here, and well, you put the ingredients in and the artifice makes it! I'm testing out my whole premise and idea here! It's aaaawwweeeesoooome!" She says cheerfully.. "The sauce and the crisps are good too!"

Mikilos frowns mildly at the mention of artifice, but focus on the peppers. Specifically the tooth-melting ones. "Eh, looks like a decent collection. And the crisps are what, just baked corn mash?"

kae waggles her arms some. "Steamed into these..." She holds up a flat bread made of it, tortilla... "Then the machien quarters em and fat fries em before sifting the excess oil off and dumping it in the bowl!" SHe says cheerfully. At that point there's the sound of a large amount of chips dropping into a bowl... Kae then sprinkles salt on them as she shakes the bowl and puts another under the chip port... She then waggles the bowl out at Mikilos and motions to one of the dipping sauces "Get a small bowl full and give it a try! It's veeeerrry savory and also spicy, some more so than others.. I've tried to label them from coolest to hottest, and ..." She motions to the one with the dragon skull and crossbones... "That's like beyond magical volcanic hot!!! But it's good too!"

Mikilos nods, accepting the offered chips, and taking a small bite of one without any salsa. Have to make sure the chips themselves are good, or can ruin the whole experience. He gives the dragon skull a long look, but starts with some towards the middle. One persons 'mild' can be anothers 'spicy'. Taking a small sample, the wizard chews, and nods. "Little weak, could use a hint more garlic, but pretty decent over all." He glances over the other ingredients. "Do you use chilantro? I'm okay with it, but lot of people who can't stand the stuff."

Kae blinks and holds up the green herbs "Theeeese!" She says. Yes she uses cilantro... "Just pends on the flavors I was going foorre! Ooh Ooh Try this one! My machine even does wood fired flavored ones.!" She says and holds out the big bowl of wood-fired salsa... this one is labeled a 6 on a scale of 10 for spicyness.... "Used smoked chiles too!!!"

Mikilos nods, taking the recommended sample, and frowns mildly. "Too much onion, but I think I get what you were going for. Do you use the entire pepper? I tend to find the most spice is in the fibers just inside the rind, though of course will vary with the species." The level of heat doesn't seem to bring a reaction.

Braelnoir has connected.

Kae shrugs slowly... "I liiikes onions!" she says, flailing... She then nudges one labeled an 8.5 toward Mikilos curiously... "And I usually use all the pepper.. Peppers has flavors alllll of their own besides being spicy!" She says happily "Many of these things have several types of chile in it... Like this one here, it's got 3 types of chile, and it acts on different parts of the tongue... Oh and it's green." She says. Yup the salsa is a bright, vibrant green....

Mikilos nods, and shrugs. "I think the general flavor is the same through the pepper, only the heat varies, but admit I havn't tested that aspect closely. But I agree, the over all falvor is more important than the burn alone." He takes a scoop of the green sample, and winces, shaking his head, but chews and swallows. "Bleh... you used... um... I'm not sure the common name... Kal Vierdier in elven. Sort of long and skinny, about the size of a finger, deep red when ripe? Decent heat, but the flavor just... bleh, I don't care for it at all."

Kae tilts her head and blinks "Nooo I used these.." She says and holds out its cousin... it's hotter, bigger, and orange when ripe, but Kae used green ones... "Oh and these.." She says and holds up green tomato like fruits with leaves stuck to the top "Tomallos.... " She takes a bite of the green sauce and tilts her head slightly "SHouldn't have used the vinegar like it said in the recipe..." She mutters and shrugs.. Then she goes to her machine and starts fiddling with said recipe... "Lets try...." She says and after loading the hopper with the ingredients pulls a lever... A few minutes later the tomallos and sweet green tomatoes are being pulled into the hopper along with a bit of sugar cane? Maybe she's making it a bit sweet instead of vinegar-y? As the sauce somes out, Kae tries a chip in it and yaaaays! She holds it out to Mikilos...

