"And now we know what Vincher wanted," says Cherry. "If this keeps up it's gonna cut into the business."
~~~~~~~~~~
"Interviewing job applicants? Uh... sure, I guess?" says Cherry with a look of some skepticism. "So, we are gonna need really loyal people if we are gonna stick this out. Like, what would you do if a notorious crime lord comes and offers you a sack of gold pieces to spy on this place and report back to him? Folks who will realize that they'll be out of a job if they wind up undercutting the business and have the good sense to tell the boss - that's the kind of person we need."
"Nice slice," says Silvio, admiring the decapitation of the snake. It was truly a blow well struck. "Still, the damage is done to this place's safety and reputation. If I ever see Clegg again, I'm taking him down."
Silvio prays to Abadar to remove the poison from his system.
Silvio grimaces, but manages to endure the poison as the effects wear out. Over the course of the week, he manages to recover.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"We're all interviewing these chaps? Bah, I'm not good at asking these sorts of questions. Seems more important that we ask them for references and see if they check out. We don't want to hire anyone who was on Clegg's payroll for example."
When it comes time to actually interview, Silvio simply asks the following question: "What is your opinion of the law?"
Orendel takes out a rag and wipes the snake blood off his poleaxe.
"Wish there'd been a better way of handling that. I've always had a soft spot for scaly critters. Even the venomous ones. They're just tryin' to eat and protect themselves, yanno?"
He shrugs, figuring most of the others would look at him like he was touched in the head for that opinion. Then he moves to tend to the injured employee.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
As they begin discussing the interview process, he nods at Cherry's suggestion and smirks a bit at Silvio's words.
"What, are we going to ask them for papers? I mean, this is Riddleport, not Korholm or Canorate! Does this city even HAVE a functioning bureaucracy to keep track of that kind of thing?"
As the time comes to interview, Orendel strokes his chin.
"Be honest with us, why do you want to work HERE, at the Gold Goblin? What drew you to us instead of one of the other establishments in the city?"
Silvio shakes his head, disagreeing with Orendel's sentiment. "Riddleport is not truly lawless. It's just that the laws don't get enforced enough. I haven't tried lately, but I'm hoping I can still get some background info from the Gendarmes. We can also talk to whoever the interviewees give us as references. If we discover any connections between an applicant and Clegg, or some other crime lord, we cut them off. I want folks in here to have clean records."
He called me a priest. Damn this is not going away... Hmm... I will need to visit Cassandra. Sucking in a breath, "Thank you Orendel ."
Quickly walking over to the man the snake attacked and kneeling down.
-----
Chuckling to himself at Silvio's words, "Clean records are hard to come by my friend. You will have an easier time finding people who want to make an honest living and who want to leave their past behind."
Cherry, meanwhile, cleans glasses while eyeballing various patrons for anything suspicious.
There are three applicants who come to apply for work.
There is Samaritha Beldusk, a young half-elf woman with wavy red hair and a few Varisian tattos on her face and neck. Applying for a bartender position, she quite clearly doesn't fit with the regular atmosphere, but everything becomes clear when she explains she's hoping to become a cyphermage and none of the current masters are taking apprentices.
To Cherry:
"Good heavens, I applied here because I wanted to keep away from the criminal element. I'd rather not hurt my chances at apprenticeship for a measly bag of gold.
To Silvio:
"I'd prefer if everyone followed it, but I suppose nothing is all encompassing. However, it wouldn't hurt for some people to recognize the thing."
To Orendell:
"I came here based on the reputation of the owners. I need some funds until I can get an apprenticeship and I'd rather do it where the management won't ask for...favors."
Another applicant is a young Nikaro with no last name, a human boy that barely old enough to reach the gambling tables, but is applying to be a dealer. He has a mop of brown hair sheared off around his head to avoid covering the eyes, but has a certain liveliness to him. There's also a hint of playfulness.
To Cherry:
"I dunno, maybe is the sack of coins was big enough. Then we'd have a personal investment from the enemy themselves. Hah!. Imagine the look on their dumb face when they find little sweet Nick has run off with their gold and bought a round for Goblin."
To Silvio:
"Well...you're an odd one. I mean, rules are rules, but them rules won't feed you any better than refuse. I qouldn't call myself a lawbreaker, but I've been known to bend a few things."
To Orendell:
"Well...to be honest sir, I get cheated all the time because of my age, an' I thought that a respectable establishment like this might give me the fair shake life owes me, eh?"
