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Rays of sunlight flowed across the fields to Sandpoint, but as they poised ready to dive over the cliff and hit the green sea, something strange occurred. On that morning, the dogs beside the wastepile began to bark, sharply. They could not be soothed nor shamed into silence. Eventually their master relented. He let himself back inside his cottage, committed now to carrying on the business of the day.
After all, human senses are not so refined as to remark the scent of fearful Licktoad goblins lurking at range.
At last the wind gave a friendly shove to the first light of day, and together they went plummeting over the edge and across the sea. It was a fantastic voyage they always cherished. There is nothing quite like the coming of a new dawn.
Belor, Sheriff of Sandpoint, rose at a leisurely seven o’clock and went into his office to review his messages. In summary:
1. no word from the adventurers sent into Brinestump Marsh.
2. no spare force of guards would be sent to ply the thick and tangled swamp.
3. another attack in the night, another caravan set upon by goblins on the southern road.
Perhaps, he had a solution.
Meanwhile, the staff of Sandpoint's Rusty Dragon Tavern, Inn & Refuge begin preparing breakfast. The proprietor, one Ameiko Kaijitsu, sits at the bar reviewing a number of scrolls. She frowns over the vellum in her ink-stained fingers while her employees go about their tasks. Soon, the smells of delicious chicken and noodles waft out of the clattering kitchen. The tasty scent floods out upon the street and up among the guest rooms.
It is Starday in Sandpoint, 0800 hours.
Zzzzzz....
Alfonso is busy knitting up the ravell'd sleeve of care.
Eight o'clock is far too early, he's barely been to bed.
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Shalewen starts her day off at dawn, as she always did, which was around 6 this morning. And what did she do with all that time before breakfast? Training of course. Shalelu always said that she should practice, not until she got it right, but until she never got it wrong. Behind the Rusty Dragon she had set up several hey targets to practice her archery and she put 200 arrows in them every morning. She practiced what simple magic she knew like causing objects to glow with bright light or pulling water out of the air and into her flask for drinking. She also trained Shadow in various skills like sneaking, following her closely or sending him ahead to scout. She also never neglected to just play with him using a bit of hard leather cut into a disc. It was fun and helped train his eye mouth coordination. The wolf of her father had passed away a few months ago but not before making sure their was a second generation to watch over Shalewen. Shadow was little more than a pup but he was well trained by both her and her mentor Shalelu.
After thoroughly tiring them both they walked into the Rusty Dragon together for breakfast. No one raised alarm at a large canine walking into the inn anymore after so many years. Shalewen and Shadow were as common a sight as Ameiko at this point and everyone loved to pet the large wolf. And he loved every bit of it too, even if Shalewen didn't. Even if it did attract people to them she would never begrudge him the attention. She took up her usual corner and ate her usual breakfast of ham, bread, fruit and a glass water. Something healthy and balanced.
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One moment Laurentii was peaceful and dreamt of the fabled land of Tian-Xia. The next moment, his eyes were wide open as he sat straight in his bed. In one quick, yet smooth, motion, the elf is out of bed, picking his clothes and getting dressed as quickly as possible.
"Finally... finally! I will get to speak with miss Kajitsu once more. She might have been asleep when I arrived yesterday, but there is no way I will miss her today even if I have to spend the whole day inside. Ahh... just to think of the information and the tales she must have! I can't wait!"
The smells of the kitchen finally reaching his nostrils awaken his hunger as well as increase his excitement (if at all possible). He hurriedly straightens his clothes, makes sure he is presentable and runs down to the main room of the Rusty Dragon.
A smile appears on his lips when he sees Ameiko. Walking the room to get to the noble and innkeeper, Laurentii notices Shalewen and Shadow and takes a mental note to inquire as to how a wolf can be tamed. Once at the bar, he does his best to greet the Tian in her ancestors language.
"はじめ まして。Laurentii です。"he says, slightly bowing to miss kajitsu.
"I do not know if you remember, but I came to visit your factory a year ago, and... the grumbling of his stomach interrupts him oh, please pardon me. Is the food I am smelling some Tian specialty? I would really like to try some!