Mikilos is hesitant, but accepts the remade sample, taking a bite. He frowns a little, but chews and swallows, shaking his head. "Better, but I just don't care for that base flavor. Agree the vinegar made it worse. In this one the flavor is mellow enough I can pick up on the other flavors, but the base still spoils the whole effect for me. Not trying to suggest it's bad, just not to my tastes."

Kae tilts her head... "Sooo issit the green tomatoes? or the tomallos? Or issit that cousin pepper?" She asks curiously... She then looks at her machine "Niftything about this, I can rework a recipe on the fly and build a new sauce..." She then umms and ooohs "Or you can try too! Just hit these buttons here to set up your percentages of ingredients, load the hopper, and the thing will separate, and process those ingredients and put them in the right proportion as entered by you!"

Braelnoir steps into the pub like she owns it, giving it a slow once over even as she's striding across the floor toward the bar, proper. The energetic explanation over yonder draws the human's eye and, as a hand settles on a hip, she asks, "'ey, Red! Can ya make that thing a mite smaller? A few ol' mates in the business'd love t'ave something like that come mealtime on the march."

Mikilos shakes his head. "The peppers. The tomallos I'm neutral on, they're okay but I prefer tomatoes, green or red, though I tend to go for red." He eyes the contraption a moment, and shakes his head. "I'll just stick to the samples you've already made." So saying he tries for one of the hotter bowls, leaving the dragon skull alone for now. Taking a bite, he blinks, and chews carefully before taking a deep breath. "-There's- the heat. Nice. A good range of burn, decnt balance. The smoky kick at the end is a nice touch, though I'd favor a little more garlic, a little less onion." Looking over to Brae, he shrugs. "Can always just take a few jars along, heat them over a campfire. Not quite as good as fresh made, but tends to be pretty close. And of course, there's always the option of a pack that;s bigger on the inside. Can store a full working kitchen inside your belt pouch if you really want."

Kae oooh's and nods slowlly... "She peeers to the new person curiously and looks to the contraption... "Well if'n I get this one right and working and stuff you can have it.. I'll be making an upgrade on it after I'm done figuring out what all this will do and stuff..." She says and beams cheerfully... No Kae's not a great business person.. "In the mean time!" She holds up a bowl of chips and motions to the veritable plethora of spicy sauce combinations all over the table! "Dig in!"

"Smells like them hot peppers." Brae muses with a couple sniffs, stepping closer with a smile, "Thanks, sugar, most kind!" She offers her 'holier' hand with a, "Braelnoir, nice t'meetcha!" to the elf male first, then the female, mostly because she reaches him first, before calling, "'ey, Landlord, gimme a beer..." a glance around, "An' a round fer the house!"

Mikilos acepts the offered hand with a firm grip of his own. "Mikilos Mithralla, wizard and bladesmith." Introductions done, he tries another of the far end of the range, and frowns mildly. "Good kick, but fairly bland over all. Nothing really behind the heat. I mean, there's flavor there, but nothing really stands out. Maybe a bit of roasting the pepper first would kick things around a little? I don't know."

Kae noddles.. She then moves a bowl toward Mikilos.. "My favorite so far.. Enough to make you sweat after a bit, really slow build to the burn, lotsa garlic, cilantro, it's made with those purple tomatoes, and I roasted eeeveeerrrything.. lots and lots of smokey flavor, but I like smokey flavor..." The sauce is well, it's a dark purple... Yay for purple tomatoes...

Braelnoir hmm's and reaches out for a chip to scoop up some of one of the concoctions and takes a crunch of it. Her eyes close as she chews, chin lifting as she swallows, "Ha! Wooyah, there'e is, lads!" she laughs, sniffs once, then looks to the elves anew, "M'old mate Sevis would take some of those and cook it int'is potted meats. Toast some bread, slab o'cheese an' at least a not-still beer and ya'd have some good eatin'."

