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"They are quite strange those gun-wands of yours ..." Miranda starts with a curious smile, taking the opportunity to ask about something that had been nagging her for a while! "... how do they work magic without magic? That seems odd!"
"You are right, there is no magic, in the literal sense of it, in Boros's bullets, or my bombs for that matter. I have never seen an example of a bullet or gun until now, but in principle they seem to work for the same reasons that my bombs do. I learned Osiriani so I could read Thuvian texts on alchemy, and I have run across discussions of gunpowder in a couple of books in that language.
It is better to think of the making of gunpowder as more akin to to making of, say beer than magical items. If the the ingredients are all present, and in the proper amounts. They act upon each other, causing changes that result in something new."
Nissim takes one of his bombs from his bandolier and shows it to the others. "This might be the easier example to explain. The bomb is just a glass vial with two sets of ingredients inside. I add the first set of ingredients, then melted wax. Before the wax cools into a thin layer, like a seal, I add a wooden stick which has a number of spokes on one end. It looks like an axle and wagon wheel, but with only the spokes and no outer wheel. The wax cools to a solid seal with the spokes inside it. After it is solid, I add a second set of ingredients. The vial's lid screws onto the wooden stick and seals the vial keeping everything inside."
"As long as the two set of ingredients inside the vial are separated by the wax, they are inert, capable of nothing. But, if I twist the lid the spokes embedded in the wax also turn. The wax seal is broken, and a shake of the vial mixes them. Now the two sets of ingredients combine to make a third, new compound. But still something else is needed, air. When the vial is thrown and broken, the ingredients inside are exposed to air. When they mix with the air they explode. Neither of the two original compounds in the vial do anything on their own, nor does air. But when they come together in the proper amounts they take on new properties and become explosive." Just as neither grains, yeast, or water will yield alcohol alone, but mixed together correctly they will together.
"The bullets work in the same way, but require a spark rather than air. The greater difference is the gun. Without a gun, a bullet would explode like my bombs do, throwing the force in all directions. The gun contains the explosion and allows it to move in only one direction. Channeled through the barrel alone, the force is greater, enough to push a piece of shaped metal for some distance with great speed."
Nissim nods at Rexus's comment on noise. "Yes, both are noisy and not always appropriate. Weapons of stealth by no means."
To Rexus's offer of passage out of Kintargo on his ship, Nissim replies:
"I know what you mean about Thrune control of Kintargo reshaping the city, but I would say it goes farther than that. Barzillai Thrune seeks the death of Kintargo. Maybe not it's physical destruction, but the death of its essence, its soul. Anything that he would create would be a saprophyte, living on the corpse of what had been here until now. I can sense it already, the city is reacting to Thrune's presence and his actions, Like the first symptoms of a disease. I can feel, or, it's difficult to explain, but hear things changing. Kintargo's song is altered already, and it will eventually cease."
"I cannot let that happen. My family has always been here, and we always will be, for better or worse. I'm not sure I could leave, even if I wanted to. Lugo could not go. It would be like an amputation I might not survive."
"One thing to consider Rexus, from what I heard on my way here Thrune is focusing now on cutting off Kintargo from the outside. He believes any remaining resistance in the city will either try to flee or seek help from the outside. He has shifted his patrols to the city's walls, gates, and harbor. All people coming and going are being questioned and searched. And, it seems, the harbor is quarantined. No ships may enter or leave, and any that try are being searched. You may be stuck here for a time yet."
Realizing that the group has assembled, Boros gives his equipment a thorough check, then looks at the others questioningly. "Since we're all here, I'll go ahead and guess that we're ready to go check out the Livery. If ya don't mind my suggestin' a few things, while we have the time to discuss it, I think we should settle who does what and when if a fight happens."
He points at himself, Varuzhan, and Miranda as he speaks, "The three o' us seem best suited for fightin' up close and personal, so I think we should be out in front, with Miranda ready to nip in behind any distracted enemies and take advantage of them. She seems awfully good at that," he adds with a grin.
