The bound, tongueless ninja stares at Rhost with hate-filled eyes.
Rhost nods at her.
(In Halfling) "He has a wife. If we take him, she might accompany."
|Do you want death?| Alaric stops. |That's a stupid question. Of course you want death. You've been brainwashed to think that's your only choice. If you fail -- which you did, and spectacularly so -- your only reward is death. Self inflicted if we don't oblige. Of course, therein lies the problem. Letting you go is tantamount to cutting your throat. Then again, do we have a moral obligation to force you to live when you don't want to?|
|That should be more than sufficient,| he answers. |I shall begin work immediately.|
Mel smiles, bowing her head to the older man. |Thank you very much.| She pays (either the man directly or someone else in the shop if that seems more appropriate. |I look forward to seeing your beautiful work.|
Mel hugs the harpy as she is embraced, looking a little more awake in the presence of the red-head. Seeing the level of inebriation she orders a round of drinks for everyone other than herself (including the 61 servants).
"I think Ameiko was going to toast young love, am I not correct?" asks Shalelu.
Ameiko nods, and Shalelu removes her hand.
"To young love!" says Ameiko.
"... but seriously," she adds, sotto voce, as the toast is answered, "... 'mazed they're not dead of exhaustion."
Mel's hug on Zaiobe tightens a bit for a minute as she leans her head against the red-head's arm. She smiles around at the drunken antics, not entirely following the conversations, but happy to be there... even as an apparent outsider.
"Mel, 'ave a seat, kann ah get ye summa juice or wat'r? Thank ye fer joinen us... I'm sorrey fer 'e late notice, bough ah just found out tonight, we're aven summa kainda Bacchus party? An' yer in our wedden party, so ye're invited to celebrate weth us." Lio gives Mel a light hug, if she accepts it, and tries to accommodate Mel and see to her comfort.
Mel, as always, accepts and carefully returns Lio's hug. Quietly, "I don't need anything. Congratulations, and I'm so very happy for you."
There is a tinge of confusion in Melinda's bearing, but so slight that it probably doesn't register in any drunken senses. "I am very glad that you are happy."
|Do you want death?| Alaric stops. |That's a stupid question. Of course you want death. You've been brainwashed to think that's your only choice. If you fail -- which you did, and spectacularly so -- your only reward is death. Self inflicted if we don't oblige. Of course, therein lies the problem. Letting you go is tantamount to cutting your throat. Then again, do we have a moral obligation to force you to live when you don't want to?|
"Is there any particular reason," Skygni asks in Taldane, "That leaving the criminal to be tried and sentenced is not an option?"
Alaric, of course, rushes over and checks Mel, the panic fading as he counts the beats of her heart. He closes his eyes, projecting his consciousness into her to check on their daughter.
Then: "She never managed to throw off the ninja's poison. It's run its course now, but it knocked her out." A pause. "I have a tea for that."
Zaiobe is not far behind Alaric, and continues to look worried.
At nearly the same time, Ameiko asks, "How's the baby?"
The guards' reactions appear to give Hrunndalf a migraine. He nods at Kalimac's assessment of the situation, and rolls his eyes at Liothonae's barb.
As Liothonae, Rhost, and Ameiko discuss punishments, he suggests, "Paistab, et meil on vaja, et päästa oma au päästa oma elu. Nii oletame, et me võtame neid mööda valvuriteks ... Järgmine kord saame ka võitlust ja nad teevad omalt poolt täname neid säästa meie elu, hääldama oma võla lahendada, ja saata nad tagasi. Kas see toimib?"
Looking back at the prostrate guard, he mutters, "Ma ei ole üllatunud, nad ei suutnud meid. Keegi siin elab piisavalt kaua, et õppida oma vigadest."
Upon Melinda's collapse and Alaric's diagnosis, Hrunndalf supplies her with additional Lesser Restorations until the damage is once more undone.
She goes over to Shae, taking her hand, reassuring herself that she's unharmed. Glances at Jorun, not wanting to make him uncomfortable. |I have several ideas and will need to ponder the best option. Until then the transgressor will stay close by my side, or near someone designated by my companions. Do you have any suggestions?| Lio asks Ameiko.|Perhaps, but they can wait for the moment,| Ameiko replies. She turns back to the Guardsman you have been speaking to. |Obviously, in light of this, we will need to make preparations to leave immediately, as the longer we stay the greater the danger to the Prince.|
Lio nods to Ameiko and then looks expectantly at the guard.
