"Say, what is this we're eating?"
"...and oh look, breadsticks, ..."After Madhi (the red-skinned girl) puts down the "breadsticks", the dwarf character brings your meals. At first glance, they sure do look like steaks, but the consistency isn't quite right. The muscle fibers aren't quite there.
"Greetings and welcome to Turby's ... and from the looks on your faces, to Sigil as well. Haven't seen primers here in quite a while. And I'll just bet that you've got some good stories to tell. So tell Turby a bit of juicy info... what brings you to Sigil?"
"Don't know. Was taking a bath this morning and poof right in the middle of a battle with all my gear on and I guess that's what happened to the others too and then we went through a portal and met a guy who mixed up his words and some colorful creatures tried to kill us and we went through another portal and ended up here and it's the most amazing fascinating place I've ever seen. Hey, what is this?" she asked happily munching on the 'steak'. "Is it mushroom? It tastes like steak but not so I was wondering is all. I love trying exotic new foods."
Pinna tries to kick Elysia under the table, then realizes there's not enough of her under the table to kick. "Nothing," she mutters to Turby. She pecks at the food halfheartedly.
"Say, what is this we're eating?"
"Well the "breadsticks" are flash-fried fhorge skins. The part of the beast worth eating if you asked me. The steaks are my own recipe of Gray Waste Larva steaks. My brother brings them in to me once a week. Don't let that stop you though. There hasn't been a berk yet who's turned his nose up at my steaks..."
They are surprisingly good.
"What manner of food do you eat where you're from?"
"... Was taking a bath this morning and poof right in the middle of a battle ... I guess that's what happened to the others too ..."
"Well that is interesting. You were all taking a bath and then found yourselves in the middle of a battle. Well it looks like things turned out for you all right."
"I wasn't taking a bath. I was departing from a place I no longer wanted to be. I guess Mistress Luck guided me here...well, after fighting some snake men that Gimp Draconis could speak to, and some dragon creatures that...hmmm, he could also speak with them."
"Say, what is this we're eating?""Well the "breadsticks" are flash-fried fhorge skins. The part of the beast worth eating if you asked me. The steaks are my own recipe of Gray Waste Larva steaks. My brother brings them in to me once a week. Don't let that stop you though. There hasn't been a berk yet who's turned his nose up at my steaks..."
They are surprisingly good.
"What manner of food do you eat where you're from?"
"Wow! That's amazing! And it all tastes so delicious. I'm so glad we came here to eat. I love trying new things and I wasn't sure if this would be a new things kinda place or not but it is and it's really great. I would never have expected larva to taste so good and I don't know what a fhorge is but I certainly liked eating it. You're a really good cook. It must be nice cooking delicious food all the time and having interesting people come to you. I thought about trying that once, but I don't do so well staying in one place to long. I don't mean to cause trouble, but it seems to follow me anyways wherever I go and then people get mad so it's better to just keep moving. Moooving," she giggled. "Cause moo is the sound that cows make and you asked us what kind of food we usually eat and cow is definitely one of the answers."
Mooooo?
"You seem surprised to see... "primers". Are we that rare here? Do you know of others in the city?"
"Wow! That's amazing! And it all tastes so delicious. I'm so glad we came here to eat. I love trying new things and I wasn't sure if this would be a new things kinda place or not but it is and it's really great. I would never have expected larva to taste so good and I don't know what a fhorge is but I certainly liked eating it. You're a really good cook. It must be nice cooking delicious food all the time and having interesting people come to you. I thought about trying that once, but I don't do so well staying in one place to long. I don't mean to cause trouble, but it seems to follow me anyways wherever I go and then people get mad so it's better to just keep moving. Moooving," she giggled. "Cause moo is the sound that cows make and you asked us what kind of food we usually eat and cow is definitely one of the answers."
He's just trying to take all this in and smiling. While the truth is that he hears...
"Wow ... it ... came ... trying ... great ... larva ... certainly ... cooking ... interesting ... trouble ... mad ... cow."
"I wasn't taking a bath. I was departing from a place I no longer wanted to be. I guess Mistress Luck guided me here...well, after fighting some snake men that Gimp Draconis could speak to, and some dragon creatures that...hmmm, he could also speak with them."
"Right," Pinna grumps in response. "Is what Pinna has been saying."
Vassago leaned back in his chair and spoke up. I suppose I have a tale I can share with you... He coughed to clear his throat.
Once there was an old crone who went out in the forest to dig up some roots to cook for dinner. She spotted something odd sticking out of the leaves and dug around until she uncovered a giant hairy toe. There was some good meat on that toe which she thought would make a real tasty meal, so the old crone put it in her pocket and returned home.
