Enya smiles and claps at the end of the story. "Oh lovely! Most fun! Well told, strangely colored man!" Her eyes and cheeks burn with intensity. She catches Aldous' whisper and her eyes catch his, hers still smoldering from the excitement of the story.
Enya gently takes her otter back from Aldous, not wanting to wake her friend.
"Ahh, Sooshura! Nice name. I'm guessing you're not human? Not that it matters, but you are kinda blue." She laughs, and as she does, her hair catches the light, giving it the appearance of a dancing flame. Her ember eyes scorching with warm beauty as she looks directly at Sooshura.
Aldous steps aside for a moment, going to speak with the bar keep. He returns with two bottles, a much lighter coin purse, and four small glasses. Pouring two glasses of rum and two whiskeys, he lifts the hand of No-Eyes and places a rum upon his palm. He nods to Sooshura and then to the rum. Taking up one of the whiskeys, he reaches out and lifts Enya's hand, enjoying the warmth of her skin, he places the small glass in her palm, a grin lingers for a moment and he whispers softly to her.
I would like to hear more...perhaps we could discuss the lyrics when it is quieter.
Lifting his own shot glass, he raises his voice, "To good music, good stories, and good company. May the Lady of Luck bless us all,"with that he throws back the whiskey.
Enya laughs at the Undines joke. or at least she assumes its a joke and explains:"I am also an elemental type. I have the fire of life in me. We are called Ifrits!"
When she feels Aldous' touch against her hand she smiles, looking up to him and whispers directly into his ear, her breath warm on his skin.
Mica climbs to Aldous' shoulders and licks his ear playfully. She makes soft noises, mimicking her owner.
As he gives his toast, Enya gives a little to mica, then shoots the rest back, slamming the cup on the table and exclaiming her agreement loudly.
Suddenly, you hear a different voice. It is soft and feminine - but far more terrifying. The phrase "sleep on the couch" is heard, and the first voice falls silent. It seems there is a more powerful deity than this "gee-em".
You get the distinct impression that the female presence winks at you as it too falls silent and vanishes....
Aldous shivers slightly and pours another round for the four.
Enya gladly takes another shot, though she is definitely starting to feel the effects. She stumbles and begins falling off balance. "Eek! Noo!" She flails her arms to try to regain balance, but seems to be failing. She begins to fall towards Aldous. "Please no!!"
A densely built dwarf meanders through the doors of the Maid, a bit of tobacco smoke coming from the bit of rolled paper between his lips. The cutlass at his side clinks slightly as he makes his way up to the bar itself.
His tabi-style boots leave damp spots on the floor as he moves, leaving an easily followed trail for the startled patrons. After all, there aren't many of the stone dwellers out so close to the open water.
The dwarf surveys the height of the bar stools and then takes an axe from off his back, the handle easily his height and the top of the blade peeking up over his shoulder. There is a hush from the crowded bar as several eyes turn to watch him. The armed individual huffs, speaking gruffly as he grips the upper most part of the axe head, using it like a pole to get himself up onto the seat. "Damn bunch of lazy gits. It's like ya never seen a dwarf ba'fore." And it's with that gruff introduction that the bar is back to its rowdy self
The axe is pulled up and sat across his lap and partially across the stool beside. "Barkeep! Yeah, I'm talkin' to you!" The younger of the barkeeps nearly drops both a bottle and an expensive looking glass. "Lass, you got the order for Stormbeard?" The young one stutters till the dwarf begins to drum his fingers on the bar. "I dun have all day, lass. Either you have the fire whiskey I ordered, or I want my gold back. I didn't leave that crew just for some weak little goblin piss beer."
The proprietor of the establishment, seeing the growing irritation of the bearded man, seeks to intervene. "Oh, Mr. Stormbeard! So sorry. 'Liza here is a bit new. One of those Calistrians from up north. Chelish, I think." The slick haired man just smirks, at some joke that must be something familiar to the more established patrons and employees.
But the dwarf is no local to this particular establishment. No, his favored pub The Crazed Dire Weasel burned on his last night in port, nearly 2 months ago. With not enough time to enjoy a drink AND be well enough to perform his duties the following morning, he was forced to pay a hefty premium to make sure this new place, The Formidably Maid, carried his favorite brand of Dwarven fire brandy.
