"Why yes, I would love a new sword." Meliandri pulls hers out of its sheath. "The filigree on the quillons is a bit chipped in places, and the seal on the pommel is scratched quite badly. 'Owever, unless you 'ave a policy of loans for nobles, I 'ave not enough coins to pay right now. At least, not for anything better than mine."
As she looks around, Mels spots one of the workmen in the back staring. She steps on Salonius's foot and jerks her head toward the door. Grabbing his arm, she presses her body into his. "Aerodus, we 'ave to go. We will be late meeting, uh, Ileyna and Rojir as is. Let us go."
Salonius blinks, staring down at his foot, "But, errr? Ahhh? I am sure I shall see you again soon! Thank you!"
As soon as they are out of earshot he steps away eyeing Meliandri somewhat warily, "Soooo, the Salt Market for Fhingle? Aerodus, I am going to have to remember that now, Aerodus, Aerodus."
Vespam stands there baffled. What was this? But he has work to do so he shakes his head, mutters something about all nobles having a spleen and continues his work.
Jhen shakes his head in disappointment while he looks at the old iron gate, "Might take a bit of time to get past that. Might be best it we doubled back and find out where that flute playing was coming from."
As there is nothing to do for you here - maybe you could later check that grate from above - you backtrack to the junction of the tunnel. As the flute is not playing anymore, you can't tell where it came from.
As you move on to see where the tunnel ends in the other direction, you meet some more rats coming your way, but they disperse as you come closer. The water gets deeper again and daylight can be seen. At the point where you would need to start swimming to get any further, you can look out of the tunnel, over the Yolubilis River at Castle Kintargo.
"One of the artisans did not like what you 'ad to say about Kintargo's policy. You should be careful. In the operas, the villain often learns from informants 'o is out to betray them." Meliandri lets Salonius's arm go. "In a lot of the stories, people use false names. Yes, Fhingle said something about needing...what again?"
"Oh," Salonius says, looking chastened, "I was mostly hoping to sound people out a little, but I suppose that is a risky business. I did not tell them my name, but I did foolishly declare I would be back there... At least my hair is still black, when I return I will be an old man - I just copied a spell for that!"
"And Fhingle wanted some very high quality painting equipment, which I would guess means nice brushes, a stepladder, and, umm, a bucket? Maybe some sort of caustic brush cleaning solution? He gave us 55gp..."
He considers while he rubs his chin and finally nods his head, "It will do in a pinch. Hopefully it doesn't come to that." He looks ro Saul with a forced grin, "Right now I'm more concerned about who was playing that flute."
"A boat would be nice." Fhingle says while not trying to drown.
With nothing to do here Saul, Jhen and Fhingle return together with the tengus to the basement of the coffeeshop. On the way back they hear again the flute. Only to find that the rats from the tunnels found a new home here.
Hope not," Jhen replies honestly. "Don't really like excrement or vomit. But here I am walking a sewer," He says with a laught as he looks around at his surroundings.
Later when they encounter the rat swarm he hesitates and thinks about running away befor he advances with his sword. He swings with abandon at the writhing mass of rodents.
It's wierd to fight rats with a rapier. Jhen ends up with a row of dead rats on his weapon like on a spit, ready to roast.
"Very well." Meliandri thinks for a bit about where to buy the requested painting equipment.
Maggie throws a dagger at the swarm.
The swarm moves to get Jhen and Saul. They try to fend off the rodents, but to no avail.
Letting Meliandri take the lead Salonius, feeling very satisfed with the additions to his spellbook muses, "I wonder what we will look like when we are old? Do you think wizened image is accurate? I cannot imagine it has any kind of divination aspect, but there seems to be a certain inevitability about ageing... I am interested to see myself. Might not be great for Saul though he must be six... fairly advanced in years as it is."
"Maybe you should make Saul younger instead." Meliandri laughs, then pulls herself together. "Listen, I know someone 'o can make this paint stuff 'appen for Fhingle. The problem is that we 'ave to face something more ferocious than grimples, demons, or maybe even Thrune..."
"See, my slave Ashana knows 'o to talk to to get things done, and she is very loyal to me. If we can talk to 'er, she will 'elp us. But we may 'ave to get past my...mother." She steers Salonius toward the Aulamaxa manor.
