Myri reaches out and lightly catches Ameiko's hand and pulls her in as well with an apologetic smile. <I think having the bachelorette parties at the same time would be an excellent idea. That way they're not waiting for one another on separate occasions. Um,> she glances from Ameiko to Zaiobe and back again, <better to be together or apart? I don't really think is entirely following a tradition thing, is it?>
<It's normally separate, as it's supposed to represent a last hurrah of unmarried freedom, but no, we are not following tradition precisely,> Zaiobe says. <Maybe they could start the evening separate and join later?>
<Um,> Ameiko says when she has been informed of the plans. <That night is Shae's birthday, they may have plans. And I know they have plans the 30th, Shae mentioned something about that.>
<Ah,> says Zaiobe. <Well ... I think perhaps tonight it is, then.>
<It is time,> Zaiobe informs Liothonae, <For your bachelorette party.>
Myri will do so as well.
Myriana has sold a unit of trade goods for 240 pieces of gold.
|Thank you.| Lio says to the girl. As the group makes its way through the city, Lio is careful to be polite. In the pastry shop, Lio smiles. She loves baked goods. She looks over the pastries carefully, favoring those with tart sour fruit, sweet fruit, or just plain sweet, if fruits aren't in season and aren't available canned. |Would each of you recommend a desert? I'd like to try different things.| Lio asks the group of eager servants. If it is available, she also picks up a loaf of crusty bread. She will get the box(es) of deserts to go. "Do you see anything you like?" She asks you softly, and promptly pays for anything that catches your eye.
Your attendants are happy to make suggestions, and soon you have a small box filled, which will cost a silver piece. Shalelu selects something that has berries on it and sweet cream inside the pastry.
Lio blushes even brighter. "Do you think, they have... an establishment here, that sell... naughty things?" Lio asks you.
"I had," Shalelu replies, "Been planning to keep an eye out for one today."
Lio smiles, her expression polite. you (Shae) can probably tell that Lio is a bit overwhelmed at the gaggle of servants, but doing her best to cope. |Hi. Uhm...may I help you?| Lio asks the blue skinned man with a small smile.
The man smiles back. |I simply wished to welcome you to the city, Seeker of the Brightness,| he replies. |And to tell you that any of the elves or samsarans in this land would be happy to aid you in your quest, if any aid is needed. I am Hamengku.|
Alaric nods in agreement. "We're not even the ones in the biggest danger of losing themselves."
"Oh?" Sandru raises he eyebrows. "Who is?"
"Do you mean Ameiko?"
"No Sama asi. ma teada, et Forest of Spirits on iidne koht, mis jääb Hongal ja Minkai. mets on teada, et kummitab, nii et tee Minkai nimega Spirit Road, seelikud metsa lõunas ja läänes. Lojaalne samurai of Minkai s Jade Regent patrull Spirit Road suurel hulgal, et hoida seda avatud ja turvaline." Myri shrugs, not thinking this to be overly helpful.
"See on täpselt selline asi, et me peame teadma," Ameiko says. "Võime vaja mõelda leida ohutu marsruut, et pole peatee."
Again Rhost sits down in a heated bath and falls immediately to sleep. When he awakens, he sets back off toward the kitchen. |Kitchen?|
When he arrives, he starts pointing to those unrecognizable things from the previous evening. |What?| and |How work?|
A gaggle of people begin explaining to Rhost how everything in the kitchen works. It appears to be a cuisine that concentrates more on steaming and flash-frying than he is used to, with an emphasis on harmonious use of flavors - whether that means pairing opposites, blending complements, or even allowing one primary flavor to dominate a single dish. The shapes and colors of food seem to be considered as important as the flavors, and there are many devices for carving, rolling, or sculpting the ingredients.
Mel looks at the woman with a smile her head cocking to one side, |No, ma'am. I have not, why do you ask?|
|A foreigner in a new city can be so distinctive,| the woman replies, smiling. |The pleasure of anonymity is not to be underestimated, if you have never experienced it.|
Rolling to find out about the situation in the city, political, social, and otherwise, while trying not to upset the entourage...