The guards' reactions appear to give Hrunndalf a migraine. He nods at Kalimac's assessment of the situation, and rolls his eyes at Liothonae's barb.
As Liothonae, Rhost, and Ameiko discuss punishments, he suggests, "Paistab, et meil on vaja, et päästa oma au päästa oma elu. Nii oletame, et me võtame neid mööda valvuriteks ... Järgmine kord saame ka võitlust ja nad teevad omalt poolt täname neid säästa meie elu, hääldama oma võla lahendada, ja saata nad tagasi. Kas see toimib?"
Looking back at the prostrate guard, he mutters, "Ma ei ole üllatunud, nad ei suutnud meid. Keegi siin elab piisavalt kaua, et õppida oma vigadest."
Kalimac shares in Hrunndalf's migraine. "Ma tõesti tahaks näha neid elada piisavalt kaua, et õppida oma vigadest. Aga ei usu, ma mõistan nende mõistete au ja kohustus piisavalt tulla plaan, mis hoiab neid elus. Ma lihtsalt läheb usun, et Ameiko teab, mida ta on teinud."
|Perhaps, but they can wait for the moment,| Ameiko replies. She turns back to the Guardsman you have been speaking to. |Obviously, in light of this, we will need to make preparations to leave immediately, as the longer we stay the greater the danger to the Prince.|
]Lio nods to Ameiko and then looks expectantly at the guard.
The Guardsman looks conflicted. |Obviously your wisdom in this matter in unquestionable. But you may wish to know that the Prince is ... resting indisposed, and he was likely hoping to ... bid goodbye to you properly as is surely the duty of any gracious host.| The way that the Guardsman is carefully not looking at Myriana is as obvious as if he actually were.
"Ta on siin koos meiega," Rhost mutters.
"Is there any particular reason," Skygni asks in Taldane, "That leaving the criminal to be tried and sentenced is not an option?"
"Means the same thing morally as killing him myself. These barb... these people kill servants that displease them. What do you think they'd do to someone who attacked the prince's playth... honored guests?" Alaric stands, never taking his eyes off of Chao. "And now she's grumpy about me considering her life. Very well, ninja. I have my answer."
"Üks probleem keerates teda üle ametivõimudele. Kui nad valisid küsitleb teda samade õigekirja ma kasutan ...suhteliselt lihtne õigekirja sel ... nad võiks avastada, kes Ameiko on."
Halfling: "Don't we have a prisoner wagon?"
"Üks probleem keerates teda üle ametivõimudele. Kui nad valisid küsitleb teda samade õigekirja ma kasutan ...suhteliselt lihtne õigekirja sel ... nad võiks avastada, kes Ameiko on."
"Hea punkt," acknowledges Skygni, "Milline tundub, et vähendada meie võimalusi tappes tema või tuua oma mööda."
Zaiobe is not far behind Alaric, and continues to look worried.
At nearly the same time, Ameiko asks, "How's the baby?"
Alaric, surprised. "Extremely healthy. Better than this morning. Does my daughter eat poison?"
Upon Melinda's collapse and Alaric's diagnosis, Hrunndalf supplies her with additional Lesser Restorations until the damage is once more undone.
Alaric, surprised. "Extremely healthy. Better than this morning. Does my daughter eat poison?"
Spivey flies up and stares at Melinda's stomach for a while.
maybeyes, maybeno, but eitherway, isnot an evilbaby, she reports.
Alaric, surprised. "Extremely healthy. Better than this morning. Does my daughter eat poison?"Spivey flies up and stares at Melinda's stomach for a while.
maybeyes, maybeno, but eitherway, isnot an evilbaby, she reports.
Looking from Alaric to Spivey, "Then the weakness wasn't just relief that you hadn't died?"
And then, with Spivey's pronouncement, Mel laughs and hugs the tiny outsider.
"Hea punkt," acknowledges Skygni, "Milline tundub, et vähendada meie võimalusi tappes tema või tuua oma mööda."
Alaric looks less than thrilled when he says: "Meie parim tegutsemisviis võiks lasta tal minna. Ta ei ütle keegi, kes Ameiko on. Ta saad kas tappa ennast või tagasi Oni oma Mask."