Boros then indicates Nissim, Lily, and Juliette in turn. "The three o' ya, on the other hand, are pretty clearly comfortable with some distance from a foe, so ya'll probably be back a ways, usin' yer bows and spells to do yer work. Do ya want us close-in sorts to hang back a moment and let ya start the fight, or just get in there and move around to clear shots as we can?"
Looking at the others for a moment, he quickly adds a bit of clarification. "Mind, I know each o' ya has some personal tricks and such-like for a fight that ya might prefer to use, but we need somewhere to start from, and what I suggested is as a good a place as any, based on what little I know o' ya. If ya have yer own ideas, go ahead and throw 'em out while there's some peace to do it in."
"Something exploding in your hand doesn't seem very wise ..." Miranda mumbles quietly and casts a long glance at Boros black hand. Explains that at least! She also archives the curiosity of the vampire-wannabe murder at the back of her mind. It was certainly a bit odd - and therefore interesting - but they had another mystery to tackle. And the group seemed to be shaping up! "Nothing to add to that for now! I'm ready to see the 'ghosts'!"
Mind, if it were actual ghosts, Miranda sorta doubted her Alchemists Fire would be enough to deal with them. So she wasn't really ready for them. But she also doubted that there actually were any ghosts in the first place so there is that!
Lily shakes her head. "I don't really have any preference. I'd prefer not to accidentally shoot one of you... but I don't think I'll be very good at shooting things. Whatever you're most comfortable with - this is something you're used to... or so I believe."
Varuzhan senses the uncertainty in Lily's speech. The same uncertainty she has shown through much of this experience. And he didn't like it. If she wasn't ready to fight, it could cost his life. Her life. All of their lives. He turns, and looks toward Lily with a fierce intensity.
"Listen, you need to be more confident. If you own one of those, then you're probably a better shot than most citizens, Lily. The only thing holding you back will be you." He jabs his finger in her direction as he says this. "The problem is that you're a noblewoman. You've been taught how NOT to use that weapon. DON'T shoot except in self defense. DON'T shoot humans. But Thrune's oppression is increasing. A civil war is brewing, and the enemies are humans, elves, dwarves, halflings, and other citizens of Kintargo. You can shoot just fine. The question is, are you ready to get comfortable with shooting the enemy, even when she looks a lot like you? Your life may depend on it."
She checks you herself, visually, trying to see if anything seems off:
"By all means, go and talk with them if your ring was stolen! One of the men claims to have spoken with you. Scary man, with an eyepatch! I'm certain if he can see that it must have been someone else, this will all be cleared up!", Kamille is seriously nervous, and confused, trying to add the new information you provided into her pattern of understanding.
In some of those you speak to, though, you see a glimmer of genuine regret about what they are doing here. One girl you compliment about her choice of clothing violently blushes, can't find words to respond and runs off, leaving the protest. The majority may be beyond your reach...but those few you feel you manage to reach out to, re-affirm your decision to come with a rose, first...
Rexus feels pushed into the defensive when Boros defends his gunplay:"Oh, sure I assume both of you got brains, of sorts. But I figure if you bring it along, you intend to make use of it. I wanted to make sure you're well aware that I think you will neither need them, nor that it's a good idea."
When Nissim tells Rexus about the harbor being placed in quarantine and all travel to and from it suspended, there's some intense cursing in a language neither of you understands. It's still not hard to identify the basic content, though. When a nearby couple with a child turns to look at him, and a elder person walking by looks as well, he forces himself to calm down a bit, then apologizes:"I'm sorry for that outburst. Just what I needed. Guess the offer to flee the city just became irrelevant, anyway. Well, only one way to go, then, forward-"
Looking at Varuzhan and Lily, watching their exchange, Rexus chimes in:"You are good people. You are what Kintargo needs. It's no good replacing a blood-thirsty usurper with a blood-thirsty liberator. There's plenty of opera plays trying to teach us the outcome usually is worse-", he winks at Juliette, "I am very glad there's people like you feeling strongly about Kintargo's future!"
Realizing everybody has arrived in the park, and talk has shifted to potential tactics and handling of situations, Rexus lifts his cloak a bit to reveal a cutlass:"As said, I have some training with swordplay, and a little with magic. I doubt my magical abilities are sufficient yet, so I'd stay near the front-."
