Stella turns watching the younger boy go running in with a shout and jingle of pockets.
Looking at Unbolath she smiled warmly. His cold demeanor was met by her warm one.
Her accent was thick as she spoke.
"I am new in town myself actually. So, I am sorry to say I do not know this Drespor. Perhaps we can go inside where it is warm and food is to be had. Also, you may find others that are amiable to being asked questions."
Her halo slowly dimmed as she moved towards the door, carpet bag in hand. "I am Stella Lucem Caelum, and this is my friend Corrine Krystal Deauxme. It is a pleasure to meet you all." Stella deliberately left Oscar off of her name.
Bells and Whistles Tavern
A young man stands up from the back corner and starts walking towards your table. There's a long firearm over his shoulder and a dagger at his waste. While he's young he has weathered skin like he's spent a lot of time in the sun. He pulls out a chair, nods to Dolga and sits down.
"My name is Mosby. John Mosby. I'm a hunter in these parts. I know Khonnir and intend to go looking for him and there is safety in numbers. What do you say we look for him together? We split the reward equally if we find him."
He then turns to the bar keep and raises a finger and a drink is brought to him.
Unbolath nods at Stella. "Very well. Sustenance is prudent. I am Unbolath." Unbolath notes the halo around her head, and speaks in Celestial "You have the blood of the upper planes." He stated it more as a fact or comment and less as an open ended question, revealing Unbolath's uncanny knack for awkward conversations. With barely a pause for a reply, he steps toward the doorway to enter the tavern. He stops in the doorway scrutinizing every person the tavern before stepping inside.
Azariah whistled through her teeth. "I know Khonnir," she said as she mulled the idea over. "I'd heard a rumour he'd been gone longer than usual, but...missing? I wouldn't have thought it possible. I know I'll be happy to try and help - Khonnir is a good person." Glancing over at Kleora, she added, "We're definitely going to need some extra people to help us, though. I don't think we have much of a chance of doing this alone. Do you know anyone who might want to help?"
Feeling little need to consider Kleora said, "I'm certainly willing, it sounds like a good way to find out more about what's happened to the fire and a way to find a missing person. I've met Khonnir as well, though I haven't seen him for a while now. I've been busy traveling and taking care of business for a while now. As far as knowing anyone who could help, well," Kleora's expression became sheepish, "I usually handle things on my own rather than contract the work. this job sounds like it might need a bit more help."
When John came to their table Kleora looked the man over and then looked at Azriah, "He's got a point, and he seems to be equipped for the job. What do you think?"
Azariah glanced over at John. "You talk sense and you look like you know your way around." Pushing out a seat with one booted foot, the Half-Elf nodded to it. "Take a seat John. I think for this job the more the merrier."
Bells and Whistles Tavern
John smiles at the ladies, "I'm glad my new companions have such good sense. My expertise lies with my musket here and tracking down creatures and I've been known to open a lock or two when needed. How about you ladies? What are your area's of expertise?"
Stella, literally brightened as he spoke Celestial. Her Halo once again illuminating as she returned in Celestial.
Stella would wait politely while Unbolath entered and would nod to Portia. "Nice to meet you too. Are you also with this gentleman?"
Once Unbolath entered she would smile and steps in looking around with a bright smile. Reaching up she tucked her hair behind an ear and headed for the barkeep. Her boots making a nice sound as she walked.
"Greetings, I was wondering what rooms you have available if at all?"
"A little bit of everything," Azariah replied, making a face. "I'm a Warpriest of Svorzic, so I can use a weapon or cast spells equally well. Which means I'm not as good with them as someone totally dedicated to there use, but I'm usually useful."
"I dabble in technology, fascinating stuff really, but otherwise I serve as a mediator specializing in trade negotiations. As for other skills, well, I have some innate talent in magic and am a passable shot with a crossbow."
A dagger sails through the air and lands in an old wanted poster in a wall near the conversation. "I heard something about blade specialist. That would be me if you'll have me. I didn't catch the details, especially with this collar freaking out at the other language you were using, but it sounds like an adventure!" Felicia saunters over, notably more confident and less distracted than she was outside. "Who knows, maybe I can use the prize money to find someone to reboot this poor-" Her collar emits a loud beep, refusing to translate the obscenity with which she was referring to the strange looking sword on her hip.
Azariah tensed as the dagger flew into the poster. She'd had people throw things at her in the past, but never knives. It took a moment for her to realize that it wasn't some strange attack but a woman offering her services while they explored the depths beneath Torch. "Uh...right. Well, you certainly have the blade skills we're looking for." Azariah shook her head slightly, wondering when this had become an interview. "I look forward to seeing what we can do. Although I'm curious about your sword and collar..."
