Gorilla Grilling

               The TarRaCe, Evening

Night falling into place makes the TarRaCe swell with its dinner guests, as well as petitioners of for the bathhouse after a long day's work. The usual bartender on shift this evening is being covered, the red haired woman absent. Instead, their vessel emerges from the bathhouse.

Slixvah rubs at her face and massages her jaw. It's clear she just got done relaxing and drying off, as she was a walking fluff ball, clad in nothing more than blue pants and a grey vest. The ribbons, of course, are always present.

Taloned feet get her to the bar, her looking about. "Heya Rishrish, gotta question for ya," Slix calls out.

The Goblin's blue face pops up when Slixvah calls out, glancing around for the Egalrin woman. "Hello Slix! How're you doing? Give me a moment, switchin' out a barrel back here. Have yourself a seat!" There follows a thudding sound, and something rolls around behind the bar. A snort and a grunt follows, "Pheww."

Irshya appears then, standing on the stepstool so that she might serve patrons. Even as a full ale glass slides its way to the thirsty Oruch, the Gobbo looks to Slixvah. "Good bath?"

Some days are easier than others. The brutal heat of summer has loosened a touch, giving way to a less oppressive warmth. Which, of course, suits the city inhabitants just fine. At least one considers it a good sign, as he steps into the TarRaCe. Dressed in a light, airy cream-colored tunic, over cotton slacks and leather walking shoes, Telamon's expression is quite a bit more relaxed than it's been. Whistling absently, he walks toward the bar...

...And then realizes there's a familiar face there! Well, beak, same thing. "Slixvah Unmesi," Tel comments with a grin. "It's been a little while." Smoothly, the elegant half-sil slides onto a stool, and he nods politely to Irshya, before spinning a coin across his fingers. "Cider for me, thank you."

Slixvah flops against the bar at the question, sliding into a seat. "Tired!" she answers, waiting for liquor to get changed out. "Yeah, totally needed. Went a little wild wit' a spell recently, nearly broke my jaw. Question: what kinda exotic beasties you lookin' fo' when ya do ya special dishes?"

She perks, sitting upright at hearing her name. "Oh! Telly! What's good, shug?" she chirps. "Been a hot minute fo' sho'. How's the wife?"

The little blue face vanishes as cider is requested, and a few moments later a dainty glass of cider is set before Telamon, Irshya flashing a toothy grin. "A pleasure to have you back, Lord Lupecyll-Atlon"

She glances to the Egalrin, her expression thoughtful. "Hmm, well, they can't be too big, have to get them to the pot, as the saying goes. And I don't imagine adventurers wanting to haul back a giant beastie. But, well, we look for things that are non-toxic, not too poisonous or acidic, stuff that can be boiled, perhaps, or cooked in special ways. Usually things that look like or used to be normal animals. No intelligent things though, there's a lot of ethical questions there. No dog or cat-like stuff. I guess we could also argue with the chefs too, Slix. You have a better way with words, you might do better than I."

"Oh! Any sort of giant or mutated root vegetable, cabbage, melons, and so on. Those are amazing."

Telamon lifts his eyebrows at Slixvah's current line of inquiry. "There's a couple folks who work in unusual game. You catch something that might be worth cooking, Slix?" He smiles at her cheerfully. "Lana is fine. Sends her best, as always. I'm just coming by after dropping off a deposition." He rolls his eyes. "Some people are such treasures; you just want to hand them over to a dragon to be hidden away forever."

He picks up his cider, and stares at it -- and the glass frosts over lightly, before he takes a sip. "At least the heat's let up somewhat. I was starting to wonder if it ever would -- the garden is still getting reestablished."

Another seldom-visitor to the TarRaCe makes his way through the doors, pushing the door open. It's been a while for Dolan, and it's taken some time to work up the nerve to come back here, but the prospect of dinner, and maybe a bath if it's not too busy, is tempting indeed..

A loose open-front shirt with sleeves rolled up to the elbows acknowledges summer heat, while a soft brown leather vest over it, entirely open-front, acknowledges an evening's coolness. Trousers, a weapon belt holding a longsword and a dagger, and worn boots cover the rest of him in a workmanlike way, and a cuff of soft, padded leather encasing his left shoulder completes the outfit. He carries a knapsack over his back, but nothing else.

He stands just inside the door, looking around him, almost in the way of one lost.

Slixvah scratches her head. "Hrmm. Aight then. Fought some stuff tha' prolly don' fit th' bill then," she shrugs. "But I'll keep tha' in mind fo' next time. Th' bulette bowl was a hit last time 'round. 'sides, I don' wanna argue wit' th' chefs, they like me too much." At that, she winks.