1d20 + 15 ⇒ (17) + 15 = 32 diplomacy
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In the park, Ameiko deftly wields chopsticks to munch on her bowl of vendor-purchased fried milk, which proves to be stir-fried chicken liver and ham in egg whites. Your attendants and hers have, by request, moved a little way away, in order to give the two of you at least the illusion of privacy.
The musical performance seems to enthrall not only the audience, but also Hrunndalf. It is not often that he gets to participate in a thing of such beauty.
"It is also Shalelu's birthday, if you are not aware, but wish to know such a thing."
"Is it a good time to give her that pet tree? I'll look around the markets to see if they offer any."
"I was wondering," Buttersnips says in Halfling as she suddenly appears beside you, "If I could perhaps convince you to help me out with a fairly large favor."
The smell of boiling blood is briefly evident.
Lio blinks at the sudden appearance but otherwise makes no comment. "How can I help? Keeping in mind I have been asked not to murder anyone. Apparently that sort of thing upsets people." Lio says, also in Halfling.
The fey nods. "Very well."
"I would like to commission you to create a scroll of Greater Contagion, ideally as soon as is reasonably possible. If it is necessary for you to keep you word, I would be happy to promise not to use it to create anything fatal. I was thinking of leprosy anyway."
She shrugs. "I should be able to cast it from a scroll myself and apply it surreptitiously, and it didn't seem to me like a fair request to ask either you or Alaric to take the risk of casting it yourselves. But I thought your simply creating a scroll with materials I purchased, when the effect will not obviously be from a spell, would not cast any suspicion on you or result in unnecessary risk on your part."
Her normal odd word accents have dropped from her speech.
"I had," Shalelu replies, "Been planning to keep an eye out for one today."
Lio blushes. Looks down. Blushes harder. Looks back up at you. "I have... some things, I'd like to get. For our date." She manages, almost mysteriously. "How will we get privacy outside of our rooms, though?" She thinks just loud enough for Shae to hear.
The man smiles back. |I simply wished to welcome you to the city, Seeker of the Brightness,| he replies. |And to tell you that any of the elves or samsarans in this land would be happy to aid you in your quest, if any aid is needed. I am Hamengku.|
Lio's smile gets a little brighter. How did he know? she thinks, and her thoughts are probably pretty clearly written across her face. |That's very kind of you.| She says softly. |I'm very new... to people being, so nice, especially when it's genuine.| She offers, softly. She does not glance back at the gaggle of eager servants, even though she really wants to. |Oh, this is Shalelu.| Lio puts an arm around Shae's waist, drawing her forward just a little to introduce her. |And, I am, Liothonae.| She adds, her own name probably not that important in her mind.
After the Feast of the Ancients, Liothonae finds herself waylaid by Zaiobe, Ulf, and Jorun. It is very likely that Shalelu is finding herself similarly pulled aside by Myriana, Ameiko, and Tollin.
<It is time,> Zaiobe informs Liothonae, <For your bachelorette party.>
"Party?" Lio asks, dubiously. She glances at Shae, then back at her friends. "I don't really... go to parties." She adds.
Lio ponders this. She's not entirely against the idea. But she does have reservations, "Leprosy can spread from person to person. I would feel very bad if innocents were infected with such a thing because they are forced to serve the subject of the spell."
"Good point," says Buttersnips agreeably. "How about filth fever or red ache, then? They aren't transmissible person to person."
- In Minkai, the emperor is supposedly in hiding and has not been seen in public for years. His appointed viceroy, the Jade Regent, is far from being a popular ruler. The Jade Regent has been adamant about crushing dissent, which has kept any popular uprising from forming. Still, many groups oppose the Jade Regent, and could probably topple him if they ever manage to put aside their differences and work together.
- The Jade Regent's samurai patrols along the roads are far more likely to shake you down for a bit of loot than to protect you. Possibly even worse than that - Caravans have been disappearing on the Spirit Road, and not everyone thinks the native inhabitants of the forest are responsible.
- The Forest of Spirits has existed since the dawn of all things. People do not live there, nor do they cross through it, except on the Spirit Road. However, despite what popular rumor says, it is not truly haunted; in fact, it is the birthplace of the kami, spirits who protect the objects and creatures of the natural world.