Shalewen pauses a moment in her meal as the confident elf walks in and tries to converse with Ameiko. She continues to eat as if nothing is wrong but her attention is squarely on the newcomer. She casually makes sure her bow is with in easy reach. Her abrupt attention causes Shadow to raise his head and watch as well, both ears forward. He looks up at his companion then rests his head on his paws, waiting.
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It was a typical day, Lou was in the kitchen before the first rays of sunlight would lighten the common room.
Lou was busy making his usual breakfast fare. But today, for some reason, he prepared a traditional Tien breakfast. as some of the early risers would appear, Lou had added the special to a board hanging on the wall.
weather anyone liked it or not, Lou made it a point to become familiar with regulars at the Dragon, he would learn their names, what they liked to eat, and as much of their routine as he could. Sandpoint was a small town, there are not as many regulars as one would think. and newcomers tend to stand out.
Amieko was not always there to open the doors at morning light, she would occasionally leave that to Lou. today though was not one of those days. Ameiko had work to do this day.
Lou places a tray of today's breakfast special on the bar at her side. -- You seem troubled, perhaps some breakfast. I'll pour dome tea, Jasmine, just the way you like it. he tells her reassuringly. Lou was there when everything happened, when the goblins attacked, when her brother betrayed her, when her father was murdered. Lou knew what she had gone through.
As some of the familiar faces entered, Lou directed one of the few waitstaff present in that direction, sometimes taking the order himself.
Lou had turned to return to the kitchen when Laurentii made his appearance. he stops to hear what he had to say. and soon was off getting another tray together for him, it sounded like business was at hand.
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Trig, having spent the night camping in the hinterlands and arrived at Sandpoint a few hours earlier, walks through the door of the Rusty dragon, Fergus the wolf at his side. He calls out, to no one in particular, "Good day to you all, I am Sir Jegman, knight of Lastwall's order of the beast and I wish to speak to the manager of this fine establishment to request a fine breakfast lodging for tomorrow night, Fergus here needs his beauty sleep you know. I was informed of this... er," he takes a few steps outside, leaning back to read the sign on the inn's door, "ah-yes this "Rusty Dragon" by an elf called Shalelu Androsana. She... helped me defeat some goblins out on the road the other day, though I'm sure I could managed them fine myself. She told me to mention her name, said she was a friend of the inkeeper. Does anyone know if she is around here at all? I never got the chance to properly thank her. "
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Ameiko is frowning over the scrolls in her hands when Lou offers her tea. "Yes Lou, that would be wonderful, thank you." She puts down her quill, and begins sampling your dish with a pair of chopsticks.
To Laurentii: "はじめ まして。Ameiko です"
"Apologies friend, but it has been a very busy year for our town. Here, we'll sort you out. Never Fear."
Then, Lou enters with the Jasmine tea. "Thanks Lou! It appears our guest here would like to try your delicious special." Ameiko indicates Laurentii with a tilt of her head.
Then, upon Trig's arrival, Ameiko sighs and rolls up her scrolls. Clearly, she will not be getting any more work done this morning. She actually seems happy about that.
"I'm sorry Shalelu is not here right now. I think she's over with the Mayor's office. I'm Ameiko, the proprietor here. We have several rooms available. Why don't you join us for breakfast, and we'll settle our accounts after you are both well and fed, then, alright?"
As Lou entered with the tea, he also had a plate of the special, Already here. he says as he places the tray in front of Laurentii
Lou clears the bar for Ameiko, tucking the scrolls under one arm Lou clears some of the dirty plates of some of the early customers.
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A number of other patrons join the crowd while Trig and Laurentii sit with Ameiko at the bar.
One seems the part of a woman caravaner, perhaps a merchant?
Two others are clearly Kellid mercenaries, judging by their tattoos.
The last is a bearded man in heavy plate - his cloak a well-worn artifact of shabby nobility.
They each place orders with a lady halfling who sits atop a high stool behind the bar, then go to their respective tables.
The others are new in town.
Lastly, the halfling behind the bar is Bethana, Ameiko's assistant-manager for the Dragon. Bethana is a superb tap-master.
Shalewen flicks her ears towards the sound of her mentors name but otherwise continues to eat slowly. She never asked but over the years Lou had made subtle changes to the simple meal to make it better. And though she gave little hint as to whether she approved or not, he slowly began to learn her preferences. It was a sort of game by now. She would try to hide her reaction while he tried to provoke one.