Turning to Telamon, she bobs her head once. "Yeah. Shashan- er, Harkashan mentioned off handedly about cookin' somethin' we fought. Looked like a gorilla wit' too many arms. Buuuut its prolly too big, and a bit ambiguous fo' folks here." Her brows quirk. "Glad she's aigt, but... deposition?"

Newcomers to the TarRaCe get the off-duty bartender to look over out of habit, before she perks up and waves a beribboned wing at Dolan. "Oi! Dolan!" she announces, kicking out a stool for him.

The Goblin cants her head slightly, "What did you catch, Slix, dear? Monster cooking is a picky thing, the two chefs would have you know, as they have me know all the time. But we might still be able to use it. Is it uhm here with you?", she wonders of the Egalrin. "And I'd be happy to talk coin, too."

She looks to the door as Slixvah calls out to Dolan, and Irshya flashes a bright, and welcoming, smile. If a bit toothy. "Yes, please, come in and take a load of your feet, sir. What would you like? A light ale just to wash the day down? Dinner?"

The pool-shark nods to Telamon, "Yes, the chefs were worried about the heat. Local vegetables are going to be a little late this year, possibly, and the market's full of people hunting for veggies from around the Inmost Sea."

GAME: Telamon rolls knowledge/nature+4: (13)+18+4: 35

Telamon rubs his chin. "Gorilla with too many arms -- wait, four arms, mostly white fur? That's a girallon." He makes a face. "I'm not sure if they're good to eat or not, to be honest. They're really aggressive, too." He considers for a moment, then shrugs. "I suppose you could do the 'chilled monkey brains' recipe I've seen once, but I suspect that's an acquired taste."

Seeing Dolan, he beckons the man over with a smile, starry eyes alight. "Dolan! Good to see you again!" At Slix's question, he replies, "A deposition is a legal filing, sometimes of testimony. I'm in a minor dispute and I'm trying to settle it before I go out of town on business." Tel snorts. "It'll be fine, it's just annoying to deal with."

Out from the open doorway comes another familiar, if relatively recently unfamiliar face. A rather small makari takes a few steps out of the bathhouse and snaps her fingers once, causing the last of the lingering steam to evaporate from their scales and freshly laundered robes. The sorceress stretches out and catches some activity nearby which leaves a small grin on their face as the wander over. "Heya Slix, Irshya! Trying to figure out cooking menus? Seems to be on a lot of people's minds, huh?" They greet. "And I like to think I'm good with names, Dolan, Telamon, right? Been a long time, hope the city's been treating you both well!"

Seeing that he's being welcomed, by both friends and what looks to be the landlady, Dolan ambles over towards the others and drops gratefully onto the stool proffered, an easy, cheeky grin directed at the group. "Tel, Slix, brightest of days. Ale and dinner, if you've got it, whatever's up." He produces coins from his pouch readily enough for payment, offering them to Irshya. "If the food and ale's as good as the company, s'pose I'll be staying a while."

His smile fades when his gaze goes to the bustling door of the bathhouses, but then they're approached by someone coming out of them, and it returns, albeit with a bit less ease. "I know I've seen you - ah. Eztli. I think. It has been a while."

"Tel, Gale'll make it, but the healers are saying he'll have that scar for the rest of his life. I damned sure hope he takes it to heart."

Slixvah snaps a finger towards Telamon. "Ah, yeah, that's what it's called. Ferocious thing. Probably ain't bringing it in with my scrawny self," she sheepishly shrugs to Irshya. "Like Telly says, ain't gonna be th' best fo' folks here."

She quirks her head at the half-sil. Blinks. Then smacks her forehead. "Ooooh! Okay, I know what ya talkin' 'bout. We don't really got tha' in an Aerie, usually jus' gather folks together if someone bein' a fool and th' shame's enough ta correct it."

"Brightest of days, Dolan!" she chirps, rocking on her chair. She quirks her head to the side. Gale? Must be part of the legal proceedings. But she follows his gaze over to- A small makari? Slix perks, and all but flies out of her seat as she abruptly hugs the sith-makari. "My little cutie! How ya doin' girlie?" she warmly coos.

Telamon inclines his head politely to Eztli, "Her light upon your path. Things are... eh, I've had much worse days. They are improving, though." He offers the reasonably-sized (to him, anyways) makari a smile.