All together, you depart from the little park, slowly moving as a spread-out group, not drawing attention to your composition.
As you come up on the aged stable known as the fair fortune livery, the building seems to precariously lean to one side. Being near the slums, and towards a dead-end of the city with little of interest, there's little pedestrian traffic here. The entire building is in a desolate state of repair, and parts of the wall smell of urine. The front doors are slightly ajar(insufficient for a Human to get in, though Miranda could probably squeeze through if she wanted), but held in place by a heavy iron chain with a lock.
As the group approaches the Livery, Boros intently examines the ramshackle structure for several moments, then shudders visibly as he turns to Nissim. "Nissim, don't even think o' usin' yer bombs in that place. The whole damn thin' is a just a few hard knocks from comin' down completely. In fact," he adds as he looks at the others, "If any o' ya got spells or the like that cause damage over a wide area, keep 'em holstered while we're in there, please."
Boros then looks over at Rexus and waves a hand at the building with a wry grin. "Congrats, yer the proud owner of a death trap. Probably infested with vermin too, because why not. If yer da' didn't say there was somethin' important here, my advice would be to sell it and make it someone else's problem, quickly." He then resumes his examination of the Livery and its immediate surroundings.
Something about what he's looking at tugs faintly and annoyingly at his senses, demanding that he recognize it, but Boros can't figure what that something is, much to his frustration.
Nissim looks over the sad and decrepit building. "An auspicious beginning to our investigation" he remarks dryly.
"Don't worry. I've no wish to be burned or crushed to death" he replies to Boros.
"Not a problem of mine", Rexus rebuffs Boros, "not my fathers before me. He just figured there's something worth looking for in there. No idea who owns this place", he shrugs.
"I'm afraid I've never met anyone with an eyepatch, I think I'd remember that sort of detail, still perhaps it would be best if I greeting them from inside of the manor rather from the outside, perhaps you could help me with that?"
"There's tracks over here, it seems some sort of dog has been coming in and out of this place." Juliette pauses to point out the tracks to the others. "If these are fresh, then perhaps it means someone has been living here, or at least a dog has."
** spoiler omitted **
Varuzhan has trouble recognizing the tracks, but asks others for more insight. "If there are dog tracks, then maybe some of Thrune's agents sniffed out this place before we did? Do they look fresh? Does it look like a dog's been coming in and out for a while? If the lock is still on here, then the dog probably went in and out alone. But it could be that there's another unlocked entrance to the building that was used."
Miranda sniffs loudly and covers her nose with a grimace. With a rude gesture towards one of the more foul-smelling parts of the wall she notes. "If *that* haven't exorcized any ghosts by now I don't think we could cause enough trouble for them to notice!" She shuffles a bit towards the small entrance and the dog tracks when they are pointed out. "Now if I were a street dog I'd really like this place where no annoying people could bother me. And I doubt this place would survive a Thrune search anyhow; don't think its them." Leaning a little bit closer to the opening - still wary of any loose hounds - Miranda whispered a small incantation and peered inside.
Lily looks more than a little uncomfortable at someone having gotten into her face regarding what the crossbow was for. "Not a noble." she mutters. "I grew up tending flowers and bees. I've never had cause to kill anything... and I'm not certain that I could hit a moving target, let alone one that would cry out in pain, no. I will do what I can to prevent as much pain as possible... though I would prefer to avoid inflicting it myself, even to do so." she states, well aware that the danger she posed to these people with her cowardice might endanger them sooner, rather than later, she pouts and turns towards the Livery, before huffing disappointment into the morning air.
* * *
As the group moves forward, one by one or two by two, Lily follows quietly after, spirit slightly broken, and trying to mend herself... or at least settle upon her own convictions as being right. As she approaches the building, she's shaken out of her thoughts by the smell. She grimaces, "Perfume. I forgot perfume of all things." she says, scrunching her eyes against the odor of the building. She could have at least brought a bandana or handkerchief.
"What kind of dog?" she asks, offhandedly, more concerned about the size of it than the breed.