Mikilos takes a sample of the purple mix, chewing thoughtfully. "That is a good mix. Little more smokey than I care for, but still fine. Mmm, yeah, that's a slow build. Not exactly a kick, more like a tide comming in." The mage starts to flush a little, taking a slow pull of his wine.

Kae smiles and offers Miki some milk "Kills the burn instantly... Sooo who's all wanting to try the volcanin dragon fire of doom salsa??? I used these!" She holds up a basket.. It's full of Banshee peppers.... "It's Banshee Reaper peppers!" She says cheerfullyl... "It's what's in the sauce, so I made it with all the favorite flavors, mild smokey taste and all, not as heavy as my favorite concoction so far... and instead of using medium heat peppers, I used these suckers, and I cut waaaaaaaaaaayyyyy back on the amounts, but well, yeaaah it's hot. And how do I know? I've tasted -everything-!" She says, and then casually gets a chip, scoops some of the 'dangerous' stuff and takes a bite... It's not long before her eyes are watering and she's almost, no take that back, litterally belches out some smoke before flailing and chugging her glass of milk down....

Braelnoir smiles to the wench who brings her beer with a, "Thanks, lovey." and a wink before dusting her tray with a small handful of glittering gold. She arches an eyebrow at that claim, but is already reaching out with a chip for the inferno by the time it comes down. There's a pause long enough to utter, "Always found beer worked better'n wine, could jus' be taste, though." Chomp...! The eyes close and she lowers her chin slowly, almost under strain as if she were wrestling her jaw against it's will into facing the heat. She's flushed, and a little palsied at white knuckled hands before she lifts her chin to swallow- and quickly chug her beer. Most of her beer. All but a sliver of her beer.

Mikilos waves away the milk, but grins. "I thought you might be using Reapers. I've been meaning to try them but keep getting distracted when an oppertunity came up. I've had a few pepper that might technically be hotter, but those were Planal Peppers from the Arcanist Society. They literally burn with fire all on their own. Still tastey though." Taking a scoop of the bowl marked with a dragon skull, Miki takes a bite, and chews carefully. His eyes squueze shut, and a few tears leak out as he turns red. "Wow. Yeah, that *cough* that's hot. Good base flavor. Mostly burn on the back of the throat, little on the lips and tongue." A few moments holding out and he shakes his head, taking a swig of milk. That might be steam comming from his ears.

Kae oooohs "Well you dooo know where I gets them! These are those Banshee Reaper hybrids from the Arcanists!!!"S he says cheerfully. "I helped out with repairs and stuff to one of the grow houses and they said I could have all the peppers and other veggies I wanted this year!" she says.. Ok so in her hyperness she pretty much rebuilt two of the long green houses, and installed a proper mechancial setup for the ventalation windows and such... Yes Kae put the work in! Kae beams happily "Yus, it's tear-jerking salsa with good flavor! I'm thinking of making moar of this and selling it!"

Braelnoir coughs smokily a moment, belches behind a hand, coughs smokeless and wheezes, "...smooth...!" The lace-hand dabs at her eyes, while Kor is flagging the waitress for another beer, "wha'ppens if you.." she rasps, clears her throat, then, more clearly, "Soak a steak in somethin' like that a'fore ya roast it?"

Mikilos nods, and shrugs. "Figure that might be where you got them, but they're tyically protective of their stock. I know Rune has a few plants, maybe a couple other places." He smiles to Breal. "I don't know about these, but the oil of Planar Peppers cooks the meat and leaves a spicy burn all the way through, hard part is juding how much oil is needed." He considers a few moments. "I've been trying to make a pepper beer, but so far my results have been flat. The frementation kills off most of the flavor, just leaves a mild after burn."