He snorts at Slixvah. "Don't feel too bad. The less time spent around lawyers, advocates, and solicitors, the happier you'll be. But, I think this is going to be just fine in the end. In the meantime... the biggest problem with, ahem, unusual beast farming is that a lot of them don't domesticate worth a damn anyways. Every few years, some idiot takes a swing at domesticating ankhegs and it ends about as well as you'd expect."

At Dolan's report, Tel snorts. "We can hope. You should've scarred him across his stupid face, but I imagine feeling it every morning when he dresses, for the rest of his days will work just as well."

Eztli returns the hug, and manages to lift up the egalrin and spin them around a bit before setting them back down, seeming more than a bit stronger than usual, even if they looked almost exactly the same. "Heya Slix, it's been way too long! I've been keeping busy like everyone else, and it seems like you have, too." The small makari responds. "Well, that's no good. Hopefully the kind of bad day a drink and a warm meal can fix I hope?"

The small makari chuckles as she takes a seat at the bar. "Yikes, sounds like messy business. And yeah, that's my name! It has been some time, but what's a bit of time in the grand scheme of things, you know?"

The Goblin offers Etzli a cheerful waves as the Sith wanders in from the baths. "Hello! I trust the baths were refreshing? May I get you a drink?"

Irshya makes a slight face at Telamon's mention of monkey brains. "I have had the uhm pleasure of such a dish. It is definitely an acquired taste. I'm happy to offer dishes for adventurous stomachs, but I have to be careful not to scare off the customers who just want a familiar meal." She looks to Slixvah and nods, "I can have it carried here if you can point me to it. The chefs are inventive, I am sure they can make something delicious. We can offer it up on the menu, if people like it, then we can do it again in future."

Dolan's coins are quickly secreted away under the counter, and Irshya smiles brightly once more. "Here, the food's good, but the company is great. The staff are the true stars, though. I'm Irshya, by the way, proprietor of the TarRaCe. May I get you some ale then? Perhaps some chicken or rabbit stew?"

"You need help hauling something, Slix?" Dolan puts elbows on the table, turning his face from person to person as he listens. It's an odd quirk, facing everyone fully as they talk, but he's carefully put Telamon on his right, where the golden-amber gem is set into its steel and bronze ring where his eye socket should be. He makes no comment about the move, though, intent on the others. "Oh, are we talking about farming odd beasts? Easier to hunt them, really. Like Tel says, they don't domesticate worth a damn, and too many good people have gotten eaten for the attempt. Still, if it's a hunting party that's needed, I know just your man."

"Good, I remembered. It's been a while since I've been back here. Was thinking about a bath, but it looks too busy for that." He greets Eztli easily enough, but turns, then, to Telamon, shaking his head a touch uncomfortably. "That's what I was going to do, but then shit happened. If he ain't learn from that, he won't have too many days to look at it. What are you dealing with solicitors for, Tel, or is that none of my business?"

Irshya is last, but he takes it in stride. "Ale and whatever you've got hot."

Slix makes a surprised squawk as she's picked up and spun bout, the ribbons on her wings making a multihued trail of a circle as she goes. "Woah! Someone's been lifting! Ya look great, hon!" she giggles after she's set back down. The egalrin reclaims her seat. "Maybe! They're really, really big. Three of 'em, too. But they dead now. So maybes ya and Irshya here can get somethin' figured ta bring it here. Here--" she rifles around in her vest and pulls out a journal. A pen clicks. "--lemme make a map."

She points out to Dolan, "Wait a little bit, then those baths will cleared out. Always dead 'round then!" Scribble scribble scribble. An eye glances back to Telamon and Dolan as they talk about someone getting the business end of something. Some good tea here.

Telamon knocks back some of his cider. "Slixvah helped knock off some girallons. And Harkashan was wondering if they were good to eat." He makes a face. "I'm all for using every part of a kill, but usually that's for hares and deer."

He glances at Dolan. "Well... Coyote laughs at our plans, after all. And it ended about as well as it could've." He grins at the question. "It's for that mess with Redwater, Dolan. Had to turn in a sworn statement. Which should put that to bed. Hopefully he'll just shut up, pay off the nobles and try to stay out of trouble."

"Why do you need to ask me if the baths are refreshing? You're the one who knows everything about them, Irshya." Eztli laughs. "Of course they were, if you're still wondering. Would have been nice to see Slix there, but I'm guessing she was in one of the other pools."

The sorceress stops to think, and makes a face. "Maybe keep the gorilla monsters off the table. Most people don't like eating things too similar to them, or too intelligent." They consider after a moment. "Not really doing much working out, but thanks Slix, I appreciate it, even if you're just saying half of it." They chuckle. "I'll accept if I'm looking great though, and, glad you remembered my name! I'd like to think that there aren't a lot of people to get me mixed up with, after all."