As the others point out the tracks and begin discussing their possible source, Boros looks around warily. "Yer forgettin' an important detail here, I'd like to mention," he says quietly as he carefully checks any shadowed nooks or alleyways for signs of movement. "Those might be tracks from a dog belongin' to the paracount's troops, sure, but they might not on the other hand. Back home in Alkenstar, on the bad side o' town were I grew up, we had feral dog packs. No fear o' people or their weapons, and no hesitation in taking even small groups like ours if they got hungry or big enough."
Boros is visibly worried about the prospect of feral dogs, enough so that he's drawn his rapier. Though he makes a modest effort to keep it under his cloak and away from easy sight of any watching eyes, he's obviously more concerned with having it ready if something happens.
She leads you to the connection gate between the two residences located at the far end of the luxurious gardens.
With only the actress actually managing to notice the tracks in the first place, you are unable to deduce the exact breed of dog, though it's definitely not a tiny fancy dog that would get chased and killed by the hardy cats living in the nearby slums... Trying to follow the tracks, there's enough to go in several different directions, some heading to particulary ill-smelling parts of the walls, others off towards the slums or other parts of the city. None of them can be tracked far, with only the inmediate vicinity of the entrance not having been trampled by other people, but it's safe to assume the dog(s) have entered and left multiple times recently.
Outside the Livery, there seem to be no signs of danger, even though an old man passing by stops a moment to look at your group, when Miranda speaks the incantations for her spell, then quickly walks on when one of you looks towards him for more than a moment.
As Miranda peeks in, there is little to actually see so far, from the outside. Two interesting things, however, she takes note off: The first is a faint shimmer of light shining inside, and some soft murmuring, way too silent to be understood from there.
While it was tempting to shout "boo!" at the man walking past them just to see his reaction, Miranda managed to restrain herself. And I don't think it would turn out too well ... Nevertheless she managed to get a look inside without any further complications - and she wasn't greeted by any slavering jaws either. So all good on that front! "Uhm ... there's some some source of illumination in there. And murmuring - hopefully not the same source!" she whispered back to the rest of the party with barely restrained excitement. Even if the fact that she almost had to re-evaluate her "there is no ghost" theory was a bit worrisome; it also heralded an interesting time to come!
"Thank you Camille, I'll take it from here. I must speak to my Matron before I deal with those at the gate, she'll want me to explain to her what happened and she can do much more to me then the church can." Juliette says, bidding Camille farewell as she makes her way to Lady Eldonna Aulamaxa.
"We're drawing attention here, if we're going to go inside, I suggest we do so soon." Juliette mentions as the old man runs off when attention was brought to him. Truth be told, the noblewoman was uncomfortable here, it wasn't exactly the type of area she was used to being in.
After thinking over what Miranda has to report about the interior of the decrepit structure, Boros considers the doors and the chain holding them shut. "I don't think we're gettin' in that way," he says softly with a nod toward the doors. "Perhaps we should take a look around, try to find another door that doesn't need extra work to open. Or even a large enough hole in a wall, there must be one o' those in this wreck."
He returns his thoughtful gaze to the building as a whole, unconsciously switching his rapier from his left hand to his right as he does so. His left hand then begins to absent-mindedly trace a rather impressive bite scar on his right forearm, pushing back the sleeve of his shirt to reveal it in the process. "If there is someone inside, I'll wager they know we're out here, since we didn't do much to hide our arrival. So the first o' us to get inside might ambushed if the others are hostile," Boros says with a faint frown, still speaking softly. Still tracing that scar, he looks at the others, a curious tone in his voice. "Do any of ya casters maybe have a spell for that? Somethin' ya can toss in before entry to distract 'em if they are unfriendly, or possibly somethin' helpful on the first one in if we're not sure about their intentions?"
"Take care, Juliette!", Camille waves good-bye at the gate, rushing back to the front entrance to watch again, not wanting to miss out on what's happening.
When you approach the back door, one of the maids opens it for you:"Mylady! What happened? You seek to meet the Matron? She's at the front door, in parley with these Asmodean thu...soldiers. She seems furious-", she hastily explains while accompanying you.