And finally an applicant for the position of bouncer shows up, Tunka Cronan. She's a large female half-orc, her hair braided back tightly and her tusks protruding up from her mouth in a sharp manner. She has fierceness in her eyes, and you can hear the interview chair creak as the weight of her musclar body eases into it.
To Cherry:
"Trust. If I break trust of employer, no one will ever hire me again. I do not wish to be a bandit to survive."
To Silvio
'Law means fines, prison time. I cannot afford either. I will respect it.'
To Orendell:
"No other hall will trust half-orc woman not to rip off heads of drunk patrons. Need job in town, not escort service.."
Larur gathers you in the backroom.
"So...what do you think? I don't know how many we can hire to fill out the staff, but what are your impressions?"
If possible, Silvio tries to sense deception in each of the candidates, wanting to know if they're hiding something.
"I'll be honest, all the candidates seem like good enough people. The question is how well they'll do their jobs. Samaritha is a cyphermage, not a bartender and Nikaro is awfully young to be a dealer. Still, if we need people, better to hire them all than be understaffed."
Orendel listens to the applicants intently, sizing each of them up. When the time comes to discuss, he shares his thoughts.
"Miss Beldusk is a definite safe pick. She doesn't seem intimidated by recent events and has common sense. Haven't had a lot of experience with wizards, even though they were making a concerted effort to recruit more back home. And...if you'll indulge me a little selfishness, it'd be nice to have another half-elf to talk to."
"Nikaro's...a hard sell. He's just a kid, and while I think he's sharp for his age, he seems to get too much of a thrill from being slippery. Doesn't have a lot of discipline. He'll probably need someone to mentor him...and keep a close eye on him so he doesn't try something stupid or impulsive."
"Miss Cronan's a definite yes, in my opinion. She's practical and straightforward, fine qualities in a bouncer."
"I like Miss Beldusk. Means I don't have to be at the bar all the time. Also, wizards are good with memorization, which means she'll learn all the specialty drinks. If we lose her to school, well, seasonal help is better than no help," says Cherry.
"Nikaro would be safer working with us than out on the street." Her delivery is completely flat. "The trick will be finding useful jobs that don't get him into trouble."
"As for Cronan the bra-barian, I think we already have a good bouncer -" she glances meaningfully at Orendel - "but if we want an extra hand she will certainly keep people a bit scared. She gives the impression that she's not very bright. Not sure if I believe it."
"The Beldusk woman seems like a potently good option. Seasonal help is a thing that happens. Besides if she eventually gets in with the cyphermages then she might bring in more clients later."
"The kid would be an odd choice but I have no issue with him wanting a more legitimate way to take care of himself."
"I like Cronan. We have already seen that having more muscle is a good idea."
Silvio considers the various responses and attempts to summarize. "Okay, sounds like we want to hire them all, but make sure Nikaro is NOT a dealer? We'll see if he has any interest running errands for us, and maybe he can mature during the process. That is, unless any of you noticed something unusual about any of the candidates?"
Cherry has a keen eye for people, and with some input from the others she confidently say that three don't have any ill intentions for the Gold Goblin or the party. In fact, she can tell that Samaritha feels a bit desperate for work before she has to stoop to lower means, Nikaro is actually pretty nervous and awed by one of you (can't tell who), and Tunka is actually expecting to be turned away again.
Larur looks at the books, and frowns.
"Hmm...we've filled out a few roles already. We could handle one more no problem, but two or three....that might strain our books.
"I'm more than happy to take a cut in pay if it means our ranks are filled, Larur."
Orendel gives a slight smile.
"And if it's accommodations you're concerned about, I can spare my place in the apartment. One advantage of the soldiering life is you learn how to get a good night's rest no matter where you put your bedroll."
"Here, Larur, hand me those books. I've been wanting to go through those to see where our money is going and figure out what we need to do." If the dwarf is open to it, Silvio takes a look for anything interesting. He is most interested in making sure the numbers line up and there isn't any embezzlement going on.
Still, the act of pouring through the books triggers a thought. "You know, last time I studied a book this much was when Loris got me a copy of Secrets of Ancient Osirion." Silvio suddenly snaps his fingers, struck by inspiration. "Wait, that might do it. Lady Loris Bellcastle is a cyphermage herself! She might not be a Master, but she has plenty of access and connections. If I had a talk with her, I bet Loris could help Samaritha work toward her goal. It could be a way to compensate her without undermining our finances - I'd say it could be more valuable to her than a typical salary. I could introduce them to see how it goes." Silvio looks about, seeing what the others thought of this idea.
