"Ah, little one." he says with a genuine smile. "Your fare for the evening sounds perfect." His stomach gives an audible rumble at that. He pats it gently. "I have a formidable hunger as you may gather." he adds with a slightly apologetic look. He slings his pack under the nearest unoccupied table and fishes in his belt pouch for some coins. "Two bowls of your stew, bread for two, and a mug of beer. Something dark if you please." When the child departs with his coin and his order, Japheeth settles gingerly on a chair and watches the performance of the Bard commence. His face takes on a beatific expression at the sound of the Lute, and he rubs his belly abstently.
"I am Miranda. Pleased to meet you, Tik-Tik. If you think it needs additional spices, you can add some, but bear in mind our limited stock, due to space, and the fact that not all of our customers care for strong fare."
Japheeth has his drink brought out to him, a dark gnomish brew, while Tina and Filios are brought drinks and refills throughout the performance promptly by the servers. Filios notices a significant increase in service capability from the last time he was here; they have clearly been getting lots of practice.
"Well I'll be careful. I'll even help you restock if you want. Now, off to fun!" The petite dragon says excitedly. He flits around the room quickly, carefully alternating between adding spices, mixing, and tasting tiny amounts of stew from a bowl. After a while, he holds holds the mixing spoon up like a sword raised in victory.
"It is done!" While the stew doesn't seem to have changed flavors at all, it now has a nice aftertaste.
Miranda chuckles quietly as she watches the little dragon flit about. When she comes over to try the finished product, she approves. "I can see that you and Boomer will get along just fine. How about we deliver it to the tent for Marik to serve, and we can collect Boomer to start working on some kind of dessert."
"I don't think I'll be much help delivering the stew. I might be able to serve drinks if I can fashion some sort of tray I can carry while flying... I can go get Boomer if you want though. He said we should get together and share recipes."
"That would be fine, dear. You might also let your friend know that her pot is ready to be picked up."
Nodding energetically, Tik-Tik flies out of the kitchen and soars above the crowd on his way back to Tina.
"TinaTinaTina!" Tik-Tik exclaims when he lands. "Guess what? I helped make the stew better! There was this nice halfling lady name Miranda and she let me put spices in the stew and said I could help them restock and maybe even fly around and serve drinks! Oh, and if the pot you dropped off was yours Miranda said the stew in it was all gone and you can go get it! I've got to go find Boomer now so we can work on dessert! Bye!"
Snapping his wings open, the pseudodragon jumps back into the air and speeds off, searching all over for Boomer.
Tik-Tik gets quite a few looks as he weaves between the taller members of the crowd and the top of the tent. Spotting Boomer is fairly easy to do, though getting him to stop both moving and talking long enough to give him the message proves to be a bit more of a challenge.
"That's good to hear, I'll pick up the pot when I leave."
Tina turns to Filios
"So what have you been doing lately?"
::BOOMER!:: Tik-Tik thinks to the evasive caravan owner. ::Miranda said it's time to work on some sort of dessert and that I could help!::
The gnome looks around for a second, puzzled, before spotting the tiny dragon flying up above. He finishes up his current conversation before disappearing through the back flap.
Quickly returning to the kitchen, Tik-Tik apologizes as soon as he sees Boomer.
"Sorry about thinking at you like that. I don't usually do it a lot, but you kept moving! How is someone with just two legs faster than someone with wings?"
"I can still help though, right?"
Miranda laughs at Tik-Tik's comment. "Boomer is just like that, dear. He has almost as much energy as you do."
Boomer just laughs. "Don't worry about it, I live for new and novel experiences and tales, and its a lot more comfortable than being picked up and carried out of the tent like Marik has a tendency to do. You promise to provide plenty of that, and from what you were saying earlier, recipes as well. Speaking of which, I don't suppose you have any good dessert recipes. That's one area that my knowledge is less than what I would care for it to be, and one can only make variations of the same recipe so often."
"My father used to say that all recipes were just variations of the first cooked meal. I do have one recipe I've been going over in my mind that might work though. Haven't written it down yet, but it should work... It started out as a type of sweet sauce you let dry on bread." Tik-Tik explains. "It's pretty simple (the bread served with the stew will work) but I don't know how it will taste. I haven't been in a town for a while, so I can't get my own."
"It will definitely be a new experience. Here's what I've got so far..." Tik-Tik says with a gleam in his eye as he looks at Boomer and explains the recipe.
Ahhh, Tina my dear, simply enjoying life on the road whilst I prepare myself for a return to the big city. Absalom and all of her splendors calls to me. I am road weary, but none the leass for wear. I truly enjoyed my travels and my prowess as a scout has paid off more times than not. How long do you plan on hanging on with the caravan...have you ever been to Absalom?
"I have never been to Absalom. As for the caravan, since I was let go. I'll let fate guide me to it needs a hand."
"That recipe seems plausible. Needs some refinement, but thats what the customers are for." Boomer proceeds to start work on a couple of variations to Tik-Tik's recipe to try to figure out the best way to finish it off.
"What is Absalom like, is it a large city or just a city and what kind of equipment can you find their?" Tina asks with a slight smile.
I do not lie when I tell you that you can find anything that your heart desires in Absalom. It is the largest of cities in all of Korvosa, but i do not suggest that you venture there alone on your first visit. I would be happy to act as your escort...
Filios smiles broadly as he orders anothe Elven Gold.
"That is a kind offer, but I feel fate pulling me to the North of Absalom. If Absalom were having a tournament that might tempt me into making a stop there."As Tina's last sentence ends with a smile.