A quick survey of the buildings surroundings shows there's no other door nor a large enough hole in the wall. However, there is a ramshackle wooden shed attached to the building on the far side(with no doors either, leading you to believe there's must be a door to the inside of the livery), and there's a few places where Boros is certain some application of force WOULD make a hole large enough to enter.
"Let me try this lock," says Varuzhan. Calling on the strength of his ancestors, Varuzhan gives the lock a big hard tug. Because why not?
.
But his effort isn't particularly effective. "Anyone else want to try? I can't seem to do it." If anyone else gives it a go, Varuzhan also gives them the Guidance of his ancestors.
"No spell for that no. Also wouldn't it be terrible rude?" Miranda mentions as she stalks Boros around the house. If there actually *is* a ghost - better not annoy it too much! [smaller]"Or I can probably make a little Illusion real quick if you want ..."
When she comes back to the front she notices the lock, giving it and Varuzhan a curious look. When he fails she bounces forward and some small-and-somewhat-pointy things emerge into her hands. "Oh! Give me a try! And *um* could you stand a bit around me so it's not so painfully obvious? That way there is at least some doubt ..."
First she tries a few quick tricks but if that doesn't work she leans in closer, puts her ear very close to the lock, and tries again with painfully slow movements.
Unimpressed by Varuzhan, the lock quickly submits to Miranda even on her first attempt. The chain the lock held in place is still there, holding the doors shut, for the moment.
"There!" Miranda announces triumphantly and places the lock in her satchel. Who knows! As old as it seems I wonder what it has seen! She also steps aside, letting someone with a bit more bulk tackle anything frozen in place by rust.
As Miranda steps away from the doors, Boros stretches to loosen up, then glances at the rest the group's members. "If anyone has any spells that would be better cast before a fight starts instead of after, I think now's the time, he murmurs as he stops messing with his forearm, swaps his rapier back to his left hand, and steps up to the door on the right side of the building. Bracing his right shoulder against its surface, he gives a Varuzhan a wordless, questioning nod at the other door.
Varuzhan makes a quick prayer for favor, then braces himself against the left door, meeting Boros's gaze with a nod to coordinate their entry. He grips his quarterstaff tightly, ready for battle if need be.
Nissim touches Boros to bestow Guidance on him, then steps back to let him and Varuzhan do their thing.
"I must prepare myself first, so I look less like a streetrat, and more like the noblewoman I am, you'll assist me of course." Juliette says to the maid, deciding that changing her image might help a little, even if she wasn't disguising herself now, luckily she had disguised herself at least somewhat last night.
As they prepare to open the door, Juliette takes out her bow and casts Gravity Bow, ready to take out anything that might oppose them.
After one final check to ensure that the rest are prepared, Boros lifts his rapier into a ready position and puts his weight to the door, gripping the edge with his right hand to control it. As the door swings in, Varuzhan's panel moving along with his, to reveal the Livery's interior in a growing wash of light from outside, Boros' eyes are darting rapidly from place to place in search of any potential threats. Boros doesn't stop moving until his door panel is against the interior wall, ensuring that there's nothing hiding behind it and clearing the entry for the others at the same time.
Varuzhan, of course, opens the door at the same time. If it is dark, he has no trouble seeing - if anything, he prefers the darkness.
Before Boros and Varuzhan can push...the chain is still in place...you know, the one Miranda removed the lock from.(And yes, it IS rusted into place.) A combined strenght check pulls it lose, and you can remove it from the door handles, pulling it through...which is a noisy affair.
Inmediately after, you push forward, opening the doors wide, letting the morning light flood into the interior, which is still only dimly lit, except for the area near a crackling fire.
Already when you open the dog, you find two(probably inbred) mongrel dogs, snarling at you while baring their teeth. Directly behind them, a (probably inbred) gnome in rags, of indeterminable age, matted hair and hygiene worse than that of the dogs ducks, with a knife in his hand, cowering in an aggressive stance:"Noooonononono....this will NOT do. You can't just come barging into other people's homes! This is MY place! It told me so! I even marked it! "
He shifts his shiv from one hand to the other, keeping his distance from you, slowly moving from side to side, while the two dogs keep their position.