When she got back to her hut, the old crone boiled up a kettle-full of hairy toe soup, which she consumed for dinner that night. She then turned to bed that evening with a full stomach and a wide smile as it was the best meal she had in weeks.
During the middle of the night, a blustery wind began rustling within the trees surrounding the old crone's hut. An ominous dark cloud crept over the moon and from the forest a hollow voice rumbled: "Hairy toe! Hairy toe! I want my hairy toe!" Inside the hut, the old crone stirred uneasily in her bed and nervously pulled the covers up over her pointed ears.
From the forest there came a stomping noise as the wind blew furiously at the treetops. At the edge of the forest, a hollow voice said: "Hairy toe! Hairy toe! I want my hairy toe!" Inside the hut, the old crone shuddered and turned over in her restless sleep.
A stomping sound came from the path through the garden outside the hut. If there were any stirring creatures, they shivered in their burrows as a hollow voice bellowed: "Hairy toe! Hairy toe! I want my hairy toe!" Inside the hut, the old crone snapped awake. Her whole body shook with fear as she listened to the angry howling. Springing out of bed, she ran to the door and barred it. Once the hut was secure, she lay back down to sleep once more.
Without warning, the door of the hut burst open with a bang, snapping the bar in two and sending it flying into the corners of the room. Then came the stomping noise of giant feet walking toward her. Peering out from under the covers, the old crone saw a massive figure filling her doorway. It said: "Hairy toe! Hairy toe! I want my hairy toe!"
The old crone bolted upright in terror and screamed: "I ATE your hairy toe!"
"Yes, you did," the giant said very gently as it advanced toward her.
No one ever saw the old crone again. The only clue to her disappearance was a giant footprint someone found pressed deep into the loose soil beside the hut. The footprint was missing the left big toe.
So...the hint of mushroom you're tasting, little one...
A glint twinkled in his eye.
So, Turby, what's the specialty today? I'm famished!
"Right," Pinna grumps in response. "Is what Pinna has been saying.""I wasn't taking a bath. I was departing from a place I no longer wanted to be. I guess Mistress Luck guided me here...well, after fighting some snake men that Gimp Draconis could speak to, and some dragon creatures that...hmmm, he could also speak with them."
<Leans in toward Pinna>
"What do you think it means?"
"Pffft. I know that story. Everyone knows that story. It's one of the lamest scary stories ever told," she said, wrinkling her nose as she smiled. "I wonder how long it will take him to get that?" she whispered to Lanwin. "I don't think humor of any kind is really his thing..."
<Leans in toward Pinna>
"What do you think it means?"
Pinna whispers back, "Pinna wonders. Forked tongue, snake men. Speaks language. Knows magic. Snake-men knew magic. Pinna thinks No-Name might know something."
"Pffft. I know that story. Everyone knows that story. It's one of the lamest scary stories ever told," she said, wrinkling her nose as she smiled. "I wonder how long it will take him to get that?" she whispered to Lanwin. "I don't think humor of any kind is really his thing..."
Lanwin whispers back, "Yeah I know he... Wait, I don't get it either."
He heard the words Gimp Draconis and humor of any kind is really his thing and promptly guided the pair of mage hands to pick up each a flash-fried fhorge skins and aimed them directly into E's and Elysia's open mouths.
Dwarven spirits? Or fermented hagsblut? What does a patron do for a drink?
He heard the words Gimp Draconis and humor of any kind is really his thing and promptly guided the pair of mage hands to pick up each a flash-fried fhorge skins and aimed them directly into E's and Elysia's open mouths.
Dwarven spirits? Or fermented hagsblut? What does a patron do for a drink?
"I got the best fire beer in the market ward. If that's not your thing, I've got some blood wine, some astral ale, and a little bit of heavenly spirits -- if that's more to your liking."
"Heavenly spirits?" Lanwin perks up.
Lanwin whispers back, "Yeah I know he... Wait, I don't get it either."
"Pffft. I know that story. Everyone knows that story. It's one of the lamest scary stories ever told," she said, wrinkling her nose as she smiled. "I wonder how long it will take him to get that?" she whispered to Lanwin. "I don't think humor of any kind is really his thing..."
<Grins broadly>
"Good one, Elysia!"
Pinna whispers back, "Pinna wonders. Forked tongue, snake men. Speaks language. Knows magic. Snake-men knew magic. Pinna thinks No-Name might know something."<Leans in toward Pinna>
"What do you think it means?"
"We should find out what he knows. But how?"
"We should find out what he knows. But how?"
"He talks much, says little." She ponders a moment, then continues the whisper. "Like many at this table. Pinna will try."
She looks at Vassago. "Hey, no-name. What you know about this."