"I've had it in the cellar since it came in a week ago." The owner says, as he pulls a silk wrapped bottle from underneath the bar, showing great care, as he pulls the cork loose. "I undid the seal and uncorked it once when I heard the ship came in, just to give it some time to breath. Wanted it perfect for your first time here." A large, amber colored, gilded shot glass is put down in front of the patron, the man just oozing niceties as he tries to fix the "issues" his employee has caused.
The dwarf just responds by taking the bottle, pulling the cork out and chugging down what would have been a good two -maybe three- shots before shoving the cork back in, grabbing the glass and leaping off the stool with a heavy thunk as his rock-dense feet hit the ground. Flipping the glass over the top of the bottle, the surly sea dog makes it over to the woman who had been singing as he'd made his way into such a rough establishment. Amazing how little respect you could get when your grandfather commanded enough naval strength in his day to even keep the Hurricane King away from the old dwarf's holdings and targets.
With the longaxe now strapped again to his back, the young hot-head puts a hand an empty seat amongst the growing number of folks. "Mind if I join ya? Figured anyone with a decent voice among 'em would be decent drinking folks. Name's Stormbeard, by the by."
Stormbeard was the name of a pirate captain that sailed nearly 200 years ago. His natural cunning and skill in navigating the treacherous waterways of the Shackles led him to become one of the most feared Captains. Because of his race's reputation at being underground dwellers and the almost supernatural anger he harnessed, ol' Rubio Stormbeard was never once brought up as a possible candidate for the Hurricane Crown. But in the same token, none of the Hurricane Kings during his time on the seas ever attempted to steal kills, stashes, or targets from the compact rager.
As the exclamation rings out from Aldous, Tao having been enjoying his meal, suddenly and in a very uncharacteristic manner in opposition to how he was just treating his food, drops his utensils, grabs his mug of ale and joins in the call HEA HEA! It seems that the ale is finally beginning to fill his veins and he himself is being swept up in the merry making! He looks back toward River, a blush beginning to spread across his face, his eyes disappear as offers her a kind hearted grateful smile. He then promptly puts the mug to his lips and begins chugging. After a few large and hearty gulps he drops the mug back to the table and peers down to his food. A sudden change comes over him again as he visibly calms and begins eating slowly and methodically. The shift can be a bit unnerving to watch for some belying a very shifting explosive personality beneath the calm exterior of this seemly shy man.
With a bit more grace than most of those so devoted to one deity would not likely have, Aldous slides forward quickly and catches the inebriated bard. "I guess that is what they mean by tipsy. Perhaps no more twirls this eve, m'lady."
Enya giggles and he helps her back up, holding on to his neck a bit longer than necessary. Mica climbs on Enya's shoulder and licks her cheek, glad her mistress is okay. "Tipsy indeed. Perhaps it is getting close for me to go back to my room. But not yet. I wish to stay in such good company for a while longer." She lightly touches his arm as she clumsily moves a bit closer and whispers in his ear. Her skin feels like the warmth of sunshine on a perfect May afternoon, very inviting.
Seeing that he's not gonna get an answer, the dwarf rolls his eyes. "You two and your flirtation. If I'd know so many folks lost their mind when exposed to booze, I'd have brought in a bucket of cold sea water. Like I walked into a Calistrian whore house."
With that, he sets the bottle down on an empty spot at the table and sits himself at the chair associated with it. It's only after he's settled his weapons and himself that he opens the alcohol and pours a good sized shot, lifting it up to the light and smiling. "Ah...the good stuff. Lubricate the stomach, light yourself on fire if you don't move your tobacco." The surly individual pulls the dwindling smoke stick from his lips and then slams back the shot, letting both smoke and vapor from the alcohol come billowing from his lips.
"So...you all have names? Or am I having a one dwarf conversation all night?"
With a warm grin, he gives her back a quick wink and the chuckles at both of her suggestions. "I think that would be grand," a double entente? Perhaps, but the point for her to sing again gets across regardless of whatever else he might mean. He reaches out and gives Mica another gentle pet before throwing back another shot. He has had a good bit of time staring at the bottom of bottles, so this is barely hitting him yet.