"That's certainly more than I can do, Silvio."
Nodding, "If you would do so that would be wonderful Silvio. Thank you."
Leaning against the wall, "That still leave the other two. I have no issue taking both on. I do not like the idea of the kid returning to thieving. That will only end badly but I do not think we should start him as a dealer."
From her seat in a corner, Syeira listens to the discussion with half an ear. Although never one to shy from voicing her opinion, the Harrower has been uncharacteristically silent on a number of issues of late, as though her mind has been on other matters. How can they not be concerned with the blot looming in the sky? Do they not know that it heralds the end for us all? Well, if they didn't understand that, she wasn't going to be the one to tell them. The line between soothsayer and doomsayer is fine enough as it is.
"Lady Loris Bellcastle is a cyphermage herself!"
"Loris is a cyphermage?" Syeira asks, leaning forward in her seat and finally joining in on the conversation. The witch has been trying to find a way into the Order of Cyphers since arriving in Riddleport, with no success. To think she could have had a contact within the secretive guild this entire time. Perhaps I don't have to go about this on my own.
"Assuming Loris and Samaritha are both agreeable to your idea, then we ought to hire the orcish woman. She doesn't sound like the type to scare easily, which will be useful considering Zincher has it out for this place. That just leaves the kid..." Syeira feels a sudden swell of pity for whatever circumstances forced him into having to fend for himself at such a young age. "Perhaps we could start off small with him? I doubt he needs a full salary at his age. A safe place to sleep at night, three full meals, and a small stipend. That shouldn't cut into our poor finances too much, would it?"
"What's a cyphermage?" Orendel asks idly.
Grinning over at Syeira, "That sounds reasonable."
"Orendel, a cyphermage is a member of the Order of Cyphers. The order studies the ancient Thassilonian ruins found throughout Varisia. In this city, they focus a lot of their energies on the Cyphergate - you probably have seen that before--it's the huge arch that's at the entrance to the Riddleport harbor. It's the reason why Riddleport is also called the City of Cyphers."
Silvio returns his focus to the task at hand. "Okay, it seems like we have agreement. Hire Tunka the half-orc, take in Nikaro the boy with a small stipend, and see if we can get Samantha some connections with the Order of Cyphers in exchange for her work."
"I see. So they're archaeologists? I don't know much about this...Thassilonian...stuff. Am I saying that right?" Orendel asks, scratching his chin.
Syeira eyes Dougal from the corner of her eye for a few moments before cracking a smile of her own - the first, it feels like, in days. "I'm pleased you think so. Hopefully Samaritha and Nikaro will feel the same about this little... compromise."
Syeira nods along with Silvio's summary of their decision, and when the man is finished, echoes Orendel's previous sentiment. "If Samaritha isn't keen to the idea of working completely for free, I, too, would be willing to take a cut in my pay in order for her to earn some gold for herself." Gold, Syeira was finding, was of little concern in the grand scheme of things. The main appeal of receiving a salary from Saul was that she could, eventually, use it toward buying her way into the good graces of the Order of Cyphers. Now that she two potential contacts within the organization, she finds she has no great need for coin at present.
At Orendel's follow-up question about the cyphermages, Syeira can't help the coy smile that plays on her lips, nor her teasing response to the former soldier. Seeming to be preoccupied with the cards spread in her lap, the Harrower feigns innocence as she says, "Something of the sort, yes. Perhaps it's a topic you and Miss Beldusk could discuss once you've become acquainted. I'm sure she'd be happy to enlighten you on the finer points of that society, half-elf to half-elf." Sparing a quick glance up to Orendel, she gives the man a wink and a smirk before turning her attention to the cards.
At the unique, but ingenious solution, Samaritha breaks into a wide grin and immediately agreess. Tunka raises an eyebrow when given the news, but says nothing, mrerely nods and leaves to retries her possessions from the cheap inn she's staying at. Nikaro seems the least compliant, his expression clearly one of unhappiness.
"Stipend? Why can't I get a salary like the rest? I do good work, I'll make runs, and deal, or whatever you need me too. Who's to say my work isn't as good as theirs?"
