Ludvic was actually glad to have some company along the way. He usually just talking to himself through toolkit so it felt a little odd to have no one with him. "I stop by a planet as much as I can. It's a great place to pick up supplies. You can only preserve bodies so long through the cold after all. Long as I am subtle about it no one is ever the wiser. Slavery is common on many places as I am sure you are aware. Long as I dressed Toolkit up most people assumed he was simply a attendant. I have only been found out once. That was when I had to flee with Mercer. I do owe him one for saving my ass but for right now I am content. Being on the move with my research is the best. I can gather a variety of subjects as well keep on the move from anyone who I might anger. We will see in the future but I rather enjoy my lot in life right now. As much as anyone can. What about you? What plans do you have for your future? Sounds like you have had plenty of time to plan at the least."
At the netkaf Neve sends a quick message to her parents and then looks up a few online contacts for and the address of the Taldane embassy on Cheliax.
and then leaves the cafe quickly to catch up with the others. This place feels weird, what are we even going to do for two days? Right before we leave we should let the Taldies know what we found. Hey who's the fish man?
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Well," Fraejia said, "that was an abrupt withdrawal on his part." She looked at Razza and asked, "So, where's this club you mentioned at? I'm looking forward to a chance to relax, maybe dance a bit." She looked at the others, "What about the rest of you, what do you do when you go to a club?"
You each notice a black-clothed, hooded figure watching you from the alleys. By the time you look again, the figures are already gone.
For those with comms, you hear a quick ring. Mercer's voice sounds off. "You will not believe all the berucratic linnorm-squirt you have to go through in this planet to pack up on simple cargo." He said. "How's it going for you guys. Have you found an expert?"
Mmm. We are being watched. Very poorly. Opal notes.
She tries to see whats different about Mercer.
"Not a club, Fraejia, a pub! Very different concept. You mainly go there to get drunk. Not a bad place to pick up ladies either, or whatever your preference might be." Razza leads the party on, just hoping Fraejia doesn't do anything too weird when she's sloshed. Only specific kinds of commotions are allowed in a pub and the supernatural type is never recommended.
Razza picks up Mercer on her comm; right, they were supposed to be doing that. "Not yet, should know some people who can help us where we're going though. Infernal isn't exactly an uncommon tongue here."
Ludvic will reply to the message. "Nope still looking. I have a lead on a fishy character. Seems to be amphibious. Still trying to track him down in this city. I will give you a update when I find him. For now I'm going to go get a drink with Ellion once we are done looking for it. I'll let everyone know where we are heading if you are interested.
You get the sense of second-hand thinnly veiled contempt directed at having to go through customs, then worry in his voice as he heard what you had to say.
Watched? By who? Make sure you don't get us all killed. I've got my eighty years to go, and I'm not letting some gods-damned tablet kill me before I'm even half there.
You're going to a pub, eh? Mind if I meet you there in... say... about two days? He said with a laugh. "If you bring me a bottle of cheap Chelaxian whisky, I'd compensate."
Ludvic was actually glad to have some company along the way. He usually just talking to himself through toolkit so it felt a little odd to have no one with him. "I stop by a planet as much as I can. It's a great place to pick up supplies. You can only preserve bodies so long through the cold after all. Long as I am subtle about it no one is ever the wiser. Slavery is common on many places as I am sure you are aware. Long as I dressed Toolkit up most people assumed he was simply a attendant. I have only been found out once. That was when I had to flee with Mercer. I do owe him one for saving my ass but for right now I am content. Being on the move with my research is the best. I can gather a variety of subjects as well keep on the move from anyone who I might anger. We will see in the future but I rather enjoy my lot in life right now. As much as anyone can. What about you? What plans do you have for your future? Sounds like you have had plenty of time to plan at the least."
The exposition of Ludvic's past was received with focus by Ellion, intent on committing the man's story to storage; he'd met many people over the years, and he had to focus on newly-met individuals, or they would be confused with past associates.
"In a manner of speaking, Mercer did me a favor as well. After my ship was ... retired, I was essentially without a home. This space yacht is it for a time." The doctor smiled. "The problem with long age is the world changes faster than you do. My plans are few, for circumstances alter so dramatically from waking to waking. However, on the short list is finding the origins of my kind's magical talent. We are a dying breed these days, and though the heritage I have is more direct than the descendants today, the talent stands. I wonder if it was some eldritch sentient hand that graced us with the gifts of sorcery, or chemical and environmental happenstance. Other than that, I do what I am called to in each session."
