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Easing herself inconspicuously into the crowd, Eglantine listens to what is being said, trying to pick up clues and see if any of it is relevant to Froderick's problems.
Out of the corner of her eye, she notices Elias and his cat disappear towards the pond and promises herself that she'll be joining them as soon as she's seen what's going on in the pub.
Easing herself inconspicuously into the crowd, Eglantine listens to what is being said, trying to pick up clues and see if any of it is relevant to Froderick's problems.
Elias and the big cat move up the path to the woods toward the mill.
Eglantine is first to enter the tavern, with the others close behind.
Several satyrs are in the room, swilling every drink and eating every scrap of food they can find. There is an enormous bear with an astounding black, red, and golden pelt standing in front, talking to the satyrs, seemingly explainin this is a Bad Idea.
When Eglantine enters and curtsies, the satyrs freeze, but the bear turns around. "Hello, Miss, you shouldn't be here." it says in a very deep voice.
MAP - also linked from my profile.
Catriana enters the tavern with a smile on her face. Addressing the satyrs and bears, she ignores the mess in the room : "Hail, Friends. What brings you all to this fine establishment ?". During her entrance, she strums her harp to try to relax the situation a bit.
Catriana enters the tavern with a smile on her face. Addressing the satyrs and bears, she ignores the mess in the room : "Hail, Friends. What brings you all to this fine establishment ?". During her entrance, she strums her harp to try to relax the situation a bit.
The satyrs look to one another, then the nearest one answers, "The drink! Want some?" He holds out, somewhat unsteadily, a mug of what is probably ale.
"Of course friend ! Thank you for your most kindly offer". Lafiel takes the mug from the satyr and drinks a bit. "Where have you good travelers come from, and where are you headed ?" She asks the satyrs, while still playing some simple tunes on her harp.
"We're headed right here -- here's where the ale is!" He answers, to hoots and cheers from his companions. "Say . . ." he adds, leering at Catriana, "You're almost one of us. Why don't you drink that and join us for more?" He sniggers , clearly half in the bottle already. The bear just shakes its huge head.
"A private party? Then of course we won't intrude. My apologies... although, perhaps a little entertainment would be in order?"
Eglantine rolls up her sleeves to show there's nothing hidden up them, pulls three soft square scarves from the top of her boots and begins to juggle. She smiles at the assembled company.
"Scarves are easy of course, but they look pretty. This is my trade, I never miss an opportunity to hone my skills with a new audience."
Bren's eyes go wide with astonishment. He doesn't know what to make of the surreal scene. When Catriana and Eglantine speak he quickly realizes the wisdom of their approach. He exits the tavern and confronts the villagers.
"Hey, nothing to see here! Just a private party going on. We travel their woods and chop their trees. Why can't they come and drink our ale? Go home!"
Eglantine:
Moving swiftly to the bar as she juggles, Eglantine continues her patter.
"What do I see? I see fine brandy, fine liqueurs, I see juices of all sorts, I see ... do I see pork scratchings?"
As she names the items she picks them up and starts throwing them deftly to the satyrs.
Finally she does an elegant handspring to the top of the bar. "You know, it's a beautiful day. What on earth are you doing inside? You could take these entirely delightful, wholesome and worthwhile substances and go and picnic in the woods"
Springing upright again, she juggles bottles of champagne and calls to Catriana "Dear friend, some music if you please to help our good friends celebrate their good fortune and to dance them on their way. See sirs? Your very presence inspires me to new heights of performance - champagne anyone?"
"Your very presence inspires me to new heights of performance - champagne anyone?"
EDIT:
"Ah - let me not mislead you! Not champagne at all! Cider of a sparkling and frothy vintage. So much better!"
If she thinks she can get away with it, she'll palm her dagger during all these shenanigans in case she needs to make a run for it to get Catriana out of there in a hurry.
Elias and Scathach:
The mill has an enormous wooden wheel in the millrace, though the black and muddy wheel is not turning. The millhouse itself has a slate roof, and shuttered windows. Its exterior walls are made of large limestone blocks and a few pale yellow bricks.
A rickety set of wooden stairs leads up to an iron-studded door of black walnut (locked, DC 25 Thievery). There are no windows at the half-cellar level, arrow loops at the main floor, and shuttered windows at the top.
Catriana answers : "Of course, some music for these fine friends !" and starts playing her harp in a fast-paced simple tune. Moving back to the entrance, Catriana calls the satyrs the the bear to follow her, in Elvish: "Come, my friends, let us go picnic outside in the forest, where satyrs and bears and elves belong !".
If Catriana feels they would follow her, she leads them outside.
If they would lead the way theirselves, she'll follow.
If they don't want to leave yet, Catriana will stay next to the entrance.