"Ancient relics from a faraway and long forgotten world." She chuckles at the inevitable awkward pause as she waxed poetic for a moment. "Long story short, I am from a place where there are great metal ruins of an advanced people, from which these were scavenged. My memory is really fuzzy, but as best I can tell, this was on another entire world. I woke up in a metal tube in the desert a few weeks ago, now this translator is on the fritz and my poor sword won't even start up." She draws her falcata, careful to be less threatening than before, and shows it to the group. It is a matte black throughout, and is also laid with circuitry about the blade and a few unintelligible runes about the crosshilt.
The feline girl's tail swishes around as she speaks, forcing the balding man behind her to grumpily move to another seat. She is oblivious to this.
Outside Bing’s Bells and Whistles…
I have no idea what shape to take, Calliope whispers to Portia.
I hope the people here don’t get excited by the form I have now.
Then as Unbolath speaks to some strangers on the street, and Ritmush heads into the small tavern, Portia sees Issabelle land on the roof, and settle down into a dark corner of the eves, and Calliope notices at least two strange looking humans, and then smiles toward Portia and says, Well, I guess I don’t have much to worry about after all, right?
Unbolath takes in the pub and looks at each person, first the farmers and then the miners, then the barkeep and finally the group of people in the corner. He wasn't sure what ordinary for the locale was, but they didn't fit the farmer/miner mold and while he had seen far far stranger things in his travels of the planes, they were outstanding for this place, in particular because he spotted some of the artifact style items that the agents had been tracking and the Drespor had been smuggling. It was the only lead he had so far, so he strode over to the table of women.
With all the grace and politeness of a piece of stale bread, he stepped to the table. "I am Unbolath, I am looking for a dwarf named Karl Drespor. Are any of you familiar with him, the area, or artifact trade?"
He stood there motionless waiting for a reply as if he could stand there like a statue for eternity. His solid black eyes revealed no emotion and it was difficult to determine where he was looking, he always seemed to be looking at you no matter what.
Azariah considered for a moment before answering.
Kleora considered Felicia, her skill and unique nature, and decided, "Well, I don't see how having her along could hurt." She considered the problem that Felicia seemed to have with her collar and said, "I'd be willing to take a look at it, I might be able to do something to fix it. No promises though."
Stella smiled warmly to Bing. "Thank you very much. Is it possible to get some mulled wine? Something simple and warm?" She calmly waited and if he got her some she would hand him the coins he asked for before looking to Oscar.
"In every great story there is always a collection of individuals that seem to stand out. Besides that being us, I think over where the knife was thrown is a good start. Shall we go ask what they are up to?'
Grinning and picking up her cup she would head towards the table studying each at the table. Shakespeare on her shoulder batted at her wings as they fluttered slightly in excitement.
Calculated risk but she knew she needed to make it. Once at the table she would smile.
"Excuse me, I am new in town and was wondering what is going on that such a group of lovely ladies and gentlemen would get together here."
(can't get any better than that!)
Unbolath looks at Dolga, his eyes piercing the man, penetrating into his soul.
"You... dwarf.....woman." Unbolath says pointing at Dolga. "Your face tells me you know something." He moves to place himself in her flight path. Attempting to be polite rather than terrify the woman he states plainly. "I need to know where and how Drespor operates here. If you will tell me what you can, you will be avenging the lives of many who met their doom at his command. Please do not flee, because I will find you."
Felicia presses the back of her collar which, after a moment of emitting a glow and a low hum, releases from her neck. She says something unintelligible , flattens her ears at the lack of the strange sensation of modified speech, and simply nodded her gratitude to Kleora.
Felicia starts to speak to Stella, but catches herself. She just stares at the halo instead.
Not knowing much about the man, the half-elf added, "He comes to town now and then with some Dwarves, and vanishes again after a few days. Next time he shows up he has different friends. That, and the fact he's trouble, is pretty much all any of us know." Azariah glanced at the man. "And it sounds like the man you want is missing beneath Torch. Now, if you can act more friendly, we might be able to help you with that...we need people and it sounds like you need a way in."
Looking over at Stella, Azariah smiled slightly wanly. This was not what she had been expecting when she sat down to eat with a text. "Greetings there. I'm Azariah Seriah. We're busy planning an experdiition beneath Torch, to find out why the Torch has gone out and, more importantly, rescue a friend."
To Dolga, "What is significant about Weeping Pond? I am unfamiliar with this area entirely. Why were you hesitant to tell me this information? It seems innocuous enough."
To Azariah, "I am Unbolath, I seek Carl Drespor to answer for a litany of heinous crimes such as kidnapping, slavery, murder, theft, smuggling, likely more. I am unfamiliar with Torch, though I would lend aid to your mission if he is to be found beneath the hill."