Kae blinks and nods "Well fermentation does that. Ya might try honey to help as a carrier and hold the pepper flavor, or put raw pepper extract in on your final rack and fermentation, that way most of the pepper isn't used up in the first fermentations.... Youc ould also add some when you get to bottling too.." She says and rubs at the back of her neck. Kae then fetches some stoneware jars and proceeds to scoop the super halt salsa into each of them, pretty much emptying the bowl. She then grins and seals the jars, putting the lids on tight, before she offers one to each Brae and Mikilos... "These and any of the other sauces you want and stuff... Yer also welcome to play with the machine if you wanna try and make yer own.... I've got some ideas on a new machine and also recipes!"

Braelnoir clasps the jar carefully and nods with a folksy smile, "Thanks, lovey." She'll experiment more with this stuff in a bit, meanwhile guessing her intentions, "You take care now, sugar, lemme know how that gizmo turns out." A wink, then she looks to the fellow now, "The peppers'd cook the meat ya say?"

Mikilos accepts the jar with a smile, tucking it into his pack, before frowning at the suggestions. "Adding hot oil after the brewing just seems like cheating. It's not pepepr beer then, it's beer with peppers in it." He then nods to Brael. "The ones from the elemental plane of fire certainly will. I've also seen ways to cook with acids, but never tried cooking that way myself. Did have some good lime shrimp made that way."

Kaelyn has disconnected.

"There was a guy we run into once, used to clean a fish, then just stick it in a wax lined box with a lot of lemons fer a while before he'd eat it." She settles into a chair, then seems to notice that her beer is practicly dead. Ah, the replacement is here! She considers the man's other words, then, "You could probably use those real hot beasties an' let'm soak longer. I like th'honey idea, though."

Mikilos nods. "I've heard of fish cured like that, but never tried it. And tried meads, but not a blend. Will have to fiddle with it, see how it all turns out." He sighs, and raises a hand to his face, only to stop short and eye his own hand suspiciously. "Nope, not making that mistake twice. Never rub your eyes after handeling hot peppers." The wizard murmurs a quiet spell, his hands glowing for a brief moment, before he goes ahead and rubs at his eyes. Magical handwash.

A chuckle and, "Cheater!" she whispers conspiratorially, then, "I... never got much time t'learn brewin'." not regretful so much as matter of fact, "Mates used t'joke I never learned t'cook proper, neither."

Mikilos fehs, but smiles. "Magic isn't cheating, it's just changing the rules as you go." He nods, and shrugs. "I enjoy making things, be it cooking, or woodwork, or bladesmithing. It takes time, certainly, but I tend to find you can find time for the things you really want to accomplish."

A shrug, "Mebbe. I'm not 'sworn anymore, so I may let the urge take me some time." the woman replies, brushing her hair back over her shoulder after putting her jar on the table, then takes a more demure swig of beer, "Always imagined wizards di'nt take time t'learn anything but magic, all that studyin' an' all." a curious look at the side of his head, then, "Elf, though, I guess you got all kinda time."

Mikilos chuckles, and shrugs. "I'm not a typical wizard, but you'll find most wizards have a set of skills. Magic tends to be very good at enhancing what you can do, but you need skill and knowledge to know where and how to apply your magics. As for being an elf, that adds time over the long term, but it's still the same number of hours per day as anyone else." He considers a few moments. "Though I guess not sleeping or eating does free up a few extra moments."

"Cheater." the human winks with a grin, then eases back in her chair and crosses her ankles, "Gotta start early, learnin wizardry, I guess?" She flags down the wench again to ask for a bowl of stew, then back to Nikilos, "Ol' Captain used to say the same thing about fightin'. Swing a sword all ya want, won't do you know good if yer swinging in the wrong place."

Mikilos considers a few moments, and shrugs. "I figured out I wanted to do magic at a pretty young age. It was something I had a knack for, and enjoyed. But I don't think you -have- to start young. It's uncommon, but know a few who started wizardy later in life for one reason or another." He considers. "Mostly retirees who got bored just sitting around the house."