+5 dim/dark
Boros is careful to maintain his distance from the indigent gnome and his mongrels; a childhood in Alkenstar's rough Smokeside District tought him very well what happens when you corner someone or something like the gnome. "Beg pardon, but we didn't realize ya were here," Boros says calmly. Though his weapon is still in hand, he's lowered it to a less threatening position as he speaks, trying very hard to indicate that he's not here for a fight unless absolutely necessary.
"Unfortunately, we've got a bit o' somethin' we need to handle here ourselves, and I'll guess ya'll be takin' exception to that. So in the interest of avoidin' an unnecessary scrap with ya and yer guards there," Boros continues while nodding toward the two dogs, "perhaps we can negotiate before it gets down to blades, teeth, and some bodies on the floor." When Boros mentions bodies, he gives the gnome a pointed glance that indicates he's not referring to anyone that entered the Livery as part of the group.
As he waits for the gnome to make up his mind about the proposed negotiation, he examines the building's interior carefully, looking for dangerous spots in the floor or ceiling that might pose a risk if passed over or underneath. He also turns that trained eye toward detecting any oddities in the building's floorplan, figuring that there must be something meaningful about this firetrap that casual visitors or looters would look right past. His position gives him a view of much the building's interior, though some areas at the very rear--and that annex to the right--will merit a further inspection after the gnome has, one way or another, been bypassed.
Varuzhan squints at the small gnome and his dogs. He hardly believes that this was the danger awaiting them behind these doors. "Wait . . . "It" told you so? Who told you this was your home? And what do you mean you "marked" it? I hope you didn't relieve yourself on it like one of your dogs."
"Excuse me, home?" Juliette asks with a confused look on her face.
"Why would anyone want to live here? Surely there's somewhere more...comfortable for you." She adds with a quick scan of the room.
Nissim is too far back to see what's happening, but he hears the dogs and the voice of the person inside. He turns to Lily beside him.
"A squatter. Perhaps he could be talked into letting us take a look around if we don't trouble him or his possessions. Or for a small fee if nothing else moves him. Perhaps you could speak with him?"
Nissim concentrates for a moment muttering a couple of words. Then he touches Lily.
"Oh sorry!" Miranda apologises quickly, adding to the choir. Barging into peoples homes wasn't what she was looking to do *right now*. She squinted and looked around, waiting just a little moment for her eyes to adjust. When they did, she fixed on the smelly gnome. Eww! Too much in here ... With a sour face she covered her nose again. Hmr what is that? *Blink* Her expression quickly shifted to curiosity as she studied the gnome. "Ohh is that a wand? Do you do magic?"
When he hears Miranda's question, Boros can't help but press his face into the palm of his free hand. Even with this short acquaintance between them, he's getting a pretty good idea of what sort of person she is, and while he does find it curiously refreshing, he can tell it'll have... moments, for want of a better word, that will leave him confounded. This is one such moment.
He doesn't interrupt Miranda's non sequitur, however, in part because he still can't believe she asked that, and in part because he figures she might be good for easing any tensions with her personality.
"What I believe they mean is that you have a lovely home, and we were hoping you might have some time to speak with us... and like terrible guests, we forgot to bring anything of our own... though I have magic that could make anything you have taste better, and I'm an excellent cook. We were told that this place had a very storied history. Do you happen to know much about it?" Lily asks, though perhaps the opening tone, the lack of nose-breathing... and her inability to lie particularly well... would make things a bit more complicated.