Eventually she looked up as the tavern got more noisy. The gnome that mentioned Shalelu's name looked familiar. Goblins were still a threat around here so she had seen, and shot, her fair share of them. Eventually the scenario came back to her. She was there for the incident though she played a superfluous roll. Shalelu had done the lions share of the work almost before Shalewen could line up her first shot. Trig probably didn't see her and that was okay. It took everything she had just to keep Shadow from bounding over to the other wolf in excitement.
Shadow remembered that moment and remembered the other wolf as soon as it walked in. This time he didn't give his half-elf a chance to stop him. He slithered out from under the table and around the other patrons to sniff at the new one. Both froze and sniffed at each other as all canines seem to do when they meet another of their kind. Shadow's tail wagged happily as he waited for some sign to continue sniffing.
Laurentii nods to the gnome sitting next to him before turning his attention to the meal that he is served as well as the one who serves him.
Another person of Tian heritage. Curious, I was certain that Ameiko was the only one in Sandpoint... no, wait... his face does seem familiar. Maybe I just did not pay attention to him last time I was here... silly me. Laurentii thinks, giving a friendly smile to Lou.
"ありがとうございます。It looks quite delicious. Did you cook all this?" he asks, gazing purposefully at Lou, clearly expecting to draw the man away from his duties to have a short chat with him.
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*SLAM*
Suddenly the inn's front door slams open.
One of the town guards, a slight and junior guardsman name of Martins, hurries through it with a bit of parchment in one hand, a hammer in the other.
He slams the door closed. *SLAM*
The lad produces a nail. Then, you hear the polite, but very exited tapping. The hammer strikes fall among the background din of conversation and your breakfast utensils.
(tap-tap-tap-tap-tap-tap-Tap)
The guard nails up his notice and then flees swiftly. *SLAM* Open. *BAM* closed.
Honestly, you would think he hates that door. The racket he causes is fit to raise the dead.
A new note sits on the inside of the door. From across the room anyone can see that it begins with...
in great-big adventurer-enticing cursive letters.
Shalewen's hand falls instinctively to her bow when the door slams open. The sound also sends Shadow scampering back to he to protect her should he need to. The hunter is curious as to what the guard nailed to the door but too many people were focused on it. So she waits until the tavern has settled down before making way to it to read.
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As Shalewen watches, the two Kellid tribesmen stand and go over to look at the note. They begin speaking among themselves.
#2:Why would dey try and gyp us? Sandru said this place was alrite, dinnah't he?
#1:"Didn't you hear the lady say she's a proprietar? I'll bet she'd like just to
proprietize our tender. She's a sly one, that wench. Here, use your finger. Use
your finger like this. Makes you look like'in you're a good reader. An anyways,
eyes knows sly ones when I sees 'em."
#2:"Oh well, you are sly one there, Muglon.
While she watches, No one else approaches the guard's important missive just yet.
From the back of the room Shalewen is unable to hear the conversation but she doesn't need to hear them too know they can't read. The buffoon was trailing his finger across the words backward. So why stand there and look like a fool?
She disposes of her plate and utensils and nods to Lou in appreciation. She then casually makes her way to the door and peers over the shoulder of the men standing there. Not so close to draw attention from them but close enough to read. Shadow follows.
Lou continues his rounds. he ends at the table with Julen Brelade. he cleans his empty dishes as he speaks. what's with those two? he whispers to him. recognizing him as an acquaintance of both him and his sister.
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Terms of the bounty: the town of Sandpoint will pay 10gp for each relatively fresh goblin ear delivered to the town hall. -An additional reward of 300gp will be issued to anyone presenting the head of the Licktoad tribe's leader, one "Chief Gutwad".
Shalewen can hear the barbarians clearly now, and they don't seem to notice her.
#2: "How long should we read dis den?"
Muglon: "Just a bit more, then we've ought to be finkung about it for a bit."
#2: "Finking about it?"
Muglon: "Aye, thats where we pretend we knows all about it."
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Julen murmurs back to Lou, "Caravan Guards. Too stupid to join the scarni apparently."
A gentle twitch on Laurentii's lips shows that he his disappointed to have failed at striking a conversation with Lou. Yet, the repeated door slamming and nail hammering quickly takes his mind away from it.