Braelnoir hmm's, "Hell of a hobby." she concedes. Then, after another attack on her beer, she asks, "How's it that most wizards seem like they're allergic t'armor, but damned near everyone else't uses magic doesn't have a problem with it?"

Mikilos grins. "It's how the magics work. A cleric has prayers that tell their god what they need done. A sorcerer calls upon their own blood, like rasing an arm, but more complex. For wizards, we need to communicate to Magic exactly what it is we want done, and Magic doesn't exactly speak Common. It's not just words, but movements and materials, all combined together, that get the job done. Armor has a bad habit of getting in the way and throwing off the percise motions needed for many spells. I do know a rare few who wear heavy armors and cast spells anyway. They just tend to be picky about their spells and choose ones that don't need somatic motions." He runs a hand over his own robes. "Besides, I'm way more fashionable this way."

Braelnoir grins a little, then, "Should show more leg." Sip. She sets her beer down and cracks open her jar to peer inside to make sure it hasn't eaten the inside of the container... or something. She sniffs it once, blinks tears from her eyes then reseals it for later. Abiding the mage's advice, she doesn't use either hand to dab at her eyes, settling for blinking a few more times in regret, then, "How long's it normally take t'learn?"

Edinaz has arrived.

Edinaz pushes in through the door, closing it before heading for the bar. Priorities.

Mikilos grins. "Well, I used to forge topless, but now my robes are flame resistant. As for learning... well most folks I know elarned magic along with their regular schooling, so it was developed over years. Retirees aren't serious about learning, so that tpyically takes a while as well. But for someone dedicated to it... likely a few months for basic spells? raelly depends on how much they're willing to invest, as well as natural talent. Pretty much anyone can grasp the most basic of spells, but high magics aren't something just anyone can manage. Like most things worth doing, really. I'm no slouch with a blade, but I'll never be a real master, no matter how many years I put into it."

A nod, and the woman checks her beer level again before setting it down, "I suppose it's hard t'truly master anything, really." The movement over thattaway draws her wolfish gaze over her companion's (she sort of crashed his table, though she was kind of invited) head, "Oy, Edday!"

Edinaz turns, waves. "Brae!" He orders ale, and escorts a mug over towards the table. Apparently, the yrch is used to taking that as something of an invitation.

Mikilos raises a hand in greeting to Edinaz, and nods to Brealnoir. "Well, if it was easy to do, everyone would do it, and it wouldn't be impressive any more. Like walking. When you really think about it, balancing atop a pair of wobblely legs as you fall forward at pace to keep yourself upright is really impressive. It takes years to learn. But since everyone does it, we don't even think about it."

Braelnoir grins, "How ya been, stranger?" up Edinaz' way as he makes his way over, then, the wizard's musing bring her to some thought, lips pursing. She never thought about it like that, apparant as she offers only an articulate, though conciliatory, "Huh." in reply.

Edinaz takes his chair with a smile. "Good. Been workin'." He slouches down and takes a solid drink of his beer. "Makes it nicer to fall into a chair at the end of the day." He taps his chest at Mikilos. "Edinaz Garaleth."

Mikilos grins at Brael's reaction, and nods to Edinaz, touching a hand to his brow. "Mikilos Mithralla, archmage." He sighs, and rubs at his eyes again. "Work is tiring, but it's an honest sort of tired. Hunched over a mirror for hours is exhausting, but it doesn't feel like it should be."

That brings Brae out of her fugue with a wink, "Well, yer hair's magnificent, dahling." She hefts her mug and, "T'another day!" she toasts her companions.

Edinaz salutes. "Another day!" He brings his mug into the centre of the table. "No matter how we get tired during it."

Mikilos grins, and raises his own glass of wine. "Another day, and a plesant night between them."

Braelnoir meets the other drinks with hers, then brings it back to her lips for a staggering blow, then busies her other hand with the bowl of chips sitting on the table. Crunch-crunch-crunch-swig, "Here-here!" she adds.