"Oh, that." Dolan seems to immediately recognize the reference, nodding. "That man's a fool, though, so I wouldn't be surprised if he keeps bleating. He tries something truly stupid, let me know." He leans on his elbows then, looking over at Eztli. "Don't s'pose it would be easy, I'm used to the makari being bigger than me." A cheeky grin flashes at the sorceress, but Slix and the mention of the baths gets more attention, and he peers at Slixvah's map as she starts to draw. "The carrion-eaters probably have it by now, if we're honest," he points out .

Slix points the pen at Eztli without looking. "Girl, you know me; I mean what I say, and say what I mean!" Scribble scribble scribble. Head tilt backwards, think. Lean forward, more scribbling. She giggles at Dolan. "Yes, much bigger, but Ez makes up for it in personality!"

The map takes shape, seemingly branching off the northern road out of the city and into the woods nearby. It's... fairly well made. Perhaps some distances are wrong, but the features necessary to locate something are there. "Probably!" she quips to Dolan. "But loads there ya can use. Bones, fat. Macabre? Yeah. Buuut, ya never know. Magic is weird and sometimes needs the strangest stuffs."

"Dolan is probably right, if it's out in the sticks. Although you might be able to haul the remains in and see if someone from the University wants them. I was coming back in the other day and there was a farmer and his son with a full-grown rust monster they'd trapped -alive-." Telamon laughs. "There was a bidding war going on, and the guards weren't letting that thing into the city without making damn sure the cage was secure."

"Eh, I can handle Redwater. He knows he has a losing hand, and he'll settle soon enough. This is just him pouting because he didn't do his homework properly." Tel takes another sip of his cider. "Let that be a lesson to you, Eztli. Always be careful when you experiment with something you don't totally understand."

"Well, yeah." The small makari huffs quietly, almost pouting. "Most are pretty tall, aren't they? Like, impressively tall, give full blooded oruchs and giantborn a run for their money."

The sorceress does stop and give Slixvah a smile. "Thanks, I do try to be personable, usually. You're right, lot of things you can do with magical beasts. Lot easier to use materials that are already able to handle magical energies in a lot of cases, rather than enchanting something to be able to. Could be worth getting, and selling to some craftsfolk willing to take a crack at it!"

"Huh. If they're such a fool, wouldn't it be better before they can even start to get into trouble?" They ask, before their attention turns to Telamon. "Yeah, suppose if it's noble politics that's gonna be a pain in the ass. Don't you worry though! I take the necessary precautions, like being mostly fireproof when I'm testing out new magic, so that's safe. And usually doing so in an area things aren't likely to get set on fire."

GAME: Slixvah rolls craft/cartography: (5)+15: 20

Slixvah bobs her head about the University needing things. See? Magic weird stuff! Though, her pen pauses as he mentions experimenting. A sky blue eye glances to him. "There exist some things you can't totally understand, and all you can do is experiment," she comments idly. Knowing her methods of magic, that's all one can do.

She winks at Eztli as she carefully rips the page out and sets it upon the bartop. None too far away, it seems, perhaps a few hours out of the city on horseback. It also looks like she attempted to put smiling faces in the wheat fields, but they got smudged to look off putting. "Fire proof? That sounds right handy, 'cause I'm the direct opposite!" She looks to Telamon. "Redwater? Oh! I heard 'bout that through the grapevine. That sounds like some funny yet dumb shtuff."

Telamon hehs at Eztli. "Hence why I give lectures on ethics at the University now and again. Sometimes it's better to head off the problem before it even -becomes- a problem." He shrugs lightly. "I'm not worried. I've faced much worse and I'm still here. This barely even makes the scales twitch."

He glances over the map. "Say, isn't that some of the Alexandros farm country? Don't think I know this one... there's a cluster of them a little further out, right up against the Mythwood." He chuckles. "That was a different set of problems. Funny though."

"Well, yeah, can't understand everything. Can be relatively safe though, but sometimes you need to test a few things, you're right. At least you're real smart Slix, so you can figure out how to deal with a lot of things!" The small makari points out. "_Mostly_ fireproof though Slix, that's a real important distinction. I'm not gonna wander into the plane of fire and be fine, but I can manage if someone tosses me in a bonfire or something." She adds with a small chuckle. "Everyone's got problems, whether they can sort them out is another story I suppose."

Slixvah puts her drawing implements away. "I mean, considerin' what you do, it'd be better fo' Redwater ta jus' roll over. Which he will." She gets herself a drink from the shark-gobber running about. "Remind me ta drop in on ya lectures if ya want some spice in the crowd."