Tao cleans his plate spotless leaving not much more than a few smears of grease from the meat behind. He looks at the spread still left in wonder and a bit of sadness that so much good food is left untouched and uneaten. He turns to River with a courteous smile and bows to her ever so slightly. The blush is much more prominent now having spread down over his neck and across his forehead. I tank you fo da wundaful food and dwink. It was a twoo feast fa beyond my own means. Unfotunately, he lowers his voice to a loud whisper now I haf to 撒尿.
He gets up and very cautiously makes his way around the table and past a few raucous patrons and past the table with the other four. His attention is caught by the dwarf though never having had much contact with them before. Tao should have been paying attention to where he was going though.
It may have been the drink in him, or maybe the dwarfs beard, but regardless of what it was the real mess came in the form of a pair of huge Half-orc legs as Tao's foot hooked under them rather than stepping over.
The cacophonous series of crashes could have woken the dead and definitely drowned out most of the conversations in the Inn's back room as in an attempt to catch himself. First a table, then a pair of chairs. A few stumbling steps took him into another table of which the support cracked under his weight as he tried to stop his momentum tumbling unsteadily clear out of the back room into yet a third table that he landed flat on his back on clearing a path of destructions. Most of the patrons heard him before they saw him coming and were able to grab their drinks and step clear of the disaster.
Looking over, "Sorry, sir...Thunderbeard was it? Please, do join us. I am Aldous...," and he places his hand down beside the dwarf's drink, revealing the very prominent symbol of Calistria on the back of his hand. "Devout follower of Calistria..." was there a hint of the Wasp's sting in his voice? Perhaps so.
Leave it to a filthy(both literally and metaphorically) foreigner to ruin a perfectly good time in a nice drinking establishment such as this. Tao lay there for a long moment waiting for the stars to pass and for his eyes to refocus.
The dwarf stops with his second shot on the way to his lips, grumbling in obvious frustration over what he walked into. "Oh Besmara bless my beard. If it isn't one thing, it's ten others. Please tell me they didn't pay you to get that on your hand."
The shot is put down with little trouble, as he sits the tobacco stick precariously over the overturned cork of his whiskey. It's obvious that, despite the gruffness, he doesn't seem to have anything else negative to say about the Calistrians.
"And it's Stormbeard. Diabolito Stormbeard." He points the bottle towards the cleric and then the bard being woo-ed. "You Calistrians are allowed to drink, I'm assumin'?" If there are no objections, he passes the heady, spicy brew to the rest of the table before leaning just a bit to watch the man going sliding down the length of the bar.
Even being something as strange as a dwarven sailor, Stormbeard's mouth hangs open, entirely shocked and amazed at Tao's lack of coordination, before he begins to howl out in laughter, holding onto both table and chair to keep from falling over.
"Oh yes, my dwarven friend. I was just about to sing my last song of the night! Let t be my apologies for getting... distracted." She grins at Aldous, blushing slightly and flames flaring up in her eyes.
She and Mica stand on the table for the last time. Though Enya is a bit tipsy, she is able to keep her balance. All watching her get the impression she has had a lot of practice with this. Mica attempts to sing along on this one, standing on Snya's shoulders.
"Have you ever heard of Capt'n John Swallow?
He spent his time boozin and huntin for gold!
He took a fancy to a lass named Liza Gosling,
But she knew better than to believe what he told.
He never gave up, though she loved another,
Bill Burner, t'was he called.
Who was truly a pirate, a swashbucking rogue (Mica: Rogue Swashbucker)
One of the best out of them all!
They went on adventures
They explored all the sea.
Until one day they met something
They just couldn't beat.
The Fliggerwakkersheesht ate all them whole
He left no survivors, or so I am told.
There is one rumor, or so they say
A Dread Pirate Robbern survived the seas bane!
Mica keeps great melodic harmony to the song, its obvious its rehearsed, because they sound better, though some of the words are slurred.
She laughs her beautiful, melodic laugh. "How was that, Shhtorm beardy beardy? She takes one last shot of whiskey, gets down off the table, and leans up against Aldous. She whispers into his ear once again, putting a warm hand on his chest.
"All right, everyone, last call! We'll be closing soon! The barkeep looks completely wiped out by the massive influx of people. It's been one busy night. She grins as she starts mentally tallying the take.