You have some time to yourselves (several days in fact). Resolve this scene with Nikaro, and then tell me how you plan to spend the rest of the week. You could work, catch up on personal relationships, You're not limited to one thing, but I will move the week along after an appropriate amount of development.
Cherry leans forward at the bar, which has already become well-established as her province. "Nikaro, if your skills are that great - and nobody's saying they aren't, we just haven't seen 'em all in action yet - you should have no trouble making business around here good enough to get your payday! I know you got a lot riding on this. We're not gonna let you down. All the crazy things this place has seen, and is liable to see, we have to have each others' backs, right?"
"Listen," she says, and she points for Nikalos to climb up on one of the stools. "I had a little brother like you. He was really smart, really fast, really eager. He ran messages and deals too. Real good at it. He wanted to make a little money, not just for himself, but for our family, right?"
"He's not here 'cuz..." and she pantomimes being stabbed in the guts. "He got caught up in the wrong business, y'know? An' I still miss 'im." She shakes her head slightly. "Nobody here wants to put you into that kind of danger, least of all me. So let's keep it simple, all right? We all know you're eager to get to work, we'll give you the opportunity but I think I speak for all of the crew here when we say nobody wants a repeat of what happened to my own little brother. Start with the easy jobs and we'll work you up the business."
She cracks a smile at last and says, "So you want wine or beer?"
While Cherry has a private chat with Nikaro to get him going, Silvio talks with Tunka about her work, assigning shifts and showing her how things are done around the Gold Goblin. "First and most important rule - keep the other guests safe. Clegg came in here and sent us a snake to try and get one of our customers killed, so be on the lookout for more trouble like that. You see someone hurt, grab me or Dougal over there. Not really sure that he understands it yet, but seems like Dougal's a priest of some kind. Or he's been touched by a god somehow. Hopefully it's the good kind of god. Orendel there's probably our best fighter, he can bring in lethal force. Speaking of which, do you own a sap? Better to start there, though we should also get you a solid weapon too. You'll probably need both for this job."
Silvio's plans for the coming week in order of priority are as follows:
1. Get Samantha Beldusk set up with some Cyphermage studies
2. Get Syeira going on studying the Blot
3. Study the financials
The first two he's hoping will get a kickstart from setting up a meeting with Loris Bellcastle, as opposed to making it his "task" for the week. If that works, then studying the books will be Silvio's primary focus.
As Cherry and Silvio brief the other two new employees, Orendel approaches Samaritha Beldusk and extends a hand.
"Not wanting to sound too forward or too formal but...um...lookin' forward to working with you, Miss Beldusk. Are you...local, then? Unlike my colleagues I'm not from Riddleport myself."
He smiles somewhat awkwardly.
Smiling as he listens to Cherry talk to Nikalos. Looking around and seeing that everyone is busy Dougal sighs and sits at the bar. Looking at cherry with a grin, "Can I get a beer too?"
Looking over at the youth, "So which part of the city was yours before you came here?"
Nikaro mumbles, but seems to understand.
"Beer." he says flatly. He tries to drink the cup you give him in one go, but he coughs and grimaces, clearly not used to the taste.
At Dougal's question, Nikaro becomes evasive.
"Here and there, I kept moving cause no one would give me the respect I earned by busting my butt."
==========================================
Tunka snorts at hearing Clegg's name.
"Let him try, I'll slap his head so hard you'll have a new doorknocker.." It seems there's some deep ire and resentment there.
"Yeah, I got my own sap. Not my first protection job."
When you find time to visit Loris Bellcastle, you find her place in dissarray. Fearing of some kind of burglary, you quickly realize its just your friend being slovenly unkempt as she winds away the hours writing notes upon notes about the blot. She was like this when she got serious, a driven woman was something to see.
She flashes that winning smile of hers as she finally realizes you've let yourself in. Perhaps your heart jumps a beat.
"Silvio, this is a pleasant surprise. Shall you stay for some tea? Or are you in a hurry?"
==========================================
Samaritha smiles and takes your hand Orendell.
"Recently arrived actually. I had hoped to study with the cyphermages post-haste, but it seems I should have planned a bit better. Then again..."
She glances you up and down.
"I guess it's not all bad..."
Cherry passes a mug of beer to Nikaro, then smiles to Dougal. "Sure thing, sugar," she says and sends one over to him too.