She glances at the map. "Yep! Bit outta th' way. Had ta save a gal from some monsters. She befriended an aurumvorax, surprisingly enough, kept 'er safe. But uh, what sorta problems near the Mythwood?" Slix inquires.

She giggles at Eztli. "Noted! And thanks fo' th' compliment! But don' worry, I don' test anythin' in city."

Telamon watches Dolan head off for a well-deserved bath, before turning his attention back to Eztli and Slix. "Resilience against elemental effects is -useful-, but remember that unless you're doing this someplace isolated, any accidents can affect others." He grins at Eztli. "And keep a bucket of sand around. Trust me."

He nods at Slix's succinct analysis. "He'll fold. He's not going to jeopardize his estate. I suspect he was fishing to see if I'd just settle, and once he sees I won't, he'll stop bothering me." His eyebrows shoot up at the girl and her aurumvorax. "A golden gorger? Those... aren't usually the most tractable pets, unless you catch them -very- young and train them. Strange." At Slix's inquiry about the Mythwood, though, he laughs softly. "Oh, this was a couple years back, when I'd just gotten here. I had to mediate between some of the farming families and the fey in the neighboring forests. Specifically, the dryads kept luring off the farm boys."

"... I don't really go around practicing setting fire to things to be completely honest." Eztli shrugs. "But I have ways of putting out fires if I need to, but I'm not going to do anything anywhere I'm at risk of setting fire to buildings or forests or anything particularly flammable. Besides, I'd a lot more than just a bucket of sand. maybe a cartful, but then how are you going to dump it all?"

"He might jeopardize his estate, whoever this Redwater bloke is, depends on how petty they're feeling and how much they think they can get away with." They makari considers. "Doesn't matter how powerful you are, any brute force could just make things worse or be used against you. Just how it goes sometimes. Be a lot easier if that wasn't the case, though."

"Another good reason not to set fire to any forests by accident. Wouldn't want to hurt any cute dryads." They chuckle.

Slix gives a sage nod about the sand. Very, very important. "Yeah, it surprised me too. But they was best buds. Was prett' cute ta see. I'm guessin' they ran inta each other very young and jus' bonded since."

She quirks her head to the side, snickering as she takes a drink and waves to Dolan as he goes to seek relaxation in the bathhouse. "Huh. I mean, that does sound par fo' th' 'course fo' Dryads. I remember one being particularly stubborn when we was figurin' out a trade route back home."

Slix just snorts at Eztli. "I'm prett' sure a lot mo' happens than Dryads gettin' hurt. Dana would prolly kick ya ass in some manner."

"Yeah, speaking as someone who is well acquainted with the fey: don't misuse fire in their territory. Bad idea." Telamon's eyes twinkle, taking the sting out of any reporach. "And yes, people can be that petty and stupid. However... there's also people who are good and decent and noble. Some are just farmers, and others are nobles, even. So don't let it sour you."

He just shakes his head. "Yeah. The dryads here have... well, they're not cruel, or even thoughtless. But sometimes you have to explain that they can't borrow that nice strapping fellow for a week, he's needed for the harvests." Tel smirks, knocking back his cider. "Generally, the 'native' fey on Ea are a little easier to work with than the ones from Quelynos. That bunch? Be damned careful if you deal with them."

"That sounds nice, guess they cared about each other a lot." Eztli smiles. "You're right, Ceiwen would probably be pissed at me, and Reos and Cernan and Rada would be pissed at me for me pissing off Ceiwen. All I'm saying is that it's another reason to be mindful of what I'm doing, is all."

"I try to keep my business with the fey to a minimum regardless, things are a lot simpler that way." Eztli laughs. "And all I'm saying is sometimes when you're dealing with nobles, you aren't on the same playing field to begin with."

Slix holds up a hand and shakes her head. "I'll be glad and dandy ta talk wit' fey on Ea. Feywild fey? No. I'll, leave that to your wife. I kno' my battles and pick ones I can win, and that sure as heck ain't one I want any pawns in. I already deal wit' enough esoterica."

She giggles at Eztli. "Yeah, let's /not/ kick th' gods' hornet's nest." The egalrin takes a hearty drink of whatever's left in her beaker before setting it down. "Yeah. They kinda are a lil' bit. Dunno what's in they head that got them so high and mighty."

The witch stretches out, her wings unfurling absently as she gets an order for food. "So! I've got a fun theory," she grins. "I'm coming to the conclusion that witchcraft is arcane /adjacent/. Who wants ta gab that to death?"