Jhen holds his ground as the rats swarm up his legs biting him through his clothing. He tries swatting them off with his Rapier.
"Ohhhh? Well as a rule Mother's love me," Salonius replies, his tone carrying a hint of bitterness, "and yours cannot be worse than mine. Uhhh, I mean my Mother is lovely, just, well, I think the word is formidable? But, ahh, you are not going to give her any, ummm, impressions right? Its just that a lot of people are very bad at math, they make one plus one equal one if you take my meaning?"
Fhingle backs away, having no way to help out in this situation.
"Tell me what to do." Fhingles voice has panic in it.
"Pffft! Peeko wonders why are you telling lies Master? Peeko wonders. Your Mother is a big fat Harry's Den! Are you trying to stop this haughty one from, stealing you, ahahahahahaha! Master is getting stolen, ahahahahahaha!"
Salonius narrows his eyes at his ungrateful little git of a familiar, and announces coldly, "Minus two hundred worms."
Meliandri makes it into the house, but not far as she has to face... her mother.
"Hello darling. Nice to see you again. Did you have fun?" Eldonna's voice comes from her office, where the door stands ajar.
"What!!! No, no, kind Master, Peeko was joking, ahahahahaha! Peeko was joking, then Peeko will only have... Two hundred worms? Peeko will not have enough worms!"
Jhen flicks the rats off his rapier, but he still doesn't hit them anymore.
Saul has even less luck as his stomach turns as he finds himself in the midst of the rats.
Maggie throws another dagger, but she has no luck too.
The swarm follows Jhen, as it can only follow one and doesn't want to go back into the water.
"No, I am not going to give 'er 'impressions'. She will 'ave enough without giving 'er more." Mels grins at Salonius. "'Ere we go."
"As a matter of fact, yes I did. I was out with Lucca for a couple of nights. Then I ran into Salonius Barradin, and 'e kindly offered to escort me 'ome." She gulps, sets her chin, and continues talking to her mother. "I need to borrow Ashana for a while. It could be a few days, or as long as a week or two."
As the rats chase him down and climb up his back Jhen tries to maintain his composure rapidly jabbing his sword at the mass of rats. He continues to try to get away for the swarm.
Salonius bows, slightly lower than manners strictly dictate, "A pleasure to make your acquaintance Lady Aulamaxa, please forgive my intrusion."
On his Master's shoulder Peeko mimics the bow and, in a very meek tone adds, "Peeko is pleased to meet the Lady to. Peeko is pleased. Peeko and Master take good care of Meliandri. Peeko takes good care."
Between Saul and Jhen the swarm is reduced to a few single rats that disperse to hide between the crates and whatever cover they could find. The threat is gone, but the rat infestation of your basement is not.
Eldonna comes out of her room to greet the new guest. "It's a pleasure to meet you too." she tells and gives Salonius a scrutinizing look. "Ah and a speaking bird." she comments.
Turning to Meliandri she tells "Just now that I got used to Ashana having more time for other duties than serving your every whim, you want to take her from me completely? That's harsh. What is so important that her service to you in this house isn't enough anymore?"
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"Gah... Nasty business, that. Little Mac, can you give a spot of your healing power?"
"Let try something fun." Saul pulls out his silver raven, and tries to activate it for the first time! It comes alive, though retains it's silver color, and perches on Saul's shoulder. He quick writes a few lines on a parchment and ties it to the bird's leg. "Off you go now, find Salonius."
S, cleared out the sewer. Little Mac almost drowned. Dapper J killed some rats for us. I am most likely going to die horribly from disease. Normal business. Tells Mels we said hi. Sincerely, SG
Using some type of food desirable to the animal as a lure, you call the animal to you. It advances and awaits your bidding. You can mentally impress on the animal a certain place well known to you or an obvious landmark. The directions must be simple, because the animal depends on your knowledge and can’t find a destination on its own. You can attach a small item or note to the messenger. The animal then goes to the designated location and waits there until the duration of the spell expires, whereupon it resumes its normal activities.