When Nikalos chokes on his beer, Cherry wait for him to get his composure back, then says, "So you gonna be staying here, or you have some other flat to call kip? I can spare some extra coins here an' there if you'll be around to help out after closing."
"Seems like you've had your own special experiences with Clegg?" Silvio asks, probing her violent reaction.
Silvio enters cautiously, moving carefully through the small but well-adorned apartment out of concern about the disarray. He doesn't even recognize the person within at first, and starts to creep up on her, ready to pounce. When Loris turns and smiles, she catches him awkwardly holding his book in a threatening fashion. Silvio blushes in embarrassment. "Er . . . pleasure to see you, Lady Loris. I was worried there for a second! This place looks like a burglar has torn through it!" Even though the threat of danger was now gone, Silvio is still tense. Just seeing this mess felt stressful. "I'd love to stay and have a chat. There's certainly a lot to talk about, not the least of which is that blot you're obviously studying. If you don't mind, I'll just start picking up some of these things. . ." He starts to collect stray pens, books, papers, and other objects and place the in neat, orderly piles. "Have you thought about asking a cleaner to come through here?"
|
Samaritha smiles and takes your hand Orendell.
"Recently arrived actually. I had hoped to study with the cyphermages post-haste, but it seems I should have planned a bit better. Then again..."
She glances you up and down.
"I guess it's not all bad..."
Orendel's face flushes bright red.
"I'm...glad I can make the situation better!" he says, coughing into his other hand.
"So...where'd you come from? I haven't seen many other half-elves on my way up from Bloodsworn Vale."
Smiling at Cherry and happily taking a drink. Keeping the mug at his lips a little longer to hid his grin as the youth chokes on his drink. "We help our own and that is what you are now Nikaro." I was right I do like her.
After being quite distracted by the mess, Silvio seems to suddenly snap back into reality for a moment as he remembers who's with him. "Oh, Loris, I brought an old acquaintance of yours with me to this visit. Renowned fortune teller Syeira Istrati. I'm sure you remember you were the one who introduced me to Syeira on one of our excursions, for which I'm grateful."
Syeira stands idly at the doorway to Loris' study as Silvio begins to tidy up the place. Despite her burning curiosity to learn what Loris might have uncovered on the blot, Syeira refrained from going through the woman's notes on the pretense of helping Silvio pick up the mess. Instead, she watches the brief - perhaps charged - exchange between Silvio and Loris with an amused smile, one which she doesn't bother to try and hide once Silvio announces her presence. "Loris, it's so good to see you again. I do hope we've not come at a bad time."
Orendel wonders who this mysterious paladin is that just seemed to drift through to speak to them and disappeared just as quickly.
Nikaro still seems grumpy, but under his practiced scowl, you can see the faint twitch of a warm smile working on the corner of his lips. He doesn't answer Cherry's question, but excuses himself and runs out the door, calling that he'll be on time tomorrow.
========================================
Tunka doesn't continue the conversation, but grimly looks out the door of the Gold Goblin with a glare that could strike a bird dead.
========================================
"Ah him?" Samaritha asks. She smiles. "I've heard tale of Archpaladin Zousha. Seems he came back from a demon hunt a little more addled than most. Can't stop narrating what he see's and jumping into conversations that he's not a part of."
"Pity, he was cute too."
========================================
Loris' grin grows wider as she hurries to embrace the fortune teller.
"Silvio, you never told me you started seeing Syeira. Tell me dear, he hasn't been lecturing you with that horrid book of his, hmm?"
Syeira glances around the room, and starts to realize there is very little room for sitting, pleasentries, and guests. With a flick of her wrist, book's start reshelving themselves and papers start to stack on a small coffee table near the many bookcases. Finally, the two of you are able to see a lovely couch and seat set.
"So what brings you here?" she asks you both, a pot of tea floating in from the other room.
"Well, if you ever see Clegg or his cronies, you give them a good thumping." Silvio decides to leave the half-orc be. Perhaps she would warm up with a little time.
Silvio finds a weight of anxiety lifted from his shoulders as the room becomes neater and more manageable. "Hey, this book has sent more than a few men on a straighter path. Including those thugs who were hassling you! If only more people in this town had a proper respect for the law. Poor Syeira here came into town and found herself in the middle of a casino robbery at the Gold Goblin! Although, there's a funny story about that. . . ." Silvio starts scratching at his head a little nervously. Having finally needed to share the recent events with someone he knew, Silvio found himself feeling a little embarrassed.