Kleora took the offered collar and began to examine it. She looked for a way to access the interior and then began to puzzle out how to open it. She quickly found the access point and began to fiddle around with it. The occasional mmm, or ah-hah could be heard from her as she tinkered and seemed to have some success. She was far too occupied to listen to the discussion about Drespor for the moment.
Stella watched the interaction between Unbolath and Dolga quietly. When Felicia caught her attention she would turn to her and smiles as her halo would slowly dim.
Shakespeare decided he wanted to change perches and would stand and stretch under her white hair. His black fur making him stand out before he jumped to Felicia's shoulders and purred.
Turning then to Azariah, she would frown slightly. "I am a stranger here, but I am also searching for something. I will assist you if you would have me. I may find what I am looking for in helping out your friend who is missing. By the sounds of it, more people need saving. My name is Stella and this is my friend Corrine. Are you the leader of this expedition?"
Ritmush frowns deeply as he hears the horrible news. No Bacon
The young human kicks the floor and looks back up to the shopkeep after sighing. " Alrigh' ah guess ah can wait ah day fer bacon." Ritmush then turns and notices his companion, Unbolath, and immediately walks in that direction. Heedless of what the barkeep might still have to say.
"Hi smooth rock guy, whar'd all these'ns come from?
Wow all sortsa' people ovah here, you know how big this town is? Hardly ever seen crowds like this back in tha' village unless tha' miners all came down at once. Onea' them's even got's there own magik' lantern. Ah'd be jealous if mine didn' have all tha' fancy trimmin's." The human rambles as he rapidly examines each of the new people in the area. He then squints at Fox eared and Cat eared humanoids
Though admittedly Ritmush's squinting is hard to detect with a large part of his face covered by a hefty set of goggles. His hunched over "examining something" stance and rubbing his entirely bald chin as though he had a beard was not though.
"don' spose eithera' you'z ah wher'-weasel?" The human asks in a semi-accusing tone still stroking an imaginary beard as he asks.
"Also what tha' hecks that thing?" Ritmush asks pointing to the collar.
A quite voice speaks in Ritmus’s ear
Ritmush's face squeezes into a perplexed configuration for a few seconds before the human mutters "tha' heckza hurts? she don' look stabbed."
While examining the collar Kleora tinkered with it, her tools probing and prodding the interior of the mechanism like a real professional. Once she had finished with it she closed it back up and handed it back to Felicia and waited for the woman to put it back in place. Once that was accomplished she said, "I can't guarantee that fixed it but I think it may have done the trick. I can work on it some more another time if I failed, it might simply take more time than I have to focus on it just now. Whether it's fixed or not I would like to take a further look at it sometime, I've always had an interest in translation technology."
"This is turning into a right party here. Looks like all of our goals lie in the same place. Why don't we all team up and head under the hill. Everybody helps everybody. We'll stop at Khonnir's place first and talk to his daughter first then the priests so we can get through the water. Wadda say?"
John then moves next to Ritmush and says in a lower voice, "I usually get my bacon at Khonnir's place. It's closed but maybe the lass will cook some up for us. I'm so hungry I could eat a wombat."
Ritmush looks at the tall, to him, man and seems to examine him for a moment before shrugging "Dunno who ya'r buh yer' good in mah book if ah' can get bacon by walkin' wit ya. Mah names Ritmush, wha's yours?"
the scruffy looking human asks giving taller man a gap toothed grin and looking down at his hand for a moment before raising the limb as an afterthought to his greeting.
John looks down at the "man" and takes his hand. "My names Mosby. John Mosby. I can't guarantee bacon as the place is closed while Khonnir is missing, but his lass may make us some since we're going looking for him. Bacon beats the heck outta tofu any day in my book." He then nudges Ritmush as if they were sharing a private joke.
Azariah shook her head. "I don't think I'm really qualified to lead a party such as this. Kleora here took the initiative after we talked a bit. Mostly I've just been trying to work on the logistics of what is going on and how exactly we're going to do this. A lot of people seem interested in helping, which is good - the more of us there are, the safer it will be, and the more skill sets we'll have to meet the challenges below."
Glancing at Ritmush, she added, "No were-weaslers in town, so far as I know. No were-anything, really. I'm pretty sure we can make sure Bacon is in supply. I'm a even a fairly good cook, actually."