The Guardsman looks conflicted. |Obviously your wisdom in this matter in unquestionable. But you may wish to know that the Prince is ... resting indisposed, and he was likely hoping to ... bid goodbye to you properly as is surely the duty of any gracious host.| The way that the Guardsman is carefully not looking at Myriana is as obvious as if he actually were.
Myri turns to the guardsman with as much proper etiquette as she can muster, |Please tell his Eminence that we regret our inability to properly thank him for his hospitality, but as the ninja have already obviously made an attempt on his life for sheltering us and he has only survived due to his prodigious constitution, we wouldn't think of continuing to place his august personage in continued jeopardy.| turning to the others she adds, |we need to make preparations immediately, we can't afford to keep his Eminence in danger a moment longer.| Myri turns on her heel and begins walking back to the caravan.
bluff:
|Please tell his Eminence that we regret our inability to properly thank him for his hospitality, but as the ninja have already obviously made an attempt on his life for sheltering us and he has only survived due to his prodigious constitution, we wouldn't think of continuing to place his august personage in continued jeopardy.|
The Guardsman's eyes widen. |The Golden One's sudden illness - you think ...?| He nods as the obvious pieces click together. |Of course. To keep him from the Park, so that the bulk of the Guards would be attending him and their presence here minimal.|
He bows to Myriana. |I shall convey to him your regrets and your boundless concern for his well-being.|
Myri turns to the guardsman with as much proper etiquette as she can muster, |Please tell his Eminence that we regret our inability to properly thank him for his hospitality, but as the ninja have already obviously made an attempt on his life for sheltering us and he has only survived due to his prodigious constitution, we wouldn't think of continuing to place his august personage in continued jeopardy.| turning to the others she adds, |we need to make preparations immediately, we can't afford to keep his Eminence in danger a moment longer.| Myri turns on her heel and begins walking back to the caravan.
As Myri passes by, Alaric murmurs: "hästi tehtud."
When the bodies of the ninjas are looted, you find:
8 masterwork chain shirts
8 masterwork katanas
96 shuriken
As Myri passes by, Alaric murmurs: "hästi tehtud."
Myri's eyes flick to Alaric in acknowledgement, but she does not respond. She is much too busy trying to keep her composure. When she gets back to the caravan she makes sure everything is ready to go in as quickly and efficiently a manner as possible.
When the bodies of the ninjas are looted, you find:
8 masterwork chain shirts
8 masterwork katanas
96 shuriken
Glancing at the weapons and armor used by the ninjas, none of which are his size, Kalimac mutters, to no one in particular, "Kas see on liiga palju küsida kääbik mõrtsukad?"
Glancing at the weapons and armor used by the ninjas, none of which are his size, Kalimac mutters, to no one in particular, "Kas see on liiga palju küsida kääbik mõrtsukad?"
Mel comments to the halfling quietly, "Kääbikud on liiga mõistlik liituda palgamõrvar surma kultused."
Zaiobe, who is a bit drunk herself, suddenly and probably surprisingly says, <It wasn't just me it was also Ulf and Jorun and I wanted to invite you along as well but I really really wanted Lio to have a stripper because everyone has a right to a stripper before they get married but I thought Lio would freak out if it was some stranger because you know Lio has some issues about that kind of thing so I figured that I would do it but I promised I wouldn't go beyond kissing and hugging with you unless Alaric was there and I thought that probably counted and Lio thinks Alaric doesn't like her so inviting him would have been awkward so I said to myself OK we'll just keep things strictly to bridesmaids and bridesmen on both sides and I'd just be tactful about it and not be all like hey we're going out and you're not invited so I did a little burlesque striptease for Lio and then she said hey is Melinda coming so I babbled the thing about bridesmaids and bridesmen because I didn't want to bring up the kind of confusing fact that I didn't think I was allowed to take my clothes off in front of my girlfriend and she pointed out that the reason I had given was stupid which of course it was and that you should obviously have been invited so then we came over here to join Shalelu's group and I thought great I can just invite Melinda along to the bigger party and it won't be awkward because it'll be a whole bunch of new people showing up at around the same time and Melinda won't be drunk but then she wouldn't have gotten drunk to begin with anyway and I'm really really really glad you're here?>
Perhaps half a second later, Zaiobe's golden eyes suddenly widen even further. <... oh gods below a striptease that I complete forgot during my drunken confession to you that I told Liothonae not half an hour ago I wouldn't mention because she's worried that if it gets back to Alaric he'll freak out for some reason because he's your great-grandmother I mean you're her great-grandmother I mean she's your I think I got it right that time and now maybe I have to make a drunken confession to her tonight as well because I'm a terrible person.>
<You stripped for Lio?> The thought bubbling up through hurt. <Sweetie... I love you and you were right that I count stripping as more significant than kissing and hugging. And even though it hurts that you would want to do that for someone other than us, I can understand why you did so.>
She looks Zaiobe in the eye, <But... you were going to lie to me by not telling me about it?> The pain of this causing far more hurt than the more physical indiscretion. <Sweet Z...> She hugs the winged woman, <When you apologize to Lio for telling me, you should probably tell her that you need to tell Alaric too... Because...> A fear that is more poignant than the hurt, the fear that Zaiobe is still holding back, still hiding from them, that this will only be the first lie of omission in a long line of them.