Suddenly, the elf felt sullen and lonely, the emotion playing over his face. A call from Mercer was just the interruption that was needed.
"We're in the process of looking for this expert. More time will be necessary though - the city is thriving."
"We're being watched? That's new, I have to agree with Mercer, by who or what are we being watched? As for your whisky, I'll see what I can do.""[/b]
They probably watch everybody new who comes to this place. Mega creepy
Ludvic will nod as he listens. "That sounds very interesting. I would be happy to assist your studies in anyway if you would be open to the idea. I'm always surprised by how some random information can assist my own research. Fraejia for example. I would love to get consent to see how necromancy would effect their strange forms. Apparently they are very long lived.
Watched huh? We will be on guard just to be safe. In the mean time keep a eye out for a blue amphibian. Apparently he is very distinct. Sounds like he is our best bet in town to figure out what the tablet is. If you see anyone like that let us know so we can all gather up
They were clothed in shades of black. Physical features were obscured. I would share your disturbance Neve, however they don't seem to have sent their best. Whoever that would be. Opal continues to keep a metaphorical eye out in the future. Not an actual eye. She has had her eyes on Qeetan or the commlink so far.
"Tik'Klik."
The man seemed reasonable, but Ellion questioned the intersection of their fields. "My primary studies are in a rather dusty section of what is now known as alchemy: transmutation of metabolic processes. It's how I've come to be around so long, but for some reasons, the branch isn't popular. Rather, the specifics were likely lost over time. Unlike your reversal of the continuum of life, I look to sustain it. Old-fashioned medicine as it were."
He brushed his hair out of his eyes. "Our amphibious friend is probably well-clothed; they don't retain moisture well with a good deal of area exposed. While we're looking for him, I might need to make a pit stop in a shop for supplies. The few credits we found will be useful in giving me a basic set of reagents to work with. I might be able to find out a bit more of this tablet's origins or that golem's make with them."
Anyways don't think it's hard to find someone who knows Infernal in this place. Real hard to find anyone we can trust tho
"That sounds fine with me. I have to pick up some things myself. Like a scroll of comprehended languages for one. I'm going to find out if that construct is actually trying to communicate with us or just making noises. At best a local wizard might let me scribe it into my book for a fee. I digress though, the invitation is always open to share research notes. I know how it feels to study a branch of knowledge that is not very popular."
Qeetan sees the men watching over the party, thou he seems not to worried about it... it is quite common.
"Sure, we'll get you a souvenir cap. See ya then." Not planning to meet up with us again for another two days, huh? Much looser leash than Razza ever expected, for sure. Maybe he expects the other crew members will be able to keep her in line. The Pitborn chuckles at that thought.
"All right ladies, we're just about there. Just don't leave with anyone ya don't know, there are rooms in the back if you've got that itch." That would probably not be a problem with this stiff crew. Probably. You never really know with the innocent types.
"Damn." Mercer growled at the description of the watcher. "Sounds like agents of Thrune. Better keep an eye out. If she's watching you, nothing good can come from it. I'm beginning to think we'd have been better off drifting through space without food and fuel rather than come here."
The pub that Razza leads the others to, named The Scarlet Theatre, is not only a drinking establishment, but a den of all forms of entertainment, including a stage for music, with red lights flashing all across the dim shade rich clothes and well-off humans with their noses held up high abound.
Fraejia took in the ambiance of the place and said, "I like it here already." She paused at Razza's word of advice, rolled her eyes, and said in a bored sounding voice, "Yes mother, I won't leave with any strange people." She laughed then and tried to decide what to do first, with this being an unknown place with unknown rules, and since they'd been watched already, she decided that avoiding inebriation would be the first rule of the night. She linked an arm with Neve and Opal and said, "So, what are we going to do now ladies?"
Scarlet... ah. I have heard of this establishment. My friend Bridge is somewhat of a regular here. He recommended the Dwarven fireale. And a human employee by the name of Aaliyah. Opal notes. After a pause. That was fourty years ago. Could she still be here? She may know where he is.