Edinaz takes a slug of his own, then looks down. Chips. He considers them for a moment, then looks up and waves for service -- and a plate of sausages. Yrch-blood speaks loudly even when he doesn't mention it at all.

Mikilos takes another drink, and frowns thoughfully. "Have either of you heard about the White Tower? Or anything new about the plague?"

"Tower? No, plague, yeah, killin' a pal o'mine, but I ain't heard no more of it." Braelnoir returns, mood darkening some, "Somethin with slimes in the sewers."

Edinaz frowns. "Tower?" He echoes. Then he nods. "I don't know if its new, just lots about the sewers when it comes to the plague." He looks at Brael. "Slimes? Sounds messy."

Mikilos shakes his head. "The Tower is the source of the plague, or at least helped spread it. I'm not entirely clear on how, but they put the seeds of infection into the water supply. I've been working on a treatment, but hit a block. I'm hoping if we can get to the White Tower, take out the source, that will kill off the plague, or at least weaken it. Any luck we'll find some sort of notes or something to help make a cure. But, it's a magical tower, jumps though time and space. Makes finding it a heck of a chore."

"Makes settin' up engines tricky, too." Brae notes, "Get it t'sit still for a day or so an' I bet even I could get ya some cata's that'll lay that thing on it's side." A shrug, "Unless magic can stop bigass rocks?"

Edinaz frowns. "...how do you track a wandering Tower?" Pausing, he sips his beer. "Do rocks even bug something that ignores space and time?"

Mikilos considers, and shrugs. "Rune has magics like that, so certainly possible, but I have little idea what sort of defenses the Tower itself has. Still no real idea why those who have been there can only remember fragments. I don't know if that's an effect of the Tower itself, the Mistress who runs the place, or something else entirely." He nods to Ediaz. "It's blocked from scrying magics, but there have been people out looking for it on foot, and scry them easily enough. How I found it the first time. And there's a... slave, I guess, who manages to get outside for short periods of time. With luck, I can find him, and thus know where the tower is. Hopefully with enough time to spare to do something about it before it pops away again. I don't know how it makes it's jumps, but have to assume it's not something that can just be done on a whim."

Braelnoir shrugs, "I'unno, never tried t'crack one before." she confesses, "I know the basics, setup, range markin' an all, but, magic makes seiges wierd." Ahem, "You know what I mean." She looks to Nikilos as he explains the deviltry in detail and purses her lips. Hrmm... "No idea what this fella does when he goes walkies? Can't imagine folk that jump towers need t'buy food or anything."

Edinaz takes another drink. "Maybe they do. Even gods-given gruel gets old after a while." He drinks. "Imagine that."

Mikilos shrugs. "The few times I'm really sure about, he was helping someone else escape. How I met him, he helped me get free. Sadly, I can only barely remember his face or what he said. No idea what his tasks in the Tower are. Or what mine were."

"So he keeps escaping and... endin' up back in the tower?" a blink, then Braelnoir wonders, "He's gotta be somethin' special if they keep puttin up with him lettin' all their slaves out instead o'replacin' him." She then glances at Edinaz with an offhand, "Matron Seggi would make some damn fine gruel."

Edinaz nods to Brael. "Wise - wonder why this one is so important. And everything 'll taste good when your hungry enough." He shakes his head, then pays for the plate of sausage when it arrives. "I'm gunna need another beer."

Mikilos frowns, and shrugs. "I don't think he escapes. Not fully, anyway. More like... two make a break, then he lets himself be captured, trying up the guards while the other gets away? He said that's the Mistress's weakness. She can't grasp the idea of someone helping someone else for purely selfless reasons. Sacrificing himself for someone else, it's not something she can understand."

Braelnoir brushes her hair back, getting her earring to dancing a quick jig as she mulls that over, then, "She still gotta put together that holdin' onto him's costin' her?" she articulates, puzzled by the overlooked simplicity of the scenario.

Edinaz pauses. "So what's in it for her?" He asks the accompanying question.