She kisses the other woman softly on the lips, <You can't lie to him, Z. And if you explain your reason, I am sure he won't blame Lio.> She smiles, <I'll hold you hand if you want.>
She goes back to holding Zaiobe as if she is one of the most precious things in the world, <I am very glad to be here with you too, Z.>
<I didn't even think ... I thought ... oh I really am a terrible person.>
She pauses and lifts her face, her eyes and nose dripping. <... Well I ... I must be showing you a great time at this party.>
she will wait until after her responsibilities to the caravan are finished before crawling under the covers and allowing herself to shiver uncontrollably.
There is a creak as a small form sits on the bed next to Myriana.
"Do you need anything?" Buttersnips asks quietly.
Mel comments to the halfling quietly, "Kääbikud on liiga mõistlik liituda palgamõrvar surma kultused."
"Goblini oleks täiesti sinna, kuigi," Reta comments. "Reta paneb silma peal sina."
As you are preparing the Caravan, you notice that each of your remaining horses has been replaced by one of the famed horses of Hongal. These are combat-trained advanced light horses, each worth 300 gold pieces. They can be detached from the Caravan and ridden. Each comes with a tooled, gold-filigreed riding saddle worth 200 gold pieces.
The musk oxen and rhinos remain as they were.
Sandru looks as if he is trying to decide whether to be pleased or extremely pissed off.
Looking from Alaric to Spivey, "Then the weakness wasn't just relief that you hadn't died?"
And then, with Spivey's pronouncement, Mel laughs and hugs the tiny outsider.
mbmf! says Spivey.
Seeing all the fine animals the caravan has been gifted with, and doing a mental accounting of all the members of the party who could use them competently, Kalimac asks, "Now can I convince some of you to take riding lessons?"
Kalimac walks up to one of the horses and pets its flank. "Oleks traagiline, et selline trahv olend nagu ise ei tohi joosta kui sa peaksid." he coos lovingly to it.
Kalimac walks up to one of the horses and pets its flank. "Oleks traagiline, et selline trahv olend nagu ise ei tohi joosta kui sa peaksid." he coos lovingly to it.
It tosses its noble mane, pleased by the attention.
Seeing all the fine animals the caravan has been gifted with, and doing a mental accounting of all the members of the party who could use them competently, Kalimac asks, "Now can I convince some of you to take riding lessons?"
Kalimac walks up to one of the horses and pets its flank. "Oleks traagiline, et selline trahv olend nagu ise ei tohi joosta kui sa peaksid." he coos lovingly to it.
Alaric approaches cautiously. "How different is it to a rhino?"
Alaric looks less than thrilled when he says: "Meie parim tegutsemisviis võiks lasta tal minna. Ta ei ütle keegi, kes Ameiko on. Ta saad kas tappa ennast või tagasi Oni oma Mask."
After thanking Hrunndalf, Mel comes up behind Alaric, one hand on his back, sad, she looks at the woman, "Ma pigem lase tal ise valida, isegi kui see tähendab, et ta läheb tagasi mõrtsukate ja muudavad meie elu raskemaks." She looks at Rhost, "Ma alati valida loll."
I'll always choose stupid.