"Please don't let the cook take these away, I will be finishing them." he says to Ameiko with a smile, pointing at his food.
Then, putting some rice into the bowl containing his salmon, Laurentii walks up toward Shalewen and the two Kellid to read the message. Once behind the tree, he takes a bite off the food.
"Yum, good food. pointing at the message That's kind of gruesome. Is there not a better for getting bounty? Or proving the road is safe?"
As Trig sits down next to Laurentii and Ameiko he says to her "Yes I do wish to rent a room, as long as you can provide a suitable shelter for my dear Fergus here, he is well trained, do not worry, he was with me in the Lastwall cavalry."
After the town guard had nailed the notice to the door, Trig walked over with Laurentii to Shalewen and the Kellids, greeting them both "Good day"
"Hmm... curious, It appears they cannot read. The bounty does sound good though, will help me pay for my room in Sandpoint should I be so inclined."
He looks over at Shalewen, "Good day to you, I notice that you have a wolf, would you mind telling me what breed he is? Fergus here is a Mindspin timber wolf, used by the 14th cavalry of Lastwall, beautiful animals."
This is exactly what she was trying to avoid, too many people around. Two in front and two behind. And one was trying to speak to her. Shadow might have gotten acquainted with his companion but she was not. She turns to regard the gnome nervously before giving a command to Shadow. "Dae. Quena."
Elvish: Shadow. Speak.
The wolf gives a load bark to startle the Kellids. Then she says. "Auta."
Elvish: Go.
She then hurries forward when they part and heads through the door as quickly as possible. Shalelu had said just that morning that the goblins were stirring up trouble. Apparently it was know enough for the sheriff to reinstate the bounty on goblin ears.
Instinctively she turns to the town hall, intending to go to her mentor for help on this endeavor, but she stops. She had never been on a mission alone. Even when she was told she was she got the feeling Shalelu was there, watching, protecting. It gave her a sense of security and happiness to know her guardian cared for her and watched over her. But it also gave her no small amount of frustration. Shalelu didn't trust her yet to handle herself on her own. Before she could think what she was doing the hunter turned on her heels and started for the gate and the trade road beyond. She would handle this one alone for once. Well not completely alone. Shadow was with her.
As she exits the gates she taps her companion on the head once. Instantly his demeanor changes from tongue-flopping, lap dog to serious hunter.
A gentle twitch on Laurentii's lips shows that he his disappointed to have failed at striking a conversation with Lou. Yet, the repeated door slamming and nail hammering quickly takes his mind away from it.
"Please don't let the cook take these away, I will be finishing them." he says to Ameiko with a smile, pointing at his food.
Then, putting some rice into the bowl containing his salmon, Laurentii walks up toward Shalewen and the two Kellid to read the message. Once behind the tree, he takes a bite off the food.
"Yum, good food. pointing at the message That's kind of gruesome. Is there not a better for getting bounty? Or proving the road is safe?"
[dice=Perception]1d20
[dice=Sense Motive]1d20
well if you need anything, let me know.
Lou heads over to the growing group of people at the posting. perhaps it best that someone read the message for everyone to hear. he says to nobody in particular.
Trig looks confused. "Did she just ignore me? Hmmph."
He reads the message aloud and then says to Lou.
"May I have some breakfast now chef if you don't mind terribly."
He walks back to bar, very hungry from the long walk to Sandpoint.
Lou nods to little gnome, of course, traditional, or the special?
whatever Trig orders, Lou heads off to expedite the order.
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*SLAM*....
*SLAM*
....
*SLAM*...*BAM*
The well dressed young foster of Mdm. Koya saunters into the Rusty Dragon.
"If Jonquil remains that energetic in performance of all the duties of a guard I predict a great future for the young-ling, as a carpenter perhaps, but a great future."
Approaching the sign and the 'readers'.
"Excuse me, gentlemen..." Alfonso pauses before the sign a moment. "Oh dear, this is unpleasant. The Sheriff is offering a bounty on Goblin ears. Horrid little creatures that they are but I must say this is a little drastic."
Alfonso looks about the room
"I mean you would have to actually touch the ears to get the bounty." <shudder> "I mean have you seen what they do to their ears?"