"Syeira here proved herself very capable, using some of her Varisian magics to put the assailants to sleep. In fact, a lot of us at our casino table put up a fight, driving out the robbers. So Saul Vancaskerkin offered us a job as his junior partners. And. . . well . . . Saul promised he was doing things legit now, and since I had gotten pushed out of my job at the Gendarmes . . . " Silvio hesitates. "Anyway, it's a real opportunity to build something good in Riddleport, right?"
Silvio spends a little additional time awkwardly answering questions about the Gold Goblin and putting off the real purpose of his visit. He definitely felt anxious that his request would go badly. Finally, he makes a tentative attempt to broach the topic. "So . . . you see, we're trying to hire some law-abiding, upstanding employees for our venture, and we could really use another bartender . . . so there's this girl named Samantha Beldusk, and I don't know her that well - er, but she's really great I'm sure, and er . . ."
Damn it, Silvio, you're messing this up! he thinks to himself. He utters a silent prayer, and then lets out a big sigh.
"By Abadar, I'm bad at this doublespeak. Okay, let me just tell you straight. The Gold Goblin's pretty broke, but we really need some employees to get off the ground. So we offered to hire Samantha but we said that we'd make up for the low salary by getting her connected with the Order of Cyphers. I really don't know her well, but she seems smart and diligent, so . . . maybe just meet her and see what you think?"
Cherry rummages around somewhere under the intersection of her skirt and bodice and produces a gold coin, but Nikaro is already off like a shot before she can offer it to him. She smiles ruefully and spins the coin on the bar instead.
"So," she says to Dougal with a grin, "Are you just here for the free beer, or what?"
Returning the grin, "We need to work with him on how to make a better exist and no dear. The free beer is just a fun benefit of the company."
Taking another long drink and setting the mug back down, "We have not had much chance to get to know each other. None of us really have. And you seem far more pleasant than the woman I need to go see later."
Syeira returns Loris' embrace with equal enthusiasm before drawing away with a good-natured laugh at her teasing. "No, thank the stars! I've been on my best behavior around our friend here, so Silvio has spared me any lecturing so far. Although I'm sure it's a fascinating read," she says, hoping the last is enough to soothe Silvio's ire before he can truly get offended at their ribbing.
Taking a seat at the sofa and gratefully accepting a cup of tea when offered, Syeira sits back and let's the two get reacquainted, only bothering to interject during Silvio's story when the man tries to embellish her efforts or minimize his own. "Oh, I'm sure that man was well on his way to unconsciousness before I did anything. Silvio's the one that knocked the ringleader into the next age with that oversized rulebook of his."
The Harrower sits quietly during Silvio's entreaty to Loris, occasionally exchanging strained smiles with the cyphermage while the inquisitor searches for his words. Once he gets his question out, Syeira ways a few beats before giving a little sigh of her own and seeing down her teacup. "I'm afraid my visit is not entirely a social call either, Loris. I came hoping you may be able to answer a few questions for me, this time. Ever since this mysterious blot appeared, the Cards have been foretelling a ...grim fate for everyone who has had a reading. Have you been able to discover anything about its origins?"
Cherry blows out a sigh with exaggerated cheeks. "Yeah, I worry about the safety of kids like Nikaro, but y'know, there are so many of them in this city and nobody cares, so there's only so much you can do." She snags Nikaro's beer mug and empties it into a large bucket behind the bar, to be taken out back and poured out later. "Dunno how much there is to know... we're all working for a skeezy bar-and-gambling-den so we can rub a few silvers together and keep our ribs from touching our backs." She pauses and cocks her head, then says, "Y'know, that's a funny image. I heard a story once that there was a Chelaxian woman who had her two lowest ribs removed magically - " - here Cherry puts her hands at the base of her ribs to demonstrate - "- so that she could fit into tighter, more exaggerated corsets. Total madness, if you ask me. I guess that's a real case of ribs-meeting-spine. Some of those society corsets really making breathing impossible anyway, so I guess she had a reason. Still, though, using powerful magic for something so vain?" She waves a hand dismissively.
"Regardless. So who's this lady you're meeting so unwillingly later? Debt collector? Ex-lover? Unpleasant mother?" Cherry slides forward on the bar a bit to get the goods.