Heavenly spirits? Sounds like basilisk brew with a hint of valerian root extract, if my guess is correct. If so, make that <holds up three fingers> for the little ones. A pair of fire beer for myself and Vortic Sword-Wielder here. And as for her... <he points toward Pinna> ...she looks a bit sullen and peckish with the current food offerings. Perhaps you have something off-the-menu that would be more to her palate?
He then begins to move the mage hands toward his cloak to pull back his hood....
...but halts as Pinna spoke up.
Know about what?
"Why we're here. How you knew what to say to the snake people and the dragon things. You seem to know more about what's happening than you're letting on."
"You helped with snake-men. But maybe they were losing and you did not want them to talk. Maybe you turned on friends because they failed."
Luck..., he hissed. Pure luck. To which I'm certain you're quite familiar with, little one. Denizens with scaly skin commonly speak Draconic. Draconic is also a language that must be learned by the most adept of mages if they wish to harness their power and unfold the mysteries of the arcane. Or if you dealt in skirmishes with such creatures with some frequency as did Vortic Sword-Wielder, you eventually hear the tongue spoken enough to speak it for yourself. Maybe if I'm around you long enough, perhaps I'll even have a stone's chance in translating half the words you utter. But the priest there... <he shrugs to Lanwin> he is of your kind and even he doesn't comprehend half the things you say. Should we now cast suspicion toward you, little one? Hm?
He turned to face the skeptical tengu and continued. And to quell the little one's accusatory tones, did you omit to tell him that you could comprehend what the dragon things were saying? Do not think for one moment that I did not recognize a look of understanding when they were gibbering out their hysterics. They have wings. You have wings. Should we leap to conclusions, be damned?
He leans back in his chair. Or are we being the least bit absurd? Besides, little one. I held the compass but mere moments. You were the one that directed us here. Perhaps we should be questioning you? Maybe all of this is but an elaborate ruse on your behalf? He pauses for a moment. But even I would quickly dismiss that idea. Ha-HA! Deviousness is not in your race's nature.
It's all about luck.
He ponders for a moment as to whether to share more.
But I wouldn't want to consider it luck that the snake-people were attempting to capture me when they could not find who they were originally coming for. They never did say who it was they were after...other than that I was able to surmise it was an eladrin to fulfill some sort of half-cooked prophecy or something...
...stuff...
"Yep. You berks will fit in just fine around here. So how are the steaks? Where you heading next? Did you need some rooms? Who's picking up the tab?"
Those steaks goes down great with my glass of .... oh, it seems we still don't have anything to drink. Vassago replied icily. Otherwise, there won't seem to be much of a tab to fret about. He looks upwards to the dwarf with a 'the drinks?' gaze.
Vortic blunders into the conversation, "Actually, I studied the language. Best to know what you're up against when clearing out a mine filled with hissers. I picked up the pidgin from them originally, but have refined it after some time. Besides, it helps to speak the language. Chessenta is the home Tchazzar, after all."
"I also think Vassago here is in over his head." Vortic grins at him, "He is all tooth and mind. If he knew something were up, he'd have ditched us when we got to Sigil. Take that defense of your character for what it's worth, Thayan." Vortic chuckles.
He tosses back a glass of whatever is at the table, "You know what bothers me? How eclectic we are? We're discussing what it is that separates us, but something drew us there. No way it was random. Is there something that connects us?"
Not devious, he says. Sure, I'm not, but I've seen plenty of deviosusness from my kind.
"Pinna doesn't have wings. She told me so herself. Besides, she's a bird, uh, woman, not a dragon or snake woman. I wouldn't be surprised if you had scales underneath that cloak. Hmph."
"They were trying to capture you, Man with No name? How do you know this? Why anyone want you? Who are you?" Pinna cocks her head at Vortic. "Not much in common that Pinna can see." She waves a claw at Turby. "Need one big room if possible. Pinna can pay... has 'jink?'"
"They were trying to capture you, Man with No name? How do you know this? Why anyone want you? Who are you?" Pinna cocks her head at Vortic. "Not much in common that Pinna can see."
"Yeah, me neither." Vortic looks back at Pinna.
"I don't think they were there for our mysterious friend. I think they were there for this." Vortic produces the sword, "Alaric, whoever he is, has managed to trap himself within it seems."
Those steaks goes down great with my glass of .... oh, it seems we still don't have anything to drink.
Madhi comes by and serves your drinks and whispers something in Turby's ear. He then gets up... "If you'll excuse me, I have other matters that need attending. If you would like anything more, Madhi will take good care of you." And he goes behind the counter.
"Three of us *are* halflings. That's half our group. Half...hmm....."
Pinna lowers her voice and glances around. "Sword tells you what happened? Can you tell us? Should we be more private to hear?"