He heads for the bar
"All to horrible Lou. A full flagon is called to wash away the memory of the menacing missive. Some of that local red that was making the rounds last night if you please barlord. And a handful of the hard biscuts? You know my usual morning repast."
Leaning on the bar next to the gnome. Alfonso takes the leather mug of wine from Lou (assuming it arrives). As Alfonso takes the wine spiced steam rises from the dark red surface. "Perfect Lou, as always."
Turning to the gnome. "You escaped from Last Wall? Pray tell what brings you to our fair forgotten urbis?"
Laurentii, eating from the bowl he had brought with him, and still standing in behind the two Kellid men, watched with curiosity as Shalewen left with shadow. As soon as she disappeared outside, it dawne on him that she had left to slay goblins.
No way I am letting such an occasion pass by. he thinks,quickly heading outside.
Once on the street, he calls out to her in elvish just before she turns the corner:
"Hey, you with the wolf! Wait!"
Seeing as she does not stop, Laurentii sprints after her trying to catch up, his bowl of food still in hand. During the chase, he calls out to her a few more times until he reaches the gate of the town.
Shalewen does indeed stop but that may not be a good thing. Shadow is in attack mode and someone is approaching his charge a little too fast. As she turns, bow now in hand, he circles quickly and stands in front of her. Even with no knowledge of body language Laurentii understands the sign before him easily enough. The lowered posture means Shadow is ready to charge. The hair standing on end and ears back means he is angry. And the bared teeth means he is ready to bite.
"Grrrrrrrrrrrrrr" Shadow lets out a low rumbling growl.
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... "curious, It appears they cannot read. The bounty does sound good though, will help me pay for my room in Sandpoint should I be so inclined."
The two tribesmen turn bright red and storm out of the bar. Muglon, the smart one, gives you a nasty look just as the door closes behind him, #2, and Shalewen on departure.
Shalewen looks horrified as her mentor and guardian comes up the lane. How did she know? she thought. But the answer came quickly enough. She always knew. That is what made her so invaluable to the town and what made the hunter respect her.
She goes to stand beside Shadow and taps him on the back. One instant he is all teeth and fury and the next he is sitting with his tongue out and relaxed. Shalewen says nothing and looks down, expecting a reprimand for attempting to leave on her own.
Hears flattened, teeth showing, growling... this wolf is getting ready to attack! quickly thinks Laurentii as he lifts his hands, one holding a fork, the other holding a bowl, as a sign of peace.
Still, the elf does not show fear, rather, he seems to stare at the Shadow, trying to decipher the wolf's reaction toward one's putting hands up in the air. However, his stare his broken once Shalelu enters the scene.
"Thank you. It seems that surrendering to a wolf does not work as well as with people!" he says to the elf.
"I am sorry if I scared you. It's simply that I assumed you were going out for the bounty, and, well... I would not miss such an experience for the world. Would you, by any chance, mind if I tag alone? I might not know the woods so well, but I can definitely hold my side in a fight." he naively asks,giving a friendly smile to Shalewen.
Well this was new. Usually Shadow's bared teeth was enough to drive anyone away. More than one foolish man had ignored the threat the wolf posed and ended up with a few stitches because of it after over stepping his bounds. She had a reputation for being cold but she had no time for fools.
This man stinks of fool.
He regarded Shadow with curiosity rather than fear and smiled too much at the prospect of hunting goblins. Defiantly a fool. They would tear him to bits. Sure he appeared to have a casual grace about him and an appropriate weapon but he had only the one and little else. No gear, no tent, no camping equipment, nothing. He even ran out of the tavern with a bowl and fork. Theft was serious crime, even if it was because of ignorance. If he came along she would have to babysit him the whole way.
He also spoke far too much.
Laurentii can feel her intense gaze on him and come away disappointed and annoyed. "You are a child," she states brutally.
That's defiantly a no.
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A woman with golden locks and long thin ears approaches. Clad in the green garb of a ranger, her bearing is one of experience and sly grace. Enter Shalelu
"Where are your manners, starchild? And whither are you going in such a fuss? Are you in trouble?" Shalelu speaks in common for Laurentii's comprehension.
"Let me apologize on behalf of Shalewen, here. Her singular focus is usually one of her finest qualities." Shalelu says to Laurentii out of the corner of her mouth. Her gaze never ceases its appraising of the half-elf.