Mikilos shrugs. "I have no idea. I think she just likes to collect people. Mark them as her 'toys'." The wizard pushes up his sleeve. A plam size snowflake has been carved into the skin of his arm, just below the elbow. It looks months old. "I know she wanted me, her servant had my name carved into his arm... most disturbing fan I've ever met... I know Kol thought Selia was pretty, and Azog was along for the ride. I don't know if others were taken for specific reasons, or just becaue she could. I get the impression she does a lot of things at random, to disguise the things she does for a reason."

"I would." Brae concedes, "Not collectin' people... the muddyin' the water." She shrugs, "Granted, I seen some damn fine specimens since I come t'the big city." Grin.

Edinaz takes a good, long drink. "Sounds like someone with too much time on their hands." He laughs, and salutes Brae. "The city is a wonder."

Mikilos nods. "Seems there's always somethign or another going on. If not in the city itself, the a war or struggle, or soemthing else goin on the next country over we get tied up in somehow. I barely got settled in Alexandria before the war in Sendor broke out, nearly all the adventurers went off and joined up with the Irregulars." He frowns. "And then we got wrapped up in the seige. That was... less than ideal. Trapped in the sewers, in winter, little food, no supplies, an army about searching for us. Yeah, content to never do something like that again."

Braelnoir nods, "Been merc'in a long time." which tells tales for a woman who's probably not even twenty, "Sieges are never fun. Always messier than you expect." She shrugs, then finishes off her beer.

Edinaz takes another sausage, chews on it thoughtfully. He waves for more beer for him, looks towards Brae. "You want more?"

Mikilos nods, and shrugs. "The camp outside the city wasnt too bad during the seige, was being holed up inside with the Resistance that was awful." He considers a few moments. "But I do it again to free a city like that. The way they treated the citizens there... yeah, I don't reget joining the fight." He ponders a moment. "I did get my name on the memorial, so I guess there's that. And got a medal out of it."

Braelnoir nods, "That's nice... most of us just get a story." she says thoughtfully, though she does seem to weigh the beer question seriously, the Kor hand comes up in the universal sign for another round for the table and settles in her lap.

Edinaz gives a grunt of approval to the round, then nods. "And the experience of it, too." He nods to Braelnoir. "If that, if there's someone there to witness."

Mikilos grins. "Do you really need a witness? Seems all the best tales happen when everyone else was busy."

Braelnoir laughs aloud at that, "Damn! The secret's out!" the woman quips, slapping her knee.

Edinaz laughs as well, and takes another drink. He opens his mouth, then closes it. Sometimes... he takes a bite of sausage.

Mikilos laughs. "I assure you, it's not that much of a secret." He considers. "But I suppose there's always -someone- watching, if only the spirits of your ancestors. bet they get some of the -best- stories. The ones no one is left to tell, despite the victory."

Braelnoir hefts her newly arrived tankard, "Kor'll see me punch out. I'd better look good, doin' it." she says offhandedly, then, "To the witnesses!"

Edinaz salutes again with his mug. "To the witnesses!" He takes a draining pull after. "Kor watches."

Mikilos nods and raises his own glass, not even trying to keep up. "To the witnesses!" He drinks, then pauses, frowning thoughtfully. "Kor... watches -all- battle? Or just those of the faithful?"

That's a good question. She glances at Edinaz a moment, then, "Might be easier to pick the faithful outta every battle than watch all of us drifting around between fights?" Maybe? It (better)probably(may) not be blasphemy to guess Kor would be inclined to any particular methodology she could understand, let alone an energy-efficient(lazy) one.

Edinaz glances at Brae. "He watches battles. Or he knows about all battles." He nod. "This?" A hand waves at the pub. "Maybe not so interesting to Kor."

Mikilos fall quiet for a time, pondering new ideas. Eventually, the magus murmurs to himself, and disappears, magicked away to whatever it is wizards do.