"Tik'Klik?"
THe golem follows along, it's eyes beginning to whirl orange as they enter the establishment. "Tik Ik Ik klik Ik Ik tik Ik." It's head begins to slowly scan the entire place, spinning as it stands behind the females. When they move forward again, it's head spins to face front, but sweeps from side to side as it walks.
Ellion and Ludvic continue their search, and the doctor keeps an eye out for an appropriate shop.
Should we mention where we are to the others? Opal holds up her comm link.
They don't seem like the sorts who would enjoy the atmosphere here. Not that I am one to speak.
"Since we were being watched it might not hurt." Tillia considered Opal's drink suggestion and quickly began to forget her anti-innebreation resolution and asked, "Dwarven Fire Ale? What's that?"
From what I understand it is ale of dwarven make. said without a hint of sarcasm. She goes on to explain. It is then poured into specially prepared glasses. The rim of the glass is then set on fire. Not hot enough to melt the glass, evidently. Bridge described it as "Earthy, but like, zesty you know?"
"Now if I was a fish man where would I be. We should probably stick towards any rivers that run through the town in case he lives near one if you are right about his need to stay moist. We might be able to get a better look at who ever seems to be tailing us as well. Can't for the life of me think of why they would be after us. How in the world could they know that we picked up this bloody tablet? I made sure to not let that leak to any of the people I talked to. Ugh, now that I think about it I should probably update the old will. If the agents of House Thrune are after us it might be best to have our affairs in order. They could at least respect that after they are through with us. He says with a thin smile. He had Mort on his shoulder now, helping to keep a eye out for anything suspicious now. He really wish he had Toolkit around to shove between him and any danger. Some people had a security blanket. He had a security skeleton.
"It is possible the tablet has a transmitter of some kind in it. In that event, it would be only a matter of time until they found us."
"Hmm it does not seem like it. If so why would they not just get a group together to ambush you and I while we are away from the party? It feels like they are more interested in what we are up to then what we have on us. Besides, as far as I can tell it's not tech and their is no magic that seems to be radiating off that would suggest it's some sort of tracker. We will hopefully know soon enough.
"Because they have nothing to gain from it." As Ludvic continues his thoughts aloud, Ellion nods in agreement. "It would be the best way to discover one's intentions - to observe them. I'm not too concerned about it though: We're clueless."
"The rivers are likely of questionable cleanliness, but we can give them a shot if they're nearby."
The drunk gnome man stumbles towards Tik'Klik, then against him, leaning hard on the little golem. In a drunken slur, he mutters, "I Luhv Hyu, man." Then two equally drunk chelaxian noblewoman swarm the bot cooing over how cute the little wooden man is.
This one is for Ludvic
This is for Mort the raven
"F$*+ing Chelish, can't hold their alcohol worth s*#!." Not even halfway through the night and these people were already sloshed. They were probably drinking that watered down aristocratic wine, too. Razza shakes her head, moving towards the bartender and taking a seat at a stool.
"Oi, barkeep. Get me a pint of fiend's brew."
Oh geez. The one time I had a drink I passed out, like, right away Neve says. I guess I'll just have a coke. Like the music here though.
Opal makes use of her comm link Hello? Ellion? Ludvic? Do you hear me? I haven't used one of these in quite a while. at Razza's suggestion, she, Neve, Freaija, Tik'Klik and I have gone to an establishment named The Scarlet Theatre. She moves to take a seat near the others. Tik'Kilk has been accosted for the second time now. Though this time it was a pair of humans. Last time it was some sort of amphibian. She puts away the device, and starts to look around for someone of the description she got of Aaliyah.
"TIK'KLIK!"
The golem pushes the drunk gnome off, and pats it's self as if checking to make sure all of it's wooden bits are still attached. Fortunately it stores things inside itself, so picking it's pocket is rather more invasive than picking Opal or Neve's pockets.
"Tik Ik Ik Tik Tilk Kilt Lilt Ilt Lit Lik Kill ill kill kill ill kill kill..." The golem says, it's eyes moving toward red as one hand folds back into a cuff around it's arm. No weapons show... yet... but it's obvious the golem is being pushed into a response of some kind.