Your response seems almost bewildering to Zaiobe. <Wait ... I ... what?>
<I didn't even think ... I thought ... oh I really am a terrible person.>
<It's not that I don't trust you. It's not. A few weeks before I met you, Melinda, a few weeks before, and for more than two years before that, I was punished if I said anything that could make him unhappy, I was punished for it, and you can't live your life never doing anything anything that makes someone unhappy, so I learned not to say anything, and it's my fault, I know that, I shouldn't do it, but I have these habits, there's this, this wall, and whenever I'm frightened, or even when I'm not paying attention, it slams down, I have to fight it and fight it, and it's stupid, it's so stupid, because I should be better now, I should know better now, you love me, Alaric loves me, and if you ever do leave me it's going to be over just this, and I can't make excuses or say I can't help it because I can but sometimes it's so hard Melinda, and I spent so many months frightened you were going to dump me and frightened to tell you how much I loved you and frightened to say anything and it's been a couple of weeks, a couple of weeks since I had any idea I was anything but, that I might, that we might have a life together and I've been, there are things that, I need to, but it's ...>
She pauses and lifts her face, her eyes and nose dripping. <... Well I ... I must be showing you a great time at this party.>
Mel's hand goes to Zaiobe's cheek, wiping away a fresh tear, her magic removing the other ones. <I don't think you are terrible sweetie. I think you are humanoid and we are fallible.>
Her hands rub in a quiet pattern, <And you can't magically change the past and how it shaped you, Z. But we love you,> Her arms tighten for a moment, <And I hope that you will trust that enough to let us help you change the parts of yourself that make you sad.> She holds Zaiobe, <And I'd rather you be happy than worry about my good time.>
Alaric approaches cautiously. "How different is it to a rhino?"
"I think it's easier to ride a horse than a rhino. Instead of wild rhinos that we tamed, these have been bred to be ridden. And they should be easier to sit on, since you can get your legs around them. Well, you can, being tall and all."
"And these horses are famously well trained. I'm sure you and Rhost can do it."
"I think it's easier to ride a horse than a rhino. Instead of wild rhinos that we tamed, these have been bred to be ridden. And they should be easier to sit on, since you can get your legs around them. Well, you can, being tall and all."
"And these horses are famously well trained. I'm sure you and Rhost can do it."
Alaric pats the horse experimentally. "I suppose we'll have plenty of time on the road."
After thanking Hrunndalf, Mel comes up behind Alaric, one hand on his back, sad, she looks at the woman, "Ma pigem lase tal ise valida, isegi kui see tähendab, et ta läheb tagasi mõrtsukate ja muudavad meie elu raskemaks." She looks at Rhost, "Ma alati valida loll."
"Then someone who has a knife cut her loose."
After thanking Hrunndalf, Mel comes up behind Alaric, one hand on his back, sad, she looks at the woman, "Ma pigem lase tal ise valida, isegi kui see tähendab, et ta läheb tagasi mõrtsukate ja muudavad meie elu raskemaks." She looks at Rhost, "Ma alati valida loll.""Then someone who has a knife cut her loose."
Mel reaches up to where her karambit normally holds up her hair and looks truly annoyed at the reminder that they haven't been allowed weapons. A quick glace around shows the katanas... which the guards would be annoyed if she picked up. So instead she turns to one of the guards, |May I borrow your knife, please?|
Chip & Deva's
Perception dc25:
There is a creak as a small form sits on the bed next to Myriana.
"Do you need anything?" Buttersnips asks quietly.
Myri's hand tentatively snakes out from under the covers and finds something Buttersnips (probably leg or hand) to make contact with.
Lio, still standing protectively by Shae, consults with Sandru as to how long the caravan will take to pack up and get moving. Once she has an idea of how long they have, and provided Ameiko has no immediate further input, she says to the guard at her feet, |Go home, fetch your immediate family, pack what is most important to you and what you and they will need for the foreseeable future as quickly as possible. I realize you may wish to die, but you will hardly earn redemption in our eyes if you are dead. So your first punishment is that you will live. You have x time before we leave. Now please get up and do not cast yourself down at my feet again.|
Once the soldiers take their leave, and the disgraced guard has gone to fetch his wife, Lio turns to one of the blue people, and asks, |I do not know the customs of this town very well, so please forgive me if I speak innapropriately, but would it he possible for someone to arrange that his home and things are preserved for him while he is gone, until he returns?|
** spoiler omitted **
Your orgasm brings her over the edge, Lio cries out, and then your pulsing walls begin milking her, as she shoots into you, filling you with hot liquid seed.