- In Ordu-Aganhei, few are willing to talk about Prince Batsaikhar in language other than compliments, so it is hard to get a sense of what people really think of him. You suspect, however, that the compliments come more from a place of fear than one of love. He is renowned for his etiquette, his insatiable lusts, and his love of foreign women. Certain things people say make you suspect he has a short attention span and a bad temper. He holds his position by virtue of being the brother of the Khan.
Mel laughs. <Remind me to introduce you to my Uncle Jal when we go back to Sandpoint.> Absolutely no doubt in her that he will manage to pull off the feat in the future.
"Party?" Lio asks, dubiously. She glances at Shae, then back at her friends. "I don't really... go to parties." She adds.
"All the more reason you should go to this one," Ulf says.
<We promise not to traumatize you with more than the requisite degree of embarrassment called for by such an occasion,> Zaiobe says.
"I believe the bachelorette party is considered something of a pre-wedding rite of passage," Shalelu opines.
"Allright. I trust you'll make sure its not traced back to us." Lio says. " That would cause complications." Lio will agree to scribe the scroll.
Buttersnips thanks you.
Some time shortly thereafter, she gets the necessary materials to you.
|A foreigner in a new city can be so distinctive,| the woman replies, smiling. |The pleasure of anonymity is not to be underestimated, if you have never experienced it.|
oh Emotion flashes across Melinda's expressive face: frustration tinged with annoyance and anger. Flatly, |Thank you.|
Her eyes close, emotions being caged. Opening her eyes, her smile much more real, |It is a wonderful idea. Perhaps we can suggest a masquerade for the last evenings feast.|
oh Emotion flashes across Melinda's expressive face: frustration tinged with annoyance and anger. Flatly, |Thank you.|
Her eyes close, emotions being caged. Opening her eyes, her smile much more real, |It is a wonderful idea. Perhaps we can suggest a masquerade for the last evenings feast.|
The woman curtsies. |It is a pleasure to be of assistance.|
- If you ask any elves or samsarans, they would tell you that Prince Batsaikhar is considered an ass, and a dangerous one at that, as he is prone to ordering mass executions when he is sufficiently upset. However, it is generally thought that assassinating him would do little but bring the wrath of the Khan down on the entire city - something no one wants - and that it is not outside the realm of possibility that if he died, he could be replaced with someone even worse.
<We'll need more than can openers for your new armor. Talk about playing hard to get.>
"This is going to be fun," Alaric says, beaming. Then, a kiss on Zaiobe's cheek. "Although I think you're terrifying the locals."
Lio blushes. Looks down. Blushes harder. Looks back up at you. "I have... some things, I'd like to get. For our date." She manages, almost mysteriously. "How will we get privacy outside of our rooms, though?" She thinks just loud enough for Shae to hear.
"I don't think we can," Shalelu says quietly but frankly. "Although perhaps I can distract our ... companions, for a time, if you wish to make purchases discreetly."
Lio's smile gets a little brighter. How did he know? she thinks, and her thoughts are probably pretty clearly written across her face. |That's very kind of you.| She says softly. |I'm very new... to people being, so nice, especially when it's genuine.| She offers, softly. She does not glance back at the gaggle of eager servants, even though she really wants to. |Oh, this is Shalelu.| Lio puts an arm around Shae's waist, drawing her forward just a little to introduce her. |And, I am, Liothonae.| She adds, her own name probably not that important in her mind.
|I am very pleased to meet you, Liothonae and Shalelu,| he replies.
She hugs the other woman. "But knowing that we get to go flying even when I'm heavy is nice."
After the morning tour of the palace, back near the rooms, Mel turns to her guide. |Thank you, Gansukh. I like to know where I am and the palace is truly extraordinary.| She puts her hand on her belly, |I'm going to rest for a little bit. After would you mind taking me around to a few artisans, please?|
And then she heads into the room, the bolt sliding closed behind.
She looks at him hopefully, <Well, unless we can make ourselves look like locals so that word of our actions don't get back to the prince.>