One of Marik's brothers wanders by the table that Filios is at, and stops for a second, giving Filios a hard look, before shaking his head and continuing back to his own table to continue his game.
Filios smiles to himself about the passing notice of one of the Half-Orcs he bested on his previous trip to Boomers.
Tina, what pulls you to the wasteland North of Absalom? I assume that you mean on the island itself. That is nothing but an ancient battleground, so I understand, having never been there myself.
Tina puts her right index finger to her chin as she speaks."What pulls me northward could be fate or women's intuition for I don't know the answer. For north of Absalom is Andoran, Taldor, The River Kingdoms, Brevoy, Ustalav, and even The Worldwound and I don't know which one fate will pull me to. I have only heard that Absalom is an Island country that's considered "City at the Center of the World" but that can be both true and false."
Ohhhhh...you mean that far north. Well, I was born and raised in the Kyonin Forest to the north of the island and Andoran.
"Ah the forests, I have traveled through the DarkMoon Vale once and the area is not bad."
"That recipe seems plausible. Needs some refinement, but thats what the customers are for." Boomer proceeds to start work on a couple of variations to Tik-Tik's recipe to try to figure out the best way to finish it off.
When there is finally a variation Tik-Tik and Boomer can agree to, Tik-Tik gets to work actually making it. He even starts humming some old elven song as he flits around the kitchen.
"Okay, the bread should be ready in a minute or two. Do you think they'll like it?" Tik-Tik asks Boomer and Miranda, using his tail to point toward the tavern area.
"They're traveling. They will like anything that isn't trail rations." Miranda laughs at the dragon's nervousness. "Don't worry, it'll be fine. I have yet to see Boomer cook something that hasn't been accepted."
Inside the tent, Marik's brothers, along with a great many caravan guards disappear outside. Marik follows shortly thereafter, leaving the halfling father in charge of the bar. You start to hear grunts and loud thuds from outside as a wrestling tournament is started.
"Sound like a fight is going on, but tik tik ask me to guard his stuff."
"They're traveling. They will like anything that isn't trail rations." Miranda laughs at the dragon's nervousness. "Don't worry, it'll be fine. I have yet to see Boomer cook something that hasn't been accepted."
"But I don't want them to like it just because it isn't trail rations! What good does that do me if I want to know if they like it?" Tik-Tik asks, wings drooping slightly. "It seems very depressing."
Probably just a little friendly hand-to-hand combat amongst the Half-Orcs and some challengers. I once partook, to the Half-Orcs' dismay...
Tina gains an excited look on her "So it's a tournament of some sort, and can anybody join in?"
"Don't worry, my friend, you'll be able to tell easily enough. And even if they only eat it because it's not trail rations, you'll have learned what doesn't work while still getting at least a few coin out of it and, even better, the bad product will be have disposed of itself naturally with no effort on your part." Boomer laughs as he picks a tray. "I do believe that we are ready to go and see how well it does."
I certainly had no problem enticing them on my last visit, but be wary, they are great brawlers. Let's go and see what's up, shall we? Can you call the dragon back so you no longer have to watch its stuff?
"Lets find out if he is in ear shot? Hey Tik-Tik can you come over here?"
"I guess you're right, Boomer, I might as well see if it's any good. It's been a while since I've tried a new recipe, and I can't go back to my usual tasters, so I'm probably worried over nothing..." Tik-Tik says as he flies out of the kitchen with the gnome just in time to here Tina call for him. He wings over quickly.
"Hey, Tina! Hey, Filios! Boomer and I are just about to see if one of my untried recipes is any good. Would you try it?"
Tina politely replies "I would not mind trying it, but a fight is going on outside, and I would like to observe it and maybe even join it to test my skills. So I my not be able to watch your stuff."
"We could find a place to secure that somewhere in back." Miranda says as she overhears the conversation.
"Thank you, Miranda, I'd like that. Just make sure it's safe, okay?"
"Oh, I'm sorry, I haven't introduced you! Miranda, this is Tina. She's the one that made the stew that was dropped off. Tina, this is Miranda, she's the one that let me add to the other pot of stew."
"Pleasure to meet you, Miranda."
Filios stands and beckons for Tina and Tik-Tik to follow. A huge smile creases his face.
Come, let us see what goes on at the fisticuffs!
Tina follows Filios with an excited look in her eyes.
Miranda summons one of the children over to take Tik-Tik's stuff back to the caravan. "Excellent stew, dear. And if Tik-Tik hasn't told you, your pot is already empty."
Outside, there are about a dozen caravan guards and the half orc twins warming up for a tournament style contest being setup by Marik. "Have you come to try your hand at beating my brothers again? I'll warn you, they've had some practice since the last time you saw them."
Ha, ha, ha Marik...I too have had my share of practice since we last met, but I'll not press my luck. I believe that Tina here may indeed be interested though...
With one last look at the tavern goers, Tik-Tik follows Filios and Tina on foot, resting his wings. He stares curiously at the half orcs and wonders what the point is.
"It's one on one single elimination unarmed fights til one is knocked out, 1 gp entry fee, winner takes the pot." Marik says as he writes another name down on the chalkboard behind him.
By this time, a good sized crowd has gathered, and Marik cuts the entrants off at 16 to ensure that it can be finished before it gets dark. The cordoned area is large enough for two fights at once, and is split in two for the early rounds, leaving an area about 20 ft by 40 ft to work with.
Tina's first opponent is a burly half orc heavily scarred from head to toe wearing well worn leather armor. "May the best fighter win." He says as the fight starts.