Tao finally starts to stir hopeing the barkeeper doesn't tan him alive. He crawls out of the rubble not really hurt other than his pride, what little there was to begin with. In apology, he places his last two silver on the counter without making eye contact and actually crawls to the hallway running between the rooms. After a few moments, he comes back to the bar and peeks over it at the barkeeper once more waiting to be noticed. After a moment or two, and probably screwing up her count, he clears his throat and asks Uhh. Eshcus me. I had never gotten my woom numbuh oh key. And I tink I need rest. I tink.
Having clapped and cheered the singing lass as she sang another ditty, Bellamy had just thrown his head back to down a shot when Typhoon Tao crashed by. He turned his eypatched face to and fro.
"What? What just happened?"
Diabolito just grins. "Old man, I believe that's called the Dragon Man Slide." And with that, the dwarf begins to make up for lost time, drinking down the potent bottle of fiery whiskey, feeling each ounce burn further flesh from his gullet. Or at least that's the perceived feeling.
Cuddles has only just learned what "last call" means after several incidents of the barkeep shooing him out the door with a large broom. He jumps up and knocks his head on the ceiling. He grunts and quickly slouches over. SORRY...
As dust floats down from the rafters, he makes his hunchbacked way to the bar for a last barrel.
Aldous watches as the man slides, then the song. He stands during the song, just in case Enya has trouble while she is up there. While she performs, he takes the offered shot of spicy brew. Afterwards, he helps the fiery woman down from the table in between his clapping. "Mica, I didn't know you were so talented...wonderful!"
He pours another round for everyone and then gathers up the bottles and slides them back to the barkeep. Save them for tomorrow and there is a big tip for you, lady."
Jocelyn laughs hysterically at the dwarf's Dragon man slide joke, and the the fallen form of the man that made all the ruckus, glad that her bottle was safe in hand.
Hearing last call Jocelyn slaps Tidus on the back once more and upends the bottle of whiskey. She chugs the remainder of the brown liquor and slams the bottle back onto the bar."L's see ya do th't." she says as the room starts to spin like a Hurricane.
She sets back down at her stool and makes a loud 'burp' as the rest of the patrons eye her. somebody's gonna get a face full of fist if they say anything. She gives them what she thinks is the stare of death, but it looks quite comical to anyone not smashed.
Chumtooth slams his mug down on the bar.
"Enough of this brown water. Chumtooth wants strong drink. A drink that burns like fire in the belly!"
He surveys the room, as the milling about slows to a collective drunken stumbling.
"These Others. They have no stomach for strong drink, but some do sing well," he mutters in his deep rumbling tone.
"All right, you swabs, closing time. Everybody out!" Although tired, the barkeep looks thankful for the business. Such a wonderful evening. A few patrons remain in the tavern. Too much to drink, apparently....
If I'm not mistaken, everybody's checked in now
Missing one if i am correct.
And let the beating commence!
SO tempted to start this off with the spell Sleep! :P
lol.
Technically, I think you should have whatever spells you had memorized from the last time you communed with him. Unless of course, you forget the learned spells each day(which I dont remember reading anywhere) or you have used them all. unless i read your last ooc wrong.
Tao's correct. You have whatever unused spells you have from yesterday. And by all means, start a combat with these guys. It'll be fun! *GM grin*
Begins to tear up and sniffles a bit
It scares me when the GM talks like that.
Also, I am REALLY fighting the urge to flood the forum. lol... I can't stay away! It's bad...
I find it very amusing that the person with the penalty to Strength is the first to make it up so far. I got EXTREMELY luck with my rolls!
so i have played a few sessions of this AP before the fateful TPK. Well, almost a TPK. One survived... a goblin.
I speak of this because said goblin... Damn him... Actually had a climb score. Evil lil b@st@rd became a favorite with Plug cuz the whole party failed horribly and a few of us passed out from falling dmg. More on this as the game continues.
sorry, climb speed. he had a climb speed and an 8 str
I do not have a climb speed however and I get this nagging feeling that if he were to ask me to do ti again ... I would fail miserably!
I don't know. The dice seem to like you today. By the way. Those were some amazing rolls. lots of 18s across the 8. Damn impressive miss. Damn impressive!
The first roll was the 11 and with my penalty, it meant I just made it! Followed by 2 natural 20's! I just done all 8 quickly and then checked to see if I needed to add in any more and nearly threw my mouse across the room in shock as I noticed that I had actually passed all 8!
I thought I would fail all but 2, maybe 3 if I was lucky!
I need to double-check everything, but I think River's going to hate me....