You manage, barely, to spot him first(and only because he's distracted talking) - the cleric from the alley you attempted to to strong-arm into submitting to your will yesterday. Seeing him wear an eyepatch, you suddenly remember Miranda trying to murder him with a dagger. Trying to think fast, you duck behind cover, appearing to catch your breath(not that the maid would judge)...and overhearing:"...and these are the arrows we retrieved! Wether you like that fact or not, this Juliette is involved. Prove your wisdom by not trying to protect her and getting your whole family involved. If you learn anything about her current whereabouts, tell us inmediately. Do not be foolish enough to think you can or should protect her. Asmodeus with you."...following those words, the entrance doors are closed again. Your Matron still stands near the door, eyes closed, rubbing the upper part of her nose with her hand(a sign of concentration paired with frustration-)
The gnome, standing unsteady, shifts his attention from Boros to Varuzhan and back:"Oh..oh yes, I take exception! You'd not like it if I barge into your home telling you I have to look through your drawers would you now?", he coughs, then spits on the floor in your general direction:"And the livery told me it was my home! It talks with me, you see! It wants me to keep it company! And I marked it all with my smell! Of course I used urine! Do you think I can afford a glowstone-lining? Worked well enough to keep people away until you lot decided to break in!"
When Miranda points out his Wand, he re-grips it like a proper knife:"Of course I do magic! ALL gnomes do magic! Mighty magic! Don't test my patience or I'll turn you all into frogs!"
If you got 18 or higher:
Hearing Lily, he adds"Lovely home, yes! It is! Friendly, dank, dark! Perfect! Know nothing about it's history, only wandered in here! But...cook? You can? Other things than roasted rat?", turning towards a empty stall to his side, he shouts:, before looking at Lily again, with a longing expression on his face:"What could you cook? A feast? For them too?", he points at one of his dogs with the knife/wand, for a moment, before returning to his guarded stance, waiting for your answer-
Boros barely stiffles his snort of disbelief, but can't stop the accompanying roll of his eyes as the gnome offers frog-ification all around. "We'll, ah, we'll pass on the frog thing, if ya don't mind. It'd be a right inconvenient thin' to go through at the moment, ya understand. But we really do need to look around here a bit, so could ya be persuaded to stand aside with yer dogs and let us get on with it?"
Boros is trying his best to be patient with the obviously cracked gnome, hoping to get through this without turning him or his mongrel companions into dead bodies, but his lack of skill--and general unsuitability--at negotiation shows with a faint tone of annoyance at the prospect of more talking instead of doing what they came here for. The occasional glances he casts toward the others makes it clear that he's waiting for someone a bit more personable to take over and start winning hearts and minds, so to speak.
"Though, while yer thinkin' it over, maybe ya could tell us a bit more about this place, startin' with the part where it talks to ya? A buildin' don't normally do that, so it's a touch unusual," he asks, hoping to keep the conversation going.
** spoiler omitted **
"I'm not sure about a feast... but I could certainly come back in a few minutes' time from the farmer's market. Do you have anything to cook with? I left my good cookware at home. Omelettes are easy and can be made somewhat to order, what vegetables do you like? I wouldn't mind feeding everyone, honestly, if they're hungry..?" she asks, looking to the others with a raised eyebrow at the opportunity to not have to fight the gnome out of his own home.
Hearing Lily ask about the building as well has Boros almost audibly sighing in relief, and he shoots her a grateful look as he shuffles around a bit, keeping the gnome--and the dogs--in view while making room for her to step to the fore if she chooses. Not only is she clearly much better at negotiation than he is, but he acknowledges--if only to himself--which of the two of them he'd rather be looking at if he was the gnome. Perhaps, between the rather soothing presence of Lily and Miranda's unique personality, the group might avoid a fight after all. Or so Boros hopes.
As he moves, he notes then curious way in which the gnome is positioning himself as well, and the thought occurs to him that the raggedy little fellow might not be quite so empty about his claims of magic as Boros first thought (though he still doubts a frogging is anything he need fear). Unfortunately, he has no way to convey this information to the others without being overheard.
When Lily offers the gnome a meal, however, Boros is taken aback but doesn't raise any objections; the gnome seems to be interested, so he won't stop her. He does, however tap her lightly on the shoulder with his free hand to get her attention. "No need to run all the way to the market, miss. I sort of emptied that food tray we got at the bawdy house before we left, since it was paid for and all," Boros says with a grin aimed in Rexus' direction. A bit of one-handed fumbling at his waist gets one of his belt pouches loose, and he hands it over to her with a smile. "Nothin' fancy, bit of meat, cheese, and bread, and a few pieces of fruit too."