"They were trying to capture you, Man with No name? How do you know this? Why anyone want you? Who are you?" Pinna cocks her head at Vortic. "Not much in common that Pinna can see.""Yeah, me neither." Vortic looks back at Pinna.
"I don't think they were there for our mysterious friend. I think they were there for this." Vortic produces the sword, "Alaric, whoever he is, has managed to trap himself within it seems."
"There's someone inside your sword? Maybe he needs a door. Or a portal!"
<Fishes compass out of pack>
Pinna lowers her voice and glances around. "Sword tells you what happened? Can you tell us? Should we be more private to hear?"
"I don't know. He's barely explained anything to me that you don't already know. Ah, right! That bag we retrieved should have his books in them." Vortic says in a whisper, "He said something about a transference spell, then he said something about stealing a machine from Mechanus to prevent the planes from becoming more lawful... don't know why anyone would want to prevent that frankly... but that a member of his order of "planars" stole it." He scratches his chin, "And that his order is now being hunted down for their blood, which could power the machine."
He snarls, "It's so much so fast, hard to keep track of what is going on."
Thank you. He takes a swig and feels the burn. He lets out a single cough. Oh my! This is good. He clears his throat.
My mother says I'm a great catch! Vassago replied sarcastically in response to Pinna's remark. But alas, I was merely a consolation prize to whom they were really after. This eladrin they were speaking about; I believe he was their prime target. I'm guessing it was his domicile we all ended up at with no rhyme nor reason as to why ... or how.
Who am I? Vortic Sword-Wielder speaks truth. I am of Thayan origin. And we do not hold dear in our sight the Yuan-Ti; which were those snake-people we fought. If I had my say with them, we'd wipe them out. He hisses, all of them.
He looks askew at Pinna.
He squints to see if he senses comprehension from Pinna understanding what he's saying to her.
What would the little one think if you are fluent in diabolism? Perhaps Vortic Sword-Wielder is right after all. We have more in common than you first thought; you and I.
He smirks. Then finally replies to E.
Feathers, actually. You know the saying? Birds of a feather, flock together?
Pinna covers the 'compass' with her claw. "Put it away," she hisses. "Too many eyes maybe should not see." Turning to Vortic, she clucks sympathetically. "Vortic needs more... ale? Whatever is in glass. Sorry, Vortic. Very fast for all of us. Hope nobody missing something important." She chuckles. "Anything more important than fixing reality?"
Lanwin's demeanor turns serious. "I just want to know why we're here. What force has brought us here? And is it working for good, or ill? This place - this city - makes me wary. I cannot feel the presence of my deity here, and no doubt that will interfere in my ability to channel his will. I do not think this city is a particularly safe place."
Vassago took the time to digest what Vortic shared with the rest of the group.
That explains your constant tantrums with the sword. It also reaffirms what I said about not being the original target. But I don't see if they were to take me in his stead how my blood would ... hmmmm.
He drinks another gulp of fire beer. And coughs. This is REALLY GOOD! Madhi? Another.
...to prevent the planes from becoming more lawful... don't know why anyone would want to prevent that frankly...
Not just "more" lawful. Absolute lawful -- nothing else. Not room for a single chaotic, good or evil thought. I'm an outcast in my normal society -- but hopefully you'll be able to enjoy some of the parties held on Arborea and see for yourself how at least some chaos is a good thing.
He adds one quick comment, I believe Alaric is the eladrin in question. Whatever they are...?
Lanwin's demeanor turns serious. "I just want to know why we're here. What force has brought us here? And is it working for good, or ill? This place - this city - makes me wary. I cannot feel the presence of my deity here, and no doubt that will interfere in my ability to channel his will. I do not think this city is a particularly safe place."
"Agreed, I've heard nasty things in my studies. You're in luck, I've spent a good deal of time studying things from beyond. I've fought such things in the past, usually summoned by mage. I wish my studies were more rigorous, though." He continues scratching his chin, "What do you know of this place, Lanwin?"
Madhi? Another.
Brings another and anyone else that need some refills.
Looks at Pinna -- "Dear, do you have any special needs that we might be able to help take care of?"
"What do you know of this place, Lanwin?"
"Not much of anything. But just look around you..."
...to prevent the planes from becoming more lawful... don't know why anyone would want to prevent that frankly...** spoiler omitted **
"I thought you meant it was only a skewing? You mean to tell me that it will eradicate good and evil too?" Vortic refills his mug and takes another drink, "Okay, so why us? The Gods are intervening? Why don't they do something?"
Vortic has a realization, "It's because it's in Sigil! That's why Lanwin can't feel his god, and why they can do nothing." He whispers.
"Water?" Pinna croaks in response. "Any food is fine."
She fixes Vassago with a bright black stare.
"But we are all stuck here together. Have to figure it out."