Shalewen tried not to appear to be a petulant child. She really did. But the facade was ruined when she stamped her foot at the none too quiet comment from her mentor. She might be full grown by human standards but as a half=elf she was still young. "They are goblins. We can handle this," she says with as much conviction as she can. If Shalelu had met with the mayor already then she likely knew about the bounties. If nothing else she knew of the goblin activity. She was the one that told them and was likely the cause of the poster in the first place.
Shadow looks back and forth between the two rather bored. Now that he is out of hunting mode, he approaches Laurentii much more pleasantly. He circles and sniffs a few times, eyeing the bowl hungrily.
Lou grabs an ale, as well as a plate of food for Alfonso.
With Shalewen having departed, rather quickly. Lou looks to Amieko, That girl is just as headstrong as someone else we know, She's gonna get herself killed if she isn't careful.
but seeing Laurentii heading out after her, well at least she has company, besides, I am sure she will be back.
"The special please, my good man."
Trig eats quickly, "Simply delicious, sir."
He turns to Alfonzo, "I served in Lastwall's cavalry for seven years but now I've decided to travel the world. Military service got fairly dull."
"Something about that half-elven woman is a bit... off, wouldn't you agree. Those goblins could kill her, they nearly killed me." Says Trig, to no one in particular. He then stands up.
"Anywho, I'm off to see this Shalelu. You said she was at the mayor's office, yes." He says to Ameiko, hopping on Fergus and checking he had everything.
Alfonso finishes the last of the wine-soaked biscuits.
Speaking with the Gnome
"Mayor's office? I will walk with you if you don't mind. I have nothing pressing at the moment and that missive intrigues."
"As far as Shalewin, I have learned never to consider other people odd. And frankly for this town she barely passes the bar for 'unusual' much less 'off'. "
Laurentii frown at being called a child, but quickly got over it and focuses most of his attention on the exchange between two woodswomen, while he absent mindedly get down on one knee and offers some salmon to Shadow.
"No need for apologies " he says to Shalelu before looking back at Shalewen "I did not mean to imply that you were not skilled enough to stop goblin raiders, or that you needed me with you. Although, I did think that if you ever got injured, I would better than your friend here "he points at Shadow "at applying bandages. This was before I knew you had another friend who would join you." he finishes still looking hopeful.
"Oh, also, please do not call me a baby before you have seen what I can and cannot do." he pauses for a moment "So, may I come along and help with the goblin problem? I won't even ask for the bounty, making roads safer is enough for me."
To Shalelu: The hunter fails her will save and looks down at her feet in the face of Shalelu's piercing gaze. "Brinestump," she says. It was obvious she was trying to take this mission on alone. To remove the goblin threat there.
To Laurentii: She gives Laurentii a sour look. "You do not have bandages." More than that though. He has nothing that could help him survive in the wild. On the other hand, Shalewen has a pack full of supplies. A bedroll can be seen under the pack, pots and pans are tied to the side and many other things. She is implying that he is not fully equipped.
Shadow gobbles the treat up with typical canine exuberance. He stares up at you waiting for more and sniffing around for possible dropped morsels.
Laurentii looks down at himself in appraisal and then back at Shalewen, his expression one of quizzical amusement.
"Well, I did leave all my things at the Rusty Dragon. Still, you are right, I do not own bandages. However, I do have some money to buy extras that I might need, the first being bandages. Could any of you suggest anything else I could buy ?"
As he speaks, Laurentii absent mindedly gives some more salmon to Shadow while slowly approaching Shalewen and Shalelu. Once he makes it to within one meter of them(if he can make it without being attacked by Shadow, or Shalewen!), he takes the relaxe paused of someone who is having a friendly conversation with two acquaintances. His body language presents a mix of happy go lucky and strange self assurance, as if he had already been accepted into the group.
Lou takes a moment, seeing Amieko lost in thought. coming up beside her, hey, you alright? he asks.
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To Trig, "Sure, The Mayor's."
To Lou, "sure, fine." Ameiko looks out the back, over the bar, past the pots and pans in the kitchen, and out the back door into the sunlit yard of the inn.
"Why don't you take the rest of the day off, Lou. We can manage here for now." She gathers a few loose glasses and begins cleaning up around the place.