During this period of waiting, the messenger allows others to approach it and remove any scroll or token it carries. The intended recipient gains no special ability to communicate with the animal or read any attached message (if it’s written in a language he doesn’t know, for example).
The bird looks at Saul as if he spoke Tien.
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"Go! Go! Go... ah... find Mels! No? Ah... Go to Salonius? Still no? Bah!" Stupid magic items.
Saul grabs the note back and scribbles another little note.
"Now... let's try again. Go to... Salonius!" And Saul waves his hands in the air like when Salonius casts a spell. "Blast it all and gods take you to the Hells, you thrice-confounded bag of magic feathers! Argh! Ok, fine, how about you just sit outside the coffeeshop and wait there til Salonius gets back?"
The silver raven takes off, but doesn't get any further than the secret door, that is of course closed. There it flutters in the air, waiting for the door to open itself.
Fhingle laughs at Saul's out bursts at the magical bird. Allowing his magic to flow through him Fhingle touches Saul then looks at Jhen.
"I think Salonius said to tell it were to go not to a person."Fhingle tries to help out.
"I need 'er to 'elp me with shopping, cleaning up for some friends, and things like that." Meliandri looks at her foster mother. "She was my halfling, and she should still be mine to do with what I want."
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Saul listens to Fhingle's advice.
"Ah! And now it is stuck outside this door. Stupid bird. Wish it could just find a person. It's magic, isn't it? Little Mac, Dapper J, I'm headed to the docks for a bit. Find you two later!" Saul opens the secret door, goes up the stairs, and then walks through the coffee house and opens that door. Finally, the bird just sits outside the door at the coffeehouse.
Saul picks it up and places it on the eaves above the door. "You know, bird, I could have simply given Laria the note. Try to make yourself more useful next time, eh?"
Spear in hand, he heads over to the docks region.
"I have no issues with you taking Ashana along to help you with whatever business you have to attend to. But I insist, that she is back here before curfew. It would be better for you too, but I know what you think of my advice." Eldonna tells.
Turning back to Salonius she asks "So tell me, what is that about you and your overeager bird taking good care of Meliandri? How did you manage to pique her interest, that she even brings you along here?"
Saul walks into Yolubilis Harbour as he notices a sign he has seen numerous times, but never cared much about. It is the shop sign of The War Cage, with the subtitle "Haunted by Quality". It is one of the more popular spots visited by adventurers. Saul has heard of it, but he never actually went there himself.
Drawn into it by some feeling that there was something about this shop he couldn't quite place his finger on, Saul enters to take a look. The War Cage is named for its almost arena-like structure, including a central courtyard where customers can spar with weapons. As Saul is greeted by the shop owner the scales fall off his eyes.
"Welcome, dear customer to be. What brings you here." Saul is greeted with a cawing accent by Chuko Sharpbeak and Hooks. A tengu.
Salonius puts on a slightly pained expression, "Well in truth we got caught up in a bit of a ruckus after that demonstration in Aria Park, and assisted one another while attempting to remove ourselves from danger. My assortment of sisters tend to be fairly, ahhh, opinionated so I was there in order to prevent them doing anything rash - I doubt the utility of such events personally. But we share an interested in philosophy and the arts. And sorry about Peeko he is or at least had better be on his best behaviour on pain of lack of worms."
"Sometimes. For an ale or a shot." Chuko replies. "But if you're searching for that kind of entertainment you're at the wrong place. You forgot to bring a sparring partner."
"You need a new spear?" he asks, pointing at the rat blood smeared thing Saul carries through town.
"Barradin you said?" Eldonna inquires from Salonius. "I've heard of your family. And only the best." she adds with a sidelook at Meliandri, with the 'I see grandchildren in my future' look in the eyes.
"Aaand I will leave you 'ere while I collect Ashana." Meliandri beats a hasty retreat in the face of her foster mother's look, heading back to her quarters and beginning her search for the halfling.
Once she's found her, she quickly assembles a few additional outfits while whispering to Ashana. "You are coming with my friend Salonius and me. Mother expects you back by curfew. We will 'ave to see if we 'ave finished everything we must do. Now, we 'ave to shop for painting supplies for one of our colleagues, then so some work for a friend. Busy day, much to do, and so on."