Standing, Azariah looked around the now quite crowded table. "Alright, here's how it is. We've been offered a job to go beneath Torch with two goals - the main one is to find a man some of you will know, Khonnir. The second is, if possible, to bring the Torch back to life and keep the town from dying. To this end, some interested parties have put up a reward. Four thousand gold pieces, to be split among us. Even shares. Plus any loot found, also shared evenly. Some of you have other reasons to go below the hill, and that's fine, so long as you understand the job comes first. It's a rescue mission. Everyone still interested, I suggest we meet with Khonnir's daughter, Val, and set up there, buy any equipment we might be missing - including food - and then head out."
To Dolga, "We have come by air most recently from the Fort Horizon area, where Drespor was engaged in artifact smuggling and using slave labor. My companions Portia and Calliope and Ritmush, Ritmush can vouch for our mission. We were tasked by the WEAC to discover what was going on."
To the others, "I will sign on for the mission as it will allow me to learn the area and discover possible clues. Does this town support a magical reagent shop or even engage in trade of magically enchanted items?"
"You do mean in the morning correct? It does look to be awfully late. Most shops and homes were closed up when I passed them by. Also, it has been a very long day for me at least. I know not about the rest of you."
Stella's frown was slight as she looked at everyone around.
'Did I come to a town of night people? Is the culture here to be up during the night? This will be worrisome if so. I believe not since many places were shut in.'
Looking from person to person.
"If we are to head out I should at least get an inn room and store some of my things."
"A night of rest is prudent to recover and prepare magicks, and to obtain what we can throughout the night for provisions. We can arrange a meeting place if some are to go their separate ways for the night."
Inside Bing's Bells and Whistles
Ritmush looks at the man with a quirked brow and a small flash of uncertainty fickers across the young mans face. "Heck'sa 'Tafu' spose'ta be? An ah'm gonna be sad if after yah tell meh theres bacon tha' I gotta wait till mornin' anyways'"
The smaller human seems to perk up the new dwarf womans questioning.
Really hope that those sky wizards didn't hope Rock guy would keep this a secret.
"Speak plain? Oh ah' can do that." The young man comments as he squeezes toward the circle of individuals talking to 'Smooth rock guy'
"Soh' here ah was out in tha' forest wit' mah leader chasin' down some no-bolds. Smooth rock guy 'long wit' ah buncha others were gettin' attacked by tha' no-bolds, they were guardin' a cart fulla' stuff. Then there was some yellin' an confusion, ah furry halflin' smacked meh. She was a Were-weasel ah'm sure, no such thing as'ah "Ratfolk". Tha' nobolds were slaves'ah tha' Deerspoor guy wearin' meh kin." Ritmush bubbles as he pauses for breath returning to his rapid fire speech pattern.
"Lesse' an' then tha' cart turned outt'ah be full ah sky wizards an their sky booty. Thar was a were-cow who turned out ta be really great, some guy in a trench coat workin for ah' Dupree thing who teleported away wit' tha Slave no-bolds an some sword guy. Oh an' a lady with ah tail an' scales. She never did tell meh tha' secret ta growin' em. The bird lady an her tastey bird were there too. Then we beat somemore people up an went ta a big ol' stone box fullah' lizard people. Son's lik they got tricked by ol' Deerspoor as well, so we stole all their prisoners an' found out tha Deerspoor is supposta' beh here. There was a magic bathtub involved. With that ritmush seems to measure where is is and points to the west of torch
"We came from that way ah' think. Wasn't more than ah' day in tha' magic bathtub."
Unbolath nods at Ritmush and then at Dolga, "You couldn't get a plainer explanation than that. As my associate explained, Drespor forced his slaves into a suicidal fight with us, wearing the skins of Ritmush's kin. If you feel we are fabricating a falsehood, his atrocities will be on your conscious. Normally I would be willing to work with the authorities and within the bounds of the law, but given the corruption and ineptitude of the legal authorities of late, I am loath to involve them. Drespor has a lot of resources and wealth and is likely to bribe officials or pay off small fines or drag things through a legal mire. Lives are at stake. I would seek to contact the Technic League of mages. Fort Horizon is to the south and the areas around it are where Drespor obtains his smuggled artifacts. Most of his associates have disappeared mysteriously. It is also known that he uses look a-like doubles. It is a tangled web of deceit and great danger we seek to unravel. I understand if you cannot be bothered or are to afraid to risk yourself by helping. It is a typical response."
In the hurried speech of Ritmush she heard something familiar. It also helped she spoke "teen". Carefully unraveling the speech she would look at him.
"Did you say Dupree? Can you tell me more about that? That name is familiar to me in a form."
Ignoring the dwarf woman as she storms off, Unbolath proceeds to the barkeep area. "Barkeep, I wish to locate the Technic League. I am also interested in arcane supplies, does this town have a merchant for such things?"
Dolga's gaze moves from Ritmush to Unbolath, and then back again, and then she turns to Azariah, Kleora, Stella, Robert, and Felicia.