Shaking his head as he listens, "Those corsets cut a fine figure but breathing is far more important. The body is made the way it is for a reason and we need those ribs."
Chuckling to himself, "He a bet with a friend and ended up in a corset for a full day." Running a hand across his chest and smiling, "I do not have the bosom for a corset, not by a long shot. Though my waist was rather slim. But damn did my ribs hurt that night when it came off.
Taking another drink before answering the question, [b]"Nothing as fun as an ex-lover or as hazardous as visiting my family. I need to have a conversation with a priestess about the magic I seem to have."
Twisting his mug around and staring at it, "I am not supposed to be a priest. I am a former whore and currently working in a skeezy bar not a holy man. But the magic feels like hers."
Not bothering to lift his eyes but letting go of the mug. Drumming his fingers on the bar, "I have done nothing to earn it. Certainly nothing like her."
"Now stop right there," says Cherry, straightening up and bringing up one finger to halt him. "Do you really think people get what they deserve? What a terrible world that would be, where everything bad that ever happened to you is because you deserved it."
"Gods can be fickle just like us, anyway. Most of them were us once upon a time. Now they're just us but, y'know, more powerful."
"But as for corsets, I'll only wear one when I have to. This bodice is much more comfortable and less constricting and it also means I'm not basically parading around in my underwear like I had to do on opening night to land this job."
Putting his grin back on and nodding his understanding, "My apologizes. I did not mean to get to morose. One should never drink when they are glum. That lovely woman I mentioned would wallop me for that."
Putting a bit of a leer into his look, "Those that was a rather fetching look on you I am compelled to say you look better as you are now, without the corset." Dropping the leer and simply smiling.
Tapping his chin while staring at Cherry, "Considering your response to Abadar and I do not begrudge you that opinion. Really I do not. Abadar is not high on many peoples favorites lists. But is there a deity for you? Assuming you do not mind me asking"
"Not morose, just... it's a dark view, that people deserve everything that happens to them. Kids die every day but it's not like they deserve it, right?" Cherry points out.
"As for corsets and bodices, the only reason you think this is more fetchin' is because you're tipsy an' I'm talkin' to ya," she jibes. "But if you've spent many an hour chatting up lasses for coin, you'd be expected to have a silver tongue with things like that. Aye, I know it too, folks like to see more skin. But it can get drafty!"
"I'm not really... strongly religious or anything. I mean, I know about the gods an' I'm not above sayin' a word or two when times are desperate, but they pick the people they favor an' the rest of us just have to get by, aye? Now an' then, though, I wanna see more of the world like Sinashakti talks about. Sometimes I just... y'know, daydream about better places and tell 'im about what I see in my mind."
Nodding again, "I know people rarely get what they deserve. I more so meant that most people have to work to gain these abilities and I am not sure why I have them."
Shaking his finger at Cheery, "I have only had one beer and I am nowhere near tipsy. As to the other thing people like more skin because they lack creativity. There is more allure without everything on display. There is something about leaving thing to the imagination that can be great fun. Mostly removing corsets is less than entertaining. Falls in line with romance. Somethings are not just given. You have to work for it, you know."
"Sinashakti is not one I am familiar with. But I get what you are saying. Many of the Goddesses and Gods were never mortal and will never understand us. The few that were have not been for sometime. They are on a different plain with different obligations. It is always good to want for better, for more. People without goals and desires grow complacent and miserable."
"Ah him?" Samaritha asks. She smiles. "I've heard tale of Archpaladin Zousha. Seems he came back from a demon hunt a little more addled than most. Can't stop narrating what he see's and jumping into conversations that he's not a part of.""Pity, he was cute too."
"Right..." Orendel says, side-eyeing the man as he wanders off muttering something about travelers and respite.
"I passed through Bloodsworn Vale myself, come to think of it. Came all the way here from Molthune. What about you? Where'd your journey to the Gold Goblin start?"
"I guess it depends on the situation, right? Some blokes like to ogle the scarlet damsels as they walk down the street all leggy and with their boobs pushed up to here, like, but maybe it's different when you're in an... intimate setting with someone you really care about," says Cherry thoughtfully. "But you'd be the expert, getting paid to make those fantasies real, aye?" The tip of her tail peeks up at the edge of the bar and flits back and forth like a curious cat's.
"Anyway, you're probably right, if you've got a case of the rogue magics ye should see a priest about it an' get it cleared up." She gives Dougal a wink at the allusion.